One of the most distasteful elements of the U.S. Republican Partys mad scramble to squeeze in a new Supreme Court justice before Election Day is the little glass dish of women lawyers and judges it is offering up like toothpicked olives, or better, mixed nuts.

We dont yet know Trumps pick. Of those mentioned, theres Barbara Lagoa  Ive heard incredible things about her, Trump says  recently appointed judge Allison Jones Rushing, Amy Coney Barrett, and others.

It is the weaponizing of femininity to crush women. It is misogynist to the most cynical degree in a party that has made cynicism its central pillar  no to considering Obama court nominee Merrick Garland, but yes to replacing the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg  and I hope we never see it so savagely practised in Canada.

When male judges are mentioned, American reporters provide a brisk list of professional qualifications. With the women, readers are told how many children she has birthed.

The always retrograde New York Times writes: Judge Barrett and her husband, Jesse Barrett, a former federal prosecutor who is now in private practice, have seven children, all under 20, including two adopted from Haiti and a young son with Down syndrome, whom she would carry downstairs by piggyback in the morning.

You can see the boxes Republicans tick: nice woman named Amy; genuine birth-giving woman; generous woman willing to adopt; non-racist white woman selecting Haitian children; brave woman who did not test for disability; moral woman still married to the childrens father; good woman piggybacking adorable child before work.

All this may all be accurate. But it is irrelevant. Barrett would be very junior in experience on the court, and she belongs to something that appears to be a tiny oath-swearing Christian cult called People of Praise. It involves male heads and female handmaids. Her father and her husbands father both served, the NYT reports.

(Im a bit worried about the heads, vaguely reminiscent of the head of household in a popular Christian Domestic Discipline trend that I suggest you not Google.)

For all her alleged brilliance, Barrett has not said or done anything that sounds remarkable. Brilliance is an adjective often thrown at nominees just as devout is for Catholics. Its meaningless, as ubiquitous as problematic. My blueberry crumble is brilliant, but Im not putting it in charge of anything.

Barrett is a weapon. She is anti-abortion and, strangely, wishes to prevent other women from making choices about their own bodies and lives.

At a moment when the pandemic has sent female employment crashing down to levels not seen for decades, when women working from home have little child care, or respite from violent men they live with, when they have less ability to raise a wanted child than even in 2019, the dream might be over. A womans right to decide would be finished off by Ginsburgs replacement.

Barrett is acceptable to Republicans because she is a woman who deplores the rights of women. There are a lot of them about. You see them in courtrooms, female lawyers hired by men accused of sexual assault who find it useful to hide behind their skirts, conservative women who campaign against gun control, women who vote for Trump because he doesnt like them and they dont like themselves.

Hard-right Republicans have been hard at work since the Reagan years taking control of the nation back from Democrats  a vast right-wing conspiracy, yes, but a remarkably successful one  and this Supreme Court seat is their grail.

The word they use is originalism, interpreting the law as Americas founders would have intended in the 1788 Constitution which doesnt mention abortion or privacy, or even the internet. They call it purist, but its simply a code word for returning to a primitive era when sperm were sacred and women often as not died in childbirth.

Republicans understand that it looks bad when men crush womens rights. But its not sexist when a woman does it, correct?

Heres what American women have to understand. Womens rights  to equality, work, privacy, dignity  are in the balance. Republicans are in for the win. Awww, Amy, and all the Republican Amys. They sound so sweet, so harmless.
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Linkedin Arya Dipa and Tri Indah Oktavianti (The Jakarta Post) Bandung/Jakarta  Tue, September 22, 2020 13:15 487 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c465f7e2 1 National sukabumi,West-Java,floods,BPBD,BNPB,flash-flood,rain,rainfall,natural-disaster,natural-disaster-Indonesia Free

A flash flood on Monday has left at least two people dead, 20 others injured and hundreds more displaced in Sukabumi, West Java.

The flooding occurred around 5 p.m. local time on Monday, after a torrential downpour in the three districts of Cicurug, Parung Kuda and Cidahu caused the Citarik and Cipeuncit rivers to overflow their banks. The floodwaters were reportedly 6 meters high in certain areas.

Three people in Cicurug were swept away by the flood. A joint search-and-rescue team recovered the bodies of two people identified as Jeje, 58, and Hasyim, 70, on Tuesday morning. The third person, identified as 25-year-old Anang, is still missing.

Twelve houses were swept away by the flash flood and 85 houses were inundated. Several vehicles were also swept away, emergency head Budi Budiman Wahyu of the West Java Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) said on Monday.

Budi added that the four villages of Cisaat, Pasawahan, Mekarsari, and Bangbayang on the southern slope of Mount Salak were heavily affected by the floods. The West Java BPBD had sent five personnel to help the Sukabumi BPBD in providing assistance to residents in flood hazard areas, including their evacuation.

The Sukabumi BPBD said on Tuesday that at least 20 people had been injured during the flooding, while 210 families in Cicurug had fled their homes for safety.

Authorities also said that the flooding had affected at least 306 houses and several public facilities, and severely damaged six houses and 10 bridges.

The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has issued an early warning for West Java, with potential heavy rainfall accompanied by lightning and strong winds on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Credit: Lingnan University (LU)

In a recent survey conducted by the School of Graduate Studies of Lingnan University (LU) in Hong Kong on international/non-local higher education students' physical and psychological wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly 90 percent of respondents said the outbreak had caused "moderate to extreme" disruption to learning activities. Over 70 percent expressed concern about the outbreak, while 45 percent said they were feeling lonely. The research team advises higher education institutions to find creative and effective ways of supporting international students during this challenging time.

Between 12 April and 1 May 2020, the research team received valid responses from 583 international/non-local higher education students from 26 countries/regions in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America. About half of the respondents (46%) were research postgraduate students. At the time of the survey, most of them (61%) were still in their country/region of study.

Results show that over 70 percent of international/ non-local higher education students said they got COVID-19 information from social media and new media. However, 14 percent of respondents did not know how to seek help in their study countries/regions if they were to develop COVID-19 symptoms.

In addition, nearly half the respondents (47.5%) felt at risk from COVID-19, and approximately 71.7 percent expressed worry. One major source of concern was for the safety of their families as after lockdown measures in many places most of them were still abroad and far away from home. These anxieties as well as the implementation of preventive measures such as social distancing, meant that approximately 45.2 percent of students felt lonely.

On the academic front, the majority of students felt that the COVID-19 pandemic had caused a major disruption to their education with as many as 89.6 percent describing the effects as from moderate to extremely strong. The research team also invited respondents to evaluate their satisfaction with learning experiences during the pandemic, 49.6 percent expressed slight to great satisfaction with current teaching and supervision arrangements. Moreover, respondents were very positive about their future. Despite their worries about the pandemic and the loneliness it was causing, the majority of the students (83.8%) were keen to return to their current institutions to continue their studies.

Prof Joshua Mok Ka-ho, Vice-President of Lingnan University and leader of this research project, stated that the pandemic has inevitably made some impacts on the physical and psychological well-being of international/non-local higher education students, and that universities should do more to help international students to obtain proper health information and learn about local social and healthcare support systems, as well as improving psychological support for students dealing with this pandemic and future health-related problems. Another source of anxiety is that most students rely on social media for COVID-19 information, since there is every likelihood of "infodemic"inaccurate and sometimes, exaggerated health informationfrom such sources.

He added that, as international students may not be familiar with the medical service in the countries/regions they are studying in, universities should automatically provide systematic guidelines and information on COVID-19 outbreaks.

Prof Mok suggested that higher education institutions should be prepared to find creative and effective ways of supporting students during this challenging period, not only by email, but with also mobile instant messaging platforms, or by developing tailor-made mobile apps to maintain contact with students and provide healthcare information.

Explore further Parents get 'incomplete' grade on pandemic homeschooling

Provided by Lingnan University
Researchers in Canada and the United States report that screening students for infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) as universities re-open this fall could reduce the burden of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the broader community.

The team conducted a model-based analysis to estimate the impact that the return of a relatively large student population would have on the rate of COVID-19 infections in a mid-sized city, where the number of cases was relatively few, prior to students returning.

Lauren Cipriano (University of Western Ontario) and colleagues from the London Health Sciences Centre and the University of Minnesota School of Public Health say the findings suggest that the return of such a student population would significantly increase the number of COVID-19 cases in the community.

The study also suggests that routine testing of students would prevent the number of infections in this population and provide significant public health benefits by reducing the number of infections, admissions to critical care, and COVID-19-related deaths in the community.

Our analysis is relevant to a number of mid-sized cities in North America with relatively large university and college population, writes the team.

The researchers say the estimated increase in COVID-19 infections following the reintroduction of students is due to the higher number of contacts this group has compared with the general population, their high-density living environments, and relatively high rates of asymptomatic infection.

A pre-print version of the paper is available on the server medRxiv*, while the article undergoes peer review.

Model schematics of (A) COVID-19 health states and (B) close contact interactions between population subgroups. The number of contacts between groups indicated on the schematic represent the average number of contacts per day in a pre-COVID-19 era.

Potential for spillover from campuses to the broader community

The unprecedented infectivity and spread of SARS-CoV-2 presents substantial public health challenges to local, national, and international communities trying to bring the COVID-19 pandemic under control.

In many communities, one initial measure that was introduced was the closure of university campuses. Over the summer, many universities announced plans to partially or fully re-open campuses and welcome students back with mitigation strategies in place, such as mask-wearing, restricted gatherings, and COVID-19 testing.

University students live, work, and socialize both on and off-campus, resulting in significant potential for on-campus COVID-19 outbreaks to spill over into the community and vice versa, said Cipriano and team. It is therefore important to quantify the expected impact of the arrival of a relatively large number of university students on the broader community.

What did the researchers do?

Cipriano and team developed a dynamic transmission model of COVID-19 to assess the impact of an outbreak on the community in a representative mid-sized city with a relatively large college campus and with relatively few cases of COVID-19 before students returned.

The team calibrated the model to the observed outcomes in a mid-sized Canadian city between March 1 and August 15, 2020 (before the arrival of a student population), and evaluated the impact of introducing 20,000 students (on September 1) on COVID-19 health outcomes.

The researchers considered multiple scenarios with different infection prevention behaviors, as well as the mitigating effects of different COVID-19 screening strategies among students.

The return of students substantially increased infections in the community

In a city that initially had a relatively low rate of COVID-19 cases, the return of the student population significantly increased the overall number of infections in the community, potentially doubling the number of infections in the city over the fall.

In a scenario where students immediately reduced their contact behavior by 24% compared with pre-COVID-19 levels, the total number of infections in the community increased by 87%, from 3,900 to 7,299.

Notably, more than two-thirds (71%) of the incremental infections occurred in the general population, which increased COVID-19 mortality in the community and accelerated the need to re-engage social and economic restrictions by 3 weeks.

In a scenario where the researchers considered initial, short-term increases in the number of student-to-student contacts, a higher level of contact for just one or two weeks increased the total number of infections in the community by 150% or more.

Routine screening of students benefits the community

In such scenarios, routine screening of asymptomatic students every 5 days reduced the number of infections attributable to the introduction of the students by 42%. It delayed the need for re-engagement of social and economic restrictions by 1 week.

Alternatively, one-time universal screening of students prevented fewer infections than screening every 5 days but was highly effective in terms of infections prevented per screening test performed.

The researchers say that high-density living environments, enthusiasm for the new school year, and relatively high rates of asymptomatic presentation may decrease self-protective behaviors among university students and contribute to increased numbers of COVID-19 among the city community.

Screening targeted at this population provides significant public health benefits to the community through averted infections, critical care admissions, and COVID-19 deaths, concludes the team.

*Important Notice

medRxiv 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.
By Trend





The international community, including the Islamic world, must stop the terror carried out by Armenia at the state level against Azerbaijan, a famous Lebanese Lawyer, an expert on foreign policy, and international law, Tarek Chindeb told Trend.

Chindeb noted that the settlement of the occupied Azerbaijani lands by Armenians from Lebanon and Syria to change the demographic situation in the region is a crime against humanity, a gross violation of international law.

This is one of four crimes that fall under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court, whose functioning is governed by the provisions of the Rome Statute, Chindeb said.

The lawyer said that the recruitment of mercenaries by Armenia for committing crimes against the indigenous population of the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan in exchange for the promise of citizenship and financial benefits is also an international criminal offense.

To achieve a concrete result, Azerbaijan should raise this issue not only within the country itself but also at the international level to prosecute these criminals, Chindeb noted.

The Lebanese judicial system is also obliged to take measures and bring to justice those of its citizens who participate in the illegal armed groups in occupied Karabakh, he said.

The Lebanese expert also stressed that it is necessary to pay great attention to all the facts of participation of Armenians in illegal bandit formations.

Several days ago, there were several reports in the media confirming that extremist Armenian Christian groups, under the auspices of the French government, created support groups for "militias" who had been involved in committing crimes against the Syrian people since 2013, said the lawyer.

France must investigate this and bring the criminals to justice. It must remember that while these actions are an international crime, they are also punishable by the laws of France itself, Chindeb added.
The death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg could also prove fatal to the Affordable Care Act, the nationwide health insurance law that faces a Supreme Court hearing a week after election day. For California, the stakes are enormous: losing as much as $25 billion a year in federal aid that allows more than 5 million low- and moderate-income residents to obtain insurance.

The law, signed by President Barack Obama in 2010, extended coverage to most Americans who lacked insurance by providing federal funds to subsidize their purchases on state-regulated marketplaces known as insurance exchanges. Funding was also made available to states to expand coverage under Medicaid, known as Medi-Cal in California, to 138% of the federal poverty level, raising the income limits to $17,609 for an individual and $36,156 for a family of four.

The law prohibited insurers from their previously common practice of denying coverage or increasing rates because of a persons pre-existing conditions, like asthma or diabetes. It allowed children to be covered on their parents policies until age 26. And it required the uninsured to buy coverage, with the federal subsidies, or pay a tax penalty that in 2014 started at $95.

The Supreme Court upheld the law in a 5-4 ruling in 2012, rejecting conservatives arguments that the individual insurance mandate exceeded Congress power to regulate interstate commerce. Chief Justice John Roberts, in the majority opinion, said the individual mandate could be considered a tax, part of Congress well-established authority.

But the legal challenge was renewed when Congress, after narrowly defeating President Trumps proposal to repeal the Affordable Care Act, passed a new version of the law in 2017 that rescinded the tax penalty but left other provisions unchanged.

A group of Republican-led states won a ruling from a federal judge in Texas in 2018 that the new law was unconstitutional. U.S. District Judge Reed OConnor reasoned that the elimination of the tax penalty also invalidated the individual mandate to buy insurance, and that the mandate was essential to Congress decision to pass a new version of the Affordable Care Act.

A federal appeals court put that ruling on hold in December. With the Trump administration siding with opponents of the law, it is being defended by a group of Democratic-governed states, led by California, that argued that Congress had shown its intent in passing a revised law, which was constitutional with or without an individual insurance mandate.

The Supreme Court is due to hear that case Nov. 10. Until recently, most commentators had been forecasting a rerun of the 5-4 majority that had upheld the previous version of the law in 2012. Now the fate of the law may depend on whether Trump can get a successor to Ginsburg, who died of cancer Friday, confirmed before the court takes up the case.

Amy Coney Barrett, a federal appeals court judge in Chicago who is widely viewed as a leading candidate for the seat, said in a 2017 law review article that Roberts pushed the Affordable Care Act beyond its plausible meaning to save the statute.

If the Senate does not confirm a new justice in time for the hearing, and the court then deadlocked 4-4, it would merely return the case to lower courts and probably hear it again in the next year or two.

The prospect is terrifying ... throughout the country and especially in California, said Anthony Wright, executive director of Health Access, a statewide advocacy group.

Repeal of the federal mandate to buy insurance no longer affects California, where a law that took effect in January requires residents to obtain coverage or pay a state tax penalty, equal to the former federal penalty: $695 per adult, $347.50 for each child under 18, or 2.5% of their annual income, whichever is higher. The state will provide financial help to middle-income households making up to $75,000 a year, above the maximum covered by federal subsidies.

State law, like the Affordable Care Act, allows parents insurance policies to cover their children up to age 26. And as long as the Affordable Care Act remains in effect, it will require companies with at least 50 full-time workers to provide health insurance.

But for those who lack workplace coverage, invalidation of the federal law would eliminate federally funded subsidies that helped bring coverage within reach for the average Californian, said James Scullary, spokesman for Covered California, the state-run insurance exchange.

Wright said the cutoff, over $5 billion a year, would affect more than 1 million Californians who gained new access to insurance under the federal law.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

If the subsidies go away, the only people who stay on will be those in greatest need of care, he said. Its likely premiums will skyrocket.

The impact would be even more drastic, Wright said, with elimination of the laws expansion of Medicaid.

Previously available only to a group of recipients with incomes at or below the federal poverty level  families with children, the disabled and people over 65  Medicaid was enlarged by the 2010 law to cover anyone making up to 138% of the poverty level, with the federal government providing nearly all the funding.

The Supreme Court allowed states to refuse the expansion, but California was among the majority of states that accepted it. Wright said the statewide subsidy now totals $20 billion a year, an amount that the cash-strapped state could not afford to replace for the 4 million people who would lose coverage. Unless the court somehow upholds the federal law, he said, the only prospect for fiscal relief would be a new president and Congress that rewrote the law to satisfy the justices objections.

At the end of the day, its up to the voters, Wright said.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko
In the interview, Mr. Sanders said that he thought there was an excellent chance that Joseph R. Biden Jr., the Democratic presidential nominee, would win the election, but that he was worried that the Biden campaign was not doing enough to reach nontraditional voters, including young people and Latinos. He held a virtual town hall event on Tuesday with Julian Castro, the former housing secretary under President Barack Obama, to get the word out to Latino voters about the importance of the election.

Mr. Trump, who has consistently trailed Mr. Biden in national and swing-state polls, has spent months trying to sow doubt about voting and the election. The president has claimed without evidence that mail voting will lead to the greatest Rigged Election in history; has urged people in North Carolina to illegally vote twice to stress-test the election system; and has even suggested delaying the election, which he cannot do on his own.

Mr. Biden himself has warned that Mr. Trump might try to disrupt the election, and Democrats and some anti-Trump Republicans have grown increasingly anxious about such a possibility before, during and after Election Day. Some groups have begun gaming out how to respond to various doomsday scenarios. Facebook and other large tech companies have also taken steps to prepare for any potential efforts by Mr. Trump or his campaign to use the companies platforms to delegitimize the vote.

Mr. Sanders, Vermonts junior senator, will continue what an aide described as the public awareness phase of his effort while campaigning on Mr. Bidens behalf. The aide would not say whether Mr. Sanders would hit the campaign trail before Election Day. Mr. Sanders demurred when asked if he was involved in any preparations should his predictions about Mr. Trump and the election come true.

Right now, he said, my main focus is to prevent Donald Trump from staying in office if he loses the election, to prevent him from delegitimizing the election results, to make sure that every vote cast is counted, to make sure that voters are not intimidated.
Agra, Sep 22 : Doctors in Agra feel that a holistic approach is required for additional care to critical patients with the coronavirus disease, particularly those in vulnerable section, as government medical infrastructure is under strain owing to unprecedented rise in Covid-19 cases in the city.

According to health officials on Tuesday, in the last 24 hours, 148 cases were reported in Agra. The number of active cases has gone up to 938 and the tally stands at two short of 5,000.

Three doctors and three para medic staffers have tested positive. The offices of the Agra Municipal Corporation and the District Magistrate have been badly hit.

Doctors said the shortage of beds in the Covid-19 designated hospitals was a problem, though supplies of medicines and oxygen were improved.

As daily testing figures are going up, the incidence of infections spread also shows an alarming trend.

However, the city's administration has not shown any undue alarm. The reopening of the Taj Mahal and the Agra Fort has sent encouraging signals. Train and air connectivity is likely to improve from October 1. The hospitality sector is likely to gain moentum by November if everything goes well.

Meanwhile, university examinations continue to remain uncertain. The reopening of schools also has been postponed.

The district authorities have not given permission for any religious ceremonies, congregations and reopening of temples for special "Adhik Maas" festivities.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-21 22:21:46|Editor: huaxia

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Rescuers look for survivors after a residential building collapsed in Bhiwandi, 38 km from Mumbai, India, Sept. 21, 2020. Death toll at the residential building that collapsed on Monday morning rose to 13 with 10 others injured in Bhiwandi, according to the official update. (Str/Xinhua)

MUMBAI, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- Death toll at the residential building that collapsed on Monday morning rose to 13 with 10 others injured in Bhiwandi, 38 km from Mumbai, according to the official update.

The 43-year-old Jhilani Building with 40 flats housed around 150 people, of which over 20 were rescued by local citizens till the teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) arrived.

Local administration and NDRF personnel continued with the rescue operations to find those trapped over the huge rubble, as per videos released by the NDRF on social media.

The injured people have been admitted to various hospitals.

"Saddened by the building collapse in Bhiwandi, Maharashtra. Condolences to the bereaved families. Praying for a quick recovery of those injured," tweeted India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The monsoon season during June-September with torrential rains are often blamed for the collapse of dilapidated and illegally built buildings in India. Last month, over a dozen people died after a building collapsed in the industrial town of Mahad, 165 km south of Mumbai.

According to India's National Crime Records Bureau, 38,363 people lost their lives due to collapse of various structures between 2001-2015, most of which were collapse of residential houses. Enditem
LUND, Sweden, Sept. 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Axiell, the worlds leading software and services provider for the cultural sector, announces the acquisition of CultureConnect, an award-winning technology company headquartered in New York City that empowers cultural institutions to easily create beautiful and dynamic digital experiences that broaden audience engagement onsite and online.

This groundbreaking acquisition integrates Axiells collections management solutions with CultureConnects audience engagement software to advance the technology landscape for museums, libraries, archives, and other cultural institutions who are under increasing pressure to digitize and modernize. Customers can easily build mobile guides, in-gallery interactives, online exhibitions, virtual programming, and distance learning tools by directly accessing the media and data in their collection management system. Additionally, the cloud-based solution seamlessly integrates with diverse enterprise software tools to maximize revenue generation, data collection, and workflows.

The CultureConnect acquisition establishes an innovation-based path for institutions to broaden their digital footprint inside the museums walls and across virtual channels, both of which are fast-growing trends that have become even more relevant during Covid-19. At a time when in-person experiences are limited, CultureConnect provides museums the platform they need to make collections and exhibitions more accessible and interactive across channels and devices.

I am thrilled we have acquired CultureConnect, now part of Axiells expanding ecosystem, said Joel Sommerfeldt, CEO of Axiell Group. Together we can offer our customers around the world the market-leading solution for museums seeking to transform their collections into story-driven interactive experiences for visitors, virtual audiences, and distance learners alike. Our customers can trust we will meet their growing and evolving demands for technology and the expectations of modern audiences.

Our acquisition by Axiell is an exciting step forward giving cultural institutions the technology needed to own their media distribution in ways that expand both reach and revenue opportunities, said Samantha Diamond, CEO of CultureConnect. By marrying the cultural sectors leading software solutions into a single platform, means we can truly influence the future of the industry and better serve our customers and their communities. I look forward to continuing to serve as CEO, while also taking on the new role of helping shape the digital future of Axiell Group more broadly.

The CultureConnect platform is a strategic acquisition supporting Axiells vision to meet the sectors exponentially growing demand for content creation, publication, and audience consumption. Connecting collections management systems with front-end engagement technologies will improve workflows, data accuracy and synchronization across systems, and reduce double-work and fragmented record keeping. With this acquisition, Axiell and CultureConnect become the cultural sectors first full stack solution.

No further information about the transaction is disclosed.



About Axiell

Axiells solutions help institutions share culture and knowledge with the world. Our software and services assist them to manage their collections, encourage reading, preserve cultural heritage, improve learning and increase engagement with the public. Our 11,300 customers are libraries, museums, archives, schools, publishers and retailers in 58 countries. We develop innovative digital tools to transform the way they work and connect with their audiences. We do this from 28 offices globally, with headquarters in Sweden. To find out more about us and our products, please visit http://www.axiell.com

About CultureConnect

CultureConnect is an award-winning technology company empowering museums, libraries, attractions, and cultural organizations to deliver engaging digital experiences to audiences online, in-gallery, or on personal devices. Our innovative design, publishing, and content management platform is the first-of-its-kind, driving engagement and learning. Its an API-ready, scalable platform that solves persistent technology management challenges while propelling cultural organizations digitally forward. Customers using our leading SaaS engagement platform include a wide-range set of institutions from the U.S. House of Representatives, Thomas Jefferson's Monticello, and the Bell Museum of Natural History to many art museums including the New Orleans Museum of Art, the Museum of Fine Art, Houston, and the Nelson-Atkins Museum of American Art  as well as a host of universities, libraries, and private collectors. Learn more at: http://www.cultureconnectme.com

For more information:

Maria Wasing

COO, Axiell Group

Phone: +46 73 852 17 52

Email: maria.wasing@axiell.com

Samantha Diamond

CEO, CultureConnect

Email: samantha@cultureconnectme.com
Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE:ROK) saw significant share price movement during recent months on the NYSE, rising to highs of US$237 and falling to the lows of US$205. Some share price movements can give investors a better opportunity to enter into the stock, and potentially buy at a lower price. A question to answer is whether Rockwell Automation's current trading price of US$209 reflective of the actual value of the large-cap? Or is it currently undervalued, providing us with the opportunity to buy? Lets take a look at Rockwell Automations outlook and value based on the most recent financial data to see if there are any catalysts for a price change.

See our latest analysis for Rockwell Automation

What is Rockwell Automation worth?

According to my valuation model, the stock is currently overvalued by about 34%, trading at US$209 compared to my intrinsic value of $155.79. This means that the buying opportunity has probably disappeared for now. If you like the stock, you may want to keep an eye out for a potential price decline in the future. Given that Rockwell Automations share is fairly volatile (i.e. its price movements are magnified relative to the rest of the market) this could mean the price can sink lower, giving us another chance to buy in the future. This is based on its high beta, which is a good indicator for share price volatility.

What does the future of Rockwell Automation look like?

Investors looking for growth in their portfolio may want to consider the prospects of a company before buying its shares. Although value investors would argue that its the intrinsic value relative to the price that matter the most, a more compelling investment thesis would be high growth potential at a cheap price. Rockwell Automations earnings over the next few years are expected to increase by 49%, indicating a highly optimistic future ahead. This should lead to more robust cash flows, feeding into a higher share value.

Story continues

What this means for you:

Are you a shareholder? ROKs optimistic future growth appears to have been factored into the current share price, with shares trading above its fair value. However, this brings up another question  is now the right time to sell? If you believe ROK should trade below its current price, selling high and buying it back up again when its price falls towards its real value can be profitable. But before you make this decision, take a look at whether its fundamentals have changed.

Are you a potential investor? If youve been keeping an eye on ROK for a while, now may not be the best time to enter into the stock. The price has surpassed its true value, which means theres no upside from mispricing. However, the optimistic prospect is encouraging for ROK, which means its worth diving deeper into other factors in order to take advantage of the next price drop.

If you'd like to know more about Rockwell Automation as a business, it's important to be aware of any risks it's facing. For example, we've discovered 2 warning signs that you should run your eye over to get a better picture of Rockwell Automation.

If you are no longer interested in Rockwell Automation, you can use our free platform to see our list of over 50 other stocks with a high growth potential.

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.
LOS ANGELESNet neutrality rules in the U.S. were repealed in 2018 by the Republican-led Federal Communications Commission, but the situation is very different in Europe where just last week, the European Unions highest court handed down a ruling strongly affirming EU net neutrality regulations.

Under net neutrality, telecom companies may not give preferential treatment to data from any particular provider, nor may they discriminate against any providers online traffic by blocking or slowing data for any reason. For online porn, which is frequently subject to censorship or blocking of online sites, net neutrality is critical to protect the industry from attempts to shut it down.

While the U.S. currently has no net neutrality standards in place on a national level, the EU passed a net neutrality law in 2016. But the Court of Justice of the European Union had not been called upon to rule on its legality until last week. The ruling handed down by the CJEU zeroed in on zero rating, affirming that the practice is properly banned under EU net neutrality laws.

Under zero rating, telecom companies allow users to exceed their data caps for specific services  usually those owned by the provider itself. In the U.S., the telecom giant AT&T currently engages in zero rating with its HBO Max streaming service. AT&T owns HBO and HBO Max, and now allows users to go past their data limits at no additional charge, but only for streaming via HBO Max.

The EU net neutrality rules do not mention the zero rating practice, and as a result, some online carriers have been permitted to zero rate certain apps. But in its ruling last week, the Luxembourg-based court declared that zero rating violates net neutrality principles, even though it is not specifically referenced in the wording of the laws.

Allowing customers to exceed data limits for some services but not others unfairly favors the zero rated services, the court ruled, by effectively blocking any data traffic that does not fall under the zero rating  creating unfair competition in violation of the net neutrality rules.

Though the ruling was widely hailed as a landmark in Europe, some experts say the courts decision may not be as relevant as it would have been even a few years ago. Many European internet providers now offer unlimited data plans, which eliminate the advantage in zero rating any particular service.

Photo By Cedric Puisney / Wikimedia Commons
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A Conservative MP and close ally of Boris Johnson has apologised after being pictured on a train without a mask.

Danny Kruger, who served as the Prime Minister's political secretary before the general election, has admitted he forgot to put on a face covering while on the hour-long train journey from his Wiltshire constituency to London.

A photograph emerged over the weekend, showing Mr Kruger sitting at a train table wearing earphones, with the caption: "Don't blame it on the young people Boris [Johnson] when your own party aren't even following your rules."

Mr Kruger, who also worked as David Cameron's speechwriter while he was Leader of the Opposition, said in a statement: "I boarded an almost empty carriage at Hungerford and quite simply forgot to put on my mask.

"When I got to Paddington I realised my mistake and covered up for the rest of my journey.

"If the person had reminded me rather than taking a photo and posting it on social media I would of course have put on my mask then and there.

"I do apologise for my mistake."

On 7 September, less than a fortnight before his own memory slip, Mr Kruger  a self-confessed "old friend" of Dominic Cummings, the Prime Minister's de facto chief of staff who travelled more than 250 miles during the lockdown in April  told his constituents in a Facebook message that they "MUST wear a face covering", unless exempt.

Great Western Railway, the train operator that runs the route between Hungerford and Paddington, warns passengers on its website that they face a 100 fine for failing to wear a face covering on its services.

Mr Kruger's apology comes after the Prime Minister warned on Friday that the UK was now experiencing a second wave of coronavirus infections and announced fines of up to 10,000 for people who test positive for the virus and refuse to self-isolate.

Mr Johnson is preparing to address MPs on Tuesday amid rumours that national lockdown measures banning socialising between two households could be put in place in a bid to arrest the virus's spread.

But Professor Paul Hunter, an expert in health protection at the University of East Anglia, said on Monday that there were examples of people in authority who were not following the government's coronavirus-related restrictions.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We've certainly seen a lot of confusion and a lot of mixed messages over the past few months and examples of people in authority who don't feel that they need to follow the rules themselves."

Additional reporting by the Press Association
You likely would not eat a mountain gorilla pie or a wombat steak, but University of Queensland researchers say we could be doing the equivalent of that every time we get fish and chips.

The researchers found, by analysing global fishing records, 92 endangered and 11 critically endangered species of seafood were caught in oceans around the world.

We're being urged to rethink our eating habits, with new research findings dozens of endangered species are still being fished.

UQ Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation researcher Carissa Klein said some of those were caught by accident, but many were actively targeted by fishing operations despite being endangered.

"At least 34 of the species, and thats quite conservative, have commercially exploited populations listed," Dr Klein said.
BRIDGEPORT  A Stratford man, accused of stabbing his mother to death in their home, was ordered held in lieu of $2 million bond on Monday.

Thomas Walker, 31, showed no emotion as he stood in his cell in the basement of the Golden Hill Street courthouse resting his head against the bars and watching his arraignment hearing via video .

The state has a very strong case against Mr. Walker, argued Senior Assistant States Attorney Kevin Dunn.

Superior Court Judge Tracy Lee Dayton said it was very disturbing that Walker was on probation for stabbing another relative when police said he killed his mother last Friday. Its a disturbing, sad case, the judge added.

At 5:30 a.m. Friday, police said Walker went into the Stratford Police Department and told officers he wanted to report a body.

One of the officers noted that Walker had scratches on the right side of his face and what looked like blood on his sneakers, police said.

Officers were dispatched to Walkers home on Baird Street. Police said they found Walkers mother, Pamela Walker, sitting on the floor next to her bed with multiple stab wounds to her neck and chest.

In an interview with detectives, Walker told them he had been home with his mother when the two of them got into an altercation, police said. He was vague on the nature of the altercation and didnt recall what happened next, police said.

Walker, police said, recalled changing his clothes and walking to the Police Department.

We informed Thomas that his mother was found dead in his home. He showed no emotion, police said.

Police said Walkers sister told them he had a history of mental illness, describing him as bat (expletive) crazy. She said she had contacted his probation officer in an effort to get him mental health treatment, police said.

Police said last year Walker had gone to a cousins home in Bridgeport with a large knife, forced his way into the cousins home and stabbed the victim several times.

In December 2019, Walker pleaded guilty to second-degree assault and was sentenced to six months in prison followed by three years of probation.
Hillary Clinton will soon launch her own podcast, in which she will interview guests such as feminist activist Gloria Steinem, comedian Sarah Cooper, and Queer Eyes Tan France.

You and Me Both with Hillary Clinton will start airing on 29 September and will tackled topics such as faith, resilience, and grief.

Im excited to bring these eye-opening, powerful, sometimes hilarious conversations to the forefront and open up new avenues of discussion with some of the people I find most fascinating, Clinton said in a statement.

This podcast is a chance to talk about subjects that are too often overlooked and share the inspiration and education Ive gotten from my guests.

Other guests will include politician and voting rights activist Stacey Abrams, Call Your Girlfriend co-hosts Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman, food writer and Salt Fat Acid Heat star Samin Nosrat, and comedian Patton Oswalt.

The podcast is being advertised as a series of honest, in-depth conversations covering everything from the pressing political issues of our time to the challenges of cooking in quarantine.

You and Me Both with Hillary Clinton is being released by the iHeartPodcast Network. Clinton can be heard in a trailer released on Tuesday stating: Were living through pretty intense times. A pandemic, an economic freefall, a long-overdue reckoning with racism, and lots of uncertainty about the future of our democracy. I dont know about you, but Im feeling like we need some community.

The trailer then cuts to excerpts from her conversations with various guests.

Clinton isnt the only US first lady to have launched a podcast lately. Michelle Obama unveiled her own programme, The Michelle Obama Podcast, in July this year.
Princess Eugenie has some news to share with fans involving babies, but its not what you think.

If youre one of the many royal fans out there awaiting the day the princess and her husband, Jack Brooksbank, will announce that they are having a baby, today is not that day. However, Prince Andrew and Sarah, Duchess of Yorks daughter posted a super cute Instagram story about how she and Brooksbank have been honored in a super cute way with some new babies.

Princess Eugenie | Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images

RELATED: Queen Elizabeth II Gave Meghan Markle This Honor But Snubbed Her Granddaughter Princess Eugenie

Princess Eugenie shares adorable update via social media

Hello! noted that an Australian zoo in New South Wales recently welcomed two koala joeysone female and one maleand named them: Eugenie and Jack.

Chad Staples, who is the director at Featherdale Wildlife Park and Mogo Zoo, told 9Honey that he ran the idea of the names for the baby koalas by Eugenie and she loved it.

I asked her about the naming of the koalas and she loved the idea. I chose the girl in particular as it was Archers [the koala] first baby and there has been a lot of interest in her.

Staples met Queen Elizabeths granddaughter in 2009 when she spent her gap year in Australia with her aunt Jane Ferguson. Eugenie visited the zoo and has supported its work ever since.

A koala bear at Australian Reptile Park | Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

The princess reposted a video from the Featherdale Sydney Wildlife Parks Instagram account of the announcement and the adorable new additions.

These two little baby koalas are living safely at @featherdalewildlifepark in a wonderful habitat after the devastating bushfires earlier this year and we are honoured that they have been named after Jack and I, the princess wrote. So proud to be a part of rebuilding and supporting these sanctuaries.

The princess also shared a video of the little koala with her name looking at the camera and wrote, Eugenies a bit cheekywinking to the world.

Baby speculation started right after Eugenie wed Jack Brooksbank

Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank | Samir Hussein/WireImage

The big question surrounding Eugenie and Jack ever since they tied the knot in 2018 is: When will they have a baby? And theres been no shortage of speculation about when a baby announcement would come.

On June 18, 2019, Eugenie was photographed at the royal ascot touching her stomach for a moment. That quick gesture didnt go unnoticed and sent the internet into a tailspin claiming Eugenie and Brooksbank were going to share the big news soon. Of course, that was just fans jumping to conclusions as there was no baby news.

Another time fans have thought the princess was expecting was in January 2019 after she posted a throwback pic from when she and Brooksbank announced that they were engaged.

Exactly this day last year  Jack and I announced our engagement. What a year its been since then and how exciting for 2019, Eugenies caption read.

The exciting part has followers beleving that she meant there was a baby on the way but again, people were just reading too much into that as well.
Conservative Leader Erin OToole and his family waited for hours to be tested for COVID-19 last week in Ottawa before being turned away when the centre reached capacity. They eventually got tested in Quebec and are now self-isolating after results came back positive. Predictably, OToole blamed the delay on the Trudeau government.

OTooles frustration was understandable, but he was pointing his finger at the wrong government. He and thousands of other people found that centres run by provincial governments, especially those in Ontario and Quebec, were suddenly overwhelmed by people looking to be tested for COVID-19.

This was a thoroughly predictable situation, given that schools were reopening and children with any COVID-type symptoms had to get an all-clear before being allowed into class. Indeed, many health experts did predict this precise scenario for September. And yet it seemed to arrive as a bolt from the blue, with people lining up for hours just for a test and many turned away.

The Ford government in Ontario, for one, promises a comprehensive fall plan as early as Tuesday of this week to deal with the spike in demand for testing and the arrival of the annual fall flu season, which threatens to add another layer of complication to an already fraught public health situation. It plans, among other things, to allow pharmacies to conduct some tests.

The new plan cant come too soon. But Ontarians should be asking why it couldnt have been rolled out before schools reopened, not a week or two after. That would have saved a lot of people a lot of worry and considerable time waiting in long lines. And it would have spared us all from the spectacle of a government that, once again, seems to be just behind the curve when it comes to responding to the pandemic.

It cant be money. In July, the federal government rolled out its Safe Restart Agreement with the provinces. That involved a staggering $19 billion to support provincial governments in the complicated task of reopening society after the lockdown imposed in March to stem the spread of the coronavirus.

A big chunk of that money  $4.28 billion  was earmarked specifically to help cover the cost of testing and contact tracing, which the experts have told us is key to getting on top of this disease. And of that amount, some $1.16 billion was to go to Ontario.

Thats a lot of money to open testing clinics and make sure there would be enough of them, in the right places, for the predictable moment when people would flood in to make sure they and their children were safe to resume something closer to normal life.

Of course its complicated, and of course public health officials have been working hard for months on many fronts to contain COVID-19. But its not too much to expect that relatively simple steps like expanding hours at testing clinics or creating some new pop-up clinics could have been put in place before the surge in demand, not after.

Ontario is, to be fair, ramping up the number of tests it conducts, topping 40,000 on Saturday on its way to a daily target of 50,000. But its important to test the right people, not just anyone who turns up at a testing centre, and the message on that front has been mixed.

Over the summer, Premier Doug Ford insisted that anyone who wants a test should be able to get one. But public health advice is changing. Alberta, for example, no longer recommends that people without symptoms get tested, mostly because that uncovered only a minuscule number of positive cases. With flu season around the corner, it wants to focus resources on those most at risk or most likely to spread COVID-19.

Ontario should consider adjusting its advice to the public, or at least clarifying it. And it needs to show it is putting all that federal money for testing and tracing to the most effective use. The public has supported difficult health measures for many months now, and this is no time to lose its confidence.
Last year, the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, promised a geopolitical commission with a stronger, more unified voice in the world that could protect European strategic sovereignty. It was a timely idea. Nearly one year on, with a global pandemic scrambling everything, European citizens are counting the cost of the absence of a geopolitical Europe.

In the midst of a pandemic, great powers are turning the links between countries into weapons. China has threatened to withhold medical supplies from European countries that do not support it politically. The US threatens economic sanctions to impose its Iran policy on Europeans. And Turkey threatens to send refugees into Europe if the EU does not pay it money or back it on Libya.

Polling by the European Council on Foreign Relations shows that these developments have led large majorities to see that acting together is necessary to preserve national sovereignty in an increasingly dangerous world, with 63 per cent of Europeans wanting to see more European cooperation as a result of Covid-19.

Despite this clear demand from the citizens, Von der Leyens 2020 State of the Union failed to mention the concept of a geopolitical commission. She presented a laundry list of problems but gave little sense that Europe needs to revise its overall approach to geopolitics.

What happened, and why has it been so hard to create the commission that Von der Leyen promised?

The first issue is EU member states. All of them want a more geopolitical Europe, but most mean that they want the EU to take their specific problems more seriously. For the states in East that means a focus on Russia; for the states in the South, it means paying attention to the troubles across the Mediterranean. For much of northern Europe, it means protecting the EU against Chinese trade depredations.

The State of the Union speech proposed introducing qualified majority voting in foreign policy, at least on human rights and sanctions issues. This is an important step, but all it does is provide a manner to ignore recalcitrant states. A better course than overriding member states on issues that matter to them is to give all EU member states a sense that Europe is their first line of defence in these areas.

The second is the machinery in Brussels that Von der Leyen nominally controls. A geopolitical approach means using all tools of governance to achieve geopolitical objectives. So, the Americans can use their defence relationship with Europeans to demand trade concessions, while the Chinese use their dominance of medical supplies to punish the Dutch for their policy toward Taiwan. But the EU was specifically set up to avoid such crossovers. The idea of, say, using concessions on a trade deal to gain geopolitical concessions is anathema to those who are judged on the quality of their negotiations.

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Unsurprisingly, this got little mention in her speech. Everyone in Brussels acknowledges that a geopolitical approach requires more coordination across the issues, but everyone thinks their organisation should do the coordination. Logically, the European External Action Service, led by Josep Borrell, seems the most obvious candidate. Yet it missed an opportunity to empower it.

The Covid recovery plan allows the EU to invest in building a more sovereign Europe on issues that citizens care about. This could include common stockpiles of medical equipment to tackle future pandemics, well-regulated databases to train artificial intelligence, investments in infrastructure to promote energy independence and carbon transition, and joint defence projects and investments.

Von der Leyen pushed many of these ideas in her speech. But without a focus on the geopolitical aspects of these initiatives, they will likely flounder on competition between member states and Brussels institutions.

It is still early days in Von der Leyens mandate. But it is not too soon to set the institutional bases for success. The EU has all the tools necessary takes to make it happen. To realise that potential, Von de Leyen needs to confront the fact that there are powerful interests in the member states and in Brussels that understand the idea of geopolitics very differently than she does.

Jeremy Shapiro is research director at the European Council on Foreign Relations
AURORA, Ill., Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- It's hardly a radical notion that the pandemic has disrupted business as usual, irrespective of industry. With the "unknowns" seeming to grow by the day, however, where do savvy business leaders turn for stability and continued revenue growth? The answer: a partner whose model was constructed on adaptability and innovation, pre-pandemic.

While Shorr Packaging certainly wasn't planning for a global pandemic, it was planning on the needs of its customer partners changing  and changing rapidly. What's become clear is that the investments Shorr Packaging made in technology and talent, pre-pandemic, has enabled its ever-growing portfolio of customer partners to thrive, and subsequently meet the needs of their customers, during the pandemic and beyond.

Shorr's Strategic Plan rollout began in early 2019. Central to the early stages of the rollout was the ambitious goal of continuing Shorr's expansion of its geographical presence with new locations in Des Moines, Iowa and Apodaca, Mexico. Shorr's goal of being physically proximate to its customer partners stems from the organization's proven model of success: offering customers (whenever possible) in-house technology and real-time adaptability  including the ability to immediately scale  yields greater customer outcomes and augmented, long-term partnerships with Shorr Packaging. It likely goes without saying that it takes more than a warehouse to generate beneficial customer outcomes, however. Enter Shorr team members  both veterans and new hires. Part-in-parcel with Shorr's investment in new locations was the packaging giant's investment in top-tier talent, across all 30+ Shorr locations.

Regional Sales Manager, John Burns describes why he made the decision to come to Shorr Packaging in June of this year: "Shorr is unquestionably elevating the entire packaging game. Having worked in the industry for more than a decade, I can say with 100% confidence that Shorr's commitment to its customers is second-to-none. It is that commitment that drives everything we do at Shorr. From technological investments  like Shorr's VMI (vendor managed inventory) application, enabling our clients to take their own inventory counts, enter them into the app, and place orders directly without the help of an onsite vendor  to meeting our clients with strategic solutions that transcend traditional packaging requests  such as warehousing, automation, and logistics  Shorr delivers for its clients, every day."

Shorr's ingenuity and zeal for delivering beneficial customer outcomes is conveyed by customer partner Kwang Casey, CEO of Oaken Barrel Brewery. Kwang states, "When the pandemic first happened, I had an option: I could've just closed, but I have loyal employees who have been here 20 plus years  Part of the reason I used to avoid carryout was because of packaging. We used to use plastic bags, but I despised those  Then it dawned on me: "What if I make my carryout packaging better?" When Jason [Coonce, Sales Manager at Shorr Packaging] showed up with a packaging idea, it meant a lot to me  because he was thinking about my business  When I saw the box I thought, "that's it!"  The partnership with Shorr has been great. I think Shorr Packaging is in front of the industry."

Ready to see how Shorr packaging can help your organization streamline processes, increase throughput, consolidate vendor networks, and innovate its packaging? Give us a call today: (888) 885-0055

View the blog post here: https://www.shorr.com/packaging-news/2020-09/shorr-investment-technology-and-talent-pays-during-pandemic

Shorr Packaging is an industry-leading distributor of packaging products, equipment and services. Shorr delivers strategic solutions to complex packaging challenges. To learn more, visit www.shorr.com.

This press release was issued through 24-7PressRelease.com. For further information, visit http://www.24-7pressrelease.com.

SOURCE Shorr Packaging
WASHINGTON  The Department of Justices impending lawsuit against Google has narrowed to focus on the companys power over internet search, a decision that could set off a cascade of separate lawsuits from states in ensuing weeks over the Silicon Valley giants dominance in other business segments.

In presentations to state attorneys general starting on Wednesday, the department is expected to outline its legal case centered on how Google uses its dominant search engine to harm rivals and consumers, said four people with knowledge of the plan, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the details were confidential. Meeting with the state attorneys general is one of the final steps before the department files its suit against the company, they said.

The Justice Departments action against Google is set to be narrower than what some states and several career lawyers in the department had envisioned. The department also investigated Googles reach in ad technology and how the company prices and places ads across the internet. But in an effort to file a case by the end of September, the agency decided to pick the piece that was furthest along in legal theory and that it felt could best withstand a potential challenge in court.

The department has not written the final draft of its complaint against Google, and the document is expected to change over the next few days to reflect internal deliberations and input from constituents like the state attorneys general. Suing Google would fulfill a push by Attorney General William P. Barr to take action against a tech giant around the end of September, an effort that has taken on greater urgency ahead of the Nov. 3 election as President Trump fights for a second term.
Early morning drama was witnessed inside Parliament complex when Rajya Sabha deputy chairman Harivansh arrived with tea for the eight suspended lawmakers. Sources said that while some MPs spoke to him about Centre suppressing Opposition voice over farm bills, others linked the bedlam in Upper House to Bihar elections. However, the discussions didnt seem to bear fruits as Harivansh soon wrote an emotional letter to RS Chairman Venkaiah Naidu, announcing that he was on a day-long fast.

Expressing anguish over the humiliating conduct that he was subjected to, Harivansh wrote that he has not been able to sleep as he is troubled over the unruly proceedings of the House.

In a letter to Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, Harivansh wrote that he will observe a one-day fast till tomorrow as he was anguished over opposition attacks in the House".

RS Deputy Chairman Harivansh talks to opposition MPs who were suspended.

Opposition members, objecting to the manner in which the two farm bills were being passed, had on Sunday stormed the well of the House and when their demand for voting wasnt met, they tore papers, climbed on tables, shouted slogans, and allegedly threw the rule book at Harivansh, who was presiding at that time.

Condemning their behaviour, Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said Harivansh had informed him that he was abused with objectionable words" and would have been harmed also". Opposition parties hit out at the government over the suspension of the eight Rajya Sabha MPs and sat in for an indefinite" protest on Parliament premises against the move.

Opposition parties like the Congress, CPI (M), Shiv Sena, JDS, TMC, CPI, and the Samajwadi Party also protested in Parliament premises carrying placards with messages such as Murder of Democracy", Death of Parliament" and Shame, shame". Soon after the Zero Hour, Naidu said he was pained" at the happenings during the passage of The Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020.
UPPER DARBY  Monday was a historic day for the Upper Darby Fire Department as its new fire chief, Derrick Sawyer, was sworn in as the first person from outside the township to take that leadership role.

Sawyer is also the first person of color hired in the firefighting ranks and will oversee a department with more than 55 career and 75 volunteer firefighters.

During his 20 years in the Philadelphia Fire Department, he served in every rank starting at Engine 35 in North Philadelphia and becoming the fire commissioner in 2016. As deputy chief of fire prevention, he helped the city record the lowest civilian fatality count in history. In 2018, Sawyer went to Trenton as the fire director and emergency management coordinator.

He has shown that he can help complex departments run smoothly, efficiently, and safely, said Upper Darby Mayor Barbarann Keffer, who oversaw the hiring. Derrick also brings with him extensive leadership skills; he oversaw nearly a dozen battalions and led multiple divisions successfully.

Keffer added that Sawyer had the unanimous endorsement of the township council.

Sawyer holds multiple degrees, including a Master of Science in Homeland Security from St. Joseph University and a Bachelor of Arts in Public Safety Administration from Holy Family.

The township received 27 applications from across the country for the position, which pays $145,000 per year. They narrowed them down to five for final interviews.

Keffer said she was impressed that Sawyer didnt try to talk over her in her talks with him.

He seemed to be a good listener and that is what we need here, Keffer said. His experience is unmatched and his qualifications are exemplary. Im so happy he was available and interested.

I think its a great day for Upper Darby. This is the next step. Upper Darby is a fantastic fire department and now under Chief Sawyers leadership, I think it is going to go further, said Delaware County Emergency Services Director Tim Boyce, who was part of the search committee. I want to applaud Mayor Keffer and the township for hiring competent people who care and I think that is going to be the hallmark of Chief Sawyer. He has the skills, the experience and the passion to serve the community. Im excited for Upper Darby.

The swearing in took place at Cardington Stonehurst Fire Co., one of four that houses career firefighters. Sawyers wife Suzette and his mother Frances Kelley were by his side for the brief event that was witnessed by than 25 firefighters and friends.

Keffer also took a moment to thank interim Chief Mike Gove for his service.

I promise you we are going to be a community-based fire service. We going to move together as a team, said Sawyer following his swearing in. We are going to make sure we keep this city safe, prepared, healthy and resilient.

Sawyer said the health and safety of firefighters will be a priority for him.

If we arent safe ourselves, we cant keep the community safe, he noted and added he will focus on making sure crews have the proper equipment and tools for safety along with health and wellness and fitness programs.

We will build on the fitness program and we have good health benefits, so we want to be sure firefighters use them for checkups, Sawyer said. We want to make sure we encourage our members to go get checked out on a regular basis. Most illnesses that come with firefighting, if we get them early on, they are curable. The goal, if you are going to do 25 years as a career (firefighter), is to be able to retire and live your life in a healthy lifestyle.

According to NFPA, in 2019, 48 firefighters died in the line of duty, 22 of them from heart attacks, the largest single cause.

While never having worked with volunteer firefighters, Sawyer did say he has worked with volunteers in other organizations and understands their needs and that communication is vital.

The most challenging piece in dealing with volunteers is making sure they have a seat at the table, Sawyer said. I dont know what the issues are here or if there are any here, but my first job and first goal is to sit everybody down at the table and make sure we are on the same page and having conversations.

Sawyer worked in Trenton for 22 months and thinks of that city as comparable to Upper Darby, with a similar size and a high-density population.

Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora told the Trentonian that Sawyer would be extremely hard to replace in his city but that Sawyer had grown frustrated with city councils constant push-back on anything that would move the city forward.

Director Sawyer puts in 12- to 14-hour days, then has to attend sometimes seven-hour council meetings twice a week, Gusciora said. I dont think its something he signed up for.

Sawyer said he will be on the lookout for state federal grants that can improve the department.

The fire service has grown over the past 25-30 years. We want to keep up with the trends and keep up with the technology, Sawyer said. He added that fire service issues are similar from one organization to another.

The fire service is the fire service. I tell people the only difference is that patch on the sleeve. The same issues that you have in one organization, you will have in another organization, Sawyer said. We just have to make sure we can put processes in place, build relationships and work on making this organization even better. Im not saying its not a good organization, but we can always make things better.
For the New World Order, a world government is just the beginning. Once in place they can engage their plan to exterminate 80% of the world's population, while enabling the "elites" to live forever with the aid of advanced technology. For the first time, crusading filmmaker ALEX JONES reveals their secret plan for humanity's extermination: Operation ENDGAME.

Jones chronicles the history of the global elite's bloody rise to power and reveals how they have funded dictators and financed the bloodiest warscreating order out of chaos to pave the way for the first true world empire.

Watch as Jones and his team track the elusive Bilderberg Group to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III.





to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III. Learn about the formation of the North America transportation control grid, which will end U.S. sovereignty forever.





Discover how the practitioners of the pseudo-science eugenics have taken control of governments worldwide as a means to carry out depopulation.





View the progress of the coming collapse of the United States and the formation of the North American Union.

Never before has a documentary assembled all the pieces of the globalists' dark agenda. Endgame's compelling look at past atrocities committed by those attempting to steer the future delivers information that the controlling media has meticulously censored for over 60 years. It fully reveals the elite's program to dominate the earth and carry out the wicked plan in all of human history.

Endgame is not conspiracy theory, it is documented fact in the elite's own words.




The big picture: Facebook says it may be forced to pull the plug on its EU operations, after the Irish privacy watchdog gave it three weeks to stop all user data transfers to the US. The company explains it is "not threatening to withdraw from Europe," but it has taken the issue to court as it believes it has been unfairly targeted for a common practice among many American organizations operating in the region.

Last month, Ireland's Data Protection Commission (DPC) sent Facebook a preliminary order to stop transferring the data of European users to the US, after a European Court of Justice ruled that American privacy legislation isn't adequate. Failing that, Facebook could be fined up to four percent of its annual turnover, which is about $2.8 billion if we go by its global revenue in 2019.

According to a court filing in Dublin spotted by VICE, the social giant said the DPC's decision would make it impossible to offer its services in the EU for the 410 million people that constantly tap into Facebook and Instagram. But more importantly, the company sued the DPC, alleging it's been singled out in a sea of over 5,000 companies who depend on Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) and Privacy Shield to operate EU-US data transfers.

Facebook believes the DPC's move was premature, and takes issue with the potential impact such a measure might have on the European economy, as SCCs are also used by other tech giants, as well as banks, airlines, and many small businesses. The company urges regulators to think of a more pragmatic approach before a sustainable long-term solution can be found.

The DPC issued the preliminary order as a way of preventing data of European residents from being stored or processed in the US, where it may become subject to mass surveillance programs. It's also flexing its muscles after mounting criticism that it isn't doing enough to enforce GDPR on big tech companies.

Yvonne Cunnane, Facebook Ireland's head of data protection and associate general counsel, noted "the fact one person is responsible for the entire process is relevant to [Facebooks] concerns, in respect of the inadequacy of the investigative process engaged in and independence of the ultimate decision-making process."
Andre de Ruyter knew well the adversity he faced at South Africas power monopoly  a state-owned wreck hollowed out by corruption that struggles to keep the lights on, pay its bills and play ball with a unionized workforce.

I dont think I was under any illusion that this wasnt going to be a very challenging job, De Ruyter said in an interview nine months into his tenure as chief executive officer of Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd.

So when De Ruyter got to work as the 13th Eskom CEO in the past decade, he went after one foolproof success. He ordered up a new paint job for the main board room at Megawatt Park, the utilitys brutalist-style headquarters in suburban Johannesburg. It was dirty and it looked shoddy, he says. Im meticulous. I want to do things right.

The 52-year-old private-sector veteran is confident his corporate approach, like a merit-based system for managers and an intolerance for theft, are making headway. The aim is to turn the flailing coal-burning giant into a green-power business with a manageable debt load that sustains Africas most-advanced economy.

De Ruyter has surprised critics due to his tenacity, said Darias Jonker, a director at the Eurasia Group in London. He has stayed the path despite the frustrations and gridlock that many observers thought would make him leave Eskom by this time.

Even before Covid deepened South Africas recession, De Ruyter made waves taking on key constituencies, including his board of directors. He sued the regulator to raise power prices, cut off towns with long-overdue bills and moved to cancel bloated supply contracts. Hes even begun to hold managers accountable in the 44,000-employee company.

De Ruyters tactics have yet to visibly alter Eskoms downward trajectory. The company, once called South Africas biggest economic risk by Goldman Sachs Group Inc. analysts, needs taxpayer handouts to pay the interest on its rising 488 billion rand ($29 billion) of largely government-guaranteed debt. It will report a third consecutive loss this year.

Operations are a mess too. Blackouts are rampant, with Eskom limiting supply to keep a decaying grid from collapsing. Loadshedding, as its called locally, cost South Africa as much as $7 billion in 2019 and the utility this year has already cut the most power on record.

President Cyril Ramaphosas solution is to split Eskom into generation, transmission and distribution businesses, without cutting jobs. De Ruyters task is to carry that out.

We cant carry on doing things like weve always done, he said. Youd have to be oblivious to whats going on in the economy and the negative impact that loadshedding has on the economy.

The traditional CEO track at Eskom is to rise through the ranks of the utility or shift from a government position. De Ruyter was an outlier for the job, having made his name as a manager at Sasol Ltd., the chemical and fuel producer, heading businesses in China and Germany. Passed over as Sasol CEO, De Ruyter moved on, accepting the top job at packaging company Nampak Ltd.

After five years there, he was tapped by the government in a surprise appointment that angered labor unions calling for a Black CEO. Leading candidates declined to take on the challenge, withdrawing from consideration.

Eskoms troubles reflect South Africas decline over the past decade. Ambitious plans to build new generation capacity also failed, resulting in massive cost overruns and equipment that doesnt work properly.

Ramaphosa has invited private power producers to meet demand and reverse an economic downturn with unemployment at 30% and rising.

Graft Magnet

Eskom became synonymous with graft and corruption during the nine-year presidency of Jacob Zuma that preceded Ramaphosas. The company was at the heart of a scam by the locally notorious Guptas, an Indian family that has now fled to Dubai to avoid prosecution. They parlayed political ties into a range of Eskom contracts, from coal supply to consulting. They have denied wrongdoing.

Among others tagged were Deloitte LLP, which admitted to irregularities in the procurement process, and McKinsey & Co., which agreed to return money to the utility after a dispute over its contract.

That helps explain why De Ruyter is getting into the weeds. He responds to customer complaints personally by email. People are frustrated, he said.

Touring the warehouse of one coal-fired station, he noticed three stories of shelving crowded with actuators, a component for its plants, and asked how many are actually used in a year. It turns out that weve been buying these things without regard to the real need, he said.

Yet, with a fleet of power stations prone to breakdowns, Eskom lacks whats needed for repairs and maintenance. Theres up to $100 million of parts at each of over a dozen sites, but when you look for the critical spares, we dont have them, De Ruyter said.

Then you start turning over all the rocks he said, describing how he also learned that the average age of transformers is at least a decade older than what would already have been replaced in the private sector.

Under another, he found the amount of purchases made without a contract rose to upwards of 90%. If you want to steal, an absence of controls is favorable, that helps you. And its interesting to see the cataloguing goes up to a certain number and then it just stops. Eskom now has an initiative to catalogue all purchases.

Given that his personal vision for Eskom must be in direct conflict with a very complex group of stakeholders, he seems to have made decent progress, said Bronwyn Blood, a portfolio manager at Granate Asset Management Ltd. in Cape Town. The fact that he is still in the job, which is no doubt the toughest job in South Africa, and soldiering on bravely through the challenges that Eskom faces, is hugely positive from an investors point of view.

Equipment and software dont fight back  unlike the people De Ruyter needs to get with his program.

Eskom employees are completely disconnected to the current leadership, said Irvin Jim, general secretary of the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa, the second-biggest union at the utility. You see that in the Eskom performance.

The risk of failing to get unions cooperation emerged in 2018 during wage negotiations. Canceling expected bonuses was called an act of war by the utilitys biggest labor group, the National Union of Mineworkers. Protesters blocked access to the stations, conveyor belts carrying coal were cut, power went out, and the rand weakened. Eskom capitulated to the demands.

Confronting Managers

De Ruyter says he has a good relationship and prefers to collaborate with the unions, but is setting an unfamiliar tone from the top.

Managers from over a dozen power stations were summoned last month to an auditorium at Eskoms headquarters to be confronted by De Ruyter with photos showing very poor maintenance practices.

I said, this is it, please understand that some of you will no longer be here if this continues. After severe power cuts followed, De Ruyter hand-delivered suspension letters to some of the managers.

The stakeholders who ultimately control Eskoms fate are giving him space to put turnaround plans in motion.

Eskoms government manager, the Department of Public Enterprises, supports De Ruyters recent moves. The CEO has revised the team in generation to try and strengthen it so he can better cope with the challenges, DPE Director-General Kgathatso Tlhakudi said in an interview on a day of power cuts last month.

But the government wont be providing a blank check indefinitely. Eskom must show improvement in various areas including its cost base, revenue and collecting municipal debt, he said. What we cannot be expecting is that the quantum of support that theyve been receiving up until now should continue.

Ramaphosa, who has pledged urgent action to add capacity from private producers, holds the key, De Ruyter says, offering a tale about the building of a Russian railroad, when officials were bickering about the route. Legend has it that the Tsar then walked in, flogged down a ruler on the map, said there is the route and that was it.

Green Dream

De Ruyter says its not enough to keep Eskom operating. Besides cutting the debt load and moving away from coal, he has his eye on creating a clean energy industry in South Africa.

In Mpumalanga province, the heart of coal country, the black rocks travel on conveyers that stretch for miles to power stations. Some Eskom plants are within a short enough distance to the only natural gas pipeline from Mozambique that they could be repurposed to use the fuel. De Ruyter has had regular discussions with the World Bank as well as French and German development banks about how such a transition could allow better financing terms.

The proposal calls for a major leap of faith by labor, which must sign off. We need to as a country understand the very legitimate fears of people who have jobs that are afraid of losing those jobs, he said.

There are encouraging signs. Moodys Investors Service says green bonds, whose proceeds finance environmental social projects, could exceed $200 billion in 2020.

After nine months, De Ruyter is nearing the average term for Eskom CEOs over the last decade. I find it personally very rewarding to see things improve and maybe that improvement is not visible outside, but gradually you can sense it. he said. Its a big elephant. One bite at a time.
A college party organization has defended hosting a series of 'underground' back-to-school events in Utah, where coronavirus cases have since spiked.

Samuel Nii and Kwaku El, are the founders of Young/Dumb, an organization catering to the college party scene in Utah County, home of two major Church of Latter-Day Saints universities.

The pair drew attention earlier this month and in August after they began promoting dance parties in the Provo-Orem area on social media amid the pandemic.

Utah County, which had seen a decline in COVID-19 cases this summer, is currently experiencing a surge, with more than 1,000 new cases recorded on Friday, according to the state health department.

Samuel Nii (left) and Kwaku El (right) are the founders of Utah college party organization, Young/Dumb

Young/Dumb has come under fire for hosting a series of a 'underground parties' in Utah County, celebrating the start of the fall semester

The record number of new cases comes as thousands of college students return to campus for the fall semester.

But Nii and El, both aged in their early 20s, have denied that the college party events have contributed to a spike in cases.

Young/Dumb began promoting parties in the area earlier last month, kicking off the start of the school semester with an event planned for August 7.

The group organized a 'mansion dance party' in Provo, home to Brigham Young University, at a time when COVID cases were considered 'low risk', according to The Salt Lake Tribune.

The group later shared an update on its Instagram page informing followers of their decision to cancel the party due to 'health and welfare' concerns from the owners of the venue.

Young/Dumb said it would instead host an 'underground party' and would release the address of the 'secret' venue on the day of the event to avoid efforts to 'squash' it.

'Due to the health & welfare of the owners of the mansion and the reality of COVID-19, we have decided to cancel the August 7th Mansion Dance Party. However, due to us not being little b******, we are replacing it with THE UNDERGROUND DANCE PARTY,' the statement read.

The organizers also said they would take safety precautions by providing hand sanitizer, water and soap to their guests.

A few weeks later, they hosted another event titled 'The Glow Up Show Up' in Provo on September 4. Details of that party were again not released until the day of the event.

Organizers had planned for a mansion party in Provo on August 7, but the event was canceled amid health concerns from the venue's owners. Young/Dumb instead chose to hold the event at a secret location

Most recently on September 11, Young/Dumb held another underground 'mask-querade dance party' in which guests gathered at a secret location in nearby Orem, where they were required to wear masks.

In a statement to Fox 13, Utah County Health Department spokesperson Aislynn Tolman-Hill said they were aware of the photos of the gatherings being shared on social media.

'We are seeing the evidence on social media. We know the pictures are out there,' she said. 'It certainly is not something that we would recommend.'

After drawing criticism over the events, El took to Facebook to defend their decision to host the parties and said the spike in cases was a likely a result of other events and factors, not their events.

'We decided this choice was fair given multiple large gatherings had occurred in Provo and surrounding cities for weeks and days preceding our party,' he said, referring to BLM protests and other local events that had taken place in the area.

They later hosted a 'mask-querade' dance party on September 11

The group's founders addressed the controversy surrounding their events after Utah County recorded a spike in new coronavirus cases

El and Nii later shared an statement on Instagram blaming the surge in cases on students returning to the area in mass.

'The morning of September fourth, BYU released the statistic that the University currently had forty COVID sicknesses on campus. The illnesses had affected the student body before our parties came into effect,' the statement read.

'Perhaps it was from weekly dance parties at certain established venues, weekly country swing dances, various hot tub gatherings or "hook up culture". Regardless, it is safe to say the virus most likely came by the arrival of over thirty thousand students moving back into the Provo-Orem area.

'Although Young/Dumb is not a health bureau, it is likely that COVID's traction among students came by way of adding over thirty thousand people into one Valley, over the span of a few days, and not from students Milly-rocking to a Big Sean song, at a party that had not occurred yet.'

'We are not surprised that the University area's spikes are among University students. This make sense because it's in a University area and these are University students,' the two men added.

Nii and El also claimed their events have not been shut down by authorities due to the health and safety precautions they implement among party-goers.

'Our only event to be closed early was due to a fire hazard and not the Coronavirus,' they said.
Jeff Bezos, founder and chief executive officer of Amazon.com Inc., speaks at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019.

Jeff Bezos is set to open the first location of his network of nonprofit preschools, which are overseen by his philanthropic Day One Fund.

In an Instagram post on Tuesday, the Amazon CEO said the first preschool will be based in Des Moines, Washington. The school is being launched by a nonprofit organization called Bezos Academy.

The school will open for in-person classes on Oct. 19, said the Day 1 Academies Fund, which is overseen by the Day One Fund. The single-room school is planned to accommodate about a dozen students, ages 3 to 5 years old, and will be open year-round, five days a week, the organization said.

The Day 1 Academies Fund said the school will follow coronavirus safety measures outlined by Washington state officials and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Child care and early learning programs remain open in Washington state.

Enrollment at the school is currently underway, the Day 1 Academies Fund said. An Amazon spokesperson declined to say how many schools Bezos Academy plans to open.

Bezos first unveiled his plan to launch a network of "Montessori-inspired" preschools in September 2018. The schools are built in low-income communities and designed for underserved children, offering them access to free programs.

Montessori schools emphasize hands-on and self-directed learning, with uninterrupted blocks of working time, in mixed-age classrooms. Bezos is a product of a Montessori education, along with Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin.

At the time of the announcement, Bezos said he wanted to run the schools using Amazon's own principles, namely, customer obsession. "The child will be the customer," he added.

Bezos launched the Day One Fund with a $2 billion commitment in September 2018, with the goal of launching preschools under the Day 1 Academies Fund and helping homeless families under the Day 1 Families Fund.

The Day One Fund has been closely watched since its announcement two years ago. As CEO of Amazon, founder of rocket company Blue Origin and owner of The Washington Post, Bezos is the richest man in the world, with a net worth of at least $176 billion. In August, his wealth briefly crossed $200 billion, making him the first person to cross that threshold.
Today hes turned his back on the kids that were talking about, and hes turned his face in favor of the teachers union and what they have to say and what they have to demand, and its really shameful, she said.
BALTIMORE, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Urological Association (AUA) today celebrates the passage of H.R. 6092, the Veteran's Prostate Cancer Treatment and Research Act by the U.S. House of Representatives, which passed unanimously this afternoon. This important bill supports the development and implementation of a Veterans Health Administration (VHA) health care program focused on coordinated and comprehensive care for veterans with prostate cancer.

The bill would also direct the VHA to develop a national clinical pathway for prostate cancer and design a Prostate Cancer Registry and Research Program. A clinical pathway is a tool based on multidisciplinary evidence that guides health care best practices for a specific condition or disease. The goal of a clinical pathway is to streamline and improve both quality and delivery of care for patients, resulting in improved outcomes for those patients. The registry created by this legislation would be specific to veterans receiving treatment within the VHA system.

H.R. 6092 was originally introduced in the House in March 2020 by Representatives Neal Dunn (R-FL-2) and Joe Cunningham (D-SC-1). The House Veterans' Affairs Committee held a hearing on this bill earlier this month. The AUA has supported the bill since its introduction, submitted to the VA Committee a statement on the record in support of the bill prior to the September 10 hearing and celebrates today with the more than three million prostate cancer survivors within the United States.

The National Institutes of Health reports that prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in the VHA, and the American Cancer Society estimates that nearly 192,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2020 alone.

"Given that the development of national clinical care pathways requires extensive data on large populations, the VHA is equipped and well-positioned to develop these models," said AUA President Dr. Scott Swanson. "It is our hope that the Senate will see the value of moving this important legislation forward to advance care for our nation's veterans and for all men."

The VHA is the largest integrated health care system in the United States with more than 1,200 health care facilities and provides care to more than nine million veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. The VHA has unparalleled systems and data resources and is uniquely capable of creating a true learning health care system to develop national clinical pathways to help physicians diagnose and treat prostate cancer. These models have the potential to affect all men, regardless of whether they receive care through the VHA.

"The establishment of a clinical pathway will standardize treatment options and result in improved outcomes for these patients," Dr. Swanson said. "The passage of this bill by the House is a victory for veterans living with prostate cancer."

About the American Urological Association: Founded in 1902 and headquartered near Baltimore, Maryland, the American Urological Association is a leading advocate for the specialty of urology and has nearly 23,000 members throughout the world. The AUA is a premier urologic association, providing invaluable support to the urologic community as it pursues its mission of fostering the highest standards of urologic care through education, research and the formulation of health policy.

SOURCE American Urological Association

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www.auanet.org


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New power couple Kaia Gerber and Jacob Elordi seem to be having the time of their lives in Los Cabos in Mexico this week.

The Vogue supermodel and the Kissing Booth actor were seen in their swimsuits as they continued to soak up the sun with her famous parents Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber by the swimming pool at an upscale resort.

The young duo have been inseparable since they kicked off their high-profile romance only a month ago in New York City.

Happy together: Kaia Gerber and Jacob Elordi seem to be having the time of their lives in Los Cabos, Mexico this week

Keeping an eye on her new man: The cover girl looked down as her amour Jacob wore a cap by the side of the pool

Hello there good looking: At one point Jacob raised his book, The Overstory by Richard Powers, to check out the sea while his lady love was belly down on the lounge chair

Brunette bombshell Kaia was seen with her dark hair slicked back from a dip in the swimming pool as she added brown tinted sunglasses.

The 19-year-old wore an attractive bikini that had a brown Sommer Swim bandeau top with a ring in the front. The small briefs were low-ride and black with a thong back.

The Chanel catwalk queen also had a deep tan with bikini top lines on her chest from her top the day before. At one point, she was seen holding a light pink journal.

Jacob had on gray swim trunks that showed off his very toned physique and he was also seen with a blue towel around his waist.

Out of the water: Kaia was seen with her dark hair slicked back from a dip in the swimming pool as she added brown tinted sunglasses

Teen spirit: The 19-year-old wore an attractive bikini that had a brown Sommer Swim bandeau top with a ring in the front. The small briefs were low-ride and black with a thong back

Twice as nice: Instead of chatting it up, each one of the stars read their own book as they unwound by the sea

He was seen walking around the pool then settling down on a lounge chair where he read the 2018 Pulitzer prize winning book The Overstory by Richard Powers about nine Americans whose unique life experiences with trees bring them together to address the destruction of forests.

Also on Jacob and Kaia's tropical Mexican getaway were her supermodel parents Crawford, 54, and Gerber, 58.

This sighting comes just after Jacob congratulated his Euphoria co-star Zendaya on her Emmy win for her role on the hit series.

The 24-year-old actress (real name: Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman) became the youngest to win the Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series award for her portrayal of Rue in HBO's Euphoria.

A golden glow for the golden girl: The Chanel catwalk queen also had a deep tan with bikini top lines on her chest from her top the day before

Writing down her thoughts? At one point the star held on to a slender light pink book

She was also just the second Black woman to win in that category, following Viola Davis' win for playing Annalise Keating in How To Get Away With Murder, with Elordi, 23, taking to his Instagram story to honor her.

Elordi shared a photo of Zendaya with the caption 'Congratulations captain @zendaya' with a black heart emoji, followed by 'Bravo' and a purple heart emoji.

Kaia and Jacob were first seen out to dinner together earlier this month at the upscale seaside sushi spot Nobu Malibu.

A source told E! News at the time that their relationship was mostly platonic: 'Jacob definitely has interest in dating Kaia, but there is nothing serious going on there.

Mom and pop: They were seen soaking up the sun with her famous parents Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber at an upscale resort

Mama bear looking around: The Becoming author was seen in a blue and white caftan with her hair down and sunglasses on; next to her is her husband Rande

Cindy never looks bad: The supermodel from the 1990s and 2000s - who still has a healthy career thanks to her age-defying looks - wore a royal blue top

'They have many mutual friends and have hung out many times in the past. They both have very chill personalities and similar interests. Jacob makes Kaia laugh and her family adores him.'

The insider added: 'Kaia is keeping things friendly for now but there is flirtation between the two. She has told friends she is single and is only having fun and hanging out with people.'

Another source later told E! News: 'They've been inseparable for the last several weeks. They've been going out to dinner at night and working out together at the gym during the day.'

A little change: Gerber was also seen adjusting her small bikini top while on a lounger

Checking herself out: The leggy wonder, who is good friends with Kendall Jenner and Bella Hadid, looked at her frame

Hello daddy! Kaia was on the far left with her book as dad Rande was seen in dark trunks

Kaia split with Pete Davidson, 26, back in January, after three months of dating, and she later got matching foot tattoos with friend and 'solemate' Cara Delevingne, 28, over the summer, which sparked some rumors.

Meanwhile, Jacob is reportedly fresh off a relationship with Euphoria costar Zendaya, 24, after they began dating in February and later quarantined on opposite sides of the world.

Last week Kaia and her mother Cindy were seen modeling Omega watches at a photo shoot done in the garage of the family home.

Ex-boyfriend: Kaia split with Pete Davidson, 26, back in January (pictured together last year), while Jacob is reportedly fresh off a relationship with Euphoria costar Zendaya, 24 (pictured together in June 2019)
Nearly 70 years after the historic downtown reach of the Santa Cruz River ran dry, water returned in the form of 2.8 million gallons of reclaimed water released daily through the City of Tucson's Santa Cruz River Heritage Project. Within the first day of the water's release, several species of dragonflies, including this one, were found near the river's banks. Credit: Michael Bogan

Throughout the late 19th century, rivers across the southwestern United States were parceled out, and flows were diverted through irrigation canals and trapped behind dams. Growing populations put new demands on groundwater sources. Coupled with changing climate conditions, water tables sank and perennial streams began to run dry.

The fate of the Santa Cruz River in southeastern Arizona was no different.

The banks of the river, described in 1855 by explorer Julius Froebel as "covered with poplars and willows, ash-trees and plantains, oaks and walnut trees," would be unrecognizable by the late 1940s.

Nearly 70 years after the historic downtown reach of the Santa Cruz River ran dry, water returned in the form of 2.8 million gallons of reclaimed water released daily through the city of Tucson's Santa Cruz River Heritage Project.

When the water valves opened, researchers from the University of Arizona School of Natural Resources and the Environment were there to witness the occasion. Their driving question: When and how would the aquatic biodiversity return?

"Within the first day, we saw seven different species of dragonflies," said Michael Bogan, an assistant professor of natural resources with the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

After 10 months, the team found over 40 species.

"Which is what you would see in a site that had been flowing for a very long time," Bogan said.

More than a year of effluent-fed river flow later, the results of the "grand experiment"published this week in the environmental science-focused, open-access journal PeerJare simple: Just add water.

"If you can put water back into these river systems that have been essentially de-watered, aquatic life will respond," Bogan said. "It will come back, even after a long absence, as is the case with the river in downtown Tucson."

The Good, the Bad and the Stinky:

Historically, effluent-dependent streams have been widely seen as degraded ecosystems, with much lower biodiversity than natural streams.

Michael Bogan with a dragonfly on the bank of the Santa Cruz River. Credit: Claire Zugmeyer/Sonoran Institute

"This was due to relatively poor water quality being discharged into streams from wastewater treatment facilities," said Hamdhani, a graduate student in the School of Natural Resources and the Environment.

Hamdhani led a review study of water quality in effluent-fed streams across the globe, recently published in the journal Freshwater Biology.

"It revealed that some critical water quality parameters are often negatively impacted in portions of streams, typically closest to the effluent outfalls," Hamdhani said. "Some common issues include elevated temperature, nutrients, trace organic contaminants and low dissolved oxygen."

However, many wastewater treatment plants have been upgraded to provide better reclaimed water quality, and this better water is now supporting surprisingly high levels of biodiversity, as is the case in the Santa Cruz River.

"A lot of that is due to changes that the county made about eight years ago to both of the treatment plants that feed the northern reaches of the river," Bogan said. "Prior to 2012, they discharged lower quality water. You used to be able to smell the river when you drove in on I-10."

Both treatment plants went through a major upgrade in the early 2010s, where they improved the water treatment process.

"After that, the smell disappeared," Bogan said. "And biodiversity returned."

Crossing the Border, Changing Directions:

The Santa Cruz River, a tributary of the Gila River, runs approximately 184 miles. It springs from the grasslands of the San Rafael Valley east of Patagonia, Arizona, and is the only river in the U.S. to cross the border twice. Running south into Mexico for roughly 10 miles, it changes course and turns north to cross the border again just east of Nogales.

"The river channel flows all the way to the confluence of the Gila River south of the Phoenix area," said Drew Eppehimer, a doctoral student in arid lands resource sciences. "Traditionally, it never really flowed that far. Maybe in huge monsoon flood events, but the formerly perennial sections of the river, here near town, dried up in the early 1900s because of groundwater pumping."

Eppehimer studies water management along the borderlands, focused particularly on treated effluent-fed streams and river systems as a potential source of novel habitats for aquatic life in the desert.

In Arizona, there are about a dozen effluent-dependent river and stream systems, making up about 90 miles of effluent flow.

Nearly 70 years after the historic downtown reach of the Santa Cruz River ran dry, reclaimed water brings biodiversity back to the river. Credit: Rosemary Brandt/College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Reclaimed water released from two wastewater treatment plants just north of Tucson helps the Santa Cruz flow as far as the Pinal County line. Beginning in 2017, Eppehimer delved into the at-times waist-deep waters in these northern reaches of the Santa Cruz River to study the resurgence of aquatic life taking root.

"There wasn't a lot of historical research on that reach of the river, but there was some. When you look at what they found, they would see a handful of insects, five or 10 different kinds," Bogan said. "Whereas Drew went out there and found over 150 different kinds. That's all thanks to the upgrade of these treatment plants and the higher water quality that we have now."

"Mayflies and caddisflies are quite abundant in that part of the river, which kind of shocked us," Eppehimer said. "You think of this effluent as maybe being of poorer quality than a natural stream system, and a lot of other studies view treated wastewater as a detriment to aquatic environments, but here it's the only water we have that sustains year-round flows in the river."

The biodiversity in the northern reaches of the effluent-dependent Santa Cruz River are encouraging; caddisflies and mayflies are not only indicators of a fairly healthy water system, but signs of a comeback, according to the researchers.

New Reaches, New Beginnings:

The new Santa Cruz River Heritage Project is a third discharge location along the river near Tucson, south of downtown and farther upstream. Eppehimer's findings in the northern reaches of the river served as the baseline for additional research.

"The downtown reach gave us that opportunity to say, OK, from day one, who arrives first, which species do well, and how long does it take for that same level of biodiversity that we see in the northern reaches to build up in this new reach? In the case of the dragonfly, it actually became that best case scenario within a year," Bogan said.

Innovative new projects using effluent to restore flow in rivers, like the Santa Cruz River Heritage Project, are showing almost immediate positive biodiversity effects, and the return of species to these rivers after very long dry spells can be incredibly fast.

Still, questions remain. Despite improved wastewater treatment technologies, trace levels of contaminants, such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and pharmaceuticals, pass through treatment and persist in streams.

"Further questions surround the things we cannot readily observe, or those mixtures of environmentally persistent compounds that are not yet regulated and slip by treatment processes," said David Walker, an assistant research scientist in the UArizona Department of Environmental Science.

Walker adds that these compounds may have cumulative biological and behavioral effects on organisms and aquatic life, and says it is often the mixture of these micropollutants in treated effluent discharged into rivers that account for the biggest unknowns.

"Effluent can potentially still pose water quality impairments that may cause biological community degradation," Hamdhani said. "However, when wastewater treatment standards are high, effluent-fed streams can serve as refuges for aquatic biodiversity and corridors of ecological connectivity, especially in semi-arid and arid regions where natural streams have been depleted."

Explore further Biodiversity resurgence in effluent-fed desert riverbeds

More information: Michael T. Bogan et al, If you build it, they will come: rapid colonization by dragonflies in a new effluent-dependent river reach, PeerJ (2020). Journal information: PeerJ Michael T. Bogan et al, If you build it, they will come: rapid colonization by dragonflies in a new effluent-dependent river reach,(2020). DOI: 10.7717/peerj.9856
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad on Tuesday said the opposition will boycott the proceedings of the House till the suspension of eight members is revoked.

Speaking after the Zero Hour, Azad also demanded that the government brings a bill which should ensure private players don't procure food grains below the minimum support price (MSP) fixed by the government.

He also asked the government that the MSP should be fixed from time to time as the C2 Swaminathan formula.

As many as eight members of the Rajya Sabha were suspended on Monday after the government brought a motion in this regard which was passed by the House by voice vote.

These eight members were suspended for "unruly behaviour" during the passage of the two key farm bills that were passed on Sunday by Rajya Sabha amid chaos.
When Jeffrey Rosen first met Ruth Bader Ginsburg, it was in an elevator in 1991. The austere, very formidable Ginsburg was wearing workout clothing, having just come from a Jazzercise class. Rosen was extremely intimidated by her silent presence, but in an attempt to break the ice, he asked the first question that came to mind: What operas have you seen recently? It turns out that was the right question because Ginsburg really loved the opera, and a lasting friendship was born. In November of last year, Dahlia Lithwick sat down with Rosen at the National Constitution Center, where he serves as president, to discuss his book Conversations With RBG: Ruth Bader Ginsberg on Life, Love, Liberty, and Law. In light of Ginsburgs recent death, a transcript of a portion of their sweeping conversation, which has been edited and condensed for clarity, is below.

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Dahlia Lithwick: Justice Ginsburg always talks about the advice that her mother gave her as a young girl. She always says her mother told her two things: one, be independent, two, be a lady. Now, bearing in mind that at the time, be a lady meant dont be independent, it is a life that she has actually crafted in which she has managed to do both. I wonder if you can just take us through the Ruth Bader Ginsburg that was a lady, was very careful, very reserved, to the Ruth Bader Ginsburg of today.

Jeffrey Rosen: Youre right that those two injunctions from her motherand the fact that she tells it shows how significant it is to hermight seem to be in tension. How can you both be a lady and be independent? I asked her about this during our last interview, in July. And I say, Your mother often told you to be a lady, to be independent. Yes, she said. By that, I gather she meant overcome unproductive emotions like anger and jealousy. Is that right? Yes, she said. And then I said, So how do you actually do it? And she said, Because I realized if I dont overcome unproductive emotions, Ill lose precious time for useful work. And its that extraordinary self-mastery that is the advice of the great wisdom traditions of the Bible and the Bhagavad-Gita and the Buddhist traditionsto set aside your ego so that you can focus on achieving your true path and serving othersthat she lives more successfully than any human being Ive ever encountered.

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When she started off at the Supreme Court, she was viewed as a very particular judge who would definitely pay close attention to word choices, a judges judge and a minimalist who was very keen on narrow opinions that wouldnt dramatically disturb legislative choices, yet she became the most galvanizing and crusading advocate of liberalism of our time. And I asked her about it, and she insisted: Oh, Jeff, I didnt change. The court changed. When Justice John Paul Stevens retired, Justice Ginsburg becomes the senior associate justice. All of a sudden she thinks her role changes, far from being the minimalist, always crafting a narrow opinion. She thinks its important for the liberals to speak in one voice, so she starts writing the main dissents. And it was in 2013 that she writes her Shelby County dissent, which inspires the Tumblr blog, the Notorious R.B.G., which goes viral. So thats her explanation, that it was really just a change in role and the composition of the court, not in her. But Dahlia, I have to ask you this because youve thought as deeply about this as I have, do you buy that explanation? Or do you think that she actually did change?

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Her whole career, shes one of two women on the bench. And she was actually pretty scrupulous about saying gender doesnt matter that much. She and Justice Sandra Day OConnorJeff talks about this in the bookevery single year that the two of them sat together, at some point an oral advocate would call Justice Ginsburg Justice OConnor and call Justice OConnor Justice Ginsburg. It happened every single term. So much so that the National Womens Law Center had T-shirts made for them that said: Im Sandy. Shes Ruth. Im Ruth. Shes Sandy. It was a joke.

But also, I think that in that period it seemed she was much less anxious because she wasnt the only one. And she was very aware that the trailblazing had been done by Justice OConnor. And then, when OConnor left in 2005 to take care of her ailing husbandwhich is, by the way, a whole other feminist story because it was really a thing that the male justices would not have done, she feltsuddenly Justice Ginsburg is the only one, which is a long way of saying that in 2009, when the court argues a case about a little girl in middle school whos been strip-searched for contraband ibuprofen, I remember sitting in the room for the oral argument, and everybody was making jokes. Justice Antonin Scalia was joking about whether they searched from the outside in or the inside out. And Chief Justice John Roberts was making jokes. And then poor Justice Stephen Breyer starts saying things about, When I was in high school changing for gym, people would stick things in my underwear. And of course everybody at this point is doubled over laughing.

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And Justice Ginsburg, who never loses her cool, actually gets very angry. And she sort of tunes up her colleagues from the bench and says, This is nothing like changing for gym class. And she describes how this child was humiliated while the strip search was going on. And then, she gives an interview, while the case is pending, where she says to Joan Biskupic: I cant believe that Im the only woman on the bench who thought that was appalling. And if there were more women on the bench, it would not have been like that. And then she said, which is fighting words for RBG, I dont think the men share my sensitivities on this. And by the time the case comes down, all the judges, with two exceptions, mostly have conformed entirely to her vision of this as an inappropriate search. But it was her wielding a kind of soft power, and I had never seen her do it until then. That, to me, is when I carbon-date how she started to change.

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Thats so convincing. I think youre right that once she realized both that she had a distinctive role to play and was, as you just said, outraged by the fact that her male colleagues werent getting it, she could find her voice. And then the writing changes, too. The early decisions quote other judges all the time. Suddenly, after 2013 or so, shes coming up with these great metaphors like Just because youre not getting wet doesnt mean that you throw away your umbrella. And she writes like a dream, and she writes in a really galvanizing way. And then young women and other citizens are galvanized and responding, and start quoting her. So shes just freed up. Shes liberated to say what she thinks.

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One of the things that you explore in the book isand we forget thiswhen she was first tapped for the U.S. Supreme Court, womens groups did not want her. They were strongly opposed to her. The womens movement was really, really suspicious of her. She actually had a fairly consistent criticism of Roe that she had elucidated at the time, that people took very much, I think, as a myth. Now it seems that she mightve been on the right track and we failed to catch it.

This is what she said: At the time of Roe v. Wade, this issue was all over the state legislatures. Sometimes the choice people won, sometimes they lost. They were out there organizing and getting political experience. The Supreme Court decision made every law in the country, even the most liberal, unconstitutional in one fell swoop. The people who prevailed said, How great. Were done. Weve got it all. The Supreme court gave it to us. What happened? Opposition mounted and instead of fighting in the trenches state by state to retain restrictive abortion laws, there was one clear target to aim at, the unelected justices of the Supreme Court.

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Embedded in here there are a few criticisms, many of which have been borne out by history. One is that the move in opposition to Roe becomes the single most powerful and effective movement in the country, that attacks on the unelected judiciary become salient and organizing. And then another critique, which is not in this quote, is that she wouldve always located reproductive rights, not in the due process clause, the privacy clauses, not in the rights that she scoffs at in Roe between a doctor and a woman, but in the equal protection clause, that women cannot function as economic equals in a society where they cant control their reproductive rights. In many ways each of those critiques is pretty prophetic. But its amazing that she went from being somebody that the feminist movement, at that time, in the early 90s, found way too conservative. And now here she isshe seems to have been ahead of her time.

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Prophetic is exactly the right word. Isnt it amazing that at the time womens groups opposed her? Its impossible to imagine now. So shes appointed, and the womens groups are against her, both because of Roe and because they think shes too minimalist, too conservative, too cautious, not enough of a crusader. But then think about how prophetic she was. The claim that Roe inspired a backlash that would energize the pro-life side and make complacent the pro-choice side in a way that stayed what Justice Ginsburg said was a movement in favor of the liberalization of abortion laws seem right. Roe came, as she predicted, to dominate our Supreme Court confirmation politics in a way that blinded people to other issues like the future of the administrative state, for example, that have proved just as salient.

And then theres the equality rationale. Its so remarkable that for 20 years the brightest, most brilliant legal minds in America tried to come up with an alternative rationale for Roe, an alternative to Justice Harry Blackmuns privacy metaphor, which was problematic, both because the Constitution doesnt explicitly protect reproductive autonomy or privacy in that sense and also because it was paternalistic, as Justice Ginsburg said, to conceive of abortion as a private choice between women and their mostly male doctors. And after 20 years of thinking, the best that the most brilliant minds could come up with was Justice Ginsburgs claim, that its a violation, not just of privacy, but one of womens equality to impose burdens on women that are not imposed on mento prevent women, and not men, from making autonomous decisions about their life courses and careers. And in that sense, to violate the promise of equality enshrined in the Constitution. And when the court upheld Roe v. Wade in Casey v. Planned Parenthood, it invoked that equality rationale. If wed listened to her 25 years ago, the rights of abortion would be on much stronger constitutional grounds.

To hear the rest of their 2019 conversation, listen below, or subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Nadler Rejects DOJs Anarchist Jurisdiction Label of New York City

Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) condemned the Trump administrations designation of New York City as an anarchist jurisdiction, which the Department of Justice announced Monday. This designation would enable the administration to withhold federal funding unless local officials restore law and order.

We (New Yorks congressional delegation) reject Trumps partisan distraction and stand together in opposing any effort to cut funding for NYC, Nadler wrote in a Tweet Tuesday morning.

According to the DOJ, anarchist jurisdictions are areas that have permitted violence and destruction of property to persist and have refused to undertake reasonable measures to counteract criminal activities.

For New York City, the DOJ cites statistics that shootings have risen since rioting and looting began in May 2020 and writes, For July 2020, shootings increased from 88 to 244, an increase of 177 [percent] over July 2019. In August 2020, shootings increased from 91 to 242, a 166 [percent] increase over August 2019.

Police stand guard near looted stores during a night of protests and vandalism over the death of George Floyd in New York City on June 1, 2020. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

The DOJ also cites the fact that the Manhattan and Brooklyn District Attorneys have declined to prosecute charges of disorderly conduct and unlawful assembly arising from the protests, and the District Attorneys in Queens and the Bronx have declined to prosecute other protest-related charges.

Damage is seen at an Urban Outfitters store near New Yorks Union Square on May 31, 2020, after it was damaged in the midst of a protest highlighting the death of George Floyd who was in police custody in Minneapolis. (Craig Ruttle/AP Photo)

In addition to Nadler, New York Democrats, Reps. Carolyn Maloney, Grace Meng, Nydia Velazquez, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Hakeem Jeffries, Katherine Clarke, Eliot Engel, Gregory Meeks, Jose E. Serrano, Max Rose, Nita Lowey, and Adriano Espaillat issued a written statement Monday pushing back on the DOJs designation of New York City as an anarchist haven.

The President does not have the power to target and defund individual cities, nor does he have the authority to single-handedly eliminate or change congressional appropriations, N.Y. Democrats wrote. They said they are united and will oppose any attempted funding cuts associated with the label.

In addition, New Yorks Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he will fight the administration in court like they did when the administration attempted to take away money from jurisdictions for being sanctuary cities.

He doesnt control federal funding. The federal law controls federal funding, and the federal law is very specific: Jurisdiction doesnt get affordable housing money if it does this, jurisdiction gets community development money if it does this, the jurisdiction gets Title I education funding if it does this. And the President is not above the lawthats the Constitution of the United States, Cuomo said in a written statement.

The DOJ has also designated Portland, Oregon, and Seattle, Washington as anarchist jurisdictions.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio along with Portland and Seattle Mayor said that President Trump is playing political games with this new DOJ policy.

This is thoroughly political and unconstitutional. The President is playing cheap political games with Congressionally directed funds, the three mayors wrote. They added that the President is shirking his responsibilities and blaming others for his failures.

An individual whose feet caught fire after a molotov cocktail exploded runs toward a medic in Portland, Ore., on Sept. 5, 2020. (Nathan Howard/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, NY Attorney General Letitia James criticized the president for diverting attention from COVID deaths by designating NYC as an anarchist jurisdiction. She warned the administration to be prepared to fight this policy in court.

Referring to a past court case involving a sanctuary city designation by the Trump administration that would have stripped funding from New York, James said, We have beat the president and the illegal actions of his DOJ in court before and have no doubt we will beat them again, James said in a written statement Monday.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the new designation.
By Laman Ismayilova

With its old cobler streets and historical sites, Azerbaijani villages have special charm.

Balakhani village has recently turned into unique open-air art gallery, where houses are painted with colorful images.

The village is known as the first oil center on Absheron peninsula. The history of oil production in Balakhani goes back to the Middle Ages.

In 1813, the owner of all Balakhani wells was the Baku khan Huseyn, with the exception of two belonging to the Selimkhanov brothers.

Further, all the wells were acquired by the first Russian oil farmer Mark Tarumov. In 1837, mining engineer Nikolai Voskoboinikov founded an oil refinery in Balakhani, where for the first time oil was heated using natural gas.

In 1871, the second oil well in Russia (64 meters) was drilled mechanically. On April 1, 1873, the first oil drilling gusher hit Balakhani. By the order of the Nobel brothers' company, the first oil pipeline in Russia was built from Balakhani to an oil refinery in the Black City of Baku.

In 1898, the photographer Alexander Michon shot a short silent documentary film "Oil fountain in Balakhani", known as the first film in the history of Azerbaijani cinema.

After renovation, Balakhani village has a chance to turn into favorite tourist spot.

The village is being reconstructed for the first time. Sidewalks and roads, facades and roofs of buildings were completely renovated.

Nearly 4,000 trees have been planted in the area. Moreover, about 100 small enterprises aimed at promotion of handicrafts, carpet weaving art, pottery will operate in the village.

Along with Balakhani, renovation works are underway in other parts of Baku.

Bibi-Heybat village is also slightly changing its appearance. The city's streets are full of bright colors and street art that left no one indifferent.

The village is well-known for its ancient mosque. The18th century mosque was built by Shirvanshah Abu-l-Fath Farrukhzad. However, the site was completely destroyed by the Bolsheviks in 1936.

In the late 1990s, the mosque was recreated once again. The current complex includes a mosque and tombs. The mosque is considered one of the most valuable examples of Islamic architecture in Azerbaijan.

There is an oil and gas condensate field in Bibi-Heybat. The world's first oil well was drilled by percussion method using wooden rods in Bibi-Heybat.

The renovation works will be also carried out in Sumgayit, Mardakan, Novkhani, Amirjan, Buzovna and Ramana.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
The impact of Covid-19 could be felt right through the whole of 2021, the Taoiseach has warned in the Dail, adding that disruption caused by the virus will go on for much longer than anticipated.

Right through 2021 there will be a very significant impact on our Budget, Micheal Martin said, pointing out the Government was spending 28bn on social protection this year, a figure which is unprecedented.

We are now living with a continuing crisis, agreed Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald who asked Mr Martin to revisit the decision to cut the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) and restore it to its original rate of 350 per week.

She also called for the full reinstatement of the ban on evictions, which has now run out, she said.

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Meanwhile, a mortgage and loan-payment break is due to end in the coming month which will affect 37,000 households and businesses.

The financial implications of Covid will stretch beyond April Mr Martin said, with hospitality, tourism and travel among the sectors hit hardest.

He did not give any future spending hints ahead of next months Budget.

He gave no commitments but insisted there would be no rent increases or eviction of tenants because of the legislation we have brought in which extended protections right out to January, he told Ms McDonald.

She retorted that people in Dublin didnt see the latest lockdown coming and, according to the Restaurants Association of Ireland, it had resulted in tens of thousands of people being laid off.

The Government strategy to deal with the pandemic will involve periods of intensifying and relaxing restrictions. But for this to be successful, Ms McDonald said, we need very clear communication, and we also need to understand that it means no surprises at the 11th hour.

Above all, it means that you have to ensure the State and your Government provides the necessary supports for families, for workers and for individuals who will find themselves out of work at very short notice because of public health measures.

She said it was very mean last week to reduce the PUP.

More than 156,000 people who were in receipt of 350 a week will see a reduction in their payment of between 50 and 100. This happened precisely 24 hours before you announced those further restrictions on Dublin, she said.

Youre cutting payments to people in real difficulty who have lost their jobs. This is not a time to be cutting the very payment on which they rely to pay their bills and look after their families.

The decision needed to be reviewed immediately and reversed, she said, while the Government had also scrapped the eviction ban in August and replaced it with very weak legislation that provides nothing like the kinds of protections of the original legislation.

Thousands of renters had been left exposed, she said, calling for the original ban on evictions to be restored as a matter of urgency.

There are also some 37,000 households whose mortgage payment break is due to end in the coming days. There are many thousands of businesses who are in the same boat.

This will undoubtedly cause huge hardship for families and businesses up and down the land.

Unless there is a further extension of these payment breaks granted before September 30, families and businesses will fall into default if they are not in a position to meet their full mortgage repayment, she said.

You need to act on this matter, because the real danger we face now is that people become more terrified of losing their job or losing their home, or not being able to provide for their family, than they are of the virus. That would be the worst possible situation.

Catherine Murphy, co-leader of the Social Democrats, said there was panic and distress among people who had been laid off because of the latest restrictions, agreeing that the cuts to the PUP needed to be urgently reversed.

Mr Martin said the PUP was originally seen as a 12-week scheme and the new rates very closely approximated what people had been on before Covid.

Ms Murphy told him: You are getting the same phone calls as I am - people crying on the phone to you, wondering how they are going to survive.

Mr Martin said the Government have extended the PUP to next April. I think the Government is very conscious now that we have to plan for the longer term, and that is going to be very challenging, the Taoiseach added.

The wage subsidy schemes and other subsidies had also been extended, and the Government would have to look at sector-specific schemes to deal with those areas of the economy that were hurting more than most, he said.
As I understand it, Joe Biden sat down for an interview with Jose Diaz-Balart of Noticias Telemundo in Florida on September 15. The 22-minute video of the interview is available here and is well worth watching. Biden was alert and lucid. The lies were calculated, relentless, and practiced.

In the course of the interview Biden sold out his friend Barack. Declining to defend Obama administration deportations, he commented, I wasnt president. Biden touts DACA and promises an end to deportations. To him, its all about family. Its not so much about your family  that much I can tell you. We cant say we werent warned.

Biden contemplated Trumps removal from office by the military following the election at about 17:30. He talked about institutional racism across the board at about 19:00. The American people finally had the blinders taken off, Biden avers. He throws in the case of George Floyd at around 20:30. At around 21:00 he contends that Social Security is thriving (his campaign ads to the contrary notwithstanding).

Making a pitch for the vote of Cuban-Americans in Florida, Biden opined: This president is more like Castro than Churchill. And that wasnt the low point of Bidens remarks. At least Bidens intended audience was in a position to evaluate that particular statement.

In the video clip below, Biden struggled deliver what appears to be a scripted answer. The video catches Biden complaining that he lost that line of the answer (at about 10:00 of the video linked above).

Biden Tells Someone off Camera During Interview: I Lost That Line pic.twitter.com/dZaex6cx9E  Sean Hannity (@seanhannity) September 22, 2020

What manner of man is this? Victor Davis Hanson formulated his take in the American Greatness column Biden, the great and powerful.'

NOTE: I have deleted a tweet asserting that Biden was reading from a teleprompter. That is false. One can see in the video linked at the top that the screen to Bidens left played the pre-recorded questions to which Biden responded.
Data Gumbo, the trusted industrial blockchain network, today announced that it has been awarded an exploratory project with Fieldmade, the Oslo-based on-demand, deep tech company that operates in the additive manufacturing. The project will deploy GumboNet, Data Gumbo's massively interconnected blockchain network, to capture provenance of materials and designs for Fieldmade's 3D product offerings to enable trust across all stages of equipment creation, supply and automation.

"Delivering high quality products at speed has long been a challenge for 3D printing companies," said Ove Sandve, CTO, Data Gumbo. "Data Gumbo solves multiple pain points for Fieldmade including streamlining transactional efficiencies between service providers and their customers resulting in the ability to lower production costs, speed delivery times, verify provenance of materials and designs, and alleviate the need for warehouse overstocking -- all benefits that save companies millions of dollars."

The immutability of blockchain avails a verifiable and auditable data record to ascertain correct and approved intellectual property, legal, manufacturing, regulatory, and delivery information for any product. In this project, GumboNet enables trust and transparency to commercial relationships and supports Fieldmade's 3D printing services to its customers across energy, defense and aerospace sectors.

"Blockchain enables trust in provenance ensuring that all stages of our equipment supply marketplace are correct and approved," Christian Dunn Norberg, CEO, Fieldmade. "Data Gumbo's advantageous offering provides additional layers of security to protect IP and ensure transactional certainty for our customers."

About the Fieldmade

Fieldmade is a deep tech company with expert knowledge within the full spectrum of the applied Additive Manufacturing domain. We use this knowledge to develop both technology and services for the Energy and Defense sector. Fieldmade's ambition is to move the transformational AM technology into logistics, this from the "dreamer" phase to the "doer" phase. Our technology is aimed to transform the costly affair of upholding large physical warehouses, due to readiness concerns. Future logistics will be supported by digital warehouses and on-demand production, on-site, in or near real time. In addition, Fieldmade's services offer new and more efficient ways of solving repair, modification or obsolescence challenges. For more information, visit www.fieldmade.no.

About Data Gumbo

Data Gumbo provides transactional certainty for tomorrow's industrial leaders through GumboNet, a massively interconnected industrial blockchain network. With integrated real-time capabilities that power, automate and execute smart contracts, our network reduces contract leakage, frees up working capital, enables real-time cash and financial management and delivers provenance with unprecedented speed, accuracy, visibility and transparency. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Data Gumbo has a subsidiary office in Stavanger, Norway. To date, the company has received equity funding with Saudi Aramco Energy Ventures, the venture subsidiary of Saudi Aramco, and Equinor Technology Ventures, the venture subsidiary of Equinor, Norway's leading energy operator. For more information, visit www.datagumbo.com or follow on LinkedIn, @DataGumbo and Facebook.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200922005231/en/

Contacts:

Gina Manassero

Data Gumbo

gmanassero@datagumbo.com
A second inmate at the Bexar County Jail died Monday after an apparent medical episode, officials said.

The 89-year-old inmate, who was facing a murder charge, was found unresponsive but breathing in his cell at about 7:08 p.m. A detention deputy made the discovery during face-to-face observation checks, the Bexar County Sheriffs Office said.

The deputy called for assistance from other deputies and medical staff. The inmate was transported to the medical unit for further evaluation, officials said.

Deputies said the inmate was alert when he was taken to an area hospital.

He was pronounced dead by hospital staff at about 8:20 p.m., officials said. The man will be identified once his next of kin has been notified, officials said.

Investigators said the medical episode appears to have been caused by pre-existing medical conditions. Officials noted that the medical examiners office will make the final determination.

The inmate was booked into jail on Sept. 10 with bail set at $50,000.

Earlier Monday, a 43-year-old inmate was found unresponsive in his cell at 10:15 a.m. by a deputy who was also making face-to-face checks on inmates.

In that case, the detention deputy attempted life-saving measures as the facilitys medical staff responded.

The man was pronounced dead at the jail at 10:39 a.m., officials said.

Deputies said that inmate also experienced a medical episode from a pre-existing condition.

The Bexar County Sheriffs Office internal affairs and public integrity units, as well as the criminal investigations division are conducting investigations into both deaths, authorities said.

Jacob Beltran is a reporter covering San Antonio and Bexar County. To read more from Jacob, become a subscriber. jbeltran@express-news.net | Twitter: @JBfromSA
LONDON: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is very likely to attempt to kill himself if he is sent to the United States to face espionage charges, a psychiatric expert said Tuesday at an extradition hearing in London.

Michael Kopelman, emeritus professor of neuropsychiatry at Kings College London, said Assange has a history of depression and there is a very high risk of suicide if the U.S. extradition attempt succeeds.

Its the imminence of extradition and/or an actual extradition that will trigger the attempt, in my opinion, Kopelman said during testimony as a witness for Assange at Londons Old Bailey criminal court.

U.S. prosecutors have indicted Assange on 17 espionage charges and one charge of computer misuse over WikiLeaks publication of secret American military documents a decade ago. The charges carry a maximum sentence of 175 years in prison.

Kopelman said Assange faced an abundance of known risk factors including a family history of depression and suicide and the isolation he has experienced first in the Ecuadorian embassy in London, where he took refuge in 2012, and since April 2019 in a British prison.

Kopelman said Assange has also been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, which has been associated with an increased tendency to ruminate on suicide.

He said Assange had an intense suicidal preoccupation.

Hes made various plans and undergone various preparations, such as confessed to the Catholic priest, who granted him absolution, began to draft farewell letters to family members and close friends, hes drawn up a will," said Kopelman.

Kopelman said he had visited Assange about 20 times in Londons high-security Belmarsh Prison, where he is being held as he awaits an extradition decision. He said the 49-year-old Assange had experienced auditory hallucinations in which he heard derogatory and persecutory voices.

The voices are things like, you are dust, you are dead, we are coming to get you," he said.

Under cross-examination by James Lewis, a lawyer representing the U.S. government, Kopelman said he was always alert to the possibility a patient might be malingering or exaggerating.

Assanges defense team argues that he is a journalist and entitled to First Amendment protections for publishing leaked documents that exposed U.S. military wrongdoing in Iraq and Afghanistan. They also say the conditions he would face in a U.S. prison would breach his human rights.

The extradition hearing in London began Sept. 7 and is due to last until early October, with Judge Vanessa Baraitser likely to take weeks or months to consider her decision.

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 grief is hard enough when you have been able to be part of the end of life experience, but when you are deprived of even that moment, the loss you feel is even more intense, she said. Your mind and heart questions whether you did enough, did your loved one know you were there in spirit, and a million other thoughts that come to you in the quiet hours. It is amazing how loud silence can be.
The Mexican carajillo, known as a "Carajillo 43" or "Original Carajillo," is made from espresso and Licor 43, poured over ice. (Licor 43, the best-selling Spanish liqueur in the world, is a brightly golden-colored spirit created from a secret age-old family recipe of 43 natural ingredients.) Thriving interest in Mexican culture in the U.S., coupled with increased awareness and taste for high-quality coffee, has helped the Carajillo 43 quickly become a new favorite this side of the border.

"A few years ago, nobody knew what this was, but now you see the carajillo everywhere. It's becoming a classic cocktail," says Charity Johnston, the Los Angeles-based Director of Operations at The Madera Group which owns and operates the popular Tocaya Organica and Toca Madera collection of restaurants. Her Carajillo 43 is a layered cocktail, then sprinkled with cinnamon and a sprig of thyme. "People love it. When they see a carajillo go out, suddenly the entire restaurant wants one!"

In addition to the growing excitement for coffee and coffee cocktails, Johnston attributes some of the popularity of the carajillo to the burgeoning interest among consumers to treat dining and drinking as a full experiential occasion, whether in a restaurant or at home. People are drinking more "European style" now, she says, giving more consideration to the entire experience of what they're drinking before and after the meal.

"People are more adventurous, they're willing to try new things, and the carajillo fits perfectly into that trend," Johnston says.

That's a sentiment shared by James Mireles, founder of Pulp Coffee Roasters in San Antonio, who has worked closely with Licor 43 to help identify different types of coffee that pair best in the Carajillo 43.

"People's palates are much more mature these days  even for people who don't typically drink alcohol, they enjoy coffee cocktails and they're excited about the carajillo," he says.

Licor 43 is owned by The Zamora Company, based in Spain, and marketed in the U.S. by Zamora Company USA. To help promote and increase awareness for the Carajillo 43, the company has engaged bartenders across the country to educate them about the cocktail, and has developed print, digital, and outdoor consumer advertising in key U.S. markets to reinforce how easy it is to prepare a Carajillo 43 at home.

"Bartenders tell me all the time how much they enjoy the Carajillo 43, and how they delight in introducing it to people. It's such a delicious combination of the bitterness of coffee and the spicy sweetness of Licor 43, and it's so easy to prepare at the bar or at home," says Matt Appleby, Director of Marketing at Zamora Company USA. "With National Coffee Day approaching, it's the perfect occasion to try one!"

To prepare a Carajillo 43:

Ingredients:

1 oz. Licor 43 Original

Hot espresso coffee

Ice cubes

Method (shaken or stirred):

Shaken: Pour Licor 43 into a cocktail shaker, and add a hot espresso and ice cubes. Shake and strain into a glass full of ice.

Stirred: Half fill a glass with ice cubes and pour Licor 43 over the top. Serve alongside the cup of hot espresso and, before drinking, pour the coffee over the liqueur and stir.

About Licor 43:

Legend says that 2,000 years ago in the Mediterranean city of Cartagena, Spain, a delicious elixir that the Romans called "Liquor Mirabilis" was made. Inspired by this elixir, since 1946, the Zamora family has been making Licor 43, a delicious liqueur with a characteristic golden tone. Licor 43 is still produced exclusively in Cartagena following the family recipe.

About Zamora Company USA:

Zamora Company USA, based in Dallas, Texas, has recently brought together their collection of unique luxury brands along with an experienced, passionate and dedicated team of over 30 people. The new organization manages sales, distribution, execution and marketing of the following brands: Licor 43, Double Cross Vodka, Yellow Rose Whiskey, Martin Miller's Gin, Lolea Sangria, Don Papa Rum, Villa Massa Limoncello, plus Spanish wines Ramon Bilbao, Cruz De Alba, and Mar de Frades.

SOURCE Zamora Company USA
Virtual reality technology allows the investor to visit Nam Dinh Vu Industrial Park from anywhere

Since the beginning of the year, the economies of the world as well as Vietnam have been facing many challenges due to the negative impacts of COVID-19, arresting global GDP growth. Transactions and worldwide trade were interrupted. International investment and trade promotion activities have also been intensely affected.

Nguyen Thanh Phuong, general director of Sao Do Group  the owner of Nam Dinh Vu Industrial Park (IP), shared that all overseas investment promotion activities of the group had to be stopped. We cannot go abroad and foreign investors also cannot come over to study and view the IP and experience our facilities and services. We had to restrict all of our activities to emails or other online channels.

Currently, Sao Do Group is pushing the completion of the infrastructure of Nam Dinh Vu IP Phase II which is expected to be handed over to investors by the fourth quarter of 2020. The first phase is already 85 per cent occupied, offering synchronous utilities and services for investors. Consiting of four functional subzones: industrial zone, oil and gas jetty, as well as seaport and logistics area, all supplementing each other. It forms a perfect business environment which facilitates project implementation and the sustainable operation of domestic and foreign investors.

At the second Industrial Real Estate Forum 2020 co-organised by the Vietnam Real Estate Association, many experts noted that the global trend of investors exiting China brought to Vietnam countless opportunities that are enhanced by adequate epidemic control, abundant human resources, competitive prices, and the benefits of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).

"We are ready to welcome investors moving out of China and investors benefiting from the FTAs that Vietnam has recently joined," commented Phuong.

However, these great opportunities are being slowed down by the COVID-19 epidemic as investors are unable to conduct surveys at potential industrial zones in Vietnam, or the IPs cannot proceed with investment promotion events abroad.

Industrial park and its facilities are reproduced in a 3D virtual space on vr360.namdinhvu.com

To overcome this situation, Sao Do Group is applying a virtual reality (VR) application so that customers can visit and evaluate the project without physically visiting the site. This technology offers pioneering and modern technology, including 360-degree panorama photos, 360-degree sample house viewing services, VR services, and VT, among others. Images of the IP and its utilities are reproduced in virtual 3D space.

The VR experience allows our partners to obeserve the entire space without being obscured or obstructed by an object or angle, creating the feeling of going into the reality of a project. Using this application will bring customers advanced experiences and a vivid visualisation of the project, Phuong shared.

Beside helping potential customers experience Nam Dinh Vu IP, Sao Do Group continues to assist customers in the implementation of investment procedures in Vietnam. The completion of documents is supported by the use of electronic signatures.
The government on September 22 passed the IIIT Laws (Amendment) Bill 2020 in the Rajya Sabha. Under this law, five Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs) will get the 'institution of national importance' status.

The bill declares five IIITs in public-private partnership (PPP) mode at Surat, Bhopal, Bhagalpur, Agartala and Raichur as 'Institutions of National Importance' by granting them statutory status along with the already existing 15 IIITs under the IIIT (PPP) Act, 2017.

Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank said in the Rajya Sabha that the IIIT Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2020 will entitle the institutions to use the nomenclature of Bachelor of Technology or Master of Technology or Ph.D. degree as issued by a university.

Further, this bill will also enable the institutes to attract enough students required to develop a strong research base in the country in the field of information technology.

There are 25 IIITs in India. Of these, five institutes are set up by the education ministry while the rest are on PPP mode.

The IIIT Act 2017 was enacted to declare a few IIITs to be institutes of national importance. This was to develop new knowledge in information technology and to provide global standard manpower to the IT sector.
In the end, the new CUB website is exactly what we had dreamed: beautiful, fast and easy to navigate. Davis believes the best part is that this triumphant step into the future will propel further momentum, as Hatfield Media continues to change and improve the site over time.

Overcoming many tough moments in our nations history, Citizen Union Banks focus on not only withstanding the ups and downs of history, but on strengthening and supporting its customers has empowered Citizens Union Bank to weather each storm. Continuing the legacy of helping communities bank across generations, Citizens Union Bank is proud to bring that passion full-circle by announcing the launch of their new website.

Adopting new technologies in order to remain flexible to your banking needs, Kim Davis, CUBs Sr. Vice President of Marketing knew it would be critical to establish a more modern, clean, and simple site for our customers. Using clean and modern elements, the goal was to develop a website that embodied Citizen Union Banks expertise, innovation, and customer-centered care.

Jessica Dobner, Assistant Vice President of Marketing at CUB, knew first and foremost, that Citizens Union Banks mission for the new site would be to satisfy customers, cultivating an overall positive experience online, where clients are able to find what they are looking for quickly and easily. Hatfield wanted to give Citizen Union Bank a website that would feel as safe to clients as its in-person banking services are. Our team set out to create an upgrade for CUBs clients today that still conveyed 132 years of trustworthiness; a polished, structured design to encourage a users seamless interaction.

Davis valued that our team took on and transformed Citizens Union Banks ideas and suggestions. In the end, the new CUB website is exactly what we had dreamed: beautiful, fast and easy to navigate. Davis believes the best part is that this triumphant step into the future will propel further momentum, as Hatfield Media continues to change and improve the site over time, based on tracked customer usage.

Placing community at the heart of its reliable banking, CUB highlights strength, longevity, and trustworthiness for how its team has kept family and business finances secure  no matter what challenges the course of a lifetime may bring. From the beginning, Citizens Union Bank has guided its team of banking specialists on the foundation of TIGERS principles: Trust, Interdependence, Genuineness, Empathy, Risk, and ultimately, Success. Those interested in the banking services at Citizens Union Bank can call 866-633-4450 or visit their new website at: cubbank.com.
Fiona Darroch was born in South Africa and now lives in Australia

A woman has relived the moment she found out her godfather - who was also her mother's gynecologist - was her biological father, and learned she has about 300 siblings.

Fiona Darroch, who was born in South Africa and now lives in Australia, accidentally discovered obstetrician Norman Walker was her real father six years ago, at the age of 53.

She had been looking for books written by her godfather when she stumbled across a strange Amazon review by a woman from Ireland, she told SBS Insight in an exclusive interview.

The Irish woman was trying to find information on him and wrote: 'Dr Walker was my biological father and sperm donor.'

Ms Darroch, who didn't even know she was conceived via a sperm donor at the time, had a series of letters addressed to her from Dr Walker from when she was young, along with his war medals and photos.

She had been looking for books written by Norman Walker (pictured) when she stumbled across a strange Amazon review by a woman from Ireland

She wrote back: 'Hey I've got all this stuff that I'm happy to share with you.'

But the more information the pair shared, the more she began to wonder.

'When I fished out his letters, I found a driver's license of his that he had given me from when he was 16,' Ms Darroch said.

'I showed it to my husband and said, "Who does this look like?" and he just laughed, because it looks exactly like our youngest daughter.'

By that point, she knew it was time to confront her mother.

Pictured: Normal Walker when he was younger. He later tampered with hundreds of sperm donations

Pictured: Ms Darroch's youngest daughter (right), who looks like her biological grandfather (left)

'My mum came clean and told me that they had used a sperm donor, and that Dr Walker was her gynecologist and he said that they just usually used medical students.'

Ms Darroch, whose legal father had died years prior, was devastated and angry that she had been lied to.

'It was like losing my own father who raised me all over again,' she said.

'You experience the same grief and loss, because you're no longer connected to the person who you thought you were connected.'

Ms Darroch (pictured as a baby with her mother) was devastated and angry that she had been lied to

Pictured: Ms Darroch as a child. She found out she was conceived by sperm donor when she was 53

Her mother was unclear on the sperm donation process and wouldn't give a straight answer when confronted about whether she thought Dr Walker was the donor.

When Ms Darroch's oldest daughter did a 23andMe DNA test in 2017, her suspicions were confirmed.

'When the results came out, she had matched with lots and lots of people and she didn't have a clue who they were.

It just so happened that one of my donor [half] siblings had given his entire family ancestry tests for Christmas that year, and we all matched at the same time.'

From there, the estranged siblings began putting the pieces of their family back together.

Ms Darroch and her half-siblings believe Dr Walker inseminated hundreds of women around the world

They also spoke to staff at the donor clinic who confirmed Dr Walker's actions and said many families fell victim to sperm tampering at the hands of the gynecologist.

Ms Darroch's youngest daughter recently discovered that she has an uncle who is 15 years younger than her mother - indicating that he was actively tampering with sperm for about 15 years after she was born.

'We're thinking maybe 200 to 300 [half siblings],' she said.

Siblings have been found from from United States, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK, South Africa, and Australia.

Dr Walker took his own life when Ms Darroch was 15.

'I think his ethics were really shonky. I understand that at that time they had no idea that DNA was going to be so popular and it would be so easy to track down your family tree.'
Army officials at Fort Bliss, Texas, are asking the El Paso community for assistance in an expanded search for a soldier who has been missing since late July.

The Army initially listed Pvt. Richard Halliday of the 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command as Absent Without Leave, or AWOL, when he reportedly fled from his unit on July 24.

But new evidence uncovered by U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command special agents "suggests that Pvt. Halliday may have left Fort Bliss earlier than previously reported," according to a statement from Lt. Col. Allie Payne, spokeswoman for the 1st Armored Division and Fort Bliss.

"It remains uncertain of how or when Pvt. Halliday departed Fort Bliss," she added.

Halliday was last seen on July 23 before 6 p.m., Payne told Military.com.

Read Next: Final Autopsy: Fort Hood Soldier's Drowning Was an Accident

The Army previously believed that Halliday had last been seen on July 24, but CID has learned that the soldier who claimed to have seen Halliday on that day lied during the interview, an Army official, who asked to be unnamed, told Military.com.

Fort Bliss would not share details of the investigation, but officials there believe that Halliday is alive because there has been activity on his phone, according to the unnamed Army official.

Halliday's parents, Rob and Patricia, have been asking for help on Facebook to find their son. They launched a GoFundMe campaign and have so far raised more than $12,000, with a goal of $20,000.

Military.com reached out to Halliday's parents, but did not receive an immediate response.

"Right now, the reward is up to $3,000 for anyone who can give us the information to find our son," Patricia Halliday said in a Sept. 19 Facebook video.

Rob Halliday said the couple didn't learn their son was missing until Aug. 28, when they called his unit.

"We usually communicate with Richard about every two weeks, plus or minus, and we hadn't heard from him. We thought he may have been in the field, but we were tired of waiting," Rob Halliday said in the video.

Halliday's mother said the couple last talked to their son on July 23.

"We had been home because of the COVID-19 lockdown," she said. "No reason for anyone not to get in touch with us, so we were very shocked."

Fort Bliss officials say that on July 26 they called the emergency contact phone numbers Halliday provided the unit, but the people who answered did not know the soldier, Payne told Military.com.

Halliday's mother said in the video that they will travel from their home in Sarasota, Florida, to Fort Bliss to search for their son.

"Like the good shepherd that is missing one of their sheep, the old woman that loses one of her coins, you stop what you are doing and you go look, so that is what we are doing," she said. "Just spread the word and say prayers the angels are surrounding Richard right now."

Halliday's case comes as the country has been focused on Fort Hood, Texas, where Spc. Vanessa Guillen was murdered on post in April and whose fate was unknown until officials found her remains in early July.

The remains of another Hood soldier, Pvt. Gregory Morales -- who was declared AWOL when he went missing in August 2019 -- were discovered in June as authorities searched for Guillen.

Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy said in early August that these cases have prompted the service to consider changing the way soldiers are initially listed when they go missing.

Halliday's father said the couple believes their son is alive.

"With all the information we have received, we are considering him missing because there is no other evidence to point otherwise," he said.

After 30 days, missing soldiers are typically listed as deserters, but Halliday's duty status remains AWOL for "administrative purposes to allow the continued dedication of proper resources in the search for this young man," the release states.

Fort Bliss and the soldier's unit have conducted active searches, on and off base, but are now widening the search to include the area in and around El Paso. They ask anyone with information about Halliday to call the Fort Bliss Military Police at 915-744-1237.

"We are hoping that bringing more awareness to the case will lead to more tips and information on his whereabouts," Payne told Military.com.

-- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com.

Related: 'This All Could Have Been Prevented' - Inside the Disappearance and Death of Vanessa Guillen
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This photo of a sneezer caught in the act was taken by Marshall Jennison, an MIT professor, and published in a 1941 research paper. Bettmann/Getty Images

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday acknowledged for the first time that the coronavirus could "remain suspended in the air."

The new CDC guidance was retracted on Monday morning  the agency said "a draft version" had been "posted in error."

The CDC has retracted advice several times in recent months under pressure from the White House. In this case, insiders say it was an internal mistake.

The now-retracted phrasing lined up with studies from around the world that suggested the virus could linger and float through the air, especially indoors.

Singing, shouting, talking, and spitting can all help the virus spread.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Six feet may not be enough to protect you from the coronavirus, especially indoors.

That's what the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had said in updated guidance posted on its website on Friday, in line with findings from studies around the world.

But by Monday morning, the advice had been retracted.

The agency had acknowledged last week for the first time that the coronavirus "can remain suspended in the air and be breathed in by others, and travel distances beyond six feet."

However, the updated language was pulled off the federal agency's website on Monday, even though it is backed by a large and growing body of evidence: The coronavirus spreads well among people who are indoors, shouting, singing, eating, and breathing together, even at a distance.

Reached by email on Monday, a CDC representative told Insider that a "draft version" of the new guidance had been "posted in error to the agency's official website" and that the official recommendations were still being updated.

The agency said in a follow-up email that internal "concerns" about the language on transmission had "led to revision of the 'How COVID-19 Spreads' web page without appropriate in-house technical review."

Story continues

"We are reviewing our process and tightening criteria for review of all guidance and updates before they are posted to the CDC website," the agency said.

The CDC has previously U-turned on coronavirus advice, often under pressure

The guidance the CDC had laid out was nothing revolutionary, merely clarifying what many other scientists and public-health experts have said in recent months.

In July, the World Health Organization, which, like the CDC, is constantly reviewing new scientific evidence about how the virus spreads, acknowledged that the virus may float beyond 6 feet, especially indoors.

The truth is that people and the tiny particles they breathe, shout, sing, sneeze, and cough out are the greatest viral threat right now  not surfaces, and not contaminated groceries or mail.

As Americans head into the chillier fall and winter months, with the novel coronavirus still in circulation, it'll be an important point to remember: Being inside with this virus is dangerous, and wearing a mask when indoors is an important infection-prevention technique.

And yet, the advice was pulled.

The move feels similar to other retractions the CDC has recently made in the face of pressure from the Trump administration.

Last month, the CDC watered down its coronavirus testing recommendations, which was widely condemned by public-health professionals and eventually reversed.

Before that, the CDC shelved detailed tips for how businesses and schools might reopen safely during the pandemic, again after pressure from the administration.

"I don't think there has ever been a time before when people from the White House or HHS are dictating what goes on technical documents on the CDC website," Tom Frieden, a former CDC director, previously told Insider. "This is dangerous."

The CDC's original guidance may not be enough in every setting

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's guidance was last updated on June 16. This is the same guidance you see when you load the webpage now. CDC

Before this back-and-forth, the last time the CDC updated its guidance on how the virus spreads was June.

Since then, scientists have learned much more about the best ways that the coronavirus hops from person to person, as the illness has continued to move around the world.

In a widely reported investigation into a March choir practice in Washington state, investigators found that more than 50 people got COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus, from one sick choir member, even though they were all social distancing (but not wearing masks) during practice. Two people died.

In May, the CDC even issued "interim guidance for communities of faith" warning against group singing activities during the pandemic. But the guidance was yanked off the agency's website after only a day, because the White House hadn't approved the change.

That guidance pressed that certain high-transmission indoor settings  "during choir practice, in restaurants, or in fitness classes"  have some common features: They're crowded, poorly ventilated places where people can spend a "prolonged period of time" with infected people.

The CDC had said the virus 'can remain suspended in the air' and 'travel distances beyond 6 feet,' but the guidance was pulled

The new guidance, dated September 18. It was pulled off the CDC's webpage on Monday. CDC

Being outdoors with others is better than hanging out inside. There's lots of room for the virus to dissipate after leaving a sick person's nose or mouth, as long as you're not getting too close.

It also helps to have a good ventilation system, as many hospitals and airplanes already do. Or to open a window.

"If ventilation is good, it is not a threat, because the virus is not in the air," Lidia Morawska, a leading aerosol scientist in Australia, recently told Insider.

Wherever you are, keeping a good measure of distance between yourself and others is still a good idea. If you're indoors or in a crowded space, keeping your mask on, staying quiet, and making interactions brief can all help mitigate the spread.

"It's not rocket science to work out what needs to be done to minimize the risk of infection transmission," Morawska said.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Grief: Mourners at a vigil for the late Supreme Court judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg in Monument Square in Portland, Maine, US. Photo: Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters

Donald Trump questioned Ruth Bader Ginsburg's dying wish that her replacement on the Supreme Court be chosen by the next US president as he vowed to announce a nominee by the end of the week.

Mr Trump suggested without evidence that Democrats had concocted Justice Ginsburg's deathbed statement during an interview with his favourite news programme Fox and Friends.

"I don't know that she said that, or if that was written out by Adam Schiff, and Schumer and Pelosi," Mr Trump said, referring to three of the top Democrats in Congress, speaker Nancy Pelosi, senator Chuck Schumer and congressman Adam Schiff.

"That came out of the wind. It sounds so beautiful, but that sounds like a Schumer deal, or maybe Pelosi or Shifty Schiff."

Read More

Justice Ginsburg, who had publicly criticised Mr Trump, dictated a statement to her granddaughter Clara Spera just days before her death from pancreatic cancer on Friday, in which she said "my most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed".

The statement was first reported by Nina Totenberg, a journalist and a longtime friend of Justice Ginsburg and her family. The statement was later confirmed by the justice's family.

Mr Schiff said the president had reached "a new low" for suggesting the 87-year-old Supreme Court Justice's statement was fabricated.

He tweeted: "No, I didn't write Ruth Bader Ginsburg's dying wish to a nation she served so well, and spent her whole life making a more perfect union. But I am going to fight like hell to make it come true. No confirmation before inauguration."

The issue of when the Supreme Court seat will be filled now dominates the US presidential campaign.

Mr Trump said he would announce his nominee by the end of the week, in the hope the Senate will confirm his pick before November's election and secure a 6-3 conservative majority on America's highest court for years to come.

Joe Biden, the Democratic presidential candidate, said Mr Trump's plan amounted to an "abuse of power".

The Supreme Court rules on issues that are fundamental to US society including abortion, the environment, gay rights and gun control.

Ms Ginsburg's death has upended the campaign season, giving Mr Trump and his party an opportunity to strengthen its grip on a court whose decisions influence many spheres of American life, including abortion, healthcare, presidential powers and the death penalty.

Mr Trump already has named two conservative justices to the high court, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh.

Mr Trump has mentioned possible candidates in Amy Coney Barrett of the Chicago-based 7th US Circuit Court of Appeals and Barbara Lagoa of the Atlanta-based 11th US Circuit Court of Appeals. Mr Trump named both of them to their current jobs. On Fox, he was also asked about Judge Allison Rushing, who he appointed to the Richmond, Virginia-based 4th Circuit Court of Appeals last year.

"I'm looking at five, probably four, but I'm looking at five very seriously. I'm going to make a decision on Friday or Saturday," Mr Trump said.

Asked about Ms Lagoa, a conservative Cuban-American from Florida, he said, "She's Hispanic. She's a terrific woman from everything I know. I don't know her. Florida. We love Florida."

The court vacancy also has given Mr Trump and his fellow Republicans a chance to steer the national discussion away from the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed almost 200,000 Americans.

Democrats accused Mr McConnell of hypocrisy for being eager to usher Mr Trump's nominee to a confirmation vote. In 2016, he refused to even consider Democratic president Barack Obama's nominee to fill a vacancy on the court left by the death of conservative Justice Antonin Scalia, saying it would be inappropriate to do so during an election year.

Mr Biden said Mr Trump's effort to push a nomination through amounted to "an exercise of raw political power". ( Daily Telegraph, London)

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021]
A Zimbabwean human rights lawyer says the Movement for Democratic Change Alliance led by Nelson Chamisa is unlikely to seek a court order to stop the Thokozani Khupe MDC-T from using the Alliance to field candidates in the forthcoming parliamentary and council elections.

In an interview, Matshobana Ncube, said seeking a court order in the High Court to block the MDC-T from using the Alliance would be a waste of time.

 The MDC Alliance might go to court to seek an interdict but my worry is that with the decision of the Supreme Court in place, if one had to go to the High Court to seek such an interdict, the High Court will always refer one to the Supreme Court decision to say that question was settled in that Supreme Court decision and so the High Court being an inferior court cannot revisit the matter. So, in a way, its a closed chapter. Thokozani (Khupe) is supposed to lead that party or the Alliance in terms of the agreement of the political parties or in terms of the decision of the Supreme Court  Therefore going to court for me will be a waste of time.

Ncube said the MDC Alliance should seriously consider forming another party in order to avoid conflicts with the Khupe formation.

What in essence this party has to do, these individuals, Chamisa and his colleagues, they may consider forming a new political entity, a new political party. In so doing they will have to sacrifice those Members of Parliament, those councilors that remain in their positions, that have not been recalled by Thokozani Khupe and others in her entity as we have seen others being recalled. The only challenge or danger politically ofcourse that one may see is that if these remain with Thokozani Khupe they may then have their allegiance to her and they may have lost to their colleagues who may then be forming a new entity.

He said the Supreme Court ruling made sometime this year, gave Khupe the power to lead the MDC-T, which was once led by the late Morgan Tsvangirai, who died of cancer of the colon in 2018.

So, in a way even assuming one says Thokozani Khupe is leader of MDC-T in terms of the decision of the Supreme Court that says she is the leader of the MDC-T that had been previously led by Morgan Tsvangirai, then what it means is that when she took over the leadership of that party then she also took over the leadership of the Alliance.

So, if the Alliance is in existence, she is the leader and they can contest the polls under that name (MDC Alliance). But we all know that these are political maneuverings and out maneuverings of one another within the political space The battle for the souls and hearts of the people that the opposition purports to lead.

MDC presidential spokesperson, Khaliphani Pugeni, said Chamisa will soon be stopped from using the MDC Alliance.

We are going to stop them from using our slogans, using our emblems, using our colors, using our name. We are going to stop all of this nonsense.

But Clifford Hlatywayo, deputy national spokesperson of the MDC Alliance, said they are consulting Zimbabweans on the way forward.

Here we are not fighting against Khupe but Zanu PF. Khupe is being used by (Emmerson) Mnangagwa. People know all this. Khupe and others are Zanu PF. We wont allow ourselves to be bullied by Mnangagwa.

Zanu PF has distanced itself from the MDC Alliance conflict saying the two parties should take care of their business.

These people are confused. They dont know what they are doing. They should stop blaming Zanu PF for their problems. The two parties should sort out their mess and not point fingers at Zanu PF, said Believe Gaule, a Zanu PF member and former Tsholotsho senator.

The Supreme Court declared Chamisas leadership of the MDC null and void, arguing that he assumed the leadership of the party without following proper procedures.
On the night of Aug. 29, Portland, Oregon, resident Aaron Jay Danielson was killed after several hours of violent clashes between left-wing demonstrators supporting the Black Lives Matter movement and Trump-supporting members of various alt-right groups whod gathered for a rally and car parade. Danielson was a supporter of the far-right Patriot Prayer group and was wearing a hat with its insignia at the time of his killing. Suspect Michael Forest Reinoehl, who was later killed by police as they allegedly attempted to arrest him, had aligned himself with antifa, the decentralized faction of anti-fascist activists behind many of the more aggressive protest tactics seen in Portland and elsewhere.

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For national media outlets that had been observing increasing violence in Portland from afar for months, there was a rush to figure out what had gone wrong. It had seemed clear, when federal forces invaded Portland against the will of city and state elected officials this summer, that these outsiders were to blame for the escalating brutality against protesters. Portlands mayor, Ted Wheeler, a Democrat, was out in the crowds, choking on tear gas and decrying the federal law enforcement agencies as an occupying force, using the same language as demonstrators. But after Danielsons killing, which occurred a month after federal forces withdrew, its become less obvious where the fault lies, and what could have been done to prevent his death.

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The perception, among those calling for Wheelers resignation, is that the mayor has hidden behind the free speech mantle to avoid taking a stronger stance against the right-wingers who regularly travel to Portland for demonstrations.

Back in August, the president blamed Wheeler, echoing the line hed taken for months on the unrest. The day after the shooting, he called Wheeler a Do Nothing Democrat Mayor who has watched great death and destruction of his City during his tenure. In a strange alliance, left-leaning activists agreed with Trump. Some Black Lives Matter activists had previously demanded that Wheeler resign, back when federal agents were still running rampant in Portland. That demand gained momentum the day after Danielsons killing, when several progressive advocacy groups called for Wheelers resignation in a statement that accused the mayor of exacerbating tensions and violence in the city. The previous nights killing was inevitable given Mayor Wheelers repeated failures, the statement said.

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The ask for resignation may seem prematurethe mayor is up for reelection in November. Nothing is guaranteed for Wheeler, who received just under 50 percent of the vote in a sprawling open primary in May, triggering a Nov. 3 runoff election in which he faces Sarah Iannarone, an activist and former university staffer. Iannarone calls herself an everyday anti-fascist and has been slamming Wheeler on every front: his gentle handling of the Portland Police Bureau, or the PPB (a rogue police force with sympathies for white nationalists, according to Iannarone); his relationship with business interests (a neoliberal grounded in finance); and his leadership style (a failure to listen to the people whose opinions and expertise matter most). Iannarone only received 23.8 percent of the vote in the primary, falling far short of Wheelers 49.4 percent, but a lot has happened since May. A June poll found Portland voters evenly split between Wheeler, Iannarone, and not sure. In a September poll of Portland voters, nearly two-thirds of respondents rated the mayor unfavorably. He switched campaign managers last week.

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Bobbin Singh, executive director of the Oregon Justice Resource Center, one of the groups demanding that Wheeler resign, said he and his fellow advocates hadnt been planning on making that ask, since voters will be able to decide the mayors fate in less than two months. But Danielsons killing proved to them that Wheelers leadership, or lack thereof, was putting the citys residents at urgent risk in a volatile political climate that will only intensify as the election approaches. For years, Singh said, he and his colleagues have been warning Wheeler that the conditions in Portlandimpassioned protests for racial justice, incursions from white supremacist vigilante groups, an out-of-control police bureau with a history of brutalizing protesterswould likely lead to loss of life.

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We were scared that a protester would be killed by law enforcement, Singh said, noting that OJRC represents a protester who sustained a skull fracture from a police-fired aerial munition that penetrated the helmet he was wearing. We were scared someone would take out their frustrations or anger on law enforcement. And we were scared of conflicts between far-right groups and protesters.

On Aug. 29, those fears were borne out. At a video press conference about the groups demand that Wheeler resign, Olivia Katbi Smith, co-chair of the Portland chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, called Danielsons killing the logical conclusion of the environment that Ted Wheeler has created in this city.

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What environment, exactly? The perception, among those calling for Wheelers resignation, is that the mayor has hidden behind the free speech mantle to avoid taking a stronger stance against the right-wingers who regularly travel to Portland for demonstrations, even as the police force he commands cracks down on leftist demonstrators. In 2017, Wheeler held a private City Hall meeting with Patriot Prayer leader Joey Gibson in advance of a scheduled protest mere days after a white supremacist murdered two people on a local light-rail train. Wheeler had asked the federal government to revoke the permit for the right-wing protest, which was to be held on federal property, to no avail.

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A few months after the stabbing and Patriot Prayer protest, the Unite the Right rally happened in Charlottesville, Virginia. Alt-right demonstrators injured counterprotesters and killed Heather Heyer. In response, a Georgetown Law clinic used laws prohibiting private paramilitary activity to get court orders banning certain groups and people from returning to the town. The clinic has since used the same tactic to support efforts in other localities to keep rogue militia groups out. Singh said this approach appealed to OJRC as a model for Portland. When far-right groups were coming into Portland, we showed [Wheelers office] the playbook from Charlottesville, Singh said. We even reached out to law firms to help with it. We reached out to the Georgetown clinic. Nothing happened from that. 

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Two years later, the PPB protected members of Patriot Prayer and the Proud Boys as they staged a dramatic march across a Portland bridge. It was a striking scene, HuffPost reported, the same group of out-of-town fascists that have terrorized people here for years, given free rein over a city bridge, on their way back from an unpermitted rally in a public park, after weeks of threatening to harm and kill local anti-fascists.

Activists also have long-standing problems with the way Wheeler has led the PPB: They say he has been neither clear enough in his denouncements of police brutality nor stringent enough in his directives to curb officers worst behaviors; and when he does order the bureau to do something, he allows officers and bureau leaders to ignore his instructions. The fact that the previous police chief, Jami Resch, was able to choose her own replacement soon after the 2020 protests began, with no civilian or community oversight, is a testament to the lack of accountability the PPB enjoys, Singh said.

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The short tenure of Danielle Outlaw, the chief Wheeler appointed a few months after winning his 2016 campaign on a platform of police reform, offers another example. Outlaw immediately began cracking down on protesters in the city, pushing to give police more leeway to corral demonstrators, authorizing the use of flash-bang grenades, and bragging that she kicked [protesters] butt after police responded to protests with violence in 2018. Wheeler and Outlaw worked together on some attempts to curtain protest activity, including an ordinance that would have allowed Wheeler to dictate the time and place of planned protests in an effort to reduce violence between opposing groups (the ordinance failed). At other times, Outlaw blatantly ignored Wheelers orders, as when he told the PPB to stop towing stolen vehicles (a measure meant to serve low-income victims of theft) and to avoid clashes with an Occupy encampment. When Patriot Prayer staged a demonstration in Portland in 2018, police found members on the roof of a parking garage with a cache of weapons. The officers temporarily seized the guns, then returned them, and then neglected to tell the mayor about the incident for months.

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In 2019, the PPB protected members of Patriot Prayer and the Proud Boys as they staged a dramatic march across a Portland bridge.

Teressa Raiford, an organizer who founded Dont Shoot Portland in 2014, has been critical of Wheelers leadership of the PPB for some time. She is currently running a write-in campaign for mayor after placing a distant third in the primary. Her desire to replace Wheeler stems in part from an early glimpse at how he would handle a sustained protest movement, the likes of which has been roiling Portland for months. About a month after Wheeler took office in 2017, Raiford organized a Not My Presidents Day protest against Trump in front of a federal building downtown. I sent a public plea to Ted, because Id supported his campaign, and asked him not to show up with violence, not to allow police to be violent toward us, she said. Nevertheless, police officers arrived in riot gear, pushed protesters off the streets and onto the ground, and pepper-sprayed at least one restrained demonstrator in the face at close range. Citing the protests lack of a permit, officers arrested more than a dozen protesters when they refused to vacate the streets and sidewalks. I was like, This is incredible, because [Wheeler] ran on this very progressive platform and this was his first month as mayor, Raiford said. You want to protect Portlanders and their right to free speech? You dont go out and attack them.

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More recently, these lingering frustrations with Wheelers leadership have exploded. In response to the Portland uprising, which began after George Floyds killing in Minneapolis in May and still continues with nightly demonstrations more than three months later, Wheeler and the Portland City Council have made a few changes to city policy. The council cut the PPB budget by $15 million. (Activists had asked for $50 million, about one-fifth of the total police budget of about $245 million.) They ended armed police presence in public schools and on public transportation, and allocated nearly $5 million to a forthcoming program that will enlist unarmed first responders to deal with calls involving people experiencing homelessness or mental health crises.

Activists say these nods to demonstrators demands do not meet the urgency of this moment of racial reckoning. In previous years, advocates fought hard for such incremental reforms, because that was the paradigm that we had to exist under, Singh said. We had to create these wins to push toward culture change. Now, they feel the culture has changed. At a time when Black Portlanders and civil rights activists are demanding dramatic policy changes to match the new mood, they feel betrayed and abandoned by Wheelers lack of focus in his joint roles as mayor and police commissioner, a setup that distinguishes Portland among major U.S. cities. Instead of concentrating on issues of police brutality and racial injustice during this time, activists say, hes given private briefings to business owners and made sure, in his public addresses, to decry the property damage that has resulted from some demonstrations.

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Jo Ann Hardesty, a member of the Portland City Council, is pushing to establish a new independent oversight board for the PPB, has laid out a plan for a reimagined PPB, and told police Chief Chuck Lovell exactly what shed change about the PPBs protest response if she were given control of the agency. At the height of the protests, as federal agents and PPB officers teamed up to crack down on demonstrators, she asked Wheeler to let her take over as police commissioner. Wheeler refused. Allowing Hardesty to take the wheel would actually be a strong signal to suggest that [Wheeler] recognizes where his limitations are, Singh said. Raiford agrees: I believe he feels that he doesnt know what to do. He should show leadership by saying, I cant handle this.

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Wheeler appears caught between a set of factions whose opposing interests seem impossible to reconcile: the business community, whose leaders are angry that Wheeler hasnt done more to stop the destruction of property in downtown Portland; the majority of Portland metro voters who disapprove of the nightly protests, including a majority of voters of color who believe theyre not helping race relations, in spite of broad citywide agreement on the fact that racist police brutality is an urgent problem; and the demonstrators themselves, who are determined to keep at it until they see radical changes in city policy. Had Wheeler taken immediate action to meet more of the protesters demands, other Portlanders might have thought hed gone too far. But he might have also successfully deescalated the protests before some of these other voters turned against themand, more importantly, before anyone was killed.

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Now, its difficult for activists to imagine how Wheeler might recover his credibility after he tried to stake an untenable middle ground between supporting and condemning police brutality against protesters, journalists, and medics. Wheeler told the PPB to stop beating and arresting journalists covering the protests, but they continued to do so. It took more than a week for an officer filmed punching a protester on the ground to be taken off the streets and placed on administrative duty. It took seven weeks from the time Wheeler himself was tear-gassed by federal agentsan experience he said made him think long and hard about whether this is really a viable toolto ban the PPBs use of tear gas on protesters. Wheeler has allowed PPB officers to cover their name badges, contributing to an appearance of impunity among local law enforcement agents, even as he decried federal agents who abducted demonstrators in unmarked vans. When a Rolling Stone writer asked Wheeler about the violent tactics the PPB has used during the demonstrations, Wheeler equivocated, saying he would not cop to saying that I support those or if theyve been OK with me, then mentioned a recent dumpster fire outside a police precinct and said, There are times when the Police Bureau has a duty to protect lives and safety.

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In the weeks since the Aug. 29 killing, Portland-area media outlets have reported on several ways in which the PPB failed in its response to the alt-right demonstration. The citys preparation for the rally and car parade, even in the wake of months of protests and police violence, was minimal compared with the precautions taken before previous incursions of armed right-wing groups. And the PPB failed to keep Trump supporters caravan on the interstate, which police Chief Lovell claims the bureau tried to do. In his public statements and addresses, Wheeler doesnt have much to offer. Its hard for me to stand here, with a human being dead, and say that we did everything we possibly could, he said at a press conference the day after the August killing. I cant make that statement. It would be preposterous of me to do so. At the same event, when asked how the PPB could have prevented the previous nights violence, he admitted, I dont know how, operationally, you prevent this. Right-wing groups are planning another demonstration on Saturday; Wheeler has directed PPB to plan ahead.

Unless there is a drastic shift in the Portland political climate over the next few weeks, it seems unlikely that Wheeler will resign before the election. With no experience in elected office and the confrontational posture of an activist, Iannarone is a dark horse whose aggressive agenda may veer too far left for some Portlanders. (Right-wing media outlets are already having a lot of fun with her I am Antifa tweet from last year.) On the other hand, as Nigel Jaquiss wrote in Willamette Week, If Portlanders are fed up with Wheeler, Iannarone has a simple pitch for them: She hated Ted before it was cool. She already knows what shell do as PPB commissioner if shes elected: hand the reins to Hardesty.
Panaji, Sep 22 : Prison authorities at North Goa's Colvale Central Jail on Tuesday launched a massive search operation, after a 31-year-old undertrial accused of raping a 48-year-old British national in the beach village of Canacona in 2018, went missing.

"We have launched a search operation for inmate Ramchandra Yellappa. We believe he is still hiding in the prison complex," a spokesperson for the Colvale prison facility said.

This is not Yellappa's first attempt to flee from custody. In 2019, he had dodged a police escort party and had escaped while he was being ferried to court for trial.

Yellappa, who is a native of Tamil Nadu, was subsequently arrested in Bengaluru.

Last month, another undertrial Hemraj Bharadwaj, who was being tried for a narotics-related offence, had also escaped from the same prison and continues to be untraceable.
Ofcom fines Panjab Radio 30,000

Ofcom has imposed a 30,000 financial penalty on Panjab Radio for serious breaches of our broadcasting rules.

Panjab Radio is a faith and cultural radio station for the UK Asian community, broadcasting in Punjabi.

Our investigation found that during the Shamsher Singh Rai Programme, the presenter encouraged listeners to take the law into their own hands, and to carry out violent attacks against people he considered to have disrespected the Sikh faith.

We concluded this was an extremely serious breach of our rules on incitement of crime and offensive content, which warranted the imposition of statutory sanctions.

These include a financial penalty, to be paid by Panjab Radio to HM Paymaster General, and a direction to the station to air a statement of our findings on a date  and in a form  to be determined by Ofcom.
News

Tucson, Arizona - The exciting medical lesson that we should learn is that viral diseases are treatable. The political lessons are that the government takeover of healthcare persists long after the 15-days-to-flatten-the-curve emergency is over, and that the medical technocracy is disastrous to both health and freedom. It is blocking the use of the methods used in countries that have had a 75 percent lower mortality rate.

Doctors have been telling their patients for decades: you have a virus, antibiotics dont help, just tough it out.

With COVID-19, most doctors are telling patients to go home, isolate themselves, possibly report on their contacts, and go to the emergency room if they are otherwise sick enough to be admitted to hospital (extremely sick, these days). If asked, most doctors will refuse point blank to prescribe the antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine (HCQ). They know it doesnt work, based on the authorities pronouncements, even if they have zero experience themselves.

There is no home treatment that is recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Infectious Diseases of America (IDSA), the American Medical Association (AMA), or your managed care plan.

In their view, following The Science means denying treatment. Doctors who defy this diktat may get fired, like Dr. Simone Gold, founder of Americas Frontline Doctors, or face an investigation and possible delicensure by government agencies.

FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn states that physicians have the legal right to prescribe approved drugs for off-label uses. HCQ has been approved since 1955 and has been safely used by hundreds of millions of patients for malaria, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis. It will probably never be approved specifically for COVID-19. It generally takes years and costs millions to add an official indication. Who will go through that just so they can advertise a cheap, off-patent drug for an additional use? At least 20 percent of prescriptions are off-labelbut HCQ for COVID-19 is the only one that could subject a physician or pharmacy to the threat of a professional death sentence.

Epidemiologist Harvey Risch of Yale University estimates that 100,000 people may have lost their lives needlessly because of governmental agencies obstructing the use of HCQ.

The pretext for government prohibitions is always to protect public safety. Former AMA president Patrice Harris, M.D., in response to resident Donald Trumps question What have you got to lose? said possibly your life. Millions of Americans are terrified of the threatened heart effects, which are exceedingly rarein fact, HCQ probably protects the heart.

But what is really being protected is the medical technocracy, the medical-industrial-regulatory complex, dominated by bureaucrats inside important agencies such as the CDC, which have deep ties to extremely profitable industries.

The technocracy is heavily invested in vaccines and expensive drugs like remdesivir and monoclonal antibodies developed through advanced biotechnology. While waiting for miraculous advances, patients are dying. And many more may suffer long-term chronic illness that might have been prevented by early treatment.

Moreover, the countrys economy and freedom are dying as health authorities hold people hostage to results of their constant PCR testing that may be wildly inaccurate.

What if the authorities cherished dogmas about viral diseases in general are wrong?

In studying the response of COVID-19 to HCQ, Dr. Lee Merritt found that this treatment was not a new idea. Many scientific papers have been written in the past 40 years about the antiviral effects of many antimicrobialsantimalarials, antiparasitics such as ivermectin, and antibiotics such as azithromycinon a number of viruses. Like Rip Van Winkle, I suddenly awoke, after decades, to a completely new medical reality, Dr. Merritt writes.

During the deadly Spanish flu pandemic in 1918-1920, patients were successfully treated with injections of quinine, a precursor to HCQ. How many people die of influenza every year because of failure to follow up on this lead?

We are also learning that the risk of COVID-19 is strongly correlated with vitamin D and zinc deficiencyalthough Big Tech censors may keep you from learning of this by calling it harmful misinformation.

There are many promising approaches to COVID-19 and other viral diseases, aside from Faucis favoriteGileads remdesivirand Bill Gatess genetically engineered vaccines. You probably havent seen them in the media.

Let us hope that the shock of COVID-19 and the freedom-crushing response will awaken Americans to the danger of trusting our lives and liberty to the government-anointed experts of the medical-industrial-regulatory complex. If the remnant of independent physicians and institutions is destroyed with single payer or Medicare for all, we will have a COVID-19-like regime without end.

Jane M. Orient, M.D. obtained her undergraduate degrees in chemistry and mathematics from the University of Arizona in Tucson, and her M.D. from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1974. She completed an internal medicine residency at Parkland Memorial Hospital and University of Arizona Affiliated Hospitals and then became an Instructor at the University of Arizona College of Medicine and a staff physician at the Tucson Veterans Administration Hospital. She has been in solo private practice since 1981 and has served as Executive Director of the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS) since 1989. She is currently president of Doctors for Disaster Preparedness. She is the author of YOUR Doctor Is Not In: Healthy Skepticism about National Healthcare, and the second through fifth editions of Sapira's Art and Science of Bedside Diagnosis published by Wolters Kluwer. She authored books for schoolchildren, Professor Klugimkopf's Old-Fashioned English Grammar and Professor Klugimkopf's Spelling Method, published by Robinson Books, and coauthored two novels published as Kindle books, Neomorts and Moonshine. More than 100 of her papers have been published in the scientific and popular literature on a variety of subjects including risk assessment, natural and technological hazards and nonhazards, and medical economics and ethics. She is the editor of AAPS News, the Doctors for Disaster Preparedness Newsletter, and Civil Defense Perspectives, and is the managing editor of the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons.
An Instagram model who embarked on a series of bizarre robberies and was caught with a knife in Target has been locked up again.

Monique Marina Agostino, 25, was originally sentenced to two years in jail after being convicted for going on a crime spree in Sydney in 2018.

She was released on bail earlier this year while appealing against her sentence, but was arrested again in September after a warrant for her arrest was issued when she failed to appear in court over claims she breached her bail conditions.

Before her descent from Instagram star to serial offender began, Agostino accumulated thousands of followers after sharing racy photos of her wearing bikinis on the beach and in a tight Catwoman outfit.

Monique Marina Agostino, 25, was originally sentenced to two years in jail after being convicted for going on a crime spree in Sydney in 2018

Agostino was released on bail earlier this year while appealing against her sentence, but was arrested again in September after a warrant for her arrest was issued when she failed to appear in court over claims she breached her bail conditions

Agostino was a getaway driver for teenage boys who broke into an Italian restaurant

Her first foray into a life of crime came in 2018, when she became involved in a series of burglaries in Sydney's north shore.

Agostino in police custody

The then 22-year-old became getaway driver for teenage boys who robbed an Italian restaurant and tried to break into a fruit shop and cafe.

The crew donned black masks and used chisels to break into the Pound of Pizza restaurant at Killarney Heights on November 6. Their efforts were caught on CCTV.

On the same day, Agostino was also caught using a stolen credit card to buy $11.55 worth of fast food from McDonald's in Brookvale.

The card had been reported stolen from the Stanley Street Cafe at St Ives earlier that day.

She was also convicted of stealing a $90 jacket from Supre, and possessing a knife and drugs - meth and diazepam - inside Target in Blacktown's Westpoint Shopping Centre.

Agostino was also caught using a stolen credit card to buy $11.55 worth of fast food from McDonald's in Brookvale

Agostino was released on bail earlier this year as she awaited an appeal on August 26 over the severity of her sentence.

The appeal was subsequently thrown out when she failed to show up to her court appearance in July.

She was arrested on September 5 after an arrest warrant was issued.

Agostino did end up getting her appeal heard and she was re-sentenced in the NSw District Court, news.com.au reported.

Her lawyer Pawel Kulisiewicz told the court 'they were always going to get court' and dismissed her offending as 'amateur hour'.

Judge Dina Yehia agreed to cut her prison time in half.

The 25-year-old was handed a 12-month sentence with a six-month non-parole period, meaning will be eligible for release from Sydney's Silverwater jail in October on time served.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-21 22:28:09|Editor: huaxia

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A visitor visits an exhibition of porcelain ware in the Palace Museum in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 21, 2020. An exhibition featuring 196 pieces of porcelain ware of Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) co-hosted by the Palace Museum and local government of Jingdezhen kicked off on Monday. The exhibition lasts till Dec. 20. Jingdezhen was the production place for porcelain ware made for royal families in the Palace Museum back in Ming and Qing Dynasties. (Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai)
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In the memorandum, CMS highlights the physical and emotional toll stemming from efforts to safeguard Residents against COVID-19. While the threat of COVID-19 remains, the burden to address the physical and emotional needs of patients has increased since the Pandemic began in March.

"It has now been over six months since the Pandemic started, and for some Residents, extended social and medical isolation has resulted in behavioral issues like depression and physical complications," said Deb Glatfelter, Manager of Regulatory Affairs at the Polaris Group, an organization that has provided staffing and consulting services to Nursing Homes for over 30 years. "It is imperative that Long Term Care Facilities allow ancillary health care workers back into their Communities to prevent complications due to lack of care or social interaction."

The announcement from CMS echoes similar guidance issued at the state and local level. Last week, the State of Indiana issued guidance that health care workers who provide routine and preventative visits, including Dentist and Podiatry Visits, can and should resume.

"We are encouraged by recent announcements from CMS, the State of Indiana, and other organizations that recognize the risks associated with prolonging Resident care," said Dr. Andrew Scott, an Indiana-based Podiatrist that works for Preferred Podiatry Group (PPG). "Due to the postponement of Podiatry visits, our Podiatrists have reported severe cases of hyperkeratotic and pre ulcerative lesions, as well as well as thickened, loose, or heavily incurvated nails, both of which can contribute to Resident falls and other complications."

CMS' memorandum is expected to be well received by families of patients and caregivers that visit Nursing Homes to deliver care.

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A Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) chemist checks pills containing fentanyl at the DEA Northeast Regional Laboratory in New York on Oct. 8, 2019. (Don Emmert/AFP via Getty Images)

Delaware Officials, FBI Seize Enough Fentanyl to Kill 75 Percent of States Population

The FBI and local officials in Delaware seized enough fentanyl to kill about 75 percent of the states population of nearly 1 million.

Delaware State Police and the FBI on Monday announced 28 arrests in connection with the sting, called Operation No Mas.

All 28 suspects were charged with 252 felonies, including criminal racketeering, conspiracy, drug dealing, and other charges, officials said, as reported by WPVI-TV. Law enforcement officials said the drug ring was run by suspect Luis Renteria, who owned properties in Philadelphia and Delaware.

Included in these results was the largest fentanyl seizure by Delaware law enforcement in the states history, making a major dent in the supply of fentanyl that would have been distributed on the streets of Newark and surrounding areas, said Jennifer Boone, special agent in charge of the FBIs field office in Baltimore. Alone, the quantity of fentanyl seized could have killed thousands and thousands of people.

Officials noted the significant amount of drugs that were recovered.

It was enough fentanyl to kill 750,000 Delawareans, said Lt. Robert Jones of the Delaware State Police.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that has surpassed heroin as the leading cause of overdoses in the United States, surpassing heroin in the number of overdoses.

Sources of supplies for the Renteria organization were located in numerous states including California, Pennsylvania, and Florida, said Jones.

Renteria faces up to 30 years in prison if he is convicted, officials said.

The amount of fentanyl, cocaine, heroin, drug money, and guns seized in this sting has saved lives and will save livespoint blank. The actions of these narcotics enterprises have ripples stretching across our region and at times across the nation. Disrupting them helps disrupt a drug trade that I and everyone else here today can attest breeds violence in Delaware and elsewhere, said Delaware Attorney General Kathleen Jennings, according to reports.

China Connection

China is the largest source of illicit fentanyl and fentanyl-like substances in the country, according to a 2018 report by the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC).

Last month, the United States sanctioned an alleged fentanyl kingpin, 32-year-old Zhang Taotao, who is a chemist and chemical supplier based in Shanghai. Hes accused of shipping the drug in massive amounts to the United States.

Fentanyl is up to 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more powerful than heroin. As little as two milligrams is considered a lethal dosage for most people. Over 31,000 people in the United States have died from overdosing on synthetic opioids in 2018, most of them being fentanyl-related, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Fentanyl was found in the system of George Floyd, a man who died in police custody in May and triggered a wave of riots and unrest over the summer, according to the local medical examiners office.

Cathy He contributed to this report.
Harish Murali By

Express News Service

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court on Tuesday issued notices to actor Vishal and director M Anandan to file a detailed report by Thursday on the plea moved by the film production company Trident Arts to restrain the release of the actor's upcoming movie Chakra on an Over the Top (OTT) platform.

Madras High Court judge N Sathish Kumar issued the notice after the production house stated in its plea that the actor owed Rs 8 crore due to the loss caused by his previous movie 'Action'.

Vijayan Subramanian, the counsel for the petitioner, contended that an agreement was signed with Anandan dated August 29, 2018. "It was decided that Vishal will lead the film as a military officer and on the same day a token advance of Rs 1 lakh was given to the director through cheque," the producer said.

However, the pandemic-induced lockdown was announced stalling plans to commence the project. "But to my shock and surprise, Vishal started production of the film named 'Chakra' and Anandan avoided talking to or meeting me," he stated in the petition.

Claiming that 'Chakra' has been scheduled to be released in an OTT platform for a consideration of Rs 44 crore, the petitioner claimed that unless the release is stalled, his rights under the agreement will be affected.

He further contended that the court must direct Anandan and Vishal to deposit Rs 1 crore as a deposit with it as a condition to release the film pending disposal of the plea.

The court recording the submissions issued the notice to the director as well as the actor on the plea returnable by Thursday.
(Newser)  The US has now reached the unwanted milestone of 200,000 COVID deaths, and one of those deaths out of Houston is drawing national attention. Adeline Fagan, a 28-year-old medical doctor, died after battling the coronavirus for about two months, reports the Houston Chronicle. Coverage:

The fight: Fagan was a native of central New York who was in the second year of her residency as an OB-GYN at a Houston hospital, reports Syracuse.com. She tested positive in early July and was hospitalized when her condition worsened. Last month, she had to go on a ventilator.

Fagan was a native of central New York who was in the second year of her residency as an OB-GYN at a Houston hospital, reports Syracuse.com. She tested positive in early July and was hospitalized when her condition worsened. Last month, she had to go on a ventilator. ER rotation: Her family says Fagan mostly delivered babies, but she'd just finished a rotation treating COVID-19 patients in the ER before she fell ill, reports CNN, citing a GoFundMe page.

story continues below

Dad's wish: "Even in this darkest of times, there are good people willing to share a piece of themselves for the sake of another," wrote her father, Brant Fagan. "If you can do one thing, be an 'Adeline' in the world. Be passionate about helping others less fortunate, have a smile on your face, a laugh in your heart, and a Disney tune on your lips."

"Even in this darkest of times, there are good people willing to share a piece of themselves for the sake of another," wrote her father, Brant Fagan. "If you can do one thing, be an 'Adeline' in the world. Be passionate about helping others less fortunate, have a smile on your face, a laugh in your heart, and a Disney tune on your lips." Fall surge: Tuesday is the official start of autumn, and the New York Times reports that a feared fall surge in coronavirus cases appears to be upon us. The number of new cases is up 15% over the last 10 days, the biggest increase since late spring. The US has more than 6.8 million confirmed cases. Minnesota, Montana, Utah, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and Puerto Rico saw record rises in new cases in the week ending Monday, per USA Today.

Tuesday is the official start of autumn, and the New York Times reports that a feared fall surge in coronavirus cases appears to be upon us. The number of new cases is up 15% over the last 10 days, the biggest increase since late spring. The US has more than 6.8 million confirmed cases. Minnesota, Montana, Utah, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and Puerto Rico saw record rises in new cases in the week ending Monday, per USA Today. CDC controversy: The Washington Post takes a look at a new CDC controversy in which the agency officially declared that the virus is primarily spread through airborne transmission, only to reverse itself. The story asserts that evidence of airborne transmission has been mounting for months, and many health experts were happy with the initial CDC statement. They see the reversal as a missed opportunity.

(Read more coronavirus stories.)
GREENWICH  A Greenwich-based legal services nonprofit is accepting applications for grants to provide families of special education students with access to qualified attorneys.

The Special Education Legal Fund Inc. announced Monday that it would award grants of up to $5,000 for qualified families living in Connecticut or Westchester County, N.Y., for its Legal Assistance Program.

Special Education Legal Fund (S.E.L.F.) provides resources and knowledge to families in need to promote full advocacy for children in the special education system, a statement from the group said.

Although a free and appropriate public education is a right guaranteed to all students under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the realities of special education in the U.S. can be quite different, the group says on its website. Parents and educators may disagree on the appropriate education of a student with specific needs.

S.E.L.F. was co-founded by two special education parents from Greenwich, Christine Lai and Ulrika Drinkall.

In addition to the geographic qualifications, families must have a child with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) and an adjusted gross income of below 300 percent of the federal minimum poverty level.

In Connecticut, the cost of taking a special education case to a due process hearing can be over $50,000, the group said.

Since 2018, the fund has provided more than $275,000 to support families in Connecticut and New York. The group also supports special education families through its Parent Education Program and Agency Education Program, which provide resources to families navigating the special education system.

S.E.L.F. also provides services to English as a Second Language (ESL) and English Language Learner (ELL) populations through its Proyecto de Educacion Especial.

According to its website, S.E.L.F. was created to help level the playing field for parents navigating the special education system. For more information or to apply for a grant, visit spedlegalfund.org.

justin.papp@scni.com; @justinjpapp1; 203-842-2586
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- An NYPD officer who also served in the United States Army Reserve was arrested Monday and faces federal charges of acting as an illegal agent of the Chinese government, authorities said.

Baimadajie Angwang, 33, who was born in the Tibetan region of China, allegedly acted at the direction and control of Chinese government officials stationed at the consulate in New York City, according to officials, while spotting and assessing potential intelligence sources within the Tibetan community in New York and elsewhere.

Federal prosecutors said that Angwang, who most recently worked as a community liaison in the NYPDs 111th Precinct in Queens, also provided non-public information about internal operations of the NYPD to Peoples Republic of China (PRC) officials at the consulate and offered them access to senior NYPD officials through invitations to official events.

Additionally, Angwang is charged with committing wire fraud, making material false statements and obstructing an official proceeding, prosecutors said.

As part of his employment with the U.S. Army Reserve, Angwang maintained a SECRET level security clearance and allegedly lied on a background investigation form by denying he had contacts with a foreign government or its consulate, including his family members who live in the Peoples Republic of China and are affiliated with the Peoples Liberation Army, according to authorities.

This is the definition of an insider threat - as alleged, Mr. Angwang operated on behalf of a foreign government; lied to gain his clearance, and used his position as an NYPD police officer to aid the Chinese governments subversive and illegal attempts to recruit intelligence sources, said FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge William Sweeney.

The FBI is committed to stopping hostile foreign governments from infiltrating our institutions, and we will not tolerate the behavior of those who willingly violate their oath to the United States, and covertly work against their fellow citizens," Sweeney said. "We want to thank the NYPD for its extraordinary partnership on this investigation.

Since at least 2014, authorities allege Angwang reported the activities of Chinese citizens in the New York area and fed information about potential intelligence sources within the Tibetan community to his contacts.

One of the Chinese officials who worked at the consulate was part of the China Associated for Preservation and Development of Tibetan Culture, which is a division of the Chinese United Front Work Department partially dedicated to neutralizing opponents of the PRC.

Angwang allegedly texted the official at least 55 times between June 2018 and March 2020.

After inviting the official to the NYPDs annual Asian Jade Banquet  a move the official was wary of  Angwang told the individual the consulate should be happy instead . . . because, because you have extended your reach into the police department," court documents show.

Let them [superiors in Beijing] know you have recruited one in the police department, Angwang told one of the officials, according to the documents, suggesting that official access to NYPD events would raise our countrys soft power."

NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea said Angwang, violated every oath he took in this country. One to the United States, another to the U.S. Army, and a third to this Police Department.

From the earliest stages of this investigation, the NYPDs Intelligence and Internal Affairs bureaus worked closely with the FBIs Counterintelligence Division to make sure this individual would be brought to justice," Shea said.

At his initial court appearance, Angwang was ordered held without bail.

The Chinese consulate did not respond for a request to comment. Angwangs attorney declined to comment.

The defendant allegedly violated the trust of his community and the New York City Police Department on behalf of a foreign power, the Peoples Republic of China,'' said FBI Assistant Director Kohler. This type of conduct simply cannot be tolerated.

This case serves as yet another reminder that China represents the biggest counterintelligence threat to the United States and that the FBI and our partners will be aggressive in investigating and stopping such activities within our nation," Kohler said.
New Delhi:

Biocon has won a contract worth Rs 460.5 crore from the Ministry of Health, Malaysia, to supply recombinant human insulin formulations for a period of three years.

The drug manufactured by Biocon at its large-scale bio-pharmaceutical facility in Johor, Malaysia, is the country's first locally manufactured biosimilar biologic product, Biocon said in a BSE filing on Wednesday.

"Biocon SDN. BHD. has been awarded a MYR 300 million contract to be serviced over a period of three years for supplying rh-insulin cartridges and re-usable insulin pens under the Malaysian government's Off-Take Agreement (OTA) initiative," Biocon said in a BSE filing.

It further said: "Biocon's rh-Insulin is Malaysia's first locally manufactured biosimilar biologic product approved by the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Authority (NPRA), Malaysia, for commercial sales in the country. This marks the commercialisation milestone of Biocon's first overseas facility in Malaysia".

The contract is extendable for an additional two years period subject to approval by the Government of Malaysia, the company said. Biocon will distribute insulins and insulin delivery devices through Malaysia's CCM Pharmaceuticals.
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More than 3.8 lakh companies have been struck off from official records under the companies law during the past three years, according to the government. In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Corporate Affairs Anurag Singh Thakur also said the term "shell company" is not defined under the Companies Act.

"It normally refers to a company without active business operation or significant assets, which in some cases are used for illegal purpose such as tax evasion, money laundering, obscuring ownership, benami properties etc," he noted. The Special Task Force set up by the government to look into the issue of shell companies has recommended the use of certain red flag indicators as alerts for identification of shell companies.

According to the minister, the government has undertaken a special drive for identification and then to strike off shell companies. Based on non-filing of financial statements consecutively for two years or more, companies were identified and after following due process of law, "3,82,581 number of companies were struck off during the last three years", Thakur said.

This was done as provided under Section 248 of the Companies Act, 2013, read with the Companies (Removal of Names of Companies from the Register of Companies) Rules, 2016. In a separate written reply, the minister said that under Section 182 of the Companies Act, companies, other than government companies and companies less than three years old, are allowed directly or indirectly to contribute to any political party with the approval of their boards of directors.

"Such companies shall have to disclose in its profit and loss account the total amount contributed by them during the financial year to which the account relates and the name of the party is not required to be disclosed. Therefore, political party-wise data is not maintained," he said.

Also read: RBI has not asked banks to raise capital to brace for possible NPAs: Anurag Thakur
The Election Commission would take a decision in the next few days to visit Bihar where are likely to be held later this year amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) said on Monday.

Addressing an international webinar on "issues, challenges and protocols for conducting during COVID-19: sharing country experiences", Arora said the Commission would take a decision within the "next two to three days" on visiting Bihar.

The Commission, which includes the CEC and two fellow commissioners, usually visit poll-bound states to interact with various stakeholders like police, civic authorities and political parties ahead of announcing poll schedule.

According to a statement issued by the poll panel, Arora explained the impact of COVID-19 on the election.

He highlighted how coronavirus exigencies and social distancing measures necessitated a revisit of the EC's existing instructions.

The maximum number of electors at a polling station was reduced from 1,500 to 1,000, and consequently, the number of polling stations jumped by 40 per cent, from 65,000 to 100,000. These changes have huge logistics and manpower implications, he pointed out.

The CEC also observed that the poll watchdog has placed a lot of emphasis on extending facilitation to senior citizens, women, persons with disabilities and in current circumstances, ensuring franchise to COVID-19 positive voters and those in quarantine.

In this context, he told the gathering how, beginning with the to the legislative assembly of Jharkhand in November-December 2019, and elections to the legislative assembly of Delhi in February this year, the postal ballot facility was extended to voters who are aged more than 80 years, persons with disability and those engaged in specified essential services.

This facility of postal ballot has been extended to COVID-19 positive electors who are in quarantine or are hospitalised.

Earlier this month, the Election Commission had said it has decided to hold 65 pending by-elections and the Bihar assembly polls "around the same time".

There are 64 vacancies in the legislative assemblies of various states and one in Lok Sabha.

The term of the 243-member Bihar assembly ends on November 29 and elections are likely to be held sometime in October-November.

(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.)
Manhattanites looking to dine out in the cool, fall weather while keeping a distance from others can now do so in 'space bubbles' that protect up to six customers from the wind and rain.

The French restaurant Cafe du Soleil on the corner of Broadway and West 104th on Manhattan's Upper West Side placed transparent tent bubbles over each dining table in the outdoor eating section.

The eatery put the 18 geodesic domes, or 'space bubbles,' along its outdoor dining area on the pedestrian sidewalk so that customers won't be scared away by the fall elements.

Each space bubble, which is made out of clear plastic, is 7ft tall and has enough room to sit six customers, according to Time Out New York.

The bubbles make it feel 10 degrees warmer for diners brave enough to step outside during the fall.

Diners at Cafe du Soleil on Manhattan's Upper West Side have the option of eating outdoors inside 'space bubbles.' Diners are seen above at the French bistro on Tuesday evening

The space bubbles keep out the rain and the wind, which will be helpful to diners who visit the French bistro during the fall months. Diners patronize the eatery on the Upper West Side on Tuesday

Each space bubble, which is made out of clear plastic, is 7ft tall and has enough room to sit six customers

By law, restaurants in New York City are not permitted to seat diners indoors until at least the end of the month.

Beginning on September 30, restaurants who serve customers indoors can only fill the area up to 25 per cent capacity due to ongoing restrictions aimed at preventing a renewed outbreak of COVID-19 in the New York metropolitan area.

'It's been really hard,' Maxime Rousselot, one of the French bistro's managing partners, told Time Out New York.

'We had to reinvent ourselves. Even before dining could come back, we had to figure how to survive.'

Rousselot said that the restaurant has had to improvise in the age of COVID-19. A few weeks ago, when the forecast called for rain practically every day of the week, he placed three space bubbles in the outdoor dining area.

The diners loved it, he said.

The wide pedestrian sidewalks in front of the restaurant on the corner of Broadway and 104th allow Cafe du Soleil to seat some 80 guests outdoors

The space bubbles are made of clear plastic, which makes it impossible to heat during the winter months

The eatery erected 18 geodesic domes, or 'space bubbles,' along its outdoor dining area on the pedestrian sidewalk so that customers won't be scared away by the fall elements

'You can pop in and pop out,' according to Rousselot.

'It's like a camping tent that looks like a cap on the moon.'

The space bubbles are a stopgap solution for the autumn, so diners can eat outdoors at the restaurant for at least the next few months.

When winter comes around, however, the bubbles may have to come down. Heating them is not an option since it would destroy the plastic wrap.

Cafe du Soleil, which seats about 80 guests outdoors thanks to the wide sidewalks along Broadway, began using the space bubbles weeks ago when it wasn't apparent that the government would approve of indoor dining.

The bistro offers delicacies like Provencal-style rotisserie chicken, grass-fed steak au poivre, and a cassoulet.

As for how Cafe du Soleil will get through the winter, time will tell.

'To survive the winter is very complicated,' Rousselot says.

'We'll try to have [the space bubbles] as long as possible.'

Initially, Governor Andrew Cuomo said earlier this month that he wouldn't allow restaurants to resume indoor dining despite the fact that the infection rate in New York City has been below 1 per cent for several weeks in a row.

Cuomo said he was concerned that allowing indoor dining would double the number of bars currently operating, thus posing an increased risk of renewed COVID-19 infections.

Governor Andrew Cuomo has come under fire from restaurant and bar owners who say that allowing just 25 per cent occupancy for indoor dining will put them out of business

The governor's comments outraged restaurateurs and bar-owners who sued the state for $2billion in damages, claiming they were being unfairly shackled and stopped from making money.

In response to the backlash, Cuomo reversed himself somewhat, announcing on September 9 that indoor dining would be allowed to resume with a 25 per cent occupancy limit and strict enforcement of COVID-19 safety protocols.

The governor said that if the data shows no renewed spike in COVID-19, he would expand indoor dining to 50 per cent capacity by November 1.

New York City - which has more bars and restaurants than any other city in the US - remains the only metropolis in the world that is yet to resume indoor dining.

It is also the only place in the state of New York that has not been allowed to welcome diners inside again.

As colder weather approaches, outdoor dining - which has only been an option for a small percentage of the city's establishments - will end.

A group of restaurant owners said the 25 per cent capacity limit is 'too little, too late.' They plan to march to the governor's office in Manhattan on Monday.
UN 75th Anniversary

Secretary-General Tygve Lie (lower left), of Norway, stoops for a close view as workmen set the cornerstone at the new United Nations headquarters, Oct. 24, 1949. Looking up from the dais below are President Truman and other U.S. and foreign dignitaries. A huge U.N. flag, flanked by the colors of the 59 member nations, provides a backdrop. Credit - Bettmann Archive/Getty Images

As the United Nations celebrates its 75th anniversary this week, its limitations have never been more apparent. Neither has its necessity.

Im a political scientist by training, focusing on international relations. The first thing they teach you in IR 101 is that the international system exists in a state of anarchythere is no global policeman to enforce the rules. In fact, there are no rules. Countries pretty much do what they wantthe only thing that stops them is other countries acting against them. Sometimes, measures like economic sanctions are enough. Sometimes, they arentthe ultimate weapon countries have to keep others in check is the threat of violence, or all-out war.

The U.N. was born from the wreckage of World War II, a period of human history so catastrophic that policymakers came together to figure out a way they could devise an international system that, even if it didnt eliminate war, at least made it the least likely option to be deployed. Hence the creation of the U.N. (along with other Bretton Woods Institutions like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund), an institution built to foster dialogue and diplomacy, and to provide an arena other than the battlefield for countries to hash out disagreements. And for many decades it largely workedwhile there have been plenty of wars after 1945, the worlds major powers have never been sucked into a battle of the enormity or destruction of World War II.

But then the world began to shift. The Berlin Wall fell, then the Soviet Union broke apart, then came 9/11, then the global financial crisis, and so on and so on. The worlds geopolitical order evolved with each of these developments, first slowly, then suddenly. But the U.N. mostly stayed the samethe power structures it established in 1945 were frozen to reflect the power balances of the time. To his credit, the current U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres acknowledges this: I do believe that the present architecture is in many aspects outdated. Especially, we need to make the architecture correspond to what the world is today. The architecture we have is still largely corresponding to what the world was after the second World War. You see it in the Security Council, you see it in the Bretton Woods system, he told me in a recent interview.

Story continues

To be fair to the U.N., preventing another world war wasnt its sole mission. If the first day of IR 101 is focused on anarchy, the second day is the tragedy of the commons. Absent a well-functioning order, a collection of actorsbe they animals, humans or countrieswill deplete the finite resources all need to survive in pursuit of their individual goals. Without coordination, it doesnt make sense for any individual member to stop using the resources it needs for the sake of the greater good; others will go on using it out of their own interest, and have one less competitor to deal with. In the real world, there is no symbolic self-sacrifice that can reliably convince others to change their ways.

Climate change is the textbook example, and one that is only growing worse. Its proven difficult for a country to sacrifice the immediate well-being of its own citizens and economy for benefits that wont be experienced for decades down the line. The U.N. has attempted to address this by providing the structure necessary for collective action in our fight against global warming, efforts that resulted in the Paris Climate Agreement. But it didnt take long for a certain country to prove that the U.N. has no real ability to ensure adherence to the system it has set up. Now U.S. participation in the agreement hangs on elections in the fall.

2020 has crystalized the need for immediate collective action in other ways, too. The current pandemic isnt just a challenge because of the global health risks it poses or because it hits economies across the globe all at the same time (which means a return to normal is impossible until everyone returns to normal), but because it actively make inequality worse within countries and boosts populists, many of whom take a zero-sum approach to the world. Their emphasis on my nation first politics complicates the coordination necessary for the world to sustainably triumph over the current pandemic. Guterres calls for better coordination have gone unaddressed, which says as much about the U.N. in 2020 as it does the rest of the world.

Its easy to highlight the failures of the U.N.. But its also had real achievements that cant be overlooked. WHO helped spearhead the successful eradication of smallpox. UNICEF has provided hundreds of millions with clean water over the decades, and millions more with life-saving food and immunizations. The U.N. Refugee Agency is at the forefront of the worlds response to massing numbers of refugees, those people displaced by war and violence and which no state wants to take sole responsibility forthats an area where the U.N., its capabilities and special status, proves indispensable. Of course, there have also been real failures of the institutions, and ones that cant be blamed on the structure of the international system. There was the massacre at Srebrenica. There have been cases of sexual abuse by U.N. peacekeepers, and Cholera outbreaks traced back to U.N. missions. And for all the good it has done in taking care of the worlds destitute, it has done nowhere near enough to prevent the human rights abuses in Myanmar and Xinjiang. To help the U.N. go forward, a full account of its successes and failures must be taken.

Beyond that, what does the U.N. need to do to make itself relevant for the 21st century? Ive already mused on this topic a few years ago, but as the U.N. knows all too well, the world has become a very different place since then.

I wrote a book about the failure of globalism. World leaders need to acknowledge that and work hard to address it within their own borders. But they also need to acknowledge that there are problems facing their populations that cannot be addressed if they go it alone. And those problems need to be addressed through the U.N., to give it the funding and respect it deserves, not simply pull out of its agencies over disagreements; they have to work within the system. For its part, the U.N. needs to show that it is addressing its own shortcomings, and that its evolving along with the a rapidly-changing world. New permanent members of the Security Council would be a good start; so too a digital WTO, one that updates the cyber norms that govern the world around usthe U.N. is already moving in the right direction on the latter front.

As the U.N. turns 75 this week, there have never been so many geopolitical pieces in play during my lifetime. The U.N. has an important role in making sure that those pieces find a way to fit togetherpeacefullynot just for its own sake, but for the worlds. And that starts with reforming the institution from within.
From a red tent on the Nebraska Union Plaza, Collier urged students to check their voter registration, or in some cases, to register to vote for the first time.

By scanning QR codes positioned around the tent, students were taken directly to Vote.org, a nonprofit, nonpartisan platform that allows voters to enter basic information to register to vote in all 50 states and territories, or to check the status of their existing registration.

Its quick and easy, Collier said, taking just a few minutes in most cases. For students who may not be comfortable with registering online, the voter drive sponsored by the Huskers Vote Coalition and ASUN also had paper registrations for students to register to vote from their campus address.

Working alongside Collier was Aiah Nour, the daughter of Sudanese immigrants, who said she tries to convey to her peers the importance of voting and the advantages Americans have over her native Sudan.

The most fundamental duty of an American is to have a say on who leads them, said Nour, a senior biochemistry major from Lincoln and vice president of UNLs Black Student Union.
New Delhi: With an intention to handhold states and ease their fight against the pandemic, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Wednesday hold a high-level meeting with Chief Ministers and Health Ministers of seven COVID high-burden states. The aim is to review preparedness of COVID response and management.

States of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Punjab will participate in this meeting.

These states account for 63 per cent of the total active cases and 65.5 per cent of the total confirmed cases. About 77 per cent of total COVID-19 fatalities have been also been reported from these states. Maharashtra and Delhi are not seeing a reduction in the case fatality rate which continues to be well above the two per cent mark.

The Centre has asked the states to strive to achieve CFR of less than one percent. While Punjab and Uttar Pradesh have positivity rates below the national average of 8.52 per cent, it is high in the other five states. Maharashtra, for example, has a positivity rate of above 22 per cent. Delhis has dipped below 7 per cent but complaints of shortage of ICU beds have started to surface in the national capital. On Sunday, the cabinet secretary held a meeting with representatives of 12 states and Union Territories. This included the states Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Chandigarh, Telangana, Kerala, Delhi, Punjab and West Bengal. About 80 per cent of the COVID-19 caseload in the country is concentrated in these states and UTs.

The seven high burden states that the PM is looking at are the ones having a total case load among the highest in the country. Maharashtra has more than 12 lakh cases ever since the outbreak of the pandemic. Andhra Pradesh has over 6 lakh cases with the mortality rate of 0.9 per cent. Maharashtras mortality rate is 2.7 per cent. Karnataka has had 5 lakh cases with a mortality rate of 2 per cent. UP has a mortality rate of 1.4 per cent. Punjabs is at 2.9 per cent and Tamil Nadu, too, has had over five lakh cases ever since the pandemic broke out. The mortality rate in the state is 1.6 per cent at par with the national average.

The states have been asked to also improve their capacity for oxygen therapy after various reports surfaced of poor oxygen availability in the country. The 12 states and UTs have been asked to ensure unhindered supply of oxygen, with the health ministry saying there is no shortage as such and it is boiling down to management of resources.
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], September 22 (ANI/NewsVoir): Taking the 6th spot in LinkedIn's Top Startups List, the leading full stack financial solutions company, Razorpay, adds yet another feather to its hat as one of the most admired places to work for in India.

LinkedIn's 3rd annual Top Startups List features 10 leading companies that have remained resilient during a tumultuous time, continuing to attract investment, employees and attention. LinkedIn's editors and data scientists looked across four pillars: employee growth; jobseeker interest; member engagement with the company and its employees, and how well the startups pulled talent from their flagship LinkedIn Top Companies list. These 10 startups point to growing trends in business, from e-learning to fintech, indicating where there might be career opportunities in the future.

"This recognition in LinkedIn's Top Startups list is a huge encouragement and a testimony to the relentless work that the Razorpay team has been putting in, particularly in unprecedented times like this one. Culture has been at the core of what we do and our team and customers come first for us. Over the last 5 years, we've been able to create a workplace that encourages innovation, independence, transparency and autonomy. Honestly, if not for our people, none of what the company has achieved would have been possible. To be ranked alongside some of the greatest startups is a reflection of the good work we've been doing, the growth that we've had as a company and the growth that our employees have had - we've all grown together and we will continue to do so," said Anuradha Bharat, Vice President - People Operations, delighted about being featured in the list for the third time in a row alongside some great startups.

Razorpay has been listed by LinkedIn's Top Startups for the third time, consequently. The company's growth has been uphill, particularly in the last two years. With a 500 per cent growth in 2019, the company has been witnessing a healthy growth rate of 35 per cent month-on-month.

Currently powering payments for over 5 Mn businesses including the likes of Airtel, BookMyShow, Facebook, BSE, Reliance, Aditya Birla, Sony among others. The team plans to double this count to 10 Mn by the end of this year. With a headcount of over 1000 employees as of today, the company plans to fill 200 more critical positions across its business, product and engineering teams.

Razorpay, a full-stack financial services company, helps Indian businesses with comprehensive and innovative solutions built over robust technology to address the entire length and breadth of the payment and banking journey for any business. Established in 2014, the company provides technology payment solutions to over 5 Mn businesses.

Founded by alumni of IIT Roorkee, Shashank Kumar and Harshil Mathur, Razorpay is the second Indian company to be a part of Silicon Valley's largest tech accelerator, Y Combinator. Marquee investors such as Tiger Global, Sequoia India, Ribbit Capital, Matrix Partners, Y Combinator and MasterCard have invested a total of USD 106.5 Mn through Series A, B and C funding. Around 33 angel investors have invested in Razorpay's mission to simplify payments and banking and redefine how finance works in India.

This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir)

DISCLAIMER

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Representative Image (REUTERS/Stephen Lam)

As Corporate India tries to limp into a new normal amidst a raging pandemic, unlocking offices and getting its staff to get back to their desks, it brings in its own set of challenges.

Companies are trying to ensure full adherence to COVID-related safety protocols suggested by different layers of the administration. That is where few experts are pitching in with help.

Teamlease, a job portal for entry-level employees and blue-collar workers, has started suggesting large corporates how to restart their businesses, while keeping their employees safe.

Teamlease is undertaking a rigorous analysis of these workplaces and coming out with COVID-compliance reports for these companies, many of which are in the Information Technology space.

Another startup, Zuper, is helping the field staff of certain companies with COVID protocols.

Prashant Singh, Business Head, Teamlease Services, says: We have completed this audit for three companies, and currently undertaking for 10 more. We are in the process of talking to 50 large companies to undertake the COVID-19 audit.

Top human resource executives in large corporations are worried about keeping their staff safe as they slowly start getting back to offices. Things become more complex for companies operating in a multi-branch, multi-city environment, with different state government rules across different campuses.

As Singh points out they have made elaborate points on what are the rules across locations around segregation of employees, staggered work timings, maintenance of proper hygiene for employees and support staff, and also in keeping a close tab on their health parameters.

Teamlease experts study all these aspects from the security gate to internal conference rooms and prepare a detailed project report.

Many tech companies have given work from home, but not everybody can function like this. Hence our report is extremely valuable for companies which need employees to get back to their work stations, Singh added.

While Teamlease is ensuring that physical offices can restart safely, Zuper is helping companies ensure that their field work force is following COVID-19 safety protocols.

Zuper cofounder Raghav Gurumani said that they are working with furniture retailer Ikea India to manage their team of assemblers, who work across the country, abide by COVID-19 safety protocols.

Zuper runs a platform through which the field officials answer a set of questions on health parameters, take selfies, and record their body temperature. Following this, Zuper generates a report for the customer as well as Ikea confirming that the staff is safe to travel. Further, it also ensures that the staff from containment zones do not step out or they do not get into customer premises, which might be in restricted areas.

By using our platform, businesses can keep track of their staff. In case, tomorrow the government asks for a report, they can auto-generate it with a click of a button and submit, said Gurumani.

Zuper is working with a clutch of companies globally and pitching this product to Indian tech startups like fintech players which have a distributed workforce and need to keep track of their health parameters.

Gurumani pointed out that a lot of companies are using rudimentary Excel sheets or Google sheets to track the health of their employees, but by using their platform, companies can maintain COVID-19 compliance.
Lisa carries the Celine Ava Bag Triomphe Canvas, S$1,700. (PHOTO: Celine)

As one-fourth of IT girl group Blackpink, Lisa has contributed to hits like Ddu-Du Ddu-Du and Kill This Love.

Lisas claim to fame began when she was picked after an audition in Thailand in 2010 and shipped off to Seoul, South Korea, where she attended a K-pop star academy and trained with her future bandmates.

Today, Lisa is widely loved by her fans, and designers around the world - she was even selected by artistic director of luxury brand Celine Hedi Slimane as his muse. She first appeared front row at the Celine runway presentation during Paris Men's Fashion Week in June 2019 and even modelled a few looks for the house.

Fast forward to today (22 Sept), Celine announced that the house has appointed Lisa as the global ambassador.

We think her fans are going to be extremely pleased with this news!

Here are some photos of Lisa photographed in Paris by none other than Slimane himself.

Lisa photographed by Hedi Slimane. (PHOTO: Celine)

Lisa photographed by Hedi Slimane. (PHOTO: Celine)
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Linkedin Moch. Fiqih Prawira Adjie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, September 22, 2020 16:53 486 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c4671bc7 1 National Indonesia,coronavirus,COVID-19,COVID-19-death-toll,COVID-19-infection,pandemic,SARS-CoV-2,virus-corona,novel-coronavirus Free

Indonesia recorded an unprecedented daily increase in the COVID-19 death toll on Tuesday with 160 fatalities, bringing the national tally to 9,837.

Central Java reported the highest number of deaths with 42, followed by Jakarta  the initial epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak  with 30, East Java with 25, Banten with 16 and West Java with 11.

The country saw its confirmed cases rise by 4,071 to 252,923 on the same day. Jakarta logged the most with 1,236, followed by West Java with 575, East Java with 341, Riau with 253 and Central Java with 228.

According to worldometers.info, Indonesia has the second-highest number of recorded COVID-19 cases in Southeast Asia, just below the Philippines, which has recorded more than 290,000 cases. Indonesia sits at number 23 worldwide.

On Monday, Indonesia saw a record one-day increase in confirmed cases with a jump of 4,176. The country had never seen a daily increase above 4,000 prior to mid-September.

Read also: Stretched thin, Indonesia deploys medical interns to COVID-19 front lines

The government recently decided to implement stricter health protocols in an attempt to curb the transmission of the virus and has assigned the military and the police to enforce the protocols.

Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said last week that the stricter measures would be in place until the country was able to vaccinate residents en masse, which he expected to take place in December. He said the government was seeking to vaccinate 100 million people by January 2021.

There is currently no proven vaccine for COVID-19.

Indonesia has reportedly secured 300 million doses of candidate vaccines from foreign pharmaceutical companies, including Chinas Sinovac Biotech.

As cases continue to rise, the national COVID-19 task force has warned that the countrys health system might soon collapse if the public continues to ignore COVID-19 prevention protocols. Doctors associations have reported that more than 100 doctors have died battling the pandemic.
I have held working discussions, but I would like to address certain deputies for whom you have questions. This is what leader of the My Step faction of the National Assembly of Armenia Lilit Makunts told reporters today, touching upon the news that several deputies of the My Step faction will be dropping their mandates, including Gayane Abrahamyan, Hovhannes Hovhannisyan, Hamazasp Danielyan and Lusine Badalyan.

Some of these deputies have refuted the news.

The faction doesnt have any serious problem. We need to come to grips with the fact that the members of our faction may have different approaches to different issues, Makunts said.

Asked if there will be more deputies who will drop their mandates soon, Makunts said it is up to each deputy to decide.

Touching upon the possibility of dropping her mandate, MP Gayane Abrahamyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am that she has no comment for the time being and will issue a statement later.
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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 22)  President Rodrigo Duterte has nothing left to do should House members decide not to honor last year's term-sharing deal for the Speaker's seat.

"He's hoping na tutupad sa usapan ang partido, pero kung wala pong numbers si Congressman Lord Allan (Velasco) ay wala po siyang magagawa [He's hoping they will follow to the party's compriomise, but if Congressman Lord Allan doesn't have enough votes, the President can't do anything about that]," Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said during his Tuesday briefing, quoting Duterte's words.

Rumors of an ouster plot against incumbent Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano swirled at the chamber over the weekend. Presidential son and Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte said fellow congressmen were lamenting to him why some districts will get more projects under the Department of Public Works and Highways next year, prompting him to threaten to declare Cayetano's seat vacant.

Cayetano believes Velasco  who is set to take the Speaker's seat after his stint ends in October  is behind such calls. "From their (Velasco's) side, gusto nila, gentlemans agreement daw. Sumunod ako. Pero I think, pangatlo o pang-apat na coup attempt na nila to e," he said.

[Translation: From their (Velasco's) side, they want a gentleman's agreement. I followed. But I think this is the third or fourth coup attempt against me already.]

Duterte brokered the two lawmakers' term-sharing deal, with his 2016 election running mate Cayetano taking the first 15 months as Speaker and the remaining 21 months left to Velasco.

"Ultimately, the decision will be up to the individual congressmen," Roque added, pointing out that solons then were still feeling their way as the 18th Congress opened.

The ouster calls are reportedly tied to the unequal funding for congressional districts under the 4.506 trillion national budget. However, Roque said the 2021 spending plan actually came from Malacanang, with Congress authorized to make realignments.

The two Taguig districts under Cayetano and his wife Rep. Lani Cayetano were reportedly receiving 8 billion worth of projects, while his allies from Camarines Sur areas will get 11 billion under the proposed spending plan, as exposed by Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves.

"Kung anong kailangan nung lugar, 'yun ang gagawin natin [We will provide funding to what a certain area needs]," Cayetano said to counter these allegations.

However, PDP-Laban ally and House appropriations committee chair Rep. Eric Yap said he believes the ouster plot will not push through.
The government is trying to undertake river rejuvenation programmes on the lines of the Ganga mission in other parts of the country,a top official of the said on Tuesday.

Addressing a webinar, secretary U P Singh said lessons have been learnt while undertaking the Namami Gange Mission and these are being applied to other river basins in the country.

My ministry (the Jal Shakti Ministry) is not only concerned about Ganga... Now all the which were earlier part of the Environment and Forest and Climate Change (ministry) have come to us," Singh said.

We are trying to do similar things for all other as far as the country is concerned. Certain lessons have been learnt from Ganga...we are applying to all river basins of the country, he said.

The official also listed out the work undertaken by the Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) to rejuvenate the river.

The mission dealt with two aspects while carrying out the work of river rejuvenation -- one is industrial and sewerage management while the other is ensuring river flow, he said.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Covid-19 pandemic and the related bans on alcohol sales instituted in South Africa have debilitated the country's craft beer industry. With tasting rooms and bars shut for months and retail sales restricted, many local breweries have shed jobs, and some have been forced to shut down entirely.

Credit: Pexels

Wendy Pienaar, CBASA

What impact has the pandemic and alcohol bans had on SAs craft beer industry?

Many breweries have experienced record losses and a total of 63% have been forced to retrench their staff in the last three months.

What does the road to recovery look like for the industry right now?

What have been the unique challenges faced by small and micro breweries during this time?

On a more positive note, what are some of the ways the local craft beer industry has innovated to survive the lockdown?

Weve seen several craft breweries develop e-commerce sites where they werent available before. Several craft brewers also used the alcohol ban to start producing non-alcoholic and alternative drinks.

Can you comment on the positive contribution the craft beer community is making to SAs broader liquor industry, and to retail shelves in terms of variety for consumers?

How can SA consumers, retailers and restaurants help the craft beer industry survive and thrive?

Craft beer has just as much to offer as wine does.

With a long road to recovery ahead, consumers, retailers and the hospitality industry can support SA's craft beer industry by buying local, obeying Covid protocols and encouraging responsible drinking.As chairperson of the Craft Brewers Association of South Africa (CBASA), and co-owner and operations manager of Johannesburg-based Just Brewing Co. and Hops End Brewpub, Wendy Pienaar advocates the development of the local brewer industry and is passionate about advancing the quality of South African brewed beer through educational programmes.In her role at CBASA, she helps facilitate the sustainable promotion and growth of the industry while differentiating beer as a product of choice for those that choose to drink responsibly.In this interview, Pienaar shares more on how the Covid-19 lockdown has affected local breweries, and the support they need to survive the months ahead.South Africas liquor industry, particularly craft distillers and brewers, have been hard hit by the protracted lockdown and ban on the sale of alcohol.CBASA conducted a survey a few weeks ago and the results were quite alarming.It revealed that only 10% of South African craft brewers believed they would be able to continue trading in the near future if the restrictions on the trade of alcohol continued past July.We are also aware of seven breweries which had to permanently close down and which had to retrench all their staff by June.Of the 100 breweries we surveyed, more than 50% said their sales had decreased by 60-100% since lockdown began, 24% said that their sales decreased by 90-100% and 87% said they could not meet their monthly expenses  so the impact of Covid-19 and related alcohol bans has severely affected our industry.There is a notably long road to recovery for the industry. Many businesses in the beer industry have still not recovered from the first nine-week ban that was put in place from 27 March to 31 May, with 30% of craft breweries becoming bankrupt in that time frame alone. The second ban, that came into effect on 13 July, forced an additional 15 % of craft breweries to shut down permanently.In order for the beer industry to recover as a whole, and in order to protect the 400,000 livelihoods across our value chain, we have to ensure that we do not have a repeat of the situation we had on 12 July 2020, where an immediate ban on the legal trade in alcohol was announced - without the industry being given any prior warning or opportunity to engage.This posed major logistical and operational challenges for our manufacturers, distributors and retailers. The sudden announcement also placed a huge financial strain on businesses who had bought stock, which they were prevented from selling, which had to be subsequently discarded due to being expired.While we appreciate the challenges government is facing when it comes to fighting the Covid-19 pandemic, our road to recovery as an industry must be supported by a commitment towards keeping the sector open. Together, we can devise sustainable solutions that encourage citizens to responsibly exercise their choices, that prioritise lives during the Covid-19 pandemic and that safeguard livelihoods across our value chain.At the moment we are still dealing with the issues linked to limited trade, even though we have moved down to lockdown Level 1. This is still having a negative effect on sales which is hampering industry recovery efforts. Many breweries have still not been able to re-employ all their staff.The uncertianity of a second wave of Covid-19 cases now that our international boarders have opened up, and the resulting possibility of the National Covid-19 Command Council re-banning sales has left brewery owners in a difficult position when it comes to the long term planning and expansion plans they may have had for 2020.The constantly fluctuating Rand/Dollar/Pound has also left brewers in a difficult position where they are now having to spend more for their raw ingredients. The rolling power blackouts have also put a severe strain on production.The local craft beer industry has worked very hard survive the lockdown. We have found that most breweries changed their recipes in order to brew more economically, while others moved to cheaper premises or amalgamated with another brewery.Craft brewers are essential to expanding the range of beers available on South African shelves and exposing the public to the more than 75 different beer styles that exist.Most South Africans are familiar with a Lager that is brewed to be enjoyed shortly after brewing but they are yet to experience the range of beers that, like wine, are designed to be paired with food and aged to get the best flavors. The craft industry is able to bring these beer styles to life due to the small batch artisanal nature of their products.It is important for retailers and restaurant owners to take the time to meet local craft brewers and learn about the great potential that craft beer brings to the table as a product that is designed to savour and enjoy with food. Our products are brewed to be drunk in moderation, and responsibly.It is also important during this time that retailers play their part in ensuring that their liquor outlets adhere to the rules of trade stipulated in the Alert Level 1 regulations as the industry would not survive being subjected to another alcohol ban.Consumers and restaurants can also actively help our industry survive by ensuring that masks are worn within their establishments while also maintaining rules of social distancing, in order to protect themselves and others from Covid-19, which would subsequently help ensure the sustained capacity of our health facilities.
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- Boeing has announced a firm order from an unidentified customer for two 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighters (BCF), as well as agreements to open additional conversion lines in Guangzhou, China, and Singapore to meet strong market demand.

Based on the popular Next-Generation 737, the 737-800BCF is capable of carrying up to 23.9 tonnes and flying up to 2,000 nautical miles (3,750 km), the company said Sunday in a statement.

The 737-800BCF now has 134 orders and commitments. To date, Boeing has delivered 36 737-800BCF to more than 10 operators across four continents, the company said.

"The freighter conversion program is an excellent way to double the life of an airplane and provide operators with an economical way to replace less efficient freighters," said Ihssane Mounir, senior vice president of Commercial Sales and Marketing for Boeing.

The new 737-800BCF line at China's Guangzhou Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Company Limited (GAMECO) is scheduled to open in early 2021.

"The addition of the new production line demonstrates our ability to quickly respond to market trends and requirements and is a testament to the skill and professionalism of the entire GAMECO-Boeing team," said GAMECO General Manager Norbert Marx.

Boeing will also add a second conversion line for its widebody converted freighter, the 767-300BCF, at ST Engineering's facility in Singapore. The second line is scheduled to open later this year. Enditem
San Francisco:

In an alleged hate crime, a restaurant owned by a Sikh man in the US state of California has been targetted with abuses like terrorist and the N word written on its front wall.



CJ Singh, owner of Quiznos in Woodland, California said, someone also unsuccessfully tried to light the business on fire and stole money I saved for donations. They even got away with the DVR for the surveillance cameras, likely to avoid getting caught.



On Monday, when he came to work, found terrorist and the N word written on the front wall. This is, like, scary, he was quoted as saying by the Fox40.com.



Woodland Mayor Pro Tem Enrique Fernandez said he is helping to fight back by distributing fliers throughout Woodland in an attempt to fight intolerance.



Were eager to move forward and figure out ways to combat the hatred and the intolerance thats kind of resonated nationally from this most recent election, Fernandez said.



We feel safe all the time, but after this incident, we feel concerned, its not the first one, its the second incident in two months, said Mike Gill, Singhs relative.



Singh said in late October, someone came into Quiznos, told him to go back to his country then thew a rock into the window, the report said.He and his family are now shaken and upset but not angry at whoever insulted their faith.



Anyone have problem with us, any question, they can come talk to us, Singh said.



Throughout the day, customers came in to eat at Quiznos to support Singh after hearing what happened. The community urges people to learn about the Sikh faith.



Over 200 incidents of hateful harassment and intimidation across the US have been reported since Donald Trump won the presidential election.

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
An independent cross-border investigation will be carried out into the murder of a man shot dead in Co Louth in 1976.

Seamus Ludlow, 47, a forestry worker, was killed on his way home from a pub in Dundalk, Co Louth.

Mr Ludlows family have led a campaign spanning decades to find the truth of the events surrounding his murder.

His family has long maintained Mr Ludlow was an innocent victim of a loyalist death squad comprising Red Hand Commando operatives and two members of the Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR) who travelled from Northern Ireland into the Republic of Ireland to commit the murder.

Family solicitor Gavin Booth said the investigation will be led by Jon Boutcher, a former police chief in England.

The PA news agency understands the investigation will form part of the wider Barnard Review into a notorious loyalist murder gang that operated from a farmhouse in Glenanne, Co Armagh.

Mr Boutchers team will review the evidence and information held by the PSNI, the families, security forces and any other relevant agencies.

Speaking at the Lisdoo Arms, where Mr Ludlow was last seen alive, Mr Booth also revealed that a witness has come forward with significant information in the last two weeks.

He added: Seamus was a quiet man.

He was a family man and occasionally visited pubs in Dundalk and was known for his charitable work here.

He was not political and was not interested in the conflict in the North and worked full time and was a devoted family man.

Joined by members of Mr Ludlows family, Mr Booth said the investigation will include cooperation of both the Police Service of Northern Ireland and An Garda Siochana.

This investigation will be headed by Jon Boutcher who will look at the actions of all those who played a part in the role of the murder of Seamus Ludlow, he added.

This includes the gardai, the British Army, the SAS, the RUC and any unknown others, including those suspects that were let go.

The Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) told the gardai in 1979 the names of four loyalists it suspected of being involved in Mr Ludlows killing but the information was not pursued at the time.

This included members of the Red Hand Commando and the British Armys UDR.

In 1998, four named suspects were arrested and questioned by the RUC and two of the men allegedly made confessions about their involvement in the murder.

The family also believe gardai were complicit in spreading false rumours that Mr Ludlow was killed for being an IRA informant, and that documents about the case, two bullets and items of the victims clothing have been lost by state agencies.

An Oireachtas committee in Dublin recommended more than 10 years ago that two commissions of investigation be held into the murder and subsequent events, after an official judge-led report damned the original botched garda probe.

Neither of the recommendations have been implemented by the Government.

Mr Booth said it is a police investigation and where evidence becomes available, arrests can be made.

He (Mr Boutcher) should also have the ability, where evidence exists, to chase that down and prepare files for either prosecution services North and South, Mr Booth added.

He also said the new evidence that has emerged in recent weeks is with Mr Boutchers team.

Its quite large in volume and its an independent witness that has come forward and were hoping that that will form part of the investigation and play a major part in uncovering what happened, Mr Booth added.

Michael Donegan, Mr Ludlows nephew, said the new evidence could be an earthquake.

We are very pleased that after 45 years we finally have a police team that wants to find the answers that we have been looking for, Mr Donegan added.

We have been let down time and time again by the gardai in the past and also by the RUC.

Both forces had information which they sat on.

The story that is in the public domain is not the true story, there is a different one we want to find and allow us to find closure.

This is not to put people in jail, I have no sympathy for the killers but they are old men and putting them in jail for two years is not going to bring Seamus back.

A spokesman for the gardai said: Since August 2018 An Garda Siochana has a number of high-level agreed points with Operation Kenova, under the lead of former chief constable Jon Boutcher.

An Garda Siochana will work closely and in full co-operation with the review of the investigation into the murder of Seamus Ludlow under the auspices of Operation Kenova.
The writing part came out of necessity and habit, Shearer said. I pay attention to the news because thats what I make fun of, and because Donald Trump is a person who demands constant attention, I pay him that attention. And sometimes if a phrase or behavior makes me think, that becomes a song. At the beginning of the year I noticed I had written a lot of songs in the voice of, and about, Donald Trump. And I thought it would be cool to do them up right, go into the studio and record them, and it struck me that the appropriate way to put them out was one a week (on his YouTube channel) leading up to the election.
OTTAWA  The COVID-19 pandemic has steered Winnipegs housing market away from a glut of new builds, according to federal data released Monday morning.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 21/9/2020 (487 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA  The COVID-19 pandemic has steered Winnipegs housing market away from a glut of new builds, according to federal data released Monday morning.

"There has been an impact on both the resale and the new-home sides; weve seen a slowdown in new construction," Heather Bowyer, a senior market analyst with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp., told the Free Press.

CNW Group / Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Bob Dugan, chief economist at CMHC, said his teams projection could change.

In its recurring Housing Market Assessment comparing this February to September, the CMHC said it still has moderate evidence of overbuilding in the city, but the pandemic has brought the pace of construction to below the agencys level of concern.

"Before we lower the degree of vulnerability we want to see this trend persist, and not (be) sort of a blip or a one-off," Bowyer said.

The agency monitors household incomes along with the cost and availability of various types of housing across Canadas largest cities. For the Winnipeg area, which includes East and West St. Paul and municipalities with a large share of commuters, the agency isnt concerned about the cost of homes and rentals, nor about inflated prices.

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Ever since 2016, the CMHC has been closely watching whether too much is being built in the city, which could disrupt the balance of supply and demand needed to keep a stable housing market.

"We see a switch from condominiums to rental units, especially apartment-style, so this is contributing to a slowdown in completions, and a trending lower of the overbuilding metric in Winnipeg," Bowyer said. That could change if people start moving to different cities at the same pace they did before the pandemic, Mondays report notes.

Nationally, the agency found "evidence of rising imbalances," with housing availability shifting along the lines of income inequality in cities like Toronto.

Bob Dugan, CMHCs chief economist, said his teams projection could change as people shift from government benefits, especially if there are more layoffs and pay cuts.

"The unprecedented amount of government financial support to households through initiatives like the CERB significantly boosted disposable income in the second-hand quarter," he told reporters.

dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca
Welcome back to the Year of Fear. Each week until Election Day, CJR and the Delacorte Review will bring you another chapter from one of our four towns. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

A few hundred yards from my driveway is a historical marker denoting the location of the Caroline Friends Meeting House, established by Quakers in the early 1700s at what is now known as Golansville. The marker notes that on March 12, 1739, members of this congregation joined with fellow Quakers in nearby Hanover County and issued a call to end slaveholding. It took another 126 years and a bloody Civil War to accomplish that goal. Residents of Caroline County, and the nation, are divided still over the legacy of that war and the Constitutional promise of equal rights for all, regardless of race, sex, or religion.

Throughout the history of rural Virginia, churches have played an important role as gathering places for worship, fellowship, and the exchange of local news, as well as a launching pad for social change. To at least some degree that remains true today. One recent example of this was the involvement of local pastors and their congregations in deciding the fate of a 114-year-old Confederate monument on the grounds of the historic Caroline County Courthouse in Bowling Green.

Local clergy were at the forefront of the movement to remove this generic Confederate soldier from his perch high on a stone obelisk. Biblical scripture peppered the rhetoric of many of those who made presentations at two public hearings. The church people were opposed, meanwhile, by a number of prominent local historians, historical preservationists, Civil War buffs, and descendants of the soldiers.

The soldier has stood in front of the courthouse for more than a century and can be seen above, over the W in Bowling Green in the stylized postcard that illustrates this part of the Year of Fear series. The stone fighter and the column he stands atop were placed there by the United Daughters of the Confederacy, a 126-year-old group concerned with the historical legacy of the Confederacy and deemed neo-Confederate by the Southern Poverty Law Center, and dedicated to the memory of all of the men from Caroline County who served the Army of the Confederacy. The dedication took place in 1906, three years after the Wright Brothers first flight in Kitty Hawk, three years before a group of activists including W.E.B. DuBois and Ida B. Wells founded the NAACPand more than four decades after Lee surrendered to Grant at Appomattox.

A brief account of the 1906 dedication, which ran in the nearby Northumberland County Echo, said this: When near four thousand people, mostly citizens of Caroline, assembled in Bowling Green on the 25th of July to witness the unveiling of the Confederate Monument, and spent the entire day quietly and without drinking, swearing, and fussing, we remarked that it was quite different to what we had witnessed in other towns.

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Generations of Caroline County residents, Black and white, Hispanic and Native American, passed by the monument without explicit protestuntil this year, one marked by a pandemic, political turmoil, and widespread and sometimes violent Black Lives Matter demonstrations against police brutality.

On August 25, 114 years and one month after the monument was dedicated, the Caroline County Board of Supervisors decided the statues fate. There were no nightly vigils with hundreds of protestors, as there had been earlier this summer at the Robert E. Lee monument and other Confederate statues in Richmond. An initial demonstration in early July calling for the statues removal attracted fewer than a dozen people, mostly local clergy. In mid-July, Lydell Fortune, a trustee at St. Johns Baptist Church in Woodford and a member of the Germanna Community College Board, presented the supervisors with a petition containing more than 2,500 names calling for the statue to go. Another resident, Pamela Smith, presented a petition containing 808 names calling for the statue to stay. (Smith pointed out at the August public hearing that her names were all documented residents of the county. Fortunes petition was conducted online, and my examination found that the majority of the names were from out of state.)

Reacting to the issue, the supervisors first held a public hearing on August 11 and defeated, by a four-to-two vote, a motion to put the question of the statue on the November 3 ballot, in a nonbinding referendum. At a second public hearing, on August 25, fifteen letters were read into the recordten in favor of keeping the statue and five opposed. But speaking at the hearing were thirty-one residents, twenty-four arguing for its removal and ten to keep it in place. Most, though not all, of those asking for the statues removal were Black, but it felt to this author like more of a Red State/Blue State divide than a racial divide.

Why now?

In 2020, though passions ran high during the lengthy public hearing, COVID-19 restrictions on social distancing prevented the sort of packed-house atmosphere that has characterized previous hot topics. All in all, the episode underlined the sort of low-key, measured approach Caroline County residents tend to take to solving problems.

In his letter to the Board of Supervisors, the Reverend Marvin Fields, of Dawn, explained that it was the well-documented cases of police brutality against Black citizens this year that have led to protests over Confederate symbols.

Now when I walk past that statue, I look at it different, he said. What were they fighting for? They were fighting to uphold slavery. This is not a political issue. This is a moral issue.

Herbert Collins, a retired Smithsonian acquisitions officer, Caroline County native, and descendant of the countys early Quaker settlers, defended the Confederate monument because, he said, it represents the common soldiers, many of whom had little choice but to fight for Virginia. Our history is not perfect, he said. We cannot change history by tearing down statues.

But Stanley O. Jones argued that the point of these Confederate statues, still standing a century and a half after the end of the Confederacy, is to disenfranchise and alienate African Americans.

We need to take advantage of the time and help heal and bring us together, he said.

On the other side, a former county librarian, Kay Brooks, wrote that history is a big part of what draws people to our county, and there is nothing distinguishing the race, affiliation, or time in history of the dignified soldier standing atop the tribute. It is simply a recognition of the sacrifice men have made to protect our home.

The Reverend Duane T. Fields, Sr., however, writing on behalf of the NAACP, did not see the statue as benign. If we are ever to heal, he wrote, then it must begin with removing the Confederate monument from the lawn of the county courthouse and offering it for display in a privately held space or institution.

Calling for unity on the topic, the Reverend Cynthia Golden, a former Caroline County school teacher, quoted Biblical scripture and Abraham Lincoln: A house divided against itself cannot stand.

Toward the end of the meeting, the Board Chairman, Jeff Sili, a prominent County Republican, pushed for a compromise of a sort: The one thing I can say everyone agrees upon is that this piece of history be preserved. We simply do not agree about its location. I believe we can move past that.

At the end of the nearly four-hour session, the supervisors voted, unanimously, to remove the statue and locate it somewhere more appropriate. A final decision on disposition will follow a thirty-day period to receive proposals and cost estimates.

One of many clergymen involved in the debate over the monument was the Reverend Duane Fields, Sr., who was born in Queens, New York, and came to Caroline County as a teenager. Fields is married to an ordained minister, the Reverend Sheree Fields, and is the son of the Reverend Marvin Fields of Second Mount Zion Baptist Church in Dawn, Virginia. The younger Fields was installed as pastor of Oxford Mount Zion Baptist Church in Ruther Glen, Virginia, twenty years ago, and ministers to a congregation of six hundred people.

In the rural south, I believe the church is the hub for everything, Fields said. He has witnessed family tragedies and community controversies in his twenty years at the pulpit, but he rates the controversy over the countys Confederate monument as the most divisive topic that we have dealt with. There hadnt been a social issue as important as this.

A proposal to take the statue has been submitted by nearby Greenlawn Cemetery, which contains many graves of Civil War soldiers. The Caroline County Historical Society has endorsed that choice.

Looking back, looking ahead

Maybe the removal of one Confederate statue here in quiet, rural, tradition-loving Virginia, is some kind of political tea leaf. Or maybe it isnt. The tea leaves here are exceedingly difficult to read in this strange political season.

As we near the end of this Year of Fear series, I looked back at my earlier columns. It is clear that I did not anticipate what 2020 would bring us. In that I am not alone. Most of us expected 2020 to be mainly about the presidential and congressional elections. Back in January, who could have predicted a worldwide pandemic? Or the dramatic Black Lives Matter response to the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and many others at the hands of policemen? Or the death of a US Supreme Court justice just six weeks before Election Day.

In January, Virginias unemployment rate was 2.7 percent and the economic picture was rosy. Almost overnight it soared to double digits; as of July, it was around 8 percent. Virginia Governor Ralph Northam, a neurosurgeon, was loudly criticized by many for closing down the state at the beginning of the pandemic and then dragging his feet on reopening Virginia for business. Now that we have seen what happened to states that were too eager to ease restrictions, those voices have become quieter.

Because Caroline County is rural and sparsely populated, we have thus far avoided staggering COVID-19 statistics. Earlier last week, the total cases in this county of thirty-one thousand topped three hundred. Then on September 18, we recorded our largest spike in cases: twenty-three in one day. This was attributed to an outbreak in the Caroline Detention Center, a former regional womens jail leased by the county to the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE). This facility currently houses 163 federal detainees and employs a number of county residents. The spike could have a significant impact on future COVID-19 statistics. Meanwhile, many events that discourage social distancing were cancelled this year. The nearby Kings Dominion amusement park never opened, and the State Fair of Virginia, which would have drawn tens of thousands of people to Carolines Meadow Event Park this week, will not take place. More people are wearing masks now, compared to May and June.

We are aware that this is an election year and, in fact, early voting in Virginia opened up Friday. But there is little tangible evidence. I drove around Bowling Green Wednesday and saw dozens of lawn signs for the Town Council election, and one for incumbent Congressman Rob Wittman, but none for either Trump or Biden. Puzzled by this, I drove the streets of Belmont and Ladysmith Village but saw no political signs there either. The usual attack ads for one particularly hot congressional race and for a US Senate seatDemocrat Mark Warner v. Republican Daniel Gladesaturate TV in the Richmond area, but those are the only harbingers of November 3.

It is almost like most of us cant wait for the election, and the rest of 2020 for that matter, to be over.

This project is supported by a gift from the Delacorte Center for Magazine Journalism Fund at The New York Community Trust.

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Greg Glassner is a Caroline County resident with more than forty years of experience in the newspaper business, the majority of it as editor of community weeklies in Virginia. He was editor of the Herald-Progress in Ashland for eight years, retiring in 2012. He also served as interim editor of the Caroline Progress in Bowling Green for six months in 2015, and wrote a weekly column and feature stories for both papers until they ceased publication in March 2018. A US Army veteran who saw service in Southeast Asia, Glassner is the author of five books, including biographies of US Attorney General William Wirt and Virginia Gov. William Extra Billy Smith.
Christopher Millette/AP

WASHINGTON  As President Donald Trump's fundraising has started to lag, Eric Trump lead an event to raise cash for his father's re-election at Mid-Hudson Sporting Clays in New Paltz on Sunday.

About 300 people, including a few GOP congressional candidates, participated in the fundraiser which featured morning and afternoon skeet shooting and a lunch, a source at the event said. Attendees included Republicans Kyle Van De Water, running for New York's 19th House seat, Chele Farley, candidate for the 18th House seat, George Santos, candidate for the 3rd House District, former Republican Party Chairman Ed Cox, who's joined the Trump campaign as a fundraiser, and Dutchess County Sheriff Butch Anderson, an honorary state chair for Trump's re-election campaign.
WASHINGTON  The House is on track Tuesday to pass a government-wide, temporary funding bill to keep federal agencies fully up and running into December and prevent a partial shutdown of the government after the current budget year expires at the end of the month.

The Democratic-controlled chamber is voting despite a mini-furor ignited when Democratic leaders left out a provision requested by President Donald Trump and backed strongly by Capitol Hill Republicans that would give the administration continued immediate authority to dole out Agriculture Department farm bailout funds.

House passage would send the measure to the GOP-controlled Senate and a potential floor fight, but there's no appetite on either side for a government shutdown.

Democrats complain that the Trump administration has favored southern states such as Georgia  a key swing state and home of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue  and larger producers in distributing bailout funds. Farmers are suffering from low commodity prices and the effects of higher tariffs imposed by Trump. Trump announced a new $13 billion allotment of bailout funding at a political rally in Wisconsin last week; the provision would keep the door open for additional election-eve pronouncements.

The Trump Administration has proven they cannot be trusted to distribute payments fairly, said Sen. Debbie Stabenow of Michigan, top Democrat on the Agriculture Committee. She added that the Agriculture Department doesn't need the authority to meet farm bill obligations and will get the money in November anyway.

The chairman of the Agriculture panel, Pat Roberts, R-Kan., is angry about the omission but said Republicans are not going to spark a potential shutdown confrontation over it.

I understand there are people upset with the Secretary and what he has done or will do or whatever with regards to (farm) funding," Roberts said. But this is desperately needed and theres 45 to 50 programs that would be in danger, right in the middle of the COVID thing, the farm crisis, and the whole business."

The stopgap funding bill also comes as negotiations on a huge COVID-19 relief bill have collapsed and as the Capitol has been thrust into an unprecedented political drama with Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburgs death, which has launched an intense election-season Senate confirmation fight.

The legislation, called a continuing resolution, or CR, in Washington-speak, would keep every federal agency running at current funding levels through Dec. 11, which will keep the government afloat past the election and possibly reshuffle Washingtons balance of power.

The measure also extends many programs whose funding or authorizations lapse on Sept. 30, including the federal flood insurance program, highway and transit programs, and a long set of extensions of various health programs such as a provision to prevent Medicaid cuts to hospitals that serve many poor people.

It also finances the possible transition to a new administration if Joe Biden wins the White House and would stave off an unwelcome COVID-caused increase in Medicare Part B premiums for outpatient doctor visits.

We do prefer additional farm aid in the CR, said Trump economic adviser Larry Kudlow. Most of all we want a clean CR to keep the government open.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., took to Twitter to say the temporary funding bill shamefully leaves out key relief and support that American farmers need."

Congressional aides close to the talks had depicted the farm provision as a bargaining chip to seek comparable wins for Democrats, but House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's requests for provisions related to the Census and funding for states to help them carry out elections this fall were denied by GOP negotiators.

Pelosi appears to be calculating that Republicans controlling the Senate would have little choice but to accept it. Legislation requires Democratic votes to pass the Senate, but McConnell retains the right to structure Senate votes that could make Democrats, especially those from farm country, uncomfortable, or even put them in the position of filibustering the measure and risking blame for any ensuing shutdown.

At issue is the 30% of the federal government's day-to-day budget that goes to Cabinet agency operations funded by Congress each year. The annual appropriations process broke down in the Senate this year and it's unclear but probably unlikely that the $1.3 trillion in agency spending bills will be enacted this year, even in a post-election lame duck session, especially if Joe Biden is elected to replace Trump.

In the past, both Democrats and Republicans have sought to use government funding deadlines and must-past temporary funding bills as leverage to try to win concessions elsewhere on Washington's agenda. Such efforts invariably fail.

Republicans in 2013 used it in a failed attempt to prevent implementation of the so-called Obamacare health law and Senate Democrats returned the favor in 2018 in a futile effort to force debate on permitting immigrants brought into the country illegally as children to remain in the U.S. But Pelosi says she won't attempt any such confrontation.

Were not about shutting down government, Pelosi said Monday night on MSNBC. And its not a lever."
Turkey and Greece are ready to resume talks in a bid to overcome a dispute over maritime boundaries and rights to exploit oil and gas resources, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans office said Tuesday.

The statement followed his video conference meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and European Council President Charles Michel.

During the meeting, Erdogan called for a regional conference that would gather all sides involved in the dispute  including Turkish Cypriots  and said the momentum for dialogue should be protected, according to the statement.

The two neighboring NATO members have been locked in a tense standoff over energy exploitation rights in an area between Turkeys southern coast, several Greek islands and the war-divided island of Cyprus. Turkey sent a research vessel into the disputed waters this summer.

Following mediation efforts by Germany and others, Turkey pulled back the research vessel to port and both countries eased their naval presence and halted military exercises, paving the way for a dialogue.

It was not clear when and how the talks would begin. Erdogan told Merkel and Michel that steps to be taken by Greece would determine the course of the talks.

Greek-Turkish talks to resolve disputes were last held in 2016.

The Turkish leader also said he hoped that the next European Union summit would breathe new life into Turkish-EU ties, including allowing Turkish citizens visa-free travel rights to Europe and sealing a new agreement on migration.

EU members Greece and Cyprus had been pushing for EU sanctions against Turkey at the Sept. 24-25 summit meeting to due Turkeys search for energy inside Cyprus economic zone. But the summit has been postponed for a week because Michel has gone into quarantine after a close collaborator was diagnosed with Covid-19.
The "Big Cannon" of the Chinese Communist Party is charged with embezzlement of public funds amounting to 6.3 million euros. Judges claim Ren declared his guilt. Family members and observers: irregular trial, held behind closed doors; impressed because he told the truth about leadership mistakes. He called Xi Jinping "a power hungry clown".

Beijing (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The dissident billionaire Ren Zhiqiang was sentenced today to 18 years in prison and to pay a fine of 4.2 million yuan (530 thousand euros) for corruption offenses: this was revealed by the Beijing No 2 Intermediate Peoples Court.

Judges deliberated that between 2003 and 2017 Ren used his role as a manager of a public company to embezzel state funds worth about 50 million yuan (6.3 million euros). In the same period, he allegedly pocketed 1.25 million yuan (160 thousand euros) in bribes and abused his power for a personal gain of 19.41 million yuan (2.4 million euros). For the crimes committed by the magnate, the Huayuan Real Estate Group, the large construction company of which he was director, had losses equal to 116.7 million yuan (14.6 million euros).

Ren, nicknamed the "Big Canon" for his attacks on the leadership, was "arrested" on March 12 by Chinese Communist Party (CCP) disciplinary officials. He belongs to an important family of revolutionary leaders. Shortly before his disappearance, he had risen to prominence for posting an article on the web calling Xi Jinping a "power hungry clown". Without ever naming him, instead referring to "the emperor", the tycoon criticized the Chinese president for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, the conflicts with the US and those with Taiwan.

This resulted in Ren being banned by the Party in August. The CCP Disciplinary Commission placed him under investigation for violating the "four cardinal principles", the theoretical basis on which the undisputed leadership of the Party rests, and for having damaged the image of the regime.

The judges pointed out that Ren admitted his guilt and pleaded guilty to all charges. He would have asked for "clemency", a request that the judges claim to have taken into account in formulating the verdict.

Friends, family members and humanitarian activists questioned the legality of the trial, which was held behind closed doors. Diplomatic sources cited by the SCMP say the Chinese authorities prevented envoys from Western and Japanese embassies from attending the hearings.

Rens supporters claim that Ren paid for telling the truth about leadership mistakes. According to Cai Xia, a former teacher of the Central Party School, expelled from the CCP on 17 August for attacking Xi and defending Ren, the billionaire is the most important and resolute member of a group that wants to introduce constitutional democracy in China.
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SANTIAGO, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- Chile's President Sebastian Pinera on Monday called on the international community to modernize the United Nations (UN) so it can better tackle global challenges.

Speaking at a high-level meeting to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the UN, Pinera advocated for a "profound modernization of the United Nations that allows it to act more quickly and efficiently, and that leads to the unity and collaboration of nations and not the division and confrontation of nations, to better face the problems of the present and the challenges of the future."

The president called for moving forward with greater determination in important processes such as nuclear disarmament, and the fight against terrorism and violent extremism.

The UN also presents a mechanism for fighting climate change and global warming, which put "our survival on planet Earth at risk," he said.

"Not only must development be sustainable, but also peace must be sustainable, and to achieve that, we must strengthen international solidarity and commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals of the (UN's) 2030 Agenda," said Pinera.

"Only by strengthening and practicing these values will the United Nations be able to fulfill its responsibilities and meet the challenges of this new world in which we are living and that are formidable," he said. Enditem
US authorities have charged a New York police officer with espionage, accusing him of gathering information about the city's Tibetan community for the Chinese government.

The officer, who worked at a station in the Queens section of the city, was directed by members of the Chinese consulate in New York, according to the indictment released Monday.

Born in China, the man had been granted political asylum in the US, claiming he was tortured by Chinese authorities because of his Tibetan ethnicity.

Through his contacts with the Tibetan community, the 33-year-old man gathered information between 2018 and 2020 on the community's activities, as well as identifying potential information sources.

According to the indictment, the man -- who is also an officer in the US Army Reserve -- allowed members of the Chinese consulate to attend events organized by the New York Police Department.

The Chinese authorities allegedly paid him tens of thousands of dollars for his service.

The officer has been charged with four counts, including enlisting in the service of a foreign country on US soil, misrepresentation and obstructing the operation of a public service.

New York City police commissioner Dermot Shea said the officer "violated every oath he took in this country. One to the United States, another to the US Army, and a third to this Police Department".

He was brought before a judge Monday and taken into custody, a spokesperson for the Brooklyn federal prosecutor told AFP.

According to the NYPD, he is currently suspended without pay.

Beijing dismissed the accusation as "completely made-up."

"The so-called indictment is full of 'apparently,' 'possibly' and other assumptions, and these are completely trumped-up charges," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said at a regular press briefing Tuesday.

Despite the man's claims he was tortured in China because of his ethnicity, the investigation allegedly revealed that both of his parents were members of the Chinese Communist Party.

Story continues

"If confirmed by the courts," the espionage operation "shows that the Chinese Communist Party is engaged in malign operations to suppress dissent, not only in Tibet... but any place in the world," said the International Campaign for Tibet, an advocacy group that promotes Tibetans' freedoms and rights.

Beijing says its troops "peacefully liberated" Tibet in 1951, but many exiled Tibetans accuse the central government of religious repression and eroding their culture.

The Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, has lived in exile since 1959.

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The MLK CommUNITY Initiative celebrated its one-year anniversary by living out its essence: continuing to support southeast Bakersfield.
BATON ROUGE, La.  In the wake of Hurricane Laura, Community Coffee Company has committed to donating 10% of proceeds from the sales of Community coffee and tea products in retail grocery locations in Louisiana and Texas through Oct. 31, 2020, up to $100,000, to support The Salvation Armys Hurricane Laura relief efforts.

The Salvation Armys mobile food pantries and meal programs have been stationed across the region since the storm made landfall on Aug. 27. Community Coffee Company has also been on the ground since the storms landfall, bringing its mobile beverage vehicles to serve fresh coffee to first responders, work crews and residents in impacted areas in and around Lake Charles, Louisiana.

We have seen firsthand how this hurricane has affected our local communities, and we are humbled to play a role in the rebuilding efforts, said Community Coffee Company CEO David Belanger. We know that theres still a long journey to recovery for the affected areas in Louisiana and Texas, and were committed to supporting these communities in the weeks and months to come.

Were not just delivering food and water in these hard-hit communities  were bringing hope, said Jeff Jellets, territorial disaster coordinator for The Salvation Army USA Southern Territory. Donations like the one from Community Coffee will help us provide comfort, compassion and warm meals for storm-affected Texas and Louisiana residents in need.

More information about Community Coffee Companys hurricane relief efforts is available at https://www.communitycoffee.com/relief.
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GREENSBORO, N.C., Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc. (NYSE: SKT) announced today that its financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2020 will be released on Thursday, November 5, 2020 after the market close. The Company will host its conference call for analysts, investors and other interested parties on Friday, November 6, 2020 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time.

To access the conference call, listeners should dial 1-844-492-3729 and request to join the Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc. SKT Call.

A live audio webcast of this call will be available to the public on Tanger's Investor Relations website, investors.tangeroutlets.com.

A telephone replay of the call will be available from November 6, 2020 at 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time through 11:59 p.m. on November 20, 2020 by dialing 1-877-344-7529, replay access code #10148185. An online archive of the webcast will also be available through November 20, 2020.

About Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc.

Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc. (NYSE: SKT), is a publicly-traded REIT headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina that presently operates and owns, or has an ownership interest in, a portfolio of 38 upscale outlet shopping centers. Tanger's operating properties are located in 20 states and in Canada, totaling approximately 14.1 million square feet, leased to over 2,700 stores which are operated by more than 500 different brand name companies. The Company has more than 39 years of experience in the outlet industry. For more information on Tanger Outlet Centers, call 1-800-4TANGER or visit the Company's website at www.tangeroutlets.com.

Investor Contact Information Cyndi Holt Jim Williams VP, Investor Relations EVP & CFO 336-834-6892 336-834-6800 [email protected] [email protected]



Media Contact Information Quentin Pell VP, Corporate Communications and Enterprise Risk Management 336-834-6827 [email protected]

SOURCE Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc.

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Richard Pearson is tired of being house poor and now, with his feet firmly in middle age, he wants to divert some of his income toward retirement. The catch is, he doesnt want to leave the Barrie house he used to share with his family.

So the 55-year-old divorced father of two university-aged sons has set himself a challenge: He is looking for at least one other person to share the cost, the equity and the comfort of his home.

Pearson is offering a majority share or shares of his 2,800 sq. ft. family home with a finished basement that includes a sauna and a single-car garage about a kilometre from Lake Simcoe.

He estimates the house is worth more than $600,000. Homes in his street go for more but Pearson says his needs some updates.

I understand that its a strange thing, its kind of rare and I may be setting myself up for a lot of hassles, he said.

If he cant find someone to co-own, Pearson says he will sell anyway. But, active in his nearby church and the community, he would like to stay put.

If I do this for me I will still have a base, Ill still have a place my kids grew up in and there might be a couple of other people around, he said.

Shared home ownership among non-family members is unusual but the idea is gaining interest in cities as an affordable housing solution that offers human connection.

But co-ownership is often a tough sell. Adding someone to the title on a house is relatively common. Adding two or three more co-owners is legally and financially complicated.

Pearson has done his research. For every success such as Port Perrys Golden Girls, a group of senior women who share a home, there is another co-housing venture that falters. The founders of a Toronto co-housing group that was featured in the Star, were heartbroken to give up their west-end house because of a new regulation related to its ravine location. It would have added tens of thousands to the cost of the proposed renovation.

Even smaller centres like Barrie arent immune to the escalating home prices that have become synonymous with urban centres.

The average price of a Barrie home rose 15.7 per cent year over year in August to $567,469, according to the Barrie & District Association of Realtors. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation found the average rent on a two-bedroom apartment in Barrie was $1,339 in October 2019.

As a high school teacher, Pearson thinks a lot about the future his students will confront with affordability challenges and an increasingly precarious job market.

Wherever theyre living, he tells them, they may not be able to afford a house even if they get married and have two income  and that might not happen for 10 or more years after they graduate.

He shows them how $1,200 in rent a month adds up. This is money youve lost forever, Pearson tells them.

I say, Look, you share a house and maybe its a $400,000 house and youre going to pay some tax, but by the time youre done, after 10 years, youre going to have a bunch of money in the bank. I say to them, If you can manage this its not the simplest thing but its happening more and more.

Yes, its a bit complex and you have to share space, but at least this way youre putting money in the bank without doing anything extra, he said.

Barrie is expanding its housing stock and the downtown is growing vertically, said Michelle Banfield, the citys director of development services.

In-fill housing and secondary suites are also among the solutions that will accommodate growth, she said. Barries population of about 160,000 is expected to rise to 253,000 in 2041, according to the provincial growth plan projections.

Of the 110 development applications the city received last year, half were for residential projects, said Banfield. There were 2,060 residential units approved last year. This year, she said, Barrie has already received 131 application. She didnt know how many of those were for homes.

In the time Pearson has been looking for a co-owner, there have been nibbles of interest.

But he agrees with a blog post he read on co-ownership: The people who can really afford to buy in dont want to. The people who would benefit financially from this often dont have the money. Theres a sweet spot, a small demographic of people who would be into it.

For the last nine years, Pearson has been renting space in his house to students. Most of his tenants have been great but there have been a couple of disasters and Pearson says the turnover of personalities is exhausting.

Although its structurally sound, he says the place needs work. He has been ripping out carpeting and laying new floors on the expectation that if he doesnt find at least one co-owner, he will be selling anyway.

Renovations and decoration could be a mutually agreed decision depending on how much money a new co-owner wanted to spend.

The added bonus is the potential co-ownership provides for community.

I like having people around and a lot of us are going to end up going to retirement homes, said Pearson. Im a big believer in community, also a tree hugger. The idea of people living in one house  its a mixture of idealism and pragmatism.

If I tell the students this is a good idea but Im not going to do it because its a crazy idea that would be hypocrisy for me, he said.
HELSINKI, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- At the TP Minds Asia Transfer Pricing Conference today, Aibidia announced the availability of its new Digital Transfer Pricing Accelerator, bringing the transformational value of AI, automation, and advanced analytics to this critical finance function. Designed by veteran transfer pricing executives who observed other finance functions gain significant value from new technical capabilities, Aibidia empowers customers to integrate, analyze, and communicate on all aspects of their transfer pricing practice across Country-by-Country, Value Chain, and Regulatory Compliance Reporting workflows.

Aibidia Launches New Transfer Pricing Accelerator Aibidia Launches New Transfer Pricing Accelerator

"Every day, Aibidia takes pride in helping our customers transfer their focus to pricing and value, rather than data entry and compilation of reports," said Hannu-Tapani Leppanen, CEO and Founder of Aibidia. "Our new Transfer Pricing Accelerator combines our deep expertise with the incredible power of our software platform. Our agile and flexible model of customer engagement and licensing leads to a very fast time to value for organizations of all sizes, whether they partner with an accounting services provider or do all of their work in-house."

Examples of the optimization that Aibidia customers will realize through the Accelerator include:

Automation of transfer pricing compliance documentation with a single click

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Predictive analytics to prompt for inaccuracies, incorrect formats, missing documentation, or potential trouble areas across all relevant tax authorities

Country-by-Country level analysis in accordance with the latest tax rates, policies, and procedures

Aibidia customers can take advantage of the Accelerator with an in-house or external transfer pricing function, or a hybrid model. Aibidia's licensing allows unlimited users across all geographies to collaborate together on the platform, an ideal approach for organizations that have distributed their finance and tax teams on a global scale. The Aibidia solution is built on the Microsoft Cloud platform, taking advantage of its industry-leading security and reliability benchmarks, while also incorporating additional security features and protocols.

Aibidia is headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, where its engineering and customer engagement teams are based. In fall of 2020, a year of significant growth on all levels, the company will begin adding locations outside of Western Europe and has recently moved offices in Helsinki to accommodate a doubling of it staff. Aibidia is one of the fastest growing tax tech companies in Europe funded by some of the world's influential VC firms, including Global Founders Capital and Icebreaker.vc.

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SOURCE Aibidia
We havent created a movement to fight for independence or to fight for France  weve created a movement to fight poverty in New Caledonia. Thats our struggle.

Thats Milakulo Tukumuli, leader of Eveil oceanien (Pacific awakening), one of the newest political parties in New Caledonia.

We are a rich country of 280,000 people, with mineral resources and three nickel smelters, he says. But we have lots of people living in squatter settlements, they cant feed their children and the children cant get a good education. Thats what Im fighting against.

As long-term residents of the French Pacific dependency prepare to vote in a referendum on self-determination on 4 October, Eveil oceanien has urged supporters to make their own decision, whether to vote for independence or to remain within the French Republic.

Historically, the large Wallisian and Futunan community in New Caledonias Southern Province has backed anti-independence parties, benefitting from jobs and welfare support provided by the governing conservative majority. But a younger generation of Wallisians are changing the political landscape, as they question the allegiances of their elders and look to building a future in the Melanesian nation.

Milakulo Tukumuli is symbolic of this change. Born in October 1984 in the east coast mining town of Thio, Tukumuli studied at the University of New Caledonia before travelling to Marseilles in France, to obtain a PhD in mathematics.

In November 2018, a first referendum under New Caledonias Noumea Accord showed a significant polarisation between voters, with a majority of the indigenous Kanak people supporting independence, but most non-Kanak voting No, preferring existing ties to France. This polarisation spurred Tukumuli and other young Wallisians to found the new party in March 2019.

With its direct appeal to Wallisian and Futunan voters and other islander communities, the new movement was quickly denounced as communalist and divisive. But in an interview with Islands Business, Tukumuli said they deliberately sought to target Polynesian voters.

For more than 30 years, politics in New Caledonia has seen two blocs, one loyalist, the other in support of independence, he said. During these 30 years weve seen economic, social and political development in New Caledonia, but after all this time we need to draw up a balance sheet. These two blocs now need to work together to find better solutions. From the beginning, my idea was to create a different sort of politics. I decided to create a movement that will include both supporters and opponents of independence.

Polynesian voters

During the late 1960s and early 1970s, the space race and arms manufacture for the Vietnam War spurred a global nickel boom. With New Caledonia controlling an estimated 25 per cent of global nickel reserves, the demand for labour in the mining sector was met by significant migration from France and also from Frances Polynesian dependency of Wallis and Futuna. Today, there are more Wallisians and Futunans living in New Caledonia than remain in Wallis and Futuna itself.

The latest data on New Caledonias ethnic mix comes from the 2014 census, which shows more than 11 per cent of the population were non-Kanak islanders, from Wallis and Futuna (8.2 per cent); Tahiti (2.1 per cent); or Vanuatu (1 per cent). While indigenous Kanak (39.1 per cent) and Europeans (27 per cent) are the largest groups, nearly 15 per cent of the population identified as mixed-race or simply New Caledonian.

There are now generations of people with Polynesian heritage born in the capital Noumea and surrounding towns like Mont Dore, Paita and Dumbea and  despite pride in their culture  they see themselves as New Caledonian.

Eveil oceanien has tapped into these new generations, drawing away supporters from anti-independence parties like Rassemblement-Les Republicains and Caledonie ensemble, as well as some independence activists from the Rassemblement democratique oceanien, which unites Wallisian supporters of independence as a member of the Front de Liberation Nationale Kanak et Socialiste (FLNKS).

Just two months after its formation, EO contested the May 2019 elections for New Caledonias three provincial assemblies and national congress. As a journalist reporting on the campaign at the time, I saw that Tukumuli and other young leaders had struck a chord amongst many Polynesian voters. Addressing an election campaign meeting, Tukumuli argued that the time had come for Wallisians and other smaller communities to speak in their own voice, and no longer rely on the patronage of the European-led conservative parties.

We have never revolted before, so they continue to take us for idiots, he said. Weve never stood up for ourselves and so theyve done what theyve liked. We vote for them because were scared to vote for the Kanak, as if wed turned into white people who detest the Kanak. Why should we do this?

From a standing start, the party won four seats in the Southern Provincial Assembly and three in the Congress in the 2019 elections. With his PhD in mathematics, Tukumuli quickly saw that EOs three seats gave it the balance of forces in the 54-member legislature. Twenty six members of the incoming Congress came from parties supporting independence, with another 25 from anti-independence parties (the conservative Avenir en Confiance coalition with 18 seats and the previously dominant Caledonie ensemble, which saw its representation halve from 15 to 7 seats).

New Caledonian researcher Pierre-Christophe Pantz has highlighted the way that EO has leveraged these pivotal votes to obtain positions at all levels of government: This strength was quickly shown with the election of a pro-independence Speaker of the Congress for the first time in May 2019. Then in June 2019, through an alliance with the anti-independence coalition Avenir en Confiance, EO obtained a position for Vaimua Muliava as a member of the collegial Government of New Caledonia, as well as the post of Vice President of the Southern Province for Milakulo Tukumuli.

Last year, Vaimua Muliava backed the Rights candidate for President of New Caledonia, Thierry Santa. But this year, explains Pierre-Christophe Pantz, EO again swung its support behind the independence movement: On 22 July, on the very eve of the annual re-election of the executive of New Caledonias Congress, EO announced that it would join the UC-FLNKS parliamentary group, giving this bloc 16 members. Combined with the other pro-independence members of Congress, this give the independence movement 29 seats, a majority in the Congress. This allowed Roch Wamytan to be re-elected as Speaker on 23 July 2020.

A Pacific majority

A veteran member of the independence party Union Caledonienne (UC), Roch Wamytan used his acceptance speech to welcome the islander majority that had brought me again to lead the premier political institution of the country.

In an interview, Wamytan explained the significance of Eveil oceaniens decision: We have created within the Congress what Ive called a majorite oceanien. This is not a pro-independence majority, but a recognition that the party led by Mr. Tukumuli is a party supported by islanders, a minority of whom support independence and a majority who do not.

Caledonie ensemble leader Philippe Gomes expresses a wry admiration for the way the FLNKS leadership has reached out to the islander communities.

Roch Wamytan, the President of the Congress, is very crafty, Gomes told me. He doesnt talk about a pro-independence majority with Eveil oceanien, he talks about a Pacific majority. To open the door, he talks about Pacific values and identity in order to build his political majority.

During this referendum campaign, Caledonie ensemble is the only anti-independence party to stay outside of the six-member Loyalist alliance, while still campaigning for a No vote. Gomes blames the racism of the governing coalition for EOs decision to forge this majority in Congress.

When you hear the language of Avenir en Confiance, who are largely European, they only think of Kanaks as house girls or of Wallisians as builders labourers, he said. EO joined the Avenir ticket for the government of New Caledonia led by Thierry Santa and so one of their party is now a member of the government. At that point, we thought theyd chosen sides. But the radicalisation of language from the Loyalists pushed the Wallisians away bit by bit, to the point where they formed the parliamentary group with Union Caledonienne within the Congress.

UCs Roch Wamytan told Islands Business there were the two underlying elements that forged this parliamentary alliance: Firstly, we share common values, the values of Pacific peoples and of Christianity like respect, hospitality, compassion, family. The second element is that we want to fight against social, cultural and economic inequality. This takes place in the schools, where our children do not do as well, or in the cultural sphere, where our dignity is not respected. In the economic sphere, there are issues of housing and social welfare that bind together this Pacific majority.

There are more pragmatic reasons as well. To obtain staffing and financial resources, parties or coalitions in the 54-member Congress must have at least six members. Milakulo Tukumuli says that the decision to join the UC-FLNKS group was not a shift towards independence, but a strategic decision to build his partys capacity.

Because today we only have three members in the Congress, we cant constitute a parliamentary group and we dont have the means to work effectively, Tukumuli said. In every parliament of the world, if youre an MP, you have staff who can help you with the job. But in New Caledonia, if youre not in a group, you dont have that support.

Beyond this, if youre not in a group, you dont have the right to sit on parliamentary committees within the Congress. Now, as members of the UC-FLNKS group, we can participate in all the 11-member committees. Last year, each committee was divided 6-5. This year, because we are members of the group, each committee has five supporters of independence, five loyalists and one member of EO. Thats more representative of the Congress.

Despite this, Roch Wamytan believes that EOs decision is a crucial shift as the country moves to a decision on its future political status: When EO voted for me as Speaker, it was a sign to the Wallisian community that they should not be scared of Kanak.

Voting in referendum

In less than two weeks time, more than 180,000 people in New Caledonia will participate in the second referendum on self-determination under the Noumea Accord.

Because voting is not compulsory and the special referendum electorate is restricted to long-term residents, Tukumuli says EO is calling on people to turn out on 4 October: Were certainly telling people that they should go out and vote, because the future of those people who cant register to vote depends on those who are actually voting. Go and vote  thats the first thing weve said! The second thing weve said is vote for who you want, for the future that is good for you, and for New Caledonia tomorrow.

However the party is not campaigning for either Yes or No, arguing that voters in the Wallisian and Futunan communities must make their own decision. The easiest way to get married in NYC. NYC Elopement Photography Packages are a must for any couple eloping in NYC. Vlad Leto is proud to offer the best NYC elopement photography packages with the most flexibility.

We believe that this choice belongs to each individual, Tukumuli said. People can certainly ask us what independence might mean for the country, or what staying with France might mean. But the motto adopted by our party is Be the captain of your own destiny. Its up to everyone to decide what sort of New Caledonia they want for the future.

Philippe Gomes suggests this policy could foreshadow an historic shift: For the first time in the history of New Caledonia, the whole of the Wallisian community is not mobilising to vote No against independence. So on 4 October, it will be very interesting to see whether there is a shift towards abstention or towards Yes to independence. The mood in the community is very different to what weve seen before.

Despite this, Tukumuli is very clear about his own position: Ive already made my personal opinion clear, but it doesnt bind my party: I want New Caledonia to remain within France. Independence shouldnt be the starting point; it should be the finish line. If we are capable of being independent, then choose independence, but if people say were ready for independence, I dont agree.

Tukumuli explained that EOs executive includes both supporters and opponents of independence, so the party has pragmatically avoided divisions that would damage their long-term game plan: The majority of people in the Wallisian and Tahitian communities do not support independence and would prefer that New Caledonia remains part of France. Thats the truth. But we dont take a position in support of France, because that will scare away people who support independence. People are afraid though, and want to know whether they must vote. I hope that one day they wont need people like us to tell them whether or not they should vote to stay with France.

New alliances

Will the islander communities living in New Caledonia, from Wallis and Futuna, Tahiti and Vanuatu, eventually throw in their lot with the Kanak people, recognising the pan-Pacific ties that the late Epeli Hauofa championed in Our Sea of Islands?

Tukumuli says his vision is to get people working together, moving beyond old habits: This is something that people must understand: to work with the independence movement is not the same as working for independence.

He despairs that sections of the European community will punish any leader that tries to bridge the divide between supporters and opponents of independence.

Its important to say that when loyalists have tried to engage with the independence movement, theyve been punished by voters at the next opportunity, he said. In 2011, hoping to work with the independence movement, Pierre Frogier supported the decision to raise two flags outside public buildings, the French flag and the flag of Kanaky. Look at what happened afterwards: he was punished by voters in 2014. In 2014, Caledonie ensemble came to the fore under Philippe Gomes. Throughout his term of office, he tried to work with the independence movement and for that he was punished by voters in the 2019 congressional elections.

An older generation of Polynesians remember violent clashes with Kanak youth in the mid-1980s, when Right-wing agitators mobilised young, unemployed Wallisians as strong-arm militias against the FLNKS. In more recent times, there have been Wallisian-Kanak disputes in communities on the outskirts of Noumea, with conflicts over jobs, land, housing and welfare rights. Will significant numbers of Wallisian voters transcend these historic grievances?

New Caledonias President Thierry Santa told Islands Business that there is a section of the Wallisian and Futunan community who are more open to the independence movements language.

Theres a fluidity that you can see amongst the younger generation that you dont see with their elders, he said. Todays Polynesians may be too young to have known the difficult times, with past clashes and tension between the Wallisian community and the Kanak. So they are more carried away by the sort of rhetoric that talks about We the peoples of the Pacific, we can get by without France.

Santa sees this shift reflected in the even-handed position taken by EO for the referendum: I dont think this is a major shift towards independence. They are very well aware that a majority of their electorate are opponents of independence, so they maintain this policy of ambiguity for the moment. I dont know if this will be maintained right to the end. Well see.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell slammed a government funding resolution drafted by House Democrats on Monday, leaving the United States vulnerable to a government shutdown weeks before the November election.

The clock is ticking for the the U.S. Senate and Congress to agree on a new funding package with just nine days before it ends at midnight on September 30.

The Senate and House must approve identical versions of the bill for it to be signed by President Trump, but one of his closest allies blasted a drafted resolution from House Democrats as 'shameful.'

House Democrats on Monday revealed a short-term spending bill that would extend funding for through December 11. It would stall the potential shutdown of certain operations for vital government agencies like The Pentagon.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnel (pictured) criticized a short-term spending bill presented by House Democrats on Monday as 'shameful'

But the draft did not include the $30billion in funds the Trump administration and Senate Republicans wanted for farmers.

Republicans have sought to keep up a bailout program for American farmers that faced criticism from Democrats.

Trump repeatedly vowed to uplift Americans farmers during his 2016 presidential campaign, and while in the Oval Office has ordered billions of dollars in emergency aid.

Democrats have said the bailout money is akin to a political payoff to farmers who were hurt by his global trade work.

The Trump administration's trade wars caused a negative fallout for farmers, prompting him to provide aid, and the arrival of the COVID-19 dealt another crushing blow.

McConnell, a fierce support of Trump and loyal ally, blasted the House Democrats' draft for that very reason on Twitter.

'House Democrats rough draft of a government funding bill shamefully leaves out key relief and support that American farmers need.' write McConnel.

'This is no time to add insult to injury and defund help for farmers and rural America.'

Pictured: Mitch McConnell said in a tweet on Monday that the House Democrats' draft left out key relief aid for farmers

Earlier this month, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin agreed to pass a short-term spending bill void of 'poison pills,' or contentious measures that could halt its enactment.

The Washington Post reports that the two seemed to have reached a tentative agreement to use the farm bailout money for school children affected by the pandemic.

But Republicans alleged that Pelosi pulled out of the deal, while Democrats insisted there wasn't really a formalized deal in the first place.

The draft on Monday reignited embattled partisan alliances that, if not rectified, could spiral the United States into a government shutdown amid a undeniably difficult point in history.

As Republicans and Democrats pursued discussions over the funding package, more than 6.8million Americans were confirmed to have tested positive for COVID-19 and 200,000 had died.

The Trump administration has directed billions in relief aid to Americans farmers amid his trade wars and the COVID-19 pandemic

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (pictured) died on Friday from pancreatic cancer, leaving a Supreme Court seat vacant just weeks before the November election

Businesses continued to struggle as state's were forced to navigate restarting their local economies with little guidance from the federal government.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 13.6 million Americans were unemployed in August.

Additionally, tensions among civilians and Americans remained as people continued to protest police brutality and racial inequality after the death of many black Americans at the hands of law enforcement.

Wildfires have inundated the West Coast, with millions of acres being scorched and residents displaced from their homes.

And Washington D.C. is still reeling from the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died on Friday and vacated a Supreme Court seat just weeks before the November election.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (pictured): 'None of us has any interest in shutting down government, that has such a harmful and shameful impact on so many people in our country'

In a statement, Pelosi implored her Republican colleagues to accept Democrat's bill.

'The continuing resolution introduced today will avert a catastrophic shutdown in the middle of the ongoing pandemic, wildfires and hurricanes, and keep government open until December 11, when we plan to have bipartisan legislation to fund the government for this fiscal year,' she said.

On Sunday, Pelosi denounced an insinuation that Democrats were using the spending bill as leverage to stop Republicans from filing the seat as soon as possible.

'None of us has any interest in shutting down government, that has such a harmful and shameful impact on so many people in our country,' Pelosi told ABC's 'This Week.'

The House may pass the legislation as early as Tuesday to pass along to the Senate.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 02:02:25|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- China resolutely rejects the "baseless accusation" against it and opposes "political virus," said China's permanent representative to the United Nations Zhang Jun on Tuesday following U.S. President Donald Trump's criticism of China's handling of COVID-19 at the UN General Assembly.

In his pre-recorded message, Trump said: "We must hold accountable the nation which unleashed this plague onto the world: China."

Introducing Chinese President Xi Jinping's pre-recorded message to be played, Zhang said, "China resolutely rejects the baseless accusation against China," and opposes "political virus."

The world is confronted with the severe challenges of COVID-19. There are also the problems of unilateralism, protectionism and bullying practices, said Zhang. "The world is at a crossroads at this moment. The world needs more solidarity and cooperation, but not confrontation. We need to increase mutual confidence and trust, but not the spreading of political virus."

No matter what others say, China will firmly support multilateralism, supports the United Nations to play its central role in international affairs, said Zhang.

While Trump tried to shift the blame for his handling of the pandemic to China, his country has hit another milestone in the deaths from the virus. According to the data compiled by Johns Hopkins University, U.S. COVID-19 deaths surpassed 200,000 on Tuesday while the number of infections has reached more than 6.8 million. Both numbers accounted for roughly one fifth of the global totals but the U.S. population is equivalent to only less 5 percent of the world's population.

"This didn't have to happen. Tens of thousands of deaths could have been prevented," tweeted Tom Frieden, former director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

According to a recent survey by Pew Research Center, the United States has seen a sharp decline in reputation among its key allies and partners, reaching record lows, partly because of the country's bad handling of the pandemic. Enditem




Haiti - Politic : If and only If we were patriots and reasonable





"If and only If we were patriots and reasonable" :

By Guyler C Delva



"First let us agree on a fact that is difficult to refute : we Haitians today have a serious problem of patriotism. We never miss an opportunity to push the country further every day into the abyss of instability, poverty, corruption, inequality, injustice, indignity... saying elites compared to the rest of the population, which languishes in misery and ignorance, constitutes an unforgivable denial of humanity.



How to claim to love a country while constantly wanting to defile it, to dishonor it ? How can you want to show your love for Haiti by contributing daily to its impoverishment, to its historical deconstruction, to its destruction ? We Haitian elites should be ashamed of this, but unfortunately we do not have a sufficiently sharpened awareness to realize the damage, calamities and disasters that we continue to inflict on the community, given that we are obsessed with our petty interests and our voracious appetites.



Indeed, if we really loved Haiti nothing could prevent us from sitting around a table - members of power, of the opposition and of civil society - to come to an understanding, in a reflective process, on the different stages to be cross to adopt a new constitution, organize good elections and put the country on the rails of socio-economic and political progress. If we truly loved our country, nothing could prevent us from agreeing on the need for profound reforms to establish an era of good governance, transparency, accountability, justice; to fight impunity, corruption...



Are we to believe that the Creator has granted other peoples and elites, including our Dominican neighbors, a faculty or capacity for collective discernment that it has failed to attribute to us ? Why can Dominicans sit down, talk to each other, agree on the imperative need to defend the superior interests of the Dominican Republic, while we Haitians cross all the red lines that establish the prohibitions when it comes to act to preserve the interests of this Nation ? I always hate having to remind people that the greatest evil in Haiti is us Haitians.



To gauge our behavior, it seems that we are acting under the effect of a psychotropic cocktail that has placed our consciousness in a state of debility and permanent dysfunction which generates in us a pathological fixation on the 'goodness' of the evil which suits us individually or personally. Are we finally in the midst of a collective psychosensory crisis where everyone's conscious or unconscious hallucinatory manifestations become a normative reality and accepted by all ?



But for God's sake! Let us be ashamed of ourselves ! So let's not be ashamed to be ashamed !



It is obvious that Haitians must strive to enter a new cycle of political and socio-economic functioning. And that necessarily requires the adoption of a new constitution and the organization of free, democratic, inclusive and credible elections on a regular basis, but all of this would be conceivable if and only if we were patriots and reasonable. Hopefully we will one day be !"



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday slammed the suspensionof eight opposition MPs from the Rajya Sabha for protesting against the farm bills and said it was an attack on democracy.

In the last six years, over 60,000 farmers had committed suicide and in 2019 alone, 10,281 farmers had ended their lives in the country, Vijayan said in aFacebook Post. "Through the two bills, an attempt is being made by the central government to push the lives of farmers into eternal misery", he said. In the name of doing away with middlemen, the farmers will be forced to become slaves of corporate farming, pushing the country into destruction, the Chief Minister alleged.

Theattempts to stifle the voices being raised against this injustice,even in Parliament, is against all democratic values. The entire country needs to stand with farmers atthis juncture as their problems should be the country's priority, he said.

The MPs were suspended on Monday, a day after the Upper House witnessed unprecedented unruly scenes by protesting opposition members during passage of the two bills, described as the biggest reform in agriculture by the government. The Farmer's Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill 2020 have already been passed by the Lok Sabha and will now go to the President for his assent before they are notified as laws.

The Opposition, led by the Congress in the Rajya Sabha, had criticised the bills, saying they will not sign on the "death warrant" of farmers and demanded that they be sent to the Select Committee for scrutiny, while the ruling BJP had accused these parties of misleading the farmers.
Attacks on Hindus and Hindu temples occur everyday in Islamic Bangladesh, but most of the human rights organisations or activists dont even utter a single word against it. Do they feel that Hindus have no human rights ?  Editor, Hindujagruti

At least seven persons including women and teenagers were injured when a Hindu family was attacked in Sarail upazila of Brahmanbaria.

The incident took place at Muchipara village area in Kalikochha union under the upazila at around 11 pm on Thursday.

The attackersreportedly followers of Awami Leagues local General Secretary Salim Uddinlaunched the attack on Ripon Das, 20, when he was returning to his home from a prayer held in the neighbouring village.

It was reported, Rahat, Suman and Rasel falsely accused Ripon of carrying drugs and when he denied the allegations, they physically assaulted him thereby critically injuring the man, family sources said.

Meanwhile, when his family went to rescue him, they too were brutally attacked and seven of them had to be taken to different hospitals.

The injured are, Ripon Robi Das, 20, Titon Robi Das, 18, Shefali Rani, 42, Sanjay Robi Das, 16, Reema Rani Robi Das, 17, Sajon Robi Das, 45, and Puja Rani Das, 14.

Among them, Sajon is in critical condition and fighting for his life in a hospital in Dhaka along with two others. Rest of them are being treated in the district hospital.

Along with the injured ninth-grader Reema, her classmates, Purnima Rani Das said the accused influential people verbally harass them on their way to school and also throw brick pieces at them which makes it hard for them to attend classes.

Meanwhile, Gouri Rani, Basonti Das and others, whose homesteads were vandalised, said: They want to evict us from this land. We pass our nights in fear that an attack may take place anytime taking our lives and honour.

When asked about his involvement, AL leader Md Selim denied all allegations against him and said: I heard that the villagers recovered contraband drugs from Ripon and gave him a beating afterwards. Villagers and the Hindus of the Muchipara had an altercation, thats what I was informed later.

I kept them secure and safe under my watch, the AL leader claimed to Dhaka Tribune.

Meanwhile, a ten-member activist group from the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, who were sent to inspect the area, confirmed the allegations to be true.

Sujan Dutta, joint general secretary of the organisation said: They singled out five families to grab their land. The families and their girls and women are living in fear as they are regularly harassed and can be subjected to an attack anytime.

Member of Parliament, Umme Fatema Nazma and AL General Secretary of the district asked the law enforcers to take the matter into consideration with priority and offered their condolences to the families.

A case has been filed accusing 16 people by Mithun Robi Das on behalf of the family on Friday, said Shafikul Islam, officer-in-charge of Sarail police station.

Acting on the case, we arrested two people named Suman and Rasel. We are also making drives to arrest the rest.

Source : Dhaka Tribune
WESTPORT  Current viral restrictions didnt slow down the waves of hungry supporters that took part in the ShoreFest on a Roll fundraiser at Sherwood Island State Park Sunday afternoon.

While it didnt have the capability of holding its traditional clambake event this year due to COVID-19, the Friends of Sherwood Island decided it could still combine a celebratory event with the features of Connecticuts oldest state park.

We thought about all kinds of ways to do things safely and we realized that we wanted to continue the local persons experience of Sherwood Island, explained Cece Saunders, who co-chaired the event with Westporter Steve Axthelm.

The Friends made pickup food available through their annual vendor, Westfair Fish & Chips, which provided lobster rolls, slaw and more.

At the same time, when people drove into the park to get their food, they were also encouraged to enjoy various fun features taking place, including several bands that were performing, immense kites that were being flown, and the model airplane escapades of the Country Squire Modelers club, which has operated on the northeastern side of the park since the 1970s.

To augment the experience, Axthelm also created a podcast that enabled those taking part to hear details about all that was happening as they drove the large circuit around the park.

Ironically, Saunders said, since the spring shutdown closed Westports beaches this spring, more local people than ever started come to Sherwood Island and discovered its extensive features and environment.

So we thought we would glory in all of the things here at Sherwood, she said.

Im glad to see people are outside, said board member Peter OGorman of Norwalk, who flew a 50-foot manta ray kite  among others  during the event. As long as people practice social distancing, I dont see any reason this cant be held and be a success.
A Republican state representative in Kentucky has been indicted by a grand jury on strangulation and assault charges, in relation to an incident that allegedly occurred in April.

Robert Goforth, who serves in the Kentucky House of Representatives, was indicted on Friday of one count of strangulation and count of assault in the fourth degree, according to the Corbin Times-Tribune.

Mr Goforth was also originally charged with third-degree terroristic threatening in April, but he avoided incitement on that count on Friday.

The 44-year-old was taken into custody on 21 April, after he allegedly strangled a woman with an ethernet cable, and threatened to hog tie her, according to The Hill.

The anonymous woman went to a 911 dispatch centre in London, Kentucky at around 3.10am on that day, and told the police that she needed to speak to a deputy about an alleged domestic assault that had just occurred with three small children still in the home, according to a police report.

The children were found safe by law enforcement when they searched the home, and the report alleged that the fight was about the woman unlocking her mobile phone.

She told the authorities that she managed to escape the home by promising to unlock the phone for the state representative.

Mr Goforth was arrested later that day and was held for more than seven hours before he was released on a $25,000 (19,576) bond.

The state representative was arraigned on 1 June, where he pleaded not guilty to all charges, before the case went to a grand jury last week.

Following the 44-year-olds arrest in April, Kentucky House speaker David Osborne said he would not comment on Mr Goforth or his position in the Kentucky House of Representatives.

However, the Republican added: While we reserve comment on this specific situation, the House Majority Caucus unequivocally denounces any form of domestic violence and has zero tolerance for it or its perpetrators.

A society that values human life must also condemn domestic abuse.

After Mr Goforth was indicted on Friday, a spokeswoman for the state Democratic Party called for him to resign, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader.

State Representative Goforth should have resigned back in April and his party should have taken action against him when he refused to do so, the spokesperson said.

They added: This is not the first time a victim of Mr Goforths violent assaults has come forward. Republican leadership has ignored this for far too long, it is time for them to take action. Goforth needs to go.

The previous assault the spokesperson referred to in the statement, was an accusation of sexual assault against a woman from more than 10 years ago, which was brought to light when the 44-year-old ran for Kentucky governor in 2019.

His accuser called for him to drop out of the race, and wrote: You are the prime example of a man who believes he is entitled.

You are not entitled; not to the bodies of women who refuse you, not to the governorship.

Mr Goforth denied those allegations in January 2019.
The U.S. government is falling behind global rivals when it comes to protecting meatpacking workers from Covid-19 infections, even though the nations plants were among the first to confront rampant cases across factories.

In Germany, the government is ready to upend a labor contracting system that left poorly paid immigrant workers vulnerable. Australias second-most populous state, Victoria, slashed slaughterhouse staffing capacity to enforce strict spacing requirements. In Brazil, the federal government has set safety rules, though unions have said theyre not strong enough.

Meanwhile, the U.S. has yet to impose any mandatory safety measures on meatpackers to contain infections, issuing just voluntary guidelines. And the only federal citations against major meat processors resulted in fines of less than $16,000, decried as paltry by worker advocates. At the same time, an executive order from Donald Trump has kept plants running at full tilt since late April.

The U.S. response has been a mess, said James Ritchie, assistant general secretary of the Geneva-based International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers Associations.

Trumps order has been downright dangerous since it didnt come with any U.S. federal agency issuing enforceable safety rules, Ritchie said.

Coronavirus infections spread rapidly among U.S. meat workers in March and April, prompting major facilities to shutter before Trump issued the order to keep them open. Since then, its been unclear how widely the virus is still impacting workers because many companies arent publicly disclosing new cases. A tabulation of local news reports by the Food & Environment Reporting Network totaled at least 42,606 confirmed Covid cases and 203 related deaths among meatpacking workers through Friday.

Evidence points to the virus spreading by air, with an initial study in Germany showing particles can jump more than 8 meters (26 feet) in slaughterhouses where cold temperatures and poor ventilation put workers at risk. To protect employees, Ritchie said there should be a universal slowing of production lines.

Company Measures

While companies took their own safety measures, including installing plexiglass barriers and issuing protective equipment, the American federal government never stepped in to create enforceable protocols. This month, U.S. regulators issued their first sanctions against meatpackers in connection with outbreaks. Smithfield Foods Inc. was fined $13,494 and JBS SA was issued a penalty of $15,615, drawing outrage from two senators, a former safety official and a major national union as being inadequate.

The next litmus test for how well the virus is being controlled at American meat plants is likely to come over the next few months as the weather turns colder, which could help infections to spread more quickly and the period will also coincide with the annual flu epidemic that sweeps the northern hemisphere.

In contrast to the U.S., German and Australian regulators intervened with stronger measures for meat workers even though the nations were dealing with smaller outbreaks. Germanys Agriculture Minister Julia Kloeckner is even calling for higher food prices to ease cost pressures on producers.

We are currently experiencing a momentum, an opportunity to readjust the meat industry, Kloeckner said in emailed comments to Bloomberg. That is what we are tackling.

Heres a look at how global policies are taking shape:

U.S.

Its possible the U.S. may yet impose additional safety regulations as Congressional leaders haggle over a broad coronavirus relief package. A version the Democratic-controlled House passed in May would require an emergency temporary regulation requiring safety measures to reduce the spread of Covid in workplaces, including meat plants. Senate Republicans have resisted the step and GOP Senate Leader Mitch McConnell is instead seeking to include a provision granting immunity to businesses for virus-related legal claims.

Meat and poultry companies have voluntarily enacted government recommendations and more to protect employees, the North American Meat Institute said in an emailed statement.

Labor unions lobbying efforts to include mandatory Covid safety measures are an uphill battle said Rebecca Reindel, occupational safety and health director for the AFL-CIO.

U.S. Meat Plants Are Deadly as Ever, With No Incentive to Change

Efforts to win better safety regulations are hampered because the employees are often minorities and immigrants who, unlike other high-risk workers such as doctors and hospital staff, labor out of sight of consumers.

They face a lot of barriers, Reindel said. You have a lot of workers of color. You have a lot of immigrant workers. You have a lot that dont know their safety and health rights.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the federal agency thats part of the Department of Labor and has the power to regulate conditions in meat plants, is committed to protecting Americas workers during the pandemic, a department spokesperson said in an emailed response, which cited the voluntary safety guidelines the agency has issued. The agency also continues to respond to and investigate complaints it receives.

Germany

In Germany, a Covid outbreak at a slaughterhouse infected 1,500 workers and shuttered the facility for a month from mid-June. That seized attention across the continent and accelerated a move by politicians to crack down on poor work conditions. The industrys production lines rely largely on subcontracted staff from eastern Europe, a practice the government is now moving to end, said Johannes Specht, head of collective bargaining at Germanys NGG union.

The German cabinet in late July approved a bill to ban temporary employees at meat plants.

The new bill to end subcontract workers will give clear responsibility instead of cascades of shadow companies, said Kloeckner, the ag minister.

She also wants to move from a system with a few, large centralized processors and promote smaller, regional slaughterhouses and butchers. Higher meat prices could allow for improved conditions in animal stables, shorten transport times to processors and allow for fair working conditions and sustainable farmer incomes, she said.

Australia

Australias Victoria state has been hardest hit by a fresh wave of virus cases, leading to a strict months-long lockdown for its more than 5 million residents.

Meat plants have been the source of some of the states biggest virus clusters and more than half a dozen facilities have been forced to shutter temporarily. The state government in August slashed slaughterhouses and processors staffing capacity and enforced strict spacing, hygiene and health check measures, as part of the broader restrictions to curb community transmission.

Meat giant JBS shuttered the states biggest processing facility until community transmission is under control, saying it could not operate in the current environment.

The state government also provided payments to workers who had to miss shifts to isolate after a coronavirus test, and for those who had to take time off following a positive test, if they had no access to paid leave.

Brazil

In Brazil, the worlds largest chicken and beef exporter, the federal government set mandates for safety measures, including establishing a minimum distance of 1 meter (3.3 feet) between workers, or less if employees are provided with enough protective gear.

While thats still more strict than the U.S., which has only the voluntary guidlines, Brazilian labor leaders have said the countrys measures are still insufficient to ensure employee safety. Unions in the nation have estimated, based on surveys with local members, that about 20% of Brazilian meat workers, or roughly 100,000 people, have been infected with Covid-19.

Some local governments, including chicken and pork production hubs such as Rio Grande do Sul and Parana states, have set their own guidelines for meat plants during the pandemic, with higher standards compared with the federal rules. But others states, including the top beef producer Mato Grosso, havent published any resolution, which leave the national guidelines as the only protocols.

In many places, slaughterhouses have the governments approval to work without prioritizing employee safety, said Artur Bueno, head of the national labor union CNTA, which represents workers from the food industry.

With assistance from Megan Durisin and Tatiana Freitas.

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.

Topics COVID-19 Legislation USA Agribusiness Australia Germany
WASHINGTON, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The unprecedented nature of the November election has led dozens of distinguished service members and veterans to support Count Every Hero , a cross-partisan public education campaign. We may not have results on Election Night, making it imperative that all ballots, including military ballots, are counted before a candidate declares victory.

"The pandemic means more voters than ever will be voting absentee, including hundreds of thousands of our service members," said General George Casey, United States Army (Retired), a new Count Every Hero endorser. "This year, many service members abroad are experiencing voting overseas for the first time. We want to ensure they have the tools necessary to exercise their rightsthe very rights they are defending."

Count Every Hero supporters include veterans of all branches of the military, a wide range of active and retired service personnel, as well as military members, their families and dependents. Momentum for the organization's mission is growing across the country and across the political aisletoday, 16 new retired military endorsers are joining the call to ensure every hero's vote is counted this November, including:

United States Navy Admiral Steve Abbot (Retired)

(Retired) United States Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen (Retired)

(Retired) United States Army General George Casey (Retired)

(Retired) United States Army General Wes Clark (Retired)

(Retired) United States Marine Corps General Joseph Francis Dunford Jr. (Retired)

Marine Corps General (Retired) United States Navy Admiral James O. Ellis (Retired)

(Retired) United States Air Force General Howell Estes (Retired)

United States Navy Admiral Tom Fargo (Retired)

(Retired) United States Navy Admiral Jon Greenert (Retired)

(Retired) United States Air Force General John Jumper (Retired)

(Retired) United States Coast Guard Admiral James "Jim" Loy (Retired)

United States Air Force General Lester Lyles (Retired)

(Retired) United State Air Force General Gregory "Speedy" Martin (Retired)

United States Army General Stanley McChrystal (Retired)

(Retired) United States Marine Corp General Tony Zinni (Retired)

(Retired) United States Coast Guard Admiral Paul Zunkuft (Retired)

"We have an obligation to our service members to make sure their votes are counted," said Marjorie K. Eastman, United States Army Reserve Veteran, an endorser of Count Every Hero. "We're working across the aisle to make sure all military members and their families have the information and time necessary to safely cast their ballot."

Nearly one million active duty military members are eligible to vote absentee. The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) of 1986 requires states to allow these military members, their eligible family members, and overseas citizens to vote absentee in federal elections. Yet, in 2018, nearly one-third of non-voters in the military, our country's heroes, wanted to vote or tried to vote but were unable to do so.

"There is a process for absentee voting that actually is safe and secure. The process for our service members to request the ballot takes away the opportunity for fraud," said Captain Lynne Blankenbeker, United States Air Force and Navy Reserve Nurse Corps. "By ensuring all military members and their dependents have the right information and understand the process, we can ensure every vote is safe, and every vote is counted."





The Count Every Hero campaign is committed to two major principles:

Every service member's right to vote must be protected and their votes must be counted. Military voters must have an opportunity to register, request an absentee ballot, and cast a vote regardless of their location in the world.

Count Every Hero is a member of the Military Vote Coalition , a group of military family and veteran support organizations whose mission is to increase voter participation. The coalition promotes policies that increase awareness and voting accessibility for veterans and military families.

Count Every Hero is a cross-partisan campaign to ensure all service members' votes are counted before election winners are declared.

Contact: Ellen Moorhouse

[email protected]

(413) 333-5656

SOURCE Count Every Hero

Related Links

https://counteveryhero.org


Taking a swipe at the Centre, Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar on Tuesday said the Income Tax Department has sent notices to certain leaders in connection with poll affidavits submitted to the Election Commission as they love some people".

Pawar, along with his daughter Supriya Sule, MP, besides Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and his son and Tourism Minister Aditya Thackeray have been served notices by the I-T Department seeking clarifications on their polls affidavits filed in the previous elections.

Yes, I have also received it (the notice). They love some people," the 79-year old Maratha strongman said with a grin, speaking with media persons in Mumbai.

I have got the I-T Department notice about my election affidavits. On the directions of the Election Commission of India, the I-T Department has sent the notice on the poll affidavits for 2009, 2014, and 2020. We will reply to the notice," Pawar said.

Incidentally, the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress are in the Maha Vikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra, and two top leaders each of the two parties in the alliance have been served with the IT notices.

Pawar also made light of reports about moves for imposing Presidents rule in Maharashtra. Is there any reason for (imposing the Presidents rule)? Is the Presidents rule some joke? he said," adding the ruling MVA combine enjoys a clear majority in the Assembly. He also criticised the central government for banning export of onions.

Meanwhile, Pawar announced a days token fast in support of the suspended Opposition MPs, as he wondered why the government was in such a hurry to pass the farm Bills.

I have decided to abstain from food and fast today in solidarity with the protesting MPs agitation," said Pawar, a Member of the Rajya Sabha, which witnessed a massive ruckus in the past two days followed by a boycott by the Opposition parties.

Though well-intentioned, Pawar said he had never seen Bills being passed in such a manner and questioned the haste, especially when the MPs had questions on the Farm Bills.

Members wanted to ask more questions on the Bills. But, it appears they (the government) did not want any discussion. When the MPs did not get the response, they came to the well of the House," Pawar pointed out.

He said the Deputy Chairman of the Upper House had not adhered to the rules and the Rajya Sabha members were expelled for expressing their opinion," said the NCP chief.

The Opposition has alleged that the Deputy Chairman Harivansh  who was in the chair on Sunday  helped the government rush the Bills through the Upper House despite lacking the numbers and rejecting the Opposition parties demands for detailed discussions on the Farm Bills.

(With inputs from agencies)
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 22) - The Philippine Red Cross asserted that all its transactions with the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), particularly on COVID-19 response, are all legal contrary to the allegations of Senator Leila De Lima.

All transactions between the PRC and PhilHealth are legal and needed by the country, said Red Cross Board of Governors in a statement on Monday.

She should have studied first the law. She would have then discovered that the transactions in the Memorandum of Agreement dated 5 May 2020 between PRC and PhilHealth is exempted from Republic Act No. 9184, or the Government Procurement Reform Ac, the organization added.

De Lima said last week that there should be a full-blown investigation after Gordon entered into a deal with the state health insurer.

Under the law, TEST KITS...are included. The law further qualified that the Department of Health shall prioritize the allocation and distribution of such goods, supplies, etc. to public and private laboratories that have existing capacities to test suspected COVID-19 patients, said Red Cross citing the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act.

It added that Bayanihan 1 does not include advance/mobilization fees or revolving funds.

The advance payment happened only once and after that, it was already the PRC which has been advancing the test in spite of PhilHealths unsettled obligations to PRC, which is now more than P500 million, said Red Cross.

The organization also defended that there is no conflict of interest on the part of Gordon when he entered the deal despite spearheading the Senate probe on alleged anomalies in PhilHealth.

He has grown the PRC to unimaginable heights but he is not paid and has never received any benefits or dividends from this because the latter is a non-stock, non-profit organization. How could there be a conflict, said Red Cross.

Last August, whistleblower Atty. Thorson Montes Keith said that Gordon could be indicted in the anomalies in PhilHealth due to the deal between the two organizations.
Carefree Covered R V Storage - Apache Junction Welcome Center

Carefree Covered RV Storage announced the launch of a new full-service website Thursday and expansion plans that include the pending acquisition of a second location in Arizona.

Weve invested time in developing our brand experience, president Barry Raber said. We want our customers to know we understand whats important to them and have them see us as a resource whether theyre visiting online or in person.

CarefreeCoveredRVStorage.com features storage tips, destination guides and local RV resources in addition to online reservations and leasing of spaces. The brand is building a robust social media presence where customers will find additional resources and places for its community to share recreational experiences.

The company also is in contract to purchase its second location in the Phoenix metro area. Property specifics will be released when the transaction is complete. The new property will include amenities including a Welcome Center with Wi-Fi, remote-controlled gate access, high-definition security cameras, dump-station, wand-bay RV wash, ice machine, power at every space, and more.

Customer response has been overwhelmingly positive and were connecting with what they want. We are eager to build out this side of our business, Raber added.

Carefree Covered RV Storage is a division of Portland-based Business Property Trust, which offers open-air RV storage at several of its locations through its other division, Bargain Storage. The company launched Carefree Covered RV Storage in September 2019 after purchasing its flagship location in Apache Junction, Arizona.

Carefree Covered RV Storage now has a 5-star rating on Google with over 50 reviews and an A rating with the Better Business Bureau.

The company is seeking additional all-RV storage properties to expand its brand. Contact Raber directly for more information or to suggest business opportunities.

Business Property Trust, LLC, is a niche real estate investment firm located in Portland, Oregon. The company, founded in 1999, purchases and operates self-storage through its Bargain Storage brand and covered recreational vehicle parking through Carefree Covered RV Storage.
Just days before the Aug. 3 scheduled start of school, officials at the Athens Independent School District in East Texas received a shock.

Cybercriminals had attacked the districts entire computer network, encrypting all the data and demanding $50,000 in ransom for its release. Access to everything from teacher communications to student assignments was blocked.

It was terribly disruptive, to put it mildly, said Toni Clay, the districts spokesperson. We no longer had access to any student information, such as schedules, email addresses, anything that would be stored. Internally, we had no staff information. It was all frozen.

The plan had been to begin school online for three weeks and then transition to a hybrid model of both virtual and in-person classes. Instead, officials ended up delaying the start of school completely for a week.

Athens is one of at least 16 school districts, from California to New Jersey, that have been victimized in a rash of ransomware attacks since the end of July.

Some have been forced to push back school reopening dates. Others that already started school have had to cancel classes for a day or more.

The attacks have placed a heavy burden on school administrators as they grapple with whether its safe for students and teachers to return in person and whether schools are prepared to handle social distancing and other requirements.

School information technology staffs, meanwhile, have been consumed with the transition to virtual learning, making districts even more vulnerable to hackers, experts say.

School district IT shops were supporting the network and the remote environment and software upgrades and training. They were overwhelmed by requests for help in ways they had never seen before, said Alan Shark, executive director of the Public Technology Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit that provides professional development and consulting services to local government IT executives.

Peoples attention spans at the security end probably got dissipated trying to put out all these fires, he said. There were so many calls to answer.

At the Athens district, Clay said IT staffers were stretched thin adapting to the new teaching and learning environment.

Our IT departments are having to do 100 things and get that done yesterday. New software, issuing new devices, installing cameras, helping out families and staff having trouble getting the technology to work for them, she said. That already is a tremendous amount of strain on the infrastructure of a school district. It makes us targets for people who care nothing at all about the impact this type of destruction has on our communities.

And as schools reopen for in-person classes, laptops taken home by students, teachers and administrators are being reconnected to school networks, which could make it easier for criminals to introduce malware, said Doug Levin, a cybersecurity expert who runs EdTech Strategies, an Arlington, Virginia-based education and technology consulting firm.

Ransomware spikes

Before COVID-19, ransomware attacks on school districts already were spiking, according to Levin. Ransomware hijacks computer systems and holds them hostage until their victims pay a ransom or restore the system on their own.

In 2019, there were at least 62 such cases, compared with 11 the previous year, said Levin, who created the K-12 Cybersecurity Research Center, which tracks and posts publicly disclosed cyber incidents in public school districts.

Cybercriminals have been getting more savvy about how to target school districts, he said. And they understand that school opening is a high-stress, high-leverage point for them to attack. You are trying to enroll students, sign up for your PTA, coordinate bus schedules.

Among some of the recent attacks:

Haywood County Schools in North Carolina were closed for several daysin late August. Students have been getting instruction remotely since then.

Ponca City Public Schools in Oklahoma delayed school reopening from Aug. 19 to Aug. 24 after they were struck.

King George County Schools in Virginia had to cancel virtual classesand close school buildings to the public Sept. 3 until classes resumed after Labor Day.

Hartford Public Schools in Connecticut postponed the first day of school on Sept. 8, both virtually and in person, after the city was hit by an attack that affected multiple school district systems, including one used to communicate transportation routes for buses.

Just last week, Newhall School District in Valencia, California, had to put its classes, which have been 100% virtual, on hold for the day after a ransomware attack.

For now, the students  all in elementary school  dont have access to their teachers online so theyre doing classroom activities at home using paper and pencils, said Jeff Pelzel, the district superintendent.

With COVID, we dont have the luxury of saying, We want to bring you back in and teach you live right now. And if you sit home with paper and pencil, youre not moving learning forward because youre not in touch with the teacher, he said. Its another layer of frustration for teachers, administrators, parents and students.

Data breaches

For years, cybercriminals who launched ransomware attacks typically encrypted data and demanded ransom, usually in bitcoin, a cryptocurrency, in exchange for a decryption key. They didnt access the data or make it public.

But experts say that has been changing. A growing number of cybercriminals are getting ahold of the data and threatening to make public sensitive information if they dont get their money.

Theyre using data as additional leverage to extort payments, said Brett Callow, a threat analyst for global cybersecurity company Emsisoft.

Some cybercriminals have posted data from local governments online, such as details about salaries, Social Security numbers and police investigations, he said.

In Knoxville, Tennessee, for example, ransomware hackers who struck in June put personal information about city employees online, including names, addresses and performance scores.

School districts havent been immune. Since the beginning of September, data stolen from at least four of them apparently has been published online, according to Callow.

Among them is the Clark County School District in Las Vegas, which was targeted in late August. The district later sent out a data privacy breach note warning that some current and former employee personal information might have been accessed.

Fairfax County Public Schools in Northern Virginia, the largest district in the state, announced Sept. 11 that it had been the victim of a ransomware attack. The hacker group Maze, which has been responsible for many ransomware attacks, claimed online that it had gotten ahold of private information from the district and had published a Zip file of data allegedly taken.

Ransom demands also have skyrocketed, cybersecurity experts say. Criminals who used to demand a few thousand dollars now are asking for an average of $150,000 to $250,000, according to Callow.

Clay, of the Athens school district, said the school board initially authorized up to $50,000 in ransom, but the district only would have had to pay a deductible because it had cyber insurance. After private negotiations with the criminals, she said, the ransom was dropped to $25,000.

But the district ended up paying nothing because a few days after the attack, IT staffers, with the help of regional and federal cyber response teams, were able to recover most of the data from a backup system on their own, she added. The hackers never heard from us again, Clay said. No arrests have been made.

Athens was fortunate to have a robust cybersecurity system that allowed it to recover its data. But not every school system does.

Under normal circumstances, most districts probably could decide not to pay ransom, even if it would take weeks or months to restore data, said EdTech Strategies Levin. Instead, they could make do by creating lesson plans and teaching students in school the old-fashioned way while they brought back their data systems.

But COVID-19 has changed that for schools that havent reopened in-person classes, he said.

At a time of remote learning, that possibility doesnt exist, he said. Its very difficult to see a school district in a position where the choice is either pay an extortion fee or if not, take the time to rebuild an IT system.

Those that dont pay might have to stop teaching students for a long time, he added. And that plays right into the hands of these criminals.

This article was first posted to Stateline, an initiative of The Pew Charitable Trusts.
Augustoberfest to return in 2022, but in a new location

This year marks the 25th anniversary of Augustoberfest, usually held in downtown Hagerstown. But this year's festival is moving out of Hagerstown.
Potential vaccine to incorporate ProMIS proprietary peptide antigens; early in vivo preclinical data demonstrate neuronal protection and improvement in cognitive deficits

TORONTO and CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Sept. 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ProMIS Neurosciences, Inc. (TSX: PMN) (OTCQB: ARFXF), a biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of antibody therapeutics targeting toxic oligomers implicated in the development of neurodegenerative diseases, announced today initiation of a program to construct and test a multivalent peptide vaccine for Alzheimer's disease (AD). The critical first steps in vaccine development will be carried out by VIDO-InterVac, a global leader in vaccine research and development.



Recent progress in the development of blood-based biomarkers for neurodegeneration is enabling increased screening to diagnose and identify individuals at risk of developing AD. A vaccine capable of inducing an effective antibody response against amyloid-beta toxic oligomers (ABOs) could be administered prophylactically to at-risk individuals to prevent development of symptomatic disease. Additionally, the vaccine could be given therapeutically to individuals living with a diagnosis of AD to inhibit further disease progression.

In a proof-of-concept study, ProMIS identified six different peptide epitopes selectively exposed on toxic ABOs. Immunization of mice with each of these individual epitopes produced protective antibodies against ABOs, without undesirable binding to amyloid-beta monomers or fibrils. ProMIS also conducted a successful proof-of-concept vaccination study with one of the peptide epitopes in a mouse model of AD, which demonstrated neuronal protection and improvement in cognitive deficits.1

"Again demonstrating the versatility of ProMIS' proprietary discovery platform, we're now advancing our program to develop a safe and effective vaccine to induce a specific immune response against toxic ABOs, a root cause of AD," stated Dr. Neil Cashman, ProMIS' Chief Scientific Officer. "The encouraging initial results clearly support the development of a multivalent vaccine for AD prevention, uniquely positioning ProMIS as offering a three-pronged approach to combat AD: detect with blood-based biomarkers, treat with PMN310, and prevent with a vaccine."

Vaccine development will start at the University of Saskatchewan's Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization-International Vaccine Centre (VIDO-InterVac) with the generation of multivalent vaccine constructs based on the ProMIS peptides linked to a carrier protein and formulated with an adjuvant to maximize induction of a protective antibody response to ABOs.

About VIDO-InterVac

The University of Saskatchewan's VIDO-InterVac is internationally recognized for its role in vaccine development and is one of Canada's national science facilities. VIDO-InterVac has a 45-year history of vaccine development and commercialization - eight of its vaccines have been sold commercially, and six have been described as world-firsts. The ~150-member organization operates using an ISO:9001 certified management system in state-of-the-art containment level 2 and 3 facilities. VIDO-InterVac receives operational support from the Canada Foundation for Innovation's Major Science Initiatives Fund and the Government of Saskatchewan through Innovation Saskatchewan and the Agriculture Development Fund.

Visit us at www.vido.org or follow us on Twitterand LinkedIn.

Corporate Update

We announce today the resignation of Anthony Giovinazzo from the Board of Directors of ProMIS Neurosciences. We thank Anthony for his significant contributions to the company since he joined the Board of Directors over 3 years ago and wish him much success in his future endeavors.

About ProMIS Neurosciences

ProMIS Neurosciences, Inc. is a development stage biotechnology company whose unique core technology is the ability to rationally predict the site and shape (conformation) of novel targets known as Disease Specific Epitopes (DSEs) on the molecular surface of proteins. In neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's, ALS and Parkinson's disease, the DSEs are misfolded regions on toxic forms of otherwise normal proteins. In the infectious disease setting, these DSEs represent peptide antigens that can be used as an essential component to create accurate and sensitive serological assays to detect the presence of antibodies that arise in response to a specific infection, such as COVID-19. ProMIS proprietary peptide antigens can also be used to create potential therapeutic antibodies, as well as serve as the basis for development of vaccines. ProMIS is headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, with offices in Cambridge, Massachusetts. ProMIS is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol PMN, and on the OTCQB Venture Market under the symbol ARFXF.

Visit us at www.promisneurosciences.comor follow us on Twitterand LinkedIn. To learn more about diagnostic testing for Alzheimer's disease, listen to Episode 26 of the podcast, Saving Minds, available at iTunes or on ProMIS Neurosciences' website.

References:

1Silverman J et al. "A rational structured epitope defines a distinct subclass of toxic amyloid-beta oligomers" (2018), ACS Chem Neurosci; 9: 1591-1606.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Shanti Skiffington

shanti.skiffington@gmail.com

Tel. 617 921-0808

For Investor Relations please contact:

Alpine Equity Advisors

Nicholas Rigopulos, President

nick@alpineequityadv.com

Tel. 617 901-0785

The TSX has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This information release contains certain forward-looking information. Such information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those implied by statements herein, and therefore these statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. All forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to it as well as other factors. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Due to risks and uncertainties, including the risks and uncertainties identified by the Company in its public securities filings, actual events may differ materially from current expectations. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Rowan Universitys Emergency Medical Services and the Glassboro Fire Department responded to a fire on September 9 at the Holly Pointe Commons Hall. One person was transported to the hospital due to injuries.

The Glassboro Fire Marshals Office is currently investigating the fire, which allegedly started from a hoverboard in the residence hall.

The fire sprinkler system in the dorm reacted to the heat and was able to prevent the fire from spreading.

Thank goodness for the sprinkler system, that fire was basically knocked down by the time the fire department showed up, Michael Kantner, assistant vice president of public safety, told the Whit, Rowans newspaper.

Fire sprinklers have been required in all New Jersey college dormitories since a fire at Seton Hall in 2000 caused the deaths of three students and injured 56 students, police officers and firefighters. In the wake of the tragic fire, the State required that all newly constructed dorms be equipped with fire sprinklers and that all existing dorms be retrofitted as well.

It just so happens that this hoverboard fire occurred during Campus Fire Safety Month, which is an initiative backed by the National Fire Protection Association, the National Fire Sprinkler Association, and numerous other organizations dedicated to life safety. These associations work in tandem to make fire safety knowledge readily available to students, parents, and campus staff through online materials, classes geared to students and campus staff, and live fire safety demonstrations that showcase how quickly fire spreads and how fire sprinklers operate to contain them.

The National Fire Sprinkler Association PenJerDel Chapter and the New Jersey Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board are proud to report on this sprinkler save that occurred during Campus Fire Safety Month and would like to thank the Glassboro Fire Department and Rowan Emergency Services, not only for their quick response, but for their favorable reporting of fire sprinklers as well.

And while having both fire sprinklers and smoke detectors in a dorm is the best way to keep safe from a fire, students should still know how to minimize their fire risk. The NJFSAB and NFSA PenJerDel Chapter welcome all parents, students and faculty members to visit Saveandprotect.org to learn more about how to stay fire safe in a dorm and learn more about how fire sprinklers operate. The NJFSAB and NFSA are your free resource for anything fire safety related, so do not hesitate to reach out with any questions regarding fire safety.
WATERLOO REGION  Interrupting harmful behaviour witnessed in the community can simply take a look or question, and the positive effect spreads far beyond that situation instead of allowing bad behaviour to flourish.

The consequences of uninterrupted harm are significant, said Rod Friesen, restorative justice program co-ordinator at the Mennonite Central Committee. It almost becomes a harm-doing avalanche.

Friesen will talk about being an active bystander this Thursday in the latest instalment of the annual Porch Chats hosted by the Friends of Crime Prevention. Registration is required to join the virtual talk.

Friesen urges everyone in Waterloo Region to watch out for their fellow residents, rather than be a passive bystander.

If you see something, act on it, Friesen said. It doesnt mean getting into a confrontation or argument. Its really about defusing.

Harm can include harassment, excluding or ignoring, name calling, threatening someone, negative comments or cyber bullying. Friesen warns that harm-doing can escalate as it ripples through a community or country, leading to violence or even genocide.

Fear can often stop people from intervening, but Friesen said being an active bystander doesnt need to be complicated. It starts with is empathy and recognizing our responsibility for the well-being of others  that sense that were in this community together, he said.

Its about caring for everyone, not just caring about the people I know.

Being an active bystander can often just take one sentence, such as asking if anyone else is uncomfortable about what is happening. Maybe look around for allies for support.

It can just sort of defuse the situation, Friesen said.

If saying something directly to the person causing the harm, it should be done in a way thats not aggressive and wont escalate the situation. The aim is to approach the person in a way that brings them along and encourages behaviour change, rather than isolating them.

Thats a unique position that many of us dont necessary think about, Friesen said.

In that way, he said a harm-doer can become tomorrows active bystander who will promote community values.

An active bystander could also support the target of the harm afterwards by offering understanding and saying what happened was not right.

Thats something we would all like in that situation, Friesen said.

He encourages people to act on their personal values, which are also shared community values. As people do this more, good behaviour spreads instead of bad.

Along with this weeks free public workshop, the Mennonite Central Committee is hosting two active bystander training sessions in October.

Helping people realize we cant sit on the fence is important in creating a better community, Friesen said. Not saying anything or walking on by can continue to perpetuate the problem.
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
CRIME FICTION

Troubled Blood

Robert Galbraith

Sphere, $32.99

Whatever you may have heard to the contrary, thanks to one British newspaper, this fifth novel in the Cormoran Strike series by Robert Galbraith, the crime-writing alias of J.K. Rowling, is not about a ''transvestite serial killer''.

Within the cast of hundreds, there is a relatively minor character called Creed whose modus operandi is sometimes, not always, to wear womens clothes as a disguise in stalking victims. Creed appears in person once in the whole 927 pages, and is named and described only briefly and intermittently otherwise. Matters transgender are not mentioned at all.

Tom Burke and Holliday Grainger as Cormoran Strike and Robin Ellacott in the small-screen adaptation of Robert Galbraith's crime novels. Credit:

This fact is relevant to a review of the book in only two ways. The first is that any comment, much less judgment, that you make about a book is worthless unless you have read that book yourself. The second is that if we are to condemn J.K. Rowling for using such a common and time-honoured storytelling trope as cross-dressing for the purpose of harming women, then we must also wipe from the canon such classics as The Silence of the Lambs, Psycho, and the story of Little Red Riding Hood.
LONDON - Julian Assange is very likely to attempt to attempt to kill himself if he is sent to the United States to face espionage charges, a psychiatric expert said Tuesday at an extradition hearing for the WikiLeaks founder.

Michael Kopelman, emeritus professor of neuropsychiatry at Kings College London, said Assange has a history of depression and there is a very high risk of suicide if the U.S. extradition attempt succeeds.

Its the imminence of extradition and/or an actual extradition that will trigger the attempt, in my opinion, Kopelman said during testimony as a witness for Assange at Londons Old Bailey criminal court.

He said there were an abundance of known risk factors including a family history of depression and suicide and the isolation Assange has experienced  first in the Ecuadorian embassy in London, where he took refuge in 2012, and since April 2019 in a British prison.

Kopelman said Assange has also been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, which has been associated with an increased tendency to ruminate on suicide.

Under cross-examination by James Lewis, a lawyer representing the U.S. government, Kopelman said he was always alert to the possibility a patient might be malingering or exaggerating.

U.S. prosecutors have indicted Assange on 17 espionage charges and one charge of computer misuse over WikiLeaks publication of secret American military documents a decade ago. The charges carry a maximum sentence of 175 years in prison.

Assanges defence team argues that he is a journalist and entitled to First Amendment protections for publishing leaked documents that exposed U.S. military wrongdoing in Iraq and Afghanistan.

They also say the conditions he would face in a U.S. prison would breach his human rights.

The extradition hearing began Sept. 7 and is due to last until early October, with Judge Vanessa Baraitser likely to take weeks or months to consider her decision.
Papua New Guinea parliament repeals death penalty law

TikTok starts testing paid subscriptions

Israeli fighter jets, refueling planes hold massive drills aimed at Tehran

France announces gradual lifting of coronavirus restrictions

Fountains in Athens' central square illuminated with Armenian tricolor

Austria approves Europe's first mandatory COVID-19 vaccination mandate

World War II aircraft crashed in India found after 77 years

Armenian Parliament Deputy Speaker meets EU delegation

Deputy Speaker of Armenian parliament meets Russian Ambassador to Armenia

Germany won't pay compensation if Nord Stream 2 doesn't comply with German, EU laws

NEWS.am digest: EU special rep. is in Armenia, Roma's Mkhitaryan turns 33 today

Child injured in Artsakh car accident taken to Yerevan by Russian peacekeepers' helicopter

Taiwanese woman faces death penalty for setting island's deadliest fire

Turkey passes law to exempt converted lira deposits from corporate tax

Blinken says he discussed Iran nuclear deal with Lavrov

Erdogan says Turkey has peaceful relations with Russia like never before

New German government wants to attract 400,000 skilled workers from abroad every year

Israeli Attorney General orders to investigate police allegations of spyware

Blinken: Any Russian invasion of Ukraine will be met with swift response

Candidate: Ombudsmans institution is one of few established institutions in Armenia

Lavrov summarizes the results of talks with Blinken

UN agrees on definition of Holocaust denial

Lavrov and Blinken talks kick off in Geneva

Australian FM says issue of sending direct military aid to Ukraine is not considered

Armenia PM receives EU delegation, need for full operation of Karabakh peace process is stressed

Armenia National Assembly debating on new ombudspersons candidacy

Katherine Tai: The world can't go back to the 2019 trading system

Dollar gains value in Armenia

Armenia legislature told hold secret ballot to elect TV and radio commission new members

NATO intends to hold largest military exercises beyond Arctic Circle in early March

7 new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

'Zangezur corridor' will unite Turkic world, says Azerbaijan presidential office official

Armenia FM highlights need for full resumption of Karabakh peace talks

Armenia ex-defense minister: In our time it was shame to immediately turn to CSTO in case of Azerbaijan provocations

UN General Assembly head calls for peace during Beijing Olympics

Armenia Tourism Committee has new chairperson

Russian MFA: Priority today is to start Azerbaijan-Armenia border delimitation, demarcation process

Parliament passes, in first reading, bill restricting gambling advertising in Armenia

UK considering sending hundreds of additional troops to Ukraine's neighbors

Warships of Russia, Iran and China work out counteraction to maritime piracy

Armenia first deputy minister of justice dismissed

Israeli defense minister tests positive for COVID-19

Karabakh conflict resumption likelihood is moderate, its impact on US interests is low, report says

Antonio Guterres thinks Russia will not invade Ukraine

Azerbaijan ambassador to Russia hastens to sweeten the sediment of statement by US embassy in Baku

IS fighters attack army barracks in mountainous area north of Baghdad, killing 11 soldiers

Thomas de Waal: Will Armenia and Turkey be able to normalize relations after 3rd attempt?

Armenia Security Council secretary, visiting EU delegation discuss situation on border with Azerbaijan

Foreign ministers of Israel and Turkey have talk for 1st time in 13 years

Fly Arna shareholders appoint companys Board of Directors

628 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

CSTO chief: Necessary to work on Armenia-Azerbaijan border delimitation, demarcation

FBI search congressman's home in connection with Azerbaijan probe

Newspaper: Armenia PM again goes way of black and white

Newspaper: Scenario devised after war to be implemented in Artsakh

EU Special Representative for South Caucasus arrives in Armenia

Quake hits Armenia: 28 km northwest of Jermuk

Crete island lighthouse illuminated with colors of Armenian tricolor

Aurora Humanitarian Initiative to allocate $500,000 to projects in Artsakh

Sajid Javid: Britain must learn to live with COVID-19, it could be with us forever

Erdogan suggests Putin and Zelensky meet face to face

EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus meets Aliyev

US imposes sanctions on Ukrainians related to 'Russian harmful foreign activities'

Sabah: Ankara refuses to hold next Armenian-Turkish meeting in a third country

US general discusses regional security and bilateral cooperation in Armenia

Secret graves of alleged protesters discovered in Almaty

Armenian side members to Armenian-American Intergovernmental Commission confirmed

WHO advises countries to lift or ease international travel restrictions

US sanctions against Vladimir Putin, Ruben Vardanian and members of the Russian government

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
WWE RAW REPORT: RETRIBUTION, UNDERGROUND, NUMBER ONE CONTENDERS DETERMINED, DOES REY HAVE ANY BIOLOGICAL CHILDREN?, AND MORE?

We are in Orlando, Florida and your announcers are Tom Phillips, Jerry Lawler, and Byron Saxton.

Retribution interrupts the opening graphics and we are told they are part of WWE.

They take off their hoods.

Mia Yim asks if you think the company is safe because you gave us contracts? Think again. We are sick of being stepped on to get a brass ring. Dominik Dijakovic says they are here to destroy this and build this in our image. Each and every one of you are the reason for the infestation of this hell hole. You do this to collect your money. For the fame and fortune to collect your paydays like whores. He says Retribution will make you pay for your sins because we are the Judge, Jury, and Executioners.

MVP, Shelton Benjamin, Bobby Lashley, and Cedric Alexander make their way to the stage and they remove their jackets, but Cedric might not have been told to wear a vest. They walk to the ring and Retribution leaves the ring because that is what people under contract does.

MVP takes a mic and he says when the realness shows up, you don't have any heart, crowbars, or chainsaws. You aren't so tough. He figured that since you got contracts you would stop. Lashley says they will beat you down.

The second string of Retribution makes their way to the ring and they get on the apron.

MVP, Lashley, Benjamin, and Alexander start to fight off Retribution and they take care of some of the people but eventually the numbers are too much.

We go to commercial.

We are back with a Moments Ago Moment.

We go to Sarah in the back and she stops to ask Rey Mysterio about his first title chance. Rey says family is everything and it means more for him as a father. He started in WWE as a tag team champion and it is an honor to see him follow in his footsteps.

Raw Tag Team Champions Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins make their way to ringside.

Match Number One: Andrade and Angel Garza versus Dominik Mysterio and Humberto Carrillo versus Seth Rollins and Buddy Murphy in a Number One Contenders Match for the Raw Tag Titles

Buddy, Garza, and Carrillo start things off but Garza removes his pants and tags in Andrade. Andrade goes to the floor and Murphy with a side head lock and arm bar. Carrillo with a reversal. Murphy with a wrist lock. Carrillo sends Buddy to the floor. Andrade with a waist lock and Garza tags in and he kicks Carrillo. Andrade tags in and kicks Carrillo. Andrade hangs in the ropes and goes Tranquilo. Murphy kicks Carrillo and Andrade kicks Carrillo too. Andrade swings at Dominik but misses. Carrillo with a kick to Murphy and a springboard arm drag to Andrade. Carrillo kicks Murphy off the apron. Dominik tags in and he hits a cross body onto Murphy while Carrillo hits a suicide dive on Andrade. Mysterio gets a near fall on Andrade for a near fall.

Andrade with a chop. Andrade with a kick but Dominik with a kick and Code Red for a near fall. Dominik with a kick to the midsection when Garza tries to send him to the floor. Murphy kicks Carrillo and Andrade. Andrade with a boot and chop to Murphy. Murphy with a jumping knee to Andrade. Seth takes his jacket and walks away as Murphy tries to make the tag. Seth goes full Jay White and leaves the ringside area while Andrade gets a near fall on Murphy. Murphy with shoulders in the corner. Andrade with a spinning back elbow and Garza with the Wing Clipper for the three count.

Winners: Andrade and Angel Garza

We take a look back at the reason we have Dabba Kato versus Braun Strowman on Raw Underground later tonight.

Jordan the Doorman is in the hall and Shane comes outside to talk about Dabba Kato and Braun Strowman. Shane says he is going on the KO Show and Jordan asks if he needs any help.

We go to commercial.

Retribution says the Hurt Business could have been part of the solution but you bent your knee to WWE so you are the problem. While otherss wait outside, you make the WWE's money to pay for your suits. Your payment will not come in money, it will come in a match against us and we will pay in Retribution.

Kevin Owens is in the ring for the KO Show.

Kevin says he took care of Captain Hot Topic last week so it is time to move on to something different. Tonight's guest is someone he never thought he would invite and give a platform to.

Kevin brings out Shane McMahon.

Kevin says he cannot get enough of Shane's dancing and he invites Shane to sit down in the chairs that he technically paid for.

Shane thanks Kevin for having him on the show. He suggests that there is probably an agenda.

Kevin says everything is under the bridge. Tonight is not about them. It is about what Shane does best. He is a promoter. You have a huge fight to promote tonight.

Shane mentions the Battle of the Behemoths on Raw Underground. Shane says he appreciates Kevin for coming to Raw Underground and he mentions that Kevin met Dabba Kato. Shane suggests that we sample the goods so Shane brings out Dabba Kato.

Kevin says this is why he wanted Shane on the KO Show. He says he knew that Dabba wouldn't be far behind. He does not care about Raw Underground from tonight, but he cares about two weeks ago. He remembers what happened two weeks ago. Kevin says that Dabba probably doesn't know what is going on around here. He says they are going to do this at some point. Kevin slaps Dabba and Shane has to hold Dabba back.

Kevin brings out Braun Strowman.

Shane wants things to stop and he tells them if they want their fight, it happens on Underground in the back.

Aleister Blakc trips Owens and pulls him into the ring post ding ding first a few times.

Drew McIntyre is ambushed by Charly and she asks him if he has any concerns about competing wtih a fractured jaw. He says he is concerned. Drew is asked about the fractured relationship with Keith Lee. Drew says he understands what Keith wants because he is the champion. They are going to beat the hell out of each other. Drew says they will laugh about it over drinks but drinks will be on me.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Retribution and their minons are attacking random Raw talents.

Dijakovic reminds us that they are the judges, jury, and executioners.

We are told that the Hurt Business will be facing Retribution tonight.

Match Number Two: Drew McIntyre versus Keith Lee in a Potential Number One Contender Match if Keith Lee Wins Tonight and Randy Orton is Not Able to Compete at Clash of Champions but if Orton Can Wrestle on Sunday and Lee Wins Tonight . . . I Got Nothing Match

Drew misses a boot and Lee with a side head lock. Lee holds on to the side head lock when McIntyre tries to send Lee off the ropes. Drew with a side head lock. Drew holds on to the side head lock while Lee tries to escape. Drew floats over and Lee with a cross body but Drew sees it coming and Drew is hit in the ribs and Drew goes to the floor. Lee follows Drew to the floor and Drew with punches. Lee rolls back into the ring and Drew returns as well. Lee goes to the floor and Drew follows. Drew with a punch. Drew with a chop and Keith with Grizzly Magnum. Drew with an Orton-esque back drop driver onto the announce table.

We go to commercial.

Coverage Continues on Next Page

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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / September 21, 2020 / Labaton Sucharow a global investor rights law firm, announces an investigation on behalf of purchasers of the securities of Deutsche Bank AG (NYSE:DB).

On September 20, Buzzfeed reported a comprehensive investigation of global financial institutions, having obtained "twenty-two thousand pages of never-before-released government documents." Among the documents were more than 2,100 suspicious activity reports, or SARs, which banks and other financial institutions submitted to the US Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, or FinCEN, when they observe transactions that suggest money laundering or other illegal activity. Such reports can support investigations and intelligence gathering - but by themselves they are not evidence of a crime. The FinCen files included suspicious activity reports filed by nearly 90 financial institutions.

The FinCEN Files investigation reveals that Deutsche managers, including top executives, had direct knowledge for years of serious failings that left the bank vulnerable to money launderers. Documents show two warnings sent to committees that included Paul Achleitner, Deutsche's chair, and one sent to the bank's supervisory board.

Buzzfeed reports -- Another top Deutsche executive, Christian Sewing, ran the audit division when one of its teams gave the Moscow office a clean bill of health, despite evidence that it could not even produce a list of its clients, let alone verify that they were who they said they were. Sewing is now Deutsche's CEO.

Deutsche Bank appears to have facilitated more than half of the $2 trillion of suspicious transactions that were flagged to the U.S. government over nearly two decades, German broadcaster Deutsche Welle reported.

On September 21, premarket, Deutsche Bank was trading down over 7% on heavy volume.

If you are a former or current stockholder, derivative, or options holder of Deutsche Bank and wish to learn more or discuss the issues surrounding the investigation, please contact David J. Schwartz using the toll-free number (800) 321-0476 or via email at dschwartz@labaton.com.

Story continues

About the Firm

Labaton Sucharow LLP is one of the world's leading complex litigation firms representing clients in securities, antitrust, corporate governance and shareholder rights, and consumer cybersecurity and data privacy litigation. Labaton Sucharow has been recognized for its excellence by the courts and peers, and it is consistently ranked in leading industry publications. Offices are located in New York, NY, Wilmington, DE, and Washington, D.C. More information about Labaton Sucharow is available at http://www.labaton.com.

Contact

David J. Schwartz

(800) 321-0476

dschwartz@labaton.com

SOURCE: Labaton Sucharow LLP





View source version on accesswire.com:

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British lawmakers formally agreed Tuesday to give themselves a veto over whether London can breach the Brexit divorce treaty in a compromise with the government unlikely to assuage EU concerns.

Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson has sparked outrage in Brussels with plans to give UK ministers the power to override some of the European Union exit terms negotiated only last year.

A group of his own MPs also threatened to rebel over the proposals in the Internal Market Bill, after the government admitted the new powers would breach international law.

But lawmakers in the House of Commons late Tuesday backed a compromise amendment agreed with Johnson that would require them to approve the date on which the powers came into effect.

The bill will now receive further debate in the Commons early next week, ahead of a vote Tuesday on whether it should progress to the upper House of Lords for weeks of scrutiny there before becoming law.

The EU has demanded Britain withdraw the clauses that conflict with the divorce deal or face possible legal action and repercussions in ongoing talks on a future free trade deal.

The draft law is intended to ensure free trade across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland after Brexit.

But it would give London powers to unilaterally regulate UK trade and state aid within Northern Ireland in violation of the Brexit treaty, which says it must liaise with Brussels.

Northern Ireland will uniquely remain subject to some EU rules after Brexit to ensure a free-flowing border with the Republic of Ireland -- a crucial part of the 1998 peace accords that ended decades of sectarian violence.

Johnson says the powers are needed only if the EU goes through with what he claims -- and Brussels denies -- are threats to impose tariffs on UK internal trade and even stop food going into Northern Ireland.

Senior Tory MP Bob Neill, who led the threatened rebellion, said the new amendment, which would restrict the powers' use, made "the best of a bad job".

Story continues

"It's not where I wanted to be, but in the interests of the country it's right that we do get a proper functioning, working set of rules to enhance and improve the internal market within the UK," he said during Tuesday's debate.

However, the amended bill still gives the UK the power to breach the treaty, and as such is unlikely to address concerns in Brussels.

Britain left the EU in January but remains bound by its rules until a post-Brexit transition phase ends on December 31.
BJP set to pull out all stops in UP, SP main contender

UP elections: Blow to BJP; 4 MLAs resign, Sharad Pawar says 13 others will quit saffron party

Bihar polls: Samajwadi Party to not contest in upcoming Assembly election, to support RJD

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

Patna, Sep 22: In what comes as a major development, Samajwadi Party (SP) has announced that it will not contest the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections but would support the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). The SP made the announcement through its official Twitter handle.

In a tweet, the party said, "In the forthcoming Bihar Assembly elections, Samajwadi Party will not enter into any alliance in Bihar and will support RJD's candidates."

With a scathing attack at the UN, India takes on Pakistan

Meanwhile, SP MLC Udaiveer Singh said, "Yes, the party has decided this and made an announcement."

A senior party functionary has said there are two primary reasons behind not contesting the Bihar polls -- one is that the party does not want to weaken like-minded parties and secondly, the SP does not have a strong base in Bihar.

Shiv Sena attacks Kangana Ranaut, BJP amid farmers' protest over farm bills

"We will support RJD will all our might and ensure the defeat of the BJP coalition," the functionary added.

#Tesla 'secretly planning' R&D Centre in #Bengaluru? | Oneindia News

In 2015, the SP had pulled out of a grand alliance of RJD, JDU, and Congress after it was offered only five seats. It later joined hands with NCP but both the parties could not win any seats.
Panel that will examine bill to raise legal age of marriage has one woman member out of 31

Video: Why is this woman furiously throwing papayas on the ground

UP: 18-year-old Ballia woman raped repeatedly on promise of marriage

India

pti-Madhuri Adnal

Ballia (UP), Sep 22: An 18-year-old woman was allegedly raped repeatedly over a period of six months on the promise of marriage by a youth of the same age here, the police said Tuesday.

They said the woman and the accused belonged to neighbouring villages under Gadawar police station. Station House Officer Anil Chandra Tiwari said Tuesday the woman was allegedly beaten up and raped again by the accused when she mounted pressure for marriage.

Pakistan woman gang-raped by robbers in front of her children on a motorway

He said an FIR has been registered on the complaint of an uncle of the woman and the accused arrested.

#Tesla 'secretly planning' R&D Centre in #Bengaluru? | Oneindia News

The woman has been sent to the district hospital for a medical examination, he added.
Unilever is a step closer to establishing a sole UK headquarters after Dutch shareholders backed the consolidation plans.

Since its creation via merger in 1930, the Anglo-Dutch group behind Dove soap and Marmite has had bases in London and Rotterdam.

But under plans approved by investors in the Netherlands yesterday, there would be just a single legal base in the UK. It has stressed this will not affect its overall presence in either country.

Switch: Since its creation via merger in 1930, the Anglo-Dutch group behind Dove soap and Marmite has had bases in London and Rotterdam

Unilever wants the changes, which it says will make its structure simple and easier for the purposes of deal-making, to take effect from November 22.

And the final step is to win approval from British shareholders in a vote on October 12, which is expected to pass easily.

Unilever began its push to restructure under previous management after a failed 112billion takeover approach by US rival Kraft Heinz in 2017.

It tried to base its headquarters in Rotterdam but changed course after a Mail campaign and opposition from investors.

Chief executive Alan Jope said Unilever would press on despite recent proposals from a Dutch opposition party to impose an 'exit tax' if it quits the Netherlands.

The company's lawyers believe the move would violate international law. However, Unilever has said it could cancel the changes if the law was passed.

Shares in the consumer goods group fell by 1.7 per cent.
The number of new active COVID-19 cases in publicly funded schools across the province has jumped by 51 to a total of 141.

In its latest data released Tuesday morning, the province reported 26 more students were infected for a total of 59. There were seven more staff members infected for a total of 33 and 18 more individuals who werent identified for a total of 49.

There are 116 schools with a current case, which the province notes is 2.4 per cent of the 4,828 publicly funded schools.

Two schools are closed  Monsignor Paul Baxter elementary school in Ottawa and Fellowes High School in Pembroke.

There is a lag between the provincial data and news reports about infections in schools. The provincial data is current as of 2 p.m. the previous work day, and doesnt indicate where the place of transmission occurred.

So the data released Tuesday morning are current as of Monday at 2 p.m., and includes all the reports from the weekend.

Any confirmed cases with staff/students and/or school closures determined on Saturday or Sunday would be reported officially by school boards to the ministry on Monday, and reported on Ontario.ca on Tuesday, a ministrys spokesperson told the Stars Cheyenne Bholla in an email.

For instance, the Toronto District School Board reported late Monday afternoon that a student at Allenby Junior Public School has tested positive, but its not reflected in the latest provincial data.

Epidemiologists told the Star last week that the numbers in the schools arent a surprise, and that the cases will be proportionate to the amount of COVID thats in the community.

The province reported 478 new cases of COVID-19 and three new deaths Tuesday. Locally, there were 153 new cases in Toronto with 95 in Peel and 90 in Ottawa.

The TDSB updates its information throughout the day on its website.

Please note that all schools where there is a confirmed case of COVID-19 who was contagious while at school will receive a letter from Toronto Public Health to inform them about the possible exposure, the website says.

Listen to Ed Tubb discuss what COVID-19 data tells us

A closer look at the numbers provided Tuesday morning by the province shows the following 70 GTA schools (an increase of 25 from Mondays report) have confirmed infections:

Toronto (16 schools)

St. Alberts Catholic Elementary (1 student)

St. Basil-the-Great College School (1 staff)

St. Gerald Catholic Elementary (1 student)

St. John Paul II Catholic Secondary (1 student)

Bloordale Middle School (1 staff)

Brookhaven Public School (1 staff)

Burnhamthorpe Collegiate Institute (1 student)

Charles G. Fraser Junior Public School (1 staff)

Don Mills Middle School (1 staff)

Earl Haig Secondary School (1 staff)

Emery Collegiate Institute (1 student)

Humewood Collegiate Institute (1 staff)

Richview Collegiate Institute (1 student)

School for Experiential Education (1 staff)

York Memorial Collegiate Institute (1 student)

York Mills Collegiate Institute (1 staff)

Peel (31 schools)

Loyola Catholic Secondary School (1 unidentified)

Robert F. Hall Catholic Secondary School (1 unidentified)

St. Cecilia Elementary School (1 unidentified)

St. Joseph Secondary School (1 student)

St. Raphael Elementary School (2 unidentified)

Briarwood Public School (1 staff)

Castlemore Public School (1 unidentified)

Edenrose Public School (1 unidentified)

Folkstone Public School (1 unidentified)

Goldcrest Public School (2 unidentified)

Gordon Graydon Senior Public School (1 unidentified)

Heart Lake Secondary School (1 unidentified)

Ingleborough Public School (1 unidentified)

John Fraser Secondary School (1 student)

Kingswood Drive Public School (1 unidentified)

Lougheed Middle School (1 unidentified)

Louise Arbour Secondary School (1 student)

Mayfield Secondary School (1 unidentified)

Mountain Ash Public School (1 unidentified)

North Field Office (1 staff)

Plum Tree Park Public School (1 unidentified)

Port Credit Secondary School (1 unidentified)

Ray Lawson Public School (1 unidentified)

Robert J. Lee Public School (1 unidentified)

Ross Drive Public School (1 staff)

Ruth Thompson Middle School (1 unidentified)

The Valleys Senior Public School (1 unidentified)

Treeline Public School (1 unidentified)

Tribune Drive Public School (1 unidentified)

Walnut Grove Public School (1 unidentified)

William Parkway Public School (1 unidentified)

Halton (Seven schools)

St. Francis Xavier Catholic Elementary School (1 unidentified)

St. Marguerite dYouville Catholic Elementary School (1 staff)

St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Secondary School (1 unidentified)

Emily Carr Public School (1 unidentified)

Maple Grove Public School (1 unidentified)

Oodenawi Public School (1 staff)

Sunningdale Public School (2 unidentified)

Durham (eight schools)

lEcole secondaire catholique Saint-Charles-Garnier (1 student)

Ecole elementaire Antonine-Maillet (1 student)

Ecole Ronald Marion (1 staff)

Donald A. Wilson Secondary School (1 student)

Maple Ridge Public School (3 students) (latest local report says there was a lab error meaning only two students have tested positive)

Nottingham Public School (1 student)

Pine Ridge Secondary School (2 students)

Williamsburg Public School (1 student)

York (Eight schools)

St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Elementary School (1 unidentified)

Blue Willow Public School (1 unidentified)

Carrville Mills Public School (1 unidentified)

Dr. Roberta Bondar Public School (1 unidentified)

Little Rouge Public School (1 student)

Maple High School (1 unidentified)

Sir Wilfrid Laurier Public School (1 unidentified)

Tommy Douglas Secondary School (1 unidentified)

Patrick Ho is a rewrite editor working on the Stars digital desk in Toronto. Follow him on Twitter: @patrick_ho_007
The eight opposition Rajya Sabha individuals suspended for proceeding with their fights against farm bills inside the Upper House and who remained for the time being on the Parliament lawns in a demonstration fight have said that they will pull back depending on the procedures inside the House on Tuesday.

Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh on Tuesday wrote to President Ram Nath Kovind over the ruckus in the Rajya Sabha on September 20 by Opposition leaders. The Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament said he was tensed and in mental distress over the events on the day and said it has damaged the reputation of the House and Chair.

The members of the Upper House indulged in violent activities in the name of democracy. They attempted to threaten the person on the Chair. Every rule, system of the Upper House was flouted. The members of the Parliament tore apart the rule book, threw it on me, Harivanshs letter read.

The Deputy Chairman also mentioned that the sight of Opposition leaders getting up on the table of the officials of the House, raising unparliamentary and crude slogans and the violent behaviour has stayed with him.

ALSO READ: Amid uproar over Farm bills, Harivansh tries tea diplomacy with 8 suspended MPs; PM applauds move

Narrating his humble origins, the Deputy Chairman said while persons like me will come and go but the temple of democracy, the Parliament will always be a source of inspiration for the country and society, highlighting that he was more affected by the disrespect shown to the Chair.

He also mentioned that Bihar, from where he hails, was the place where the first concept of Republic was developed and then went on to add the movement of Champaran, which made Mahatma Gandhi a national hero, along with the movement started by Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan and other leaders for safeguarding the democracy.

Gandhi, Lohia, JP, Karpuri Thakur, Chandrashekhar and others like them have taught me values. These were killed before me in the Upper House, he said.

After Harivansh conveyed to the President that he is going to do a one-day fast in the hope that the Opposition leaders realise their mistake, he, however, added that he will take part in the proceedings of the House as usual so that the parliamentary work does not get affected.

The son of Bihar, National Poet Dinkar was a two-time member of the Rajya Sabha. Tomorrow, September 23 is his birth anniversary. From September 22 till September 23 morning I will keep a 24-hour fast. It should not affect the Houses proceedings, therefore, even during the fast I will take part in the work as usual, Harivansh said in his letter.

The Rajya Sabha witnessed unruly scenes on Sunday as Opposition members stormed the well of the House and reached the Deputy Chairmans seat to protest against the Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020. Later, eight MPs were suspended by the Rajya Sabha Chairman on Monday over the ruckus created in the Upper House.

They were passed by the Upper House through voice vote. Both the Bills were earlier passed by Lok Sabha through voice vote.

Opposition leaders staged a walk-out from the Rajya Sabha and carried out a protest before the Gandhi statue in the Parliament premises on Tuesday.

Parliamentarians from Congress, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Shiv Sena, Trinamool Congress (TMC), Communist Party of India (Marxist) boycotted the house demanding revocation of suspension of the eight MPs.

Meanwhile, the dharna, which was being staged by the suspended Rajya Sabha MPs ended after the Opposition members boycotted the House. Speaking to ANI, Leader of Congress in the Upper House Ghulam Nabi Azad said the boycott would continue till the Centre accepts three demands.

ALSO READ: LAC standoff: Corps Commander-level talks conclude after 13 hours; Indian side to brief top leadership shortly
Shell plans to make sweeping cuts at its oil and gas production business to free up cash it can invest in renewable energy.

The oil major is looking at ways it can slash costs in the division, known as its upstream arm, by as much as 40 per cent. This would include cutting the day-to-day costs of operations, as well as reining in spending on new projects.

And it would be on top of the 3.1billion that boss Ben van Beurden wants to save by the end of next March by laying off staff and suspending bonuses, Reuters reported.

The company has not said how many staff it will let go from its 83,000- strong workforce.

In 2019, the total cost of operations throughout the company was about 30billion  but it does not disclose how much of this is from the upstream business. Shell is said to be considering focusing its oil and gas production on a few key hubs, such as Nigeria, the Gulf of Mexico and the North Sea, and trimming costs at its 45,000 petrol stations.

The restructuring is geared not only to help it survive the Covid crisis  which has reduced demand for oil  but to prepare it for the green 'energy transition'.

Energy firms have come under pressure from investors and governments to help the world move away from fossil fuels. Rival BP has laid out plans to invest in renewable technology and reach the key 'net zero' carbon emissions target by 2050 under Bernard Looney, who took over in February.

Some analysts believe demand for fuel will never recover back to 2019 levels after plummeting during the pandemic  which grounded planes, took cars off the road and disrupted industry.

A Shell source told Reuters: 'We had a great model but is it right for the future? There will be differences  this is not just about structure but culture.'
Charlevoix man denies wrongdoing despite signing illegitimate election document

Charlevoix resident John Haggard is among a group of Republicans who signed an Electoral College certificate attempting to award the states 16 votes to Donald Trump following the 2020 election  a document now under federal investigation.
Dispatch from Crame No. 916:

Sen. Leila M. de Lima's Statement on the Extension of the State of Calamity

In the absence of a comprehensive plan six months since the lockdown, Duterte chose to extend the state of calamity to one year. He seemed to have developed a habit of pushing for extensions whenever he hits a dead end - martial law extension sa Mindanao, extension ng lockdown, puro extension na walang konkretong plano at epektibong aksyon. Parang estudyante na nanghihingi ng palugit sa deadline ng project na hindi naisubmit matapos magpapetiks-petiks.

Sa panukalang Pambansang Budget pa lang, hindi na mahirap isipin kung anong kahihinatnan natin pagkatapos ng isang taon. The proposed 2021 National Budget clearly reflects this regime's priorities amid a pandemic. Instead of a "COVID-19 budget," we have a staggering P4.5 billion confidential and intelligence fund for the Office of the President. Sa gitna ng pandemya, pinakamalaki pa rin ang inilaan sa paniniktik.

Worse, the proposed 2021 budget is giving Duterte the expanded power to declare unobligated allotment as savings, in case of a declaration of a State of Calamity, which definitely smells of pork. Power to realign the budget without the need for emergency powers? Eh 'di parang naging personal slush fund na ni Duterte ang national budget. Anong kabalbalan ito?

Every undue power and prerogative granted to Duterte, with or without the pandemic, is always a Pandora's box to more corruption, abuses and excesses.

Clearly, the state of calamity extension will just be an extension of that "tulog-sa-pansitan" response when it comes to this public health and economic crisis. So, sige lang Mr. President, gawin mo ang kapritso mo, pero ang pasensiya namin, hindi na kayang i-extend hanggang sa 2022.

Access the handwritten copy of Dispatch from Crame No. 916, here: https://issuu.com/senatorleilam.delima/docs/dispatc_no._916
The Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken over the probe in the August violence in Bengaluru, which was triggered by a derogatory Facebook post on Prophet Muhammad allegedly by the nephew of a Congress MLA, officials said on Tuesday.

The central agency has re-registered two separate first information reports under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and sections related to arson, violence and destruction of public property. The case was earlier being probed by the Police, they said.

The Union Home Ministry has handed over the case to the NIA, the officials said.

The agency has dispatched a team under an inspector general-rank officer to probe the violence case and it is in

An NIA spokesperson said, "A brief background of the incidents is that on August 11, 2020, around 8:00 pm, more than 1,000 people gathered in front of the house of Congress MLA Naveen Srinivas Murthy (Pulakeshi Nagar constituency) at Kavalbyrasandra, city."



"The mob was protesting against the derogatory social media (Facebook) post about Prophet Muhammad made on August 11, 2020, around 4 pm by Naveen, the nephew of the MLA, allegedly insulting the religious sentiments of Muslims," the official said.

The spokesperson said it is alleged that the state secretary of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), Muzammil Pasha, had earlier called a meeting and directed members of the Popular Front of India (PFI) and the SDPI to instigate the mob and incite violence.

"The mob went on rampage in DJ Halli, KG Halli and Pulakeshi Nagar areas under Bengaluru city. They attacked two police stations namely D J Halli PS and K G Halli PS and vandalised property of the police stations, including government and private vehicles, parked inside the police stations," the official said.

During the violence, Murthy's house also came under attack, the NIA 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.)
Okay, so the markets are swooning this September, with the Dow Jones down 4.5% month to date, the S&P 500 down 6.3% and the Nasdaq, which is the worst of the three, down 8.5%. Its clear that the lofty valuations in the tech sector had a whole lot to do with this weakness. So despite the strong growth prospects, nobody could resist taking in some gains. And this is a good thing.

For one, it means that many of us are holding cash that we can invest fruitfully.

And second, it has created additional opportunities to invest. Because its true that just as optimism creates a certain momentum, so does fear. This is what triggers a broader sell-off, especially when theres other news feeding that fear. The delay in the vaccine is an example and the expected volatility related to the upcoming elections is another.

Without making light of the real danger of repeated COVID outbreaks and its impact on life and livelihood, we probably shouldnt lose sight of the fact that a weak market is one in which we want to invest.

Thats why Ive picked some stocks with good history and an even better future. No wonder that they all carry a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy) or #2 (Buy) and score high in terms of both value and growth, according to the Zacks Style Score system.

Lets take a closer look-

Central Garden Pet Company CENT

The company doubles as a provider of branded and private-label pet supplies and lawn and garden supplies (58/42 split of revenues) to mass merchants, home improvement centers, lawn and garden nurseries, grocery stores, specialty pet stores, veterinarians municipalities, and other individual animal buyers. Its customers include PetSmart, PETCO, Walmart, Home Depot and Lowes. It operates in the U.S.

This Zacks Rank #1 company has a Growth Score of A and a Value Score of B.

Its 5-year track record shows a sales growth rate of 9.2% and an earnings growth rate of 15.1%.

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The expected EPS growth rate for the current year is 21.9%.

Valuation: The current price-to-forward sales for the current year (P/S) multiple of 0.78X is closer to the median value of 0.72X over the past year than the high of 0.96X. There is room for appreciation in shares.

Mercury General Corp. MCY

This insurance company primarily caters to the auto market, but also offers homeowner, commercial property, mechanical protection, fire and umbrella insurance. It operates in California as well as Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Texas and Virginia.

This Zacks Rank #2 company has a Growth Score of B and a Value Score of A.

Its 5-year track record shows a sales growth rate of 5.1% and an earnings growth rate of 11.2%.

The expected EPS growth rate for the current year is 88.5%.

Valuation: The current P/S multiple of 0.65X is below the median value of 0.67X over the past year. The shares appear to have entered oversold territory.

MYR Group, Inc. MYRG

MYR Group is a holding company of leading specialty contractors serving the electrical infrastructure market throughout the U.S. and Canada. Its transmission and distribution customers include investor-owned utilities, cooperatives, private developers, government-funded utilities, independent power producers, independent transmission companies, industrial facility owners and other contractors.

The Zacks Rank #2 company scores A for both Growth and Value.

Its 5-year track record shows a sales growth rate of 18.01% and an earnings growth rate of 19.11%.

The expected EPS growth rate for the current year is 24.5%.

Valuation: The current P/S multiple of 0.27X is between the median value of 0.24X and high of 0.31X over the past year. There is room for upside.

Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. SFM

Sprouts Farmers operates everyday grocery stores with a focus on healthy foods and fresh produce. The stores are generally located in mid-sized and larger shopping centers, lifestyle centers and at times, in independent, single-unit, stand-alone developments.

The Zacks Rank #2 company scores B for Growth and A for Value.

Its 5-year track record shows a sales growth rate of 12.4% and an earnings growth rate of 15.0%.

The expected EPS growth rate for the current year is 69.6%.

Valuation: The current P/S multiple of 0.37X is below the median value of 0.41X over the past year. The shares look oversold.

These Stocks Are Poised to Soar Past the Pandemic

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Postcard from Beaufort in coastal North Carolina

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Summer is ending, but you wouldnt know it in the North Carolina town of Beaufort.

Beaufort, located at the southern range of the famed Outer Banks, is a perfect place to visit during the shoulder season. Here the water at Fort Macon State Park and other beaches is warm enough for swimming in October.

Of course, there is much more to do and see than the beaches.

North Carolinas third-oldest town (population 4,186) has several blocks of old homes  some dating to the mid-1700s. Talk about curb appeal.

Among the oldest houses are those on Front Street facing Beauforts harbor, the waters of which were known to Edward Teach (better known as Blackbeard) and other pirates more than a half-century before American independence in 1776. One of the houses belonged to Jacob Henry, a Jew twice-elected to the state legislature at a time when Protestantism was the official state religion.

Across the waterfront is Carrot Island, a barrier island-turned-nature reserve with a herd of wild horses. More wild horses can be found at Shackleford Banks, part of the Cape Lookout National Seashore.

To discover all of the history, visit the North Carolina Maritime Museum. The collection includes around 300 artifacts from Blackbeards flagship, Queen Annes Revenge.

Continue exploring the past at the Beaufort Historic Site. The grounds feature several old buildings, including the now-former early 1800s county jail. Vintage English double-decker bus tours of town also depart from here.

A couple of blocks away are two antebellum Carpenter Gothic churches, St. Pauls Episcopal and Anne Street United Methodist. Next to the Methodist church is the Old Burying Ground, which was established by colonial-era Anglicans in the early 1720s and is purportedly the oldest cemetery in North Carolina.

Where to eat and stay

I stayed at the aptly named Beaufort Hotel NC, which is flagged under Choices upscale Ascend Collection brand. Normally, I wouldnt consider a Choice-affiliated property  their assorted brands are plagued by hotels and roadside motels that have seen better days  but this hotel stands apart.

From the exterior architecture to the comfortable and well-appointed rooms, including nifty automatic window curtains and blackout shades, you can tell the owner put a lot of thought into the hotel. It more than exceeded my expectations. Best of all, downtown is within walking distance.

Beaufort may be a small town, but the food scene is competitive. Hands down the best restaurant is Aqua, though reservations can be difficult at the weekend. Solid alternatives are Moonrakers and 34 North, the hotel restaurant. Turner Street Market is recommended for breakfast. For brunch or lunch, try Beaufort Grocery Co.

How to get there

The closest airports are in Jacksonville and New Bern with the former having the most extensive service. By car, Beaufort is six hours from Washington, five hours from Charlotte and eight hours from Atlanta.

Spires and Crosses, a travel column exclusive to The Christian Post, is published every week. Follow @dennislennox on Twitter and Instagram.
OTTAWA  As a feared second wave of infections appears to be arriving in Ontario and Quebec, insiders say Justin Trudeaus Liberal government will lay out a plan to curb the spread of COVID-19 and get Canada through and beyond the pandemic.

Parliament returns to work Wednesday with a hefty throne speech that sources said has three goals: fight and curb the immediate health crisis, provide economic support for individuals and hard-hit sectors through the medium-term, and a longer term economic agenda for a resilient and strong Canada.

One senior Liberal official, speaking on background, said the pandemic period will last much longer than any one of us would like, and the governments plan for the recovery will promote longer-term job creation through cleaner economic growth, along with inclusive social measures and health-care investments that are necessary to support that economic growth.

A fourth theme will underline the speech, said the official: the need to address systemic racism and Indigenous reconciliation that will include not just criminal justice reforms, but broader measures that will have symbolic and practical effects.

Were not going to have economic growth if all of our citizens are not participating in the economy to their full potential. And youre not going to participate to your full potential in a place where youre more likely to be criminalized or get sick or more likely to be in a job that youre going to lose, or if youre a low-income woman and in that same situation in the most precarious parts of our economy, as this crisis has shown, the official said. We have to remove the barriers to that full participation.

Two senior officials notes that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has spoken publicly about his priorities in the weeks since he suspended Parliament on Aug. 18, when Trudeau said it was a time for bold solutions.

The second official said that if anything, the focus on health has become sharper in the weeks since Trudeau prorogued Parliament, with schools challenged by reopenings and lineups for tests growing.

Quebec and Ontario scaled back reopening schedules and reimposed tighter limits on social gatherings in the past three days.

We havent lost control, Quebecs top public health official said Monday. But Dr. Horacio Arruda warned it should be clear that rising rates of new infections will explode if they arent contained.

Im not God  but I will tell you, things can go very fast, he said.

The sources who spoke to the Star on a background basis said the prime minister believes the plan, to be read by Governor General Julie Payette in a speech expected to last less than an hour, will find areas of common ground with the opposition parties.

However, they said, it is also one that Trudeau would be confident taking to the electorate if the opposition parties were to vote it down. And the government is totally aware that in politics, accidents happen. As one put it, governments can fall in political games of chicken, though miscommunication or by miscalculation.

However, neither insider said that was what the government expects.

Both also said the B.C. election to be held Oct. 24 does not have an impact on the federal thinking.

From a political perspective, you cant make decisions because youre afraid of an election, said one. You have to get out there and have the courage to lay it on the line, because the country needs strong leadership and a strong vision.

It is possible the Liberals will find support from the NDP. The government needs 16 votes in addition to those of its 154 MPs in the Commons. One official said when New Democrat Leader Jagmeet Singh speaks, he talks about the same priorities that were talking about.

Meanwhile, Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet and Conservative Leader Erin OToole remain in quarantine after testing positive for COVID-19.

OToole will lead an all-day caucus strategy meeting Tuesday in Ottawa, with some MPs attending in person and some virtually.

OToole set out his priorities Friday in a conversation with Trudeau, calling for health-care and long-term-care money for the provinces without trying to control how they spend the money, increased testing capacity, and domestic PPE production capacity, as well as support for small businesses including rent relief direct to businesses instead of landlords, more support for the tourism sector, and for the oil and gas sector, according to the party. The Liberals say he also raised the need for fiscally responsible spending.

One senior Liberal source has told the Star that the governments agenda will signal they recognize the importance of having a responsible fiscal track, but any details about the governments fiscal strategies will be contained in a fall economic update or later budget. A second source noted the Conservatives have supported all the pandemic spending measures the Liberals have introduced.

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The Rajya Sabha has called its Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting on Tuesday after a day-full of hectic activities, protests and passage of several bills.

But the Opposition, which announced to boycott the Upper House for the remainder of the session, will not attend the meeting.

TMCs Derek OBrien, SPs Ram Gopal Yadav, Congresss Anand Sharma and Jairam Ramesh and RJDs Manoj Kumar Jha are the five Opposition leaders who will skip 11-member committee meeting.

The BAC is a panel led by Rajya Saha chairman Venkaiah Naidu to discuss the weekly agenda of the House.

The meeting has been called amid indications that the House might be adjourned in a day or two.

The Opposition parties also alleged that they were informed just an hour ago about the BAC meeting, leaving them little time to attend the meeting.

Rajya Sabha officials pointed out that the meeting was decided at a short notice and all efforts were made to inform the members of the panel as quickly as possible.

On Sunday, the Rajya Sabha passed the two key farm bills - Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020, amid fierce protests in the house.

While the Opposition claimed that the bills were anti-farmer, the government says that these bills will help boost the farming sector through private investments. On Monday, eight Opposition MPs were suspended for unruly behaviour.

On Monday, the opposition demonstrated its disapproval in the Upper House of Parliament against the suspension of MPs and passage of these bills and boycotted the Rajya Sabha for the remaining part of the session.

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Earl Spencer is the uncle of the prince who is in line to be king  and, therefore, a committed royalist, you might think. Wrong.

At the funeral of his sister, the late Princess Diana, he memorably described the mother of princes William and Harry as someone with a natural nobility who was classless and who proved in the last year that she needed no royal title to continue to generate her particular brand of magic  which was interpreted as a coded swipe at the Royal Family.

Further evidence comes from the publicity for a forthcoming debate staged by Intelligence Squared. It will ask whether it is better to be a Roundhead or a Cavalier. Charles Spencer is speaking for the Roundheads.

He believes that the Roundheads defeat and the execution of Charles I marked the end of medieval superstitions such as the Divine Right of Kings [and] heralded the beginning of constitutional rule and the fundamental rights of man. I wonder if his former brother-in-law agrees.

GCHQ vs giant haystacks

The Home Secretary, Theresa May, was asked during her appearance before the Commons Intelligence and Security Committee why GCHQ collects such a vast amount of personal data. She replied: We have to have a haystack to be able to find the needle we need.

An interesting choice of words, because the previous day, Nick Clegg had told the same committee: You cant find a needle unless you have a haystack.

It is only two weeks since one of Ms Mays advisers is alleged to have described the Deputy Prime Minister as a w***er. Now they are reading off the same briefing note.

Ukips common touch

Voters in Rochester and Strood are being given a leaflet containing what looks like a handwritten message from the Ukip candidate, Mark Reckless, explaining that he believed the honourable thing to do after switching parties was to resign and seek re-election.

But here is a curious thing. During the Clacton by-election, voters received what appeared to be a handwritten letter from Douglas Carswell, saying much the same thing  and you dont need to be a graphologist to see it is the same handwriting. The only difference is in the signatures.

Minimum sentences

Lord Freuds remarks about disabled workers and the minimum wage prompts the question of whether anyone has ever been prosecuted for paying less than the minimum wage.

The answer is almost never. HM Revenue & Customs says its main concern is to make sure underpaid employees get the money they are owed. Only the most obstructive employers are hauled before the criminal courts. Since 2006, there have been four prosecutions: none in the past three or four years.

Poor short-term planning

Writing in Waitrose Weekend, John Humphrys surfs the popular anti-politician mood: My colleague Andrew Marr suggests that no one should be able to run for Parliament until theyve reached the age of 40, which means theyd have to have held another job in the real world first, he wrote.

Great idea  except it doesnt go far enough. Lets restrict them to one term only. That means theyd be back in the real world very soon  and whatever decisions they took would affect them directly.

So, after each general election a prime minister who has just arrived in Parliament would have to appoint a whole team of ministers who would have so little idea of what the job entails that they would have no real choice but to do what the civil servants tell them. Not a great idea.
WASHINGTON - The Food and Drug Administration is expected to spell out a tough, new standard for an emergency authorization of a coronavirus vaccine as soon as this week that will make it exceedingly difficult for any vaccine to be cleared before Election Day.

The agency is issuing the guidance to boost transparency and public trust as it approaches the momentous decision of whether a prospective vaccine is safe and effective. Public health experts are increasingly worried that President Donald Trump's repeated predictions of a coronavirus vaccine by Nov. 3, coupled with the administration's interference in federal science agencies, may prompt Americans to reject any vaccine as rushed and potentially tainted.

The stakes are high: polls show the relentless politicization of the race to develop a vaccine is taking its toll. Pew Research Center recently reported that the percentage of people who said they would get the vaccine if it were available today has dropped to just over 50% from 72% in May.

The guidance, which is far more rigorous than what was used for emergency clearance of hydroxychloroquine or convalescent plasma, is an effort to shore up confidence in an agency that made missteps during the pandemic. While it is being reviewed by the White House Office of Management and Budget, elements of it are already being shared with vaccine makers. Under it, the FDA would ask manufacturers seeking an emergency authorization - a far quicker process than a formal approval - to follow participants in late-stage clinical trials for a median of at least two months, starting after they receive a second vaccine shot, according to two individuals familiar with the situation who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss information before it is made public.

As a sign the vaccine works, the agency also is likely to look for at least five severe cases of covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, in the placebo group for each trial, as well as some cases of the disease in older people. These standards, plus the time it will take companies to prepare their applications and the agency to review the data, make it highly improbable any vaccine will be authorized before the election. The agency has previously said any vaccine would have to be 50 % more effective than a placebo.

"It's hard to imagine how an [emergency use authorization] could possibly occur before December," said Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and a member of the FDA's advisory board on vaccines.

Moderna and Pfizer began their trials on July 27, and took about a month to enroll 15,000 people, the halfway point for their planned enrollment of 30,000 people. The trials are designed for people to receive their second shot either three or four weeks later. Two months of follow-up would make it unlikely the companies would have enough data before mid-November.

A spokesperson for the agency declined to comment.

The guidance is just one way of trying to shore up confidence in the agency. FDA allies, intent on building trust, are also spotlighting agency career scientists, noting that the one overseeing the vaccine-approval process has threatened to quit if he is pressured to greenlight a vaccine before he is convinced it is safe and effective.

But, administration critics note, such efforts are undercut on an almost daily basis by overly rosy and contradictory comments by Trump and continued revelations about administration actions to strong-arm government scientists and regulators, and curb their independence.

In addition, the FDA guidance is unlikely to satisfy some critics, who say the agency should not use an emergency authorization for a vaccine at all.

"Things are so revved up right now that there is quite a possibility that the American public won't accept a vaccine because of all the things that are going on," said Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. "U.S. history is littered with good vaccines that get voted off the island because of bad public perceptions."

Just last week, concerns about the FDA's autonomy deepened after Alex Azar, the secretary of health and human services, revoked its authority, and that of other HHS agencies, to sign new regulations, reserving that power for himself. In a statement issued late Sunday, HHS said the change "minimizes litigation risk . . . prevents potential future abuse of authority, and is consistent with congressional intent." It said the move, made after a department review of rulemaking procedures, won't affect the FDA's work on vaccines and covid-19 treatments.

Still, several FDA experts criticized the timing in the fraught run-up to a vaccine-approval decision. "Why take this health decision-making away from public health agencies like FDA at this particular moment?" said Patricia Zettler, an Ohio State University law professor and former associate chief counsel at the FDA.

Public confidence also has been eroded by efforts by a top HHS political appointee, now on leave, and his adviser to silence a top official at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention who stressed the seriousness of the novel coronavirus and to change and delay the CDC's regular scientific missives, the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports, if they deviated from the president's upbeat message. Concerns about the CDC were ratcheted up in recent days when the agency posted, then removed, language from its website that said the coronavirus spreads via airborne transmission, the latest example of it backtracking on its own guidance. The agency said the guidance was an early draft posted by mistake.

FDA officials have indicated that if the vaccine data on safety and efficacy are strong, it will consider issuing an emergency use authorization - a temporary approval that can be granted much more quickly and with less documentation than a full approval, which could take six to nine months. The only other time the FDA has authorized a vaccine on an emergency basis was in 2005, when it cleared the anthrax vaccine for military personnel considered at high risk of an anthrax attack.

Pfizer said in a statement Tuesday that it still projects having data on the effectiveness of its vaccine by the end of October, if things go well and will collect safety data for two years. Moderna has said it is unlikely to have data in October. AstraZeneca's trial in the United States is halted while investigators try to determine whether a serious neurological problem in one participant in Britain was caused by the vaccine.

The FDA, in the new guidance, is expected to require data for an emergency authorization that is close to that required for a full approval, according to recent comments by officials. That's a higher bar than is typical for such an authorization, which requires only that a product "may be effective," and the likely benefits outweigh the harms. The tougher standard is appropriate, officials have said, because a vaccine is given to healthy people, not to those who are ill.

The agency has acknowledged any emergency authorization would be based on less safety data than would be the case for a regular approval. For that reason, it has said it will require clinical trial participants to be followed for a significant length of time in case they develop problems later.

The FDA's use of emergency authorizations is shadowed by what critics describe as the botched hydroxychloroquine and plasma episodes. In March, the agency authorized the use of the old malaria drug touted by Trump as a treatment for covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, only to withdraw it when studies showed the drug did not help and posed safety risks for some.

Then, on Aug. 23, FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn drastically exaggerated the benefits of convalescent plasma at a briefing with Trump and Azar. He subsequently apologized, but Holly Fernandez Lynch, a bioethicist at the University of Pennsylvania, said the question remains: "Is the president going to put the screws to the FDA so much that they will speed ahead on a vaccine?"

Rachel Sachs, a law professor at Washington University at St. Louis, noted there are concerns that Azar, who has the legal authority to approve drugs, might overrule the FDA if it rejected a vaccine. She said such a move was unlikely and would guarantee many people would refuse to be vaccinated.

Brian Harrison, Azar's chief of staff, said the idea the secretary would greenlight a vaccine over FDA objections was "preposterous and betrays ignorance of the transparent process" the administration is following to develop and review vaccines.

Because of the toxic political environment, the FDA will need the support of respected health leaders and scientists from inside and outside the government for a vaccine decision to be accepted by the public, said Daniel Carpenter, a Harvard University professor of government. Experts such as Anthony S. Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, could strongly influence public opinion with his endorsement, he said.

An array of outsiders is already trying to bolster FDA career officials, through webinars, op-eds and podcasts. The supporters include advocacy groups, drug-industry officials, bioethicists and a bipartisan group of former commissioners - Mark McClellan, FDA chief during the George W. Bush administration; Obama administration commissioners Margaret Hamburg and Robert Califf, and Scott Gottlieb, Trump's first FDA commissioner.

"The four of us feel this is the time for us to step forward," Califf said. "We don't speak jointly often, but when we do, it signals an important issue that deserves attention."

The career staff, said Ellen Sigal, founder and chairwoman of Friends of Cancer Research, which works closely with the FDA, "are the very people that we should trust to make these decisions." Hahn recently said on Twitter he has "unwavering confidence" in the FDA professional staff.

The FDA career staff itself is trying to reassure the public. In a highly unusual move, Peter Marks, the head of the center that oversees vaccine regulation, and seven other senior career officials vowed in a column to maintain "independence to ensure the best possible outcomes for public health."

The agency also has pledged to take any vaccine data to its panel of outside advisers, called the Vaccine and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee, before making decisions. The agency has scheduled a public meeting of the panel for Oct. 22 and said others sessions can be held as needed, depending on when data is available.

But some FDA watchers say those steps are not enough and that the agency should forswear use of an emergency authorization for a vaccine.

"If we don't get this right, we'll see a deep corrosion of trust over the long term - and that will be the darkest legacy for a post-covid world," said Lawrence Gostin, a public health expert at Georgetown University's law school.

Eric Topol, founder and director of Scripps Research Translational Institute, opposes using an emergency authorization in the next several weeks or months. "We are not in a high-trust mode, and the last thing you want to do is take a short cut and put everything at risk," he said. He said the agency should not consider such an authorization until at least early next year to ensure it has adequate safety data.

Others say the authorization option must be kept on the table at a time when thousands of people a week are dying from the virus. They note the vaccine probably will be authorized initially only for select, high-risk groups, such as health-care workers and the elderly, while more data is gathered.

"If there is definitive evidence of efficacy and no significant signal of toxicity or lack of safety, withholding authorization would be an equal sin on the other side," said Califf.
Congress chief whip Jairam Ramesh issued a statement on Tuesday saying that his party along with other like-minded opposition parties will boycott the Parliament.

The senior leader pointed out several reasons for their decision to boycott the ongoing monsoon session of the Parliament which is being held under extraordinary circumstances due to Covid-19.

Congress said that the suspension of the members of Parliament, not letting the Leader of Opposition air his views, and not referring the bills to a standing or select committee as the main reasons behind the boycotting of the session.

Also Watch | Dont move towards one nation, one party: Opposition boycotts Rajya Sabha

The senior leader speaking on behalf of his party also alleged that the recent bills introduced by the government have been not been passed but were rather bulldozed. He said that the bills should have referred to select panels for further review.

On Sunday during the Rajya Sabha proceedings, several MPs had collected near the Speakers seat and raised slogans voicing their opposition towards the passage of two bills intended to reform the agricultural sector. Trinamool Congress floor leader Derek OBrien and his colleague Dola Sen; Aam Admi Partys Sanjay Singh; Congresss Rajeev Satav, Syed Nasir Hussain and Ripun Borah; and KK Ragesh and Elamaram Kareem of the CPI(M) are the MPs who are facing a weeklong suspension from the Parliament proceedings.

The ruckus which arose in the Parliament was also condemned by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh who said that the incident has hurt the image of the Parliament in front the entire nation.

Opposition party members have demanded that the suspension of the MPs be revoked.

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The Ministry of Electronics, Information and Technology told the Parliament on Monday that it took down 3,635 social media pages/accounts in 2019 for violating the Information Technology Act.

In a response to an unstarred question by Congress MP Ravneet Singh Bittu about the ministrys regulation of social media, the ministry said that 1,385 pages were blocked in 2017 and 2,799 were blocked in 2018.

With a borderless cyberspace coupled with the possibility of instant communication and anonymity, the potential for misuse of cyberspace and social media platforms for criminal activities is a global issue, the ministry said in its response.

Also Read: Delhi House panel sends summons to top Facebook executive

In line with increase of usage of Internet as also the growth of social media platforms, there are increasing number of incidents of reporting of such content having potential to incite violence and hatred. Government has a well-defined system of reporting and blocking for public access within the framework of section 69A of the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000 and the Rules thereunder, it added.

The Ministrys response comes in the wake of the Facebook controversy in August this year, wherein news reports alleged that the social media company was prejudicial while implementing its hate-speech policy, giving leeway to the members of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The Opposition came down heavily on the government as more reports surfaced regarding the conduct of Facebook Indias public policy head, Ankhi Das, wherein she claimed credit for Prime Minister Narendra Modis victory in the elections. Facebook India managing director Ajit Mohan was also quizzed by the IT parliamentary panel, barely days after IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad wrote to CEO Mark Zuckerberg alleging Facebook allowed anti-Modi posts.

Also Read: Facebook neutral, non-partisan, its India chief says defending handling of hate speeches

There were media reports that Facebooks hate-speech rules collide with Indian politics, thereby trying to tarnish the image of those who indulge in constructive criticism of policies. Minister for Electronics & Information Technology has written to CEO, Facebook about alleged bias of the platform and to ensure integrity and neutrality of Facebook and the people working for Facebook. Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology has already taken up the matter with Facebook, the government said in another response.

Social media companies, it added in its first response, are considered intermediaries under the IT Act, 2000. They are required to observe due diligence while discharging their duties and have to inform the users of computer resources not to host, display, upload, modify, publish, transmit, update or share any information that is, inter alia, grossly harmful, harassing, defamatory, libelous, invasive of anothers privacy, hateful, or racially, ethnically objectionable, disparaging, or otherwise unlawful in any manner.

They are also expected to remove any unlawful content under Article 19(2) of the Constitution of India as and when brought to their knowledge either through a court order or through a notice by the government or its agency.

The ministry, in response to a third question, said that the 59 Chinese-origin applications that were banned in the first round of blocks after tensions broke out along the Line of Actual Control with China were taken down in accordance with a Ministry of Home Affairs request. Subsequently, the ministry banned 47, and then 118 more applications, including the popular game PUBG and video-sharing platform TikTok.

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has blocked 224 mobile apps under the provisions of section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000 in the interest of sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India and security of State. Blocking of such Apps has been done on national security concerns and thus linkage with any country may not be disclosed in public domain, the ministry said in response to a fourth question.

According to Internet Freedom Foundation trustee Apar Gupta, the governments blocking process lacks transparency. The blocking process in India is extremely opaque, Gupta said. As recently demonstrated by the blocking of several environmental websites, the owners of websites are not provided with even a proper notice and an opportunity for a hearing prior to blocking. This requires urgent reform and, while proper steps need to be taken to prevent hate speech from being circulated on social media, it should not be done like a form of censorship that is conducted with secrecy, he added.
The president of the Court of Appeal, Monica Dongban-Mensem, has set up a panel to preside over petitions arising from the just concluded Edo State governorship election.

This was contained in a statement dated September 21 and made available by the tribunals secretary, Sunday Martins.

Mr Martins said the panel will conduct sittings at the High Court Complex, Sapele Road, Benin.

The general public is hereby put on notice that the honourable president of the court of appeal of Nigeria, Hon. Justice M.B. Dongban-Mensem, has established the election petition tribunal secretariat and accordingly constituted a panel in respect of the governorship election conducted in Edo State, the statement read.

The honourable chief judge of the state, Hon. Justice E.A. Edigin has graciously approved the use of the high court complex (election petition court hall), Sapele Road, Benin City for the tribunal exercise.

The Independent National Electoral Commission had declared the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Godwin Obaseki, as the winner of the September 19 election.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that Mr Obaseki defeated Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the All Progressive Congress and 12 other candidates in the election.

While Mr Obaseki polled a total of 307,955 votes to secure his second term as the governor of the state, Mr Ize-Iyamu scored 223,619 votes.

Candidates disputing the results of the election are expected to file their petitions within 21 days after the date of the declaration of results in line with Section 134 (1) of the Electoral Act.
Recent poetry releases:

ON THE WAY OUT, TURN OFF THE LIGHT: Poems, by Marge Piercy. (Knopf, $28.) Piercys 20th poetry collection feels like a memoiristic summing up, with reflections on her Detroit childhood and young love giving way to religion and politics, being old at the end of the world.

WHALE DAY: And Other Poems, by Billy Collins. (Random House, $26.) The former poet laureate applies a characteristically light touch in his latest collection, even in poems that contemplate death and mortality: his aging dogs snout white as a marshmallow, his career spent yodeling away in the dark.

HOTEL ALMIGHTY, by Sarah J. Sloat. (Sarabande, paper, $19.95.) This book of erasure poems uses Stephen Kings Misery as its source text, highlighting themes of captivity and imagination. Sloat reproduces the original pages she used, adorned with fanciful collages on the erased sections.

STONE-GARLAND: Six Poets From the Greek Lyric Tradition, translated by Dan Beachy-Quick. (Milkweed, paper, $16.) As part of the publishers Seedbank series, aiming to preserve endangered literatures, the poet Beachy-Quick offers a modern gloss on six ancient Greeks.
T he European Unions chief negotiator will head to London on Wednesday for informal post-Brexit talks with the UK Government.

Michel Barnier 's visit is intended to prepare for next weeks formal negotiating round but comes as relations between Boris Johnsons administration and Brussels are under severe strain.

A row over the UKs apparent readiness to break international law by tearing up parts of the Brexit divorce deal relating to Northern Ireland has soured relations.

Talks on a trade deal are continuing, but both sides have said major stumbling blocks remain and time is running out to get an agreement.

Relations between the UK and EU are strained / REUTERS

A consensus will need to be reached by the end of October in order to ratify it and have it in place when the current transition arrangements expire at the end of the year.

The Prime Ministers official spokesman said Mr Barniers visit was part of the informal talks process which both the UK and the EU committed to.

You have seen a number of these informal discussions both in Brussels and in London in recent weeks, the spokesman said.

We have always stressed that we believe a deal is possible and we will continue to work hard on securing a deal.

Time is obviously in short supply as we move towards the middle of October.
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Kenyans have since late last year been locked in a fierce debate as to whether time is ripe to make changes to the 2010 Constitution.

There are those who feel a time has come to fix the glaring defects in the countrys supreme law that have been uncovered in the past decade; and those who do not see a plebiscite as a priority.

READ ALSO: Mike Sonko's ally eyeing Mswabweni National Assembly seat resigns from ODM

CJ David Maraga asked Uhuru to dissolve Parliament over failure to enact gender rule. Photo: Judiciary Kenya.

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: Bungoma: Handshake supporter beats up local musician for supporting William Ruto

It is a debate that should now come to an end after the reality check provided by Chief Justice David Maragas advisory to President Uhuru Kenyatta to dissolve Parliament for failure to enact the controversial two-thirds gender rule.

Courtesy of a provision that many Kenyans honestly feel is not implementable, the country is now staring at a costly and endless constitutional crisis that could see voters subjected to a vicious cycle of parliamentary elections.

While parliament and Attorney-General Kihara Kariuki are set to challenge Maragas advisory in court, with the president also having absolute discretion to ignore or shelf it, look no farther than the crisis the two-thirds gender rule could trigger to appreciate why Kenyans must go to a referendum as soon as is humanly possible.

READ ALSO: Uhuru's adopted son Daniel Owira says he nearly left school after becoming rich

There are chances President Uhuru will challenge the advisory. Photo: State House Kenya.

Source: Twitter

READ ALSO: Chris Kirubi shows off his massive house, lake and expensive car collection

Article 81(b) of the Constitution, which is based on the principles of the electoral process, dictates that a mechanism be put in place to ensure not more than two-thirds of members of elective public bodies are of the same gender.

The rule was, notably, agreed on during the drafting of the 2010 Constitution as a compromise to stabilise the country and cool tempers.

But actualising the constitutional requirement that there be at least 117 women in the National Assembly and 23 in the Senate has proved to be a hard nut to crack in Kenya.

There are currently 76 women in the two houses, leaving a deficit of 41.

Despite the law putting the House at risk of dissolution, Parliament has on five occasions failed to muster the quorum of 233 members required to pass it.

This is not surprising; given attaining gender balance has proved impossible even in some of the most advanced democracies in the world.

Kenyan lawmakers have repeatedly urged the citizenry to wake up to the reality that it is virtually impossible to force individuals to vote for women candidates in a democratic exercise; hence the need to remove the requirement through constitutional amendments and only observe the ratio in appointive positions.

They have a point. Gender disparity should not be addressed by meddling with the choices of voters at the ballot.

Compelling citizens to vote for a specific gender is a travesty of democracy that takes away their right on who to vote for.

There have been calls to reserve some constituencies for women, or even increase the size of the National Assembly in a bid to comply with the gender rule.

But such calls do not sit well with the majority of Kenyans, coming in the wake of growing calls to punguza mizigo (ease the burden) by, among others, scrapping the woman rep position that was introduced in the 2010 Constitution as part of affirmative action to increase the representation of women.

Woman reps have been labeled flower girls among other unsavoury terms as the position is widely deemed not to add any value other than merely increase the number of females in political leadership.

While a referendum will allow the repealing of seemingly unrealistic and costly provisions that continue to perilously drag the country through constitutional moments, it will also accord Kenyans an opportunity to determine workable ways to ensure gender parity, not just in elective politics, but across all sectors.

The first Building Bridges Initiative report proposed that political parties be compelled through the Political Parties Act to meet the gender rule.

More formulas could still be added since this is work in progress.

Kenyans should look forward to endorsing the same in a plebiscite while also righting the wrongs in the 2010 constitution.

The writer is Sammy Kwinga, a regular commentator on social, economic and political affairs.

The views expressed in this opinion piece are his and do not necessarily represent the position of TUKO Media Ltd in any way.

We welcome writers, bloggers, photographers and all sorts of noise makers to become a part of our Blog network Send your opinion, story or both to news@tuko.co.ke.

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My mother abandoned me with two holes in my heart - Baby Petra's story | Tuko TV.

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Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Iran on Tuesday announced the highest number of cases of the novel coronavirus in a single day, with 3,712 people infected in 24 hours.

"We are seeing an increase in confirmed cases, and daily hospitalisations in most of our provinces," health ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari said in televised remarks.

"The rate of compliance with health protocols and wearing masks is declining," she warned.

The highest case number recorded before was on June 4, when 3,574 cases were detected, according to official figures.

Iran has been battling the Middle East's deadliest outbreak of COVID-19, with the death toll standing at 24,656 people out of a total of 429,193 people infected.

On Monday, Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urged people to respect government health regulations, implying that Iranians are taking the threat of the virus lightly.

Iran took various restrictive measures to stem the virus but without ever imposing a full lockdown, with its economy already hit after the United States reimposed sanctions in 2018.

While regions have been coded with a traffic light style system of riskwhite, yellow and redthe health ministry has said the whole country should now be considered "red".

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

 2020 AFP
Just yesterday we flogged the false and misleading reports in the New York Times about Russias Covid-19 vaccine. Today a different New York Times report by Ivan Nechepurenko, who is also with its bureau in Moscow, proves to be of similar shoddy quality:

In Belarus, Russian Mercenaries Turned From Saboteurs to Friends

President Aleksandr G. Lukashenko accused Russia of sending a group of mercenaries to disrupt his re-election. With mass protests consuming the country after the vote, he briskly changed his tune.

Diligent readers of Moon of Alabama will remember what the story is about. On August 7 we reported how the Ukrainian intelligence service SBU, disguise as a private military company, hired former Russian and Ukrainian soldiers allegedly for jobs in Venezuela. All the hired men had previously fought on the 'Russian side of Ukrainian civil war in the Donbas region. The men were told to go to the Belorussian capital Minsk from where they were supposed to be later flown to Venezuela to guard oil installations.

The Ukrainian SBU then told the Belorussian security service KGB that the Russian mercenaries, who were then waiting in a resort near Minsk, were in Belarus to overthrow its president Lukashenko. The men were arrested and Lukashenko made a public fuzz about the alleged Russian coup against him. Ukraine then asked for the extradition of the men. It had plans to indict them for their involvement in the Donbas war.

But just a few days after the men were arrested the whole plan unraveled. Russian media proved without doubt that the men had been tricked to go to Belarus and that they had no plans to overthrow Lukashenko. The Belorussian president apologized and the men were returned to Russia. As the Russian broadsheet kp.ru summarized (machine translation):

[I]t can be stated that the Ukrainian special services managed to create a fake project, in which they involved 180 Russian citizens, while including in the first group of war veterans in the Donbas. At the same time, it is quite possible to admit that the entire fascinating and instructive story was brought to the Belorussian side in a very truncated form - without details about air tickets. Through this entire operation, the SBU seems to have intended to kill several birds with one stone - the ubiquitous, nightmarish and terrible PMC Wagner was supposed to ricochet on Rosneft - as one of the largest Russian companies, but the main blow, undoubtedly, on the Russian-Belorussian relationships. Not to mention the possible extradition of Russian citizens to Ukraine, which Kiev would be incredibly happy about - such an opportunity to avenge its sailors, whom Poroshenko sent "to slaughter" in the Kerch Strait.

That version story has since been confirmed by the Ukrainian side (see below).

But todays New York Times report does not tell that story at all. It makes it seem as if Lukashenko changed his mind about the 'Russian coup not because he gained knowledge of the real plot, but because he was under pressure from election protests:

President Aleksandr G. Lukashenko of Belarus, who was facing a presidential election in less than two weeks, convened an emergency meeting of his top security officials, saying that the Russians were mercenaries with dirty aims. Speaking at the meeting, Valery Vakulchik, at the time the head of the K.G.B., confirmed that the Russians belonged to the Wagner Group.

...

Then, just 10 days before the Aug. 9 vote, Belarusian investigators accused the Russians of plotting to disrupt the election. Russia is afraid of losing us, said Mr. Lukashenko, accusing the Kremlin of trying to suffocate Belarus.

Up to that point the NYT got the story right. But it fails when it covers the unraveling of the plot:

According to this new version of what happened, the men had been lured to Belarus by Ukrainian spies, who planned to seize their plane as it flew over Ukraine and have the men arrested over their role fighting in eastern Ukraine. That Belarus has changed its story so dramatically is a measure of how swiftly the countrys strongman leader, Mr. Lukashenko, has reassessed his political interests.

...

On Aug. 14, after failing to curb an initial round of street protests with a frenzy of police violence, he ordered the Wagner mercenaries released and allowed them to return to Russia. All charges against them were dropped.

...

Upon the mercenaries return to Russia, several of them appeared on Russian television, claiming that they had no connection to the Wagner Group and had simply stopped off in Belarus en route to Venezuela, where they had a job lined up guarding an undisclosed Russian facility.

The NYT makes it look as if the Ukrainian intelligence service and the CIA were not involved at all and as if the revealed Ukrainian plot has not been real. The change in the 'Russian coup story is attributed solely to the changing needs of Lukashenko.

That is of course bollocks. The Ukrainian plot was real. We know that because officials from the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine, which is supported by the U.S. State Department, have officially admitted it and because the Ukrainian media have been all over the story.

As the Canadian political scientist Ivan Katchanovski relayed it:

Ivan Katchanovski @I_Katchanovski - 0:35 UTC  Aug 18, 2020 National Anti-Corruption Bureau of #Ukraine agent states that #Russian mercenaries, who fought in #Donbas war, were lured to #Belarus by Security Service of Ukraine using fake offers by fake persons of work in Venezuela & tickets to fly there via Turkey.

>>>     "    " National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine agent states that SBU planned to seize #Russian mercenaries, who fought in Donbas war, by making their passenger plane on route from #Belarus to Turkey land in #Ukraine His statements are generally consistent with previous statements by #Russian representatives & media, release & return of arrested Russian mercenaries by #Belarus to #Russia & with statements of released mercenaries in the Russian media that they were lured with such work offers.

...

#Ukrainian media reports that US intelligence agents were also involved in this #FalseFlag operation & that video & audio recordings of #Russian mercenaries lured to #Belarus concerning their involvement in Donbas war would soon be published in #Ukraine

>>> ,     Security Service of #Ukraine sources confirm to Ukrainian media #FalseFlag operation concerning luring of #Russian mercenaries from #Russia to #Belarus. Most of mercenaries were also Ukrainian citizens & fought for separatists in civil war in #Donbas

>>>  ""    ,      

There is zero doubt that the Ukrainian plot, which was planned and executed together with the CIA, was real. There were no Wagner mercenaries at all, just former Russian and Ukrainian soldiers who were lured into a trap. The plot went bust because the Ukrainians had made some mistakes with the flight tickets which made it easy for the Russians to uncover the whole thing.

It was the discovery of the Ukrainian plot which made Lukashenko change his mind, not pressure from the NED financed post-election color revolution.

The NYT report, which comes nearly six weeks after Moon of Alabama published the real story, is hiding the failed CIA/SBU plot. It is attributing the whole unraveling of the plots cover story from late July to mid August, and Lukashenkos change of tone as a consequence thereof, to the election protest against him.

It is not that there was too little room in the NYT to report the full story. Of the 26 paragraphs of the report a full 11 are about the Soviet-era like resort the Russian mercenaries had rested in. Those 11 paragraphs may help to justify the travel cost of the NYTs reporter and photographer but they are otherwise of zero value to the reader.

The real story is the failed CIA/SBU operation. The NYT editors and its Moscow bureau seem to believe that the CIAs failure is not part of "all the news thats fit to print". Instead of reporting what really happened, like the Ukrainian media did, they cover it up by claiming that it is somehow Lukashenkos fantasy.
Al-Ahram Weekly reports on efforts to establish Egypt as a regional energy hub, and cooperation to that end between Egypt, Greece and Cyprus

The EastMed Gas Forum (EMGF), the founding charter of which was signed by forum members on 22 September, has succeeded in making history and will contribute to establishing peace, Egypt's Minister of Petroleum Tarek Al-Molla said on Tuesday.

In an online ceremony Minister of Petroleum Tarek Al-Molla and representatives from the other member states - Cyprus, Greece, Israel, Italy, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority  digitally signed the charter.

Turning the forum into an international governmental organisation will bolster cooperation and dialogue over natural gas Al-Molla said in a statement issued after the ceremony.

The development of the EMGF as an organisationis positive for all member states aspiring to make optimum use of their natural resources, said Rakha Hassan, a member of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs.

In the last decade major gas deposits have been found in the east Mediterranean. The United States Geological Survey estimates that the Nile Delta has an extraction potential of more than 220 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, and the Levant Basin over 120 trillion cubic feet.

The goal of the forum is to establish a shared vision and systematic and regulated dialogue over natural gas policies to maximise the regions resources, said the joint statement issued after Tuesdays ceremony. The new organisation also aims to lower infrastructure costs and secure a competitive price for gas from the region.

The organisation aims to create a regional gas market that serves the interests of its members by ensuring supply and demand, optimising resource development, rationalising the cost of infrastructure, offering competitive prices and improving trade relations,said a statement issued by Egypts Ministry of Petroleum in January when forum members first approved the transformation of the grouping into a regional organisation to be based in Cairo.

Any state in the Eastern Mediterranean can apply for membership of the EMGF. Other states and regional and international organizations can join as observers.

France and the US both expressed a wish to join earlier this year, the first as a member and the second as an observer.

Egypt, Greece and Cyprus first posited a forum to include states that produce and import gas, and transit countries in the East Mediterranean area, in October 2018. The EMGF was officially founded in January 2019, when the seven founding members agreed to form a committee to elevate the forum to the level of an international organisation.

Guaranteeing the optimum use of gas in the region had long been an Egyptian goal, to which end Cairo was keen to boost its relations with Greece and with Cyprus, exchanging numerous high-level visits.

Last weeks visit to Greece by Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri served to further strengthen bilateral relations, as well as boost to trilateral cooperation with Cyprus. During his trip Shoukri met with his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias, Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

In a press conference following his meeting with Dendias, Shoukri said his visit reflected the importance Egypt accords to its ties with Athens. Shoukri also underlined the Egyptian governments keenness to boost Greek investment in Egypt, including in the tourism sector, according to Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ahmed Hafez.

Shoukris visit took place against a backdrop of escalating tensions between Turkey and Greece and Cyprus over maritime claims, and a month after the signing of a maritime border demarcation agreement which Shoukri described as reflecting the strong ties between Cairo and Athens.

The demarcation agreement between Egypt and Greece established an exclusive joint economic zone and was described at the time as a turning point in the bilateral relations between the two countries. It was widely welcomed in the region as evidence of Cairo and Athenss determination to promote stability in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The border demarcation agreement also impeded Turkish attempts to interfere in the region, says Hassan.

The growth in cooperation between Egypt, Greece and Cyprus dates back to the meeting between the three countries foreign ministers on the margins of the 2013 and 2014 UN General Assemblies. Seven summit meetings have since taken place, the first in Cairo in 2014. It was in the sixth summit in Crete in 2018 that the three countries decided to found the EMGF.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 24 September, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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Countries that have proven their hypocrisy and unscrupulousness about the ongoing humanitarian crises in Syria, Libya, and Yemen cannot bring justice to the world, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said.

Erdogan made the statement during his appeal after the Turkish government's regular meeting chaired by him, Trend reports.

The president noted that one of the real examples of this is connivance towards the attacks of Armenia on the Azerbaijani lands.

Turkey does not lay claim to anyone's land, and will defend its rights to the end, he added.

--

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 09/21/2020



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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

: Happily Ever After? featured Kalani Faagata kicking Asuelu Pulaa out of their home and needing a break from their marriage, Elizabeth Potthast 's brother Charlie nearly ruining her wedding, Colt Johnson confronting his mother Debbie about wanting to be treated like a man, Angela Deem 's mother passing away, Syngin Colchester choosing to work things out with Tania Maduro in America, and Larissa Dos Santos Lima debuting her physical transformation during Sunday night's Season 5 finale on TLC.: Happily Ever After?'s fifth season also features Andrei Castravet Karine Martins , and Michael Ilesanmi Happily Ever After? documents couples -- engaged, married or divorced -- navigating life, hardships, family, children and unexpected obstacles.The new season has already featured cultural differences, in-law arguments, scandals, confrontations and tears, and there is more to come on the season's Tell-All.Below is an update on the couple or cast members, according to the finale episode of : Happily Ever After?'s fifth season.Eric was shown taking care of Larissa as she recovered from three-and-a-half hours of surgery -- a breast augmentation and nose job.Eric said that seeing Larissa in pain was difficult and he hadn't even thought about sex. Eric said sleeping with Larissa again was going to be "worth the wait" and her recovery time would give him time to prepare.Eric drove Larissa to the plastic surgeon for a check-up appoint, and Eric acknowledged, "She's not recovering as quick as I thought." Eric, in fact, noted the previous night was challenging, stressful and devastating overall.Once at the doctor's office, Eric started to cry because he appeared to be overwhelmed. Larissa could barely talk and put a sentence together because she was in pain.Dr. Lane Smith told Larissa that her breasts hurt more than normal because she asked for very large implants and smaller implants would have hurt less. He noticed, however, Larissa had minimal bruising on her face and so Eric must have been taking good care of her.Larissa thought her breasts looked really good when she got a peek, and Dr. Lane said everything "looked perfect" and she was healing nicely.Eric realized he had bit off more than he could chew, but he said he wasn't going to give up on Larissa and leave her in her time of need. Eric planned to stick by Larissa's side until the end."The stress level of everything, it made me realize, 'We really care about each other.' I know she cares about me enough to want me to take care of her, and I know I care about her enough to want to take care of her. So it tells me that this is a big bond," Eric told the cameras.Two months after Larissa's surgery, Eric said Larissa seemed to appreciate him a lot more. He felt they had become closer and then Larissa debuted her new look and said she felt great about her body and new face.Larissa showed off her transformation to friends Carmen and Hannah, and the girls said Larissa looked like a totally different person. They told Larissa that she looked great and almost like a porno actress.Larissa said she wanted to do more work on her belly, but Eric admitted he wasn't going to take care of Larissa next time because it was more work than he had expected.Larissa and Eric also confirmed they were having more sex after her surgeries, but Eric pointed out, "Not enough."Eric added however, "Things are good -- better than they've been."Carmen thought Eric had done a great job of taking care of Larissa, so she had come around to the idea of them dating. Larissa also revealed she and Eric were sleeping in the same room but in different beds.Larissa revealed her Green Card was still processing, and Eric said they had a lot to figure out before thinking about getting married.Angela was shown packing her suitcase to return to America in order to be there for her sick mother, Glenda, who was rushed to the ICU in the hospital.Angela was anxious and just wanted to get home, so she said she was going to go straight from the airport to the hospital once she landed in the United States.Angela cried about how maybe Glenda's hospitalization was her fault because nobody could take care of Glenda the way she could. Angela was upset, exhausted and stressed out, and Michael said he was sad because he didn't know when he'd see his wife again.When Michael dropped Angela off at the airport, she said she wasn't sure when she'd be able to come back to Nigeria. Michael promised to be there for Angela and insisted they would "work it out" no matter what."This is the time you need your husband with you. I don't want to leave him because this is a bad situation and I don't know if I'm strong enough to go through this alone," Angela said."You're married one minute and then the next minute, you might be going to a funeral," she added.Angela later visited her mother in the hospital and hoped she wasn't too late.A reunion between Angela and Glenda wasn't filmed, and then footage suddenly flashed to two weeks later, with Angela back in her home fighting back the tears.An on-screen graphic read, "Angela made it back in time to see her mother. Ten days later, Angela's mother passed away."Angela said losing her mother was really hard but she had stayed strong for her. Angela was relieved her mother was no longer hurting, and she thanked her daughter Skyla for taking care of Glenda in her final weeks.Angela's family grieved Glenda's death, and Angela said they just needed to take things one day at a time. Skyla said she was worried about Angela because Angela tended to hide and cover up her emotions.Angela was glad Glenda got to see pictures from the wedding, and she apparently believed her mother really liked Michael. Angela told the cameras Michael had been there for her over the phone but she wished they could be together in person.Angela didn't want her daughter and grandkids to see her upset so she tried to keep it together, and she vented in a confessional, "A wife needs her husband."Angela then FaceTimed with Michael and asked how long it would take to receive a spousal visa because she had sent in all the paperwork and photos. Michael replied it could take anymore from nine to 18 months."We're gonna make it. We just have to be strong for one another," Michael said. "You are my wife now... I'm not leaving you for anything. I am not going anywhere."Angela said she and Michael truly loved each other and had every right to be together. Angela said Michael's place was with her and her grandkids in America and she was not going to give up on that dream."Michael, he's the love of my life, but this is not an easy journey," Angela shared."Only strong people can survive this, and there's a lot of times I've wanted to say, 'To hell with this, this is too much,' but true love, you can't just walk off and say, 'F it.' We love each other and we're going to be together one way or another."Andrei was shown pulling Elizabeth's brother Charlie outside after Charlie had made a rude and awkward speech at Andrei and Elizabeth's wedding about how Andrei needed to stop taking his father's money.Charlie demanded that Andrei support his family on his own in America and stop taking handouts.Charlie thought Andrei wanted to fight him, and he said, "You are trying to play my dad, dude. You are trying to play my family. You are supposed to be family."Andrei asked for a cease fire for the night and put his arm around Charlie because Elizabeth had asked him not to be "bad" on their wedding night. Andrei said while he and Charlie weren't friends for the night, they'd figure out their issues later.Andrei said his wedding cost $30,000 but Chuck had paid for Charlie's wedding as well and so Charlie was just a drunk "hypocrite." Charlie, on the other hand, thought the wedding was overboard and really extravagant.Andrei's friend Marcel asked Charlie to stop acting like a kid and being dramatic, and Charlie replied, "You're a f-cking punk! You stick up for him!"Jenn asked Charlie to drop his problems with Andrei just for the night because it was Elizabeth's wedding day. Charlie stopped trying to fight Andrei but he was furious and scolded Chuck for paying for Elizabeth's rent, food and wedding when they were already married.Charlie called Chuck "weak" and "a pushover," but Chuck told the cameras he had paid for the wedding for his daughter -- not for Andrei. Chuck disagreed with Charlie's accusations and told him to sit down and relax.Elizabeth said she wished everyone could get along for just one day considering it was her wedding day, and then Andrei asked Chuck to handle his son and handle the situation."I am on my best behavior," Andrei told Chuck. "Events in the past and our relationship was not the best relationship. I wanted to say that I'm sorry about this. I want you and me to be more cordial to each other. I want just a nice wedding."Chuck told Andrei that he would do anything for his family and he just wanted Andrei to appreciate all that he did for them."I appreciate it. I appreciate you because, like, you're a strong man. You take care of your daughter and you take care of your family. You care about Elizabeth and you care about my daughter. Maybe I'm a d-ckhead sometimes, I know. But I've been wrong, okay?" Andrei said."I've been rude to you, but I want from now on, for all of this to work better... for the sake of my daughter and your daughter."Chuck hoped for a better relationship in the future as well, but Chuck didn't know what to think about Andrei because he had tried to fight his son and had been forced out of Moldova. Chuck said Andrei tried to play Mr. Nice guy but then would turn on a dime.Elizabeth begged Charlie not to ruin her night and worried there might always be tension, drama and negativity between Andrei and her family.Elizabeth called her brother's behavior "bullsh-t," but she pleaded with her husband to get along with her relatives since they're the only family he has in the United States.Andrei told Elizabeth that he had apologized to Chuck and made big steps in their relationship."Me and your dad, we buried the hatchet. On the other hand, I will not be able to have a smooth future with your sister and brother [when they're] acting like this," Andrei told Elizabeth."I just want to say that I love you and I care about you and our daughter and nothing else matters."Elizabeth cried and said, "I love you too, baby. I don't want anybody to fight."Elizabeth gushed it was a beautiful and extravagant wedding, and then Andrei laughed and called Charlie "a bum," saying he'd deal with him later in America.Kalani and Asuelu saw Asuelu's mom and sister off at the airport. Kalani thought everyone could get along for the sake of Asuelu, and she could tell that her husband was happier."Maybe this is the start of something good for us," Kalani noted.Kalani admitted to Asuelu that she didn't like Tammy and Tammy certainly didn't like her, but Asuelu noted, "I still love her and want to give her space to think about things that happened."Asuelu promised Kalani there would be no war that day, and he hoped saying goodbye to his loved ones would go smoothly.When the group reunited, Lesina told Kalani and Asuelu that her heart was fixed and everything was okay, but Tammy had left earlier that morning alone. Lesina told Asuelu that Tammy still loved him, but Tammy was apparently angry.Lesina asked Kalani to take care of Asuelu and her grandchildren, and then right before heading to the airport, Lesina said, "I need some money."Kalani appeared shocked and awkwardly smiled, but then Lesina said, "I'm just kidding!" Asuelu admitted he was about to have a heart attack.Things were looking up, and Asuelu noted his marriage to Kalani was in a better place.Once the couple got back home, they went out to eat at a restaurant, and Asuelu said his marriage was getting "better and better" and he was "happy."While at the restaurant, Kalani wanted to do their homework from the therapist because they didn't have the kids to take care of. Each spouse was required to write down what his or her household duties should be.Asuelu basically wrote down that he'd take care of his own dishes and laundry while Kalani should take care of her things and everything for the babies. Kalani therefore asked Asuelu to watch the kids among other tasks around the house.Kalani just wanted to split all the chores in the house and divide things evenly. Asuelu argued he also moved the lawn and raked fallen apples from their tree, but Kalani said she wouldn't care if Asuelu stopped apple raking in order to help her more.Asuelu told Kalani that he wanted to be with her forever and she was the "pineapple" of his heart. Kalani didn't think the pair made progress, however, in the chores department because Asuelu still expected her to do all the same things.Three months later, COVID-19 reached the United States and the state of Utah. The pandemic apparently put additional stress on Kalani and Asuelu's relationship.Kalani said she and Asuelu were fighting all the time and it seemed like Asuelu almost wanted to be exposed to coronavirus because he was going out with his friends a lot and allegedly lying about his whereabouts."I need to protect my kids. I can't keep letting him do whatever the hell he wants," Kalani said. "I'm not just going to let him back in the house with the babies."After a big fight, Kalani told Asuelu to go to his mother's place in Washington State. She said their marriage wasn't working any more and she didn't know what was going to happen.Kalani said she needed a break from Asuelu and wasn't even sure whether they'd work as a couple again. She also said Asuelu hadn't been helping her with the kids or around the house.Kalani told her mother Lisa that she caught Asuelu lying because she had put a tracker on his phone. Asuelu told Kalani he was out for a drive one day when he was really playing volleyball with his friends amid the coronavirus pandemic."I'm with someone who just gives me nothing. At this point, I don't really see the point of being married anymore. I really am just done... I don't see the point of it all. I've just been fighting and trying my hardest, and it's just me trying," Kalani cried."There's, like, 20 percent of me that's waiting to see if he'll change or do something different, but I'm not going to hold my breath."Lisa said she just wanted to see her daughter happy and no longer cared if Asuelu and Kalani stayed together. Kalani and Lisa wanted what would be best for her boys, and Asuelu told the cameras he didn't want to go or be away from his family.Kalani acknowledged love just wasn't enough and their relationship was not working.Syngin and Tania were ready to fly back to America from South Africa, but Syngin acknowledged things weren't going well in his relationship and so he wasn't exactly thrilled about leaving his friends and family.Syngin's sister Charys was worried she wouldn't see Syngin for a long time and told her brother that he was going to miss out on a lot. Charys was starting to question whether Tania was as good and nice as she had originally thought.Syngin said he's probably fall back into his old habits again once in the United States, and Syngin's mother Charmain asked him to make up his mind about Tania as to not waste her time or his own time.Syngin told his family that he wished he could fly back to South Africa every month but his life had changed so much."I want to stay as long as I can, but this whole commitment thing has got me," Syngin said in a confessional."But am I committing to something that's not going to work in the end or am I committing to something I shouldn't be right now? I'm a little confused, to be honest."Before flying back to America, Syngin told Tania that he didn't regret marrying her but they had so many things to work on and he wasn't happy in their relationship. He thought they were running out of time and patience for each other."It's going to be tough for me to get on a plane and fly back to Connecticut," Syngin admitted. "It's the way I feel."Syngin said he jumped into things too quickly with Tania given the K-1 visa, but Tania said their plan was always to live in the United States and make money.Tania heard that Syngin didn't want to commit to her long-term, and she didn't know what to think, but Syngin promised his wife that he loved her and wanted to make things work.Tania said it broke her heart to hear Syngin might want to stay in South Africa and she cried to the cameras about her husband's confusion."But I want to go there and work on these problems together," Syngin noted."I know I can't sit there and wait forever for change from someone who says they love me. I can't and I won't wait," Tania said.Syngin confessed that he needed to change and wanted to carry on their marriage, and Tania replied, "I believe in us. I want to create a plan with you and a life with you, and that's all that matters."Syngin believed Tania's love for him was genuine and real, and so he apparently wanted to become a better man for her.Syngin then said goodbye to his family, and he and Tania took off for America."I'm happy he's choosing to come home with me and get to real work," Tania told the cameras, adding that she was going to work on her patience and anxiety."I'm going to do whatever I need to do, get a job and make money, just to keep our relationship happy," Syngin said.Debbie noticed Colt had been depressed after his relationship with Jess failed, but she said he didn't seem as bad as when he divorced Larissa. Debbie called Colt's breakup with Larissa "a stab to the heart," but she said Colt wasn't his happy, normal self.Debbie asked Colt to be more honest about his feelings because he seemed withdrawn and upset, but Colt admitted he had a hard time sharing things with his mom as he aged.Colt said he felt like he had zero privacy in their home and then brought up how Debbie had behaved with Jess in Brazil."She went after you hook, line and sinker. She used you from the beginning," Debbie told her son, suggesting that Jess was a threat and just wanted American citizenship.Colt wanted to be treated by his mother differently and also said he didn't want to keep going from one toxic relationship to the next. Debbie said she'd always look out for Colt unless he asked her to back off."I just don't want you to interfere so brazenly. I feel like it's not a good way for me to live as a healthy adult. I'm your son, but the way you treat me as an adult is the same way women treat me," Colt shared with Debbie."Even just doing things like cooking and cleaning, I feel like these women look at that like, 'Oh, he's just dependent.' And then that's why these girls go after you, because they see you as direct competition. I think you treating me like a man would be the best thing to ever happen to me in terms of relationships."Debbie argued that she treated Colt like a man and didn't baby him, and she added, "I think you think I have more power over you than I do. I don't control your life."Colt said he wanted to get to know Debbie as an individual and friend, but she told her son to get to know himself first. Colt apologized to Debbie and insisted he loved her and she had done nothing wrong.Colt acknowledged Debbie had the best of intentions for him, and then she walked away from the table."I think he blames me for everything... so it's very frustrating as a parent to know when to keep your mouth shut and when not to, but you don't want to see your child hurt or go through worse agony than he's already gone through," Debbie said.Debbie claimed she had no problem letting Colt be a man and so she would stop cooking and cleaning for him as well as doing his laundry. Colt realized if he wanted other women to treat him like a man, Debbie needed to treat him like a man as well.With that being said, Colt felt a weight had been lifted off his shoulders and he just hoped for a successful and happy relationship in the future.Want more spoilers or couples updates? Click here to visit our homepage!
The ongoingglobal Phase 2/3 study with orally-administeredopaganib in patients with severe COVID-19 is approved in Italy, the UK, Russia, Israel, Mexico and Brazil; 16 clinical sites initiated globally to date

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In parallel, theopaganib U.S. Phase 2 study, with 8 active clinical sites,is approximately 75% enrolled and expected to be completed in the coming weeks

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Opaganibcompletely inhibitedSARS-CoV-2 viral replicationin anin vitrohuman lung cell model, comparing favorably with remdesivir, the positive control in the study

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Opaganib demonstrated dual anti-inflammatory and antiviral activity and targets a host cell component, unaffected by viral mutation, thus minimizing the likelihood of resistance

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Global emergency use authorization applicationsplanned, subject to positive clinical results

TEL AVIV, Israel and RALEIGH, N.C., Sept. 22, 2020) ("RedHill" or the "Company"), a specialty biopharmaceutical company, today announced approval from the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (ANVISA) for its ongoing global Phase 2/3 study evaluating opaganib1 in patients hospitalized with severe COVID-19 pneumonia. Opaganib is a first-in-class, orally-administered, sphingosine kinase-2 (SK2) selective inhibitor with demonstrated dual anti-inflammatory and antiviral activity that targets a host cell component, unaffected by viral mutation, thus minimizing the likelihood of resistance.

Gilead Raday, RedHill's Chief Operating Officer, said: "In recently announced preclinical results, opaganib demonstrated its ability to stop SARS-CoV-2 viral replication in its tracks - preventing its ability to spread and cause damage to other cells which, together with its potent anti-inflammatory mechanism, supports the rapid progress of our global Phase 2/3 and U.S. Phase 2 studies. Brazil continues to experience a significant number of COVID-19 cases and its addition is expected to further accelerate the global Phase 2/3 study with opaganib."

The ongoing global multi-center, randomized, double-blind, parallel-arm, placebo-controlled Phase 2/3 study) evaluating opaganib for the treatment of patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia continues to enroll with a target of up to 270 patients requiring hospitalization and treatment with supplemental oxygen. The study has been approved in Brazil, Israel, United Kingdom, Italy, Russia and Mexico, with further expansion ongoing and progressing rapidly.

In parallel, the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled U.S. Phase 2 study) with opaganib in patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia is approximately 75% enrolled, with enrollment set to be completed in the coming weeks. Recently, a pre-scheduled independent Safety Monitoring Committee recommended that the study continue without change. The study, which is not powered for statistical significance, is set to enroll up to 40 patients requiring hospitalization and supplemental oxygen.

The Company is in discussions with U.S. government agencies around potential funding to support the rapid advancement of opaganib toward potential emergency use approval.

About Opaganib (ABC294640, Yeliva)

Opaganib, a new chemical entity, is a proprietary, first-in-class, orally-administered, sphingosine kinase-2 (SK2) selective inhibitor with anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral activities, targeting multiple oncology, viral, inflammatory, and gastrointestinal indications.

Opaganib received Orphan Drug designation from the U.S. FDA for the treatment of cholangiocarcinoma and is being evaluated in a Phase 2a study in advanced cholangiocarcinoma and in a Phase 2 study in prostate cancer. Opaganib is also being evaluated in a global Phase 2/3 study and a U.S. Phase 2 study for the treatment of COVID-19.

Preclinical data have demonstrated both anti-inflammatory and antiviral activities of opaganib, with the potential to reduce inflammatory lung disorders, such as pneumonia, and mitigate pulmonary fibrotic damage. Opaganib demonstrated potent antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, completely inhibiting viral replication in an in vitro model of human lung bronchial tissue. Additionally, preclinical in vivo studies2 have demonstrated that opaganib decreased fatality rates from influenza virus infection and ameliorated Pseudomonas aeruginosa-induced lung injury by reducing the levels of IL-6 and TNF-alpha in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids.

Opaganib was originally developed by U.S.-based Apogee Biotechnology Corp. and completed multiple successful preclinical studies in oncology, inflammation, GI, and radioprotection models, as well as a Phase 1 clinical study in cancer patients with advanced solid tumors and an additional Phase 1 study in multiple myeloma.

Under a compassionate use program, COVID-19 patients (as classified by the WHO ordinal scale) were treated with opaganib in a leading hospital in Israel. Data from the treatment of these first patients with severe COVID-19 with opaganib have been published2. Analysis of treatment outcomes suggested substantial benefit to patients treated with opaganib under compassionate use in both clinical outcomes and inflammatory markers as compared to a retrospective matched case-control group from the same hospital. All patients in the opaganib-treated group were discharged from hospital on room air without requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation, whereas 33% of the matched case-control group required intubation and mechanical ventilation. Median time to weaning from high-flow nasal cannula was reduced to 10 days in the opaganib-treated group, as compared to 15 days in the matched case-control group.

The development of opaganib has been supported by grants and contracts from U.S. federal and state government agencies awarded to Apogee Biotechnology Corp., including from the NCI, BARDA, the U.S. Department of Defense and the FDA Office of Orphan Products Development.

The ongoing studies with opaganib are registered on www.ClinicalTrials.gov, a web-based service by the U.S. National Institute of Health, which provides public access to information on publicly and privately supported clinical studies.

About RedHill Biopharma

RedHill Biopharma Ltd.) is a specialty biopharmaceutical company primarily focused on gastrointestinal diseases. RedHill promotes the gastrointestinal drugs, Movantik for opioid-induced constipation in adults3, Talicia for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori.

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements may be preceded by the words "intends," "may," "will," "plans," "expects," "anticipates," "projects," "predicts," "estimates," "aims," "believes," "hopes," "potential" or similar words. Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control and cannot be predicted or quantified, and consequently, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, the risk that the Company's Phase 2/3 study evaluating opaganib will not be successful; the risk that the antiviral activity of opaganib shown in the preclinical human lung cell model will not be demonstrated in clinical trials; the risk of a delay in receiving data to support emergency use applications; the risk that the U.S. Phase 2 clinical study evaluating opaganib will not be successful and the risk that completion of enrollment for this clinical study will be delayed; the risk that the Company will not initiate the Phase 2/3 study for opaganib in certain geographies, will not expand this study toadditional countries and that it will not be successful; the risk that other COVID-19 patients treated with opaganib will not show any clinical improvement; the risk that clinical trials with opaganib in Brazil, Israel, the U.S., Italy, Russia, the UK, Mexico or elsewhere for the treatment of COVID-19, if conducted at all, will not show any improvement in patients; the risk of a delay in applying for emergency use authorizations, if at all; the development risks of early-stage discovery efforts for a disease that is still little understood, including difficulty in assessing the efficacy of opaganib for the treatment of COVID-19, if at all; intense competition from other companies developing potential treatments and vaccines for COVID-19; the effect of a potential occurrence of patients suffering serious adverse events using opaganib under compassionate use programs, as well as risks and uncertainties associated with (i) the initiation, timing, progress and results of the Company's research, manufacturing, preclinical studies, clinical trials, and other therapeutic candidate development efforts, and the timing of the commercial launch of its commercial products and ones it may acquire or develop in the future; (ii) the Company's ability to advance its therapeutic candidates into clinical trials or to successfully complete its preclinical studies or clinical trials; (iii) the extent and number and type of additional studies that the Company may be required to conduct and the Company's receipt of regulatory approvals for its therapeutic candidates, and the timing of other regulatory filings, approvals and feedback; (iv) the manufacturing, clinical development, commercialization, and market acceptance of the Company's therapeutic candidates and Talicia; (v) the Company's ability to successfully commercialize and promote Movantik, Talicia and Aemcolo; (vi) the Company's ability to establish and maintain corporate collaborations; (vii) the Company's ability to acquire products approved for marketing in the U.S. that achieve commercial success and build and sustain its own marketing and commercialization capabilities; (viii) the interpretation of the properties and characteristics of the Company's therapeutic candidates and the results obtained with its therapeutic candidates in research, preclinical studies or clinical trials; (ix) the implementation of the Company's business model, strategic plans for its business and therapeutic candidates; (x) the scope of protection the Company is able to establish and maintain for intellectual property rights covering its therapeutic candidates and commercial products and its ability to operate its business without infringing the intellectual property rights of others; (xi) parties from whom the Company licenses its intellectual property defaulting in their obligations to the Company; (xii) estimates of the Company's expenses, future revenues, capital requirements and needs for additional financing; (xiii) the effect of patients suffering adverse events using investigative drugs under the Company's Expanded Access Program; and (xiv) competition from other companies and technologies within the Company's industry. More detailed information about the Company and the risk factors that may affect the realization of forward-looking statements is set forth in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC on March 4, 2020. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date of this press release. The Company assumes no obligation to update any written or oral forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise unless required by law.

Company contact:

Adi Frish

Senior VP Business Development & Licensing

RedHill Biopharma

+972-54-6543-112

adi@redhillbio.com (mailto:adi@redhillbio.com) IR contact (U.S.):

Timothy McCarthy, CFA, MBA

Managing Director, Relationship Manager

LifeSci Advisors, LLC

+1-212-915-2564

tim@lifesciadvisors.com (mailto:tim@lifesciadvisors.com)

_____________________________

1 Opaganib is an investigational new drug, not available for commercial distribution.

2 Xia C. et al. Transient inhibition of sphingosine kinases confers protection to influenza A virus infected mice. Antiviral Res. 2018 Oct; 158:171-177. Ebenezer DL et al. Pseudomonas aeruginosa stimulates nuclear sphingosine-1-phosphate generation and epigenetic regulation of lung inflammatory injury. Thorax. 2019 Jun;74.

4 Full prescribing information for Talicia.

5 Full prescribing information for Aemcolo.
After two of the three contentious agriculture bills were passed in the Rajya Sabha on Sunday by voice vote amid protests from the Opposition, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, calling it a watershed moment in the history of Indian agriculture. Similar media and government hype followed the three ordinances in June, branding them transformational for the uplift of agriculture.

This rhetoric notwithstanding, most farmer organisations, barring a handful owing allegiance to the RSS and BJP, hit the streets in protest against the ordinances. Lathicharge and use of force on a peaceful assembly of farmers at Pipli near Kurukshetra recently was saddening and depressing in equal parts, exposing the repulsive face of the regime in Haryana. Farmers anger is on the boil, forcing the BJPs docile and loyal ally, the Shiromani Akali Dal, to exit the Union cabinet, exposing the limits to which the attractive package of government propaganda and media hype can conceal hideous reality.

DISSENT UNDER LOCKDOWN

If eyebrows are being raised at the haste with which the Centre issued these ordinances in June during the lockdown without waiting for detailed deliberations or approval for these ordinances from Parliament, the worst was yet to come.

Unsure of its numbers, the ruling party was rescued by the fiat of the deputy chairman getting the farm bills rushed through the Rajya Sabha via a voice vote, short-circuiting the Opposition protests or pleas for a division of vote.

On a black Sunday, it appeared free discussion and dissent was under lockdown in our polity. By getting these farm bills passed by Parliament, the Centre has transgressed into the states domain of managing agriculture, which is on the concurrent list under the Constitution.

GOVERNMENT INTENT SUSPECT

The two controversial farm bills deregulate the stipulation of farmers having to sell their crops in mandis designated under the Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) Act, giving them liberty to sell their crops in agricultural trade areas. Corporate players can now buy farmers produce in these agri-trade areas, obviating the intermediary layer of arhtiyas/commission agents and APMC mandis. While mandis would continue to levy market fee, cess and other charges, all agricultural transactions in the agri-trade areas are exempt from such charges. Vesting of powers to resolve payment and other disputes with the local SDMs and revisionary/appellate jurisdiction with senior government officers under the new legislation, bypassing the judicial hierarchy, makes the government intent to ensure fairness of procedure suspect, as government officers have less autonomy as compared to judicial officers.

SPOOKED BY BIHAR EXPERIMENT

An arhtiya acts as a non-formal bank, financing the farmer for family emergencies besides fending for sundry arrangements for crop such as weighing, cleaning, transporting and coordinating with procuring agencies. Instead of addressing the infirmities of the arhtiya system, dismantling the same without an alternative would be painful to all stakeholders.

Though the government maintains that the MSP regime would remain intact in mandis, its clear that on account of the huge tax differential between the mandis and new agri-trade areas, mandis will wither away in a short period. The farmers are spooked by a similar Bihar experiment in 2006, where farmers are exploited and fleeced by private businessmen with mandis out of the procurement equation.

The Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, is an enabling legislation for facilitating contract farming. Past experience shows that in a surplus year when there is glut in supply of agricultural produce in markets, rates tend to nosedive below rates contracted between farmers and companies. Instead of honouring the contract and incurring loss, companies adopt the stratagem of nitpicking in quality such as moisture, lustre, and shrivelled grain, harassing farmers.

IN INTEREST OF CORPORATE SHARKS

Section 4 of the Essential Commodities Act has already been amended, deregulating stock limits on cereals, pulses, onions, potatoes, edible oil and oilseeds, except for dire situations of war, natural calamity or inordinate price rise.

It is feared that big corporate sharks will hoard these essential commodities on the arrival of crops, create artificial scarcity and sell at exorbitant rates later, hitting the average consumer the hardest.

Through the new agriculture legislation, the government has furthered the interests of corporate sharks at the cost of farmers, denying them statutorily guaranteed procurement of crops at the MSP.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has given an apt description of these black laws, calling them death warrants against farmers. choudhrykiran@gmail.com

Tosham Congress MLA Kiran Choudhry. (HT Photo)

The writer is a senior Haryana Congress leader and MLA from Tosham. Views expressed are personal
The global economy is expected to contract by 4.3 per cent this year, hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, which will wipe out global output worth over USD 6 trillion, a UN report said on Tuesday. Output in India is expected to shrink by 5.9 per cent in 2020, before rebounding to 3.9 per cent the next year, it added. The lockdown has parachuted economists into unfamiliar territory, as the current situation is not like a war economy nor is it traditional supply-side constraints or a financial crisis threatening banking sector, said the UNCTAD 'Trade and Development Report 2020 - From global pandemic to prosperity for all: Avoiding another lost decade'.

"In a global health crisis, putting lives before profits has triggered a series of simultaneous and mutually reinforcing supply, demand and financial shocks. "In the wake of these shocks the global economy will contract by an estimated 4.3 per cent this year, leaving global output by year's end over USD 6 trillion short (in current US dollars) of what economists had expected it to be before the Covid-19 pathogen began to spread," said the UNCTAD report.

The global economy had entered dangerous waters by late 2019 and the growth was slowing across all regions with a number of economies contracting in the final quarter. There was a widely shared expectation that things would improve in 2020, led by an expected rebound in the large emerging economies, with global growth returning to its long-run potential in 2021. In short, the world is grappling with the equivalent of a complete wipeout of the Brazilian, Indian and Mexican economies, it said. Trade will shrink by around one-fifth this year, foreign direct investment flows by up to 40 per cent and remittances will drop by over USD 100 billion, it added.

The biggest falls in output will be in the developed world, with some likely to register a double-digit decline, the UN report said. "But the greatest economic and social damage will be in the developing world where levels of informality are high, there is continued reliance on a few commodities or tourism as a source of foreign exchange, and fiscal and policy space is limited," it warned.

The report expects Latin America to be hit with 7.6 per cent drop in output and more declines, possibly in double digits, for largest economies such as Argentina and Mexico. This contrasts with East Asia, where growth will remain in positive territory, albeit much lower than in 2019. China, for example, is expected to grow at 1.3 per cent. Output in India is expected to shrink by 5.9 per cent in 2020, before rebounding to 3.9 per cent the next year, it said.

"Next year will likely see a rebound. However, it will be uneven within and across countries and uncertainty will persist," UNCTAD Secretary-General Mukhisa Kituyi said in the report. Unemployment will be on an upward trend, more and more companies will be facing the threat of bankruptcy; supply chains will be fragile; confidence will be shaken and demand will be weak, Kituyi said.

"In this condition, the wrong policy steps - and ignoring the experience of the last decade - could trigger further shocks which would not only derail recovery but could usher in a lost decade," the official added. Kituyi said the global economic crisis caused by COVID-19 throws up a stark choice  continue misguided policy choices or collectively chart a new path that leads from recovery to a more resilient, more equal and more environmentally sustainable world in line with the ambition of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

"Neither path is preordained. Building a better world is a matter of conviction and collective action. The lives of future generations and of the planet itself will depend on the choices we all take over the coming months," he said. ? Despite massive relief packages adopted by advanced economies and the medical community coming together in search of a vaccine, "uncertainty abounds" and "anxiety persists", the report said.

Additional waves of infection and death cannot be ruled out, it added. The UN trade body said the overall impact on employment this year due to lockdown, temporary relief and return to work is difficult to gauge.

It expects about 90-120 million people to be pushed into extreme poverty in the developing world. Hunger and malnutrition are certain to follow and income gaps will widen everywhere.

"These developments point toward a massive uptick in sickness and death," it added. Hope of a rapid economic bounce-back from a scientific breakthrough  in the form of an effective and widely available vaccine  cannot blind us to other man-made dangers ahead, the report said.

If governments opt for premature fiscal tightening in an attempt to bring down public debt and businesses adopt an aggressive cost-cutting strategy in an attempt to boost exports, the recovery will likely fizzle out, with a double-dip recession a real possibility in many countries in 2022, it added.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 21

Trend:

The aggressive rhetoric and provocations of Armenia show that Armenia is preparing for a new aggression against Azerbaijan, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said during his speech at a high-level meeting to mark the 75th anniversary of the United Nations held on the sidelines of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Trend reports.

"We call on the UN and international community to urge Armenia to refrain from another military aggression, Azerbaijani president said.

The head of state noted that all responsibility lies on the military-political leadership of Armenia for instigating provocations and escalation of tension.

"Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict must be resolved on the basis of Azerbaijans territorial integrity according to the UN Security Council Resolutions, Azerbaijani president said.
Mark A Silverman DC is named the president of Dade County Chiropractic Society.

Mark A Silverman DC is named the president of Dade County Chiropractic Society. The Dade County Chiropractic Society is the local chapter of the Florida Chiropractic Association. The DCCS serves as a channel of communication both to increase awareness and facilitate calls to action on behalf of members and the FCA's efforts to address and solve issues affecting chiropractic professionals.



Mark A Silverman DC named president of Dade County Chiropractic Society

Bilingual highest rated chiropractor

Locations in South Florida

Services offered

With over 45 years practicing in Miami, Dr. Silverman has been involved in creating a not-for-profit company called Health For Everyone. This non-for-profit has given thousands of dollars in free treatment and other services to the poor and elderly in Miami Dade County. Hes on the board of City Reach which is a group thats part of his church that still feeds hundreds of families a month.

Mark A Silvermans offices are the highest-rated bilingual chiropractic offices in South Florida. Not only is it cost-effective to get treatments, but patients also get a fully bilingual team who are hands-on. As well, each treatment plan is unique to the individual. Mark A Silverman DC offers a full rehab program to help the individual and provide a free consultation.

Mark A Silverman DC and his team offer chiropractic adjustments, spinal manipulation, x-rays, cold laser therapy, electric muscle stimulation, microcurrent therapy, ultrasound, chiropractic massage, physical therapy, and massage therapy to treat all causes of pain and discomfort.

Silverman Chiropractics has locations all over south Florida to ensure each person in the region can have access to chiropractic care. Their locations are located in Miami, 946 SW 82nd Ave, Miami, FL 33144; Hialeah, 709 E 9th St, Hialeah, FL 33010 and Homestead, 46 N Homestead Blvd, Homestead, FL 33030. No matter where you are located, you will be able to find a Mark A Silverman DC office near you.

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With over 35 years of chiropractic care excellence, Silverman chiropractic works with the best medical specialist who will provide all patients with personalized post-accident care. On top of our world-class treatments, Mark A Silverman DC chiropractic care knows how important it is that each patient secures competent medical/legal assistance.

Laura Torres

06/22/2020

(786)566-2064

Laura@livemediadigital.com
The signing of the normalization agreements between Israel, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain  with other states supposedly on the way  offers endless business opportunities for the participating countries, including the United States. One of the emerging deals involves the sale of F-35 stealth fighter jets to the UAE. That deal in return could also generate business opportunities, this time for Israeli companies.

To date, the United States has avoided formalizing this F-35 deal, not least because of Israeli opposition. Israel has its own squadron of stealth fighters, provided by the United States to ensure its longstanding commitment that Israel will maintain a qualitative military advantage in the region.

Rumors about the F-35 deal emerged shortly after the Aug. 13 announcement on the agreement between Israel and the UAE. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office pushed back on these reports. It claimed that Israel has neither consented nor moved on its stance that putting Americas most advanced weapon in the hands of any of its Arab neighbors could significantly alter the regions power balance. Israel did not change its consistent positions against the sale to any country in the Middle East of weapons and defense technologies that could tip the balance, the premiers office said in a statement Aug. 18. Nevertheless, US President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash have confirmed that the deal is still on the table.

All sides attempted to keep this contradiction in versions on low fire. But according to a Sept. 4 report in The New York Times, Netanyahu had indeed lifted his opposition to the sale in exchange for the normalization accord. The report claimed that this came in tandem with his agreement to stop the annexation of settlements in the West Bank.

On Sept. 21, Minister of Defense Benny Gantz left for a series of meetings with Secretary of Defense Mark Esper and various members of the US defense establishment. On the agenda are the implications such a deal would have on the region.

According to one Israeli security source, if it turns out that the UAE will, in fact, be receiving the advanced fighter jets, Gantz will make two requests. The first is for permission to sell advanced Israeli weapons systems, developed jointly with the United States, to the UAE and Bahrain, including drones developed by the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Rafael. The second is to allow Israel to purchase advanced systems from the United States, to ensure that it maintains its qualitative advantage, as well as for additional American investment in Israeli defense systems, such as the Arrow missile and Iron Dome. Both are used to shoot down incoming rockets and missiles.

Also, Israeli defense industries stand to benefit from the sale of American F-35 fighter jets to the UAE in a roundabout way. The financial paper Calcalist reports that it is likely that the wings of the jets sent to the UAE will be manufactured by the IAI, which is already one of the three manufacturers of the stealth fighters wings.

Lockheeds factory in Texas is used to manufacture the jets used by the Israeli air force, as well as the US Navy and Marines, while a factory in Italy is used to produce jets for NATO. According to Lockheed Martins internal division of labor, the Israeli factory in Lod is intended to manufacture jet wings for jets produced for other countries.

The cost of a pair of wings per jet stands at roughly $3 million; so far, the IAI has produced over 100 pairs, and has negotiated a $2.5 billion contract with Lockheed to produce another 800 pairs. Nevertheless, the contract has yet to be finalized.

Last year, the IAI and Lockheed Martin held a ceremony on the IAI production line to mark the delivery of the 100th pair of wings for the F-35. The ceremony took place in the presence of representatives from Lockheed Martin, the Ministry of Defense and others.

First founded in November 2015, the IAIs Center for the Installation of Wings on Advanced Fighter Jets has an international reputation for excellence. In December 2018, the IAI inaugurated an innovative robotic assembly line to produce skins for the F-35 wings. This expanded cooperation between Lockheed Martin and its Israeli partner. At the time, Nimrod Sheffer, CEO of IAI, said that collaboration with Lockheed Martin is of enormous strategic and economic importance, and that it is a sign that Lockheed Martin and the US administration recognize IAI as an international leader in the industry.

Another beneficiary of the deal is Elbit Systems, whose advanced helmet, manufactured with Collins Aerospace in the United States, can be found in every F-35. The helmet offers pilots flight and target data on an eyepiece, to assist them in guiding their missiles. The cost per unit is roughly $400,000. Last year, Elbit signed a $352 deal with the US Air Force to provide it with these helmets.

Of course, the deal with the Gulf states extends beyond the F-35. Branches of the IAI dealing in weapons systems and cyberwarfare have been working with the Gulf states for two decades now. Most of these deals were made secretly, through a third party. Now that the normalization agreements have been signed, it is expected that trade between the United States, Israel and the UAE will expand further, both for commercial reasons and as a means of strengthening the strategic alliance against the Iranian threat.
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Linkedin Fadli (The Jakarta Post) Batam  Tue, September 22, 2020 07:44 487 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c4646f9c 1 SE Asia Malaysia,Indonesia,malaysia-indonesia,undocumented-foreigners,illegal-migrants,migrants,Johor Free

Six people  five of whom have been identified as Indonesian nationals  were found dead in Johor, Malaysia, after a boat they used to illegally enter the country was reportedly involved in an accident.

Local authorities discovered the six bodies  four men and two women  at around 5 a.m. on Sunday.

Anang Fauzi Firdaus, consul for information, social and cultural affairs at the Indonesian Consulate General in Johor Bahru, said the office had coordinated with Kota Tinggi Police in Johor to obtain more information on the case.

According to the information given by the police, five of six victims have been identified as Indonesian nationals. They allegedly tried to enter [Malaysia] illegally using a boat and got into an accident, Anang said.

He said the Royal Malaysian Police had apprehended nine Indonesian nationals who were believed to have been on the same boat as the six victims and survived the incident.

The nine people were currently detained by Malaysian Immigration officials for an investigation.

[The consulate general] in Johor Bahru will keep coordinating with the local authorities on the handling of the six [bodies] and [provide] consular assistance for the other nine citizens, Anang added.

At the time of writing, authorities still could not state with certainty the number of Indonesians who had departed on the boat as some may still be missing.

Indonesian Ambassador to Malaysia Hermono said the undocumented migrants originated from various regions in the archipelago.

They come from different regions, but they headed to Johor Baru from Tanjung Uban, Bintan regency [Riau islands], Hermono told The Jakarta Post.

While the COVID-19 pandemic has largely put a freeze on migration, Hermono was not certain whether the flow of undocumented migrants from Indonesia to Malaysia had stopped entirely.

Riau Island Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Harry Goldenhart, however, claimed that the Riau Police had prevented several human smuggling efforts to Malaysia during the COVID-19 pandemic.

There are plenty of ways used by immigrants who wish to go [to Malaysia]. We dont want to be considered as failing to notice, since we have put our maximum effort into anticipating it, including performing numerous operations [to prevent smuggling], Harry said. (trn)
Oregon Deputies Make 21 Arrests in Areas Affected by Wildfires

Deputies in a single county in Oregon have made 21 arrests this month alone in zones under evacuation notice due to wildfires.

Suspects face charges including criminal trespass, burglary, possession of stolen property, felon in possession of a restricted weapon, and drug possession, the Clackamas County Sheriffs Office said.

The suspects were caught in evacuation Level 2 and 3 fire zones between Sept. 8 and Sept. 21.

Fifty-four criminal reports were taken in the zone, from 743 activity calls, including calls for traffic stops and suspicious vehicle stops.

In one case, a resident of Estacada called 911 just before 11 a.m. on Sept. 10 to report a maroon SUV with three passengers in his driveway.

The subjects fled the scene but deputies tracked the vehicle down. The driver said the group had been camping but there was no camping gear in the vehicle.

Deputies found the driver had a suspended license and one passenger had a warrant out for her arrest.

Tools stolen from a home in Clackamas County, Ore., on Sept. 11, 2020. (Clackamas County Sheriffs Office)

A search of the vehicle uncovered a backpack full of drug paraphernalia and methamphetamine as well as burglary tools.

The three suspects were arrested, including two for possessing heroin.

The next day, deputies responded to a report of two suspicious people possibly walking onto a property near Mulino and found theyd stolen two gas-powered generators, a box of hand tools, and at least one gas can.

The suspects were arrested and charged with theft and burglary.

Wildfires have consumed over one million acres in Oregon in recent months.

Clackamas County, which has more than 375,000 residents, borders Multnomah County, which includes Portland.

Almost 5,000 county residents are being kept from their homes because of ongoing fires, Clackamas County Commissioner Martha Schrader told reporters at a press conference on Monday.

Margi Wyatt (R) is comforted by mobile home park manager Valerie after Wyatt returned to the RV park to find her home destroyed by wildfire, in Estacada, Ore., on Sept. 12, 2020. (Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images)

A curfew is in place in some areas so emergency workers can move around safely, Clackamas County Sheriff Craig Roberts said.

Roberts said he wanted to reassure the public that the office was coordinating heavy patrol staffing levels in evacuated areas.

Two suspicious fires are under investigation, a vehicle fire and a barn fire.

A 14-year-old suspect was arrested on suspicion of starting the latter.

I want to make it perfectly clear that these two fires are not connected [to] the larger wildfires. Furthermore, theres no evidence to show any connection to any group or organization, he said.

Again, I encourage the public if they had see suspicious vehicles or individuals in the community call 911. Our response time is right now approximately three minutes and again, its an incredible amount of patrol out there keeping our communities safe.

Remains of mobile homes smolder at the Clackamas River RV Park in Estacada, Ore., on Sept. 14, 2020. (Nathan Howard/Getty Images)

At least six people have been arrested on arson charges in Oregon since July, while others have been taken into custody for alleged looting and other crimes.

Armed men were spotted patrolling some evacuated areas in the county and signs warned looters they would be shot.

Three men were cited last week for manning an illegal roadblock in Multnomah County.

Roberts told reporters last week that calls for service skyrocketed 400 percent from the previous week, but the vast majority of calls turned out to be unfounded.

I want to reassure everybody that we are on this. And I encourage you if you see anything suspicious to call us. The other thing I want to point out is Ive been out there personally, the evacuation area, there are very few people out there, he said. So our law enforcement officers, if we see somebody out there, they stand out like a sore thumb, and were all over it. So I want to continue to reassure the community that we are doing our very best to keep your homes and property safe while youre gone.

Roberts warned people that it was illegal to stop somebody at gunpoint and said something tragic could happen if a person overreacted.
Former President John Dramani Mahama, NDC Flagbearer for 2020 elections on Monday began a four-day campaign tour of the Bono Region.



Accompanied by NDC General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, Campaign Manager Professor Joshua Alabi, former Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah and Special Aide Joyce Bawah Mogtari, the former President made his first stop at Nchira in the Wenchi constituency, where he interacted with farmers and chiefs.



In his remarks, Mr. Mahama explained his plans to modernise agriculture through improved services to be provided by mechanization centres in various districts.



According to him, the centres would be established in all farming zones to help increase yield and income levels of farmers and pledged to prioritize the completion of all abandoned projects, particularly in the road, education and health sectors.



Former President Mahama said the stoppage of work on various projects had caused financial loss to the state and worsened the plight of contractors and the beneficiary communities.



Mr Asiedu-Nketiah said they would roll out a National Apprenticeship Programme, explaining that the initiative would target some 500,000 youth who would benefit from skills training and receive start-up packs to start their own businesses.



He said the John Mahama administration would set up agro-processing factories to add value to crops for export to boost revenue generation.



On the agri- business sector, he added, it would open up job opportunities in the value chain.



Former President Mahama will visit Subinso, Wenchi, Badu, Nsawkaw and Brohani on Monday, where he will among others interact with cashew farmers.

Source: GNA









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"Vissarion the Teacher", or "Jesus of Siberia", is Russian ex-traffic cop Sergei Torop - ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP via Getty Images

Russian security agents have conducted a sweeping raid on an isolated messianic cult and arrested its leader, dubbed Jesus of Siberia, who was at the helm of the group for nearly three decades.

Helicopters, dozens of vans and buses were deployed in the raid on the so-called "City of Sun," home to the Church of the Last Testament, in Siberia on Tuesday.

The cults leader, Sergei Torop who goes by the name of Vissarion, and two of his assistants were put on a helicopter and taken into custody.

Alexander Staroverov, a member of the church, earlier on Tuesday posted a video on social media, showing dozens of masked men with automatic weapons searching the remote settlement which is home to about 200 people.

Sergei Torop was arrested - ILYA NAYMUSHIN/CHANNEL 4

Mr Torop and two of his associates are facing charges of running a religious group that caused grievous bodily harm to its adherents, according to Russias top investigative body.

The Investigative Committee said in a statement that Mr Torop is suspected of taking funds from citizens by using psychological pressure on them in order to make profit from religious activities.

Mr Torop, a 59-year-old former traffic police officer, founded the Church of the Last Testament in 1991, claiming to be a reincarnation of Jesus Christ. The group claimed to have about 10,000 adherents who live in several remote communes in the south of the Krasnoyarsk region.

He led the Church of the Last Testament from 1991 until September 22, 2020 - Kirill Kukhmar\\TASS via Getty Images

In the 1990s, some of Vissarion's devotees died either by suicide or as a result of harsh living conditions and lack of medical care.

Mr Torop, who has long brown hair and trademark loose tunics, had refused to meet journalists over recent years.

The group rejects modern technology, calling for living in harmony with nature, barring its members from using money, drinking alcohol or smoking.

Russian authorities in recent years sought to crack down on non-Orthodox Christian denominations, mostly focusing on Jehovahs Witnesses while sects like the Church of the Last Testament were largely left alone.

The churchs headquarters, however, were searched in February in response to allegations of fraud in the commune.

Most recently, Mr Torops followers have described the coronavirus pandemic as a blessing, saying that requests to join their communities have skyrocketed since the outbreak began.
Conservative judge Amy Coney Barrett has emerged as a favourite to be nominated for the US Supreme Court by President Donald Trump, who wants to name his pick this week (Robert Franklin/South Bend Tribune/AP)

President Donald Trump met with Judge Amy Coney Barrett at the White House on Monday as the conservative jurist emerged as a favourite to replace the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the Supreme Court.

The moves signal the start of a monumental Senate confirmation fight over objections from Democrats that the appointment would come too close to the November election.

Mr Trump said he expected to announce his pick by the end of the week, before the courts liberal icon Ms Ginsburg is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

The president told reporters he was still going to be interviewing other candidates and might meet with Judge Barbara Lagoa when he travels to Florida later this week.

But Ms Barrett has long been favoured by conservatives, and those familiar with the process said interest inside the White House seemed to be waning for Ms Lagoa amid concerns by some that she did not have a proven record as a conservative jurist.

Democrats, led by presidential nominee Joe Biden, are protesting the Republicans rush to replace Ms Ginsburg, saying voters should speak first, on election day on November 3, and the winner of the White House should fill the vacancy.

Expand Close Donald Trump has been criticised by Democrats for fast-tracking the appointment of Ruth Bader Ginsburgs replacement (Alex Brandon/AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Donald Trump has been criticised by Democrats for fast-tracking the appointment of Ruth Bader Ginsburgs replacement (Alex Brandon/AP)

Mr Trump dismissed those arguments, telling Fox & Friends: I think that would be good for the Republican Party, and I think it would be good for everybody to get it over with.

The mounting clash over the vacant seat  when to fill it and with whom  injects new turbulence in the presidential campaign with the nation still reeling from the coronavirus pandemic that has killed nearly 200,000 Americans, left millions unemployed and heightened partisan tensions and anger.

Up until now, the race has been largely a referendum on how Mr Trump has managed or mismanaged the Covid-19 pandemic.

Democrats point to hypocrisy in Republicans trying to rush through a pick so close to the election after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell led the GOP in refusing to vote on a nominee of President Barack Obama in February 2016, long before that years election.

Expand Close U.S. Circuit Judge Barbara Lagoa is also in the running (Florida Supreme Court/AP) / Facebook

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Mr Biden is appealing to GOP senators to uphold your constitutional duty, your conscience and wait until after the election.

Conversations in the White House and Mr McConnells office have been increasingly focused on Ms Barrett and Ms Lagoa, according to a person granted anonymity to discuss the private deliberations.

An appellate court judge, Ms Barrett was a strong contender for the seat that eventually went to Brett Kavanaugh in 2018. At the time, Mr Trump told confidants he was saving Ms Barrett for Ms Ginsburgs seat.

Ms Lagoa has been pushed by some aides who tout her political advantages of being Hispanic and hailing from the key political battleground state of Florida.

Expand Close A shrine on the footpath outside the Supreme Court in Washington honours the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg (Cliff Owen/AP) / Facebook

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Mr Trump said he was planning to name his pick by Friday or Saturday, ahead of the first presidential election debate. With little more than a month before the election, Mr McConnell said the Senate had more than sufficient time.

No nominee has won confirmation so quickly since Sandra Day OConnor  with no opposition from either party  became the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court in 1981.

Ms Ginsburg, 87, died on Friday of metastatic pancreatic cancer. She will lie in state at the US Capitol this week, the first woman ever accorded that honour. First, her casket is to be on view mid-week on the steps of the high court.

She is to be buried next week in a private service at Arlington National Cemetery.
 Flash

China opened its embassy in the Solomon Islands on Monday, one year after the two countries established diplomatic relationship.

Chinese Ambassador Li Ming, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, Deputy Prime Minister Manasseh Maelanga, Speaker of the Parliament John Patteson Oti and Deputy Speaker Stanley Festus Sofu as well as government ministers and people from all walks of life attended the opening ceremony in Honiara, capital of the south Pacific island nation.

Ambassador Li said China and the Solomon Islands witnessed fruitful cooperation in many areas since the establishment of bilateral relations. China supported Solomons' socio-economic development and help local people improve living standard. The two countries also make joint efforts in fighting against COVID-19.

"The achievements scored by the two countries demonstrated the establishment of diplomatic ties conforms to the trend of the times and benefits the two peoples," Li said while addressing the ceremony.

The ambassador said opening embassy at the one-year ceremony of the diplomatic relations is another important milestone for both sides.

"The embassy will continue to work hard to push forward the development of the China-Solomon Islands relations, deepen the bilateral cooperation and connect the two peoples."

Prime Minister Sogavare said the establishment of diplomatic ties with China based on the one-China principle and relevant UN resolutions is "the right thing."

China and the Solomon Islands established diplomatic relations on Sept. 21, 2019. In a joint communique signed on that day, the Solomon Islands government recognises that there is but one China in the world, that the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China, and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory.

"It is a decision that the Government of Solomon Islands carefully and thoughtfully made after more than three decades of defying the clear position taken by the United Nations, and thereby placed Solomon Islands, as a member of the United Nations, in the right side of history," Sogavare said.

He said the Solomon Islands will adhere to the one-China principle and push forward the bilateral relationship. He also expressed gratitude for China's assistance in the areas of infrastructure construction, pandemic prevention and natural disasters relief.

Saying the opening of the Chinese Embassy marking a new era of relations, Sogavare hoped the embassy would become an important platform to promote the bilateral trade, investment and cultural exchanges, and boost strong growth of the relationship between the Solomon Islands and China.
On Monday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that a spending bill would help avoid a government shutdown. Officials were expected to finalize a move on Tuesday to pass the legislation to keep the United States government working until December 11.

House Democrats proposed the bill on Monday, which then sparked arguments within the GOP-controlled Senate. Tension within the Senate has increased after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced he would quickly move to fill the vacant seat in the Supreme Court after the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Baden Ginsburg.

Government shutdown

According to the Wall Street Journal, the spending bill will help avert a disastrous government shutdown amid a surge of infectious diseases and natural disasters. Pelosi said the short-term bill would give politicians enough time to discuss bipartisan legislation that would provide a full fiscal year's funding to the government.

Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin agreed to pass the temporary legislation to prevent a political disaster in early September. However, the bill became controversial on Monday when Democrats denied the proposal to include aid to farmers within the law.

McConnell criticized the bill's lack of funding aid for farmers and did not disclose whether Senate Republicans would vote to deny the legislation.

In a social media post, McConnell wrote that House Democrats shamefully left out farmers' aid from the government spending bill, which American farmers desperately needed amid the coronavirus pandemic. He added the situation was only made worse with the defunding of the workers.

Also Read: Donald Trump's Life in Danger? Woman Responsible For Sending Poisonous Ricin Letter to POTUS Arrested

Pat Roberts, the Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman, said the farm aid was something that farmer across the United States needed but noted that the government would not be shut down because of the dispute.

On Monday, Senate Republicans appeared to be closing in on how to proceed with the legislation regarding how close the funding deadline is. Alabama Senator Richard Shelby said he had plans to discuss the bill with leaders and see how conversations work out, as reported by The New York Times.

Removal of financial support

The farmers' aid would have included tens of billions of financial assistance to farmers, which was a critical provision that Trump's administration requested.

Democrats denied the aid arguing that President Trump could use the blank check in his political campaign.

According to Forbes, Democrats hoped to have $2 billion in funds to assist families with children going to school to buy necessities such as groceries amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. However, officials agreed to remove that provision from the legislation and the farmers' aid to more quickly reach a consensus.

While the talks are flowing smoothly, removing the financial supports could stir a clash within the Senate. On Sunday, Pelosi said that she would do everything she can to avoid a government shutdown. She added she would not take advantage of the spending bill as leverage in deciding the nominee for the Supreme Court seat.

It would not be the first the government has shut down in the United States if politicians disagree on the legislation. In 2019, President Trump forced a partial government shutdown that lasted for 35 days in an attempt to acquire over $5 billion in funding for his planned border wall between the United States and Mexico.

Related Article: Donald Trump Touts Israel Agreement to Gain Support For Reelection Campaign

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The rapid and sustained rise in electricity storage innovation shows that inventors and businesses are tackling the challenge of the energy transition. The patent data reveals that while Asia has a strong lead in this strategic industry, the U.S. and Europe can count on a rich innovation ecosystem,

According to a joint study published today by the European Patent Office (EPO) and the International Energy Agency (IEA), improving the capacity of electricity storage solutions is playing a key role in the transition to clean energy technologies. Between 2005 and 2018, patenting activity in batteries and other electricity storage technologies grew at an average annual rate of 14% worldwide, four times faster than the average for all technology fields (3.5%). U.S. firms are lagging, with the U.S. in fifth place behind Japan, South Korea, Europe and China in terms of the number of international patents in battery technology.

The report shows that in the early 2000s, the U.S. was still the second most active patent-filing country, with only Japanese firms filing more patents in this field. But in 2010-11 South Korea and Europe overtook the U.S., as has China more recently.

Looking at the longer term from 2000-18 shows a different ranking: the U.S. holds a share of 14.5% of all patent applications in batteries (No. 4) compared to 6.9% for China (No. 5). Japan has been dominating the technology with a 40.9% of all patents in batteries in that period.

Overall, more than 7,000 international patent families related to electricity storage were published in 2018, up from 1,000 in the year 2000. Between 2000 and 2018, nearly 90% of the inventions aiming to improve electricity storage focus on advancements in batteries, in particular lithium-ion (Li-ion) cells used in consumer electronic devices and electric cars, far outweighing electrical (9%), thermal (5%) and mechanical (3%) electricity storage solutions. In 2018, innovation in Li-ion cells accounted for 45% of patenting activity related to battery cells, compared with just 7% for cells based on other chemistries (e.g. lead acid and nickel).

In Li-ion batteries, the U.S. emerged as the third strongest force: From 2014 to 2018, the country was home to the inventors of 12% of all Li-ion patenting activities globally.

U.S. STRONG IN EMERGING STORAGE TECHNOLOGIES

While the U.S. has lost some ground in patenting battery technologies that are currently the most manufactured, they are stronger in potential next-generation batteries. In the emerging NCA (lithium nickel cobalt aluminium oxide) chemistry for Li-ion batteries, the U.S. is the clear leader with 36% of related international patent families. The current NMC (lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide) chemistry is expected to be replaced in due course with NCA as a promising alternative. NCA batteries are already being used by Panasonic and Tesla in electric vehicles.

In solid-state Li-ion battery patents  which could be an alternative to todays Li-ion batteries using liquid or polymer gel electrolytes in the next decade  U.S. companies hold a 18% share of all related patents, ranking No. 2 behind Japan. And in Redox flow batteries, the United States is the dominant innovation center, accounting for almost one-third of all international patent applications in that field.

Electricity storage technology is critical when it comes to meeting the demand for electric mobility and achieving the shift towards renewable energy that is needed if we are to mitigate climate change, said EPO President Antonio Campinos. The rapid and sustained rise in electricity storage innovation shows that inventors and businesses are tackling the challenge of the energy transition. The patent data reveals that while Asia has a strong lead in this strategic industry, the U.S. and Europe can count on a rich innovation ecosystem, including a large number of SMEs and research institutions, to help them stay in the race for the next generation of batteries.

IEA projections make it clear that energy storage will need to grow exponentially in the coming decades to enable the world to meet international climate and sustainable energy goals. Accelerated innovation will be essential for achieving that growth, said IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol. By combining the complementary strengths of the IEA and the EPO, this report sheds new light on todays innovation trends to help governments and businesses make smart decisions for our energy future.

While innovation in battery technology is still largely concentrated in a limited group of very large companies, in the U.S. smaller companies, universities and public research organisations play a much more significant role than in the other countries leading in battery technology: For the U.S., SMEs account for 34.4% and universities/research organisations for 13.8% of all related patents filed.

Technical progress and mass production in an increasingly mature industry have led to a significant drop in battery prices in recent years  by nearly 90% since 2010 in the case of Li-ion batteries for electric vehicles, and by around two-thirds over the same period for stationary applications, including electricity grid management. In a scenario in which the technological potential for second use of batteries is fully utilized, cost reductions by 2040 would lead to batteries being 70% less expensive than today.

FURTHER INFORMATION:

Read the full study

NOTES TO THE EDITORS:

International patent families: The patent analysis in this report is based on the concept of international patent families (IPFs). Each IPF represents a unique invention and includes patent applications filed and published in at least two countries or filed with and published by a regional patent office, as well as published international patent applications. IPFs represent inventions deemed important enough by the inventor to seek protection internationally, and only a relatively small percentage of applications actually meet this threshold. This concept can therefore be used as a sound basis for comparing international innovation activities, as it reduces the biases that may arise when comparing patent applications across different national patent offices.

ABOUT THE EPO

With nearly 7,000 staff, the European Patent Office (EPO) is one of the largest public service institutions in Europe. Headquartered in Munich with offices in Berlin, Brussels, The Hague and Vienna, the EPO was founded with the aim of strengthening co-operation on patents in Europe. Through the EPO's centralised patent granting procedure, inventors are able to obtain high-quality patent protection in up to 44 countries, covering a market of some 700 million people. The EPO is also the world's leading authority in patent information and patent searching.

ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL ENERGY AGENCY

The International Energy Agency (IEA) is at the heart of global dialogue on energy, providing authoritative analysis, data, policy recommendations, and real-world solutions to help countries bring about secure and sustainable energy for all. Taking an all-fuels, all-technologies approach, the IEA advocates policies that enhance the reliability, affordability and sustainability of energy. The IEA is supporting clean energy transitions all over the world in order to help achieve global sustainability goals.

#BatteryDay #BatteryDay2020 #BatteryInnovation
The top 10 most-searched-for flight destinations by Britons for summer 2021 holidays have been revealed in a new report by Skyscanner - and it's London that's number one, followed by Faro in Portugal, Dalaman in Turkey and Malaga in Spain.

The report, called The New World of Travel, is an exhaustive analysis of travel trends that brings together 'extensive travel data and expert opinions'. To determine the most popular destinations for next summer, Skyscanner looked at the places Britons were searching for the most for return economy class flights between August 18 and September 18, 2020, for travel from the UK between June 1 to August 31, 2021.

The rest of the top 10 comprises Alicante (fifth), Palma (sixth), Islamabad (seventh), Bangkok (eighth), Ibiza (ninth) and New York (10th).

The top 10 most-searched-for flight destinations by Britons for summer 2021 have been revealed - and it's London that's number one

The report also said that budget airlines are going to power the recovery in travel - and the winners in the long-term will be airlines, regardless of size, that put customers first, according to Hugh Aitken, VP of flights for Skyscanner.

Speaking exclusively to MailOnline Travel, he said: 'Low-cost carriers will be key to shaping the recovery of air travel, which is largely due to their financial structure, and in part shaped by travellers' perception of risk - especially in the UK, where a high volume of holiday travel has traditionally been to Europe via these low-cost carriers, who are now household names.

'Some of Europe's major low-cost airlines have led the way in adopting safety precautions and sharing transparent and clear policies to reinforce consumer confidence.

'Trust is the key element for any travel provider in the recovery. Larger airlines who prioritise consumer trust and are seen to be taking action to be transparent, understand their customers and protect their priorities will fare far better when business picks up.

'Those providers who put the customer first, communicated clearly and consistently - prioritising peace of mind when the pandemic hit have built confidence collateral that will stand them in good stead longer term.

'Customer confidence will remain lower than in 2019 for some time, and those who can say they acted with a traveller-first mindset during 2020 will be favoured in 2021 and beyond.'

Skyscanner looked at the places Britons were searching for the most between August 18 and September 18, 2020, for flights from the UK between June 1 to August 31, 2021. Faro in Portugal, pictured, is the second most-searched-for airport

The third most-searched-for flight destination by Britons on Skyscanner last month for travel next summer is the Dalaman area in Turkey, pictured

Malaga, pictured, is the fourth most-searched-for flight destination on Skyscanner by Britons for summer 2021

BRITONS' MOST SEARCHED FLIGHT DESTINATIONS FOR SUMMER 2021 1. London 2. Faro 3. Dalaman 4. Malaga 5. Alicante 6. Palma 7. Islamabad 8. Bangkok 9. Ibiza 10. New York Source: Skyscanner Advertisement

He continued: 'While no airline has been immune to the impact that Covid-19 has had on the travel sector, low-cost carriers have arguably been better insulated compared to some of their full-service carrier competitors.

'Low-cost carriers' low margins and agile business approach, combined with short-haul, domestic and regional travel currently being a driving force for recovery, mean they're well-positioned.'

The report also gleaned from Skyscanner's data that female travellers are more inclined to book a holiday than male (55 per cent) and those with children more likely to book a break than those without (54 per cent).

Extended getaways are the order of the day, according to the travel site, with 35 per cent of 1,000 people surveyed in a poll it conducted saying they would use their first holiday to take a long trip.

And 14 per cent said they wanted to use their first trip since lockdown to explore new places, with another 14 per cent saying they wanted their first trip to be about 'getting away from it all'.

The flexible attitude adopted by travel providers during 2020, meanwhile, is one that has been 'wholly embraced' in the UK, with 11 per cent of holidaymakers departing less than a week after booking.

The report added: 'With some airline change fees currently waived or greatly reduced, and an increase in interest for flexible tickets on Skyscanner, jetting off at short notice will be a continuing trend well into 2021.'

Skyscanner revealed that the UK is 'tentatively returning to travel'.

Total August searches for international travel in 2020 and 2021 'were only 10 per cent less than the monthly average for 2019, reflecting the pent-up wanderlust that we all know is out there'.

Skyscanner added that searches and intent levels in the UK are 'neither the highest nor lowest of all the major countries analysed'.

Jo McClintock, Skyscanner's brand director, said: 'We are seeing a highly responsive UK travel community at present, rapidly adapting to the continuously evolving landscape and changing travel restrictions.

'Searches and bookings are lower than 2019 levels, but we are seeing growing interest in 2021 travel. July is the most booked month for travel in 2021 indicating a desire to recreate the postponed events and summer plans abroad.

'What we are seeing is that mainstay favourites such as New York, Bangkok and the most popular Spanish destinations are back in the top searches for longer-term planning, revealing a faith that travellers will be able to return safely again.'

Jo McClintock, Skyscanner's brand director, said 'mainstay favourites such as New York are back in the top searches for longer-term planning'

The Duke of Sussex, a co-founder of Travalyst along with Skyscanner, said travel can and should be a catalyst for good

Looking at global travel trends, Skyscanner said searches for one-way travel 'continue to trend upward, with domestic travel intent increasing globally against a backdrop of changing travel restrictions'.

It added: 'Amid ongoing uncertainty, travellers around the world are also looking to get away in much shorter timeframes than ever before.

'Search patterns for domestic, regional and international flights indicate that recovery will be multi-speed, tied to the global economy and driven by low-cost carriers. At the same time, the decline in business travel revenues for other airlines calls for a rethink of this part of the industry. '

Skyscanner's research also reveals that sustainable travel is no longer a priority.

However, the Duke of Sussex, a co-founder of Travalyst along with Skyscanner, said that travel can and should be a catalyst for good.

He explained: 'Recovery is vital for the security and prosperity of millions of communities, but recovery cannot just mean a return to the way things used to be.

'Travel can and should be a catalyst for good. It can be sustainable, ethical and even regenerative. It's our collective responsibility to ensure that the industry that is reborn out of this pandemic is one that gives back more than it takes away.'

Skyscanner added: 'The sector has a unique opportunity to redesign old travel patterns for the benefit of local communities, the environment and tourists alike. Skyscanner is pioneering new ways to encourage more conscious and meaningful trips as the new shape of travel emerges.'

Visits to the Skyscanner website, owned by Trip.com Group Ltd, are down by 60 to 70 per cent due to the pandemic's impact on travel demand, Aitken told Reuters.

And the International Air Transport Association said passenger travel demand was down 79.8 per cent in July from a year earlier and forecasts it will take until 2024 for travel to return to pre-crisis levels.
The statement said: To further reinforce what was stated before, the Mayor held a call on March 24, which the Chicago Tribune was present on, where she not only again clarified previous remarks but made explicitly clear that ticketing is continuing during the pandemic, and reiterated there would be an emphasis on public safety reasons. To make it even more clear to reporters, the Mayor again explicitly stated that this does not mean that there is free parking all over the city. On top of that, the Mayor stated that residents will continue to have to feed the meter during this time, which was reported by another media outlet also on the call.
Yazidi's women attend a ceremony at Lilash Temple to commemorate the death of women who were killed by Islamic State militants, during the International Women Day, in Shikhan

Yazidi women at a ceremony to commemorate the death of women killed by the Islamic State in Shikham, Iraq, on March 8, 2019. Credit - Ari JalalReuters

Christina Lamb first met the Yazidi survivors of ISIS in August 2016 in a derelict mental asylum on the Greek island of Leros, which the European Union had declared a hotspot in the refugee crisis. It was there that she heard stories from young women who had been bought and sold, raped and traded dozens of times over by ISIS fighters intent on exterminating their people. Their experiences, she says, were worse than anything she had heard in more than three decades of working as a foreign correspondent.

It was an unexpected invitation to a wedding in Pakistan in 1987 that led to Lamb becoming a war correspondent by accident. She joinedThe Sunday Times in the U.K. as a foreign correspondent in 1994 , reporting everywhere from South Africa to Syria. In 2013, she was awarded an OBE by the Queen for services to journalism. Lambs latest book, Our Bodies, Their Battlefields: War Through the Lives of Women, draws on her lifelong interest in telling the underreported stories of women, particularly in the male-dominated world of foreign correspondent journalism. Lamb spent years in Afghanistan, covering the Soviet-Afghan War and the U.S. invasion, detailed in her 2015 book Farewell Kabul: From Afghanistan To A More Dangerous World. So many people were trying to still have as normal a life as possible: getting married, looking after children, looking after the elderly  and the majority of people doing that were women, Lamb says. To me, that was equally, or more interesting, than the men doing the fighting.

In her new book, Lamb goes further to explore the hidden costs of war on women. The U.N. estimates that for every one rape reported in connection with a conflict, a further 10 to 20 cases go undocumented. (It is difficult to collect accurate data on rape in wartime due to the stigma around sexual violence and the instability of police and authorities during crises.) In countries including Burundi, Colombia and South Sudan, the U.N. found that gender-based violence had increased significantly in a 2019 report; reporting rates in Yemen increased by as much as 70% in some areas in 2018.

Story continues

Read More: Survivors of Wartime Rape Are Refusing to Be Silenced

Our Bodies, Their Battlefields spans several different countries and instances where rape has been used as a weapon of war and conflict, whether its in the case of Yazidi women imprisoned by ISIS, or the Chibok schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram in Northern Nigeria, or the Rohingya women fleeing genocide in Myanmar. With each of these cases, Lamb interviews survivors of atrocities, dedicating space to their harrowing individual stories in their own voices. She speaks to doctors, experts, lawyers and ordinary people, all pursuing justice for crimes that have for too long and too often gone unpunished. TIME spoke to Lamb about her experience of foreign reporting, survivors pursuit of justice, and what gives her faith in humanity.

TIME: Histories and contemporary reporting on conflict is usually dominated by white men. What gets lost when we only have one set of voices telling these stories?

Lamb: It gives a really distorted picture of what is going on. War isnt just the fighting, it is people trying to keep their lives together when all hell is breaking loose around them. I think thats more interesting to me than the actual bang bang. When I started, there was no Internet, no mobiles and I never saw the papers that I was writing for. I didnt have much sense of what other people were covering. I would say in more recent years, I realized that there were not so many women reporting these things and that I had a responsibility to tell those stories.

Why do you think that you have witnessed more brutality against women in recent years compared to the rest of your career?

Unfortunately its very easy to use rape or sexual violence as a weapon of war. Its very effective, and its very cheap: it doesnt cost anything. In the last few years, Ive just seen much more horrific brutality against women than I had seen in all the previous years and decades I had been reporting. That seemed really odd to me, that in the 21st century, this is a war crime and yet it seems to be happening more and more. It was the Yazidis that really impacted me, because those girls had been taken very young, and had been traded in latter day slave markets with ISIS fighters who had come and chosen them.

At the same time, the Chibok girls were kidnapped from a school and that became a big story, but actually when you went to northern Nigeria and investigated, you found that actually tens of thousands of girls were being abducted by Boko Haram and kept as so called bush wives and, again, rapes and terrible things were happening to them. And then, in 2017, the Rohingya women coming from Burma into Bangladesh; I went there and met them and heard their stories of how they were tied to banana trees and gang raped by Burmese soldiers. So these things seemed to be one after another. It made me very upset, very angry, and also baffled, because it wasnt as though people didnt know. We were all reporting this, and yet it didnt seem to make any difference. Thats why I wrote the book because I thought that somebody needs to document just how wide scale it is and ask: Why is it still happening? Why is it so difficult for people to get justice?

You write that women have long been seen as spoils of war. What has been the historic attitude towards rape in conflict, and are these attitudes are changing?

Some people will say, well, theres always been rape and war and always will be. In some senses, thats true: in a war, normal laws dont apply anymore. But the recent cases that I was looking at were deliberate. Rape was actually deliberately used as a weapon. In the case of ISIS ideologically, people were ordered or told that the Yazidis were devil worshippers and that they should be raped and kept as slaves. In each of these cases, there were specific orders to do this. Thats quite different in a way than people just taking advantage of the chaos.

Our Bodies, Their Battlefields features voices of survivors of atrocities from all different parts of the world, who endured trauma under different circumstances and at different points in time. On the individual level, were there any commonalities between their experiences?

I talked to women from so many different countries, and although they had gone through different experiences, the most important thing said they wanted justice. That meant different things to different people. For some people it meant acknowledgement of what happened to them. Others wanted the person brought to justice and locked up, and make sure that hes never able to do it again. Many of them said that they would rather have died, because what happened to them was so awful. Thats really terribly sad.

Where people have found things that help the women to start new life, often those are the same things. What happened to women in Srebrenica was 25 years ago, and yet they discovered that working with horticulture and growing roses was very therapeutic. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the women I was talking to said that its helpful for women to grow things. It feels like people are trying different things and coming to the same conclusion. But theres not enough communication. Theres a lot of people in different countries going through this.

Simon & Schuster

From your experience, are there any cases that give you hope that there can be an end to rapists impunity?

When you go back through history and look at even recent history in the Second World War, its very shocking because there was no justice. There was no justice for the so-called comfort women kept by the Japanese army, or the more than a million German women raped by the Soviet Army during World War Two. And yet people look at the Nuremberg trials as an example of international justice, and that really brings home that at the end of wars, people often dont think about the women. They just think about the end of the crisis, and that goes to the whole issue that theres not enough women in peace negotiations.

But there have been some positive cases. I was surprised that the first place to ever get rape prosecuted as a war crime was in Rwanda in 1998, where a group of women managed to get prosecution of the mayor of a small town called Taba. Five really brave women went and testified about what happened to them at risk to their life, and they managed to get a historic conviction in international law. I went to meet those women and they feel very shocked that years on, there are still women like the Yazidis and the Rohingya, and all these other many cases around the world, because they thought that what they had done would stop this. What they did was important, it set a precedent in international law and it has made a difference, but it didnt stop it.

There have been a number of successes in different places, in recent years: Guatemala, Colombia, Chad. But each time its been where the woman or women involved have been incredibly courageous, and incredibly persistent. There isnt any institutional change, or major international movement to try and help these women. Thats what we need to be doing. Its not enough that you occasionally get a success because somebody fought endlessly.

You mention in the book one example of a Rohingya refugee woman living in Coxs Bazar, Bangladesh, who had been raped. A queue of journalists were lining up to hear her story. What would you say about the ethical responsibility of foreign correspondents when covering crises like those you have covered?

This is a really important issue. Were not trained as psychologists or trauma specialists, but very often, were the first people to speak to victims or survivors of terrible things. A good example is the Rohingya. Theyre fleeing into Bangladesh, and were all there taking notes on all these terrible atrocities. I think its actually really important that there is some training for journalists, because the last thing you want to do to these people is re-traumatize them. Theyve already been through the worst possible thing that could happen to them.

Is there a responsibility for readers, too, when reading these stories?

Ive written a book which is difficult to read. But just because these stories are uncomfortable doesnt mean that we should ignore them. They have been ignored for too long. I felt frustrated as a journalist that I couldnt get these things into the newspapers. I do feel really strongly that things may not be nice to read about but things wont change if we dont read about them and make a difference.

Many of the experiences shared with you in the book are traumatic, and we know from studies, even studies that have focused on COVID-19, that there is a psychological toll of covering trauma on journalists. What has the impact been like for you?

Listening to these stories is really difficult, but all the time, were very conscious of the fact that its nothing compared to the fact of actually going through these experiences. What helped me was the fact that I felt strongly that I wanted people to know. The hardest thing I find as a journalist is covering things and feeling like it doesnt make a difference. In a strange way, its in the bad places that you find people doing the most miraculous and amazing things, like Dr Denis Mukwege in the Democratic Republic of Congo, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2018. In a strange way, it gives you more hope about humanity.

When the COVID-19 pandemic started, I was much more optimistic about our ability to get through something like that, because I see communities in terrible situations doing incredible things all the time. Like the women under siege in Aleppo, who kept their kids warm by tearing down window frames and making fires and making sandwiches out of nothing. Those women probably never would have imagined they would have been able to survive in a situation like that, but actually, they did. Although I cover bad things, I have a lot of faith in humanity.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity
Concerened residents on the astro park after a rave in Oliver Bond flats

A garda investigation has been launched into a street party near the Oliver Bond flat complex in Dublin City Centre.

Gardai are investigating whether the organisers of the event breached Covid-19 restrictions on outdoor gatherings.

An investigation is also under way into the possibility that drug dealing was taking place at the party on Saturday evening - the same day new Level 3 Covid restrictions came into place in Dublin.

Scenes from the party have sparked outrage among Dubliners who have to endure a raft of new regulations for the next three weeks.

However, yesterday senior Government sources insisted there are no plans to introduce new laws which will give gardai legal powers to break up large gatherings and house parties.

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There is increasing frustration among gardai over the lack of powers they have when they receive complaints from the public about parties.

"All we can do is show up and ask people to disperse and if they do, that's great but if they don't, well, there's nothing more we can do," a source said.

Residents in the flats said they called gardai a number of times while the party was taking place. Video footage from the complex shows around 100 people dancing while music is played by a DJ performing under a marquee.

After the event, residents found dozens of canisters of Nitrous oxide gas, also known as 'hippy crack'. Small plastic bags believed to have contained drugs were also found scattered on the astroturf pitch which was used for the party.

There was confusion when gardai suggested they were not investigating the incident.

However, it was later clarified they are investigating the organisers of the event rather than those in attendance.

The focus of the investigation will be on identifying the organisers and establishing whether drugs were sold and consumed.

There are high-definition CCTV cameras in the complex which may be reviewed as part of the investigation.

Yesterday, Fine Gael Senator for Dublin South Central Mary Seery Kearney said those responsible should be prosecuted.

"The scenes recorded at Oliver Bond flats were extremely disturbing. It is an offence to organise such an event under health regulations designed to tackle the impact and spread of Covid-19," she said.

"Organising events in breach of guidelines is a penal provision that potentially leads to six months in prison and/or a fine of 2,500.

"That's a pretty stiff hangover for organising such parties but these provisions must now be used to ensure those at Oliver Bond flats and in all other communities can see such behaviour is not acceptable at this time and organisers will be held accountable."

On Sunday, Dublin CIty Councillor Mannix Flynn described it as a "drug rave and orgy".

Social Democrats TD for Dublin Central Gary Gannon said community leaders should "take ownership" of the problem and intervene to educate younger people of the dangers of their parties.

"The guards can only do so much in seeking out the ring leaders. But community leaders such as myself, and I should be doing more, can't absolve ourselves and blame the Government," he said.

Green Party TD Patrick Costello said he would like to see community policing increased in inner city areas.
There is really just one stock that would benefit most from antitrust action against Facebook

Published Tue, Sep 22 2020 2:24 PM EDT Updated Tue, Sep 22 2020 2:32 PM EDT
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 11:02:15|Editor: huaxia

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GAZA, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. administration has been handling the COVID-19 pandemic in a "frail and awkward" way, said a Palestinian expert as the U.S. death toll from the pandemic approaches 200,000.

The deadly coronavirus has exposed the fact that the U.S. administration neglects people's lives, Hossam al-Dajni, a lecturer at Umma University in the Gaza Strip, told Xinhua in a recent interview.

The United States is the worst-hit country with the world's highest tally of 6,833,722 infections and 199,812 deaths as of Tuesday morning, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.

The U.S. government's insistence on maintaining economic activities without strict preventive measures is a major reason for the surge in its confirmed cases and deaths, al-Dajni said.

The U.S. medical system "would have been capable of controlling the virus if the U.S. government took stringent measures," he said.

Noting that successive U.S. administrations have been boasting about U.S. democracy and equality, the expert said "the bitter reality today, however, has proven otherwise, particularly in the light of the spread of the pandemic."

He added that the "frail and awkward" way in which the U.S. administration handles the COVID-19 pandemic has also worsened the racial discrimination in the country.

"The rights and interests of the weak groups were not protected enough. This has given rise to huge problems like social division and double standards regarding human rights, consequently leading the U.S. people to lose confidence in the U.S. administration's efforts," al-Dajni said.

This only indicates that the current U.S. administration "has no minimum basics of human ethics, let alone its failure to be committed to international norms, laws and covenants," he said. Enditem
JetBlue is adding four, non-stop flights between Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks to Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Francisco and Cancun, Mexico.

The new service to Cancun, Mexico is slated to begin Nov. 19, while service to Las Vegas, Los Angeles and San Francisco will start on Dec. 18.

One of Connecticuts best competitive assets is its international airport in such close proximity to so many of our communities and employers, Gov. Ned Lamont said.

This strengthening of the partnership with JetBlue shows once again how important Bradley International Airport is to our present and our future. More routes, and a strong international airport are key to Connecticuts success.

Last week, Connecticut simplified its travel advisory enabling all travelers visiting or returning to the state to provide a negative COVID-19 test result obtained within 72 hours prior to or upon arrival to avoid the states 14-day quarantine.

We are excited to roll out these new routes connecting Hartford to some of our largest leisure destinations, bringing more low fares and great service to Connecticut residents, Scott Laurence, head of revenue and planning at JetBlue, said in a release Tuesday.

We are proud to play our part in support of Gov. Lamonts economic recovery plan. We see great long-term potential for our business in Connecticut, as it becomes an increasingly attractive place to live and work. Additionally, the simplified travel advisory gives clarity to everyone who needs or wants to travel through Bradley International Airport.

We are thrilled that JetBlue has taken the step to strengthen their presence and route network at Bradley Airport with this impressive launch of four new cities, said Kevin Dillon, executive director, Connecticut Airport Authority.

JetBlue is an important partner for us, and we are very pleased to see that the airline recognizes the potential of the Bradley Airport market. We are confident that our strengthened partnership will provide major benefits for Connecticut travelers, JetBlue, and Bradley Airport.

This new service will compliment JetBlues existing non-stop routes from Bradley Airport to numerous Florida destinations as well as San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Irish Water and Offaly County Council have confirmed that a Boil Water Notice has been put in place with immediate effect for all customers served by the Dunkerrin Public Water Scheme. This follows consultation with the Health Service Executive (HSE).

The Boil Water Notice has been put in place as a precaution to protect approximately 1,200 customers following a mechanical failure at the water treatment plant that resulted in the disinfection process being compromised.

Irish Waters drinking water compliance and operational experts are working with colleagues in Offaly County Council to resolve the issue.

Customers in Dunkerin, Lisryan and surrounding areas are advised to boil water before use until further notice. Moneygall Village is on a separate supply and is not impacted by this Boil Water Notice.

Irish Water has made direct contact with customers registered on its vulnerable customers register affected by this Boil Water Notice. Irish Water would like to remind customers to follow the HSE COVID-19 advice and ensure frequent handwashing.

For queries regarding this Boil Water Notice, customers should contact Irish Water directly on our customer care helpline, open 24/7, on 1850 278 278. Updates will be available on the Water Supply Updates section of the Irish Water website and via Twitter @IWCare.

Water must be boiled for:

- Drinking

- Drinks made with water

- Preparation of salads and similar foods, which are not cooked prior to eating

- Brushing of teeth

- Making of ice - discard ice cubes in fridges and freezers and filtered water in fridges. Make ice from cooled boiled water.

What actions should be taken:

- Use water prepared for drinking when preparing foods that will not be cooked (e.g. washing salads)

- Water can be used for personal hygiene, bathing and flushing of toilets but not for brushing teeth or gargling

- Boil water by bringing to a vigorous, rolling boil (e.g. with an automatic kettle) and allow to cool. Cover and store in a refrigerator or cold place. Water from the hot tap is not safe to drink. Domestic water filters will not render water safe to drink

- Caution should be taken when bathing children to ensure that they do not swallow the bathing water

- Prepare infant feeds with water that has been brought to the boil once and cooled. Do not use water that has been re-boiled several times.

If bottled water is used for the preparation of infant feeds it should be boiled once and cooled. If you are using bottled water for preparing baby food, be aware that some natural mineral water may have high sodium content. The legal limit for sodium in drinking water is 200mg per litre. Check the label on the bottled water to make sure the sodium or `Na' is not greater than 200mg per litre.

If it is, then it is advisable to use a different type of bottled water. If no other water is available, then use this water for as short a time as possible. It is important to keep babies hydrated. Great care should be taken with boiled water to avoid burns and scalds as accidents can easily happen, especially with children.
A US insurance agency led by a Northern Ireland man is setting up a technical development centre here bringing 40 new jobs.

Insurance Office of America (IOA) provides property and casualty, employee benefits, and personal lines insurance coverage.

The firm is now looking for workers in software development, data analytics, data science and IT support for its centre.

When the jobs are filled, they will contribute salaries of nearly 1.8m in total every year - making the average salary around 45,000.

Economic development agency Invest NI confirmed it's offered 445,762 in assistance towards the new jobs and a skills development programme.

The tech centre is for the development of a 'quote and buy' insurance platform, SimplyIOA - described as the first of its kind in the US. It will also provide technical expertise and operational support across the IOA enterprise.

SimplyIOA, which is based on data science and machine learning, allows personal insurance consumers to compare quotes, then buy home and car coverage online in under three minutes.

Brian McDowell, who is from Londonderry, is president of the IOA Personal Lines and Small Business Unit, and a former chief executive of insurer Hughes.

He explained that he left Hughes in 2017 and took up the new role with IOA as he's always wanted to live in the US. Now living in Florida where IOA is based, he told Business Telegraph he was keen to bring investment here. "I'm a product of Northern Ireland, I grew up there, went to school and college there, and built a career there. Moving to the US was really important but then I saw that I could bring something back."

He said that recruitment was ahead of schedule with about half of the new jobs already filled. He said: "We have some of the most talented people in the world particularly in data science, machine learning and cybersecurity.

"I've first hand experience of just what we can do in Northern Ireland, so it was an easy conversation to have with our board. There is an amazing mix between high level skills and work ethic."

He said he is also considering bringing enterprise systems jobs within the company to NI.

Kevin Holland, chief executive of Invest NI, said: "This new technical development centre in Belfast is clearly of strategic importance to Insurance Office of America. It is vital the company chooses the right location for such a project. I am delighted that we were able to support Brian to position NI as that place."
Patna, Sep 22 : Taking a dig at the Modi government over the agriculture-related Bills, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav has said that it has made 'anna datas' or food-providers the puppets of its 'fund datas' or fund-providers.

"The Modi government has already privatised so many government entities... agriculture is one sector that was till now considered untouched. The NDA government has privatised it too with the passage of the two agri Bills by the two Houses of Parliament," the Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Assembly said.

"This government has put the future of farmers in the hands of industrialists. The latter will have complete control over foodgrains, seeds, fertilisers, agriculture and irrigation-related equipment etc. The idea is to control the whole Indian economy. Farmers will now be completely dependent on industrialists for the sale of farm produce. It's not the farmers but industrialists who will decide the price of foodgrains." The Rashtriya Janata Dal leader said that ahead of the Assembly elections, all non-Bihari leaders were talking about Bihar and Bihari pride round the clock.

"Once the Assembly elections are over, they will not utter a single word in the interest of Bihar and Biharis. Nearly 86 lakh persons in 17 districts in Bihar were affected by floods in recent months, but the Centre did not send any observer to assess the situation. Even Chief Minister Nitish Kumar does not care about floods or water-logging in the state," Tejashwi said.

Taking another dig at allies Janata Dal-United and the BJP, he pointed out that the latter had remarked in the past that Nitish's DNA was bad. "They put a question mark on his DNA; now they are pointing at Bihari pride." Tejashwi questioned what had happened to Nitish's demands for a special package and a special status for Bihar in the past. "Have they forgotten these issues?" "When the Prime Minister visited Motihari for campaigning in the last elections, he said that its sugar mill will be reopened and he will drink tea made from sugar supplied by it. But the mill is still closed. This is the 'Chaal', 'Charitra', and 'Chehra' of the National Democratic Alliance government." Meanwhile, Bihar's Public Health Engineering Minister Vinod Narayan Jha accused the RJD and Congress members in the Rajya Sabha of "attacking" Deputy Speaker Harivansh Narayan Singh and demanded an apology from them.

BJP Bihar unit chief spokesman Nikhil Anand said: "The attack on the Deputy Speaker is tantamount to the murder of democracy. Such an incident has never occurred in the history of Parliament." "He has set an example by serving tea to the eight suspended Rajya Sabha members who were sitting on a dharna in front of Mahatma Gandhi's status in the Parliament Complex," he added.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
MEGHAN Markle discussed a letter to her estranged father with the Kensington Palace communications team before she sent it because she wanted to use it "as part of a media strategy", the High Court in London has heard.

Meghan is suing Associated Newspapers (ANL) over the publication in the Mail on Sunday and MailOnline of a "private and confidential" letter sent to Thomas Markle in August 2018.

The Duchess of Sussex (39) claims the February 2019 publication of parts of the handwritten letter to Mr Markle (76) was a misuse of her private information and breached the Data Protection Act, as well as a breach of her copyright.

At the latest preliminary hearing in London yesterday ANL argued that Meghan wrote the letter "with a view to it being read by third parties and/or disclosed to the public, or knowing that this was very likely".

Alexandra Marzec, representing ANL, told the court the duchess "was using her friends as, effectively, PR agents" to "influence the media" in the months before the letter was sent to Mr Markle in 2018.

Ms Marzec said Meghan had spoken to her friend Jessica Mulroney and asked her "to intervene to attempt to influence" what her former commercial adviser Gina Nelthorpe-Cowne said to the press.

The publisher is seeking to amend its written defence to Meghan's claim to argue that a recent book about Meghan and husband Harry Finding Freedom by Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand, was published "with their extensive co-operation".

events

Antony White QC, also representing ANL, said in written submissions: "The book sets out in great detail accounts of events at which it is reasonable to infer that only the claimant and her husband, and/or possibly a third party who would not have spoken to the authors (eg the queen), were present."

Mr White said that, if the information was invented by the authors or their sources, "it is inevitable the claimant would have complained to and most likely issued legal proceedings against the authors".

The barrister added that Mr Scobie had provided a witness statement to the court, which he said "seems to confirm that people working on behalf of the claimant co-operated with the authors and gave them the names of people close to the claimant who would help".

But Meghan's lawyers argued that references in the book to her letter were simply "extracts from the letter lifted from the defendant's own articles" and denied that the duchess "collaborated" with the authors.

In written submissions, Justin Rushbrooke QC said: "The claimant and her husband did not collaborate with the authors on the book, nor were they interviewed for it, nor did they provide photographs."

The duchess is suing ANL over five articles in total, two in the Mail on Sunday and three on MailOnline, which were published in February 2019.

The headline of the first Mail on Sunday article read: "Revealed: The letter showing true tragedy of Meghan's rift with a father she says has 'broken her heart into a million pieces'."

It is not clear if the judge will give a ruling on ANL's application to amend its defence yesterday or reserve it to a later date.
ACCRA, Ghana, Sept. 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PhytoSciences Consultants GmbH, an international consulting firm, announced the expansion of its services to West Africa, providing regulatory, cannabis scientific guidance to government and private sectors, with the establishment of PG Solutions Limited, DBA PhytoSciences Ghana.



It is an honor to finally be expanding our services to Ghana, said Dr. Pritesh Kumar, the Managing Director of PhytoSciences GmbH. We see Ghana as an emerging market for cannabis and with our vast expertise we are happy to support this region as the developments continue.

PhytoSciences Ghana will offer the same vast resource base of proprietary knowledge, methodologies, and experience as its parent company, but with a specialized focus on regional policies. This includes access to an international network of scientists and subject matter experts. PhytoSciences Ghana will also offer clients access to the global knowledge management system, a proprietary network that provides start-up cannabis companies and regulators strategic support in developing, strategizing, and executing commercial and policy objectives. PhytoSciences Consultants have always made establishing quality standards for the cannabis industry their highest goal, and they will continue to do so in Ghana.

PhytoSciences Ghana supports the establishment of appropriate, government-regulated cannabis testing regulations and procedures. They will help develop viable frameworks for legislative change in Ghana and offer tailored solutions to local companies so they can strategically maneuver the market as it emerges.

To learn more about PhytoSciences Ghana, visit the website at https://pghsolutions.com/ , office@pghsolutions.com.

About PG Solutions Ltd:

PG Solutions Ltd. DBA PhytoSciences Ghana is a member firm of PhytoSciences GmbH that provides clients with scientific consulting, investment due diligence, and regulatory guidance that is centered in the Ghanaian market. PhytoSciences Ghana has assembled a top management team and has access to expertise, intelligence assets, and resources in the United States, Canada, and Europe.

PR Contact

kathleen@elevated-pr.com
New Delhi: Days after accusing filmmaker Anurag Kashyap of sexual harassment, actress Payal Ghosh has filed a written complaint against him at Versova Police station, Mumbai on Tuesday.

The written complaint has been lodged for the offence rape, wrongful restrain, wrongful confinement and outraging modesty of woman U/S 376, 354, 341, 342 of IPC. Her statement has been recorded at the police station.

Her lawyer took to Twitter and shared the news on social media as well:

The incident dates back to 2014-2015 when Anurag Kashyap was working on 'Bombay Velvet'.

"I went to meet Anurag Kashyap at his home. He made me feel uncomfortable. The incident happened years ago, but it still haunts me. I tried to speak up several times, but my family, friends didn't allow me to do so. However, now I decided to open up and revealed what happened," she told Zee News earlier this month.

Of Anurag Kashyap's denial to the charges, Payal said that it was "expected". "Instead of denying and telling a lie, he should have come up and apologised. People like him are very powerful. He will not be scared, but will make others scared," she further added.

The filmmaker has denied the allegations levelled against him, and termed them "baseless". Several actresses and former wives Aarti Bajaj, Kalki Koechlin too reacted after the allegations and supported the filmmaker.
Alexei Navalny poses with his wife Yulia in hospital in Berlin. Photo: Reuters

Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny told Russia yesterday to hand over the clothes he was wearing when he fell into a coma last month and accused Moscow of withholding an important piece of evidence in his case.

The outspoken opponent of President Vladimir Putin said his clothes were taken away from him before he was flown to Germany for treatment from Siberia after he fell violently ill on a domestic flight.

Germany says tests in three countries have determined he was poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent and the West has demanded an explanation from Russia.

Moscow said it has yet to see evidence of a crime and has declined to open an investigation. The Kremlin has denied any involvement.

"Before they allowed for me to be taken to Germany, they took off all my clothes and sent me completely naked," Mr Navalny wrote on his website.

"Considering Novichok was found on my body, and that infection through contact is very likely, my clothes are a very important piece of evidence.

"I demand that my clothes be carefully packed in a plastic bag and returned to me," he said.

Mr Navalny criticised the Russian government for refusing to investigate his poisoning.

"I get a feeling as if I slipped in a supermarket and broke a leg instead of falling into a coma on a plane," he said.

Russia has said it needs to see more evidence before a formal criminal investigation into the case is opened and has asked Germany to hand over Mr Navalny's medical data so it can be reviewed.

Instead, Russia has opened a pre-investigation probe into the case. Mr Navalny claimed "The 30 days of a 'pre-investigation probe' were used to hide this important evidence."

On Instagram, Mr Navalny posted a photograph of himself sitting on a balcony with his wife, Yulia.

A member of Mr Navalny's team said Russian transport police had summoned his spokeswoman for questioning as part of their pre-investigation probe.
He says Lukashenko would like to see Ukraine's neutral position.

After the Verkhovna Rada's statement on unfair elections in Belarus, Ukraine has been included in Alexander Lukashenko's black list along with Lithuania, Poland, and the Czech Republic.

Belarusian opposition politician Anatol Liabedzka made such a statement in an interview with the Obozrevatel media outlet.

Read alsoEU foreign ministers fail to reach deal on Belarus sanctions

He says Lukashenko would like to see Ukraine's neutral position.

"Ukraine today is on the black list of Alexander Lukashenko  after Lithuania, Poland, the Czech Republic. It was precisely for what was made public, at least for the position of the Verkhovna Rada. Of course, the position of the executive branch is more cautious, but Lukashenko does not like halftones. He likes a black and white situation," Liabedzka explained.

Recent developments in Belarus in brief
With a desire to make use of traditional materials combined with modern leather to create environmentally-friendly products, Tran Van Hung in Thanh Hoa province has been making bags from grass for over two years.

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Tran Van Hung returned to his hometown of Thanh Hoa in 2018 to begin producing traditional hand-crafted handbags. By using materials such as rush, bamboo, and wood combined with imported leather, he has created a special range of products.

Two years on, the grass-based handbags are sold in the domestic market and exported for retail in the US and Singapore and on major e-commerce sites such as Amazon and eBay. Prices range from 800,000 to 3,000,000 VND each. Four or five jobs have been created. Hung also participates in Youth Union work, helps the poor, and contributes to social security in his hometown.

His Making bags from traditional materials combined with modern leather project won first prize at the recent Start-up ideas among youth union members and youth in Thanh Hoa province contest, launched by the Thanh Hoa Provincial Youth Union. He also received a Certificate of Merit from the Chairman of the Thanh Hoa Provincial Peoples Committee.

From his success in starting a business with low levels of environmental pollution, Hung has inspired many and spread the entrepreneurial spirit in the local area, contributing to promoting traditional Vietnamese handicrafts around the world./.VNA
WEST CHESTER  The robbery was planned ahead of time to take place during a drug transaction between people who did not know one another, jurors in the case of two men accused in the shooting death of a Phoenixville teenager outside a borough Dunkin Donuts shop were told Tuesday.

But just who was setting up who was the subject of some dispute during opening statements by attorneys in the trial of Brian Keith Redz Corsey and John Gotti Ortiz-Carr being held at the Chester County Justice Center this week.

According to Assistant District Attorney John McCaul in his presentation for the prosecution, Corsey and Ortiz-Carr had worked out the scheme to rob the shooting victim and his older friend of a few ounces of marijuana so that a third man, Robert McCoy III, could get money to fix his broken-down car.

These men had a plan to set up and rob a low-level weed dealer in Phoenixville, and they came prepared, McCaul told the jury of seven men and five women hearing the case before Judge Allison Bell Royer. They brought a car, they brought a gun, and they had the tools of the trade  strength in numbers.

In the end, Corsey had shot and killed 15-year-old Jason Ortiz-Cameron, who had hooked up with the dealer, a 20-something hanger-on outside the doughnut shop on the south side of the borough, McCaul said.

But to defense attorney Jonathan Altschuler, who is representing Corsey, the robbers were not his client, McCoy, and Ortiz-Carr, but rather the drug dealer, Thomas Farrell, and the shooting victim himself. They had planned to lure the trio to the Dunkin Donuts, then steal whatever cash they had on hand.

That was the glitch in the prosecution case, he told the panel during his opening statement in the first day of testimony for the pairs trial on second-degree murder, robbery, and conspiracy charges. The fault for the shooting lay at the hands of Farrell, who Altschuler called a scumbag and human garbage, and the victim.

Its not a robbery, the defense attorney said of the trios trip to Phoenixville from Pottstown, where McCoy and Ortiz-Carr lived. They had no idea they were about to be confronted by Tom Farrell and his boy, who was strapped and racked'  meaning armed  and ready to go.

In his telling, Ortiz-Cameron was shot in the face through a robbers mask while he and Corsey struggled over Ortiz-Camerons own weapon. McCauls opening statement would prove to be the high point of the prosecutions case, he predicted. It all goes downhill from here.

On behalf of his client, Ortiz-Carr, West Chester attorney Alex Silow urged the jurors to look skeptically at the testimony from witnesses who he suggested had a bias to present events in the best light of the prosecution. There were no independent accounts that could say that his client was aware of the alleged robbery scheme, or even that he was at the scene of the shooting that night, Silow said.

Corsey, 26, of Philadelphia, and Ortiz-Carr, 27, of Pottstown, face the possibility of a life sentence without parole if they are found guilty of the second-degree murder charge they both face. McCoy, the third defendant, has already pleaded guilty to third-degree murder charges in exchange for his cooperation in the investigation and his expected testimony against.

Testimony on Tuesday consisted of police descriptions of the murder scene and eyewitness accounts of the events of the night of the shooting by young people who were present and heard the shot ring out, but who did not necessarily see the fatal struggle between Corsey and Ortiz-Cameron.

The doughnut shop on Nutt Road is a hang-out place for teens in the neighborhood, McCaul said in his opening, in which he tried to place Phoenixville for those on the jury. The small town in northeastern Chester County lies just outside Valley Forge National park, along the banks of the Schuylkill River. An up-and-coming town with a newly vibrant downtown scene, it has few, if any, homicides year by year.

But on Dec. 27, 2017, McCoy set up a drug transaction with Farrell, whom he had contacted with on Snapchat, a social media platform. Before going to Phoenixville to complete the buy, McCoy met with Corsey and Ortiz-Carr to discuss robbing Farrell of whatever marijuana he had on him at the time of the deal, McCaul said.

Corsey agreed to let McCoy use his 2007 black Ford Focus, and the three drove from Pottstown, where McCoy and Ortiz-Carr lived, to Phoenixville. McCoy drove, while Ortiz-Carr was the front passenger and Corsey in the back seat.

Once there, they met with Farrell and Ortiz-Cameron at the Dunkin Donuts in the 200 block of Nutt Road. The trio first circled the shops parking lot to make sure they were not being followed. Corsey tried to get Farrell and Ortiz-Cameron to get inside the car, but the two refused and walked away after showing Corsey the marijuana they had on them.

McCaul, in his opening, acknowledged that Farrell and Ortiz-Cameron had discussed robbing the man Farrell had connected with of his money, hitting a lick in street lingo. But they seemed to show reluctance to go through with it when they saw that McCoy had come with others.

At some point, Corsey got out of the car, as did McCoy. Corsey confronted Ortiz-Cameron while the other man went to speak with McCoy at the side of the car. The two squared off to fight as McCoy told Farrell, You dont want to go over there, meaning toward where Corsey and Ortiz-Cameron were standing.

Corsey then pulled out a small semi-automatic handgun, cocked it, pointed it at Ortiz-Cameron and began to rifle through the teenagers pockets. He then fired a single shot and Ortiz-Cameron fell to the ground, mortally wounded, according to the prosecution.

But Altschuler described the struggle as between Ortiz-Cameron and Corsey over the gun the 15-year-old had been given by Farrell to commit the robbery. He was shot through his own robber mask with his own gun, he proclaimed.

The three men jumped back in the car, with Ortiz-Carr driving, and went back to the house in Pottstown where they had initially planned the robbery. They split up the marijuana they had stolen and began to dispose of evidence related to the murder before McCoy fled to Philadelphia.

Witnesses were able to tell investigators about who had committed the murder and what happened, and McCoy was arrested by Phoenixville Detective Nicholas Natale in April 2018. Corsey was apprehended after a standoff with police at a location outside Atlanta, Ga., in May 2018.

To contact staff writer Michael P. Rellahan call 610-696-1544.
The full economic impact of Covid-19 will not be felt until at least the end of the year, the head of Ulster Bank has said.

And Mark Crimmins, who leads the bank's operations in Northern Ireland, predicted rising numbers of personal bankruptcies and company failures within the small business sector.

He said Brexit was becoming a growing worry and that parent company NatWest's view is that there's a 40% chance of a no-deal outcome.

Ulster Bank is the chief sponsor of the Belfast Telegraph Business Awards.

Read More

Mr Crimmins, who succeeded Richard Donnan in the Ulster Bank leadership role last year, said judging the awards has been a bright spot during a bleak time.

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"It's always a pick-up in morale for me personally," he said.

"It's easy in this role to become quite gloomy but when you see the awards, it's incredible just to see the level of innovation and the quality of genuinely world-competitive businesses that exist."

Mr Crimmins also said the bank now just has 50 staff in its city centre headquarters instead of a projected 1,200.

The bank was to have transferred staff from its former call centre operations at Danesfort in Stranmillis to the Donegall Square building.

But Covid-19 has put paid to the plan. Instead, most headquarters and call centre staff are still working from home, with just about 50 people in the bank's headquarters, he said.

Mr Crimmins said both he and his staff were missing aspects of their normal routines, despite the benefits of homeworking.

"On the flip side, everyone misses the social interaction, being part of a team. And the team itself creates a tempo and a momentum around the business. The variety in the job has been pared back a lot as you're not getting to meet customers and you're not getting to see people."
DGAP-News: IuteCredit Finance S.a.r.l. / Key word(s): Regulatory Approval/Regulatory Admission

IuteCredit: Uplisting in Regulated Market marks starting point for further expansion of business activities and additional capital sourcing



22.09.2020 / 07:30

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





IuteCredit: Uplisting in Regulated Market marks starting point for further expansion of business activities and additional capital sourcing

First company from Estonia in the General Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange



Tallinn, Estonia, 22 September 2020. IuteCredit Europe ("ICE"), a leading European personal finance group, after its Uplisting to the Regulated Market, is the first company from Estonia to be listed in the General Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. The Company welcomes the transparency requirements arising from its inclusion in the General Standard to present its business model to a wider circle of investors. The Uplisting in the Regulated Market marks the starting point for the further expansion of business activities and additional capital sourcing.

"IuteCredit has already exceeded the disclosure requirements of the Open Market before its inclusion in the Regulated Market. It is simply our Nordic nature to be as accountable as possible to our investors. In doing so, we have succeeded in convincing our investors of the sustainability of our business model, even in the difficult times caused by the Corona pandemic. Now that we have fulfilled the formal prerequisites for addressing an even larger circle of international investors with our inclusion in the Regulated Market, we are already looking forward to the upcoming talks in capital sourcing to finance further expansion of our business activities," said Tarmo Sild, Group CEO of IuteCredit.



Contact:

IuteCredit

Kristel Kurvits, Group Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

Email: kristel.kurvits@iutecredit.com

Phone: +372 55 88 77 0

Evelin Kanter, Group Chief Legal Officer (CLO)

Email: evelin.kanter@iutecredit.com

Phone: +372 50 52 72 9



Aalto Capital (Investor Relations)

Sven Pauly, Consultant

Email: sven.pauly@aaltocapital.com

Phone: +49 89 898 67 77 0



About IuteCredit:

IuteCredit - established in 2008 - is a leading European personal finance company. The Group is specialized in consumer credits via its 100% subsidiaries using equity and loan capital. IuteCredit serves customers currently in Moldova, Albania, North Macedonia, Bulgaria as well as Bosnia and Herzegovina.

IuteCredit's loan products are unsecured consumer loans with maturities between 1 month and 36 months and car-secured loans with maturities up to 60 months.

The mission of IuteCredit is to create the extraordinary experience in personal finance by exceeding customers' expectations.

www.iutecredit.com

22.09.2020 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.



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H ospitality leaders have slammed the Governments plan to impose a 10pm curfew on pubs, restaurants and bars in England, describing the move as a "crushing blow" for the sector.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to announce the new restrictions, which will also ban people from ordering at the bar, when he addresses the nation on Tuesday evening.

The measures come amid fears the UK could see 50,000 coronavirus cases a day by the middle of October without Government action.

Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality, led criticism of the new restrictions.

"These restrictions will come as another crushing blow for many hospitality businesses struggling to recover so its crucial these new rules are applied with flexibility," she said.

Coronavirus: Weekend Round-up before New Rule of Six - In pictures 1 /30 Coronavirus: Weekend Round-up before New Rule of Six - In pictures People sing and dance as they watch a street performer in Leicester Square PA General view of people enjoying a night out in Soho PA People have been warned against having a "party weekend" PA A former chief scientific adviser said the UK is "on the edge of losing control" of coronavirus PA People sing and dance as they watch a street performer in Leicester Square PA A group of friends enjoy the Autumn sunshine at a bar in Brighton PA Beachgoers pack the beach in Brighton AFP via Getty Images General view of people enjoying a night out in Soho PA General view of people enjoying a night out in Soho PA People sing and dance in Leicester Square REUTERS People gather in the Soho area REUTERS People dance in Leicester Square REUTERS People sing and dance in Leicester Square REUTERS People sing and dance in Leicester Square REUTERS Beachgoers pack the beach in Brighton i AFP via Getty Images People gather on Primrose Hill AFP via Getty Images People gather in the food market in Camden AFP via Getty Images People gather on Primrose Hill AFP via Getty Images People drink and dine at restaurants and cafes on Northcote Road Getty Images People gather on Primrose Hill AFP via Getty Images People drink and dine at restaurants and cafes on Northcote Road Getty Images People drink and dine at restaurants and cafes on Northcote Road Getty Images People attend a busking show in Leicester AP

"A hard close time is bad for business and bad for controlling the virus  we need to allow time for people to disperse over a longer period.

"Table service has been widely adopted in some parts of the sector since reopening but it is not necessary across all businesses, such as coffee shops."

She added: "It is hard to understand how these measures are the solution to fighting the disease when Government data shows that just 5 per cent of infections out of the home are related to hospitality.

"Where such restrictions have been put in place locally they have not cut infection rates, merely damaged business and cost jobs."

Ms Nicholls said the Government needs to "recognise this will damage confidence even further and it is now inevitable that the sector will struggle long into 2021" and called for a support package.

What national coronavirus restrictions are likely to be announced on Tuesday?

"We need to see an early signal that the VAT cut will be extended through to the end of 2021; that the business rates holiday will continue next year; and an enhanced employment support package specifically for hospitality," she said.

"We agree with the Government that we are all in this together. Hospitality has played its part by investing in Covid-secure venues and reassuring their customers.

"Now, its time for Government to demonstrate its commitment to the sector and its recovery  hundreds of thousands of livelihoods depend upon it."

The Institute of Economic Affairs think tank also criticised the plans.

Christopher Snowdon, the IEAs head of lifestyle economics, said: "A 10pm closing time for all pubs, bars and other hospitality seems to have emerged from a random policy generator.

"While mandatory table service has been part of the successful Swedish approach and may have merit, the new closing time will be devastating to a hospitality sector that was already suffering after the first lockdown.

"The Government should publish the evidence upon which this decision was based."

Pubs reopen in Scotland after coronavirus lockdown - In pictures 1 /18 Pubs reopen in Scotland after coronavirus lockdown - In pictures Barman Dejah Hajdukovic serves a whisky at The Piper's Rest pub in Edinburgh as pubs, bars and restaurants reopen PA Some of the first customers enjoy a drink at The Piper's Rest pub in Edinburgh PA Crieff Hydro Hotel CEO, Stephen Leckie and his sons, Richard and Charlie play the bagpipes alongside daughter Louisa on the snare drum and highland dancer Ella Rose as they give a special welcome back to guests as they open for the first time since March. Getty Images A member of staff places a safety sign on the door of The Scotsman's Lounge pub PA George McDonald, from Clemiston, is the first customer to be served at The Scotsman's Lounge pub PA George McDonald, from Clemiston, is the first customer to be served at The Scotsman's Lounge pub PA George McDonald, from Clemiston, is the first customer to be served at The Scotsman's Lounge pub PA Crieff Hydro Hotel CEO, Stephen Leckie and his sons, Richard and Charlie play the bagpipes alongside daughter Louisa on the snare drum and highland dancer Ella Rose as they give a special welcome back to guests as they open for the first time since March. Getty Images People wait for opening outside The Scotsman's Lounge pub in Edinburgh as pubs, bars and restaurants across Scotland reopen PA Ivor Birnie (left) and John Lynch, some of the first customers to be served at The Scotsman's Lounge pub PA Crieff Hydro Hotel CEO, Stephen Leckie and his sons, Richard and Charlie play the bagpipes alongside daughter Louisa on the snare drum and highland dancer Ella Rose as they give a special welcome back to guests as they open for the first time since March. Getty Images John Lynch, one of the first customers to be served at The Scotsman's Lounge pub in Edinburgh PA Bill Day, aged 70, one of the first customers to be served at The Piper's Rest pub in Edinburgh PA Barman Matthew Williams serves drinks at Scotts in South Queensferry PA

The Prime Minister will chair meetings of Cabinet and the Cobra emergency committee on Tuesday  including the leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland  ahead of a live, televised address at 8pm.

Mr Johnson is expected to set out further ways the country can confront coronavirus in line with the scientific advice.

It comes after the UKs four chief medical officers recommended raising the Covid alert level from three to four  the second highest  indicating the "epidemic is in general circulation; transmission is high or rising exponentially".

A Number 10 spokesperson said: "No one underestimates the challenges the new measures will pose to many individuals and businesses.

"We know this wont be easy, but we must take further action to control the resurgence in cases of the virus and protect the NHS."
President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at the Toledo Express Airport in Swanton, Ohio, on Sept. 21, 2020. (Matthew Hatcher/Getty Images)

Trump Highlights Upcoming Supreme Court Nomination at Ohio Rallies

Five women are being vetted for the nomination

President Donald Trump said at two back-to-back rallies in Ohio on Monday that five people are being vetted for his Supreme Court nomination, and all of them are women.

The president visited Dayton and later at Toledo Express Airport in Swanton the same evening to rally his supporters. He won the battleground state of Ohio in 2016 by 8.1 percentage points.

I have five that were vetting right now. It will be a brilliant person, it will be a woman, it will be a woman, he told supporters in Dayton. Trump said that he will announce his nominee on Friday or Saturday.

President Donald Trump speaks during a rally at Dayton International Airport in Dayton, Ohio, on Sept. 21, 2020. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

The president highlighted the significance of selecting a Supreme Court judge. They set the course of the country in years to come, whether its on life, or the Second Amendment, or so many other things. They set the whole course of the countryvery important position, the most important, he said in Swanton.

Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said late Monday that Republicans have enough votes to confirm Trumps next Supreme Court nominee.

The Republican president told supporters at his rallies that his opponent, former Vice President Joe Biden, has refused to share his list of potential justices because [Biden] knows theyre too extreme to withstand any form of public review.

Trump warned supporters in Swanton, If Joe Biden and the Democrats take power, they will pack the Supreme Court with far-left radicals who will unilaterally transform American society far beyond recognition.

President Donald Trump speaks during a rally at Toledo Express Airport in Swanton, Ohio, on Sept. 21, 2020. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

They will mutilate the law, disfigure the Constitution, and impose a socialist vision from the bench that could never pass at the ballot box, Trump added. So they dont want to show the judges.

He later added, The Biden-nominated justices will shred our Second Amendment, eliminate the right to self-defense, and allow the government to confiscate your privately owned firearms.

Trump also said that Bidens nominees, if put in power, would remove borders and compel the unlimited entry of foreign nationals, as well as take on a pro-crime stance.

Theyll cripple the police departments, free violent criminals, shield foreign terrorists, and declare the death penalty unconstitutionaleven for the most depraved mass murderers who kill women and children, Trump warned.

Supporter James Alten, 65, of Avon, Ohio, told the Toledo Blade that securing the border is important.

If you dont have borders, you dont have a country, Alten said.

As a veteran, I appreciate the fact that he strengthened the military, that he strengthened our border, he added.

At both rallies, the president spoke of promoting jobs and the economy in the United States and maintaining law and order and public safetyrecurring topics in Trump rallies leading up to the presidential election.

Another supporter, Derran Reebel, 48, of Toledo, told the Toledo Blade that Trump is not taking a salary in his role as president. This guy is not connected to the establishment. Hes not a puppet. Hes actually in my opinion, the only president in modern-day history thats ever worked so hard for the American people to try to protect our jobs, Reebel said.

Biden has not been in Ohio since March. The Democrat visited an aluminum plant in Manitowoc, Wisconsinanother battleground stateon Monday.

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden visits an aluminum manufacturing facility in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, on Sept. 21, 2020. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images)

Trump has several upcoming rallies scheduled this week, including one in Moon Township, Pennsylvania on Tuesday, another in Jacksonville, Florida on Thursday, and another in Middletown, Pennsylvania on Saturday.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 02:42:13|Editor: huaxia

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Volkan Bozkir, president of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly(UNGA), addresses the General Debate of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York on Sept. 22, 2020. The General Debate of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly opened on Tuesday with the theme of "The future we want, the United Nations we need: reaffirming our collective commitment to multilateralism -- confronting COVID-19 through effective multilateral action." (Rick Bajornas/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)

UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- The General Debate of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly opened on Tuesday with the theme of "The future we want, the United Nations we need: reaffirming our collective commitment to multilateralism -- confronting COVID-19 through effective multilateral action."

Volkan Bozkir, president of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly, presided over the opening of the debate.

In his opening remarks, he called on world leaders to reaffirm multilateralism in face of the unprecedented challenge of COVID-19. He also called for the strengthening of UN agencies, including the World Health Organization.

"Rarely has the whole of humanity faced such an imminent and common threat. Today, we must leave our differences and disagreements aside. Today, we must renew our collective commitment to multilateralism. Today, we must combine our efforts to address this global problem and we must make sure that no one is left behind," he said.

Multilateralism is essential to fulfilling the core mandates of the United Nations prescribed in its Charter, said Bozkir. "To do that, we must continue to seek ways, in order to establish and consolidate trust and cohesion, among members, groups of countries and other stakeholders."

He warned that the world is seeing rising levels of mistrust and rivalry between major powers.

International institutions succeed when they manage to mediate such tensions. The United Nations was born with this in mind, he said. "It is in the interests of the world, our economies and our people that, these tensions are managed and do not spiral out of control. The forum provided by the UN is critical to reinforce cooperation and consensus."

Bozkir named multilateralism, the humanitarian agenda of the United Nations, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and gender equality as his priority in his one-year tenure, and called for support from member states.

"As we commemorate the UN's 75th anniversary, we must recommit to and strengthen multilateralism and acknowledge its achievements. The UN is the world's foremost forum to address issues that transcend national boundaries, maintain international peace and security, promote sustainable and inclusive development and protect human rights."

He promised to advance the UN humanitarian agenda, in view of the unprecedented level of humanitarian needs, which are caused by prolonged and new conflicts, as well as natural disasters around the world. "Our efforts must ensure that the most vulnerable are protected and able to live in dignity, as set out in the UN Charter."

The Sustainable Development Goals are the most transformative set of objectives, yet they cannot be achieved without strengthened global partnership, he said. "We must ensure that our efforts to recover from the pandemic are fully aligned with the implementation of the SDGs."

Gender inequality remains deeply entrenched in many societies. Women often lack access to decent work, equal pay, quality education and adequate health care. They suffer from violence and discrimination and are often under-represented in political and economic decision-making processes, he noted.

"As we recover from the pandemic, we must build back better, to improve the lives of women and girls. We must renew our commitment to protect women's rights and make women's participation in peace, security and humanitarian action meaningful and sustained."

As this General Assembly session marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, Bozkir called on member states to draw strength from the founders of the world organization, who demonstrated fortitude at a time of crisis.

"They chose to trust one another and unite in pursuit of a better world. Together, we have overcome adversity and challenges. Let us draw strength from those who have persevered in the past. When we have worked together, humanity has prevailed," he said. "This Assembly has the power to create a better world for all."

This year, world leaders are unable to travel to New York for the high-level week due to COVID-19. Instead, their pre-recorded statements are played in the General Assembly Hall. While the hall can hold some 2,500 people, only about 200 delegates are allowed to be physically present.

In his remarks, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, "In a world turned upside down, this General Assembly Hall is among the strangest sights of all. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed our annual meeting beyond recognition. But it has made it more important than ever."

He described COVID-19 as a "fifth horseman" that endangers humanity's common future besides the "four horsemen" -- the highest global geostrategic tensions in years, an existential climate crisis, deep and growing global mistrust, and the dark side of the digital world.

"We face simultaneously an epochal health crisis, the biggest economic calamity and job losses since the Great Depression, and dangerous new threats to human rights," he said.

Guterres called for unity of the member states.

"We cannot respond to this crisis by going back to what was or withdrawing into national shells. To overcome today's fragilities and challenges, we need more international cooperation, not less; strengthened multilateral institutions, not a retreat from them; better global governance, not a chaotic free-for-all."

"Today, we face our own 1945 moment. The pandemic is a crisis unlike any we have ever seen. But it is also the kind of crisis that we will see in different forms again and again. COVID-19 is not only a wake-up call, it is a dress rehearsal for the world of challenges to come," he said.

He asked member states to move forward with humility, unity and solidarity, and to be guided by science and tethered to reality.

"As we have seen, when countries go in their own direction, the virus goes in every direction," he said, adding that populism and nationalism have failed.

"In an interconnected world, it is high time to recognize a simple truth: solidarity is self-interest. If we fail to grasp that fact, everyone loses."

This year's General Debate in its new format attracts more heads of state and government to attend virtually. According to the provisional list of speakers provided by the United Nations, some 170 heads of state and government are going to make pre-recorded statements. Last year, 82 heads of state and 43 heads of government spoke from the dark green marble podium. Enditem
A grandfather who led police on a 90 minute high-speed chase after fleeing from a coronavirus check point has been banned from driving for life.

Stephen Hall, 83, sped through an army road stop at Morangup, north-west of Perth on May 10 in his silver Jeep.

He pleaded guilty to failing to stop, failing to comply with a direction of the emergency management act and dangerous driving at Perth Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

Perth grandfather Stephen Hall (pictured), 83, has been banned from driving for life after speeding away from a coronavirus checkpoint in May

Hall, of Armadale, was fined $8500 in total for the three charges and prohibited from ever operating a vehicle again.

The court heard officers pursued him for 27km through the town of Toodyay before they finally punctured his tyres using a stinger.

The grandfather, who said he was on his way to see a friend in the town, stopped at the checkpoint to speak with an Australian Defence Force officer.

The elderly driver was told he was not allowed to pass through, but accelerated through the checkpoint regardless.

Police prosecutors said during the chase Hall had driven at speeds up to 136km/ph and veered into the other lane.

Lawyer Katherine Dowling argued against a jail sentence, telling the court Hall was in the first stages of Alzheimer's and dementia and has been living in squalor for years.

The court heard Hall drove at speeds exceeding 130km/h in his Jeep (pictured) before police stopped him using a stinger

She said he is now living in a care facility.

Days after his arrest, Hall told reporters he believed he had done nothing wrong and police owe him a new set of tyres.

'There were four coppers after me. I gave them a right run for their money. Theyve never had a run like that,' he previously told 9News.

'First of all they are paying for a new set of tyres, all four of them, Coopers sports.'

'Ive done nothing wrong, but I put my foot down.'
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 21/9/2020 (487 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

B.C. Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson responds to the B.C. NDP government's $1.5 billion COVID-19 economic recovery plan, in Burnaby, B.C., on Thursday, September 17, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

VICTORIA - A sketch of Andrew Wilkinson, leader of British Columbia's Liberal party:

Age: 63.

Family: Married to Barbara Grantham. They have three grown children in their 20s.

Education: Holds degrees from the University of Alberta, Dalhousie University and Oxford University, where he attended as a Rhodes Scholar.

Career: He previously served as attorney general, justice minister, minister of advanced education, minister of technology, innovation and citizens' services. He also served as deputy minister of the British Columbia Ministry of Economic Development, and as deputy minister for intergovernmental relations in the premier's office for two years. Outside of politics, he has worked as a lawyer in Vancouver and was educated and licensed as a physician, working as a doctor in Campbell River, Lillooet and Dease Lake.

Riding: Vancouver-Quilchena.

Quote: "We will be putting forward a positive agenda that excites people and people will be able to look at it and say 'That is about me. That is what makes me tick as a British Columbian. That's the kind of thing I want to see implanted at the provincial level.'"  Wilkinson after Monday's election call.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 21, 2020.
They were in the water, but it was very difficult to see how many of these cetaceans were dead or in what state they were. Government marine biologist Kris Carlyon said "about a third" of the 270 animals were dead by late Monday, and that rescuing survivors would be a "challenging" task likely to take several days. "In terms of mass whale strandings in Tasmania, this is up there with the trickiest," Carlyon told reporters in the nearby town of Strahan. "It's pretty ugly for people on the ground but as far as the whales go it's ideal - it's keeping them wet, it's keeping them cool," he said.
The mission concerned over reports on the lack of respect for COVID-19 prevention and mitigation measures in the Ukrainian penitentiary system.

The United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission recommends that Ukraine adopt a law on amnesty for certain categories of convicts to reduce the risk of coronavirus spread in prisons.

Read alsoHealthcare spending to grow unprecedentedly in 2021  finance ministerHead of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine Matilda Bogner announced this in Kyiv while presenting the 30th report on human rights in Ukraine, which covers six months, from February 16, 2020 to July 31, 2020, an UNIAN correspondent reported on September 22.

According to Bogner, few penitentiary tests for COVID-19 are conducted in penitentiary facilities, while epidemiological safety measures are not observed.

"We're concerned at reports by the Ombudsperson's Office highlighting the lack of respect for COVID-19 prevention and mitigation measures in the penitentiary system, which concurs with our own findings. As of September 11, there have been 120 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in penitentiary facilities with one person having died. However, testing is very limited, so there may be more cases," she said.

Bogner noted that the UN mission recommends that Ukraine adopt an appropriate law to release some categories of particularly vulnerable prisoners.

"In response to this we urge measures to reduce overcrowding in prisons, in particular, through the adoption of a draft amnesty law and increased use of non-custodial sentences," she said.

Bogner added that in the territory controlled by the self-proclaimed republics, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) continued to be denied access to detainees and places of deprivation of liberty.

"International organizations must be granted unimpeded access to places of detention as soon as possible," she said.

Amnesty in Ukraine
Police on Tuesday identified a 41-year-old Boston man as the victim of a fatal shooting in Dorchester last month.

Officers responded around 2:40 a.m. on Aug. 30 to a call about a person shot near 612 Blue Hill Ave., the Boston Police Department said in a statement.

Authorities found the man who had suffered life-threatening gunshot wounds. He was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment and died last week on Sept. 19, according to the statement.

He has has since been identified as Changa Toyloy, police said.

The Boston Police Department has urged anyone with information about the shooting to call homicide detectives at 617-343-4470.

Community members wishing to assist the investigation anonymously can do so by calling the CrimeStoppers Tip Line at 1-800-494-TIPS or by texting the word TIP" to CRIME (27463).
TikTok's new headquarters will likely be based in Texas after President Trump finalized a deal for Oracle Corps. and Walmart to purchase the popular social media app.

On Friday, Gov. Greg Abbott tweeted that he had spoken to Trump about bringing the headquarters to the Lone Star State.

Coming in just under Trump's Sept. 20 deadline to broker a deal, he announced the two companies will acquire stakes in the new company, TikTok Global. The video app was set to be banned on Saturday if a deal wasn't agreed on in time for the app to be purchased by a U.S.-based company and approved by the United States Commerce Department.

It is unknown where in Texas the potential headquarters will be located or when it may actually open, but Trump promised the new company will hire 25,000 Americans, Bloomberg reported. The board will be American-run, though ByteDance Ltd. who originally owned the company, will remain a major shareholder.

FIND OUT FIRST: Get San Antonio breaking news directly to your inbox

TikTok currently has an office in Austin that opened earlier this year with about 2,500 employees.

As part of the deal, TikTok Global would donate $5 billion to an educational fund based in Texas.

As part of the new deal, Oracle will get access to TikTok's source code and updates to make sure the company isn't using the app to gather data from its users. Earlier this year, Trump raised security alarms about the Chinese-owned app, saying it posed a national security risk.

Security experts however said this source of concern isn't resolved with the new deal because "there are plenty of instances where U.S. companies bundle data and put national security at risk. Picking the odd foreign company that does this and targeting them wont help," former chief information security officer at Twitter Michael Cotes told Bloomberg.

Taylor Pettaway is a breaking news and general assignment reporter for MySA.com | taylor.pettaway@express-news.net | @TaylorPettaway
Microsoft on Tuesday announced developer tools for enhancing applications with calling and texting capabilities at its Ignite conference for IT workers.

The launch demonstrates one of the ways Microsoft is trying to grow its cloud business by entering smaller individual markets. The company might persuade existing customers to try these tools instead of forming relationships with smaller software companies.

The collection of Azure Communication Services from Microsoft includes application programming interfaces that make it possible for third-party applications to make voice and video calls, exchange chat messages, send text messages, and create phone numbers for inbound and outbound calls.

Companies such as 8x8, RingCentral and Twilio already offer some of these capabilities. Amazon Web Services (AWS), the largest cloud infrastructure provider, offers developer services for embedding text messaging and video calling into customers' applications.

Microsoft executives have said the company would not compete with its own customers. Twilio's main cloud provider is not Microsoft. The company relies on AWS for the vast majority of its cloud infrastructure needs. RingCentral uses its own data center infrastructure, while 8x8 draws on a combination of its own data centers, AWS and the Oracle public cloud.

If the notion of Microsoft being capable of running video meetings and chat conversations sounds familiar, that's because it fields Microsoft Teams, the communication app that competes with Slack and Zoom. The same technology inside of Teams is now available for Microsoft's customers to use, Scott Van Vliet, a corporate vice president, told CNBC in an interview Monday. Over time, Microsoft wants to enable customers using Azure Communication Services to connect into Teams, Van Vliet said.

People in other areas of Microsoft, such as the one developing the Azure Active Directory service, expressed interest in using Microsoft's cloud-based communication services in their own applications, and from there it become apparent that Microsoft should expose the technologies more widely, Van Vliet said.

More than one-third of Microsoft's revenue comes from the Commercial Cloud group of products, which includes the Azure public cloud, business subscriptions to the Office 365 productivity applications that includes Teams, commercial LinkedIn services and cloud versions of the Dynamics 365 enterprise applications. Microsoft has sought to grow Commercial Cloud in part by improving its sales processes in specific industries and releasing a bundle targeted at front-line workers during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Also on Tuesday Microsoft announced Azure Orbital, a service for processing data from satellites. And the company said later this year that the Teams communication app will allow a person giving a presentation to appear in the foreground while the app displays PowerPoint slides in the background.

WATCH: Microsoft's JEDI cloud proposal represents best value: Pentagon
US President Donald Trump on Monday suggested Pfizer Inc could secure the first US approval of a Covid-19 vaccine in coming weeks, saying a contender by Johnson & Johnson could come later.

Asked which drugmaker could be approved, Trump told Fox News in an interview: "Pfizer's doing really well," adding "Johnson & Johnson ... they'll probably be a little later."

He also cited efforts by Moderna Inc and AstraZeneca Plc.

Also read: Pfizer vaccine early trials bet on win against COVID-19
The consulting firm KPMG will review the applications and send notices to applicants of deficiencies, with oversight from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. The applicants will then have 10 days to correct any deficiencies  just as was supposed to happen previously under the law  though they may not change ownership to add a military veteran or social equity owner.
Chinese media recently reported the fascinating story of a young boy who, after witnessing his fathers murder at the hands of a neighbor, when he was 9-years-old, spent the next 17 years trying to catch the culprit.

Looking back on that fateful day of August 9th, 2000, Xiang Mingqian wishes he had never thrown that stone that eventually got his father killed He was only 9 at the time, playing with his neighbor, Zhang Jun in a ditch, by the side of an old road in Changba Town, Zhenxiong County. Jun had thrown a stone into a puddle, and the splash had hit Xiang Mingqian, so he decided to return the favor by throwing an even bigger stone into the water. It was just a childish game, but the quarrel that erupted between the two boys would eventually involve both boys families and result in a tragic death

After Xiang Mingqian and Zhang Jun got into a fight, the latter called his grandmother and she started pushing Xiang around a bit. The racket was overheard by Xiangs older sister, who lived nearby, and she came out to see what was happening. Xiangs sister, Xiang Mingxiang ended up being beaten by Juns family, and when she went home, she told her young husband what had happened.

While the neighborly conflict was happening, Xiang Mingqians parents were away to buy a new TV set. When they came home, the boy didnt tell them anything, but as they were having dinner that night, his older sister stormed in and told her father that her husband had gone to Zhang Juns house to demand an explanation for her bruises. The boys father, Xiang Wenzhi, grabbed a flashlight, put on his coat and went to help his son-in-law.

Xiang Mingqian recalls seeing his father go into Zhangs house, and then a couple of minutes later the light bulb going off. As everything went dark, he could hear his fathers screams as he was stabbed several times by several Zhang family members. Despite rushing him to the town hospital, Wenzhis wounds were too severe, and doctors could do nothing to save him. Even today, he can still remember his dying father saying he was cold and hungry

Xiang Wenzhis family notified the local police about the killing that very night, but they only showed up at the scene of the crime the next morning. They called the subjects in for questioning, but made no arrests, and Zhang Mouqui, who had landed the killing blows, used this opportunity to escape. Shortly after, the police dropped the case, seeing they could no longer locate the main suspect.

After his fathers death, Xiang Mingqians life took a turn for the worse, as there was no one to support the family anymore. He started selling noodles to help put food on the table, and despite doing very well in school, he dropped out to dedicate his life to catching his fathers killer.

Unable to go on seeing his mother crying and knowing that his fathers killer was at large, probably enjoying his life, while theirs had become miserable, Mingqian decided it was up to him to set things right. His mother was to busy providing for them, his older brother was to too shy to go after a dangerous man, and his sister had her own family to worry about. There was no one else, so he started going by the local police station asking for information about Zhang Mouqui. In order to make the hunt easier, the family moved from Changba Town to the county capital when the boy was only 10-years-old.

Years went by, but despite Xiang Mingqians best efforts, the killers whereabouts remained unknown. Still, he never gave up, and in 2007, he received the first of three important tip-offs. Someone told him that a man who fit Zhang Mouquis description had been seen riding a motorcycle at at Kunming Railway Station. Xiang spent several days watching and checking every inch of the station, but didnt find anything useful.

Then, in 2013, Xiang received information that Zhang might be hiding at an industrial park in Jinjiang, Fujian Province. Once again, he traveled there, but after six months of searching, he once again came out empty-handed. Finally, in 2017, after returning home, Xiang learned from a reliable source that Zhang Mouqui was hiding in Nanan City, Fujian Province. It meant traveling thousands of kilometers again, but he didnt care. He packed his bags and left.

Xiang had information that his fathers killer worked at a tableware factory on the outskirts of Nanan City. He rented a car, asked around for information about the Zhang or the factory, and then spent days watching the entrance to the tableware factory. Mingqian spent three days watching the factory, and on the third day, after 17 long years, he finally saw Zhang Mouqui again.

He had been carrying a photo of his fathers killer around with him since that August day in 2000, and Zhang hadnt changed that much, he was only a bit older. Xiang didnt just pounce on the man that had ruined his life; instead, he asked around about him and learned that he had changed his name to Shao Liang, had met a woman, married her and even had a child.

After gathering all the evidence, including his fathers knife-pierced clothes, Xiang Mingqian finally went to the police, only instead of assistance, all he got was raised shoulders, as officers told him they had no record of a Zhang Mouqui . He later learned that back in Changba Town, authorities had erased Zhang record in 2015, as his family had not heard from him in over a decade and a half. He was outraged, but there was no time to skulk. He contacted the relevant authorities and, based on his evidence, managed to obtain a warrant for Mouquis arrest.

On October 10, 2018, the Intermediate Peoples Court of Zhaotong City, Yunnan Province, found Zhang Mouqui guilty of Xiang Wenzhis death and sentenced him to life in prison and the deprivation of political rights. After 17 years and 4 days, Xiang Mingqian had finally done what he had set out to do after his fathers death.

At 26-years-old, Xiang Mingqian is ready to finally start living his life. He has a girlfriend, but because of lack of time and money, he never even considered getting married. He reckons its time he finally gave that idea some serious thought

Source: Creaders Daily Digest (Chinese)
Now, here's a real charmer, wafting in from the Trump-haters  the founder of the "civility"-preaching "Transition Integrity Project," who's now calling for public executions for wrongthink:

Michael Anton is the Robert Brasillach of our times and deserves the same fate https://t.co/eJNOF49qTa  Nils Gilman (@nils_gilman) September 21, 2020

The Transition Integrity Project is an unholy alliance of still bitter NeverTrumps and Democratic Party operatives of the sleaziest kind. According to The National Pulse, it was founded by Gilman, a professor of the history of the intelligentsia at the University of California at Berkeley, and Rosa Brooks, a former Obama Pentagon official and the daughter of former Democratic Socialists of America co-chair Barbara Ehrenreich, who's still their honorary co-chair. Its players include John Podesta, Bill Clinton, Donna Brazile, Jennifer Granholm, David Frum, Bill Kristol, Max Boot, and Michael Steele. Not a pretty picture.

The Transition Integrity Project recently put out a conspiracy-theory set of scenarios forecasting big instability under various election scenarios. In their magnum opus, called "Preventing a Disrupted Presidential Election and Transition," they wrote this:

About the Transition Integrity Project The Transition Integrity Project (TIP)1 was launched in late 2019 out of concern that the Trump Administration may seek to manipulate, ignore, undermine or disrupt the 2020 presidential election and transition process. TIP takes no position on how Americans should cast their votes, or on the likely winner of the upcoming election; either major party candidate could prevail at the polls in November without resorting to dirty tricks. However, the administration of President Donald Trump has steadily undermined core norms of democracy and the rule of law and embraced numerous corrupt and authoritarian practices. This presents a profound challenge for those  from either party  who are committed to ensuring free and fair elections, peaceful transitions of power, and stable administrative continuity in the United States. The American people have the right to choose their next president without intimidation or interference in the normal electoral process.

Well, now they've shown what they're really about with this call to execute dissidents.

The Brasillach that Gilman refers to is a French intellectual who was shot by firing squad in 1944 by French resistance forces for his advocacy of Nazi collaboration and anti-Semitism. It sparked some controversy at the time, given that he didn't actually kill anyone; it was premised solely on his vile ideas. He isn't exactly missed.

Now Gilman has decided he'd like the same thing to happen to Michael Anton, a former National Security Council official and powerful writer whose "Flight 93 election" article made a huge impact in 2016, and whose more recent essay, "The Coming Coup," warned of plans for a "color revolution" in the U.S. where elections are overridden by mobs, plotted by the very Deep-Staters connected to George Soros, who invented the color revolutions elsewhere. The target in his piece is the Transition Integrity Project, as it turns out, and rather than argue or defend his project, he called for killing his critics.

Gilman, as it turns out, is a professor who specializes in the histories of the intelligentsia, which is why he'd know about a guy like Brasillach.

If the call to execute dissidents wasn't shocking enough, Gilman's reaction to the negative reaction to his tweet was even worse: he mocked the people who found his death-to-Anton call disgusting and put out a completely unrelated and watery whataboutism tweet from some obscure Republican as his right to call for executions.

To all the conservative snowflakes I triggered with this post, spare me your outrage so long as you remain quiet on a sitting GOP Senator running an ad calling for the murder of (non-fascist) journalists https://t.co/xL5g3BAlma  Nils Gilman (@nils_gilman) September 21, 2020

He has yet to delete any of his disgusting tweets. He's shamelessly still calling for the killing. Now he'd like you to think his group is all info "civility," but all we can see is another bloodthirsty Robespierre, well aligned with the Trump-crazed maniacs of Antifa and bearing the typical intellectuals' merciless impulses.

His group isn't a civility group. It's a latent bunch of Trump-crazed loonies, led by a would-be Mao who wants to kill.

Image credit: Twitter screen shot.
The Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) is all set to host the virtual Edutech2020 on the 24th September 2020. The theme of the conference is Tech for Education: Transforming Education Digitally. The conference is supported by Niti Aayogs Atal Innovation Mission and National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC).

The virtual conference is an endeavour towards establishing a great comprehension of the Edtech community, which will help to explore the barriers and major challenges and how technology is making a difference in the education sector. About 1000+ delegates with nearly 70+ speakers globally will be attending the conference.

The day-long conference will provide a platform to network with peers, learn from thought industry leaders and discuss the latest trends of the EduTech industry and veer on the ways to push forward to contribute to the industry. Some of the key topics that will be discussed are Digital Learning: Making Education Affordable & Accessible, The Digitization of K-12 Education, Eye on Future: Using Gamification in Education, Online Test Preparation: Fastest-growing Market withing Edtech etc.

The education industry is witnessing a surge in demand, not just from students and institutions who have had to shift to digital, but also from those looking to reskill themselves. In these uncertain and volatile times, having a good customer experience strategy in place with the right technology and resources can make a huge difference for all parties involved including teachers, students, principals, solutions providers and administrative staff. We are excited to be a part of IAMAI Edutech 2020 and look forward to sharing our expertise and best practices from some of the leading brands like Khan Academy, Udemy, Teachable and more, said, KT Prasad MD and RVP Sales, India & SAARC, Zendesk

The stellar line of speakers includes staunch Edtech industry bigwigs like, Ramanan Ramanathan, Mission Director - Atal Innovation Mission; Dr. Manish Kumar, MD & CEO - National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC); Dr. Anil Sahastrabudhe, Chairman, All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE); Prof PD Jose, Chair- Digital Learning & Strategy - IIM BANGALORE; Divya Gokulnath, Co- Founder, BYJU'S; Ankita Tandon, VP & Head of Business, Unacademy; Kunal Gandhi, Co-Founder and CEO, Logic Roots; Ayush Bansal, Founder & CEO, iDreamCareer.com; KT Prasad, MD and RVP Sales, India & SAARC, Zendesk; Venkat Sitaram; General Manager & Geo Head-South India Corporate Business, Dell Technologies; Prof Soumitra Dutta, Professor of Management & Former Founding Dean, SC Johnson College of Business, Cornell University; Dr. Ajit K Nagpal, Chairman, Amity PACIFIC Forum; Krishna Kumar, CEO - Simplilearn ;Arjun Mohan, CEO, upGrad etc.
The Fork-tailed Flycatcher, a tiny bird that lives in the American tropics, uses the rustling of its wings to communicate and has different dialects, a study has found.

The species is divided into two sub-species, one which spends the whole year in the northern part of South America and the other which breeds in the southern part of the continent but returns closer to the Equator in winter.

The study found the migratory sub-species makes a higher-pitched sound when flying, likely due to thinner feathers which evolved to help it fly long distances.

As a result of the two sounds, which scientists liken to human accents, the birds may only be able to mate with individuals that 'speak the same language'.

This lack of communication and selective mating could soon result in the species splitting in two, scientists believe.

A tropical bird in the American tropics, the diminutive Fork-tailed Flycatchers (pictured), uses the rustling noise of its wings to communicate, a study has revealed. There are two sub -species, one migratory and one non-migratory, and they have distinct accents

'We already knew from past genetic analysis that the two groups are becoming different species, so we wanted to know if there were any differences in the sounds that the males produce with their wings,' says Valentina Gomez-Bahamon, a researcher at Chicago's Field Museum.

'We not only confirmed the way that these birds make sounds with their feathers, but that the sounds are different for the two subspecies.'

Weighing only an ounce, Fork-tailed Flycatchers are black-and-grey and look like tiny swallows - except for their foot-long, scissor-shaped tails.

Fork-tailed Flycatchers are very aggressive birds, so to lure them in, the researchers set up a taxidermy hawk (left) for the flycatchers to attack (right). The scientists took video and audio recordings of the birds' wing feathers to see how they produced their sounds

Hummingbirds drop their body temperature below 4C Hummingbirds can cool their bodies to less than 4C (40F) at night - the lowest temperature recorded in any bird - to save energy for use the daytime, researchers have found. This rare ability is called torpor, and is a brief hibernation-like state which slashes energy expenditure by 95 per cent in the diminutive birds. Hummingbirds have wings that beat more than ten times a second and during daylight they use their hovering ability to suck nectar from thousands of flowers. To keep up, their tiny hearts beat around 1,000 times a minute, but this drops to just 50 during torpor. Advertisement

They use those giant tail feathers to help attract mates - and spread them while hunting or fighting.

But it's the flight feathers in the male birds' wings that make the sounds.

Ms Gomez-Bahamon, who is studying for a PhD at the University of Illinois, said: 'They produce the sounds when they fly very fast, and they fly very fast when they are fighting each other. These birds fight a lot.

'They are very feisty, they are not afraid of anything.'

The birds are territorial and fight off bigger birds that come near their nests - even hawks more than ten times their size.

During the mating season males fight, producing a high-pitched trilling sound. Ms Gomez-Bahamon and colleagues found it came from the fluttering of feathers.

They trapped live birds with mist nets - fine webbing stretched between two poles like a volleyball net.

After taking measurements, the researchers let them go and recorded audio and video of the birds as they flew away.

They also used the territorial nature of the birds to get a closer look by using a taxidermy hawk with a camera and microphone attached.

By analysing the audio and video, the researchers proved the unique sound did come from the flight feathers.

Ms Gomez-Bahamon says the birds make the noise in two scenarios, when fighting and win early morning, when it's still dark, to display to females.

The findings are published in the journal Integrative and Comparative Biology.
IN3, Indiana University, Purdue University and University of Notre Dame to seek joint defense opportunities

Bloomington, Ind. (September 22, 2020)  IN3 (Indiana Innovation Institute) has entered into separate master collaborative research development agreements (MCRADA) with Indiana University, Purdue University and the University of Notre Dame to pursue federal and non-federal funding for a variety of defense opportunities.

The MCRADAs will allow for a process by which joint proposals can be created to seek work with the US Department of Defense (DoD) and other military entities in a variety of emerging technical areas including hypersonics, cyber-physical systems, trusted microelectronics and artificial intelligence.

Putting these unique partnership agreements in place strengthens our collective work in advancing the defense sector here in Indiana and across the country, said Stephen E. Kelly, president and CEO of IN3. Indiana is rich in its assets to solve emerging technical challenges for the DoD and we become stronger when we all work together.

The agreements further IN3s mission of working with academia, industry and government to help solve critical defense priorities. The organization also connects regional, state and national partners in a variety of ways including convening research and business teams to solve defense challenges.

Indiana University is extremely excited to enter into this research partnership with IN3 and our academic partners around the state, said Jeff Zaleski, interim vice provost for research at IU Bloomington. Our campuss strengths in high-performance computing as well as modeling and simulation for hypersonics are a perfect addition to the collaboration and a critical match to the needs of the DoD.

Indianas top research universities are home to some of the best talent working on research and development that is key to our national security.

Notre Dame has a proud history of serving our military and the defense sector. Our expertise in hypersonic systems and aerospace engineering, along with our statewide partnerships, has only added to that, said Richard E. Billo, associate vice president for research and professor of computer science and engineering at Notre Dame. We are proud to further expand our collaborations to include IN3 and look forward to working together to advance the field of hypersonics.

The MCRADAs are in place for three years and help streamline future collaborative R&D, business development opportunities and the sharing of research facilities. These agreements are part of IN3s strategy to create a hub of national security innovation to support federal, state and local research and development needs.

Purdue is a national leader in research and workforce in emerging technologies that are well aligned with the nations defense modernization priorities, said Theresa Mayer, executive vice president for research and partnerships at Purdue University. We are excited that this agreement with IN3 will facilitate even stronger strategic alignment and collaboration among our partners across Indiana.

About IN3

IN3 (Indiana Innovation Institute) works with academia, industry, and government to create a hub of national security innovation that helps solve critical defense priorities. IN3 connects regional, state, and national partners through a variety of means including convening research and business teams to solve emerging technical challenges for the Department of Defense. IN3 is focused on hypersonics, cyber-physical systems, trusted microelectronics, artificial intelligence and 5G. Learn more at www.in3indiana.com and follow us on Twitter @IN3indiana and LinkedIn.

Media Contact: Raquel Bahamonde, rbahamonde@in3indiana.com, 317-319-6875
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size The scene is classic Bollywood. Superstar Kareena Kapoor, dressed in a red wedding gown and matching helmet, rides a bright yellow scooter down a strip of sand beside a stunning Himalayan lake. Her journey ends in a romantic embrace with heartthrob Aamir Khan. That memorable moment from the 2009 Hindi blockbuster 3 Idiots was filmed at Pangong Lake, perched 4220 metres above sea level in the Indian province of Ladakh. Just over a decade later, the lake's green-blue waters are back in the public eye, but for a very different reason. Above: A scene at Pangong Lake from the hit Bollywood movie 3 Idiots. Pangong Lake is the setting for a high-stakes border standoff between India and China. A disputed frontier separating the nuclear-armed Asian giants in the western Himalayas bisects the lake. Each side has deployed tens of thousands of troops in the region backed by tanks, artillery and missile systems. In early September, India and China accused one another of firing shots near the lake's shores. It was the first time since the mid-1970s that guns have been used at the Line of Actual Control, or LAC, the name given to the de facto border between India and China (not to be confused with the nearby "Line of Control" which delineates the parts of Kashmir administered by India and Pakistan).

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The high-altitude impasse is unresolved and very dangerous. Who is doing battle? How did it get to this? And what does the Dalai Lama have to do with tensions between these powerful neighbours? Sticks and stones? What actually happened? In early May, fist fights and stone-pelting broke out between Indian and Chinese troops near the northern banks of Pangong Lake. There was a similar fracas in September last year. While scuffles have regularly flared, there had been no combat fatalities along the LAC in more than four decades. That changed on June 15 when a fierce brawl erupted in the desolate Galwan Valley north of Pangong Lake. Twenty Indian soldiers were killed, including a senior officer, in what the Indian government described as a violent face-off. The number of Chinese casualties is unknown. No shots were fired  there was an agreement both armies would not use guns in the border area  but the brutality of the hand-to-hand combat was striking. The Indian military accused Chinese troops of using iron bars and sticks protruding with nails during the fight. Brawling reportedly took place on a narrow ridge and some troops fell into icy waters in the ravine below.

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While the clash received limited attention in Chinas domestic media, Indias raucous news outlets reacted with fury. The high-rating news channel Times Now described it as Chinas cowardly Galwan betrayal. As news of the brawl broke, the channels veteran presenter Rahul Shivshankar shook his fist on screen saying: The Indian side did not back down. This, viewers, is the new India. We held our ground and we hit back  the Chinese have got a measure of this new redoubtable and resolute India. In early September, tensions again boiled over at Pangong Lake. China and India accused one another of firing warning shots near the lake. That brought to an end a protocol preventing the use of firearms at the LAC which has been in place since the mid-1970s. Indians in Lucknow burn an effigy of Chinese President Xi Jinping during a protest against the Chinese government on June 17 following clashes on the Himalayan border. Credit:AP On August 30, India appears to have deployed soldiers on several high peaks to the south of Pangong Lake. A few days later, the Chinese foreign ministry said Indian troops had illegally crossed the line into the Shenpao Mountain region on the southern bank of the Pangong Lake. The India army claims it has not transgressed across the LAC or resorted to [the] use of any aggressive means.

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David Brewster, a senior research fellow at the Australian National Universitys National Security College, says each side has been trying to gain a site of tactical advantage in anticipation of a rival move. Its all about preemptive positioning, he says. Confidence-building measures put in place over many years to prevent bloodshed at the LAC have now been swept away says Ian Hall, professor of international relations at Griffith University. What we are looking at now is a new normal in which there are a lot more troops deployed on the border and with the possibility of more skirmishes and violence, he says. Indian army officers carry the coffin of Colonel B. Santosh Babu, killed during fighting on the China-India border in June, for his funeral in Suryapet, about 140 kilometres from Hyderabad. Credit:AP Chinese statements have become increasingly strident. In early September, Chinas foreign ministry spokesperson, Zhao Lijian, demanded that India immediately stop making dangerous moves and warned Chinese troops would resolutely fulfil their duty to defend China's territory. The Indian side's behaviour is a grave violation of relevant bilateral agreements, which heightened tensions and made the situation highly susceptible to misunderstanding and miscalculation, he said. This is a serious military provocation of an egregious nature. A Twitter post by Hu Xijin, the firebrand editor-in-chief of the state-owned nationalistic tabloid the Global Times, on September 11 said: If a war breaks out, Indian army will be defeated quickly.

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Professor Hall says China is effectively saying to India we can punish you, we can make life difficult for you and, given some of the bellicose rhetoric in recent days, if necessary we can win a war against you. The foreign ministers of China and India met in Moscow on September 10 and released a joint statement saying both sides would "avoid any action that could escalate matters". Local commanders from both sides met near the LAC south of Pangong Lake on September 21 for a sixth round of talks aiming to ease the military standoff. But as yet there are no signs of a breakthrough. There doesnt seem to be willingness on either side to compromise, says Hall. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi makes a surprise visit to a military base in remote Ladakh in July. Credit:Press Information Bureau via AP How did it come to this? The economies of China and India have become increasingly entwined during the past two decades but their political relationship is plagued by entrenched friction points, especially ill-defined borders.

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Unilateralism is a dead end, he said. No country has the right to dominate global affairs, control the destiny of others or keep advantages in development all to itself. Even less should one be allowed to do whatever it likes and be the hegemon, bully or boss of the world.
As the U.S. death toll from the novel coronavirus prepares to eclipse 200,000, President Donald Trump on Monday incorrectly claimed at a campaign rally that covid-19 "affects virtually nobody" under the age of 18, again downplaying the extent of the pandemic and contradicting his previous statements that the virus poses a risk to "plenty of young people."

In front of a crowd of mostly maskless supporters not adhering to social distancing in Swanton, Ohio, Trump suggested only older Americans with heart problems and preexisting conditions truly need to fear the virus.

"It affects elderly people, elderly people with heart problems and other problems. That's what it really affects," the president said. "In some states, thousands of people - nobody young. Below the age of 18, like, nobody. They have a strong immune system, who knows? Take your hat off to the young, because they have a hell of an immune system. But it affects virtually nobody. It's an amazing thing."

Trump's sentiments go against the guidance of most public health experts and what he told Washington Post associate editor Bob Woodward in an interview in March. In one of his interviews with Woodward for his book "Rage," Trump acknowledged downplaying the severity of covid-19, saying that the virus affected "plenty of young people."

"Now it's turning out it's not just old people, Bob," Trump told Woodward. "But just today, and yesterday, some startling facts came out. It's not just old, older."

Much remains unknown about the virus's effect on young people, but public health agencies have made clear that individuals under 18 are at greater risk of falling ill and spreading covid-19 than originally thought. Last month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the number and rate of coronavirus cases among children under 18 had increased "steadily" from March to July. The agency emphasized that while covid-19 remains more serious and prevalent among adults, a lack of widespread testing prevents public health experts from understanding the true incidence of infection for American children. A CDC study found that young people of color, much like their older counterparts, have been disproportionately hospitalized from covid-19 compared to their White peers.

The World Health Organization warned in August that young people are becoming primary spreaders of the virus in many countries. Several American studies published over the summer suggested that those under 18, with their high rate of infection and viral loads, play a much larger role in community spread of the coronavirus than researchers previously believed. Anthony S. Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, recently said that the long-term effects of covid-19 in young people - residual symptoms such as a high rate of cardiovascular abnormalities - are "really troublesome."

The increased risk of spread among children has taken center stage in the debate over in-person learning, as K-12 schools across the nation that had reopened have had to close or change course after students or staff members fell ill or were forced to quarantine. On Monday, Trump repeated his wish for educators to reopen in-person learning, saying, "Open your schools, everybody open your schools."

Reports of Americans under 18 dying after contracting the coronavirus have become more regular in recent months, whether it's a 17-year-old in Florida or a 2-month-old in Michigan. "We are seeing young people who are dying from this virus," said Maria Van Kerkhove, head of the WHO's emerging disease and zoonosis unit, at a news conference last month.

Before Trump spoke in Swanton, and promised to "end the pandemic" if he's reelected in November, many of the president's supporters jeered Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted (R) for suggesting they cover their faces. When Husted promoted Trump-branded masks for purchase, the crowd heartily booed the lieutenant governor.

"Hang on, I get it," Husted said. "You don't like it. But when you go in a grocery store where you have to wear one. . . . Just listen up!"

Husted was booed more before getting out his final selling point to the anti-mask crowd: "But if somebody tells you to take it off, you can at least say you're trying to save the country by wearing one of President Donald Trump's masks."

- - -

The Washington Post's Felicia Sonmez and Anne Gearan contributed to this report.
The major tech companies are using their broad reach to sign up potential voters. The Biden campaign is holding a virtual rally. Other groups are relying on star power. Bob Weir, the guitarist and founding member of the Grateful Dead, has been texting fans this week as part of an effort by HeadCount, an organization that works with musicians to help register people to vote.

It occurred to me that the people who have the most at stake in the democratic elections are the people with the most years in front of them, and traditionally these younger folks dont vote in as great of numbers, Mr. Weir said.

The groups have their work cut out for them. According to a report this week by the Brennan Center for Justice, voter registration rates have plummeted in 2020, declining by an average of 38 percent compared with 2016 in 17 of the 21 states analyzed. Two key presidential battleground states tell stories of varying concern: In Wisconsin, the registration growth rate is down only 2 percent from four years ago. But in Arizona, its down 65 percent.

One of the chief causes of the lag, advocates say, has been the cloistering of the country amid the coronavirus pandemic. For the most part, there have been no packed rallies for campaign aides to canvass, no bustling city streets for volunteers with clipboards to patrol and no major music festivals or sporting events for civic organizations to leaflet.

Voter registration is not down because of lack of interest in the election, said Wendy Weiser, the director of the Brennan Centers Democracy Program. All of our traditional and most common methods of voter registration have been shut down in large part by the coronavirus.
The grandparents who caused an internet blackout in their Welsh village at the same time every morning for 18 months have finally been identified.

Pensioners Alun, 67, and Elaine Rees, 63, were unaware that their old 16' Bush TV had been leaving their neighbours with poor broadband connectivity and slow speeds every morning at 7am in village of Aberhosan, Powys.

However the mystery, which also left engineers baffled, was finally solved when the 'electrical noise' responsible was finally traced to the couple's home.

The retired couple explained that the 30 TV set, which is in their bedroom, was turned on every morning to watch Good Morning Britain.

Alun, 67, and Elaine Rees, 63, were unaware that their TV had been leaving their neighbours with poor broadband connectivity every morning at 7am in Powys village of Aberhosan, Wales

Retired GP receptionist Elaine Rees said: 'One morning during lockdown at around 8.30am we could hear two men outside talking about signal strength.

'We looked out of the window and saw they were BT engineers holding some kind of meters. One of them was pointing at our front door.

'Next thing they're knocking the door and asking us to turn the telly off at the wall.'

Mrs Rees went on to explain: 'I love watching Piers Morgan in the mornings.'

Retired farmer Alun Rees added: 'He told me we'd better get rid of the set immediately because it was interfering with the internet connection all over the village.

'He said we'd have the whole village on our doorstep if anyone found out we were the cause of the problem.

'Our son lives next door and he was having building work done so we chucked it on his skip.'

Openreach engineer Michael Jones said the company's chief engineering team helped to solve the mystery by using a spectrum analyser to look for a phenomenon known as 'Shine' (single high-level impulse noise).

Villagers living in the Powys village of Aberhosan (pictured), Wales, were suddenly struck with poor broadband connectivity and slow speeds every morning at 7am

Engineers discovered an old-fashioned TV set in a house in the village (pictured) was emitting a burst of electrical interference in at 7am each day - causing the issue

He said: 'As you can imagine when we pointed this out to the resident, they were mortified that their old second hand TV was the cause of an entire village's broadband problems, and they immediately agreed to switch it off and not use again.

'At 7am, like clockwork, it happened. Our device picked up a large burst of electrical interference in the village.

'It turned out that at 7am every morning the occupant would switch on their old TV which would, in-turn, knock out broadband for the entire village.'

For 18 months, engineers were left scratching their heads when repeated visits to the village, located near to the market town of Machynlleth, found the network was working perfectly.

Baffled BT workers even replaced a large section of cable that served the village, which is home to around 400 people, in a bid to fix the mystery issue.

After exhausting their options, they were forced to call in the Openreach Chief Engineer team, a crack team described as the company's 'SAS', in a bid to fix the problem.

Engineers were left scratching their heads for 18 months when repeated visits to the village, located near to the market town of Machynlleth, found the network was working perfectly

Engineers discovered the TV set was emitting a burst of electrical interference at 7am each day.

They traced the signal to a property in the village and Mr and Mrs Rees confirmed that they switched on their old television at that time every day  causing the broadband in the village to be affected.

There have been no further issues reported with the broadband network in Aberhosan since.

Suzanne Rutherford of Openreach said such issues are not as rare as people may think.

'Anything with electric components  from outdoor lights to microwaves to CCTV cameras  can potentially have an impact on your broadband connection,' she said.

She advised people to ensure their electrical appliances are properly certified and meet British standards.

Aberhosan will be connected to fibre broadband later this year as part of Openreach's work with the Welsh Government to expand the network in rural Wales.

After the cause of the poor broadband was made, residents said they were determined to track down the owner of the TV to make sure it was thrown out.

One woman, who asked not to be named, said: 'We don't know who this person is with the TV but I'm going to find out.

'We're not early morning people so we had no idea that the problems were starting at 7am when the telly was being switched on.

'Openreach say the person has promised not to use the telly any more - I want to make sure it's been thrown out.'

Her husband added: 'We've had engineers coming to visit all the time and none seemed to know what the problem was.

'About a year ago one said that there was a strong electrical signal in the village that could be causing the problems but they didn't know where it came from. Now I suppose they've identified this TV.'

Another villager said they were hoping the speed would be improved even more when a new fibre box was finally connected at the village chapel.

Neighbour Sara Williams said she has experienced broadband issues ever since moving into her home.

She said: 'Just before lockdown it got to the point we couldn't even use our phones on it.'Nothing would work then the landline would be down.

'It's only just the last couple of weeks that is has worked how it should have been when moving in.'

But Ms Williams says she had no idea it was down to an old television - and has no idea of the identity of the neighbour responsible.

She added: 'I didn't realise it was anything to do with a TV.'
On Tuesday, Parliament amended our banking regulations to place cooperative banks under the Reserve Bank of Indias (RBI) supervision. A big-picture view of the role of banks in financial intermediation, however, would point to the urgency of far more sweeping reforms in this sector. The time for action is now. If it took the threat of a sovereign default for India to pull our economy back from the brink in the early 90s, it is the risk of a bank solvency crisis up ahead that calls for a sectoral shake-up in favour of market orientation today. The public cost of state-dominated banking has already turned unaffordable, and with a post-pandemic spike in bad loans on the cards, we cannot keep re-capitalizing lenders that mis-price risks and fail to make remunerative use of funds put at their disposal by depositors. Many of our banks need to change how they operate. Light on how this could be done has been thrown by two central bankers who have had a birds eyeor perhaps owls eyeview of all that ails Indian banks. In a research paper co-authored by former RBI deputy governor Viral Acharya and former governor Raghuram Rajan, titled Indian Banks: A Time to Reform?, propose a slew of reform measures that could forestall the sectors ailments from acting as a huge tax on growth". For the sake of Indias progress, these deserve top-level attention.

Among their proposals is the setting up of private and national bad banks" to relieve regular lenders of dud loans. As Acharya and Rajan envision it, private operators could acquire such assets for recovery where state involvement is not necessary, while a national bad bank could take over bad loans in ailing sectors (say, power), until demand revives. A clean-up of bank balance sheets would free up capital for productive credit allocation. Similar efforts have fallen flat in the past, so doubts may shadow such an exercise. The duos other major ideas on loan quality, though, should be adopted without hesitation, be it improving the risk-management systems of lenders, the creation of out-of-court mechanisms to settle debts, or the drafting of private expertise to the cause. Stressed businesses and their creditors could indeed arrive at workable resolution plans through talks, and such efforts could be aided by an online platform set up for the sale of distressed assets. If these fail, court insolvency proceedings could kick in.

Once defaults are dealt with, the challenge would be to crisis-proof our banks so that they do not slide right back into danger. The key to this is efficiency in the gathering and allotment of money, which should be done in a way that maximizes value for debtors and creditors alike (depositors included). This depends on risk-informed credit judgements. To that end, work must start right away. Acharya and Rajan propose assuring state-owned banks greater autonomy over decisions. Further, they ask for a gradual withdrawal of the state from the sector, with government ownership reduced to a minority, even as some are fully privatized. State-directed lending may have played a role in Indias development, but central control has evidently left state-run banks vulnerable to pressures that result in money simply being lost. Profit-focused lending must prevail over patronage disbursements, something that private shareholders can police. Corporate houses with other businesses, though, would have to be kept out of this sector, given the conflicts of interest they would have. Widely-owned banks would be ideal. So a privatization programme could be calibrated to suit broad investor appetite. The end of state domination may be exactly what our economy needs.

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Madrid is a cause for concern. That was the opinion voiced on Monday by Fernando Simon, the director of the Spanish Health Ministrys Coordination Center for Health Alerts (CCAES), and repeated on Tuesday by the prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, during an interview with the Cadena SER radio network. With 14% of the population of Spain, in the last week the region has accumulated nearly a third of all of the new coronavirus cases detected: 14,871 of a nationwide total of 49,399  8,155 of which were reported on Tuesday from the previous 24 hours. Something similar is taking place in terms of hospitalizations: 30% of Covid-19 patients in the country, 6,807, are in Madrid, according to the latest data released on Tuesday by the Health Ministry.

Madrids share of the total number of cases shot back up in August, after the month of July saw the virus spreading fast through the Aragon and Catalonia regions. At that point, Madrid only accounted for 12% of the total number of positives, a figure that is more in line with the proportion of its population. But according to consolidated data from the Carlos III Health Institute, up to August 23, the figure is now at 28%, in line with what was seen from the outset of the health crisis in March.

Regional powers In Spain, both education and healthcare are controlled by the countrys 17 regional governments. During the state of alarm and coronavirus lockdown, implemented in mid-March, the Socialist Party (PSOE)-led government of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez centralized regional powers in a bid to curb the spread of the virus. Many regional leaders  including Madrid premier Isabel Diaz Ayuso of the conservative Popular Party (PP)  voiced calls during this time for an end to the state of alarm and the return of full powers to the regions. This was granted in June, when the emergency situation came to an end. But as the country enters a second wave of the virus, there have been demands  including from Ayuso  for the government to take control once more, in particular in areas such as the reopening of schools. For now, however, Sanchez is leaving the overall control of the handling of the crisis in the hands of the regional governments.

Madrid is the region where we need to focus all of our attention, explains Alex Arenas, a physicist and researcher at the Rovira i Virgili University in Tarragona, and an expert in mathematical models.

His calculations predicted with reasonable accuracy how the epidemic would behave in the first wave and he is fine tuning them to anticipate what will happen in this second one. But, he warns, everything depends on the measures that are taken and how much mobility increases with the return to the workplace in September and the start of the new school year. He warns that if the current trends continue, the situation will be very difficult once more in a very short space of time.

If we manage to get 30% of the population working from home, that will be a significant reduction in mobility, which could help, he explains. But that wont be sufficient for Madrid. There needs to be some kind of confinement in the south so that the virus does not have an impact in the rest of the healthcare areas, before spreading to the adjacent areas and then the rest of the country.

Many epidemiologists were shocked to see Madrid move to the new normality with a completely insufficient number of contact tracers

Part of the problem in Madrid is precisely the fact that it is a hub, a dense city with the biggest metropolitan area in Spain, with huge numbers of journeys taken on public transportation, and a lot of the characteristics that are needed for the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Simon interpreted the rising figures in August as a result of the return of many holidaymakers to the city after their summer vacation, as he explained on Monday, adding that the same problem could occur in September.

But there are more factors to consider. Many epidemiologists and public-health experts were shocked to see Madrid move to what the government has dubbed the new normality with a completely insufficient number of contact tracers in terms of the size of its population. During the months of June and July there was a trickle of cases without links  there was not the capacity to locate their contacts.

According to a report from the CCOO labor union released on Tuesday, the regional government has hired just 210 of these professionals since June. That was the figure supplied by the general director of the regional public health service, Elena Andradas. At the end of May, the regional government itself reported to the Health Ministry that it had 169 contact tracers. Thats to say, there are fewer than 400 contact tracers working in the region right now, when the international standard suggests that Madrid should have more than 1,200 based on its population.

Madrids deputy premier on Tuesday criticized what he called the governments self-serving obsession with the region

During his interview on Cadena SER on Tuesday, Sanchez avoided pointing the finger nor highlighting regions that have failed to shore up their public health systems, but he did hint that Madrid was one of these. You only have to look at the figures, he said. The regional premier, Isabel Diaz Ayuso of the Popular Party (PP), didnt hesitate to respond. On Monday, after hearing Simons comments about the situation in the region, she accused the Health Ministry of unfair, disproportionate cruelty, which is damaging for Spain. The deputy premier, Ignacio Aguado of Ciudadanos, on Tuesday criticized what he called the governments self-serving obsession with the region.

The experts insist, however, that while the data may resemble those of March, the situation is completely different. The high number of tests being carried out now means that the progress of the situation can be anticipated. That said, there are more and more voices warning that if the measures currently in place do not work, or more drastic ones are not implemented, the situation in Madrids hospitals could once again be a problem. There are scant hopes that the spread [of the virus] is going to slow down in the coming weeks, warns Pedro Gullon, from the Spanish Epidemiological Society. Primary healthcare is already overwhelmed and there is already a rise in the pressure on hospitals, although it is very uneven in terms of which ones. The 12 de Octubre, for example, is much more overcrowded than others. The occupation of Covid-19 patients in Madrid is currently 15% of total capacity, compared to the average of 6% in all of Spain.

The return to the workplace and to schools in September threatens new spikes that could serve to accelerate the spread of the virus. With this pandemic, weve had a problem of timing, explains Arenas. You can do everything right, but if youre too late, you dont have the necessary effect. Weve arrived late with contact tracing, PCR testing, and now we are doing badly with the reopening of schools, and by not waiting until infection rates fall its very likely that they will have to close again in a matter of weeks. In his opinion, schools should remain closed when the cumulative incidence of cases over the previous two weeks is above 50 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. Only Asturias meets that criteria right now, with Madrid at 479 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, followed by the Basque Country (354), La Rioja (353) and Aragon (319). The remainder of Spains regions are under 300.

With reporting by Daniele Grasso.

English version by Simon Hunter.
The deadline to register to vote in Georgia is here. Today, Oct. 5, is the final day to make sure you can vote in the 2020 election.

This election is expected to have about a 70% turnout among eligible voters, but that will look drastically different this year as more voters turn to mail-in voting or early in-person voting to reduce the spread of the coronavirus.

If you live in the state of Georgia or are registered to vote in the state, heres how to check the status of your registration or register to vote if you havent already.

How to register

In the state of Georgia, you can register to vote online or by downloading and mailing in a hard copy registration form. New voters can find this information on the Georgia Secretary of States website.

College students can receive Georgia voter registration forms from their school registrar's office or from the office of the Vice President of Academic Affairs. Out of state students can also get the necessary forms to register in any state in the U.S.

The state also has an online voter page that allows Georgians to check and see if they are already registered to vote, where their polling location is for early voting and on Election Day, the district of offices they vote for and requesting an absentee ballot.

Requirements

To register to vote, you must be:

Eligibility requirements for voting A citizen of the U.S.

17 and a half years old to register and 18 years old to vote

Have not been found mentally incompetent by a judge

Not currently serving a sentence for conviction of a felony

Students whose permanent address is in a state other than Georgia can register to vote or view the status of their registration on their states Secretary of State or online voter registration website.
Cowen says UPS and FedEx to benefit from shipping the coronavirus vaccine

Published Tue, Sep 22 2020 8:53 AM EDT
The Justice Secretary has no qualms with Government plans to override the Brexit divorce deal, despite warnings he is failing to uphold the rule of law.

Robert Buckland reacted angrily in the Commons as he came under fire from opposition MPs over controversial sections of the United Kingdom Internal Market Bill, which the Government itself has acknowledged will break international law.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has faced criticism domestically and on the world stage for pursuing legislation that would defy the Withdrawal Agreement brokered with the EU last year.

He has been forced to agree to table an amendment to the Bill, giving MPs a vote before the Government can use the powers related to Northern Ireland which would breach the treaty.

The Government argues the changes are required to protect the relationship between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

These are unprecedented times, we do not want to see a breach in any obligations either by us or by the EU but it would be irresponsible if we did not make those necessary preparations Robert Buckland

Speaking in the Commons, shadow justice secretary David Lammy said Mr Buckland had taken an oath in 2019  as part of his role as Lord Chancellor  to respect the rule of law.

Mr Lammy then highlighted resignations linked to the legislation  including Lord Keen of Elie who quit as Advocate General for Scotland.

He asked if those who had resigned were wrong, adding: If not, can I ask him how he can turn up in this House with a straight face after voting to betray his oath and break the law?

Mr Buckland described it as a very serious allegation, stressed his belief in the oath and noted: I have done everything I possibly can, consistent with that oath, to make sure that this Government acts in a way that is consistent with the rule of law.

That is what is happening, this House is directly involved quite properly in these deliberations, amendments are being made to this Bill as we speak, and the contingency in which these exceptional provisions are to be used have been clearly set out.

These are unprecedented times, we do not want to see a breach in any obligations either by us or by the EU but it would be irresponsible if we did not make those necessary preparations.

That is why Im here and that is why I will continue to be here as long as I feel able to discharge my oath  and I can tell (Mr Lammy) I feel very able to discharge my oath thus far.

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Mr Lammy said the Bill breaches international law but is also a flagrant attack on the rule of law at domestic level.

He told Mr Buckland: I say to the Lord Chancellor, he is an esteemed barrister, he swears to a code of conduct, does he not now risk bringing the profession into disrepute by breaching that code of conduct?

Mr Buckland said he found it extraordinary that Mr Lammy had raised the code of conduct in these matters, explaining he acts as an MP and a minister.

He added: Every member of the Government is obliged to follow the rule of law, its very clear, I take a particular oath to uphold that and defend the judiciary.

I have absolutely no qualms with what has been happening.

I have worked extremely hard to make sure this House is fully involved, and I say to him that the idea this, the passage of this Bill, is a breach of UK domestic law is just plain wrong.

Conservative former minister Sir Bob Neill earlier said the compromise amendment accepted by the Government would not have happened without backbench pressure and Mr Bucklands very close personal and direct involvement in making changes to the Bill to ensure they are committed to the rule of law.

Mr Buckland said the Commons has a lock on the matters, adding: I think the way is much clearer and much more satisfactory.

MPs wished Mr Buckland happy birthday throughout justice questions, with the SNPs Marion Fellows (Motherwell and Wishaw) joking: With age may come wisdom.

The Bill undergoes its final day of scrutiny at committee stage on Tuesday.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 05:24:49|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Chilean President Sebastian Pinera on Tuesday called for closer global cooperation in tackling the pandemic crisis, denouncing the practice of buck-passing.

"Only collaborative and multilateral solutions will allow us to overcome this crisis and to emerge from it with new strength standing on our feet once again," Pinera said in a statement at the general debate of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

He noted that the COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the need to strengthen international cooperation and governance, and also laid bare the sheer degree of interdependence within the international community, as the virus shows no respect of borders, nationalities or ethnicities.

The current pandemic crisis has demonstrated the urgency of better cooperation between all nations, said Pinera.

The major powers, instead of squaring off against one another on economic and health issues, should be at the forefront of the fight against this global pandemic, as well as at the forefront of the fight to overcome the recession induced by the pandemic, rather than allowing a glaring at alarming leadership vacuum, said the Chilean president.

Pinera said there is also a particular need in terms of leadership for the leaders of this movement to cooperate and collaborate with most vulnerable countries.

He called for nations to see both lessons and opportunities in the midst of the pandemic, pledging that Chile stays committed to cooperating with others to tackle various global challenges.

While the pandemic and the global economic recession have diverted the attention away from climate change and global warming, "our best option is to confront them simultaneously," as the threats of climate change and global warming have not paused, said Pinera.

He also noted the need to "rebuild a multilateral economic order with robust institutions that is respected and upheld by all along, which is based on rules recognized and acknowledged by all."

"The trade war that we're living through today has led to stagnation of international commerce and investment," warned the Chilean president.

It has led to the weakening of free trade, allowed protectionism to emerge, and left the World Trade Organization moribund, he added.

The general debate of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly opened on Tuesday with the theme of "The future we want, the United Nations we need: reaffirming our collective commitment to multilateralism -- confronting COVID-19 through effective multilateral action." Enditem
The case against a Pontiac charged in a July fatal hit-and-run of a bicyclist has been bound over to Oakland County Circuit Court.

Ladazyanna Roaslie-Latrese Wright, 22, is charged with driving while license is suspended/revoked causing death and failing to stop at an accident when at fault, causing death for the July 18 incident that killed 62-year-old Daniel Johnson.

After hearing testimony at a recent preliminary exam, Judge Ronda Fowlkes Gross said there was enough evidence to advance the case to the higher court.

Wrights next court date is scheduled for Oct. 15 before Judge Hala Jarbou.

Wright allegedly hit Johnson with her car as he was riding a bike through the intersection of Jessie and Osmun streets. Wright allegedly stopped and checked on Johnson, then drove off when someone else approached.

Wright was arrested four days later. She was released from jail after posting a $25,000 bond.

According to the Oakland County Medical Examiners Office, Johnson died from blunt force trauma.

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Facebook India vice-president and managing director Ajit Mohan moves Supreme Court against the summons of the Delhi Assembly Committee, which is looking into the social media giants alleged failure to crack down on hate speech, saying the issue falls within the exclusive domain of the Union of India.

The assembly panel on peace and harmony is looking into complaints on the role or complicity of Facebook officials in the Delhi riots" that happened in February.

Since Facebook had refused to come on first summon, the assembly panel had to sent second summon.

On 15 September, the committee, headed by Aam Aadmi Party MLA Raghav Chadha, asked Facebook to ensure that company executives appear before the panel at its next meeting, warning that a refusal will lead to breach of privilege" proceedings against the officials. Refusing to appear before the committee is contempt of the Delhi legislative assembly. This shows Facebook has something to hide," Chadha said.

In a letter to the committee, Facebook said Parliament is already looking into the issue and requested the Delhi panel to withdraw its summons.

Given that the issues raised by the notice involve subject matter within the exclusive domain of the Union of India, and that the matters are under active consideration by Parliament, we respectfully object to the notice and request you to recall it," Facebooks director for trust and safety, Vikram Langeh said in the letter to Chadha.

Chadha said Facebook has blatantly refused to participate, instead of using the opportunity to dispel the allegations and restoring the faith and confidence of people.

The refusal to attend is in contempt of the powers given to the assembly under the Constitution. If an issue is under investigation in Parliament, it does not stop the Delhi assembly from looking into the issue. State legislature functions independent of Parliament. In this case, the issue is also different. The parliament committee is looking into safeguarding citizens rights and prevention of misuse of social/online news media platforms, including special emphasis on womens security in digital space". The parliament committee is not looking into any issue related to Delhi riots and Facebooks role," Chadha said.

The petitioner while challenging the summons dated 10 and 18 September has also alleged that the summons violates the petitioners fundamental right under article 19 (Right to speech and expression) and Article 21 (Right to life and personal liberty)guaranteed under the constitution.

Facebook submitted that it is an intermediary" as defined under the Informational and Technology act. Adding that as an intermediary under the IT Act, Facebook is immune from liability for third-party content on the Facebook Service.

In the 169-page long petition, Facebook has sought directions for the summons order to be withdrawn and orders restraining the committee from taking any coercive actions against FB in furtherance of the summons issued.

The social media platform has faced criticism over allegations that it favours the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party-led government in India, to push its own business goals in Asias third-largest economy.

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OTTAWA - Canada will see a dramatic resurgence of COVID-19 cases unless people limit contact with others in coming days, the country's chief public health officer warns.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 22/9/2020 (486 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA - Canada will see a dramatic resurgence of COVID-19 cases unless people limit contact with others in coming days, the country's chief public health officer warns.

Dr. Theresa Tam said Tuesday the public has a vital role to play in helping health agencies limit the spread of the virus.

The Public Health Agency of Canada released its latest modelling Tuesday, predicting up to 155,795 cases and up to 9,300 deaths by early October if the current trajectory of the epidemic continues.

"The challenge we face now is to stay the course no matter how weary we may feel," Tam told a news briefing in Ottawa.

She made a special appeal to young Canadians, saying COVID-19 levels won't return to a slow burn without their help, given the incidence has been highest among people age 20 to 39 since late June.

"This is your generation, this is your time," Tam said.

"We can own this pandemic, and not let it own us."

The Public Health Agency of Canada released its latest modelling Tuesday, predicting up to 155,795 cases and up to 9,300 deaths by early October if the current trajectory of the epidemic continues.

As of Monday evening, the country had recorded 145,415 cases and 9,228 deaths.

The message throughout the presentation was clear: everyone needs to act now to limit their contacts or things will get worse.

"Canada is at a crossroads and individual action to reduce contact rates will decide our path," said the newly released presentation deck.

Anita Anand, Minister of Public Services and Procurement makes an announcement regarding vaccine procurement, in Toronto, on Wed., Aug., 5, 2020. Canada has informed a global vaccine procurement program that it wants to be part of the entire process and the financial commitment to make it official is coming hopefully by the end of the week.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov

Federal Health Minister Patty Hajdu echoed that advice in urging people to think carefully before accepting invitations to social gatherings  making the point that saying "no" will help drive numbers down.

"All of us have the future in our hands, in terms of the decisions we are making today" she said. "It's a sacrifice that we all have to make."

She also said, however, that the spread of the novel coronavirus is not the same across the country, or even across individual provinces, so determining whether restrictions need tightening demands a "surgical approach."

Meanwhile, the government announced a deal with Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline for doses of a prospective COVID-19 vaccine, the latest of several such arrangements.

Procurement Minister Anita Anand said Canada has a deal to buy up to 72 million doses of the experimental vaccine candidate, which is just starting the second of three trial phases this month.

In all, Canada has committed $1 billion to buy at least 154 million doses of vaccines from five different companies, and much of that money will not be refunded even if the vaccines never get approved.

"We need to make a substantial investment in order to ensure that Canada is well positioned to secure access to the successful vaccine or vaccines," Anand said in an interview.

"The way in which we are doing that is to bet on multiple horses at the same time in order to ensure that as one or more of those horses crosses the finish line, we have access to those vaccines."

Canada has signed deals with Moderna, Pfizer, Novavax, Johnson & Johnson and now Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline, all of which are working on some of the most promising vaccines, but none of which has completed all the required clinical trials, or been approved for use in Canada.

On Sept. 3, Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline said their vaccine candidate was going to begin Phase 1/2 trials which will involve tests on 440 individuals. The hope is the vaccine will be ready for the third and final phase of trials by the end of the year, and approved for use in the first half of next year.

Moderna has a vaccine in Phase 3 trials, and Pfizer's is in a combined Phase 2 and 3 trial. Novavax is in a Phase 2 trial, while Johnson & Johnson is in a Phase 1/2 trial.

Most clinical trials have three phases to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine or drug being developed.

Each level adds more volunteers on whom the drug is tested, looking for adverse health effects and whether the vaccine does cause a person to develop antibodies that can protect against COVID-19.

Anand said Canada has signed an agreement with Gilead Sciences and McKesson Canada to get 150,000 vials of remdesivir, the only antiviral drug that has proven effective at treating patients with COVID-19. Health Canada approved the drug for use on COVID-19 patients at the end of July.

The doses will begin arriving at Canadian hospitals this month.

Canada has also joined the international vaccine co-operative known as the COVAX Facility, which is bringing together wealthy countries with low- and middle-income nations to collectively invest in doses of vaccines.

The government has not yet announced how much money it will contribute, a figure that was to have come last week but has been delayed. Anand says Canada remains committed to COVAX and more details will come soon.

Stay informed The latest updates on the novel coronavirus and COVID-19 delivered to your inbox every weeknight. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

The Canadian Coalition for Global Health Research and the Canadian Society for International Health have both criticized Canada for acting to buy doses of vaccine for itself, saying it hinders efforts to ensure successful vaccines are distributed fairly around the world.

GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, said Monday that 64 wealthy countries, including Canada, had joined the COVAX Facility. The United States has not joined.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford says expanding access to the flu shot is the first pillar of his province's COVID-19 fall preparedness plan.

Ford says the government is spending $70 million to obtain at least 5.1 million doses of the flu vaccine.

The push to get people immunized against the seasonal flu is intended to preserve capacity in the province's hospitals, he said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 22, 2020.
The Indian Army has occupied six new positions on Finger 4 ridgeline since August 29 Line of Actual Control during the ongoing conflict with the Chinese Army in the Eastern Ladakh sector.

These hills were lying dormant for a while now and the Indian Army saw the window of opportunity to dominate them before the Chinese Army could get to them.

 Reuters

"The Indian Army has occupied six new heights between August 29 and the second week of September. The new hill features being occupied by our troops include the Magar hill, Gurung Hill, Recehen La, Rezang La, Mokhpari, and the dominating height over Chinese positions near Finger 4,"

top government sources told ANI.

 Reuters

With this achievement, the Indian troops are at an advantage in this particular region in comparison with China.



The plan orchestrated to achieve this mission also included foiling of the Chinese Army's attempts by distracting them. This meant firing of bullets in the air on at least three occasions from the northern bank of Pangong to the southern bank of the lake, sources told ANI.

 Reuters

However, the Black Top and the Helmet Top hill features are positioned on the Chinese side of the LAC while the heights occupied by the Indian side are on the LAC in Indian territory, the sources clarified.



Since this major development, the Chinese army has deployed an additional 3000 troops in the area.

 Reuters

These include a combined arms brigade including its infantry and armoured troops near the Rezang la and Rechen La heights. Not just this, the Moldo garrison of the PLA has also has been activated with additional troops by the People's Liberation Army.

 Reuters

The new change on the Indian Army's front includes the fact that India has also switched to using weapons during clashes after the PLA betrayed the Indian army in the Galwan valley attack this year in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed.


To the annoyance of some shareholders, Mountfield Group Plc (LON:MOGP) shares are down a considerable 35% in the last month, which continues a horrid run for the company. For any long-term shareholders, the last month ends a year to forget by locking in a 66% share price decline.

Following the heavy fall in price, Mountfield Group may be sending very bullish signals at the moment with its price-to-earnings (or "P/E") ratio of 2.1x, since almost half of all companies in the United Kingdom have P/E ratios greater than 18x and even P/E's higher than 37x are not unusual. However, the P/E might be quite low for a reason and it requires further investigation to determine if it's justified.

For example, consider that Mountfield Group's financial performance has been poor lately as it's earnings have been in decline. One possibility is that the P/E is low because investors think the company won't do enough to avoid underperforming the broader market in the near future. If you like the company, you'd be hoping this isn't the case so that you could potentially pick up some stock while it's out of favour.

See our latest analysis for Mountfield Group

pe

Want the full picture on earnings, revenue and cash flow for the company? Then our free report on Mountfield Group will help you shine a light on its historical performance.

Does Growth Match The Low P/E?

The only time you'd be truly comfortable seeing a P/E as depressed as Mountfield Group's is when the company's growth is on track to lag the market decidedly.

Retrospectively, the last year delivered a frustrating 2.4% decrease to the company's bottom line. Even so, admirably EPS has lifted 100% in aggregate from three years ago, notwithstanding the last 12 months. Although it's been a bumpy ride, it's still fair to say the earnings growth recently has been more than adequate for the company.

This is in contrast to the rest of the market, which is expected to grow by 2.7% over the next year, materially lower than the company's recent medium-term annualised growth rates.

Story continues

In light of this, it's peculiar that Mountfield Group's P/E sits below the majority of other companies. Apparently some shareholders believe the recent performance has exceeded its limits and have been accepting significantly lower selling prices.

The Key Takeaway

Having almost fallen off a cliff, Mountfield Group's share price has pulled its P/E way down as well. 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 Mountfield Group currently trades on a much lower than expected P/E since its recent three-year growth is higher than the wider market forecast. There could be some major unobserved threats to earnings preventing the P/E ratio from matching this positive performance. At least price risks look to be very low if recent medium-term earnings trends continue, but investors seem to think future earnings could see a lot of volatility.

Plus, you should also learn about these 2 warning signs we've spotted with Mountfield Group (including 1 which is a bit concerning).

Of course, you might also be able to find a better stock than Mountfield 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.
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Digital Editor
The BBC won't let female radio presenters become 'grey and stout' as its stations are becoming ageist and sexist, broadcaster Libby Purves has claimed.

The 70-year-old said the growth of websites and social media has made bosses increasingly concerned with image.

Miss Purves, who has presented on Radio 4 for 40 years, said she resented the fact men 'get away with it'  no matter their age or looks.

Her comments come after the BBC axed Sue Barker, 64, as host of A Question Of Sport and Jenni Murray, 70, and Jane Garvey, 56, announced they were leaving Radio 4's Woman's Hour this year.

Broadcaster Libby Purves, 70, has claimed that the BBC won't let female radio presenters become 'grey and stout' as its stations are becoming ageist and sexist

Miss Purves said the growth of websites and social media has made bosses more concerned with image. It comes after the BBC axed Sue Barker, 64, (above) as A Question Of Sport host

Miss Purves said that in the past 'you could get older unless your voice actually quavered and your phrases and opinions marked you out as an old buffer'.

'But the coming of websites [and] social media... is making radio seek an image more visual, thus ageist,' she told Radio Times.

'The middle-aged female must struggle to look youthful... Equality will come when women are allowed to be grey, stout and in proper cardigans.'

She added: 'On TV it has always mattered, and annoyed older women.

'It's a visual medium, far more tolerant of verbal mediocrity than radio, and frankly all sexes enjoy looking at prettiness, slenderness, abundant blonde hair and a good leg.

'Observe that of the over-50 women above, most look far younger. And they work on it. The men don't have to.'

Miss Purves's comments came after Jenni Murray, 70, (above) and Jane Garvey, 56, announced that they were leaving Radio 4's Woman's Hour this year

The former presenter of BBC Radio 4's Midweek added: 'In radio, age never used to matter a jot We resisted the visual and grumped at photographers.

'When they put a webcam in her studio, Jenni Murray famously draped a pashmina over it.

'When radio presenters met people, we were usually told "I'd imagined you taller - and thinner" The nearly 50-something Zoe Ball flicks designedly youthful hair, Lauren Laverne looks 25, not 42, and Mishal Husain is basically a goddess anyway.

'If there's a grudge to be grudged, it's that the chaps of all ages can inform, educate and entertain while looking like Benny Hill or Old Steptoe - and get away with it.

'It's not all about numbers.'
Queensland will open its borders to five New South Wales shires from next weekend after recording no new cases on Tuesday.

Residents of Byron Shire, Ballina, Lismore, the Richmond Valley including Casino and Evans Head, Glen Innes and 41 other postcodes will be added to the Queensland-NSW border bubble from 1am on October 1.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says those 125,000 NSW residents will be able to travel freely in Queensland and residents of her state will also be able to travel in far northern NSW.

'These areas have a lot in common with Queensland,' she said on Tuesday morning.

Residents of Byron Shire, Ballina, Lismore, the Richmond Valley including Casino and Evans Head, Glen Innes and 41 other postcodes will be added to the Queensland-NSW border bubble from 1am on October 1

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says those 125,000 NSW residents will be able to travel freely in Queensland and residents of her state will also be able to travel in far northern NSW

NSW shires added to border bubble Byron Ballina Lismore Richmond Valley Glenn Innes Advertisement

'They usually do a lot of their business in Queensland so we believe that this is the right measure to take and we have also been in contact with the NSW authorities to advise them of this today as well.'

Queensland recorded no new COVID-19 cases in the 24 hours to 9am on Tuesday, with Deputy Premier Steven Miles pointing out that 12 days have passed since there was a case of community transmission.

The state has just 16 active on Tuesday, clustered around Ipswich in the state's southeast.

Aged care residents are in lockdown and there's a 10-person limit on home gatherings in eight local government areas, including Brisbane.

The announcement of border changes come as Queensland prepares to welcome ACT travellers back up north on Friday.

The border will open only to Canberrans who arrive by plane and anyone coming from NSW via the ACT will have to wait 14 days before being allowed to fly.

The announcement comes after weeks of criticism from Ms Palaszczuk's political counterparts and the public over her 'heartless' border closures.

Jayne Brown, 60, spent two weeks confined to a tiny hotel room in Brisbane following her recent return from Sydney, where renowned neurosurgeon Dr Charlie Teo removed two large tumours on her brain.

The grandmother-of-seven requested an exemption from hotel quarantine to self-isolate at home on the Sunshine Coast, but was rejected twice.

She blasted the premier, who allowed 400 AFL players and officials from coronavirus-riddled Victoria to swan into the state and quarantine in a luxury hotel.

Sarah Caisip, who lives in coronavirus-free Canberra, applied for an exemption last month to visit her sick father Bernard Prendergast in Brisbane - but it took 20 days to get approved and he died of liver cancer two days before her flight.

The young nurse was banned from attending her father's funeral because officials believed she was a COVID-19 risk even though the ACT has had no cases for 60 days.

Ms Caisip was only granted a private viewing of her father's body, surrounded by guards and forbidden from seeing her shattered mother and 11-year-old sister.

Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott last week joined Ms Palaszczuk's long list of critics, blasting the premier's stance as 'heartless and mind-boggling'.

'We are now seeing the heartless and mind-boggling bureaucratic bloody-mindedness that goes with these border closures,' Mr Abbott told The Australian.

Queensland recorded no new COVID-19 cases in the 24 hours to 9am on Tuesday

'That New South Welshmen coming from a state with almost no cases and going into a state with almost no cases should be seen as somehow toxic to Queenslanders is simply crazy.'

New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian also made a scathing review of her counterpart.

'Can I be absolutely frank, she has made a decision and isn't willing to talk about that decision and is refusing to budge,' Ms Berejiklian told 2GB radio earlier this month.

'It's not through want of trying. I've tried to establish a positive relationship but it's a bit difficult when decisions are made without them even telling us.

'And can I compare that to [Labor's Victorian Premier] Dan Andrews and the Prime Minister, the three of us worked together on a very difficult decision on the Victoria-NSW border, and I'd like to see that applied to all borders.'

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg also criticised Ms Palaszczuk's major coup in securing the AFL grand final, accusing her of favouring sporting stars over desperate families needing to cross the border for medical reasons.
CHICAGO, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Lumenis Inc., the world's largest energy-based medical device company for aesthetic, surgical and ophthalmic applications, is proud to announce its first-ever mobile tour (LuMobile), September 28th through April 2021. The company will bring its flagship devices to practitioners in a safe environment aboard the new LuMobile outdoor tradeshow exhibit. The 20-city mobile tour will kick off in Chicago and make its way to New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Detroit, San Francisco and many more major cities around the country.

Lumenis 20-city mobile tour will kick off in Chicago and make its way to New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Detroit, San Francisco and many more major cities around the country Lumenis flagship devices presented in a safe environment aboard the new LuMobile outdoor tradeshow exhibit

Lumenis conceived the LuMobile in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has limited opportunities for physicians and other practitioners to get in-person experiences with new technologies. To fill the void, the LuMobile will take the newest and most popular Lumenis technologies across the country, including the new Stellar M22 for aesthetics, the newly launched MOSES 2.0 surgical platform, and the Selecta DUET and Optima IPL ophthalmic devices. When the LuMobile's super-sleek, glass-encased mobile tradeshow booth rolls into town, professionals will watch live demos, talk with Lumenis representatives, and experience the devices for themselves. Attendees will also find fun red carpet events, ribbon-cutting ceremonies, food trucks and more.

"When all educational meetings and trade shows came to a halt this year, we started thinking of new ways to safely bring physicians together in a professional venue to continue to advance education, patient care and new breakthroughs in medical technology," said Brad Oliver, Regional President of The Americas. "By providing an outdoor, social-distanced tradeshow environment, we are providing a safe setting to continue to advance education on recent medical innovations. Attendees can enjoy themselves, while safely learning about new break throughs in medical technologies. It's important we continue to advance medicine and share ideas collectively, especially during these challenging times. We believe our mobile, outdoor tradeshow creates that environment. I look forward to greeting our customers, friends, and colleagues with smiles, masks and elbow handshakes."

"As a medical professional, it's important to be in-the-know about the latest innovations in medical devices, but with limited in-office interaction due to the pandemic, this has become much more difficult," said Dr. Quenby Erickson of Erickson Dermatology in Chicago. "That's why the LuMobile roadshow is such a beneficial idea right now  it safely helps us to stay informed and ensures we're offering our patients state-of-the-art care. There is truly no better way to make equipment purchase decisions than to see and learn about new devices in person. I'm proud to be part of the kick-off event in Chicago, to help inform other professionals about the amazing innovations Lumenis has to offer."

Dr. Amy E. Krambeck, an urologist at Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis who helped develop the Lumenis MOSES 2.0 holmium laser, welcomes the opportunity to share the technology with colleagues around the country. "The next-generation technology allows us to treat enlarged prostates so efficiently and with so little bleeding that we can release patients the same day without a catheter  a model that's especially welcome during the COVID-19 pandemic. It also has a comfortable learning curve for both prostate and stone surgeries, so it's a welcome change for many surgeons."

To learn more about the LuMobile, view the speaker schedule, and check out the tour calendar, visit LumenisOnTour.com.

About Lumenis

Lumenis is a global leader in the field of minimally-invasive clinical solutions for the Surgical, Ophthalmology, and Aesthetic markets, and is a world-renowned expert in developing and commercializing innovative energy-based technologies, including Laser, Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) and Radio-Frequency (RF). For over 50 years, Lumenis' ground-breaking products have redefined medical treatments and have set numerous technological and clinical gold-standards. Lumenis has successfully created solutions for previously untreatable conditions, as well as designed advanced technologies that have revolutionized existing treatment methods. Lumenis is a portfolio company of Baring Private Equity Asia.

http://www.lumenis.com/

For further information, contact 5W Public Relations at [email protected].

SOURCE Lumenis Ltd.

Related Links

https://lumenis.com/


The cabinet committee on economic affairs (CCEA) on Monday approved hiking the minimum support price (MSP) for key rabi crops, including wheat, for the 2020-21 marketing season. The decision came hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that MSP for farm products will continue under the farm bills passed by Parliament on Sunday, allaying farmers  concerns that the practice may come to an end following the notification of the bills.

MSP is the rate at which the government procures crops from farmers when prices fall below market price because of an abundance of supply.

MSP on wheat, which accounts for more than two-thirds of the rabi foodgrain output, has been increased by 2.6% year-on-year (y-o-y) to 1,975 per quintal. For gram, the hike is 8.3% y-o-y, 7% for rapeseed and mustard. For barley, the hike is 75 to 1,600 per quintal. The government hiked mustard MSP by 225 to 4,650 per quintal, while masur MSP was increased by 300 to 5,100 per quintal and safflower MSP by 112 to 5,327 per quintal.

The increase in MSP is in line with the recommendations of Swaminathan Commission that said MSP should be at least 50% more than the average production cost and the differential remuneration is aimed at encouraging crop diversification, the government said. It is also in line with the governments broader aim to inch close to doubling the income of farmers by 2022.

Higher MSP will empower farmers and contribute to doubling of their income. Increased MSP, along with the series of agriculture reforms passed by Parliament will ensure dignity and prosperity of farmers. Jai Kisan!," Modi said in a tweet after Mondays cabinet announcement of MSP hike.

Agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar said that the announcement of the MSP hike before the onset of the rabi season (October-March) will help farmers take decisions on their crop structure. The MSP for pulses (lentil) and oilseeds has been increased to boost production of these crops so that import of these items can be reduced," he said.

The new rate is proof that procurement at MSP and the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) mandis will continue. However, farmers will be free to sell their produce outside these systems anywhere throughout the country to get remunerative prices," Tomar said.

It is the responsibility of 21st century India to create new systems for the farmers of the country with modern thinking. Our efforts will continue to make the countrys farmer self-reliant in the countrys farming," Modi had said earlier during the day. I assure every farmer of the country that the MSP system will continue to operate as before. The way the campaign is run for government procurement every season, will also continue to run as before," he said.

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Topics
- A brilliant 26-year-old Ghanaian lawyer named Adwoa Amoako Adjei has launched her first fictional novel titled Mixed Up

- The grand event was held on September 18 at the Accra City Hotel and was chaired by Nana Kwasi Gyan

- Mixed Up walks the reader through the life of a woman who faces so much pain, horror and battles with her love life

Trending topics on the go: How we write news at YEN.com.gh

Adwoa Amoako Adjei born on 11/04/1994 is a young lawyer who doubles as an author and is the first Ghana-based Ghanaian to publish a mystery thriller novel as well as the first female Ghanaian to self-publish a mystery-thriller-romance novel.

She is from Koforidua in the Eastern Region of Ghana and from a family of five. On September 18, 2020, Ms Adjei launched her first fictional novel which was held at Accra City Hotel and was chaired by Nana Kwasi Gyan - Appenteng, currently the President of Ghana Association of Writers who is also the past chairman of the National Media Commission.

READ ALSO: Adwoa Amoako Adjei: Young Ghanaian female lawyer gets called to The Gambia and Ghana bars

The ceremony was attended by many dignitaries including the first Deputy Speaker of Parliament and MP for Bekwai - Hon. Joe Osei Owusu, Deputy Special Prosecutor - Mrs Cynthia Lamptey, Deputy Minister for Local Government and Rural Development and MP for New Juaben North - Hon. K. Boateng Adjei, Chief of Tinkong and CEO of Hill Palace Hotel, Peduase - Nana Toprah, Director at National Petroleum Agency - Mr. Samuel Asare-Bediako, Eastern Regional Bar President - Kwasi Amoako Adjei, President of Ghana Rowing Association-Lawyer Stephen Bekoe and many others.

Meet Adwoa Amoako Adjei a young Ghanaian lawyer & book author with many records Source: Instagram, ms.adjei

Source: Instagram

Ms. Adjei wanted to pique the interest of many non-readers and readers across the nation and internationally and she achieved that as many took to social media to happily support her by sharing her work on their pages and platforms.

The book, Mixed Up, as stated by Nyamekye Nkansah at the launch, walks the reader through the life of a woman who faces so much pain, horror and battles with her love life. It touches on her life as a teenager and engages the reader to reminisce, relate and empathise. The book includes plot twists and many more. Ms Adjei stated that the book helps the world to see modern Ghana as we know it and also encourages young talents.

She stated that she is already working on two other novels and hopes that in no time she will have a collection. Mixed-Up is an international standard modern-day social book and its time to support our own because this is a good step for Ghana in the literature world. She stated that what she needs from us now is to help her create a bigger literature world for Ghana.

Adwoa Amoako Adjei: 26-year-old Ghanaian lawyer launches 1st novel titled Mixed Up Source: Instagram, ms.adjei

Source: UGC

In her closing remarks, she had a message to the public. She said

So often than Ill like to admit, I have been in a position where people doubt my abilities and so often I am proud to say, I have been in a position to prove them wrong. I believe that you can do anything once you challenge yourself. I dreamt, I wanted that dream and I worked towards it. And this is a dream come true.

Enjoy reading our stories? Download YEN's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Ghana news!

Ghanaian multi-instrumentalist Dela Jackson has charged the youth in Africa to wake up | #Yencomgh

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Source: YEN.com.gh
ABCs Good Morning America

September 20, 2020

8:02:36 a.m. Eastern

WHIT JOHNSON: But we begin here with Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The political battle now over replacing her on the Supreme Court, and what it means for the presidential campaign. New York governor Andrew Cuomo ordered state landmarks to be lit in blue in honor of her. Time magazine releasing a special commemorative cover featuring the late justice, and overnight, this vigil where Senator Elizabeth Warren led the crowd in a chant of I will fight to support Ginsburgs stances on dreamers and affordable care.

ABCs Rachel Scott is joining us now from outside the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. with the very latest. Rachel, good morning.

RACHEL SCOTT: Whit, good morning. There is a sense of grief and anticipation playing out here in Washington. Outside the Supreme Court, a growing memorial as so many grapple with the loss of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The President, though, is pressing forward announcing he will nominate a woman in the coming days to fill her seat.

[Cuts to video]

Overnight, hundreds flooding the Supreme Court to honor Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

UNIDENTIFIED KID: Ruth Bader Ginsburg is one of my heroes.

SCOTT: A moment of silence in the shadow of the U.S. Capitol where a fierce political battle over her replacement is heating up. Less than 45 days out from Election Day, President Trump racing forward urging Republicans to fill the seat without delay.

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: I think the process could go very, very fast.

SCOTT: Weve learned Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has already spoken to the President about the next steps, promising his nominee will receive a vote on the Senate floor. And the President is now narrowing down his choices telling his supporters in North Carolina he will nominate a woman.

TRUMP: I will be putting forth the nominee next week. It will be a woman.

SCOTT: Sources tell us three female judges are on his short list with conservative Judge Amy Coney Barrett emerging as an early front-runner. In 2017, the devout Catholic was pressed by Democrats about her stance on Roe v. Wade during her confirmation hearing to serve on the federal bench.

SEN. DIANNE FEINSTEIN (D-CA): The dogma lives loudly within you, and thats of concern.

JUDGE AMY CONEY BARRETT: Its never appropriate for a judge to impose that judges personal convictions whether they derive from faith or anywhere else on the law.

SCOTT: Not every Republican is on board with that speedy timeline. One of them, Senator Susan Collins. In a statement, she said, I do not believe that the Senate should vote on the nominee prior to the election. Democrats agree.

JOE BIDEN: Let me be clear, that the voters should pick the president and the president should pick the justice for the Senate to consider.

SCOTT: Republicans can only afford to lose three votes, and a small group of moderate and vulnerable senators could split from their party to stop it.

TRUMP: Now we have some senators that, you know, forget it. Think of it. I wont say it. I wont say it, Susan. I wont say it, Susan.

SCOTT: A day of mourning quickly turned political. Less than 24 hours after Ginsburgs death. Spotlighting the divide in America.

UNIDENTIFIED MAN: I think us being here sends a message not just to honor her, but to really send a message to the GOP saying, you know, we are here as a people to stand with her.

SCOTT: Protesters lining the streets outside of McConnells home demanding the Senate vote be delayed. The vacancy injecting a new sense of urgency into an already chaotic and divisive election year.

[Cuts back to live]

And Republicans will have to figure out if they have enough votes in the Senate to confirm that nominee by Election Day. But they would have to move at a rapid pace. On average, it takes about 70 days for a nomination to get through the Senate, and we are less than 45 days out from Election Day. Eva?

EVA PILGRIM: Rachel Scott for us there at the Supreme Court.
Vineet Upadhyay By

Express News Service

DEHRADUN: Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Roorkee will soon get a 'Technology Hub' under the National Mission of Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS).

Prof. Ajit K. Chaturvedi, Director, IIT Roorkee said, "The iHub will accelerate adoption of Cyber-Physical Systems and related technologies. It is in line with our commitment towards a technology-driven research ecosystem. The project will augment the efforts of the government to upskill workforce in line with Industry 4.0."

Named as ihub, it will serve as a one-stop solution for 356 fundamental technologies.

Out of Rs 135 crores sanctioned for the period of next five years, Rs 7.25 crores has already been released.

It is one of the 25 hubs being set up in the country with financial support from the Department of Science and Technology.

Professor Sudeb Dasgupta, head of the department of electronics and communication engineering, IIT Roorkee said, Cyber-Physical System comprises an advanced suite of technologies that will address the challenges of the Industry 4.0 and foster an innovative and entrepreneurial ecosystem. This initiative will offer us an opportunity to shape futuristic India.

The hub will focus on projects in Device Technology and materials spread across seven application domains - Health Research, Defence Research and Development, Electronics and Information Technology, Housing and Urban Affairs, New and Renewable Energy, Telecommunications and Atomic Energy.

The hub is mandated to deliver products, publications, Intellectual Properties, Technology Transfers along with aiding the growth of start-ups. This will generate numerous direct and indirect jobs.

It will also explore the potential collaborations and industry partnerships at both national as well as international level with institutions such as Washington University, Tokyo Institute of Japan, Colorado State University, School of Engineering, Malaysia, Central Scientific Instruments Organisation, Chandigarh and many more, to achieve its objective.

The hub is envisaged to be a one-stop platform for Cyber-Physical Systems and allied technologies. The move will facilitate knowledge sharing and collaboration, upskilling of the workforce and the generation of employment opportunities said Prof. Manish Shrikhande, Dean, Sponsored Research and Industrial Consultancy (SRIC), IIT Roorkee.

Under the Hub, IIT Roorkee proposes to develop several products related to CPS in collaboration with various national and international academic and industrial partners.

Some of the proposals include the development of an AI-powered multipurpose intelligent security and surveillance system in collaboration with IIT Kanpur and McGill University Canada, a secure edge AI Processor in collaboration with Proficient Design LLC, USA, a Cyber-Physical Platform for Prototyping Microfluidic Lab-On-Chips in collaboration with IIT Guwahati; Ritsumeikan University, Japan; National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan and Johannes Kepler University, Austria.

A proposal for the development of an advanced multistage diagnostic tool to detect antimicrobial resistance in clinical and environmental samples in collaboration with the University of Cambridge, University College, London and University of Bath, UK is also put forth.

A hack-free hydro plant control system is also proposed to be developed in association with CDAC Trivandrum, THDC India Ltd., BHEL and the University of Victoria, Canada.

The development of the cooperative guidance and navigation system for multi-agent-based surveillance & transportation in mountainous terrain for border security applications and a body movement-based energy Harvester for healthcare application is also on the agenda.

Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) is a new group of engineered systems that integrate computation and physical processes in a dynamic environment.

CPS encompasses technology areas of Cybernetics, Mechatronics, Design and Embedded systems, Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and many more.

The Department of Science and Technology has established NM-ICPS to accelerate the deployment of CPS technologies in India.

The objective of NM-ICPS is to build a strong foundation and a seamless ecosystem for the said purpose.

The Mission is mandated with the implementation of CPS and associated technologies, preparing the skilled workforce in CPS, encouraging translational research and accelerating entrepreneurship and start-up ecosystem development in CPS among others.

A network of 18 Technology Innovation Hubs (TIHs), 6 Sectoral Application Hubs (SAHs) and 4 Technology Translation Research Parks (TTRPs) have been envisioned under the Missio
PR professional Marie-Noelle Elissac-Foy, Director of the public relations consultancy The Talent Factory, has become the first Chartered PR professional in Mauritius.

Marie-Noelle was awarded the Chartered PR Practitioner status by the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR), based in the UK, after completing an online assessment on 11 September 2020. Marie-Noelle was one of eight professionals undertaking the assessment, with other professionals participating on the day based in Canada, Egypt and the UK.

Marie-Noelle Elissac-Foy, Director of The Talent Factory comments: I am humbled to join a community of more than 360 Chartered PR Practitioners around the world. My Chartered Status is above all an assurance that I will continue to practice to the highest professional and ethical standards of the profession. The assessment itself is a daunting yet enriching experience. The assessment spans over a whole day and you must demonstrate your work ethics, strategic thinking and leadership skills. This Chartered Status puts us, PR professionals, on the same status as other chartered professions. Today, more than ever, Public Relations must be seen as a strategic management function, the added value to an organisations success and sustainability. Now, I can only encourage the talented PR professionals of Mauritius to join the club!

Samantha Seewoosurrun MCIPR, Founder of the CIPR network in Mauritius and Member of the CIPR International Committee, commented: Having launched the CIPR network in Mauritius in March 2019, it gives me great pleasure to announce that Marie-Noelle has attained Chartered Status, which represents the epitome of professional excellence in the PR industry globally. I would like to warmly congratulate her on her achievement on behalf of CIPR.

The PR industry is in constant evolution, and I would strongly encourage other PR professionals to join CIPR in order to build their knowledge and update their skills. Since COVID-19 we have witnessed an acceleration in the use of digital and AI in the PR industry, which is a key area of focus for CIPR, and we believe it is important for professionals to keep pace with the latest trends.

I am also working with CIPR International to expand CIPRs African footprint, with the first pan-African webinar for PR professionals on Upskilling for the Future of Comms held in collaboration with Africa Communications Week on 15 September. We will be pleased to offer PR professionals in Mauritius opportunities to network with their peers on the African continent and beyond, and we will be hosting further trainings through webinars in the coming weeks.

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Health workers at various federal hospitals across Kaduna State resumed work fully Tuesday after the Joint Health Workers Union of Nigeria (JOHESU) called off the seven days warning strike across the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some of the health workers and other staff of all public hospitals, laboratories and clinics across the state resumed normal activities.

Some of the patients who spoke with NAN expressed delight at the suspension of the strike, saying lives would be saved, with the development.

Musa Liman, a patient with the National Ear Centre said that the strike affected most of the patients directly as only few of the health workers came to attend to the patients.

I appeal to them to exercise patience and work for humanitys sake, although indirectly, the strike by the health workers may also lead to better services and health care for patients and the public.

Maryanne Julius, another patient expressed appreciation to the health workers for suspending their one-week strike.

The strike will put patients at risk of serious harm and it contradicts their duties to care for the patients, especially those who are presently undergoing treatments.

Jamilu Musa, a patient at the Federal Neuropsychiatry hospital in Kaduna, said that the health workers strike was of growing concern to the country, and urged the federal government to meet their needs.

He said that the health workers had always played a vital role in achieving health coverage,and they should be encouraged to do so.

The Chairman, JOHESU National Ear Centre, Morakinyo Olajide-Rilwan, said that the strike was suspended after a meeting with the national body in Abuja.

It was suspended because it is a warning strike and we are giving 15 days before embarking on an indefinite strike.

JOHESU made the decision following a meeting of the unions National Executive Council (NEC), which was held on Sunday, not because its demands have been resolved by the government, but it is to sustain and run the public health systems.

The JOHESU always considers patients who cannot afford to pay bills in private hospital or to go abroad.

However, we understand that this is what government is using as our weak point without considering our demands.

We, therefore, resolved that if we embark on indefinite strike, it will be total lockdown without allowing measures on ground for other health workers to attend to patients.

(NAN)
First, the hard facts. An individual is president of the United States from the moment she or he takes the oath of office in the January after the election, and remains president until the next person takes that oath, except in cases of assassination or successful impeachment. The sitting president has an unquestionable right to do all the things a president does right up to the last hour of his term.Nothing in the Constitution prevents a sitting president from appointing a Supreme Court justice in the weeks or months before the election, or even after the election  even one he or she loses  and before the next president is sworn in. In other words, President Trump is absolutely within his Constitutional rights to nominate someone to fill the seat of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died last Friday, Sept. 18, 2020, at the age of 87.In 2016, the U.S. Senate refused to entertain President Barack Obamas nomination of Judge Merrick Garland to fill a vacant seat on the Supreme Court. It was seven months before the 2016 election. Under our separation of powers doctrine, in which each branch of government is free to act in the way it thinks best so long as it adheres to the letter of the Constitution, the Senate was absolutely within its rights to refuse to confirm or reject Mr. Garland or even vet him.So if President Trump nominates a new justice and the Senate confirms the appointment, not only would there be no violation of the Constitution, but it would conform to the legal doctrine that the president is invested with his full Constitutional powers for the entire length of his term. There is no ebbing of his power as the election approaches or  even if he loses  during the interim between the election and the inauguration of the next president.Second, the Constitution does not specify the number of justices who sit on the Supreme Court. Over the course of American history, the number has jumped around, from six to five and back to six, and at one point as high as 10. The number nine was set by Congress in 1869 and it has not changed since, though in 1939, frustrated by conservatives on the court, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt tried to increase the number dramatically, perhaps to as high as 15. Congress balked.Because the Constitution is silent on the size of the court, Congress is free to change that number any time it wishes. The number of justices could be three, 30, or 300 if both houses of Congress pass the bill and it is not vetoed by the president. So if President Trump and the Senate nominate and confirm a new justice and Joe Biden wins the presidency in November, and if the Democrats control both houses of Congress, they would be perfectly within their Constitutional rights to pack the court by increasing the number of justices and filling each of those seats with individuals of their own choosing.If President Trump and the Republican Senate fill Ginsburgs seat in the next weeks or months, the Democrats will howl, and not without reason. Four years ago, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell refused to act on President Obamas nomination of Merrick Garland, declaring that it was too close to the 2016 election, that it would be unseemly to fill the seat before the people had the chance to express their will for the future direction of the country. If this proximity principle was important a full seven months before a presidential election, it must be even more valid just six weeks before a national election. Unfortunately for the Democrats, what Senator McConnell and the Republicans did in 2016 was not based on any provision of the Constitution.It was apparently only a power play disguised as a principle and now that the situation is reversed, McConnell and the Republican leadership have reverted to another principle, enunciated above, that a president is entitled to do whatever his office requires or allows right up to the end of his time in office. Hypocrisy? Of course  whopping, soul-numbing hypocrisy. But that is where we are in 2020.The Founding Fathers intended the judiciary to be the least political branch of the federal government. Since the failed Robert H. Bork nomination in 1987, filling a vacant Supreme Court seat has become one of the most deeply politicized events in Washington, D.C. The notion that Majority Leader McConnell would choose not to use the power he has to put a serious conservative on the Supreme Court, that he would, in the name of consistency and deference to the people, postpone any action on a future justice until after the Jan. 20, 2021, inauguration, sounds merely quaint in the face of the bitterly partisan political wars of our time. Nor is there any certainty that the Democrats would do the magnanimous thing if the situation were reversed.The Democrats' only real hope for postponement lies in the hands of a handful of Republican senators  Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mitt Romney of Utah, and perhaps Chuck Grassley of Iowa  who have indicated their uneasiness about punching through a nominee this side of the momentous election on Nov. 3. Without a Republican majority, no new nominee could be confirmed. But as this crisis unfolds, the Democrats will find no solace in the Constitution. They will shout hypocrisy to the skies, but their Republican adversaries are more likely to feel exultation than shame.Everyone understands that elections matter because they distill the will of the people. If, for example, Joe Biden won by a landslide on Nov. 3, and the Republicans also lost control of the Senate, it would be problematic for the outgoing Trump administration and the lame-duck Republican-controlled Senate to confirm their own nominee, because it would ignore the emphatic voice of the people. It would be problematic, but it would not be illegal.The problem of lame-duck decision-making in a democracy is perplexing and inherently frustrating. Thats one reason the date of the inauguration was moved up in 1933, thanks to the 20th Amendment, from March 4 (four months after the election) to Jan. 20 (11 weeks). Given the astounding pace of life in the 21st century, and the magnitude of presidential power, even 11 weeks seems like an eternity. The outgoing president has enormous power  think of executive orders, pardons and commutations, and judgeships.The question of what deference an outgoing president owes to his successor is a difficult one. Thomas Jefferson believed that the outgoing executive should not hamstring his successor in any way, that it is in the interests of a republican system of government for the outgoing president to grant his successor a maximum amount of freedom to surround himself with individuals of his own stamp, to move the country in the direction of his vision (or of his partys platform) and that the use of lame-duck power to thwart a duly chosen successor was a breach of gentlemanly decency as well as a thumbing of the nose at the American electorate. Even when he hand-picked his successor and best friend James Madison in 1809, the retiring Jefferson avoided making any decisions that would tie Madisons hand. Jeffersons extreme deference was in part a reaction to the unsmooth transfer of power that had attended his election in 1800, when he displaced his old friend John Adams in the presidency.After it was clear that Adams had lost his bid for re-election in 1800, the discredited one-term president made a number of last-minute appointments to the judicial branch of the national government, not merely to fill vacancies, but to concentrate as much anti-Jeffersonian power in the judiciary as possible so that Jeffersons Second American Revolution would have a harder time changing the direction of the country. These became known as the Midnight Appointments.Jefferson was doubly offended, first because he believed Adams appointments violated the sacred principle of popular sovereignty (elections matter); and second because he and Adams were old friends, at odds in 1800, but both ardent supporters of a republican system of government, and Jefferson felt that the ancient friendship, even in its fractured state, would cause Adams to defer to his successor. Adams was bitter. He was no longer interested in the politics of politeness and deference. In fact, he left Washington at dawn on March 4, 1801, refusing to stay in town long enough to see his old friend, now temporary enemy, inaugurated in his place.Life goes on. Soon enough, the Jefferson administration did what it could to chasten the judiciary, first by passing its own Judiciary Act (1802) that eliminated some recent Federalist judgeships, and then by impeaching two federal judges, John Pickering of New Hampshire (removed Jan. 4, 1804) and then Supreme Court Associate Justice Samuel Chase (acquitted by the Senate, March 1, 1805). Most historians believe that if the impeachment of Justice Chase had been successful, Jefferson might even have gone after Chief Justice John Marshall. The Senates courageous decision in the Chase case probably saved the principle of separation of powers and the independence of the U.S. Judiciary.In April 1804, President Jeffersons younger daughter Maria died at the age of 25. Jefferson, who had already buried his wife Martha and four of their six children, was devastated. Retired on a farm in Quincy, Mass., former First Lady Abigail Adams chose to break a long silence to commiserate with her former friend Jefferson. She had known Maria back in 1787, when the 9-year-old arrived in England on a ship from Virginia. Jefferson had summoned Maria to join him and her older sister Martha in Paris, where he was serving as the American minister to the court of Louis XVI. Abigail Adams was immediately drawn to young Maria, whom she characterized as a child of the quickest Sensibility, and the maturest understanding, that I have ever met with for her Years. . . . In short she is the favorite of every Creature in the [Adams] House. Mrs. Adams condolence letter of May 10, 1804, was sincere and heartfelt, but nevertheless somewhat stiff. She signed off with the words, That you may derive comfort and consolation . . . is the sincere and ardent wish of her, who once took pleasure in subscribing Herself your Friend. Ouch.Jefferson replied from Washington, D.C., on June 13. After politely acknowledging Abigails letter of condolence, the Sage of Monticello made one of the biggest mistakes of his epistolary life. Perhaps wishing to account for the breakdown of his longstanding friendship with John Adams, Jefferson wrote, I can say with truth that one act of Mr. Adamss life, and one only, ever gave me a moments personal displeasure. I did consider his last appointments to office as personally unkind. It seemed but common justice to leave a successor free to act by instruments [i.e., justices] of his own choice.Jeffersons letter served only to enrage Abigail Adams and reopen old and deep wounds. She responded with a blistering reply on July 1, 1804. I think it a duty to explain, she lectured. The constitution empowers the president to fill up offices as they become vacant. . . . This was done by president Washington equally, in the last days of his administration so that not an office remaind [sic] vacant for his successor to fill upon comeing into the office. Think of this delicious moment of American history! Abigail Adams, who under our system could not vote or hold public office, the wife of a former one-term president, lecturing the eminent political theorist (and sitting president) Thomas Jefferson about constitutional doctrine!Abigail Adams was right, of course, and Jefferson was wrong. She also knew enough to play the ultimate trump card  the practices established by the great and untouchable George Washington as president. Just for good measure, she went on in her July 1 letter to excoriate Jefferson for hiring the scurrilous pamphleteer James Callender to write dirt about her husband in the run-up to the election of 1800. After the election, Jefferson and Callender had a falling out and Callender went on to break the notorious Sally Hemings story in September 1802 in a Richmond, Va., newspaper. Mrs. Adams could not help exulting over the karma. The serpent you cherished and warmed, bit the hand that nourished him, and gave you sufficient Specimens of his talents, his gratitude, his justice, and his truth.At this point, Jefferson gave up and slipped away into a stoic silence. John Adams Midnight Appointments proved to be of enormous consequence in American history. The most important of those late-term nominees was John Marshall, who served as chief justice of the Supreme Court for 34 years. He is widely regarded not only as the greatest justice in American history, but the one who interpreted the Constitution as creating a strong national government, not a confederation of sovereign states.That was his greatest achievement, and it altered the course of American history. The other midnight appointee of consequence was one William Marbury, who had been appointed by Adams to a minor post. In the haste and chaos of the last days of the Adams administration, Marburys commission had not been physically delivered to him, so Jefferson decided to discard the document, even though Marbury had been informed by Adams that he was to be nominated. As every first-year law student learns in constitutional law, Marbury sued the Jefferson administration under a Writ of Mandamus to deliver up the commission.Justice Marshalls decision in the case (Feb. 24, 1803) gave poor Marbury no relief, but it was in that famous decision that Marshall declared that the Supreme Court would be the final arbiter of which laws passed by Congress are constitutional and, more importantly, which are unconstitutional and therefore of no legal validity under our system. In other words, the now universally accepted doctrine of judicial review was not enumerated in the 1787 Constitution itself, but in a Supreme Court decision that resulted from John Adams lame-duck Midnight Appointments.
Chairman Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) smiles during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in Capitol Hill in Washington, on June 9, 2020. (Andrew Harnik, Pool/AP)

Graham: Weve Got the Votes to Confirm Justice Ginsburgs Replacement Before the Election

Republicans have enough votes to confirm President Donald Trumps next Supreme Court nominee, Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said late Monday.

Weve got the votes to confirm Justice Ginsburgs replacement before the election, Graham said during an appearance on Fox News Hannity.

Were going to move forward in the committee, were going to report the nomination out of the committee to the floor of the United States Senate so we can vote before the election. Thats the constitutional process, he added.

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died at age 87 on Sept. 18 from pancreatic cancer complications.

She was the oldest justice on the nations highest court.

It wasnt clear whether the GOP had enough votes until Monday, when potential swing Sens. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) said they support moving quickly to replace Ginsburg.

I have and will continue to support judicial nominees who will protect our Constitution, not legislate from the bench, and uphold the law. Should a qualified nominee who meets this criteria be put forward, I will vote to confirm, Gardner, who is battling for reelection, said in a statement.

Two Republican senators have said they are against voting on Trumps future nominee before Nov. 3, arguing the election is too close.

I did not support taking up a nomination eight months before the 2016 election to fill the vacancy created by the passing of Justice Scalia. We are now even closer to the 2020 electionless than two months outand I believe the same standard must apply, Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said on Sunday.

A GOP-held Senate stalled President Barack Obamas nominee, Merrick Garland, to replace deceased Justice Antonin Scalia in 2016.

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg leaves the stage after speaking to first-year students at Georgetown Law in Washington, on Sept. 26, 2018. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP Photo)

President Donald Trump makes his way to board Air Force One before departing from Andrews Air Force Base in Md., on Sept. 21, 2020. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

That seat was later filled by Trump nominee Neil Gorsuch.

Trump has said hes going to select a woman to replace Ginsburg and will announce who hes chosen on Friday or Saturday.

If the woman is confirmed, a third of the nine-person court will have been nominated by Trump in a single term.

Republicans still have control of the Senate, with a 53-47 majority.

The other potential swing vote, Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), still hasnt said how hell vote, but a 50-50 tie can be broken by Vice President Mike Pence.

Most Republican senators have said they support Trump nominating a replacement. But theres a possibility that one or more will emerge and join the small group opposed to the president on this issue.

Graham said things shifted for him during the confirmation process for Brett Kavanaugh, Trumps second nominee, in 2018.

Unsubstantiated sexual assault allegations were brought forward after the Senate Judiciary Committee had vetted Kavanaugh, questioning him extensively.

One woman who accused Kavanaugh of assault, Christine Blasey Ford, testified to the committee, but struggled to keep her story straight. Three people she testified were there the night of the alleged assault said they didnt recall that night happening.

Two other women later recanted their claims, while a third drastically changed her account.

After Kavanaugh, everything changed with me, Graham, whose house in Washington was targeted by protesters in the early hours of Monday, told Sean Hannity.

Theyre not going to intimidate me, Mitch McConnell, or anybody else.
Azizi Developments, a leading private developer in the UAE, has started expansion work on the third phase of its flagship master planned French Mediterranean-inspired lifestyle community - Riviera, located in MBR City, Dubai.

The third phase of Riviera will be built at a construction value of AED1 billion ($272 million). On completion, Riviera Phase 3 will comprise 3,671 units, featuring around 994 studios, 2,142 one-bedroom, 508 two-bedroom and 27 three-bedroom homes.

All buildings will come with fully equipped gyms, two swimming pools, saunas, steam rooms and childrens play areas, and are surrounded by vast green open spaces and other amenities.

Founder and Chairman Mirwais Azizi said: "We are excited to expand the third phase of Riviera, our pride and joy in Dubais most sought-after residential destination."

"The investor response to the first two phases, as well as to the first buildings in the third phase, has been phenomenal, surpassing our expectations  naturally, we are now adding to it to grant even more families the many benefits of this ideally located, well-connected, and carefully designed landmark community," he stated.

A stylish waterfront-lifestyle destination located in the heart of MBR City, Riviera is planned to comprise approximately 16,000 residences that are conveniently located in the midst of all the business, leisure and retail hubs of the city.

Construction work is progressing swiftly, with the Phase One of Riviera now over 60% complete, the second phase nearly 37%, and the third phase already over 22% constructed.

Azizi pointed out that Riviera appeals to families from all nationalities and walks of life.

"Designed to introduce the French-Mediterranean lifestyle to Dubai, which is not merely about architectural art but also about a certain joie de vivre  a celebration of life, an exultation of spirit, Riviera represents a new landmark," he noted.

The homes offer spectacular views of the citys skyline and ensure generous space, spread across three districts: an extensive retail boulevard, a canal walk with artisan eateries and boutiques, and Les Jardins  a lush-green social space.

"We look forward to enriching their lifestyles and remain steadfast in our commitment to catalyse the vision and development of this great emirate, one that continues to show its true merits as one of the safest, most liveable, innovative and forward-looking cities in the world," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
A new print edition of the AZERNEWS online newspaper was released on 22 September.

The new edition includes articles: President Aliyev: Azerbaijani oil fully serves interests of citizens; MFA: Yerevan escalates tension in region, nullifies peace talks; Baku: Cooperation with Turkey contributes to regional stability; National serviceman killed in Armenian attack on border and etc.

AZERNEWS is an associate member of the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA).

The online newspaper is available at www.azernews.az.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: There was no requirement for mandatory COVID-19 testing when US President Donald Trump visited India from February 24 to 25, the government said on Tuesday.

Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan, in a written reply to a query in Rajya Sabha, said the mandatory screening for COVID-19 of all international passengers arriving in India was implemented from March 4.

The minister was asked whether the US President's staff and delegation were tested for the COVID-19 during the visit.

"At the time of President Trump's visit, that is February 24-25, there was no requirement of mandatory COVID-19 test for travellers coming from foreign countries," Muraleedharan said.

He mentioned that the World Health Organisation declared novel coronavirus a pandemic on March 11.

CLICK HERE FOR COVID-19 LIVE UPDATES

"The requirement of mandatory universal screening of all international passengers arriving in 21 airports in India for COVID-19 was implemented by the government of India with effect from March 4," Muraleedharan said.

"Therefore, during President Trump's visit to India, established norms and protocols for handling such high-level visits were followed," he said.

During his India visit, Trump was accompanied by First Lady Melania, daughter Ivanka, son-in-law Jared Kushner and the top brass of his administration.

Asked as to when did the government first receive information from the US about the planned visit of the US President, Muraleedharan said dates for the State visit were decided in mutual consultation by the two sides.

Replying to a separate question, Muraleedharan said India provided assistance in the form of medicines and medical equipment to over 150 countries to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

The assistance included grants-in-aid valued at around Rs 80 crore to 82 countries.

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When the first installment of the Fargo TV series premiered in 2014, creator Noah Hawley managed, against all odds, to replicate what made the Coen brothers' Oscar-winning 1996 movie so distinctive. Since that first season, Hawley has made his Fargo a TV event, an anthology series that boasts a Coen-like tone of dark comedy and bursts of violence, populated by desperate and colorful characters.

Its a particular pleasure, then, to sink into a new season of Fargo, which debuts Sunday, Sept. 27, on FX. Not that the fourth season, which stars Chris Rock and Jason Schwartzman as heads of rival crime families in Kansas City, Missouri in the 1950s, is likely to put a spring in your step. Instead, bullets fly, bodies pile up, and bad things happen to innocent people.

But even as tension builds, its a treat to hear pungent dialogue, revel in artful cinematography and evocative music, and get caught up in a story thats a bit too sprawling, but makes us wonder what happens next.

(How to stream Fargo Season 4: Episodes will stream on FX on Hulu the day after they air on FX)

While Season 4 taps into the conflict between good and evil that has been a consistent Fargo theme, the story tries to tackle, with varying degrees of success, such weighty subjects as race and immigration. In the first episode, a lengthy prologue explains how an Italian crime family and a Black racketeering operation broker peace. In keeping with Kansas City gangster tradition, the boss of each family gives up his youngest son to the rival family.

In 1950, the bosses are Loy Cannon (Chris Rock), who surrenders his son, Satchel (Rodney Jones), to Donatello Fadda (Tommaso Ragno), who, in turn, sends his youngest son, Zero (Jameson Braccioforte), to live with Cannons family.

Despite the deal, peace is threatened by the ambitions of Donatellos son, Josto (Jason Schwartzman), who moves into power when his father is hospitalized. Things get more complicated when Jostos volatile brother, Gaetano (Salvatore Esposito), arrives from Italy.

Meanwhile, Loy is intent both on expanding his criminal empire and trying to get local banks to back his legit business concept. Loy is turned down, which underscores the idea that minorities dismissed by the white power structure  in this Fargo, characters fling ethnic slurs around as if they were confetti -- will turn to crime to achieve their version of the American dream.

In previous seasons, memorable characters personified down-to-earth, incorruptible goodness, following in the footsteps of Marge Gunderson (Frances McDormand), the Minnesota police chief from the original film. This time, that goodness resides in Ethelrida Pearl Smutny (Emyri Crutchfield), a 16 year-old who watches the increasingly unnerving goings-on, especially those that may threaten her parents, Thurman (Andrew Bird) and Dibrell (Anji White), an interracial couple who operate a mortuary that caters to both white and Black clients.

Andrew Bird as Thurman Smutny, Emyri Crutchfield as Ethelrida Pearl Smutny and Anji White as as Dibrell Smutny, in "Fargo." (Photo: Elizabeth Morris/FX)

Ethelrida is, in many ways, a passive character, a still center in the midst of chaos. Its notable that, unlike the sympathetic law enforcement figures from earlier seasons, our moral compass here is a teenager. This Fargo suffers a bit from Ethelrida not being more at the center of the story, but Crutchfield has a grounded quality that holds our attention, even when Ethelrida is simply looking and listening.

Rock isnt the first actor you think of when you imagine a 1950s Kansas City crime boss, and in the early episodes, he seems a bit tentative, and tries hard not to let his talent for comedy show. But, based on the nine (of 11) episodes available for preview, Rock gets stronger as the show goes on. Even when we dont like the character, we can understand him.

This season also struggles to find a consistent tone. When characters display the dark humor thats been a hallmark of Fargo, it sometimes works (as when Justified star Timothy Olyphant, again playing a U.S. Marshal, shows off his flair for delivering juicy lines). But sometimes it doesnt.

The least effective attempts to add Fargo quirkiness have to do with Oraetta Mayflower (Jessie Buckley), a nurse with a homicidal streak (between Ratched and this, its a bad TV season for nurses). Oraettas plotline, so far, at least, feels extraneous, as if shes there only so one character will speak in a signature Fargo Minnesota accent. An undeveloped subplot involving Oraetta and Jostos relationship also feels out of place.

Salvatore Esposito as Gaetano Fadda and Jason Schwartzman as Josto Fadda in "Fargo' Season 4. (Photo: Elizabeth Morris/FX)

The show tries to make room for a large cast of characters, with mixed results. Schwartzman seems to be having fun with his would-be mob kingpin role. Others in the Fadda family orbit, unfortunately, are mostly Italian-American stereotypes, and a little of Jostos mayhem-prone brother goes a very long way.

Chris Rock as Loy Cannon and Glynn Turman as Doctor Senator in "Fargo" Season 4. (Photo: Elizabeth Morris/FX)

The best performances come from Glynn Turman as Doctor Senator, Loys seasoned advisor, and Ben Whishaw as a character improbably named Rabbi Milligan (hes Irish), who tries to navigate his duties as a member of the Fadda clan while also watching over young Satchel.

Ben Whishaw as "Rabbi" Milligan in "Fargo" Season 4. (Photo: Elizabeth Morris/FX)

Even if this isnt its best installment, Fargo is made with an abundance of skill, care and professionalism. In a fall TV season filled with reality shows and retreads, it just feels good to return to Fargo.

Fargo Season 4 will premiere its first two episodes Sunday, Sept. 27 at 9 p.m. on FX; episodes will be available for streaming the next day on FX on Hulu.

More of our coverage:

2020 Emmy Awards: Despite a few flubs, the virtual ceremony managed to blend emotion, politics and technology (review)

Ratched: Prequel about the One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest' nurse is a bloody bore (review)

-- Kristi Turnquist

kturnquist@oregonian.com 503-221-8227 @Kristiturnquist
By Laman Ismayilova

Russian scientists have been awarded with order named after Azerbaijani artist. The order from the series "Famous personalities of Europe" was initiated by European Academy of Natural Sciences in honor of world-famous artist Sakit Mammadov.

The honorable medals went to academicians of the Russian Academy of Arts Sergei Kvashnin, Viktor Kartsev professor Arkady Gorbunov.

The order of Sakit Mammadov was initiated in 2018 in honor of the 60th anniversary of national artist for contributions to art, science, heritage, education, multinational culture and traditions of the peoples of the world.

Sakit Mammadov won the hearts of art lovers with his colorful paintings. His masterpieces are among those that collectors want to get with great pleasure at the world museums, galleries, and the auctions.

The name of the famous Azerbaijani artist is well known to art lovers far beyond the borders.

The artist's art works are exhibited in the galleries of Germany, France, Italy, Turkey, Belgium, Russia, Czech Republic, Sweden, Poland, Austria, Hungary, Australia and other countries.

Opalism is a school, a style the foundation of which was laid by academic artist Sakit Mammadov. Opalism words etymology was taken from the opal stone.

The warm color pattern in opal had won Sakit Mammadovs admiration from the youth. Almost in all his works the colors of stone is found.

Sakit Mammadov is a member of the UNESCO Artists Union and the World Academy of Arts. He is Honorary Academician of the Russian Imperial Academy of Arts and the European Academy of Natural Sciences, Count of the Heraldic Academy of the Vatican.

--

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Reliance Jio has introduced new postpaid plans called JioPostpaid Plus that offers a free subscription to OTT platforms Amazon Prime, Disney+ Hotstar, and Netflix and a host of other benefits. With tariffs ranging between Rs 399 and Rs 1,499, the latest range of Jio postpaid plans will be available from September 24 in Jio Stores and via home delivery, which will come free with activation.

Here are the five tariff plans under JioPostpaid Plus:

- unlimited voice calls and SMS- 75 GB data per billing cycle- Up to 200GB rollover of unused data- complimentary subscriptions to Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+ Hotstar.

- Access to JioSaavn, JioCinema, and JioTV.

- 100GB data per billing cycle, which is 25GB more than the Rs 399 plan- unlimited voice and SMS- Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+ Hotstar VIP subscription - - 200GB data rollover

- One additional SIM card with JioPostpaid Plus family plan.

- 150GB data per billing cycle- Unlimited voice and SMS- Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+ Hotstar VIP subscription- 200GB data rollover

- Two additional SIM cards with JioPostpaid Plus family plan.

- 200GB data per billing cycle- Unlimited voice and SMS- Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+ Hotstar VIP subscription- 500GB data rollover

- Three additional SIM cards for JioPostpaid Plus family plan.

- 300GB data per billing cycle- Unlimited voice and SMS- Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+ Hotstar VIP subscription- 500GB data rollover

- Unlimited data and voice in USA and UAE

> Other benefits of all JioPostpaid Plus plans - Users will enjoy Wi-Fi calling benefits all over India and also while travelling abroad. Indians with JioPostpaid Plus connections will not be charged international roaming if they visit the United States of America or the United Arab Emirates.

> All packs under the latest JioPostpaid Plus plan will offer unlimited voice and video call benefits.

Commenting on the launch, Akash Ambani, Director, Jio, said: There cannot be a more opportune time to introduce the JioPostpaid Plus plan. After having earned the trust of close to 400 million satisfied customers in the prepaid smartphone category, we want to extend our customer obsession to the postpaid category."

Reliance Industries Ltd. is the sole beneficiary of Independent Media Trust which controls Network18 Media & Investments Ltd.
(Newser)  British pubs will have to close early and people who fail to obey quarantine rules will face stiff fines under new lockdown restrictions to curb a surging wave of new coronavirus infections. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is to announce the new measures Tuesday, a day after the UK's chief medical officers raised the nations COVID-19 alert level, saying the virus is in general circulation and spreading fast. Other top medical experts said Britain's number of daily new infectionswhich stood Monday at 4,300could rise as high as 50,000 a day in October if immediate action is not taken, the AP reports. The prime minister's office said starting Thursday, pubs, bars, and other hospitality venues will be restricted to table service only and will have to close at 10pm.

story continues below

Johnson is due to update Parliament on the coronavirus situation Tuesday after meetings of his Cabinet and the government's crisis committee, COBRA. He will also make a televised address to the nation about efforts to combat the virus. The UK has gradually been increasing restrictions as cases rise, with people barred from meeting in large groups. Earlier lockdown measures were eased starting in June as cases began to fall, but that trend has now been reversed. On Monday, the chief medical officers of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland raised the virus alert from three to four, the second-highest level, on the advice of the Joint Biosecurity Center. They said cases of COVID-19 were rising rapidly and probably exponentially.

(Read more United Kingdom stories.)
Queensland's police union has hit out at moves from the Australian Defence Force to pull troops from border checkpoints, as the state readies to further wind back domestic travel restrictions.

Defence personnel have been helping police on state borders and in hotel quarantine settings throughout the pandemic, with extra support requested to ease delays at the busy Gold Coast checkpoints in July.

Travellers from the Australian Capital Territory will be welcomed into Queensland from Friday, with the New South Wales border bubble to expand further south from October 1 - allowing about 152,000 more people into the state without quarantine or exemption requirements.

Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers said the decision to withdraw troops as the state opens its borders further was "really disappointing" and the federal government would "rather Queensland was overrun with COVID-19".
Hyderabad, Sep 22 : The marriage of AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi's daughter was held at his residence on Tuesday with a limited number of guests in view of COVID-19 pandemic.

The ceremony was held at the MP's residence at Shastripuram in the old city Tuesday night.

Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao, ministers Mahmood Ali and Eatala Rajender and some TRS leaders were among the prominent invitees.

Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar, Director General of Police Mahender Reddy, Hyderabad Police Commissioner Anjani Kumar also attended the reception.

Asaduddin Owaisi's second daughter has entered into the wedlock with Dr Abid Ali Khan, son of Dr Mazharuddin Ali Khan, who has long been associated with Owaisi Hospital.

AThe MP's younger brother and AIMIM leader in Telangana Assembly, Akbaruddin Owaisi and other family members welcomed the guests.

As per the wedding card, photography and videography was prohibited at the function while wearing of masks was mandatory.
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange should be released from a UK prison and not be extradited to the US, according to more than 160 world leaders, politicians and diplomats.

The high-powered group gave their support to Assange in an open letter addressed to prime minister Boris Johnson and other government ministers.

Signatories of the letter, include the president of Argentina, Alberto Fernandez, and two former presidents of Brazil, Dilma Rousseff and Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

The letter was also signed by a string of US critics, including Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro, and former Ecuadorian leader Rafael Correa.

Mr Assange, 49, is fighting extradition to the US where he faces espionage charges over WikiLeaks release of confidential diplomatic cables in 2010 and 2011.

He could face a prison sentence of up to 175 years if convicted.

The letter was first written by the Lawyers for Assange group in August and the names of the politicians were released on Monday.

It contains a series of legal arguments about why Assange should not be extradited, including claims he would not receive a fair trial and be exposed to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

This demonstrates the growing opposition around the world to US efforts to extradite and prosecute Assange, and the political nature of this case, Assange's lawyer, Jennifer Robinson, told NBC News.

Mr Assange was arrested at the Ecuadorian embassy in April 2019 having claims asylum there for seven years.

He was immediately arrested and sentenced to 50 weeks in prison for breaching the Bail Act and will remain in HM Prison Belmarsh until his extradition hearing is completed.
China started building at least 13 new military positions along the disputed boundary with India during the period when the two sides were trying to mend the bilateral relations, which were strained by June-August 2017 military stand-off at Doklam Plateau in western Bhutan.

A report by the leading geopolitical intelligence platform, Stratfor Worldview, revealed that China started construction of at least 13 new military positions, including three air bases, five permanent air defence positions and five heliports near its Line of Actual Control (LAC) with India after the 72-day-long standoff at Doklam in Bhutan in 2017.

It was the same period when New Delhi and Beijing had a series of engagements, including between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The 2017 Doklam crisis appears to have shifted Chinas strategic objectives, with China more than doubling its total number of airbases, air defence positions, and heliports near the Indian border over the past three years, Sim Tack, a military analyst, wrote in a report on Stratfor.

The report indicated that China stepped up construction of military infrastructure along its LAC with India in the months leading to April-May this year, when the current stand-off in eastern Ladakh started.

An infographic published by Stratfor Worldview along with the report indicated that China had just one heliport and one air defence site near its disputed boundary with India in Tibet in 2016. But it substantially expanded and upgraded its military infrastructure in the area after the 2017 stand-off between the Indian Army and the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) in western Bhutan.

China in 2019 not only built four air-bases and four air defence sites, but also a heliport and an electronic warfare station near its LAC with India.

Modi and Xi had held the first informal summit at Wuhan in central China in April 2018. They had built on the positive momentum and held three other bilateral meetings on the side-line of multilateral conclaves at Qingdao, Johannesburg and Buenos Aires by December 2018. New Delhi had agreed with Beijing after the meeting in Buenos Aires that the series of engagements between the leaders had brought about a perceptible improvement in the bilateral relations.

The Prime Minister had the second informal summit with the Chinese President at a seaside resort near Chennai in October 2019.

The report by the Stratfor Worldview, however, revealed that China was expanding military infrastructure even when it was continuing engagements with India.
At least three central Pennsylvania grocery chains have stopped selling Gumbas sauces and salsas.

Karns Foods, Giant and Stauffers of Kissel Hill pulled the products made by Michael Mangano, a family spokesman for the Taste of Sicily restaurant in Palmyra, according to LebTown, a media organization.

Mangano has been an outspoken critic of Gov. Tom Wolfs coronavirus restrictions on restaurants and businesses and has personally attacked Health Secretary Rachael Levine, who is a transgender woman.

Mangano, who writes on the Gumbas Facebook page that he is not against the LGBTQ community, refers to Levine as Richard.

These stores are not worthy to carry my high quality product owned by a person with conviction to take a stand against a tyrannical Governor who does things that are UNCONSTITUTIONAL and then you have his very confused sidekick who was born a man and made a man by God himself (that would be Richard) and this guy is making decisions about the health of PA residents lol, whos the one thats actually out there???!!, Mangano writes.

In a statement to LebTown, Giant spokeswoman Ashley Flower said, "we are committed to being an inclusive place to work and shop, reflective of the diverse communities we are honored to serve. We are dedicated to providing a culture of inclusion and belonging for all team members, supplier partners, customers and neighbors where everyone is respected, valued, heard and welcomed just the way they are. We firmly believe that diverse people, ideas and experiences make us a better place to work and better able to serve our customers in every community.

Accordingly, we have decided to part ways with this vendor and are in the process of removing the companys products from stores.

READ MORE: As Gov. Wolf increases restaurant capacity limits, owners say solutions tough to come by

Earlier this month, LebTown reported Karns was the first to pull Gumbas sauces from store shelves.

We cannot and will not support intolerance toward any person regardless of gender, race, religion, or sexual orientation, said Andrea K. Karns, vice president of sales and marketing.

Taste of Sicily made headlines when it reopened its dining room in mid-May, back when many counties were still in the yellow phase. In July, the establishments license was temporarily suspended and the owners racked up fines topping more than $10,000 after serving diners before the states transition to the green phase.

Mangano posted on social media he has plans to sell the sauces at other stores. The all-natural, gluten-free sauces is advertised as an everyday sauce sold in original and Romano cheese along with mild and hot BBQ salsas.

"I thank you for sending a very clear message to these companies who are hypocrites in what they say that they believe in, in that they are inclusive and diverse and that they respect other peoples beliefs and or opinions unless its different than theirs, he wrote.
Does the September share price for Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (NYSE:AEM) reflect what it's really worth? Today, we will estimate the stock's intrinsic value by projecting its future cash flows and then discounting them to today's value. We will take advantage of the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model for this purpose. It may sound complicated, but actually it is quite simple!

Remember though, that there are many ways to estimate a company's value, and a DCF is just one method. If you want to learn more about discounted cash flow, the rationale behind this calculation can be read in detail in the Simply Wall St analysis model.

See our latest analysis for Agnico Eagle Mines

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 start off with, we need to estimate the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, and so the sum of these future cash flows is then discounted to today's value:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate

2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 Levered FCF ($, Millions) US$1.01b US$1.13b US$1.22b US$1.30b US$1.36b US$1.42b US$1.47b US$1.52b US$1.56b US$1.60b Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x10 Analyst x7 Est @ 8.02% Est @ 6.28% Est @ 5.06% Est @ 4.21% Est @ 3.61% Est @ 3.2% Est @ 2.9% Est @ 2.7% Present Value ($, Millions) Discounted @ 8.5% US$928 US$959 US$955 US$936 US$906 US$870 US$831 US$791 US$750 US$710

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = US$8.6b

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We now need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all the future cash flows after this ten year period. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (2.2%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 8.5%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2030  (1 + g)  (r  g) = US$1.6b (1 + 2.2%)  (8.5% 2.2%) = US$26b

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= US$26b ( 1 + 8.5%)10= US$12b

The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is US$20b. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of US$78.5, the company appears about fair value at a 6.2% discount to where the stock price trades currently. The assumptions in any calculation have a big impact on the valuation, so it is better to view this as a rough estimate, not precise down to the last cent.

dcf

The assumptions

Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual 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 Agnico Eagle Mines as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 8.5%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.042. 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:

Although the valuation of a company is important, it is only one of many factors that you need to assess for a company. It's not possible to obtain a foolproof valuation with a DCF model. Instead the best use for a DCF model is to test certain assumptions and theories to see if they would lead to the company being undervalued or overvalued. For instance, if the terminal value growth rate is adjusted slightly, it can dramatically alter the overall result. For Agnico Eagle Mines, we've compiled three relevant elements you should further examine:

Risks: To that end, you should be aware of the 2 warning signs we've spotted with Agnico Eagle Mines . Future Earnings: How does AEM's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing!

PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every American stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.



Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com.
This story has been updated to include comments from Springfield attorney William Bennett.

SPRINGFIELD  A Hampden Superior Court judge ruled the Baker administrations firing of former Holyoke Soldiers' Home Bennett Walsh ran afoul of state law, invalidating Walshs termination in a ruling issued late Monday afternoon.

In the same ruling, Judge John Ferrara rejected a countersuit by the states Executive Office of Health and Human Services arguing the firing must stand.

Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders fired Walsh in late June, the day an independent report by Boston attorney Mark Pearlstein ripped Walshs response once the coronavirus began its deadly crawl through the long-terms care facility for veterans in late March. By June, 76 veterans had died from the disease and dozens more residents and staff were sickened.

Walsh was first suspended in late March. Just fire him. Ill deal with any fallout, Sudders wrote to another state official on March 30, according to the Pearlstein report.

Walsh was ousted along with other top administrative and medical staff at the home. Francisco Urena, the states secretary of veterans' services, resigned on the eve of the reports release.

Walsh' attorney, former Hampden District Attorney William Bennett, has argued all along that the firing by Sudders and backed up by Gov. Charlie Baker was invalid, and that only the Board of Trustees has the authority to hire and fire the homes top administrator. Bennett also has argued the Baker administration unfairly spread poison to smear Walshs reputation from the start.

For several months Superintendent Walsh has been vilified by Governor Baker, Secretary Sudders and others. I hope that this decision will allow people to consider that perhaps that criticism is unfair and that the actual story of what happened has not yet been understood, Bennett said in response to the ruling, crediting his associate Talia Landry for her advocacy.

Bennett also is Walshs uncle.

The Springfield attorney also contends a true analysis of the crisis at the Soldiers' Home should be based on science.

A true inquiry into the Covid outbreak at the Soldiers' Home should focus on the science. Covid has a unique method of transmission. It spreads silently and is transmitted by people who do not appear to be infected. When the disease got into the Soldiers' Home, where the veterans were already vulnerable because of the living conditions and their age and health, it spread rapidly despite the good faith efforts of the staff, Bennett continued.

The Pearlstein report called the top staffs response to COVID-19 catastrophic and baffling.

In his ruling, Ferrara noted that Sudders cited the wrong state law in her termination letter. It is yet unclear whether Ferraras ruling will have any impact on Walshs employment at the Soldiers' Home.

The Republican has reached out to Holyoke Soldiers' Home Board of Trustees Chairman Kevin Jourdain for comment.

Related content:
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 19:22:12|Editor: huaxia

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BISHKEK, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- The supply of a Russian COVID-19 vaccine to Kyrgyzstan will be considered a priority matter, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk said here on Tuesday.

During a meeting with Kyrgyz President Sooronbai Jeenbekov, the two sides exchanged views on the current state and prospects of Kyrgyz-Russian bilateral and multilateral cooperation, including within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union, the press service of the Kyrgyz presidency said.

Jeenbekov expressed gratitude to the Russian side for support to stabilize the epidemiological situation in the country, the provision of humanitarian aid and the allocation of a 100-million-U.S. dollar concessional loan from the Eurasian Fund to support small- and medium-sized businesses.

The Kyrgyz president stressed the importance of enhancing trade and economic relations and taking joint measures to combat the consequences of the pandemic.

Overchuk, who arrived in Kyrgyzstan to participate in a regular meeting of the Kyrgyz-Russian Intergovernmental Commission, conveyed words of greetings and good wishes from Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.

He stressed that the Russian side values bilateral relations with Kyrgyzstan, which are of a strategic and allied nature.

The Russian official noted the dynamic development of trade, economic and investment cooperation between the two countries.

Both sides expressed readiness to boost bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual interest, the report said. Enditem
Four New Canaan High School students have tested positive for COVID-19, and 53 of their classmates are in quarantine as of Tuesday afternoon.

Tuesday morning there were two positive tests and 55 students in quarantine, before two cases were reclassified. One staff member from New Canaan High and one from West School are also in quarantine.

Superintendent of Schools Bryan Luizzi announced the first positive test Sunday via email, and subsequently learned of the second positive test.

Luizzi asked others who may have tested positive to come forward, promising they would not be judged.

This is a highly contagious disease and it is nobodys failure if they are testing positive. It is highly contagious and they were in an area where they picked it up. Knowing that, there is no value judgment to this what so ever, Luizzi told the school board, in its first in-person meeting in the Wagner Room at the high school on Monday, Sept. 21.

By notifying us, we can then take the appropriate steps, he said. Of course, we protect the confidentiality of the individuals involved.

After he learned of the first case on Sunday, Sept, 20, Luizzi sent out a letter to the district families and posted it on the website dashboard, which tracks the number of COVID-19 cases in the district.

We recognize that people dont want to be responsible for others having to go into quarantine, but we also want them to understand that they recognize and understand that we are doing all of this to contain the spread and to maintain the health and safety of our school, of our community, Luizzi said.

When positive COVID-19 cases are brought to the districts attention, an email will be sent to the appropriate parties, declaring that they have to quarantine with instructions around doing that. We dont say who the positive case is, because we protect peoples privacy, Luizzi said.

On Sunday, when he found out about the case, as soon as the notification went out, a few minutes later we were notified of a second case. We are grateful that that person notified us as well, Luizzi said.

Luizzi defined the protocol for who needs to be quarantined: If a person is a close contact with a known defined case.

Close contact is defined as someone six feet or closer for 15 minutes or longer, then that person, who was a direct contact would need to quarantine, he said.

However, close contact to a close contact of a close contact, would not need to quarantine, he clarified.

The students being quarantined were not all in contact in school with the students who tested positive. Many more students are being quarantined because of extracurricular activities, because of participation in youth sports, Luizzi said.

Not too many close contacts in the high school, maybe the friends or friends at lunch, he said.

He warned: There may be a time when we get a notification and we dont have time to do the tracing that is required and if we have to close the school for a day in order to do that work, so be it, Luizzi said.

We want to make sure that we know, so we can immediately spring into action, he added.

The New Canaan YMCA emailed members Monday saying that a member of the New Canaan High School boys basketball team had tested positive, and that the team had been using the YMCA gym.

Plans questioned

Luizzi questioned if the district will proceed with the phase-in program as originally planned and said he will have discussions on the topic moving forward.

Saxe Middle School students are expected to go back to full time in Phase III, which was to begin on Tuesday, Sept. 29, with grades 5-8 transitioning to five full days, from the present hybrid program of part-time in-person and part-time remote learning.

We are looking at Saxe and we are looking at the best reentry plan. Recognizing that when we do three grades in elementary is the same number as one grade at Saxe, he said since the town has three elementary schools and only one middle school.

What is the best way and how to do it, move into the building? he said.

Phase IV was originally planned to commence Monday, Oct. 5, with the full reentry of the high school students, which will complete the 100 percent student capacity.

One-half of the high school students are attending school as part of the phase-in program. because we were in hybrid, when we had those positive cases, it made it much simpler, Luizzi said.

He noted that high school students had an easier time learning remotely than younger students.

We are going to continue to look at it moving forward, he said. He plans to meet with some board members and other administrators this week to discuss future plans.

The patterns that have been emerging around the state, at the elementary level when you have a self-contained classroom, all of the students in that room may be quarantining, along with the teacher that is in there, just because they are together for that period of time all day, he said.

The district is implementing strategies that have been vetted through the Centers for Disease Control (and Prevention), the Department of Public Health, and the New Canaan Director of Health Jen Eielson, he said.

We are in an environment now across the state, across the country where positive cases are going to appear. So it is that plan that we spent the summer doing really is paying off, he said.
Once completed, the proposed solar project would occupy 47 acres of land, making it one of the largest contiguous solar arrays in Maine. The annual greenhouse gas emission reductions resulting from this project is estimated to be the equivalent to removing more than 2,500 passenger vehicles from the road every year* or producing enough renewable electricity annually to power the equivalent of 1,998 homes, which is greater than the number of homes in the Town of Hollis. "At Poland Spring, we have a well-established track record of managing Maine's water resources responsibly and sustainably for the long term." said Cameron Lorrain, Nestle Waters North America Northeast Regional Technical & Production Director. "With this project, we are planning to go further and are proud to align with the greenhouse gas emission reduction goals championed by Governor Janet Mills and recently codified in Maine law."

The project developer is EnterSolar (of New York), a recognized leader in commercial solar installation. The civil engineers are Sevee & Maher Engineers (of Cumberland, ME), who have deep experience in solar projects in Maine.

Depending on timing for permits from both the Town of Hollis and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, the proposed groundbreaking could begin as soon as April 2021, with project completion projected for Spring 2022.

About Poland Spring

Established in 1845, Poland Spring Brand 100% Natural Spring Water has invested in Maine and created jobs using an abundant, renewable resource. The brand, part of Nestle Waters North America, operates three Maine bottling plants in Poland, Hollis and Kingfield. Additionally, Poland Spring maintains spring sources in Fryeburg, Dallas Plantation, Poland, Pierce Pond Township, Kingfield, Denmark, Hollis, Lincoln, and Rumford, Maine. Poland Spring also:

Employs nearly 900 full-time and seasonal workers across the state, contributing nearly $49 million to the economy in annual payroll;

to the economy in annual payroll; Spends over $135 million annually on goods and services from other Maine employers;

annually on goods and services from other employers; Invested over $9 million in community giving over the last decade support schools, local non-profits, fire and rescue teams, environmental conservation, and many other local and statewide causes.







* According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator.  According to the 2010 U.S. Census.  "Under Governor Mills' leadership, Maine has set statutory goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 45 percent by 2030 and at least 80 percent by 2050. She has also signed legislation to increase Maine's Renewable Portfolio Standard to 80 percent by 2030 and set a goal of 100 percent by 2050." 9/19/19 press release: Mills Administration Announces Maine Climate Council Membership, 38 M.R.S.  576-A.

SOURCE Nestle Waters North America

Related Links

www.nestle-watersna.com


Professor Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance will use a live televised address on Monday to deliver a stark message about the consequences of failing to get the coronavirus pandemic under control, amid warnings ministers may be forced to impose national restrictions.

The governments chief medical officer and chief scientific adviser will warn that second waves of the virus seen in other countries could be replicated in the UK.

Ministers have said the UK is at a tipping point in the fight against Covid-19, following fears that deaths could rise to hundreds a day within weeks.

At a briefing in Downing Street, Prof Whitty is expected to say the UK is at a critical juncture in the battle against the disease.

He and Sir Patrick will set out a series of potential scenarios if the virus continues to spread. Boris Johnson could also address the country, perhaps as early as Tuesday.

The number of confirmed cases in the UK has risen dramatically in recent weeks, with another 3,899 announced on Sunday.

Londoners are braced for more restrictions in the capital, likely to be announced soon.

Health secretary Matt Hancock said he could not rule out that the capitals commuters will be told to work from home as soon as this week.

He also refused to rule out further national measures, telling Skys Sophy Ridge on Sunday programme: "We have a choice. Either everybody follows the rules  the rule of six and the need to self-isolate if you have a positive test or if you are contacted by NHS Test and Trace  or we will have to take more measures.

Ministers are understood to believe that to effectively fight the virus compliance with the current coronavirus rules will have to rise to the top end of the scale.

Now is the moment, Mr Hancock said. Im requesting the help of the British people. We truly have got to do this together.

He also pointed to Belgium, which he said had seen signs of a second wave but had managed to get the disease under control with greater restrictions on socialising.

He also said he would report on his neighbours if they broke the rules and everybody should, in a break with Mr Johnson who last week said he would contact the offenders first.

The warnings came as government officials prepared to meet to discuss potential further restrictions for London.

Mayor Sadiq Khan is pressing ministers to introduce measures in the capital, which he has warned may be just "two or three days" behind Covid hotspots like the northwest of England.

He is due to meet the citys council leaders on Monday, with recommendations to ministers following that.

On Friday Boris Johnson warned Britain was now seeing a second wave of Covid-19.
A public-affairs specialist at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases will retire after revelations that he used a pseudonym online to savage the government response to the covid-19 pandemic - including the work of Anthony Fauci, who heads that agency, an NIAID spokeswoman said Monday.

William Crews told NIAID officials he will retire after the Daily Beast revealed he is also the managing editor of the conservative web site RedState.com, where, under the pseudonym "streiff," he has ridiculed the government's activity against the coronavirus outbreak, according to the NIAID spokeswoman, who asked not to be identified because the matter involves personnel.

The spokeswoman, who confirmed the Daily Beast's reporting that Crews is the pseudonymous writer, said the agency had learned of the matter Monday morning.

The Daily Beast reported that Crews, as "streiff." has called Fauci a "mask nazi," and implied that "government officials responsible for the pandemic response should be executed." It's unclear whether Crews had direct dealings on the job with Fauci , the nation's top infectious disease official and one of the leaders of the government's response to the pandemic.

Other articles by "streiff" include one calling the Democratic governor of Nevada a "mask-fetishist" after President Donald Trump announced he would hold an indoor rally in defiance of state covid-19 restrictions; another asking of Fauci "Is he a partisan hack or is he actually an idiot?"; and another accusing Fauci and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield of "trying to shut down the US economy for partisan political gain and institutional aggrandizement of power and resources."

"Time and time again, Fauci has been proven wrong, such as his opposition to stopping travel from China . . . not to mention his institute funding research related to the coronavirus at the bio lab that is still at ground zero of the Wuhan virus's origins and continuing that funding until early May," wrote "streiff."

"Streiff" has also been critical of masks, writing "there has never been a need" for them, contradicting the guidance given by Fauci and his agency.

Crews did not deal directly with journalists or the public in his job in the NIAID's office of communications and government relations for the NIAID, where his work was limited to internal communications. The NIAID spokeswoman would not say when Crews will retire, calling it a personnel issue that she could not discuss.

Crews did not reply to phone calls and emails sent to his government accounts, and efforts to reach him by phone at home were unsuccessful. "Streiff" did not respond to email. RedState.com is part of Townhall Media, which did not return the Post's inquires. Neither did parent company, conservative media conglomerate Salem Media Group.

According to his biography on RedState's website, the user "streiff" has been a member of the publication's community since its founding in 2004. In 2018, the website laid off a number of writers, including its editors Caleb Howe and Jay Caruso. At the time, the company insisted the move was financial, although the former writers and their allies pointed out that several of those laid off were the most vocal Trump critics writing for RedState.com.

Townhall Media includes conservative websites Twitchy, PJ Media, Bearing Arms and Hot Air. Together, the company says the brands reach 24 million unique visitors per month.

This isn't the first time a government health agency employee has been embroiled in a covid-19 related controversy. Earlier this month, the Department of Health and Human Services announced its top spokesman, Michael Caputo, would be going on medical leave just days after he accused agency scientists of "sedition" and promoted other conspiracy theories on social media.

NIAID is one of the 27 institutes and centers that comprise the National Institutes of Health. Fauci, NIH Director Francis Collins and others have been at the forefront of the government response to the pandemic that has killed nearly 200,000 people in the United States and almost 1 million across the globe.

Fauci serves on the White House coronavirus task force, though he has been largely sidelined in recent months as his critical assessment of efforts against covid-19 has conflicted with President Trump's rosier description of progress against the disease.

The NIAID spokeswoman said the agency would likely investigate whether the posts were written during hours that Crews was on duty at NIH and whether he used NIH computers or other equipment in the process, which is prohibited.

The agency has a lengthy policy related to "outside activities" which adhere to federal ethics policies for executive branch agencies that forbid "engaging in outside activities that conflict with employees' official duties." It was not immediately clear whether that would cover criticizing NIAID efforts on RedState.com.

NIH guidance on the use of private social media accounts by employees reminds them that "as a member of the NIH Community, you have a special responsibility to uphold the public trust. We earn public trust from our expertise and our conscious fair treatment for all. We have responsibilities that are different from those who work in other places."

Fauci was participating in an event and not available for comment, according to a person who answered his phone on Monday.
Ghost hunters have captured chilling images at a former monastery believed to be the spirit of England's 'Lost Queen' who was destined for the throne after Elizabeth I.

Paranormal investigators captured one of their members coming face-to-face with a spooky apparition at historic Rufford Abbey in Sherwood Forest, Notts., last week.

Retford Ghost Hunters believe they encountered the renowned White Lady of Rufford who, according to legend, is believed to be the spirit of ill-fated Arbella Stuart.

Retford Ghost Hunters' leader Rachel Parsons said she was left spooked by the image showing her seemingly inches away from a ghostly woman dressed in white (pictured)

She died of starvation in the Tower of London in 1615, and was the great great granddaughter of Henry VII and Mary Queen of Scots' niece.

The 17th century noblewoman was tipped to take the throne before she found herself at the centre of a political wrangling which saw her banished to the tower.

Group leader Rachel Parsons said she was left spooked by the image showing her seemingly inches away from a ghostly woman dressed in white.

The disturbing picture was later compared to horror film promo posters like Poltergeist and The Exorcist after the group uploaded their findings to social media.

It was only when Rachel researched the history of the 12th century building that she uncovered the story of it being haunted by the White Lady of Rufford.

Rachel, 48, who has taken part in paranormal investigations for 20 years, said: 'I couldn't believe it when I looked up the history of the place the next day.

Rachel, who has taken part in paranormal investigations for 20 years, said she sensed something on the spot where she was standing as she urged viewers who were watching the live stream on Facebook to get screenshotting

'The first thing that came up was the White Lady Of Rufford. She's been spotted there quite a few times by all accounts.

'It was about 11pm inside the ruins when we all heard a woman's cough so I ran towards the direction of it with my torch.

'I then sensed something on the spot where I was and I said to the others: 'She's standing right in front of me'.

Rachel researched the history of the Rufford Abbey in Sherwood Forest, Notts., and uncovered the story of it being haunted by the White Lady of Rufford (pictured)

'At that point I told our viewers watching the live stream on Facebook to get screenshotting because I knew she was there.

'It was only when we got back home and a viewer sent the screen grab that I discovered how close I was to her.

'People have said it looks like a horror movie poster but I was just delighted to get such compelling evidence of what could be the famous White Lady of Rufford.'

The group also captured spooky images showing a face at a doorway, which they believe could be the spirit of one of the monks who resided at the abbey.

One viewer spotted the face of a monk in one of the doorways which led to the dining room where they would eat and talk

The White Lady Of Rufford has been spotted at the historic Rufford Abbey in Sherwood Forest, Notts. quite a few times

Arbella Suart: Starved to death Tower of London

Lady Arbella Stuart(1575  25 September 1615) was an English noblewoman who was considered a possible successor to Queen Elizabeth I of England. Arbella's father died in 1576 when she was an infant and she was raised by her mother Elizabeth Cavendish, Countess of Lennox. Her mother too died and seven-year-old Arbella became an orphan, in 1582. and became the ward of her grandmother. During the reign of king James VI and I she married William Seymour, 2nd Duke of Somerset in secret. King James imprisoned William Seymour and placed her under house arrest. When she and her husband tried to escape England, she was captured and imprisoned in the Tower of London. She never saw her husband again and in her days as a prisoner in the Tower of London, Arbella Seymour refused to eat. She subsequently fell ill and died at the age of 39 on 25 September 1615. She was buried in Westminster Abbey on 29 September. Advertisement

The 'defined face with chiselled cheekbones' appeared at a doorway which would have led to the monks' dining room at the English Heritage site.

Rachel said the face appeared as she called out to ghosts at the Cistercian abbey, which was one of the first to be affected by King Henry VIII dissolution of the monastery.

She added 'Earlier in the night, another viewer spotted the face of a monk in one of the doorways which led to the dining room where they would eat and talk.

'There's only ruins left there and the face appeared in one the few remaining parts of the building which is still intact.

'It's an amazing defined face with very chiseled cheekbones.

'It was only there for a few seconds then disappeared - I think whoever he was he was just wanting to know what we were doing.

'He looks to me to be only in his 30s or 40s but it was a hard life for monks - there was lots of disease and they died young.'

Mental health worker Rachel, who developed an interest in errant spirits after having paranormal experiences as a young girl, described the findings as 'fantastic evidence'.

She said: 'I grew up in a very religious family and so this kind of thing wasn't encouraged but it gives people some comfort and belief that there may be an afterlife.

'We like to keep things respectful and keep getting fantastic evidence so we must be sending out some positive energy.'
Belarus opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya holds talks with EU foreign ministers Monday as they prepare sanctions against the Minsk regime over election rigging and a brutal crackdown on anti-government protests.

The former Soviet republic has been convulsed by unprecedented demonstrations against President Alexander Lukashenko since he was returned to power in the disputed August 9 election.

The EU and other Western powers have rejected the result, saying the poll was not free and fair, and Brussels is set to hit members of Lukashenko's regime with asset freezes and travel bans.

Strongman Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus for more than quarter of a century, has responded to the protests with a violent security clampdown and turned to his longstanding ally Russia for help.

Tikhanovskaya, who stood against Lukashenko and fled to Lithuania for her own safety after the election, will hold a breakfast meeting with the 27 EU foreign ministers and the bloc's diplomatic chief Josep Borrell.

She is expected to brief the ministers while hearing from them the EU's expectations of the Belarus opposition.

Afterwards the ministers will go into formal talks about Belarus -- including on sanctions -- and also debate the situation in Libya, plus tensions with Turkey.

The EU has rejected the result of the August 9 vote and a senior official said the ministers would discuss whether to call for new elections, warning that matters were rapidly getting worse.

"What we're seeing now is a clear deterioration of the situation -- we have more repression, more people arrested, more forced into exile," the official said.

The ministers will also consider what finance could be given to civil society in Belarus, after Poland called for a billion-euro stabilisation fund to help the country.

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki's call came after Russian President Vladimir Putin backed Lukashenko and promised a $1.5 billion loan.

Story continues

- Sanctions -

Tikhanovskaya's meeting with EU ministers, followed by an appearance at the European Parliament, is part of her effort to maintain international pressure on Lukashenko as he clings to power.

On Friday she urged the international community to respond to abuses in Belarus "in the strongest terms" in a video appearance at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva that was repeatedly interrupted by the Belarusian ambassador.

The EU has a list of around 40 Belarusian officials it holds responsible for rigging the vote or the subsequent protest crackdown, who are to be sanctioned.

Final approval has been held up, partly by horse-trading among EU member states -- diplomats say Cyprus in particular has been holding out while seeking sanctions on Turkey in a separate dispute.

But the EU is seeking to calibrate its response, wary of taking too strong a line and thereby driving Lukashenko further into the arms of the Kremlin.

The sanctions look set to be passed up to EU heads of state and government who meet for a summit in Brussels on Thursday and Friday.

The summit will also address relations with Turkey after a summer of high tensions in the eastern Mediterranean, where drilling rights and maritime border disputes between Ankara and EU members Greece and Cyprus have teetered on the brink of conflict.

pdw/dc/wdb
The story of gas well No. 095-20708 begins on Nov. 10, 1984, when a drill bit broke the Earth's surface 4 miles north of Rio Vista, Calif. Wells don't have birthdays, so this was its "spud date."

The drill chewed through the dirt at a rate of 80  feet per hour, reaching 846 feet below ground that first day. By Thanksgiving it had gotten a mile down, finally stopping 49 days later, having laid 2.2 miles of steel pipe and cement on its way to the "pay zone," an underground field containing millions of dollars' worth of natural gas.

The drilling rig arrived two months later, in early January. While 1985 started out as a good year for gas, by its close, more than half the nation's oil and gas wells had shut down. How much money the Amerada Hess Corp., which bankrolled the dig, managed to pump out of gas well No. 095-20708 before that bust isn't known. By 1990 the company, now called simply Hess Corp., gave up and sold it. Over the next decade or so, four more companies would seek the riches promised at the bottom of the well, seemingly with little success. In 2001 a state inspector visited the site. "Looks like it's dying," he wrote.

Gas wells never really die, though. Over the years, the miles of steel piping and cement corrode, creating pathways for noxious gases to reach the surface. The most worrisome of these is methane, the main component of natural gas. If carbon dioxide is a bullet, methane is a bomb. Odorless and invisible, it captures 86 times more heat than CO over two decades and at least 25 times more over a century. Drilling has released this potent greenhouse gas, once sequestered in the deep pockets and grooves of the Earth, into the atmosphere, where it's wreaking more havoc than humans can keep up with.

Well No. 095-20708 is also known as A.H.C. Church No. 11, referring both to Hess and to Bernard Church, who like so many in California's Sacramento River Delta sold his farmland but retained the mineral rights in the hope that they'd make his family rich. The Church well is a relic, but it's not rare. It's one of more than 3.2 million deserted oil and gas wells in the U.S. and one of an estimated 29 million globally, according to Reuters. There's no regulatory requirement to monitor methane emissions from inactive wells, and until recently, scientists didn't even consider wells in their estimates of greenhouse gas emissions. With the pandemic depressing demand for fossil fuels and renewable energy development booming, why should owners idle or plug their wells when they can simply walk away?

In the past five years, 207 oil and gas businesses have failed. As natural gas prices crater, the fiscal burden on states forced to plug wells could skyrocket; according to Rystad Energy AS, an industry analytics company, 190 more companies could file for bankruptcy by the end of 2022. Many oil and gas companies are idling their wells by capping them in the hope prices will rise again. But capping lasts only about two decades, and it does nothing to prevent tens of thousands of low-producing wells from becoming orphaned, meaning "there is no associated person or company with any financial connection to and responsibility for the well," according to California's Geologic Energy Management Division.

"It's cheaper to idle them than to clean them up," says Joshua Macey, an assistant professor of law at the University of Chicago, who's spent years studying fossil fuel bankruptcies. "Once prices increase, they could be profitable to operate again. It gives them a strong reason to not do cleanup now. It's not orphaned yet, although for all intents and purposes it is."

The life cycle of the Church well exemplifies this systemic indifference. Hess's liability ended when it sold more than 30 years ago; the last company to acquire the lease, Pacific Petroleum Technology, which took over in 2003, managed to evade financial responsibility entirely as the well's cement and steel piping began to corrode.

Letters from state regulators demanding that the company declare its plans for the well went unanswered. In November 2007 the state issued a civil penalty of $500 over Pacific's failures to file monthly production reports on the well. Instead of paying, Pacific requested a hearing, at which a representative testified that there was still $10 million worth of natural gas waiting to be pumped and promised the company would secure funds, make necessary repairs, and start producing again. The state was unconvinced and demanded Pacific plug the well. Another decade passed. The company never pumped a single cubic foot of gas and made no effort to plug the well. (Representatives of Pacific couldn't be reached for comment.)

If Church were the only neglected well, it would be inconsequential. But these artifacts of the fossil fuel age are ubiquitous, obscured in backyards and beneath office buildings, under parking lots and shopping malls, even near day-care centers and schools in populous cities such as Los Angeles, where at least 1,000 deserted wells lie unplugged. In Colorado an entire neighborhood was built on top of a former oil and gas field that had been left off of construction maps. In 2017 two people died in a fiery explosion while replacing a basement water heater.

These kinds of headline-grabbing episodes are anomalies, but all this leaking methane also has dire environmental consequences, and the situation is likely only to get worse as more companies fail. "The oil and gas industry will not go out with a bang," Macey adds, "but with a whimper." As it does, the wells it orphans will become wards of the state.

- - -

Days before the 33rd anniversary of Church's spud date, in November 2017, Eric Lebel, a researcher with the School of Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences at Stanford, arrived at the wellhead. The rusted 10-foot structure-a "Christmas tree," as it's called in the industry-loomed over him.

While Lebel knew the well's depth, it was still hard for him to envision its scale. "If you don't see it, you don't think about it," he says later. "What's underground is impossible to imagine." The Earth's interior has been unfathomably scarred by hydrocarbon infrastructure, he says. For almost two centuries, since the drilling of the first gas well in 1821, the fossil fuel industry has treated the planet like a giant pincushion. The first U.S. gas well in Fredonia, N.Y., extended only 27 feet underground, but drilling since has gone ever deeper. Ten-thousand-foot wells like Church are common today.

Now imagine each of those pins in the global pincushion is a straw inside a straw. In Church's case, the outer straw is 7.625 inches in diameter and made of steel, encased in cement; inside is a 2.375-inch-wide steel tube. The deeper the well, the more the heat and pressure rise. At Church's deepest point, 10,968 feet, the temperature likely exceeds 200F. The weight of the Earth exerts more and more pressure as the well goes deeper-reaching about 5 tons per square inch at the bottom. That's the equivalent of four 2,500-pound cars on your thumb. All of this puts a huge amount of stress on that underground infrastructure. As it breaks down, eventually it begins to leak.

Astonishingly, no one had even bothered to ask how much until the past decade. In 2011, Mary Kang was a Ph.D. student at Princeton modeling how CO might escape from underground storage vessels after being captured and buried. She looked for similar models on methane and came up with nothing; some of the industry sources she spoke with were confident that it wasn't much-and that even if it was, technology existed that could fix it. "It's one thing to assume," Kang remembers thinking to herself. "It's another thing to go get empirical data."

Kang went to Pennsylvania, where boom and bust cycles over the years have left a half-million gas wells deserted. Of the 19 she measured, three turned out to be high emitters, meaning they released three times more methane into the atmosphere than other wells in the sample. "There were no measurements of emissions coming out of these wells," she says. "People knew these wells existed, they just thought what was coming out was negligible or zero." By scaling up her findings, Kang was able to estimate that in 2011, deserted wells were responsible for somewhere from 4% to 7% of all man-made methane emissions from Pennsylvania.

Those findings inspired Lebel and other researchers in the U.S. and worldwide to start taking direct methane measurements. The industry responded by ignoring them and fought fiercely against the Obama administration's efforts to start regulating methane emissions. (A 2016 rule requiring operators to measure methane releases at active wells and invest in technology to prevent leaks was summarily overturned by the Trump administration at the beginning of August.)

Meanwhile, scientists trudged on. So far researchers have measured emissions at almost 1,000 of the 3.2 million deserted wells in the U.S. In 2016, Kang published another study of 88 abandoned well sites in Pennsylvania, 90% of which leaked methane.

Internationally, researchers tracked increasingly bad news. German scientists discovered methane bubbles in the seabed around orphaned wells in the North Sea. Taking direct measurements of 43 wells, they found significant leaks in 28. In Alberta, researchers estimated methane leaks in almost 5% of the province's 315,000 oil and gas wells. In the U.K., researchers found "fugitive emissions of methane" in 30% of 102 wells studied. Such findings are both a threat and an opportunity, says Lebel, who considers abandoned wells the easiest first step to cutting methane emissions globally. That's what brought him to Church in the first place.

According to his field logs, Lebel spent his first hour on site building a secure air chamber using a Coleman canopy tent draped in tarps, which he held in place with sandbags. Inside the tent, fans effectively created a convection oven of rapidly circulating air. As he worked, a farmer who leases the land wandered over. Be careful, he warned Lebel. Sometimes fire comes out of that well. Just yesterday he'd seen a plume of flames erupt from it, he said.

At 3:41 p.m., using an instrument that resembles a desktop computer with an abundance of ports, Lebel took his first methane measurement. "We knew right away it was a major leaker," he recalls. It exceeded the instrument's threshold of 50 parts per million almost immediately. Lebel collected air samples in tiny glass vials to take back to his lab. The analysis was damning: Two hundred and fifty grams of methane were flowing out of the well each hour. A rough calculation shows that over a decade and a half the Church well had likely emitted somewhere around 32.7 metric tons of methane, enough to melt a sizable iceberg.

Despite the flurry of recent research, the full scale of the emissions problem remains unknown. "We really don't have a handle on it yet," says Anthony Ingraffea, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Cornell who's studied methane leaks from active oil and gas wells for decades. "We've poked millions of holes thousands of feet into Mother Earth to get her goods, and now we are expecting her to forgive us?"

- - -

There's no easy way to bring up the thousands of feet of steel and cement required to carry gas out of a well as deep as A.H.C. Church 11. That means the only way to keep the well from leaking is to fill it up. Plugging a well costs $20,000 to $145,000, according to estimates by the U.S. Government Accountability Office. For modern shale wells, the cost can run as high as $300,000.

On a Wednesday morning near the end of June 2018, a crew of workers from the Paul Graham Drilling & Service Co., hired by the state of California after Pacific Petroleum failed to respond to years of notices, arrived at the well site. As they would on any job, they first dropped a "string," a lengthy metal cable, into the well; in ideal circumstances, it'd be a straight shot to the bottom. But not that day.

Well records indicate that a "packer," a ring-shaped device used to create a seal between the outer and inner straws of gas wells, had been installed about 7,000 feet down. It would have to come out first, or they wouldn't be able to get the cement all the way to the bottom. When they tried to pull out the packer, the string broke.

The tiny packer, just 2.5 inches wide, stayed stuck for weeks. As the crew tried to get it out, tubing inside the well broke-"structurally compromised due to corrosion," they told California's Department of Conservation in the work log they submitted. They were forced to go "fishing," using specialized tools to retrieve the tubing, piece by broken piece. But the packer was still in there. Eventually they used even more specialized tools to grind it away.

It wasn't until July 26, almost a month after workers arrived at the Church site, that they were able to start "running mud," the industry term for pumping cement into the outer straw. This straw had been purposely perforated to allow oil and gas to flow from the pay zone into the well. The plugging cement is supposed to accumulate upwards as more gets pumped in. But if it leaks off into that porous pay zone, no matter how much mud the team runs, it simply disappears. Unless the cement and other sealants reached every nook and cranny, the site might continue to leak.

Thankfully, Church filled easily, requiring 36,500 pounds of cement. The unforeseen difficulties added $171,388 to Paul Graham's original estimate, raising the total bill to $294,943, more than double the crew's $123,555 bid. (Neither the cleanup company nor the state representatives who oversaw the work responded to interview requests.) Ingraffea examined the myriad work orders from the job and called it a "well from hell."

By late August, almost two months after they arrived at the Church site, the crew had cut off the Christmas tree and welded a half-inch-thick steel plate to the top of the wellhead. It had taken nine days longer to fill the well than it had to drill it in the first place. Looking across the landscape today, it's as though Church never existed.

The atmospheric evidence, of course, shows otherwise.

The cost to plug just California's deserted wells-an estimated 5,500-could reach $550 million, according to a report released earlier this year. While not an insignificant price tag, the real shock would come if the industry collapses and walks away for good. In that doomsday scenario, the costs to plug and decommission 107,000 active and idled wells could run to $9 billion. And yet so far in 2020, California has approved 1,679 new drilling permits.

"We make the same mistake over and over again," says Rob Jackson, a professor of Earth system science at Stanford who oversees Lebel's work. "Companies go bankrupt, and taxpayers pay the bills."

Congressional efforts to create a well-plugging program for cleanup are stalled. Meanwhile, oil and gas companies have made trillions of dollars in profits over the past century and a half while enjoying relative impunity. On federal lands, where oil and gas companies actively drill, bond levels haven't been adjusted for inflation since 1951, when they were set at $10,000 for a single well and $150,000 for however many wells a single operator controls nationwide. In California a company drilling 10,000 feet or more needs only $40,000.

Even spending all the billions of dollars required to plug the world's millions of deserted wells won't stave off environmental catastrophe. The vast heat and pressure of the Earth's subsurface-the same forces that crushed dinosaur bones into hydrocarbons in the first place-mean that no plugging job lasts forever. Scientists and engineers debate how long cement can survive in the harsh environment of the Earth's interior. Estimates typically fall from 50 to 100 years, a long enough time horizon that even some of today's biggest oil and gas companies may no longer exist, but short enough to be uncomfortably within the realm of human comprehension. No regulations require states or federal agencies to measure emissions after wells are plugged.

- - -

While little is being done to prevent methane from creating catastrophic warming, less is being done to prevent water contamination. Researcher Kang, now an assistant professor of civil engineering at McGill University, worked as a groundwater monitoring consultant before getting her Ph.D. In 2016 she published a paper with Jackson showing that California's Central Valley, where a quarter of the nation's food is produced, has close to three times the volume of fresh groundwater as previously thought. Such good news came with an urgent caveat: Nineteen percent of the state's wells came close to these aquifers. "It's definitely a threat and something that needs protection," Kang says. "There's so much we don't know."

What we do know is scary enough. "The cement will deteriorate," says Dominic DiGiulio, a senior research scientist for PSE Healthy Energy, an Oakland, Calif.-based public policy institute, who worked for the Environmental Protection Agency for more than three decades in subsurface hydrology. "It's not going to last forever, or even for very long." A.H.C. Church lies in the Solano Subbasin, part of the Sacramento Valley Groundwater Basin. Almost 30% of the region's water comes from subsurface sources, according to a 2017 report from the Northern California Water Association. "Given sustained droughts, groundwater resources are going to be very important in the coming decades," DiGiulio says. "California is going to need these resources."

Among the hundreds of pages of records chronicling the well's spud, activity, and plugging, the one consistent name was Bernard Church. One afternoon this summer, I called the phone number listed on the most recent document, from a 2004 inspection, and reached his wife, Beverly Church. She now lives in Walnut Creek, Calif., about 40 miles southwest of the well site, and she told me her husband had died nine years earlier.

He and their family never became rich. Holders of mineral rights can lease them back to oil and gas companies and receive royalties on what their wells produce. But because so little had been pumped from Church, none of the 20 or so family members who eventually held a stake wound up with much. "We didn't make any money off of it," Beverly says.

That's not an uncommon outcome, explains Kassie Siegel, director of the Climate Law Institute at the nonprofit Center for Biological Diversity. "Every once in a while someone might" get rich, she says. "But it's not a thing. Big Oil is getting rich. For individual, ordinary people, it's all risk and no reward."
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- The woman identified as Hiyam Nasr Naji Daaban realised she was going into labour and the plane was forced to do an emergency landing

- Nasr was lucky as she delivered with the help of a doctor who happened to be on board

- In a tweet, EgyptAir announced the newborn was granted a free lifetime travel ticket

PAY ATTENTION: Click 'See First' under 'Follow' Tab to see Tuko.co.ke news on your FB

A baby girl who was born while still airborne is very lucky as she has been given free flights for life.

The EgyptAir flight which was headed to London from Cairo had to do an emergency landing when Hiyam Nasr Naji Daaban realised she was going into labour.

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According to The Independent, Nasr is a Yemen passenger and when she went into labour, the pilot diverted the service to Munich, Germany in hopes that she could reach the hospital in time.

Even will all the efforts the pilot made, the lady did not reach the hospital as she delivered a baby girl before the plane landed.

Nasr was lucky as she delivered with the help of a doctor who happened to be on board.

READ ALSO: Wolves vs Man City: De Bruyne on target as City cruise to opening day victory

Baby born on EgyptAir flight given free air travel for life. Photo: EgyptAir.

Source: Twitter

In a tweet seen by TUKO.co.ke, the pilot, Rushdi Zakaria, who is also the chairman of the Holding Company for EgyptAir congratulated the patient and granted the newborn a free lifetime travel ticket.

"The pilot, Rushdi Zakaria, Chairman of the Holding Company for Egypt, congratulated the passenger Hiyam Nasr Naji Daaban, a Yemeni national, for her safety and granting her newborn a free lifetime travel ticket, which she gave birth on board the plane during the EgyptAir flight yesterday from Cairo to London," read the tweet by EgyptAir.

READ ALSO: Daniel Owira, aliyeasiliwa na Rais Uhuru adai alikaribia kuwacha shule kisa utajiri

Board chairman of Misr Aviation Company announced they presented the newborn with a souvenir to celebrate with her family.

"It is our pleasure to receive a new customer to Egypt to fly to the world onboard our plane and we are also pleased to present her with a souvenir to celebrate with her family and to give her a free ticket for life on Munich flights," read the tweet.

READ ALSO: Kikuyu musician Loise Kim shows off her grown daughter

Meanwhile, aging tycoon Chris Kirubi who lives a secluded and peaceful life welcomed comedic genius, Churchill, to his home and no words could do justice to the magnificent abode.

Kirubi who never shies away from spending his hard-earned billions proved he is a man with taste.

The entrepreneur's lawn was professionally manicured and his compound was filled with songs and chirps from birds that hid in the background.

His house stood tall and majestically as it boasted of around three sturdy storeys.

At the front was a uniquely designed swimming pool that swirled around his verandah.

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Keep abusing me, you will get tired eventually - Kenya's youngest Reverend Victor Githu | Tuko TV

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The ongoing controversy at the Museum of Fine Arts in Montreal has erupted into a legal battle as ousted director Nathalie Bondil sues her former employer for C$2 million ($1.5 million). Bondils complaint alleges that the museum board orchestrated, led, and continues to lead an intentional campaign of defamation and destruction of her reputation. Bondil is seeking moral and punitive damages on the grounds of unfair dismissal and libel.  Artnet
HMD Global introduced the Nokia 8.3 5G, the companys first mid-range 5G smartphone back in March. Today the company announced the global roll out of the smartphone after about six months. To remind you, the phone comes in Polar Night colour, and is priced at 599 Euros (US$ 701 / Rs. 51,595 approx.) for the 6GB RAM with 64GB storage version and the 8GB RAM with 128GB storage version costs 649 Euros (US$ 760 / Rs. 55,900 approx.). Additionally, all Nokia 8.3 5G owners will receive a free 6-month trial of Google One with additional 100GB of online storage.

The company already said that the newest 00 agent Nomi played by British actress, Lashana Lynch will be seen using the phone in the upcoming James Bond movie No Time To Die, premiering this November. The company has also shot new ad at Pinewood Studios ahead of the 25th James Bond film, which sees the 00 agents switch to Nokia smartphones.

Nokia 8.3 5G specifications

6.81-inch (1080  2400 pixels) Full HD+ 20:9 LCD screen

Octa Core (1 x 2.4GHz + 1 x 2.2GHz + 6 x 1.8GHz Kryo 475 CPUs) Snapdragon 765G 7nm EUV Mobile Platform with Adreno 620 GPU

6GB LPDDR4X RAM with 64GB storage, 8GB LPDDR4X RAM with 128GB storage, expandable memory with microSD

Android 10

Single / Dual SIM

64MP rear camera with Dual LED flash, ZEISS Optics, 12MP ultra-wide angle lens, 2MP macro and 2MP depth sensor

24MP front-facing camera

Side-mounted fingerprint sensor

3.5 mm headphone jack, FM radio receiver, OZO audio

Dimensions: 171.90 x 78.56 x 8.99mm; Weight: 220g

5G SA/ NSA / Dual 4G VoLTE, WiFi 802.11 ac (2.4GHz + 5GHz), Bluetooth 5, GPS/GLONASS/Beidou, USB Type-C

4500mAh battery with 18W fast charging
A fisherman who sparked a statewide four-day search after he went missing on his boat has disappeared again just two weeks later.

Tony Higgins, 57, was moored near Granite Island off Victor Harbor, south of Adelaide, when he made a distress call to police around 5am on Tuesday.

Mr Higgins said his wooden fishing boat Margrel was 'taking on water' and police have now launched another search operation with a rescue helicopter and Sea Rescue volunteers.

Rough conditions on Tuesday forced rescue boats to return to shore.

The fisherman and his friend Derek Robinson, 48, sparked South Australia's largest maritime search in history when they went missing while travelling from South Australia's Coffin Bay near Port Lincoln to Goolwa on September 3.

Tony Higgins, 57, was moored near Granite Island off Victor Harbor, south of Adelaide when he made a distress call to police around 5am on Tuesday

The duo were a day into their trip on the 10-metre wooden-hulled fishing boat when they started to experience engine trouble.

They were eventually found on September 10, just hours after the search operation was called off.

Despite missing for nearly a week, Mr Higgins claimed he had no idea about the rescue mission.

'We didn't even know anyone was looking for us,' Mr Higgins earlier told Seven News.

'I didn't ask to come get rescued. I knew exactly where we were.'

Mr Higgins had been with Derek Robinson when their boat Margrel (right) suffered engine trouble earlier this month and the pair were missing for almost a week

Derek Robinson pictured after reuniting with family on September 10 after a massive four-day search for the two fishermen was called off

He believes the trouble was sparked when one of the propeller's three blades broke off after hitting a turtle or submerged log.

The massive search operation - covering more than 120,000 square kilometres - involved police, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority and members of the Royal Australian Air Force.

It also involved Kangaroo Island and Volunteer Marine Rescue members.

Crews spent days searching an area larger than Tasmania covered in an attempt to find the men.

Fears were raised when the men were not located after several weather warnings and days of treacherous conditions.

Mr Higgins claimed he had no idea about the search party when he went missing earlier this month

Fears were raised over the two men when they went missing on September 3 due to the rough conditions at sea (pictured Derek Robinson returns to shore)

The men were headed to Goolwa when they went missing earlier this month, from Coffin Bay near Port Lincoln, they told a friend they would try make it to Kangaroo Island after their engine failed but ended up in Salt Creek

Mr Higgins was fined $1,000 for having an out-of-date Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB), as well as old flares on board and not having an appropriate recreational boat licence.

Gary Juleff, a freelance video journalist told the ABC when police arrived on Tuesday morning following the distress call, the boat had vanished.

'When I got down here, nobody could see the boat,' Mr Juleff said.

'(Police) tried to phone him back - no answer - so the answer to this question is 'nobody knows'.

'They said there's nothing out there and we don't know where he is.'

Over the weekend, Mr Higgins found himself in trouble again when the Margrel ran aground on a sandbar in Victor Harbor.

The rescue mission is ongoing.

Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said a second search party for the vessel was 'frustrating' for authorities.

'I think it's fair to say there's an element of frustration that the state's resources are being dedicated to this for a second time,' he said.

'The first event cost us in the order of about $650,000.'
By Arshad Mohammed and Humeyra Pamuk WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Monday slapped new sanctions on Iran's defense ministry and others involved in its nuclear and weapons program to support the U.S.

By Arshad Mohammed and Humeyra Pamuk

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Monday slapped new sanctions on Iran's defense ministry and others involved in its nuclear and weapons program to support the U.S. assertion that all U.N. sanctions against Tehran are now restored, which key European allies as well as Russia and China reject.

Iran said the new U.S. sanctions, which targeted 27 Iranian entities and people in the nuclear, missile and conventional arms sectors, would have no effect and accused the United States of seeking publicity.

The latest sanctions on the oil-exporting nation include a new executive order signed by President Donald Trump targeting those who buy or sell Iran conventional arms that was previously reported by Reuters.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told reporters Washington had put new sanctions on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro under the order, accusing Iran and Venezuela of having worked "to flout the U.N. arms embargo" for nearly two years.

Under the same order, the United States also imposed penalties on Iran's Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics, as well as its Defense Industries Organization and its director, Mehrdad Akhlaghi-Ketabchi.

Others targeted under different programs include senior Atomic Energy Organization of Iran officials as well as people associated with its liquid propellant ballistic missile organization, Shahid Hemmat Industrial Group.

The impetus for the U.S. action is the impending expiry of a U.N. arms embargo on Iran and an effort to warn foreign actors that they will face U.S. sanctions if they buy or sell arms to Iran. U.S. entities are already barred from such trade.

Under the 2015 nuclear deal that Iran struck with six major powers - Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States - the U.N. conventional arms embargo is to set to expire on Oct. 18, shortly before the Nov. 3 U.S. election.

"No matter who you are, if you violate the U.N. arms embargo on Iran, you risk sanctions," Pompeo told a news conference with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Robert O'Brien, the national security adviser.

The United States, which abandoned the Iran nuclear deal in May 2018 and subsequently restored its own bilateral sanctions, says it triggered a "snap back," or resumption, of virtually all U.N. sanctions on Iran, including the arms embargo, on Saturday.

The other parties to the nuclear deal and most U.N. Security Council members have said the U.S. move has no legal effect.

"NOTHING NEW"

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif brushed aside the announcement as "nothing new."

"The United States has exerted all the pressure it could on Iran. It had hoped that these sanctions will bring our people into their knee. It did not," Zarif, speaking from Tehran, told a virtual meeting of the U.S. Council on Foreign Relations.

Zarif also struck a conciliatory note by repeating that Tehran is ready to exchange prisoners with Washington.

Elizabeth Rosenberg, a sanctions expert at the Center for a New American Security, said that Monday's action did not significantly move the needle, either in raising pressure on Iran or in punishing those who deal with it.

"The United States has already significantly targeted Iran, and this new action doesn't ... cause much more significant pain," she said.

A senior U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, on Sunday told Reuters Iran may have enough fissile material for a nuclear weapon by the end of the year and that Tehran has resumed long-range missile cooperation with nuclear-armed North Korea. He did not provide evidence for either assertion.

It was not clear whether the official meant Iran may have sufficient low-enriched uranium (LEU) for a bomb if it were further purified.

Tehran has gradually breached its central limits in the two years since Trump abandoned the nuclear deal, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) says, including on its LEU stockpile and the level of purity to which it was allowed to enrich uranium.

Asked about the U.S. official's comment, Zarif called his reasoning flawed and denied Iran has any intention of building a bomb because atomic weapons would not make Iran more secure.

"Now we have about 3,000 kg which based on these analysis is enough for three bombs already. So we do not need to wait until the end of the year," he said. "But we do not need to build a bomb."

The IAEA has said Iran is still enriching uranium only up to 4.5%, beyond the 3.67% purity limit set by the nuclear deal but well below the 20% it achieved before the 2015 agreement, let alone the roughly 90% purity that is considered weapons-grade.

(Reporting by Idrees Ali, Lisa Lambert, Arshad Mohammed, Humeyra Pamuk, Daphne Psaledakis, Matt Spetalnick and Patricia Zengerle; Additional reporting by Parisa Hafezi in Dubai; Writing by Arshad Mohammed; Editing by Andrea Ricci, Timothy Gardner and Sonya Hepinstall)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
After the mysterious deaths of the elephants in the Seronga area, the government conducted extensive tests to determine the cause of the fatalities. Both male and female elephants of all ages died, with clinical signs limited to neurologic symptoms, said Taolo. The deaths happened mainly near seasonal water pans and did not spread beyond the initially affected region, he said.
Based on the sharp recovery since March 2020 a near-term market consolidation cannot be ruled out. Going ahead, from now, the ground-level reality of the economy will drive the stock market momentum and investors are advised to keep booking profits as and when the market makes fresh near-term highs," Prashanth Tapse, AVP Research at Mehta Equities said in an interview to Moneycontrol's Sunil Shankar Matkar.

edited excerpts:

Q) Three IPOs- Chemcon, CAMS and Angel Broking- hit D-Street this week. What is you take on the public issues?

A) Since the reopening of the economy, the market sentiment seems to have improved and the market is really paying up for new growth stories. We believe IPO attraction will continue to allure investors after successful IPO subscription and listing of Happiest Minds and Route Mobile.

CAMS: We recommend investors to subscribe to the issue for the long-term only as the market always rewards a player who has the growth potential with high returns. CAMS enjoy a first-mover advantage with no listed players for valuation comparison and high entry barriers protecting investors risk.

Chemcon: We recommend investors to subscribe to the issue for long-term as well as listing gains as valuations at the upper price band (Rs 340) looks attractive and reasonably priced when compared to its peers.

Angel Broking: We recommend investors to subscribe for listing gain as valuations at the upper price band (Rs 306) looks attractive and reasonably priced when compared with to its peers.

Q) After hitting the highest levels since February this year, the market has been rangebound. What is your thought on the current market situation? Is a correction in the offing?

A) Based on the sharp recovery since March 2020, the near-term market consolidation cannot be ruled out. GGoing ahead, from now, the ground-level reality of the economy will drive the stock market momentum and investors are advised to keep booking profits as and when the market makes fresh near-term highs. However, the medium to long-term outlook still offers potential opportunities as a revival in demand is expected due to unlocking of the economy resulting in better than expected corporate earnings in H2FY21.

Q) How do you see the risk of COVID-19 on market at the current juncture? Also, what are other risks (global and domestic) that one should keep in mind before investing?

A) We are inching closer to the tenth month of the pandemic and there seems to be no respite from the highly infectious contagion which is ravaging the world. India has been reporting nearly one lakh new cases every day, which is a grave concern for authorities. The rising number of COVID-19 cases will likely to haunt investors' sentiments. As of now, more than 150 companies are in different stages of clinical trials and more than 25 percent of them have reached the critical last leg of human trials, which is good news getting discounted and keeping markets stable. Net to net, the path to economic recovery will be slow and bumpy until the spread of the virus is under control So, all bullish eyes will remain glued to the developments on the vaccine front.

Meanwhile, the big catalysts before investing:

1. US Stimulus Package: Investors will remain anxiously hopeful that Americas economy eventually will receive another shot in the arm in the form of government spending.

2. The rise in global coronavirus infections.

3. The US-China tensions racketing up.

4. Brexit challenges lingering.

5. November US Presidential elections

Q) What is your take on the IT sector?

A) Shares of the IT major were in demand during last week after HCL Technologies revised its September 2020 quarter revenue guidance which triggered analysts to remain optimistic on the sector as a whole. We believe IT spending has gradually increased irrespective of any sectors as software is becoming a really integral part of our lives, and COVID just crystallised the need for digital transformation. For medium-term (3-6 months), we like Infosys.

Q) Do you expect any kind of tech bubble in coming months like Dot-com bubble seen 20 years ago?

A) May not be in the same scenario today for any Dot-com bubble as it was way behind 2 decades, we see there is a big difference from the companies that went public in 1999 era and the onees which have gone public now like Snowflake. Those in 1999 were young start-up internet companies with very little revenue & customer base, whereas, this year most of the tech companies that went public, have significant sales turnover and a proven track record.

Q) Are midcaps and smallcaps still lagging largecaps in terms of valuations?

A) Yes, the price-earnings multiple of the Nifty Midcap index, which was at a discount to the Nifty50 just a few months ago, is now at a premium to largecaps. We advise investors should not panic and hurry to add such stocks in the portfolio. Even Fund managers are not in a hurry to simply add-on smallcaps just because of the new rules. The risk aversion in the financial system hurts smaller enterprises more than larger firms, which have stronger balance sheets. Well, we suggest investors with suitable risk appetite to consider allocating 25-30 percent of funds in this quality mid & smallcaps segment courtesy to SEBI intervention into Multicap regulations which can trigger a meaningful revival in the space.

Q) Should one invest in pharma stocks now given the 45 percent rally year-to-date and 85 percent from March lows? What are some of your picks?

A) Considering the current need of the hour for vaccine and gaining immunity against the virus, the pharma sector will remain an investors' favourite. A few years back, pharma was the biggest underperformer but the last six months it has outperformed almost all sectors as it is the only sector high earnings visibility and COVID-19 pandemic has bought this space in the limelight.

With less the 5 percent of GDP being spent on healthcare in FY20, India is under-invested to take care of the rising demand for these services. Hence, high visibility in earnings can be seen from here and the market has re-rated the sector with expectations of earnings to double 3-4 years from now.

For medium to long term (6-12 months), in Pharma with like counters like Sun Pharma & Dr Reddy's in largecap and GSK Pharma & Granules India in midcap space.

Disclaimer

: The views and investment tips expressed by investment expert on Moneycontrol.com are his own and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 22)  The Department of Environment Natural Resources (DENR) apologized for the much-criticized crowding of Manila Bay's "white sand beach," saying it has done its part in temporarily making the area available to the public.

In an interview with CNN Philippines' New Day on Tuesday, Environment Undersecretary Benny Antiporda said it was not part of their mandate to control the people who flocked to the area, many of them failing to practice social distancing and other health protocols.

"We'd like to apologize for what happened this weekend. Again, let me tell everybody that each agency in the government has its own mandate," Antiporda said. "We have our jurisdiction there wherein our jurisdiction is only in the entrance and the white sand area."

"We've done our part," Antiporda insisted.

He, however, acknowleged that they did not anticipate the long lines of onlookers who waited to see Manila Bay's "beautified" shoreline that opened to the public over the weekend.

"Social distancing, health protocols were implemented well but sad to say with the long line, hindi po natin kinaya yung sa may area sa kabila. Nagkaroon ng ganitong problema at dito sa may overpass, hindi rin namin masyadong na-control."

[Translation: Social distancing, health protocols were implemented but sad to say with the long line, we were not able to check the crowd in the other area. We had this problem as well as in the overpass, we failed to control them.]

On Sunday, Philippine National Police chief PGen. Camilo Cascolan relieved Ermita Police chief PLtCol. Ariel Caramoan for not planning and implementing "strict security and health safety measures" in the area.

In a briefing on Monday, Cascolan noted that police are not the only ones at fault in the issue.

"Hindi lang ho pulis ang may kasalanan dito. Lahat tayo. Dapat matuto tayo. Sa amin po sa kapulisan, we will always follow the rule of law."

[Translation: It's not only the police who are at fault here. All of us are. We should learn from this. The police will always follow the rule of law.]

In his address, President Rodrigo Duterte called out critics of the Manila Bay rehabilitation initiative, including Vice President Leni Robredo, who earlier said that the funds for the project could have been instead allocated for pandemic-hit families.

Duterte also defended Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu for taking on his challenge to clean up the Manila Bay area.

Despite potential environment and health hazards, the DENR had earlier reiterated that the project was done with proper engineering interventions, including the crushing and overlaying of dolomite rocks for Manila Bay's "white sand."

Manila Bay will be fully open to the public after the pandemic, Antiporda said.
President Donald Trump told supporters to call the cops on Democrats 'when you see them cheating' as he again tried to sow doubt about the legitimacy of mail-in ballots.

'Early voting has already begun and when you see them cheating on the other side - I don't say if - when, when you see them cheating with those ballots, all of those unsolicited ballots, those millions of ballots, you see them,' Trump said. 'Anytime you do, report them to the authorities.'

The president added that 'the authorities are waiting and watching,' addressing a crowd at a campaign rally Monday night in Toledo, Ohio.

President Donald Trump told supporters to call 'the authorities' on Democrats 'when you see them cheating with those ballots, all of those unsolicited ballots, those millions of ballots,' as he again tried to sow doubt about Americans voting by mail

The president's comments continue his assault on widespread mail-in voting, which he suggests will be ripe for fraud - and also admitted might 'LEAD TO THE END OF OUR GREAT REPUBLICAN PARTY,' despite there not being proof of either claim

Trump's cryptic warning is the latest in a long line of comments made about widespread mail-in voting, something the Democrats have pushed so Americans don't have to show up to polling places in person this November amid a pandemic.

Trump and his Republican allies have launched legal challenges against increasing mail-in voting, with the president arguing it's susceptible to widespread fraud.

'IT WILL ALSO LEAD TO THE END OF OUR GREAT REPUBLICAN PARTY,' Trump tweeted in late May.

There's not evidence to support that universal mail-in voting would automatically give Democrats an edge. Nor is there proof that voting by mail would increase the chance of fraud. Trump, himself, votes absentee in Florida, but claims there's a difference.

The president already increased the risk of chaos at the polls when he said to supporters in Wilmington, North Carolina in early September that they should go to the polls after they've mailed in a ballot.

'If it's as good as they say it is, then obviously they won't be able to vote,' Trump said. 'If it isn't tabulated, they'll be able to vote. So that's the way it is. And that's what they should do.'

Playing clean up, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said Trump wasn't instructing supporters to vote twice, but rather 'verify your vote.'

But the North Carolina Board of Elections asked voters who mailed in an absentee ballot to refrain from showing up on election day.

'The State Board office strongly discourages people from showing up at the polls on election day to check whether their absentee ballot was counted,' said Karen Brinson Bell, the executive director of the board. 'This is not necessary, and it would lead to longer lines and the possibility of spreading COVID-19.'

The North Carolina Board of Elections also reminded voters it was a Class 1 felony to intentionally vote twice. It's also illegal to solicit voters to vote twice, the statement said, The Washington Post reported.

Trump's comments Monday night were almost immediately met with ire by The Lincoln Project, an anti-Trump group of Republicans.

'Trumps continued attack on our election remains the most shocking thing to come out of the mouth of a president,' The Lincoln Project tweeted, sharing video of that moment from the Ohio campaign stop.
https://www.aish.com/jw/id/Visiting-the-Sick-in-Corona-Wards.html

Volunteers who have recovered from corona are shattering the isolation of those currently in hospital wards.

In a world first, the Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem has opened its tightly secured corona wards to dozens of volunteers who have themselves recovered from the virus in order to visit the sick and lift their spirits.

Israels corona wards are under strict controls with nurses and doctors careful not to expose themselves to the patients, mainly monitoring their patients from monitors.

Rabbi Shimon Braun, who heads the Yad Avraham organization that has provided medical assistance and hospital visits for 20 years, told Aish.com, We saw in the first wave of the pandemic that the doctors and nurses were working tirelessly, and they werent able to spend time helping patients with things that visiting friends or relatives would usually do.

The problems ranged from those who were sick, not being able to call relatives because they were too weak, or sometimes, not being able to feed themselves.

The organization, based in Jerusalem, began by asking families to cook hot food that they could deliver to the wards, especially for Shabbat.

As things moved on, we desperately wanted to do something more to help. Visiting the sick strengthens a persons will to recover, and it was missing.

Team of volunteers

On learning that those who recovered from corona had antibodies that would largely protect them, Rabbi Braun asked for a meeting with Professor Zeev Rotstein, the Hadassah Director and asked if the hospital would let the recovered corona patients into the wards. His answer came right away.

Helping a patient put on tefillin

As long as they were aware that there could be risks, Professor Rotstein immediately saw the benefit that visitors could make.

Yad Avraham put out the call to volunteers to step forward and within days a small team was formed, a team which now numbers over 30. Working in two shifts, the whole week long, they ensure the wards always have visitors.

Meeting a Corona Veteran

Moshe Tauber, 22, from Jerusalem was one of the first to receive a call from Yad Avraham. Both he, his wife and daughter were sick with the virus around Passover. We knew how tough it is, how weak you feel, and how disconnected you are in isolation, he told Aish.com. We both decided that we would help.

Tauber had previously been asked to donate plasma for research into therapies against the disease. Once confirmed that he was armed with antibodies against the coronavirus he was given extra vaccinations by the hospital and within hours the doors to the corona wards were opened. Tauber found himself on the front line in Israels fight against Covid-19.

Bringing light

It is a tough situation, but I could see straight away the light it brings to peoples faces to receive a visitor.

Volunteers enter the rooms with full personal protective suits and spend time with the patients throughout the day attending to a variety of their needs.

Moshe Tauber has been volunteering for weeks

Some patients are too weak to eat on their own and need help. There are also elderly patients who cant operate a phone to call family members, and some who were just too weak to do so.

Tauber used a mobile phone to dial video calls using skype for patients to see and speak to friends and relatives.

In one case an elderly woman told me that her husband was also hospitalized at Hadassah, but in a separate ward as he was receiving dialysis treatment. I would wheel her to him to visit and spend time together. Sadly he passed away, but he was able to spend precious time with his wife, and he wasnt alone.

For patients who want to pray but are too weak, Moshe and the other volunteers help them put on tefillin.

Moshe says giving patients the strength to believe that they can pull through makes volunteering in the wards so essential. To hear from someone else that they have been through this, that they understand how weak and sick they feel, but that they pulled through it, can really make the difference between life and death.

Just another day or two and it will pass, I tell them, and you can see a smile come back to their faces.

Despite being surrounded by so much sickness, there is a positive feeling that comes from seeing the difference it makes and just knowing that you are doing a mitzvah like this. It also gives me a lot of strength.

Preparing for the holidays

Over Rosh Hashanah, the volunteers geared up to ensure that the patients in Hadassahs four corona wards had everything they need for the holiday. Apple and honey, someone to recite kiddush, and to hear the shofar.

Its complicated, Tauber explains, because volunteers cant remove face masks in the wards, but we were able to leave the doors to the wards open while the shofar was blown outside.

International message

CNN and BBC covered the Yad Avraham volunteer. You have no idea what kind of kiddush Hashem, sanctification of Gods name, this is, Rabbi Braun said. People are coming into hospital totally alone, frightened and scared and they are weak. Visiting the sick is a precious mitzvah, and it saves lives by helping patients and giving them support. It is impossible to describe the difference this is making.

Minister of Health Yuli Edelstein, Rabbi Shimon Braun, and Hadassah Director Prof. Rotstein

Hadassah is trying the initiative for two months, with Yad Avraham hoping other hospitals in Israel will open their doors to allow visits to those sick with corona, and perhaps other countries will be inspired to follow too.

As long as I can do this, I will, he says, I feel a sense of mission to help. My grandfather, Rabbi Avriel Tauber used to say, when you find a personal mission in life, give it everything you can.

To help support the work of Yad Avraham please visit https://nedar.im/sTdr
New Delhi, Sep 22 : The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the CBSE to declare results of compartment exams of around 2 lakh students as soon as possible, so that they could apply in colleges by the cut-off date.

A bench comprising Justices A.M. Khanwilkar and Sanjiv Khanna urged the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and the University Grants Commission (UGC) to devise an arrangement on the issue.

The observation from the top court came on a plea seeking extension of college admission deadlines in the backdrop of delayed compartment exams.

Senior advocate Vivek Tankha, representing petitioners, submitted before the bench that the compartment exams will begin on Tuesday and end on September 29, and if the college admissions were over before the results were announced then the students would lose out on the opportunity for the current academic year.

The bench asked the UGC that this being a peculiar situation and could it explore making some room for students taking the compartment exam.

"Academic career of 2 lakh students cannot be hampered. If the CBSE declares results by end of October, then you can wrap up admissions by first week of November," noted the bench.

The counsel appearing for the UGC submitted that the academic calendar has been finalized and the admissions would conclude by the end of October.

The bench asked the UGC to hold the academic calendar till September 24. "Let CBSE inform us and then you both coordinate. Two lakh students -- is not a small number... You need to work in tandem with CBSE," the bench told the UGC counsel.

The CBSE counsel contended before the bench that the compartment papers would have to be checked in 16 regional centres, therefore it could take nearly 4 weeks to declare the results. The bench has scheduled the hearing of the matter on Thursday.
People's safety is the cornerstone of national security, and human health is the foundation of the progress in the civilization of a society.

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), in the face of the unexpected COVID-19 epidemic, took the overall situation into account, made resolute decisions, and insisted on putting people's lives and health first.

Thanks to the concerted, all-out efforts made by the Chinese people, China has achieved another heroic feat in humankind's fight against disease by securing major strategic achievements in the fight against the COVID-19 epidemic.

At present, China has basically resumed the normal work and living order and realized regular epidemic prevention and control, which is a miracle.

Looking back at the arduous struggle of the Chinese people against the novel coronavirus, a lot of heart-touching facts and details have demonstrated China's people-first philosophy and sense of mission and responsibility that makes it always put people's lives first.

As Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the CPC, has stressed, We are willing to protect people's lives and health at all costs.

No efforts were spared when it came to saving lives, be it a 30-hour-old baby or a centenarian.

China has made all-out efforts to pool the best medical workers, urgently needed resources, and advanced equipment to save lives.

All possible diagnosis and treatment plans were employed to cure as many COVID-19 patients as possible, and the cost was fully covered by the state.

It has been a general consensus among the Chinese people that we do everything possible to save every single life in this battle against the COVID-19.

Putting people first and giving top priority to people's lives has been the distinctive feature of Chinas fight against the pandemic.

People have entrusted their lives and health to medical workers. The responsibility has not only become medical workers driving force for marching forward bravely in response to sudden public health crises, but constantly reminded them that they are the last line of defense in humanity's fight against diseases as well as the most important guards of lives.

The fight against the COVID-19 has made it clearer that the top priority of public health and medical workers is always ensuring the health and safety of all people across the country whether in front of acute infectious diseases or frequently encountered and common chronic diseases as well as chronic diseases that do great harm to people.

Life is precious, and we only live once.

"Putting people's lives first" serves as a crucial principle that helps China secure major strategic achievements in the fight against the epidemic. It is mirrored in the fact that China has focused efforts on epidemic prevention nationwide and prevented the virus from spreading across the country.

In this way, China has managed to keep the scope of the spread of the virus and the number of confirmed cases under control. Had the virus been allowed to spread, China wouldnt have successfully brought the pandemic under control later, no matter what good treatment methods may be available.

Of course, China's success in preventing the spread of the epidemic came at a price. China imposed outbound travel restrictions in Wuhan, capital city of central China's Hubei province and once the epicenter of the pandemic, and other parts of the province, and implemented unprecedentedly strict traffic control to curb the spread of the virus.

In an effort to effectively bring the pandemic under control in a country with 1.4 billion people, China pressed the "pause button" in its megacity Wuhan and paid a heavy price.

It is a price China must pay and a price worth paying, for peoples lives are always the top priority. We can always make up for economic losses but can never bring lives back.

Science and technology should play a big role in our efforts to adhere to the "people first, life first" principle.

Science and technology are sharp weapons in humanity's battle against diseases, Xi pointed out, saying that humanity can't defeat a major disaster or epidemic without scientific development and technological innovation.

Innovation is the primary driving force for development, and science and technologies are powerful tools to overcome difficulties.

Since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, China has secured steady growth in medical and health services.

Driven by scientific and technological innovation, the country has made remarkable achievements in various aspects of relevant fields, such as basic medicine, clinical medicine, preventive medicine, and traditional Chinese medicine. It is such achievements that have become powerful tools in combating the virus.

At present, China is giving full play to its new strategy of pooling nationwide resources for breakthroughs in core technologies, such as the research and development of COVID-19 vaccine, in which China is at the forefront globally.

We are confident of making progress in such fields as the research and development of testing methods, clinical treatment, and effective vaccines and drugs through our own efforts and international cooperation.

We will continue overcoming difficulties and solving problems along the way through

scientific and technological progress and provide strong sci-tech support for our practice of "people first, life first" principle.

(Zhong Nanshan is head of the high-level expert group of the National Health Commission of China, academician with the Chinese Academy of Engineering and respiratory professor at Guangzhou Medical University.)
Chicago postal workers threaten to stop delivering mail after multiple employees shot on the job (AP)

The postal workers union is threatening to stop deliveries in Chicago after multiple mail carriers were shot walking their routes in recent weeks.

A 24-year-old United States Postal Service mail was hospitalized after being shot four times in a drive-by shooting in Chicago's southside on 10 September.

The female victim, who police said wasn't the intended target, is the second mail carrier shot and wounded while working their route after a carrier was shot in Brighton Park, according to ABC Chicago.

At a vigil near the scene of the latest shooting, National Association of Letter Carriers president Mack Julion told CBS Chicago it is too dangerous for carriers to walk their routes if they feel unsafe.

"Any letter carrier who does not feel safe in any one of these communities then they are not to deliver mail and customers have to pick up their mail, Mr Julion said. We are not going to have another situation where the letter carrier is shot down.

The USPS is offering a $50,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest from the shooting, which happened in Chicago's Burnside neighbourhood.

A #Chicago Letter Carrier was shot on 9/10/20 and we need your help in catching the suspect(s). Have info? PLEASE CALL 877-876-2455 & you could end up to $50K richer. https://t.co/E3ptPtqkZu Pls. retweet this to your followers. #BOLO #WantedWednesday pic.twitter.com/lCOf6pWkZS  U. S. Postal Inspection Service - Headquarters (@USPISpressroom) September 16, 2020

Mr Julion said a third letter carrier was shot with a paintball less than 24-hours after his colleague was shot in the same neighbourhood.

Story continues

"That's a traumatic experience, especially when you had a coworker shot the day before," Mr Julion said "It's not funny, these are federal employees...our members are at work trying to do their job trying to support their families, trying to serve the community.

It comes 45 people were shot, and nine killed, in Chicago over the weekend, including a 16-year-old boy.

While that was down slightly on the 12 killed the previous weekend, shootings and murders are up 50 per cent compared to last year, according to Chicago Police Department statistics first reported by the Chicago Sun-Times.

There have been 544 murders in Chicago so far this year, compared to 364 during the same period in 2019. There have also been 2,220 shootings this year compared to 1,500 last year.
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- American Signature, Inc.'s Value City Furniture (VCF) announced today that interior design guru, online content creator and author, Farah Merhi, will serve as its first-ever Designer Looks Style Expert. Through the partnership, Merhi will share her professional design tips and tricks for creating beautiful spaces using the brand's designer-inspired and affordable Designer Looks collection.

Value City Furniture announced today that Farah Merhi will share her expert tips for creating beautiful home spaces as the brands first-ever Designer Looks Style Expert. Merhi, pictured here with VCFs Cora Sectional, is a leading source for interior designers of all ages, styles and expertise and runs one of Instagrams most-followed home decor accounts, Inspire Me! Home Decor.

Farah Merhi is a Grand Rapids, Michigan-based interior designer and founder of Inspire Me! Home Decor. Since 2012, she has amassed over 6 million Instagram followers on her Inspire Me! Home Decor account, making it the most-followed home decor page on the social platform. Merhi has since become a go-to source for interior design expertise with a vast audience ranging from self-proclaimed DIYers to designers and young professionals.

Merhi's style and philosophy of bringing fabulous design ideas to life at an affordable price aligns with VCF's Designer Looks Collection, which offers on-trend, high-end styles made with incredible quality details like hand-stenciled finishes, solid wood surfaces or 100-percent feathers, but without the high-end price.

"I own Designer Looks pieces in my own home  they are beautiful and budget-friendly!" Merhi said. "I appreciate that Designer Looks is completely focused on style and quality, above all, at a good price. That is what every homeowner deserves. I am so proud to represent Designer Looks as its Style Expert!"

Merhi has served as a leading source of advice for designers of all ages and levels of expertise for years. In late 2019, she released her first book, Inspire Your Home, to share easy and affordable ideas for creating beautiful, glamorous spaces in any home.

Jonathan Schottenstein, President, American Signature, Inc. said, "Farah's sharp eye for design and dedication to bringing her followers quality styles at affordable prices makes her a perfect partner as our Designer Looks Style Expert and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with her."

Customers can shop Merhi's favorite Designer Looks pieces online at DesignerLooks.com/Farah or in VCF stores nationwide, as well as through VCF's sister brand, American Signature Furniture, online at ASFurniture.com/Farah and in stores.

About American Signature, Inc.

Founded in 1948, American Signature, Inc. is a family-owned and -operated furniture retailer based in Columbus, Ohio. It is the parent company of Value City Furniture and American Signature Furniture, with 117 stores across the U.S. The business believes everyone has the right to a well-furnished life and is known for its quality made Designer Looks Collection, which offers high-end styles at affordable prices.

SOURCE Value City Furniture
TANZANIA, Tanzania - The Latest from the U.N. General Assembly (all times EDT):

8:15 p.m.

The president of Africas most populous country, Nigeria, is calling for the uninhibited supply of safe and effective coronavirus vaccines for all.

African nations have been outspoken in seeking the equitable distribution of any COVID-19 vaccine, while watching anxiously as some of the worlds richest countries strike deals with pharmaceutical companies to secure millions of doses of potential vaccines.

President Muhammadu Buhari warns that if the United Nations cant marshal an inclusive response to the pandemic, then it would have failed in its core mission of giving expression, direction and solution to the yearnings of the international community.

The U.N.s health agency, the World Health Organization, has said Africa should receive at least 220 million doses through an international effort to develop and distribute a vaccine known as COVAX.

But Africas top public health official has said the continent needs at least 1.5 billion doses, enough to cover 60% of the population for herd immunity with the two likely required doses.

___

6:55 p.m.

Argentine President Alberto Fernandez is asking the world to think beyond creating a vaccine that will help end the coronavirus pandemic.

In his prerecorded speech to the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday, he challenged leaders to use the health crisis as a moment of inflection to find solutions for other scourges as well.

He says the world needs to be capable of dreaming and creating a vaccine against social injustice, environmental destruction and discrimination.

The centre-left president also urged leaders to treat an eventual COVID-19 vaccine as a global public good accessible equitably to all countries.

Fernandez said the planet is facing an historic opportunity to unite and that international co-operation like we once knew how to do is the only path forward.

His call echoes that of other Latin American leaders pressing for more solidarity among nations that have largely faced the pandemic on their own.

Argentina ranks 10th worldwide in the total number of COVID-19 cases. Some 640,000 have been diagnosed, and nearly 13,500 have died.

___

5:40 p.m.

As the worlds leaders gather remotely this year for the U.N. General Assembly, something else looks unusual: All of the speakers on the first day are men.

As the schedule goes, it will take some 50 speakers before President Zuzana Caputova of Slovakia gives prerecorded remarks Wednesday afternoon.

According to tradition, Brazil speaks first and the United States second at the U.N. gathering. After that, the world body says, the speaking order is based on the level of representation, preference and other criteria such as geographic balance.

Just two other women are set to speak Wednesday: Bolivias interim president, Jeanine Anez, and Simonetta Sommaruga, president of the Swiss Confederation.

Incidentally, the U.N. has never had a female secretary-general, though a spirited campaign pressed for one ahead of the selection of current U.N. chief Antonio Guterres.

___

5:10 p.m.

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi used his speech to the U.N. General Assembly to call for reforms at the world body, including finding new ways for countries to adhere to its resolutions and expanding the Security Council to better represent African nations.

In prerecorded remarks Tuesday, the leader of the Arab worlds most populous nation also slammed the international community for continuing to turn a blind eye to countries that support terrorism. While not naming any nation specifically, he accused countries of sending foreign fighters to neighbouring Libya under the aim of colonial illusions.

In the past, El-Sissi has threatened military action against Turkish-backed forces in Libya. He again threatened to intervene to protect Egypts western border, warning that any breach will be fiercely faced by Egypt in defence of its people.

Libya has been plagued by chaos since a NATO-backed uprising in 2011 toppled longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi. The country is split west to east with its major cities controlled by rival governments.

___

4:30 p.m.

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has defended his drug crackdown and dismissed criticism from human rights advocates as he addressed the U.N.s annual gathering of world leaders for the first time.

With the coronavirus taking a toll on the Philippines, the often brash Duterte struck a somewhat conciliatory tone about the organization hes often criticized and at times threatened to leave.

Duterte said in a prerecorded video Tuesday for the U.N. General Assembly that the Philippines values the role that the United Nations plays in its fight against the pandemic.

He welcomed the U.N.s launch of a relief fund and called on the international community to ensure potential vaccines are accessible to all.

He also expressed openness to constructive engagement with the U.N.

Duterte often lashes out at what he decries as international meddling in Philippine domestic affairs. Western governments and human rights groups call it justifiable alarm about an anti-drug crusade thats left over 5,700 mostly poor suspects dead.

___

4:05 p.m.

Colombian President Ivan Duque is calling on the international community to reject Venezuelas plans to hold a legislative election in December.

In a prerecorded speech for the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday, Duque called the vote a manufactured orchestra that looks to legitimize the dictatorship.

He also highlighted a recent U.N. Human Rights Council report accusing Nicolas Maduros government of committing crimes against humanity, including torture and killings blamed on security forces.

U.S.-backed opposition leader Juan Guaido has called on Venezuelans not to participate in the planned election to replace National Assembly lawmakers.

Maduros government has taken over several prominent opposition parties and barred numerous anti-government leaders from running.

The socialist Venezuelan leader is expected to address the U.N. gathering Wednesday. He is calling on the U.N. to send a mission to observe the vote.

Though about 60 U.N. members back Guaido, the majority recognize Maduro.

___

3:45 p.m.

Frances president says the coronavirus pandemic should shock nations into working together  and resisting a world order dominated by the U.S. and China.

Speaking Tuesday to the annual U.N. General Assembly, French President Emmanuel Macron decried the United Nations failure to vanquish the virus.

In a video recording from Paris, he said, No country will come out of this ordeal on its own.

He says the pandemic should be an an electric shock to encourage more multilateral action. Otherwise the world will be collectively condemned to a pas de deux by the U.S. and China in which everyone else is reduced to being nothing but the sorry spectators of a collective impotence.

Macron also warned Russia to reveal what happened to opposition leader Alexey Navalny and called for a U.N. mission to the Chinese region of Xinjiang, where Uighur Muslims have been held in camps.

___

11:50 a.m.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is the first world leader at the United Nations annual gathering to mention the Black Lives Matter movement.

As a country that has known too well the anguish of institutional racism, South Africa supports the demands for swift actions against racism whether it be perpetrated by companies, states or others, he said in his pre-recorded message to the U.N. General Assembly.

South Africa last year marked a quarter-century since the end of the racist system of apartheid, and Ramaphosa worked closely with Nelson Mandela, the countrys first Black president.

South Africa remains one of the most unequal countries in the world. Like many African nations, it has not escaped the problem of police brutality.

___

10 a.m.

President Donald Trump says the United Nations must hold China accountable for failing to contain the coronavirus, which has killed about 200,000 Americans and nearly 1 million around the world.

Trump is accusing China of not sharing timely information with the world on the new disease in a taped address to the virtually gathered United Nations General Assembly.

Trump says: The United Nations must hold China accountable for their actions.

Trump is also using his address to tout a pair of recent international accords he helped to broker one between Kosovo and Serbia and the other between the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Israel  as the United States fulfilling our destiny as peacemaker.

Trump has repeatedly used his appearances at the international gathering to oppose globalization and promote his America First foreign policy. His 2020 address is not different, as he admonished other nations that only when you take care of your own citizens, will you find a true basis for co-operation.
The body of Michael Williams was discovered after the fire was put out.

Four white suspects are in custody after a Black mans body was found set ablaze in Iowa.

The body of Michael Williams, 44, of Grinnell, Iowa was found on Wednesday near Kellogg after a witness called about a fire, according to The Daily Beast. After authorities put out the fire, they discovered Williams body and The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation ruled the death a homicide.

Read More: Woman arrested for allegedly hitting Black jogger with glass bottle in racist attack

Four white suspects were arrested in connection to the murder. Cody Johnson, 29, Roy Garner, 57, and Julia Cox, 55, have all been taken into custody for abuse of a corpse. Steven Vogel, 31, a well-known acquaintance of the victim is charged with first-degree murder and abuse of a corpse.

Williams, a grandfather of one, is originally from Syracuse, New York. He leaves behind five children, five siblings, and his parents.

(Photo: Iowa Department of Public Safety)

All we wanted was for him to come home. Now we have to bring him home in the worst possible state, his aunt, Paula Terrell told the Des Moines Register. We will fight for justice. This is our familys mission, no matter whatwe will fight for his legacy to be remembered as who he was: A loving, kind, gentle giant who loved his family, who loved his children.

Some have speculated this is an obvious hate crime but Betty Andrews, president of the Iowa-Nebraska NAACP State Area Conference of Branches, says she isnt so sure. As reported by The Daily Beast, Andrews said, It is understandable that having the body of an African American found burning in a small town in Iowa would raise several red flags and concerns, she said.

But so far, the organization sees no indication that Mr. Williams was targeted because of his race. Given the current climate where racial justice is on the front burner for so many.we understand the fear this kind of incident evokes.

Michael was killed in Grinnell on or about on Sept. 12, 2020, said Iowa DCI Special Agent Adam DeCamp at a press conference on Tuesday. Michaels body was then wrapped in cloth, plastic, and carpet, which was secured to him by rope and duct tape. He was then taken to rural Kellogg on the afternoon of Sept. 16, where he was set ablazeno evidence has been found to show the acts against Michael Williams were motivated by his race.

Story continues

At the press conference, DeCamp confirmed Williams was held for days at a home on Spring Street before he was murdered and according to a criminal complaint, a witness confirms he saw the victims body in the basement.

The witness also said Vogel killed Williams. Authorities searched the home at 1203 Spring Street and say Vogel admitted to driving a vehicle to a rural area and dumping something in a ditch. The complaint says that Garner, Cox, and Vogel were with him and the witness identified Vogel as the person who strangled Williams.

Read More: Trooper who faced firing in Black mans death dies in crash

The motive of the brutal killing is still unclear.

Have you subscribed to theGrios podcast Dear Culture? Download our newest episodes now!

The post Black mans body found burned in Iowa ditch, four white suspects arrested appeared first on TheGrio.
TYLER, Texas, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Education Advanced, Inc., creators of TestHound and Cardonex, announced the acquisition of Wisconsin-based School Software Group, creators of BuildYourOwnCurriculum (BYOC). This acquisition strengthens the company's industry leadership position, bringing their client base up to more than 500 districts, 6,500 schools, and 4.6M students.

The purchase of School Software Group (SSG) fits into Education Advanced's (EAI's) strategic objective to provide educators time and cost-saving operations tools and enable them to better meet the education needs of students. With BYOC, EAI's offering now includes subscription software to help with master scheduling, staff planning, curriculum development and delivery, and assessment coordination.

"There is a virtuous loop between placing students in the right classes, giving them the right curriculum, and ensuring they receive the right assessments," said Dr. Eli Crow, CEO of Education Advanced. "Adding efficiency to this loop not only improves operations, but it also allows schools to provide a higher quality education experience. Our ability to deliver profound value to the school districts we serve has undoubtedly been multiplied by the addition of BYOC to our product offering."

Chris Trina, co-founder of School Software Group, said, "We introduced BYOC to the market in 2004 to help districts successfully navigate ever-changing curriculum development and delivery standards. It has been rewarding to create a positive impact in the lives of millions of students. It is even more rewarding to consider the expanding impact our curriculum technology will have when paired with the team and technology of Education Advanced. The best is yet ahead."

About BuildYourOwnCurriculum

BYOC is a widely awarded curriculum and learning management system technology connecting learning objectives to a continuous cycle of curriculum development, delivery, assessment, and refinement across teachers, classrooms and grade-levels in K-12 school districts. The collaborative nature of BYOC improves efficiencies by reducing duplication of effort and enabling teachers to seamlessly share best practices. With BYOC, educators can consistently keep curriculum aligned to evolving standards by allowing them to easily identify disconnects and emerging areas for improvement.

About Education Advanced

Education Advanced is a privately held K-12 EdTech SaaS company providing operations tools to enable educators to be more efficient, allowing them to dedicate more of their valuable time and resources to exceeding student needs. EAI's product offering includes TestHound, Cardonex, and BYOC. These award-winning and patented technology solutions significantly advance the efficacy of master scheduling, staff planning, curriculum development and delivery, and assessment coordination for K-12 school districts around the country.

SOURCE Education Advanced
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is reportedly slated to hold discussions with newly-elected Sri Lankan counterpart Mahinda Rajapaksa on September 26. While no official confirmation has yet been made on the meeting, news agency ANI, citing sources, reported that the talks will be held via video conference.

The report of prime ministerial-level talks emerges days after Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and brother Mahinda called Prime Minister Narendra Modi to convey warm wishes on his birthday. Prime Ministers Office (PMO) said that both Sri Lankan leaders expressed their strong desire and commitment to further strengthen the relationship between the neighbouring countries.

They expressed appreciation for the continued bilateral cooperation including in the joint fight against COVID pandemic,  PMO said in a statement. The Prime Minister thanked both the Leaders for their warm wishes and conveyed that he looked forward to working with them to further expand cooperation between the two countries in line with Indias Neighbourhood First policy, it added.

Read: Sri Lankan Minister Holds Press Conference From Halfway Up A Coconut Tree

Read: Sri Lankan PM Mahinda & President Gotabaya Rajapaksa Wish PM Modi On His 70th Birthday

Sweeping Constitutional amendment awaits

In August, Mahinda Rajapaksa took oath as countrys new Prime Minister after his alliance won a two-thirds majority in the parliamentary elections. He was sworn in as prime minister for the fourth time at a historic Buddhist temple, with the ruling Sri Lanka People's Party (SLPP) further tightening the grip on power.

Mahindas SLPP registered a landslide victory with a two-thirds majority in Parliament, which is needed to amend the Constitution in the favour of Rajapaksa family. SLPP won in 145 constituencies and the alliance bagged a total of 150 seats, getting the special majority required to introduce sweeping constitutional changes.

The 19th Amendment to the Constitution has curbed presidential powers while strengthening the role of parliament. The SLPP is now seeking to repeal the amendment and restoring the vast powers of the President. Mahinda served as the countrys President for nearly a decade and the younger Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the helm, the family now wields extensive power.

Read: Mahinda Rajapaksa Proposes Beef Ban In Sri Lanka Within Month Of Assuming Power

Read: Sri Lankan President Rajapaksa Seeks Constitutional Reforms Weeks After Re-election

(With ANI inputs)
Drugs probe: NCB summons Deepika Padukone's manager, talent agency CEO

India

pti-Madhuri Adnal

Mumbai, Sep 22: The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has summoned actor Deepika Padukone's manager Karishma Prakash and a talent management agency's CEO Dhurv Chitgopekar in connection with its probe into the alleged Bollywood-drug nexus, an official said on Tuesday.

Both of them will be questioned by the NCB on Tuesday afternoon, he said. Chitgopekar is the CEO of KWAN talent management agency and Karishma Prakash is employed with the agency, the official said. During the NCB's investigation into the drugs angle in actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death case, a wider drugs nexus in Bollywood surfaced.

Peddler-supplier-consumer: NCB seeks help from international agencies in Sushant Singh case

Rajput's talent manager Jaya Saha was questioned by the NCB on Monday. During her questioning, the NCB got information about many persons allegedly having an active role in the Bollywood-drug nexus, the official said.

#Tesla 'secretly planning' R&D Centre in #Bengaluru? | Oneindia News

Some WhatsApp chats of the persons who were questioned earlier by the NCB suggested discussion about drugs, he said.

The NCB has so far arrested more than 12 people, including Rajput's girlfriend and actress Rhea Chakraborty and her brother Showik Chakraborty, in connection with the probe into the drugs angle in the case of the actor's death. Rajput (34) was found hanging at his home in Bandra area here on June 14.
Donald Trump has responded to Speaker Nancy Pelosis refusal to rule out a second impeachment to trigger a Senate trial that would delay its confirmation process of his coming Supreme Court pick to replace the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

The President essentially dared her to do so.

So theyre impeaching me because Im doing constitutionally what Im supposed to do, the president told Fox News in a morning telephone interview. If they do, I think my numbers will go up.

The GOP president predicted, should House Democrats impeach him as a stalling tactic, well win the entire election.

The president repeated his dare in a tweet less than an hour after he appeared on the Fox News Channels morning show: Crazy Nancy Pelosi wants to Impeach me if I fulfill my Constitutional Obligation to put forth a Nominee for the vacated seat on the United States Supreme Court. This would be a FIRST, even crazier than being Impeached for making a PERFECT phone call to Ukrainian Pres. He tagged the Senate Republicans official Twitter account to drive home his call for a speedy process.

In a bold claim that defies most political analysts assessment of the 2020 House map, he said I think well win back the House and keep the Senate.

We were put into this position by voters, Mr Trump said, part of his and most Senate Republicans contention that voters handed them the White House in 2016 and kept the Senate in its control before expanding that upper chamber majority two years later.

Democrats are accusing Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and other Republicans of hypocrisy because in 2016 when they blocked former President Barack Obamas final high court pick they argued a vacancy should not be filled in an election year.

With full-on political warfare breaking out, Ms Pelosi on Sunday declined to rule out a second impeachment of the president or one of Attorney General William Barr as a delaying tactic. A positive impeachment vote in the House would trigger a constitutionally required Senate trial that would essentially leave it unable to handle complicated matters like a SCOTUS nomination.

We have our options. We have arrows in our quiver that Im not about to discuss, the California Democrat said on ABCs This Week program when asked about impeaching the president or Attorney General William Barr.

But the fact is, we have a big challenge in our country, Ms Pelosi said. "This president has threatened to not even accept the results of the election with statements that he and his henchmen have made. So right now, our main goal  would be to protect the integrity of the election as we protect the American people from the coronavirus.

The move would be an unprecedented one for Ms Pelosi and Democrats, but in the extreme year that is 2020 and with Americas politics so divided, just about no one in Washington is ruling out anything as Republicans try to install a 6-3 conservative lean on the highest court in the land.

Ms Pelosi appears to be mulling the move because Senate Democrats have too few procedural options to delay it on their own. The speaker might have to decide her next move soon, as Mr Trump signaled Monday morning he wants a swift process that culminates with a floor vote before 3 November.

We have a lot of time before, he said of the election. I think it should go before.

Two Senate Republicans, Maines Susan Collins and Alaskas Lisa Murkowski, say they oppose a pre-election vote. Two more defections would mean Mr McConnell and Mr Trump would lack the 50 votes to move to a simple majority floor vote with Vice President Mike Pence, president of the Senate under the Constitution, casting the decisive 51st vote.
Toni, I am a financial planner with a client who just received a bill for her mother's Medicaid Long Term Care that was cared for at her mothers house instead of a nursing home. Sue is now stuck with a $67,500 bill that Medicaid says must be paid in full. Her mother died at least eight months ago.

She recently received a document from MERP (Medicaid Estate Recovery Program) saying that Medicaid wants all the Medicaid money used for her mothers care returned or the state is placing a lien on the house that Sues mother owned when she finally passed.

What is MERP? I have never been asked about this situation and do not know what to tell my client. Thanks, Chuck

Hello Chuck:

What a great question! After researching MERP (Medicaid Estate Recovery Program), I found it to be very eye opening!

America needs to be aware that nothing comes without a cost! And it a real surprise when a Medicare beneficiary receives Medicaid Long Term Care and later the Medicaid recipients estate receives notification from the state of Texas for a Notice of Intent to File a Claim against the Estate.

Medicaid can recover ANY and I repeat ANY medical expenses, not just nursing facility services or home and community based services, but also includes related hospital services, prescription drugs and even Medicare cost sharing expenses which are  Medicare premiums (Part A  hospital insurance; Part B  medical insurance), deductibles and coinsurance amounts.

Some of these services may be part of the $67K your client has to pay back to Medicaid.

You asked if the state could take her mothers house. Yes! All claims against an estate, including MERP claims, must be paid before the property can be distributed as specified in a will. The state does not, however, require an heir to sell the deceased recipients homestead (house) if the claim can be paid by other funds. But if not, then you may have to sell the house, or the state will file a lien against the house.

The state does not process its own paperwork and has an outside Texas Medicaid Estate Recovery Contractor who handles the complete process. In the letter sent to the recipients estate it states the amount received will not exceed the value of the estates assets, if any. If there is no money in the estate, then there is nothing to recover.

My advice would be to explore all of your options and maybe a family can work out a schedule to take care of your loved one or ask the church to find a volunteer or two to assist in the process. This way you can protect all that your loved ones have worked, so hard to accumulate.

Toni Says:

Buy a long-term care policy while you are still in decent health

Put some money away for that rainy day.

Seek the advice of an elder care attorney that can help with proper Medicaid planning.

Do proper planning. No one wants their kids to be their caregiver and take care of their activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, bathroom problems, etc. But the adult children are available to make sure that their elderly parents have the best life they can as they are growing older.

Coming in October Confused about Medicare Zoom Webinar discussing Medicares Annual Enrollment and what your Medicare options for falls Medicare Annual Enrollment can be.

Toni King, author of the Medicare Survival Guide is giving a $5 discount on the Medicare Survival Guide Advanced book to the Toni Says Medicare column readers at www.tonisays.com. Have a Medicare question call 832-519-8664 or email info@tonisays.com.
Through his lawyer, Central pastor Tony Spell pleaded not guilty Tuesday to a half-dozen misdemeanor offenses alleging the Pentecostal preacher violated the governor's emergency order when he preached to hundreds of people at his church this spring. Spell missed the hearing because he didn't want to wear a mask inside the courthouse, which is required.

The pastor at Life Tabernacle Church was charged in April with six counts of violating the state's limit on gatherings of more than 10 people that was in effect at the time to blunt the spread of the coronavirus.

A number of Spell's supporters also stood outside the 19th Judicial District Courthouse after they and Spell were denied entry into the building. Because Spell is charged with misdemeanors, he was not required to appear with his lawyer. He cited religious freedom as his reason why he wouldn't wear a mask inside the courthouse.

"This is about religious and civil liberties," Spell said. "What is at stake? We lose our right to assemble."

+2 Central pastor charged after defying coronavirus order to limit crowd sizes Prosecutors on Wednesday charged a Central pastor who held a large service hours after being arrested Tuesday for allegations he violated a st

At the time Spell was charged in early April, coronavirus cases had been surging in Louisiana, and the state saw some of the deadliest weeks of the pandemic outbreak not long after.

Despite the offenses carrying a $500 fine and jail time, Spell set up several showdowns with authorities when he continued to hold services that drew large crowds of worshippers.

At least one church member had died after contracting COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the new virus, and Spell's lawyer, too, was hospitalized after catching it. It isn't known where the men contracted the virus.

Spell was also arrested not long after and charged with assault when a man protesting the services said the pastor nearly backed into him with a school bus outside the church.

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That case remains pending, but the court had ordered that Spell wear an ankle monitor and stay at home as a condition for his bail.

+7 Coronavirus hits home for defiant Central pastor: church member dies from illness, lawyer in hospital The defiant pastor of Life Tabernacle Church, who has said the power of faith and the spiritual need to gather in person trumped Louisiana's a

He continued to return to his pulpit and continued to preach in the weeks following, in some services lifting his pant leg to reveal the location tracking device around his ankle.

Spell was relieved of house arrest in May and also was charged with two counts of being a fugitive from justice for violating his house arrest. The case has been pending in district court with no future date set.

The pastor previously said the Gov. John Bel Edwards' emergency proclamations violated his and his congregants' First Amendment rights to assemble and practice their faith.

Those arguments, among others, were included in a federal lawsuit Spell filed against the state at the U.S. District Court in Baton Rouge. The judge in the case rejected Spell's claims in May, ruling the governor had the authority to issue emergency directives during a severe public health threat.

Baton Rouge District Judge Bonnie Jackson on Tuesday set a hearing for Jan. 25, 2021, for the six counts of violating Edward's order.

+6 Pastor Tony Spell returns to Central church to preach despite being on house arrest The pastor of a Central church who has defied state orders to limit the number of congregants at his worship services violated another order S
Rally leaders face charges

BANGKOK: Two police complaints have been filed against student protest leaders  which include an accusation of lese majeste  after the weekend protest at Sanam Luang, according to the assistant commissioner of the national police force.

politicsmilitarypolice

By Bangkok Post

Tuesday 22 September 2020, 08:53AM

The pro-democracy, or second Khana Ratsadon plaque, is seen removed less than a day after it was fitted into the concrete surface by anti-government protesters at Sanam Luang on Sunday morning. The new plaque was intended to replace an old one commemorating Siams transition from absolute monarchy to a constitutional one under a democratic system in 1932.Photo: Arnun Chonmahatrakool / Bangkok Post

Pol Lt Gen Piya Utayo said the complaints against the protest leaders were filed with Chana Songkhram police station, report the Bangkok Post.

One complaint accused the protest leaders of lese majeste as defined by Section 112 of the Criminal Code, while the other is centred around the installation of a pro-democracy plaque at Sanam Luang, or Royal Ground, and the symbolic renaming of it as Sanam Ratsadon, or Peoples Ground.

Tul Sittisomwong, the leader of the so-called multi-coloured shirts movement who filed the lese majeste complaint, said the protest leaders had once again crossed the line.

I dont mind if they talked about politics, the prime minister or the constitution because they have the right to do so, but not about the monarchy, he said.

Pol Lt Gen Piya said the police will take the strongest legal actions possible against the protesters and their backers for undermining the monarchy.

He added that several protesters have already been charged on both counts.

According to the police, around 10 protesters will be charged with violating the Public Assembly Act, as well as several sections of the Criminal Code, while up to four protest leaders will be charged with lese majeste.

Deputy police spokesman, Pol Col Kissana Phathanacharoen, said investigators are considering revoking the bail of some of the protest leaders, as they violated their bail conditions by attending the rally.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and the Fine Arts Department also filed complaints against the rally leaders at Chana Songkhram police station for breaking into Thammasat University grounds and Sanam Luang.

Deputy spokesman of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, Chiraphat Bhumichitr, said the BMA wanted the police to take action against the protesters for destroying barriers and fences at the university and damaging the concrete surfaces around Sanam Luang.

The protesters damaged BMA properties and violated the Act on the Maintenance of the Cleanliness and Orderliness of the Country, said Pol Maj Gen Chiraphat.

Representing the Fine Arts Department, director of the Office of Archaeology Sathaporn Thiangtham accused the protesters of violating the Ancient Monuments, Antiques, Objects of Art and National Museums Act, as Sanam Luang is a historical site protected by law.

The plaque was confiscated and sent to forensic investigators.

Meanwhile, one of the protest leaders, Parit Penguin Chiwarak downplayed the removal of the plaque, saying the movement will simply recast and distribute similar plaques to be planted at public places across the city.

He also urged the public to take time off work to participate in the rally scheduled for Oct 14 as a sign of defiance against the government.

The protesters also announced a plan to hold another rally on Thursday at the parliament building.

While the student movement has garnered the support of many who are dissatisfied with the political situation, it also faced criticism.

Ex-president of the Federation of the Thai Capital Market Organizations, Worawan Tharabhumi, wrote on Facebook that she expected to hear what these protesters thought about challenges such as technology disruption and its effect on their future careers.

I expected to see the students talk about threats they were facing, only to find that their real intention was to undermine the monarchy, she wrote.

Installing the plaque and disrespecting the monarchy will not improve peoples well-being or reduce equality in the society, he said, calling it counterproductive.

She said the student protesters might push those who are frustrated with the government to take sides with the prime minister because they cannot tolerate people abusing the monarchy.
A Swedish bearing manufacturer that set up shop in North Charleston 20 years ago is moving production out of the area but keeping it within South Carolina.

SKF Group announced Tuesday that it is consolidating its Pepperdam Industrial Park plant and another in Ohio at its existing Sumter factory under a $62 million plan to to strengthen "its manufacturing footprint and competitiveness in North America."

The two U.S. sites will be closed over the next 12 to 18 months and result in a reduction of about 120 jobs.

In a written statement, executive John Schmidt said the Gothenburg-based company is "committed to fully supporting" the affected workers "as they transition to roles outside SKF."

As part of the reshuffling, the manufacturer will invest more than $41 million in its Sumter operation while also also moving some bearing production from China to Mexico under the new business strategy for the North American market.

"These investments represent the next steps in developing our regional manufacturing capabilities," Kent Viitanen, SKF's president of bearing operations, said in the prepared statement.

The planned upgrades for the Sumter site, which is considerably larger than the North Charleston location, will expand the plant's product lines and include new automated manufacturing technologies, he said.

The company began operations in the Lowcountry about 20 years ago by establishing a bearing-maintenance and repair center. It began manufacturing to serve the aviation industry and other customers in 2006, when it transferred some production and jobs to the Lowcountry from Jamestown, N.Y.

In 2013, the company invested $3 million to add a 25-worker production line to make high-precision ball bearings locally rather than import them from Italy.

SKF is a joint-venture partner with General Electric Co. in a separate manufacturing plant in North Charleston that operates under the name Venture Aerobearings LLC. A spokeswoman said Tuesday that business is not affected by the Sumter consolidation, nor is a small service unit that the Swedish company operates within that site.
It has been over two months since Yemens Houthis launched a wide-scale military offensive on oil-rich Marib, located 170 kilometers (106 miles) east of the capital Sanaa. The Houthis seek to wrest control of this northern province where they have failed to establish dominance on the territory or people since their takeover of Yemens Sanaa in September 2014. Over the last six years, pro-government forces and tribal authorities have been running Marib and defending it against the Iran-allied Houthi fighters.

The Houthis' resolve to capture Marib has grown. The group has sent in a massive number of fighters and military equipment in pursuit of gaining ground in this province. They have penetrated some districts like Rahbah and Mahiliya, but the stiff resistance there has cost them dearly.

The current battle for Marib has been one of the fiercest Yemen has witnessed over the last six years. Several senior Houthi military figures and countless combatants have been killed, captured or surrendered on the battlefield. Despite their losses, the Houthis have not retreated.

The Houthis consider Marib a hub for terrorists and Saudi mercenaries. On Sept. 4, Hussein al-Ezzi, the deputy foreign affairs minister in Sanaa, wrote that Marib is housing al-Qaeda operatives.

The Houthi authorities have used this rhetoric to justify their recent escalations in Marib and attract fighters to join them.

Ezzi tweeted, The resettlement of al-Qaeda in Marib is a fatal mistake that will serve no one. It is a catastrophe, the dangers of which may not be limited to a particular party. [President Abed Rabbo Mansour] Hadi and the Islah Party must stop these cowardly policies and immediately quit this dark mode of thinking.

Since the kickoff of the Houthi offensive, Saudi warplanes have intensified airstrikes. It is evident that the Houthis will not easily take Marib. This province is critical not only for the UN-recognized government but also for Saudi Arabia, and the Houthis face fierce resistance there.

Majed al-Daari, a Yemeni political commentator, told Al-Monitor, This Houthi offensive is a matter of concern for the kingdom, considering that the fall of this province will be the last nail in the coffin of the coalition battle against the Houthis in the north. And the south will not be safe from the repercussions ensuing from Maribs fall.

The present escalations surrounding this province pose a genuine challenge for Saudi Arabia. Over the six years, its Yemeni loyalists have not managed to liberate any northern province controlled by the Houthis and now the latter are striving to drive the Saudi-backed forces from Marib.

Daari said, Certainly, the battle of Marib is a dangerous turning point in the military scene in Yemen as a whole and a fateful danger for the south and the Saudi-led Arab coalition. This is so due to two reasons: First, Marib is the last stronghold of the legitimate Yemeni government in the north. Second, it has a strategic location and its fall will pave the way for Houthi movement to the south.

On Sept. 14, the Yemeni government called on the United Nations to step up pressure on the Houthis to cease their attack on Marib, a city whose normal population of one million has swelled to three with two million internally displaced persons.

It is evident that though the UN may call for de-escalation, it will not take direct action to fend off a humanitarian tragedy in this province.

On Sept. 15, UN envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths warned in his briefing to the UN Security Council that the ongoing Houthi escalation in Marib is undermining peace prospects.

Griffiths stated, The political importance of Marib must also not be underestimated. Military shifts and consequences and events in Marib have ripple effects on the dynamics of the conflict across Yemen. And if Marib falls, simply put, this would undermine prospects of convening an inclusive political process that brings about a transition based on partnership and plurality.

Khalil al-Omary, editor of the Rai Al-Yemen news site, told Al-Monitor the Houthi military gains in Marib are highly aggravating to Saudi Arabia and another failure in its war in Yemen. He added, Logically, any Houthi progress is a setback for Saudi Arabia and the Arab coalition it has been leading for six years. However, it seems that Riyadh does not care enough about what is unfolding. It is not clear what is happening in the Saudi mentality.

On Sept. 1, Saudi Arabia sacked Fahd bin Turki bin Al Saud, who had been leading the joint forces fighting the Houthis in Yemen. The move is clearly connected to the military developments in Yemen.

Omary noted, There has been corruption in the coalitions military leadership in Yemen, and that led to the dismissal of the commander of the coalition forces. Though he was fired, serious actions have not been taken to support the Yemeni government forces on the ground. Houthis continue to have the logistical superiority over the Yemeni government forces.

While the Houthi fighters keep flooding toward Marib, it remains to be seen if the Saudi-backed Yemen forces will repel the Houthi attacks and protect the relative peace Marib has maintained over the last six years. If the Saudis fail to stop the Houthi expansion there, it will mean the demise of the coalitions presence in Yemens north.

Daari said, Losing Marib is catastrophic for the Saudi-led coalition because the Houthis will get their hands on the provinces oil and gas and it will be easier for them to head to Shabwa and Hadramout in the south.
Cocaine availability is at an unprecedented level in Europe with record seizures of the drug being recorded.

The ongoing surge in cocaine supply has now been compounded by a sharp increase in the amount of heroin seized  sparking warnings from the EU drugs agency at the possible health implications.

The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) also reports a continuing rise in the purity and potency of the main drugs  cocaine, heroin, ecstasy and cannabis.

The findings from the EMCDDA annual report comes as Ireland has recorded massive drug hauls this year, including 62kgs of cocaine and 93kgs of cannabis herb at the end of June and 35kgs of cocaine and 62kgs of cannabis herb in April.

Just last August, gardai seized 22kgs of heroin, while Cork had its biggest ever haul of heroin in July, when 3kgs were seized.

The Emcdda European Drug Report 2020 found:

181 tonnes of cocaine were seized in Europe (EU member states plus Turkey and Sweden) in 2018, up from 138 tonnes in 2017, which was the previous record year;

These bumper hauls of cocaine compare to average seizures of 50-70 tonnes over the previous eight years;

9.7 tonnes of heroin were seized in 2018, up from 5.2 tonnes in 2016, which the Emcdda described as a worrying increase;

Ireland has the joint-third highest number of drug related deaths after Sweden and the UK (continuing a previous trend)  a death toll three times the European average.

The EMCDDA said the massive increase in cocaine seizures, along with high purity of the drug, more cocaine treatment cases in clinics, significant cocaine-related hospital emergencies and cocaine-induced deaths suggested that cocaine availability in Europe is at an unprecedented level.

Read More Christmas will not be cancelled, says top HSE officer

In its Irish briefing on the report, the Health Research Board said cocaine became the second most common main problem drug reported in 2019, after previously being the third most common drug.

It said cocaine now accounted for 24% of all treatment cases, compared to just 8% in 2013.

The HRB said cocaine was implicated in 53 deaths in Ireland in 2017, an increase of 26% on 2016.

In 2019, crack cocaine accounted for 14.3% of all cases treated for cocaine as a main problem in Ireland, compared to 11.3% in 2018.

Separate Irish figures indicate that the size of cocaine hauls have grown in recent years. In 2017, the largest three seizures of cocaine were 20kgs and two 10kgs hauls. This jumped to 66kgs, 49kgs and 36kgs in 2018.

To date in 2020, there have been similar sized seizures: 62kgs, 35kgs and 22kgs.

In relation to heroin, the Emcdda said the volume of heroin seized had doubled. It added that the increasing volume of heroin seized in Turkey (the main supply route of heroin into Europe) was worrying, as was the manufacturing of heroin within the EU.

This suggests more vigilance is necessary to detect any signs of increased consumer interest in a drug associated with serious health and social problems, said the report.

Just this week, British police seized 1.2 tonnes of heroin on board a vessel bound for Antwerp, Belgium.

The report said the discovery of laboratories producing heroin from morphine in Bulgaria, Czechia, Spain and the Netherlands in recent years, together with an increase in morphine and opium seizures suggests some heroin is now manufactured in the European Union.

The report said both cannabis resin and herb now contain, on average, about twice as much THC (the active chemical) as they did just a decade ago.

It said that there was a pressing need for greater surveillance of this area.

In relation to ecstasy, the report noted the continued availability of high-content MDMA tablets and high-purity powders.

Alongside increases in both the average MDMA content in tablets and the purity of powders in 2018, data shows that products containing extremely high levels of MDMA are also being detected, it said.

These products pose considerable health risks for people using them and raise an important issue for prevention and harm reduction messaging and interventions. Citing previously published figures, dating back to 2014, Ireland is joint fifth in Europe for recent use (in the last year) of cocaine among the 15-34 year old age group.

Recent use of ecstasy among the same age was the second highest in Europe, while recent use of cannabis was twelfth highest and below the EU average.

https://www.emcdda.europa.eu/
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan told the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday that dialogue and diplomacy should resolve issues related to Iran's nuclear programme under international law, with all parties abiding a 2015 international agreement. The United States on Monday announced new sanctions against Iran's defense ministry and others involved in its nuclear and weapons programme

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan told the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday that dialogue and diplomacy should resolve issues related to Iran's nuclear programme under international law, with all parties abiding a 2015 international agreement.

The United States on Monday announced new sanctions against Iran's defense ministry and others involved in its nuclear and weapons programme. They were meant to support Washington's assertion - disputed by Europeans and others - that all United Nations sanctions against Tehran are now restored.

"We support solving issues regarding Iran's nuclear programme by taking international law into consideration and through dialogue and diplomacy," Erdogan told the United Nations General Assembly in a video message.

"I repeat our call for all parties to abide by their responsibilities under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which provides serious contributions to regional and global security," he said.

(Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu; Editing by Jonathan Spicer)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 00:18:16|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on Sept. 22, 2020 shows facilities at the BGI Ethiopia COVID-19 test kit factory in the Bole Lemi industrial park on the outskirts of Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia. Chen Songheng, General Manager of BGI Ethiopia, a subsidiary company of China's biotech giant, BGI Genomics Co., Ltd., is feeling optimistic about Ethiopia's anti-COVID-19 fight. (Xinhua/Wang Shoubao)

ADDIS ABABA, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Chen Songheng, General Manager of BGI Ethiopia, a subsidiary company of China's biotech giant, BGI Genomics Co., Ltd., is feeling optimistic about Ethiopia's anti-COVID-19 fight.

Chen administers the Chinese company's first ever plant in Africa, a COVID-19 test kit factory located on the outskirts of Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa.

"We have opened our first factory not only in Ethiopia but also in the whole of Africa. Now, the capacity of production for the COVID-19 tests kits is about six million test kits per year," Chen told Xinhua on Tuesday.

"We would like to provide localized production in Ethiopia that can also benefit all African countries. Our aim is to make affordable artificial test kits to all African countries to help them in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic," Chen said.

Chen also applauded the Ethiopian government's high-level support to the new COVID-19 test kit factory, showcased with the inauguration of the factory by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on September 13.

"We appreciate the support from the Ethiopian government. With the Ethiopian government alongside us we feel very strong confidence in the fight against COVID-19," said Chen.

With the COVID-19 test kit plant already receiving glowing remarks from high level Ethiopian government officials, Chen feels confident that the initiative will diversify its engagements in the post-COVID-19 era.

"After the COVID-19 pandemic disappears, we will focus on the artificial test kits production to provide products for the likes of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB), malaria and dengue fever," Chen told Xinhua.

BGI Ethiopia's work currently isn't solely restricted to the production of COVID-19 tests kits, with Ethiopian staff of the firm gaining knowledge and experience through their employment.

One such Ethiopian employee is Hussein Mohammed, a Research and Development Engineer at the BGI Ethiopia plant. said the East African country lacks sufficient medical expertise relating to COVID-19, which the new factory will provide.

"We don't have much professional expertise on COVID-19, so my long-term aim is working with BGI Ethiopia and making myself better than I am now," Mohammed told Xinhua.

"As an Ethiopian, it's a big honor to work with BGI Ethiopia. Hopefully, it will give me a wonderful experience in the future and I will share my experience with fellow local employees," Mohammed said.

Mohammed's experience with China's successful fight against the COVID-19 pandemic extends to his time as a student in Wuhan city where he firsthand witnessed China's successful anti-COVID-19 efforts.

Mohammed returned to Ethiopia in June after two years of study in Wuhan city, out of which the last six months coincided with the outbreak of COVID-19 in the city as well as the successful control of the disease.

"The Chinese government played a great role in protecting us during the COVID-19 pandemic. They were providing free meals for us when we stayed more than six months indoor," Mohammed said.

The BGI Ethiopia COVID-19 test kit factory, located inside the Bole Lemi industrial park on the outskirts of Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, is expected to help save much-needed foreign currency that the Ethiopian government spends towards importing test kits.

The importation of vast majority of COVID-19 test kits from abroad has been also causing financial and logistical challenges to Ethiopia, which has so far confirmed 69,709 COVID-19 cases and 1,108 COVID-19 related deaths.

Speaking at the COVID-19 test kit factory inauguration event earlier this month, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali said the factory's inauguration came at a critical juncture in the country's fight against the pandemic. "The commencement of COVID-19 test kits production will boost the testing capacity of Ethiopia and other African countries," Ahmed had said.

"The factory will additionally provide commercial laboratory services for a total of three million transit passengers at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport," said the Ethiopian premier said. Enditem
The Tasmania rescue operation is likely to take days, depending on the tides and weather, which can be unpredictable. So far, the rescuers have managed to free and escort about two dozen whales out to sea, but even then, there is a possibility the animals will not be safe.
School leavers and university graduates are being encouraged to fill the void left behind by backpackers. (Chris Armytage/Pixabay)

Home Grown Gap Year Could Give School Leavers University Discount

School leavers and university graduates who take a gap year on an Australian farm to pick fruits and vegetables could get a university loan discount under a bipartisan parliamentary inquiry.

Liberal, Nationals, and Labor members of the committee proposed a Gap Year at Home (pdf) to address the urgent labour shortages for the upcoming harvest season as a result of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as novel coronavirus.

The pandemic has dramatically reduced the number of migrant and seasonal workers who typically pick up 60 percent of the fruit and vegetables on Australian farms.

National Farmers Federation Chief Executive Tony Mahar said in a media release that farmers across the board were very concerned about the workforce shortages given the lack of overseas holiday workers.

The number of working holidaymakers plummeted from approximately 150,000 at the start of the year to 70,000 in June 2020.

Mr Mahar said doing more to attract Australians to farm jobs must be a part of agricultures workforce solution.

We know the part-time and seasonal nature of some farm work, doesnt suit everyone. However, we urge job seekers to keep an open mind about whats on offer. They may be surprised about how much they can earn in agriculture and horticulture, in some cases, up to $1000 per week, he said.

The scheme is to not only help with the labour shortage but also give young people a greater sense of their own country, the chance to meet Australians from other parts of the country and the opportunity to learn more about industries which are vital to our national prosperity, said the report.

We have too many people who have seen Berlin before theyve seen Bundaberg, Committee Chair Julian Leeser said.

A fruit and vegetable shop storekeeper changing the price of her bananas in Sydney, Australia. (Ian Waldie/Getty Images)

The committee also recommended that the government provided Australians with a one-off payments to help with accommodation and moving expenses to incentivise the shift to regional Australia.

They also suggested fruit pickers be allowed to keep their JobSeeker payments on top of farm payments.

The JobSeeker payment will be cut to $815 a month from September 25.

Alternatively, school leavers could also be given a discounted rate of HECS/HELP to facilitate more people committing to the scheme the report suggested.

Related Coverage JobKeeper Recipients May Be Eligible for a Partial JobSeeker Payment

Media Diversity Australia Director Antoinette Lattouf told Sky News on September 20; it was an excellent opportunity for stakeholders to work together to make this type of work more appealing.

But Lattouf said that Australia does need to improve the labour conditions first.

Making it safe, fair and accountable is a good place to start, Lattouf said.
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico: Soraya Santiago, the first person from Puerto Rico to undergo gender reassignment surgery and a longtime icon for the U.S. territorys LGBTQ community, has died. She was 73.

Santiago died of cancer early Tuesday at her home in the north coastal city of Carolina, activist Pedro Julio Serrano told The Associated Press.

Many mourned the news, including the mayor of Puerto Ricos capital and activists on the U.S. mainland.

Soraya was a pioneer, our teacher, our beacon of light, trans activist Ivana Fred said in a statement. She opened the door for all us trans people and left us a legacy of unwavering spirit that is unmatched.

Santiago had often hung out at New Yorks Stonewall Inn and was in the city though not the bar when police raided it in 1969, unleashing a rebellion that led to the LGBTQ rights movement. She credited that with helping turn her into an activist.

She traveled again to New York in the 1970s for gender reassignment surgery and upon returning to Puerto Rico, became the islands first trans person to successfully change their name and sex on their birth certificate.

Santiago, a hair stylist who owned a beauty shop, was the first openly trans person to run for office in Puerto Rico, according to the Center for Puerto Rican Studies at Hunter College in New York, trying unsuccessfully for a city council seat in 2008. She was also the first LGBTQ candidate to do so as a member of the pro-statehood New Progressive Party, the center said.

Santiago said in a 2019 interview with the online collaborative publishing platform United Explanations that much work remains to be done.

Those were doors I opened, and I hope to keep opening more doors so that the community can keep establishing itself where it should be and not where people want it to be, she was quoted as saying.

Santiago studied political science at Puerto Ricos largest public university and was featured in several documentaries, including the 2014 Puerto Rican film Mala, Mala, which follows nine transgender people. Santiago also published a book, Made by Hand: Gender Dysmorphia.

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
T he military could be drafted in to free up police so they can focus on enforcing tougher coronavirus rules in a bid to slow the spread of the pandemic, Boris Johnson has warned.

The Prime Minister hinted at military support for police officers as he announced tougher measures which could be in force for up to six months.

"We will provide the police and local authorities with the extra funding they need, a greater police presence on our streets, and the option to draw on military support where required to free up the police," Mr Johnson told MPs.

Among the tougher penalties for those who brazenly defy the restrictions, Mr Johnson said businesses could face 10,000 fines for breaking the rules and the penalty for failing to wear a mask will double to 200 for the first offence. The same fine will apply for breaching the so-called rule of six.

Downing Street said the military would be able to help fulfil certain police duties such as office roles and guarding protected sights to free up officers and would not be granted additional powers.

The Prime Ministers official spokesman said: To further free up the police to have a greater presence on our streets they will have the option to draw on military support, where required, using tried and tested mechanisms.

"This would involve the military back-filling certain duties, such as office roles and guarding protected sites, so police officers can be out enforcing the virus response.

Coronavirus: Weekend Round-up before New Rule of Six - In pictures 1 /30 Coronavirus: Weekend Round-up before New Rule of Six - In pictures People sing and dance as they watch a street performer in Leicester Square PA General view of people enjoying a night out in Soho PA People have been warned against having a "party weekend" PA A former chief scientific adviser said the UK is "on the edge of losing control" of coronavirus PA People sing and dance as they watch a street performer in Leicester Square PA A group of friends enjoy the Autumn sunshine at a bar in Brighton PA Beachgoers pack the beach in Brighton AFP via Getty Images General view of people enjoying a night out in Soho PA General view of people enjoying a night out in Soho PA People sing and dance in Leicester Square REUTERS People gather in the Soho area REUTERS People dance in Leicester Square REUTERS People sing and dance in Leicester Square REUTERS People sing and dance in Leicester Square REUTERS Beachgoers pack the beach in Brighton i AFP via Getty Images People gather on Primrose Hill AFP via Getty Images People gather in the food market in Camden AFP via Getty Images People gather on Primrose Hill AFP via Getty Images People drink and dine at restaurants and cafes on Northcote Road Getty Images People gather on Primrose Hill AFP via Getty Images People drink and dine at restaurants and cafes on Northcote Road Getty Images People drink and dine at restaurants and cafes on Northcote Road Getty Images People attend a busking show in Leicester AP

"This is not about providing any additional powers to the military, or them replacing the police in enforcement roles, and they will not be handing out fines. It is about freeing up more police officers."

During his speech, Mr Johnson warned the UK was at a "perilous turning point" in the battle against coronavirus as he abandoned efforts to get more workers back into offices, ordered wider use of face masks and imposed a 10pm curfew on pubs and restaurants.

He warned that the new curbs could last for six months  taking them well beyond Christmas  "unless we palpably make progress.

Boris Johnson: 10pm curfew and max 15 wedding guests among new restrictions

He set out measures for England in the Commons but stressed that all parts of the UK were united in the need for decisive action to prevent the virus getting out of control.

"We always knew that while we might have driven the virus into retreat, the prospect of a second wave was real," he told MPs.

"Im sorry to say that, as in Spain and France and many other countries, we have reached a perilous turning point."

UK stays alerts during Coronavirus - In pictures 1 /38 UK stays alerts during Coronavirus - In pictures People wearing PPE sit on bench's at Earl's Court Station Reuters Worlds End Nurseries in Chelsea opens for business. Customer Nika Kucifer is shown flowers by Janson Lotery Nigel Howard Prime Minister Boris Johnson addressing the nation about coronavirus (COVID-19) from 10 Downing Street, London. PA Coronavirus Covid-19 Colour Coded Alert System A sign is pictured explaining that the road has been narrowed to aid social distancing when using Camden High Street AFP via Getty Images Commuters on the Jubilee line Nigel Howard Phil Spencer, Cheshire coach of the year 2019 photographed in action at the Bowdon Lawn Tennis Club coaching 9-year-old club member Gigi Welch on the first day the prime minister is allowing family members to enjoy unlimited outdoor activities and various sports played with social distancing on May 13, 2020 in Bowdon Getty Images A golfer plays the first hole while wearing a face mask at West Essex Golf Course Getty Images Pedestrians and cyclists make their way across London Bridge following prime minister Boris Johnson's advice for people to return work if possible but not use public transport. Daniel Hambury Two men wear face masks on the London Underground Jubilee line PA Key workers in Birmingham city centre, as the UK continues in lockdown to help curb the spread of the coronavirus PA Coronavirus-themed street art by mural artist and illustrator KMG in Camden PA Traffic is seen on the M25 motorway during the morning rush hour near Heathrow Airport i AFP via Getty Images A member of staff take a trolley from customers for disinfection at a garden centre in Caerphilly, Wales, as minor changes to lockdown restriction begin across Wales PA Commuters on the Jubilee line Nigel Howard A woman wearing a protective face mask and gloves is seen walking past a mural, Reuters Pedestrians pass heavy traffic passing over Tower Bridge in London, PA Commuters wait to board a train at Canning Town underground PA A satellite image shows Trafalgar Square in London via Reuters A member of staff hands over a coffee from behind a plastic protective screen at a branch of Pret a Manger in central London PA A general view of Old Compton Brasserie in an empty Soho Daniel Hambury Cyclists exercise in The Meadows in Edinburgh as the UK continues in lockdown to help curb the spread of the coronavirus PA A general view of Gerrard Street in an empty Soho Daniel Hambury A man wearing a protective face mask is seen at Westminster tube station, Reuters Workers carry a pane of glass on a construction site near Guildford AFP via Getty Images Commuters wearing PPE (personal protective equipment), including a face mask as a precautionary measure against COVID-19, wait to catch a red London bus in the morning rush hour AFP via Getty Images Traffic crosses Waterloo Bridge PA Pedestrians and cyclists make their way across London Bridge Daniel Hambury Commuters on the Jubilee line Nigel Howard

Measures set out by Mr Johnson to limit the spread of the virus included:

Asking office workers who can to work from home, although construction workers, retail staff and people performing essential services should continue to attend their workplaces.

From Thursday, pubs, bars and restaurants will be table service only and hospitality venues will be subject to a 10pm closing time.

Face coverings will be required for retail staff, taxi passengers and hospitality customers except where seated.

Covid-secure guidelines will become legal obligations for retail, leisure and tourism firms, with businesses facing the risk of fines or closure for failing to comply.

From Monday, a maximum of 15 people will be allowed to attend wedding ceremonies and receptions.

The rule of six will be extended to cover indoor team sports, such as five-a-side football games.

Plans to allow business conferences and sporting events from October 1 have been shelved.

The Prime Minister insisted the measures did not amount to a second lockdown.

"This is by no means a return to the full lockdown of March, were not issuing a general instruction to stay at home, we will ensure that schools, colleges and universities stay open because nothing is more important than the education, health and wellbeing of our young people," he said.

But he warned that tougher measures may be needed if the virus continues to spread with the R number remaining above one.

"I must emphasise that if all our actions failed to bring the R below one then we reserve the right to deploy greater firepower with significantly greater restrictions," he warned.

The Prime Minister said the Government was taking "decisive and appropriate steps to balance saving lives with protecting jobs and livelihoods".

But he acknowledged "this will have profound consequences" for people across the country.
Last month, prison officials told many inmates they would be released early.

But the bill that would shorten sentences (S2519), an effort to stop more coronavirus deaths behind bars, stalled in the Legislature. One big reason was some lawmakers werent convinced former inmates would have enough help finding housing and jobs.

Lawmakers are scheduled to vote on the proposal again Thursday, and proponents say compromises theyre making and new legislation theyve proposed should push it over the finish line.

Im optimistic we have the votes to pass this bill, said Assemblyman Raj Mukherji, D-Hudson, who sponsored the Assembly version.

The proposal will be amended to exclude anyone convicted of murder or aggravated sexual assault, Mukherji said, which could sway hesitant colleagues.

In addition, both Mukherji and the bills Senate sponsor recently introduced legislation (S2933 and A4681) to send more prisoners to halfway houses.

Organizations that run halfway houses have said proposed budget cuts and other pandemic policies hindered their ability to care for current releases, much less thousands of new cases.

State Sen. Nellie Pou, D-Passaic, said those concerns pushed her to both introduce the new halfway house bill and to support giving more money to community programs.

And now millions of dollars of proposed cuts for halfway houses would be restored in the revised state budget currently under consideration.

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage

Funding halfway houses was always important, Pou said, but bolstering those programs should also sway lawmakers concerned about early releases.

This will certainly help to give them ease in supporting this other bill, Pou said.

New Jersey prisons have the highest coronavirus death rate in the nation. About 3,000 prisoners could be affected by the early release proposal, the first of its kind in the country, although previous estimates did not exclude murder and sexual assault convictions.

If its approved Thursday and signed by the governor, releases could begin within weeks.

The halfway house bills have yet to be considered by a legislative committee, but they gained early praise from leaders of reentry organizations.

We like the bills a lot, said Dan Lombardo, president of the Camden-based Volunteers of America Delaware Valley. Making more people eligible for halfway houses could reduce the number of people who max out, or complete their sentences without support services, he said.

Maxing out can increase the risk someone commits another crime, research has shown.

We are happy to see that there is support for utilizing a system proven to work, Helena Tome, who directs reentry services for the New Jersey Association on Correction, wrote in an email.

Under the proposal, prisoners with two-and-a-half years left could be sent to a halfway house. Currently, the limit is two years.

Officials would also be directed to prioritize inmates affected by the early release bill.

Sex offenders, arsonists and anyone who poses an undue risk to public safety would be ineligible.

The prison system has purposely been sending fewer inmates to halfway houses in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19, and less than half of the states approximately 2,400 beds are currently filled, Corrections Commissioner Marcus Hicks recently testified.

Lawmakers are scheduled to vote on the new state budget Thursday.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Blake Nelson can be reached at bnelson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @BCunninghamN.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 19:23:04|Editor: huaxia

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JAKARTA, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations (UN) plays a strategic role in the world and international cooperation is absolutely needed during the current novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, an Indonesian legislator said.

"By coordinating with international organizations especially with the World Health Organization (WHO), we can have the same protocols," Deputy Chairman of the Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Board of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Mardani Ali Sera, told Xinhua here Tuesday.

Unfortunately, a number of countries including the United States set a bad example by ignoring agreements they have made, and attacking the World Health Organization (WHO), Sera said, adding the United States did not give its annual contribution to the WHO.

According to him, the UN needs to prioritize its multilateral role by reforming and improving the current mechanism for realizing the democratization of international relations.

The legislator also mentioned the bilateral ties between China and Indonesia, saying that the two countries have good historical and fundamental relations in the framework of the UN in the world.

"The cooperation between the two countries can be a strong foundation to maintain the regional stability in ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and the Asia-Pacific region," he said. Enditem
Activists working for Greenpeace have started dropping boulders in parts of the North Sea to prevent industrial bottom trawlers fishing in protected areas.

Greenpeace said the boulders were being spaced at precise intervals inside the Dogger Bank protected marine area and wouldn't harm the seabed.

The shallow sandbank habitat is home to crabs, starfish, flatfish and sandeels which are food for seabirds such as puffins, as well as for porpoises and dolphins.

Bottom trawling is a type of fishing that involves dragging heavy weighted nets across the sea floor to catch fish - but Greenpeace warn it is 'destroys the seabed'.

Any bottom trawlers trying to fish over the boulders will get their gear snagged and ruined on the rocks, though passing marine traffic will not be affected.

The conservation charity said it would continue to drop boulders until the Government introduces stricter restrictions on fishing in these areas.

A boulder falls into the North Sea from the Greenpeace ship, Esperanza. Inert granite boulders are being placed into the North Sea as part of a new bottom trawler exclusion zone in the Dogger Bank Marine Protected Area

A boulder falls into the North Sea from the Greenpeace ship, Esperanza. The initiative will help prevent destructive bottom trawling which destroys the Dogger Bank's protected seabed

Dogger Bank's seabed has a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) protected area designation meaning there are restrictions on fishing in the area.

Environmentalists accuse the Government of failing to properly protect the area, by not fully restricting damaging fishing activity including bottom trawling.

An Environment Department spokesperson said fishing and protection of the seas would be at the heart of the Government's future fishing strategy.

Greenpeace said it had found 11 large fishing vessels operating in the Dogger Bank marine protected area with their automatic identification system switched off.

The environmental charity has taken matters into its own hands, using its vessel Esperanza to use granite boulders to create an underwater barrier.

Dogger Bank's seabed has a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) protected area designation meaning there are restrictions on fishing in the area

The move closes 50 square miles of Dogger Bank from bottom trawling and Greenpeace says it will continue to place boulders on the seabed until the UK Government properly protects the marine reserve.

Chris Thorne, a Greenpeace UK oceans campaigner, was on board the Esperanza during the boulder dropping activity, he said the Government had 'utterly failed to protect the Dogger Bank' from destructive industrial fishing.

'How can you continue to allow bottom trawlers to plough the seabed in a protected area designed specifically to protect the seabed?

'Allowing bottom trawling in a protected area established to protect the seabed is equivalent to allowing bulldozers to plough through a protected forest,' he said.

'Our Government won't act, and we can't sit idly by while they allow supposedly protected parts of our oceans to be destroyed.'

A boulder is manoeuvred onto a slide on the Greenpeace ship, Esperanza. Greenpeace said the granite boulders were being spaced at precise intervals inside the Dogger Bank protected area would not have a significant impact on the seabed

Crew members from the Greenpeace ship, Esperanza, remove cables connecting large boulders. The move closes 50 square miles of Dogger Bank from bottom trawling and Greenpeace says it will continue to place boulders on the seabed until the UK Government properly protects the marine reserve

The first of the four cornerstones drops from a slide onboard the Greenpeace ship, Esperanza. An Environment Department spokesperson said fishing and protection of the seas would be at the heart of the Government's future fishing strategy

Greenpeace said it had commissioned an independent scientific agency, BioLaGu, to conduct an environmental impact assessment that concluded placing the boulders would not have a significant impact on the protected feature of the Dogger Bank.

Activists say they have also informed the relevant marine authorities to ensure navigational safety for mariners in the area.

The Environment Department spokesperson said they had already set up a 'blue belt' of protected waters nearly twice the size of England.

'The Fisheries Bill proposes new powers to better manage and control our marine protected areas and English waters,' they said.

'The Common Fisheries Policy currently restricts our ability to implement tougher protections, but leaving the EU and taking back control of our waters as an independent coastal state means we can introduce stronger measures.'
The Garda sub-aqua unit will search a lake this week as part of a renewed effort to find missing woman Barbara Walsh who disappeared 35 years ago.

She was last seen in her home in Rusheenamanagh, Carna, Co Galway, at 4am on June 22, 1985.

On the previous evening, a group consisting of two off-duty gardai, a priest, neighbours and friends went to the home she shared with her husband Dara after a gathering in a local pub.

Ms Walsh (33) was last seen sleeping on the sofa by her daughter, Jacquie, who was 14 at the time.

The mother of seven, whose children ranged in age from a baby of nine months to an 18-year-old daughter, had no passport and the family had no car. There was no sign of her having packed, and she left reading glasses behind her.

Since issuing a fresh appeal for information on the anniversary of her disappearance earlier this year, gardai have been working closely with Ms Walsh's family on the investigation.

They are also liaising with Interpol on the case.

Garda sources have revealed that searches of a lake close to Ms Walsh's home will take place as soon as today, or later in the week, as part of a fresh probe into the mystery disappearance.

"A number of small lakes were searched in 2016, but this one has not been searched before," said the source.

"It's close to the home house and a team has been sent to organise a detailed search."

Speaking to the Irish Independent, Ms Walsh's daughter Jacquie said she was encouraged by the development. "Any activity in relation to advancing the investigation into Mum's case is positive," she said.

"After all of this time, it is encouraging to see efforts being made to try and find out where she is because we believe she is somewhere in the locality.

"Many of the people connected to this case have passed away and we now want to find out the truth about what happened that night.

"We deserve to know the truth, even though we know she is dead."

A full case review into Ms Walsh's disappearance was conducted in January 2015.

As part of that review, 114 lines of enquiry were generated and 66 individuals were interviewed.

A series of planned and structured searches were also carried out at that time by investigating gardai with the assistance of the Garda Technical Bureau.

An excavator was hired, as was a sniffer dog from England trained for searches such as those of "disappeared" IRA victims. The focus was not just on the small house, nestled between a lake and the sea, but also on a stone outhouse and surrounding land.

Nothing was recovered during those searches.

The case was featured on RTE's Crimecall recently, close to the 35-year anniversary of Ms Walsh's disappearance. A follow-up episode will be screened later this month.

Anyone with information can contact Salthill garda station on 091-514720, any Garda station, or by calling the confidential line 1800 666 111. They can also contact CrimeCall on 1800 40 50 60, Freetext 50123 or email crimecall@garda.ie.
Press Release

September 22, 2020 Solomon Islands Prime Minister thanks Red Cross for providing assistance to hundreds of stranded Solomon Islanders in RP Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare thanked the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) during his nationwide address on Monday, September 21, for the PRC's efforts in helping more than 400 Solomon Islanders who were stranded in the Philippines and could not return to their home country due to COVID-19 pandemic. "Let me convey my personal appreciation and debt of my government to Senator Richard J. Gordon, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Philippine Red Cross, his staff throughout Manila and the Philippines, for looking after our students in the Philippines. Senator Gordon, when we started to lose hope, your commitment to serve and respond to the need of others has reinvigorated our strength and resolve to work with your organization as a sincere and genuine partner to look after our students. Your organization has took the place of a family away from family, a home away from home," said Sogavare. Solomon Islands Ministry of Health and Medical Services Dr. Yogesh Choudhri sent a request to the PRC earlier this month to assist their citizens who are currently living in different areas around the country. The Solomon Islands government required each citizen to have three negative COVID-19 test results before their repatriation flights. On September 11, the first batch of students were tested at the PRC molecular laboratory in its headquarters in Mandaluyong City and the results were sent to Choudhri the following day. During the Lingkod Aksyon program of DZMM TeleRadyo aired on Sunday, September 20, PRC Chairman and CEO Senator Richard J. Gordon disclosed that there are 14 Solomon Islands citizens who were tested positive for COVID-19. "Agad namin silang tinulungan. Lahat sila ngayon ay naka-quarantine at inaasikaso sila ng Red Cross sa isolation centers. Binibigay rin natin ang mga request nila tulad ng prutas at gulay. Halos kalahati na ang nate-test sa kanila at tatapusin natin iyan ngayong linggo," Gordon said. Likewise, Gordon thanked Sogavare in a Facebook post on Monday for recognizing the efforts of the PRC. "We thank Solomon Islands Prime Minister Hon. Manasseh Sogavare for acknowledging the efforts of the Philippine Red Cross in looking after their students who were stranded in our country because of COVID-19 pandemic. We tested all their students and citizens to make sure they are free from the virus before they return to their homeland," he said. As of this writing, the PRC continues to conduct RT-PCR testing to Solomon Islands citizens, while its Welfare Services Unit is visiting the students in isolation facilities to give them quarantine kits, as well as food and grocery items. "As part of an international humanitarian organization, the Philippine Red Cross will continue to provide assistance to all those in need," Gordon added.
Accordingly, with the plan submitted by Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet Air, there will be four weekly flights to Hanoi on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays (with a maximum of 1,304 seats) and five flights to land in Ho Chi Minh City on Tuesdays (two flights); and Wednesdays, Thursdays and Friday (maximum total of 1,290 seats).

Earlier, on September 11, 2020, the CAAV sent an official letter to the aviation authorities of four partners, including China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Taiwan (China), announcing the plan to resume commercial international flights to Vietnam. All partners agreed with the plan that Vietnam proposed.

Vietnamese and foreign airlines are only to implement check-in procedures for passengers with a Vietnam visa as issued by the authorities.

The airline only makes reservations and sells tickets to passengers providing full information (name and contact phone number of the individual while in Vietnam; address and phone number of the quarantine facility in Vietnam; phone number of the organisation picking up passengers at the airport).

When implementing check-in procedures, airlines must check documents proving a RT-PCR negative test for SARS-CoV-2 as granted by the authorised agencies in host countries (it must is confirmed by the Vietnamese Diplomatic Missions in host countries). The test results must have been issued within three days of flying.

People who want to enter the country must wear a mask on the aircraft; install the mobile applications "Vietnam Health Declaration" and "Bluezone", have temperature checks, and medical declarations.

The air carriers have to send lists of passengers to the aviation authority 12 hours before the flight and confirmed lists of passengers 30 minutes before flight departures.

For the carriage of passengers connecting from a third country, Vietnams CAA has developed three options. Specifically, the first option is not to accept passengers who transit from third countries to Vietnam.

The second option is accepting passengers who transit from third countries to Vietnam. The airline will comply with check-in requests at the first departure point of the itinerary; Guests are required to be placed in quarantine for 14 days and no short-entry process is applicable to the guests.

The third option is accepting passengers who transit from third countries to Vietnam, the airline will fulfill the requirements during check-in at the first departure point of the itinerary. All passengers on the flight are not applicable to the short-term entry process.

In Addition, some other contents were also reported by the CAA to the Ministry of Transport such as: proposing the Prime Minister agree to adjust the flight route between Vientiane and Hanoi and between Phnom Penh and Ho Chi Minh City; or proposing to the People's Committees of provinces and cities to announce isolated accommodation facilities, package rates of accommodation and testing for guests to choose, publish a list of transport enterprises that are eligible to transport passengers from the airport to the accommodation facility and the cost of payments.
For Deirdre Mc Gettrick comparing furniture items and prices for her home was a frustrating experience but one that eventually gave birth to an idea for a business.

She says that hunting for furniture for her home felt like a chore after long days at work, which often resulted in her creating spreadsheets, littered with URL links, lists and screenshots.

But from this frustration a business idea came for what she and her business partner and husband, Ray Wright, refer to as a revolutionary furniture search engine.

Furniture finding frustrations have led to Deirdre Mc Gettrick and Ray Wright starting their own furniture comparison website that they hope will be as big as Gocompare

In what she hopes will be a good sign for their start-up, Deirdre's not alone in feeling like this. A survey conducted by her newly-launched business, ufurnish.com, showed that 74 per cent of people found furniture shopping frustrating.

The germ of an idea eventually resulted in the couple quitting their corporate London jobs to develop Ufurnish and seek financial backing for their start-up.

Prior to starting Ufurnish, Ray was global partnership programme director at a business-to-business lead generating firm, Lead Forensics.

Deirdre, meanwhile, comes from a background of investment banking and law where she has worked on major acquisition financing deals for multinational corporations.

In spite of their finance and business expertise, the couple still took part in the London & Partners Growth Programme, which runs in conjunction with the London Mayors Office, which helps businesses with their growth journey. Former alumni include Revolut, Monzo and Farfetch.

It has taken the couple a year of working with both large and small retailers to create the Ufurnish platform.

Ray explains: We didnt want to launch without a substantial range covering all aspects of the home. Its all about providing people with maximum choice and ability to find the right product with ease and enjoyment.

Ufurnish has small and large retailers featured on its website, including The French Bedroom company

The furniture search engine has been launched at a time where the UK homewares market is estimated to be worth around 13.5billion per year according to Globaldata.

Investors appear attracted to the potential in this sector. So far, Ufurnish has raised 1.8million of investment funding from a number of angel investors.

If you need six months before you become profitable maybe double this to deal with any unexpected consequences. Deirdre Mc Gettrick, co-founder of Ufurnish Deirdre Mc Gettrick, co-founder of Ufurnish

This includes prominent businessmen such as Michael Holland and Craig Wilson, former founders of Financial Express, Anthony Ward, founder of Armajaro Holdings, and Pat Mc Cann, founder and CEO of Dalata Hotel Group.

Deirdre says: To begin with we self-funded and used our own money. I had worked in investment banking and had some savings.

However, once we had a demo product developing the rest was beyond the reach of my pockets, so we then went out to investors and raised 1.8m in seed funding.

Deirdre says that having worked in investment banking she wasnt too unfamiliar with the process of finding investors, but adds that angel investors and start-ups are a somewhat different world.

She says: I was raising 250million for companies so I met lots of investors but they are all institutional investors. However, they arent putting risk on their own money, but these people are digging into their back pocket.'

Ufurnish has also struck deals with major retailers like Dunelm. Customers can compare a wide variety of furniture such as chairs, sofas, lighting and other home accessories.

Angel investors know all the bullsh*t as well so you cant pull the wool over their eyes.

For anyone keen on getting an angel investor on board she advises: Ask yourself what you would you want to know if youre using your own money to invest in a business.

Remember that for some its not their space  look for people whove had success in business models similar to yours as they understand their business model and you wont have to explain as much.

The co-founders know that there's still a lot of work ahead of them, but they have key angel investors on their side and have so far got 1.8m in funding

Ufurnish is not in the business of making its own furniture to sell on to customers and Deirdre says there are no future plans to do so.

The business makes its money through its pay per click options and the commission it obtains through every successful sale driven through its website. They also have a second income stream which they get from working with furniture retailers on their marketing.

At the time of writing the company has 120 deals in place with furniture retailers with varying commission structures.

Some businesses have been known in the past to promote businesses higher up the rankings that award their companies the highest commission, but Deirdre insists that Ufurnish remains unbiased.

She insists: Were try to bring unbiased search results. We create a level playing field thats unbiased by any commission.

Deirdres top business tips and mantras When asked about how to survive in the world of business and succeed as a startup, Deirdre offered these four tips: Deirdre Mc Gettrick, co founder of Ufurnish says it's important not to surround yourself with 'yes men'. Learn to delegate: You cant do it all by yourself as youd wear yourself out. Hire good people and trust them. There are no short cuts: It doesnt matter how successful your advisor and investors are you have to do all the hard work yourself. Network and listen: Speak to as many people as you can about your idea with different ideas and viewpoints and listen. Look at those who disagree with you and listen to them. Dont always surround yourself with people that say yes. Critique is highly valuable. Too often people want to protect your feelings. Thats one thing weve tried hard with in the business  we want to give our team the power to offer open feedback. Ensure you have enough of a runway: If you need six months before you become profitable maybe double this to deal with any unexpected consequences. I've met founders who have run out of money and have just two months of a runway left. They've had to approach investors again and it's never a great discussion to have.

The team has expanded from just Ray and Deirdre to a force of 13 staff members. The latest coup includes the hire of a former DFS chief marketing and commercial officer Toni Wood who has taken on the role of chief marketing officer for Ufurnish.

Everyone works remotely but Deirdre says the team keep up morale with quizzes and online networking events, so people can get to know each other as the business expands.

Ray and Deirdre still have much to do and claim the hard work is only just beginning. Profits of the business have not yet been disclosed, but Deirdre points out that it's still early days for after it officially launched its platform in July this year.

Like most start-ups costs still outweigh the revenue being generated but Deirdre adds: 'We're on a route to profitability.'

Over the long term they want to expand both their retail partnerships and consumer user base.

While the focus is to still expand locally, they have big ambitions.

Deirdre explains: We do want to be big. We want to be the Skyscanner or Gocompare of the furniture world.

While the likes of Skyscanner are probably finding business difficult thanks to Covid  the same cant be said for the retail sector as consumers go through lengths to improve their homes now that they spend more time in them.

Deirdre says: Everyone buys furniture of some stage and many people like this idea  regardless of your requirements we should be able to help.
High Representative of EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell has met with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv.

"I am glad to meet President Zelensky. The EU stands by Ukraine, its sovereignty and its people. We are the strongest and most reliable partner of Ukraine, in support of an effective reform process for the benefit of all Ukrainians," Borrell wrote on Twitter on September 22.

Earlier, Borrell met with Ukrainian Defense Minister Andrii Taran to discuss security and defense cooperation between Ukraine and the EU.

In addition, Borrell and members of the European Union delegation took part in a daily ceremony honouring the fallen Ukrainian defenders at the Memorial Complex of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.

The foreign guests and Defense Minister Andrii Taran honoured the memory of the fallen Ukrainian defenders and laid flowers at the Memorial Stele.

As reported, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy - Vice President of the European Commission Josep Borrell makes an official visit to Ukraine on September 22. Borrell is expected to meet with the country's top political leadership, OSCE representatives and civil society members.

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Thai protesters vow to fight after 'people's plaque' removed
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Federal prosecutors are trying to block construction in protected areas, including a seven-story tower underway in Alter Do Chao.



By MAURICIO SAVARESE

Associated Press

ALTER DO CHAO, Brazil  Brazil's Alter do Chao, a sleepy village that blends rainforest and beaches, bet on tourism and scored big. Visitors flocked here to eat Amazonian river fish while gazing out over the water, and to take day trips offering the chance to meet Indigenous people and see pink dolphins.

But this once pristine place is discovering that the perils of becoming a can't-miss destination extend beyond hordes of weekend warriors sapping its unspoiled charm. Problems rife throughout the Amazon region  land grabbing, illegal deforestation and unsanctioned construction  are plaguing this ecotourism hot spot.





. . .
NEW HAVEN  The Board of Alders this week passed an ordinance that will require training for members of the citys Board of Police Commissioners.

The board has also unanimously adopted an ordinance that mandates that new members of the civilian Board of Police Commissioners be trained within six months of being appointed.

Among other things, the members would have to participate in a ride-along with an officer; be familiar with the bylaws and general orders of the commission as well as state statutes authorizing the commission and the Civilian Review Board.

The ordinance that gives the CRB subpoena power to investigate civilian complaints was adopted in January 2019 after decades of attempts to put one in place and then strengthen it.

The police commissioners also would need to review the mandates of the state Freedom of Information Act, understand the organizational structure of the department and be familiar with the bargaining agreement, as well as de-escalation methods and the use of force by police.

The (Legislative) Committee heard the importance of the police commissioners having adequate training to ensure they had the skills and knowledge to perform their duties, Alder Charles Decker, D-9, said.

Our city and our nation are in the midst of an overarching urgent discussion about policing, Decker said.

Our police commission is an all-civilian body that provides oversight. This is its great power. .. training for our oversight bodies is an important part of this larger body of work that we must undertake, he said.
MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Merchology is excited to announce their second consecutive appearance on Newsweek's Top Online Shops list for 2021. Merchology is a Minneapolis, MN B2B e-commerce company that specializes in customizable merchandise and high quality corporate gifts. Their easy to use product search, mockup tools and accessible customer service are just a few aspects that make the site an exceptional place to shop.

Merchology was ranked in the Multi-Brand Fashion category, landing among other retail powerhouses. Merchology offers a wide array of products , from drinkware to apparel. Popular brand offerings include Patagonia, Under Armour, YETI and Carhartt. Customers are allowed to effortlessly browse over 275 brands, and can then add their custom logo to nearly any product, choosing between multiple logo decoration methods. Merchology offers endless options to promote your brand. In 2019, Merchology also launched its own sustainability brand, Zusa, which provides eco-friendly, logo-friendly apparel and accessories options.

Ally Delgado, Merchology's CMO and Co-Founder, commented on the award. "Our goal is to be the premier online destination in our industry of corporate-branded gifts and apparel. People are busier than ever at work right now, trying to do more with less. In this day and age, we have to make it EASY and FAST to place an order for custom merchandise for your company, and a well-designed, clean, and functional website will facilitate that. We have invested significantly in our website in response to customer feedback; in fact, we have overhauled our website twice since launching our company just six years ago! We're grateful to Newsweek for this recognition. It's an honor to be on a list with other best-in-class ecommerce companies."

Newsweek states that online shopping has increased by nearly 75% in 2020. Despite the huge boost in popularity, online shoppers are still critiquing a site on the same qualities; responsive customer service, comparable prices, accessible reviews and seamless design. These characteristics are boldly visible on Merchology's customer-friendly site.

By continually adding new brands, highlighting customer case studies and elevating product selection (such as their newly launched MerchBox service), Merchology is maintaining their innovative status. MerchBox allows customers to build a completely customized gift box, and have the gift shipped directly to the recipient's doorstep. With the addition of new features and interactive opportunities, Merchology hopes to continue to improve the user experience of their site and maintain their Top Online Shop reputation.

SOURCE Merchology

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Linkedin Jason Isaacson (The Jakarta Post) New York, United States  Tue, September 22, 2020 15:09 487 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c466a4af 3 Opinion Israel-UAE,bahrain Free

In 1995, a young Bahraini diplomat recently returned home from his first posting in Washington was assigned to accompany a small delegation of American Jews whod secured an invitation to visit his island nation.

The itinerary he assembled included meetings with the long-serving minister of foreign affairs, the minister of labor, and the minister of oil and gas. The delegation visited the Bahrain National Museum, had lunch with a diverse and curious group of businessmen, and met with the United States ambassador.

The young diplomat assured that the delegation was greeted with respect and openness at every stop on a two-day visit. It was almost four years after the Madrid Peace Conference, two years after the Oslo Accord, a year after the Jordan-Israel treaty. Peace seemed just over the horizon. No question was out of bounds.

I was privileged to have organized and to accompany that first American Jewish Committee (AJC) visit to Bahrain  in fact, the first visit by any Jewish advocacy group. I remember asking many questions about Bahraini aspirations, regional coordination with the US, Iranian ambitions in the Gulf, fallout from the (first) Gulf War, and Bahrains role in the Multilateral Working Group on the Environment, a Madrid conference spinoff.

But the question we raised again and again, a question the young Bahraini diplomat knew was our dominant concern  but could never be fully answered  was this: When and how can Bahrain and Israel, two small states in troubled neighborhoods, realize the promise of peace?

We left Manama, hopeful but uncertain, committed to returning annually. In time, the young Bahraini diplomat was promoted, and promoted again. In 2005, King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa appointed the then-45-year-old diplomat, Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, minister of foreign affairs. From that moment, through the nearly 15 years he served as Bahrains chief diplomat until becoming the kings diplomatic advisor early this year, he never lost his interest in, nor his commitment to, expanding the circle of Arab-Israeli peace.

The Sept. 11 announcement by President Donald Trump that Bahrain and Israel would establish full diplomatic relations, following on the heels of the Aug. 13 breakthrough between the United Arab Emirates and Israel, was the product of many factors  strategic, political, and economic  and of many players: a determined US administration, tireless and resourceful Israeli diplomats and other officials, and far-sighted and pragmatic Bahraini leaders. AJC bridge-building over a quarter-century played a supporting role.

But the constant beacon of encouragement and inspiration throughout the long years of striving for a new Middle East paradigm was Sheikh Khalid. He told a pan-Arab newspaper 11 years ago that Israel should be included  along with Iran and Turkey  in a new Arab forum as a way to solve regional problems. He took to Twitter on multiple occasions to defend Israels right to defend itself from terrorist attacks. He proudly posted press releases and pictures of his meetings with AJC delegations, knowing he would have to explain those encounters to critics wary of any overture to Israel and its supporters.

Sheikh Khalid is by no means Bahrains or the Arab worlds only brave visionary. He reflects the grounded views of King Hamad and Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa. His approach will be carried forward by his respected successor, Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al Zayani.

In the UAE, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan of Abu Dhabi and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan have steered a creative and practical course in partnership with the US. UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr. Anwar Gargash, who addressed AJCs Global Forum in June, laid out potential areas of cooperation with Israel.

The late Sultan of Oman, Qaboos bin Said, welcomed Prime Minister Netanyahu to Muscat almost two years ago, and the then-foreign minister, Yusuf bin Alawi, spoke openly of Israels place in the region.

What these and other leaders have grasped, and have been bold to not only say but to pursue as policy objectives, is that their people and the cause of regional peace, stability, and prosperity will benefit from a forthright, above-the-table relationship with Israel  standing together against extremism and Iranian aggression and seizing together the rich rewards of cooperation.

What they also have grasped is that a fair, secure, negotiated two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will never be reached in a climate of fear and mistrust, nor can it be achieved by not talking to Israel, or by pretending Israel doesnt exist.

Normalization of relations between two Gulf states and Israel will begin replacing fear with partnership, mistrust with understanding. It will lay the foundation for enduring peace between the Jewish state and all its Arab neighbors  a dream that a visionary young Bahraini diplomat shared with his American Jewish visitors a quarter-century ago.

---

Chief policy and political affairs officer of the American Jewish Committee. The article first appeared in The Times of Israel.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post.
In the statement, he outlined four lines of action the EU agreed to pursue, which include sanctions against some 40 people and entities, facilitating a national dialogue, and financial support of the Belarusian people  53 million euros the European Commission is mobilizing to cover legal assistance, medical support and other emergency assistance to those most in need, as well as support for civil society and independent media.
Independent MP for Sydney Alex Greenwich has scrupulously avoided taking sides in the dog fight over strata bylaws banning pets in apartment buildings.

Not surprising, given many of his supporters are pet lovers, while the apartment complex at the epicentre of the fuss has donated to his campaign.

But CBD has learnt Greenwich has made an unwitting contribution to a fighting fund determined to stop NSW Parliament prohibiting strata by-laws banning pets.

NSW MP Alex Greenwich. Credit:Kate Geraghty

The fight, which has divided the Horizon apartment complex for years, heads to the Supreme Court and possibly Parliament this week. On Wednesday, Horizon resident Jo Cooper is due for her day at the NSW Court of Appeal in her bid to overturn the ban on pets at that complex.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 22)  Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Tuesday said he would talk to members of the European Union regarding issues raised in a controversial resolution approved by the bloc's parliament, backtracking on his earlier statement that he would consult President Rodrigo Duterte on a proposal to declare EU officials as persona non grata.

When asked when he would meet with Duterte on the matter, Locsin tweeted, "Nope, I will engage with the EU, the stable and responsible ones; there are quite a few of those. I don't go for petulance."

He did not reply when asked to name these EU officials.

During a House budget hearing on Monday, Locsin said he would talk to Duterte about the proposal of Laguna Rep. Danilo Fernandez to declare EU officials  specifically Hannah Neumann, a lawmaker from Germany  as persona non grata to protest the allegations made by EU parliamentarians.

Neumann accused Duterte of "encouraging his own services to kill tens of thousands of people" in his campaign against illegal drugs. On September 17, she also called for the immediate cancellation of the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) privileges granted by the 27-nation bloc to the Philippines. The EU Parliament adopted a resolution calling for immediate trade sanctions against the Philippines over what it described as a "rapidly deteriorating human rights" situation under the Duterte administration.

READ: Duterte admin unfazed by EU parliament push for trade sanctions vs. PH

Locsin warned that declaring foreign officials persona non grata could hurt some sectors in the country and exclude the Philippines from the debate on the human rights situation in the Philippines. Instead, Locsin said that he preferred to go on the world stage to refute the claims of EU lawmakers on alleged extrajudicial killings and the death of press freedom in the country.

"What I don't want is for them to exclude us on the debate on the human rights situation in the Philippines, I don't have to declare them anything. I'm not afraid of them. I can answer them," Locsin stressed.

Locsin admitted the country would suffer in terms of trade and jobs if the European Commission revoked the zero-tariff perk on Philippine products entering the European market that has been in place since 2014. However, he expressed confidence that the country's ambassadors in Europe could defend the Duterte administration, saying the trade benefits are based on bilateral relations.

This was earlier noted as well by Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, who said Philippine representatives were effectively debunking the allegations.

"So far, we are able to explain objectively the Philippines side on issues that are raised and we don't see any reason why our GSP+ privilege will be withdrawn," Lopez said on September 18.

READ: VP Robredo says 200,000 jobs at stake if EU pushes trade sanctions vs PH over human rights issues

The GSP+ program allows some 6,000 products from the Philippines to enter the 27 EU nations with zero tariff. These include coconut and marine products, processed fruit, prepared food, animal and vegetable fats and oils, textiles, garments, headwear, footwear, furniture, umbrellas, and chemicals.

The duty-free tariff rate allows Philippines exports to better compete in the European market, a boon to the country's small and medium enterprises. To be accepted in the special incentive trade arrangement, countries must implement international conventions on human rights, among others. Suspension of the GSP+ status would mean higher prices of Philippine exports to the European market.

The EU resolution  where 626 voted in favor, 7 against, and 52 abstained  reminded Philippine authorities of their obligations under the GSP+ scheme, particularly "with regard to human rights and of the consequences of failure to comply with those obligations."
New Delhi: Apple is all set to launch its first exclusive online store in India on September 23 just ahead of the festive season, offering a full range of products, support and premium experience to consumers across the country.

For logistics support, Apple has partnered with Blue Dart to be its on-ground fulfillment partner. The Apple India store, the 38th online store worldwide, would have specialists to lend expert advice and support to the Indian customers.

Apple has been operating in India for more than 20 years, and the company's ongoing investment and innovation support almost 900,000 jobs across the country. Apple currently has over 500 physical retail stores worldwide, with the world's first floating retail store at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore.

Apple has listed 8 advantages that consumers will have while shopping from Apple online in India.

- Apple will offer you Shopping Assistance sot that all your shopping questions are answered by Apple Specialists. From help choosing which product is right for you, to payments and delivery, you have a one stop solution.

- Apple promises a Free and Safer Delivery. All orders will ship with no-contact delivery.

- You can pay with credit and debit card, credit card EMI, RuPay, UPI, net banking and credit card on delivery. And if youre buying a device for university, you may be eligible for additional savings too, Apple says.

- You can exchange any eligible smartphone for credit towards a new iPhone. Just answer a few questions and Apple will provide a trade-in value to lower the price of a new iPhone.

- When you buy online at Apple, you can customise your Mac the way you want. Whether you need more memory, additional storage or an extra-powerful graphics card, you can now tailor-make any new Mac to suit your needs, the company said.

- You can receive a free 1:1 online session with an Apple Specialist when you purchase certain products online from Apple. Apple will help you discover the amazing things your new device can do, from the basics to top tips on a choice of topics.

- AppleCare+ extends your warranty with up to 2 years of technical support and accidental damage cover. And because Apple makes the hardware, the operating systems and many applications, the Apple experts understand just how everything works together, which means they can help resolve most issues in a single conversation, the company said.

- Get support with hardware or software issues from an Apple expert, in whatever way is most convenient for you. From setting up your device to recovering your Apple ID or replacing a screen, were here to help, Apple added.
(Newser)  Just short of two weeks ago, celebrations were in order after Tony Higgins and Derek Robinson were found drifting at sea, more than 60 miles from their destination off the coast of South Australia. That celebration was short-lived: Aussie officials say Higgins has vanished again. Per Vice.com and the Victor Harbor Times, the fisherman made an emergency call around 5am local time Tuesday saying his boat, the Margrel, had broken away from its moorings near Granite Island and that he was up to his knees in water. The causeway to Granite Island was closed the day before due to winds of more than 60mph. "When I got down here, nobody could see the boat," local freelance journalist Gary Juleff tells the ABC. "The police went out on the causeway. Nobody could see him. They tried to phone him backno answer. So the answer to this question is 'nobody knows.'" Searchers went out by sea and helicopter, and debris was spotted a few miles from the head of the Murray Mouth. It's not clear if the debris is from the Margrel.

story continues below

After he was rescued the first time around, Higgins was hit with a fine of about $725 for having expired flares and an outdated beacon on his boat. He also wasn't properly licensed to drive it. Per the Telegraph, before this second vanishing, the 57-year-old Higgins had also run his boat aground in Victor Harbor over the weekend; he was able to get back out to sea when the tide came in. He was said to be angry about all of the attention his case has received, per ABC Australia. Grant Stevens, the police commissioner for South Australia, tells the Harbor Times that the first rescue operation for Higgins and Robinsonthe largest maritime search in SA's historyhad cost nearly $500,000 before they were found Sept. 10, after a five-day search. "There is an element of frustration that the state's resources are being dedicated to this for the second time," Stevens says. (Read more fishermen stories.)
- Herman Manyora cautioned politicians against supporting the calls for the dissolution of Parliament because Tanga Tanga MPs may be the losers

- Manyora said a limping IEBC could work in favour of President Uhuru

- The analysts said many Ruto-allied lawmakers especially from Mt Kenya, Ukambani and Western regions will not make it to the House again

Political analyst Herman Manyora has opined Tanga Tanga MPs will be the biggest losers if Parliament is dissolved.

Manyora claimed most William Ruto allies could lose their parliamentary seats especially in Mt Kenya, Western or Ukambani regions.

READ ALSO: Schools could reopen between October 4th and 19th, 50% of students to return first

Herman Manyora said many Tanga Tanga MPs will not make it again if Parliament is dissolved. Photo: Herman Manyora.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Chris Kirubi shows off his massive house, lake and expensive car collection

Taking to his Twitter, the analyst cautioned leaders should be careful about what they wish for because President Uhuru Kenyatta might benefit in the calls for the dissolution of both the Senate and the National Assembly.

"To those pushing the president to dissolve Parliament, I have this for them: Be careful what you ask for. The president might benefit; with a limping IEBC, many Tangatanga MPs could lose their seats. Especially in Mt. Kenya ,Western and Ukambani," he said.

READ ALSO: Musalia Mudavadi celebrates 60th birthday with intimate party surrounded by wife and kids

This came a day after Chief Justice David Maraga asked Uhuru to dissolve Parliament over failure to enact the two-thirds gender rule.

Maraga said the National Assembly and the Senate had failed to enact legislation required to implement the gender rule for nine years.

The president of the Supreme Court said the dissolution of Parliament under Article 261(7) needed to be enforced to compel the political elite to fully adhere to the 2010 Constitution.

READ ALSO: Opinion: Maragas bombshell over gender rule makes Constitution referendum a no-brainer

CJ Maraga asked Uhuru to dissolve Parliament over failure to enact two-thirds gender rule. Photo: Daily Nation.

Source: Facebook

His statement caused quite the stir on social media with some supporting it and others protesting Maraga's call.

Speaker Justin Muturi said Parliament would be moving to court to challenge Maraga's advisory to dissolve the House.

Muturi argued the advisory, if allowed, would plunge the country into a constitutional crisis as it was delivered without the CJ "exercising the wisdom and circumspection expected of the high office that he holds,".

READ ALSO: Ghanian musician deported from UK after falling out with 68-year-old white sugar mummy

The last time the controversial gender bill was tabled in the National Assembly for debate was in February 2018 but it collapsed after the House lacked the quorum, just like in the previous proceedings.

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Regulatory News:

TechnipFMC (NYSE:FTI) (PARIS:FTI) (ISIN:GB00BDSFG982) announced today that Catherine MacGregor, President Technip Energies, will address attendees on Thursday, September 24, at 1:30 p.m. BST at the following event:

Bernstein 17th Annual Pan European Strategic Decisions Conference

September 23 24, 2020

Location: Virtual Conference

The access to the live webcast and accompanying presentation slides will be made available at the time of the event and can be accessed on the Investor Relations website. An audio replay of the webcast for the presentation will be available on this same website for 180 days.

About TechnipFMC

TechnipFMC is a global leader in the energy industry; delivering projects, products, technologies and services. With our proprietary technologies and production systems, integrated expertise, and comprehensive solutions, we are transforming our customers' project economics.

Organized in three business segments Subsea, Surface Technologies and Technip Energies we are uniquely positioned to deliver greater efficiency across project lifecycles from concept to project delivery and beyond. Through innovative technologies and improved efficiencies, our offering unlocks new possibilities for our customers in developing their energy resources and in their positioning to meet the energy transition challenge.

Each of our approximately 37,000 employees is driven by a steady commitment to clients and a culture of project execution, purposeful innovation, challenging industry conventions, and rethinking how the best results are achieved.

TechnipFMC utilizes its website www.TechnipFMC.com as a channel of distribution of material company information. To learn more about us and how we are enhancing the performance of the world's energy industry, go to www.TechnipFMC.com and follow us on Twitter @TechnipFMC.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200922006040/en/

Contacts:

Investor relations

Matt Seinsheimer

Vice President Investor Relations

+1 281 260 3665

Matt Seinsheimer

Phillip Lindsay

Director Investor Relations (Europe)

+44 (0) 20 3429 3929

Phillip Lindsay

Media relations

Christophe Belorgeot

SVP Corporate Engagement

+33 1 47 78 39 92

Christophe Belorgeot

Brooke Robertson

Public Relations Director

+1 281 591 4108

Brooke Robertson
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 15:18:02|Editor: huaxia

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ISTANBUL, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Turkish police on Tuesday continued operations to pursue the suspected members of the Islamic State (IS) militant group in the country.

Counter-terrorism units detained at least five suspects in the southern province of Adana who were believed to take part in the conflicts in Syria and conduct illegal activities on behalf of the group, the state-run Anadolu agency reported.

Operations were launched simultaneously with the backup of the special operation teams in five different addresses in Adana city, administrative seat of Adana Province, according to Anadolu.

Police are continuing to capture one more suspect who is at large, it said.

On Monday, 14 Iraqi nationals were detained in operations in the northern province of Samsun for their alleged links to the IS group. Enditem
Victorian government officials were hesitant about hiring private security personnel to man the hotel quarantine program because they thought it was an industry run by 'cowboys'.

They were also concerned about 'rogue' guards potentially 'prowling the corridors' of hotels, WhatsApp messages shown at an inquiry into the bungled program reveal.

In spite of their concerns, private security firms did land the contracts, and up to 99 per cent of coronavirus cases in Victoria's second wave can now be traced back to returned travellers.

The virus escaped several hotels after security guards unknowingly contracted the virus and spread it throughout their communities.

Victorian government officials were hesitant about hiring private security personnel to man the hotel quarantine program because they thought it was an industry run by 'cowboys'

They were also concerned about 'rogue' guards potentially 'prowling the corridors' of hotels, WhatsApp messages shown at an inquiry into the bungled program reveal

On Tuesday, the inquiry was shown several text messages between Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions staff on the evening of March 27.

'Gotta be careful with a lot of security companies. Heaps of cash work,' one bureaucrat warned.

'Cowboy industry,' another said.

'Needs to be reputable. Don't want (redacted) rogue (redacted) prowling the corridors,' another replied.

The inquiry is partially trying to decipher who made the final decision to hire private firms instead of utilising the services of the Australian Defence Force.

The inquiry is working through evidence to establish if and how the quarantine program failed Victorians.

Premier Daniel Andrews has been slammed for his handling of the coronavirus crisis

The inquiry is working through evidence to establish if and how the quarantine program failed Victorians

Jobs department secretary Simon Phemister told the inquiry his department was tasked with hiring security companies following a meeting at the state control centre on March 27.

Mr Phemister wasn't present at the meeting but knew it was attended by high-ranking Victoria Police officers as well as Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp.

'I don't know who made the decision,' Mr Phemister told the inquiry on Tuesday.

'All I know is that we were commissioned to procure private security in that 4.30pm meeting.'

According to recordings of the meeting, Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Mick Grainger told Mr Crisp it was the force's preference that private security be the 'first line of security'.

Victoria Police have since argued they were expressing a preference, not a direction.

The virus escaped several hotels after security guards unknowingly contracted the virus and spread it throughout their communities

Returned travellers arriving back at the Crown Promenade Hotel in Melbourne

Mr Phemister said his department was looking for companies with a track record of working with the government plus the ability to 'scale up' as more travellers returned home.

It was also considered 'valuable' if a security company had its own personal protective equipment supplies due to a shortage in Victoria at the time.

'The final point... we needed them to be good, model employers,' he said.

'Now more than ever, given the economic climate, we needed people who had a track record of being good to their teams and employing people on a correct and fair basis.'

There are several more officials required to give evidence to the inquiry, which is now in its final week of public hearings.

Department of Health and Human Services secretary Kym Peake sppeared on Tuesday, while Jobs Minister Martin Pakula and Emergency Services Minister Lisa Neville are both due to give evidence on Wednesday.

Health Minister Jenny Mikakos and Premier Daniel Andrews have been pushed back to Thursday and Friday respectively due to scheduling issues.

'When I'll appear before the inquiry I'll answer the questions as honestly, frankly, clearly, directly as possible,' the premier told reporters at his daily news conference on Tuesday.

The inquiry continues.
Cash position of 45.3 million at June 30, 2020, covering the next major stages of its project

Despite the COVID-19 crisis, CARMAT still on track to meet key deadlines: CE marking expected by the end of 2020, allowing a commercial launch in 2021 Implants within the framework of the feasibility study in the United States expected to begin by the end of 2020

Videoconference with Stephane Piat at 6.30 pm Paris time today

Regulatory News:

CARMAT Reports Its 2020 Half-year Results and Issues an Update on Its Activities and Outlook

CARMAT (FR0010907956, ALCAR) (Paris:ALCAR), the designer and developer of the world's most advanced total artificial heart, aiming to provide a therapeutic alternative for people suffering from end-stage biventricular heart failure, today reports its results for the first half of the year to June 30, 20201 and issues an update on its activities and development prospects.

Stephane Piat, Chief Executive Officer of CARMAT, said: "The first half of 2020 was unusual because of the COVID-19 pandemic that affected healthcare systems around the world. For CARMAT, the impact was insofar limited as our activities in France continued with limited hindrances and in strict compliance with the health and safety measures imposed by the authorities. During the first half of the year, we continued our work to ramp up production and enhance the reliability of production processes at our Bois-d'Arcy plant, with a particular emphasis on securing supplies with a view to the commercial phase. On a clinical level, with the gradual easing of restrictions in Europe from mid-May 2020, Rigshopitalet in Denmark was able to perform its first implantation of our device, thus taking the total number of patients in the PIVOTAL study to 13. Given the persistence of the COVID-19 situation and the resulting procurement problems encountered by certain suppliers, CARMAT is now expecting to complete enrollment in the PIVOTAL study by the end of the first quarter of 2021. This delay does not jeopardize the timeframe of the submission and review of the CE marking dossier making it possible for this CE marking to be granted by the end of 2020. We are also continuing to hold discussions with the FDA and various stakeholders in the U.S. feasibility study to enable patient enrollment to begin before the end of 2020 as planned, subject to the public health emergency improving. The "Forfait Innovation" dossier was definitively approved by the French National Authority for Health (HAS) in April, budgetary discussions initiated with the Ministry of Health and Solidarity have entered their final phase and official notification of the decision should be published in the coming weeks. Today, given what we have achieved in recent months and despite the ongoing pandemic context, we are confirming our development strategy and, with a cash position of 45.3 million, have the necessary resources to meet our project's key milestones

2020 half-year results

Simplified income statement ( millions) 30/06/2020 (6 months) 30/06/2019 (6 months) Net sales 0.0 0.0 Other operating income 0.3 0.7 Operating expenses -20.9 -24.4 Operating profit/loss -20.6 -23.7 Financial profit/loss -1.0 -0.8 Non-recurring items 0.0 0.0 Research tax credit +0.8 +0.5 Net profit/loss -20.8 -24.0

As its total artificial heart project is still in clinical development, CARMAT generated no sales in the first half of 2020.

Over the first half of 2020, operating expenses totaled 20.9 million and were mainly allocated to:

production activities: ramping up of production and further work to enhance the reliability of production processes at the Bois-d'Arcy plant; continuation and intensification of actions to secure supplies, including the set-up of "double-sourcing" for key suppliers;

- the finalization of the product's commercial configuration, including improvements identified during the research and clinical development phases;

- preparation for commercialization in Europe from a regulatory (CE marking process), marketing and commercial perspective, but also from an operational perspective (logistics, IT systems, sales administration, etc.);

- the pursuance of clinical activities: ongoing PIVOTAL study in Europe, but also preparation for the launch of the Early Feasibility Study (EFS) in the United States.

These expenses were down by 14% compared with the first half of 2019. This decrease was firstly because a large part of R&D activities within the framework of the CE marking process and approval to initiate the EFS in the United States were carried out in 2019, and secondly because there was a slight slowdown in spending in the first half of 2020, notably as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.

The first half of 2020 thus saw a net loss of 20.8 million, versus a loss of 24.0 million at June 30, 2019, once a financial loss of -1.0 million and Research Tax Credit of +0.8 million are taken into account.

Financial structure at June 30, 2020

The Company had a cash position of 45.3 million at June 30, 2020, versus 55.5 million at December 31, 2019. The 10.2 million decrease compared to end-2019 was a result of the following cash flows:

( millions) 30/06/2020 (6 months) Cash flow from operating activities -19.8 Cash flow from investment activities -0.4 Cash flow from financing activities +10.0 Change in cash position -10.2

In May 2020, the Company drew down the second tranche of 10 million of the conditional loan granted in December 2018 by the EIB (European Investment Bank); the Company has the flexibility to draw down the final tranche of 10 million at any time until December 17, 2021.

The Company also has access to a 21.9 million contingent equity line with Kepler-Cheuvreux that may be used until September 27, 2021, although the Company does not intend to make use of this line.

These financial resources should allow CARMAT to successfully take its project through to CE marking and its commercial launch, whilst continuing its clinical development.

H1 2020 highlights and recent developments

Clinical development and European market access

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in difficult (or even impossible, as in Kazakhstan) access to hospitals and a suboptimal organization of implant procedures. Within this context, only one implant could be carried out in Denmark during the first half of 2020, taking the total number of implants performed within the framework of the PIVOTAL study to 13 (10 in the first cohort, now closed, and 3 in the ongoing second cohort).

The context of the pandemic that is still present today has also led to sourcing problems with certain suppliers of components, and CARMAT is now expecting to complete enrollment (20 patients in total) by the end of the first quarter of 2021. In this respect, over the summer, the Company submitted authorization requests aiming to expand the PIVOTAL study to four new centers in France.

Regarding the market access procedure, CARMAT has agreed, with the DEKRA notified body, to a detailed schedule for the filing and review of its dossier that would make it possible to obtain CE marking by the end of 2020 despite the delay resulting from the COVID-19 situation.

To date, the prosthesis has achieved, within the framework of the PIVOTAL study, almost 8 years of cumulative continuous support considering all patients who have benefited from the prosthesis.

Over the summer, CARMAT also announced the publication of the successful bridge-to-transplant experience performed during the PIVOTAL study on patients in the first cohort in the Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation, the most recognized peer-reviewed journal in the field of transplantation.

US market access

In February 2020, CARMAT received full approval from the FDA (Food Drug Administration) to undertake a clinical feasibility study in the United States on 10 patients eligible for a transplant.

Following this approval, in May, the Centers for Medicare Medicaid Services (CMS) approved coverage of the CARMAT device and routine care items and services supplied to patients within the framework of this study.

The various steps (ethics committee approval, execution of contracts with the centers participating in the study, training of personnel, logistics, etc.) necessary to initiate the study made good progress over the first half of the year. Subject to the evolution of the COVID-19 crisis, and notably of travel restrictions in the United States and the ability to get access to participating hospitals, the first implant within the framework of the EFS should take place before the end of 2020, as expected.

Forfait Innovation in France

In April 2020, the French National Authority for Health (HAS) confirmed its positive opinion regarding the financing by special exemption of the CARMAT total artificial heart within the framework of the EFICAS study, a prospective, multicenter, non-randomized study to be undertaken on 52 patients in France. This study has already received approval from the French National Agency for Medicine and Health Product Safety (ANSM) and the Ile-de-France Patient Protection Committee (CPP).

Following these validations, budget discussions were initiated with the Ministry of Health and Solidarity and continued until August because of the COVID-19 context. The Ministry's decision is expected in the coming weeks.

Strategy and outlook

Factoring the estimated impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the areas of development detailed above, CARMAT intends to focus its resources on the following strategic priorities:

obtain CE marking by the end of 2020;

initiate implants within the framework of the EFS in the United States by the end of 2020;

complete the enrollment of the PIVOTAL study's second patient cohort by the end of the first quarter of 2021;

reach a budget agreement with the Ministry of Health regarding the EFICAS study in France in the coming weeks, with implants beginning by the second quarter of 2021;

ramp up production, along with the continuous improvement of processes; and secure supplies with a view to the commercial launch expected in 2021.

CARMAT is continuing to closely monitor the COVID-19 situation in France and abroad and, depending on its evolution, may have to reassess its impact and adjust the Company's development prospects.

Participate in a videoconference with Stephane Piat from 6.30 pm Paris time today (in French)

Go to the following link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_qvqA2XcNRGWHvUUjy7cLVg

The above link will enable you to register for the Zoom virtual meeting.

You will subsequently receive a confirmation email with the link to access the meeting.

If you do not have the Zoom app, it will download automatically when you log in.

At any time during the presentation, you can send in your question via the webinar platform. It will be put in a queue/line for the Q&A session.

About CARMAT: the world's most advanced total artificial heart project

A credible response to end-stage heart failure: CARMAT aims to eventually provide a response to a major public health issue associated with heart disease, the world's leading cause of death: chronic and acute heart failure. By pursuing the development of its total artificial heart, composed of the implantable bioprosthesis and its portable external power supply system to which it is connected, CARMAT intends to overcome the well-known shortfall in heart transplants for the tens of thousands of people suffering from irreversible end-stage heart failure, the most seriously affected of the 20 million patients with this progressive disease in Europe and the United States.

The result of combining two types of unique expertise: the medical expertise of Professor Carpentier, known throughout the world for inventing Carpentier-Edwards heart valves, which are the most used in the world, and the technological expertise of Airbus Group, world aerospace leader.

The first physiological artificial heart: given its size, the use of highly biocompatible materials, its unique self-regulation system and its pulsatile nature, the CARMAT total artificial heart could, assuming the clinical trials are successful, potentially save the lives of thousands of patients each year with no risk of rejection and with a good quality of life.

A project leader acknowledged at a European level: with the backing of the European Commission, CARMAT has been granted the largest subsidy ever given to an SME by Bpifrance; a total of 33 million.

Strongly committed, prestigious founders and shareholders: Matra Defense SAS (subsidiary of the Airbus Group), Professor Alain Carpentier, the Centre Chirurgical Marie Lannelongue, Truffle Capital, a leading European venture capital firm, ALIAD (Air Liquide's venture capital investor), CorNovum (an investment holding company held 50-50 by Bpifrance and the French State), the family offices of Pierre Bastid (Lohas), of Dr. Antonino Ligresti (Sante Holdings S.R.L.), of the Gaspard family (Corely Belgium SPRL and Bratya SPRL) and of M. Pierre-Edouard Sterin (BAD 21 SPRL), Groupe Therabel as well as the thousands of institutional and individual shareholders who have placed their trust in CARMAT.

For more information: www.carmatsa.com

Name: CARMAT

ISIN code: FR0010907956

Ticker: ALCAR

DISCLAIMER

This press release and the information contained herein do not constitute an offer to sell or subscribe to, or a solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe to, shares in CARMAT ("the Company") in any country. This press release contains forward-looking statements that relate to the Company's objectives. Such forward-looking statements are based solely on the current expectations and assumptions of the Company's management and involve risk and uncertainties. Potential risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, whether the Company will be successful in implementing its strategies, whether there will be continued growth in the relevant market and demand for the Company's products, new products or technological developments introduced by competitors, and risks associated with managing growth. The Company's objectives as mentioned in this press release may not be achieved for any of these reasons or due to other risks and uncertainties.

No guarantee can be given as to any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements, which are subject to inherent risks, including those described in the Universal registration document filed with the Autorite des Marches Financiers on March 13, 2020 under number D.20-0126 as well as changes in economic conditions, the financial markets or the markets in which CARMAT operates. In particular, no guarantee can be given concerning the Company's ability to finalize the development, validation and industrialization of the prosthesis and the equipment required for its use, to manufacture the prostheses, satisfy the requirements of the ANSM, enroll patients, obtain satisfactory clinical results, perform the clinical trials and tests required for CE marking and to obtain the CE mark. CARMAT products are currently exclusively used within the framework of clinical trials.

1 First-half accounts were approved by the Board on September 7, 2020 and have been the subject of a limited review by the statutory auditors. The 2020 half-year financial report was published today and is available on the Company's website.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200922005869/en/

Contacts:

CARMAT

Stephane Piat

Chief Executive Officer

Pascale d'Arbonneau

Chief Financial Officer

Tel.: +33 1 39 45 64 50

contact@carmatsas.com

Alize RP

Press Relations

Caroline Carmagnol

Tel.: +33 6 64 18 99 59

carmat@alizerp.com

NewCap

Investor Relations

Strategic Communication

Dusan Oresansky

Emmanuel Huynh

Tel.: +33 1 44 71 94 94

carmat@newcap.eu
CAMBRIDGE  In the past six months, The Bridges shelter in Cambridge has found permanent housing for 60 homeless individuals, a number that is unusually high for the temporary shelter.

Its a bright spot during an otherwise trying time, says Wayne Paddick, manager of mental health and housing services at the downtown Cambridge shelter.

Were really trying to help people move forward and we dont want them to get stuck here, he said.

I feel everybody deserves that opportunity to be housed and not to live in shelter.

Paddick said the shelter did not keep track of how many people it has housed in the past, but said efforts have ramped up this year with three workers now dedicated to housing. Paddick, who is new to the shelter, is at the helm of this renewed effort to get people into permanent homes.

Its our job to try to give them a fighting chance, he said.

When Paddick arrived at the Bridges in February, there were men at the shelter who had been staying there for up to 100 nights before they met with a housing worker.

These days, housing workers check in with shelter users each week and help them with whatever they may need to prepare them for permanent housing. This could include counselling, primary care, or an appointment with the Ontario Disability Support Program.

The shelter works closely with a few local landlords to secure housing. It also works with Lutherwood to help with rent if it is needed.

More people in permanent housing means more beds are readily available at the shelter, Paddick explained.

Between 35 and 40 people on average have stayed at the Cambridge shelter each night this summer. The shelter has a capacity for 64 people during the pandemic.

Typically, were busting at the seams, Paddick said.

Paddick is new to working with the Cambridge shelter system and said he was shocked to learn how much negative sentiment there is toward the citys homeless population.

Earlier this month a rally against crime in the city drew dozens of area residents to city hall. It was disappointing for Paddick to see protesters point fingers at the downtown shelter and the people who use its services.

I dont think we can blame the Bridges, Paddick said. A few ruin it for the majority. Yes, there is stuff going on downtown but most of our folks here watch TV all day, or they are at Lutherwood or ODSP for appointments. Theyre not committing crimes.

Paddick said the shelter is not planning to move.

Any time you have a homeless shelter it does need to be based in the heart of the city, because all the services are there and they have to be able to access services, he said.

He hopes to see the Region of Waterloo push for better shelter systems such as the Radisson Hotel in Kitchener which is being used by the region as an emergency shelter during the pandemic.

I think guys having their own space can help them get well and physically better so they have a better chance at moving forward, Paddick said.

Permanent housing is always the end goal as shelters are meant to be temporary, he explained.

Local municipalities have made some strides in boosting affordable and supportive housing projects in the region.

Last month, regional council directed staff to find locations to create dormitory-style shelter spaces and explore opportunities for alternative housing with supports on surplus regional lands.
New Jersey American Water is doing its part to fight food insecurity, the water company said Tuesday morning.

The water company's employees raised over $5,000 and donated over 500 pounds of food to seven different food banks across its service territory through a statewide physical and virtual food drive late last month, according to New Jersey American Water.

The American Water Charitable Foundation also provided an additional donation of approximately $1,700 through its employee-focused matching gift program, for a total of $6,700, which will provide about 20,100 meals for individuals in need.



COVID-19 has placed such a strain on our local food banks, with food shortages, increased prices, and increased demands due to job loss and school closures, New Jersey American Water President and Chief Environmental Officer Cheryl Norton said. I am so proud of our employees and their eagerness to give during these difficult times, and I am especially proud to work for a company that recognizes the generosity of its employees through matched donations.



The statewide food drive was part of a joint initiative in conjunction with Atlantic City Electric, New Jersey Natural Gas Company, Jersey Central Power & Light, and South Jersey Industries dubbed Utilities United in Kindness. Together, the five utility companies donated over 1,200 pounds of food and nearly $15,000 to 11 New Jersey food banks.

Patch has partnered with Feeding America to help raise awareness on behalf of the millions of Americans facing hunger. Feeding America, which supports 200 food banks across the country, estimates that in 2020, more than 54 million Americans will not have enough nutritious food to eat due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. This is a Patch social good project; Feeding America receives 100 percent of donations. Find out how you can donate in your community or find a food pantry near you.



This article originally appeared on the Moorestown Patch
THAT the Directors of the Company be and are hereby authorised to apply for the cancellation of the listing of the Shares to the premium segment of the Official List and to trading on the Main Market for listed securities.

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.
Their Problems Arent Unique

Sticking It Out

Jason Ravnsborg, the attorney general of South Dakota, is facing an investigation into a Sept. 12 accident in which he fatally struck a pedestrian with his car. Since that time, news outlets have found that Ravnsborg had previously been cited for speeding eight times, as well as other driving infractions. During his time in office, hes also posted pictures on Facebook that were clearly taken from behind the wheel.Why didnt that information come out prior to Ravnborgs election to the office in 2018? Perhaps its because he was nominated by delegates at a GOP state convention, rather than having to face a wider pool of voters during a primary election.Lack of voter scrutiny is something that Ravnsborg has in common with the other two state attorneys general who have been in trouble recently. Like Ravnsborg, Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill, who was temporarily disbarred this spring, won nomination to the job at a state party convention. Alaska Attorney General Kevin Clarkson , who resigned following publication of a story detailing his having sent hundreds of sometimes suggestive texts to a younger state employee, was appointed to the job directly by Gov. Mike Dunleavy.A lack of vetting  including the decline in state-level media coverage  means a history of problems might not be found out until and unless an AG has trouble in office.Although state attorneys general have emerged as political and policy powerhouses  routinely suing the presiden t and acting as de facto national regulators in areas such as pharmaceuticals and finance  they dont receive nearly the same scrutiny as candidates for governor, arguably their only peers at the state level.AGs continue to fly under the radar, says Paul Nolette, a political scientist at Marquette University. Its a more high-profile position, and yet the overall vetting has perhaps not quite caught up to the importance of the position.There are some clear patterns involved with the half-dozen or so other AGs who have gotten into political or legal trouble in recent years. They mostly come from one-party states and they almost always run into problems, if they're going to, during their first terms, when inexperience tends to show. Many AGs are serving in their first statewide positions and some have never previously been elected to anything.You get some people in there that have some skeletons that are not discovered until it all blows up, Nolette says.Relatively few AGs ever get into serious trouble, but being in power can breed a kind of arrogance that can lead to testing or even flouting legal and behavioral barriers. In that regard, AGs arent unique among politicians. Hill and Clarkson are certainly not alone among elected officials in facing allegations of sexual harassment.Ravnsborg is not even the first South Dakota politician to be involved in a fatal car accident. In 2004, Congressman Bill Janklow , a former attorney general and governor, was convicted of manslaughter following the death of a motorcyclist Janklow struck after running through a stop sign.That same year, Wisconsin Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager was arrested for drunk driving. Her son, Josh Kaul, is the states current attorney general. Kaul defeated Attorney General Brad Schimel in 2018, who had won the office in 2014 despite having a 1990 drunk driving offense on his record.A lack of vetting  including the decline in state-level media coverage  means a history of problems might not be found out until and unless an AG has trouble in office. Once in power, the idea that a states chief law enforcement officer may have broken the law naturally draws considerable attention.The heightened profile of contemporary AGs means infractions can attract national media notice, as has been the case with Ravnsborg. This sort of thing has occurred even though AGs are more in the limelight now, says Nolette, author of, a book about the rising influence of state AGs. When things like this blow up, in some ways naturally they get more attention.Sometimes AGs know immediately theres no chance they can weather the storm. New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman stepped down in 2018, within hours ofs online publication of a story detailing allegations from four women that hed physically abused them.But often attorneys general, like other politicians, refuse to recognize that its time to go, even when theyre clearly in trouble. In Indiana, Hill has long resisted calls to step down from members of his own party, including Gov. Eric Holcomb. In May, the state supreme court suspended Hills law license for 30 days, following a two-year investigation regarding accusations from four women that Hill had groped them at a party in 2018. Hill denied that he had touched them inappropriately, but the court was convinced he had committed battery.In 2015, Pennsylvanias supreme court stripped Attorney General Kathleen Kane of her law license. Kane had been charged with multiple offenses, including perjury, conspiracy and obstruction of justice. It wasnt until her conviction the following year, however, that Kane resigned.Kane had not been the Democratic Partys first choice for the job. At least, not all of the party. Former Congressman Patrick Murphy enjoyed much of the party establishments support, but hed angered former President Bill Clinton by endorsing Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton in the 2008 presidential race. Kanes husband had been a big donor to Hillary Clintons campaign. Bill Clinton campaigned heavily for Kane, helping propel the little-known assistant Lackawanna County district attorney into the job.Sometimes, AGs can survive scandal. In 2015, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton was indicted in a securities fraud case. Paxton has always maintained his innocence, saying the charges were politically motivated. Although the indictment is five years old , the case has never gone to trial. Paxton won re-election in 2018 by a bare majority.Last year, Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring admitted hed worn blackface as an undergraduate. At the time, Gov. Ralph Northam was facing pressure to step down amidst his own blackface scandal, including a call for his resignation from Herring. With all three of Virginias statewide elected officials facing scandal  two women accused Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax of sexual assault  Democrats were leery of letting the post of governor fall to the state House speaker, at that time Republican Kirk Cox. Fairfax denied the allegations and all three have stayed on the job.On Sept. 2, Herring informed other Democrats that hell seek a third term as AG next year, rather than running for governor.Hill, the Indiana AG, also sought another term this year. Over these past two years, I have been the subject of relentless attacks and smears, the likes of which few have endured, Hill said in his taped address to this years GOP state convention, which was held virtually. Like President Trump, I have faced accusations and investigations designed to destroy me politically.Playing the victim card wasnt enough. Rather than renominate a damaged candidate, Indiana Republicans decided it was safer to go with someone they knew and felt they could trust. Hill lost the nomination to Todd Rokita, a former Indiana secretary of state and member of Congress.
One of Montgomerys oldest businesses appeared on the brink of closing for good.

Then, after a not-so-gentle nudge from her daughter, Kathy Powell bought Scott Street Deli, an institution in Alabamas capital that goes back to around 1901.

Never mind that Powell had never set foot inside the old sandwich shop before.

Or that she had no experience in the food business.

I didnt even know it existed, Powell, who bought Scott Street Deli six years ago, confesses. "My daughter (Montgomery real-estate lawyer Kristi Fuller) happened to know the person who owned it. He had been trying to sell it, and it was going to close if somebody didnt buy it pretty quickly.

When she first told me about it, I came in and got a sandwich, and when I left, I called her and I said, Have you lost your mind? Powell goes on. Then she kind of gathered up some reinforcements, and they talked me into buying it.

Powell, who restored and sold antique furniture before she became the proprietor of a sandwich shop, had found another vintage treasure to fix up.

Thats what I did, she says. Took an old building and refurbished it.

And folks around Montgomery are so glad she did.

Mondays through Fridays, as the clock approaches noon, customers start to queue up to the delis counter and place their orders for sandwiches, wraps and salads. Within a matter of minutes, the lunch rush is at full tilt.

Some customers, like Laurasenia Coleman, a nurse at a downtown womens clinic, love Scott Street Deli so much they eat lunch here almost every day.

Im telling you, its like family when you walk in, Coleman says. Everybody says, Hey, Miss Laurasenia. Its like going to Cheers.

And much like the beloved Boston bar on TVs Cheers, at Scott Street Deli, most everybody really does know your name.

We have a lot of the same customers daily, Powell says. "You get to know them, and they get to know us.

I mean, probably half the customers that come in, we can call them by name, she adds. Its so small in here that you just get to know each other.

During a lunch rush, employees at Scott Street Deli in Montgomery, Ala., prepare deli sandwiches for customers.(Bob Carlton/bcarlton@al.com)

From a stable to a sandwich shop

In the late 1860s, the property at 412 Scott St. included a stable that sheltered the horses that pulled the fire wagons at the fire station (now a law office) next door, according to Powell.

Then, around 1901, Scott Street Grocery opened on the site, Powell says, and in 1990, the grocery store became a sandwich shop.

When Powell bought it on July 3, 2014, though, the old building needed a lot of love.

I closed it for 10 days, and I put heat and air in, she says. "I put in tables and chairs. I put in two more (counter) stations. I had to replace a lot of the flooring that had rotted. I put more lighting in because it was real dark in here.

I tried to make it as customer-friendly as I could and still keep the old look, she adds. Its done really well. When I bought it, there were two employees here. Now I have five employees -- and me.

The deli had previously been a take-out-only business, but Powell found some retro tables and chairs at Montgomerys Eastbrook Flea Market & Antique Mall and added seating inside and out so guests could sit and stay awhile instead of just grabbing their orders to go.

Paintings by the late Alabama folk artist Mose Tolliver also hang along one wall of the shop.

He lived on Sayre Street, and he used to come here, Powell says And his granddaughter, Debbie, she was coming here, and she brought a good many of his paintings, and I hung them up in here.

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The Italian -- with Genoa salami, pepperoni, ham and Provolone cheese on French bread -- is one of the most popular sandwiches on the menu at Scott Street Deli in Montgomery, Ala.(Bob Carlton/bcarlton@al.com)

Hooked on the Scott Street salad

After she bought the deli, Powell kept the sandwich menu pretty much the way it was, but she added a selection of wraps, enhanced the salads and began offering customers the choice of a small or a large sandwich.

Coleman, who started going to Scott Street Deli about 15 years ago, says she never was much of a salad fan until she had the chef salad at Scott Street Deli.

I work with a lot of women, and they were always going to Scotts and getting salads, she says. "And I was like, No, I dont want no damn salad, so I would always get something else.

So, one day, I said, OK, Im going to get a salad, and Ive been hooked ever since. And when I say hooked, I have a Scott Street jones. Ive got to go.

The delis sandwich and wrap selections include smoked ham and cheese, bologna and cheese, smoked turkey, chicken salad, tuna salad, corned beef and Swiss, a Reuben and a BLT. All of the sandwiches are served on bread that is baked in-house daily.

The house favorites are the club sandwich, with ham, turkey, bacon and cheese; the Italian sandwich, with Genoa salami, pepperoni, ham and provolone cheese; and the Frencheletta, a slight variation on the classic New Orleans muffuletta, with mortadella, Genoa salami, ham, Swiss cheese and olive relish.

Also, as a thank-you, first-time customers and all first-responders get their choice of a free chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, peanut butter, or macadamia nut cookie.

And if youre feeling nostalgic, you may grab an RC Cola and a Moon Pie, also known as the working mans lunch.

We sell a lot of those, Powell says.

When current owner Kathy Powell bought Scott Street Deli in 2014, she gave the sandwich shop a thorough interior makeover but tried to maintain its old charm.(Photo courtesy of Scott Street Deli; used with permission)

Old-school and old-fashioned

Montgomery attorney Ed Parish Jr., whose law office is just a couple of blocks away, has been eating lunch at Scott Street Deli since 1996, when he was working as a clerk for former Montgomery County Circuit Judge Gene Reese.

The reason I recall that date, thats when I started working downtown, Parish says. The people at the courthouse introduced me to it back in the day, so Ive been going there consistently since then.

Parish typically drops in the deli at least two times a week, he says.

Its just old-school and old-fashioned, and the employees always give you a smile, he says. They always call you by name, and they seem grateful that you are doing business with them.

Powell, who is originally from Decatur, says she had no previous experience in the food business, but she does have a direct connection to one of Alabamas most famous barbecue families.

Her sister and brother-in-law, Carolyn and Don McLemore, co-own Decaturs legendary Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q.

They came through last month and sat down and ate, Powell says. They loved it.

Scott Street Deli in Montgomery, Ala., began as a grocery store around 1901 but transitioned into a deli in 1990, according to current owner Kathy Powell.(Bob Carlton/bcarlton@al.com)

The best-kept secret in town

Nestled on a narrow, tree-lined street about four blocks from the Alabama State Capitol building, Scott Street Deli is convenient enough that state employees can walk here for lunch but also just far enough off the beaten path that its easy to miss if you dont know that its here.

Its not like in the main part of downtown, Powell says. Were kind of on a side street.

So, Powell is frequently welcoming new customers, who, just like her six years ago, have never been here before.

A lot of people come in and say theyve lived here all their lives and theyve never heard of Scott Street Deli, she says. I tell everybody we are the best-kept secret in town.

Scott Street Deli is at 412 Scott St. in Montgomery. The phone is 334-264-9415. Hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. For a menu and more information, go here.

READ MORE:

Meet the Alabama man who makes old typewriters new again

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This little Alabama burger joint keeps on rocking, 62 years later
Deputy President William Ruto has for long sought to depict the 2022 presidential election as a contest between dynasties and hustlers.

It is a contentious narrative that has been fiercely countered by analysts and perceived offspring of political dynasties, who have repeatedly clarified that they are where they sit today largely on account of their own efforts.

READ ALSO: Uhuru's adopted son Daniel Owira says he nearly left school after becoming rich

Deputy President William Ruto: Photo: William Ruto.

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: Tarehe ya kufunguliwa kwa shule nchini yatangazwa

A sneak peek into the history of the supposed dynasties makes nonsense of Rutos deceptive assertion.

While the DP will want you to believe that former presidents Jomo Kenyatta, the late Daniel Moi and his successor Mwai Kibaki were themselves born with silver spoons in their mouths, and later handed the same to their sons, facts prove otherwise.

Indeed, these leaders, plus others such as Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, started their political journeys much worse off than Ruto himself and were ordinary sons of peasants just like millions of other Kenyans.

Before he went to London and later Moscow for studies, Mzee Kenyatta, who was born of peasant farmers, took up menial jobs such as an apprentice to the carpenter at his former school, the Church of Scotland Mission in Thogotho, and as a messenger at an engineering company owned by a Briton where he used to collect workers wages from the bank in Nairobi.

READ ALSO: Maria actress Bridget Shighadi aka Sofia, baby daddy Nick Mutuma serve couple goals in cute photo

Kenya's first President Mzee Jomo Kenyatta was a son of a peasant. Photo: Kenya Archives.

Source: UGC

At one time, he also engaged in livestock business, masonry and later as a storekeeper and water metre reader with the Nairobi municipal council.

It is only after he returned from Europe in 1946 with a degree in Anthropology that he got a job as a school principal.

Likewise, Moi, who served as Kenyatta's last vice president and later succeeded him when he passed on in 1978, had a difficult childhood, having lost his father at the age of four.

He owed much of his success to his elder brother Paulo, who became his guardian. Mois love for education (he used to walk 28 kilometres to school) also eventually paid dividends as he gained admission to Kapsabet Teachers Training College.

He served as a teacher for nearly a decade before entering politics as a member of the Legislative Council representing Rift Valley. At one time, he was the headmaster of a school in the former Keiyo district.

Kenya's second president Daniel Arap Moi. Photo: Gideon Moi.

Source: UGC

Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Kenyas first vice president, similarly owes his early successes to education, having become a teacher at Maseno School after completing his studies at Makerere University.

In 1947, he also started the Luo Thrift and Trading Corporation with a view to economically empower the Luo community.

It is a similar story for Kibaki, the youngest son of Nyeri peasant farmers, who owes his success to his brother-in-law Paul Muruthi. It is Muruthi who insisted that he goes to school instead of spending his time grazing cattle and babysitting his older sisters.

Kibaki would prove an exemplary student but this did not stop him from growing his own food and working as a bus conductor during school holidays to earn some income.

At Makerere University, he graduated with a First Class Honours degree in Economics and briefly worked as Assistant Sales Manager at Shell Company of East Africa, Uganda Division before earning a scholarship and enrolling at the London School of Economics.

Kenya's third president Mwai Kibaki. Photo: PSCU.

Source: UGC

Kibaki was an assistant economics lecturer at Makerere University when he was headhunted to become Kanus executive officer in 1960. As they say, the rest is history.

The offspring of these leaders have equally also had it rough in their rise up the political ladder. A case in point is Raila Odinga, a hero of Kenyas second liberation who has faced all manner of political persecutions in his clamour for a better Kenya.

Most of them have also made their wealth through strategic business decisions and not by way of inheritance.

How ironical then that DP Ruto - one of the richest Kenyans - would feign poverty in a desperate bid to convince Kenyans that he is one of them; and then pit himself against imaginary dynasties.

He has been narrating to anyone who cares to listen that he wore his first shoes when he joined Form One, and that he at one time worked as an untrained teacher.

He has also been engaging in carefully-crafted PR gimmicks such as buying roast maize or taking breakfast in roadside sheds during his Tanga Tanga tours across the country.

Deputy President William Ruto washing hands to join 'hustlers' for breakfast at a roadside eatery. Photo: William Ruto.

Source: Twitter

But it is virtually impossible for him to re-enact the raw poverty, toiling and struggles that characterized the rise to power of Mzee Kenyatta, Moi, Kibaki, Jaramogi and others.

While he last weekend appeared to agree that all Kenyans were at one time hustlers, the honest thing for him to do is to desist from divisively labelling the 2022 contest as a class war.

He must accept the reality that all presidential candidates are equal and must thus be given a fair chance to seek leadership positions, and Kenyans allowed to vote for the best candidate based on his manifesto.

In any case, Kenya is neither a feudal state nor monarchy where leadership is inherited.

The writer is Milan Kiplagat, a regular commentator on social, economic and political affairs.

The views expressed here are his and do not in any way represent the position of TUKO.co.ke.

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.

Keep abusing me, you will get tired eventually - Kenya's youngest Reverend Victor Githu | Tuko TV.

Source: TUKO.co.ke
Great British Bake Off judges and presenters Paul Hollywood, Prue Leith, Noel Fielding and Matt Lucas. (Love Productions/Channel 4)

The Great British Bake Off will return for a new series on 21 September.

As summer unfolds into autumn GBBO is reliably comforting fare for this time of year and a welcome distraction but that doesnt mean its guaranteed to always be plain sailing.

Contestants interfering in each others bakes and blunders from the judges have raised the stakes  and undoubtedly blood pressure  for both bakers and viewers alike in past years.

Read more: Matt Lucas says GBBO schedule was gruelling for bakers

While the programme is a tried and tested formula, human unpredictability means drama could still be afoot even in the most gentle of shows.

So while viewers wait to see if there will be any cake catastrophes or dough disasters this year, lets revisit the controversies of years gone by.

Paul Hollywoods favouritism row

Paul Hollywood rejected claims he was giving Ruby Tandoh preferential treatment. (Love Productions/Netflix)

The fourth series of the show in 2013 saw fans levy accusations of favouritism against Paul Hollywood as it was suggested he gave preferential treatment to then 21-year-old contestant Ruby Tandoh due to her looks.

He denied the claims with little tact, implying it couldn't be true because he found another contestant "far prettier".

Tandoh, who was runner-up to winner Frances Quinn, came out as gay in 2015 and criticised the misogynists who accused her of flirting with Hollywood at the time.

"For those who thought I fancied Paul Hollywood or that I'd ever bang him to get ahead  JOKE'S ON YOU, YOU MASSIVE S****ING MISOGYNISTS," she wrote.

Custardgate

Deborah was distressed when she realised her error, though Howard took it well. (Love Productions/Netflix)

Deborah Manger was a dentist-turned-baker-turned-accidental-thief when she unwittingly took poor Howard Middleton's custard in series four.

She owned up to the mistake to Sue Perkins after pinching from her competitor, who took the news rather graciously, as they made a trifle for their first challenge of Dessert Week.

Middleton used Manger's custard for his creation as it was too late to retrieve the one hed made but the judges were made aware of the mistake and so they were judged on the custard of their own making.

Story continues

He managed to make it through to another week while Manger left the tent for good.

The baked Alaska fiasco

Diana was accused of sabotaging Iain's Baked Alaska. (Love Productions/Netflix)

Diana Beard stirred up a storm on series five when it appeared she had taken Iain Watters' Baked Alaska ice cream out of the freezer.

A frustrated Iain threw his creation into the bin and even presented said disposal unit to the judges when it was time to bring his bake up to the front of the tent.

It provoked national outrage though as Beards apparent devious actions hit the headlines.

However, all might not have been as it seemed as in the wake of the backlash Sue Perkins stated the ice cream had barely been out of the freezer.

"Iain's Alaska was out of the freezer for 40 secs. That's it. No sabotage. 40 secs of normal temp would NOT be enough to reduce it to liquid," she wrote.

Iain's Alaska was out of the freezer for 40 secs. That's it. No sabotage. 40 secs of normal temp would NOT be enough to reduce it to liquid  Sue Perkins (@sueperkins) August 27, 2014

Beard quit the show  which had been filmed in the spring  before the next episode due to reasons unrelated to the dessert drama with Iain later expressing dismay at the way she had been treated online.

Although he did also tell The Guardian he didnt believe the programme-makers claims the dessert was out of the freezer for only 40 seconds.

Channel 4 change-up

Paul Hollywood, Mel Giedroyc, Mary Berry and Sue Perkins arrive at the 2013 Baftas. (Invision/AP)

GBBO found great success on BBC Two and so was promoted to BBC One after four series, but in 2016 the programme's makers Love Productions jumped ship to Channel 4 after a disagreement over price.

Mary Berry, Perkins and Mel Giedroyc stayed loyal to the BBC while Hollywood followed the programme to Channel 4.

The split in the original GBBO team appeared to be a source of friction for the foursome as Hollywood claimed Berry, Perkins and Giedroyc had "abandoned" the programme while he became "the most hated man in the country".

Read more: Candice Browns husband says Paul Hollywood kiss put strain on marriage

Earlier this year, Perkins reflected on the divide, describing the fallout with the baker as "painful" although didn't delve into the nitty-gritty of what went on.

Speaking on Jessie Wares Table Manners podcast, she said: When we were there, Paul was really good fun - and stuff happened that made us incredibly sad and incredibly hurt.

But he was always like family for years and years and years, and its painful when those things end, especially in the way that they did end.

Noel Fieldings fridge antics

Noel Fielding caused mild controversy when he got inside a fridge. (Photo by Ferdaus Shamim/WireImage)

Noel Fielding was brought onto the programme on its move to Channel 4 but he got off to a bit of a rocky start on his debut season.

While playing around in the big white tent, his co-star Sandi Toksvig opened a fridge to reveal the comedian crouched inside in a move that prompted 55 complaints to Ofcom.

Some feared the joke could prove harmful if children attempted to copy his actions, however, the broadcasting watchdog decided the programme did not need to be investigated.

Prue Leith's premature announcement

Prue Leith attends a photocall during the Edinburgh International Book Festival 2019 on August 10, 2019 in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Simone Padovani/Awakening/Getty Images)

The first series of GBBO to air on Channel 4 had its finale overshadowed somewhat by a Twitter blunder made by new judge Prue Leith.

Ahead of the airing of the final episode which saw Sophie Faldo win the coveted cake stand, Leith congratulated her in a tweet.

Read more: Prue Leith says UK is the 'most unbelievably class-ridden country'

After realising her error the cook apologised and explained she was in a different timezone as she holidayed in Bhutan.

She later described her mishap as "the most idiotic thing in the world"  but it can't have been too bad in Channel 4's eyes as they kept her on for more.

The Great British Bake Off returns to Channel 4 at 8pm on Tuesday, 21 September.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 22:56:29|Editor: huaxia

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Players of Shanghai SIPG celebrate scoring during the 12th round match between Shanghai SIPG and Shijiazhuang Ever Bright at the postponed 2020 season Chinese Football Association Super League (CSL) Suzhou Division in Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, Sept. 22, 2020. Shanghai SIPG won 1-0. (Xinhua/Ji Chunpeng)

SUZHOU, China, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Hulk scored from the penalty area as Shanghai SIPG beat Shijiazhuang Ever Bright 1-0 in the 12th round of the Chinese Super League (CSL) here on Tuesday.

Both sides had chances in the first half, but all shooting attempts were of low quality. Wang Shenchao was fouled in the penalty area in 42nd minute, but the Shanghai defender was offside beforehand.

The second half witnessed the prowess of Shanghai captain Hulk. The Brazilian striker hit the crossbar in the 55th minute with his iconic long distance shot and then converted a penalty in the 71st minute.

In the 81st minute, Shijiazhuang wasted their best scoring opportunity to tie the match as Piao Shihao's close range open shot missed the target.

After 12 matches, Shanghai sat atop the eight-team Suzhou Division with 29 points, four points ahead of Beijing Guoan, while Shijiazhuang slipped out of top four, one point behind Hebei China Fortune to rank fifth with 17 points.

Shanghai is scheduled to meet Beijing Guoan in the next round on Friday, and will secure the top spot going into the second phase if it could remain undefeated. Shijiazhuang will fight against Chongqing Lifan on the same day.

"We have two more matches to play in the first phase. We will try our best to rank first in our division," said Wang Shenchao. Enditem
Guntur, Sep 22 : Andhra Pradesh's Guntur rural police has sent the file related to Rs 117-crore CM Relief Fund scam to the DGP office to decide whether the CID or the ACB will take up the case for investigation, a senior police officer said on Tuesday.

"It's a high-profile case and money involved is huge. It needs to be decided which organisation -- Criminal Investigation Department (CID) or the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) -- should probe it. We have sent the file to the DGP office after preliminary investigation," Guntur Rural Superintendent of Police (SP) Vishal Gunni told IANS.

"DGP Gautam Sawang in consultation with the government will take a call on whether to send it to the CID or the ACB," the SP said.

A decision on the agency to investigate the case could come on Tuesday itself, sources said.

Using forged cheques, the frauds had attempted to withdraw crores of rupees from the CM Relief Fund from New Delhi, Kolkata, and Karnataka. They had misused cheques issued to three needy persons for small amounts.

The huge transactions through the forged cheques were averted when bank officials suspected something amiss and avoided processing them after cross-verifying with officials concerned.

Police later registered a case of cheating and forgery at the Thulluru police station.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
A man has been arrested after allegedly shooting a teenage girl with a crossbow inside an Aldi supermarket near Brisbane.

Queensland Police claimed the 25-year-old man opened fire in the Aldi at Booval in Ipswich at about 4.30pm on Tuesday before shoppers took him down.

'He started firing and I believe members of the public have tackled that person but I can't confirm that at this stage,' Inspector Scott Calcutt told the Courier-Mail.

A 15-year-old girl was shot with an arrow and was treated for injuries to her hand and stomach. She was taken to Queensland Children's Hospital in a stable condition.

Police allege that the man fired the weapon at passing traffic and a jogger after leaving Booval train station in a black hoodie and mask and heading towards Aldi.

A man has been arrested after allegedly shooting a teenage girl with a crossbow in an Aldi supermarket near Brisbane

A teenage girl was treated for injuries to her hand and stomach and was taken to Queensland Children's Hospital in a stable condition

'At around Railway Street Booval ... it is believed a witness has identified that male person discharge that bow and arrow at a female jogger who was passing by,' Detective Acting Inspector Heath McQueen told 9News.

'The male person has then continued on to a vehicle ... it is believed that a male person may have discharged that bow at a vehicle en route while he was heading towards the Aldi supermarket.

'What I am aware of is that upon discharging that bow within the Aldi store and striking the 15-year-old female some bystanders have bravely acosted that male person and detained that male person until police have arrived,' he said.

Witness Michelle Woods said she thought the alleged attacker was about to fire the crossbow at her as she drove past.

'He had eyeballed us in the car - gave us this weird look - and sort of half lifted it up and we thought he was going to start shooting at the car,' she told the Brisbane Times.

Queensland Police said the man opened fire in the Aldi at Booval in Ipswich at about 4.45pm on Tuesday before shoppers took him down

Onlookers took to Facebook warning people to stay away from the supermarket, with one saying the alleged attacker was wearing a mask.

'PLEASE BE AWARE! YOUNG MAN JUST SPOTTED WITH LOADED CROSSBOW NEAR ALDI (HAS WEIRD FACE MASK ON),' one person said.

Another said: 'My partner just went to aldi and was told don't go in there's a man shooting bow and arrows. (Someone ran up to the car and told her before she got out).'
DUBLIN, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Offshore Wind Market: Size & Forecast with Impact Analysis of COVID-19 (2020-2024)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The report provides an analysis of the offshore wind market by value, by production capacity, by expenditure & by region. The report further provides a detailed regional analysis of the offshore wind market by production capacity and by expenditure.

The global offshore wind market has observed progressive growth in the past few years and it is anticipated that during the forecasted period (2020-2024) the market would further upsurge at an escalating growth rate. The global offshore wind market growth is predicted to be supported by numerous growth drivers such as rising urbanization, surging consumer awareness, rise in Co2 emission, growing demand for energy optimization, increasing initiative to save the environment and many other factors.

However, the growth of the global offshore wind market would be negatively impacted by various challenges. Some of the foremost challenges faced by the market are operational risk and regulatory and political risk. Moreover, there are some trends that would support the market during the forecasted period like, the evolution of floating wind turbine technology, the decline in fossil fuel and government initiative and regulations.

Moreover, the report also evaluates the major opportunities in the market and outlines the factors that are and would be driving the growth of the industry. Growth of the overall global offshore wind has also been forecasted for the years 2020-2024, taking into consideration the previous growth patterns, the growth drivers and the current & future trends.

The major players dominating the offshore wind market are Iberdrola, Vattenfall, RWE AG and Orsted. The four companies have been profiled in the report providing a detailed analysis of their financial information and business strategies.

Key Topics Covered:

1. Executive Summary

2. Introduction

2.1 Wind Energy: An Overview

2.2 Onshore Wind Energy: An Overview

2.3 Offshore Wind Energy: An Overview

2.4 Functioning of Offshore Wind Farm

2.5 Advantages & Disadvantages of Offshore Wind

3. Global Market Analysis

3.1 Global Offshore Wind Market: An Analysis

3.1.1 Global Offshore Wind Market by Value

3.1.2 Global Offshore Wind Market Production Capacity

3.1.3 Global Offshore Wind Market Production Capacity by Region (Europe, Asia Pacific and the US)

3.1.4 Global Offshore Wind Market Expenditure by Value

3.1.5 Global Offshore Wind Market by Expenditure (Turbine, Project Development, Foundation, Insurance & Contingency, Transmission Install, Transmission, Foundation Install, Array Electrification, Array Cable Install, Turbine Install, and Other)

3.1.6 Global Offshore Wind Expenditure Market by Region

4. Regional Market Analysis

4.1 Europe Offshore Wind Market: An Analysis

4.1.1 Europe Offshore Wind Market Production Capacity

4.1.2 Europe Offshore Wind Market Production Capacity by Country

4.1.3 UK Offshore Wind Market Production Capacity

4.1.4 Germany Offshore Wind Market Production Capacity

4.1.5 Denmark Offshore Wind Market Production Capacity

4.1.6 Belgium Offshore Wind Market Production Capacity

4.1.7 Netherlands Offshore Wind Market Production Capacity

4.1.8 Europe Offshore Wind Market Expenditure by Value

4.1.9 Europe Offshore Wind Market by Expenditure

4.2 Asia Pacific Offshore Wind Market: An Analysis

4.2.1 Asia Pacific Offshore Wind Market Production Capacity

4.2.2 Asia Pacific Offshore Wind Market Production Capacity by Country

4.2.3 China Offshore Wind Market Production Capacity

4.2.4 Taiwan Offshore Wind Market Production Capacity

4.2.5 South Korea Offshore Wind Market Production Capacity

4.2.6 Japan Offshore Wind Market Production Capacity

4.2.7 Asia Pacific Offshore Wind Market Expenditure by Value

4.2.8 Asia Pacific Offshore Wind Market by Expenditure

4.3 The US Offshore Wind Market: An Analysis

4.3.1 The US Offshore Wind Production Capacity

4.3.2 The US Offshore Wind Market Expenditure by Value

4.3.3 The US Offshore Wind Market by Expenditure

5. COVID-19

5.1 Impact of Covid-19

5.2 Economic Impact of Covid-19

5.2.1 Impact on GDP Growth

5.3 Regional Impact of Covid-19

5.3.2 Impact on UK Wind Annual Installed Capacity

5.4 Variation in Organic Traffic due to COVID-19 (2020)

6. Market Dynamics

6.1 Growth Drivers

6.1.1 Rising Urbanization

6.1.2 Surging Consumer Awareness

6.1.3 Rise in Carbon Emission

6.1.4 Growing Demand for Energy Optimization

6.1.5 Increasing Initiative to Save Environment

6.2 Challenges

6.2.1 Operational Risk

6.2.2 Regulatory & Political Risk

6.3 Market Trends

6.3.1 Evolution of Floating Wind Turbine Technology

6.3.2 Decline in Fossil Fuel

6.3.3 Government Initiatives and Regulations

7. Competitive Landscape

7.1 Global Offshore Wind Market Players: A Financial Comparison

7.2 Global Offshore Wind Market Players' by Installed Offshore Wind Capacity

8. Company Profiles

8.1 Orsted

8.1.1 Business Overview

8.1.2 Financial Overview

8.1.3 Business Strategy

8.2 RWE AG

8.3 Vattenfall

8.4 Iberdrola

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

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

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



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Irish childrens author Sam McBratney, most widely known for the classic, bestselling picture book Guess How Much I Love You, died September 18. He was 77.

McBratney was born March 1, 1943 in Belfast, Northern Ireland and grew up in the nearby town of Lisburn. He graduated from Trinity College in Dublin with honors and a degree in modern history and political science. He married his wife Maralyn in 1964, and while they were raising their three children, McBratney earned his living as a primary and secondary teacher of history and English.

By 1976 he had published his first book, a novel entitled Mark Time, about rival gangs of preteen boys, one Catholic, one Protestant, set during the Troubles in Northern Ireland. He continued writing and publishing childrens books on the side until the publication of Guess How Much I Love You in 1994. The enormous success of the gentle bedtime tale illustrated by Anita Jeram, in which Little Nutbrown Hare and his father, Big Nutbrown Hare, try to top each other in expressing who loves the other more (e.g. I love you right up to the moon,/I love you right up to the moonand back), marked McBratneys professional shift to full-time author.

Though McBratney created more than 50 books during his career, Guess How Much I Love You has stood apart over the years, selling more than 50 million copies worldwide. It has been translated into 57 languages and is at the heart of a global licensing program. A highly anticipated companion book, Will You Be My Friend?, also illustrated by Jeram, has a global pub date of September 29. Sharing some insight on his approach to the new work, McBratney recently said, When writing about the hares, I aim to describe moments of emotional significance but with loads of humor and the lightest of touches. This story is about one of those moments. Little Nutbrown Hares world suddenly glows with the discovery of friendship.

In a statement, Karen Lotz, group managing director of the Walker Books Group in the U.K. and president and publisher of Candlewick Press in the U.S., paid tribute to the author. Sam McBratney was a profoundly lovely human being, she said. You could recognize his voice in a momenthe was an exceptionally talented wordsmith and always knew exactly what children would enjoy hearing the most. Amazingly humble, he also was a hilarious storyteller and convivial companion. We never had better days than when he would come down from Ireland to visit the offices in London. Our world dims with his passing, but his legacy of kindness and humor will burn bright and carry on across time and distance through his stories, which have touched the hearts of readers around the globe.

And Donna Cassanova, character publisher of Walker Books, offered this remembrance: I feel such great sorrow at the passing of my dear friend Sam, but also an immense sense of pride, and privilege, to have worked for so long with such a master of his craft. Through the years, as Guess How Much I Love You achieved great success and acclaim, Sam never failed to express his profound surprise at the power of the message within his text. The joy he felt at knowing so many people connected with the gentle celebration of unconditional love was ever palpable. It is also the true mark of the man that he never failed to recognize the role that Anita Jerams exquisite illustrations play in the success of Guess How Much I Love You. They were a literary pairing of the highest caliber. Sam faced everything in life, and death, with such great, good grace and humor. He always smiled out at the world, and I feel so lucky to have felt the warmth of his smile.
The British government announced fresh steps on Tuesday to try to stop a coronavirus surge in England, as the World Health Organization warned that new cases worldwide soared to record levels last week.

The tally of 1,998,897 infections was "the highest number of reported cases in a single week since the beginning of the epidemic", the WHO said, adding that the number of deaths fell compared with the previous week.

The death toll in the United States passed another dismal milestone on Tuesday, soaring beyond 200,000 as cases approached seven million in the world's worst-affected country.

The ramped-up response in Britain followed warnings that the country could see an explosion of cases and deaths if it failed to take decisive action.

From Thursday, English pubs, bars and other venues will be required to close at 10:00 pm. Food and drink outlets will also be restricted to table service.

Some businesses have criticised the move, saying it will inflict more suffering on an already beleaguered industry.

But customers outside cafes in central London were broadly supportive of the new rules if it meant avoiding another lockdown.

"It isn't all about the money," Francesca Galluzzo, an operations manager, told AFP. "It should be about people's lives."

Britain has also shelved plans to allow fans to return to sporting venues in England next month and boosted fines for rule-breakers in broad tightening of restrictions.

- Nobel ceremony cancelled -

Many nations in Europe were easing restrictions after largely overcoming initial outbreaks, but the resurgence of the virus has forced them to tighten curbs again.

Spain's health minister on Tuesday called on Madrid residents to limit their movements and social contacts to the essential.

Across Europe, hundreds of major events have been scaled back or cancelled and on Tuesday the most august of all gatherings, the Nobel prize ceremony, announced it had also succumbed to the pandemic.

Story continues

The famous event in the Swedish capital Stockholm recognising excellence in subjects from economics to physics has been cancelled for the first time since 1944, set to be replaced by a televised event.

Rather than receiving their medals and diplomas from the king of Sweden in person, the winners will be honoured in their own countries.

The Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Norway in December will also be scaled back.

A European Union leaders' summit due to start on Thursday was meanwhile postponed after a security guard tested positive for coronavirus, forcing EU chief Charles Michel to quarantine.

- Trump under pressure -

But the US still tops the charts for the numbers of infections and deaths in a single country.

President Donald Trump has faced intense criticism of his handling of the crisis, and the prospect of an election in November has sharpened the focus.

Trump insisted on Monday that the country was "rounding the corner with or without a vaccine".

But US Federal Reserve boss Jerome Powell will warn on Tuesday that a full recovery in the world's biggest economy "is likely to come only when people are confident that it is safe to reengage in a broad range of activities," according to prepared remarks.

The pandemic has wiped out hundreds of thousands of jobs around the world, with millions living rough.

Hundreds of restaurant, bar and nightclub workers demonstrated in the southern Spanish city of Malaga on Tuesday to seek government help to tide over the crisis.

They held banners saying "We are not the problem" and "rescue now".

"Many of my colleagues can't make ends meet. We have to save this sector by whatever means because there are many families that depend on this," Borja Ramos, a 37-year-old kitchen worker told AFP.

Until a vaccine is developed, the options for treatment available to the less privileged are limited.

In Mexico, where more than 73,000 people have died, many are choosing to stay at home when they fall ill instead of seeking treatment at creaking public hospitals.

Jessica Castillo in Hidalgo state said she suffered for a week at home, and even had suicidal thoughts.

"But I said: 'If I go to hospital, I'll never return'."

burs-ach/jxb
New Delhi, Sep 22 : In an fascinating judgement the Competition Commission of India (CCI) has, in a recent order, let go 10 companies found guilty of cartelisation and rigging railway tenders for around 12 years, with a warning to desist from any such activity in future and no penalty at all.

Interestingly, the commission did not impose a penalty citing the cooperation from offenders during the investigation and the economic impact of the pandemic.

The order passed by the anti-trust body in July was largely unnoticed so far. The 10 companies found guilty in cartelisation and rigging procurement of 'Composite Brake Blocks' (CBB) by the railways include Sundaram Brake Lining Limited, a TVS Group company and Escorts Limited (Railway Equipment Division), an Escorts Group company.

The companies are Hindustan Composites Ltd, Industrial Laminates (India) Pvt Ltd, BIC Auto Pvt Ltd (now Masu Brake Pads Private Limited), Rane Brake Lining Ltd, Om Besco Super Friction Pvt Ltd, Cemcon Engineering Co, Bony Polymer Pvt Ltd, Daulat Ram Brakes Mfg Co.

Understanding the Indian Railways' procurement methodology and going through evidence collected, the Director General who investigated the matter concluded that the companies were indulging in cartelisation during the period 2009 to 2017.

"The DG found that OP-1 (Opposite Party) to OP-10 used to decide the prices and quantities to be quoted by them in the various tenders floated by Indian Railways and other entities for the procurement of CBBs," the order said.

The DG also found that officials of eight of the 10 companies admitted that they had formed a cartel to rig the bids of different tenders of CBBs floated by the Indian Railways and other entities. Further, with regard to the remaining two companies, though they did not admit to be a part of the cartel, they did admit that they had exchanged bid-related information through e-mails and messages.

It was found that an employee of a company used to keep the records of allocation of tender quantities amongst all the concerned parties by maintaining excel sheets, which were modified from time to time according to the inputs received from the companies based on lower or higher quantities allotted to them in a particular tender.

"Furthermore, the DG found that OP-1 to OP-10 used to exchange screenshots of their financial bids to ensure that all of them stuck to their promise of quoting the pre-decided prices. It was found by the DG that OP-1 to OP-10 used to meet at different locations to decide the strategy and the modus operandi of their cartel and to resolve the differences amongst them," the 66-page order said.

Taking into account all evidences collected by the DG, the Commission concluded that the companies and their respective individuals had indulged in cartelisation in the Composite Brake Blocks (CBB) market in India, at least from 2009 till 2017, by means of directly or indirectly determining prices, allocating markets, co-ordinating bid response and manipulating the bidding process, which had an AAEC within India.

"The Commission therefore, holds OP-1 to OP-10 guilty of contravention of the provisions of Section 3 (3) (a), 3 (3) (c) and 3 (3) (d) read with Section 3 (1) of the Act," it said.

The Commission, in terms of Section 27 (a) of the Act, directed the concerned companies and their respective officials who have been held liable in terms of the provisions of Section 48 of the Act, to "cease and desist in future" from indulging in such practices.

The order said that in such a wide ranging and complex investigation carried by the DG spanning across various tenders floated by various zones and divisions of Indian Railways over a long period of time, "the concerned parties have not only cooperated but have even admitted their respective role/conduct in the said tenders as brought out by the DG".

"It cannot be gainsaid that cooperation to such an extent by the parties concerned is one of the consideration which may be taken into account by the Commission in quantifying the penalties," it said.

Further, it noted that some of the concerned parties are MSMEs and most of the companies have small annual turnover in the CBB segment.

The Commission said that it is cognisant of the prevailing economic situation arising due to the outbreak of global pandemic (COVID-19) and the various measures undertaken by the government of India to support the liquidity and credit needs of viable MSMEs to help them withstand the impact of the current shock.

"In this backdrop, considering the matter holistically and cumulatively, the Commission, in the interest of justice, refrains from imposing any monetary penalty in the peculiar circumstances of the case, as noted above," it said.

The order has raised eyebrows due to its lenient nature.

Sumit Batra, Partner at India Law Alliance said the "leniency" will only encourage more such cartels to continue and flourish.

"While recognising the efforts of the Director General who collected direct evidences meticulously in form of WhatsApp messages and emails, the commission observed that 'nothing can be more incriminating than these', leaving with only a warning defeats the very purpose why such laws are enacted," he said.

Sonam Chandwani, Managing Partner at KS Legal & Associates, however, was of the view the leniency is backed by a strict warning from the regulator threatening the offenders against recidivism and ultimately facilitating discipline in the behaviour of the market participants.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation will team up with the Grand Alliance (GA) as part of the new equation to get the poll arithmetic right to counter the NDA dispensation in Bihar.

The CPI (ML) agreed to join the GA after their representatives, led by Dhirendra Jha, met state chief of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Jagadanand Singh and party senior Bhola Yadav on Monday evening.

While other Left parties like the CPI and the CPI (Marxist) have already announced their decision to fight the upcoming assembly polls under the GA banner, the CPI (ML) demonstrated frayed tempers and threatened to contest alone after its talk with the RJD failed to reach any logical conclusion last week.

RJD leader Bhola Yadav said that some minor issues, which remained unresolved so far, would be sorted out in the next round of meeting.

Also read: Congress to boycott session, says Oppositions views not accommodated

The CPI (ML) has been asking for around two dozen seats to contest under the GA, much to the chagrin of other constituents including the RJD and the Congress.

The party currently has three MLAs, having got 1.5 percent of the total votes polled in the 2015 assembly polls.

Jha said that his party had reinitiated talks with the RJD for a broader Left unity to defeat the BJP-JD(U) alliance. We have stipulated our conditions for joining the GA formation with a hope of getting an agreeable deal, said the CPI(ML) leader after the talks.

In the 2019 parliamentary polls, the ML had extended support to GA candidates, including the RJD nominees, at four places, where they polled more than 4 lakh votes.

Meanwhile, RJD leader and opposition leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav has decided to meet Congress leaders in Delhi and join the final negotiation for seats among the GA allies in a day or two. The RJD wants to contest about 150 seats out of 243, while the Congress is adamant on contesting around 80 seats.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, September 22, 2020 14:17 487 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c4667e42 1 National pastor,sexual-abuse,church,sexual-abuse-protocol-church,sex-assault,sexual-abuse-victims,surabaya,surabaya-east-java,verdict Free

The Surabaya District Court has declared 50-year-old pastor Hanny Layantara guilty of sexual abuse and sentenced him to 10 years imprisonment.

Presiding judge Johanis Hehamony said Hanny was found guilty of violating Article 82 of the Child Protection Law.

"We declare the defendant Hanny Layantara guilty and sentence him to 10 years in prison and order him to pay Rp 100 million in fines or serve an additional six months in prison," Johanis said on Monday as reported by kompas.com.

He added that the panel of judges noted two factors in their sentencing decision, namely that the defendant had refused to admit his wrongdoings and that his actions were contradictory to his role as a religious leader.

The sentence matched the punishment demanded by prosecutors.

Hanny was arrested in Sidoarjo, East Java, on March 3, two weeks after his victim's family reported the abuse to the police.

He had allegedly been planning to flee the country at the time of his arrest.

The victim, now 26, said that Hanny had sexually abused her from 2005  when she was only 12 years old  until 2011.

Hanny's lawyer, Abdurrachman Saleh, said he and his client would file an appeal against the verdict.

"We disagree with the judges' verdict. We will appeal," he said. (nal)
BOSTON, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, on National Voter Registration Day, the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate announced the launch of www.JustVote.org, a comprehensive and permanent online resource for informing, engaging, and educating the American public on the importance and fundamental right of voting. JustVote.org contains critical information for voters including how to register, where to vote, how to vote, and when to vote. The site also features expert commentary, portals to live programs, historic and contemporary voting data, as well as links to other organizations all dedicated to the importance and fundamental political right of voting.

"Just Vote" is a non-partisan coalition of political and civic leaders dedicated to increasing civic engagement, youth activism, and voter turnout. In addition to the Board of the Kennedy Institute, including human rights advocate Martin Luther King III, former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, former Senator Chris Dodd, and former White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card, the advisory group for "Just Vote" includes philanthropist and humanitarian Cindy McCain and former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, among others.

"In light of what is happening right now across our nation, "Just Vote" could not be more important or urgent. The mission of the Institute is intimately connected to the questions currently being asked about the future of our Democracy," said Bruce Percelay, Board Chair of the Kennedy Institute. "It is our hope that the tools and resources we've made available through JustVote.org will captivate and motivate the next generation of American citizens to fully participate in our democratic process."

The Institute's focus on voter education comes at a time when millions of Gen Z Americans will be eligible to vote for the first time. This demographic is projected to make up 10 percent of the 2020 electorate, and when combined with Millennials, these two youngest generations of American citizens will comprise nearly 40 percent of eligible voters, according to the Pew Research Center.

"Throughout his career," said Victoria Reggie Kennedy, President of the Board and co-founder of the Kennedy Institute, "my late husband Senator Edward Kennedy worked to expand voting rights and increase civic engagement. He believed especially in the transformative power of young people to effect the necessary change we need. In that same spirit, we are launching 'Just Vote' and JustVote.org."

The Kennedy Institute is launching "Just Vote" in a year filled with significant voting rights milestones: the 150th anniversary of the ratification of the 15th amendment; the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th amendment; the 55th anniversary of passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965; and the 50th anniversary of extending the vote to 18-year-olds in federal elections.

"2020 is not just a year during which we celebrate the momentous achievements of those who came before us and all they accomplished for votingit is a year that will forever be marked in the history books as a turning point for our nation," said Kennedy Institute Board member and voting rights advocate Martin Luther King III. "I am proud to be part of an organization that deeply understands the importance of this fundamental political right. The Kennedy Institute has fully embraced its responsibility at this critical juncture for our democracy of empowering its citizens to get out and vote."

As Senator Kennedy said: "The right to vote is the fundamental political right in our Constitutional system. It is the cornerstone of all our other basic rights. It guarantees that our democracy will be a government of the people and by the people, not just for the people."

About the Edward M. Kennedy Institute

The Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate is dedicated to educating the public about the important role of the Senate in our government, encouraging participatory democracy, invigorating civil discourse, and inspiring the next generation of citizens and leaders to engage in the civic life of their communities. Learn more via www.emkinstitute.org.

MEDIA CONTACT

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SOURCE Edward M. Kennedy Institute

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Prime minister Boris Johnson arrives in Downing Street, London, following a cabinet meeting at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. (PA)

Boris Johnson has claimed that coronavirus tends to spread later at night after more alcohol has been consumed.

The prime minister announced a curfew for pubs and restaurants on Tuesday which will see them forced to shut an hour early at 10pm.

Justifying his decision, he told the Commons in a statement that late night drinking seemed to have had an effect on infection rates.

Meg Hillier, Labour chairwoman of the Commons public accounts select committee, asked the why the 10pm closing time was being imposed on pubs and restaurants.

Johnson replied: "These are not easy decisions, nobody wants to be curtailing the right of restaurants and other businesses to go about their lawful business.

Watch: Boris Johnson restrictions could remain for six months

"What we have seen from the evidence is that alas the spread of the disease does tend to happen later at night after more alcohol has been consumed.

"This is one way that we see of driving down the R without doing excessive economic damage and that's the balance we have to strike."

As well as the curfew, the PM also announced the introduction of tougher penalties for those who "brazenly defy" social distancing restrictions.

The penalty for failing to wear a mask or breaking the rule of six will double to 200 for a first offence and 10,000 fines will be applied to businesses breaking the rules.

He added that it is "very difficult" to ask the people of a "freedom-loving country" to obey guidelines.

Labour's Ben Bradshaw said: "Does he think that the reason Germany and Italy have far lower Covid rates than us, with life continuing more-or-less normally, might be because they have locally and publicly-run test and trace services that actually work?"

The PM making a statement to MPs in the House of Commons on Tuesday. (PA)

Johnson replied: "No I don't, and I think the continual attacks on local test and trace and what the NHS Test and Trace have done are undermining and unnecessary.

Story continues

"And actually, there is an important difference between our country and many other countries around the world, and that is our country is a freedom-loving country.

"And if you look at the history of this country over the last 300 years, virtually every advance from free speech to democracy has come from this country and it is very difficult to ask the British population uniformly to obey... guidelines in a way that it is necessary.

"What we're saying today is that collectively, and I'm answering his question directly, collectively, the way to do this, the way to do this, is for us all to follow the guidelines, which we will strictly enforce, and get the 'R' down - that is the way forward."

Coronavirus: what happened today

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NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said the United Nations, which is marking 75 years of its existence this year, faces a "crisis of confidence" without comprehensive reforms.

In his speech to a special session of the UN general Assembly overnight Tuesday called to mark 75 years of the international body, Modi said the world needs a reformed multilateralism that reflects current day realities, gives voice to all stakeholders, addresses contemporary challenges and focuses on human welfare.

Modi's call for reformed multilateralism comes ahead of India taking a seat at the powerful UN Security Council as an elected non-permanent member for a two year term beginning 1 January 2021.

"We cannot fight today's challenges with outdated structures. Without comprehensive reforms, the UN faces a crisis of confidence," PM Modi said on Monday in his video address to the High-Level meeting of the General Assembly.

India has been campaigning for reforms at the UN which would give it a seat at the powerful decision making and veto wielding Security Council. In an answer to a question in parliament on Monday, the government said that four of five of the permanent members of the UNSC were supportive of India joining the body as a permanent members. Though China was not named in the response to parliament, it was evident that Beijing was the exception.

India is among the largest troop contributors to UN Peacekeeping Missions, having provided over 200,000 troops in nearly 50 of the 71 peacekeeping missions mandated over the past six decades.

To commemorate the 75 years of the UN, the 193-member UN General Assembly adopted a forward-looking political declaration that called for strengthening mechanism to combat terrorism, reformed multilateralism, inclusive development and better preparedness to deal with challenges like the covid-19 pandemic.

Noting that the declaration also acknowledges the need for reform of the United Nations itself, PM Modi said, "For today's interconnected world, we need a reformed multilateralism that reflects today's realities, gives voice to all stakeholders, addresses contemporary challenges and focuses on human welfare."

India looks forward to working with all other nations towards this end, the prime minister said.

As a founding signatory of the UN Charter, India was part of that noble vision, which reflected India's own philosophy of '"Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam", which sees all countries in the world as a family, he said.

"Our world today is a better place because of the United Nations," the prime minister said.

In the Declaration, the Heads of State and Government acknowledged that the world currently is very different from what it was when the United Nations was created 75 years ago.

"Our working methods need to keep pace and adapt. We support the ongoing reforms by the Secretary-General...We reiterate our call for reforms of three of the principal organs of the United Nations. We commit to instill new life in the discussions on the reform of the Security Council and continue the work to revitalise the General Assembly and strengthen the Economic and Social Council," it said.

The spread of the covid-19 pandemic has meant that this year's high-level UN General Assembly is being held largely via video calls and conferences with world leaders opting not to travel to New York for the annual gathering. Heads of State and Government and Ministers sent in pre-recorded video statements for the high-level week, including the special commemoration of the UNs 75 years and the General Debate.

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WOODLAND, Wash.  Two Woodland elementary schools closed for in-person services Monday and Tuesday after two school district staff members tested positive for COVID-19, according school officials.

All staff members at Columbia Elementary School and North Fork Elementary School in Woodland may have been exposed to COVID-19, so both school buildings will be closed out of caution to protect staff and the public, according to a message to parents from Columbia Principal David Starkey.

Safety and facilities maintenance staff will deep-clean all schools before the return of students, community and staff members, The Daily News in Longview reported.

Daily instruction will continue remotely, but instruction may look a bit different because staff are working from remote locations, according to the message.

Woodland Public Schools will likely postpone the transition to face-to-face learning for elementary students from the planned September 28, 2020 start date, according to the message. At this time, the district does not have a new estimated start date for when it will be able to transition to face-to-face learning at any of the schools.

 The Associated Press
Security agents comprising police, the State Security Service, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps have stopped a protest against the increase in the prices of fuel, electricity and value-added tax in the country.

The protest led by a civil society organisation, Joint Action Forum, (JAF), started as a rally in front of the secretariat of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, (NUJ), along Farm Centre Road in Kano on Tuesday morning amidst heavy security presence.

The leader of the group, Musa Bashir, called on the federal government to reverse the price of fuel from N160 to the 2012 price of N86 and to also reverse the increase in rates of electricity and value-added tax.

They called for an immediate and unconditional reversal of the hike in petrol price from the current N160:00 to N86:50 price of 2012, and reversal of the increase in electricity tariffs and VAT.

The government has the responsibility to make our refineries work and build new ones in order to ensure availability of petroleum products at cheaper and affordable prices.

Re-engineering of the security apparatus to ensure organised crimes such as terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery are reduced to the barest minimum if not curtailed, he appealed.

After a heated exchange of words between the protesters and security agents, the security officers insisted that the protest would not hold lest it be hijacked by hoodlums to disrupt the peace in the city.

Although the security agents could not speak to journalists on the matter, the protesters declared that the struggle has just begun and they called on the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress to stop dragging its feet on the matter and ensure that the agreed minimum wage of N30,000 is implemented.

Security agents disrupted a similar protest in Lagos and other parts of the south-west, last week, clamping down on both the protesters and the journalists covering the event.

Last Monday, the Kano Civil Society Forum (KCSF), an umbrella body of over 180 civil society organisations (CSOs), called on the federal government to reverse the recent increase in petrol and electricity prices.

The president of the forum, Ibrahim Waiya, made the call while briefing journalists in Kano.

Mr Waiya said the forum calls for immediate reversals of the new price regimes for both electricity and the PMS.

Government should focus its energy on reducing cost of governance, blocking of leakages, and enhancing its revenue sources.

In the event such issue came up, the government should allow a participatory and all inclusive negotiation process,  he said.

Mr Waiya added that the KCSF is willing to partner with all stakeholders to ensure that the government reverses the price increase.

He described the price hike as anti-people and unacceptable when most Nigerians are struggling to survive after months of COVID-19 lockdown.

We strongly believe that such increase will further worsen the already deteriorating living conditions of Nigerians.

Hence, government should be looking at giving palliatives to its citizens to cushion the devastating effects of the global pandemic, he said.
DALLAS, Sept. 21, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Oncor Electric Delivery Company LLC ("Oncor") announced today the early participation results of the private offer to exchange (the "Exchange Offer") the outstanding debt securities listed in the table below (collectively, the "Old Notes") held by Eligible Holders (as defined below) for $300,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of Oncor's new series of 5.35% Senior Secured Notes due 2052 (the "New Notes"), as further described below.

The withdrawal deadline for the Exchange Offer occurred at 5:00 p.m. New York City time on September 21, 2020 (the "Withdrawal Date") and has not been further extended. As a result, Old Notes tendered prior to the withdrawal deadline on the Withdrawal Date may no longer be withdrawn, except where additional withdrawal rights are required by law (as determined by Oncor in its sole discretion).

The settlement date for Old Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn at or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on September 21, 2020 (the "Early Participation Date") is expected to be September 23, 2020 (the "Early Settlement Date"). Holders whose Old Notes are accepted for exchange will receive interest, if any, that has accrued from the most recent interest payment date in respect of the Old Notes to, but not including, the Early Settlement Date.

The following table sets forth certain information regarding the Old Notes and the Exchange Offer, including the aggregate principal amount of each series of Old Notes that was validly tendered and not validly withdrawn before the Withdrawal Date and the aggregate principal amount of each series of Old Notes that Oncor expects to accept:

Oncor Notes to

be Exchanged

CUSIP/PPN.

Outstanding

Principal

Amount

Acceptance

Priority Level

PrincipalAmount

Tendered(1)

Principal Amount

Accepted(2)





















7.25% Senior

Notes, Series B,

due December

30,2029

68233J B*4

$34,715,560.00

1

$34,715,560.00

$34,715,560.00(3)





















6.47% Senior

Notes, Series A,

due September

30, 2030

68233J A#1

$80,089,519.21

1

$80,089,519.21

$80,089,519.21(3)





















7.000% Senior

Secured Notes

due 2032

68233D AT4

$500,000,000

1

$6,522,000(4)

$6,522,000





















7.250% Senior

Secured Notes

due 2033

68233D AP2

$350,000,000

1

$26,533,000(4)

$26,533,000





















5.30% Senior

Secured Notes

due 2042

68233J AS3

$500,000,000

2

$240,489,000(4)

$152,141,000



(1) The aggregate principal amount of each series of Old Notes with Acceptance Priority Level 1 and Acceptance Priority Level 2, respectively, that have been validly tendered for exchange and not validly withdrawn, as of 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on September 21, 2020. (2) The aggregate principal amount of each series of validly tendered and not validly withdrawn Old Notes with Acceptance Priority Level 1 and Acceptance Priority Level 2, respectively, that have been accepted for exchange. (3) The issuance of New Notes will be rounded down to the nearest $1,000 principal amount. Oncor will pay any difference in cash in lieu of fractional amounts on the Early Settlement Date. (4) Based on information provided by the exchange agent to Oncor.

The Exchange Offer is subject to an aggregate exchange limit equal to the principal amount of Old Notes tendered that would require Oncor to issue the New Notes in an aggregate principal amount of $300,000,000 (the "Maximum Exchange Amount"). Subject to the terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer, on the Early Settlement Date, Oncor will accept for exchange the Old Notes tendered in the Exchange Offer in accordance with the "Acceptance Priority Level" (in numerical priority order) as set forth on the table above for each series of Old Notes (each an "Acceptance Priority Level" or "Level"), with Level 1 being the highest priority level. On the Early Settlement Date, Old Notes validly tendered on or before the Early Participation Date and not validly withdrawn will be accepted in accordance with the procedures described in the offering memorandum in the following order: (i) all Old Notes with Level 1 tendered on or before the Early Participation Date and not validly withdrawn on or before the Withdrawal Date and (ii) Old Notes with Level 2 tendered on or before the Early Participation Date and not validly withdrawn on or before the Withdrawal Date (subject to proration, as described below).

Since the Maximum Exchange Amount is not adequate to accept for exchange all of the validly tendered and not validly withdrawn Old Notes with Acceptance Priority Level 2, Oncor will allocate the available Maximum Exchange Amount among the aggregate principal amount of the Old Notes in Acceptance Priority Level 2 on a pro rata basis, as listed in the table above. After application of the pro rata calculation, Oncor will round the principal amount of the prorated series of Old Notes of Eligible Holders to be accepted for exchange down to the nearest $1,000 of principal amount at maturity. In the event Old Notes tendered are not accepted for exchange due to proration, they will be returned or credited promptly to the Eligible Holder's account. Depending on the amount of a particular series of Old Notes tendered by an Eligible Holder and the proration applied, if the principal amount of such Old Notes that are unaccepted and returned to such Eligible Holder as a result of proration would result in less than the minimum denomination required by the indenture governing such Old Notes, Oncor will either accept or reject all of such Holder's validly tendered Old Notes. Oncor does not expect to accept for exchange any Old Notes that are validly tendered after the Early Participation Date but before 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on October 5, 2020, unless extended by Oncor (the "Expiration Date").

Consummation of the Exchange Offer is subject to a number of conditions, including the absence of certain adverse legal and market developments. The Exchange Offer is also conditioned upon there having been validly tendered and not withdrawn, prior to the Expiration Date, Old Notes in a principal amount not less than the amount that would require Oncor to issue the New Notes in the aggregate principal amount of $300,000,000 (the "Minimum Condition"). The amount of outstanding Old Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn as of September 21, 2020, as reflected in the table above, satisfied the Minimum Condition.

The Exchange Offer is being conducted upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in an offering memorandum, as amended by this press release, and the related letter of transmittal. The complete terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer are described in the offering memorandum and related letter of transmittal. Terms used but not defined herein have the meanings set forth in the offering memorandum. The Exchange Offer is only made, and copies of the offering documents will only be made available, to any holder of the Old Notes who has certified such holder's status as (1) a "qualified institutional buyer" under Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended or (2) a non-US person outside the United States as defined under Regulation S under the Securities Act (each, an "Eligible Holder").

The New Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from such registration requirements.

This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the foregoing notes. The Exchange Offer is being made solely by the offering memorandum and related letter of transmittal and only to such persons and in such jurisdictions as is permitted under applicable law. This announcement is being issued pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 135c under the Securities Act.

Additional information concerning the terms of the Exchange Offer may be obtained by contacting D.F. King & Co., Inc., the exchange agent for the 7.000% Senior Secured Notes due 2032, 7.250% Senior Secured Notes due 2033 and 5.30% Senior Secured Notes due 2042 and information agent in connection with the Exchange Offer, at (866) 856-3065 or [email protected]

This announcement does not constitute an offer or solicitation to participate in the Exchange Offer in any jurisdiction in which it is unlawful to make such an offer.

SOURCE Oncor Electric Delivery Company, LLC
NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / September 21, 2020 / Labaton Sucharow a global investor rights law firm, announces an investigation on behalf of purchasers of the securities of HSBC Holdings plc (NYSE:HSBC).

On September 20, Buzzfeed reported a comprehensive investigation of global financial institutions, having obtained "twenty-two thousand pages of never-before-released government documents." Among the documents were more than 2,100 suspicious activity reports, or SARs, which banks and other financial institutions submitted to the US Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, or FinCEN, when they observe transactions that suggest money laundering or other illegal activity. Such reports can support investigations and intelligence gathering - but by themselves they are not evidence of a crime. The FinCen files included suspicious activity reports filed by nearly 90 financial institutions.

The FinCEN Files investigation reveals that global financial institutions, including HSBC, appeared to have facilitated $2 trillion of suspicious transactions that were flagged to the U.S. government over nearly two decades.

The report said banks such as HSBC, among others, engaged with and facilitated the movement of criminal money even after raising their suspicions.

On September 21, premarket, HSBC was trading down on heavy volume.

If you are a current stockholder, derivative, or options holder of HSBC and wish to learn more or discuss the issues surrounding the investigation, please contact David J. Schwartz using the toll-free number (800) 321-0476 or via email at dschwartz@labaton.com.

About the Firm

Labaton Sucharow LLP is one of the world's leading complex litigation firms representing clients in securities, antitrust, corporate governance and shareholder rights, and consumer cybersecurity and data privacy litigation. Labaton Sucharow has been recognized for its excellence by the courts and peers, and it is consistently ranked in leading industry publications. Offices are located in New York, NY, Wilmington, DE, and Washington, D.C. More information about Labaton Sucharow is available at http://www.labaton.com.

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CONTACT:

David J. Schwartz

(800) 321-0476

dschwartz@labaton.com

SOURCE: Labaton Sucharow LLP





View source version on accesswire.com:

https://www.accesswire.com/607150/National-Litigation-Firm-Labaton-Sucharow-Announces-Investigation-of-HSBC-Holdings-plcNYSEHSBCin-the-Wake-of-Money-Laundering-Allegations




Fake Indian currency notes (FICN) with face value of 1.17 crore and 17 gold biscuits, weighing 1.2 kg, were seized from a group of people in Cooch Behar district in north Bengal on Monday evening.

The operation was jointly conducted by the West Bengal Police and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).

Nine people were arrested and a car, two motorcycles and 11 mobile phones seized. The arrested men were going to Assam with the FICN and the gold.

Md Sana Akhtar, Superintendent of Police, Cooch Behar, said, We are carrying out an investigation to find the source of the consignment. The FICN were in denominations of 500 and 2000.

Soumyajit Roy, inspector-in-charge of Cooch Behar Kotwali police station said, The operation was conducted following an intelligent input from the SSB. The FICN and 17 gold biscuits were being smuggled to Assam.

The car, which was being escorted by the men on two motorcycles, initially managed to give the police the slip at Falakata. Later, the joint team led by Roy intercepted all the vehicles at Dauwaguri near Cooch Behar town.

The arrested men will be produced in court on Tuesday afternoon. We will appeal for police remand to interrogate them, Roy said.
GUILFORD - At the request of Rabbi Stacy Offner, some 300 people gathered on the Green to celebrate the life of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and raised their lit candles in the air.

Isnt that inspiring, Offner said, looking out at the crowd. That is just beautiful.

You cant fight darkness with darkness, she said. Only light can dampen the darkness and were making it light tonight.

Offner, from Madisons Temple Beth Tikvah, was one of six Shoreline women who spoke at the Monday rally, celebrating the life and achievements of the iconic Supreme Court justice who died Friday, Sept. 18 of complications from cancer.

Other speakers included Meghan Scanlon, executive director of Women & Family Life Center; Guilford First Congregational Churchs Rev. Ginger Brasher; Guilford High School sophomore Julia Schroers; Guilford resident and attorney Pam Ellman, and state Sen. Christine Cohen.

The event was organized by Guilford residents Sandra Baseggio, Janet Cronin-Rumanoff, Beth Brause and Lisa St. Marie.

She always talked about being positive and optimistic and looking ahead and thats what were hoping to do with this event, is to honor her, but also to look ahead, St. Marie said, referring to Bader Ginsburg, affectionately known as RBG by admirers.

I see a lot more activism, St. Marie said. I see a reminder of things that we need to fight for and I just see a lot more engagement from really multi generations.

This next generation is just so much more engaged and aware and enabled because of so many things Ruth Bader Ginsburg did, she added, as church bells pierced the night air.

Adam Millman stood with this wife, Sarah, while their two children 6-year-old son, Wesley, and 8-year-old daughter, Lucy, sat on the grass in front of them.

Millman said it was important to have his children participate and understand that the late Supreme Court Justice was a positive role model.

Especially for my daughter, knowing how impactful she was for womens rights, the Madison resident said.

I hope they walk away with just knowing how important she was and how she fought to better their lives and the lives of their mother and the lives of myself and, going further, how some of the laws she helped change impact them, he said.

Offner acknowledged that many people are experiencing heartbreak, despair, fear and sadness over the death of Bader Ginsburg.

From the seat where she sat on the Supreme Court, she rocked our world, Offner said of the justice who also was called a rock star by supporters.

Not because she was a super hero, but because she was true to herself and true to our constitution and true to America and true to those three words of Torah that drove her passions every day, she said, Tzedek, Tzedek Tirdof  Justice, justice you shall pursue.

As Cohen took to the microphone she was buoyed by the crowd and the candles lighting up the night.

Its so wonderful to be together, seeing all the lights flickering out there just fills me with hope at a time that doesnt feel like its very hopeful, she said.

There is something about this togetherness, she said. This understanding that we all share in grief and we share a collective notion that we can celebrate her life and we must honor her legacy as we move forward.
Charges on households for using too much water are set to be postponed again.

Irish Water now says there is "no date" for introduction of the excess-use penalty - the household water conservation charge - which has already been rescheduled several times.

The practicalities of measuring water usage and concerns over data protection were among the earlier obstacles that were being ironed out.

It now appears Irish Water fears treading on a fragile economy, with many households feeling the strain from job losses and reduced income.

The company flagged the delay in a briefing to the State's Water Advisory Body on the impact of Covid-19 and the early summer drought on its operations.

Read More

It would not go into details subsequently, saying only: "Irish Water is working with the CRU (Commission for the Regulation of Utilities) and Government on the approach to the roll-out of the household water conservation charges and no date has been agreed as yet."

The CRU approved the format and level of charges to be imposed more than a year ago and Irish Water had indicated it would begin issuing letters notifying households that their usage was excessive this year, with charges to follow at the start of 2021.

That was later changed to 2022 - and that date appears to be in doubt.

The CRU said there had been no directive to change the format approved last year and Irish Water stressed it remained Government policy to introduce the charge.

The Department of Housing, which has responsibility for the utility, confirmed this was the case. "Irish Water is now putting the necessary arrangements in train for implementation," it said. But it added: "No date has been set at this point."

It is three years since legislation was passed to allow the introduction of the controversial charge, which was to target up to 80,000 households using more than 1.7 times the average annual consumption, charging them 1.85 for every 1,000 litres over 213,000 litres, capped at 500.

The current uncertainty comes after a summer when the company was forced to announce a hosepipe ban to reduce usage in response to a drought which, it told the Water Advisory Body, caused multiple problems.

Among them was an increase in major bursts after dried-out, shrinking ground caused movement around rigid older pipes.

There were 86 major bursts in May, up 20pc on the previous May, while the problem worsened in June with the number of bursts up 40pc.

The cost of the additional repairs, along with contingency planning for rolling out tankers and other supports in the event of water shortages, is still being added up.

Covid-19 has brought extra challenges with planned upgrading and new infrastructure works delayed and progress on restarted projects slowed because of the requirement for social distancing precautions.

At one point, 95pc of 300 construction sites were shut down. Irish Water told the advisory body there was a probability of claims from contractors left out of pocket due to the shutdown.

The company confirmed it had since received "numerous claims" but it was too soon to gauge their impact. "We are working through the details of these claims," it said.

Plans to introduce revised charges for businesses and other non-domestic customers were also shelved early on in the pandemic.

The new charging system was to have come into effect in May and would have standardised charges across the country, replacing the many different charges previously applied by local authorities.

Loss of revenue from non-domestic charges from businesses unable to operate because of Covid-19 restrictions is calculated at 50m, or a quarter of expected annual revenue from this source.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 07:36:18|Editor: huaxia

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Akosua Adubea Agyepong (on screen), a youth representative from Ghana, speaks in a video message at a high-level meeting to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the United Nations at the UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 21, 2020. (Manuel Elias/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)

"The General Assembly called for the achievement of fifty fifty gender parity within the United Nations, and I must commend the exemplary leadership of the Secretary-General in achieving parity," says Akosua Adubea Agyepong.



UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- A youth reprentative attending a United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) meeting on Monday said that addressing the issues of gender equality begins with addressing the issues of women's leadership and representation.

"The world has for centuries dealt with the silent pandemic of sexual and gender based violence," Akosua Adubea Agyepong coming from Ghana said in a video message at the UNGA ceremony marking the 75th anniversary of the United Nations.

"The General Assembly called for the achievement of fifty fifty gender parity within the United Nations, and I must commend the exemplary leadership of the Secretary-General in achieving parity," she said.

"The world needs the ingenuity, innovation, energy, and leadership of young people," she added. 
A frantic search is underway for a missing 14-year-old autistic boy who went for a jog and never returned.

Police and SES crews were called to Launching Place, 54km east of Melbourne's CBD, on Tuesday following after the child went missing.

William Wall was last seen leaving for his daily walk on the Warburton Trail about 6.45am.

A frantic search is underway for a missing 14-year-old autistic boy (pictured) who went for a jog and never returned

It is understood he has high functioning autism, and sources said is it 'very unusual' for him not to return home.

Emergency crews are searching near the Warbuton rail trail near Earle St and Barak Drive.

'The 14-year-old told his family he would be gone for 15 minutes but has not returned home or been seen since,' Victoria Police said in a statement.

'Police and family hold serious concerns for Williams welfare as he may become disorientated without food due to the length of time he has been missing.'

The Air Wing, Specialist Solos Unit and local uniform officers are being supported by the State Emergency Services in searching for William.

'He is described as being 177cm tall, with a lean build, mousy brown hair and has a lazy right eye,' Victoria Police said.

William was last seen wearing a dark hoodie, dark-coloured track pants, black running shoes and had a hydration pack across his chest.

Anyone who has seen the missing teen or is able to provide information on his whereabouts is urged to contact Mooroolbark Police Station on 03 9725 9999.
(HealthDay)Type 2 diabetes can be tough to control without medication. But for some people, the thought of daily shots makes them delay or avoid starting insulin therapy.

Now, new research offers some hope for those insulin avoidersa once-a-week insulin injection may someday replace daily shots.

A phase 2 trial compared the new weekly insulin, called icodec, to the commonly used insulin glargine (Lantus, Basaglar), and found the new insulin led to a similar reduction in blood sugar levels. The weekly insulin also had a similar safety profile to daily insulin glargine.

"This is the first once-a-week injectable insulin, and this study suggests it's as effective as taking insulin daily. If it does well through scrutiny in phase 3 trials, it could make life easier for people with type 2 diabetes," explained Dr. Robert Gabbay, chief science and medical officer for the American Diabetes Association.

"Getting people to start insulin is often a challenge, but if you only have to do it once a week, that may help," he added.

Once people get over the hurdle of starting weekly injections, Gabbay said, they'll likely "be more adherent, have better blood sugar control and then fewer complications."

The study was funded by icodec's manufacturer, Novo Nordisk in Denmark. HealthDay reached out to the study researchers for comment, but they were unavailable.

Insulin is a hormone that helps the body process sugars from foods. Insulin ushers sugar from the blood into the body's cells, where it can be used for fuel.

People with type 2 diabetes usually don't use insulin efficiently, and they may not make enough insulin to keep up with the body's demands. That's when people with type 2 diabetes often need to start taking insulin. (In people with type 1 diabetes, the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy insulin-producing cells, destroying most of them. People with type 1 diabetes have no choice but to take insulin by injection or via an insulin pump.)

The latest study included nearly 250 people with type 2 diabetes, aged 18 to 75. None had received long-term insulin therapy before the trial.

The participants' diabetes was considered inadequately controlled, with A1Cs of 7% to 9.5%. A1C is a measure that estimates blood sugar levels over two months or so. A1C goals vary by individual, but often the goal is to be under 7%.

During the six-month trial, half of the participants were randomly assigned to take weekly injections of icodec. The remaining volunteers took insulin glargine daily.

By the end of the trial, people taking icodec saw a 1.33 percentage point drop in their A1C. The insulin glargine group dropped by 1.15 percentage points. Both groups had average A1Cs under 7% after starting insulin therapy.

One concern with any type of insulin therapy is low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Taking insulin is a balancing act. Too little insulin and your blood sugar levels stay too high, which can eventually lead to complications if that happens regularly. Too much insulin can cause your blood sugar to drop to dangerous levels that can make you feel awful, and lead to unconsciousness and even death if left untreated.

The two types of insulin had similar levels of severe hypoglycemic events. Most of the adverse events in this trial were mild, however.

Dr. Akankasha Goyal, an endocrinologist at NYU Langone Health in New York City, said, "This is a very promising, innovative treatment. The insulin gradually releases over seven days. So far, the efficacy and safety are similar between icodec and insulin glargine."

Goyal added, "Right now, insulin is a daily injection and we have a lot of resistance toward it. Icodec is more convenient and the once-a-week injection is a selling point."

Both Gabbay and Goyal said they can envision multiple groups that could be helped by a weekly insulin. One group, Gabbay noted, is older teens and young adults who have unpredictable lifestyles and might miss taking a daily insulin around the same time every day.

Another is elderly patientswhether they live on their own, have visiting nurse services or live in a nursing home.

"Making insulin simpler for people facing physical or cognitive challenges who are cared for by another person is potentially a benefit of weekly insulin. The chance for an error is less if medication is given once a week rather than seven times," Gabbay explained.

Goyal said family or friends often assist her elderly patients, which can be tough if they need daily insulin. She said weekly insulin could certainly help in that situation.

Novo Nordisk hopes to start its phase 3 trials of icodec later this year.

If all goes well in the phase 3 trials, Goyal and Gabbay both expect the drug will eventually be available to people with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

The report, by Dr. Julio Rosenstock of the Dallas Diabetes Research Center at Medical City in Dallas, and colleagues was published Sept. 22 in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Explore further Insulin pumps associated with lower risk of serious complications among young patients with type 1 diabetes

Copyright  2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
CAC Specialty (CAC) has appointed Lisa Harris as executive vice president of Client Service and Gary King as executive chairman of its newly formed Natural Resources Practice, based in Houston.

The Natural Resources Practice will warehouse CACs key resources focused on serving clients in the energy, mining, power, and alternative energy sectors.

Harris joins CAC Specialty with more than 17 years experience in the insurance brokerage industry; most recently, she served as managing director at Marsh JLT Specialty.

King joins from McGriff, where he has been a leading client advisor and thought leader in the Energy and Marine Division for 20 years.

CAC Specialty is an integrated specialty insurance brokerage and investment banking business focused on providing structuring expertise and placement capabilities across the spectrum of insurance and alternative capital markets.

Source: CAC Specialty

Topics Excess Surplus
Celebrating the unstoppable entrepreneurs whose ambitions transform our world

Orange, CA, Sept. 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) today announced that CEO and Founder, Kelly Ireland of CBT was named an Entrepreneur Of The Year 2020 Pacific Southwest- Orange County Award finalist. Now in its 34th year, the Entrepreneur Of The Year program honors entrepreneurial business leaders whose ambitions deliver innovation, growth and prosperity as they build and sustain successful businesses that transform our world.

Award winners will be announced through a special virtual event on October 6 and will join a lifelong community of esteemed Entrepreneur Of The Year alumni from around the world. This year, unstoppable entrepreneurs who have provided extraordinary support for their communities, employees and others during the COVID-19 crisis will also be recognized for their courage, resilience and ingenuity.

Entrepreneur Of The Year is one of the preeminent competitive award programs for entrepreneurs and leaders of high-growth companies. The nominees are evaluated based on six criteria, including overcoming adversity; financial performance; societal impact and commitment to building a values-based company; innovation; and talent management. Since its launch, the program has expanded to recognize business leaders in more than 145 cities in over 60 countries around the world.

Its an honor to be recognized as a finalist for EY's Entrepreneur of the Year Award among so many other remarkable business leaders in Orange County, said Kelly Ireland, Founder & CEO at CBT. CBT has always made it our mission to drive our customers' success, and that is especially important now in the face of 2020's many challenges. We have always been inquisitive by nature which provides that constant desire to create, transform and innovate with our unique human touch.

Founded in 2001, CBT is a premier, woman-owned Domain Expert Integrator and technology provider with extensive experience designing and deploying enterprise-class solutions. We consistently deliver excellence thanks to our first-class team and strategic partnerships with the worlds finest providers of hardware and software solutions. By combining best-of-breed technologies, CBT provides a balance of services and solutions in the areas of Industrial IoT, HPC and Analytics, Hybrid IT and IT Supply Chain Optimization to augment your enterprise with the necessary tools to excel. Learn more at www.cbtechinc.com.

Story continues

Regional award winners are eligible for consideration for the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Awards, to be announced in November during a virtual awards gala. The Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award winner will then move on to compete for the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year Award in June 2021.

Entrepreneur Of The Year Award winners become lifetime members of a global, multi-industry community of entrepreneurs, with exclusive, ongoing access to the experience, insight and wisdom of program alumni and other ecosystem members in over 60 countries  all supported by vast EY resources.

Sponsors

Founded and produced by Ernst & Young LLP, the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards are nationally sponsored by SAP America and the Kauffman Foundation.

In Orange County, sponsors also include Platinum sponsor: Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth, Gold sponsor: Tangram and Silver Sponsor: Cresa

About Entrepreneur Of The Year

Entrepreneur Of The Year is the worlds most prestigious business awards program for unstoppable entrepreneurs. These visionary leaders deliver innovation, growth and prosperity that transform our world. The program engages entrepreneurs with insights and experiences that foster growth. It connects them with their peers to strengthen entrepreneurship around the world. Entrepreneur Of The Year is the first and only truly global awards program of its kind. It celebrates entrepreneurs through regional and national awards programs in more than 145 cities in over 60 countries. Winners go on to compete for the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year title. ey.com/us/eoy

About EY

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.

Attachment

CONTACT: Ben Davies CBT 7145737733 ben.davies@cbtechinc.com




Banjul, Gambia (PANA) - Gambian parliamentarians on Tuesday took turns to express their views and reactions to the Promulgation Bill 2020 on the countrys draft constitution, tabled before the National Assembly before a vote is taken for the draft supreme law to go to referendum by January 2021
By Chen Yang

Speaking at an event hosted by the RAND Corporation on September 16, US Defense Secretary Mark Esper, in addition to continuing exaggerating the so-called threats from China, urged all US allies to increase defense spending to the ratio of at least 2% of GDP, a demand the US administration only made on NATO members previously. Washingtons request for all allies to increase defense budget is tantamount to stirring up a global arms race and destroying the current international order.

The US has kept asking its allies to increase military spending ever since Trump came into office. In February 2017, the then US Defense Secretary Mattis said at a NATO defense ministers meeting in Brussels that the US would appropriately fine tune its commitment to NATO if other allies failed to increase their military expenditure, citing American taxpayers would not bear unlimited expenses on safeguarding western values. In July 2018, Trump tweeted before attending a NATO summit that the US is spending many times more than any other country to protect them. Not fair to the US taxpayer, unacceptable. These countries have paid more after I came along, but thats far from enough. He then asked all NATO members to increase their defense spending to 2% of GDP.

According to Li Haidong, a professor of the Institute of International Relations at the China Foreign Affairs University, Americas demand for all allies to increase their defense spending came as no surprise given its America first policy. Its purpose is to keep its allies from taking a free ride or reaping the US in military and security expenses. Washington knows very well that its current capacities and financial strength cannot sustain it in an effective strategic competition. Asking all the allies to spend more on defense is its ploy to get ready for that competition both now and beyond.

While asking its allies to increase military expenditure, the US is increasing its defense spending as well, recording the highest military budget in the world. According to the 2019 global military expense report released by SIPRI on April 27, the US ranks first globally with 38% of the worlds total defense spending, almost the combined total of the ten countries trailing it. Yet the US has kept increasing its military budget despite such a huge leading edge. Esper in his speech at Rand Corporation on September 16, called on Congress to provide adequate, sustained, predictable, and timely budgets. Li said the US has made it very clear that it views China and Russia as strategic competitors and believes their conflicts cannot be resolved through the pursuit for common interests. Under such a background, it not only increases its own military spending, but pressures all its allies to do the same, which may quickly push the world into a dangerous arms race.

From America first to rampant unilateralism, from tearing up treaties and exiting international organizations to demanding more defense spending on all allies, the US has completely forsaken its international obligations while pursuing its unilateral gains and purposes at the expense of other countries legitimate interests. It is becoming the biggest destroyer of international order today. The current international order established on the ruins of WWII, especially the collective security system with the UN at the core, has effectively safeguarded world peace and development. But the US recent policies and moves under the America first principle have substantively threatened the international order.

Li also pointed out that the US believes the international order must be centered on itself and is trying hard to maintain its unipolar hegemony, including disrupting the order if it purportedly deviates from US interests. The harm the incumbent US administration has done to this order since it came into office is far beyond the imagination of the international community.

As the worlds largest military power, the US should have a basic sense of responsibility for its policies, words and deeds, which should serve to govern the world rather than disrupt it. It is still attempting to challenge rules and bend them at its disposal, but the era of the mighty call the shots has long gone.
A man working for Philadelphias violence prevention agency was placed on leave after the city learned he has open illegal gun charges against him, officials said Tuesday.

Morris Hobson, 34, declined comment. His lawyer, David Nenner, said Tuesday that Hobson legally owned the gun that led to his May arrest, but had let his license expire.

Hobson did not disclose the arrest when he began in June as the group violence intervention coordinator for the Office of Violence Prevention, according to Theron Pride, the offices senior director of strategies and programs.

The city acknowledged that even a conviction wouldnt disqualify Hobson. But the arrest put officials in the uncomfortable position of explaining how an office committed to reducing gun violence had hired a man facing gun charges.

Yeah, its a problem that he didnt disclose it, Mayor Jim Kenney told reporters Tuesday, responding to a question from Fox29. He should have disclosed it. ... Hes not being paid, and well see what happens when he gets to his court hearing.

Group Violence Intervention (GVI), launched in early August, is the citys latest initiative to reduce gun violence. It is a rebrand of the so-called focused deterrence model that identifies people at high risk for gun-related violence, supervises them closely, and offers them services. The model has been credited with significant drops in shootings  including a 35% reduction in gun violence in South Philadelphia in 2013-14.

In his city job, which pays $64,350 annually, Hobson oversaw the social services part of the program and supervised case managers. He was placed on unpaid leave last Wednesday.

Hobson was arrested May 20 on the 6700 block of Germantown Avenue, according to court records. He was charged with carrying a gun without a license, a third-degree felony, and carrying a gun on a public street, a misdemeanor. He was released the next day on $25,000 unsecured bail.

A spokesperson for the District Attorneys Office said the case has been referred to the state attorney general, a step local prosecutors often take to avoid potential conflicts of interest.

Hobson, who has a private cleaning business, carried the gun in his book bag from his business to his car, and then stowed it in an armrest compartment, Nenner said. A short while later, while Hobson was driving home, two officers pulled him over, Nenner said.

When an officer approached and asked if he had any guns or drugs in his car, Hobson replied that he had a gun but his license had expired, Nenner said.

Officers didnt say why they stopped Hobsons car, Nenner said. Hobson, who is Black, doesnt think the officers saw him putting the gun in the armrest console, and believes it was a case of racial profiling, Nenner said.

The expired gun license was a mistake by a man with no criminal history, Nenner said, adding that Hobson was "not like a bandit running around with an illegal firearm.

Pride, of the antiviolence office, said the charges would not automatically disqualify Hobson from working for the agency. However, due to the nature of the gun violence intervention strategy he works on, it does give us pause," Pride said.

"We have hired people with criminal records and we fund programs that employ people who were previously charged and convicted of crimes, because this supports their ability to be viewed as credible messengers when engaging other individuals involved in violence, Pride said.

Hobson was already a city employee when he transferred into the Office of Violence Prevention, Pride said.

On his LinkedIn account, Hobson says he worked from July 2019 to June 2020 as a coalition manager of Philly Counts, the citys program to ensure people are counted in the 2020 Census.

He also coordinated social media activity in various city departments from 2014 to 2016, and before that, worked as a Philly 311 contact center agent from 2012 to 2014, the account says.
Assumed drug plane forced from Mexican territory, lands in Belize

Chetumal, Q.R.  Elements of the Mexican Army were successful in preventing what was believed to be a drug plane from landing in Mexican territory Monday. The plane was detected around 2:00 a.m., forcing its pilot to land along the border in Belize.

According to the Secretariat of National Defense, their Comprehensive Air Surveillance System detected an illicit aircraft in Mexican airspace coming from South America for which Mexican Air Force aircraft were deployed.

After being detected, the pilot carried forward across the border. Belize authorities found the downed plane near the village of Santa Marta. At the time of location, officials say the aircraft had already been emptied of its cargo and crew.

According to Belizean media, the plane landed during the early morning hours in the vicinity of the countrys old Northern Highway near the border with Mexico. When the police finally located it, it was void of cargo or people.
- The musician who is in his 30s identified as Rodney Cudjoe was deported to Ghana separating with his sugar mummy in the UK named Beth Hainling

- It was reported the lovers had a great time in their relationship after meeting online in 2014 which made the old lady move to Ghana to meet her young lover

- She indicated that he gave her a great reception but things went south after they got married, moved to the UK and he kept demanding too much

- Following their separation, the man was kicked out of the country

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Rodney Cudjoe, a Ghanaian musician in his 30s, has reportedly been deported from the United Kingdom after he separated with a 68-year-old white lady he got married to.

According to Ghanacelebrities.com and Mirror.co.uk, the young man fell in love with the old lady through a social media conversation where the love affair began.

READ ALSO: Chris Kirubi shows off his massive house, lake and expensive car collection

Things fall apart as Ghanaian musician gets sacked from UK after marrying white sugar mummy Source: Mirror.co.uk

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Harambee Stars defender Abud Omar joins Greek side Ionikos FC

Smitten to the bones, Beth Hainling, the 68-year-old lady, flew to Ghana in August 2015 in the heat of the moment between the two lovers.

Beth recalled that Rodney was so charming that she slept with him the very first day she arrived in Africa to meet the young Ghanaian musician.

During that visit, events unfolded quickly and the white lady was given a surprise marriage proposal and wedding by her charming lover.

I was a bit lonely as my sister Gaynor had died a couple of years earlier and my mum had been diagnosed with dementia. But Rodney was very friendly and chatty. We got on well, she recalled.

READ ALSO: Mwanahabari aliyemwaga mwachozi alipokutana na Uhuru asema hajawahi kumhoji mwanasiasa yeyote

Rodney flew to the UK in 2017 to join his beloved wife although the woman's two children did not approve of it.

According to Beth, things went south as her young lover kept demanding too much from her and he was always unsatisfied.

The woman recounted how her Ghananian ex-lover took a lot of money close to 18,000 (KSh 2.4 million) in various expenses and she got tired of him.

Following their separation, the man was kicked out of the UK and shipped back to Africa not just with a broken heart but also a deflated ego.

READ ALSO: 7 photos of Rachel Ruto in modest clothes which magnify her godly nature

In other news, a baby girl who was born while still airborne became lucky after she was given free flights for life.

The EgyptAir flight which was headed to London from Cairo had to do an emergency landing when Hiyam Nasr Naji Daaban realised she was going into labour.

According to The Independent, Nasr is a Yemen passenger and when she went into labour, the pilot diverted the service to Munich, Germany in hopes that she could reach the hospital in time.

Even will all the efforts the pilot made, the lady did not reach the hospital as she delivered a baby girl before the plane landed.

Nasr was lucky as she delivered with the help of a doctor who happened to be on board.

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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.
Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili.

The global maple syrup market is likely to expand at a CAGR of 6.2% over the forecast period of 2017-2023, affirms Market Research Future (MRFR) in a detailed study. Maple syrup is associated with various health benefits which are estimated to drive the global Maple Syrup Industry amidst growing health-consciousness among consumers.

Maple syrup enjoys a reputation as a wholesome and natural sweetener. It has a high antioxidant content and contains numerous phenolic compounds which make it a highly nutritional product. There is heightened demand among consumers for maple syrup as more emphasis is being laid down on consumption of healthier and organic food ingredients. Maple sugar has gained traction as a flavoring agent in the food industry. It is being extensively used by bakery and confectionery manufacturers which is expected to drive the market demand.

Food manufacturers are adopting various strategies such as new product launches and innovation to stay competitive in the market. Extension of existing product ranges, re-launches and new reformulations coupled with attractive packaging and design improvement are expected to augur well for the market growth. With a greater focus on design, shape of the container, and long shelf life, food manufacturers are targeting towards capturing a wider consumer base.

Rigorous advertising and marketing activities initiated by producers have resulted in increased brand awareness which ultimately leads to an increased sale. Moreover, maple syrup manufacturers are tying up with supermarket and hypermarket chains which is expected to accelerate the growth of the global maple syrup market.

Get a FREE Sample Copy of Report: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/4944

Segmentation

The global maple syrup market has been segmented based on type, grade, application, and distribution channel.

By type, the global maple syrup market has been segmented into ed maple, black maple, and sugar maple syrup. The sugar maple syrup segment is leading the market on account of wider utilization as a flavoring agent in a variety of food products.

By grade, the global maple syrup market has been segmented into grade A, processing grade, substandard, and others. The grade A segment is leading the market. Grade A maple syrup is highly pure and free from suspended particles which make them highly popular.

By application, the global maple syrup market has been segmented into food & beverages, bakery & confectionery, flavor enhancer, dairy & frozen desserts, and others. The bakery & confectionery segment is dominating the global market owing to extensive application in cake toppings, oatmeal, and other bakery products.

By distribution channel, the global maple syrup market has been segmented into store-based and non-store based distribution channel. The store-based distribution channel is the dominant segment as it provides convenience to buyers.

Regional Analysis

By region, the global maple syrup market has been segmented into North America, Asia Pacific (APAC), Europe, and the Rest of the World (RoW).

North America is the leading market for maple syrup. Burgeoning demand experienced due to expanding food & beverage industry is driving the growth of the North America market. Moreover, the Us and Canada are among the top producers and exporters of maple syrup which positions North America as a leading market.

Europe too is a significant market for maple syrup and is expected to exhibit strong growth over the forecast period. High consumer inclination towards maple syrup coupled with high demand from the bakery industry in the region supports the growth of the Europe market. France and Germany are the key contributors to the Europe market.

Competitive Landscape

DaVinci Gourmet LLC (U.S.), B&G Foods, Inc. (U.S.), Pinnacle Foods Inc. (U.S.), The Kraft Heinz Company (U.S.), Monin, Inc. (U.S.), The J. M. Smucker Company (U.S.), and Amoretti SpA (Itlay) are the key players in the global maple syrup market.

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Industry Updates

March 2019- Birch Benders, a food manufacturer, introduced a first-to-market paleo-and keto-friendly syrup line, Magic Syrup. The product is available in three variants - Classic Maple, Maple Bourbon, and Mind Body Maple. The new offerings are produced with clean, paleo-and-keto-friendly ingredients.

Note : Our team of researchers are studying Covid-19 and its impact on various industry verticals and wherever required will be considering covid19 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 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.

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An olive green hand grenade lies among leaves and other debris in a residential compound of a local election official in Myanmar's capital Naypyidaw, Sept. 20, 2020.

Myanmars military and political parties on Monday condemned intimidation tactics in the run-up to November polls after the weekend discovery of unexploded hand grenades at the home of the top election official in the capital Naypyidaw.

With Myanmar headed to the polls Nov. 8 to elect national and state legislatures, campaigning has been hampered by increasingly tight restrictions aimed at fighting a resurgence of the coronavirus pandemic.

No group or individual has claimed responsibility for the grenades in Naypyidaw, discovered just days after the Union Election Commission, the national body that oversees voting, ruled out a postponement of the balloting despite an appeal by the main opposition party and a group of small parties, citing rigid pandemic restrictions.

Two hand grenades were discovered Saturday and Sunday at the residential compound of Thein Htwe, chairman of the Naypyidaw Election Subcommission, said spokesmen for the Myanmar Police Force and the army.

Myanmar military spokesman Major General Zaw Min Tun said a review of security footage by a military technical team indicated that the two grenades were both thrown near Thein Htwes residence on Saturday night, although one was not discovered until Sunday afternoon.

Video recordings on the homes four CCTV cameras indicate that someone threw an object into the compound from the street, where it hit a broom and landed by a tree, Zaw Min Tun said.

We searched in that area and found a grenade of the same type as the first one, he said. As we have seen in the CCTV footage, it was thrown in around 9:48 p.m., the same time the first one was thrown in.

We are very close to the election date, he said. This could be intimidation. Besides, the perpetrators must have intended to stoke fear and disillusionment among various organizations.

The military spokesmans concern was echoed by election observers, journalists, and lawmakers who said they view the incident as a threat to the elections.

Maung Maung Swe, a lawmaker from the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) party who represents Mandalay region, said the incident was meant to cause panic in the run-up to the vote.

The perpetrators are trying to intimidate the public, he said.

It is normal for some groups of people to respond like that when they see results they dont expect. I want to appeal to the people not to panic if there are rumors and threats before the election, said Maung Maung Swe.

Particularly worrying

Nandar Hla Myint, spokesman of the opposition Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), said the incident was particularly worrying because it is unknown which organization or individual threw the hand grenades.

If the authorities concerned examine the incident and reveal the truth, everything will be in the clear, he told RFA. Otherwise, there will be confusion and misconceptions among the parties. It will lead to concerns.

The USDP, Myanmars main opposition party, joined other small parties last week in an appeal to postpone the elections, arguing that size limits on rallies, stay-at-home-orders, and quarantines to fight a resurgence of COVID-19 all played to the advantage of 75-year-old leader Aung San Suu Kyis ruling NLD.

Aung Soe Win, assistant director of Naypyidaw Election Subcommission, said the body is not concerned about the incident.

We will keep performing our duties, he told RFA. I dont want to comment on the conclusions reached by many people.

Journalist Myint Kyaw, a member of the Myanmar Press Council, noted that no such acts of intimidation occurred before the last general elections in 2015.

Just last week there was a bloody brawl between USDP campaigners and NLD supporters, he said. Now, we have the bomb incident.

Sai Ye Kyaw Swar Myint, executive director of the elections watchdog group Peoples Alliance for Credible Elections said, No matter what the cause is, we should not accept violent acts regarding the election.

About 37.5 million voters in Myanmars population of 54 million are eligible to cast ballots in the Nov. 8 elections. Nearly 7,000 candidates from more than 90 parties, as well as independents, are vying for 1,171 seats available in both houses of the national parliament and in state and regional legislatures.



Reported by Thet Su Aung and Thiha Tun for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Ye Kaung Myint Maung. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
The Catholic actress cautioned her Christian followers n social media about an onslaught of ignorance and anti-religion rhetoric as the race to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburgs SCOTUS seat plays out.

The Everybody Loves Raymond actress shared an ominous message with her 400k+ Twitter followers about what she thinks will unfold in the coming weeks. Her prediction? Social media will be overrun with anti-religion rhetoric as the debate continues over whether RBGs vacant Supreme Court seat should be filled before the election.

Friends, be prepared for social media to be filled with an onslaught of arrogant pronouncements based on breathtaking ignorance of religion in general, Christianity specifically and Catholicism in particularly by people who wouldnt recognize God if He bit them on the bum, the actress tweeted.

While the pro-life actress didnt say directly what she was talking about, it appears that she is talking about filling the vacant Supreme Court seat.

As discussions continue over whether a replacement should be pushed now or after the November election, most of the debates are around the candidates stance on abortion, a topic that often brings religion into the dialogue.

Heaton is known to make her opinions on abortion known. Back in February, she tweeted a rebuke of Democrats for inviting pro-life advocates onto the partys platform, Fox News reports.

I dont understand why pro-life people want to know if they are welcome to join the democrat party, Heaton wrote. Why would any civilized person want to support a barbaric platform that champions abortion for any reason through all nine months funded by taxpayers?

While Heaton went public with her feelings on this issue, she continually says that she tries her best to remove herself from politics, while also letting her faith guide her when it comes to life decisions.

Heaton expressed that she didnt vote in the 2016 election and doesnt plan to in the 2020 election either because she finds both candidates unacceptable.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- New York City Department of Education (DOE) officials say they plan to send exterminators to the Michael J. Petrides School with the hopes of addressing an ongoing mice problem.

A spokesman for the DOE said the schools location in a field contributes to mice migrating indoors when the temperature drops.
Actor Kangana Ranaut is taking potshots at Deepika Padukone on Twitter after new developments in the Sushant Singh Rajput death case. Kangana ridiculed Deepikas depression awareness campaign, hinting its a consequence of drug abuse.

Sharing a news clip on Twitter, Kangana wrote, Repeat after me, depression is a consequence of drug abuse. So called high society rich star children who claim to be classy and have a good upbringing ask their manager , MAAL HAI KYA? #boycottBollywoodDruggies #DeepikaPadukone. After Sushants death by suicide in June, Deepika took to social media to spread awareness about mental health using the phrase repeat after me.

The drug probe into Sushants death by the Narcotic Control Bureau is getting more intense every week. On Monday, it was reported that Sara Ali Khan, Rakul Preet Singh and Simone Khambatta will be summoned by the NCB after they were named by actor Rhea Chakraborty. NCBs deputy director KPS Malhotra said, Sara, Rakul, and Simone will be summoned this week.

A few news channels have also found WhatsApp chats between Sushants former manager Jaya Saha, a K and a D, discussing drug supplies. As per a Republic report, the chat messages are from October 2017 and show D asking for maal from K who replies that she has it, but it is at home. D also then clarifies that she needs hash and not weed as they plan to meet up at a restaurant.

Also read | Payal Ghosh slams those doubting her claims against Anurag Kashyap: People blame women for everything

Investigations into the drug angle has led the NCB to Amritsar and Pakistan with organisations supplying cocaine and other hard drugs to Mumbai, and to Bollywood. We have a fair idea as to who is involved in the Bollywood drug scene and (who the) Mumbai suppliers (are). The evidence is being collected before the consumers of hard drugs including heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine and their suppliers are charged, said a senior NCB official who is familiar with the investigations in the case. The official spoke on the condition that he is not named.

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LOS ANGELESIn March, when worldwide economic shutdowns and stay-at-home orders went into effect as countries attempted to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, the videoconferencing app Zoom saw a sudden rise in popularity. Offering a safe, convenient  though virtual  way for people under lockdown to meet face-to-face, the app saw its daily user totals skyrocket from 10 million, to 200 million.

Along with this overnight success came a new problem  Zoombombing. That is, hackers who gained unauthorized access to user chats, including government meetings, religious services, and childrens online schooling, bombarding those chats with porn, and other unwanted imagery.

Not surprisingly, Zoom now faces a slew of lawsuits from angry users who say that the privacy and safety of their online meetings was compromised by porn, and other forms of Zoombombing  and they want Zoom to pay.

But in a filing to the United States District Court for Californias Northern District last week, the San Jose-based videoconferencing company says that the Zoombomb attacks are not its fault, and that the company is protected from legal liability under Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act, according to a report by the Los Angeles Times.

As AVN has reported, Section 230  often described as The First Amendment of the Internet  protects online platforms from legal liability over content posted by users. But the law has recently faced threats from both sides of the political aisle, with calls for rolling back its safeguards.

Zoom plays no role whatsoever in developing the offensive conduct, but instead engages in the quintessential type of publisher activity, the companys lawyers argued in the court brief, going on to state that because the Zoombombs were not the result of any activity by the company, Section 230s safeguards must apply.

Zoom also argued that the plaintiffs in the case fail to show how they were actually harmed by the Zoombombing intrusions.

The lawsuits are being overseen by Judge Lucy Koh, a 2010 Barack Obama appointee who has become widely known for tough rulings on issues affecting Silicon Valley giants. Most recently, Koh ruled last year that Google may have violated federal wiretapping laws with its practice of mining data from Gmail user emails, in order to micro-target those users with advertising.

Zoom has said that it has responded actively to user privacy and security complaints. In April, the companys 50-year-old CEO Eric Yuan admitted that he really messed up due to the Zoombombing incidents  as well as a lawsuit alleging that Zoom harvested user data and sold it to Facebook, even for users who did not have Facebook accounts.

Photo By Coolcaesar / Wikimedia Commons
Indian security agencies are concerned over the latest development in which the United States Department of Justice has said that five Chinese hackers who charged were involved to target the Indian government networks and comprised of foreign government computer networks. The US government alleged that the hackers targeted "over 100 victim companies in the United States and abroad, including software development companies, computer hardware manufacturers, telecommunications providers, social media companies, video game companies, non-profit organizations, universities, think tanks, and foreign governments, as well as pro-democracy politicians and activists in Hong Kong.

The Justice Department investigation once again highlights how the Chinese hackers systemically conspiring to hack Indian computer networks including other countries.

There is an urgent need for Indian law enforcement agencies to investigate the leads and file prosecution against Chinese and North Korean hackers. said a senior security official deployed in Indian Security establishment to Zee Media.

"In about 2019, the conspirators compromised government of India websites, as well as virtual private networks and database servers supporting the government of India. The conspirators used VPS PROVIDER servers to connect to an Open VPN the network owned by the government of India," the indictment said.

The conspirators had installed "Cobalt strike" malware on Indian government-protected computers, it added.

As per the investigation, security researchers have tracked using the threat labels APT41, Barium, Winnti, Wicked Panda, and Wicked Spider, facilitated the theft of source code, software code signing certificates, customer account data, and valuable business information, says the Department of Justice (DOJ). These intrusions also facilitated the defendants other criminal schemes, including ransomware and crypto-jacking schemes, the latter of which refers to the groups unauthorized use of victim computers to mine cryptocurrency.

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The Department of Justice has used every tool available to disrupt the illegal computer intrusions and cyberattacks by these Chinese citizens, said Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey A. Rosen. Regrettably, the Chinese communist party has chosen a different path of making China safe for cybercriminals so long as they attack computers outside China and steal intellectual property helpful to China.

The report added, The racketeering conspiracy pertained to the three defendants conducting the affairs of Chengdu 404 Network Technology (Chengdu 404), a PRC company, through a pattern of racketeering activity involving computer intrusion offenses affecting over 100 victim companies, organizations, and individuals in the United States and around the world, including India. The defendants also compromised foreign government computer networks in India and Vietnam, and targeted, but did not compromise, government computer networks in the United Kingdom. In one notable instance, the defendants conducted a ransomware attack on the network of a non-profit organization dedicated to combating global poverty.

In India, there are many cases that have been reported in the last few months in which Chinese hackers associated with the Peoples Liberation of Army (PLA) attempted to gather sensitive information of the country through cyber espionage. There have been attempts made by these hackers to send a special computer program worldwide by attaching malware tools to cyber espionage. Icebug, Hidden Lynx (a professional advanced persistent threat using the program), and APT-12 have been used for attacking government and industrial organizations by Chinese hackers.

In 2014, the US had charged five PLA military officers for espionage and they were part of unit '61398'. The US agencies believe that, like Unit '61398', many such groups exist in China with the active support of the PLA, who are engaged in cyber spying around the world.

Many analysts believe China now has the capability to successfully target critical infrastructure during the war. There is also concern that Chinese hackers may disrupt the electric grid and banking system through cyber attacks.
T he coronavirus pandemic has upended normal life in countless ways, but the switch from commuting to the office each day to working from home has proved to be the biggest change for millions of us.

And while many of Londons office workforce have recently been venturing back a few days a week, surveys still indicate that long term, many employees and major employers do not think there will be a return to the pre-pandemic routine of nearly all staff spending the majority of their time at a central London desk.

So what does this mean for the purpose and function of our offices? Beyond essential alterations to ensure workplaces are Covid-19 safe, these sudden and dramatic behavioural shifts could also bring profound long-term changes to the future of office design and our activity within workspaces.

Covid has accelerated changes that were already happening to an extent, says Ewan Jones, a partner at architects Grimshaw, noting that companies were already thinking about how to make spaces that allowed people to work more independently, and then come together for social tasks.

When you work individually, that can be done almost anywhere now electronically, says Jones. But the value of offices perhaps is in the social and collaborative aspects. Fewer people are having individual desks, more space is being given over to collaboration and joint working. And we can see that being accelerated.

John Burgess, associate director for real estate and assets at advisory firm Grant Thornton, forecasts that having offices split into single-use areas  staff canteens, floors dedicated to specific departments or C-suite senior management  will give way to more flexible use of space. In the new model, the entire emphasis will be on collaboration, with your team, wider teams and with customers and clients, says Burgess. It is likely that employee desk space will be drastically reduced  by 50 per cent or more  and will need to be booked in advance, with only large meeting rooms retained for team or project collaboration.

Given the continuing Covid uncertainty and dismal forecasts for the UK economy however, the outlook for major new office developments could not be described as rosy. Many companies are pausing before making decisions on big office moves and seeking to adapt what they already have to better suit their new needs.

Nobody is going to rush out to spend a large amount of money on anything if they can avoid it, says Mat Oakley, head of the UK and European commercial property research team for property agent Savills. So I think companies that were planning on moving may well delay that decision and extend their lease by a year or so till they know what proportion of their staff are coming in, how regularly, where the peaks and troughs are.

The focus is likely to be on refitting existing office space.

Grimshaw is already experimenting in its Clerkenwell headquarters, and has converted two areas into collaborative spaces. Weve done different layouts and were encouraging people to use them in different ways and mix it up, says Grimshaw senior partner Kirsten Lees. Chairs and furniture are spaced to allow for social distancing but the space is flexible.

Nick Lowndes

[We have] a big long table with no screens that can be a dining table where everyone has a lunch together, notes Lees. So its an area where theres informal chat but also its productive, with a big wall of pin-up space where we can look at designs.

Yetta Reardon Smith, senior workplace strategist at Savills, believes that better-designed workspaces will be a significant factor for employers in both persuading staff to return to the office and attracting new talent.

Companies will need to provide better video conferencing facilities, along with landscaped environments which reduce the noise and sea of desks monotony of large open-plan offices, she says, with acoustic ceiling and partition panels, and different colours and textures.

Clients are also inquiring about providing more showers and lockers for employees wanting to walk or cycle when they return to work, as we rethink our commutes and seek to build on health benefits discovered in lockdown, notes Reardon Smith.

I think the well-being factor is going to come to the fore. People have had their time at home, theyve had more exercise, theyve had home-cooked food, and their approach to health is going to be different and I think offices will have to reflect that.

An opinion poll featured in a recent Savills report, Time to Transform: Workplace Post-Covid 19, found that the most popular post-pandemic option among employees was to return to the office three (34 per cent) or four days (20 per cent) per week, while only 6 per cent favoured continuing to work from home full time.

This adds to mounting evidence that while homeworking will decline from lockdown levels, long term, the number of office staff commuting into central London five days a week seems unlikely to return to pre-Covid levels.

This will lead to a change in the way space is used in central London, argues Dr Kerstin Sailer, an associate professor in social and spatial networks at University College Londons Bartlett School of Architecture. Companies will still have central London offices but they will tend to be smaller.

They will be more like a club  focused on the social and collaborative elements of work, Sailer says. A place where you get together, where you chat, where you arrange your meetings with colleagues and clients.

In Londons suburbs and the surrounding commuter towns and villages, Sailer says there is likely to be growing use of third places  neither home nor the company office  such as libraries, coffee shops and pubs.

Co-working spaces like those run by companies such as IWG, WeWork, or smaller operators such as south-east Londons Hatcham House, may also expand in the so-called donut region around the centre of the capital.

This could help to revive struggling high streets in these locations. And in central London there will be opportunity to rethink the urban environment and current office space.

London will still be a huge magnet for growth, for talent, and for the clustering of some of the big organisations, says Grimshaws Lees, who notes that there will likely be more multi-tenancy office buildings as firms will occupy less space. I think there will be a big shift to adaptive reuse, she says.

Were going to see some adaption of existing office buildings into residential  If curated, greater distribution [of staff and offices] may actually help with the housing crisis.
UK Labour leader Keir Starmer sought to move past years of infighting and electoral defeat in a keynote speech Tuesday that included a stinging personal attack on Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Starmer used his address to the main opposition party's virtual annual conference to distance himself from his left-wing predecessor Jeremy Corbyn, who oversaw December's historic electoral rout.

Labour recorded its worst showing since the 1930s as Johnson's Conservatives won an 80-seat majority in the House of Commons, which they used to take Britain out of the European Union in January this year.

In a live-streamed address from Doncaster, northern England, Starmer said the party must take the blame.

"Never again will Labour go into an election not being trusted on national security, with your job, with your community and with your money," he said.

"That's what being under new leadership means."

Corbyn's left-wing views attracted hundreds of thousands of new members to Labour, which has been out of office since 2010, but he presided over two election defeats.

"It's time to get serious about winning," Starmer said to camera, deprived of a real-life audience because of coronavirus restrictions.

The next election is not due until 2024 and Starmer, a former human rights lawyer and public prosecutor who was elected leader in April, set out no concrete policies.

But he said he would lead according to his values of "decency, fairness, opportunity, compassion and security" -- including national security, an area in which the life-long anti-war campaigner Corbyn lost support.

And he launched a blistering attack on Johnson's own character and elastic approach to the truth in both his political career and his former job as a journalist.

"While Boris Johnson was writing flippant columns about bendy bananas, I was defending victims and prosecuting terrorists," Starmer said, referring to the premier's stories about EU regulations.

"While he was being sacked by a newspaper for making up quotes, I was fighting for justice and the rule of law."

Starmer repeated his accusation that the government was guilty of "serial incompetence" in response to the coronavirus pandemic, which has seen almost 42,000 deaths in Britain -- the worst toll in Europe.

Of Johnson, he said: "He's just not serious. He's just not up to the job."

Opinion polls suggest such attacks are winning public support, with one recent YouGov poll putting Labour and the Tories level for the first time since Johnson took over in July 2019.

Starmer has also halted the exodus of Jewish members sparked by allegations -- strongly denied -- that the fervently pro-Palestinian Corbyn ignored widespread anti-Semitism in the party.

On Tuesday he paid tribute to Jewish former MP Ruth Smeeth, who spoke out about the abuse she received, after she introduced his speech.

Her seat in the central English city of Stoke-on-Trent was one of a string of former Labour strongholds that fell to the Tories in December, and which Starmer must win back to take power.

Many voters were wooed by Johnson's promise to end years of political arguments over how to implement the 2016 referendum vote to Brexit -- and put off by Labour's own muddled policy on the issue.

Starmer urged them to "take another look" at his party and despite his own opposition to Brexit, declared the debate "over".

But he demanded Johnson deliver on his promise to get a post-Brexit trade deal with the EU, amid fears that the current deadlock in talks will lead to huge economic disruption.

"If that happens, he'll have nobody to blame but himself," Starmer said, adding: "We want to get this deal done."

In the absence of any clear policies, many Corbyn supporters are still wary of Starmer's leadership.

But the Tories rejected his attempt at a re-brand, saying the years Starmer spent in Corbyn's top team showed he was "just more of the same old Labour".
Erroneous and reversed coronavirus guidance from the nation's top health agency amid reports of tampering from Trump administration officials is "deeply concerning" and could "ruin the credibility" of the agency, Dr. Scott Gottlieb told CNBC on Tuesday.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention acknowledged on Monday it erroneously posted draft guidance that said the coronavirus spreads through airborne particles that can remain suspended in the air and travel beyond 6 feet. The changes came as global health officials at the World Health Organization said there's no "new evidence" on airborne particles.

"It's really hard to believe that this was an accidental posting of draft guidance that they had to subsequently pull down 48 hours later that they didn't realize they had put it up over the course of the weekend," said Gottlieb, former Food and Drug Administration chief in the Trump administration.

The CDC's error on Monday came only days after it reversed controversial coronavirus testing guidance on its website that said people who were exposed to an infected person but weren't showing any symptoms did "not necessarily need a test." The CDC called the update a "clarification" amid reports from The New York Times that the guidance came from Trump administration officials rather than CDC scientists. The Times cited people familiar with the matter and internal documents.

Those reports follow similar accounts first reported by Politico earlier this month that communications aides in the Department of Health and Human Services requested and received the ability to review and seek changes to the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports, coronavirus-related studies published by the CDC.

"This is deeply concerning," Gottlieb said in Tuesday's "Squawk Box" interview. "You need to be able to accept that the material being put out by an organization, by an agency, represents the view of that agency." He added that the administration officials could publish their views on the coronavirus but should do so under their signature and not the CDC's.

"If it doesn't represent the work of CDC, it shouldn't have the CDC's logo on it," Gottlieb said. "I think that's the most corrosive event of the last several weeks  seeing information get put up on the CDC website that doesn't necessarily represent the work of the CDC scientists or doesn't represent the consensus of that agency."

However, Gottlieb said many scientists already believe the coronavirus could spread through the air under the right conditions, and that there was "nothing surprising" with the removed guidance.

"A virus that spreads predominantly through droplet transmission under certain circumstances is going to spread through aerosolization," Gottlieb said. "I think people need to just assume that that's the fact, most scientists at this point assume that."

The World Health Organization has said Covid-19 primarily spreads through respiratory droplets that pass when an infected person coughs, sneezes or breathes. WHO officials said Monday there are certain situations  people crowded into a small space without adequate ventilation for a long time, for example  where aerosol-based transmission can occur. However, its advice on how to prevent the coronavirus' spread hasn't changed.

"It's about knowing the risks, managing the frequency, intensity and duration of time you spend in the company of other individuals in crowded spaces," said Dr. Mike Ryan, executive director of the WHO's health emergencies program.

 CNBC's Will Feuer and Berkeley Lovelace Jr. contributed to this report.

Disclosure: Scott Gottlieb is a CNBC contributor and is a member of the boards of Pfizer, genetic testing start-up Tempus and biotech company Illumina. He also serves as co-chair of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings and Royal Caribbean's "Healthy Sail Panel."
Opinion Article

22 September 2020

Buddha said: "Do not dwell in the past, Do not dream of the future, Concentrate the mind on the present moment."

Staying in the present moment can be difficult for the hotelier (or any business executive). You probably just reviewed last week's performance reports and jumped right into your 30, 60, 90-day forecasts. It is how we operate, and it ensures our survival. That said, we also know that the most rewarding moments of the job are the in-the-moment connections that we make with our team members and our guests. With all of the uncertainty, fear, and division that consume our landscape, these moments are more fragile and sacred than ever and must be navigated with thoughtful, conscious leadership.

Here are 5 present moment actions that you can take to have a significant impact on your guest experience and the morale of your team:
Chinese tycoon and Xi critic jailed for 18 years for corruption

WORLD: A Chinese real estate tycoon and outspoken critic of President Xi Jinping was jailed for 18 years today (Sept 22) for corruption, bribery and embezzlement of public funds, a court statement said.

Chinesecorruption

By AFP

Tuesday 22 September 2020, 02:48PM

A police van carrying Ren Zhiqiang, a Chinese tycoon and outspoken critic of President Xi Jinping, arrives at court at the beginning of his trial earlier this month. Photo: AFP.

Ren Zhiqiang  once an elite among the ruling Communist Partys inner circle  disappeared from the public eye in March, shortly after penning an essay that was fiercely critical of Xis response to the coronavirus outbreak.

Todays verdict said Ren embezzled almost 50 million yuan (B232mn) of public funds and accepted bribes worth 1.25 million yuan, according to a statement from the Beijing No. 2 Intermediate Peoples Court.

It said the 69-year-old voluntarily and truthfully confessed all his crimes, and would not appeal the courts decision.

He was also fined 4.2 million yuan.

Rights campaigners accuse Xi and the Communist Party of using corruption charges as a way to silence dissent.

Beijing has stepped up its crackdown on civil society since Xi took power in 2012, tightening restrictions on freedom of speech and detaining hundreds of activists and lawyers.

Ren, the former chairman of state-owned property developer Huayuan Group, earned the nickname Big Cannon for his outspoken criticism of the Chinese leadership.

The Communist Partys disciplinary watchdog launched an investigation into Ren in April, and the trial opened at a Beijing court on Sept 11.

His influential blog on the Twitter-like Weibo platform attracted millions of followers before his account was closed by authorities in 2016 after he repeatedly called for greater freedom of the press.
KEY FACTS 2:55 p.m.: U.S. death toll from the coronavirus topped 200,000

9:15 a.m. The award ceremony for the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize will be scaled down

7:33 a.m. Two COVID-19 testing sites are available for asymptomatic people in Brampton and Mississauga

The latest coronavirus news from Canada and around the world Tuesday. This file is no longer updating. Click here to read the latest. Web links to longer stories if available.

8:45 p.m.: A faculty member at Branksome Hall and two students at The York School have tested positive for COVID-19, as confirmed by notices put out by the schools on Monday.

Toronto Public Health is working with both school communities on further precautions to take now that they have positive cases, which includes contact tracing.

Karen Jurjevich, the principal of Branksome Hall, says the employee who contracted the virus at her school was teaching Grade 8 classes on Sept. 18 and symptoms started showing over the weekend.

The employee went to get tested and is now recovering in self-isolation, she says.

We recognize how challenging this is for you and your child as we are only two weeks into the academic year. Our priority will always be the health and safety of your child and the broader community, said Jurjevich.

Struan Robertson, the head of The York School, confirmed that two students who are siblings and attend the Junior School contracted the virus.

The two students were considered asymptomatic when they were last at the school on Sept. 17, Robertson says. Both siblings have been self-isolating at home since last week.

We recognize the anxiety and concern associated with this news. We will continue to update our community with any important information from Toronto Public Health, while respecting confidentiality, said Robertson.

At Branksome Hall, the entire Grade 8 class affected will self-isolate and continue classes solely online for the remainder of their academic segment.

All Grade 8 classes will resume with a blend of in-person and online teaching for the second academic segment, starting on Oct. 8.

Toronto Public Health has asked for students in the two affected junior classes at The York School to also stay home for the next 14 days.

Read more here: Two Toronto private schools confirm COVID-19 cases

8:00 p.m.: British Columbias top doctor says shes received death threats in her role as a public figure during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says shes had to have security in her home and has been targeted with death threats, along with abusive letters and phone calls to staff.

She says she believes its partly due to her status as a woman in a high-profile position, and that people feel comfortable targeting her in ways they would not necessarily do to male leaders.

Henry has become a national figure during her time leading B.C.s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, with shoe designer John Fluevog naming a pair of shoes after her.

Her comments came during a panel presentation at the Union of B.C. Municipalities on leadership during the pandemic alongside Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin and former Tsawwassen chief Kim Baird.

Henry says its important to discuss these issues when trying to mentor the next generation of leaders.

Read more here: B.C.s top doctor says shes received abuse, death threats during COVID-19 response

5:44 p.m. Ontarios rate of new COVID-19 infections remains on pace to double about every nine to 10 days, according to the Stars latest count.

As of 5 p.m. Tuesday, Ontarios regional public health units were reporting another 470 new confirmed or probable cases, in line with a trend that has seen the rate of new infections grow at an accelerating pace since early August.

The provinces seven-day average for new cases on Tuesday jumped to 393 cases daily, up from 364 the day prior, and about double what the health units were reporting just 10 days ago on Sept. 12.

Ontario last saw such rapid exponential growth in early April, before the pandemics first peak. Although Ontario is still well below that peak level  about 600 infections a day, reported in late April  the current rate of case growth, if sustained, would see the average eclipse that rate by early October.

Tuesday saw significant case spikes across the province: Toronto reported 160 new cases; Peel Region reported 101; Ottawa reported 93, its largest single-day total of the pandemic; York and Waterloo regions added 29; Halton Region 20; and Durham 10. Several other smaller health units also reported above their recent averages.

The province has now seen a total of 50,055 confirmed or probable cases of COVID-19, including 2,872 deaths.

Three fatal cases were reported Tuesday, all in Ottawa.

Listen to Ed Tubb discuss what COVID-19 data tells us

The vast majority of the provinces COVID-19 patients have since recovered, and the recent rise in cases has not yet resulted in an equivalent jump in hospitalizations or deaths. Thats in part because the recent increase has not yet hit the vulnerable outbreak settings  like long-term-care homes  which produced thousands of serious illnesses among highly vulnerable populations in the spring. Rates of hospitalization and death have also tended to lag weeks behind case jumps.

The province lists 3,578 active cases of the disease, a number that has been rising in recent weeks.

The Stars count includes some patients reported as probable COVID-19 cases, meaning they have symptoms and contacts or travel history that indicate they very likely have the disease, but have not yet received a positive lab test.

The province cautions its separate data, published daily at 10:30 a.m., may be incomplete or out of date due to delays in the reporting system, saying that in the event of a discrepancy, data reported by (the health units) should be considered the most up to date.

5:06 p.m. British Columbias top doctor says the resurgence the province is seeing in COVID-19 cases could be a second wave, but she believes the illness can be suppressed heading into the fall.

Speaking at an ElectionsBC news conference, Bonnie Henry says calling it a second wave is semantics and the reality is the pandemic will be with us for a long time.

Henry says the key will be finding the right balance as cases surge while allowing people to carry out activities like going to work and school or holding elections.

B.C. announced 366 new cases over a three-day period on Monday and four new deaths, numbers similar to the first wave, which Henry says the province managed to suppress.

Henry was reacting to Quebecs announcement Monday that the province was experiencing a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Tuesday, Quebec Health Minister Christian Dube said the second wave of COVID-19 in that province will be younger, more spread out and possibly more challenging for the health network compared to the first wave.

Most COVID-19 deaths during the first wave were concentrated in Montreal-area closed living environments such as long-term care homes. The second wave, however, is being driven by community spread in regions that were largely untouched the first time around, Dube said.

Quebec reported 489 new COVID-19 cases Tuesday.

Meanwhile, on the other end of the country, Nova Scotia reported a new case of COVID-19 for the first time in more than two weeks.

Dr. Robert Strang, chief medical officer of health, said Tuesday the new case is in the western health zone and involves an essential worker who travelled outside Canada.

Strang also announced that starting Sept. 28, residents of long-term care facilities will be allowed to leave their residences to visit family and friends.

4:43: p.m. U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell and representatives from both parties agreed on at least one point at a hearing Tuesday: the U.S. economy needs more relief from Congress to sustain the recovery from the coronavirus.

Despite that broad consensus, Congress, paralyzed by partisanship six weeks before the election, might not act.

Mnuchin, who has led relief bill negotiations for Republicans alongside White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, said at a House Financial Services Committee hearing that he supported a targeted package focused on schools and the most affected parts of the economy.

It should be focused on kids and jobs, and areas of the economy that are still hard-hit, particularly areas such as the travel business and restaurants, Mnuchin said.

While the employment rate has improved from the sudden cratering in the spring, Powell noted that the jobs market hasnt nearly returned to pre-pandemic levels and wouldnt get there soon without more help from Congress.

We still have 11 million people out of the 22 million who were laid off in March and April, Powell said. Thats more people than just during the global financial crisis, as Im sure you know. Theres a lot of work to do there  and you know our policies will support that  but it will go faster for those people if its all government working together.

With the presidential election just weeks away, 89 per cent of voters want another coronavirus economic aid package, according to a Financial Times-Peter G. Peterson Foundation poll released Tuesday. While 39 per cent of voters faulted both sides for failing to pass another stimulus bill, 26 per cent of voters placed the blame on Republicans, slightly more than the 23 per cent who pointed fingers at Democrats.

The GOP-controlled Senate considered a relatively small $650 billion (all figures U.S.) aid package earlier in September but couldnt get any Democrats to support its passage.

Negotiations over the summer between Democratic leaders and the White House narrowed the gap, but talks still seem stalled with a $700-billion gulf between Democrats $2.2 trillion demand and the Trump administrations latest offer of $1.5 trillion  considerably more than the $1 trillion limit some Senate Republicans prefer.

Additional aid to state and local governments remains the major sticking point in talks.

3:38 p.m. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson appealed Tuesday for a spirit of togetherness as he unveiled a series of new restrictions on everyday life to suppress a dramatic spike in new coronavirus cases.

Warning that the restrictions, which will come into effect by the start of next week, could last for six months through the winter and into the spring, Johnson said pubs, restaurants and other entertainment venues in England will have to close at 10 p.m.

He also said stiff fines will be imposed on anyone breaking quarantine rules or gathering in groups of more than six. Johnson also changed course and urged people to work from home where possible.

He said the change of tack was necessary in light of a recent uptick in cases and implored people to follow the new rules to avert a further total lockdown, which would lead to the closure of schools and businesses, and leave the elderly and vulnerable isolated.

If we follow these simple rules together, we will get through this winter together, he said. But now is the time for us all to summon the discipline, and the resolve, and the spirit of togetherness that will carry us through.

The other nations of the U.K.  Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland  also tightened restrictions.

The new curbs came as official figures showed that the U.K. recorded 4,926 new coronavirus cases, the most since early May.

Johnsons government has faced a barrage of criticism in recent weeks over its handling of the pandemic, especially over its perceived mixed messaging and sudden lurches in policy. It was only in August that it was encouraging people to go and help out pubs and restaurants via a discount scheme.

Just weeks ago, Johnson had also encouraged workers to go back into offices to keep city centres from becoming ghost towns, and had expressed hope that society could return to normal by Christmas.

The prime minister told lawmakers that if the new curbs did not slow the outbreak, we reserve the right to deploy greater firepower, with significantly greater restrictions.

Scotland is going further than the restrictions that Johnson announced for England. Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who has often struck a more cautious note than Johnson during the pandemic, said that with a few exceptions people would be barred from visiting others homes and car-sharing would be discouraged.

2:55 p.m. The U.S. death toll from the coronavirus topped 200,000 Tuesday, by far the highest in the world, hitting the once-unimaginable threshold six weeks before an election that is certain to be a referendum in part on President Donald Trumps handling of the crisis.

It is completely unfathomable that weve reached this point, said Jennifer Nuzzo, a Johns Hopkins University public health researcher, eight months after the scourge first reached the worlds richest nation, with its state-of-the-art laboratories, top-flight scientists and stockpiles of medical supplies.

The number of dead is equivalent to a Sept. 11 attack every day for 67 days. It is roughly equal to the population of Salt Lake City or Huntsville, Alabama.

And it is still climbing. Deaths are running at close to 770 a day on average, and a widely cited model from the University of Washington predicts the U.S. toll will double to 400,000 by the end of the year as schools and colleges reopen and cold weather sets in. A vaccine is unlikely to become widely available until 2021.

The idea of 200,000 deaths is really very sobering, in some respects stunning, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the governments top infectious-disease expert, said on CNN.

In an interview Tuesday with a Detroit TV station, Trump boasted of doing an amazing and incredible job against the scourge.

And in a pre-recorded speech at a virtual meeting of the U.N. General Assembly, he lashed out at Beijing over what he called the China virus and demanded that it be held accountable for having unleashed this plague onto the world. Chinas ambassador rejected the accusations as baseless.

For five months, America has led the world by far in sheer numbers of confirmed infections (nearly 6.9 million as of Tuesday) and deaths. The U.S. has less than five per cent of the globes population but more than 20 per cent of the reported deaths.

Brazil is No. 2 with about 137,000 deaths, followed by India with approximately 89,000 and Mexico with around 74,000. Only five countries  Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Spain and Brazil  rank higher in COVID-19 deaths per capita.

1:54 p.m. Morneau Shepell released its monthly Mental Health Index report, showing a consistent negative mental health score for the fifth consecutive month and a decline from Julys score of -10. The findings indicate that Canadians mental health continues to be affected by the impact of COVID-19, including concerns about a second wave, ongoing economic uncertainties, and the added concern of students returning to school.

The Mental Health Index score is -11. The score measures the improvement or decline in mental health from the pre-2020 benchmark of 75. The Mental Health Index also tracks sub-scores against the benchmark, measuring the risk of anxiety (-12.9), depression (-12.7), optimism (-12.7), isolation (-12.1) and work productivity (-11.1). All sub-scores worsened when compared to the improvements seen the previous month, excluding work productivity, which remains unchanged.

The financial and economic impact of the pandemic cant be ignored; however, there also needs to be more attention to the ongoing toll the pandemic is having on the mental wellbeing of Canadians.

This decline is cause for concern, said Stephen Liptrap, president and chief executive officer. Canadians initial feelings of optimism as we started to reopen does not erase the impact of the pandemic. To avoid further declines, public health officials and all levels of government must take the necessary steps to provide support where its needed most and continue to put the mental health of Canadians first.

1:43 p.m. Chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam says capacity for COVID-19 testing in Canada continues to be built up.

But she says it is a finite resource and testing must be carried out smartly.

In many corners of Canada, people have complained of waiting in line for nearly the entire day to obtain tests or being turned away from testing centres at capacity.

Tam says officials are trying to broaden available test options. But she says no amount of testing will be enough if people dont shrink their social bubbles to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.

1:30 p.m. Bianca Andreescu says she is taking the remainder of the tennis season off to focus on her health and training.

The Canadian tennis star made the announcement Tuesday on Twitter.

The decision was expected after the 20-year-old from Mississauga withdrew from the French Open. Outside of the last Grand Slam of 2020, there are only a handful of tournaments remaining on the WTA schedule that havent been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As hard as it was to come to this conclusion, I have so much to look forward to in 2021, including the Olympics, Andreescu said. I want to use this time to focus my game so I can come back stronger and better than ever.

1:25 p.m. The U.S. death toll from the coronavirus topped 200,000 Tuesday, a figure unimaginable eight months ago when the scourge first reached the worlds richest nation with its state-of-the-art laboratories, top-flight scientists and stockpiles of medicines and emergency supplies.

It is completely unfathomable that weve reached this point, said Jennifer Nuzzo, a Johns Hopkins University public health researcher.

The bleak milestone, by far the highest confirmed death toll from the virus in the world, was reported by Johns Hopkins, based on figures supplied by state health authorities. But the real toll is thought to be much higher, in part because many COVID-19 deaths were probably ascribed to other causes, especially early on, before widespread testing.

The number of dead in the U.S. is equivalent to a 9/11 attack every day for 67 days. It is roughly equal to the population of Salt Lake City or Huntsville, Alabama.

1:21 p.m. New federal figures are being released to show the national picture of the COVID-19 pandemic. The data suggests that based on recent infections, the number of new cases could raise as high as 155,795 by Oct. 2.The potential number of deaths could be as high as 9,300.

1:03 p.m. Premier Doug Ford warns the next wave of COVID-19 will hit harder than last spring. The Ontario government is implementing the largest flu immunization campaign in Ontarios history, part of the provinces plan to prepare the health system for a second wave of COVID-19. Ontario has ordered 5.1 million flu shots this year.

1 p.m. Federal Health Minister Patty Hajdu says staving off future lockdowns will depend on whether people can follow COVID-19 mitigation measures.

She says keeping gatherings small and respecting the rules is a sacrifice everyone needs to make.

But she says virus activity is not the same across the country, or even across single provinces.

So she says a surgical approach is needed to determine whether restrictions need to be tightened and it should be targeted to regions of concern.

12:42 p.m. An employee working at the MAC makeup store in Yorkdale Mall has tested positive for COVID-19.

In a statement, the malls management said that the employee was last at the mall on Sept. 14. The MAC store was shut down for deep cleaning on the same day.

In addition to increased cleaning measures, all employees who potentially had contact with the individual have been asked to get tested and seek medical help if they start to feel unwell.

12:39 p.m. Six months after it was postponed and moved to a new date in the fall, the Around the Bay Road Race in Hamilton has now been cancelled for this year.

Due to the ongoing nature of the COVID-19 pandemic and the provincial safety measures in place limiting outdoor gatherings, we are unable to host the Around the Bay Road Race in 2020, race director Anna Lewis wrote in an email Tuesday morning announcing the decision.

Those who had registered can defer their entry fee to 2021 or 2022 or simply have their race shirt and medal sent to them.

12:28 p.m. Canadas top public health officials say the accelerating rate of growth of COVID-19 in Canada is concerning.

Chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam says the situation will continue to escalate further unless both public health and personal preventive measures are strengthened.

She says that because daily reporting of cases only catch transmission in the past, actions taken right now are essential to keep the virus under control.

12:03 p.m. Erin OTooles wife, Rebecca, has tested positive for COVID-19. She began showing symptoms this weekend.

10:43 a.m. The number of new active COVID-19 cases among students and staff in publicly funded schools across the province jumped by 51 on Tuesday to a total of 141.

In its latest report released Tuesday morning, the province reported that 26 more students were infected for a total of 59. There were seven more staff members infected for a total of 33 and 18 more individuals for a total of 49.

Two schools are closed  Monsignor Paul Baxter elementary school in Ottawa and Fellowes High School in Pembroke.

There is a lag between the provincial data and news reports on infections in schools. The data is current as of 2 p.m. the previous work day, and doesnt indicate where the place of transmission occurred.

The numbers the province released on Monday was current as of Friday and didnt include reports of the Ottawa elementary school closing over the weekend or two Toronto Catholic students testing positive.

Read more from the Stars Patrick Ho

10:15 a.m. Ontario has marked its highest number of COVID-19 cases since May 2 when the province was under a strict lockdown.

The Ministry of Heath reported 478 new infections Tuesday, an increase from 425 the previous day and the fourth time more than 400 people have tested positive since Friday.

Its a stunning increase since the same day in August when just 108 new cases were reported. There were 51 new cases in schools and the number of schools with students or staff infected almost doubled to 116 from 60 the previous day. One school each in Ottawa and Pembroke remain closed.

We are seeing numbers creep up, Health Minister Christine Elliott said.

In an effort to stem the climb, Premier Doug Ford cut the limits for indoor and outdoor gatherings to 10 and 25 from 50 and 100 on the weekend. Hinting at more restrictions on the horizon, Ontarios associate medical officer Dr. Barbara Yaffe warned Monday that we are actively considering other measures.

Hospitalizations also increased, with 82 patients requiring hospital care for the virus, up from 65 in Mondays report and the highest since July 30. There were 24 people in intensive care, an increase of two, and 11 of them on ventilators to breathe, down one.

There were three additional deaths in long-term-care homes, where the number of outbreaks increased to 29 from 23 the day before.

Toronto, Peel and Ottawa remained the hot spots for COVID-19 with 153, 95 and 90 cases respectively. York had 27, Durham 27, Halton and Hamilton 12 each. In Waterloo, cases more than doubled to 27 from 13 the previous day.

Read the full story from the Stars Rob Ferguson

9:56 a.m. GoodLife Fitness has confirmed one employee at its Brampton location has tested positive for COVID-19.

Tracy Matthews, vice-president of operations, confirmed the employee works at the Brampton Woodhill Centre Club, at Airport Road and Queen Street.

The employees last day of work was on Sept. 16, from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The employee was also at the gym from Sept. 10 to 14, at various times during the day.

The facility has undergone a sanitization. GoodLife has been in contact with Peel Public Health and have not received further direction at this time, said Matthews.

All members who were at the facility at the same time as the employee have already been informed about the outbreak.

9:48 a.m. The only thing more difficult than staging next years Tokyo Olympics in a pandemic might be convincing sponsors to keep their billions of dollars on board in the midst of economic turbulence and skepticism.

To make the point this week, IOC President Thomas Bach will join a number of Japanese government and city officials, local organizers and other top International Olympic Committee leaders in repeating a message theyve failed to convey forcefully enough to deep-pocketed sponsors: Trust us, the Tokyo Olympics will open on July 23, 2021.

Bach and IOC vice-president John Coates  who oversees Tokyo preparations  are expected to speak remotely to Japanese officials as they meet on Thursday and Friday. The agenda includes plotting countermeasures against COVID-19: quarantines, rules for athletes entering the country, testing, vaccines and the presence or absence of fans.

Few firm details are expected until late in the year or early in 2021, which accounts for the uncertainty.

The subtext is assuring sponsors that the Olympics will happen. Tokyo organizing committee CEO Toshiro Muto has acknowledged the words not getting out.

The fact the Olympics are going to take place  the fact itself  is not fully distributed to the public, Muto, speaking in Japanese, said last week. People need to be more convinced that, yes, the Olympics will be taking place for sure.

9:37 a.m. Health officials says citizens of India should celebrate the upcoming festive season without large gatherings.

Autumn is the festival season in many parts of India  a nation where religion, celebrations, rituals are paramount. The month of October has many festivals celebrated in the Indian subcontinent, including Diwali, a festival of lights celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and others.

Dr. V.K Paul, who heads a COVID-19 taskforce in India, says people need to exercise physical distancing and ensure they wear masks while celebrating. He says large gatherings provide the perfect circumstances for the virus to spread.

India confirmed 75,000 coronavirus cases and 1,000 deaths in the last 24 hours. India ranks No. 2 in the world with 5.5 million cases and No. 3 with nearly 89,000 dead, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.

9:15 a.m. The award ceremony for the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize, traditionally held at the Oslo city hall on Dec. 10, will instead be held in scaled-down form at the citys university because of the coronavirus outbreak.

It is a strange and challenging year in many ways. We experience the same thing as many others, namely that things must be done in a new way, Olav Njoelstad, the director of the Norwegian Nobel Institute, the body that oversees the Nobel Peace Prize, told Norway broadcaster NRK on Tuesday.

Ceremonies for the other prizes  physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine and literature as well as the economic prize  will be awarded in Stockholm, Sweden, on the same day. Organizers also have scheduled smaller ceremonies because of the pandemic.

Since 1901, the prizes have been presented at ceremonies on the anniversary of Alfred Nobels death. The peace award has been handed out in Oslo  according to Nobels will  while the rest have been handed out in Stockholm.

8:45 a.m. NFL coaches thumbed their collective  and exposed  noses at the NFLs mask mandate in Week 2.

The league responded with hefty fines of $100,000 (U.S.) per coach and $250,000 (U.S.) per club. The first three to get fined were Denvers Vic Fangio, San Franciscos Kyle Shanahan and Seattles Pete Carroll, according to a person with knowledge of the punishment who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the coaches were not identified.

The punishment was meted out a week after the NFL reminded team personnel on the sidelines about the rules for wearing face coverings during the coronavirus pandemic, lest they put the fledgling season at risk.

More coaches and clubs can expect similar punishments as the memo last week from Troy Vincent, who oversees the leagues football operations, was largely ignored throughout the weekend.

Among other offenders: Patriots coach Bill Belichick and his offensive co-ordinator Josh McDaniels, Chiefs defensive co-ordinator Steve Spagnuolo, Colts coach Frank Reich and Rams coach Sean McVay.

8:25 a.m. Amidst increasing numbers of new COVID-19 cases daily in Ontario, experts are warning that the continued low rates of death and hospitalization from the disease should not lead to complacency.

Deaths and hospitalizations are what are known as lagging indicators  that is, they do not rise and fall immediately with increasing or decreasing rates of infection, but manifest later for serious cases.

In other words, it can take several weeks after infection for a patient to end up in hospital or die.

Were seeing cases rise now. Its entirely possible in two to five weeks well see hospitalizations and the death curve rise as well, said Raywat Deonandan, an epidemiologist and associate professor at the University of Ottawa.

Read the full story from the Stars Patty Winsa and Kenyon Wallace

8:03 a.m. After weeks of chaos and uncertainty, thousands of students from across the Toronto District School Board will click in  rather than line up  for their first day of virtual school on Tuesday.

When the restrictions tied to COVID-19 forced the closure of schools and daycares last spring, it made some form of online school this fall seem inevitable. But in the weeks leading up to its opening, details around these schools were slow to be released, and twice, in the last two weeks, the start was delayed. The more than 72,000 students signed up for the virtual schools in Toronto will now, in some cases, start nearly a week after their in-person counterparts when they log in Tuesday morning.

On the eve of its opening, students enrolled in the virtual elementary school learned of yet another potential setback. In an email sent to parents late Monday, the TDSB informed them that, due to ongoing efforts to hire staff for virtual classrooms, not all elementary students would start synchronous learning by Tuesday; theyd be implementing a rolling start.

Read the full story from the Stars Johanna Chisholm

8:01 a.m. The Toronto Board of Health has called on the citys medical officer to publicly release data on workplace outbreaks to protect vulnerable populations disproportionately affected by COVID-19.

The motion passed unanimously on Monday asks Toronto Public Health to publish information on workplaces hit hard by the coronavirus, as it has done for outbreaks at long-term-care homes, shelters and schools. Currently, little is known or shared publicly about workplace outbreaks apart from those settings.

Public transparency helps ensure that workers and customers are protected, said board chair Joe Cressy (Ward 10, SpadinaFort York).

We know that COVID-19 disproportionately affects people who are marginalized, and living and working in vulnerable settings, he added. Exposing unsafe working conditions is critical to inform public policy to better protect those workers.

Read the full story from the Stars Sara Mojtehedzadeh

8 a.m. Kids eating lunch in the hallway. Dedicated music rooms used to fit more students at desks. Students bused far from home to go to school outside their neighbourhood because their local school has long been full.

These are the ongoing challenges faced by students, parents, teachers and administrators at the Toronto District School Board at a time when health and safety in schools are top of mind and development in the city continues at an unprecedented pace.

A new report from the Broadbent Institute and advocacy groups Progress Toronto and Fix Our Schools says that, amid a pandemic, the time is now for the province to allow the TDSB to collect fees from developers to help build and repair packed and ageing schools  money thats now needed to make necessary adjustments for social distancing, fresh air and more.

Read the full story from the Stars Jennifer Pagliaro

7:33 a.m. Peel Public Health has announced that two COVID-19 testing sites are available for asymptomatic people in Brampton and Mississauga.

Both locations will be open temporarily, with the Mississauga site opening its doors to the public on Monday.

The Mississauga site is at the Peel Regional Paramedics Kingsway Satellite Station at 7120 Hurontario St. Testing hours are Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. This site will be open until Oct. 4.

The Brampton site, at Greenbriar Recreation Centre, 1100 Central Park Dr., was open on Saturday. Testing hours are Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

7:31 a.m. The Peel-Dufferin branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association has seen a large increase in crisis calls since this time last year, and they believe COVID-19 is to blame.

According to Charlene Hayer, director of crisis services at CMHA Peel-Dufferin, there has been a significant increase in the volume of crisis calls, about a 52 per cent increase since the year prior.

There are a variety of reasons for the calls but she said the main concerns being expressed are typically depressed mood, anxiety and substance abuse issues.

Certainly, in the current environment, people are definitely more socially isolated, said Heyer, adding that can contribute to overall feelings of anxiety.

Calls are received through the triage unit, which runs from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Friday.

One day in August, the triage team had 277 incoming and outgoing calls in 24 hours, a record-breaking day.

Though CMHA does not have formal reports, there have been significant changes in crisis calls since the pandemic hit in the spring.

7:26 a.m. The Beer Store announced Sept. 18 that an employee at one of its York Region outlets has tested positive for the virus.

The staff member was working at the location at 15820 Bayview Ave., Aurora, and The Beer Store decided, in consultation with York Region Public Health, to close the shop before reopening on Sept. 19.

All potentially affected staff will now self isolate as a precautionary measure, the store says.

7:14 a.m. Five players have been withdrawn from the European Masters snooker tournament as a result of positive tests for the coronavirus.

Daniel Wells and Gary Wilson were positive after arriving at the venue in Milton Keynes, England. Three players who came into contact with either of the pair  Elliot Slessor, David Lilley and Michael White  were also withdrawn from the event.

All five must self-isolate.

All players and officials have been tested at snooker events since the sport resumed in June with spectators after the coronavirus outbreak. The European Masters is the first ranking event of the season.

6:45 a.m.: The Spanish capital is poised to extend its restrictions on movement to more neighbourhoods due to a surge in new cases in other districts, despite an outcry from residents over discrimination.

Police on Monday deployed to 37 working-class neighbourhoods that have seen 14-day transmission rates above 1,000 per 100,000 inhabitants. People are required to justify trips out of those neighbourhoods.

Locals complained that the restrictions stigmatize the poor, who often live in more cramped conditions and rely on public transport to get to their jobs.

On Tuesday, 16 more districts exceeded that transmission rate threshold, and Madrids regional president, Isabel Diaz Ayuso, said the possibility of extending the restrictions was on the table.

6:31 a.m.: President Rodrigo Duterte says he has extended a state of calamity in the entire Philippines by a year to allow the government to draw emergency funds faster to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and harness the police and military to maintain law and order.

Duterte first placed the country under a state of calamity in March when the number of confirmed infections was approaching 200 with about a dozen deaths. The country now has more than 290,000 confirmed cases, the highest in Southeast Asia, with nearly 5,000 deaths.

The tough-talking president lashed anew at critics in his televised remarks late Monday for accusing his administration of not doing enough to contain the outbreak.

What enough do you want? There are hospitals, beds and funeral parlours. Everything is there, Duterte said, specifying Vice-President Leni Robredo, who leads the opposition, in his tirade.

5:39 a.m.: Hollywoods unions have announced that they have reached an agreement on pandemic protocols with major studios that will allow the broad resumption of production of films and television after six months of stagnant sets and widespread unemployment.

The Directors Guild of America, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the Basic Crafts unions and the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists on Monday jointly announced the deal reached with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers after months of planning and negotiating.

The deal includes mandatory and comprehensive use of personal protective gear and testing of cast and crew members, and a dedicated coronavirus supervisor to oversee it all.

It requires the use of a zone system that strictly limits interactions between people on sets based on their jobs requirements. Those who must deal with more people will be tested more frequently and have more strict protective equipment and spacing requirements. Actors will be tested especially often because their on-camera work wont allow for many protective measures.

5:37 a.m.: India on Tuesday confirmed over 75,000 new coronavirus cases and more than 1,000 deaths in the past 24 hours.

With more than 5.5 million cases, India is behind only the United States in total number of confirmed infections. Indias death toll from the virus is nearly 89,000.

So far, nearly 76% of the new virus cases are concentrated in 10 states, with Maharashtra in central India accounting for almost a quarter of new infections on Monday.

Daily new infections in India have been hovering around 90,000 for the past few days, but experts point out that testing still varies from state to state. And new surges have been detected in states that had so far been left relatively unscathed by the virus.

5:31 a.m.: The Pakistani prime ministers health adviser says authorities have begun much-awaited final-phase testing of a Chinese-made vaccine against the coronavirus.

In Tuesdays televised comments, Faisal Sultan, who advises Prime Minister Imran Khan on health issues, said the clinical trials will continue for about 12 weeks.

The latest development comes weeks after Pakistan approved advanced clinical trials for potential vaccines at the countrys main health facilities. Pakistan has said the vaccine produced by CanSinoBio, a China-based vaccine developer, and Beijing Institute of Biotechnology will be used during the clinical trials.

5:26 a.m.: The coronavirus pandemic has fractured global relationships. But as director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, John Nkengasong has helped to steer Africas 54 countries into an alliance praised as responding better than some richer countries, including the United States.

A former U.S. CDC official, he modeled Africas version after his ex-employer. Nkengasong is pained to see the U.S. agency struggle. In an interview with The Associated Press, he didnt name U.S President Donald Trump but cited factors we all know.

While the U.S. nears 200,000 COVID-19 deaths and the world approaches 1 million, Africas surge has been levelling off. Its 1.4 million confirmed cases are far from the horrors predicted. Antibody testing is expected to show many more infections, but most cases are asymptomatic. Just over 34,000 deaths are confirmed on the continent of 1.3 billion people.

5:20 a.m.: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson plans to announce new restrictions on social interactions Tuesday as the government tries to slow the spread of COVID-19 before it spirals out of control.

Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove told Sky News that pubs and restaurants across England will be ordered to close at 10 p.m. and people who can work from home will be encouraged to do so, reversing a government drive to get people back to their offices and other places of employment.

Gove said reducing social mixing was key to slowing the spread of the virus. He said it was impossible to say how long the restrictions would be in place.

The prime minister is set to release further details when he speaks to the House of Commons at around 12:30 p.m. (1130 GMT) after meeting the Cabinet and the governments COBRA emergency committee. He will later deliver a televised address to the nation.

5:14 a.m.: Mobile apps tracing new COVID-19 cases were touted as a key part of Europes plan to beat the coronavirus outbreak. Seven months into the pandemic, virus cases are surging again and the apps have not been widely adopted due to privacy concerns, technical problems and lack of interest from the public.

Britain, Portugal, and Finland this month became the latest to unveil smartphone apps that alert people if theyve been near someone who turned out to be infected so they can seek treatment or isolate  a key step in breaking the chain of contagion.

But a few countries have scrapped their tracing apps and others that have rolled them out have found so few users that the technology is not very effective. The adoption rate goes from about a third of the population in Finland and Ireland, to 22% in Germany and a meagre 4% in France.

5:11 a.m.: British Columbias election is entering its first full day with the three party leaders embarking on a campaign against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic.

B.C. Premier John Horgan made the snap election call on Monday, conceding that he struggled with whether its the right time for a campaign because of the pandemic.

As the leader of a minority NDP government, Horgan says he decided the province needs more stability to face the health and economic challenges ahead and waiting another year to hold the election when it was scheduled would be wasting time.

B.C. Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson and the Green partys Sonia Furstenau criticized Horgans decision, saying the election is unnecessary during the pandemic.

The campaign begins as the number of cases of COVID-19 rises in the province, with record daily infection rates recorded.

5 a.m.: A new survey suggests the recent rise in new COVID-19 cases across Canada comes with a similar increase in support for the mandatory wearing of masks in public places.

The online survey by Leger and the Association for Canadian Studies says 83 per cent of respondents feel governments should order people to wear a mask in all indoor public spaces.

That represented a 16 per cent increase from July, before the recent rise in COVID-19 cases has sparked concerns many parts of the country are entering the dreaded second wave of the pandemic.

Even more  87 per cent  felt wearing a mask was a civic duty because it protects others from COVID-19 while 21 per cent felt it was an infringement on personal freedoms, a decline of six per cent from July.

As for the anti-mask protests that have happened in various parts of the country in recent weeks, 88 per cent of respondents said they opposed the demonstrations while 12 per cent supported them.

The online poll was conducted Sept. 18 to 20 and surveyed 1,538 adult Canadians. It cannot be assigned a margin of error because internet-based polls are not considered random samples.

4 a.m.: Ontario is expected to announce its COVID-19 fall preparedness plan today.

Premier Doug Ford has promised the plan will help the province grapple with a possible second wave of the novel coronavirus.

The strategy comes as daily virus case counts continue to climb to levels not seen for months in Ontario.

Ford has been under pressure to release the updated plan as opposition politicians say it should have come weeks earlier.

Health Minister Christine Elliott says parts of the plan are currently being implemented, including increased testing capacity.

The new plan comes as Ontario continues to struggle with long line ups at some of its 147 COVID-19 assessment centres.

Monday 7:11 p.m. There have been another four deaths in B.C. due to COVID-19 complications.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says two people died in the Vancouver Coastal health region over the past three days, one in Fraser Health and one in the Northern Health region  only the second death in that area since the pandemic began.

Another 366 positive cases have been added over three days for a total of 8,208.

There are 60 people in hospital and almost 6,000 people are considered recovered.

Click here for more of Mondays COVID-19 coverage.

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OTTAWACanadas chief public health officer is warning the rising wave of COVID-19 infections could grow worse than the first surge of the pandemic, as the federal government inks new deals to buy millions of doses of potential vaccines and stocks up on an antiviral drug that has been in short supply during the pandemic.

Speaking at her regular pandemic briefing on Parliament Hill on Tuesday, Dr. Theresa Tam said the increase in new cases  particularly among people between 20 and 39 years old  is threatening our ability to maintain epidemic control.

She pointed to the increasing spread of the disease over the past month, up from a seven-day average of 380 new daily infections in mid-August to an average of 1,058 this week.

This new wave is a very different surge than the first wave of the pandemic, which hammered seniors living in long-term care before settling into a lower rate of infection earlier in the summer, Tam said. Deaths and hospitalizations have also remained relatively low even as cases rise, she said.

Listen to Ed Tubb discuss rising COVID-19 cases in Ontario

But Tam warned that could change, citing new government modelling that shows the number of cases could explode without greater controls, such as regional restrictions and individual efforts to limit contacts with others. She said it is now critical for younger Canadians to prevent infections from spilling over into more vulnerable segments of the population.

We wont get COVID-19 back on the slow-burn track without your help, Tam said.

At the same time, the federal government announced Tuesday that it continues efforts to lock up deals with pharmaceutical companies that are racing to create the first effective COVID-19 vaccine. Anita Anand, the federal procurement minister and Liberal MP for Oakville, said the government has signed a new deal to buy up to 72 million doses of the vaccine being jointly developed by Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline. The pharmaceutical giants announced in April that, if successful, their vaccine would be available in the second half of 2021.

The deal is the fifth contract the federal government has signed with vaccine developers in recent weeks, securing access to between 154 million and 262 million vaccine doses, Anand said Tuesday.

After initially refusing to detail Canadas spending on these deals, Anand revealed the government has spent roughly $1 billion so far, stating in an interview with the Star that she is trying to strike a balance between being transparent about government spending and the need to protect the governments ability to negotiate deals with other vaccine developers.

And while the government push continues, Anand said the agreements inked so far include provisions to reserve manufacturing capacity for Canada, and to start deliveries in early 2021 or sooner if a vaccine is ready.

Listen to Alex Boyd discuss the road to a vaccine

This is part of our Canadian strategy to diversify the portfolio of vaccines we have, so that we can have access to a variety of types of vaccines, she said. Because at this point, we dont know which vaccine or vaccines is going to be most efficacious for Canadians, and we need to spread our risk across a number of vaccine developers.

Anand also said Canada would purchase syringes and vials for up to 80 millions vaccine doses, with deliveries beginning before the end of September. She told the Star that Canada has now secured contracts to buy the equipment needed for a mass vaccination campaign.

The minister also unveiled a deal to buy 150,000 vials of remdesivir from Gilead Sciences and McKesson Canada, which she said is the only known antiviral drug proven effective in treating COVID-19 patients. Deliveries are expected to begin this month and continue into early 2021. The drug has been in short supply around the world, and Health Canada recently approved the import and sale of English-only labelled remdesivir that was supposed to be used for clinical trials in the United States, declaring it to be a medical necessity during the pandemic.

Anand declined to say how much Canada spent on this purchase. In June, Gilead announced it would set the price-per-vial of the drug at about $519 for developed countries, which would mean Canadas deal for 150,000 vials would cost almost $78 million.

Asked about the purchase Tuesday, Canadas chief health officer said the added supply will be very welcomed by health-care workers because it will help them treat severely infected COVID-19 patients.
An officer who was wounded during the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky, sent an email Tuesday to more than 1,000 of his colleagues criticizing Mayor Greg Fischer and others while defending his actions during the botched police raid.

Sgt. Jon Mattingly, one of three officers involved in the shootout that killed Breonna Taylor at her home on March 13, 2020. (Louisville Metro Police Department)

In the six-paragraph email, Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly apologized to his fellow officers and their families and said Fischer, Public Safety Chief Amy Hess and former Louisville Metro Police Chief Steve Conrad "failed all of us in epic proportions for their own gain and to cover their asses."

Fischer announced last week that a $12 million settlement had been reached with Taylor's family that will include police reforms to prevent future deaths at the hands of officers. The settlement did not require the city to acknowledge wrongdoing. The agreement settled a wrongful death lawsuit brought by Taylor's mother.

The email was first reported Tuesday morning by Vice News correspondent Roberto Ferdman.

Kent Wicker, an attorney for Mattingly, confirmed to NBC News that his client sent the email.

"Sgt. Mattingly sent an email to his colleagues last evening, expressing his support for them and their work in these difficult times," Wicker said. "As you will recall, he was shot and severely injured while serving this warrant. Like our entire community, he is hopeful that this process moves forward quickly, and that his fellow officers and the people of Louisville remain safe."

A police spokesman, Sgt. Lamont Washington, said the department did not release the email but is aware of it "and the matter is under review."

Fischer declared a state of emergency Tuesday because of the potential for civil unrest as the city awaited Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron's announcement about whether a grand jury would charge officers in Taylors shooting death. One officer was charged with wanton endangerment in connection with shots that strayed into another apartment; no officers were directly charged in Taylor's death.

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The police department said in a news release Tuesday it was placing barricades around Jefferson Square Park, where protests over Taylor's death have been held, and the perimeter of the downtown area. Her death sparked a national uproar and calls for federal intervention.

In May, Fischer and Conrad, the police chief at the time, asked the U.S. Justice Department and the FBI to review the police department's internal investigation of Taylor's killing. Conrad was fired in June after it was revealed that officers involved in a shooting that killed a local business owner did not activate their body cameras.

Mattingly told his colleagues in the email that they "DO NOT DESERVE to be in this position."

"The position that allows thugs to get in your face and yell, curse and degrade you," he wrote.

Mattingly, 47, also wrote that they "signed up to be police officers" and "knew the risks and were willing to take them." But, he wrote, "we always assumed the city had your back."

He wrote that police "DO NOT CARE" what race a person is or what they identify as.

Mattingly told his colleagues he is still proud to be a cop and to be employed by the department that he joined 20 years ago.

"No matter the ineptitude in upper command or the mayors office, this is one of the greatest jobs on earth," he wrote. "With that being said these next few days are going to be tough. They are going to be long, they are going to be frustrating. They will put a tremendous amount of stress on your families. Do not let your ego get you in a trick bag."

He advised them to de-escalate if possible.

He told them to do what they need to do to go home to their families. "Just do it with dignity and make sure you can justify your actions because everything down there is recorded," he wrote.

Taylor, 26, an emergency room technician who had no criminal record, was killed March 13 in a botched drug raid. Police were executing a search warrant in a drug investigation involving her ex-boyfriend Jamarcus Glover, a convicted drug dealer, who authorities said had listed her apartment as his address and used it to receive packages. No drugs or money were found in Taylor's apartment.

Mattingly was shot in the thigh by Taylor's boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, authorities said. Walker, who had a license to carry, said he mistook police officers for an intruder and fired a single shot. He has said that he and Taylor shouted out asking who was there, but police did not identify themselves. Police said they did.

Louisville police Officer Brett Hankison, who shot 10 rounds blindly into Taylor's apartment, was fired in June. Officer Myles Cosgrove and Mattingly have been placed on administrative leave, along with the detective who requested the warrant.

Read the full text of the email below:

Im not here to give you a Rah Rah you got this speech. Im not here to tell you that you signed up to help this community and to keep your head up. Im here to tell you Im sorry you have to go through this. Im sorry your families have to go through this. Im sorry the Mayor, Amy Hess and Chief Conrad failed all of us in epic proportions for their own gain and to cover their asses.

You DO NOT DESERVE to be in this position. The position that allows thugs to get in your face and yell, curse and degrade you. Throw bricks, bottles and urine on you and expect you to do nothing. It goes against EVERYTHING we were all taught in the academy. The position that if you make a mistake during one of the most stressful times in your career, the department and FBI (who arent cops and would piss their pants if they had to hold the line) go after you for civil rights violations. Your civil rights mean nothing, but the criminal has total autonomy.

We all signed up to be police officers. We knew the risks and were willing to take them, but we always assumed the city had your back. We wanted To do the right thing in the midst of an evil world to protect those who cannot protect themselves. To enforce laws that make it possible to live in a peaceful society. We as police DO NOT CARE if you are black, white, Hispanic, Asian, what you identify as...this week. We arent better than anyone. This is not an us against society, but it is good versus evil. We are sons, daughters, husbands, wives, parters, brothers, sisters, dads and moms. We are human beings with flaws, feelings and emotions.

Now Im just rambling, but I want you to know that Im still proud to be a cop. To be an LMPD cop. No matter the ineptitude in upper command or the mayors office, this is one of the greatest jobs on earth. With that being said these next few days are going to be tough. They are going to be long, they are going to be frustrating. They will put a tremendous amount of stress on your families. Do not let your ego get you in a trick bag. Have your partners 6. De escalate if possible. DO NOT give the pencil pushers at the top, you know the ones who are too scared to hold the line, a reason to open investigations on you. The same ones that couldnt make decisions to save their lives. We need leaders that lead from the front and not in a room under a desk. Do what you need to do to go home you your family. Just do it with dignity and make sure you can justify your actions because everything down there is recorded.

I dont know a lot of you guys/gals but Ive felt the love. Regardless of the outcome today or Wednesday, I know we did the legal, moral and ethical thing that night. Its sad how the good guys are demonized, and criminals are canonized. Put that aside for a while, keep your focus and do your jobs that you are trained and capable of doing. Dont put up with their shit, and go home to those lovely families and relationships.

I wish I were there with you leading the charge. Ill be praying for your safety. Remember you are just a pawn in the Mayors political game. Im proof they do not care about you or your family, and you are replaceable. Stay safe and do the right thing. YOU ARE LOVED AND SUPPORTED by most of the community. Now go be the Warriors you are, but please be safe! None of these peaceful protesters are worth your career or freedom. God speed boys and girls.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 02:06:09|Editor: huaxia

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Saudi Minister of Investment Khalid Al-Falih attends a virtual meeting of G20 trade and investment ministers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Sept. 22, 2020. (G20 Saudi Arabia/Handout via Xinhua)

RIYADH, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- The trade and investment ministers of the Group of 20 (G20) countries vowed on Tuesday to support the necessary reform of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

During a virtual meeting held under the presidency of Saudi Arabia, the G20 trade and investment ministers highlighted the importance to carry out the reform based on Riyadh Initiative on the future of the WTO, according to a communique by the G20 Saudi Presidency.

The Riyadh initiative provides an additional opportunity to discuss and reaffirm the objectives and foundational principles of the multilateral trading system and to demonstrate ongoing political support for WTO reform discussions, the communique highlighted.

The ministers expressed their commitment to working actively and constructively with other WTO members to undertake the necessary reform.

The officials also discussed fostering economic diversification, strengthening international investment, as well as encouraging international competitiveness of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.

Majid Al-Qassabi, Saudi Minister of Commerce, told the meeting that the need for an open, fair and rules-based multilateral trading system is critical to support global economic recovery in these difficult times, adding that G20 will work together to strengthen the global trading system for the benefit of all.

Saudi Minister of Investment Khalid Al-Falih said the collective G20 response to the COVID-19 pandemic had started to deliver early signs of a resilient and stable economic recovery.

The trade and investment officials met on two previous occasions this year to ensure a coordinated response to the impact of COVID-19. Enditem
Up to nine in ten people are wearing face coverings in shops, Retail NI chief executive Glyn Roberts said (Liam McBurney/PA).

Up to nine in 10 people are wearing face coverings in shops, Retail NI said.

Some customers are not being as strict on social distancing and hand sanitising because they have donned masks, chief executive Glyn Roberts added.

Small firms like convenience stores are braced for a deterioration in trade before conditions improve while Stormonts Executive moves to contain a new upsurge in coronavirus infection.

There is a determination to knuckle down and get through this Glyn Roberts

He declared: There is a determination to continue this but it is an ongoing challenge.

There is a determination to knuckle down and get through this.

There is a perception that things will get worse before they get better  but they will get better as we all work together on this.

Retail NI represents 1,300 members including independent businesses of all kinds.

Mr Roberts said his members had seen 80-90% compliance with wearing of face coverings.

We are in a much more serious situation now with the restrictions.

We have picked up some concerns from members that people, because they are wearing a face covering, think that they do not have to sanitise their hands and be so strict with social distancing.

Many of his members were open throughout the pandemic as essential services providing food and other goods.

Our top priority was to ensure the safety of shoppers and shop staff.

He added: They have been there making sure people get the food and vital products they need.

A lot of members have stepped up deliveries to the vulnerable.

There is a determination to continue this but it is an ongoing challenge.

Retail NI has called for a zero-tolerance approach to verbal and physical abuse of shop workers and for stiffer penalties for those who assault retail staff.

Shop workers trade union Usdaw revealed that abuse of staff has doubled during the pandemic.

Meanwhile, footfall in some areas remains subdued.

A recent Belfast Chamber survey which shows only 5% of office staff have returned to their workplaces.

Retail NI has said their return is vital to the viability of many businesses.

Office workers provide a large amount of footfall and trade for the retail and hospitality sectors in many high streets.
The United Kingdom has appointed Nigerias former managing director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Damilola Ogunbiyi, as a co-chair of the UN Climate Change Conferences (COP26) Energy Transition Council.

The UK CoP President, Alok Sharma, will chair the council alongside Mrs Ogunbiyi, a statement by the UK government said on Monday, ahead of the countrys Climate Week 2020.

At a round table on Monday, Mrs Ogunbiyi joined Mr Sharma and other political and industry leaders to discuss the clean energy co-operation for the next decade, the statement said.

In the statement, Mr Sharma said major companies would join the Race to Zero campaign, to accelerate net-zero carbon emission commitments.

This comes after the UK government announced a new 50 million investment in a new clean energy innovation facility.

This, it said, would help developing countries get easier access to innovative clean energy technologies, focusing on key sectors such as industry, cooling, smart energy and storage.

We cannot achieve the promise of the Paris Agreement or Sustainable Development Goal 7  access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all  without a clean energy transition that leaves no one behind.

Today, just under 800 million people globally lack access to electricity and we must close these gaps with renewable, efficient and affordable solutions, Mrs Ogunbiyi was also quoted as saying.

Mrs Ogunbiyi, who is also the UN Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Sustainable Energy for All, came into limelight last year when the Minister of Power, Sale Mamman, suspended her alongside the CEO of the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company (NBET), Marilyn Amobi, over allegations of infractions.

In the build-up to her UN appointment, President Muhammadu Buhari ordered the reversal of her suspension to allow her resign from the government post and pursue her new global role.

Mrs Ogunbiyi previously worked as the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Power and Head of the Advisory Power Team (APT) in the Office of the Vice President where she was responsible for the Power Sector Recovery Programme (PSRP), a series of policy actions, operational, governance and financial interventions to be implemented by the Federal Government of Nigeria over a five-year period (2017-2021).

Before joining the federal government, she was the first female General Manager of the Lagos State Electricity Board.

Under her leadership, five independent power projects were completed to deliver over 55 megawatts of power to Lagos State hospitals, schools, streetlights and the Government secretariat, her UN profile read.

In renewable energy, she completed a 5MW decentralized solar project for 213 schools and clinics in Lagos and also created the Lagos State Energy Academy to build the capacity of young people in renewable energy technology.

Meanwhile, prior to her new appointment, she was a consultant for the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DfID) on public-private partnerships and had held various leadership positions in organisations focused on expanding energy access in sub-Saharan Africa.

Earlier in June, the United States International Development Finance Corporation Board of Directors named her among the first members of the agencys inaugural Development Advisory Council.

In addition, Mrs Ogunbiyi is one of the Commissioners for the Global Commission to End Energy Poverty, an initiative driven by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and The Rockefeller Foundation.
COVID-19 has caused fewer men to be screened and diagnosed for Prostate Cancer, and we believe that by offering fast and accurate, home-based screening, along with a path to diagnosis with HALO Diagnostics we can help men stop progression of prostate cancer, said imaware Cofounder Jani Tuomi.

Houston-based testing and screening provider imaware is partnering with HALO Diagnostics (http://www.halodx.com) to promote early detection and connect patients to the latest advances in prostate cancer diagnostics and treatment solutions. imaware offers a self-collected testing solution for men to learn their PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) level and assess their prostate cancer risk while also decreasing doctor-patient interaction during the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 has caused fewer men to be screened and diagnosed for Prostate Cancer, and we believe that by offering fast and accurate, home-based screening, along with a path to diagnosis with HALO Diagnostics we can help men stop progression of prostate cancer, said imaware Cofounder Jani Tuomi. Prostate Cancer Awareness Month is a timely reminder for men to assess their risk, and screen from the comfort of their own home.

imaware has partnered with HALO Diagnostics, whose primary focus is to advance diagnostic technology development and increase access to unique life-changing treatment solutions. The HALO Diagnostics partnership is an example of the imaware bundled approach to healthcare by offering self-collection and testing to support traditional diagnostics and clinical care.

HALO Diagnostics uses Laser Focal Therapy (focal laser ablation) for the treatment of prostate cancer. In June of this year, the company released interim 10-year results from its Phase II 20-year clinical trial for prostate laser focal therapy in patients with localized prostate cancer. Over 170 men, 45-years or older diagnosed with low-to-intermediate risk or recurrent prostate cancer, volunteered to participate in the study. The results are impressive: less than 1% infection, less than 1% erectile dysfunction and less than 1% incontinence  compared to conventional whole gland prostatectomy which has a risk of up to 50% erectile dysfunction and 25% urinary incontinence. These results, along with a 100% prostate cancer-specific survival rate, are an encouraging development for men looking for a prostate cancer therapy option with a lower risk of side effects.

Overall cancer patient screening and disease management has decreased by as much as 74% during the COVID-19 pandemic with prostate cancer encounters specifically down nearly 50%. imaware aims to improve prostate cancer screening and management, as early screening has been shown to improve prostate cancer mortality by as much as 40%. Prostate cancer is a leading cause of cancer deaths for men. In the U.S. alone, 2.9 million men live with prostate cancer, there are about 190,000 new cases and 33,000 deaths yearly. One in nine men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime and today one in 41 men will die of prostate cancer and African American men have 2.5 times the risk. (According to cancer.org)

imaware offers an at-home Prostate Cancer Test which enables testing for PSA biomarkers. The test can be purchased through http://www.imaware.health for $69. The test is processed in a CLIA-certified lab and results are reviewed by a physician before being communicated to the patient within an average of seven days.

# # #

About HALO Diagnostics:

Headquartered in Silicon Valley, CA, HALO Diagnostics leverages cutting-edge artificial intelligence and machine learning, along with the latest in advanced imaging and diagnostic biomarkers to deliver more holistic diagnostic insights and significant improvement in patient experience and outcomes. A foundational element of this combination is the creation of the HALO Diagnostics Center of Innovation, formerly known as Desert Medical Imaging, in Indian Wells, CA. The center helps fulfill HALO Diagnostics mission of improving human health and well-being via local and easy access to advanced diagnostics and image-guided therapy options. For more information visit http://www.halodx.com/prostate

About imaware

imaware is a Houston, Texas based digital health platform, offering access to advanced and precise testing that empowers individuals with remote screening and monitoring of their health. imaware has provided an essential healthcare service to thousands of Americans for conditions such as COVID-19, cardiovascular disease, prostate cancer, and autoimmune disorders. Learn more at imaware.health.
Restrictions by 15 African countries were imposed after Malian military officers removed President Keita.

Malis military government chief has demanded an end to potentially crippling economic sanctions imposed after last months coup in the country.

On Monday, Malis former defence minister, Bah Ndaw, was named as president of the countrys new transition government.

Colonel Assimi Goita, leader of the National Committee for the Salvation of the People (CNSP) which overthrew Malis President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, was appointed vice president.

The 15-nation West Africa bloc ECOWAS shuttered Malis borders and imposed trade restrictions after Malian military officers deposed Keita on August 18.

Last week, the trade bloc also insisted that it would maintain the measures unless Malis ruling officers appoint civilian leaders swiftly.

Addressing reporters on Tuesday during a ceremony to mark 60 years of Malian independence, Goita said the recent nomination of a civilian as interim president meant that West African leaders must end their trade embargo.

The international community is watching us  which is why we accepted the ECOWAS principles, Goita said. In the coming days, ECOWAS must remove these sanctions for the happiness of the Malian people.

Ndaw, 70, will lead a transition government for a maximum of 18 months before staging national elections, according to a plan endorsed by the military government.

But it remains unclear how West African leaders will react to Ndaws nomination.

Hauled back from retirement, the former defence minister spent his career in Malis military, where he occupied a series of senior positions.

ECOWASs mediator in Malis crisis, former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan, is expected in the capital Bamako on Wednesday.





Malis neighbours are anxious to avoid the fragile nation of some 19 million people slipping into chaos.

Swaths of the vast country already lie outside of government control due to a lethal armed rebellion that first emerged in 2012 and has also inflamed ethnic tensions.

Current ECOWAS restrictions ban commercial trade and financial flows, but not basic necessities, drugs, equipment to fight coronavirus, fuel or electricity.

Heavy sanctions could bite in the poor country already facing a severe economic downturn.

Goita urged citizens to form a sacred union around Mali and support the security forces.

Today is an opportunity for me to congratulate and encourage them for all their efforts to bring security and peace to Mali, he said of the troops.

The military government leader also called on Malians to support the partner forces of France and the United Nations in the country, which are often a target of popular anger.
It tells me they are willing to look at this themselves in the future, possibly, he said. There is a sense that this might be a very good move for Saudi Arabia, but they dont want it to be an expression of Saudi weakness. They want to make sure its an expression of or a contributor to Saudi strength.
OceanTomo.com Over the last 35 years, markets have been transformed from their industrial manufacturing base to a more innovation-driven foundation. This shift is one of the most under-exploited themes in contemporary economics, finance, and investing.

Ocean Tomo, LLC, the intellectual capital merchant banc firm, released interim results for the Intangible Asset Market Value (IAMV) Study, that examines the component of market value, specifically the role of intangible assets across a range of global indexes.

Since 2017, Ocean Tomo has calculated and reviewed the intangible asset market value (IAMV) of the S&P500 index components. Between 1995 and 2015, the share of intangible asset market value increased from 68% to 84%. In July, Ocean Tomo updated the IAMV Study to investigate the economic effects of the novel coronavirus. We find that COVID-19 has accelerated the trend of increasing IAMV share, with intangible assets now commanding over 90% of the S&P500 market value. This trend holds for the S&P Europe 350 index as well, albeit to a lesser extent, with an increase from 71% in 2015 to 74% in 2020.

Given that the coronavirus has affected all countries to some extent, Ocean Tomo also investigated the effects COVID-19 has had on Asian market values. We find that, in China, Japan, and South Korea, COVID-19 has resulted in a decline in IAMV share in the Shanghai Shenzen CSI 300, the Nikkei 225, and KOSDAQ Composite Index, respectively.

While part of this is explained by reporting differences and higher volatility compared to the S&P500 IAMV, South Korea has also been notably lauded for its success in controlling the outbreak within its borders, while never fully locking down. The economic effects associated with its more successful pandemic response than its regional (and global) neighbors could have had more severe consequences for intangible asset values.

Matthew Johnson of Ocean Tomo observes that over the past 35 years, the U.S. and developed world economies have experienced an economic inversion. These markets are being transformed from their industrial manufacturing base to a more innovation-driven foundation. This shift is one of the most under-exploited themes in contemporary economics, finance, and investing, particularly outside the U.S..

To learn more, about this interim update, download the Intangible Asset Market Value Study here. To explore this topic and its implications for your global intellectual property assets and strategies, please contact Matt Johnson (+1 312 327 8188 | mjohnson@oceantomo.com) for further assistance.

About Ocean Tomo

Ocean Tomo, the Intellectual Capital Merchant Banc firm, provides companies with financial services related to intellectual property and intangible assets including financial expert testimony, intellectual property and complex financial instrument valuation, strategy consulting, risk & regulatory compliance, patent analytics, investment advisory, innovation management consulting and transaction brokerage.

Our Opinion, Management, and Advisory Services are built upon more than three decades of experience valuating intellectual property in the most rigorous of venues  State, Federal and international courts. Our financial and market experts along with leading technologists provide a unique understanding of the contributory value of proprietary innovation. This is the cornerstone of our business. This insight permeates every practice and client engagement.

Collectively, Ocean Tomo professionals have completed over 1000 engagements involving IP worth in excess of $10 billion including over 300 valuation and 500 financial damages expert testimony engagements.


A couple in China has spent four months separated from their daughter born via surrogate due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.

Emily Chrislip, who lives in Idaho, gave birth to a healthy baby girl on May 18, and has been caring for her ever since at the request of the intended family.

The mom and dad asked if we would do it, Chrislip, 25, told TODAY Parents. They were like, We understand if its too much. They didnt pressure us.

Though Chrislip said her husband, Brandon, 25, was a little bit hesitant, he wasnt comfortable with the other option.

Emily Chrislip poses with her husband, Brandon, and their son, Camden. (BreAna Thomas Photography)

If Brandon and I couldnt do it, she was going to have to live with a nanny full-time, Chrislip explained. We knew the right thing to do was to care for her. We knew we could give her a loving home."

Chrislip has found it helpful to create boundaries to avoid getting overly-attached. She pumps instead of breastfeeding and didnt do skin-to-skin after the baby was born because it promotes bonding.

Staying in the mindset that weve had since the beginning of the journey has been helpful, Chrislip revealed. Shes not our child. She belongs with her parents. We want to get her to her parents.

Surrogate mom Emily Chrislip (with her family) gave birth to a baby girl for a couple in China. (BreAna Thomas Photography)

Chrislips 2-year-old son, Camden, understands that the little girl is not his sister.

Brandon sat him down and was like, Her parents live where Kung Fu Panda lives and were just babysitting her until her mom and dad can get here, Chrislip recalled. We told him shell always be a special part of our lives, but shes not ours.

The Chrislips speak regularly over FaceTime with the intended parents, who have been sending care packages. Recently, they shipped baby clothing and teething toys.

I cant imagine what they are going through, Chrislip said. They tried to have a child for so many years and now they cant be with her.

Chrislip doesnt know when the baby will be united with her parents.

Its heartbreaking, she said. They are so excited to her meet her.

The coronavirus epidemic has posed challenges for many parents in China using carriers in the United States, according to Steven Snyder, an attorney in Minnesota who specializes in surrogacy law.

Story continues

Parents living in other countries can apply for travel exceptions, but Chinese embassies are not responsive for reasons unknown, Snyder told TODAY Parents. Then this situation occurs.

Though Snyder, a former chair of the American Bar Association, commends the Chrislips kindness, he doesnt recommend that carriers act as guardians in the interim.

It may cause emotional or psychological distress, Snyder said. The favored alternatives are to find other people who are licensed caregivers and have been vetted. But its really under control of the parents and what they want."
With 32 new deaths due to coronavirus disease (Covid-19) reported on Monday, the total number of people who have died from the viral infection in Delhi crossed the 5,000 mark as the resurgence of the infections in city continued.

According to Mondays government health bulletin, 2,548 new cases were reported in the past 24 hours, taking the total number of infections in the Capital to 249,259. The infection has killed a total of 5,014 people till Sunday, while 213,304 people have recovered.

At an average, 35 people have lost their lives to Covid-19 every day in the past week. This is the highest the seven-day average of deaths has been in two months (since July 21). The highest number of deaths reported in a day during the September resurgence in cases was 38 (on September 17 and 19). This was the highest number of deaths reported in 24-hours in over two months.

Delhis case fatality rate (CFR)  the proportion of confirmed cases that have died due to the disease  is 2.0%, much higher than the national CFR of 1.6%.

The Delhi government officials, however, said they have been able to control deaths better in the recent resurgence of cases than they did in the initial surge in June. Very few deaths are being reported right now in comparison to the number of cases. Death is always seen as a percentage, said Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain.

A person who gets diagnosed today will not die on day 1, they might die on day 4 or day 6 so we need to look at the trend of deaths over some time, said Dr Neeraj Gupta, professor of pulmonology at Safdarjung hospital. With Covid-19 beds filling up in bigger hospitals, many patients may go to smaller centres that may not be equipped to handle complicated Covid-19 cases, he said.

With the increase in the number of hospitalisations  over 7,000 reported on Saturday and Sunday  hospitals have been slowly filling up in the Capital. Delhi currently has 3,081 ICU (intensive care unit) beds earmarked for Covid-19 patients. Of these, 67.4% are already occupied, according to Delhi corona app.

The occupancy, however, is much higher at the big multi-speciality private hospitals.

The occupancy is higher in big private hospitals of the city because many patients from outside Delhi know of these hospitals and come there specifically for treatment. Nearly 30% of all admitted Covid-19 patients in Delhi are from other states. But, there are still about 1,000 ICU beds vacant and hospitals are working on increasing beds, Jain said, adding that over 1,500 beds were added for Covid-19 treatment over the last 10 days, of which 500 were ICU beds.

The city again saw a dip in the number of tests and cases over the weekend. Only 33,733 samples were tested in the last 24 hours against an average of around 58,000 daily tests over the past week. With fewer tests, the positivity rate  fraction of people who test positive among those tested  also went up slightly to 7.6%. Experts say that a positivity rate of below 5% over two weeks ideally indicates that the outbreak is in control.

Although, the sero surveillance has shown about 30% presence of antibodies infections are still being reported from areas where fewer infections were reported during June. Now, Delhi needs to focus on keeping the mortality low by keeping close watch on the old and those with comorbidities, said Dr Puneet Mishra, professor of community medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences.

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An Australian 'miracle salve' has been praised for healing all manner of chronic skin conditions, including eczema, dermatitis and psoriasis, as well as burn marks and scars.

Lanolips reissued its popular Golden Dry Skin Miracle Salve ($19.95) on September 10 with new packaging, and it has fast reignited the public's love of the skin saviour.

The thick balm-like cream has been formulated with 70 per cent medical grade lanolin, which comes from sheep's wool, anti-bacterial Manuka honey, and antioxidant-rich vitamin E to soothe dry skin issues.

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Lanolips reissued its popular Golden Dry Skin Miracle Salve ($19.95) on September 10 with new packaging, and it has fast reignited the public's love of the skin saviour

The thick balm-like cream has been formulated with 70 per cent medical grade lanolin, which comes from sheep's wool, anti-bacterial Manuka honey, and antioxidant-rich vitamin E to soothe dry skin issues (seven day difference)

Golden Dry Skin Miracle Salve ($19.95)

It lasts on the skin for over 48-hours so the customer doesn't need to keep reapplying and it can clear up major skin markings in as little as seven days.

'Use on very dry skin: rough feet, itchy legs, scaly hands, parched face - it's even great on lips. For best results, apply at night to wake up dewy and hydrated,' the website read.

'Omg the best ever! I've since used it on a scratch from my naughty cat and it's healed so quickly,' one woman wrote on the offical Instagram page.

'I literally cried after trying this product on my constant dry lips, after spending hundreds on trying to find something that helped, this has been a saviour,' said another.

It helps to eliminate burns and scars when the wound is fresh (pictured on the face)

'Not only is it good for my lips...it is has helped my dermatitis on my hands which I have struggled with for so long! Much loved and used product.'

'The natural ingredients especially within this product are amazing! I love that there isn't petroleum jelly or any other classified substances that aren't necessarily good for the skin. I have an obsession with the texture of all Lanolips products and especially the golden dry skin salve,' said a third.

Another added: 'I put this on my scar last night around 10pm, it is 9am at the moment and my scar and the skin around it still feel incredibly moisturised and feel great! I don't feel that uncomfortable pulling when I stretch or reach anymore. I will definitely continue to use this'.

'Use on very dry skin: rough feet, itchy legs, scaly hands, parched face - it's even great on lips. For best results, apply at night to wake up dewy and hydrated,' the website read

Kirsten's favourite product is still the tried-and-tested $18.99 101 multi-purpose balm

Lanolips founder Kirsten Carriol was first exposed to the healing effects of lanolin after her father, a molecular scientist and sheep farmer, told her that wool contains the oil, which mimics the same hydrating oils of human skin.

The mother-of-two launched her brand in 2009 in ode to this wonder ingredient and it has quickly picked up a large celebrity following, with the likes of Drew Barrymore, Kaley Cuoco, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Sienna Miller using the balms.

Kirsten's favourite product is still the tried-and-tested $18.99 101 multi-purpose balm because it's the 'beating heart of the range.'
The Department of Justice on Monday designated New York City, Seattle and Portland, Ore., as jurisdictions that permit anarchy, violence and destruction, a distinction that the Trump administration hopes to use to strip those cities of federal funding.

But legal experts say the policy may amount to little more than an empty political threat.

The list of cities is a response to a Sept. 2 memorandum from the White House outlining a policy under which the Trump administration can decide to restrict federal grant funding. The memo states that violence and destruction have continued unabated in Portland, Seattle and New York due to failed leadership and disempowered police forces.

We cannot allow federal tax dollars to be wasted when the safety of the citizenry hangs in the balance, Attorney General William Barr said in a statement Monday. It is my hope that the cities identified by the Department of Justice today will reverse course and become serious about performing the basic function of government and start protecting their own citizens.

The proposal to deny those three cities federal funding is vaguely similar to Trumps attempt to withhold funds from so-called sanctuary cities, jurisdictions that limit cooperation with federal agencies in the enforcement of immigration law. Courts have issued mixed decisions on whether such an action is legal.

But experts told Yahoo News this latest case is cut-and-dried, and say that Trump and Barr are applying arbitrary criteria to decide which cities the administration will deny funding.

Its clear that only the Congress has the power of the purse, Harvard University law professor and leading constitutional scholar Laurence Tribe told Yahoo News. Congress sets the conditions on which grants to states and grants to municipalities can be given and must be given. And the president has to follow those rules.

Federal police try to take control of the streets during protests on Friday in Portland, Ore. (Paula Bronstein/AP)

Tribe said he would expect lower courts to come to this conclusion if Trump actually attempted to revoke federal funding. Its unclear how exactly the administration plans to follow through.

Story continues

I think its just bluster. Its just talk, Tribe said.

The DOJ singled out Portland, New York City and Seattle for a myriad of issues affecting each city. New York City has been experiencing spikes in violent crime, while protests in Portland have devolved into dangerous riots. Amid ongoing demonstrations in Seattle, a group of protesters took control of an area near Seattle Polices East Precinct, deemed the Capitol Hill Organized Protest zone, in June. At least two people have been shot in the area. President Trump has remained critical of these cities and their Democratic leadership.

Among the criteria for receiving an anarchy identification is refusing law enforcement assistance from the federal government and defunding police departments, according to the DOJ. All three cities have taken steps to redirect funding allocated for police departments to other programs.

In a joint statement shared with Yahoo News, the mayors of Portland, New York and Seattle denounced the prospect of losing federal tax dollars as an unlawful and blatantly political gesture.

The President is playing cheap political games with Congressionally directed funds, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan said. Our cities are pushing forward after fighting back a pandemic and facing the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, all despite recklessness and partisanship from the White House. What the Trump Administration is engaging in now is more of what weve seen all along: shirking responsibility and placing blame elsewhere to cover its failure.

In a separate press conference held by de Blasio, his counsel said the city is prepared to fight the Trump administration in court if it moves ahead with withholding funding.

Tear gas fills the air during protests in Portland, Ore., on Friday. (Paula Bronstein/AP)

Not only is it unconstitutional, said James Johnson, corporation counsel for New York City, the designation of anarchy doesnt even pass the common-sense test. And if need be, we can send, in addition to our legal filings, a dictionary, because what we have in New York is not anarchy. What we have is a city moving forward under difficult circumstances, made more difficult because of the threats to withdraw federal funding.

The U.S. Constitution allows Congress to offer federal funding to states and municipalities based on certain conditions. But in prior decisions, the U.S. Supreme Court has held that those conditions must be unambiguously established so that the states can knowingly accept or reject them.

In general, the states have to have been given notice beforehand by whatever legislation is giving the federal money that it could be taken away, Stanford law professor and constitutional law scholar Bernadette Meyler told Yahoo News. So if they havent received that kind of notice under the legislation, then a retroactive effort to take away the money is generally not going to be considered constitutional, she said.

The criteria detailed Monday by Barr, which includes any factors the Attorney General deems appropriate, seems to run afoul of the governments duty to give states sufficient notice of what conditions it must meet to receive federal money.

The vagueness of the language and the breadth of it, Meyler said, allows for completely arbitrary executive decision making.

Thumbnail credit: Paula Bronstein/AP

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Trinity Episcopal Church in Southport is inviting pet owners from Fairfield, Bridgeport, Westport and the surrounding area to bring their furry, feathery and scaly friends for a special blessing on the church lawn Sunday, Oct. 4., at 4 p.m.

Free and open to all regardless of religious affiliation, the annual event celebrates the Feast Day of Saint Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals.
By PTI

MUMBAI: Veteran actor Zarina Wahab was discharged from a city hospital on Sunday, five days after she tested positive for coronavirus, according to Dr Jalil Parkar.

The 61-year-old actor, best known for films "Chitchor", "Gharonda", "My Name is Khan" and "Dil Dhadakne Do", was admitted to Lilavati Hospital last week after complaints of fever and breathlessness.

"She was admitted last week, around September 14-15. She was COVID-19 positive. She had fever, breathlessness. I gave her all the treatment and after five days she became well and went home. She was discharged on Sunday," Dr Jalil Parkar, who treated Wahab, told PTI.

When asked if the actor had tested negative for the virus, Parkar said doctors can discharge patients if they're recovering from COVID-19.

"We don't need COVID negativity now. Those were the norms earlier. We can send them home. Even if they're positive, you need to be isolated for 14 days from the first day of being COVID-19 positive. That way, she was fine and so we sent her home," he added.

Wahab, apart from featuring in Hindi films, has worked extensively in Malayalam, Telugu and Tamil cinema.

She was last seen on the big screen in Varun Dhawan-Shraddha Kapoor starrer "Street Dancer 3D", which released earlier this year.
Mailchimp may have started out as an easy to use newsletter tool, but that was almost 20 years ago. Today's company still does email, but at its core, it is now a marketing automation platform for small businesses that also offers a website builder, basic online stores, digital ad support and analytics to make sense of it all. Like before, though, the company's main goal is to make all these features easy to use for small business users.

Image Credits: Mailchimp

Today, Mailchimp, which has never taken outside funding, is taking the next step in its own transformation with the launch of a set of AI-based tools that give small businesses easy access to the same kind of capabilities that their larger competitors now use. That includes personalized product recommendations for shoppers and forecasting tools for behavioral targeting to see which users are most likely to buy something, for example. But there's now also a new AI-backed tool to help business owners design their own visual asset (based in part on its acquisition of Sawa), as well as a tool to help them write better email subject lines.

There's also a new tool that helps businesses choose the next best action. It looks at all of the data the service aggregates and gives users actionable recommendations for how to improve their email campaign performance.

Image Credits: Mailchimp

"The journey to get here started about four years ago," Mailchimp's founding CEO Ben Chestnut told me. "We were riding high. Email was doing amazing for us. And things look so good. And I had a choice, I felt I could sell the business and make a lot of money. I had some offers. Or I could just coast, honestly. I could just be a hero in email and keep it simple and just keep raking in the money. Or I could take on another really tough challenge, which would be act two of Mailchimp. And I honestly didn't know what that would be. To be honest with you, that was four years ago, it could have been anything really."

Story continues

But after talking to the team, including John Foreman, the head of data analytics at the time and now Mailchimp's CPO, Chestnut put the company on this new path to go after the marketing automation space. In part, he told me, he did so because he noted that the email space was getting increasingly crowded. "You know how that ends. I mean, you can't stay there forever with this many competitors. So I knew that we had to up our game," he said.

And that meant going well beyond email and building numerous new products.

Image Credits: Mailchimp

"It was a huge transformation for us," Chestnut acknowledged. "We had to get good at building for other customer segments at the time, like e-commerce customers and others. And that was new for us, too. It's all kinds of new disciplines for us. To inflict that kind of change on your employees is very, very rough. I just can't help but look back with gratitude that my employees were willing to go on this journey with me. And they actually had faith in me and this release -- this fall release -- is really the culmination of everything we've been working on for four years to me."

One thing that helped was that Mailchimp already had e-commerce customers -- and as Chestnut noted, they were pushing the system to its limit. Only a few years ago, the culture at Mailchimp looked at them as somewhat annoying, though, Chestnut admitted, because they were quite demanding. They didn't even make the company a lot of money either. At the time, nonprofits were Mailchimp's best customers, but they weren't pushing the technology to its limits.

Despite this transformation, Mailchimp hasn't made a lot of acquisitions to accelerate this process. Chestnut argues that a lot of what it is doing -- say adding direct mail -- is something that was more or less an extension of what it was already good at. But it did make some small AI and ML acquisitions to bring the right expertise in-house, as well as two e-commerce acquisitions, including LemonStand. Most recently, Mailchimp acquired Courier, a British magazine, newsletter and podcast, marking its first move into the print business.

With this new set of products and services, Mailchimp is now aiming to give small businesses access to the same capabilities the larger e-commerce players have long had, but without the complexity.

To build tools based on machine learning, one needs data -- and that's something Mailchimp already had.

"We've been doing marketing for decades," Mailchimp CPO Foreman said. "And we have millions of small businesses on the platform. And so not only do we build all these tools ourselves, which allows us to integrate them from a visual design perspective -- they're not necessarily acquisitions -- but we have this common data set from years and years of doing marketing across millions of businesses, billions of customers we're talking to, and so we thought, how can we use intelligence -- artificial intelligence, machine learning, etc. -- to also sand down how all of these tools connect."

Chestnut says he isn't likely to put the company on a similar transformation anytime soon. "I really believe you can only take on one major transformation per decade," he said. "And so you better pick the right one and you better invest it. We're all in on this all-in-one marketing platform that's e-commerce enabled. That is unique enough. And now what I'm trying to get my company to do is go deep."
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 22, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijans militaristic rhetoric, accusations against Armenia show that Baku is preparing a ground for an attack, Editor-in-chief of Realist Arabic news agency, analyst, Doctor Amr Eldiib told Armenpress, commenting on the latest regional developments.

In order to start such actions Azerbaijan is preparing a respective ground by conducting anti-propaganda, spreading fake news as much as possible, for instance, the one according to which Armenia is bringing Kurds to Armenia and Artsakh. This is of course obvious fake news and is out of logic, no one would believe in it, however, by ensuring the respective field in the political platform Azerbaijan, in case of an attack, will already announce that it is protecting itself. Therefore, the Azerbaijani Presidents such rhetoric, statement containing large number of accusations are leading to that, the Egyptian analyst said, adding that information war is underway at this stage, but after that concrete actions in the border are not ruled out.

According to him, this entire process comes from Azerbaijan, but he says that here he obviously sees Turkeys handwriting. Azerbaijan may go to escalation, supported by Turkey, which is trying to strengthen its positions in the region. The editor-in-chief of Realist Arabic says its not a coincidence that after the July military operations, escalation on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border, Azerbaijan and Turkey started holding joint military exercises. After that Turkey left a part of its military troops there. According to Amr Eldiib, Turkey is trying to strengthen its positions in Azerbaijan, and this means strengthening of positions in the Caucasus and the region.

Obviously this is Turkeys handwriting. Observing the last experience we see that Turkey has used the conflicts in different parts of the Middle East for strengthening its positions. Now it tries to do the same in the South Caucasus, he added.

The analyst said that Turkey is also trying to solve another issue. In recent period Turkeys actions at several directions in the Eastern Mediterranean, North Africa and Middle East are not fully accepted by the international community.

Currently Turkey is under strong pressures over the issues of the Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean. Therefore, its not ruled out that Turkey may try to go to the Central Asia, Armenia, Azerbaijan in order to avoid these pressures. But I think that Turkey should not be provided with that opportunity, he said. In this respect he highlighted uniting efforts with different countries. All countries, which feel a threat by Turkey, should be able to act jointly and jointly react to Turkeys aggressive policy if necessary.

The analyst attached importance to the recent visit of Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan to Egypt, which also touched upon Turkeys actions. He says Egypt and Armenia have a great potential to develop the relations not only in the political, but also in other fields. By using the friendly ties and opportunities between the two peoples it is necessary to boost the cooperation in other sectors as well. Amr Eldiib expressed hope that meetings of Armenian and Egyptian officials will take place soon.

Interview by Anna Gziryan

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
The US death toll from Covid-19 topped 200,000 on Tuesday, a figure unimaginable eight months ago when the scourge first reached the worlds richest nation.

The grim milestone in America was reported only hours after the UK announced new restrictions short of a total lockdown, with the countrys authorities reporting a sharp increase in cases in recent weeks.

The deadly disease has so far claimed more than 965,000 lives globally and has infected over 31.3 million people. The US remains the worst-hit nation, surpassing 200,000 fatalities and reporting nearly 6.9 million Covid-19 infections. In the UK, the disease has claimed over 41,800 lives and infected at least 400,000 people.

Critics in the US said the latest statistics exposed the Trump administrations failure to meet its sternest test ahead of the November 3 election.

President Donald Trumps Democratic rival Joe Biden said, With this crisis that required serious presidential leadership, he just wasnt up to it. He froze... and America has paid the worst price of any nation in the world.

In the UK, concern over managing the crisis was prompted by modelling that showed new cases doubling every seven days.

The new measures would last at least six months, Johnson told the House of Commons. The curbs include a 10pm curfew for pubs, restaurants and hospitality centres. Fines of up to 10,000 and compulsory wearing of masks are among the new steps.

Another advice from the UK PM was to work from home, a reversal of the recent back to work advice. Weddings will also be limited to 15 people, instead of 30, while planned pilot events for the return of spectator sport have been cancelled.

The advice to last six months means Johnson has dropped his earlier optimism of a return to normal by Christmas.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department is handling the investigation of how a firefighter died last week while battling the El Dorado Fire, which continues to burn in the San Bernardino National Forest for the third week.

The firefighter was Charles Morton, 39, the Big Bear Interagency Hotshot Squad boss, the San Bernardino National Forest said in a statement Monday night. He died while "engaged in fire suppression operations" late Thursday, the statement said.

Charlie was a well-respected leader who was always there for his squad and his crew at the toughest times, said U.S. Forest Service Chief Vicki Christiansen. Our hearts go out to Charlies loved ones, coworkers, friends and the Big Bear Hotshots. We will keep them in our thoughts and prayers.

Charles Morton, a Big Bear Interagency Hotshot Squad boss, died while fighting the El Dorado Fire in Southern California late Thursday, Sept. 17, 2020.

Morton had been with the Forest Service for 14 years, joining the team in San Bernardino in 2007. He worked on both the Front Country and Mountaintop Ranger Districts, for the Mill Creek Interagency Hotshots, Engine 31, Engine 19, and the Big Bear Interagency Hotshots.

A hotshot crew is a group of 20 or so firefighters that respond to large wildland fires across the country and are assigned to work the most challenging parts of the fire.

According to the statement, Morton's family asked the department to share that he is survived by his wife and daughter, his parents, two brothers, cousins, and friends. "Hes loved and will be missed, the statement added.

There are no words to express how we feel about the loss of one of our own. Our hearts are breaking for our Forest Service brothers and sisters and for Charlies family. R.I.P. brother. https://t.co/ILFSI0ZU7X  SB County Fire (@SBCOUNTYFIRE) September 22, 2020

The investigation is at its inception and it's too early to say whether death-related charges could be recommended against a family suspected of igniting the fire with a pyrotechnic device during a Sept. 5 gender reveal gathering, sheriff's spokeswoman Jodi Miller said.

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As the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department handles the firefighter's death investigation, Cal Fire is investigating the cause of the El Dorado Fire.

Cal Fire Capt. Bennet Milloy on Monday reiterated it could take weeks for investigators to determine the exact cause of the fire, including whether the family would be held culpable for igniting the blaze.

"There is still a lot of work to be done," he said.

See what that looks like: Wildfires burned millions of acres across the West.

Findings from both investigations will ultimately be submitted to the San Bernardino County District Attorney's office.

As of 6:30 p.m. Monday, the El Dorado Fire had burned 22,588 acres and 60% of its perimeter was contained, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

Four homes and six other structures have been destroyed. There are 1,190 firefighters and staff at the scene.

Follow Colin Atagi on Twitter: @tdscolinatagi.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Firefighter's death at California's El Dorado Fire under investigation
Johnson is speaker at Northern State event Monday

U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson will speak at the grand opening of Northern State University's Center for Public History and Civic Engagement.
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BDR Pharmaceuticals will soon be launching an 800 mg version of the Favipiravir tablet, which is expected to significantly reduce the pill burden on Covid-19 patients. The 800 mg tablet will reduce the number of tablets to 30 for a 14-day course.

In India, Favipiravir is used in the treatment of mild to moderate cases of Covid-19.

Currently, Favipiravir tablets are available in 200 mg and 400 mg versions. A patient has to pop a total of 122 tablets in a 14-day course for 200 mg, while the 400 mg halves the number of pills to 61.

We have been inspected by the DCGI and our samples have been approved in the lab. We are expecting the clearance anytime this week, said Dharmesh Shah, Chairman of BDR Pharmaceuticals.

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

Also Read: Roches Tocilizumab cuts likelihood of death in COVID-19 hospitalised patients with associated pneumonia by 44%

The patient has to take a loading dose of 3,600 mg on day one, followed by 1,600 mg on the remaining days, so 800 mg will be a convenient dose, Shah added.

The high pill burden is cited as one of the reasons for drop in patient compliance with the treatment.

BDR has launched 200 mg and 400 mg versions on its own, under brand name BDFAVI, and also supplies Sun Pharma, Brinton Pharmaceuticals and Blue Cross Laboratories.

Price drop

Favipiravir, an antiviral drug that has been used in the treatment of influenza in Japan since 2014, was approved by the Drug Controller General of India for treatment of mild to moderate Covid cases.

Over a dozen companies have been marketing favipiravir, with prices dropping as low as Rs 33 per tablet of 200 mg dosage, a fall of close to 70 percent in less than two months since Glenmark launched its Favipiravir tablets.

India has reported close to 5.56 million Covid cases and 88,935 deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins Covid-19 tracker. There are close to a million active cases, of which at least 20 percent would need oxygen. Cases have been rising by about 90,000 on a daily basis.

Demand for Remdesivir outstrips supply

Meanwhile, demand for Remdesivir, a broad-spectrum injectible antiviral medication developed by Gilead Sciences, continues to surge. The drug is yet to reach smaller towns, where the black market is thriving as cases rise. Shortages have been reported even in large cities, including Mumbai.

Shah said demand for Remdesivir is still outstripping supply, as Covid-19 cases continue to rise in India and globally.

He says the capacity of Remdesivir is around 5 lakh vials, with Cipla-BDR and Hetero the dominant producers.

BDR, which exclusively supplies the Remdesivir active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) to Cipla, scaled up to 250,000 vials capacity in September from just 70,000-80,000 in July.

Shah said BDRs partnership with Cipla is progressing well, even as Cipla works to develop and produce Remdesivir in-house at its Goa facility to augment capacity.

We are increasing quantity month on month. Right now the requirement is much more than supply. There is a need for more supplies. In any case if Cipla is doing it at Goa, it will have to cater to the rest of world  127 countries. We need additional capacity, Shah said.

Not a cheap drug

Remdesivir is prescribed for hospitalised patients who are on oxygen. The drug has to be taken for five days, with 200 mg IV (intravenous) on day 1 followed by 100 mg IV daily for four days.

The drug was approved as an experimental therapy for restricted emergency use on patients.

A vial of the medication from Cipla costs Rs 4,000 while Hetero's product is priced highest, at Rs 5,400 per vial.

Zydus Cadila has launched the cheapest Remdesivir injection, at Rs 2,800 per 100 mg vial. The other companies to have launched Remdesivir include Mylan, Jubilant Life Sciences, and Dr Reddys.

Shah says that while Zydus had the advantage of coming in late, other companies are offering the drug to the government at a price similar to that quoted by Zydus.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 23:36:28|Editor: huaxia

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BANGKOK, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Tuesday told the press that he had already instructed authorities to seek help from Interpol to nab Red Bull scion Vorayuth Yoovidhya and have him extradited to Thailand to stand trial in the high-profile hit-and-run case that took place eight years ago.

"Please rest assured that there is fairness in the Thai judicial system," said Prayut. "Interpol had already been informed and will issue a Red Notice to the suspect to have him provisionally arrested and held, and later sent back to Thailand to face charges."

Just last week, prosecutors in charge of the case decided to indict the fugitive on charges of reckless driving causing the death of a junior police officer.

Vorayuth has also been implicated with illicit drug use while taking the wheel of his Ferrari car before smashing into the police officer.

The prime minister said that Interpol would alert its member countries of the Red Notice and expected an update from the Thai police within a week.

Thai police and the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) had previously decided to drop all charges against Vorayuth, indicating that the Red Bull family has already compensated the family of the dead police officer.

However, the decision to withdraw charges against the scion had sparked national outcry, prompting leading law experts to demand a relaunch into the investigation.

Justice Minister Somsak Thepsuthin had also given his word that all witnesses would be provided with maximum protection against possible reprisals. Enditem
SPRINGFIELD  City Councilor Jesse Lederman has submitted an online petition with more than 2,500 signatures in opposition to a legislative clause that, if passed, might aid a long-stalled, controversial biomass project in East Springfield.

Lederman, chairman of the councils Committee on Sustainability and Environment, said in a prepared release that the petition was filed with the states Legislative Conference Committee. The petition opposes language in a House Climate Bill.

The clause would define commercial grade wood-burning biomass as non-carbon emitting sources of energy, incentivizing the purchase of energy from such incinerators under the premise of renewable energy, Lederman said.

Lederman initiated the still active petition, which can be found here.

The legislative committee is reviewing the bill, as Palmer Renewable Energy continues to propose a propose a biomass wood burning project at 1000 Page Boulevard, at Cadwell Drive. The citys building commissioner Steven Desilets said in July that the company continues to have a valid building permit for the project although it has been on hold more than a decade through multiple court challenges.

I applaud the Massachusetts Legislature for their efforts to address climate change and advance environmental justice through omnibus legislation, however the language that is currently included regarding biomass incinerators is inaccurate and would incentivize potential polluters in our community and potentially across the commonwealth, Lederman said in the release. "I want the members of the conference committee to understand the direct impact that encouraging development of these types of incinerators could have on our community, our air quality, and the well-being of our children, seniors, and all residents, as well as the scientifically inaccurate nature of this definition. We need them to do the right thing.

Opponents have argued that biomass will worsen air pollution in the area, and harm public health.

Biomass proponents have said the plant will be state-of-the-art, and will not worsen pollution or harm health.

The petition was submitted to state Rep. Thomas Golden and state Sen. Michael Barrett, who are co-chairing the conference committee.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-21 22:06:04|Editor: huaxia

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Chinese Ambassador to the Solomon Islands Li Ming (R) and the Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare attend the opening ceremony of Chinese Embassy in the Solomon Islands, in Honiara, capital of the Solomon Islands, Sept. 21, 2020. (Chinese Embassy in Solomon Islands/Handout via Xinhua)

SYDNEY, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- China opened its embassy in the Solomon Islands on Monday, one year after the two countries established diplomatic relationship.

Chinese Ambassador Li Ming, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, Deputy Prime Minister Manasseh Maelanga, Speaker of the Parliament John Patteson Oti and Deputy Speaker Stanley Festus Sofu as well as government ministers and people from all walks of life attended the opening ceremony in Honiara, capital of the south Pacific island nation.

Ambassador Li said China and the Solomon Islands witnessed fruitful cooperation in many areas since the establishment of bilateral relations. China supported Solomons' socio-economic development and help local people improve living standard. The two countries also make joint efforts in fighting against COVID-19.

"The achievements scored by the two countries demonstrated the establishment of diplomatic ties conforms to the trend of the times and benefits the two peoples," Li said while addressing the ceremony.

The ambassador said opening embassy at the one-year ceremony of the diplomatic relations is another important milestone for both sides.

"The embassy will continue to work hard to push forward the development of the China-Solomon Islands relations, deepen the bilateral cooperation and connect the two peoples."

Prime Minister Sogavare said the establishment of diplomatic ties with China based on the one-China principle and relevant UN resolutions is "the right thing."

China and the Solomon Islands established diplomatic relations on Sept. 21, 2019. In a joint communique signed on that day, the Solomon Islands government recognises that there is but one China in the world, that the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China, and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory.

"It is a decision that the Government of Solomon Islands carefully and thoughtfully made after more than three decades of defying the clear position taken by the United Nations, and thereby placed Solomon Islands, as a member of the United Nations, in the right side of history," Sogavare said.

He said the Solomon Islands will adhere to the one-China principle and push forward the bilateral relationship. He also expressed gratitude for China's assistance in the areas of infrastructure construction, pandemic prevention and natural disasters relief.

Saying the opening of the Chinese Embassy marking a new era of relations, Sogavare hoped the embassy would become an important platform to promote the bilateral trade, investment and cultural exchanges, and boost strong growth of the relationship between the Solomon Islands and China. Enditem
The US Virgin Islands Attorney General has subpoenaed 21 years worth of deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epsteins flight logs, reportedly striking fear in the hearts of high-profile passengers not yet exposed as Lolita Express riders.

Passenger logs for Epsteins four helicopters and three planes have been subpoenaed by Virgin Islands AG Denise George, who recently sued the disgraced financiers estate for 22 counts including human trafficking, child abuse, neglect, prostitution, aggravated rape, and forced labor, according to a Sunday report by the UK Mirror.

In addition to the passenger lists, George has requisitioned complaints or reports of potentially suspicious conduct and any personal notes the pilots made while flying Epsteins alleged harem of underage girls around the world. She also wants the names and contact information of anyone who worked for the pilots  or who integrated with or observed Epstein and his passengers.

Epstein pilot David Rodgers previously provided a passenger log in 2009 tying dozens of politicians, actors, and other celebrities to the infamous sex offender  including former US President Bill Clinton, actor Kevin Spacey, and model Naomi Campbell. However, lawyers for Epsteins alleged victims have argued that list did not include flights by Epsteins chief pilot, Larry Visoski, who allegedly worked for him for over 25 years.

The records that have been subpoenaed will make the ones Rodgers provided look like a Post-It note, a source told the Mirror over the weekend, claiming that Georges subpoena had triggered a panic among many of the rich and famous.

Epsteins private plane, nicknamed the Lolita Express, counted among its passengers such luminaries as the UKs Prince Andrew, celebrity lawyer Alan Dershowitz, actor Chris Tucker, Harvard economist Larry Summers, Hyatt hotel mogul Tom Pritzker, and model agency manager Jean-Luc Brunel along with Campbell, Spacey, and Clinton (who the logs show flew with Epstein over two dozen times). However, the passengers who enjoyed his other aircraft have not been made public  yet.

George has also subpoenaed more than 10 banks  including JPMorgan, Citibank, and Deutsche Bank  in her quest to get to the bottom of the financial edifice Epstein built up before he died. The financial institutions have been ordered to submit documents related to some 30 corporations, trusts, and nonprofit entities tied to the predatory playboy.

Epstein supposedly committed suicide last year in a Manhattan jail facility, while his accused madam Ghislaine Maxwell remains imprisoned in a Brooklyn detention center awaiting trial on charges related to child trafficking and perjury after her arrest earlier this year. Maxwells lawyers have struggled to keep documents introduced as part of a recent defamation suit by one of Epsteins alleged victims under seal, insisting the information would deny her a fair trial.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 22

By Ilhama Isabalayeva  Trend:

Any military attack on Azerbaijan first of all will have disastrous consequences for Armenia itself, Mahir Darziyev, MP of Azerbaijani origin, represented in the Georgian parliament, told Trend.

Darziyev was commenting on Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyevs statement about the availability of information that Armenia is preparing for a big war.

The Armenian people will primarily feel the disastrous consequences of the Armenian governments attempt, the MP said.

"Armenia's desire to conduct large-scale military actions may lead to very hard consequences, Darziyev said. Armenia cannot speak with Azerbaijan in the language of arms. Today, Armenia's military potential is incomparably less than that of Azerbaijan.

At the same time, today's negotiations to resolve the conflict are not yielding any results, the MP said. The liberation of own lands by using force within the anti-terrorist operation is Azerbaijans sovereign right."

Noting that today the Armenian government faced with acute economic problems, the MP stressed that Armenia remained outside the grandiose economic projects being implemented by Azerbaijan.

"If Armenia had not pursued an occupation policy against Azerbaijan, it could have taken part in these projects, Darziyev said. If this country participated in the projects, the implementation of projects would have been cheaper as they would run directly through Armenia, without skirting it.

Today, Armenia has put itself into a dead-end by its policy, and there is only one way out - the withdrawal of its armed forces from the Azerbaijani territories, the MP added. This occupation cannot last forever. Today the whole world knows that peace negotiations are not being held, they do not give results due to the destructive position of the occupying country."

Darziyev added that from time to time Armenia commits provocations.

"During another provocation in the direction of Azerbaijans Tovuz district on the state border between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Azerbaijani servicemen became martyrs, the MP said. Georgia understands Azerbaijans this problem very well. These two countries always support, mutually recognize each other's territorial integrity.

Georgia's position is that this conflict must be resolved peacefully, Darziyev said. Georgia today does not want to be a party to the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Georgia itself has a problem with territorial integrity, the MP said. At the same time, there is a big Armenian diaspora in Georgia. The involvement of Georgia in this problem can lead to tragic consequences. But the Georgian public is definitely close to Azerbaijan. Here everyone knows very well that Azerbaijani territories were occupied, and Armenia is the occupier."

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.
Monday's market fall can be attributed to around four negatives news (albeit separate) factors coming together. First, the potential US political battle for the Supreme Court nomination, which in turn has focused attention towards the upcoming US election in November.

Most political analysts are predicting a close race between President Trump and Biden and that's where the complications begin. Given that there will be a postal ballot in a large number of swing states the actual results of the election may not be known for days or weeks, even then, one can assume that ...
The former chairman of a state-owned real estate company who publicly criticized President Xi Jinping's handling of the coronavirus pandemic was sentenced to 18 years in prison on Tuesday on corruption charges, a court announced. Ren Zhiqiang, who became known for speaking up about censorship and other sensitive topics, disappeared from public view in March after publishing an essay online that accused Xi of mishandling the outbreak that began in December in the central city of Wuhan.

Xi, party leader since 2012, has suppressed criticism, tightened censorship and cracked down on unofficial organizations. Dozens of journalists, labor and human rights activists and others have been imprisoned. Ren, 69, was convicted of corruption, bribery, embezzlement of public funds and abuse of power, the Beijing No. 2 Intermediate People's Court announced on its social media account. It cited Ren as saying he wouldn't appeal.

Also read: China witnessed 'earth-shaking' changes under Communist Party leadership: Xi Jinping

The former chairman and deputy party secretary of Huayuan Group was expelled from the ruling party in July. In a commentary that circulated on social media, Ren criticized a 23 February video conference with 170,000 officials held early in the pandemic at which Xi announced orders for responding to the disease.

Ren didn't mention Xi's name but said, "standing there was not an emperor showing off his new clothes but a clown who had stripped off his clothes and insisted on being an emperor." Ren criticized propaganda that portrayed Xi and other leaders as rescuing China from the disease without mentioning where it began and possible mistakes including suppressing information at the start of the outbreak.

"People did not see any criticism at the conference. It didn't investigate and disclose the truth," Ren wrote, according to a copy published by China Digital Times, a website in California. "No one reviewed or took responsibility. But they are trying to cover up the truth with all kinds of great achievements." Ren had an early military career and his parents were both former high officials in the Communist party. Some called him a princeling, a term for offspring of the founders of the communist government, a group that includes Xi.

Also read: Xi Jinping's aggressive moves against India 'unexpectedly flopped', says US magazine
Welcome to MicroClimates, The Chronicles climate change newsletter. If someone forwarded you this email, you can sign up here.

This is a climate damn emergency.

So says the leader of the worlds fifth-largest economy, with a constituency of nearly 40 million people. California Gov. Gavin Newsom has not let an appearance at a forest or community hard-hit by wildfire go by without calling out how climate is driving more intense wildfires.

So what is he going to do about it?

My colleague, state Capitol reporter Dustin Gardiner, says this stronger emphasis on climate change from Newsom started in August, as three major Bay Area fires burned through hundreds of thousands of acres. If you are in denial about climate change, come to California, Newsom said, during a last-minute video message to the Democratic National Convention.

Less than a month later, the governor blamed ideological BS for preventing swift action to combat climate change. The states existing goals  including 100% zero-emissions energy powering the state by 2045  were inadequate to the reality were experiencing.

Newsom has largely defended climate policies put in place during Gov. Jerry Browns last term in office, including a successful negotiation with automakers on emissions standards that will have impact outside California. But almost two years into his term, hes also frustrated environmental groups with proposed cuts to electric vehicle rebate funding and new drilling permits, among other issues.

I called up Gardiner to talk more about the governors climate record so far and three policy areas with potentially major impacts on curbing greenhouse gas emissions in California.

Cutting EV rebates

The state has already picked the low-hanging fruit, on emissions, Gardiner says. The really big emissions source they have to take on is from vehicles. Transportation made up 41% of total greenhouse gas emissions from the state in 2017, the latest data available.

There are several ways to tackle vehicle emissions. Among them is encouraging more drivers to move to electric and other zero-emissions vehicles. But Californias EV rebate program has been consistently running out of money before the end of each fiscal year, with buyers left on waiting lists. The state adjusted how the rebates worked in 2019, attempting to target more of the funding for low-income car buyers. But the governors budget proposal, even pre-pandemic, cut the funding for the program in half, citing budget issues.

Its at odds with efforts by Assemblyman Phil Ting, who pushed an overhaul of the EV rebate system last year that would triple rebates on EVs in the short term, but put an end date on the program, encouraging people to buy electric cars now. The bill died in committee.

California has adopted a first-in-the-nation electric truck requirement and the states budget does invest more in electric-vehicle charging stations, Gardiner adds, but experts say a faster transition to electric cars wont happen without incentives for the cars themselves.

Jessica Christian / The Chronicle

Political capital

Another way to tackle vehicle emissions: fewer car trips in the first place. Part of that is building more housing closer to transit and improving options for car-free transportation. Newsom campaigned on more housing, setting a goal of 3.5 million new homes by 2025. The state is nowhere near on track for that goal, for a host of reasons. But the governor stayed out of the SB50 fight in 2019 and didnt put his political weight behind various housing bills in the last session.

Transit and housing efforts have been particularly difficult political fights in California. Housing bills were stymied this year by a pandemic-shortened session and resistance from trade groups over protections for workers. In 2019, Rachel Swan reported on how Newsom stepped onto a political landmine when he called for $5 billion in transportation funds to be diverted to projects that help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Representatives in both parties panicked that Newsom was about to raid funding for their roads and highways, especially in the car-dependent Central Valley.

Fossil fuel extraction

The first half of 2020 saw California approve more permits for gas and oil drilling than in the first half of 2019. Lisa Lien-Mager of the California Natural Resources Agency told The Chronicle the actual drilling of new wells is down 90% in that same time period. But thats amid low demand during the coronavirus pandemic, and the permits remain active for a year.

To watch: Center for Biological Diversity, a national environmental organization recently threatened to sue Newsom over the permits.

What now?

So if the governor wants to take new action on climate change efforts after this seasons record wildfires, what should we look for? When asked about a potential executive order on climate change on Monday, Newsom said there would be announcements on the issue in due course, but didnt provide further details.

Gardiner will be looking for negotiations with the Legislature when it comes back in session.

Theres going to be a big push from the progressives to take on the issue of climate change and for the state to really invest, he said.

One of the biggest questions is if the governor will return to this idea of $5 billion in environmental bonds to fund green projects, Gardiner says. It was part of the governors budget and State of the State speech in January, but he later withdrew support for such a bond measure. The bonds would finance projects to help communities adapt to climate change impacts as well as lower emissions.

Basically the states own mini-Green New Deal, Gardiner says.

Related: Newsom held back from attacking Trump directly on climate change, Alexei Koseff reports. Heres why.

Rising Bay

Do you consider yourself a climate voter? Id like to hear from some Bay Area voters who are going into this election considering climate change as one of their top issues, potentially for inclusion here in MicroClimates and also to inform our upcoming coverage of local elections. How do you choose local and state candidates?

How to contact us? Share your tips at this Assignment Editor survey or email us at climate@sfchronicle.com.

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.

Climate Chronicles

 A good start: S.F. officials say theyll work to reduce frivolous appeals of needed transit projects.

 After the California Legislature killed bills designed to combat plastic pollution for the second year in a row, environmentalists say theyve concluded the fight might be unwinnable at the heavily lobbied state Capitol. Instead, theyve resolved to take the battle to voters, with an initiative aimed at the 2022 ballot.

 Dont make J.D. tap the sign again: Is climate change worsening California fires, or is it poor forest management? Both, experts say.

 Deciding what projects to invest in from 2018 bond: S.F.s Embarcadero could be devastated by earthquakes and rising seas, study warns.

 Local election issue: Caltrain funding measure on the ballot  heres what you need to know.

 Maker of Mercedes-Benz vehicles to pay $1.5 billion in emissions cheating settlement  $300 million will go to California, including $17 million for environmental monitoring and projects.

 For most Bay Area residents right now, the only way to get restaurant-quality food is to order takeout or delivery  and then toss the packaging. That reality might be changing. Janelle Bitker writes about an S.F. startup envisioning a future where all restaurant takeout containers are reusable.

Changing California

 Up in smoke: California's fires are putting a huge amount of carbon dioxide into the air. (Washington Post)

 How Big Oil misled the public into believing most new plastic would be recycled.(NPR and PBS Frontline)

 Mysterious, months-long fuel leak near S.F. Hyde Street Pier prompts extended cleanup effort. (Hoodline)

 Offshore wind could provide energy when California needs it most, Cal Poly study says. (San Luis Obispo Tribune)

 Bring your reusable bags again: How to be sustainable during a pandemic. (L.A. Times)

 State Senate candidate Jackie Fielder outlines Indigenous wildfire plan. (SF Weekly)

MicroClimates is The Chronicles climate change newsletter, written by Taylor Kate Brown, and sent every other week on Tuesday. Email newsletters@sfchronicle.com or taylor.brown@sfchronicle.com
FILE PHOTO: A medical worker in protective suit checks the body temperature of a person at a checkpoint in Vagharshapat

YEREVAN (Reuters) - Armenia's government lifted a state of emergency on Friday, saying the coronavirus was spreading less quickly than before, but said some restrictions would stay in place until January.

The state of emergency had been declared in mid-March and extended several times since then. It will now be replaced by a state of quarantine, a declaration which allows some restrictions but is less severe.

The country of 3 million plans to restart classes in schools and universities from Sept. 15, with all students obliged to wear face masks.

"The situation continues to improve. The biggest risk is the opening of schools," Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told a government meeting.

International flights would resume from mid-September, and visitors would not be required to quarantine if they test negative upon arrival.

Museums and libraries have already been reopened. Businesses were reopened in early May to ward off economic collapse.

Armenia has registered 45,503 confirmed coronavirus cases and 909 deaths as of Friday from COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus.

(Reporting by Nvard Hovhannisyan; Writing by Margarita Antidze; Editing by Peter Graff)
Michael Bloomberg is once again setting his sights on Florida.

When ending his own Democratic presidential run, the billionaire and former New York City mayor pledged to do everything he could to help the eventual Democratic nominee. That has translated into $100 million to help Joe Biden win Florida and, as of Tuesday, a contribution toward efforts to restore former felons' voting rights in the state.

Florida passed a constitutional amendment in 2018 to restore voting rights to felons who had served their time, save for those charged with sexual assault or murder. But earlier this month, a court affirmed Floridians would have to pay off court fees and fines associated with their convictions to vote again. Around 1 million Floridians have former felony convictions, but hundreds of thousands are estimated to still have exorbitant fees left to pay off. The Florida Rights Restoration Coalition had recently raised $5 million to pay off those fines. But Bloomberg, John Legend, and other fundraisers made big contributions that helped the group surpass $20 million as of Tuesday.

Bloomberg's fundraising comes a day after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) announced a legislative package that would make it a felony to participate in a "violent or disorderly assembly," "obstruct traffic during an unpermitted protest," or "destroy or topple monuments," among other things.

Today I announced bold legislation that creates new criminal offenses and increases penalties for those who target law enforcement and participate in violent or disorderly assemblies. We will always stand with our men and women in uniform who keep our communities safe. pic.twitter.com/ITl5GmmrZJ  Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) September 21, 2020

The package is clearly aimed at ongoing protests against police brutality and systemic racism still happening across the U.S., and would strip those protesters' rights to vote this fall if they're charged with one of these felonies.

More stories from theweek.com

America needs to hear the bad news first

A mild defense of Republican hypocrisy on the Supreme Court

Trump is the only one being honest about the Supreme Court fight


Dominique Brown is a Palmetto attorney who was raised in Manatee County. The Air Force veteran is the Democratic candidate for the Manatee County Commission District 1 race. She faces Republican James Satcher on the November ballot.





Brown has two sons, Malachi and Micah. She is the owner of two small businesses, The Dream Law Firm, PLLC and Dream, Succeed, Become LLC.





Brown began her career in public service by joining the United States Air Force when she was just 17. She received an Honorable Discharge for her service in the USAF after serving for 12 years on active duty and reserves. Brown also served a combat tour in Kandahar, Afghanistan in 2007.





Prior to returning to Manatee County, Brown earned both her Bachelors and Masters in Criminal Justice from Florida A&M University in Tallahassee. She went on to earn her Juris Doctor from NC Central University.





After passing the bar, she continued her public service career as an Assistant District Attorney in the Cumberland County District Attorney's Office. Most recently, Brown served as an Assistant Regional Counsel (part-time) for the Second District of Florida's Office of Regional Counsel.





Brown is active in the community, serving as the Secretary for the Memphis Washington Park Neighborhood Association in Palmetto. She is also a member of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Gamma Rho Zeta Chapter (Manatee/Sarasota Chapter), and the Florida Association of Women Lawyers (Manatee Chapter).





Brown points out that the majority of her adult life has been spent serving her country and her community. If elected, she says she will work hard to make sure that the constituents of District 1's voices are heard, that the board is being fiscally responsible with taxpayers' dollars, and that the county "stays focused on the future, while not forgetting our past."




I think there couldnt be any more poignant a time than now to recognize the importance of global immunization to protect our families from infectious diseases. I truly believe it is a childs right, wherever they are in the world, to be given the best shot at life. -Jo Frost

The United Nations Foundations Shot@Life campaign announces Jo Frost, global parenting expert and best-selling author, as an official ambassador to the campaign which works to give all the worlds children access to lifesaving vaccines.

The Shot@Life campaign is fortunate to have Jo Frost as an ambassador and partner in the fight to give all children access to vaccines, no matter where they live. Jos commitment, compassion, and connection with families all over the world are invaluable to help us get the word out that every child deserves access to immunizations and a shot at a healthy life, said Martha Rebour, executive director of the Shot@Life campaign at the UN Foundation. Since 2014, Jo Frost has served as an advocate and champion for childhood immunizations with Shot@Life.

Jo Frost is best known for her long-running, international, award-winning television series Supernanny, which recently returned for an eighth season on Lifetime in the United States and on E4 in the UK. During the global pandemic, Frost has been providing public service to thousands of families worldwide, offering complimentary private and small group sessions to tackle the critical challenges facing families at this time.

I think there couldnt be any more poignant a time than now to recognize the importance of global immunization to protect our families from infectious diseases. I truly believe it is a childs right, wherever they are in the world, to be given the best shot at life. It is a privilege to support and be of service to the United Nations Foundations Shot@Life campaign with their global mission, said Jo Frost, Global Parenting Expert.

Every 20 seconds, a child somewhere in the world dies from a vaccine-preventable disease like measles or pneumonia. The UN Foundations Shot@Life campaign helps further the work of the United Nations to expand access to these lifesaving vaccines.

To learn more about the Shot@Life campaign, please visit https://www.shotatlife.org.
The Attorney-General has dismissed claims of ill-motive on government's part in the controversial bauxite mining concession in the Atewa Range Forest after being sued by a group of non-governmental organisations.

The Attorney-General in its statement of defence signed by Chief State Attorney, Dorothy Afriyie Ansah, denied endangering the lives and liberties of the plaintiffs through the transaction.

The environmental-based NGO, A Rocha Ghana, went to the High Court in July 2020, together with 10 other civil society groups and NGOs, to challenge government's decision to give out the concession.

The government in its defence said it is only utilising 1.9 percent of the entire Atewa Range Forest contrary to claims by the NGOs.

Not the entire Atewa Forest is a Globally Significant Biodiversity Area (GSBA), the Attorney-General argued.

Indeed, the actual area would cover 14.05km which is merely 1.9 percent Atewa Range Forest and mining in such a minute fraction of the area will not be hazardous to the forest and any species that lives within.

As far as government is concerned, A Rocha and the other groups are only crying wolf as many countries such as Brazil and Australia have successfully conducted mining in forest reserves, like the Amazon Rain Forest, and Jarrah Forest, under well-supervised sustainable mining practices.

The government insists that indeed mining activities have been successfully conducted in forest reserves in Ghana.

The groups argue in their suit that bauxite mining in the Atewa Range Forest violates their constitutionally protected right to life and dignity.

They also argue that exploring and drilling deep holes at 53 different points across the forest, which started in May 2019 without any mineral right, is an aberration of the country's Minerals and Mining Law.

A Rocha and its compatriots thus ask the High Court to compel government to declare the Atewa Range Forest as a protected zone and to take the necessary steps to protect it.

In addition, they want the court to order government to restore, or pay the cost for restoring the damages that have been caused to the forest as a result of reconnaissance, prospecting and clearing of roads in the Atewa Range Forest; and, to stop from undertaking mining and related activities in the area.

---citinewsroom
Payment-solutions provider Clearent has acquired Wintac, a field-service-management software solution primarily targeting residential contractors providing HVAC, plumbing, electrical and other home-repair services. Purchased from Dundee, Illinois-based Davisware, LLC, Wintac will become part of FieldEdge, a wholly owned subsidiary of Clearent. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Clearent announced the move as the latest example of its effort to grow market share in the mechanical contractor/field-services-management (FSM) segment. The addition of Wintac will help FieldEdge expand its current market-leading position as a provider of FSM solutions.

We are happy to welcome Wintac customers to the FieldEdge family, said Connie Certusi, president of FieldEdge. We look forward to engaging with these customers in the coming year to understand their needs as they relate to managing their field-service organization, to address those needs through FieldEdge, and to offer a cost-effective and smooth transition to FieldEdge when they are ready.

Both FieldEdge and Wintac are considered to be pioneers in the FSM space with a combined 72 years in business (the Wintac brand dates back to 1988, and FieldEdge to 1980). FieldEdges market leadership and depth of experience serving mechanical contractors in HVAC, plumbing, electrical and other home-repair-service industries was a key reason Davisware, LLC, opted to sell the brand to Clearent Software Holdings.

In Clearent and FieldEdge, we found the right home for our Wintac customers, said Jennifer Davis, CEO & Cofounder of Davisware, LLC. I felt it was important that we match our loyal Wintac customers with software purposefully built to serve residential contractors and technicians. FieldEdges growing list of features, coupled with Clearents cloud-based payment solutions, will give Wintacs customers the tools they need to grow and thrive. The Wintac transaction also enables Davisware to focus on its core segments and customers outside residential contractors with Daviswares industry-leading GlobalEdge and Vision solutions.

Originally founded in 1980 to help its founders run their own HVAC contracting business, FieldEdge has experienced tremendous growth and overall success in the service management software industry. With this acquisition, the Field Services division within Clearent services nearly 100,000 users  ranging from small and midsized businesses up to enterprise level organizations with a focus on home/residential services  helping them achieve increased sales performance and workforce productivity. FieldEdge has experienced hyper double-digit growth since its purchase in March 2018. FieldEdge continues to grow organically and through acquisition, and Clearent continues to seek additional acquisitions in FSM and other vertical markets.

ABOUT FIELDEDGE

FieldEdge, a subsidiary of Clearent LLC, is the leading provider of SaaS business management solutions to the home service market. FieldEdge has helped thousands of service-based organizations increase sales performance and workforce productivity by managing all aspects of their daily operations since 1980. FieldEdge, with offices in Fort Myers, Florida, and Atlanta, is a hyper-growth software company with a startup culture that is backed by over 40 years of industry-leading knowledge. To learn more, visit fieldedge.com.

ABOUT CLEARENT

Clearent is a full-service payment solutions provider that helps small- and medium-size businesses securely accept payments through its proprietary, omni-channel platform. Independent software vendors (ISVs) and sales offices receive the tools they need to grow and scale through Clearents partnership program, which delivers tailored payment solutions, sales models, and portfolio management technologies. Clearent actively pursues the acquisition of ISVs that represent a long-term strategic fit in attractive vertical markets. Headquartered in St. Louis, Clearent processes $20 billion in electronic payments each year and currently serves more than 800 channel partners and 55,000 merchants. To learn more, visit clearent.com.

ABOUT DAVISWARE

West Dundee, IL-based Davisware is a global software company that began in a family HVAC business in 1988. Thousands of companies use Davisware technology to manage, organize, and grow their service and contracting businesses to enterprise level businesses. By employing empathetic and creative problem-solvers, Davisware combines technical skills with industry expertise to create industry leading technology, analytics as well as best practices educational services. Helping its customers become exponential through the use of technology and education is how Davisware fulfills its mission of partnership in the growth and success of their customers businesses. For more information, visit the company's website at davisware.com.
We are pleased with the U.K. High Courts decision and we are grateful that the British government has passed its evidence to us and confirmed its commitment to cooperate with our efforts to investigate and prosecute the two ISIS terrorists currently being held in U.S. military custody, a Justice Department spokesman, Marc Raimondi, said in a statement. We remain committed to holding these defendants accountable and obtaining justice for the victims of their terrorist activity.
Even as deal-makers bicker over who will own TikTok Global, another question emerged after President Donald Trump agreed over the weekend to keep the wildly popular video-sharing app running in the United States for another week: How can they possibly create 25,000 new jobs in the United States?

That vow, repeated by the president on Saturday at a campaign rally in North Carolina, was part of a concession that deal-makers offered to convince Trump to green-light a transaction in which a new board comprised of U.S. citizens would oversee a new U.S.-based company co-owned by Oracle Corp. and Walmart Inc.

But the lofty hiring target will be tough to justify, experts said. Such a high number suggests an expectation for massive revenue growth at a time when TikTok faces unprecedented global challenges.

If TikTok operated at anywhere near the efficiency of other internet companies such as Twitter, TikTok would need to generate up to 19 times more revenue over the next few years.

TikTok is expected to generate about a billion dollars in revenue by the end of 2020, Reuters previously reported.

Many of the new American jobs will likely be in engineering, content moderation and security roles, given the U.S. governments intense focus on the apps data privacy policies, said Dan Ives, a technology analyst at Wedbush Securities.

From a security and infrastructure perspective, theyre going to have to hire a few thousand alone to focus on that issue ... given the sensitivity, he said.

TikTok recently announced a $1 billion creator fund that will pay popular TikTok influencers for making videos. Counting those content creators would help TikTok reach 25,000 jobs, said Brian Wieser, global president of business intelligence at ad agency GroupM.

Beyond that, it gets harder to justify a bigger staff.Because ByteDance will still own the algorithm that runs TikTok and license it to the new U.S.-based company, the new company will not need to hire large teams that work on artificial intelligence.

Those types of jobs account for a large chunk of Facebook and Twitters headcount, said Abishur Prakash, a geopolitical futurist at the Center for Innovating the Future, a technology and geopolitics consulting firm, raising questions about what roles TikTok could hire for.

Oracle and Walmart could also create divisions within their companies to serve TikTok that could contribute to the job count, he added.

A source familiar with the discussions said the 25,000 job figure was based on similarly sized organizations that serve as many users as TikTok, without offering details. The source added that the job figure was actually conservative in an effort to under-promise and over-deliver.

Another tech company, Taiwanese electronics manufacturer Foxconn, promised in 2017 to bring 13,000 new jobs to Wisconsin. The deal to create a new U.S. factory was praised by Trump as the eighth wonder of the world and as proof of his ability to bring jobs back to America.

A filing with the Wisconsin state economic development division showed Foxconn employed about 600 people in 2019 in the region, according to a CNBC report.

Peer review

Compared against revenue per worker at other internet companies: Twitters 4,800 workers average close to $720,000 each or total annual revenue of $3.5 billion in 2019. Snap Inc.s 3,195 workers each generated about $537,000, for a 2019 annual sum of $1.7 billion.

ByteDance currently employs more than 1,000 workers in the United States, mostly in California with some in other locations such as Texas, Reuters previously reported.

At similar efficiency levels, TikToks new total of 26,000 U.S. workers would be expected to make between $14 billion and $19 billion annually.

Even at the low end, such revenue targets will be difficult for TikTok, Prakash said.

Were in a different phase of TikTok...that comes with a lot of baggage, he said, adding TikTok is still banned in India, which was previously its largest market. Its going to take them that much longer and be that much harder to reach 14x (revenue).

Reporting by Sheila Dang in Dallas; additional reporting by Stephen Nellis in San Francisco.
Deputy Communications Director of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mame Yaa Aboagye has thrown subtle shots at the flagbearer of the opposition NDC, John Dramani Mahama for disrepecting Ghanaians.



According to Mame Yaa, Ghanaians can no more be taken for granted by the NDC and Mahama but deserve a better leader who can manage the economy.



She stressed Ghanaians have no need for Mahama who would use the highest seat of the land as a trial and error ground.



Presidency is not trial and error because how can you say you have learned your lessons and seek another opportunity to correct it. The Presidency is not something we joke with and cannot be used as an experiments, she said.



Mame Yaa made this remark in reaction to former President John Dramani Mahamas second attempt at the Presidency after his defeat in the 2016 elections.



Mr. Mahama has on several fronts encouraged the populace to give him a second chance to be President citing that he has learned lessons from his previous governance.



Mame Yaa Aboagye intimated that the Presidency is a serious business saying it is not a form of exams that offers another opportunity to rewrite the papers he failed.



She added; Never again will Ghanaians be taken for granted, the fact that Mr. Mahama is asking Ghanaians to give him a second chance to correct his mistakes show he never respected us let us punish him on December 7 for disrespecting us.



She appealed to Ghanaians not to give Mr. Mahama another opportunity to toy with the Presidential seat and people's lives but rather reward President Akufo-Addo with more than 60% votes in December 7 elections.

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
Thai protesters vow to fight after 'people's plaque' removed A plaque installed on the weekend by pro-democracy activists in Bangkok's historic Sanam Luang field had been removed by Monday

A "People's Plaque" installed by protesters near Bangkok's Royal Palace was "planted in the hearts of the Thai people", activists said Monday, vowing its removal marked only the beginning of their battle to reform the monarchy.

Some 30,000 demonstrators turned out over the weekend, the largest show of force since near-daily student-led rallies began two months ago.

They demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha, a former army chief who masterminded a 2014 coup, and some also called for the monarchy to stay out of politics.

The most symbolic action was the installation of a "People's Plaque" -- a brass plater the size of a manhole cover -- in historic Sanam Luang park near Bangkok's Grand Palace, meant to replicate one installed decades ago that mysteriously vanished two years ago.

By Monday the new plaque had also vanished, with police later telling reporters they had removed it to "use as evidence".

But demonstrators remained unbowed.

The plaque was "planted in the hearts of the Thai people", prominent activist Parit Chiwarak, told reporters, vowing that protesters would make replicas and install them across the city.

"Our fight in the past two days is historic. The plaque is just the beginning of the fight for the monarchy to be reformed."

- 'Down with feudalism!' -

The new plaque read: "The people have expressed the intention that this country belongs to the people, and not the king."

At its installation during Saturday's protest, the crowd cheered as Parit shouted "Down with feudalism, long live the people".

Its removal shows "arch-royalists are not only incensed by demands for monarchical reform but are not going to put up with any symbols that even reflect opposition to the palace," said Paul Chambers of Naresuan University.

The new plaque referenced an original brass one embedded for decades in the grounds of Bangkok's Royal Plaza.

Story continues

It commemorated the end of royal absolutism in 1932 after a revolution that transitioned the kingdom into a constitutional monarchy.

But it disappeared in 2017 after King Maha Vajiralongkorn took power following the death of his father, and was replaced with one bearing a reminder for Thais to remain loyal to the "nation, religion, king".

- 'Hurting Thais' feelings' -

Charges have been filed against the protesters for "making alterations to an archaeological area without permission", confirmed Sataporn Tiengdham, from the Archaeology of Fine Arts, an accusation denied by Parit.

"We just entered the park and left. We didn't cause any damage."

Still, if convicted, the protesters could face up to three years in jail.

The largely leaderless youth-organised movement -- partly inspired by Hong Kong's pro-democracy protests -- is calling for Prayut's government to be dissolved, a rewrite of the 2017 military-scripted constitution, as well as the scrapping of Thailand's draconian royal defamation law, known as "112".

Each charge carries a sentence of up to 15 years in jail.

Authorities have so far refrained from using the law against pro-democracy activists, instead accusing them of sedition and breaking coronavirus regulations.

But Police Lieutenant General Piya Utayo told reporters Monday that legal action would be taken against both those who used "inappropriate language against the monarchy", as well as their supporters.

"The elite and army, still largely supportive of the monarchy, have no intention of losing power," said Bangkok-based political analyst Christine Cabasset.

Even as #abolish112 was the top-trending topic on Thai Twitter, one prominent royalist told AFP he had filed a complaint with the police under the law against three protesters, including Parit.

"Their actions are insulting," said Tul Sittisomwong.

"Insulting the monarchy hurts the feelings of all Thais."

burs-rs/fox
DOJ: NYC, Portland and Seattle are permitting 'anarchy' and violence; AG Barr seeks to strip funding

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The U.S. Justice Department said Monday that New York City, Portland and Seattle are jurisdictions that permit anarchy and violence and the Trump administration formally threatened to strip federal funding from those Democrat-controlled cities.

The mayors of those three cities in New York, Oregon and Washington state have accused the Republican president of playing political games and acting unconstitutionally.

In a statement, the department warned that amid the national unrest following the death of George Floyd on May 25, those three cities have permitted violence and destruction of property to persist and have refused to undertake reasonable measures to counteract criminal activities. The looting, vandalism and torching of housing developments and small businesses is expected to cost well over $1 billion to $2 billion, according to Axios.

Those three cities were listed on the Justice Departments website following the president's Sept. 2 memorandum that called for a review of state and local recipients of federal funding that are permitting anarchy, violence, and destruction in American cities.

The Justice Department is still evaluating to see if other cities should be added to the list.

When state and local leaders impede their own law enforcement officers and agencies from doing their jobs, it endangers innocent citizens who deserve to be protected, including those who are trying to peacefully assemble and protest, Attorney General William Barr said in a statement.

We cannot allow federal tax dollars to be wasted when the safety of the citizenry hangs in the balance. It is my hope that the cities identified by the Department of Justice today will reverse course and become serious about performing the basic function of government and start protecting their own citizens.

The mayors of the three cities issued a joint statement on Monday, calling the Justice Departments threat thoroughly political and unconstitutional.

The President is playing cheap political games with Congressionally directed funds, the statement reads.

Our cities are bringing communities together; our cities are pushing forward after fighting back a pandemic and facing the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, all despite recklessness and partisanship from the White House. What the Trump Administration is engaging in now is more of what we've seen all along: shirking responsibility and placing blame elsewhere to cover its failure."

Portland has been marred by violent riots, arson attacks, and vandalism for over 100 days. It's also where an Antifa/BLM rioter murdered Trump supporter Aaron Jay Danielson.

Vandals in Portland have started fires, thrown projectiles at law enforcement officers and even destroyed property.

In dealing with rioters over the summer, several Portland law enforcement officers suffered injuries.

The Justice Department states that shootings in the city increased by over 140% in June and July compared to the same period in 2019.

In the midst of this violence, the Portland City Council cut $15 million from the police bureau, eliminating 84 positions, the departments statement explains. Crucially, the cuts included the Gun Violence Reduction Team, which investigates shootings, and several positions from the police team that responds to emergency incidents.

In August, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler sent a letter to the president rejecting the offer to send federal law enforcement to stop the violent riots. Wheeler accused Trump of engaging in politics of division and demagoguery.

In Seattle, the Justice Department says that for nearly a month beginning in June, the city government permitted anarchists and activists to seize six square blocks of the citys Capitol Hill neighborhood.

The movement was known as CHOP after previously being called CHAZ  Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone.

The Justice Department complained that law enforcement officials nor firefighters were allowed into the zone as the Seattle Police Department was ordered to abandon their precinct within the CHOP.

According to the department, person-related crime in CHOP increased 525% from the same period in the same area the year before.

The CHOP was allowed to stand for nearly a month, during which time two teenagers were shot and killed in the zone, the Justice Department argues. The Seattle City Council, Mayor [Jenny] Durkan, and Washington Governor Jay Inslee publicly rejected federal involvement in law enforcement activities within the city of Seattle.

In New York City, the agency states that shootings have been on the rise since looting and protests began around May 28.

According to the Justice Department, shootings in New York City increased from 88 in July 2019 to 244 in July 2020. As for August, shootings jumped from 91 in 2019 to 242 in 2020.

The Trump administration criticized the New York City Council for cutting $1 billion from the New York Police Departments fiscal year 2021 budget, which it claims led to the cancellation of new police recruiting classes and cut overtime spending.

The Justice Department also criticized the Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn district attorneys who have declined to prosecute many protest-related charges.

In July, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo asked Trump not to send federal law enforcement officials in response to the increase in crime in the city.

Earlier this month after Trump issued his memorandum, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and other city officials vowed to sue the federal government if the Trump administration withholds federal funding.

The New York Times reported last week that Attorney General Barr asked the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division to explore whether Seattle Mayor Durkan could be charged criminally in response to the citys failure to disperse the Capitol Hill Organized Protest that led to two fatal shootings. A department spokesperson denied the claim in a statement to the newspaper.

U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington, Brian T. Moran, told Fox News that "at no time has anyone at the Department communicated to me that Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan is, was or should be charged with any federal crime related to CHOP.

"As U.S. Attorney I would be aware of such an investigation," he said.

In a statement last week, Durkan said that as a former U.S. attorney, she took an oath of office to protect the Constitution and the rule of law.

That is the bedrock of our country and why the Department of Justice cannot become a political weapon operated at the behest of the President to target those who have spoken out against this administrations actions, she argued. That is an act of tyranny, not of democracy.
Coillte is encouraging people in Kilkenny to participate in National Walking Day on Sunday, September 27 by visiting one of their local Coillte forests.

National Walking Day aims to inspire people to get out and walk in their local areas due to the great physical and mental wellbeing benefits of walking. It is an initiative by Get Ireland Walking, supported by Sport Ireland and takes place as part of the European Week of Sport. Coillte is delighted to be involved and to support this annual event by encouraging the public, regardless of age or ability, to get active and stay local.

Kilkenny has three Coillte recreation forests at Castlemorris, Jenkinstown Park and the Millenium Woods which are open to the public.

Charlie Burke, Recreation Officer with Coillte and co-ordinator of Coilltes Woodlands for Health campaign said:

Coillte is proud to be Irelands leading provider of outdoor recreation activities, with more than 3,000 kilometres of trails, 260 recreation sites and 12 forest parks across the country.

We know about the importance of walking in nature to members of the public and the benefits for both physical and mental health. Our forests offer a space where people can walk safely while maintaining social distancing and abiding by Covid-19 guidelines. Coillte wants to encourage local residents in County Kilkenny to take some time out of their day and enjoy their local landscape by participating in National Walking Day on 27th September and visiting one of your local Coillte forests, like Jenkinstown or Coill na Fhaltaigh.

Coilltes Woodlands for Health campaign encourages the public to engage with nature through outdoor activities to promote better mental and physical health. Research shows that walking in natural environments such as forests and woodlands can help to reduce stress and improve wellbeing.

Share a photo or video of your walk on social media and tag @GetIreWalking on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, using the hashtags #BeActive #NationalWalkingDay #WalkYourTown #WalkYourArea and #HiddenGems.

For more information on Coillte forests in Kilkenny see www.coillte.ie
SOUTH WINDSOR  A suspect was taken into custody just over the Massachusetts line after he fled an alleged workplace shooting Tuesday morning, according to police.

Police said they received a 911 call around 8:40 a.m. Tuesday from a man who said he was shot in the parking lot of 105 Edwin Road  an industrial condominium complex that houses multiple businesses.

First responders were dispatched and found two gunshot wound victims. Police said the suspect and victims worked at the same business, but did not release the gunmans name. Police did not immediately say if they knew of a motive.

Sgt. Mark Celverdon said both victims were taken to Hartford Hospital, where they were each treated for non-life-threatening injuries and released.

The suspect fled the scene, but police learned from one of the victims that he might have been headed to Massachusetts. Police said the victim was able to give a description of the suspects vehicle as well.

The information was then relayed to police department in surrounding towns.

Enfield police then spotted the vehicle headed north on Interstate 91.

They, joined by members of the Connecticut State Police and Massachusetts State Police, conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle and took custody of the suspect just over the line into Massachusetts, Cleverdon said. The weapon believed to be used in the shooting was also recovered.

The suspect, whose name and charges are expected to be released soon, Cleverdon said, was taken to the Massachusetts State Police barracks in Springfield, Mass.

There, Cleverdon said, hell be held as a fugitive from justice. He will be brought back to Connecticut after an arrest warrant has been completed and extradition has been waived.
The Coalition of Whistleblowers Protection and Press Freedom (CWPPF) has condemned the attacks on journalists that occurred during the just concluded Edo State elections.

The coalition notes that attacks on journalists have become a worrying trend, as well the complicity of security personnel in the total disregard for the safety and security of journalists.

According to a statement released by the body, in several attacks during the just concluded elections which held on the 20th September 2020, journalists suffered physical attacks, detention, destruction of work tools and work products and denial of access.

The coalition also mentions specific attacks on journalists including the brutal attack and detention of Samson Adenekan, a reporter with Premium Times and Nathaniel Offel of GeeTV by thugs for taking pictures and recording videos of the irregularities at the Ward 10 (Uzairue North East), Polling Unit 1 of Etsako West local government in Iyamho area of Uzairue.

The actions of the journalists were in no way out of order and according to eyewitnesses, not only were security personnel present during these attacks, they did nothing to intervene or apprehend the attackers.

Several other journalists and observers were denied access to their designated monitoring and observation centres. They are Samuel Ajala, Maxwell Osita, and Alamu Dolapo, among others, who were denied access to the collation centre at Okha Local government by security personnel with no clear reason but which represents a blatant abuse of power and a breach on the constitutional rights of the journalists from performing their statutory functions in an election setting.

The coalition pointed out that these violent actions are not only a hindrance to free and fair elections, the crux of a truly democratic state, but also a contravention of the Constitution of Nigeria which reposes the responsibility of information dissemination and education on journalists.

The electoral process is incomplete without the crucial role that the media plays and this is highlighted in a 2019 address by the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Mahmood Yakubu displayed on the commissions website.

The electoral act also emphasises the importance of the role and the protection of journalists during elections. It is, therefore, the duty, as a law enforcement agency, for the Nigerian police and other security personnel to protect journalists in the line of duty at all costs.

The media coalition asks that these violent incidents against journalists and election observers during the September 20 Edo elections should be investigated by the appropriate authorities with the culprits punished.

The coalition also called on the Inspector-General of Police and the Independent National Electoral Commission to ensure that the security and safety of journalists and election observers is given priority in future elections.

All law enforcement agencies should be mandated to protect journalists and observers during elections to promote a free and fair election and further strengthen the countrys democracy, the statement concluded.
The UN humanitarian agency on Tuesday called for increased funding to provide life-saving humanitarian assistance to millions of Somalis in need.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that slowing down programs due to funding constraints could reverse recent humanitarian and socio-economic gains in Somalia.

The OCHA said Somalia funding constraints come when the triple threat of COVID-19, floods and locusts has aggravated humanitarian needs.

"It is critical that further support is provided to ongoing humanitarian responses," the UN humanitarian agency in a statement.

According to OCHA, the Somalia Humanitarian Response Plan which seeks 1.01 billion U.S. dollars to assist and protect three million out of 5.2 million people in need, has only received 575 million dollars.

It said several humanitarian clusters have received less than 35 percent of required funding, which has impacted their programs in the Horn of Africa nation.

The OCHA said it works with 363 humanitarian partners that provide life-saving assistance and protection to 3 million out of 5.2 million people who need assistance across Somalia.
KELOWNA, BC / ACCESSWIRE / September 22, 2020 / Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (OTCQX:LXRP) (CSE:LXX) (the "Company" or "Lexaria"), a global innovator in drug delivery platforms, is pleased to announces that it has received another new granted patent in the USA.

Lexaria has been granted U.S. Patent No. 10,756,180 pursuant to the Notice of Allowance it received from the United States Patent and Trademark Office ("USPTO") for patent application number 16/497,920 previously announced on April 23, 2020.

This new patent provides patent claims that protect the use of Lexaria's DehydraTECH technology together with cannabinoids, nicotine, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or vitamins in mix and serve beverage formats. The patent is entitled "Food and Beverage Compositions Infused With Lipophilic Active Agents and Methods of Use Thereof". This signifies another addition to Lexaria's first patent family, under which nine US patents have now been granted.

Lexaria has also responded to patent office queries in Europe, India, Mexico, Australia, USA, Japan and Canada in recent weeks and although the Company does not expect all its applications to be successful, it is optimistic of additional patent grants in some of these locations soon.

Lexaria currently has 17 granted patents, with 9 granted in the US and 8 in Australia, along with roughly 60 patent applications pending throughout the world. The granted patents cover delivery of cannabinoids, NSAIDs, nicotine and fat-soluble vitamins. Patents are pending for the delivery of antiviral drugs, human hormones such as testosterone and estrogen, phosphodiesterase inhibitors and more.

About Lexaria

Lexaria Bioscience Corp.'s (OTCQX: LXRP, CSE: LXX) proprietary drug delivery technology, DehydraTECH, improves the way active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) enter the bloodstream by promoting healthier ingestion methods and increasing the effectiveness of fat-soluble active molecules, thereby lowering overall dosing. The Company's technology can be applied to many different ingestible product formats, including foods, beverages, oral suspensions, tablets, and capsules. DehydraTECH increases bio-absorption by up to 5-10x, reduces time of onset from 1 - 2 hours to 10 - 20 minutes, and masks unwanted tastes for orally administered bioactive molecules, including anti-virals, cannabinoids, vitamins, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), nicotine, and other molecules. Lexaria has licensed DehydraTECH to multiple companies including a world-leading tobacco producer for the development of smokeless, oral-based nicotine products and for use in industries that produce cannabinoid beverages, edibles, and oral products. Lexaria operates a licensed in-house research laboratory and holds a robust intellectual property portfolio with 16 patents granted and over 60 patents pending worldwide. For more information, please visit www.lexariabioscience.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This release includes forward-looking statements. Statements as such term is defined under applicable securities laws. These statements may be identified by words such as "anticipate," "if," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "could," "should," "will," and other similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, all statements by the company related to patents granted or pending. Such forward-looking statements are estimates reflecting the Company's best judgment based upon current information and involve a number of risks and uncertainties, and there can be no assurance that the Company will actually achieve the plans, intentions, or expectations disclosed in these forward-looking statements. As such, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those estimated by the Company include, but are not limited to, government regulation and regulatory approvals, managing and maintaining growth, the effect of adverse publicity, litigation, competition, scientific discovery, the patent application and approval process, potential adverse effects arising from the testing or use of products utilizing the DehydraTECH technology, the Company's ability to maintain existing collaborations and realize the benefits thereof, and other factors which may be identified from time to time in the Company's public announcements and periodic filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission on EDGAR. There is no assurance that existing capital is sufficient for the Company's needs or that it will be able to raise additional capital. There is no assurance the Company will be capable of developing, marketing, licensing, or selling edible products containing any active ingredient. There is no assurance that any planned corporate activity, scientific research or study, business venture, letter of intent, technology licensing pursuit, patent application or allowance, consumer study, or any initiative will be pursued, or if pursued, will be successful. There is no assurance that any of Lexaria's postulated uses, benefits, or advantages for the patented and patent-pending technology will in fact be realized in any manner or in any part. No statement herein has been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Lexaria-associated products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Any forward-looking statements contained in this release speak only as of the date hereof, and the Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained herein, whether as a result of any new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise, except as otherwise required by law.

The CSE has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

INVESTOR CONTACT:

ir@lexariabioscience.com

Phone: 866-221-3341

SOURCE: Lexaria Bioscience Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/607089/Lexaria-Bioscience-Continues-to-Grow-its-Patent-Portfolio
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.
New Delhi: Actress Zareen Khan has expressed her disappointment with Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai after her 87-year-old grandfather "failed to get help" there. Zareen posted a video narrating her ordeal and said she is very "disturbed" with what happened.

In the 7-minute long clip, the actress explained what happened to grandfather and despite being in pain, the hospital authority made him wait for a long time. On entering the hospital, his oxygen level, body temperature was checked and everything was normal, she said. However, Zareen added that they were yet again told that her grandfather would undergo coronavirus and a few other tests, which delayed the treatment.

Zareen concluded by saying that she brought her grandfather home as she was scared for him and the medication was given to him by her.

"Disappointed with Lilavati Hospital! This happened last night. No help provided to my 87-year-old grandfather who was in so much pain. #Shame #Disappointed," read her caption for the video.

Check out:

Zareen Khan is quite active on social media and often posts videos from her family life. She is best known for her role in the film 'Veer', opposite Salman Khan.
ATLANTA, GA  The Georgia Department of Public Health in Atlanta reported a total of 307,339 confirmed cases of COVID-19 at 2:50 p.m. Monday, Sept. 21. According to the health departments website, that includes 1,187 newly confirmed cases over the last 24 hours.

Georgia also reported 6,604 deaths so far from COVID-19, with three more deaths recorded in the last 24 hours. In addition, the state reported 27,394 hospitalizations  17 more than the day before  and 5,002 admissions so far to intensive-care units.

Because of lags in reporting, coronavirus numbers reported after weekends are generally lower and dont necessarily reflect overall trends.

No information is available from Georgia about how many patients have recovered.

Counties in or near metro Atlanta continue to have the highest number of positives, with Fulton County still in the lead and surpassing 27,000 cases total of COVID-19 on Monday.

Fulton County: 27,080 cases  88 new

Gwinnett County: 26,678 cases  60 new

Cobb County: 19,092 cases  51 new

DeKalb County: 18,110 cases  38 new

Hall County: 8,827 cases  42 new

Counties in or near metro Atlanta also continue to have the most deaths from COVID-19. The lone exception is Dougherty County, site of Georgia's first major outbreak.

Fulton County: 564 deaths

Cobb County: 421 deaths

Gwinnett County: 391 deaths

DeKalb County: 349 deaths

Dougherty County: 182 deaths

As of Monday, Georgia has administered more than 3 million COVID-19 tests, with about 10 percent of those tests the less reliable ones used to detect antibodies.

For the more reliable test for the virus itself, 10.3 percent of tests came back positive. For the less reliable test for antibodies, 8.2 percent came back positive. The overall positive rate was about 10 percent.

As more Georgians were tested over the last month, the percentage of positive tests inched upward from about 8 percent to more than 10 percent. However, over the last few weeks, the percentage of positives has stabilized at just more than 10 percent and is now starting to slowly drop. According to the World Health Organization, positive test results should no more than 5 percent for two weeks before reopening for business as usual. Georgia largely reopened for business in April and May, and since then Gov. Brian Kemp has promoted the use of face masks but has steadfastly refused to mandate them.

Story continues

All Georgia statistics are available on the state's COVID-19 website.

Globally, more than 31 million people have tested positive for COVID-19, and more than 962,000 people have died from it, Johns Hopkins University reported Monday.

In the United States, more than 6.8 million people have been infected and nearly 200,000 people have died from COVID-19 as of Monday. The U.S. has only about 4 percent of the world's population but more confirmed cases and deaths than any other country.

OTHER NEWS:





This article originally appeared on the Dacula Patch
WASHINGTON (AP)  The H word  hypocrisy  is suddenly in vogue at the Capitol as lawmakers debate how quickly to fill a vacancy on the Supreme Court following the death of liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has vowed that President Donald Trumps as-yet unnamed nominee will receive a vote on the Senate floor this year, but has been careful not to say exactly when that will happen.

Democrats accuse the Kentucky Republican of blatant hypocrisy after McConnell refused to consider President Barack Obamas Supreme Court nominee, Judge Merrick Garland, eight months before the 2016 election.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer took to the Senate floor Monday to remind McConnell of his own words hours after the February 2016 death of conservative Justice Antonin Scalia. "The American people,'' McConnell said then, "should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court justice.'' The vacancy created by Scalias death should not be filled until the election of a new president, he added.

"No amount of sophistry can change what McConnell said then, and it applies even more so now  so much closer we are to an election,'' Schumer said Monday.

But McConnell said it is Democrats who are being hypocritical. What Republicans did in 2016  blocking a nominee of the opposing party  was "precisely what Democrats had indicated they would do themselves'' when they were in the majority, McConnell said in his own floor speech Monday. He and other Republicans cited a 1992 speech by then-Sen. Joe Biden  now the Democratic nominee for president  indicating that a vacancy occurring in an election year should not be filled.

Biden, Schumer and other Democrats flip-flopped in 2016, in McConnells telling, because they urged the Senate to act on Obamas nominee.

McCONNELL IN 2016

McConnell stunned the political world in 2016 with his declaration that the Senate would not consider a replacement for Scalia until after the presidential election nearly nine months away. While daring, McConnell said his action was justified by history.

"Remember that the Senate has not filled a vacancy arising in an election year when there was divided government since 1888, almost 130 years ago,'' he declared again and again that year, frequently citing what Republicans called the Biden Rule. That rule  never adopted in any formal sense by the Senate  urged the Senate to delay action on a Supreme Court vacancy until after the presidential election.

President Obama was asking Senate Republicans for an unusual favor that had last been granted nearly 130 years prior. But voters had explicitly elected our majority to check and balance the end of his presidency. So we stuck with the historical norm, McConnell said Monday as he recounted past fights over the Supreme Court.

2019 McCONNELL STATEMENT

By 2019, with Trump in office and a continued GOP Senate majority, McConnell said Senate action on a court opening close to the election would not be an issue. "Yes, we would certainly confirm a new justice if we had that opportunity,'' he told talk show host Hugh Hewitt in December. And were going to continue, obviously, to fill the circuit and district court vacancies as they occur right up until the end of next year.

The main difference? Unlike 2016, when the White House and Senate were controlled by different parties, both are now under Republican control, McConnell said.

"Id also remind everybody what I just told you, which is the Senate is of the same party as the president of the United States,'' McConnell told Fox News in February of this year. And in that situation we would confirm a new justice.

Schumer wasnt buying it. He cited a 2016 op-ed co-written by McConnell imploring that the American people be given the opportunity to "weigh in on whom they trust to nominate the next person for a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court.''

Now these words dont apply? Schumer asked. "It doesnt pass the smell test in any way. No wonder Leader McConnell was so defensive in his comments.''

Schumer and other Democrats urged McConnell to abide by his own standard. "Whats fair is fair. A senators word must count for something,'' Schumer said.

But McConnell, in his speech, said that at a time when "the American people have elected a Senate majority to work closely with the sitting president, the historical record is even more overwhelming  in favor of confirmation.''

Eight times in the nations history vacancies have arisen during an election year when the White House and Senate were controlled by the same party. Seven of those times the justice was confirmed. The sole exception was in 1968, when President Lyndon Johnson tried to elevate Justice Abe Fortas to become chief justice. The nomination faced a filibuster due in part to ethics problems that later led Fortas to resign from the court.

"Apart from that one strange exception, no Senate has failed to confirm a nominee in the circumstances that face us now,'' McConnell said.

"The American people reelected our majority in 2016 and strengthened it further in 2018 because we pledged to work with President Trump on the most critical issues facing our country. The federal judiciary was right at the top of that list,'' he said.

On that final point  the importance of the judiciary  Schumer agreed.

"Thats what this (fight) is all about,'' he said. All the rights enshrined in our Constitution that are supposed to be protected by the Supreme Court of the United States are at stake.

"The right to join a union, marry who you love, freely exercise your right to vote ... (and) proper health care. If you care about these things and the kind of country we live in, this election  and this vacancy  mean everything,'' Schumer said.
As Americans inch toward what could be an avalanche of evictions brought on by pandemic-related job losses, at least one startup is seeking to capitalize on the nation's misfortune.

Civvl, a "property preservation" firm with reported branches in all 50 states, is hiring people to join its "eviction crew." The company has posted job listings all over Craigslist seeking workers over the age of 18 to help it "secure foreclosed residential properties," according to the ads.

"There is plenty of work due to the dismal economy," Civvl says in the listings, as first reported by Vice's Motherboard. "Unemployment is at a record high and many cannot or simply are not paying rent and mortgages."

The company promises clients that it will post notices on people's doors, move their items to the street and assist with "standby extractions."

Civvl will help landlords kick tenants out who haven't paid rent during the pandemic, according to its website.

"Too many people stopped paying rent and mortgages thinking they would not be evicted," Civvl says on its website.

The listings seeking workers across much of the U.S. including Nashville, Tennesee, Sacramento, California and Charlotte, North Carolina were posted within the past two weeks. Civvl is also looking or gig workers in Missouri, Oklahoma, Florida and other places.

The role promises up to $125 per week. People with smartphones must be willing to undergo a "minimal background check" and "complete orientation quickly online."

Apartments for rent: Americans don't want yearlong leases amid the pandemic, neither do landlords

The Craigslist ads come six months into the pandemic after the nation's workforce has been crippled by stay-at-home orders and attempts to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

On Sept. 1, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ordered a moratorium on evictions for people earning less than $99,000 a year in a move that made it illegal for landlords to push out tenants who can't afford to pay rent over the next four months.

Story continues

Health officials have issued the order under the 1944 Public Health Service Act, which gives the government a broad suite of quarantine-related powers.

The moratorium runs through Dec. 31.

Follow Dalvin Brown on Twitter: @Dalvin_Brown.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Eviction crew' startup seeks crew to kick renters out amid pandemic
With recent annual federal budgets showing a consistent deficit, the federal government on Tuesday took steps to reverse the trend, amidst the continued dwindling profile of government revenues from crude oil exports.

The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, said one of the strategies the government was adopting was the deployment of directors of revenue and treasury to select federal government-owned agencies to enhance the government revenue drive.

The minister said the exercise is to ensure the strict adherence to extant rules and regulations in enforcement of compliance to approved budget and due process mechanisms in procurement and payments.

Mrs Ahmed was speaking on Tuesday in Abuja at the orientation programme organised by the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation for directors of revenue and treasury in federal government agencies.

The minister spoke of the dangers of continuing to rely on oil as the major source of public revenue, noting that as a highly volatile commodity, oil revenues would always dwindle with each shock in the global oil market price, since it is not within the governments control.

To overcome the dangers of the unpredictable boom and burst cycles of the oil prices on the countrys economy, the minister said the government decided to take advantage of the non-oil revenues potentials and strengthen them.

Citing the example of the increased revenue haul from the recently hiked value added tax rate from 5 to 7.5 per cent through the Finance Act 2019, the minister said this has encouraged the government to step up efforts in diversifying the revenue base by its revenue generating agencies.

She said the governments recent review revealed that federal government-owned entities hold huge potentials and capacities to significantly improve revenue generation, if properly managed.

Consequently, she said the deployment of the treasury directors to select government agencies as a pilot test was in compliance with the approval by President Muhammadu Buhari as part of the Revenue Performance Management Framework for Government Owned Enterprises (FGOEs) in 2018.

Mandate

While on the assignment, the minister said the redeployed directors shall be involved in the revenue operations of their respective agencies an d enterprises, by ensuring they have a better understanding of business processes and operations and causing improved transparency and accountability in their revenue reporting.

In addition, the directors are to seek for opportunities and avenues for revenue improvements to boost the governments overall revenue base.

To assist in discharging their duties and responsibilities effectively, the directors would be supported with the deployment of the Integrated Revenue Monitoring System to help the monitoring of the revenues of the agencies online real-time and to ensure its improved transparency and accountability.

The Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, said ten directors were deployed to various federal revenue agencies and enterprises out of the initial 50 recommended by a technical committee constituted for the implementation of the policy.

Mr Idris said the initiative was to achieve transparency and accountability of government revenue with special focus on federal government-owned enterprises, improved revenue performance and ultimately to provide sustainable source of funding for Government budget execution.

Poor remittances on operating surpluses

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, said the initiative to post professional treasury officers to select federal owned enterprises was to enable them have a better understanding of the business processes and operations of the agencies, to help in the review of the current systems, policies and procedures in revenue administration and management.

The policy, he said, was a reform initiative aimed at generating more revenue and associated remittance into the government treasury and to also improve the operational performance of all GOEs.

He expressed concern that the government had observed that a number of its agencies have been remitting less operating surpluses to the Consolidated Revenue Fund than was required by law and/or financial regulations.
CAMBRIDGE, England, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Congenica, a digital health company enabling rapid and accurate analysis of complex genomic data, has launched a new module for its genomic analysis platform that will accelerate research into the relationship between an individual's genomic variation and COVID-19 susceptibility, severity, and clinical outcomes.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 global pandemic outbreak, the global research community has united in an unprecedented effort to understand the causes, progression, treatment, and prevention of the disease. Initial studies indicate a variety of factors - socioeconomics, pre-existing medical conditions and genetics all play their part.

Research studies are providing evidence of the importance of specific variations in host genes related to SARS-CoV-2 viral entry, viral replication, and immune response.

By applying expertise to a thorough review of the most up-to-date research, Congenica has carefully curated genes that have high-confidence relationships with coronavirus infection and replication progression and subsequent immune response and severity.

The launch of the Congenica COVID-19 module, available within the company's genomic analysis software platform, will enable researchers to focus analysis on the host genetics that underpin COVID-19 infection using high-quality sets of relevant genes. The module also allows investigators to prioritize variants in curated genes using COVID-19-related Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) terms such as loss of smell or dry cough and to include information about viral strain or treatment regimen, incorporating the latest findings from the growing scientific literature to aid research.

Congenica software is used throughout the UK NHS as the exclusive rare disease Clinical Decision Support Platform for the first-in-the-world national Genomic Medicine Service and internationally by private and public hospitals and laboratories, where the software reduces average interpretation costs by up to 95% and helps researchers obtain genetic information 20-times faster than previously possible.

Dr Nick Lench, Chief Scientific Officer, Congenica: "Congenica COVID-19 has been developed to meet the pressing need to enable the research community to interrogate key sets of host genes implicated in susceptibility, infection and progression of COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2.

"The new module will help researchers in their work to identify effective treatments and improve clinical outcomes."

Further information is available at www.congenica.com/covid-19

Congenica software is for research use only and should not be used as a diagnostic tool.

About Congenica

Congenica is a digital health company enabling genomic medicine with the world's leading platform for the rapid interpretation of complex genomic data.

Congenica software supports researchers with a 30% higher analytical yield than industry averages and enables genomic data analysis to be performed 20x faster, reducing genomic interpretation costs by up to 95%.

Born out of pioneering research from the Wellcome Sanger Institute and the NHS, Congenica has a global footprint supporting leading international laboratories, academic medical centers and biopharmaceutical companies and is the exclusive Clinical Decision Support partner for the NHS Genomic Medicine Service.

For more information visit www.congenica.com.
New Delhi, Sep 22 : "Grounded", says Prime Minister Narendra Modi, "a journalist first", say those who worked with him in 'Prabhat Khabar'. Before Sunday's ruckus even the opposition would acknowledge his unbiased approach.

Harivansh Narayan Singh, the Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha who is the opposition's thorn right now, has been a Bihar politician who is proud of his Bihari roots, in spite of having been born in Uttar Pradesh's Ballia. Even today, when he wrote an emotional letter to President Ram Nath Kovind, mentions of JP, poet Dinkar and Karpoori Thakur only reaffirm that point.

A quick recap of his life says 3 things about him - a meticulous journalist, someone who tends to listen to all sides but makes decisions according to his wisdom and a humble man with a socialist bent.

Him being a journalist was mentioned in the upper house even the day he won defeating RJD's Manoj Jha. The JDU leader is often given credit for the success and wide readership of Prabhat Khabar in the Hindi heartland. It is his communication skills and no-nonsense approach, whose glimpse the house saw recently, that made then Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar pick him as his media advisor.

In 2014, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar decided to nominate him to the upper house. Later he went on to become Deputy Chairman. But this election for the post was necessitated after the post fell vacant when Harivansh Narayan Singh's term in the Rajya Sabha ended. He has since been re-elected to the Upper House from Bihar.

By nature, he has been anti-establishment from his early years. No wonder he was part of the JP movement that caught the nation's imaginations and changed the status quo of India's polity. Even today, in his letter to President Kovind, he has mentioned that, "I was born in JP's village. Not just that I was born, there has been a strong bond between JP's family and the villagers, for generations." But it is his humility that attracted all sides, till Sunday's ruckus in the upper house when opposition MPs like TMC's Derek O'Brien aggressively approached him when he was conducting the house in order to pass the contentious farm Bills. O'Brien tore documents as AAP's Sanjay Singh started clapping and even shoving the marshals. That resulted in 8 lawmakers being suspended for a week, which has caused much heartburn in the opposition ranks.

On the first day of this session when he won the Deputy Chairman election, Modi recounted an anecdote that not only reaffirms how grounded he is but also the respect he commands. "The respect I hold for Harivansh ji, each member of the House shares. He has earned this respect. His unbiased role in Parliament strengthens this democracy," Modi had said.

Modi recounted how Singh had no shoes for a large part of his life and when he ordered one to be made by a village shoemaker, he would visit him regularly to see the progress just like a "rich person visits to see the progress of his bungalow". Modi said it shows how grounded he has been all through his life.

Modi also narrated another anecdote when Singh spent his entire scholarship money on buying books, while Singh's family expected the amount to be brought home. He said that the link between Singh and books continues till date.

Coming from India's Prime Minister, it showed the respect he commands for his simplicity and humility. Even when Manoj Jha spoke that day, he confessed, "It was never a fight between two persons".

It is his repute that made BJD promise to vote for him when Nitish Kumar dialled Odisha CM Navin Patnaik seeking his party's support.

But Sunday's unprecedented mayhem, which Modi describes as "insulting" and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in a hurried press conference the same evening dubbed as "shameful" seem to have altered the equation. Short of numbers, many opposition members snatched the Chair's mike, tore documents and created ruckus to block two politically sensitive farm Bills. Later, no-confidence motions were also brought in against Singh. The next day, the Rajya Sabha Chairman instead suspended 8 MPs after going through CCTV and RSTV footage, say sources.

It started a chain of events with 8 lawmakers camping in Parliament House to register their protest while Singh brought them tea this morning to drive home a point. He told President Kovind that he will fast for a day while quoting Dinkar, a well known Hindi poet.

The BJP, meanwhile, has made it an issue of "attack on Bihar". "I would like to mention a point here as every person in Bihar is deeply hurt. The people of Bihar will give a befitting reply to their behaviour," said Bihar's Deputy CM Sushil Modi.

But those close to him maintain, nothing changes as far as he is concerned. He remains the same old self who would respect difference of opinions but doesn't entertain being disrespected, say his aides.

So who is Harivansh, after all? A Masters in Economics from the prestigious Banaras Hindu University (BHU), a politician with a socialist bent yet in a frictionless alliance with BJP, someone who stands his ground - that is Harivansh Narayan Singh.
Perhaps it's the US ban, perhaps it's Xiaomi's push in the PC monitors market. Either way, a reliable source claims that Huawei is looking to enter the said market as well as the PC market. The brand of monitors would use flat and curved displays.

The alleged curved displays will be sourced by TPV Technology while the flat ones will be made by BOEVT, a subsidiary company of BOE. The curved ones will surely fall into the gaming segment and come in 27 and 34-inch flavors while the flat ones will be up to three models. No specifics have been given about the BOE-made flat monitors, though.

Additionally, a rumor has been going around that the company will enter the PC market as well. Built around its custom HiSilicon 7nm Kunpeng 920 3211K processor, the first Huawei PC will use UOS - a Chinese operating system developed by China Electronics Group and Wuhan ShenZhiDuo Technology. The PC itself will be manufactured by Foxconn and the first batch will go to some of Huawei's corporate clients.

Source (in Chinese)
Microphone and US Flag View Photo

Congresswoman Debbie Mucarsel-Powell of Florida delivered the Weekly Democratic Address.

Mucarsel-Powell was Tuesdays KVML Newsmaker of the Day. Here are her words:

Good afternoon, everyone. Its an honor to be speaking to you today. My name is Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, and I represent Floridas 26th Congressional District, from Miami-Dade through the Florida Keys.

Before coming to Congress, I spent years working in health care as an Associate Dean at Florida International Universitys medical school. I spoke regularly with public health experts and epidemiologists who spent their careers studying how to crush infectious diseases like the coronavirus. And throughout this pandemic, I have relied on their counsel to help guide our response.

Its been over seven months since our country has faced the worst health crisis in more than 100 years. We have now lost close to 200,000 lives, and this pandemic has plunged our country into an economic recession that we havent experienced since the Great Depression.

Nearly 200,000 lives. Each one meant the world to their families, to their communities, to their loved ones. I often get calls from our friends and those who live in my community sharing their heartbreaking stories.

Kevin Cho, a nurse practitioner who serves my district fighting COVID on the frontlines, shared how, every ten minutes, a family in Florida at the height of the pandemic would get a call that their loved one died. A young police officer received that call from Kevin telling him he had just lost his father. A family who lost their mother shortly after celebrating her birthday. And fellow nurses and doctors who are our true heroes have died while trying to save others.

And as we honor Hispanic Heritage Month, we must recognize the disproportionate impact of this crisis on Hispanic and African American communities, who have been the hardest hit by this virus. With this immense loss, the lives of families in my district and across the country have been changed forever, and many continue to be anxious and frustrated.

Understanding the impact of this pandemic, House Democrats took swift action, and in May we passed the Heroes Act. Across the country, while Americans sacrificed and shut down their businesses, stayed home and adjusted to educating their children online, we worked to provide people, states and cities with the resources necessary to contain the virus.

But unfortunately, Senate Republicans and this Administration completely turned their backs on mothers, on fathers, nuestros abuelos y abuelas and our children by refusing to take action.

During this time, we continued to see the virus spreading and our families paid the ultimate price. Take my home state of Florida. Because the Governor took his cues from the President over the advice of top public health experts, we became an international hot spot for coronavirus.

Floridians waited hours to be tested and a week, and sometimes even two, for results, and now over 13,000 have passed away. And as I hear from my constituents, I cant help but agonize over how avoidable this tragedy was.

I think of Nereida, a small business owner in Kendall who fell ill in July and depended on an SBA emergency loan to keep her construction business afloat.

And the police officer in Homestead who relied on the goodwill of his neighbors for plasma donations while he was fighting for his life.

And Zane, a nine-year-old boy who contracted COVID, was in the hospital for weeks and two months later is still dealing with its serious effects.

We need to have their backs. We know what we need, and weve long had the answers to overcome this pandemic.

These answers are found in the Heroes Act, which provides us with the tools needed to act aggressively and comprehensively. It gives us $75 billion for the testing and tracing capabilities that health experts have recommended for months. It extends unemployment benefits, issues another round of stimulus checks, provides money for schools and assists those struggling with their rent and mortgage payments.

With the Heroes Act, we can contain this virus, reopen our schools and businesses safely and regain the trust of Americans across the country and those that want to, once again, visit our beautiful state of Florida and get America back on track. Inaction is irresponsible, shortsighted and dishonors the sacrifices made by our American families and small businesses.

The Republican Senate needs to honor the nearly 200,000 lives weve lost and do everything in its power to prevent further losses. They need to pass the Heroes Act, which we passed months ago, and they need to pass it now.

Together we can get through this, by coming together and following the science.

Thank you.

The Newsmaker of the Day is heard every weekday morning at 6;45, 7:45 and 8:45 on AM 1450 and FM 102.7 KVML.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 18:21:05|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on Sept. 7, 2019 shows rhinos in Okapuka Ranch, central Namibia. Namibia's rhino conservation remains challenged by poaching incidents despite a decline in poaching numbers as a result of ongoing interventions by the government, communal conservancies, private custodians, and NGOs, an official said Tuesday. Namibia's Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Pohamba Shifeta, said this as the country joined the rest of the world in celebrating World Rhino Day Tuesday. (Photo by Sun Yin/Xinhua)

WINDHOEK, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Namibia's rhino conservation remains challenged by poaching incidents despite a decline in poaching numbers as a result of ongoing interventions by the government, communal conservancies, private custodians, and NGOs, an official said Tuesday.

Namibia's Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Pohamba Shifeta, said this as the country joined the rest of the world in celebrating World Rhino Day Tuesday.

"However, poaching patterns are highly dynamic and any amount of poaching remains a major concern to the ministry. In this regard the ministry and its partners have carried out a series of pro-active measures designed to prevent poaching," he said.

According to Shifeta, Namibia has recorded 22 rhinos poached to date this year; 46 in 2019; 78 in 2018; 55 in 2017 and 61 in 2016. The ministry is determined that the best strategy for 2020 to 2021 would be to dehorn as many rhinos as possible in poaching hotspots.

Shifeta furthermore said it is also necessary to translocate rhino out of high-risk areas to safer locations, thus establishing new populations and supplementing existing populations to stimulate growth and manage density-dependent factors.

Meanwhile, the minister commended law enforcement and intelligence that has been key to reducing the threat of poaching.

"The newly established K9 unit continues to gain success and has been issued with a state-of-the-art, fully kitted vehicle. The unit is now permanently deployed in Etosha National Park and more units are planned for the future," he said.

Namibia currently has a third of the entire remaining black rhinos on the planet and the second largest white rhino population in the world after South Africa. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 06:56:31|Editor: huaxia

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LIMA, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Peru could potentially see a second wave of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreaks, so the public should not let down their guard, Deputy Minister of Public Health Luis Suarez warned on Tuesday.

Recent spikes in infections in countries such as Spain, Belgium and Italy are a wake-up call for countries in Latin America, he said.

"What they have seen in Europe is that between four to five months after the first epidemic peaks, they have real outbreaks or a second wave ... so it is not an isolated phenomenon, it is something that is commonly occurring," said Suarez.

"We cannot assure you that the same will not happen in Peru or other countries in the Americas," Suarez added.

Peru's number of COVID-19 cases has seen a sustained decline around the country, with a total of 772,896 people testing positive since the start of the outbreak, said Suarez.

According to the Ministry of Health, 622,418 former patients have recovered from the disease. Enditem
In this article we will present the 10 worst states for suicide in the United States. Click to skip ahead and see the top 5 worst states for suicide in the US.

The US is currently the worst affected country in the world with reference to the Covid-19 pandemic, with over 6.7 million cases and nearly 200,000 deaths. Because of this, since March, the US has been in a state of lockdown, even though many restrictions have been lifted in most states now. Having to spend 6 months in isolation without being able to meet your friends and loved ones is an extremely hard thing for most people to do, which is why there has been a historic rise in depression in the country.

We all know that there is a major connection between depression and suicide, with people who are depressed much more likely to commit the act. And with depression rising as mentioned, the likelihood of significantly increased suicide rates is no more a remote possibility. Of course, we will only truly know the actual impact of Covid-19 once the pandemic subsides, the debris is cleared and studies are undertaken, which does not seem to be happening anytime soon.

Countries with the Highest Mental Illness Rates in the World

Rattanapon Ninlapoom/Shutterstock.com

Even before the pandemic, the US has had a high suicide rate, even though it does not make the list of 10 countries with the highest suicide rates in the world. It is the 10th leading cause of death in the country at an overall level, and on average, 123 Americans commit suicide every single day, or around 45,000 deaths annually. I cannot even imagine the mental state of a person whose only option is to kill himself, and yet people consider them as cowards or someone who has 'taken the easy way out'. Unless this despicable mentality is eradicated, we will never be able to truly understand why people commit suicide and hence, will never be able to reduce this rate.

For our rankings, we have referred to the Center for Diseases Control and Prevention and their statistics for 2018, which is the latest year for which information is available. We have ranked each state according to its suicide rate and total number of suicides as well, and then gave 70% weighting to the suicide rate (as it's more indicative of the situation) and 30% to the total deaths by suicides. So let's take a look at the states which need to do a lot more for mental health, starting with number 10:

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10. Nevada

20.8 people per 100,000 commit suicide, leading to a total of 657 deaths in the state in 2018. This is despite the fact that Nevada is the only state to reduce its suicide rate from 1999 to 2016. It is the second leading cause of death for ages 10-34.

Pixabay/Public Domain

9. Montana

Vitamin D deficiency is one of the reasons why Montana has a high suicide rate, as this deficiency has been linked to an increase in depression, which may explain a suicide rate of 24.9 and 265 deaths in the state.

Pixabay/Public Domain

8. Idaho

Idaho has the 5th highest suicide rate in the country at 23.9, though a lower number of deaths means it doesn't place as high in our list of states with the highest suicide rates in the US.

Pixabay/Public Domain

7. Wyoming

Wyoming has the highest suicide rate in the nation at 25.2 but again, is slightly saved by a lower number of deaths. More than 70% of suicides are through a firearm which makes sense since it has the highest percentage of residents with access to firearms, providing means to carry out the act.

best places to visit in USA in September

Pixabay/Public Domain

6. Oklahoma

The suicide rate for males is significantly higher for Oklahoma as compared to the US average, at 30.3 vs the US average of 23.3. The biggest issue is for the age group 15-24, which exceeds the US rate by nearly 10.

Pixabay/Public Domain

Click to see the top 5 worst states for suicide in the US. Disclosure: 10 Worst States for Suicide in the U.S. is originally published at Insider Monkey.
Insight-HXMT discovers closest high-speed jet to black hole

Insight-HXMT, China's first space X-ray astronomical satellite, has discovered a low-frequency quasi-periodic oscillation (QPO) above 200 kiloelectron volts (keV) in a black hole binary, making it the highest energy low-frequency QPO ever found. The scientists also found that the QPO originated from the precession of a relativistic jet (high-speed outward-moving plasma stream) near the event horizon of the black hole. These discoveries have important implications for resolving the long-running debate about the physical origin of low-frequency QPOs.

This work, published online in Nature Astronomy on Sept. 21, was primarily conducted by scientists from the Institute of High Energy Physics (IHEP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), the University of Southampton (United Kingdom), Eberhard Karls University of Tubingen (Germany), and the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory of CAS.

Low-frequency QPOs, discovered in the 1980s, are a common observational timing feature in transient black hole binaries. They are quasi-periodic, but not precisely periodic, modulations in light curves. For more than 30 years, the origin of low-frequency QPOs was not understood. The two most popular models explaining their origin are: 1) the oscillations are caused by the instability of the accretion disk when matter rotates around and finally falls into the black hole; and 2) the quasi-periodic X-ray modulations are produced by the oscillation or precession of the coronal X-ray emitting region close to the black hole.

Before the era of Insight-HXMT, X-ray satellites could only detect and study low-frequency QPOs below 30 keV; thus, it was difficult to test these models. Insight-HXMT, in contrast, has a wide effective energy range of 1-250 keV and has the largest effective area above 30 keV. Therefore, after Insight-HXMT was launched, scientists expected it would detect rich low-frequency QPOs above 30 keV, and thus be able to fully test previous models.

The new black hole X-ray binary MAXI J1820+070, consisting of a black hole of several solar masses and a companion star, started to undergo an outburst on March 11, 2018. It has been one of the brightest X-ray sources in the sky for a long time. Insight-HXMT quickly responded and performed high-cadence pointing observations on this source for several months, accumulating a huge amount of observational data.

Based on these data, the scientists found that the low-frequency QPO of MAXI J1820+070 appeared in a wide energy range and its maximum detection energy exceeded 200 keV, which is almost an order of magnitude higher than previous QPOs observed by other telescopes, indicating that the QPO could not come from the thermal radiation region of the accretion disk. Further studies revealed that the frequency and variability amplitude of the QPO are energy independent and the high-energy QPO precedes the low-energy one.

These results unambiguously conflicted with most currently existing models. Therefore, the scientists proposed that the low-frequency QPO was produced by the precession of a jet near the black hole's event horizon; the precession was probably caused by the frame-dragging effect of general relativity, generated by the rotation of the black hole.

Jets are high-speed matter streams moving at close to the speed of light. Plenty of jets have been observed in black hole binaries and distant quasars hosting supermassive black holes (i.e., those of millions to tens of billions of solar masses) in the radio, optical and X-ray bands. Jets are an important observational characteristic of black hole systems, and are the main means by which black holes influence the surrounding environment via feedback when swallowing nearby matter.

However, these jets are far from black holes. They are usually located at a distance of more than a million times the black hole's event horizon. At such a long distance, the black hole's gravitational force actually has no effect. Therefore, it is unclear where these jets are generated, how far they are from the black holes, how they can escape from the strong gravitational field of the black holes and how they are accelerated to a speed close to the speed of light.

Insight-HXMT's discovery is particularly important because it's the first time a jet has been found only hundreds of kilometers away from a black hole (i.e., several times the black hole's event horizon). As the closest relativistic jet observed in a black hole so far, the finding is of great significance for studying the relativistic effects, dynamical processes and radiation mechanisms.

The Institute of High Energy Physics proposed the Insight-HXMT satellite project and leads the development of its payloads, ground application system and scientific research. The China Academy of Space Technology, Tsinghua University, the National Space Science Center of CAS and Beijing Normal University have also participated in the project and have made important contributions.

###

This story has been published on: 2020-09-22. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
A memorial to Daphne Caruana Galizia in Valletta, the capital of Malta - Reuters

A key figure in the investigation into the murder of crusading Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia has been arrested on charges of accepting bribes for the sale of passports to foreigners.

Keith Schembri was the powerful chief of staff to Joseph Muscat, who was Maltas prime minister until he was forced to resign late last year amid public anger over his governments alleged cover-up of the journalists assassination in October 2017.

Mr Schembri, who also resigned, was arrested at the time but later released without charge, although police say he remains a person of interest in the investigation.

Now he faces new allegations  that he allegedly received 100,000 in kickbacks for the sale of passports to a Russian family.

Mr Schembri was arrested at his home in the early hours of Tuesday over the allegations.

Keith Schembri was chief of staff to former prime minister Joseph Muscat until they were both forced to resign - AFP

They were originally made in 2017 by Simon Busuttil, the then leader of the opposition Nationalist Party.

He said this week that he had endured three and a half years of insults, threats and attacks for the claims.

He based his allegations on a leaked financial intelligence report that raised suspicions about two transactions of 50,000 paid to Mr Schembri.

He denied the allegations, saying the money represented the repayment of a loan.

The arrest came a day after a court in Malta ordered a freeze of all Mr Schembris assets.

The family of Mrs Caruana Galizia, who have campaigned hard for the truth to be told about who ordered her assassination and why, welcomed the arrest.

But they said it should have happened years ago, when the journalist first revealed allegations that Mr Schembri had received kickbacks on passport sales in April 2017.

For three and a half years, the Malta Police Force and the Attorney General failed in their legal obligations to act against Schembri, the family said in a statement.

Corinne Vella, the journalists sister, told The Telegraph: This just shows how the recent history of Malta and Daphnes fate could have been so different.

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Corinne Vella, the sister of the murdered journalist, has campaigned tirelessly to find out the truth about who ordered the killing and why - AFP

The resignations of Mr Schembri and Mr Muscat, the prime minister, followed the arrest of a wealthy businessman who police allege was the mastermind behind the plot to kill Mrs Caruana Galizia.

Yorgen Fenech, who has denied any role in the murder, was the owner of a company called 17 Black Ltd which, according to documents uncovered by Maltas financial regulators in 2015, was due to make payments of up to $2 million to secret Panama-based companies owned by Mr Schembri and a government minister.

The three hitmen who are accused of planting and detonating the car bomb are due to go on trial next year.

The investigation into Mr Fenech is still at the stage of compiling evidence and a trial may not start for a year or more.
WATCHUNG, N.J., Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Lawrence Law, LLC is pleased to announce that the firm's Managing Member & Founder, Jeralyn L. Lawrence, has once again been recognized by Best Lawyers for her work in Family Law, Family Law Arbitration, and Family Law Mediation. Notably Jeralyn L. Lawrence is one of only six lawyers in New Jersey recognized in all three Family Law-related practice areas in the 2021 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Jeralyn Lawrence - Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Matrimonial Law Attorney Jeralyn Lawrence Recognized by Best Lawyers

Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Matrimonial Law Attorney, Jeralyn represents clients with matrimonial and family law needs, including divorce litigation, mediation and arbitration, custody and parenting time issues, alimony and child support, separation and property settlement agreements, adoption and guardianship advice, domestic partnership matters under the Domestic Partnership Act, domestic violence and sexual abuse, and palimony.

Additionally, Jeralyn was named the 2021 Family Law Mediation "Lawyer of the Year" in Woodbridge by Best Lawyers. This is the fourth "Lawyer of the Year" award she has received having previously been named Woodbridge "Lawyer of the Year" in Family Law Mediation (2016), Family Law (2018), and Family Law Arbitration (2020).

Lawrence Law is also proud to announce that Attorneys Kristyl M. Berckes, Daniel A. Burton, and Ashley E. Edwards were included in the Inaugural Edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch for their work in Family Law.

"Best Lawyers was founded in 1981 with the purpose of highlighting the extraordinary accomplishments of those in the legal profession. After almost four decades, we are proud to continue to serve as the most reliable, unbiased source of legal referrals worldwide," says CEO Phillip Greer.

Lawyers on The Best Lawyers in America and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch lists are divided by geographic region and practice areas. They are reviewed by their peers on the basis of professional expertise, and undergo an authentication process to make sure they are in current practice and in good standing. Lawyers are not required or allowed to pay a fee to be recognized by Best Lawyers; therefore inclusion is considered a singular honor.

ABOUT LAWRENCE LAW, LLC

Jeralyn Lawrence, founder and Managing Partner of Lawrence Law, devotes her practice to matrimonial, divorce and family law. She is First Vice President of the New Jersey State Bar Association and President Elect of the New Jersey Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. Lawrence Law has offices in Watchung and Red Bank, New Jersey.

Media contact:

Greg Sutphin

[email protected]

610-757-8411

SOURCE Jeralyn Lawrence
ICEYE Continues to Set the Pace for the Market for Synthetic-Aperture Radar (SAR), with Four Satellites to be Launched Still Within 2020, Eight for 2021

HELSINKI, Finland, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- ICEYE , a World-leading SAR data provider, today announced the closing of a larger than planned for $87M Series C funding, led by the return investor True Ventures , with a substantial investment contribution from OTB Ventures . ICEYE has so far successfully launched 5 satellite missions, starting with the first ever small SAR satellite launched in January 2018. The company is launching 4 additional SAR satellites still this year and is on course to launch an additional 8 in 2021. This will grow the existing operational constellation into a capability that is unique in the World. To date, ICEYE has raised a total of $152M in financing.

"ICEYE has built a reputation of delivering on its promises for timelines and quality, while continually developing technologies that others have not been able to execute. We are very proud of that reputation, and we will continue to do our best to maintain it," said Rafal Modrzewski, CEO and Co-founder of ICEYE. "This round of investment ensures our SAR satellite constellation size continues to grow during the 2021 schedule as planned."

ICEYE designs, manufactures and operates its SAR satellites in-house, with manufacturing timelines brought down to months for its spacecraft. Since the January 2018 launch of the first operational ICEYE SAR satellite, the company has been consistently delivering SAR imaging services and new capabilities to global customers, including many 'world firsts' from small SAR satellites, such as 0.25 meter resolution data and SAR video.

ICEYE intends to use this financing round to accelerate the size of its SAR satellite constellation in the coming years, increasing data availability for all continents through 24/7 customer operations, continuing development of ground-breaking radar imaging capabilities and for establishing spacecraft manufacturing in the US. This significantly larger than originally planned for financing round during the economically turbulent year of 2020 is a powerful sign of trust from the financial community that ICEYE's business and operational model works and continues to deliver results.

Given the unprecedented frequency and scale of climate driven changes in the weather, crop patterns, fires, urban living and human activities, there is a growing need for real-time information access on a global scale. This access can be used for humanitarian and disaster response, towards saving lives, in addition to being utilized for economic decision making during moments of crisis.

ICEYE has provided commercial radar satellite imaging worldwide for data users starting from 2018, for ICEYE's customers to respond to oil spills, hurricanes, deforestation and many more use cases. Along with these active customer imaging operations, the ICEYE SAR satellite constellation has seen an unprecedented development cycle of new imaging capabilities and new spacecraft generations.

Adam Niewinski, co-founder and Managing Partner of OTB Ventures, said:

"We are pleased to be a cornerstone investor in the latest round of venture funding for ICEYE. We are thrilled to be part of the evolving ecosystem where even the sky is no longer the limit."

ICEYE's Series C includes participation from return investors True Ventures, OTB Ventures, Luxembourg Future Fund (LFF), Finnish Industry Investment (Tesi), Draper Esprit, DNX, Draper Associates, Seraphim Space, Promus Ventures and Space Angels. The funding round is joined by New Space Capital. The European Investment Bank (EIB) has participated both as advisor to Luxembourg Future Fund and as investor through its financing mechanism InnovFin For Equity (IFE). Further, a significant portion of Tesi's investment is part of the EFSI investment program set up between Tesi and the European Investment Bank. Coinciding with ICEYE's Series C funding, OTB Ventures today announced the launch of a dedicated investment vehicle to support Europe's leading space technologies - OTB Space Program I - backed by the European Investment Fund (EIF).

About ICEYE:

ICEYE is building and operating its own commercial constellation of radar imaging satellites, with SAR data available to global customers since 2018. With the company's unique satellite constellation capabilities, ICEYE empowers others to make better decisions in governmental and commercial industries. The company is tackling a tremendous global need for timely and reliable information, with world-first aerospace capabilities and a New Space approach. ICEYE's radar satellite imaging service, designed to deliver very frequent coverage, both day and night, helps clients resolve challenges in sectors such as maritime, disaster management, insurance, and finance. For more information, please visit: www.iceye.com

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 23:51:06|Editor: huaxia

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YAOUNDE, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Cameroonian authorities announced Tuesday the start of the candidacy submission for the country's pioneer regional elections scheduled for Dec. 6.

The country's national electoral body Elections Cameroon (Elecam) is expected to publish the lists of political parties and candidates vying for the elections after the submission.

"The organisational and logistical aspect is ready. The elections would be a historic moment and a turning point in our democracy," Essousse Erik, director general of Elecam, told reporters in the capital city Yaounde.

According to Cameroonian constitutional law, the regional council is the deliberative assembly for the affairs of the region. The regional elections, contained in the constitution for many years, have however never been organized.

The regional elections are deemed by local observers to be a measure to accelerate decentralization and to help end a separatist crisis in Cameroon's two English-speaking regions, the Northwest and the Southwest.

Cameroon's two main opposition parties, Cameroon Renaissance Movement (CRM) and Social Democratic Front (SDF) have said they will boycott the elections, citing "biased" electoral code and insecurity in the Anglophone regions. Enditem
MIDDLETOWN  A groundbreaking collaboration between a local NAACP committee and Middlesex Health is helping stakeholders understand socioeconomic constraints and other issues that impede good health and equitable care for people of color.

A recently released report on the Middlesex County NAACP health equity focus groups for African Americans and Latinos Project identified several pressing concerns that affect quality of life for these residents, according to Faith Jackson, director of the Middletown Equal Opportunity & Diversity Management and president of the local branch of the NAACP.

It was produced by Hartford-based Health Equity Solutions, and includes project objectives, methodology and results.

The report provides crucial data the health committee is using to guide its work in dismantling any oppressive and structurally racist systems that prevent people of color in the community from achieving optimal health and quality of life, it said.

Five sessions, comprising 43 individuals, were held between May and October 2019, and conducted in Middletown and Cromwell, using residents of both towns, as well as East Hampton and Middlefield.

Polling and community conversations revealed a handful of conditions were at the top of participants concern list: diabetes, high blood pressure/hypertension and cardiovascular disease. They also pinpointed other contributing factors of disease: behavior, lifestyle and culture; socioeconomic status, genetics, knowledge, competing priorities, stress and mental health.

This is grassroots  getting valid core information directly from individuals who have lived such health experiences, said Jackson, who called the collaboration groundbreaking.

Grants from the Connecticut Health Foundation, Middlesex Health Womens Wellness Fund and Community Foundation of Middlesex County funded the work during this first phase.

Judy Omphroy, chairwoman of the NAACP health committee, and Catherine Rees, director of community benefit at Middlesex Health, were instrumental in this first phase of the project, which focused on Black residents.

They were helped by Cross Street AME Zion Church leaders the Revs. Robyn Anderson and Moses Harvill of the Middletown Area Ministerial Alliance, Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church leaders Bishop W. Vance Cotten and Rev. Dr. Kim Cotten, area congregations, and the George Crawford Lodge of Middletown.

Project leaders had intended also to study the Latinex population, but will focus on that in phase two. Because of time constraints and an inability to find liaisons for prospective participants, the work was put off for the near future. Theyll be applying for another grant to fund those new focus groups.

Future activities will include addressing health issues using COVID-19 lens, Jackson said.

Rees oversees the Community Health Needs Assessment, which nonprofit hospitals are required to do every three years, as well as the implementation strategy for the project.

The majority of impediments to access included COVID-19 testing, PPEs, and general information about the coronavirus. These are experienced in densely populated areas as well as issues faced by households with several generations living under one roof, Jackson said.

Its the same thing as, you have all these package stores in a minority community, and a grocery store thats 10 miles away. Why isnt a grocery store on the corner instead of a package store so people can have access to healthy food, she said.

That has since changed with the availability of testing sites in Middletown, as well as a walk-up offering at the Community Health Center for the ease of those without transportation.

So many of the drivers of poorer health outcomes for people of color are due to unequal systems created by institutional racism. As this project is grounded in strategies that will be designed by the needs and preferences of communities of color in Middlesex County, this report is a springboard to meaningfully address racism as a public health crisis, Rees said.

Middletown has been identified as a food desert for those of lower socioeconomic statuses, Jackson said. A lot of people say I like to eat healthy, but I have to go way over here to the grocery store. Its not like you can pick up fresh fruits and vegetables any other way.

We talk about positioning people to help themselves to make sure were improving the sources and places they can go so that its convenient to them, she said.

Although the team had access to state and national statistics on such disparities, it had never been drilled down to the municipal or county level, Rees said.

As there is insufficient data stratified by race and ethnicity in Middlesex County, the NAACP Health Committee focus group study helps to fill this gap by providing a road map for addressing health disparities as guided by the voices of people of color residing in Middlesex County, Rees said.

Judy Omphroy, chairwoman of the health committee, noted it was better to have focus group volunteers identify their own needs. We already had data that said certain groups have less positive experiences and outcomes in terms of health in the Middlesex County area  but why is that?

A level of trust first needed to be established among those involved before people began to open up. Once they did, a huge amount of useful information was gathered.

A lot of what we found is people dont respond to a passed-out flyer or Facebook page. They respond to human contact, said Omphroy, who is African-American.

What you find is people trust people who look like them. You relate better with someone you assume has a similar background  even though its probably not true, but they assume it, she said.

Organizers learned about concerns people have about choosing between affordable food and healthful options, as well as access to health care, she said.

There was a combination of things that was overwhelming to me, she said. The cause of all those things  the impact of stress  having all of these issues combined causes much stress and a lot expressed that as major contributing factor, because theyre trying to juggle too many priorities, Omphroy said.

Read the report here:

For a copy of the report, email healthcommittee2018@gmail.com.

Editors note: The original version of this story incorrectly spelled the name of the Rev. Moses Harvill with an e at the end.
Houston police and fire officials say they have conducted nearly 100 high-water rescues as Tropical Storm Beta continues its slow crawl across the region, flooding cars in roadways and stranding drivers.

All of the rescues were related to flooded roadways, and most were concentrated in South Houston, near where Keegans Bayou overcame its banks overnight.

Mayor Sylvester Turner said the city had not received any reports of structural flooding as of 11:15 a.m.

Now Playing: Here's how Tropical Storm Beta has affected parts of the Houston region on Sept. 21 and 22. Video: Houston Chronicle

My hope is over the next 24 hours that will remain the case, but that will depend on Mother Nature, he said.

The mayor encouraged residents to stay off the streets if possible and brace for at least 24 hours of uncertainty, as rain bands make their way in and out of the area.

The city expects between four to six inches of rain, but there is a possibility of more than 10 inches in some localized areas. There is a lot of uncertainty about the rain bands as they come through, Turner said.

The city is watching areas where water could exceed bayou banks and is prepared to shut down traffic in those areas if it looks like it will do so. Turner mentioned Interstate-45 near North Main Street as one such location.

That is a lesson learned from Tropical Storm Imelda, Turner said, when water quickly poured over the banks and effectively made the highway a lake, stranding more than 100 cars.

Three Houston bayous were at or near their banks as of 11:45 a.m. They are: the Buffalo Bayou downtown near Milam Street, out near Shepherd and further near Piney Point; Briar Branch at Campbell Road; and Brays at South Main, and at Lawndale.

We are going to be in this weather pattern for the next 24 hours, Turner said. So let me just say that people need to be very patient.

dylan.mcguinness@chron.com
At its Ignite conference, Microsoft today announced that Premonition, a robotics and sensor platform for monitoring and sampling disease carriers like mosquitos and a cloud-based software stack for analyzing samples, will soon be in private preview.

The idea here, as Microsoft describes it, is to set up a system that can essentially function as a weather monitoring system, but for disease outbreaks. The company first demonstrated the project in 2015, but it has come quite a long way since.

Premonition sounds like a pretty wild project, but Microsoft says it's based on five years of R&D in this area. The company says it is partnering with the National Science Foundations Convergence Accelerator Program and academic partners like Johns Hopkins University, Vanderbilt University, the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Washingtons Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation to test the tools it's developing here. In addition, it is also working with pharmaceutical giant Bayer to "develop a deeper understanding of vector-borne diseases and the role of autonomous sensor networks for biothreat detection."

Currently, it seems, focus is on diseases transmitted by mosquitos, and Microsoft actually set up a "Premonition Proving Ground" on its Redmond campus to help researchers test their robots, train their machine learning models and analyze the data they collect. In this Arthropod Containment Level 2 facility, the company can raise and analyze mosquitos. But the idea is to go well beyond this and monitor the entire biome.

So far, Microsoft says, the Premonition system has scanned more than 80 trillion base-pairs of genomic material for biological threats.

"About five years ago, we saw that robotics, AI and cloud computing were reaching a tipping point where we could monitor the biome in entirely new ways, at entirely new scales," Ethan Jackson, the senior director of Premonition, said in a video the company released today. "It was really the 2014 Ebola outbreak that led to this realization. How did one of the rarest viruses on the planet jump from animal to people to cause this outbreak? What signals are we missing that might have allowed us to predict it?"

Story continues

Image Credits: Microsoft

Two years later, in 2016, when Zika emerged, the team had already built a small fleet of smart robotic traps that could autonomously identify and capture mosquitos. The system identifies the mosquito and can then make a split-second decision whether to capture it or let it fly. In a single night, Jackson said, the trap has already been able to identify up to 10,000 mosquitos.

The first place Microsoft deployed these systems in the U.S. was Harris County, Texas.

Image Credits: Microsoft

"Everything we do now in terms of mosquito treatment is reactive -- we see a lot of mosquitoes, we go spray a lot of mosquitoes," said Douglas E. Norris, an entomologist and Johns Hopkins University professor of molecular microbiology and immunology, who was part of this project. "Imagine if you had a forecasting system that shows, in a few days youre going to have a lot of mosquitoes based on all this data and these models -- then you could go out and treat them earlier before theyre biting, spray, hit them early so you dont get those big mosquito blooms which then might result in disease transmission."

This is, by all means, a very ambitious project. Why is Microsoft announcing it now, at its Ignite conference? Unsurprisingly, the whole system relies on the Microsoft Azure cloud to provide the storage and compute power to run -- and it's a nice way for Microsoft to show off its AI systems, too.
Turkey's research vessel, Oruc Reis, rear, anchored off the coast of Antalya on the Mediterranean, Turkey on Sept. 13, 2020. (Burhan Ozbilici/AP)

Greece: Maritime Talks With Turkey Might Resume Soon

ATHENS, GreeceGreece and Turkey are close to reviving talks on long-standing maritime disputes following a tense standoff over rights to exploit potential offshore natural gas deposits in the eastern Mediterranean, a Greek official said on Sept. 21.

We are close to restarting the exploratory talks, government spokesman Stelios Petsas told reporters.

Petsas also said U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is expected to visit Greece for a meeting with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to discuss the crisis, but no date has been set.

NATO members Greece and Turkey have been at odds for decades over maritime boundaries for commercial exploitation in the Aegean Sea, as well as in an area of the eastern Mediterranean between Turkeys southern coast, several Greek islands, and the war-divided island of Cyprus.

Under international pressure, Turkey pulled back a research vessel in the area while each country has also eased its naval presence and halted military exercises.

Greek-Turkish talks on maritime boundaries were last held in 2016. In recent years, the dispute has been fueled by soured relations between the European Union and Turkey and well as the discoveries of large natural gas fields in other parts of the eastern Mediterranean.

In a televised address, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he believes the dispute can be resolved through dialogue as long as fair proposals are on the tablebut he still warned that the alternative is a fight.

In Cyprus, the Mediterranean and the Aegean  we are not impinging on anyones rights or honor, Erdogan said. We are just asking for respect for our rights.

Erdogan said: We believe that there is no issue that cannot be resolved through dialogue, negotiation, and agreement. Of course, this approach is valid on the condition that they come in front of us with proposals that fit fairness and reality. Otherwise, we could not evade any fight.

Turkey argues that Greek islands near its coastline should be excluded from the calculation of commercial maritime boundaries that far exceed the limits of territorial waters. Athens calls the Turkish position a violation of international law but says it is willing to settle the dispute at an international court.

Following a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels, Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias said his colleagues regarded the withdrawal of the Turkish research ship a positive indication, but a preliminary indication.

Turkey will have to provide many more indications that it respects international law, Dendias added. EU leaders will discuss the matter later this week.

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said Turkish and Greek teams would hold the fifth round of talks at the NATO headquarters on Sept. 22 aimed at preventing accidents or armed conflict between the two allies.

Separately, Turkish prosecutors launched an investigation into a Greek right-wing newspaper, Dimokratia, over a front-page headline last week that used an obscene expression in Turkish against Erdogan. The investigation, triggered by a complaint by Erdogans lawyers on Sept. 21, could lead to a court case in Turkey against the newspapers journalists.

Last week, the Turkish Foreign Ministry summoned Greeces ambassador over the incident. The Greek Foreign Ministry condemned the headline while stressing that Greece respects freedom of the press.

Thousands of people have been convicted in Turkey for insulting the president, which is a crime.
The Minister of Transport, Lucian Bode, stated on Tuesday that three projects in western Cluj County, worth a total of 3 billion euro, could be financed through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan.

"Three of the investment projects in transport infrastructure in Cluj can be included for financing in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. Romania has at its disposal approximately 33 billion euro. All three mandatory conditions are fulfilled: the contract be signed until 2022, the works be completed by 2026 and environment and digitization conditions be accomplished. Here I am convinced that projects such as the trans-regio Gilau-Apahida road, the electrification of the railway from Cluj to Episcopie, with all connected projects, as well as the metro and metropolitan train are projects worth over 3 billion euro, which will find their financing in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan," said Lucian Bode during a press conference in Cluj-Napoca.

According to the Transport Minister, of these projects, the electrification and rehabilitation of the Cluj - Episcopia Bihor railway will be done on a distance of 166 kilometers, the value of the investment exceeding 1.8 billion euro, and will include an underpass in Cluj-Napoca, in the Taietura Turcului area. The contract for designing and executing the works could be signed at the start of next year, Bode estimates.

In what regards the metro, which would have, in the first stage, 16 kilometers in length, the Transport Ministry emphasized the fact that it would be the first metro in another city than Bucharest.

"The city of Cluj has demonstrated in the past years an orientation in the direction of durable urban mobility, being able to serve as a model among Romania's cities. For that reason the metro project is the first to be implemented in another city than Bucharest," Bode also mentioned.
General Prosecutors Office intervened in the case involving Michal Havran and his opinion piece.

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Commentator and theologist Michal Havran no longer faces charges for an opinion piece in which he criticised Catholic priest Marian Kuffa, known for some radical beliefs.

The text, titled Poslite Kuffu do Cirkusu (Send Kuffa to a Circus), was published in the Sme daily in June 2018. Havran was charged with the defamation of nation, race and belief, and the offence of slander.

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He defended himself, claiming his intention was not to offend someone due to his/her belief, but the story was more a pamphlet, known for using irony.

General Prosecutors Office stepped in

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Related article Police press charges against a prominent commentator Read more

The charges were pressed by the attorney office of Jan Carnogursky Jr., son of the co-founder of non-parliamentary Christian Democratic Party (KDH), known for liking Russia. Carnogursky Sr. had also spoken at some events organised by the Slovenski Branci (Slovak Levies) paramilitary group.

Havran had filed a complaint against the charges earlier, but was dismissed. This time the General Prosecutors Office stepped in, Sme reported.

The action taken by the Special Prosecutors Office was not correct, which is why the General Prosecutors Office revoked not only a disapproving statement over Havrans complaint, but also dropped the charge against him.

As a result, the prosecution in this matter continues but Havran is not charged anymore, Sme wrote.

Retaliatory reaction to Kuffa

The General Prosecutors Office ordered the investigator to act and decide again. It indicated that the whole prosecution may be cancelled, too.

It matters when two bishops speak up against Kuffa Read more

The offices statement obtained by Sme criticises the steps taken until now. The story cannot be considered defamation or aimed against all believers, Jozef Szabo of the General Prosecutors Office wrote.

The story of the accused (Havran) can be seen as a manifestation of his indignation and retaliatory reaction to the public performances of the aggrieved (Kuffa), who is publicly known person, Szabo noted, as quoted by Sme.

The media work in a democratic, free and modern society where the most crucial debate about public issues happen, he added.
Dia Mirza refuted reports that her name has come up in the Narcotics Control Bureaus investigation into Bollywoods alleged drug links. She said that the false and baseless news is not only affecting her reputation but is also having an effect on her professionally. She emphasised that she has never procured or consumed any banned drugs and will take legal recourse.

I would like to strongly refute and categorically deny this news as being false, baseless and with mala fide intentions. Such frivolous reporting has a direct impact on my reputation being besmirched and is causing damage to my career which I have painstakingly built with years of hard work. I have never procured or consumed any narcotic or contraband substances of any form in my life. I intend to pursue the full extent of legal remedies available to me as a law abiding citizen of India. Thanks to my supporters for standing by me, she said in a statement shared on her Instagram page.

On Tuesday, some reports claimed that Dias name came up during the interrogation of drug peddlers and that she might be called in for questioning by the NCB.

Also read | Irrfan Khans son Babil shares heartfelt note for mom Sutapa Sikdar: Nothing left for me to live now but you and Ayaan

Bollywoods alleged drug links have come under the scanner during an investigation into Sushant Singh Rajputs death. His girlfriend, Rhea Chakraborty, was arrested earlier this month for procuring drugs and is currently lodged at Byculla jail.

NCBs deputy director KPS Malhotra told Hindustan Times that Rhea named Sara Ali Khan and Rakul Preet Singh in her statement before she was arrested. The two will be summoned by the agency under Section 67 of the The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.

However, there is no clarity about the context in which Sara and Rakuls names were taken. Their roles cant be given right now, the NCBs deputy director said. Meanwhile, reports suggest more Bollywood celebrities names have come up in the investigation, although there is no official confirmation yet.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
New Delhi: Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh on Tuesday (September 22) met the MPs, protesting outside Parliament against the contentious farming bills and served them tea. However, the protesting parliamentarians rejected his tea offer and said they will continue their protest.

Notably, eight opposition members of the Rajya Sabha were suspended on Monday for the rest of the session over the ruckus in the House during Sunday's passing of the farm bills. The eight opposition MPs include Derek O'Brien, Sanjay Singh, Rajiv Satav, K K Ragesh, Syed Nazij Hussain, Dola Sen, Nipun Bora and Elamaran Karim.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to microblogging site Twitter and lauded Harivansh Narayan Singh's gesture and said, ''To personally serve tea to those who attacked and insulted him a few days ago as well as those sitting on Dharna shows that Shri Harivansh Ji has been blessed with a humble mind and a big heart. It shows his greatness. I join the people of India in congratulating Harivansh Ji.'' PM Modi later also tweeted in Hindi and praised Harivansh Singh.

To personally serve tea to those who attacked and insulted him a few days ago as well as those sitting on Dharna shows that Shri Harivansh Ji has been blessed with a humble mind and a big heart. It shows his greatness. I join the people of India in congratulating Harivansh Ji.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 22, 2020

Meanwhile, Harivansh Singh will observe a daylong fast against the unruly behaviour with him in the House by Opposition MPs. He said, ''My fast may perhaps inspire 'self-purification' in those who behaved insultingly towards me.''

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Eighteen Opposition parties wrote to President Ram Nath Kovind, calling the passage of the bills absolute and total murder of democracy. They also urged him not to sign the farm bills. The Congress announced the party will launch a nationwide agitation from September 24 against the ordinances.
Midland Public Schools has introduced its third official plan to cope with the coronavirus pandemic, although the two previous plans also remain in place.

Associate Superintendent Penny Miller-Nelson told the MPS Board of Education at its Monday night meeting that the "MPS Extended COVID-19 Learning Plan" focuses on setting and providing accountability measures for academic goals "regardless of learning mode."

The plan was required to comply with a new state law signed in August, and sets a goal of all K-8 students increasing proficiency in reading and math over the course of the current school year. Progress will be measured by the NWEA Map Growth, an assessment tool geared to help teachers target instruction for each student.

If the plan is approved by the Midland County Educational Service Agency, "reconfirmation" would be required every 30 days, and data would be reported at mid-year and the end of the year.

The new plan takes its place alongside the "COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan" and the "Continuity of Learning Plan," both of which can be viewed on the district's website.

Monday's meeting marked the return of board members to the Administration Center Board Room, although a public comment was shared via Zoom. The meeting also was streamed live on MPSTV and the district's YouTube channel.

The board also approved an audit for the 2019-2020 school year that gave the district the highest possible marks for its handling of finances. David Youngstrom of Yeo and Yeo told board members that MPS received an "unmodified opinion," which reflects the "highest level of assurance."

Despite the multiple challenges facing the district this summer as it prepared to bring students back to the classroom, Youngstrom said the audit process was very smooth, and he praised the MPS finance office for its efforts.

Youngstrom noted that the MPS "unassigned" or spendable fund balance as of June 30 was $19.87 million, which he said was vital to help the district make numerous changes to protect students and staff from the coronavirus.

In addition to its examination of the district's overall revenues and expenditures, the annual audit takes a deep dive into a particular area each year. This year it was the Nutrition program, and while auditors gave the top-level "unmodified opinion" to the district for its handling of the program, Yeo and Yeo provided a "management comment" that the food service fund balance was "too much" because of the way the year developed with schools closing in March.

"There was nothing you could have done differently to spend the money any more quickly," Youngstrom said.

Also Monday, the board approved a $362,000 purchase of 1,200 Chromebooks, funded in part by the Midland County COVID-19 Response/Disaster Relief Fund. The district previously attempted to buy the Chromebooks from a vendor who continued to delay the purchase. Associate Superintendent Brian Brutyn said MPS cancelled that purchase after finding a vendor in Minnesota who promises delivery by early November. The devices will replace those lost or damaged during the May flood and the COVID-19 shutdown, as well as providing replacements for 6th grade students and augmenting a backup/loaner "fleet" of devices.

Superintendent Michael Sharrow resumed his "Shining Star" awards, although none of the recipients was present at the Administration Center or via Zoom. March 2020 awards, which had been chosen but were not given out at that time due to the school shutdown, were given to Woodcrest Elementary School 4th grade teacher Sarah Doughty and Midland High School office professional Karen Dralle.

Six September awards were given out as a kind of makeup for those not presented in earlier months, including Central Park Elementary School office professional Amy Crowley, Administration Center administrative assistant Tracey Reed and Midland High Assistant Principal Matt Wenzell. The other three awards were given to team members from MPS Chartwells Food Service: Director Tina Malzahn, Executive Chef Jake Kelly and administrative assistant Jacklie McClelland. Chartwells was praised for its dynamic response to school closures, in which it served 347,000 meals to students in the community from March to June.
The body representing Victoria's barristers has written to the Andrews government to warn that proposed laws to detain potential spreaders of coronavirus could breach the state's human rights charter and allow citizens to be placed in arbitrary detention.

The letter from Victorian Bar president Wendy Harris, QC, to Attorney-General Jill Hennessy outlined the organisation's concerns with the Omnibus (Emergency Measures) Bill, which would hand power to Health Department-appointed authorised officers to detain anyone they "reasonably believe" may negligently spread the virus.

Victorian Bar president Wendy Harris, QC, says undefined subjective powers in Labor's bill risk human rights. Credit:Eddie Jim

The Bar's letter coincided with the emergence of a separate letter on Tuesday from a group of retired judges and leading QCs, who warned Premier Daniel Andrews against the emergency measures, which they say would result in "unprecedented, excessive" powers.

Meanwhile in the Supreme Court, the state government was given until 2pm on Wednesday to decide whether it would claim public interest immunity to conceal files related to the extension of Melbourne's curfew on September 14.
The Maharashtra principal chief conservator of forest (PCCF-wildlife) issued orders on Monday evening to capture a tigress involved in man-animal conflict in Yavatmal district.

The decision comes two days after a woman (60) was mauled to death by the tigress at an agricultural field near Andharwadi and Pattanbori villages, which are located adjacent to Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary.

State forest department officials said the tigress was being routinely spotted through camera trap images moving across villages such as Andharwadi, Koparmandvi, Vasari, and Kobai in Pandharkawada Forest Reserve. The animals movement has sparked panic and fear among villagers.

On September 4, the tigress had attacked a farmer, but he luckily escaped with injuries.

The Wildlife Protection Act (WLPA), 1972, stipulates that the chief wildlife warden or PCCF of a state can declare a wild animal protected under Schedule 1 of the WLPA a threat or danger to human life by invoking section 11 (1) (a) of the Act.

Nitin Kakodkar, PCCF-wildlife, Maharashtra, said, I have issued an order for the capture of the tigress. The tigress (T2C1) has been identified as one of the cubs of dominant female T2, a resident tigress of Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary.

The tigress has been spotted near these villages since July and also seen multiple times in areas with human habitation, mostly in agricultural fields, said Kakodkar.

The tigress has been involved in two conflict incidents with humans and at least six livestock (cattle and goats) have been killed in the past two months, he said.

We have deployed teams from the Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF), who were sent from Melghat Tiger Reserve. Rapid rescue units and five range officers are also monitoring the situation. Villages have been advised not to venture close to forest areas or send their cattle for grazing until the tigress is captured.

The first attack by the tigress was reported on September 4. A group of local villagers met state forest minister Sanjay Rathore requesting him for the animals immediate capture.

Later, the minister directed the officials to initiate necessary measures to curb further incidents of a man-animal conflict.

SV Ramarao, chief conservator of forest (CCF) (Yavatmal), said, We have been communicated verbally about the PCCFs approval. We are awaiting the official letter before commencing the operation to capture the animal. The operation is limited to a radius of up to five kilometres (km) and the animal is regularly observed in our camera traps laid out across the area.

The latest incident has been reported in Ralegaon-Pandharkawada district, where tigress T1 or Avni was killed in 2018 under questionable circumstances by two private hunters hired by the state forest department after the animal was said to have killed 13 people.

This is the sixth order to capture a tiger involved in human-animal conflict in Maharashtra this year, of which four have been captured to date.

The first incident was reported in May when a tiger from Brahmapuri was captured in Gondia district. The animal was said to have killed four persons across two forest divisions.

The next two cases were recorded in June where a sub-adult male tiger had killed five people since February. The tiger was captured from the buffer area of Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve.

While an adult tigress that had entered a house in Nagbhid range of Brahmapuri was captured on June 22. Both these captured tigers died at Gorewada rescue centre in Nagpur due to old age and septicaemia.

On July 19, a three-year-old male tiger (NT-1) was tranquilised and captured by the state forest department authorities at Talodi range in Chandrapur districts Bramhapuri forest division. The officials said the tiger was responsible for the death of three persons in June and was also sent to Gorewada rescue centre.

In January, Kakodkar had issued an order to capture a tiger involved in a conflict at the Chandrapur Thermal Power Station (CTPS). Though the order lapsed, it was not extended because the tiger had moved away from the area, the PCCF said.

Operations are underway to capture another tiger (RT1) at Rajura in Central Chanda division since February. The tiger is said to have killed six villagers. The consent for capture has been renewed, but the tiger has managed to elude our trapping efforts so far, said Kakodkar.

Maharashtra has reported 47 human deaths due to wild animal attacks this year, including 29 because of conflict with tigers , the officials said.

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WASHINGTON  U.S. Sens. Roy Blunt and Josh Hawley, Republicans who represent Missouri in Congress, support moving quickly to confirm a new Supreme Court justice. Whether it can be done before Election Day is unclear.

If President Trump, as expected, names his nominee to succeed the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg this week, Hawley says a confirmation vote can be taken before Nov. 3.

Blunt, whos been in Congress longer than Hawley, suggests that may be difficult.

This should take as long as it needs to take, but no longer, Blunt said on Sunday, during an appearance on CBSs Face the Nation.

There is plenty of time to get this done, but to get it done before Election Day, everything has to work, I think, pretty precisely, Blunt said.

Hawley, in an appearance Monday on Fox & Friends, said the Senate can vet and confirm a nominee  if his colleagues dont dither.

I do think theres enough time to get this done before the election. I think we need to proceed with that goal in mind. Lets not wait. Lets not dither. Lets not sit on our hands. We were elected here with a job to do, and lets get it done.

Hawley, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said it could take less than three weeks once Trump submits his nominee.

It would be up to the chairman, Lindsey Graham, to put a schedule together. Ill just tell you, I think it should come as quickly as possible. We need to move forward here, he said.

Hawley, a possible presidential candidate in 2024, has said he will vote only for a nominee who has explicitly acknowledged that Roe v. Wade was wrongly decided.

Roe, decided in 1973, is the landmark decision that established a womans right to an abortion.

Blunt, who chairs the Senate Republican Policy Committee, has served in Congress for 23 years. Hawley has served since January 2019.

Includes reporting from the Kansas City Star and the Post-Dispatch.
London, Sep 22 : The UK's Chief Medical Officers (CMO) have recommended raising the country's Covid-19 alert level from 3 to 4 due to a recent spike in the number of new cases, according to a joint statemen.

"The CMOs for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have reviewed the evidence and recommend all four nations of the UK should move to level 4," Xinhua news agency quoted the statement as saying on Monday.

Level 4 means that the virus is in general circulation, transmission is high or rising exponentially.

After a period of low Covid-19 cases and deaths, the number of new infections are "now rising rapidly and probably exponentially in significant parts of all four nations", said the CMOs.

The UK recorded another 4,368 new cases overnight on Monday, which increased the overall tally to 398,625, according to the latest official figures.

The death toll currently stood at 41,877.

"If we are to avoid significant excess deaths and exceptional pressure in the NHS (National Health Service) and other health services over the autumn and winter, everyone has to follow the social distancing guidance, wear face coverings correctly and wash their hands regularly," said the CMOs.

Meanwhile, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said raising the Covid-19 alert level will reflect a "significant shift" in the threat posed by the virus.

"The raising of the alert level announced by the UK CMOs reflects the significant shift in the current threat posed by coronavirus," he said on Monday.

"This country now faces a tipping point in its response and it is vital everybody plays their part now to stop the spread of the virus and protect lives." To tackle the rising coronavirus cases, Prime Minister Boris Johnson will chair an emergency COBRA meeting on Tuesday.

COBRA, named after Britain's Cabinet Office Briefing Room A on Whitehall, gathers ministers, civil servants, the police, intelligence officers and others appropriate to whatever they are looking into in an emergency response.

"Tomorrow morning is an opportunity for COBRA to discuss what next steps may be required in the coronavirus response," Johnson's spokesman said.

The pandemic in the UK is currently doubling around every seven days and that "if we continue on this trajectory, we could see 50,000 cases a day by mid-October", said Hancock.

In addition to new rules of social distancing, the government is also making effort to crank up its daily testing capacity, which is now at 253,521 tests a day.

With more labs established, the capacity is expected to increase in the coming months.
With the launch of The Arctic Repair Cream, the brand's first full body product, skyn ICELAND kicks off a company-wide commitment to clean ingredients. The luxurious, intensive repair cream provides immediate soothing for cracked, flaky, or dull skin. Combining nourishing phytonutrients, super hydrators and age-fighting antioxidants to help moisturize and protect super dry, sensitive skin. Protective Arctic algae and Gooseberry extract sourced from some of the coldest regions on the planetfortify skin's natural lipid barrier and help it to retain moisture and return to a more supple, balanced and relaxed state. An active level of colloidal oatmeal soothes and helps reduce the appearance of redness as well as stress-induced aging. Additionally, Arctic oils, rich in essential fatty acids, help nourish and protect against environmental stress and pollution.

The Artic Repair Cream is packaged in a 100% recyclable jar made from sugarcanea more sustainable, planet-friendly alternative, which means that the production process results in a much lower carbon dioxide emissions when compared with conventional plastic production. The 8.8-ounce jar retails for $42 and is available today on skynICELAND.com. It is set to launch on Ulta.com on October 4th, 2020 and in Ulta stores and additional retailers on October 11th, 2020.

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In the 200 mile span of Webb and Zapata counties riverfront, a border barrier exists only along one  the tall fence built between Laredo College and the Rio Grande in 2005.

For years  through the Bush presidency, Obama presidency and half of the Trump presidency  Laredo, San Ygnacio, Zapata and all the ranch lands in between have been otherwise untouched by Congress hand.

That changed when the government shut down over a funding fight in December 2018.

Jan. 22, 2019

Mayor Pete Saenz and City Manager Horacio De Leon, getting in front of Congress possible vote to fund the border wall in the middle of a prolonged government shutdown, dust off the citys 15-year-old River Vega Master Plan and present the concept of a bulkhead in place of a border wall on city property.

Feb. 14, 2019

Congress ends the government shutdown, passing spending bills that involve appropriations for $1.375 billion for the border wall in the Rio Grande Valley.

Feb. 15, 2019

Unsatisfied with Congress border wall funding, President Donald Trump declares a national emergency on the U.S.-Mexico border, allowing him to unilaterally move funding to pay for it.

March 14, 2019

The Rio Grande National Study Center files a lawsuit against the Trump administrations national emergency declaration.

Sept. 4, 2019

Trump diverts $3.6 billion in military funding to 11 border wall projects, including $1.2 billion to build 52 miles of 30-foot bollard fencing from the Colombia Solidarity Bridge to the northern Webb County line.

Oct. 17, 2019

South Laredo and Webb County landowners meet with Border Patrol to learn that the border wall could imminently be coming through their riverfront properties. One of these properties is the Sacred Heart Childrens Home, Laredos orphanage of over 100 years.

Dec. 2, 2019

Tony Medina Jr. is the first known Laredo landowner to be notified that the government had filed for the condemnation of his property in federal court, a process where the government seizes private property and compensates the owner. Medina has owned his north Laredo property for 43 years.

Dec. 7, 2019

The Rio Grande International Study Center hosts a silent sit-in at Tres Laredos Park to protest the border wall.

Dec. 16, 2019

Mayor Pete Saenz relays to Laredo Morning Times that the Trump administration is intent to build the border wall in Laredo, with or without Congress. In his meeting with Laredo officials that week, Mark Morgan, acting commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, was upfront about the different pockets of money they have to fund wall construction in Laredo, Saenz said. With the citys cooperation, Morgan says the government would approve a bulkhead for downtown Laredo in lieu of bollard fencing.

Dec. 20, 2019

President Trump signs two large spending bills, one that includes $1.375 billion for border wall construction, in order of the Department of Homeland Securitys priority list.

Jan. 14, 2020

LMT reports that the town of San Ygnacio, which evaded the flooding of Falcon Dam that drowned many other cities in Zapata County in the 1950s, is at risk of destruction from the border wall.

Jan. 20, 2020

Hundreds of peaceful protesters  many local high school and college students  take to the streets on Monday morning to both honor Martin Luther King Jr. and protest the development of the border wall in their hometown.

Jan. 21, 2020

Laredo City Council votes to deny the federal government access to the miles-long span of riverfront land they own, which Border Patrol had requested in order to conduct environmental surveys to develop the border wall.

A Border Patrol representative tells council that the government has been granted the right of entry by about 40% of the affected landowners they have reached out to in the Laredo area.

Jan. 27, 2020

Webb County Commissioners Court votes 3-2 to allow the federal government onto their property to develop Customs and Border Protections preferred alignment for a border wall. This is only a small tract, 15 acres and only about 50 feet wide, used to buffer a pipeline that carries water from the Rio Grande to the countys water treatment plant.

Jan. 30, 2020

Mayor Saenz delivers his State of the City address, underscoring the citys opposition to the border wall. The actions by the federal government undermines the long and cherished social and economic ties that bind U.S. and Mexico border communities, which are so intertwined in so many ways, he said.

Feb. 23, 2020

Kayakers paddle down the Rio Grande under the Abrazo Ceremony on bridge 2 holding a banner that reads #NoBorderWall.

April 2020

The Trump administration continues to pursue the border wall in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, filing motions for condemnation against several Laredo properties, including the Sacred Heart Childrens Home.

May 4, 2020

The City of Laredo presents a novel argument in response to the federal governments motion to immediately seize the miles of land they own along the Rio Grande in order to one day build a border wall. They propose that this action is simply congressionally unauthorized.

May 7, 2020

The Trump administration sues Zapata County to condemn about four acres of riverfront land in San Ygnacio  including a popular bird sanctuary  in order to conduct surveys for a future border wall.

May 8, 2020

Customs and Border Protection announces it has awarded a construction contract to an Alabama company called Caddell to build 14 miles of the border wall in Webb County for over $275 million. This is the first contract awarded to build the wall in the Laredo area; construction would begin in January 2021, pending the availability of property.

May 13, 2020

The government responds to the citys filing in federal court by ceasing negotiations on their bulkhead arrangement for the downtown area.

May 15, 2020

The Trump administration waives 27 federal laws, from the Clean Water Act to the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, in order to expedite border wall construction along 69 miles of riverfront in the Laredo Sector.

June 1, 2020

The City of Laredo comes to an agreement with the federal government for a 12-month right of entry on 982 acres of city-owned property. The Department of Justice writes that the citys argument about congressional appropriation is misplaced because it relates to construction funding, and the right of entry relates to surveys and planning. This was appropriated for the Laredo area in 2019.

July 8, 2020

Zapata County landowners sue the Trump administration alleging that the governments actions in pursuing the border wall, considering Trumps rhetoric surrounding Mexico, violates the Fifth Amendment.

July 10, 2020

Landowner Guillermo Caldera files a motion in the governments case to condemn his property, arguing that the perfunctory $100 compensation the government offers for the right of entry is not just, and therefore unconstitutional.

July 17, 2020

Laredos Rep. Henry Cuellar announces a spate of exceptions to the border wall that have been included in the Department of Homeland Securitys appropriations bill for next fiscal year, including any site on the National Register of Historic Places; Sacred Heart Childrens Home; the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge; and property within one mile of historic sites along the Los Caminos del Rio Heritage Corridor.

July 27, 2020

Laredo City Council votes to work with the No Border Wall Coalition to paint the street in front of the federal courthouse downtown to say DEFUND THE WALL in large block letters.

Aug. 3, 2020

U.S. Customs and Border Protection announces that Fisher Industries won the bid to build 17 miles of fencing through Webb County for $289,500,000, or about $17 million per mile.

Aug. 25, 2020

In a letter sent to the Laredo Morning Times, Mayor Saenz argues that the city fighting the federal government  on the border wall, the installation of concertina wire, immigration court tents or what have you  is ultimately futile due to the governments overriding authority. This marked a significant change in tone from the mayor, who has supported the citys efforts to negotiate with the federal government on the downtown bulkhead project and voiced opposition to the wall.

Sept. 2, 2020

In subsequent letters to LMT, several members of the No Border Wall Coalition called the mayors commentary an abdication of leadership and embarrassing. And a group of attorneys representing affected landowners in the area utilized legal arguments previously made by the City of Laredo in their fight against the wall.
More than 800 criminal cases have been referred to federal prosecutors in Oklahoma since a July Supreme Court ruling determined that much of northeastern Oklahoma is Indian Country for criminal prosecution purposes.

About 175 of the 850 cases have resulted in an indictment or criminal complaint, officials said. The remaining cases have either been referred to tribal courts or are still under review.

In Tulsa federal court, 279 cases have been referred to prosecutors for possible charges, said Lennea Montandon, spokeswoman for U.S. Attorney Trent Shores office in the Northern District of Oklahoma.

Of that number, prosecutors have assumed federal jurisdiction in 139 cases. Another 138 have been sent to the Muskogee (Creek) Nation for possible prosecution in tribal court, and two cases are still under consideration, Montandon said.

Of the 139 taken on by Tulsa federal prosecutors, the Tulsa World has identified about 61 criminal cases that have been made public and are filed in Tulsa federal court.

Shores said the impact of the McGirt decision has been substantial and immediate.
President Donald Trump said he will announce his nominee for the Supreme Court at 5 pm on Saturday.

'I'm getting very close to having a final decision made, very close,' Trump told reporters at the White House on Tuesday evening, of his pick to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Judge Amy Coney Barrett is reported to be at the top of his short list with Judge Barbara Lagoa in second. Trump has vowed to pick a woman to replace Ginsburg, a feminist icon and hero to liberals.

Whomever he picks, the president is expected to shift the court to the right with his decision.

Saturday's announcement will come shortly before the president leaves for Pennsylvania, where he will hold a rally in Middletown in the crucial 2020 battleground state.

Given the close proximity between the election and the nomination process, the Supreme Court is highly likely to become a political hot potato in the presidential race.

But Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday would not promise a vote on the nomination before the election.

McConnell said he would wait for the person to come out of Senate Judiciary Committee hearings and then set the date for the vote on the Senate floor.

'When the nomination comes out of committee, then I'll decide when and how to proceed,' he said after the Senate Republicans' lunch on Capitol Hill Tuesday.

He would not address if that vote would be before or after November 3, when voters decide who will be the next president of the United States.

President Trump has pushed for a vote on his nominee before the general election but McConnell could be more peckish on the timing to help out his senators in tight re-election contests who would prefer to deal with the issue after the voters go to the polls.

Timing in the Senate is also tough. There would be less than 40 days before the election to complete the process when most nominations take at least 70 days. Traditionally a nominee holds meetings with senators, has a confirmation hearing that could take two or three days, has to be voted out of committee and then has the final vote on the Senate floor.

President Donald Trump said he will announce his nominee for the Supreme Court at 5 pm on Saturday

Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell would not promise a vote on President Donald Trump's nomination to the Supreme Court before the election

Most Republican senators have said they back the president's right to move forward with a replacement for Ginsburg instead of waiting for the winner of November's contest to name her replacement.

Senator Mitt Romney - the last remaining Republican holdout - said he would back the president and vote for a nominee in an election year.

'I intend to follow the Constitution and precedent in considering the president's nominee. If the nominee reaches the Senate floor, I intend to vote based upon their qualifications,' Romney said in a statement Tuesday morning.

Trump praised Romney, who he has blasted in the past for voting for one article of impeachment against him.

'He was very good, today, I have to tell you, he was good. Now I'm happy. Thank you, Mitt,' the president said at a rally in Pennsylvania Tuesday night.

The White House, meanwhile, would not address the timing of a Senate vote or if they thought they had enough votes to confirm the president's pick. While enough Republican senators have said they support moving forward in the nomination process, not all of them have promised to vote for the nominee, who has yet to be named.

'We go about this the way we always have putting forward a constitution abiding textualist, originalist that we believe the American people will appreciate and get through the approval process,' White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said at her press briefing on Tuesday.

And she wouldn't address if Republicans have the 51 votes needed for confirmation.

'I haven't spoke to him about the vote count,' she said of her talks with the president. 'We believe the Republicans will remained unified.'

President Donald Trump said he will announce his nominee to the Supreme Court on Saturday at the White House

Senator Mitt Romney - the last remaining Republican holdout - said he would back the president and vote for a Supreme Court nominee in an election year

Romney was the Democrats' last chance to pick off a Republican senator to support them in their quest to keep Ginsburg's court seat open until after the November election.

Even if Romney had sided with Democrats, the odds of their being able to keep the nomination off the Senate floor would be slim given only two other Republican senators said the nomination should wait. A total of four GOP lawmakers would need to defect.

Romney, a frequent critic of President Trump who voted for one article of impeachment against him, told reporters on Capitol Hill there is historic precedent for when one party controls the White House and the Senate for their nominations to be confirmed.

'I think there's some perception on the part of some writers and others that gee what happened with Merrick Garland and some others was unfair. I don't agree with that,' he said in reference to Barack Obama's 2016 Supreme Court nominee.

'I think at this stage its appropriate to look at the constitution and to look at the precedent which has existed since the beginning of our country's history. In the circumstance where a nominee of a president is from a different party than the Senate then, more often than not, the Senate does not confirm. So the Garland decision was consistent with that. On the other hand, when there's a nominee of a party that is in the same party as the Senate, then typically they do confirm. So the Garland decision was consistent with that. And the decision to proceed now with President Trump's nominee is also consistent with history. I came down on the side of the institution and precedent as I've studied it. And, and made the decision on that basis,' he noted.

He declined to say if he would change his mind if Democrat Joe Biden wins the November election.

'I'm not going to get into the particulars of who wins and who doesn't. There are there are many possibilities that we could go through. I've indicated that what I intend to do, is to proceed with the consideration process and if a nominee actually reaches the floor, then I will vote based upon the qualifications of that nominee,' he said.

President Trump poses with the Supreme Court justices in June 2017: From left are, Associate Justices Elena Kagan, Samuel A. Alito, Jr., Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Anthony Kennedy, Chief Justice John Roberts, Jr., the president, Associate Justices Neil Gorsuch, Clarence Thomas, Stephen G. Breyer, and Sonia Sotomayor

Although Trump hasn't named his pick to the court, the nomination process appears to be all wrapped up with enough Republican senators on board to ensure the nominee gets a vote on the Senate floor.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham said Trump 'has the votes' to confirm his pick after two key Republican senators said they would back the president.

He said the timing of the confirmation vote was up to McConnell but he's confident the Judiciary panel could hold the hearings it needed in time for a vote before Election Day.

'I'll leave it up to Mitch. I'm confident we can have a hearing that will allow the nominee to be submitted to the floor before Election Day. Following the precedents of the Senate, I think we can do that. I'll tell you more about the hearing when we get a nomination Saturday, if that's when it is,' Graham told reporters on Capitol Hill Tuesday.

And he shrugged off the request of some senators to skip the confirmation hearings, which could become contentious amid Democratic objections over holding them in an election year instead of waiting to see who wins the White House in November.

'I think it's important to the country to have a hearing,' he said.

Graham is a part of a group of Republican senators pushing to hold the vote before the November 3 election.

'We've got the votes to confirm Justice Ginsburg's replacement before the election. We're going to move forward in the committee, we're going to report the nomination out of the committee to the floor of the United States Senate so we can vote before the election. Now, that's the constitutional process,' he told Fox News' Sean Hannity on Monday night.

Graham is one of many Republican senators who did not back then President Barack Obama's nomination to the Supreme Court in the 2016 election year but said they would back Trump's pick in this election year.

'I want you to use my words against me. If there's a Republican president in 2016 and a vacancy occurs in the last year of the first term, you can say Lindsey Graham said let's let the next president, whoever it might be, make that nomination,' the senator said four years ago when arguing against the Garland nomination.

Graham said his stance changed after the heated confirmation process for Trump's last nominee, Brett Kavanaugh.

'They said they tried to destroy Brett Kavanaugh so they could fill the seat - they were dumb enough to say that. I've seen this movie before. It's not going to work, it didn't work with Kavanaugh,' he told Fox News.

Graham's confident statements came after Iowa Sen Chuck Grassley, the former Judiciary Committee chair, and Colorado Sen Cory Gardner confirmed that they will back a hearing for Trump's nominee.

South Carolina Sen Lindsey Graham expressed confidence in Trump's chances of rushing through a Supreme Court pick in an interview with Fox News on Monday

President Trump's chances of confirming a nominee were boosted after Iowa Sen Chuck Grassley (left) and Colorado Sen Cory Gardner (right) confirmed that they will back a vote in an election year

It had been speculated that Grassley could try to block the nomination process because he'd previously opposed filling Supreme Court vacancies during an election year.

'The Constitution gives the Senate that authority, and the American people's voices in the most recent election couldn't be clearer,' Grassley said in a statement.

Grassley was chairman of the Judiciary Committee when Republicans blocked Obama's pick in 2016, when he joined McConnell in arguing that it was best to let voters decide who should fill the Supreme Court seat.

The senator maintained that stance as recently as this summer, telling reporters that he would still hold that position if he were chairman. But now he says he supports the president.

Gardner's stance was also in question because he faces a tough re-election race in his home state, and some thought he could side with Democrats to boost his standing among moderate voters.

But Gardner said: 'When a President exercises constitutional authority to nominate a judge for the Supreme Court vacancy, the Senate must decide how to best fulfill its constitutional duty of advice and consent.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell vowed on the Senate floor Monday there will be a vote on President Trump's Supreme Court pick this year

'I have and will continue to support judicial nominees who will protect our Constitution, not legislate from the bench, and uphold the law. Should a qualified nominee who meets this criteria be put forward, I will vote to confirm.'

The news of both senators preparing to back Trump came as a blow to the Democrats fighting to block Trump and McConnell's plans to rush the court appointment.

The nomination will come just six weeks before the election and has sparked fierce debate, particularly after Ginsburg - a beloved liberal icon - made her last wishes known.

Ginsburg, who died Friday from complications from colon cancer, dictated a statement to her granddaughter Clara Spera before her death, saying: 'My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed.'

Democrats have used her statement and Republican actions in 2016 - when they wouldn't move forward with Obama's nomination of Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court, citing election year politics - as the basis of their argument for holding off on confirming a new judge.

The Republican argument at the time was that the position should not be filled until a new president was elected by the American people - a standard set by the Republicans that the Democrats now argue the party must continue to honor.

Two GOP senators - Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins - have said the nomination should wait until after the November 3 election.

Trump criticized both of them for their stance. Collins, notably, did not rule out voting for the president's nominee if it came to the floor this year. She is in a tough re-election campaign. Murkowski doesn't face voters again until 2022.

Republican Senator Ted Cruz defended his colleagues' decision to support Trump's nomination after failing to support Obama's.

'Everybody has changed their position,' the GOP senator from Texas told CBS' 'This Morning.'

'Every Democrat has flipped,' he added. 'There's a reason for that. Both sides believe something fundamentally different about Supreme Court justices. The Democrats and Joe Biden have promised to nominate liberal activist judges.'

He noted Republicans - both President Trump and Senate Republicans - ran for office promising to name conservative judges to the courts, adding that since the GOP kept control of the Senate in the 2018 midterms, voters gave them the nod of approval to confirm a justice.

'President Trump ran promising to nominate principled constitutionalists to the court. The American people elected him.The American people elected a Republican majority three times in 2014, 2016, 2018. The Republican majority in the Senate ran promising to confirm constitutionalist judges,' Cruz said.

Two GOP senators - Lisa Murkowski (left) and Susan Collins (right) - said the new Supreme Court nominee should be named after the election

Judge Amy Coney Barrett (left) has reportedly emerged as Trump's top choice to replace Ginsburg, sources say - and Barbara Lagoa (right) is a 'distant second'

Republican Senator Ted Cruz defended his colleagues' decision to support President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee

Many Republicans senators have said they support voting on President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee in an election year after refusing to back then President Barack Obama's nominee in 2016

Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell, in March 2016, refused to bring President Barack Obama's Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland (above) to the Senate floor for a vote

In March 2016, Obama nominated Judge Merrick Garland,a moderate jurist, to fill the vacancy left by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia.

But McConnell refused to bring Garland's nomination to the Senate floor, saying the winner of the November election should get to pick the next justice even though the contest was eight months away.

Now McConnell and most of his Republican senators say they will back Trump's nominee, noting the circumstances are different from four years ago since their party controls both the White House and the Senate.

'We're going to vote on this nomination on this floor,' McConnell said Monday in a Senate floor speech.

Unfazed by the intense pressure to delay the nomination process, Trump has said he is 'strongly considering' five candidates to replace Ginsburg, with Barrett emerging as a favorite.

Trump met with Barrett, a judge on the Seventh Circuit and mother of seven who adopted two children from Haiti, at the White House on Monday.

Bloomberg reported that the president is 'leaning toward' Barrett for the nomination but is also planning to meet with another contender, Lagoa, sometime this week.

Sources told the outlet that Lagoa, a judge on the US Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit and former justice on the Florida Supreme Court, is the only other person being seriously considered for the job, but she is a 'distant second' to Barrett.

Trump said Monday that he will wait to announce his nomination until Friday or Saturday  after funeral services for Ginsburg have concluded.

'I think it'll be on Friday or Saturday,' Trump said of the impending announcement for his third Supreme Court nomination. 'And we want to pay respect. We, it looks like, it looks like we will have probably services on Thursday or Friday, as I understand it.'

'I think in all due respect we should wait until the services are over for Justice Ginsburg,' he told the Fox & Friends panel during a Monday morning call-in interview. 'And so we're looking probably at Friday or maybe Saturday.'

Trump told Fox & Friends Monday morning he will reveal his pick to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Friday or Saturday, claiming he wanted to 'respect' her by waiting until after her funeral services to make the announcement

Trump said he is 'seriously considering' five or four different people for the job, as a person familiar with the process said the White House narrowed it down to four women  Amy Coney Barrett, Barbara Lagoa, Kate Todd and Allison Jones Rushing

Speaking to reporters before leaving the White House on Monday, Trump urged the Senate to vote on the nomination before the election, claiming there is 'plenty of time' to get someone through the process before Election Day on November 3.

'I'd much rather have a vote before the election because there's a lot of work to be done,' the president asserted. 'We have plenty of time to do it. I mean there's really a lot of time. So let's say I make the announcement on Saturday, there's a great deal of time before the election. That'll be up to Mitch in the Senate. I think it sends a good signal. And it's solidarity I'm just doing my constitutional obligation.'

WHO'S WHO ON TRUMP'S SUPREME COURT SHORTLIST REPUBLICAN SENATORS Ted Cruz, Texas. 49 Josh Hawley, Missouri. 40 Tom Cotton, Arkansas. 43 JUDGES Bridget Bade, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. 54 Stuart Kyle Duncan, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. 48 James Ho, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, 47 Gregory Katsas, U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. 56 Barbara Lagoa, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. 52 Carlos Muniz, Supreme Court of Florida. 51 Martha Pacold, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. 41 Peter Phipps, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. 47 Sarah Pitlyk, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. 43 Allison Jones Rushing, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. 38 Lawrence VanDyke, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. 47 CURRENT AND FORMER REPUBLICAN OFFICIALS Daniel Cameron, Kentucky Attorney General. 34 Paul Clement, partner with Kirkland & Ellis, former solicitor general. 54 Steven Engel, assistant attorney general for the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel. 46 Noel Francisco, former U.S. solicitor general. 51 Christopher Landau, U.S. ambassador to Mexico. 56 Kate Todd, deputy White House counsel. 45 Advertisement

At the same time signaling 'respect' for the late justice, the president also brought into question her 'dying wish' that she not be replaced by a Trump nominee.

He cast doubt on Ginsburg's dying wish to have the next president replace her on the Supreme Court, alleging it was actually written by a Democrat.

Trump said it was actually Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi or House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff who were behind the justice's last request.

There is not proof that this allegation has any validity and Trump did not offer any explanation.

'I don't know that she said that, or was that written out by Adam Schiff, Schumer and Pelosi,' Trump said during his Fox & Friends interview.

'I would be more inclined to the second, it sounds so beautiful. But that sounds like a Schumer deal or maybe a Pelosi or shifty Schiff. So that that came out of the wind. Let's see. I mean, maybe she did and maybe she didn't,' he added.

Ginsburg's granddaughter Clara Spera said that in her dying days, the liberal justice dictated a dying wish to her.

'My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed,' she said.

Trump told reporters before boarding Marine One from the South Lawn Monday: 'It just sounds to me that it would be someone else. I don't believe  it could be, it could be and it might not be too.

'It was just too convenient,' he added.

Trump also lashed out at House Speaker Pelosi on Monday - calling her 'crazy' after she refused to rule out impeaching him in a gambit that could be used to stall a Supreme Court confirmation process.

Trump blasted the idea  which has some political risks and practical flaws  as he defended his infamous July 25, 2019 call with the president of Ukraine that was the subject of the Democratic impeachment effort as 'perfect.'

'@SenateGOP Crazy Nancy Pelosi wants to Impeach me if I fulfill my Constitutional Obligation to put forth a Nominee for the vacated seat on the United States Supreme Court. This would be a FIRST, even crazier than being Impeached for making a PERFECT phone call to Ukrainian Pres,' Trump tweeted Monday morning.

The attack came hours after Pelosi refused on Sunday to rule out impeachment as one of the 'options' Democrats could avail themselves of in an effort to try to stall a vote on the judicial vacancy.

'We have our options. We have arrows in our quiver that I'm not about to discuss right now but the fact is we have a big challenge in our country,' she told ABC's 'This Week ' when asked about the prospect.

'This president has threatened to not even accept the results of the election,' Pelosi continued. 'Our main goal would be to protect the integrity of the election as we protect the people from the coronavirus.'

Trump also attacked House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Monday as 'crazy' after she refused to rule out impeaching him in a gambit that could be used to stall a Supreme Court confirmation process

'We have our options. We have arrows in our quiver that I'm not about to discuss right now but the fact is we have a big challenge in our country,' said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who was asked if she might use impeachment as a tactic to slow a Supreme Court nomination

Ginsburg will be honored in a viewing outside the Supreme Court building later this week, according to pandemic-era guidelines.

The late Justice will lie in state this week as her casket will be on public view Wednesday and Thursday at the Supreme Court Building and Friday in National Statuary Hall in the US Capitol. Private ceremonies will also be held at both locations.

Pelosi announced Monday that the formal ceremony at the Capitol on Friday morning is invitation-only due to the COVID pandemic.

It's unclear if Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden will pay their respects and, if so, when.

Ginsburg will be buried next week at Arlington National Cemetery in a private service, the court said in a statement. Her husband, Martin Ginsburg, was buried at Arlington in 2010.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who was lovingly referred to as RBG, died last week at the age of 87 due to complications from an ongoing battle with pancreatic cancer. She will be honored in an outdoor viewing near the Supreme Court building later this week

The president has signaled an impending announcement following the death of Ginsburg last week, claiming it's his 'obligation' to nominate a new justice 'without delay.'

With Ginsburg's passing, only two of the remaining eight justices are women, prompting Trump to promise over the weekend he will nominate a female.

There are four women who have made the shortlist, a source with knowledge of the process said, according to Politico  Barrett, Lagoa, Kate Todd and Allison Jones Rushing.

Barrett is 48, Lagoa is 52, Rushing is 38 and Todd is 45. If any of these women are nominated and confirmed, they would be the youngest currently seated on the current Supreme Court.

'These are the smartest people, the smartest young people, you like to go young, because they're there for a long time,' Trump told Fox & Friends.

He added that his nominee would 'abide by the Constitution,' be a 'good person' and have 'very, very high moral values.'

Who is Amy Coney Barrett? On Saturday afternoon, Trump named Amy Coney Barrett, 48, of the Chicago-based 7th Circuit and Barbara Lagoa, 52, of the Atlanta-based 11th Circuit as possible nominees. Emerging as the favorite is Barrett, 48, a mother of seven children, including two adopted from Haiti and one with special needs. Her involvement in a cult-like Catholic group where members are assigned a 'handmaiden' has caused concern in Barret's nomination to other courts and is set to come under fierce review again if she is Trump's pick. The group was the one which helped inspire 'The Handmaids Tale', book's author Margaret Atwood has said. Barrett emerges now as a front runner after she was already shortlisted for the nomination in 2018 which eventually went to Brett Kavanaugh. Trump called the federal appellate court judge 'very highly respected' when questioned about her Saturday. Born in New Orleans in 1972, she was the first and only woman to occupy an Indiana seat on the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Married to Jesse M. Barrett, a partner at SouthBank Legal in South Bend and former Assistant United States Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana, the couple have five biological and two adopted children. Their youngest biological child has Down Syndrome. Friends say she is a devoted mother - and say with just an hour to go until she was voted into the 7th District Court of Appeals by the U.S. Senate in 2017, Barrett was outside trick-or-treating with her kids. Barrett's strong Christian ideology makes her a favorite of the right but her involvement in a religious group sometimes branded as a 'cult' is set to be harshly criticized. In 2017, her affiliation to the small, tightly knit Christian group called People of Praise caused concern while she was a nominee for a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. The New York Times reported that the practices of the group would surprise even other Catholics with members of the group swearing a lifelong oath of loyalty, called a covenant, to one another. They are also assigned and held accountable to a personal adviser, known until recently as a 'head' for men and a 'handmaid' for women and believe in prophecy, speaking in tongues and divine healings. Members are also encouraged to confess personal sins, financial information and other sensitive disclosures to these advisors. Advisors are allowed to report these admissions to group leadership if necessary, according to an account of one former member. The organization itself says that the term 'handmaid' was a reference to Jesus's mother Mary's description of herself as a 'handmaid of the Lord.' They said they recently stopped using the term due to cultural shifts and now use the name 'women leaders.' The group deems that husbands are the heads of their wives and should take authority over the family while 'the heads and handmaids give direction on important decisions, including whom to date or marry, where to live, whether to take a job or buy a home, and how to raise children,' the Times reported. Unmarried members are placed living with married couples members often look to buy or rent homes near other members. Founded in 1971, People of Praise was part of the era's 'great emergence of lay ministries and lay movements in the Catholic Church,' founder Bishop Peter Smith told the Catholic News Agency. Beginning with just 29 members, it now has an estimated 2,000. According to CNA, some former members of the People of Praise allege that leaders exerted undue influence over family decision-making, or pressured the children of members to commit to the group. At least 10 members of Barrett's family, not including their children, also belong to the group. Barrett's father, Mike Coney, serves on the People of Praise's powerful 11-member board of governors, described as the group's 'highest authority.' Her mother Linda served as a handmaiden. The group's ultra-conservative religious tenets helped spur author Margaret Atwood to publish The Handmaid's Tale, a story about a religious takeover of the U.S. government, according to a 1986 interview with the writer. The book has since been made into a hit TV series. According to legal experts, loyalty oaths such at the one Barrett would have taken to People of Praise could raise legitimate questions about a judicial nominee's independence and impartiality. 'These groups can become so absorbing that it's difficult for a person to retain individual judgment,' said Sarah Barringer Gordon, a professor of constitutional law and history at the University of Pennsylvania. 'I don't think it's discriminatory or hostile to religion to want to learn more' about her relationship with the group. 'We don't try to control people,' said Craig S. Lent. 'And there's never any guarantee that the leader is always right. You have to discern and act in the Lord. 'If and when members hold political offices, or judicial offices, or administrative offices, we would certainly not tell them how to discharge their responsibilities.' During her professional career, Barrett spent two decades as a law professor at the University of Notre Dame, from which she holds her bachelor's and law degrees. She was named 'Distinguished Professor of the Year' three separate years, a title decided by students. A former clerk for late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, she was nominated by Trump to serve on the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in 2017 and confirmed in a 55-43 vote by the Senate later that year. At the time, three Democratic senators supported her nomination: Joe Donnelly (Ind.), who subsequently lost his 2018 reelection bid, Tim Kaine (Va.) and Joe Manchin (W.Va.), according to the Hill. She was backed by every GOP senator at the time, but she did not disclose her relationship with People of Praise which led to later criticism of her appointment. Barret is well-regarded by the religious right because of this devout faith. Yet these beliefs are certain to cause problems with her conformation and stand in opposition to the beliefs of Ginsburg, who she would be replacing. Axios reported in 2019 that Trump told aides he was 'saving' Barrett to replace Ginsburg. Her deep Catholic faith was cited by Democrats as a large disadvantage during her 2017 confirmation hearing for a seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit. 'If you're asking whether I take my faith seriously and I'm a faithful Catholic, I am,' Barrett responded during that hearing, 'although I would stress that my personal church affiliation or my religious belief would not bear in the discharge of my duties as a judge.' Republicans now believe that she performed well in her defense during this hearing, leaving her potentially capable of doing the same if facing the Senate Judiciary Committee. She is a former member of the Notre Dame's 'Faculty for Life' and in 2015 signed a letter to the Catholic Church affirming the 'teachings of the Church as truth.' Among those teachings were the 'value of human life from conception to natural death' and marriage-family values 'founded on the indissoluble commitment of a man and a woman'. She has previously written that Supreme Court precedents are not sacrosanct. Liberals have taken these comments as a threat to the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion nationwide. Barrett wrote that she agrees 'with those who say that a justice's duty is to the Constitution and that it is thus more legitimate for her to enforce her best understanding of the Constitution rather than a precedent she thinks clearly in conflict with it'. Among the other statements that have cause concern for liberal are her declaration that ObamaCare's birth control mandate is 'grave violation of religious freedom.' LGBTQ organizations also voiced their concern about her when she was first named on the shortlist. She has also sided with Trump on immigration. In a case from June 2020, IndyStar reports that she was the sole voice on a three-judge panel that supported allowing federal enforcement of Trump's public charge immigration law in Illinois, The law would have prevented immigrants from getting legal residency in the United States if they rely on public benefits like food stamps or housing vouchers. Advertisement

Who is Barbara Lagoa? Barbara Lagoa , 52, was named by Trump as one of his potential nominees to the Supreme Court. A Cuban American who parents fled to the U.S., Lagoa was born in Miami in 1967. She grew up in the largely Cuban American city of Hialeah. According to the Tampa Bay Times, her parents fled Cuba over five decades ago when Fidel Castro's Communist dictatorship took over. During the 2019 news conference in Miami announcing her appointment to the Supreme Court, she told the crowd that her father had to give up his 'dream of becoming a lawyer' because of Castro. If nominated to the nation's high court by Trump and confirmed by the Senate, the mother of three daughters would be the second Latino justice to ever serve. She served on the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for less than a year after being appointed by Trump and confirmed by the Senate on an 80-15 vote Prior to that she also spent less than a year in her previous position as the first Latina and Cuban American to serve on the Florida Supreme Court. Lagoa is considered a protege of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a close Trump ally. Her position in crucial swing state Florida could help Trump politically. Last week, she voted in the majority in a ruling that barred hundreds of thousands of Florida felons who have served their time from voting unless they pay fees and fines owed to the state. This decision could have a major impact on the presidential race as Florida is often won by a candidate by only razor-thin margins. 'Florida's felon re-enfranchisement scheme is constitutional,' Lagoa wrote in a 20-page concurrence, according to USA Today. 'It falls to the citizens of the state of Florida and their elected state legislators, not to federal judges, to make any additional changes to it.' In 2000 Lagoa was one of a dozen mostly pro bono lawyers who represented the Miami family of Elian Gonzalez, a Cuban citizen who became embroiled in a heated international custody and immigration controversy. In 2016 while in the Florida Third District Court of Appeal, she wrote an opinion reversing the conviction of Adonis Losada, a former Univision comic actor sentenced to 153 years in prison for collecting child porn. She ruled that a Miami-Dade judge erred in not allowing Losada to defend himself at trial. That same month she became unpopular with free press advocates when she was one of three judges who allowed a Miami judge to close a courtroom to the public for a key hearing in a high-profile murder case. They ruled that publicity surrounding the machete murder of a student in Homestead might unfairly sway jurors at a future trial. Lagoa is a graduate of Florida International University and Columbia University Law. She is is a member of the conservative Federalist Society, which stresses that judges should 'say what the law is, not what it should be.' She is married to lawyer Paul C. Huck Jr., and her father-in-law is United States District Judge Paul Huck. Advertisement

WHO IS ALLISON JONES RUSHING? At 38-years-old, Judge Allison Jones Rushing is the youngest woman Trump is considering to become a Supreme Court Justice. The only other potential nominee younger than Rushing is Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, who is 34. But President Donald Trump vowed to nominate a woman to fill Ruth Bader Ginsburg's seat, meaning Rushing is effectively the youngest potential nominee. Trump told Fox & Friends he want to nominate someone young 'because they're there for a long time.' Rushing in from North Carolina and graduated magna cum laude Duke University School if Law in 2007, where she served as executive editor of the Duke Law Journal. She formerly worked at Williams and Connolly and now serves as judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth District. She clerked from 2007-2008 for then-Judge Neil Gorsuch, who went on to become a Supreme Court Justice by Trump's nomination. And also clerked for Justice Clarence Thomas during the 20102011 term. In March 2019, Rushing was confirmed as a federal judge after being nominated by Trump. During the confirmation proceedings, Rushing was asked about her ties to Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF)  which is a conservative Christian group she interned for in 2005 while in law school. ADF has received harsh criticism for opposing LGBT rights and had been labeled a 'hate group' by some. But Rushing said 'Hate is wrong, and it should have no place in our society. In my experience with ADF, I have not witnessed anyone expressing or advocating hate.' Advertisement
Many Houston-area residents experienced at preparing for hurricane season have likely already stocked their home with basic supplies such as extra batteries, a first-aid kit, rain gear and a 7-day supply of non-perishable food and water among other essentials needed to weather a severe storm and its aftermath. But breast cancer patients should be aware to also have additional supplies on hand, especially as Texas continues to face new challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic, making it more important than ever to plan ahead.

Renew Houston: Get the latest wellness news delivered to your inbox

Cancer patients are often at greater risk of contracting an infection. So, try to get everything you need early on, to avoid the last-minute crowds in stores, Marian Von-Maszewski, M.D., associate medical director of Critical Care at MD Anderson said. Its almost impossible to maintain adequate social distancing in those situations. And that could prove to be more dangerous than the storm itself.

Von-Maszewski shared recommended hurricane preparation measures for cancer patients in a recent article published by the MD Anderson Communication Department. First off, breast cancer patients are advised to include an adequate supply of face masks, gloves and hand sanitizer.

Evacuation could pose a risk, Von-Maszewski said. Face masks will be especially important if patients have to stay in crowded shelters.

Related: Online support groups offer hope, support to worldwide sisterhood of breast cancer patients

Flood water and other standing water are also a potential source of infection and breast cancer patients are advised to add mosquito spray to guard against insect bites, and antibiotic cream and bandages to cover any open wounds to their hurricane supplies.

Plan ahead for a hurricane during the COVID-19 pandemic

Plan ahead and be sure to maintain at least a two-week supply of any current medications. Make a list of all your current medications and their dosages, and talk to your doctor about what to do if you have to miss a dose or treatment. In addition, prepare a dedicated cooler with ice packs or frozen water bottles for medications that need to be kept refrigerated. Research the location of the nearest emergency room and how to get there. Call your insurance company in advance to be sure which ones are covered by your policy. Remember to keep your cars gas tank full, too, in case you need to seek medical attention or quickly evacuate.

On HoustonChronicle.com: New genetic, genomic tests allow personalized treatment options for breast cancer patients

Organize your medical information in one place

Its possible you wont immediately be able to travel to your regular doctors office for care. In the event you must visit a doctor whos not familiar with your cancer history or treatment, organize and prepare extra copies of your care information organized in one place. This information should include your diagnosis, including the type and stage of your cancer, the type of treatment youre currently receiving and the dosage, as well as when you started your current treatment and any treatments you had previously. In addition, be sure to include a list of any other medications youre on, including any supplements, information about allergies and immunizations and a copy of your most recent lab work

Lab results are especially important, Von-Maszewski said.

Even if your doctor provides online records, its also a good idea to have hard copies of your medical records in a folder or binder, in case theres a power outage or youre unable to charge your phone or computer.

knix@hcnonline.com
Australian States Starting to Shift on Closed Borders

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says hes pleased the states are starting to open their borders as coronavirus case numbers drop.

Lifting border restrictions means more jobs can be created and not have coronavirus dictate the way Australians live, the PM added.

States are beginning to shift their positions on closed borders after months of stalemate.

Queensland has added five more northern NSW councils to its border bubble.

Residents in Byron Bay, Ballina, Lismore, Richmond Valley and Glen Innes will now be allowed to travel north.

South Australia is also reopening to NSW after lifting restrictions for the ACT.

The Northern Territory is offering interstate travellers up to $1000 to visit the Top End during the wet season.

And Tasmania is considering opening its borders to some states before the end of October.

I welcome the changes  (and) I look forward to more in the future as we open up Australia, Morrison told Sky News on Sept. 22.

These are common sense changes, not before time.

I think that will just further assist getting people back into jobs and make sure we live alongside the virus, and not have it dictate how we live.

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann said his home state of Western Australia, which has fiercely protected its closed borders, could soon follow the other states and territories.

I think I have detected a level of shifting on this front, he told the Nine Network.

In the end I think all of us want Australia to be restored to as close as possible to normal in a way that is COVID-safe.

Business Council chief Jennifer Westacott said every artificial barrier to doing business put jobs at risk.

If NSW and South Australia can get the systems in place that manage the virus, keep people safe and open their borders up then there is no reason other states cant do the same, she said.

Queensland recorded no new cases of coronavirus on Sept. 22 while NSW had just two, both of whom were returned overseas travellers in hotel quarantine.

In Victoria there were 28 new cases and another three lives lost, taking the national toll to 854.

The states 14-day rolling average and number of cases with no known source were both down on the day before.

By Daniel McCulloch
A direct line to the White House, but routed through a third party to hide it from public view. Easy access to Alaska's governor, as well as the state's two U.S. senators. A successful push to unseat nine Republican state lawmakers who opposed their plan to build a massive gold and copper mine - the biggest in North America - near Bristol Bay in Alaska.

Those were some of the boasts, made by two top executives of a company trying to build the Pebble Mine, in videotapes secretly recorded by an environmental group and made public Monday. It was a rare glimpse into the private discussions surrounding the company's heated campaign to win federal permits for the project, which environmentalists say will destroy a pristine part of Alaska and devastate its world-famous sockeye salmon fishery.

The conversations were secretly recorded over the past month and a half by the nonprofit Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA). Posing as potential investors in the mine, EIA investigators conducted video calls in which the mine's sponsors detailed how they sought to curry favor with elected politicians from Juneau to Washington, D.C.

The tapes feature separate conversations with two key men behind the project - Roland Thiessen, chief executive of the Canadian-based Northern Dynasty Minerals, and Tom Collier, chief executive of its U.S. subsidiary, Pebble Limited Partnership.

Within a matter of weeks, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers could grant a permit for the mine. While the agency found in late July that the project would have "no measurable effect" on the area's fish populations, last month it informed Pebble Limited Partnership that it had to do more to show how it would offset the damage caused by the operation.

But even as the executives jump through regulatory hoops, they are focused on wooing Republican politicians. In the taped conversations, they detailed their plan to manage all the decision-makers.

Thiessen described both of the state's Republican U.S. senators, Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, as politicians who might make noises about the project to appear sensitive to environmental concerns but ultimately will not stand in their way. "It's an age-old practice where when you have constituents, you have important people who support you on two sides of an issue, all right, you try to find a way to satisfy them both," he said in the recording.

He noted that Murkowski declined to move a bill that would have barred the federal government from permitting the mine. Instead, she included language in a spending bill that raised some questions about Pebble Mine but did not hinder it. "She says things that don't sound supportive of Pebble, but when it comes time to vote, when it comes time to do something, she never does anything to hurt Pebble, OK?" Thiessen said.

At a different point in the tapes, Collier said both senators misinterpreted the letter the corps sent last month and are now embarrassed. "So right now, they're just sort of sitting over in a corner and being quiet, OK?"

The senior senator from Alaska was not amused.

"Let me be clear: I did not misunderstand the Army Corps' recent announcement," Murkowski said in a statement. "I am not 'embarrassed' by my statement on it, and I will not be 'quiet in the corner.' I am dead set on a high bar for large-scale resource development in the Bristol Bay watershed. The reality of this situation is the Pebble project has not met that bar and a permit cannot be issued to it."

Neither was Sullivan. "Any suggestion otherwise is either wishful thinking, a blatant mischaracterization, or a desperate attempt to secure funding for a mine that cannot move forward," he said. "This incident demonstrates how far Mr. Collier, who has serious credibility problems of his own, is floundering in the face of this project's overwhelming challenges."

An unusual coalition of Alaska Natives, conservationists and some famous anglers who enjoy fishing in Bristol Bay - including the president's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., the vice president's former chief of staff Nick Ayers and Fox News host Tucker Carlson - have opposed the plan out of concern that waste from the operation could pollute the waters of southwestern Alaska.

Jason Metrokin, president and CEO of Bristol Bay Native, assailed the companies in a phone interview with The Washington Post and accused them of hypocrisy.

"They'll tell anyone what they want to hear based on whatever they think will move the needle for the Pebble Limited Partnership," he said. "Now I think the public, at least those who have seen the tapes, they're seeing behind the curtain now."

In a statement Monday evening, Collier said that he had not had time to review the tapes but that "there are some pretty questionable ethics at play" given that the individuals making the recordings disguised their identities.

A spokesman for Collier said he "regrets the way he conveyed their influence and importance" of the two senators.

Collier and Thiessen detail in the recordings how they have raised money for Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy, a Republican.

Collier, who worked as then-Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt's chief of staff in the Clinton administration, said he registered as an independent in Alaska but was "a well-known Republican fundraiser" in the state. He describes how he helped lead a successful effort to defeat nine state GOP legislators last election because they worked with Democrats and did not support Pebble Mine.

"Now, having said that, it's entirely possible that we may have [former vice president Joe] Biden as a president, and if we do I'm gonna brush off my Democratic credentials and start using them a little more actively than I do," he added.

Collier will get a roughly $4 million bonus if the mine receives a favorable "record of decision" from the corps and another $8.4 million if the permit can withstand a legal challenge.

Thiessen explained to EIA investigators how he and his colleagues have ready access to Trump's chief of staff but use Dunleavy's office as a conduit.

"I mean we can talk to the chief of staff of the White House any time we want. You want to be careful with all this because it's all recorded," Thiessen said. "It's not that they tape the call, it's just that it's recorded that 'He had a call with Tom Collier, the CEO of Pebble Limited Partnership.' You don't want to be seen to be trying to exercise undue influence. It's better for us if we want to push that envelope that Tom talks to the governor of the state of Alaska and the governor of the state of Alaska picks up the phone and calls the chief of staff to the White House, yes."

Dunleavy's office did not respond to a request for comment.

Other parts of the recordings are more substantive than political. The company is seeking a permit for a 20-year operation, but Thiessen outlined in the recordings how it could last for another 160 years and eventually double its output. "Once you have something like this in production, why would you want to stop?"

Alexander von Bismarck, executive director of the EIA, told The Post that the mine's sponsors had deliberately downplayed the project's impact.

"Seeing that the private opinion of that company that their massive plans will be unstoppable once the first artificially sized permit is passed, that is critical information for the public to know before the final decision is made," said von Bismarck, whose District of Columbia-based group is funded by foundations including the Wildlife Conservation Network, American Endowment Foundation and ClimateWorks Foundation. "Because it clearly may have permanent impacts on an almost priceless resource for Alaska."

Collier did not dispute the idea that the company could expand the mine, though he said it has no immediate plans to do so and would have to apply for additional permits if it did. "I can tell you what we've seen reported in these tapes thus far is not inconsistent with the position that Northern Dynasty and the Pebble Partnership have taken for the past several years," he said.

But at least one Senate Democrat, Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., told The Post that the tapes raise questions about whether Pebble Mine officials misled Congress.

"If what appears to be the case - that they painted one picture in congressional testimony and a completely different picture to investors - then it really calls into question whether they were lying to Congress or not, which is a crime," Heinrich said, adding that it could also provide fodder for a lawsuit if the corps approves the operation. "It potentially calls into question the legitimacy of the permit."

- - -

The Washington Post's Desmond Butler contributed to this report.
The Bombay high court last week refused to allow a firm to submit some additional documents related to a commercial arbitration case in sealed covers to prevent the press from accessing them, saying the media have a purpose and it cannot curtail the rights of the free press.

Justice G S Patel, who is heading the bench hearing the case, said every document shown to him could be seen by all parties and even the press. He added this was the only method to ensure an open and transparent decision-making process.

The bench was hearing a bunch of commercial arbitration petitions filed against Anugarh Stock & Broking Pvt Ltd. The petitioners have accused the company of causing them financial and monetary loss and of illegal and unauthorised trades.

Also Read: Bombay HC dismisses petition challenging age criteria for admission to primary school

The firm filed an affidavit through advocate Rohaan Cama in response to the petitions about its assets, their value, and details of other holdings and bank accounts. Cama informed the bench that his client had submitted additional material in a sealed covers rather than putting them in the affidavit as they feared the press could access it.

Patel said there will never be a question of anything being done in a sealed cover. He added: Anything that I can see, all parties before me are entitled to see. That is all there is to it. This is the only method that I know of to ensure an open and transparent decision-making process. Those details will, therefore, need to be set on affidavit. I am also making it clear that it is not possible for any party to unilaterally decide to put material into a sealed cover.

Also Read: Bombay HC dismisses BJP petition, INCs Ravi Raja to continue as Opposition leader in BMC

Patel said he could not care less in response to Camas apprehension about the material finding its way into the press. That is not my concern. The fourth estate will do its job and I will do mine. I decide matters before me on the basis of the papers filed in court, not newspapers delivered to my doorstep. The press exists for a reason. It has a purpose, one that it serves. I cannot and will not curtail the rights of the free press at the instance of this or that party. I refuse to proceed on the basis that the press is always irresponsible. There will be no gag orders here.

Patel said that it was up to Anugarh to submit details of the material in the sealed cover in an affidavit and serve it on all petitioners or face the consequences and posted the petitions for hearing on October 5.

Around 65 petitions have accused Anugrah of luring investors, taking large sums, effecting some trades but also carrying out unauthorised and illicit transactions and causing the petitioners losses. They have sought recovery of their funds.
Seoul :

A nude painting of impeached South Korean president Park Geun-Hye met a violent end at the countrys parliament on Tuesday, reports said, as supporters tore the work - which evokes Edouard Manets Olympia - off the wall and destroyed it.

The image was part of an exhibition at the National Assembly featuring works by 22 artists lampooning Park and her confidante Choi Soon-Sil, who is at the centre of the corruption scandal that led to Parks impeachment.

In Manets 19th-century original, on display in the Musee dOrsay in Paris, a naked white woman widely identified as a prostitute stares boldly out at the viewer while a black servant brings her flowers.

In Lee Koo-Youngs version, entitled Dirty Sleep, Parks features are transposed onto a nude Asian woman who clasps a missile from the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence system to her bosom.

Park last year agreed with the US government to deploy the system in South Korea in response to the threat of missiles from the nuclear-armed North, infuriating China.

She is also depicted dozing as the Sewol ferry - which went down with the loss of nearly 400 lives three years ago - sinks outside her window.

Two puppies cavort on her thighs and Choi takes the place of the servant.

A group of some 20 Park supporters went on a rampage at the exhibition, South Koreas Yonhap news agency reported, wrecking the work. A 63-year-old member of a rightist group was arrested and another was being sought by police, it said.

On its website the Musee dOrsay describes Manets painting as a profanation of the idealised nude, adding that it provoked a violent reaction.

Pyo Chang-won, the opposition lawmaker who organised the exhibition, has been referred to an ethics panel by his own Democratic Party over the picture, which provoked accusations of sexism and bad taste.

However, he defended the painting.

It surely does not suit my taste, Yonhap quoted him as saying. But I believe it is within the boundary of the freedom of arts.

Painter Lee is one of nearly 10,000 artists on a blacklist drawn up by the conservative government for voicing criticism of Park. Those named are said to have been deprived of government subsidies and private investment, as well as being placed under state surveillance.

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The 47-year-old lives in an 8,000 square foot, $2.5 million home in the upscale gated community that sits just 20 minutes north of Los Angeles

Actress and 'Defund the police' activist Alyssa Milano was quick to call cops when she believed an armed gunman was on her Bell Canyon property on Sunday morning.

The call ignited a response that included seven Ventura County Sheriffs' vehicles, one K-9 unit, a police helicopter and one Los Angeles Fire Department team that sat down the street on standby.

DailyMail.com has obtained exclusive photos showing the first responders coming to the aid of the 47-year-old at her five bed, six bath, 8,000 square foot, $2.5 million home in the upscale gated community that sits just 20 minutes north of Los Angeles.

A neighbor tells DailyMail.com, 'We first noticed the helicopter circling overhead very low and knew something was going on, it's usually such a quiet community. Then we saw all the police cars parked in front of Alyssa's home. They had their guns at the ready and seemed very serious.'

Actress Alyssa Milano, who is pro defunding the police - called police when she believed an armed gunman was on her Bell Canyon property in California on Sunday morning

At least seven Ventura County Sheriffs' vehicles, one K-9 unit, a police helicopter and one Los Angeles Fire Department team sat down the street on standby, seen in DailyMail.com

Photos obtained by DailyMail.com show Milano's gate to her home sitting open with law enforcement guarding the entire perimeter of the street

As the morning progressed, residents received updates from law enforcement.

Alyssa and her talent agent husband Dave Bugliari, 39, they said, had dialed 911 when they heard what they believed to be gunshots on their 1.39-acre property.

They allegedly told the emergency hotline the sound 'scared their dogs' and made them feel like the gunman was nearby.

A description was given of a suspect to the officers who was 'male, 40-years old, with long rifle'.

The two, who have been married since 2009, were also concerned that it may be someone stalking the former Charmed and Who's The Boss star.

In 2008, Alyssa filed restraining orders against alleged stalker Jeff Turner, a then 54-year old man she claimed twice tried to break into this same home.

The 'Nextdoor' neighborhood app was rife with concerns.

'Just drove by about 12 armed officers on Bell Canyon Road,' one resident wrote, 'They are responding to a call reporting a man with a gun in the neighborhood!! This was also the cause of the helicopter. Stay inside, stay safe!'

Alyssa's tweet appears to be at direct odds with her actions on Sunday when she relied on heavy police presence to protect her

DailyMail.com obtained exclusive photos and video showing the first responders coming to the aid of the actress and activist who is pro defunding the police

The search by air and street level lasted over three hours and ended abruptly at 12.20pm

At least one Los Angeles Fire Department truck was seen on the scene. Alyssa's neighbors estimate it cost thousands of tax payer dollars

The officers then had an impromptu meeting with some of the residents in the Bell Canyon community center, confirming what they dubbed, 'Squirrelgate'

Alyssa Milano's gate sat open with law enforcement guarding the entire perimeter of the street, as these DailyMail.com photos show.

The search by air and street level lasted over three hours and ended abruptly at 12.20pm.

Alyssa and her husband Dave Bugliari were also concerned that it may be someone stalking the former Charmed and Who's The Boss star

'It turned out it was a neighborhood teen with an air gun shooting at squirrels,' a resident told the DailyMail.com.

The male teenager witnessed the emergency response and later realized he was the cause and turned himself in.

The officers then had an impromptu meeting with some of the residents in the Bell Canyon community center, confirming what they dubbed, 'Squirrelgate.'

Alyssa has owned this Bell Canyon home since 2001. She lives there with her husband and their two children, Milo, nine, and Elizabella, six.

In July, the left leaning activist Alyssa tweeted out to her 3.7 million followers a link, urging them to sign the 'People's Budget L.A.' that demands a 90 percent reduction in police funding.

She tweeted: 'What is the Los Angeles Police Protective League? @LAPPL is a narrow special interest group that lobbies our politicians to protect the LAPD budget, pension + officers. But electeds (sic) need to #ProtectPeopleNot Police. Sign the #People'sBudgetLA petition.'

Then in August she tweeted simply, '#DefundThePolice'.

'She uses her platform in hypocritical ways. Why not send your husband into the yard to find out what is actually going on before you call the police? I would guesstimate the response today from law enforcement cost tax payers thousands of dollars,' one neighbor said

This tweet appears to be at direct odds with her actions on Sunday, September 20.

One neighbor says, 'She can tweet those things because at the end of the day she lives behind gates in a gated community. She knows the police will come to save her. But what about all those people who don't have that luxury and live in unsafe neighborhoods? She obviously doesn't care.

'She uses her platform in hypocritical ways. Why not send your husband into the yard to find out what is actually going on before you call the police? I would guesstimate the response today from law enforcement cost tax payers thousands of dollars.'

This isn't the first time she has been called out for being a hypocrite.

In August, ex-Charmed castmate Rose McGowan went on a twitter rant accusing her of stealing the #metoo movement.

Milano enraged McGowan when she defended presidential candidate Joe Biden after sexual assault allegations against him by a former staffer went public.

The feud prompted the hashtag #AlyssaMilanoIsALie to trend on Twitter.
SES BECOMES MICROSOFT AZURE ORBITAL FOUNDING CONNECTIVITY PARTNER

SES's proven low-latency MEO managed services to be part of Microsoft's new multi-orbit satellite connectivity integrated with Azure, promising optimized cloud application performance for O3b mPOWER customers

SES today announced it has joined as the medium Earth orbit (MEO) connectivity partner for Microsoft Azure Orbital, Microsoft's new managed service enabling network operators to communicate and control their satellite capacity, process data, and scale their operations directly within Azure. The integration is part of a multi-year agreement between the two companies that accelerates and expands SES's use of Azure to significantly advance the digital transformation of the company's services and operations as part of its cloud-first strategy.

As pioneers in Microsoft's new cloud ecosystem in space, the two companies will make joint investments in Azure Orbital ground stations that SES will deploy and manage for the MEO and Earth Observation segments. The first MEO and Earth Observation gateways will be located in the United States; in Phoenix, Arizona and Quincy, Washington respectively.

In anticipation of O3b mPOWER, SES's next-generation MEO communications system, SES and Microsoft will seamlessly co-locate several telemetry, tracking and command (TT&C) systems and data ground stations with Microsoft's Azure edge sites.

The integration of both SES and Azure networks will provide O3b mPOWER customers with "one-hop" access to their Azure cloud services. The option to route over Microsoft's global network and inject value-added, cloud-based managed services such as enhanced security, SD-WAN, and other network functions into the service chain will mean that SES customers can enjoy improved network performance, speed-to-market, flexibility and scalability they need to capitalise on new revenue opportunities.

O3b mPOWER is SES's next-generation MEO communications system. It is currently under construction and on track for launch in 2021. The high-throughput and low-latency satellites as well as automated and intelligence-powered ground infrastructure will deliver managed services of hundreds of Mbps up to multiple Gbps per second to customers.

Today's agreement builds on the work started last year between the two companies, which added SES as an Azure ExpressRoute partner and SES as the first satellite operator to implement Open Network Automation Platform (ONAP) using NFV technology on Azure.

"In the last 12-18 months, our focus has been to accelerate our customers' cloud adoption plans. We are pleased to have found an ideal partner in Microsoft with its new Azure Orbital system. This agreement leverages both companies' know-how SES's experience in satellite infrastructure and Microsoft's cloud expertise and are building blocks in developing new and innovative solutions for the future," said JP Hemingway, CEO of SES Networks. "In addition to building and managing EOS gateways for Microsoft, we are also thrilled that we will be co-locating, deploying and operating our next-generation O3b mPOWER gateways alongside Microsoft's data centres. This one-hop connectivity to the cloud from remote sites will enable our MEO customers to enhance their cloud application performance, optimise business operations with much flexibility and agility needed to expand new markets."

"Our launch of Azure Orbital will enable our partners' customers to on-ramp their data into Azure where it can immediately be processed with market-leading data analytics, geospatial tools and machine learning services, adding another layer of automation and intelligence in their networks," said Jeff Cohen, Partner Program Manager, Azure Networking at Microsoft Corp. "In addition, SES's O3b mPOWER communications system is proof of SES's cloud-first strategy, focusing on industry standards and orchestration, and aligns with our connectivity vision for the future, and we are delighted to be kicking off this project."

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SES has a bold vision to deliver amazing experiences everywhere on earth by distributing the highest quality video content and providing seamless connectivity around the world. As the leader in global content connectivity solutions, SES operates the world's only multi-orbit constellation of satellites with the unique combination of global coverage and high performance, including the commercially-proven, low-latency Medium Earth Orbit O3b system. By leveraging a vast and intelligent, cloud-enabled network, SES is able to deliver high-quality connectivity solutions anywhere on land, at sea or in the air, and is a trusted partner to the world's leading telecommunications companies, mobile network operators, governments, connectivity and cloud service providers, broadcasters, video platform operators and content owners. SES's video network carries over 8,300 channels and has an unparalleled reach of 367 million households, delivering managed media services for both linear and non-linear content. The company is listed on Paris and Luxembourg stock exchanges (Ticker: SESG). Further information is available at: www.ses.com.

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Paris Hilton almost broke down while learning about Australian shock jock Kyle Sandilands' troubled childhood during an interview for her new documentary this week.

The 39-year-old was being interview on KIIS FM's The Kyle and Jackie O Show on Tuesday, when the pair both shared their childhood trauma.

'My heart crushed for you,' Kyle, who is known for his larger-than-life persona, told the heiress turned reality star turned entrepreneurial powerhouse.

Tough: Paris Hilton, 39, (L) almost broke down as she listened to shock jock Kyle Sandilands (R) discuss his troubled childhood during interview for new documentary on KIIS FM on Tuesday

'I understand, I had a sh*t childhood as well. Homeless, parents didn't want me, threw me out, sh*t like that,' Kyle continued.

'Hearing your story from your childhood, very different upbringing from me, but to realise the loneliness, the sadness, how you created a shell.

'I couldn't be more impressed...I felt such a connection. I wanted to reach into the TV screen and give you a little squeeze. I thought it was amazing.'

Paris could then be heard with a shaking voice telling Kyle and co-host Jackie 'O' Henderson how she was becoming emotional: 'You're going to make me cry, thank you,' she sobbed.

In Hilton's movie, the Simple Life star shares that at age 16 while living in New York two men took her out of her bedroom in the middle of the night to transport her to a boarding school for troubled teens.

Sympathy: 'I understand, I had a sh*t childhood as well. Homeless, parents didn't want me, threw me out, sh*t like that,' Kyle continued during the interview with Paris

The fragrance mogul said she was beaten, drugged and placed in solitary confinement without a blanket or food.

Paris and Kyle then bonded over not being happy as she spoke of how money and fame could not buy happiness.

'I was not happy for so many years. But now, I am so happy. I am so in love. I am in the most incredible relationship. The whole world now knows the truth about me.

Compassionate: Paris could then be heard with a shaking voice telling the Kyle and offsider Jackie 'O' Henderson: 'You're going to make me cry thank you'

'I no longer have to hide behind this shell or this character. I can finally be myself. '

Paris admitted she was nervous about 'putting herself out there' in the film.

The movie was shot over a year and a half. It was meant to be about her life as a businesswoman but it was instead about her deepest secrets.

Paris said she was no longer scared of having to 'grow up' and is now excited about the next phase of her life.

Finding happiness: 'I was not happy for so many years. But now, I am so happy. I am so in love. I am in the most incredible relationship. The whole world now knows the truth about me

Speaking of her younger years, and her Paris Hilton persona, the heiress said: 'I'm not a dumb blonde, I'm just very good at pretending to be one.'

'Success has always been something that has driven me.' she continued: 'I think growing up in my family has always been a lot to live up to.'

Paris said her trauma at the schools she went to inspired her to become successful, so nobody could control her or tell her what to do.

In addition to her tell all, the film has also generated buzz because Paris drops much of her recognisable baby voice, unveiling a smoother, deeper voice that she claims is how she really talks.
ATEX certified and shipping to clients throughout Europe, G7 EXO marks a new era for area gas monitoring with drop-and-go setup and seamless connectivity

Blackline Safety Corp. (TSX.V: BLN), a global leader in gas detection and cloud-connected safety solutions, is now shipping its ATEX-certified G7 EXO area gas monitor throughout Europe. North American and international intrinsic safety certification is currently underway and shipments will commence in the coming weeks.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200922005372/en/

The G7 EXO cloud-connected area gas monitor from Blackline Safety features output ports that integrate with facility ventilation systems, gates, sirens and strobes (Photo: Business Wire)

G7 EXO is the industry's first direct-to-cloud area gas monitor that integrates 4G cellular connectivity with global coverage in over 100 countries and on more than 350 mobile networks. Eliminating the need for mesh networks and Wi-Fi that may not be available at every facility or location, G7 EXO seamlessly connects worksites during shutdowns, turnarounds and construction projects, and monitors tank farms, drilling rigs, confined spaces, site perimeters and more. With an industry-leading 100-day battery life, rugged design and drop-and-go deployment, G7 EXO streamlines operations, saving time through easy setup and simplified maintenance compared to competitor offerings.

"Area gas monitoring has traditionally been time-consuming to set up and maintain, making sure that each monitor is communicating with others on the network," said Gavin Boorman, Managing Director of Blackline Safety Europe. "G7 EXO is the world's first direct-to-cloud area gas monitor with 4G connectivity that enables businesses to deploy a cohesive network in seconds. With a 100-day battery life and direct connectivity to the Blackline Safety Cloud, G7 EXO is a next-generation area monitor that supports clients' Industry 4.0 programmes."

Competitors' mesh networks are limited by the allowable distance between devices, the maximum number of devices on the network and their message hopping limit often two to five hops. If an alert doesn't reach another device or a gateway before the maximum number of hops is reached, the network will delete the message and a team member may be unaware of the environmental hazard.

Alternatively, some competitors' area monitoring systems use Wi-Fi for connectivity, requiring network provisioning and to be within range of an access point. Wi-Fi networks are not universally available across sites and facilities, plus with the increased focus on security, IT teams often hesitate to add additional devices to their industrial Wi-Fi networks.

GLOBAL 4G WITH MULTI-CARRIER COVERAGE IN MOST COUNTRIES

In contrast to traditional connectivity, G7 EXO connects directly to the Blackline Safety Cloud using integrated 4G cellular connectivity, not requiring any other infrastructure. In most countries throughout Europe, the United States and Canada, G7 EXO is supported by a super-network of coverage comprised of multiple carriers. This redundancy in wireless networks provides additional coverage compared to any one of the individual wireless networks.

ADVANCED GNSS LOCATION TECHNOLOGY

G7 EXO is also the first area monitor to pinpoint the location of gas exposures using the European Space Agency's Galileo satellite network. G7 EXO features a 72-channel multi-constellation Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) that supports Galileo, GPS and Blackline's proprietary location beacons for greater location accuracy and confidence than area monitors that use GPS alone.

BUILT FOR THE REAL WORLD

With a cast aluminium frame, durable rubber bumpers and IP65 ingress protection rating, G7 EXO has undergone aggressive validation tests to ensure that it can withstand whatever Mother Nature and industrial teams can throw at it while delivering superior environmental monitoring and enhanced safety in every scenario. To verify that it's ready for the harshest environmental conditions, G7 EXO withstood over 160 kph (100 mph) winds, frigid temperatures of below -20 degrees C and freezing rain and snow at Ontario's Tech University ACE Climatic Wind Tunnel.

WORLD-LEADING GAS SENSOR PORTFOLIO

Blackline's growing sensor portfolio currently includes over 20 individual sensors with others in development. G7 EXO uses the same convenient plug-and-play gas sensor cartridges as Blackline's other G7 products, allowing it to be configured with a new gas sensor configuration in seconds.

SUPPORTING COLLABORATION IN THE FIELD

G7 EXO features an affordable push-to-talk voice collaboration service that works like a walkie-talkie, providing seamless communication for teams in different locations. Compatible with Blackline's G7c wearable gas monitors, G7 EXO push-to-talk enables workers to collaborate with any team across 100 channels even if they are other sites or locations. G7 EXO features built-in microphone and dedicated speaker for clear push-to-talk voice calling.

REAL-TIME EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND EVACUATION MANAGEMENT

G7 EXO is part of Blackline's comprehensive emergency response system. Devices are integrated into the Blackline Live monitoring portal where businesses can manage their own safety and gas detection alerts or leave it up to Blackline's Five Diamond-certified Safety Operations Centre to manage. Both G7 EXO and G7 wearables support Blackline's mass notification system that triggers proactive evacuation management, ensuring that every worker safely and efficiently leaves the area and arrives at a designated muster point.

EXCLUSIVE 24/7 LIVE MONITORING

Clients have the option to take advantage of 24/7 live monitoring through Stanley Security, Blackline's Alarm Receiving Centre partner in Europe or through Blackline's in-house Safety Operations Centre (SOC) located in Calgary, Canada. With Blackline responding to alerts in under 60 seconds 99% of the time, clients can be confident that the safety of their teams is in good hands. No competitor currently offers option of live monitoring services.

BLACKLINE SAFETY CLOUD

With over a dozen years in direct-to-cloud safety innovation, G7 EXO works alongside G7 connected safety wearables, streaming gas readings and safety alerts to the Blackline Safety Cloud. Businesses can manage G7 EXO area monitors from their Blackline Live cloud-hosted account that includes user access controls, team grouping and streamlined configuration management for wireless G7 EXO updates over-the-air. To support a world-leading gas detection programme, all G7 EXO data is available alongside that of G7 wearables, powering Blackline Analytics for automated reporting and data visualisation.

COMING AREA GAS MONITORING INNOVATIONS

Blackline will launch the world's first integrated satellite communications capability for area gas monitors in November 2020, delivering true global coverage via the Iridium satellite network. The G7 EXO satellite module will be available both for new orders and as a retrofit kit. Additionally, Blackline will launch a four-channel pump module in early 2021 to support remote sampling of four areas simultaneously another industry first. Like the satellite module, the G7 EXO four-channel pump module will be available for new orders and as a retrofit kit.

GROWING SUITE OF CAPABILITIES

Just like the safety industry seeks continuous improvement, Blackline's portfolio of G7 EXO area monitors and cloud-connected wearables also improves over time. With over-the-air firmware updates, G7 EXO features and capabilities will grow as new features are deployed, strengthening businesses' investment into the latest in direct-to-cloud area gas monitoring and connected safety technology.

To learn more about Blackline's G7 EXO area gas monitors and connected portfolio, visit blacklinesafety.com/g7exo.

About Blackline Safety: Blackline Safety is a global connected safety leader that helps to ensure every worker gets their job done and returns home safe each day. Blackline provides wearable safety technology, personal and area gas monitoring, cloud-connected software and data analytics to meet demanding safety challenges and increase productivity of organisations in more than 100 countries. Blackline safety wearables provide a lifeline to tens of thousands of men and women, having reported over 100 billion data-points and initiated over five million emergency responses. Armed with cellular and satellite connectivity, we ensure that help is never too far away. For more information, visit BlacklineSafety.com and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.

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.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200922005372/en/

Contacts:

BLACKLINE SAFETY EUROPE

Gavin Boorman, Managing Director

gboorman@blacklinesafety.com

Mobile: +44 7968 194381

Office: +44 1787 222684

MEDIA CONTACT

Heather Houston

hhouston@daltonagency.com

Telephone: +1 904 398 5222

Cell phone: +1 386 216 9472
Amidst increasing numbers of new COVID-19 cases daily in Ontario, experts are warning that the continued low rates of death and hospitalization from the disease should not lead to complacency.

Deaths and hospitalizations are what are known as lagging indicators  that is, they do not rise and fall immediately with increasing or decreasing rates of infection, but manifest later for serious cases.

In other words, it can take several weeks after infection for a patient to end up in hospital or die.

Were seeing cases rise now. Its entirely possible in two to five weeks well see hospitalizations and the death curve rise as well, said Raywat Deonandan, an epidemiologist and associate professor at the University of Ottawa.

On Monday, Ontarios rolling, seven-day average of new cases continued its upward trend, reaching 364. The actual number of new confirmed and probable cases reported Monday by the provinces local public health units was 552, the most recorded in a single day since mid-April. At the same time, the province reported two deaths in the previous 24 hours, and 65 current hospitalizations due to the virus. Of those hospitalized, 22 were in intensive care, with 12 of those patients on ventilators.

The fact that hospitalizations and deaths are lagging indicators is likely not the whole story, Deonandan said.

Because Ontario is testing more than it did in March and April, more cases  including new and milder cases  will be found, he said.

In addition, infections are happening in younger demographics than during the initial wave of the virus when residents of long-term-care homes were hit the hardest.

The biggest chunk of our deaths earlier were in that population, and if theyre no longer as vulnerable, then the death rates are going to come down. As we know, its people under 40 getting it, and theyre less likely to die.

Finally, Deonandan said, we are getting better at treating COVID-19 now that ventilator settings are better understood and new drugs have been introduced that increase survival rates.

In what follows, we take a look at the current situation in Ontario with commentary from infectious disease experts.

Who is getting the disease?

Twentysomethings account for about 19 per cent of positive cases in the province overall, the highest proportion of cases in any age group, according to an analysis of provincial data by the Stars Andrew Bailey.

This was not the case at the start of the pandemic, but the trend has amplified in recent weeks.

Its why, says Colin Furness, an infection-control epidemiologist with the University of Toronto, the recent rise in cases here is due to a number of outbreaks  and not a second wave  the result of last-ditch social gatherings among young people as the summer waned, when cases were low and people felt they were safe.

But he is worried about what could happen in the fall.

My concern is that the really cold weather hasnt hit us yet, and when cold weather comes everything changes, and we could have a vicious second wave, said Furness, who pointed out the virus thrives in cold weather.

In the summer, when temperatures are warm, droplets get heavier and fall to the ground because they collect moisture once a person has exhaled them, he said.

But in dry air, they evaporate very quickly and they get smaller and lighter and stay in the air longer, which could make them more dangerous, he said.

It could also mean they live on surfaces for longer periods of time, although, so far, research has shown that transmission through air droplets is the primary way the virus is being transmitted.

If people will be good with their masks and be careful and keep their bubbles low, well do OK, said Furness. But if we dont, if we carry on in the half-serious and half-concerned way that we are now, then its going to be very unpleasant.

Todd Coleman, an epidemiologist and assistant professor in health sciences at Wilfrid Laurier University, echoed Deonandans point, saying that because a greater proportion of young people are currently getting COVID-19, we arent seeing a corresponding increase in deaths.

Symptom manifestations are less severe in the younger group compared to the older group. So just by default, with a shifting of the average age of infection to a lower group means that were going to see lower numbers of deaths and lower numbers of hospitalizations, he said.

He stressed, however, that we shouldnt let down our guard.

Even though were seeing younger age groups getting infected at higher proportions than the rest of the population, they dont simply hang out with each other. They interact with younger people, they interact with older people, its not self-contained within an age group, Coleman said. It can spread quite easily to one of those other age groups depending on how much you dont adhere to social distancing.

Where are the highest numbers of cases?

Toronto led the province with 184 new cases Monday, its most since early June.

The largest number of recent cases are in the Waterfront Communities-The Island neighbourhood, which runs south of Queen Street between Bathurst Street and Simcoe Avenue to the lakeshore, and south further east from Front Street.

The area had 84 sporadic cases in the past three weeks, twice as many as any other neighbourhood in the city, according to data on the Toronto Public Health website Monday.

Dr. Eileen de Villa, the citys medical officer of health, pleaded with the citys population to be disciplined.

Life has changed. And all of us have to act like it. But I fear that on some level too many of us are unwilling to make the changes we need to make to keep everyone safe and limit the spread of COVID-19, de Villa said Monday. We have not passed a point of no return. Ive said that before and I will say it again. We can still turn this around.

Peel reported the second highest number of cases on Monday, 77.

The region is seeing a higher number of cases among households and close contacts rather than in outbreaks, according to Peel Public Health staff.

With school back in session, the health unit said school students have contributed to an increased overall case volume, but there have been no school outbreaks to date, which are defined as two or more cases with an epidemiological link within a 14-day period.

Since the start of September, the region has seen an increased percentage of cases in the 20-to-29-year-old age range.

Ottawa reported 60 new cases Monday. Ottawas public health unit said in an email that contact tracing has been incredibly difficult because of the dozens, if not hundreds of possible sources of transmission in many cases, and the difficulty people may have remembering their interactions and whereabouts for the past 14 days.

But in cases where they do know the source, transmission is being traced to private get-togethers, parties, dinners, meetups with colleagues, friends and others, during prolonged, close and unprotected contact.

Higher percentages of people with COVID-19 with no known source is concerning as it indicates unidentified spread within the community and/or unwillingness to share contact information with public health, said an Ottawa Public Health spokesperson.

It is critical to understand the source of the virus in order to reduce transmission through the identification of the original person with COVID-19, perform contact tracing and isolation measures.

York Region, which reported 27 new cases Monday, is dealing with 16 active outbreaks, 10 of which are in workplace settings. An outbreak is defined as two or more cases.

Patrick Casey, corporate communications director for York Region, said in an email Monday that early on in the pandemic when there were fewer places open, these occurred less often. As the province reopens, we are seeing more of these occur, which is to be expected as individuals return to their place of work.

Casey said that generally, most workplace outbreaks have been in the manufacturing/industrial sector, and that there have been few outbreaks among staff in restaurants.

Where the virus is being transmitted in workplaces, he said, its as a result of interaction among the workers outside of their jobs, which includes carpooling to work, attending common social gatherings and living together in close, crowded residences.

The region also has 10 schools with at least one confirmed case of the virus, but Casey said that, to date, none of these confirmed cases acquired the infection directly from school and were exposed outside the school setting.

York Region is home to over 300 schools and over 200,000 students, so we did expect to see some cases in schools, said Casey. We have dedicated resources for these school situations to ensure the impacts of ill children in school settings can be minimized.

In all four regions, the biggest proportion of cases is now among 20- to 29-year-olds, or 19- to 34-year-olds in the case of York Region.

Overall, there have now been 49,590 confirmed or probable cases of COVID-10 in Ontario, and 2,869 deaths.

Furness said the provinces new limits on group sizes for social gatherings  10 people indoor and 25 outdoor  should help reduce the size of outbreaks.

Smaller gatherings mean less superspreading events, he said. So its not going to reduce the number of outbreaks, but the size of them. That is positive, no question.

He said the new rules are also beneficial for psychological reasons.

Were telegraphing for the first time that we need to pull back, he said. And thats an important message about people being lackadaisical. If I can go to a restaurant with 30 people and no one is wearing a mask, why cant I do that in my living room. Weve had a lot of pushing the boundaries.

With files from Ed Tubb
If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this





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Armed Chinese police get ready to patrol a street in the county town of Banma in China's northwest Qinghai Province on March 10, 2012. (PETER PARKS/AFP/Getty Images)

Protesters in Chinas Huizhou Paid Off by Local Government Oversight Commission

Money came from 'domestic stability' funds

In a rare concession by Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials, the local Political and Legal Affairs Commission (PLAC) in Guangdong Province has agreed to compensate protesters 400,000 yuan ($59,180) for their lost business during the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Aug. 6, the PLAC of Huicheng district in Huizhou city approved the application from the local financial bureau for allocating 400,000 yuan towards domestic stability preservation to placate protesters demanding compensation for their losses due to bankruptcy of a local tutoring agency. Local officials from the education and public complaints departments showed no objection to the proposal.

Record of unpaid wages. (Supplied to The Epoch Times)

Since January, Huizhou Mengzhiyuan Education Investment Ltd. had been out of business due to the impact of the CCP virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus. In June, while other tutoring institutions in the city resumed operations, the company remained closed.

Parents who had prepaid for their childrens courses tried in vain to get back their money. Some had already paid for the whole year. For example, Ms. Chen had paid 16,000 yuan ($2,370) in tuition for her two children, but they had only received instruction for one semester. Her calls for a refund to the head of the company went unanswered, and she became extremely worried that the company would disappear forever.

Also affected were several employees at the company, who went without pay for months. Ms. Peng complained that the company owed her 10,000 yuan ($1,480) for work done from December last year.

Angry parents and Mengzhiyuan employees went to the local government for help. They also took to the streets with banners calling for public attention. After rounds of discussion between government sectors, the local authorities had to cave in and provide compensation.

Menzhiyuan began operating in its Huizhou office in 2016. It created eight branches to expand its business, which had reportedly not been registered as required.

Not only in Guangdong, but local governments elsewhere across China are also facing hard-hit financial situations.

In a similar situation, the Housing and Urban-Rural Development Bureau of Pulandian district in Dalian city, Liaoning Province, applied to their local government to borrow 1,600,000 yuan ($236,700) as stability-maintaining funds to reimburse employee insurances, including health, unemployment, job injury, maternity, and endowment, and to pay the Housing Provident Fund for their local public utility, whose business account had been frozen by the court for a long time.

Clandestine Funds for Preserving Domestic Stability

In Communist China, domestic stability expenditures remain a highly sensitive term. To avoid publicly revealing how much of its budget is dedicated to such efforts, the CCP has always played word games in an attempt to hide such spending, by naming it public security spending in official documents and statements. Its actual expenses and the recipients are considered top secrets.

As early as 2009, Chinas domestic stability expenditure was 514 billion yuan ($76 billion), while its national defense budget was 480.7 billion (71 billion), according to a report published on May 27, 2010, in Social Sciences Weekly.

In a report titled, China Spends More on Domestic Security as Xis Powers Grow, on March 6, 2018, the Wall Street Journal pointed out that Beijings domestic security spending had been growing at a faster rate, exceeding the national defense budget by roughly 20 percent.

Bruce Lui, senior lecturer from Hong Kong Baptist University, wrote in Hong Kongs Mingpao newspaper that the communist authorities in mainland China ended official reporting of domestic stability budgets in 2014. In fact, every year, two different budgets are prepared: one for the National Peoples Congress (NPC) deputies and one for journalists, he explained. As such, it is extremely hard for outsiders to catch a glimpse of how Chinas budgets, involving thousands of billions of yuan, grow year by year.
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DUBLIN, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Gamification Market - Forecasts from 2020 to 2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The gamification market was valued at US$7.697 billion in 2019



The primary factor that is driving the adoption of gamification platforms is the growing focus of the organizations towards the engagement, development, and innovation of the employee's behavioural architecture. The gamification market is also projected to grow on account of the rising proliferation of smartphones and numerous mobile devices which is also one of the key factors that is creating a considerably large base for the gamification market. Currently, the shift of organizations from PCs to mobile devices such as laptops and tablets also provides an impetus for the market to grow in the next five years.



Furthermore, the rapid growth in the penetration of the internet also plays an important role in driving the gamification market growth owing to the increased accessibility of these platforms across mobile devices and also instigate the adoption of cloud-based solutions. The growing penetration of smartphones has led to a deep penetration of the internet among the general population. As the number of smartphone users are increasing, this has led to a significant surge in the shipments of smartphones in the coming years especially in the developing economies of the world.



The medium enterprises to show a notable growth



On the basis of enterprise size, the large enterprises are anticipated to hold a noteworthy share in the market owing to the high adoption of these platforms owing to the presence of a considerably large employee base along with the higher purchasing power. All these factors are significantly contributing to the high share of this segment during the coming years.



The medium enterprises are projected to show a robust growth throughout the forecast period owing to the growing focus of the companies under this segment throughout the industry verticals towards the engagement and interaction of the employees. Also, the increasing budgets towards the adoption of these solutions further positively impact the gamification market for medium enterprises.



On-premise deployment to hold a noteworthy share



On the basis of deployment, the on-premise gamification solutions segment is projected to hold a considerably larger share owing to the high adoption of on-premise solutions by the organizations across the various industry verticals. Furthermore, the market for cloud-based solutions is anticipated to show robust growth over the course of the next five years, owing to the growing adoption of cloud-based solutions across the industries due to numerous benefits.



The retail segment is anticipated to show good growth



On the basis of industry vertical, the retail segment is projected to show a notable growth during the next five years on account of growing requirements regarding the engagement of the consumers coupled with the continuous growth of the retail sector. The continuous e of engagement of consumers is considered of utmost importance by the retailers so as to develop and implement new marketing strategies. Also, the expansion of distribution channels and the growing sales through e-commerce platforms is further widening up the opportunities for the market to grow in the near future.



The IT and Telecom industry is projected to hold a noteworthy share during the forecast period owing to the wide adoption of these solutions due to intense competition in the industry which is inclining the companies towards the adoption of a customer-centric approach. Thus, gamification is considered as an important tool for the companies to keep an idea regarding the satisfaction of their customers and also keep them engaged with new offers and rewards.



North America to hold a significant share



Regionally, the North American region is projected to hold a noteworthy share in the market throughout the forecast period owing to the presence of state-of-art infrastructure, high internet penetration, and a high number of smartphone users. All these factors supplement the share of this region in the coming years. The early adoption of technology is also considered to be one of the prime factors bolstering the growth of the market in North America. Furthermore, the presence of key market players in the region is also positively impacting the market growth in the North American region during the next five years.



Key Developments:



In September 2019, Microsoft Corporation announced the enhancement of its existing gamification platform Dynamics 365 by integrating AI-driven insights with an aim to enhance the organizations the power to improve the customer experiences.



April 2018, SAP SE announced the acquisition of Callidus Software Inc., a globally known company for its enterprise software. The company will provide its cloud-based CRM solution to SAP.



Competitive Insights



Prominent key players in the gamification market include Microsoft Corporation, SAP, and Cognizant among others. These companies hold a noteworthy share in the market on account of their good brand image and product Enterprise Sizes.



Major players in the gamification market have been covered along with their relative competitive position and strategies. The report also mentions recent deals and investments of different market players over the last two years.



Segmentation



By Enterprise Size

Small

Medium

Large

By Deployment

Cloud

On-premise

By Industry Vertical

BFSI

Retail

Government

Education

IT and Telecom

Others

By Geography

North America

USA

Canada

Mexico

South America

Brazil

Argentina

Others

Europe

Germany

France

United Kingdom

Spain

Others

Middle East and Africa

and Saudi Arabia

Israel

Others

Asia Pacific

China

Japan

South Korea

India

Others

Companies Mentioned



SAP

BI WORLDWIDE

Microsoft Corporation

Cognizant

Hoopla

Ambition

Adobe

Axonify Inc.

G-Cube

IActionable

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/qst9ek

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Patients on admission at the Sandema District hospital in the Builsa North District of the Upper East Region are without care from nurses, midwives, and Physician Assistants following the nationwide strike action declared by their various Associations.



The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) and its allied groups including the Nurse Practitioners Association of Ghana and the Nurses and Midwives Specialists Society of Ghana are demanding better conditions of service from the government and hope the strike action would compel the government to heed to their demand.



When the Ghana News Agency (GNA) visited the hospital to ascertain the impact of the industrial action by the major critical staff in the healthcare system, it observed that there was no nurse or midwife at all the wards and the Out-Patient Department (OPD).



Madam Elizabeth Anokato, who was at the OPD with the hope of receiving care from nurses before she sees a Physician Assistant, was disappointed and quietly walked out of the OPD when she was told about the strike action.



At the paediatric ward which had about eight children on admission, there were no nurses to care for the children, a father, Mr Peter Akanba whose son was on admission told the GNA in an interview that my son had an accident last night and we rushed him here.



Unfortunately this morning, I was told that the nurses are on strike, I am just confused and helpless. The boy is suffering in pain. Looking at the way the patients are lying helpless without care, the government should listen to the plight of the nurses so they can return to work to help us.



At the three-bed capacity emergency ward, which had two patients at the time of the GNA's visit, Mr Elijah Atamale who was on admission, said I was admitted last night, but was later told that the nurses will go on strike today. When it was morning, all the night nurses left.



Since they left, we have been lying here without care, and not knowing whether a Doctor or nurse will come around. Whatever their demands are, I pray that the government listens to them so they return.



The situation at the male medical and surgical wards were not different, the usually busy wound dressing procedures at the surgical ward was not seen as patients laid in bed with undressed wounds.



Even though no patient was on oxygen and nasogastric tubes at the adult wards, most of them, especially at the male medical wards were on urethral catheter, while at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), out of five babies, two were in critical condition with oxygen machines placed on them.



Ms Zenabu Zimi, the District Chairperson of the GRNMA who visited all the units in the hospital to ensure that non of her members were available to render care, told the GNA in an interview that they had been taken for granted by the government for far too long.



We feel bad that we are not performing our usual duties as nurses and midwives. Government has to listen to us, you can imagine the type of work we do, we change diapers of patients and dress their wounds daily and at the end, we return home with smelly uniforms.



She stressed that we just want the government to listen to us. I also want my members in the entire District to strike hard. We know our patients and even our relatives are suffering but it is time for the government to listen to our demand.



Dr Bertrand Agilinko, the Acting Medical Superintendent of the hospital who was busily attending to patients alone at the maternity and NICU, said management was working to control the situation in the hospital, adding that they would discharge no critically ill patient.





Source: GNA









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Oil prices fell on Monday on the potential return of oil output from Libya even as rising coronavirus cases add to worries about global demand, although losses were limited as a new tropical storm heads for the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. Brent crude LCOc1 was down 20 cents, or 0.5%, at $42.95 a barrel by 0039 GMT, while U.S. crude CLc1 fell by 27 cents, or 0.7%, to $40.84 a barrel.

Libya's National Oil Corp (NOC) lifted force majeure on what it deemed secure oil ports and facilities on Saturday, but said the measure would remain in place for facilities where fighters remain. On Friday eastern Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar said his forces would lift their eight-month blockade of oil exports but did not say if they would leave the facilities they control.

"The market can ill afford more crude hitting the market," ANZ analysts said in a note on Monday. "The resurgence in COVID-19 infections around the world has seen many governments halt the easing of restrictions. This has weighed on demand in Europe and the U.S."

Britain is at a tipping point on COVID-19, health minister Matt Hancock said on Sunday, warning that a second national lockdown could be imposed if people don't follow government rules designed to stop the spread of the virus.

Meanwhile, Royal Dutch Shell Plc RDSa.L halted some oil production and began evacuating workers from a U.S. Gulf of Mexico platform, the company said on Saturday. Tropical Storm Beta was predicted to bring a foot of rain to parts of coastal Texas and Louisiana as the 23rd named storm of this year's Atlantic hurricane season moves ashore on Monday night, the National Hurricane Center said.

Britain is at a tipping point on COVID-19, health minister Matt Hancock said on Sunday, warning that a second national lockdown could be imposed if people don't follow government rules designed to stop the spread of the virus.
In mid-August, 2020, an unusual heat wave fixated over California, leading to a series of lightning storms across the state and numerous wildfires. Hundreds of thousands of acres were burned and tens of thousands of residents were forced to evacuate their homes. Below is an account of how the fires spread and officials responded to the emergency.

 Read the previous updates from Sept. 16-17

Live updates did not publish on Saturday, Sept. 19

Updates from Friday, Sept. 18

3:12 p.m. Bobcat Fire splits into 3 heads in Antelope Valley: The Bobcat Fire, which is burning in the Angeles National Forest, has split into three heads in the Antelope Valley foothills, the Los Angeles Times reports. One front is not far from the Devils Punchbowl nature areas parking lot. Another burned toward Tumbleweed Road from Cruthers Creek, and the third jumped Juniper Hills Road at Longview Road. The blaze has scorched more than 60,000 acres.

2:45 p.m. Twenty states have sent firefighting help to California: California has received help from 20 states to fight to the furious spate of wildfires, the Governor's Office of Emergency Services said. Thank you to all of the mutual aid for protecting our state, officials said Friday on Twitter. Assistance has come from: Alabama, Arizona, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Montana, New Mexico, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

2:30 p.m. Oregon faces new threat: Rain in the Cascades in northern Oregon brought some relief Friday to crews trying to corral large wildfires. But the rainfall carried a new, imminent threat: landslides in the steep, burned-out terrain. The National Weather Service warned heavy rains could send torrents of mud and dead tree limbs thundering thunder down the slopes and into communities.

2:12 p.m. North Complex blaze still spreading: The North Complex fires had spread to 287,181 acres in Butte, Yuba and Plumas counties with 41% containment Friday, Cal Fire reported. The blaze has destroyed 1,147 structures and 15 people have died.

1:11 p.m. Jerry Brown says Trump most deviant president ever: Former Gov. Jerry Brown, asked on CNN about President Trumps assertion at a California wildfire briefing that it will start getting cooler, called the president the most deviant human being in the history of the American presidency. He said he was referring to Trump deviating far, far from the norms of previous presidents.

12:42 p.m. Spare the Air alert returns for Bay Area: After only a couple of days of reprieve, authorities issued a Spare the Air alert for Saturday when the quality of breathing again will be affected by expected wildfire smoke blowing into the North Bay, eastern Contra Costa County and the Livermore valley. The Bay Area endured a record 30-day stretch of Spare the Air alerts before they were finally lifted at midnight Wednesday.

11:45 a.m. Residents ordered to evacuate near Bobcat Fire in San Gabriel Mountains: Residents in Juniper Hills, Devils Punchbowl and Paradise Springs were ordered to evacuate due to the Bobcat Fire burning in the Angeles National Forest. Los Angeles County Fire said Friday that crews were focusing on the north end of the fire which was 15% contained at 60,557 acres Friday morning. Air and ground crews were holding fire lines near Mount Wilson and patrolling the east side of the mountain to snuff spot fires and set control lines.

11:15 a.m. National Guard helping fight August Complex fires: National Guardsmen are assisting Cal Fire in battling the August Complex in the west zone, which was just 7% contained at 86,289 acres Friday. The west zone is part of the larger record-breaking complex that spread across 824,118 acres in and around the Mendocino National Forest and was 30% contained as of Friday. Numerous evacuation orders and warnings are in place in Mendocino and Lake counties, CAL Fire said.

9:40 a.m. Creek Fire grows: Firefighters battled the Creek Fire to 20% containment overnight as it spread to 248,256 acres across Fresno and Madera counties. Fire progression was anticipated eastward beyond Huntington Lake and China Peak where Cal Fire said it might connect to the fire near Mount Tom. Progression was expected also in the southeast area toward Florence Lake and the Dinkey Lakes Wilderness, Cal Fire said.

9 a.m. Critical step achieved on Dolan Fire: Cloud cover helped firefighters complete a critical burnout operation along McKern Road to contain the southern portion of the Dolan Fire south of Big Sur, fire officials said Friday. Officials said the northwest part of the fire was fully contained, allowing more resources on the rugged sections along Highway 1, which was closed between mile post 25 and mile post 10. The blaze was 45% contained Friday, having scorched 127,724 acres and destroyed 19 structures.

8:46 a.m. Newsom walks fine line with Trump: Gov. Gavin Newsom has crafted a delicate approach with President Trump, whose help California needs during the rampaging wildfire scourge. Even as Newsom has amped up his rhetoric on climate change  and criticisms of the Trump administrations record  he avoids alienating Trump who has repeatedly threatened to withhold billions of dollars in fire relief. Read the story here.

8:34 a.m. Heroic story in battered Butte County: Firefighters found the man face down, burns covering most of his body. The only place to try to save him was a tiny firehouse, itself in the path of the latest flames to ravage Butte County, where communities have burned and flooded and endured for years. The Chronicles Lizzie Johnson and Matthias Gafni tell the story of one harrowing rescue amid the latest horrors sweeping over the region.

7:37 a.m. Tulare County blaze 12% contained: Crews struggled to contain the SQF Complex blaze which had covred 122,902 acres as of Friday morning with anticipated movement towards Ponderosa, Tule Indian Reservation, and north into the Sequoia Kings National Park.

7:30 a.m. Yosemite visitors need to be out: Visitors in Yosemite were to leave campsites and hotels by Friday morning as the park shuttered under heavy wildfire smoke that created unhealthy to hazardous air for vacationers and park staff. Several small fires burned in the park, as the skies were darkened by smoke blowing in from huge wildfires in Sierra regions miles away.

6:49 a.m. Firefighter dies battling blaze sparked after gender-reveal party: A firefighter died Thursday while battling the El Dorado Fire in the San Bernardino National Forest, the Associated Press reported. The fire was sparked this month by a smoke-creating pyrotechnic device used by a couple to reveal their babys gender, Cal Fire said. The firefighters name and what led to the fatality have not yet been released.
As per PTI the Monsoon Session of Parliament is likely to conclude tomorrow (23 September, Wednesday), eight days before it is scheduled to end, amid concerns of the spread of coronavirus among lawmakers.

As the Opposition kept away from Parliament over the suspension of eight MPs, the Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed three labour code bills, while the Rajya Sabha  still in uproar for the third consecutive day over the far bills row  witnessed one of its most productive days in its history with seven key bills being passed in a handful of hours.

Labour minister Santosh Gangwar, who moved the bills  the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020, the Industrial Relations Code 2020 and the Code on Social Security Bill, 2020  said the reforms being undertaken by the government will prove to be a milestone for the welfare of workers.

The Upper House saw most Opposition parties on Tuesday, including the Congress, Left parties, the TMC, the Samajwadi Party, and the NCP boycotting proceedings to protest the suspension of eight MPs, including TMC's Derek O'Brien and AAP's Sanjay Singh for the remainder of the Monsoon Session over their "unruly behaviour".

The drama over the suspended Rajya Sabha MPs spilled into the latter half of the day with various Opposition parties, including the Congress and the TMC, boycotting the Lower House in solidarity.

Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said, "You have compelled us to do so." Opposition parties, including Congress, TMC, BSP and TRS, walked out of the Lok Sabha.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla warned that members should not mention the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha. He said all references made by members would be removed from the records.

As per PTI, the Monsoon Session of Parliament is likely to conclude tomorrow (23 September, Wednesday), eight days before it is scheduled to end, amid concerns of the spread of coronavirus among lawmakers, sources said.

Rajya Sabha is likely to adjourn sine die after taking up five bills on Wednesday, the sources added.

'Labour bills to bring security to over 50 cr workers'

Labour minister Santosh Gangwar said the a historic day is unfolding as these codes would provide salary security, social security and proper environment at workplaces to 50 crore workers.

He claimed people who have walked out from the House did nothing for workers when they were in power.

The objective of these laws is to provide all kinds of facilities and healthy environment to workers, Gangwar said, adding that in the last six years, the government has taken several steps for employees such as an increase in maternity leave period to 26 weeks, allowing women to work in mines sector and pension scheme for small traders.

"With these steps, we had started work for labour reforms," he said.

The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020, will consolidate and amend the laws regulating the occupational safety, health and working conditions of persons employed in an establishment and related matters.

The Industrial Relations Code, 2020, seeks to consolidate and amend the laws relating to trade unions, conditions of employment in industrial establishments or undertaking, investigation and settlement of industrial disputes.

The Code on Social Security, 2020, will amend and consolidate laws relating to social security with the goal to extend social security to all employees and workers either in the organised sector or the unorganised sector.

While moving the bills on the codes for consideration and passage, the minister said the government has come out with the changes in the legislations after extensive consultations with state governments and other stakeholders.

He said about three-fourths of the recommendations of the Parliamentary standing committee, which scrutinised the codes, have been incorporated in the bills by the government.

Opposition boycotts RS, ends sit-in

Meanwhile, in the Upper House, the Opposition decided to boycott the remaining session of the Rajya Sabha, while the eight suspended MPs ended their overnight sit-in inside the Parliament House complex and said they would take their fight against the farm bills to the streets.

The suspended Rajya Sabha parliamentarians, who spent the night in the lawns near Mahatma Gandhi's statue in what several old-timers said was the first such overnight protest in the complex, got a surprise visitor in the morning: Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh, who came with tea and snacks.

Till late night, the protesting MPs raised slogans and sang songs while a host of Opposition leaders such as National Conference's Farooq Abdullah, Samajwadi Party's Jaya Bachchan and Congress' Ahmed Patel, Digvijaya Singh and Shashi Tharoor visited them to express their support.

But their morning visitor did not receive the same enthusiastic response, said some of the protesting MPs.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Harivansh's gesture was proof of his greatness, adding that his "inspiring and statesmanlike" conduct will make every democracy lover proud.

The Rajya Sabha deputy chairman, the protesters said, came early with a posse of news cameras and was told by a senior MP to visit without the cameras and sit with them.

"Another senior MP also told him that while bringing tea was a nice gesture, he was still in the wrong in what he did. He was told he was the one who broke the rules," a protesting MP told PTI.

Several leaders said they did not accept the tea and snacks offered by the deputy chairman. "I did not have the tea brought by him," said AAP leader Sanjay Singh.

"Farmers have been cheated. We kept asking for proper voting and we were ignored completely. This is not the time to make friends but to fight for the rights of farmers, and we sat here the whole night to protest against the anti-farmer Bills," he added.

With the Opposition parties boycotting the rest of the session, there was no point in continuing with the dharna, which started on Monday afternoon and ended 24 hours later on Tuesday, said Congress MP Hussain.

"All the Opposition parties have boycotted the rest of the session (in Rajya Sabha), nobody is attending the session. They appealed to us to withdraw the dharma and since nobody is attending the session till the suspension is revoked, there is no point in continuing with the dharna," he told PTI.

His party colleague Rajeev Satav added that they will now hit the streets against the farm bills.

Harivansh announces 24-day fast

Expressing his deep anguish and pain at the Opposition members' "humiliating" conduct towards him, Harivansh on Tuesday announced a 24-hour fast, saying he hoped it will inspire a feeling of "self-purification" in them. Harivansh has been in the thick of things since the suspension drama unfolded.

Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu had rejected a notice for a no-confidence motion against Harivansh as it was not in proper format and did not give a 14-day notice period.

Several Opposition parties, including AAP, TMC and the Left parties, led by the Congress walked out from the Rajya Sabha demanding that the suspension of the eight members be revoked. But the government is insisting on an apology first.

Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the government will consider revoking the suspension only after they apologise for their behaviour in the Upper House. Some parties like the NCP, SP, Shiv Sena and RJD also walked out of the House.

Before the walkout, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad said the Opposition will boycott proceedings of the House till the suspension is revoked.

Rajya Sabha passes key bills

With most of the Opposition missing, Rajya Sabha had one of the most productive days in its history where in a matter of three and half hours, seven key bills including one that removes cereals, pulses and onion from the essential commodities list and another that abolishes penalty for certain offences by companies had been passed by the Upper House.

Only members from the ruling BJP and its ally JD-U and those of parties such as AIADMK, BJD, YSR-Congress and TDP, which have been extending support to the Modi government on various issues, participated in the debates on the bills. In most bills, the members' participation was sparse and the ministers reply brief.

First, it passed a bill to declare five newly-established Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs) as institutions of national importance.

Bill removing cereals, oils, onion & potato from essential commodities passed

The crucial Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, which removes cereals, pulses, oilseeds, edible oils, onion and potatoes from the list of essential commodities and removes stockholding limits on them, was passed next.

This bill is part of the agriculture reform bills that the government is pushing to raise farm incomes. The bills passed on Sunday gave farmers the freedom to sell produce anywhere in the country and enter into forward contracts with companies.

Bill to bring cooperative banks under RBI passed

Rajya Sabha also passed amendments to the Bank Regulation Act to bring cooperative banks under the supervision of the RBI in a bid to protect the interest of depositors.

The bill, which comes in the backdrop of the PMC Bank scam, seeks to strengthen cooperative banks by increasing their professionalism, enabling access to capital, improving governance and ensuring sound banking through the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

Replying to a short debate on the bill in the Rajya Sabha, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in the last one-and-a-half to two years, "we came to know of so many cooperative banks or cooperative societies functioning as banks and calling themselves as banks falling into difficulties."

Thereafter the Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2020, which removes the penalty for certain offences, was passed. The National Forensic Sciences University Bill, 2020 and the Rashtriya Rakash University Bill were passed in quick succession.

Thereafter the Taxation and Other Laws (Relaxation and Amendment of Certain Provisions) Bill, 2020 to relax time limit on compliance with tax laws, GST payment and filing in view of the coronavirus pandemic. The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020 as well as the Taxation and Other Laws (Relaxation and Amendment of Certain Provisions) Bill, 2020 replace emergency ordinances.

The sitting of the Rajya Sabha was extended by just over an hour beyond the scheduled time to allow the passage of the bills. The legislative business started at 10.29 am and ended at 2.03 pm: 214 minutes in all.

All the seven bills have already been passed by Lok Sabha and will now be sent to President Ram Nath Kovind. Once he gives his assent, they will become the law.

With inputs from PTI
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Parental rejection of sexual orientation and gender identity could be a key trigger in youth homelessness, according to new research.

A report by UCD researchers, in conjunction with Focus Ireland and BeLonG To Youth Services, found that parents' rejection of their children's sexuality and gender identity is a contributing factor in young people's decision to leave home.

According to the study, there is also a high degree of fear and anxiety among young people when engaging with homeless services due to fears they would encounter homophobic or transphobic attitudes among service users and staff.

The research, carried out by Professor Michelle Norris and Dr. Aideen Quilty from the UCD School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice, found connections between homelessness and mental health problems, and complex experiences of stigma and shame.

A total of 22 people aged between 18 and 30 were interviewed for the qualitative study, the first of its kind in Ireland.

"The report demonstrates that LGBTQI+ young adults face additional risks of becoming homeless due to conflict with parents and caregivers regarding sexuality and gender identify, in addition these young adults face additional barriers to accessing services when they do become homeless and building strong relationships with service providers," said Professor Norris.

Dr. Quilty added: "[It] is important that we listen to and hear carefully the voices of these courageous young people. Their powerful stories highlight significant levels of resilience in the face of challenging, distressing and damaging experiences of homelessness. We have a responsibility to ensure their stories matter and that we respond through targeted, appropriate actions."

According to the report's main findings:

Young people who are LGBTQI+ not only experience all the interpersonal, familial and intra-personal problems of the young population-at-large but also have a range of other challenges associated with their sexuality and gender identity, particularly relating to coming out and/or transitioning.

Despite significant progress in Ireland homophobia and transphobia persist.

Many young LGBTQI+ people without a home, avoid homeless services and live in a precarious world of 'sofa surfing' with friends and acquaintances.

Many participants of the study showed exceptional levels of resilience.

The overwhelmingly positive impact for those who did access front line services.

The report makes a number of recommendations, including that the issue of LGBTQI+ homelessness should be included in the new Youth Homelessness Strategy that was promised as part of the Program for Government.

It also recommends more mediation services and training on gender issues, and measures to make homeless services more accessible and supportive for young LGBTQI+ homeless people.

Moninne Griffith, CEO of BeLonG To Youth Services, said: "The need for information on homelessness among LGBTQI+ young people is particularly urgent in light of the rise in youth homeless in Ireland in recent years. Coming out can still lead to LGBTQI+ youth being made homeless. In our front line services, we witness a significant number of LGBTQI+ youth living without a permanent home and surviving by sleeping on friends' sofas, squatting or staying in other insecure or unsafe places. This group are even more difficult to identify and consequently are often referred to as the forgotten or hidden homeless."

Explore further Study sheds light on LGBT youth and homelessness

More information: A Qualitative Study of LGBTQI+ Youth Homelessness in Ireland: A Qualitative Study of LGBTQI+ Youth Homelessness in Ireland: belongto.org/wp-content/upload  rt_FINAL-VERSION.pdf
Last week, the labor union that represents Vallejo police officers urged city leaders to join it in making important changes and reforms to improve policing ... to build trust and credibility for police officers, the city and future generations.

And get this: The union, which represents a little more than 100 officers, chastised the city for slowly implementing a consultants 45 recommendations to improve policing in Vallejo, specifically hiring more police officers.

21st Century Policing acknowledges that law enforcement agencies should proactively promote public trust by initiating positive non-enforcement activities to engage communities, the union wrote. To achieve this goal, we must significantly enhance our staffing.

I have written time and again: Somethings wrong in Vallejo policing. Somethings rotten in the culture of that department. Adding more officers without first detoxifying the place wont help. And some of the departments reform efforts are already flawed: The incident reports its using to monitor officers use of force are written by the officers themselves.

The defund-the-police movement that swept the country isnt just about routing money allocated for police departments to community programs. Its also about regulating a historically reticent profession, and reducing the influence of the powerful police unions standing in the way of making structural changes.

In Vallejo, fatal shootings and nonfatal use-of-force incidents have resulted in costly lawsuits. Since 2003, Vallejo has agreed to pay more than $15 million to settle such suits, city records show. Why didnt the union call for reform earlier?

Seriously, how are Vallejoans supposed to trust officers to lead the reform effort?

While I am encouraged to see that the Vallejo Police Officers Association is now expressing support of our urgent reform efforts, this has not been consistent with their communications to me thus far, Police Chief Shawny Williams said in a terse statement responding to the union and shared with news media.

Peter Hoffman, an attorney for the union, said the recommendations by the OIR Group, an independent police auditor, are reflective of the citys need for services.

By and large, it is staffing levels. It is a career opportunities. Its diversity within the department, which were certainly welcome to, Hoffman said. It is just an incredibly difficult job to staff. The officers are overwhelmed by the workload and call volume because theyre operating at about half of what is needed.

In its assessment, the OIR Group recommended hiring more women and officers of color. In Vallejo, 69% of police officers are white, and just 7% are Black, according to Police Department data. OIR Group also recommended improving the investigative process within the agency and increasing transparency with the community.

Hows this for transparency? The unions temporary restraining order has kept the city from naming the officer who fatally shot Sean Monterrosa. The officer, responding to alleged looting at a Walgreens, fired a rifle from the back seat of a truck, through the windshield, as the truck pulled into the parking lot. Jarrett Tonn is the officer who shot and killed Monterrosa, according to a civil rights lawsuit filed by Monterrosas family. The alleged destruction of evidence in the case  the trucks shattered windshield  is now being investigated.

Instead of dealing with facts, the union obfuscates. In the farcical statement, the union said that Police Strategies LLC, a company that uses data science to improve police accountability, concluded that Vallejo officers are racially unbiased and equitable in their application of force.

That language doesnt appear anywhere in the report released in July, because thats not what Police Strategies concluded.

The Seattle-based company was hired in February to create a use-of-force dashboard for the Police Department. The company analyzed use-of-force incidents of 2017-19 and, according to the report, use of force correlates to arrests.

We would expect to see the same proportion of subject characteristics for those who are arrested as those who have force used against them, the report said.

In the case of Black people, thats true. Black people accounted for 49.9% of arrests in the analyzed period and 49.8% of use-of-force incidents. But, as the report also notes, Black people, who represent about 22% of the population in Vallejo, are more than two times more likely to be arrested. For other races, the use-of-force percentage is below or roughly matches their percentage of the population.

What we do is we take the data from the officers narrative statement, Bob Scales, the CEO of Police Strategies, said. Its up to the department to interpret the data and to identify whether theres an actual problem that needs to be addressed.

Wait, the data rely on the reporting of officers?

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.

Were looking at everything from the officers perspective, Scales said. Were taking what the officer said happened, and then were running it through the algorithms.

Heres why thats problematic: The OIR Group found that the police department wasnt writing reports properly or reviewing use-of-force incidents adequately.

Theres no analysis by a sergeant, by anyone in the supervisory chain, Michael Gennaco of OIR Group told me. Those are the kinds of holistic reviews that we like to see and we didnt see. And that was true for minor force. It was also true, in large regard, for major force. Deadly force. Most of the shootings received cursory review internally, and that needed to be stepped up.

In order for Vallejo  or any police department in the country  to fully invest in reform, it must come clean about why the reform is needed: the behavior of officers. Anything less is insincere.

The publics demand for accountability and transparency is at a very high level right now, which I cant really say is undeserving or unexpected, Howard Jordan, Oaklands former police chief, who spent last summer as a senior adviser to Vallejo City Manager Greg Nyhoff, told me while generally discussing policing. It is the perfect storm right now, because the community is upset.

Police reform is an arduous task. After almost two decades under federal monitoring, the Oakland Police Department doesnt appear to be close to ending the arrangement. Just last summer, an internal audit found that officers failed to report using force against a suspect in more than one-third of instances studied in 2018.

The public simply cant rely on the police to reform themselves.

Of course, the people who self-select and recruit into this profession want to be part of an institution that is coercive, said Erin Kerrison, an assistant professor of social welfare at UC Berkeley. Theres no way you can be a cop and not be a cop. Theres no in the middle.

San Francisco Chronicle columnist Otis R. Taylor Jr. appears Mondays and Thursdays. Email: otaylor@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @otisrtaylorjr
A farmer prepares to drive his farm vehicle beside corn cobs at the Shili Village of Kalun Township in Changchun city, Jilin Province, China, on December 21, 2006. (China Photos/Getty Images)

Chinese County Says It Can Only Meet Half of Grain Reserve Quota, Fueling Food Shortage Concerns

A Chinese county government recently admitted that it was unable to meet a quota to set up a 5 million-kilogram (about 5,511-ton) grain reserve, fueling concerns that China faces a food crisis.

According to the website of the Huguan county government of Changzhi city, Shanxi Province, the city in 2014 assigned Huguan county to establish the grain reserve. Shanxi Province is a major wheat-producing region of China.

In recent days, the county grain center conducted a survey and reported that it has only 2.5 million kilograms of grain reserves: 1 million of wheat and 1.5 million of corn.

Huguan County is governed by Changzhi City and has a total population of nearly 300,000. In response to Beijings national policy goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects by 2020, the Shanxi provincial government proclaimed in February that Huguan county was no longer a national level poverty-stricken county.

However, according to Chinese media reports, the Huguan government explained that it couldnt meet the grain storage quota because the county is still poverty-stricken. The financial resources are relatively insufficient and the higher leadership does not pay enough attention [to the issue], it said.

From June to early September, record rainfall hit large swathes of China, causing flooding, including in the Changzhi city region.

In early August 2019, the entire province of Shanxi also suffered from major flooding and crops were destroyed.

The county government announcement comes amid a spate of pessimistic news on Chinas food security.

On July 27, during a meeting on food security in Beijing, Chinese vice premier Hu Chunhua urged in a speech that all regions only increase grain production, with no decreases allowed.

Chinese media also reported in late July that ahead of Chinese leader Xi Jinpings visit to Jilin Province in northeastern Chinaanother breadbasket regionthe central government urged that farmers grow more grain and convert orchards and fish ponds to farmland in order to grow the crops.

Reuters, quoting analysts and traders forecasts this month, predicted that starting in October, China will face the first corn shortage for the fiscal year 2020 to 2021, and may face a supply gap of up to 30 million tonsabout 10 percent of Chinas total corn output. The number also far exceeds Chinas current import quota of 7 million tons.
By Denise Koeth

In any election, its important that young voters participate in the democratic process. But in a presidential election year  and a highly charged one at that  it becomes even more vital that college-aged voters head to the polls.

Bowling Green State Universitys BGSU Votes, a nonpartisan initiative of the BGSU Center for Public Impact, aims to facilitate that.

When college students or young people vote, especially for the first time, it helps to set up a habit of voting in the long term, said Paul Valdez, associate director of the BGSU Center for Public Impact. The sooner they vote, the more likely they are to continue participating in democracy over the course of their lifetime. Its also important for young people to vote because with voting rights history, that 18- to 21-year-old age group didnt always have the right to vote.

Valdez, who was recently chosen as the Andrew Goodman Foundations (AGF) Campus Champion of the Year, oversees the BGSU Votes program that was started in 2012. BGSU Votes has since become recognized as a Leader Campus for the national organization.

The participation in a democratic process, in many ways, is a learned behavior and access is really important. Its a solid commitment of a public university, for the public good, to set up an environment that helps students, Dr. V. Jane Rosser, director of the Center for Public Impact, said of BGSU Votes, which carries a primary goal of getting students informed and registered to vote. Students still choose what they want to do, but theyve got full access to information because its part of being a citizen  locally, in the state and nationally.

Empowering Students as Leaders

In all its programs, the BGSU Center for Public Impact focuses on student leadership. For BGSU Votes, this means setting up volunteer positions for students  who then receive additional training, resources and sometimes a stipend from nonpartisan national partners such as AGF, as well as the Campus Election Engagement Project and the Campus Vote Project.

Students in these fellowship positions serve as the main student leader of advancing BGSU Votes work on campus. All those other positions and volunteer roles form around that, according to Valdez. Theres one main coordinator and then the other student volunteers do a lot of the regular voter registration and education and event planning, he said.

Since the program has been able to harness more partnerships with national organizations, core student leadership has increased  currently there are six fellows and an expanded network of 20 volunteers.

Were paying attention to the national landscape and where we can find resources to help support them, whether its the opportunity to have a paid position, professional development training or the opportunity to go to conferences nationally, Rosser said. Pauls role particularly has been building those relationships with the national organizations. Students really follow through because theyre getting a very strong mentoring relationship and also developing skills, learning how to design and build campaigns on our campus, and feeling like theyre part of a national movement.

In addition to training at conferences, volunteers also receive regular digital training from national partners, as well as weekly meetings among the core BGSU Votes leadership team. Valdez also coordinates off-campus engagement with key groups, like meetings with the board of elections and webinars with the League of Women Voters.

BGSU Votes Actions and Goals

Because BGSU Votes was in place before any partnerships with national organizations, Valdez was able to bring in partners to enhance the existing program  rather than build from scratch  while serving as the campus champion and making sure students have access to the resources.

A large part of that access was building pathways of collaboration between BGSU Votes, student organizations and the community. Examples include creating connections with Residence Life and working with BGSUs general counsel and the Office of Registration and Records to create a voter identification letter for on-campus students, which serves as proof of address and can be accessed via the MyBGSU portal.

Those sustainable types of projects are removing barriers for students to participate in the process, Valdez said. Weve really worked hard the past few years to develop that coalition. Its not just the BGSU Votes initiative, were trying to involve student leaders from different organizations, different campus units and different representatives across campus to be aware of this and build a culture of political engagement.

In the 2016 election, voter participation on campus reached 53 percent. In this years annual Action Plan, BGSU Votes set a goal of 65 percent participation for the fall election; however, in light of changes and restrictions for events and in-person gatherings due to COVID-19, the organization is now aiming for between 60-65 percent.

Planning in a Pandemic

The pandemic and ever-present possibility of a shift to 100 percent online learning has changed some strategies for this fall.

Traditionally, we find that one-on-one interaction between students is the most effective way to communicate information and empower students to register and vote, Valdez said. We always had a core group of students at Welcome Week activities to register voters and answer their questions. Then we shifted to regular tabling within the student union or on the education steps or even the library.

There also were presidential debate watch parties, which included pre- and post-tests developed by the political science department; and candidate forums, which featured local and state candidates answering questions put together by the League of Women Voters.

BGSU Votes spent time last year building its digital platforms, which made it easier to transition to the online remote setting, Valdez said. In addition to Facebook and Instagram activity, the organization began using a texting platform offered by AGF. Currently, the platforms 500 subscribers receive weekly election-related announcements and event reminders.

BGSU Votes also has access to the BGSU Navigate app, through which it reaches subscribers with survey questions, such as asking if they are registered to vote, and then emails them information accordingly. These emails are then followed up with a phone call to ensure students receive the needed information.

Classroom and student organization presentations are continuing as usual this fall, in addition to the newly formed BGSU Votes Election Champions outreach, which Valdez described as a partnership between a liaison with BGSU Votes and campus organizations, student teams and scholarship programs.

Well actually train them in the voter registration process, he said. Well provide them with resources, like a PowerPoint that they could deliver to their own audience, their own team or their own group. Were trying to expand how many people are doing this with us, partly because it is a presidential election year and there's a lot more interest, but also because it allows us to not have to go into as many physical spaces, because these groups are going to be meeting online anyhow.

Not only has the pandemic required BGSU Votes to shift certain operations, but it could cause more confusion for students who desire to cast their ballot in November.

Students have to make different choices now in terms of where they choose to register, especially with the absentee voting process, Valdez said. For example, if they register to vote at their on-campus address in Bowling Green and there is a displacement event that happens a month from now, it's possible that they could actually update their voter registration and shift it to their home address. If its after the voter registration deadline, theyre still going to be registered to vote in Bowling Green, but they may be living with their parents halfway across the state. Or their absentee ballot may be getting sent to their residence hall room.

Its a complicated process for students. Now with the pandemic, its even more complicated because they may not be thinking as far ahead of all the different possible scenarios that may occur and how they need to set themselves up for success to cast their vote.

Fortunately, BGSU Votes is here to help.

I think the hope is that if it takes seven touches, seven times for somebody to take action on something, were just trying to have as many touches as possible to increase those numbers, Valdez said.
Life-sized Gundam in Yokohama is now in testing mode.pic.twitter.com/51HVoraPb7  Catsuka (@catsuka) September 21, 2020

As it turns out, you dont have to spend hours poring over Google Earth for traces of hidden alien robots being tested at Area 51 in Nevada, U.S. Giant robots do exist and they do actually move around, even if, unlike those purported alien creations in the hands of the U.S. military, theyre not combat-ready just yet.Look no further than Japan, where a life-size RX-78-2 Gundam robot exists. Gundam is a very popular animated series that goes all the way back to the 70s, often cited as inspiration for the just as popular Transformers and Power Rangers. To this day, Gundam has a massive following in its home country, Japan.A Gundam theme park, called Gundam Factory , is being built in Yokohama on Yamashita Pier, with the original plan including a 2020 grand opening. Given the ongoing health crisis, all events at the Factory have been postponed, including the very special Gundam Experience, which would have had visitors check out the 18-meter (59-foot) Gundam robot replica in person.This only leaves one venue for enjoying that experience, the internet. Working towards a still-uncertain opening date, the Gundam replica has started testing and the resulting video has gone viral after it was posted to social media. You can see it for yourself at the bottom of the page.The video is sped up by two and four times, but this doesnt take anything away from how amazing this giant robot it. Gundam can kneel, move around, reverse, and even open its eyes, turn its head and flex the fingers.The dream becomes reality, and that reality creates yet a new dream, is how the official website describes the Gundam Experience. This is the ultimate entertainment.Until it turns on us. Just kidding, RX-78-2 would never. Thats what the alien robots at Area 51 are for.
Male funnel-web spiders have venom that is far more potent than the female of the species, and Queensland researchers have discovered the reason.

The male-female divide in the venom of funnel-web spiders is the same across all species of funnel-webs, and a bite from a male causes a severe reaction in humans, with the potential to be fatal if left untreated.

UQ researchers have discovered why male funnel-web spider venom is more potent than females of the species. Credit:Dr David Wilson

UQ Associate Professor Bryan Fry has spent the past 20 years doing research on this project, after wondering why so many male funnel-webs kept falling into his pool near the Dandenong Ranges in Victoria, where he was living at the time.

After raising a number of males from various funnel-web species, he says they now have the data to show that venom in male funnel-webs is super-charged when its time to leave home and find a mate.
Local crime branch, unit 2, of the Government Railway Police (GRP) on Tuesday arrested four Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) party workers including a corporator, for illegally travelling in a local train. The four were also booked for protesting at several railway stations on Monday and demanding that train travel be opened to the public.

Police said the arrested four include Sandeep Despande, 47, an MNS corporator from Dadar, along with Santosh Dhuri, 50, from Prabhadevi, Gajanan Kale, 41, from Nerul and Atul Bhagat, 57, from Uran. All the accused were produced before a Kalyan railway court and remanded in magistrate custody for 14 days.

We received information that the four had boarded a train from Vangani railway station on the Central Railway line on Monday morning. Seeing the police bandobast they got down at a remote railway station. As they travel illegally we started a search operation to trace them, said a GRP officer.

A case was registered by the GRP under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Disaster Management Act, 2005, Covid-19 Act, 2020 and Indian Railway Act.

We arrested the four from a chowk in Karjat. They got down at a remote railway station on the central line and were heading towards Lonavala. Our team was following the car they were travelling in and traced them to Karjat, said Uttam Sonawane, senior inspector, local crime branch, unit 2, GRP.

Despande told media persons, Whatever we did was for the benefit of general people. The government and police authorities are pressuring us by adding section 153 and 156 of the Indian Railway Act, which is for travelling on the train roof and throwing stones. We only travelled on the train, and we are proud that we are fighting for commuters for whom this is the only travel option.
KYODO NEWS - Sep 22, 2020 - 13:48 | All, World, Japan

Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi on Tuesday underlined Japan's willingness to contribute to global governance as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council as he made a case for reform of the world body's 15-nation decision-making organ.

In a statement to mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, Motegi called for the number of permanent members to be expanded to make the council "an effective and representative organ" that reflects the realities of the international community in the 21st century.

Expressing Tokyo's willingness to take a leadership role in tackling pressing issues such as the global coronavirus pandemic, Motegi said, "Japan is fully prepared to fulfill such responsibilities as a permanent member of the Security Council and contribute to ensuring peace and stability of the world."

U.N. member states "cannot be complacent with the status quo," he said in a video message, calling for "serious steps" to be taken to reform the council for the post-COVID-19 era.

At present, the Security Council has five permanent members -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- reflecting the world's power structure at the time of the United Nations' creation after World War II.

Japan has held one of the 10 rotating Security Council slots for 11 terms since joining the United Nations in 1956.

"I'm convinced that member states having the capacity and willingness to take on major responsibilities should hold seats on an expanded Security Council," Motegi said.

The foreign minister noted 2020 is also the 75th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and vowed to cooperate with other countries to avoid repeating the tragedies of war.

Motegi spoke a day before he and his counterparts from India, Germany and Brazil hold an online meeting on Security Council reform.

The four countries -- collectively known as the Group of Four -- are expected to reaffirm their commitments as aspiring new permanent members of a reformed council, according to Japanese Foreign Ministry officials.

Related coverage:

U.N. nuclear ban treaty reaches 45 signatories

43 countries and regions ratify U.N. nuclear ban treaty
ToloNews, September 15, 2020

By Sharif Amiry

Statistics by the Ministry of Interior Affairs indicate that at least 98 civilians were killed and 230 others were wounded in Taliban attacks in 24 provinces in the last two weeks as violence increasesin the country amid the ongoing peace efforts.

The Taliban has inflicted the casualties on our countrymen in 24 provinces and the most casualties have been in Takhar and Nangarhar provinces, said Tariq Arian, spokesman for the Ministry of Interior Affairs.

The Taliban has rejected the figures provided by the ministry.

A security source told TOLOnews that an average of at least 30 security force members have been killed on a daily basis in Taliban attacks over the last two weeks.

Meanwhile, at least 50 security force members were killed in conflicts over the last 24 hours.

According to sources and officials:

11 soldiers were killed in Takhta Pul and Maroof districts of Kandahar.

Eight soldiers were killed in Tagab district of Kapisa.

Nine soldiers were killed in Takhar.

Five security force members were killed in Balkh.

And 20 security force members were killed in Maidan Wardak.

Kunduz has been one of the volatile provinces in the last two weeks. Its residents said the conflicts have displaced many families.

I am from Khan Abad district. We call on the Taliban to stop killing of Afghans, said a displaced person in Kunduz.

We call on both sides to stop the bloodshed and stop violence, said a displaced person in Kunduz.

The Maidan Wardak governors spokesman Mohibullah Sharifzoi said the Taliban has also suffered casualties in the clashes.

Taliban commanders and group leaders were among the 26 fighters of the group killed in the attacks, he said.

Three anti-government militants were killed in Takhtapul district and they have casualties in Maroof district as well, Kandahar police spokesman Jamal Barikzai said.

The increase in violence comes amid efforts by the negotiating team of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in Doha to start direct talks with the Taliban. The two sides have held four small "contact" group meetings over the last nine days to try and decide the rules, agenda and scheduling for the official talks.

US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad in a tweet early on Monday said over the last few days, there has been a clear rise in violence in Afghanistan and that this escalation is regrettable as Afghans, including many civilians, are losing their lives.

He called on all sides to reduce violence.
Four Emiratis, including Hazzaa AlMansoori and Sultan AlNeyadi, to train as astronauts through agreement with MBRSC and NASA. Image: MBRSC

This partnership aims to prepare Emirati astronauts for advanced space missions by providing them with the highest level of expertise and knowledge.

Under the agreement, four Emirati astronauts will be provided advanced training. Emirati astronauts Hazzaa AlMansoori and Sultan AlNeyadi are currently taking part in the training as part of the strategic partnership between the two organisations. Two astronauts to be selected from the second batch of the UAE Astronaut Programme will also join the 2021 NASA Astronaut Candidate Class, in which they will receive the training that US space agencys astronauts undergo. The training programme will prepare Emirati astronauts physically and psychologically for future space missions.

The training programme will be conducted at NASA's Johnson Space Center, one of the world's largest centres for spaceflight training, research, and mission control. A pioneer in human space exploration for more than half a century, the Johnson Space Center, founded in 1961 in Houston, has been at the forefront of American human space flight programmes.

The programme created as part of the new partnership includes the same modules and components featured in the training of NASA astronauts. Under the programme, the astronauts will be trained to manage various missions on the International Space Station, including simulated spacewalks and long duration stay, along with training in major systems, robotics, extravehicular activity, T-38 jet courses, water and land survival, Russian language skills and theoretical training. The UAE's participation in the NASA training programme reflects the global reputation of the countrys space sector and its leadership among spacefaring nations.

Hazzaa AlMansoori and Sultan AlNeyadi had earlier trained at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Moscow in September 2018 as part of their preparation for their launch to the International Space Station.

Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, chairman, Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre, said: The global space sector is based on international cooperation fostered by establishing alliances and building bridges of knowledge with leading international space organisations and agencies. The strategic partnership with NASA, a space pioneer for more than 60 years, supports the strategy of the UAEs National Space Programme. Emirati astronauts will benefit from NASAs extensive infrastructure, experience and knowledge in spaceflight development and operations."

Al Mansoori further added: This agreement is a clear testament of the strong economic, cultural and diplomatic ties between the UAE and the USA. The UAE space sector today has advanced expertise that must be enhanced and utilised for future space missions. These accomplishments have raised the global profile of the UAE space sector and enhanced the capabilities of Emirati astronauts."

Yousuf Hamad Al Shaibani, Director General, MBRSC, said: "This agreement supports the objectives of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre to promote the Emirates Astronaut Program and global partnerships for the country in the area of manned spaceflight. This is being achieved through investments in specialised space training and other projects related to scientific research and development of space technologies. These initiatives pave the way for future strategic partnerships that can support the growth of the UAEs space sector.

HE Al Shaibani added, The agreement with NASA aims to increase the readiness of Emirati astronauts and prepare them for future long-term space missions. The partnership reflects our endeavours to lay strong foundations for the sectors continued development.

The USA and the UAE enjoy a strong relationship in the space sector, and we are excited to extend that relationship with this agreement. The UAE has made extraordinary progress in the space arena in a short amount of time with the successful launch of the Hope Mars probe, the regions first interplanetary spacecraft, the latest example of the countrys ambitious space programme, said James W Morhard, Deputy Administrator, NASA. This agreement to train Emirati astronauts will pave the way for even closer relations between our two nations creating new opportunities for the UAE to become involved in the International Space Station, Artemis, and other NASA activities.

Underwater space-walk training
Walsh University science lab featuring analytical equipment from Shimadzu Scientific Instruments. Although we experienced multiple delays due to the COVID shutdown, we were not deterred from our ultimate objective. We were able to get this equipment installed and operational because of the monumental efforts from everyone involved.

Through the Shimadzu Partnership for Academics, Research and Quality of Life (SPARQ) program, Shimadzu Scientific Instruments and Walsh University have collaborated to enhance the schools science division. Shimadzu and Walsh University began their partnership in January and have successfully completed the installation of nearly $1.2 million worth of new analytical equipment into chemistry laboratories in time for the start of the new academic year in fall 2020.

Although we experienced multiple delays due to the COVID shutdown, we were not deterred from our ultimate objective, said Dan Passerini, Ph.D., Walsh Director of Development, who spearheaded the project. Even as the campus was being prepared for the return of students, we were able to get this equipment installed and operational because of the monumental efforts from everyone involved.

Shimadzu provided cutting-edge, innovative analytical solutions covering a range of techniques, including mass spectrometry (GC-MS and LC-MS), DSC, GPC, GC, ICP, and FTIR spectroscopy, all of which serve a vital role in scientific analysis. In addition to instrumentation for the laboratory, Walsh University will receive a grant of more than $550,000, international internship opportunities and unlimited access for faculty, staff and students to consult with Shimadzu scientists and industry experts on projects for the life of the partnership.

Shimadzu selected Walsh as an award recipient because of the universitys proven track record of outstanding science student preparation, potential for growth and commitment to academic excellence.

Our partnership with Shimadzu reflects a joint commitment to world-class education and research for our students and faculty. Together, we will transform the sciences at Walsh University and offer tremendous value to the business and scientific communities locally, regionally and nationally, said Walsh President Dr. Tim Collins. This hands-on project is another step on our journey to becoming a distinctive Catholic university of national prominence and we thank Shimadzu for this unbelievably awesome opportunity.

Its an honor for Shimadzu to be partnering with Walsh University in the completion of their new state-of-the-art instrumentation facilities. It truly shows Walshs commitment to their STEM outreach program, finding a means to ensure their students are ready upon their return during a very challenging period of time, said Patrick Fromal, Vice President of Sales, Shimadzu Scientific Instruments.

Visit https://www.walsh.edu/news/2020/01/shimadzu-announcement.html to read more about the partnership.

About Shimadzu Scientific Instruments Inc.

Shimadzu Scientific Instruments (SSI) is the North American subsidiary of Shimadzu Corporations Analytical and Measuring Division. Headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, SSI offers a comprehensive portfolio of analytical and testing solutions for a broad range of applications in science and industry. SSI maintains a network of ten regional offices strategically located across the United States, with experienced technical specialists, service providers and sales engineers situated throughout the country. In addition, SSI operates a Solution Center, designed to enable applications development, and an Innovation Center that houses a team of scientists whose goal is to develop close collaborations with universities, government agencies and industry centers. Visit http://www.ssi.shimadzu.com for more information.
The price of methamphetamine has tripled on Australia's east coast as coronavirus border restrictions increasingly put the squeeze on drug syndicates.

Daily Mail Australia understands the cost has jumped from $200 a gram before the pandemic to $600 today.

And the shortage of supply is having a serious knock-on effect.

Pushers of the dangerous and illegal substance have turned to 'stepping on' the product with cutting agents to keep up with demand and generate more illegal profits.

But the diminished quality and soaring prices may be driving ice users toward other drugs, such as prescription opiates.

Daily Mail Australia understands the cost of ice on Australia's east coast has increased from $200 a gram before the pandemic to $600 today (stock image)

What's causing the price rise is not clear, but it's suspected that criminal syndicates are struggling to bring in precursor chemicals such as pseudoephedrine.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison shut down in-and-outbound travel in March to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Although the border lockdown has not impacted cargo shipments from overseas, there appears to be less pseudoephedrine flowing into the country from the precursor chemical hotspots like China and southeast Asia.

While the Australian Federal Police, Border Force, NSW Police and the Australian Institute of Criminology would not comment on the issue, it emerged last week that the price of ice had also tripled in Western Australia.

'Border restrictions have cut off the supply of methamphetamines and also increased price,' Tom Sullivan from the Australian Institute of Criminology told 6PR radio station.

A knock-on effect of the soaring cost of ice is the potential for drug users to opt for prescription opiates like fentanyl, which are still coming into the country uninterrupted (stock image)

'The consequences were a reduction in availability, and the cost of methamphetamines was three times higher than it was at the beginning of the year.

Mr Sullivan fears the under-strain drug market could also see drug addicts overdosing if it suddenly 'bounces back'.

'There are implications for those not expecting to reduce their use and they may be involuntarily abstaining from methamphetamines which could lower their tolerance,' he said.

Another knock-on effect of the soaring cost of ice is the potential for drug users to opt for prescription opiates which are still coming into the country uninterrupted.

Police raided 23 properties across Perth last week, bringing charges against 27 people.

Operation Zulu was prompted by a spate of suspected fatal overdoses in Western Australia.

'There is some suggestion that other drugs like fentanyl are now being used to enhance heroin, creating a potential for further complications and overdoses,' Det-Supt Tony Longhorn told the West Australian.

'When drug users switch from using a synthetic stimulant, like meth, to a powerful opioid depressant, such as heroin, and have no awareness as to the purity of the substance, there is a significant risk of accidental overdose which can lead to death.'

Despite similar fears on Australia's east coast, NSW Health told Daily Mail Australia there is 'no data to suggest an increase in opioid use or overdoses during COVID'.

Officers in Operation Zulu raided 23 properties last week in Perth due to drugs

Officers hoped to gain insight into the worrying trends of heroin and meth use in Perth
Bobby Kim, one of the co-owners of Southside Parlor / Courtesy of Robert Michael Evans





By Kyung Lee









Itaewon cocktail bar

will hold its

on Saturday, Sept. 26, and Robbie Nguyen, one of the bar's original founders, attributes this milestone to the amazing team that makes up the Southside Family.







It's a celebration the bar's management hopes will rally enough confidence in patrons to attend amid the recent downgrade in social distancing mandates. Recent lockdown measures have been hard on the food and beverage industry, so their original plan for a summertime anniversary has turned into an autumn celebration after several postponements.







"The pandemic is hard on everyone," Nguyen told The Korea Times. "There's no point of having an anniversary party if no one feels comfortable."







He highlighted the poster for the anniversary party, which uses a well-known mural of a frog by the late Daniel Johnson, a musician and visual artist from Austin, Texas. With the title "Hi how are you?" it shows 2020's anniversary theme is about Southside's team and patrons checking in on one another after a rather unsteady year.







With the date for the anniversary party finalized, Southside Parlor will also feature a menu that highlights not only their cocktail program, but also contributions from Magpie Brewing Co., Tokki Soju and California Kitchen and Craft Pub.







The event will serve up Cali- and Tex-Mex cuisine, Magpie's own Golden Ale, a seasonal cocktail made with Tokki Soju and Southside's natural wine selection.







"There have been many F&B friends who've supported and grown with us since the beginning," Nguyen told The Korea Times.







Robbie Nguyen, co-owner of Southside Parlor / Courtesy of Austin Vinas









Seven years of practical experimenting







Running a cocktail bar near Noksapyeong Station and Gyeongnidan-gil for seven years is an achievement the team can raise their glasses to.







"Before we opened Southside Parlor, Phil, our buddy Johnny and I ran a taco truck called Three Kings Taco Truck. We used to sling tacos in Hongdae and Itaewon. It was short-lived but provided valuable lessons and gave us momentum to open up Southside," Nguyen said.







Innovation is a major component of their business formula, and Southside Parlor has expanded across the street, now serving both Gyeongnidan and Haebangchon (HBC). In 2018, they opened Pocket, their sister bar in HBC. Nguyen explained the way Southside Parlor created a system where his team uses upcycled ingredients from Southside to make signature sodas for their Pocket highballs.







Pocket's colorful exterior is a welcome mat for anyone visiting HBC, and Nguyen is proud that his team has been able to redefine what a neighborhood bar looks like.







Polina Lee, one of the managers at Southside Parlor / Courtesy of Robert Michael Evans









Journey towards sustainable growth







Like most establishments, Southside has opted to keep business going through the pandemic through delivery services like Coupang Eats and Shuttle Delivery. The cocktail bar intends to stay the course, continuing to use great ingredients and never cutting corners, as shown by the anniversary party's menu.







"As time has gone on, we've realized we want to be more than a great cocktail bar. We want to grow and be a good bar for the community," Nguyen said.







He added that at the heart of small businesses are the hard-working teams that make up places like Southside Parlor, Magpie Brewing, and California Kitchen, and they are the real reason why food and beverage businesses continue to push the envelope in the Noksapyeong area.











"If you become complacent, that's when things can go south real fast," he said. "Even before COVID, our team was already used to pivoting or adapting with ever-changing industry trends. The pandemic just forces you to adapt quicker."







Bomin Kim, one of the managers of Southside Parlor / Courtesy of Robert Michael Evans









Attracting an evolving crowd







Since day one, Southside Parlor has attracted a diverse group of patrons. From military personnel previously stationed on U.S. Army Garrison (USAG) Yongsan, to those living in the Itaewon area, Southside Parlor and neighboring businesses have established an ecosystem to support the local community and visitors, whether through joint events or merely over drinks.







Despite factors such as the pandemic, the transformations that constantly reshape the neighborhood's makeup of businesses and the closure of USAG Yongsan, Nguyen said Southside Parlor aims to plant itself as a neighborhood bar for regulars while also inviting new crowds to drink and dine. And he hopes they will all show up for the anniversary celebration this weekend.







"It's as much about us celebrating being around seven years as it is about thanking everyone who's helped us stick around for seven years," he said.







Phil Abowd, co-owner at Southside Parlor / Courtesy of Austin Vinas







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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 22)  President Rodrigo Duterte will call on the United Nations to do some solemn reflection about criticisms hurled against it, as he appears before the international bodys General Assembly for the first time.

Chief of Presidential Protocol and Presidential Assistant on Foreign Affairs Robert Borje revealed to CNN Philippines on Tuesday that it was among the topics discussed by Duterte in his pre-recorded message to the 193-member United Nations General Assembly. He is the 12th speaker during the general debate which starts at 9 p.m. Manila time.

[T]here have always been criticisms about the way the United Nations has run itself, thats why theres a specific agenda in the UNGA on reforms at the United Nations and that is something that the President will address squarely in his speech, Borje said.

Over the last four years, Duterte has lashed out at the United Nations and its officials for calling out alleged extrajudicial killings and human rights violations in his bloody war on drugs. The administration has rejected calls for a UN probe into the countrys human rights situation, saying it is an affront to Philippine sovereignty.

READ: UN rights chief says Duterte drug war without regard for due process, human rights

I do not want to preempt the speech of the President but essentially he asks people, he asks nations to think about what the United Nations is all about, what are the ideals, what are the principles that it stood for when it was established 75 years ago and how weve been true to those ideals and aspirations and principles that we want, how weve been true to the principle of non-interference, Borje said.

He added that the President wants the UN to know that there are certain issues that countries such as the Philippines have to face and we have different realities to face.

Former Permanent Representative to the United Nations Lauro Baja, Jr. earlier said he sees the Presidents decision to finally appear at the UNGA as a tacit recognition of the role of the United Nations. Duterte has refused previous opportunities to fly to New York for the high-level assembly, sending representatives instead.

Perhaps he wants to make up for his rants vs. the organization, Baja, a former Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs, said in a statement sent to CNN Philippines.

Borje said the President acknowledges the UN's contributions in peacekeeping, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief "but hes also saying that things need to be done as well."

Drug war, sea row

Borje announced Duterte's UNGA attendance on Monday, saying the President will give his take on hot issues such as his anti-drug campaign, and the countrys territorial dispute with Beijing over parts of the South China Sea.

The European Union Parliament recently adopted a resolution seeking an end to alleged killings and abuses in the Philippines and pushing for immediate trade sanctions in the absence of any substantial improvement and willingness to cooperate on the part of local authorities.

Meanwhile, major European powers France, Germany, and the United Kingdom filed a note verbale at the UN stressing that Beijing's historical claims to almost the entire South China Sea violate international law, as ruled by an international tribunal in the case filed by the Philippines. China rejects the ruling while the Duterte administration refuses to bring it up with the UN saying both sides have agreed to disagree to pursue cooperation.

READ: Locsin refuses to bring complaints vs China before UN: 'I trust no one'

Former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario in a statement said Filipinos have been calling on Duterte to invoke the ruling, and that he hopes the President "will finally listen to the people."

Aside from the global pandemic response, other issues Dutertes speech will touch on include security, terrorism, geopolitical developments, sustainable development and climate change, rule of law, the situation of migrant workers and refugees, and the UNs peacekeeping efforts, Borje said.

Addressing PH concerns to the world

An international studies professor believes that after four years in office, it is time for Duterte to speak about the country's concerns amid the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as some geopolitical issues.

Renato de Castro, a De La Salle University professor, said Duterte must have realized that the UN addresses global issues more than human rights.

"The United Nations is not that useless, as he believed it is," said De Castro, mentioning other working UN agencies like the UN General Assembly and the UN Security Council.

De Castro said Duterte would likely call for international cooperation in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the equal distribution of coronavirus vaccines.

He added that it would also be an opportunity for the President to lash out at Western companies who request advance payments for COVID-19 vaccines, as he mentioned during his national address last Sept. 14.

De Castro also said Duterte may justify his war on drugs to the UN using his "classical view" of sovereignty, where no country, international body or organization can criticize his national policies.

Another possible major highlight of Duterte's UN speech, according to De Castro, is his call for a code of conduct in the South China Sea.
One of the more interesting and delicate issues to watch as the economy emerges from the pandemic is how the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission responds to the efforts to recover lost volumes by companies with market power.

Given how concentrated many major segments of the economy are, the differences between pro-competitive and anti-competitive behaviours are likely to be quite blurred.

Loss-leading to rekindle customer activity is probable in some of the sectors, particularly the consumer-facing sectors, while the temptation for informal collusion, or managed competition, to maximise profit recoveries and regain and maximise market shares will also be strong.

Rex's plans to fly the Golden Triangle will add another element to the competitive dynamics of the domestic industry as it emerges from the pandemic. Credit:Robert Pearce

These arent normal circumstances and the ACCC will be confronted with the challenge of determining which behaviours are rational responses to the legacies of the pandemic in the short term, while trying to ensure they dont lead to a structural loss of competitive intensity in the longer term.
Camper fire claims the life of two people in Marshall County
"As soon as the school became aware of the document police were informed and an urgent communication was sent to all year 12 parents instructing that under no circumstances are Shore boys to participate in the activities specified," the spokesman said.

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"Consequences for any boys who do participate will be severe and could include the loss of their place at the school."

In addition to illegal activities, many of the challenges involve sexual or intimate acts with specific categories of women. Students were urged to kiss a girl under the age of 15 and an "Asian chick" and have sex with a woman who weighs over 80kg, is aged over 40 or one who is deemed "3/10 or lower [unattractive]".

Among the dozens of challenges, there are many lawful and less dangerous acts, including human pyramids in public places, getting mullet haircuts, group photos with police officers, waxing armpit hair and taping friends to poles. The tasks were arranged based on the level of difficulty and risk, with the more challenging acts attracting more points.

While requiring students to document their completed challenges in photos and videos on Instagram, the instructions warn boys not to "have anything unlawful in the photo" or clearly document any "inappropriate or sexual" activities.

"If anyone gets caught by a teacher/cops they will say that they were just having fun between the 5/6 of them and won't mention the tournament," the instructions state.

"Be aware of COVID restrictions and do not snitch on anyone."

A NSW Police spokeswoman said school students planning muck-up days should use common sense and avoid decisions they would later regret.

"The police respect the age-old tradition of muck-up days, but students must take necessary precautions so celebrations do not get out of hand and become dangerous," the spokeswoman said.

"While pranks are often part and parcel of the day, don't engage in any behaviour that risks your welfare or the safety of others. The police are not here to spoil the fun, but they will take action if deemed necessary."
Members of the Newport-Mesa Federation of Teachers joined California School Employee Assn. members Sunday in a demonstration over school reopenings amid the ongoing pandemic at Costa Mesa High School. (Kimberly Claytor / Newport-Mesa Federation of Teachers)

Teachers in two Orange County school districts have banded together with bold public protests and petitions, saying they are unwilling to go back to campus in the days and weeks ahead and signaling an undercurrent of broad concern among educators over the safety of returning to in-person instruction.

In the Newport-Mesa Unified School District  scheduled to open for students up through second grade next week 75% of teachers said in a recent survey they were not satisfied with their district's safety plan and felt the district was rushing its reopening. They showed their discontent during a noisy caravan protest and rally.

Teachers at Irvine Unified are circulating a petition that has gained more than 2,000 signatures from teachers, parents, staff and students, urging the district to remain online at the secondary school level. The petition stance goes against the teachers union position. All Irvine campuses are scheduled to open Thursday in some fashion.

We will be jeopardizing the safety of students, staff, and families by resuming in-person instruction, the petition states. And the quality of hybrid, in-person instruction at the secondary level will be inferior to the distance learning model.

Orange County, whose COVID-19 rates have fallen, is among the first cluster of large counties in California that has state and county clearance to reopen campuses closed by the pandemic since March.

The concerns among Orange County educators reflect fears expressed in a national online survey of 816 teachers conducted from Aug. 26 to Sept. 1 by the American Federation of Teachers. At that point, the school year already had started for most of them, although not necessarily with in-person classes.

More than three-quarters of teachers said they were worried that they would get infected by the novel coronavirus at school, and nearly two-thirds worry that their school district will move too quickly to fully reopen schools. A third of teachers said they were more likely to leave teaching or retire early because of their job-related concerns.

Story continues

"There is anxiety about their health, the students' health, their community," said Jeff Freitas, president of the California Federation of Teachers. "Its just at a high level throughout the state.

Until now, the story of school reopenings has centered on rural areas, away from urban communities where infection rates have spiraled out of control, and on the smaller, more closed communities offered by private schools, many of which have reopened through waivers or as "day camps."

But public school districts in more populous areas, such as Orange, Marin, San Francisco and San Diego counties, are beginning to open their doors.

"Theres a lot of concern in those counties," Freitas said. "Theyre still in the red," he said referring to the state's color code to represent the virus threat level.

Under the state system, purple is the worst tier. Red is next, and campuses can reopen with appropriate, detailed safety precautions including social distancing in classrooms and on the playground, smaller class sizes with learning cohorts who stay together, the wearing of masks, and hand-washing centers. Carrying out these plans is based largely on the honor system, with county health departments not equipped for comprehensive safety checks.

"Teachers are not feeling quite safe and they feel theyre getting pushed back too early," Freitas said.

In Orange County, 10 of 29 school districts have announced plans to open before the end of the month, according to an unofficial tally from the county education office. One district, Los Alamitos Unified, opened early this month under a county-approved waiver.

Newport-Mesa teachers union President Tamara Fairbanks said the concerns ran from large to small: The union wants students prescreened for symptoms before school, and they want to know who will supervise the isolation room with a sick student. Fairbanks noted that nurses sometimes rotated among two or three campuses.

"We want to go back to school," Fairbanks said. "We just want to go back safely.

Not every district neighborhood has the same low infection rates, she added, and district staff come from across the county, including from places such as Santa Ana, where the infection rate has been high.

The district defended its planning.

"Weve always followed the guidance and continually update our reopening plans to promote a safe transition to in-person instruction," spokeswoman Annette Franco said.

"We have a diverse community, many who highly welcome the reopening of our schools," Franco said. "You might recall a few weeks ago we had parents demanding in-person instruction. And others who are hesitant."

Union-district negotiations continue.

The debate over safely opening schools has raged downward from President Trump, who flatly called for all schools to reopen full time. According to the World Health Organization, "the role of children in transmission is not yet fully understood."

New York City, the nation's largest district, welcomed its youngest students back to campus Monday  after twice postponing a full reopening. Los Angeles Unified, the nation's second-largest district, has not set a date for reopening. County officials said they would not approve a full return to campus until at least November because of the region's high rate of coronavirus infections.

As children get older, they become more likely to catch the virus, experts say. And although children appear far less at risk of serious illness, they can carry the illness to others. L.A. schools Supt. Austin Beutner has cited recent findings that small children passed on the virus to adults at Salt Lake City childcare centers.

People with underlying health problems  whether students or adults  should carefully consider whether it's safe to return to campus, and should take into consideration community infection levels and safety preparedness, the WHO advises.

Under state law, children must have the option of remaining online only. It's not clear whether teachers have that same right in California. Union leaders tend to think so, but district officials may not have enough online teaching positions available. And what about teachers without personal risk factors who live with someone with underlying health conditions?

Every Irvine teacher with a preexisting condition was allowed to work from home, said Irvine Teachers Assn. President Teri Sorey, but its a real possibility that some instructors who live with a partner, child or family member in a vulnerable category may have to return to the classroom.

Sorey said she, her bargaining team and others had been working with the district without a break since March to develop sound safety protocols.

It's not enough for some 200 teachers union members who signed the petition, about 12% of the members. Petition organizer James Garcia accused the district of "rolling out this haphazard plan very quickly." More than 2,000 nonteachers had signed on by Monday afternoon. "I think the response is pretty telling.

Irvine officials have defended their preparation as thoughtful and thorough. This includes setting aside $4 million for COVID-19 tests. The district of 35,000 students is offering elementary students the option of in-person instruction five days a week. All students have the option of attending staggered, part-time, on-campus classes in small groups.

English and journalism instructor Alex Goodman worries about bringing COVID-19 home to his wife, who suffers from asthma. That's one reason why the Newport Harbor High School teacher joined the car caravan.

He put signs on his gray 2012 Volkswagen Jetta: No safety, no learning and Not prepared. We should wait.

Regardless of how individual teachers feel, open protests have been relatively rare. Union and district officials in Tustin Unified echoed those elsewhere in stressing that they were trying to collaborate. Tustin schools also are scheduled to open this week.

Teachers were given an option to stay home, but only a small number are choosing to stay online only, said public information officer Mark Eliot.
La ministra @PatyDonayre llego a la region San Martin por segunda vez para supervisar la atencion de pacientes con COVID-19. pic.twitter.com/EQyorKiaS6
The Progressive Peoples Party (PPP) has urged the youth to reflect on the varied legacies and actions of forebears and emulate their commitment and high standards.



A statement copied to the Ghana News Agency, as the country commemorates the courageous heroes, and particularly remembering the 111th Birthday of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana First President also encouraged the youth to be guided by the sense of discipline, support for local industry, and the history and culture.



It said one important milestone, worthy of praise was Nkrumahs Accelerated Development Plan for Education, which produced many brilliant professionals across the political divide because it was free for all.



As we celebrate this day, let us count our blessings and stand proud by striving to curb corruption, bolster the economy, consolidate democratic governance, deal with insecurity and honour Nkrumahs vision to industrialize the nation with Ghanaians at the commanding heights of the economy, it said.



May we never forget that governments will come and go, but citizens will always remain the ultimate foundation of what is real and worthy.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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According to Shabunin, the arson was committed the way that would have left almost no chance of surviving.

Head of the Anti-corruption Action Center (AntAC) Vitaliy Shabunin says expert findings on a recent fire in his Kyiv-based house indicate it was "100% deliberate arson."

"The arson was committed the way that would have left minimal chance for people to survive in the house. By sheer luck the woman next door did not sleep at night. Neither the perpetrators nor, moreover, those who ordered the crime have been identified," he wrote on Facebook on September 22.

Read alsoZelensky "concerned and upset" over torching of anti-graft activist's home (Photo)Shabunin also said he had started rebuilding the house with the help of people who support him.

Background
LANSING, MI -- U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, and Republican challenger Paul Junge tried to demonstrate their bipartisan credentials during their first debate in the race for Michigans 8th House District.

Slotkin, a former CIA analyst and Pentagon official, is seeking a second two-year term in Congress after flipping the traditionally Republican-voting district in 2018. Junge, a former prosecutor and Lansing television anchor, emerged victorious after a four-way primary and will challenge Slotkin in his first campaign for a political office.

Slotkin and Junge appeared in the Lansing studio of WLNS Monday night for the first of three scheduled debates. Additional debates will be held on Sept. 27 and Oct. 6.

Throughout the one-hour event, Slotkin and Junge jockeyed to cast themselves as pragmatic, bipartisan-minded candidates who wouldnt toe their respective party lines.

The candidates also tried to poke holes in each others records. Junge criticized Slotkins support for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi while Slotkin asked Junge to reveal his differences with President Donald Trump.

It really seems like Mr. Junge wants to be running against Nancy Pelosi, but you are running against Elissa Slotkin, she said halfway through the debate. I am standing right here and Im telling you my views, separate from Speaker Pelosi, separate from anybody. I dont take my orders from anyone.

Slotkin voted present instead of casting a vote in support of Pelosi for speaker when she joined Congress convened in 2019. However, Junge said Slotkins voting record largely aligns with Pelosi.

I think the viewers of this and all the voters should know when you elect a member of Congress ... if you vote for Elissa Slotkin you will almost certainly be getting Nancy Pelosi as speaker, and that type of sentiment I think is a danger for this country.

Moderators allowed the candidates to pose questions to each other, creating several exchanges between Slotkin and Junge on health care. Slotkin pushed Junge to explain how he plans to ensure people with pre-existing conditions have access to health insurance.

Im talking about like putting your money where your mouth is and voting to protect people with pre-existing conditions, Slotkin said. I got into this race because my mom, who struggled with health care because she had a pre-existing condition, did not have health care when she was diagnosed with stage four ovarian cancer.

Junge said he absolutely believes Congress should protect insurance coverage for people with pre-existing conditions. Junge would vote for legislation that guarantees as much.

Slotkin kept on her opponent, asking Junge whether he supports a lawsuit backed by the Trump administration that would eliminate the Affordable Care Act. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments in the case in November.

Im perfectly prepared to make tough calls; I dont think there really is a need ... Congress doesnt decide or take a vote on whether the administration files a lawsuit, Junge said. Its really kind of a false choice if the congresswoman is offering. What Im saying is, if that court case succeeds we would have to have new legislation to protect people with pre-existing conditions, and I would absolutely be supporting that.

Slotkin said her predecessor, Republican U.S. Rep. Paul Bishop, voted to repeal the ACA.

The only reason that we didnt repeal and replace those protections, is because John McCain walked across the Senate floor and voted against your party, Slotkin said. So please tell us, would you have voted for repeal and replace would you have voted with John McCain against your own party?

Junge reiterated that I will protect people with pre-existing conditions" and said he doesnt want to relitigate partisan arguments of the past on the ACA.

Later in the debate, Junge expressed disappointment that partisan politics has led to a breakdown on additional rounds of federal stimulus to address the coronavirus pandemic.

Junge said he supports continuing a boosted unemployment payment that expired this summer. However, he said the Heroes Act passed by House Democrats included funding for a variety of causes unrelated to the pandemic.

Junge said Slotkin shouldnt have supported the $3 trillion Heroes Act in May.

Of the 14 Democrats who voted against it, most of them said this was terrible Washington politics, that it was delaying the resolution of bringing relief to people with coronavirus, Junge said. If thats an example of the bipartisanship that youd be getting from Congresswoman Slotkin, I think the eighth district deserves better.

Slotkin said she didnt love every part" of the Heroes Act, but it would have provided relief to Michigan businesses and communities.

Slotkin said shes working with the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus to renegotiate more federal COVID-19 relief. She said assistance for state and local governments, schools, unemployment benefits and another round of stimulus checks should be on the table.

The two candidates also agreed several times throughout the night, including condemning violence at protests against police brutality and opposing ending the payroll tax.

Both candidates expressed support for funding environmental protections, though Slotkin expressed more urgency to transition the country away from fossil fuels.

Junge said the Green New Deal would create disastrous regulations on the economy. Slotkin also expressed her opposition to the progressive resolution introduced by U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.

Im a pragmatist. The Green New Deal was so huge and unwieldy that it actually made it less likely that we pass environmental legislation, Slotkin said.

Libertarian candidate Joe Hartman is also on the ballot on Nov. 3. He did not participate in Mondays debate, though Hartman said he asked both of his opponents for the opportunity to join.

Hartman noted Slotkins experience in the intelligence community and Junges experience as a communications official in the Trump administration. Junge briefly served in the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services agency.

I think CIA Elissa and ICE Paul are pretty similar, Hartman said in an interview. I think they represent two of the worst federal agencies, and if you dont want to support the same system that has been getting worse and worse and more and more violent, then vote for a Libertarian."

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- While the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic may have delayed many national and local retailers from renovating individual stores in The Boulevard in New Dorp, construction of the new $180 million shopping center is almost complete.

This fall, ShopRite, one of the shopping centers anchors, will relocate from its present space at 2424 Hylan Blvd., New Dorp, to new digs in The Boulevard, which was formerly known as Hylan Plaza, said Joshua Weinkranz, president, Northeast region of Kimco Realty, developer of the project.
The role of renewed, inclusive multilateralism is key to move ahead in unity to harness the potential of the private sector and civil society and direct them towards achieving national goals

To build back a more resilient economy post COVID-19, Egypts Ministry of International Cooperation is pushing the frontiers of collaboration with multilateral and bilateral partners through strengthened public private partnerships in designing financing initiatives through a common platform supporting Egypts inclusive growth, in line with the National 2030 Agenda and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The role of renewed, inclusive multilateralism is key to move ahead in unity to harness the po-tential of the private sector and civil society and direct them towards achieving national goals.

In this case, it is connecting Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) ambitions with support to Egypts private sector, where there is a greater focus on enablement rather than just delivery. It aims to cultivate the right conditions to unleash the domestic workforce through an ad-equate legal and regulatory framework, effective infrastructure and services, and reliable and clean energy supplies.

To enhance its effectiveness in forging this new social compact, International Cooperation is centered on a nexus between improving human lives and implementing projects that are in line with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

Partnerships to Achieve the Goals

The Ministry of International Cooperation is collaborating with multilateral and bilateral part-ners to develop segments of the economy in line with its Global Partnerships Narrative, People at the core & Projects in action & Purpose as the driver (P&P&P).

Egypt is a founding member of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) which have invested over 6.5 billion in 116 projects that cover all sectors of the economy, from infrastructure to manufacturing and services, and from agribusiness to banking and capital markets.

With the Ministry of International Cooperation, EBRD is also supporting the Government of Egypt to unleash the economic potential of the country via fundamental and sustainable re-forms.

EBRD has been investing in the Egyptian economy for over eight years, aiming to improve the lives of the Egyptian people. The Bank is applying an expertise it has built up over 30 years in the development of market economies driven by the private sector.

Decent Work and Economic Growth

Rethinking goal 8 of the SDGs on Decent Work and Economic Growth, it is seen to have wider impacts that cover social, economic and environmental dimensions. Thereby, the goal of the private sector does not just generate wealth or create jobs, but can also ensure social inclusion, food security, environmental conservation, and most importantly, reduce poverty.

The country has potential to achieve wider public goals by leveraging on the synergies of its businesses. For example, small businesses, which are considered to be the backbone of the Egyptian economy, are too often held back by lack of access to finance, and regulations.

The EBRD has made small business support as one of their key priorities via investment and advisory support funded by the European Union. Recently, the bank signed substantial loan agreements of US$ 850 million with local banks for on lending to domestic enterprises and to support trade transactions. The financing was extended as part of the EBRDs response and recovery Solidarity Package which is helping countries across its regions deal with the impact of the pandemic.

Under the response package, the EBRD is providing urgently needed liquidity, working capital, balance sheet restructuring, trade finance and infrastructure support. A financial package to lo-cal banks in support of local enterprises under the Solidarity Package provided to Egypt, to mit-igate the impact of the sharp slowdown in economic growth because of Covid-19 but which, according to latest forecasts, is expected to avoid a recession.

Supporting small businesses was also carried out through the Star Venture programme to help accelerators embrace innovation, entrepreneurship and business development. Youspital lately joined the programme, which is a booking platform for discounted healthcare that targets un-derserved or uninsured citizens. During this pandemic, Youspital launched a free hotline for medical consultations on Covid-19, as well as home visits for laboratory tests that will help re-duce the spread of the disease.

To tap on the potential of future generations, which is part of the Ministrys strategy to invest in human capital, the bank also rolled out a youth employment programme that provides voca-tional training, addresses skills mismatch and creates jobs. The bank started a technical cooper-ation project supported by SECO to enhance skills standards with the El Sewedy Technical Acad-emy (STA) in Cairo.

Gender Equality

Centering human rights in development, Egypts Ministry of International Cooperation launched the Closing the Gender Gap Accelerator with the World Economic Forum and the National Council for Women, the first in the Middle East and Africa.

The accelerator serves as a public private multi-stakeholder platform that streamlines efforts and mobilizes financing to construc-tively address the Gender Agenda in Egypt. It has also been keen in working with EBRD to re-duce gender gaps in the labor market.

In 2015, EBRD launched its Women in Business programme in Egypt, where it has become an important driver of growth for a more inclusive and sustainable society. Thirty four percent of small Egyptian businesses accessing their advisory projects were women-led and since the be-ginning of this year, ten female entrepreneurs were the first to finish a Women Corporate Di-rectors Certification Programme after following an in-depth training organised by the bank and funded by the EU on the key duties, roles and legal responsibilities of board directors.

Egypt has recently won the EBRD 2020 Sustainability Award for Gender and Inclusion; for the Egyptian National Railways (ENR) contribution to safe transport, which is essential for womens economic inclusion, enabling them to access education as well as economic opportunities. It was also recognized in the EBRD-Women 20 Gender and Crisis Recovery: Building Back Better webinar as an exemplar can, for being the first country to issue a policy paper on women.

Affordable and Clean Energy

Affordable energy for households is critical to not only safeguard peoples lives, but also their livelihoods as it is interlinked with education, transport, health and jobs.

Egypts successful progress in achieving affordable and clean energy was achieved collectively with its bilateral and multilateral partners. Almost half of EBRDs investments have been in sus-tainable infrastructure, including its financing for the 1.5 GW Benban Solar Park.

The park is providing renewable energy to more than one million homes, and is expected to reduce car-bon dioxide emissions by 900,000 tonnes a year. The EBRD was the largest investor in this pro-ject and has worked closely with the Egyptian authorities to create the right conditions for pri-vate sector investment in the renewables industry.

Egypt was also awarded by the EBRD Sustainability Awards for Sustainable Energy; for the com-mitment of the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company (EETC) to innovation, promoting equal opportunities and green skills for women in the country renewable energy sector.

In 2019, the EBRD with the Ministry of International Cooperation supported EECT with a sover-eign loan of 183 million to develop a more resilient and robust electricity grid across Egypt, through the integration of 1.3 GW of new renewable energy, as well as reducing electricity losses, thus saving 77,000 tons of CO2 emissions per year.

Pushing the Frontiers of Economic Diplomacy

The Ministry of International Cooperation launched Multi-Stakeholder Platforms, consultation meetings, in coordination with sectoral line ministers to operationalize Global Partnerships for Effective Development Cooperation.

These platforms provide the priority list of projects that the country needs in the period ahead, across various sectors. The platforms include all multi-lateral and bilateral development partners to ensure alignment, harmonization and comple-mentarity of interventions to maximize impact and achieve sustainability. A new approach to scaling up development efforts in Egypt, led by collaboration and innovation to advance a green and inclusive recovery.

By working together, we can rebuild better. And now is the time. We are not only thinking about returning to a world we once had, but creating and advancing to the world we want to live in.

*Dr. Rania Al-Mashat is the Minister of International Cooperation

*Heike Harmgart is the EBRD Managing Director for the southern and eastern Mediterranean region

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Yet again,Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has waded into the Kashmir issue at an international forum that has nothing to do with the West Asian country.

In his speech at the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, Erdogan said that Kashmir is "still a burning issue" in South Asia and India's 2019 decision to scrap the region's special status under Article 370 has "further complicated the problem".

"The Kashmir conflict, which is also key to the stability and peace in South Asia, is still a burning issue. Steps taken following the abolition of the special status of Jammu & Kashmir further complicated the problem," the Turkish strongman said. "We were in favour of solving this issue within the framework of the United Nations resolution and especially in line with the expectations of the people of Kashmir," he added.

It's hard to reason why Erdogan feels Turkey is any stakeholder (noting that he said 'We were in favour') in the Kashmir issue, which India has repeatedly said is an internal matter. Unless, like on many occasions, he has said this at the behest of his friend Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan. Khan has time and again failed to whip up any sentiment on Kashmir among other capitals, except in its 'all-weather ally' China and Turkey.

In the last UN General Assembly session too, Erdogan had raised Kashmir at the forum and said that despite UN resolutions "eight million people are stuck" in Kashmir. He had also criticised the international community for failing to pay attention to the Kashmir conflict.

Notably, the leader has failed to call out Islamabad-sponsored terrorism in South Asia, particularly in India and Afghanistan.

This time, the Turkish President also touched upon other regional issues in the Middle East, from conflicts in Libya, Syria and Yemen and Ankara's own tense standoff with Greece and Cyprus over resources in the eastern Mediterranean, to the blossoming Isreal-Arab ties with the signing of the Abraham Accord between the Jewish state, US, Bahrain and United Arab Emirates.

READ | Islam's 'Great Game' And The Arab-Israel Peace

India slams attempt to internationalize Kashmir

Erdogan's UN speech comes just a week after India lambasted Pakistan, Turkey, and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) at the 46th session of the Human Rights Council for their remarks on the country's internal affairs. Responding to reference made by Turkey on Jammu and Kashmir, India in its right to reply advised Turkey to refrain from commenting on the internal affairs of India and develop a better understanding of democratic practices.

The 'democratic practices' remark at Turkey appears to be well directed seeing Recep Tayyip Erdogan is widely accused of cementing his power as a result of fixed elections and a clampdown on the opposition, having even faced a failed coup just a few years ago.

First secretary, Permanent Mission of India in Geneva Pawan Badhe who delivered India's right to reply said: "We reject the reference made by the OIC to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir which is an integral part of India. The OIC has no locus standi to comment on the internal affairs of India. The OIC has allowed itself to be misused by Pakistan to subverse its own Agenda. It's for the members of the OIC to decide if it is in their interests to allow Pakistan to do so."

READ | Pakistan Using Terror Groups To Change Status Quo In Kashmir, US Diplomat Tells Lawmakers

READ | UAE Crown Prince Bin Zayed In Talks With US Over Transferring Of Turkey Base: Report
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 04:08:56|Editor: huaxia

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TUNIS, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Tunisian government decided on Tuesday to transform a new university hospital in southeastern province of Sfax into a national center for the care and treatment of COVID-19 patients, reported Tunis Afrique Presse (TAP).

The construction of Sfax hospital was started in December 2016 with Chinese financing aid estimated at 70 million U.S. dollars. Its construction area covers about 26,000 square meters.

Speaking at the end of a conference on "the prevention of influenza in the time of COVID-19", Tunisian Health Minister Faouzi Mehdi assured that this hospital will be ready in a few days.

The government has taken this decision amid a surge in the daily infections in the country.

According to its latest epidemiological report, Tunisian health ministry confirmed 528 new COVID-19 cases and five more deaths, raising the total number of infections to 11,260 and the death toll to 164. Enditem
- The woman identified as Hiyam Nasr Naji Daaban realised she was going into labour and the plane was forced to do an emergency landing

- Nasr was lucky as she delivered with the help of a doctor who happened to be onboard

- In a tweet, EgyptAir announced that the newborn had been granted a free lifetime travel ticket

A baby girl who was born while still airborne is very lucky as she has been given free flights for life.

The EgyptAir flight which was headed to London from Cairo had to do an emergency landing when Hiyam Nasr Naji Daaban realised she was going into labour.

READ ALSO: Chris Kirubi shows off his massive house, lake and expensive car collection

According to The Independent, Nasr is a Yemen passenger and when she went into labour, the pilot diverted the service to Munich, Germany in hopes that she could reach the hospital in time.

Even will all the efforts the pilot made, the lady did not reach the hospital as she delivered a baby girl before the plane landed.

Nasr was lucky as she delivered with the help of a doctor who happened to be on board.

Baby born on EgyptAir flight given free air travel for life. Photo: EgyptAir.

Source: Twitter

In a tweet seen by TUKO.co.ke, the pilot Rushdi Zakaria who is also the chairman of the Holding Company for Egypt congratulated the patient and granted the new born a free lifetime travel ticket.

"The pilot, Rushdi Zakaria, Chairman of the Holding Company for Egypt, congratulated the passenger Hiyam Nasr Naji Daaban, a Yemeni national, for her safety and granting her newborn a free lifetime travel ticket, which she gave birth on board the plane during the Egypt Air flight yesterday from Cairo to London," read the tweet by Egypt Air.

Chairman of the Board of Directors of Misr Aviation Company announced that they presented the new born with a souvenir to celebrate with her family.

"It is our pleasure to receive a new customer to Egypt to fly to the world onboard our plane and we are also pleased to present her with a souvenir to celebrate with her family and to give her a free ticket for life on Munich flights," read the tweet.

Meanwhile, ageing tycoon Chris Kirubi who lives a secluded and peaceful life welcomed comedic genius, Churchill, to his home and no words could do justice to the magnificent abode.

Kirubi who never shies away from spending his hard-earned billions proved he is a man with taste.

The entrepreneur's lawn was professionally manicured and his compound was filled with songs and chirps from birds that hid in the background.

His house stood tall and majestically as it boasted of around three sturdy storeys.

At the front was a uniquely designed swimming pool that swirled around his verandah.

Source: YEN.com.gh
Being Vietnams first automaker, VinFast has no track record and not a single series car produced yet. But if the two very convincing models it showed at the Paris motor show are any indication, the fledgling automaker has high ambitions and its sights set on the premium segment.

One of the two vehicles it unveiled in Paris is the SA2.0 SUV, a high-riding model almost the same size as a BMW X5, with sleek styling and a rather luxurious appearance. It has been said that the model makes use of a BMW-derived platform and, from the side, it really does look a bit like the aforementioned X5 (the previous generation), especially in the lower part of the body.

VinFast wants its vehicles to evoke the beauty of the land where they were made, which is why it employed Italdesign Giugiaro to come up with the design and then had Pininfarina further refine it before going public. The resulting design is actually quite successful, even if it looks a bit too Mazda Kodo-esque from some angles - definitely not a bad look.

It comes with one turbocharged engine choice, standard rear- but optional all-wheel drive and a modern seven-seater interior complete with massive portrait-style infotainment screen and hints of BMW.
Mick Schumacher looks increasingly likely to make his Formula 1 debut in 2021.

It comes amid speculation the son of F1 legend Michael Schumacher will drive for Ferrari-linked Alfa Romeo, after the 21-year-old recently took the lead in the F2 standings.

"Mick has developed very well," Alpha Tauri boss Franz Tost told AvD Motorsport Magazin.

"He has won in every class he has been in and will also stand his ground in Formula 1."

Mick's uncle Ralf Schumacher agrees that the young German is ready for F1.

"I have always said that it is important for Mick to always be in the top three," he told Sky Deutschland. "Now he has won as well, and is always one of the fastest drivers.

"His learning curve over the year has been very promising. So I cannot imagine that Mick won't be in Formula 1 next year.

"One thing is certain: he definitely has what it takes to be in Formula 1 next year."

Tost, though - who says he has known Mick since his karting days and is close to the Schumacher family - warned that the driver "will need a learning phase" in 2021.

"It takes two or three years for a new driver to know what Formula 1 is about," said the Austrian.

"But Mick is a very mature and conscientious driver who studies everything intensively and copes with the technical issues. That is why he will succeed."

The pressure on Mick has been intense since he started making waves in the F1 paddock, as he is following in the wheel tracks of his famous father.

"He can withstand the pressure," Tost said. "He proved that in the junior classes. I am convinced that Mick will also be successful in Formula 1."

(GMM)
Albany, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/22/2020 -- Global Underground Mining Market: Key Highlights



The global underground mining market was valued at ~US$ 21.5 Bn in 2018, and is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of ~2% during the forecast period.

Based on equipment, the drilling equipment segment accounted for a major share of the global underground mining market in 2018.

In terms of method, the unsupported segment held a significant share of the global underground mining market in 2018. Room-and-pillar mining is an old method applied to horizontal or nearly horizontal deposits. This method has been refined over the years, and is used in coal and non-coal mining.

In terms of operator, the contract mining segment constituted a key share of the global underground mining market in 2018. Several contractual agreements are used in contract mining. These can be broadly classified into traditional contracts, risk sharing contracts, and strategic alliance contracts, depending upon the mine life or duration of the contract.

Latin America is estimated to offer high growth potential to the underground mining market in the next few years. Abundance of mineral resources and significant investments from mining companies are driving the underground mining market in the region.



Request PDF Brochure :https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=2372



Key Drivers and Restraints of Global Underground Mining Market



The renewable energy sector is expanding at a significant pace across the globe. However, it is unable to meet the rising demand for power. This has resulted in a chasm between the demand for power and its generation, which developing countries such as China, India, and Indonesia are striving to meet through coal-based generation. This is driving the use of coal in power generation applications. According to the World Coal Association, coal accounted for approximately 38% share of the total electricity generated in 2018. This percentage has remained almost unchanged in the last 20 years. Thus, rise in the demand for power is expected to boost the demand for coal in the power industry. This is likely to drive the underground mining market. Coal production in the U.S. increased to 273 million short tons through underground mines in 2017, up from 252 million short tons in 2016.

Implementation of IoT in underground mining provides several opportunities to companies to increase their productivity. IoT enables data integration from an increasing number of sources. This enables mining companies to plan their mining operations with accuracy.

Companies require skilled professionals with technical skills, high degree of problem-solving, and considerable understanding of such tools and machines to work with technologically-advanced tools and machines. According to a survey by the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of America, Inc., in January 2017, 73% of businesses faced difficulty in finding skilled workers, and 55% businesses identified worker shortage. Thus, dearth of skilled labor is hampering the implementation of smart mining methods. This is adversely affecting the underground mining market.



REQUEST FOR COVID19 IMPACT ANALYSIS :https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=covid19&rep_id=2372



Latin America Offers Lucrative Opportunities to Global Underground Mining Market



Latin America dominates the global underground mining market. The mining industry in the region has been thriving since the last few years. In 2017, 305 companies invested US$ 2.38 Bn for exploration in the region. Chile, Peru, and Mexico received 25%, 22%, and 21% of these investments, respectively, in the year. Favorable government policies and automation of processes in excavation operations are anticipated to drive the underground mining market in Latin America during the forecast period.

Currently, Brazil has more than 180 active mines. The most productive underground mines in the country extract up to 1,000,000 tons of minerals every year. Currently, Brazil has two major underground mines: Morro Velho and Serra Grande Gold Mine.

Chile is a prominent producer of copper in Latin America. It produces 32% of copper in the world. According to Cochilco, Chile's state copper agency, the country produced its largest volume of copper ever (i.e. 5.83 million tons) in 2018, up by more than 6% of that produced in 2017.



Global Underground Mining Market: Key Developments



In April 2019, Epiroc Australia and Mobilaris announced that it had been contracted by OZ Minerals to deploy the Mobilaris Mining Intelligence information management system for digitization of one of its underground operations. This digitalization aims to increase production, efficiency, and safety in OZ Mineral's new Carrapateena underground mine in South Australia.

In September 2019, Sandvik Mining and Rock Technology launched the new Sandvik RDX5 rock drill to complement its rock drill offering for underground drill rigs. The new RDX5 rock drill is a strong replacement for the established HLX5 rock drill model in Sandvik's drilling equipment, which has a heritage and longstanding reputation of being the most reliable rock drill in the world.

In November 2018, West African Resources awarded an underground mining contract for the M1 South deposit at the Sanbrado gold project in Burkina Faso to Byrnecut. The contract, worth US$ 110 Mn over five years, is Byrnecut's second in the West African country.



Explore Transparency Market Research's award-winning coverage of the global Industry:

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/manufacturers-are-trying-new-flavor-combinations-in-chew-candies-to-set-new-consumer-trends-in-infused-fruits-jellies-market-valuation-to-reach-us-23-mn-by-2029-end-tmr-301113058.html



Underground Mining Market: Competition Landscape



The global underground mining market is highly fragmented, with the presence of a large number of players.

High capital investments in facilities, equipment, technologies, and transport vehicles poses a high barrier to the entry for new players in the global underground mining market. Regulatory pathways for clearance and approval of underground mining are time-consuming and capital-intensive. This creates another barrier for the entry of new players into the market.

Key players operating in the global underground mining market are BHP, Rio Tinto, Glencore, Vale S.A., Alcoa Corporation, Coal India Ltd, Anglo American Plc, Barminco, CIMIC Group Limited, OZ Minerals, The Redpath Group, Thyssen Mining, China Shenhua Energy Company Limited, Norilsk Nickel Group, Implats Platinum Limited, Amur Minerals Corporation, GBF Underground Mining Company, and Freeport-McMoRan.

Global Underground Mining Market: Segmentation



Underground Mining Market by Equipment



Drilling Equipment

Loaders & Trucks

Ventilation Systems

Conveyor Systems

Rock Reinforcement Systems

Others



Underground Mining Market by Method



Supported

Cut-and-Fill Stoping

Stull Stoping

Square Set Stoping

Unsupported

Room-and-Pillar

Shrinkage Stoping

Sublevel Stoping

Caving

Longwall Mining

Sublevel Caving

Block Caving



Underground Mining Market by Operator



Contract Mining

Owner Mining
A month into the fall semester, Wake Forest University's president is "confident" that students will be able to stay on campus through Thanksgiving

President Nathan Hatch, in a message Monday to faculty and staff, said the private university's progress during the COVID-19 pandemic "so far has been very encouraging, and I believe that we can sustain it. ...

"I believe that if the first four weeks are any indication, I am confident that we have the ability to remain on campus to Thanksgiving," Hatch said. "Students want to be here, and we want them here."

Like many universities in the Triad and nationwide, Wake Forest will end in-person instruction at the Thanksgiving holiday as the weather turns colder and the cold and flu season begins. After the late November break, students will finish their fall semester classes remotely and take exams online in mid-December.

Wake Forest opened its fall semester last month with a mix of online, hybrid and face-to-face instruction. Hybrid classes blend both in-person and remote components.
Visiting the hammams of Istanbul was like taking a rigorous course in pleasure itself, a syllabus committed to exploring the granular texture of bodily enjoyment, and to proving that pleasure holds its own pathways to meaning, that it might matter most at precisely those moments when it seems most out of place. Life finds unexpected ways to make this argument. In line at the grocery store a few weeks after I returned from Istanbul, just a few days before lockdown, with my own cart full of diapers and Pedialyte, I admired the cart of the elderly woman standing in front of me. It held nothing but cookies and beer. Her cart seemed to be telling me, Youll need those diapers, but thats not all youll need. She had so many years of living under her belt. I bet she knew a fair amount about pleasure, and also about endurance  how each permits the other, and how impossible they are to separate.

Pleasure demands presence. It invites you to inhabit your body more fully; no part of you is held at remove. For centuries, the Turkish bath has embodied the seductive prospect of seeing other peoples bodies not simply physically exposed but also psychically exposed, caught inside the particular vulnerability of enjoyment. There can be a radical honesty to pleasure, a profound nakedness in surrendering fully to unguarded, un-self-conscious states of enjoyment. Its harder to hide or dissimulate when youre enjoying yourself.

Describing the baths in her 18th-century Turkish Embassy letters, Montagu was not only struck by them as spaces of exposure but by the fact that they functioned as a protected social space for women: In short, it is the womens coffeehouse, where all the news of the town is told, scandal invented, etc. She was a foreigner describing intimacies she had no access to  spoken in a language she could not speak, fitted into narratives of her own design. What she was describing in her letters wasnt so much the culture itself but her own fantasy of a certain kind of intimacy and female society.

Pleasure demands presence. It invites you to inhabit your body more fully; no part of you is held at remove.

But beyond the screen of those projections, a robust culture of public bathing has been thriving for centuries. Over lunch one day in Istanbul, Sabiha Cimen, the Turkish photographer who took the photographs that accompany this article, told me about the Mihrimah Sultan, a hammam she used to visit. It always felt like a retreat from the citys frenetic bustle, she told me, another world within the ordinary world of the streets and crowds. A few hours later, I found its nondescript entrance above a staircase tucked beside a gas station on Fevzi Pasa, a busy road that took me past an evening-gown shopping district and a bridal-gown shopping district and a special micro shopping district that seemed to specialize exclusively in silken bathrobes.

The Mihrimah Sultan hammam had a different aesthetic than the tourist hammams in the old city: less elegance, more comfort. The lounge had a big-screen TV and three drooping purple balloons tied to the plume of a potted fern; a big plastic column full of multicolored drugstore luffas stood like a sentinel in the corner. Two attendants smoked at the top of the staircase; another emerged from the office with a tub of hummus in one hand and a plastic bag of simit in the other. Inside the hammam itself, most of us wore only the plain black underwear we had rented for five lira apiece. Instead of fairy-tale mounds of shimmering white bubbles from the torba, we squirted drugstore shower gel across our backs. The staggering grandeur of the old-city hammams had been replaced by something humbler, the dusky sky visible through portals cut into the stucco dome, its curves streaked with rust-red trails of dripping water.

The pageantry of luxury had been replaced by genuine sociability, and the women gathered all around me with their friends and sisters and cousins and daughters, perhaps talking about some of the same things I spoke about with my friends back at the 10th Street baths: the hourly exhaustion of taking care of children; the guilt and weariness and gratitude of showing up for work and motherhood; and never having enough of ourselves to do justice to either one. In that heat, it was always harder to hide anything. We were wrung-out and woozy, blissfully depleted; there wasnt much energy left for dissimulation or sugarcoating. We were stark naked, without any beauty or defect concealed. At the Mihrimah Sultan, the women conspired and consoled all around me, chatting about the smallest minutiae of their lives and resting their tired thighs and exposing their C-section scars, testifying with their very presence to our collective faith that taking care of our physical bodies could help alleviate their psychic burdens.
It still seems a little counter-intuitive that one of the worlds biggest technology firms was also one of the least amenable to remote working, but this, Ive heard, describes the culture at Apple pre-COVID-19.

Now things have changed there, just as they have elsewhere.

Going back better

Speaking during a more extensive interview conducted at The Atlantic Festival, Apple CEO Tim Cook discussed his companys experience around remote working, explaining that around 10% to 15% of company staff have been working at the office during the pandemic. The remaining 85% to 90% of Apple employees are currently working from home, he said, admitting that he does so himself, some of the time.

All the same, he confessed to missing the social interactions. Things like creativity and the serendipity, these things depend on people kind of running into each other over the course of a day, he said.

It is widely known that Apple has designed its offices to make such interactions more likely: You cant schedule those things, he said.

Even so, Cook confesses to being, Incredibly impressed with our teams and their resilience. We continue on the innovation trail."

The end result?

Apple has been able to maintain its business, make key contributions to the struggle against the pandemic, introduce new products and prepare for even more launches with more of those "Designed At Home In Cupertino" toys coming down the pipe.

Apple Silicon, anyone?

The experience means Cook now seems to accept remote working. I don't believe that we will return to the way we were, because we found that there are some things that actually work really well virtually, he said.

That work is changing is pretty much accepted at this point. Most nations have now seen the consequences of attempting to return to normal working patterns in the absence of solid testing and support mechanisms. In the UK, for example, advice swiftly shifted from go back to work to work from home if you can in a matter of weeks.

There are strong signals many employers now accept that remote working can be effective. And that now theyve shown this to be the case, many employees will want to continue to do so.

Analysts agree: IDC predicts 60% of the U.S. workforce will be remote by 2024, while Gartner data claims 47% of businesses will let employees continue to work from home in future.

Trust and autonomy

Cooks statements about remote work speak to the thawing of the attitude held by employers toward WFH. It signals that the CEO of one of the worlds biggest companies recognizes that if you trust employees a little, you will be rewarded.

Why would he not?

Despite the scale and speed of the initial crisis, Apple did not buckle; its business (while impacted) remained on track and it was able to make valuable contributions to the struggle against the disease  all while nearly all of its employees worked from home.

Cook isnt alone in this experience.

Perhaps the future of work will see more trust and autonomy given to employees, now theyve proved just how well they can handle it?

Please follow me on Twitter, or join me in the AppleHolics bar & grill and Apple Discussions groups on MeWe.
New Delhi:

Suspecting the possibility of sabotage in the recent spate of train derailments, railway minister Suresh Prabhu has written to home minister Rajnath Singh seeking a detailed probe by the National Investigating Agency (NIA) into the incidents.

In a letter dated January 23 to the home minister, Prabhu sought an NIA probe into the recent spate of train mishaps and listed six incidents of "possibility of criminal interference by outsiders".

In the letter, Prabhu made a mention of Hirakhand Express derailment near Kuneru station in Andhra Pradesh, two goods trains that went off the track earlier this month on the Koraput-Kirandul section, "cooker bomb" at Ghorasahan station, detection of deep cuts on tracks near Kanpur on January 1 and the obstruction on tracks on a rail bridge between Barauni-Samastipur stations on Monday.

Citing the derailment of Indore-Patna Express in Kanpur in which around 150 people were killed, he said: "Bihar police unearthed a conspiracy to train some persons in the country to tamper with railway tracks to cause train derailments and (their) possible involvement in the accident near Kanpur." "Requesting all to be extra vigilant to foil nefarious designs of these anti-people elements trying to subvert system, dastardly inhuman acts(sic)," Prabhu tweeted on Wednesday.

The minister has also directed railway security personnel to be careful and asked the public to give information of any unusual activity by anti-national elements near stations to law enforcement agencies.

On January 1, Railway Protection Force director general SK Bhagat had written to the CBI requesting for a probe into the suspected involvement of outsiders in making deep cuts on tracks near Kalyanpur, Mandhana stations near Kanpur.

There is a marked increase in derailments in the recent past with strong indications of "outside interference" on track to derail trains on busy routes, according to railways.

A major mishap was averted on Tuesday night by an alert loco pilot of Jan Shatabdi Express who saw a 15-feet rail piece on the track and stopped the train near Diwa in Mumbai.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
The Nobel Prize ceremony on 10 December will be entirely virtual, and the laureates will receive medals and diplomas in their own countries either in the Swedish embassy or at their institutes, the Nobel Foundation said on Tuesday. A few days ago, the foundation had said the ceremony will be scaled down to just 100 attendees. This was after it announced the cancellation of the traditional post-ceremony banquet in July. It is the first time since 1956 that the banquet had been cancelled. The prizes will be announced in October. For the rest of the news, heres Mint Lite.

TikTok says it's cleaned up its act

View Full Image In the first half of 2020, TikTok removed over 3.7 crore videos in India for violating its community guidelines

In the first half of 2020, TikTok removed over 3.7 crore videos in India for violating its community guidelines, the company owned by Chinas ByteDance said in its transparency report released Tuesday. These were among the 10.5 crore videos removed from the platform across the world. The most videos were removed in India, followed by the US. The report covers January to June 2020, before TikTok was banned in India, along with 58 other Chinese apps. Before the ban, India was one of TikToks biggest markets with close to 660 million installs since its launch in 2017. TikTok is also under pressure in the US. The report said more than a third of the videos taken down contained nudity and sexual content. Separately, the company has also proposed a global coalition of social media firms for content moderation as they increasingly come under fire for spreading misinformation and violating privacy.

A way to put air travel back on track

View Full Image Hong Kong has banned Air India for two weeks till 3 October after six passengers from Delhi tested positive upon arrival

Universal coronavirus for departing passengers offer the only hope of reviving demand for flights in the absence of a vaccine, International Air Transport Association (IATA) said. The 100% adoption of rapid antigen tests, which should be available next month, would remove any need for quarantines that are currently killing the market", IATA said on Tuesday. While IATAs call for testing isnt new, it would help create a unified approach to air travel, which will help the financial health of airlines. Air India has recently faced trouble with passengers testing positive for covid-19 after reaching destinations. Hong Kong has banned Air India for two weeks till 3 October after six passengers from Delhi tested positive upon arrival. This is the second time Air Indias ops to Hong Kong have been suspended. Dubai suspended Air India Express operations till 2 October for the same reason.

Gen Z want family time, health

View Full Image Changing priorities

The pandemic has had an unexpected effect on the outlook of Gen Z, or those born between 1995 and 2015. From career and finances, their top concerns now centre on health and family, a new survey shows. The Isobar-Ipsos #MeetTheZ Survey observes the top priorities of Gen Z now are, in order of importance, staying fit, spending quality time with family, having a successful career, travelling and making money. Pre-covid, the top aspirations, ranked, were: having a successful career, making money, staying fit, becoming famous and spending time with family. The report observes the shift in thinking is linked to the fears Gen Z has expressed as uncertainty prevails (see chart). Over half fear losing a year because of delay in exams; while 30% worry about getting a well-paid job.

Why we are so nostalgic these days

View Full Image A new study from CEPR, which draws on data from 17 trillion songs, finds that nostalgia playlists have been in demand for the past few months on Spotify as people listen to old songs to keep away the blues

Weve all watched Friends, The Simpsons or Doordarshans reruns of shows from the 1990s while stuck at home and wondered why. A new study from CEPR, which draws on data from 17 trillion songs, finds that nostalgia playlists have been in demand for the past few months on Spotify as people listen to old songs to keep away the blues. It suggests that nostalgia consumptionlike listening to old songs or watching rerunsis a coping response to the psychological distress associated with the pandemic, and the restrictive rules that many nations put in place. It adds that hospitals and public places could consider playing old music to soothe people. Nostalgia may well end up being one of the primary coping mechanisms (for all generations) of enduring isolation, fear, and a general loss of freedom," observe the authors of another study on covid-19 and nostalgia, which was published in April in Leisure Studies.

Heres what killed Botswana jumbos

View Full Image Close to 70% of the elephants were found dead near watering holes, and locals had observed the jumbos wandering in circles, seemingly dizzy, before dropping dead

Toxins produced by cyanobacteria in water holes killed about 330 elephants earlier this year in Botswana, the government has said. These mystery deaths in the Okavango delta between May and June had baffled scientists and conservationists. Close to 70% of the elephants were found dead near watering holes, and locals had observed the jumbos wandering in circles, seemingly dizzy, before dropping dead. The government tested soil and water as speculation about poisoning and poaching grew. Cyanobacteria are microscopic organisms commonly found in water but not all produce toxins. Experts say toxic ones are becoming common due to global warming. Officials have now said they will be testing all waterholes for the algae blooms to prevent such mass deaths of elephants. Theyre continuing the investigation into why only elephants, and not other animals, were affected by the toxins.

Curated by Shalini Umachandran and Pooja Singh. Have something to share with us? Write to us at businessoflife@livemint.com or tweet to @shalinimb

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Nearly 100 environmentalists, including the prime ministers father, are calling on banks and the International Monetary Fund to stop investing in factory farming to cut the risk of future pandemics.

In a letter to 22 leading financial institutions worldwide, the signatories, who include Jane Goodall, warn that industrial livestock production increases the potential for further disease outbreaks, and contributes to dangerous antibiotic resistance.

Industrial farming also undermines food security, and contributes to climate change, biodiversity loss, including the loss of pollinators, deforestation and water pollution, the letter says.

It was sent to banking giants including JP Morgan Chase, Standard Chartered, HSBC, Lloyds, Santander and NatWest, as well as the World Bank, the European Investment Bank and the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development.

The 94 signatories also include television cook Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Tim Lang, professor of food policy at City University London, actor Joanna Lumley and environmentalist Stanley Johnson.

Experts from both the UN and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) have pinpointed animals or food of animal origin as a starting point for emerging diseases.

Eco activists have long argued that global financiers should not bankroll livestock corporations that risk environmental damage.

In the past five years, meat and dairy companies worldwide received at least $478bn (370bn) in backing from more than 2,500 investment firms, banks, and pension funds, according to a report this year by Feedback, a UK group lobbying for changes to the food system.

High street banks provide billions in loans to the firms behind US chlorinated chicken, it said.

A hatchery in Ukraine (Andrew Skowron)

And over the past decade, the World Banks private investment arm has channelled more than $1.8bn into major livestock and factory farming operations around the world, according to research by Mongabay and the Bureau of Investigative Journalism.

Urging them to end their support for or funding of industrial livestock systems, the new letter says: As the world seeks to build back better after Covid-19, it is widely recognised that we need to rethink our relationship with the natural world and to treat it, and the creatures within it, with more respect. This will involve reshaping the way in which we feed ourselves.

The document highlights studies showing that the crowded, stressful conditions of industrial livestock production contribute to the emergence, spread and amplification of pathogens, some of which are zoonotic.

Sean Gifford, of Compassion in World Farming, which coordinated the letter, said: Its vital that global financial institutions stop funding industrial livestock production and instead support regenerative forms of agriculture that are not only better for human health but also kinder to animals and the planet.

We are at a turning point in history and we need major financial institutions and intergovernmental organisations to act now. The need has never been more pressing.

A spokeswoman for UK Finance, which represents banks and the finance industry, said: The banking and finance industry can play a central role in delivering a post-Covid economic recovery that is aligned not only to the governments net-zero target but also to be approached in a fair, just and inclusive way.

"Banking and finance firms already play an important part in supporting local networks comprising of corporates, SMEs, local authorities, universities and other sources of expertise including agriculture. Lenders take their agricultural policies very seriously and regularly assess clients on their commitment to sustainable business practices.

A World Bank spokesperson said that engaging in the livestock sector was an opportunity to create jobs, generate wealth, advance climate action, strengthen global health and put food systems on a more sustainable footing, adding: The World Bank Group is committed to supporting the sectors evolution toward better practices that result in better sustainable development outcomes.

The Independent has also asked the IMF to comment.
When the Novel coronavirus turned COVID-19 broke out in China and began spreading to Asia Europe and the Americas to the World Health Organizations (WHO) declaration of the disease as a pandemic I have always belonged to those who believed that the disease was foreign in nature and cant live among Africans.

However, I began softening my stands that hot climatic condition prevalent in the African continent was a major cure to the disease making me shift to the few who still abide by the health protocols on COVID-19 to the later since I heard of the increasing numbers contracting the diseases including important personalities.

I was made to believe that the virus stays in human throats and seizes breath resulting to deaths that only hot water, ginger and the likes were a precautionary measure for survival at the time where there was no vaccine.

Again perceived facts, predictions, forecasts and positions of many including the World Health Organizations, some experts in health practice and commentators who kept changing their views on the mode of transmission of the disease from airborne to man-made almost consolidated my doubt about the existence of the disease.

Though I thank God that till date not many of our people and friends in the worst-hit areas had contracted the life-threatening disease or lost their lives, the news that the recovery rate in the five northern Regions Upper East, Upper West, Northern, North East and Savana Regions is encouraging that at least we will soon return to normal life.

I am also happy that those who used nose mask to cover their faces before they could be captured on camera will soon be unmasked so their creditors for once can identify them and collect their monies owed them.

That notwithstanding, there is No doubt that coronaviruses have impacted on our society economically, socially, culturally, Health, education, religion and work.

I wouldnt have believed same if any oddii prophesied to the nation that a time was coming when Ghanaians would be convinced not to hug longtime friends or shake colleagues who had returned from abroad.

Fortunately, the hope of retuning to our normal life is coming where the burden of our kids being at home will be pushed to their teachers.

Anyway, I am looking forward to a day where COVID-19 AS will be a disease in history and say one good thing that it brought to the Ghanaian society was the awareness on constant washing of hands by all and the use of nose mask to avoid droplets from people.

Yet, I still have the fond memories of the active period of COVIDe -19 the name of the disease to the local people brought some humour including koloso valus and kwabena 19.

the security forces had a tough time in enforcing the laws on social distancing making a senior police officer meet his meter at one of the markets in Accra when he was confronted by a lady pastor who resorted to use holy spirit to fight a medical condition was not in favour of nose mask.

During that time the mentioned of alcohol-based -hand sanitizers as preventive measure was either misunderstood to include an intake of alcohol of high standard of 70 percent. In fact when the youth in my community heard about immune booster the intake of alcohol at least three (3) shorts of akpeteshie became the other of the day. Thankfully so bolo had its right place in the consumption of made in Ghana products.

One couldnt help but laughed when a UTV camera captured a lady seller talking about how she uses anti nantilzer to protect herself.

Nonetheless, I found the discus on authenticity of herbal to cure ailments as against foreign medicine important as Nim tree usage went beyond a village or poor man medicine to a treatment for pandemic amongst the rich and urbanized.

In fact, the president of the Republic of Ghana is today acclaimed worldwide as best president to have fought COVID as a result of prudent measures put in place contained the spread of the disease. It was at this period that science and data became popular and applicable to every field.

The current information from the health directorate that the five northern regions which science and data proves are the most heated in Ghana hasnt recorded a case for about a mount now tempts me to suggest that heat remains unfavourable to COVID.

David Fianko Okyere

UER-Bolgatanga

[email protected] .com
The National Association of Seadogs (NAS) on Monday celebrated its 2020 reading session with children from the Karu Orphanage, Abuja, to promote reading culture.

The association, otherwise known as Pyrates Confraternity, donated educational materials, food items and others to the children in commemoration of the 2020 World Literacy Day, which was marked on Sept. 8.

Items donated to the children were text books, note books, pens, pencils, crayons, erasers, sharpeners, toiletries such as detergent, diapers, children playing items and clothes.

The food items were cartons of noodles, cartons of biscuit, cartons of juice drinks, beverages and others.

Speaking at the event, Mr Victor Ofili, NAS Capoon Sahara Deck, Abuja Central, added that the idea of reading with the orphans by the association was aimed at making them take their book seriously while in the orphanage.

He said that the idea was also geared toward making sure the children focused on their future endeavours and to become what they intended to be.

They must take their books seriously to achieve those targets they have set for themselves in life; you can see that one of them said he wants to be the president of Nigeria, while others said different things.

Without being grounded in education, they cannot achieve their dreams and that is why we are here, one of our cardinal principles is for humanistic development, it is part of what we call operation 347, it is part of our guiding principles.

We are here to show them love and to let them know that, they also have a family in us, incidentally, we have adopted this orphanage since 2013, when Abuja Sahara Deck was set up.

We have been doing our part to the orphans since we adopted them,'' he said.

Similarly, Mr Michael Ihunde, the second Vice President of the association, said that NAS was only trying to encourage the children for them to take their literary studies serious.

Ihunde said that the association had spent close to half a million naira to procure the items donated to the children as part of its social responsibility.

According to him, the association is committed to supporting the children yearly and to always put smiles in their faces.

Mr Frank Okafor, a former National Vice President of the association, encouraged the children to discover and develop their talents for them to be reckoned with in the society.

According to Okafor, God blesses one according to what ruminate in the mind, and that there are a lot of things embedded in reading if the children can commit to that.

You gain more knowledge when you read. You discover a lot of things when you read. Maximise whatever talents God has given you.

For you to be educationally smart, you must do the right thing at the right time, focus on your desire, your setback as an orphanage will surely result to a better thing at the end,'' Okafor stressed.

Responding on behalf of the management, the orphanage accountant, Mr Felix Inaede, appreciated the donation, particularly during the period of global pandemic, as things were hard for most people.

Inaede said that the gifts from NAS had been a yearly thing, adding that the association had been so passionate about the development of the children.

NAS has been a mentor to these children to ensure that they are better citizens in the country. These children will remember when they grow that there was a home they lived where donation was always given to them.

Inaede also appreciated the Federal Government and NGO, noting that they had been all proactive in responding to the needs of the children, particularly during the global pandemic. (NAN)
Two men have been sentenced to death for arson after a court in Karachi found them guilty of starting Pakistan's deadliest industrial fire, killing 260 people in 2012.

The men set fire to a garment factory after its owners didn't pay extortion money, the court found.

The arsonists, Abdul Rehman and Zubair Charya, were affiliated with the MQM party, a large national party which was governing in the city at the time of the attack.

Two men have been sentenced to death for arson after a court in Karachi found them guilty of starting Pakistan's deadliest industrial fire, killing 260 people in 2012 (pictured)

The arsonists, Abdul Rehman (right) and Zubair Charya (left), were affiliated with the then-governing MQM party at the time of the attack

Hundreds were trapped inside the factory during the blaze and the building had no fire exits.

Officials initially thought the inferno was an accident but it later was revealed to be an arson attack.

The instigators were sentenced to be hanged but no date has yet been set for the execution.

Of the eight other people accused in the case, four were found complicit while the other four were acquitted, including the then provincial minister for industries, Rauf Siddiqui, defence counsel Abid Zaman told reporters outside the court.

The men set fire to a garment factory (pictured in 2020) after its owners didn't pay extortion money, the court found

Around 40 fire engines tried to tackle the huge blaze when it broke out in September 2012.

Workers were seen jumping from high windows in the horrifying scenes as the fire took hold.

Dead and injured people remained inside with the fire still raging 24 hours after it started.

Fire chief Ehtisham-ud-Din said most of the garment factory deaths were caused by suffocation as people caught in the basement were unable to escape.

Around 40 fire engines tried to tackle the huge blaze when it broke out in September 2012 (pictured)

Dead and injured people remained inside with the fire still raging 24 hours after it started

The garment factory, Ali Enterprises, supplied many clothes to the US and Europe.

Workers manufactured denim, knitted garments, and hosiery, and had capital of between $10 million and $50 million.

The arsonists belonged to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, a secular political party in Pakistan founded in 1984.

The party has been linked to years of violent political rivalry in Karachi and a faction is now a partner in Prime Minister Imran Khans coalition government.

The current MQM leadership denies any involvement with the fire and says such activities were directed from abroad, where several important leaders live, including the founder of the party, Altaf Hussain, who lives in exile and is now a British citizen.

The party says it has cut all ties with Hussain.
The foreign ministers of Ukraine and Hungary, Dmytro Kuleba and Peter Szijjarto, will make a joint visit to Zakarpattia region on Wednesday, September 23, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry's press service has reported.

"On September 23, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary Peter Szijjarto will make a joint visit to Zakarpattia region. Szijjarto will visit Zakarpattia region at the invitation of Kuleba," the report reads.

The foreign ministers will take part in the ceremony of delivery of Hungarian humanitarian aid to Zakarpattia region. They will also discuss the implementation of agreements on a wide range of Ukrainian-Hungarian relations, in particular on deepening economic cooperation, developing border infrastructure and ensuring the rights of national minorities.

As Ukrinform reported, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba had a phone call with his Hungarian counterpart Peter Szijjarto on September 14 and invited him to make a joint visit to Zakarpattia region.

ish
U.S. Attorney General William Barr speaks on Operation Legend, the federal law enforcement operation, during a press conference in Chicago, Ill., on Sept. 9, 2020. (Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP via Getty Images)

Barr: Authorities Bust Drug Trafficking Ring in Milwaukee as Part of Operation Legend

Attorney General William Barr on Tuesday announced that 26 people have been charged with allegedly operating a drug trafficking ring in Milwaukee, including an alleged Mexican gang member who served as the rings leader.

The charges were made as part of Operation Legend, a federal initiative to drive down violent crime in major inner cities, which had provided assistance to the rings takedown.

The attorney general said during a press conference that 21 of the 26 people were arrested on Tuesday and charged with drug trafficking-related offenses, including obtaining kilograms of cocaine and marijuana from California to distribute in the Milwaukee area. Among those arrested was Louis R. Perez III, also known as Eight Ball, who is alleged to be a Mexican Posse gang member and the leader of the drug trafficking ring.

Authorities also seized about 33 firearms, $170,000, and over 1.5 pounds of heroin and other drugs when executing search warrants, according to the Justice Department (DOJ).

Operation Legend is the latest major law enforcement program by the DOJ to crack down on violent crime across the country. It began amid surging crime rates in major metropolitan cities.

The operation began in Kansas City, Missouri, and has since been expanded to eight other cities, including Chicago; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Memphis, Tennessee; and St. Louis. It involves surging federal agents and resources to inner cities to assist local and state law enforcement officials to tackle violent crime and restore public safety.

The program was named for 4-year-old LeGend Taliferro, who was shot and killed while sleeping in his home in Kansas City in June; a suspect has since been arrested.

The DOJ said over 3,500 arrests, including 815 individuals who were charged with federal crimes, have been made since the program launched in July. Of those arrests, 200 were charged for homicide, over 440 charged with firearms offenses, and more than 300 charged with drug-related crimes.

Meanwhile, authorities have seized over 1,000 firearms, nearly 42 lbs of heroin, over 200 lbs of methamphetamine, nearly 30 lbs of cocaine, and over 24 lbs of fentanyl, which is equivalent to five million fatal doses. Over $6.5 million of drug proceeds have also been seized, prosecutors say.

Barr had previously said Operation Legend has had a positive effect on fighting violent crime, with cities seeing falling rates of homicide and shooting incidents in recent weeks, adding that the programs success is most apparent in Chicago.

The latest crime statistics released by the Chicago Police Department (CPD) found that there was a 45 percent drop in murders and a 15 percent fall in shooting incidents in August compared to the previous month. The department said the latest murder figures in August were the lowest numbers since April.

However, city officials responded to Barrs comments linking the citys falling murder rate to the success of the operation, saying nobody should be taking a victory lap, at this time.

We are absolutely making progress, we are absolutely leaning into those federal relationships, but the cause and effect that Attorney General Barr tried to make today, I dont think the facts bear that, not yet, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said. Im hopeful that these relationships and these additional resources would really bear fruit, but were still in the early stages.

Along with Chicago, other cities also saw a drop in violent crimes such as Kansas City, St Louis, and Detroit.

In Milwaukee, authorities have charged 47 individuals with federal crimes. Other cities have also seen a similar trend: 147 federal arrests in Kansas City; 60 in Albuquerque; 72 in Cleveland; 65 in Detroit; 150 in Chicago; 205 in St. Louis; 27 in Memphis; and 45 in Indianapolis.
Kabul, Sep 22 : Afghanistan's Interior Ministry has said that at least 98 civilians were killed and 230 others wounded in Taliban attacks in 24 provinces in the last two weeks as violence has increased in the country amid the ongoing peace efforts.

"The Taliban has inflicted the casualties on our countrymen in 24 provinces and the most casualties have been in Takhar and Nangarhar provinces," TOLO News quoted Ministry spokesman Tariq Arian as saying on Monday.

Security source told TOLO News that an average of at least 30 security forces have been killed on a daily basis in Taliban attacks in the last two weeks and 50 members were killed in just 24 hours.

The Taliban has however, rejected the figures provided by the Ministry.

The increase in violence comes amid efforts by the negotiating team of the Afghanistan government in Doha to start direct talks with the Taliban.

The two sides have held four small "contact" group meetings over the last nine days to try and decide the rules, agenda and scheduling for the official talks.

In a tweet on Monday, US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad said that "over the last few days, there has been a clear rise in violence in Afghanistan" and that "this escalation is regrettable as Afghans, including many civilians, are losing their lives".

He called on all sides to reduce violence.
NEW YORK, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- PageUp , a leading provider of cloud-based talent management software, today announced that Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) has selected PageUp's Recruitment Management , Onboarding and Performance Management solutions to overhaul and modernize the University's talent management approach.

MTSU will be overhauling its current talent management approach with the configurability and flexibility of PageUp's end to end software solution. In PageUp, MTSU has found a vendor that is committed to supporting its HR team through challenges and internal changes while also investing in continued innovation.

With over 2,400 staff in professional and academic positions, providing an exceptional recruitment experience that continues through to onboarding and performance management is crucial to the continued success of the University. As a leader in the knowledge-based sector, MTSU recognizes the need to continually improve its recruitment and talent management systems to attract the best staff, faculty and students.

PageUp was ultimately selected for its reputation, first-class customer support, and proven track record in the higher education industry, with universities around the globe using PageUp solutions.

Kathy Musselman, Assistant Vice President, Human Resources at MTSU, says, "We are excited to partner with PageUp to recruit top talent for MTSU."

Throughout implementation, PageUp is working in close partnership with MTSU's HR team to ensure PageUp is configured specifically to meet the requirements of the University. PageUp will continue to work hand in hand with MTSU to ensure it gets the best out of the system while innovating its talent management approach.

Mark Rice, PageUp CEO, says, "The higher education sector is a key pillar of the US economy, hiring millions of staff each year. Our best-of-breed talent management suite will enable MTSU to attract, develop and retain the talent required to continually advance the needs of their institution. PageUp is proud to work with many of the world's leading universities to deliver innovative talent management solutions and wonderful candidate experiences."

About MTSU

Founded in 1911 as one of three state normal schools for teacher training, Middle Tennessee State University is one of the oldest and largest undergraduate universities in the state of Tennessee. With a fall enrollment averaging more than 21,000 students for the past five years, MTSU remains committed to providing individualized service in an exciting and nurturing atmosphere where student success is the top priority. MTSU features eight undergraduate colleges and the College of Graduate Studies, and more than 300 programs and departments combined, including accounting, aerospace, concrete industry management, music and recording industry. Offering a wide variety of nationally recognized programs at the baccalaureate, master's and doctoral levels, MTSU takes pride in educating the best and the brightest students from Tennessee and around the world. For more information, call 615-898-2300, visit http://mtsu.edu/ or www.mtsunews.com. Follow MTSU on Twitter @MTSUNews and like us on Facebook.

About PageUp

The powerful PageUp platform optimizes each step of the talent management lifecycle  so everyone can reach their full potential. PageUp Talent Management software enhances HR processes with technology that HR professionals, people leaders and employees love to use. From Recruitment Marketing  including sophisticated content management, marketing automation and candidate relationship management tools  through to Recruitment Management , Onboarding , Learning , Performance , and Succession  all underpinned by Analytics .

Customers love PageUp for its deep functionality and ability to be configured for a range of workflows and industries, all accompanied by outstanding customer service. Used in over 190 countries, PageUp is a truly global solution. PageUp has offices in Melbourne, Sydney, New York, London and Dublin.

SOURCE PageUp

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Tata Sons has offered to buy out the stake of the Shapoorji Pallonji Group in the holding company to help it raise capital to pay its debt. The development comes after the Supreme Court restrained the Shapoorji Pallonji Group from pledging shares of Tata Sons till October 28.

Shapoorji Pallonji Group which owns 18.37 per cent in Tata Sons had recently been pledging shares held by it in Tata Sons to raise funds for paying maturing debt. The move was objected to by the Tata Group.

On Tuesday, a Tata Sons lawyer informed the top court of the offer to purchase the stake owned by the Shapoorji Pallonji Group to raise capital.

On September 5, Tata Sons had moved the Supreme Court seeking to restrain the Mistry group from raising capital against their Tata Sons shares. Through the petition in the apex court, the Tatas had sought to prevent the SP Group from creating any direct or indirect pledge of shares.

The SP Group was planning to raise Rs 11,000 crore from various funds. It had also signed a deal with a Canadian investor for Rs 3,750 crore in the first tranche against a portion of its stake in Tata Sons.

Mistry, scion of Shapoorji Pallonji family, had in December 2012 succeeded Ratan Tata as the Executive Chairman of Tata Sons, a post that also made him the head of all Tata group listed firms such as Tata Power and Tata Motors. In an overnight coup, he was removed as the Chairman of Tata Sons in October 2016. Along with him, the entire senior management too was purged and Ratan Tata was back at the helms of affairs four years after he took retirement

Also read: SC restrains SP Group, Cyrus Mistry from raising capital on Tata Sons' shares
The Afghan government and Taliban militants remain far apart on even the most basic issues a week into talks meant to end two decades of a war that has killed tens of thousands of people, diplomats and negotiators say.

The chasm, not just on the predictably difficult problem of a cease-fire but on basic issues such as women's rights, suggests major hurdles to any hopes of binding the wounds of a ravaged country.

Despite the difficulties, the talks are the best hope for peace in years and come as a result of a February pact between the Taliban and the United States, allowing U.S. forces to withdraw in exchange for Taliban promises on terrorism.

But the Taliban has refused to agree to a cease-fire and the war grinds on. At least 57 members of the Afghan security forces were killed in overnight clashes with the Taliban across the country.

With all foreign troops due to be gone by May next year, pressure is building on the U.S.-backed government as it grapples with how it can share power with its implacable foe or contend with a likely Taliban push for military victory.

Since the spotlight faded from the lavish September 12 opening ceremony in a hotel ballroom in the Qatari capital, Doha, attended by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the two sides have only confirmed that they are diametrically opposed on virtually every issue.

"We are talking to a side that is difficult and inflexible, and therefore things are not moving forward," said a senior negotiator on the Afghan government side.

The two sides will have to tackle a diverse range of issues to secure peace, from the legitimacy of the Kabul government to women's rights.

"The first week has demonstrated how complex the talks will be in general, with the most crucial one being Afghanistan's future political system," said Graham Smith, an independent analyst tracking the talks based in Afghanistan.

Saudi Arabia said on September 21 that it supported the talks "and everything that would achieve security, stability and reduce violence in Afghanistan," according to a statement on Saudi state news agency SPA.

Wish For Peace

The Taliban emerged in the early 1990s from the chaos of factional strife between the Islamists who had battled occupying Soviet forces in the 1980s.

Founded by religious students, the Pakistan-backed fighters brought a welcome but harsh peace along with a contempt for women's rights, blocking their education, forcing nearly all to quit work, restricting their movement, and brutally enforcing a strict dress code.

In recent months, the Taliban has said they will respect women's rights under Shari'a law but many educated woman who came of age since the Taliban was ousted in 2001 for harboring Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden have doubts.

Women could be the first casualty of the talks, some activists fear, if the government allows the rolling back of their rights to appease the Taliban.

Three diplomats overseeing the intra-Afghan negotiations told Reuters the talks were bogged down over the finer points of Islamic law.

The government and the Taliban both follow the Hanafi school of jurisprudence within Sunni Islam, but their interpretations of Shari'a are "staunchly different," said a senior Western diplomat in Doha who declined to be identified due to the sensitivity of the talks.

This affects positions on key issues like punishments for crime, women's rights, and freedom of speech.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's spokesman questioned what he said was the Taliban's insistence on settling the issue of the Islamic system so early in the talks.

"This doesn't resonate well with our people's wish for a lasting peace and the current political system of Afghanistan, which is an Islamic Republic state and has legitimacy," said the spokesman, Sediq Sediqqi.

One of the diplomats trying to shepherd the talks said the focus was for now on keeping the negotiators at the table, talking over tea in the Gulf capital, 2,000 kilometers from their war-scarred home.

"They're carving up their playing field," the diplomat said. "The challenge for us is to make sure that no one leaves the field."
In line with its mission to help restore and preserve the environment one tree at a time, Cerveza Patagonia has a commitment to plant a tree for every case of beer sold. 1 The Tree Protection Program expands on that commitment and the beer's role as trees' best friend by planting a new tree for every tree lost due to a hurricane.

While traditional protection policies typically focus on removing trees that are damaged by heavy rainfall and strong winds, Cerveza Patagonia's tree-back guarantee is a giver, not a taker. This tree-loving beer brand knows that the trees in your yard hold memories. So instead of focusing on removing damaged trees, Cerveza Patagonia's Tree Protection Program will help restore and revive Mother Nature's green giants by giving you a new sapling to ensure people have new trees to enjoy, grow and love for years to come.

"Being from Florida, I understand the pain of hurricane season all too well," said Alexander Monroy, Sr. Brand Director for Cerveza Patagonia. "As a brand that already plants a tree for every case of beer we sell, we saw a unique opportunity to help people in a meaningful way this Hurricane season."

Designed to bring awareness to the brand's tree planting and sustainability mission, Cerveza Patagonia's Tree Protection will launch on September 21st and run until October 30th. Visit cervezapatagonia.com/treeprotection to submit your information for a chance to protect your trees.

Check out the brand's Tree Protection Program commercial at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0bTkvOAwO0&feature=youtu.be.

TREE PROTECTION

No Purchase Necessary. Open to US residents 21+. Begins 9/21/20 and ends 10/30/20. See Official Rules at cervezapatagonia.com/treeprotection for prizes and details. Message and data rates may apply. Void where prohibited.

ENJOY RESPONSIBLY

 2020 Patagonia Cerveza, Patagonia Cerveza Pilsner, Fairfield, CA. Brewed in USA

About Cerveza Patagonia

Cerveza Patagonia is a member of the Anheuser-Busch family of brands, and is a premium lager inspired by the mountainous region of Patagonia. Cerveza Patagonia pilsner has a golden color, slightly sweet taste, and refreshing, crisp finish with a 5.4% ABV. It is brewed in the U.S. using the finest barley and hops, including Cascade hops from Patagonia. In the U.S., Cerveza Patagonia has partnered with the National Forest Foundation to become a tree-positive brand, meaning it will plant one tree for each case of beer that is sold. Visit www.cervezapatagonia.com for more information.

About Anheuser-Busch

For more than 165 years, Anheuser-Busch has been woven into the cultural fabric of the United States, carrying on a legacy of brewing great-tasting, high-quality beers that have satisfied beer drinkers for generations. Today, we own and operate 23 breweries, 14 distributorships and 23 agricultural and packaging facilities, and have more than 18,000 colleagues across the United States. We are home to several of America's most recognizable beer brands, including Budweiser, Bud Light, Michelob ULTRA and Stella Artois, as well as a number of regional brands that provide beer drinkers with a choice of the best-tasting craft beers in the industry. From responsible drinking programs and emergency drinking water donations to industry-leading sustainability efforts, we are guided by our unwavering commitment to supporting the communities we call home. For more information, visit www.anheuser-busch.com or follow Anheuser-Busch on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

1$1.00 to National Forest Foundation for every Cerveza Patagonia case equivalent sold from 1/1/20 through 12/31/20, maximum $300,000.

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Imperial Valley News Center

Attorneys Sentenced for Attempting to Extort a Multinational Chemicals Company

Charlottesville, Virginia - Two Virginia attorneys were sentenced today on federal extortion charges for their roles in a scheme to extort a multinational chemicals company by threatening to inflict substantial financial and reputational harm on the company if their demands for a $200 million payment disguised as a purported consulting agreement were not met.

Timothy Litzenburg, 38, of Charlottesville, Virginia, was sentenced to 24 months in prison followed by one year of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Norman K. Moon of the Western District of Virginia. Daniel Kincheloe, 41, of Glen Allen, Virginia, was separately sentenced to 12 months in prison followed by one year of supervised release by Judge Moon. Both defendants had previously pleaded guilty to one count of transmitting interstate communications with the intent to extort.

These two attorneys flagrantly violated their ethical duties to their own clients as they sought to extort a company out of $200 million, said Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice Departments Criminal Division. Attorneys who cross the line and abuse their status as officers of the court will be held accountable for their actions.

Todays sentencing should serve as a strong notice to fraudsters that the U.S. Postal Inspection Service will pursue anyone who uses the mail for illegal schemes, said Delany De Leon-Colon, Inspector in Charge at the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) who oversees the Criminal Investigations Group. Whether its a private citizen or a major corporation, Postal Inspectors will never relent in protecting them from those who seek to use the U.S. Mail to further their dangerous scams.

Litzenburg and Kincheloe previously admitted that in approximately October 2019, Litzenburg approached a company (Company 1) and threatened to make public statements alleging that Company 1 had significant civil liability for manufacturing a purportedly harmful chemical used in a common household product used to kill weeds. Litzenburg and Kincheloe also admitted that after describing the possibility of damaging lawsuits against Company 1, Litzenburg proposed, in sum and substance, that he and Kincheloe enter into a consulting arrangement with Company 1 that would create a purported conflict-of-interest that would effectively stop them from representing their clients as plaintiffs in litigation against Company 1. Thereafter, Litzenburg and Kincheloe admitted that Litzenburg, with Kincheloes knowledge and agreement, demanded that Company 1 pay Litzenburg, Kincheloe, and others, a total of $200 million in purported consulting fees.

Litzenburg and Kincheloe also previously admitted that after making their demand for $200 million from Company 1, they registered a Virginia corporation for the purpose of receiving monies from Company 1, and that they agreed to split the funds from Company 1 amongst themselves and their associates, and to not distribute any of the monies Company 1 paid them as purported consulting fees to their existing clients. Litzenburg and Kincheloe admitted that after making their demand for $200 million, Litzenburg threatened Company 1 that they and others would commence litigation that would become an ongoing and exponentially growing problem for [Company 1], particularly when the media inevitably takes notice and that such litigation would cost Company 1 and its publicly-traded parent company billions, setting aside the associated drop in stock price and reputation damage.

Litzenburg and Kincheloe also admitted pursuant to their guilty pleas that in an email written by Litzenburg, they threatened Company 1 that unless they were paid $200 million, Company 1 would have thousands of future plaintiffs against [Company 1] and that in the absence of a so-called global or final deal with me, this will certainly balloon into an existential threat to [Company 1].

Litzenburg and Kincheloe also admitted that they met in person with attorneys representing Company 1 at a conference center in Charlottesville, Virginia, and during that meeting Litzenburg again threatened to injure the property and reputation of Company 1 and its parent company unless they were paid $200 million pursuant to purported consulting arrangements, and that without such a deal there was no way Company 1 gets out of it for less than [a] billion. Yeah. No, I mean, nuisance value, uh, defense lawyer fees, a hit in the stock when this gets filed and served, maybe the press conference, whatever. Later in the same meeting, Litzenburg and Kincheloe admitted that Litzenburg again stated, in sum and in part, that if they commenced litigation it would have adverse effects on Company 1s parents stock price, which Litzenburg described as a 40 percent stock loss coming off the top.

Litzenburg also admitted that, during other communications with Company 1, he told Company 1 that if he received the $200 million in consulting fees he would not discuss Company 1 or its parent company with his current clients, and that he was willing to take a dive during a deposition of a toxicology expert to deter potential future claims related to litigation against Company 1.

The USPIS investigated the case. Principal Assistant Chief Henry P. Van Dyck and Assistant Chief L. Rush Atkinson of the Criminal Divisions Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.

The Criminal Divisions Fraud Section plays a pivotal role in the Department of Justices fight against white collar crime around the country.
By Trend

Any military attack on Azerbaijan first of all will have disastrous consequences for Armenia itself, Mahir Darziyev, MP of Azerbaijani origin, represented in the Georgian parliament, told Trend.

Darziyev was commenting on Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyevs statement about the availability of information that Armenia is preparing for a big war.

The Armenian people will primarily feel the disastrous consequences of the Armenian governments attempt, the MP said.

"Armenia's desire to conduct large-scale military actions may lead to very hard consequences, Darziyev said. Armenia cannot speak with Azerbaijan in the language of arms. Today, Armenia's military potential is incomparably less than that of Azerbaijan.

At the same time, today's negotiations to resolve the conflict are not yielding any results, the MP said. The liberation of own lands by using force within the anti-terrorist operation is Azerbaijans sovereign right."

Noting that today the Armenian government faced with acute economic problems, the MP stressed that Armenia remained outside the grandiose economic projects being implemented by Azerbaijan.

"If Armenia had not pursued an occupation policy against Azerbaijan, it could have taken part in these projects, Darziyev said. If this country participated in the projects, the implementation of projects would have been cheaper as they would run directly through Armenia, without skirting it.

Today, Armenia has put itself into a dead-end by its policy, and there is only one way out - the withdrawal of its armed forces from the Azerbaijani territories, the MP added. This occupation cannot last forever. Today the whole world knows that peace negotiations are not being held, they do not give results due to the destructive position of the occupying country."

Darziyev added that from time to time Armenia commits provocations.

"During another provocation in the direction of Azerbaijans Tovuz district on the state border between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Azerbaijani servicemen became martyrs, the MP said. Georgia understands Azerbaijans this problem very well. These two countries always support, mutually recognize each other's territorial integrity.

Georgia's position is that this conflict must be resolved peacefully, Darziyev said. Georgia today does not want to be a party to the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Georgia itself has a problem with territorial integrity, the MP said. At the same time, there is a big Armenian diaspora in Georgia. The involvement of Georgia in this problem can lead to tragic consequences. But the Georgian public is definitely close to Azerbaijan. Here everyone knows very well that Azerbaijani territories were occupied, and Armenia is the occupier."

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on the withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno Karabakh and the surrounding districts.

--

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Minister McEntee launches Dont add to the problem fireworks awareness campaign

- Anyone thinking of buying fireworks should remember frontline services and workers dealing with Covid-19

- Elderly and vulnerable members of the community coping with the pandemic should not be subject to fireworks going off near their homes

- Fireworks can maim and kill and can lead to a 10,000 fine and five years in prison

Minister for Justice and Equality, Helen McEntee TD, has today asked anyone tempted to use fireworks this Halloween to remember workers at the frontline of dealing with Covid-19 as well as vulnerable members of the community.

Ms McEntee was launching the Department of Justices annual fireworks awareness campaign, which seeks to highlight the potential injuries and damage they can cause.

The Minister also noted the severe sentences people can face if convicted of illegally buying, selling or using fireworks. Ms McEntee said:

The penalties go right up to fines of 10,000 and 5 years in prison. These penalties are high because the dangers are so serious.

The Department of Justice will in the coming weeks roll out targeted social media adverts aimed at younger people who may be thinking of using fireworks.

But the Minister, who noted the clear increase in fireworks incidents over the past number of weeks, said it is especially important that emergency services are not put under further pressure this year.

This year, more than ever before, we need to remember our frontline workers who have gone above and beyond the call of duty since the start of the pandemic. We asked them to put their lives on the line in the battle against Covid-19.

We owe it to them this Halloween to ensure that emergency rooms are not filled with preventable but serious injuries, caused by the use of illegal fireworks. This would add unnecessary pressure.

Equally, An Garda Siochana, our fire services and our ambulance services are helping our communities tackle the pandemic and should be allowed focus on that vital task.

Lets not add to the problems they already face.

The Minister asked people to again remember others in their community this Halloween.

We know that the illegal use of fireworks can be distressing for many people. We are asking people to stop and think of the impact fireworks can have on those living in their neighbourhoods, especially the fear they cause for older residents or vulnerable people, not to forget the distressing impact they have on pets.

We have already asked so much of our older citizens throughout this pandemic. They have cocooned and restricted their movements  and they do not need the extra worry of fireworks going off near their homes.

The Minister confirmed her Department would continue to support the work of An Garda Siochana in this area.

Fireworks are not only dangerous in untrained and unlicensed hands - they are illegal. Fireworks are explosives, explosives which can maim and even kill.

I have spoken with the Garda Commissioner and we will continue to do everything possible to prevent the illegal sale and use of fireworks. The Commissioner has assured me that measures are already being implemented by An Garda Siochana to deal with the issues arising from the use of illegal fireworks and associated public disorder and anti-social behaviour.

Every year Operation Tombola is undertaken by An Garda Siochana to address all aspects associated with the policing of the Halloween period. The 2020 operation began over two weeks ago in the Dublin Metropolitan Region in response to an increase in unlicensed fireworks use.

We all have a part to play in keeping our communities safe this Halloween. Dont buy or set off illegal fireworks. Dont put our frontline services under pressure. Dont cause undue concern to elderly neighbours.

If we work together and avoid creating extra problems we can all enjoy Halloween.
LONDON, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading travel company Skyscanner has today released a new report titled 'The New World of Travel.' Bringing together extensive travel data and expert opinions from Skyscanner CEO Moshe Rafiah; Travalyst founder, The Duke of Sussex and many other industry leaders, the report explores some of the most important emerging travel trends.

Bucket lists and baller breaks: How and why Americans will travel

Some trends emerging from our data and extensive consumer research show which behaviors we might expect to see when US travelers emerge into the wider world once again. The question of who will travel first is one many have been asking. In the US, data indicates that currently male travelers are more likely to book than female (59%) and those with children are more likely to book than those without (56%).1

"New reasons for travel have come from the events of 2020. Postponed events such as sports, weddings and concerts should see Americans try to reclaim some missed experiences from 2020. Conversely, some are keen to break long-held habits and want to try something new after taking the time to reconsider what is important to them when they go on vacation.

"Of course, many will use travel to reconnect with friends and family and longer trips are expected to become more popular as travelers seek quality time and experiences over quick getaways."

Skyscanner US Traveler Expert, Mark Crossey

The flexible attitude adopted by US travel providers is one that has been wholly embraced, with 11% of Americans departing less than a week after booking.2 With the "big three" US airlines waiving no-change-fees until at least until the end of 2020, jetting off at short notice will be a continuing trend well into 2021.

Pent-up wanderlust: How many Americans want to travel?

The US is eager to travel again, with searches and intent levels among the most robust of all the major countries Skyscanner analyzed. During the month of August, searches for international travel were only 6% less than the monthly average for 2019, reflecting the pent-up wanderlust that we all know is out there.3

Domestic travel searches in August 2020 were actually 6% more than the monthly average for 2019, as Americans take the opportunity to explore their own backyard.4 44% of US travelers believe it's safe to travel domestically, and with TSA recording nearly 1 million daily passengers over Labor Day Weekend, it seems they are acting on their beliefs.5

"Travel for most Americans has been largely confined to domestic for the last few months, with all but essential international travel canceled or postponed. However, what has been amazing to see is the adaptability and resilience shown by American travelers.

"The need to explore runs deep, and those who had their hearts set on going abroad over summer simply adapted their mindset and have been adventuring a little closer to home this year.

"Of course, they are still dreaming of international travel, we see that very clearly in our data and hear it every day when we speak to our travelers. The appreciation we all have for being able to experience different cultures, landscapes, food and climates is so much greater now we've had a chance to miss it."

Skyscanner US Traveler Expert, Mark Crossey

Year of discovery: Where Americans will go in 2021

Americans have been dreaming of travel to the following top ten places for summer 2021:

# Destination City Name6 1 London 2 New York 3 Paris 4 Tokyo 5 Rome 6 Los Angeles 7 Honolulu 8 Athens 9 Papeete 10 Barcelona

From "unprecedented" to "precedented": Global travel trends

One-way. Domestic. Within a month. Searches for one-way continue to trend upward, with domestic travel intent increasing globally against a backdrop of changing travel restrictions. And amid ongoing uncertainty, travelers around the world are also looking to get away in much shorter timeframes than ever before.

Search patterns for domestic, regional and international flights indicate that recovery will be multispeed, tied to the global economy and driven by low cost carriers. At the same time, the decline in business travel revenues for other airlines calls for a rethink of this part of the industry.

Regenerative travel enters the zeitgeist for 2021

"Recovery is vital for the security and prosperity of millions of communities, but recovery cannot just mean a return to the way things used to be. Travel can and should be a catalyst for good. It can be sustainable, ethical and even regenerative. It's our collective responsibility to ensure that the industry that is reborn out of this pandemic is one that gives back more than it takes away."

The Duke of Sussex, founder of Travalyst

Research reveals that sustainable travel concerns are no longer top of mind for many travelers. But as destinations previously suffering from over tourism begin to re-open, the sector has a unique opportunity to redesign old travel patterns for the benefit of local communities, the environment and tourists alike. Skyscanner is pioneering new ways to encourage more conscious and meaningful trips as the new shape of travel emerges.

Notes to editors

1 Skyscanner recruited survey n=4000 (US, UK and AU) August 2020

2Redirects (bookings) for economy class, return travel from the US made on www.skyscanner.com between 18th August and 18th September 2020

3Based on anonymized and aggregated flight searches on Skyscanner's platforms from highlighted countries. Analysis focuses on the change in the relative share of search data for different travel types, versus a 2019 average. Searches have been standardized to compare change over time. Analysis conducted 16th September.

4 Based on anonymized and aggregated flight searches on Skyscanner's platforms from highlighted countries. Analysis focuses on the change in the relative share of search data for different travel types, versus a 2019 average. Searches have been standardized to compare change over time. Analysis conducted 16th September.

5Skyscanner pulse survey n=812 US participants, conducted 22-24 Aug

6 Searches for economy class, return travel from the US departing between June 1 2021 and August 31 2021 created on www.skyscanner.com between August 18 and September 18, 2020

The full report can be found here: https://skyscan.it/3iSA72l

Download images from the report here: https://we.tl/t-ZyEDqhGNdG

Read more: skyscanner.com/tips-and-inspiration/new-world-of-travel

About Skyscanner

Founded in 2003, Skyscanner is a leading travel company dedicated to putting travelers first by making booking trips as simple as possible. Skyscanner helps more than 100 million people in 52 countries and over 30 languages find the best travel options for flights, hotels and car hire every month. Skyscanner is available on desktop, mobile web and its highly rated app has 110 million downloads. Working with 1200 travel partners, Skyscanner's mission is to lead the global transformation to modern and sustainable travel.

After multiple high-profile investment rounds, including from Silicon-Valley based Sequoia Capital, Skyscanner was acquired by Trip.com Group in a deal valued at 1.4bn in 2016. Skyscanner remains operationally independent.

For more information, visit: https://www.skyscanner.com/about-us

SOURCE Skyscanner

Related Links

https://www.skyscanner.com


The primary care workforce is changing rapidly. Nurse practitioners (NPs) are working to keep patients healthy, and more people than ever in the Midstate receive primary care services from NPs. The growth of NPs is good news because it is an opportunity to improve access to care for everyone, including chronically underserved patients. NPs are more likely than physicians to provide primary care to patients who need it the most: seniors, low-income families, and rural communities.

Primary care providers like NPs are paramount in an emergency like the COVID-19 pandemic. They serve at the front-line, helping patients individually, and helping broader public health efforts to track and stop the spread.

At the same time, it is a wakeup call to policymakers: Pennsylvania should fully leverage NPs and enable them to practice to the full scope of their education and national certification. Unfortunately, despite the proven benefits of NP practice, the state restricts qualified nurse practitioners with outdated regulations.

In 2015, the Joint State Government Commission issued a serious warning: Pennsylvania faced a looming shortage of primary care physicians (PCPs). The report called for an additional 1,039 PCPs by 2030  an 11% increase  to maintain the status quo in regard to primary care access. The shortage and a sharpening rural/suburban divide threatened patients, especially Pennsylvanias growing number of seniors.

Despite the warning, the downward trend continued. In a new report, the Pennsylvania Coalition of Nurse Practitioners analyzed data in order to determine the current status of the shortage. We reviewed county-level data from the federal Health Resources and Services Administration for 2015, 2016 and 2017.

Our findings were concerning. Overall, Pennsylvania lost 112 PCPs, down one percent from the 2015 total. The problem is widespread: 37 of Pennsylvanias 67 counties saw their PCP workforce shrink, including 20 counties with a significant decrease. Another eight counties experienced no increase.

Despite being one of the states fastest-growing communities, the Midstate suffered a decrease in its primary care physician workforce. Fulton County lost 20%, Franklin 9%, Lebanon 4%, and Lancaster 3%. Cumberland, Dauphin and Perry counties stayed flat.

Fortunately for patients, the contraction of physician care coincided with an expansion of NP care. The NP workforce grew by a total of 1,613, or twenty-two percent. NP care expanded in 57 of 67 Pennsylvania counties; the growth was significant in all of them including 20% increase or higher in 42 counties. The remaining 10 counties saw no change. No county saw a decrease in NPs.

Patients in the Midstate enjoyed a significant increase. Fulton County, which led the region in physician decline, also led in NP growth at 60%. Lebanon County jumped by 49%, Franklin by 43%, Cumberland and Lancaster by 30% each, and Dauphin by 19%.

State numbers show that access to NP care is even greater than the federal data. Pennsylvania has 15,391 licensed nurse practitioners in 2020 according to the State Board of Nursing.

Primary care is the foundation of successful health care. For families, it improves health outcomes and quality of life. For policymakers, it increases efficiency and lowers overall costs. The logic is simple: better access to quality care allows patients to manage small problems before they become big ones.

State law works against patients and nurse practitioners by adding extra steps beyond the extensive requirements of NP education and national certification. These redundant steps create an obstacle to NP practice. The result of the status quo is reduced access for rural communities, reduced access for low-income patients, and ultimately, sicker patients.

Almost every major health care stakeholder group in Pennsylvania has endorsed legislation  Senate Bill 25 and House Bill 100  to permanently eliminate these unnecessary steps and adopt a modern process for NP licensure called Full Practice Authority.

Twenty-two states have already adopted this reform; their health care quality improved, access increased and costs decreased. Policymakers should embrace the growth of the NP profession as an opportunity to improve care for everyone. Pennsylvania patients deserve to benefit from this proven success.

Dr. Adele Caruso, DNP, CRNP, FAANP, is president of the Pennsylvania Coalition of Nurse Practitioners.
KENT COUNTY, MI  In overnight text messages, Adam Wayne Campbell allegedly told a woman he was on his way to a robbery.

Later, he texted a photo of himself sitting in the passenger seat of a car pointing a gun at his head, and another showing a pile of handguns, some still with price tags attached, an investigator said.

Campbell told the woman she could tell on him but he didnt care because 'Im shooting anything that come my way  It will be on the news,'" Jeremy Marshall, a special agent for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, or ATF, wrote in a criminal complaint.

Police arrested Campbell on outstanding warrants three days after the Aug. 8 burglary of LeMasters Hudson, a federal firearms licensee at 5211 Plainfield Ave. NE in Grand Rapids.

He denied involvement and blamed someone he knew by a nickname.

Campbell, with five previous convictions for burglary and theft, was recently indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of theft of firearms from a federal firearms licensee and felon in possession of a firearm.

Both charges carry penalties up to 10 years in prison upon conviction.

LeMasters Hudson determined that 19 firearms were stolen, Marshall wrote.

He said that guns visible in the photos were the same kinds that were stolen.

An alarm company reported the break-in around 5:30 a.m. Aug. 8. The front-door glass was destroyed with a brick, which was found nearby. Display case were smashed and firearms gone. Police found what appeared to be blood on glass and handgun display tags, Marshall wrote.

He said the surveillance video showed a man matching Campbells appearance breaking in and stealing guns. The robber was wearing a red bandana, like the bandana shown in photos that Campbell texted. The robbers black-and-white shoes looked like the ones Campbell was wearing when he was arrested, the investigator said.

The woman Campbell was allegedly texting about the robbery also reported that Campbell had just poured bleach over the walls of her home, electronics and her clothing.

Clothes in her closet had been cut, Marshall wrote in the complaint.

Campbell is held pending arraignment Thursday in U.S. District Court in Grand Rapids.

Read more:

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The simple answer, at a time when good news is at a premium, is yes, but there is more to the fall than meets the eye.

First, the facts. In the past week, the curve of new cases across the country has seen a rare dip, with the seven-day average of daily cases actually dropping for the five consecutive days to Monday  something that has never happened since the coronavirus outbreak started in the country in March.

The numbers may suggest that cases in the country have started to plateau. Have they?

Have cases across India hit a plateau?

On September 10, there were 99,181 new cases of Covid-19 reported across the country, according to HTs Covid-19 dashboard. Till that day, the trailing seven-day average of daily cases ( commonly referred to as the daily case trajectory or the case curve) had been rising consecutively since August 16.

The August 16 drop in the trajectory was a single day aberration, largely be explained by the decreased testing and reporting of cases due to the August 15 weekend. Before August 16, the trajectory had been rising for 81 straight days. All signs till a week ago pointed to the daily case number crossing the 100,000 mark in coming days. But this mark was never breached.

The seven-day case average touched a peak (so far) on September 16, at 93,617, and dropped for five consecutive days after that. By Monday night, this number had dropped to 90,472. This is an unprecedented drop for a country, which has seen a near-steady increase of the case trajectory throughout the course of the pandemic.

But testing follows a similar drop in trajectory

India set a new record for the daily tests for Covid-19 on Saturday when 1.2 million samples were tested, according to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the countrys apex body on biomedical research. However, notwithstanding Saturdays record, daily testing has been seeing a long plateau since the first week of September. For the week ending Monday, on average 1,001,929 tests were conducted every day. This number was 1,098,274 for the week ending September 13 (the highest it has ever touched so far).

In fact, the seven-day average line for daily tests (or the daily test trajectory) has largely followed the same path as the daily cases  a week--long plateau around September 10, and a drop over the past five-six days.

Meanwhile, positivity rate is rising, again

The seven-day average of positivity rate  the proportion of tests that come back positive for Covid-19  has started rising again. In the past week, 9.2% of all tests conducted across the country have come back positive, the highest this number has touched in 40 days, or since August 12. Over the past month, the average of positivity rate has increased 1.5 percentage points  from 7.7% for week ending August 21 to 9.2% for week ending September 21.

A rising positivity rate means that more people are testing positive for Sars-Cov2 and thus, if this number is rising, it indicates a higher prevalence of virus within the community. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that the positivity rate from a region that has a comprehensive testing programme should be at or below 5% for at least two weeks before it can be considered that the outbreak is under control in the region.

So what does this mean?

While cases do appear to have hit a plateau, two crucial metrics  daily testing and positivity rate  dont present a good picture. India is conducting fewer cases today (on average) than it was a week ago, and a larger proportion of those tests are coming back positive. This would mean that theres a good chance of the case trajectory rising again  if testing levels do.

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LONDON  To say it's been a turbulent year so far for TikTok and parent company ByteDance would be an understatement. TikTok has been caught up in an intensifying geopolitical battle between China and other nations, with the short-video app facing bans in the U.S. and India, which was its largest market in terms of user numbers. Governments said TikTok's links to China made it a national security threat, but the company has disputed this from the start. It looked as though things may calm down after U.S. President Donald Trump gave his "blessing" to a TikTok deal with Oracle and Walmart on Sunday, but Beijing is yet to give its approval. What happens next is anyone's guess. Assuming the deal does go through, what happens to TikTok in Europe? Home to more than 100 million TikTok users and over 1,600 TikTok employees, Europe has hardly been mentioned in this whole saga. But TikTok's users, advertisers and employees must be wondering how they're going to be affected, if at all.

London headquarters?

Less than a month ago, there was talk of putting TikTok's international headquarters in London, but that looks increasingly unlikely. "Assuming the Oracle/Walmart deal goes through, then the HQ for TikTok Global for sure is in the States," said Matthew Brennan, a social media analyst based in China. TikTok has offices in Paris, Berlin, and Dublin, but London is TikTok's biggest hub in Europe by some margin. "For London to be the HQ of a company like TikTok would have been a coup for the city, but alas it seems not to be," Brennan told CNBC, adding that it would have greatly raised the prestige of London in terms of attracting international tech talent. The U.K. is facing something of a "tech drain" as companies exit or change strategy, said Abishur Prakash, a geopolitical futurist at the Center for Innovating the Future, a strategy consulting firm. "First, Nvidia bought Arm," he said. "Now, TikTok is changing gears on its HQ. This is about far more than lost investment and jobs. Wherever these firms are, they will give rise to the next generation of ecosystems and industries. As tech firms exit the U.K. for the U.S., new geopolitical tensions may emerge between London and Washington  over technology." Not everyone thinks it matters if TikTok sets up its international HQ outside of London, though. Timothy Armoo, chief executive of Fanbytes, a company that helps brands advertise through social video, told CNBC: "I don't think it'd be such a big loss to be fair." "The London ecosystem is pretty advanced with some incredible companies based here," he said. "Sure, the lack of jobs will be a short term hit but long term I think any impact will be pretty small."

Data storage

Under the deal, U.S. TikTok user data would be stored on Oracle servers in American data centers. TikTok users in Europe currently have their data stored on servers in the U.S., with a backup copy in Singapore. Who operates those servers is less clear and TikTok declined to comment when asked by CNBC.

Last month, before much of the chaos, TikTok announced that it was building its first European data center in Ireland. When it is up and running, the 420 million euro ($493 million) facility will store and process data for all of TikTok's European users. However, that's not going to be until at least 2022.

Advertisers and creators
Reliance Industries Ltd. has asked local suppliers to ramp up production capacity in India so they can make as many as 200 million smartphones over the next two years, according to people familiar with the matter, a potentially enormous boost for the countrys technology ambitions and a warning shot to rivals such as Xiaomi Corp.

Indias most valuable company is in talks with domestic assemblers to make a version of its Jio phone that would run on Googles Android and cost about 4,000 ($54), said the people, asking not to be identified since the plans are private. The inexpensive phones will be marketed with low-cost wireless plans from Reliance Jio, the parent companys carrier, they said.

Reliance Chairman Mukesh Ambani is aiming to remake the countrys smartphone industry much like he did in wireless services, where his aggressive prices and simple plans quickly made him the dominant force. The billionaire is also aligning himself with the Indian governments plans to build more domestic manufacturing, a possible boost for local assemblers like Dixon Technologies India, Lava International and Karbonn Mobiles.

We are of course trying to build our domestic companies. We have a sweet spot in entry level phones," said Pankaj Mohindroo, chairman of the India Cellular & Electronic Association, during an interview on Bloomberg Television. The world has realized that India is a great place to do business and a great place to do manufacturing also."

Representatives for Reliance declined to comment.

Reliances target of selling 150 million to 200 million phones over two years would represent a massive boost for local factories. India assembled an estimated 165 million smartphones in the year ended March, and about an equal number of basic feature phones, according to Mohindroos association. About a fifth of the smartphones cost less than 7,000 rupees, or about $100.

Reliance rival Bharti Airtel is also in talks with assemblers to build its own 4G device, local media has reported. The Business Standard reported earlier that Ambani was considering outsourcing phone-making.

Read more: Big Techs India Plans Cant Seem to Bypass Asias Richest Man

Reliance in July struck a broad alliance with Google, in which the Alphabet Inc. unit would invest $4.5 billion and cooperate on technology initiatives. The partnership is still under regulatory review so Reliance is proceeding with the mobile phone initiative on its own for now.

Ambani has drawn more than $20 billion in investments from U.S. giants like Facebook Inc. for Jio Platforms Pvt, whose subsidiary Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd. is placing the order. Its worked with assemblers on prototypes for at least two years in secret and can bring a phone rapidly to market, though its likely to miss the November Diwali shopping season, the people said.

If Reliance succeeds in popularizing the new gadget, it could lift the prospects for Jio Platforms, accelerating Ambanis efforts to build an empire spanning e-commerce, social media and games. Many of Jios nearly 400 million users use no-frills second-generation devices, paying $2 monthly for voice and data -- a large potential market for the new device. It could eventually erode the market share of Chinese phonemakers such as Xiaomi.

Jio has an opportunity to target more than half billion Indians who dont own a smartphone and trigger a blue ocean market opportunity," said Neil Shah, research director at Counterpoint Research. With Reliance expected to work with Indian vendors, Chinese brands will lose out on a potential opportunity and market share."

Reliances own requirements could hover around 5 million gadgets per month initially, but no single Indian company currently has that kind of capacity so the order will get split between multiple assemblers, the people said. At least two domestic smartphone makers are in discussions with the telecom giant, the people added.

Phones have become essential for accessing lite versions of apps from WhatsApp to YouTube in a country with an average GDP per capita of around $2,000. Thats why basic devices costing between $100 and $250 accounted for three-quarters of sales in the second quarter of 2020, according to Counterpoint.

Reliances fourth-generation wireless gadgets -- one tier below 5G -- are aimed at the estimated 350 million users of basic or feature phones that now dominate Indias industry. Speaking at an industry event a few weeks ago, Ambani said millions were trapped in the 2G era."

Their feature phones keep them excluded, even from the basic uses of internet at a time where both India and the rest of the world are standing at the doorsteps of 5G telephony," he said.

The pandemic is spurring people to upgrade and creating new market opportunities. For example, parents are anxious to put a device in the hands of their kids so they can keep up with online lessons. Therere an estimated 250 million children between the ages of 6 and 16, according to UNICEF.

If theyre successful in getting even 10% of this base to upgrade, Jio can become one of the leading smartphone brands of 2021," Shah said.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.

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If Facebook were to adopt the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism, this would be detrimental to freedom of speech.

With its 2.7 billion users, Facebook is the worlds largest and arguably most influential social media platform. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that right-wing Zionist organisations have identified it as a key platform to promote their agenda.

Several years ago, for example, the Israeli Ministry of Strategic Affairs alongside students from IDC, an Israeli university in Herzliya, helped create ACT.IL, an online community that will act to promote a positive influence on the international public opinion towards the state of Israel via social media platforms. ACT.IL established an army of trolls and then developed an app to make their work more effective by coordinating mass reporting of Facebook posts critical of Israel.

Soon, it became clear that no army of trolls can cope with monitoring the massive amount of content on Facebook. That is why, right-wing Zionist organisations have recently begun pressuring Facebook to include criticism of Israel as part of its own definition of hate speech. Their objective, in other words, is to force Facebook to alter the algorithms it uses to detect hate speech so the companys own algorithms will automatically remove any criticism of Israel from the platform. Algorithms, they realised, are more efficient than trolls.

The campaign

Working closely with the Israeli government this past summer, the pro-Israel lobbying group StopAntisemitism.org launched the new campaign after receiving funding from right-wing philanthropist Adam Milstein.

In July, Orit Farkash-Hacohen, Israels Minister of Strategic Affairs, published an op-ed in Newsweek urging social media companies to root out the anti-Semitic virus by fully adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism.

A few weeks later, on August 7, 120 organisations representing the whos who of Zionist right-wing groups sent a letter to Facebooks Board of Directors, calling upon them to fully adopt the IHRA definition as the cornerstone of Facebooks hate speech policy regarding antisemitism.

This definition, which has been endorsed or adopted in some official capacity by more than 30 countries, includes 11 examples of anti-Semitism, several of which involve criticism of Israel. This is just the latest concrete manifestation of how any critique of the Israeli government and its politics now assumes the taint of anti-Semitism.

There is, to be sure, some irony here. Historically, the fight against anti-Semitism has sought to advance the equal rights and emancipation of Jews. Yet, in the IHRA definition those who speak out against the subjugation of Palestinians are called anti-Semites.

Thus, instead of enabling the struggle against those wish to oppress, dominate and exterminate Jews, this new definition of anti-Semitism comes after those who wish to take part in the struggle for liberation from colonial rule. In this way  as Judith Butler has observed  a passion for justice [is] renamed as anti-Semitism.

Yet, the people behind this campaign are neither interested in irony nor in justice, and certainly not in justice for Palestinians. As Lara Friedman, the president of the Foundation for Middle East Peace who wrote an expose on the Facebook campaign for Jewish Currents, has pointed out, their letter to the Board of Directors represents the latest front in the battle to use the IHRA definition to officially exclude criticism of Israel from the bounds of acceptable discourse.

Facebook responds

The campaign seems to have had an immense impact. Four days after receiving the letter from the Zionist organisations, Guy Rosen, Facebook vice president for Integrity, announced the organisation had updated its hate speech policy to take into account certain kinds of implicit hate speech, such as stereotypes about Jewish people controlling the world.

Monika Bickert, Facebooks vice president of content policy, sent a letter to the signatories, noting the company draws on the spirit  and the text  of the IHRA, and that under Facebooks policy, Jews and Israelis are treated as protected characteristics'.

Sheryl Sandberg, Facebooks chief operating officer, even wrote a personal note to Milstein, who financed the campaign. She assured him that the IHRA definition has been invaluable  both in informing our own approach, and as a point of entry for candid policy discussions with organizations like yours.

Yet, the company still seems to be reluctant to adopt the parts of the definition that relate to Israel, and it is not coincidental that in Facebooks responses they mention only hate speech towards Jews.

Friedman from the Foundation for Middle East Peace cites senior Facebook official Peter Stern who three months before the campaign was launched asserted that: We dont allow people to make certain types of hateful statements against individuals. If the focus turns to a country, an institution, a philosophy, then we allow people to express themselves more freely, because we think thats an important part of political dialogue  and that theres an important legitimate component to that. So we allow people to criticize the state of Israel, as well as the United States and other countries.

The battle continues

Unsurprisingly, Facebooks new hate speech policy has not satisfied the pro-Israel lobby, and in the August 7 letter, part of the ire was directed towards Stern, claiming that he had admitted that Facebook does not embrace the full adoption of the IHRA working definition because the definition recognizes that modern manifestations of antisemitism relate to Israel.

In a tweet responding to Sandbergs letter, Milstein made it clear the campaign will continue: We look forward to working with @Facebook to ensure #antisemitism is eradicated from the platform and the #IHRA working definition of antisemitism is fully adopted by your organization.

On the other side of the political spectrum, a group of scholars (myself included) specialising in anti-Semitism, Jewish and Holocaust history, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict wrote to Facebook about the dangers of adopting the IHRA definition.

While urging Mark Zuckerberg to fight all forms of hate speech on Facebook, we called on him to refrain from adopting and applying a politicized definition of antisemitism, which has been weaponized to undermine free speech, in order to shield the Israeli government and to silence Palestinian voices and their supporters.

If Facebook does eventually bow down and include the full IHRA definition in its algorithms, free speech on Israel/Palestine, which is already under immense pressure, will receive a lethal blow. It is up to Facebook users to voice their concern by notifying Zuckerberg and Sandberg that they will abandon the platform the moment the media giant decides to adopt the IHRA definition. Ultimately, we, the users, do hold the power.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance.
A coronavirus vaccine is likely to be ready by early 2021, according to a leading vaccine scientist. However, rolling it out for India's 1.3 billion people would be a challenge.

Gagandeep Kang, professor of microbiology at Christian Medical College in Vellore and member of the WHO's Global Advisory Committee has said that India is host to some of the frontrunners in the vaccine clinical trials. "By year-end we will have data that will tell us which vaccines are working and which ones are not going to do so well," said Kang to Bloomberg. She said that if India witnesses good results then vaccines are likely in small quantities in early 2021 and larger numbers in latter part.

Kang added that vaccines in Phase 3 trials have a 50 per cent chance of success.

The scientist added that India currently has no life cycle immunisation structures. "We have no way of vaccinating the elderly who are a particular risk group here. Just building the system to be able to immunize all ages is going to be a challenge," said Kang.

Kang said that even after a vaccine is ready, India would face storage and distribution challenges.

India is hosting clinical trials for major vaccine contenders including Oxford University-AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine.

Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Harsh Vardhan said that more than four candidates are in the advanced stages of pre-clinical trials. "One hundred and forty-five vaccine candidates across the world are under pre-clinical evaluation, around 35 under clinical trials. In India, we gave all support to 30 vaccine candidates - three of these are in advanced trials of phases 1, 2, and 3. Over four in advanced stages of the pre-clinical trial," Harsh Vardhan said.

Bharat Biotech, Zydus Cadila are two of the leading companies in the country to conduct trials in India, apart from Serum Institute for the Oxford candidate. The minister said that the health ministry received Rs 893.93 crore from PM-CARES Fund for 50,000 made in India ventilators.

Also read: Pfizer could secure first approval for COVID-19 vaccine, says Trump

Also read: Coronavirus vaccine update: Russia secures deal to supply 120 crore doses of Sputnik V
The Joint Biosecurity Centre of the British government on Monday raised the national Covid-19 alert level from three to four  the second highest  after new cases doubling every week prompted experts to envisage a scenario of 50,000 daily cases by mid-October.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is due to make a statement in parliament on Tuesday to announce new measures to deal with the virus, seeking to strike a balance between ensuring public health and preventing further blows to Britains battered economy.

Before the statement, Johnson is expected to hold a cabinet meeting and a meeting of the emergency Cobra committee. A range of options have been discussed over the weekend with experts and ministers, with consensus reportedly veering towards more curbs instead of another national lockdown.

The alert level was reduced from level four to three on June 19, when new cases on successive days and weeks were recorded in the hundreds. They rose in the thousands in September, with 4,368 recorded on Monday evening.

The centre has five alert levels; the highest refers to a stage of outbreak in which there is a risk of health services being overwhelmed. The new current level four means the epidemic is in general circulation and transmission is high or rising exponentially.

The new level was agreed by the chief medical officers of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, who said in a statement: After a period of lower Covid cases and deaths, the number of cases are now rising rapidly and probably exponentially in significant parts of all four nations.

If we are to avoid significant excess deaths and exceptional pressure in the National Health Service and other health services over the autumn and winter, everyone has to follow the social distancing guidance, wear face coverings correctly and wash their hands regularly.

We know this will be a concerning news for many people. Please follow the rules, look after each other and together we will get through this, they added.

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Prudential BSN Takaful (PruBSN) will be continuing the distribution of its accessible PruBSN Microtakaful Jariyah plan, involving around 9,000 low-income recipients in Sabah and Sarawak. The distribution is done through PruBSN Prihatin, the takaful providers charitable arm, in collaboration with the Implementation Coordination Unit of the Prime Ministers Department (ICU JPM).

Following this update, the PruBSN Microtakaful Jariyah plan will be distributed to a total of 25,000 recipients by the end of December 2020, including those in East Malaysia. Meanwhile, 11,034 recipients are already benefitting from the plan as of August.

In short, PruBSN Microtakaful Jariyah offers a 12-month basic life coverage for the breadwinners of selected B40 households at no cost. A one-of-its-kind initiative within Malaysia, the plan will provide beneficiaries with a lump sum of RM10,000 upon the death of the familys breadwinner. Eligible breadwinners are selected from the national poverty database, eKasih, which is managed by ICU JPM.

The chief executive officer of PruBSN, Wan Saifulrizal Wan Ismail further explained that PruBSN Microtakaful Jariyah is primarily backed by PruBSN Prihatins zakat fund. Customers and members of the public who wish to contribute to a good cause and help fund the plan can do so by subscribing to the Ihsan rider plan, which is offered alongside PruBSNs flagship products (PruBSN AnugerahPlus, PruBSN WarisanPlus, and PruBSN Aspirasi). PruBSN is also currently running a donation campaign among its staff members and agents to give to this cause.

This programme is a testament to the compassion, collaboration, and dedication between the government, non-profit charities, and corporates to the socioeconomic development of our society and the country, in line with initiatives by the government and Bank Negara Malaysia, said Wan Saifulrizal. He also elaborated that following the recent revision of the poverty line income (PLI), the total number of poverty-stricken households has spiked up to 400,000 nationwide.

This further emphasised the importance of what we do in raising awareness of financial protection among the hardcore poor and poor households, among which takaful and insurance penetration is very low, said Wan Saifulrizal.

When it was launched in 2018, PruBSN Microtakaful Jariyah was distributed to 12,500 recipients within Peninsular Malaysia. In the following year, the number increased to 13,207, including 1,885 first-time recipients in Sabah.

Currently, 92 people have received their death benefits totalling RM920,000 since its launch in 2018, said Wan Saifulrizal.

(Source: The Edge Markets)

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The UAEs Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) said that they have signed a strategic agreement to train Emirati astronauts in Nasa.



Emirati astronauts Hazzaa AlMansoori and Sultan AlNeyadi are currently taking part in the training as part of the strategic partnership between the two organisations, reported Emirates news agency Wam.



Two astronauts to be selected from the second batch of the UAE Astronaut Programme will also join the 2021 Nasa Astronaut Candidate Class, in which they will receive the training that US space agencys astronauts undergo. The training programme will prepare Emirati astronauts physically and psychologically for future space missions.



The training programme will be conducted at Nasa's Johnson Space Center, one of the world's largest centres for spaceflight training, research, and mission control.



The programme created as part of the new partnership includes the same modules and components featured in the training of Nasa astronauts. Under the programme, the astronauts will be trained to manage various missions on the International Space Station, including simulated spacewalks and long duration stay, along with training in major systems, robotics, extravehicular activity, T-38 jet courses, water and land survival, Russian language skills and theoretical training.



Hazzaa AlMansoori and Sultan AlNeyadi had earlier trained at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Moscow in September 2018 as part of their preparation for their launch to the International Space Station.



Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, Chairman, Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre, said: "The global space sector is based on international cooperation fostered by establishing alliances and building bridges of knowledge with leading international space organisations and agencies.



The strategic partnership with Nasa, a space pioneer for more than 60 years, supports the strategy of the UAEs National Space Programme. Emirati astronauts will benefit from Nasas extensive infrastructure, experience and knowledge in spaceflight development and operations.



"This agreement is a clear testament of the strong economic, cultural and diplomatic ties between the UAE and the USA. The UAE space sector today has advanced expertise that must be enhanced and utilised for future space missions. These accomplishments have raised the global profile of the UAE space sector and enhanced the capabilities of Emirati astronauts, he added.



Yousuf Hamad Al Shaibani, Director General, MBRSC, said that the objectives of MBRSC in the area of manned spaceflight are being achieved through investments in specialised space training and other projects related to scientific research and development of space technologies.



"The agreement with Nasa aims to increase the readiness of Emirati astronauts and prepare them for future long-term space missions. The partnership reflects our endeavours to lay strong foundations for the sectors continued development, Al Shaibani added.



James W Morhard, Deputy Administrator, Nasa, said:"This agreement to train Emirati astronauts will pave the way for even closer relations between our two nations creating new opportunities for the UAE to become involved in the International Space Station, Artemis, and other Nasa activities."



The UAE Astronaut Programme is one of the projects managed by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre and funded by the ICT Fund of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), which aims to support research and development in the ICT sector in the UAE.
It's hard to find a world leader who's had a better 2020 than Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen.

She won re-election in January in a landslide, oversaw one of the world's best responses to the Covid-19 pandemic and helmed an economic recovery that has boosted Taiwan's stock exchange to record heights. The central bank last week revised up its 2020 growth target to 1.6%, making it an outlier among global peers as most major economies shrink.

But Tsai does have one major problem: The Communist Party is threatening her life, with its Global Times newspaper saying over the weekend she would be "wiped out" in a war if she violated China's anti-secession law.

The warning in a tweet Saturday described her dinner with Keith Krach, the most senior U.S. State Department official to visit Taiwan since 1979, as "playing with fire." People's Liberation Army aircraft last week repeatedly breached the median line between Taiwan and China, and the PLA Air Force released a video showing H-6 bombers making a simulated strike on what looked like a U.S. military base on the nearby island of Guam.

While China's military dwarfs that of Taiwan, an amphibious invasion across the 100-mile-wide strait separating the two carries risks that could easily backfire on the world's number-two economy. Although many observers see the U.S. coming to Taiwan's aid if China were to launch an attack, Tsai's government is actively taking steps to increase economic ties between the unofficial allies to provide more incentives for American policy makers to intervene.

"If we lessen our economic reliance on China, it won't be able to politically blackmail us," Kolas Yotaka, presidential office spokeswoman, told Bloomberg. "By establishing closer economic ties with other countries, we'll be able to uphold regional peace through shared prosperity."

Right now, the economic relationship is heavily tilted toward Beijing. Exports to China accounted for 42.3% of Taiwan's total in the first half of this year, with only 14.7% going to the U.S. during the same period. Taiwanese investment in China in the first eight months of this year was up 50% year on year, totaling $3.9 billion, according to Taiwan's economic ministry.

Tsai's government, however, has sought to reverse those trends in particular by encouraging companies to bring their tech supply chains out of China to Taiwan and places like Southeast Asia. In late August, she also lifted a ban on certain U.S. pork and beef products -- the major obstacle toward a trade agreement with the U.S.

"We must accelerate our linkage to economies around the world, in particular strengthening our ties with our most steadfast partner," Tsai said at the time. Through July, American government data shows Taiwan as its ninth-largest trade partner, up from eleventh last year.

The Krach visit marked another milestone in that effort. Tsai hosted a dinner Friday night for him that also included Morris Chang, founder of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., the main chipmaker for Apple Inc. The presence of Chang, whose company recently announced it would build a $12 billion facility in Arizona, highlighted the importance of Taiwan's cutting-edge semiconductor industry, which the U.S. is looking to wall off from Chinese companies such as Huawei Technologies Co.

On Sunday, Taiwan's economic minister, Wang Mei-hua, announced she had met with Krach's delegation for talks to prepare for a formal economic dialogue. Tsai on Tuesday also highlighted the importance of strengthening economic ties with the European Union and raised the prospect of a bilateral investment agreement with the bloc, which is the biggest source of investment in Taiwan.

Any serious discussions with the U.S. would be helmed by Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, who negotiated the phase-one deal with China signed earlier this year.

While it's unclear if Taiwan is on the USTR's list of priorities, any agreement would go a long way toward bringing Taiwan out of its diplomatic isolation, according to Tiffany Ma, senior director at Bower Group Asia.

A bilateral trade agreement "would further benefit Taiwan's security by giving momentum -- and political cover -- for other countries to pursue similar arrangements with Taiwan," she said.

The U.S. formally cut ties with Taiwan's government in 1979 in order to establish relations with Beijing. Four decades later, however, U.S. ties with China are getting worse by the day while trade and official exchanges with Taiwan are on the rise.

Shortly before Krach arrived in Taipei, Wisconsin Republican congressman Tom Tiffany introduced a bill to establish formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan and negotiate a free trade agreement. While the bill is unlikely to pass, the fact that a member of Congress is calling for recognition of Taiwan risks adding to Beijing's worst fears.

Despite the military saber-rattling over the weekend, China doesn't appear ready to give up on economic engagement with Taiwan. Wang Yang, the Communist Party's No. 4 official, on Saturday pledged to "further improve policy measures and arrangements" that benefit Taiwanese people.

"We need to have a longer-term vision," said Liu Guoshen, director of the Taiwan Research Institute at Xiamen University, which sits across the strait.

Even so, China's recent military maneuvers near Taiwan signal that it is watching carefully and possibly willing to escalate. While the Communist Party has never ruled Taiwan, and polls show the vast majority of Taiwanese citizens don't want it to, President Xi Jinping has vowed to take it by force if necessary.

"Beijing fears a slippery slope," said Bonnie Glaser, director of the China Power Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "It worries that the U.S. has abandoned its one-China policy and won't respect China's red lines."
Cuisine is shared across the Indian subcontinent in the same way culture is: intricately tied together, with a great deal of shared history. But the food traditions we celebrate are independent of each other, with essential differences that give each nation  and region  a unique identity.

I grew up in a Bangladeshi household in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, so there are layers to the food I miss from home: wedding-worthy fine dining; fill-your-belly, stick-to-your-bones comfort staples; and quick-and-spicy street food (which, as immigrants, my parents have made at home for years)  the kind that makes you embrace the tears for the flavor.

Biryani, for example, is one of the most widely beloved dishes across countries, but every iteration of it is different.

Some South Asians will tell you Hyderabadi/Kacchi is obviously best with its slow-cooked, tender meats and moist, fatty rice, while others will die on the hill of Dhakai biryanis superiority, with its flavor-bomb potatoes and traditional boiled eggs.

For me, biryani is a memory of special occasions, of weddings and akikahs (baby-naming ceremonies) and visiting my grandfathers village, where my uncles would butcher one of their own goats that day for the best, freshest meat.

Here in Houston, Himalaya Restaurant has quenched my thirst for a sinfully rich, surprisingly spicy biryani that Ill eat until it hurts every time. And yes, I realize Himalaya is no secret Desi-insider spot with its No. 9 ranking on Alison Cooks latest top 100 restaurants, but the praise is well-deserved.

The mutton biryani is my favorite, though I do wish the meat were bone-in for extra tenderness (I believe all Desis are born knowing how to pick the best cut of meat from a dish. It can become a curse when your siblings get to the table first). Pro tip: eat with your hands, and dont be afraid of the creamy raitha that comes with the biryani.

Ultimately, biryani could only sustain me for so long. As the pandemic stretched into months (and what now feels like years), I began to crave the less splendid but just as flavorful, and likely more healthy, dishes my mom cooks every day.

I scoured the web but I couldnt seem to even find many Bengali joints in Little India, aka the Mahatma Gandhi district, much less the Bangladeshi enclave I hoped to find among its many Indian, Pakistani and Afghani establishments.

This Ramadan, however, brought me a blessing: my search for a traditional iftar (food to break ones fast) led me to a small restaurant-cum-grocery store in the corner of a semi-dilapidated strip mall  in Little Saigon, of all places.

Imagine my surprise when I drove up to the Bangladeshi restaurant I was seeking and stumbled across not one, but two whole Bengali grocery stores: Bangladeshi Grocery and Bangla Bazar.

It felt like fate. Buying the proper spices to make a smokey, flakey aloo paratha at home felt even better. If you love Desi food like me, you know the spices make the dish; here, you can grab everything from garam masala to panchforon for your own authentic Desi creations (or those hard-to-find ingredients in your favorite butter chicken recipe).

Sojeeb All Bengal Sweets and Restaurant is my go-to for the humble home-cooking dupes I crave when it rains hard and heavy, reminding me of the monsoons of my childhood when a steaming murghir jhol or chicken curry was all that could bring us sisters back inside from taking rain showers, as we called them.

Their chicken curry is a magical thing, rich but light all at once, with a thin, aromatic gravy you could eat with roti and rice alike. The rohu/rui fish is also exquisite, hefty cuts of the prized midsection sitting in a bath of spices fatty with the ruis oils and a tinge of cilantro.

Daal is, of course, an essential part of the meal  the soupy spiced lentils add volume and protein, and essential flavor. I recommend trying it with each protein you order and finding the combos you like, though personally, I like my daal with meat and not fish.

Finally, Biryani Pot makes the best golab jaamun Ive had in a long time  the fresh, warm balls of sweets uber-soft in their silky, fragrant syrup.

Unfortunately, I havent found a desi joint to satisfy all my street food cravings just yet, but All Bengal Sweets in Little India makes a mean samosa and daal puri, and not some wholesome and healthy version, just pure deep-fried deliciousness. I have yet to find a perfectly spicy, crunchy, tangy-sweet fuchka (or panipuri) in town, but thats more due to budget constraints and distance than a lack of options (Im looking at you, Sugar Land).

In the meantime, Ill be making an easy (and cheap) khichuri and omelette, reminiscing over my moms classic rainy-day dish while Houstons downpour transports me back through the years. The simple recipe is below, courtesy of my mother. Thanks Ammu, and I miss you.

Khichuri, a classic rainy day comfort food in Bangladesh

1 cup white rice, preferably short-grain

1/2 cup red lentils (masoor daal)

4 cloves garlic, minced

 medium onion, sliced

1 tsp chili powder

 tsp cumin powder

1  tsp salt

1 pinch/shake turmeric

2 tbsp vegetable/canola oil

Wash rice and lentils, combined. Drain. Add all ingredients to a medium saucepan. Add 3 cups water. Stir well. Bring contents to a boil, then turn down heat and simmer. Stir occasionally, simmering for about 15-20 minutes (less for long-grain rice like basmati) until lentil-water reduces to thick, creamy consistency and coats rice. Fry up an egg on the side, and try a classic garnish of thinly sliced red onions.

A note: Desi is how many South Asians colliquially refer to those from the Indian subcontinent. Desh simply means country or nation in Bangla, so deshi refers to someone from the homeland. Desi is the Hindi/Urdu pronunciation of the same word.
Coun. Gary Baldwin asked city staff on Monday why Peterborough lost out of provincial and federal funding to build a new twin-pad arena at Fleming College.

Baldwin said he wants a better answer than the one supplied by Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith, who suggested the city erred in applying for funding to cover 73.3 per cent of the cost of a $52.5 million project when the cap had been $50 million.

City staff has said that was a soft cap and that the application guidelines allowed for exceeding the cap to encourage partnerships.

Yet Smith had warned city staff last November not to apply for a project exceeding $50 million, and when Peterborough was passed over for money in late August he reiterated his earlier warning.

On Monday Baldwin called that a told-you-so answer from Smith, saying he doesnt accept it as the real reason the city was turned down.

Why werent we successful? I cant think of a community as needy as us (when it comes to a lack of arenas), Baldwin said on Monday.

But city chief administrative officer Sandra Clancy said there were $10 billion in requests for $1 billion of available funding for the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program.

Clancy said some small towns that received funding have a single indoor ice pad slated for closure, for example.

Although late last year councillors were told there would likely be a second round of applications for further grants next year, Clancy said the COVID-19 pandemic has nixed that possibility for now.

Now city councillors can expect a city staff report soon to outline what Clancy described as next steps in the arena-building plans.

The discussion arose on Monday because city councillors were reviewing a series of requests for city staff reports that havent yet been delivered.

City staff have 57 reports to deliver to council, of which 19 were requested two years ago or more. Councillors agreed on Monday to have staff review all those reports and propose which ones are still relevant.

Baldwin was making the point that many reports are still needed, such as an update on how to proceed with the twin-pad plans.

The twin-pad project has been in the works since Northcrest Arena was declared obsolete in 2013. Northcrest officially closed in April.

City council had originally decided in 2015 to build the twin-pad arena on Trent University land at Pioneer and Nassau Mills roads.

But a year ago council agreed to move the project to the Fleming College site because a wetland on the Trent site had recently been designated provincially significant. The design for the Trent site proposed to replant the wetland area elsewhere on the site, but environmentalists objected to the idea.

Also at councillors committee meeting on Monday:

Economic recovery

Mayor Diane Therrien told councillors that an economic recovery task force she co-chairs alongside Peterborough County Warden J. Murray Jones held its final meeting last week.

About a dozen business leaders were appointed to the task force in April to help restart the local economy after it shut down earlier this year in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Therrien said on Monday the task force has been suspended for now, adding that work to boost the economy is still happening behind the scenes.

Police Act

Coun. Gary Baldwin, the police board chair, said he and city police Chief Scott Gilbert are prepared to offer training to city councillors to help them better understand the Police Act.

Baldwin said six councillors approached him to say theyd like to know more about the act because theyre interested in learning more about how the municipal police force interacts with city council  and what details about police budgets city councillors are allowed to request.

Councillors were invited to email Baldwin to sign up.

 with files from Mike Davies, Examiner Sports Director
When Chizu Iiyama earned her bachelors degree from UC Berkeley, she was unable to attend the ceremony because she was detained in an assembly center for Japanese Americans during World War II. While her fellow graduates received their diplomas, Iiyama was living with her family in a horse stall at the Santa Anita racetrack in Southern California.

So when this injustice was rectified by the UC Board of Regents in 2009 during an honorary ceremony on the Berkeley campus, Iiyama, a native San Franciscan, was selected from among 500 former student internees to deliver the acceptance speech. It stood to reason. After being released from the internment camp, Iiyama eventually returned to the Bay Area and went to work on behalf of civil rights, not just for the Japanese Americans interned during the war but for disenfranchised people of all creeds and colors.

An amazing 65-year commitment to the cause came to an end when Iiyama died Aug. 26, at a hospital near her longtime home in El Cerrito, said her daughter Patti Iiyama of Pinole. She was 98 and had spent the bulk of her working career teaching early childhood education at Contra Costa College in San Pablo.

Chizu spent a lifetime educating the public that when almost 120,000 Americans of Japanese ancestry were locked up without trial and for no offense, it was a civil liberties disaster, said San Francisco attorney Don Tamaki, who has handled civil rights cases. At a time when Muslims and immigrants are being targeted, Im grateful for her activism.

Iiyama was unusual among detainees in that she became an activist when few of her peers were doing so. Many people did not talk about the camps because they were traumatized by the camps, Patti Iiyama said. But my mother was outspoken and stood up against what she saw as an injustice that should never happen again.

Iiyama was born Chizu Kitano on Nov. 14, 1921, and raised in San Franciscos Chinatown where her father, Motoji Kitano, managed a hotel for single Japanese and Black men on Clay Street. He had emigrated in 1906 and her mother, Kou Yuki, had arrived as a picture bride in 1914. They were already married when they first met at the dock the day her ship arrived in San Francisco.

The fifth of seven children, Iiyama graduated from Galileo High School at age 16, in 1938, and went directly to UC Berkeley, working as a house servant in Berkeley to cover her room and board. When the Golden Gate International Exposition opened on Treasure Island in 1939, she added a second job as a greeter in the Japanese Pavilion.

She was in her final year at Berkeley, majoring in psychology, when, on Dec. 7, 1941, Japanese bombers attacked the American fleet at Pearl Harbor. In March 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the War Relocation Authority, which required all people of Japanese ancestry to be removed from the West Coast.

Iiyama and her entire family of nine were herded to Santa Anita to cram into a single horse stall while being processed. They were then put on a train for the Central Utah Relocation Center in the dry and windy Sevier Desert.

The one good thing to come out if it is that she met another detainee, Ernie Iiyama, from Oakland. After their release, they moved to Chicago, where they were married, then on to New York.

After the war, they returned to Chicago, where she became assistant director for the Chicago Resettlers Committee, which helped people freed from the camps make a new start in Chicago. She also became active in the NAACP and the Congress of Racial Equity in Chicago and participated in the wade-ins to protest segregated beaches on Lake Michigan.

Iiyama earned a masters degree in child psychology at the University of Chicago, and upon her return to California, in 1955, she became the first director of the early childhood education program at Contra Costa College in San Pablo. She ran that program for 30 years and in 2005 was inducted into the Contra Costa College Hall of Fame.

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.

In 1990, Iiyama was chair of a committee that developed a touring exhibition called Strength and Diversity: Japanese American Women, 1885-1990. It opened at the Oakland Museum of California and then spent 10 years traveling the country under the sponsorship of the Smithsonian Institution.

Through it all, Iiyama was steadfast in a long drive to earn reparations for the Japanese internees, which was finally granted in 1988. There was an apology from the federal government, and a $20,000 check to each survivor.

In 2010, as one of her last public activities, Iiyama worked to help create the film Blossoms and Thorns, on Japanese American flower growers. The film is now featured at the Rosie the Riveter national historic park in Richmond.

Hers was a life that mattered, Patti Iiyama said. What she stood for and what she accomplished is something that all of us can hope to emulate.

Iiyama was predeceased by her husband, Ernie Iiyama, and her son, Mark Iiyama. Survivors include daughters Laura Iiyama of El Cerrito and Patti Iiyama of Pinole. There will be no memorial service at this time due to the pandemic. In lieu of koden or flowers, the family requests that donations be made in her name to the National Japanese American Historical Society, 1684 Post St., San Francisco, CA 94115 or J-Sei, 1285 66th St., Emeryville, CA 94608.

Sam Whiting is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: swhiting@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @samwhitingsf
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 22)  The Department of Health has recommended that President Rodrigo Duterte issue an executive order to mandate a price ceiling for COVID-19 swab tests in private hospitals and laboratories.

Health Spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire explained there is an existing law that imposes a price ceiling on medicines, but it doesnt cover the cost of diagnostics and professional fees.

"Nakikita nga po natin ang malaking difference between laboratories as to how much the swab testing costs," she said.

[Translation: We can see that there is a huge difference in cost of swab tests in different laboratories.]

On Tuesday, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque did not rule out the possibility of the chief executive signing such an order.

"Ang Presidente po'y nag-issue ng (The President has issued an) executive order imposing price caps on medicines, so I don't think it's impossible for him to issue this executive order," he said in a virtual briefing.

Vergeire said there is no recommended price set yet, but the DOH will conduct a survey to determine the range. She added they will consult with the Department of Trade and Industry and other experts.
Seoul/New York, 22 September 2020  Hyundai Motor Company and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have entered into their inaugural agreement aimed at spreading messages of sustainability to people around the world and advancing local solutions addressing concrete needs to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS).



Under the agreement, Hyundai Motor and UNDP will collaborate for the first time to create a global initiative, called for Tomorrow, which will help accelerate progress towards the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a universal call-to-action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030.



A signing ceremony was held today between Hyundai Motor Executive Vice Chairman Euisun Chung and UNPD Administrator Achim Steiner online during which they discussed the future of partnership and global cooperation for sustainability. Actress, activist, and social impact entrepreneur Jessica Alba, officially endorsing for Tomorrow and British journalist Lucy Siegle, who moderated the conversation, were also in attendance.

The agreement will enable Hyundai Motor and UNDP to celebrate and crowdsource local innovations from the public and help these solutions scale, a much-needed response to the worlds escalating environmental and socio-economic challenges.

The for Tomorrow project we are launching today with UNDP, aims to offer concrete solutions to many of our problems today. said Mr. Chung of Hyundai Motor Group. Through this project, Hyundai Motor Company will help mobilize that power of cooperation and innovation to engineer sustainable progress for humanity.



At the signing ceremony, Euisun Chung and Achim Steiner unveiled a preview of the for Tomorrow project (www.fortomorrow.org), a focal point for the collaboration and open innovation platform where people can share solutions to be amplified and scaled up. Hyundai Motor and UNDP launched dedicated social media channels (@forTomorrow2030) to promote the project. Under this years theme and slogan, Make Cities Inclusive, Safe, Resilient and Sustainable, for Tomorrow will accept solutions from October 2020 through April 2021, in time for Earth Day on April 22, with project acceleration in the ensuing months.

Hyundai Motor and UNDP will support solutions shared on the platform by advancing, sharing and building upon them with the help of the UNDP Accelerator Labs, a global network of 60 labs (expanding to 90 this year) that are tapping into local innovations to create actionable insights and reimagine sustainable development for the 21st century.

for Tomorrow is a way of recognizing grassroots innovation as part of the investments of UNDP through its Accelerator Lab network to explore, experiment, and grow portfolios of solutions to tackle todays sustainable development challenges such as air pollution, waste management and many more.

Through for Tomorrow, Hyundai Motor will share its commitment to sustainable mobility and lifestyles via its vision of enabling Progress for Humanity. The company, via for Tomorrow and ensuing sustainable initiatives, plans to leap forward from simply doing well to doing good, engaging the environmentally conscious and committed local innovators of the millennial and Z generations.

UNDP is committed to supporting the incredible power of local innovators to change the world for the better - not only today, but also for Tomorrow and into the future," said Mr. Steiner. With the launch of this platform in partnership with Hyundai we want to explore new ways of connecting these pioneering minds together - and help them unleash their full potential to build a greener, more resilient, more inclusive and more sustainable future.

It is inspiring to witness the United Nations and Hyundai come together to collaborate on an initiative like this. We have all spent the better part of the year facing challenges we never thought we would. Its become clear that working together is our only way forward to create a better, more sustainable, and more humane world for today and tomorrow, said Jessica Alba.

The signing ceremony and the launch of for Tomorrow are the first step in the two parties global partnership for sustainable development and lays the foundation for their active involvement in the celebration and amplification of grassroots initiatives. Hyundai Motor and UNDP will continue to work together with people around the world for humanitys shared liveable future.
The Air Force has directed unit commanders to create improved, easier-to-use lactation spaces for nursing moms, to include access to a refrigerator or freezer to store breast milk, according to an updated policy.

The service last week announced the latest changes as a part of a comprehensive policy unveiled last year and spearheaded by the Women's Initiative Team. The policy instructs that commanders establish private, secure and sanitary locations with outlets, adequate lighting and a place to sit in the immediate vicinity of the woman's workspace, with nearby access to a washing area to clean pumping equipment.

Read Next: 2 Army Recruits Save Fellow Trainee's Life at Basic Training

The latest update gives mothers more flexibility for their lactation breaks, providing enough time to not only pump but also be able to drop off their breast milk in its proper storage area, according to a news release. New moms are currently allowed between 15 and 30 minutes to pump every three to four hours during duty hours.

"Many women choose to continue breastfeeding after they return to work," said Christy Nolta, deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force for Reserve Affairs and Airman Readiness, in the release. "We should do what we can to support that choice, making it easier for nursing moms to continue to serve. Changes like these contribute to readiness, and improve quality of life for our service members and their families."

The update was the result of feedback from the field, Nolta said, and prompted additional changes "to further empower leaders across the department to establish proper lactation rooms and provide overall support for nursing mothers."

"Every mother and infant are unique, and so are their breastfeeding needs," said Lt. Col. Jeanette Anderson, Air Force Surgeon General perinatal nursing consultant and Women's Initiative Team member, in the release. "The amount of time needed to produce breast milk varies from woman to woman, and this updated policy recognizes that."

According to the memo, commanders should also give nursing mothers the ability to pump during a field or training exercise, if feasible. The spaces should clean, private and "specifically not a restroom or latrine," it states.

Commanders should inquire with appropriate medical staff whether women can have access to cold storage during field training. If the airman can't move or store her milk properly, leaders "will permit her the same time and space to express and discard her breast milk with the intent to maintain physiological capability for lactation," the memo adds.

"Transitioning from maternity leave to work can be a difficult time," said Tech. Sgt. Natalia Wood, an aircraft maintenance airman and Women's Initiative Team member, in the release. "Having a dedicated, clean pumping space and a cold storage solution at work allowed me to harmoniously take care of my family and accomplish the mission."

The change, which went into effect last month, is in line with the Air Force's overall effort to remove career-limiting barriers for women, especially for those who are trying to have a family.

Last last month, the Air Force moved to give airmen who suffer a miscarriage a more flexible time period before they take their next physical fitness assessment.

The service also said it has begun allowing all pregnant and postpartum airmen to attend professional military education without requiring an exception to policy or a fitness assessment test first.

-- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214.

Related: DoD Set to Roll Out New Policy Targeting Pregnancy Discrimination in the Military
Dengue fever was found to have some level of immunity against COVID-19, a new study suggests.

Reuters first reported on the study that analyzed the coronavirus outbreak in Brazil. The link of immunity against COVID-19 and dengue fever was made by looking at past exposures.

The researchers looked at past dengue fever outbreaks and found exposure to it can give some immunity against COVID-19.

Lead author Miguel Nicolelis is a professor at Duke School of Medicine noted Daily Mail. He shared some parts of the unpublished study.

He said the study studied the distribution of coronavirus cases based on location. They linked that data with the spread of dengue for 2019 and 2020.

They found out the areas with lower infection rates of COVID-19 were places that suffered intense dengue outbreaks before. This is also true for areas with slower case growths.

As written in the study, the "striking finding" raises the possibility that there is an "immunological cross-reactivity" between the two illness' antibodies.

The study's hypothesis, if proven correct, could lead to work on a treatment that is related to dengue. An effective and safe dengue vaccine might give some level of immunity against COVID-19.

Dengue Fever Antibodies Cause False Positives

For Nicolelis, the results of their study were quite interesting.

Previous studies have shown that people who show dengue antibodies in their blood can test positive of COVID-19 antibodies. But these are only false positives.

They can still test positive of the virus despite not being infected by it at all.

Nicolelis said these false positives could mean "there is an immunological interaction between two viruses."

He added that the viruses cause the two illnesses are from two completely different families. This is also why the results are shocking.

He stressed that there are still further studies needed to prove this connection between dengue fever and COVID-19.

The study was being published on MedRxiv server but not yet been peer-reviewed. It will also be submitted to a scientific journal.

It highlighted the link between lower incidence, mortality, and growth rate of COVID-19 in locations in Brazil where levels of dengue fever antibodies were higher.

Brazil has the third-highest record of COVID-19 infections with more than 4.4 million cases. It is behind the U.S. and India.

There was a high level of dengue incidence last year and early this year in some areas of Brazil.

It took much longer for these areas to reach high community transmission of COVID-19. This is compared to places like Amapa, Maranhao, and Para that had fewer dengue cases.

Other Parts of Latin America Show Same Results

The researchers also found the same kind of link between dengue outbreaks and COVID-19 in other parts of Latin America. They also saw this in areas in Asia, islands in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

Nicolelis said their team's discovery on dengue came by accident. During the study, they were only focused on how COVID-19 spread in Brazil. Then, they found that highways played a major role in the spread of cases across the country.

They started drawing up a possible explanation, and the breakthrough came when the team compared dengue and COVID-19 spread.

"It was a shock. It was a total accident," Nicolelis said. "In science, that happens, you're shooting at one thing, and you hit a target that you never imagined you would hit."

As per the World Health Organization, there are about 390 million people hit by dengue fever every year. The disease is considered "endemic" to nearly 100 countries.

The largest number of dengue cases was recorded in 2019.

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A former VIP gambler has been jailed for conning two men she met on Tinder out of a combined $790,000 and threatening one of her victims that he would be harmed unless he kept pouring money into her bogus investments.

Jocelyn Zakhourwas living at Melbourne's Crown casino and was a high-roller at the Mahogany Room when in 2018 she simultaneously fleeced the men and gambled away all the money playing baccarat.

Tinder fraudster Jocelyn Zakhour has been jailed for 4 years Credit:Nine News

One victim had been "ruined" by his involvement with Zakhour, County Court judge Gregory Lyon said, as he transferred her $729,000 in a series of payments after she initially urged him to invest in a blueberry farm she claimed she ran. She had promised he would triple his money but the story about the farm was a lie.

Zakhour later threatened the man, saying he, his ex-wife and their children would be harmed by farm workers if he didn't keep paying her money, to the point he was too scared to stay at his home. "These people have their ways," she told him.
A two-month operation involving U.S. Marshals and local Oklahoma district authorities has made 262 arrests, 141 of them being confirmed gang members.

Operation Triple Beam has seen U.S. Marshals and local detectives address the increase of violent crimes in Oklahoma in recent months.

The effort ended on Sept. 6 and resulted in the arrest of 6 homicide suspects, 21 assault suspects, 21 burglary suspects, 88 weapons offense suspects, and 57 drug offense suspects, according to a recent U.S. Marshals service news release.

The U.S. Marshals Service Metro Fugitive Task Force also safely located a total of five missing children in the operation.

Law enforcement officers seized 72 firearms, more than 9 kilograms (approx. 20 pounds) of narcotics, and nearly $17,000 in currency, according to the U.S. Marshals Service.

Also, a suspect in a homicide that occurred in California was taken into custody in the Oklahoma City area. Four detectives from Fresno County Sheriffs Office have traveled to Oklahoma City to continue the homicide investigation. They interviewed the suspect and witnesses and served search warrants in Oklahoma City.

(Illustration  Elliott Cowand Jr/Shutterstock)

Arrested gang members alleged crimes include homicide, assault, sexual assault, drug distribution, illegal firearm possession, arson, and robbery.

A statement recently released from the U.S. Marshals News Service stated:

Our primary goal with operations like OTB is to make communities safer. When we arrest these violent fugitives, we are also removing guns and narcotics from our streets. We believe these efforts have an immediate, positive impact on the communities we serve.

Further updates confirm there are no known circumstances as yet surrounding the five missing children most recently found.

Among the arrested in Operation Triple Beam was a 22-year-old man accused of sexually assaulting a 6-month-old infant, FOX News reported. He is facing a host of charges including lewd acts to a child, manufacturing child pornography, and distributing it to at least two women.

A woman having the tape in her possession handed it to authorities in early August.

Other agencies that contributed to Operation Triple Beam include Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Oklahoma County Sheriffs Office, Shawnee and Yukon Police, Potawatomie County Sheriffs Office, Oklahoma Department of Corrections, and other local and state departments.

The U.S. Marshals Service has recently taken part in several high-profile operations to recover missing and at-risk children, some of whom were victimized by sex traffickers. Recent operations have recovered more than two-dozen children in the first three weeks of an ongoing operation in Ohio last week, and they located 39 missing children in Georgia last month.

We would love to hear your stories! You can share them with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.nyc
The Safer tanker, moored off the western coast of Yemen, has had almost no maintenance since 2015, and could pose a major threat to marine ecosystems if it explodes or leaks

Egypts Environment Minister Yasmine Fouad on Tuesday stressed the need to find a solution to avoid a potential environmental catastrophe in the Red Sea should the neglected Safer oil tanker explode or leak its cargo.

The ship is moored in the Red Sea, north of the Yemeni city of Hodeidah, and is under the control of Iranian-backed Houthi militia in the country.

The tanker has had almost no maintenance since 2015 due to the war in the country, and there are fears of a possible leakage or explosion.

The United Nations says it has a cargo of more than 1.1 million barrels of light crude oil.

A leakage or explosion would cause serious harm to Red Sea ecosystems and to the 30 million people depending on them, the UN also said.

The tankers engine room is reportedly flooded with seawater, the UN said in August.

At a meeting of Arab states environment ministers held at the request of Saudi Arabia, which leads a coalition fighting the Houthi militias in Yemen, Fouad voiced Egypts support and solidarity with Yemen and Saudi Arabia, the ministry said in a statement.

She said Egypt would offer its experience and capabilities to contribute to finding a radical solution to the issue.

The minister also affirmed Egypts readiness to request technical support and experts from the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (SCBD), in a bid to save the Red Sea and its ecosystems from the potential catastrophe.

She referred to the Houthis refusal to allow international technical teams to carry out necessary maintenance on the 46-year-old tanker, despite the UNs attempts to persuade them.

The Houthis in July agreed to give a UN team access to the abandoned ship, Reuters cited two sources as saying at the time.

However, later in the same month, Mohammed Ali Al Houthi, an official with the Houthi Ansarullah movement, said the Yemeni foreign ministry had informed the movement of alleged UN violations of an agreement with the Houthis on the decaying tanker.

A number of recommendations were issued during Tuesdays meeting, the ministry said, including the necessity that Arab and African countries bordering the Red Sea activate their national plans to limit the potential negative effects in the event of any leak or blast.

The ministers also recommended the need to support efforts of the Regional Organization for the Conservation of the Environment of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden (PERSGA) in this regard, and the need to call on the UN International Maritime Organization (IMO) to back and seek fund for PERSGAs emergency plan to limit the probable negative effects.

The meeting also highlighted the necessity to urge relevant international organisations and authorities to provide support to the countries bordering the Red Sea to enhance their capabilities to face the potential disaster.

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The compact segment where Sonet will be launched is crowded with the Maruti Vitara and Brezza, which top the sales' list, and a bevy of models from Mahindra & Mahindra apart from Hyundai's offering.

But volumes in this are slightly higher than those in the mid-segment, making it attractive, says Surajeet Das Gupta.

Photographs: Kind courtesy, Kia motors India

Initially it was being designed and built with only the Indian market in mind. But Sonet, the compact SUV from Kia Motors that has been designed collaboratively in its R&D centres across the world (including Hyderabad), drew attention in other markets.

So the car-maker decided that the Sonet would be manufactured in India and launched here first, but would also be sold in as many as 70 countries. And the markets identified for exports, to begin with, include Chile, Indonesia and Africa.

Kia has huge expectations from its new compact utility vehicle sub-four metre Sonet.

The pricing has not been divulged (experts expect it to range between Rs 600,000 and Rs 12 lakh) but the South Korean car-maker is hoping to replicate the magic of its mid-sized utility vehicle, Seltos, with which Kia made its India debut last August.

Aggressive pricing (Rs 9.89 lakh to Rs 16.3 lakh for Seltos), slick designing, smartwatch connectivity and connected car technology helped Kia reach the 100,000 sales mark in quick time, despite the impact of Covid-19 and the lockdown, which saw sales fall to virtually zero.

The car-maker says it has helped it to grab a 43.5 per cent share of the mid-SUV segment since its launch. This is despite the fact that it competes with Hyundai's Creta and Maruti's Ertiga and S-Cross.

Image: The interiors of Kia Sonet

The initial response for the Sonet has been encouraging. When bookings opened on August 21, Kia garnered over 6,500 orders (the upfront money was Rs 25,000).

If all goes well, the company is looking to hit the 100,000 mark with the Sonet in a year.

Insiders say that based on the trends of the Seltos, which accounted for 80 per cent of total exports in its segment in April-August (11,392), the Sonet could see decent export numbers, too.

Motors executives declined to participate or respond to questions for this article, saying they were busy with the launch. But in a series of interviews last year, H W Park, former president of Kia Motors, elaborated the company's goals -- a 5 per cent market share in three years, making India an export hub and sticking to SUVs and MUVs.

If things go as planned, India would be Kia's fifth largest market.

Kia's global projections reflect this ambition. In its annual report, it has targeted sales of 120,000 in India in 2020, almost a threefold increase from 45,000, which it clocked in 2019, the highest growth for any country in which Kia operates.

That would already, say analysts, bring its India share of total revenues from 1.5 per cent last year to around 4 per cent this year.

Its largest market is the US (where it has targeted to sell 630,000 cars this year) followed by South Korea, Europe and China.

In many ways Kia has leveraged its association with its older sister concern, Hyundai, which has an over 33.88 per cent stake in the company and is an established player in India.

And it is no secret that the two work together in many areas -- from sharing platforms and engines to strategising on markets and with personnel hopping from one company to the other.

The two also compete in the same segments with differentiated products. Auto experts say there might be some cannibalisation, but the two have together successfully grabbed a large part of the pie in the segment where they both operate.

So in the 4 to 4.4 metre UV segment under Rs 20 lakh, their combined share was 65 per cent between April and August 2020 compared to 45 per cent in the same period last year.

The synergies are clear. Sonet is based on the same platform as Hyundai's Creta, say auto experts. Similarly, the Seltos shares the platform with Hyundai's Venue.

Kia has also replicated Hyundai's learnings in the country. So both put in money to build a large plant as well as bring in vendors to support their India forays.

This helps start with a very high localisation (analyst say it is over 80 per cent for Kia, just as it was for the Santro), which pares costs that can be passed on to consumers through aggressive pricing of the car and spare parts.

Kia invested over $2 billion to set up a new plant in Andhra Pradesh with a capacity of 300,000 vehicles plus an adjacent vendor park.

That is more like Hyundai, which put in over $400 million with a capacity of 125,000 vehicles a year to kickstart its Indian journey with the Santro.

Kia has also built a sizeable dealership network -- estimated at 150 -- just as Hyundai had at the start. Also, key executives from Hyundai play a strategic role in Kia. For instance, Park was finance director and then MD of Hyundai in India before becoming Kia president.

But there are areas both need to keep a watch on. For instance, Kia's second car, the Carnival, which was targeted to take on Jeep and the Honda CRV (price between Rs 20 lakh and Rs 30 lakh) did not make waves.

Between April and August, it sold 641 vehicles, compared to 1,207 Jeep Compass sold by FCA India Automobiles.

Given that it is way ahead as a product, the lacklustre sales of Carnival are a dampener. I think it is a positioning issue, rather than pricing, and they have to rethink. I hope it is not arrogance and complacency too early on, says BVR Subbu, former president of Hyundai Motors India and consultant to auto companies.

The compact segment where Sonet will be launched is crowded with the Maruti Vitara and Brezza, which top the sales' list, and a bevy of models from Mahindra & Mahindra apart from Hyundai's offering.

But volumes in this are slightly higher than those in the mid-segment, making it attractive. The question is whether Kia will be able to replicate its success with another model. Or remain a one-model wonder.

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff.com
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Linkedin Mangadar Situmorang (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, September 23 2020

Robert Keohane and Joseph Nye, prominent scholars of international relations, proposed in 1977 the idea of vulnerability when they wrote about power and interdependence in international politics.

Since all states are inevitably in need of others and are interdependent with each other in many fields, some states may face vulnerability. The level, scope and intensity of the dependency matter and must be measured to determine the nature of the interdependence.

The result will define the sensitivity and vulnerability of a state in its domestic politics. While sensitivity simply encourages or leads to a mild or moderate domestic political adjustment, vulnerability may need deeper and broader domestic modifications and could even risk a states political stability, sovereignty and sustainability.

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Houston area colleges are closing their campuses and are shifting their courses online in anticipation of Tropical Storm Beta  the second storm projected to affect the region this fall.

University of Houston, including its Katy and Sugar Land campuses, shifted all classes to online and instructed faculty and staff to work from home Tuesday due to widespread flooding, officials said on the colleges official Twitter page. Roadways on campus are wet but passable, according to a university spokesman. Roads and intersections leading into UHs campus are flooded to varying degrees.

UH-Downtown officials moved its courses online and will share updates through its website, text and email.

Houston Baptist University will operate remotely, according to its website.

Texas Southern University delayed its operations, beginning at 10 a.m. Tuesday and plan to monitor the weather conditions, officials said on Twitter. They encouraged students to follow seek updates online and through the LiveSafe mobile app.

University of St. Thomas in Houston physically closed its campus Tuesday and announced on Twitter that classes will continue online and faculty and staff will work from home.

Prairie View A&M University announced Tuesday on Twitter that it would move all operations to remote or online.

South Texas College of Law closed its building Tuesday and shifted all classes online.

San Jacinto College canceled all on-campus classes and operations and shifted to remote work and learning.

Rice University has been posting detailed updates on its emergency website about the storm but has not announced any changes in operations.

Lone Star College and Houston Community College officials said they are monitoring flooding in the area but there have been no changes to their current operations.
Queensland's border bubble will be shifted further south next month, letting 152,000 more people from NSW into the state without having to quarantine or apply for an exemption.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk fast-tracked the easing of border restrictions on Tuesday, before her government's scheduled review on September 30, to allow residents of 41 more NSW postcodes access into the state.

Residents in an additional five local government areas - Byron Shire, Ballina, the city of Lismore, Richmond Valley and Glen Innes - will be allowed into Queensland, as long as they fill out a border declaration.

The easing of the border regime removes Queensland's northern border bubble line, which means people living in declared zones inside the border bubble will be allowed to travel anywhere in the state without going into quarantine.
P ROFITS crashed at Close Brothers, but the merchant bank said its trading arm had a record year allowing it to reinstate the dividend suspended back in April.

While profits tumbled 47% to 141 million, new chief executive Adrian Sainsbury - today is his first day in the job - said the company is confident about the future.

Impairment charges for bad debts jumped from 48.5 million to 184 million, largely due to new accounting rules.

But Winterflood, the market maker, saw profits soar 140% to 48 million an investors took punts on shares.

Winterflood handles up to 30% of the FTSE 100 traffic most days for clients which include Hargreaves Lansdown.

A final dividend of 40p will be paid.

Sainsbury, who has been with the company seven years, said: The impact of Covid-19 has been felt across our businesses and the outlook is still uncertain, but the fundamental strengths of Close Brothers remain unchanged.

Thousands of SME customers took holidays on loans, but 70% of them are now back making payments.

Close has 30 offices around the country. The ones in the City are now 30% full as staff return.

The shares slipped 1p to 961p which leaves the bank valued at 1.5 billion.
Hedge funds experienced a second straight month of inflows in July, bringing in $10.5 billion as the industry continued to shake off springs pandemic-driven redemption trend. Julys new assets built on Junes $15.1 billion in inflows.

Julys inflows represented 0.3% of industry assets, according to the Barclay Fund Flow Indicator published by BarclayHedge, a division of Backstop Solutions.

With a $32.1 billion trading profit in July, total hedge funds industry assets stood at nearly $3.26 trillion as July ended, up from $3.11 trillion a month earlier.

Data from 6,900 funds (excluding CTAs) in the BarclayHedge database showed Balanced (Stocks & Bonds) funds leading the way in bringing in new assets, adding $6.7 billion in July.

Investors clearly took comfort in the rebound in equity markets as the spring months progressed, said Sol Waksman, president of BarclayHedge. Meanwhile, the pace of economic recovery in regions that were first to suffer the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic was reflected in regional fund inflows.

Over the 12-month period through July the hedge fund industry experienced $150.9 billion in redemptions. The industry posted a $32.1 billion trading profit through July, which, along with June and July inflows, brought total industry assets to nearly $3.26 trillion, an increase from $3.11 trillion at the end of June and up from $3.12 trillion a year earlier.

There was a new addition to the fund sectors posting 12-month inflows in July with Balanced (Stocks & Bonds) funds joining the mix. Sector Specific funds led the way adding $20.5 billion over the period, 11.8% of assets, Event Driven funds brought in $18.1 billion, 10.8% of assets, Balanced (Stocks & Bonds) saw inflows of $5.4 billion, 1.6% of assets, Convertible Arbitrage funds added $3.6 billion, 17.6% of assets, and Emerging Markets  Latin America funds brought in $653.6 million, 4.9% of assets.

Hedge fund sectors with the largest 12-month redemptions included Fixed Income funds with $45.0 billion in redemptions, 7.0% of assets, Equity Long/Short funds shedding $35.4 billion, 17.5% of assets, and Equity Long Bias funds experiencing $24.1 billion in outflows, 7.1% of assets.

Managed futures funds returned to inflows in July adding $7.2 billion with all four CTA sectors tracked experiencing net inflows for the month. A $3.7 billion trading profit in July brought total industry assets to $296.7 billion as the month ended, up from $283.1 billion at the end of June.

CTA funds in the U.S. and the U.K. played the lead roles in the managed futures industrys July inflow performance with U.S. funds adding nearly $3.7 billion during the month, 2.1% of assets, while funds in the U.K. and its offshore islands brought in $3.3 billion, 5.2% of assets.

On the redemption side of the ledger, managed futures funds in Continental Europe experienced $102.0 million in redemptions, 0.3% of assets, and CTAs in Asia excluding China and Japan shed $15.4 million, 0.2% of assets.

For the 12 months through July, the managed futures industry experienced redemptions of $13.8 billion, 4.2% of industry assets. A $14.4 billion trading loss over the period contributed to the industrys $283.1 billion total asset figure as July ended, down from $327.3 billion a year earlier.

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Constitutional revolution is going mainstream.

After delivering lectures about political norms for the entirety of the Trump era  often with good cause  much of the Left is now threatening to kneecap an important institution of American government on a partisan vote in an act of ideological vengeance.

If the Republican Senate confirms a Trump appointee to fill Ruth Bader Ginsburgs Supreme Court seat right before or after the election, progressives say Democrats, if they sweep in November, should retaliate by packing the Supreme Court.

This would do vastly more damage to the governing structure of the country than anything Donald Trump has said or done, but respectable center-left outlets like The New Yorker and Vox have run pieces advocating it and Democratic leaders are making fraught all options on the table statements.

None of this comes out of the blue. The Left is disenchanted with our country, and especially its governing institutions, which it believes are shot through with racism and deeply undemocratic. Democrats have gone from assuming a few years ago that they have a permanent majority to assuming that they cant possibly win under such a rigged system.

They no longer want to live under a government that checks majoritarian passions, recognizes the importance of states in our federal system, and features a Supreme Court that is supposed to render independent judgments based on the law and the Constitution. All of this, once a matter of basic civics, is now for suckers.

Before its new fashion, court-packing used to be notorious, the ill-considered move that FDR couldnt see through even at the height of his power.

For good reason. To add a bunch of new seats to the Supreme Court explicitly so a Democratic president could fill them would radically diminish the Courts standing. It would invite Republicans to counter with their own bout of court-packing when they again returned to power. The Court would become merely a partisan play-thing and essentially an adjunct to the legislative branch  all that would stay the same about institution would be the black robes.

Story continues

And for what? To compensate for a duly elected Republican Senate acting on its prerogatives to block one Supreme Court nominee (Obama nominee Merrick Garland) and potentially confirm another (Trumps nominee to fill the RBG seat).

The Senate itself is now an affront because small states get equal representation with large states. Never mind that this arrangement was at the center of the deal that gave us the Constitution. Never mind that the Constitution stipulates that this provision is unamendable. Never mind that prior to 2014 the Democrats controlled the Senate and didnt seem overly concerned about the bodys alleged lack of legitimacy.

The fact is that senators are chosen in democratic elections in their respective states, and its not a failing of our constitutional design that Democrats have made themselves so hateful to rural voters that they despair of reliably holding the Senate going forward. As a corrective, they are threatening to eliminate the filibuster to allow them to add Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico as states to boost their number of senators, a maneuver that smacks of pre-Civil Warera power politics.

All of this talk is an awkward fit for Joe Bidens candidacy. We are told that Biden is an inoffensive institutionalist and committed moderate, but if Republicans defy his wishes on the RGB seat, he will respond by blessing outlandish changes to our system passed by narrow majorities.

And, by the way, Biden better win. Shadi Hamid of The Atlantic wrote a piece expressing his worry that Trump will win reelection and Democrats and others on the left will be unwilling, even unable, to accept the result. He raises the possibility of mass unrest and political violence across American cities.

Accepting the result of an election is a pretty important norm  unless youve convinced yourself you live under a hideously undemocratic regime with no legitimacy.

More from National Review
"Culturally responsive learning is critical for increasing student engagement by encouraging student voice. We want our curriculum to be a tool to inspire that student voice in an authentic way, and to create opportunities for students to share their rich, cultural backgrounds," said Bethlam Forsa, CEO of Savvas Learning Company. "As an extension of our core values of expanding equity and empathy, culturally responsive learning must be woven into everything we do at Savvas: from the curriculum we build and the professional learning we offer teachers, to the training we provide our employees, who are the heart and soul of our organization."

To help guide Savvas in advancing culturally responsive learning within its products and services and throughout its organization, Forsa created a Culturally Responsive Learning Advisory Board comprised of prominent education scholars, researchers, former teachers, and advocates. This diverse group of experts brings a depth of knowledge and viewpoints on a wide range of culturally responsive topics. Its role is to provide insight and expertise that informs the efforts by Savvas to develop and deliver on culturally responsive learning through a holistic, research-based, and real-world approach. The board members include:

Cati V. de los Rios, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of literacy, reading, and bi/multilingual education at the University of California, Berkeley , and a former ESL, Spanish, and ethnic studies public high school teacher in California and Massachusetts .

is an assistant professor of literacy, reading, and bi/multilingual education at the , and a former ESL, Spanish, and ethnic studies public high school teacher in and . Gloria Ladson-Billings , Ph.D. , a professor emerita at the University of Wisconsin-Madison , is the original author on culturally responsive education and currently writes about culturally relevant pedagogy and critical race theory.

, a professor emerita at the , is the original author on culturally responsive education and currently writes about culturally relevant pedagogy and critical race theory. Ernest Morrell , Ph.D., is an award-winning literacy education scholar and the author of two core Savvas programs, myView Literacy and myPerspectives English Language Arts .

is an award-winning literacy education scholar and the author of two core Savvas programs, and . Theresa Santos-Volpe is an LGBTQ+ family advocate and consultant, journalist, and children's book author with 28 years of educational publishing experience.

is an LGBTQ+ family advocate and consultant, journalist, and children's book author with 28 years of educational publishing experience. Kate Seltzer , Ph.D., is an assistant professor of sociolinguistics and ESL education at Rowan University , and a former New York City ELA teacher.

The Savvas CRL Initiative will impact all facets of the organization, including the design and development of its editorial content, the recruitment and professional development of its employees, the selection of its vendors, and the marketing of its products and services. As part of the initiative, Savvas and its advisory board have already begun a comprehensive review of the editorial guidelines used by Savvas across every educational discipline. Savvas will also provide training to its employees around diversity and inclusion.

Another key part of the Savvas CRL Initiative will be the creation of a scholarship program that annually will award five Black and Brown students a total of $50,000 each toward tuition for a four-year college degree. In addition to the financial support, Savvas will provide mentorship opportunities and career-planning workshops, as well as sponsor and facilitate internships inside and outside Savvas.

"Simply writing a check is not enough," Forsa said. "We want to be able to help mentor these young scholars, who will come from some of the most marginalized and underserved populations in our society. We have a vested interest in helping these scholarship winners get the resources and skills they need to succeed in their careers and in life."

To learn more about the Savvas CRL Initiative and Advisory Board members, visit https://www.savvas.com/culturallyresponsivelearning .

ABOUT SAVVAS LEARNING COMPANY

At Savvas, we believe learning should inspire. By combining new ideas, new ways of thinking, and new ways of interacting, we design next-generation learning solutions that help prepare students to become global citizens in a more interconnected, digital world. To learn more, visit www.Savvas.com .

SOURCE Savvas Learning Company

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Philadelphia Police investigate a shooting on the 5000 Block of North Penn Street in the Frankford neighborhood of Philadelphia on Monday, September 21, 2020. A 30-year-old man was taken to Temple University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 8:22 p.m. Read more

A 16-year-old boy and a 30-year-old man were killed in Philadelphia late Monday in separate street shootings that happened minutes apart, according to police.

In the first incident, the 16-year-old was shot once in the chest about 8 p.m. on Mercer Street near Clearfield in Port Richmond, police said. Medics took him to Temple University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead about 20 minutes later.

Two minutes after the teenager was shot, the older victim was shot once in the chest while on North Penn Street near Wakeling in Frankford. He too was taken to Temple, where he was pronounced dead at 8:22 p.m., police said.

There were no arrests made Monday night, nor weapons recovered. The motives in the shootings were unknown, and no other details were immediately available.

It was unclear if the shootings were related. They represented the 332nd and 333rd homicides this year in Philadelphia, a 34% increase over this time last year, according to police statistics.
The (SAD) on Monday held an agitation here against the (CCI) and the Congress -led government in Punjab, claiming that farmers were forced to sell cotton at much lower price than its Minimum Support Price.

Meanwhile, Bathinda MP and former Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal also claimed that farmers were forced to go in for "distress sale" of cotton crop.

"Condemnable how despite the provision of MSP for cotton, farmers are forced to go in for distress sale far below that price due to lack of CCI procurement. As Cong govt fails to take this up with CottonCorpOfIndia,@Akali_Dal_ joins farmers in their struggle for justice," tweeted Harsimrat.

SAD leaders led by Muktsar legislator Kanwarjit Singh Barkandi and former MLA Sarup Chand Singla held a protest at the main cotton purchase yard here.

They claimed that farmers were being forced to sell their cotton crop at Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 per quintal less than the minimum support price of Rs 5,400 per quintal, according to a party statement.

They said the party would launch a state-wide agitation on this issue incase farmers did not get their just dues.

The SAD leaders claimed that as per CCI records, there was no arrival of cotton in the mandi here whereas on the ground more than 7,000 quintals of crop has already arrived at the purchase yard.

The Akali leaders asked the CCI to take corrective action immediately, including taking action against officials, due to which farmers were forced to sell their produce at much lower prices than the MSP fixed by the central government.

They demanded that affected farmers should be compensated.

They also castigated Chief Minister Amarinder Singh for allegedly failing in his duty to get cotton produce procured at the Minimum Support Price.

"As in all other things, the chief minister is least concerned with the welfare of the cotton farmer. The Congress government's refusal to come to the aid of the cotton farmer is also in line with its anti-farmer policies," said Barkandi.

(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.)
LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / September 22, 2020 / Cannabis Global, Inc. (OTC PINK:CBGL) ("Cannabis Global" or the "Company"), a cannabinoid and hemp extract science-forward company developing infusion and delivery technologies, is pleased to provide shareholders with more details following the Company's recent 18.8% strategic investment stake in Natural Plant Extract (NPE), which operates a licensed cannabis manufacturing and distribution business out of Lynwood, California, holding a Type 7 California Manufacturing and distribution license, allowing for cannabis product distribution anywhere in the state.

Through this newly formed strategic relationship, the management teams of NPE and Cannabis Global are already collaborating on multiple levels, including the integration of several of the Company's technologies in products manufactured by NPE and distributed by NPE's distribution division, Northern Lights Distribution. In addition, the Company anticipates additional synergies on production costs, IP, and logistics.

"Aside from the direct positive balance sheet impact, which we will outline in our upcoming fiscal year end filing with the SEC, we acquired the stake in NPE for the strategic importance to our future business," commented Arman Tabatabaei, CEO of Cannabis Global. "There are multiple synergies between our internally developed technologies and the cannabis market sectors targeted by NPE and its business partners. We believe the recent acquisition and the growing relationship between the management teams will create opportunities to lower our manufacturing costs, provide important distribution channels for our unique product lines, and offer our Company multiple licensing opportunities."

At the Lynwood property, NPE plans to finish the build-out of a full scale, state-of-the-art cannabis extraction and product manufacturing facility under the consulting direction of Irvine based industry leader, Abstrax Tech, which is expected to be completed in Q1 2021. These products and products manufactured by other companies will then be distributed to retailers throughout California via Northern Lights Distribution. Besides extracted product inputs and finished products to be sold to consumers, the Cannabis Global team will also have access to a state-of-the-art portfolio of botanically derived and cannabis-inspired terpenes.

Cannabis Global also expects cost synergies from its strategic relationship with NPE, which is currently building a state-of-the-art cannabis extraction lab that will focus on making premium concentrates. This relationship will allow for vertical integration for the Company, potentially for NPE and Northern Lights Distribution. Each of these partners will have a strong incentive to provide the best products and services to the others, allowing for reduced costs and better products to be designed, manufactured, and distributed to California Cannabis consumers.

Natural Plant Extract has assembled an impressive leadership team headed by cannabis industry veterans Jeff Dimon and Ryan Johnson.

Mr. Tabatabaei added, "As a growing company that's relatively new to the cannabis marketplace, it is exciting for us to be working with this experienced management team. Jeff has extensive business leadership, marketing, and branding experience, while Ryan has one of the best sets of cannabis sales capabilities possible. NPE has also assembled equally capable advisors and investors, led by a highly successful California land developer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist who has recently acquired the Lynwood property and a 40% ownership stake in NPE. Marketing Expert and Business Consultant, Jim Riley also comes on-board to round out the experience of the team. We strongly believe this a near-optimal set of partners for Cannabis Global."

For full details on the investment made by Cannabis Global., Inc. into Natural Plant Extract, please reference the Company's recent filing with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission.

The filing can be accessed this the following link: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1413488/000107997320000764/cbgl_8k.htm

About Cannabis Global, Inc.

Cannabis Global, Inc., formerly known as MCTC Holdings, Inc., is a fully audited and reporting Company with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission, trading with the stock symbol CBGL. The Company is an emerging force in cannabinoid sciences and highly bioavailable hemp and cannabis infusion technologies. The Company has an actively growing portfolio of cannabis investments and intellectual property, having filed six provisional patents relative to the areas of cannabinoid delivery systems and cannabinoid polymeric nanoparticles. The Company markets its consumer products under the Hemp You Can Feel brand name. Cannabis Global launched its Project Varin early in 2020, to develop new delivery methods for rare cannabinoid Tetrahydrocannabivarin (THV-C) and develop products based on this and other rare cannabinoids.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" which are not purely historical and may include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such forward-looking statements include, among other things, the development, costs and results of new business opportunities and words such as "anticipate", "seek", intend", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "project", "plan", or similar phrases may be deemed "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Such factors include, among others, the inherent uncertainties associated with new projects, the future U.S. and global economies, the impact of competition, and the Company's reliance on existing regulations regarding the use and development of cannabis-based products. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and we assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Although we believe that any beliefs, plans, expectations and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that any such beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions will prove to be accurate. Investors should consult all of the information set forth herein and should also refer to the risk factors disclosure outlined in our annual report on Form 10-k, our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and other periodic reports filed from time-to-time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. For more information, please visit www.sec.gov

For more information, please contact:

Arman Tabatabaei

IR@cannabisglobalinc.com

+1-(310)-986-4929

Public Relations:

Tiger Global Marketing & Branding Agency

info@TigerGMP.com

www.TigerGMP.com

Related Links

https://hempyoucanfeel.com

SOURCE: Cannabis Global, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/607147/Cannabis-Global-Expects-Substantial-Manufacturing-Distribution-Cost-Reduction-Synergies-Following-Strategic-Investment-in-NPE
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Ajay Kanth By

Express News Service

KOCHI: Even as the controversy over Higher Education Minister KT Jaleels role in accepting a foreign consignment of Quran copies for distribution in Kerala is raging, three printing presses at Thirurangadi in Malappuram have been busy working to meet lakhs of print orders for the holy book each year. The three printing units are the main suppliers of the Quran in the country and have been unable to meet work orders from abroad. Hence, they have stopped taking export orders.

Ibrahim Nabil, co-owner of C H Muhammed and Son Printers, said their 138-year-old press was one of the oldest printing presses in the country that print the Holy Quran in two fonts  Usmani and Malabari. Of the 10 lakh Quran copies we print every year, seven lakh are in Usmani. Earlier, there was demand for the holy book in Malabari font. Now, believers have gradually started to opt for the one printed in Usmani, he said.

They used to get bulk orders for the holy book from Qatar, the UAE and Yemen, but they have stopped accepting export orders as they are unable to even complete orders from domestic buyers. We have bulk orders from across the country, mainly from Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, he said.Moideen Kurumath, owner of K Mohammed Kutty and Sons, said they print nearly 50,000 copies of the Quran every year. Apart from supplying to different book shops in Kerala, we have buyers from Karnataka and northern states. Bulk of the order is for printing the Quran in Usmani font, he said.

N A M Abdul Khader, former head of the Arabic Department of University of Calicut, said people usually mistake Usmani for a font but its actually the rules for scribing the holy text. It was during the time of third Caliph Usman that the Quran was compiled as a book. A set of rules were introduced to scribe it. These rules are followed in publishing the Quran in different fonts.

Earlier, believers in Kerala used to have Quran copies printed in a font called Hath Malabari Al Mushafi, generally known as Ponnani (Funnani). But with the Gulf boom and influx of Quran copies from Arab nations, use of Ponnani font declined and Naskhi font gained prominence. Naskhi is one of the main scripts used in Arabic countries and now a majority of the Quran copies are printed in Naskhi, he said.

I-T Dept seeks courts nod to quiz nine gold smuggling accused

Kochi: After the Customs, NIA and Enforcement Directorate (ED), the Income Tax (I-T) Department has launched a probe into the smuggling of gold via diplomatic channel. It recently approached the Ernakulam Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (Economic Offences) Court seeking its permission to interrogate nine persons Sandeep Nair, Hamjad Ali, Jalal A M, Muhammad Shafi, Sarith P S, Swapna Suresh, Muhammad Anwar, Said Alavi, and Rameez K T  who have been arraigned in gold smuggling-related cases.

Import of Quran: Statements of lorry owner, driver recorded

Kochi: The Customs probing duty evasion by the UAE Consulate by importing copies of the Quran through the diplomatic channel, quizzed the owner and driver of the lorry allegedly used to transport the packets containing copies of the holy book from Thiruvananthapuram airport to the consulate. Vehicle owner Ali and driver Sameer said they were unaware that copies of the Quran were in the packets. They said they were directed only to transport the packets.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), up for reelection, reversed his stance against election-year confirmations and urged President Trump to pick a Supreme Court nominee. (Meg Kinnard / Associated Press)

The debate over the Supreme Court vacancy is hardening partisan lines in the fight for control of the Senate, damaging the prospects for incumbents counting on support from ticket-splitting voters to keep their seats.

That dynamic further endangers the Republicans most at-risk senators, Susan Collins of Maine and Cory Gardner of Colorado, who have been focusing on local issues to woo swing voters in their Democratic-leaning states. Those issues have now been eclipsed by the polarizing national question of whether President Trump and the GOP-controlled Senate should move toward picking a successor to Ruth Bader Ginsburg before the 2020 elections.

But the showdown could help other Republicans in states where Trump remains popular, including Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Joni Ernst of Iowa. All are locked in tight races and, needing to galvanize party voters, have demonstrated their loyalty to the president by quickly siding with him in the fight over the courts future.

Overall, the battle for which party will win a Senate majority remains unpredictable and tied to Trumps fate. In politically polarized times, fewer voters than ever are inclined to pick a president from one party and a senator from another, leaving the Senate candidates with limited ability to control their own destinies.

It's another wild card," said Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, a member of the Senate Republican leadership. It certainly is something that our candidates  and the candidates on both sides, for that matter  are going to have to manage because both sides are going to be heavily invested in the outcome of this decision."

Still, even among those in tough reelection fights, Republicans see far more to be gained by sticking with the president: If they back away from him, they fear, they will lose conservative voters without picking up many liberal ones.

Collins is the only Republican up for reelection this year who has said Trump should not pick a nominee before the election; a second party defector, Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, is not on the ballot. Gardner on Monday joined other GOP senators facing the voters this fall who have backed Trumps call for the Senate to approve his nominee. On Monday, the president said he would probably announce his pick Saturday.

Story continues

In Montana, a state Trump won in 2016 by 20 percentage points, Republican Sen. Steve Daines eagerly grabbed on to the court issue. He is threatened by Gov. Steve Bullock, a Democrat who has turned the race into a toss-up in part because of praise for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in the state.

If Joe Biden is elected, he will nominate, with the support of Steve Bullock, a liberal activist justice who will threaten our Montana way of life, Daines said in a statement over the weekend. I believe the Senate should move forward with confirming President Trumps nominee.

While Republicans welcome the shift of attention to the court  an easier topic to rally conservative voters around than defending the presidents response to the coronavirus  Democrats are trying to turn the court fight into a vehicle for revisiting their most successful issue of the 2018 midterm elections: healthcare.

The court is due to take up a case pivotal to the future of the Affordable Care Act just a week after election day. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., who was chosen by President George W. Bush, delivered a tie-breaking vote in favor of the law in 2012. But Democrats and other court watchers assume the other four Republican-appointed justices, including two named by Trump, would strike it down; another Trump appointee could provide the necessary fifth vote.

This year, Democratic candidates have already made healthcare a central part of their campaigns. The looming court case brings new urgency to the message.

Affordable Care Act Dangles From a Thread, said a news release on the court vacancy from Senate candidate Cal Cunningham, the Democrat who is running against Tillis in North Carolina.

The court fight hurts Sen. Doug Jones of Alabama, the only Democrat up for reelection in a conservative state. He cannot win his long-shot bid with Democratic votes alone. Yet he has come out against Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnells plan to have a Senate vote on Trumps nominee.

It is unconscionable that Sen. McConnell and the majority leadership position will allow him to go forward and push through a nomination to the United States Supreme Court, Jones said Monday during a Facebook Live campaign event.

The Supreme Court debate may have even more direct effect on Senate races than on the presidential contest. For senators, the issue is not hypothetical: They are now being asked to take a stand on Trumps demand that the Senate approve his nominee without delay and could soon be voting.

The cross-pressures on vulnerable senators such as Collins and Gardner is one of the reasons why McConnell (R-Ky.) is widely expected to put off voting on Trumps nominee until after the election.

Gardner is considered one of the most endangered GOP incumbents because Trump lost Colorado by 5 percentage points in 2016, and his approval ratings have dropped since then.

In an interview Monday on "Fox and Friends," the president strongly endorsed Gardner, which could help the senator among Trump supporters but undermine his effort to sway the crossover voters he needs to win.

Trump saw no downsides in the court fight: I think its going to help Cory Gardner. He's a great guy by the way and very, very loyal to the party and loyal to his state."

Gardner announced his position later in the day on Twitter: "I have and will continue to support judicial nominees who will protect our Constitution, not legislate from the bench, and uphold the law. Should a qualified nominee who meets this criteria be put forward, I will vote to confirm."

Gardner's Democratic opponent, former Gov. John Hickenlooper, quickly denounced him, tweeting, "Cory Gardner is loyal to Mitch McConnell, Donald Trump, and the GOP. Not Colorado."

The president has mocked Collins for rejecting his call for a Senate vote on a Trump nominee. She said there should be no vote before the election and said the vacancy should be filled by the winner.

At a rally in North Carolina on Saturday, Trump cited past instances when a court vacancy occurred during an election year.



Every single time, the sitting president made a nomination.... Nobody said, 'Oh, let's not fill the seat!' he said. Now, we have some senators that, oh well, you know, forget it. I won't say it ... I won't say it, Susan! I won't say it, Susan."

Contrary to Trump's version of history, however, in early 2016  fully nine months before the presidential election  McConnell stated within hours of the death of Justice Antonin Scalia that the Republican Senate would not let President Obama fill the vacancy. He succeeded in keeping the seat open; Trump chose Neil M. Gorsuch the next year.

Though Collins opposed Trump on this issue, she nonetheless came under fire from her Democratic opponent, Maine House Speaker Sara Gideon, in an ad tying her to Trump and McConnell.

The U.S. Senate under Mitch McConnell is virtually just rubber-stamping almost every one of Trumps judicial nominees, Gideon says in the ad. They are going to affect us, our children, our grandchildren. We have to change the people who make him the majority leader. That includes Sen. Susan Collins.

In South Carolina, Graham is in a difficult spot of his own making. He said in 2018 that he would oppose filling a Supreme Court vacancy during an election year. Now he has reversed course and supports moving forward on a Trump nominee, drawing a barrage of criticism for hypocrisy.

Graham will be central to the drama as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which handles Supreme Court nominations, at a time when he is being challenged for reelection by Democrat Jaime Harrison. Theirs is a surprisingly tight contest in a Republican-dominated state.

Election handicappers at the University of Virginias Crystal Ball publication on Monday upgraded Harrisons chances of winning, although Graham remains favored. Crystal Ball analysts Kyle Kondik and J. Miles Coleman said that the senator's prominent role in the court fight could help Graham make up ground and consolidate support among Trump voters.

Graham is in greater danger of an upset, wrote Kondik and Coleman. The court fight could save him, though.
Indias first diagnostic kit for coronavirus disease (Covid-19) based on the gene editing technology CRISPR Cas9 has been approved for commercial use by the Drug Controller General of India. The testing kit, developed by researchers from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (CSIR-IGIB), was found to have high sensitivity of 96% and specificity of 98%, meaning it can accurately detect both positive and negative cases.

The cost-effective and quicker test has been named after the fictional Bengali detective Feluda who stars in series of novels by filmmaker Satyajit Ray. It is also an acronym for FNCAS9 Editor Linked Uniform Detection Assay.

The test barcodes the Cas9 protein  a component of the CRISPR gene editing system  to interact specifically with the genetic material of SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes Covid-19. This complex of Cas9 and CoV2 is then applied on a paper-strip test, which gives the result in the form of two lines for a positive and a single line for a negative just like the home pregnancy test. The test kits will be manufactured and marketed by Tata group.

Dr Debjyoti Chakraborty, who developed the kit along with Dr Souvik Maiti, spoke to HT about how the new kit can help the government in scaling up testing for Covid-19 further:

How does Feluda compare to the current gold-standard RT PCR test?

The method of sample collection and extraction of RNA from the swab will remain much the same, but the processing of the sample will be quicker and done on a machine that is cheaper and more readily available than the ones currently used for RT-PCR test. And, it is almost as accurate as RT-PCR test.

Within the lab, it took us about an hour to process the sample but the time will vary a little depending on how the final kit is packaged by the company. (An RT PCR test takes about five to six hours to be completed). It will reduce the sample to report time.

How will the kits help the government in scaling up testing?

The machine used for these kits are cheaper and readily available at all diagnostic labs and even colleges, which will help in increasing the number of tests that can be done. It also does not use the expensive probes needed for the RT-PCR test.

And, it uses a lateral flow paper strip for giving a negative or positive result that can be interpreted visually by anyone. In comparison, the results given by the RT-PCR machine requires a trained person to interpret the result.

The government has been using rapid antigen tests for ramping up Indias testing capacity? Will this be a better alternative?

This test cannot be done in the field and still requires a lab to process the sample, but it is more sensitive, thereby reducing chances of throwing up false positives. The rapid antigen test detects the presence of the antigen or the viral protein. The problem with is that unless there is enough protein in the sample, the test may not detect it.

In comparison, Feluda and other nucleic acid tests can detect very low copy numbers of the virus (through amplification) so the sensitivity is very high. This means the tests can detect the virus even at an early or late stage of the disease.

What next?

We are now working towards developing tests that can be performed at the point of care, in a sense bringing the test closer to home. The work is ongoing for that.

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By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: As the number of coronavirus cases continue to rise in the national capital, the Delhi governments isolation policy has led to the creation of more than 600 containment zones in the last 10 days, taking the total number of such zones to 1,889.

According to a report by the revenue department, on September 10 there were 1,272 containment zones in Delhi and as per the latest report shared there are at least 1,889 containment zones in the national capital which is a rise of 617 zones.

Earlier, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had spoken about the test, track and isolate strategy of the government to win the war against coronavirus. As per this strategy, the Delhi government is focused on monitoring hotspots and case outbursts in specific areas of the national capital.

However, some officials at the district level have expressed various difficulties that are arising due to this strategy. They believe monitoring such a large number of containment zones could give rise to bigger problems.

Of all the 11 revenue districts, South West Delhi continues to maintain its position as number one in the number of containment zones created. As per the latest report, there are 328 hotspots in this district, while second in line is West Delhi which currently has 229 containment zones. The North Delhi district has the third-highest number of such zones at 200.

Till date, a total of 3,260 hotspots have been identified out of which 1,371 have been de-contained. The revenue department report further shows that since June 21, 2,926 containment zones have been created in the national capital.

While the latest sero survey data suggests that lakhs of Delhiites have already been infected by coronavirus, active cases continue to soar.
Umar Khalid

Days after a Delhi court sent Umar Khalid to police custody in a case related to the Delhi riots, a group of former judges has raised concerns over a "partisan agenda-based disruptive narrative", and criticized those "supporting nefarious attempts to disrupt the institutions involved in investigation of crime and the process of justice".

In the strong-worded statement, judges said: "We are a group of former judges, keenly noticing a partisan agenda-based disruptive narrative, which is being consistently produced by a handful of persons who themselves have held responsible constitutional positions, supporting nefarious attempts to disrupt the institutions involved in investigation of crime and the process of justice."

The judges said this same set of people, wrongly claiming to be sole representatives of the civil society, are attempting to scuttle the normal process of administration of justice in the Umar Khalid case, and never miss any chance to denigrate democratic institutions, such as the Supreme Court, Election Commission of India, and the Parliament of India.

"They seem to suffer from a wishful thinking that all the Constitutional institutions as well as the executive authorities created by the law must function in accordance with their whims and fancy, which clearly portray their inherent lack of respect for India, and what it stands for," judges added.

In case of interrogation of Umar Khalid, the judges said, they need to understand and appreciate that ultimately, it is the judiciary of the country where the allegations will have to be proved by the prosecution on the basis of evidence collected during the investigation, which may include custodial investigation in certain cases.

The signatories also stressed on the well settled procedures for an accused to seek bail which does not include any third party trying to pressurise and browbeat the legal systems through irresponsible statements in the media.

"A new premise is espoused wherein some allegedly disruptive elements are being put on a pedestal which assumes above the law of the land, amidst the chorus of anarchy staged by the same supporting group patting those who stand for disintegration of India," the statement read.

The statement said freedom of expression does not include any freedom to instigate, participate or conspire to commit any crime and national integration cannot be sacrificed at the altar of wishfully dis-integrative romanticism of the misguided elements.

"Law must take its own course. Umar Khalid is not an exception to the Rule of Law in India," it added.

"We proceed to strongly condemn the efforts of anyone who tries to glorify crime against the State, blocking the due process of law, affecting peace and tranquillity of the citizens of India, creating a wedge in the social fabric of the nation, and indirectly striking at the roots of national integration," the statement further read.

On September 21, a Delhi court dismissed a plea by the former JNU student leader, booked under the stringent anti-terror law Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, seeking permission to meet his family during his police custody.

Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat dismissed his application seeking permission to meet his family members saying there were no merits in it.

Khalid was arrested on September 13 and the next day the court allowed police to interrogate him in its custody, saying it was a fit case for police custody remand. The cops had said they wanted to confront him with documents running into 11 lakh pages.

(With PTI inputs)
A terrorist was killed in an encounter with security forces on Tuesday in an overnight gunfight in Central Kashmir, officials said. The face-off happened when a joint party of police, the Army and the CRPF cordoned off Charar-i-Sharief area of Budgam on Monday evening after getting inputs about the presence of terrorists.

By Tuesday morning, the forces had succeeded in killing a terrorist.

In operation Charar-i-Sharief, a terrorist has been killed and a pistol was recovered, an army spokesman said. The identity of the slain terrorist was yet to be ascertained. The spokesman said that the joint operation was in progress.

Also read: China doubled its air bases, air defences and heliports near LAC in three years - Report

On September 17, three Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists were killed in an encounter with forces in Batamaloo area of Srinagar. According to the police, a woman was also killed in the crossfire during the gunfight.

So far, over 178 terrorists have been killed in Jammu and Kashmir this year in 73 anti-militancy operations, according to officials.
A New Yorker who stepped in to protect a mother and two children from a man who allegedly exposed himself to them has lashed out at city officials after the suspect was released without bail the next day.

Denis Goncharov, 33, rushed to the aid of the young family on September 8 when he noticed them being approached by the suspect, who he says started masturbating by their park bench.

He chased the man, identified by the New York Post as Justin Merritt, 34, for several blocks before the suspect dashed into a subway station. He was picked up by cops later that day.

Goncharov has now lamented that Merritt will remain free until his December court date.

'It's basically a lawless free-for-all,' he said of the city. 'Like in the movie "Joker".'

Denis Goncharov, 33, (pictured) rushed to the aid of the young family on September 8 when he noticed them being approached by the suspect, who he says started masturbating by their park bench

Goncharov, who lives in Westchester but works in finance in Manhattan, said he was eating his lunch near Pier 45 at Hudson River Park when he spotted Merritt emerge from a public restroom with his pants open.

He told the Post that Merritt made his way toward the mother and children and began to touch himself in a sexual way.

A father of two, Goncharov immediately rushed to step in.

'What upsets me is the kids he was exposing himself to were similar age to my daughters,' Goncharov said. 'I imagined the kids being harassed were my own.'

'From my recollection it was a boy and a girl, aged around seven to ten.

'They were sitting on the bench and looked very scared. They were similar age to my own kids, who were fortunately back home at this time.'

Goncharov said the mother was trying to 'cover their eyes' but that she looked 'scared'.

'My dad instinct kicked in,' Goncharov added.

'I tried to form a human barrier by jumping in between. At this point, he backed off from the family and focused his attention on me.'

He said the mother then called 911 but that Merritt began to confront Goncharov, spitting on him and picking up a brick to threaten him.

'He was right up close to me in a very confrontational and menacing way,' Goncharov said.

'In self defense, I was forced to push him away from me. At that point, he  unsuccessfully  tried to spit on me and called me "White trash".'

Goncharov said he picked up a traffic cone to protect himself after Merritt allegedly began 'aiming for my head' with the brick before fleeing the scene.

Goncharov, pictured, has two young daughters and said that he was thinking of them when he rushed to help the family

As the still-exposed man rushed away, Goncharov chased him for half a mile through Greenwich Village, filming Merritt to later help with the police investigation.

'Nobody else attempted to intervene,' he said.

'I followed him for six, seven blocks all the way to Slaughtered Lamb pub, and the suspect then disappeared down into the 4th Street subway entrance.'

In audio of the 911 call, Goncharov is heard chasing the suspect as he tries to keep sight of him before cops arrive.

'He has a brick; he has a weapon He's getting away from the scene. He exposed his penis to children  this man is a pedophile. He's a sex offender,' he states.

While Merritt initially escaped, police tracked him down at around 8pm that evening and he was charged with lewdness, harassment, menacing and criminal possession of a weapon for picking up the brick.

The four charges are non-violent misdemeanors and so according to new bail reforms which came into effect in January, none were eligible for bail.

Merritt was arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court the next day, September 9, where he was assigned a lawyer from the New York County Defender Services.

A judge then released Merritt on his own recognizance.

If he reoffends between now and his court date on December 8, he potentially 'could be put back in', New York County Defender Services director Sergio De La Pava told the Post.

Yet, Goncharov has argued that Merritt should never have been released on bail.

'A lunatic like this is able to re-offend again and again and without consequences,' he said.

'I felt sorry for the hardworking NYPD officers who often feel so powerless,' Goncharov added.

'The law is completely letting down innocent, law abiding citizens. Shootings, burglaries and violent crime are off the charts  and is it any wonder?'

According to the Post, Merritt already has a number of charges to his name including criminal possession of stolen property, trespassing, turnstyle jumping and aggravated harassment arrest.
(TNS)  Federal officials have issued final approvals to backers of a Houston-to-Dallas high-speed rail line, further clearing the way for construction of the proposed line, in a move all but certain to face ongoing challenges from opponents.Texas Central Railroad, the company planning to operate trains from Houston to Dallas with a stop near College Station, said early Monday that the Federal Railroad Administration had issued both the Record of Decision that ends the environmental analysis and the Rule of Particular Applicability that governs the safety standards the Japanese-developed trains must use.This is the moment we have been working towards, said Carlos Aguilar, CEO of Texas Central Railroad.Railroad administration officials submitted the final rules Sept. 11 and made them publicly available Monday. Company officials  who less than a decade ago expected construction to cost $10 billion, now say building it will cost around $20 billion, with construction possibly starting in the first half of next year. Skeptics said that simply will not and should not happen, criticizing the company and regulators for overlooking flaws with the plan.This project has been flawed from the beginning and the FRA has ignored calls from concerned property owners, safety professionals, and even other rail companies, said Taylor Ward, spokesperson for ReRoute the Route, formed to oppose the project.With the two approvals in hand, Texas Central can continue final designs and construction of the project. To start building the line, the company needs the go-ahead from the Surface Transportation Board, though the FRA approvals make most of that process perfunctory.The rules governing the safety standards for the Japanese Shinkansen trains are a first for U.S. rail officials, and mark the second privately-led project in America to clear its reviews for true high-speed rail. California's public high-speed rail still is developing its Los Angeles-to-San Francisco system that travels more than 200 mph, while Brightline  which operates 150 mph trains in Florida  said in July it will break ground later this year on a line from Los Angeles to Las Vegas at speeds up to 200 mph.In Texas a consortium of companies, including Italian construction giant Webuild, formerly called Salini Impregilo, Central Japan Railway  builder of the bullet trains that will be the basis for the Texas trains  and Spanish rail operator Renfe, are all hired to handle various parts of the building and operations of the system.Though development involves global companies, Texas Central and supporters, including elected officials in Houston and Dallas, note the company is based in Texas and the companies will hire thousands of locals to build and operate it. Some, such as Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, said new travel modes will define how the metro areas grow and cooperate.The construction of high-speed rail will have a generational impact, creating thousands of jobs right here in Houston and injecting billions of dollars into our local businesses, Turner said.At speeds of more than 200 mph, officials said the trip between Houston and Dallas will take 90 minutes, with trains traveling along a sealed corridor mostly following a utility right of way through rural Texas. The Houston stop is planned for the current site of Northwest Mall, near U.S. 290 and Loop 610.Texas Central is ready to build and will proceed to construction as soon as possible to contribute to the nations COVID-19 recovery, the company said in a statement.That likely is easier said than done, however, given the intense opposition by rural residents and local, state and federal officials who for years have doubted the companys claims.They hoped to break ground many many years ago, U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady, R-The Woodlands, told a crowd of train opponents on Feb. 19. They are still saying they will break ground this year. No they will not.Many critics previously said they expect multiple lawsuits to halt construction, if necessary. Opponents argue the project will ruin the character of many rural communities and properties. The federal analysis estimates the rail line will displace 235 homes, 42 businesses and permanently affect more than 3,500 acres of farmland.In doing so, opponents argue the line forever will alter the landscape with electrical lines and berms to elevate the tracks.They have also heard that Texas Centrals plan completely disregards flood catastrophes like the area has seen in very recent years, Ward said.Should it fail, Brady and others said, taxpayers will be asked to bail it out, which is why they urged Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao to shelve any federal work on it last April, citing the pandemic. Cries to keep taxpayer money away from the project have intensified as talk of COVID-related infrastructure stimulus continues and some speculate the company could try to tap those funds.We are hopeful Texas lawmakers  state and federal  will urge President Trump that not a single federal taxpayer dollar is spent on this insolvent and fatally flawed project, Ward said.The company and opponents since 2014 have sparred over the accuracy of claims both for and against the project, including estimates that the line would carry 6 million passengers annually in 2029 and 10 million a year by 2050. The figures, from an assessment paid for by Texas Central, long have been disputed by opponents who say they are overly optimistic and factor for practically all future travel growth in the region choosing the train. The company defends them as accurate based on expected growth and increasing traffic along Interstate 45.Even who is paying for the project remains in dispute. Texas Central has said since 2016 it is privately-funded  much of the investment coming from the Japan Bank of International Cooperation which aims to export Japanese technology. Company officials, however, have said they may look at federal loan programs open to most railroads and public agencies to finance some of the project, leading critics to accuse them of seeking public money.Expected to cost at least $19 billion based on the federal assessment, critics have said they believe the project potentially will cost double that, making it unlikely it ever gets built, especially as the economy surrounding the pandemic looks uncertain.Since their conception, Texas Central has lied to its investors and Texans about this project, State Rep. Ben Leman, R-Brenham, said last week, lashing out at the companys use of a Cayman Islands business entity to hold deeds for land purchased for the project in Texas.
LIMERICK has a lot to be thankful to Chuck Feeney for.

The Irish-American has donated more than 1.1bn to various causes in Ireland, including 153 million to University of Limerick.

He donated anonymously for as long as possible, practiced a policy of giving while living, and once famously said: I would like my last cheque to bounce.

Because of his clandestine, globe-trotting philanthropy campaign, Forbes called him the James Bond of Philanthropy.

On September 14, Atlantic Philanthropies, the charity tasked with giving away his fortune, was officially closed.

Mr Feeney, aged 89, who co-founded airport retailer Duty Free Shoppers with Robert Miller in 1960, has donated more than $8 billion to charities, universities and foundations worldwide.

In 2012, Mr Feeney donated 15.85m to the Bernal Project at UL, which was used to construct the Analog Devices Building, a fully equipped, applied science and engineering laboratory on campus.

In 2007, 10.65m was handed over to expand the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance and a further 1.12m was donated in 2008 to fund a mosaic mural in the building. In 1998, 3.44 million was made available for the construction of ULs Student Centre.

Mr Feeney also gave 1m to the regeneration of Limerick city and 400,00 to the implementation of prevention services.

Minister of State at the Department of Higher Education, Niall Collins paid tribute to Mr Feeney for his vision, contribution, and leadership to the island of Ireland.

His altruism has positively impacted on thousands of lives in Ireland both North and South. Through Atlantic Philanthropies, the Republic of Ireland has received $1.3bn and Northern Ireland $570m. It is unlikely we will ever see the likes of this generosity again. It shows how special a person he is.

In my own county of Limerick, our region has benefited from his dedication. He played an integral role in the development of the university, and third level education across Ireland. On behalf of Fianna Fail and the people I am proud to represent in Limerick I want to sincerely thank Chuck Feeney for his selflessness and generosity to Ireland, and wish him well into the future.
A roundup of where other Arab countries stand after the UAE and Bahrain establish formal ties with Israel.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain are the latest countries in the Arab region to formally establish diplomatic ties with Israel in deals brokered by the United States.

The Palestinians have slammed the deals as grave betrayals by the Arab states, further undermining their efforts to achieve self-determination.

The only two Arab countries Israel has signed peace treaties with are Egypt and Jordan, in 1979 and 1994 respectively. Egypt and Jordan share borders with Israel and have both fought wars with Israel in the past.

But the latest normalisation deals with Israel come as part of a broader diplomatic push by US President Donald Trump and his administration, who earlier this year revealed the so-called Middle East peace plan, which has been categorically rejected by the Palestinians.

Various reports have shown that some Gulf Arab states have established covert ties with Israel in recent years, with some relationships dating back to the 1990s, when the US-brokered Oslo Accords was signed between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).

Other countries have seemed less reluctant to publicise their relations with Israel, including Oman and Sudan, whose officials have met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in recent years.

While many Arab states say they remain committed to the Arab Peace Initiative  which calls for Israels complete withdrawal from the Palestinian territories occupied after 1967 in exchange for peace and the full normalisation of relations  speculations have been rife that some countries in the region would soon join the bandwagon.

Last week, when Israel, the UAE and Bahrain signed formal agreements in the White House, Trump said he expected at least five other countries to follow suit, without mentioning their names.

Here is a list of some Arab countries and where they currently stand regarding normalising ties with Israel:

Oman

Oman was one of the first countries to congratulate the UAE and Bahrain on establishing diplomatic ties with Israel, but said it remained committed to the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people who aspire to an independent state with occupied East Jerusalem as its capital.

The Gulf state maintains good relations with both the US and its rival Iran, claiming a position of neutrality in the region. It has also played a mediating role in regional conflicts.

However, there have been several contacts between Oman and Israel, including in 2018 when the late Sultan Qaboos received Netanyahu in Muscat.

It was the first time an Israeli official had visited Oman since 1996. At the time, Netanyahus office said the visit followed lengthy contacts between the two countries.

Last month, Omans Foreign Minister Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah held a telephone call with his Israeli counterpart Gabi Ashkenazi where the two agreed on the need to strengthen relations.

The Omani official also spoke with Jibril Rajoub, secretary-general of the central committee of the Palestinian Fatah group, and emphasised the depth of Omans relationship with Palestinians.

Saudi Arabia

Trump has placed regional heavyweight and Irans archenemy Saudi Arabia at the centre of his Middle East diplomacy.

Analysts say the recent deals would not have happened without Riyadhs support, despite the kingdom signalling it is not ready to take the same step itself.

Saudi Arabia, which said earlier this month it would allow all flights between the UAE and Israel to cross its airspace, noted it will not normalise relations with Israel outside of the framework of the Arab Peace Initiative.

But there are indications there is deep divide among the kingdoms leadership in this regard.

A report last week by the Wall Street Journal said Saudis King Salman bin Abdulaziz has been at odds with his son  the countrys de-facto leader  Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), over normalising ties with Israel.

While the king is a longtime supporter of the Arab boycott of Israel and of the Palestinians demand of an independent state, MBS seems to be eager to join forces with Israel, to pursue business ventures and to combat Iran, the report said.

During the signing ceremony in Washington, Trump last week told reporters he spoke with the king and started the dialogue about normalisation with Israel.

But the state-run SPA quoted the king voicing support for a lasting and fair solution to the Palestinian issue during his phone call with Trump.

Sudan

Though several factors may push Sudan into normalising ties with Israel, it is unclear whether it would do so in the near future.

In August, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo raised the issue of Sudan establishing ties with Israel during a visit to Khartoum.

In response, Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok said his government had no mandate to do so, and such a move could be decided after the end of the transitional period and the holding of elections, planned for 2022.

On Monday, however, Sudanese officials, including General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, met the US and Emirati officials in Abu Dhabi to discuss its removal from the US list of countries that sponsor terrorism.

Since coming to office, Sudans transitional government has been pushing to be taken off the US list, which makes the country ineligible for much-needed loans from international financial institutions and limits potential foreign investment.

But the meetings agenda also reportedly includes normalising ties with Israel.

Ahead of the Abu Dhabi meeting, the Axios website reported that the delegations would hold a decisive meeting on a possible normalisation agreement between Sudan and Israel.

Citing anonymous sources, Axios said Sudans transitional government  besides the terrorism delisting  is asking for more than $3bn in humanitarian assistance and direct budgetary aid in return for a deal with Israel.

Ties with Israel are a sensitive issue in Sudan, which was among the hardline enemies of Israel under the former leader Omar al-Bashir, removed from office earlier this year.

In February, General al-Burhan secretly met Netanyahu in Uganda and later said Khartoums position towards the Palestinian cause and their right to set up an independent state remained and will remain firm, even though Israeli commercial planes were allowed to overfly Sudan.





Kuwait

On Monday, the Kuwaiti government reaffirmed its position on the issue, saying it would not normalise ties with Israel until Palestinian statehood is achieved.

A just and comprehensive solution to the conflict must include an independent Palestinian state, an end to the occupation and the return of refugees.

The statement came two days after Trump said he expected Kuwait to be the next Arab country to establish ties with Israel.

Trumps comments came following his meeting with Kuwait emirs eldest son, Sheikh Nasser Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, where the latter accepted an award on behalf of his 91-year-old father.

Qatar

Qatar maintains good relations with the US and is home to the strategic Al Udeid US airbase. The Gulf state is also close to Iran  one of the reasons behind the GCC diplomatic crisis.

Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt cut diplomatic and trade ties with Qatar on June 5, 2017, and imposed a sea, land and air blockade, claiming Doha supported terrorism and was too close to Iran.

Qatar has consistently rejected the claims and said there was no legitimate justification for severing the relations.

The GCC rift has frustrated Trumps efforts to form a united front against Iran in the Gulf.

Qatar is heavily engaged in the besieged Gaza Strip, managing and funding welfare payments to the Palestinian people of the occupied coastal territory.

In a statement last week, Qatars government spokesperson ruled out normalising ties with Israel, saying it cant be the answer to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The core of this conflict is about the drastic conditions that the Palestinians are living under as people without a country, living under occupation, Lolwah al-Khater said.

Algeria

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has said his country will never be part of any agreement that normalises relations with Israel.

We have noticed a kind of scramble towards normalisation. This is something we will never participate in, nor bless, he said in a televised speech on Sunday.

The Palestinian issue is sacred for us and it is the mother of all issues and will not be resolved except by establishing a Palestinian state, with the 1967 borders, with Holy Jerusalem as its capital, Tebboune said.

His remarks reflected Algerias stance which has remained unchanged since it gained its independence in 1962.
US President Donald Trump on Monday suggested Pfizer Inc could secure the first US approval of a COVID-19 vaccine in coming weeks, saying a contender by Johnson & Johnson could come later.

Asked which drugmaker could be approved, Trump told Fox News in an interview: "Pfizer's doing really well," adding "Johnson & Johnson ... they'll probably be a little later." He also cited efforts by Moderna Inc and AstraZeneca Plc.

Meanwhile, Pfizer is betting that its coronavirus vaccine candidate will show clear evidence of effectiveness early in its clinical trial, according to the company and internal documents reviewed by Reuters that describe how the trial is being run.

In recent weeks, Pfizer has said it should know by the end of October whether the vaccine, developed together with Germany's BioNTech SE, is safe and effective. If the vaccine is shown to work by then, Pfizer has said it would quickly seek regulatory approval. It has not said what data it would use.

The FDA has said that a coronavirus vaccine must prove to be at least 50 percent more effective than a placebo in a large-scale trial to be considered for approval. However, a smaller sample of infections in a clinical trial changes the calculation of how that standard is met, according to researchers.

Pfizer's vaccine would need to be at least 76.9% effective to show it works based on 32 infections, according to its protocol. That would mean that no more than six of those coronavirus cases would have occurred among people who received the vaccine, the documents showed.

As for Moderna, the company said earlier that it was on track to produce 20 million doses of its experimental coronavirus vaccine by the end of the year, while maintaining its goal of readying 500 million to 1 billion doses in 2021.

Moderna has a vaccine supply deal in place with the U.S. for 100 million doses, and has finished advanced talks with the European Union for the vaccine.

On the other hand, AstraZeneca set its first interim analysis when about 40 coronavirus infections are reported among participants. Its U.S. trial is currently on hold after a patient fell ill.

Vaccines and treatments are seen as essential in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic that has shown no signs of slowing and killed over 944,000 people worldwide.

With inputs from Reuters

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He's the man responsible for healing Nadia Bartel's broken heart after her bitter split from ex-husband Jimmy last year.

And Nathan Brodie certainly proved his devotion to the Instagram influencer on Monday, when he helped collect her freebies from the post office in Melbourne.

Nadia, 35, and her personal trainer boyfriend balanced mountains of parcels as they walked down the street to her black Range Rover, which was parked nearby.

Doing the heavy lifting! Nadia Bartel's new boyfriend Nathan Brodie dutifully carried her Instagram freebies from the post office during a low-key outing in Melbourne on Monday

Nathan could easily have been mistaken for Nadia's personal assistant as he dutifully handled the heavy lifting associated with being a full-time Instagram model.

Upon reaching Nadia's luxury vehicle, the pair began carefully loading the haul of packages into the boot - which already contained a pile of clothes and coat hangers.

Later that day, toyboy Nathan ran errands for the mother of two yet again by purchasing her a take-away coffee.

The life of an Instagram boyfriend! Nadia and her personal trainer beau balanced mountains of parcels as they walked down the street to her black Range Rover, which was parked nearby

Garcon! Nathan could easily have been mistaken for Nadia's personal assistant as he handled the heavy lifting

Precious cargo: Upon reaching Nadia's luxury vehicle, the pair began carefully loading the haul of packages into the boot - which already contained a pile of clothes and coat hangers

Who wears short shorts? Nathan wore a pair of skimpy black shorts and a baggy grey T-shirt

After making a quick trip to a nearby cafe, the chivalrous hunk returned carrying two piping hot beverages.

Fashion designer Nadia looked typically stylish in an oversized taupe jumper, black leggings and a matching face mask.

She styled her tousled, honey-blonde mane loosely, and enhanced her striking facial features with blush, mascara and eyebrow pencil.

Trendy: Fashion designer Nadia looked typically stylish in an oversized taupe jumper, black leggings and a matching face mask

Coming, honey! Later that day, toyboy Nathan ran errands for the mother of two yet again by purchasing her a take-away coffee

Wardrobe change: Nathan changed into a grey T-shirt and denim shorts for the coffee run

Nathan was spotted in two different outfits, having visited the post office in a baggy jumper and black shorts, before changing into a grey T-shirt and denim shorts for the coffee run.

He attempted to shield his mouth and nose behind a black scarf, but ran into trouble when the garment slightly fell down from his face.

Their new romance comes just over a year after Nadia announced her split from retired AFL star Jimmy Bartel.

Man on a mission: Nathan looked determined to keep his girlfriend hydrated as he marched to the cafe after parking his car nearby

Nadia's new man: Their romance comes just over a year after Nadia announced her split from retired AFL star Jimmy Bartel

Balancing act: Nathan carried the coffees in one hand as he clambered back into the car

Nadia and Jimmy share two young sons, Aston, four, and Henley, one.

In a statement to the Herald Sun at the time, she said of their separation: 'It's been a very difficult month for me and the boys.

'My single focus now is to continue to protect, care and provide for my two beautiful boys as this is a personal matter. I am so thankful for my very supportive family and friends.'

Soon after their split was announced, Jimmy went public with his new girlfriend, office worker Lauren Mand.

Staying mum: Nadia has yet to publicly acknowledge her blossoming romance
Key indices dropped in early trade, extending yesterday's sharp slide on selling pressure in index pivotals. At 9:25 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was down 211.15 points or 0.56% at 37,822.99. The Nifty 50 index was down 64.05 points or 0.57% at 11,186.50.

The S&P BSE Mid-Cap index was down 3.02%. The S&P BSE Small-Cap index was down 3.67%.

The market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, is weak. On the BSE, 227 shares rose and 1561 shares fell. A total of 66 shares were unchanged.

Stocks in news:

SBI fell 2.1%. SBI said that the Committee of Directors for Capital Raising accorded its approval to allot 70,000 Basel III compliant Non-convertible, Taxable, Redeemable, Subordinated, Unsecured, Fully Paid-up Debt instruments in the nature of debentures qualifying as Tier II Capital of the Bank, of face value of Rs 10 lakh each, at par, bearing a coupon of 6.24% p.a. payable annually for a tenor of 10 years with call option after 5 years and on anniversary dates thereafter, aggregating to Rs 7000 crore to Bond Subscribers.

Aarti Drugs rose 2.23%. Aarti Drugs has fixed 1 October 2020 as the record date to determine the eligible shareholders entitled to receive the bonus shares. Earlier, the company had recommended issue of bonus shares in the ratio of 3:1 i.e. 3 bonus shares for 1 share held.

CEAT fell 0.79%. CEAT said that the meeting of the Board of Directors of the company is scheduled on 25 September 2020 through audio-visual means, to consider and approve the proposal for raising of funds through issuance of Non-convertible Debentures on private placement basis.

GMM Pfaudler slumped 10% to Rs 4,717. GMM Pfaudler said its promoter propose to sell 25.71 lakh shares through an offer for sale, floor price set at Rs 3,500 per share on September 22-23.

HSIL rose 2.87% to Rs 73.45. HSIL said its board approved buyback of up to Rs 70 crore worth of shares at Rs 105 per share from the equity shareholders / beneficial owners of the equity shares of the company (other than the promoters, the promoter group and persons in control of the company).

Shree Renuka Sugars rose 4.18% to Rs 9.23. Shree Renuka Sugars said that the Allotment Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company, has considered and approved the allotment of 21,16,70,481 equity shares of Re. 1 per share, for cash at a price of Rs 8.74 per share aggregating to Rs. 185 crore on preferential basis to Promoter, Wilmar Sugar Holdings Pte Ltd.

Global Markets:

Overseas, Asian stocks are trading lower on Tuesday, as Hong Kong-listed shares of HSBC and Standard Chartered continued to see declines following a Monday drop. Markets in Japan are closed on Tuesday for a holiday.

In US, stocks fell on Monday as fears about the potential worsening of the coronavirus pandemic, as well as uncertainty on further U.S. fiscal stimulus, rattled traders.

Concerns over another wave of coronavirus cases came as the U.K. reportedly considers another national lockdown to stop an increase in infections. Bank stocks also contributed to the broader market drop after a report found that a number of global banks moved allegedly illicit funds.

Back home, domestic shares tumbled across the board on Monday as dismal global cues and rising COVID-19 cases triggered profit selling. The barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, fell 811.68 points or 2.09% at 38,034.14. The Nifty 50 index lost 254.40 points or 2.21% at 11,250.55.

Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) sold shares worth Rs 539.81 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs), were net sellers to the tune of Rs 517.95 crore in the Indian equity market on 21 September, provisional data showed.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Davies, a specialist professional services and technology business, has acquired TriPlus Service Inc, a long-term care insurance third party administrator (TPA) based in Massachusetts.

TriPlus provides its long-term care carrier clients with claims and policy administration management solutions as well as actuarial and claims consulting.

Under the deal, TriPlus will join Davies Claims Solutions business in the U.S., enabling Davies to widen its claims and administration offering to include long-term care. TriPlus CEO Peter Lucas will continue to lead the business and report to U.S. Claims Solutions CEO Matt Button. All TriPlus employees will continue in their roles as Davies employees.

In September 2019, Davies announced its first major U.S. deal with the acquisition of Frontier Adjusters Inc, a multi-line independent claims adjusting provider, closely followed in October 2019 by Alternative Service Concepts LLC, a workers compensation and property and casualty TPA.

These deals enabled the group to provide its insurance clients with multi-line claims solutions in the U.S. and Canada in addition to its established operations in the U.K. and Ireland.

The acquisition of TriPlus marks Davies fifth acquisition of 2020, following the acquisitions of: Keoghs, an insurance focused law firm, which was announced in January and completed earlier in March; Codebase8, an automation and digital solutions provider to insurance and other highly regulated markets; Citadel & Cedar Consulting, a captive management and consulting businesses; and ContactPartners, a specialist cloud application provider.

Globally, Davies has more than 4,000 colleagues with operating centers across the U.K., Ireland, Bermuda, the U.S. and Canada. The business delivers professional services and technology solutions across the risk and insurance value chain, including in claims, underwriting, distribution, regulation, customer experience, human capital, digital transformation and change management.

Source: Davies

Topics Mergers Claims USA Massachusetts
The US Congress has waded into the ongoing row over the Elgin Marbles and called for their return to Greece.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, eighteen members of the House of Representatives urged Britain to open talks 'in earnest' over the sculptures in the British Museum.

They said: 'The Marbles have been the source of controversy among western allies for many decades. Greece has long wanted these Parthenon Marbles back.

'Today we write to you as members of the congressional caucus on Hellenic Issues to urge your government to negotiate with the Greek government in earnest on the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece.'

The 7th Earl of Elgin, Thomas Bruce, removed the Parthenon Marble pieces from the Acropolis in Athens while serving as the British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire from 1799 to 1803

The group of congressmen contained both Republicans and Democrats and included the chair of the foreign affairs subcommittee covering Europe and the chairs of the oversight and rules committees.

They want to see the sculptures returned by 2021 - the 200th anniversary of the modern Greek state's founding.

The letter adds: 'We remain appreciative of your efforts and good will in support of the historic special relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States, and look forward to strengthening that relationship through the accomplishment of matters such as this.'

Dating back almost 2,500 years to the 5th Century BC the Elgin Marbles are seen some of the finest examples of marble sculpture the world over.

They were removed from the Parthenon in Athens by Thomas Bruce, the 7th Earl of Elgin, between 1801 and 1805.

He was British Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, who then ruled Greece, when they were taken.

The Earl claimed to have permission from the Ottomans to ship the Marbles to Britain however the supposed decree has never been found.

Parliament bought the Marbles in 1816 and given to the British Museum, which claims Lord Elgin took them with permission.

The Elgin marbles inside The British Museum

However Greece has long maintained they were stolen and even at the time their removal was criticised by some, including Lord Byron who likened it to an act of looting.

A source told the Daily Telegraph: 'These members of Congress are saying thank you to Britain for looking after them. They know that Boris Johnson understands Greek history better than anyone, and both Republicans and Democrats are calling on the prime minister to do the right thing.

'By returning the Elgin Marbles, the United States sees an opportunity for Boris Johnson to go down in history as a statesman who respected both Britain's past and projected a new confident post Brexit Britain to the world.'

It is thought that Parliament would have to change the law to return the Marbles to Athens as the British Museum Act of 1963 bans any property being returned.

The Greeks have some of the remaining Marbles laid out with gaps for those that remain in Britain.
People evacuated from aged care at the height of Victoria's coronavirus crisis, which has claimed the lives of more than 600 elderly people in care, are being returned to nursing homes where outbreaks occurred as case numbers drop.

The task force set up to tackle widespread outbreaks within aged care is focusing on returning residents as it devotes extra resources to preventing new outbreaks at nursing homes in hotspot areas such as Casey in Melbourne's south-east.

Police and workers at the Epping Gardens Aged Care Facility in Epping in Melbourne's north in July. Credit:Eddie Jim

The Victorian Aged Care Response Centre, a joint effort of the state and federal governments, said active cases within aged care homes had dropped to 328 from its peak of 2075 in mid-August.

The response centre's executive officer, Joe Buffone, said the "acute phase" of its emergency response was now coming to an end, and the focus would now shift to returning people to their homes and battling new outbreaks.
Are human beings able to defy an authority's orders? What if those orders are evil? What if those orders run counter to everything we believe?

We feel that in our heart of hearts, we would resist. We would stop. We would turn on that authority and refuse to continue. But is that true? Maybe we humans are more like sheep than we care to think. What does it take for abusive authority to turn us into evil and abusive sheep?

Stanley Milgram was a scientist at Yale who asked this question. It was 1961, one year after the trial of Adolf Eichmann in Jerusalem. He wondered if there was something unusually sheepish about the Germans of the late '30s who followed Eichmann's orders. Would Americans be more defiant? Or could we be easily made to follow an evil order if given by the right authority?

Milgram put an advertisement in a local paper looking for participants to take part in a study at Yale University.

When volunteers arrived, each was paired with another person (actually a confederate in on the experiment). They were told they would be the "teacher" and the other person would be the "learner."

The volunteer "teacher" was led into a room containing an electric shock generator with rows of switches delivering volts from 15 volts to 450 volts (marked as extreme danger). In another room, the confederate "learner" could be seen strapped into what appeared to be a chair with electrodes placed on him.

A researcher who wore the double authority of a white lab coat and a position at Yale University ordered the volunteer to ask the "learner" questions and to administer shock when he got the answers wrong. The shock was not real, but the confederate "learner" acted as though it were.

The Yale researcher in the white coat ordered the volunteer to administer increasingly high volts with each wrong answer. If the volunteer "teacher" protested, the researcher ordered him firmly but calmly to continue. Shockingly 65% (two thirds) of volunteers (i.e., teachers) continued to what they believed was a potentially lethal dose of 450 volts. All the participants continued to 300 extremely painful volts.

Are we so different today? Are we too "woke" to be such evil and abusive sheep? Could we really be convinced by people in white coats to administer a lethal dose of electric shock or its equivalent? If you think you would stand up to authority in such a situation, then ask yourself this: where have I been these past six months? As people in white coats have demanded cruelty from us in the response to COVID, what have we done?

A story in the Washington Post headlined "Pandemic isolation has killed thousands of Alzheimer's patients while families watch from afar" provides a stark and disturbing example. The story tells the tale of those suffering from irrecoverable dementia. Since the pandemic broke, over 130,000 of these victims have died of their dementia. They have died all alone. They have essentially been put in glass-windowed cages where their relatives can view them, like some wild beast. But to enter the room and hug them or kiss them or even to just touch them is forbidden. A wife may not kiss her husband. A son or daughter may not hug his mother. Its forbidden. By whom? Why? Are we that worried a patient suffering severe and fatal dementia might catch COVID? Touch is the one language still understood by someone with dementia on that scale.

Such pure cruelty. Are we so worried about COVID that we deny this most basic human kindness? Men and women in white coats from prestigious institutions give these cruel and inhumane orders. But we are the ones who follow them.

One man interviewed in the Post story explained that he could tell that the isolation was killing his wife, but all he could do was stand there and watch.

"It's like we as a country just don't care anymore about older people," the man said, as he drove to his wife's nursing home in Atlanta's northern suburbs. "We've written them off."

How did we get here? Men and women in white coats started it. The mainstream media amplified it. They vilified anyone who disagreed. They harped endlessly on the need to follow these cruel dictates. They chided anyone who disagreed as anti-science. Science says be cruel. So we must. On this site, the brilliant William Sullivan has written many of the best articles on the subject of COVID only to run afoul of the censors on the major social media platforms.

Telling the sickest members of our society to die in isolation is perhaps the cruelest of the electric shocks we have administered to ourselves under orders, but it is far from the only one. Businesses have been told to close. People put their lives in those businesses. But don't go in there or get shamed. Let the owner's livelihood and life's work starve and shrivel. No guests at weddings. No guests at funerals. Let your friends and loved ones die alone and in isolation. Watch it on Zoom. Don't visit your family. Don't visit your parents. Don't hug. Don't let any human being within six feet of yourself. Make sure your face is masked.

Who ordered this? And who is following it?

We are all subjects in a Milgram experiment now. The evil sheep are among us. But it is never too late. We can still wake up from our "woke" state. The power is ours  each person standing up on his own and refusing to further take part.

Stand your ground, friends. Be kind. Don't let the white coats stop you!
Republican Senator Ted Cruz defended his colleagues' decision to support President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee after failing to back Barack Obama's four years ago under similar circumstances.

'Everybody has changed their position,' the GOP senator from Texas told CBS' 'This Morning.'

'Every Democrat has flipped,' he added. 'There's a reason for that. Both sides believe something fundamentally different about Supreme Court justices. The Democrats and Joe Biden have promised to nominate liberal activist judges.'

He noted Republicans - both President Trump and Senate Republicans - ran for office promising to name conservative judges to the courts, adding that since the GOP kept control of the Senate in the 2018 midterms, voters gave them the nod of approval to confirm a justice.

'President Trump ran promising to nominate principled constitutionalists to the court. The American people elected him.The American people elected a Republican majority three times in 2014, 2016, 2018. The Republican majority in the Senate ran promising to confirm constitutionalist judges,' Cruz said.

Republican Senator Ted Cruz defended his colleagues' decision to support President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee

Many Republicans senators have said they support voting on President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee in an election year after refusing to back then President Barack Obama's nominee in 2016

His defense comes as Senate Republicans have locked up the votes they need to put President Trump's replacement for the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the Supreme Court.

Ginsburg, who died Friday from complications from colon cancer, dictated a statement to her granddaughter Clara Spera before her death, saying: 'My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed.'

Democrats have used her statement and Republican actions in 2016 - when they wouldn't move forward with Obama's nomination to the Supreme Court, citing election year politics - as the basis of their argument for holding off on confirming a new judge.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer called Republicans' actions the 'height of hypocrisy.'

In March 2016, Obama nominated Judge Merrick Garland,a moderate jurist, to fill the vacancy left by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia.

But Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell refused to bring Garland's nomination to the Senate floor, saying the winner of the November election should get to pick the next justice even though the contest was eight months away.

Now McConnell and most of his Republican senators say they will back Trump's nominee, noting the circumstances are different from four years ago since their party controls both the White House and the Senate.

'Were going to vote on this nomination on this floor,' McConnell said Monday in a Senate floor speech.

He did not commit to a date to vote on the nominee. President Trump has pushed for a vote before the November 3 election but that time table would leave Republicans less than 40 days for Trump's pick to meet with senators, hold a confirmation hearing, have the committee vote on the nominee and then the final vote on the Senate floor.

Additionally a confirmation vote shortly before the election could be awkward politically for those Republican senators in tough races.

South Carolina Sen Lindsey Graham told Fox News Monday that Republican senators have the votes to approve President Trump's nominee to the Supreme Court

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Monday there will be a vote on Trump's nominee this year

McConnell, in March 2016, refused to bring President Barack Obama's Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland (above) to the Senate floor for a vote

Cruz was one of the Republicans senators who supported McConnell's decision to hold back on the court nomination in 2016 and now supports Trump's call to confirm a Supreme Court nominee this year.

Meanwhile, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham said Monday night Trump 'has the votes' to proceed after two key Republican senators announced their plans to support the president.

'We've got the votes to confirm Justice Ginsburg's replacement before the election. We're going to move forward in the committee, we're going to report the nomination out of the committee to the floor of the United States Senate so we can vote before the election. Now, that's the constitutional process,' Graham told Fox News host Sean Hannity.

Graham is another senator to change his stance.

'I want you to use my words against me. If there's a Republican president in 2016 and a vacancy occurs in the last year of the first term, you can say Lindsey Graham said let's let the next president, whoever it might be, make that nomination,' the senator said four years ago when arguing against the Garland nomination.

Now Graham said his stance changed after the heated confirmation process for Trump's last nominee, Brett Kavanaugh.

Schumer ripped Graham for his flip-flop on Monday.

'Its enough to make your head explode,' he said.

'Theres no shaping the cravenness of this position,' he added. 'It is utterly craven, an exercise in raw political power.'

Graham's statement of confidence on the vote for Trump's choice came after Iowa Sen Chuck Grassley, the former Judiciary Committee chair, and Colorado Sen Cory Gardner confirmed that they will back a hearing for Trump's nominee.

It had been speculated that Grassley could try to block the nomination process because he'd previously opposed filling Supreme Court vacancies during an election year.

'The Constitution gives the Senate that authority, and the American people's voices in the most recent election couldn't be clearer,' Grassley said in a statement.

Grassley was chairman of the Judiciary Committee when Republicans blocked Obama's pick in 2016, when he joined McConnell in arguing that it was best to let voters decide who should fill the Supreme Court seat.

The senator maintained that stance as recently as this summer, telling reporters that he would still hold that position if he were chairman. But now he says he supports the president.

Gardner's stance was also in question because he faces a tough re-election race in his home state, and some thought he could side with Democrats to boost his standing among moderate voters.

But Gardner said: 'When a President exercises constitutional authority to nominate a judge for the Supreme Court vacancy, the Senate must decide how to best fulfill its constitutional duty of advice and consent.

'I have and will continue to support judicial nominees who will protect our Constitution, not legislate from the bench, and uphold the law. Should a qualified nominee who meets this criteria be put forward, I will vote to confirm.'

Iowa Sen Chuck Grassley (left) and Colorado Sen Cory Gardner (right) confirmed that they will back a hearing for Trump's nominee, giving him enough support for his nomination t be confirmed

Republican Senator Mitt Romney has yet to say if he will support voting on a Supreme Court nominee ahead of a November election

Judge Amy Coney Barrett (left) has emerged President Donald Trump's top choice to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the nation's highest court and Barbara Lagoa (right) is a 'distant second'

The news of both Republican senators preparing to back Trump came as a blow to the Democrats, who have little options in trying to block a nomination.

Four Republican senators need to join the Democrats to stop a Supreme Court nomination going forward.

Two GOP senators - Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins - have already dissented on the Supreme Court vote, saying it should wait until after the November 3 election.

But with Gardner and Grassley on board the only Republican senator left to announce a position is Mitt Romney. Even if he joins with those calling for the nomination to wait until after the election, it would not be enough votes to stop the nominee.

'Before I have any comment, I'm going to meet with my colleagues, which I'll be doing tomorrow. And if I have something at that point I'll let you know what it is, but until then, I need to be waiting and get a chance to speak with those colleagues,' Romney told reporters on Capitol Hill Monday.

'I've got nothing more to add to what I just said. I'm not going to speak to this until I get to speak with my colleagues,' he said.

The back-and-forth comes as Judge Amy Coney Barrett has emerged as President Trump's top choice to replace Ginsburg on the Supreme Court.

Trump met with Barrett, a judge on the Seventh Circuit and mother of seven who adopted two children from Haiti, at the White House on Monday after he announced that he is vetting 'four or five' women to take Ginsburg's Supreme Court seat.

Bloomberg reported that the president is 'leaning toward' Barrett for the nomination but is also planning to meet with another contender, Barbara Lagoa, sometime this week.

Sources told the outlet that Lagoa, a judge on the US Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit and former justice on the Florida Supreme Court, is the only other person being seriously considered for the job, but she is a 'distant second' to Barrett.

Trump said Monday that he will wait to announce his nomination until Friday or Saturday  after funeral services for Ginsburg have concluded.

'I think it'll be on Friday or Saturday,' Trump said. 'And we want to pay respect. We, it looks like, it looks like we will have probably services on Thursday or Friday, as I understand it.'

'I think in all due respect we should wait until the services are over for Justice Ginsburg,' he told the Fox & Friends panel during a Monday morning call-in interview. 'And so we're looking probably at Friday or maybe Saturday.'
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 22

Trend:

Over the past 24 hours, Armenian armed forces have violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops 33 times, Trend reports referring to Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.

Armenian armed forces were using large-caliber machine guns and sniper rifles.

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.
CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa., Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Physical therapy leader PHOENIX Rehabilitation & Health Services, Inc. has completed its transition to a new brand identity as Phoenix Physical Therapy, to align with the company's core service offerings, it was announced today by Chris Ciatto, Phoenix Physical Therapy President and Chief Executive Officer.

Since 1997, Phoenix has provided physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy services in community-based outpatient clinics. The company operates more than 115 local clinics across 11 states.

"Phoenix was founded by physical therapists committed to building an organization that would provide the best possible patient experience while also creating a company culture that physical therapists would seek to join," said Ciatto. "Our focus remains to hire highly skilled clinicians and provide them autonomy to deliver quality patient care."

"With the support of Audax, our private equity firm, Phoenix has focused on thoughtfully expanding our geographic footprint through a comprehensive acquisition and de novo clinic strategy," said David Angelo, the company's Chief Operating Officer. "Our new brand builds on the company's experience with a refreshed and energized look and feel to represent the company we are today. While the company has grown, our commitment to being local has not changed. We welcome community-based physical therapy practices seeking a partner with similar values and a passion for providing quality patient care to consider joining the Phoenix family."

Phoenix will transition to its new branding over the next 18 months. The company engaged New York-based Sequel Studio for the brand refresh initiative.

About Phoenix Physical Therapy

Phoenix Physical Therapy creates distinctly different and personalized experiences for our patients, teams and communities. The company, with over 500 employees, operates more than 115 community-based clinics across the United States. The Phoenix team is committed to providing the highest quality physical therapy and occupational therapy care.

About Audax Private Equity:

Audax Group is a leading alternative investment manager with offices in Boston, New York, and San Francisco. Since its founding in 1999, the firm has raised over $26 billion in capital across its Private Equity and Private Debt businesses. Audax Private Equity has invested over $5 billion in more than 130 platforms and over 825 add-on companies, and is currently investing out of its $3.5 billion, sixth private equity fund.

SOURCE PHOENIX Rehabilitation and Health Services, Inc.
Lawyers defending the Andrews government against a court challenge to Victoria's curfew policy are considering withholding key documents in the lead up to a trial likely to run next week.

Supreme Court judge Tim Ginnane has given the government until 2pm on Wednesday to decide whether it would claim public interest immunity to conceal files related to the September 14 curfew extension.

Premier Daniel Andrews is facing multiple lawsuits in relation to COVID-19. Credit:Eddie Jim

Restaurant owner Michelle Loielo, who is an active member of the Liberal Party, filed a writ last week arguing the curfew was unreasonable, disproportionate and violates the human rights of millions of Victorians.
ISLAMABAD (AP)  An international tribunal granted a stay pending a final decision on a $5.8 billion penalty imposed on Pakistan for denying a mining lease to an Australian company, an adviser to Pakistans prime minister said Friday.

Pakistan had appealed the penalty imposed by the World Banks International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes, and has said it would hinder the countrys handling of the coronavirus pandemic. The case is testing Prime Minister Imran Khans ability to use back-channel diplomacy to settle disputes and keep alive efforts to lure more foreign investors to his impoverished country.

The fine, nearly $6 billion including the damages award and interest, would be equal to about 2 percent of Pakistans GDP and is on a par with a $6 billion bailout package the country secured last year from the International Monetary Fund. Experts have questioned the reasoning behind the huge award, which is more than double the size of the largest similar arbitration award in a case between Dow Chemical and Kuwait Petrochemical Corp.

Saleem Bajwa, an adviser to Khan, tweeted Friday that the tribunals decision was a great relief for Pakistan. The decision was also hailed as a success in a brief statement from the attorney generals office late Thursday. Both Islamabad and the mining company have said theyre willing to consider a settlement pending a final decision on the award, which might not come until next year.

The tribunal declined to comment Friday in response to a request by The Associated Press.

The penalty centered around Pakistans cancelling of the Reko Diq mining lease for Australias Tethyan Copper Corp., a 50-50 joint venture of Barrick Gold Corp. of Australia and Antofagasto PLC of Chile, to build and operate a copper-gold open-pit mine.

The Reko Diq district in southwestern Pakistans Baluchistan province is famed for its mineral wealth, including gold and copper. Khans government considers it a strategic national asset, especially as prices for commodities surge, with gold recently at more than $2,000 an ounce. The Baluchistan government has since set up its own company to develop the mine.

Tethyan had invested $220 million in Reko Diq by 2011, when Pakistan terminated its mining lease. The company sought help the following year from the tribunal, which ruled against Pakistan in 2017.

Paying compensation equivalent to 40 percent of Pakistans foreign exchange reserves would have been a challenge as it struggles to revive its economy. The coronavirus pandemic has infected more than 300,000 of the countrys 212 million people and killed more than 6,400, while the economy contracted for the first time in decades in the fiscal year that ended in June.

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More tech news includes Nokia launching Nokia 3.4, Nokia 2.4 smartphones and Amazon.in getting support for Indic languages.

It was a busy day in the world of technology today. On one hand, we saw Nokia and Xiaomi launching a bunch of new smartphones, on the other hand, we saw Amazon India getting support for more vernacular languages. In addition to that, we saw Microsoft commencing its Ignite 2020 conference.

So, here's everything that happened in tech today:

Microsoft Ignite 2020 begins

Microsoft today hosted the Ignite 2020 conference. The three-day conference that is being held virtually this time began with a keynote address by CEO Satya Nadella. At the event, the company announced a host of new developments for Microsoft Teams. You can check all the updates here.

Poco X3 launched

Xiaomi launched the Poco X3 in India today. It comes at a starting price of 16,999 and it will go on sale in India via Flipkart starting September 29.

Nokia 3.4, Nokia 2.4 launched

HMD Global today launched the Nokia 3.4 and Nokia 2.4 smartphones. While the Nokia 3.4 starts at 159 euros ( 13,800 approximately), the Nokia 2.4 starts at 119 euros ( 10,300 approximately).

Qualcomm Snapdragon 750 launched

Qualcomm today launched the Snapdragon 750 chipset. It includes Qualcomm Snapdragon X52 5G Modem and it will be available in Xiaomi smartphones soon.

Amazon.in gets support for Indic languages

Amazon India today rolled out support for Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu on Amazon. in. This feature is available on the companys mobile and desktop sites and its Android and iOS-based apps.
VANDALIA, Ohio -- President Donald Trump, visiting Ohio Monday, touted appointing hundreds of federal judges during his presidency, and said hed appoint another to the U.S. Supreme Court to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg by the end of the week.

You know were working very hard on getting a Supreme Court justice, Trump said, prompting chants of Fill that seat from the hundreds in a hangar at the Dayton International Airport. Were going to announce who that is. The only thing Ill say for the women, is that it will be a woman.

The court was one of the many topics that came up during Trumps hour-long, freewheeling speech that loosely hung on a framework of touting his support for workers, including a reworked trade agreement with Mexico and Canada. He said the Democratic presidential nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden, would turn back his administrations approach and take the country in a socialist direction.

He spent roughly the same amount of time telling a story bragging about his knowledge of mechanical engineering and military technology as he did discussing the coronavirus pandemic, which he referred to as the plague." On Monday, the country was closing in on 200,000 documented national deaths due to COVID-19.

He made a few specific references to Ohio, including the trade case his administration won in 2017 after it imposed washing-machine tariffs on competitors to Whirlpool, based in Sandusky County.

At one point, he mused that he might lose the race.

Look, this guy is shot. If he makes it, its gonna be, Im gonna come back to Dayton and say What the hell happened? Trump said. I will have lost to the worst presidential candidate in the history of politics. I really believe that.

Someone in the crowd yelled Thats not going to happen.

I hope youre right. I hope youre right, Trump said.

With another hint of managing his supporters' expectations, Trump also referenced next weeks presidential debate in Cleveland.

Hes been in office for 40 years, Trump said. He should beat me. Hes been doing this a long time."

Before Mondays speech, Biden through his campaign issued a statement that criticized Trump for bungling the response to the coronavirus pandemic and for encouraging a boycott of Akron-based Goodyear after an internal company document was published that said workers werent allowed to wear clothing touting Trump or other political candidates.

Ohio deserves a leader in the White House who will fight for workers and families  not just corporations and the super wealthy, Biden said. As president, Ill ensure that we not only recover from this crisis and end this pandemic, but that we support the small businesses that fuel our economy and create millions of good-paying jobs. Theres nothing Americans cant do if given half a chance  and as president, I will help bring this country together so we can build back better than ever before.

Earlier Monday, the Ohio Democratic Party organized a video conference pre-empting the speech.

Rhine McLin, a former Dayton mayor who holds a state party leadership position, said the multiple visits in the past week by Trump and Vice President Mike Pence showed the campaign was getting desperate." She said the two events, where masks werent required, could spread the coronavirus.

This could be a super-spreader event all because Donald Trump is worried about his re-election campaign, she said.

During his speech, Trump complained the The International Brotherhood of Teamsters endorsed Biden.

But the workers under them, they support me, he said.

He said some voters may not like his personality.

Who cares about my personality. I get the job done, he said, gesturing to nearby workers. You see those rough guys over there? I dont like their personality either. But they get the job done. Who cares about their personality?

Trump also claimed, without evidence, that more mail-in voting in the November election would lead to widespread instances fraud. While there are documented instances of elections fraud, repeated studies have found it to be rare. A recent study by the conservative Heritage Foundation found 1,298 proven instances over 36 years. Trump did say mail-voting systems like Ohios, which requires voters to request a ballot are fine," and that his concern is with states that are sending unsolicited ballots.

Warm-up speakers included Lt. Gov. Jon Husted and two local business owners who said they were bouncing back from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Husteds speech was not well-received, and the audience began booing immediately when he tried to open with a joke about Trump-branded face masks.

Trump gave shout-outs to Gov. Mike DeWine, whom he called a real good friend, prompting a mix of boos and cheers, and Husted.

Hes opening up. Hes opening up. Wheres Mike? Hes a good man, Trump said.

Among those in the audience was Randy Knox, a 69-year old retired police officer from Bellefontaine, about an hour away.

He said Trump supports the military and law enforcement, and has helped put God back in the White House.

He didnt have to do this. Hes an awesome patriot, and everyones got to appreciate what hes done, Knox said.

Also there was Zach Farlow, 39, of Dayton. Farlow, who was among a minority of attendees who wore a face mask, said he is a political conservative, and was a Ted Cruz guy during the 2016 Republican primary.

He said he likes what Trumps done since getting into office, including on international trade, and also said he would like to see another Republican appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court.

I wasnt sure what kind of president hed be, but he did everything he promised hed do, Farlow said. Im all in now.
Warren County voters in the Nov. 3 election will choose a new freeholder to succeed retiring, longtime Freeholder Richard Gardner.

Republican candidate Lori Ciesla, of Lopatcong Township, won her partys primary in July and faces Theresa Bender Chapman, of Harmony Township, who entered the race as an independent before being nominated by county Democrats to run as their nominee after the Democratic primary winner withdrew from the race.

In a twist, the winner will be sworn-in in January as a county commissioner, not freeholder, under a change signed into law last month by Gov. Phil Murphy amid a national reckoning to re-examine vestiges rooted in structural racism.

Ciesla and Bender Chapman took part in a candidates forum Tuesday on WRNJ, which included participation by a reporter for lehighvalleylive.com and The Express-Times. The full program was set to be rebroadcast at 7 p.m. Tuesday at FM 104.7, 105.7 and 92.7 and AM 1510, and is available through the stations archives at wrnjradio.com and playable here:

Ciesla introduced herself as a married mother of two, who works in information technology as a senior business analyst and compliance officer. She was the first first female president of Lopatcong Township Council and continues to volunteer with the township and with Warren County initiatives.

Bender Chapman is a special education teacher and also a mother of two. Her community volunteerism includes serving as president of the Citizens for Sustainable Development group thats been fighting Jaindl Land Co.'s proposed 2.6 million-square-foot warehouse development in White Township.

The two agreed on several topics, and similarities between them include both being the daughters of military veterans.

Where the two diverged sharply Tuesday was how well Warren County residents have been served by the freeholder board. Ciesla credited the board with working to cut taxes or keep them flat, while building a healthy surplus, and said she has the experience to continue that approach. Bender Chapman seized on her opponents assertion that experience matters in arguing Warren County has long been run on the same agenda focused on low-hanging fruit.

Looking ahead, Bender Chapman called for investments in technology, primarily high-speed internet service and a more-robust power grid  infrastructure she wants the county to take the lead on. Ciesla said as an IT professional, she understands the need for improved infrastructure and sees private companies stepping in to fill a gap in the market.

Both agreed on the need to fight for federal funding, both for infrastructure and to offset the costs of the continuing coronavirus pandemic. Warren County a month ago accepted $1.38 million in federal CARES Act funding through the governors office. Freeholders labeled that the first coronavirus aid to the county. It is in addition to hundreds of millions of dollars in direct assistance to residents and businesses.

Turning to warehouses, the candidates agreed they should be built  but only where appropriate. Bender Chapman accused the freeholder board of saying development is a municipal issue, something Ciesla suggested she may have misinterpreted in the countys approach, but the Democrat pushed back. She called for planning across municipal borders so job-creating industries are welcome where they make sense, while not adversely changing residents' quality of life. Ciesla said a freeholder needs to understand that planning doesnt stop at the border, and that that is the view of the current board. Both talked about the countys recently commissioned study of warehouse traffic impact, with Bender Chapman forecasting a huge cost to the taxpayer if all the projects that are planned get built, while Ciesla said some of the studys findings  like widening Route 519  could be thwarted by red tape with the states Highlands Commission.

The candidates shared similar views on New Jerseys move toward legalization of recreational marijuana, which is up to voters to decide in a ballot question Nov. 3. Based on voters' will, state legislators will need to carefully consider impacts on addiction and children, said Ciesla, who vowed she would not stand for any unfunded mandates with the change. Bender Chapman also called on lawmakers to listen to constituents, including mental health professionals, educators and parents, while noting this is primarily a state issue and that local leaders have bigger concerns.

When it comes to voting, Ciesla said voters should have a choice between casting ballots by mail or in person. She noted anyone who votes in person in November will do so by provisional ballot, instead of on one of the countys new voting machines. Bender Chapman credited the efforts of the county elections and clerks offices and noted voters can drop off mail-in ballots at drop boxes around the county if they are uncomfortable with sending them in.

Both also blasted the New Jersey Department of Transportations approach to the rock fending proposed along Interstate 80, and demanded more attention be paid to the voices of local leaders in Hardwick and Knowlton townships.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting lehighvalleylive.com with a subscription.

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com.
Rafale fighter jet, formally inducted into the Indian Air Force on September 10, was seen flying over Ladakh on Monday even as India and China continue discussions over rules of de-escalation and disengagement of troops.

The first batch of the jets arrived in India on July 29 and the delivery of all 36 Rafale fighter jet is scheduled to be completed by 2021-end.



#WATCH | Indian Air Forces Rafale fighter jet flying over Ladakh from a forward airbase. The aircraft were formally inducted into Air Force on September 10. pic.twitter.com/xeOGrFDQzZ

 ANI (@ANI) September 21, 2020

A video of the jet flying over Ladakh was shared by news agency ANI on Twitter.

The sorties were carried out from the forward airbase Ambala in Haryana where the Rafales were formally inducted on September 10. The first batch of the jets had arrived in India on July 29.

India and China are engaged in a border standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The discussions about a possible de-escalation are ongoing with the latest talks turning out to be inconclusive.

It is learnt that another round of commander-level talks are due before any of the sides decides to disengage from their positions.

With the induction of Dassault Aviation-made Rafale fighter jets, Indian Air Force fleet stands strengthened as the jet is a multi-role fighter aircraft manufactured by of France and is capable of flying from 36 thousand feet to 50 thousand feet.

In addition to this, the jet can perform 3-D mapping with an electronic scanning radar to find enemy positions in real-time and can detect long-term dangers in all-weather conditions.

Till now France has delivered five Rafales, five more are expected to come by November.
An incarcerated man at the Bexar County jail died Monday, officials said.

The Bexar County Sheriff's Office said it appears Robert Cantu, 43, experienced a medical episode related to a pre-existing condition.

A detention deputy conducting observation checks discovered Cantu unresponsive around 10:15 a.m. The deputy performed life-saving measures and the facility's medical staff responded, officials said.

Cantu was pronounced dead at 10:39 a.m. by emergency medical technicians.

On Sunday, Cantu was arrested by San Antonio police and booked into the jail on a criminal trespass charge with a $500 bond. He did not qualify for a personal recognizance bond under Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's order because of previous domestic violence-related charges, officials said.

The internal affairs, public integrity, and criminal investigations divisions are investigating the death.

A second inmate at the jail also died Monday after an apparent medical episode, officials said.

George Lee Holland, 89, who was facing a murder charge, was found unresponsive but breathing in his cell at about 7:08 p.m. He was pronounced dead by hospital staff at about 8:20 p.m., officials said. Investigators said the medical episode appears to have been caused by pre-existing medical conditions

Holland was accused of killing his wife, 82-year-old Janice Holland, on Sept. 10. A neighbor had gone to the house to check on the couple and discovered the woman's body.

Police said she had been shot and were unsure how long her body had been there before the neighbor found her.
Three passengers suffered minor injuries Sunday when a New York City subway train derailed after hitting construction debris that had been thrown onto the tracks, authorities said.

The derailment happened at about 8:15 a.m. at the 14th Street and Eighth Avenue station in Manhattan. Interim New York City Transit president Sarah Feinberg said a northbound A train hit debris as it was pulling into the station.

Feinberg said the 134 passengers on board the train were safely evacuated. A fire department spokesperson said three of the riders suffered minor injuries. One person was taken to a hospital for evaluation and the other two declined treatment.

Police said the train derailed after someone threw debris from a construction project onto the tracks. Demetrius Harvard, 30, of the Bronx was arrested and charged with reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, assault and criminal trespass. It could not be determined if he has a lawyer Sunday night.

The derailment shut down power and disrupted service on the Eighth Avenue line. Transit officials said 125 passengers were safely evacuated from another train that was stuck in the tunnel near 34th Street when the power went out.

Feinberg said transit employees would work to rerail the damaged train and make necessary repairs in an effort to restore full service on the heavily used line as soon as possible.

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

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WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is preparing to kill himself in prison after hearing voices in his head saying 'we're coming to get you', a psychiatrist told his extradition hearing.

Assange, 49, had a history of depression and frequently called the Samaritans after suffering from auditory hallucinations, the psychiatrist said, branding him at 'high risk' of suicide.

Professor Michael Kopelman said the Australian had even begun making preparations to end his own life including confessing to a Catholic priest, drafting farewell letters to his family and drafting a will.

Assange is wanted in the US for allegedly conspiring with army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to expose military secrets between January and May 2010.

He is fighting extradition to the US, where he faces an 18-count indictment alleging a plot to hack computers and conspiracy to obtain and disclose national defence information.

Professor Kopelman told the Old Bailey on Tuesday he has visited Assange some 20 times in high-security Belmarsh prison, where he is being held on remand.

Julian Assange, 49, suffers from auditory hallucinations including hearing voices saying 'we're coming to get you', the psychiatrist said

The emeritus professor of neuropsychiatry at King's College London said: 'He reported auditory hallucinations, which were voices either inside or outside his head, somatic hallucinations, funny bodily experiences, these have now disappeared.

'He also has a long history of musical hallucinations, which is maybe a separate phenomenon, that got worse when he was in prison.

'The voices are things like, "you are dust, you are dead, we are coming to get you". They are derogatory and persecutory.'

He added: 'They seem to have diminished. Subsequently the musical hallucinations have also reduced, and the somatic hallucinations have disappeared.'

Professor Kopelman said: 'The risk of suicide arises out of clinical factors...but it is the imminence of extradition and or an actual extradition that would trigger the attempt, in my opinion.'

The professor said the combination of Assange's depression and ASD (autism spectrum disorder) has caused an 'almost obsessional rumination' on the topic.

He said: 'He's made various plans and undergone various preparations, such as confessed to the Catholic priest, who granted him absolution, began to draft farewell letters to family members and close friends, he's drawn up a will. Various preparations are in place.'

James Lewis QC, for the US government, suggested Professor Kopelman had relied upon Assange's claims that he was put in solitary confinement after prison guards found a razor blade in a pile of underpants in his cell, as well as another incident in which two cords were confiscated.

He asked the witness whether he thought it was 'bizarre' the razor incident did not appear on any of Assange's prison notes.

Professor Kopelman replied: 'When I went through them again it did strike me as odd.'

He told the court Assange has a genetic predisposition to depression and has suffered a number of episodes, including whilst in the Ecuadorian embassy in London, where he stayed for almost seven years.

Professor Kopelman said Assange had been depressed 'certainly throughout the time I've been seeing him'.

He added: 'It's fluctuated a bit, his appetite has fluctuated, he's had persistent problems with sleep and his mood state is worst in the early hours of the morning and that's stayed consistent.' Professor Michael KopelmanProfessor Michael Kopelman

Professor Michael Kopelman, emeritus professor of neuropsychiatry at King's College London, pictured outside the Old Bailey today where he described how Julian Assange had been hearing voices in his head and was at 'high risk' of suicide

The court heard he diagnosed Assange with being 'severely depressed' in December last year to being 'moderately depressed' by February and March this year, becoming more severe during the Covid-19 lockdown.

Professor Kopelman said Assange was 'severely depressed when he was in an isolated cell'.

He said he is taking medication to treat depression and psychosis and has suffered physical symptoms, including a loss of appetite and problems with sleep.

He told the hearing: 'Mr Assange was very reluctant to talk about his suicidal ideas and plans because he feared he would be put on constant watch or isolation.'

Mr Lewis said the previous suicide attempts were self-reported by Assange.

He said Assange read medical journals such as 'Nature' and 'New Scientist' in order to exaggerate his psychiatric symptoms, which he said people in prison might do.

Professor Kopelman said Assange reads them 'because he is very preoccupied with his health' and is 'a little bit hypochondriacal'.

He said Assange reported a near-death experience and wondered if the CIA would find a way to get him or mess with his head which he said may or may not be paranoia.

His main issue concerned his case being strong enough to fight the hundreds of lawyers the US had working against him and how he can be helped in Belmarsh.

Mr Lewis told Professor Kopelman that he was trying to change his mind about his diagnosis and told him he was an 'advocate'.

Professor Kopelman said: 'I'm a psychiatrist, you're a lawyer. I make my diagnoses on my criteria.'

Mr Kopelman reported a conversation he had with Assange's old friend, University of Melbourne professor Suelette Dreyfus.

Assange is fighting extradition to the US, where he faces an 18-count indictment alleging a plot to hack computers and conspiracy to obtain and disclose national defence information. Pictured, some of his supporters outside the Old Bailey

He said: 'She told me that he would commit suicide and then [she] promptly burst into tears. That's what convinced me.'

The US lawyer said Assange's depression had not stopped him speaking publicly, working at WikiLeaks or 'presenting a television show called the Julian Assange show for Russia Today.'

Professor Kopelman said Assange 'wasn't doing public speaking at the time I said he was depressed'.

He said: 'He thinks as a leader he shouldn't be showing weakness or psychiatric problems and he was concerned he would end up being further isolated on continuous watch and he didn't want that.

'When I went to visit him he would be asleep quite often. He would be talking slowly and softly so that I could hardly hear. He would be struggling with his memory going from topic to topic.'

Edward Fitzgerald QC, representing Mr Assange, read out a list of 10 occasions Assange had requested the Samaritans suicide prevention number between August and November last year and the medical notes written alongside them.

The extradition hearing continues tomorrow.
Eduardo Botello, an American Patriot, passed away September 17, 2020. Eduardo was born May 19, 1925 in Laredo, Texas. He was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Carlota P. Botello; his parents, Anastacio Sr. and Abelina Sanchez Botello; his brothers, Anastacio Botello, Benjamin Botello; and sister, Alicia B. Vidaurri.

He is survived by his five children, Eduardo Jr., Ruben Gerardo, Carlos David (Rosie), Nydia (Miguel Angel) Garcia, and Marissa (Jose Jr.) Leal. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Anissa Botello, Adriana Leal, Alejandro Jose Leal, Luis Miguel Garcia, Carlos Joaquin Botello, and Jorge Eduardo Botello. His surviving sisters include Rosa Flores and Olga Botello of Laredo.

Lalo, as he was affectionately known, loved his Country and served it faithfully. He was inducted into the U.S Army at Ft. Sam Houston on August 17, 1943. He became an expert with an automatic rifle and a sharpshooter with the M-1. He served with the 79th Infantry Division, 313 Infantry Regiment. The division shipped to England in April 1944 and soon after landed in Utah Beach France on June 12 during the Normandy invasion. After breaking out of Normandy, he was transferred to Pattons 3rd Army and continued fighting in France where he faced battle in Lunevile, France. Wounded on October 13th by mortar shell on St. Edwards Feast Day he was flown to Naples Italy and was awarded his first Purple Heart. Returning to duty in December, he continued the fight in Hagenau, Alsace-Lorraine where he was wounded once more on January 1945. He was then awarded the Oak Leaf Cluster to the Purple Heart. After his recovery, he returned to duty and crossed the Rhine River March 1945. After some time in battle, he suffered a concussion in Duisberg, Germany. He then served in the Office of Military Government in Germany (Berlin) for several months after the war had ended. He was honorably discharged on December 1945 and arrived home on December 23, 1945. He was awarded the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, Combat Infantrymans Badge, EAME w/ Bronze Star, WWII Victory Medal, Army Occupation Medal, National Defense Medal, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, Liberation of France Medal, and he was most proud of the Presidential Unit Citation signed by President Harry Truman.

Following his military career, he finished High School at Martin High and continued his studies at St. Edwards University. Joining the U.S. Customs Service, he served our Country once again for 40 years. He was known for many narcotic seizures during this time. Coming out of retirement, he then served as A Deputy for the U.S. Marshall Office in Laredo for 5 years.

In 2008 Eduardo was inducted into the U.S. Customs Hall of Honor. In September of 2014, Lalo participated in an Honor Flight to Washington D.C. to visit the World War II Museum. He was also a member and officer of various veteran organizations such as the VFW, Purple Heart Org., DAV, American Legion, and Combat Infantrymens Assoc. He was most honored to read the names of fallen soldiers during Memorial Day services.

The family will be receiving guests, Monday, September 21, 2020, at Fred Dickey Funeral & Cremation Services from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm. A Holy Rosary will start at 7:00 pm. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, September 22, 2020, at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. The Funeral Mass will begin 9:00 am. Interment will follow at the City Cemetery where Military Honors will be provided by the U.S. Army Guard.

Funeral arrangements are by Fred Dickey Funeral & Cremation Services, 1320 Trey Dr., Laredo, Texas 78041 (956) 723-3611. For your convenience, you may leave your condolences to the family online at www.freddickey.com
The woman accused of throwing a glass bottle at a jogger while she was running and shouting racial abuse at her, telling her to 'go back to Africa', has appeared in court.

Lorena Delaguna, 53, was arrested on Monday on hate crime and harassment charges after she was filmed launching an unprovoked attack on Tiffany Johnson, 37. She now faces seven years in prison if convicted.

Officers detained her at her home and charged her with attempted assault and aggravated assault as a hate crime.

She was taken to Queens Central Booking for arraignment and appeared in court Tuesday. Delaguna has a long rap sheet, including for burglary, menacing and graffiti, dating back to 2014, The New York Daily News reports.

Lorena Delaguna, 53, was arrested on Monday on hate crime and harassment charges

Lorena Delaguna, 53, was arrested on Monday on hate crime and harassment charges after she was filmed launching an unprovoked attack at Tiffany Johnson, 37, pictured left and right

The August 17 attack was caught on video. The suspect behind the attack pictured above sipping from a glass bottle at the corner of 53rd Place and Broadway in Woodside, Queens

Johnson was on a run at 53rd Place and Broadway in Woodside, Queens around noon on August 17 when she passed a corner and Delaguna threw a glass bottle at her feet, police said.

She shouted: 'Get out of here n*****, go back to Africa,' according to video release by the NYPD on Wednesday.

'It's a hate crime. It's not acceptable. She has to be [held] responsible for her behavior,' Johnson had previously told the New York Post.

Johnson revealed she thought Delaguna had mistaken her for someone else, and didn't initially think the attack was racially motivated.

But once the woman started to scream hateful insults at her, she realized it was because she is black.

Delaguna has a long rap sheet, including for burglary, menacing and graffiti, dating back to 2014, The New York Daily News reports

As Johnson approached the corner the suspect suddenly threw the bottle at her feet and yelled 'Go back to Africa, n****r', police say

The woman threw the glass bottle and it shattered on the ground near the jogger's foot

The suspect then repeatedly screamed 'Get out, Go back to Africa, n****r!'. Johnson looked back and said, 'What is your problem?' before continuing her run

'She could see the color of my skin and she reacted to that,' Johnson said.

'I was definitely shocked. I was surprised but more importantly I wanted to get away from her,' she added.

In the clip Johnson is seen turning back confused and saying 'What is your problem?' when the woman berates her and then continues her run.

'I'm entitled to go for a job, live my life, enjoy my life and enjoy the things that makes me happy,' she said.

Johnson said she took the route of being the bigger person and leaving rather than arguing with the woman.

Johnson previously revealed she was happy police were on the hunt for her attacker. She did not report the incident at the time until a friend saw the witness video on social media

'That's not on me. That's a reflection on her. She needs to look at herself and figure out why she looks down on somebody,' she said.

'We are always trying to give reasons for what people do but I can't get into her head. I only know what she did, what she said and her actions,' she added.

Johnson previously revealed she was happy police were on the hunt for her attacker. She did not report the incident at the time until a friend saw the witness video on social media.

She told ABC7 she has not gone back to that neighborhood since the incident, but has received an outpouring of support from groups like Black Girls Run.
The sit-in protest by eight suspended MPs on Parliament premises continued for the second day on Tuesday, with Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Singh offering them tea in the morning.

The suspended parliamentarians spent the night in the lawns near Mahatma Gandhi's statue. AAP's Sanjay Singh posted a picture on Twitter from the protest site in the morning and said that the "whole night was spent under the open sky in front of Bapu's statue".

The RS deputy chairman, the leaders said, came in bright and early with a posse of news cameras and was told by a senior MP to visit them without the cameras and sit with them.

"Another senior MP also told him that while bringing tea was a nice gesture, he was still in the wrong in what he did. He was told that he was the one who broke the rules," a protesting MP told PTI.

The protesting MPs did not accept the tea and snacks offered by the deputy chairman.

Harivansh Singh has been in the thick of things since the suspension drama unfolded. The eight MPs were suspended for the remaining part of the current session over their "misbehavior" with the deputy chairman during the passage of the farm Bills on Sunday.

Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu said Deputy Chairman Harivansh, an MP from Bihar, was physically threatened by opposition MPs on Sunday.

Naidu also rejected a notice for a no-confidence motion against the deputy chairman as it was not in proper format and a 14-day notice period was not given.

Opposition parties hit out at the government over the suspension of the Rajya Sabha MPs, with the Congress terming it "undemocratic" and "one-sided".

The suspended MPs have vowed to continue their protest and are even likely to demand that they be allowed to attend the session.

Four of the eight suspended Upper House members had moved resolutions opposing some key Bills that appear in the Rajya Sabha List of Business announced for Tuesday. The four MPs are Derek O'Brien, Rajeev Satav, Elamaram Kareem and K K Ragesh.

Since they are suspended, their names don't figure in the list.

The Monsoon Session is scheduled to end on October 1. However, the session is likely to be curtailed with several MPs testing positive for COVID-19.
Vice President Mike Pence told "CBS Evening News" on Monday that President Trump has "an obligation under the Constitution" to put forward a nominee to replace the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

The state of play: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has vowed to give Trump's nominee a vote, despite opposing then-President Obama's nomination of Merrick Garland following Justice Antonin Scalia's death in 2016, on the grounds that voters should decide in the next election who is appointed to the court.

Pence said the circumstances have changed since 2016 because the same party now holds control of the White House and the Senate.

What else he's saying: "President Trump believes that he has an obligation under the Constitution of the United States to put forward a nominee for the Supreme Court," Pence said Monday.

"There have been 29 times that there have been vacancies since George Washington through Barack Obama. In all 29 cases, the president has made a nomination to the Supreme Court during an election year. And President Trump believes that it's his responsibility and his duty to do that again."

Worth noting: Ginsburg's death  coming 46 days before Election Day  is the second-shortest amount of time between an opening on the court and an election, behind only the vacancy caused by Justice Robert Taney's death in October 1846, CBS News notes.

Where it stands: Two GOP senators  Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine)  have said they oppose holding a vote before the election. That means two more defections would force McConnell to delay until at least the lame-duck session of Congress.

Go deeper:
LEAGUE CITY, Texas, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Pet wellness company Honest Paws will be donating 30% of proceeds to animal charities and shelters across the country.

Honest Paws is an e-commerce brand that offers 100% natural pet CBD, a holistic supplement that promotes calmness and helps with joint discomfort in dogs and cats. 30% of proceeds generated from a portion of hyper-local online sales will be donated to a select shelter or charity, a move which Honest Paws hopes to duplicate in various cities across the US. The first two shelters featured in the initiative are The Woods Humane Society in San Luis Obispo, California, and Rescue City, in Brooklyn, NY.

"Honest Paws wanted to ramp up our charitable projects to really focus on animals that have been neglected and need a home. - Min Lee, Co-Founder of Honest Paws

For those who live outside of a donation city, Honest Paws has created a line of fun and cheeky t-shirts of which 100% of the proceeds are donated to no-kill shelters. Every t-shirt sold is ethically sourced, made from premium-grade cotton, and printed right here in the USA.

"Our goal is to give non-profits the tools to raise money and awareness about their cause." - Erik Rivera, CEO and Founder of Honest Paws

Pet CBD has risen in popularity over the past few years, with an almost 20% increase in sales for Honest Paws over the last year. A 2018 study reported that "2 mg/kg of CBD twice daily can help increase comfort and activity in dogs with osteoarthritis," with "No side effects...reported by owners."

For interviews, additional information, or to be considered for shelter donations, please contact [email protected].

SOURCE Honest Paws

Related Links

https://www.honestpaws.com/


Amid growing international opposition among teachers and workers to the reopening of schools in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the New Anticapitalist Partys (NPA) Revolution Permanente (RP) web site is making itself an accomplice of state policy. While making tactical criticisms of state health guidelines, it tacitly supports a deadly reopening of schools. Its demands are entirely compatible with the activities of the French union bureaucracy.

The unions are leading efforts to push workers back into the factories and pupils back to school. The Stalinist General Confederation of Labor (CGT) explicitly supports President Emmanuel Macrons and German chancellor Merkels European Union bailout. It signed a May 20 statement with the German Union Federation (DGB) that especially applauds the Franco-German initiative to relaunch the European economy presented by the French president and German chancellor on May 18, 2020 after the coronavirus crisis.

The reopening of schools and the massive bank bailouts are at the center of this plan. The back-to-school policy is accelerating the pandemic, which has already cost nearly a million lives worldwide. Everywhere this policy arouses enormous opposition. Hundreds of protests have denounced it; more than a hundred Facebook groups have been formed internationally, attracting hundreds of thousands of supporters.

In this context, RP has published a series of articles discussing how to reopen French schools. The article, titled Reopening with Covid: schools are not ready say an association of doctors, admits school re-openings constituted a serious stimulus to the epidemic as in Israel or Chile. In fact, German intelligence expects a million lives could be lost, just in Germany, without drastic social distancing measures.

However, RP claims that the danger comes not from recklessly reopening schools, but from confusion and inconsistently applied state health protocols: The 2020 back-to-school took place on September 1, and already, classes have been closed in five establishments in mainland France and one in Reunion island. But even more worrying than the closure of classes are inconsistent health protocols reflecting the great confusion which dominates this new school year in these special circumstances.

RP worries that COVID-19 infections in schools and the absence of health measures are driving growing opposition among teachers and parents. In an article titled A chaotic school restart: we want free masks, massive testing and recruitment, it writes: With insufficient health procedures and a lack of human resources and means to safely receive pupils, reasons for anger among teachers are not lacking.

A class gulf separates the demands of teachers and workers want to stay safe and those of RP, which refuses to call workers and teachers to mobilize against the reopening of schools. The danger for teachers, students and their families stems not from one or other school reopening protocols, but from any attempt to reopen schools amid a deadly pandemic.

The WSWS and the Parti de legalite socialiste (PES) have called upon teachers to mobilize with other workers to prepare an international general strike against the reopening of schools and the return to work, which expose millions of people worldwide to mortal dangers.

In the United States, since the reopening of high schools and universities, more than 51,000 positive cases have been recorded on 1,000 campuses across the US, of which 35,000 occurred over the last three weeks. In France, the rapid growth of the pandemic is extremely dangerous. As the country records about 10,000 new infections per day, 32 establishments and 524 classes have closed after two weeks of the return to school.

RP provides a left cover for the carrying out of school reopenings by the unions and ruling elites. RP is not opposed to school re-openings and the back to work drive, quite the opposite. It tries to present its reactionary demands in a militant lightsuch as free masks and tests for students and teachers carrying out dangerous, in-person teaching in crowded classroomsbut RP has only minor differences with the State, compatible with trade union policy.

RP aims to channel mass opposition to school re-openings behind impotent calls to modify back-to-school health protocols, whereas teachers and workers have to oppose the back-to-school campaign itself.

Teachers and workers are facing deadly conditions. RP covers for this policy, insisting it is not a conspiracy: There is no conspiracy to be found in the health and economic measures taken by the ruling elite. This would be to imagine spiritual darkness (a state of mind that it would then be possible to change?), where in fact it is only a question of class interests. One must not let a crisis go to waste, as the airline companies so often remind us.

In fact, history has shown there is no worse darkness than accepting to sacrifice millions of lives to the material interests of the capitalist class. The pandemic has shown the ruling elites contempt for workers lives. For months, governments internationally were informed of the deadly nature of the virus by intelligence agencies and Chinese authorities. But they long refused to take efficient measures like social distancing and lock-downs, and the middle class parties like the NPA acquiesced to this reactionary policy.

The only viable strategy for workers in these dangerous conditions is to mobilize to impose a lock-down in decent conditions for all, spending massive resources on supporting workers and small businesses and increasing health care spending, in an international struggle by the working class to take power. This requires a political break with parties like the NPA, which are tied to the union apparatus and the ruling establishment.

Conscious that workers radicalisation is developing outside the unions, RP proposes committees of teachers, parents of pupils, students and school staff, independent of school management and the State, emerge in the situation in order to propose an alternative to the capitalist handling of the return to school and its consequences.

RP proposes to create workers and teachers committees. However, unlike the PES, it does not make clear that organisations created by workers need to be rigorously independent from the trade unions. This is because, like the NPA as a whole, it is closely tied to the CGT union and wants to subordinate these committees to the unions and thus to the European Unions policies.

The NPA as a whole speaks for affluent elements of the upper middle class tied to the unions and the universities. Its support for EU policy is rooted in material class interests. Through EU bailouts, the financial aristocracy injects billions into the banks and financial markets. On the one hand, the state then forces workers and pupils back to work and school in order to extract profits on these vast numbers of capital; on the other hand, these finances flow into the coffers of the unions and the stock portfolios of the affluent middle class.

Teachers and workers should expect nothing of benefit from RP. Workers and teachers face the task of creating their own independent committees of action, breaking with the unions and their allies like RP and the NPA, and to mobilize these committees in a struggle for socialism against the pandemic and the capitalist system.
One of the best indie movie theaters in New Jersey is closing because of COVID-19.

ShowRoom Cinemas is closing both its Asbury Park and Bradley Beach theaters due to the pandemic shutdown, the company announced Tuesday.

It was a very difficult decision," co-founder Michael Sodano said in a release announcing the closure. but the reality is that were sinking under the weight of debt from being closed for six months."

ShowRoom Cinemas closed both locations on March 16 because of COVID-19. Gov. Phil Murphy allowed theaters to reopen at 25% capacity starting Labor Day weekend, stipulations that make staying open impossible according to Sodano.

With 25% capacity and 100% expenses, the numbers just didnt make any sense, Sodano said. Simply keeping the doors closed cost a lot of money, but opening them at a quarter capacity would only lose more money faster.

The ShowRoom location in Asbury Park, which opened in 2009, was a finalist in NJ.coms best movie theater search in 2017. It earned a devout following for its dramas, foreign films, and documentaries along with local snacks at the concession stand. The Bradley Beach theater opened in 2019.

We are not in control of capacity, the product or the audience, and it is becoming clear that the effects of the pandemic will linger well into 2021, co-founder Nancy Sabino said. Wed love to see the theaters continue showing movies, we just cant afford to be the ones to make that happen any longer. We thank our loyal staff and devoted audiences for their support these past 11 years.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Jeremy Schneider may be reached at jschneider@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here.
Jindal Steel & Power (JSPL) dropped 3.19% to Rs 169.70, following reports that Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas filed Suspicious Activity Reports on fund transfers by the company for two consecutive years.

The media reports were based on leaked suspicious activity reports (SARs) filed by banks and other financial firms with the US Department of Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCen).

According to reports, SARs showed that JSPL received $2.48 million in 2015 and $16.8 million in 2016. During the period, the company sent money to firms based in Mauritius, Germany, and the UK and received funds from firms in Dubai and Switzerland.

JSPL, however, clarified to the bourses on Monday that all transactions entered into by the company were part of routine business activities and all the transactions had proper underlying assets. The company had fully complied with all the extant regulatory guidelines at the time of these transactions. JSPL does business transactions with numerous traders who buy steel & pellets from the company, as well as procure raw materials for the company. All such transactions are done strictly within the required legal framework and as per the law of the land. As a responsible corporate house, we adhere to all legal requirements strictly.

Shares of JSPL have surged 173.26% from 52-week low of Rs 62.10 hit on 3 April 2020.

JSPL reported a consolidated net profit of Rs 267.58 crore in Q1 June 2020 as against net loss of Rs 87.40 crore in Q1 June 2019. Consolidated net sales fell 6.7% year-on-year (YoY) to Rs 9,278.77 crore during the quarter.

JSPL is a steel producer with presence in power generation and mining.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A pimp turned activist who once vowed to 'go to war' with Seattle is being paid $150,000 by the city to work as a 'street czar' and come up with 'alternatives to policing' because he said he can talk to 'gang members, pimps and prostitutes who won't sit down with anybody else'.

Andre Taylor, who set up nonprofit Not This Time after his brother Che Taylor was shot dead by Seattle cops in 2016, signed a deal with the city on July 27 to work as its community liaison, according to the contract published by PubliCola last week.

As part of the $12,500 a month deal, Taylor will provide recommendations to the city on de-escalation, community engagement, and alternatives to policing as Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan aims to improve relations between law enforcement and community members in the wake of multiple cop killings of black men and women across America.

Taylor, who was convicted of being a pimp back in 2000, has a mixed past with City Hall, promising to wage 'war' after his brother's death before emerging as an ally and vocal critic of the Capitol Hill Occupied Protest (CHOP) zone this year.

He publicly sided with Mayor Durkan in calls to dismantle the zone after two people were shot dead but was then exposed in a secret recording urging occupiers to 'leave with something' and offering to negotiate a million-dollar financial package with the city on their behalf.

Andre Taylor (pictured left in 2017, and recently right) signed a deal with the city on July 27 to work as its community liaison, according to the contract published by PubliCola last week

Pimp turned activist Andre Taylor (pictured in 2017 at a protest over the cop killing of a pregnant mother in Seattle) who once vowed to 'go to war' with Seattle is being paid $150,000 by the city to work as a 'street czar' and come up with 'alternatives to policing'

Taylor's $12,500 a month contract, which includes an office in Seattle's Municipal Tower, and his new title as the city's 'street czar' was his idea, reported Seattle Times.

He told the news outlet he is the man for the job because 'not too many people can go talk to gangbangers in their territory, and then go talk to the government in their territory.'

Taylor said he has 'particular genius in a particular area' and can talk to 'gang members, pimps and prostitutes' who 'won't sit down with anybody else,' reported KOMO News.

Taylor pictured in 1999 in the documentary 'American Pimp'. In 2000, he was convicted of seven prostitution-related counts and sentenced to five and a half years in prison

Taylor, who set up nonprofit Not This Time after his brother Che Taylor (pictured) was shot dead by Seattle cops in 2016, said he can talk to 'gang members, pimps and prostitutes who won't sit down with anybody else'

'Black people as a whole have not been in a place to be compensated for their genius or their work for a very, very long time,' he said.

Mayor Jenny Durkan's office did not immediately return DailyMail.com's request for comment but told the Seattle Times the partnership would 'help de-escalate the ongoing situation' by allowing the city to tap into Taylor's 'lived experience with the criminal legal system'.

'The City's Department of Neighborhoods entered into a contract with Not This Time so that the organization could help de-escalate the ongoing situation in and around Cal Anderson Park,' spokesperson Kelsey Nyland said in the statement.

'The City sought a contract with Not This Time because of our existing working partnership but also because of the organization's lived experience with the criminal legal system, and their history of successful advocacy and activism on issues of policing and dismantling systemic racism.'

The mayor's office said the city has also entered into similar contracts with other community groups.

Not This Time is also developing a program to support the mental health of black people leaving prison as they reintegrate into the community.

The nonprofit also worked with the city in 2019 on a $100,000 contract to host a speaker series called 'Conversation with the Streets'.

The latest partnership comes after Taylor spoke out publicly this year against the controversial CHOP zone, which started as a peaceful occupation of a police precinct before turning into the site of two deadly shootings.

Protesters occupied several blocks around a park and the Seattle Police Department's East Precinct after officers abandoned the building on June 8 following clashes with demonstrators calling for an end to police brutality and racism in the wake of George Floyd's 'murder' in Minneapolis.

As part of the $12,500 a month deal, Taylor will provide recommendations to the city on de-escalation, community engagement, and alternatives to policing as Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan (pictured) aims to improve relations between cops and community members

Lorenzo Anderson, 19, was shot dead in the zone on June 20 and Antonio Mays Jr., 16, was killed on June 29 and cops cleared the area and reclaimed the precinct days later.

Taylor, who led one of the first protests in the city over Floyd's Memorial Day 'murder', condemned the zone for its violence.

He joined forces with Durkan at a press conference on June 22 after Anderson's death and as the city grappled to take back control of the area, telling reporters: 'I feel like I cannot help the situation now because of the violence that will probably continue.'

Taylor was criticized by some protesters who accused him of siding with the mayor.

Despite his public stance in support of the mayor, the community activist was then caught on a secret recording encouraging demonstrators to meet with the mayor and demand millions for the community in return for leaving CHOP.

Taylor has a mixed past with City Hall, promising 'war' after his brother's death before emerging as an ally and vocal critic of the Capitol Hill Occupied Protest (CHOP) zone this year. Pictured the CHOP zone

CHOP zone being dismantled. Taylor publicly sided with Mayor Durkan in calls to dismantle the zone but was exposed on a secret recording urging occupiers to 'leave with something' and offering to negotiate a financial package with the city on their behalf

'I'm advising you to leave,' Taylor told CHOP activists during the conversation at a South Seattle restaurant.

'Let me go before you to the mayor. Leave with resources, money for the community. Then you win.'

He proposed that he could go to Durkan and negotiate money on their behalf.

''Listen, I went down and talked [to the CHOP activists] They're so serious about this space, they're willing to die. But we have an out. They're more concerned about being able to have some money for communities that are devastated right now, and if we can move that, they'll be willing to leave',' he said he could put to Durkan.

'So don't just leave. Leave with something.'

He added: 'You gotta get something. Let me make that happen for you, and then I can bring that back to you. I don't know, we'll ask for $2 million. They might give us $1 million, but let's ask for it.

'Because the reason why we're holding that space is not only for George Floyd but for the millions of George Floyds.'

Taylor has since defended his comments and insisted the mayor knew nothing of his proposals to the CHOP occupants.

'They wanted to defund [the police] and to redistribute funds. I told them they could go to the mayor and ask her for a certain amount,' he told Seattle Times.

Taylor said of his deal that 'not too many people can go talk to gangbangers in their territory, and then go talk to the government in their territory'

'I was concerned about the protesters leaving that space without having some type of win. They were concerned about the safety of being there. I agreed with them about that. But at the same time, I was telling them, 'Don't leave without a win.''

He said he wanted to help 'get some real action for the community' and that he 'would do it again'.

CHOP activist Javi Cordero who was at the meeting with Taylor said the group felt his suggestions were 'off'.

'After the meeting, I thought 'this feels off,' talked about it with some other activists, and we never followed up with Andre,' Cordero told Seattle Times.

Taylor founded Not This Time after his brother Che was shot dead by cops on February 21 2016 in the Wedgwood neighborhood of Seattle.

Police were carrying out an undercover drug operation and said Che had reached for a gun and refused to comply with their commands when they opened fire.

At an inquest, jurors unanimously agreed Che complied with officers' orders to show his hands and had moved his body position down toward the floor after officers ordered him to get on the ground.

No charges were filed against the cops involved in the case.

Taylor arrived in the city after his brother's death and vowed to go to war over his killing.

He then founded Not This Time, which champions statewide police reforms, holds police accountable and connects relatives of people killed by police with local leaders to push for reforms.

Taylor's escapades as the pimp 'Gorgeous Dre' were featured in the documentary 'American Pimp' (pictured)

In 2000, Taylor, whose own father was a pimp and his mother a prostitute, was convicted of seven prostitution-related counts and sentenced to five and a half years in prison.

The Las Vegas pimp was proven guilty of traveling across several state lines with an underage prostitute, who was 16 at the time.

Taylor allegedly lived in a $300,000 house and wore $4,000 Versace suits and a $90,000 Rolex while pimping out the girl and other adult women.

His escapades as 'Gorgeous Dre' were featured in the documentary 'American Pimp'.

'I was born from the streets; I come out of the deep darkness,' he said in a YouTube video about his former career earlier this year.

'We knew you considered us the waste of the world from the beginning. We didn't care what you thought about us  just like I don't care what you think about me now.'
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Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) New York, United States  Tue, September 22, 2020 11:15 487 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c4659b75 2 World new-york,police,China,spy Free

US authorities have charged a New York police officer with espionage, accusing him of gathering information about the city's Tibetan community for the Chinese government.

The officer, who worked at a station in the Queens section of the city, was directed by members of the Chinese consulate in New York, according to the indictment released Monday.

Born in China, the man had been granted political asylum in the US, claiming he was tortured by Chinese authorities because of his Tibetan ethnicity.

Through his contacts with the Tibetan community, the 33-year-old man gathered information between 2018 and 2020 on the community's activities, as well as identifying potential information sources.

According to the indictment, the man -- who is also an officer in the US Army Reserve -- allowed members of the Chinese consulate to attend events organized by the New York Police Department.

The Chinese authorities allegedly paid him tens of thousands of dollars for his service.

The officer has been charged with four counts, including enlisting in the service of a foreign country on US soil, misrepresentation and obstructing the operation of a public service.

New York City police commissioner Dermot Shea said the officer "violated every oath he took in this country. One to the United States, another to the US Army, and a third to this Police Department".

He was brought before a judge Monday and taken into custody, a spokesperson for the Brooklyn federal prosecutor told AFP.

According to the NYPD, he is currently suspended without pay.

Despite the man's claims he was tortured in China because of his ethnicity, the investigation allegedly revealed that both of his parents were members of the Chinese Communist Party.

"If confirmed by the courts," the espionage operation "shows that the Chinese Communist Party is engaged in malign operations to suppress dissent, not only in Tibet... but any place in the world," said the International Campaign for Tibet, an advocacy group that promotes Tibetans' freedoms and rights.

After allowing Tibet to function autonomously from 1912-1950, Beijing retook control of the territory in 1951. The Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, has lived in exile since 1959.
Ramallah, Sep 22 : Palestine has decided to give up its right to chair the presidency of the Arab League in its current session, Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki said on Tuesday.

"This doesn't mean we will give up our seat in the league because that will create a vacuum which can generate different scenarios we don't want at this sensitive time," al-Maliki told a news conference in Ramallah.

"The State of Palestine is a member of the Arab League and has always worked to enhance its role and position," Xinhua news agency quoted the Minister as saying.

The announcement came in the wake of the Arab League's failure to stop Israeli normalization agreements with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.

Palestine "is not honoured to witness the Arabs scrambling toward free normalization with Israel during its presidency of the League Council", al-Maliki said.

"Free normalization is a flagrant violation of the decisions of the Arab summits regarding the Arab Peace Initiative," he added.

According to the Arab Peace Initiative in 2002, Arab states can only normalize relations with Israel after it ends its military occupation of the Palestinian and Arab territories.

The development comes after Israel signed agreements to normalise diplomatic ties with the UAE and Bahrain at the White House on September 15.

US President Donald Trump joined Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan and Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani in signing the three-way agreements.

The signing ceremony formally makes the UAE and Bahrain the third and the fourth Arab nation to establish diplomatic ties with Israel.

Egypt and Jordan signed their peace deals with Israel in 1979 and 1994, respectively.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Professor Siobhan O'Neill is reflecting on her decision to become a single parent by choice. Divorced, in her early 40s and with a fierce yearning for a child, she chose to have a baby via IVF with the help of a clinic in Spain.

"It was really tough because it didn't happen first time," she says. "There were loads of trips to Spain and loads of failed cycles. It was very difficult, very expensive and a huge risk. It took me well over a year before I ended up pregnant."

Happily, the gorgeous little girl in the princess dress playing beside her is now three years old and full of mischief. O'Neill's professional demeanour slips briefly as she talks about her "amazing wee darling". She named her daughter Annabel "after the doctor in Spain, the first doctor I was speaking to, who told me 'we can help you with this'. She was a great role model and has helped so many women".

Expand Close Northern Irelands new Mental Health Champion Professor Siobhan ONeill with her daughter Annabel / Facebook

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Whatsapp Northern Irelands new Mental Health Champion Professor Siobhan ONeill with her daughter Annabel

O'Neill grew up in "a rural Northern Ireland family who were very conservative and religious", but describes her mum and late dad's response as "brilliant".

"My family were really supportive," she says. "I don't think single parents are stigmatised so much these days but to actively choose to do this was different. I'd like to think there would be generations of young women who would think this is as possible as any other way of forming a family but, no, it wasn't really the done thing, though there are a few of us around in Northern Ireland that have met a few times. You need that support network."

Smiling, she continues: "Anyway, my parents were probably too scared to question me. I'm very strong-willed and if I decide to do something, I'll do it. I wasn't asking permission, but they were just so happy."

That determination to get things done is typical of O'Neill. As the new Interim Mental Health Champion for Northern Ireland, she is facing considerable challenges - and a gruelling schedule.

"I have literally no time during the working day," she messages me as we try to arrange this interview.

Which is why on a sunny autumn Saturday morning O'Neill (46) is chatting to me in her home on the family farm in Craigbane, in the hills just outside Claudy, Co Londonderry, breaking off occasionally to find another cartoon on the tablet for Annabel. "Just go to YouTube," O'Neill urges her before seamlessly picking up the thread of what she was saying.

She's been up from 7am, a lie-in on the usual 6.30am weekday starts, and spent the early morning working on a grant application for her Ulster University work, where she is Professor of Mental Health Sciences. The new role sees her spend four days at Stormont and one at UU.

She's evidently a grafter, which she ascribes to her upbringing on the farm where she and her three sisters had to help with chores. "We lived with our parents and our grandparents. There was a work ethic on the farm and a work ethic around education and we weren't exposed to the worst of the Troubles the way kids in the city would have been. We weren't wealthy - hill farmers weren't. Even on holiday, you weren't on holiday, there was always stuff to be done, like bringing the workmen their lunch".

Her mother still runs a newsagents in Claudy so her "really lovely childhood" included easy access to newspapers and books, which she devoured.

Surprisingly for someone who loves academia, the young O'Neill had few ambitions other than to find a job and have a family, an outlook she ascribes to "growing up in the Eighties, one of Thatcher's children; there was the miner's strike on TV, the hunger strikes I'd fantasise about being an air hostess but, really, I thought if I could get into the local factory that would be great".

Passing her 11-plus and starting at Thornhill College in Londonderry proved a catalyst. The daily journey meant three bus trips in each direction, but "it was the making of me because I was on track to go to university".

At school she was earmarked for law, but work experience in a solicitor's office convinced her "there could be nothing worse than spending all your life with paperwork".

Instead, she enrolled for a degree in psychology at Queen's University Belfast - and instantly loved it. A Master's degree at the National University of Ireland, Galway, followed ("Dad went with me to the Northern Bank to get a 2,000 loan," she recalls poignantly) before she took a post as a researcher in the public health department there.

When a job came up at UU in 2000 O'Neill relocated closer to home. She married, built a house on the farm and threw herself into her career, rising through the ranks and raising her public profile with frequent media appearances.

But her personal life presented her with what she says was her own greatest mental health challenge: the break-up of her marriage. Clearly a deeply painful experience, admirably O'Neill says she doesn't want to talk about what went wrong out of respect for her ex-husband's privacy.

She is, however, open about the emotional turmoil that engulfed her. "Divorce hit me very hard. I was married for eight years until 2008. Afterwards, I had depression. We didn't have children and I wanted to have a child. For me, it called into question, what is life all about, what is the purpose of it? I think if a marriage break-up happens earlier in your life, it can be more difficult. I was a perfectionist. Everything had to be right. It wasn't anything I had expected would be part of my life. I was 34 and people would say 'sure, you're young and you're great', but you don't see it like that."

Divorce was even worse than losing her father, who died last June from cancer. "Don't get me wrong, Dad's death was devastating, but we were able to say goodbye to Dad and he was at the end of his life"

A major trauma nonetheless, her father's diagnosis precipitated a physical health crisis of her own. Along with her sisters - Linda works for a manufacturing company in Manchester; Jennifer is a podiatrist in Laoise, and Sinead is a pharmacist in Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry - O'Neill found herself part of the 'sandwich generation', struggling to balance caring for an elderly parent with the demands of work and bringing up children. In the end, she was hospitalised with pneumonia.

"I wasn't coping well with stress," she admits. "Your immune system gets affected by that 'flight or fight' response because it's not meant to be activated every day in the long-term. It was a long recovery and I needed a lot of antibiotics."

Now, she's careful to manage competing pressures. She took up running which "helps me see things more clearly. You can't problem solve when you are stressed and your body is reacting to danger. You need to work out your priorities, delegate and say no to things".

O'Neill loves exploring the local countryside - the family farm is now rented out - and the fact a sister lives nearby means Annabel has cousins to play with. She's not religious, but says "that doesn't mean I'm not spiritual". She's a fan of podcasts, recommending Dr Laurie Santos' The Happiness Lab. "It's science-based and there are wonderful stories and personal strategies." She's enjoying Matt Haig's novel The Midnight Library ("a bit cliched but some great insights"), recommends Derry author Claire Allan's crime fiction and enthuses about parenting expert Joanna Fortune's work ("I have learned everything I know about child-raring from her," she says, her enthusiasm eliciting a rare lapse into the local vernacular.) She did, however, "absolutely despise" the TV drama Normal People.

"It was tedious, I didn't care about the characters that part of your life where you are obsessed with the intensity of your own emotions is best not televised," she says, cringing. Her role as Mental Health Champion brings her five staff members and three main components - working with government departments, liaising with service users and being part of the public conversation around the issue.

There are meetings with the Veterans' Commissioner, Victims' Commissioner plus many campaign and voluntary groups.

Clearly, Northern Ireland, which has the highest suicide rate in the UK, has a mental health crisis.

A recent UU study found that almost 30% of the population suffer from problems and nearly half of those are related to the Troubles.

If it's good that we are now talking openly about mental health, inevitably there are those who feel the conversation is too prevalent - and they may be surprised to learn this down-to-earth, pragmatic woman has some empathy with them.

O'Neill laughs as she reveals that "sometimes friends tell me they want to switch me off" and then warms to this theme: "Look, there are different attitudes to mental health; some people think give it its place and talk about it, but there are also so many people who have never had mental health problems and don't know what the fuss is about or there are people who just can't go there about themselves. But there are many people who, when bad things happen, just get on with it."

Asking how she takes time out to relax elicits a ticking off: "Thinking you should relax is one of the biggest mistakes; people are told they should switch off and then when they can't do that, they get stressed. That's kind of my philosophy on mental health: you just need to move from one task to another. You need to take time out to be mindful, yes, but setting time for relaxation doesn't work. When you free some people from the need to relax, they say that's great. A problem I see with people who have mental health or anxiety problems is that they don't know what to be worrying about, they have no structure."

We pause to remember our mutual friend Lyra McKee, who was shot dead by dissident republicans last April. The stuffed owl she gave to Annabel is a favourite toy and O'Neill recalls how when she was admitted to hospital with pneumonia, Lyra with typical kindness was the first person who contacted her, offering to take care of the baby.

If she can find more free time, would she want another relationship? "I'm completely happy single," replies O'Neill. "I've never been busier but it's manageable. I can't imagine how I would navigate a relationship in the middle of that. I'm not saying I wouldn't want something like that in the future - all research shows a relationship is so good for your mental health - but for now I have a child to raise and I have a job to do."
Its time once again for the annual Multichannel Survey, in which networks are invited to highlight their titles and performance on their multichannels.

This is the 9th year TV Tonight has conducted the survey.

This year we begin with the four SBS multichannels, two of which are in High Definition, and a focus on Indigenous, Culinary, Arthouse and Youth programming.

National Indigenous Television (NITV)

Brand Identity: NITV provides an essential platform for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and offers all Australians an opportunity to share and celebrate First Nations cultures, stories and voices.

Target Demographic: NITV welcomes all Australians who are interested in Indigenous culture and targets a diverse audience across both metro and regional markets.

Format / Tech Playout: SD, MPEG2

2020 Ratings Share / Demo Performance: NITV has continued to grow since it launched as part of SBS on free-to-air television in December 2012 and on average reaches over 2 million Australians per month.

*Source: OzTAM + RegTAM FTA Database, NITV, 12/2012-08/2020, Sun-Sat, 0200-0200, Combined 5min Cons Reach, Total Individuals, Consolidated 28.

Key Titles: The Beach, Looky Looky Here Comes Cooky, Karla Grant Presents, The Point, Over the Black Dot, National Indigenous Music Awards, Family Rules Season 3, Little J & Big Cuz Season 2, Thalu, Faboriginal, Yokayi Footy, On The Record, On Country Kitchen Series 2, Kriol Kitchen Series 4, Sunrise Ceremony (January 26), Koori Knockout, National Indigenous Fashion Awards, Marni, Future Dreaming.

First-Run Australian Content: The Beach, Looky Looky Here Comes Cooky, Karla Grant Presents, The Point, Over the Black Dot, National Indigenous Music Awards, Family Rules Season 3, Little J & Big Cuz Season 2, Thalu, Faboriginal, Yokayi Footy, On Country Kitchen Series 2, Kriol Kitchen Series 4, Sunrise Ceremony (Jan 26), Koori Knockout, National Indigenous Fashion Awards, Marni, Future Dreaming.

Recent Success Stories:

The Beach:

Warwick Thorntons The Beach not only touched on some of the most important and timely themes of 2020  isolation, mental health and escapism  and saw a reach of 1.4 million people across its telecast on NITV and SBS.

The Point: Black Lives Matter

2020 has been a strong year for The Point, particularly its Black Lives Matter special with audiences turning to NITV as a trusted source on Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander discussions in Australia. With Netflix endorsing the program, asking their audience to switch off their service and turn on NITV for the program, the episode saw a 770 per cent increase.

Karla Grant Presents  Our Law:

The hotly anticipated Karla Grant Presents: Our Law premiered following a meteoric reception by mainstream and Indigenous media nationwide off the back of conversations about policing in Australia. The program galvanised NITVs unique voice amidst a moment in history where it is sorely needed with the episode seeing a 381 per cent increase.

*Source: OzTAM + RegTAM , 29/05/2020 + 03/06/2020 + 22/06/2020, NITV, Metro + Regional Average Audiences, 5min Consec Reach, Total Individuals, Consolidated 28.

Upcoming Key Titles: Trickster, Little J & Big Cuz Season 3, The Fight Together, Going Places with Going Places with Ernie Dingo Season 4, Strait to the Plate.

Upcoming Changes to Playout / New Channels: None

SBS World Movies

Brand Identity: SBS World Movies is a dedicated free-to-air 24/7 movie channel celebrating the very best of world cinema in HD quality. The channel broadcasts over 700 films each year and at least half of all titles are in a language other than English.

Target Demographic: Movie lovers, aged 25-54

Format / Tech Playout: HD MPEG-4

2020 Ratings Share / Demo Performance:

SBS World Movies has found its audience since launching in July 2019, with noticeable growth in 2020 particularly during the COVID lockdown months with an average 1.2%* Metro audience share.

*Source: OzTAM + RegTAM FTA Database, SBS World Movies, Sun-Sat 0200-0200 + 1800-2400, 01/07/2019-30/06/2020, FTA Shares, Total Individuals, Consolidated 28.

Key First Run Titles:

 Cold War

 A Fantastic Woman

 Land of Mine

 Leave No Trace

 Dont Look Now

First-Run Australian Content:

 Alis Wedding

 Jasper Jones

 My Brilliant Career

 Under the Cover of Cloud

 Buoyancy

 The Infinite Man

Recent Success Stories: Good Friday drew the channels largest audience since launch (driven by films Hunt for the Wilderpeople and Lion) with 947,000 Total Individuals (Metro + Regional).

*Source: OzTAM + RegTAM FTA Database, SBS World Movies, 01/07/2019-30/06/2020, Sun-Sat 0200-0200, Combined 5 Minute Consecutive Reach, Total Individuals, Consolidated 28

Upcoming Key Titles:

 Beanpole

 Lean on Pete

 American Gangster

 Spotlight

 Sobibor

 American Animals

 Do The Right Thing

 Beautiful Boy

 Once Upon a Time in America

Upcoming Changes to Playout / New Channels: None.

SBS Food

Brand Identity: SBS Food is the only Australian 24/7 free-to-air food channel offering audiences a broad range of food programming. With a focus on distinctive Australian and international content, SBS Food enables audiences to explore the world and be inspired through cooking, cuisine and culinary cultures.

Target Demographic: Female 25-54

Format / Tech Playout: 16:9 SD playout by Deluxe

2020 Ratings Share / Demo Performance:

SBS Food reaches an average of more than 4.0M Australians each month  peaking during the COVID lockdown in April 2020, which delivered Reach of over 4.4M Australians.

*Source: OzTAM + RegTAM FTA Database, SBS Food, Sun-Sat 0200-0200, 01/08/2019-31/07/2020, Combined 5min Cons Reach, Total Individuals, Consolidated 28.

Key Titles:

Bake with Anna Olson

Rachel Khoo: My Swedish Kitchen

Donals Cook, Eat, Burn

Come Dine With Me UK

Bonacinis Italy

John Torodes Australia

Food Safari Earth

Food Safari Water

Secrets of the Factories

Ginos Italian Escape: Hidden Italy

Patis Mexican Table

Made In Britain

Beautiful Baking with Juliet Sear

Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown

Ainsleys Mediterranean Cookbook

First-Run Australian Content:



Ainsleys Australian Market Menu

Loving Gluten Free

Asia Unplated with Diana Chan

Cook Like An Italian with Silvia Colloca

The Sweet Life with Elise Strachan

Jimmy Shus Taste of the Territory

Wok Vs Pot with Marion and Silvia

Tropical Gourmet: New Caledonia

Recent Successes:

The Cook & The Chef, Nigelissima, Rick Steins From Venice to Istanbul and Come Dine With Me UK are among the channels most popular shows.

Upcoming Key Titles:

Adam Liaws Roadtrip for Good

Living On The Veg

Mary Berry Classic

Nadias Family Feasts

Jamies Easy Christmas Countdown

Gordons Ultimate Christmas

Jamies Ultimate Veg

Jamies Great Italian Escapes

Jamie & Jimmys Food Fight Club

John Torodes Asia

Gordon Ramsays Unchartered

Pacific Island Food Revolution

Top of the Shop with Tom Kerridge

Upcoming Changes to Playout / New Channels: None

SBS VICELAND

Brand Identity:

Its a TV channel. Its about curiosity, empathy and trying to understand the world around you.

Target Demographic:

Primary: 16-39-year-old

Secondary: 25-54-year-old

Format / Tech Playout: MPEG4 High Definition

2020 Ratings Share / Demo Performance:

Now in its 11th year on-air (first launched as SBS Two in 2009), the channel has delivered some of its best performing months ever this year, with the channel also now into its fourth consecutive year of audience growth, an especially impressive feat amongst a declining linear market.

 Total Individuals: During the second half of FY20, SBS VICELAND grew its primetime average audience by +14%, when compared with the first half of FY20

 25-54s: During the second half of FY20, SBS VICELAND grew its primetime average audience by +12%, when compared with the first half of FY20

 The channel delivered a Reach (5minute consecutive minimum) of over 945K on 24 May, driven by six consecutive broadcasts of sci-fi cult classic The Fifth Element

 Consistent top performers across FY20 included gameshow 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, New Zealand comedy Wellington Paranormal, NBL and films such as The Godfather trilogy, Monty Python, Conan the Barbarian and Bone Tomahawk.

*Source: OzTAM + RegTAM FTA Database, SBS VICELAND, Sun-Sat 0200-0200 + 1800-2400, 01/07/2019-30/06/2020, Combined Average Audiences, Total Individuals + People 25-54, Consolidated 28, FTA Shares, Combined Average Daily Reach  Minimum 5 Minute Consecutive

Key First Run Titles:

Travel Man, Takeshis Castle Indonesia, Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, Adam Ruins Everything, Punk, Difficult People, Couples Therapy, Letterkenny, Only Connect.

First-Run Australian Content:

Lady OLoughlin, Sex and Death, The Last Year of Television 2020, NBL

Recent Success Stories:

8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, The X-Files, Jeopardy, Forged in Fire, Abandoned Engineering, Taskmaster, The Tesla Files, NITV News.

Upcoming Key Titles:

Wellington Paranormal S3, High School Mums, Patriot Brains, Vice Investigates, Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2020, The Casketeers S4, United Shades of America, 8 Out of 10 Cats, The Unxplained with William Shatner, Vagrant Queen, Planet Sex, Why Women Kill, Years of Living Dangerously, Forged in Fire Latin America, If You Are The One.

Upcoming Changes to Playout / New Channels: None

Updated.
Geneva, Switzerland (PANA) - The international community should not be neutral on enforced disappearance, independent UN human rights experts said on Monday, calling for countries to strengthen cooperation in investigating and prosecuting perpetrators
By PTI

NEW DELHI: With the opposition deciding to boycott the Rajya Sabha, its eight suspended MPs on Tuesday ended their overnight sit-in inside the Parliament House complex and said they would take their fight against the farm bills to the street.

The suspended Rajya Sabha parliamentarians, who spent the night on the lawns near Mahatma Gandhi's statue in what several old-timers said was the first such overnight protest in the complex, got a surprise visitor in the morning -- Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh who came with tea and snacks.

Till late night, the protesting MPs raised slogans and sang songs while a host of Opposition leaders such as National Conference's Farooq Abdullah, Samajwadi Party's Jaya Bachchan and Congress' Ahmed Patel, Digvijaya Singh and Shashi Tharoor visited them to express their support.

But their morning visitor did not receive the same enthusiastic response, said some of the protesting MPs.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Harivansh's gesture was proof of his greatness, adding that his 'inspiring' and 'statesmanlike' conduct will make every democracy lover proud.

"To personally serve tea to those who attacked and insulted him a few days ago as well as those sitting on Dharna shows that Shri Harivansh Ji has been blessed with a humble mind and a big heart. It shows his greatness. I join the people of India in congratulating Harivansh Ji," he tweeted.

The Rajya Sabha deputy chairman, the protesters said, came early with a posse of news cameras and was told by a senior MP to visit without the cameras and sit with them.

"Another senior MP also told him that while bringing tea was a nice gesture, he was still in the wrong in what he did. He was told he was the one who broke the rules," a protesting MP told PTI.

Several leaders said they did not accept the tea and snacks offered by the deputy chairman.

"I did not have the tea brought by him," said AAP leader Sanjay Singh.

"Farmers have been cheated. We kept asking for proper voting and we were ignored completely. This is not the time to make friends but to fight for the rights of farmers, and we sat here the whole night to protest against the anti-farmer Bills," he added.

A motion for the suspension of the eight leaders -- Rajeev Satav, Syed Naseer Hussain and Ripun Bora (Congress), Dola Sen and Derek O'Brien (TMC), KK Ragesh and Elamaram Kareem (CPM) and Sanjay Singh (AAP) -- was moved by the government on Monday and approved by a voice vote in the House.

They were suspended for the remaining part of the current session over their "misbehaviour" with the deputy chairman during the passage of the farm bills on Sunday.

With the opposition parties boycotting the rest of the session, there was no point in continuing with the dharna, which started on Monday afternoon and ended 24 hours later on Tuesday, said Congress MP Hussain.

"All the opposition parties have boycotted the rest of the session (in Rajya Sabha), nobody is attending the session. They appealed to us to withdraw the dharma and since nobody is attending the session till the suspension is revoked, there is no point in continuing with the dharna," he told PTI.

His party colleague Rajeev Satav added that they will now hit the streets against the farm bills.

Trinamool Congress' Sen agreed.

"After many Opposition parties have boycotted the remainder of the Monsoon session of the Rajya Sabha, the dharna at Gandhi statue has ended.

Now we will take our fight for the rights of the farmers to every town and village in the country," she told PTI.

"I demand the government withdraws the black laws passed unconstitutionally without voting. Get the voting done and then see the result. You know you don't have the required votes that is why you are scared of getting the voting done," said Singh of the Aam Aadmi Party.

CPM MP Kareem said the fight would continue.

"Opposition decided to boycott the session. Why should we attend if they don't want us to speak/vote? Govt still not ready for discussion & correct their undemocratic approach towards Parliament. We'll continue our fight for farmers & resist moves to derail Parliamentary Procedure," he said on Twitter.

Earlier, senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel said the MPs who spent the night in front of Parliament don't need tea but justice.

"The BJP government evicted and attacked them because they stood up for farmers. Justice is their right & they will have it. Constitution expects those in power to offer justice, not tea," he tweeted.

Expressing his deep anguish and pain at the opposition members' "humiliating" conduct towards him, Harivansh has announced a 24-hour fast, saying he hoped it will inspire a feeling of "self-purification" in them.

Harivansh has been in the thick of things since the suspension drama unfolded.

ALSO READ | Harivansh goes on fast over Opposition's 'humiliation' as Modi lauds him, Congress cites Bihar politics

Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu had rejected a notice for a no-confidence motion against Harivansh as it was not in proper format and did not give a 14-day notice period.

Several opposition parties, including AAP, TMC and the Left parties, led by the Congress walked out from the Rajya Sabha demanding that the suspension of the eight members be revoked.

But the government is insisting on an apology first.

Before the walkout, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad said the opposition will boycott proceedings of the House till the suspension is revoked.

Various opposition parties, including the Congress and the TMC, also boycotted the Lok Sabha in solidarity with the eight Rajya Sabha members.

Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the government will consider revoking their suspension only after they apologise for their behaviour in the Upper House.

Later, the Rajya Sabha chairman made a fresh appeal to members of all opposition parties to rethink their decision of boycotting the House proceedings and participate in the discussions.

Naidu, while presiding over the Rajya Sabha, said he had directed the secretary general to get in touch with the Lok Sabha secretariat to ensure the protesters are taken care of properly.

He, however, said the secretary general had shown him instructions issued earlier that members cannot be in the Parliament House complex for any demonstration, dharna, strike, fast or even any religious ceremony.

The Monsoon Session is scheduled to end on October 1.

However, the session is likely to be curtailed with several MPs testing positive for COVID-19.
With nods to its founding from the ashes of World War II, the United Nations officially celebrated the organizations 75th year Monday in a somber and largely virtual event streamed on the internet because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Wearing face masks and spaced far apart, one or two diplomats from each of the 193 member states sat in the cavernous General Assembly hall at the U.N. Manhattan headquarters, which in ordinary times would have been packed with leaders and dignitaries from all over, hobnobbing in what is the worlds largest diplomatic stage.

While Secretary General Antonio Guterres and other U.N. officials gave speeches from the podium, all other leaders delivered their congratulatory remarks via prerecorded videos, giving the event a stilted and contrived flavor.

The event also was notable for a conspicuous absence  though it was scheduled, there was no recorded speech from the leader of the host country, President Trump. A frequent critic of the United Nations, he was to have been the first to speak among 84 heads of state or government on the list. The deputy permanent representative of the U.S. Mission to the United Nations spoke instead.
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Linkedin Michelle Nichols (Reuters) United Nations, New York  Tue, September 22, 2020 09:58 487 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c465489a 2 World United-Nations,UN-conference,anniversary Free

World leaders came together, virtually, on Monday to mark the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, as the deadly coronavirus pandemic and tensions between the United States and China challenge the effectiveness and solidarity of the 193-member body.

As COVID-19 began to spread around the world earlier this year, forcing millions of people to shelter at home and devastating economies, countries turned inward and diplomats say the United Nations struggled to assert itself.

Long-simmering tensions between the United States and China hit the boiling point over the pandemic, spotlighting Beijing's bid for greater multilateral influence in a challenge to Washington's traditional leadership.

The coronavirus emerged in China late last year, and Washington accuses Beijing of a lack of transparency that it says worsened the outbreak. China denies the US assertions.

In an apparent swipe at the United States, China's president, Xi Jinping, said on Monday: "No country has the right to dominate global affairs, control the destiny of others, or keep advantages in development all to itself. Even less should one be allowed to do whatever it likes and be the hegemon, bully or boss of the world. Unilateralism is a dead end."

Xi's remarks were not in the video he recorded for the meeting. They were included in a longer statement that the Chinese UN mission said was submitted to the world body.

China has portrayed itself as the chief cheerleader for multilateralism as President Donald Trump's disregard for international cooperation led to Washington's quitting global deals on climate and Iran and leaving the UN Human Rights Council and the World Health Organization (WHO).

The deputy US ambassador to the United Nations, Cherith Norman Chalet, told the General Assembly that the world body had in many ways proven to be a "successful experiment, but "there are also reasons for concern."

"The United Nations has for too long been resistant to meaningful reform, too often lacking in transparency, and too vulnerable to the agenda of autocratic regimes and dictatorships," she said.

The US withdrawal from the WHO came after Trump accused the agency of being a puppet of China, a claim the WHO denied.

"THEM AND US"

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said "increasing discord" in the international community was sparked by some countries meddling in the domestic affairs of other states and imposing unilateral sanctions - a veiled dig at Washington.

"The world is tired of dividing lines, dividing states into them and us. The world requires increasing multilateral assistance and cooperation," he said.

The pandemic has exposed the world's fragilities, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said. "Today we have a surplus of multilateral challenges and a deficit of multilateral solutions," he said.

The Security Council took months to back a call by Guterres for a global ceasefire - to allow countries to focus on fighting COVID-19 - due to bickering between China and the United States.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the interests of individual member states had "too often" forced the United Nations to lag behind its ideals.

"Those who believe that they can get along better alone are mistaken. Our wellbeing is something that we share  our suffering too. We are one world," she told the General Assembly.

Several leaders called for a reform of the United Nations and in particular the 15-member Security Council, arguing it was unfair that the United States, Russia, China, France and Britain were the only permanent veto-wielding powers.

"A council structure that leaves the fate of more than 7 billion people to the mercy of five countries is neither fair nor sustainable," Turkey's president, Tayyip Erdogan, said.

The one-day special event on Monday comes ahead of the annual meeting of world leaders at the United Nations, which starts on Tuesday with no presidents or prime ministers physically present in New York. All statements have been pre-recorded and will be broadcast in the General Assembly hall.

The United Nations was created when countries came together after World War Two to prevent another such conflict. While there has not been a World War Three, leaders adopted a statement on Monday acknowledging "moments of disappointment."

"All this calls for greater action, not less," the statement said.
Westfield State University will receive a five-year, $1.57 million Student Support Services grant from the U.S. Department of Education to help low-income and first-generation college students and students with disabilities succeed in and graduate from college.

At Westfield State, the money will go toward supporting the TRIO program, which offers eligible students free academic and personal support designed to encourage students to graduate, and to prepare them for graduate school or a career. Services include academic tutoring, financial aid advice, career and college mentoring and course selection assistance. TRIO refers to the three programs (Upward Bound, Talent Search, and Student Support Services), which existed within the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act of 1968, and was designed to assist eligible students to begin and complete a post-secondary education.

This grant allows Westfield State to provide exceptional, comprehensive academic support to 160 students who demonstrate academic need, are first-generation college students, have low income, and/or have a disability, said Celeste Donovan, director of the program, who co-authored the grant with assistant director Charlotte Capogna-Amias.

We are so appreciative of and humbled by this federal support to serve members of our student population facing significant challenges, said Robert Kersting, interim provost and vice president for academic affairs. This funding will enable the University to continue to provide critical assistance to these aspiring scholars.
Taylor Baldwin Kiland and Peter Fretwell are the coauthors of "Lessons from the Hanoi Hilton: Six Characteristics of High-Performance Teams" (Naval Institute Press, 2017).

"I was on track to get into the astronaut program," recalls Everett Alvarez Jr. about his early career as a Navy fighter pilot in the 1960s. At that time, Hispanic fighter pilots were rare in the U.S. military; being an astronaut would have been unprecedented.

Then, fate dealt Alvarez a wild card. Sent on an early combat mission over North Vietnam, he was shot down on Aug. 5, 1964, and became the first American prisoner of war held in the infamous "Hanoi Hilton." He spent the next eight-and-a-half years there. For six months, he was alone in the old French prison in North Vietnam's capital city.

Confined to his cell, Alvarez learned to "Embrace the suck." This military term hadn't yet been coined, but Alvarez and the growing group of POWs practiced its essence: "This is really bad, so let's make the best of it we can."

In other words, lean into the pain.

As Dr. Nate Zinsser, director of the U.S. Military Academy's Performance Psychology Program, characterizes it, "It's the idea of being emotionally comfortable while being physically uncomfortable."

We cannot control everything that happens to us. But we can control how we react to it. We can choose to reframe it and actually learn something from the pain.

Alvarez tapped into his life experiences to endure. Raised in a household with an alcoholic and abusive father, he found, "I had learned to live with myself. When you grow up in a turbulent household, you have to learn to shut things out."

His maternal grandmother and both of his parents had modeled strength and tenacity in overcoming severe poverty, and Alvarez drew on those memories: "Family stories of the adversities they faced had shaped my character and gave me backbone."

Embracing the suck also meant unlearning the mantra of "men don't cry."

Combating boredom, frustration and uncertainty, Alvarez discovered that tearfully acknowledging his feelings allowed him to then focus his energy on what he could control. "You compartmentalize. You draw a mental frame around the things you cannot control. Those things you push outside yourself," he said.

Focusing on what you can control includes actively looking for ways to put the unexpected problem to work for you.

"What do you want to gain from this experience?" is a good question to ask yourself, says neuropsychologist Dr. Jeffrey Moore, the former executive director of the Robert E. Mitchell Center for POW Studies at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. Moore asserts the Vietnam War POWs are "poster children" for finding purpose in prolonged adversity.

Moore spent decades studying the Hanoi Hilton POWs, and their ability to compartmentalize the challenges of their daily existence was key to their resilience. "They became experts at not letting the experience frame them," he said.

Instead, they created productive goals for their experience. They found ways not just to survive, but to thrive.

One of them designed a house in his head, which he in fact built when he returned home. Several learned new languages, taught to them by their fellow POWs. One ran around his cell in circles for hours at a time, not out of frustration, but to return to health and fitness after ejection injuries.

Moore says that, in a crisis, there is value in pausing to ask, "What meaning can I find in this?"

Zinsser echoes that approach, teaching West Point cadets to ask, "How can this make me stronger?"

Research at the Mitchell Center also found optimism was a key to POW resilience. Optimists tend to display several mental responses when they encounter difficulty: "This is not personal against me, this is not forever, and this will not destroy my future."

Pessimists tend to think the opposite: "This may be my fault, this may never end, and this may destroy my life."

Still, Alvarez found that letting go of some dreams was part of embracing the suck. "Optimism is important, but you have to balance it with reality. I realized after a while that, whenever I got out of there, I was no longer on track for the astronaut program."

So he turned to the question of "What else am I going to do with my career, my life?" He began to think about what he was going to learn from his years as a POW.

He also began to focus on giving -- teaching younger aviators that they, too, could endure adversity for years, if necessary.

Zinsser recalled a passage from Victor Frankl's "Man's Search for Meaning": "We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread."

We can develop our own resilience when we reach out to others in need, especially our neighbors who have been sick, have lost a job or lost a family member.

Frankl identified this as "sufficient proof that everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms -- to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way."

When Alvarez returned home in 1973, he had spent a quarter of his life in prison. And although his wife had divorced him while he was held captive, he found love again, remarried and raised two sons -- a lawyer and a doctor. The grandson of poor Mexican immigrants, Alvarez went on to achieve the American dream. He remained in public service for every president from Reagan to Obama and became a serial entrepreneur, building several multimillion-dollar businesses.

What is unusual about Everett Alvarez's story is that his experience is not unique among his colleagues in captivity. Most of the POWs returned home physically and mentally intact, despite being the longest-held group of POWs in our nation's history. Most of them later pursued highly successful careers in leadership positions and public office, and few of them have exhibited long-term post-traumatic stress disorder. Indeed, their lifetime average of PTSD is 4%.

One final self-reminder helps in learning to embrace the suck. The next generation of Americans will learn from us, one way or another, in watching how we handle the cards that life deals us.

Alvarez recalls a moment in a grocery store a few years after he returned home from the Hanoi Hilton. His young son Bryan was about four years old, sitting in front of him in the shopping cart.

"He waited until I was in the middle of the checkout line, and then he loudly asked, 'Daddy, when you were in prison, what did you eat?' People started looking around at us. The more I tried to quiet him, the louder he got. 'Daddy, remember when you were in prison? What did you eat? Bugs, right?'"

Of course, Alvarez's important memories are not about what he ate. He took a life-disrupting experience and made the most of it. Instead of investing energy in his own bad feelings, he embraced the suck and turned his eight-and-a-half years as a POW into an opportunity to create a better, stronger version of himself.

-- The opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Military.com. If you would like to submit your own commentary, please send your article to opinions@military.com for consideration.
A lot has been speculated about superstar Shah Rukh Khans upcoming film. The actor, who was last seen in 2018s Zero, has reportedly signed a film with Tamil filmmaker Atlee. Now, according to latest reports, the Raees actor will be seen in a double role in the film.

A source quoted in Mumbai Mirror said, Atlee and Shah Rukh have been discussing a potential collaboration for two years now and have brainstormed on multiple subjects. They have finally fixed on an action film, which has SRK playing an investigating officer of a top Indian agency and a most-wanted criminal. The story revolves around these two characters who are worlds apart, their conflict and confrontation.

The source added, Three of Atlees four directorials, Theri, Mersal and Bigil, feature the protagonist in double or triple roles. He loves exploring the different aspects of an actors persona within the same film."

The source added that Atlee is looking to continue the trend with two diametrically different characters in this film as well.

Shah Rukh has previously played a double role in the 1998 film Duplicate. The publication also stated that the film will be co-produced by Shah Rukh Khan as well as Karan Johars Dharma Productions. The director is currently scripting the film with Karan Johars team of writers.

This is not the only film Shah Rukh Khan has in the pipeline. He will apparently also be seen in Sidharth Anands action thriller with John Abraham. He will also be seen in Rajkumar Hiranis social drama. However, the actor has maintained that he is taking time off for his family and has not made any official announcement yet.
Regulatory News:

Genomic Vision(Paris:GV) (the "Company" FR0011799907 GV), a company specialized in the development of in-vitro diagnostic (IVD) tests for the early detection of cancers and genetic diseases and applications for life sciences research (LSR), informs its shareholders that, contrary to what was previously indicated in its press release of August 10, 2020, the thirty second resolution on the implementation of the financing line agreed with Winance1 was not validly adopted despite the unanimous support of shareholders who voted, insofar as the required quorum for this specific resolution was not met.

Within this context, the Company has decided to convene another Extraordinary General Meeting, on October 30, 2020 at 10 am CEST, behind closed doors, whose agenda will be the adoption of this resolution. The Company has asked the Nanterre Commercial Court to appoint a special purpose trustee to represent the shareholders unable to attend the Meeting, and thus ensure that the required quorum is met.

In compliance with current legislation and the recommendations of the AMF French stock market authority, Genomic Vision's shareholders are invited to exclusively express their vote remotely, before the EGM, either via a postal vote or by granting proxy to the Chairman of the Emergency General Meeting, in accordance with the arrangements indicated in the Company's notice of meeting that will be published in the BALO official bulletin of legal announcements on September 25, 2020.

All the preparatory documents are available from the Company on request and are also available on the Company's website (in the General Assembly subsection of the Investors section).

For further information on the financing line via the reserved issuance of bonds convertible into ordinary shares to which a share subscription warrant is attached (the warrants and, together with the shares to which they are attached, the equity subscription warrants or "ABSA" and, with the convertible notes, the convertible notes with equity warrants or "OCABSA") in favor of Winance, please refer to the Company's press release of June 15, 2020.

For guidance purposes, and based on Genomic Vision's share price of 0.34 on September 21, 2020, the conversion of all the notes (representing total financing of 12 million) and the exercise of all the warrants would result in the issuance of a total of 51,724,137 new ordinary shares. A shareholder currently holding 1% of the Company's share capital would then hold 0.48% of its share capital.

ABOUT GENOMIC VISION

GENOMIC VISION is a biotechnology company developing products and services dedicated to the analysis (structural and functional) of genome modifications as well as to the quality and safety control of these modifications, in particular in genome editing technologies and biomanufacturing processes. Genomic Vision proprietary tools, based on DNA combing technology and artificial intelligence, provide robust quantitative measurements needed to high confidence characterization of DNA alteration in the genome. These tools are mainly used for monitoring DNA replication in cancerous cell, for early cancer detection and the diagnosis of genetic diseases. Based near Paris, in Bagneux, the Company has approximately 30 employees. GENOMIC VISION is a public listed company listed in compartment C of Euronext's regulated market in Paris (Euronext: GV ISIN: FR0011799907).

For further information, please visit www.genomicvision.com

Member of the CAC Mid Small and CAC All-Tradable indexes

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENT

This press release contains implicitly or explicitly certain forward-looking statements concerning Genomic Vision and its business. Such forward-looking statements are based on assumptions that Genomic Vision considers to be reasonable. However, there can be no assurance that such forward-looking statements will be verified, which statements are subject to numerous risks, including the risks set forth in the "Risk Factors" section of the reference document dated March 29, 2019 filed with the AMF under reference number R19-004, available on the web site of Genomic Vision (www.genomicvision.com) and to the development of economic conditions, financial markets and the markets in which Genomic Vision operates. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are also subject to risks not yet known to Genomic Vision or not currently considered material by Genomic Vision. The occurrence of all or part of such risks could cause actual results, financial conditions, performance or achievements of Genomic Vision to be materially different from such forward-looking statements.

This press release and the information contained herein do not constitute and should not be construed as an offer or an invitation to sell or subscribe, or the solicitation of any order or invitation to purchase or subscribe for Genomic Vision shares in any country. The distribution of this press release in certain countries may be a breach of applicable laws. The persons in possession of this press release must inquire about any local restrictions and comply with these restrictions.

1 As a reminder, that resolution asked the Shareholders' Meeting to grant the Board of Directors the power to undertake a capital increase via the issuance of convertible notes with warrants (OCABSA) with shareholders' preemptive rights waived in favor of Winance within the framework of a convertible bond financing line for a nominal amount of 12 million in 12 equal tranches.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200922005894/en/

Contacts:

Genomic Vision

Dominique Remy-Renou

CEO

Tel.: +33 1 49 08 07 51

investisseurs@genomicvision.com



Ulysse Communication

Press Relations

Bruno Arabian

Tel.: +33 1 42 68 29 70

barabian@ulysse-communication.com



NewCap

Investor Relations

& Strategic Communications

Tel.: +33 1 44 71 94 94

gv@newcap.eu
KYIV. Sept 22 (Interfax-Ukraine)  The Commission for Business Protection will hold a meeting in October this year, Executive Director of the UkraineInvest Office Serhiy Tsivkach has said.

"The Commission for Business Protection and Improvement of the Investment Climate in Ukraine resumes its work under the chairmanship of the prime minister of Ukraine. We are scheduling the first meeting of this Commission in October 2020," he said at a press conference at Interfax-Ukraine on Tuesday.

He added that the issue of investment requires, in particular, the improvement of regulatory policy, and the corresponding work of both the Office and the government continues.

"The government and we with all stakeholders are working on both resolving issues, improving the regulatory policy and attracting foreign direct investment," Tsivkach said.

Currently UkraineInvest is working on 46 investment projects, the executive director of the office said.

"For 2020-2022, and I'm talking about the minimum figures now, we plan to attract $2.2 billion to the Ukrainian economy. As for existing investors who work in Ukraine, over the next year and a half, they plan to invest another $527 million in Ukraine," Tsivkach said.
There is a shortage this year of the flu vaccine, which is being described as the "last thing that's needed" in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.

A letter being delivered this week to GPs and pharmacies across the country confirms "delays to the deliveries of flu vaccine into Ireland".

The delays and shortages arise even though the HSE is telling GPs and pharmacists it is "particularly important" this year to maximise vaccine uptake among at-risk groups and frontline health care staff so the heath system is not overwhelmed.

"Influenza vaccine is being delivered in a number of shipments, and reduced quantities are being delivered in the initial shipments," the HSE said.

It also admitted rationing "to ensure equitable amounts are available to all sites".

The warning comes as 188 new cases of the virus were announced yesterday, 76 of them in Dublin.

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"Encourage your family and friends to heed the public health advice," acting chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn said. "Now more than ever, we need to work collectively. Our individual actions count on a population level.

"Every one of us doing our bit in our daily lives - halving our social contacts, working from home, keeping our distance, wearing a face covering, washing our hands - matters a great deal.

"These small, positive steps taken together amount to our best and strongest defence against the virus."

Research carried out on behalf of the Department of Health shows the level of worry among the public stands at 6.5 out of 10.

Overload

This is similar to the level expressed in April, with the main sources of concern being health system overload, the health of family and friends and the economy.

Around 47pc think the worst of the pandemic is ahead of us, the highest level reported since April.

Fifty-two per cent think there should be more restrictions, similar to the March figure.

Green Party senator Vincent P Martin said GPs and pharmacists have "grave concerns" for their patients about the initial delivery and roll-out of the flu vaccine.

"Delivery has already been delayed and, worse, the number of vaccines that some doctors have been told they will receive is tiny," he said.

"I have spoken to GPs and pharmacists, one of whom has received 20 vaccines.

"One large GP practice received an initial delivery of 60 vaccines.

"It will not do anything and is nowhere near enough."

GPs and pharmacists are rightly worried and perplexed about this on behalf of their patients, Mr Martin said.

The HSE said it expects to receive a second order by mid-October.
Growers in Maharashtra had stored up around 27 lakh tonnes of onion, of which 60 per cent stock remains

Maharashtra farmers are likely to suffer huge losses of over Rs 5000 crore owing to Centres decision to ban the export of onions. The move is likely to benefit China and Pakistan in the international market, said agriculture experts.

At the end of the summer harvest season, growers in Maharashtra had stored up around 27 lakh tonnes of onion, of which 60 per cent stock remains. After the ban was announced, truckloads of onions have been stranded at several places like Nashik, Pune, Nagar and Solapur. The produce is likely to be damaged due to the ban causing loss to exporters as well as farmers.

According to the experts, the ban has come at a time just when the onion prices had started rising after remaining low for several months. The average trade rate, which was Rs 20 per kg in July, in the countrys biggest onion market at Lasalgaon had now touched Rs 35 per kg and was expected to go up further. Maharashtra is the largest onion producing state in the country.

Last year, the delayed monsoon had caused heavy damages to the onion crop. The farmers also initially witnessed difficulties to export onion due to the coronavirus pandemic. But the export was later streamlined and in the last eight months, nearly 16 to 17 lakh tonnes of onion was exported.

Last week, the central governments department of commerce decided to ban the export of onions. The move came as a surprise as the government usually takes the step when prices shoot up and supply remains weaker. But this year, the country has seen a bumper onion crop.

NCP President Sharad Pawar has already warned that the decision could allow other countries like Pakistan to displace India in the international market. The ban jeopardizes India's export share in the onion markets of Gulf countries, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, he said.

The decision to ban export of onions is utterly foolish, said Raghunathdada Patil, president of Shetkari Sanghatana. The country was getting invaluable foreign exchange through the onion export during the present economic crisis. But the move will now benefit China and Pakistan, he said.
Black creator-led brands' sustainable and creation-driven clothing. You cant change fashion without changing who is making fashion.

Resonance Companies, Inc announced the 11 Black creator-led brands that were selected from nearly 400 applicants for its beRESONANT Accelerator. The program kicked off eight weeks ago as part of Resonances contribution to creating equal opportunities for Black creators in fashion. These 11 selected brands designed and are launching clothing across more than 150 unique styles utilizing Resonances create.ONE brand technology platform and its on-demand, sustainable manufacturing infrastructure. The clothing will be launched both on the brands websites as well as on the beRESONANT online store that Resonance is also launching.

You cant change fashion without changing who is making fashion, said Lawrence Lenihan, Chairman and Co-Founder of Resonance. For the fashion industry to survive, it must change its structure  its basic business model, the impact it makes on our planet, and the opportunities it creates for the people who work in it. These 11 creation-driven brands will be able to compete effectively and profitably with any brand in this industry. Whereas this industrys legacy mass-manufacturing infrastructure makes creativity and experimentation a liability, Resonances platform transforms it into a competitive advantage.

The beRESONANT council and the Resonance design team selected these 11 brands based on multiple criteria and an interview process for finalists. The brands include BruceGlen, DEMESTIK, Izayla, JungleGurl, Lola Faturoti Loves, MAM Couture, Megan Renee, MOON/5UN, Ooshie, Renowned, and Supervsn. Collectively, the brands span across Men, Women, Unisex, and Kids; materials; colors; and shapes with prices ranging from $50 - $450. Products will be available both on the brands sites and on the beRESONANT store.

These 11 brands are building their businesses in an entirely new way for an entirely new world. Sustainable design and production are at the core of their business model and on-demand production enables limitless creativity with near-zero cost, creating a clothing brand that can both build value for its owners and make a positive impact on our planet. Resonance Companies proprietary raw-materials-to-customer-doorstep solution, create.ONE, enables brands to design, sell, and make (in that order) ONE piece of clothing sustainably and on-demand in days as efficiently (in terms of total unit cost) as brands that use legacy supply chains make 1,000+ garments over months.

Having no inventory and producing sustainable collections also means that I can take more creative risks. As an emerging brand it's difficult to produce with the constant financial worry of if a collection will be successful or not but this platform removes that fear, said Megan Smith, founder of Megan Renee. She added, I also love that I'm not at the mercy of creating collections season to season. I'm in complete control and I can create more freely without any time and release restrictions.

In addition to launching on their own sites, each brand is releasing selected clothing on the beRESONANT store, a first-of-its-kind multi-brand, on-demand, sustainable online retail destination for inclusive, creation-driven clothing. In the coming weeks, these brands will launch many more sustainably designed and produced products, announce and execute real-time collaborations with brands and influencers, launch online pop-ups, and launch exclusive retailer partnerships.

The beRESONANT Accelerator Program provides capital, services, and technology to talented, creators from underrepresented groups who have something meaningful to say but have not had the tools or platform to say it -- until now. Resonance is helping them build sustainable, valuable businesses that are going to fundamentally alter the trajectory of this industry. Rashad Randolph of Colorado-based MAM Couture said, Trying to evolve MAM in the Midwest was extremely hard because there arent many resources. beRESONANT and the create.ONE platform solved my biggest issues in the fashion industry. We now get to make verifiably sustainable products without compromising on creativity.

Creativity and risk go hand-in-hand in the fashion industry. I no longer have to live collection-to-collection financially. I can always be creating and react right now to what's happening in the market or in our society, said Reuben Reuel, founder of DEMESTIK. I don't have to hope six months from now I am right when the collection I designed is finally delivered.

This is only the inaugural class of the beRESONANT Accelerator, continued Lenihan. Resonance exists to change a broken industry and is taking action to address fashions failure to include underrepresented creators. While the beRESONANT Accelerator was born out of the Black Lives Matter movement, we believe that the way to make long lasting and far-reaching change is to enable economic opportunity and ownership for Black and other underrepresented creators. That is what we will do with this program now and far into the future.

The beRESONANT Accelerator brands launch clothing are available at shopberesonant.com.

Check out images of the beRESONANT Accelerator brands' launches and the beRESONANT retail platform launch.

About beRESONANT:

beRESONANT is the first-of-its-kind destination for inclusive, creation-driven clothing, designed by creators committed to changing this industry for the better. We feature brands that create clothes for a new world, and we enable them to make them in a very new way.

About Resonance Companies, Inc.:

Resonance is a technology company that enables clothing brands to build and grow sustainable and valuable businesses. Its proprietary raw-materials-to-customer-doorstep solution, create.ONE, allows brands to design, sell, and make (in that order) ONE piece of clothing sustainably and on-demand as efficiently as legacy businesses make 1,000 garments over months.

More Information on beRESONANT:

All clothing sold on the beRESONANT store is produced on-demand, which means a garment is only made after it is purchased. beRESONANT Accelerator brands and the beRESONANT store hold no inventory of clothing at any time.

Inventory is one of the largest causes of waste in the fashion industry. Up to 30% of clothes manufactured by brands are never sold and end up in a landfill or are incinerated. By making everything on-demand as a customer orders it, there is not any leftover inventory that is wasted and dumped into a landfill, no money-tied up in inventory, and no discounting and devaluing products and brands due to unsold inventory. The fashion industry cant be sustainable unless it is on-demand.

Sustainability is about more than just inventory, however. All beRESONANT products are designed virtually and on-demand, using state-of-the-art tools that enable unlimited variety without wasting time, money, or material on samples. The manufacturing process that powers the production of beRESONANT clothes uses less ink, less water, and less material than traditional processes, which means the brands who sell on the store have a significantly smaller carbon footprint for commercial production than they otherwise could. Resonance pays workers living wages, ensures safe working conditions, and offers opportunities for advancement. When a customer purchases a product created through this process, they know exactly where their clothes are being made, and by whom.

The beRESONANT Accelerator places brands at the intersection of craftsmanship and technology with a distinct advantage: the technology they use to design, sell, and manufacture is specifically designed to amplify their creativity, not hinder, streamline, or replace it. They design products virtually and produce on-demand. With no inventory, the cost of experimentation for beRESONANT products is zero: the brands can test, iterate, and react in real-time based on any number of factors (e.g., customer feedback, current events) with no financial or operational barriers. Plus, the designs they create as part of this program are protected by blockchain technology, which provides them proof of ownership. For the duration of the program, the brands pay no fees, margin, or commission on products created or sold via the beRESONANT platform; when the program ends, 100% of the fees they pay will be reinvested in the Accelerator to benefit future classes. At the end of the initiative, the beRESONANT Accelerator brands may choose whether or not they continue the partnership with Resonance.
- Maraga advised that Parliament be dissolved over failure to enact the two-thirds gender rule sparking emotional reactions from different quarters

- Ahmednassir said the CJ has been making such controversial decisions to compensate for his lack of sound grounding on the law

- Pointing to the nullification of the 2017 presidential election results, the lawyer accused the CJ of planting chaos and mayhem

- He said Maraga has no known judicial philosophy since he joined the Judiciary in 2003

Lawyer Ahmednassir Abdullahi has launched a scathing attack on Chief Justice David Maraga after he advised President Uhuru Kenyatta to dissolve Parliament over its failure to enact the controversial two-thirds gender rule.

READ ALSO: Uhuru's adopted son Daniel Owira says he nearly left school after becoming rich

City lawyer Ahmednassir Abdullahi. Photo: Ahmednasir Abdullahi.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Mike Sonko's ally eyeing Mswabweni National Assembly seat resigns from ODM

If implemented, Maragas decision will plunge the country into a historic constitutional crisis as it will see all MPs and senators sent home and render all the laws enacted by the current Parliament null and void.

But Senior Counsel Ahmednassir tore into the decision, accusing the Chief Justice of habitually making such controversial decisions to compensate for his lack of sound grounding on the law.

READ ALSO: Musalia Mudavadi asherehekea miaka 60 tangu kuzaliwa kwake

The lawyer claimed since he joined the Judiciary in 2003, Maraga has no known judicial philosophy, having not espoused a theory of law that can help pigeon hole him in any known legal school of thought.

He camouflages the lack of legal philosophy with drama. He is a drama queen in the classical sense. As in 2017 when he nullified the Presidential election, Maraga compensates his lack of sound grounding on the law by making controversial decisions that resonate with Wanjiku, Ahmednassir stated.

He thus builds his reputation not with the students of law, legal scholars or practitioners but with the man/woman on the street, he added, advising that Maragas advisory note be taken in that context.

Chief Justice David Maraga. Photo: The Judiciary.

Source: UGC

The lawyer observed that Maraga takes the law too literal, not as a result of philosophical disposition, but because a deeper and sound reflection is beyond him.

Just like in 2017, Maraga plants chaos and mayhem, he charged.

Ahmednassir said the CJ committed a constitutional error in the manner he handled the critical matter that he opined could throw the country into a vicious cycle of parliamentary elections if President Uhuru Kenyatta decides to disband Parliament.

He, however, made it clear that Uhuru has no obligation to dissolve Parliament, first, because transitory advice from one body to the other can never trigger mandatory consequences.

Second, the President taking into the account Maraga's past must see him as a "judicial anarchist", the senior counsel noted.

He averred that Parliament must seek a constitutional judicial review both against the CJ and the president since the High Court can stop implementation of the decision.

Parliament, he stated, must make an election and sue the President alone, stopping him from acting on the contaminated advice by the CJ.

Lastly, Uhuru, in line with my legal opinion, must tell Kenyans that he has taken note of Maraga's advice but elects to shelf it, the lawyer noted.

He explained that in a constitutional context, the use of the modal verb shall in Maragas legal opinion means may, and Uhuru thus has the absolute discretion to ignore, shelf the advice.

Lawyer Ahmednasir in court. Photo: Ahmednassir Abdullahi.

Source: UGC

Lawyer Abdikadir Mohamed appeared to concur, saying the president might exploit a window in the relevant law as the constitution does not spell sanctions if he failed to dissolve Parliament.

Maragas advisory is historic. But the constitution does not set time frame and sanctions, Abdikadir, who chaired the House committee that shepherded the 2010 constitution, told People Daily.

Surprisingly though, some lawyers welcomed the decision, with the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Nelson Havi demanding that Treasury immediately stops remitting MPs salaries and all other allowances.

But Ahmednassir warned that if the President gave a nod to Maragas advisory, the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) undertaking, for instance, will be over as the country has to go to elections.

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Haiti - Politic : The Minister of Public Works at the bedside of Anse-a-Pitres





As part of the project to upgrade border towns, Nader Joiseus, the Minister of Public Works recently made an inspection visit to Anse-a-Pitres (Dept. South East) where there are no shortage of problems.



A premise of justice which is too small with a tin roof where work in a stifling heat and often impossible... A police station that operates with only five under-equipped police officers, practically left to their own, in an increasingly populated town, an understaffed hospital center with a lack of electricity, among other things...



Minister Joiseus has racked up grievances, but that's not all. He also noted the overflow of the Pedernales River, the lack of protection of the banks to prevent floods and to remedy it, he promised the gabionage of the river over a length of one kilometer upstream and downstream.



From an agricultural point of view, it is essential to urgently clean up the irrigation canals that don't work, fill with the rubbish that residents dump there daily...



Nader Joiseus also visited the municipal market, considering the size insufficient and suggested expanding the area of the market, which could contribute to improving the economic and financial conditions of the population of the area.



During his visit the Minister saw a lot and especially listened a lot. He promised to act within the limits of his responsibilities and the means of his Ministry. He also promised to convey certain grievances to the authorities directly concerned.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















For children born with disabilities in Kenya's Mathare informal settlement, life can be grim as they face stigma from their community and families and little in the way of support.

Elizabeth Waithera, 37, after witnessing the struggles faced by her special needs sister, decided to set up a centre offering free therapy for the disabled.

With its walls covered with bightly painted animals and cartoon characters like Winnie the Pooh and Scrooge McDuck, the small centre is a haven of joy for the children who come for therapy.

"Most of these youth and kids suffer discrimination and stigma, including from their parents," Waithera, a psychologist and social worker, told AFP.

Many of the children with special needs suffer discrimination and stigma. By TONY KARUMBA (AFP)

She employs physiotherapists and caregivers who help children with cerebral palsy, autism, visual or hearing impairment or mental health problems.

An occupational therapist comes in twice a week, his services donated by the ActionAid charity.

On days when the centre is not holding physiotherapy sessions the facility becomes "a specialised daycare for the children with challenges such as autism, blindness and deafness to allow the parents a break from the intensive schedule of caring for them," she said.

The centre employs physiotherapists and caregivers who help children with cerebral palsy, autism, visual or hearing impairment or mental health problems. By TONY KARUMBA (AFP)

This allows them to "engage in their usual income generating pursuits or just have some much needed rest."

"For children who are blind or deaf but (have) sufficient motor skills we start by offering basic vocational training like crocheting... as we hope to eventually upgrade" the youngsters to be able to operate sewing machines, Waithera said.

"Also in the near future we aspire to offer vocational training to the more mentally challenged kids suffering autism and other forms of developmental disabilities," she said.

The centre, whose services are free, relies on donations -- which have decreased because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The facility relies on donations, which have decreased because of the coronavirus pandemic. By TONY KARUMBA (AFP)

"It is a challenge doing it for free, bearing in mind I have staff that needs to be paid, food, diapers, premises... It's a big challenge because we depend on well-wishers, meaning this month can be good and next month not good," Waithera said.

"Ensuring that our physiotherapist is paid on time, monthly, is quite a challenge that has become even greater lately due to Covid.... that has seen support from well-wishers dwindle a little.

"He however has been very kind and continued to provide his services, on schedule, even when we've been unable to secure his salary for months at a time".
Testimony is scheduled to continue through Oct. 16 at the 106-year-old courthouse, which is on the National Register of Historic Places.

It promises to be a different trial, and one, because of COVID-19 precautions, in which spectators, family members and most media will not be present. They will instead watch via a video hookup.

Trail, a talkative ex-convict who specialized in fraud and deception, went on social media shortly after Loofe, 24, was reported missing to proclaim in a video that he and Boswell had nothing to do with her disappearance. For her part, Boswell said that shed had a date with Loofe but had dropped her off in Lincoln on the night of Nov. 15, 2017, and had no idea where she was.

After more than two weeks of searches, Loofes remains were discovered, scattered along gravel roads wrapped in black plastic bags in rural Clay County. After that, Trail talked to investigators more than once, and even called reporters, as he spun a slowly evolving tale of how Loofe had died.
The diverse work of Mainz-based physicists in the field of nuclear magnetic resonance is being boosted by a new highly application-oriented approach: In October 2020, Dr. Danila Barskiy will join Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) to set up a group focusing on nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, the objective being to explore approaches that do not require magnetic fields for chemical, biological, and medical applications. To do so, he has been awarded a Sofja Kovalevskaja Award worth EUR 1.6 million by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. "We are very pleased that Danila Barskiy and his research have been honored in this way. His work not only covers new and previously unexplored aspects, but also excellently complements research we are already undertaking here in Mainz," said Professor Dmitry Budker, Barskiy's host at the Institute of Physics at JGU and at the Helmholtz Institute Mainz (HIM).

Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy is a standard analytical technique used to study the structure and dynamics of materials and living objects. With its sister technology Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), NMR spectroscopy is used in organic chemistry, biochemistry, and medicine with fluids being positioned particularly well to this type of analysis. However, NMR spectroscopy is reaching its limits: Due to the weak interaction between atomic nuclei and the applied magnetic field, signals produced by NMR-active nuclei are typically extremely low and, therefore, require high magnetic fields for detection. This rules out the possibility of developing portable point-of-care devices, among other things.

Researchers aim to develop compact and portable NMR devices

Sofja Kovalevskaja Award winner Dr. Danila Barskiy has been looking at ways of improving NMR spectroscopy for around ten years, most recently at the University of California, Berkeley, from where he will be making the transition to Mainz. He is pursuing various approaches with the aim of designing compact and portable NMR devices that will ultimately be as small as a chip and affordable for wide analytical markets. According to Barskiy, the problem is the following: "Despite improvements being made, most NMR systems are still not compact because they need field strengths of several Tesla in order to distinguish between the chemical signatures in an NMR spectrum."

Barskiy's new interdisciplinary group will focus on developing miniaturized, portable NMR sensors. These sensors would employ the principle of zero to ultra-low field magnetic resonance, or ZULF NMR for short, using optically pumped magnetometers which would not require any strong magnetic fields. In addition to applications in chemical and biomedical research, such sensors could find use for detecting metabolic disorders at an early stage.

By heading up a work group at Mainz, Barskiy also wants to develop hyperpolarizers for benchtop NMR spectrometers. Hyperpolarization improves the alignment of nuclear spins in a sample, thereby amplifying their NMR signals. The scientist predicts that application-specific hyperpolarizers for tabletop NMR devices may be soon available and that they will be about the size of a coffee machine. And with a tabletop NMR device, it will be possible to perform highly sensitive analyses of fuels, biofluids such as blood or urine, and food extracts. "This will democratize NMR spectroscopy by providing access to wider audiences and will accelerate technological progress in developing countries," Barskiy emphasized.

Long-standing collaboration with experts from UC Berkeley paves the way for new research

This represents another positive result of the collaboration between UC Berkeley, in particular the laboratory of Professor Alexander Pines, and the Mainz group led by Professor Dmitry Budker. "We have been working very productively with Professor Pines and his team, including Dr. Barskiy, for many years and developed ZULF NMR together," said Budker. "Danila Barskiy was one of the first to recognize the importance of this research in the biological and medical context." Budker points out that Barskiy's plans fit perfectly with the work being done at Mainz, which is also being pursued as part of the European Union's ZULF NMR Marie Curie Innovative Training Network together with other European partners.

Danila Barskiy studied at Novosibirsk State University and earned a doctorate in physical chemistry for his research at the International Tomography Center (ITC SB RAS). In 2015, he began working as a postdoc at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, and subsequently joined Professor Alexander Pines' team at the University of California, Berkeley in 2017. "The conditions in Mainz are unique for me. The planned collaborations and the resources available fit perfectly with the projects I am pursuing. Thanks to the Sofja Kovalevskaja Award, I can not only begin an independent research career, the multidisciplinary research in Germany is promoted as a whole," emphasized Barskiy.

The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation gave the 2020 Sofja Kovalevskaja Award to eight international research talents aged between 29 and 36 years. It is one of the most richly endowed research awards in Germany and provides young researchers with venture capital for innovative projects at an early stage in their careers. They undertake research for up to five years at German universities and research institutions and build up their own work groups at their host institutes. The award is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).

###
This is the shocking moment a Mexican military humvee barreled through the metal entrance gates of an apartment complex to arrest 11 cartel members.

The incident took place on Thursday after a police unit requested backup when they spotted alleged members of Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman's old Sinaloa Cartel firing their weapons for no reason in the middle of an avenue in Culiacan, Sinaloa.

Members of Mexico's National Guard, Army, Marines, and the Sinaloa state police joined together for the bust.

At least 11 alleged members of the Sinaloa Cartel were arrested at a residential complex in Sinaloa, Mexico, last Thursday. Pictured above is a security forces humvee before it smashed through a metal gate

A residential complex security camera captures the moment a Mexican security force Humvee tore apart the metal entrance gate during an operation last Thursday that resulted in the arrest of 11 alleged members of the Sinaloa Cartel

Armed members of Mexico's National Guard, Army, Marines, and the Sinaloa state police storm inside an apartment building complex in pursuit of 11 Sinaloa Cartel members

Footage captured by a surveillance camera at the Culiacan residential complex La Condesa showed the large vehicle speeding through the closed metal gate.

At least seven state police pickup trucks and a second Humvee followed it inside the building's parking lot. Seven masked security force members ran inside ready to open fire with their rifles.

According to the Sinaloa Public Security Ministry, the armed agents locked down the building and captured the purported Sinaloa Cartel members within an hour without exchanging any fire.

Public Security Ministry chief Cristobal Castaneda Camarillo said security forces seized weapons and vehicles from the cartel members, whose identities were not revealed to the press.

No shots were exchanged between Mexican security forces and the 11 alleged members of the Sinaloa Cartel who were apprehended last Thursday after they were seeing firing their weapons in the middle of a street in Culiacan, Sinaloa

The operation unfolded 11 months after an operation to capture El Chapo's son, Ovidio Guzman, quickly converting Culiacan into a war zone in broad daylight that left 13 people dead as the cartel and security forces exchanged fire.

The October 17, 2019 mission headed by the National Guard to serve a United States extradition request was called off by Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

'I ordered that operation be stopped and that this alleged criminal be released,' Lopez Obrador said in June.

'The decision was made when it was decided not to put the population at risk so that civilians were not affected because more than 200 people would lose their lives if we did not suspend the operation in Culiacan,' Lopez Obrador said.

Mexican security forces got wind of Guzman's location after officials in Washington pushed for his extradition to shut down the Sinaloa Cartel's alleged fentanyl trafficking to the United States.
Srinagar: Tightening its noose in the case of suspended J&K Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Davinder Singh and Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Naveed Babu, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday carried out searches at several locations in Jammu & Kashmir's Baramulla district.

An NIA official privy to the development told IANS, "NIA is conducting raids in different parts of Baramulla in Hizb commander Naveed Babu-Davinder Singh DSP case." He said that multiple teams of the NIA conducted searches at multiple locations in Baramulla-Uri and one location in Srinagar in connection with Naveed Babu and cross-border trade case.

The spokesperson said that in Hizbul Mujahideen case, houses of Azad Ahmad Pir in Uri and Hallema Begum in Baramulla, Shaheen Lone also a resident of Baramulla and working as an inspector in Power Development Department, along with Lone's father-in-law's house at Waza Mohalla, Palhalan in Baramulla, Tariq Mir's wife Shareen Bibi and Tafazul Parimoo a resident of Budgam, were also searched by the NIA.

They are close associates of accused Tariq Mir, who was arrested by NIA on April 29 this year for his role in smuggling and supply of weapons to Hizb terrorists. During the searches several incriminating documents and digital devices have been seized from their residences. The NIA has named Naveed Mushtaq alias Naveed Babu, Irfan Shafi Mir, Rafi Rather, Tanveer Ahmad Wani, and Syed Irfan in its chargesheet, besides Davinder Singh.

The suspended police officer is lodged in Kathua jail at Hiranagar in the Jammu division. He was arrested by the police on January 11 on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway while transporting two Hizb terrorists -- Naveed Babu and Rafi Ahmad Rather -- and a law school dropout Irfan Shafi Mir to Jammu.

Naveed's brother Irfan was arrested on January 23 for his 'role' in the conspiracy while Wani came under the scanner for allegedly giving money to Naveed, a former Special Police Officer of J&K who had joined the terrorist ranks. After the arrest of Singh, initial investigations were done by the J&K Police before the case was handed over to the NIA. Police had said that the two terrorists and the lawyer had planned to travel to Pakistan.

The NIA had earlier claimed that its probe revealed that the accused were part of a deep-rooted conspiracy hatched by the Hizb and Pakistan to commit violent acts and to wage war against India. "The investigation has revealed that Pakistan-based leadership of the Hizb, namely Syed Salahuddin, Amir Khan, Khursheed Alam, Nazar Mehmood, and others, along with the Pakistani establishment is extending support to the cadres and commanders of the terror outfit based in Jammu & Kashmir."

"The probe also revealed that accused Irfan Shafi Mir alias 'Advocate' not only met Hizb leadership in Pakistan but also met Umar Cheema, Ahshan Chaudhary, Sohail Abbas, and others of the Inter-Services Intelligence of Pakistan. He was tasked to identify and activate the new 'hawala' channels for the transfer of money to sustain terror activities in the Kashmir Valley," a NIA spokesperson had earlier said.

The NIA had also claimed that its investigation revealed that certain officials of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi were in constant touch with Mir alias Advocate, who was provided with funds to organise seminars in J&K to mobilise the masses against the government of India. Mir allegedly used to receive instructions and money from the Pakistan High Commission, and he facilitated the visa applications of a number of Kashmiris for their Pakistan visits.

Even Davinder Singh was said to be in touch with certain Pakistan High Commission officials through secure social media platforms. Investigation revealed that he was "being groomed by the Pakistani officials for obtaining sensitive information". Singh was posted with the anti-hijacking wing of the Jammu & Kashmir Police in Srinagar, and was part of the security staff that had received a group of foreign diplomats who visited Kashmir.

On June 19, a Delhi court had granted bail to Davinder Singh in a terror case after the Delhi Police failed to file a chargesheet against him and co-accused within the stipulated time. The NIA spokesperson further said that in the illegalities in the LoC trade case, the agency carried out raids at the premises of Peer Arshid Iqbal alias Ashu in Baramulla, who is currently lodged in Kathua jail in Jammu in a narcotics case, Tariq Ahmad Sheikh also a resident of Baramulla and proprietor of Sheikh Brothers and Hamid Brothers, Baramulla, also currently lodged in Baramulla jail in a narcotics case, Bashir Ahmad Sofi, a district level Hurriyat Leader and Abdul Hamid Lone, a resident of Sopore and his Asha Traders.

During searches at their premises, the NIA team recovered several incriminating documents and digital devices.
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Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) United Nations, United States  Tue, September 22, 2020 12:24 487 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c465bbff 2 World UN,UN-General-Assembly,venezuela,Cuba,US Free

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro called Monday for the world to fight against "hegemony" and "imperialist ideas" during the UN General Assembly's virtual summit.

In a pre-recorded speech, Maduro, accused by UN investigators of crimes against humanity, denounced "the world of hegemony, the world of imperialism" and insisted on the need to be "united" in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.

"Venezuela supports a multipolar world, a renewed UN system, a system that knows how to enforce international law and protect the people of the world," he said, condemning US attacks on the World Health Organization, without explicitly naming the country.

"This is not the time to insult, to threaten the WHO, it is now the time to unite in its favor," he said.

"The world defeated fascism 75 years ago. The world will also win against those who seek hegemony, against imperialist ideas, and it will be able to defeat neo-fascism," said the socialist leader, whose legitimacy in office is no longer recognized by more than 50 countries.

Maduro is due Wednesday to deliver another virtual speech before the UN during the annual General Assembly, which he has not physically participated in since 2018.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla also criticized the US. "On this 75th anniversary of the UN, multilateralism and international law are threatened by the largest global power.

"The irresponsible behavior of the United States is the greatest danger to international peace and security," he said.

"It seems that [the US] is at war with the planet... and its inhabitants," Rodriguez Parrilla said, condemning the "economic, commercial and financial blockade" Washington imposed on Cuba.
In a bid at reform, the South African government began rebranding the police department when apartheid came to an end, in 1994. It is now called the South African Police Service

Johannesburg: The deadly encounter between the police and a young man from the projects set off public outrage with all the familiar scenes: shrines of flowers and stuffed animals, clouds of tear gas and barrages of rocks aimed at officers in riot gear, and impassioned slogans.

Say His Name, read one poster.

Coloured Lives Matter, said another.

This police killing occurred not in Minneapolis or Ferguson, Missouri, or Cleveland but in South Africa, where the anger and distrust of law enforcement authorities mirror that in communities across the world, but the geography of racial tension is more complex than white versus Black.

The young man who was shot last month, 16-year-old Nathaniel Julies, was of mixed heritage, or, as it is still known, coloured, a vestige of apartheid-era South Africas racial classification. Two of the three officers arrested in the case are also coloured, and one is Black.

When Julies mother, Bridget Harris, saw first his body, she said, she was shocked by the gunshot wounds.

We couldnt count, she said. Its too many.

Death at the hands of police in South Africa is hardly uncommon  by one estimate, each day a South African dies in a police action. But this particular shooting in Johannesburg unleashed passionate protests that commanded an unusual degree of attention, inside South Africa and out. And the explanation, at least in part, is that this was no ordinary young man who was killed.

Julies was seriously disabled by Down syndrome and barely able to form complete sentences. A familiar figure in his Soweto neighbourhood, Eldorado Park, he was often seen hanging out in local stores in the hope someone might buy him his favourite cookie or on the dance floor with his signature moves. He was known as Lockies, and many in the neighbourhood made a point of looking out for him.

Much remains unknown about what happened the evening he was killed next to a broken-down delivery van within sight of his family home.

Authorities initially tried to suggest that Julies had been shot during an exchange of gunfire between police officers and gang members. But within days of the killing, they charged the three officers.

Two of them, Simon Ndyalvane, a sergeant known in the community as Scorpion, and Caylene Whiteboy, a constable, were said to have been at the scene of shooting, and face charges of murder and obstruction of justice. They are also accused of attempting to discard evidence, said a spokeswoman for the prosecution, Phindi Mjonondwane. The third officer, Detective-Sergeant Foster Netshiongolo, faces charges of accessory to murder and obstruction of justice.

Julies family believes that he may have been shot when the officers tried to question him about something and could not understand why he was unable to answer.

On the evening of 26 August, when he was killed, Julies family had just finished dinner when he slipped out, apparently in search of the chocolate-chip cookies sold at a nearby store. He gave half his meal to the familys dogs so he could finish faster, recalls Harris partner, Clint Smith.

Julies was a frequent visitor to the store.

He was always coming here in the morning, afternoon, evening, standing here, said Mia Ripon, the Bangladeshi immigrant who owns it. Sometimes people would give him one or two rand for that biscuit he liked.

That evening, with a coronavirus curfew approaching, Ripon told Julies to go home. But he never made it.

At around 9 pm, the store owner heard a bang. So did Harris and Smith. Then the cries of disbelief began.

They shot Lockies! neighbours shouted.

The officers are believed to have quickly driven the young man away, dropping him off at a hospital. But no one told the family where he was. When Harris heard that the hospital was treating a gunshot victim, she rushed over and saw a figure covered by a sheet.

Disbelief gripped her when she recognised the sandals protruding out.

I was screaming the whole hospital down, she said. How can it be Nathaniel out of everybody? I saw the sandals, but I still felt, no, its not my baby.

In many parts of the United States and elsewhere, the Black Lives Matter movement has spurred fresh scrutiny of race relations, as protesters demand an end to what they see as pervasive police brutality, usually dispensed by white officers against people of colour.

In South Africa, too, citizens have long denounced police brutality. Under cover of the pandemic lockdowns, critics say, some officers are acting with still more impunity.

But the narrative here is more tangled.

In South Africa, a majority-Black police force is accused of abusing a majority-Black citizenry. The police station at the centre of Julies case, for example, is staffed overwhelmingly by Black and coloured police officers. But it has been the subject of over 80 complaints of brutality from 2012 to 2019, 10 of them involving fatalities, according to Viewfinder, an investigative journalism project that collects data on police killings.

South Africans, especially those old enough to remember the apartheid days, when the country was ruthlessly ruled by a white government, may never look kindly at the police.

Police departments were once an extension of the apartheid state, enforcing its rules, assassinating political leaders and encouraging violence to keep townships destabilised. For non-White South Africans, the police was a source of terror, not protection. And Black police officers were seen as traitors.

Apartheid excelled at pitting one group against another, and the legacy of that is still playing out today in communities like the predominantly coloured one Julies lived in.

Under segregationist rule, coloured people enjoyed advantages, however meagre, over Black people, like slightly better education for their children and housing with plumbing in some areas. They were not considered Black under the apartheid regime, and many still reject being identified as Black today, embracing being coloured as a culture and an identity.

Government-mandated segregation may be gone, but communities like Eldorado Park remain largely the same in makeup.

The police has made efforts to move on from the brutality of the apartheid era. In a bid at reform, the South African government began rebranding the department when apartheid came to an end, in 1994. It is now called the South African Police Service, with the word Service added.

But critics say this has not changed the culture of the police force. The new generation of officers are regarded with suspicion amid allegations of rampant corruption. And police killings remain so common that it is rare when a death gets people to the streets. But earlier this year, demonstrations broke out after police and soldiers were accused of killing another man during the pandemic lockdown.

I think the South African State, and South African society, are really at a watershed moment this year in the response and reckoning to the impunity, violence and brutality in the police service, said Daneel Knoetze, who heads Viewfinder, the journalism project that tracks police killings.

Authorities have pledged that there will be justice in the killing of Julies.

We will spare nobody, said the police minister, Bheki Cele, who in 2009, rebutted reports that he had encouraged a so-called shoot-to-kill policy. Whoever has committed a crime will have to face the law.

When community members marched to demand answers over Julies death, police moved aggressively to disperse them. Protesters then barricaded streets and burned tyres.

President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed distress at television images of the violence beamed across the country, describing Eldorado Park as a community that deserves better. But he included a reprimand.

While communities have a right to express dissent, anger should not spill over into action that could worsen the trauma already experienced by citizens, Ramaphosa said. Justice can only prevail if community workers work with our criminal justice system to address alleged injustice or abuse.

Since the shooting, there has been a steady stream of visitors to the freshly painted, four-room, apartheid-era home where Harris is raising her seven remaining children.

I feel like Im living it all over again, Harris said.

She and Smith wear T-shirts with Julies face on it. His visage also beams down at them from a large portrait donated by demonstrators.

Community members have turned out for the accused officers court appearances. One recent day, spectators called out to Whiteboy, who is coloured, urging her to turn against her fellow officers.

Turn State witness, girl, said one.

Speak up, well support you, shouted another.

But many are sceptical that they will ever see justice  in this case, or in their daily lives.

They are supposed to be protecting us, but they are killing us, said Leonie Nero, a mother of two who lives near Julies home. They are targeting innocent children. Where should our children play?

Lynsey Chutel c.2020 The New York Times Company
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburgs life embodies the best of America. Her experiences of being a first-generation American, a religious minority, and a woman who overcame discrimination informed her jurisprudence.

The grandchild of Jewish immigrants from Russia, Ginsburg understood how fear of violent pogroms caused her family to leave their home, along with hundreds of thousands of Jews who immigrated to the United States in the early 20th century. She also appreciated the hope for a better life America offers its constant stream of newcomers.

Despite the discrimination she faced, America was a stark contrast with Russia where her grandfather was prohibited from attending school and working in certain occupations because he was Jewish.

Our celebration of the legacy of the first Jewish American woman to serve on the US Supreme Court, thus, speaks volumes about Americas potential for progress.

But Ginsburg knew her success was more an exception than the rule. Her life experiences constantly reminded her that the gulf between America, the ideal, and America, the reality, was wide. During her Senate confirmation hearing in 1993, Ginsburg candidly stated, I am alert to discrimination. I grew up during World War II in a Jewish family. I have memories as a child, even before the war, of being in a car with my parents and passing a place in [Pennsylvania], a resort with a sign out in front that read: No dogs or Jews allowed.

For too many African Americans, Jews, and women of Ginsburgs generation, legal exclusion from certain educational institutions, neighbourhoods and professions was a daily reminder there were two Americas. One for the insiders, and another for outsiders. This reality influenced how she practised her profession.

In a 2018 interview, Ginsburg admitted that the sense of being an outsider  of being one of the people who had suffered oppression for no . . . no sensible reason . . . its the sense of being part of a minority. It makes you more empathetic to other people who are not insiders, who are outsiders.

Coupled with her Jewish upbringing that instilled in her a firm belief in the fight for justice, Ginsburgs outsider status among the first cohort of female students at Harvard Law School and few female law professors nationwide in the 1960s reminded her daily how law perpetuated societal discrimination. Accordingly, she committed her lifes work to dismantling the legal structures that systematically denied women and minorities opportunity and agency.

It should come as no surprise that Ginsburgs work has inspired a generation of people who experience outsider status in the US, including Muslims. For the past 20 years, overt anti-Muslim racism has been rampant. Ranging from protests calling on Muslims to get out and go home to state legislation seeking to deny Muslims the right to practice their religion as part of an anti-Shariah national campaign, Muslims have been as openly condemned as Jews were a century ago.

When the Supreme Court in the case of Hawaii v Trump upheld President Donald Trumps executive order imposing a ban on Muslim immigration, Ginsburg joined Justice Sonia Sotomayor in issuing a scathing dissent.

The two called out the majority for ignoring the facts, misconstruing our legal precedent, and turning a blind eye to the pain and suffering the Proclamation inflicts upon countless families and individuals, many of whom are United States citizens. They boldly compared the upholding of the Muslim ban to the courts shameful 1944 ruling in the Korematsu v United States case which upheld the internment of Japanese Americans and immigrants under the pretext of national security during World War II.

Ginsburg knew all too well the grave dangers of a candidate for president calling for a total and complete shutdown of an entire religious group. In a July 2016 interview with the New York Times, she said: I cant imagine what this place would be  I cant imagine what the country would be  with Donald Trump as our president. As America experiences historic levels of political strife and polarisation  due in large part to Trumps divisive rhetoric and policies  Ginsburgs concerns have proven prescient.

While her life and legacy remind us of Americas tremendous potential for justice and equality, the political fight over her replacement is an ominous warning of the fragility of the American project. Heightened political polarisation, toxic masculinity, and the resurgence of white nationalism threatens the values for which Ginsburg stood  the rule of law, equality, and opportunity.

As we mourn her death and honour her legacy, let us remember her words of wisdom before the Senate 24 years ago, What has become of me could happen only in America. Like so many others, I owe so much to the entry this Nation afforded to people yearning to breathe free.

It is now our turn to act on the courage of our convictions to continue the work she began.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance.
Treasury yields dropped on Monday due to signs that the COVID-19 pandemic is getting worse, driving investors into safe assets.

The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note dropped three basis points to 0.6601 percent while the yield on the 30-year Treasury bond fell about five basis points to 1.4026 percent.

The Treasury yields fell as the stocks also dropped for the fourth straight day. Head of U.S. rates, Ian Lyngen, said that concerns with the rising COVID-19 positive cases in Europe and the risk of another lockdown in London have contributed to the investors' worries.

They were worried over reports that the U.K. leader is considering another nationwide lockdown to stop the spread of COVID-19.

COVID-19 positive cases in the U.K. have started to rise daily, with 4,000 new cases recorded on Sept. 20. Thus the plan to put the public under a stricter measure.

Lyngen added that the drop of Treasury yields is a reminder that recovering from the impact of the economic fallout as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic will be long, hard, and fraught with hazards.

Fixed income director at the Bryn Mawr Trust in Berwyn, Pennsylvania, Jim Barnes, said that treasuries' attention seems to be on the stock market.

He added that it is not just today's stocks weakness, but it is in the weakness that we have seen in the past few days that is finally catching up to the bond investors.

Aside from the possibility of another nationwide lockdown in the U.K., the drop in Treasury yields is also attributed to political issues, such as the uncertainty of the Nov. 3 general election as well as the Republicans and Democrats failing to reach a deal to pass another COVID-19 stimulus package.

President Donald Trump and Democrat presidential candidate Joe Biden are on the final stretch of their campaign, and while Biden is leading in the national polls, Trump is not far behind as he is successfully luring Latinos to his side.

The Republicans and Democrats' continued standoff in passing another COVID-19 relief aid is also affecting the Treasury yields. And it looks like one will not pass until after the election.

The stimulus checks were supposed to give Americans spending money to mitigate the pandemic's effects on the economy. And while no end can yet be seen on a second stimulus package, it looks like it will further be delayed by the passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg.

This because Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell want to fill the seat left by Ginsburg immediately.

The Democrats, however, are arguing who to put in the high court position, which is a life-time appointment, should be made by whoever wins on Nov. 3.

Despite the drop, the Treasury yields recovered from their worst day levels as a sell-off in equity markets continued from the prior week.

Check these out:

Trump to Announce His Supreme Court Pick This Weekend

United Airlines, Unions Urge Congress to Continue COVID-19 Relief Aid

Barbara Lagoa, Miami-Born Woman Judge, Being Considered by Trump for the Supreme Court
- With Vymo's Partner Relation Management platform, the AIA leadership team is able to closely monitor partner business health in real-time and optimize engagement activities.

SINGAPORE, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Vymo ( www.getvymo.com ), the Distribution Excellence Cloud for Financial Services, announced that it has partnered with AIA Thailand to improve sales productivity and effectiveness of their partner channels in Thailand to increase engagement and improve business. With Vymo, AIA Thailand's Business Development team will have daily end-to-end visibility and understanding of key business metrics and partner health.

AIA Thailand is the largest insurance company in terms of market share1, approximately 1 out every 3 life insurance policies in Thailand is written by AIA2. With Vymo's intelligent Partner Relationship Management platform, AIA Thailand will be able to monitor how sales activities are impacting revenue outcomes and improve the quality of partner engagement. Over 300+ Relationship Managers Business Development Executives across Thailand will be using Vymo to engage with their partner distribution networks.

Speaking on the partnership, Darren Thomson, Chief Strategy & Business Development Officer - AIA Thailand, says, "Vymo was able to prove, through other interactions with AIA and testimonials to the like, that the company is physically and morally capable of doing an efficient job."

"We are thrilled to partner with AIA in Thailand and are committed to set new benchmarks of sales productivity in the region. Our partnership with the largest insurer of Thailand further validates our efforts to provide the best sales solutions to our customers," adds Anurag Srivastava, GM - Asia Pacific & Japan.

Vymo has witnessed rapid growth across the Asia-Pacific region. In India, Tata AIA Life Insurance Company Limited (Tata AIA Life) is a joint venture by Tata Sons Ltd. and AIA Group Ltd. (AIA), deployed Vymo in 2019 to improve partner network health and brand coverage. Vymo helps sales managers to optimize the top of the funnel by allocating the leads to the most appropriate agent and nudge timely engagements to improve conversions per agent and reduce customer turnaround times.

Remarks:

1. Information based on Insurance Statistics, March 2020, by the Thai Life Assurance Association.

2. Information based on a report by the Thai Life Assurance Association, Annual Statistics 2018.

About AIA Group

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(1), Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan (China), Vietnam, Brunei, Macau SAR(2), New Zealand, a 99 percent subsidiary in Sri Lanka, and a 49 percent joint venture in India.

About Vymo

Vymo ( getvymo.com ) is the distribution excellence cloud for financial services, trusted by over 100,000 salespeople across 60+ financial enterprises across the world. Global leaders such as AIA, AXA, Sunlife, Generali, Allianz, and more trust Vymo to improve sales and distribution efficiencies. Vymo is recognized by Gartner as a Cool Vendor and is funded by Emergence Capital and Sequoia Capital.

Related Links

Vymo for Bancassurance - https://getvymo.com/partner-management/

Watch Vymo in action - https://youtu.be/DOFdcK8cUxw

Upcoming events & webinars - https://getvymo.com/whats-happening/

Logo - https://goo.gl/i6sEpi

For more information:

Gunjan Saha

gunjan@getvymo.com

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1278065/K_Darren_with_AIA_logo.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1026997/Vymo_Logo.jpg
Police officers control access to downtown Louisville, Kentucky on September 22, 2020 in anticipation of the results of a grand jury inquiry into the death of Breonna Taylor, a black woman shot by a Louisville Metro Police Department member earlier this year. - Turner, whose family says was mentally ill, died in a scuffle with Juan Delacruz on May 13, 2019, as he sought to arrest her on minor charges.A bystander video shows the two struggling as he tried to handcuff her and she shouted that he was harassing her.He tried to use his stun gun on her, and she apparently tried to grab it, shouting that she was pregnant. Then, with Delacruz out of the view of the video, five shots are heard.After she died, Delacruz, who claimed self-defense, was only placed on administrative leave -- but only for a week. Police said she was not pregnant at the time of death. (Jeff Dean/Getty Images)
According to Genetworx, the new saliva PCR test (polymerase chain reaction) has an accuracy rate greater than 98 percent with results delivered to patients within 48 hours from receipt of sample. The GENETWORx saliva test is a convenient alternative to nasopharyngeal testing for patients because the collection method is easier while still yielding highly accurate results. It is particularly convenient for school districts as children find it less invasive. The saliva test further enhances the TCA/GENETWORx testing platform making it the most comprehensive testing solution currently available for government, businesses, nursing homes, colleges and others to conduct repeat testing programs as they strive to return to work and school.

"With over 6 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States, repeated or sequential testing with highly accurate diagnostic tests is the only way to identify, control, and track this virus," said Brian O'Neill, Chairman of TCA/Genetworx.

"Everything we do makes testing easier for the patient, school, employer and government," he said. "For example, our software enables testing centers to reduce lines from hours to seconds, our app enables customers to receive results in less than 48 hours, and our symptom tracking software enables customers to identify and detect the COVID-19 virus early. Our platform technology makes it easy for businesses to operate an ongoing testing program to keep employees, students and patients safe during the pandemic."

In partnership with Nucleus, TCA/GENETWORx created the sequential testing and sample management software platform called Aura. By having all patients download the Aura app, TCA/GENETWORx provides organizations, including healthcare providers, universities, government, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, and other large population organizations a total end to end digital management and medical data system for conducting a sequential testing program. The software benefits all individuals in these organizations by making it easier to get tested in regular repeated intervals in order to prevent the spread of the virus. Aura has reduced wait times at COVID-19 testing centers from six hours to as little as 90 seconds.

The Aura platform provides user-friendly assistance with all facets needed for a comprehensive sequential testing program so organizations can keep workers, patients, and students safe during the pandemic. Aura assists users with finding and scheduling testing including sending reminders, symptom tracking, identification of compliance using QR bar codes, and contact tracing assistance. Aura also expedites laboratory sample turnaround times, reduces laboratory process time, and allows for dashboard compliance reporting and government reporting.

O'Neill further explained that TCA/GENETWORx is building a laboratory capable of conducting hundreds of thousands of tests every day to serve U.S. customers. To meet the demands of the pandemic, one of the fastest results-reporting platforms in the world, designed by the company, allows patients to access test results in GENETWORx's portal immediately after test results are read within 48 hours from the sample being taken. Patients can also opt to receive results by phone or text.

The new GENETWORX saliva test includes a saliva-collecting funnel with stabilizing liquid. The person taking the test will spit into the funnel. After shaking the capped tube for 5 seconds, the specimen is put into the biohazard bag, then into a shipping box with the return pack.

Genetworx also provides pharmacogenomic DNA genotyping to help provide patients with the right medications, at the right dose, and lower overall healthcare expenditures while delivering the best health outcome. The company is a fully integrated CAP/CLIA certified high complexity molecular diagnostic laboratory.

In 2017, the company was purchased by the national substance use disorder treatment network, Recovery Centers of America. Recovery Centers of America operates eight evidence-based addiction treatment facilities in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, and Illinois and is expanding to Indianapolis and Pittsburgh to meet the growing need for substance use disorder services.

Please visit Genetworx.com for further information or to order testing. To keep up with the latest news about Genetworx, please follow us on Linked In. For media interviews contact: Terri C. Malenfant at [email protected].

SOURCE Genetworx

Related Links

https://genetworx.com


KCR said that it was stated in the Bills that farmers could sell their produce anywhere in the country. But in reality, farmers seldom go to faraway places and it was traders and corporate companies who travel anywhere in the country to buy or sell their goods.  DC photo

TRS president and Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao has asked his party MPs to vote against the farm bills in the Rajya Sabha, saying they would cause great injustice to farmers.

Talking with TRS Parliamentary Party leader Dr. K Keshava Rao over phone on Saturday, the chief minister pointed out that the Bill will cause severe harm to the farming community and was only meant to benefit the corporates.

Emphasising the need to oppose the Bills, KCR explained for the public consumption, it was stated in the Bills that farmers could sell their produce anywhere in the country. But in reality, farmers seldom go to faraway places and it was traders and corporate companies who travel anywhere in the country to buy or sell their goods.

The Bill will throw open flood gates for the Corporate companies and private traders to expand their operations across the country."

He questioned how is it possible for farmers who produce in small quantities, hire lorries to transport their yield to faraway places at a high expense in their attempt to earn profits?

Terming that these Bills are nothing but sugar-coated pills, the Chief Minister asked the MPs that these Bills should be opposed at all costs. Finding fault with the Centres decision to reduce the import tax from 50 per cent to 15 per cent allowing import of one crore tonnes of maize from abroad, KCR questioned the Union of India what will happen to our farmers and their produce if the Centre opens doors for imports.

Stating that the Centre had already procured 70-75 lakh tonnes of maize, he pointed out Whom does the Centre want to benefit at a time when the nation is facing an economic slowdown? We have plenty of maize produced in the country.

He instructed the MPs to oppose and vote against the Bills in Rajya Sabha since they will cause huge losses to the agriculture sector and are against the interests of farmers in the country.
Now, with a smaller on-campus population, university leaders say the school is ready to restart in-person classes Oct. 5. The university has increased the number of quarantine beds for sick students and will limit classroom occupancy to 50 people, according to a message sent to the campus from President Jonathan Alger, as well as Tim Miller, vice president for student affairs, and Heather Coltman, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs.
New Delhi, Sep 23 : Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Tuesday chaired 'Aarogya Manthan' 2.0 to celebrate the second anniversary of Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), which he called a "historic step".

Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) is a Central government scheme to provide free access to healthcare for all people in the country. People using the programme access their own primary care services from a family doctor. When anyone needs additional care, then the scheme provides free secondary health care for those needing specialist treatment and tertiary health care for those requiring hospitalisation.

Part of the National Health Policy, the programme was launched on September 23, 2018 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the National Health Authority was subsequently set up to administer it.

Lauding AB-PMJAY, Harsh Vardhan said: "As the world's largest public-supported health assurance scheme, it provides financial risk protection to over 53 crore Indians from economically and socially disadvantaged backgrounds by assuring them with a health cover of Rs 5 lakh per eligible family per year to avail cashless inpatient secondary and tertiary healthcare." It has provided treatments worth more than Rs 15,500 crore, he said, adding crores of lives have been saved and households helped from getting wiped out due to catastrophic expenditure on health that pushed an estimated six crore families below the poverty line each year.

He also added that in these two years, the scheme has provided free treatment to more than 1.26 crore beneficiaries. Over 23,000 hospitals have been empanelled so far and more than 12.5 crore e-cards have been issued. 57 per cent of the total amount utilised has been for tertiary procedures related to treatment of major illnesses like cancer, cardiac ailments, orthopaedic problems, and neo-natal issues.

Harsh Vardhan said that 45 per cent of the empanelled hospitals are private facilities providing 52 per cent of the overall treatments and raising 61 per cent of the hospital admissions claims amount.

He also outlined the scheme's portability as one of its outstanding feature. "An eligible patient from any state implementing PMJAY can avail of cashless treatment anywhere in India, in any empanelled hospital. Portability has been built into the design of the scheme and enabled 1.3 lakh citizens of the migrant population to avail of care at the nearest hospital." The Health Minister added that PMJAY's capability building approach would go a long way in making Prime Minister's dream of Aatmanirbhar Bharat a reality.

On the way ahead, he said: "The focus this year will be on expanding the reach of the PMJAY network and services to other left-out population groups such as manual scavengers, road traffic victims, truck drivers, among others through convergence with other Central health schemes." "Along with the recently launched National Digital Health Mission, which will build the necessary digital health ecosystem to enable enhanced access to safe, timely, quality and affordable healthcare for 1.3 billion Indians, Ayushman Bharat will become a pillar of the country's healthcare system." Delhi-based public experts also welcomed the achievements. Dr Shuchin Bajaj, Founder-Director of Ujala Cygnus Group of Hospitals, said: "Ayushman Bharat is truly a game-changer in the way it has brought about access to healthcare to the most deprived communities." "Unfortunately, 6 million people in India are still below the poverty line every year just because of the healthcare costs. For such people, Ayushman Bharat has played a great role in ensuring that this kind of abject poverty doesn't occur in communities." Kamal Narayan, CEO of IHW Council, also said that the scheme lifted crores of people out of poverty caused by the burden of medical expenses, brought them under the safety net of health insurance and freed them from the crowded public hospitals.

"In this time of Covid, more beneficiaries chose private hospitals over government ones during lockdown is a testimony to the fact that people were looking for measures that ensure quality treatment at affordable price in private hospitals. Ayushman Bharat has saved lakhs of lives from people belonging to the weaker section of the society not only by providing free treatment, but also through attending to their queries, addressing a long-standing gap," he said.
Chinese officials have confirmed a huge drop in birth rates in Xinjiang, following accusations that authorities in the remote western province are subjecting Muslim Uighur women to forced sterilisations.

In a six-page letter to CNN, the Xinjiang government denied such procedures were forced and instead claimed all measures were voluntary, but confirmed the number of births in the region plummeted by a third between 2017 and 2018.

The response came a month after the US news network published a report about an alleged campaign of abuse against the Uighur community, which included claims of forced sterilisation and use of intrauterine devices (IUDs) in order to suppress the birth rate.

The report cited figures published by Adrian Zenz, a senior fellow at the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, who cited official Chinese documents showing the number of sterilisations in the region had surged from 50 people per 100,000 in 2016, to 250 per 100,000 in 2018  a fivefold increase.

Mr Zens said the alleged practice could fall foul of Article 2 of the United Nations convention against genocide, which includes imposing measures intended to prevent births within a religious group.

But the Xinjiang government strongly denied the accusations, insisting the Uighur population had been growing steadily in recent years. Official figures show Xinjiangs population growing by more than 3 million people between 2010 and 2018.

The rights and interests of [Uighur] and other ethnic minorities have been fully protected, the government said. The so-called genocide is pure nonsense.

However officials did not deny that the birth rate in the region dropped from almost 16 people per 1,000 in 2017, to less than 11 per 1,000 in 2018. They said it was because of the comprehensive implementation of the family planning policy.

In 2016 China implemented its two-child policy, which limited couples  including Uighurs  to having two children, though Uighurs in rural communities could have up to three.

In 2018, the number of newborns decreased by approximately 120,000 compared with 2017, of which about 80,000 were because of better implementation of family planning policy in accordance with law, according to estimates by the health and statistics department, the response to CNN read.

China has long been accused of grave human rights abuses against its minority Uighur population. About one million are thought to have been detained in what the Chinese government calls re-education camps.

These mass detention practices have acted both as a threat and punishment for failure to comply to the alleged population control measures, according to the Associated Press (AP).

Having too many children is a major reason people are sent to detention camps, the AP found, with the parents of three or more ripped away from their families unless they can pay huge fines.
By Express News Service

BENGALURU: On the first day of the legislative session that started from Monday, the Council witnessed a heated exchange between Congress legislators and the BJP members after Health Minister B Sriramulu sought a weeks time to respond to a question on measures taken to fight the pandemic.While Sriramulu and Floor Leader in the Council Kota Srinivas Poojary maintained that the opposition members have sought details about each taluk and they need time to get those details, Opposition Leader S R Patil questioned why so much time is required when the same issue has been discussed since the last six months.

Poojary managed to convince the Opposition to give more time to the health minister after assuring them of providing a convincing response by this weekend. However, the House again witnessed arguments between the two sides after Sriramulu responded to a question on procurement of equipment. We have followed all the guidelines issued by the Centre while purchasing equipment, he said, while responding to Congress MLC M Narayanaswamys question seeking details about the purchases.

He said, in the initial phase after the first Covid death was reported in Kalaburagi, there was a huge demand for equipment, but there were hardly any suppliers. The state government had to procure equipment from authorised firms in many other states and even countries, including China, to overcome the shortage. Ruling out any irregularities in the purchase of PPE kits, ventilators, masks and other equipment, the minister said, a number of committees looked into different aspects of the purchases.

Not satisfied by the ministers response, Narayanaswamy questioned why the cost of ventilators purchased by the state government was so high, ranging from Rs 5.60 lakh to over Rs 18 lakh, while the Central government procured them at Rs 4 lakh. He said a former BJP MLA has filed a complaint with Lokayukta stating that 15 ventilators supplied by a firm were broken, tampered with and were used for five years. As other Congress MLCs joined him in taking on the government, it led to a verbal volley of words between the ruling and Opposition members.Defending the government, Poojary and Medical Education Minister Dr K Sudhakar said they are ready for a debate whenever it is taken up.
Chief (Investigations Services Field Operations Section), Budapest

Organization: UNICEF - United Nations Childrens Fund

Country: Hungary

City: Budapest, Hungary

Office: UNICEF GSSC Budapest

Grade: P-5

Closing date: Thursday, 15 October 2020

Chief (Investigations Services Field Operations Section), P5 (Outpost in Budapest) Office of Internal Audit & Investigations #111344

Job no: 534218

Position type: Fixed Term Appointment

Location: Hungary Division/Equivalent: Operations

School/Unit: Office of Internal Audit & Investigation

Department/Office: Internal Audit & Investigation

Categories: P-5, Internal Audit Management

UNICEF works in 190 countries and territories to protect the rights of every child. UNICEF has spent 70 years working to improve the lives of children and their families. Defending childrens rights throughout their lives requires a global presence, aiming to produce results and understand their effects. UNICEF believes all children have a right to survive, thrive and fulfill their potential to the benefit of a better world. For every child, a future

The Office of Internal Audit and Investigations (OIAI) is an independent office reporting to UNICEFs Executive Director and the Executive Board. The Investigations Service investigates reports of possible violations of rules or regulations, mismanagement, misconduct, waste of resources or abuse of authority. The position is located in Budapest.

How can you make a difference? Within delegated authority and under the supervision of the Head of Investigations, the incumbent will serve as the Chief of Field Operations Section of OIAIs Investigations Service and be responsible for leading, supervising and managing his/her Section comprised of investigators and other professionals and supervises the work of all team members, including developing, monitoring and evaluating all work assignments. Overall, providing support to the day to day operational and specialized activities to enhance the smooth running of their supervisors day-to day actions, as well as his/her Service.

The incumbent:

Leads, supervises and manages the Field Operations Section of OIAIs Investigations Service comprised of investigators and other professionals and supervises the work of all team members, including developing, monitoring and evaluating all work assignments;

Plan, organize, conduct, supervise and manage investigations of the most serious and complex cases in the fields of corruption and fraud, as well as of alleged misconduct, malfeasance, mismanagement, waste of resources, or alleged violations of United Nations Regulations and Rules and pertinent administrative issuances, including cases of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) and Sexual Harassment. This includes adducing evidence, obtaining and reviewing pertinent documentation, conducting interviews and taking statements, analysing facts and determining findings and ensuring that all investigations are conducted professionally and efficiently;

Ensure that investigations are carried out in a timely fashion, pursuant to internationally accepted best practices and coordinated within the work of OIAIs Investigations Service and with other organizations of the United Nations system, as appropriate, and develop, implement, monitor and evaluate assigned investigations;

Ensure the preparation of investigation reports of the highest quality, together with findings and recommendations for related disciplinary and jurisdictional actions, as well as evidence, materials and analysis to support such actions;

Assign tasks to investigation team members to assist in carrying out the assignments;

Create and maintain an up to date and complete case activity list of the active and open investigations for priority setting and overall case management by the Head of Investigations;

Respond to requests for information, assistance and advice from offices and departments outside the Service;

Has responsibility for the management and handling of evidentiary material, including locating and liaising with investigative authorities of other international organizations, national authorities and forensic institutions;

Tags administrative law audit management criminal investigation internal audit

Liaise and coordinate between the Service and the relevant UNICEF and United Nations legal offices aA the Policy, Administrative Law Section and the Office of Legal Advisor, as necessary and under the direction of the Head of Investigations Section;

Carry out responsibilities for ensuring the legal sufficiency of the planning and reporting documents of the Service, including matters concerning peer reviews;

Liaise with other Offices and Departments staff and management, both at Headquarters in New York and at field locations worldwide, in discussing the work of the Office;

Supports efforts to develop data analytical tools and other mechanisms to both improve investigative and audit activities as well as develop strategies and mechanisms to identify and mitigate risk across UNICEFs operations

Provide advice and expertise on investigatory matters;

Oversee administrative tasks as appropriate in the duty station;

Qualification of Successful Candidate

Advanced university degree (Masters degree or equivalent) in law, criminal investigation, or related field. A first-level degree (Bachelors or equivalent) in the specified fields with two additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

A minimum of ten years of relevant experience in legal activities and/or investigation related functions. Experience with an international or multilateral public institution in desirable. Experience with international investigation activities is an asset.

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills Solid organizational skills.

Fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of French, Spanish or Arabic is an advantage. Knowledge of another UN language is considered as an asset.

Competencies of Successful Candidate

Core values: Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability

Core competencies: Communication, Drive for Results and Working with People.

Functional Competencies: Leading & Supervising, Analyzing, Applying Technical Expertise, Formulating Strategies and Concepts

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

NOTE: This post is based in Budapest with travel to UNICEF locations, often in difficult duty stations.

Advertised: Sep 15 2020 Central Europe Daylight Time Application close: Oct 15 2020 Central Europe Daylight Time
Demonstrates how the new Fields of Research classifications will perform in structuring the research on Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, Maori and Pacific Peoples for assessment

LONDON, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Clarivate Plc (NYSE: CCC), a global leader in providing trusted information and insights to accelerate the pace of innovation, has released a regional landscape report highlighting the current trends in indigenous research across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Region. The report looks at the academics, affiliate institutions and regions that are contributing largely to indigenous research and identifies which journals publish this research. It also evaluates how the new Australian and New Zealand Fields of Research (FoR) classifications will perform in structuring indigenous research for assessment.

The report is based on data from the Web of Science Core Collection, the flagship collection in the world's largest publisher-neutral global citation database.

Key findings of the report include:

Just over 1% of research produced by authors in the region is directly related to indigenous research.

Indigenous research has a significantly lower citation impact than global or regional baselines. Indigenous research has a Category Normalized Citation Impact 1 (CNCI) of 0.65 when the baseline CNCI for all Australian and New Zealand research is more than twice that. (2010 - 2019).

(CNCI) of 0.65 when the baseline CNCI for all Australian and research is more than twice that. (2010 - 2019). New Zealand has produced a larger number of research outputs in indigenous research than any individual Australian state. This may be as a result of New Zealand's larger Maori population than the indigenous population size of Aboriginal Australia. However, when looking at the proportion of high impact research, New Zealand's research on indigenous populations performs less well than the research produced by any individual Australian state.

has produced a larger number of research outputs in indigenous research than any individual Australian state. This may be as a result of larger Maori population than the indigenous population size of Aboriginal Australia. However, when looking at the proportion of high impact research, research on indigenous populations performs less well than the research produced by any individual Australian state. The Universities of Auckland , Sydney and Otago have produced the largest libraries of research by volume and have received more citations for their publications than any other organizations. With regard to the bibliometric impact, the University of Waikato, Griffith University , James Cook University and Monash University have the most impactful research.

, and Otago have produced the largest libraries of research by volume and have received more citations for their publications than any other organizations. With regard to the bibliometric impact, the University of Waikato, , James Cook University and Monash University have the most impactful research. Under the new Australian and New Zealand Fields of Research (FoR) classifications, the areas of indigenous research most frequently published are Health and Wellbeing, Society and Community and Culture Language and History.

Mukhtar Ahmed, President, Science Group, Clarivate said: "Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific region covers a third of the earth's surface and is home to over 1200 languages. We are proud to provide our insights on indigenous research on this diverse region and help the research community better understand and measure its research and innovation efforts. We will continue to work proactively with the research network in this region to drive world-class research and innovation."

Download the full report entitled 'The State of Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, Maori and Pacific Peoples Research'

About Clarivate

Clarivate is a global leader in providing trusted information and insights to accelerate the pace of innovation. We offer subscription and technology-based solutions coupled with deep domain expertise that cover the entire lifecycle of innovation - from foundational research and ideas to protection and commercialization. Today, we're setting a trail-blazing course to help customers turn bold ideas into life-changing inventions. Our portfolio consists of some of the world's most trusted information brands, including the Web of Science, Cortellis, Derwent, CompuMark, MarkMonitor and Techstreet. For more information, please visit?clarivate.com.

Media Contacts

Jack Wan, Director of External Communications, APAC

media.enquiries@clarivate.com

1 The Category Normalized Citation Impact of a document is calculated by dividing the actual count of citing items by the expected citation rate for documents with the same document type, year of publication and subject area.
BENZIE COUNTY -- Grow Benzie will be hosting an event to help students navigate the process of filing for student aid.

The event will be held from noon to 8 p.m. on Oct. 1 at Grow Benzie, to coincide it the opening of Free Application for Federal Student Aid for the 2021 school year. Health precautions will be observed, and those attending in person will be required to wear a mask. There will be representatives from Northwester Michigan College and Ferris State.
Tuolumne County Government Building View Photo

Sonora, CA  Some of the discussion at todays special Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors budget meeting was about the library and fire services.

The supervisors voted 4-1 to approve a final budget for the fiscal year that will run through the end of June. The total budget of $204-million is a $7.8-million decline from last years budget. The General Fund budget, however, which the county as the most discretion over, is up by $1.8-million to $82.9-million.

The report delivered by CAO Tracie Riggs and Assistant CAO Eric Erhardt noted that the increase is partially due to $4.3 million in one time Federal Cares Act money and $1.8 million in California Climate Investment dollars. (The CARES Act money is set to expire at the end of the year)

A late decision was to set aside $250,000 in contingency money as the county is planning to have discussions with the Groveland Community Services District about taking over its Amador Plan fire contract. GCSD has expressed concern about fully funding its fire services in the years ahead, the county leaders indicated that service demand could increase with more businesses, and lodging, being built on the Highway 120 corridor. Supervisor John Gray, who represents the south county, was adamant about moving the talks with GCSD forward, and the other board members agreed.

Supervisor Ryan Campbell was the lone no vote on the budget, and indicated it was because of cuts to library services. The main Sonora Library and the Groveland branch are scheduled to reopen in October and the Tuolumne branch in November. The Twain Harte branch and the bookmobile are not funded in the budget, but the county agreed to reassess those services later in the year. As it stands, the library staffing will drop from 9.5 full-time equivalent positions last budget year, to 5.5 this year, and that will result in layoffs. Assistant CAO Erhardt noted that as part of a reorganization of the Recreation Department, some of those staff members may also help at the library during off-times. Supervisor Campbell said he was skeptical that the library could still successfully operate at the reduced level, and indicated a desire to see more staffing.

As part of the budget, the supervisors also agreed to temporarily freeze, with plans to fill at a later time, 15 currently unfilled positions in the Sheriffs Office, Probation Department, Health and Human Services Department and Community Development Department.

You can find the entire budget by clicking here.
In this article TSLA

Tesla CEO Elon Musk offered new delivery predictions for 2020 at the company's shareholder's meeting on Tuesday, where the company also detailed a new battery design that it claims will make its cars cheaper to produce. Musk said he expects vehicle deliveries to increase by 30 to 40 percent over last year, when the company reported deliveries of 367,500 vehicles. The new guidance from Musk implies deliveries of between 477,750 and 514,500 cars, a range that encompasses the company's previously stated goal to deliver half a million cars in 2020. "In 2019, we had 50% growth. And I think we'll do really pretty well in 2020, probably somewhere between 30 to 40 percent growth, despite a lot of very difficult circumstances." Musk also said the battery and manufacturing advances Tesla is working on will soon lead to lower prices, which will be vital for getting more electric vehicles on the road. "About 3 years from now, we're confident we can make a very compelling $25,000 electric vehicle that's also fully autonomous," he claimed. Musk is notorious, however, for being overly optimistic with his predictions. In response to one shareholder's follow-up question about lowering pricing, Musk acknowledged, "It's not like Tesla's profitability is crazy high. Our average profitability for the last four quarters was maybe 1%. It's not like we're minting money. Our valuation makes it seem like we are, but we're not."

He continued, "We do want to make the price as competitive as we can without losing money. If you keep losing money, you'll die." The company's shares dropped as much as 7% during the presentation, which took place after normal trading hours, and remained lower on Wednesday morning.

Battery improvements promised

During the "battery day" portion of the presentation, Tesla confirmed that it has designed and is producing its own battery cells at a facility in Fremont, as part of its quest to make its cars affordable to a mainstream buyer. In general, the batteries of a Tesla -- which contain thousands of cells -- are the most expensive part of the car. Tesla's senior vice president of powertrain and energy engineering, Drew Baglino, described how the company's new cells, dubbed "4680," are larger and simpler to make than the "2170" cylindrical battery cells it purchases from Panasonic and other suppliers today. A Tesla battery pack would require fewer cells with the new shape and design. Baglino said the larger cells, along with other manufacturing and design changes underway at Tesla, would eventually improve the range of its cars by more than 50%.

Near-term, Tesla says it aims to produce 10 gigawatt hours worth of the new battery cells at its pilot plant within a year. Musk noted that whatever cells it produces in Fremont would be supplemental to 100 gigawatt hours worth of cells it buys from suppliers, and said "To be clear, it will take about a year to reach the 10 gigawatt hour capacity." With its new cells, Tesla is also seeking to reduce or completely avoid the use of some expensive materials used in lithium-ion battery production today, including cobalt. Associate Professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, Costa Samaras, said: "If Tesla can make a cheap, reliable battery with little or no cobalt, it will really improve the ability of EVs to scale up. Most cobalt is from the Democratic Republic of Congo and the mining has long generated human rights and child labor concerns." On Monday, Musk warned that the advances announced at battery day won't find their way into mass production until 2021, sending the company's stock down about 6% ahead of the event on Tuesday. Due partly to Covid-19 health orders that limit the size of in-person gatherings, Tesla postponed its annual meeting from July this year to Sept. 22, 2020. The company previously held its shareholder meetings at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California but moved the event to the parking lot of its U.S. vehicle assembly plant in Fremont. Shareholders parked and sat in their cars at the meeting, which Musk characterized as a "drive-in." They honked in lieu of applause.

Al Prescott, Tesla's VP of legal, at the company's socially distanced 2020 shareholders meeting, as attendees listen in their cars.
Chief minister Bhupesh Baghel has written to civil aviation minister Hardeep Puri urging him to help connect Bilaspur to Delhi-Mumbai-Kolkata air route.

Bilaspur is a major hub of trade and commerce in the northern region of Chhattisgarh and also connects the northern districts of the state, said CM Baghel in his letter to the Central minister.

Citing the importance of Bilaspur city, the CM stated that South Eastern Coal Field Limited Headquarters, South East Central Railway Zonal Headquarters, and Raipur Railway Division are situated in Bilaspur.

The city is one of the important centers of power production in the country. The NTPC in Seepat and many Power Production Plants in Korba and Janjgir-Champa are also situated close to this city. Besides, there are many industrial areas near Bilaspur, which make an important contribution to the economy of the state. If Bilaspur is connected to metro cities such as Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata via air services, the regional air connectivity would improve and it would also boost the nations economy, trade, commerce, tourism, and health sectors and promote socio-economic activities, the letter stated.

On Monday, CM Baghel launched flight services from Maa Danteshwari airport in Jagdalpur under the Centres UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik) scheme.

Alliance Air will operate services to Raipur, some 300 kilometers away, and Hyderabad from the Danteshwari airport, which is named after the famous Goddess Danteshwari temple in Dantewada in tribal-dominated Bastar division.

The Maa Danteshwari airport in Jagdalpur has been set up on an area of 57.6 hectares, with the state Public Works Department having developed the infrastructure and AAI managing the Air Traffic Control.

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There is a verse in the Quran which says that the evildoers plot, but God plots best.

This is one meaning of providential in Christian theology. It is also the meaning or subtext of God plotting or directing, for example, in the Old Testament story of Moses leading his people, the Israelites, to escape from the tyranny of the Pharaoh into freedom.

Similar ideas can be found in other sacred texts. One of the most famous illustrations of God as the supreme and most powerful plotter or schemer in undoing evil is in the Hindu scripture, the Bhagavad Gita. In this sacred text, which is a part of the saga narrated in one of Indias greatest Sanskrit epics the Mahabharata, Lord Krishna, as the avatar of Brahman or Lord of the Universe and disguised as a charioteer, directs the good Prince Arjuna on the battlefield against his enemies to victory.

The idea of Providence in history is the involvement of God in human affairs. God, in other words, is not neutral in the conflict between good and evil.

Nothing better illustrates in modern history the war between good and evil and the role of Providence than the Second World War, when Britain stood alone against Hitler with just about all of Europe under the heels of Nazi Germany and evil poised to triumph over good.

Just seven weeks before the November 3rd vote in the American election, the proverbial October surprise that could decide the outcome came in the third week of September with the passing of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Associate Justice in the U.S. Supreme Court and, as a result, all the plotting and scheming of the Democrat party to oust President Donald Trump from the White House has been shredded.

For the past four years the Democrats, along with the Deep State, have engaged in an unprecedented effort to delegitimize the 2016 election result and oust President Trump from office. This effort culminated with the partisan vote of Democrats in the House to impeach the President on fake charges of collusion with the Ukrainians, but it failed when the Senate refused to so much as acknowledge it.

The Democrats followed their failed impeachment efforts by launching race riots on the pretext of police violence against blacks and minorities, and the paramilitary thugs of the Democratic party -- Black Lives Matter and Antifa -- have been on a rampage since May following the death of George Floyd.

America has not seen such violence since the racial riots of the 1960s. The America of today, however, is not what America was at the end of World War II. Desegregation in the American South is long over, and Americas white majority population twice voted for Obama, a man of mixed race, for president.

But for the plotting and scheming Democrats and their allies, the narrative that America is systemically racist is the blackest of smears against all Americans given the record of Americas continuing advance along the path of racial equality under the law unequalled by any other society in the world. Some Canadians might scoff at this -- I am a Canadian -- but then those Canadians would be people who refuse or are incapable in removing the beam from their eyes as they go looking for motes in the eyes of their neighbours.

Then came the Chinese Communist coronavirus, and the lockdown of the global economy fostered by Chinas UN partner, the WHO.

We now know, or there is enough evidence, that the coronavirus or COVID-19, came out of the Chinese biolab in Wuhan. The virus itself, as Dr Li-Meng Yan, the Chinese virologist-physician and whistleblower, has disclosed, was designed in the lab and is not to be found in nature. Dr. Yan escaped from China and is now in safe refuge in the United States. Her disclosure needs to be independently confirmed, but it is a further indication of what was initially suspected by the Chinese physician in Wuhan, Dr Li Wenliang, who was arrested by the Chinese authorities and died likely in captivity from Wuhan flu.

For the Democrats, this pandemic and the resulting lockdown were weaponized for the political purpose of defeating President Trump in the November election. A full-court offensive through the media was designed to hold President Trump responsible for the spread of COVID-19 and for the deaths attributed to the coronavirus, while the Democratic nominee Joe Biden remained confined to his basement concealing his rapidly declining memory loss and dementia.

But then in the perennial struggle between good and evil, for people of faith in Providence the best of schemers is always the good Lord.

Democrats are the partners of evil in American politics. From the race-driven politics of slavery that erupted in the Civil War, through the politics of segregation, Jim Crow laws, and the KKK to the politics of race, abortion and gender, the Democrats and their allies in the media and the academia have been engaged in the politics of transforming America from a republican order based on faith, family, and In God We Trust into a European-style godless social democracy.

The death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg has turned the 2020 election on its head. Ginsburg was the standard bearer of the left-wing politics of the Democratic progressivism, and she was the stalwart defender of radical feminism and abortion in the Supreme Court.

From her seat on the Court, Ginsburg provided the constitutional cover for the culture war that Democrats have waged against Americas founding values.

And now President Trump will nominate another woman, as he has said, to the vacant seat and the Senate majority leader, the Republican Mitch McConnell, has said the presidents nominee will receive the full Senate vote.

The educated guess is President Trump will nominate Judge Amy Coney Barrett of the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals. But there are eleven other potential women nominees for the Supreme Court beside Judge Barrett on the list of names President Trump released earlier this year.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg was Jewish.

Amy Coney Barrett is Catholic.

Ginsburg was a progressivist and, hence, a judicial activist for the left.

Barrett, if nominated, is an originalist or textualist in the tradition of the late Justice Antonin Scalia and, hence, will not legislate from the bench as progressivist judges do and Ginsburg did.

Once President Trumps nominee is confirmed, the U.S. Supreme Court will be divided along the lines of conservative and liberal justices 6-3 in favour of conservatives.

This is why presidents are elected, for it is the role of the president on the basis of his constitutional authority and judgment, the appointments clause in Article II, Section 2, of the Constitution to nominate Judges of the Supreme Court.

From the beginning of Donald Trumps entrance into presidential politics in 2015, I have felt as have many people of faith and Christian evangelists, that the hands of Providence are on the shoulders of the 45th President of the United States.

The October surprise in September comes as another confirmation that Trumps presidency is providential, as was that of Lincoln.

Image: Pixabay
Weber State Adds Fifth TRIO Program After Winning $1.3 Million in Competitive Federal Grant Competition

September 22, 2020

OGDEN, Utah  With the support of a highly selective federal grant, Weber State University will launch a new program this fall to support disadvantaged students as they pursue degrees in science, technology, engineering and math.

The program, called Student Support Services (SSS)  STEM, will be funded by a $1.3 million U.S. Department of Education grant awarded to the university in August. The grant, which will span five years and serve 120 students annually, is administered through the federal departments TRIO Program in Student Support Services. The goal of TRIO SSS is to increase the college retention and graduation rates of its participants, who are all from disadvantaged backgrounds, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Weber States SSS STEM program will begin recruiting students this fall.

The new STEM-focused program will join four other federally funded TRIO programs at Weber State: Student Support Services; Educational Talent Search; Upward Bound; and Veterans Upward Bound. Weber State hosts the highest number of TRIO programs at an institution of higher education in Utah.

Its rare for a university to receive TRIO grant funding for a new program, said Eddie Hoyle, director of Student Support Services at Weber State  but thats exactly what happened in August when Weber State was awarded the STEM-focused TRIO grant.

We actually submitted two proposals, and both were funded, Hoyle said. It's more likely to get an existing program re-funded, but to get a brand new program funded is next to impossible, so we're very excited to get the new SSS STEM.

Among Weber States existing TRIO programs is the Student Support Services Program, which serves 285 students annually with advising, tutoring, and sometimes direct financial support. In order to participate, students must have a low-income background, a disability or be among the first generation in their families to graduate with a bachelors degree. Unlike the new STEM program, participants in the existing program can major in any subject.

Weber State sought TRIO funding to support STEM students in particular because they identified a high number of students pursuing STEM degrees who were also eligible for TRIO programs, according to Hoyle.

We like to consider ourselves a home away from home on campus, Hoyle said, referring to the programs suite of offices and study spaces at the Student Services Building.

Participants in the program often aren't comfortable in a higher ed environment when they get here, Hoyle continued. They maybe haven't had people in their family to tell them what college is like, they haven't experienced the campus, and so there's a lot of insecurity and intimidation. But if they can just come to our offices, we can make them feel very comfortable, answer all their questions and lead them in the right direction, wherever they need to go."

Isabel Hernandez Martinez, a sophomore studying mechanical engineering, started participating in the program at the beginning of her first year of college. She received direct financial support from the program that year, as well as a book loan for an expensive anatomy and physiology textbook. This significantly lessened her stress, she said.

I definitely think the financial support helped me get more involved in school because I participate in a few clubs here on campus, Martinez said. Without the extra support, she would have spent more time working, she said.

Martinez has also appreciated the workshops the program offers on subjects such as financial aid, study skills and time management, she said.

They helped me become successful, and in return, once I get my career going, I hope to give back to the SSS center, she said.

Candace Mascarenas, a junior majoring in psychology and criminal justice, just joined the program. As a non-traditional student and mother of five, she wants to take advantage of any support thats offered  especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has created additional challenges for her and her family.

Its really hard to go to school, especially now, when my kids have virtual school, and I have to try to help them while Im also going to school. Thats why I chose to apply to see if I could get any additional help, Mascarenas said. It's been really amazing to feel like I'm getting support, and that I'm getting sent these emails from the program with scholarship opportunities that I can try for, rather than having to seek them out, because I just don't have enough time to do that and do my studies and do my family.

This SSS Program has been on campus for decades, Hoyle said. Its history is almost as long as the life of the federal TRIO Programs, which were established in the 1960s through federal legislation as part President Lyndon B. Johnsons War on Poverty.

Even though TRIO programs are federally funded, they've been able to exist through every administration and Congress since they were created. There's a lot of bipartisan support, Hoyle said. The reason is that they are successful. We're given a set of objectives that were required to meet, and if we don't meet them, the programs aren't re-funded.

Since the SSS Program was founded at Weber State, it has been continuously re-funded through TRIO SSS with each grant reapplication cycle, Hoyle said. This was true again in August, when the program was awarded $2.4 million over five years.

For more news about Weber State University, visit weber.edu/wsutoday.

For photos, click on this link.
London: Boris Johnson has opted against using a national lockdown to battle a second coronavirus wave in Britain which threatens to reach 50,000 cases a day by the middle of October.

Warning the United Kingdom was at a "perilous turning point", the Prime Minister on Tuesday unveiled new measures which seek to limit spread of the disease among the young but keep the economy, schools and society open.

"We will not listen to those who say let the virus rip, nor to those who urge a permanent lockdown," Johnson told the House of Commons.

The measures include forcing pubs, bars and restaurants to close by 10pm each day, and limiting operations to table service only. Staff in retail and hospitality venues will be required to wear masks, the number of guests at weddings will be capped at 15, and a planned return to crowds at sporting matches has been axed.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 22, ARMENPRESS. The Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune and Biological Products at the Russian Academy of Sciences received the Russian health ministrys permit for clinical tests of its anti-coronavirus vaccine, TASS reports citing the ministrys press service.

Clinical trials of a vaccine against COVID-19 will begin soon in Kirov, St. Petersburg and Novosibirsk. About 3,000 volunteers are expected to take part, which is in line with the requirements of the World Health Organization and international watchdogs, and will provide a sufficient amount of scientific data for the research, the statement says.

The ministry said the volunteers will receive all the required information about the procedure and possible risks and inconveniencies that it might entail.

After the vaccination, participants will remain in isolation in hospitals for 16 days, where their health will be monitored by doctors.
Opinion Article

22 September 2020

When Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway sold all of its airline stocks in April, it appeared as an affirmation to some investors that the future of travel was on the rocks - while for others, it reignited discussions on whether the widely respected Orcale of Omaha had 'lost his touch'. The travel and tourism sector has undoubtedly been facing tumultuous times in the wake of COVID-19, with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) itself announcing that air travel will not recover until 2024. However, it would be hasty to presume that the prospects of hospitality are all doom and gloom.

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Newly released data from Cushman & Wakefield's Marketbeat: Europe Hospitality H1 2020 reveals that the European hotel investment market has stayed active during this crisis. Expectedly, investment volume for the region had fallen considerably by 55% compared to the same period last year. However, with major transactions still taking place and deals continuing to be agreed upon amidst these times, it seems that investors remain optimistic on the medium to long-term prospects of the industry.

European hotel investment overview

In the first half of 2020, the European hotel market recorded 5.7 billion in transactions (a year-on-year fall of 55%), spread across 169 properties comprising nearly 24,000 rooms - of which 1.2 billion (21%) of deals were agreed on after the pandemic outbreak. Among the key deals done include the (controversial) sale of the iconic 136-key Ritz London to an unnamed Qatari investor and the acquisition of the 304-room Hotel nhow in Berlin by Swiss-listed Eastern Property Holdings.

In particular, COVID-19 has been observed to have influenced a few transaction characteristics:

Investor origin: Given the uncertainty wrought by the pandemic, H1 2020 saw a marked increase in investors retreating to more familiar ground, with European investors accounting for a large majority of 78% of transaction volume in the region.

Given the uncertainty wrought by the pandemic, H1 2020 saw a marked increase in investors retreating to more familiar ground, with European investors accounting for a large majority of 78% of transaction volume in the region. Investor type: Institutional investors, who are better positioned to tide through such crises, led the transaction market with nearly half (48%) of total volume. These investors are typically more well-capitalised, better able to weather temporary troughs and tend to have a longer-term investment strategy.

Institutional investors, who are better positioned to tide through such crises, led the transaction market with nearly half (48%) of total volume. These investors are typically more well-capitalised, better able to weather temporary troughs and tend to have a longer-term investment strategy. Asset type: H1 2020 transactions were more focused on prime assets in core locations (such as the Ritz), as COVID-19 concerns are expected to have a lesser impact on the long-term real estate values of such assets. Consequently, the average price per room amounted to 239,000 - a 26% increase from 189,000 per room over the same period in 2019.

Excerpt from Cushman & Wakefields Marketbeat: Europe Hospitality H1 2020. Source: Cushman & Wakefield  Photo: EHL

Varied transaction performance across markets in Europe

Naturally, not all countries enjoyed the same spotlight of attention from investors. The UK and Germany saw a 55% and 42% fall in transaction volume respectively - however, they still retained the top spots in transaction volume across Europe, reaffirming their positions as two of the most active and stable hotel markets in the region.

At the same time, some of the winners of H1 2020 included Spain which came third, recording a 52% increase in transaction volume, totalling approximately 0.7 billion in deals. This positive performance growth was bolstered by the acquisition of the luxury Madrid EDITION hotel for 220 million by Archer Hotel Capital from KKH Property Investors. Even more notably, Greece was relatively the biggest winner of them all, as investors Henderson Park and Hines joined hands to acquire a 1,094-room, c. 67,000 sqm resort portfolio, comprising five seafront hotels across the popular Greek island of Crete, while Belterra Investment acquired the integrated 990-room Porto Carras Grand Resort on the Halkidiki central peninsula for over 200 million.

Porto Carras Grand Resort. Source: Porto Carras Grand Resort Website  Photo: EHL

Jonathan Hubbard, Head of Hospitality EMEA at Cushman & Wakefield, commented: "The hotel sector across Europe has been hit hard by COVID-19 lockdowns, which have understandably resulted in a sharp drop in investment volumes as investors take stock and await signs of a trading recovery. However, investor sentiment for the sector remains positive for the medium term and the transactions that have occurred demonstrate this confidence. Nonetheless, with a very uncertain trading outlook in the short term, many well capitalised investors are holding out for pricing adjustments or some distressed sellers to unlock more upside in their acquisitions and this is likely to be a feature of the market in H2 2020."

Looking ahead: Recovery for hotels and the investment market

Results for the European hotel investment market in H1 2020 show that investors remain cautiously optimistic, as they continue to be on the prowl for good deals. The 2008-2009 global financial crisis (GFC) saw a number of distressed hotel deals which reportedly accounted for over 60% of all U.S. hotel transactions at the time. However, these unprecedented times have also seen unprecedented efforts from governments to help the travel and tourism sector keep afloat, such as VAT cuts or co-paying wages. Similarly, banks have entered this crisis with a much healthier balance sheet, making them better poised to support businesses' financial difficulties than during the GFC. Therefore, the eventual short-term impact of COVID-19 on hotel real estate is still yet to be seen, as we stay tuned for full-year 2020 data which will perhaps paint a broader picture of the extent of the pandemic impact on hotels.

Regardless of the uncertainty, however, there is one thing that remains certain. Travel restrictions have induced a temporary shift in travel patterns, with travellers switching from urban to suburban; international to domestic - which above all, is an indication that the human desire to travel still persists, as people continue to find means and ways to take trips. As more hotels re-open and hotel performance gains momentum, it seems that the current investor confidence is not unfounded and as some will say, "travel will come back".

After all, there is no known vaccine for when the travel bug bites.

Download Cushman & Wakefield's Marketbeat: Europe Hospitality H1 2020 or read their press release here.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a 1954 graduate of Cornell University, may be replaced by another Cornell alumnus.

The Associated Press reports deputy White House Counsel Kathryn Comerford Todd, a 1996 Cornell grad known as Kate Todd, is one of five women on President Donald Trumps shortlist for a Supreme Court nominee to replace the late Justice Ginsburg.

Ginsburg, the only Cornell alum to ever serve on the nations highest court, died Friday at age 87. The Cornell Daily Sun reports Todd, 45, and Ginsburg were both government majors at the Ithaca school before going on to Harvard Law School.

Todd clerked for Justice Clarence Thomas in the Supreme Court, and on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Before joining the White House in 2019, she worked in private practice and later was Chief Counsel at the United States Chamber Litigation Center, the legal apparatus of the Department of Commerce.

Todd is the only lawyer on Trumps list who has never served as a judge, but she has helped the White House vet federal judges. The AP notes her close ties to the Trump administration and relative lack of experience may provide Democrats points of attack in a potential confirmation hearing, though without a judicial record there may be little material for them to use.

Other Trump candidates to replace RBG include Judge Amy Coney Barrett, Judge Barbara Lagoa, Judge Allison Jones Rushing and Michigan Supreme Court Justice Joan Larsen. Barrett and Lagoa are believed to be the two leading candidates.

Trump said he would nominate a woman  a very talented, very brilliant woman"  by Saturday. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has pledged to put a nominee through confirmation hearings and, if successful, would mark the third Supreme Court justice chosen by Trump.
Pakistan is again looking to China, Malaysia and Turkey to help it get off lightly for failing to fully implement an action plan to tackle terror funding when the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) assesses its case in October, people familiar with developments said on Tuesday.

Ahead of FATFs working group and plenary meetings between October 18 and 23, the Asia-Pacific Group (APG), a regional affiliate of the multilateral watchdog, reviewed Pakistans actions to counter-terror financing and money laundering at a virtual meeting on September 15 and 16.

Also read: Ahead of crucial FATF meet, Pakistan continues to treat 21 dreaded terrorists as VIPs

At the virtual meeting, China expectedly backed Pakistans actions to counter-terror financing, despite the fact that it is yet to fully deliver on 13 of the 27 points in the action plan, the people cited above said on condition of anonymity.

When Yao Jing, Chinas outgoing ambassador to Pakistan, made a farewell call on the de facto finance minister Abdul Hafeez Shaikh in Islamabad on September 17  a day after the APG meeting  he was quoted in an official statement as expressing his confidence that FATFs October review will go well for Pakistan.

ALSO WATCH | Like China, talk to Pakistan: J&K ex-CMs advice on border skirmishes

Pakistan will again be looking at China, Malaysia and Turkey to back it at the FATF plenary meeting as the support of only three members is enough to thwart any planned action, said one of the people cited above.

Malaysia was appointed co-chair of APG in July, while Australia is the permanent co-chair and host country for the regional body.

While relations between India and Malaysia had soured under former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamed, the new government formed after his resignation has been working quietly to improve ties with New Delhi, the people noted.

Ahead of the FATF plenary meeting, Pakistan will have to submit a progress report by September 30.

But on July 28, Pakistans Financial Monitoring Unit (FMU) director-general Lubna Farooq told a parliamentary standing committee on finance and revenue that the country had complied with only 14 of the 27 points in the action plan while stakeholders were working on the remaining 13 action points.

The people further noted that Pakistan had resorted to its usual tactic of some high-profile actions in the run-up to the FATF plenary to create the impression that it was delivering on its counter-terror financing commitments.

For instance, an anti-terror court in Lahore indicted four leaders of the banned Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD), including Hafiz Saeeds brother-in-law Abdul Rahman Makki, in four more cases last week.

A joint session of Pakistans Parliament also passed three bills aimed at implementing commitments made to FATF last week, while it tightened curbs on eight Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) leaders, including Hafiz Saeed, Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar and Dawood Ibrahim by taking steps in August to enforce United Nations (UN) sanctions against them.

As things stand now, the people said, Pakistan is unlikely to be moved from FATFs jurisdictions under increased monitoring or the so-called grey list to the high-risk jurisdiction subject to a call of action or black list, despite mounting frustration among the watchdogs members over its repeated failure to deliver on the action plan, the people said.

This frustration was reflected in the statement issued after FATFs plenary in February: All deadlines in [Pakistans] action plan have expired. While noting recent and notable improvements, the FATF again expresses concerns given Pakistans failure to complete its action plan in line with the agreed timelines and in light of the [terror financing] risks emanating from the jurisdiction.

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President Donald Trump, who prefers speaking to boisterous crowds, is set to give a pre-recorded address to the U.N. General Assembly as he grapples with the coronavirus pandemic, chilly relations between the US and China and ongoing threats from North Korea and Iran  all during a heated campaign for re-election.

Trump told reporters Monday that hed have a strong message for China, where the first cases of Covid-19 were reported, but he didnt elaborate ahead of the Tuesday address. Earlier in his administration, Trump hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping at his Florida club, but now the two leaders are exchanging angry words over trade.

The administration has been slamming the Chinese Communist Party for its handling of Covid-19, election meddling, espionage in the United States and influence peddling across the world.

Trump is not popular at the United Nations and his speech this year comes at a time when UN members are pushing back against Washington. On Monday, Trump declared that all UN sanctions against Iran have been reimposed, a move that most of the rest of the world rejects as illegal.

Trumps statement came shortly after he signed an executive order spelling out how the US will enforce the snapback of sanctions. My actions today send a clear message to the Iranian regime and those in the international community who refuse to stand up to Iran, he said.

The US said it was reimposing sanctions on Iran for being in non-compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and global powers. But Trump in 2018 pulled out of the deal in which Iran agreed to curb its nuclear program in exchange for billions of dollars in sanctions relief.

Few UN member states believe the US has the legal standing to restore the sanctions because Trump withdrew from the agreement. The US argues it retains the right to do so as an original participant in the deal and a member of the council.

The White House has not previewed his UN speech, but Trump was expected to highlight agreements the US brokered between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. The historic agreements come as relations between the Jewish state and Arab nations are thawing as a pushback against Iran.

The president likely will take credit for brokering economic cooperation between Serbia and Kosovo and for pressuring NATO nations to meet their pledge to spend 2% of their gross domestic product on their own defenses to lessen the burden on the alliance.

He might also have words for North Koreas Kim Jong Un. In 2017, Trump told the UN he was bringing a message of peace, but then said that if the US was forced to defend itself against Kim, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea. He called Kim rocket man, but has since met with him three times, although North Korea has not made a move to give up its nuclear weapons.

Trumps has tussled with multilateral organizations throughout his presidency, although his aides say he is not against all multilateral groups, only the ones that arent effective. After Covid-19 took hold, Trump yanked support from the UNs World Health Organization, saying it was too beholden to China.
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A senior pharmaceutical industry official said on Tuesday that a price range between 5 and 15 euros ($6 to $18) per dose was reasonable for COVID-19 vaccines.

A price between 5 and 15 euros a dose "is a reasonable price for a vaccine," Sue Middleton, President of the Executive Board, of Vaccines Europe told a hearing in the EU Parliament.

Vaccines Europe represents big pharmaceutical companies.
Russia wants Turkey to withdraw its troops from Syria and the Turks refuse to leave. Russia also wants the Americans out of eastern Syria and the Americans wont leave. In the south Russia wants the Iranians out of Syria. The Iranians wont leave. All these Russian eviction notices are in support of the Assad family and their continued rule over Syria. The Assads want the last rebel stronghold in Idlib province eliminated and the surviving Islamic terrorist rebels pushed out of the country.

Too many of these Russian, Turkish, Iranian, American and Syrian goals contradict each other. There are other parties that must be paid attention to, like ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) and Israel. ISIL is still a violent presence in eastern Syria and Israel continues to carry out airstrikes on Iranian forces as long as the Iranians are in Syria and demanding that Israel be destroyed.

Turkey is already fighting Russia in Libya and does not want to open another front in Syria. Turkey orders its force to defend and not attack Russian forces in Syria. Turkey has an advantage here because the Turkish army is nearly (265,000 troops) as large as the 350,000-man Russian army. The Turks are better equipped and nearly all are available for any Syrian conflict. Russia has limited forces in Syria with the rest spread all over Russia. Turkey also has far more combat aircraft and modern warships in the area than Russia. Threatening to use nuclear weapons is not practical either, at least as long as Turkey still belongs to NATO, which has three nuclear armed members (the U.S., Britain and France). Russia and Turkey have a de-escalation effort that has Turkish and Russian patrols and outposts along the border in northern and northwest Syria. The Turks want the Russians to give up those patrols and outposts and the Russians refuse.

In 2018 Russia made a deal with Israel, Syria and Iran to remove Iranian forces (including foreign mercenaries) from the Israeli and Jordanian borders. Iran complied but then recruited Syrians who lived along the Israeli and Jordanian border. These Syrians were armed and paid by Iran to try and gain control of the Syrian side of the borders with Israel and Jordan. This resulted in more Israeli artillery and airstrikes. The Iranian mercenaries paid more attention to tormenting fellow Syrians than in going after the Israelis.

Turkish and Iranian meddling is prolonging the fighting. The war in Syria should be over by now but isnt just because the foreign factions with unresolved issues. Iran is obsessed with destroying Israel and is not having much success at all. Turkey wants to eliminate Kurdish separatists (both Turkish and Syrian) in Syria and that is not going well. The Americans want to keep ISIL down and support their Kurdish allies while Russia wants to prop up the Assad government in order to keep the airbase and port facilities arrangements they have obtained from the Assads.

Which is the most dangerous faction in Syria? Probably Iran, which is becoming increasingly aggressive and desperate. Iran needs a win against Israel and all it is getting in Syria is an endless string of defeats. Because of the death to Israel obsession Iran is destroying its alliance with Turkey and Russia. Yet Iran is not the only one with an Israel obsession. Turkey is also obsessed, but not to the point of cutting all commercial ties with Israel.

Worn Down By A Forever War

Defeating rebels in most of the country has not brought peace. Syria has been unable to send enough of its army and police forces into southern and eastern Syria to restore and maintain order. This is because of a shortage of loyal recruits for the army and police as well as war weariness among Assad supporters. Even with all the military and financial help from Iran and Russia, most Syrians are very war weary and war wary. The Assad clan was never very popular and for decades ruled through fear and corruption. Nine years of war and an apparent victory has not boosted recruiting. Conscription no longer works because even the most loyal Assad supporters are reluctant to send any more of their men to fight. The Assads have had to back off on enforcing conscription because doing so was sending more loyalist families into exile. A growing number of those exiles are actively calling for the Assads to be replaced by a kinder and gentler dictator who would look out for the interests of the religious minorities that were always the core of Assad support. Some former Assad supporters, even in Damascus, are openly protesting. The Assads depend on loyalist local militias to maintain order in many areas and that is often inadequate.

For example, in eastern Syria ISIL violence is common (10-20 attacks a month) and the Kurds, now on good terms with the Assads, dont have the manpower or authority to handle the ISIL situation with their own forces. The Americans carry out frequent airstrikes on ISIL targets but have not got enough troops in eastern Syria to police large areas and keep ISIL down or out. American forces protect a few key areas and assist the Kurds. Syria lets the tribes and local militias do what they can to deal with Islamic terrorists and other outlaws in their midst, which is not enough to restore any kind of pre-2011 order.

It has always been the case that civilians in Assad controlled areas would sometimes anonymously carry out attacks on Syrian soldiers and police. These attacks are a form of protest to let the government know that there is still dissatisfaction with Assad rule. The Assads put pressure on local leaders to make arrests, or simply kidnap and kill suspects. The Assads long assumed that things would eventually calm own. The Assads have been doing this since the 1970s and ignore international criticism because the Assads believe that is how you survive in what is a rough neighborhood. This approach lost its effectiveness as the 2011 war went on. After nine years of violence the old rules no longer apply.

There are other problems in Syria. From the beginning the rebels were divided by ethnicity (Kurds and Arabs), religion (Shia, Sunni, Christian, Druze and so on), tribal loyalties and politics. Islamic radicals want a religions dictatorship while most Syrians want some kind of democracy, or a dictatorship that can maintain order. By 2013 the Islamic radical rebel militias were the most powerful but were divided into mutually hostile factions as well. Despite the obvious mutual benefits of forming a common armed opposition to the Assads, the rebel factions increasingly turned on each other. The Assad forces were more united and believed that, despite having the majority (north of 70 percent) of Syrians arrayed against them, they could prevail. This did happen, but it was a costly and bitter victory, with more than twenty percent of the population in exile outside the country and most of the Syrian population hostile and requiring a more extensive and expensive police state to keep them in line. That was to be paid for by Iran, which believed it could afford that, especially after their 2015 nuclear weapons control treaty lifted sanctions. But then the U.S. caught Iran cheating and reimposed sanctions in 2017. That sharply reduced Iranian income, a situation made worse by growing corruption and mismanagement inside Iran. Because of rebel disunity, Iranian subsidies and Western repugnance, the Assads were able to prevail. But that does not mean survival for the Assads because it has proved difficult to preside over a ruined, resigned and resentful Syria.

September 21, 2020: In the north (Idlib province) the fighting between Syrian and rebel forces in southern Idlib has grown more intense this month. The Syrians want to eliminate the last rebel stronghold but the concentration of surviving Islamic terrorist rebel groups in Idlib know they are making a last stand and believe that because they are on a Mission From God they will somehow prevail. The Assad troops are not nearly as motivated and if it werent for Russian airstrikes and artillery support would make no progress at all. The Iranian mercenary ground forces were a casualty of the 2o17 Iranian cash crises. Iran has sent token forces to help out in Idlib but is concentrating most of its forces near the Israeli border. That has led to hundreds of Israeli airstrikes, which often damage Syrian forces that operate closely with the Iranians. The Israeli intel is disturbingly good and their missiles dependably accurate. The Israelis hit the Iranians and, whenever possible, leave Syrian forces alone. The Assads bluster and protest to please their Iranian patrons but understand that Israel does not want to be at war with the Assads and the Assads appreciate that.

September 20, 2020: In the north (Aleppo province) Turkey has ordered its Arab mercenaries to harass the American backed Kurdish forces in the eastern part of the province. The Turks want to push the Kurds further east into Hasaka province but have not got enough mercenary forces available to do the job. Most (about 10,000) of the Turkish troops in Syria are stationed in northern Idlib province to prevent the rebels and pro-rebel civilians in southern Idlib from retreating into Turkey. This means that it is a lot more difficult for the Syrians to regain control of Idlib province.

It also means that the Kurds next door in Aleppo province can fire back at the Arab mercs and take comfort in the fact that the Arabs will not be reinforced by Turkish troops. While all this is noisy there are few casualties in Aleppo province while there are hundreds a month in Idlib.

September 18, 2020: The U.S. has flown in some M2A3 IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicles) to Syria. These are from an American armored brigade stationed in Kuwait and are to be used for increased convoy protection against Russian efforts to block American use of roads in Deir Ezzor province. Also sent were some short-range air defense radars. There have been increased jet fighter patrols and more use of AH-64 helicopter gunships to escort American convoys.

September 17, 2020: In the northwest (Idlib province) Syrian troops fired over a hundred rockets at two rebel held villages. The level of bombardment usually precedes a ground attack. Russian air strikes have also been more frequent and intense in southern Idlib. Since March there has been a lot less Russian airstrikes, a pause which appears to have ended.

September 14, 2020: In the east (Deir Ezzor province) there was another Israeli airstrike against Iranian weapons being stored near the Al Bukamal crossing into Iraq. There were ten deaths (two Syrian, eight Iraqi), all of them pro-Iran militiamen. This is the third Israeli airstrike in Deir Ezzor province this month.

September 11, 2020: In northern Syria (Aleppo) an Israeli airstrike damaged an Iranian military facility outside the city.

September 3, 2020: In eastern Syria (Deir Ezzor province) an airstrike, apparently Israeli, attacked an Iranian base, killing nine Iraqi Hezbollah militiamen.

In central Syria, Israeli airstrikes again hit the T4 airbase in Homs province, as well as air defense systems outside Damascus and Iranian bases in eastern Syria. At least sixteen Iranians or Iranian mercenaries were killed. Israeli warplanes launch air-ground missiles while still in Israel or just across the Syrian border in areas not covered by Syrian air defenses. Syrian usually claims to intercept all these missiles but commercial satellite photos reveal that the Israeli missiles usually get through and inflict significant damage. The T4 airbase, i n central Syria near Palmyra, was hit by Israeli airstrikes several times in 2019, at least twice in 2020 and many more times in earlier years. The T4 airbase is the largest in Syria and Iran is building new structures for storing weapons and housing personnel. This is where Iran moved its UAV operations in 2018 after its original UAV base in Syria was destroyed by an Israeli airstrike. Meanwhile Israel is gradually destroying most of Syrias SAM (Surface-To-Air Missile) capability.

September 2, 2020: In the northwest (rebel held Idlib province) Russia carried out at least six airstrikes against Islamic terrorist groups. In addition, Russian reconnaissance aircraft directed Syrian army artillery fire at rebel targets. All this was in response to recent rebel attacks on Russian patrols in the area. There is supposed to be a ceasefire but some rebel factions refuse to respect that agreement. In the last week these rebel attacks have left about a hundred Syrian troops and militiamen dead. Some these deaths were outside Idlib where Syrian, Russian, Kurdish and American forces are still hunting down and killing ISIL members and have killed or captured several hundred in the last few weeks.

August 31, 2020: In southern Syria Israeli aircraft used missiles to attack several targets, killing eleven people. It was later revealed that one of the dead was a civilian who died when their house was hit by a defective Syrian anti-aircraft missile. This was only the second Israeli airstrike for August in Syria. Syrians and Arab journalists in Syria report that the Israeli air strikes are doing serious damage to the Iranian efforts to establish a formidable military force in Syria. Israel attacks nearly all Iranian arms shipments entering Syria as well as many of the Iranian mercenaries, along with the smaller number of Iranian personnel. Commercial satellite photos show that the Syrian airbases Iran uses to fly in personnel and equipment are out of action most of the time because of the Israeli airstrikes and tend to get bombed again shortly after they are repaired.

August 24, 2020: In the east (Hasaka province) a Russian armored vehicle convoy overtook some American MRAPs (armored trucks) and deliberately bumped into them. In one case two Russian armored vehicles boxed in an American MRAP and rammed the MRAP several times. Four American troops in the vehicle suffered mild concussions. Not wanting to escalate, the U.S. vehicles left the area. Russians were not supposed to be operating here and this incident is the twelfth time this year that there have been such encounters. The one difference is that this was the first incident that got violent. These confrontations usually involve American troops blocking Russian efforts to move into Kurdish controlled parts of Hasaka and Deir Ezzor provinces. Russian and American forces interact regularly in Hasaka and most of the time there are no problems. American-backed Kurdish forces control most of Hasaka province, where the local population is largely Kurdish. Russian, Turkish and Syrian forces are trying to move troops into Hasaka and gradually displace the Kurdish forces. In some cases, the Syrians, Russians or Turks are, via negotiation with the Kurds, are allowed to base troops or patrol certain areas. The Americans have more surveillance capabilities than the Kurds and more frequently spot Russian troops moving into areas they are supposed to stay away from.

August 21, 2020: Turkey has recruited over 30,000 Syrians to serve as mercenaries in Syria and Libya and is continuing to recruit, train and fly Syrian mercs to Libya. Turkey has worked with Syrian Arab mercenaries for a long time, not just in the last few years in northern Syria, but for centuries before that. Turkey offers acceptable terms and tends to fulfill its agreements. Despite all that Turkish military efforts in Syria (and Libya) are stalled.

August 18, 2020: In the east Syria ( Deir Ezzor province) a roadside bomb killed a Russian general and a sergeant as well as a local militia commander and two militiamen.
"All the world's leaders took the same test, and some have succeeded and some have failed," said Dr Cedric Dark, an emergency physician at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston who has seen death first-hand. "In the case of our country, we failed miserably." Loading Blacks, Hispanics and American Indians have accounted for a disproportionate share of the deaths, underscoring the economic and health care disparities in the US. On Monday, President Donald Trump said he had done a phenomenal job on the pandemic. "It affects virtually nobody. It's an amazing thing," Trump told supporters at a Swanton, Ohio, campaign rally. "It affects ... elderly people with heart problems and other problems  if they have other problems that's what it really affects, that's it."

Trump has admitted to playing down the danger of the coronavirus early on because he did not want to "create a panic". Worldwide, the virus has infected more than 31 million people and is closing in fast on 1 million deaths, with more than 965,000 lives lost, by Johns Hopkins' count, though the real numbers are believed to be higher because of gaps in testing and reporting. Thousands of flags have been planted in front of the Washington Monument in Washington to honour the 200,000 US lives lost so far in the pandemic. Credit:AP For the US, it wasn't supposed to go this way. When the year began, the US had recently garnered recognition for its readiness for a pandemic. Health officials seemed confident as they converged on Seattle in January to deal with the country's first known case of coronavirus, in a 35-year-old Washington state resident who had returned from visiting his family in Wuhan, China.

On February 26, President Donald Trump held up pages from the Global Health Security Index, a measure of readiness for health crises, and declared: "The United States is rated No. 1 most prepared." It was true. The US outranked the 194 other countries in the index. Besides its labs, experts and strategic stockpiles, the US could boast of its disease trackers and plans for rapidly communicating lifesaving information during a crisis. The leadership of the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention was respected for sending help to fight infectious diseases around the globe. Romelia Navarro, right, is comforted by a nurse as she sits at the bedside of her husband, Antonio, who was dying of COVID-19 in California. Credit:AP But the stealthy coronavirus slipped into the US and spread undetected. Monitoring at airports was loose. Travel bans came too late. Only later did health officials realise the virus could spread before symptoms show up, rendering screening imperfect. The virus swept into nursing homes, which suffered from poor infection control, where it began claiming lives, now numbering more than 78,000.

It also exploited inequalities in the United States: Nearly 30 million people in the country are uninsured, and there are stark health differences among racial and ethnic groups. At the same time, gaps in federal leadership led to shortages of testing supplies. Internal warnings to ramp up production of masks were ignored, leaving states to compete for protective gear. Governors led their states in different directions, adding to public confusion. Trump downplayed the threat early on, advanced unfounded notions about the behaviour of the virus, promoted unproven or dangerous treatments, complained that too much testing was making the US look bad, and disdained masks, turning face coverings into a political issue. On April 10, the President predicted the US wouldn't see 100,000 deaths. That milestone was reached on May 27.

Nowhere was the lack of leadership seen as more crucial than in testing, a key to breaking the chain of contagion. "We have from the very beginning lacked a national testing strategy," Nuzzo said. "For reasons I can't truly fathom we've refused to develop one." Such co-ordination "should be led out of the White House," not by each state independently, she said. "We aren't going to restore our economy until every state has this virus under control." Loading The real number of dead from the crisis could be significantly higher: As many as 215,000 more people than usual died in the US from all causes during the first seven months of 2020, according to CDC figures. The death toll from COVID-19 during the same period was put at about 150,000 by Johns Hopkins. Researchers suspect some coronavirus deaths were overlooked, while other deaths may have been caused indirectly by the crisis, by creating such turmoil that people with chronic conditions such as diabetes or heart disease were unable or unwilling to get treatment.

Dark, the emergency physician at Baylor, said that before the crisis, "people used to look to the United States with a degree of reverence. For democracy. For our moral leadership in the world. Supporting science and using technology to travel to the moon". "Instead," he said, "what's really been exposed is how anti-science we've become." Canada at 'crossroads' with COVID-19 case numbers rising Canada is facing a surge in COVID-19 cases that risks ballooning to higher levels than were seen during the first wave of the pandemic if people do not take stringent precautions, health officials said. "Canada is at a crossroads and individual action to reduce contact rates will decide our path," said a statement from the Public Health Agency.

According to a worst-case scenario outlined by the agency, cases could rise more than 1000 per day for the next 10 days to 155,795 by October 2, with the death toll hitting 9300. On Monday, Canada had reported 145,415 total cases and 9228 deaths. Canada's chief public health officer, Theresa Tam, outlined three scenarios, with the most favourable being a "slow burn" that involves active case detection and tracing, and for individuals to take all the necessary precautions. However, if action is not taken, the outcome could be disastrous, she said. "With minimum controls, the virus is capable of surging into a very sharp and intense peak ... (that) could overwhelm our health system capacity and significantly impact our social and economic systems as well," she said. Putin wants stronger WHO, proposes vaccine conference

Russian President Vladimir Putin told the UN General Assembly on Tuesday that the World Health Organisation should be strengthened to co-ordinate the global response to the coronavirus pandemic and proposed a high-level conference on vaccine co-operation. "We are proposing to hold an online high-level conference shortly for countries interested in co-operation in the development of anti-coronavirus vaccines," Putin said. Vladimir Putin delivered a pre-recorded message to the UN General Assembly. Credit:Bloomberg "We are ready to share experience and continue co-operating with all states and international entities, including in supplying the Russian vaccine which has proved reliable, safe, and effective, to other countries," he said. Russia was the first country to grant regulatory approval for a novel coronavirus vaccine, and did so before large-scale trials were complete, stirring concern among scientists and doctors about the safety and efficacy of the shot.

Several countries are now considering adopting emergency measures that would fast-track approval of a vaccine in a similar way, however. Putin took a veiled swipe at the US, saying that removing "illegitimate sanctions" would help the world recover from the coronavirus pandemic. "In general, freeing the world trade from barriers, bans, restrictions and illegitimate sanctions would be of great help in revitalising global growth and reducing unemployment," he said. Czech Republic to limit public events as COVID-19 cases spike The new Czech health minister said on Tuesday that tighter restrictions on bars and public events were imminent after his predecessor resigned following a doubling of COVID-19 infections in the country over the past three weeks.

The Czech Republic recorded 837 new coronavirus cases so far on Tuesday, after 1476 on Monday, health ministry data showed, bringing the overall number of confirmed cases since the start of the pandemic in March to 51,637. Loading Health Minister Roman Prymula, in a televised interview, said closing hours for bars would be moved to 10pm from midnight as of Thursday, when stricter limits on the number of participants at sporting events will also kick in. He said that limit would be set at 2000 seated spectators, down from about 10,000. The Czech Republic acted swiftly at the outset of the pandemic, closing most retail business, borders and schools before many other countries in Europe. Its death toll was 522 as of Tuesday, a small fraction of the tens of thousands of victims in countries such as Spain, Britain and France.
Though the use of masks are helpful in protection from the virus, they can come with many drawbacksparticularly to those in the Deaf community.
Mumbai: On Monday, a committee set up by the International Financial Services Centres Authority ( IFSCA ), the regulator for IFSC, submitted its first interim report for development of international retail segment

As per the press statement issued by the department of economic affairs (DEA) the report covers a number of suggestions for swift and efficient development of international retail businesses but focuses mainly on the banking vertical.

The other key financial services including insurance, asset management and capital markets will be covered in subsequent reports.

The main recommendations of the report include  extending the liberalized remittance scheme (LRS) for derivatives trading and margin payments for domestic investors, providing a range of financial services products to the Indian diaspora specifically from Asia and Africa.

Currently, norms under the so-called LRS allow a resident to invest up to $250,000 a year only in stocks and properties abroad. They prohibit Indian residents from investing in derivatives like futures and options and making payments towards margins or margin calls to overseas exchanges.

The recommendation of the panel is to extend the remittance scheme to derivatives in order to boost liquidity, said a person with direct knowledge of the matter.

At IFSC, banks are not allowed to open savings accounts, which according to the market and the committee is restricting participations of retail Non Resident Indians (NRIs). IFSC Banking Units (IBUs) can open foreign currency current accounts of entities operating in IFSC and of non-resident institutional investors.

The panel has asked the regulators to examine whether IFSC banks can open savings accounts.

Banks in Gift city not allowed to raise liabilities from individuals, which is preventing banks from considering it a viable proposition. IBUs also have to maintain LCR (Liquidity Coverage Ratio) as applicable to Indian banks on a stand-alone basis which is not required for bank subsidiaries set up in other jurisdictions. This is an additional cost," said a senior banker on condition of anonymity.

Our focus is to provide a best in class jurisdiction with progressive and light touch regulation to create an attractive location for international financial services. Our vision is to establish GIFT IFSC as a Dominant Gateway for global financial flows into and out of India, and simultaneously emerge as a major global financial hub," said Injeti Srinivas, chairman, IFSCA in the press statement.

The ministry, regulators and stakeholders are working to scale up the IFSC and bring it par with global jurisdictions such Hong Kong, Singapore and Dubai amidst the changing geopolitical scenario.

Recently the market regulator, Securities and Exchange Board of India (sebi) had allowed portfolio management services (PMS), real estate investment trusts, infrastructure investment trusts to be launched at GIFT IFSC.

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Women stand holding hands in front of police officers during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus, on Sept. 19, 2020. (AP Photo)

Belarus Opposition Appeal to EU Fails to Trigger Sanctions

BRUSSELS  European Union foreign ministers failed to agree to sanctions against Belarusian officials on Sept. 21, despite an appeal by the countrys main opposition leader.

After a sixth straight weekend of huge protests against President Alexander Lukashenko, opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya traveled to Brussels to try to convince the EU to follow through on the threat of a sanction it announced in August.

So far the bloc has yet to approve a list of some 40 Belarusian officials to be hit with travel bans and asset freezes. Cyprus has been seen as blocking approval by tying the Belarus measures to unrelated sanctions it wants on Turkey in a gas exploration dispute.

Although there is a clear will to adopt the sanctions, the required unanimity was not reached, the EUs top diplomat Josep Borrell, who chaired the meeting of foreign ministers, told reporters, referring to EU rules that all 27 states must agree.

Approval is still possible by EU leaders at a summit on Sept. 24 and Borrell said that by the next time foreign ministers meet on Oct. 12, the sanctions would be agreed. But he also acknowledged that paralysis was damaging for the EUs image.

If we are not able to (approve Belarus sanctions), then our credibility is at stake, Borrell told a news conference.

Back in Minsk, a city court rejected a legal appeal from the defense team of Tsikhanouskayas political ally, Maria Kolesnikova, against her detention.

Kolesnikova was jailed after ripping up her passport to prevent the Belarusian authorities from forcibly expelling her to Ukraine. She was charged last week with calling for actions aimed at undermining Belarusian national security.

About a hundred supporters gathered in and around the courthouse. Kolesnikova wasnt in court in person but when she appeared on a video screen people inside began to applaud.

Be Brave

Though the EU announced plans for the sanctions in August, enacting them requires support from all 27 member states. Cyprus wants a deal first on measures in its dispute against Turkey.

Our reaction to any kind of violation of our core, basic values and principles cannot be a la carte. It needs to be consistent, Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides said.

The presidents of Lithuania, Poland, and Romania said on Sept. 21 they will ask EU leaders at this weeks summit to offer an economic support package for Belarus if it holds a democratic election. That would include a favorable trade regime with the EU, visa-free travel, and support as a candidate for the World Trade Organization.

EU leaders have reasons not to push sanctions but I asked them to be braver, Tsikhanouskaya, who fled to Lithuania after the election, told reporters after meeting foreign ministers.

Sanctions are important in our fight because its part of the pressure that could force the so-called authorities to start a dialogue with us in the opposition council.

By Gabriela Baczynska & Robin Emmott
Last month, the ABC's Beijing correspondent Bill Birtles and The Australian Financial Review's Shanghai correspondent Mike Smith returned to Sydney after a diplomatic stand-off in which the pair were questioned separately by China's Ministry of State Security.

The journalist, who has won three Walkley Awards and a Peabody Award, will provide stories and analysis for various ABC television and radio programs including 7.30, Four Corners and The World, as well as ABC Online.

"The whole world is focused on China now; it's actually the defining story of our age," Grant said. "It's probably the thing that is most going to set the course of the 21st century: the emergence of an authoritarian superpower like China, which is on track to become the most powerful economy in the world and by some measures already is, set against what is seen as a weakening of democracy in the world and certainly a more damaged United States."

Loading

In a career spanning more than 30 years, Grant has reported from almost 70 countries  including four years in Hong Kong and almost seven years in Beijing  while working for Channel Seven, ABC, NITV, CNN and Al Jazeera. He also wrote and appeared in the award-winning 2019 documentary The Australian Dream, which examines Aboriginal identity and racism in modern Australia.

"What I like being able to do is connect the dots," Grant said. "We often look at international issues in isolation but they're very much connected. If you look at the shifting plates of geopolitics, coronavirus has accelerated and revealed a lot of the fragility and as that starts to settle, we're going to see a very different terrain.

"If you look at the two biggest powers of the world, China and the United States, one is our biggest trading partner and one is our greatest ally and strategic security partner  and Australia is right at the hingepoint of that."
WINNETKA, IL  The coronavirus pandemic has not slowed the village's luxury real estate market in the first three quarters of the year. If anything, it has accelerated it.

There were no sales in the whole of 2019 breaking the $5 million mark in Winnetka. But so far in 2020, three single-family residential properties in the village have sold for more than $5 million, including the most expensive suburban home sale of the year to date, according to real estate listings and property records.

The median sale price for single-family homes in Winnetka was $1.28 million in August, compared to a median list price of $1.349 million, according to realtor.com market data.

Asking prices in the village were up 4.2 percent above a year prior, with the median price at $331 per square foot. Listed properties sold for an average of 4.5 percent below their asking prices after spending an average 78 days on the market.

Last month, Winnetka's third most expensive home sale of the year closed for $5.5 million, according to listing records. The four-bedroom Belgian Farmhouse-inspired design is located west of Sheridan Road and north of Tower Road Park. The home was first listed on Aug. 3 with an asking price just under $6 million, according to its listing.



The 5,362-square-foot home was completed in 2018 and designed by architect Michael Abraham with kitchen and bathroom designer Mick De Giulio. In 2019, Michael Abraham Architecture received the merit in design award for residential architecture from the Northeast Illinois chapter of the American Institute of Architects.

The sellers were Yoanna and Mark Kulas, owner of Northbrook-based Kulas Maids, who purchased the 0.53-acre parcel for $1.325 million in October 2015. While the latest sale has yet to be recorded with the county, tax records identify the new entity responsible for paying taxes on the property as a trust affiliated with the Bernice family.

The estimated market value of the home is only $1.4 million for taxing purposes, after an attorney for Kulas successfully appealed to reduce an earlier valuation of $3.28 million. Records show that reduced the home's annual property tax bill from more than $64,000 to under $32,200.



Story continues

The second most expensive home sale of the year is a massive mansion that spent more than 10 years on the market before being sold in July.

Dubbed "Le Grand Reve"  or "the big dream"  the six-bedroom, 17,000-square-foot was designed by architect Richard Landry for Deborah and Sherwin Jarol, founder and CEO of a Chicago-based private real estate investment firm.

The Jarols purchased the 2-acre site on Locust Road in southwest Winnetka for $2.5 million. They spent a reported $40 million to build the 26-room mansion on the site, first listing it for $28 million in January 2010.

The home was built in a 26-room home is built in a Mediterranean style with a fountain, swimming pool, elevator, wine cellar, spa, 11 fireplaces and a nine-car garage.

(Realtor.com)

Over the next decade, the asking price gradually declined, falling below the $10 million mark nearly three years ago. As of June, the asking price was still $9.5 million. But in July, records show the Jarols sold the property to a trust that conceals the name of its owner for $7.25 million.

According to property records, the estimated market value of the property is about $4.8 million for taxing purposes, leading to a 2019 property tax bill of more than $82,000.



The most expensive home sale in Winnetka so far was a lakefront property next door to Centennial Park.

Featuring 144 feet of private beach, the home at 209 Sheridan Road, also listed as 205 Sheridan Road, sold for $8.25 million with an offer accepted before it was publicly listed in July.

The house currently on the property is a 3,300-square-foot Ranch-stye home built in 1957, according to property records. Few details about the home and no interior photographs were included with its listing, indicating the house is a candidate for demolition.



The seller was identified in property records as Southern California resident Robert Britz, who has owned the house since 1993. The new owner has not been identified in public records.

The two-parcel property's estimated market value, for taxing purposes, was about $5 million last year, according to the Cook County Assessor's Office.







Find more recently sold Winnetka homes 

[MOVE_NEW_HOMES]



This article originally appeared on the Winnetka-Glencoe Patch
Cambodian opposition leader Sam Rainsy speaks to reporters in the airport in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, before flying to Indonesia, Nov. 14, 2019.

A court in Cambodia sentenced seven activists with the countrys banned opposition partyincluding a new motherto between five and seven years in prison Tuesday for treason, as the partys acting president vowed to return home from self-imposed exile, despite an aborted earlier attempt.

Sam Sokong, the lawyer for the activists from the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), said the Tboung Khmum Provincial Court handed five of the seven sentences for seven years, while the other twowho had defected to the ruling Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP)were given five-year suspended sentences.

The seven were tried under Article 453 of Cambodias Penal Code for posting comments on Facebook between 2018 and 2019 in support of acting CNRP chief Sam Rainsys plan to return to the country from self-imposed exile in Paris, where he has lived since August 2015 to avoid a string of what he says are politically motivated charges and convictions.

Of the five sentenced to seven years, oneKong Sam Anwas arrested on Sept. 6, while the other four were convicted in absentia, he said. Three had fled overseas and one is in hiding inside Cambodia.

Following Tuesdays proceedings, during which around 100 family members of the defendants protested in front of the court, Sam Sokong dismissed the verdict as unjust because his clients committed no crimes and vowed to appeal the decision.

We cannot accept the verdict, he told RFAs Khmer Service, noting that the judge convicted one activist who had just given birth.

The woman is weakshe just gave birth to a baby and she is poor.

RFA was unable to reach court spokesman Hak Seaklim for comment in Tuesday.

One of the convicted activists, Mean La, who is in hiding, told RFA that the charges against her are groundless.

She said she was detained in late 2019 when she was two months pregnant, but later released due to an intervention by Prime Minister Hun Sen, at which point she fled the country.

It is very unjust for the court to sentence me to seven years in jail because I was never involved in treason, she said.

This is purely politically motivated and not at all about implementation of the law.

Soeung Sengkaruna, spokesperson for local rights group Adhoc, suggested that the verdict had been cooked up to further persecute the CNRP amidst a government campaign targeting the party.

No one can be involved in politics due to this current political tension, he said, urging all political leaders to negotiate so that all parties will respect human rights and democratic principles.

New vow to return

Tuesdays verdict comes as Sam Rainsy this week unveiled new plans to return to Cambodia, without providing a date or any specific details.

Sam Rainsys earlier plan to return to Cambodia from self-imposed exile last November was thwarted when Cambodian authorities barred him from entry.

Another CNRP activist convicted on Tuesday who is living abroad, Yem Vannet, told RFA that she would not be cowed by her sentence and plans to join Sam Rainsy to rescue the countrys democracy if he returns.

The court conviction is small thingit is common that we get accused of treason, she said.

I will go to Cambodia with Sam Rainsy to restore democracy in the country.

Analyst Meas Nee told RFA that Sam Rainsys announcement is just another political strategy and unrealistic, as he has yet to provide details of his plan.

Sam Rainsys announcement is only a strategy to put pressure on Cambodias government, he said.

Meas Nee warned that such an announcement will lead to more detentions of CNRP members, but will benefit the opposition party because it will result in criticism or possible sanctions over political arrests.

On Aug. 25, CNRP activist and former Kampot province commune councilor Pen Mom was sentenced to five years in prison for treason by the Kampot Provincial Court for supporting Sam Rainsys planned return to Cambodia in 2019.

She was among more than 100 party members arrested for mobilizing to welcome Sam Rainsy back home, 76 of whom were later released on bail.

Cambodias Supreme Court dissolved the CNRP in November 2017, two months after leader Kem Sokhas arrest, for its role in opposition leaders alleged scheme. The ban, along with a wider crackdown on NGOs and the independent media, paved the way for Hun Sens CPP to win all 125 seats in parliament in the countrys July 2018 general election.

Reported by RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Samean Yun. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
Russian opposition politician Navalny and his wife Navalnaya pose for a picture at Charite hospital in Berlin

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny told Russia on Monday to hand over the clothes he was wearing when he fell into a coma last month and accused Moscow of withholding an important piece of evidence in his case.

The outspoken opponent of President Vladimir Putin said his clothes were taken away from him before he was flown to Germany for treatment from Siberia after he became violently ill on a domestic flight.

Berlin says tests in Germany, France and Sweden have determined he was poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent and the West has demanded an explanation from Russia.

Moscow has said it is yet to see evidence of a crime and has declined to open an investigation so far, instead opening a pre-investigation probe. The Kremlin has denied any involvement.

"Before they allowed for me to be taken to Germany, they took off all my clothes and sent me completely naked," Navalny wrote on his website as he recovers in a German hospital.

"Considering Novichok was found on my body, and that infection through contact is very likely, my clothes are a very important piece of evidence," he said.

"I demand that my clothes be carefully packed in a plastic bag and returned to me," he said.

Navalny's clothes were taken by investigators and are no longer in the hospital in Siberia's Omsk where he was initially hospitalised, the RIA news agency cited the local health ministry as saying.

Russia has said it needs to see more evidence before a formal criminal investigation is opened and has asked Germany to hand over Navalny's medical data so it can be reviewed.

"The 30 days of 'pre-investigation probe' were used to hide this important evidence," Navalny said.

Ivan Zhdanov, a member of Navalny's team, said Russian transport police had summoned Navalny's spokeswoman and other team members for questioning as part of the pre-investigation probe.

Zhdanov said they would not attend as a 30-day deadline for police to decide whether to open a criminal case had passed.

The transport police said the probe was still under way and that they had questioned 200 people and planned to carry out further checks. They have also sent requests for legal assistance to Germany, France and Sweden.

(Reporting by Tom Balmforth; additional reporting by Maria Kiselyova, Anton Zverev and Andrey Ostroukh; Editing by Alison Williams)
They told [New York Southern District Judge Jesse] Furman that there was no urgency to this case; they said in fact the Supreme Court could take up this case as late as 2022, and now theyre saying, Oh, my God, if we dont get to send our preferred population numbers for apportionment for the House to Congress by December, then that would be irreparable harm. 
RLH Corp.

RLH Corp. has opened its first dual-branded property, the new Red Lion Inn & Suites and Americas Best Value Inn Katy.

The four-story property at 25633 Kingsland Blvd. in Katy contains 63 rooms, including 26 Americas Best Value Inn rooms and 37 Red Lion Inn & Suites rooms. Americas Best rooms are on the odd-numbered floors, while Red Lion rooms are on even-numbered floors. The property has a 624-square-foot meeting room that can accommodate 50 people.
The White House defended Donald Trump as the number of confirmed coronavirus deaths passed 200,000, saying administration officials were expecting two million from the Covid.

Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany made the claim even though the largest number the president had used publicly was 200,000. Mr Trump has faced a backlash over comments he made in private to journalist Bob Woodward that described the disease in more stark terms than he used in public.

Asked about what he told Mr Woodward about young people being affected by it in February and what he said about young people at a campaign rally on Monday night, Ms McEnany said we know a lot more about Covid-19 now. She noted the president said that the previous night.

The president has never downplayed critical medical information, she contended, even though he was recorded by Mr Woodward appearing to do just that.

The 2 million figure seemed picked out of thin air.

"The fact that we have come nowhere near [2 willion dead] is a testament to this president taking immediate action," she said.

Mr Trump claims he was less honest about the severity of the virus in public in an effort to avoid mass chaos.

If you said in order to reduce panic, maybe thats so, Mr Trump said on 9 September when asked about the comments he made to Mr Woodward for his new book. Its just another political hit job.

Mr Trump told reporters that day he told Woodward one thing and the American people another because being honest in public would mean youre going to have bigger problems.

I dont want people to be frightened, he said. We want to show confidence, we want to show strength.

Despite his voice on a recording admitting he was not fully forthcoming in public, the presidents approval rating has remained unchanged.

In fact, a The Hill-HarrisX poll out Tuesday put his approval rating at 48 per cent, a one-point jump from the last version of the survey.
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / September 22, 2020 / In light of Tesla's battery week Gratomic Inc. ("GRAT" or the "Company") (TSXV:GRAT)(OTC PINK:CBULF)(FRANKFURT:CB81) (WKN:A143MR) is gearing up to bring its high grade, environmentally sustainable graphite to the North American EV market.

In a race that started in 2012, Gratomic is the only one of several graphite companies that has successfully brought its asset through to the final construction phase.

The Company is now ready to introduce its graphite to battery producers for use in advanced anode technology. Being of such naturally high purity, Gratomic's vein graphite is ideal for use in this application, requiring simpler, less expensive and more efficient processing methods, resulting in a final product with naturally lower contents of deleterious elements.

In addition to its high purity levels, the Company's Aukam graphite is a much cleaner alternative to this market's current supply options as a sustainably sourced resource as per the Company's September 3rd Press Release. The Company intends to establish a new benchmark for recording and guaranteeing the product's carbon footprint, based on latest generation blockchain technology.

"Gratomic has entered into discussions with several carbon-to-battery experts with the intent to provide a tailored product for the battery market." says CEO and President, Arno Brand.

Gratomic wishes to emphasize that no Preliminary Economic Analysis ("PEA"), Preliminary Feasibility Study or Feasibility Study has been completed to support any level of production. In fact, no mineral resources, let alone mineral reserves demonstrating economic viability and technical feasibility, have been delineated on the Aukam Property.

The Company recently appointed Dr. Ian Flint to complete a preliminary economic assessment (PEA) on the Aukam Processing plant. The study, its recommendations, and their subsequent implementation, will provide conclusions and recommendations at a PEA level of comfort relating to the scale up of the existing processing plant to a commercial scale processing facility that will provide the desired concentrate grades and production rates. A preliminary economic assessment is preliminary in nature, it includes inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves, and there is no certainty that the preliminary economic assessment will be realized.

Gratomic wishes to emphasize that the supply of graphite pursuant to any off-take or supply agreement referred to in this Press Release is conditional on Gratomic being able to bring the Aukam project into a production phase, and for any graphite being produced to meet certain technical and mineralization requirements. Gratomic continues to move its business towards production and as part of its business plan, expects to obtain a National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects technical report to help it ascertain the economics of the Aukam project.

Risk Factors

No mineral resources, let alone mineral reserves demonstrating economic viability and technical feasibility, have been delineated on the Aukam Property. The Company is not in a position to demonstrate or disclose any capital and/or operating costs that may be associated with the processing plant.

The Company advises that it has not based its production decision on even the existence of mineral resources let alone on a feasibility study of mineral reserves, demonstrating economic and technical viability, and, as a result, there may be an increased uncertainty of achieving any particular level of recovery of minerals or the cost of such recovery, including increased risks associated with developing a commercially mineable deposit.

Historically, such projects have a much higher risk of economic and technical failure. There is no guarantee that production will begin as anticipated or at all or that anticipated production costs will be achieved.

Failure to commence production would have a material adverse impact on the Company's ability to generate revenue and cash flow to fund operations. Failure to achieve the anticipated production costs would have a material adverse impact on the Company's cash flow and future profitability.

Steve Gray, P. Geo. and a Director of the Company has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this press release and is the Company's "Qualified Person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

About Gratomic Inc.

Gratomic is an advanced materials company focused on mine to market commercialization of graphite products and components for a range of mass market products. The Company currently holds two off-take purchase agreements for graphite product sourced from the Aukam facility. One agreement is with TODAQ and the other is with Phu Sumika. The Company is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol GRAT.

For more information: visit the website at www.gratomic.ca or contact:

Arno Brand at abrand@gratomic.ca or 416 561-4095

"Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release."

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS:

This news release contains forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or future performance and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Investors are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and, except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and by those made in our filings with SEDAR in Canada (available at www.sedar.com).

SOURCE: Gratomic Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/607136/Gratomic-Battery-Update
Sicario is an action thriller movie released in 2015. The movie is helmed by Denis Villeneuve and is written by Taylor Sheridan. The movie was received well by the audiences and critics from all over the world. The plot of the movie revolved around a principled FBI agent who is enlisted by a government task force to bring down the leader of a powerful and brutal Mexican drug cartel.

The story, direction, cinematography earned praises from all over the world. Sicario cast features several talented actors like Emily Blunt, Benicio del Toro, and Josh Brolin in key roles. A lot of people have been wondering about the Sicario filming locations and where was Sicario filmed. To all the people who are curious to know about where was Sicario filmed, here is everything you need to know about it.

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Where was Sicario filmed?

According to a report by Location Managers Guild International, Sicario shooting locations were mostly in and around Albuquerque, New Mexico. This was done to take advantage of New Mexicos film tax incentive. Apart from Albuquerque, the Sicario movie has been shot in various locations on both sides of the US and Mexico border.

According to IMDb, the movie has been shot in El Paso, Texas, Wild Pony Bar in Los Lunas, Corrales, 9620 Candelaria Road NE in the US. Motel scenes were shot at the Motel 1, 2001 located at Candelaria Rd NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The bank scene from the film has been shot on 9620 Candelaria Road NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA. A significant portion of the film has been shot on the Mexican side of the border. In Mexico, the movie has been shot in Mexico City, Distrito Federal and Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico among others.

The Ciudad Juarez street scenes took place at Mexico City, Distrito Federal in Mexico while the general views of city and US border were shot at Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico.

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'Sicario' filming locations

Sicario also earned several awards and accolades in various categories all over the world. It was nominated for the Best Cinematography, Best Original Score, and Best Sound Editing at the 88th Academy Awards. The movie was also nominated in several BAFTA categories. The sequel fo the movie Sicario: Day of the Soldado, was released in 2018.

Promo Image Credits: Sicario movie Instagram
Ramping up domestic vaccine production, not right to speak of outside supply now: MEA

As persecution of Sikhs rise, New Delhi conveys strong message to Islamabad

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Sep 22: New Delhi has taken up the issue of forcible conversions with Pakistan and asked it to stop the persecution of religious minority community. The issue was taken up after it was reported that 55 Sikh women were kidnaped and forcibly converted to Islam.

India summoned a senior diplomat of the High Commission of Pakistan in New Delhi to the South Block. Top officials of the Ministry of External Affairs conveyed concerns of the government over a series of incidents of abduction and forced conversion.

Anti-conversion law and the dire need for it

It may be recalled that in the 2017 census, Pakistan had excluded Sikhs. However the data available shows that there were around 40,000 Sikhs in Pakistan in 2002. The number today stands at around 8,000.

The decline in numbers is because some have fled to India. The other reason is a large majority have been forcibly converted to Islam. The Sikhs in Pakistan have been complaining about being persecuted. Their lands have been taken away and they have been discriminated and even denied education in Pakistan.

It may be recalled that in 2009, the Taliban had imposed Jizya on the non-Muslims in Pakistan. Jizya is a per capita yearly taxation in the form of financial charge on non-Muslims in a state that is governed by Islam.

#Tesla 'secretly planning' R&D Centre in #Bengaluru? | Oneindia News

In 2010, the homes of 11 Sikh families were demolished as they refused to pay Jizya. In 2018, Charanjeet Singh was shot dead in Peshawar and this became the 10th killing of a Sikh since 2014.

New Delhi on Monday conveyed to Islamabad the anguish of the Sikh community over such incidents of persecution. India took up with Pakistan the incident in which Bulbul Kaur, the daughter of Pritam Singh, a granthi was abducted and forcibly converted.
(Photo : Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) A sign for an emergency phone is seen on the span of the Golden Gate Bridge October 10, 2008 in San Francisco, California. The Golden Gate Bridge District board of directors voted today to continue with a plan to build a suicide prevention net on the world famous bridge with a price tag of $40 to $50 million dollars. An estimated 1,300 people are believed to have jumped to their death from the bridge since it was opened in 1937. (Photo : Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images) Crisis Volunteer Nichola Seaward speaks with a suicidal texter on the crisis text service Shout 85258 from the living room of her home, on June 04, 2020 in Newbury, United Kingdom. Nichola first read about the Shout charity in Hello! magazine, and found that being able to help someone get from a hot moment to a calm moment whilst still at home with her family has allowed her to become more involved in offering support through the pandemic. Nichola has found that the demand for help has increased again, especially for younger people, as lockdown measure are lifted and the pressures of school and work re-appear. Shout is the UK's first 24/7 crisis text line for everyone, and is free, confidential and anonymous to text. Powered by a team of Crisis Volunteers, Shout uses the anonymised data collated to give the service unique insights into mental health trends to help improve peoples lives. In the weeks before lockdown was announced on March 23rd, Shout was typically handling around 750 conversations a day. This has been steadily growing, often seeing more than 1,000 conversations a day. Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, recently revealed that he has been one such volunteer anonymously counseling people during the Covid-19 lockdown, after having been trained by the charity. The Cambridges and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex helped launch the Shout 85258 service last year, investing 3 million via their Royal Foundation

If you need someone to talk to or someone to share your suicidal thoughts; here's a hotline that you can dial.

Don't end your life now

September is the National Suicide Prevention month. In line with the theme, the United States Congress recently passed a house bill that tackling this issue.

Mashable reported on Monday, Sept. 21, the House of Representatives unanimously voted to pass the bill establishing the national three-digit hotline for suicide emergencies.

The hotline '988' is the number that anyone can dial, just in case someone's under mental health crisis. Unfortunately, it will still take until 2022 before it's officially activated at a national level.

But on the brighter side, the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act will also require states to collect fees for the ongoing call capacity and allow health agencies to talk to Congress for suggestions to maintain better mental health for everyone.

Interestingly, the Act also requires the councilors on the hotline to take LGBTQ cultural competency training to make better pieces of advice on their mental health.

"This passage is a historic victory, as this is the first explicitly LGBTQ-inclusive bill to pass unanimously in history - and 988 will undoubtedly save countless lives," said Sam Brinton, Vice President of Advocacy and Government Affairs for The Trevor Project, in a statement.

U.S.faces huge risks of suicide under pandemic season

Forbes reported that suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in America. Every 40 seconds, someone dies due to a mental health issue.

And under the pandemic and quarantine season, this rate is not going down. As the Mayo Clinic website advised, suicidal victims should "take a step back and separate your emotions from your actions for the moment."

If it's not helping, seek immediate help is much better to advise.

ALSO READ: Naya Rivera Update: Accident or Suicide? Her 'Glee' Co-Stars Speak Up, Family Members Remain Silent

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Written by Jamie Pancho

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
While technology has expanded your brands reach, it has unfortunately created dangerous liabilities right along with it. Whereas once your data was once more or less safe within a filing cabinet, now all virtual records are at risk of falling into the wrong hands.

A data breach can be a backbreaker for any brand. Theres the immediate scramble to stop the bleeding, but well past the initial clean-up, the ripple effects can cripple a company for years.



Being proactive against this threat is pivotal to any brands survival in the 21st century. Recognizing the true cost of a data breach is but the first step to shore up your brands vulnerabilities. Taking actions to ensure your defensive systems are well implemented will set your company apart and quite possibly save it when you find yourself under attack.

Customer trust dwindles

Customer trust is the cornerstone of any brands success, and a failure of data security impacts this all-important area immediately. Studies show that private data such as credit card and social security numbers are top targets and that 48 percent of consumers have cut ties with brands that have had a security breach.

Anyone who has gone through identity theft can attest to how frustrating and time-consuming the recovery process can be. If the cause can be directly linked to a companys negligence, then harsh backlash will certainly follow. It can take years to properly build a loyal base of customers, and a data breach can dismantle this overnight.

Sales and brand loyalty will surely be affected by a data breach, but the damage may extend far beyond these external aspects.

Related: 4 Statistical Reasons Data Security Should Be a Top Priority for Small Businesses

Trade secrets are out in the open

Intellectual property is what gives you an edge over competitors. Its one of few ways a smaller business can hope to contend with industry juggernauts who have more funding and experience. If these hard-earned secrets are spilled, theres not much that can be done to contain them again. The internet doesnt forget, and once made public, your secrets will remain so.

Your supply chain sources, sensitive data and all the details which make you stand out in the market can become diluted overnight. With the right team, you can find another angle in time and possibly recover. However, if the crux of your companys business model relies on a few key secrets, a single breach can do some serious damage.

Suffice to say, a data breach can drive a promising day straight into the gutter and leave your business in pain for much longer. A data breach blows the doors off any sense of security for your customer base and is blood in the water to competitors. The best way to attend to both issues is to ensure your internal systems are prepared to meet the moment.

Information is the best fortification

As any brand grows in scope, you become a more lucrative target, and theres no outright way to avoid this. Its inevitable a data breach attempt will be made on a long enough timescale. If you cannot dodge a blow, then your brand best learn to absorb it.



Dale Walls, a founding partner of Corsica Technologies and past systems engineer for the United States Marine Corps, offered this recommendation in a recent email exchange: Theres no single solution which can stop data breaches; what you need is an overall roadmap and multiple redundancies as your defense. With the rise of remote work you have employees potentially using unsecured networks all over the world and, of course, theres always the more active threat of hackers as well. Your security system has to keep pace with these kinds of changes if you want to keep your data safe.



Having information flowing and key metrics measured results in a well-balanced defense, which is harder to crack and quicker to respond. Know what your baseline statistics are for KPIs like intrusion attempts, access management and the number of unidentified devices on internal networks. When you see suspicious activities that exceed these boundaries, you can clamp down immediately.

Think of it as an immune system  its impossible to anticipate every threat it may encounter over a lifetime. Having a higher overall level of health is within your control, however, and putting procedures in place for when the alarms sounds can make all the difference when time matters most. A healthy cyber defense system is one that speaks up when something abnormal occurs and has data readily on hand to tell you what happened.



Information is part of the solution, but as with so much else with technology, it can be a double-edged sword. Once you have this kind of power at your disposal, knowing how much to dole out and to whom is the next step.

Establish a clear hierarchy of access

Internal trust within a team is key, and restricting access to sensitive documents to essential parties naturally lowers your risk for a data breach. With fewer avenues of attack, the risk of exposure drops dramatically.

The risk here isnt so much about external predators, but a lack of data access control. When lines are muddled they are often crossed, and once data has slipped beyond the grips of your company, it is vulnerable to unaccounted risks. Whether or not its intentional isnt relevant when the disastrous results are the same.

Does every part-time worker need access to big-picture company strategies and revenue projections? Probably not, and your data access should reflect this. Create a data control system in advance, and refer to it when you come to these crossroads. This will ultimately save your company time and ensure that only those who need to know, know.

Transparency is important and at the moment it might be easier to simply click share all. Before you do so, though, take a minute to consider who really needs access to data and how the datas exposure could potentially jeopardize your brand.

Related: 6 Tips to Stop Hackers from Stealing Your Data and Your Business

Data has become a valuable currency in itself, and just like the money it represents, it requires its own version of an alarm system before would-be robbers reach the vault. By being aware of the risks and fortifying your brands defenses well before they are tested, you can avoid or endure a data breach without it being the end of your brand.

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The owner of a drag racing track was cited for violating coronavirus-related regulations after authorities found at least 1,000 people gathered at the Warren County strip, an official said Monday.

Officers were called to the Island Dragway in Independence Township over the weekend, according to New Jersey State Police Superintendent Col. Patrick Callahan.

Police responded to traffic and there [were] over a thousand patrons there so that owner was also cited for [executive order] violation, Callahan said during a media briefing on the pandemic in Trenton.

Local officials and state police did not immediately provide more details on the case. State officials routinely announce summonses given to businesses and others for violating Gov. Phil Murphys orders aimed at stopping the spread of the virus.

Island Dragway, a 50-year-old destination, states on its website that the facility follows coronavirus directives, including operating at 50% capacity.

A representative for Island Dragway could not be immediately reached to comment.

Meanwhile on Monday, officials reported 396 new coronavirus cases and two deaths in the state as the rate of transmission held steady at 1.12 the second day after gradually increasing last week. A rate of transmission above 1 indicates that each newly-infected person is on average spreading the virus to at least one other person.

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Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com.
Interactions between evolutionary pressures at the cellular and environmental level may enable cheating mitochondria to persist despite potential harm to individual organisms

Cheating mitochondria may take advantage of cellular mechanisms for coping with food scarcity in a simple worm to persist, even though this can reduce the worm's wellbeing.

These findings, published today in eLife, may help shed light on the evolution of cheating and cooperative behaviours within different organisms.

Mitochondria are energy-producing units within cells that likely evolved from bacteria. They have their own DNA, take in resources from cells, and in exchange provide the cell with energy. But some so-called 'cheater mitochondria' have harmful DNA mutations that may reduce their energy output and harm the organism. Why these cheater mitochondria persist despite their harm to the larger organism is not currently clear.

"Cooperation and cheating are widespread evolutionary strategies," says lead author Bryan Gitschlag, a PhD student at the Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee. "While cheating confers an advantage to individual entities within a group, competition between groups favours cooperation."

Gitschlag and his colleagues studied the roundworm Caenorhabiditis elegans to see how competing evolutionary pressures within its cells and in its environment might enable the cheater mitochondria to persist.

They measured the levels of cheater and typical mitochondria in the worm's cells. They found that, within the cells, a protein called DAF-16, which helps cells to survive stress, is necessary for cheater mitochondria to multiply. When the worms face food shortages, cheater mitochondria become more harmful to their hosts, but only in those lacking DAF-16. "This shows that food scarcity can strengthen evolutionary selection against worms carrying cheater mitochondria, but DAF-16 protects them from it," Gitschlag explains.

The results suggest that competing selection pressures within an organism and in its environment may shed light on why selfishness and cooperation often exist side-by-side among populations.

"The ability to cope with scarcity can promote group-level tolerance to cheating, inadvertently prolonging cheater persistence," says senior author Maulik Patel, Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences at Vanderbilt University.

"As selfish mitochondrial genomes are implicated in numerous disorders, and cheating is a widespread evolutionary strategy, it will be interesting to apply our methods to study a broader collection of cheating variants and host species. This could allow us to better understand the development of mitochondrial disorders or the evolutionary principles underlying cooperation and cheating," Patel concludes.

###

Reference

The paper 'Nutrient status shapes selfish mitochondrial genome dynamics across different levels of selection' can be freely accessed online at https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.56686. Contents, including text, figures and data, are free to reuse under a CC BY 4.0 license.

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eLife

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About eLife

eLife is a non-profit organisation created by funders and led by researchers. Our mission is to accelerate discovery by operating a platform for research communication that encourages and recognises the most responsible behaviours. We work across three major areas: publishing, technology and research culture. We aim to publish work of the highest standards and importance in all areas of biology and medicine, including Evolutionary Biology and Genetics and Genomics, while exploring creative new ways to improve how research is assessed and published. We also invest in open-source technology innovation to modernise the infrastructure for science publishing and improve online tools for sharing, using and interacting with new results. eLife receives financial support and strategic guidance from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, the Max Planck Society and Wellcome. Learn more at https://elifesciences.org/about.

To read the latest Evolutionary Biology research published in eLife, visit https://elifesciences.org/subjects/evolutionary-biology.

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FILE PHOTO: Dr. Maria Rosario Singh-Vergeire, Undersecretary of Health and DOH Spokesperson (right), answering questions from journalists during the press conference. (Photo: Josefiel Rivera/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

By Andreo Calonzo and Claire Jiao

The Philippines purchase and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines can only be made starting the second quarter of 2021 as delays hit the review of possible candidates.

This is a practical and realistic timeline as vaccines will go through registration then clinical trials for a number of months, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a virtual briefing, adding that the nations Food and Drug Administration will accelerate the approval process by two weeks.

President Rodrigo Duterte however said in a speech late Monday that a vaccine will be available by December, and that the nation will be better off by January.

Were surviving and were only waiting for the vaccine, Duterte said. Unless the vaccine is there available and effective, only then can we really say were moving.

The government is waiting for Russias Sputnik V clinical trial data for review, while the trial for potential COVID treatment Avigan, previously set to start Aug. 17, is also pending approval.

The Philippines has seen a resurgence in new infections, topping 3,000 in the past two weeks. It has 290,190 cases as of Monday, the most in Southeast Asia.

Duterte has allowed 1,500 health workers with contracts as of August 31 to leave for jobs abroad, spokesman Harry Roque said at a separate briefing. In April, the Philippines banned doctors and nurses from leaving for overseas work to boost its health workforce.

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Ontarios government plans to invest in Ford Motor Co.s Oakville plant once the automaker gets past union talks, Premier Doug Ford said.

Were contributing towards this plant  were contributing a massive amount at the end of the day once we get through these negotiations, Ford said Monday at a news conference in Toronto.

Canadas federal government told Ford Motor its willing to provide as much as $500 million to bring electric vehicle production to Oakville, a suburb west of Toronto, the Toronto Star newspaper reported Sunday, citing a draft letter to the automaker.

The factory, Fords only assembly plant in Canada, makes the Lincoln Nautilus and Ford Edge crossover. Its considered at risk to close after the company scrapped plans to make a next-generation Edge.

Doug Ford, whos not related to the family that controls the automaker, declined to say how much his government is prepared to spend to aid the company. The premier said hes looking for a commitment to have battery manufacturing for electric vehicles done in Ontario.

We can manufacture every other part, he said. We have the lithium, we have the nickel, we have the raw materials that go into the batteries.

Unifor, Canadas largest private-sector union, is in negotiations with Ford Motor on a labour contract that will set the wage and benefit pattern for most of its 17,000 members who work for all three of Detroits major carmakers. The union had set a strike deadline of midnight Toronto time, though it said Monday it wouldnt comment on the time frame and plans to give an update on Tuesday morning.

We look forward to negotiating an agreement with Unifor that will help lead Ford of Canada, our employees and our communities into the future. The details about how we do that will be discussed at the bargaining table, not in the media, Rose Pao, a spokesperson for Ford Motors Canadian unit, said in an email.

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After two years of delay, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has finally agreed to release funds for the remaining Nigerian students under its foreign scholarship programme.

The students, close to 100 in number, belong to the 2018 batch of the scholarship programme.

They have remained stranded in the United Kingdom after the NDDC management repeatedly excluded them from funding for about two years.

The students held a protest in front of the Nigerian High Commission in London recently after the NDDC disowned them as hirelings masquerading as the Commissions scholars.

They brandished their NDDC scholarship award letters during the London protest to prove they were not hirelings.

A statement issued on Monday by the NDDC quoted Cairo Ojougboh, the executive director, Projects, as saying that the delay in funding the scholarship was caused by many factors including the fight by those opposed to Mr Presidents forensic audit of the commission which distracted the management from working for at least two months.

Mr Ojougboh, with other NDDC officials, held a meeting on Monday with the aggrieved students in London, where he assured that money for their tuition and upkeep would be released soon after some verification.

The students were represented by Gobo Iyowuna, Kingsley Omokaro and Kayode Olugbemi, the statement said.

One of the students who spoke with PREMIUM TIMES after the meeting said he hoped the commission would keep to their words this time around.

The students have been appealing for President Muhammadu Buharis intervention in the matter.

A group in the Niger Delta, the Niger Delta Rights Advocates, said it was another joke taken too far for the NDDC management to have described the students as hirelings.

The most honourable path to take should be sorting out all beneficiaries of its scholarship scheme, rather than resorting to issuing pedestrian official statements that will exacerbate the already shameful situation, the group said in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Darlington Nwauju.
NSW is two weeks away from an open border with Queensland if no mystery cases are left untraced by October 6, as airlines announce they will add more flights to their schedules.

But Premier Gladys Berejiklian has urged her Queensland counterpart to bring down the border now after NSW recorded zero new locally-acquired cases on Tuesday.

There were also just two cases among returned travellers in hotel quarantine detected in the 24-hours to 8pm on Monday.

The good news kept coming as South Australia announced it would reopen to NSW from Thursday and Queensland would extend its border community bubble to include five more areas in northern NSW.

From 1am on October 1, residents in Byron Bay, Ballina, Lismore, Richmond Valley and Glen Innes local government areas will be able to travel to Queensland after applying for a border pass - in effect opening the state to 41 NSW postcodes.

Queensland could reopen the border to all of NSW on October 6, if NSW Health authorities are able to trace every new COVID-19 case acquired in the meantime.

Read the full story here.
The government must be transparent about its reasons for any future coronavirus lockdowns and justify its interference with public freedoms, MPs have said.

The warning was issued by parliaments Joint Committee on Human Rights as Boris Johnson considers new restrictions to curb a rapid rise in infections.

"The government must be transparent in justifying the timings of its decisions to go into, and out of, lockdown, said a report released on Monday.

"Assessments of the proportionality of measures must be up-to-date, based on the latest scientific evidence, and formulated as a result of a precautionary approach to minimising overall loss to life.

Importantly, the government must be transparent in justifying its decision-making, including in explaining how it has balanced competing interests and the evidence on which the balancing decision has been made."

MPs said that confusion and disproportionality in the police response to the pandemic must be stopped, and that the government had changed coronavirus laws once a week on average.

They raised concern about the disproportionate fining of black and Asian men for lockdown violations, and said: The government must learn from these mistakes to ensure that any additional lockdowns do not unfairly impact specific groups.

The health secretary refused on Sunday to rule out a second national lockdown and warned that Britain was at a tipping point.

With cases rising across the country, Matt Hancock said there was a danger the numbers could shoot through the roof.

He urged people to follow the new rule of six restrictions and social distancing measures, adding: We of course have to be prepared to take action if that's what's necessary.

The government has imposed several new local lockdowns and announced that anyone in England who refuses an order to self-isolate could face a fine of up to 10,000.

Shoppers in Greenwich Market, London, on Sunday (Getty Images)

Harriet Harman, chair of the Joint Committee on Human Rights, said the scale of the coronavirus pandemic was unlike anything many of us will see again in our lifetime.

She said: Disruption to our normal way of life and human rights are sometimes necessary in order to lead the country through any significant emergency, but this must always be done in a way that is proportionate and justifiable in accordance with the balancing act that is protecting our human rights.

The committee said its report aimed to inform any future response to a second wave of the virus as well as a six-month review of the Coronavirus Act 2020.

MPs found that restrictions on movement, gatherings, businesses, school closures and meeting loved ones had all impacted on human rights.

But the report said that because the government had acted to protect the overriding right to life, it had not violated international human rights laws.

The committee warned that the right also imposed obligations on the government to learn lessons and avoid unnecessary deaths in the future.

 10,000 fines for breaching self-isolation rule

It called for a review to be carried out as soon as possible for immediate planning purposes, followed by a wider public inquiry.

MPs said it would be necessary to consider issues including deaths in care homes due to early releases from hospitals.

The report said any inquiry should also examine the deaths of health and social care workers, transport staff, police and security guards due to inadequate PPE [personal protective equipment].

In order to ensure respect for the right to life, it is crucial to ask whether the steps taken have done enough to protect the lives of those most vulnerable to the disease, it added.

The death rates for older people and those from black, Asian and ethnic minority (Bame) groups amongst others have been startlingly high in comparison to other groups.

The committee said that Bame groups had also been disproportionately affected by the enforcement of lockdown laws, which may have been misapplied by police in some cases.

There has been confusion over the status and interpretation of guidance, and the relationship between guidance and the law, the report said. Lessons must be learnt urgently from this period of lockdown in order to avoid the worst elements of confusion and disproportionality before any second wave and any further lockdowns either at a local or national level.

Coronavirus: London on lockdown Show all 29 1 /29 Coronavirus: London on lockdown Coronavirus: London on lockdown A man walks down a deserted Camden High Street Photos Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Goodge Street Station is one of the many stations closed to help reduce the spread Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown An empty street in the heart of Chinatown Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown People in masks in Chinatown a day after the lockdown Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown A near-empty Piccadilly Circus during the first week of lockdown Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Sonja, my neighbour, who I photographed while taking a short walk. It was nice to briefly chat even from a distance Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown A couple sit on the empty steps of the statue Eros in Piccadilly Circus Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Making sure I stay two-meters apart  DArblay Street, Soho Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown A mannequin behind a shop window. UK stores have closed until further notice Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown A notice displayed on a shop window in Camden Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown As part of the lockdown, all non-essential shops have been ordered to close.Image from Camden High Street Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown A skateboarder wearing a mask utilises his exercise allowance in the Camden area Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Communities have been coming together in a time of need Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown A woman stands alone in a deserted Oxford Street. Up until a few weeks ago, on average, half a million people visited the street per day Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown A couple walk hand in hand down a street in Soho, a day before the stricter lockdown was announced Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown During the first week of March, shoppers focused on stockpiling necessities ahead of a countrywide lockdown Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Many supermarkers are operating a queuing system to make sure only a limited amount of customers are allowed in at anyone time Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Stay Safe  Curzon cinemas are temporarily closed under the new measures Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Pubs, restaurants and bars were ordered to shut as part of the lockdown Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Camden High Street There are fears that coronavirus could lead to permanent closure of struggling shops Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Camden Town is eerily silent on a normal working day Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Shops and supermarkets ran out of hand sanitisers in the first week of the lockdown. As we approach the end of the second week most shops now have started to stock up Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Empty streets around Soho Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown A noticeboard on Camden High Street urges the public to stay at home Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Camden High Street, one of Londons busiest tourist streets turns quiet Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Thriller Live confirmed its West End run ended in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Empty and eerie Soho streets after stricter rules on social distancing announced Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown A woman pauses for a cigarette on Hanway Street, behind Tottenham Court Road Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown A man steps outside onto Hanway Street, that sits behind what is usually a bustling retail hub Angela Christofilou

This is all the more important given the speed and frequency with which national and local lockdown laws change and the consequent difficulty for people to keep on top of what is legally required and what is reasonably expected of them.

The committee found that coronavirus legislation had changed once a week on average, and that it was not easy enough for people to access or understand current laws.

Police have handed out more than 19,000 fines under the Health Protection Regulations so far and MPs warned that unclear language and confusion among police meant that some may have been given out incorrectly.

They called for the government to introduce a formal way of challenging the penalties, which people must currently pay or face prosecution.

MPs criticised the government for continuing to use statutory instrument procedures, which bypass full parliamentary scrutiny, for creating coronavirus laws, and for making major announcements to the press before making them in parliament.

They said that emergency powers could be justified in March but must now be limited to what is absolutely necessary.

The report also raised concern about the treatment of people in prisons and other forms of detention, as well as access to justice amid court delays, and privacy issues around contact tracing.
An international team of scientists said Monday it had joined forces to combat the spread of anti-Semitism online with the help of artificial intelligence. The project Decoding Anti-Semitism includes discourse analysts, computational linguists and historians who will develop a highly complex, AI-driven approach to identifying online anti-Semitism, the Alfred Landecker Foundation, which supports the project, said in a statement Monday. In order to prevent more and more users from becoming radicalized on the web, it is important to identify the real dimensions of anti-Semitism  also taking into account the implicit forms that might become more explicit over time, said Matthias Becker, a linguist and project leader from the Technical University of Berlin. The team also includes researchers from Kings College in London and other scientific institutions in Europe and Israel.

Computers will help run through vast amounts of data and images that humans wouldnt be able to assess because of their sheer quantity, the foundation said. Studies have also shown that the majority of anti-Semitic defamation is expressed in implicit ways  for example through the use of codes (juice instead of Jews) and allusions to certain conspiracy narratives or the reproduction of stereotypes, especially through images, the statement said. As implicit anti-Semitism is harder to detect, the combination of qualitative and AI-driven approaches will allow for a more comprehensive search, the scientists think.

The problem of anti-Semitism online has increased, as seen by the rise in conspiracy myths accusing Jews of creating and spreading COVID-19, groups tracking anti-Semitism on the internet have found. The focus of the current project is initially on Germany, France and the UK, but will later be expanded to cover other countries and languages. The Alfred Landecker Foundation, which was founded in 2019 in response to rising trends of populism, nationalism and hatred toward minorities, is supporting the project with 3 million euros ($3.5 million), the German news agency dpa reported.

(This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.)

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A few days after the state education department formed committees to address the complaints with respect to fee hikes in private schools, it has now ordered an inspection of four such schools in Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai.

In a circular issued by the office of the deputy director on September 16, two committees of department officials have been formed to look into the complaints of parents from different schools. Schools whose names are mentioned in the list are- St Josephs school in Panvel, Euro school in Thane, Universal School in Ghatkopar and Bright Star Fellowship International school in Grant Road. The officials appointed by the department will inspect the documents of these schools pertaining to the last 7 years.

While Euro School did not respond to comments, Universal school said that it would respond after taking legal opinion. A spokesperson from the Xaviers group that runs St Joseph school said, The concerned education officer has issued a letter to the school on September 10 and the same has been replied to. Officials at Bright Start Fellowship School could not be reached for a comment.

Private schools have the powers to fix their own fees as per the Maharashtra Educational Institutions (Regulation of Fees Act) 2011. However, the act has set some rules with respect to a cap on the percentage fee hike, duration after which it can be imposed and has also laid down the procedure for its approval by the Parent Teachers Association. However some parents have alleged that schools are not following these norms. We have thus asked for an inspection of such schools to verify their documents, said a senior official from the department.

Last week, several parents from different schools in the city met Bacchu Kadu, state minister for school education. Jayant Jain, president of the Forum for Fairness in Education coordinated with the delegation of parents from around 35 schools. In the days to come, the department plans to inspect more schools. We are doing it in phases as we are short staffed due to Covid-19 related restrictions, added the official.
Upping the ante against farm bills, the Congress party has decided to stage a demonstration across the country. The Congress party will also be collecting signatures of at least two crore farmers for a memorandum against the legislation which will be submitted to the president.

Yesterday, the Congress party convened the first physical meeting at 12 Akbar Road headquarters since the coronavirus outbreak. In the meeting, Congress general secretaries and state-in-charges decided to initiate a massive people's movement against the farm bills before the bill gets President's nod and turns into a law.

Last week, the two contentious farm bills--the Farmer's Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 were passed in the Lok Sabha. And, on Sunday, farm bills were passed after utter chaos and uproar in the Upper House. Now, only President Ramnath Kovind's nod is left to turn these bills into a law.

Yesterday, at least 18 opposition parties wrote to the President to highlight their concerns and urge him not to sign the bills. MPs are also sitting on an indefinite protest at parliament premises.

Congress MP KC Venugopal alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was "misleading the country" by making allegations against the Opposition. Party's senior spokesperson Randeep Surjewala also hit out at the government, alleging that the livelihood of farmers and labourers was "being ended".

At a press conference after the meeting, senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel said the opposition party will take the farm bills issue to the people not only at the state level, but at the district and village levels.

"We discussed the political situation of the country especially the farmers' agitation. The way the government of India is bulldozing anti-farmers' laws in Parliament, it is totally unacceptable to the country and the people of India," said Venugopal.

"First this government did 'notebandi', then with GST brought 'vyaparbandi', then with lockdown did 'deshbandi' and is now planning 'khetbandi'," Surjewala alleged.

OPPOSITION PARTIES' PROTEST

In the next four days, Congress chief ministers, Pradesh Congress Committee presidents, Congress legislative party leaders along with MPs, MLAs, and senior leaders will walk from the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) office or a prominent place like Mahatma Gandhi statue to the Raj Bhavan. Then on September 28, the party's leaders will submit a memorandum to the Governor, addressed to the President of India, seeking withdrawal of these farm bills.

On October 2, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri, Congress will observe 'Save farmers and farm labourers day'. "We will hold dharnas and marches in every state and district headquarters across India against the agriculture bills, asking for their immediate withdrawal," Venugopal said.

On October 10, the party's state units will organise 'kisaan sammelans'. Additionally, between October 2 and 31, Congress workers will go to villages and collect signatures from farmers against the contentious bills.

Two crore signatures will be collected and the memorandum against the bills will be submitted to the President on Jawaharlal Nehru's birth anniversary on November 14, Surjewala informed in a press conference.

Besides, Friday, September 25, is set to be a red-letter day in opposition parties' protests against the bills, with a number of rallies and demonstrations planned. The Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) will hold a nationwide protest and carry out roadblocks. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has decided to support the September 25 Punjab 'bandh' call given by various farmers' outfits against the three new farm bills. As many as 30 farmers' outfits have already given a call for the complete shutdown of Punjab on September 25 in protest against the three farm bills.

The All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee has also called for a protest on Friday in which at least 10 trade unions have offered their support. In Tamil Nadu, the DMK and its allies have announced protests starting September 28. The Left Front and associated parties will block roads and hold protest rallies with farmers in Bengal.

WHAT ARE THE CONCERNS OVER THE FARM BILLS?

The Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 seeks to give freedom to farmers to sell their produce outside the notified APMC market yards (mandis). This, the government says, is aimed at facilitating remunerative prices through competitive alternative trading channels. Farmers will not be charged any cess or levy for sale of their production under this Act, according to the government.

However, farmers' outfits are apprehensive that small/poor farmers will have a negative impact because of this new bill as they will find it difficult to negotiate directly with large-scale buyers. They might also find it difficult to avail better prices at markets because of constraints on travel and storage.

According to farmers, mandis play a crucial role in ensuring timely payments to them. Removing these markets, or allowing corporates direct access, without offering an alternative, such as regulated direct-purchase centres, does not make sense.

The second bill cleared in parliament--Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 seeks to give farmers the right to enter into a contract with agribusiness firms, processors, wholesalers, exporters, or large retailers for the sale of future farming produce at a pre-agreed price. It seeks to transfer the risk of market unpredictability from farmers to sponsors.

Farmers are worried MSP (a price guaranteed by the government) will be removed. According to farmers' organisation, small and marginal farmers might get vulnerable to disadvantageous contracts unless the sale prices continue to be regulated. Although the Centre has assured the MSPs will not be removed, farmers are concerned allowing prices to be settled outside regulated mandis will make it difficult for the government to monitor each transaction individually.

In addition to farmers' concerns, state governments - particularly those in Punjab and Haryana - fear that if private buyers start purchasing directly from farmers, they will lose out on taxes that are charged at mandis. The potential scrapping of mandis would also endanger the jobs of millions who work there.

(With agencies input)

Also read: Minimum support price hiked for wheat, 5 other rabi crops amid Farm Bills Row

Also read: PM Modi defends farm bills once again; says will change economic condition of farmers

Also read: 'Bandh' on September 25 to protest farm bills; Congress, other opposition parties unite
Public school teachers across South Carolina are planning to take a day off from work Wednesday to protest a temporary suspension of salary increases.

SC for Ed, the teacher advocacy group that organized the 10,000-strong march on the Statehouse steps last year, is urging educators across the state to use a personal day and stay home from school to raise awareness of the issues teachers are facing as schools reopen during a global pandemic.

It's unknown how many will participate in Wednesday's protest, but the event will include teachers who are in the classroom with students and those who are providing instruction online.

The "Stand Up and Step Out" teacher walkout comes after what the group calls a "wildly disappointing" move by the S.C. House to not pass a state budget. Approved by the Senate last week, the budget includes more funding for teacher salaries.

In the spring, the Legislature passed a continuing resolution, a measure that keeps the state government running at last years spending levels. As a result, teachers' annual salary bumps, also known as step increases, have been temporarily halted.

"With everything that theyre pushing and still freezing our salaries, the disrespect toward teachers is at an all-time high," said Saani Perry, SC for Ed's diversity and inclusion officer.

While the issue of teacher salaries is the main catalyst for Wednesday's protest, SC for Ed leaders say there are dozens of other issues in play that also prompted teachers to take action.

"Were not just fighting about salaries, were fighting about fully funding education and adding funds to the base student cost," Perry said. "This is not just about teacher salary, its about doing whats right for education."

Senators passed a state budget last week that gives teachers small raises, an additional $175 stipend to poll workers and $1,000 hazard pay bonuses to state employees. Their plan for the fiscal year that started 2-and-a-half months ago allocated $309 million of a projected surplus, though $70 million of that went to a reserve account for unknown COVID-19 expenses. The rest of the $861 million surplus was set aside for potentially plugging shortfalls in case the economy worsens.

But House leaders don't want to spend any of that potential surplus yet, saying the economy remains too uncertain. The House's chief budget writer, Rep. Murrell Smith, said Thursday he'd like to give the pay bumps now but doesn't want to risk having to lay off teachers later if the economy continues to freefall.

He said House leaders are committed to passing a plan mimicking the Senate's when the Legislature returns in January, if the outlook hasn't worsened. At that point, the state's fiscal year would be half over, and projections will hopefully be much clearer. The state's economic advisers expect to revise their revenue projections in November. If legislators do pass the plan in January, teachers' raises would be retroactive to the July 1 start of the fiscal year.

The Senate plan spends $50 million on pay bumps for teachers. But those are nowhere close to the $3,000-per-teacher pay hikes legislators intended before the pandemic forced shutdowns worldwide. That would cost an additional $213 million.

Instead, the Senate plan provides teachers their normal annual bump for an additional year in the classroom. The state-paid step increases, suspended without a new budget, generally represent a 2 percent raise and end at 23 years of experience, meaning the states most veteran teachers still wouldnt benefit.

Ryan Brown, a spokesman for the S.C. Department of Education, said "knows very little about" the protest, but that his agency is very supportive of step increases being reinstated.

Not doing so, he said, "could potentially lead to a greater teaching shortage than our state is already experiencing, which would have implications well beyond the pandemic."

It's only a few weeks into the start of the new school year, but educators say they are frustrated and exhausted. Some have already resigned, and education advocates say it's certain that more will follow.

Over 27 percent of school staff surveyed said they plan to leave their current jobs, according to results of an SC for Ed poll released Friday.

The grassroots organization collected responses from more than 4,000 teachers, or roughly 7 percent of the state's total teaching force.

The results "painted a picture of inequity and confusion across the state as districts responded to the COVID-19 crisis with varying resources and directives given by both district- and state-level leaders," according to the summary of survey findings.

"We just felt like this was a time to do something, a time to have our voices heard, a time to say this is unacceptable,' " said SC for Ed board member Dottie Adams.

Adams, who teaches in Richland School District 1, said she's thankful her district opted to start the school year entirely online. Still, she has colleagues across the state that weren't as fortunate.

"I cant imagine if I was also having to worry about my own health, the health of my own children and then the health of my students," she said.

In Charleston County schools, where students had the option to return for a full week of face-to-face instruction, 85 percent of teachers surveyed had a negative opinion of the district's reopening plan. It's a similar story in Berkeley County, where 86 percent of survey respondents disapproved of the district's response.

Jody Stallings, a CCSD teacher and director of the Charleston Teacher Alliance, said last-minute changes from the district, such as the decision to bring more than 8,000 additional students back in person just three weeks after the first day of school, has made things more difficult for teachers.

Communication has also been an issue, he said. Ultimately, teachers' satisfaction with the new school year depends heavily on the response of school leadership.

Stallings said he will not be participating in Wednesday's protest, and that he hasn't heard from many teachers who are.

"Obviously we want the state to act on this, we want the state to do what's right, but I think just leaving the classroom right now is a really tough position for a lot of teachers," he said.

Seanna Adcox contributed to this report.
Chiefs at Asankrangwa have denied reports circulating that they have endorsed the National Democratic Congress (NDC) ahead of the December 7 polls.



The Gyaasehene of Asankrangwa, Nana Adu Boahen is said to have made some statements to suggest they are solidly behind the NDC for victory, when NDC Running Mate, Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang visited the Amenfi West constituency on Tuesday, September 22, 2020.



In a statement copied to Peacefmonline, the Chiefs want the general public to know that the words of the Gyaasehene have been miscontrued, hence the need to set the records straight.



''The language we employed in our speech is the language use for every Presidential candidate and running mate who pays a courtesy call on Nananom. The Divisional Council has the history of neutrality on politics. We do so, acutely aware of the political divide that has polarised our traditional area and constituency. Rather than endorse, we encourage--and that is what we did when the lady Professor took her turn to visit us. It's unfortunate that the language of neutrality Nana Adu Boahen employed, perhaps with the embellishment of royal diplomatic semantics, didn't sit well with sections of the public.



''We spoke, being aware that all political parties have an equal chance of emerging victorious on the December 7 election, hence our reference to the lady Professor that, being in the race, she like all other candidates, has the potential to emerge victorious. We asked that when she has her turn to be in power, she should remember our deplorable circumstances and help us.''



The Chiefs also stated emphatically that ''the act of political endorsement is alien to our standard of neutrality and therefore would not engage in this divisive scheme...''



Read full statement below:



WE DIDN'T ENDORSE NDC--ASANKRANGWA CHIEFS



The Asankrangwa Divisional Area of the Wassa Amenfi Divisional Council issues this explanatory note to clear the misconceptions arising out of the statement made by Nana Adu Boahen, when Professor Naana Jane Opoku Agyeman, the running mate to the NDC flag bearer visited the Amenfi West Constituency on the 15th September 2020. Nana Adu Boahen's statement has been misconstrued, and we want to set the records straight as espoused below.



The language we employed in our speech is the language use for every Presidential candidate and running mate who pays a courtesy call on Nananom. The Divisional Council has the history of neutrality on politics. We do so, acutely aware of the political divide that has polarised our traditional area and constituency.



Rather than endorse, we encourage--and that is what we did when the lady Professor took her turn to visit us. It's unfortunate that the language of neutrality Nana Adu Boahen employed, perhaps with the embellishment of royal diplomatic semantics, didn't sit well with sections of the public.



We spoke, being aware that all political parties have an equal chance of emerging victorious on the December 7 election, hence our reference to the lady Professor that, being in the race, she like all other candidates, has the potential to emerge victorious. We asked that when she has her turn to be in power, she should remember our deplorable circumstances and help us.



We spoke, knowing that any of the parties that comes to power on January 7 can potentially help us with development projects. As traditional rulers, we speak what will benefit the mass of our people.



This explanatory note does not proceed from prejudice, ill-will or fear; neither is it borne out of sychophancy or eye pleasing service. When it comes to Chiefs endorsing political parties and candidates, the Asankrangwa Divisional Area have the benefit of history that attest to our neutrality.



We stick to our statement that our area has long been neglected by politicians since 1992. This we reiterated during the visit of the Professor Naana Jane Opoku Agyeman, and we shall continue to engage any other visiting political party on such developmental issues.



In conclusion, we Nananom of the Asankragwa Divisional Area, wants to affirm that the act of political endorsement is alien to our standard of neutrality and therefore would not engage in this divisive scheme which have a strong potential of hurting our common purpose and unity as a nation.



Signed.

Andrew Kwame Appiah

Stool Secretary

Asankrangwa Divisional Area.

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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TANZANIA, Tanzania - Kept apart by a devastating pandemic and dispersed across the globe, world leaders convened electronically Tuesday for an unprecedented high-level meeting, where the U.N. chief exhorted them to unite and tackle the eras towering problems: the coronavirus, the economic calamity it unleashed and the risk of a new Cold War between the United States and China.

As Secretary-General Antonio Guterres opened the first virtual general debate of the U.N. General Assembly, the yawning gaps of politics and anger became evident. China and Iran clashed with the United States  via prerecorded videos from home  and leaders expressed frustration and anger at the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, which the U.N. chief has called the number one global security threat in our world today.

As he began his speech, the secretary-general looked out at the vast General Assembly chamber, where only one mask-wearing diplomat from each of the U.N.s 193 member nations was allowed to sit, socially distanced from one another.

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed our annual meeting beyond recognition, Guterres said. But it has made it more important than ever.

While the six-day mainly virtual meeting is unique in the U.N.s 75-year history, the speeches from leaders hit on all the conflicts, crises and divisions facing a world that Guterres said is witnessing rising inequalities, climate catastrophe, widening societal divisions, rampant corruption.

In his grim state of the world speech, he said the pandemic has exploited these injustices, preyed on the most vulnerable and wiped away the progress of decades, including sparking the first rise in poverty in 30 years.

The secretary-general called for global unity, foremost to fight the pandemic, and sharply criticized populism and nationalism for failing to contain the virus and for often making things worse.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized how countries were left on their own at the onset of the pandemic, stressing that effective multilateralism requires effective multilateral institutions. He urged rapid U.N. reforms, starting with the Security Council, the most powerful body with five veto-wielding members  the U.S., China, Russia, Britain and France.

By contrast, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, whose country has reported the second-highest coronavirus death toll after the U.S., trumpeted his focus on the economy in dealing with the pandemic.

Bolsonaro lambasted segments of the Brazilian media for spreading panic by encouraging stay-at-home orders and prioritizing public health over the economy. Hes downplayed the severity of the coronavirus and repeatedly said shutting down the economy would inflict worse hardship on people.

Guterres told the virtual audience that too often, there has also been a disconnect between leadership and power.

A year ago, he warned about the rising U.S.-China rivalry, saying Tuesday: We are moving in a very dangerous direction.

Our world cannot afford a future where the two largest economies split the globe in a great fracture  each with its own trade and financial rules and internet and artificial intelligence capacities, Guterres said. We must avoid this at all costs.

The rivalry between the two powers was in full display as President Donald Trump, in a very short virtual speech, urged the United Nations to hold Beijing accountable for failing to contain the virus that originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan and has killed over 200,000 Americans and nearly 1 million worldwide.

Chinas ambassador rejected all accusations against Beijing as totally baseless.

At this moment, the world needs more solidarity and co-operation, and not a confrontation, U.N. Ambassador Zhang Jun said before introducing President Xi Jinpings prerecorded speech. We need to increase mutual confidence and trust, and not the spreading of political virus.

French President Emmanuel Macron said the pandemic should be an electric shock to encourage more multilateral action. Otherwise, he warned, the world will be collectively condemned to a pas de deux by the U.S. and China in which everyone else is reduced to being nothing but the sorry spectators of a collective impotence.

Tensions with the U.S. also dominated a fiery speech by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, whose country is facing the worst COVID-19 crisis in the Middle East. He lashed out at U.S. sanctions but declared that his country will not submit to U.S. pressure.

Rouhani said the United States cant impose negotiations or war on Iran, stressing that his country is not a bargaining chip in U.S. elections and domestic policy. He used the May death of Black American George Floyd under the knee of a white Minneapolis police officer as a metaphor for Irans own experience with the United States.

We instantly recognize the feet kneeling on the neck as the feet of arrogance on the neck of independent nations, Rouhani said.

U.S.-Iran tensions have run dangerously high this year, and Trump signed an executive order this week to enforce all U.N. sanctions on Iran because its not complying with a 2015 nuclear deal with world powers  a move he touted in his U.N. speech but that most of the world rejects as illegal.

Similarly, Russian President Vladimir Putin stressed the need for multilateral co-operation against the pandemic, urging an end to illegitimate sanctions against his country and others that he said could boost the global economy and create jobs.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, speaking on behalf of the African Union, said rich nations havent been generous enough in helping developing countries combat COVID-19, which is setting back the continents economy and development.

After the pandemic shut down big parts of the world in March, Guterres called for a global cease-fire to tackle it. On Tuesday, he appealed for a 100-day push by the international community, led by the Security Council, to make this a reality by the end of the year.

Amid widespread calls for U.N. reforms, Frances Macron said the global body itself ran the risk of impotence.

Our societies have never been so interdependent, he said. And at the very moment when all this is happening, never have we been so out of tune, so out of alignment.

___

Jennifer Peltz contributed from New York and Angela Charlton from Paris
She says Kyiv always listens to international partners' opinion.

First Deputy Foreign Minister Emine Dzhaparova has said Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) does not see any grounds for the European Union's revising visa-free travel with Ukraine and has not received official information from EU representatives.

"Certain statements that may appear remain statements by political figures," she told the Voice of America's Ukrainian service in an interview.

Read alsoPM Shmyhal: No threat of Ukraine being stripped of visa-free travel rights in EUOver the past six years, the EU has invested a lot both in the economy and the rule of law in Ukraine, while official Kyiv, in turn, always listens to international partners' opinion, the official said.

"Now there is a clear understanding and homework for Ukraine on a large-scale European integration track. This is a package of reforms we routinely work on, this includes the fight against corruption and independent anti-graft agencies' activity. Almost all state departments are involved in [the work on] this track," she said.

"There is a clear understanding of how to move, as well as what is important and needs to be done. And all these actions are coordinated at the highest level," Dzhaparova added.

Replacing top anti-corruption prosecutor: Recent developments
Founding-era legislatures did not strip felons of the right to bear arms simply because of their status as felons, Barrett wrote in her dissent, which said the Wisconsin law should be declared unconstitutional. In 1791  and for well more than a century afterward  legislatures disqualified categories of people from the right to bear arms only when they judged that doing so was necessary to protect the public safety.
Indirect emissions account for a major chunk of emissions by Indian IT firms. Business travel and commutation, together, are a key reason for it. If travel and daily commuting go down, so does carbon emissions.

What does work from home (WFH) in the times of Covid-19 and hiring locally have to do with carbon emissions of top tier IT companies like Infosys, Wipro, TCS, and Tech Mahindra?

And why does carbon footprint matter for their business?

Indirect emissions account for a major chunk of emissions by Indian IT firms.

Business travel and commutation, together, are a key reason for it.

If travel and daily commuting go down, so does carbon emissions.

Covid-19 forced IT firms to opt for the WFH model.

And increasing visa restrictions in the markets like the US have been pushing them to source employees locally, reducing business travel.

These, of course, have led to cost savings.

But an unintended consequence is that the forced measures have brought down carbon emissions.

An increasing number of global companies are asking potential vendors for details on their carbon emission performance not only during the bidding process but also in the initial selection process.

The performance of this front can now be the difference between winning and losing a bid.

IT majors, such as Infosys, are already giving information on their carbon emissions in bidding proposals.

They say the failure to manage carbon footprint may adversely impact their ability to compete and win contracts.

Tech Mahindras chief sustainability officer Sandeep Chandna said: There is a surge in the number of clients asking for the data on emission,energy, water, and waste during the bidding.

The firm aims to cut emissions by 22 per cent by 2030.

Wipro, on the other hand, said it was too early to draw a trend.

Infosys, however, declined to participate, and TCS did not respond to queries.

According to Bernstein, 50 per cent of Infosys emissions is indirect.

And 80 per cent of the indirect emissions is due to business travel and employee commutation.

In the case of Wipro, travel and commute account for 37 per cent of its carbon emissions.

For Tech Mahindra, 26.8 per cent of its emissions is from indirect emissions.

According to NASSCOM, 95 per cent of IT firm staffers were working from home during the lockdown.

This percentage was as high as 99 per cent for TCS and Infosys.

Tech Mahindra reduced commute by 90 per cent in Q1FY21 from that in Q3FY20.

IT firms are also increasingly hiring a local workforce in the onsite market to avoid the issues related to visas and also to reduce travel costs.

Infosys, for instance, has announced that it would hire 12,000 more local employees by 2023; it already has two-thirds local staff members in a country.

NASSCOM said most top IT companies already had over 50 per cent their employees recruited locally onsite.

As many as 337,932 jobs for locals were created in the US by Indian IT players, estimated NASSCOM.

Also, Indian firms are increasingly hiring sub-contractors at onsite locations.

Sangeeta Gupta, senior vice-president and chief strategy officer in NASSCOM, said: We had 4.5 million employees in the IT industry who commuted to work or were undertaking business travel every day.

"In the past five-six months, WFH, apart from growing local recruitment and increase in sub-contracting, has not only reduced travel, but also definitely led to a fall in carbon emissions.

Gupta said while the current WFH scenario may not be sustainable, the industry expectation is that a third to a quarter of employees working from home is going to be a reality.

WFH and other initiatives have helped Indian IT firms reduce travel costs as a percentage of revenue.

According to Bernstein, in TCS, it was down 0.7 per cent in Q1FY21, against 2.1 per cent in Q3FY20 or before the Covid-19 lockdown.

Wipro and Infosys bought it down even more steeply: In Infosys, it went down from 2.3 per cent in Q3FY20 to 0.4 per cent in Q1FY21; in Wipro, the number came down from 3.2 per cent to 0.9 per cent.

Photograph: Reuters
Dundalk FC owners PEAK6 have denied recent claims that they had planned to move the club to Dublin.

Reports earlier this month suggested that the Louth side's American owners wanted to make the Aviva Stadium their new home ground, with plans to transport supporters to games via train.

This led to concerns from fans that PEAK6 had planned to 'move the franchise' as often happens in the US.

PEAK6 dismiss this suggestion and deny they wanted to acquire the FAI's stake in the Aviva, insisting instead that they had offered to manage the venue on their behalf to make it profitable.

A statement from the Chicago-based company said: "There is no truth in saying we wanted to acquire Aviva Stadium. We did offer to manage the Stadium. The FAI is in pretty bad financial straits and has few assets. Aviva Stadium, even prior to this year, was a drain on the resources of the FAI.

"PEAK6 offered to take control of the management of the stadium and help the FAI, IRFU and the Irish taxpayers by making it profitable, useful, and a beacon to attract travel. Unfortunately, they rejected the proposal preferring to limit its use and force the Irish taxpayers to cover losses."

The statement added that it was never the intention of PEAK6 to move the club to Dublin but they did admit to requesting to play a number of matches there in the event of upgrade works being carried out at Oriel Park.

"PEAK6's only ask was for a train from Dundalk to the stadium for Dundalk fans and the number of games to be played there was only going to be 10.

"The reasons were numerous, providing activity in the stadium, providing a place for Dundalk to play during any refurbishing of Oriel Park, improving the reach of the League of Ireland. At no time was it suggested that Dundalk would move to Dublin."

Read More

Separately, Dundalk chairman Bill Hulsizer - father of PEAK6 owner Matt - hit out at the FAI and IRFU.

"We were informed that the IRFU had no interest in running the stadium at a profit and were content to have it available for their matches and had no interest in a profit. The letter came from the FAI and in fairness there was no contact with the IRFU," he said.

"I noted recently the IRFU reaching out to the Government for financial help because of Covid-19 and find it ironic the utilising of an asset to obtain cash is less acceptable than asking the Irish Government and the Irish taxpayer to bail them out."

The FAI have refused to comment on their interactions with PEAK6.
BOSTON, Sept. 21, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Amwell, a national telehealth leader, today announced the closing of its upsized initial public offering of 47,405,555 shares of its Class A common stock at an initial offering price of $18.00 per share, which includes the full exercise of the underwriters' option to purchase 6,183,333 additional shares of Class A common stock from Amwell and certain stockholders of Amwell (the "Selling Stockholders"). Including the $100 million investment from Google LLC concurrent with the IPO and the option exercise, the aggregate gross proceeds to Amwell were approximately $922 million, and the aggregate gross proceeds to the Selling Stockholders were approximately $31 million, in each case, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other expenses. The shares began trading on The New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "AMWL" on September 17, 2020.

Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and Piper Sandler acted as lead joint book-running managers for the offering. UBS Investment Bank, Credit Suisse, Cowen and Berenberg acted as bookrunners for the offering.

The offering was made only by means of a prospectus. Copies of the final prospectus relating to the offering may be obtained from Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Attention: Prospectus Department, 180 Varick Street, 2nd Floor, New York, New York 10014 or by e-mail at [email protected]; Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Attention: Prospectus Department, 200 West Street, New York, New York 10282, by telephone at (866) 471-2526 or by e-mail at [email protected]); or Piper Sandler & Co., Attention: Prospectus Department, 800 Nicollet Mall, J12S03, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402, by telephone at (800) 747-3924 or by e-mail at [email protected].

In addition to the shares of Class A common stock sold in the initial public offering, Amwell announced the sale of 5,555,555 shares of Class C common stock at a price per share equal to the initial public offering price of its Class A common stock in a concurrent private placement to Google LLC. The sale of Class C common stock will not be registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The aggregate gross proceeds to Amwell from the concurrent private placement, before deducting expenses payable by Amwell, were $100 million. The concurrent private placement also closed on September 21, 2020.

A registration statement relating to these Class A securities have been filed with, and declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

About Amwell

Amwell is a leading telehealth platform in the United States and globally, connecting and enabling providers, insurers, patients, and innovators to deliver greater access to more affordable, higher quality care. Amwell believes that digital care delivery will transform healthcare. The Company offers a single, comprehensive platform to support all telehealth needs from urgent to acute and post-acute care, as well as chronic care management and healthy living. With over a decade of experience, Amwell powers telehealth solutions for over 2,000 hospitals and 55 health plan partners with over 36,000 employers, covering over 80 million lives.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements about us and our industry that involve substantial risks and uncertainties and are based on our beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to us. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release, including statements regarding our future results of operations, financial condition, business strategy and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "will," or "would," or the negative of these words or other similar terms or expressions.



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The White House threw out a one-two punch Tuesday at former coronavirus taskforce aide Olivia Troye, with both her boss Keith Kellogg and White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany disparaging the ex-staffer.

Lt. Gen. Kellogg, who serves as Vice President Mike Pence's national security adviser, appeared at the podium during the briefing to explain that he 'fired' Troye because her 'performances started to drop after six months working on the taskforce as a backbencher.'

She also 'struggled to keep up,' according to McEnany, who was pushing back on Troye saying that President Donald Trump called supporters 'disgusting' and the upside of the coronavirus pandemic was that he wouldn't be able to shake their hands.

Both White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany (left) and Vice President Mike Pence's National Security Advisor Keith Kellogg (right) went after former coronavirus taskforce staffer Olivia Troye during Tuesday's White House briefing

Olivia Troye, a former aide to Vice President Mike Pence, said in a video put out by Republicans Voters Against Trump that the president said, 'Maybe this COVID thing is a good thing. I dont like shaking hands with people. I don't have to shake hands with these disgusting people'

Troye made the allegations in a video that was released Thursday by Republican Voters Against Trump.

She called working for Trump 'terrifying' and said he was more concerned about winning re-election than protecting Americans from the coronavirus.

'The truth is he doesn't actually care about anyone else but himself,' she said.

She said that during a taskforce meeting the president told the room, 'Maybe this COVID thing is a good thing. I don't like shaking hands with people. I don't have to shake hands with these disgusting people.'

'Those disgusting people are the same people that he claims to care about. These are the people still going to his rallies today who have complete faith in who he is,' she continued. 'If the president had taken this virus seriously, or if he had actually made an effort to tell how serious it was, he would have slowed the virus spread, he would have saved lives.'

Troye also told the camera she had been a Republican her whole life.

'I am a McCain Republican. I am a Bush Republican and I am voting for Joe Biden because I truly believe we are at a time of constitutional crisis. At this point, it is country over party,' she said.

As the end of Tuesday's briefing neared, McEnany suddenly announced that Kellogg would be saying a few words.

'Olivia Troye worked for me. I fired her,' Kellogg said from the podium. 'The reason I fired her was her performances started to drop after six months working on the taskforce as a backbencher.'

He said he had spoken with their boss, Pence, and he agreed that Troye should be ousted.

'I'm the one who escorted her off the compound,' Kellogg also said.

Kellogg then accused her of lying.

Olivia Troye's video message, asking Americans to vote for Democrat Joe Biden, included photos of her with coronavirus taskforce members

Here Olivia Troye (left) is photographed with Vice President Mike Pence (right) on board Air Force Two

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany also went after Miles Taylor, a former Trump official who's also come out in support of Joe Biden, saying he 'made up lies against President Trump to fit in,' as Taylor has since taken a job at Google

'What she has said I have never heard. That's never happened. And I have been through every meeting of the taskforce,' Kellogg told reporters.

He touted Trump's leadership in dealing with the virus - hours after the death toll in the U.S. surpassed 200,000.

'I am very proud of the president of the United States,' Kellogg said. 'I am not proud of Olivia Troye.'

Kellogg didn't answer a question about whether the president should be holding rallies as he stepped offstage.

McEnany then continued the attack.

'What we have here with this former disgruntled detailee and with Miles Taylor as well, these are not profiles in courage, but these are profiles in cowardess,' the press secretary said.

Taylor was the former chief of staff at the Department of Homeland Security who, among other things, has claimed that Trump offered pardons to officials for taking illegal action at the U.S.-Mexico border.

'Troye failed to speak up and she struggled to keep up because she was constantly complaining about how exhausted and overwhelmed she was coordinating conference calls and scheduling meetings,' McEnany continued.

'Troye's detail was cut short and now she's cutting commercials for a fringe club of "never Trumpers" who are desparate for relevancy and the price of admission to this club is fabricated smears and flat-out lies about President Trump,' the press secretary said.

She then turned to Taylor, noting that he's become 'CNN's latest contributor.'

McEnany said of his work product that he 'couldn't go the distance' and he 'could not get results.'

'Desparate to please his new Silicon Valley friends, Miles made up lies against President Trump to fit in,' she said. 'He can now rest easy at Google having earned his anti-Trump credentials and the approvel of his big tech peers.'

In August, Taylor took a leave from his job at Google to actively support Biden for president.

Shortly after the press briefing concluded, Olivia Troye took to Twitter and accused Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg of lying, saying that she 'resigned on my own accord' and adding, 'he never escorted me out'

She also shared an Instagram story from August 15, near the end of her White House tenure, which showed that Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg had gifted her with a challenge coin inscribed with his name

Miles Taylor also chimed in upon seeing a picture of the challenge coin, calling it an 'awfully weird way' for someone to be 'fired,' and floating that Kellogg's story about terminating Olivia Troye from the White House 'isn't true'

Shortly after the briefing, Troye went on Twitter and said Kellogg lied.

'Sad that Gen. Kellogg is telling a bald faced lie to protect the President,' she wrote. 'I resigned on my own accord & was asked to stay. He never escorted me out. He knows this.'

She then tweeted an Instagram story from August 15 that showed a picture of a challenge coin she said Kellogg gifted her that was inscribed with his name.

'Love this man,' she wrote. 'We had a great heart to heart today,' she said, using the emojis.

She added, 'Such a neat coin! We've been through a lot together on this national security team.'

Taylor also chimed in via Twitter.

'This is an awfully weird way for someone Keith Kellogg said he "fired" to act on the day of their firing,' the ex-official wrote. 'Or maybe his story about terminating Olivia Troye from the WH isnt true ...,' he added, punctuating the comment with a thinking face emoji.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 16:54:29|Editor: huaxia

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BRUSSELS, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- Zhang Ming, head of the Chinese Mission to the European Union (EU), on Monday called for cooperative, open-minded and positive attitude to seek solutions to problems between the two sides.

"Some are saying that Europe is already quite open, and the ball is in China's court to rebalance the economic and trade relations. Yet, to foster an open, fair, just and non-discriminatory regulatory environment, both sides need to move in the same direction, and neither should stop or even backslide," said Zhang.

The ambassador made the remarks when addressing a meeting of the foreign affairs committee of the European Parliament, and thereafter also commented on questions about a number of issues raised during the two-hour meeting.

Zhang told the lawmakers that the investment agreement negotiation between China and the EU has visibly accelerated. "The two sides have made significant progress on the level-playing field issues and are stepping up efforts to find a potential landing zone on market access and sustainable development."

He voiced hope that both sides could work together in a mutually accommodating spirit, with a view to reaching a comprehensive, balanced and high-level agreement this year, "which can stand the test of times and satisfy the people in both China and the EU."

Highlighting that China's ranking in the World Bank report on ease of doing business has risen from 78th to 31st in past three years, even higher than some EU member states, Zhang argued that more complaints from Chinese companies in the EU are being heard that the business environment here is becoming less friendly and that the policy uncertainties are on the rise.

"I hope you can also read the recommendation report published by the China Chamber of Commerce to the EU this month, take the concerns of Chinese businesses seriously, and get them properly addressed," he said.

Brussels-based China Chamber of Commerce to the EU, which represents about 1,000 Chinese companies, published its annual recommendation report on Sept. 10 which concludes that Chinese companies in the EU currently have a less favorable view on the ease of doing business in the bloc, but are willing to increase investment if the environment gets better. Enditem
Patients with BRCA1/2 mutations are at higher risk for breast, ovarian and prostate cancers that can be aggressive when they develop - and, in many cases, resistant to lifesaving drugs. Now scientists at The University of Texas at Austin and Ajou University in South Korea have identified a driver of the drug resistance that can make a life or death difference for patients with these cancers.

"A major issue with cancer treatments is the development of resistance," said Kyle Miller, a UT Austin associate professor of molecular biosciences. "When treatments stop working for patients, it's incredibly demoralizing and it's been a huge drive in research to understand these resistance mechanisms."

In a paper published today in the journal Molecular Cell, the researchers describe a protein that may help doctors predict which patients will become resistant to a class of drugs frequently used to treat BRCA 1/2-deficient tumors. The finding could help create more effective treatment plans for their patients.

The scientists identified that a protein called PCAF promotes DNA damage in BRCA 1/2-mutated cancer cells. Patients with low levels of this protein are likely to have poor outcomes and develop resistance to a type of drug that is used to treat BRCA-deficient tumors, called a PARP inhibitor.

"PARP inhibitors are an important breakthrough in treating these aggressive cancers," Miller said. "What we found is that when levels of PCAF are low, it actually protects the cancer cells from this drug. By testing biopsy samples, doctors may be able to tell using PCAF as a molecular marker for PARP inhibitor responses what treatment may work best for a patient."

Fortunately, there is already another class of drugs on the market, called HDAC inhibitors, that can boost the effectiveness of the PCAF protein. HDAC inhibitors and PARP inhibitors have the potential to be prescribed as a combination therapy.

"Previous studies have shown that these two drugs work well together," Miller said. "We believe we've found the reason why."

It is possible to test for PCAF levels in biopsy or tissue samples, Miller said, and in the future, the test could be included on a standard panel for cancer testing.

But unlocking the workings of PCAF doesn't just offer clues to combatting cancer. Because this protein is responsible for modifying chromatin, the stuff that organizes 6 feet of DNA in each of our cells so that it fits into its nuclear volume, PCAF also may offer important clues about cell replication.

"The focus in my lab is on understanding chromatin and its impact on replicating DNA, protecting DNA and controlling access to DNA," Miller said. "Our goal is to understand how every molecule is interacting inside our cells, as this gives clues to what is going wrong in human diseases."

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Jae Jin Kim and Seo Yun Lee from the Miller lab were first authors on the paper, and Blerta Xhemalce, an associate professor of molecular biosciences at UT Austin, and Ji-Hye Choi and Hyun Goo Woo of Ajou University contributed to the research.

The research was funded by the National Cancer Institute, the National Institutes of Health, the American Cancer Society, the Department of Defense - Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program - Breast Cancer Breakthrough Award and the National Research Foundation of Korea. Miller is a CPRIT scholar with the Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas, a member of the Livestrong Cancer Institutes of Dell Medical School and a member of the Dan Duncan Cancer Center at the Baylor College of Medicine.
The Movement for Democratic Change Alliance vice chairperson, Job Sikhala, who is facing charges of inciting public violence, has been granted $50,000 by the High Court.

As part of his bail conditions, the judge ordered Sikhala to stop addressing any public gatherings and posting audios and videos on social media platforms. He was further ordered to report three times per week at a local police station.

Sikhala was arrested a month ago in Harare after police launched a nationwide appeal for his whereabouts, claiming that he was inciting violence by posting videos on social media platforms, encouraging people to stage an anti-corruption protest on July 31.

Journalist Hopewell Chonono, Transform Zimbabwe president Jacob Ngarivhume and several others were arrested recently for allegedly inciting public violence. Chinono and Ngarivhume were also granted bail by the High Court.

Meanwhile, the state-controlled Herald newspaper reports that former Provincial Affairs Minister, Jason Machaya, has been jailed for four years for engaging in shady land deals.

According to the newspaper, Machaya was facing charges of abuse of public office together with Midlands provincial physical planner, Chisayinyerwa Chibururu.

The two sold residential and commercial stands on state land in Gokwe.
Deep inside the Sukma jungle, the serenity of the small village Burakapal, situated just 200 meters from nearby security forces camp, is disturbed only by women nonchalantly engaged in their chores and kids boisterously playing with slingshot.

A few men can be spotted in the village but they fear interacting with outsiders.

For more than three years, things have not been normal in the village since 37 tribal residents of this village were arrested and booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act ( UAPA).

In April 2017, just 100 meters from this village, Burkapal, 25 personnel of 74th battalion of the CRPF, including an inspector-rank officer, were killed in a deadly Maoist ambush.

After the brutal killing of 76 personnel of CRPF in 2010, the Burkapal Attack is one of deadliest hits on security forces in the last decade in the Bastar region.

The troopers were guarding the Dornapal-Jagargonda road construction work near Burkapal village when the Maoists attacked.

In the next few days, the Chhattisgarh police registered a case in Chintagufa police station and booked 120 tribals of six villages  Burkapal, Gondapalli, Chintagufa, Talmetla, Koraigundum and Tonguda - under UAPA and other IPC sections.

A memorial for the CRPF personnel who died in the Maoist ambush.

Within a few days after the attack, 37 residents of my village were booked under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and other sections of Indian Penal Code and were sent to jail, said Muchaki Handa, a 30-year-old newly elected sarpanch of the village, whose elder brother is also in jail for his alleged involvement in the attack.

The sarpanch claimed that every male who was present in the village that day was booked.

Every male and even some teenagers who were living in the village were booked under UAPA and other sections of IPC and only those who were working in cities were left unnamed, more as a matter of chance than design. I was working in a grocery store in Andhra Pradesh therefore was not named, but my brother was booked. Not a single person was involved in the attack but police have booked them accusing them to be Maoists, said the sarpanch.

For more than three years, the trial in these cases is yet to start and bail has not been granted even in a single case registered under the UAPA.

As per the police records, total 120 villagers of three villages, including 37 of Burkapal, were booked under UAPA for their involvement in the attack.

Seven juveniles of my village were also picked up and booked under sections of the IPC. After spending eighteen months in Dantewada jail they have been released, said the sarpanch.

The incident took place when I was playing just outside the village with some friends. We heard gunshots and rushed towards our huts. Few days after the attack, my father was picked up and later one day when I was sleeping in my house in the afternoon, security forces took me to the police station, said Bheema Sodi, pointing towards the area where he was playing.

Sodis father Muda is in jail and was booked under the UAPA.

Residents of the Burkapal village.

Bela Bhatia, a human rights activist and lawyer of some of the accused booked for the attack, said 120 innocent people from villages around Burkapal were booked under the act in this case.

Till now the trial has not started and has been delayed solely for the reason of the large number of accused and the police expressing its inability to make arrangements to produce them before a court regularly. The police said they did not have enough constables. And the court was initially not willing to entertain them in batches, Bhatia said, adding that the police arrested people without necessary investigation and culpatory evidence.

Bhatia said that during the lockdown period they should be given bail and after that they should be produced in court regularly.

The police framed innocent people under the UAPA and other sections of IPC from the area where the Maoist action occurred. The trial is still in the initial stage of framing of charges. It is now three years since the 120 accused are in Jagdalpur jail. Such prisoners should also be categorised as political prisoners. They should be granted bail during lockdown and subsequently the trial should be carried out in fast track mode, Bhatia added.

Bastar police have denied the allegation.

Due to Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown, there was hindrance in the trial of the case. Bastar Police are committed to ensuring a just and speedy trial of the case, said IG Bastar Sunderaj P, rubbishing her allegation.

In April 2017, we lost 25 of our CRPF jawans in one of the cruelest attacks by Maoists on security forces, who were out on an operation to facilitate the road construction work. During the course of investigation we have arrested more than 120 Maoists cadres and their supporters. This stringent action has not only broken the network of Maoist cadres in the area, but also provided tactical advantage to the security forces during Operation Prakhar which was conducted in 2017-2018. As far as prosecution of the case in the court is concerned, Bastar police would extend its sincere cooperation in this regard, he said.

The activists said availability of only one trial court for the UAPA cases in Jagdalpur was a major reason for delay in start of trial.

In my view, these cases should also be tried in other sessions courts so that such cases get distributed over various courts and the trial moves faster, said Bhatia.

Another lawyer, Sanjay Jaiswal, who is the advocate for most of the accused in Burkapal case, said this is an undeniable fact that the inordinate delay is due to the tardy process in the court.

The trial will start after everyone is chargehseeted, said Jaiswal.

Soni Sori, who has been raising her voice against the arrest of tribals, said the government is not listening to the anguish of innocent tribals.

There are no men left in the village. After the attack, the security forces put innocent tribals of Burkapal and other villages in jail without any evidence. I visited the village twice. Quite unsurprisingly, women and most of the remaining tribal persons ran away to Andhra Pradesh or in the jungle due to the fear of police atrocity. The security forces gave the gullible women an assurance that they know that people of Burkapal village are not the accused and hence the men returned. The forces then did a volte face, cordoned off the villages and arrested them without any evidence. Can you imagine that even the trial has not started in the last 3.5 years after their arrest? Is this justice? Why is the government not intervening? said Sori.

DM Awasthi, Director General of Police, Chhattisgarh, said that the accused have the right to have a fair trial in the court and he will instruct police in this regard.

I have not been told about the delay in trial and no one has complained to me. I will enquire about the issue and give necessary instruction so that the trial would start. Everyone has the right to have a fair trial in the court, Awasthi said.

Sujata Jaswal, the government counsel, Jagdalpur said that the challan has been submitted in the court in May and June in Burkapal case.

The trial has not started yet due to the lockdown. As per instructions of the high court, only the necessary cases are being heard in the court. The trial of the case will start after further instructions by the court regarding the routine work, said Jaswal.

Back in Burkapal village, Jogi Sodi (25), whose husband is in jail is worried and asked the sarpanch about the case.

I have not seen my husband since three years Will he come this year or will we have to wait more ... she asked Handa, who nodded his head in reply and started consoling her.

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Mumbai: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Tuesday appointed former Union Bank of India general manager A.K. Dixit as the new administrator of Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative (PMC) Bank as current one, J.B. Bhoria, stepped down citing health reasons.

The present Administrator J.B. Bhoria is stepping down on 22 September 2020 due to health reasons. It has been decided to appoint A.K. Dixit, ex-general manager, Union Bank of India as the new administrator of the bank with effect from 23 September," RBI said in a notification.

Detailing the reasons behind the sluggish turnaround of PMC Bank, the regulator said huge losses by the bank and steep erosion in deposits pose challenges to revival.

While the administrator of PMC bank and the RBI have been exploring various options for resolution of the bank, several factors such as huge losses incurred by the bank resulting in its entire net worth getting wiped out, steep erosion in deposits, continue to pose serious challenges in finding a workable plan for revival of the bank," it said.

According to RBI, the cooperative bank has also been making efforts for recovery of bad loans but has been constrained by the Covid-19 pandemic and legal complexities.

Nevertheless, in the interest of the depositors, PMC bank and RBI are continuing to engage with the stakeholders to explore the possibility of finding a viable and workable solution for the resolution of the bank," it said.

On 24 September last year, RBI put severe curbs on PMC Bank, including on cash withdrawals, amid a probe into accounting lapses. Cash withdrawals were capped at 1,000 per account for six months, but gradually relaxed to 100,000 in June this year. With the above relaxation, more than 84% of the depositors of the bank will be able to withdraw their entire account balance," the central bank had said on 19 June.

PMC Bank was also barred from making fresh loans or accepting deposits. The restrictions under Section 35A of the Banking Regulation Act are aimed at preventing a run on the bank.

As on 31 March 2019, the Mumbai-based bank had deposits of 11,617.34 crore and loans of 8,383.33 crore. While the banks gross bad loans, according to its FY19 annual report, were at 3.76% of its advances, it is believed that the figure is much higher.

The multi-state scheduled urban cooperative bank has a network of 137 branches, with presence in Maharashtra, Delhi, Karnataka, Goa, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

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San Diego, CA, Sept. 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Active noise canceling (ANC) earbuds and headphones were once favored typically by frequent air travelers because of their ability to block out the ambient noise of the plane or conversations of nearby seatmates. With the rise of remote work and online classes, more people are looking for ANC products to help them concentrate on the task at hand, but are often finding that what is available is too expensive. JLab has developed its JBuds Air ANC ($69) to provide consumers with an affordable active noise canceling set of earbuds with features well above those found on an entry-level product.

True to the JLab reputation, the JBuds Air ANC are ahead of the curve when it comes to including the premium features typically expected only in higher-priced products. The JBuds Air ANC features JLab's Smart Active Noise Cancelation technology, which adjusts to the user's environment automatically (more information at jlabaudio.com/SmartANC). The ANC functionality can also be turned off, and if warranted, JLab's Be Aware audio mode turned on, which allows ambient noise in through the earbuds.

JBuds Air ANC's list of impressive features goes well beyond its active noise canceling technology.

Dual connect technology allows for either earbud to be used independently or simultaneously for a seamless connection. With 10+ hours of playtime built into the battery of each earbud and 30+ additional hours from the charging case, users have more than 40+ total hours of Bluetooth playtime. Youll get 24+ hours of total playtime if the ANC technology is engaged. Movie watchers and gamers will appreciate JLab's Movie Mode, which provides reduced audio lag so voices match up perfectly to the screen. Touch controls round out the JBuds Air ANC feature highlights, allowing users to adjust the EQ setting, volume, and pause their music with a quick tap to an earbud.

JBuds Air ANC is a product that everyone can afford while giving them the features and benefits that customers have said are important: Comfortable fit, great battery life, and Active Noise Cancelling. Were confident that you no longer have to spend $200+ to get the best features and latest evolution of true wireless earbuds. JLab has changed how to think about Active Noise Cancelling and were giving everyone the opportunity to enjoy this fantastic new technology  at a price that anyone can afford," said JLab CEO Win Cramer.

JLab launched its Smart Active Noise Cancellation technology earlier in September with the release of its Epic Air ANC And Epic Air Sport ANC earbuds. The smart ANC technology was created in response to consumer feedback regarding discomfort some people experience when using audio products featuring active noise canceling technology. Regardless of the manufacturer, a percentage of users have reported pain while using ANC products, which can go beyond discomfort and lead to headaches, dizziness, or even nausea. Using hybrid ANC  a combination of feedforward and feedback ANC  JLab Smart ANC adapts on-the-go to variants in environment, earbud fit, and other factors to create the best audio and listening experience. Compare JLab's three ANC true wireless here.

To help ensure a perfect fit, the JBuds Air ANC comes with three pairs of interchangeable gel eartips, one pair of JLab Cush-Fins that can help keep the earbuds in place, and a set of JLab's signature Cloud Foam tips. A USB cord is integrated into the charging case, weighing just 50 grams total, ensuring that users can easily charge their earbuds without fear of losing a charging cable.

Full technical features include:

40+ Hours of Playtime (10+ hours of Bluetooth playtime in each earbud and 40+ additional hours from the charging case); 24+ hours total with the ANC on

Earbud style for a low profile look with an easily customizable fit.

Four interchangeable eartips including 3 sets of silicone gel tips, 1 set Cloud Foam eartips, and Cush Fins

Dual connect allows either earbud to be used independently

C3 (crystal clear clarity) voice pickup

Speaker: 12mm Dynamic, Neodymium Magnet, 20Hz-20kHz, 32

Output: 1103db

Microphone: 2 left earbud MEMS, 2 right earbud MEMS, - 38dB3dB

Input Power: DC 5V, 50mA

Earbud Battery: 55mAh lithium-ion rechargeable

Charging Case Battery: 500mah lithium polymer rechargeable lithium-ion

Earbud Charge Time: 1.5 Hours

Case Charge Time: 3 Hours

Quick Charge: 15 minutes for 1+ hour playtime

Standby Time: 400 Hours

Range: 30+ ft.

Weight: 5g each earbud, 50g charging case

IP55 water resistance rating

2-year warranty

About JLab Audio

JLab Audio is a leading personal audio company and #1 accessible True Wireless brand in America. Founded in 2005, our mission is to deliver high performance, innovative headphones and audio products at accessible prices to enhance how you GO through life. For more information visit www.jlabaudio.com.

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Attachments
New Delhi:

Senior officials of the US-based iPhone maker Apple on Tuesday called upon Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

The meeting assumes significance as the technology giant is seeking concessions like duty exemptions to set up its manufacturing unit in India.

The meeting lasted for 40 minutes. There were three officials from the company, including the companys Global Vice President Priya Balasubramaniam, sources said.

The company executives will on Wednesday meet a group of senior officials from different ministries on their demands.

In a communication to the government, the Cupertino-based technology major has asked for several tax and other incentives, including long-term duty exemptions, to enter the manufacturing sector in India.

Currently, the government provides support by way of benefits under the Modified Special Incentive Package Scheme (MSIPS) to boost electronic manufacturing.

The company sells its products through Apple-owned retail stores in countries like China, Germany, the US, the UK and France, among others. It has no wholly-owned store in India and sells its products through distributors such as Redington and Ingram Micro.
Rajya Sabha deputy chairman Harivansh on Tuesday met eight opposition lawmakers, who staged an all-night sit-in on the lawns of Parliament after they were suspended a day earlier for the remainder of the ongoing monsoon session for charging at him during protests against the passage of two of the three contentious farm bills in the upper House on Sunday. He offered the lawmakers tea and snacks. The lawmakers declined the refreshment and appeared unwilling to end their protest even as Harivansh said he will undertake a day-long fast over the humiliating conduct against him.

Aam Aadmi Partys Sanjay Singh, who is among the eight, said the issue is not about personal equations but concerns for farmers. He added they are protesting to protect the farmers rights and against the way black laws were passed in Parliament in violation of rules and procedures following the rejection of their demand for putting the bills to vote.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted about Harivanshs large-heartedness in offering tea to the suspended lawmakers and congratulated him.

To personally serve tea to those who attacked and insulted him a few days ago as well as those sitting on Dharna shows that Shri Harivansh Ji has been blessed with a humble mind and a big heart. It shows his greatness. I join the people of India in congratulating Harivansh Ji.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 22, 2020

Singh reacted to Modis tweet saying they are not fighting for tea. We are fighting for the welfare of our farmers, which you have taken away. I humbly request you - I am returning your tea with all due respect, please return my farmers morsel, he tweeted.

 ,                  ,          -          ,         https://t.co/o2QUsu0Bdb  Sanjay Singh AAP (@SanjayAzadSln) September 22, 2020

Singh, Derek OBrien, and Dola Sen (Trinamool Congress); Congresss Rajeev Satav, Syed Nasir Hussain, and Ripun Borah; and KK Ragesh and Elamaram Kareem of the Communist Party of India (M) were suspended for seven days for gross disorderly conduct. They stormed the Well of the House and charged towards Harivansh, who was presiding over the proceedings on Sunday. Parliament marshals formed a double-layered barricade to protect Harivansh. The lawmakers were angry as their demand for the division of votes on the bills was ignored. The bills were passed by voice vote while the opposition wanted them to be referred to a select committee.

Harivansh wrote to Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, who is also the Rajya Sabha chairman about the fast citing anguish over the humiliating conduct against him.

Ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lawmaker Shobha Karandlanje lauded Harivansh for his magnanimity in offering the suspended parliamentarians tea. A magnanimous Gesture by Harivansh Ji! Deputy Chairman of RS [Rajya Sabha] brings tea for the same MPs who heckled, ill-treated & carried out undignified attack on him in the house. Committed Gandhian met those who targeted him & told that hes here as a friend of them! she tweeted.

Congress spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill tweeted, Offering Tea will not whitewash the act of Curbing Democracy-Voices raising issues of 62 Crore Farmers cannot be muted & attention cannot be diverted #FarmBill2020 #FarmersProtest.

Naidu called Sunday a really a bad day for the Rajya Sabha and said he was worried that Harivansh would have been harmed also. He said his deputy was also abused and the Rule Book was thrown at him.

Naidu on Monday named OBrien and repeatedly requested him to leave the House. OBrien refused to go, while opposition members demanded that they be heard as well. Naidu also rejected the no-confidence motion against Harivansh.

Also Read: Oppn MPs hold first-ever night protests near House

The suspended lawmakers refused to leave the House on Monday calling the action against them unilateral. They said the version of what had transpired was not considered. They brought bedsheets, snacks, and water, and began the sit-in near the Mahatma Gandhis statue in Parliament House.

The suspension triggered a fresh confrontation between BJP and the opposition Congress as they accused each other of violating democratic norms. The Congress said the lawmakers were suspended without being heard and accused Harivansh of muzzling and throttling the voices of the opposition parties at the behest of the Prime Ministers Office.

This is the highest number of lawmakers to be suspended from the Upper House since 2010. Seven lawmakers from three parties were barred for the rest of their session over their protests against the Womens Reservation Bill in 2010.

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With the vice presidential debate fast approaching, pro-Democrat Super PAC American Bridge 21st Century has released its entire opposition research book on Vice President Mike Pence for free online.

The group, which handed over similar extensive documents to the Hillary Clinton campaign for a price in 2016, told ABC News that instead of charging campaigns or allies for the opposition research book this cycle they're hoping it will be a bigger benefit to the public and allies to post a fully searchable version online as the campaign heads into its final stretch.

"American Bridge 21st Century has compiled the most extensive and exhaustive public file on the President and Vice President. We have weaved together narratives that paint Pence as a man unfit for power, and we believe the American people should know the truth," research director for the Trump War Room at American Bridge 21st Century Pat Dennis said in a statement.

MORE: Former Pence aide, coronavirus task force member speaks out against Donald Trump's response

Included in the opposition material is a damaging portrait of Pence as leader of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, specifically his optimistic outlooks, such as his prediction that the pandemic would be "behind us" by Memorial Day, and a Wall Street Journal op-ed proclaiming there is no "second wave," despite the reality of increasing cases across the country during that time.

PHOTO: Vice President Mike Pence speaks during the White House Conference on American History at the National Archives in Washington, DC, Sept. 17, 2020. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

The group, founded by controversial liberal political consultant David Brock, said in the document that the vice president is "a right-wing ideologue with a long history of trying to destroy programs important to middle-class Americans," and points to his record on health care, entitlement programs, like Social Security and Medicare, and voting against programs that aided American families with food insecurities.

In the wake of the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor by police and the racial reckoning unfolding in the United States, Pence's record on issues for the Black community is also laid out. They include his opposition to the 1992 Civil Rights Act, which Pence called "objectionable" and his repeated refusal to say "Black Lives Matter." Instead, Pence has said he believes that "all lives matter."

Story continues

MORE: The Trump administration made many COVID promises for fall. Here's where they stand.

The research even includes Pence's run for a U.S. congressional seat in 1990, which was billed by an Indiana newspaper as "one of the most negative and unethical" campaigns in state history and led Pence to publish an essay a year later, "Confessions of a Negative Campaigner," in which he apologized and expressed regret for his tactics.

"Mike Pence likes to masquerade as an anti-establishment Republican but his decades of failed leadership, attacks on the middle class, and corruption expose him for the swamp monster he truly is," according to the document, which attempts to paint a contrast between Pence and President Donald Trump. The pro-Democratic Super PAC also says that Pence uses his leadership of the coronavirus task force to push a right-wing radical agenda.

When asked for comment, a Trump campaign official told ABC News that they have "roughly four times as many pages of opposition research on (former Vice President Joe) Biden and (Sen. Kamala) Harris combined between us and the RNC." The campaign suggested that even though American Bridge is posting its research online for everyone to see "doesn't mean it will move the needle or help anyone." The official also said the campaign used a document by the group this weekend to help build out Biden's past statements on vacant Supreme Court seats this weekend.

Last month the group posted its opposition research book on President Donald Trump online for the first time for free, posting over 1,000 pages of research on the president on a website previously reserved for internal use only.

PHOTO: Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Kaine, left, speaks as Republican vice presidential nominee Mike Pence and debate moderator Elaine Quijano listen during the Vice Presidential Debate, Oct. 4, 2016, in Farmville, Virginia. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images, FILE)

Opposition research is typically highly guarded and released over time at critical points in an election to cause damage to a political opponent -- but dropping easily searchable information on candidates publicly has become more common in recent years as an effort to help political campaigns access them without violating campaign finance rules.

Some research can be used to point out an opponent's inconsistencies throughout their political career in an attempt to diminish their credibility among the general public.

MORE: Trump calls his handling of pandemic 'phenomenal' as US death toll nears 200K

In 2019, when asked by ABC News Chief Anchor George Stephanopoulos at the White House during an ABC News exclusive interview whether his campaign would accept such information about a political opponent from foreigners -- such as China or Russia -- or hand it over the FBI, Trump said, "I think maybe you do both."

Trump called that information from foreign advisories "oppo research." Trump told Stephanopoulos that "I think I'd take it," and that it isn't interference in the United States political process.

The comment came on the heels of the investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 campaign and ahead of impeachment proceedings, when the president was accused of pressuring Ukraine to dig up damaging information on Biden.

"It's not an interference, they have information -- I think I'd take it," Trump said. "If I thought there was something wrong, I'd go maybe to the FBI -- if I thought there was something wrong. But when somebody comes up with oppo research, right, they come up with oppo research, 'oh let's call the FBI.' The FBI doesn't have enough agents to take care of it. When you go and talk, honestly, to congressman, they all do it, they always have, and that's the way it is. It's called oppo research."

Super PAC American Bridge posts Pence oppo book online for free ahead of debates originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
By Ayya Lmahamad

Kazakhstans Trade House was registered in Baku, Kazakh media reported with the reference to General Director of the Trade House Rufat Rzayev.

According to the statement, the purpose in opening the trade house is increasing the volume of bilateral trade, expanding investment, trade and economic relations.

Rzayev noted that Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan have a great potential for economic relations that is not yet fully disclosed. It should be noted that Azerbaijans Trade House is already operating in Nur-Sultan.

Moreover, he emphasized that at the initial stage, the Kazakh food, agriculture products and consumer goods will be demonstrated in Azerbaijan market, and later the products of light and textile industry.

Furthermore, it was noted that the trade house will act as a dialogue platform for businesses of two countries, organizing presentation of goods and services, exhibitions and business meetings. In addition, Rzayev stressed readiness to assist Kazakh partners in studying the supply and demand for their goods in Azerbaijani market, checking the ratings of legal entities and companies and in signing the contracts.

Likewise, general director stated that after the opening of direct flight, the arrival of Kazakh suppliers to Baku and an exhibition of goods for Azerbaijani partners and distributors would be organized. In addition, it is planned to create a website and pages in social networks of trade house.

Additionally, he noted that with the expansion of the activities, the trade house would facilitate and support the implementation of bilateral projects in the field of culture, art, tourism and sport between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan.

It should be noted that the volume of foreign trade operation between two countries amounted to $64.7 million. Export of Azerbaijani products to Kazakhstan amounted to $16.5 million, while import of Kazakh products to Azerbaijan amounted to $48.2 million.

Presently, over 700 companies with Azerbaijani capital are registered in Kazakhstan, and about 60 companies with Kazakh capital are registered in Azerbaijan.

The main export products from Kazakhstan to Azerbaijan are mineral resources (oil and gas), chemical raw materials, grain, barley, tobacco products, carbon steel rolling, and electrical equipment. Azerbaijan exports petroleum products extracted from bituminous materials, ethylene polymers, components for machines and mechanisms, prefabricated buildings, etc. to Kazakhstan.

Earlier, Azerbaijan Railway and Kazakhstan Railway 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.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
With mental health needs rising sharply and services already stretched, the University of Waikato is responding to the challenge with the launch of the new Bachelor of Nursing in 2021, integrating a focus on mental health and addictions throughout the three-year degree.

The programme was developed following the Government Inquiry into Mental Health and Addiction in 2018, entitled He Ara Oranga, which made a series of recommendations about improving mental health and addiction care in New Zealand.

These included broadening the range of services, greater responsiveness in primary care, and collaboration between government sectors. These imperatives have taken on added urgency in the wake of COVID-19.

Leading the development of the mental health focus of the new Waikato nursing programme is Tony OBrien, a leading expert in mental health nursing who earlier this year was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to mental health nursing.

Over the course of his 46-year career, Tony has worked as a clinical practitioner, lecturer, researcher, and as an expert advisor to the New Zealand Police where he helped shape guidelines to assist frontline officers respond to mental health emergencies.

His research has also led to key changes in the way registered nurses treat mental health patients under the Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992.

Thanks in large part to Tonys contribution, the new University of Waikato Nursing degree will be a significant departure from traditional approaches favoured by other providers.

Put simply, the Waikato programme recognises the need to take a more holistic view of a person and their life when providing nursing services.

Tony says a one-size-fits-all model for mental health simply doesnt work, especially for remote, rural communities, where services do not always reach those who need support the most.

It is important that services are culturally safe and focussed on the needs of the population. This was echoed in the recently released Zero Suicide Aotearoa report, which highlighted the need for tailored responses to suicide.

At the University of Waikato, well be teaching mental health as an integral part of health and therefore as an integral part of nursing.

"This is the big message we have taken from He Ara Oranga. We will also be employing an equity lens to ensure that nurses are equipped to address inequalities in health outcomes.

University of Waikato nursing students will also graduate with an unparalleled amount of practical experience under their belts - 700 more clinical hours than the 1100 hours minimum required by the Nursing Council of New Zealand and 500 more hours than other providers, says Tony.

Additional hours will allow students to spend more time in clinical practice, particularly in primary care settings where there is the greatest opportunity to make a difference to the health of the population.

We know there are some really concerning issues that require a more nuanced and strengths-based approach, like the high Maori suicide rate and high use of compulsory treatment for Maori under the Mental Health Act.

We also know people with mental illness experience worse physical health than those who dont in almost every area. We have to do something different and changing the way we teach and prepare our healthcare providers of the future is a critical step in the right direction.

Were really proud of the programme weve developed here at Waikato. We aim to graduate nurses with a high level of clinical skills who are knowledgeable about equity in health, and prepared to practice in a wide range of clinical settings.
Cemex included in the Fortune 2020 Change the World list

22 September 2020

Cemex SAB de CV has been again included in the "Fortune 2020 Change the World" list, which highlights companies around the world that have generated a social impact through activities that are part of their business strategy. This is the third time that Cemex has received this distinction.

Fortune recognised Cemex's efforts in social impact business models. One of the initiatives was the rapid deployment of solutions to meet the current challenges caused by the COVID- 19 pandemic. Working with the Mexican Institute of Social Security and in coordination with more than 20 multi-sectoral partners in Mexico, Cemex built mobile hospitals with highly durable precast antibacterial concrete modules in a record time of two weeks per medical facility. This effort in Mexico will be replicated in other countries where Cemex has operations to contribute to global challenges positively.

"Once again, we are honoured by Fortunes recognition of our efforts to improve the well-being and quality of life of the population," said Fernando A Gonzalez, CEO of Cemex. "By living our purpose of building a better future and working with our stakeholders, we seek to develop innovative solutions, while promoting a sustainable and resilient future."

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More than 50 former prime ministers, presidents and ministers have signed a letter begging the world to push for nuclear disarmament with a UN treaty.

The plea organised by campaigners comes as Britain, the US and other nuclear powers refuse to sign the pact, insisting it will not end the atomic threat.

The fresh bid to pass the 2017 deal, which needs just six more nations to ratify it, came as the UN General Assembly opened in New York yesterday.

Those signing the letter include former UN head Ban Ki-moon, ex-Nato chiefs and former leaders of Canada, Japan, Italy, Poland, Slovenia and Albania.

Leaders from 84 UN nations have signed have signed a letter calling for the world to push for nuclear disarmament with a UN treaty. (Stock image)

The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons has been signed by 84 UN nations but only 44 have ratified it.

If 50 countries do this, the pact would come into force within 90 days.

The appeal organised by the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons warns: 'We must not sleepwalk into a crisis. Sooner or later, our luck will run out.'

Foreign Office minister Lord Ahmad told Parliament last week that the best way to achieve a world without nuclear weapons was 'a negotiated and gradual multi- lateral disarmament'

The UK is 'committed to the long term goal of a world without nuclear weapons,' and to the landmark Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), signed in 1970 to prevent the spread of such weapons.

When the 2017 pact was announced, the Foreign Office said: 'We will not sign the treaty. As we have previously made very clear, we do not believe that this treaty will bring us closer to a world without nuclear weapons.

'This treaty fails to address the key issues that must first be overcome to achieve lasting global nuclear disarmament.

'It will not improve the international security environment or increase trust and transparency.

Military officers observe an atomic test in the Nevada desert as part of the Buster-Jangle series in 1951

'The unpredictable international security environment we face today demands the maintenance of our nuclear deterrent for the foreseeable future.

'And we cannot rule out further shifts in the international security context which would put us, or our NATO allies, under grave threat.

'This treaty also risks undermining and weakening the NPT, which has played an unparalleled role in curtailing the nuclear arms race.

'The NPT continues to make a significant contribution to the strategic stability that the international community requires.

'We must uphold and strengthen the NPT because of, not despite, the complex security challenges that we all face.

'It remains the right framework for progress across all three, mutually reinforcing, pillars, including disarmament.

'The UK has not taken part in the negotiation of this treaty, and does not intend to sign, ratify or become party to it. The treaty will therefore not be binding on the UK.'
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee had written to the Centre on September 9 that she was open to implementation of the Prime Minister Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme for farmers as well as the Ayushman Bharat Yojana healthcare scheme if the funds were transferred directly to her government for disbursement.

Banerjee also said the Centre would have to bear 100 per cent cost of the Ayushman Bharat Yojana.

This was the first time the Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief expressed her willingness to start these schemes although she had been at the receiving end of attacks by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) since 2014 for not implementing the Centres social welfare projects.

The letters Banerjee wrote to Union health minister Dr Harsh Vardhan and Union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar were released on social media by the state government on Tuesday afternoon while the BJP was heightening its campaign, accusing her of depriving millions of farmers of the Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme against the backdrop of her opposition to the farmers bills passed by Parliament on Sunday.

The PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme is funded entirely by the Centre but in case of Ayushman Bharat, states have to bear 40 per cent of the contribution towards premium. Only the states in the North-East and three Himalayan states have to bear 10 per cent of this cost.

On different occasions, it is heard that the state government in Bengal is not implementing the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi launched by the Central government. It may please be appreciated that the state government has already introduced way before the Krishak Bandhu scheme to provide financial assistance to farmers including sharecroppers, Banerjee wrote to Tomar on September 9.

Under this scheme, every farmer/sharecropper receives Rs 5000 from the government. The scheme also envisages death benefit of Rs 2 lakh in case of unfortunate death of any farmer in the age group of 18 to 60. More than 70 lakh farmers are being covered under the Krishak Bandhu scheme in Bengal, she wrote, adding that the scheme also offers crop insurance and the premium is borne entirely by the government.

Saying that the states scheme leads to a huge expenditure, Banerjee wrote, We will be happy to provide benefits to the farmers under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme and in that case the Central government may transfer the requisite fund direct to the state government for further disbursement with full responsibility to the beneficiaries through the state government machinery.

In a similar letter to Dr Harsh Vardhan, Banerjee said the state government provides 100 per cent free treatment, medicines and diagnostic tests for all in government hospitals and also provides an annual cover of Rs 5 lakh under the Swasthya Sathi scheme for treatment of critical diseases such as cancer, heart disease etc. at private hospitals. More than 7.5 crore people in Bengal are covered under Swasthya Sathi, she wrote.

Ayushman Bharat scheme may be extended by the Government of India with entire 100 per cent expenditure for the scheme. In such a case the entire funding for the scheme may be routed through the state government, wrote Banerjee.

Reacting to the letters, the Bengal BJP alleged that Banerjee was trying to find a way to raise funds for the crucial assembly polls to be held next year.

The chief minister has asked for direct transfer of funds so that the money can go her partys election fund. We have seen now Central funds meant for providing relief to people affected by cyclone Amphan in May was misappropriated. The cut-money (bribe or commission) culture is an integral part of the ruling party, said BJP national secretary Rahul Sinha.

Even governor Jagdeep Dhankhar wrote a letter to the chief minister on Monday, saying if timely steps had been taken by the state government over 70 lakh farmers would have received Rs 8,400 crore under the Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme. Each of the over 70 lakh farmers would have so far got Rs 12,000 directly in the bank accounts without any intermediary, wrote the governor on Monday. The letter was released to the media by the Raj Bhawan on Tuesday when Banerjees party hit the streets of Kolkata in protest against the farmers bills.

After Banerjees letters to the two Union ministers were released to the media Dhankhar called a press conference at Raj Bhawan on Tuesday evening where he criticized the state government. Funds for Central welfare schemes go directly to the beneficiaries and not routed through the state, he said.

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Navy recovers body of captain from storm-sunk fishing boat

PHUKET: Divers from the Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command based in Phuket yesterday (Sept 21) recovered the body of a captain from his sunken fishing boat in the Surin Islands national park .

marineSafetyweatherdeath

By Eakkapop Thongtub

Tuesday 22 September 2020, 11:15AM

The body of Captain Somchai Soonploy was recovered from the sunken Chan Udome Sombat 8 fishing boat yesterday (Sept 21). Photo: Royal Thai Navy

The body of Captain Somchai Soonploy was recovered from the sunken Chan Udome Sombat 8 fishing boat yesterday (Sept 21). Photo: Royal Thai Navy

The body of Captain Somchai Soonploy was recovered from the sunken Chan Udome Sombat 8 fishing boat yesterday (Sept 21). Photo: Royal Thai Navy

The body of Captain Somchai Soonploy was recovered from the sunken Chan Udome Sombat 8 fishing boat yesterday (Sept 21). Photo: Royal Thai Navy

The Third Area Thailand Maritime Enforcement Coordinating Center (Thai-MECC) received a report from Khuraburi port officials in Phang Nga, north of Phuket, at about 9pm on Saturday night (Sept 19) notifying them that a boat had sunk in storm conditions within the marine national park.

The sunken vessel was the Chan Udome Sombat 8 fishing boat and its captain Somchai Soonploy was missing, Thai-MECC reported in a Facebook post.

Myanmar crewman named in Thai as Ammia Au escaped from the boat as it sank. He explained to authorities that he woke as the boat tipped over, and only had time to grab some documents before jumping overboard, Thai-MECC reported.

Ammia Au swam to the sister-ship fishing boat Chan Udome Sombat 6 nearby to ask for help.

Ammia Au explained that at around 8pm on the night there was strong wind and large waves. The boat started taking on water and overturned, he said.

Navy personnel together with national park officers Sunday (Sept 20) located the boat and found Capt Somchais body still trapped in the sunken vessel, but were unable to safely recover his body.

Navy divers returned yesterday, and at 10am brought his body to the surface.

Capt Somchais body was taken to Khuraburi Chaiphat Hospital and Khuraburi Police were left to inform his relatives that his body had been recovered.
New Nokia smartphones are scheduled to launch later today. Here's what HMD Global may announce for the new Nokia lineup.

HMD Global is set to launch new Nokia smartphones later today. The Finnish company has scheduled an event where it will unveil a new chapter for Nokia phones.

The Nokia launch event will take place later today at 16:00 BST which is 8:30 PM IST for viewers in India. The event will be live streamed via the companys official website. HMD Global hasnt revealed anything yet but one teaser video shows two Nokia smartphones. There have been quite a few Nokia phones showing up in leaks recently.

The clock is ticking 

New gadgets are ready. Are you? 



09.22, 16:00 BST. #OnlyGadgetYouNeed pic.twitter.com/bsKhjT7OOv  Nokia Mobile (@NokiaMobile) September 21, 2020

Its speculated that the Nokia 2.4, Nokia 3.4 and Nokia 7.3 may launch at this event. Nokia 9.3 PureView which has also been leaked quite often will reportedly launch sometime during the end of this year. Nokia 2.4 has been leaked with a 6.5-inch display, MediaTek Helio P22 processor, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage. The smartphone is also said to house two rear cameras, and a fingerprint sensor.

Nokia 3.4 leaked images reveal a circular camera module which will be a design change for the series. It could come with 3GB of RAM and up to 64GB of storage. The smartphone is also expected to come with a 6.52-inch HD+ display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 460 processor and a 4,000mAh battery.

As for the Nokia 7.3, there isnt much known about this phone yet. This will be HMD Globals second major Nokia phone launch after it unveiled the Nokia 8.3 5G and Nokia 5.3 in March. HMD Global will also have a special guest at the event.
A black Hispanic family were barred from swimming in the lake in their gated community by two Karens - who are both actually named Karen.

Karen Belair and Karen Amici, who are both white, threatened to call the cops on mother-of-two Katherine Jimenez as she swam with her kids at Beech Mountain Lakes in Drum, Pennsylvania, where the family has owned a home for four years.

The two Karens, who worked at the community, summoned an armed security guard because Katherine had forgotten her resident card.

The guard interrogated the mother in front of her sons Timothy, 11, and Amir, eight, and her nieces Jasmine and Desiree, both 18, about whether they had the right to use the lake.

The incident happened on June 28 as Black Lives Matter protests swept across the United States.

Karen Belair (pictured) and Karen Amici, who are both white, threatened to call the cops on Katherine Jimenez on June 28 at Beech Mountain Lakes in Drum, Pennsylvania. The two Karens, who worked at the community, summoned an armed security guard because Katherine had forgotten her resident card

The women threatened to call the cops on mother-of-two Katherine Jimenez (pictured with her sons and partner) as she swam with her kids at Beech Mountain Lakes in Drum, Pennsylvania, where the family has owned a home for four years

Katherine, 29, a clinic nurse, said: 'They threatened to call the cops to kick me out of my own community'. Pictured: Karen Belair

Katherine, 29, a clinic nurse, said: 'I have lived in this gated community for four years and I'm a frequent visitor of the amenities.

'It was a hot Sunday afternoon and I had this young girl approach me and ask me for my resident card.

'I said that I didn't have it but that I knew my account number. She said that was fine and gave me a bracelet.'

But once the children were in the lake, Karen Belair, the recreation supervisor at the community, confronted Katherine by the lakeside.

'I have seen this woman multiple times so she knows I live here,' Katherine said.

'I explained that I didn't have my resident card but I knew my number and I had my car with me which has my current resident sticker on it.

'She told me that I had to leave and get my resident card.'

Katherine refused to leave because her kids were already in the water - and then Belair called her supervisor Karen Amici, the acting general manager of the community, who instructed her to call the cops on the family.

'Karen told her to tell me that if I don't get out to get my card, they were going to call the cops,' Katherine said.

'They threatened to call the cops to kick me out of my own community.'

Katherine refused to leave because her kids were already in the water - and then Belair (pictured) called her supervisor Karen Amici, the acting general manager of the community, who instructed her to call the cops on the family

Katherine said: 'It was a hot Sunday afternoon and I had this young girl approach me and ask me for my resident card. I said that I didn't have it but that I knew my account number. She said that was fine and gave me a bracelet'

But once the children were in the lake, Karen Belair, the recreation supervisor at the community, confronted Katherine by the lakeside. 'I have seen this woman multiple times so she knows I live here,' Katherine said. 'I explained that I didn't have my resident card but I knew my number and I had my car with me which has my current resident sticker on it. 'She told me that I had to leave and get my resident card.' Pictured: An entrance to the gated community

The family have not been to the lake (pictured) since and are still reeling from the racist behavior of the two women. Katherine said: 'We were denied to be in the places that we paid for and it was obviously because of our skin tone and the way we speak. Nobody else was being harassed. It was humiliating and embarrassing'

A security guard arrived and told Katherine to leave the lake and return with her resident card.

A white fellow resident, Samantha Ashby, 35, began filming the interaction and accused the officials of racism.

She pointed out that none of the white residents had been asked for their resident cards.

In the clip, Samantha tells Belair and the security guard: 'I'll walk around the beach right now and ask how many people had to show their membership cards and I guarantee you it won't be many.

'What's happening right now is not right. I am a white girl and no one said anything to me.

'They happen to be the only family of color at the beach and you're messing with them.

A white fellow resident, Samantha Ashby (pictured), 35, began filming the interaction and accused the officials of racism. She pointed out that none of the white residents had been asked for their resident cards

'Why are they the only family on the beach that is getting harassed?'

Belair insisted she had no way of knowing that Katherine and her children were 'valid.'

She said: 'Those girls have no way of checking if she's valid.'

In the clip, Katherine becomes increasingly upset and her partner Timothy Roane, 32, a maintenance supervisor, arrives to support her.

Later that day after the incident, Timothy wrote an email to the board of the gated community decrying the treatment his partner had received at the lake.

He wrote: 'I have been a Beech Mountain resident for over four years now, and I must say, I am appalled and disgusted by the treatment of my partner and children at the beach today by your staff.

'How come the only minority family at the beach is being hounded for a card and kicked out due to the lack of one?'

Katherine and Timothy attended a board meeting on July 29 and asked that both Belair and Amici be fired and that their amenity fees for this year be returned.

She said: 'The board president came to our house and said that none of that was going to happen and handed me a written apology.

'That happened a month later - it took them a whole month to apologize.'

The family have not been to the lake since and are still reeling from the racist behavior of the two women.

Katherine said: 'We were denied to be in the places that we paid for and it was obviously because of our skin tone and the way we speak.

'Nobody else was being harassed. It was humiliating and embarrassing.'

In the clip, Katherine becomes increasingly upset and her partner Timothy Roane, 32, a maintenance supervisor, arrives to support her.

Katherine and Timothy attended a board meeting on July 29 and asked that both Belair and Amici be fired and that their amenity fees for this year be returned. She said: 'The board president came to our house and said that none of that was going to happen and handed me a written apology. That happened a month later - it took them a whole month to apologize.' Pictured: The typed apology from the BMLA Board President

Both Belair and Amici declined to comment on the incident when contacted by DailyMail.com.

The Beech Mountain Lakes Association released a statement through their attorney at Slusser Law Firm.

'Upon learning of the incident, the Beech Mountain Lake Board of Directors took immediate investigative action, including an extensive and detailed meeting with the family involved.

'We also conducted interviews of all Beech Mountain personnel involved, as well as receiving videos that were provided to us.

'The involved family is in possession of a video which they chose not to share with the Beech Mountain Lakes Board during their investigation, and as such, and obviously, we were not privy to the family's video and what was depicted thereon.

'The Board, before taking any action, wanted to ensure that it had complete perspective on the issues as they surfaced on the day in question.

'Upon completion of its investigation, absent the family video that was not shared, the Beech Mountain Lakes Board took appropriate disciplinary action and so notified the family involved.

'With the foregoing in mind, be advised that Beech Mountain Lakes Board does not condone any racist conduct from any employee, nor any resident. The Board will continue to act immediately and aggressively on any issues that should surface of similar nature.'
ABC News

Demonstrators gathered in Washington on Friday for the country's largest annual anti-abortion rally around the anniversary of the landmark 1973 Supreme Court decision establishing the right to an abortion -- but this year, 49 years later, they march with the fate of Roe v. Wade more uncertain than ever. "We expect this year's March for Life to be historic with even higher levels of enthusiasm from participants," Jeanne Mancini, president of March for Life, told ABC News in a statement. "We are all hopeful that, with the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization case before the Supreme Court, this year will bring us much closer to building the culture of life we have all marched for since Roe v. Wade was imposed on our nation nearly 50 years ago."
The chief curator of a new Shanghai exhibition featuring a famous work by French impressionist painter Claude Monet has spoken of the cultural significance of the show in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Following the unveiling of Monet's masterpiece "Impression, Sunrise" at the Bund One Art Museum last week, Marianne Mathieu, who is the scientific director of the Marmottan-Monet Museum in Paris, said in an exclusive interview with Xinhua that the show was both a historic occasion and one replete with symbolic significance, given the current global health crisis.

Mathieu traveled to China specifically for the exhibition, becoming the first French cultural delegate to visit China since the interruption of international travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I not only witnessed the first exhibition of 'Impression, Sunrise' in China in the past 150 years," she said, "but also personally experienced the unity and courage of France and China in breaking through the haze of the epidemic with 'Impression, Sunrise'."

Mathieu left Paris in early September and underwent a 14-day quarantine on arrival in Shanghai, in accordance with Chinese regulations.

She said the hotel in which she was quarantined was located in the suburbs of Shanghai, and every morning, looking through the window, she could see rice fields, mist and cranes.

"This reminds me of Monet's creation of 'Impression, Sunrise' from the window, keenly grasping the rising sun, the moment it rose from the port fog. This gave me a very good feeling about the future," the curator said.

As soon as Mathieu finished her quarantine period on Sept. 15, she devoted herself to preparing the exhibition. She checked every detail and personally assisted in placing the French national treasure in the center of the u-shaped exhibition hall.

"As a curator, you must come to the scene and personally lay the narrative lines of the exhibition. This is not only out of responsibility for the exhibits, but also out of respect for the audience," Mathieu said.

"Impression, Sunrise" was created in 1872, and according to Mathieu, it represented a new departure in the world of art, having a subversive impact on French painting.

The exhibition is scheduled to last from Sept. 16 to Jan. 3, 2021.
While Philadelphias steak sandwich monoculture is celebrated for its contribution to American eating, please accept my nomination of the Queen City of the Great Lakes, whose bonanza of beef-on-bread choices ought to be carved into the hearts, heads  and stomachs  of gastronomes everywhere.

Thats not even counting the beef on weck, which is sliced roast beef and therefore another species entirely.

From the strictly minimalist ethos of Kennedys Cove to the what-the-hell-did-I-just-eat wonder of Shys, heres seven of my favorite places to steak my claim to satisfaction.

690 Fillmore Ave., 847-8177

There are steak sandwiches that you can eat while driving. Shy's is not one of them. Pull over, or better, eat over a plate, sink or garbage can.
Do you miss your favorite French Quarter bars? Theres no doubt they miss you, as city rules mandate that most remain closed as the coronavirus fight stretches on.

Now the Crescent City Classic is encouraging people to take a run (or walk, or cycle) in the names of these bars, with a socially distanced event intended to support local hospitality workers.

The Michelob Ultra Bourbon Street Barathon is a new fundraising challenge from the organization best known for its annual Crescent City Classic 10k road race, which also was virtual this year.

The group has charted a 5K route that winds through the French Quarter and CBD, passing 17 bars, though people can take part (virtually) from anywhere.

With the Bourbon Street Barathon, which is going on now though Oct. 15, people register and take solo or small group runs, walks or bicycle ride. Each time they complete another 3.1 miles, they've symbolically "hit" another bar. Completing them all in the next few weeks would mean 17 individual 5k outings, equaling a 85k.

Donations that participants gin up for their challenge and a portion of their registration fees go to the Louisiana Hospitality Foundation, a local nonprofit making grants for people in its sector in need through its crisis fund.

Most of the bars on the route are closed, though several that are within restaurants, or now operate as restaurants, have reopened.

+14 The story of Pirogues, Mid-City Yacht Club, others: How New Orleans bars reopen as restaurants The three New Orleans bartenders who opened Pirogues Whiskey Bayou in Arabi back in 2016 could draw on decades of combined experience to star

Food and restaurant news in your inbox Every Thursday we give you the scoop on NOLA dining. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up

Program director Eric Stuart said the route isn't about actually visiting the bars at all, but rather these spots provide a fun framework to structure some exercise that gives back to a cause. People can take part in any way they log miles, including on treadmills without leaving home. Many of the participants registered so far even live outside of Louisiana.

Its something you can do from anywhere, Stuart said. Each time you make a 5k milestone, youve visited another bar on the list. I think a lot of people recognize the dilemma the French Quarter is in and want to support in some way. That's what this is about.

+6 Many New Orleans restaurants extend Coolinary dining deals, new Restaurant Week up next Though the annual citywide dining deal program Coolinary officially ended Sept. 13 this year, some restaurants decided to extend its prix fixe

Participants register and log their miles online. When they complete a route for each bar, they get a symbolic "virtual drink" from each - meaning a certificate with a history of the bar, a cocktail recipe or information about the bar's signature drink.

Registration ($35, open until Sept. 30) include the usual road race swag like a T-shirt and a medallion, which thoughtfully doubles as a bottle opener for those "non-virtual" drinks.

Bars in the route include: Effervescence, Bar Tonique, the Sazerac Bar, Arnauds French 75, Desire Oyster Bar, Beach on Bourbon, the Old Absinthe House, the Carousel Bar, Brennans Restaurant, Napoleon House, the Court of the Two Sisters, the Golden Lantern, Lafittes Blacksmith Shop and Bar, Cafe Lafitte in Exile, Good Friends, Tropical Isle and Pat OBriens.

Get information about the route, registration and process at runsignup.com/bourbon.

+17 From Bullets to R Bar, Phoenix to Erin Rose, bars closed by pandemic fear point of no return Kelder Summers opened her cocktail lounge Whiskey & Sticks two years ago as a new addition to a long-running tradition in New Orleans  th

Hogs of the Cause drive-thru barbecue in Lakeview brings 10 together before Saints game Can fiercely competitive factions still actually work together for the greater good? Hogs for the Cause proves they can each year at its annua
People who grew up in conservative households are sharing their 'glow-up' transformations since they left, showing how how much better they look since they've been able to embrace who they really are.

According to BoredPanda, the trend was started by @Cherryemojigirl, a 19-year-old from Utah who went from a straight-laced Disney-loving cheerleader in high school to a punk rock queen with two-toned hair, neon nails, and a nose ring today.

'Did anyone else grow up in a really conservative household?' she asked. 'So you were never allowed to express yourself through your appearance? So the minute you graduated and went off on your own you just... '

It turns out, this was the reality for quite a lot of people, especially among the 10.1 million viewers who watched her video.

Soon, others were responding with videos of their own, showing how they've changed their clothes, hair, makeup, and even their gender since growing up  and are so much better off for it.

Before: TikTok users are sharing their glow-ups on the app, revealing how they changed their appearance after growing up in conservative households

Cheerleader: TikTok user @Cherryemojigirl, a 19-year-old from Utah, started the trend, asking if anyone else grew up in a conservative household

What a change! After high school, she left home and completely changed her look

Makeover! Other TikTok users have shared similar transformations

Owning it: Many high school girly girls have a much tougher look now that they've grown u

Being themselves: Some guys feel more comfortable with a less traditionally masculine look

Finding what works: Quite a few have dyed their hair and are experimenting with their style

Happy now: Everyone seems quite proud of their transformations and more comfortable in their skin

A really big change: Several people partaking in the trend have even come out as trans

Happy ending: Now adults, they've been able to embrace who they really are

The glow-ups capture changes in clothing and hair, but also changes in gender

Too cool for school! Even prom queens have gone punk rock since leaving school days behind

At ease: It's not just changes in hair and clothes. Most of the people also look much happier

Unique: A lot of the TikTokers conformed in high school but are doing their own thing now
President Trump has brought Chinas relations with the United States to their lowest point in years. Joseph R. Biden Jr. could prove, from the Chinese vantage point, to be a tougher and more complex challenge.

Mr. Biden, according to analysts in China, could do more damage than Mr. Trump by pursuing a more coherent strategy to counter Chinas global agenda.

Mr. Biden has vowed that if elected, he would take a harder line on climate change and Chinas crackdowns on ethnic minorities and Hong Kong. To Chinas leadership, he is the candidate more likely to restore strong ties with American allies and mobilize other nations to pressure China more effectively.

Biden would make the hard lines more effective and more efficient, said Cheng Xiaohe, an associate professor of international relations at Renmin University in Beijing. He might resort to more sophisticated and coordinated tactics against China.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 22:38:11|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Cheng Xuan, one of China's most wanted graft fugitives, has returned to China and turned herself in, 22 years after she fled overseas, the country's top anti-graft body said on Tuesday.

Suspected of duty-related crimes, Cheng was a former cashier of the Sinopec Finance Co., Ltd. before she fled overseas in January 1998, according to a statement on the website of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party of China and the National Supervisory Commission.

Anti-graft authorities started an investigation into Cheng's case in August 1998. She was listed on the Interpol Red Notice in June 2016.

The top anti-graft body also urged other fugitives to turn themselves in for a lenient punishment. Enditem
Former US vice president has enormously harmed the US economy in his five decades as a politician, President has said, adding that if the Democratic leader wins the November 3 polls it would be a win for

Biden, 77, and his running mate Kamala Harris are challenging incumbents President Trump, 74, and Vice President Mike Pence in the presidential election.

spent the last 47 years shipping your jobs to and foreign countries. You know that. I've spent the last four years bringing the jobs back to our country and back to Ohio, Trump said at a rally in Dayton, Ohio on Monday.

The Republican leader described the November 3 polls as the most important in recent memory. "On November 3rd, Americans will decide whether we lift our nation to soaring new heights of prosperity or whether we will allow --Sleepy Joe -- to shut down our economy, impose a USD 4 trillion tax hike, abolish Ohio clean coal, oil, natural gas, and ship your jobs in factories overseas to and countries that you never even heard of, he said.

The democratic tax plans for the 2020 election lists a gradual increase in proposed taxes by USD 4 trillion in the next decade, placing a greater burden on the super-rich category.

"Put simply: If Biden wins, China wins. If we win, Ohio wins and most importantly, in all fairness, America wins. Because you finally have the president who puts America first, and I do put America first, Trump said to applause from the audience.

Trump has held election rallies in the last two weeks, notwithstanding the risks posed by the coronavirus. Thousands attend the events without masks and breaking social-distancing norms. Trump has called the rallies "protest against stupidity".

"You know this is really not a rally. This has to do with workers, programs, all the things we love. And this is really what we call 'a friendly protest'. You know what we're protesting. We're protesting stupidity, okay, because so many stupid things you see, Trump said.

Seeking a second term, Trump said the people know the terrible damage that Biden has inflicted on the economy in his near-50 years in politics.

"Can you believe it? For 47 years Joe Biden shook the hands of American workers and then stabbed them in the back. He said 'Washington vultures' I mean, think of it, he said.

He's been doing it for 47 years. I've been doing it for three and a half years so he should be able to beat me I would think. He's much more experienced. Oh! he's great. Oh! he's a beauty. But he betrayed you. He lied to you. He abused you. Which is why it's time to retire Joe Biden. This is serious talk, Trump said.

Biden championed the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and China's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO), Trump said, adding that the NAFTA had many adverse affects on the US economy and China's entry into the WTO led them to go up like a rocket.

The World Trade Organization considers China as a developing nation, Trump said. No. They're not a developing nation. By being a developing nation they get all sorts of advantages over us so we've been protesting it, he said.

As vice president, Biden did nothing even as China stole intellectual property, flooded the market with dumped goods, unfairly subsidised its industries, manipulated its currency, Trump alleged.

"They poison our communities with fentanyl. You know that? Instead, Biden allowed China to ravage our towns, raid our factories, and rip apart our communities. That's what they did, he said. The US had last month sanctioned several Chinese citizens for trafficking fentanyl, a banned opioid.

(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.)
Holyoke Community College and its new community partner, Elevate Northeast, are launching a revitalized cannabis careers training program in October.

The program, offered through the Cannabis Education Center, begins the weekend of Oct. 17 and 18 with two days of required core curriculum training over Zoom.

Each day will be broken down into two sessions, 9 a.m. to noon, and 1 to 4 p.m. Each session will include presentations from cannabis industry experts followed by a question and answer period.

Students who complete the core training will then be eligible to register for spring semester classes in one of four cannabis industry career tracks: cultivation assistant; extraction technician; patient services associate; and culinary assistant.

HCC is proud to partner with Elevate to help job seekers get the training they need to successfully enter the cannabis industry, said Jeffrey Hayden, the colleges vice president of business and community services. At the same time, we look forward to enhancing and expanding our relationships with cannabis companies in Holyoke and other communities throughout the region. Our goal is to help individuals gain employment while meeting the demand of area businesses.

A previous series of cannabis industry training courses offered by HCC and the Cannabis Education Center was suspended in the spring due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dates for the spring career track training sessions have not yet been announced.

Cultivation assistants provide the daily care of the crops from seed to harvest and may be involved in cracking seeds, soil mixing, potting, defoliation, watering, pest control and trimming.

Extraction technicians work in labs assisting production managers in all aspects of extraction, purging, oil manipulation, winterization, distillation, solvent recovery, and quality control.

Patient service associates work behind the counters at cannabis dispensaries, interacting with the public, answering technical questions, and providing information to registered cannabis patients, caregivers, and recreational customers making purchases.

Culinary assistants are responsible for preparing cannabis or cannabidiol-infused products using a variety of cooking, baking, and infusion techniques.

The cost of the two-day core training session is $595.

Elevate Northeast is a Massachusetts-based, women-founded 501(c)(3) nonprofit, created to support the Northeast U.S.'s growing cannabis industry through workforce training, education and advocacy.

The Cannabis Education Center is based in the colleges Kittredge Center for Business and Workforce Development.

To register for Core Cannabis Curriculum class, please go to: hcc.edu/cannabis-core

More information on these and other upcoming classes and programs can be found on the Cannabis Education Centers website  cannabiseducationcenter.org or by calling 413-552-2320.
MERIDIAN, Idaho - The first time Alek Kyzik tweeted, two months ago, he invited Donald Trump Jr. to a pro-Trump rally he was hosting in Boise.

"I would love to chat," he wrote in a public post on July 9 addressed to the president's eldest son, who did not respond. "Thanks!"

The invitation was to a "cruise," the type of provocative show of force that would become Kyzik's signature: a motor-rumbling, flag-waving caravan of cars and trucks endorsing Trump on the streets of liberal cities. The most recent cruise he hosted involved thousands of vehicles advancing on Portland, Ore. It ended with one participant shot dead.

Kyzik was not well known in Republican activist circles. In fact, Kyzik was not even his real name, according to a review of business and academic records, as well as interviews with family members.

He is Alex Kuzmenko, a 33-year-old architect and who lives in a second-story apartment in Meridian, a bedroom community outside the majority-Democratic city of Boise. His YouTube channel featured luxury car reviews before shifting to pro-Trump memes and videos several months ago. He and members of his family - immigrants from Belarus and Ukraine - had almost no political profile before organizing one of the most consequential pro-Trump demonstrations of the summer.

The shooting of Aaron "Jay" Danielson, 39, a supporter of the far-right group Patriot Prayer and a participant in the cruise rally, became a bloody bookend to an anguished summer in Portland and other communities. The alleged assailant, a self-described adherent of antifascism, or antifa, was later killed in an encounter with police.

The killings turned the cruise rally into a spectacle of American disorder. The episode elevated a tactic - proclaiming a political ideology with a parade of people revving their engines and openly displaying guns - that could add fuel to an increasingly bitter presidential contest.

As intelligence officials warn of foreign efforts to inflame divisions ahead of the Nov. 3 election, the work of Alex Kuzmenko and his relatives, who organized the activities using online accounts that did not reveal their full names, shows how little-known individuals with no recorded history of political engagement can seize an outsize role in the campaign.

With little more than a Facebook log-in, private citizens have been able to tap into an existing appetite for protest and partisan faceoff. As with the teenage gunman in Kenosha, Wis., or the black-clad protesters in Portland, street-level confrontations have become defining moments in the era of viral politics, at times eclipsing the official activities of Trump and his Democratic opponent, Joe Biden.

Kuzmenko, who declined to comment at length for this story, has said publicly that it was not his intention for cruise participants to confront protesters directly, or for the caravan to end in violence. The goal, his family members said in interviews, was simply to show support for the president.

But coverage of the caravan took on a life of its own, becoming fodder for conspiracy and propaganda outlets. The Epoch Times, a pro-Trump publication tied to the Falun Gong spiritual movement critical of the Chinese government, featured Kuzmenko, referring to him by his alternate name, in its live coverage of the event on social media.

"MAGA is heading into Portland," right-wing provocateur Jack Posobiec, a correspondent for the pro-Trump One America News, wrote on Twitter. The tweet was shared the next morning by Trump, who added, "GREAT PATRIOTS!"

Video of the cruise rally and its chaotic entry into downtown Portland was also promoted by the Kremlin-financed RT, along with lesser-known, U.S.-based outlets seeking to improve relations with Moscow.

"Oregonians tired of riots organized a mass car rally in support of Donald Trump," read the Russian caption on the video shared across Facebook by "The Russian American," the media arm of a Seattle-based NGO advocating improved ties with Moscow. No one from the group, the Russian-American Cooperation Initiative, took part in the caravan, said its director, Sergey Gladysh, declining to elaborate on why they had nonetheless amplified video of the event on social media.

Local Republican officials and activists said Kuzmenko and his relatives were strangers to them until they began organizing pro-Trump caravans this summer, first in Boise, where two occurred in July and August, and ultimately in Portland. "I attended one," said Victor Miller IV, chairman of the Ada County Republican Central Committee in Idaho, declining to comment further.

Cin Alfonso, co-founder of the Idaho Liberty Dogs, a pro-Trump group that has sent armed civilians to monitor Black Lives Matter protests, had not heard of Kuzmenko before his cruise rallies this summer. "Alex just popped up one day," Alfonso said.

Trump campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh said that the campaign has had "no contact" with Kuzmenko and that it did not provide any Trump merchandise for the cruise rallies.

Kuzmenko and his family said they organized the Portland rally because of their enthusiastic support for Trump as well as concern about months of unrest there. "Nobody's paying us to do any of this," said one brother, Nikolay Kuzmenko. Another brother, Dennis Kuzmenko, said, "We wanted it to be organic." Oleg Volkov, a Portland-based associate of the family who recorded video from the scene of the caravan, said he was "not affiliated with any groups or anything like that," declining to comment further.

Despite the focus on the bloodshed in Portland, including in a volley of tweets from the president the morning after the Aug. 29 episode, little is known about the personalities who set the events in motion.

When approached at a church in Meridian run by a relative, Alex Kuzmenko said his political activities were personal, insisting, "I'm not a public figure."

Nikolay Kuzmenko said the hosts did not reveal their full names because they feared backlash from antifa, a loose collection of left-wing activists Trump has made a focal point of his reelection campaign.

Alex Kuzmenko and most of the other rally organizers are members of an extended family that came to the United States in 1993 from near Chernobyl, Ukraine, multiple family members said. Alex Kuzmenko's mother, Lyubov, said she is originally from Belarus.

In an interview outside her blue farmhouse in Nampa, Idaho, Lyubov Kuzmenko and her son, Dennis, traced their embrace of Trump to the family's difficulties living under the Soviet system. They said the family suffered religious persecution because of their evangelical Christian beliefs and that relatives who stayed in Belarus have had little opportunity to prosper.

"Communism. That's what we got away from," said Dennis, 24, who owns a local heating and cooling company. "Trump is all about religious freedom and letting people serve their own God. And we're behind that."

The family first settled in Portland and then relocated to Meridian in 2006, the 24-year-old and his mother said. They chose to settle in Idaho's Treasure Valley because of the nature and family atmosphere, Lyubov Kuzmenko said. She and her relatives make up about half the congregation at the Fountain of Life Church, a local evangelical congregation that is led by a relative and holds services in Russian.

Alex Kuzmenko is listed as the director of a real estate company that advertises the opportunity to "Sell Your House For Fast Cash." He and his wife, Lily, have run a wedding photography business. Several family members are listed as officers of freight shipping and trucking businesses, according to corporate records.

Dennis Kuzmenko said that he and Alex conceived of hosting Trump rallies in Boise and Portland to fill a campaign void.

"There's no Trump rallies going on. There's nothing going on. Everyone's just hiding out," he said. "We wanted people to get out there."

"It was just fun for us," he added.

Almost all of the rally's hosts used pseudonyms or variations of their names to host the Portland event on Facebook. Nikolay, who appears to operate multiple Facebook accounts, goes by Nik Kuz. Nikolay's wife, Yuliya Kuzmenko, goes by Julie Kuz. Another host, Tina Berezhnoy, shortened her name to Tina Bere. Neither woman responded to requests for comment.

The Kuzmenko family has little documented history of political activism. Alex Kuzmenko voted in 2016 but in no other American election, records indicate. His brother Dennis, who said he is the only family member born in the United States, is also the only member of the Idaho family to make a contribution to a political committee, according to the Federal Election Commission database. It shows he gave $60 to a pro-Trump group and other Republican causes last year.

A Facebook co-host for Kuzmenko's first rally, Bonnie Isbill Dodson, said she had never met Kuzmenko or attended any of his rallies, including the one she co-hosted. The Meridian resident said she had been scrolling through items on Facebook Marketplace when she came across the invitation for the July rally in Boise and was alarmed by a string of offensive comments. When she contacted Kuzmenko, he asked her to monitor the posts. The next thing she knew, she said, she was listed as a co-organizer on the event page.

Kuzmenko publicly distanced himself from a subsequent Portland caravan, writing on Facebook: "Given all the circumstances and investigations going on, we would like to be VERY CLEAR that the Labor Day Portland Rally is NOT organized by us. Such events take time to organize and everything that is organized rapidly is simply NOT SAFE."

He added, "Based on our law enforcement contacts, they highly discourage any rally from happening so soon after the first one."

Kuzmenko has already tired of political activism, his family insists. "He wants out," Dennis Kuzmenko said of his brother's organizing efforts. "He wants someone else to take over."

His continues to promote his past events, however. After warning against new rallies, he returned to his Facebook event page, which is followed by nearly 11,000 users, to draw attention to a highly produced video of the rally he had organized in Portland, highlighting the flag-waving spectacle before the street-level brawls began. "The rally video is done, please like and share with friends and family," he wrote on Sept. 5.

The video has been viewed about 150,000 times, drawing considerable attention to his YouTube channel, called "Open N Review," which was devoted to luxury vehicles for two years before a sudden shift to pro-Trump politics this summer. His videos used to average about 10,000 views. Now he is topping 100,000, and a YouTube spokeswoman, Charlotte Smith, confirmed that his channel is earning revenue from ads appearing on his videos.

Most of the video's engagement on Facebook, according to data from the analysis tool CrowdTangle, came from a post in a group called "Pray for Our President" by an account called "Nozul Olyvia," its profile picture an image of Martin Luther King Jr. Facebook removed the account following questions from The Washington Post. It was not clear who was behind the account, with a Facebook spokeswoman, Sarah Pollack, saying only that it violated the company's policy on authenticity.

In drumming up online interest in the rallies, Kuzmenko and his family showed considerable sophistication on social media, including hiring a Boise-based video company to polish his presentation, according to the head of the company, Bryan Bowermaster. Kuzmenko's first action on the event page was provocative - sharing a Facebook post from the president that included a video showing him running for office indefinitely, with signs reading "Trump 2024" and on into the future. The same message was later echoed at the August rally in Portland, with chants of "12 more years, not just four!"

"We call all patriots and God-loving Americans to stop waiting for a change, but be the change in your country by praying and voting, in person, this November," Kuzmenko said, reading from notes into a megaphone at the rally.

In the weeks leading up to the Portland cruise, he and his relatives also posted repeatedly about opportunities to purchase flags and other gear for the event. American flags and Trump flags went for $5 to $15, while the price for "thin blue line" flags was $10, according to screenshots of their various advertising announcements on social media. Kuzmenko's sister-in-law, who goes by Julie on Facebook, offered "CUSTOM MADE" hitch mounts, capable of holding up to three flags, at $60 apiece.

The caravan route was apparently intended to avoid downtown Portland, the site of months of nightly and often violent clashes between law enforcement and protesters. But some participants drove there anyway, firing pepper spray and paintball guns.

"The shooting was not part of the event. It was not part of the cruise rally," Kuzmenko said in a video, accusing antifa of funneling people downtown.

In a three-hour video of the early phase of the cruise rally, uploaded to Kuzmenko's YouTube page, a woman who appears to be holding the camera says at one point, "We're going to head over to downtown Portland."

At another point, the woman behind the camera - who switches seamlessly between English and Ukrainian - seeks to stage internet-ready enthusiasm, asking a rallygoer standing before a crowd to begin a chant: "Can you walk up and down the line, like, 'USA?' "

- - -

Wolf reported from Meridian. The Washington Post's David L. Stern in Kyiv and Julie Tate, Alice Crites, Ellen Nakashima and Shane Harris in Washington contributed to this report.
WASHINGTONAn independent government agency will investigate whether Education Secretary Betsy DeVos breached a law forbidding federal employees from engaging in political activities on the job after her department distributed a clip of DeVos criticizing the Democratic presidential nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden, through government channels.

The U.S. Office of Special Counsel, which has jurisdiction to investigate violations of the law, known as the Hatch Act, will conduct the inquiry, according to the investigative watchdog blog that filed the complaint.

The revelation is the latest in a string of Trump administration officials to face accusations of breaching the government ethics law. But the power to levy penalties on officials like DeVos falls to President Donald Trump, and he has shown little inclination to mete out punishment or follow the offices recommendations.

The complaint stems from an appearance by DeVos on Fox News this month, when the secretary said Bidens pledge to abandon her school-choice policies was shameful. She claimed that he had turned his back on the kids and turned his face in favour of the teachers union and its demands.

Shortly afterward, Education Department staff members distributed a link to the interview in an official email titled, Important Updates from U.S. Department of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, via a government list, according to the complaint filed with the Office of Special Counsel. DeVos official Twitter account also posted the interview.

The watchdog blog, Checks and Balances Project, claimed that the remarks and dissemination of the video amounted to a co-ordinated campaign, political attack on Biden. It also constituted a violation of the Hatch Act, the group said.

Scott Peterson, the executive director of Checks and Balances Project, said that Eric Johnson, a lawyer in the Office of Special Counsel Hatch Act Unit, confirmed to him that the agency would investigate the complaint. Peterson added that, during a phone call, Johnson said the coronavirus pandemic might slow the investigation, which was reported earlier by Politico.

According to Peterson, Johnson told him: Well investigate the matters in your complaint. The incident seems very well documented.

Johnson did not immediately respond to a phone message seeking comment. The Education Department did not respond late Monday to a request for comment.

Among other provisions, the Hatch Act prevents an official from using his official authority or influence for the purpose of interfering with or affecting the result of an election.

But the Depression-era law has been largely ignored and even mocked by Trump administration officials. The Office of Special Counsel recommended in 2019 that Trump fire Kellyanne Conway, his White House counsellor at the time, over repeated violations of the Hatch Act. But Trump declined to follow the guidance.

More recently, the administration brushed aside claims that Republican National Convention programming filmed at the White House violated the ethics law. Trump accepted his partys nomination last month from the South Lawn of the White House.

In an interview Monday evening, Peterson said DeVos actions amounted to a flagrant violation of the act. He said the secretary should be held to the same standards as other federal employees who are punished for such violations.

Its not fair that ordinary folks have to comply with those rules, whereas people at the top who are wealthy or powerful dont, he said. Arent we all supposed to play by the same rules?

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Scientists at Cincinnati Children's used human intestinal organoids grown from stem cells to discover how our bodies control the absorption of nutrients from the food we eat. They further found that one hormone might be able to reverse a congenital disorder in babies who cannot adequately absorb nutrients and need intravenous feeding to survive.

Heather A. McCauley, PhD, a research associate at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, found that the hormone peptide YY, also called PYY, can reverse congenital malabsorption in mice. With a single PYY injection per day, 80% of the mice survived. Normally, only 20% to 30% survive.

This indicates PYY might be a possible therapeutic for people with severe malabsorption.

Poor absorption of macronutrients is a global health concern, underlying ailments such as malnutrition, intestinal infections and short-gut syndrome. So, identification of factors regulating nutrient absorption has significant therapeutic potential, the researchers noted.

McCauley was lead author of a manuscript published Sept. 22 in Nature Communications, which reported that the absorption of nutrients - in particular, carbohydrates and proteins - is controlled by enteroendocrine cells in the gastrointestinal tract.

Babies born without enteroendocrine cells - or whose enteroendocrine cells don't function properly - have severe malabsorption and require IV nutrition.

"This study allowed us to understand how important this one rare cell type is in controlling how the intestine absorbs nutrients and functions on a daily basis," McCauley said.

The Cincinnati Children's study, "Enteroendocrine cells couple nutrient sensing to nutrient absorption by regulating ion transport," was the first to describe a mechanism linking enteroendocrine cells to the absorption of macronutrients like carbohydrates and amino acids.

One key finding of the study is how these cells, upon sensing ingested nutrients, prepare the intestine to absorb nutrients by controlling the influx and outflux of electrolytes and water, the researchers stated. Absorption of carbohydrates and protein is then linked to the movement of ions in the intestine.

For this study, the scientists relied on human intestinal organoid models created in a lab, said James Wells, PhD, senior author of the study and chief scientific officer of the Center for Stem Cell and Organoid Medicine (CuSTOM) at Cincinnati Children's.

Grown from stem cells, organoids are small formations of human organ that have an architecture and functions that are similar to their full-size counterparts.

Cincinnati Children's launched efforts to make organoids from human pluripotent stem cells in 2006, said Wells, who is also director for basic research in the Division of Endocrinology at the medical center and an Allen Foundation Distinguished Investigator.

"What this study highlights is how decades of basic research into how organs are made and how they function is now leading to breakthroughs in identifying new therapeutics," said Wells, who has led a team of investigators at Cincinnati Children's who developed some of the first human organoid technologies that are now used globally.

The study on malabsorption used three different human small intestinal tissue models - all derived from pluripotent stem cells, which can form any kind of tissue in the body.

"The human organoids are essentially a much more realistic avatar to these patients with these rare mutations," Wells said. "They allow us to model much more faithfully the human disease."

###

McCauley and Wells conceived and initiated the recent study on malabsorption, designed the experiments and wrote the manuscript. Contributors to the study included intestinal physiology experts Marshall "Chip" Montrose, PhD, and Eitaro Aihara, PhD, of the University of Cincinnati.

About this study

The study was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (U19 AI116491, P01 HD093363, UG3 DK119982, U01 DK103117); S&R Foundation and American Physiological Society; the American Diabetes Association (1-17-PDF-102); the Shipley Foundation and the Allen Foundation. Support was also received from the Digestive Disease Research Center (P30 DK078392).
A new book by Andrew Weissmann, who served on Robert Muellers Special Counsel team investigating Russian election meddling in 2016, says the group pulled punches during its investigation in the face of repeated threats from the president to shut down the probe. The failure to use the full extent of the prosecutors authority to get to the bottom of Trumps Russia links ultimately let Trump off the hook, kept the American people in the dark, and left Weissmann to lament: We could have done more. In Weissmanns insider account of the two-year Russia investigation, Where the Law Ends: Inside the Mueller Investigation, the former prosecutor goes about cataloging the internal thinking, strategy, and shortcomings of Muellers tightlipped prosecutorial team. After years of presidential grandstanding and right-wing misinformation, Weissmanns telling of how the case against the president was made creates, for the first time, a historical record of what went on behind the scenes of the monumental investigation.

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While Weissmann outlines some of the strategic failures, the real takeaway is that the Trump threats to shut down the special counsel were effective: They deeply affected how the investigation was run, Weissmann writes, so much so that the Mueller team went to great lengths to avoid angering the president and his backers in the right-wing media. The Mueller team, for instance, chose not to subpoena the president to compel him to sit for an interview; the special counsel also declined to subpoena Trumps financial records and corral key documents from the Trump Organization. In each case, Weissmann writes, the decisions were made out of fear that Trump would pull the plug in response. So the investigators declined to compel Donald Trump Jr.s testimony and did not interview Ivanka Trump, despite both Trump children interacting with Russian-linked figures while playing key roles on the campaign trail.

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While Weissmann acknowledges the responsibility for the investigation ultimately falls on Muellers shoulders, he places much of the blame on Mueller deputy Aaron Zebley for bending over backward to fly under the radar of the White House. Aaron had a way of gaslighting you, of making you question your own reality, that you were being too aggressive in your drive to pursue leads and push harderlike you were not enough of an adult, Weissmann writes. In the end, the strategy of gathering as much evidence and data as possible while not arousing too much concern from the White House proved ineffective, as did Muellers approach of not stating plainly what the president was guilty of, instead leaving that to Congress and (potentially) future investigations.

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Now allowed to editorialize about the probe and the process, the New York Times notes, Weissmann elevates particular detailsfor example, emphasizing that the same business account that sent hush payments to an adult film star who alleged an extramarital affair with Mr. Trump had also received payments linked to a Russian oligarch.  From the Times:

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The book builds toward investigators discovery that Mr. Manafort had shared internal campaign polling data with Mr. Kilimnik, who flew to the United States to meet with Mr. Manafort during the campaign, asking whether Mr. Trump would permit a peace plan for Russia to essentially take over all of eastern Ukraine. But while admitting this much, Mr. Manafortseeing the dangle of a potential pardon from Mr. Trumprefused to cooperate further. Investigators did not obtain any final puzzle pieces and lacked the evidence to charge anyone in the campaign with a criminal conspiracy involving Russias covert electoral assistance. It would seem to require significant audacityor else, leveragefor another nation to even put such a request before a presidential candidate, Mr. Weissmann wrote of Mr. Kilimniks request. This made what we didnt know, and still dont know to this day, monumentally disconcerting: Namely, why would Trump ever agree to this? Why would Trump ever agree to this Russian proposal if the candidate were not getting something from Russia in return?

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Without financial records to seal the deal or compelled testimony to out wrongdoing or, minimally, flip witnesses that were eyeing presidential pardons, the investigation failed to deliver on its promise to plumb the darkest depths of Trumps Russia links. We still do not know if there are other financial ties between the president and either the Russian government or Russian oligarchs, Weissmann writes. We do not know whether he paid bribes to foreign officials to secure favorable treatment for his business interests, a potential violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act that would provide leverage against the president. We do not know if he had other Russian business deals in the works at the time he was running for president, how they might have aided or constrained his campaign, or even if they are continuing to influence his presidency.

The Mueller investigation refused to go all the way, to use its authority to leave no stone unturned in the pursuit of truth; it described what was plain in abstraction, and in doing so did left the American public in perhaps a worse off position than they startednowhere.
Gyeonggi Province Government building located in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province / Courtesy of Gyeonggi Province





By Lee Hyo-jin







Gyeonggi Province will hold a two-day job fair from Wednesday for international students in Korea seeking employment here, according to province officials, Monday.







Through contactless job interviews, the municipal government plans to match foreign students in the area with local companies seeking to expand their business overseas.







Some 80 international students have enrolled for job interviews conducted by 15 local businesses from various sectors.







The city had previously planned to set up one-on-one counseling booths and on-site recruitment, but had to move the event online due to a recent resurgence of coronavirus cases in the greater Seoul area.







Prior to the job fair, students will be provided with detailed information about the firms through a recruiting website. Job interviews will be held from Wednesday without face-to-face contact, using kiosks installed at Gyeonggi University and Shinhan University.







Students can select a company and go through the interview by answering a set of questions sent from each firm. The companies will later decide whether to hire applicants by evaluating the recorded interviews.







"We hope the career fair will ease the difficulties of international students here in finding jobs amid the coronavirus pandemic," an official at Gyeonggi Provincial Government said.







For inquiries about the job fair, call (031) 8008-4982.






A group chosen by Malis military leaders appointed the former defence minister, Bah Ndaw, as president on Monday.

He is expected to steer the country back to civilian rule in 18 months.

The vice president, Colonel Assimi Goita, is the man who led last months coup that overthrew President Ibrahim Keita.

Goita is urging people to support the army in the fight against armed groups.

But will Malians accept their new leaders? And can this end months of instability?

Presenter: Halla Mohieddeen

Guests:

Chukwuemeka Eze  Executive director of the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding in Accra

Kwesi Aning  Director of research at Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre in Ghana

Vincent Hugeux  Journalist and writer focusing on West Africa and Lecturer at Sciences Po University in Paris
When protesters hit the streets for the 100th straight day in Portland on Sept. 4, news stories carried an Associated Press photograph of Stacy Kendra Williams, an Alabama native who moved west in 2011.

Williams, 36, holds a shield bearing the motto of her home state: We Dare Defend our Rights in the photo that appeared in The Washington Post, TIME, and other publications.

Williams, who lives in Bellingham, Wash., a coastal city near the Canadian border, went to Portland to see for herself the nightly demonstrations that people tend to support or condemn based on their political viewpoints.

A longtime supporter of the Black Lives Matter movement, Williams reports what she sees at the protests on social media and hopes to influence relatives in Alabama and others who dismiss the protesters as rioters and looters.

The protests arent what you think they are, is her message. This is what actually happens.

Williams, an artist who lives with her mother, a retired chemical engineer, and two friends, said a diagnosis of autism three years ago has helped her understand her tendency to become engrossed in certain issues, like, for now, the protests.

Ive always had like a lot of problems making friends because I just dont know what to say because I tend to be like really interested in one or two topics and I can only talk about those one or two topics, Williams said. Right now, its politics.

Williams, who is white, said autism in a way helps explain why she identifies with the Black Lives Matter movement and one of its main tenets -- that Black people face more suspicion and aggression from police just because of their color. Williams said police tend to misread her nervousness as suspicious behavior, like when she was dating a Canadian and encountered what she said was an unusual level of questioning and searches when crossing the border.

I am nervous in the best of social settings, so I know that my nerves are a red flag to border patrol, Williams said. I was more or less accused by way of pointed questions, multiple times, of being a drug trafficker or a prostitute or simply a nefarious person trying to take advantage of a Canadian man, multiple times, resulting in detainment and car searches.

Stacy Kendra Williams created this image called "Self Discovery" because of her diagnosis of autism at age 32. (contributed by Stacy Kendra Williams)

Besides her personal experiences, Williams takes note of cases where confrontations between police and people with mental illness or autism turn out badly, such as a police shooting of a 13-year-old with autism in Salt Lake City this month.

Earlier this summer, Williams attended peaceful protests in Bellingham and one organized by high school students in nearby Lynden, Wash., where she said counter protesters shouted down teenage girls trying to speak. It bothers her that peaceful protests draw scant media attention.

During a trip back to Alabama in July and August, Williams said she followed the Portland protests and was struck by incidents of police violence against protesters. The videos and photos she saw on social media helped convince her she needed to see the demonstrations first-hand.

Williams came prepared for her first protest in Portland, which was on day 99 of the demonstrations, the night the AP photographer took the picture that ran with some of the 100th day stories.

She wore a bicycle helmet donated by one of the organizing groups, knee pads, elbow pads, fingerless armored gloves, and a Black Lives Matter mask.

Williams bought the shield online and added the We Dare Defend Our Rights message and design to the cover. The motto, which she had learned was derived from an 18th century poem, is on the Alabama coat of arms, completed in 1923.

I wanted to show people what it means to defend your rights, Williams said. And that means showing up and standing up to tyranny. Thats what it means. It does not mean simply obeying every order of the government, especially if the government is no longer doing what the government is supposed to stand for."

Williams said she chose the shield because its foam-covered and could not construed as a weapon, but could protect her against projectiles like pepper balls, which she said she has seen cause a bloody injury to a protester.

Williams' mother, Cindy Minor, 63, said she worried about her daughters safety at the protests but is proud that she stands up for her beliefs. Minor said she doesnt always agree with her political stances but shares in her support for the main message of the racial justice protesters.

The statistics dont lie about what is going on and has been going on for years and years and years with people of color being discriminated against and profiled and the violence that is happening against them, Minor said. Its kind of hard to turn your head if you have any conscience whatsoever. And shes just been really concerned about that and so have I."

Minor agrees with her daughters view that public perception of the protests is skewed by media coverage that focuses on the sensational.

Shes got her biases, too, Minor said. But she says, Mom, its just not happening the way its being portrayed.' Yeah, theres some stupid stuff going on from the protesters standpoint, yes. But it doesnt rise to being killed by police. And being killed or injured or tear-gassed or whatever theyre doing. It doesnt rise to that level of response.

The Oregonian/Oregon Live reported on a survey that found about two-thirds of Oregon voters oppose the protests.

In an Aug. 22 story, reporters for The Oregonian/Oregon Live described a protest that eventually resulted in police intervention, saying it followed a familiar pattern: Peaceful beginnings regularly end in small numbers provoking confrontation. The story also notes that police have injured protesters and cite one incident where police slashed the tires and smashed out the back window of a protesters car.

After that first night of protests, Williams went to several others and saw tense encounters that she believes police could have defused. She said shes not so much afraid of getting arrested as getting hurt, a concern coming partly from what she saw police do in videos and photos on social media and from news outlets.

I saw them just like completely bloody several women who were unarmed, and a couple of them were actually medics, Williams said. "So, I bought all that gear that I showed you. If I get shoved to the ground, I dont want to bust my head on the pavement.

Williams said people should not denounce the protests without taking time to learn about them. She cited a report showing that 93% of almost 8,000 protests nationwide between May 26 and Aug. 22 were peaceful.

It always bothers me so much about any subject when people just dismiss data and they dismiss statisticians and scientists like, Oh, whatever. Thats just their opinion. That is what really drives me crazy, she said.

As for the motto, Williams said people asked her about it but it has not gotten quite the reaction she expected.

The reporters, they think its neat, she said. But if its just a protester, theyre like, States have a motto?

I put it on there to maybe draw some attention from some southerners to show them that, Hey at least Im not doing any burning or looting. But now Im kind of thinking, does the average person in Alabama even know about we dare defend our rights?

Williams said wildfires in Oregon have diminished participation in the protests and said some organizations supporting the demonstrations have turned their attention to helping in the response to the fires.

But she expects the movement to continue indefinitely and perhaps get more intense because of the presidential election. Shes worried that the loser, President Trump or Joe Biden, will question the results, leading to more intense demonstrations. She said thats another reason she wanted to join the Portland protests, to prepare for potentially more tense encounters between demonstrators and authorities.

Because I do think there is a very great potential for things to get worse the closer it gets to the election and after, Williams said. And so, if we were to ever experience police brutality or militia brutality where I live, I want it to not be my first rodeo.

Minor said she and her daughter have a tight bond but sometimes disagree, including on politics. She laughs when she says Williams now calls her a liberal.

Believe it or not, Ive always voted Republican on the national scene my whole life, Minor said. And Im just appalled and embarrassed with the current state of things. And weve got to do something, even if its wrong. Me and her debate. . Its not like shes a rubber stamp of me or Im a rubber stamp of her. Its not like that at all. We discuss and try to learn from each other.

Minor said a family experience contributes to their concern about police mishandling confrontations with people with autism, mental illness, or a mental disability. Minor said her adult nephew, who is developmentally disabled, was tasered after police stopped him walking down a street in Gulf Shores.

He got a little bit defensive, but not violent or anything like that, Minor said. And they told him that he couldnt be there or something like that. And he said Ill just go back home. For some reason, that wasnt good enough. They ended up tasing him.

That stuck with her, Im sure. It certainly has stuck with me.

Williams said police reforms could broadly benefit public safety.

I really do believe any changes that are made to the policing system in this country in order to better serve people of color will also have an impact on me as an autistic person, she said in an email. "If black lives benefit from change, I also benefit. We would all benefit from police reform; it doesnt matter what color you are, we would all be safer. I really believe that.
A Cork document software firm has secured 600,000 to expand its presence across Asia Pacific.

Bundledocs, based in Ballincollig is Ireland's first document bundling software provider. It has secured 600,000 in funding from Enterprise Ireland and private investors.

The funding will be used to accelerate growth globally through investment in product development and sales and marketing. The firm has also opened a new office in Sydney and plans to double the team in the next three months.

They work primarily with the legal sector, and have seen demand for their paperless software increase by over 40% in recent months as professionals in the legal space moved to remote working.

CEO Brian Kenneally said the last two years has seen the company scale rapidly.

"Our client base has grown to include many of the worlds Top 200 law firms, as well as in-house Government departments in the UK, Australia, Ireland and the US.

With this funding, we can now accelerate that growth, strategically building out our global team in our key markets. We recently opened an office in Sydney and with the help of Enterprise Ireland, we will be expanding our presence across Asia-Pacific.

Niall McEvoy, Manager High Potential Start-ups at Enterprise Ireland said Bundledocs is an example of an innovative Irish company who identified a growing challenge and trend for a sector and designed an effective solution.

"The calibre of their clients and their recent growth are a testament to both the quality of their product and its longevity as industries adapt to working remotely for the long-term," he said.


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.
WPI mathematical physicist Mayer Humi has been studying the solar system for decades. "The fundamental question is: How stable is the solar system? Are we going to be absorbed by the sun or are we going to run away from the sun? -Mayer Humi, mathematical sciences professor at WPI

Using a limited set of mathematical equations, Worcester Polytechnic Institute mathematical sciences professor Mayer Humi said he has confirmed a 224-year-old math conjecture about the origins of our solar system, providing insights about the process that leads to the formation of solar systems across the universe.

The science community is aware by now that there are thousands of solar systems in the galaxy. But what is not known is how these solar systems came into existence, said Humi. And what Ive done is show that the first step to the creation of a solar system is the emergence of rings around a protostar. So from that standpoint, Ive been able to verify a conjecture that is more than two centuries old.

Humis peer-reviewed paper on the topic, titled On the Evolution of a Primordial Interstellar Gas Cloud, was recently published in the Journal of Mathematical Physics and was designated an editors pick as a featured piece.

Humi, a mathematical physicist working on the development and application of mathematical methods to astrophysics, atmospheric research, and satellite orbits, has been studying this question for more than 20 years. It is a mystery that has fascinated many generations of scientists, and an inquiry that became more pertinent as observations confirmed that solar systems and exoplanets are abundant in our galaxy. A conjecture, Humi noted, is a mathematical statement that has not been proven.

We want to know how our solar system will evolve as time goes by, said Humi. There are two theories: one conjecture is that all the planets will be absorbed by the sun. The other conjecture is that planets are running away from the sun. The fundamental question is: How stable is the solar system? Are we going to be absorbed by the sun or are we going to run away from the sun?

Humi says this research also has implications for issues such as climate change and the environment. Imagine if we are going to come a few million miles closer to the sun. That would lead to major changes in climate and impact humanity. Oceans might evaporate.

In 1796, the French mathematical physicist Pierre-Simon Laplace conjectured that the first step for the formation of a solar system from a primordial celestial cloud of gas requires the creation of rings of condensed matter within a cloud.

Even with its intuitively appealing contents, Humi said, this conjecture remained unverified for more than two centuries despite many efforts. Until now.

Humi was able to use a time-dependent model (based on Euler-Poisson equations) for the evolution of a primordial gas cloud and confirmedfor what Humi believes is the first timethat, under proper conditions, Laplaces conjecture is correct.

Humi said there were some challenges with his research.

The real stumbling block that I had to overcome in order to obtain this result was to be able to reduce the complexity of the original model, he said. That model has six nonlinear partial differential equations, which I reduced to three. I then provided analytical solutions to these equations, which demonstrated the creation matter rings as conjectured by Laplace.

Humi noted that there has been a surge of interest in Laplaces conjecture in recent years due to the actual discovery of ring structures around the star HL Tau in the constellation Taurus.

Humi said his research is distinctive because it makes us consider our own existence.

It relates to the age-old question about humanity, our place in the universe, and our destiny, he said.

About Worcester Polytechnic Institute

WPI, the global leader in project-based learning, is a distinctive, top-tier technological university founded in 1865 on the principle that students learn most effectively by applying the theory learned in the classroom to the practice of solving real-world problems. Recognized by the National Academy of Engineering with the 2016 Bernard M. Gordon Prize for Innovation in Engineering and Technology Education, WPIs pioneering project-based curriculum engages undergraduates in solving important scientific, technological, and societal problems throughout their education and at more than 45 project centers around the world. WPI offers more than 50 bachelors, masters, and doctoral degree programs across 14 academic departments in science, engineering, technology, business, the social sciences, and the humanities and arts. Its faculty and students pursue groundbreaking research to meet ongoing challenges in health and biotechnology; robotics and the internet of things; advanced materials and manufacturing; cyber, data, and security systems; learning science; and more. http://www.wpi.edu

Contact:

Andy Baron, Associate Director of Public Relations

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Worcester, Massachusetts

508-831-5916; 978-235-3407 (cell)

ajbaron@wpi.edu
The United States is on the cusp of a huge pig 'time bomb' with the number feral hogs increasing in huge numbers.

Research scientist Dr. Jack Mayer, a zoologist who has been researching wild pigs for 40 years, has warned that the population could keep on growing unless there is a sudden swine flu epidemic.

'It's a crazy situation with everything that's happened in what I call the Pig Bomb, which has exploded in North America,' Jack Mayer told The Daily Beast about the wild population of six million and two million in Texas alone.

Florida, Georgia, and California also have vast populations.

Feral hogs are digging up farms and eating livestock as states battle to control populations

'There's not another animal that can put little feet on the ground quicker than a wild pig.'

Mayer blames global warming for increasing the survival rate of newborn piglets and producing more acorns, bulbs, roots and tubers for them to eat.

They can start reproducing at just three months old and do so twice a year.

California and Texas have also encouraged recreational hunting as a way to reduce their pig populations, but even if three quarters of the population is killed off, they would be able to fully repopulate within three years.

A research scientist from the Savannah River National Laboratory South Carolina warned about their rate of reproduction: 'There's not another animal that can put little feet on the ground quicker than a wild pig'

Jack Mayer (left), author of Wild Pigs in the United States (right), has warned of a 'pig bomb' more dangerous than sharks. He blames global warming for increasing the survival rate of piglets

Across the U.S. as a whole there are currently believed to me as many as nine million feral swine in 39 states and they are expanding at a rate of 35,000 square miles a year.

'I've heard it referred to as a feral swine bomb,' said Dale Nolte, manager of the National Feral Swine Damage Management Program at the U.S. Department of Agriculture to The Atlantic.

'They multiply so rapidly. To go from a thousand to two thousand, it's not a big deal. But if you've got a million, it doesn't take long to get to four million, then eight million.'

The pigs aren't the cuddly cartoon kind but a mixture of breeds coupled with wild boar.

There are thought to be around nine million feral pigs across the U.S. and Canada

Damage to a farmer's field by feral swine is pictured in this file photo. The animals cause billions of dollars of damage every year to farm communities and fields

Tom Meister, a wildlife biologist for the Missouri Department of Conservation, examines some damage caused by feral hogs to a field on a farm near Steelville, Missouri in 2019

'It creates what we'd call super-pigs,' said Ryan Brook, a biologist at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada.

The 'super-pigs' are able to grow large and can have litters of 10 or more each.

'Pig populations are completely out of control,' Brook says. 'The efforts to deal with them are about 1 percent of what's currently needed.' He says that his province of Saskatchewan will soon have more wild pigs than people.

There is a growing urge to deal with the problem as the animals are responsible for an estimated $2.5 billion worth of damage each year as they plough through crops, destroy plants, attack calves, lambs and pregnant livestock.

The feral pigs carry bacterial diseases and parasites too.

So far just one place in the U.S. and another in Canada are attempting to track and cull the expanding pig populations.

The Canadian province of Ontario is educating the public, collecting data, and testing how to track and remove swine while in the northern state of Montana which has no wild pigs at all.

Feral pigs roam near LaBelle, Florida. The state is second only to Texas in the number of non-native wild pigs living in the state

The wild pigs are covering an area of the U.S. and Canada equivalent to 35,000 square miles each year. Some states and provinces have launched educational campaigns for people to spot the animals, report them and ultimately kill them in an effort to curb their numbers

Montanans have been educated on the issue with a catchy campaign called 'Squeal on Pigs' that encourages residents to call a 24-hour hotline should they see any sightings so wildlife staff can trap and kill the animals.

Pigs end up going wild the moment they managed to escape from their farm enclosures.

After breeding in the wild, the offspring are classed as feral and grow tusks.

They also roam over vast distances of up to 19 square miles and sometimes turn nocturnal making them even harder to track.

Ontario, meanwhile, has been tracking pigs since 2018 and like Montana, educating the public.

A website was created for people to report sightings together with pictures and comments. So far, there have been reports of around 400 pigs outside of their fences.

Now, as other regions across the continent appear to be at risk of feral swines coming onto their lands, other states and Canadian territories including North Dakota and the Yukon Territory are introducing similar educational campaigns and encouraging people to report the animals if they're spotted in the hope of keeping them out of the area for good.

Once a pig escapes its enclose it becomes wild and begins to grow tusks. They then mate with other wild pigs or boar and the offspring become feral

Earlier this year a hog weighing almost 500lbs was found in southeast Texas

Joel Dudley, owner of Nuisance Wildlife Removal, and Mike Huckabay shot and killed the 488lb feral hog in The Preserve - formerly known as Cypress Lakes, Texas in February
NORWALK  Norwalks water emergency will likely last into the foreseeable future.

The forecase isnt looking good for rain, said Norwalk Health Director Deanna DAmore at a Board of Health meeting on Tuesday morning. We continue to look for creative ways to push conservation methods for the city. ... Uunfortunaely with climate change, I think were going to continue to see more things like this more frequently.

DAmore said this is the first time Mayor Harry Rilling has called a water emergency since 2016. The mayor officially declared a water emergency on Sept. 5 as water supplies neared dangerously low levels.

The city initially asked residents to conserve water back in July. Michele DeLuca, deputy director of the citys office of emergency management, said the citys water usage was at an all-time high thanks to hot, dry conditions and more people being at home due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

As part of the water emergency, residents have been asked to adopt an irrigation schedule and decrease non-essential water use like watering their lawns. The schedule is in effect until Oct. 31.

erin.kayata@hearstmediact.com
Beijing is unlikely to approve an "unfair" deal Oracle Corp and Walmart Inc said they have struck with ByteDance over the future of video-streaming app TikTok, state-backed newspaper Global Times said in an editorial. The U.S. majors have said they will buy into a new mainly U.S.-owned company, TikTok Global, with a board of directors comprised mainly of Americans, as the parties work to pacify the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump which had planned to ban TikTok in the United States on security grounds.

In contrast, ByteDance has said TikTok Global will be its U.S. subsidiary with 80% ownership. "It is clear that these articles (terms) extensively show Washington's bullying style and hooligan logic. They hurt China's national security, interests and dignity," said the English version of the editorial published late on Monday and which was also carried in the newspaper's Chinese edition.

"From the information provided by the U.S., the deal was unfair. It caters to the unreasonable demands of Washington. It's hard for us to believe that Beijing will approve such an agreement," the editorial read, echoing tweets the same evening by the newspaper's editor-in-chief, Hu Xijin.

The Global Times is a tabloid published by the People's Daily, the official newspaper of China's ruling Communist Party, but does not speak on behalf of the party and government unlike its parent publication. China's government has largely refrained from directly commenting on the deal's details, though its foreign ministry has repeatedly said the United States should offer a fair and non-discriminatory environment for foreign companies.

The deal requires approval from regulators in both Beijing and Washington, ByteDance has said. China's Ministry of Commerce in late August revised a tech export control list that experts said would give it regulatory oversight over any TikTok deal. ByteDance and the commerce ministry did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment on Tuesday.

MAIN OBJECTIONS

Over the weekend, ByteDance, Oracle and Walmart said they had reached a deal that would satisfy Trump's call for TikTok to be sold to an American firm or be shutdown in the United States. However, the sides have framed the deal differently in public statements.

Whereas ByteDance said it will majority-own TikTok Global, Oracle and Walmart together said ByteDance's ownership would be distributed to its investors - many of which are U.S.-based - and that ByteDance itself would have no direct stake. They also said four of TikTok Global's five-member board would be American.

The unidentified author of the Global Times editorial objected to there being only one board seat reserved for a Chinese national, as well as the stipulated inclusion on the board of a U.S-approved "national security director". It also denounced the need for a ByteDance to reveal source code to Oracle as part of the latter's role of "trusted technology partner" and criticised the likelihood of TikTok Global blocking Chinese access to its app.

TikTok has never been available in China. It has said it has over 100 million monthly active U.S. users, compared with 600 million daily users at mainland equivalent Douyin. "As TikTok and Douyin should have the same source code, this means the U.S. can get to know the operations of Douyin," the editorial continued.

"If the reorganization of TikTok under U.S. manipulation becomes a model, it means once any successful Chinese company expands its business to the U.S. and becomes competitive, it will be targeted by the U.S. and turned into a U.S.-controlled company via trickery and coercion, which eventually serves only U.S. interests," the author wrote.

Beijing-based ByteDance itself currently has only two Chinese nationals on its five-member board, with the other three being foreigners running U.S.-based companies. ByteDance has also said Oracle's ability to inspect TikTok's source code before investing is akin to previous instances of U.S. companies such as Microsoft Corp sharing source code with Chinese technology experts.

Also read: TikTok to be ByteDance's subsidiary in deal with Trump administration

Also read: India's digital strike on China: After Chinese apps' ban, govt trains guns on fintech firms
Yuma News

Yuma, Arizona - Yuma Fire Departments firefighters, deployed to help with wildfires burning near Yucaipa, CA and later Fresno, CA, have returned home! As of Saturday September 19, 2020, they had been deployed for two weeks and four additional YFD Firefighters had arrived to replace them. The original four YFD personnel started back for Yuma Sunday morning and arrived safely back late Sunday afternoon.

Yumas firefighters, working as a part of an Imperial Valley Task Force, first left for assignment to the El Dorado Fire in the area of Yucaipa, CA on Saturday September 5th. They were released from the El Dorado Fire on Sunday September 13th and reassigned to the Creek Fire near Fresno, CA. YFD firefighters worked rotating 12 and 24 hour shifts protecting homes and dealing with spot fires in their assigned areas.

The returned YFD personnel will be resuming their regular duty assignments. Those who returned back yesterday from our department were Fire Captain John Dunbar, Fire Engineer John Anderson, Firefighter Levi Kester, and Firefighter Cory Tolman. We are glad to have them back and congratulate them on a job well done!

At this time there is no estimate on how long the Imperial Valley Task Force with the newly rotated Firefighters will remain deployed.
They are the two most notorious and evil women in Britain - and yet both Rose West and Myra Hindley proved to be too vile for one another following their affair, a new documentary claims.

The House of Horrors killer was 'in awe of' the Moors Murderer and was 'impressed by her intelligence', West's former defence lawyer of 12-years revealed in ITV's Rose West & Myra Hindley: Their Untold Story with Trevor McDonald last night.

But the 'romance' between the serial killers soon dwindled when the latter, who along with her lover Ian Brady was jailed for life for the murders of five children in the 1960s, apparently took issue with West's slaughtering of her own youngsters.

West, 66, now an inmate at HMP New Hall in West Yorkshire, murdered at least ten women and girls including her own 16-year-old daughter with husband Fred and was given a life sentence in November 1995.

During her suspected relationship, the murderer also discovered that Hindley, who died in jail in 2002 was a 'dangerous manipulator', according to the programme, which delves into the pair's friendship while both in HMP Durham in the late 1990s.

Many of those watching at home said they were left horrified by the programme's claims, with one commenting: 'Hearing Myra Hindley and Rose West had a 'special relationship whilst in jail is stomach churning - truly a match made in hell.

Scroll down for video

Rose West (left) was 'in awe of' Myra Hindley (right) and was 'impressed by her intelligence', West's lawyer of 12-years revealed in ITV's Rose West & Myra Hindley: Their Untold Story.

Fellow inmate the 'Black Widow' killer Linda Calvey, who was jailed for 18 years over her involvement in the death of her lover, Ronnie Cook, told the pair were 'really close'

'Thankfully, Myra is already burning in hell, so it's one down, one to go.'

Rose's former solicitor Leo Goatley, who represented her for 12 years including at her 1995 trial and published a book on the serial killer called Understanding Fred & Rose West, said: 'I believe Myra Hindley and Rose West were lovers.

'When I went to visit Rose West, she was very impressed with Myra Hindley. She told me about how Hindley was very intelligent.

'To an extent, I think Rose West was in awe of her. Hindley was clearly someone who stood out as being special.'

Many of those watching at home were left stunned by the claims in the programme, with one commenting it was 'stomach churning'

Fellow inmate the 'Black Widow' killer Linda Calvey, who was jailed for 18 years over her involvement in the death of her lover, Ronnie Cook - despite protesting her innocence, also appeared on the programme.

While in prison, Linda, who started her life of crime as a menacing getaway driver before becoming a gun-toting robber targeting banks, rubbed shoulders with some of the UK's most notorious serial killers including Hindley and West.

Linda recalled: 'They'd go into each others cells and they became really, really close, and I think the majority of the wing all thought there was an affair of sorts going on between them.

'Everybody went "What a weird combination, they've become thick as thieves".

West's former defence lawyer of 12-years revealed in ITV's Rose West & Myra Hindley: Their Untold Story with Trevor McDonald (pictured) last night, that House of Horrors killer was 'in awe of' the Moors Murderer

'It was really weird that they suddenly became best friends. They were with each other all the time, they had their breakfast together, they'd sit and have their tea.'

Criminal psychologist David Canter speculated on the documentary: 'Early on West would've looked to Hindley for help, so she would've used sex to get what she wanted.

'Hindley would've been aware of that and she potentially could've used West to her own advantage.'

But in 1996, just months after first meeting, inmates claim cracks started to appear in the couple's friendship.

Leo Goatley (pictured) was former solicitor to Rose West represented her for 12 years including at her 1995 trial and published a book on the serial killer called Understanding Fred & Rose West

Linda said: 'They became really, really close for about six weeks, and as quick as it started, it just ended. It stopped and they just weren't even speaking to each other.

The crimes of Rose and Fred West at their House of Horrors The Wests regularly took on lodgers in their Gloucestershire property, which was also home to ten of their children. To supplement their income, Rose would solicit to both men and women in one of the upstairs bedrooms, while Fred would watch through peep holes. Rose West, 65, was convicted of 10 murders and is one of a very few female prisoners serving a whole life tariff. Her husband, Fred, confessed to the killings in 1994 and committed suicide while on remand at HMP Birmingham a year later. The victims include Heather West (their daughter), 16, Alison Chambers, 16, Shirley Robinson, 18, Juanita Mott, 18, Shirley Hubbard, 15, Theresa Siegnethaler, 21, Lucy Partington, 21, Carol Ann Cooper, 15, Lynda Gough, 19, Rena Costello (Fred's ex-wife), 27, Charmaine West (Fred's daughter), 8, and Anne McFall, 18. Fred is also believed to have also killed 15-year-old Mary Bastholm, although her remains have never been found. Advertisement

'I spoke to Myra, and I said it was really weird that you were really close with Rose and then you suddenly parted, and she said "yeah, well I thought about it and I thought she killed her own children, do I want to mix with someone like that."

'I said to her, "well, you killed children", and she went "yeah, but they weren't mine they were other peoples" and she said it so matter of factly as if it didn't matter, and that was Myra, Myra didn't have any remorse about anything.'

Mr Goatley added: 'The next time I visited, a couple of months later, things had turned very sour between West and Hindley.

'Rose said: "You've got to watch that one, she's very manipulative, she's dangerous that one. I want nothing to do with her, not going to let her take me for a c*** again."

'I think clearly that demonstrated a deep sense of hurt, that somehow she'd been caught out by Myra Hindley. That some how she'd given more than she wanted to Hindley and it had somehow cost her.'

Elsewhere, Mr Canter suggested that West probably realised she was being played by her lover, who was most likely trying to control her.

'Having realised what was going on, she didn't want anymore of it because she thought this would lead her into trouble or reduce her own control,' he added.

At the time of their trials, both killers denied their crimes. But after 20 years, Hindley decided to break her silence and talk about the active role she played in the Moors Murders. To date West has never admitted her role in the killings.

Mr Goatley, who first revealed the couple's suspected romance last year, says the affair with Hindley was one of many female relationships West enjoyed from the start of her life sentence.

Fred and Rose West are pictured together above. The case against Rose was placed in jeopardy when Fred, accused of 12 murders, committed suicide aged 5, in Winson Green prison in Birmingham

Many of those watching were horrified by the programme, with one commenting: 'Well I didn't know these two psychos were together.'

Another wrote: 'The programme about Rose and Myra was a grim but fascinating exploration of the very dark and damaged personalities of two unfathomable evil manipulative people.

'More substantial insights than I had expected.'

A third commented: 'Are you telling me Rose West and Myra Hindley were lovers in prison? What the actual f***?'

Mr Goatley, who first revealed the couple's suspected romance last year, says the affair with Hindley was one of many female relationships West enjoyed from the start of her life sentence. Moors Murderers Ian Brady (pictured left) and Myra Hindley are pictured above

After West was convicted in November 1995, the Daily Mail revealed in an exclusive front page story that she had formed a close friendship with Hindley  and that the pair had even been seen holding hands in jail.

The revelations prompted an angry response from Hindley, who made an ultimately unsuccessful complaint to the Press watchdog, alleging she was the victim of smears and lies.

The BBC was leaked a copy of her complaint and the case made headlines.
Coming off an unprecedented year when every single case was heard remotely, the Supreme Court this year will review a variety of cases with implications for older adults, especially those who are struggling with financial hardships or disabilities. AARP Foundation Litigation summarizes and comments on these cases in our annual Supreme Court Preview.



Health care, employee and retiree rights, and patient and consumer protections are among the issues in cases already on the docket or likely to come before the Court this term. AARP Foundation attorneys will either be actively participating in these cases or following them closely to assess their impact on older adults.

LEARN MORE
(Newser)  Police in Indianapolis are appealing for information in the horrific shooting of a couple who were approached by armed men as they tried to fix their vehicle late at night. Wilma Hochsteler, 40, was killed and husband Jonathan Hochstetler was shot in the neck and critically injured in the shooting around 1:30am Thursday, reports the Indianapolis Star. Their 6-year-old son was hiding in the vehicle. "They robbed them of Wilmas phone and both of their wallets and were walking away, and they turned around and came back and just point-blank shot Wilma and then Jonathan," family friend Andrew Yutzy wells WISH-TV. Police say the injured father was able to hand his phone to his son, who called 911.

story continues below

Relatives say that Jonathan Hochstetler, who owns a roofing company in Bloomfield, was at a work site in Indianapolis when a tire blew on his trailer. He sent workers back to Bloomfield with his truck, and his wife drove back to Indianapolis in it with a spare tire and their son. Relatives say the couple, who also have three daughters, were heavily involved in missionary work, People reports. Sam Hochstetler, Jonathan's father, said Friday that he has forgiven the murderers. "Revenge only begets more violence," he said. "My heart's desire for them is that they would repent, to fall on their faces before the Lord Jesus, and cry out for mercy for their own souls' sake." He said that when the 6-year-old was reunited with relatives, the boy said: "I wish they didnt shoot my mommy." A GoFundMe appeal has been launched to help with medical expenses. (Read more Indiana stories.)
GRAND BLANC TWP, MI -- Police in Grand Blanc Township have taken to social media to address a rash of political yard sign thefts in the Genesee County community.

A Monday, Sept. 21 post on the departments Facebook page notes there have been reports from around the township of the signs being stolen from yards and roadsides.

We want to remind everyone, this is illegal and punishable by up to 93 days in jail," per the post. We understand being passionate for your favorite candidates, but that does not give you permission to steal!

Stealing the signs is also punishable by a fine of up to $500.

Township police asked residents to voice their opinion on social media and leave the helpless signs alone."

November 3rd will be here soon enough, the post concludes.

We have received reports, from around the Township, of political signs being stolen from yards and roadsides. We want... Posted by Grand Blanc Township Police Department on Monday, September 21, 2020

Its not the first instance of an issue reported Monday with yard signs being stolen in Michigan.

The Leelanau County Sheriffs Office found multiple stolen campaign signs during a traffic stop early Sunday morning on M-72 near the Elmwood Township/Solon Township line after stopping a driver for a speeding violation.

While conducting the stop, police discovered several yard signs that appear to support President Donald Trump in the car.

The driver eventually admitted to stealing the signs earlier in the night from an area near Bugai Road and County Road 641.

More on MLive:

Police in northern Michigan find stolen Trump campaign signs while conducting traffic stop

Republican U.S. House candidate files police report over stolen campaign signs

Pedestrian dies after being hit by vehicle in Genesee County

Suspect arraigned in Flint Township hit-and-run crash that killed Nation of Islam member

Family, police ask for publics help to find missing 87-year-old man with dementia

Man rescued in Thumb region after being pinned under tractor

Man shot and killed in Flint over the weekend

Flint man drowns in lake at Shiawassee County campground
People have been stopped from working or studying in the UK because the government insists they cannot be granted British citizenship until they attend a ceremony  despite the events being suspended for months during the coronavirus pandemic.

Over-18s whose applications to become a British citizen have been successful must attend a ceremony administered in the local authority by a registrar, during which they make an oath or pledge.

However, as a result of coronavirus restrictions, in-person citizenship ceremonies were suspended in March. The ceremonies have recently restarted across local authorities, but campaigners warn that a severe backlog has built up.

The Home Office is being urged to temporarily suspend the requirement to attend citizenship ceremonies in order to ensure thousands of people are not left in limbo.

In one case, a care leaver applied for citizenship at the age of 17 because social services had failed to do so previously on her behalf. She received a positive decision earlier this year, but she is still waiting for a ceremony. In the meantime she cannot work, study or open a bank account  forcing her to continue to rely on her local council during the pandemic.

A letter sent on Monday to the Home Office from Amnesty International UK and the Project for the Registration of Children as British Citizens (PRCBC) called on Home Secretary Priti Patel to immediately introduce a temporary suspension of the requirement to attend a citizenship ceremony  adding that this move should have been taken long before now.

The letter warns that citizenship provides ones right of abode and full voting rights, and is of particular significance to a persons sense of security, identity and belonging in the UK.

It raises concern about cases where delay may mean that a child born to the applicant is born without British citizenship, and where it affects members of the Windrush generation, who have been offered citizenship as a remedy for their treatment by the Home Office in the past but now face a delay in obtaining it.

Solange Valdez-Symonds, director and solicitor at the PRCBC, told The Independent: People  many of whom have already waited an unconscionable length of time for recognition as British citizens  have been delayed in that recognition because the Home Office has insisted on them attending ceremonies while the pandemic has meant these could not go ahead.

Now people are stuck in backlogs even while the resumption of ceremonies is not back to normal.

The Home Office could have prevented this and can now resolve it by exercising its power not to insist on a ceremony. But instead it is choosing not to act and leaving many people still excluded from their citizenship rights with all the insecurity that goes with that.

Jessica, 18, from Southwark in south London, who applied for citizenship aged 17, received a positive decision on her application at the start of August but was told she wasnt able to attend a ceremony  and is still waiting to be allocated one.

The college student, who was born in the UK to a Ghanaian mother and Zimbabwean father, told The Independent that not having a British passport was making it more difficult to find part-time work and enrol onto college courses.

Its harder for me to get jobs. You always have to put down whether you have a passport or not on the job application forms. It seems like Im not being taken seriously because I dont have full citizenship and that Im treated differently because of it, she said.

It also took longer for me to get into college because I didnt have a proper ID. When I was applying this summer I needed to have it sorted by September and it took two months, which made me really anxious.

Jessica, whose mother had been trying to apply for her and her brothers citizenship for two years but struggled to save the 1,012 fee, said she was so excited and relieved when she got the positive decision in August  but that now she felt angry and disheartened.

I dont think its necessary. I was born here. Ive never left the country. Its not fair. I was so excited when I found out theyd granted me citizenship. Im so close to getting it, and now its been put on pause. The fact that I have to go through all of this is just ridiculous to me, she said.

Steve Valdez-Symonds, of Amnesty International UK, said: Recognition of peoples British citizenship should not be delayed by insisting on ceremonies that have not been provided due to the pandemic.

Once again, the Home Office is simply overlooking the impact its policies and practices have upon people, including in this instance where doing so may continue to leave people excluded and insecure in this country despite being entitled to its citizenship.

The Local Government Association, which represents local authorities in England, said councils had been unable to offer ceremonies in the same way as before the lockdown, with some unable to provide public ceremonies or only able to conduct these with significantly reduced numbers.

 Home Office to carry out review of hostile environment following Windrush says Priti Patel

A Home Office spokesperson said: Local authorities are responsible for running citizenship ceremonies. In order to follow social distancing guidance during the pandemic, local authorities paused in-person ceremonies, but some offered virtual ceremonies.

We have confirmed with local authorities that all sites have now recommenced standard in-person ceremonies, in line with current Government guidelines, and many are also offering virtual ceremonies.

We are working with local authorities to dispatch any outstanding citizenship certificates as swiftly as possible.
Up to 70% of KN95 masks do not meet the U.S. standards for effectiveness, according to a new study by ECRI, a Pennsylvania-based patient safety organization.

The findings suggest an increased risk of contracting COVID-19 for health-care workers and patients at hospitals that imported the masks from China to deal with massive shortages of protective equipment during the early days of the pandemic. (N95 masks meet the U.S. standards for effectiveness.)

Public health experts have already criticized KN95 masks for featuring ear loops instead of straps that go around the head and neck. This feature prevents the mask from sealing effectively against the wearers face, experts say.

ECRI researchers looked at nearly 200 KN95 masks from 15 manufacturers, including models purchased by some of the countrys largest health-care systems, and found that from 60% to 70% of the imported masks do not filter 95% of aerosol particles. They tested the masks by attaching them to a machine, which then blew particles at the mask. Researchers then counted the particles that were found on the inner portion of the mask.

We started to test the masks to help our members and clients, said Marcus Schabacker, ECRIs president and CEO. We were really stunned by the results. The most stunning thing was that we would test masks from the same manufacturer, and some would pass, while some wouldnt. These masks were claiming on paper to filter out 95% of particles, but they didnt. That was reason enough to raise the alarm.

Health-care systems ordered hundreds of thousands of KN95 masks after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization in April for masks that are manufactured in China to help hospitals cope with the shortage of personal protective equipment. The masks do not need to be approved by the National Institutes of Occupational Safety and Health.

Although there has been a recent increase in PPE production supported by the federal government, hospitals continue to report shortages. Schabacker said that hospitals should consider classifying employee risk to cope with ongoing shortages.

Use high-value protectives in areas where theyre needed the most, like taking swabs from suspected COVID patients, doing an intubation or airway manipulation, he said. Secondly, we provide strategies on our resource center on extended use and safe reuse of masks.

Researchers said that as long as the KN95s that dont meet safety standards arent being used in situations where there are bodily fluids, they can still provide more protection than cloth or surgical masks.

KN95s are not useless, Schabacker said. We still believe theyre better than standard surgical masks, so theres no need to throw them out. Just dont use them in high-risk areas.
For the better part of the last decade, Winnipeg author and Norway House Cree Nation member David A. Robertsons impressive publishing schedule has featured two or three books per year. And while his bibliography includes graphic novels, childrens books, young adult fantasy novels and more, none of his past works have taken as emotional a toll as his new memoir, Black Water: Family, Legacy, and Blood Memory.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 21/9/2020 (487 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

For the better part of the last decade, Winnipeg author and Norway House Cree Nation member David A. Robertsons impressive publishing schedule has featured two or three books per year. And while his bibliography includes graphic novels, childrens books, young adult fantasy novels and more, none of his past works have taken as emotional a toll as his new memoir, Black Water: Family, Legacy, and Blood Memory.

The 43-year-old Robertsons latest book chronicles his growing up with a white mother and a Cree father in River Heights, his coming to terms with his Indigenous roots and the absence of his father Don in his life for the better part of a decade after his parents separated (they would later reconcile).

It also lovingly recalls the reconciliation process between father and son, and an attempt by Robertson to understand his Cree background when the two journeyed to Black Water, a trapline located near Norway House where Don grew up, in 2018. (Robertsons father, a longtime United Church minister and educator in Manitoba, died in December 2019 at the age of 84.)

Black Water, published by HarperCollins today, will be launched (virtually) in conjunction with McNally Robinson Booksellers on Thursday, when Robertson will be joined by Brampton, Ont. author Jael Richardson. Its the latest in more than two dozen books Robertson has written in the last decade, including the 2017 Governor Generals Award-winning childrens book When We Were Alone, which was illustrated by Vancouver artist Julie Flett.

Virtual book launch Click to Expand Black Water: Family, Legacy, and Blood Memory  By David A. Robertson, hosted by Jael Richardson, in conjunction with McNally Robinson Booksellers

 Thursday, Sept. 24, 7 p.m.

 To register: wfp.to/blackwater Buy on mcnallyrobinson.com

For Robertson, the subject matter of Black Water was nothing new  his relationship with his father and their Cree heritage has long permeated his readings, presentations and public speaking events.

"Every time, Id end up talking about my dad, our relationship thats such a big part of my life, but also my writing," Robertson says. "I feel like Ive been writing this book for 12 years. And we developed our relationship over the course of the last 10, 12 years, so the more I talked about him the more Ive learned."

In 2017, Don asked David to visit the trapline with him; the following year the pair made the trek north, rekindling and strengthening their relationship in the process of digging into Dons life growing up in and around Norway House, and their shared Cree heritage and identity.

Black Water features two narrative threads  one about the pairs trip to Norway House and Black Water, and the other featuring snapshots of the past of both father and son. The threads converge near the end of Black Water, bringing a powerful, heartfelt conclusion to the book.

"I think the last 50 to 60 pages of the book are the best Ive ever written, because of how emotional and intimate and personal it was... it reads almost like a poem," he says.

"I feel like Ive been writing this book for 12 years. And we developed our relationship over the course of the last 10, 12 years, so the more I talked about him the more Ive learned."  David A. Robertson

A key component of Black Water is the Indigenous notion of blood memory  the idea that stories and history are passed down in an almost genetic, non-verbal way through family.

This feeling of blood memory was immediately apparent to Robertson when he first set foot in Norway House.

"When I stepped on to the land on Black Water, I had a homecoming feeling  this is where I should be, this is home to me. That really helped me figure out how I was going to approach the book," he explains.

To chronicle both his physical and emotional journeys, Robertson had to mine past experiences and family history that were often personal and painful.

"It was exhausting to write  youre laying yourself so bare to people," he says. "I had to put so much of myself in it  my energy, my emotion a lot of pain, a lot of joy. I tried to not want to hold anything back; I wanted to evoke the emotion and connection with readers. I feel like I was as honest with my life and my experiences as I possibly could have been."

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS "It was exhausting to write  youre laying yourself so bare to people," David A. Robertson said.

Then at the end of 2019, when Black Water was nearly finished, Don died. "It was a little too much; I had to step away for about a month before I could work on it again," Robertson says. Don never got to read his sons book.

If Black Water were the only book Robertson had coming out this fall, it would be an accomplishment in and of itself. But just two weeks ago, the first book of his middle-grade Misewa Saga called The Barren Grounds was published by Puffin Canada. Its a fantasy series that takes traditional stories and adds a fantastical, Chronicles of Narnia-like journey to the tale of two Indigenous children forced from their communities into a foster home in Winnipeg.

In addition to Black Water and The Barren Grounds, Highwater Press is publishing Breakdown, the first volume of the Reckoner Rises graphic novel series, in October. The series, written by Robertson and illustrated by Scott B. Henderson, continues the story of Indigenous teen superhero Cole Harper beyond his award-winning young-adult Reckoner trilogy.

Robertsons forthcoming publishing schedule is no less jam-packed  in addition to sequels of both the Misewa Saga and Reckoner Rises books, hes also got a followup with Julie Flett to When We Were Alone called On the Trapline, slated to be published in May 2021. Its a variation of the story told in Black Water, detailing his fathers life in Norway House.

"I wrote this book for myself, but I also wrote it for my family... knowing that my nephews and nieces will have it as a document of their grandfathers life and teachings and wisdom is comforting for me."  David A. Robertson

"Its about a grandfather and grandson who go to the grandfathers trapline, and he teaches the grandson about living on the trapline," he says. "Julies work is the best youve ever seen."

For now, Robertson is focused on Black Water. "I dont know how it stacks up in terms of structure with other memoirs, but I really wanted it to be an immersive, intimate experience," he says. "I wanted people to feel they were sitting with me at a coffee table, and me telling them about my life, my dad and everything. I wanted people to connect with it emotionally; I just wanted to tell a story."

Most of all, Robertson hopes Black Water will serve to document his fathers legacy.

"I wrote this book for myself, but I also wrote it for my family... knowing that my nephews and nieces will have it as a document of their grandfathers life and teachings and wisdom is comforting for me. Its a personal book, its a family book in a way, but I think there are universal themes in there as well that are for everybody.

"I really feel this book is a road map to self-discovery and healing."

ben.sigurdson@freepress.mb.ca

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The Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, has congratulated Governor Godwin Obaseki, for winning the Edo State governorship election held last Saturday...

The Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, has congratulated Governor Godwin Obaseki, for winning the Edo State governorship election held last Saturday.

This was contained in a press statement signed by the Secretary, Benin Traditional Council, Frank Irabor and made available to journalists in Benin City, the state capital.

On behalf of His Royal Majesty, Omo NOba NEdo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, Oba of Benin, the Benin Traditional Council wishes to congratulate His Excellency, Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki, Governor of Edo State, on his re-election for a second term in office.

As His Royal Majesty said on numerous occasions, the Benin Throne is non-partisan, on election day the people spoke because the voice of the people is the voice of God, he said.





The Oba further hailed President Muhammadu Buhari, the National Peace Commission headed by General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security agencies for their roles in ensuring a credible election in the state.

The monarch urged all the citizens of the state to support Obaseki in his developmental strides.
Washington: It appears all but certain that US President Donald Trump will have the numbers to fill the Supreme Court seat left vacant by Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and the odds are shortening he will do so before election day on November 3.

With Trump due to announce his nominee on Sunday (AEST), Republican senators have signalled they will move quickly to advance his nominee's appointment to the nation's most powerful court.

Donald Trump: all smiles at a rally in Ohio earlier this week. Credit:AP

Filling the seat will allow Republicans to lock in a 6-3 conservative majority on the court that will probably take years to reverse.
The restaurant owners in the Capital have requested the Delhi government to waive the liquor licence fee for the lockdown period stating that their alcohol sales have been negligible so far. Restaurants were allowed to serve liquor just a month back and bars were allowed to operate from September 9 in the city on a trial basis.

The National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) has given multiple representations to the excise department and deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia. The association has now written to Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal in this regard, as the last date to pay the second instalment of the liquor licence fee is September 29, 2020.

The annual liquor licence fee, which is charged as per the seating capacity of a restaurant, varies between Rs 9.25 lakh to Rs 22.41 lakh. The fee has to be paid in advance before the start of the financial year. It can also be paid in two instalments: one before the start of the financial year and the second half before September 29. For instance, the licence fee for financial year 2020-21 was paid by restaurants, either full or partially, by February 28, 2020.

While restaurants were allowed to open from June 8 with only 50% seating capacity, the permission to serve liquor on tables was granted much later in mid-August. Bars in the city were allowed to operate only from September 9.

A Delhi government spokesperson did not comment on the demand by restaurant owners

Manpreet Singh, owner of Zen restaurant in Connaught Place and treasurer of NRAI, said, We want the government to waive the licence fee for the lockdown period and adjust it for the months when the permission to sell liquor was given to us. While the licence fee was paid for this financial year, sale of liquor started only recently. Restaurants are already bleeding money as we are operating on 50% seating capacity and turnout is also low right now. The government should support us.

According to NRAI, most restaurants pay the licence fee in installments. Prakul Kumar, secretary general of NRAI, said, There is panic and confusion among restaurateurs as they have just a week before payment for the second instalment becomes due and there is no clarity on whether the fees will be adjusted or not. Moreover, there is uncertainty whether bars will be allowed to operate or not in the future, as the permission was given only on a trial basis. We have sent representation to the Delhi chief minister in this regard. We requested the government to address this issue at the earliest.

The association has also held several meetings with the excise department and met Sisodia recently to take up the issue.

With expired beers and other alcohol stock still lying in their government-authorised storage spaces, NRAI has also requested the government to grant them permission for its disposal. We need space to keep the new stock of liquor. A lot of liquor has expired and we have to dispose it, said Kumar.
OTTAWA Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will make a televised national address Wednesday night within hours of Parliaments resumption to speak to Canadians about the urgency of fighting COVID-19.

Trudeaus office approached television broadcasters Tuesday to request airtime to address the nation, his office said, as we face down the prospect of a second wave of the virus.

The prime minister will also give a summary of the governments plans in the throne speech to fight the virus and build our economic recovery, said his spokesman Cameron Ahmad in a statement to media.

A senior Liberal government official told the Star that the rise in coronavirus infections has put Canada at a very risky crossroads.

Were basically at war here, said the official.

The national address coincides with the speech from the throne, but its focus is on the alarming picture arising from the pace at which COVID-19 is picking up in hot spots across the country, and the prime minister needs to lean in on what might be waiting for us at Thanksgiving, the official said.

Quebec has said it is at the beginning of a second wave, as has Ottawa public health, while Premier Doug Ford said Tuesday he is getting ready for a second wave in Ontario.

Federal public health officials Dr. Theresa Tam and Dr. Howard Njoo avoided using the phrase second wave to describe what is happening across the country on Tuesday, saying only that they are very concerned by resurgences. But they issued a dire warning, that if Canadians do not act now to curb social contacts, the epidemic risks exploding and overwhelming the health-care system.

They said it is up to individual provinces to identify if they are in a second wave.

The unusual prime ministerial broadcast, which is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, comes as Parliament reconvenes with the speech from the throne. It will be delivered on behalf of the Liberal government by embattled Governor-General Julie Payette, who is currently the subject of an independent review of allegations she has bullied staff and created a toxic workplace.

The speech from the throne will kick off what Trudeau has promised will be a bold and ambitious agenda. Officials say it will be organized under three themes: immediate help to contain COVID-19, medium-term support for individuals and businesses while the pandemic is on, and long-term investments to help the economy to recover and grow on a greener and more competitive footing. It will also highlight a renewed commitment to address systemic racism and Indigenous reconciliation.

The recognized opposition party leaders have been offered an opportunity to reply to Trudeaus prime-time broadcast.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 22

Trend:

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu expressed condolences to the Azerbaijani people and the family of the martyr Elshan Mammadov, who was killed on the morning of September 21 by the Armenian armed forces, Trend reports.

Cavusoglu wrote about this in his official Twitter profile.

"I express my condolences to the fraternal Azerbaijani people, as well as to the family of Elshan Mammadov, who died a martyr as a result of an attack by the Armenian armed forces, he wrote. I call on Armenia to finally take up its mind and put an end to the aggression. We are always next to Azerbaijan in its just struggle.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 18:05:12|Editor: huaxia

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KAMPALA, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Ugandan police have arrested security officers who were on duty when a fire gutted Makerere University, Uganda's top university on early Sunday, a police spokesperson said here Tuesday.

Patrick Onyango, Kampala Metropolitan police spokesperson, told Xinhua that they are holding the university security and police officers who were guarding the main administration building block, known as the ivory tower, which was destroyed in the fire.

"We have arrested two people to help us in our investigations. They include a police officer and a private security guard. The duo were assigned to guard the main building and were supposed to notice any suspicious activities at the building," said Onyango.

"They didn't even notice that the building was on fire until the patrol team and CCTV cameras noticed the fire," he said.

Barnabas Nawangwe, vice chancellor of the university, said that the cause of the fire, which started at around midnight, is not yet known.

"The criminal investigations directorate and the directorate of forensic services of the Uganda police have commenced investigations. Security on the main campus has been strengthened," said Nawangwe in a statement.

First established as a technical school in 1922, Makerere University is known as one of the most prestigious English universities in the country. It became an independent national university in 1970.

The university, closed in March, has been preparing to reopen for final-year medical students to complete their studies to help address the human resource gaps amid the COVID-19 pandemic in the east African country.

President Yoweri Museveni on Sunday said schools, tertiary colleges and universities will reopen for 1.2 million students in candidate classes and finalists in tertiary colleges and universities on Oct. 15. Enditem
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates  Grappling with a weakened economy and the Middle Easts worst coronavirus outbreak, Irans president delivered a defiant and fiery speech Tuesday to the U.N. General Assembly as he insisted it would be the United States that surrenders to Irans resilience.

Hassan Rouhani spoke in a prerecorded speech to the virtual summit just days after Irans currency plunged to its lowest levels ever against the U.S. dollar due to crippling U.S. sanctions imposed by President Donald Trump, who pulled the U.S. out of Irans nuclear deal with world powers in 2018. The accord had been signed by the Obama administration. The sanctions effectively bar Iran from selling its oil globally.

The United States can impose neither negotiations nor war on us, Rouhani said, adding: Life is hard under sanctions. However, harder is life without independence.

Rouhani compared his countrys plight with that of George Floyd, the Black American man who died in May after a white police officer in Minneapolis pinned him to the ground by pressing a knee into his neck. Floyds death set off nationwide protests in support of Black lives.

Calling it reminiscent of our own experience, Rouhani said: We instantly recognize the feet kneeling on the neck as the feet of arrogance on the neck of independent nations.

He said Iran has paid a similar high price in its quest for freedom and liberation from domination.

Rouhani insisted his nation does not deserve sanctions and described the U.S. as a terrorist and interventionist outsider before referring to the 1953 U.S.-backed coup that cemented the control of the shah in Iran, which ultimately pushed the country toward its Islamic Revolution and hostility with the West. He said it is the U.S. that has been the sole user of atomic bombs in the world.

This week, the White House doubled down on its maximum-pressure campaign against the Islamic republic with an executive order to enforce all U.N. sanctions on Iran because Tehran is not complying with the nuclear deal  a move that most of the rest of the world rejects as illegal.

Because Trump withdrew from the nuclear agreement, few U.N. member states believe the U.S. has the legal standing to restore the sanctions. Even so, diplomatic efforts in Europe have failed to preserve the deal. Iran has steadily broken restrictions on the amount of uranium it can enrich in order to pressure countries to do more.

U.S. sanctions and the coronavirus outbreak have pummeled Irans economy. In March, Tehran requested a $5 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund, marking the first time since the 1979 Islamic Revolution that Iran has sought such assistance.

Iran has recorded more than 429,000 infections of the virus, including more than 24,000 deaths as it resists nationwide lockdowns that could further imperil the economy.

Rouhanis speech reflects how tensions have skyrocketed between Tehran and Washington following the U.S. strike in January that killed Iranian Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad, Iraq. Iran retaliated with a ballistic missile strike on Iraqi bases housing American troops. The powerful commander was close to Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who wept openly at his funeral.

Rouhani mentioned the commander briefly in his speech, referring to him as an assassinated hero.

Gulf Arab states and Israel have long wanted the United States to push back Tehrans drive to spread influence through Shiite proxies across the region that Soleimani had commanded. They see Iran as a destabilizing force that has exploited failed uprisings, military interventions and chaos in Arab states like Iraq, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen.

The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain have cemented ties with Israel in part due to shared concerns over Iran, their shared rival. Saudi Arabia, which blames Iran for a stunning missile and drone attack last year on its main oil refinery, is also quietly cementing ties with Israel.

Rouhani sought to frame Iranian interventions as in defense of besieged people, and noted Irans efforts fighting against extremist Sunni Muslim groups like the Islamic State.

Trump, in the middle of a contentious re-election race, has made pressure on Iran a cornerstone of his Mideast foreign policy. Hes also increased U.S. military presence in the Gulf.

We are not a bargaining chip in U.S. elections and domestic policy, Rouhani said. It was his last speech to the U.N. assembly as president of Iran. Fresh elections in Iran are slated for 2021.

___

Follow Dubai-based Associated Press journalist Aya Batrawy on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ayaelb.
Former National Security Adviser and retired Army Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster said Tuesday that he never heard President Donald Trump make insulting remarks about the military and veterans during his 13 months in the White House.

"I did not," McMaster replied when asked on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" whether he'd ever heard the president make disparaging statements -- similar to those alleged by anonymous sources in an article in The Atlantic earlier this month.

Read Next: Norfolk Shipyard CO Is 4th Navy Leader to Be Fired in a Month

McMaster was not pressed further on allegations that Trump called those who fell in battle "losers" and "suckers" during an appearance to promote his book "Battlegrounds: The Fight to Defend the Free World," which lays out his views on national security issues facing the U.S. in a changing world.

McMaster left the White House in March 2018 before several of the statements attributed to Trump allegedly were made, but he was there in May 2017 when the president went with then-White House Chief of Staff John Kelly to Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day.

Kelly, a retired Marine general, led Trump to the gravesite of his son, Marine Lt. Robert Kelly, who was killed in Afghanistan.

Trump allegedly asked how those who made the ultimate sacrifice risked their lives without the promise of something in return. "I don't get it. What was in it for them?" he reportedly said.

Kelly has declined requests for comment on the alleged incident.

Other former White House staffers have since come forward to deny that they ever heard Trump disparage the military. But a number of news organizations, including Fox News, have confirmed several of the allegations, while also citing anonymous sources.

Trump has dismissed The Atlantic article as a "total lie," and White House spokesmen have charged that it has no basis in fact.

The allegations have triggered a bitter back-and-forth between Trump supporters and opponents. Last week, the Trump campaign released a letter of support signed by 235 retired senior officers.

-- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com.

Related: Report: Trump Disparaged US War Dead as 'Losers,' 'Suckers'
US President has threatened to cut off if the popular Chinese video sharing app's tentative deal with two American companies Walmart and Oracle does not go through.

Trump has for weeks threatened to ban TikTok, which is owned by China's ByteDance, on national security grounds unless an American company takes control of its US operations. has roughly 100 million users in the US, and Trump says the app gives China access to the personal data of Americans.

Trump's latest remark came a day after he announced a possible deal between Oracle and Walmart to share the US operations of TikTok, which was placed on a ban list due to security concerns.

That's working its way through. I've given a preliminary okay, the president told reporters at the White House on Monday



They will work -- they're two great companies -- Oracle and Walmart. (Oracle CEO) Larry Ellison is a great genius at that kind of thing. The technology is incredible.

So if we can save it, we'll save it. And if we can't, we'll cut it off. But they have (a) preliminary (deal). We'll see what they can do. We have to have total security. That's the only thing -- very important. We have to have total security, Trump said in response to a question.

Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy praised Trump for his move on

He is standing up and keeping us safer by not allowing China to spy on Americans through their devices of TikTok and others, keeping the ability of Americans to use it, but keeping you safe, he told Fox News.

White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said that the US is working through the deal.

But rest assured that this president is putting the safety of the American people first. The Chinese Communist Party having access to the data of millions of Americans is not a tenable situation. But I'll leave it to him to announce exactly what that deal looks like, she said.

The proposed deal of TikTok with Oracle and Walmart mandates the creation of a new American company -- incorporated in Texas -- and the prospect of 25,000 new jobs. Further, TikTok will give USD 5 billion to fund the education of American youths.

The US last week issued orders to ban popular Chinese social media apps - TikTok and WeChat - to safeguard national security. The ban on downloading TikTok, originally scheduled to take effect on Sunday, was postponed to September 27, according to the US Department of Commerce.

Last month, President Trump signed an executive order to ban TikTok and WeChat by September 15 unless the ownership of the two Chinese companies changed to American.

TikTok made its debut in the US in 2018 and sees American traffic of more than 100 million users each month.

(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.)
Irrigators in the northern Murray-Darling Basin will face tighter regulation over water they capture during floods after the upper house blocked the Berejiklian government's controversial floodplain harvesting exemption.

A disallowance motion brought by independent MP Justin Field secured a decisive 22-16 win over the Coalition, gaining support from Labor, Shooters, Fishers and Farmers, Greens, Animal Justice Party and One Nation.

A so-called turkey nest dam used to capture flood waters near the Macquarie Marshes in northern NSW. Credit:Wolter Peeters

Unlike the highly regulated southern Murray-Darling Basin, large irrigators had been able to build large embankments that collect the water when it flowed across the often flat landscape with limited oversight.

The government had been seeking to exempt such farms, many of them cotton, from the need to hold a water access licence or gain approvals for constructing such works.
Trick-or-treating is allowed to take place in Perry Township this year for anyone who wants to participate in the tradition.

Thats the message that township trustees sought to convey to the community when the topic of Halloween came up at the boards Sept. 22 meeting.

Trustees approved a motion stating that trick-or-treating is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31. Those leaders also verified that there are no plans to prohibit or limit the activity because of health and safety risks posed by COVID-19.

Perry Township Administrator Karen Sundy said she participated in a Lake County Mayors and Managers Association meeting on Sept. 15 during which municipalities indicated they would move forward with holding trick-or-treating in 2020.

On Sept. 18, the Ohio Health Department released its recommended guidelines to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 during Halloween festivities.

The state agency prefaced its list of best practices for Halloween celebrations by stating that decisions on participation in trick-or-treating or other Halloween events should be made by local communities, individuals and parents/guardians.

Perry Township trustees emphasized that the motion they passed on Sept. 22 was not an endorsement to go trick-or-treating or distribute candy, but more of an advisory of when the activity is designated to take place. That position will be restated in an article on trick-or-treating for 2020 in the townships upcoming newsletter, Sundy said.

Im going to say that the set hours, as they always are on Halloween, are from 6 to 8 p.m., and tell people if you dont want to pass out candy, dont turn your light on, and if youre not comfortable with your kids going, dont send them, its really that easy, she said.

One tradition that wont take place this Halloween in Perry is the annual party for children thats held at the Manchester West Building in the village. The event is conducted by the Perry Fire District with support from Perry Township and North Perry and Perry villages.

Perry Fire District Chief Jim McDonald said hes looking into alternative ways for his agency to distribute candy to children on Halloween while maintaining social distancing. But no specific event has been scheduled so far.

First, McDonald said he intends to talk with government leaders from Perry Township and Perry and North Perry villages to confirm what kind of trick-or-treating activities will be taking place in their communities. In addition, the chief wants to review Ohio Health Department statistics on COVID-19 cases and see what state guidelines aimed at preventing the virus are in place closer to Halloween.

The Ohio Health Departments list of best practices for celebrating Halloween during the COVID-19 crisis  a document released on Sept. 18  included some of these tips:

* Holding a drive-through or drive-in trick-or-treating event.

* Leaving treats in the mailboxes of friends and neighbors.

* For parents taking their children trick-or-treating, limit the number of houses visited and ask children to stay as far away from the treat givers as possible.

* For anyone distributing candy to trick-or-treaters, refrain from having children select their own treats from a bowl or common container, or set up a hand-sanitizing station.

* Clean candy wrappers with sanitizing wipes once children return home from trick-or-treating and before they begin unwrapping candy.
DBS Bank India unveiled its latest campaign that talks about safety and how a trusted partner can help find safe solutions even in the most difficult of times. As Asia's Safest Bank for 11 straight years, DBS believes that 'safety always comes first'. The campaign starring DBS' brand ambassador, Sachin Tendulkar, brings this out through a simple, relatable narrative. This comes close on the heels of its recently launched campaign "Portraits of Purpose India", that celebrates everyday heroes who are reaching out to help others. Conceptualised by the team at Leo Burnett, the TVC captures the story of a small boy bored at home during the lockdown, while his family is busy with office work and domestic chores. As he attempts to step out to play with his friend, his sister stops him and suggests a safe alternative. The boy and his friend are delighted, and the film ends with Sachin sharing a message around safety. Speaking about the campaign, Shoma Narayanan, Executive Director - Group Strategic Marketing & Communications at DBS Bank India, said, "The narrative of our new brand film hinges on safety, trust and resilience. The well-being, both physical and financial, of our customers, colleagues and partners has been our top priority through these challenging times. The film aligns with this and assures viewers that DBS is a partner they can rely on." Brand ambassador, Sachin Tendulkar, added, "This was definitely a shoot to remember. No set, no lights, no film crew. I had to ask people around me at home to find some time between their work to film my segments of the TVC. I truly believe that safety comes first, and I am glad to be associated with DBS' campaign as it emphasises on the importance of safety in every aspect."

With some major cities, including Mumbai, still under lockdown, Sachin's segments of the campaign were shot at his home. The outdoor scenes of the TVC were shot with a minimal crew in Goa, whilst adhering to strict protocols and with necessary precautions such as social distancing, sanitised outdoor set, disinfectants and PPE gear. Neel Roy Cruz, Executive Creative Director, Leo Burnett, said, "From a creative point of view, this was one of the most challenging projects we have executed. How does one conceptualise and create a film when the whole world is confined to their homes? Just like our film narrative, we partnered with talented professionals and executed the film with all safety protocols. The very project itself stands testimony to the message we are trying to convey to our customers. Another interesting aspect of the campaign is that the idea for the film script came from one of Sachin Tendulkar's video challenge, which went viral and was trending during the nationwide lockdown." As the country and the world collectively defends against the COVID-19 pandemic, DBS Bank India, has taken extensive precautionary measures to safeguard customers and staff. The bank offers an array of digital products and services to enable customers to enjoy a seamless and secure banking experience from anywhere. Since the establishment of its wholly-owned subsidiary, DBS Bank India Limited (DBIL) in 2019, the bank has built a greater scale in India by adopting a 'phygital' model. Named 'Safest Bank in Asia' for 11 consecutive years, DBS has been on an ongoing journey to shape the future of banking. It has designed end-to-end digitised solutions to seamlessly interweave banking into a customer's everyday life, by making it a part of their ecosystem.
Dr. Rana Dajani had recently returned to her home country of Jordan in 2006 after five years abroad, when she was struck by an observation that sparked her irrepressible curiosity: why did so few Jordanian children read for pleasure?

While most would have briefly pondered the question before carrying on with their lives, Dajanis inquiring mind was unable to let it go. As an accomplished molecular biologist who has studied and worked at some of the worlds leading academic institutions, including Harvard and Yale, she began to research the issue more closely.

I started asking questions, making observations, digging through the literature, said Dajani, who is currently in the United States of America where she was teaching when Jordans airports closed in March due to COVID-19, leaving her unable to return home.

Speaking quickly, as if her words sometimes struggled to keep up with her train of thought, Dajani added: I realized that the way for a child to fall in love with reading is by having a role model, a parent who's reading aloud to the child.

"I couldn't sleep. I had to do something."

Armed with this insight, she said it was the values of her Muslim upbringing that forced her to act on what she had learnt  not just for the benefit of her own children, but as many children as she could reach.

I felt this huge responsibility, that I had to do something for the children around me. And I felt if I didn't, then this would be on me because I had the solution. I couldn't sleep. I had to do something.

That was how the We Love Reading project was born, which today is active in 56 countries worldwide, has trained over 7,000  mostly women  volunteer readers, and has brought the joy of reading to nearly half a million children, including tens of thousands of young refugees in Jordan and beyond.

For her work in promoting reading and education among refugees, host communities and others, Dajani has been chosen as the regional winner for the Middle East and North Africa for UNHCRs Nansen Refugee Award, a prestigious annual prize that honours those who have gone to extraordinary lengths to help forcibly displaced and stateless people.

The as-yet-undisclosed global laureate of the award will be announced on 1 October. The prize itself will be presented by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, in a virtual ceremony on 5 October.

Eight-year-old Syrian refugee Rama Al-Lemoni is photographed after being read a story by a We Love Reading ambassador in Amman.  UNHCR/Moises Saman

We Love Reading ambassador Latifa Al-Laham, 55, reads to a group of young fellow Syrian refugees in an apartment in Amman, Jordan.  UNHCR/Moises Saman

Having avoided books and reading for most of her adult life, Latifa says she has become an avid reader after joining the scheme.  UNHCR/Moises Saman

Rana Dajani climbs a tree near the house in Richmond, Virginia, where she was staying while Jordan's airport remained closed due to COVID-19.  UNHCR/Evelyn Hockstein

Back in 2006, We Love Reading began with a single weekly session at which Dajani read aloud to the neighbourhood children at her local mosque. But all the while, she was thinking of ways to expand the initiative to every neighbourhood in the country.

After three years of tinkering  I had reduced the programme to the most simple formula where it was still effective and still impactful, Dajani said. We Love Reading became a training programme, where we would train adults and youth from age 16 to 100 years old.

We train them how to read aloud as an art, because most of them have never been read aloud to, so they don't know how to do it to make it fun, she continued. And we train them also on how to start a reading aloud session in their neighborhood.

Those that receive the training are known as reading ambassadors, who are then encouraged to establish reading sessions in their own neighbourhoods on a purely voluntary basis and promote the scheme by word of mouth.

In this way, Dajani says, the programme has become a grassroots movement in which participants feel a sense of ownership and empowerment, with more than 4,400 sessions currently being held worldwide.

"They run it. They own it."

They are responsible for it. They run it. They own it, Dajani explained. That's the secret sauce of We Love Reading: how people take up the programme and run with it wherever they are.

The scheme has proved particularly effective in refugee settings in Jordan, which currently hosts more than 658,000 registered Syrian refugees, having a positive impact on both refugee children and adult volunteers. Following this success, the model has been replicated at Kule refugee camp in Ethiopia.

Most refugees dont know whats going to happen in the future  and this impacts their mental health, Dajani said. We Love Reading gives them a purpose, something that is tangible and  a sense of agency. The sense of control is so important for building resilience and improving the positive mentality.

That was the case for Latifa Al-Laham, a 55-year-old Syrian refugee from Damascus who fled the conflict to Jordan in 2013. Having left school after sixth grade, she had avoided books and reading most of her adult life. But after completing the training in January, not only has she begun regularly reading to her own grandchildren and her neighbours kids, she has also become an avid reader herself.

"We need to believe in ourselves, because nothing is impossible."

Reading has made the kids love me more, and I also set aside special time to read for myself before sunset once Ive finished cooking, Latifa said. Im a different person after the training. It gave me the power and confidence to become someone different. Even at my age, you can change your life.

While Dajani admits that she is surprised by the global popularity of We Love Reading, she said its success is driving her to work even harder to bring the benefits of a love of reading to more children.

I never really believed it would reach where it is today, but I dreamt it. And this is a testament that we need to dream and  we need to believe in ourselves, because nothing is impossible, she said.

The Nansen Refugee Award is named in honour of Norwegian explorer and humanitarian Fridtjof Nansen, the first High Commissioner for Refugees and Nobel Prize winner, who was appointed by the League of Nations in 1921. It aims to showcase his values of perseverance and commitment in the face of adversity.

You can read about the other regional winners of the UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award here.

Additional reporting by Charlie Dunmore and Lilly Carlisle in Amman, Jordan.
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / September 22, 2020 / Tribert Rujugiro Ayabatwa's group of companies, namely, Meridian Tobacco Company (MTC) and its parent company, Global Tobacco Supply (GTS), have operated in Arua, Uganda for 24 years. MTC and GTS consider themselves productive partners of Ugandan and Arua authorities and northern communities with a proven record. As corporate citizens, the two companies welcomed the raising the status of Arua from a town into a city. By this act, the government of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni rightly recognized the hard work of the people of Arua for building a city dedicated to improving the lives of its people.

In Arua and elsewhere, the approach of MTC and GTS goes beyond producing consumer products to corporate social responsibility. This is illustrated by what the two companies do in Arua. MTC has a workforce of 350 permanent employees, 1,700 seasonal workers, and 9,700 contracted farmers. The combined number of people making a livelihood from MTC is 11,750. Corporate social responsibility then comes into play.

As Tribert Rujugiro Ayabatwa explains, "a business that does not value the community in which it operates is unworthy of its name. Forging a stronger bond between our companies and the world around them is fundamental. A business that does not give back to society does not make any sense - that is not our way of thinking or doing."

Corporate social responsibility is for this reason that the group established the Arua Organic Agricultural Centre (AOAC) which demonstrates to communities the best practices in food production. The AOAC teaches farmers continuous farming even where rains are scarce. Solar-powered irrigation is now operational, which permits the growing of over 50 different food crops.

Overall, encouraging and supporting farmers not only to improve food security but also to generate incomes is central.

Farmers are continuously sensitized to expand their income portfolio and not depend only on cash crops. These are several initiatives in this regard. In the case of bee-keeping, over 9 apiaries were installed in all regions where farmers learn best practices in bee-keeping. Farmers are also assisted to grow their own mini forests. A small forest can produce enough wood for domestic consumption and provide extra income every year by selling construction material and charcoal.

Story continues

For MTC and GTS, the newly-acquired city status challenges all the stakeholders to work harder and smarter in assisting the people of Arua City to uplift themselves into prosperity.

Contact:

David Himbara

PanAfrican Tobacco Group

info@ptg-hld.com

SOURCE: Tribert Rujugiro Ayabatwa





View source version on accesswire.com:

https://www.accesswire.com/607310/Tribert-Rujugiro-Ayabatwas-Group-of-Companies-Congratulated-Ugandan-Authorities-for-Turning-Arua-into-a-City




The richest 1 per cent of the worlds population produce more than double the carbon emissions of the worlds poorest 3 billion people, a new study has found.

The report, published on Monday by Oxfam, analysed the consumption-based emissions of those in different income brackets from 1990-2015, when the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere doubled.

The findings come as Climate Week kicked off on Monday and leaders prepare to meet at the UN General Assembly to discuss global challenges, including the climate crisis.

Danny Sriskandarajah, Oxfam GB chief executive, said: The over-consumption of a wealthy minority is fueling the climate crisis and putting the planet in peril."No one is immune from the impact but the worlds poorest are paying the heaviest price despite contributing least emissions as they battle floods, famines and cyclones.

The report, Confronting Carbon Inequality, found that from 1990 until 2015:

- The wealthiest 10 per cent, around 630 million people, were responsible for more than half (52 percent) of CO2 emissions

- The richest one per cent accounted for 15 percent of emissions  more than double that of the poorest half of the world (7 per cent)

- The richest 10 per cent are responsible for one-third of CO2 emissions that scientists estimate will cause 1.5C of global temperature rise, contributing to catastrophic climate change

- The poorest half of humanity is behind just 4 per cent of CO2 emissions.

With the world currently experiencing 1C of global heating, 2020 has been a year of climate extremes.

The Indian subcontinent has been lashed with devastating cyclones and torrential monsoon rains. One climate expert told The Independent that the fingerprint of the climate crisis was in the disasters.

Historic wildfires, driven in part by conditions caused by climate change, are raging across the American West.

The global climate report from US federal agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), found last week, that this year was the hottest summer since records began in the northern hemisphere.

The Oxfam study is based on research conducted with the Stockholm Environment Institute.

Although there was a lull in carbon emissions this year due to travel and industry slowdowns during the coronavirus pandemic, levels are already beginning to rebound as countries attempt to kickstart their economies.

Scientists warn that the world needs to halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 to remain within the increasingly ambitious 1.5C of global warming set out by the 2016 Paris Climate Accords.

Oxfam noted that carbon inequality is so stark that the emissions of just the richest 10 per cent would trigger catastrophic climate change by 2033, even if all other emissions were cut to zero.

The charity is calling for an increase in wealth taxes and new carbon taxes on luxury items: Private jets, super yachts, carbon-intensive SUVs and frequent flights.

The revenue generated should be invested in low-carbon jobs and green public transport while also helping poor communities mitigate the risks of climate change.
Geneva (Switzerland), 21 September 2020 (SPS) - The Sahrawi National Commission for Human Rights, along with 240 human rights organizations, have reminded the UN Working Group against Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances of more than 400 Sahrawis who have been missing since the invasion and military occupation of Western Sahara by the Kingdom of Morocco.



In an oral statement during the 45th Ordinary Session of Human Rights, the organizations said that although the Kingdom of Morocco ratified the International Convention to Protect People from Enforced Disappearance adopted in 2006 by the United Nations, it has not yet submitted its first report to the Committee on Enforced Disappearances.



The statement added that the UN Working Group against Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances continues to receive reports of reprisals against the families of victims, human rights defenders and supporting organizations in the occupied areas of Western Sahara, a non-self-governing territory, according to the United Nations General Assembly.



The human rights organizations also called on the UN Working Group against Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances to seriously consider a field visit to the territory of Western Sahara, which is under Moroccan occupation.



The issue of the 400 missing and abducted Sahrawis is receiving great attention and priority from the Sahrawi civil society and international human rights organizations, especially after the information provided by Rabat on the 153 disappearances for which Rabat admitted responsibility in Western Sahara was proved to be false. (SPS)



062/SPS/T
Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 22 : With opposition protests mounting, the biggest victims are the police officials as they are increasingly falling prey to Covid while on duty, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Tuesday.

Addressing the media here, Vijayan said all responsible political parties have to take cognisance of the fact that police officials are also human beings.

"There is nothing more valuable than human life. Due to the increased protests, police officials have to do their duty and due to these protests, more police officials are turning Covid positive. It appears that only if protests turn violent, do they get noticed by the media. There is no need for any violence during protests as there are many forms of protests that can be undertaken. It's time all should do an introspection on this, as 101 police officials across the state tested Covid positive the other day," he said.

Vijayan also noted that Thiruvananthapuram district is the worst-affected, reporting 681 out of the 4,125 new cases on Tuesday.

He said that 3,007 people turned negative in the day and the state presently has 40,382 active cases, while 1,01,731 people have been cured so far.

A total of 38,574 samples were tested in the past 24 hours.

Kerala also saw 19 more deaths, taking its toll to 572. Around a third of the deaths have been reported in Thiruvananthapuram.

Across the state, there were 2,20,270 people who are under observation in various places, including 25,782 in hospitals, while the state has 639 hotspots.
Celebrity chef Matt Preston has been caught falling asleep while listening to the radio behind the scenes of Plate of Origin.

The former MasterChef judge can be heard snoring in a hilarious behind-the-scenes video uploaded to Instagram by co-host Manu Feildel on Monday.

The ex-My Kitchen Rules judge, 46, shared three short clips of the 59-year-old food critic nodding off ahead of Tuesday night's Plate of Origin finale.

Busted! Matt Preston (left) has been caught snoozing behind the scenes of Plate of Origin while listening to the radio in hilarious footage shared by Manu Feildel (centre). Pictured right: Plate of Origin co-host Gary Mehigan

The three-hour special will kick off from 7.30pm on Channel Seven, and will feature four teams vying for $100,000 in a three-course cooking competition.

Manu's footage shows Matt, who is wearing a white shirt and his signature cravat, sleeping soundly while holding a phone and sitting on a blue velvet couch.

'Even Matt falls asleep when he listens to himself,' Manu captioned the candid video.

The footage caught the attention of several TV stars, including The Block's Mark McKie and Mitch Edwards, who joked that Matt had been 'working too hard'.

'Exclusive BTS footage. He's clearly not sleeping, he's just thinking deeply... #PlateofOriginAU,' Manu added.

Feeling tired? The ex-My Kitchen Rules judge, 46, shared three short clips of the 59-year-old food critic (pictured) nodding off ahead of Tuesday night's Plate of Origin finale

Manu then shared another clip of Matt, which showed him looking worse for wear in his pajamas, as a woman speaking another language can be heard on his phone.

Meanwhile, the Frenchman mocked his sleepy friend by imitating a loud snore.

'@mattscravat is so clever. He can also learn how to speak another language in his sleep... #PlateofOriginAU,' he wrote in the caption.

No hard feelings! Matt reacted to Manu's post with good humour, saying he had fallen asleep while listening to the radio backstage

Matt reacted to Manu's post with good humour by making fun of himself in a post shared to his own Instagram account on Tuesday.

In the footage, he pointed out that he was listening to the radio when he fell asleep.

'Thanks for sharing @manufeildelofficial. Back on @abcinmelbourne breakfast tomorrow from 5.30am, filling in for @sammyjcomedian #snoozebuttonoff,' he wrote.
The Aluminium Two Thousand World Congress, an international conference about the aluminum industry, has been postponed.

According to Interall, the organiser of the event, the 12th Aluminium Two Thousand World Congress to be held in collaboration with the 7th International Conference on Extrusion and Benchmark (ICEB), has been rescheduled to May 2022 and will held in Modena and Rome, Italy.

The vital event for the aluminium industry was earlier scheduled to be held in March 23 to 27, 2021 in Bologna, Italy.

To ensure the health and safety of our speakers, delegates, exhibitors and accompanying persons, and in order to respect the global measures to face this virus, we have taken the decision to postpone our event, Interall said in a statement.

We apologise for the inconvenience caused by this postponement, it said and added: In this way, we prefer to avoid a webinar congress in order to meet you in person in safety.TradeArabia News Service
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday targeted the government over the passage of the "dangerous" farm bills without division of votes in Rajya Sabha, while lauding the sit-in protest on the Parliament premises by the eight suspended MPs.





The eight Rajya Sabha members, including Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh, were suspended for the remaining part of the Monsoon Session over "unruly behaviour" during the passage of the farm Bills in the Upper House of Parliament.

The other MPs are Derek O'Brien (Trinamool Congress), Rajeev Satav (Congress), Elamaram Kareem (Communist Party of India-Marxist), K K Ragesh (CPI-M), Syed Nazir Hussain (Congress), Ripun Boren (Congress) and Dola Sen (TMC).

Since their suspension on Monday, the eight MPs have been holding a protest on the Parliament premises.

Kejriwal said these eight MPs were fighting for the rights of farmers without worrying about heat, mosquitoes or other inconveniences and have spent the night protesting in the Parliament complex.

"They are not asking for anything for themselves. They are fighting for democracy and the Constitution. They are struggling for the farmers of the country," Kejriwal tweeted in Hindi.

Farmers across the country are saying that these laws will end them, he added.

"Such a dangerous bill was passed without division of votes. Then what is the meaning of Parliament, what is the meaning of elections? If you have to pass the law this way, then why did you call a Parliament session," Kejriwal asked in another tweet in Hindi.

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia compared the present government to the British colonial rulers.

"The British ruled the same way. They would commit atrocities on the farmers, labourers and businessmen. They would make black laws to perpetuate the atrocities. And when they met Gandhiji and other leaders, they (the British) would offer them tea. Our rulers are running the government in the same way still," Sisodia said in a tweet in Hindi.

He was referring to Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Singh offering tea to the protesting MPs in the morning.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi showered praises on Harivansh Singh for the gesture, saying his "inspiring" and "statesmanlike" conduct will make every democracy lover proud.

Responding to Modi's tweet, Sanjay Singh said he was "humbly" returning the tea and requesting the government to return the farmers' morsels.

"We are not fighting for our tea. We are fighting for the morsels of our farmers which you have taken away. I humbly request you - I am returning your tea with all due respect, please return our farmers' morsel," Singh tweeted.
The British government on Monday won over some domestic political opponents of its plan to breach part of the divorce deal it agreed upon with the European Union but not former Prime Minister Theresa May, who warned that the move would do untold damage to the UK.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservative administration has sparked anger from the EU and unease from many British lawmakers with legislation that gives his government the power to override part of the legally binding withdrawal agreement relating to Northern Ireland.

The government says the Internal Market Bill is an insurance policy to guarantee goods can flow freely to all parts of the U.K. in case and the EU fail to reach a trade agreement and the bloc tries to disrupt trade between Northern Ireland and the rest of the country.

On Monday, the British government agreed to amend the bill to give lawmakers a vote before the override powers can be used. That was enough for some Conservatives who had previously opposed the bill but said they would now vote for it.

But May, who was the country's Conservative prime minister between 2016 and 2019, said the government was acting recklessly and irresponsibly, with no thought for the long-term impact on the standing of the United Kingdom in the world.

May struck a divorce deal with the EU in 2018 after two years of painstaking negotiations. She resigned last year after repeatedly failing to get Parliament to approve it.

This is a country that upholds the rule of law, she said. It is one of the things that makes us great. It is one of our characteristics. Yet we're being asked to tear up that principle and throw away that value.

Referring to one of Johnson's catchphrases, she said: So much for Global Johnson's government hopes to shepherd the bill through Parliament and into law in the coming weeks. The EU says it will take legal action if the U.K. does not drop the lawbreaking provisions by the end of September.

Northern Ireland has special status in the withdrawal agreement because it is the only part of the UK that shares a land border with an EU country.

Johnson's move to break parts of the EU divorce deal relating to Northern Ireland has triggered fears it could undermine the 1998 Good Friday peace accord that ended decades of violence between Irish nationalists and British unionists.

and the EU jointly promised in the divorce agreement to ensure there are no customs posts or other obstacles on the Northern Ireland-Ireland border.

The open border is key to the stability that underpins the peace settlement. The British government insists it is committed to upholding the EU withdrawal agreement and the peace accord. But many, including May, have warned that the proposed law could destabilize the peace settlement.

(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.)
Mazloum Abdi has said that no Kurdish political party has been excluded from the initiative to unify the Kurdish position reports North Press.

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Commander-in-Chief, Mazloum Abdi, denied on Sunday the exclusion of any Kurdish political parties from the initiative of unifying the Kurdish position.

The initiative of unifying the Kurdish position is proceeding according to its national standards, we aim at sharing all Kurdish political parties in Syria in this initiative, Abdi tweeted in Kurdish.

Abdi denied the exclusion of both the Kurdish Democratic Progressive Party in Syria and the Kurdish Democratic Unity Party in Syria from the initiative that was held between the Kurdish National Council in Syria (ENKS), a coalition of Syrian Kurdish political parties allied with the opposition Syrian National Coalition, and the PYD-led Kurdish National Unity parties.

All rumors are untrue, Abdi added.

After the announcement of achieving the Kurdish political unified position, activists and journalists reported that both the above mentioned parties were dismissed from the initiative.

Both the Kurdish National Unity parties and ENKS accomplished the Kurdish political unified position, Saleh Geddo, Secretary of the Kurdish Democratic Left Party, told North Press on Saturday.

Geddo, who participates in the intra-Kurdish dialogues, added that they would announce the details of the Kurdish political unified position in the coming days.

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.
Chinese tycoon who called Xi Jinping a 'clown' sentenced to 18 years in jail

International

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Beijing, Sep 22: A court here has sentenced a business tycoon critical of Xi Jinping to 18 years in jail on charges of corruption.

Ren Zhiqiang, the former chairman of Huayuan, a state owned real estate group was also fined 4.2 million yuan, Beijing's No 2 Intermediate Court said on its website. The 69 year old voluntarily and truthfully confessed all his crimes and would not appeal the court's decision.

Ren, who is an influential critic of the Chinese Community Party had suggested that President Xi Jinping was a clown over his handling of the coronavirus outbreak. He was then put under investigation in April for serious violations of discipline and the law.

Ren had gone missing in March after writing a critical essay about the outbreak. In his essay he took aim at the speech made by Xi on February 23 and said that revealed a crisis of governance in the party. He however did not take Xi by name, but he wrote that what he saw was not an emperor exhibiting new clothes, but a clown stripped naked who insisted on continuing being an emperor.

In 2016, Ren was put under probation for a year as punishment for his public criticism of the government. His social media accounts were also shut down. Rights campaigners have often criticised Xi and the Communist Party of China of using corruption charges as a way to silence dissent.

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Story first published: Tuesday, September 22, 2020, 11:02 [IST]
The family of a soldier whose PTSD is so severe the sound of a Christmas cracker or party popper can trigger an attack are raising funds for pioneering new treatment.

Father-of-two Neil Edwards, 40, has suffered with regular seizures for years since a tour of Afghanistan left him struggling with flashbacks.

Corporal Edwards, who also served two tours in Ireland and one in Iraq, was discharged in 2017 after 20 years in the British Army.

But after coming home from his six month tour of Afghanistan in September 2013, Neil can have up to four seizures a week, which might be triggered by the most innocent sounds.

Corporal Edwards has been struggling with flashbacks, unable to live normally with his family

He is now so vulnerable, Neil cannot be left unsupervised as even a car horn can trigger a reaction.

Neil's wife Becky Teague-Edwards, 38, says they finally have hope of living like a normal family again as they now believe his condition could be a result of a brain injury suffered while on tour.

His family is currently raising money for him to be among the first in the UK to undergo a series of tests and treatments that has already shown success among soldiers in the US.

Becky, of Braunton, Devon, has to find an initial 5,000 and hopes it could be the breakthrough they desperately need.

She said: 'If he does have a brain injury, the treatment is completely different. He will not be reliant on medication, the seizures could stop and we can start to live a normal family life.

'Neil would be one of the first from the UK to go on this pathway. He has had all treatment available on the NHS for PTSD, but none of it has worked as he is still having seizures.

Becky Teague-Edwards, 38, is hoping to raise the initial 5,000 for the treatment he needs

'He cannot be unsupervised at any time and his PTSD is very complex.

'If he goes to the supermarket and it's busy he can be startled by the noise of trolleys or someone bumping into him, which can trigger a seizure.

'Anything can trigger it, from a party popper to a Christmas cracker to a car horn. The school bell can also cause problems so he can't do the school run.'

'We cannot go out anywhere as a family. We cannot go to restaurants, theme parks. or on holiday at busy times. We can't go through an airport as there are too many sounds and external factors.

'It affects every aspect of our lives.'

The family have been liaising with specialist trauma psychotherapist Mandy Bostwick, who told them she believes Neil has Blast Trauma Brain Injuries.

The money raised will pay for an MEG scan and for a specialised consultant to examine the results.

Becky added: 'There is only one neurologist in the UK who can read the results.

'The scan and diagnosis alone is 3,000 and the treatment is 2,000 and this could change our lives completely.

'But Mandy is 90 per cent sure Neil has got a brain injury.

'None of it is available on the NHS or through the MOD so we have no choice but to go private.

The father-of- two started having flashbacks after a six month tour of Afghanistan in September 2013

'It has been tried and tested on American soldiers and the evidence there - but the UK is not quite there yet.

'Lots of soldiers have PTSD, but they could also have a brain injury.'

Becky said she noticed her husband had changed as soon as he came home from his six month tour of Afghanistan in September 2013.

She added: 'He was very snappy and not himself. He used to be the life and soul of the party, but had become very withdrawn.

'He did not go to the doctors instantly but then at the Christmas party that year a cracker went off and he just said 'I am not well.'

He had various assessments and was diagnosed with complex PTSD in April 2014. His seizures began in 2016 and he was signed off on long-term sick leave from the military in December 2016.

Neil, who had been promoted to Sergeant, was demoted to Corporal due to being unable to complete a course because of his condition, and was discharged on medical grounds in November 2017.

The couple believe the PTSD was formed through a collective experience from the tour in Patrol Base (PB) Ouellette, in which he experienced attacks almost every day.

But there was one incident that is believed caused the brain injury.

Becky added: 'The one we are questioning with the brain injury is an indirect fire that detonated after hitting the ground and exploded just a few feet from where he stood.

The family believe his condition could be a result of a brain injury suffered while on tour and are hoping they will be able to out as a family after the pioneering treatment

'Neil was thrown into a bunker and even though he did not lose consciousness, he was left thinking 'that was a big and close one'.

'He had ringing in his ears and felt disoriented. He was later seen by an audiologist, who diagnosed him with tinnitus and blast scarring in his ears.'

Neil, who was part of the Royal Signals and attached to the 2 Scots Regiment for the tour of Afghanistan, had also served in Iraq and had done two tours of Northern Ireland.

He added: 'The stigma around mental health is still massively there and a lot of the military does not understand mental health.

'Some people say they have got PTSD that don't and that tars everyone else who is genuinely suffering.

'It is an unseen illness. If someone has lost a leg everyone can see it, but this is an unseen illness

'I was petrified of admitting it as I did not want it to affect his promotion.'

It is understood two other former military personnel are also exploring the same pathway as Neil, but Becky said there could be a significant number who could benefit from it in the future.

She added: 'For any serving soldier to say I need help is a huge accomplishment and they should be extremely proud of themselves.

'We want to be open about it to not just try and help Neil with his situation but to help others going through it as well.'

To donate to the campaign visit https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/tbi-neil-edwards
Two properties were raided by the RSPCA on Wednesday over allegations of animal cruelty and noncompliance of state breeding Codes of Practice. No charges have been laid. Loading Anna said conditions on the Inverell farm were not healthy and the bitches and sires were kept in bare concrete and sometimes overcrowded wire pens. She said the pens and the animals were often covered in faeces because the dogs would only be let out for less than 20 minutes, once a day, to eat and exercise while the pens got washed. They dont get cleaned properly, its basically just water in the big runs  I wouldnt let my dog sleep in it, Anna said.

She said some of the dogs grew skinny because they didnt get fed individually, instead having to compete with other dogs feeding from the same bowls. Strawberry left to rot GRAPHIC CONTENT WARNING Working at the farm became unbearable, Anna said, after a boxer named Strawberry died earlier this year after being made to breed under the age of one. She said Strawberry only managed to birth three pups in February, when she fell ill because there were other puppies left rotting inside her.

It was a very horrible thing to see, she was covered in flies, the first time I had seen her, and the smell of her was like death, Anna said. [The owner] had gone into the pen [Strawberry] was in and nudged her with his foot while saying, Are you dead yet?, and was laughing about it. Distressing imagery: Strawberry in her dying minutes, and her puppies being sold in April at Claremont Puppies and Pets. Credit:Oscar's Law Anna said Strawberry had been earlier bathed by another worker who found parts of the dead puppies, together with maggots, in her vagina and mouth. She was basically rotting from the inside out and that would be why she smelt of death, Anna said.

And not once did [the owner] show any enthusiasm of taking Strawberry to the vet to have a caesarean or to get the medical treatment she needed. From Inverell to Claremont Two months after Strawberrys death, in April, photographs of two boxer puppies were posted on Claremont Puppies and Pets Facebook page saying coming soon, which Anna identified as being Strawberrys puppies. The shops Facebook page also listed dalmatian-labrador cross puppies and retriever-schnauzer cross puppies also identified by the whistleblower as coming from the NSW breeder. Paperwork from the business, obtained exclusively by WAtoday, shows notes listing the sale of cross-breed pups from a dozen female dogs kept at the NSW farm to aClaremont pet store Perth WA from October 31, 2018, until January 16, 2019.

The dalmatian and golden retriever held at a NSW puppy farm believed to be responsible for the pups sold at Claremont Puppies and Pets. Credit:Oscar's Law There is no suggestion the pet shop owner was aware of Strawberrys condition when they agreed to purchase the puppies. During that time, Claremont Puppies and Pets was the only puppy seller in the suburb. When approached about the poor conditions at the farm, owner Victor Finkelstein did not deny getting his puppies from the Inverell farm and said that he had been to their property regularly. I have never seen a dog in bad conditions, he said. I know they look after their dogs and puppies, I have seen them.

When told the story of Strawberry, he agreed that it was cruel; if it has happened. I got some boxer puppies but I dont know about the mum; it sounds like a load of crap, he said. This pet shop in Claremont has sold puppies that were bred on a puppy farm in NSW, which has been raided by the RSPCA. Credit:Aja Styles He said he didnt keep records of his dogs parents names, he just got photographs of them because that was all that buyers were interested in and he had no reason to keep those kinds of records. Mr Finkelstein, who hadnt been to the farm in 18 months, said he was aware of the recent RSPCA raid but again denied that his breeder would be classed a puppy farm, instead believing that the animal activists had brought on the raid to get legislation passed through WA Parliament.

These people are extremists that will try anything to close them down, he said. Loading Bid to stop puppy farming The WA Parliament is currently considering the proposed Dog Amendment (Stop Puppy Farming) Act 2020 that would require detailed breeding records to be kept and force pet shops to stop puppy sales and move to an adoption model. Mr Finkelstein said the legislation would put him out of business and there would be no puppies available in the state, which would drive up backyard breeding.
NEWTOWN TOWNSHIP >> Newtown Township will be applying for federal funding to bolster its career firefighting force. And its crossing its fingers and hoping the third times a charm. At its Jan. 12 meeting, the board of supervisors voted unanimously to resubmit its SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response) grant application to the Federal Emergency Management Agency to...
Donald Trump; United States of America

Donald Trump | United States of America cracking to pieces Photo illustration by Salon/Getty Images

On Sept. 11, Donald Trump proclaimed on Twitter that: "Pelosi and Schumer want Trillions of Dollars of BAILOUT money for Blue States that are doing badly, both economically and in terms of high crime, as a condition to making a deal on stimulus  But the USA is coming back strong!"

Trump was widely mocked in response for being too ignorant to understand that "blue states" are part of the United States.

People enjoy laughing at Donald Trump, perhaps because they think it will somehow save them from his wrath, cruelty and violence. It will not.

Trump's statements about "Blue States" are just another obvious illustration of the fact that he is not really president of the United States of America. Through his behavior Trump has shown that he is actually the authoritarian Great Leader of his followers only.

Moreover, he has little or no respect, love, care or concern for them either  except as a means of keeping himself in office indefinitely so he can enrich himself, his family, and other close allies.

Trump is not merely indifferent towards those Americans in "blue states" and elsewhere who do not support his regime. He is actively hostile and violent towards them. He has sabotaged aid to the coastal states early in the coronavirus pandemic. He ignored California and Puerto Rico when they have faced natural disasters and environmental calamities. He has encouraged armed militias to stage threatening demonstrations in Democratic-governed states such as Michigan. He has unleashed federal police against protesters in Portland and elsewhere who oppose the regime. He has pursued an overall strategy of stochastic terrorism against Democrats, Black Lives Matter activists, anti-fascists and others he and his agents deem to be "enemies of the state."

Donald Trump and Attorney General William Barr have also suggested they may use the Insurrection Act to deploy the U.S. military against Americans who dare to protest if Trump somehow manages to steal the 2020 election. Barr has even speculated that Americans who protest the Trump regime should be charged with the little-used crime of sedition.

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In total, Trump's followers understand that they have been given full permission to engage in acts of violence against his and their "enemies." This would mark one of the final steps in a campaign of Trump-inspired and commanded right-wing violence that began with the 2016 presidential campaign and is now reaching a crescendo as we head toward the 2020 election.

Operating under the banner of "gun rights," hundreds of armed pro-Trump demonstrators gathered last Friday at the Michigan State Capitol. Michigan Live reports:

After two hours of speeches, approximately 1,000 demonstrators marched around the Capitol grounds to the Michigan Hall of Justice. Organizers warned those carrying firearms were not allowed to bring their guns into the Hall of Justice due to a Michigan Supreme Court administrative order. Instead, the throng gathered on the Hall of Justice steps and chanted "U-S-A" and "Four more years" for President Donald Trump. At one point, about two dozen members of the Proud Boys, a "western chauvinist" group that was recently involved in physical scuffles during a march in Kalamazoo, started chanting "F--- Antifa!"

For decades, if not longer, the American right has fantasized about a second Civil War. With Trump as president, a season of death and suffering from the coronavirus pandemic, and a climate of intense economic ruin as well as political and cultural division, the would-be secessionists may finally get their wish.

Richard Kreitner is a contributing writer to the Nation. His writing has also been featured in the New York Times, The Boston Globe, Slate, The New York Review of Books and The Baffler. His new book is "Break It Up: Secession, Division, and the Secret History of America's Imperfect Union."

In this conversation, Kreitner explains that he sees the Age of Trump is one of several moments in the country's history where it almost collapsed into a state of civil war and widespread political violence. He says America needs a constitutional convention to address the problems in democracy and governance caused by such antiquated institutions as the Electoral College and the U.S. Senate.

At the end of this conversation, Kreitner offers a chilling and timely scenario for how the U.S. could descend into a second civil war that would finally tear red and blue states away from one another.

How are you feeling right now, with an election coming and increasing political violence by the right directed against liberals and progressives?

In the late Obama period it became more obvious to me that the United States is really not united and could quite easily come apart. Given what is now happening with Trump and his movement, I feel somewhat vindicated in that feeling. As a citizen, I feel extremely dismayed that my countrymen are so out to lunch, so far gone that they can't even be bothered to wear a mask or take the most basic precautions for the sake of their fellow human beings  much less their fellow Americans. That is very disappointing. I probably won't get over that fact until after the election, regardless of the outcome.

Talking about Trump and America is almost a kind of euphemism. It is one of the many ways that many people avoid talking about the real issue which is the possible dissolution of the United States. When people talk about the arrival of fascism in America, or Trump sending his stormtroopers to Democratic cities and possibly stealing an election, what are the remedies there? What are we talking about doing in response?

One option is violent revolution. But I doubt that would succeed. The other possible remedy is secession. I believe that we are going to hear many more people discussing that possibility in the near future.

What is the role of extreme political polarization  especially by Trumpists and other "conservatives"  in your narrative of America's disunion?

What we are learning as a people in the Age of Trump is that what holds the United States and the constitutional order together is a matter of habit and practice. I would perhaps go so far as to say inertia. The United States has really not been able to agree on institutional arrangements that would make for a stable and unified nation.

This goes back to the Founding, where at the Constitutional Convention the framers split the difference between states' rights and what we now call nationalism by making the House of Representatives represent the people and the Senate represent the states. It was called a "compromise," but in many ways it was a surrender.

As an example, I think immediately of the 1790s, which was probably one of the most tumultuous and divisive periods in American history. We tend to think of the Constitution as this great, glorious document that created one nation inseparable, but the United States almost collapsed into civil war on multiple occasions.

The 1796 presidential election was absolutely vicious. The country was as divided as it has ever been. It was very much driven by a partisan press where you had different members of the cabinet subsidizing their own newspapers to fight each other.

The 1850s is another fascinating example. Yes, it was polarized, but as today, there was this large group of people on what we would now call the left who were saying, "We're not polarized enough: There are Northerners who give too much to the South. It's the forces of unfreedom. They compromise too much." They called them "Northern men with Southern principles." These were the radical abolitionists, and they were trying to push the country to come to some kind of reckoning with whether it was going to be a slave society or a free society.

These are the heroes of my book, the disunion abolitionists. There were voices saying the Union should break apart if it's not going to stand for liberty. I believe that is the kind of moment America is at right now.

The United States never resolved the first civil war. The idea of a second civil war has been around literally since within months of the end of the first one. Too many Americans do not appreciate that fact. We think that the Confederates and the South were defeated. They were chastened. They came back. They loved America, but only if the Union was reconstructed on their terms. When it was, the Confederates, white Southerners, formed the Ku Klux Klan  which still exists today.

The threat of civil war has always lingered anytime white supremacy in America has come under threat. The forces of white supremacy tried it once. They want to try it again. They lost the civil war the first time. But as we know, they were not vanquished.

If you were called to testify at a 21st-century constitutional convention  which the right has been trying to convene for several decades as a way of forever enshrining its power  what would you suggest be changed?

We do need another constitutional convention, because I do not see another way out of the stalemate that we are in at present. As a country we need to get together and hash out fundamental questions about what kind of country we want and maybe some kind of bargain will be made.

Thomas Jefferson's idea was to rip up the Constitution every 19 years and rewrite it. I would not go that far, but I certainly think that two and a half centuries is enough time.

As for my suggestions, I would abolish the Senate. That is most important. Getting rid of the Senate would make for a much more functional country given how much it exaggerates the power of small states. The Electoral College should also be eliminated.

I think we also need to expand the House of Representatives, because each representative now represents 30 times the number of constituents that they did when the United States Constitution was written.

What would blue states have to lose by leaving red states to survive on their own? And what would red states lose if the blue states said, "We're out of here!"

Red states have a lot to lose. The federal cash payments overwhelmingly go from blue states to red states. What do blue states have to lose? The idea of an American union is very powerful culturally and politically. A crumbling United States is to everyone's disadvantage.

It makes economic sense to be one country and it makes emotional sense to be one country. I have traveled very widely in the United States. I love America. Even Trump supporters are my own fellow Americans. I do not really want to break up with them, but I think it needs to be a viable option depending on what happens next. Moreover, how do we feel about the people with whom we agree and sympathize very deeply with in red states? They would probably suffer considerably if the United States were to break up.

If your book was optioned for a movie, or a think tank approached you to create a plausible scenario for how the United States could potentially break up or fall apart, what would it be?

What is happening right now would be my scenario. There is an out-of-control pandemic. There is a president in Donald Trump who is unbelievably ignorant, utterly incompetent, a liar and so many other horrible things.

There is an election that is existential, one of the most important in American history. There are many millions of guns in the United States and lots of discussions by the right wing about using them. The issues that led to the first civil war remain in many ways unresolved. There is a massive reckoning over the country's own history that has been long postponed. Resolving such matters is rarely peaceful. There are also foreign adversaries and other forces who are interfering in the election. All the elements for the story are present right now in America.

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Any broader global rebalancing is incomplete without the genuine re-emergence of Africa, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Tuesday as he outlined Indias strong commitment in supporting the continent in its development journey. In an address at a conclave on India-Africa partnership, the external affairs minister said New Delhi welcomes the evolution and rise of the continent as a key factor in the contemporary world.

Jaishankar also talked about the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and said its consequences will be far-reaching and will define the world order as de-colonisation did in 1950s and 1960s. The pandemic is the most debilitating global event of the past 80 years. We are at a point in history that is comparable to the aftermath of the Second World War," he said.

The pandemic has infected more than 31 million people and killed nearly 9,60,000 around the world. The challenge to the global economy, to the reliability of supply chains and the achievement of the sustainable development goals should not be discounted. We are certainly looking at greater unpredictability as we do at greater multipolarity," Jaishankar said.

On Africas development journey, he said India is committed to supporting the countries in the continent as per their individual priorities and our shared ethics." He said Indias relationship with Africa is based on four key pillars - development partnership, trade, people-to-people contact and cooperation in defence and security sector. Jaishankar said India is also looking at the continent for cooperation in the energy sector.

In the last few years, India has ramped up development partnerships with African countries where China has also been trying to expand its influence. For India, Africas rise as one of the global systems poles is not just desirable but it is absolutely necessary. In fact it is fundamental to our foreign policy thinking," he said.

Broader global rebalancing is incomplete without the genuine re-emergence of Africa. Only then the worlds strategic diversity will come into full play. India welcomes the evolution and rise of Africa as a key factor in the contemporary world," he said. The external affairs minister said India has been enhancing engagement with Africa in the last few years.

Since 2015, 34 high-level visits at the level of the President, Vice President and the Prime Minister have taken place to Africa. This is unprecedented for such a span," he said. Jaishankar said around 100 African leaders visited India in the last six years for bilateral and multilateral meetings.

He said India now has residential missions in 38 African countries and more missions are being set up.
Facebook is preparing to take 'exceptional' measures to restrict the flow of content on its site if the US election descends into violence, its head of global affairs says.

Nick Clegg, former Lib Dem leader and UK deputy prime minister, said the site is preparing a number of 'break glass' options to use in the event of widespread civil unrest in the wake of the November ballot.

Facebook is thought to be preparing for around 70 possible scenarios, guided by military strategists, amid fears that President Trump could use social media to undermine the vote or encourage violent protests.

Facebook is preparing 'exceptional' measures to restrict content across its site in the event that the US election descends into violent chaos (file image)

Mr Clegg, in an interview with the FT, refused to say exactly what the measures would be, amid fears people may try to circumvent them, but suggested they would be similar to those used amid violence in other countries.

Facebook has previously restricted content in Myanmar and Sri Lanka, where it was accused of helping to foment violence against minority Muslim groups.

Measures included using AI to track and remove violent or 'dehumanizing' content, banning armed groups or groups that incite violence, and removing 'fake' accounts set up by users posing as someone else.

Nick Clegg, head of global affairs, said a number of 'break glass' options are on the table, which will be controlled by a 'war room'

Other measures included reducing the visibility of content that comes close to breaching Facebook's content rules without actually breaking them, making it harder for users to find.

Users also had limits placed on how many times they could share messages across the Messenger application - which is similar to curbs already in place on WhatsApp, which Facebook owns.

Mr Clegg also revealed the existence of an election 'war room' which will be staffed by high-ranking executives poised to make critical decisions about what is being published on the platform.

The 'Election Operations Center' will monitor 'suspicious activity' on the site and update its 'voter information hub', where verified results will be published.

It comes after Mark Zuckerberg warned that there is a 'heightened risk' of 'violence or civil unrest' following this year's election, with results possibly taking longer to declare as mail-in ballots are counted.

To combat the threat, he announced measures to stop candidates prematurely declaring victory, by flagging their posts and redirecting users to verified results.

Facebook will also add warnings to posts or content that call the voting process into question, he added.

The vote, which promises to be one of the most controversial in recent years, comes against a backdrop of violent unrest that has already hit several US cities (pictured, protests in Kenosha)

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has already announced measures to flag posts that undermine the voting process or call results into question (pictured, violence in Kenosha)

New political adverts will also be banned on Facebook in the week before the vote.

'I think regardless of what we do, there's some chance that this [unrest] happens across the country,' Zuckerberg said.

'I just want to make sure that we do our part to not contribute to it.'

The 2020 election, which is due to take place in six weeks, promises to be one of the most contentious in recent memory.

Both candidates - Trump and Joe Biden - have billed the vote as battle for the 'soul' of America, and stressed that it will be one of the most consequential in history.

Trump has repeatedly called the validity of the vote into question, suggesting that postal voting will make this election 'the most inaccurate & fraudulent in history'.

He encouraged supporters in North Carolina to vote twice and refused to say whether he will accept the outcome if he loses.

He even went so far as to suggest delaying the vote until people can 'properly, securely and safely vote' - though this idea was roundly slapped down by politicians on both sides of the aisle in Washington.

Donald Trump has repeatedly called the validity of the vote into question, has refused to say he will accept the vote if he loses, and encouraged some supporters to vote twice

All of which comes against the backdrop of mass unrest and protests across the US, amid spiking murder rates.

Black Lives Matter and antifa activists have staged near-constant protests in cities across the US since George Floyd died during his arrest back in May, often accompanied by right-wing or far-right counter-protests.

Looting, rioting, and shooting deaths have occurred amid the unrest, most recently in Kenosha, Wisconsin, where two protesters were killed and a third critically hurt by counter-demonstrator Kyle Rittenhouse, who is now charged with murder.

Meanwhile Chicago, Philadelphia and New York have all seen their murder rates soar well above the same period last year.
THE COVID-19 screening students have to pass before they can come to school is under review, as Manitoba examines British Columbias move to remove symptoms, including runny noses and sore throats, from its list.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 21/9/2020 (487 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

THE COVID-19 screening students have to pass before they can come to school is under review, as Manitoba examines British Columbias move to remove symptoms, including runny noses and sore throats, from its list.

Before the school day, students in Manitoba are required to answer a series of questions about potential novel coronavirus symptoms. They are asked about everything from recent travel to exposure history to current health.

If they have a new onset or worsening of a fever higher than 38 C, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, vomiting, diarrhea or loss of taste or smell, they are not allowed to enter a school building.

Students are also asked to stay home if they experience any two of the following symptoms: runny nose, muscle aches, fatigue, pink eye, headache, unknown skin rash, nausea or loss of appetite.

"Its all about how sensitive you want to be," chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin said during a Monday news conference.

"If you have a very sensitive screening tool, it means many people will be excluded who dont have COVID. If you decrease that sensitivity then you increase the chances of somebody with COVID passing the screening test."

Roussin said runny noses are a sole symptom for approximately 10 per cent of the patients who have tested positive in Manitoba.

Jen Zoratti | Next A weekly look towards a post-pandemic future delivered to your inbox every Wednesday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

On Monday, B.C. officials removed 10 symptoms from its back-to-school checklist, citing the low probability of symptoms including headache, fatigue, pink eye, dizziness, skin rash, muscle aches, abdominal pain and loss of appetite.

Checklist decisions need to be made based on local scenarios and rates of absenteeism, Roussin said, adding Manitoba may adjust its list if absenteeism rates spike.

He noted flu season is on the horizon, and allowing all staff and students into a school who have a runny nose could cause concerns.

The federal governments checklist states symptoms vary from patient to patient but does not list a runny nose or sore throat as signs of COVID-19.

maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @macintoshmaggie
LONDON (Reuters) - Britain is assessing the impact of the sale of chip designer Arm to U.S. company Nvidia <NVDA.O>, including commitments to keep its head office and staff in Cambridge, Eastern England, digital minister Caroline Dinenage said.

"We are currently working very hard to understand the full impact of this move and what potential impact it may have on the future, and from there we are able to consider what steps we may wish to take," she told lawmakers early on Tuesday.

Nvidia, the biggest U.S. chip company by market capitalisation, has agreed to buy Arm from Japan's SoftBank <9984.T> for $40 billion.

Dinenage said ministers would consider commitments made by SoftBank and Nvidia to maintain Arm as a successful British business "incredibly carefully", and the government had already had discussions with the parties involved.

The decision whether to intervene in the deal would be taken by the secretary of state for digital, culture, media and sport after considering the relevant information, she said.

Arm, the leading tech company in Britain, lost its independence in 2016 when it was sold to SoftBank after the Japanese conglomerate pledged to retain the company's headquarters in Cambridge, England, and increase jobs.

Nvidia's CEO Jensen Huang has made similar commitments.

Arm's energy-efficient architecture underpins processors made by Apple, Samsung, Qualcomm and others, making the technology ubiquitous in smartphones as well as present in a host of other devices.

(Reporting by Paul Sandle; editing by William James)
Kenyas Chief Justice David Maraga has asked President Uhuru Kenyatta to dissolve parliament because it does not have enough female MPs.



In a letter to Mr Kenyatta, the chief justice said the failure to have more female MPs was in breach of the constitution, and tantamount to discrimination against women.



The constitution states that one gender group cannot occupy more than two-thirds of parliamentary seats. However, women hold far fewer than the mandatory 116 seats in the 350-member parliament.



Parliament had either failed or neglected to enact legislation required to implement the gender rule, despite four court orders to do so, the chief justice said.



He was now legally required to advise the president to dissolve parliament, the chief justice added.



Parliamentary Speaker Justin Muturi said the dissolution of parliament was an unrealistic option.



Kenyas new constitution was introduced in 2010, and the two-thirds gender rule should have been enacted within 5 years.



While there has been debate on the matter, the male-dominated parliament is yet to find a formula for getting more women into parliament, with several members arguing against creating more seats specifically for women and challenging them to compete more at the ballot box.

Source: BBC









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By Malaika Mahlatsi

I do not agree with the argument by Tendai Biti that President Emmerson Mnangagwa "and his vacuous philosophy is a danger to the ethos and very existence of Zimbabwe" and that Mnangagwa "represents the biggest existential threat to Zimbabwe". I find this argument not only simplistic, but patently ahistoric and quite frankly, apolitical. Ahistoric because it is devoid of any meaningful engagement with the history that has resulted in the institutionalisation of rot that defines the Zimbabwean state; and apolitical because it is grounded in the discredited great man theory that has so often characterised African politics - with tragic results.

The obsession with reducing the Zimbabwean crisis to a single individual is dangerous, and recent history evidences this fact. Following the deposing of Robert Mugabe in the 2017 coup (yes, it was a coup), there was misplaced optimism that Mnangagwa would institute meaningful reforms that would see Zimbabwe recover from decades of economic and socio-political decline. While many of us understood the basis for this optimism, we knew even then that Mnangagwa would not change the situation.

I was still a student at Rhodes University at the time and I would often argue with my Zimbabwean friends that the crisis in Zimbabwe is systemic and deeply institutionalised, and that merely changing the face of leadership is not going to undo the problem. ZANU-PF, I contended and still continue to, is embedded in the Zimbabwean state. The rot is not just at the top, it is in every facet of every institution in Zimbabwe - including in the highly compromised judiciary that has long ceased to have any regard for the principle of the separation of powers.

The violence that has characterised Mnangagwa's presidency is not new. It has always been there. And so, no matter who you put in power from the ZANU-PF, it is not going to change the situation, because contrary to the hopeful delusions so many of us might have, there is no better person within the organisation - they are products and functions of the same vacuous philosophy that Biti ascribes to Mnangagwa alone.

This ahistoric logic of Biti's is common in Africa. Even here in South Africa, we were swept into a frenzy by the false idea of a "new dawn" that was propagated by Cyril Ramaphosa. It has become evident that there is no new dawn in our country - that the corruption, maladministration, misappropriation of state funds, disregard for the rule of law and lack of accountability that defined the Zuma era is continuing unabeted. Like Biti, we were victims of our own false consciousness and belief in the idea that great men define history, with little regard for how there is a series of complex influences that produce the material conditions that define our political environment, at the heart of which is institutions.

The existential threat to Zimbabwe is the ZANU-PF as an institution. It is a metonymy of the Zimbabwean state - a state that enjoys a monopoly of violence. No matter who leads Zimbabwe from the ZANU-PF, it is always going to function as a military junta, because its very legitimacy is non-existent, and therefore depends on force and rule through a margin of terror. The real alternative lies in a stronger and better alternative, not in a reformed ZANU-PF. You cannot reform ZANU-PF no matter who you put in charge. Biti's argument is patently misguided. Via Facebook
Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi called for countries that break UN Security Council resolutions to be held accountable, in a recorded address to the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday.

"It is regrettable that the international community continues to turn a blind eye to the support of some countries to terrorists, whether with money and weapons, or by providing safe havens, media and political platforms, and even facilitating the movement of terrorist fighters to conflict areas, especially to Libya and Syria before it, he said.

He added that "it is no longer acceptable" that Security Council resolutions remain unimplemented by some countries who think they will not be held accountable.

Speaking about Libya, El-Sisi stressed the importance of adhering to a political settlement path based on the UN-brokered Skhirat agreement, the conclusions of the Berlin conference, and the Cairo Declaration, to reach a comprehensive solution to end the crisis in the war-torn country.

He added that the crisis in Libya goes beyond the countrys borders and affects the security of neighbouring countries.

Egypt is determined to support the Libyan brothers to rid their country of terrorist organisations and militias and to put an end to the flagrant interference of some regional parties that bring foreign fighters to Libya so as to realise the known ambitions and foregone colonial illusions, he said.

El-Sisi reiterated that if the fighting in Libya continues and crosses the red line of Sirte or Al-Jufra, Egypt will confront it in defence of its national security and the safety of its people.

The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam

El-Sisi called on the international community to help push for a deal on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, which has been a source of contention between Egypt and Ethiopia for almost a decade.

"We've spent almost a decade in painstaking negotiations with our brothers in Sudan and Ethiopia, in an endeavour to reach an agreement regulating the filling and operation of the dam and strike the required balance between achieving the development requirements of the friendly Ethiopian people and safeguarding Egypt's water interests and ensuring its right to life, he said.

El-Sisi recounted how several rounds of talks with Sudan and Ethiopia had reached a deadlock, although stating his appreciation for the help of the US, South Africa and Sudan.

"Those efforts unfortunately did not yield any desired results. The River Nile is not restricted to a party and its waters are considered a matter of survival for Egyptians without infringing our brothers rights, he said, adding that Egypt went to the Security Council in June to address the issue.

The Egyptian president said he wants the international community to push all parties involved to work to a time frame to reach an agreement.

"However, the negotiation period should not be extended indefinitely, thus imposing the status quo, because our peoples yearn for stability and development and for a promising new era of cooperation, he said.

Palestine

El-Sisi also touched on the Palestinian cause, saying the Palestinian people yearn for the basic human rights of living in an independent state.

"Achieving this right has exhausted generations and exhausted many decisions to an extent that has become burdening the human conscience and there is no way to get rid of this burden and open a new horizon for peace, cooperation and co-existence except through establishing an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, so peace and security may prevail in the region," he said.

He also said that the international community must re-commit to achieving the long-awaited peace and must stand against the decisions and procedures that take land from the Palestinians that comprises the two-state solution and the basis of resettlement based on UN resolutions.

Syria and Yemen

Speaking about the situation in Syria, the president said that a comprehensive political solution has become a matter of urgency to end the war, calling for the implementation of all elements of a political settlement in accordance with the Security Council resolution No. (2254) without abridgement or stalling to ensure the unity and territorial integrity of Syria and its institutions, meet the aspirations of its people, and completely eliminate terrorism.

He also called for a solution to the conflict in Yemen, by implementing the terms of reference for conflict settlement in accordance with Security Council resolution No. (2216), the Gulf initiative and the outcomes of the comprehensive national dialogue, in a manner that respects legitimacy, guarantees Yemens unity and independence."

He added that an end must be put to the exploitation of Yemeni territory to target neighbouring countries or to obstruct freedom of navigation in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

African issues

El-Sisi also asked the international community to provide support to developing countries, especially in Africa, during the pandemic, by providing stimulus packages, easing debt burdens, and making use of the tools available to international financial institutions.

He also said it is important to expand the Security Council in both the permanent and non-permanent categories, to enhance its credibility and achieve a just and equitable representation of Africa which he said would rectify the historical injustice endured by the continent, and respond to its legitimate demands, as stipulated in the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration.

Click here to check the full text of the speech

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Queen Mathilde of Belgium and King Philippe of Belgium looked in good spirits this evening as they attended a concert in Ghent.

The royal couple attended the world premiere of Arvo Parts 'Fur Jan van Eyck' performed by Belgian choir Collegium Vocale Gent, which took place in the Saint Bavo Cathedral in Ghent.

Mathilde, 47, put on a dazzling display in a pair of silver shimmering trousers paired with a matching face mask and bag.

Queen Mathilde of Belgium and King Philippe of Belgium (pictured together) looked in good spirits this evening as they attended a concert in Ghent

The royal couple (pictured) attended the world premiere of Arvo Parts 'Fur Jan van Eyck' performed by Belgian choir Collegium Vocale Gent

The couple (pictured) remained a one meter distance from the other guests as they took their seats in the Saint Bavo Cathedral in Ghent

The mother wore a pair of matching sparkly stilettos and held a bunch of flowers she had been gifted by a young royal fan upon her arrival.

She teamed her look with an elegant white blouse and swept back her blonde hair in a chic bun, while opting for a natural makeup look.

The royal couple appeared to smile at other guests as they entered the grand venue this evening, before taking their seats near the front of the stage.

The mother-of-four was joined by her husband King Philippe, 60, with whom she shares children Princess Elisabeth, 18, Prince Emmanuel, 14, and Prince Gabriel, 16 and Princess Eleonore, 12.

Mathilde (pictured), 47, put on a dazzling display in a pair of silver sequinned trousers paired with a matching face mask and bag with matching stiletto heels

The royal, seen with her husband, teamed her look with an elegant white blouse and swept back her blonde hair in a chic bun, while opting for a natural makeup look

The pair (pictured) seemed in good spirits as they sat to watch the musical concert, with Queen Mathilde clutching flowers given to her by a young royal fan

Philippe cut a sharp figure in a double breasted jacket paired with matching suit trousers teamed with an orange tie and baby blue pocket square, while wearing an understated black face covering.

The initiative for creating the piece came from the Belgian choir and was commissioned by the City of Ghent, who has dedicated the year 2020 to celebrating Jan van Eyck, a Dutch painter.

The composition was inspired by the altarpiece The Adoration of a Mystic Lamb by the brothers Hubert and Jan van Eyck, located in St. Bavos Cathedral, Ghent.

The concert took place under the baton of the world-famous Belgian conductor Philippe Herreweghe and the choir will also be celebrating its 50th anniversary with this concert.

King Philippe cut a sharp figure in a double breasted jacket paired with matching suit trousers teamed with an orange tie and baby blue pocket square

The royal couple appeared to smile at other guests as they entered the grand venue this evening, before taking their seats near the front of the stage

The pair seemed in good spirits as they sat, socially distanced from other guests, to watch the musical concert.

Cultural activities taking place in concert halls, theatres and cinemas are allowed in Belgium with a capacity limit of 200 people indoors and 400 people outdoors.

It is also provided that social distancing of one-meter is respected and wearing a mask is compulsory.
By Li Yun and Zhang Mimi

BEIJING, Sept. 21 -- The whitepaper titled China's Armed Forces: 30 Years of UN Peacekeeping Operations was released on September 18, 2020. Senior Colonel Cai Hui, an associate professor with the School of International Relations of the National University of Defense Technology and a senior instructor with the Center for Peacekeeping Affairs under the Ministry of National Defense (MND), said in an interview that the Chinese military has made a series of historic breakthroughs in participating in UN peacekeeping operations in the new era. Especially in the past five years, the Chinese military has mainly demonstrated three new characteristics in its peacekeeping operations.

First, the size and type of peacekeepers continue to expand. The Chinese military have dispatched six batches of peacekeeping infantry battalions to South Sudan in performing armed patrols, security guards, and civilian protection tasks since 2015. Prof. Cai said that since 2017, three batches of peacekeeping helicopter units had been sent in succession to Darfur, Sudan, to perform tasks such as troop delivery, operational support, search and rescue evacuation, and logistics supplies. The troops have expanded from a single engineering unit to the current professional forces consisting of engineering, medical, security, infantry, helicopter, and other arms. Their mission area has expanded from one to five mission areas.

Second, the responsibilities and influence of peacekeepers continue to increase. As the Chinese military has continuously enriched its practical experience in participating in UN peacekeeping operations, more and more Chinese military personnel have taken up growing responsibilities, assuming more intermediate and high-level positions in UN peacekeeping operations and participating in the decision-making, organization and guidance of peacekeeping operations. Since 2015, three major generals and five colonel officers of the Chinese military have held senior positions in the UN headquarters and peacekeeping missions, and relevant key roles have been served for 27 times.

Third, the function and tasks are more diverse. With the adjustment of the international situation and the change in the nature of armed conflicts, the mission of UN peacekeeping operations has shifted from traditional isolating conflicts, monitoring ceasefires to diversified tasks including protecting civilians, preventing illegal border crossings, disarming and demobilizing, restoring the rule of law and order, supporting elections, and assisting in building national governance.

Prof. Cai pointed out that the Chinese military actively adapts to the needs of UN peacekeeping operations, and carries out various tasks such as security guards, military-police-civilian cooperation, humanitarian relief, support for reconstruction, etc., striving to provide people in conflict areas with public safety products and spread friendship and hope.
Collin Peterson is the closest thing to a conservative Democrat in Congress. He has represented Minnesotas 7th District, the Northwestern and West Central portion of the state, since 1991. He is currently Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee. At one time Peterson was an icon in the district, but his enthusiasm for campaigning has waned and in recent cycles, as his district moved farther away from the Democratic Party, his margin of victory has steadily declined. In 2016, the 7th District went for Donald Trump by 30 points. Peterson is one of the last Democrats in the House, possibly the last, to represent a rural district.

Last week, Peterson tried to distance himself from fellow Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar:

Do you have any comment as to why you defended Ilhan Omar? an employee with the National Republican Congressional Committee asked Peterson on Capitol Hill on Thursday. I dont defend her. She doesnt belong in our party, the 16-term lawmaker responded. When asked to clarify himself, a COVID-19-masked Peterson repeated, She doesnt belong in our party, as he walked away.

But in this years primary, Omar easily defeated a well-financed, more moderate Democratic opponent. Her Republican opponent in the general election is Lacy Johnson, an excellent candidate who deserves your support. But in an overwhelmingly Democratic, and remarkably left-wing, district, Omar is the overwhelming favorite to be re-elected.

Collin Peterson, on the other hand, is likely closing out his political career. He has a credible opponent in Michelle Fischbach and, in a district where President Trump is wildly popular, Republican turnout should be huge. So most likely, Ilhan Omar will be returning to Washington after November 3, and Collin Peterson wont be.

Peterson says that Omar doesnt belong in our party, but in reality, it is Collin Peterson who doesnt belong in the Democratic Party. It is Ilhan Omars party now.
Colin Owyang, Franklin Energy and AM Conservation Group General Counsel, Regulatory Affairs & Corporate Strategy Sustainability used to just mean environmental sustainability, but we learn every day that it must also mean economic and equitable sustainability.

Franklin Energy and AM Conservation Group, the leading demand-side management firm in the utility industry, announced today the appointment of Colin Owyang as the companys new general counsel.

Owyang will lead corporate strategy and regulatory affairs, while overseeing the companys internal and external legal teams. With more than 16 years in the utility industry and over 25 years practicing law in both the public and private sectors, Owyang brings an extensive background and strategic perspective in state and federal energy regulatory matters, ethics and compliance, corporate governance, commercial transactions and litigation.

Im excited to welcome Colin into our Franklin Energy and AM Conservation Group family, said Jim Madej, Franklin Energy and AM Conservation Group CEO. Colins industry experience will be key in leading our regulatory affairs and corporate strategy efforts into the future.

Owyang was most recently Senior Vice President and General Counsel at Vermont Electric Power Company, where he led legal, HR and compliance teams. Owyang also served as executive sponsor for scenario planning and cultural transformation. Prior to that, Owyang served as the Deputy Attorney General in Massachusetts, overseeing the Criminal Bureau, Public Protection Bureau and the internal HR and IT departments. Owyang also served as Senior Vice President of Regulation and US General Counsel at National Grid. Earlier in his career, Owyang served as a federal prosecutor in Washington, DC and Boston, MA and clerked for three federal judges.

Im excited to be joining Franklin Energy and AM Conservation Group at such an important time as our world is reminded daily of the importance of helping all people use our worlds precious resources more efficiently, said Owyang. Sustainability used to just mean environmental sustainability, but we learn every day that it must also mean economic and equitable sustainability. Im humbled to join such a highly regarded organization, with deep expertise and broad capabilities.

Owyang is a graduate of the University of Michigan Law School and Yale University, and holds an executive leadership certificate from Stanford Universitys Graduate School of Business. He serves on the Board of Trustees of Champlain College where he is Chair of the Finance Committee, Vice Chair of the Committee on Trusteeship and a member of the Executive Committee.

About Franklin Energy

Franklin Energy delivers flexible energy efficiency and grid optimization programs that enable utilities to achieve their highest-priority goals. The companys integrated in-house services and proven software provide deeper personalization and insights, acting as a true partner to utilities. Franklins NGAGE platform is a scalable end-to-end technology that seamlessly integrates utility portfolio programs into a single interface for more efficient management and more effective customer engagement. The company is celebrating its 25th year serving the utility industry, with solutions implemented by more than 1,000 experts in more than 60 offices across 26 states and provinces.

About AM Conservation Group

Since 1989, AM Conservation Group has been the utility industrys leading provider of energy- and water-saving products, kits, education and online stores. We manufacture and distribute nearly 400 energy efficiency and water conservation products, which are custom engineered for the unique needs of the industry and carry ENERGY STAR and WaterSense certifications. AM Conservation Groups product lines include Niagara Conservation and Simply Conserve.
Romney was elected to the Senate in 2018, two years after Republicans blocked consideration of Obamas Supreme Court nominee, Merrick Garland, for eight months. Republicans then insisted that the seat should not be filled until after the presidential election so that voters would have a say in the courts direction. Now, with a Republican in the White House, they insist that the president is duty-bound to fill the vacancy immediately.
SAN RAMON, Calif., Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Australia's AUD2.84 billion wine export sector has recently gone live with a new SaaS licensing and approval system powered by Accela technology that will help regulate the wine export process for the burgeoning Australian wine sector.

The new Wine Australia Licensing and Approval System (WALAS) is projected to process more than 200,000 transactions from more than 3,000 wine exporters from around Australia each year. The system provides end-to-end processing and allows exporters to apply online for licenses and certificates, with greater control of their applications, including review and payment online in real-time and 24/7 access.

"Our team at Accela is excited about this groundbreaking effort to support Wine Australia's transition of essential workflows online, promote efficiency gains, and regulate a critical market for Australia's economic growth," said Khaled Jaouni, International Managing Director at Accela. "Our collaboration with DWS in the Australian market demonstrates the collective power of our best-in-class solutions to help agencies at the federal, state, and local levels better serve their citizens and deliver results, and marks a significant milestone in Accela's commitment to the Asia-Pacific region as our longest-running international operation of over a decade."

Wine Australia is an Australian Commonwealth Government statutory authority that regulates, promotes, and supports a competitive Australian wine sector. Its implementation of Accela's cloud technology reflects the scalability of the govtech leader's solutions within emerging, non-traditional areas of regulation to serve thousands of end customers.

"Wine Australia's new system to manage the country's growing number of wine exports reflects our commitment to employing modern digital tools to better serve our grape and wine community," said Andreas Clark, CEO at Wine Australia. "Our new Licensing and Approval System will help deliver enhanced services to our sector and help provide critical infrastructure to keep Australian wine flowing to our international markets."

The project marks Accela's first joint execution with strategic partner DWS Limited (DWS), one of the region's leading providers of project management services, and Accela's second Microsoft Azure-hosted implementation in the Asia-Pacific region.

"Australia continues to be a worldwide leader in leveraging modern technology with its focus on SaaS-solutions, and this new system matches the country's innovation," said Stuart Whipp, DWS CFO and Head of M&A. "We are excited about the execution of our first project in partnership with Accela, which brings together our market-leading project management capabilities with their cutting-edge technology to provide maximum impact at the federal level."

The announcement builds on Accela's international leadership as the company continues to drive impact with some of the world's most forward-thinking governments to benefit 275 million citizens globally. In addition to its new solution with Wine Australia, Accela's Civic Application for Alcoholic Beverage Control empowers government departments to harness the cloud to modernize alcoholic beverage control. The application includes tools to streamline previously paper-based processes such as liquor license application reviews, conduct on-site inspections, and automate the issuance of licenses, renewals, and license transfers. To learn more about Accela's solutions, please visit https://www.accela.com/solutions/ .

About Accela

Accela provides market-leading cloud solutions that empower the most innovative state and local governments around the world to build thriving communities, grow businesses and protect citizens. More than 275 million citizens globally benefit from Accela's solutions, which are powered by Microsoft Azure, for permitting, licensing, code enforcement and service request management. Accela's fast-to-implement Civic Applications, built on its robust and extensible Civic Platform, help agencies address specific needs today, while ensuring they are prepared for any emerging or complex challenges in the future. The company was recently recognized as a 2020 Microsoft US Partner Award winner for its innovative SaaS solutions to help governments respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Accela is headquartered in San Ramon, California, with additional offices around the world. For more information, visit www.accela.com .

About Wine Australia

Wine Australia supports a competitive wine sector by investing in research, development and adoption (RD&A), growing domestic and international markets, protecting the reputation of Australian wine and administering the Export and Regional Wine Support Package (ERWSP). Wine Australia is an Australian Commonwealth Government statutory authority, established under the Wine Australia Act 2013, and funded by grape growers and winemakers through levies and user-pays charges and the Australian Government, which provides matching funding for RD&A investments and funds the ERWSP.

About DWS Group:

DWS Limited, is an ASX listed, Australian group (ASX: DWS). Encompassing DWS, Symplicit, Phoenix & Projects Assured, the DWS Group provides a wide range of services including IT Consulting Services, Managed Application Services, Program & Project Management, Customer driven innovation, Digital Transformation, Data and Business Analytics, Strategic Advisory and Productivity and Robotic Process Automation. With offices in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane and Canberra, the DWS Group provides services to a broad range of blue-chip corporate clients, as well as Federal, State and Local Government agencies. The quality of DWS Group consultants enables organisations to design, develop, manage and maintain technology, business and customer centric solutions providing competitive advantage, streamlined operations, innovation and long-term success. For more information, visit www.dws.com.au.

Media Contact: Kate Helete, [email protected]

SOURCE Accela

Related Links

http://www.accela.com


Almost 100 houses in Longford are set for a major retrofit and energy efficiency project thanks to two schemes announced this week.

Deputy Joe Flaherty TD has welcomed the schemes which will see 4.4m spent on retrofitting the houses across county Longford in one of the most significant energy efficiency projects in the county. Minister Eamon Ryan announced 1,178,537 to retrofit up to thirty houses in county Longford (largely Cluid owned properties).

The grant scheme will be administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).

Meanwhile in the first significant spend from the Just Transition Fund, the cabinet yesterday gave approval for a 3.33m allocation for Longford County Council, which will enable the Council to retrofit up to seventy houses across the county.

Deputy Flaherty paid tribute to the Longford County Council team, who once again made a first class submission for funding.

Tenants in many of the older local authority houses have been beset by badly heated and insulated properties, he said.

This is the first real and meaningful attempt to address this. Residents will benefit from warmer and healthier buildings, lower energy bills, and reduced harmful CO2 emissions.

The projects will also deliver significant employment benefits locally and nationally.

Works are expected to commence in Longford next month as part of the Just Transition initiative.

The focus of the retrofit programme is quite rightly beginning here in Longford where fossil fuel use is highest, and where communities will be negatively impacted by the closure of the peat-fired power station in Lanesboro, said Deputy Flaherty.

It is expected that works to each dwelling will take approximately three to four weeks with minimal internal disruption to the occupants.

The works will include roof and wall insulation; air to water heat pump with fully integrated heating controls; replacement windows and doors; solid fuel room heaters; demand control ventilation and energy monitor.

Through this scheme, the Government is helping to deliver three important and very beneficial outcomes, said Minister Eamon Ryan.

We are supporting people to improve their homes and buildings so they will be more comfortable and waste less energy.

We are expanding retrofit work, creating new green sustainable jobs in communities across Ireland and helping to grow companies. We are also cutting emissions thereby delivering a better environment for all of us.

I intend to use funding from the recently- announced July stimulus package to expand the Communities scheme so we can further grow the retrofit sector and benefit many more people in the months and years ahead.
KYODO NEWS - Sep 22, 2020 - 21:15 | All, Japan, World

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and Chinese President Xi Jinping are planning to hold telephone talks later this week, Japanese government sources said Tuesday.

The talks, currently being arranged for Friday, are a bid to further expand ties between Japan and China, the sources said, adding the two are expected to discuss Xi's postponed state visit to Japan.

It will be the first phone talks between the country's leaders since May 2018 when Suga's predecessor Shinzo Abe and Xi held a conversation.

A state visit by the Chinese leader, which would include a summit as well as a meeting with Emperor Naruhito and a banquet at the Imperial Palace, had been slated to take place this spring but was postponed due to the global coronavirus pandemic.

The planned talks will come on the heels of heightened tensions between China and the United States -- Japan's key ally.

While the two leaders are expected to continue their countries' cooperation in the fight against the coronavirus, it is not known whether they plan to touch on long-standing issues between them, including a territorial dispute over islands in the East China Sea, the sources said.

On Tuesday, Suga spoke with German Chancellor Angela Merkel by phone, Japanese officials said. They agreed to closely cooperate in tackling the coronavirus pandemic and toward a free and open Indo-Pacific, the officials said, referring to a region where China has been increasing its clout.

Suga also spoke with European Council President Charles Michel, the officials said.

Related coverage:

PM Suga, Trump vow to boost Japan-U.S. security alliance

FOCUS: Don't pursue strike capability or NATO-like Asia, scholars tell Suga

Australia's Morrison may visit Japan to meet PM Suga in Nov.
In Britain today, Prime Minister Boris Johnson plans to to announce new restrictions on nightlife. In the Czech Republic yesterday, the health minister resigned. In Madrid, the authorities imposed new restrictions on almost one million residents. Across Europe, officials are hoping that these targeted restrictions will reduce new cases  and allow them to avoid imposing full lockdowns again.

The U.S. continues to be among the most vulnerable countries, because it never crushed the spread of the virus after the original outbreak. (In the chart above, you can see how much higher the red line, for the U.S., has been than the other lines since April.)

Coming weeks may bring new problems, too: The cooler fall weather will start to complicate outdoor socializing. And if pandemic-fatigued families travel to spend the holidays together, it will get worse in late fall and winter, The Timess Jeneen Interlandi wrote in an article previewing the rest of the year.

There has been one big piece of good news. People infected today are roughly 30 percent to 50 percent less likely to die than those in the early spring, Ashish Jha, the dean of Brown Universitys School of Public Health, estimates.

Still, the death toll is horrific. Today, the number of confirmed U.S. deaths will most likely surpass 200,000.
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Laundry detergents are increasing with the rise in the consumer base. Reports that review the consumer and retail industry has been offered by Market Research Future, which generates reports on industry verticals that evaluate the market development and opportunities. The market is projected to gain a favorable CAGR in the coming years.

The amplified demand for laundry detergents in sectors such as restaurant, textile factories, residential, hotels, and hospitals is expected to enhance the market progress in the forecast period. Moreover, the rise of public laundromats in certain regions around the world is expected to spur the laundry detergent market in the forecast period. The availability of various laundry detergent types is expected to encourage the market in the approaching years.

Segmental Analysis

The segmentation analysis of the Mixing laundry detergents Market has been segmented based on the distribution channel, product type, and region. Based on the product type, the laundry detergents market has been segmented into powder, bars, pods, liquid, and others. The laundry detergents market on the basis of the distribution channel has been divided into non-store-based and store-based. The store-based is further segmented into convenience store, hypermarket & supermarket, and others. The non-store segment based segment is also further segmented into e-commerce. Based on the regions, the laundry detergent market comprises of Asia-Pacific, North America, Europe, and the rest of the world.

Detailed Regional Analysis

The study of the regions in the laundry detergent market includes regions such as Asia-Pacific, North America, Europe, and the rest of the world. The North American region is anticipated to govern the laundry detergents market throughout the forecast period. The regions domination can be accredited to numerous factors such as the incidence of several market players, growing awareness about personal cleanliness among consumers. Also, the changing lifestyle pattern, rising population in the countries of the European region is likely to render a noteworthy share of the market to the European region in the upcoming years. Though, the Asia-Pacific region is estimated to record the highest CAGR owing to the higher inclination of consumers towards testing new products.

Get a FREE Sample Copy of Report: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/6949

Competitive Analysis

The improvement of production resources is likely to stimulate the markets improvement in the forecast period. The market is ushering in a phase of development that is expected to be motivated by the positive factors in the market. The demographics present in the market present a favorable outlook in terms of product expansion and future growth potential. The strategies in the market are being aimed at improving the overall progress of the market, with the business models taking into account all contingencies that may arise in the coming years. The profitability in the market is enhanced significantly by the existence of strong strategies deployed by market players. The identification and use of apposite media channels are expected to transform the market development in the coming years. The pull created by the businesses in the market by positioning marketing policies and events is additionally growing the development of the market.

Procter & Gamble Company (US), Unilever (UK), Henkel AG & Company, KGaA (Germany), Kao Corporation (Japan), Church & Dwight Co., Inc. (US), Nirma Limited (India), RSPL Group (India), Lion Corporation (Japan), and Method Products, PBC (US) are some of the strategic players outlined in the laundry detergents market.

Industry Updates:

Jun 2019 Liby, the foremost brand of laundry care products from China lately revealed a premium laundry detergent to the rest of the world called the Liby Laundry Detergent Essence. This radical product contains seven essences, increasing three times the cleaning power and four times the fabric care ability, lead the way in turning a laundry detergent into a liquid essence. Liby is a pioneering Chinese laundry product brand to introduce its product in the UK. This revolutionary action stems from Liby's excellent brand strength and consciousness amongst the population in China.

Access Full Report Details and Order this Premium Report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/laundry-detergents-market-6949

Note : Our team of researchers are studying Covid-19 and its impact on various industry verticals and wherever required will be considering covid19 footprints for a better analysis of markets and industries. Cordially get in touch for more details.

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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.

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Lok Sabha was adjourned for an hour on Tuesday following protests by opposition members who claimed that the government has done too little for the welfare of farmers.

Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said Mondays announcement by Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar of increasing minimum support price (MSP) of six Rabi crops was too little for the benefits of farmers, who have been agitating against two farm bills, which were passed by Parliament on Sunday.

Chowdhury was supported by DMK leader T R Baalu and TMCs Kalyan Banerjee.

Soon, opposition members shouted slogans and came near the well of the House to register their protests in support of farmers, who are agitating in Punjab, Haryana and some other places.

At this, Speaker Om Birla adjourned the House for an hour, after about 15 minutes of business.

I want all of you to be safe. I want all of you to go back to your constituency healthy so that you can serve the people. By keeping in mind your well being, I adjourn the House for an hour, Birla said.

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The normally nine-justice court now faces the possibility of 4-4 splits and potential for compromise among judges.

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburgs death will be felt at the Supreme Court in the coming weeks as it starts a new term with a 5-3 conservative majority while preparing for an important case on the Obamacare healthcare law and possible emergency election-related disputes.

The court officially returns on October 5 from summer break with a two-week session of oral arguments held by teleconference, although it handles last-ditch appeals whenever they arise.

With the normally nine-justice court operating one member down following last weeks death of the 87-year-old Ginsburg, a liberal icon, there is the possibility of 4-4 splits, but also, as has been shown in the past, potentially more desire for compromise among the justices.

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in her chambers at the Supreme Court in Washington, DC [File: AP Photo/Charles Dharapak]

With just three liberal justices left, there is little chance the five-justice conservative wing of the court can be thwarted, even if Chief Justice John Roberts, who has sided with the liberals in big cases recently, was to do so again.

The court as recently as 2016 spent 14 months without a ninth justice following the death of conservative Antonin Scalia, a period in which the justices often sought compromise. The justices, who get to pick which cases they hear, also avoided taking up some contentious cases.

There is a concern that really big changes that are made without a full complement of justices may not be seen as legitimate. I hope the court will be similarly cautious during this period, said Deepak Gupta, a regular Supreme Court lawyer.

Complicating matters even further, the normally collegial court has been conducting its business remotely since March because of the COVID-19 pandemic.





Republican President Donald Trump said he wants a nominee confirmed before the election on November 3, when he is seeking a second term in a race against Democrat Joe Biden. He said on Monday he would make an announcement as early as this weekend, with appeals court judges Amy Coney Barrett and Barbara Lagoa viewed as front-runners.

Looming on the horizon are November 10 oral arguments in the latest challenge to Obamacare, a case in which Ginsburgs vote might have been crucial. The Supreme Court previously upheld the law, known officially as the Affordable Care Act, on a 5-4 vote in 2012. Ginsburg was one of the five justices in the majority then, which means that her absence could tilt the balance.

Republican-led states and the Trump administration have asked the court to strike down the entire law, which is being defended by Democratic-led states and the House of Representatives.

There is a strong chance the court will have to weigh in on election-related litigation, potentially even having a major say over which candidate ultimately wins.

People walking by a memorial for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg outside the Supreme Court in Washington, DC [Shawn Thew/EPA]

Sylvia Albert, director of voting and elections for Common Cause, a voting rights group, said Roberts would likely seek a compromise in such a situation because he is concerned with his legacy and trying to find a middle ground.

Any other emergency applications made at the court in the short term could also be affected by the lack of a ninth justice.

For example, in a case that the court could act on at any time, the Trump administration has asked the justices to put on hold a federal judges decision to block during the pandemic a US Food and Drug Administration rule requiring women to visit a hospital or clinic to obtain a drug used for medication-induced abortions.

Abortion is one of the most divisive social issues facing the court and conservative activists want Trump to pick a nominee who will curb abortion rights, which Ginsburg repeatedly voted to uphold.

High stakes cases

With Ginsburgs absence, the courts initial votes in cases argued in October could be 4-4, meaning if a decision was issued, the lower court ruling would stand and no nationwide precedent would be set if that was the final outcome. The court would most likely order such a case to be reargued after the Senate confirms Ginsburgs successor.

Among the cases being heard in the first week is a high-stakes software copyright dispute between Alphabet Incs Google and Oracle Corp that is potentially worth billions of dollars to the winner.

Other cases the court has taken up for its new term could also be affected. On November 4, the justices consider a major legal fight over the scope of religious-rights exemptions to certain federal laws. The dispute concerns Philadelphias decision to bar Catholic Social Services from participating in its foster-care program because the organization prohibited same-sex couples from serving as foster parents.

The court on December 2 weighs a bid by the Democratic-led House to obtain material the Trump administration withheld from former Special Counsel Robert Muellers report on Russian political meddling in the 2016 presidential election.
Google has released an update to its Gmail app for users on iOS. The new update will finally allow Gmail to be set as the default mail app on iOS 14 devices. It will take advantage of iOS 14s feature that allows users to set third-party email apps as their default on the iPhone. Google is not the first developer to add support for this feature. Microsofts Outlook got a similar update last week.

While Google says that the app will itself prompt users with instructions to set as default upon update, it can also be done manually by going into the phone settings. Go to Settings > Gmail > Default Mail App. The update (version 6.0.200825) is now available to install on the Apple App Store.

If a user has deleted the iOS Mail app, the new Apple OS will automatically make Gmail or any other third party app the default mail app without any user action. Users can also make Chrome their default browser now.

However, reports suggest that iOS has a bug that automatically resets third-party browser and email applications back to Apples default Mail and Safari after a restart. It said that Apple is yet to comment on this bug, and when it will be fixed. Apple rolled out iOS 14 a day after the launch of its new Apple Watch Series 6 and iPad updates last week. The new iOS update comes with a variety of features like picture-in-picture, home screen widgets, a more organised app drawer, and a feature that lets you perform actions by double-tapping the back of your iPhone.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has imposed an interim stay on an order of consumer commission NCDRC directing German automobile company BMW to compensate a customer by replacing his vehicle with a new one after it got damaged in an accident.

A bench headed by Justice D Y Chandrachud issued notices to the customer, Dassault Systemes India Private Limited, Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Company Limited, Bird Automotive Pvt Ltd and sought their replies.

"There shall be an interim stay of the judgment and order of the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) dated 10 December 2019, pending further orders. List the Special Leave Petitions for final disposal after four weeks," said the bench also comprising Justices Indu Malhotra and K M Joseph.

The apex court was hearing an appeal filed by BMW challenging the NCDRC order.

NCDRC on December 10, 2019 directed BMW to compensate a customer by replacing his vehicle with a new one of the same model after it got damaged in an accident.

It asked Bajaj Allianz and BMW to compensate the loss incurred by a Delhi resident Mukul Aggarwal after the vehicle, which was insured under the BMW Secure policy, met with an accident.

Under the BMW Secure policy, a damaged vehicle is replaced with a new one upon confirmation of total loss of vehicle by a survey report.

The NCDRC also asked the company to pay Aggarwal all the expenses incurred, including the registration, road tax and logistics charges paid by him.

The commission, while upholding the state commission's order, dismissed the review pleas filed by BMW and the insurance company, holding it guilty of deficient service for repudiating Aggarwal's claim, which was made after his vehicle got badly damaged in an accident in July 2012.

"Now, since it has been held that the repudiation of the claim by the insurance company (Bajaj Allianz) was wrong and amounted to deficiency in service, under the BMW secure policy, the complainants are entitled for a new car from the appellant," the NCDRC said in its order.
News

Washington, DC - Two individuals have been charged with bribery offenses in connection with Department of Defense contracts as part of the Fraud Sections ongoing efforts to combat corruption and fraud in contracting on U.S. military installations overseas.

Mark Alan Fryday, 37, and Lara Jumaah Mohammed, 30, both residing in Erbil, Iraq, were charged in an indictment filed in the District of Columbia with one count of conspiracy and one count of bribery of a public official.

This alleged bribery and kickback scheme sought to undermine the efforts of the Department of Defense to lawfully contract overseas, said Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt. Corruption undermines our militarys readiness and affects the wellbeing of our servicemembers, and the Department of Justice will continue to work to protect our men and women in uniform from corrupt and fraudulent conduct around the world.

My office is committed to protecting the integrity of government contracting and in particular stamping out corruption that threatens the U.S. military and its installations abroad, said Acting U.S. Attorney Michael Sherwin of the District of Columbia. This indictment, and our partnership with the Fraud Section on this case, is part of that effort.

Contractors who do business with the Department of Defense should take notice of these investigations. This type of egregious conduct will not be tolerated said Stanley Newell, Special Agent in Charge for the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Transnational Operations Field Office. DCIS and its law enforcement partners remain steadfast in our commitment to defend the integrity of the Department of Defense contracting process by rooting out fraud and deceit of this sort, and ensuring that the perpetrators are held accountable.

We are committed to maintaining the integrity of the procurement process, said Director Frank Robey of the U.S. Criminal Investigation Commands (CID) Major Procurement Fraud Unit. This indictment sends an unmistakable message to other companies around the world  that we will be relentless in rooting out corruption at any level.

The indictment alleges that Fryday and Mohammed offered bribes to a U.S. Army official at Erbil Air Base in Iraq. Fryday and Mohammed allegedly owned companies based in Erbil that sought contracts to supply goods and services to U.S. military forces there. In early 2020, Fryday and Mohammed allegedly offered to pay an Army contracting official a kickback equivalent to 20 percent of the value of any contract that he awarded to their companies. Fryday and Mohammed also allegedly offered an upfront cash payment in exchange for the award of a contract to supply equipment that was due to be awarded in late March 2020.

As part of the Fraud Sections on-going efforts to combat corruption and fraud in contracting on U.S. military installations overseas, two additional individuals have been previously charged. Roy George Varkey, 56, of Kuwait City, Kuwait, was charged with two counts of bribery in an indictment filed in the District of Columbia on Dec. 19, 2019, for his role in offering bribes to an employee of the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) at Camp Arifjan, a U.S. military facility in Kuwait, in late 2019. Xavier Fernando Monroy, the former Director of Operations of the U.S. Navys Military Sealift Command Office in Busan, Republic of Korea, was charged by complaint on May 20, 2020 in the District of Columbia for allegedly participating in a bribery conspiracy and lying to federal investigators.

An indictment or complaint is merely an accusation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The Criminal Divisions Fraud Section is the nations leading prosecuting authority for complex procurement fraud and corruption cases.

The investigation is being conducted by DCIS and the CIDs Major Procurement Fraud Unit. Trial Attorney Michael P. McCarthy of the Criminal Divisions Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric S. Nguyen of the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia are prosecuting the case.
Here's a worthwhile local lesson in American scarcity that has become far more commonpliace and fewer resources for the NEXTGEN. Read more:

Jackson County Legislators Can't Decide If Urban Or Suburban Schools Should Get More Coronavirus Aid Jackson County has set aside $5 million in federal coronavirus relief funds for schools, but legislators haven't agreed on how to distribute it yet. County Executive Frank White has proposed sending half of the money to districts based on enrollment.
Newspaper boxes belonging to the Chinese-language Epoch Times toppled onto the streets of Flushing, New York City, in September 2020. (The Epoch Times)

Dozens of Epoch Times Newspaper Boxes Vandalized in NYC

Dozens of newspaper boxes belonging to the Chinese-language edition of The Epoch Times have been vandalized in New York City.

Epoch Times distributing staff have counted at least six instances of vandalisminvolving more than 30 newspaper boxesthis month. The boxes were mostly clustered in Manhattans Chinatown neighborhood, but also include some in Brooklyn and near the Chinese consulate.

Several newspaper boxes were repeatedly spray-painted with the denigratory phrase traitors in Chinese. In other cases, the boxes were knocked over or newspapers were stolen.

A Chinese-language Epoch Times newspaper box spray-painted with graffiti, in Queens, New York City, in September 2020. The photo has been altered to blur the derogatory message. (The Epoch Times)

The Chinese Epoch Times maintains hundreds of newspaper boxes, where patrons insert coins to purchase copies, across the five boroughs of the city.

On more than one occasion, after Epoch Times staff removed the graffiti, it would return the very next day. One time, more than 20 boxes had the repeated graffiti.

Boxes belonging to the Chinese-language version of the newspaper have previously been damaged, such as the coin slots being jammed with hard objects to prevent readers from accessing the publication. In August 2019, one newspaper box was set on fire.

Damaged newspaper boxes belonging to the Chinese-language Epoch Times in Whitestone, Queens, New York, in August 2019. (Edwin Huang/The Epoch Times)

The vandalism appears to have been carried out at night, according to eyewitnesses. Through visiting local businesses and speaking with eyewitnesses, the paper has obtained some initial information and plans to take legal action soon, according to the Chinese editions deputy editor-in-chief, Huang Wanqing.

Senior staff with multiple New York-based Chinese community organizations have criticized such acts as an assault on freedom of the press. The vandalism also likely constitutes a hate crime and a breach of free speech, New York lawyer Li Jinjin said in an interview.

Yang Wei, a China affairs commentator based in Canada, saw photos of the damaged boxes and noted that the graffiti was written in simplified Chinesethe script used in mainland China. In addition, the word choice of the graffiti indicates the perpetrators clear motivation to smear The Epoch Times critical reporting about the Chinese regime as harming the interests of the Chinese people, he wrote in a Sept. 20 commentary.

The Chinese regime has the least right to talk about traitors, he wrote, adding that theres a clear distinction between the Chinese Communist Party and the Chinese people.

Chinese authorities and state media have frequently used the term traitor against dissidents and organizations that hold critical views of its governance. Chinese scholar Cai Xia, a retired professor residing in the United States, who was recently expelled from the Party over her criticisms of Chinese leadership; and Miles Yu, a key China policy adviser at the U.S. State Department, have both been attacked by the regime with such labels.

Li Yong, a former journalist with the Taiwan-based United Daily News, noted that the vandalism aligns with the CCPs underhanded tactics in attacking dissidents and shows the Chinese regimes fear of The Epoch Times uncensored coverage of China issues.

Please dont feel discouraged, he told The Epoch Times in an email. This is something to cheer aboutits proof that your newspapers  unyielding stance has been so lethal to the CCP that they cant bear it.

He had previously received personal threats from Chinese agents while conducting interviews due to the Taiwanese newspapers critical stance on the regime. In 1975, the newspapers New York office saw its window smashed, and the tire of a company vehicle was deflated, he wrote in a 2005 article.

The New York newspaper boxes arent the only ones that have been targeted. In July, the publications Canadian Chinese-language edition noted a surge in newspaper theft in several cities in an apparently organized operation. A year earlier, police in Toronto arrested a man suspected of vandalizing 70 Epoch Times newspaper boxes for both the Chinese and English editions.

In November 2019, four masked intruders broke into the printing warehouse of the Hong Kong edition of The Epoch Times and set a fire in the building, which caused more than $40,000 in damage.

Linda Lin contributed to this report.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 22

Trend:

Rapporteurs from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) have welcomed the decision of the Baku Appeals Court to release jailed Azerbaijani opposition politician Tofig Yagublu into house arrest while he awaits a September 28, 2020 hearing in his case, Trend reports with reference to PACE.

The conversion of his detention into house arrest is a welcome first step, said PACEs monitoring co-rapporteurs for Azerbaijan, Roger Gale (United Kingdom, EC/DA) and Stefan Schennach (Austria, SOC), together with the Assemblys co-rapporteur on reported cases of political prisoners in Azerbaijan, Sunna varsdottir (Iceland, SOC)," the report said.

This gives us hope that the Azerbaijani authorities will address our concerns over Yagublus sentence and will review his case in line with Council of Europe standards for a fair trial. We are also relieved that Yagublu has decided to end his hunger strike, they concluded.
The NGA is a division of the military and collects and analyzes global data on everything that moves, including people, groups and vehicles. It is now tapping into private/commercial data to augment its operations. For Technocrats, data is the new oil of the 21st century.  TN Editor

U.S. military and homeland security organizations rely on the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA) for critical data that commanders use to make decisions on the battlefield or in domestic emergencies.

Amid a surge of commercial sources of geospatial intelligence and data services, NGA is pivoting from its traditional reliance on government-owned data and is moving to take advantage of private sector capabilities, says David Gauthier, director of NGAs commercial and business operations group.

Based in Springfield, Virginia, NGA is responsible to meet the geoint needs of national security agencies. Two years ago, the National Reconnaissance Office took over from NGA the job of acquiring commercial satellite imagery. But its up to NGA to buy the analytics services needed to make sense of the data.

Gauthier spoke with SpaceNews staff writer Sandra Erwin about NGAs growing needs for commercial data and services.

How is NGA planning to tap into commercial geoint?

We are recognizing that commercial geospatial services and data are growing much larger than just overhead imagery. So were now looking into non-traditional sources of data  anything that provides a location of activities, objects or events. We are also asking the commercial vendors in our industry to gather multiple sources of imagery.

For example, were noticing more vendors using radio-frequency mapping capabilities to provide information that we can consume more directly in our analytic processes. We want commercial industry to develop automated imagery exploitation algorithms, and to bring multiple sources together so that we can get a stream of information or daily feeds, and activity updates that feed our national security algorithms.

As new requirements emerge, we pass our community needs to the NRO and work together to evaluate what the commercial companies can provide.

What do you see coming out of the commercial industry that is exciting to NGA?

We are finding it very interesting that there are a lot of companies offering services and solutions beyond traditional imagery. We are seeing a rapid growth in smallsat SAR (synthetic aperture radar) capabilities. We see hyperspectral imagery coming along with analytics services. So I think theres a huge appetite for diversity of raw geoint data sources and for more innovative products and services across our users.

Long term, we want to open the aperture as wide as we possibly can, and reach beyond our traditional means to provide unique insights that wouldnt normally be attainable from imagery alone. We recognize now that we dont have to be the ones putting our eyes on raw imagery to make sense of whats happening around the world.

What are some recent contracts NGA has awarded for geoint analytics?

I would call the contracts weve awarded experimental or small scale. NGA signed an agreement with BlackSky as part of a broker platform program where we ask the company to provide us access to a larger group of companies that they partner with.

Under this program we have asked BlackSky for a significant amount of commercial SAR services and imagery and theyve subcontracted that from Ursa, a reseller of multiple SAR constellations services.

Were trying to get a taste of what all of the SAR vendors are able to do from a collection standpoint and bring that to our analysts. Were doing that to address a number of user needs in U.S. Southern Command.

Another example is a contract we awarded to [data analytics provider] Altamira for ocean surveillance and tip-offs of illicit maritime traffic activities in the Southern Command area.

Any concerns you have about commercial services?

The whole market for analytics is still relatively immature. We certainly see this as a growth area were asking the industry to work on and propose more services to us.

But we dont want companies to only rely on government work for their sustainment. Even though there is a huge demand for SAR capabilities, there are more SAR companies and more industry capabilities than could be supported by the U.S. government alone.

We want companies to be vibrant and in a competitive market that sells to a lot of sectors. SAR will be an interesting one. Theres a lot of demand but also a lot of supply and well see what happens.

Read full story here
Joe Biden on Monday lamented the 200,000 U.S. deaths in the coronavirus pandemic, discussed the importance of unions, warned of the health risks posed by President Donald Trump's rallies, and touted his roots in Scranton, Pa.

But over nearly 30 minutes, speaking in a small industrial city in Wisconsin, he never mentioned the Supreme Court vacancy or the political earthquake that has followed the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

It was the clearest sign yet of Biden's belief that most voters are not animated by the divisive fight that is consuming many in Washington. His approach contrasts sharply with the bubbling anger among many Democrats over Republican tactics regarding the Supreme Court, a fury that began on the left but is seeping into the party's mainstream.

As Trump has made it clear that he intends to fill the court vacancy as swiftly as possible, Biden's restraint is the result of several days of intense debate inside his campaign. He showed on Monday that he sees little advantage in becoming embroiled in what's shaping up as a bare-knuckle fight bound to send Americans into their partisan corners.

Instead, Biden delivered a broad populist message including a direct appeal to Trump voters."I know many of you are frustrated. You're angry," he said. "You believe you weren't being seen, represented or heard. I get it. It has to change. And I promise you this: It will change with me."

In a call with Democratic congressional aides on Monday, Biden's team urged them to connect the Supreme Court vacancy to broader issues such as health care and immigration, according to a person familiar with the conversation. Several Democratic leaders have argued that a new conservative justice could mean the end of the Affordable Care Act, which faces a challenge before the court.

Biden's approach raises the question of how he would react if Senate Republicans reject his pleas to step back from the brink and push ahead with confirmation hearings. If that happens, as seems likely, Biden will face great pressure from his liberal flank to adopt the more belligerent stance he has been studiously avoiding.

With few legislative options to block a confirmation, Democratic leaders are edging closer to threatening moves that have long been considered off limits. They are signaling that if they capture the White House and Senate, they might expand the Supreme Court by adding new justices and filling those slots with liberals.

That reflects a broader anger at what many in the party feel is a breakdown in the rules of American democracy - from gerrymandering to the electoral college, from the filibuster to attacks on voting. That has prompted more support for moves including ending the filibuster and creating statehood for Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia, which are heavily Democratic.

Biden - who has staked his candidacy largely on returning to normalcy, protecting institutions and forging bipartisanship - has been reluctant to consider such ideas.

When asked Monday by WBAY-TV in Green Bay whether he would consider adding more justices, Biden said he did not want to engage.

"It's a legitimate question, but let me tell you why I'm not going answer that question," Biden said. "Because it will shift the focus. That's what [Trump] wants. He never wants to talk about the issue at hand, and he always tries to change the subject. Let's say I answer that question, then the whole debate's going to be about what Biden said or didn't say, Biden said he would or wouldn't."

But others in the party are increasingly expressing openness to them. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., appearing with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., at the steps of Ginsburg's former high school in New York on Sunday, was asked about expanding the Supreme Court and responded by saying that "once we win the majority, God willing, everything is on the table."

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., spoke Monday at an online kickoff of a new coalition of civil rights groups focused on goals such as expanding the Supreme Court, ending the filibuster, terminating the electoral college and granting statehood to D.C.

Asked why Democrats should push to change the court, Warren cited the 2018 confirmation battle over Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who had been accused of sexual misconduct when he was a student, something he forcefully denied, and then echoed Schumer's words from the night before.

"Leader Schumer is right. Everything should be on the table," Warren said.

Democrats are particularly frustrated that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., refused to consider President Barack Obama's 2016 Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland, who was nominated eight months before the election, but is rushing to secure a Trump pick just weeks before Election Day.

One Biden adviser said over the weekend that the campaign was considering adding some nuance to Biden's response that would not completely close the door to adding justices. "He's going to make a really powerful case that it shouldn't have to come to that," said the adviser, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal talks. "He's going to make the case for de-escalation."

Biden did not take questions from reporters after his Wisconsin appearance. He gave an address on Sunday that focused on Ginsburg, but he did not take questions at the end.

Biden's campaign has been coordinating with Democratic leaders in the House and Senate over the past several days, according to a campaign aide. Biden has made public appeals to Republican senators, asking them to help him avoid a crisis. He apparently has not called them directly.

Aides to a number of key Senate Republicans - including Mitt Romney of Utah, Charles Grassley of Iowa and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina - said they have not heard from Biden. A spokeswoman for Lisa Murkowski of Alaska would not say whether Biden and the senator had spoken.

Brian Fallon, executive director of the group Demand Justice, which is working to make the courts more liberal, said he wishes that Biden would release a list of potential Supreme Court nominees, something the presidential nominee has steadfastly refused to do.

Still, Fallon said he is not distressed by what he is hearing from Biden.

"I don't expect Joe Biden to talk about it," he said of expanding the court. "If you're the Biden campaign, this is not the main message. I think they are smart to focus on the impact" of court fights over issues such as the Affordable Care Act.

Biden's job is to win in November, he said, and it is the job of activists to press these issues.

Stasha Rhodes, the campaign director for 51 for 51, which supports D.C. statehood, said her group is pushing to make expanding the court part of the national discussion about replacing Ginsburg. "People are talking more openly about it now," said Rhodes. "We have to make up for the seats that have already been stolen by McConnell and Republicans."

In the past, Biden has been adamantly opposed to the idea of expanding the Supreme Court, and the question is whether circumstances will now force him to soften his opposition. Some critics have warned of a scenario where each party expands the court every time it regains control of the Senate.

"I'm not prepared to go on and try to pack the court, because we'll live to rue that day," he told Iowa Starting Line in July 2019.

"We begin to lose any credibility the court has at all," he said in an October debate. "I would not pack the court."

Some Democrats say that even if most voters care little about the court itself, Ginsburg was unique: A justice who was crafted into an action figure, became the subject of movies, and evolved into a pop culture sensation known as the Notorious RBG. Her death, they argued, could galvanize voters in a unique way, especially women younger than 40.

But that activity is occurring without Biden.

"This is our stand. Everything the last four years has led to this moment," said Rachel Carmona, chief operating officer of Women's March, which co-hosted a vigil at the Supreme Court Saturday night. "No Democratic response should be off the table, including expanding the Supreme Court. We are in a life-and-death struggle for the soul of our country, and we should use any means necessary."

Alexis McGill Johnson, the president of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, said Democrats should focus on what unites them - stopping a Trump nominee from getting confirmed - than on the things that could divide them, like expanding the court.

"What's important is to stay focused on the fight ahead," she said. "Our focus is that this seat under no circumstances should be filled until after Inauguration Day."

In a CNN poll in August, 39% of registered voters said nominations to the Supreme Court were extremely important to their vote, on par with race relations (40%), gun policy (40%) and health care (41%). The economy and health care were the top issues in the poll at 47% apiece, while climate change was lowest at 24%.

In a national survey conducted earlier this month by the Marquette Law School, a narrow majority of respondents opposed expanding the Supreme Court, with 46% favoring it and 53% against.

Biden made his comments Monday in Manitowoc, Wis., on a trip meant to appeal to Obama voters who fled to Trump in 2016. It was his second trip to Wisconsin, a state that Trump won by about 27,000 votes four years ago to become the first Republican presidential candidate to carry the state since 1984.

Striking a populist tone, Biden argued that Trump poses as a man of the people but is in fact an elitist who cares only about the wealthy and Wall Street. He reiterated that if he wins, he would be the first president in decades who had not attended an Ivy League school.

"I think it's about time that a state school president sat in the Oval Office," Biden said. who received a bachelor's degree from the University of Delaware and a law degree from Syracuse University. "Because you know what? If I'm sitting there, you're going to be sitting there, too."

Biden, who was wearing a mask in accordance with Wisconsin health protocols, also remarked on Trump's rallies, saying the president endangers his supporters and has contempt for them.

"He loves his rallies. The next time he holds one, look closely," Biden said. "Trump keeps his distance from anyone at the rally. The folks who come are packed in tight as they can be - risking disease, mostly without masks. But not Trump. He safely keeps his distance."

- - -

The Washington Post's Scott Clement and Sean Sullivan contributed to this report.
The head of the local NAACP unit has sent an email to the Midland ISD board that states any future name of Robert E. Lee High School that keeps part of the original name is offensive.

The letter was sent to the board Sunday night and follows the meeting of the renaming committee last week. During that meeting, members of the committee voted to make Legacy of Equality and Excellence as the No. 1 recommendation for the new name of the senior and freshman high schools. The name is similar to a school in San Antonio that also shortens the name to LEE.

Any future name that resembles or keeps part of the name of Confederate general and first general to surrender during the Civil War -- Robert E Lee -- is offensive as it allows the original name to continue to be associated with the original intent of the name, said Eddie Rabb, president of Midland NAACP Unit No. 6354.

Rabb wrote that the NAACP objects to the boards decision to populate the committee with those against the name change -- as they inevitably would try to keep some aspect of the original name. He also objected to alleged secret meetings with certain committee members to determine strategy for keeping the name.

Rabb also called the use of members of the African American community on the committee as an attempt to placate. Rabb said their presence could later allow others to state the process was fair and justified.

The final three recommendations from the committee are L.E.E. High School, Midland Tall City High School and Midland Carver Lee High School. Rabb wrote that naming the schools L.E.E. or Midland Carver Lee will lead to the community continuing to refer to the name of the school as Lee.

Consider the Ku Klux Klan (referred to as the KKK), Rabb wrote. If this organization changes its name to Kind Kids Kampaign (and still be referred to as the KKK), the connotation would still cause people to associate it with the Ku Klux Klan and affiliate the new organization with the old.

It will be an insult to the local African American community who have tried to get rid of this name since its inception for the name change to not reflect the spirit of the vote to disassociate the name with Confederate general and first general to surrender during the Civil War, Robert E Lee.

Rabb ended his letter, stating This process will show the world that southern backroom politics are still alive in Midland, Texas and that this process will also be an embarrassment for the citizens of Midland.

While other communities all over the country are getting rid of the stigma of association with traitors to the United States of America, that Midlanders are actively trying to find ways to keep the association and that it lacks of sensitivity and rebukes decency, Rabb wrote.
Russian officials say they haven't given the United States any new deadlines in talks over the New START treaty, the last remaining bilateral nuclear arms pact, but that there can't be any pause in discussions as time is running out.

The United States has said it wants any new nuclear arms control treaty to cover all types of warheads, contain stronger verification and transparency measures, and bring China on board, a move Beijing has rejected.

"The issue of primary importance that should and must be promptly dealt with is, of course, the extension of the Russia-U.S. Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, which will expire shortly, in February 2021," Russian President Vladimir Putin told the 75th UN General Assembly on September 22. "We are engaged in negotiations with our U.S. partners on the matter."

Putin added that Moscow "also expect[s] that mutual restraint would be exercised with regard to deploying new missile systems."

"I would like to add that as early as last year, Russia declared a moratorium on deploying ground-launched medium- and short-range missiles in Europe and other regions as long as the United States of America refrains from such actions," Putin said. "Unfortunately, we have not received any reaction to our proposal from either our U.S. partners or their allies."

Several rounds of talks between the two countries over the summer took place with no breakthrough on a possible extension of the START treaty.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said earlier on September 22 that Moscow sees the chances of extending the treaty as minimal given the conditions being laid out by Washington.

Ryabkov called the U.S. preconditions too far-fetched and devoid of appealing elements."

Ryabkov spoke after Marshall Billingslea, the U.S. special presidential envoy for arms control, told the Kommersant newspaper that Moscow must accept a joint agreement with Washington on extending the treaty before the U.S. presidential election in November.

"I suspect that after President [Donald] Trump wins reelection, if Russia has not taken up our offer, that the price of admission, as we would say in the United States, goes up," Billingslea said.

Ryabkov said that position constituted an ultimatum and lowered the chances of reaching any kind of agreement to extend the treaty.

Russia has said it is ready to extend the New START without preconditions and warned there is not enough time to renegotiate a complicated new treaty.

New START, which caps the number of deployed long-range nuclear warheads each country can have, expires in February unless the two sides agree to extend it for five years.

In his UN speech, Putin announced a plan to propose a "binding agreement" to ban space-based weapons.

"Russia is putting forward an initiative to sign a binding agreement between all the leading space powers that would provide for the prohibition of the placement of weapons in outer space, threat or use of force against outer space objects," Putin said.

U.S. and Russian officials held talks in July on space security after the United States and Britain accused Moscow of having launched an anti-satellite weapon.

A one-day dialogue in Vienna on July 27 was said to have focused on space security and been planned months in advance.

U.S. Assistant Secretary for International Security and Nonproliferation Christopher Ford said before that gathering that "Moscow and Beijing have already turned space into a war-fighting domain."

The United States has said it proposed rules for responsible behavior in space that would be modeled on existing rules of war that are based on the principles of proportionality and humanity.

Our hope is that this meeting will allow us to explore ways to increase security and stability in outer space as well as to advance the cause of developing norms of responsible behavior, Ford said.

With reporting by TASS, Reuters, and Interfax
Chinese president Xi Jinping has announced a plan for China to reach carbon neutrality by 2060.

Calling for a a green revolution, Mr Xi also said on Tuesday that China would aim to have carbon dioxide emissions peak before the end of the decade.

He spoke in a pre-recorded speech to the 75th United Nations General Assembly, the majority of which is happening remotely due to the coronavirus pandemic.

It is a significant announcement in the global climate crisis and the first time that China, the largest greenhouse gas emitter in the world, has made such a pledge.

Humankind can no longer afford to ignore the repeated warnings of nature and go down the beaten path of extracting resources without investing in conservation, pursuing development at the expense of protection, and exploiting resources without restoration, Mr Xi said.

He went on to note that the Paris Agreement  which aim to curb global warming well below 2C  is an outline of the minimum steps to be taken to protect the Earth, our shared homeland".

Mr Xi told fellow UN leaders that all countries must take decisive steps to honour the Paris accords a conciliatory note in sharp contrast to President Trump, who has vowed to remove the US from the global agreement.

President Trump used his UN speech to attack China, saying that the United Nations must hold China accountable for their actions over the Covid-19 outbreak.

Mr Trump went on to blame China for ocean pollution, overfishing, coral reef destruction, and releasing mercury into the atmosphere.

He claimed the US has reduced its carbon emissions by more than any other signatory to the Paris Agreement.

The US president said: Those who attack America's exceptional environmental record while ignoring China's rampant pollution are not interested in the environment. They only want to punish America, and I will not stand for it.

At a virtual summit earlier this month, EU leaders had urged China to aim for climate neutrality by 2060 or face punitive carbon tariffs.

The EU is setting the bar high  carbon neutrality by 2050. And we count on China to show similar leadership by implementing the Paris Agreement, said European Council president Charles Michel.

Richard Black, director of non-profit organisation the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, called Chinas announcement a very significant step forward, noting that the country was key in fighting climate change not just as the biggest emitter but also as the biggest energy financier and market.

The announcement today is also a major fillip for the European Union, whose leaders recently urged President Xi to take exactly this step as part of a joint push on lowering emissions, showing that international moves to curb climate change remain alive despite the best efforts of Donald Trump and [Brazilian leader] Jair Bolsonaro in the run-up to next years COP26 in Glasgow," Mr Black said.

But Chinas carbon pledge comes at a precarious moment on the international stage for the superpower. Theres outrage over Beijings severe restriction of civil rights in Hong Kong following its imposition on the semi-autonomous city of a sweeping national security law, and over widespread accusations of mass detentions and cultural genocide against Muslims in the Xinjiang region.

And theres wariness also over Chinas rising pressure and military threats against Taiwan, the self-governing island democracy that Beijing claims as its own territory.

Wires contributed to this report
Data from NASA instruments aboard the ESA (European Space Agency) Rosetta mission have helped reveal that comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko has its own far-ultraviolet aurora.

It is the first time such electromagnetic emissions in the far-ultraviolet have been documented on a celestial object other than a planet or moon. A paper on the findings was released today in the journal Nature Astronomy.

On Earth, aurora (also known as the northern or southern lights) are generated when electrically charged particles speeding from the Sun hit the upper atmosphere to create colorful shimmers of green, white, and red. Elsewhere in the solar system, Jupiter and some of its moons - as well as Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and even Mars - have all exhibited their own version of northern lights. But the phenomena had yet to be documented in comets.

Rosetta is space exploration's most traveled and accomplished comet hunter. Launched in 2004, it orbited comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko (67P/C-G) from Aug. 2014 until its dramatic end-of-mission comet landing in Sept. 2016. The data for this most recent study is on what mission scientists initially interpreted as "dayglow," a process caused by photons of light interacting with the envelope of gas - known as the coma - that radiates from, and surrounds, the comet's nucleus. But new analysis of the data paints a very different picture.

"The glow surrounding 67P/C-G is one of a kind," said Marina Galand of Imperial College London and lead author of the study. "By linking data from numerous Rosetta instruments, we were able to get a better picture of what was going on. This enabled us to unambiguously identify how 67P/C-G's ultraviolet atomic emissions form."

The data indicate 67P/C-G's emissions are actually auroral in nature. Electrons streaming out in the solar wind - the stream of charged particles flowing out from the Sun - interact with the gas in the comet's coma, breaking apart water and other molecules. The resulting atoms give off a distinctive far-ultraviolet light. Invisible to the naked eye, far-ultraviolet has the shortest wavelengths of radiation in the ultraviolet spectrum.

Exploring the emission of 67P/C-G will enable scientists to learn how the particles in the solar wind change over time, something that is crucial for understanding space weather throughout the solar system. By providing better information on how the Sun's radiation affects the space environment they must travel through, such information could ultimately can help protect satellites and spacecraft, as well as astronauts traveling to the Moon and Mars.

"Rosetta is the gift that keeps on giving," said Paul Feldman, an investigator on Alice at the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and a co-author of the paper. "The treasure trove of data it returned over its two-year visit to the comet have allowed us to rewrite the book on these most exotic inhabitants of our solar system - and by all accounts there is much more to come."

NASA Instruments Aboard ESA's Rosetta

NASA-supplied instruments contributed to this investigation. The Ion and Electron Sensor (IES) instrument detected the amount and energy of electrons near the spacecraft, the Alice instrument measured the ultraviolet light emitted by the aurora, and the Microwave Instrument for the Rosetta Orbiter (MIRO) measured the amount of water molecules around the comet (the MIRO instrument includes contributions from France, Germany, and Taiwan). Other instruments aboard the spacecraft used in the research were the Italian Space Agency's Visible and InfraRed Thermal Imaging Spectrometer (VIRTIS), the Langmuir Probe (LAP) provided by Sweden, and the Rosetta Orbiter Spectrometer for Ion and Neutral Analysis (ROSINA) provided by Switzerland.

Rosetta was an ESA mission with contributions from its member states and NASA. Rosetta's Philae lander, which successfully landed on the comet in November 2014, was provided by a consortium led by the German Aerospace Center in Cologne; Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research in Gottingen, Germany; the French National Space Agency in, Paris; and the Italian Space Agency in Rome. A division of Caltech, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California managed the U.S. contribution of the Rosetta mission for NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington. JPL also built the MIRO and hosts its principal investigator, Mark Hofstadter. The Southwest Research Institute (San Antonio and Boulder, Colorado), developed the Rosetta orbiter's IES and Alice instruments and hosts their principal investigators, James Burch (IES) and Joel Parker (Alice).

For more information on the U.S. instruments aboard Rosetta, visit: http://rosetta.jpl.nasa.gov

More information about Rosetta is available at: http://www.esa.int/rosetta

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Donald Trump dances with the music after speaking at a campaign rally, Monday, Sept. 21, 2020, in Swanton, Ohio. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

A Swedish legislator who nominated Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts in the Middle East has said he received a phone call of thanks from the US president.

Magnus Jacobsson, a member of Swedens Parliament for the Christian Democrats, wrote on Twitter that he was on my way to the stable with my daughter when he got the call.

We had a good conversation about peace in the Middle East and the Balkans. I wish the President good luck with the peace processes, Mr Jacobsson wrote.

I was on my way to the stable with my daughter, when President @realDonaldTrump called and thanked me for the nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize. We had a good conversation about peace in the Middle East and the Balkans. I wish the President good luck with the peace processes. pic.twitter.com/7CJynMSZAc  Magnus Jacobsson (@magnusjacobsson) September 22, 2020

Israel and the United Arab Emirates agreed last month to a deal normalising relations that was signed at the White House on September 15.

Earlier this month, Mr Jacobsson also nominated the governments of the US, Kosovo and Serbia for the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts to secure a peace agreement between the two former Balkan war foes.

Serbian President Aleksander Vucic and Kosovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti signed an economic normalisation deal at the White House last week.

Nobel nominations can be made by national legislators, heads of state and certain international institutions. In 2020, the committee received 318 nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize  211 individuals and 107 organisations. The winner will be announced on October 9.

The process of considering candidates and awarding the Nobel Peace Prize is done in Norway, in contrast to the other Nobel Prizes, which are awarded in Sweden.
A former Mike Pence staffer who played a key role in advising the government on its handling of the Covid-19 pandemic has accused Keith Kellogg of "bald faced" lies, after the retired Gen. claimed he gave the ex-aide her marching orders from the White House.

Olivia Troye, an ex-Homeland Security official, left her role in August under a cloud. She later featured in a scathing testimonal video about president, hitting out at his response to the virus, which has now claimed some 200,000 US lives.

The White House reacted furiously to the video and launched a personal attack on Ms Troye, who has come out in support of the president's Democratic rival, Joe Biden. Gen. Kellogg, who is vice president Mike Pence's national security adviser, told reporters on Tuesday that he was "proud of the president".

"I am not proud of Olivia Troye, he added, rebuking claims by Ms Troye that the president had acted calously in the face of a public health crisis. I fired her. Her performance dropped off, he said. I escorted her off the [White House] compound.

Ms Troye, who now advises the Repair Republic organisation, a group of former US officials "seeking to repair the GOP and America" was quick to hit back at her former boss, calling him out for what she said were false allegations.

Sad that Gen. Kellogg is telling a bald faced lie to protect the President," Ms Troye wrote in a tweet on Tuesday. "I resigned on my own accord & was asked to stay. He never escorted me out. He knows this. I wrote a note thanking all the colleagues who had worked so hard with me in spite of POTUS & I stand by that, she added.

Last week, Ms Troye told The Washington Post that the presidents main concern was the economy and reelection, and that she wouldnt trust a Covid-19 vaccine that launches before the November vote.

Ms Troye said the president claimed that Covid-19 was a good thing because it meant he didnt have to shpostake hands with disgusting people. She said he was referring to his own supporters. "Those disgusting people are the same people he claims to care about. These are the people who are still going to his rallies today, who have complete faith in who he is."

She joins several former officials, or what the White House calls disgruntled ex-employees, to flip on the president to detail the dysfunctional inner workings of his administrations first term.

The presidents rhetoric and his own attacks against people in his administration trying to do the work, as well as the promulgation of false narratives and incorrect information of the virus have made this ongoing response a failure, Ms Troye said in an interview with the Post.

I would not tell anyone I care about to take a vaccine that launches prior to the election  I would listen to the experts and the unity in pharma. And I would wait to make sure that this vaccine is safe and not a prop tied to an election, she said.

She said the White House missed months to slow the virus because of the delay in advice from public health officials to recommend wearing masks.

The mask issue was a critical one. If we would have gotten ahead on that and stressed the importance of it, we could have slowed the spread significantly  It was detrimental that it became a politicised issue. It still lingers today.

While former national security advisor John Bolton and former defence secretary Jim Mattis have previously opened the book on their time inside Mr Trumps presidency, Ms Troye is one of the first to focus on his handling of coronavirus.

She was a major, if behind-the-scenes, participant in the White Houses coronavirus taskforce, working closely with Mr Pence on the response, briefing the vice president, writing his comments, and setting meeting agendas, according to the Post.
UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- China resolutely rejects the "baseless accusation" against it and opposes "political virus," said China's permanent representative to the United Nations Zhang Jun on Tuesday following U.S. President Donald Trump's criticism of China's handling of COVID-19 at the UN General Assembly.

In his pre-recorded message, Trump said: "We must hold accountable the nation which unleashed this plague onto the world: China."

Introducing Chinese President Xi Jinping's pre-recorded message to be played, Zhang said, "China resolutely rejects the baseless accusation against China," and opposes "political virus."

The world is confronted with the severe challenges of COVID-19. There are also the problems of unilateralism, protectionism and bullying practices, said Zhang. "The world is at a crossroads at this moment. The world needs more solidarity and cooperation, but not confrontation. We need to increase mutual confidence and trust, but not the spreading of political virus."

No matter what others say, China will firmly support multilateralism, supports the United Nations to play its central role in international affairs, said Zhang.

While Trump tried to shift the blame for his handling of the pandemic to China, his country has hit another milestone in the deaths from the virus. According to the data compiled by Johns Hopkins University, U.S. COVID-19 deaths surpassed 200,000 on Tuesday while the number of infections has reached more than 6.8 million. Both numbers accounted for roughly one fifth of the global totals but the U.S. population is equivalent to only less 5 percent of the world's population.

"This didn't have to happen. Tens of thousands of deaths could have been prevented," tweeted Tom Frieden, former director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

According to a recent survey by Pew Research Center, the United States has seen a sharp decline in reputation among its key allies and partners, reaching record lows, partly because of the country's bad handling of the pandemic.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 03:50:24|Editor: huaxia

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BUENOS AIRES, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Argentina's Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship Felipe Sola on Tuesday urged the Group of Twenty (G20) to strengthen global cooperation and multilateralism in response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Addressing a virtual meeting of G20 trade and investment ministers convened by Saudi Arabia, which is chairing the group this year, Sola stressed the "imperative need to promote international cooperation and multilateralism" to overcome the health and economic impacts of the pandemic.

"The world today needs the spirit of collaboration that has accompanied the G20 since its inception: Argentina is ready to continue working actively with all members to continue promoting free, open and equitable trade," said Sola, according to a statement from his ministry.

To that end, he highlighted the importance of "reaffirming the rules-based multilateral trading system as a guarantor of the predictability and transparency of trade flows."

Sola also spotlighted the importance of having equitable access to medical treatments against COVID-19 and mentioned Argentina's production, in conjunction with Mexico, of a vaccine developed by the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca and Britain's Oxford University, for distribution in Latin America.

"It will be available in Latin America in the first quarter of 2021 at an affordable price, so as not to leave anyone behind," said Sola. Enditem
File Photo

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Paediatrician Kafeel Khan has written to a group of UN human rights experts, alleging that he was tortured in Mathura jail . He was lodged there under the NSA for allegedly giving provocative speeches in AMU during the anti-CAA stir in December 2019. Read more

2) Jamia Student Gulfisha Fatima, Held In Delhi Riots, Alleges Communal Slurs, Torture In Tihar

huffingtonpost

Student activist Gulfisha Fatima, arrested under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, alleged before a Delhi court that she was subjected to communal slurs and mental harassment by jail authorities. Read more

3) Before Recent War On Marijuana, Ramdev's Patanjali & Several Ministers Wanted It Legalised

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The alleged use of drugs by Bollywood actor Rhea Chakraborty and her reported boyfriend Sushant Singh Rajput, who died by suicide, has diverted the nation's attention to weed from other burning issues such as COVID, falling economy and the failing government. Read more

4) Maharashtra To Capture Another Alleged Maneater From Yavatmal Where Tigress Avni Was Shot Dead

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An alleged maneater tigress in Maharashtra's Yavatmal is set to be captured after the state's principal chief conservator of forest (PCCF-wildlife) issued orders on Monday for the same. Read more

5) Three Out Of Four COVID-19 Patients Have Comorbidities; Hypertension, Diabetes Most Common

Reuters

Underlying health conditions, also known as comorbidities including hypertension, diabetes, liver disease, heart disease, asthma, chronic renal disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), low immunity, malignancy, bronchitis and chronic neuromuscular disease among others have been observed on majority of the COVID-19 patients. Read more
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 22:18:19|Editor: huaxia

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PARIS, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Ambassador to France Lu Shaye on Tuesday highlighted three priority areas for Sino-French cooperation -- strengthening anti-epidemic cooperation, promoting economic and trade ties and upholding multilateralism.

"The relations between China and France are among the most stable relations between major countries in the world," said Lu at a press conference, noting that the two countries have demonstrated a high level of strategic coordination in the fight against COVID-19.

Personnel exchanges between China and France are resuming quickly -- nearly 1,000 French nationals have arrived in China through the "fast track", and six civil flights have been resumed each week linking the two countries, he added.

The ambassador made these remarks when meeting Chinese and French press ahead of the 71st anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, to be celebrated on Oct. 1. Due to the epidemic, the embassy will not host a reception this year.

China has achieved a major victory in the national fight against the epidemic but the the pandemic is not yet completely under control around the world, Lu noted.

"Vaccines are an important weapon in beating the epidemic. Nine vaccines developed by China have entered the clinical trial phase, and four of them have been approved for phase III clinical trials abroad. China will make its vaccines a global public good when they are finally developed, and thereby do its part in ensuring the accessibility and affordability of vaccines," he said.

Apart from strengthening anti-epidemic cooperation, said the ambassador, China and France need to accelerate cooperation on major projects in nuclear energy, aeronautics and aerospace, actively foster new growth areas for cooperation in smart cities, electric vehicles, organic agrifood and more, implement the Beijing Call for Biodiversity Conservation and Climate Change, and ensure the success of the COP15 of the Convention on Biological Diversity in Kunming and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress in Marseille.

On the challenges posed by Cold War mentality, anti-globalization, protectionism and "digital iron curtain", Lu stressed that multilateralism is the only option.

"This year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. China will take this opportunity to uphold and promote multilateralism, work with the rest of the world to advance global governance in the post-epidemic era, and build a community with a shared future for mankind," he said.

Noting that this year also marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the European Union (EU), the ambassador reiterated that China and Europe need each other.

"China and the EU have different social systems and development paths, but this has never been an obstacle to our cooperation," he noted.

Despite the impact of COVID-19, China and the EU have maintained close communication and coordination this year. Last week, the leaders of China, Germany and the EU held a video conference, which charted the way forward for China-EU relations and defined key areas for cooperation.

The two sides formally signed an agreement on geographical indications and agreed to speed up negotiations on a China-EU investment agreement with a view to concluding it by the end of this year, and to build together a green partnership and a digital cooperative partnership.

"As long as China and the EU adhere to peaceful coexistence, openness and cooperation, multilateralism, and dialogue and consultation, China-EU relations will surely grow to a higher level in the next 45 years," said the ambassador. Enditem
AMSTERDAM, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Core Laboratories (NYSE: "CLB US" and Euronext Amsterdam: "CLB NA") will broadcast its third quarter 2020 conference call over the Internet at 7:30 a.m. CDT / 2:30 p.m. CEST on October 22, 2020.

Larry Bruno, Chairman, CEO and President, Chris Hill, CFO, and Gwen Schreffler, SVP Corporate Development and Investor Relations, will discuss financial and operational results. An earnings press release will be issued after market close on October 21st and may be accessed through the Company's website at www.corelab.com.

To participate in the live webcast, simply log on to www.corelab.com at least fifteen minutes prior to the start of the call. For those who are not available to listen to the live webcast, a Podcast will be available immediately following the conference call and a replay will be available on Core's website shortly after the call which will remain on the site for 10 days.

To listen to the conference call via telephone, please contact Lena Brennan at [email protected] for the dial-in number.

Core Laboratories N.V. (www.corelab.com) is a leading provider of proprietary and patented reservoir description and production enhancement services and products used to optimize petroleum reservoir performance. The Company has over 70 offices in more than 50 countries and is located in every major oil-producing province in the world.

SOURCE Core Laboratories N.V.

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The average person may know a little about crime and what happens when someone breaks the law, but understanding the breadth and depth of criminal law often requires help from a lawyer who practices in the area of criminal law.

If you or someone that you know is facing criminal charges, the first thing to do is contact a

Mass Tsang criminal lawyer in Toronto and arrange for legal representation. Once thats done, you can spend some time learning a few basics about criminal law and what the lawyer will do on behalf of the client. Here are some essentials to help you get started.

What is Criminal Law?

Criminal law is a term that refers to the current body of laws that govern the process for identifying the commission of a criminal act, prosecuting the party who committed the act, and setting punishments in the event of a conviction. All those involved in the legal process are bound to uphold these laws and ensure that the rights of all parties involved are respected.

Criminal laws can and sometimes are updated from time to time. Actions that were once considered legal may now be illegal. Its also possible for actions that were once considered crimes to no longer be illegal. Lawyers remain up to date on what constitutes crimes and defend their clients accordingly.

What Does Criminal Law Encompass?

The body of law involved in this case is invoked before an arrest takes place. It involves the processes used to identify and apprehend someone who is accused of a crime as well as the procedure for filing formal charges. Issues such as setting bail and conducting a trial are also part of the overall process defined within the criminal body of law.

In this fashion, criminal law adds uniformity to the process of pursuing a criminal arrest and conviction while still observing the legal rights of the accused. From the first sign that a crime was committed, through the arrest and arraignment process, and all the way to a decision by the court, there are laws that provide structure designed to reduce the odds of an innocent person ending up in jail.

What are the Four Most Common Classifications of Crimes?

While there are crimes of many different types, most them would fall into one of four broad categories. Personal crimes involve actions that lead to physical or mental damage of another person. Assault and battery is a good example, as is arson, kidnapping, and sexual assault.

Property crimes are also common. They involve interference in the ownership of anothers property. Burglary, auto theft, shoplifting, and arson are typically included in this category.

Inchoate crimes are criminal actions that are started but not completed. They can also have to do with aiding and abetting someone who commits the actual crime. Essentially, the accused contributes to a significant degree in making it possible for the crime to occur. Along with aiding and abetting, conspiracy to commit a crime or attempting robbery would fit into this category.

Statutory crimes have to do with the commission of crimes that are prohibited by a statute. Driving under the influence is a prime example. Driving without a license is another. Crimes like drug trafficking, drug manufacturing, and selling illegal drugs would also be considered a statutory crime.

How Do Legal Precedents Fit in With Criminal Laws?

Legal precedents are rulings in past cases. The precedents provide insight into how laws were upheld in judgments in previous years. Precedents do not supersede current laws, but they can often provide examples of why the court would want to consider a certain outcome in light of the crime committed.

Criminal lawyers devote some of their time to identifying precedents set by past courts and relating them to a clients case. In some instantiates, citing a precedent may serve as grounds for making an objection during a trial, having an objection sustained, or getting an objection overruled.

Do You Really Need a Lawyer to Defend You?

In many cases, it is possible for a defendant to choose to handle a case without retaining legal counsel. That places some degree of burden on the court to protect the defendants rights. It also paves the way for lost opportunities related to structuring and pursuing a defense.

The fact is that hiring a Mass Tsang DUI attorney provides the client with someone who understands the laws and precedents that relate to the case. Legal counsel can advise the client on what to do while in the courtroom, understands how to question witnesses to ensure facts come out, and in general use every legal means to secure the best outcome for the client.

How Do You Cooperate With Your Legal Counsel?

Upon hiring legal counsel, its in your best interests to cooperate fully. That means withholding nothing from the lawyer. That includes minor details that you may think done have any real bearing on the case.

Following the lawyers advice about where you go and who youre seen with is also important. The goal is to avoid any actions that could compromise the case in some manner.

Finally, you make yourself available to your legal counsel at all times. That means responding quickly to phone calls, texts, and emails. It also means meeting with your legal counsel whenever the need arises.

If youre facing criminal charges, dont take the matter lightly. Secure the services of a criminal lawyer as quickly as possible. While you may not understand fully whats happening or the nature of the charges, you can bet that the lawyer will explain it all and prepare a defense thats designed to help you avoid a conviction.
In the UK, the market mood is more subdued as the government puts forward more stringent rules around COVID-19. Photo: Getty

Here are the top business, market, and economic stories you should be watching today in the UK, Europe, and abroad:

Wetherspoon puts up to 450 jobs at risk at six UK airports

The CEO of pub chain JD Wetherspoon (JDW.L) has announced that up to 450 jobs are at risk at a number of airports across the UK.

In a statement sent to Yahoo Finance UK, JD Wetherspoon CEO John Hutson said:

The company has written to 1,000 people employed in its pubs at six airports (Gatwick, Heathrow, Stansted, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Glasgow) to inform them that a possible 400 to 450 positions are at risk of redundancy.

The decision is mainly a result of a downturn in trade in these pubs, linked with the large reduction in passenger numbers using the airports.

Shares were up 0.8%.

B&Q sales surges as pandemic brings DIY boom

Kingfisher (KGF.L), owner of DIY giant B&Q, reported a surge in pre-tax profit and online sales as Brits rush to renovate their homes amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The group said in its first half results statement that while sales were down 1.1%, reflecting an adverse impact of COVID-19 in the first quarter, this was partially offset by strong recovery in Q2.

Like-for-like sales also fell 1.6% in the first quarter but growth in B&Q across Poland and Romania and a 19.5% surge in sales in the second quarter offset some of the pain.

E-commerce sales also rocketed 164% and now accounts for 19% of total group sales in the first half of 2020, as people turned to online shopping during the coronavirus lockdown.

Retail profit also rose 17.7%, largely driven by lower overall costs and B&Q performance while adjusted pre-tax profit rose 23.1%.

We delivered a resilient financial performance in the first half of the year, with the adverse impact of COVID-19 in Q1 offset by a strong recovery in Q2. This recovery has continued into Q3 to date, with growth across all banners and categories, said Thierry Garnier, CEO of Kingfisher.

Story continues

Shares were up 6.5%

Oil prices hold losses amid COVID-19 fears

Oil prices are holding their losses on Tuesday after a steep decline for the past two weeks amid fears COVID-19 will lead to further lockdowns.

Crude (CL=F) hit around $39 (30.80) a barrel on Tuesday at 8:45am in London, with Brent (BZ=F) at around $41. Thats after a 4.4% drop on Monday in prices amid a broader market sell-off.

People staying at home due to the coronavirus has meant less need for cars and gasoline.

The UK has already started accelerating its response to a growth in cases, with Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove on Tuesday encouraging Brits to work from home if possible to curb the spread of the virus.

Fears that the US could also experience another major wave of COVID-19 has damped sentiment and weighed heavily on the commodity. Prospects for more fiscal stimulus in the US amid the pandemic and the partisan battle over who will replace the late Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg are adding to concerns.

The anticipated reopening of Libyas battered oil industry is fuelling further concerns for oils uncertain future.

European markets rebound

European stocks are generally recovering after a tough start to the week following their worst one-day performance since June on Monday.

The pan-European STOXX 600 (^STOXX) gained 0.5% on Tuesday at around 10am in London. Germanys DAX (^GDAXI) rose by 0.9%, and Frances CAC 40 (^FCHI) was up 0.1%.

In the UK, the market mood is more subdued as the government puts forward more stringent rules around COVID-19.

UK Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove told Sky News on Tuesday morning there will be a shift in emphasis in the governments working from home advice. UK prime minister Boris Johnson will also be chairing an emergency COBRA committee meeting later on Tuesday and is expected to outline the latest COVID-19 restrictions to parliament, after he raised the COVID-19 threat level to 4 from 3. This could include an announcement that people should work from home again and a 10pm curfew on pubs and restaurants.

Londons FTSE 100 (^FTSE) was down 0.03% in early trading on Tuesday.
I have no problem with the Albuquerque Journal editors requesting a response from our governor and political candidates to a report from the American Petroleum Institute and New Mexico Oil and Gas Association. Transparency of governance is never a bad idea, and I would appreciate more substantial discussions by the New Mexico political class on issues related to the stagnant New Mexico economy. It seems the oil and gas association is convinced the Biden plan will make our already stagnant economy even more stagnant. Arguing degrees of ugly seems fruitless.

However, I am unable to find this report online and suspect the Albuquerque Journal and other New Mexico newspapers are responding to the press release and not the report. How about more transparency from the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association and the American Petroleum Institute?

I have studied the Biden plan in much detail. It says absolutely nothing about stopping fracking or stopping oil and natural gas exploration on federal land. Fracking is being curtailed by low oil prices and the disdain investors have for the oil and gas sector.

New Mexicos largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions are oil and gas  24%, transportation  22%, electricity generation  18%, other industries  18%, agriculture  11% and commercial and residential  6%. To reach carbon neutrality, each of these sectors must be reduced to a level where they can be offset by additional carbon sinks.

The only measures our state has taken that affects oil and natural gas extraction that I am able to identify are: 1. Through a contract with Descartes, a Los Alamos National Laboratory spin-off, our state is measuring methane emissions in real time. 2. New Mexico has passed regulations further limiting methane emissions that are about 70% higher per capita here than the national average.

New Mexico state agencies so far have only studied the job impact of New Mexico electricity generation being done by wind and solar and adding transmission lines so excess electricity could be sold outside New Mexico. Their excellent report concluded that during the construction phase of eight years for an 11.5 GW grid, 3,500 construction jobs would be created. After that about 700 employees would be required to maintain and operate the wind, solar and transmission lines. An 11.5 GW grid powered by coal would require about 9,000 jobs to mine the coal and operate the power plants.

Three disruptions in the transportation sector will dramatically reduce transportation jobs and cause massive reductions in the cost of transportation. These are electrification, autonomous driving and lease-a-ride. ReThinkX predicts these three innovations will cause most families to not own an automobile and in the process save over $5,000.

Yes, these disruptions will result in massive job losses that need to be addressed. In fact, New Mexico must aggressively pursue economic growth in high-tech sectors that can replace these jobs because there is nothing we can do to prevent their exit.
Montgomery County commissioners approved the installation of fixed thermal cameras in county courthouses and the Montgomery County Jail to further combat the spread of COVID-19.

The cost to install the cameras will be about $700,000, according to Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security Executive Director Jason Millsaps. The funding will come from the $105 million federal CARES Act awarded to the county.

OPEN FOR BUSINESS: Everything you need to know about Gov. Abbott's new COVID reopening plan for Texas

Because of the extensive power needs and data needs, we have a vendor that is going to put this together for us, Millsaps said, adding the Supreme Court of Texas has mandated that anyone entering the courthouses have to have a temporal temperature check. This will allow us to do that safely.

County commissioners approved the $500,000 purchase of a fixed thermal camera system earlier this month that will automatically check the temperatures of those entering county facilities.

(The system) would allow us to make contact with the individual and determine whether they need to leave the building and reschedule their appointment, Millsaps explained.

On Tuesday, officials with the Montgomery County Public Health District confirmed the countys 138th COVID-19 related death. The Spring woman in her 80s was hospitalized at the time of her death. She had other health conditions in addition to testing positive for the virus.

LATEST UPDATES: Montgomery County adds 137th COVID-related death

The county total number of cases increased 45 to 10,711. Of those cases, 1,569 are active, a decrease of 100 from Monday.

Total hospitalizations, both county and non-county residents, dropped from 39 to 19, with four of those in ICU.

Online registration is still available for COVID-19 testing in Montgomery County. To get a voucher, go to mchd-tx.org or mcphd-tx.org and click on the need to be tested link. Fill out the information. A voucher will be emailed. Once you have the voucher, make an appointment at your choice of testing centers and get tested.

For more information, the MCHD/MCPHD COVID-19 Call Center is open Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-4:30pm. Call 936-523-3916.

cdominguez@hcnonline.com
US Democratic presidential nominee has slammed President over his handling of the which has so far claimed over 200,000 lives with nearly 700,000 confirmed cases in the country.

Biden, 77, and his running mate Kamala Harris are challenging incumbents President Trump, 74, and Vice President Mike Pence in the November 3 presidential election.

"What worries me now is we have been living with this pandemic for so long; I worry we are risking becoming numb to the toll it has taken on us and our country and communities. We can't let that happen. We can't lose the ability to feel the sorrow and loss and the anger for so many lives lost," Biden said at a rally in Wisconsin, a key swing state, on Monday. In the 2016 polls, Trump had won the state.

Biden questioned Trump's leadership based on how he handled the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Today (Monday), unfortunately, America is going to reach a tragic milestone (of) 200,000 deaths of the As awful as the past 180 days have been, the next 90 days could be twice as bad, the former vice president said.

Biden is leading Trump by a national average of 6.5 percentage points, according to Real Clear Politics, an aggregator of major opinion pools. Trump has reduced the gap substantially which was in double digits a couple of months ago.

In battleground states, Biden's lead over Trump dropped to 3.8 per cent, indicating that the November 3 elections is headed for a close finish.

All of life, has been bailed out of any problem he faced; with this crisis zero -- a real crisis that required serious presidential leadership -- he just wasn't up to it, he froze, he failed to act, he panicked, and America has paid the worst price of any nation in the world," Biden said.

Biden said the president knew of the dangers of the pandemic in February, but hid it from the American people.

"You can actually hear his own voice recorded by (journalist) Bob Woodward's interview with him, saying that he understood how bad it was. We hear him privately saying this is a deadly virus, far more deadly than any flu, but that's not what he was saying to us publicly," he said.

Publicly he told us that it was just like the flu and that it would disappear in warm weather like a miracle. It was all a lie. What is his explanation? He said he didn't want to see the American people panic; he didn't want to panic them. Trump panicked, the virus was too big for him, Biden said.

Biden alleged Trump was more concerned about the stock market than the health crisis. "Understand what he was saying because it crystallises his whole worldview when said he didn't want to create a panic he wasn't just talking about a health panic he was focused on the stock market. Trump was worried that if he told the public the truth, there would be a panic in the financial markets, and that would hurt his chances of being re-elected, he said.

That's how Donald Trump views the world. He sees the world from Park Avenue, I see it from where I grew up in a town like this from Scranton, Pennsylvania, hardscrabble, hard-working town just like this, and so many more across Wisconsin, Biden said.

The Trump campaign hit back at the Democratic presidential candidate.

We don't have to guess how destructive a economy would be to the American people because we've already seen it. When was in the White House we had depressed wages and stagnant job growth. His vote for the horrible NAFTA trade deal killed 850,000 jobs, and his sycophantic support for China closed 60,000 US factories and sent 3.2 million jobs away from American workers directly to China, said Hogan Gidley, Trump 2020 national press secretary.

President Trump's policies have created more jobs in a four-month period than any other time in history, he asserted.

In fact, the president's policies have already regained about half of the jobs lost to the pandemic, proving Trump rebuilt this economy once, and he's doing it again, Gidley said.

Biden's proposal of a USD4 trillion tax increase on 82 per cent of Americans would shutter that success. Aliens would flood the recovering job market with competition, and his (Biden) Green New Deal would kill 10 million jobs in the energy sector, 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.)
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned the UNs first ever virtual meeting of global leaders on Tuesday that the world is facing an epochal health crisis, the biggest economic calamity and job losses since the Great Depression, threats to human rights - and the risk of a new Cold War between the US and China.

In his bleak state of the world speech to the UN General Assemblys annual meeting, the United Nations chief said that the coronavirus that brought the world to its knees was but a dress rehearsal for the world of challenges to come.

Days after the pandemic shut down big parts of the world in March, Guterres called for a global ceasefire to tackle it. On Tuesday, he appealed for a 100-day push by the international community, led by the Security Council, to make this a reality by the end of the year.

At the same time, we must do everything to avoid a new Cold War, Guterres added.

Reiterating a warning he made to world leaders a year ago about increasing US-China rivalrly, Guterres said, We are moving in a very dangerous direction.

Our world cannot afford a future where the two largest economies split the globe in a great fracture - each with its own trade and financial rules and internet and artificial intelligence capacities, Guterres said.

A technological and economic divide risks inevitably turning into a geostrategic and military divide. We must avoid this at all costs.

In his appeal for a global ceasefire, Guterres said ending wars in West Asia and Africa is critical to defeating the virus.

He delivered his speech in the General Assembly Hall, where only one mask-wearing diplomat from each of the UNs 193 member nations was allowed.

Brazils President Jair Bolsonaro trumpeted his focus on the economy in dealing with the pandemic.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticised the start of the pandemic where countries were left on their own, stressing that effective multilateralism requires effective multilateral institutions.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to declare the results of compartment exams as soon as possible and coordinate with the University Grants Commission (UGC) to enable around two lakh students passing out in these exams to apply in colleges in the current academic year.A bench of the apex court, headed by Justice AM Khanwilkar, asked the UGC and the CBSE to take a joint decision on declaration of results and admissions in colleges for students giving compartment exams and posted the matter for further hearing on Thursday. During the hearing, advocate Apoorv Kurup appearing for the UGC, told the bench that cut off date for admission in colleges is most likely in October end and if CBSE declares the result of compartment exams before that, students will be able to take admissions.

Senior advocate Vivek Tankha, appearing for a group of students, told the bench that the compartment exams are today and they finish on September 29. If we give the exams but we cant get the admissions in colleges, there will be no point, he added.Tankha said that the CBSE should come out of the exam results soon and sought that the UGC should accommodate students, who have given compartment exams, in the academic calendar.

He said that since two lakh students are appearing in the compartment exams, they should get the benefit of the admission process, otherwise whats the point of taking these exams?The Bench, during the hearing, enquired from the counsel appearing for the UGC about the cut-off date for admission in the undergraduate courses.The advocate appearing for the UGC replied that the cut-off date will be most likely by end of October and added that the academic calendar is finalised.

Justice Khanwilkar said if the CBSE declares results by end of October, then UGC can wrap up admissions by the first week of November.Counsel appearing for the CBSE apprised the bench that it will take three to four weeks to declare results and added that even regular students waiting for admissions.To this, Justice Khanwilkar said, This is not a normal time. You have to make changes to accommodate students. Both of you (CBSE and UGC) coordinates in this way that you have a cut-off date for admissions in terms of the declaration of the result by CBSE. Take a final decision by Thursday. This is not a normal time. These are only two lakh students, they can be accommodated. The CBSE has to work in tandem with UGC and vice versa.

ALSO READ: EFLU Admit Card 2020 for UG courses released, heres how to download @efluniversity.ac.in

The top court was hearing a plea filed by a group of students who were placed in the compartment category, after the CBSE declared the result for the said classes, based on an alternate evaluation method, in July this year.The petitioners contended that it shall be impossible for the CBSE to safely conduct the compartment examination amid the pandemic and since the compartment exams were not conducted in July, students have been unable to take admissions in the universities.The plea sought an extension of the college admissions deadline due to delayed compartment exams and time to be taken for results.

ALSO READ: Indias Covid-19 tally crosses 55-lakh mark with 75,083 new cases in last 24 hours
By Josh Smith and Hyonhee Shin

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's President Moon Jae-in called on Tuesday for a regional infectious disease control and public health initiative involving China, Japan, Mongolia, and North Korea to tackle health crises and lay the foundation for peace with Pyongyang.

In a video message to the United Nations General Assembly, Moon said collective protection of life and safety would lay the groundwork for North Korea to have its security guaranteed by engaging with the international community.

"In the face of the COVID-19 crisis that poses a greater threat to humanity than a war, we came to be acutely reminded that the safety of neighbouring countries is directly linked to that of our own," Moon said, according to an English translation of his prepared remarks distributed by his office.

Moon proposed launching a "Northeast Asia Cooperation Initiative for Infectious Disease Control and Public Health," but did not provide details.

"It is not only Koreas response to COVID-19 but also the invaluable lessons Korea will be gaining from institutionalizing peace that Korea wishes to share with the rest of the world," he said.

South Korea's aggressive testing and tracing efforts during the coronavirus outbreak have been praised internationally. North Korea has said it has no confirmed cases, though some U.S. officials have cast doubt on that claim.

As part of his election pledges, Moon proposed building a regional cooperative mechanism in Northeast Asia to defuse military tensions and foster joint responses in areas of common interest, including disease prevention, disaster response and cybersecurity.

Moon this year also expressed his willingness to provide help to North Korea to fight the coronavirus outbreak, calling health issues a top priority in inter-Korean cooperation, but Pyongyang has said it would not receive outside aid and shut the border tighter.

North Korea has rejected cooperation with South Korea and ridiculed previous proposals after denuclearisation talks with the United States stalled, scuttling lofty goals for inter-Korean projects made at a series of summit between Moon and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

(Reporting by Josh Smith and Hyonhee Shin; Editing by Bernadette Baum)
CORVALLIS, Ore. - Squeezed by changing ocean conditions that limit their food options and the long-term loss of old forest needed for nesting, marbled murrelets would benefit most from conservation efforts that take both ocean and forest into account, new research by Oregon State University shows.

Published in Conservation Letters, the findings are based on two decades of murrelet surveys at nearly 20,000 sites in the Oregon Coast Range and illustrate how the elusive seabird is at risk of its habitat gradually shrinking to the point of local extinctions or worse.

"It turns out that the same ocean conditions that influence salmon returns, including the forage fish murrelets need to successfully nest, had a huge influence on the likelihood that murrelets will come inland to breed," said lead author Matt Betts, a researcher in the Oregon State College of Forestry and the director of the OSU-based Forest Biodiversity Research Network. "Given that these prey items tend to be in lower abundance when ocean temperatures are high, changing climate conditions could reduce prey availability as well as the tendency for murrelets to nest in the future."

Marbled murrelets are closely related to puffins and murres, but unlike those birds, murrelets raise their young as much as 60 miles inland in mature forests. Disturbance in either the ocean or forest environment has the potential to impact murrelet populations.

"There aren't many species like it," said study co-author and project director Jim Rivers, also a faculty member in the College of Forestry. "There's no other bird that feeds in the ocean and commutes such long distances inland to nest sites. That's really unusual."

The dove-sized bird spends most of its time in coastal waters eating krill, other invertebrates and forage fish such as herring, anchovies, smelt and capelin. Murrelets can only produce one offspring per year, if the nest is successful, and their young require forage fish for proper growth and development.

Murrelets generally nest in solitude, although multiple nests sometimes occur within a small area. They typically lay their single egg high in a tree on a horizontal limb at least 4 inches in diameter, with Steller's jays, crows and ravens the main predators of murrelet nests.

"The end goal for these birds is to be very secretive and quiet so predators don't find their nests and they can produce young,' said Rivers.

Along the West Coast, marbled murrelets are found regularly from Santa Cruz, California, north to the Aleutian Islands. Their populations have been declining by about 4% a year in Washington, Oregon and California, and the species is listed as threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act in those states.

"Early on in our work, we noticed strong fluctuations in the numbers of marbled murrelets coming inland to nest, so this study was about trying to get to the bottom of those highs and lows," Betts said. "We found the first evidence that ocean conditions combined with old-forest nesting habitat influence the murrelets' long-term occupancy dynamics. In particular, we learned ocean conditions are a key driver of those dynamics."

The finding has potential key implications for forest policy in Oregon, where any state-owned site that goes two consecutive years without murrelet detection is classified as unoccupied and thus available for timber harvest.

"Our data show that below-average ocean conditions might last for more than two successive years," Rivers said. "That means there could be a scenario where sites on state lands that are suitable for breeding go unused for more than two years which, under current guidelines, would let them be considered available for harvest. Thus, murrelets might be missing from inland sites not because the forest is unsuitable for nesting, but because they have inadequate forage fish during the summer breeding season. That means it is critical that we consider factors that influence both marine food resources and terrestrial nesting habitat when considering how to recover murrelet populations."

Betts was part of a research collaboration that published a 2019 paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that showed that old forest is still declining across the Pacific Northwest 25 years into the Northwest Forest Plan, a 100-year federal road map to protect older forests.

"This is now less due to the saw and more due to fire," he said. "That means that even with strong land conservation measures, climate could not only result in warmer ocean conditions but also greater fire frequency and extent, and therefore more old forest loss."

###

Other Oregon State researchers contributing to the study were Kim Nelson and Dan Roby of the College of Agricultural Sciences and Jennifer Fisher of the Cooperative Institute for Marine Resources Studies. Scientists from Trent University in Ontario, Canada, the University of Rhode Island and the U.S. Forest Service also took part.

The OSU College of Forestry and the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture provided funding.
Reliance Industries asked Indian suppliers to manufacture up to 200 million smartphones over the next two years, in an enhanced move into the Indian devices market.

Bloomberg sources said Reliance Industries is manufacturing a smartphone that will retail at INR4,000 ($54), run Android, bear the Jio branding, and will be marketed with low-priced plans from the companys operator Reliance Jio.

The company is targeting to manufacture 150 to 200 million units of this smartphone which will have a major impact on the India market. At the end of 2019, 148.2 million smartphones were sold in the country with mainly Chinese vendors dominating market share, stated Canalys figures.

If proven true, Reliance Industries will do battle with established vendors such as market leader Xiaomi, Vivo, Samsung, Oppo, and Realme.

Xiaomi has a clear grip on the Indian market with a 30 per cent market share, shipping 5.3 million units in Q2 2020. Rival Bharti Airtel was reportedly manufacturing its own 4G device.

Bloomberg noted the apparent plans would align with the Indian governments current drive to spur domestic manufacturing, and could provide a boost to local manufacturers such as Dixon Technologies India, Lava International and Karbonn Mobiles.
A man landed behind bars for his alleged involvement in a hit-and-run crash in December.

Juan Francisco Martinez, 43, was served with an arrest warrant on Saturday charging him with accident involving damages.

Laredo police officers responded to a hit-and-run crash at 11:57 p.m. Dec. 25 in the 100 block of East Price Street. A man stated that someone had crashed into his blue Honda CR-V.

Martinez was identified as the suspect after coming forward through the course of the investigation. An assistant district attorney approved the issuance of the warrant for Martinez.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 14:18:20|Editor: huaxia

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First-year students participate in physical education class at Experimental School of Changchun Automobile Economic and Technological Development Zone in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province, Sept. 4, 2020. (Xinhua/Xu Chang)

BEIJING, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- As of Friday, about 90 percent of students at primary schools, middle schools and universities across China -- 242 million students -- are back on campus, marking the general restoration of on-campus teaching in China, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Education announced on Tuesday.

Many freshmen are still waiting to go to college, as school openings are being staggered to reduce COVID-19 control pressure, Xu Mei said at a press conference.

School teaching has returned to normal in a safe and comprehensive manner, Xu said, adding that this shows the country's education system has withstood a major test. 
The European Medicines Agency has been in contact this month with 38 makers of potential COVID-19 vaccines, an official at the EU drugs regulator said on Tuesday.

"As of early September the EMA has been in contact with developers of 38 potential COVID-19 vaccines," Fergus Sweeney, head of clinical studies and manufacturing task force at EMA, told a hearing in the European Parliament.

Vaccines must be authorised by EMA before they can be used in the European Union. No COVID-19 vaccine has been authorised in Europe.

The World Health Organisation lists 38 candidate vaccines in clinical evaluation, including shots developed in China and Russia. Another 149 candidates are in pre-clinical evaluation.

Sweeney said EU procedures to authorise COVID-19 vaccines will follow established standards. He added that the EU was conducting enhanced monitoring on the safety of potential vaccines under development.

Also read: Pfizer could secure first approval for COVID-19 vaccine, says Trump

Also read: Coronavirus vaccine update: Russia secures deal to supply 120 crore doses of Sputnik V
HUANGSHI, China, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Mhome Group (000667.sz) ("the company"), a top Chinese real estate developer headquartered in Wuhan, Hubei Province, has won a bid for prime land parcel WG (2020) No.15 in the city of Huangshi, for a total of 223.28 million yuan (US$ 32.950 million). This is the company's fifth land parcel acquired in 2020 and heralds the beginning of Mhome's "8+1 Urban Circle" layout strategy in the city.

The WG (2020) No.15 land parcel is a residential plot with an area of 11.53 acres (46,666 square meters), a plot ratio of 2.05 and a capacity area estimated at 23.57 acres (95,400 square meters). The Huangshi city centre land parcel will be the city's first A-grade prefabricated construction project, with a prefabricated construction rate above 60 percent. This is in line with the company's strategy in the second half of 2020 and will be a groundbreaking endeavour.

In the project development phase, Mhome will implement an upfront technical strategy across multiple departments, including positioning, design and communication; bringing partners and clients closer for greater efficiency. Mhome's Jiangxia Intelligent Housing Manufacturing Base will supply high-quality precast concrete units for the project.

"We prioritize cost, quality and efficiency with the current highly competitive market by choosing the right plot of land in the right place at the right time, targeting the best planning in terms of housing construction, greening and supporting facilities. The ultimate goal of Mhome is to provide better, cheaper housing for people through an established value chain system and housing solution," said Mr. Liu Daoming, Chairman of Mhome Group.

As of June 30, 2020, the total assets of Mhome amounted to 27.913 billion yuan (US$ 4.119 billion). The developer has an accumulated land reserve of 1.1133 million square meters, a total gross floor area of 1.6495 million square meters and a remaining gross floor area of 1.4678 million square meters for future development.

Currently, the total area of Mhome's ongoing projects is 1.0678 million square meters. Its total planned gross floor area is 2.7181 million square meters and a cumulative completed area of 830,000 square meters.

Mhome's projects currently on sale total 2.0127 million square meters with a cumulative settlement area of 1.1091 million square meters.

About Huangshi

Huangshi was one of two initial provincial municipals established in Hubei Province. This sub-central city of Wuhan, the capital city of Hubei, has a profound industrial culture and solid industrial foundation. Huangshi has been named one of the top 100 cities in China since 2006.

About Mhome Group

Established in 1989, Mhome Group (000667.sz) is a developer of residential and urban homes properties and provider of urban and rural construction services. Headquartered in Wuhan, China, Mhome is now a listed company with a prominent presence in multiple industries including smart housing manufacturing, modern agriculture, and industrial revitalization of small towns.

SOURCE Mhome Group
Turkey expects a prudent and constructive approach from France as de-escalation of tensions in the eastern Mediterranean continues, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday in a phone call with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron.

In a statement following the call, Turkish Presidency said Erdogan emphasized the need for using diplomatic opportunities to de-escalate tensions and achieve sustainable negotiations.

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Soothe Healthcare, a home-grown feminine & personal care company has announced the appointment of Samta Datta, as the new General Manager, Marketing, as a part of expansion of its management team.

This appointment comes after a series of senior and leadership recruitments in recent months across other key verticals demonstrating the companys expanding charter and commitment to its growth strategy.

As a part of her role, Samta will spearhead the companys marketing function for all its leading brands- Paree, Pariz and Super Cutes diaper.

Samta comes with over 16 years of experience in senior leadership roles at companies such GREY Worldwide, McCann-Erickson, Ogilvy, and Lowe Lintas. She also did a stint at B2B media firm United Business media, where she led the marketing function. Her last assignment was with GoAir, where she was General Manager Brand and Marketing.

Samta started her career with advertising where she spent more than a decade working on global and indigenous FMCG brands across hair care, skin care, and personal care, food, beverages categories. Her extensive FMCG experience and skills in marketing feminine & beauty brands, will be key in building brand portfolio at Soothe.

In addition to marketing function, Samta will also be managing internal and external communication, for Soothe Healthcare as a thought leader within the category.

Commenting on her appointment, Sahil Dharia, Founder & Chief Executive, Soothe Healthcare, said Besides her expertise in understanding FMCG brands, Samta has blend of dynamic thinking and drive, to translate the vision into reality, which are few of the core values at Soothe HealthCare. Her capabilities will add immense value to Soothe that is slowly becoming a name to reckon with in the feminine hygiene space

Samta Datta, General Manager, Marketing, Soothe Healthcare, said, I am thrilled to be part of the team that is responsibly innovating in feminine care category. Brand Paree has the intent & potential to expand and transform the category in India. I look forward to build this road ahead.
Opposition members, including from the DMK, Congress, NCP and TMC, on Tuesday boycotted proceedings and walked out of the Lok Sabha over the contentious farm Bills seeking their "withdrawal".

Congress Leader of the House Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury requested the government through the chair to withdraw the two farm Bills which were passed by the Rajya Sabha on Sunday despite objection raised by the opposition. Chowdhury's request came after the House reassembled at 4.14 p.m. following a one-hour adjournment over the same issue earlier raised by the opposition.

The MP from Baharampur in West Bengal said that the opposition has no problem in participating in House proceedings if the government is ready to withdraw the two farm Bills. "Since 2014, you (Modi government) are in the power. India's farmers, labour and unemployed people have been passing through worse phase...You passed the Bills here and snatched our right in other House. Nothing can happen without the order of the government. We are standing in the support of our members in other House. We all opposition members boycott the House proceedings. You compel us to boycott the House," Chowdhury said.

Later almost whole opposition walked out of the House sloganeering "Aawaz Do Hum Ek Hai", "Tanasahi Nahi Chalegi", "Modi government hai hai". The opposition staged walk out after Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar accused the Congress of spreading rumours against the government and urged the nation not to fall in the trap of the party.

The minister said that Minimum Support Price (MSP) will continue and the whole country knows how the government in 2018 increased the MSP at 1.5 times the production cost, which is the chief determinant of MSP after the recommendation of the National Commission of Farmers 2006. The minister later accused the Congress of not making the reforms due to pressure of brokers even as the party's manifesto mentions the issue.

Tomar said when the Congress failed to implement the reforms for the welfare of the farmers while the Modi government has managed to do it, they are now scared of losing farmers' support and are spreading such rumours. Similar issue created pandemonium in the Lok Sabha when it assembled at 3 p.m. leading to a one-hour adjournment as Congress raised the issue criticising the government's step that led to thousands of farmers hitting the streets in protest.

Cutting across party lines, the Trinamool Congress and the Bahujan Samaj Party also supported the Congress with leaders Kalyan Banerjee and Ritesh Pandey echoing on the subject. Banerjee said "we are with Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury over the issue."

The two controversial Bills --- the Farmer's Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 -- passed by both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, will now go to the President for his assent before they are notified as laws.

The third farm Bill  the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020 is yet to be taken up in Rajya Sabha.

Thousands of farmers in Punjab, Haryana and several other states have been staging protests since the government introduced these Bills in the Lok Sabha on the opening day of the Monsoon Session on September 14 to replace the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance, 2020, and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Ordinance, 2020 promulgated on June 5.

Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal of the Akali Dal resigned from the Modi government, hours ahead of the voting in the Lower House on the two Bills on September 17. However, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla continued the proceedings and took up three labour code Bills moved by the government for passage in the House.
 Close Edward Leigh brands Covid restrictions "authoritarianism"

A senior Tory has accused the government of "ruling by decree" for "imposing" new coronavirus restrictions without proper debate and voting procedures.

Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee of Conservative backbenchers, told the BBC that ministers were treating the British people "like children", as regulations such as the rule of six have not been subject to sufficient scrutiny by MPs.

Mr Bradys remarks came a day before Boris Johnson is scheduled to convene a Cobra meeting to discuss the governments emergency response to the rapidly increasing number of Covid-19 infections in the UK.

Meanwhile former prime minister Theresa May accused the government of acting recklessly and irresponsibly over the UK Internal Market Bill - which ministers admit would break international law by overriding the prime ministers Brexit deal.
OAKLAND, Calif., Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Tim East, Director of Risk Management at the Walt Disney Company and CEO and Chair of the Board of Trustees for the California Self-Insurers' Security Fund (CASISF), recently sat down for a conversation with the California Business Journal about workers' compensation self-insurance.

Tim East, CASISF Board Chair & CEO

East shared his thoughts on topics ranging from the benefits of self-insurance to the impact of the current Covid-19 pandemic on evolving law in California. Front of mind for East is how self-insurance supports both employers and employees. Some key insights he shared include:

CASISF's innovative first-in-the-nation Alternative Security Program (ASP) provides self-insured employers with a $6.5 billion "low-cost substitute for collateral without any balance sheet impact." East says.

"The availability of the ASP incentivizes more California companies to become self-insured for workers' comp because not only do companies not have to pay large workers' comp insurance premiums every month, they don't have to set aside a large chunk of working capital to self-insure," East says. "Self-insurance has tremendous advantages and, in many cases, substantial cost savings for employers."

East emphasizes the best reasons for being self-insured are the Three Cs: Cost, Control, and Care, shorthand for cost-effectiveness, claims program control, and personalized care for those injured.

East discussed the ease of becoming self-insured. Companies wishing to become self-insured can achieve this in about 30 days from initial application to being fully self-insured. CASISF maintains a full complement of self-insurance resources on their website.

Read the full conversation with Tim East here.

The California Self-Insurers' Security Fund (CASISF) has been proudly serving its members for 36 years since its founding on July 6, 1994. We are a member-driven non-profit organization with leadership by a volunteer Board of Trustees representing members serving members. The Security Fund is a strategic partner supporting California self-insured workers' compensation programs. "We are California Workers' Comp Experts" with a singular focus on self-insurance.

More information on California's workers' compensation self-insurance program is available at CASISF's website  www.securityfund.org or by emailing [email protected] . For media inquiries, contact Becky Lysaght (510) 879-6035. #CASISF #CASISF36Years

SOURCE California Self-Insurers' Security Fund (CASISF)

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By Laman Ismayilova

Not too long ago, a female conductor leading a classical orchestra was a rarity. For instance, Vienna Philharmonic did not invite a female guest conductor to lead its orchestra until 2005.

However, things have changed a lot over the past decade and many women are now presiding at the conductor's podium.

Turan Manafzade breaks down all musical boundaries as a female conductor. The choice of such a rare profession for a woman was influenced by her brother, talented pianist and composer Abuzar Manafzade.

"I was 23 years old when I decided to be a conductor. At that time I did not realize how strategic was the decision that I made on behalf of my country. Before conducting, I graduated from Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, where I studied in piano class of associate professor Nurferi Onur. Afterwards, I continued my education in the class of Italian conductor Antonio Pirolli," she told Azernews.

In her interview, Manafzade highlighted the attitude towards female conductors.

"Today people's view on this issue is rapidly changing thanks to "positive discrimination", support provided to women and an increasing number of female conductors.Nowadays women are evolved in many work places. After all, everyone appreciates your work if you are doing it properly," said Manafzade.

Speaking about her most memorable performances, Manafzade noted her concerts in Azerbaijan and abroad.

"I enjoy all my performances in each country or city, especially those in my homeland," said Manafzade.

The conductor stressed a welcoming atmosphere at concerts in Azerbaijan. It is always a great pleasure to her to perform works by prominent national composers as well as her own music pieces and those one composed by Abuzar Manafzade.

Her performance of first ever Concerto for Balaban and Symphonic orchestra was also exciting and spectacular.

After successful premiere in US, Abuzar Manafzade's music piece was presented in Baku on May 25, on the birthday of eminent conductor.

Today, Turan Manafzade is known worldwide as an incredibly talented pianist and conductor who actively promotes Azerbaijan's rich music.

Since 2019, she has been studying MBA program at Istanbul's Bahcesehir University.

"I am writing a thesis on digital culture. There are many extensive and interesting sources on this subject. My main goal is to successful complete my master's degree. I am also planning to compose and record more music. My new piano pieces will be soon released at all digital platforms," she added.

In conclusion, Turan Manafzade shared her advises to future female conductors.

"I consider myself lucky to play before showing interest in the art of conducting. It is very useful to master a musical instrument for conductor. Here is my advise to all ladies who want to be conductors: You need not only talent and hard work, but also courage, self-confidence and openness for self-improvement. I can say that women have to possess these qualities twice as much," she said.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
A Kildare suckler farmer is pioneering the production and use of biochar in Ireland  a substance which he maintains could reduce greenhouse gas emissions on his farm by as much as 20pc.

Biochar is a type of charcoal that can be mixed with slurry to make a slow-release fertiliser or fed directly to cattle, capturing methane and nitric oxide directly from the cows gut.

Kim McCall has been making biochar on his farm for the past three years. Over that time he has made more than 2,000 tonnes of the material, using off-cuts of wood from his forestry plantation.

Expand Close Peregrine McCall, pictured with forestry off-cuts which will be used to make Biochar on the farm / Facebook

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Whatsapp Peregrine McCall, pictured with forestry off-cuts which will be used to make Biochar on the farm

Unlike traditional charcoal, biochar is made at very high temperatures and can be made from any carbon-based material including scrap wood, rushes, reeds or even grass.

Once made, the biochar is then inoculated or soaked with fertiliser.

The biochar soaks up the valuable fertiliser and when spread it releases it back into the ground over time. Because the biochar is created at a very high temperature, and without the presence of oxygen, all the carbon remains intact within it and is not released into the environment.

Instead, the carbon is returned to the soil when the fertiliser is spread, and remains trapped underground in this form for hundreds or possibly thousands of years.

It basically acts like a sponge. The biochar has millions of tiny pockets in it which soak up nutrients and release them over time. You can mix it with any sort of fertiliser  urine, slurry, compost, any sort of fertiliser will do. It will absorb it and slowly release it over time, says Mr McCall.

I got a local fabricator to make me a kiln. Its a bit like an upside-down pyramid with the point cut off. Its like a big bath tub with sloping sides. You light the fire from the top, that is very important. As the fire burns down, it gets hotter and hotter, but you have no smoke because it is burning without oxygen.

When it gets really hot, I keep adding layer after layer of fresh material  you get temperatures between 500 and 800 degrees. You are burning all the volatiles (chemicals), and they are all staying within the kiln.

Because there is a flame on top, no oxygen can get to the material inside the kiln. So that material cooks at a very high temperature without any oxygen. The volatiles  the methane, carbon monoxide and others  are burned off at a very high temperature with no smoke. So what you are left with is mostly all carbon.

A typical burn takes up to five hours to complete and must be fully extinguished afterwards or the biochar will smoulder until it becomes ash. Once complete the biochar is added to fertiliser before it can be spread on the land.

The biochar can also be fed directly to cattle  it has been found to reduce the emissions they produce, while the biochar itself remains intact and inoculated with fertiliser when it passes from the animal.

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Whatsapp A jar of Biochar which will be mixed with meal and molasses before being fed to the cattle

I started off by adding it to the slurry tank, once a week or every few days, but this year I actually fed it to the cows, says Mr McCall.

They eat it, it goes through the gut of the cow, picks up various microbes along the way and eventually get into the [slurry] tank, where it is already inoculated with fertiliser and ready to use.

Amazingly, if you feed it to the cows in this way, it reduces the methane and the nitrous oxide that the cow produces.

A study in America found that cows that eat biochar in this way will produce slurry that is between 9 and 18pc lower in emissions.

The cows dont particularly like it, but I added a bit of molasses through it and they were happy enough with that.

You dont want to go too heavy on it. The biochar will absorb lots of things, so if the cow was on something from the vet, that will be absorbed by the biochar.

Biochar is used all around the world in forestry and has become more popular in farming in recent years. It can be made in a variety of ways, from low cost kilns as used by Mr McCall and his son Peregrine, to purpose-built units which can cost up to 5 million.

It is quite easy to make, in some respects, but you have to get the method that suits your situation, says Peregrine.

If you have a source of material, any farmer could do it. I use off-cuts of wood but you could use rushes, you could use straw, whatever you have to hand.

Were not experts, but weve learned from doing it and anyone could do the same.

If made correctly, biochar is also an effective carbon sink, trapping carbon in the soil and reducing the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere. The use of biochar could have a major impact on reducing the amount of emissions produced by Irish agriculture.

If you burn wood, or anything, to ash, what you have done is essentially liberated the carbon into carbon dioxide. But if you can keep it in its physical form, like biochar, you are actually trapping that carbon and putting it into the ground, says Kim.

Some people say it will stay trapped there for 10 years, some say 100 years and other say it could be thousands of years. I dont know.

While the benefits of biochar is recognised by the EU, it is unregulated and there are no programmes in place to incentivise its use in farming.

Its easy to do but it is also complicated. Its hard to quantify. Biochar made at 1500 degrees has very different properties to that made at 350 degrees, for example. There are so many variables that it is hard for them [the EU] to quantify it, says Kim.

It is recognised by the EU but its not regulated yet.

Maybe thats not a bad thing. If farmers do something themselves, they generally do it well.

Most farmers would have waste wood available. Its easy to make once you have a method and that bit of time. Once you learn how to do it, biochar is a completely new world.

Biochar could help halt the spread of lethal ash disease

Biochar could offer a solution to tackling Ash Dieback disease, which has been wreaking devastation in Irish plantations.

Studies in the UK have shown that the application of biochar around the roots of young ash trees reduces the chances of infection.

Research carried out by the Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories at the University of Reading has also shown that an enriched biochar blend can significantly reduce the damage done to ash trees by the disease.



Expand Close Ash Dieback disease first appeared in Ireland in 2012 and forestry sources estimate that losses to ash growers from the disease could eventually top1bn. / Facebook

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Whatsapp Ash Dieback disease first appeared in Ireland in 2012 and forestry sources estimate that losses to ash growers from the disease could eventually top1bn.

The trial of more than 2,000 trees undertaken by Dr Glynn Percival, head plant physiologist at the Bartlett Tree Research Laboratory, found that biochar may prevent ash trees from contracting Ash Dieback in the first place.

Twenty ash trees in a plantation of 2,000 trees in Essex were treated with enriched biochar over a three-year period. During this time, over a third of the trees showed signs of infection with Ash Dieback, but none of the 20 treated trees showed any sign of infection.

This possible breakthrough has provided encouragement to many owners of ash plantations in Ireland.

It was Ash Dieback that really piqued my interest in biochar and made me want to give it a go, says Kim McCall.

I had read about it and heard that it could be beneficial, especially for tackling Ash Dieback. People were talking about it in hushed tones, as if it was mysterious and really difficult to make.

There is good evidence out there in relation to Ash Dieback. People [in other countries] are actually pumping biochar in around the roots of ash trees.

They have found that while the ash trees are not fully immune to the disease, they stand a much better chance of not catching it compared to trees in the same plantation. It looks like there is some sort of link there.

The first reports of ash trees being effected by a wilting and dying of the leaves was recorded in Poland in 1992. It took scientists 14 years to properly analyse and described the fungus.

By this time, symptoms of the disease were being seen in trees in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

In 2008, Ash Dieback was positively identified in Scandinavia, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Germany, Austria and Switzerland, and it reached Ireland in 2012.

While the exact way that the fungus was transmitted to Ireland is not clear, it is widely suspected that diseased root stock imported from mainland Europe was the original source.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 02:48:00|Editor: huaxia

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GENEVA, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Tuesday called for the effective reduction and eradication of poverty so as to better facilitate the promotion and protection of human rights, when delivering a statement on behalf of a cross-regional group of states at the ongoing 45th session of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council.

Chen Xu, China's Permanent Representative to UN's Geneva Office, also called for efforts to make poverty reduction a major element of economic development and carry out targeted development-oriented poverty reduction policies.

"We call on the states to put people at the center, by protecting and promoting public well-being, and putting in place and upgrading social protection networks that provide effective protection of the rights of people in vulnerable situations, such as women, children, the elderly and persons with disabilities, with a particular focus on alleviating the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the poor, in order to leave no one behind," he said.

Recalling that ending poverty is the first goal of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Chinese envoy said that it is also an important way to promote and protect human rights.

"We express our grave concern that nearly 800 million people are still living in extreme poverty across the world and, in particular, an estimated 71 million people may be pushed back into extreme poverty in 2020 due to COVID-19," he said.

Chen said that this exacerbates social inequality and will have a negative impact on the enjoyment of human rights by all.

Poverty eradication, economic, social, cultural and environmental development, as well as human rights promotion and protection should all be addressed in a holistic and coordinated manner, he added.

The envoy called for greater efforts in upgrading the infrastructure in poverty-stricken areas and delivering public services in health, sanitation, education, culture and job creation, in order to help the poor enhance their capacity for self-development.

He also called for intensified international cooperation on poverty reduction and urged the developed countries to provide aid and technical support to the developing and least developed countries in the field of poverty reduction. Enditem
Work has begun to build a new particle accelerator at the Department of Energys Brookhaven National Laboratory at Upton, Long Island. The new facility will form the backbone of the Electron-Ion Collider project, an initiative to learn the secrets of electrons. Assorted officials from New York and the Department of Energy commemorated the news, including Senator Chuck Schumer.

The Electron-Ion Collider project will attempt to smash electrons and protons together in order to produce images showing their internal structure. Officials at BNL describe it as a CT Scanner for atoms, to get a better look at the building blocks of these phenomena: Gluons and Quarks. Specifically, that the force that binds an atomic nucleus and the electrons that surround it, which is regarded as one of the strongest in nature.

Funding for the project will primarily come from the DOE, which expects to hand over anything up to $2.6 billion, with New York State adding an additional $100 million. That will pay for a 2.4-mile long ring to be built parallel to the collider thats already in place at Brookhaven. Its hoped that investment will pay off if researchers can understand the nature of how gluons bind these structures together.

DOE

For all the attention that CERNs Large Hadron Collider gets, you may be forgiven for not knowing that Brookhaven already hosts one of its own. The Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider is designed to fire heavy ions at each other in the hope of causing a collision which can be studied. According to one report, the RHIC will be retired in 2025 to make way for its replacement, which is expected to begin operations around 2031.
Beijing, Sep 22 : China's Education Ministry on Tuesday said that 90 per cent of students across the country have returned to school amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Addressing the media here, Ministry spokesperson Xu Mei said that as of September 19, at least 242 million students were back at primary, middle schools and universities across China, reports Xinhua news agency.

This marked the general restoration of on-campus teaching in China, Xu said.

Many freshmen are still waiting, as reopenings were being staggered to reduce Covid-19 control pressure, the spokesperson added.

School teaching has returned to normal in a safe and comprehensive manner, Xu further said.

Schools across China, except Xinjiang due to fresh Covid-19 cases, were given the go-ahead to reopen starting from September 1.

Although the novel coronavirus was first detected last December in Hubei province's capital city of Wuhan, China has so far reported only 85,297 confirmed cases and 4,634 deaths.
A Sydney family have been fined $112 for parking their car outside their house with their car windows wound down.

Richelle Amey's husband Nick copped a road infringement while doing landscape work in the front yard outside his home in Caringbah in Sydney's south on August 4.

The 34-year-old said her husband parked his ute across the road from their house with the windows wound down slightly when a policeman approached the car.

'A cop yelled out to him while he was working saying "who's car is this?"' Mrs Amey told Daily Mail Australia.

'Nick said "it's mine" then the cop yelled "I'm going to fine you for having your windows down" and Nick said "are you serious?"

A Sydney family have been fined (pictured) for parking their car across the road from their house with their windows wound down

Mrs Amey said the policeman questioned her husband about what would have happened if he had left his wallet in the car.

'Nick said "well, there's not" and the cop said "I'm still going to fine you anyway".

'We got the fine in the mail and I was like "what the hell?" I couldn't believe it.'

It wasn't until after her husband was fined that Mrs Amey realised he had committed an offence.

NSW Road Rules state a driver can be fined for not 'making a motor vehicle secure' if they are more than three metres away from their car with their doors unlocked or windows down by as little as two centimetres.

Police and traffic officers have the ability to fine drivers if their car is unattended with the windows down by as little as two centimetres

Mrs Amey said while her husband's ute was in eyesight of where he was working, it didn't stop them from escaping the law.

'You have to be within three metres. You can't even go to pay for petrol,' she said.

Mrs Amey said there was no point in fighting the fine based on the ruling, but hoped to draw attention to the little known road rule.

'A lot of people would do this without knowing,' she said. 'I'm merely warning people because I think it's ridiculous.'
RENO, Nev. - Federal agents have arrested a northern Nevada homicide suspect in south-central Mexico.

Washoe County sheriffs deputies identified 19-year-old Giovanni Gonzales-Mariscal as the prime suspect in the killing of 20-year-old Robert Decoite Jr. of Sparks about two months after Decoite was fatally shot at a popular, suburban park in Spanish Springs on Dec. 2, 2019.

Sheriff Darin Balaam announced Tuesday that co-operation between local, federal and international authorities resulted in the recent arrest of Gonzales-Mariscal in Jalisco, Mexico.

He was returned to California last week and remains in federal custody awaiting extradition to Reno to face a charge of open murder in the case.

Balaam says he requested the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service in locating the suspect in January when the victims family and Secret Witness combined to offer $8,000 in reward money.

Ballaam says Decoite was shot in broad daylight at Lazy 5 Regional Park in Spanish Springs just north of Sparks.

The afternoon shooting shut down the Spanish Springs Library at the park the following day while detectives investigated.

Gary Schofield, head of the U.S. Marshal district for Nevada, joined Balaam Tuesday in praising the partnership between the county, federal agents and the marshals international office in Mexico.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 14:36:05|Editor: huaxia

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FAIZABAD, Afghanistan, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Four militants including a Taliban key commander Mawlawi Ataullah have been confirmed dead as clash flared up in Raghistan district of Afghanistan's northern Badakhshan province, provincial government spokesman Nik Mohammad Nazari said Tuesday.

The clash erupted early Tuesday morning after the Taliban militants stormed security checkpoints and police returned fire, killing four including Mawlawi Ataullah alias Mawlawi Ibrahim on the spot, forcing the insurgents to retreat, the official added.

Describing the killed Mawlawi as key commander, the official asserted that Mawlawi Ataullah had served as deputy for military commission of the Taliban in Badakhshan, saying his death could prove a major setback to the Taliban in Badakhshan and adjoining areas.

Two policemen have also been injured in the fighting, Nazari said, adding that security forces have been chasing the insurgents in Raghistan district to stabilize security there.

Taliban militants who have intensified activities amid ongoing peace talks in Doha haven't commented. Enditem
New Jersey would borrow $4.5 billion to offset slumping tax revenue amid the pandemic recession under a proposed state budget bill introduced in the state Legislature on Monday.

The proposed borrowing is $500 million more than Gov. Phil Murphy had recommended in his $32.4 billion proposed budget. The $32.7 billion spending plan is also $300 million higher than the governors proposal and shaves off a tax increase on opioid manufactures and sales tax hikes on cigarettes, firearms, boats and limousine services.

State Senate and Assembly budget committees are scheduled to hold hearings on the budget and related bills Tuesday, followed by votes in on the floor of both houses on Thursday.

The legislative proposal notably slices $200 million off the planned $4.9 billion contribution to the states public worker pension fund, representing a considerable concession for Murphy, who was adamant he would not haggle over the payment.

If the pension payment in the budget is $4.9 billion, then the minimum amount that Im prepared to make in the final deal is $4.9 billion. Period. Theres no negotiating room, he said a day after introducing his budget in August.

At $4.9 billion, the pension contribution was eight-tenths of what actuaries recommend to avoid piling on more unfunded liabilities. About $300 million of that $4.9 billion was needed following an experience study that calculates longer life spans, higher salaries and other factors.

The state will spread the payment over several years rather than take the full hit in next year, according to legislative and administration sources.

The budget deal also eliminates Murphys $40 million baby bond proposal that have provided a $1,000 savings bond for each New Jersey child born in 2021.

Murphy and fellow Democrats who control the Legislature negotiated the spending plan in less than one month and without any of the fireworks that marred two budget cycles. Instead, Murphy, state Senate President Stephen Sweeney, D-Gloucester, and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, D-Middlesex, jointly announced last week theyd reached a landmark deal to restore the millionaires tax and send $500 rebate checks to 800,000 New Jersey families.

The budget is the second the Legislature will approve this year. In June, they voted on a $7.7 billion, three-month stopgap budget after voting to extend the fiscal year through Sept. 30. Combined with the newly proposed $32.7 billion, the state will spend $40.4 billion through next June.

The budget deal raises from 8.97% to 10.75% the tax rate on income between $1 million and $5 million  income over $5 million is already taxed at that rate  and makes permanent a 2.5-percentage point tax increase on corporations with more than $1 million in profits that was being phased out.

The Legislature has repeatedly rejected Murphys overtures on the millionaires tax, but Democratic leaders traded the tax hike for a new middle-class tax rebate, which is limited to married couples with at least one dependent child and income below $150,000 and single parents with at least one dependent child and income below $75,000.

Together, the tax increases will raise $600 million. A third tax increase, on HMO plans, will generate another $100 million, whereas Murphys full slate of proposed tax hikes would have accounted for $1 billion in new tax revenue.

The legislative proposal projects the state would close out the fiscal year with $2.5 billion in reserves, $286 million more than the governors proposed spending plan.

The reserves, a relatively high balance for the state, is made possible with $4.5 billion in new debt.

Lawmakers already approved a coronavirus bond act that allows the administration to borrow as much as $9.9 billion through June 30 to compensate for the pandemics effect on state tax collections. A four-person legislative committee must sign onto the final borrowing authorization.

The state Treasury Department has not said whether it intends to take a loan from the Federal Reserves Municipal Liquidity Facility or borrow on the public or private markets. The state will seek a 10-year, level repayment plan, treasury officials said.

New Jerseys debt per capita is fourth highest among U.S. states, behind Connecticut, Massachusetts and Hawaii, according to the states annual debt report, which showed it had $44.4 billion in outstanding bonds as of June 30, 2019.

The state Supreme Court sided with the governor in a Republican effort to block the deficit spending plan, though it advised the state could not borrow more than the revenue losses certified by Murphys administration.

Critics of the debt had warned officials risk creating a fiscal cliff when they go to balance the next years budget without the billions of dollars in bond proceeds. It would be better, some suggested, for the state to reduce its planned $4.9 billion pension contribution or raise additional new tax revenue.

The proposal also restores millions of dollars in cuts Murphys budget made to re-entry services and halfway houses, provides $15 million to a school-based mental health program operating inside 100 school districts and boosts funding for extraordinary special education by $25 million.

It sets aside $15 million for horse racing purse subsidies, among hundreds of millions of dollars in legislative add-ons.

NJ Advance Media staff writer Brent Johnson contributed to this report.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.

Samantha Marcus may be reached at smarcus@njadvancemedia.com.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence, Simon Coveney, T.D., and the Minister of State for European Affairs, Thomas Byrne, T.D., will exchange views with their counterparts on the current EU-UK negotiations, at a meeting of Ministers for European Affairs today.

Ministers will also prepare for the European Council meeting on 24-25 September. At that meeting, leaders will discuss completion of the Single Market and Digital issues, EU-China relations, as well Turkey and the current situation in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Minister Coveney said:

We will discuss the current state of play on Brexit and hear Michel Barniers assessment of where we currently stand on the most important issues. The last few weeks have been challenging  Michel and his team have our full confidence and support as we find a way forward.

Minister Byrne said:

I am looking forward to engaging with my EU colleagues in the General Affairs Council today. During my time in Brussels, I will also take the opportunity to meet individually with a number of my EU ministerial colleagues. We will discuss the many important issues on the GAC agenda, including Brexit, the next EU budget and the rule of law in our Union. I will also meet with key contacts across the EU Institutions. We remain deeply committed to the EU and its ideals and I look forward to continuing to develop and strengthen our relationship with each individual EU Member State and with the Institutions of the EU.

In addition, Ministers will discuss EU coordination on Covid-19 travel restrictions. The German Presidency will provide an update on the rule of the Rule of Law in Poland and Hungary.
Florida governor Ron DeSantis has threatened to bring felony charges against protesters arrested on a broad range of charges targeting disorderly assemblies" in the wake of widespread demonstrations against police brutality.

His proposal would cut off protesters from eligibility for unemployment benefits and keep people imprisoned without bond if theyre arrested during demonstrations until their first appearance in court, among several severe and potentially unconstitutional measures aimed at

Seven or more people involved in an assembly" that causes property damage or injury would be committing a felony, according to his proposal.

The governors sweeping legislation would also make blocking traffic a felony and invoke RICO statutes to identify protest organisers and link them to organised crime.

If you do it, and you know that a ton of bricks will rain down on you, then I think people will think twice about engaging in this type of conduct, he said during a press conference.

Toppling statues and obstructing traffic could also be punished as felonies, but drivers would not be liable for injury or death if they kill someone while feeling a mob protest, according to the measure.

It would also would seek to impose a mandatory six-month jail term for people found guilty of throwing an object at law enforcement officers.

The governors Combating Violence, Disorder and Looting and Law Enforcement Protection Act will be a focal point of the 2021 state legislative session, the governor announced on Monday.

"You have an obligation to let the voters know where you stand on this bill, said Governor DeSantis, addressing officials running for office. Are you going to stand with law and order and safe communities, or are you going to stand with the mob?

The measure, as written, is likely to face intense scrutiny and resistance in the states legislature, where Republicans control the upper chamber.

Governor DeSantis, a chief ally to Donald Trump, who has called for a strict law-and-order regime throughout his 2020 reelection campaign, would also aim to punish cities that reallocate law enforcement budgets by prohibiting state grants or aid to any local government that slashes the budget for law enforcement services.

The governor also would prohibit state and local governments from hiring people who have been convicted on charges related to protests, and current government employees, if they have been convicted on those charges, could be fired and denied state benefits.

Floridas Sheriffs and Police Chiefs associations backed the proposal.

State lawmakers and civil rights groups immediately condemned the proposal as an unconstitutional threat to First Amendment protections as Black Lives Matter demonstrations persist and Republicans heighten their opposition in the days leading up to Election Day.

Floridas Community Justice Project called the measure an unconstitutional and offensive attempt to chill speech and divide our communities and urged the governor to focus on the states Covid-19 infection rate and not criminalising dissent.

Stephanie Porta, executive director of the progressive group Organize Florida, told the Sun Sentinel that the measure is merely an election stunt focused on tamping down current protests that are being planned around the Supreme Court, as well as people getting into the streets to demand that every ballot gets counted."

This is out there to absolutely scare people into not using their constitutional rights for freedom of speech," she said.

Micah Kubic, executive director of the ACLU of Florida, called the proposal undemocratic and hostile to Americans shared values.

This effort has one goal: silence, criminalise and penalise Floridians who want to see justice for black lives lost to racialised violence and brutality at the hands of law enforcement, he said.

Instead of acknowledging and addressing police brutality and violence in our state, Governor DeSantis wants to use his power to throw more people into the criminal legal system by enacting overly harsh criminal penalties for protesters who are exercising their constitutional right to take to the streets and demand justice."

The governor also is moving to terminate the additional federal unemployment benefits during the pandemic, as the state does not pay out-of-work residents enough in order to meet the 25 per cent matching requirement, leaving thousands of unemployed Floridians out of an additional $300 a week.
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I often find myself scrolling through pictures from last month. My heart is filled with joy as I look at the fellowshipping groups, the sporadic worship and the genuine moments, yet I feel a longing. There are some experiences in life you never forget. Although I only spent one week in Zimbabwe, seven days have never impacted me in the way Africa has. My heart for God has been positively altered by the Christian lives in Zimbabwe.

Last month The Tide global radio ministry, a nonprofit organization currently using radio broadcasting and conferences to reach the nations with the Gospel, blessed me with the task of documenting our time in Zimbabwe through journaling. Going to Africa, I knew I had responsibilities to the organization, but Zimbabwe very quickly shifted how I viewed the order of priorities.

As a college student in the United States, I am guilty of falling into a busy routine; when I am given a task I focus fully on what is required. The task-oriented life often results in relationships only being convenient when they fit into the schedule. By contrast, while The Tide ministry hosted a conference during our time in Africa, the Zimbabwean pastors and leaders had scheduled tea times throughout each day for the sole purpose of fellowship.

Fellowship naturally flows from the Christians in Zimbabwe in a way I have never seen, and they desperately seek all people to participate in their time together. Each tea time we would be sought out and reminded of the time set apart to be with one another. Fellowship is not an afterthought, it is a priority above most else, and the Zimbabwean culture reflects Gods original plan for fellowship. My task-oriented mind travelled with me to Zimbabwe, but the Christians there taught me to leave such a mind behind.

While in Zimbabwe, The Tide team and I were able to attend a local church in Bulawayo. During the service, hands grasped a variety of aged song booksbooks that were personally owned by each, the pages appeared to have been carefully studied, and the harmonized congregation proved the study of their worship. Siyabonga, Jesu! Siyabonga, Jesu! Siyabonga, Jesu! These Ndebele (the native language) lyrics echo in my head as I remember their praise. Thank you, Jesus! Thank you, Jesus! Thank you, Jesus!

Exiting church on Sunday morning was not synonymous to leaving the state of worship; all throughout the week, singing was the filler of silence. From seminars to tea time, there was singing. From free time to meals, there was singing. If there was extra time, there was singing. Ceaseless worship to God flooded my ears every day, and it changed me.

Worship can become the stalest element among those who believe in Christ; we can fall into a place where we think worship is scheduled, but God created praise to be more than a specific time. The only way I can think to explain the worship experience among the Zimbabwe Christians is sporadic, beautiful and unified. My scheduled worship mind travelled with me to Zimbabwe, but the Christians there taught me to leave such a mind behind.

Things are a bit tough, but with God we are going to manage, said the Rev. M. Kalafula, a local Zimbabwean pastor. Life is not easy in Zimbabwe, and I will admit I do not personally understand the struggles they deal with each day. Technology, electricity, water, housing, economy, healthnone of these elements are guaranteed in their living, yet the people I saw in Zimbabwe responded with unified worship proclaiming, God is good!

I am unable to give identity to simply one source for quoting God is good in my six days there; I heard countless people communicating this truth. During my time in Zimbabwe, the local bishop, Bishop Sindah Ngulube, was attending his mothers funeral, yet he and his wife joined our team for dinner to welcome us with open arms. There was pain from the recent loss of his mothers life, but Bishop Ngulube radiated peace; he was in church the next morning as the song lyrics rang Siyabonga, Jesu! Siyabonga, Jesu! Siyabonga, Jesu! Life is not set on a consistent schedule, but as Rev. Kalafula says, with God we are going to manage. My mind dependent on consistency travelled with me to Zimbabwe, but the Christians there taught me to leave such a mind behind.

Before leaving Africa to come home, I felt conflicted. I do not want to treat this trip as a trophy on my shelf of Christian accomplishments. The people in Zimbabwe are not mere projects; as The Tide team taught them, the Christianity culture in Zimbabwe taught me. In college, I have no choice but to live in my own culture, but I do have a choice to respect the culture to which I have been introduced. But how do I respect a culture I am not currently living in? I wrote these words in my journal a few days before heading home: This trip to Zimbabwe has called me out of my zone of comfort. I pray I will continue to walk through doors leading out of my comfort zone and into being a disciple for Christ.

God is being glorified in Zimbabwe! We need to thank God for the beautiful people worshipping him in diverse cultures. I am thankful to the followers of Christ in Zimbabwe; they have influenced the mind I brought to them last month. I came with a task-oriented, scheduled worship and consistency-dependent mind, but the Christians there taught me to leave such minds behind.

Hannah Wheeler, originally from Florida, is an editor and reporter for Lancaster Bible Colleges only campus newspaper. She is a sophomore majoring in communication and minoring in intercultural studies, and hopes to use her passion for writing, speaking and other cultures in the future. The Tide ministry currently offers audio programming in 25 heart languages spoken by millions of people in multiple regions of Albania, Bhutan, India, Kosovo, Nepal, Nigeria, Thailand and Zimbabwe, making it possible for multiple people groups to hear the Gospel in the languages they were born to speak.
Schools across Africa are slowly reopening after months of remote learning during the coronavirus pandemic. But Zimbabwe's teachers union is resisting going back to the classroom and has rejected a call by the U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) for governments to reopen schools.

On Tuesday, Mohamed Malick Fall, regional director for UNICEF in Eastern and Southern Africa, urged governments in the region to open schools closed earlier this year following an outbreak of coronavirus.

Fall said the pandemic has caused an unprecedented education crisis over the last seven months as radio and online learning methods are not reaching all the students. Some also lost the daily meals they were receiving at school.

And thats not all, said Fall.

Lost learning hurts children and community, teenage pregnancy and violence against children increase. Now we acknowledge the safe reopening of schools will not be easy. While evidence show that children are not the main driver of the pandemic, there will be cases of COVID-19 in school(s). It will not be a practice in perfection. But it can be done with community commitment, government leadership and investment, he said.

South Africa, despite its large COVID-19 caseloads, reopened schools for all grades at the end of August.

UNICEF says most countries in eastern and southern Africa have seen a phased return to schools, starting with exam classes.

In Zimbabwe exam classes are scheduled to start next week. But that now hangs in balance after the countrys biggest teachers union called for a strike unless their concerns are addressed.

The teachers earn about $100 a month, including a $75 COVID-19 allowance introduced two months ago. They want an additional $500 to be above the poverty line.

Sifiso Ndlovu, the head of the Zimbabwe Teachers Association, said he is worried that UNICEF has not looked at his countrys lack of preparedness to reopen schools.

The safety issues that we have been concerned about in the schools have not been met thoroughly as to guarantee safe and healthy reopening of schools without high incidents of COVID-19. Secondly, UNICEF seem to be oblivious that the learning conditions for students is also dependent on the working conditions of the teachers and above all it should be supported by budgetary support even from UNICEF, he said.

Amon Murwira is Zimbabwe's minister of higher and tertiary education. He said the government allocated about $60,000 to ensure that when schools reopen they are observing World Health Organization guidelines for COVID-19.

Neighboring Zambia opened schools Monday. Via WhatsApp, Christopher Yalukanda, from the Zambia National Union of Teachers said his organization is checking on the preparedness of schools after the over half-a-year-long closures.

What we observed is that most of children came back equipped with masks, the schools have already acquired some face masks, sanitizers and they have set up some washing points within the school. In order to take care of social distancing schools have divided or staggering timetable, which means not all the learners will report to school the same day, said Yalukanda.

He said it was too early to conclude that Zambia has successfully reopened schools and is following WHO guidelines to contain the coronavirus. He said the teachers union will go around the country to assess the situation.
Alex Allen says Hearken, a female-founded tech company, underpaid her for years

Hearken is a female-founded tech consulting company whose founding principle is helping organizations to listen better to those they serve. However, a Black former employee claims that the Chicago-based company fell short of its own lofty ideals.

Alex Allen worked for Hearken for more than two years starting in Dec. 2017. She was the sales coordinator at the audience development company and was onboarded by her white, male predecessor who was leaving the company. But after she settled into the position, Allen learned that the job shed been hired for previously had a managerial title.

Read More: Black financial advisor accuses JPMorgan Chase of racism, retaliation over firing

Alex Allen (Credit: Alex Allen)

According to Allen, she was the lowest-paid employee overall at Hearken where 87% of employees are women and 6% identify as multi-racial.

Within the first three months in the role, I did really well. I helped launch a marketing campaign for them, helped them come up with some digital strategy, helped them increase their retention sales, Allen tells theGrio in an exclusive interview. Then I was in an accident that was not work-related.

Allens injury necessitated surgery and months of physical therapy. She alleges this was one of the worst periods during her time at the company.

Allen says she was not offered any disability pay and had to rely on PTO for two weeks off. Unlike a white co-worker who went on maternity leave, Allen said the support for her life-altering circumstances was limited.

There were no safeguards for anyone that was in a serious situation, she tells theGrio.

Read More: How this businesswoman started a sunscreen brand that is selling nationwide

Though there was nothing made for me or any type of new policies made for me, I found out after I was already recovered that the CEO did get disability insurance when a white [woman] got pregnant in the company. Within a few weeks, they came up with a maternity leave policy that was customized and made for her.

Story continues

Alex Allen arm injury (Credit: Alex Allen)

Allen says she worked remotely for a few months and inquired about what she could do to improve her position, but her efforts were allegedly repeatedly rebuffed by Hearken co-founder Jennifer Brandel. Brandel served as the companys CEO for five years before stepping down in June. She is now senior vice president of global partnerships and board chair of the merged Hearken and Switchboard.

Chelsea Haring assumed the CEO role but Allen accuses Haring of using her for emotional labor during the transition period. During this time, Allen was given a promotion but felt it was a last resort as another woman of color left the job and she was the only person who could take up the duties.

Once I got the raise and title change, I think the racism in the organization showed up in a different form, Allen declares.

She says the racism she experienced became more subtle.

I think this is really telling with progressive organizations that I was basically emotionally caretaking for an all-white female leadership team, she charges. So, there was a lot of uncertainty about the company and its future and I was pulled into all these private meetings, received all these text messages during odd hours, kind of sensitive information and people expressing their grievances. Meanwhile, I was only a manager.

Allen adds, There was no real reason to tell me any of this because I had no power to actually change it. All I could do was emotionally caretake.

Hearken Team (Credit: Hearken)

Allen shared exchanges she had with those in leadership, including Chief of Staff Tina Hart and Haring. A source familiar with the situation corroborated Allens full account of her experience at Hearken.

Allen says she ultimately left the company in February for her own health and well being, after health conditions such as fibroids worsened due to stress.

theGrio contacted Hearken and Brandel for comment about Allens claims and to inquire if any efforts had been made to change the alleged culture at the company.

The company responded, saying it has a policy not to discuss previous employees without their permission. But Haring and Hart did address the alleged atmosphere at the company via a statement:

We are committed to listening, self-reflection AND taking responsibility for evolving the employee experience at Hearken. Weve made improvements based on feedback weve heard directly from colleagues past and present, and patterns weve experienced as leaders at other resource-constrained startups, the statement reads.

As a company, and as individual leaders, we believe its our responsibility to continue to listen, learn, and evolve how we support our BIPOC colleagues.

The statement also said that Brandel took a class for managers on racial equity; and engaged in ongoing conversations with employees to address any concerns.

Hearken also said new leadership was added to the team and efforts are being made to make sure there is equity, a review of promotion, and expanding networks to support racial justice.

Allen contends that its easy for companies like Hearken to put out statements but there needs to be a true commitment to resolving internal issues of disparity.

I think these progressive organizations are very, very good at performance and that is something that I think needs to be called out, Allen maintains.

Read More: Bobby Boone has a solution for Black business owners with storefronts

She continues, Theyre trying to fast forward to the solution, rather than grapple with what are the ways we perpetuate white supremacy? What are the ways that we have damaged the BIPOC community?

The post Progressive tech company faces bias claims from Black former employee appeared first on TheGrio.
UMC demands release of immigrant caretaker after ICE arrest on church grounds

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The United Methodist Church is calling on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to release an undocumented immigrant and father of two U.S. citizens they say was detained on church grounds in a Maryland suburb of Washington, D.C., on Sept. 10.

Binsar Siahaan moved to the U.S. from Indonesia in 1989 on a temporary visa. Soon after, his wife, Eko Sukemi, moved to be with him but both overstayed their visas when they expired a few years later. In 2003 the couple applied for asylum on religious grounds, according to The Washington Post, but two years later an immigration judge ordered Siahaan's deportation which has since been upheld.

The UMC General Board of Church and Society, the advocacy arm of one of the largest mainline Protestant denominations in the U.S., has condemned the detention of Siahaan, who has been a member of the Glenmont United Methodist Church in Silver Spring for six years.

Siahaan, who along with his wife serves as the congregations caretakers, was living with his family in a home on the grounds of the church.

According to a statement from the church body, six ICE agents knowingly violated the agencys Sensitive Locations policy and lied to Siahaan in order to arrest him and begin deportation proceedings.

The General Board of Church and Society called the arrest a clear violation of the agencys own policy because ICE entered church property to arrest and detain the man.

According to the agencys website, places of worship, such as churches, synagogues, mosques, and temples are listed as sensitive locations.

Under ICE policy, enforcement actions are not to occur at or be focused on sensitive locations such as schools, places of worship unless exigent circumstances exist, other law enforcement actions have led officers to a sensitive location or prior approval is obtained from a designated supervisory official.

The United Methodist Church believes church grounds are sacred and should always offer safety, the statement from the UMC board reads. ICE crossing church property to arrest someone under false pretenses is not only a violation of human rights and due process but a breach of ICEs own policy regarding removing someone from a sensitive location.

ICEs reckless actions pose a huge risk for immigrants throughout the country who are in sensitive locations; attending school, receiving care in hospitals and health facilities, and seeking refuge in faith communities, the statements adds.

Across the nation in recent years amid increased immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, some illegal immigrants have taken shelter in churches to avoid deportation. But in the case of Siahaan and his family, they lived on the church grounds because it was their job to care for the church.

Siahaan and his wife have lived in the U.S. for over 29 years and have two minor children who are U.S. citizens.

The couple has a pending motion to reopen their case for asylum on religious grounds as Muslim-majority Indonesia ranks as the 49th-worst country in the world when it comes to Christian persecution, according to Open Doors USAs 2020 World Watch List.

The UMC contends that the father poses no threat to the community.

Binsar and Eko cooperated with all ICE check-ins and requirements, but have tragically fallen victim to ICEs unjust practices and the Trump administrations method of terrorizing families and faith communities who stand with them, the board's statement contends. Church and Society calls on ICE to immediately release Binsar back to his family and church community and publicly commit to their own Sensitive Locations guidelines.

Siahaan was initially held by ICE in Baltimore before being transferred to the Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Georgia.

An attorney for Siahaan filed a motion to temporarily block his impending deportation. The lawyer, Elsy Ramos Velasquez, also filed a petition with a federal court in Maryland contending that Siahaans arrest was illegal because ICE entered the home without a warrant. A hearing has been set for Oct. 2.

In a statement provided to The Washington Post, ICE stated that officers arrested Siahaan after he received full due process in the nations immigration courts.

ICE added that an immigration judge ordered his removal in 2005, an order that the agency says has been upheld despite multiple appeals.

Siahaan filed an emergency stay of removal after his most recent arrest, which is currently pending, the statement reads.

The agency did not comment on the UMCs claims that its officers violated ICE policy to obtain Siahaans arrest.

Sukemi told the newspaper that her husband temporarily moved to the U.S. in 1989 on an A-3 visa, giving him the ability to work as a driver for the Indonesian Embassy.

She followed him in coming to the U.S. a few years later as she went to work as a nanny for a diplomats family. The couple overstayed their visas when they expired in the early 1990s.

In 2012, the couple agreed to an order of supervision agreement with ICE requiring them to check in regularly with a local ICE office.

For the past several years, the couple has worked as caretakers of the Glenmont church.

In February, Siahaan was detained after a routine check-in. He was later released with an ankle monitor pending appeals.

The UMC General Board of Church and Society claims that agents tricked Siahaan into leaving the house on Sept. 10. Siahaan was informed that ICE agents needed him to come with them to a local field office.

The sanctity of our sacred spaces should never be violated, Bishop LaTrelle Easterling, leader of the UMC Baltimore-Washington Conference, said in a statement. This calls into question our Administrations respect for communities of faith and for Gods people. This action creates a moral stain on this administration and jeopardizes their integrity in every similarly situated immigration case. Our federal government is not exempt from acting morally and consistently.

Easterling added that Siahaan is the head of a household with two American children who are depending on him for food, shelter and safety.

I call upon ICE to release Mr. Binsar Siahaan immediately, to continue to respect church property as sacred and holy ground, and follow their own established policies and practices around compliance and deportation, Easterling said. Their inappropriate and unnecessary action in this case violates practice, policy, and the Kingdom of God.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / September 22, 2020 / International Montoro Resources Inc. (TSXV:IMT)(Frankfurt:O4T1), (the "Company") is pleased to announce it has mobilized an exploration team to site to conduct follow-up geological mapping and sampling on the Blackfly Vein. The campaign will target the northern extension of the mineralized structure identified by Terra-X Minerals Inc.'s ("Terra-X") 2010-2012 diamond drilling and subsequent recommendations made by Terra-X in 2012 to test chargeability anomalies. The targeted area, known as the Blackfly Main, exhibited significant gold mineralization along the NNE trending vein and shear zone which returned values upwards of 15 g/t Au over 1.07m in a diamond drill hole and 167 g/t Au in surface grab samples. Terra-X also identified the Blackfly Northwest trend which was referred to as "a wider-lower grade target, and a similar style of gold mineralization to Hammond Reef hosted in a distinctive, highly magnetic quartz diorite". This zone returned gold values in a diamond drill hole (BF10-03) of 8.26 m @ 0.94 g/t Au with sporadic higher-grade areas sampling 10.96 g/t Au over 2.0 meters from hole BF11-11. The 2010-2011 diamond drilling identified an area of 420 meters strike length with gold mineralization across at least 50 meters width which is open along strike in both directions and at depth.

The company has initiated the 50-day approval and consultation process for an exploration permit with the Ministry of Energy, Northern Development, and Mines and local First Nations communities to allow for diamond drilling, surface overburden trenching, and survey grid line cutting to aid in geophysical surveying. During this process the company will be working diligently on compiling the 2012 and prior diamond drilling, surface geophysical surveys, and available geochemistry data. Ground truthing and digitizing this data will allow the company to develop preliminary constraints on gold mineralization which will aid in developing targets for further drilling once the exploration permit is received.

Project Highlights

The Blackfly Gold Project is located along the Marmion Fault Zone (Figure 1) and consists of 64 unpatented mining claims totaling 1,296 hectares of land. The project is situated 300 meters south of Highway 622 and 13.6 kilometers southwest along strike of Agnico Eagle's Hammond Reef Gold Deposit (Open pit measured and indicated mineral resources at the project are estimated at 208 million tonnes grading 0.67 g/t gold containing 4.5 million ounces of gold) and is situated within a similar suite of volcanic and granitic rocks mapped as the margin of the Marmion Batholith of the south-central Wabigoon geological subprovince. The project is situated west and immediately tied-on to Falcon Gold Corp's Central Canada Project which has reported outstanding recent drill intercepts of up to 10.17 g/t Au over 3 meters and a non-complaint "historic" resource of 230,000 oz @ 9.9 g/t Au. Geological highlights of the project include:

Grab samples taken near the historic shaft in 2010 ranged from 87 to 167 g/t Au

Blackfly Main Vein was 1.07 m @ 15.1 g/t Au from hole BF10-04

Blackfly Northwest system was 8.26 m @ 0.94 g/t Au from hole BF10-03.

Geological mapping indicated the structural lineament which hosts the Blackfly Vein and bears similar alteration/mineralization can be traced for 4.4 kilometers

Figure 1: Blackfly Project Location

Qualified Person

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Mr. Alex Pleson, P. Geo., who is a member of the Association of Professional Geoscientists on Ontario and is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

About International Montoro Resources Inc.

Int. Montoro Resources Inc. listed on the TSX Venture Exchange for over 25 years, is a Canadian based emerging resource company. The Company is systematically exploring its extensive property positions in:

Atikokan, Ontario (BlackFly - Au prospect )

) Red Lake, Ontario (Camping Lake - Au prospect)

Elliot Lake, Ontario (Serpent River/Pecors - Ni-Cu-PGE discovery) & (Uranium- REE's)

Quebec (Duhamel - Ni-Cu-Co prospect & Titanium, Vanadium, and Chromium prospect)

Prince George, British Columbia (Wicheeda North - Rare Earth Elements prospect)

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

International Montoro Resources Inc.

"Karim Rayani"

Karim Rayani

President/Chief Executive Officer, Director

Tel: 604 716 0551 email: k@r7.capital

Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information:

Certain statements in this release are forward-looking statements which reflect the expectations of management. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements. No assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or, if they do occur, what benefits the Company will obtain from them. These forward-looking statements reflect management's current views and are based on certain expectations, estimates and assumptions which may prove to be incorrect.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: International Montoro Resources Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/607181/International-Montoro-Resources-Mobilizes-Exploration-Crew-and-Files-Explortion-Permit-on-Blackfly-Gold-Project-Atikokan-Ontario
SAO PAULO (Reuters) - U.S. private equity firm General Atlantic LLC and Japan's SoftBank Group Corp <9984.T> are leading a 580 million reais ($107.25 million) funding round in Brazilian facial biometrics and digital admission company Acesso Digital, it said in a statement on Monday.

Both General Atlantic and SoftBank will hold a minority stake in Acesso Digital after the investment.

Founded in 2007, Acesso Digital announced its first funding round in January, when it raised 40 million reais with Igah Venture, formerly e.Bricks Ventures.

Acesso Digital founder and CEO Diego Martins said in an interview that demand for the companies' services has doubled since the beginning of the pandemic, as use of contactless identification has surged in an attempt to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Martins said the company will use the proceeds of the funding round to expand the business, including via acquisitions.

(Reporting by Aluisio Alves, writing by Carolina Mandl; Editing by Dan Grebler)
KITCHENER  On Feb. 6, 2019, at 2:30 p.m., a transport truck hauling milk slammed into the back of a farm tractor on Northfield Drive East near Elmira.

The truck driver immediately began performing CPR and called 911, but the tractor driver, Daniel Martin, 46, an Old Order Mennonite who lived in Elmira, was later pronounced dead in hospital. He was married with seven children.

On Monday the truck driver, 52, pleaded guilty to careless driving causing death, a non-criminal charge under the Highway Traffic Act.

The Crown, defence and judge agreed it was simply an accident likely caused by the driver not paying full attention. An orange caution triangle on the back of the tractor was not as large as it should have been.

Anyone can have an accident, Martins family wrote in a victim impact statement. We hope (the driver) can deal with the trauma of the accident and we thank him for having the presence of mind to administer CPR.

We want (the driver) to know that the whole family does not hold anything against him and if there was some negligence in watching traffic, we forgive him for that. We hope he does not need to go to jail and he can get on with his life and forgive himself.

The Cambridge man was initially charged with careless driving and dangerous driving causing death. The latter is a criminal charge which was withdrawn after he pleaded to the careless charge.

In accepting the plea to careless, the Crown took into account Martins familys wishes for no jail and the fact the drivers actions were more careless than dangerous.

The trucker was travelling slightly above the 80 km/h limit. He was not impaired and was not using a cellphone.

I am terribly sorry for being the person that was involved in the passing of Daniel Martin, the driver told court. This incident will affect me every day until I pass away. Please forgive me and God bless everyone that has been affected by Daniel Martins passing.

The man had been a truck driver for 30 years with a spotless record. He lost his job after the crash.

Justice Wayne Rabley agreed to a joint submission from Crown prosecutor Ben Schnell and defence lawyer Sean Safa for one year of probation and a $2,000 fine. He cant drive for the first three months. He can only drive to work and back or for medical appointments in the final nine months.

The judge thanked Martins family for their approach to the tragedy.

Its not unusual that a family would want to have some sense of vengeance in a courtroom, Rabley said. Its completely understandable in most circumstances. That doesnt tend to be the way of the Mennonite community ... and I thank them for the way that they have dealt with it.

The judge then addressed the truck driver.

Im sure that over the course of time youll be able to overcome this, Rabley said. Understand that we all look at this as a tragedy and we all look at this as an accident.
SINGAPORE, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Finastra has announced plans around a range of initiatives which will enable its customers to accelerate through change, as well as creating positive outcomes for millions of people around the world. The move is part of the company's ongoing innovation and open cloud platform strategy.

Through technology and collaboration, Finastra and its customers are set to positively impact over nine million lives around the world, with key areas of focus in the Asia Pacific region to include:

Bringing financial inclusion to developing markets

Yoma Bank : Using Finastra's solutions, Yoma Bank became the first bank in Myanmar to launch an online account opening system. In a country where just 25% of the population holds a bank account, Yoma Bank quickly increased its customer base, giving many people access to banking services for the first time. Since launching its online account opening process, Yoma Bank has been able to provide thousands of new customers with fast, ultra-secure access to their personal accounts across multiple channels - quickly earning a reputation as a pioneer in Myanmar's financial services sector.

: Using Finastra's solutions, became the first bank in to launch an online account opening system. In a country where just 25% of the population holds a bank account, quickly increased its customer base, giving many people access to banking services for the first time. Since launching its online account opening process, has been able to provide thousands of new customers with fast, ultra-secure access to their personal accounts across multiple channels - quickly earning a reputation as a pioneer in financial services sector.

IFIC Bank: In Bangladesh , less than a third of the population has a bank account. Seeing the opportunity to bring financial inclusion to millions, IFIC Bank looked to transform its entire operating model from the outside-in - evolving into a customer-centric bank and differentiating itself with innovative products and services, available in branch and through new digital channels. Using Finastra's solutions, IFIC Bank is aiming to bring banking services to 100,000 unbanked Bangladeshis in the next two years.

, less than a third of the population has a bank account. Seeing the opportunity to bring financial inclusion to millions, IFIC Bank looked to transform its entire operating model from the outside-in - evolving into a customer-centric bank and differentiating itself with innovative products and services, available in branch and through new digital channels. Using Finastra's solutions, IFIC Bank is aiming to bring banking services to 100,000 unbanked Bangladeshis in the next two years.

TONIK: The Philippines has one of the lowest rates of bank account ownership in the region, with 70% unbanked. As the first pure-play licensed digital bank in Southeast Asia , TONIK is building its end-to-end core banking capabilities on Finastra's solutions, enabling it to offer easy access to banking services. Powered by Finastra, TONIK aims to provide a route to banking for those who have never been able to open an account and hopes to attract over a million people in the five years after it launches in 2020.

has one of the lowest rates of bank account ownership in the region, with 70% unbanked. As the first pure-play licensed digital bank in , TONIK is building its end-to-end core banking capabilities on Finastra's solutions, enabling it to offer easy access to banking services. Powered by Finastra, TONIK aims to provide a route to banking for those who have never been able to open an account and hopes to attract over a million people in the five years after it launches in 2020. Closing the trade finance gap - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) estimates that SMEs face a global trade finance gap of US$1.5 trillion . This problem is particularly acute in Asia , where many businesses rely on cash and are therefore unable to demonstrate their creditworthiness to traditional lenders. This problem has been further exacerbated by the global pandemic. In response, Finastra has partnered with Mastercard and the ADB to help build a new digital pathway to credit for wholesalers. Through the application of technology, the program aims to help SMEs digitize trade, making it easier for them to participate in global supply chains. The program will start in Indonesia with 500 retailers and aims to build to 5,000 retailers by the end of Q1 2021.

For other global initiatives and projects, click here.

Wissam Khoury, Head of International at Finastra, said, "The pandemic has brought the future forward, driving increased demand for digital transformation in the financial services sector. We're committed to helping our customers accelerate through this change with our technology and ecosystem. This is also a pivotal moment in which we have the chance to redefine finance for good and create new solutions that put better outcomes for society at the center."

Finastra's broad technology product set across lending, payments, treasury and retail banking is powering these initiatives, alongside its FusionFabric.cloud open developer platform. It is all underpinned by a comprehensive suite of data-driven insights applications to improve business intelligence; and a suite of transformational services designed to help customers successfully accelerate through change.

To find out more, join our APAC webcast today, 23 September, at 11am SGT. To register or to access the recording, visit: https://www.finastra.com/financeforgoodlive

About Finastra

Finastra is building an open platform that accelerates collaboration and innovation in financial services, creating better experiences for people, businesses and communities. Supported by the broadest and deepest portfolio of financial services software, Finastra delivers this vitally important technology to financial institutions of all sizes across the globe, including 90 of the world's top100 banks. Our open architecture approach brings together a number of partners and innovators. Together we are leading the way in which applications are written, deployed and consumed in financial services to evolve with the changing needs of customers.

Learn more at finastra.com

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/967510/Finastra_Logo.jpg




Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (Photo: VNA)



Excellencies,

Ladies and gentlemen,

We are celebrating the 75th anniversary of the United Nations at an extraordinary time. Our pride for the growth of the United Nations is commingled with anxiousness, as instability and pandemic are rampaging our planet.

In the past 75 years, no world wars have come to pass. Peace, cooperation and friendship have been thriving. Poverty and diseases have been on the retreat. The life of humankind has been changing for the better.

These immense achievements would not have been possible without the fundamental principles of the UN Charter, and the United Nations itself, as the centre for harmonizing the actions of nations.

The world today is faced with unprecedented challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic, together with instabilities, conflicts, great power competition, power politics, and climate change are threatening the sustainable peace and development of nations.

There is a Vietnamese saying which goes As fire tests gold, so do hardship test one's resolve. The greater the challenge we face, the more we need to work together in solidarity and strengthen multilateralism with the UN at its core. The UN Charter and international law must be observed. The independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of states must be respected. The people must be at the heart of all efforts for development so that no one is left behind.

Ladies and gentlemen,

For the Vietnamese nation, nothing is more precious than independence and freedom, and we have spared no effort to defend our independence and freedom. In the past 35 years, we have also engaged in a process of Doi Moi reforms with the people at the centre. Today, our country, with much confidence, is enjoying vibrant growth, and pursuing extensive economic restructuring and active international integration, participating as a responsible member at numerous multilateral forums, especially the United Nations. We are exerting all efforts for the goal of a prosperous people and a strong nation that enjoys equality, democracy and the fruits of civilisation.

Thanks to the collaboration with all international partners and with our own efforts, Vietnam has managed to basically contain the COVID-19, and a strong rebound of our economy is expected to follow.

I take this opportunity to extend to fellow UN member states our gratitude for entrusting Vietnam with a non-permanent membership at the UN Security Council for 2020-2021. We are doing our utmost to fulfil this mandate as we concurrently serve as the Chair of ASEAN in 2020, where Vietnam is working closely with fellow ASEAN member states to build an ASEAN Community of unity, resilience and prosperity.

We in Vietnam are determined to work alongside all other nations around the world to safeguard peace and realise the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The Vietnamese flag will be flying at even more UN Peacekeeping Missions. I am fully confident that with strong determination and joint actions, together we will build a brighter future for all.

Thank you for your kind attention./.
BALTIMORE, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Adams Diversified Equity Fund, Inc. (NYSE: ADX), and Adams Natural Resources Fund, Inc. (NYSE: PEO) announced today that each Fund has elected, by a unanimous resolution of each Fund's board of directors, to be subject to the Maryland Control Share Acquisition Act (MCSAA), effective as of September 22, 2020.

The objective of the MCSAA is to protect the interests of all shareholders of a Maryland corporation. It achieves this by limiting the voting power of a large investor or group acting in concert on newly acquired shares above various threshold levels that start at 10 percent. Those shares can be voted only if two-thirds of the shares held by the other shareholders agree to grant voting rights to these "control" shares.

The MCSAA limits the ability of an acquiring person to achieve a short-term gain at the expense of long-term value for the rest of the Fund's shareholders. The MCSAA will only apply to "control shares" acquired after September 22, 2020, the date that the Funds elected to be subject to the MCSAA. The above description of the MCSAA is only a high-level summary and investors should refer to the actual provisions of the MCSAA for more information.

In connection with the Funds' election to opt in to the MCSAA, each Fund has also established an enhanced discount management and liquidity program. In addition to the Funds' existing annual 6% minimum distribution commitments and discretionary share repurchase programs, each of the Funds will engage in open market share repurchases or conduct a proportional tender offer when the Fund's market price discount to net asset value exceeds certain levels. Generally, each Fund will engage in share repurchases when the discount exceeds 15% for a period of 30 trading days, and similarly, each Fund will engage in a proportional tender offer to repurchase shares when the discount exceeds 19% for 30 trading days. This enhanced discount management program is effective immediately.

For more information about Adams Funds, please visit: adamsfunds.com.

###

Since 1929, Adams Funds has consistently helped generations of investors reach their investment goals. Adams Funds is comprised of two closed-end funds, Adams Diversified Equity Fund, Inc. (NYSE: ADX) and Adams Natural Resources Fund, Inc. (NYSE: PEO). The Funds are actively managed by an experienced team with a disciplined approach and have paid dividends for more than 80 years across many market cycles. The Funds are committed to paying an annual distribution rate of 6% or more, providing reliable income to long-term investors. Shares can be purchased through our transfer agent or through a broker.



Contact:

Lyn Walther  Director of Shareholder Communications 800.638.2479  [email protected]

SOURCE Adams Funds
A Sri Lanka national who left Ho Chi Minh City for his home country on September 12 was confirmed by Sri Lanka authorities to have been infected with COVID-19 on September 18.

The case was announced by District 7s vice-chairwoman Bui Thi Ngoc Hieu at a municipal meeting for COVID-19 response on Monday.

It is still unclear when the patient contracted the novel coronavirus, according to Hieu.

After receiving the notification from Sri Lanka authorities, the Peoples Committee of District 7 collaborated with relevant agencies in disinfecting the hotel where the patient stayed in Ho Chi Minh City and reviewing people who had contact with the patient.

Consequently, 15 people have been tested for COVID-19 so far and their results have all returned negative for the virus.

One of them has been quarantined at a centralized facility, while 14 others, including the hotel guests and staff and the Sri Lanka nationals friend, have practiced self-quarantine at home.

It has been 54 days since the last local infection was reported in Ho Chi Minh City, according to the municipal Department of Healths director Nguyen Tan Binh.

There are currently 24 people with mild symptoms of respiratory inflammation in the city.

They are being isolated and monitored at different hospitals.

Eighteen of them tested negative for the coronavirus, while six others are waiting for their results.

The southern metropolis has also documented a Chinese patient, who illegally entered Vietnam on July 27 and tested negative for the virus on September 7 but retested positive a week later.

The Chinese national has been quarantined at a centralized quarantine venue in Cu Chi District.

Binh said that municipal authorities are preparing plans to ensure safety when receiving international arrivals from Japan, South Korea, China, Taiwan, Laos, and Cambodia  the six destinations that Vietnam has resumed commercial flights to.

Vietnam has gone almost three weeks without a local infection as of Tuesday, according to the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control.

The national tally stands at 1,068 cases, including 691 local infections, with 551 of them being detected from July 25, when the country reported the first patient in the community after over 99 days.

The number of recoveries has reached 957 while 35 patients have died.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
By Bernard Rowan





My column concerns the newly published volume of poems by Professor Choi Yearn-Hong, entitled "Snows of Kilimanjaro." I came to know Professor Choi through my senior, Professor Park Eung-kyuk, and of late we've collaborated on a few projects related to Korean history and culture, including the poetry of Yoon Dong-ju.



Choi's book of poems will appeal to Koreans, Americans, and many others. Its reflections mark a keen observer of our world and a humanitarian. The touching vignettes evoke more general meanings arising from episodes of his life. He and we learn from political events, creatures and scenes of nature, love and family, and events of daily living.



As I read these poems, I think of Professor Choi as representing Koreans of his generation. He is now a mature person, and he is aware of life's impermanence. Nonetheless, Choi tells us our world is one of unshakeable and positive value and beauty. Professor Choi is Korean, yet as an immigrant and now American citizen, as a Korean in America and a Korean American, he has lived international culture, politics, and society. Choi's poems show he cares both for his home country and his second home country.



I note that Choi shared the stage at the Library of Congress with the Poet Laureate of Illinois and the "Sin Saimdang" of my university, the late Gwendolyn Brooks. Choi's poem "Black Korean" shows us the universal face of humanity as one beyond color and ethnicity, but one that respects both in context.



I enjoyed poems such as "Splendor in the Mongolian Wilderness" and "Genghis Khan" that tell of his travels to other lands. It's moving to feel his spirit of humanity and love for others who are no longer other  in simple moments, as through the giving of flowers. Many Koreans trace the origins of Korea to Mongolian people, and we know that Genghis Khan's progeny form much of the world's population.



Many poems mark the qualities of Korean civilization. These include reverence for elders, in particular his mother, memory of friendships with seniors and juniors, giving to one's children and family, and a life lived in pursuit of learning. "In the Library" and "Durano's Christmas Party" show the habits of a person of learning. We see Choi's gregariousness as well as poetic bent.



Choi's library extends to the world outside any library or building. He marvels in the presence of Nature and draws strength from its images, patterns, and fullness of color, texture, and life. I enjoyed the poems entitled "Winter Woods," "Firebug," "Canadian Geese" and "Wolf," for example. Choi finds affinity in nature. He supports human life through a harmony that overcomes dissonance, unhappiness, and feelings of futility or failure. "Sea Squirt" reveals the wonder that comes from good times spent sharing food and learning, which I have found to characterize friendships with Koreans and Korean life.



Choi's Korea remains with the horrible event that is the Korean War and its aftermath. Its impress came from flight during the war to safe havens, from life in Songdo. Honed through emigration to study in America, it became permanent on the heels of disillusionment with military dictators. Choi writes many poems for the downtrodden, dispossessed, the stranger, and the foreigner. He comments on American leaders and on the experiences of injustice under the law. He understands the value of democracy from within two countries.



As the volume progresses, Choi returns to images of his hometown in North Chungcheong Province ("Genealogy"). He shares moving scenes of caring for his mother ("Elegy I and II; Passing by the Oksoo Station"). He recalls his grandmother ("To You, My Precious Love, Moonlight Sonata"), his wife ("Honeymoon Haiku"), and other talismans of his life. In "Name," we learn Choi's father inspired his vocation as a poet.



Professor Choi's writing preserves humility in the presence of the universe through love of others and oneself. He tells us to learn about and to live life fully, not taking a moment for granted. He is a happy man sharing of his life's legacies with others. We aren't guaranteed an infinite amount of life on earth, but we have more than enough time if we care for life as we go. Choi's lamp of light reveals much for those who wish to live through learning for life.



Bernard Rowan (browan10@yahoo.com) is associate provost for contract administration and professor of political science at Chicago State University. He is a past fellow of the Korea Foundation and former visiting professor at Hanyang University.


More than two weeks have passed since Nick Clegg made a highly publicised announcement that he was summoning the Chinese ambassador to convey the British Governments dismay and alarm over the treatment of demonstrators in Hong Kong.

On that day, David Cameron was in Birmingham for the Conservative Party conference, so the Deputy PM was minding the shop in London.

Normally, when an ambassador is summoned, he drops everything to make himself available. But this time, all that followed the Clegg announcement were days of silence.

Today, I rang the Foreign Office to ask what happened. Not a question for them, I was told: one for the Deputy Prime Ministers Office.

So I asked the DPMs office and, after less than four hours, a spokesman rang back to confirm that the ambassador and the Deputy Prime Minister never met. Having made his announcement, Clegg had to be in Glasgow for the Liberal Democrat conference, which caused a clash of diaries, I was told.

However, one day after Clegg had left town, the ambassador was available to visit the Foreign Office for a meeting with the Foreign Secretary, Philip Hammond, which  in stark contrast to Mr Cleggs announcement  received no publicity at all.

Very strange. I do hope there isnt some inter-departmental turf war going on between the Foreign Secretary and the Deputy Prime Minister.

No ones asked Austin

With Westminster watchers feverishly on the look-out for any Labour MP who might be thinking of defecting to Ukip, Simon Danczuk turned up in the Commons wearing a tie whose colour can only be described as Ukip purple. It signified nothing, he said: he is not defecting. Anyway he is not the prime suspect.

Austin Mitchell, the 80-year-old for Great Grimsby, is the name most often in the frame, but he says he is not defecting either. No one from Ukip has even spoken to me, he said ruefully. Perhaps Im not worth speaking to.

Ed has the right Karma

Just when it seemed that Ed Miliband had no admirers left anywhere, that 1980s cultural icon Boy George has met the Labour leader at an awards ceremony and tweeted: Ed Miliband, totally cool, no attitude, not creepy in any way. Very genuine and the nicest politician I have met. Period! Perhaps he didnt really want to hurt him.

Feeling the peer pressure

There is a by-election under way, and another pending, and both are getting less attention than those in Clacton or Rochester. The first is caused by the death of Lord Methuen, great-great grandson of an eminent Whig, the other by the death of Viscount Allenby, whose grandfather commanded the British forces in Palestine in 1917.

They were among 92 hereditary peers who kept their seats when the other hereditaries were removed from the House of Lords in 1999. Their deaths create two vacancies to be filled by elections in which only peers can vote, and the only candidates are men who hold titles.

Its completely ridiculous, said Lord Foulkes, a former Labour MP, when I asked him how the by-election was going. There are all these candidates I dont know anything about who have written statements that make me want to vote for them. I voted for Wayland Kennet. Hes the only one Ive heard of.

Sorry, my lord, but you didnt. Wayland Young, the second Lord Kennet, was a politician and journalist who, during the Lady Chatterley trial in 1960, was the first correspondent to get the word f*** into a national newspaper  but he has been dead for five years. You have voted for his son.
We are excited to help all brands on the front lines of supplying store reopenings and returning closer to our normal lives.

When a Los Angeles apparel manufacturing and import company sought funding for their 2020 Fall and Winter orders, they chose Republic Business Credit to fuel their growth. Republic approved a scalable traditional facility to support their expected growth in anticipation of the orders they have received for the additional reopening of retail stores. Republic fully approved the customer limits necessary to enable the company to fulfil large purchase orders in the midst of Covid-19. The Apparel company CEO said, We are excited about showcasing our growing fashion line and wanted a factoring partner that could grow with our brand.

As the Pandemic has caused postponements, cancellations and shipment uncertainty throughout the retail supply chains, Republic will support the client throughout this uncertain and unpredictable period in the history of retail. Republic Business Credit provides apparel importers, distributors and manufacturers with the necessary support and guidance to adapt during the staggered reopening.

The company is a distributor of womens comfy chic dresses, pantsuits and skirts that are ideal for either working from home or going out. The brand is focused primarily on manufacturing in the USA and sources nearly all of its material domestically. The passion for the brand comes from a balance of fit and texture for working professional women. The brand is well-positioned for the post-COVID-19 store re-openings as they had no debt entering the 2nd quarter of 2020. The brand sought a partnership with an entrepreneurial finance company with deep industry experience and the ability to scale up its facility.

Republic provided a $1.5m traditional factoring facility with credit protection and extended customer payment terms for a Los Angeles based brand. Republics funding will eliminate their cash flow gap between paying suppliers and receiving payments from retailers. The company is unsure what the holiday season will likely bring, but it is confident they have a partner during all of the return to work stages. Republics COO, Matt Begley said, We believe our factoring and asset-based lending products will partner well with businesses as states reopen in 2020. He further added, We are excited to help all brands on the front lines of supplying store reopenings and returning closer to our normal lives.

Republic Business Credit provides factoring, asset-based lending and direct to consumer facilities up to $10,000,000 across the United States. Republic partners with banks, accountants, sponsors, lawyers and investment banks to collaboratively support entrepreneurs across the United States, to create value, by enabling them to focus on growing successful businesses.

---Boilerplate---

Republic Business Credit provides fast and flexible working capital solutions to help rapidly growing businesses, start-ups, and companies in turnaround or recoverable distressed situations. Winner of the Emerging Growth Company of the Year award from the Louisiana Chapter of the ACG, and the FactoringClubs Best Factoring Company Award for 2018, the Republic Business Credit team has the expertise necessary to meet the nuanced financial needs of companies across a wide variety of industries. It provides asset-based loans, ledgered lines of credit, non-recourse factoring, factoring and direct to consumer loans including e-commerce working capital. Since its founding in 2011, Republic Business Credit has provided over $10 billion in working capital.
WASHINGTON - Senate Democrats and their liberal allies confronted the reality Monday that they have no path to blocking President Donald Trump's pending Supreme Court nomination other than a political pressure campaign that peels away a minimum of four GOP votes.

Deep into their sixth year in the minority, Democrats can use some procedural tactics that might briefly slow the confirmation process, but if at least 50 Republicans approve of Trump's pick to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, that nominee is certain to be seated.

Publicly, Democrats vowed to fight with every fiber in the Judiciary Committee confirmation hearings and on the Senate floor as the liberal alliance of outside interest groups began planning how to mount a campaign that would try to turn Republicans against the nominee. But the process ahead leaves no room for error, and even a perfectly executed pressure campaign could fall short.

"We're in a situation where Mitch McConnell is the only person in this building that can decide when and whether and how to move the nomination forward. My hope is that there will be enough Republicans to stop it, but I don't think the likelihood of that is high," said Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., made clear Monday that he will press ahead with the confirmation process 43 days before the election, shrugging off criticism that his actions were brazenly hypocritical. In 2016, McConnell refused to consider President Barack Obama's nominee for a court vacancy eight months before the election, insisting that voters should have a say.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., appeared to recognize the limited leverage. In a floor speech Monday, he did not threaten retaliatory tactics per se, should Republicans move a nominee through before the election. But he sought to shame his GOP colleagues by holding up their previous words about election-year Supreme Court nominations to suggest they were being insincere.

Confirming a replacement, Schumer argued, could upend the Senate entirely, spelling "the end of this supposedly great deliberative body."

"If a Senate majority over the course of six years steals two Supreme Court seats using completely contradictory rationales, how could we expect to trust the other side again?" he asked. "How can we trust each other if, when push comes to shove, when the stakes are the highest, the other side will double cross their own standards when it's politically advantageous?"

McConnell, expanding on a rule change that Democrats made when they were in charge, has lowered the threshold to break a filibuster to a simple majority for all presidential nominations, leaving the 47 members of the Democratic caucus with little power.

Two Senate Republicans have said the Senate should wait until after the election: Susan Collins of Maine, who faces a difficult reelection battle in a Democratic-leaning state; and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, who publicly broke with Trump after his actions during this summer's protests against racial injustice.

With 53 Republicans in his caucus, McConnell can afford to lose one other vote and muscle the nominee across the finish line with Vice President Mike Pence providing the tie-breaking vote.

Democrats are eyeing Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah, the lone Republican to vote to convict Trump in last winter's impeachment trial, but the 2012 GOP presidential nominee has been supportive of the president's judicial nominees. He said Monday that he will wait until he talks to his colleagues.

Outside liberal groups began their pressure campaign Monday, including predawn protests outside the Capitol Hill home of Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Graham originally pledged to never consider a Supreme Court nominee during a presidential election year but disavowed that statement after Ginsburg's death provided an opening for Republicans to claim the seat of the most liberal member of the court.

Other groups were talking about mounting an ad campaign. Demand Justice, a group founded by former Schumer staffer Brian Fallon, pledged $10 million to fight the nomination. They've already been in touch with Senate Democrats to sync up strategy and messaging.

In a Monday interview, Ben Jealous, the president of People For the American Way, said his group was already cutting ads and organizing ground-game campaigns to pressure GOP senators. They were preparing to target some Republicans facing reelection, such as Sens. Joni Ernst of Iowa, Cory Gardner of Colorado, Graham and some they think could be compelled to vote differently should enough constituents balk.

The latter list includes Romney and Sens. Tim Scott of South Carolina and Lamar Alexander of Tennesse. Alexander is retiring but made clear in a statement Sunday that he backed McConnell.

"It's going to be an intense push - we've got to take the argument directly to the people of the country," Jealous said. "At the end of they day, they're the only ones who can push back against the special interests backing Trump and McConnell right now. . . . There's very little that the Democrats can do procedurally to stop this. This is all about mobilizing the people of the country to appeal to the moral conscience of Republicans during this pandemic."

In one digital ad, the group will run a clip of Graham justifying the GOP's refusal to give Obama's Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland a hearing in 2016 because it was an election year - as well as his instruction to "use my words against me" if the tables ever turned. "It's time for Senator Graham to honor his word," the narrator says in the ad, which will go up shortly.

Vanita Gupta, president and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, a coalition of about 220 liberal groups, said her group also would be running ads and organizing in states where vulnerable Republicans are on the ballot in November. That, she argued, was Democrats' "main lever" for stopping confirmation: pressuring those most likely to lose.

"The main thing is really to hone in on is what's at stake right now for Americans on health care, on women's access to abortion and reproductive rights, racial justice, voting rights - the court touches all of this," she said.

Their conservative counterparts are planning their own offensive. On Monday, the Judicial Crisis Network announced an initial $2.2 million ad campaign to support whoever the nominee is, ensuring a clash of TV commercials and digital ads across the nation.

Liberal groups have had some mixed success on such campaigns before, in part because they have lagged behind their conservative counterparts in Supreme Court showdowns.

In 2016, after Justice Antonin Scalia's death, Democrats originally planned a $36 million campaign to boost Garland, but the donations barely materialized. Ultimately the liberal groups raised and spent less than $10 million because their donors wanted to focus instead on the 2016 White House race instead, according to journalist Carl Hulse's book "Confirmation Bias."

Some Democrats are pushing to go further than a public pressure campaign against the GOP. On Sunday, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., said the party should leave open the possibility of impeaching Attorney General William Barr, hoping it would force a trial in the Senate that would prevent the confirmation until at least after the Nov. 3 elections. Impeachment rules require that the upper chamber take up articles of impeachment immediately, so a House impeachment power play could gum up the confirmation process, at least in theory.

"These are procedures and decisions that are largely up to House Democratic leadership," Ocasio-Cortez told reporters. "But I believe that, also, we must consider, again, all of the tools available to our disposal and that all of these options should be entertained and on the table."

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., would not rule out the possibility when asked about it Sunday. But House Democratic officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity to talk frankly, downplayed this possibility, arguing that it would look overtly political.

A few Democrats were privately more interested in holding a stopgap government funding bill hostage to try to get what the party wants. The government runs out of spending authorization at the end of the month, and lawmakers are trying to put the finishing touches on an agreement to keep the government running. Some have toyed with the idea of using the legislation as leverage

But Pelosi during a Sunday interview panned the idea, which probably would blow back on Democrats politically.

"None of us has any interest in shutting down the government," Pelosi told George Stephanopoulos on ABC's "This Week." "There is some enthusiasm, some exuberance on the left, as you said, but we're not going to be shutting down the government."

Yet another group of Democrats wants to hear Senate Democratic leadership make some sort of "threat" that will make Republicans think twice. Some have pushed for more talk of a possible Senate Democratic majority expanding the number of justices on the Supreme Court should they reclaim the upper chamber on Election Day.

But Schumer has not weighed in on that possibility, resorting to the same language of keeping all possibilities "on the table" and arguing instead that voters need to give the chamber to Democrats for them to even viably consider the option.

"We first have to win the majority before that can happen," he said Sunday when asked about expanding the court. "But once we win the majority, God willing, everything is on the table."
New Delhi: Expecting a surge in travel demand during the upcoming festive season in October, Indian Railways is likely to announce around 80 more special trains. The Indian Railways like every year is expecting an increase in the number of travellers as the festive season ahead has festivals like Dussehara, Navratri, Diwali and Bhai Duj.

The Railways had earlier announced to run 80 special and 40 clone trains in September.

The clone trains started running from September 21 for which the reservations started on September 10. This was the first time that the Indian Railways ran 40 clone or duplicate trains on high-demand routes and the advance reservation period for these trains is 10 days.

These trains were in addition to the 310 special trains which are already in operation. These trains will be run one or two hours ahead of the departure of special trains. Accroding to the Indian Railways, the travel time and the stoppages will be limited to operational halts.

Live TV

While the tickets for 19 pairs of these trains will be charged at the Humsafar Express rates, it will be at par with the Janshatabdi Express rates for the clone train between Lucknow and Delhi.

Also read | Indian Railways provided these facilities to passengers amid COVID-19 situation: Details here

10 trains (5 pairs) will operate between Bihar and Delhi under the East Central Railways. These trains will originate and terminate at Bihar's Saharsa, Rajendra Nagar, Rajgir, Darbhanga and Muzaffarpur.

The two trains operating under the Northeast Frontier Railway are also from Bihar: Katihar to Delhi and back.

The Northern Railway will also run 10 trains (5 pairs) which will operate between Delhi and Bihar and back, West Bengal to Delhi, Punjab to West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh to Delhi among others.

The South Central Railway will operate two trains between Danapur (Bihar) to Secunderabad and back. The South Western Railway will operate 6 trains (3 pairs) between Goa and Delhi, Karnataka-Bihar and Karnataka-Delhi.

The Western Railway will run 10 trains (5 pairs) between Bihar (Darbhanga)-Gujarat(Ahmedabad), Delhi-Gujarat, Bihar (Chhapra) to Gujarat (Surat), Mumbai-Punjab, Gujarat(Ahmedabad)-Bihar (Patna).
As the U.S. frets about counting mail-in ballots in November, some say theres an easier way to hold an election: voting by smartphone app. After all, Americans already use their phones to order lunch, do their banking, and crown reality-show winners from the comfort of their couches. Why not extend this convenience to real elections?

The idea is not a new one. In Estonia, voters have been casting ballots online for more than a decade while West Virginia has let overseas military personnel vote with an app. But despite such innovations, most Americans still vote much like their great-grandparents didmarking ballots and then stuffing them into a box. Many people believe its time for the U.S. elections to enter the 21st century.

The U.S. is living with a voting system designed 200 years ago, says Aggelos Kiayias, a cybersecurity professor at the University of Edinburgh.

A number of tech companies are eager to help bring U.S. elections into the smartphone era. Voatz and Democracy Live, for instance, have built app-based voting tools they claim can thwart hackers and make sure voters are who they say they are.

Brad Brooks, CEO of OneLogin, a startup that helps the likes of Uber and Airbnb verify the identity of employees, is among those who say the time for online voting is now. The first step, he says, would be for states to create voter IDs using biometric technology like fingerprints and face scanstech that OneLogin uses in its own operations. He notes the federal government has already adopted such a system for its Global Entry program, which lets travelers pass through airport security more quickly. If companies and governments are already using this technology to verify identities and give access to information, its a no-brainer to use it in the voting process, Brooks says.

The U.S. is living with a voting system designed 200 years ago. Aggelos Kiayias, cybersecurity professor, the University of Edinburgh.

Story continues

But election and security experts agree that Americans wont be voting Estonia-style anytime soon. Any tech upgrade will instead be incremental, they say, and online elections, if they ever happen, are decades away.

One reason is that, unlike a tiny Baltic country, the U.S. is enormous, and its elections are controlled by a patchwork of state and local governments. This would make implementing a national Internet voting system a daunting legal and logistical challenge. Even a basic national voting ID card, used by many countries to ensure the identity of voters, is, for many politicians, a nonstarter.

Furthermore, some voting-tech vendors have spotty track records, making election officials wary of moving too quickly. Who can forget the Iowa caucus in February, when a little-known firm called Shadow built an app for Iowas Democratic Party to report vote counts? The app failed spectacularly, resulting in an election-night fiasco and a weeks-long delay before the vote count was certified.

Liz Howard, an attorney with the nonpartisan Brennan Center for Justice who worked as a senior election official in Virginia, has her own horror story to tell. Amid an equipment failure during one election, she tried to get help by calling the vendor responsibleonly to have the company hang up on her.

But of all the stumbling blocks to app-based voting, perhaps none is bigger than security. Online ballots would be an irresistible target for state-sponsored hackers, especially those from Russia, which has repeatedly tried to infiltrate U.S. election systems, and in some cases has succeeded. Invariably, voting-tech companies claim their systems are secure. But U.S. election officials have so far balked at putting those promises to the test on a large scale.

Instead, many states have been slowly upgrading their voting technology, without much fanfare. Poll workers in a number of places now use iPads and laptops rather than paper records to check voters against registration listsspeeding up the time required to cast a ballot. Likewise, Travis County, Texas, and Washington, D.C., are creating online dashboards that voters can check from home to see wait times at polling locations, so they can avoid long lines.

Of all the companies creating technology specifically for elections, Microsoft is likely the biggest. Earlier this year during local elections in Wisconsin, it tested software that encrypts ballots after voters mark them electronically or when poll workers scan paper versions. The process prevents tampering while also providing poll workers with a backup vote tally. Humans are horrible at counting things, says Tom Burt, the vice president who leads Microsofts nascent initiative to supply free election tools.

Microsofts technology also provides voters with a code on a piece of paper that they can later use online to verify whether their ballot has been counted and not altered. Its a step further than elsewhere, such as in San Francisco, where voters can merely check whether their ballots have been received.

As with most things, the adoption of election tech ultimately hinges on funding. Recently, the federal government provided grants to cities and states to upgrade their systems. The awards, however, were insufficient to pay for major projects. One reason for the lack of money is that political will to invest in voting infrastructure typically evaporates after voters go to the polls.

Meanwhile, election-tech makers face their own financial constraints. To make the big improvements necessary for online voting to become feasible, they need cash for research and development. But because the market for their products is relatively small and purchases are sporadic, those vendors generally spend little on innovation.

The upshot is that much like flying cars, a vote-for-President app is likely to be something Americans talk about for decades but may never see.

Newsletter-Red-Line-15

Digital democracy

A handful of places have tried online voting. Heres how it turned out.

Estonia

The Baltic country debuted online elections starting in 2005. Today around 30% of the countrys 1.3 million citizens use the Internet to vote.

West Virginia

In 2018 the states overseas military members were able to use phones and tablets to vote in the midterm election; 144 troops in 31 countries actually cast ballots online.

Switzerland

After testing online voting at the local level, the country proposed taking it nationwide. But after researchers discovered a vulnerability that could alter ballot results, officials canceled those plans in 2019.

A version of this article appears in the October 2020 issue of Fortune.

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This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
Take a look at some of the biggest movers in the premarket:

Amazon.com (AMZN)  Bernstein upgraded Amazon to "outperform" from "market perform," saying a 16% drop in the stock over the past few weeks has created an attractive entry point. Bernstein highlights Amazon's growth prospects, noting a 50% increase this year in fulfillment capacity.

AutoZone (AZO)  The auto parts retailer reported fiscal fourth-quarter earnings of $30.93 per share, beating the consensus estimate of $25.01 a share. Revenue was also above forecasts, with comparable sales more than doubling estimates with an increase of 21.8%. AutoZone said market conditions remain uncertain heading into the new fiscal year.

Tesla (TSLA)  Tesla CEO Elon Musk tweeted that battery production plans to be announced at today's "Battery Day" event won't reach high volume production until 2022.

Nikola (NKLA)  Nikola remains on watch after the electric truck maker's shares plunged Monday following the resignation of Executive Chairman Trevor Milton. Separately, The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Nikola will turn to an outside supplier to provide batteries for its semi-truck model, even though Nikola has said it has developed its own battery technology.

Comcast (CMCSA)  Nelson Peltz's Trian Fund Management has taken a 0.4% stake in the NBCUniversal and CNBC parent. The hedge fund said it had recently begun conversations with Comcast management, but it is unclear what Trian is focused on other than the idea that Comcast shares are undervalued.

Walmart (WMT)  The retailer is partnering with Goldman Sachs (GS) to provide lines of credit to third-party merchants who sell their products on Walmart.com.

Illumina (ILMN)  Illumina was downgraded to "hold" from "buy" at Stifel and to "neutral" from "buy" at UBS, with both firms pointing to factors associated with the gene-sequencing company's planned purchase of cancer blood test developer Grail.

Hertz (HTZ)  The car rental is considering proposals from two creditor groups for bankruptcy loans of $1-$1.5 billion, according to a Bloomberg report.

GameStop (GME)  GameStop shareholder RC Ventures disclosed that it had held recent discussions with the videogame retailer's management and that it had raised its stake in the company to 9.98% from the prior 9.6%. The company said it was willing under certain circumstances to become more involved in company operations.

Oracle (ORCL)  Oracle remains on watch on mixed messages over whether its deal to take a 12.5% stake in TikTok Global will be approved by the Chinese government. Walmart would take a 7.5% stake, but the state-backed Global Times newspaper said Beijing was unlikely to approve what it called an "unfair" deal.

Intel (INTC)  The chipmaker received a U.S. license to continue supplying certain products to China's Huawei Technologies. A Sept. 15 ban prevents U.S. companies from doing business with Huawei unless granted permission from the U.S. government.

Vroom (VRM), Carvana (CVNA)  Goldman Sachs upgraded both online auto retailers to "buy" from "neutral," noting a "long runway for growth" in the auto sales category as well as a belief that both stocks have over-corrected.

Teladoc Health (TDOC)  The provider of virtual medical visits was rated "buy" in new coverage at D.A. Davidson, which said Teladoc is a pure-play software company benefiting directly from Covid-19 and noting an organic growth rate of over 60%.
3 1 of 3 Contributed photo / Valerie Parker Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Keyz 2 Life Media / Valerie Parker Show More Show Less 3 of 3





NEW CANAAN  Mark Davis, head of St. Lukes School, will retire at the end of the 2021-22 school year.

Davis announced his decision to students, faculty and staff Tuesday morning, then sent a letter to the school community.
Peak Emirates prevailed in the first two months of 2020.

Londoners could fly to Dubai on any of the airline's six daily flights from Heathrow, three from Gatwick and two from Stansted.

No other carrier came close to that range of services from three of the capitals airports to a single destination, except British Airways to New York.

Birmingham and Glasgow had two daily flights; Manchester three; Newcastle one; and Edinburgh five times a week.

On most days, then, there were 20 flights a day to Dubai on Emirates from the UK, with most of them flown using Airbus A380 SuperJumbo aircraft.

How the mighty are wounded by coronavirus. The airlines latest filings show a vastly diminished schedule for this winter  with reductions from the UK exacerbated by a much slimmer range of options for travel beyond Dubai.

Emirates is the worlds biggest people-mover over international frontiers (while American Airlines, Delta and United fly more passenger-kilometres, a large slice of those are within the US; Dubai has no domestic business). So what Emirates is planning provides a guide to the near future for global air travel.

These schedules are mostly planned from the start of December, in the hope that the airline can sweep up lots of Christmas traffic.

London links will shrink compared with last winter. Emirates will run four flights from Heathrow (three of them on Airbus A380s, the other on a single-deck Boeing 777).

Gatwick drops from three daily A380s to a daily 777. Stansted gets the crumbs in the shape of five 777s a week, down from twice daily.

From Birmingham, the two Airbus A380s daily reduce to a Boeing 777 on four days a week. Glasgow, which had a mix of A380s and 777s, also drops just four of the smaller planes a week.

 Boris Johnson lists new coronavirus restrictions

Manchester probably does better than most: the 21 weekly A380s will reduce to 11  with Boeing 777s filling four times a week in to get a twice-daily service.

Edinburgh is an outlier; it gets a daily service from 1 December, two more each week than before. But nearby Newcastle gets the reduced frequency that Edinburgh previously had, from a daily link to five a week.

What about the all-important connections beyond Dubai? Emirates was, for the past decade, by far the biggest carrier of British travellers between the UK and Australasia.

But with both Australia and New Zealand operating extreme immigration and quarantine restrictions, travel to the far ends of the earth has dwindled to almost nothing. So let us take a spin around some of the Australian state capitals.

Adelaide falls off the map, Brisbane drops from two a day to two a week, Melbourne falls from two A380s daily to three 777s a week, Perth goes from a daily A380 to two 777s weekly,

Optimistically, Emirates is hoping to re-launch the 9,000-plus link from Dubai to Auckland from 3 January. But seating capacity is more than halved, with the daily A380 replaced by four Boeing 777s a week.

To east Asia, Hong Kong flights are reduced from three to one a day, and Phnom Penh in Cambodia falls off the airline map. But there are surprises: Emirates continues to serve both Tokyo airports, even though Haneda is far better located for the Japanese capital than distant Narita.

 Scotland bans households mixing indoors as Nicola Sturgeon criticises Boris Johnson plan

Looking further ahead at the summer season, which begins at the end of March and a very long winter, there are encouraging signs: Glasgow is expected to double seats from the winter schedule, with a single daily A380 back. Gatwick gets its Super Jumbo back, too, and Stansted steps up to daily.

All of this, needless to say, depends on events  from vaccine development to economic crises. This week, Eamonn Brennan, director-general of Eurocontrol, has had to revise down projections for the rest of 2020  while the prediction made in April was remarkably good to the end of August, air traffic is now in decline.

Airlines are losing billions, he said. Were not seeing any improvement, were not seeing any breakthrough.

Emirates is betting the sheer hunger for travel combined with fewer travel restrictions and a testing regime that everyone can live with can emerge over the coming months.
The DRCs support comes a few weeks after the GERD issue hit a deadlock as Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan failed to reach consensus in the latest African Union-brokered talks

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has expressed its support for Egypts stance over the disputed Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), a letter delivered to Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi from Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi read.

According to a statement by the Egyptian presidency on Saturday, El-Sisi received Congolese presidential advisor Jean-Claude Kabongo in Cairo, where he delivered a message from Tshisekedi.

According to the statement, the DRC expressed its support for Egypt on the GERD issue, and aspirations to develop bilateral ties with Egypt and benefit from its expertise in the fields of infrastructure and major developmental projects.

Kabongo also delivered Tshisekedis praise for aid delivered by Egypt to his country, the latest being medical aid sent by Cairo to help stem the spread of coronavirus.

El-Sisi expressed his appreciation for the DRCs support of Egypt on Nile water issues, stressing that Cairo is keen to offer support to the DRC and all of the continents countries on issues of cooperation, development and peace.

El-Sisi also affirmed his appreciation of special cooperation ties with the DRC, and keenness on supporting the country in several developmental and technical fields, with an eye to increasing the volume of trade exchange between the two countries.

The DRCs support comes a few weeks after the GERD issue hit a deadlock as Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan failed to reach consensus in the latest African Union-brokered talks.

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Parliament on Tuesday passed amendments to the Banking Regulation Act to bring cooperative banks under the supervision of the RBI, a move aimed at protecting the interest of depositors.

IMAGE: PMC Bank account holders raise slogans during their protest outside the RBI office in Mumbai on November 5, 2019. Photograph: Mitesh Bhuvad / PTI Photo.

The Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2020, which replaces an ordinance that was promulgated on June 26, was passed by a voice vote in Rajya Sabha. The amendment had got approval from Lok Sabha on September 16.

The bill, which comes against the backdrop of the PMC Bank scam, seeks to strengthen cooperative banks by increasing their professionalism, enabling access to capital, improving governance and ensuring sound banking through the RBI.

Replying to a short debate on the bill in Rajya Sabha, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the amendments have been brought to completely protect the interest of depositors.

She clarified that this amendment was only for cooperative societies engaged in banking activities.

"During the Covid period many cooperative banks have come under stress. Their finances are being closely monitored by the regulator RBI," Sitharaman said.

Justifying the need for the amendments, the minister said the government was able to quickly resolve the troubled Yes Bank as it was governed by commercial bank rules, but the resolution to the PMC Bank crisis is yet to be found.

The upper house debated the bill amid several members boycotting proceedings till the suspension of eight MPs was revoked.

As many as eight members of the Rajya Sabha were suspended on Monday after the government brought a motion in this regard which was passed by the House by voice vote.
Oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a highly effective method of reducing risk for HIV, yet use of PrEP is uniformly low, especially among women. As a result, researchers have developed long-acting injectable (LAI) versions of PrEP, one version of which was recently shown to be superior to oral PrEP in Phase 3 trials. A new study among women at high risk for HIV explored their hesitancy to use PrEP overall, as well as their interest in and willingness to use LAI PrEP. While one-third of the women interviewed would not consider PrEP regardless of its formulation, when asked to choose, the majority (55%) would prefer LAI PrEP over oral PrEP.

Researchers at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health led the research, as part of Women's Interagency HIV Study (WIHS), the largest national prospective cohort study of women living with HIV and at risk for HIV infection in the U.S. Their analysis of in-depth interviews with 30 HIV-negative women, nearly all who are women of color, appears in the journal AIDS and Behavior.

Despite PrEP's increasing availability and inclusion in many state Medicaid formularies, just over half of the women interviewed had heard of PrEP. These women, whose median age was 51, shared a near uniform view that LAI PrEP was a useful option for others, but that it was not relevant for their lives. This was due to low levels of perceived HIV risk, primarily due to being in monogamous partnerships. However, previous research suggests a potential disconnect between perceived HIV risk and actual HIV risk; the only group of women for whom HIV incidence is not decreasing is 55 and over. An earlier study of HIV-negative women in WIHS found that 7 percent had a partner living with HIV, 38 percent had a new partner in the past six months, 19 percent reported consistent condom use, and 18 percent reported using cocaine or heroin--all risk factors for HIV.

Women pointed a number of barriers to using LAI PrEP, including their fear of new--and perceived untested--injectable products, injection location (buttocks) and related side effects (soreness); the need for more frequent doctors' visits (LAI PrEP injections require clinic visits every two months vs. every three to six months for pills); and medical mistrust. The researchers note that medical mistrust might also be particularly salient for women of color given the U.S.' history of forced sterilization campaigns that often used injections.

Reported benefits of LAI PrEP included beliefs that shots were more effective than pills, and convenience and confidentiality related to injections. The researchers speculate that LAI PrEP may provide a safeguard for women whose partners refuse condoms or for those who believe their partners may be unfaithful, while providing confidentiality in ways that minimize the fear of retaliation--providing women with more autonomy over their bodies and control of their health.

Women living with HIV comprise nearly one-quarter of all persons living with HIV in the U.S. Although HIV incidence has declined among women overall since 2010, HIV incidence has not decreased among women 55 and older. In addition, racial and ethnic disparities remain stark: in 2017, Black women constituted 59 percent of new HIV diagnoses among women despite being just 13 percent of the female population. Other research has shown that older adult women do not see themselves at risk for HIV, and often lack knowledge about HIV risk. However, HIV prevention programs rarely target women over 50 and healthcare providers rarely communicate with this demographic about sexual risk.

"Women of color in the U.S. are at disproportionate risk of HIV acquisition, and we must explore how prevention measures can be scaled up and deployed in ways that can be easily incorporated in their daily lives," said first author Morgan M. Philbin, PhD, assistant professor of sociomedical sciences at Columbia Mailman School. "Continued efforts must be made to provide information about PrEP in an appropriate and non-stigmatizing way to all women, and also to address all types of barriers that challenge women's ability to access and to use PrEP."

###

Co-authors include Carrigan Parish, Elizabeth N. Kinnard, Sarah E. Reed, and Lisa R. Metsch at Columbia Mailman; Deanna Kerrigan, American University, Washington, D.C.; Maria Alcaide and Margaret Fischl, Miami Miller School of Medicine; Mardge H. Cohen, John H. Stroger Jr., Hospital of Cook County, Chicago; Oluwakemi Sosanya, Montefiore Medical Center, New York City; Anandi N. Sheth, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta; Adaora A. Adimora, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Jennifer Cocohoba, University of California, San Francisco; Lakshmi Goparaju, Georgetown University Medical Center; and Elizabeth T. Golub, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

The study was conducted with core funding from the Women's Interagency HIV/AIDS Study. Philbin's work was supported by a grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (DA039804A).
After nearly eight hours of play, Hungary's "benton24" bagged a chip leading stack of 21,233,809 in chips to end Day 2 of the WCOOP-72-L: $55 NLHE Main Event at PokerStars.

"benton24" wasn't the only player waving the Hungarian flag that will head to Day 3 with a big stack as both "anth0nypappa" and Day 1 chip leader "uzzy993" bagged top ten stacks.

Other players near the top of the leaderboard to end Day 2 included Romania's Alexandru "JustPray" Marcu, Brazil's "JuLiOcTas", and Indonesia's Akira "Clutch Hero" Ohyama.

2020 WCOOP Low $55 NLHE Main Event Day 2 Leaderboard

Place Player Country Chips Big Blinds 1 benton24 Hungary 21,233,809 133 2 Alexandru "JustPray" Marcu Romania 19,076,666 119 3 JuliOcTas Brazil 17,430,633 109 4 anth0nypappa Hungary 17,366,619 109 5 Akira "Clutch Hero" Ohyama Indonesia 15,849,423 99 6 ID IMPOSS United Kingdom 15,592,653 97 7 kevi1121 Sweden 13,991,937 87 8 stealthfool Canada 13,936,209 87 9 uzzy993 Hungary 13,144,744 82 10 pocketj0k3rs United Kingdom 13,045,394 82

Day 2 Recap

More than 4,000 new entrants joined the action between the time Day 1 ended and Day 2 began to bring the final count up to 38,660 entrants with 12,570 players in action.

This increased the prize pool up to $1,933,000 to demolish the $1,250,000 guarantee on the event. A total of 5,463 players were guaranteed at least a min-cash with the $186,841 set aside for the eventual winner on Wednesday, Sept. 22.

It took less than two hours for the bubble to break with Ukraine's "vanja-berkyt" being the last player to exit the tournament empty-handed.

Five of the six PokerStars Ambassadors that started Day 2 were also unable to cash including Arlie "Prince Pablo" Shaban, Felix "xflixx" Schneiders, Tom MajinBoob Hayward, Georgina "GJReggie" James, and James "OP-Poker James" Mackenzie.

Mason "Pye_Face21" Pye had a better fate than his fellow Ambassadors and not only managed a min-cash but laddered up before exiting in 2,477th place for $166.

Mason Pye and Tom Hayward

The day was scheduled to end with 160 players but three players were eliminated during the final hand to make it 158 players returning for tomorrow's Day 3 starting at 1:05 p.m. EDT / 7:05 p.m. CEST.

The action will resume with blinds still at 80,000/160,000 with an ante of 20,000 and will play down to a nine-max final table.

Stay tuned to see who makes the final table of the WCOOP Low NLHE $55 Main Event at PokerStars.
As a sort of shop steward for backbench Conservative MPs, Sir Graham Brady, chair of the 1922 Committee, is a man worth listening to  especially so if you happen to be the current leader of the Conservative Party. More than one of Boris Johnsons predecessors has had their career prematurely ended when they have lost the confidence of the 22, but Johnson seems too arrogant to care. That could be his biggest error so far.

In normal times, the 1922 committee conveys the worries of Tory MPs to ministers discreetly, and they are usually taken seriously. So it is a sign of how badly relations between Johnson and his parliamentary party have become that Sir Graham has taken to speaking out publicly. He has not held back; the government is ruling by decree over the Covid crisis, he claims, which is another way of saying that the MPs are being ignored. and they are angry about it. There will be a Commons vote next week on the rule of six and other Covid-related restrictions to normal life, and a Conservative rebellion is threatened. The government may only get its way with Labour support, something of a humiliation for a party with a supposed working majority of 87

The Tory MPs are also dissatisfied with the way Brexit is being handled, up to and including the recent open declaration that the UK is ready to break international law. The leadership then had to offer some hasty concessions to avert defeat on the internal market bill, which proposed to override the UK-EU withdrawal agreement, and may well have to offer more as the bill makes its way to the House of Lords (where Johnson is even less beloved).
We've seen it repeatedly since George Floyd's drug overdose: chanting mobs of mostly young, white people surround diners at restaurants or drivers in cars and force them to repeat the "black lives matter" mantra. While some of those happily chant along, it's evident that many are doing so because they are terrified of the screaming, violent, obscene mob surrounding them. For many of us, it's like watching an American reprise of China's Red Guard and its frightening struggle sessions. Paul Joseph Watson agrees. He's has put together a video that shows how precisely today's mob replicates China's Red Guard.

I don't often have the patience to sit through a 15-minute video because I usually get the point in the first few minutes. However, I watched every minute of Watson's comparison between the ritual public shaming, all backed by actual or threatened violence, that we're witnessing now and what happened in China from the mid-1960s through the end of the 1970s. Watson relies on archival footage, interviews, and movie re-enactments to show what it was like to live in China when the Red Guard  made up of students who were true believers and others who joined the mob to take the target off their own backs  became ascendant.

Perhaps the most disturbing part of the video was how Watson compares the government's role in America and China. In the 1960s, America had significant Marxist upheavals that paralleled what Mao was doing to China with the cultural revolution. However, back then, except for craven university professors who paved the way for the Marxist takeover of American academia, the American government was hostile to these radicals.

When they violated criminal laws or disturbed the public peace, the law cracked down on the radicals. Most of the protesters had no taste for prison and eventually retreated to the middle-class lifestyle from which they came.

In Mao's China, though, the government was complicit in the mob conduct. Watson's short video discusses how the Chinese government, while not officially condoning the student-led violence, tacitly approved it. What's frightening is that we're seeing the same thing here in Democrat cities across America.

Whether it's allowing the mob to built CHAZ, refusing to prosecute people (the norm across Democrat-run cities), fighting federal efforts to stem the violence, ordering the police to stand down, or trying to do away with the police entirely, we are witnessing in America what happened in China. Here and now, as in China fifty years ago, the mob and the government are allied against and trying to destroy the working people, from lower to upper class, who fund this country with their labor and innovation.

If we do not stand up to the mob while we still can, we will not be able to stand up to the mob later, when the government/leftist nexus has made the mob too strong to oppose. One way to stand up is to let your senator know that you want a vote on the next justice to ensure nine justices (and no deadlock) when the madness escalates because leftist judges and state governments are supporting open fraud in the election.

Also, vote a straight Republican ticket. Even if you don't like your Republican candidate, you have no choice. The Democrats' conduct since May has clarified things: the choice is a Republican or the mob. The only exception is if you live in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, where the only "Republican" candidate for sheriff is a transgender Satanist anarchist, who took advantage of the fact that no one else stepped forward to run on the Republican ticket. In that race, the Democrat candidate (who's favored to win anyway) looks good.

Oh, and here's the Watson video:

Image: Americas Red Guard PJW video. YouTube screen grab.
The one-day session of the Sikkim legislative assembly was held on Monday amidst lockdown in Gangtok. The week-long lockdown started on Monday after a sudden surge in Covid-19 cases.

Three ministers and two legislators, who had tested positive, did not attend the session. The legislators and assembly staff were tested for Covid-19 on Friday. The assembly has 32 members.

Sikkim was among the first states to impose a complete ban on entry of domestic and foreign tourists and migrant workers. The administration has now decided to allow free inter-state movement of people from October 1. Hotels and tourism-related services will be allowed to operate from October 10.

Also read: Provide food to sex workers during lockdown - SC tells Centre, states

An order issued by the government said, Inner line permits for foreign tourists having valid visas shall be issued from October 10 and helicopter services from Bagdogra airport to Gangtok will resume regular operations from October 1.

Every year, more than 10 lakh tourists visit Sikkim and Darjeeling-Kalimpong hills and more than 15 percent of the population in the region is depended on tourism. Tourism centres and hotels in Darjeeling and Kalimpong hills have already opened.

Sikkim reported 28 deaths and 2,391 Covid-19 cases till Saturday night.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Pramod Giri I am working with Hindustan Times since 2001 and am posted in Siliguri, West Bengal, as Principal Correspondent. I have been regularly covering vast area of northern parts of West Bengal, Sikkim and parts of Nepal and Bhutan. ...view detail
EDWARDSVILLE  One of the citys original independent specialty retailers is still thriving, celebrating its 20th anniversary Oct. 1.

In the middle to late 90s, Bob Moggio started seeing real growth happening in the Edwardsville/Glen Carbon area.

Large companies like Walmart, Lowes, and Target were choosing to invest in this area. I thought, We need a music store. We have a great college here, we have a great high school, recalled Moggio, of Mojos Music.

It took a few years, but finally the time was right in fall 2000.

Moggios involvement in music just happened to go hand in hand with his desire to establish a successful independent music store in Edwardsville. While developing a business plan and scouting locations for a store of his own, B and G Music from Belleville also saw an opportunity and opened a satellite location at 142 N. Main St. in Downtown Edwardsville. The owner soon realized that running two locations was a much greater task than originally thought. It never really took off with the same vibe in Edwardsville as it had in Belleville.

After some significant negotiation and brainstorming with the B and G owner, we both agreed that the best plan was for me to buy the business. Moggio, of Glen Carbon, recently recalled to The Edge.

I approached the store in a different way, sunk my teeth into it, and wasnt going to let it go, recalled Moggio about the business. Early on I embraced some high-end products and added items more suited to the needs of musicians in Edwardsville.

Moggio, a musician since the 1970s, had already worked at a couple of music stores before he assumed the lease of the music stores original owner. All the years of retail experience perfectly prepared Moggio to take the young store to a new level. He made the business his own, and Edwardsville helped make it their own store, too. Moggio grew the music store and it became known as a local must-shop destination for guitars and amps not typically seen in small-town America.

From day one, Moggio knew that in order to be successful he needed an online presence and recruited longtime customer and friend Tom Pullen to help. Pullen, a former information technology engineer, built Mojos Musics first website, putting it on the world-wide webs map. Pullen also helped design Mojos Musics logo, which still stands today.

In 2012, Moggio purchased the former Imbers Menswear store, at 144 N. Main St., and began the arduous task of completely gutting it, exposing the brick walls and an industrial ceiling. He built an office and replaced all the infrastructure  plumbing, electric, heating  with high-efficiency, eco-friendly options.

After 18 years and three grandsons, Moggio started to consider retirement.

When Bob started making noises about not being here every day, we started fantasizing about the possibility of buying the store from him, recalled Pullen of him and his wife, Jamie.

When we were first married, we thought itd be cool to open a music store  at the time, in Colorado, that didnt happen  but in 2017, the company I was with at the time completely gutted my department.

So after 25 years in corporate America, Pullen realized that he was ready for something different.

Bob called me and said, Whenever youre ready, lets talk. I worked here one year before purchasing the business while we were planning the transition, Pullen said.

This gave him the opportunity of experiencing the day-to-day operations and customer interactions, as well as learning to run a brick-and-mortar business from the back end.

At this point in our life, we wanted to do something rewarding, not be part of the machine, Pullen said. We wanted to plant ourselves somewhere, and Bob had really built great relationships and a strong brand. Mojos was very similar to what we had envisioned, and weve put our fingerprint on it.

Since the Pullens bought the business  Jan. 1, 2019  Moggio has worked three days a week to ensure a smooth transition. He wont be riding off into the sunset entirely anytime soon.

The Pullens are a family of longtime musicians, too. Tom Pullen, a former bassist in the famed 80s band The Undecided, has played a wide variety of musical styles over the years ranging from bluegrass to jazz, country to punk. Jamie, a keyboardist and vocalist, has performed in high-school and college ensembles and currently plays with her husband in their churchs worship band.

The Pullens son and daughter major in music at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville: 21-year-old Sarah Pullen, who plays keyboard and sings, and 19-year-old Jacob Pullen, who plays bass. The siblings are in a band together, Accidentally on Purpose, and the latter also plays in the band known as The Intrusion.

The COVID-19 pandemic posed a completely new set of challenges. Pullen reached back to his experience in big business to help the store quickly adapt and continue serving the needs of musicians. During that time, Mojos Music provided curbside delivery, as well as hand delivery, with the Pullens delivering orders in their own vehicles, including after business hours, locally and beyond.

With the intensity of the virus shutdown, we had to rethink how we did everything, Tom Pullen said. Weve had to keep people safe and have employees providing for their families. Thankfully, we were able to keep everyone employed during the shutdown.

The demand for guitars and musical gear did not decrease during the business shut-downs.

We significantly strengthened our online presence and shipped a lot of product out of here, Jamie Pullen said. Another thing  during this pandemic, with everyone stuck in their houses, a lot of people started playing instruments to have something to do.

Mojos was able to ship product quickly, often the same day as ordered, when some larger chain stores were not able to ship at all, showing once again that brick-and-mortar, local mom-and-pops are a better choice.

Ironically, Bobs second year was when September 11 (2001) happened, so he dealt with some of the same kinds of things, was able to navigate those waters, and came out stronger, Tom Pullen recalled.

Mojos has remained resilient as a result of all the recent challenges. They even picked up a few new lines and brands during the shutdown, providing an outlet when other outlets closed or reduced lines.

With the transition of ownership, there have been no big, sweeping changes, but the new owners continue to support a great customer base, some who come into the store on a daily basis.

This is their Cheers, Pullen said.

New Mojos customers have also come by way of musicians who have performed at The Wildey Theatre, right down the street.

If they were in need of something in a pinch, and came down the street for a bite to eat, they saw an independent music store, Pullen said.

We sold a guitar to Rusty Young from Poco who played it that night on stage at the Wildey, Jamie Pullen noted.

They also sold equipment to Jimmie Vaughan of the Fabulous Thunderbirds and former Jethro Tull lead guitarist Martin Barre, both of whom came across Mojos Music because they were playing at the Wildey.

Bonnie Bramlett, who played in a band with The Beatles George Harrison, came in one day and spent over an hour just talking music with us. Its a great place to be, Pullen said.

Our kids love it, too, Jamie noted. They got to talk to Martin Barre, and he even put his autograph on Thick as a Brick, which our son had purchased on vinyl.

Mojos mostly sells and trades guitars, but also carries other instruments as well as amplifiers, effects pedals, accessories, sound and recording gear, and percussion equipment.

Mojos also offers instrument and equipment repair, band and orchestra rentals, and music lessons.

During the month of October  Mojos anniversary month  the specialty retailer will have various promotions and specials, which can be viewed at its Facebook page.

Were having some great giveaways and deep discounts, and a day when we will restring guitars for patrons who bring in a donation to a local charity, Tom Pullen said. We call it Good Mojo, the charity arm of the business.

In recent years Mojos Music dedicated donations for services to Toys For Tots and the Glen Ed Food Pantry. The Pullens also gave away a Taylor guitar at Christmastime to help increase donations.

We want to give back to the community that has really helped us grow, Jamie Pullen said.

Its been great, Tom Pullen reiterated. Its close to our original plan, but it turned out better. With both of us and our kids involved, it really is a mom-and-pop music store.

For more information and Mojos Music hours visit mojosmusic.com or call 618-655-1600.
KCET, Southern California's home for award-winning public media programming, announced today a new installment of the acclaimed documentary series CITY RISING. The new installment CITY RISING: Youth & Democracy examines how young people are activating their civic power to reshape systems and institutions for a better future. The new multi-platform initiative is in partnership with The California Endowment. CITY RISING: Youth & Democracy premieres in Southern California on Tues., Oct. 20 at 8 p.m. on KCET and Thurs., Oct. 22 at 8 p.m. on PBS SoCal. The documentary will also be broadcast nationwide Sun., Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. ET/PT on Link TV (DirecTV 375 and DISH Network 9410). The documentary will also be released digitally following the broadcasts on kcet.org/cityrising and linktv.org/cityrising.

CITY RISING: Youth & Democracy follows the stories of youth leaders, allies and organizations as they challenge institutional and systemic issues through civic engagement. Over the course of the one-hour film, the role and work of youth organizations in California is explained, demonstrating how young people are organizing their communities to participate in public policy and make lasting change in pursuit of a more just and equitable future for themselves and the world they live in. More engaged, better trained, better allied, and on the shoulders of a rich legacy, young people are fostering hope for a better future for themselves and the nation.

Sociologists, economists and experts including Dr. Veronica Terriquez (Associate Professor Sociology Department at the University of California Santa Cruz), Dr. Manuel Pastor (Professor of Sociology and American Studies & Ethnicity at the University of Southern California), California State Senator Holly Mitchell and Dr. Ben Kirshner (Professor at the University of Colorado Boulders School of Education) are featured in this third installment of the CITY RISING series.

The five California communities featured in the documentary include:



In Fresno, Zofia Trexler and Raymart Catacutan use the power of journalism to keep youth informed and engaged, while uplifting young voices.

In Oakland, Jae Hill from the organization Youth Together joins teachers strikes to support funding for pay and to maintain the health and counseling services that she and her fellow students need to succeed in school.

In South L.A., Joshua Ham from Brothers, Sons, Selves Coalition discusses their work to enact the School Climate Bill of Rights across the LA Unified School District in order to implement restorative justice methods of discipline instead of traditional punitive measures.

In Santa Ana and Merced, Claudia Perez from Resilience OC and Ines Garcia from 99Rootz explore how undocumented youth can still participate in democracy and have their voices heard, despite their inability to vote.

In Sacramento, Jay Franco from Youth Forward joins a coalition of youth organizations to fight for the Sacramento Kids First Fund, an initiative that looks to expand the citys budget for youth services and have young people included when deciding where those resources go.

Join the conversation on social media using #CityRising

ABOUT CITY RISING

CITY RISING is a documentary series that examines social justice issues affecting California communities. The program illuminates the journey of California's neighborhoods advocating for policy change to improve upward mobility for their communities. The effects of these movements are far-reaching, and their voices will ultimately impact the social health of communities across the country and beyond.

ABOUT KCET

KCET is on-air, online and in the community, and plays a vital role in the cultural and educational enrichment of Southern and Central California. KCET offers a wide range of award-winning local programming as well as the finest public television programs from around the world. Throughout its 54-year history, KCET has won hundreds of major awards for its local and regional news and public affairs programming, its national drama and documentary productions, its quality educational family and children's programs, its outreach and community services and its website, kcet.org. For additional information about KCET productions, web-exclusive content, programming schedules and community events, please visit kcet.org. Select original programming from KCET is also available for streaming on Apple TV, YouTube, Amazon and Roku platforms. For more information please visit kcet.org/apps.

ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT

The California Endowment, a private, statewide health foundation, was established in 1996 to expand access to quality health care for underserved individuals and communities, and to promote fundamental affordable improvements in the health status of all Californians. The Endowment challenges the conventional wisdom that medical settings and individual choices are solely responsible for peoples health. The Endowment believes that health happens in neighborhoods, schools and with prevention. Headquartered in downtown Los Angeles, The Endowment has regional offices in Sacramento, Oakland, Fresno and San Diego, with program staff working throughout the state. For more information, visit http://www.calendow.org.
T he mother of suspected IS terrorist El Shafee Elsheikh has lost a High Court challenge against Home Secretary Priti Patels decision to share evidence about her son with US authorities.

Maha Elgizouli, whose son El Shafee Elsheikh is in US custody with his co-accused Alexanda Kotey, brought a judicial review earlier this month over Ms Patels decision on August 24 to provide material to the American government under a mutual legal assistance (MLA) request.

Elsheikh and Kotey are accused of belonging to a cell of executioners in Syria  nicknamed The Beatles because of their British accents  responsible for killing a number of Western captives.

At a hearing in London on September 11, Ms Elgizoulis lawyers argued Ms Patels decision was unlawful as it was incompatible with the Data Protection Act (DPA), and asked the court to order that no material should be provided to the US.

Alexanda Amon Kotey is also accused of belonging to a cell of executioners / AP

They said the transfer of the evidence was not strictly necessary as it was made at a time when the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) was due to make a decision imminently about whether there was enough evidence to prosecute Elsheikh in the UK  which US authorities previously indicated a preference for.

But in a ruling on Tuesday, Dame Victoria Sharp and Mr Justice Garnham rejected the case, saying it was not properly arguable.

Dame Victoria said previous expressions of preference as to where a prosecution should take place were of no relevance to the issues the court had to decide.

She added: The conclusion that, even if Mr Elsheikh could be prosecuted in England, it would still be necessary and proportionate to transfer the data to the US authorities remained a conclusion properly open to the Secretary of State.

The pair were allegedly among four British jihadis who made up a brutal Islamic State cell dubbed "The Beatles," / AP

The hearing was held urgently as the US Government indicated it will transfer the pair to Iraq for trial, where if found guilty they will be executed, if it does not receive all the evidence the UK has on them by October 15.

As a result of the ruling, the evidence requested can now be handed over to the US authorities by the UK Government.

Dame Victoria said in the ruling that the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has concluded there is sufficient evidence to prosecute Elsheikh for a number of terrorism-related offences, but that they required either the consent of the Attorney General, Suella Braverman, or her permission for the DPP to consent to a prosecution.

The judge said the Attorney General had indicated on September 10, in response to a request from Ms Elgizoulis solicitors, that it is simply not possible to give and indication of timescale as to when she would reach a decision.

The court previously heard there was a charging decision by the DPP in 2016, with the consent of the Attorney General, that there was sufficient evidence to charge Kotey  whose whereabouts were then unknown  with five offences of murder and eight of hostage taking.

Alexanda Kotey and Shafee Elsheikh have been stripped of their British citizenship / REUTERS

Elsheikh and Kotey, who were raised in the UK but have been stripped of their British citizenship, were captured by the Syrian Democratic Forces in January 2018, sparking an international row over whether they should be returned to the UK for trial or face justice in another jurisdiction.

They were transferred to the custody of the US military in Iraq in October 2019 and remain in American custody.

American officials revealed last month, in a letter to Ms Patel from US attorney general William Barr, that they will not insist on the death penalty for the pair following any prosecution.

Ms Elgizouli previously brought a challenge to former home secretary Sajid Javids decision to share evidence with US authorities without seeking assurances the men would not be executed if convicted in the US.

Her case was dismissed by the High Court in January 2019 but that decision was overturned in March this year by a panel of seven Supreme Court justices, who unanimously allowed her appeal  ruling the decision to share evidence with the US was unlawful under the Data Protection Act.

Elsheikh and Kotey are said to have been members of the cell that also included Mohammed Emwazi, known as Jihadi John, who was killed in a US air strike in 2015, and Aine Davis, who has been jailed in Turkey.

Emwazi appeared in a number of videos in which hostages, including British aid workers David Haines and Alan Henning and US journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff, were killed.
PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- NEST, a leading integrated facilities management company, announced they are donating funds to charities across the country. The beneficiaries will be selected by NEST's clients to support local charities in cities where their partners are based. Lancaster-based Fulton Bank selected Women's Community Revitalization Project and Share Food Program, who are both based out of Philadelphia, to receive a share of the donation.

NEST manages more than 59,000 retail and banking center locations in the U.S. and Canada. Since mid-March, they helped clients like Fulton Bank develop new innovative strategies and operational procedures in response to COVID-19. Through their "NEST Nurtures" philanthropic division, NEST is committing over $70,000 to charities in 2020.

"During this unprecedented time in our nation, we want to work with our partners to give back to their local communities and support charities who are doing important work right now," said NEST CEO, Rob Almond. "Both the WCRP and Share Food Program are worthy causes that help the Philadelphia community in this time of need."

NEST Nurtures focuses on supporting nonprofits and improving communities while expanding on the company's philanthropic endeavors that NEST has fulfilled since they were founded in 1994.

NEST is working with clients to decrease facility management expenses and streamline their operations. Almond's focus is for NEST to work alongside clients to find strategies that will return consumer confidence to visit a banking center or retail location.

NEST is the pioneer of the Integrated Facilities Management (IFM) industry in the United States and Canada since 1994. NEST's Integrated Facilities Management solution pairs financial acumen and business analytics with a strategic consultative approach. Real-time data, reporting and analytics technology empowers business leaders and facility management teams with the informed insights that enable them to make smarter decisions. To learn more about NEST, visit enterNEST.com or follow NEST on LinkedIn.

SOURCE NEST

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Alvaro Morata's loan move to Juventus will see him surpass 200 million euros in total transfer fees during his career.

The striker will re-join his former club in Turin for 10m euros on a season-long loan from Atletico Madrid.

This summer's return to Italy means that the 27-year-old has never stayed at one club for more than two seasons.

Morata first broke into the Real Madrid first team in the 2012/13 season and stayed in Carlo Ancelotti's squad for the following campaign, too.

In the summer of 2014, he completed a move to Juventus for 20m euros, with the deal including a buy-back clause for Los Blancos.

Real Madrid exercised that 30m euro clause two years later to bring the forward back to the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu in 2016.

Despite being stuck behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema in the pecking order, Morata then earned a move to Chelsea for 80m euros in the summer of 2017.

The Spaniard didn't adapt to the Premier League and, after just 18 months, he returned to LaLiga Santander, joining Atletico on a loan deal.

At the end of his 18-month loan, this summer Morata completed a permanent switch to Los Rojiblancos for 65m euros.

Just several weeks after Atletico paid their obligatory fee to sign the striker permanently, Morata received the call from Andreas Pirlo to return to Juve.

The 10m euro loan fee sees his transfer fee total reach 205m euros for his career.
MOUNT ARLINGTON, N.J., Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- During the COVID-19 pandemic, STORIS and Factory Direct Enterprises (FDE) set an ERP conversion record for a Top 100 Retailer. FDE went live on STORIS in just 87 days. Implementing technology across a $200M, 400-user operation is a significant accomplishment under normal circumstances and exemplifies change management at its finest from two remote workforces.

The Chrinian family owns Factory Direct Enterprises, an Ashley HomeStore Northeast licensee with 18 showroom locations in the tri-state area. Implementing a new ERP solution was a future priority for FDE. However, as New Jersey was under state-wide shutdowns forcing temporary store closures, FDE used the unexpected downtime to accelerate the project. FDE chose to implement STORIS to gain a scalable technology infrastructure with valuable analytical capabilities to support growth.

"In reviewing STORIS' commitment to products that help retailers thrive in the home furnishings industry, we knew that they were the right partner for our future. The STORIS team worked closely with us on a successful implementation in record-setting time to give our business the multi-channel solutions needed to thrive in any environment," Eugene Chrinian, FDE Chairman.

The milestone implementation was possible due to the collaboration between STORIS and FDE. Both approached the project with strategic alignment and laser-focus. Each day, the teams convened on priorities and task organization virtually.

STORIS' Project Manager, Will Andrews, noted, "Communication, attention to detail, agility, and organization allowed us to manage tasks efficiently. FDE's team did an outstanding job of extracting data accurately for a timely conversion."

VP of Operations, Brandon Chrinian, remarked, "STORIS looked after our business as if it were their own. The level of shared commitment speaks volumes. The execution of the STORIS organization and their rooted company culture appeals to us as we begin a long-term partnership."

Even though they have only been live on STORIS for three months, FDE is already seeing results. From the core solution, FDE has improved margin and discount control, enabled exception reporting for minimum gross profit, and expedited checkout. Also, the ability to integrate into Ashley Furniture Industries to provide real-time Available to Promise (ATP) details at the POS and automate inventory replenishment has been imperative.

Not only did FDE implement the core STORIS ERP, they are also utilizing advanced technologies. This included mobilizing their salesforce on Customer Experience Management (CXM), integrating their credit program through Finance Queue, and rolling out system-wide Business Intelligence.

STORIS' Manager of Consulting Services, Jake Egan, commented, "FDE put together a strong team committed to success. They took each opportunity to streamline Standard Operating Procedures. FDE's leadership led by example, keeping their end-users poised to embrace change."

STORIS runs many Ashley HomeStore licensees. FDE is now a part of this strategic community leveraging the STORIS solution with direct integration to Ashley. "STORIS' thought leadership and its cohort of Ashley HomeStore companies represent a strong network. We have an expanded community that can now collaborate on the challenges we are facing and solve them together," commented Brandon Chrinian. "The known viability of the STORIS solution and their high level of service gave us confidence in our decision to move forward during a time of uncertainty."

STORIS has helped many retailers realize the benefits of technology-driven operations and Unified Commerce during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since March of 2020, STORIS has added 102 new stores, 1,041 new users, and $533M in furniture retail revenue to its network.

If your home furnishings retail operation can benefit from scalable technology, contact 1.888.4.STORIS or visit www.STORIS.com to request a demo.

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Were not here to talk about the movie as a whole, though, but one of the cars that Vin Diesel drives like a man on a mission. First shown with red paintwork, the Chevelle SS in question is then sanded down to the bare metal and repainted gray. Of course, a little bit of nitrous oxide is also added to bring the point home.That very car, chassis number 136370L11604, is a Fisher body that currently sits at 40,500 Australian dollars with three days of bidding left on Lloyds Auctioneers and Valuers . The two-door coupe is listed with a 350-cu.in. V8 powerplant, translating to 5.7 liters as opposed to 396 or 454 cubic inches for the original engine options.A four-speed stick shift sends the goodies to the rear axle, and upgrades further include Wilwood brakes, a safety cell painted in black, Hotchkis sport suspension, bucket seats that have seen better days, a NOS bottle between the front seats, and something called drift brakes whatever that may mean. Based on the design of the handbrake's lever, we may be dealing with a hydraulic system.Autographed on the hood by Paul Walkers brother Cody in April 2015, the car comes with Paramount Pictures papers that attest the Chevelles starring role in Fast & Furious. Bear in mind, though, that this vehicle is being sold unregistered.Its hard to estimate how much money will this Super Sport rake in, and its even harder to imagine that the Chevelle SS from the billion-dollar franchise will improve its value with the passing of time. Based on recent auction results of 1970 models, buyers are more interested in all-original specs rather than movie cars.The most expensive 1970 Chevelle SS sold this year is an LS6 Convertible Automatic that Mecum auctioned for $330,000. The two next highest sells were $209,000 and $192,500 for a custom coupe and a custom convertible with manual transmissions.
ANSAmed - Today's events in the Mediterranean

(ANSAmed) - ROME, SEPTEMBER 22- The following are the main events scheduled today in the Euro-Mediterranean area: BRUSSELS - EU General Affairs ministers meeting.



RIYADH - Videoconference of G20 trade ministers.



RABAT - Trial against journalist Omar Radi, charged with rape and foreign funding, begins. (ANSAmed).




Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 00:29:41|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he will be announcing his Supreme Court nominee at the White House on Saturday.

The exact time for the event will be announced later, Trump tweeted.

The president has said he was considering five women for the vacancy left by the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

He has also said he would like to see a full Senate vote on his pick before Election Day on Nov. 3, a move intended to cement a 6-3 conservative majority on the high court and energize his supporters.

Judges Amy Coney Barrett, Barbara Lagoa and Allison Jones Rushing are said to be on Trump's shortlist.

Barrett and Lagoa, both conservatives that the Senate confirmed in bipartisan votes, are reportedly top contenders.

Republicans hold a 53-47 advantage in the Senate and only two of them have said they will oppose a vote on Trump's Supreme Court nominee, whose confirmation requires a simple majority in the upper chamber before the November election.

Senator Mitt Romney, a Utah Republican and Trump critic, said Tuesday he supports moving forward to fill Ginsburg's seat, all but ensuring Trump's candidate will be confirmed.

Ginsburg died last week at age 87 due to complications of metastatic pancreas cancer.

A renowned champion of women's rights and liberal icon, Ginsburg was appointed to the U.S. high court by then President Bill Clinton in 1993. She was the second woman appointed to the bench and served more than 27 years. Enditem
DENVER, Sep. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- To protect the health and safety of teachers, staff, students, and families as schools reopen during the COVID-19 pandemic, Meritech today announced it will host "Become a Handwashing Superhero" a free, live, half-hour webinar on Tuesday, Oct. 6, at 10 a.m. MST.

Meritech will host a live webinar for educators on Tuesday, Oct. 6 at 10 am MST to provide early childhood and K-12 educators with resources to encourage effective handwashing both at school and at home.

While the COVID-19 pandemic raised awareness of the importance of hand hygiene among the general public, schools and childcare centers have long been adversely affected by illness. Every year the flu epidemic and other acute respiratory illnesses (ARI's) cause students and teachers to miss class and require parents to stay home from work. Effective handwashing is the best defense against the spread of disease, including COVID-19 and other ARI's. As experts on hand hygiene, Meritech will be hosting a webinar to provide educators with the knowledge and tools necessary to make handwashing fun, easy, and effective, both in their classroom and beyond.

"So while [handwashing has] always been important, without it being a focus we've seen things like the flu epidemic and other health threats wreak havoc on our K-12 institutions every year," said Robert Kania on a recent episode of The Wash Podcast . The impact of cold and flu season on students and teachers is no small challenge. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine , school children have at least 6 to 8 colds a year, and children who attend daycare will have more.

Armed with the resources and guidance from this webinar, educators can become a hygiene superhero within their community. But what exactly is a hygiene superhero? Meritech defines this as someone who is knowledgeable on all things hand hygiene, leads by example, encourages those around them to practice effective hygiene, and educates their students and peers on proper handwashing practices.

The webinar will be presented by Meritech's education hygiene expert, Patrick Burke. Burke is a father of two young children and is incredibly passionate about helping schools and early childhood education centers demonstrate their commitment to safety and create a healthier and safer space for children to learn and grow. Prior to joining Meritech, he owned and managed MBS CrossFit, one of the most successful and well-known CrossFit gyms in Denver, Colorado for over a decade. He is familiar with the challenges business owners and managers face when balancing the goals of the organization, the needs of clients and staff, and external environmental factors.

"Working with educators, I have found that time, energy, and resources tend to be the biggest determinants in underutilizing handwashing as a defense against spreading illness. I am excited to bridge that gap with this webinar," said Patrick Burke.

To register for the "Become a Handashing Superhero" webinar, visit www.meritech.com/webinars . This webinar comes in addition to a library of educational resources Meritech has already provided to serve educators, including informational articles, podcasts, hand hygiene guides, posters, videos, and more. Interested parties may visit www.meritech.com/education to learn more.

About Meritech

As the leader in automated hygiene technology, Meritech's mission is to create a healthier and safer world by redefining human hygiene. Meritech's innovative automated hygiene technology and solutions have been developed and refined over decades by an experienced team of sanitation, food safety, and healthcare experts. Meritech's proprietary line of CleanTech Automated Handwashing Stations that are clinically proven to remove more than 99.9% of harmful pathogens, increase handwashing frequency, integrate seamlessly into facilities, exceed regulatory food safety and sanitation requirements, and make hand hygiene fun and easy while remaining more effective than a manual hand wash.

Media Contact:

Jennifer Taylor

Director of Marketing & Design

Meritech

303.790.4670 X113

[email protected]

SOURCE Meritech
She rose to fame when she became a late arrival on the sixth series of Love Island earlier this year.

And Molly Smith sent temperatures soaring as she shared a series of sizzling bikini snaps on Instagram on Monday.

The reality star, 26, showcased her gym-honed physique as she posed in a white and black printed set.

Stunning: Molly Smith, 26, sent temperatures soaring as she shared a series of sizzling bikini snaps on Instagram on Monday

Molly, who is dating fellow Love Islander Callum Jones, displayed her sun-kissed hue in the photos as she fixed the camera with a sultry stare.

The beauty let her blonde locks fall loose down her shoulders while she also wore a white shirt.

Posing against a brick wall, Molly completed her look for the shoot with a pair of white flip flops.

She recently returned from a romantic trip to Crete in Greece with her beau Callum where she displayed her flawless sun-kissed tan and abs once more.

Radiant: The reality star showcased her gym-honed physique as she posed in a white and black printed set

Molly looked every bit the Greek goddess with her long golden hair swept over her shoulder in soft curls.

Always on trend, the TV star exuded confidence in a leopard print bikini, paired with some lavender tinted sunglasses and simple gold necklaces.

With a white shirt draped over her shoulders as a cover up, the influencer had been keeping fans engaged with a series of snaps from their romantic getaway.

Pose: The beauty let her blonde locks fall loose down her shoulders while she also wore a white shirt

Molly and Callum, 24, have been an item ever since they met on the winter series of Love Island.

However the iconic summer show was cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic and will not return again until next summer when it is hoped COVID-19 restrictions will have eased.

To recover from the drought of a Love Island-less summer, ITV2 have been airing the Australian version of the hit series, and the USA rendition hit the small screen on September 7.
Nikki Kahn/The Washington Post via Getty ImagesBy EMILY SHAPIRO, ABC News



(NEW YORK) -- The Brooklyn municipal building will be renamed for hometown legend Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Tuesday.



Ginsburg, who died on Friday at age 87, was born in Brooklyn in 1933 and raised in the borough.

Icon. Trailblazer. Daughter of Brooklyn.



Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburgs memory will live on in our city. Im proud to announce that we're renaming the Brooklyn Municipal Building in her honor.



May her example inspire all of us to fight for justice in the months ahead. pic.twitter.com/hrSn5mLJpB  Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) September 22, 2020

The campaign to rename the building after the "proud daughter of Brooklyn" began two years ago, said Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams.



"I take heart in knowing that young girls and boys who pass by the Ruth Bader Ginsburg Brooklyn Municipal Building will know her name, learn from her example, and pick up the baton to run their own relay toward a more just, equitable and fair America," Adams said in a statement Tuesday.



Ginsburg will also be honored with a statue in Brooklyn, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Saturday.



"As a lawyer, jurist, and professor, she redefined gender equity and civil rights and ensured America lived up to her founding ideals -- she was a monumental figure of equality, and we can all agree that she deserves a monument in her honor," Cuomo said in a statement.



"She persevered despite several bouts of cancer and was present every single day to participate in the strengthening and safeguarding of our democracy," Cuomo continued.



"We remember proudly that she started her incredible journey right here in Brooklyn," Cuomo said. "Her legacy will live on in the progress she created for our society, and this statue will serve as a physical reminder of her many contributions to the America we know today and as an inspiration for those who will continue to build on her immense body of work for generations to come."



Cuomo said in the coming days he'll appoint a commission to select an artist and provide recommendations on possible locations.



Landmarks across New York state were lit blue on Saturday for Ginsburg.



"Blue is the color of justice and was reportedly Justice Ginsburg's favorite color," Cuomo's statement said.



The landmarks include Niagara Falls, One World Trade Center, Grand Central Terminal and the Kosciuszko Bridge in Queens.



Copyright  2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
On sale: Omid Scobies account of Harry and Meghans exit from royal life hit bookshops last month. Photo: Toby Melville

Meghan Markle's biographer has given evidence in her London High Court privacy battle, as she was accused of using a letter to her estranged father as "part of a media strategy".

Omid Scobie, a co-author of Finding Freedom, submitted a witness statement as part of her legal case against The Mail on Sunday newspaper, insisting she did not authorise details in the book.

The Duchess of Sussex is suing Associated Newspapers, the owner of The Mail on Sunday, over the publication of a letter she wrote to her father, claiming it breached her privacy, copyright and data protection rights.

But lawyers on behalf of the newspaper allege that she breached her own privacy because she "permitted" details about her life to be provided to the authors, including "information about the letter".

The claims of Meghan's involvement in the book came as she was ordered to disclose "thousands" of messages sent to friends and family after the article was published.

Lawyers for the newspaper requested emails, photos, FaceTime logs and WhatsApp messages be handed over.

Meghan's legal team had tried to limit the time period in which the messages could be retrieved but Judge Francesca Kaye ruled that all relevant messages should be submitted over a six-month period from February 10, 2019 - the date on which the disputed article was published.

Yesterday, the newspaper applied to amend its defence in light of the publication of Finding Freedom. The biography, which was published in August, details Prince Harry and Meghan's departure from the British royal family.

Lawyers argue it was written with the couple's "extensive co-operation".

Antony White QC, representing the newspaper, said the book's author, Mr Scobie, made "public statements", televised on Good Morning America in 2018, which proved Meghan had expected the letter to be leaked to the press.

The newspaper argues that Mr Scobie made the statements because he was given information about the letter, therefore undermining Meghan's claim of a privacy breach by the paper.

But, in a witness statement, Mr Scobie said that any suggestion he spoke to the couple about the book's contents prior to its release is "false". He added: "They did not authorise the book and have never been interviewed for it."

If the case goes to a full trial then the newspaper's lawyers said they will seek to "test" Mr Scobie's evidence.

Setting out the newspaper's application for an amended defence, lawyers on behalf of The Mail on Sunday argued that Meghan wrote the letter to her father "as part of a media strategy".

The newspaper alleged that Meghan used her friends as "de facto PR agents" to produce "flattering" media coverage, including giving an interview to People magazine.

Her legal team denied that she collaborated on the book. ( Daily Telegraph, London)

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021]
State Forest Rangers rescued several lost and injured Upstate NY hikers and campers recently.

All the incidents below occurred between Sept. 17-20. All information below was supplied by the state Department of Environmental Conservation.

Town of Piercefield, Lawrence County

Wilderness Rescue: On Sept. 17 at 10:25 a.m., DECs Central Dispatch received a call from a relative of two campers on the Bog River after one of the campers injured their back and had difficulty moving. Forest Rangers Baldwin, Lee, and Hogan responded to assist. At 12:20 p.m., Rangers Baldwin and Hogan located the campers and began the walk out to the road. At 1:07 p.m., Ranger Baldwin transported the campers back to their vehicle. The 66-year-old man from Honeoye Falls who had suffered the back injury stated he would seek further medical attention on his own.

Town of Keene, Essex County

Wilderness Rescue: On Sept. 18 at 7 p.m., Essex County 911 transferred a call to DECs Ray Brook Dispatch reporting a hiker with a chest injury on the Pitchoff Trail in the Sentinel Mountain Wilderness Area. Forest Ranger Praczkajlo responded to assist, locating the 68-year-old hiker from Waltham, Massachusetts, at 7:45 p.m. After administering first aid for injured ribs, the Ranger and the hiker walked out to the trailhead. At 8:33 p.m., they were back at the trailhead and the hiker stated he would seek further medical attention on his own.

Town of Jewett, Greene County

Wilderness Rescue: On Sept. 19 at 2:45 p.m., the Windham Police Department contacted DECs Central Dispatch requesting Forest Ranger assistance in locating a 40-year-old hiker from Tenafly, New Jersey, with a lower left leg injury. The hiker was approximately one mile from the Barnum Road trailhead on Thomas Cole Mountain. Forest Rangers Breigle, Seeley, Jackson, and Ellis responded to assist. After reaching the hiker, Greene County EMS provided first aid while Rangers prepared the man for a carry-out by securing him in a litter. At 6:45 p.m., Rangers carried the subject out about one mile. The man declined medical transport and said he would seek additional medical care on his own.

Town of Dresden Washington County

Wilderness Rescue: On Sept. 19 at 7:43 p.m., Washington County 911 transferred a call to DECs Ray Brook Dispatch from a hiker advising she was stuck on the trail on Black Mountain and two of her hiking companions were further up the trail. Washington County 911 provided coordinates that placed several members of the hike group from Mechanicville at the Black Mountain Point on the shore of Lake George. Forest Rangers OConnor and Donegan responded to Black Mountain Point via a boat from Green Island, while Forest Ranger St. Claire responded to the marina at Huletts Landing. At 10:04 p.m., Ranger OConnor advised that the two hikers had made their way back to the main group and that all seven hikers were on the boat and being transported to the marina. Once at the marina, Ranger St. Claire drove members of the hiking party to the trailhead to retrieve their vehicles.

Town of Wilmington, Essex County

Wilderness Rescue: On Sept. 19 at 7:47 p.m., DECs Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from a hiker who became separated from her sister while hiking Esther Mountain. The missing hiker was last seen near the outlook at Marble Mountain. Forest Rangers Burns and Evans responded to assist. At 9:38 p.m., Ranger Evans located the 31-year-old hiker from Canton who reported that she had fallen, lost consciousness, and injured her right knee. Ranger Evans splinted the subjects knee and escorted her down the trail to the reservoir trailhead where they were met by Ranger Burns. Once back at the trailhead, the injured hiker advised she would seek further medical treatment on her own.

Town of North Elba, Essex County

Wilderness Rescue: On Sept. 20 at 1:23 a.m., DECs Central Dispatch received a request for Ranger assistance for four overdue hikers spending the night at Marcy Dam as part of a group of 16. At 7:08 a.m., Forest Rangers, Assistant Forest Rangers, and caretakers responded to look for the missing hikers. The group initially set out to hike Marcy on Sept. 19, through Lake Colden but became separated. Two hikers attempted to get back to the campsite via Lake Arnold but could not make a water crossing and spent the night along the trail. At 7:15 a.m., the hikers returned to the campsite. The other two hikers became lost at Indian Falls when they accidentally took the ski trail back up toward Marcy and spent the night on the trail. Assistant Forest Ranger Engel located this pair at 9:32 a.m., and escorted them back to the group. Forest Rangers issued the hikers a ticket for an oversized group. The incident concluded at 11 a.m.

Be sure to properly prepare and plan before entering the backcountry. Visit DECs Hike Smart NY and Adirondack Backcountry Information webpage for more information.

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Amaravati, Sep 22 : Kanumuru Raghu Ramakrishna Raju, YSRCP MP from Narasapuram, has emerged as a thorn in the flesh of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy of late.

It has been close to a year now that Raju (58) has been attacking his own party from within, sometimes with sharper attacks than the entire opposition put together.

The Narasapuram MP has opposed some of the government schemes close to the heart of Reddy, such as introducing English medium education to all students in government schools and the trifurcation of the state capital.

Championing the one capital cause for Amaravati, against the ruling party's position, Raju recently met Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla.

"I met Bhalla over the Amaravati issue. Though the court and the Assembly are in different cities, they cannot be termed as capitals. These are all cock and bull stories," Raju said, taking a dig at Reddy's plans of trifurcating the state capital.

The Chief Minister wants to create a judicial capital at Kurnool, legislative capital in Amaravati and executive capital in Visakhapatnam.

Thousands of villagers who gave lands for one capital in Amaravati during the erstwhile Telugu Desam Party (TDP) regime have been protesting incessantly against the proposed move.

The state government alleges that a massive real estate scam of more than 4,000 acres occurred in Amaravati where influential people amassed land.

After the Antarvedi Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple chariot blaze on September 5, the YSRCP Parliamentarian took the matter to Delhi and staged an 8-hour protest against such incidents.

Pertaining to the temple issues, he attacked fellow party member and Endowments Minister Vellampalli Srinivas Rao, saying that the latter was talking mindlessly.

What started as a small flicker of criticism from within for the YSRCP in the shape of Raju has now transformed into a daily soap opera, intensifying into directly attacking and criticising the Chief Minister who had given Raju the ticket to contest from Narasapuram in the 2019 Parliamentary elections.

Meanwhile, the Vijayawada-born pharmacy graduate's anti-party antics have become prized primetime programmes for the media houses.

In a recent such interview with a Telugu news channel, Raju heaped praises on Janasena Party founder Pawan Kalyan for extending his support to the people of Amaravati.

Raju praising Kalyan, who considers Reddy as his arch-rival and did everything in his capacity to trounce him in the 2019 elections but failed, did not go down well with the ruling party.

Finding himself in the eye of storm for anti-party activities, Raju has already drawn a lot of flak from fellow party men, especially from his home district West Godavari.

MLAs Mudunuri Prasad Raju, Karumuri Venkata Nageswara Rao and others have challenged him to resign and contest again, to which Raju retaliated by belittling them and claiming that it is his face value which helped them win in the elections.

Following a recent verbal duel with YSRCP MP from Bapatla, Nandigam Suresh, the Scheduled Caste leader has complained against Raju with the SC Commission that he was talking with contempt against Dalits.

A few Dalit bodies have already called for action against Raju, a very affluent man with similar relatives from the Kshatriya community.

Amid all this cacophony, Raju continues to claim that he respects Reddy and likes him, further creating confusion in the minds of the people as to which side he really is.

Nobody clearly knows if he is with the YSRCP or TDP or BJP, as he continues to attack his own party, often uttering a few sentences in support of Reddy after mocking and challenging him.

On his part, Reddy never talks about Raju, who also claims that Reddy is not giving him an appointment.

"I think Reddy does not want to entertain Raju because nearly four more years are left for him as the CM. Any suspension order or any retaliation will make Raju go rogue, which will be an unnecessary distraction," said local YSRCP leader Talluri Raj Kumar.

Kumar is also not impressed with Raju, complaining that he has not done anything for the people of his constituency. He highlighted that thousands of people are suffering from lack of potable drinking water in the Godavari district which is an irony.

Kumar said that Raju is rarely seen in the Narasapuram constituency.

Raju also has his admirers who regularly support his actions.

According to information available on the Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR) portal, Raju was accused in a few cheating and criminal breach of trust cases registered against him in Delhi and Hyderabad.

Politics aside, Raju is quite popular in Tollywood circles. For almost every major actor's birthday, he flaunts a picture with them on social media.

On August 29, Raju shared a photograph with leading actor Akkineni Nagarjuna. Earlier, he had shared a photo with Nadamuri Balakrishna.

(Sharon Thambala can be contacted at thambalasharon@gmail.com)
ATLANTA, Sept. 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hotel ownership, management and development firm, Hotel Equities (HE), and its global private equity affiliate, Virtua Partners (Virtua), announced they have entered into a strategic alliance with The Witness Group (TWG), a premier hospitality development and investment group. Hotel Equities transitioned and assumed operations of The Witness Groups portfolio of 36 hotels on September 1. Brands represented are Marriott, Hilton, IHG and Hyatt.



Discussions on the strategic alliance began in early 2020. After identifying immediate synergy in company culture, values and vision, the conversations resulted in joining forces to enhance operational management of the TWG portfolio of properties allowing them to further focus on growth and create new opportunities for their team members within the best in industry HE platform. HE and its affiliate Virtua Partners will focus on future transactions, conversions and new development generating a significant value-add for investors, associates and all parties involved.

HE President and CEO Brad Rahinsky explained, The Witness Groups stellar reputation, development expertise and commitment to their associates combined with Hotel Equities industry leading business intelligence systems, best in class training programs, development services and operating platform were complimentary factors which led to this milestone for both of our organizations. Most important is the fact that we are aligned in company culture, vision and goals. We have a shared desire to create a unique and powerful platform for our associates to help them fulfil their aspirations and find purpose and meaning within the hospitality industry. This was not a transaction rushed into to hit a number. This relationship established over many months of conversations, face-to-face meetings and genuine dialogue is a true partnership founded on trust and shared values and goals.

Were excited to be partnering with Hotel Equities and Virtua Partners, who are equally committed to empowering our associates, improving our existing management and operational efficiencies and delivering value for investors, expressed Sagar Patel, TWG chief investment officer. Their proven track record of long-term success and team development, in addition to the strong bond fostered by our shared values, will drive the growth of the firms and our associates.

TWG Chief Development Officer Aakash Patel added, While we put the conversations on pause in March with COVID, we eventually picked back up early summer recognizing this as a rare window to integrate platforms with less interruption to business. We think this better positions us for the rebound.

HEs Chief Development Officer Joe Reardon described the transaction as two companies who bring the right ingredients to the table to achieve much more together. As we continue to ramp back up to 2019 levels the 1+1=3 mentality is so important to success, said Reardon. Merging best-in-class teams, resources and procurement cost savings will expand our footprint together and create significant opportunity for all stakeholders. We could not be more excited and see the potential for other partnerships moving forward.

TWGs Chief Administrative Officer Sachin Patel has always been focused on the people part of the business and anticipates his teams will benefit from a larger support system and shared best practices. He added, most importantly, this will give our property and corporate teams a better platform to learn through HE's training programs and leverage the additional opportunities available to them in the larger portfolio.

Transitioning the 36 hotels into HEs portfolio began on September 1s commencing with a series of intimate town hall meetings between both firms executive leadership teams. HEs Chief Operating Officer Bryan DeCort shared that as part of the integration process, Hotel Equities has welcomed 500+ new associates to the team who will benefit from HEs best-in-class training as well as growth opportunities within both companies. HE has invested heavily in our people and infrastructure to ensure we are consistently driving improvement across all our KPIs, said DeCort. We lead with performance which creates stability and growth opportunities for our associates and improved profitability for all of our stakeholders.

With this alliance also comes the expansion for HE and Virtua into the Midwest. We are excited to expand our presence into the Heartland. Utilizing both teams knowledge and expertise will create a smooth transition,'' said Quinn Palomino, co-founder and principal of Virtua Partners. We consider ourselves to be results-driven companies with strong and distinct cultures.

About Hotel Equities

Hotel Equities is an Atlanta-based full-scale hotel ownership, management and development firm with a portfolio of 160+ hotels and projects throughout the United States and Canada. Frederick W. Cerrone, CHA, serves as Founder and Chairman; Brad Rahinsky serves as President and CEO. For more information, visit www.hotelequities.com .

About Virtua Partners

Virtua Partners is a global private-equity firm specializing in commercial real estate. Virtua Partners and HE finalized their merger earlier this year. Virtua Partners and its affiliates sponsor a variety of investment funds and commercial real estate projects across North America. Virtua Partners goal is to provide superior risk-adjusted returns for accredited investors and family offices through comprehensive strategies, rigorous underwriting, and careful execution. For more information, visit virtuapartners.com .

About The Witness Group

The Witness Group is a Columbus-based real estate investment and development company specializing in hospitality with a portfolio of over 35 assets throughout the Midwest. Sachin Patel, Sagar Patel and Aakash Patel serve as the Principals and Executive Leadership Team. For more information, visit www.thewitnessgroup.com .

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Kim Cattrall has revealed she has no regrets about publicly condemning her former Sex and the City co-star Sarah Jessica Parker.

During television appearances and in social media posts in 2017 and 2018, Cattrall appeared to confirm years of speculation about a feud between the pair, and demanded that cruel Parker stop communicating with her.

In a new interview to promote her new US TV series Filthy Rich, Cattrall declined to speak further on the matter and advised people to Google it.

Everything is on Google, so I encourage you to Google it, about anything that Ive said, Cattrall told The Los Angeles Times. I feel that that was then, and when I look at whats going on around me, I just dont have any regrets.

While appearing on Piers Morgans Life Stories in 2017, Cattrall said that Parker could have been nicer about her refusal to take part in a third Sex and the City movie. She also added that the four stars of the show, which also included Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis, were never friends.

Cattrall went further in February 2018, following the death of her brother Chris. After Parker wrote a comment of condolence on Cattralls Instagram, Cattrall posted a photo of a message that read: I dont need your love or support at this tragic time @sarahjessicaparker.

In the caption, Cattrall recalled a conversation with her mother, who allegedly asked: When will [Parker], that hypocrite, leave you alone? Cattrall then accused Parker of exploiting our tragedy to restore [her] nice girl persona, adding: Your continuous reaching out is a painful reminder of how cruel you really were then and now.

Prior to Cattralls 2018 Instagram post, Parker said she was heartbroken by Cattralls claims that the pair were never friends.

Kim Cattrall and Sarah Jessica Parker at a film premiere in 2009 (Bryan Bedder/Getty Images)

Despite her statements on Parker, Cattrall told The Los Angeles Times that she still has good memories of her time on Sex and the City.

She also revealed that she has kept a diary used by her character Samantha on the show, adding: It had all of her credit cards and bills that have her apartment on it.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited 58 nations in the year 2015 costing the exchequer Rs 517.82 crore, the government said on Tuesday.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in Rajya Sabha that some major MoUs (Memorandum of Understanding) were signed during PM Modi's visits to these countries. The said agreements were signed in the areas of defence, investment, trade, and technology.

"PM visited 58 countries in 2015 which cost Rs 517.82 crore. During this visit, major MoUs were signed," the MEA said.

Also Read: New airplane for PM Modi to land in Delhi soon; check out details

The Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan had in March this year informed Lok Sabha that the Centre had incurred an expenditure of Rs 446.52 crore on PM Modi's foreign visits in the last five years.

Giving out a detailed breakup of the trips, Muraleedharan said that the highest expenditure of Rs 121.85 crore was incurred in 2015-16 and the lowest was Rs 78.52 crore in 2016-17.

Breaking down the expenditure details of 2019-20, the ministry said that government spent Rs 46.23 crore in that year but also informed that the figure was likely to go up as bills for some of the prime minister's visits were not yet received.

A total of Rs 99.90 crore was spent in 2017-18 albeit the amount went up to Rs 100.02 crore in the following year- 2018-19.

Also Read: No foreign travel for union ministers amid coronavirus pandemic, says Modi

Meanwhile, PM Modi will take all his future trips on a VVIP aircraft - Air India One, a highly customised wide-bodied Boeing 777-300 ER. The government has ordered two such aircraft to fly the prime minister, the president, and other senior dignitaries of the country.

The first plane, which was scheduled to land in Delhi on August 25 has been delayed owing to certain operational issues.

The two aircraft are currently being customised in the United States and will replace the nearly 25-year-old Air India One planes of the Boeing 747 fleet.

The new Special Extra Section Flight (SESF) or VVIP aircraft 'Air India One' will be operated by pilots of the Indian Air Force (IAF).
September 22, 2020--(BRONX, NY)--The widespread use of antiretroviral therapy to suppress the HIV virus has helped tens of millions of people with HIV live healthier, longer lives--but an unfortunate consequence of people living longer with HIV is an increased risk of cancer. For 25 years, the AIDS Malignancy Consortium (AMC) has led national and international efforts to prevent and treat of HIV-related cancers. Now, Montefiore Health System and Albert Einstein College of Medicine have received a five-year, $111 million grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to lead this research consortium.

"People living with HIV shoulder an enormous burden of cancer," said Joseph Sparano, M.D., associate chair for clinical research in the department of oncology at Montefiore, associate director for clinical research at the NCI-designated Albert Einstein Cancer Center, and principal investigator (PI) on the grant. "AMC is the only organization worldwide solely dedicated to the study, treatment, and prevention of cancer in this group of people. Montefiore and Einstein are perfectly positioned to lead this organization and steer research advances."

Engaging the Community at Risk

Approximately 38 million people are infected with HIV, including 1.2 million in the U.S. People living with HIV have an increased risk of developing cancer compared with the general population and are more likely to die of cancer, interrupting otherwise healthy lives. This is due to a variety of causes, including long-term inflammation and an overtaxed immune system. In addition, HIV infections are concentrated in marginalized communities in the U.S., primarily among people of color, who make up approximately 70% of new infections.

To address this need, Montefiore developed an HIV Oncology Service, directed by Luca Paoluzzi, M.D., a medical oncologist at Montefiore, assistant professor of medicine at Einstein, and the AMC PI at Montefiore and Einstein. The newly established service brings together Montefiore and Einstein's experience in patient care and research.

Partnership with NIH AIDS Research Center

Collaborating with Harris Goldstein, M.D., associate dean for scientific resources, director of the NIH-funded Einstein-Rockefeller-CUNY Center for AIDS Research (CFAR), and professor of pediatrics and of microbiology & immunology at Einstein, Dr. Sparano has established a scientific working group focused on cancer and HIV that will guide the direction of future collaborative research at the CFAR and AMC. The group will be co-chaired by Dr. Sparano and Howard Strickler, M.D., professor and chief of epidemiology in the department of epidemiology & population health at Einstein and Montefiore. It will identify areas of need, evaluate emerging research, and design new clinical trials that will be rolled out at dozens of locations at Montefiore and around the world.

AMC's International Network

The AMC oversees a network of 42 clinical trial sites in the United States, Africa, and Latin America, as well as translational scientists who support its clinical trials. It also runs a career enhancement program to ensure that the next generation of leaders receive resources and support. In addition, the AMC actively engages with people living with HIV and cancer throughout the world so the consortium can identify and address the needs of this community with their input.

Established in 1995, the AMC has initiated more than 100 clinical trials, surveys, and laboratory studies involving approximately 8,700 individuals. Results from these investigations have strengthened international practice guidelines, including treatment for Kaposi sarcoma and lymphoma; advanced prevention and management of human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated cancers; and furthered the use of precision therapeutics and immunotherapy for people living with HIV who receive antiretroviral therapy.

"During this next phase, we will build on these successes, developing and leading additional clinical trials designed to address the most critical needs of people with HIV and cancer, precancerous disease, and individuals at high risk for cancer--most importantly, completing the ANCHOR trial," said Dr. Sparano.

The ANCHOR Study

The ANCHOR Study, which stands for Anal Cancer HSIL Outcomes Research, focuses on the prevention and treatment of anal cancer, which is caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV). The virus causes changes in the skin near the anus, called "high grade squamous intraepithelial lesions," or HSIL. Most HSIL go away on their own, but some become cancer and spread to other parts of the body.

"Regular screening for anal cancer can catch the disease when it is highly treatable, much like the use of pap smears to identify abnormal tissue before it develops into cervical cancer, which is also caused by HPV," said Rebecca Levine, M.D., assistant professor of surgery at Einstein, a surgical oncologist at Montefiore, and the ANCHOR principal investigator at Einstein and Montefiore. "The aim of the study is to establish best practices for the prevention and treatment of anal cancer. We expect the results of this study will have an enormous impact on clinical care," added Dr. Levine.

Einstein-Montefiore HIV/AIDS Research and Care

Since HIV emerged in the 1980s, Einstein and Montefiore have been leaders in HIV/AIDS research and clinical care. Its researchers were the first to identify pediatric AIDS as a different disease from adult AIDS and to find effective treatments. Montefiore and Einstein also established one of the first five NIH-supported AIDS Treatment and Evaluation Units and led early studies of HIV among people with substance use disorders. Faculty members are principal investigators on significant NIH-funded initiatives, including the Women's Interagency HIV Study/Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study and the Central Africa International Epidemiologic Databases to Evaluate AIDS study.

###

Montefiore's clinical care programs include the adult AIDS Center, one of the largest HIV treatment programs in the U.S. The AIDS Center's outpatient Center for Positive Living/Infectious Diseases Clinic offers state-of-the-art care for adults living with HIV/AIDS. Its Oval Center offers sexual health services, testing, care, and counseling along with PrEP and PEP to reduce the risk of HIV infection, and HIV care to LGBTQ+ individuals aged 16 and up. Montefiore's Adolescent AIDS Program serves 13- to 24-year-olds with comprehensive offerings including mental healthcare and support services, and primary care for LGBTQ+ youth.

The grant, titled "AIDS Malignancy Consortium" was funded by the National Cancer Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health (2UM1CA121947).

About Montefiore Health System

Montefiore Health System is one of New York's premier academic health systems and is a recognized leader in providing exceptional quality and personalized, accountable care to approximately three million people in communities across the Bronx, Westchester and the Hudson Valley. It is comprised of 11 hospitals, including the Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Burke Rehabilitation Hospital and close to 200 outpatient care sites. The advanced clinical and translational research at its medical school, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, directly informs patient care and improves outcomes. From the Montefiore-Einstein Centers of Excellence in cancer, cardiology and vascular care, pediatrics, and transplantation, to its preeminent school-based health program, Montefiore is a fully integrated healthcare delivery system providing coordinated, comprehensive care to patients and their families. For more information please visit http://www.montefiore.org. Follow us on Twitter and view us on Facebook and YouTube.

About Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Albert Einstein College of Medicine is one of the nation's premier centers for research, medical education and clinical investigation. During the 2019-20 academic year, Einstein is home to 724 M.D. students, 158 Ph.D. students, 106 students in the combined M.D./Ph.D. program, and 265 postdoctoral research fellows. The College of Medicine has more than 1,800 full-time faculty members located on the main campus and at its clinical affiliates. In 2019, Einstein received more than $178 million in awards from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This includes the funding of major research centers at Einstein in aging, intellectual development disorders, diabetes, cancer, clinical and translational research, liver disease, and AIDS. Other areas where the College of Medicine is concentrating its efforts include developmental brain research, neuroscience, cardiac disease, and initiatives to reduce and eliminate ethnic and racial health disparities. Its partnership with Montefiore, the University Hospital and academic medical center for Einstein, advances clinical and translational research to accelerate the pace at which new discoveries become the treatments and therapies that benefit patients. Einstein runs one of the largest residency and fellowship training programs in the medical and dental professions in the United States through Montefiore and an affiliation network involving hospitals and medical centers in the Bronx, Brooklyn and on Long Island. For more information, please visit http://www.einstein.yu.edu, read our blog, follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and view us on YouTube.
It's never a good idea for universities to take money from intelligence agencies to write their official histories because the agencies never really lift the veil of secrecy. Take the current shemozzle in Canberra where, on August 21, the Australian Signals Directorate terminated its contract with the Australian National University, which had stood to reap more than $2 million to produce a two-volume official history of the nation's electronic eavesdropping agency. Neither side will say why.

The Australian Signals Directorate. Credit:Richard Briggs

When asked why John Blaxland was removed as the lead historian, ASD told me the contract had been "terminated by mutual convenience", but didn't say why. An ANU spokesman said: "While ultimately the decision was made by ASD, it's one the ANU respects and understands." Respects and understands? Hardly a ringing endorsement of the ANU academics writing the official history.

The backdrop is that in July 2019, ASD agreed to pay the ANU $2.167 million to produce the official history. It says it remains committed to delivering a high-quality account of its history. ASIO earlier paid the ANU $1.7 million for a three-volume official history. Blaxland wrote the second volume and was joint author of the third. A typical publishers' advance for an Australian book contract is under $10,000.

Blaxland was a controversial choice to head the ASD official history. After the third volume of the ASIO history was published, he gave an interview to The Canberra Times in November 2016 in which he said intense battles took place in the national capital between Russian spies and ASIO during the 1970s and 80s. He said it was "on for young and old" in shops, restaurants, cafes, and bars in Manuka, Kingston, Deakin, Yarralumla and Red Hill. Blaxland claimed Russian spies were waiting for a "pre-arranged contact to drop something off".
The body of a Syracuse native was set on fire last week and left burning in an Iowa ditch.

Police said the man, Michael Williams, had been murdered.

Williams, 44, who grew up in Syracuse, was killed in Grinnell, Iowa  the city where he now lived, said the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.

Four people were arrested this morning in connection with the homicide. Investigators said the death of Williams, a Black man, does not appear to be a hate crime or race related.

Williams was strangled on or about Sept. 12, investigators said in a news release. Four days later, his body  wrapped in a plastic and cloth tied shut with rope and tape  was brought to a rural area, dumped in a ditch and set on fire, investigators said.

Williams' family is working to bring him to Syracuse, the city where he was born, to be buried.

In a post on GoFundMe, his mother talked about her son. She said he was a big man who loved his children, his family and dancing.

He did not deserve to be treated like this! his mom wrote. He was our Gentle Giant!

Some Grinnell residents feared Williams was targeted because he was Black. That fear led Grinnell College to cancel classes on Monday.

The circumstances surrounding Mr. Williams' death and the limited facts revealed about the discovery of this crime have, understandably, caused concern within the Grinnell community and beyond, investigators said, acknowledging the communitys fears.

Four people have been charged in connection with the murder of Michael Williams, a Syracuse native, and the burning of his body in Iowa. The defendants, pictured from left to right, are: Steven Vogel, Julia Cox, Roy Lee Garner and Cody Johnson.Provided

But investigators said Williams and Steven Vogel, the man accused of killing him, were acquaintances and often hung out with the same group of friends.

Vogel, 31, of Grinnell, has been charged with first-degree murder and abuse of a corpse. He remains in the Marshall County Jail, where he was already being held for unrelated charges.

Three other people  Julia Cox, 55; Roy Lee Garner, 57; and Cody Johnson, 29; all of Grinnell  have been accused of helping Vogel. The three have been charged with abuse of a corpse, destruction of evidence and accessory after the fact. They are being held at the Poweshiek County Jail.

Staff writer Samantha House covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? Reach her at shouse@syracuse.com.
An increase in premature deaths, hospital admissions and emergency department visits due to the summers bushfire smoke cost the country $1.95 billion.

The catastrophic 2019-2020 bushfire season cost nine times as much as the average of the previous 19 years, research from the University of Tasmanias Menzies Institute for Medical Research found.

Sydney Harbour, thick with bushfire smoke, in early December, 2019. The prolonged exposure to bushfire smoke is estimated to have driven health costs to $1.95 billion. Credit:Peter Braig

One of the lead researchers Nicolas Borchers Arriagada said, in terms of the human cost, the numbers were high.

"We estimated over 400 premature deaths, 3200 hospital admissions for circulatory and respiratory conditions, and over 1500 emergency attendances for asthma," he said.
Ulster Unionist MLA Doug Beattie has vowed to carry on calling out loyalist drug dealers after being threatened by the UDA.

The party's justice spokesman was informed of the terrorist threat yesterday morning.

"I got a phone call early this morning from the police saying that they had received a threat against me from the South East Antrim UDA," he told the Belfast Telegraph.

"It is the second one I have received (this year), and they asked me if I wanted them to do a follow-up visit and I said no.

"I got the phone call when I was eating my breakfast and I continued to eat my breakfast.

"I treat these threats with utter contempt.

"It will not stop me speaking out.

"I won't miss a heartbeat and if these people want to be involved in drugs they will be called out every single time.

"They will end up in jail and I will be the one making sure they get long sentences."

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Mr Beattie believes he was targeted because of recent comments in the media in which he hit out at loyalist drug dealers.

"These paramilitaries are involved in looking after their own drugs empire and I have no doubt they are trying to silence people like me from speaking out against them," he added.

"It is just not going to happen."

Mr Beattie said he would be "paying no heed" to the terrorist bully boys.

His party leader Steve Aiken called the threats "absolutely reprehensible".

"That any criminal organisation thinks that it can interfere with the process of democracy is unbelievable, but for a public representative like Doug, who has steadfastly stood up to violence and intimidation from all sectors across the globe, just underlines what a disgrace they are," Mr Aiken said.

"The PSNI should take resolute action in dealing with this threat and we should make sure that it has every available legal tool available to dismantle this criminal gang.

"Whether it is threats against our justice spokesperson or our Health Minister, there is no room in any democratic society for these threats of intimidation and violence."

Upper Bann DUP MP Carla Lockhart said the threat was "disgraceful"

She tweeted: "Who are these people? I doubt it will deter Doug he's faced bigger challenges in his life. Activity by the police against drug dealers in Upper Bann has been very welcome. #DrugsDestroyLives."

The PSNI said: "We do not discuss the security of individuals and no inference should be drawn from this. However, if we receive information that a person's life may be at risk we will inform them accordingly.

"We never ignore anything which may put an individual at risk."
The in a midnight proceeding on Tuesday passed Homoeopathy Central Council (Amendment) Bill, 2020, and Indian Medicine Central Council (Amendment) Bill, 2020.

These Bills were moved for passage after the House passed the Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Bill, 2020 that seeks to bring a law that punishes those who attack health workers or doctors who are fighting the coronavirus outbreak or during any situation similar to the current Covid-19 pandemic.

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan moved these Bills for passage in the ongoing Monsoon Session of the which on Monday started at 3 p.m. and ended at 12.24 a.m. on Tuesday -- the second consecutive day in a row of this session in a hurry to pass maximum important Bills brought by the Central government.

The Homoeopathy Central Council (Amendment) Bill, 2020, which was passed by the Rajya Sabha on September 18, seeks amendment to the Homoeopathy Central Council Act, 1973. It will replace the Homoeopathy Central Council (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020 promulgated by the President on April 24 this year.

Harsh Vardhan later moved the Indian Medicine Central Council (Amendment) Bill, 2020 for its passage. The Bill seeks to amend the Indian Medicine Central Council Act, 1970, as passed by Rajya Sabha.

It will replace the Indian Medicine Central Council (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020 which was promulgated by the President on April 24 this year.

Both the Bills were passed around 12.20 a.m. on Tuesday after a short debate among a few Members of (MPs) followed by Harsh Vardhan's concluding remark.

--IANS

rak/pgh

(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.)
Valneva, which has just struck a deal to supply Britain with its potential Covid-19 vaccine, is in very advanced talks with another possible customer, the French firms CFO said.

We believe that at least one of our discussions is very advanced, its chief financial officer David Lawrence told Reuters, without revealing the other party involved.

Valneva told Reuters in July it was in discussions with the European Union, without giving any further detail.

Dozens of vaccines for the coronavirus which has infected about 31 million people globally and killed nearly 1 million are being tested, but none has been internationally approved yet.

Valneva expects its potential vaccine, based on a platform it already uses to prevent Japanese encephalitis, to enter clinical studies by the end of this year and potentially gain regulatory approval in the second half of 2021.

It confirmed last week it would supply Britain with up to 190 million doses of its coronavirus vaccine over five years.

In 2022, we are going to have capacity of 200 million doses or more, Lawrence said, adding this meant Valneva had room to swiftly supply other countries.

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A Sudbury couple and their high school aged child are facing charges in connection with a recent drinking party that forced school administrators at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School into all remote learning, according to the Boston Globe.

Bella Wong, the principal at the high school and the districts superintendent, told parents that the Sept. 11 crowded indoor and outdoor student party," attended by 40-50 of the high school students, involved alcohol and a disregard for coronavirus health and safety protocols.

Sudbury Police Chief Scott Nix told the Boston Globe that charges have been filed with the Framingham District Court and the Framingham Juvenile Court for the parents as well as the juvenile. Nix previously told MetroWest Daily News that authorities were strongly looking at filing charges.

As a result of the party, the Sudbury Board of Health said the high school must start fully remote for 14 days from the party. The district has planned for a hybrid model to start the school year. The hybrid model will resume but not until Sept. 29.

I agree completely with the Board of Health that this is the most prudent course of action to take given what has taken place, Wong said previously. After the intensity of hard work and planning that has been done to be able to start school with students in-person we are profoundly disappointed at this sudden change of plans. I know you must be as disappointed.

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SEATTLE, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Outreach , the number one sales engagement platform, has been named to LinkedIn's 2020 Top Startups list in the U.S. for the second year in a row. The startup came in 6th on the list. The list is an annual ranking of the emerging startups to work for and is based on the behavior of over a half-billion LinkedIn members in four core areas: employment growth, engagement with the company and its current employees, job interest, and attraction of top talent.

"We work hard to be a great place to work and to create an environment where top talent of any background feels welcome and can thrive," said Manny Medina, CEO of Outreach. "We're always looking for passionate, tenacious employees who think differently and live and breathe our core value of having each other's backs. I'm thrilled that we continue to attract the best of the best and LinkedIn named us one of the top startups in the U.S."

This year, the list placed a special focus on emerging and resilient startups that are navigating the ever-evolving nature of work in the wake of COVID-19. Outreach displayed strength during these times by taking a customer-first approach. Outreach helped companies generate more revenue when many of them needed it the most. By providing the versatility and visibility sales leadership needed during this turbulent time, Outreach helped leaders closely monitor their team's success and keep employees motivated and productive.

Internally, Outreach leadership prioritized employee well-being through initiatives like an additional stipend to parents for child care essentials, Zoom open office hours to discuss challenges or concerns during this time, and additional company-wide holidays. The company also allowed employees to bring all necessary tech and office equipment home, allowed for flexible working situations to care for family or homeschool needs, and continued to encourage employees to take advantage of the company's unlimited paid-time-off policy. The company recently hired a chief people officer who will be in charge of talent acquisition, talent development, culture, and the overall happiness of Outreach's employees.

This accolade adds to a growing list of awards for Outreach. Outreach was most recently listed on Forbes' Cloud 100 - the only sales engagement platform recognized as one of the world's best private cloud companies - for the third consecutive year. The company also won best place to work awards from the Puget Sound Business Journal, Seattle Business Magazine , Comparably , and Inc , as well as The Next Tech Titan title at the GeekWire Awards .

About Outreach

Outreach is the number one sales engagement platform with the largest customer base and industry-leading usage. Outreach helps companies dramatically increase productivity and drive smarter, more insightful engagement with their customers. More than 4,500 companies such as Adobe, Tableau, DoorDash, Splunk, DocuSign, and SAP depend on Outreach's enterprise-scale, unparalleled customer adoption, and robust AI-powered innovation. Outreach is a privately held company based in Seattle, Washington. To learn more, please visit www.outreach.io.

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If you really want to honour him, implement his inclusive ideology: SC Bose's grandnephew

At DMs meets, PM calls for direct, emotional connect between administration and public for good governance

UN faces confidence crisis without comprehensive reforms: PM Modi

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Sep 22: The United Nations (UN) faces a "crisis of confidence" without comprehensive reforms, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said, asserting that the world needs a reformed multilateralism that reflects today's realities, gives voice to all stakeholders, addresses contemporary challenges and focuses on human welfare.

Prime Minister Modi's call for reformed multilateralism assumes special significance as it comes on the eve of India taking a seat at the powerful UN Security Council as an elected non-permanent member for a two-year term beginning January 1, 2021.

"We cannot fight today's challenges with outdated structures. Without comprehensive reforms, the UN faces a crisis of confidence," Modi said on Monday in his video address to the High-Level meeting of the General Assembly to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the United Nations.

PM Modi visited 58 countries since 2015: Govt informs Parliament

As the UN marks 75 years of its existence, the 193-member UN General Assembly adopted a forward-looking political declaration that gave a clarion call for strengthening mechanisms to combat terrorism, reformed multilateralism, inclusive development and better preparedness to deal with challenges like the Covid-19 pandemic.

Noting that the declaration also acknowledges the need for reform of the United Nations itself, Modi said, "For today's interconnected world, we need a reformed multilateralism that reflects today's realities, gives voice to all stakeholders, addresses contemporary challenges and focuses on human welfare."

He said India looks forward to working with all other nations towards this end.

#Tesla 'secretly planning' R&D Centre in #Bengaluru? | Oneindia News

India has been spearheading decades-long efforts to reform the Security Council, saying a structure set up in 1945 does not reflect contemporary realities of the 21st century and is ill-equipped to handle current challenges.

There is widespread support, including by four of the five permanent members of the Security Council - US, UK, France and Russia - for a permanent seat for India at the Council.

India's priorities for its tenure on the Security Council find "resonance" in the Declaration that echoes New Delhi's call for strong mandate against terrorism, reformed multilateralism and inclusive development. India's overall objective during its tenure in the UN Security Council will be the achievement of NORMS - a New Orientation for a Reformed Multilateral System.
The Pontiac man charged with killing professional poker player Susie Zhao, leaving her burned body in a DNR parking lot in White Lake Township, will have a pretrial hearing Oct. 15 before Judge Martha Anderson of Oakland County Circuit Court as the case against him proceeds.

Jeffery Morris, 60, faces a first-degree premeditated murder charge for Zhaos death. Hes held without bond in the Oakland County Jail.

Judge Kelley Kostin of Clarkstons 52nd District Court bound the case over to the higher court after hearing testimony during a preliminary exam Sept. 14. Among those testifying were Andrew Hanosh, MD, deputy medical examiner for Oakland County, who said at least 90 percent of Zhaos body was burned, and that she was alive when set on fire as indicated by soot in her airway and other findings.

Hanosh also testified that Zhao had been sexually assaulted and had extensive damage to her genital area.

According to testimony from an FBI agent, cell phone records for Zhao and Morris were used to show the two had contact with each other.

Two passersby came across Zhaos remains on July 13. Morris, described by police as a homeless transient with an extensive criminal record, was arrested July 31. His past run-ins with the law include a 1989 conviction for rape in Pontiac.

Zhao, 33, was known on the professional poker playing circuit as Susie Q, including runs on The World Series of Poker Main Events. She had live earnings of $224,671, according to Herndon Mob, a poker database.

Zhaos Facebook page states that she attended Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood School and went on to study psychology at Northwestern University. It also states that she lived in Los Angeles and is originally from Beijing, China.

Police said she moved back to Oakland County, where her parents live, in June or earlier. She lived off-and-on with them in their Waterford Township home, but also frequented the Sherwood Motel in Waterford, where she and Morris had been together before her death, police said.

Morris trial date has not yet been set.

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Iran's president told the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday that the United States could impose "neither negotiations nor war" on the Islamic Republic amid heightened tension between the longtime foes over Tehran's 2015 nuclear deal with major powers.

"Iran is not a bargaining chip in U.S. elections and domestic policy ... Any U.S. administration after the upcoming (U.S.) elections will have no choice but to surrender to the resilience of the Iranian nation," Hassan Rouhani told the annual U.N. gathering in a video message.

The U.S.-Iranian confrontation has intensified since 2018 when President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from Irans nuclear deal with world powers and unilaterally reimposed sanctions that have hobbled the Islamic Republics economy.

Trump wants a broader agreement with Tehran's clerical rulers that further restrict Irans nuclear programme, halt its ballistic missile development work and end its support for proxy forces around the Middle East.

Iran has refused to hold talks with the United States unless Washington lifts sanctions on Tehran and returns to the original agreement. In retaliation for U.S. pressure, Tehran has scaled back compliance with nuclear capacity limits set by the deal.

In his U.N. address earlier on Tuesday, Trump said: "We withdrew from the terrible Iran nuclear deal and imposed crippling sanctions on the worlds leading state sponsor of terror". Iran denies supporting terrorism.

The Trump administration on Monday slapped new sanctions on Iran to support the U.S. assertion that all United Nations sanctions against Tehran that were lifted under the 2015 agreement are now reinstated.

That move was rejected by key European allies as well as U.S. adversaries such as Russia and China who are all parties to the nuclear accord.

"This is a victory not just for Iran, but for the global community - during the transitional international order in the post-Western world - that an aspirant to hegemony is humiliated in such self-created isolation," Rouhani said, referring to the Trump administration.

In his address to the General Assembly, French President Emmanuel Macron said the Trump's administration's "maximum pressure" campaign against Iran had so far failed. Macron dismissed U.S. efforts to restore U.N. sanctions against Tehran as Washington had already left the nuclear deal.

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It's how a party that once prioritized the export of American democratic values came to excuse extorting foreign leaders into doing personal favors for Trump. It's how they accept a president who kowtows to authoritarians, including those who place bounties on U.S. servicemembers. It's how they tolerate a global environment in which allies are more likely to say they expect Russian President Vladimir Putin or Chinese President Xi Jinping, rather than Trump, to "do the right thing regarding world affairs."
'There is no UPA now': Mamata Banerjee takes swipe at Cong, calls for unity of regional parties against BJP

NCP chief draws Centre's attention from Sushant case, says farmers are also dying by suicide

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

Mumbai, Sep 22: Amid strong opposition against the Centre's newly-introduced farm bills, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Tuesday said that the central government should focus on farmer suicides, and not just on the death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput.

On June 14, Rajput was found dead in his Bandra West apartment after he allegedly committed suicide following a prolonged bout of depression.

Sharad Pawar to fast for a day in solidarity with 8 suspended MPs

"One suicide case is being talked about for the last three months. Ignoring other issues is not right. Farmers are also dying by suicide. The government needs to focus on that too," the NCP chief said.

Pawar's statement has come close on the heels of a massive protest across the country over the passing of three agriculture reform Bills, which the Opposition, as well as some allies of the ruling National Democratic Alliance government, claim will "destroy" the farm sector in the country.

#Tesla 'secretly planning' R&D Centre in #Bengaluru? | Oneindia News

On Sunday, the Rajya Sabha passed the Farmer's Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020.
(Newser)  The Justice Department identified New York City; Portland, Ore.; and Seattle as three cities that could have federal funding slashed under a memorandum by President Trump that sought to identify localities that permit anarchy, violence and destruction in American cities. The designation, which could open the door for the federal government to cut off some funding to the cities, drew immediate criticism from local elected officials. It comes as Trump throughout the summer has cast American cities run by Democratic mayors as under siege by violence and lawlessness, despite the fact that most of the demonstrations against racial injustice have been largely peaceful. An attempt to cut off federal funding to the cities would likely be met with immediate legal challenges and several federal judges ruled in favor of municipalities over similar attempts to withhold funding tied to immigration policies.

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The Justice Department said the three cities were designated because they meet four main criteria, including whether a jurisdiction forbids the police force from intervening to restore order amid widespread or sustained violence or destruction and whether the city disempowers or defunds police departments. Attorney General William Barr said he hoped the designation would convince the cities to reverse course and become serious about performing the basic function of government and start protecting their own citizens. In a joint statement, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, and Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan decried the designation as thoroughly political and unconstitutional. (More here.)
Authoritarianism is the wolf at the door in any republic, and it now stands howling at our door. We need every reinforcement available to us to secure American democracy for future generations.

The pressures of global competition, mass migration, and economic instability have produced a backlash in many parts of the world, namely a rise in authoritarian leaders. A new report from the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW) in collaboration with Lenka Drazanova of the European University Institute finds that postsecondary education can play a critical role in protecting democratic republics against the threat of authoritarianism. "The Role of Education in Taming Authoritarian Attitudes" finds that American higher educations emphasis on a combination of specific and general education, including coursework in the liberal arts, contributes to its strong effect on mitigating authoritarian preferences.

Authoritarianism is a form of governance whereby strict obedience to authority is enforced at the expense of personal freedoms. To be authoritarian is to carry the belief that there should be one culture, one religion, one way of life, and, ultimately, one leader. Under conditions of threat to social norms such as growing diversity, increased globalization, and economic instability, people are more likely to be susceptible to authoritarian appeals.

In times of persistent change, especially economic threat, the pull toward authoritarianismwhich is under the surface in any societybecomes stronger, said Anthony P. Carnevale, lead author of the report and CEW director. All of us have the propensity to seek the protection of group unity when faced with threats, but true authoritarians perceive diversity and nonconformity as threats and are willing to act on their biases.

These dynamics may help explain why authoritarian populism has been on the rise globally in an era when advanced technology and changing demographics have made encounters with difference unavoidable. Authoritarian populism was gaining steam before the COVID-19 pandemic, and some authoritarian governments have restricted civil liberties even further as COVID-19 spread. Around the world, todays authoritarianism is particularly insidious because it masks itself with a veneer of democracy. Some modern autocrats can appeal to voters who freely elect them, allowing them to amass power from within democratic institutions. While dictators in the past relied heavily on physical violence to assert dominance, modern autocracies have favored the subtlety of information control as a primary strategy. Instead of threatening physical coercion, they may preserve the appearance of democracy even as they suppress the rights of underrepresented groups and the press.

Authoritarianism is the wolf at the door in any republic, and it now stands howling at our door, Carnevale said. We need every reinforcement available to us to secure American democracy for future generations.

The new report presents empirical evidence that higher levels of education are associated with stronger support for democratic principles. While people can express authoritarian preferences at all levels of educational attainment, higher education, especially in the liberal arts, appears to mitigate against authoritarian tendencies. Compared to those with no more than a high school diploma, bachelors degree holders were significantly less inclined to express authoritarian preferences and attitudes. Associates degree holders were also somewhat less inclined than those with no more than a high school diploma to express such preferences and attitudes.

The United States ranks as the 16th least authoritarian among 51 countries based on residents inclinations to express authoritarian preferences and attitudes, roughly on par with Chile and Uruguay. Germany, New Zealand, Sweden, and Ghana top the list of populations least likely to express authoritarian tendencies, while India, Kyrgyzstan, South Africa, and Lebanon have the most authoritarian populations.

However, postsecondary education appears to have a larger impact on reducing authoritarian preferences in the United States than in other countries. This may be because American higher education places a strong emphasis on a combination of specific and general education, including coursework in the liberal arts. Students who major in the liberal arts are less inclined to express authoritarian preferences and attitudes than those who major in business-related fields and STEM disciplines.

Higher education promotes independent thought, respect for diversity, and inquisitive assessment of evidenceall of which are antithetical to the unquestioning acceptance of authority that is characteristic of authoritarianism. Individuals with higher levels of education also typically have higher levels of self-esteem, personal security, and autonomy. As a result, they are less likely to be enticed by authoritarian appeals that promise security from outsiders with views, cultures, or norms different from their own.

The report also indicates that socioeconomic status and economic security play roles in influencing individuals authoritarian inclinations and preferences. Members of the upper-middle class are less inclined toward authoritarianism than members of lower socioeconomic classes. However, the report clearly indicates that economics is not the only reason education has a mitigating impact on authoritarianism.

Another way higher education may influence an individuals propensity for authoritarian attitudes is by promoting civic responsibility. Those with postsecondary education are more likely to be politically active, which in the United States is associated with a lower inclination toward expressing authoritarian preferences and attitudes.

To ensure higher educations role in strengthening the American economy and American democracy, it will be essential that we expand postsecondary opportunity moving forward, particularly for the most vulnerable members of society, said Nicole Smith, co-author of the report and CEWs chief economist.

Other Key Findings



Exposure to the liberal arts can provide humanitarian grounding for scientists and technologists, whose work may involve making decisions that have far-reaching consequences across the globe, thereby mitigating the adverse effects of technological and scientific authoritarianism.

People who tend to trust others are less inclined toward authoritarianism.

People who are more religious are more inclined toward authoritarianism.

While authoritarian tendencies are distinct from political party affiliation, Republicans are more inclined to express authoritarian preferences and attitudes than Democrats.

To access the full report and executive summary, visit cew.georgetown.edu/authoritarianism.

###

The Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW) is an independent, nonprofit research and policy institute that studies the link between individual goals, education and training curricula, and career pathways. CEW is affiliated with the Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy. For more information, visit cew.georgetown.edu. Follow CEW on Twitter @GeorgetownCEW, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Medium.

Lenka Drazanova, PhD, is a research associate at the European University Institutes Migration Policy Centre and author of Education and Tolerance: A Comparative Quantitative Analysis of the Educational Effect on Tolerance.
Romelia Navarro, right, is comforted by nurse Michele Younkin as she weeps at the bedside of her dying husband, Antonio, in St. Jude Medical Center's COVID-19 unit in Fullerton, Calif., on July 31, 2020. The U.S. death toll from the coronavirus topped 200,000 Tuesday, Sept. 22, a figure unimaginable eight months ago when the scourge first reached the world's richest nation with its sparkling laboratories, top-flight scientists and towering stockpiles of medicines and emergency supplies. (Jae C. Hong / AP)
The Vatican on Tuesday reiterated the Roman Catholic Churchs opposition to assisted suicide and euthanasia, which it called intrinsically evil acts, in every situation or circumstance.

The Vaticans condemnation did not break new ground, but came as legislation in favor of allowing the ending of lives to relieve suffering has been in discussion or been adopted by a growing number of governments around the world, including in traditionally Catholic countries.

Euthanasia is a crime, stated the document, written by the Vaticans doctrinal watchdog, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, with Pope Francis explicit endorsement. The document accuses lawmakers who approve legislation allowing euthanasia or assisted suicide of being accomplices of a grave sin that others will execute.

In Europe, euthanasia is legal in the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg, and is being debated in Spain and Portugal. Switzerland allows physician-assisted suicide in some cases, and Italy and France allow terminally ill patients to stop treatment in some cases.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani used his speech at the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday to denounce American pressure and send a message of resistance and resilience to the United States, signaling no matter the pressure, the Islamic Republic will refuse to budge.

In his pre-recorded video message, Rouhani started by pointing out that COVID-19 has put the global community in the same boat.

But instead of being able to benefit from international cooperation, my nation is faced with the harshest sanctions in history, in obvious and fundamental violation of the UN Charter, international agreements, and United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231, the president said.

He evoked the image of George Floyd, whose killing at the hands of Minneapolis police officers sparked massive protests in late May.

Rouhani said such images are familiar for Iranians who have felt the pressure of other nations for decades, but have continued to strive for peace and progress.

After listing a wide variety of Iranian initiatives aimed at achieving regional piece and efforts that he said were in line with standing up to occupation, genocide, displacement and racism in the four decades since the formation of the Islamic Republic, Rouhani directly addressed the 75th UNGA President Volkan Bozkir.





Such a nation does not deserve sanctions. The answer to peace is not war. The reward of fighting extremism is not terror.

One day after the 40th anniversary of the Iran-Iraq War that started after US-backed dictator Saddam Hussein invaded Iran and killed an estimated 500,000 people on both sides, Rouhani also recalled the conflict.

We must know that claims dont matter and only actions matter, the president said, pointing out the US supported an Iraq armed with chemical weapons while boasting of peace.

Self-made isolation

According to the president, the US is doing the same thing with the armed group ISIL (ISIS), supporting warmongering in the Middle East, selling billions of dollars in arms, and most recently, going against the UN Security Council (UNSC) on Iran.

On Sunday, the US declared it has reinstated all UN sanctions on Iran, including an indefinite ban on an arms embargo that is set to expire as part of a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers.

President Rouhani concluded his UNGA speech by saying Iran will not be a bargaining tool for US elections [Anadolu]

But the UNSC dismissed the claim as lacking legal basis while member states renewed their commitment to the landmark nuclear deal that the US unilaterally withdrew from in May 2018.

It is a victory not just for Iran, but for the transition period of the international order in the post-western world, that the regime that boasts of having hegemony has been mired in such self-made isolation, Rouhani said.

Addressing all members of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), the Iranian president slammed the US for turning its back on the nuclear deal, whose negotiations took more than a decade, while still claiming to support talks.

The US can neither impose negotiations on us, nor war, Rouhani asserted. Living with sanctions is difficult, but more difficult is living without independence.

Trump has repeatedly claimed he will reach a new deal with Iran within weeks if he is reelected in November.





Bargaining tool

Rouhani concluded his UNGA speech by saying Iran will not be a bargaining tool for US elections, and no matter who the next US president is he will inevitably surrender to the resilience of the great Iranian nation.

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has announced in recent weeks that if elected, he will come back to the nuclear deal, but will work to pressure Iran into wider negotiations that will include its ballistic missiles programme.

In his pre-recorded speech for UNGA earlier today, Trump made only a passing reference to Iran, saying, We withdrew from the terrible Iran nuclear deal and imposed crippling sanctions on the worlds leading state sponsor of terror.

He also boasted about assassinating Irans top general Qassem Soleimani in early January in Iraq, who Trump called the worlds top terrorist.

Soleimanis killing by a US drone strike brought Iran-US tensions to a boiling point, prompting the Islamic Republic to repeatedly promise harsh revenge for one of its most revered figures.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also told the assembly on Tuesday that issues related to Irans nuclear programme should be resolved under international law through dialogue and diplomacy, and through abiding by the 2015 international agreement.

I repeat our call for all parties to abide by their responsibilities under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which provides serious contributions to regional and global security, he said.

The US on Monday announced new sanctions against Irans defence ministry and others involved in its nuclear and weapons programmes. They were meant to back Washingtons disputed assertion that all UN sanctions against Tehran are now restored.
Protesters are calling for Boston to rename Faneuil Hall, a marketplace building, because its namesake traded and owned slaves.

Demonstrators gathered outside Faneuil Hall on Saturday to call for Mayor Marty Walsh to hold a meeting about changing the name.

The hall was named after merchant Peter Faneuil, who gifted the building to the city in the mid-1700s, WHDH-TV reported. Faneuil traded and owned slaves, according to the National Park Service.

We believe  that the name of a slave owner should not be attached to a publicly owned building, but more than that we believe that by talking about renaming Faneuil Hall we can have an extended conversation about structural racism in the city, Kevin Peterson, founder of the New Democracy Coalition, said.
Coca-Cola aims to release its first hard seltzer in the U.S. in the first half of 2021, CEO James Quincey told CNBC on Monday.

The excursion into the fast-growing category is a noteworthy pivot for the beverage giant, which hasn't had a presence in the market since the early 1980s, when it sold off its wine business.

"I think what it does say is: Look, we're going to follow the consumer," Quincey said in a "Mad Money" interview. It's the latest update on the new product since the move was first announced in July.

Coca-Cola will release a hard seltzer under Topo Chico, a drink brand the company acquired in 2017. The U.S. launch of Topo Chico Hard Seltzer will follow its launch in Mexico, where the brand was founded making sparkling water, and Brazil later this month. The company released an alcoholic drink called Lemon-Do in Japan in 2018.

Hard seltzers are appealing to consumers for their lower content of calories and alcohol. As consumer tastes shift, U.S. hard seltzer sales reached $3 billion over the course of a year ending in mid-July, based on research from Bump Williams Consulting Co.

Mike's Hard Lemonade's White Claw and Boston Beer's Truly are the biggest brands in the hard seltzer category, and more companies have joined the market, including Corona earlier this year. Boston Beer CEO Dave Burwick told CNBC earlier this year that the shift to hard seltzer is the biggest category shift he's seen since the introduction of light beer in the 1970s.

"I think these innovations that we've seen, including hard seltzer, are a trend of the consumer looking for new things, and if we want to be consumer-centric  then that's what's taking us to this opportunity," Quincey said.

Shares of Coca-Cola slid almost 3% to $49.09 in the broad stock market sell-off Monday. The stock is down double digits year to date.
To the Editor:

Clerking for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in 2009 and 2010 was a thrilling experience and the honor of a lifetime. It was also challenging. We worked long hours, faced difficult decisions, and struggled to channel the justices commanding voice and meet her exacting standards.

But it was also challenging for other reasons. The justices husband, Marty, was diagnosed with cancer around the time we started our clerkship. His health declined throughout the term.

In the fall, as was their custom, the justice and Marty invited the clerks and our partners over to their apartment at the Watergate. Marty seemed to be doing OK. He was his famously charming self. He cooked one of his famously amazing meals. Over dinner, they told us about a case they had litigated together early in their careers, representing an unmarried man who had been denied a tax deduction afforded to women in similar situations. Marty was working on a speech about the case for a presentation at the Tenth Circuit.

As they recounted the story, they sounded like high school sweethearts, doting on each other, taking the narrative one from the other. The story of that case was made into a fantastic 2018 film, On the Basis of Sex.
Belarus's main opposition leader yesterday urged the European Union to approve sanctions on officials accused of rigging the presidential election last month, travelling to Brussels to tell the bloc's foreign ministers to show courage.

Despite a sixth straight weekend of mass protests against President Alexander Lukashenko over the disputed August 9 vote, the EU has yet to follow through on a threat to impose sanctions on a list of some 40 Belarusian officials.

"EU leaders have reasons not to push sanctions but I asked them to be more brave," Belarus opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanouskaya told reporters after meeting the foreign ministers.

"Sanctions are important in our fight because it's part of pressure that could force the so-called authorities to start dialogue with us in the opposition council."

Ms Tikhanouskaya fled Belarus for Lithuania after the election. Yesterday, she met members of the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs committee in Brussels.

The EU said in late August it would impose asset freezes and travel bans on Belarusian officials.

But sanctions require agreement among all 27 member states, and the Belarus issue has become entangled in a debate over separate sanctions against Turkey, sought by Cyprus in a dispute over energy resources.

Cyprus says it supports sanctions on Belarus but wants the bloc to act over Turkey as well.

"Our reaction to any kind of violation of our core, basic values and principles cannot be a la carte. It needs to be consistent," foreign minister Nikos Christodoulides said.

EU leaders will discuss the Cyprus issue on Thursday at a summit.

EU diplomats say Germany is concerned sanctions would undermine diplomatic progress in easing tension with Ankara.

Lithuania's foreign minister Linas Linkevicius, one of the strongest advocates for Belarus sanctions, said he hoped other EU countries "will not keep the European Union in limbo and will not take (it) hostage".

The presidents of Lithuania, Poland and Romania said yesterday they would ask EU leaders at this week's summit to offer an economic support package for Belarus if it holds a democratic election.

That would include a favourable trade regime with the EU, visa-free travel and support as a candidate for the World Trade Organisation.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- BAIC BJEV, the NEV unit of BAIC Group, is going to announce the price of the T, the first mass-produced all-electric model under the premium brand ARCFOX, at the forthcoming Beijing International Automotive Exhibition 2020 (Auto China 2020), according to a local media report.

The presale price previously unveiled starts at 280,000 yuan ($41,415).

In the meantime, the N61, ARCFOX's second model, is expected to be launched in early 2021, according to the local report.

The automaker describes the T as a 5G-enabled intelligent EV model thanks to the equipment of the new-generation MH5000 T-BOX, which is built on Huawei's 5G multi-mode chipset Balong 5000.

According to the testing data offered by Huawei, the MH5000 5G module works at a downlink rate up to 2 Gbps and an uplink rate up to 230 Mbps, meeting the high bandwidth requirements of industry applications and powering the vehicle data connection, vehicle-road collaboration and the future development of autonomous driving.



The ARCFOX T displays a striking resemblance to the ECF Concept, but looks more unassuming. The front features a closed-off grille that is usually seen at full-electric vehicle models. The triangle-shaped headlights and daytime running lights render an aggressive front fascia.



The special C-pillar design at the ECF concept fails to be retained at the mass-produced version.



At the rear, the taillight cluster stretching across the tailgate, coupled with the large-sized trapezoidal license plate frame, creates a multi-layered perception.

The dimension of 4,788mm long, 1,940mm wide, 1,683mm tall, and the 2,915-mm wheelbase put the ARCFOX T squarely in the league of medium-sized SUVs. The adoption of the hidden door handles helps reduce air resistance.

The ARCFOX T is driven by an all-wheel-drive system and two electric motors with respective output reaching up to 160kW. It is available for two NEDC-rated ranges480km and 653km, powered by 67kWh or 93.6kWh ternary-lithium battery pack (ARCFOX T, photo source: ARCFOX).


VANCOUVER, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- ZoomAway Travel Inc. (TSXV: ZMA) (US: ZMWYF) (the "Company" or "ZMA") www.zoomaway.com , wishes to update its shareholders and investors with regard to certain matters.

First, the Company wishes to announce an amendment to the note purchase agreement (the "NPA") governing the secured convertible promissory notes that were issued to AIP Asset Management Inc. ("AIP") as announced on May 7, 2019. Under the NPA, the Company had an affirmative covenant to raise a minimum of CAD$1 million additional equity financing through the sale of its common stock in the full five fiscal quarters beginning after the closing, with a minimum of CAD$200,000 being raised in each such quarter. During 2019, the Company raised a total of CAD$480,000 additional equity financing. The NPA has been amended to permit the Company to raise the balance of at least $520,000 by the end of 2020. The Company confirms that as of the end of its most recently completed fiscal quarter (June 30, 2020), that it was in compliance with all affirmative covenants in the NPA, as amended.

The Company also announces that it will not be proceeding with the $5 million dollar acquisition line of credit from AIP Asset Management as initially disclosed in its press release of March 31, 2020.

The Company also wishes to clarify that the resolution presented to the Company's shareholders at the annual and special meeting of shareholders held on June 28, 2019 to provide for a blanket authorization in respect of the potential creation of a "Control Person" (as such term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) through the future issuances of shares to AIP or its affiliates was not a valid resolution. The policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") require that any such resolution be presented to shareholders with detailed information in the context of a specific transaction. The June 28, 2019 resolution was insufficient in this regard. As such, the Company will not act upon the resolution.

The Company also announces the cancellation of 2,000,000 of the 2,400,000 stock options that were granted effective April 7, 2020 (as announced on April 10, 2020). These options have been cancelled as the holder thereof is no longer an eligible participant under the Company's stock option plan.

Following discussions with the TSXV, the Company expects that trading of its shares will be reinstated shortly.

For additional information contact: Sean Schaeffer, President, ZoomAway Inc., at 775-691-8860 | [email protected] or stay up-to-date and sign up for our newsletter .

About Us

ZoomAway, Inc. (Nevada Co.) Zoomaway Travel Inc. is a technology company that is revolutionizing the Hospitality and Travel Industries. We have developed a variety of software solutions that enhance the planning and engagement of everyday tourists. Our flagship project, ZoomedOUT, is a complete modernization and re-imagination of mobile travel apps. In a full 3D environment, we are able to integrate planning, booking, social media, and camaraderie into a tangibly rewarding experience. We are combining Travel, Hospitality, Mobile Gaming and Augmented Reality to change the way users travel into 2020 and beyond. Additional information about ZoomAway Inc. can be found at www.zoomaway.com.

ZMA Travel Game Inc. (Canadian Co.) (formerly TravelGameBlockChain Technology Inc.) is a ZoomAway Travel Inc. subsidiary company dedicated to housing new projects in the digital games. The company's first project is ZoomedOUT, being developed with the assistance of Zero8 Studios, Inc., which can be seen at zoomedout.io. To receive more detailed, or investor level information, please contact us at [email protected] and we will respond with the appropriate documentation depending on your request.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include regulatory actions, market prices, and continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates, and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

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.

SOURCE Zoomaway Travel Inc.

Related Links

http://zoomaway.com/


SAN DIEGO, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Mapp, the international provider of insight-led customer engagement, now offers access to the free expert community 'Improve Your Marketing' with hundreds of marketing tactics and possibility to share tips, best practices, and questions about specific use cases.

The interactive online platform showcases proven and easy-to-implement tactics best practices designed to drive marketing strategies and achieve better results. The platform's content focuses on customer engagement, i.e. marketing analytics, personalization, automation, and customer activation. Interested marketers can put together and prioritize tips and measures that fit their business across industries, create a customized marketing plan and share their own recommendations with the international community.

Digital marketing activities have gained in importance due to COVID-19 and the associated lockdown. Questions about cost efficiency, campaign optimization and targeted customer activation determine the agenda of both digital marketers and mid-sized companies. This is why companies now benefit from basing their decisions on data-driven insights to a much greater extent than in the past, thereby making their own marketing fit for the future.

Through customer intelligence and marketing analyses, companies can implement highly personalized cross-channel campaigns. While the willingness to rely on new ideas and measures is not always necessary in economically prosperous times, in view of COVID-19 and its consequences, there is a need to open up to new ideas and experiment. This is where Mapp's community 'Improve Your Marketing' comes in. With it, companies can examine their current marketing strategies and the challenges they face and optimize them in small and manageable steps. Are their own goals ambitious enough? Which tactical measures will ensure more marketing performance and thus dynamic business development?

Ricardas Montvila, Senior Director, Global Strategy at Mapp, comments: "There is a big need for innovative and successful marketing, and that is exactly what our 'Improve Your Marketing' community is all about. In view of COVID-19 and the increased pressure for efficiency, we provide a good overview of state-of-the-art marketing strategies and their feasibility. The focus of the community is on improvements in simple and gradual steps as well as support the prioritization of measures and projects. We are very much looking forward to active participation with a diverse community of customers, partners and interested parties".

'Improve Your Marketing' is promoted by Mapp through targeted marketing activities  and is also open to interested media partners. Interested parties will gain a first look on September 24, 2020 at DMEXCO @home. Mapp's Partner Director DACH, Spencer Altman, will hold the masterclass "Improve Your Marketing: Tactics to Acquire, Nurture, Grow & Retain Customers": https://mapp.com/resource/virtual-conference/mapp-is-at-dmexco-home/

About Mapp

Marketers and data specialists should be able to focus on what will make a difference for their business, instead of spending all their time taming the technology behind it. With the insight-led customer engagement platform Mapp Cloud, they can focus on what really counts  and the exciting insights that come with it. Thanks to customer intelligence and marketing analytics, companies can easily and effectively gain data-driven customer insights across all channels in order to trigger highly personalized marketing activities. Customers benefit from AI-supported forecasting models that enable targeted and self-optimizing cross-channel campaigns. Automated messages are sent via the most suitable marketing channel, at the right time, with the optimal contact frequency. Thanks to advanced one-to-one personalization, the highest levels of engagement and long-term customer loyalty are achieved.

Mapp has global offices in six countries. Mapp's digital marketing platform helps more than 3,000 companies break away from the pack by uncovering missed opportunities, including Argos, Ella's Kitchen, Expert, Freesat, Lloyds Banking Group, MyToys, Pepsico, Quint and The Entertainer.

Press contacts:

PR Agency: The PR Network

Matt Cartmell

+44 (0)7930 485 333

[email protected]

https://www.thepr.network

Mapp Digital

Harald Oberhofer

+49 30 755 415 120

[email protected]

www.mapp.com

SOURCE Mapp

Related Links

mapp.com


Chennai: The Chennai Air Customs officials have seized synthetic drug tablets that arrived from France and is reportedly worth Rs 4 lakh. Based on the intelligence, officials had detained a postal parcel suspected to contain narcotics substance, which arrived from the Foreign Post Office. On examination, it was revealed that the parcel contained MDMA tablets.

130 MDMA pills were recovered and seized under the NDPS Act, 1985. The seized tablets contain around 250mg of MDMA which is a very high dose.

This particular variant of the tablet is known as ACAB Pig. ACAB is an acronym of a derogatory term and is used as a slogan used in protests, graffiti, tattoos and other imagery.

The pills themselves were in the shape of a cartoon pig.

Senior officials said that this was the first time that this variant of MDMA pills were seized, that too from France.

Reports from the UK suggest that authorities urge the public to exercise extra caution with such pills which are shaped like cartoons. This is done as children may chance upon the harmful substances by accident and consume them considering them to be sweets. There have been many instances where such pills with a cartoon shape have been seized in various countries.

The parcel arrived from Poulainville, a town in Northern France and was consigned to an address in Chennai city.

Live TV

Searches at the apartment did not yield results as the apartment was locked and was said to have been unoccupied since the lockdown.

Further investigation is in progress.
After hearing that the sunsets in Kincardine, Ont., were nothing to miss, a Mississauga man and his family decided to take a day trip there to watch on Sept. 3.

The outing ended in tragedy after two sisters, Raabia and Zeanna Basaria, were knocked into Lake Huron by a wave that washed them off the pier. Their cousin, Aleem Ramji, drowned after jumping in to rescue the teenagers.

A Kincardine resident who started a Facebook page to support the community during the COVID-19 pandemic, Kincardine Strong, has now created a GoFundMe page to help Ramjis family with funeral and other expenses.

There were a lot of people on the Kincardine page who were messaging, really concerned, wanting to do something for the family, wanting to support, said organizer Meagan Fair. So they put me in contact with the cousin of Aleem.

The GoFundMe page gained more than $7,000 in donations in less than 24 hours, Fair said.

Meagan, I cant thank you enough for creating this for our family. Words cannot express our gratitude, Raabia Basaria said in a message posted by Fair.

In another post, Basaria described what happened the day of the accident.

She and Zeanna had ventured to the end of the pier when the water came spilling over on the pier, very soothing and relaxing. It was hard to tell how strong (the waves) were until, suddenly, the first wave knocked us both down to the ground  we tried to get up. Before we could, a strong second wave swept us into the lake.

When Ramji and the girls mother, Fauzia, were unable to find help, Ramji jumped into the water himself. But Raabia described how the waves kept knocking them all back and separating Ramji from his cousins.

Eventually, both girls made it to shore with the help of a bystander with a life ring.

If Aleem hadnt jumped in, both my sister and I wouldnt have had the strength to make it back to shore safely. He used all his might to try and make sure we would survive, Raabia wrote.

First responders performed CPR and later transported Ramji to Kincardines local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Fair added that this isnt the first such incident to take place in Kincardine as people underestimate the power of the lake.

While Ramjis family appreciates the financial and moral support, more importantly for their healing, they want to see changes happening at the lake, Fair said.

Raabia said in her GoFundMe message she wants to ensure the safety of the people and visitors of Kincardine when it comes to the pier.

The changes being sought include an alert system set up at the beach where people can better take into consideration what the wind speeds are and to get direction to sort of know what that risk is, Fair said.

Raabia described Ramji as the type of person who wouldnt think twice about putting someone elses life before his. He was selfless, genuine and brave. He was the pillar of our family and always knew when we needed him  As hard as it is to accept that he is no longer with us, it is satisfying to know that he died doing what he knew best  to be a hero.

Ramji had been living in China for six years teaching English, but had been unable to return to the country due to the pandemic. Besides his cousins and two aunts, Fauzia and Safia, he left his mother, Shamira, and sister, Shazin.

Editors note - Oct. 6, 2020: This article was edited from a previous version to remove a comment that fatalities happen almost yearly at that beach in Kincardine.

Zena Salem is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Stars radio room in Toronto. Reach her via email: zsalem@thestar.ca
By further tightening the maximum pressure campaign that has devastated the Iranian economy over the past two years, the Trump administration risks an escalation of tensions just weeks before the U.S. presidential election. Though Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has vowed a crushing response to U.S. bullying, some experts do not expect Iran to react strongly as it waits to see whether Democratic nominee Joe Biden wins and picks up the nuclear deal Trump abandoned.
Slow-moving Tropical Storm Beta made landfall on the Texas coast on Sept. 21 at around 10 pm near the Matagorda Peninsula, packing heavy rains and sustained winds of around 45 mph.

Beta is the ninth named storm to hit the U.S. this year.

In its 10 am CDT public advisory, the National Hurricane Center said Beta now is a tropical depression that is expected to move in east-northeastward to northeastward motion with increasing forward speed is expected Wednesday through Friday. On the forecast track, the center of Beta will move inland over southeastern Texas through Wednesday and then over Louisiana and Mississippi Wednesday night through Friday, the NHC said.

The Associated Press reported that Beta would likely dump heavy rain on the southwestern corner of Louisiana in same area that got pounded by Hurricane Laura three weeks ago. More than 41,000 homes and businesses in the area remain without electricity, and Beta could add to that figure by toppling trees that were left leaning by the previous storm, meteorologist Donald Jones of the National Weather Service office in Lake Charles, Louisiana, told the AP.

The NHC said the middle and upper Texas coast could experience rainfall of 5 to 10 inches with isolated storm totals up to 20 inches before the storm moves out of the state. Significant flash and urban flooding is occurring and will continue today, the NHC said in its 10 am CDT advisory.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott had issued a disaster declaration for 29 Texas counties in advance of the storm. Counties included in the disaster declaration include Aransas, Bee, Bexar, Brazoria, Calhoun, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Hardin, Harris, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Jim Wells, Kenedy, Kleberg, Liberty, Live Oak, Matagorda, Nueces, Orange, Refugio, Sabine, San Augustine, San Patricio, Shelby, Travis, Victoria, and Wharton.

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards declared a state of emergency in advance of TS Beta. Edwards said in a statement that the storm puts southwest Louisiana at risk for flash flooding and river flooding, and warned that areas that are already recovering from Hurricane Laura and residents should take this threat seriously.

Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Texas Louisiana Windstorm
Six weeks from Election Day, many of Connecticuts town clerks have already processed more requests for absentee ballots than during usual presidential election years.

Of course, 2020 is anything but usual, with a contentious campaign for the White House during the coronavirus pandemic that has forced many town and city halls to limit public access, along with a new law that allows more and more voters to choose mail-in balloting.

Ansonia Town Clerk Beth Lynchs office opened up more ballot requests on Monday  about 600  than it does during an entire election cycle.

Assistant Town Clerk Christina Resto of Bridgeport is bringing in extra staff that has been working longer days, opening application envelopes until 8 p.m., just to try to stay up to date with the daily deluge.

Hamden Town Clerk Vera Morrison, whose office has handled more than 4,750 requests, brought mailing labels home and asked her family to help out, while watching a movie.

And the statewide computerized registration system has been slowing down because of the extra work load, the local officials said.

Secretary of the State Denise Merrill on Tuesday reported that more than 115,000 requests for absentee ballots have been processed by town clerks, who have received additional federal funding to handle the extra work. Merrills office mailed out about 2.1 million ballot applications to all registered voters, who in turn should send them to their local town clerks if they want to vote by mail.

"This election will be the first election in Connecticut history where every voter is allowed to vote by absentee ballot, and we are expecting a record number of absentee ballots to be cast, Merrill said Tuesday. Please send your application in as early as possible, use the secure drop box outside your town hall to deliver your application and your ballot, and remember that polls will still be open on Election Day if you would rather vote in person. Your vote is your voice - make your voice heard.

Danburys Assistant Town Clerk Jeffrey Dunkerton said that in less than four full working days, about 2,670 ballots requests were opened with the likelihood of 3,000 to be completed by the end of the day Tuesday. During the last presidential election, in 2016, we processed 2,049 total. Dunkerton said an additional dozen workers have been hired to help process the flood of request from people who would rather vote by mail than head to the polls on Election Day.

Several town clerks on Tuesday said they would like voters to know a couple of things. First, when applying for a ballot, check off the reason why you want to vote by mail-in, or absentee. That was made easier by the recent special session of the General Assembly, which allows those voting by mail to include concerns about the coronavirus pandemic.

Next, the clerks want voters to know that under state law, the actual ballots wont be mailed back until Oct. 2.

So far were keeping up with it, said Lynch, stressing that the 600 requests for absentee ballots that arrived in the mail on Monday were more than the usual 300 to 400 her office receives in a typical election year. The ballots requests are on top of the usual town clerk functions, including recording property transactions and issuing dog liceneses.

Clerks on Tuesday complained about the speed of the online state voter registry, likely stuttering from the extra work as local clerks verify individual voter eligibility.

The system is very slow today, Budkins said, adding that four years ago, Greenwich received about 5,000 absentee ballots. This year, the town might have 15,000 mailed in. We only have a small staff, with three full-time and two part-timers.

Statewide, as of Tuesday, the town of West Hartford reported the largest receipt of requests, at 7,854 as of Tuesday. Norwalk processed 5,737; Branford has handled 2,270 requests; Danbury, 1,684; Fairfield, 2,100; Greenwich, 1,666; Middletown, 808; Newtown, 1,697; Ridgefield, 2,415; Shelton, 1,814; Westport, 1,225; and Stamford, 744.

Were very busy, Resto said from Bridgeport City Hall. Were plugging away. With a typical election in the city attracting about 2,000 absentee ballots, that total was surpassed by Tuesday morning.

Morrison, the Hamden town clerk for the last quarter century, said the town usually processes about 2,500 absentee ballots, so the current election is going to require double that very soon, even as Town Hall remains mostly closed to the public. Thousands of election documents now fill the town clerks vault.

New hires for Morrisons staff, whom she refers to as the vault squad have been given make-shift ID badges to make it easier for city employees to pick them out as most of the public has to make appointments and clear coronavirus protocols. She said that about 100 applications have been sent back to senders because of minor problems, such as failure to check off a reason for requesting an absentee ballot.

Morrison says its so crowded in her office, she is worried about the state mandate to begin counting completed absentee ballots during the week before the election. In particular, she is worried about the chain of custody, keeping ballots and envelopes together.

We are not really a mail-in state, she said. New York State has county government and county boards of elections. Were expected to do everything, even with the buildings closed. My vault looks like a warehouse. And were doing this along with everything else, from recording deeds on a house, to veterans records. We even know the sex of peoples dogs.

An earlier version of this report had Westbrook with the highest number of absentee ballot requests. But that total was the result of a glitch in the Secretary of the States data base. West Hartford had the highest number of processed ballots.

kdixon@ctpost.com Twitter: @KenDixonCT
CHICAGO, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC) announced Catherine Nelson as the company's Chief Legal officer, effective immediately. In her new role Nelson will lead the company's legal strategy, including overseeing internal and outside counsel support of all regulatory, litigation, contract, transactional, and governance matters affecting HCSC and its operating units. She will report to HCSC President and Chief Executive Officer Maurice Smith.

"Catherine brings in-depth knowledge of the health care industry and broad legal, commercial and regulatory experience that will be important as the company continues to grow," Smith said. "Her deep legal experience and sound business judgment make her an excellent choice, which complements our senior team at this critical moment in the health care industry and HCSC's history."

Nelson most recently served as the company's Divisional Senior Vice President, HCSC Plan and Business Counsel and Enterprise Risk Officer. Previously, she was the legal advisor to the office of the Chairman, CEO and President. She also served as the general counsel of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, where she was instrumental in strategically managing key provider, customer, and regulatory matters to advance critical company initiatives and further its mission to expand access to health care in Illinois.

"I am honored to lead HCSC's outstanding legal team that is trusted to provide expert counsel to all aspects of the company's operations," Nelson said. "I look forward to continuing to work closely with Maurice and the rest of the HCSC team to support the Company's continued success and commitment to sustained high performance, excellence and integrity."

Prior to joining HCSC, Nelson served for 15 years in private practice at Foley & Larder/Hopkins & Sutter focused on corporate transactions, including supporting HCSC as outside mergers and acquisition counsel.

Nelson has a Juris Doctor from the Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law and a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Illinois. She currently serves on the board of Medecision, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of HCSC.

About Health Care Service Corporation

Health Care Service Corporation is the country's largest customer-owned health insurer and fifth largest health insurer overall, with nearly 16 million members in its health plans in Illinois, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. A Mutual Legal Reserve Company, HCSC is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For more information, please visit HCSC.com, visit our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter.

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After Deepika Padukone's name allegedly emerged in various drug-related chats in the probe conducted by Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in the Bollywood-drugs nexus case linked to actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death case, an official from the agency told Hindustan Times that they might summon Deepika Padukone.

While probing the Bollywood-drug nexus, the NCB came across drug-related chats between Deepika's manager Karishma Prakash and one "D". Later, various reports standed that 'D' stands for Deepika Padukone. Karisma who handles Deepika's work, is an employee of KWAN talent management agency.

On Tuesday, the NCB summoned KWAN talent management agency's CEO Dhruv Chitgopekar to join the ongoing investigation in the drug-peddling case. Sushant Singh Rajput's talent manager Jaya Saha was also probed by the agency.

According to a report in Hindustan Times, KPS Malhotra, deputy director of NCB, confirmed the agency summoned Dhruv for questioning on Tuesday. However, he denied that any summons was send to KWAN' employee and Deepika Padukone's manager, Karishma Prakash.

The tabloid quoted him as saying, "No summons has been issued to Karishma. But we will send her a summon later this week."

He said that the NCB will first question Karishma Prakash and may summon Deepika if needed. The investigating agency will also summon Shraddha Kapoor, Sara Ali Khan, Rakul Preet Singh and Simone Khambatta later this week.

As of now, the NCB has arrested more than 12 people, including Sushant Singh Rajput's actress-girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty and her brother Showik Chakraborty, in connection with the drugs case linked to the actor's case. According to the latest reports, the judiciary custody of Rhea, who was arrested on September 8, has been extended to October 16.

ALSO READ: Rhea Chakraborty's Judicial Custody Extended Till Oct 6, Bail Plea Hearing To Be Held Tomorrow

ALSO READ: Deepika Padukone's Manager, KWAN Talent Agency CEO Summoned By NCB In Drug Probe: Report
The Health Ministry on September 21 issued Decision No.4042/QD-BYT on approving the SARS-CoV-2 testing plan amid COVID-19 pandemic in replace of Decision No. 2245/QD-BYT dated April 22.

The common goal of the plan is to detect COVID-19 cases for timely monitoring, quarantine and treatment.

The National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Pasteur Institute, Health Departments, and the Centres for Disease Control were also asked to report testing activities to the ministry in line with regulations.

As of September 13, there were 137 labs nationwide eligible for SARS-CoV-2 testing using Real-time RT-PCR method with a maximum capacity of over 51,125 samples per day.

Among over 1 million samples tested, as many as 1,063 were positive for the virus.

Vietnam reports no new COVID-19 infections on September 22 morning

No new COVID-19 cases were recorded overnight, making the tally stay unchanged at 1068, the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control said on September 22 morning.

As of 6am on September 22, Vietnam had 691 domestically-transmitted cases, including 551 reported since July 25.

To date, 947 patients have been treated successfully and there have also been 35 deaths linked with the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, mostly elderly people with serious underlying health conditions.

Among 121 active patients, 15 have tested negative for the virus SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19 once, two others twice, and 19 thrice.

Currently, there are 23,725 people having close contact with confirmed cases or coming from pandemic-hit regions under quarantine.

According to the steering committee, at present, COVID-19 outbreaks in Vietnam are basically put under control, but there remains a risk of infection in major urban areas if locals are subjective in disease prevention and control.

People nationwide are advised to continue wearing face masks, wash their hands regularly, keep distance with others, avoid crowed gatherings and make health declarations.

Foreigner tests positive for Covid-19 after leaving Vietnam

A Sri Lankan man has tested positive for Covid-19 after he returned home from Vietnam.

The information was given by Bui Thi Ngoc Hieu, vice chairwoman of HCM Citys District 7 Peoples Committee at the citys meeting on Covid-19 prevention and control on Monday.

Right after the 32-year-old man had the positive test result, Sri Lankas authorities informed Vietnam of the problem.

The HCM City Centre for Disease Control has cooperated with District 7 to sterilise the area where the patient had been living for over the past 28 days. Local authorities have defined 15 people who had close contact with the man and all have tested negative for the virus.

Among these people, 11 were those who came into contact with him at the New Hotel in District 7. They are being quarantined at the hotel, while the others are isolating themselves at their home.

At the meeting, director of the municipal Department of Health Nguyen Tan Binh, said that the city has arranged 25 paid hotels which can serve a total of 2,529 people.

Le Thanh Liem, vice chairman of the HCM City Peoples Committee said that the city has seen no new Covid-19 infections over the past 52 days. However, people should not ignore virus prevention as the pandemic remains complicated in many countries.

ASEAN members discuss supportive measures for vulnerable families in COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused great impacts on vulnerable families such as ethnic minority households, families with informal labourers and migrants, leading to temporary poverty due to low incomes, experts have said.

Speaking at the 15th ASEAN GO-NGO Forum on social welfare and development held virtually yesterday, representatives agreed these families need to have their resilience and solidarity strengthened to overcome adversity and adapt to the new normal.

This year's annual event is themed 'Strengthening Family Resilience and Solidarity: Braving the Adversity and Adapting to the New Normal', with a focus on coping with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ha Thi Minh uc, deputy director of the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs International Cooperation Department, said the pandemic has spread globally since early this year and caused challenges for all countries.

The pandemic has also caused many negative impacts on the lives of all people in society, especially women, children and vulnerable families.

In Viet Nam, more than 30 million people are estimated to have been affected by the pandemic, with half of them suffering a pay cut.

In rural areas, half of all households have experienced a 38 per cent decrease in their income from farming.

uc said most Vietnamese families were large with many generations living under the same roof and the pandemic has greatly affected their income and livelihoods.

It has also affected quality and access to essential social services such as maternal and child health care as well as education and support services for these households.

uc said the Government has stepped up its dual task to control the pandemic and develop the economy to ensure a stable life for people.

The support package of more than VN62 trillion (US$2.7 billion) to support 20 million affected people would help solve the problem. Online studying has also been applied in many schools to ensure education for children.

At the forum, experts shared stories on family relations and the role of families and measures to protect families in the ASEAN community.

Philippines loosens overseas travel ban on medical workers

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has recently decided to ease an overseas travel ban on the countrys nurses and other medical workers to allow more to take jobs abroad.

Those Duterte exempted from the ban will now include any workers with overseas contracts and documentation completed as of August 31, his spokesman Harry Roque told a media briefing on September 21. He added that the presidents decision would benefit 1,500 health personnel.

Healthcare workers from the Philippines are on the front lines of the pandemic at hospitals in the United States, Europe and the Middle East as well as at home.

The government in April barred nurses, doctors and other medical workers from leaving, saying they were needed to fight the coronavirus crisis in the Philippines, which is still tackling its first wave of infections.

The country has the highest number of recorded coronavirus infections in Southeast Asia with 286,743 cases, including 4,984 deaths.

On the day, Indonesia reported 4,176 new cases  the highest number recorded in one day. The tally now reaches 248,852, including 9,677 fatalities.

Singapore invents COVID-19 swab test robot for safe, fast procedure

A robot carrying out nasal swabbing to diagnose COVID-19 has been developed by Singaporean clinicians, who say the automated procedure is safe, faster and more comfortable compared with manual swab tests.

The machine, which is 35cm by 40cm, and 49cm high, was developed by clinicians from the National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS) and Singapore General Hospital (SGH), in collaboration with medical robotics company Biobot Surgical.

The team said the robot can address the limitations and risks of manual swabbing. It reduces swabbers' risk of exposure to the virus and the need for training people, standardises the consistency of swabs taken, and increases the efficiency of conducting swab tests.

Although similar robots have been developed in other countries, the made-in-Singapore bot was said to be the first that allows patients to fully control the swab process so they are more comfortable. Patients can activate and terminate the machine at will.

With the robot, the testing process takes 20 seconds, while a manual swab test can take twice as long.

To date, 85 patients and volunteers have participated in the ongoing clinical trial that compares SwabBot against manual swabbing. The participants feedback received was positive.

SingHealth and Biobot Surgical have filed a patent for SwabBot's technology. Biobot is also working to commercialise the robot.
Five of the largest wildfires in state history are currently burning and more than 5,600 square miles have been charred, an area larger than the state of Connecticut, state governor Gavin Newsom said.

At 165 square miles, the so-called Bobcat Fire is one of the largest ever in Los Angeles County after burning for more than two weeks. It was only about 17% contained.

Evacuation orders and warnings are in place for thousands of residents in foothill and desert areas, where semi-rural homes and a popular nature sanctuary have burned. Statewide, at least 23,000 people remain evacuated, Mr Newsom said.

No injuries have been reported from the fire about 50 miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles.

However, 18 homes and other buildings have been destroyed and 11 damaged, some in the Juniper Hills area, with the toll rising to perhaps 85 when damage assessment teams can complete their work this week, fire officials said Monday evening.

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Nearly 19,000 firefighters in California are currently battling 27 major blazes, Mr Newsom said. At least 7,900 wildfires have erupted in the state this year, many during a mid-August barrage of dry lightning ignited parched vegetation.

Twenty-six people have been killed. Officials were investigating the death of a firefighter at another Southern California wildfire that erupted earlier this month from a smoke-generating pyrotechnic device used by a couple to reveal their babys gender.

Erratic winds that drove flames into the states community of Juniper Hills over the weekend had died down, said US Forest Service spokesman Larry Smith.

Its slightly cooler too, so hopefully that will be a help to firefighters, Mr Smith said.

However, evacuation warnings  meaning residents should be prepared to flee if ordered  remained in effect for Pasadena, home of the Rose Bowl and the annual Rose Parade, and Wrightwood, a mountain community near several ski resorts.

Numerous studies in recent years have linked larger US wildfires to global warming from the burning of coal, oil and gas, especially because climate change has made California much drier, meaning vegetation is more flammable.

Officials said it could be days before teams determined the scope of the destruction in the area burned by the Bobcat Fire.

Early estimates are that 6,400 buildings have been destroyed across the state, but Mr Newsom said by no stretch of the imagination do we think this tells the entire story.

The Bobcat Fire started on September 6 and has doubled in size over the past week while ripping through forested areas that had not burned in decades. The cause is under investigation.

Firefighters battled back against another flare-up near Mount Wilson, which overlooks greater Los Angeles in the San Gabriel Mountains and has a historic observatory founded more than a century ago and numerous broadcast antennas serving Southern California.

Flames destroyed the nature centre at Devils Punchbowl Natural Area, a geological attraction that draws some 130,000 visitors per year. A wildlife sanctuary on the property was undamaged, and staff and animals had been evacuated days earlier.
Japan's internal affairs ministry says the number of elderly people in the nation has set a new record high. The ratio of elderly to the total population is also the highest in the world.

The ministry publicized the figures on Sunday, one day before Japan marks Respect for the Aged Day.

It says the number of people aged 65 or older was a record 36.17 million as of last Tuesday. That's an increase of 300,000 from last year.

The ratio of elderly people to the overall population is a record 28.7 percent, marking a rise of 0.3 percentage points from last year. This increase is partly due to the total population shrinking by 290,000.

UN data also show that Japan's proportion of elderly people is the highest in the world and more than 5 percentage points larger than Italy's.

The ministry says Japan's elderly population consists of about 15.73 million men and roughly 20.44 million women. The female group is larger by 4.71 million.

Over 25 percent of the total female population are aged 70 or older. This is the first time the figure has surpassed the one-quarter mark.

Japan had 8.92 million elderly workers last year. They accounted for 13.3 percent of the total workforce. Both figures are all-time highs.

One in four elderly people, or 24.9 percent, had jobs. That represented a gain for the eighth consecutive year and was one of the highest ratios among the industrialized nations.
Meghan Markle's best friend Jessica Mulroney has revealed she is taking a 'much needed break' for a few weeks to 'get some real work done'.

The stylist, 40, from Toronto, shared a selfie wearing a red suit and monochrome vest top on Instagram, captioning the post: 'Little girls night before a much needed break to get some real work done. See you in a few weeks.'

She later changed the caption on the post to say she was taking a 'pause' so that she could 'finish an exciting project.'

It comes days after she hit back at rumours that she and Meghan, 39, are no longer close by claiming the wife of Prince Harry is the 'kindest friend' who has 'checked up on me every day'.

Meghan Markle's best friend Jessica Mulroney, 39, from Toronto has revealed she is taking a 'much needed break' for a few weeks to 'get some real work done'

She captioned the selfie to say she was going out for a 'little girls night' before adding she wouldn't be on the platform 'for a few weeks'

It was claimed in August that the Duchess of Sussex was reported to have cut ties with Jessica after black influencer Sasha Exeter accused her of 'threatening her livelihood' after 'taking offence' at a Black Lives Matter video posted by the online star.

But in a new post, which was published on her Instagram story at the weekend, Jessica wrote: 'I'm going to tell this once and for all. Meghan and I are family.

'She is the kindest friend and has checked up on me everyday. Tabloid culture is atrocious. It creates lies and hurtful storylines. Stop feeding into it. Done.'

Although her Instagram account has been set to private, the post was re-published by people.com.

It comes days after Jessica hit back at rumours that she and Meghan, 39, are no longer close by claiming the wife of Prince Harry is the 'kindest friend' who has 'checked up on me everyday'

The stylist made the claim in an Instagram post, just over two weeks after she deleted a throwback snap of one of her twin sons at Meghan's wedding

Because she has set her account to private, only Jessica's approved followers can read her posts.

The new post comes after Jessica deleted an Instagram photo earlier this month of one of her twin sons, Brian, at Meghan Markle's wedding.

The post was thought to be to be a further attempt from Jessica to show she remains good friends with the former actress - who now lives with Prince Harry, 35, in Santa Barbara.

Jessica and Meghan, 39, have been close friends for years, with the stylist's daughter a bridesmaid and Brian and his twin John serving as page boys at the Duchess's wedding to Prince Harry.

Jessica Mulroney shared a snap of one of her twin sons, Brian, at Meghan Markle's, 39, wedding at the beginning of this month, but deleted the snap the following week

But the mysterious disappearance of the photo from her Instagram page added fuel to the fire of rumours of a rift between the pair.

Jessica then took to Instagram once again a week later to reveal that she sometimes deletes Instagram posts because she's 'tired' of looking at the amount of 'bullying and hatred' she's had to put up with for three years.

The recent post read: 'People often ask why I delete certain posts. The amount of bullying and hatred I've had to put up with for three years...I'm tired of looking at it. Be kind. Be gracious.

'We are grown ups...stop acting like teenagers. Real women don't put down other women.'

Mother-of-three Jessica returned to the social media platform on August 11 following a two-month break after the public rift with Sasha Exeter.

It was claimed in August that the Duchess of Sussex was reported to have cut ties with Jessica after black influencer Sasha Exeter (left) accused her of 'threatening her livelihood' after 'taking offence' at a Black Lives Matter video posted by the online star

A source told DailyMail.com at the time that Meghan was left 'mortified' by the scandal and informed her close friends she felt she could 'no longer be associated' with Jessica.

'Meghan is absolutely mortified that she's been dragged into this complete mess. She said Jessica is in no way a racist, but the way she handled the situation [with Sasha] was tone-deaf and heartbreaking,' a close friend of Meghan's said at the time.

'Meghan said friends reflect friends and because of what's at stake she can no longer be associated with Jessica, at least not in public.

'She has to do what she has to do in order to preserve her dignity and her own reputation,' the source added, admitting that they 'wouldn't be surprised' if the controversy was the 'beginning of the end of their friendship'.

But earlier this month Jessica shut down the rumours, branding a commenter's suggestion on one of her posts that she had been 'dumped' by Meghan 'fake news'.
Tensions between struggling department store Myer and its major shareholders have escalated further after influential investor Geoff Wilson joined billionaire retailer Solomon Lew in calling for sweeping changes to the board.

The Wilson Asset Management chairman on Tuesday issued a directive to Myer's chairman Garry Hounsell, calling on the retailer to permanently reduce its number of directors and slash their fees.

Wilson Asset Management's Geoff Wilson has issued the company with a 'please explain'. Credit:James Alcock

In the letter, seen by The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald, Mr Wilson said he believed it would be appropriate for Myer's board to reduce its size and fee pool to be in line with companies of similar market capitalisation.

"I note that in the 2020 annual report that the non-executive directors have accepted a 16.7 per cent fee reduction in response to the impacgt of COVID-19," Mr Wilson said.
The Mauritius Institute of Directors, in collaboration with PwC, through the Directors Forum, is pleased to announce the publication of its Position Paper 5 on Covid-19: Key Considerations for Directors.

As boards of directors across the globe grapple with the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and its ripple effects, numerous questions that go beyond the ordinary are raised. Companies are faced with an array of different risks.

The objective of this Paper is to provide guidance to Mauritian Boards in identifying key responsibilities arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, and how to address them. These include: strategic leadership actions, possible financial and risk management oversights, tackling human resources and remuneration, IT infrastructure needs, dealing with external auditors, and, last but not the least, how to communicate in such circumstances.

The paper also outlines the enhanced roles of members of the top management, the Board and its Committee members during and after the COVID-19 crisis.

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WELLINGTON, New Zealand - A new opinion poll indicates that New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is poised to win a second term in office when the nation goes to the polls next month.

But Ardern said Tuesday that shes taking nothing for granted.

The 1 News Colmar Brunton Poll put support for Arderns liberal Labour Party at 48% while support for the conservative National Party, led by opposition leader Judith Collins, was at 31%.

Support for Ardern as preferred prime minister was at 54% compared to 18% for Collins.

Under New Zealands proportional voting system, larger parties typically form coalitions with smaller parties to govern.

Arderns popularity has surged since the coronavirus became the defining issue for her government six months ago. Her approach of trying to eliminate the virus has been widely viewed as successful.

Collins is promising more robust border controls to ensure the virus is kept out and sweeping tax cuts to help reboot the economy.

The two leaders met for the first televised debate of the election campaign Tuesday and were asked about the poll.

We will keep working every day of this campaign and you will see no complacency from us and no assumptions, Ardern said.

Collins said the campaign had been hampered by a virus outbreak that temporarily put the city of Auckland back into lockdown, but that her party was in good position going into the home stretch.

Im a fighter, Collins said. I never give up, always keep going. And Im utterly positive for our country, and Ive got a vision to sell.

Neither leader made a major stumble in the debate as they took each other on over education, housing, healthcare and taxes ahead of the Oct. 17 general election.
Chandigarh: The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), the BJPs oldest ally, on Tuesday announced road blockades across Punjab on September 25 to protest against the contentious farm Bills passed by Parliament. Rajya Sabha passed the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020 during the day. It had cleared the Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 on Sunday. The Bills had been passed by Lok Sabha last week.

It has been decided to hold a chakka jaam (road blockade) on September 25 in Punjab against these farm Bills, SAD leader Daljit Singh Cheema said. He said the partys senior leaders, workers, farmers and farm labourers would block roads in the state for three hours from 11 am in a peaceful manner.

Notably, around 30 farmers outfits have already given a call for a complete shutdown in Punjab on September 25 in protest against the Bills. Party chief Sukhbir Singh Badal would launch a four-day state-wide mass contact programme on September 26 during which he would make party workers aware about the adverse impact of these Bills on the farming community, Cheema said.

He added that on October 1, the party leadership would present to the Punjab governor a memorandum addressed to President Ram Nath Kovind. An appeal would be made to take back these Bills, Cheema said. A Shiromani Akali Dal delegation on Monday had urged the President to come to the rescue of farmers and farm labourers by not giving his assent to the farm Bills.

Last week, SAD leader and Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal had resigned from the Union Cabinet in protest against the Bills.

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
Oralia Soto had pain in her lungs, but being the sole caregiver for her 12-year-old diabetic great-granddaughter left no time to see a doctor.

When Soto, 87, finally sought medical care, she was critically ill with the coronavirus and needed to be put on a ventilator. She died days later, one of 15 members of a large Latino family in Texas's Rio Grande Valley who fell ill with or succumbed to the virus.

"It is just too much to handle," said Brenda Benitez, Soto's niece. "I feel numb inside. I just pray."

The novel coronavirus is devastating Latino communities across the country, from California's Imperial Valley to suburban Boston and Puerto Rico. Workers at Midwestern meatpacking plants and on construction sites in Florida are getting sick and dying of a virus that is exacerbating historic inequalities in communities where residents, many of whom are "essential" workers, struggle to access health care. The undocumented are largely invisible.

Latinos, who are not a racial group and come from diverse backgrounds, make up an increasing portion of deaths from covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. More than 36,500 Latinos have died of the virus, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention analyzed by The Washington Post.

"If you look at all the negative factors, risky jobs or unemployment, unsafe housing, poor air quality and preexisting conditions, it's all people of color," said Carlos Rodriguez-Diaz, an associate professor at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University.

"It's not because we are non-White, it's because of the social conditions that historically placed us at a disadvantage," Rodriguez-Diaz said. "These are not new, but covid is giving us the unfortunate opportunity to highlight these factors."

The disparities are particularly acute in Texas, where people who identify as Hispanic or Latino comprise 40% of the state's population. They are more likely to be hospitalized, face financial ruin or die of the virus than their White neighbors, experts said. The burden on Hispanics is diverse, affecting recent migrants to Houston, natives of San Antonio, indigenous immigrants in Austin, Dallas business owners or those who called the Borderlands their home before it was Texas.

State data presents an incomplete picture of how Latinos in Texas are faring, because not all municipalities report race or ethnicity information. But when Texas reworked its coronavirus data in July, it added 600 additional virus deaths - 47% of which were Latinos.

A close look at the municipalities that report demographic data show Latinos comprise the bulk of coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and deaths in the counties that include Austin, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. On the border, where Latinos are a majority of the population, the number of virus patients overwhelmed hospitals this summer.

These numbers almost certainly do not reveal the true impact.

"There's likely an undercounting of how deeply and severely affected Latinos have been by coronavirus," said Luis Ostrosky, a professor of medicine and epidemiology at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.

Physicians, community activists, politicians and researchers say the long-term psychological, economic and physical effects on Latinos are unknown. But what happens to Latinos will impact everyone, in ways both expected and unforeseen.

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Jose Lisandro Orellano came to the United States expecting to struggle. He learned that to prevail, an immigrant needs a positive attitude and sheer will. Orellano never imagined how the coronavirus would test his two decades of built-up resilience.

The 40-year-old caught the virus while working on a garbage truck crew. He doesn't know where or how it found its way into his body, but it made its presence known. Fever, headaches and a strangling cough kept him at home for six weeks trying to cure himself with teas and medicine from his beloved El Salvador.

"My brain was telling me, 'You are going to die,' " said Orellano, who lives in immigrant-heavy Southwest Houston. "But my heart was telling me to keep on fighting."

Orellano had saved money in case he became sick, but he couldn't afford to go to the doctor without insurance. So the teas, of ginger, onion and garlic, became more elaborate. He lost about 30 pounds before his body let him walk up stairs without gasping for air.

Texas has the highest uninsured rate in the country and is one of several states that refused to expand Medicaid, making it difficult for millions of low-income people to access affordable treatment. For many sick with the virus, it's only when the symptoms become unbearable that they yield to an emergency room or clinic.

But by then, the virus has spread. Advocates said the virus is pervasive in apartment complexes where immigrants live in tight quarters, making it impossible to practice social distancing.

Delmis Lopez's teenage daughter was the first in her household to show symptoms. Soon, so did other of the 19 family members who live with her in a three-bedroom Houston apartment. Her children have Medicaid, but Lopez's relatives are asylum seekers who arrived from Honduras last year. They were too afraid to seek medical care.

The family hunkered down. Three weeks later, their strength returned. They were lucky, Lopez, 34, said. So was Gerson Bonilla, though many people he loves were not.

"This is completely out of control," said Bonilla, who along with his brothers runs a business installing and repairing air conditioning in Houston. Each of them recovered from the coronavirus in early July, but they have friends, cousins and nephews who didn't.

"I wonder if the authorities are really doing everything they can to protect us," he said.

Angela Orea, a community organizer with the Metropolitan Organization of Houston, said each day she receives desperate calls from families trying to get tested or find care. Many struggle to find transportation. Some who aren't sick are moving out of their homes or apartments because they lost jobs and can no longer afford rent.

Every day, Amelia Averyt sees coronavirus patients at Legacy Community Health Clinic in Houston who waited too long to seek help after home remedies failed. The results can be particularly tragic for the undocumented, she said. When a family gets sick, she said, members vow to defeat the disease and take care of each other with minimal medical intervention. The repercussions can be devastating.

- - -

Adela Carvajal, 73, and her brother Atanacio Carvajal, 65, never missed a day of work when the temp agency called with construction jobs - considered "essential" during Texas's stay-at-home order this spring. Adela often accompanied her brother to the same work sites. He pounded nails and she cleared debris. After work, they headed to the Austin apartment they shared for 19 years.

Their plan had always been to save enough money to return to Acapulco, Mexico, open a clothing store and live out what remained of their graying lives. But in May, Atanacio started to feel a bruising pain in his back.

Adela tended to her younger brother the way she always had, trying to massage away the pain. But then she started having gastrointestinal issues. Assuming it was a bug, Adela kept working. When the medicine didn't help, she booked a doctor's appointment.

Her brother improved, but she deteriorated. Adela left her bed only to reach the bathroom. Atanacio and a friend took turns checking on her at night. But Atanacio was tired and dozed off the night before his sister was scheduled to see a doctor.

She stopped breathing a few hours later. He called an ambulance, but she was gone.

"I took her face into my hands and she was still warm. So I put my hand on her heart but I could not feel it beating," he said.

"Seeing her leave us that way has been hard to forget," he said.

The family later learned six men who worked with Atanacio Carvajal had tested positive for the coronavirus. The company that hired the siblings did not respond to a request for comment. Atanacio was in quarantine for a month and now lives with a niece.

Laura Perez-Boston of the Workers Defense Project, a Texas advocacy group, said members across the state are falling ill. They receive hard hats, masks and gloves, but laborers share tools and carpool; their shifts aren't staggered, and portable toilets may not be cleaned regularly, she said.

"They feel like their lives aren't valued and they're not being heard," Perez-Boston said.

- - -

When health officials recommended limiting gatherings or interactions to family, they probably weren't counting the same way Latino families do. A matriarch in Laredo celebrated the Fourth of July with her family of 14 children and 65 of grandchildren. She was one of 70 people in Laredo who died of coronavirus during a three-week span this summer, said Ricardo Cigarroa, an internist and cardiologist at Laredo Medical Center. Cigarroa was sickened by the virus but has recovered.

The Latino community's source of strength, the family, has also become its undoing.

"Your highest risk factor is who you live with," Sharon Davis, chief medical officer of Dallas's Los Barrios Unidos Community Clinic.

More than a quarter of Latinos nationwide live in multigenerational households. Texas has the third-highest rate in the nation of such living arrangements.

Jocelyn Hernandez, a nurse at Davis's clinic, lives with 10 family members, including her siblings, parents, an aunt, a cousin and a 6-year-old niece. All followed the decontamination rules Hernandez helped establish. She and her sister were the assigned grocery shoppers of the home.

But they could not control for everything. There are six rooms and three bathrooms in the house but one preferred shower.

Hernandez, 27, starting feeling feverish at work at the same time that her father, who has diabetes and hypertension, was bothered by chest congestion. Her mother felt her allergies flaring up.

Their symptoms weren't severe at first, but everyone got tested.

All but the child were positive.

The family isolated themselves in their rooms, wore masks inside the house and stayed in touch by phone. Hernandez's aunt was admitted to the hospital. One night, Hernandez heard her father coughing. She called him, but he could barely talk and hung up.

Hernandez's parents ended up in neighboring ICU rooms, motivating each other using the phones attached to their beds.

"You need to get better."

"We both have to leave this hospital together."

"Let's do it."

"I'll see you in recovery."

"Were doing this."

Juan and Maria Hernandez left the hospital July 2, hand-in-hand.

As the Hernandezes fought to survive in Dallas, Monica Munoz's father was saying goodbye in San Antonio. Her grandfather died 24 hours later.

The two heads of proud Mexican American households left behind a devastated family, many of whom live in the same neighborhood - there are so many Munozes on the block where they live that the street should be named after them.

Ernesto Munoz moved there first, leaving Mexico 36 years ago with the hope of returning. The 66-year-old worked as a maintenance man in a meat factory past retirement age because he was so grateful to the company that gave him his first opportunity. He was never paid what he deserved - until this year, his daughter said. His hard work, she said, felt validated.

2020 was going to be Ernesto's year. He promised his wife it would be his last working. He finally had the money saved to build a little house in Mexico.

Monica Munoz lives on the street, in a house sandwiched between her parents and grandparents. At the start of the pandemic, Monica, who works in occupational safety, sat down with her father to go over safety protocols. In mid-June, she noticed her father had come home early. He had not been feeling well.

Ernesto Munoz didn't want to go to the hospital. Like many Latinos, he feared that once you go in, you don't come out. After a week of being sick, he went. Four days after he was admitted, Munoz was on a ventilator. He called his children before he was intubated.

"He talked to us like it was a normal day," Monica Munoz said. It was strange, but she could feel he was trying to say something. She later learned her father told her brother the family was now his responsibility. "That was his way of saying goodbye."

Her grandfather was hospitalized days later. As the oldest, Monica helped handle the piles of paperwork, the nurse phone calls that came in the middle of the night and, ultimately, the funeral arrangements. Her father died July 6. Her grandfather, July 7.

"You know, sometimes it feels like we're just another number, another statistic. I've seen on social media how people say, it's just the 1% of the population that it's affecting," she said. "But it happened to us. Two heads of households. Two fathers."

- - -

Gil Vasquez needed his father to recover from the coronavirus.

Vasquez, 40, who has lived with muscular dystrophy since birth, depends on his father to be his arms and legs. Wherever Vasquez's mind took him, his father, also named Gilberto Vasquez, gladly did the walking for his son. The elder Vasquez carried his son's school books and typed out his papers. The two traveled the country, worked in the same bank and are now preparing for the son's bar exam.

The 73-year-old was so careful not to expose his son to the coronavirus that he limited his ventures outside the home to a radiology center appointment and a visit to the carwash. A scratchy throat devolved into the father losing control of his body. He collapsed at his San Antonio home and was on a ventilator by mid-July.

"This is the longest I've ever been without him," Gil Vasquez said of his father. "You can't help but think what would happen if he didn't make it. It would be very hard for me to adjust and try to live my life. My whole life has been around him."

Vasquez and his mother, who has rheumatoid arthritis, also tested positive for the coronavirus. People always ask him if he is ever angry with God or questions why he was born disabled. Vasquez, who has spent a lifetime subscribing to the "power of positivity" and drawing from his faith, has lots of practice turning the conversation around: Why not me?

But in this moment, the question leaves him breathless. His mind spirals: Had the stay-at-home order not been lifted, his father may not have gone out. Had more people believed the virus was serious, his father may not be fighting for his life. Had people cared more and worn masks, vulnerable Latinos like him and his father may not be suffering. The what-ifs are overwhelming.

"Your human instinct is to question," Vasquez said. "But it feels selfish on my part. There's no rewinding the clock. The question now is what can I do to make it better?"

A former banker, Vasquez said he understands why states including Texas reopened so quickly. But he says he believes the choice was at the expense of the vulnerable.

"It's people of color with no health care, the disabled like me, the elderly," he said. "And does it matter if it's for the greater good of the economy if someone is going to get hurt?"

Vasquez senior was in the hospital for nearly two months before he began to respond to treatment. Rehab therapists told him it would be months before he could go home. But the Army veteran was determined to progress in two weeks. His son needed him.

Vasquez remembers nothing about his time in the hospital but coming home was, emotionally, like returning from fighting in Vietnam.

He still gets winded easily. His lungs and throat are inflamed. But he's back to helping Gil Jr. prepare for the bar next year.

- - -

The Washington Post's Mary Lee Grant and Reis Thebault contributed to this report.
Despite the reported success of recent talks in Bouznika and Montreux, obstacles in the way of a political settlement in Libya remain numerous and thorny

Many problems confront efforts towards a comprehensive settlement of the Libyan crisis, even though the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) announced it will restart the Berlin Process as soon as possible, and that with Germany it will sponsor a second summit on Libya in Berlin to reaffirm the process after it faltered since work began in January. The Libya crisis has entered a vortex of bilateral pairings that will impede progress on a political solution.

The hurdles facing the political process today are four in particular: namely, the undermining of the role of the UN; bilateral actions led by foreign players; unilateral actions taken by domestic actors; and the ambitions of regional and international powers.

UNDERMINING THE UNS ROLE

On 15 September, the UN Security Council extended the mission of UNSMIL for one year after amending the leadership structure, based on Resolution 2542 in 2020 drafted by the UK, for the first time since it was created at the end of 2011. It included separating UNSMILs mediation role in the Libyan peace process from its support role, which is something the US wanted in order to improve UNSMILs political performance. Changing the leadership structure limits the role of UNSMIL.

The Security Council resolution replaced the term special representative of the UN secretary general to special envoy who will be at the helm of UNSMIL operations, with a focus on good offices and mediation with influential Libyan and international players to end the conflict. Also, UNSMILs operations and daily administration will be the responsibility of UNSMILs coordinator who will operate under the authority of the special envoy.

Although the resolution passed with a majority vote of 13, with Russia and China abstaining, that did not result in the appointment of a special envoy for the peace process in Libya or a UNSMIL coordinator. This indicates disagreement continues among major powers on the mission of UNSMIL and who should lead it. Security Council members had previously supported the appointment of the UNs current special representative to the African Union, Hanna Tetteh of Ghana, as chief of UNSMIL. However, the US objected in the beginning, then later stipulated restructuring UNSMIL and appointing a special envoy to the peace process and mediation in Libya, before agreeing to Tettehs appointment.

The decision to extend UNSMILs mission for one year was supported by European countries in the Security Council. Germanys mission to the UN tweeted that the decision confirms the Security Councils commitment to guarantee a permanent ceasefire and bring peace to Libya. Belgium saw it as paving the way for a quick appointment of a UNSMIL special envoy who would lead mediation with the participation of influential regional players, as part of the Berlin Process. Meanwhile, Russia and China justified their abstention by saying their comments on the draft resolution were not included.

The tenure of the current UNSMIL chief, Stephanie Williams, ends in October and it is yet unclear if the Security Council resolution will be promptly implemented since it includes appointing new mission leadership. This means postponing the Berlin Process which is planning another summit on 5 October to renew support for and relaunch the stalled process.

The resolution disrupted the work of UNSMIL which recently sponsored two meetings in Bouznika, Morocco and Montreux, Switzerland, for various Libyan players. The first was to entice the parliament in Tobruk and the Supreme State Council (SSC) to implement the political agreement; the second paved the way for relaunching the Berlin Process. If the Morocco meeting broke the ice between the two sides then there is no need for another, and the opposite is true of the meetings in Switzerland.

BILATERAL PAIRINGS

In recent weeks, there were bilateral actions between local players and international or regional powers under the pretext of pursuit of a political solution. More strangely, the UN, itself, which since 2014 has led the settlement process in Libya, has also become involved in these bilateral pairings when it sponsored talks in Bouznika and Montreux to jumpstart the stalemate in the political process.

Meanwhile, there are talks on Libya between Moscow and Ankara, Moscow and Cairo, Cairo and Paris, as well as Ankara and Algiers. All sides claim their efforts supplement and support the UN-led mission, but that may not be true. These bilateral efforts on Libya gained momentum due to UNSMILs poor performance, and amid obstruction of appointing a new UN envoy to Libya. It also indicates limiting the role of the UN in Libya in the future, because bilateral tracks on the regional and international stage have more momentum.

UNILATERAL ACTIONS BY LOCAL ACTORS

The retreat in UNSMILs role and the steps taken by foreign supporters in recent weeks resulted in local players attempting to undermine these efforts by holding unilateral talks to block any attempt to harm them in the future. Most recently, an agreement on 18 September between the Libyan National Army (LNA) and Vice-Chairman of the Presidential Council of the Government of National Accord (GNA) Ahmed Maiteeq in Sochi, to re-open oil facilities and restart oil production and exports. Also, to form a committee that will draft a budget and oversee distribution of oil revenues among the leaders of the LNA and GNA. The deal will be in place until January 2021 when a new government is formed.

Earlier, the chairman of the Presidential Council said he intends to hand over power at the end of October after the National Dialogue Committee agrees to form a new government. This is unlikely due to continued bickering, local dialogue committees that will be formed to participate in the UN process, and delays in appointing UNSMILs leadership. In the end, this means the status quo will continue at least into the near future.

There are also attempts led by Parliament Speaker Aguila Saleh and SCC Chairman Khaled Al-Mishri to reform the Presidential Council because they both want to become members, although their efforts are doubtful.

AMBITIONS OF FOREIGN PLAYERS

Libya has become an experiment in international policies and is wide open for frequent foreign interference, which means all involved parties have started to coordinate with close partners on the regional or global stage to establish their presence in Libya. Russia and Turkey are primary examples, especially since both profited the most from the battle over Tripoli that lasted for 14 months. The battle for the capital gave these two countries great and direct influence on the ground. Turkey won its biggest overseas military base at Al-Watiya in northwest Libya, and Russia established a foothold at Al-Jufra military base in central Libya. Moscow and Ankara are also holding joint talks and consultations with regional allies to bolster their influence and guarantee a stronger hand in international bartering.

France is also working on a breakthrough in the Libyan crisis after the battle for Tripoli undermined its gains and influence, and the entry of Russia and Turkey into the fray. Especially since Paris has relations with both the GNA and LNA, which it is trying to manipulate so it can once again benefit from the stark contradictions within fragile and hybrid Libyan alliances.

These are the four parallel dilemmas facing the settlement process, but there are two main paths that can be pursued.

First, a fundamental change in domestic actors in Libya to build a new authority with new players. But this would require an extraordinary event such as renewing the revolution, which is evident in growing protests against corruption. However, supporting these protests will not guarantee the outcome due to deep political rifts.

The second path would be confidence building between the Tobruk parliament and SSC in Tripoli so they can both pass the necessary amendments on key appointments. If this succeeds, it will need to be supported so it can continue the reform process and produce a political agreement without another revolt. However, this option is precarious because local actors are not serious and are only manoeuvring to survive.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 24 September, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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En espanol | In a recent post to the AARP Family Caregivers Discussion Group on Facebook, a daughter caring for her mother wrote this open letter to all medical professionals:

"If you're going to tell the patient she needs a driver to [bring her to] an appointment, then you need to come up with better accommodations for the driver than to tell her she has to wait an hour or more in a hot car with no air conditioning in the summer. If you saw someone's dog in the car under those conditions, then you'd report it. IF YOU WOULDN'T DO IT TO A DOG, THEN YOU SHOULDN'T DO IT TO PEOPLE EITHER!!!!"

With those capital letters and exclamation points, you don't have to be a mind reader to figure out how angry she was. You can see her in your mind's eye roasting in the front seat of her car while waiting impatiently for her mother to finally come out of the doctor's office. You can imagine her feeling steamed as she clutched the steering wheel with sweaty hands and drove her mother home in tense silence.

This unfortunate incident, some may say, is just an unintended consequence of this medical office's recently adopted policy to fight COVID-19. By limiting the number of people entering the building, the mother's doctor was protecting everyone  patients, staff members and family caregivers  from contracting the coronavirus. But this daughter's reaction fits into an older, more deeply rooted narrative: Family caregivers often sense that physicians expect them to make selfless sacrifices for their loved ones without complaint. The doctors, though, neither credit family caregivers for their essential assistance nor seem to give a hoot about these individuals well-being. Little wonder that some feel taken for grant and used.

By venting her concerns on social media, the daughter was announcing to doctors everywhere the need to care for caregivers, as well. Actually apprising her mother's doctor of her concerns would have required speaking her mind directly to him or the office manager. Why don't more caregivers take that step? Many believe they'll be ignored. Others are afraid physicians will label them as out of line or difficult. Some worry that their loved one will receive lower-quality care if they hassle the doctor too much.

How can family caregivers overcome these fears and build trust with their loved ones physicians? Here are some ideas.
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Fifty MPs are backing a charity's call for lockdown day - March 23 - to be enshrined as a national day of mourning for those who died during coronavirus lockdown.

Former Conservative cabinet ministers Esther McVey and Stephen Crabb, and former Labour shadow chancellor John McDonnell are all backing the call, which comes six months on from the Covid-19 lockdown.

Since March 23, the end of life charity Marie Curie estimates that 1.4 million people have experienced a bereavement in England and Wales, based on research suggesting each death leaves an average of five people bereaved.

The charity says there is 'desperate need' for a memorial day on March 23 2021, the first anniversary of the lockdown, so the UK can unite to remember those who have died and support their loved ones.

Staff members outside the Royal Derby Hospital, during a minute's silence to pay tribute to the NHS staff and key workers who have died during the coronavirus outbreak on April 28

Former Conservative cabinet ministers Esther McVey and Stephen Crabb are backing the call

Former Labour shadow chancellor John McDonnell is backing Marie Curie's call

At the peak of the pandemic, only close family members could attend funerals, while others could not say goodbye or grieve properly.

Now, six months on, cases are rising, and chief scientific officer Sir Patrick Vallance has warned that the UK could see 200 deaths a day in mid-November if the virus spread is not curbed.

Restrictions are being tightened in efforts to stop a second wave, prompting fears that many people will face bereavement alone, unable to properly grieve or give their loved ones the funeral they deserve.

A letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, signed by 27 of the MPs, reads: 'Many of those bereaved during lockdown have not been able to hold loved ones' hands as they were dying, properly say goodbye, comfort or even hug each other.

'They have been unable to mourn as they would in 'normal' times and will be more likely to struggle with the long-term effects of grief.

'We are in desperate need of a national day to unite in memory and collectively reflect, remember, grieve and celebrate the lives of everyone who has died during lockdown and show support for our families, friends and colleagues who have been bereaved.'

Britain's Cabinet Secretary Mark Sedwill, Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak stand observe a minute of silence in a tribute to the NHS staff and key workers who died during the coronavirus outbreak on April 28

Staff react outside Salford Royal Hospital in Manchester during a minute's silence to pay tribute to the NHS staff and key workers who have died during the coronavirus outbreak

Jenny Wilson's mother, Karen, 55, died of throat cancer in March and her funeral was on the first day of lockdown. Only immediate family members could attend.

The 18-year-old from Belfast said: 'We never got to celebrate or remember my mum the way she deserved to be.

'I was left to grieve for my mum in lockdown, which was awful because I couldn't get the support from family and friends that I needed.

'A national day of grieving is so important to me and many others who have lost a loved one over lockdown.'

Marie Curie chief executive Matthew Reed said: 'In six months' time the nation needs to take a moment to come together, to remember, to grieve and to celebrate the lives of everyone who has died in this time.

'As the nation faces the potential of further lockdown measures, we mustn't forget the thousands and thousands of people who have, and continue to be, bereaved in very difficult circumstances, be that from coronavirus or other causes.'
DUBLIN, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "The US Equipment Rental Market: Size and Forecasts with Impact Analysis of COVID-19 (2020-2024)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The US Equipment Rental Market: Size and Forecasts with Impact Analysis of Covid-19 (2020-2024) provides an in-depth analysis of the US equipment rental market including a detailed description of the impact of COVID-19 followed by an analysis of the market in terms of value and segments.



The equipment rental market can be segmented on the basis of type (Party and Event Equipment, General Tools & Construction and Industrial Equipment) and industry (Oil & Gas Industry, Construction Industry, Mining Industry & Power Industry). The construction and Industrial Equipment Rental market can be further segmented on the basis of type (Earthmoving Machinery, Material Handling Machinery and Concrete Road Construction).

The US equipment rental market has increased significantly during the years 2016-2019 and projections are made that the market would rise in the next four years i.e. 2020-2024 tremendously. The growth of the equipment rental market through the historic period was supported by growing construction spending, escalating oil and natural gas production, rising employment, soaring investment in equipment rental, increasing labor cost, etc. Yet the market faces some challenges such as complex business and use of Equipment Rental by unqualified operators, etc.

The COVID-19 pandemic is a headwind to the equipment rental market as a restriction on construction activities and bans on social gatherings/parties has dampened demand for equipment like an earthmoving machine, road and bridge construction equipment, light and sound system etc. However, it is expected that as the impact of COVID-19 subsides and lockdowns are relaxed, economic activities would restart throughout the US. This, in turn, would reinvigorate the demand for various equipment. Thus, helping the equipment rental market in the country to recover gradually from the impact of the pandemic.

Moreover, the report also assesses the key opportunities in the market and outlines the factors that are and will be driving the growth of the industry. Growth of the US equipment rental market has also been forecasted for the period 2020-2024, taking into consideration the previous growth patterns, the growth drivers and the current and future trends.

The major players dominating the US equipment rental market are United Rentals, Inc., Ashtead Group (Sunbelt), Herc Holdings Inc. and The Home Depot, Inc. The four companies have been profiled in the report providing their business overview, financial overview and business strategies.

Company Coverage

United Rentals Inc.

Ashtead Group (Sunbelt)

Herc Holdings Inc.

The Home Depot Inc.

Key Topics Covered:



1. Executive Summary

2. Introduction

2.1 Equipment Rental: An Overview

2.1.1 Benefits of Equipment Rental

2.1.2 General Terms and Conditions of Equipment Rental Agreement

2.2 Equipment Rental Segmentation: An Overview

2.2.1 Equipment Rental Segmentation by Type

2.2.2 Equipment Rental Segmentation by Industry

3. The US Market Analysis

3.1 The US Equipment Rental Market: An Analysis

3.1.1 The US Equipment Rental Market by Value

3.1.2 The US Equipment Rental Market Penetration Rate

3.1.3 The US Equipment Rental Market by Segments (Construction and Industrial, General tool and Party and Events)

3.2 The US Equipment Rental Market: Segment Analysis

3.2.1 The US Construction and Industrial Equipment Rental Market by Value

3.2.2 The US Construction and Industrial Equipment Rental Market Segments by Value

3.2.3 The US General Tool Equipment Rental Market by Value

3.2.4 The US Party and Events Equipment Rental Market by Value

4. Impact of COVID-19

4.1 Impact on the US Equipment Rental Market

4.1.1 Scenario of the US Equipment Rental Market as of March 2020

4.2 Impact on the US Construction and Industrial Equipment Rental Market

4.2.1 Scenario of the US Construction and Industrial Equipment Rental Market as on

June 2020

4.3 Impact on the US Event and Party Rental Market

4.3.1 Scenario of the US Event and Party Equipment Rental Market as on June 2020

5. Market Dynamics

5.1 Growth Drivers

5.1.1 Growing Construction Spending

5.1.2 Escalating Oil and Natural Gas Production

5.1.3 Rising Employment

5.1.4 Soaring Investment in Equipment Rental

5.1.5 Increasing Labor Cost

5.1.6 Rapid Urbanization

5.1.7 Rising GDP

5.2 Challenges

5.2.1 Complex Business

5.2.2 Use of Equipment Rental by Unqualified Operators

5.3 Market Trends

5.3.1 Surging Infrastructure Investment

5.3.2 Emergence of Deep Sea Mining

5.3.3 Increasing Preference of Heavy Equipment Rental

6. Competitive Landscape

6.1 The US Equipment Rental Players by Market Share

6.2 The US Equipment Rental Market Players: Financial Comparison

7. Company Profiles

Ashtead Group (Sunbelt)

Herc Holdings Inc.

The Home Depot Inc.

United Rentals Inc.

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/jyg6ij

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

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Video taken this past weekend shows a woman attacking members of a Native American tribe protesting against president Donald Trumps border wall.

The Instagram post shows the woman grappling with protesters and slapping two of them while hurling obscenities.

The footage was taken in San Diego County, California, where a small indigeous initiative that is rooted in prayer is defending the lands of the Kumeyaay people.

The maskless woman repeatedly tells the group to Get the f*** out of here, declares that she is a protester too and that this is her community. She yells "you guys are disturbing the job of the construction of the border wall.

The protesters attempted to restrain her and did not fight back. When the non-violent group begins singing and chanting, the woman then appears to mock them.

The caption of the Instagram post reads: Tonight we experienced a violent woman who tried to tear our tents down. We de-escalated and stayed non-violent. We used songs and prayers again just like how we non violently stop desecration to the land.

After asking for help and prayers, the caption continues: Say a prayer for these folks who are disconnected to themselves. Make space for those who are so hurt they act violently. The reason why these incidents happen is because we are so dehumanized in their eyes. And its been happening since the beginning of invasion. We stay non violent. We stay in prayer.

In a separate video the woman returns in the morning and calls a protester a coward saying that he should take off his mask.

She continues to taunt the group before a man arrives from the direction of the construction site and escorts her away. She then slaps the phone out the hand of the man videoing her.

On Monday the Bureau of Land Management served the group with an Emergency Closure Order.

Kumeyaay land straddles the border between San Diego and Baja California in Mexico.
N etflix has announced The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance will not be returning for a second series.

The news comes after the programme, which served as a prequel to Jim Hensons 1983 movie, won the award for Outstanding Childrens Programme at the Emmys.

Netflix said in a statement, "We are grateful to the master artists at The Jim Henson Company for bringing The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance to life for fans around the world.

We're thankful to the executive producers Lisa Henson and Halle Stanford, and Louis Leterrier, who also directed all episodes, as well as the writers, cast and crew for their outstanding work and thrilled they were recognized with the Emmy this weekend."

Meanwhile, executive producer Lisa Henson told The Hollywood Reporter: We can confirm that there will not be an additional season of The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance.

We know fans are eager to learn how this chapter of The Dark Crystal saga concludes, and we'll look for ways to tell that story in the future. Our company has a legacy of creating rich and complex worlds that require technical innovation, artistic excellence, and masterful storytelling.

Our history also includes productions that are enduring, often finding and growing their audience over time and proving again and again that fantasy and science fiction genres reflect eternal messages and truths that are always relevant.

The show featured an all-star voice cast / Netflix

"We are so grateful to Netflix for trusting us to realise this ambitious series; we are deeply proud of our work on Age of Resistance, and the acclaim it has received from fans, critics and our peers, most recently receiving an Emmy for outstanding children's programme.

The series debuted to much fanfare in August last year, and was mostly positively received by critics for combining Hensons brand of eerie puppetry and modern effects.

The series served as a prequel to the beloved film / Netflix

The series told the story of the world of Thra, with an adventure seeing rebels battling for the planet they loved.

Age of Resistance featured an all-star cast, with Simon Pegg, Nathalie Emmanuel and Taron Egerton among those featured in the prequel.

Its the most recent show to have been axed by the streaming giant, with The Society and I Am Not Okay With This also having been cancelled after one series  with Netflix citing the coronavirus pandemic as resulting in difficulty scheduling production.
Policy improvements to become rising star (photo Shutterstock)

This was expressed by various experts and leaders of numerous investors from Asia, Europe, and the United States at an online forum last week themed The rising star: capitalising on investment opportunities in Vietnam after COVID-19, organised by the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) in collaboration with Standard Chartered and the State Bank of Vietnam.

As the global economy is grappling with the coronavirus, Vietnam is still maintaining socioeconomic growth with an expected growth rate of about 2 per cent this year, leading to the use of the rising star tag. This works in tandem with the oft-repeated advantages Vietnam boasts for overseas investors with the size of its population, network of free trade agreements, young labour force, and competitive production costs.

Developers believe there is more potential, especially in the south of the country. However, this potential can only be reached if industrial clusters and provinces can be connected in a stronger fashion in order to quicken the pace of economic development. That in turn would speed up development of the likes of Binh Duong, Dong Nai, Long An, and even Ho Chi Minh City.

Leading industrial developers have also noted that while Vietnam has utilised its resources well thus far, large-scale development of infrastructure that will entice vast amounts of foreign direct investment (FDI) as seen in other countries is not yet within reach. If and when this happens, Vietnam could become one of the most advanced ASEAN economies.

Do Nhat Hoang, director of the MPIs Foreign Investment Agency (FIA), revealed that a number of global tech giants are exploring investment opportunities in Vietnam for their billion-dollar projects.

The governments taskforce in charge of attracting high-quality foreign investment has been working with these giants, and results are proving positive, Hoang said. The names of these groups cannot yet be disclosed as the sides are still exploring options. According to a report on the current situation of industrial production compiled by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, several popular brands such as LG, Panasonic, and Foxconn, one of the key suppliers of components for Apple, have initiated plans to shift their production chains to the country.

Apple, for instance, recruited personnel in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City earlier this year, signifying that the corporation has serious designs in Vietnam.

However, experts noted that for Vietnam to lure in high-quality investment from global giants, it would need flexible mechanisms which will more effectively facilitate investment.

According to MPI Minister Nguyen Chi Dung, concerted action from all ministries and agencies is more important than ever to attract such investments.

Speaking at a seminar on attracting FDI and the breakthrough actions and solutions required, organised by the Government Portal over a week ago, Hoang of the FIA said that the MPI has cooperated with ministries and relevant agencies to study priority policies offered by Thailand, Indonesia, and India to lure high-profile investors, simultaneously designing particular incentive packages for each project.

The MPI is collecting opinions from ministries for the special incentive package draft before submitting to the prime minister for approval, Hoang said. These priority policies will be offered for large-scale projects that apply high-quality technology, have high added value, offer a high localisation ratio, and create opportunities for local vendors to join regional and global value chains.

Amid harsh competition among countries in wooing foreign investment, especially the wave of capital shifts, it is necessary for Vietnam to offer trump cards that are more special and differ from existing regulations, in negotiating with groups, Hoang noted.

Responding to how special these options could be, Nguyen Van Toan, vice chairman of the Vietnam Association of Foreign-Invested Enterprises (VAFIE), told VIR that Vietnam should allow targeted investors to shorten the time needed for investment and construction licensing, handling land, and approving the environmental impact assessment report.

He added that for European investors, transparency and speed in administrative procedures as well as offering available space for project implementation are sometimes more appreciated than tax incentives and other supporting policies.

Nearly two years ago, consultancy group IPA Vietnam supported a group of German small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to survey and find a land fund of 70-100 hectares to build a production area for German enterprises. However, provinces said that it would take up to two years to arrange such a fund. The news discouraged the investors and they have not returned to Vietnam since.

Although it is just one example of rejection, it shows the importance of commitments to hand over clean land to investors in a short time, said Nguyen Dinh Nam, CEO and founder of IPA Vietnam. These SMEs couldnt wait two years to have ground developed for their projects, so it is understandable if eagles cross out Vietnam from their destination lists and if the country fails to meet requirements.

Toan of VAFIE said that it is necessary to flexibly apply Circular No.23/2015/TT-BKHCN from 2015 on the import of used machinery, equipment, and technological lines so that investors can reduce expenditures for investing in manufacturing lines, and save time to resume operations in new locations.

In the 30-year journey of luring in more FDI, Vietnam has applied various special policies in order to do so. The government providing good financial assistance to Intel was one notable example. As a result, 14 years ago, Intel decided to invest in Vietnam thanks in part from this support, instead of India. After Intels investment, a wave of large foreign tech corporations including Samsung, LG, Kyocera, Microsoft, and Bosch followed.

Taking specific incentive packages became a default regulation in policy to lure eagles in a way that the taskforce and MPI have been doing. It will contribute to shortening time to negotiate with large-scale groups and helping investors feel secure thanks to stability in policies, Toan said.

MPI Minister Dung added that Vietnam will continue to be proactive in connecting and negotiating with large-scale groups that own modern technology as well as the leaders and operators of supply and distribution chains to implement investment promotion programmes.
Homeowner Equity Surged in Q2

There was another big surge in the amount of equity on the balance sheets of American homeowners in the second quarter of this year. CoreLogic reports that the 4.3 percent gain in home prices over the past year sent home equity shooting up by 6.6 percent.

The report shows U.S. homeowners with mortgages (which account for roughly 63 percent of all properties) saw an average gain in equity from the second quarter of 2019 of $9,800. The collective nationwide increase was $620 billion.

This is especially important at this point, as equity may provide some insulation for homeowners during the pandemic. During the housing boom millions of buyers used low down payment mortgages and there was an epidemic of cash-out refinances, leaving many homeowners with little equity. When prices began to fall, millions fell quickly into negative equity, owing more on their mortgages than their homes are worth. This left them with little flexibility to refinance or sell their homes to get out of financial difficulty.

The number of mortgaged properties with negative equity decreased by 15 percent year-over-year in the second quarter of 2020 to 1.7 million homes with loan to value (LTV) ratios of 100 percent or more, 3.2 percent of all mortgages. There was a decline of 5.4 percent in underwater homes from the first to the second quarter of 2020.

The national aggregate value of negative equity was approximately $284 billion at the end of the second quarter of 2020. This is down quarter over quarter by approximately $0.7 billion, or 0.2 percent, from $285 billion in the first quarter of 2020, and down year over year by approximately $20 billion, or 6.6 percent, from $304 billion in the second quarter of 2019.

Despite a slowdown in April when the coronavirus began to spread, home-purchase activity remained strong in the second quarter of 2020 as prospective buyers took advantage of record-low mortgage rates. This, along with the seemingly perpetual inventory constraints helped drive home prices up and add to borrower equity through June. However, with unemployment expected to remain elevated throughout the remainder of the year, CoreLogic predicts price growth will slow over the next 12 months and mortgage delinquencies will continue to rise. These factors combined could lead to an increase of distressed-sale inventory, which could put downward pressure on home prices and negatively impact home equity.

"The CoreLogic Home Price Index registered a 4.3 percent annual rise in prices through June, which supported an increase in home equity," said Dr. Frank Nothaft, chief economist for CoreLogic. "In our latest forecast, national home price growth will slow to 0.6 percent in July 2021 with prices declining in 11 states. Thus, home equity gains will be negligible next year, with equity loss expected in several markets."

Borrowers with equity positions near the negative equity cutoff are most likely to move out of or into negative equity as prices change. Looking at the second quarter of 2020 book of mortgages, if home prices increase by 5 percent, 270,000 homes would regain equity; if home prices decline by 5 percent, 380,000 would fall underwater.

While national figures reflect a resilient housing market thus far into the recession, equity gains varied broadly on the local level. States with strong home price growth have continued to experience the largest gains in equity. This includes Montana, where homeowners gained an average of $28,900; Idaho, an average of $21,200 and Washington, $20,400. Meanwhile, New York, which was hit hard by the pandemic, experienced some of the lowest equity gains (averaging just $4,400) and highest negative equity shares in the second quarter of 2020.

"Homeowners' balance sheets continue to be bolstered by home price appreciation, which in turn mitigated foreclosure pressures," said Frank Martell, president, and CEO of CoreLogic. "Although the exact contours of the economic recovery remain uncertain, we expect current equity gains, fueled by strong demand for available homes, will continue to support homeowners in the near term."
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The "key conspirators" in the case in the north east Delhi riots of February had decided to deploy the ultimate "guerrilla strategy" of blaming the law enforcement for the carnage, police have alleged in the chargesheet.

In the charge sheet, filed before a Delhi court on September 16, police have alleged that the conspirators panicked when some of the members of the group "Delhi Protest Support Group" (DPSG) began to show their dissent and threatened to expose their terrorist activities.

The charge sheet claimed that "disenchanted and disconcerted" with the scale and magnitude of the violence unleashed by the "key conspirators", a few members of the DPSG WhatsApp group threatened to expose each and every culprits of DPSG group who were responsible for these riots.

"Alarmed and panicked by these whistle blowing posts, the last of which was posted on February 24 at 4.19 pm, a chain reaction followed.



ALSO READ | Buses, manpower were arranged to execute Delhi riots: Police chargesheet names 15 'conspirators'

"The cumulative effect of the conversations (between members of DPSG) was that the conspirators, panicked by the behaviour of few of their group members, decided to deploy the ultimate guerrilla strategy of blaming the law enforcement for the carnage that had resulted in the pursuance of their conspiracy," the charge sheet alleged.

The chargesheet stated that the members were directed to delete incriminating chats and migrate to Signal app to disappear evidence.

"Facebook posts and WhatsApp chats establish the facts that JNU student Sharjeel Imam had never separated himself from the protest and the exit strategy from Shaheen Bagh was also an act in pursuance and furtherance of common conspiracy.

In so much so that he continued propagating the model of disruptive 'Chakka Jaam' which was tutored to him by his mentor Umar Khalid until before his arrest," it claimed.

ALSO READ | Five persons received Rs 1.61 crore for executing conspiracy in riots, alleges chargesheet

It further said that Jamia Co-ordination Committee (JCC), the first WhatsApp group created by Jamia student Safoora Zargar, was left dormant on January 24 and operational communication shifted to fresh chat groups as two of the members ( Tanha and Chandan Kumar) were called by the investigating agencies in connection with violence on December 15 last year.

"Safoora Zargar removed Tanha and Chandan from WhatsApp group Jamia Millia Islamia Co-ordination Committee to mask the traces, since they were summoned by the police," it alleged.

Police have also attached a screenshot of a WhatsApp chat of Imam with one Afreen Fatima on Jan 9, which showed that Imam called for blockade of roads and create "Chakka Jaam" by replicating the Hong Kong model.

In 2019, violent pro-democracy, anti-government protests rocked Hong Kong and the protests had begun as peaceful mass marches which later became violent.

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.
The last colonial Governor of Northern Nigeria, Sir Bryan Sharwood Smith, was the District Officer (D.O.) of Zaria when the Emir of Zazzau, Ibrahim Kwasau, died in 1936. Sharwood Smith, not the Resident, contrived the emergence of Jafaru as the new Emir. To understand how he did it and what may be going on in the mind of the present Kaduna State Governor regarding who will emerge as the next Emir of Zazzau, we need to understand the personality of Sharwood Smith, for Malam Nasiru El-Rufai is, as it were, Smith-reincarnate. So, the present Governor is likely to behave the same way Sharwood Smith did under similar circumstance.

In The British in Northern Nigeria, Robert Heussler found Sharwood Smith and John Hinton Carrow as the most effective D.Os that Northern Nigeria ever had. He spent pages describing their personalities and the modernizing effort in Zaria, Kano, Argungu and Sokoto. For they were highly effective and ruthless in getting things done rightly.

Mai-Wandon-Karfe

Like El-Rufai, Heussler described Sharwood Smith as the compact Yorkshireman  gives the impression of having to control a superabundance of energy. Shortly after, he described him as a participant who is totally committed to the task Seeing him pacing back and forth as he talked and almost never sitting down, the Africans dubbed him Mai Wandon Karfe, the man in iron trousers. Even as a junior officer, Sharwood Smith was not a man of whom it was possible to be unaware.

El-Rufai also shares Smiths passion for development and modernization. In Argungu, Heussler reported that Communications with Gwandu and Sokoto had become better. D.O.s passion for road building had reduced parochialism in rural areas as well [He] lined the old town with treesa new market appeared and a new residence for the Emir. Think of what is going on in Kaduna today. A Smithian governor is in town.

But Sharwood Smith, like El-Rufai, was always strategic, making the best of the situation without taking his eyes off the ball. Sharwood Smiths handling of Argungu, wrote Heussler, was a mixture of toughness and common sense. As a D.O. he worked hard to gain the Emirs confidence until he was able to carry out a clean up that saw a number of corrupt and inefficient Native Authority officials dismissed. But in the case of a slave who held the title of Majidadi, Heussler said, although he had a bad record, he was young and able and the N.A. could not afford to be cavalier with anyone who had talent. The man was warned and put on probation. Slowly the D.O. worked downwards from the top of the N.A., encouraging the capable and the straight, dealing quickly and firmly with others. When he handed over to his successor in 1932 Sharwood Smith was able to report improvement in the atmosphere at emirate headquarters. No wonder, typical of his type, Elrufai does not have the patience for incompetent and inefficient officials, hence his sacking of many teachers and officials of state and local governments to the disapproval of less firm people like me.

Another similarity to Elrufai manifested in Heusslers summary on Sharwood Smith. He said, Sharwood Smiths devotion to progress also drew fire from critics, some of whom thought him indifferent to tradition. As to the selection of N.A. officials, it was said that if he had to choose between an honest plodder and a hard-driving, efficient cad he would instinctively support the claims of the latter.

Zazzau and Sharwood Smith

Now my reader has a clear picture of the personality and approach of Sharwood Smith. He was posted to Zaria in 1932. Of course, his personality dominated the N.A. administration well over that of his superior, the Resident. By the time Emir Kwasau died four years later in 1936, it was obvious that the de facto resident, Sharwood Smith, was ready with an emergency plan

Returning to Zaria from Kachia, narrated Heussler, Sharwood Smith got the traditional electors together in his own house before taking them to the Residency. The names of four candidates for the vacant Emirate were listedSharwood Smith had already made up his own mind which candidate suited the needs of the moment

He explained that there were four criteria: the new Emir must be of royal birth; he must be acceptable to the people; he must be acceptable to the Government; and he must have the ability to do what had become a very difficult job, requiring much administrative experience.

Of interest to this discussion is how Jafaru gained the approval of Sharwood Smith. The contest was reduced to two people. Dan Madami, the son of the late Emir, and Jafaru, a grandson of an Emir, who was sent away in faraway Zangon Kataf as District Head by the former Emir who foresaw the threat his popularity could cause to the ambition of his son.

There was no doubt, wrote Heussler, that the old Emir and some of his closest advisers would have preferred one of his own sons, a district head who had the title Dan Madami. But Sharwood Smith thought this man, though amiable, somewhat colourless and lacking in the necessary drive. Dan Madami was said to have spent a good deal of money to assure his own election.

However, it was Jafaru, among all the contenders that gained the appreciation of Sharwood Smith due to his ability and integrity, though his father was not an Emir as tradition for eligibility to become one would demand then. Heussler once again:

The D.O. noticed Jaafarus popularity too and knew that it was based on his ability and integrity. Of the four major candidates, only Jaafaru had had the experience of working closely with the British as an office mallam. He used a typewriter and kept his own district accounts, practices that were almost unique among district heads of the time. And only Jaafaru satisfied the administrations four criteria. Although Kaduna fussed as usual about dynastic considerations, it was Jaafaru who was introduced as the new Emir to a great crowd outside the Emirs residence.

El-Rufai and the New Emir

Our present-day Sharwood Smith must be facing a similar situation in Zaria. There must be many prominent people seeking the coveted seat and may throw in all they have of influence, connection and wealth. They will use whatever argument they can put forward to disqualify a less materially endowed candidate but who may best meet the expectation of our modern-day Sharwood Smith.

I have no doubt that Elrufai will be looking for a partner-Emir that will meet the challenges of the information age, where both opportunities and problems are globalized. If Sharwood Smith was attracted to Jafarus ability to use a typewriter and kept his own district accounts, practices that were almost unique among district heads of the time, Elrufai for sure will not fail to correlate the typewriter to ICT today and will not fail to prefer the most competent candidate even if he would be relatively younger and a bit distant in genealogy, like Jafaru, or a Jafari, someone whom he can proudly present as the Emir of the 21st Century.

When the last Emir of Bauchi, Suleiman Adamu, died, the then Governor stipulated the simple condition that the next Emir must be a graduate. That is how the present Emir, the young Rilwanu Suleiman Adamu, who was not among the key contenders, emerged. The barometer for Zaria, being a centre of learning, must be of higher calibration, just as is its Governor.

El-Rufai, like Sharwood Smith, is cerebral, shrewd and calculating. His penchant for modernity and efficiency cannot be surpassed. His impatience with the past and tradition is a legend, like the temper of Carrow. If he is able to discipline his mind at this crucial moment and follow his instincts, he will no doubt be proud of the choice that his judgement will present to the world today, as Sharwood Smith was of Jafaru. It was refreshing to note that Jafaru emerged among the best three Emirs on Heusslers scalethe other two being Emirs Yahaya of Gwandu and Abdullahi of Yauri.

By coincidence, Zazzau, our Zazzau, has lost its Emir and the occupant of Kashim Ibrahim House from where Sharwood Smith retired as Governor of Northern Nigeria in 1957 is luckily another Mai-wandon-karfe. The leadership choice he will make for his hometown of Zaria will echo the type made by his legendary distant predecessor.

May God be his guide.

Dr Tilde is Commissioner For Education in Bauchi State.
All four candidates for Pearland City Council Position 3 have all said that if elected, they would seek to rein in use of certificates of obligation  which dont require approval by voters  to fund municipal projects.

We have used (certificates of obligation) as an emergency piggy bank for items that were previously unplanned or unbudgeted for, and now thats coming home to roost, said one of the candidates, Jai Daggett, who is vying against Alex Kamkar, Lewis Barnes and Orlando Bruzual.

The four are competing to replace Council member Gary Moore, who is not in the race. The election is set for Nov. 3.

During a recent online forum hosted by the Local Brazoria-Fort Bend Politics Facebook page, Daggett and Kamkar were particularly vocal on the issue of certificates of obligation. However, every candidate is against COs as a funding tool for nonemergencies. The forum, sponsored by HarrisHoss.com; Pearland, Texas 2020; and Grace & Grit Brazoria County, can be viewed here.

Another online forum for candidates in the Position 3 race is scheduled for from 3-4 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22 through the Pearland Chamber of Commerce. That event will be live-streamed on the chambers Facebook page.

Kamkar, who works in land development outside of Brazoria County, said that because this type of debt is not voted on by the public, COs shouldnt be used as a long-term, project-planning tool but instead only for emergencies.

Additionally, Kamkar said he would support guidelines for how COs could or could not be used, such as not for long-range planning nor for projects over a set amount of money. He also argued there should be a fixed number of times per year the city can pursue this avenue of funding.

I will be very conscientious of every dollar that goes out right now, he said. Every dollar counts.

Daggett, who is an insurance consultant and local business owner, called COs a necessary evil to be used responsibly if and when an emergency happens. But, like Kamkar, he said there should be limits as to how and when they can be used.

I would put limits on what they can be used for and the amount (of the CO) we would introduce, he said.

The moderator for the forum, Felicia Harris Hoss, a former Pearland City Council member and local lawyer, pointed out the citys current five-year plan includes over $66 million worth of projects the government plans on paying for with COs.

When Daggett was questioned about how he, if elected, would vote when those projects come up for a vote, he was explicit.

I am strongly opposed to budgeting a certificate of obligation, he said. Thats counterintuitive.

Positions on police funding

The candidates also touched on the issue of defunding the police, a hot topic nationally.

Bruzual, a language professor who teaches at several local community colleges, said he comes from a family of law enforcement officers.

We have to support police and first responders 100 percent, he said. There is no city, if we dont have policemen. That is necessary.

That stance was met with strong agreement from Barnes, who served in the Marines and is a Vietnam veteran and who said he once considered working as a police officer.

No, I am not an advocate of defunding, period, Barnes said. I support the organization, and I will continue to do so.

Kamkar advocated for additional police funding for training, supplies and vehicles.

Daggett said hed like to approach funding for police based on specific needs.

He said engagement is key to making sure the department isnt understaffed or lacking training and suggested, if necessary, moving money from other areas to ensure the police department has the money it needs to operate effectively.

All 4 oppose proposed charter amendment

Harris also questioned the candidates on a proposed city charter amendment on the Nov. 3 ballot. Pearland Proposition C asks voters if they want to change the charter to drop the City Councils quorum requirement from six to five members, including the mayor, and move from a roll call vote to a record vote for all resolutions and ordinances.

Harris argued this could significantly reduce transparency, and every candidate agreed the two-part amendment is not a good idea..

To read Proposition C and the seven other proposed charter amendments on the ballot, click here.

The candidates also delved into how they would go about choosing directors to sit on boards of taxing districts created by the state Legislature. Harris asked them if they thought these directors, who are appointed by the City Council, should live in the taxing district and therefore pay the taxes which they are levying.

Daggett and Barnes both said they wouldnt favor putting someone on a board of a taxing district such as a municipal utility district or a tax increment reinvestment zone, if that person didnt live in the district.

If youre going to spend my money, you need to be a part of the district itself. We should be in charge of our own destiny, period, said Barnes.

Kamkar said the question was flawed because some taxing districts, upon creation, dont have residents living there to serve on boards. In those cases, he argued that City Council must make the best choice in terms of representation. But he said his preference is to choose directors who live in the corresponding district if at all possible.

On his campaign site, Bruzual lists priorities that include maintaining good roads, controlling traffic congestion and security and outlines his background as native of Caracas, Venezuela who had studied in the United States and later immigrated here.

One of the reasons that I immigrated to America is because this is a land of freedom and opportunity, he wrote on the site.
Vatican, China prepare to renew historic deal to US anger China and the Vatican now have a say in appointing bishops

The Vatican and China are preparing to renew a historic deal on the appointment of bishops that has slightly thawed icy relations -- much to the displeasure of the US.

Pope Francis has been working hard to repair ties with the Communist country, but his overtures run contrary to US President Donald Trump's efforts to push a religious freedom theme against China in his campaign for a second term.

The president's secretary of state Mike Pompeo went on the offensive last week in an article in US religious magazine First Things, slamming the "horrific" persecution of believers of all faiths in China.

He wrote that many countries had expressed "revulsion" at "accelerating violations of human rights".

"The Vatican endangers its moral authority, should it renew the deal", he added on Twitter.

China's roughly 12 million Catholics have for decades been split between a government-run association, whose clergy are chosen by the atheist Communist Party, and an unofficial underground church loyal to the Vatican.

The latter recognises the pope's authority and is often persecuted for it.

After years of snail-pace negotiations, the Vatican sealed a historical "provisional" agreement with Beijing on 22 September 2018, the exact content of which has never been published.

The key novelty however was that both Beijing and the Vatican now have a say in appointing Catholic bishops.

Francis immediately recognised eight Chinese bishops that had been appointed by Beijing without his approval.

Since then, two new bishops have been appointed in China, with the nod of the head of the world's 1.3 billion Catholics.

And in a historic step earlier this year, Chinese and Vatican foreign affairs ministers met publicly at an international event for the first time in seven decades.

- 'Very little fruit' -

Pope Francis has just given the go-ahead for the renewal of the agreement, which is still in "experimental" mode, for another two years, a source close to the dossier told AFP.

Story continues

The extension is expected to be signed next month.

Thorny issues, such as Chinese Catholic priests suddenly disappearing from their parishes for weeks "at the invitation" of the authorities, are in the meantime being raised with Beijing by Vatican diplomats, the source said.

One of the Catholic Church's leading experts on Chinese affairs, Father Bernardo Cervellera, told religious news site Cruxnow.com earlier this month that the deal may have drawn much fanfare but had so far borne "very little fruit".

And he voiced his hope that the Vatican, in renewing the agreement, would be tougher on China.

Diplomatic relations between Beijing and the Holy See broke down in 1951, two years after the communists came to power.

Efforts to rekindle them are hampered by the Vatican's decision to maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan. The island, with a population of 23 million, is considered by Beijing to be a breakaway Chinese province awaiting reunification.

The Vatican is Taiwan's only diplomatic tie in Europe and Cervellera said he feared China will demand it break it off.

A spokesman for China's foreign ministry said Thursday that the interim deal with the Vatican has been "implemented successfully", saying there had been an increase in "mutual trust and consensus".

Pope Francis's right-hand man, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, said mid-September that the Catholic Church's "current interest with China is to normalise the life of the church as much as possible".

He admitted the results so far "have not been particularly striking".

cm/ide/mbx/je
Harpreet Bajwa By

Express News Service

The farm Bills passed in Parliament last week will not only destroy the procurement infrastructure which has been built painstakingly over five decades, but will also leave the farmers at the mercy of private players, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal told Harpreet Bajwa in an interview.

You party has opposed the farm Bills. What is your next course of action?

The forceful passage of the Bills in the Rajya Sabha is a cause of concern for the parliamentary democracy. The government should have allowed a division of votes. We will urge the President not to approve the Bills and return the same for reconsideration.

What are the main highlights of these Bills? Have you consulted experts?

The SAD followed a consultative process which involved interaction with farmers, farmer organisations, party workers as well as farm expert. The decision to oppose the Bills was taken only after completion of this process.

How are these Bills anti-farmer?

We are of the firm view that the agri Bills will not only destroy the procurement infrastructure which has been built painstakingly over a period of 50 years but will also leave the farmers at the mercy of private players. They will also endanger the MSP regime and will lead to loss for the state mandi boards. The Bills will destroy the livelihood of artiyas (commission agents) and mandi labour, besides having an adverse impact on farm labour.

Why does the BJP then say these are pro-farmer?

The BJP may have its own reasons and they may be based on the situation in most other states of the country. We have opposed the Bills because we feel they will have an adverse impact on farmers in Punjab, who enjoy 100 per cent procurement of foodgrains under the MSP regime as of now.

BJP says the MSP will continue. Why doesnt the government enact a law that MSP will continue?

This is exactly what we has requested the BJP leadership. We had told them to insert a line stating that MSP as well as government procurement would continue uninterrupted. Unfortunately, this was not done.

Will the SAD be able to win over the farmers, who have been the backbone of the party, by opposing these legislations?

Every Akali is a farmer; so, theres no question of winning over farmers. We are farmers ourselves; we have a long history of fighting for the cause of the farming community.

Elections in Punjab are a little over a year from now. Is the SAD trying to launch a sort of campaign?

Our concern is the interest of farmers. Elections may come and go. We may or may not be in government, but will continue to be the voice of the annadata.

Is your party going to sever ties with the BJP over the farm legislations?

This issue will be discussed threadbare with the party rank and file. Only after getting the feedback will we decide. .

Why did Harsimrat Kaur Badal wait for two-and-a-half months to resign from the Union Cabinet over these farm legislations?

Our alliance with the BJP is more than two decades old. We are the oldest partners of the NDA. We conveyed the apprehensions of the farmers visa-vis the Bill and held consultations with the BJP high command to make them see the viewpoint of the farmers.

The general perception is that SAD took a U-turn due to pressure from its core vote bank of farmers while it earlier appeared to be backing these Bills?

This is Congress propaganda.
The board found it was inappropriate for Young to be involved in matters at all while in active job discussions with the university. But Youngs actions did not benefit Howard in its bid to build a university hospital on its Georgia Avenue campus with taxpayer support.
The Duchess of Sussex in November 2018 ((PA))

Feminist icon Gloria Steinem has claimed that the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, has been cold-calling US citizens to urge them to vote in Novembers presidential election.

Ms Markle, who stepped back from royal duties alongside her husband Prince Harry when they moved to Los Angeles in March, sat down with the 86-year-old for a backyard chat last month, according to the Daily Mail.

During the discussion, the two discussed a range of issues facing the US in the upcoming election, including womens rights, voter suppression and representation.

The former Suits star was raised in Los Angeles, and Ms Steinem revealed to Access Hollywood last week that the Duchess said that she has been cold-calling Americans to urge them to vote in November.

Ms Steinem said: She came home to vote. The first thing we did, and why she came to see me, was we sat at the dining room table where I am right now and we cold-called voters.

Said hello Im Meg and hello Im Gloria and are you going to vote? That was her initiative.

Ms Steinem, described the 39-year-old as smart and political and added that she had the royal stereotype hanging over her head.

Since stepping back from royal duty in March, Ms Markle has become more outspoken on politics, and has repeatedly highlighted the importance of voting in the upcoming US election.

Earlier in the year, an insider told the Mail that Ms Markle had become frustrated with the constraints of being a royal, as members of the family are generally expected to be politically neutral.

The Duchess is said to be frustrated that she was forced to stay out of politics after getting engaged to Harry, the source said.

She has strong political opinions and will now take advantage of the greater freedom she has to express them publicly, they added.

Ms Markle has not publicly stated who she is supporting in the upcoming election, but in 2016 branded Donald Trump misogynistic and divisive shortly after he had been elected president.

Story continues

The Duchess also told Ms Steinem last month that she was excited to see that Kamala Harris had been picked as the running mate for Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden.

Ms Harris will be the first African American, Asian American and woman to serve as vice president if the Democrats win in November, and the Duchess said: Im so excited to see that kind of representation.

She added: You know, for me, being biracial, growing up, whether it was a doll or a person in office, you need to see someone who looks like you in some capacity.

As many of us believe, you can only be what you can see. And in the absence of that, how can you aspire to something greater than what you see in your own world?

I think maybe now were starting to break-through in a different way.

Read more

Meghan Markle praises Ruth Bader Ginsburg as a 'woman of brilliance'

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry donate 100,000 to female education charity to mark their birthdays
South Africa: Cele warns lockdown lawbreakers

Police Minister Bheki Cele has issued a stern warning to those who will flout the rules, as the country further relaxes restrictions under lockdown level 1.

We are aware that as the days get warmer and the restrictions are more relaxed, law enforcement will have to work harder to ensure they bring an end to any behaviour that threatens the containment of Coronavirus, Cele told the media on Tuesday.

The Minister was shedding light on the overall picture of the policing landscape following President Cyril Ramaphosas announcement last week about the country moving to level 1.

He said the police would continue to maintain law and order and remain on high alert.

South Africa officially moved to alert level 1 on Monday.

Lockdown arrests

Cele announced that since the outbreak, 310 494 people have been arrested and charged with contraventions of the Disaster Management Act.

These violations range from liquor, transport, business and cross-border related offences.

The Western Cape recorded the most arrests with 72 137, followed by Gauteng with 59 000.

Cele said while social gatherings, including concerts and live performances are permitted, nightclubs are still closed.

Under level 1, no more than 100 mourners can attend a funeral, while night vigils are still not permitted.

Communities are urged to be considerate when hosting social gatherings in residential areas. There are many complaints received of noisy and disruptive behaviour in peoples homes, the Minister said.

Curfew and alcohol

Cele said the police will enforce the curfew, which starts from midnight until 4am.

He reminded citizens that the sale of liquor is permitted from 9am to 5pm from Monday to Friday, while no booze can be sold for off-site consumption over the weekend or during public holidays.

Equally, alcohol cannot be sold as takeaways; it must be consumed on the premises where it was bought. Its that simple, Cele said.

He condemned the disregard of the rules by some liquor outlet owners.

[Some] businesses choose to flout the rules in the name of profit.

The Minister had visited some outlets in Ekurhuleni during a police operation over the weekend.

We came across several shebeens and taverns operating way past the stipulated 10pm curfew under alert level 2.

More disturbing, was the practice of some liquor outlets squeezing patriots inside their venues with shut windows and doors.

Those who are arrested are usually the owners and managers, while patrons are let go, Cele said.

He noted that some restaurants and eateries are also breaking the rules, putting their customers at risk of infection.

I want to remind all the business owners who insist on flouting the rules  the long arm of the law will catch up with you, and you will also lose your operating licence.

Over 16 000 officers infected by COVID-19

According to Cele, 16 539 officers have been infected by COVID-19 and has claimed 215 men and women in blue.

However, I remain encouraged by the high recovery rate. Over 15 000 have won the battle against the virus and are back to serving their communities, he said.

Cele said the virus is still very much with us, despite the further lifting of restrictions.

People need to take responsibility for their own lives and that of their loved ones.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2020-09-22. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
BENGALURU: Vehicle rental platform Drivezy is in talks to raise $30-35 million in equity funding from a UAE-based sovereign wealth fund, a clutch of private investors in the Gulf region, Japans Yamaha Motor Company, and energy and petrochemical giant Shell Global, according to two people aware of the development.

The new round will, however, see Drivezys post-money valuation drop by nearly a quarter to $100 million, from the $135 million valuation it was seeking in its earlier funding talks in March, said one of the two people mentioned above, who did not wish to be named.

Drivezy is also evaluating shifting its headquarters to UAE capital Abu Dhabi once the deal goes through, which has now reached the final stagesome of the existing investors may also participate in the round," said the second person mentioned above, also requesting anonymity.

Neither person named the UAE-based sovereign wealth fund and the private investors. Talks with Shell Global and Yamaha are expected to close by next month. However, talks with Gulf investors and the UAE fund are still going on, they added.

The UAE-based sovereign fund and private investors are expected to pump in around $15 million into Drivezy, while Yamaha is expected to invest $10-12 million with Shell Globals investment arm adding around $5 million, the second person said.

A Drivezy spokesperson declined to comment. Mails sent to Shell and Yamaha remained unanswered.

The news was first reported by Inc42.com on September 19.

Drivezys plan to move base comes at a time when the micro-mobility segment in India has seen a halving of demand post the covid-19 outbreak.

Drivezy has so far raised over $40 million in equity financing from investors such as Das Capital, Y Combinator, and White Unicorn Ventures. It had also raised $100 million in an asset financing deal, which is parked in a special purpose entity, Harbourfront Capital, set up in collaboration with AnyPay in November 2018.

In 2019, Drivezy had held separate talks with SoftBank and Amazon to raise funds but they fell through. Mint reported in March that Drivezy was planning to raise $100 million.

Meanwhile, Drivezys closest competitor Zoomcar, which was expected to raise up to $500 million for its Series D round, also cut short the funding round to around $100 million, after a potential merger between both startups fell-through.

Zoomcar had in January secured $30 million in a round led by Sony Innovation Fund, with plans to raise another $70 million.

Mint reported on June 2019 that both Zoomcar and Drivezy were exploring an equal merger deal.

The first person cited above said that those talks were exploratory in nature and both companies eventually decided to abandon the plan.

If Drivezys new funding round goes through, it will become one of the few startups in the mobility industry to raise equity capital at a time when investor interest in the segment has been dull due to a sharp fall in demand.

Mint reported in July that Drivezy had begun liquidating around 30% of its 15,000 two-wheelers and part of its four-wheeler fleet due to mounting debt and falling demand. Drivezys rivals including Bounce and VOGO had also earlier decided to sell-off vehicle assets to raise capital and use it to invest in other businesses.

Prior to the lockdown enforced by the government in March, Drivezy had substantial demand from online delivery platforms such as Swiggy, Zomato and Dunzo. That took a hit since the large-scale reverse migration of people from cities during the pandemic.

Demand from consumer side has been the main source of revenue for the mobility and vehicle rental sector, but covid has changed that. Drivezy is now repositioning its business strategy to offer a full-stack mobility platform by offering both short-to- long-term vehicle rentals, as well as a new platform to buy or rent brand-new vehicles directly from manufacturers," Ankur Sengupta, head of business operations, Drivezy said in an interview in July.

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Libreville, Gabon (PANA) - Gabonese health authorities on Tuesday reported a sharp decline in new cases of coronavirus in the last 72 hours, as the number of new infections dropped from 24 to 18
Salmon conservation groups are now watching the clock as invasive smallmouth bass, already known to have arrived in the Miramichi River, approach spawning age.

A plan to eradicate the invasive fish this month by spraying the water with the fish-killing pesticide rotenone on a 15kilometre section of the river and to Miramichi Lake is now on hold after New Brunswick's Minister of Environment, Jeff Carr determined the project must first undergo an environmental impact assessment.

The fish were first spotted in August 2019 in the McKiel Brook pool of the river's southwest branch.

More than 100 smallmouth bass have since been captured in an attempt to limit their spread in the river or in Lake Brook, the avenue they are believed to have used to migrate from nearby Miramichi Lake.

All were between 19 and 28 centimetres long. Female smallmouth are believed to be large enough to spawn sometime after reaching 28 centimetres, or between four and five years of age.

They spawn in the spring or early summer.

Vanessa Blanch/CBC

Smallmouth are not native anywhere in Atlantic Canada and are viewed as a serious threat to young wild salmon already struggling with climate change and other perils.

Rotenone can only be applied under specific weather and environmental conditions that typically only occur during August or September.

"It's discouraging," Chief George Ginnish, head of the North Shore District Mi'kmaq Council, the organization fronting the rotenone plan, said about the delay.

"It just gives more time for these voracious little predators to spread throughout the system. Ultimately, it's going to present more challenges in the river for the native fish."

Atlantic Salmon Federation

Other groups backing the plan to use rotenone include the Miramichi Salmon Association and the Atlantic Salmon Federation.

The groups did receive some good news last week about the spread of the bass.

The results from recent environmental DNA tests performed by federal DFO staff appear to show the bass have so far not moved beyond the 15 kilometre section of the southwest branch where they were first spotted.

Story continues

Further test results are pending.

It is believed the fish migrated from the nearby lake, where a decade of attempts by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to eradicate the bass through netting, angling and electrofishing, have failed.

They were likely introduced to the lake illegally or through human error.

The highly sensitive environmental DNA tests analyze water samples collected along the river for signs that specific fish species are living there.

If the fish remain in that section late next summer, the rotenone plan will not have to be broadened beyond 15 kilometres, if it goes ahead.

Pesticide works quickly

Rotenone kills fish within minutes and does not distinguish between species. It has been effective in erasing invasive fish populations elsewhere in North America, although more than one application is sometimes required.

The pesticide is made from the root of certain bean plants and is poisonous to fish but biodegrades in water over a period of two weeks to 30 days or more depending on conditions.

It has been approved for use by Health Canada. A 2020 report from the US Environmental Protection Agency found no health effects linked to rotenone in human populations.

The treatment would kill almost all species of fish in the lake and the section of the river where it is applied.

In the case of Miramichi Lake, the plan is for native fish to repopulate naturally or by being transplanted from elsewhere.

Trish Foster (submitted)

In the case of the river, salmon groups will apply a product downstream at the 15 km mark to neutralize the rotenone. Some salmon would be captured and placed in a secure stream to ensure they are not killed along with the bass.

Other native species killed by the rotenone would, according to the plan, repopulate the river naturally over time.

The plan to apply the rotenone has raised alarm among a group of cottagers with camps on Miramichi Lake.

Water levels especially low

Trish Foster, who speaks for the group, said the biggest concern is that more than one treatment of the fish poison will be required to eradicate the fish in the lake.

Foster worries data on water inflow and outflow from the lake gathered this summer by members of a working group representing the salmon organizations will not reflect normal conditions because water levels are at historically low levels.

"The water in our lake is down a minimum of three feet lower than it has ever been," said Foster. "We have people who haven't even been able to dock their boats this summer because the water is so low."

Foster said she wants a full environmental impact assessment rather than a simple review of the application, which could lead to an early approval.

Atlantic Salmon Federation

Neville Crabbe, spokesperson for the Atlantic Salmon Federation, says the environmental impact assessment registration document will be submitted to the Department of the Environment and Local Government this Friday.

The group has concluded it is too late to implement the plan this year and is now hoping to use the rotenone in August or September, 2021.

The working group is also awaiting federal approval through the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

"I think the reviewers will be thoroughly impressed by the level of detail in our plan, to see the magnitude of the scrutiny that this has already gone through on the federal side," said Crabbe.

Crabbe said rejecting the rotenone application would be to reject the only option to stop the spread of smallmouth bass.

Rotenone used in Banff park

"That would seal the fate of the river. You could put a maximal effort into trying to remove individuals, but you would only be slowing the inevitable which would be the widespread colonization of the watershed by an invasive species."

In the meantime, the fish killer continues to be used in Canada as a tool to control invasive species.

In August, Parks Canada used rotenone to kill fish in two lakes in Banff National Park.

Eastern brook trout were introduced to Helen Lake in the 1940s or '50s, while yellowstone cutthroat trout were put in Katherine Lake during the same era.
Key talks over the dispute at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) between India and China remained inconclusive, with Indian negotiators firmly demanding comprehensive disengagement at all flashpoints and restoration of status quo ante as the only approach towards de-escalation, and China asking India to withdraw its soldiers from strategic heights on the southern bank of Pangong Tso to reduce friction, officials familiar with the developments said on Tuesday.

The two sides, however, made some headway. According to a joint statement, released in New Delhi and Beijing, they agreed to stop sending more troops to the front line, and to hold a seventh round of commander-level talks as soon as possible, take practical measures to properly solve problems on the ground, and jointly safeguard peace and tranquillity in the border area.

During the talks between corps commander-ranked officers from the two armies at Moldo on the Chinese side of the LAC in the Chushul sector that went on for 13 hours on Monday, both sides made their positions known to each other, and were unable to reach a consensus on easing military tensions in the Ladakh theatre, the officials cited above said.

The military talks are deadlocked but both sides have agreed to meet again and find common ground to reduce tensions in the Ladakh theatre. It appears the road to border peace will be long, an official said on condition of anonymity.

The joint statement after the conclusion of the talks said: They (the two sides) agreed to earnestly implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, strengthen communication on the ground, avoid misunderstandings and misjudgments, stop sending more troops to the frontline, refrain from unilaterally changing the situation on the ground, and avoid taking any actions that may complicate the situation.

In Beijing, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said the two sides exchanged in-depth views on easing the current situation in the border areas during the talks between the commanders. The two sides agreed to continue maintaining dialogue and consultation on this front, said spokesperson Wang Wenbin.

Naveen Srivastava, a joint secretary from the Indian external affairs ministry, was part of the military dialogue for the first time, with the structure of the talks being slightly changed by India in the hope of a possible breakthrough.

Two Indian lieutenant generals were among the officers who took part in the talks  Harinder Singh, who heads the Leh-based 14 Corps and his soon-to-be successor PGK Menon.

India and China agreed on five points to guide their approach to the situation on the LAC, including the disengagement of troops and easing of tensions, during talks between external affairs minister S Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on the margins of a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meet in Moscow on September 10.

The lack of a breakthrough in the talks despite the consensus in the foreign ministers meeting shows that there are still serious differences on the ground about how the disengagement should proceed, said former Northern Army commander Lieutenant General DS Hooda (retd).

Perhaps a rethink is required on how we should approach the whole process of negotiations, Hooda added.

The scope of the military talks has changed vastly after recent developments on the southern and northern banks of Pangong Tso, where the Indian Army has taken control of advantageous heights.

While earlier only we were seeking restoration of status quo ante of mid-April at friction areas on the LAC, now the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) is asking us to withdraw from vantage positions. The new thing is an element of a quid pro quo, the officials said.

Mondays meeting between senior military commanders was their first after the Indian Army speedily moved and occupied a series of key heights to prevent the PLA from grabbing chunks of Indian territory on the southern bank of Pangong Tso in a stealthy midnight move on August 29.

The Indian Army now controls ridgeline positions on the lakes southern bank that allow it to completely dominate the sector and keep an eye on Chinese military activity, with the positions scattered across Rezang La, Reqin pass, Gurung Hill and Magar heights.

The Indian Army has also taken control of key heights overlooking the PLAs deployments on the Finger 4 ridge-line on the northern bank of Pangong Tso where rival soldiers are deployed barely a few hundred metres from each other, as reported by Hindustan Times on September 10.

According to latest inputs, China began building at least 13 new military positions, including airbases and air defence units, near the LAC with India after the 2017 standoff at Doklam, with work on four heliports beginning after the current tensions in Ladakh.

Details of these military positions were outlined in a report released on Tuesday by Stratfor, a leading security and intelligence consultancy. The new positions include three airbases, five permanent air defence positions and five heliports.

Construction on four of those new heliports started only after the onset of the current Ladakh crisis in May, said the report authored by Sim Tack, a Belgium-based security and military analyst with Stratfor.

Last week, defence minister Rajnath Singh told lawmakers in Parliament that no force in the world can stop the Indian Army from patrolling the countrys borders in the Ladakh sector, signalling a strong resolve to regain access to several areas that are now difficult to reach due to actions by the Chinese army along the LAC.

In tensions that began in early May, Indian and Chinese troops have come face-to-face at multiple points along the LAC. In some of these areas, particularly the Finger Area and Depsang, Indian forces have been cut off from points they could previously patrol.

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Wells Fargo CEO Charles Scharf listens during the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, Calif., on April 30, 2019. Kyle Grillot | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Wells Fargo Chief Executive Charles Scharf exasperated some Black employees in a Zoom meeting this summer when he reiterated that the bank had trouble reaching diversity goals because there was not enough qualified minority talent, two participants told Reuters. He also made the assertion in a company-wide memo June 18 that announced diversity initiatives as nationwide protests broke out following the death of George Floyd, an unarmed African-American man, in police custody. "While it might sound like an excuse, the unfortunate reality is that there is a very limited pool of black talent to recruit from," Scharf said in the memo, seen by Reuters. Scharf spent more time listening than speaking during the 90-minute call which he initiated and has not been previously reported. His comments about Black talent rubbed some attendees the wrong way, according to the two employees, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they feared repercussions.

Not all attendees recalled being offended. "The meeting was incredibly constructive... I walked away being incredibly surprised at how genuine and sincere he is," said Alex David, president of the Black/African American Connection Team Member Network. But several Black senior executives across corporate America said they are frustrated by claims of a talent shortage, and called the refrain a major reason that companies have struggled to add enough racial and ethnic diversity to leadership ranks, despite stated intentions to do so. "There is an amazing amount of Black talent out there," said Ken Bacon, a former mortgage industry executive who is on the boards of Comcast Corp, Ally Financial Inc and Welltower Inc. "If people say they can't find the talent, they either aren't looking hard enough or don't want to find it." Bacon said he was "shocked and puzzled" by Scharf's comments. Wells Fargo spokeswoman Beth Richek defended Scharf's record on diversity. The CEO of the largest U.S. bank employer has pledged to double the number of Black leaders over five years and tied executive compensation to reaching diversity goals. He is also requiring hiring managers to consider diverse candidates for high-paying roles that are vacant, and ensure diversity on interview teams. Wells Fargo's latest proxy disclosed more diversity data than those of many other companies, including that two of 12 directors at the time were Black and 1 was "Latino/Hispanic". Scharf "is committed to deep and systemic change to increase diversity and has held several forums where there has been candid conversation and unfiltered feedback," Richek said in a statement. Scharf was not available for an interview, she said.

"Talent is there"

Introspection across corporate America during the Black Lives Matter movement has cast a harsh light on the lack of diversity. In boardrooms, African-Americans made up 10% of new director appointments in the Fortune 500 last year compared with their 13% of the U.S. population, according to a 2020 report from executive recruiting firm Heidrick & Struggles. New Hispanic directors were even more scarce, the study found. Only 7.3% of the five highest-paid executives at financial companies in the Russell 3000 were racial or ethnic minorities, according to data from ISS ESG, an arm of the proxy-advisory firm Institutional Shareholder Services. That number has risen in recent years, yet remains far below the percentage of minority groups in the general U.S. population. Senior corporate executives and recruiters said the notion of a shallow minority talent pool is frequently cited as a hurdle to improving diversity but probably reflects insular professional and social networks. Lauren Holland, who chairs a word-of-mouth professional network called Wall Street Friends, said she has 8,000 members in minority communities, and sent out more job posts to them in the last two months than in the last five years. "I literally get emails every single day from people asking to be added to our list," she said. "The talent is there. It's just a matter of the firm accessing it and connecting with it."

Not enough progress
Pangilinan backs VP Leni's inspiring approach to COVID-19

SENATOR Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan fully agrees with Vice President Leni Robredo's "comprehensive, inclusive, and participatory approach" in the fight against the spread of COVID-19), emphasizing that the country needs clear and concrete actions rather than baseless rhetoric.

"Sa simula pa lang, mabilis ang naging pagkilos ni Vice President Leni para matugunan ang pangangailangan ng mga apektadong sektor," Pangilinan said.

"Her comprehensive, inclusive, and participatory approach inspires others to unite and work together," he added.

At the start of the lockdowns imposed by the Administration due to the pandemic, Robredo immediately buckled down to work, distributing personal protective equipment (PPEs), medical equipment, face masks, face shields, and alcohol to various hospitals and health centers, including rural health units and barangays.

The Vice President also provided free board and shuttle service to front-liners in Metro Manila and shuttle service to Cebu-based front-liners immediately following the declaration of enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

In addition, Robredo was among the first to distribute immediate relief, such as hot meals, food packs and hygiene kits to vulnerable communities and sectors of the urban poor, jeepney and tricycle drivers, senior citizens and persons with disabilities.

The Vice President also came up with online platforms such as Bayanihan Mart and Community Mart to provide wet market vendors, online sellers, and tricycle drivers a chance to earn a livelihood during the lockdowns.

The Office of the Vice President assisted locally stranded individuals (LSIs) in various sites through hot meals, blankets, food packs, hygiene kits, provision of bus/transport, funding support for swab/rapid testing and employment opportunities.

As for distance learning, Robredo also launched a drive to collect used gadgets such as tablets, laptops, and mobile phones to be distributed to students who cannot afford to buy them for their online classes.

Robredo also established community learning hubs -- equipped with laptops, desktop computers, photocopying machines, internet connection, and cleaning materials -- where students can access modules and tutorial from volunteers.

She also initiated the creation of instructional videos that will help equip both students and teachers with knowledge regarding distance and blended system of learning.

Just recently, Robredo established a website called Bayanihanapbuhay, an online jobs platform where unemployed Filipinos can look for jobs.

"Ang layo-layo nito sa mga salitang i-spray-an ng insecticide ang buong bansa, hugasan ng gasolina ang mask, o maupo at mag-antay na lang ng bakuna," said Pangilinan.

Pangilinan said Robredo has been a shining beacon of dependable leadership and genuine concern for Filipinos affected by the pandemic.

"Tanging ang sama-samang pagkilos at pagkakaisa ng taumbayan at ng pamahalaan tungo sa pagpapatupad ng isang maliwanag at konkretong stratehiya laban sa COVID ang susi sa ating kaligtasan. Ito ang ipinapamalas sa atin ng ating Bise Presidente," Pangilinan said.
Amanda Kloots took to Instagram on Monday to ask her followers to keep things positive and upbeat on her page.

'Hey everybody, just a quick little statement, I had to turn off commenting from my post today because it became such a negative atmosphere,' the fitness pro, 38, told her 585,000-plus followers in an Instagram Stories clip.

Kloots - whose late husband, Broadway actor Nick Cordero, died in July at 41 of COVID-19 - said she took measures to filter out the bad vibes on her page.

The latest: Amanda Kloots, 38, took to Instagram on Monday to ask her followers to keep things positive and upbeat on her page

'I say no to that and I turned off the commenting thing,' said Kloots, who is mother to son Elvis Eduardo, one, with the late Tony-nominee.

While she didn't get specific about what the negative was about - her last post featured her and Elvis wearing blue caps - the Ohio-born star told her followers that no matter who they support politically, they should get out and vote this November.

'I support voting, I want everyone to go vote I want you to vote however you want to vote, just go vote,' she said.

Kloots said that the color of her hat in no way pointed toward any political direction (as President Donald Trump's campaigns have been synonymous with a red ball cap reading 'Make America Great Again').

While she didn't get specific about what the negative sentiment was about, her last post featured her and Elvis wearing blue caps. She said that the color of her hat in no way pointed toward any political direction - except toward the voting booth

Focused: Kloots said that not responding to negativity was the way to go

Civic message: Kloots said, 'Just exercise your right to vote thats all I was saying, love peace and happiness guys and go vote'

'I wore a blue hat, it couldve been an orange hat it couldve been a green hat, the sentiment ... I was trying to spread that its voting, go vote,' she said. 'Were so lucky to be able to vote you guys, we have this right especially as women.'

She continued: 'Just exercise your right to vote thats all I was saying, love peace and happiness guys and go vote.'

Kloots also shared messages on her Instagram Stories reflecting her remarks in the clip.

Voting is a privilege: Kloots said, 'Were so lucky to be able to vote you guys, we have this right, especially as women'

Survivor: Kloots is mother to son Elvis Eduardo, one, with her late husband Nick Cordero

'The negativity, the hate it HAS TO STOP!' she wrote. 'Look what has happened this year we are in a fragile state.

'You can stand for your beliefs without being negative and hateful!!! Try it! You let might like it! You dont have to fight with people.'

She added, 'Do you know how much stronger you are by not spreading negativity and hate? BE STRONGER. BE BETTER.'

Kloots has been candid about her family and life on social media amid Cordero's health battle and since his tragic passing, sharing regular updates to her Instagram account. The Broadway standout fought a valiant three-month battle against the disease, as his right leg was amputated and he shed 65 pounds amid the 95-day health battle.

As of Monday, on a global level, 963,693 people have died amid 31,322,314 positive diagnoses worldwide, according to Johns Hopkins University. The death total for COVID-19 in the U.S. was at 199,865 people, with 6,857,703 total positive diagnoses.
File image

Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad on Tuesday said the opposition will boycott the proceedings of the House till the suspension of eight members is revoked.

Speaking after the Zero Hour, Azad also demanded that the government brings a bill which should ensure private players don't procure food grains below the minimum support price (MSP) fixed by the government.

He also asked the government that the MSP should be fixed from time to time as the C2 Swaminathan formula.

As many as eight members of the Rajya Sabha were suspended on Monday after the government brought a motion in this regard which was passed by the House by voice vote.

These eight members were suspended for "unruly behaviour" during the passage of the two key farm bills that were passed on Sunday by Rajya Sabha amid chaos.
For Canadas auto sector, the news is coming in fast and furious. On Sunday, the federal government reportedly offered up to half a billion dollars to attract electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing to Ontario. By Tuesday, Ford reached a tentative deal with Unifor to invest nearly $2 billion into the production of five EVs in Oakville.

And while the money has been described as a lifeline for auto workers, it signals much more than that.

Ottawa now seems intent on attracting EV manufacturing to Canada, a sentiment echoed by Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry Navdeep Bains, who recently championed Canada as a strategic destination for EV production, given our endowment of the metals and minerals needed to make batteries.

Well no doubt hear signals again in Wednesdays throne speech. So its fair to wonder: if Canada does wish to turn itself into an EV-manufacturing hotspot, what will that take?

This isnt just green virtue signalling, but rather an industrial imperative. With EV adoption accelerating and countries announcing future bans on the sale of fossil-fuel-powered cars (the U.K. is now said to be moving its 2040 ban forward to 2030), our struggling auto sector faces a precipice  unless we build a bridge.

A bridge that allows Canada to catch up to countries like China, the U.K., Germany and South Korea, all well on their way to EV-manufacturing dominance.

For inspiration, Canada can look to another competitively positioned jurisdiction. California has used regulations and rebates to become North Americas EV leader, while simultaneously supporting the development of an EV auto sector to meet growing demand. Today, the state is home to 275,600 EV-related jobs. Electric vehicles are its eighth-most-valuable export.

By contrast, Canadians drive the most emissions-intensive cars in the world, according to the International Energy Agency. Yes, we literally take the top spot. Over the past 20 years, pollution from transportation has grown by nearly 30 per cent.

At the same time, Canadas vehicle manufacturing fell by 37 per cent. Once a top-five vehicle manufacturer, we now dont even crack the top ten.

While many factors are at play, the cars we build and the cars we drive are not unrelated.

Yet most Canadians lean toward an EV for their next vehicle purchase, according to a 2019 survey; 71 per cent predict a shift to electric cars will happen within 15 years. The problem? Most car dealerships in the country dont have a single EV available to test drive or purchase. A 2020 Transport Canada study found that waitlists of three to six months are typical.

At present, if you want to buy both electric and Canadian-made, youre limited to a single option: the Chrysler Pacifica plug-in hybrid minivan.

There have been bright spots, however.

Quebecs Lion Electric is selling electric trucks to CN and Amazon and is North Americas largest producer of electric school buses. Warren Buffet-backed BYD is manufacturing electric buses in Ontario, delivering them to the Toronto Transit Commission, now home to North Americas largest battery electric fleet. And Canadas auto parts manufacturers are also pivoting to EVs, leading the charge on a zero-emission concept car to showcase what Canada can do.

And yet a recent analysis of 29 global automakers, which identified $300 billion (U.S.) flowing into EV development, found not a single dollar was destined for Canada.

Its time Canada took the wheel. Already, government action this week appears to have helped bring EV jobs to Ontario. An innovative industrial strategy for the auto sector is key, but insufficient on its own.

A zero-emission vehicle standard requiring automakers to sell more EVs in the country would create market certainty for automakers and supply certainty for consumers, while stricter vehicle pollution regulations, continued rebates and charging stations all help support an electric ecosystem. As weve seen in California and with buses in Canada, theres a relationship between what you build and what you buy.

Done right, Canada can overcome its car conundrum while achieving a trifecta of outcomes: cutting transportation pollution, giving Canadians better access to the cars they want, and retooling our auto sector to compete in the 21st century.
Aref Ali Nayed, an envoy for Libya's eastern-based government has tendered his resignation to avoid a conflict of interest amid the ongoing intra-Libyan talks and focus on preparation for the upcoming election in the country

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 22nd September, 2020) Aref Ali Nayed, an envoy for Libya's eastern-based government has tendered his resignation to avoid a conflict of interest amid the ongoing intra-Libyan talks and focus on preparation for the upcoming election in the country.

"While I thank your Excellency for your confidence, I submit my resignation from my capacity as the diplomatic envoy for the following reasons: to prevent, unequivocally, any confusion or conflict of interests with regard to the participation of the chair and members of Ihya Libya (Reviving Libya) Bloc in the various Libyan political and social dialogues ... In Ihya Libya Bloc, we need to focus on catering for and training the young people who work with us and plan to run for the upcoming municipal and parliamentary elections ... the need of urgent preparation for the direct presidential elections, which we consider the ideal and necessary solution to the chronic legitimacies and extensions crisis in Libya," Nayed wrote in a resignation letter, obtained by Sputnik.

Nayed was appointed as the envoy of the Tobruk-based House of Representatives to the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union and the African Union in July. Prior to the latest escalation in Libya, he announced his intent to run for president in elections then slated for December 2018.

Since the onset of Libya's political disarray in 2011, the oil-rich country was practically split into a duopoly. The internationally-recognized Government of National Accord has established itself as the power pole in the country's west with headquarters in Tripoli, while the rival House of Representatives and the Libyan National Army took control over the east with the center in Tobruk.
Two million Australian households will be able to demand fibre-to-the-home internet by 2023 as part of a $3.5 billion upgrade of the National Broadband Network in residential streets to begin within months.

The Morrison government says the major infrastructure investment will create as many as 25,000 jobs over the next two years as the existing fibre-to-the-node rollout is extended along streets across Australia.

Two million eligible premises will be able to access superfast NBN speeds under a $3.5 billion upgrade. Credit: Supplied

The upgrade, which NBN Co will finance through borrowing from private debt markets, will give a further six million homes, or 75 per cent of premises along the fixed-line network, access to broadband speeds of up to one gigabit per second by 2023.

This includes two million eligible households that will be able to access high-speed plans by requesting an extension of the fibre network from the street to the home. A further 2.5 million households have access through upgrades to the Hybrid Fibre Coaxial network and another 1.5 million through the newer fibre-to-the-curb network.
NEW YORK, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In our omnichannel environment, brands need to constantly create, update and personalize content for their prospects and customers. A DAM solution helps them find and share marketing and brand assets with the various stakeholders involved in the creation of this content. The Wedia Content Picker connects customers' DAMs with their app ecosystem to accelerate productivity and drive more value from their digital assets.

The connector integrates the Wedia DAM with everyday marketing tools: Microsoft Office suite, Adobe Creative Suite, CMS and Social Media Management Systems etc. Collaborators within an organization can now quickly access approved assets regardless of the application they are working in.

The Content Picker saves companies valuable time switching from one platform to another, finding the perfect/correct asset. Employees can open their DAM directly from their preferred tools, and find and insert images and videos into documents, e-mails, presentations or websites.

"We are releasing the Wedia Content Picker as the link between your Martech stack and your DAM because we believe that it will enable the DAM as the single source of truth, ensuring consistency across all your channels and all your messages", said Olivier Grenet, CTO of Wedia. "We designed it to be configurable, easy to use and easy to integrate into multiple tools to achieve our ultimate goal: pushing the DAM as close as possible to the marketer in their everyday work and tools, rather than pulling users to the DAM."

About Wedia

Wedia is a provider of enterprise marketing solutions designed to help large organizations efficiently manage, customize and deliver their marketing assets for more relevance, impact and overall business success.

Users of Wedia's Enterprise DAM platform benefit from streamlined digital asset management processes, improved compliance, and enhanced brand experiences across all channels.

Recognized by industry analysts Gartner and Forrester, Wedia powers the global customer experience strategies of 250 international brands.

The company has offices in New York City, Paris and Frankfurt.

Contact Info

Name: Julien Fauvel

Email: [email protected]

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Phone: +1 203 903 0667

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No 10 has been left red-faced after wrongly saying the long-delayed NHS coronavirus app will not carry out contact-tracing  only to be slapped down by health officials.

The technology will finally be launched on Thursday  four months late  but without its original purpose, Downing Street had claimed, sparking fresh criticism.

But, within hours, the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) issued a correction, insisting contact-tracing would be at the heart of the NHS Covid-19 app.

It will log the time and distance a user has spent near to anyone, even if they dont know them, a spokesperson said.

So it can alert them if necessary if that person later tests positive for Covid-19, and help them self-isolate, book a free test if they develop symptoms and get their results.

An embarrassed No 10 spokesman later admitted he had been wrong to tell journalists that the ability to tell an app user if they had been in contact with an infected person would be missing.

The confusion had threatened to be the latest setback for an app once hailed by ministers as a game-changer in curbing the spread of Covid-19, but now barely mentioned.

It will use the bluetooth signal in both Apple and Android mobile phones to detect close and sustained contact between users, when it is launched on Thursday.

But it has been substantially rebuilt from an earlier version that was pulled from public release at the last minute after tests in the Isle of Wight revealed flaws.

There are also fears that it will have little impact unless installed by most of the public. Experts once warned an 80 per cent take-up was needed  but even the most successful apps in other countries have not topped 40 per cent.

The app will also allow users to check and report symptoms, to book a test, to find out if the result was positive, to check the local risk level and to provide contact details to premises.

Most contact-tracing will continue to be carried out by the much-criticised test-and-trace system, primarily run by private firms from call centres.

Meanwhile, in fresh evidence that tougher coronavirus restrictions are on their way in England, the prime minister will make a statement to the Commons on Tuesday.

Before that, he will host the first Cobra meeting since mid-May and  later on Monday 

will hold one-to-one talks with the first ministers of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The spokesman could not say there were any plans to speak with London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who has protested at being frozen out.

He agreed with the scientific advisers that the coming months would be difficult, describing it as what is likely to be a challenging winter period.

You can see what's been happening over the course of the previous 72 or 96 hours, the spokesman said.

Today he will be engaging with the devolved administrations, let's see where we get to.

Tomorrow morning is an opportunity for Cobra to discuss what next steps may be required in the coronavirus response.
The overnight sit-in by several members from the opposition benches who were suspended from the Rajya Sabha on Monday for the remainder of the ongoing monsoon session is a throwback to similar protests when MPs decided to bring the protest to the precincts of Parliament.

During most sessions it is not uncommon to see MPs raise issues, carry placards, raise slogans near the Gandhi statute within the complex. Sometimes they try to sneak in placards inside the House as well which is not permitted and usually met with a reprimand from the Speaker in the Lok Sabha or the Chairperson in the Rajya Sabha.

Protests that hit headlines over the years include the blocking of the main gate of Parliament during the Telangana statehood demand.

Also read: Suspended Rajya Sabha MPs on sit-in outside Parliament refuse deputy chairmans tea

In April 2012, at the peak of the pro-Telangana movement, 8 Congress MPs staged a protest by blocking Parliaments main gate for 30 minutes and raised pro-Telangana slogans. They had been suspended from Lok Sabha for four days for their unruly behaviour in the House and causing disruptions.

The suspended MPs - Ponnam Prabhakar, Madhu Yaskhi Goud, M Jagannath, KRG Reddy, G Viveknanda, Balram Naik, Sukender Reddy Gutha and S Rajaiah - had occupied the steps of the main gate of Parliament, forcing MPs to use other gates to enter and exit Parliament.

A year later, five Congress MPs from Telangana sat on a two-day protest in Parliament to push for the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. GS Reddy, Manda Jagannathan, Poonam Prabhakar, G Vivekananda and S Rajaiah sat at the main entrance of Parliament carrying placards.

In 2018, Telugu Desam Party MPs staged a sit-in inside Lok Sabha speakers chambers demanding special status for Andhra Pradesh. The then Speaker Sumitra Mahajan was not present in the chamber. They had to be marshalled out late in the evening.
Amman on Tuesday denied responsibility for a shipping company that has been slapped with EU sanctions for breaching a UN arms embargo on war-ravaged Libya, saying the firm is not Jordanian.

On Monday, the European Union imposed sanctions on three companies, including Med Wave Shipping, which the bloc said was from Jordan.

But foreign ministry spokesman Daifallah al-Fayez said the firm "is not a Jordanian company, is not registered in Jordan and is not present on Jordanian soil."

Fayez said authorities found no trace of the company at the address of its supposed headquarters in the Jordanian capital.

"This company did not exist there," he said in a statement, adding that Amman was committed to the UN weapons ban.

Libya has endured almost a decade of violent chaos since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled and killed veteran dictator Moamer Kadhafi.

The North African nation is split between rival forces each backed by foreign powers.

UN officials have long warned that deliveries of foreign-made weapons to Libya are undermining peace efforts.

The two other companies sanctioned were Turkey's Avrasya Shipping and Kazakh Sigma Airlines.

The move freezes any EU assets held by the companies, cuts them off from EU finance markets and bars them from doing business with anyone in the bloc.

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KOCHI: Sub Lieutenant R Kreeshma was over the moon as she was awarded Wings on graduating as Observer at a ceremony held at INS Garuda, the air station of the Navy at Kochi Naval Base on Monday. She also won the Book Prize after being adjudged Best in Overall Order of Merit from the Short Service Commission Observer course batch.

My ambition was to be a pilot in a combat role. However, as I didnt have the required height to join as a pilot, I explored other possibilities and found the role of observer best suited for my goal. The observer will be trained in navigating the aircraft and controlling weapons and sensors. Besides, we get trained in operational mission tactics. My father readily agreed when I expressed my ambition to join the Navy, Kreeshma told TNIE. Kreeshma hails from a middle class family at Kadampazhipuram, a village in Palakkad.

Her father A M K Ravikumar is a pharmacist and mother Indrani is a housewife. Kreeshma completed her BTech in Electrical and Electronics Engineering after which she joined the Indian Naval Academy (INA).

After passing out from INA, I joined the observer course where I underwent training in fixed wing aircraft. After completing 60 hours of flying based on assessment and preference, I was given an individual aircraft. Personalised training will continue based on the aircraft assigned to us, she said. Kreeshma will now be joining INS Rajali, the Naval air station at Arakkonam. As many as 89 women have joined the Navy as observers so far of which 72 are in service.
From his very first day as Montanas state auditor and commissioner of securities and insurance, Matt Rosendale made expanding access to quality, affordable health care his top priority. Rosendale has racked up an impressive list of policy achievements that have made health care for Montanans more accessible, affordable, and has made it easier for doctors to provide more personalized care to their patients. Rosendale has been a true leader on health care, and his expertise is desperately needed in Congress.

Matt Rosendale passed a bill to rein in the middlemen and cut the cost of prescription drugs for Montanans. Rosendales legislation targeted Pharmacy Benefits Managers (PBMs) and limited their ability to engage in practices used to inflate the cost of prescription drugs such as price gouging and demanding kickbacks from drug manufacturers. Rosendales bill garnered broad bipartisan support and was shown to cut the cost of prescription drugs for Montanans by $7.5 million$8 million per year. The idea was so revolutionary that Rosendale and his staff were asked to testify before the United States Senate about the core tenants of their legislation.

Rosendale also successfully cut healthcare premiums for Montanans. Rosendale worked across party lines to create a reinsurance pool that protects individuals with pre-existing conditions and ensures everyone can receive affordable coverage. Rosendales policies resulted in Montanans healthcare premiums on the individual market decreasing on average by 15% and he was able to successfully prevent multiple double-digit rate increases. And when insurers submitted proposed rate increases for individual market plans for 2021, Rosendale fought back, saying it was unacceptable. Two of the three insurers backed down and agreed to hold their rates steady.

Matt Rosendale has worked to expand access to healthcare and provide Montanans with more choices for care. Thats because Matt believes that Montanans know their health situation best and should be able to choose the options that meet their unique and individual healthcare needs. One of the most important healthcare reforms Rosendale enacted was a memorandum to finally authorize Direct Primary Care, which is one of the main services we provide at CostCare. Rosendale consulted us early in the process, working with us to craft the language of the memorandum to ensure we were able to care for our patients most effectively.

Matt Rosendales memorandum allows us to provide our patients with high-quality services to meet the vast majority of their healthcare needs for a reasonable cost of just $70 per month. And Matts authorization of Direct Primary Care removes third parties from the equation and restores the relationship between doctors and patients. Rather than spending countless hours filling out mountains of paperwork required for insurance authorization and payment, we now get to actually spend our time practicing medicine and providing high quality care for our patients. Pairing Direct Primary Care with a low premium hospitalization insurance plan gives comprehensive coverage for a fraction of what most Montana families currently pay.

In this polarized time, while its not entirely surprising that weve seen meritless and disingenuous attacks on Matt Rosendale, the outright lies and distortions of his record on healthcare have been deeply disappointing. We take those attacks personally, because we are only able to provide the care that we do for our patients today because of his leadership. Rosendale knows that access to quality, affordable healthcare choices shouldnt be a partisan issue  and he works hard every day to make that a possibility for every Montanan, especially those with pre-existing conditions. A lot of politicians talk about increasing access to care and cutting healthcare costs  Matt Rosendale has actually done something about it.

Dr. Carol Bridges and Lesley Von Eschen are the co-founders and co-owners of CostCare based in Missoula. Bridges is a physician who has practiced medicine for 25 years; Von Eschen is a certified physician assistant.

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Newport News is two tunnels, a bridge and an hour from North Carolina, he said. Hes coming to Virginia because, as we have said, our numbers show that the race has tightened, were in play, were in striking distance. I expect him to be in Virginia several times between now and November 3rd.
MUNISING, MI  The public can no longer legally access a popular Lake Superior destination by road.

The road, Forest Road 2491, that leads to Paradise Point crosses private land, and the landowner recently opted to close that section due to liability concerns, the U.S. Forest Service announced this week.

The beautiful destination is in the Hiawatha National Forest west of Munising in the Upper Peninsula. Despite the location on public land, USFS and the public no longer have legal road access to Paradise Point, the release said. Crossing the private property by any means  car, truck, ORV, hiking or biking  is trespassing.

An analysis of the Paradise Point area is part of an upcoming USFS project on how to best manage the land and resources going forward, Charles Marsh, Munising and Rapid River/Manistique District ranger for the Hiawatha National Forest, said in a statement.

In the interim, we urge everyone to respect private property, Marsh said.

Other special places to visit in the Hiawatha National Forest can be found here.

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LANSING, MI - New Michigan House and Senate bills would increase the penalty for fraudulently submitting absentee ballot applications.

Senate bills 977 and 978 would make filling out an application to receive multiple ballots, providing false statements on the application or forging a signature a felony punishment leading to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000 or both.

House bills 5880 and 5881 address the same issues. Rep. Ann Bollin, R-Brighton, co-sponsored the house bills and defended the Senate ones in a Tuesday, Sep. 22 hearing in the House Judiciary Committee.

Providing false information on an absentee ballot is now a misdemeanor punishable up to 93 days in jail or a $500 fine. By increasing the consequences, attempts at fraudulently voting would decrease and help prevent local clerks from getting overwhelmed, Bollin argued.

More than ever, there is a lot more being imposed on our local clerks, she said. I have a lot of faith in them in that theyve certainly and thoroughly vetting those signatures (and information), but now with that mass increase of AV applications...this is one step in the direction to enhance the trust factor in integrity in our elections on behalf of the voter.

Clerks across Michigan plan to mail more than 2.2 million absentee ballots to Michigan voters this week. Ballots can also be dropped off at local ballot boxes, which can be located here, or at clerks offices. All voters can track the progress of their absentee ballots by looking up their voter information here.

Michigan clerks begin mailing absentee ballots this week

In the August primary, more than 2.6 million people requested absentee ballots, which a Secretary of State spokesman said is expected to double for Novembers general election.

Currently, only the following people can submit an absentee ballot application: the applicant or a member of their immediate family, a person living with the applicant, a mail carrier on duty, a registered elector with certified permission from the applicant to return the application or a clerk or authorized election official.

The Senate legislation, which passed in the committee by an 8-3 vote with two passes, attempts to curb any attempts at multiple vote submissions.

Bollin pointed to Secretary of State policies and court rulings that allow a voter to choose any person they wanted to return their absentee ballot for them, which she called ballot harvesting. Her bill and the Senate one would attempt to intervene on that practice.

The injunctions issued by the Court of Claims on Friday directly contradict many of the protections the Legislature has put in place to protect the integrity of our elections, she said. While the Secretary of State should appeal, she appears too focused on her own agenda to defend the laws that were put in place to safeguard our elections.

The Michigan Court of Appeals affirmed on Sep. 16 a lower courts ruling that Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson acted lawfully when she she sent absentee voter ballot applications to all registered voters ahead of primary elections.

In a 2-1 decision, the appellate court found that state law allows Benson the authority to provide unsolicited applications to absentee ballots.

Appeals court rules sending absentee ballot applications to all registered voters was legal

President Donald Trump told voters in North Carolina earlier this month to vote once by absentee ballot and again in-person to make sure the vote counted.

On your ballot, if you get the unsolicited (absentee) ballot, send it in, and make sure its counted, and if its not tabulated, you vote, he said. If they tabulate it very late, which they shouldnt be doing, theyll see that you voted and so it wont count.

Rep. David LaGrand, D-Grand Rapids, questioned the Michigan bills language for voters that knowingly submit false applications or ballots. He wanted clarification that someone could fill out a ballot independently and a friend could submit the ballot by mail or dropbox to a local clerk without punishment.

If someones friend does it for them, have they committed a felony, he asked Bollin.

He hasnt. Its who filled out the application, she said.

LaGrand then pointed out the bill doesnt use the term filled out," meaning that the bill could unintentionally punish both the fraudulent applicant and the person submitting the application for them. Bollin said the language could be further clarified.

The Senate bill was sent to the House Floor for further approval before a potential signing by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

Read more from MLive:

Michigan court: SOS can mail absentee ballot requests to registered voters

Michigan Secretary of State sending postcards encouraging people to apply online to vote absentee

Michigan charities held strong early in the pandemic. Will they persist this winter?
- A Nigerian man is currently trending after he shared the story of what he did when his wife was in labour while waiting for their daughter's delivery

- Identified as Seun, he revealed that he left his wife in the labour ward to go eat isiewu and drink with his friends

- Seun recounted this story while celebrating the first birthday of his daughter

PAY ATTENTION: Click 'See First' under 'Follow' Tab to see Tuko.co.ke news on your FB Feed

A Nigerian man identified as Seun is currently being dragged on social media after he gave an account of what he did when his wife went into labour.

The dad who was celebrating his daughter's first birthday said back in 2019 while his wife was writhing in pain, he was busy eating isiewu - a spicy delicacy made with goat head.

READ ALSO: Uhuru's adopted son Daniel Owira says he nearly left school after becoming rich

Seun was not about to let his daughter's birth get in the way of his search for food. Photo: @MistaSeun

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Chris Kirubi shows off his massive house, lake and expensive car collection

He also met with some friends and the group indulged in alcohol as they laughed the day away.

While Seun was busy demolishing his meal, he got a call from his wife and learnt she had given birth to their first child.

Not ready to give up his delicious delicacy, the new dad asked the waiter to pack his leftovers in a takeaway bag.

READ ALSO: Couple who met while relaxing on balconies during lockdown set to get married

READ ALSO: Thiago Silva confident Chelsea will challenge for title despite Liverpool slip up

His baby arrived barely an hour after Seun escaped from the hospital in pursuit of a well-cooked dish.

"On this day one year ago, I was chilling with my brothers when my wife called to say she was through. An hour had not even passed since I left her at the hospital, in fact I was about to devour the isiewu in front of me," the dad said.

Seun bid his friends goodbye, got into his car and rushed to the hospital.

While parking his vehicle, his tyre burst but all he wanted was to hold his star.

READ ALSO: Muigizaji nyota Sylvester Stallone, Rambo ampoteza mama yake

This is how social media users reacted:

In other news, a baby girl who was born while still airborne is very lucky as she has been given free flights for life.

The EgyptAir flight which was headed to London from Cairo had to do an emergency landing when Hiyam Nasr Naji Daaban realised she was going into labour.

Nasr is a Yemen passenger and when she went into labour, the pilot diverted the service to Munich, Germany in hopes that she could reach the hospital in time.

Even will all the efforts the pilot made, the lady did not reach the hospital as she delivered a baby girl before the plane landed.

Nasr was lucky as she delivered with the help of a doctor who happened to be on board.

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My mother abandoned me with two holes in my heart | Tuko TV

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Annabel Walker, 32, has been hit with more fraud charges over an allegedly dodgy rental on Gumtree

A socialite jailed for a spree of fraud offences advertised a room for rent on Gumtree, before allegedly pocketing the deposit and running.

Annabel Walker, 32, was locked up for 12 months without parole in Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court on September 9 for the string of lies and thefts totaling $26,000.

Magistrate Susan McIntyre said Walker had a 'disturbing history of dishonesty' which included accepting five-star hotel stays, goods or services but never paying.

She would create fake identities and use false documents, the court heard.

As she languishes behind bars Walker has now been hit with even more charges after more of her alleged scheming ways were uncovered by police.

Daily Mail Australia understands that in November last year Walker put a room up for lease on Gumtree, advertising it as a short-term stay.

Daily Mail Australia understands that Walker put a room up for lease in November last year on Gumtree and advertised it as a short-term stay, before allegedly pocketing the deposit but telling those who intended to stay there it was no longer available

But once an interested party had paid the deposit she allegedly told them the room was no longer available - but refused to return their cash.

It is understood the amount allegedly taken by Walker was less than $1000.

She will return to Parramatta Local Court on October 7 to face an additional count of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception.

She previously pleaded guilty to seven counts of the same charge, as well as counts of drink driving and driving while suspended.

As she awaited sentencing on those charges she was also arrested for faking letters of admittance from a hospital.

The former student at the elite Frensham boarding school sent officers an email from her Hotmail account on June 22, a police fact sheet said.

She attached a document purportedly from the South Coast Private Hospital which claimed she had been admitted as a patient and therefore couldn't come in.

It was the beginning of a spate of medical lies from Walker, court documents said.

Just seven days later, Walker sent police another email, with more hospital paperwork, claiming once again she couldn't report for bail due to medical reasons.

The paperwork said she had been admitted to hospital as part of the 'Managing Distress' program run by psychiatrist Dr Puru Sagar. It meant she couldn't meet officers for the entire final week of June or the second week of July.

In the middle of a trial for a spate of fraud charges it emerged that Walker had been lying about being admitted to the South Coast Private Hospital (pictured), which she had been ordered to do by a court

Police claimed the documents she was using were faked and she should have been here - at the Southern Highlands Police Station - reporting for bail

Her claims raised police suspicions - given officers were well acquainted with her history of fraud - and it didn't take much for them to unpick her web of lies.

Court facts said police spoke to a hospital employee on July 14, who confirmed Walker actually hadn't been an inpatient there since 2018.

And while the doctor Walker had name-checked had indeed once been employed at the hospital, he actually hadn't been on staff there for a couple of years.

To make matters worse, that same evening Walker made the foolish decision to try her luck with the hospital excuse for a third time, court documents said.

Very skeptical police received a document claiming she had once again been re-admitted to hospital and couldn't attend the Southern Highlands police station.

Socialite Annabel Walker's email lies to the NSW Police Force A statement of police facts detailed the Southern Highlands socialite's emails to police about why she could not report for bail at the police station. The court document said Walker sent NSW Police sent messages from her Hotmail account on the following dates: 'On 22 June 2020, the accused sent police an email from email address belle*******@hotmail.com with an attached document allegedly created by Cassie M from South Coast Private Hospital. 'The document related to the admission of the accused to South Coast Private Hospital for a number of dates from May 2020 to June 2020. The accused had spoken to police stating this is why she was unable to report for bail for the above conditions.' On 29 June 2020, Walker is also accused of sending police a document from the same email address, which was also allegedly created by Cassie M. 'The document related to the admission of the accused into South Coast Private Hospital for the Managing Distress program under Dr Puru Sagar from 23 June 2020 to 30 June 2020 and a further scheduled admission from July 7 to 14 July,' court facts said. Police spoke to an employee of the hospital on July 14 who said Walker had not been an inpatient at the hospital since 2018. Dr Sagar had likewise not worked there since that year, the paperwork said. At 9.33pm on 14 July police received a final email from Walker. 'The accused stated she was readmitted to South Coast Private Hospital and would be unable to report to Southern Highlands Police Station.' She forwarded an email from the hospital penned by an administration clerk named 'Dani' who provided information regarding an extended stay. Police later confirmed the people named as creating the documents had not done so and charged her with fraud. Advertisement

Police swooped, charging Walker with using false documents to influence the exercise of a public duty.

In a police interview, the socialite admitted sending the documents but insisted she had, in fact, been a patient at the hospital in 2020.

Officers hammered her 'blatant disregard for bail conditions' in a fact sheet handed to a magistrate last week.

Walker - whose lawyer recused himself - admitted the hospital documents were fake before she was sentenced to a slew of charges last week.

'These document offences under the Crimes Act are at the highest end of offending as it strikes at the heart of the administration of bail, which is a flagrant disregard for your obligations of honesty,' Magistrate Susan McIntyre said on sentencing.

She admitted to taking $26,000 in hotel stays (pictured is the lavish Rae's on Wategos resort at Byron Bay where she stayed), products or services without every paying for them

Walker's sentencing was just the latest episode in the very long and public downfall of the former student at $30,000-a-year Frensham boarding school

The court heard the fraud charges Walker admitted involved her wrongfully obtaining a total of $17,981 from her former employer, the Australian Leisure Group, plus about $9,000 owing to others.

Walker stayed at the lavish Rae's on Wategos resort in Byron Bay and buy products from a Harvey Norman store, but paid for neither, and had sent fake rental paymeny receipts to her Southern Highlands landlord for several weeks.

Relatives cried as she told them 'I love you' and 'I deserve this' last Wednesday and was placed in handcuffs.

Walker was handed a total sentence of 12 months' imprisonment and will be eligible for parole on September 8, 2021.
NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / September 21, 2020 / Labaton Sucharow a global investor rights law firm, announces an investigation on behalf of purchasers of the securities of JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:JPM).

On September 20, Buzzfeed reported a comprehensive investigation of global financial institutions, having obtained "twenty-two thousand pages of never-before-released government documents." Among the documents were more than 2,100 suspicious activity reports, or SARs, which banks and other financial institutions submitted to the US Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, or FinCEN, when they observe transactions that suggest money laundering or other illegal activity. Such reports can support investigations and intelligence gathering - but by themselves they are not evidence of a crime. The FinCen files included suspicious activity reports filed by nearly 90 financial institutions.

The FinCEN Files investigation reveals that global financial institutions, including JP Morgan, appeared to have facilitated $2 trillion of suspicious transactions that were flagged to the U.S. government over nearly two decades.

The report said banks such as JPMorgan Chase, among others, engaged with and facilitated the movement of criminal money even after raising their suspicions.

On September 21, premarket, JP Morgan Chase was trading down on heavy volume.

If you are a current stockholder, derivative, or options holder of JP Morgan and wish to learn more or discuss the issues surrounding the investigation, please contact David J. Schwartz using the toll-free number (800) 321-0476 or via email at dschwartz@labaton.com.

About the Firm

Labaton Sucharow LLP is one of the world's leading complex litigation firms representing clients in securities, antitrust, corporate governance and shareholder rights, and consumer cybersecurity and data privacy litigation. Labaton Sucharow has been recognized for its excellence by the courts and peers, and it is consistently ranked in leading industry publications. Offices are located in New York, NY, Wilmington, DE, and Washington, D.C. More information about Labaton Sucharow is available at http://www.labaton.com.

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CONTACT:

David J. Schwartz

(800) 321-0476

dschwartz@labaton.com

SOURCE: Labaton Sucharow LLP





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Since the detection of the first case of COVID-19 disease in Wuhan, China, at the end of 2019, the novel coronavirus has evolved into a global pandemic, with over 31.2 million confirmed cases and over 963,000 deaths across the globe.

In an attempt to contain the spread of the disease, many countries worldwide, including Malaysia and other Southeast Asian (SEA) countries, have enforced lockdowns of varying degrees, which has inadvertently caused some positive changes to the environment.

The evaluation of the decrease in anthropogenic emissions because of COVID-19-related restrictions imposed by governments is critical to determine the impact of the pandemic on pollution and economic growth. A recent study published in the journal Science of The Total Environment analyzes the impact of COVID-19-related lockdown on aerosols and pollutants over the Southeast Asian atmospheric environment.

This study used aerosol optical depth (AOD) measurements from the Himawari-8 satellite, along with tropospheric NO 2 column density measurements from Aura-OMI over SEA countries, as well as ground-based measurements of pollution at various stations across Malaysia, so as determine the changes in aerosol and pollutants linked to the shutdown of human and industrial activities.

Aerosol optical depth (AOD) is a measure of the extinction of solar radiation due to light absorption or scattering by atmospheric dust and haze. The aerosols over the SEA region are mainly from urban and industrial emissions such as organics, nitrate, sulfate, and ammonium; black carbon from fossil fuel and biofuel burning; volcanic ash and dust transported from long distances during pre-monsoon forest and vegetation fires. In addition to these, trace amounts of sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ), ammonia (NH 3 ), nitrogen oxides (NO x ), and carbon monoxide (CO) gases undergo complex homogeneous or heterogeneous chemical reactions in the atmosphere and release organic and inorganic aerosols.

Lockdown has helped reduce pollution over SEA regions

The study found that the lockdown has caused a notable decrease in AOD over SEA regions and in the pollution outflow over the oceanic regions. It also detected large reductions (~27 - 34%) of tropospheric NO 2 over urban agglomerations and nearly 26-31%, 23-32%, 63-64%, 9-20%, and 25-31% reductions, respectively, in PM10, PM2.5, NO 2 , SO 2 , and CO in urban Malaysia during the lockdown phase compared to the same periods in years 2018 and 2019. NO 2 levels were reduced even more by 64% in the urban areas and by 3346% in the industrial sites. Lower reductions were recorded for SO 2 and CO, while O3 changes were not significant compared to the previous years.

The results showed a significant reduction in AOD over the southern SEA region, including Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia, and the Philippines. In Malaysia, the AOD values over urban and industrial sites showed a notable decrease (~70% and ~40%) between March to April 2020 compared to the same period in 2018 and 2019. In contrast, in the northern SEA region, AODs stayed at very high levels even during the lockdown, because of extensive agricultural burning and forest fires in this area. This was also in agreement with the highest NO 2 levels detected in this area.

There were large reductions in NO 2 levels (~27%34%) during the shutdown period in most SEA cities, except for Yangon and Ho Chi Minh. This NO 2 reduction was strongly linked with the efforts taken by these countries to restrict the people's movement within and across countries and to control the industrial and business activities.

Some SEA countries, including Malaysia, Brunei, and Singapore, imposed aggressive restrictions such as the prohibition of mass gatherings, border closures, restriction of religious activities, and partial to complete lockdowns by the army, compared to other countries such as Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar, and the Philippines that only enacted mild restrictions.

"Continuous monitoring of the pollution levels and future studies will reveal the degree of the pollution re-appearance over major urban areas in Malaysia as well, after the re-opening on the economy," say the authors

The results of this study indicate that the degree of restriction and the regional lockdowns enacted to contain COVID-19 has affected the air pollution over regions with high aerosols and pollutant levels. The apparent benefits of COVID-19-related restriction measures highlight a unique opportunity for changing pollution control policies and climate change mitigation strategies in SEA countries. Also, the assessment of the reductions in major, harmful air pollutants is very important for air quality and climate change studies and health research. These findings also call for a more detailed analysis of the impact of lockdowns on atmospheric pollution in the future.
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Linkedin News Desk (Reuters) Sydney, Australia  Tue, September 22, 2020 10:40 487 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c4656c44 2 World Australia,coronavirus,COVID-19,COVID-19-infection,pandemic,SARS-CoV-2,virus-corona,novel-coronavirus Free

Australia's virus hotspot of Victoria on Tuesday reported a more than doubling in new COVID-19 infections likely as a result of increased testing, while states elsewhere in the country said border restrictions would be relaxed as case numbers dwindled.

Officials said the northeastern state of Queensland would open its borders to parts of neighboring New South Wales, the country's most populous state, amid growing confidence that Australia's second wave of infections has been contained.

NSW has maintained new daily infections in the single-digits since Sept. 11, reporting only two cases in the past 24 hours, both of which were overseas travelers already in quarantine.

Queensland had no new cases, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said. She said residents from some neighboring areas, including the NSW tourist spot of Byron, would be allowed to travel to Queensland in coming days.

"These areas have a lot in common with Queensland. They usually do a lot of their business in Queensland. So, we believe that this is the right measure to take," she told reporters.

South Australian Premier Steven Marshall also said the state planned to allow NSW residents to cross the border without self-isolating for 14 days from Thursday.

South Australia has not reported a new case in close to two weeks.

Meanwhile in Victoria, the state at the centre of the country's second wave of coronavirus infections, officials reported 28 new cases, up from 11 on Monday.

Premier Daniel Andrews said the rise in new cases was likely a result of increased tests done over the weekend.

"It's very challenging, but this does take some time, because the nature of this virus is there is that latency, there is that lag," he told reporters.

Victoria has contributed about 75% of Australia's tally of nearly 27,000 infections and roughly 90% of its 851 deaths.
Donald Trump told a rally in Ohio on Monday night that suburban women 'love me' because he had prevented the construction of affordable housing in their neighborhoods.

In remarks that have been previously condemned as racist, the president said women of 'suburbia' appreciated his housing policies.

In July the Trump administration repealed Barack Obama's 2015 Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing rule.

The AFFH did not mandate low-income housing to be built in suburban areas, but rather aimed to eliminate discrimination and combat segregation in housing.

Trump claimed on Monday night that he had saved the suburbs from an influx of low-income developments.

'We are doing really well with the African American community, with the Hispanic community, we're doing well with women,' he said.

Donald Trump on Monday night told an Ohio rally that suburban women 'love me'

The president used his Monday night rally to warn of Joe Biden's threat to the suburbs

Surrounded by flag-waving supporters, the president warned of a threat to suburbia

'We are doing well with suburbia. I ended a regulation that will destroy suburbia.

'If Biden got in, they will destroy the suburbia. We call it the suburbia of the world. We love it, I know it well. Westchester County.'

Trump appeared to be referring to a 2009 court ruling, made before the AFFH was enacted. The court ordered the affluent New York district to spend millions of dollars to build 750 units of affordable housing in 31 of Westchester County's least diverse communities.

On Monday night he boasted of his support from suburban women.

'If you say suburban housewife you get in trouble. So we say suburban women,' he declared.

'Suburban women, they love me. They want security. And you know what? They don't want projects being built right next to their house. That's OK. They don't want it.'

The president has previously accused Joe Biden of wanting to 'destroy' the suburbs by sending in an influx of low-income residents.

Trump is playing on suburban fears have been deemed racist by critics, who point out that residents of public housing are in the majority people of color.

The latest survey by Housing and Urban Development (HUD) found that only 28 per cent of public housing residents were white.

Thirty per cent were African American, and 16.7 per cent Hispanic.

The president told the crowd in Ohio that he was fighting for suburban homeowners
The four nations of the UK have introduced new restrictions aimed at reducing the growth in coronavirus infections. These are the implications if you plan to travel abroad.

(In any event, you should not leave home if you or anyone in your household has any symptoms of coronavirus, including a high temperature, a continuous cough or a loss of smell or taste.)

Scottish people have been told not to book a holiday for October half-term. What if I have already booked?

The first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, said: Given that this is a global pandemic, please do not book travel overseas for the October break if it is not essential.

Please think of the October break as an opportunity to further limit social interaction, she said.

This is a request, not a legal requirement, and does not affect people who have booked travel in the future. If you choose not to travel, your holiday company is unlikely to contemplate offering a refund.

Many prospective travellers may regarded it as an unusual appeal, given that many popular holiday locations, including Italy, Cyprus and Turkey, have lower infection levels than Scotland, and also enjoy an outdoor lifestyle long into the autumn.

Mike Tibbert, vice-president of the Scottish Passengers Agents Association, called the policy unnecessary, wholly gratuitous, and extremely damaging for the Scottish travel industry.

I live in a lockdown area of Wales and I have a holiday booked. Can I go?

No. The general policy of the Welsh government for places of high infection rates is that a holiday does not constitute grounds for leaving the area.

The regulations are in place to protect you and your loved ones from coronavirus and to prevent the onward spread of the virus to other areas of Wales, the UK and other countries, says the government in Cardiff.

Contact the travel agent or travel company to discuss the current situationand the restrictions which have been put in place by the Welsh Government to restrict non-essential travel.

Can I get a refund if I cant legally take my holiday?

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) says you should. A refund is due, says the CMA, when a consumer is prevented from receiving any goods or services, because, for example, lockdown lawshave made it illegal to receive or use the goods or services.

But note the word generally when the CMA says: A consumer will generally be entitled to a refund when they have paid money in advance for services or goods that cannot be provided because of the coronavirus pandemic.

This view is not substantiated by the Package Travel Regulations 2018, and has yet to be fully tested in court. While package holiday companies such as Tui and Jet2 have largely been cooperative, a DIY trip could prove trickier.

Ryanair and Wizz Air have not been providing refunds or free rebooking opportunities when the flight goes ahead, and an overseas accommodation provider may not be interested in the reasons for your cancellation  though may be prepared to discuss a postponement.

I live in a lockdown area in England and I have a holiday booked. Can I go?

The advice for areas in local lockdown is slightly conflicted, but the broad answer is: yes.

For the areas in England that are currently subject to additional restrictions, such as Bolton, the government says: We advise that you should only travel for essential reasons when travelling into, within and out of Bolton. The definition of essential includes working, education or medical care.

But the government also says: You can still go on holiday outside of Bolton, but you should only do this with people you live with.

Therefore you could travel with your family to Manchester airport and go on holiday, but not with a group of friends.

But I am booked with three mates. Can we get a refund for our holiday?

That is a tricky issue. If you are booked on a proper package holiday, and can show the tour operator that you had originally booked with people from other households, then you may be able to claim a refund (citing the CMA view if necessary).

But if you were planning to drive together to, say, Germany, via the Channel Tunnel there is much less likelihood of recompense. However, Eurotunnel will allow postponements without penalty.

We live in Glasgow under local lockdown measures and are booked to go on holiday to Turkey with two other couples. Can we socialise when we get there?

You would be infringing the Scottish rule that no more than six people from up to two different households should meet at a time by meeting in a bar in Bodrum, but in all cases local law applies.

Note that you will probably be flying on a plane with 180 total strangers from different households.

Much of northeast England is an area of national intervention. Can I fly to and from Newcastle airport?

Yes, although the authorities would prefer it you do not use the Tyne & Wear Metro to reach or leave the airport. They say you are advised to only use public transport for essential purposes.

Will travel insurance cover any losses?

It all depends on the wording of the policy  which may in turn depend on when you took out the cover. Policies issued before mid-March 2020 are likely to be more generous than those sold afterwards. But you should make every effort to recover money from the suppliers before going to your insurer.

Is it even worth - or morally justifiable - contemplating a foreign holiday right now?

Like the devolved administration in Scotland, the Northern Ireland government urges its citizens to think twice about going abroad: Carefully consider your holiday and travel options, in light of the continuing Covid-19 threat.

A 'staycation' is one way of mitigating the risks, while also supporting the local economy.

But being in a warm, sunny location such as Cyprus, southern Italy or mainland Greece, with a very low risk of coronavirus and predominately outdoor lifestyle, is likely to place you at a much lower risk of contracting the virus  and will also have great benefits for mind and body.

Bear in mind, though, that the rapidly changing quarantine rules mean you may need to self-isolate for 14 days on your return.
Crosweller advised the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements to handle what is vulnerable as the country is already past a tipping point.

If you try to get a national bushfire risk map, it doesnt exist at the moment. I know there are efforts underway to do that, Crosweller said, as reported by The New Daily. We are still a long way behind. We need to anticipate loss. We are going to lose things at these events. No-one wants to think about these things, but it is still a reality.

Croswell also has concerns over flood mapping in the country as flooding remains prevalent in many areas. A part of Wagga Wagga, for example, has been experiencing one-in-eight-year floods.

If we wanted to get a comprehensive understanding of the flood plains of Australia, well, theres some data on that of course, but is it contemporary? Probably not, he concluded.
MIDDLETOWN  A WWII veteran and dedicated volunteer is being recalled as a kind and humble man known for his unfailing commitment every weekday to making certain older individuals had access to nutritious meals.

Frank J. Greco, a lifelong resident and volunteer for the Community Renewal Team lunch program at the Middletown Senior Center, died over the weekend at 96. Greco, one of Middletowns few remaining Greatest Generation veterans, passed away peacefully in his sleep, Mayor Ben Florsheim wrote on his Facebook page Tuesday.

Greco was drafted at 18 into the military and served for more than three years in Italy. He loved motorcycles, and worked for the Russell Manufacturing Co., delivering parts for Jackson Chevrolet, and retired from the state of Connecticut's Highway Department, according to his obituary.

For more than six years, he was a familiar face to so many. Many have shared their condolences on the mayors social media post.

Greco began giving of himself at the center after his wife, Josephine, died in April 2013. Senior Services Director Cathy Lechowicz said he always talked about her. Their love was very apparent, according to Lechowicz.

Greco, who served in the 88th Infantry Division, often shared stories about his time there, she said.

The senior center community also celebrated him on Facebook Monday. Our hearts are broken this morning to learn the news of our dear friend Frank Grecos passing, staff wrote. You will forever be our inspiration and role model! Thank you for teaching us that age is just a number, and that one person really can change the world.

Many are grieving his loss, according to Manager of Senior Services Ann Gregg. Frank Greco was like family to us.

The by-all-accounts generous man began his volunteerism when the senior center was located on William Street, and, once the current facility opened, he would offer tours to visitors, Lechowicz said.

He was one of the first people new members would meet at the center, said coworker Becky Guynn Carroll.

Frank was an incredibly humble, sweet and generous person who served in WWII and continued to give of himself to the community throughout his life, Lechowicz said.

He was a constant fixture in the cafeteria, preparing and serving meals between 15 and 20 hours a week. Greco would only stay home when he felt under the weather or traveling conditions were bad, Lechowicz said. He fell ill during late summer, and then worked in the kitchen right up into March, when the governor shut many most facilities during the initial stage of the coronavirus outbreak.

He came to my desk each day to say good morning. He was so kind and gentle. He felt it was his duty to give back, Carroll said. He was proud of his service and loved talking to other veterans. He had a great laugh and a warm smile. I will miss him so much.

The nonagenarian was adamant about making sure older individuals lead a healthful lifestyle, and would step up for those who might otherwise not speak out for themselves, she said. He wanted high-quality meals, and didnt want to see food waste. He really was a voice for a lot of people to ensure peoples needs were being met.

Members and staff thoroughly enjoyed hearing about his adventures growing up in town, and moving out to the country, as he called it, the director said. He had a farm and they grew most of their own food. He talked lovingly about his family and siblings and had much pride in the life he led.

In 2016, former Mayor Dan Drew proclaimed July 22 Frank Greco Day in Middletown, honoring the citys first-ever senior of the year. U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., stopped by Grecos 92nd birthday party to pay his respects.

Former city Councilwoman Deborah Kleckowski called Greco a proud individual who always had a smile for everyone.

He was featured last year on NBC Connecticut during its In their Shoes series.

Frank was one of a kind, Florsheim said. I am so grateful I got to see Frank in action when I visited the senior center, shortly before his declining health meant he finally had to stop working. When I spoke to him after he entered the hospital, he mostly talked about how much he missed everyone there.
Officials in the city of Oak Ridge North have approved moving forward with a risk and resiliency assessment of the citys water system in order to meet federal guidelines as well as approving the 2020 property tax rate.

Heather Neeley, city manager for Oak Ridge North, said the analysis of the citys water system  which has roughly 3,200 customers between residential and commercial accounts  is required by both state and federal officials under recent changes to the Americas Water Infrastructure Act.

Related: Woodlands board gets update on drinking water, subsidence issues

The Americas Water Infrastructure Act was signed in 2018, at first it was only larger cities, 50,000 to 100,000 (population) then it kept going down to cities of our size to do it as well. We have contracted with (Jones & Carter) and they do a risk and resiliency management plan and their also do an ERP, an emergency response plan. It is (mandated) under the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Neeley said. you have to an an asset characterization, a threat characterizationthere are certain criteria now federally mandated. this is a new act that was implemented. It kind of trinkled down (to smaller cities). That will start after Oct. 1 and it has to be completed by June 30 of 2021. The scope that they will do is $26,500.

The citys water plant was refurbished on 2012 and at the moment, Neeley added, does not need to be expanded. The city has 700 vacant acres in their extra territorial jurisdiction that is not developed. If that land does begin to see residential and commercial development, the plant may need to be expanded, she said.

We have always had superior (rated) water we have to do the report for the TCEQ each year. We just got that back and it was superior again, Neeley added. We have about 700 acres in our ETJ, and until some of that starts to come online (and begin development), we really dont have any plans to grow (the plants capacity). as the ETJ begins to grow, we may have to look at (a water facility) on the railroad tracks, she said. The water plant is good. And, we do have impact fees that are being charged to new commercial accounts to help the future needs of the water plant.

The impact fees are scheduled to be voted on at a city council meeting in October, and if approved, the fees will start being charged to new businesses as a way to save funds for any future water improvements, Neeley added.

Planning for business

Neeley said the citys comprehensive plan calls for exploring more outreach to businesses possibly moving to Oak Ridge North. She noted that elected leaders on the city council and the planning and zoning commission have been doing a lot of research over the past few years to find new businesses.

We have some development in the works that I think is going to being in more businesses, Neeley noted. We hope sowe developed the Plaza District six to seven years ago and were excited to get that started.

Related: Pop-up market opens in Oak Ridge North

Neeley said the city approved a small reduction in the 2020 property tax rate. The 2020 rate is 47.12 cents per $100 valuation, a slight reduction from last year which was a flat 49 cents per $100 valuation.

That was the voter approval tax rate. That was as high as we could go without a vote, she added.

jeff.forward@chron.com
Panaji:

The Congress on Tuesday attacked BJP President Amit Shah over his statement that the next Goa government will be functioning under the leadership of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar saying that Goa is not a union territory to be governed by Delhi.

It is for the people of Goa to think on what Shah said. We are not a Union territory to be ruled from Delhi. We are a full fledged state developed much compared to the other states, Goas Leader of Opposition Pratapsinh Rane said in Panaji.

Rane was reacting to remarks made by Shah on Monday at a public meeting in Vasco town.

When asked whether such a trend favours the state, Rane said, it is not good for the entire country where Defence Minister is seen more interested in Goa than what is happening at the border.

Parrikar is already ruling the state through remote control. Every weekend he spends here since he became the Defence Minister, Rane quipped.

On Monday, Shah had said that though Parrikar is needed at Centre the next government in the coastal state will function under his leadership, irrespective of his posting.

Goa has given a big asset to the country in Manohar Parrikar. There is a huge demand for Parrikar in Delhi and also here in Goa. The people of Goa demand that we should send Parrikar back to the state, Shah had said.

Goa is going to polls to elect the 40-member House on February 4.
Suspect in British toddler case faces new investigation: A suspect in the disappearance of British toddler Madeleine McCann faces an investigation over the alleged rape of an Irish woman in Portugal 16 years ago, German prosecutors said. McCann disappeared from an apartment in 2007 while her family vacationed in the seaside town of Praia da Luz in Portugal's Algarve region. The Braunschweig prosecutor's office said the new possible victim came forward to British media following an international call for witnesses, the news agency DPA reported. The German suspect, in prison in Germany in a separate case, spent many years in Portugal, including in Praia da Luz around the time of Madeleine's disappearance.
The Justice Department said Monday that New York City, Seattle and Portland, Oregon, would be designated as jurisdictions that have permitted violence and destruction of property, opening up the possibility that federal funding for those cities would be cut under a memorandum signed by President Trump early this month. The memo said the government should review the use of federal funds by jurisdictions that permit anarchy, violence, and destruction. It specifically mentioned Portland, Seattle, and New York as well as Washington, DC.

We cannot allow federal tax dollars to be wasted when the safety of the citizenry hangs in the balance, Attonery General William Barr said in a statement. It is my hope that the cities identified by the Department of Justice today will reverse course and become serious about performing the basic function of government and start protecting their own citizens.

The Justice Department announcement criticized the Democratic leaders of those three cities for rejecting federal law enforcement involvement in response to social justice protests and said the cities have refused to undertake reasonable measures to counteract criminal activities. Local leaders have said that President Trump was inflaming tensions by pressing for a stronger law enforcement crackdown on protests and sending armed federal agents to Portland.

The Justice Department said other cities may be added to the list based on a number of criteria, including whether they disempower or defund police departments or any other related factors the Attorney General deems appropriate.

Whats next: The White House budget office is supposed to issue guidance about cutting funding to the three cities, even though its not clear that Trump has the power to cut federal funding. The Trump administration was unsuccessful in a similar funding-cut move against New York and other cities over their immigration policies. A federal appeals court ruled that the move violated the separation of powers spelled out in the Constitution, The Washington Post reports. Then again, whatever the ultimate outcome, the administration has for now reinforced Trumps law and order campaign messaging.

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The City alum Olivia Palermo kicked off the autumn season by wearing a bright blue coat while running errands solo in Manhattan on Monday.

The Connecticut-born, Brooklyn-based 34-year-old protected herself and others from the coronavirus by wearing a pinkish lavender face mask, which New York Governor Andrew Cuomo made mandatory for all public outings on April 15.

As of Monday, there have reportedly been 245K confirmed COVID-19 cases in New York City leading to 23,782 deaths.

Cozy: The City alum Olivia Palermo kicked off the autumn season by wearing a bright blue coat while running errands solo in Manhattan on Monday

Olivia toted a straw basket bag and finished off her fall attire with a cobalt-blue top, grey distressed skinny jeans, and black lace-up boots.

Missing from Palermo's side on Monday was her handsome husband Johannes Huebl, with whom she celebrated six years of marriage on June 21.

The Edit blogger originally met the German 42-year-old model through friends when she was attending The New School back in 2008.

Olivia and her beloved dog, Mr. Butler, appeared in an Instastory where she encouraged Americans to vote early in the presidential election.

Mandatory in New York: The Connecticut-born, Brooklyn-based 34-year-old protected herself and others from the coronavirus by wearing a pinkish lavender face mask

Pandemic: As of Monday, there have reportedly been 245K confirmed COVID-19 cases in New York City leading to 23,782 deaths

Styles herself: Olivia toted a straw basket bag and finished off her fall attire with a cobalt-blue top, grey distressed skinny jeans, and black lace-up boots

'Did you know that in more than 40 states you can vote early in-person?! To be honest, I didn't,' Palermo - who boasts 8.1M social media followers - wrote on Monday.

'If youre concerned about social distancing on Election Day or mail-in ballot timing, early in-person voting may be a great option for you!

'Follow @theearlyvote for more resources and information to make your voice heard. And for my beloved international OP community, spread the word to your American friends!'

Still going strong! Missing from Palermo's side on Monday was her handsome husband Johannes Huebl, with whom she celebrated six years of marriage on June 21 (pictured Sunday)

'Did you know that in more than 40 states you can vote early in-person?' The Edit blogger and her beloved dog, Mr. Butler, appeared in an Instastory where she encouraged Americans to vote early in the presidential election

After years of collaborating with other brands, the fashion maven finally made the leap in February to design her very own 53-piece clothing collection ranging in price from $275-$1,595.

'It's something I have always thought to do,' Olivia told InStyle at the time.

'It was just a matter of when timing was right. I think after 10 years, working on enough collaborations, my brand is changing and going into the next phase.'
Walkers and Wilko have thrown their weight behind the Great British September Clean with hundreds of staff helping out.

The crisp giant and household goods company are official partners of the campaign organised by Keep Britain Tidy and backed by the Daily Mail.

Both organised litter picks at the weekend, with Wilko staff taking part in a clean-up outside their base in Worksop in the East Midlands, while employees from Walkers arranged their own individual clean-ups.

Walkers brand manager Nick Day got his family to take part in a pick near his home in Tring, Hertfordshire.

Wilko have thrown their weight behind the Great British September Clean with staff taking part in a clean-up outside their base in Worksop, East Midlands

Last year the firm set up litter picks at its Leicester factory and offices in Reading and Belfast, with 100 people taking part.

This year more than 200 employees have organised individual clean-ups.

Walkers, promoted by Match of the Day host Gary Lineker, also has a 'Planet Team' to co-ordinate picks in communities throughout the year.

The firm said it was made up of people who are passionate about the environment.

The Walkers factory does not send any waste to landfill. Potato peelings are turned into electricity and provide a quarter of the company's power every year.

Mr Day said: 'It's fantastic to be supporting the Great British September Clean. It's a great opportunity for us to give something back and have a positive impact on our planet.

'We usually do our litter picks as a team, close to our factory and offices, but things are obviously a bit different this year.

'What it means is the Walkers team are now out and about, across the UK, with hundreds of people collecting litter with their families.'

Meanwhile, a team from Wilko took part in a litter pick outside its Worksop base.

The company has worked with Keep Britain Tidy for three years and says it is proud to be supporting the campaign.

Walkers brand manager Nick Day got his partner Sarah and their dogs, Springer spaniel Rolo and Labradour Tess, (above) to take part in a litter pick near his home in Tring, Hertfordshire

It is stocking stores with affordable litter-collecting equipment including pickers and bin bags.

More than 600 staff took part last year and this year the company is encouraging team members to host their own litter picks.

Neil Feakins, of Wilko, said: 'At Wilko, we've been doing our bit to support our local communities for over 90 years.

'We love to get stuck in and we're all about the little wins. That's why we're encouraging all our team members from stores to support centres and logistics to pull together, alongside our customers, to take part in the Great British September Clean.

'We know it's been tough these past few months but it's never been more important to show the power of what little actions can have. Making sure our high streets and places we shop are clean and tidy means we can begin to safely enjoy them and appreciate them a little bit more.'

The Great British September Clean runs until Sunday. For more information, or to pledge to take part, visit keepbritaintidy.org/gbseptemberclean.
Hospitals in Laois and Offaly are facing a 'tricky' situation in deciding how to use six beds for critically ill patients if there is a second Covid-19 surge, according to a local TD who wants more investment to help frontline staff to cope.

Speaking in the Dail Sinn Fein's Brian Stanley highlighted shortages in Ireland's intensive care capacity.

"In Tullamore hospital, for example, there are just four intensive care unit beds and Portlaoise hospital, critically, has only two such beds. That is for a population catchment area of more than 160,000 people. It leaves us in a tricky position if there is a surge in Covid-19 numbers," he said.

The TD asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Michael McGrath what has been done to address ICU shortages across the hospital system.

"What work has the Department of Health done to increase public hospital intensive care unit capacity during the Covid-19 pandemic? This is not just about temporary capacity but rather long-term capacity. Prior to the pandemic, Ireland had only six intensive care unit beds per 100,000 people, which is only half the European Union average and much lower than what is available in Germany.

"These are matters in our health services that must be addressed regardless of whether the pandemic continues. We could have a win in the health area and for the economy by addressing them, said Dep Stanley.

The daily HSE Covid-19 report on Covid-19 in Irish hospitals reveals that Portlaoise has had now spare critical care bed for most of September. During the same month, staff have been treating Covid-19 patients in ICU.

Tullamore has been down to just one critical care bed during September with no spare general care beds. It has also been treating confirmed cases throughout the month.

Naas General in Kildare has also faced shortages as have the other hospitals in the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group, Tallagh and St James's in Dublin.
Actress Huma Qureshi took to Twitter to break her silence on Payal Ghoshs sexual harassment allegation against filmmaker Anurag Kashyap. In a viral video on Saturday, Payal had named Huma Qureshi, Richa Chadha and Mahie Gill and claimed that the filmmaker had asked for sexual favours from them.

Humas statement read, Anurag and I last worked together in 2012-13 and he is a dear friend and an extremely talented director. In my personal experience and to my knowledge he has neither misbehaved with me or anyone else. However, anyone who claims to be abused must report it to the authorities, the police and the judiciary."

I chose not to comment till now because I dont believe in social media fights and media trials. I feel really angry at being dragged into this mess. I feel angry not just for myself but also every woman whose years of hard work and struggle gets reduced to such baseless conjecture and allegations in their workplace. Please lets refrain from this narrative."

It is the joint responsibility of women and men both to protect the sanctity of #MeToo. This is my final response. Please do not make any more statements in the matter," she concluded the statement.

Huma worked with Anurag in Gangs of Wasseypur 1 and 2. Huma is currently in Europe, shooting for Bell Bottom. The film also stars Akshay Kumar, Lara Dutta and Vaani Kapoor.
The administration of US President Donald Trump is racing to toughen the process for US companies to hire skilled foreign workers before the end of the year, changes top Trump officials argue will preserve jobs for Americans amid high unemployment and be politically difficult to reverse.

With just weeks to go until the Nov. 3 election, the White House budget office is reviewing a fast-track regulation that would narrow the definition of a specialty occupation eligible for a skilled-worker visa under the H-1B program, according to the budget office website and administration officials.

A second fast-track regulation would raise the wages that employers must pay to demonstrate foreign workers will not displace Americans in the same occupation and geographic area.

Trump faces re-election on Nov. 3 and has made immigration a focus of his campaign against Democratic challenger Joe Biden. The measures  along with a planned regulation to clamp down on visas for international students and journalists  could be some of Trumps final immigration moves before the election.

The last-minute blitz could make the new rules vulnerable to court challenges or, if Biden wins, possible reversal, according to experts. But White House senior adviser Stephen Miller, the architect of Trumps immigration agenda, argues the policies will have popular support.

Theres going to be no market for someone to drive back down wages on H-1Bs to displace American workers, Miller said in an interview, calling the measures utterly transformative.

Trump issued a sweeping proclamation in June that blocked the entry of many temporary foreign workers, saying it was necessary to preserve jobs for Americans. The US Chamber of Commerce, the countrys largest business association, sued the administration over that ban and said the planned regulations could create unnecessary hurdles for employers.

Companies across multiple industries are very concerned about the potential disruption these proposals will inflict upon their operations, Jon Baselice, the US Chamber of Commerces executive director for immigration policy, said in a statement.

Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia told Reuters that his department planned to raise H-1B wage requirements in light of Trumps June proclamation.

Theres been concern for a long time that the wages at which H-1B workers are allowed to be brought into the country are too low and are undercutting U.S. workers wages, Scalia said in an interview. Thats never acceptable, but totally intolerable when youve got millions of Americans still out of work because of the pandemic.

Outsourcing companies typically make up the bulk of the programs top users and most workers approved for the visas come from India.

Senator Dick Durbin, the second-highest ranking Senate Democrat, cosponsored a bipartisan bill in May that proposed reforms similar to the Trump plans. But he rejected the Trump measures in a statement to Reuters, calling it an obvious political ploy. Some advocates of reforming the H-1B program are also skeptical.

If they really had prioritized this and cared about it, they would have done it months ago, if not years ago, said Daniel Costa, director of immigration law and policy research at the left-leaning Economic Policy Institute.
Suu Kyi vowed that her party will continue to work for peace, security guaranteed by the rule of law, the establishment of democracy, Federal Union and sustainable development.

by Dr S. Chandrasekharan

Despite suggestions from various parties but not the Ruling Party for postponement due to the spread of Wuhan Virus, the Union Election Commission declared that the Elections will take place on November 8th as scheduled.

As of today, the total number of incidence of Wuhan Virus in Myanmar is 6471 with 1445 recoveries and 100 deaths. However of late, the incidence of Virus is spreading fast, doubling every week. It is true that the country is in the grip of Wuhan Virus (Covid 19) with hundreds of cases being reported each day.

Many political parties had sought postponement of elections. The first to do was the party of the 88s, the Peoples Party whose leader Ko Ko Gyi sought postponement of elections in view of the Pandemic on 8th of September.

On 15th of September, 24 political parties led by the Army supported USDP sent an open letter to the Union Election Commission to reconsider the polling dates for the General Elections. Besides the USDP other parties are of no consequence.

The NLD Spokesman, Dr. Myo Nyunt said that the Ruling Party feels that the Elections ought to go ahead as scheduled.

On 21st, one UEC member declared that the General Election will not be postponed due to the Covid crisis. He added that all necessary measures to prevent spread of Virus were being taken for the safety of both the voters and the polling Station personnel and that the number of Polling Stations has been increased from 40000 to 50000 to allow social distancing etc.

Some other measures taken in this connection were

* Money spent on Covid prevention by the Parties like distribution of protective equipment need not be be shown as election expenses.

* Political Parties have been banned from campaigning in townships where the Government had issued stay at home orders. 17 townships in Rakhine and 28 townships in Yangon will come under these orders.

The political parties kicked off the Election Campaign on the 8th of September. There was a flag raising ceremony at Napyitaw to mark the start of the elections.

Campaigning had to be stopped in Mandalay, Sagaing, Pegu and Ayeyarwady regions due to the incidence of Virus. Suu Kyi had to cancel her first election meeting on the 8th.

However, the parties are campaigning online and elections stickers are being used everywhere.

Suu Kyi made a televised speech seeking unanimous support of the people to form the Government. She said that they are allowed to contest only 75 percent of the seats and would need at least 67 percent to form the Government by themselves and appealed to the voters to vote overwhelmingly for her party. Curiously she said that the people should vote not for her but for her Party- but the reality is that people would only vote for her.

Suu Kyi vowed that her party will continue to work for peace, security guaranteed by the rule of law, the establishment of democracy, Federal Union and sustainable development.

Other parties had also taken to televised campaigning. This would include the USDP, National Democratic Party, Shan Nationalist Democratic Party and National Unity Party

The Army (Tatmadaw) had suggested as early as 5th September, that the Union Election Commission should not hold elections in five townships of Wa and the Northern Rakhine State for security reasons.

One can understand about the northern Rakhine where no election can be held even if the Government wants to, because of the intensified civil war going on in that area but one cannot understand about Wa State where everything is peaceful. The Tatmadaw seems to have virtually given up the Wa State to the Chinese.

On September 11th, the UWSA (Wa Group- the Chinese Proxy) opened its first army cadet training school in Pangshang with a class of over 100 Recruits. This academy was inaugurated by the Wa Chief Baa Youxiang and other leaders of the group were also present. Though it is said to be exclusive as mentioned by the Liaison Officer Nyi Rung at Lashio, it is a question of time before other Recruits from the seven Party FPNCC including the Arakan Army are also trained in this school.

This opening of the school and open declaration of the existence of such a school is an affront to the sovereignty of the country and the dignity of the Myanmar Army. This could not have been done without approval or acquiescence from the Chinese. This appears to be part of the overall Chinese strategy of keeping Myanmar under its total control!

According to the Election Commission of the 94 political parties registered, over 60 belong to ethnic political parties. The issue is whether these ethnic political parties will make a decisive impact on the results of the elections? It is too early to say.
Wisconsins attorney general announced Monday that he has selected a former Madison police chief to serve as an independent consultant for prosecutors weighing whether to file charges against the officer who shot Jacob Blake, a Black man who was left paralyzed from the waist down.

The shooting of Blake on Aug. 23 by a white Kenosha police officer made Wisconsin the epicenter of the nations ongoing debate over police violence and racial injustice. It came three months after the death of George Floyd in the custody of Minneapolis police.

Noble Wray, the expert who will review the file, is Black. Following his retirement as Madisons chief in 2013, Wray has become a national leader in working on police reform, fighting racism and educating about implicit bias. Wray was chief for nine years and worked 30 years as a police officer, experience that Attorney General Josh Kaul and Kenosha County District Attorney Michael Gravely said would be crucial when reviewing the file.

Gravely said he requested the consultant but that he asked the Department of Justice to choose.

Kaul said his departments investigation of the shooting is in its final stages. When its done, he will turn it over to Wray for review and an analysis. It will then be up to Gravely about whether to file charges. Gravely said Monday that he had not made any decision about filing charges yet.

Gravely said Wray would bring diverse and abundant perspectives to the case.

Wray said he will provide insight and perspective to the case but not prejudge it. Wray said he will complete his review as quickly as possible, but he has not been given a timeline once he receives the investigative file.

I have not prejudged the case, Wray said.

Blake was shot in the back seven times after walking away from the officer and two others who were trying to arrest him. The officer, Rusten Sheskey, shot Blake after Blake opened an SUVs driver-side door and leaned into the vehicle. Three of Blakes children were in the back seat. The shooting was captured on video and circulated quickly online, fueling protests hours later.

The state Justice Department has said a knife was recovered from Blakes vehicle, but it has not said whether he was holding it when officers tried to arrest him.

Blakes attorney, Ben Crump, has said that Blake was only trying to break up a domestic dispute and did nothing to provoke police. Crump has called for the arrest of Sheskey, the officer who shot Blake, and for the two other officers involved in the shooting to be fired.

Sheskey and the other officers who were at the scene  Vincent Arenas and Brittany Meronek  were placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation by the Wisconsin Department of Justice. None of them have been charged.

The Kenosha police union has said that officers were dispatched on Aug. 23 because of a complaint that Blake was attempting to steal the callers keys and vehicle. Union attorney Brendan Matthews said officers were aware that Blake had an open warrant for felony sexual assault before they arrived.

Blake pleaded not guilty on Sept. 4 to charges accusing him of sexually assaulting a woman in May. A trial date was set for Nov. 9.

Kenosha is a city of about 100,000 people on the shores of Lake Michigan midway between Milwaukee and Chicago.
The United States on Tuesday recorded its 200,000th coronavirus death, a world-leading figure that health experts say could continue to increase by tens of thousands in the coming months.

The growing death toll has far surpassed the earliest estimates of the carnage left by the pandemic, a figure that is nearly double the total U.S. military casualties in wars the U.S. has fought in Korea, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan and Iraq since the end of World War II.

In April, the top U.S. infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, said the death toll would be "more like 60,000," while U.S. President Donald Trump, who early on minimized the coronavirus as something akin to seasonal flus, in May said the toll could be anywhere from 75,000 to 100,000. Now, health analysts at the University of Washington say the death toll could reach 410,000 by the end of the year.

In late April, more than 2,000 deaths a day were being recorded in the U.S. Now the figure is close to 800 deaths daily. Medical researchers are trying to develop a coronavirus vaccine and could have approval for a preventative in the coming months. Without one yet, though, and seasonal colder weather arriving, experts fear the daily death toll could increase again.

The U.S. has the highest death toll among all nations, but some countries in Europe and Latin America have recorded more deaths per capita. President Trump offered no immediate comment on Tuesday's milestone figure, preferring instead to comment on Twitter about other issues, including his pending choice to fill a vacant seat on the U.S. Supreme Court that comes six weeks ahead of his Nov. 3 contest for re-election against his Democratic challenger, former Vice President Joe Biden.

The state of the fight against the virus has become a major point of contention in the campaign for a new four-year term in the White House, with Biden accusing the president of mismanaging the country's response leading to preventable deaths, while Trump gave himself "an A-plus" grade in an interview Monday.

"They are dying. That's true. And you -- it is what it is," Trump said in a late July interview with the Axios news site. "But that doesn't mean we aren't doing everything we can. It's under control as much as you can control it."

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany was asked Tuesday at a news briefing what the White House says to Americans who blame it for the 200,000 deaths. She replied, "The fact that we have come nowhere near 2 million deaths is a testament to this president taking immediate action."

The World Health Organization announced Monday that 156 nations will take part in a global initiative to develop, manufacture and equally distribute a vaccine for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.


In an Opposition-less Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, the government quickly cleared seven bills in roughly three and a half hours, putting its legislative agenda back on track after two days of intense protests and disruptions in the Upper House.

The Congress, Trinamool Congress, Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Nationalist Congress Party, Aam Aadmi Party and Left outfits announced a boycott of Rajya Sabha proceedings for the remainder of the ongoing session if the government did not meet their demands, including revoking the suspension of eight MPs .

After issues related to suspension of MPs and the farm bills were disposed off after a lengthy discussion, legislative agenda took centre-stage around 10 am. By then, the Opposition parties had left the House. And the government managers seized the opportunity to push through several pending bills.

It cleared The Indian Institutes of Information Technology Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2020, The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020, The Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2020, The Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2020, The National Forensic Sciences University Bill, 2020, The Rashtriya Raksha University Bill, 2020 and The Taxation and Other Laws (Relaxation and Amendment of Certain Provisions) Bill, 2020.

The Upper House worked overtime to clear the days legislative package before proceedings ended a little after 2 PM.

To be sure, Rajya Sabha chairman Venkaiah Naidu repeatedly mentioned that the eight lawmakers expelled during the fracas over the passage of the farm reform bills are welcome to return if they express regret for their action on Sunday. The opposition erupted after the deputy chairman denied a request for a division (or voting) and allowed the passage of the bills through a voice vote.

The protests saw MPs rushing to the well of the house, throwing papers, and standing on the table. The BJP has claimed that the lawmakers abused deputy chairman Harivansh .

The approval of seven bills in such a short time is a rare instance in the Rajya Sabha and may help the BJP meet its target of clearing 20 bills, including those replacing 11 ordinances promulgated during the past three months.

In the Lok Sabha too, the Opposition boycotted the session for a day citing the developments in the other House. The Lower House, which sat beyond midnight to clear bills on both Sunday and Monday, approved three key labour reforms after a debate with no participation from the Opposition.

Former parliamentary affairs secretary, Afzal Amanullah said, What I have heard is that proper procedure was not entirely followed while suspending the 8 MPs. I would have been happy if magnanimity were shown to take back the suspended MPs. The bills might have been passed in a perfectly legal way, but perhaps we have lost sight of essence of our parliamentary democracy. This doesnt auger well for future.

Parliamentary democracy is never about majoritarian tyranny. But the capacity to listen, absorb and take others along. It is no use serving tea and simultaneously passing seven bills without the opposition presence. Legislative force is irrelevant without moral force and in many ways this already Covid session have made into a sham session by the government, said senior Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi.

The three labour bills are: The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020, The Industrial Relations Code, 2020 and The Code on Social Security, 2020. The House also cleared The Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Bill, 2020.

Lok Sabha Speaker, Om Birla later called Opposition floor leaders for a chat and urged them to return to the House. According to officials, the meeting was attended by Congress floor leader Adhir Chowdhury and Gaurav Gogoi, NCPs Supriya Sule, DMKs TR Balu, Trinamools Saugata Ray and others.

The leaders clarified to Birla that they have no grievances against him and are happy with the way the Lower House is running.

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Photo: Healthline.com

The provincial Ministry of Health has eliminated more than half of the COVID-19-related symptoms from its daily checklist for students across the province.

Of the 17 symptoms originally listed by the province, only seven remain.

Symptoms such as sore throat, runny nose, headache, fatigue, pink eye, loss of appetite and dizziness have been removed from the list of those parents were told to check for before allowing their children to attend school.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said during her press briefing Monday that, taken in isolation, symptoms removed from the list are not indicative of COVID-19.

"If you have a slight runny nose by itself, then that in and of itself is not a reason for a child, and we're talking about children here, to necessarily stay home from school, so those are things that parents need to make that decision," said Henry.

"There's some things that absolutely - if you have a fever, if you have a cough, those are things where they're much more likely to be associated with something that may be transmissible to others, COVID and other things, but other symptoms by themselves are not necessarily associated with that so that's where we have a bit of leeway and we've modified that."

Henry also said measures are being altered as the ministry learns more about the virus through data obtained not only in B.C., but from across Canada and other places around the world.

She called it a balancing act to make sure children can attend class as much as possible while minimizing the risk they pose.

The seven symptoms remaining on this list include;

Fever

Chills

Cough or worsening of chronic cough

Shortness of breath

Loss of sense of smell or taste

Diarrhea

Nausea and vomiting

Meantime, heading into the second full week of school, 20 exposures to COVID-19 have been reported in B.C. schools. These come from the Island and Vancouver Coastal health regions.

Dr. Henry says most of those exposures are adults within school settings.

"We've also had some exposures where somebody may not have been in the classroom setting for a period of time or in a place where it was a risky exposure but then spent time outside of school with a small number of other students, where those students may have had to stay home, so there's a variety of situations.

"This is what we expected. This is why we're working so closely with schools to make sure that we can identify people quickly, minimize the periods of time that people are at risk, and that we have all those layers of protection in place."

She adds it's probable that, at some point, there may be a school outbreak.
Republicans and Democrats are expected to strike and reach a stimulus deal before returning to their home states to focus on their campaign.

Republicans and Democrats have different perspectives on how the new stimulus package should look like. They also have some disagreements when it comes to the total amount of the package. However, they found their common ground by sending another stimulus check.

Latin Post earlier reported that House lawmakers are going to unveil the details of the new stimulus deal on Monday afternoon. However, the priorities seem to be divided following the death of the Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Until now, there are no updates about the new bill.

Despite these circumstances, Republicans and Democrats want to spend $1,200 stimulus checks to individuals and $2,400 to married couples who jointly filed their taxes. This is to make sure that millions of Americans will have enough money amid the global pandemic.

President Donald Trump has already given a green light to Republicans to reach a deal by embracing a larger amount.

The White House confirmed that they want to reach a stimulus deal with as high as $1.5 trillion, while the Democrats decided to lower their total package from $3 trillion to $2.2 trillion. This means that there is progress in the negotiation.

The progress on the stimulus negotiation started after a tension emerged within the ranks of Democratic representatives. They were frustrated by how House Speaker Nancy Pelosi deals with the stimulus negotiations. Pelosi has rejected a series of proposals from the White House and the Republican lawmakers.

Over 100 Democratic lawmakers sent a letter to Pelosi and asked her to act on the new stimulus immediately. Following this, a bipartisan group composed of Republican and Democratic lawmakers proposed a roughly $1.5 trillion stimulus package that includes stimulus checks and PPP loans.

However, Pelosi seems to reject the proposal initiated by Democratic lawmakers and even called the $1.5 trillion stimulus bill a "cheap deal." She was also quick to respond and told the reporters that Democrats who pushed for the stimulus did not tell her about it.

Even though there is still no guarantee that both parties will reach a deal, it still seems that Republicans and Democrats will strike a deal before the election. In fact, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin already released the possible dates on when millions of Americans will receive the relief aid.

Mnuchin expects a new stimulus bill to reach the Senate before this month ends, and Trump will have it signed immediately. He also said that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is ready to send the stimulus money in a week ending October 12.

The only thing that hampers the stimulus negotiation is Pelosi's perspective that it will boost Trump's reelection bid once there is a new stimulus package. However, as the days progressed, Trump made different orders to help Americans.

Trump has released executive orders that extended the unemployment benefits, house eviction moratorium, suspension of payroll tax collection, freezing of student loans, and more. Recently, he also gave the agriculture and education sectors billions in aid.

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Alt-right media personality Cassandra Fairbanks witness testimony was read out in court yesterday, providing evidence that Julian Assanges April 2019 arrest at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London was politically motivated and directed by United States President Donald Trump.

Fairbanks testified that Arthur Schwartz, a wealthy Republican Party donor and key Trump ally, had told her that Assange was taken from the Ecuadorian Embassy on orders from the president. The conversation between Schwartz and Fairbanks occurred in September 2019 and was recorded by Fairbanks.

Schwartz, a frequent visitor to the White House and informal adviser or fixer to Donald Trump Jr., told Fairbanks the presidents orders were conveyed via US Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell, who brokered a deal with the Ecuadorian government for Assanges removal. Grenell was appointed acting director of national intelligence by Trump in February this year, holding the position until May.

Assanges lawyer, Edward Fitzgerald QC, spelled out the significance of Fairbanks disclosures, telling Judge Vanessa Baraitser they were, evidence of the declared intentions of those at the top who planned the prosecution and the eviction from the embassy.

Assange arrested by the British police on April 11, 2019

Fairbanks, who writes for the pro-Trump Gateway Pundit, is a prominent Assange supporter who visited the WikiLeaks founder at the Embassy on two key occasions. Her evidence was read into proceedings yesterday afternoon unopposed, with Fitzgerald explaining, My learned friend [James Lewis QC for the prosecution] reserves the right to say because shes a supporter of Julian Assange you must take that into account in weighing her evidence. But we say [her evidence] is true.

Given her close connections to leading figures in the Trump administrations fascistic entourage, Fairbanks is uniquely positioned to expose key aspects of the politically motivated vendetta against the WikiLeaks founder. Throughout the extradition hearing, lawyers for the US government have repeatedly claimed the charges against Assange under the Espionage Act are motivated by criminal justice concerns and are not political.

Fairbanks evidence shreds the official narrative of the Department of Justice (DoJ) that Assange was arrested on April 11, 2019 in relation to hacking. In a phone call with Schwartz on October 30, 2018, he made clear that Assange would be arrested as political payback for his role in the Manning case, i.e., the disclosure by US Army whistle-blower Chelsea Manning of US war crimes in Afghanistan and Iraq.

He also told me that they would be going after Chelsea Manning, Fairbanks recalled of her October 2018 phone conversation with Schwartz. This was one of several predictions by the Trump insider that were soon confirmed (Manning was re-arrested in March 2019), with Fairbanks concluding, He knew very specific details about a future prosecution [of Assange]  that only those close to the situation then would have known.

Fairbanks testimony provided chilling evidence of plans by the Trump administration to impose the death penalty. In his October 2018 phone call with Fairbanks, Schwartz said Assange would probably only serve life in prison, but went on to qualify this, He told me that the US government has said they will not pursue the death penalty, something that would have prevented the UK and Ecuador from extraditing him here.

Less than six months later, just hours after Assanges seizure from the embassy, Fairbanks again messaged Schwartz to ask if he knew anything. He responded with a series of messages about how Assange deserved a lethal injection and how both he and Manning should die in prison. Further, He sent me lots of messages about how everyone involved with WikiLeaks deserved the death penalty. I noted in our conversation that it had been reported that Grenell only got a verbal agreement that there would be no death penalty, nothing in writing. Schwartzs response to this was to send me a shrug emoji and he continued his tirade about how Assange deserved to die.

On January 7, 2019, Fairbanks travelled to London to warn Assange of US plans to seize him from the embassy and have him extradited to the US. They discussed quietly, Assange using a little radio to cover up the conversation. They exchanged written notes.

Fairbanks testimony recounts the extraordinary measures they faced during a second two-hour visit on March 25. She was left alone in a cold room for a full hour, while Assange was kept outside and subjected to a full body scan with a metal detector before being let in. The pair had only two minutes to talk. Fairbanks is later made to understand the reason for this aborted visit after Schwartz called and informed me that he knew I had told Assange during the earlier visit.

Fairbanks testimony provides insight into the criminal underworld surrounding the White House. After Trump fires National Security Adviser John Bolton and Grenells name is floated as a replacement, Fairbanks tweets about his involvement in Assanges arrest, which elicits a frantic call from Schwartz. He was ranting and raving that he could go to jail and that I was tweeting classified information Schwartz informed me that in coordinating for Assange to be removed from the embassy, Grenell had done so on direct orders from the president and that other persons who Schwartz said might also be affected included individuals who he described as lifelong friends.

These individuals included Grenell and Las Vegas Sands boss and long-time Trump ally Sheldon Adelson.

In the first half of the day, Professor Christian Grothoff of the Bern University of Applied Sciences testified to the chronology of events leading up to the bulk release of unredacted US State Department cables in September 2011. He is a computer scientist with experience reporting on the Edward Snowden revelations. His evidence demolished the prosecutions claim that Assange and WikiLeaks were responsible for this mass disclosure.

Grothoff explained that the cables were stored online by WikiLeaks and encrypted with a cipher that made it basically useless to anybody that did not have the encryption key. This was, he said, common practice when dealing with sensitive data that is too large to be sent between trusted parties by encrypted email.

When the WikiLeaks website came under attack in late 2010, limiting access to it, copies of the site began to be created by third parties. A minority of these third parties copied the encrypted documents, contrary to WikiLeaks instructions.

One of the people given the encryption key to these documents was Guardian journalist David Leigh. In February 2011, he and fellow Guardian writer Luke Harding published a book titled WikiLeaks: Inside Julian Assange  s War on Secrecy, in which the key was revealed in full.

By late August 2011, the connection between Leighs key and the encrypted documents posted on copies of the WikiLeaks website, but outside of WikiLeaks control, was reported. On August 31 and September 1, the cables began to be published on sites like Cryptome and Pirate Bay. Only afterwards, on September 2, did WikiLeaks publish the cables, explaining their reasons in an editorial:

Revolutions and reforms are in danger of being lost as the unpublished cables spread to intelligence contractors and governments before the public. The Arab Spring would not have started in the manner it did if the Tunisian government of Ben Ali had copies of those WikiLeaks releases which helped to take down his government.

Grothoffs testimony highlighted the central role played by David Leigh in these events. He explained, As far as I can tell Mr. Leigh was one of the very few given access to the full set [of cables]. Assange, Grothoff said, based on the account provided by Leighs own book, was very reluctant to give the Guardian journalist this access. Substantiating that point, Summers referred to a section of Leighs book which reads:

[Leigh] asked Assange to stop procrastinating and hand over the biggest trove of all: the cables. Assange said, I can give you half of them containing the first 50 percent and Leigh refused. All or nothing, he said. What happens if you end up in an orange jumpsuit en route to Guantanamo before you can release the full files? Eventually, Assange capitulated.

In another section of the book, referred to by the prosecution, Leigh describes how It had been a struggle to prise these documents out of Assange. Just six months later, with WikiLeaks engaged in a long process of publishing safe and redacted documents with media partners around the world, Leigh published the password to the full online store of classified, unredacted cables.

Speaking outside the court, Assanges father, John Shipton, said, Today we had the prosecution trying to prove that water runs uphill and up is down.  The defence replied and conclusively demonstrated that it was David Leigh [who caused the unredacted cables to be released]. We can only conclude from the amount of time that the prosecution spent defending David Leigh that David Leigh is a state asset.

At the end of the hearings morning session, an exchange between District Judge Vanessa Baraitser and the legal teams pointed to further restrictions being imposed on the defences ability to present its case.

Seizing on the delays caused by a potential COVID-19 outbreak in the first week of the hearing, Baraitser insisted that the defence prepare a timetable that allowed the hearing to finish within two weeks. When the defence replied that this would leave no time for closing submissions, she reacted enthusiastically to the suggestion of prosecution lawyer James Lewis QC that these could be submitted in written form and summarised in just half a day each for the prosecution and the defence. A final decision is forthcoming.

The hearing continues today.
- A total of eight nominees were selected to contest for the position the World Trade Organisation (WTO)'s director-general

- The general council led by chair David Walker shortlisted five candidates in the first round and among them was Kenya's nominee Amina Mohamed

- Others included Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (Nigeria), Yoo Myung-hee (Republic of Korea), Maziad Al-Tuwaijri (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) and Liam Fox (UK)

- Those who were edged out of the contest were Jesus Seade Kuri (Mexico), Abdel-Hamid Mamdouh (Egypt) and Tudor Ulianovschi (Moldova)

- The second phase of consultations and selection will begin on September 24 and run until October 6 where two candidates out of the five will be selected

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Kenya's nominee for the position of director-general for the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Amina Mohamed has been shortlisted among top five most preferred candidates.

The chair of WTO's general council David Walker of New Zealand and his two co-facilitators in the selection process disclosed the team had settled on five candidates who had attracted the broadest support from members.

READ ALSO: Uhuru's adopted son Daniel Owira says he nearly left school after becoming rich

Kenya's nominee for the position of director-general for World Trade Organisation (WTO) Amina Mohamed. Photo: Amina Mohamed.

Source: Facebook

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The first round of the selection process was completed on Friday, September 18, and saw Amina alongside four other contestants shortlisted.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala of Nigeria, Yoo Myung-hee of the Republic of Korea, Maziad Al-Tuwaijri of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Liam Fox of the United Kingdom also advanced to the next stage.

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Eight nominees

A total of eight nominees had applied for the highly coveted job. Those who were edged out of the contest were Jesus Seade Kuri (Mexico), Abdel-Hamid Mamdouh (Egypt) and Tudor Ulianovschi (Moldova).

Throughout the six days of consultations, it was clear to us that the entire membership is both committed to and fully engaged in this process, said Amb. Walker, who expressed his gratitude to all the candidates, including those who will not advance further.

WTO director general contestant Amina Mohamed. Photo: Amina Mohamed.

Source: Facebook

Amina thanked the council members who exuded confidence in her and promised to live up to her promises if elected as the new director-general of WTO.

"At this critical juncture, I would like to personally thank all the WTO members who have supported my candidature to be the next WTO director-general," she said.

Next stage

The second phase of consultations and selection will begin on September 24 and run until October 6.

During this time, members will be asked in the confidential consultations to express two preferences to the facilitators with an eye to bringing the number of candidates from five to two.

The date for the commencement of the third phase would be announced during the unveiling of the list of the final two candidates upon completion of the second round of selection.

Selection process

On July 31, the council agreed that the process would have three stages of consultations held over a period of two months commencing September 7.

"During the period, the number of candidates would be reduced from eight to five and then two before a consensus is reached on which of the candidates becomes the WTO's 7th Director-General," said the council.

The process for selecting a new director-general commenced in May when the then DG Roberto Azevedo informed WTO members that he would be stepping down a year earlier.

He subsequently left office on August 31.

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Linkedin Polina Ivanova and Anthony Boadle (Reuters) Moscow, Russia/Brasilia, Brazil  Tue, September 22, 2020 15:50 487 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c466e4b5 2 World Russia,coronavirus,COVID-19,COVID-19-vaccine,pandemic,SARS-CoV-2,virus-corona,novel-coronavirus Free

Russia is so confident in its COVID-19 vaccine that it will shoulder some of the legal liability should anything go wrong, rather than requiring buyers to take on the full risk, the head of the state fund bankrolling the project told Reuters.

The decision leaves the vaccine's state-backed developers open to potentially costly compensation claims should there be any unexpected side-effects. It is something many vaccine-makers have sought to avoid, by asking for full indemnity - complete protection from liability claims - from nations they sell to.

The approach is different from many places in the world. In the United States, for example, liability for COVID-19 vaccines has been shifted fully to the U.S. government. This shields the developers because widespread inoculation against the disease is considered a benefit to society.

With the global vaccine race hotting up, and dozens of candidates being tested on humans, backers of Russia's 'Sputnik-V' shot see liability as a key battleground as they aim to capture market share.

"Russia is so confident in its vaccine that it has not asked for full indemnity and this is a major differentiating factor versus any Western vaccine," said Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), the state sovereign wealth fund that is backing the vaccine.

"All of them are asking for full indemnity of legal risks."

Dmitriev did not say whether buyers of the Russian vaccine would be asked to take on partial liability, and did not give details about indemnity clauses. His representatives said he had nothing more to add.

However, the health secretary of the Brazilian state of Bahia, which plans to buy 50 million doses of Russia's vaccine, told Reuters the legal risks would be carried by Russian entities.

Vaccine developers around the world are compressing years of development into months, raising the possibility of unexpected consequences and making the issue of compensation claims a key point in supply deal negotiations.

For example, British drugmaker AstraZeneca, which has developed a vaccine with Oxford University, has been granted full protection from any future liability claims by many countries with which it has signed supply deals, a senior executive told Reuters in July.

Dmitriev's comments came after some scientists expressed concerns about the safety and efficacy of Sputnik-V, which the Russian government approved for use before completing large-scale human trials.

Brazilian buyers

Sputnik-V was developed by Moscow's Gamaleya Institute, a state research body. The RDIF, which is marketing the vaccine abroad, will shoulder some of the legal risks in supply contracts along with pharmaceutical firms in the fund's portfolio which are producing the shot.

"We are confident in the long-term consequences," Dmitriev said. "We are putting our money where our mouth is by not asking for full indemnity in partnerships we create in different countries."

Thus far, RDIF has announced deals to supply just over 200 million doses, half to Latin America and half to India. The fund says it has orders for as much as 1 billion doses.

Fabio Vilas-Boas, health secretary of Brazil's Bahia state, which is placing the 50-million-dose order, told Reuters the legal risks would be carried by the Russian pharmaceutical firms producing and supplying the vaccine.

"In the case of any adverse event, nothing will stop people who feel they have been harmed from filing a class action against any of the pharmaceutical companies," said Fabio Vilas-Boas, who negotiated the testing and letter of intent with RDIF.

Neither Bahia nor Parana, a Brazilian state which plans to conduct trials of Sputnik-V on 10,000 volunteers, have actually signed contracts for supply of the vaccine, according to Bahia's Vilas-Boas and the Parana state governor's chief of staff, Guto Silva, who also negotiated with the Russian side.

Thus far, deals have been formalized only in memorandums of understanding, as contracts are awaiting the vaccine's approval by Brazil's health regulators.

Insurance for volunteers

Russia has staked its scientific reputation on the results after approving the vaccine for domestic use before mass testing had even begun, becoming the first country to license a COVID-19 vaccine.

Late-stage trials, known as Phase III, are currently ongoing in Russia, with at least 40,000 volunteers taking part. Initial results are expected in October or November.

Volunteers in its Phase III trial are unpaid, but their insurance is covered, including a payout of 2 million rubles ($26,430) in case of death, one volunteer told Reuters.

RDIF also expects to run trials of the vaccine abroad, with plans already in place with Indian pharmaceutical firm Dr Reddy's and with Brazil's Parana state, both pending regulatory approval.

Many people involved in the Sputnik-V's development, including Dmitriev, have tried the jab on themselves in a bid to convince the world of the safety of a Russian-made vaccine.

Dmitriev said he was not concerned about the risk of compensation claims against RDIF.

"We know it will not happen. Because the vaccine has been studied for decades," he said.

"We know we will not have ... billions and billions of liabilities because we have a proven platform and they don't," he said. "Simple."
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 21

By Leman Zeynalova  Trend:

The Armenian leaderships inflammatory remarks are exacerbating an already inflammable situation around the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, US expert in European politics Peter Tase told Trend on Sept. 21.

The discourse adopted recently by Armenian Minister of Defense Davit Tonoyan is encouraging military operations and reconnaissance missions from Yerevan inside the sovereign territory of Azerbaijan, Tase added. Tonoyans inflammatory remarks and misleading language is exacerbating an already inflammable situation. Armenia has called for assistance to the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).

The Article 4 is the key part of the CSTO Treaty, states: If one of the Member States undergoes aggression, it will be considered by the Member States as aggression to all the Member States of this Treaty," the expert said. In the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, it is a fact that Armenia is the aggressor party and has violated for three decades, all international treaties and humanitarian laws by conducting a ruthless ethnic cleansing campaign against the Azerbaijani nation.

In front of these wicked acts of fascist Armenia, the world has remained silent, the US expert said.

Silence is not a formula for success, indeed it exacerbates armed conflicts to a point of no return, Tase said. Now is the time to exert all political pressure on Armenia. The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe must review carefully the politico-military situation in Armenia and must take the lead towards solving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict by peaceful means.

The Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement signed between Armenia and the European Union (CEPA) on November 24, 2017; must be suspended until Tonoyan and other ministers adopt a language of reconciliation, fully respecting the international laws, the territorial sovereignty of neighboring countries, Tase said.

It is imperative for United Nations, European Union and NATO to deliver a strong message to Armenian leaders, calling for restraint and condemning their remarks, the expert said.

The Armenian prime minister must exercise his constitutional duties within his nation's borders, to strictly focus on the wellbeing of his countrymen and abandon attacks against Azerbaijani civilian population, Tase said. Armenia must withdraw its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh region and from seven occupied territories adjacent to this region.

US journalist Herbert Swope once said: "I cannot give you the formula for success, but I can give you the formula for failure, which is: Try to please everybody", Tase added. The EU is pleasing everybody to the detriment of the Azerbaijan Republic and its peace-loving people. This attitude - which certainly is self-destructive for the European continent, must change.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn
(L-R) President Donald Trump in Daytona Beach, Fla., on Feb. 16, 2020. Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden in Wilmington, Del., on July 28, 2020. (Chris Graythen/Getty Images; Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)

COVID-19, Economy, Violence in Cities Among Topics for First Trump-Biden Debate

The COVID-19 pandemic and the violence thats taken place in cities across the country this year are among the topics chosen by Fox News moderator Chris Wallace for the first debate between President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.

Biden and Trump are scheduled to face off on Sept. 29 at Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio.

Wallace chose COVID-19, Race and Violence In Our Cities, the candidates records, The Integrity of the Election, the economy, and The Supreme Court, as the six topics the candidates will answer questions on.

Each topic will be tackled for 15 minutes.

The debate is slated to go on for 90 minutes.

The Commission on Presidential Debates, a self-described nonpartisan commission that arranges the debates, announced the topics on Tuesday.

The sun sets behind the US Capitol Building the day after the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in Washington on Sept. 19, 2020. (Samuel Corum/Getty Images)

The topics are announced ahead of time in order to encourage deep discussion of the leading issues facing the country, the commission stated.

The topics could change because of news developments, it added.

Wallace was chosen by the commission to moderate the first debate.

The second debate, slated for Miami on Oct. 15, will be moderated by Steve Scully, an executive producer for C-SPAN.

Kristen Welker, a White House correspondent for NBC News, was tabbed to moderate the third debate, scheduled in Nashville, Tennessee, on Oct. 22.

USA Todays Washington bureau chief Susan Page is marked down to moderate the sole debate between the vice president and the Democrat nominee.

Vice President Mike Pence and Bidens running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), will debate in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Oct. 7.
The IPO of CAMS, which opened on Monday, was fully subscribed 46.87 times as of 4:30 pm today, the final day of the issue. The share price band of Computer Age Management Services Limited (CAMS) issue has been fixed at 1,229-1,230. The issue closes on Wednesday. Ahead of the 2,250 crore IPO, CAMS, which acts as a registrar and transfer agent (RTA) for mutual funds, raised over 660 crore from 35 anchor investors.

Lot size and probable listing date

The lot size of CAMS IPO is 12 which means that investors have to apply for a minimum of 12 shares and in multiples thereof. The shares of CAMS will get listed on both BSE and NSE. According to brokerages, the share allocation is likely to be finalised on 28 September while listing is likely to happen on October 1. Link Intime India Pvt Ltd is the registrar of the IPO.

Minimum application for one lot at upper price band is 14,760. A retail investor can apply for maximum 13 lots.

The entire quantum of shares being sold to investors in CAMS IPO is NSE's 37.4% holding or 1.82 crore shares. NSE is fully divesting its stake in the company through this IPO on the direction of market regulator Sebi.

CAMS is Indias largest registrar and transfer agent (RTA) of mutual funds with an aggregate market share of around 70% based on mutual fund AUM managed. In FY20, CAMS generated 87% of the revenue from the mutual fund services business.

The five-year CAGR of quarterly AAUM of mutual funds between March 2015 and March 2020 was 18% according to a Crisil report, while the five-year CAGR of the quarterly AAUM of mutual funds serviced by CAMS over same period was 21%. A significant portion of CAMS mutual fund revenues are based on the mutual fund AAUM of its clients.

"CAMS stands to benefit from the high entry barriers in the industry. The MF RTA business is technology intensive and requires extensive branch network and high operating leverage. Notably, it is challenging for the clients to replicate CAMS physical network or technology platforms in-house," says domestic brokerage Anand Rathi.

The revenues of CAMS have increased from 641.5 crores in FY18 to 699.6 crores in FY20 while consolidated PAT improved from 145.9 crores in FY18 to 173.4 crores in FY20. "Also, the company has zero debt and exhibits healthy cash flows. Additionally, the companys dividend distribution policy calls for a payout of at least 65% of consolidated net profit," says Anand Rathi.

What analysts say

LKP Securities has recommended subscribe to CAMS IPO, citing its leadership position, zero debt, healthy cash position and high return ratios.

Another brokerage Anand Rathi also has a subscribe rating. "While currently there is no listed player to compare, we believe the IPO is reasonably priced considering the latest numbers. We remain optimistic on growth prospects of CAMS, given its leadership position in the market, scalable technology with robust infrastructure, strategic growth initiatives, high entry barriers in the industry and gradual growth in AAUM in the coming periods," the brokerage said in a note.

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OSLO, Norway, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- NES Global Talent (NES), in which Akastor holds an economic interest of around 17%, has today announced that it has entered into an agreement to combine its business with the Fircroft Group (Fircroft). The transaction represents a strategic alignment to create one of the leading human capital solutions business for engineering and technical talent globally. The combined entity will be known as NES Fircroft. Akastor CEO, Karl Erik Kjelstad, will continue as Board Member for the new NES Fircroft Board. Akastor's economic interest in NES Fircroft will be around 15%.

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.
Thiruvananthapuram, September 22 : Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala on Tuesday vowed that the congress-led opposition UDF would continue their fight for justice in the Kerala assembly vandalism case until the guilty were punished.

His comment came in the backdrop of the chief judicial magistrate courts dismissing the CPI(M)-led LDF governments plea to quash the case against its legislators for vandalizing assembly property during the tenure of the UDF government in 2015.

Chennithala told reporters that the LDF government would have to leave office in ignominy.

Six LDF legislators are arraigned as accused in the case. Two of them, K T Jaleel and E P Jayarajan, are ministers in the current LDF government. The case had been registered on the basis of a plaint filed by two social activists.

The LDF government had moved court seeking to quash the case acting on a request by former CPI(M) legislator and an accused in the case V Sivankutty to chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

The government had sought to fall back on the excuse of legislative privilege to seek the quashing of the plaint.

The CJM court, however, turned down the governments plea. Terming the charges against the legislators of having destroyed public property during the pandemonium inside the house as serious, the court said that the accused would have to face trial. Quashing the case would send a wrong message to the public, the court reportedly observed orally.

Former home minister and congress MLA Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan pooh-poohed the LDF governments attempt to excuse the LDF legislators conduct inside the assembly by invoking legislative privilege.

Terming the havoc wrought by the LDF legislators in the assembly as criminal, Radhakrishnan asked whether the assembly was a lawless place where anyone could get away with committing a criminal offence.

Radhakrishnan also alleged that the LDF governments desperation to have the case quashed was aimed at protecting the two incumbent ministers who are among the accused in the case.

In 2015, the then opposition LDF had created a pandemonium in the assembly purportedly to prevent then finance minister K M Mani from presenting the state budget. Mani was then facing graft allegations in the bar bribery scandal and the opposition LDF had been staging widespread agitations demanding his resignation.
Over 200 Covid-19 cases at new migrant facility on Lesvos Temporary camp reports more cases amid rapid testing

(ANSAmed) - ATHENS, SEPTEMBER 22 - A total of 243 positive Covid-19 cases have been recorded at the new temporary facility for refugees and migrants on the Greek island of Lesvos, the Greek government has announced.



Spokesman Stelios Petsas told a media briefing that a local team of National Public Health Organisation (EODY) staff had conducted a total of 7,064 rapid tests from September 12-20 at the camp - which consists of tents set up at the Kara Tepe area near the port of Mytilene. The 243 positive tests means that 3.44% of the total population were found to have the virus. The camp was hastily set up following a series of fires which ripped through and completely destroyed the overcrowded Moria camp, displacing over 12,000 people. A total of 9,200 people had been transferred to the new facility by Monday according to the government, and the process of examining their asylum applications has already been launched.



According to EODY data, 128 of those diagnosed to be positive are men, with an average age of 24. However, it's worth noting that children under the age of 10 did not take the test, while 40% of the total refugee population there are children. Given that the area in Kara Tepe is smaller than that of Moria and the pandemic seems to be seeing a spike in positive cases across Greece, the risk of transmitting the virus remains very high.



Coronavirus tests have also been performed on a total of 160 police and administrative staff, while 40 members of various NGOs were also tested. All of those tests came back negative.



According to the government's announcements, the police operation to get all the refugees and migrants into the new structure in Kara Tepe will be completed by the end of Tuesday, while the roads that were closed during recent weeks are being reopened. Businesses in the area which have remained closed since Wednesday, September 9 will also reopen.



In related developments, the humanitarian NGO Refugee Support Aegean (RSA) published a statement from an Afghan migrant which summed up the conditions and mood among the people staying at the facility, via its Twitter account, which read: "We are 100 people in one big tent. We have no shower, not enough water and toilets. It's not good to put so many people in a tent. We are so scared of Covid-19." Meanwhile, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for Greece commented that the Kara Tepe camp, which consists only of tents, "can only be a temporary solution". The UNHCR also said that the Greek authorities have not yet clarified what the future use of the facility will be. "Our teams are providing assistance with spatial and location planning to facilitate the distribution of accommodation, the provision of information, and the distribution of basic necessities to all those entering the new facility," said UNHCR press spokesperson Shabia Mantoo. (ANSAmed).




Libyas National Oil Corporation (NOC) sees oil production rising to around 260,000 barrels per day (bpd) next week, up from some 100,000 bpd before the blockade of its oil ports and oilfields was lifted at the end of last week.

According to an NOC post on Facebook, carried by The Libya Observer, NOC is also proceeding with arranging for oil tankers to start arriving from Wednesday to ship crude from oil ports that are safe and not occupied by armed groups.

Crude shipments will resume from the ports of Brega and Hariga at first and will be later followed by other ports, depending on the safety and security situation, NOC said.

Over the weekend, Libyas state oil corporation lifted the force majeure on the oil terminals it considered safe, and said it would restart production from certain fields and some exports of crude oil. NOC will only restart production at safe fields and exports from safe ports, the company said.

Our main concern is to start production and exports taking into account the safety of workers and operations, as well as to prevent any attempts to politicize the national oil sector, which means that the NOC is doing its technical and non-political mission to resume operations in the safe areas and a technical evaluation is under way in preparation for the start of production and exports, NOCs chairman Mustafa Sanalla said. Related: Oil Prices Slide As Libya Restarts Production

The head of the Libyan National Army (LNA), General Khalifa Haftar, whose troops, with help from affiliated groups, blockaded Libyas oil ports in January, announced the end of the blockade on Friday.

The prospect of Libyan oil returning to the oil market struggling with weak demand recovery contributed to the sell-off in oil on Monday.

Obviously, the global oil market is in a fragile state, given the slower than expected demand recovery, therefore any additional supply is only going to make efforts from OPEC+ to rebalance the market more difficult, ING strategists Warren Patterson and Wenyu Yao said.

Commenting on Mondays sell-off in oil, John Hardy, Head of FX Strategy at Saxo Bank, said:

Together with the expected reopening of Libyas oil industry, the market took fright with Brent falling to $41/b, the 61.8% retracement of last weeks rally.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
A newlywed Corvallis couple is using one of their favorite hobbies to help residents find joy and comfort during the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Isaac and Callie Kennel, owners of Coocoos Cookies, launched their home-based business on Sept. 3, that was months in the making. Near the beginning of the pandemic, Callie Kennel said, the couple wanted to surprise their friends with cookies to spread some cheer during quarantine.

We were just feeling really disconnected from our friends, she said.

So, using their favorite from-scratch chocolate chip cookie recipe, the couple baked a batch of the good stuff and left them on the doorsteps of people they knew.

We ding-dong-ditched everybody, basically, Callie Kennel said. We ding-dong-ditched my boss at 7 a.m. So that was a really fun morning.

What was a fun idea, however, turned into a lightbulb moment.

We were just surprised with how much people liked it, she said. Food delivery got really popular and quarantine just kept going and going. So we decided that we could probably make it bigger and give people the opportunity to send (cookies) to one another.

The Kennels have been trying to support local businesses in pursuit of their own, Callie added. Burst's Candies supplies their chocolate chips, 2% milk (which can be added to orders) is from Umpqua Dairy and they plan on getting branded shirts printed at Shirt Circuit.

For now, they only sell milk chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate chip cookies, but Isaac Kennel teased that there may be a white chocolate-hazelnut flavor in the mix soon, with the hazelnuts sourced from his family orchard.

The company's name comes from Callie Kennel, a lifelong chocolate chip cookie lover, who mispronounced the word cookies as "coocoos" when she was a toddler.

Throughout her relationship with her husband, theyve shared a passion for from-scratch cookies.

Its kind of cathartic when youre mixing the dough up and making it into perfect dough balls, Isaac Kennel said. Callie and I enjoy baking and cooking a lot, so its enjoyable.

The two first met while working in Salt Lake City, when a hot new girl started at work, as Issac Kennel recalled.

In our first real job out of college, our cubicles were back to back, Callie Kennel said. So there was quite a bit of time to get to know each other.

The two started clicking pretty fast according to Isaac Kennel, and began dating. When Isaac Kennel, a fifth-generation farmer, eventually returned to Oregon to help head his familys Majestic Oak Farms based in Monmouth, the couple got engaged and his fiancee followed him to Oregon shortly thereafter.

They married last August, moved into their Southtown Corvallis home in May, and now here we are making cookies, Callie Kennel said.

Because they work full-time  Isaac Kennel with his family farm and Callie Kennel with the Oregon State University Alumni Association  the two decided to make their cookie business mostly a weekend operation. But they've also stepped up to help out the community, like donating cookies to a hotel movie night for wildfire evacuees in Corvallis.

They make deliveries between 7 p.m. and midnight Thursdays through Sundays only, but orders can be placed ahead of time too. Every order is a box of 4 jumbo-sized cookies for $10, plus a $3.99 delivery fee. Customers can also request to have a note written on the box of cookies if their order is a gift.

For now, the couple only delivers to Corvallis addresses, but they make an exception if a request is sent through their website. Isaac Kennel said theyre willing to see how the business grows and expand it as far as it takes us.

In the meantime, Callie Kennel said, their business model is simple: the cookies are ordered, the cookies are baked, then the cookies are delivered. Their only hope is that theyre helping people feel a little more connected and not so miserable all the time during the pandemic.

We have nothing else to do, she said. Might as well make cookies.

For more information about the Kennels and their business, visit coocooscookies.com.

The Kennel File Callie and Isaac Kennel Ages: 28 Residence: Southtown Corvallis Occupations: Callie is Pacific Northwest Regional Network Director of Engagement for the OSU Alumni Association. Isaac is a fifth-generation farmer with Majestic Oak Farms. Education: Callie has a master's of business administration from the University of Utah. Isaac has a bachelor's degree from the University of Oregon. Affiliations: Callie is on the steering committee and is the chair of the development committee for the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition. $1 from every box of cookies purchased from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15 will go toward the Coalition. Favorite Cookies: Callie loves a classic milk chocolate chip cookie over everything else. Isaac is partial to white chocolate-hazelnut cookies, with hazelnuts from his family orchard.

Do you have an idea for a Story Next Door profile? Email your suggestions to news@gtconnect.com with STORY NEXT DOOR in the subject line. Reporter Nia Tariq can be reached at 541-812-6091 and nia.tariq@lee.net.

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Scientific theory can at times come down to quite simple sums. So the two leading UK government scientists figured in an address to the nation this week that a continually doubling rate of virus infections could lead to 50,000 infections a day by mid-October, which in turn could bring 200 deaths a day come winter, if the spread of the virus is left unchecked that is. They did point out that the projected trajectory indicates a risk and it is not a prediction.

The dire sums were intended no doubt to scare people into following new rules. The approach has been quite different to that across many parts of India that are seeing the virus spread. Similar sums could of course be done in India, though we hear less of what the total could be a few weeks or a couple of months from now should the rising pattern continue unchecked. The Indian government and state administrations are not handing out the doomsday scenarios Britain has begun to.

Call it the Second Coming or more of the first, the virus is spreading rapidly in Europe parallel to the rising numbers in India. But steps to counter it are beginning to differ in some unexpected ways, as are government projections from the optimistic in India to the pessimist in Europe, certainly in Britain.

Given the gloomy warning from UK government scientists, the new risk reduction measures seem odd: the headline measure announced on Tuesday is that pubs, bars and restaurants must close an hour earlier, at 10pm rather than 11pm. Staff at restaurants and pubs will be required to wear masks, and so will customers, except as the Prime Minister pointed out perhaps unnecessarily, when they sit down to eat.

The Cabinet was deeply divided over opening of pubs and restaurants amid the rising virus. Several ministers wanted tighter curbs, the decision was in the end a compromise. Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak wanted none of these curbs. He had floated an Eat Out to Help Out Scheme under which the government footed half of all restaurant bills up to ten pounds per head per person on three days a week all of last month. That move clearly helped restaurant owners more than it did to help contain the spread of the virus. The governments new moves acknowledge that a lot of the spread we are now seeing has originated in pubs and restaurants.

How effective the compromise decision on pubs can be seems doubtful. A counter-theory advanced sounds reasonable if not precisely scientific: that people may just start going to pubs a little earlier, and then drink faster and more. That could lead possibly, some believe probably, to more packed evenings, and we all know what that means for virus transfers.

Guests at wedding parties are being limited now to 15 from 30 earlier. We havent had the arithmetic on how many such 30-strong parties wedding take place, and how far those have fed the virus spread that 15 less at one of these will now limit. The effect on cutting the rate of weekly doubling cases could hardly be significant.

Other measures that were anticipated did not come. No limits have been announced on gatherings from different households. Up to 30 can still go to a funeral.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the principle behind these new moves: keeping the economy going while curbing the spread of the virus. That is of course a challenge every country faces, and every country is finding its own balance of policies to deal with this. But an hours cut in pub and restaurant hours? That will keep those businesses going no doubt but may do little to stop Covid going. Or those halved guests at weddings.

After an announcement just a couple of weeks back encouraging people to go back to work in offices, the government now wants people again to work from home as far as possible, except where unavoidable such as construction and retail. Whatever the new rules, no one is sure how soon any will be reversed. Some of this is down to adaptation in a fast-changing scenario. But this has been quite the most U-turning government Britain has had in a long time.

The new rules in Britain could last six months, Johnson warned. Which is to say they will stay all winter, unless the situation were to improve dramatically. But given the anticipated difficulties through winter, few hope that the all clear can be sounded before Christmas, or even shortly after. And few are expecting a mass vaccine rollout before early next year.

All of Europe is in for a winter of discontent. It will be lucky if it is no worse, and if the restrictions the government may have to bring in are no worse than heading home from the pub an hour earlier than usual.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 22, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Healthcare Minister Arsen Torosyan held a phone conversation on September 22 with outgoing Chinese Ambassador Tian Erlong.

Torosyan highly appreciated the assistance of the Chinese people, government and the embassy for the development of the Armenian healthcare sector and expressed gratitude for the ambassadors personal efforts in the direction of the realization of assistance and partnership programs, the ministry said in a readout of the call.

The healthcare minister especially underscored the importance of the material-technical, specialized-advisory assistance provided by China in Armenias COVID-19 response.

The sides also discussed the possibility of future cooperation in the direction of the application of Chinese coronavirus vaccines under development and equipping Armenias healthcare system with new equipment with Chinas support.

Torosyan wished good luck to Erlong in future activities and expressed certainty that bilateral cooperation programs will productive resume with the new Chinese ambassador.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
NORWALK  After 16 years of searching, police have found and arrested a 55-year-old man suspected of raping a 14-year-old girl.

Donald Charles, 55, of the Bronx, N.Y., was arrested on Friday for a sexual assault that allegedly occurred back in May 2004.

Police said the victim was in her room when Charles entered and asked to have sex with her. The victim declined, but Charles restrained her and forcibly had sex with the victim, Lt. Jared Zwickler said.

Norwalks Special Victim Unit recently learned that Charles was staying in New York City with the help of the U.S. Marshals Service. On Friday, he was taken into custody and brought back to Connecticut.

Charles was charged with first-degree sexual assault and risk injury to a minor. He was given a court date on Sept. 30.
High Representative of the European Union for Foreign and Security Policy, Vice-President of the European Commission Josep Borrell started his official visit to Ukraine with a meeting with representatives of civil society and parliament, at which he noted the importance of independent anti-corruption institutions and judicial reform in Ukraine.

"Started my visit to Ukraine today with a meeting with representatives of civil society and parliament. Strong, independent and effective anti-corruption institutions and judicial reforms are critical to respond to the wishes of the Ukrainian people," Borrell wrote on Twitter on Tuesday.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade has initiated an anti-dumping investigation into sugar imports from Thailand, which have increased six-fold this year.

The probe follows complaints by Vietnamese sugar producers that Thai exporters, with subsidy from their government, are dumping their products in Vietnam and causing damage to the local sugar industry, the Trade Remedies Authority of Vietnam said in a statement.

Import of sugar from Thailand increased six times year-on-year in the first eight months of this year to nearly 950,000 tonnes, it said.

Vietnamese producers, represented by six major companies, said the surging imports hit their production, causing it to fall by 33 percent to 800,000 tonnes in the 2019-2020 crop.

They have sought an anti-dumping duty of 37.9 percent.

Vietnam removed import duties on sugar imported from ASEAN countries this year in accordance with the commitments of the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA).
New multimode beacon network for South Africa Following the successful launch of the 2 metre Bethlehem beacon in December 2019, the VHF Working Group has been investigating digital options so that a reverse beacon network could be established to monitor the various propagation modes, such as tropospheric propagation and others. The reverse beacon network will be able to send SMS alerts when an opening occurs. The current CW signal is not suitable for reverse beacon monitoring.



At its monthly meeting this past week, the group agreed to develop a multimode beacon network with next-generation beacons in Cape Town, the Karoo, and at the current Bethlehem site. The new beacons will transmit a digital signal, a Morse code signal, and a continuous tone that can be used for frequency calibration.



The estimated cost of the three beacons will be around R60 000 which will have to collected through crowdfunding and donations. AMSAT SA, whose interest beside satellites, is also weak signal communication, has started the fund with a donation of R5 000.



Support the future of amateur radio technology by contributing to the project. Donations can be made by EFT. The account is SARL, ABSA Account No: 407 158 8849, Branch code 632 005. The reference must be Beacon and your call sign or surname. Please send a copy of the EFT to admin@sarl.org.za. Donations will be acknowledged weekly on the SARL website. A special beacon project page will be created.



Over the next few weeks more details will be included in SARL News on the web and in Brian Jacobs' "Focus on VHF and above" broadcast in Amateur Radio Today. South African Radio League
Graphcore Elite Partner Program will support customers across the globe to make new breakthroughs in machine intelligence

BRISTOL, England, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Graphcore is pleased to announce the launch of its Elite Partner Program, a global network of channel partners helping to fulfil customer demand for the company's acclaimed AI compute platform, the IPU-M2000 and IPU-POD for scale-out and supercomputing scale.

At launch, the Graphcore Elite Partner Program includes many of the world's best-known channel partners, technology distributors, and resellers, with additional partners being added over time.

The full list of launch partners is: 2CRSi, Atos, Boston Limited, BSI, Dell Technologies, Digital China, Inspur, Lambda, Macnica/Cytech, Meadowgate Technologies, Megazone, OCF, Penguin Computing, Softcat, Tech Data Europe, Tech Data US, and Wildflower International.

The scale and international reach of Graphcore's go-to-market partner program reflects the momentum that has already built around the company's Intelligence Processing Unit (IPU), as well as the high demand for its recently announced second-generation IPU systems.

"The Graphcore Elite Partner Program allows us to serve commercial, academic and governmental customers around the world, through some of the most trusted names in the information technology supply chain," said Graphcore CEO Nigel Toon.

"Our new IPU-M2000 system offers unparalleled compute performance, with a cost of ownership that is far more attractive than the legacy technologies that have dominated machine intelligence until now. That's creating a wave of excitement and commercial opportunities that span the globe."

The Graphcore Elite Partner Program allows founding members to offer their customers the leading next-generation AI computing platform, at a time when artificial intelligence is permeating every industry, from finance and healthcare to automotive and consumer internet.

In addition to the growing need for AI compute within the private sector, demand is growing rapidly in the public sector and from research institutions. Artificial Intelligence is also, increasingly, assuming many of workloads previously undertaken by high performance computing (HPC).

"Graphcore is clearly lining up the right partners to make the MK2 and IPU Machine broadly available," said Karl Freund, Sr Analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy.

"I expect the company to expand this list further as customers gain experience with the highly flexible IPU Machine and the Poplar software development stack."

Graphcore Elite Partner Program Member Quotes:

2CRSi

"2CRSi is always eager to integrate new innovative technology and provide state of the art solutions. We are excited to combine 2CRSi hardware expertise and Graphcore's cutting edge technology to propose best-in class products for AI computing. We are therefore thrilled to join Graphcore's Elite Partner Program and to be able to deliver Graphcore's IPU-M2000 product to customers across Europe and the Middle East."

Alain Wilmouth, Founder and CEO, 2CRSi

Atos

"Graphcore technology is a promising technology proven across many of the sectors that Atos serves, from medical research to financial services, academia to automotive.

"With demand for AI compute growing, we are delighted to be making Graphcore systems available throughout our ecosystem."

Agnes Boudot, Senior Vice President, Head of HPC & Quantum at Atos

Boston Limited

"Boston have been at the forefront in the transition to AI compute solutions and are very well placed to recognise that corporations, research institutions and public bodies are looking to harness this new way of processing their data. The reduction in time, cost and green credentials afforded by using Graphcore's systems have created incredible excitement with both commercial and technical specialists. We are delighted to be making the IPU-M2000 available to our customers."

Dev Tyagi, CSMO, Boston Limited

BSI

"BSI's clients are leaders in their industries, continually seeking a competitive advantage that will benefit themselves and their customers. Graphcore's built-for-AI compute solution offers precisely that, and has already proven its worth in financial services, computer vision, natural language and numerous other applications. We expect Graphcore technology to become a must-have tool for anyone seeking to get the most out of their AI investment."

Daniel Goodman, Managing Director, Business Systems International Ltd., (BSI)

Dell Technologies

"The transformational impact of AI and machine learning spans applications in our daily lives to the ability to effect human progress. As Machine Learning models increasingly become more sophisticated, new processing technologies are needed to meet the resource demands required to drive business outcomes. Seeing this opportunity, Dell Technologies Capital was an early investor in Graphcore. Working with Dell Technologies OEM Solutions, Graphcore now can offer a turnkey system, engineered with Dell EMC PowerEdge R6525 servers, designed to accelerate machine intelligence, helping customers reduce their time to value in training AI models and achieving business insights."

Ron Pugh, vice president and general manager, Dell Technologies OEM Solutions

Lambda

"Lambda provides AI compute infrastructure to the world's leading machine learning research teams. We're looking forward to a successful partnership with Graphcore to provide their IPU to our customers. The advances in AI we've seen over the past decade have been primarily driven by advances in computation. Researchers have been eager to try out Graphcore's new IPU-M2000 and we're excited to give them a glimpse of the future."

Stephen Balaban, Co-founder & CEO, Lambda

Meadowgate Technologies

"Meadowgate is the technological enabler for our US Federal Customers that demand the best performing, most reliable and trustworthy systems. As our customers navigate the vast opportunity that artificial intelligence offers, we are delighted to be working with Graphcore - a company that has already built a reputation for relentless innovation and a deep commitment to its users' needs."

Hunter Lochte, VP Operations, Meadowgate Technologies

Megazone

"Megazone joins the Graphcore Elite Partner Program, having already worked extensively with Graphcore to deliver powerful AI solutions to our customers. Having seen, first-hand, the performance advantage that can be gained using IPU technology, we are delighted to formally become a Graphcore Elite Partner, and extent that same competitive advantage to many more customers across Korea."

Eric Han, Managing Director / Hybrid Cloud & AI Platform Service, Megazone

OCF

"OCF is delivering solutions and services across the most consequential technologies of our time - HPC, Cloud, Storage and Artificial Intelligence. We are delighted to be adding Graphcore's IPU-M2000 system to our customer offering. Graphcore has already distinguished itself as building standout technology that raises the performance bar on today's AI applications, as well as enabling the next generation of models and techniques."

Russell Slack, Managing Director, OCF Limited

Tech Data USA

"Many businesses around the world are familiar with Graphcore and understand the capabilities of its IPU technology. As an Elite Partner, serving more than 100 countries, Tech Data will bring this technology to market to our customers around the world, satisfying the global demand from innovators in private industry to public institutions."

Maghen Hannigan, Director, Converged and Integrated Solutions, Tech Data USA

Wildflower International

"Wildflower International supports mission-critical applications across the public and Federal Government sectors. Our customers understand the need for systems and technologies that offer leading-edge capabilities, a robust and trustworthy support system, and compelling economics. Graphcore meets all of those criteria and, moreover, we expect the IPU-M2000 to become an essential tool for our clients as they build their AI capabilities."

Andrew Balzarini, Director, Marketing & Alliances, Wildflower International

For more information on the program contact: partners@graphcore.ai or visit graphcore.ai/partners.

About the Graphcore IPU-M2000

The IPU-Machine M2000 is a plug-and-play Machine Intelligence compute blade that has been designed for easy deployment and supports systems that can grow to massive scale. The slim 1U blade delivers one PetaFlop of Machine Intelligence compute and includes integrated networking technology, optimized for AI scale-out, inside the box.

Each IPU-Machine M2000 is powered by four of Graphcore's new 7nm Colossus Mk2 GC200 IPU processors, and is fully supported by our Poplar software stack.

IPU M-2000 product will be available in the channel in Q4.

About Graphcore

Graphcore's Intelligence Processing Unit (IPU) hardware and Poplar software helps innovators create next generation machine intelligence solutions. The IPU is the first processor to be designed specifically for Machine Intelligence and offers significant performance advantages compared to other computing hardware, typically used in artificial intelligence. In addition to outperforming other technologies at today's most common workloads, the Graphcore IPU has been architected to excel at next-generation Ai applications - including highly sparse models.

Graphcore has raised more than $450m in in funding from leading financial and strategic investors and is headquartered in Bristol UK, with offices in London UK, Oslo Norway, Palo Alto USA and Beijing China.

More information can be found at https://www.graphcore.ai.

Media contact:

Iain Mackenzie

Head of Communications

Iainm@graphcore.ai
In this Nov. 7, 2017, file photo, an unidentified man is silhouetted as he walks in front of Microsoft logo at an event in New Delhi, India. Microsoft is in a fierce popularity contest with upstart work messaging service Slack. Both are widely used by small businesses. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri, File) Read more

Because of the pandemic, countless employees at large and small businesses have been forced to work from home. Many small-business owners in the region have relied on outside technology experts for help, and everyone learned a lot in the process. So now, six months in, what work-from-home technologies have proven the most effective?

Cloud suites have improved collaboration.

The pandemic was an opportunity for many companies to step up their use of business collaboration software suites that were previously underused. The most popular are Microsoft Office 365, Googles G Suite and Slack. Customer relationship and project software products such as Salesforce, Zoho, Trello and Asana have also proved effective.

Brian Pickell, who owns tech firm KPInterface in Limerick, says that applications such as Office 365 and G Suite have allowed his clients to collaborate in real time on any project and on almost any device, from a company laptop to a personal Apple iPad or iPhone.

Justin Bennet, of Mohawk Computers in Maple Shade, says that these tools have been instrumental in helping his clients track internal meetings, communications, company announcements, and file storage because it gives our clients the availability to safely social distance while still being able to communicate face to face. We find these tools so helpful that we prefer using them over traditional communications, even when we are in the same location.

Communications are not just video meetings.

For group meetings and video calls, Zoom has become the buzzword of the pandemic, but such competitors as Microsoft Teams (part of Office 365) and Google Meet are also popular. Free versions of these applications can be used stand-alone or as part of the paid office collaboration suites mentioned above. But although the use of video calls and meetings has exploded in recent months, there is still a need for a reliable, cloud-based phone system for workers to access wherever they are located.

Jeff Grimes, CEO of Conshohockens Graffen, says that his company has been busy deploying voice over internet protocol (VOIP) systems to meet those needs. Many clients jumped in soon after their employees began working from home, he says. Since VoIP and communications technology has become so strong, were able to quickly create a live office telephone system, ship pre-configured desk phones to employees, and migrate to the new VoIP system within days.

Small businesses using these cloud-based systems  which also include Jive (now known as GoToConnect), Ring Central and VirtualPBX  have enabled their employees to use their mobile devices or work-station applications to make office calls from their cell phones or office computers, which eliminates the need for a regular desk phone. Anthony Mongeluzo, who owns PCS in Moorestown, says that his company has been relying heavily on Jive because it offers integrated chat and talk from any device. Its 100% cloud-based and handles an overwhelming amount of calls for us perfectly.

Security has become a big issue.

As more employees moved to their home workplaces, adisturbing trend developed: a significant uptick in malware attacks. Thats because, in the rush to adapt, many small businesses did not set up their remote workers properly. That left them open to intrusions from hackers who are taking advantage of older hardware and nonexistent security protocols at peoples homes to enter corporate networks.

Greg Gurev, the head Sherpa at MySherpa, a Philadelphia region IT services and security company, says that if your staff is using personal computers to access corporate data, then the safest method of remote work is using a multi-factor gateway when accessing data from company networks. That means requiring employees to use a password and another form of authentication  such as a text message or email  before getting access. Authenticator software is the safest way to provide a second factor to verify your identity to access corporate data, networks, and applications, he said. Gurev recommends such applications as Duo, Microsoft Authenticator and Authy.

Gurev also says that, at a minimum, home computers must be equipped with software that protects against ransomware and provides 24/7 monitoring by a security operations center. But patching and software updates to ensure the computer is running the most recent version of an OS are critical.

Mongeluzo requires his clients to have two-factor authentication on everything possible. Hes also big on training. A lot of excellent services allow you to train your employees with real-world phishing tests, he said. If an employee clicks a bad link, the software will show them how to avoid that in the future. Backup is also critical, and for that Mongeluzo recommends an application called Carbon Black. It is expensive, he said. But its the best way to protect yourself from being hacked. It is an antivirus on steroids that is monitored 24/7.

Company-owned hardware makes the most sense.

KPInterfaces Pickell likes to set up his clients with laptops or computers that contain two monitor ports and the latest version of Windows 10 or an acceptable Apple operating system.

Jeff Sumner, who runs TechGuides, a technology firm based in Media, says that his clients are investing in good cameras, microphones and speakers. Your camera and microphone on your laptop are fine for the occasional meeting, but now that almost everything is virtual, better equipment makes for a better meeting, he said.

But both Pickell and Sumner, like many experts, say that that it usually makes the most sense for companies to their own corporate hardware and applications to employees.

While a big monitor and a good webcam are helpful for work from home, for businesses I think it is essential that employees use company-owned equipment, Sumner said. I realize there is a not-insignificant cost involved, but with company-owned laptops, the company can control the computing environment and be sure that all necessary controls and protections are installed and active. If a company allows employees to use personal computers, the company runs a higher risk of compromising their network.
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Linkedin News Desk (Reuters) Geneva, Switzerland  Tue, September 22, 2020 19:00 486 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c4676e71 2 World WHO,coronavirus,COVID-19,COVID-19-vaccine,vaccine-alliance,pandemic,SARS-CoV-2,virus-corona,novel-coronavirus Free

More countries will sign up to a global vaccination plan and some of the delays were due to procedural issues rather than doubts about the scheme, a World Health Organization (WHO) official said on Tuesday.

The Geneva-based body has said that 156 nations have joined the so-called COVAX plan to deliver some 2 billion vaccine doses globally by the end of next year but big countries such as China, Russia and the United States are missing.

About 64 wealthy nations have signed up and more are expected despite missing an official deadline. However, some of those supporting the plan such as France are reluctant to use it to secure vaccines and have instead struck separate supply deals.

"What we've announced is the beginning. It's going to continue," WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris said, calling the number of sign-ups to date "brilliant". "We all need to be in this together in order to finish this pandemic."

She declined to comment on specific countries and said discussions were ongoing.

Asked to elaborate on delays to joining, Harris said some were due to paperwork and the need for parliamentary approval.

Other countries, however, appear to have no intention of signing up.

A Russian government source told Reuters there was no need for his country to take part in the program since it was developing and producing its own vaccine.

"Nevertheless, we do not rule out the possibility that our vaccine will in future be offered to participants of COVAX," the source said.

The Russian health ministry did not respond to a request for comment.

"China will continue to work with WHO, Gavi and relevant countries on vaccine development," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a news briefing on Tuesday.

At the same briefing, Harris said the WHO would make public a WHO internal app giving information on the pandemic which would include comprehensive global and regional overviews.
Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe is restricting his movements after the French finance minister tested positive for Covid-19.

Bruno Le Maire received his results on Friday evening and confirmed his positive result on Twitter.

I tested positive for Covid-19 this evening, Mr Le Maire said, adding that he would remain at home for seven days.

I immediately followed the health measures brought in by the government by self-isolating at home.

Mr Le Maire was in contact with Paschal Donohoe at a Eurogroup meeting in Germany on September 11 when the group had met to discuss Brexit.

Minister Donohoe was already working remotely, as he had returned from a country that was not on the green list at the time.

He will remain away from day-to-day in-person contact until Saturday.

Earlier today, the European Union said it has postponed its summit for a week because EU Council President Charles Michel has gone into quarantine after a close collaborator was diagnosed with Covid-19.
Hyderabad, Sep 22 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday began interrogating Chinese national Yan Hao and two other accused for money laundering in an online betting scam.

The special court dealing with Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) cases had earlier in the day granted the ED eight days custody of Yan Hao, Dhiraj Sarkar and Ankit Kapoor.

The ED initiated its investigation into the case on the basis of FIRs lodged by the Cybercrime Station of Hyderabad Police against Dokypay Technology Private Ltd and Linkyun Technology Private Ltd and others involved in the scam.

The accused, booked for cheating and criminal conspiracy under the Indian Penal Code, were arrested by the ED on September 15 for probe into money laundering angle in the case relating to online betting apps run by Chinese nationals.

According to the ED, the suspects had floated a large number of websites to attract gullible persons to become members and to place bets on various online apps promising rewards on simple games of chance. Paytm and Cashfree were used to collect money and pay commission to these agent members.

Searches conducted by the ED at 15 locations in Delhi, Gurugram, Mumbai and Pune had resulted in seizure of hard disks, laptops, phones and crucial documents. The agency also frozen Rs 46.96 crore held in four accounts in the HSBC bank.

It said an investigation under the PMLA to identify the major beneficiaries of the payouts from Paytm and HSBC Bank accounts was under progress. Summons have been issued to various persons including the Chinese nationals who are the directors of the company.

It is suspected that these websites also acted as payment aggregators for multiple apps that were banned by Google Play Store for lax technical security, data theft or betting activities.

An ED official also claimed that these companies were planning to set up a non-banking financial company for micro credit but were refused a licence by the regulatory authorities, adding that the scam could involve more than Rs 1,000 crore.

The ED said the custodial interrogation of the three accused was underway to unearth the entire scam.
While U.S. District Judge James Donato gave preliminary approval to the settlement Aug. 19, users may not receive payment until next year, according to Gilardi and Co., a claims administration firm involved in the settlement. The firm said on the claims website payments are usually made two months after the court gives final approval. A hearing for final approval is scheduled for Jan. 7.
For over a century, Beverly Hills has been known as the epitome of luxury and world-class service. Unsurprisingly, industry-leading standards in safety and hygiene have always been a critical element of this experience and have been seamlessly and subtly executed behind-the-scenes for decades. To meet the changing needs of today's travelers, the Beverly Hills hospitality community has quickly pivoted to bring its safety expertise to the forefront to ensure all visitor safety and security concerns are being met head-on. For more information on the decisive actions that the city has taken, visitors can view BHCVB's new safety video here.

"Beverly Hills has always been a leading expert in providing a pristine experience," said Julie Wagner, CEO of BHCVB. "Now more than ever, it is important that guests see all the ways that we are ensuring their safety. Visitors today will find the same Beverly Hills that they know and love  but with a few visible changes, reflective of the changing times."

To welcome visitors back to Beverly Hills, and in partnership with its collection of world-renowned hotels, BHCVB is thrilled to offer visitors bookable packages from September 21, 2020 through December 31, 2020 that include valuable add-ons such as: complimentary parking, Food & Beverage credit, room upgrades, late checkouts and complimentary breakfasts, among others. The special packages are available from 10 of Beverly Hills' most celebrated hotels, including:

AKA Beverly Hills

Beverly Wilshire , A Four Seasons Hotel (Re-opening October 1, 2020 )

, A Four Seasons Hotel (Re-opening ) Sirtaj Hotel

The Beverly Hills Hotel

The Beverly Hilton

The Maybourne Beverly Hills

The Mosaic Hotel

The Peninsula Beverly Hills

Viceroy L'Ermitage Beverly Hills

Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills

The packages are perfect for enjoying an extended summer in always beautiful Beverly Hills. For more information on BHCVB's Something to Feel Good About campaign, or to book your stay, visit https://www.lovebeverlyhills.com/something-to-feel-good-about .

Media Contact:

Megan Dawson

[email protected]

About Beverly Hills

Beverly Hills is one of the world's most sought-after locales. Centrally located in greater Los Angeles, Beverly Hills is a premier holiday and business travel destination, with beautiful weather year-round, acclaimed full-service and boutique hotel accommodations, superb dining, and unrivaled shopping. Synonymous with Hollywood glamour, Beverly Hills enjoys an international reputation as the home and playground of A-list movie stars. The city is not only known worldwide for its grand mansions and chic shops along Rodeo Drive, but also for its multitude of art and architecture, spas and salons, and exceptional walkability. Learn more at www.lovebeverlyhills.com or on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram .

SOURCE Beverly Hills Conference & Visitors Bureau

Related Links

http://www.lovebeverlyhills.com


Here are todays leading news stories:

Politics

-- Vietnamese Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong on Monday chaired a working session between the Politburo and the Central Public Security Party Committee to collect feedback on draft documents and personnel work prior to the seventh Congress of the Central Public Security Party Organization for the 2020-25 tenure.

Society

-- Vietnam has not recorded any locally-transmitted COVID-19 cases for 20 days. The countrys tally remains at 1,068, with 947 having recovered and 35 deaths as of Tuesday morning.

-- Authorities in the southern province of Dong Nai are looking for a 52-year-old woman who went missing after falling into a ditch while walking along a local street on late Monday afternoon.

-- A Sri Lanka national who left Ho Chi Minh City for his home country on September 12 was confirmed by Sri Lanka authorities to have been infected with COVID-19 on September 18, a Ho Chi Minh City official said on Monday, adding that it is still unclear when the patient contracted the coronavirus.

-- Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has agreed on reopening regular flights between Vietnam and Thailand, and the specific schedule will be determined by Deputy PMs Pham Binh Minh and Vu Duc Dam.

-- The Peoples Court in Hanoi on Monday sentenced a 36-year-old man to death for murdering his girlfriend, who was also his creditor, in early March as he was unable to pay up his debt.

-- Police in the northern province of Vinh Phuc confirmed on Monday they had arrested a 17-year-old boy for raping a 12-year-old girl and using the victims nude photos to blackmail her.

Business

-- National carrier Vietnam Airlines has served nearly 40,000 passengers on domestic routes since the beginning of 2020, an annual increase of 12 percent despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

-- Vietnam imported 8,800 cars of various types worth US$202 million in August, a surge of 85.6 percent compared with the previous month, according to a report from the General Department of Customs.

World news

-- Over 31.7 million people around the world have caught the novel coronavirus while more than 23 million patients have recovered, according to the health ministry's statistics. Nearly 967,000 have died.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Due to COVID-19, the groundbreaking ceremony was held virtually and can be viewed here . Fisher House Foundation President David A. Coker and Medical Center Director David B. Isaacks , hosted the virtual celebration, and donors and community fundraisers shared their support as well.

A Fisher House creates an instant community for its residents, united by their common mission of supporting a sick or injured loved one, but also will provide individuals with a secure and private refuge after a long day at the hospital to rest and recharge. This Fisher House will serve the more than 28,000 Veterans from western Missouri and Kansas.

"We are very excited that this newest Fisher House is being constructed on the grounds of our medical center," Isaacks said. "This 'home away from home' will have a direct and meaningful impact during times of need and long-term effects for the Veterans and families we serve."

The 16-suite, 13,270+ sq. ft. "comfort home" will join 90+ other Fisher Houses operating in the United States and Europe. Each bedroom suite will be equipped with a private, handicapped-accessible bathroom. Common areas will include a spacious kitchen, large communal living, dining and family rooms, laundry room and patio.

"Fisher House Foundation is excited to bring the new house to Kansas City," said Chairman and CEO of Fisher House Foundation Ken Fisher. "Despite the challenges of 2020, the dedication to this project remained steadfast. The community of Kansas City has shown the importance of its Veterans and their families through the outpouring of support to build this Fisher House."

The Kansas City VAMC provides in and outpatient health care including bariatric surgery, geriatric extended care service, cancer care coordination, oncology and hemodialysis services, spinal cord injury and polytrauma care and a substance abuse residential rehabilitation and treatment program. The 16-suite Kansas City VA Fisher House will provide "a home away from home" for more than 500 families each year and is estimated to save families more than half a million dollars in lodging and transportation costs.

Construction of this Fisher House is supported by T-Mobile, Kansas City Royals and Royals Charities, Missouri State Society Daughters of the American Revolution, Greater Kansas City Friends of Fisher House, Wohlers Family Foundation, 84 Lumber Company and the many gifts of a Grateful Nation.

Select Donor Quotes:

"We couldn't think of a better place for the next 'home away from home' than right here in our backyard," said Jeff Byers, T-Mobile Sr. Manager of Vendor Management and Operations Chair of T-Mobile's Veterans and Allies network. "Thank you so much to everyone who helped us donate over the last several years. Congratulations to everyone at the Fisher House Foundation. We can't wait to see what's next."

"Serving America's Military and Veterans is one of the primary missions of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolutionwhich is why support of new Fisher Houses in Missouri was chosen as a major project during 2018-2020 by the Missouri DAR," said Cynthia "Cindy" Beall Suich, NSDAR Vice President General.

About Fisher House Foundation

Fisher House Foundation is best known for its network of 90 comfort homes where military and veterans' families can stay at no cost while a loved one is receiving treatment. These homes are located at major military and VA medical centers nationwide, and in Europe, close to the medical center or hospital they serve. Fisher Houses have up to 21 suites, with private bedrooms and baths. Families share a common kitchen, laundry facilities, a warm dining room and an inviting living room. Fisher House Foundation ensures that there is never a lodging fee. Since inception, the program has saved military and Veterans' families an estimated $500 million in out of pocket costs for lodging and transportation. www.fisherhouse.org

About the Kansas City VA Medical Center

The Kansas City VA Medical Center (KCVAMC) is a 1b High Complexity Medical Center comprised of the main Medical Center in Kansas City with 157 medical, surgical, and psychiatric beds, eight Community-Based Outpatient Clinics throughout the greater Kansas City and surrounding areas, and a Radiation Therapy facility. KCVAMC offers comprehensive inpatient and outpatient services with a focus on primary care, mental health, and specialty services. Surgery services range from neurological surgery to vascular and thoracic surgeries. Acute psychiatric care, substance abuse treatment, post-traumatic stress disorder treatment and vocational rehabilitation services are offered. A wide range of patient services are offered at many different KCVAMC locations.

SOURCE Fisher House Foundation

Related Links

https://fisherhouse.org


Billionaire business mogul Chris Kirubi this past weekend opened up about his children, revealing that his only son turned down job offers to work for the familys expansive multi-billion business empire.

Speaking to comedian Churchill on Sunday, Kirubi said his son, Robert Kirubi, chose to grow his career in Europe and currently works in Brussels, Belgium.

My son is in Brussels, he works for DHL. He is doing so well out there that each time I have offered him a job here, he always says that the earnings are a joke.

I think they pay him so much money he refused to work for me but its good he has also accumulated a lot of experience, said CK.

Robert Kirubi is the Head of Global Customer Programs at DHL Service Logistics. He previously served as a Vice President at DHL in charge of business development before being promoted to client support and later to Vice President in charge of DHL Service Logistics.

He holds a bachelor of science degree from the Northeastern University in Boston, USA. Kirubi jnr attended local schools in Kenya including Hillcrest School and St Marys School before moving to the U.S.

Meanwhile, Roberts sister, Mary-Anne Kirubi Musangi, is in charge of her fathers prized asset, Haco Industries.

MaryAnne is exceptional. The only challenge is that maybe she doesnt fear me, unlike other employees, Kirubi said on Sunday.

She is now the Managing Director at Haco Industries and I have to say that she is very smart and dedicated to work. I am very lucky as she is very much like me.

Maryanne, 48, also owns the Olpul Restaurant at Two Rivers Mall and is married to lawyer Andrew Musangi who serves as Chairman of the Jubilee Party National Elections Board.
'Cruel joke': Amarinder Singh mocks 'paltry hike' in MSP

India

pti-Deepika S

Chandigarh, Sep 21: Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Monday rejected the Centre's "paltry" hike in MSP of wheat and five other Rabi crops as a "cruel joke" on farmers.

He said the "paltry" hike has come amid their growing apprehensions about the abolition of the minimum support price regime following the passage of the new agriculture Bills in Parliament.

"This is callous. They have made a mockery of the farmers' protests over the farm bills, which by all accounts will eventually pave the way for ending the MSP system and abolish the Food Corporation of India," said the CM in a statement here.

The Centre on Monday hiked the MSP for buying six Rabi crops, including wheat, by up to six per cent. The MSP of wheat has been hiked by Rs 50 to Rs 1,975 per quintal. Besides, MSPs of lentil (masoor), gram, barley, safflower and mustard/rapeseed have been increased.

Singh said if the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre thought it would appease the agitating farms with this "trifling" hike, they clearly did not understand the situation.

"You can't just throw crumbs at someone who may be on the verge of losing his livelihood as a result of your shameful actions," he told the Union government.

The farmers have been asking for a written guarantee that MSP will not be tampered with, but instead, the Centre has made a a "measly" offering to them, said the CM.

Will take BJP, its allies to court over 'unconstitutional' farm laws: Amarinder Singh

He said this once again showed how "little" the BJP and its allies, including the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), knew about the farmers and their problems.

At a time when the farmers were not even sure that the MSP regime will stay, and for how long, making these "meagre" hikes in the support price of a few crops amounted to playing with their emotions, said the CM.

The verbal assurances and promises made by the government which has "failed" to implement even its written promises and commitments are totally "meaningless", he said, urging the central government to take cognisance of farmers' concerns even now and address them with meaningful steps instead of such antics.

Farm bills: SAD team meets President Kovind, requests him not to sign farm bills | Oneindia News

Singh said the farmers are at present worried about their future, and that of their families, and want categorical and clear commitments only, in black and white, that their produce will continue to be procured in the APMC (Agricultural Produce Market Committee) markets at a minimum assured price.

They want to be secure about their livelihood, which in any case has been progressively "declining" due to the Centre's "anti-farmer" policies over the past six years, he added.

He also regretted that the centre had once again failed to announce a bonus of Rs 100 per quintal for paddy straw management to incentivise farmers not to burn it.
This insight of Winston Churchill after the end of the World War II aptly applies to the present COVID-19 crisis and the process of policy making.

The year 2020 would be recalled in future just like the way we recall 2008 or 1991. The already slowing down economy has been affected badly and we have come to see a decline of all economic indicators like never before. The supply chains are affected, exports have declined due to the global effect of the pandemic and domestic demand is also much lower than normal. The GDP growth rate is expected to remain in the negative territory as confirmed by the RBI governor.

All of the negative news with respect to the economy reminds me of Churchills insight  to never let a good crisis go to waste. This crisis presents a unique opportunity for policy makers to take bold steps and bring about reforms which would have a long-term impact on the economy.

It will be incorrect to say that the Indian economy is facing problems only after the pandemic hit us. COVID-19 did not exactly create new problems, it merely accentuated the existing ones. The lack of a wide cash transfer scheme at the national level, policy ignorance towards the self-employed such as tailors, taxi drivers or junior lawyers are just to mention a few.

COVID-19 has taught us the importance of decentralisation. Power, authority and decision-making concentrated in a region or only one institution would definitely be the wrong way ahead. Highly concentrated systems are much more vulnerable to delays in decision making and are inefficient in delivering.

Decentralisation, therefore, remains crucial in responding to events and also tweaking the response region-wise as one size doesnt fit all. It also extends to having decentralised supply chains which are much more difficult to be affected by unfavorable events.

Secondly, taking cue from the first point, is digitisation, the importance of which can never be overstated. James Manyika, chairman of the McKinsey Global Institute, explains that many trends already underway in the global economy have been accelerated by the impact of the pandemic. This is especially true of the digital economy, with the rise of digital behavior such as remote working and learning, telemedicine and delivery services. Other structural changes may also accelerate, including regionalisation of supply chains.

The future of work has arrived faster, along with its challenges  many of them potentially multiplied and, therefore, there is a need for the workers to adapt to occupational transitions. Hence, skill development, digital literacy and the knowledge of a world language such as English would be needed by the workers in a post-COVID-19 economy if they want to strive and succeed. There is intense competition for market share and jobs and those with the above qualities are more likely to succeed.

Public policy in the post-COVID period should also focus on how to continue to reap the benefits that have been a silver lining in this otherwise merciless pandemic. The rivers are cleaner than before, the air is pollution free and the people have become more concerned about their health and hygiene, something India has been neglecting all these years.

The Indianisation of the economy is what India will see. The sheer dependence on imports will be replaced by encouragement to local manufacturers and substitution of imported goods with indigenous products. Several industries will have to have a makeover and start becoming self-reliant in manufacturing of intermediate and final goods. With executive ban on imports, this will be made easier if it is supplemented with banking support, investment in R &D, revision of public policy, publicity, education and public support.

At the end, I would like to mention how heartening it is to see the closeness between democratic countries such as the US, Australia, Canada and the UK with India. This is because of a strong base of shared values, common interests, respect for the world as a community and people to people connect between them. India has always risen to the occasion in the face of any crisis and the pandemic will be no different. I am also sure that India would not return to the world of the past but will see a much better world.
MOSCOW  Federal Security Agency (FSB) agents in Siberias Krasnoyarsk region have arrested the head of an isolated messianic sect in a massive raid on the groups remote settlement.



Dozens of law enforcement vans, buses, ambulances, and helicopters participated in the September 22 raid at the City of the Sun settlement, in which Church of the Last Testament leader Sergei Torop, known as Vissarion, and his assistants, Vadim Redkin and Vladimir Vedernikov, were taken into custody and whisked away by helicopter.



The Interfax news agency reported that the raid was carried out by agents of the FSB and the Investigative Committee.



Sergei Torop, Vadim Redkin, and Vladimir Vedernikov -- leaders of the local religious organization the Church of the Last Testament, have been detained, an unidentified law enforcement source told the state TASS news agency. Since very early this morning, investigative activities have been under way in southern Krasnoyarsk Krai.



Some 200 church members reportedly live at the City of the Sun settlement, which is one of about 40 such church communities in the region. Vedernikov was reportedly detained at the nearby church compound of Petropavlovka.



Church of the Last Testament member Aleksandr Staroverov posted to social media a video showing masked agents with automatic weapons searching the City of the Sun settlement in southern Krasnoyarsk Krai.



Russian state media said the men were detained on suspicion of inflicting grievous bodily harm and creating a nonprofit organization that infringes on the rights of citizens. No details about the charges were reported.



Agents were reportedly searching the settlement for weapons, ammunition, and banned extremist literature.



Last month, a criminal investigation into the group was opened after members reportedly attacked a correspondent for REN-TV.



Torop, a 59-year-old former traffic-police officer, founded the Church of the Last Testament in 1991, and it was officially registered as a legal religious organization in 1995. The group claims some 10,000 followers, mostly living in southern parts of the Krasnoyarsk region.



The group bars members from eating meat, using tobacco or alcohol, or using money.



Torop also has followers abroad, particularly in Germany. Seven volumes of the churchs teachings -- which combine elements of Russian Orthodoxy and Buddhism with strong elements of collectivism and environmentalism -- have been translated into German.



The church claims a large swath of southern Krasnoyarsk Krai, which it calls the Tiberkul religious settlement.

With reporting by Kommersant, REN-TV, TASS, and Interfax
Ransomware Spikes

Haywood County Schools in North Carolina were closed for several days in late August. Students have been getting instruction remotely since then.

Ponca City Public Schools in Oklahoma delayed school reopening from Aug. 19 to Aug. 24 after they were struck.

King George County Schools in Virginia had to cancel virtual classes and close school buildings to the public Sept. 3 until classes resumed after Labor Day.

Hartford Public Schools in Connecticut postponed the first day of school on Sept. 8, both virtually and in person, after the city was hit by an attack that affected multiple school district systems, including one used to communicate transportation routes for buses.

Data Breaches

Just days before the Aug. 3 scheduled start of school, officials at the Athens Independent School District in East Texas received a shock.Cybercriminals had attacked the districts entire computer network, encrypting all the data and demanding $50,000 in ransom for its release. Access to everything from teacher communications to student assignments was blocked.It was terribly disruptive, to put it mildly, said Toni Clay, the districts spokesperson. We no longer had access to any student information, such as schedules, email addresses, anything that would be stored. Internally, we had no staff information. It was all frozen.The plan had been to begin school online for three weeks and then transition to a hybrid model of both virtual and in-person classes. Instead, officials ended up delaying the start of school completely for a week.Athens is one of at least 16 school districts, from California to New Jersey, that have been victimized in a rash of ransomware attacks since the end of July.Some have been forced to push back school reopening dates. Others that already started school have had to cancel classes for a day or more.The attacks have placed a heavy burden on school administrators as they grapple with whether its safe for students and teachers to return in person and whether schools are prepared to handle social distancing and other requirements.School information technology staffs, meanwhile, have been consumed with the transition to virtual learning, making districts even more vulnerable to hackers, experts say.School district IT shops were supporting the network and the remote environment and software upgrades and training. They were overwhelmed by requests for help in ways they had never seen before, said Alan Shark, executive director of the Public Technology Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit that provides professional development and consulting services to local government IT executives.Peoples attention spans at the security end probably got dissipated trying to put out all these fires, he said. There were so many calls to answer.At the Athens district, Clay said IT staffers were stretched thin adapting to the new teaching and learning environment.Our IT departments are having to do 100 things and get that done yesterday. New software, issuing new devices, installing cameras, helping out families and staff having trouble getting the technology to work for them, she said. That already is a tremendous amount of strain on the infrastructure of a school district. It makes us targets for people who care nothing at all about the impact this type of destruction has on our communities.And as schools reopen for in-person classes, laptops taken home by students, teachers and administrators are being reconnected to school networks, which could make it easier for criminals to introduce malware, said Doug Levin, a cybersecurity expert who runs EdTech Strategies, an Arlington, Virginia-based education and technology consulting firm.Before COVID-19, ransomware attacks on school districts already were spiking, according to Levin. Ransomware hijacks computer systems and holds them hostage until their victims pay a ransom or restore the system on their own.In 2019, there were at least 62 such cases, compared with 11 the previous year, said Levin, who created the K-12 Cybersecurity Research Center, which tracks and posts publicly disclosed cyber incidents in public school districts.Cybercriminals have been getting more savvy about how to target school districts, he said. And they understand that school opening is a high-stress, high-leverage point for them to attack. You are trying to enroll students, sign up for your PTA, coordinate bus schedules.Among some of the recent attacks:Just last week, Newhall School District in Valencia, California, had to put its classes, which have been 100% virtual, on hold for the day after a ransomware attack.For now, the students  all in elementary school  dont have access to their teachers online so theyre doing classroom activities at home using paper and pencils, said Jeff Pelzel, the district superintendent.With COVID, we dont have the luxury of saying, We want to bring you back in and teach you live right now. And if you sit home with paper and pencil, youre not moving learning forward because youre not in touch with the teacher, he said. Its another layer of frustration for teachers, administrators, parents and students.For years, cybercriminals who launched ransomware attacks typically encrypted data and demanded ransom, usually in bitcoin, a cryptocurrency, in exchange for a decryption key. They didnt access the data or make it public.But experts say that has been changing. A growing number of cybercriminals are getting ahold of the data and threatening to make public sensitive information if they dont get their money.Theyre using data as additional leverage to extort payments, said Brett Callow, a threat analyst for global cybersecurity company Emsisoft.Some cybercriminals have posted data from local governments online, such as details about salaries, Social Security numbers and police investigations, he said.In Knoxville, Tennessee, for example, ransomware hackers who struck in June put personal information about city employees online, including names, addresses and performance scores.School districts havent been immune. Since the beginning of September, data stolen from at least four of them apparently has been published online, according to Callow.Among them is the Clark County School District in Las Vegas, which was targeted in late August. The district later sent out a data privacy breach note warning that some current and former employee personal information might have been accessed.Fairfax County Public Schools in Northern Virginia, the largest district in the state, announced Sept. 11 that it had been the victim of a ransomware attack . The hacker group Maze, which has been responsible for many ransomware attacks, claimed online that it had gotten ahold of private information from the district and had published a Zip file of data allegedly taken Ransom demands also have skyrocketed, cybersecurity experts say. Criminals who used to demand a few thousand dollars now are asking for an average of $150,000 to $250,000, according to Callow.Clay, of the Athens school district, said the school board initially authorized up to $50,000 in ransom, but the district only would have had to pay a deductible because it had cyber insurance. After private negotiations with the criminals, she said, the ransom was dropped to $25,000.But the district ended up paying nothing because a few days after the attack, IT staffers, with the help of regional and federal cyber response teams, were able to recover most of the data from a backup system on their own, she added. The hackers never heard from us again, Clay said. No arrests have been made.Athens was fortunate to have a robust cybersecurity system that allowed it to recover its data. But not every school system does.Under normal circumstances, most districts probably could decide not to pay ransom, even if it would take weeks or months to restore data, said EdTech Strategies Levin. Instead, they could make do by creating lesson plans and teaching students in school the old-fashioned way while they brought back their data systems.But COVID-19 has changed that for schools that havent reopened in-person classes, he said.At a time of remote learning, that possibility doesnt exist, he said. Its very difficult to see a school district in a position where the choice is either pay an extortion fee or if not, take the time to rebuild an IT system.Those that dont pay might have to stop teaching students for a long time, he added. And that plays right into the hands of these criminals.
The financial system in Romania has the resources to resist and contribute to supporting the effort of economic recovery, but this is not enough, Leonardo Badea, deputy governor of the National Bank of Romania (BNR), said in a debate on Tuesday.

"We could say that, currently, at the level of the banking system in Romania we have a total own funds ratio of 22.8 pct, at the end of June 2020, compared to 18.3 pct of the EU average that was in March 2020. The 1st quarter's own funds rate was 20.7 pct compared to 15.8 pct, the European average. Compared to December 2019, the volume of own funds increased by 0.2 pct in the context of the bank's compliance with our recommendations on the non-distribution of dividends of the registered profit. If we look at the rate of non-performing loans, it stood at 4.3 pct in June 2020, from 4.4 pct in the previous month, after around 4 pct in the first five months. The European average is 3 pct, but we are around the European average. The coverage of non-performing loans in the banking sector was strengthened during this period being 63 pct in July, starting from a reference value of 58.7 pct in February, or 57.1 pct in July 2019. The liquidity coverage indicator stood at 268.43 pct at the end of July, compared to 256.66 pct in February, while the European average was around 148 pct. The financial system in Romania has the resources to resist and contribute to supporting the economic recovery effort, but this is not enough. Here we need much more, a symbiosis between what is achieved at the level of public policies through fiscal and budgetary policies and what we can do at the level of the National Bank of Romania through monetary policies," Badea stressed.

The BNR official pointed out, in context, that, globally, there is a concern to find measures to encourage incentive packages to be applied by public authorities.

"The positive effects of these additional measures are already visible at the level of the solidity indicators of the financial system in Romania," said the deputy governor of the National Bank of Romania.

The DC Media Group Press Trust organizes, on Tuesday, the online debate dubbed "Upgrade Romania - Plan to restart the economy", in which topics such as the economic balance sheet are addressed six months after the trigger of the emergency state, the real situation "on the ground", the sources of financing for the economy and access to European money.
The Congress on Tuesday said its boycott of Rajya Sabha will not end till the government brings another bill making it illegal for private players to buy food grains from farmers below the minimum support price (MSP), all state agencies comply by the MSP and the procurement price is fixed as per the Swaminathan panel's recommendations.

IMAGE: Congress MP Ghulam Nabi Azad and other opposition MPs protest in front of Mahatma Gandhi statue, demanding suspension of 8 lawmakers be revoked, during the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament, at Parliament House in New Delhi, on Tuesday. Photograph: Kamal Kishore/PTI Photo

The Opposition party also called for revocation of suspension of eight MPs in the Upper House.

Senior Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad made this assertion outside Parliament while speaking to reporters and said the revocation of suspension of the Opposition Rajya Sabha MPs was not a demand, but a 'request'.

However, earlier, speaking inside Rajya Sabha, he had said that the opposition will boycott proceedings of the House till the suspension is revoked.

Outside Parliament, Azad said the Opposition has decided to boycott Rajya Sabha until the three conditions on the farm bills are met.

He said President Ram Nath Kovind should not give assent to the farm bills, alleging that proper procedure was not followed in their passage in Rajya Sabha.

But, in case assent is given by the president, the Opposition demands three things to end its boycott, either another bill be brought for it or Prime Minister Narendra Modi or the agriculture minister say it on the floor of the House that buying of farmers' produce at a rate lower than the MSP by private players would be illegal, Azad said.

MSP should be fixed on the basis of the Swaminathan commission's recommendations and it should be mandated that agencies and the Food Cooperation of India buy farm produce at MSP, the Congress leader said.

"We will keep the boycott going till these demands are met...Fourth (issue) is a request that suspension of MPs should be taken back," he said.

The eight MPs were suspended on Monday over their 'misbehaviour' with Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh during the passage of farm bills on Sunday.

Deputy Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Anand Sharma hit out at the deputy chairman, saying after 'brazenly violating rules, procedures and practices for passing bills and making laws, the deputy chairman is shedding crocodile tears for parliamentary democracy'.

"Token fast is nothing but a farce," he said.

Harivansh on Tuesday went on a 24-hour fast citing opposition members' 'humiliating' conduct towards him.

Various opposition parties, including the Congress and the Trinamool Congress, on Tuesday boycotted Lok Sabha in solidarity with the eight Rajya Sabha members who were suspended for unruly behaviour.

Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said all opposition parties are boycotting Parliament in solidarity with the Rajya Sabha members who were suspended on Monday.

"You have compelled us to do so," he said.

Opposition parties, including Congress, TMC, BSP and TRS, walked out of the Lok Sabha.

Chowdhury did not specify for how long the boycott would continue.

Chief Whip of the Congress in Rajya Sabha Jairam Ramesh listed the reasons why the Congress and like minded parties are boycotting the rest of the Monsoon session of Rajya Sabha.

The Monsoon session is scheduled to end on October 1. However, the session is likely to be curtailed with several MPs testing positive for the coronavirus.

He said the Opposition is boycotting the session because of the manner in which bills have been bulldozed by the government and the manner in which eight MPs were suspended without listening to them and without division on suspension motion which is as per rules.

The boycott is also due to the manner in which the Leader of Opposition has not been allowed to speak, the manner in which the government has simply failed to accommodate views of the Opposition and the manner in which crucial bills have not been referred to standing or select committees, Ramesh said.

He also cited the manner in which division was not allowed on the two agricultural marketing bills and the manner in which MSP was not made part of the agricultural marketing law and not made applicable to private trade, as reasons for the boycott of the Upper House.

A number of opposition parties on Tuesday staged a walkout from Rajya Sabha and decided to boycott proceedings of the House till the suspension of the eight members is revoked, even as the government insisted on their apology.

Among the parties that boycotted proceedings of the House included the Congress, which was among the first to walkout, followed by members of the Communist Party of India-Marxist, Communist Party of India, TMC, Nationalist Congress Party, Samajwadi Party, Shiv Sena, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Telangana Rashtra Samiti and Aam Aadmi Party.

The Opposition has been opposing the three farm bills -- the Farmer's Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020. All these bills have been passed by both Houses and await presidential assent.
China bans teachers from mentioning God or prayer, intensifies crackdown

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Teachers in China who mention God or religion risk employment termination as communist authorities increasingly control education materials and expand their list of banned topics teachers are not allowed to discuss in classrooms.

According to Bitter Winter, a publication produced by the Center for Studies on New Religion which reports on human rights issues in China, the Chinese Communist Party is strictly monitoring what teachers say in schools and universities.

Teachers are observed in their classrooms by authorities who watch for reactionary thoughts or improper remarks, ensuring students are not taught about democracy, religion, or exposed to any criticism of the regime. Schools in China are government-controlled, and therefore communist in ideology.

The government believes that religious teachers are hostile to the [Communist] Party, even if they dont evangelize, an English teacher from the eastern province of Shandong, said. The CCP is afraid that they would integrate faith into teaching. Thats why they strictly control teachers and want them to follow its ideological system and eventually become puppets that cannot think independently.

A college teacher in Inner Mongolia told Bitter Winter that last year, a central government inspection team came to the school to investigate teachers ideological standing concerning pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong.

Teachers who responded by espousing improper remarks were punished.

We were observed during every class, the teacher said, adding that the Chinese Ministry of Education demanded teachers not say or do anything against the party line in their educational or teaching activities.

Another English teacher from Shandong told Bitter Winter that the provincial Education Bureau criticized her for mentioning God and prayer during a class on Jane Eyre, while another was criticized for mentioning mealtime prayers while discussing dining traditions in various countries.

Chinas Education Bureau also released a proposal to each school that establishes an ideological control team in an attempt to ensure teachers don't influence their classrooms with religious or ideological differences.

Censorship and control measures have increased in intensity since 2013, when President Xi Jinping took office, according to Bitter Winter. Since the Regulations on Religious Affairs legislation was implemented last year, schools have adopted unprecedented measures to keep students away from Christianity.

Last year, it was reported that a primary school in Xinzheng city in the central province of Henan screened a propaganda video in which Jesus followers were depicted as big scary monsters. After the presentation was complete, a teacher warned that Christian relatives might cast spells on the children.



Officials have also reportedly claimed that schools are places "for the state to foster students to build up socialist society," with parents told they have an obligation "to nurture children in accordance with national laws and social requirements."

In its 2020 annual report, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom noted the Chinese Communist Party has banned youth younger than 18 from participating in religious services. Additionally, Christian leaders are forbidden from organizing any activities with young people or encourage them to consider ministerial vocations.

In Shangrao, an area of Jiangxi, more than 40 churches have hung a slogan that reads: Non-locals are prohibited from preaching; no underage people allowed in church."

A previous report documented how authorities forcibly removed adopted children from their Christian parents, claiming the adoption papers were no longer valid because their children were trapped by an evil religion.

The CCP has also threatened to send Christian children to government re-education camps and ordered parents to refrain from enrolling their children in church schools.

China is ranked on Open Doors USAs World Watch List as one of the worst countries in the world when it comes to the persecution of Christians.

The communist regime's crackdown on religious freedom has also led the U.S. State Department to label it as a country of particular concern for continuing to engage in particularly severe violations of religious freedom.
Grassley, Gardner Support Voting on Supreme Court Nominee Before Election

Two Republican senators who Democrats hoped would oppose voting on a nominee for the vacant Supreme Court seat said Monday night they will consider President Donald Trumps choice to replace late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

When a President exercises constitutional authority to nominate a judge for the Supreme Court vacancy, the Senate must decide how to best fulfill its constitutional duty of advice and consent, Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) wrote in a statement.

I have and will continue to support judicial nominees who will protect our Constitution, not legislate from the bench, and uphold the law. Should a qualified nominee who meets this criteria be put forward, I will vote to confirm.

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) issued a similar statement, saying he would consider Trumps nominee because both Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) support quickly replacing Ginsburg.

Once a [hearing] is under way its been my job to review the qualifications of the nominee & thats what Ill do now. Ill vote based on her merits, he said in a Twitter post.

Chairman Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) speaks at a Senate Finance Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, on June 17, 2020. (Andrew Harnik-Pool/Getty Images)

Gardner, who is facing a tight race for reelection, and Grassley, who had said he wouldnt bring a nominee to a vote if he still headed the Judiciary Committee, were considered potential swing votes.

If both had joined Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) in going against party leadership, the GOP would have been left scrambling to find a Democrat willing to cross the aisle.

Now, even if Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah)the only Republican in Congress to vote against Trump during the impeachment sagajoins Murkowski and Collins, Vice President Mike Pence can break the resulting tie.

Another Republican could join that trio but most have pledged publicly to support Trumps nominee. Some have put forward demands, such as Sen. Josh Hawleys (R-Mo.) push for the nominee to be prepared to readdress Roe v. Wade.

Republicans have a 53-47 majority in the Senate, a position of power they strengthened in the 2018 midterms by flipping two seats.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) walks on Capitol Hill in Washington on Sept. 21, 2020. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo)

Voters electing to keep the GOP in control of the upper congressional body is something McConnell, Grassley, and a number of other lawmakers point to when critics say Republicans blocking of President Barack Obamas Supreme Court nominee in 2016 should lead to the Senate forgoing consideration on whomever Trump nominates.

In that case, the presidency and Senate were held by different parties. Now, Republicans hold both.

With a divided govt in 2016 there was ambiguity about what the American ppl wanted for the direction of the Supreme Court/ voters expanded republican majority in 2018 election after 2 Trump scotus confirmations Theres no ambiguity now w Republican Senate & president, Grassley wrote on Twitter.

Trump has said he will pick a woman to replace Ginsburg, who died at age 87 late last week. He said earlier Monday hed announce his choice on Friday or Saturday.

Trumps shortlist of five includes federal judges Barbara Lagoa and Amy Coney Barrett.
Jumio's global identity verification solutions are a key first step to vetting and onboarding remote customers with the highest level of identity assurance

Jumio, a leading provider of AI-powered end-to-end identity verification and authentication solutions, today announced that its AI-powered identity verification solutions are now available to Microsoft Azure Active Directory External Identities for B2C customers. Azure Active Directory B2C is a customer identity access management solution. The integration equips Azure Active Directory B2C customers with an intuitive and biometric means of identity proofing new customers before issuing them login credentials. This integration streamlines new account onboarding, simplifies KYC and AML compliance, and deters online fraud on a global scale.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200922005002/en/

This diagram depicts how Azure Active Directory B2C is used to facilitate identity verification and proofing by collecting user data, then passing it to Jumio (upon user's consent) to perform ID scanning, ID validation and selfie corroboration for user account creation. (Graphic: Business Wire)

Ensuring that an online user has been verified, up front, with state-of-the-art biometrics reduces the friction usually associated with account creation. All of this makes it easier for consumers to create accounts online and for enterprises to centralize the collection of user profile and preference information, and capture detailed analytics about sign-in behavior and sign-up conversion.

"Before giving carte blanche access to your application, it's increasingly important to quickly verify the authenticity of online users, especially in light of recent, large-scale data breaches," said Dean Hickman-Smith, CRO of Jumio. "We help modern enterprises, such as Azure AD B2C customers, verify the identities of remote users, so that companies can confidently greenlight legitimate individuals and assign them the appropriate access privileges."

"We're pleased to offer Jumio's identity verification solutions to Microsoft Azure Active Directory B2C customers," said Sue Bohn, Partner Director Program Management at Microsoft Corp. "Through the power of biometrics and AI in Jumio, Microsoft Azure B2C customers can verify the digital identities of consumers remotely in a fast and scalable manner."

Jumio establishes digital identity by requiring the user to capture a picture of a government-issued ID and a corroborating selfie with their webcam or smartphone. Requiring a government-issued ID (e.g., a driver's license) establishes a powerful trust anchor that carries over into the future for all subsequent authentication events. This trust anchor is fortified with biometrics (matching the face in the selfie to the picture on the ID) and certified liveness detection ensures the person providing that credential is physically present.

Biometric-based identity verification has quickly emerged as a best practice. In fact, Gartner recommends that identity proofing solutions that rely on shared secret verification, such as out-of-wallet knowledge questions, or memorable personal data, be phased out. The 2019 Gartner Guide for Identity Proofing and Corroboration states that "the concept of high memorability, low availability data has become archaic since the rise of social media and the subsequent plethora of breached data available through underground organizations."

Watch this short video to see how Jumio's identity verification solutions integrate with Azure Active Directory B2C. To learn more about Jumio and Azure AD B2C, please click here.

About Jumio

When identity matters, trust Jumio. Jumio's mission is to make the internet a safer place by protecting the ecosystems of businesses through cutting-edge online identity verification and authentication services that quickly and accurately connect a person's online and real-world identities. Jumio's end-to-end identity verification solutions fight fraud, maintain compliance and onboard good customers faster.

Leveraging advanced technology including informed AI, biometrics, machine learning, certified 3D liveness detection and human review, Jumio helps organizations meet regulatory compliance including KYC, AML and GDPR and definitively establish the digital identity of their customers. Jumio has verified more than 250 million identities issued by over 200 countries and territories from real-time web and mobile transactions. Jumio's solutions are used by leading companies in the financial services, sharing economy, digital currency, retail, travel and online gaming sectors. Based in Palo Alto, Jumio operates globally with offices in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia Pacific and has been the recipient of numerous awards for innovation. For more information, please visit www.jumio.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200922005002/en/

Contacts:

U.S. Media Contact

Alex Mercurio

10Fold Communications

jumio@10fold.com

925-271-8227

Gemma Lingham

FleishmanHillard Fishburn

gemma.lingham@fhflondon.co.uk

+44-208-618-2812
The Uttar Pradesh government is going to issue very soon a set of guidelines that filmmakers wishing to resume work in the state would have to adhere to. The government is in talks with prominent filmmakers.

Many films, including several big budget productions, were halted midway due to the coronavirus pandemic and are waiting for the governments nod to resume shooting.

Very soon, said sources in the chief ministers office (CMO) on the issue of commencement of shooting.

The Centre had issued guidelines in August, allowing film shooting to resume with some preconditions which include most crew members, other than actors emoting in front of the camera, wearing kits to protect themselves. UP Film Development Council (UPFDC) chief Raju Srivastava had in August written to the government to allow shooting to resume and sought guidelines for the same.

It isnt immediately clear as to why there has been a delay in formulating and releasing guidelines for film shooting, but its expected that they can now be released any moment.

There are many films, including some with big stars like John Abraham, a film by Anushka Sharma Productions, Kartik Aryan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui.

The government is in contact with several prominent filmmakers like Subhash Ghai, David Dhawan and Boney Kapoor, whose suggestions it plans to incorporate in the revised film policy that is in the works, officials said.

It is learnt that chief minister Yogi Adityanath, who met filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar in Lucknow on Sunday, will be meeting several top filmmakers to give a boost to his plans to develop the countrys biggest film city in UP.

The governments subsidy scheme for filmmakers shooting in the state too has been successful with several directors filming at locales in the state.
Its almost midnight. He picks up his guitar, strums the strings and starts to croon Feeling Good.

The Nina Simone classic instantly catches Rumis attention. He leaps up to the chair, jumps on the writing table, and listens intently to the rendition.

Rumi is used to these guitar songs. Because Rumis roomie is a musician.

Rumi is a cat. His mate, Ehmad Ridwan, is a human.

This is their pad in south Delhis East of Kailash. They are the only guys in the flat. Both the other flatmates are women, who have their own rooms.

While I often play the guitar in the drawing room, our common room, I prefer to listen to music alone in my room, with eyes closed, says Mr Ridwan. In his mid-20s, he is giving a tour of his small room. Since it is pandemic-time, the visit is unfolding through WhatsApp video.

Mr Ridwan returned a week ago from a summer spell in his hometown, Srinagar. A graduate in Peace and Conflict Resolution in Delhis Jamia Millia Islamia University, he confesses that things arent going well because of the pandemic. His main source of income in the Capital was giving performances in public and private gigs, but both have temporarily stalled. He also had a series of jobs in Gurugram and Delhi, but gave up that regular career to be with his mother during the pandemichis father passed away in January last year. He isnt unduly worried for his prospects, though, for everyone is suffering financially these days.

Mr Ridwan calls his music genre Urdu blues rock, in which I set music to lyrics by well-known poets as well as some I write myself. Poet Faiz is a passion, though there isnt any of his books in the room. It is an elegantly sparse place, with a few potted plants scattered around. The most noticeable elements are two guitars, and the wall decked with a dozen postcards sent by friends during travels to various places.

As the outside world remains mostly out of bounds, one wonders why Mr Ridwan came back to this windowless room instead of staying in his Srinagar family house, with six rooms, where the windows look to a great variety of viewsa graveyard, a panorama of poplar trees, and the famous Shankaracharya temple on the top of a hill.

Because this room is me. And I need to be alone to create my music.

He now again picks up his guitar and starts an Urdu song. This time Rumi sits by a potted plant.
Kayden Kross brings us another exciting title from the Deeper imprint, this time featuring four unapologetically lewd sluts in a variety of contexts. Gia Derza is pretty disappointed that she failed her Russian test, because shes learning to speak Russian for her boyfriend, played by Markus Dupree. Apparently, she fucked her tutor instead of studying. Ooooops. But Markus is getting tired of her whining and fucks her ass 'til her pussy squirts instead.

Kenzie Reeves writes Mick Blue a bunch of messages on ballloons for him to find when he comes home, and he wraps her up in plastic wrap and fucks her soundly in a super hot edge play scene. Brooklyn Gray has quite the body count," as it were, and confesses all her dirty deeds to Small Hands, who she wants to treat her like a dirty fuckdoll. We see him doing so in a flashback as she talks to him on the phone after this encounter.

Khloe Kapris dads business associate is Dupree, and she finds herself drawn to him and to doing depraved things for him like sucking him off with his belt around her neck and just good, hard, rough fucking resulting in her squirting. A well-produced piece of smut spotlighting the darker side of sexual desires.
A former high school teacher convicted of sexually abusing two students will have to register as a sex offender for the rest of her life, prosecutors said.

Christy L. Smith was convicted in 2012 of abusing a student of hers at McCaskey High School in Lancaster, as well as one from another district.

The Pennsylvania Superior Court recently ruled Smith, 42, must register her whereabouts with police once she completes a 14 to 28-year prison sentence, according to a news release from the Lancaster County District Attorneys Office.

In her appeal, Smith had said the sex offender conditions of her sentencing were excessive and publicly shame her, prosecutors said. She also said they counted as punishment and violated her Constitutional rights.

Prosecutors said the appellate court shut down her arguments, and said the sex offender registration was legal under both state and federal law.

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LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Shares of Sigma Capital Group plc (SGM.L) were gaining around 16 percent in the morning trade in London after the residential development and urban regeneration specialist launched a joint venture with EQT Real Estate, part of U.S. investment organization EQT Corp. (EQT). EQT Real Estate and Sigma have initially committed equity of 300 million pounds and 16 million pounds, respectively, to the JV. In a statement, EQT said the JV will focus on the creation of new-build, high-quality well-located BTR residential apartment blocks and houses in more affordable parts of Greater London and its commuter towns. The JV is expected to have an initial capacity to establish an investment portfolio of approximately 3,000 homes with a total value in excess of 1 billion pounds. The homes will be predominantly located in transport Zones 3-6 and in close proximity to transport links, including train access to central London. EQT noted that the completed homes will be let at market-rate rents under Sigma's 'Simple LifeLondon' brand. The JV has secured five projects with an aggregate of 361 homes from Countryside Properties plc. The JV's assets are expected to be delivered over a period of at least five years in order to create a stabilized portfolio of diversified rental income. UK Housing Minister Rt Hon Christopher Pincher MP said, 'These 3,000 new homes, backed by 50 million from our housing accelerator Homes England, will help us deliver for families across Greater London.' In London, Sigma Capital shares were trading at 114 pence, up 16.3 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.
U.S. President Donald Trump faces reporters as he departs for campaign travel to Ohio from the South Lawn at the White House in Washington, September 21, 2020.

Maybe the simplest way to think about what's happening with TikTok is collateral damage.

The Trump administration has used technology companies as a battleground for geopolitical warfare with China. It blocked Broadcom's attempt at buying Qualcomm in 2018 over arrangements with "third party foreign entities." It banned U.S. government agencies from doing business with Chinese telecom companies ZTE and Huawei. It forced a Chinese company that acquired LGBTQ dating app Grindr to sell the application.

TikTok is just the latest example of another way the Trump administration can assert its leverage over China, which has limited or prohibited American companies from operating within its borders for many years.

President Donald Trump has claimed the service, which has more than 100 million U.S. monthly active users, is a threat to national security. TikTok collects a lot of information about U.S. users, including sign-up information and their activities on the service, and could share this information with the Chinese government.

Trump used the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) -- his weapon of choice to thwart Chinese acquisitions and operations -- to force a sale of the company by Nov. 15, and threatened to ban it in the U.S. if a sale didn't happen.

TikTok, which was majority owned by Chinese company ByteDance, claims it doesn't share data with the Chinese government. It has spent months in meetings with Trump administration officials pleading its case. According to two people familiar with the company's thinking, some TikTok executives viewed Trump's actions as retaliation for a political prank in June, when teenagers organized over the service to reserve seats a Trump rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and didn't show up, leaving thousands of seats empty; another theory at the company is that the president's trade advisors were taking a cue from India's ban of TikTok in June as a new way to needle China. A TikTok spokesperson declined to comment.

Even if the U.S. government has reason to suspect TikTok is lying and has shared data -- or could share data in the future -- the current brokered deal of selling minority stakes in TikTok to Walmart and Oracle while setting up a new cloud computing deal with Oracle falls far short of the original threat.

The result resembles something from Trump's famous book "Art of the Deal": Talk big, then end on a compromise.

"It started obviously simply  to say we want to protect the security of Americans from anything that could happen to them by using TikTok," IAC Chairman Barry Diller said Tuesday on CNBC's "Squawk Box."

"It has now morphed into a ludicrous game-match between tossing ownership here, control there.Its original aims are out the window. In has just come a whole political mishmash."
Communities around the world continue to struggle with the effects of Covid-19. As the pandemic continues its hold, it is more important than ever that communities stand together and support each other.

At the heart of every community on the island of Ireland, credit unions are known for always putting the interests of their members first. In this unprecedented time credit unions have recognised that many of their members have faced unexpected hardship associated with Covid-19.

And just as they have helped members through adversity in the past, Life Credit Union, which has offices in has offices in Naas, Monread, Newbridge and Maynooth, continues to do everything possible to support members now.

Karen Mulligan, CEO Life Credit Union, states: Since mid-March we have worked hard to ensure that our doors remain open to our members in the safest possible way. We have adopted all government guidelines within our branches to ensure social distancing, and ultimately the safety of our staff and members.

Karen continues We also implemented an IT migration during lockdown, which has resulted in significantly improved digital services for our members. We encourage members as much as possible to bank with us through our new online banking and mobile app, or by phone. Existing members and new members can now apply for a loan and get the funds to their account without having to visit a branch. In these times of social distancing this is a huge positive for the members of Life Credit Union.

At the heart of the credit union heritage is ownership. As with all others, Life Credit Union is owned entirely by its local members and is run for their benefit. Unlike banks, there are no distant shareholders whose sole concern is extracting profit.

We are vested in the locality by our very structure, comments chairman Marion Hanlon. This sets us apart from other financial institutions in a fundamental way.

With Ireland enjoying an upsurge in volunteering across many fields, the credit union provides an outlet to make a purposeful contribution to the local community, as Ms Hanlon explains:

Life Credit Union is here to improve the financial and social well-being of our community. We can only do that through the dedication of volunteers, both as board and committee members.

For anyone looking to give back to the community, irrespective of age or professional background, I would say our credit union offers a rewarding and fulfilling experience, with the satisfaction of knowing that your contribution is a very real and meaningful one to those living and working around you.

For further details on becoming a volunteer with Life Credit Union please check the website www.lifecu.ie/about/ get-involved-as-a-volunteer/

Anyone interested in becoming involved with Life Credit Union is invited to contact Hilary Dempsey on 045 879 622 or email hdempsey@lifecu.ie.
In an address to parliament at 1130 GMT and then to the nation at 1900 GMT, Johnson will stop some way short of a full national lockdown of the sort he imposed in March

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will tell people on Tuesday to work from home where possible and will curb timings for bars and restaurants to tackle a fast-spreading second coronavirus wave, but the opposition accused him of losing control.

With millions across the United Kingdom already under some form of COVID-19 restriction, Johnson will tighten measures in England while stopping short of another full lockdown like he imposed in March, according to his office and ministers.

Johnson will hold emergency meetings with ministers, address parliament at 1130 GMT and then speak to the nation at 1900 GMT after government scientists warned that the death rate would soar without urgent action.

Just weeks after urging people to start returning to workplaces, Johnson will now advise them to stay at home if they can, according to his office and ministers. He will also order all pubs, bars, restaurants and other hospitality sites across England to start closing at 10 p.m. from Thursday.

"There is going to be a shift in emphasis. If it is possible for people to work from home, we are going to encourage them to do so," Michael Gove, the minister for the cabinet office, told Sky News.

The new curbs will restrict the hospitality sector to table service only, though Gove said he wanted those who could not work from home - for example in manufacturing, construction and retail - to continue to work from COVID-secure workplaces.

Schools will also stay open, he said.

SCIENTIFIC WARNING

It was unclear if the measures would be enough to tackle Britain's second wave, which government scientists warned could reach 50,000 new cases per day by mid-October.

Opposition Labour leader Keir Starmer lambasted Johnson's leadership, especially over failings in testing. "Instead of getting a grip, the government has lost control ... Our testing system collapsed just when we needed it most," he said.

The United Kingdom already has the biggest official COVID-19 death toll in Europe - and the fifth largest in the world - while it is borrowing record amounts to pump emergency money through the damaged economy.

Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey warned that the "very unfortunate" escalation of COVID-19 cases threatened the economic outlook and said the central bank was looking hard at how it could support the economy further.

Pub operator JD Wetherspoon said it could cut 400-450 jobs at sites at six airports, including London's Heathrow and Gatwick, because of the large drop in passengers.

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By Josh Smith and Hyonhee Shin SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's President Moon Jae-in called on Tuesday for a regional infectious disease control and public health initiative involving China, Japan, Mongolia, and North Korea to tackle health crises and lay the foundation for peace with Pyongyang. In a video message to the United Nations General Assembly, Moon said collective protection of life and safety would lay the groundwork for North Korea to have its security guaranteed by engaging with the international community. 'In the face of the COVID-19 crisis that poses a greater threat to humanity than a war, we came to be acutely reminded that the safety of neighbouring countries is directly linked to that of our own,' Moon said, according to an English translation of his prepared remarks distributed by his office.

By Josh Smith and Hyonhee Shin

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's President Moon Jae-in called on Tuesday for a regional infectious disease control and public health initiative involving China, Japan, Mongolia, and North Korea to tackle health crises and lay the foundation for peace with Pyongyang.

In a video message to the United Nations General Assembly, Moon said collective protection of life and safety would lay the groundwork for North Korea to have its security guaranteed by engaging with the international community.

"In the face of the COVID-19 crisis that poses a greater threat to humanity than a war, we came to be acutely reminded that the safety of neighbouring countries is directly linked to that of our own," Moon said, according to an English translation of his prepared remarks distributed by his office.

Moon proposed launching a "Northeast Asia Cooperation Initiative for Infectious Disease Control and Public Health," but did not provide details.

"It is not only Koreas response to COVID-19 but also the invaluable lessons Korea will be gaining from institutionalizing peace that Korea wishes to share with the rest of the world," he said.

South Korea's aggressive testing and tracing efforts during the coronavirus outbreak have been praised internationally. North Korea has said it has no confirmed cases, though some U.S. officials have cast doubt on that claim.

As part of his election pledges, Moon proposed building a regional cooperative mechanism in Northeast Asia to defuse military tensions and foster joint responses in areas of common interest, including disease prevention, disaster response and cybersecurity.

Moon this year also expressed his willingness to provide help to North Korea to fight the coronavirus outbreak, calling health issues a top priority in inter-Korean cooperation, but Pyongyang has said it would not receive outside aid and shut the border tighter.

North Korea has rejected cooperation with South Korea and ridiculed previous proposals after denuclearisation talks with the United States stalled, scuttling lofty goals for inter-Korean projects made at a series of summit between Moon and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

(Reporting by Josh Smith and Hyonhee Shin; Editing by Bernadette Baum)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
One of US president Donald Trumps candidates to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the US Supreme Court volunteered for Democratic nominee Joe Biden during his 1987 presidential bid.

During an interview with Fox News on Monday, Mr Trump said he had five female candidates in line to replace Ginsburg, who died from pancreatic cancer on Friday evening.

The president said that one of the women on the list is a great one from Michigan, which a Trump administration official told CNN is Judge Joan Larsen.

Mr Trump appointed Ms Larsen to the 6th US Circuit Court of Appeals in May 2017 and had her vetted by his administration when she was considered for the vacant Supreme Court seat that was filled by Brett Kavanaugh in 2018.

During the Senate Judiciary Committee questionnaire that she filled in as part of the process of her appointment, she wrote that she volunteered for Mr Biden during his last presidential campaign.

She wrote that she did some low-level volunteer work (stuffing envelopes, making phones calls) for the Biden campaign in Iowa in 1987.

Recommended Biden fails to mention Supreme Court vacancy in campaign speech as Ginsburg replacement looms

Mr Biden was unsuccessful in his bid to become the 1988 Democratic nominee, as he suspended his campaign in 1987, before former Massachusetts governor Michael Dukakis won the nomination.

The 2020 Democratic presidential nominee has gone one step further in the process this year however, and is currently leading Mr Trump in the polls, with just weeks to go before 3 Novembers election.

However, Ms Larsen appears to have conservative leanings, as she served in George W Bushs administration at the Department of Justice, and worked as a clerk to former conservative justice Antonin Scalia, who was appointed to the Supreme Court in 1986 by then Republican president Ronald Reagan.

Ms Larsen is also a member of the Federalist Society, which describes itself as a group of conservatives and libertarians, that aims to reorder priorities within the legal system to place a premium on individual liberty, traditional values, and the rule of law.

The decision surrounding the timeline of the nomination of a new Supreme Court justice is causing controversy, with Democratic officials calling for it to wait until after 3 Novembers election.

A place on the court is a lifetime position and if a justice is appointed by Mr Trump, it would likely give it a Conservative super majority that could stand for decades.

On Friday evening, Democratic presidential nominee, Joe Biden, said that the nomination should wait until after the election, following a tribute to Ms Ginsburg.

He said: There is no doubt, let me be clear, that the voters should pick the president and the president should pick the justice for the Senate to consider.

However, at a rally in Fayetteville, North Carolina, on Saturday night the president confirmed that he will nominate Ms Ginsburgs replacement while he is in office, because he feels he has an obligation to.

He added: It will be a woman. A very talented, very brilliant woman, who I haven't chosen yet, but we have numerous women on the list.

Mr Trump confirmed on Tuesday that he will name his nomination to replace Ms Ginsburg on Saturday 26 September.
The lightning began in the skies over Northern and Central California one weekend in mid-August. It landed on grassy areas and vineyards.

The U.S. National Weather Service warned that the dry lightning hitting dry land could lead to new wildfire.

It turned out to be a much bigger problem than expected.

Thousands of lightning bolts caused hundreds of fires in California and at least one in Oregon. They led to some of the most destructive wildfires that the West Coast has seen in modern times.

One month later, firefighters are still battling them. At least 35 people have died in California, Oregon and Washington.

The wildfires have taken away peoples sense of security, said Oregon Department of Forestry spokesman Jim Gersbach. These (fires) burned so close to populated areas, driven by this wind  basically unstoppable, he added.

The huge wildfires started a debate over whether climate change or a lack of good forest management was the bigger problem this time. Several studies have found that a warming planet increases the chances of extreme events  and increases their severity. But many experts have also argued that thinning forests and reducing the amount of dead leaves and other dry plant materials will give fire less fuel.

Before the series of lightning strikes, the West Coasts fire season had been a little more severe than normal. In Oregon, officials had decided not to let the fires grow. They ordered even small fires to be covered quickly by aircraft. That way, large groups of firefighters would not be needed. The plan was meant to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, Gersbach told The Associated Press.

But then came the weekend of August 15 and 16.

The National Weather Service reported that it had been an insane 12 hours across the Bay Area of San Francisco. During that period, lightning struck all around San Franciscos famous Bay Bridge.

But that was just the first part of it.

The second part came three weeks later, when another strange weather event happened.

A very large high-pressure area developed all the way from Alaska to the desert in the Southwest. It brought summer snow to places like Denver, Colorado. It also pushed warm, dry wind toward the Pacific coast, said Greg Jones. He is a professor and climate science researcher at Linfield University in McMinnville, Oregon. Normally, the winds in early September go in the opposite direction, he noted.

Those strong winds pushed the fires through trees and brush that had been drying out all summer. The winds caused the fires to explode in size. The fires quickly moved into towns and rural homes. Many locals could only flee with the clothes on their backs.

Jones called the weather conditions likely a once in a generation event.

For the first time ever, five so-called megafires were burning at the same time in Oregon. A megafire is one that covers at least 405 square kilometers.

Smoke covered the West Coast states, creating some of the most dangerous air quality in the world. Seattles famous Space Needle building was mostly hidden by brown air particles. The smoke reached all the way across the United States and even into parts of Europe.

Large groups of firefighters arrived, walking through blackened lands toward the flames. National Guard troops joined the effort. Even local residents tried to save homes by breaking firelines by hand and using digging and clearing trucks.

Local resident Kerry Kuenzi got together with several other people to fight a huge fire in Scotts Mills, Oregon. He told The Oregonian newspaper that people have to come together in times like these because its like a war out there.

The Beachie Creek Fire he fought covered less than two square kilometers on September 7. But high winds and extremely dry plant material on the ground made the fire grow quickly. By the next day, it had spread across 530 square kilometers, fire officials said.

New fires continued to start in California and Oregon. Burned lands and destroyed remains of mobile homes and other buildings could be seen everywhere.

The flames were so intense that firefighters sometimes had to stop their work. You cannot really stand there with a hose when you have 48 kilometer-an-hour winds and dry fuels, Gersbach said.

Firefighters from across the U.S. and Canada have hurried to the area to help fight the blazes. As of September 22, there were close to 19,000 firefighters in California fighting more than 27 major wildfires. Also as of September 22, close to 8,500 firefighters were fighting 23 large wildfires in Oregon and Washington.

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection says that more than 1.2 million hectares have burned this year in the state  more than ever before. In Oregon, about 400,000 hectares have burned since the start of this year.

Residents are hoping for rain to wash away the wildfire smoke. In Oregon, rains over much of the state late last week helped battle wildfires but did not put them out. Northern California remains dry though calming winds and lower temperatures  caused in part by the smoke blocking the sun  have helped firefighters. Small amounts of rain are predicted for far northern California and the Sierra Nevada mountains.

Im Jonathan Evans.

And Im Alice Bryant.

Andrew Selsky wrote this story for The Associated Press. Alice Bryant adapted it for Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor.

_______________________________________________________

Words in This Story

vineyard - n. a field where grapes are grown

bolt - n. a bright line of light that appears in the sky during a storm

management - n. the act or skill of controlling and making decisions about a business, department or something else

Bay Area - n. an area in Northern California including the city of San Francisco and surrounding counties

brush - n. wood from small branches on a tree

flame - n. a state of burning brightly

resident - n. someone who lives in a particular place

mobile - adj. able to be moved

hose  n. a long, usually rubber tube that liquids or gases can flow through
Call it a modest step toward more collaborative governance between Ottawa and Queens Park.

Over the weekend, the federal government reluctantly agreed to allow Ontario to use its own carbon-pricing for big industrial polluters. It is significant in that this could signal a greater degree of co-operation between the province and Ottawa on environmental standards, and area that has been the subject of considerable partisan friction between the Ford and Trudeau governments.

Ottawas decision is a de-escalation in the jurisdictional fight over the Liberal governments national carbon pricing law. If it leads to a more collaborative approach, that will be a good thing. But its important to understand what it is, and what it is not.

It does not mean that the legal jurisdictional challenge being pursued by Ontario, Alberta and Saskatchewan is going away. That challenge arrives in Canadas Supreme Court Tuesday, to be heard over two days with a decision to follow. The decision will determine whether the federal government has the jurisdictional power to levy a carbon tax. Two lower courts have already ruled Ottawa has that right, with one ruling it does not.

This is about another aspect of environmental policy. Ottawa doesnt like Ontarios plan for polluting heavy industry, mostly because it is to be phased in while Ottawas version of the plan would come into play as soon as implemented. But rather than let good be the enemy of perfect, Ottawa wisely decided to support Ontarios plan, which should make the province more congenial in future discussions.

However, while this is positive from a political perspective, its less so from a hard environmental one. Because it is phased in the provincial plan wont reduce carbon emissions at the same rate or amount as the federal version would have. That is not good.

Environmentalists and everyone else who wants to see measurable action to fight climate change might wonder why the government is being politically expedient over environmentally assertive. But its worth noting that federal sources say Ontarios plan does meet the legal standard even if its not as aggressive as the federal preference, so had Ontario said no we could have been facing another legal fight with all that entails. So, on balance, this seems a reasonable compromise.

But what does it signal, if anything, about Ottawas overall strategy on climate change? It now looks as if the governments Throne speech this week will not include a green vision to the extent originally planned. With the pandemic getting worse by the day, the government instead is expected to focus on fighting COVID-19, funding economic recovery some sort of national child-care strategy and steps toward some sort of pharmacare plan.

The belief among public policy mandarins, apparently, is that Canadians are so preoccupied with the pandemic at this point they dont have the bandwidth for a broad new environmental strategy that is bound to have an impact on consumers. Perhaps.

But it is also true that Canadians dont live in a vacuum. We see the impact of climate change all around us, whether in historically destructive wildfires, flooding, drought or the death toll among elephants dying by the hundreds in Botswana after consuming toxic green algae, which is becoming more pervasive due to climate change.

And seeing all this, more and more Canadians want a more aggressive approach to fighting climate change. While this does not equal Ottawa going soft on that commitment, it wouldnt be good if it is the start of a softening trend.

Canada has failed on every single emission target reduction to date. That must change, and soon.

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Abdullah Abdullah (L), Chairman of Afghanistan's High Council for National Reconciliation, said the level of Taliban attacks in the country is still unacceptably high for peace talks

A number of Taliban prisoners who were released by the Afghan government as a condition for peace talks have taken up arms again, top official Abdullah Abdullah said Tuesday.

Abdullah, who chairs Afghanistan's High Council for National Reconciliation and is overseeing the government's peace efforts, said discussions with the Taliban in Qatar so far have been positive.

However, he said some -- though not the majority -- of the 5,000 Taliban prisoners released by the government as a condition for talks had resumed the fight against Kabul.

"I do know that some have returned to the battlefield, which is a violation of the agreement that they had made," Abdullah said during an online conference with the US Council on Foreign Relations.

Abdullah said talks between the two sides had begun in Doha on a positive note, as the delegations build some familiarity with each other.

Yet the level of violence inside Afghanistan has not fallen, and he called on the United States, which launched the peace process with its own deal with the Taliban, and Pakistan, which maintains ties to the insurgents, to pressure them to agree to a ceasefire.

"Unfortunately, so far, the level of violence is very high and to a level that is not acceptable for the people," Abdullah said.

"I repeat my call to the Taliban themselves and also to all partners who have any leverage over the Taliban to press on that point."

Abdullah said he planned to visit Pakistan in the coming days for the first time since 2008.

The persistent violence, and the Taliban's failure to completely cut relations with the Islamic State and Al-Qaeda jihadist groups, was singled out as a barrier to success by US officials testifying in Congress Tuesday.

US chief negotiator Zalmay Khalilzad said a drawdown of US troops, under the US-Taliban agreement, would halt at around 4,500 remaining in Afghanistan in November while Washington assesses whether the insurgents were living up to their pledges.

"Further withdrawals will be determined based on conditions on the ground and delivery by the Taliban on their commitments," Khalilzad told a hearing of the House oversight committee.

The US has slashed troop numbers in Afghanistan by more than half from above 12,000.

Under President Donald Trump's promise to end US involvement in wars abroad, Washington has pledged to withdraw all forces by May 2021, if the Taliban and the government can achieve a solid peace agreement.

"By any measure, the current levels of violence are too high. We know that the reductions are possible," Khalilzad said, noting short ceasefires were respected by the Taliban in the past.
With the Covid-19 pandemic soon reaching the grim milestone of a million deaths, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday chided those countries who are making side deals to have vaccine exclusively for their own populations, saying such vaccinationalism is self-defeating. We are working to advance treatments and therapies as a global public good  and backing efforts for a peoples vaccine available and affordable everywhere. Yet some countries are reportedly making side deals exclusively for their own populations, Guterres said.

Such vaccinationalism is not only unfair, it is self-defeating. None of us is safe, until all of us are safe. Likewise, economies cannot run with a runaway pandemic, he said in his address to the 75th session of the UN General Assembly that commenced on Tuesday in the shadow of the devastating and still raging Covid-19 pandemic.

Global organisation Oxfam has warned that wealthy nations representing just 13 per cent of the worlds population have already cornered more than half (51 per cent) of the promised doses of leading Covid-19 vaccine candidates. Oxfam said the efforts of rich countries, especially the US, to adopt a me first nationalistic approach prevents coordination and could prevent or delay the vaccine from reaching people who are at most risk, both living in developing countries and here at home.

The Covid-19 pandemic has so far infected over 30 million people and more than 958,000 people have died. The US, with 6.7 million infections, crossed the grim milestone of 200,000 deaths.

Guterres said that since the beginning of the pandemic, the UN has pushed for a massive rescue package worth at least 10 per cent of the global economy. Developed countries have provided enormous relief for their own economies. They can afford it. But we need to ensure that the developing world does not fall into financial ruin, escalating poverty and debt crises. We need a collective commitment to avoid a downward spiral, he said. The UN system, led by the World Health Organisation, has supported governments  particularly in the developing world  to save lives and contain the spread of the virus, he said.

Our global supply chains have helped to provide personal protective equipment and other medical supplies to more than 130 countries, Guterres said, adding that the UN has has extended life-saving assistance to the most vulnerable countries and people through a Global Humanitarian Response Plan.

The UNs Verified campaign is also fighting misinformation online  in and of itself a toxic virus shaking the democratic underpinnings in many countries, he said.

Guterres also gave a clarion call for an inclusive and effective multilateralism that meets the test of the 21st century, cautioning that countries cannot respond to the crisis created by the Covid-19 pandemic by withdrawing into national shells. More than seven decades on, multilateral institutions need an upgrade to more equitably represent all the people of the world, rather than giving disproportionate power to some and limiting the voice of others, he said.

We dont need new bureaucracies. We need a multilateral system that constantly innovates, delivers for people, and protects our planet, he added. He underscored that 21st century multilateralism must be networked - linking global institutions across sectors and geographies, from development banks to regional organizations and trade alliances.

To overcome todays fragilities and challenges we need more international cooperation - not less; strengthened multilateral institutions - not a retreat from them; better global governance - not a chaotic free-for-all, he said.

Calling on nations to stand united and act in solidarity in the hour of the global crisis, Guterres said, when countries go in their own direction, the virus goes in every direction. He also urged countries to be guided by science and tethered to reality in combating this pandemic.

The UN chief said that in order to truly reduce fragilities and risks, and to more effectively solve shared problems, we need a corresponding New Global Deal at the international level. He said this New Global Deal is about ensuring that the global political and economic systems deliver on critical global public goods, as he noted with concern that today that is simply not happening.

We have huge gaps in governance structures and ethical frameworks. To close these gaps, we need to ensure that power, wealth and opportunities are broadly and fairly shared, he said.

He underlined that the New Global Deal must address historical injustices in global power structures.

Guterres also strongly asserted that special focus has to be put on women and girls as the world strives to recover from the pandemic and build back better.

He said women do most of the unpaid care work generated by the pandemic and women have fewer economic resources to fall back on, because their wages are lower, and they have less access to benefits.

The UN chief warned that unless we act now, gender equality could be set back by decades. He called on nations to stamp out the horrifying increase in violence against women and girls during the pandemic, from domestic violence to sexual abuse, online harassment and femicide.
NAPLES - The Ithra Museum in Dhahran, in Saudi Arabia, will host a major exhibit of ancient Egyptian artifacts from November this year until November 2022, Gulf News reports. The paper explained that the exhibit, which was approved by the Egyptian government, will display over 84 objects of ancient Egypt.

The announcement came at the end of a meeting between Egyptian Tourism Minister Khaled Al Anani and his Saudi counterpart Ahmed Al Khatib during the executive council of the World Tourism Organization held in Georgia. The decision was made after the transfer of artifacts to Saudi Arabia was approved. The transfer will take place according to health and safety standards.

The Egyptian minister stressed the importance of close relations between the Saudi kingdom and his country, also recalling the peculiarity of the Saudi market for Egyptian tourism.

The museum of Ithra has four main galleries, respectively dedicated to contemporary art of the Middle East, Saudi culture, Islamic art, and natural history of the Arabic peninsula, succeeding in mixing ancient and contemporary art.
Death milestones always feel arbitrary and inadequate; when it comes to the coronavirus pandemic, theyre also hard to measure. So it is with the latest grim statistic: the US hasor is about to, depending on your sourcehit 200,000 confirmed deaths from COVID-19. Time magazine unveiled a black-bordered cover marking the 200,000 figure nearly two weeks ago; as of this morning, the Johns Hopkins dashboard, a trusted source for many news outlets, still listed 199,865 deaths; in any case, weve known for a while that the true, if unconfirmed, total count is likely way higher that official estimates allow. (The New York Times was confident enough to report that the 200,000 marker had been surpassed all the way back on August 12.) We clutch at numbers of apparent shared significance, but theyve already gone by. And the deaths go on.

Amid all the tragedy is a lot of farce. That word could reasonably be applied to almost any aspect of Americas official pandemic response, but it feels especially applicable to the bungled, contradictory, often-dishonest coronavirus messaging coming out of President Trump and his allies, via the news media and the federal health bureaucracy itself. Nearly two weeks ago, we learned, via Bob Woodwards new book, that Trump knew the virus would be bad back in February, but downplayed it publicly anyway. Since then, a series of storieswhich, individually, excited less enraged media coverage than the Woodward revelationhave shown, collectively, that duplicitous messaging remains a central problem today.

ICYMI: Inside the Black Vault

Two days after the Woodward story dropped, Politicos Dan Diamond was first to report that Trump appointees within the Department of Health and Human Servicesincluding Michael Caputo, a Trump campaign official turned departmental spokesperson, and Paul Alexander, an adviser to Caputoroutinely sought to meddle with weekly scientific reports that are issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and are not typically subject to political review. The meddling, Diamond wrote, had been interpreted by agency officials as an effort to intimidate the reports authors and water down their communications to health professionals, with the end goal of boosting Trumps optimistic coronavirus narrative. CDC officials pushed back on the interference, but increasingly agreed to allow the political officials to review the reports and, in a few cases, compromised on the wording, Diamond added.

Two days later, things got weird. Caputo went on his Facebook page, started live-streaming, and unleashed a barrage of unhinged claims. He accused CDC officials of sedition and of belonging to an anti-Trump resistance unit that meets at coffee shops (them again) to discuss how to undermine the president. (To allow people to die so that you can replace the president [is a] grievous sin. And these people are all going to hell.) He spoke of a supposed threat from leftist hit squads should Trump win the electionYou understand that theyre going to have to kill me, and unfortunately, I think thats where this is goingand advised those watching to stock up on ammunition. He also said that he was struggling with his mental health, in part because he has been waking up every morning and talking about dead Americans. He insisted that he was planning to stay in his job as HHS spokesperson, but three days later, he announced that he would be taking a leave of absence, citing medical grounds and violent threats against his family. At the same time, Alexander, Caputos adviser, quit the department.

That was last Wednesday. The same day, Robert Redfield, the director of the CDC, testified before Congress; among other things, he said that even if a COVID vaccine were forthcoming, most Americans wouldnt have access to it until next year, and that masks are more guaranteed than a vaccine to protect against the disease. Soon after, Trump, who thinks a quick vaccine would be good for his election prospects, publicly rebuked Redfield who, Trump said, had likely misunderstood the question he was being asked. Later in the day, a spokesperson for Redfield put out a statement conceding Trumps point and walking back Redfields earlier commentbut the spokesperson then tried to retract that concession. Tweets by Redfield himself sowed further confusion.

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The CDC wasnt done for the week. On Friday, the agency took two seemingly positive steps. It reversed its adviceissued last month, reportedly by political appointees rather than scientiststhat people who have been in close contact with a known COVID carrier neednt bother getting a test unless they have symptoms. And it added language to its website acknowledging that the virus can be transmitted by small airborne droplets. Outside experts praised both developments as good sciencebut then, yesterday, the CDC did another U-turn, deleting the new language on droplets. Observers were incredulous. (HOLY HELL, Dr. Eric Feigl-Ding, an epidemiologist, tweeted.) Critics of the CDCs recent performance smelled fresh political meddlingbut an agency scientist told Lena H. Sun, of the Washington Post, that on this occasion, CDC staff shot our own foot. A CDC spokesperson said that draft language had been posted in error.

Then, later yesterday, things got so weird that they made the Caputo video look routine. Lachlan Markay, of the Daily Beast, reported that William B. Crews, a communications staffer at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, also blogs for RedStatea right-wing website where, under the pen name streiff, he has routinely disparaged his boss, Dr. Anthony Fauci, as an attention-grubbing and media-whoring mask Nazi, and spread ludicrous misinformation about the pandemic. (It is safe to say that the entire Wuhan virus scare was nothing more or less than a massive fraud perpetrated upon the American people by experts, Crews/streiff wrote in June. If there were justice, wed send [a] few dozen of these fascists to the gallows and gibbet their tarred bodies in chains until they fall apart.) After Markay brought streiffs true identity to the attention of NIAID officials, Crews abruptly retired.

As the reaction to Woodwards book showed, Trumps lies and whiplash hypocrisy are reliable drivers of our furybut the more recent stories outlined above prove that the governments COVID messaging crisis goes much farther than the guy at the top. There are many good, honest people working within the federal health system, of course, and the retirement of bad apples can help stop the rot; still, its clear, too, that once-respected agencies have a glaring credibility problem that will be hard to fix, even if Trump is ousted in November. In the meantime, more Americans will die, however we count their loss.

Below, more on the coronavirus:



Other notable stories:

ICYMI: Tech journalisms on background scourge

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Jon Allsop is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Review of Books, Foreign Policy, and The Nation, among other outlets. He writes CJRs newsletter The Media Today. Find him on Twitter @Jon_Allsop.
East Flat Rock native on Trump's shortlist for Supreme Court, reports say

Allison Jones Rushing

Allison Jones Rushing, a Henderson County native and graduate of East Hendersonville High School who serves on the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, is on President Trump's shortlist for the U.S. Supreme Court, multiple news organizations reported.

Rushing, who was confirmed to the federal appeals court in March of 2019, made the list of 20 potential nominees for the high court Trump made public earlier this month. After graduating from East Henderson High School, Rushing earned a bachelor degree at Wake Forest University before graduating magna cum laude from Duke's law school.

Rushing, 38, clerked for some of the biggest names in the judiciary, including Canton native David Sentelle, a senior U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals judge; 10th Circuit judge Neil Gorsuch, before he won confirmation to the Supreme Court; and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. She is the daughter of David and Lynnette Jones.
Shoukry highlighted the need to combat extremism and organised crime as well as remove weapons of mass destruction

In a speech commemorating the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry has affirmed Egypts stance on combating terrorism, highlighting the need to face states that employ [terrorism] to achieve political and ideological goals.

The UN held its first virtual meeting of world leaders on Tuesday with pre-recorded speeches from world leaders, kept at home by the coronavirus pandemic

In his speech, Shoukry explained Egypts vision for dealing with current global issues and challenges, including preserving international peace and security, by thwarting attempts to dismantle and fragment the nation state and push it into identity and sectarian conflicts.

Shoukry highlighted the need to combat extremism and organised crime as well as remove weapons of mass destruction.

He also urged drafting effective rules to ensure cybersecurity and information security, as well as reforming the structures of institutions concerned with preserving global security and peace, especially the UN Security Council.

Concerning water issues, Shoukry said the use of trans-boundary waters must be in accordance with international law and called for avoiding unilateral actions that would affect the lives of people in other societies.

Shoukrys comments come after Egypt failed to reach a binding agreement with Ethiopia regarding the filling and operation of its massive Renaissance Dam.

On the environment, Shoukry said that Egypt aims to limit emissions that contribute to global warming and climate change, and encourages a balanced approach in coping with the negative effects of this phenomenon.

Shoukrys speech also underscored the need to protect human rights and combat racial discrimination and hatred. He called for empowering young people and women, effectively responding to health crises, allowing access to comprehensive healthcare, enabling legal migration and preserving the rights of migrants.

The FM also said that a breakthrough is needed in providing sustainable financing sources and combating corruption and illicit financial flows. He also called for ensuring the flow of knowledge, transferring technology and working to reform the international trade system.

Shoukry also affirmed Egypts commitment to the values of equality among people and the sovereignty of nations, avoiding polarisation, enhancing partnership among UN member states, respecting cultural and civilisational characteristics of peoples and societies and maintaining a global system governed by international law.

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An Adelaide YouTube gamer imported animated Japanese child porn and filmed himself having sex with a doll while children watched online, a court heard.

Shane Andrew Lunnay, 35, pleaded guilty in the District Court on Tuesday to multiple counts of possessing and controlling child abuse material and importing prohibited goods.

The court heard he was in possession of photographs and videos including some showing children under the age of 14, The Advertiser reported.

Judge Geraldine Davison said Lunnay's obsession with the animated material, called hentai, may have formed a 'foundation' for his use of child abuse material.

Adelaide man and YouTube gamer Shane Andrew Lunnay, 35, (pictured) pleaded guilty to possessing child abuse material and importing prohibited goods

'Is this another example, perhaps, that one shouldn't consider that anime, or hentai material, is harmless, victimless,' she said.

She described his bedroom as a 'fantasy world' with posters of young animated girls plastered on every wall.

The YouTube gamer was not directly charged for live-streaming himself having sex with what appeared to be a doll while aware children were watching him.

His lawyer, Andrew Culshaw, conceded his client lived in an 'unhealthy, deviant and illegal fantasy world' but he has since sought therapy.

Prosecutor Pantelia Marinakis told the court Lunnay had confessed to a psychologist he had no interest in child exploitation material.

He would use his YouTube channel, Radical Dreamer Shane-O, to post clips of himself playing video games and talking about his collections.

The 35-year-old is due to be sentenced in late September.
Facebook has taken down a network of fake accounts that were run out of China and posted about US politics, the company disclosed Tuesday.

As CNET points out, Facebook has found fake accounts from China in the past, but the latest takedowns are the first time its found Chinese-run accounts posting about US politics. The company detailed its investigation in a report that identified two separate networks that coordinated with one another.

One network originated in China, and was made up of more than 155 accounts that had amassed a following of 133,000 and group membership of 61,000. Though Facebook says the group focused most of its activity in Southeast Asia, some of the accounts also posted about US politics both in support of and against presidential candidates Pete Buttigieg, Joe Biden and Donald Trump. The US-focused accounts gained almost no following, but the takedowns were significant enough the company opted to disclose the move ahead of its monthly report on coordinated inauthentic behavior, CNN reported.

The second network was linked to the Philippine military and police, according to Facebook. It had 276,000 flowers on Facebook and 5,500 on Instagram and mainly posted about domestic politics in the Philippines and the military.

News of the takedowns comes as Facebook continues to shore up its policies ahead of the 2020 presidential election. Facebook and other platforms have met with government officials to discuss election security, and is also gaming out scenarios in the event of a chaotic aftermath following the election.
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  A group that sent out political advertisements targeting several progressive Democrats in the run-up to the June primary election has been ordered to disclose its donors.

Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver recently directed the Council for a Competitive New Mexico to make the disclosure within 10 days or face possible civil penalties.

The group reported spending more than $134,000 on campaign mailers, radio ads and phone calls in May and early June in support of five incumbent Democratic senators, with some of that money also being spent on mailers that targeted four of their primary election opponents.

However, the Council for a Competitive New Mexico did not disclose its funding sources for the campaign-related expenditures, which is required in most cases under a 2019 state law.

Four of the incumbent senators  Richard Martinez of Ojo Caliente, Clemente Sanchez of Grants, Gabriel Ramos of Silver City and John Arthur Smith of Deming  ended up being ousted in the June primary election.

Despite their defeats, a complaint was filed in August by Neri Holguin, the campaign manager for two of the progressive Democrats who were targeted by the campaign ads.

One of those candidates, Siah Correa Hemphill of Silver City, said the group should be required to abide by the law.

I strongly believe in playing by the rules, Correa Hemphill said. Its upsetting when people and groups dont.

Chevonne Alarid, whos listed as the president of the Council for a Competitive New Mexico, did not respond to a Monday question about whether the group plans to comply.

New Mexicos campaign finance laws were updated by the 2019 legislation that required more disclosure from independent expenditure groups, or those that spend money on political ads but do not coordinate with candidates or campaigns.

That law was also cited by the state Ethics Commission in a separate case announced Monday involving a group that has spent money on campaign mailers urging voters to support a proposed constitutional amendment overhauling the Public Regulation Commission.

In that case, the group called Committee to Protect New Mexico Consumers had initially declined to file an expenditure report with the Secretary of States Office.

But after being faced with possible legal action by the state Ethics Commission, whose members authorized the action, the group last week filed a report disclosing $264,193 in spending on the mailers.

However, the settlement agreement does not require the group to disclose its donors.

Ethics Commission Executive Director Jeremy Farris said thats because a provision in the 2019 law allows some contributions to be exempt from the reporting requirement and a court battle over the issue could have dragged on for months.

Our states campaign reporting and disclosure laws ensure New Mexicans know basic facts about special interests seeking to influence their votes on identified candidates or ballot questions, Farris said in a statement Monday.

The listed officer for the Committee to Protect New Mexico Consumers on its disclosure report is Jon Goldstein, a former state Environment Department secretary who now works for the New York-based Environmental Defense Fund. Goldstein said in an email that the group was seeking to inform voters by sending the mailers.

The expenditures of our committee were for educational purposes, and we have followed all applicable state laws, he said.

The proposed constitutional amendment would transform the oft-maligned PRC from a five-member commission whose members are elected to a three-member appointed commission.

If approved by voters in November, the constitutional amendment would allow the governor to appoint PRC commissioners from a list of nominated candidates, starting in 2023.
Mumbai: The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) will summon actors Sara Ali Khan, Rakul Preet Singh along with designer Simon Khambatta for questioning in connection with the drugs angle involved in the Sushan t Singh Rajput suicide probe. The officials said that their names had come up during the interrogation of Rhea Chakraborty, Rajputs girlfriend.

The NCB meanwhile grilled the deceased actors talent manager Jaya Saha who was found to be in contact with many actors who sought drugs from her, revealed in the chat messages accessed by the NCB.

The NCB has stated that the summons will be sent to Sara, Rakul and Simon soon and that the day for grilling them is yet to be decided. Investigators said that after these and some other names came up, it was later found that they would frequent Rajputs farmhouse in Lonavala.

The allegations state that the group did consume marijuana and cannabis. The officials recorded statements of several witnesses in and around the farmhouse and the allegations have now been verified.

The trio will be questioned about the parties and other visitors who also visited there. The NCB is also likely to summon another actress who was also allegedly one of the frequent visitors at these parties.

The summons will be sent soon and they will be questioned this week, said an NCB officer.

The NCB on Monday grilled Saha in connection with the text messages of her being asked for narcotics substances. The officials had also summoned Shruti Modi, Rajputs manager for questioning however she had to be left without grilling on September 16 as one of the members of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of NCB had contracted COVID-19 virus.

Rakul had moved the Delhi High Court seeking curtailment of media reports against her linking her with this case.
The Justice Department on Tuesday announced the largest seizure of online drugs in the U.S. darknet history.

According to the Justice Department, the operation resulted in the seizure of over $6.5 million in both cash and virtual currencies, and 274 kilograms of drugs such as fentanyl, oxycodone, meth and other drugs.

MORE: 'No coordinated national voter fraud effort during a major election': FBI

The takedown was part of Operation DisrupTor, an international effort with the Justice Department's law enforcement partners in Europe.

According to the Oxford dictionary, the darknet is a computer network with restricted access that is used chiefly for illegal peer-to-peer file sharing.

PHOTO: Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey A. Rosen announces significant law enforcement actions related to the illegal sale of drugs and other illicit goods and services on the Darknet at the Department of Justice, in Washington, Sept. 22, 2020. (Pool/Reuters)

Deputy Attorney General Jeffery Rosen outlined a number of cases from jurisdictions around the U.S.

There will be no safe haven, or drug dealing in cyberspace, Rosen said.

PHOTO: Seizure by Los Angeles Joint Criminal Opioid Darknet Enforcement (JCODE) on Feb. 11, 2020 of approximately 120 pounds of methamphetamine, 7-kilograms of MDMA, and 5-firearms. (DEA)

"Todays announcement is very much a success story in international law enforcement cooperation, as crime on the Darknet is truly a global problem that requires global partnership," Rosen said in his prepared remarks. "However, the global nature of the threat also means that foreign countries who fail to act can easily become safe harbors for criminals who seek to pump lethal, addictive drugs into the United States from abroad. The Department cannot and will not allow criminals to operate with impunity."

MORE: 'FBI director pushes back on debunked conspiracy theory about 2016 election interference

FBI Director Chris Wray told ABC News that the dark-net is a perfect storm of traditional crime and cyber crime. Acting Drug Enforcement Administration head Tim Shea, said many of the drugs are coming from Mexico.

At the same time, we've seen an increase in fentanyl deaths, and that's synthetic opioids, which is a major threat emanating from Mexico, drugs, produced on industrial scale in Mexico are shipped to the United States using the dark-web, Shea said.

DOJ announces largest drug, gun and cash seizure in darknet history originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
In this May 8, 2019 file photo bouquets of flowers sit on the sign outside the STEM School Highlands Ranch in Highlands Ranch, Colo. Security procedures at the STEM School Highlands Ranch are under scrutiny amid talks about its charter agreement with a Colorado school district. The contract expires Saturday, June 29.
As recently as early September, Turkish media was beating the war drums as tensions escalated with Greece over territorial and gas exploration rows in the Eastern Mediterranean. The pro-government media, in particular, was abuzz with commentaries on how Turkeys military power was superior to that of Greece and how Turkey would easily win a potential war with its neighbor. The same pro-government commentators and retired generals are now lauding the merits of diplomacy and dialogue while accusing those who fail to change tune of promoting tensions and war.

Such abrupt turns on key matters of national interest have become alarmingly frequent in Turkey since President Recep Tayyip Erdogan assumed super executive powers in 2018, showing that Ankaras foreign policy has fallen into the trap of short-termism and become increasingly unpredictable.

Moreover, almost everyone in Ankara feels entitled to speak on foreign policy matters. The presidents spokesperson and communications chief as well as the ministers of Defense, Economy, Energy and even the Interior have come to readily pass a comment. Ranting against Turkeys adversaries is today a highly popular thing in Ankara. Foreign policy bluster has seemingly become an easy way for members of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) to raise their profiles and advance their political careers. It is usually riskless and with high populist returns.

Amid these frequent about-turns and the cacophony of messages, foreign policy in Ankara today is a realm of inconsistency and confusion.

In the past two years, Erdogan has claimed credit for any bold foreign policy move, including Turkeys military operation in northeast Syria in October 2019, its maritime deal with Libya the following month, and efforts to assert itself in Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean. But when it comes to less illustrious events such as Washingtons retaliation for Ankaras purchase of Russian air defense systems, President Donald Trumps brash letter to Erdogan over Syria, the killing of 36 Turkish soldiers in a strike in Idlib or Greeces militarization of Aegean islands near Turkeys shores, no one is around to be accountable to the public.

In short, foreign affairs have become a tool to furbish Erdogans image, the result of which is a highly personalized foreign policy.

On Sept. 17, for instance, presidential spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin framed Ankaras decision to pull a research ship out of disputed waters in the Mediterranean Sea as Erdogans personal gesture to Greece. Our president has given a chance to diplomacy again. Hopefully, the Greek side will use this as an opportunity to advance the talks, he said.

A grave repercussion of Erdogans foreign policy posture, which has come to mirror his short-tempered and polarizing style in domestic politics, is the erosion of institutional decision-making and execution on foreign policy matters. The Foreign Ministrys institutional capacity has been seriously damaged and overly politicized, including through nepotistic appointments and promotions.

Since 2018, the gap between Ankaras dreams or desires and the reality on the ground or the realpolitik has widened as well. Ankara has come to pursue dreams of spoiling games by others rather than a foreign policy based on its economic and military capacity. The defensive, status quoist leaning of Turkeys foreign policy in the past was hardly the best example, but its current offensive, revisionist brand is devoid both of a grand strategy and a capacity matching ambitions, which makes it extremely risky. Because of its failure to develop a realistic, rational and strategic framework, Turkey has grown increasingly isolated, trying to compensate for its risky loneliness with revisionist military activism.

Until the 2010s, Ankara used only limited military force to manage a complex, multi-threat environment. Its main priority was the four-decade domestic conflict with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). Diplomacy and deterrence were used to freeze rivalry in the Eastern Mediterranean and in the Cyprus conflict. This began to change in the summer of 2018 when Erdogan assumed sweeping powers under a new executive presidency system.

Turkeys embrace of muscular methods is rooted in profound transformations in its external environment and domestic dynamics.

Externally, Ankaras threat perceptions have shifted east and south, owing to growing security risks in the Eastern Mediterranean, Iraq, North Africa and Syria, and to strategic competition with Egypt, Russia, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and other regional powers. Ankara was particularly unnerved by NATOs passivity on its southern flank during the Syria crisis, which contributed to a security vacuum there. In relying on the Peoples Protection Units  the PKKs Syrian franchise  to counter the Islamic State, Western powers ignored or dismissed Turkeys well-known concerns. Also, there is a pervasive and enduring sense among the Turkish ruling elite that the Western security block failed to adequately support Ankara during and after the coup attempt of July 2016.

A number of domestic factors have also driven the militarization of foreign policy. First, foreign policy has become a crucial plank of Ankaras political agenda since the executive presidency system took effect. Military actions abroad enjoy strong popular support and help sustain Erdogans popularity. In particular, his embrace of a more nationalist discourse at home has helped consolidate his de facto coalition with the ultranationalist Nationalist Movement Party.

Second, military deployment abroad is popular with the armed forces themselves. It boosts morale and motivation through extra pay and promotion opportunities and provides valuable experience in joint force operations.

A third domestic driver of Turkeys more militaristic approach is its role in harmonizing ties between the military and civilian leadership, who agree on the need to enhance Turkeys military capabilities and defense industry. The military is more concerned with the technical dimensions of this consensus as part of a transformation and restructuring process called Vision 2033. Politicians, meanwhile, are keen to use this new capacity and energy in domestic and foreign policy. They also hope that keeping the army busy abroad will make civilian control of the military easier as the generals focus on external rather than domestic affairs. Finally, the boom in the Turkish defense industry allows Ankara to pursue a more independent strategy and display its defense systems for the purpose of international marketing.

The fundamental problems of Turkish foreign policy today could be summarized as follows:

It lacks a grand strategy, succumbing to a short-termism trap.

Foreign policy is increasingly becoming a tool of daily politics at home, shaped by a populist approach that prioritizes domestic consumption and thus glues foreign policy to the governments domestic political agenda.

It is growing over-personalized, echoing Erdogans polarizing and populist approach at home.

The foreign affairs field has become intertwined with political career planning as AKP politicians are now easily appointed as ambassadors or to other foreign posts.

The decision-making process is often devoid of comprehensive consultations and transparency, leading to uncertainty, arbitrariness and unpredictability in foreign policy decisions.

All senior figures in Ankara feel free to go into the realm of foreign policy, which often results in a muddle of messages. For foreign actors, especially those in the West, this could create confusion as to who is their interlocutor on the Turkish side and fuel a perception of a deepening governance and management crisis in Ankara.

What will the mood in Turkey be next week on the rows in the Eastern Mediterranean? Will it remain in favor of dialogue or reverse to warmongering? Such questions are becoming increasingly hard to answer as seven days is now too long a period in Turkish foreign policy.
Tom Hanks returned to Australia earlier this month to resume filming on Baz Lurhmann's Elvis Presley biopic.

On Tuesday, the Hollywood superstar looked like any other local as he took in a spot of shopping at Pacific Fair in Broadbeach, Queensland.

The 64-year-old emerged from a 14-day mandatory quarantine and appeared in excellent spirits.

Out and about: Tom Hanks (pictured) looked like any other local as he took in a spot of shopping at Pacific Fair in Broadbeach, Queensland, on Tuesday

Tom dressed down in an Adidas tracksuit, consisting of a pair of pants with the iconic design of three white stripes down the side.

He added a matching, long-sleeved, zip-up top from the same set, also in a black and white tone.

Underneath, the Big actor opted for a simple black t-shirt, and he added a pale green and white cap to the ensemble.

Free man! The 64-year-old emerged from a 14-day mandatory quarantine and appeared in excellent spirits

Shopping: The friendly A-lister waved merrily as he entered the local shopping centre to pick up some goods

No mask: The Cast Away actor went without a mask or face covering for his shopping trip

Tom wore glasses with clear frames, and carried an olive green backpack, completing his look with black sneakers.

The friendly A-lister waved merrily as he entered the local shopping centre to pick up some goods.

He was flanked by what appeared to be two assistants or friends, and mingled cheerfully among shoppers.

Casual: Tom wore glasses with clear frames, and carried an olive green backpack

Comfortable: The actor dressed down in an Adidas tracksuit, consisting of a pair of pants with the iconic design of three white stripes down the side

Having a wander: He strolled past a store selling shoes, himself wearing black sneakers

Cosy: He wore a long-sleeved, zip-up top from Adidas, in a black and white tone

Which way? Tom looked momentarily confused as he made his way around the centre, perhaps looking for a certain store

The Cast Away actor went without a mask or face covering for his shopping trip.

Tom looked momentarily confused as he made his way around the centre, perhaps looking for a certain store.

He then traversed an escalator and appeared to be in the the company of multiple minders.

Pals: The Splash actor walked along in the company of what appeared to be an assistant

Chatting: Tom and his pal chatted as they walked around the shopping area

Just a regular guy! Tom fit right in with shoppers who didn't seem to notice his presence

Discussion: At one point, the actor had an animated discussion with his pal

The superstar and his entourage were rumoured to have spent 14 days isolating in a lavish Gold Coast mansion after being granted an exemption from hotel quarantine.

While thousands of Australians are forced to stay in shoe box-sized hotel rooms guarded by the military, the A-lister and his cohorts were reported to be relaxing on the 55-acre grounds at the Rivermead Estate in Queensland.

But both the estate owners and the Queensland government have denied the rumours, with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk insisting Hanks was staying in a Queensland Health-approved hotel.

Friends of yours? He then traversed an escalator and appeared to be in the the company of multiple minders

Lavish? The superstar and his entourage were rumoured to have spent 14 days isolating in a lavish Gold Coast mansion after being granted an exemption from hotel quarantine

Sticking to the rules: But both the estate owners and the Queensland government have denied the rumours, with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk insisting Hanks was staying in a Queensland Health-approved hotel

Tom arrived in the Sunshine State on September 8 by private jet.

He is starring in Baz Luhrmann's Elvis Presley biopic, in which he is playing the rock legend's manager Colonel Tom Parker.

The star and his wife Rita Wilson tested positive for COVID-19 during another visit to Australia in March.

Hard at work: Tom arrived in the Sunshine State on September 8 by private jet for the filming of Baz Luhrmann's Elvis Presley biopic, in which he is playing the rock legend's manager Colonel Tom Parker
Presidente @MartinVizcarraC: No deberian prescribir deudas que aun se encuentran en proceso de discusion por parte de la SUNAT. Estoy seguro de que el @TC_Peru actuara buscando lo que corresponde y respetaremos su decision.
ATHENS, Ga. - Authorities said a woman who was armed with a knife and a blow torch was fatally shot by deputies in Georgia after she charged at them with the knife.

The shooting happened Monday morning after deputies arrived at a home in Athens for a domestic call, the Oconee County Georgia Sheriffs Office said in a post on Facebook.

The sheriffs office said responding deputies also used a stun gun on the woman when she charged at them.

Deputies attempted CPR on the woman after the shooting, but she died at the scene. Authorities have not revealed her identity.

No deputies were injured. A man who was involved in the domestic incident sustained minor injuries before the deputies arrived at the scene, the post said.

Body camera footage of the shooting will be released after the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, which is investigating the incident, has a chance to review it, the sheriffs office said in another Facebook post Monday afternoon.

Authorities did not immediately release the races of those involved.
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown honored two Jackson County sheriffs deputies Monday for saving two men and a dog from a burning mobile home during the Almeda fire.

Great work, she said to some 50 deputies, firemen and the National Guard at Jackson County Fire District No. 5 in Phoenix.

Brown was in town to survey the damage from the fires and meet with local officials, but she wanted to stop at the fire station on Highway 99 to thank emergency responders, who have spent two weeks battling the worst fire to befall the Rogue Valley, destroying an estimated 2,357 residential structures.

Deputies Justin Hall and Cody Ponder were called out for their efforts to notify residents to evacuate from Dun Ro-vin R.V. Park in Phoenix and saving the lives of two men trapped in a mobile home that was on fire.

Brown, elbow bumping each of the men in uniform, thanked them for their efforts.

They really saved a lot of lives, she said.

Initial reports indicate hundreds could have died from the Almeda fire, and the count so far is that three lost their lives.

Brown, who appeared somewhat weary from dealing with two weeks of unrelenting fires that burned about a million acres throughout Oregon, said, Im not as tired as these guys, pointing at the first responders.

Governor Kate Brown stops at Jackson County Fire District No. 5 while touring damage caused by the Almeda Fire in Ashland, Phoenix and Talent Oregon on Sept. 21, 2020. Mail Tribune Photo / Jamie Lusch

Many emergency responders have been pulling extra shifts and lots of overtime, but sheriffs deputies got the word Monday that they would be returning to their regular schedules.

Ponder said Brown asked him how his family was doing and, thanked us for our service and our work.

On Sept. 8, Ponder and Hall were going door to door in Dun Ro-vin scrambling to tell people to evacuate.

Propane tanks were blowing up, and Justin asked for cover on the radio, Ponder said.

Hall said, I heard this fellow yelling for help inside one of the mobile homes. We ended up busting out one of his windows and pulled the man, his brother and a dog out.

While they were rescuing the people, the back end of the mobile home was on fire.

During the firestorm the smoke and flames were destroying large portions of the mobile home park all around the men.

The heat was terrible, Hall said.

Aerial photos of the remains of Bear Lake Estates in Phoenix, OR, on Fri., Sept. 11, 2020. Dave Killen / Staff - Aerial view of remains of Bear Lake Estates in Phoenix, OR Dave KillenDave Killen

In the aftermath of the fire, both men, who escaped injury, reflected on their heroism, but quickly pointed on that all the first responders showed similar heroism.

All of us pitched in and did our part, Hall said, noting that other deputies also went from home to home telling people to evacuate.

Ponder said, Looking at the sheer volume of destruction, its amazing we got people saved.

Ponder has previously received life-saving awards from the Oregon State Sheriffs Association and the county. At the Albany Police Department, he saved a woman who tried to jump off a bridge.

Jackson County Sheriff Nate Sickler applauded the efforts of the department during the Sept. 8 Almeda fire.

All of our guys saved lives, he said. There were a lot of people who were very heroic.

Reach reporter Damian Mann at 541-776-4476 or dmann@rosebudmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @reporterdm.
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump didnt have to look very far for one of the contenders on his short list to replace the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the Supreme Court: hes been considering one of his own lawyers.

Kate Comerford Todd is a deputy White House counsel, helping navigate Trumps White House through a thicket of legal issues. Its a role she knows well, having served in the counsels office during the administration of the last Republican president, George W. Bush.

Todd, 45, is the only lawyer mentioned as being on Trumps shortlist who has not previously been a judge, though shes hardly unfamiliar with the high court, having clerked for Justice Clarence Thomas. Her experience is otherwise diverse: shes twice counselled the White House, worked at a prestigious law firm and represented the interests of a leading business advocacy group.

She is absolutely brilliant, said Helgi Walker, a partner at the Gibson Dunn law firm who also served as a Thomas law clerk and as an associate White House counsel to Bush. She is thoughtful, caring, considerate. She always tries to get it right, no matter what shes doing.

Trump has signalled that he intends to name a woman for the third Supreme Court selection of his administration. Amy Coney Barrett is emerging as the early favourite to be the nominee after he met with her Monday before leaving the White House to campaign in Ohio. Todd was viewed as the favourite of White House lawyers, but there were concerns that the confirmation process would not be as smooth for a first-time jurist, according to people familiar with the situation.

Her lack of prior experience as a judge could become a point of contention during any confirmation process, though it also means that she has no paper trail of court opinions for Democrats to exploit the way they did with Trumps two other nominees, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh.

Her career, though a diverse blend of private practice and government work, has probably not produced some of the high-profile moments of the other Supreme Court contenders who have issued notable opinions. At the White House, for instance, she has helped vet federal judges but much of her work has taken place outside of public view and outside the headlines.

But lawyers who are close to her and are familiar with her work describe her as exceptionally smart and hard-working, a principled and independent-minded attorney whose originalist view of the Constitution are in line with other conservative jurists who have served on the court.

When I went to Kate with a question, I always found that I got really good advice, really thoughtful advice. Shes just really smart, said Will Consovoy, who worked at the same law firm as Todd. When he would give her his work to review, It always came back much better than when I gave it to her. She was such a great sounding board.

Adam Mortara, a lawyer and conservative legal activist who has known Todd for more than 20 years and also clerked for Thomas, recalled how Todd seemed to take to heart the justices admonition that backing down on an issue of principle is a pathway to personal destruction.

I think the first person that I ever met, other than Justice Thomas, who I realized fully embodied that principle is Kate, he said Ive never seen her back down on an issue of principle. Ive never seen her compromise her principles.

He added, On issues of right or wrong, or on issues of what the law is or isnt, there is no moving her.

He described one conversation early in their friendship in which she explained to him the intricacies of a legal doctrine in which courts afford deference to federal agency interpretation of statutes. After Mortara said it sounded like a silly, wrong-headed principle, Todd told him the doctrine was supported by Justice Antonin Scalia  a conservative stalwart on the court for decades and asked whether that would make a difference.

It was effectively a test, Mortara said, to see if his instincts could be rattled by the 800-pound gorilla of Justice Scalia not agreeing with me.

I remember her teaching me in that moment, by example, and by her words, that you have to figure things out for yourself, Mortara said. One thing I learned from that, and its not even specific to any issue, is shes an independent thinker who will figure things out for herself.

Besides her career in the White House, the Harvard Law School alumna has also worked at a prominent law firm  now called Wiley Rein  and served as the former senior vice-president and chief counsel for the U.S. Chamber Litigation Center, the litigation arm of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Shes moved comfortably in conservative legal circles, participating in conferences hosted by the Federalist Society and writing an enthusiastic letter on Kavanaughs behalf when he was being considered for a seat on the Washington-based federal appeals court.

She has decried excessive regulation of businesses, including government overreach during the Obama administration that she described at one Federalist Society event in 2017 as deliciously terrible.

More than a decade earlier, she submitted a friend-of-the-court brief challenging the constitutionality of a board that was created by Congress to regulate the auditing of public companies in the wake of corporate accounting scandals.

Her position in that brief, and her work on behalf of the U.S. Chamber Litigation Center, reflects a decidedly pro-business bent, though lawyers familiar with her career say that, like any attorney, she was tasked with advocating the interests of her clients.

Kates just always all about getting the right answer, even if it takes all night, said Walker, her friend and former colleague.

___

Associated Press writers Jonathan Lemire and Zeke Miller contributed to this report.
As an example, she described the complicated experiences that many have had during the pandemic, encountering a blend of grief, anger, gratitude and hope. Sometimes, those feelings come all at once.

"We can be really sad this is happening," she said, "and be positive and hopeful for the future at the same time. It doesn't have to be all or nothing."

What if feeling bad is sometimes good?

That focus on nuance is at the heart of some recent research in the field of positive psychology, looking into the potential upsides of feeling down.

Since the late 1990s, practitioners of positive psychology have studied the keys to how humans thrive, learning from our joys and pleasures rather than depression or other mental illness. But while many think of sadness or anger as unpleasant experiences to be endured, positive psychologist Tim Lomas asserts that they, too, may be a key part of flourishing.

"Emotion is a kind of information about our world," said Lomas, a lecturer at the University of East London. "It can be telling you something important, or something that can protect you in some way."
By Jasmine Owens

September 21, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - More Americans than ever today have begun to question the efficacy of the systems that govern it, specifically the policing and justice systems. Add to the mix the current and ongoing threats from climate change and global pandemic, and it becomes clearer that this movement of change must make its way to the nuclear defense system before it is too late.

For example: the Air Force awarded a contract for the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent to Northrop Grumman on September 8, expediting the production of more nuclear missiles in a time when arms control and cooperation is deteriorating, and the reimagining of a Nuclear Arms Race 2.0 is on the horizon.

There is no doubt that the Trump administration, with help from the military-industrial complex, is dismantling the U.S. arms control regime, and more recently, seemingly using the pandemic as a distraction.



President Trump has so far withdrawn the United States from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty and the Open Skies Treaty, while destroying any trust countries may have had in the United States for future cooperation.

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As the expiration of New START looms on the horizon, the U.S. Presidential Envoy for Arms Control, Marshall Billingslea, has stated that the United States is unlikely to extend the treaty despite the fact that New START is currently the only treaty preventing an all-out nuclear arms race between the United States and Russia (and potentially other nuclear weapon states as well).

Now, the Trump administration is causing more lasting damage as it seeks to expedite the contracts of the Long-Range Standoff weapon, which will bolster U.S. air nuclear forces, and the GBSD, the new missile that will be replacing the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile leg of the U.S. nuclear-triad.

In April, the Air Force awarded the LRSO contract to Raytheon, two years ahead of schedule, with no real explanation as to why. Its no coincidence that Secretary of Defense, Mark Esper, was the top lobbyist and vice president of governmental relations at Raytheon before joining the Trump administration.

The Air Force awarded the GBSD contract to Northrop Grumman, which became the sole bidder in 2019 after Boeing dropped out. This sparked controversy and even a federal investigation after Boeings complaints of unfair competition. The lack of competition on the contract has caused the price tag to surge to $85 billion and counting. It shouldnt come as a surprise that not only did Northrop Grumman spend $5.6 million in 2018 campaign contributions, but that it has also given more than $4 million to important members of the Senate and House Armed Services Committees.

Some experts posit that the LRSO and GBSD contracts have been expedited to finalize the contracts so that if there will be a change in administration come November, a new administration will have less power to stop them, particularly if the weapons are already being manufactured.

The expedition of these contracts and production of these weapons is worrisome. Experts say the its dangerous to add a cruise missile to the U.S. arsenal  the LRSO  that can carry both a conventional and nuclear payload because it would seriously raise the risk of miscalculation and the potential for nuclear war. Critics of the GBSD contract assert that these types of land-based weapons arent even necessary. Indeed, in addition to being an obscenely expensive contract, ICBMs are the most vulnerable leg of the nuclear triad and could be phased out without weakening the US nuclear deterrent.

The claws of the military-industrial complex reach further than just the Trump administration. Not only do members of the Senate and House Armed Services Committees receive sizable campaign contributions from defense contractors, there is also an entire Senate Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Coalition that works to ensure contracts like these succeed. Northrop Grumman has provided $1.6 million to the coalition since 2012 to protect the ICBM program and prevent the implementation of any alternatives.

Why is this happening? The simple answer is that arms races are effective business strategies. Dismantling the U.S. arms control regime is the first step to removing impediments to building more weapons. With virtually no arms control treaties or agreements to adhere to, the United States can do what it wants.

Expediting weapons contracts and paying off members of Congress ensures that these defense contractors like Raytheon and Northrop Grumman get their business, no matter who is in office. Further, the number of nuclear weapons and their related technologies necessary to win an arms race can be limitless. This means that as long as there is the appearance of an imminent threat from an adversary like Russia or China, these companies will continue to build more weapons and make more money.



Billingslea actually made note of this, saying that the United States knows how to win these races and [knows] how to spend the adversary into oblivion. The fact that his main argument revolves around spending as a means of winning and not encouraging rigorous diplomacy, illustrates where his and the administrations priorities lie.

But just because arms races are a good business strategy, does not mean they are a good defense strategy. Building new and increasingly complex nuclear weapons will only sow distrust amongst states like Russia and China and increase the risk of both accidental and intentional nuclear war.

Now more than ever, it is crucial that we look beyond the surface of the systems in place designed to protect us and evaluate if they are truly working for the public, or if they are solely benefiting key stakeholders. Since President Trump entered into office, he has chipped away at the global arms control. The surface level explanations for this have pointed back to claims of nefarious action by other actors. But looking deeper, its clear that the military-industrial complex is having free reign over the U.S. government at the expense of security systems that will actually keep us safe.
An arms depot belonging to Hezbollah has exploded in southern Lebanon, according to a security source.

Several people are reportedly injured after the blast.

The explosion on Tuesday rocked a village in the countrys south, an area which is a Hezbollah stronghold.

The blast was caused by a technical error, according to the security source.

Another security source said Hezbollah, an armed and politically powerful Shi'ite Muslim group which is backed by Iran, had set up a security cordon around the blast site, which sits about 50km south of Beirut.

The explosion - which took place in the village of Ain Qana - comes more than a month after a deadly blast struck Lebanons capital.

At least 190 people were killed and thousands injured after the explosion at Beiruts port in early August.

Lebanon's official news agency, NNA, said the explosion in the southern village of Ain Qana, above the port city of Sidon, coincided with intense Israeli overflights "that did not leave the skies" over the area since Tuesday morning.

It said the cause of the explosion, which damaged buildings, shattered windows and sent black smoke billowing into the sky, was not known.

The Israeli military said it had no comment.

An official with Hezbollah said there had been an explosion and there had been no casualties.

Security sources have said several people have been wounded.

Footage from the area broadcast by Al-Jadeed showed men walking over scorched ground littered with debris. Damage was shown in an adjacent house where the floor was covered in glass and what appeared to be a pool of blood.

After Beiruts explosion in August, Lebanons government resigned amid outcry and protests over the blast, which was triggered by thousands of tonnes of a highly explosive material stored at the capitals port.

It is still not clear what caused the initial fire that ignited the chemicals, and so far no one has been held accountable.

Additional reporting by agenices
President Trump, attends his 'Great American Comeback' rally at the Toledo Express Airport in Swanton, Ohio on Sept. 21, 2020. Credit - Tannen MauryEPA-EFE/Shutterstock

For decades, presidential candidates have been coy about who they would put on the Supreme Court, sticking with the tradition of consulting with Senate on the choice.

Not Donald Trump.

It was one of Trumps most successful political innovations in 2016: he promised to pick a future Supreme Court justice from a set list of conservative legal minds that he released to the public five months before the polls. The list reassured uneasy conservatives that Trump, with no political experience and having changed his political affiliation several times, wouldnt be a wildcard on the courts and was serious about reshaping the judicial branch in their image.

Now, faced with a Supreme Court vacancy following the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Trump is weaponizing the once novel move by demanding his Democratic opponent Joe Biden release his own list of potential nominees. In Swanton, Ohio, on Monday night, Trump spoke from a podium with the full expanse of Air Force One behind him and challenged Biden to release a list of his picks for the Supreme Court. He doesnt want to show who his judges are, said Trump. He doesnt want to do that because if you found out who he was going to pick, he would be unelectable.

Supporters of President Trump attend a rally at Toledo Express Airport in Swanton, Ohio on Sept. 21, 2020. Mandel NganAFP/Getty Images

The demand, which Trump has made repeatedly over the past two weeks, attempts to create a new litmus test for a presidential race. Biden has resisted, saying that Supreme Court nominees should be put forward in consultation with the Senate and releasing a campaign list would skip that step.

Its another example of Trump driving through a political norm to gain an edge. In a 2016 presidential debate, he threatened to launch a criminal investigation into his political rival Hillary Clinton if he won. He refuses to release his tax returns, a convention followed by candidates for four decades, saying an Internal Revenue Service audit prevents him from doing so. (It doesnt.) In August, he accepted his partys nomination using the White House as a political prop.

Story continues

Even Trumps process for picking the next Supreme Court Justice has become part of the traveling Trump show. At a speech at an airplane hangar in Dayton during his swing through Ohio on Monday, Trump told hundreds of supporters, We are working very hard on getting a third Supreme Court Justice, sparking chants of Fill that seat! He said hed like to take a free poll and asked the crowd to cheer if they would like to see a woman or a man named to the court. More people cheered for a woman.

President Trump speaks during a campaign rally at Dayton International Airport, Sept. 21, 2020. Alex BrandonAP

Trump will be meeting five top candidates for the job this week and said on Monday that he plans to make an announcement as soon as Saturday, a day after Ginsburg is scheduled to lie in state at the U.S. Capitol. His leading candidates are judges Amy Coney Barrett of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and Barbara Lagoa of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.

Biden has defended his decision to not release a list of potential justices, saying he will consult with the Senate on his picks, as is the tradition. We cant keep rewriting history, scrambling norms, ignoring our cherished system of checks and balances, Biden said during a speech on Sunday.

Though Supreme Court justice picks are a strong motivating factor for Republican voters, Trump may face some headwinds politically as the fight over the court heats up. The battle over the Supreme Court is increasingly energizing Democrats as well. Before Ginsburgs death, 48% of Democratic voters said the court is very important, versus 60% after her death, a Politico/Morning Consult poll conducted after Ginsburgs death found.

The same poll found that more total voters, regardless of party, want the winner of the presidential election on Nov. 3 to nominate the next Supreme Court Justice. Half of voters polled said the election should determine who picks the next justice, 37% said Trump should select Ginsburgs replacement while he is still president, and 12% had no opinion.

Supporters of President Donald Trump are reflected in the glasses of a U.S. Secret Service agent during a campaign rally at Dayton International Airport, Sept. 21, 2020. Alex BrandonAP

Trump repeatedly played up the importance of the pick on Monday during his visit to Ohio, where Biden is running close to Trump in a state Trump won by 8 points in 2016. Supreme Court justices set the course of our country for many years to come whether it is on life, the second amendment, many things, Trump said during his outdoor campaign rally in Swanton. Bidens selections for the court will mutilate the law, Trump said.

Trump will continue to goad Biden about the list, a White House official says. Biden doesnt have a good response to not releasing his own list, the official says, and Trumps campaign will continue to try to paint that as a liability, saying Biden is hiding the fact that he plans to name far-left thinkers to the court.

Its a good issue for us, the official says.
A New York City police officer was arrested and charged Monday by federal prosecutors with spying for China, including providing Chinese officials with access to NYPD officials and giving intelligence on Tibetans living in the U.S.

Baimadajie Angwang, 33, a community affairs officer in Queens, acted at the direction and control of Chinese government officials at the New York Chinese Consulate and used his official position in the NYPD to provide Chinese officials access to senior NYPD officials through invitations to NYPD events, according to the criminal complaint.

An ethnic Tibetan himself, Anwang, who was born in China and became a naturalized U.S. citizen, also used his position on the police force to report on ethnic Tibetans in New York City and assess potential intelligence sources within that community.

Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn charged Angwang with acting as a foreign agent without notifying American authorities, wire fraud, making false statements, and obstructing an official proceeding. He is also accused of offering a consulate official information about the NYPDs internal operations.

Angwang joined the NYPD in 2016 and once received the Cop of the Month honor. He is currently suspended from the department.

He served as a Marine in Afghanistan in 2013. Since 2014, he has been a staff sergeant in the U.S. Army Reserve at Fort Dix, where he held a national security clearance that gave him access to classified information, prosecutors said.

Since 2018, Angwang was in regular contact with at least two Chinese officials at the New York consulate. He referred to one of the officials more than once as Boss.

According to the allegations, the Chinese government recruited and directed a U.S. citizen and member of our nations largest law enforcement department to further its intelligence gathering and repression of Chinese abroad, Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Demers said in a statement.

More from National Review
MOSCOW/BRASILIA: Russia is so confident in its COVID-19 vaccine that it will shoulder some of the legal liability should anything go wrong, rather than requiring buyers to take on the full risk, the head of the state fund bankrolling the project told Reuters.

The decision leaves the vaccine's state-backed developers open to potentially costly compensation claims should there be any unexpected side-effects. It is something many vaccine-makers have sought to avoid, by asking for full indemnity - complete protection from liability claims - from nations they sell to.

The approach is different from many places in the world. In the United States, for example, liability for COVID-19 vaccines has been shifted fully to the U.S. government. This shields the developers because widespread inoculation against the disease is considered a benefit to society.

With the global vaccine race hotting up, and dozens of candidates being tested on humans, backers of Russia's 'Sputnik-V' shot see liability as a key battleground as they aim to capture market share.

"Russia is so confident in its vaccine that it has not asked for full indemnity and this is a major differentiating factor versus any Western vaccine," said Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), the state sovereign wealth fund that is backing the vaccine.

"All of them are asking for full indemnity of legal risks."

Dmitriev did not say whether buyers of the Russian vaccine would be asked to take on partial liability, and did not give details about indemnity clauses. His representatives said he had nothing more to add.

However, the health secretary of the Brazilian state of Bahia, which plans to buy 50 million doses of Russia's vaccine, told Reuters the legal risks would be carried by Russian entities.

Vaccine developers around the world are compressing years of development into months, raising the possibility of unexpected consequences and making the issue of compensation claims a key point in supply deal negotiations.

For example, British drugmaker AstraZeneca, which has developed a vaccine with Oxford University, has been granted full protection from any future liability claims by many countries with which it has signed supply deals, a senior executive told Reuters in July.

Dmitriev's comments came after some scientists expressed concerns about the safety and efficacy of Sputnik-V, which the Russian government approved for use before completing large-scale human trials.

BRAZILIAN BUYERS

Sputnik-V was developed by Moscow's Gamaleya Institute, a state research body. The RDIF, which is marketing the vaccine abroad, will shoulder some of the legal risks in supply contracts along with pharmaceutical firms in the fund's portfolio which are producing the shot.

"We are confident in the long-term consequences," Dmitriev said. "We are putting our money where our mouth is by not asking for full indemnity in partnerships we create in different countries."

Thus far, RDIF has announced deals to supply just over 200 million doses, half to Latin America and half to India. The fund says it has orders for as much as 1 billion doses.

Fabio Vilas-Boas, health secretary of Brazil's Bahia state, which is placing the 50-million-dose order, told Reuters the legal risks would be carried by the Russian pharmaceutical firms producing and supplying the vaccine.

"In the case of any adverse event, nothing will stop people who feel they have been harmed from filing a class action against any of the pharmaceutical companies," said Fabio Vilas-Boas, who negotiated the testing and letter of intent with RDIF.

Neither Bahia nor Parana, a Brazilian state which plans to conduct trials of Sputnik-V on 10,000 volunteers, have actually signed contracts for supply of the vaccine, according to Bahia's Vilas-Boas and the Parana state governor's chief of staff, Guto Silva, who also negotiated with the Russian side.

Thus far, deals have been formalised only in memorandums of understanding, as contracts are awaiting the vaccine's approval by Brazil's health regulators.

INSURANCE FOR VOLUNTEERS

Russia has staked its scientific reputation on the results after approving the vaccine for domestic use before mass testing had even begun, becoming the first country to licence a COVID-19 vaccine.

Late-stage trials, known as Phase III, are currently ongoing in Russia, with at least 40,000 volunteers taking part. Initial results are expected in October or November.

Volunteers in its Phase III trial are unpaid, but their insurance is covered, including a payout of 2 million roubles ($26,430) in case of death, one volunteer told Reuters.

RDIF also expects to run trials of the vaccine abroad, with plans already in place with Indian pharmaceutical firm Dr Reddy's and with Brazil's Parana state, both pending regulatory approval.

Many people involved in the Sputnik-V's development, including Dmitriev, have tried the jab on themselves in a bid to convince the world of the safety of a Russian-made vaccine.

Dmitriev said he was not concerned about the risk of compensation claims against RDIF.

"We know it will not happen. Because the vaccine has been studied for decades," he said.

"We know we will not have ... billions and billions of liabilities because we have a proven platform and they don't," he said. "Simple."





This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.

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PORTLANDDowntown Portland is known for its eclecticism, luxury shops next door to hipster hangouts. But today, the streets and buildings of the core look remarkably uniform.

Boarded-up storefronts, one after another, are adorned with elaborate artworks of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and symbols of Black liberation, both historical and imagined. Each carries an unambiguous message  that Black Lives Matter  and their bright colours beg urgency.

According to a declaration made by the Trump administration Monday, its a scene of anarchy.

The U.S. Department of Justice Monday expanded on an executive order by President Donald Trump by labelling Portland, New York and Seattle anarchist jurisdictions. The three Democrat-run cities have seen sustained protests under the Black Lives Matter banner, which have resulted in some violence and property damage amid mostly peaceful protests.

They now stand to potentially lose federal funding, as threatened in Trumps Sept. 2 executive order.

The three targeted mayors, Portlands Ted Wheeler, New York Citys Bill de Blasio and Seattles Jenny Durkan, issued a joint statement Monday calling the threat to revoke federal funds unconstitutional.

The President is playing cheap political games with Congressionally directed funds, reads a portion of the statement. Our cities are bringing communities together; our cities are pushing forward after fighting back a pandemic and facing the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, all despite recklessness and partisanship from the White House.

The executive order gave some criteria as to how it would be decided that a city was in a state of permitting anarchy and violence, including whether a jurisdiction forbids the police force from intervening to restore order amid widespread or sustained violence or destruction.

It seems to refer to the long-standing battle  played out in public between the White House and city leaders  over whether federal law enforcement officials are necessary to help manage protesting crowds, or whether they instead symbolize an inappropriate level of force against the protesting public.

Portlands mayor has long opposed the presence of federal officers in the city.

Less than two weeks ago, he ordered police to stop using tear gas for crowd control during the violent moments that have erupted during protests that racked the city for more than three months after the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

Wheeler said he still wants police to respond aggressively to prevent violence and vandalism. Hundreds of people have been arrested since the protests started in May.

While many residents of Portland viewed the anarchist designation as a political move, its clear the city is experiencing unprecedented strain.

The artworks downtown stand for both the best and the worst elements of the intense political moment.

Plywood boards line shops big and small, for the fancy and the frugal. Theyre all there to cover up  or guard against  the break-ins and window slashings that have been common features of the nightly protests in the city.

Downtown business owners are worried about the long-term effects of the recurring property damage and unrest.

Brad Popick, co-owner of the Portland western apparel institution the Portland Outdoor Store, made a distinction between the Black Lives Matter protesters, whom he called eminently peaceful, and a group of young radical protesters who are active at nighttime, bashing shopfronts, looting and getting into violent confrontations.

I read in a magazine the idea that Portland may never come back from this, Popick said. I think theres a very good possibility thats true.

He wants Wheeler, the mayor, to be more proactive in addressing the more destructive wing of protesters, so that the peaceful BLM demonstrations are no longer conflated with them.

Still, Popick doesnt think the anarchist label is a helpful way to move the city forward.

The problem is both sides are playing very hardball politics. In the old days, if something had happened like this 15, 20 years ago, probably everybody would have come together and said: What can we do about this?

He said its a crucial moment, when much of the city has come together to support racial justice.

This is a moment in time. When you go back and look at pivotal points in history, this is one of them, he said. 1968 was one and this is another.

Jimmy Heys, manager of Camerons Books down the street, said he supports the protests and has joined them a number of times.

Overall its all peaceful except for a handful of people who just want to start a fire, Heys said.

Shop employee Larry Meyers described getting a nosebleed and having difficulty breathing when he tried to work in the shop, which he blamed on the continued use of tear gas nearby, on top of the smoke from the wildfires.

The shop was shut down for a week when the air quality was at its worst.

While there are signs of destruction and exhaustion on the streets of Portland, there are also signs of sustained determination and hope.

At Lownsdale Square Park, which has acted as a base camp for Black Lives Matter protesters since the demonstrations began, a woman who identified herself as Tiffany G operated a large smoker and made hot dogs free of charge for the people still camping there.

Without regular protests, many of the people shes serving this week are the homeless.

I just want to make sure the protesters are fed, thats how we keep going, she said. Rain, shine, hell. Were still here.

With files from The Associated Press

Read more about:
A screaming 'Karen' was filmed attacking a group of Native Americans opposing the Mexico border wall construction.

The unnamed woman then mocks them when they refuse to fight back and start praying to their ancestors.

Video footage shows the woman pushing and shoving the Southern California Native Americans, who are part of a group called Defend Kumeyaay Land.

They had gathered at the site of the wall in San Diego County, California, to peacefully protest against the construction of the Mexico border wall.

The maskless woman shouts at the group, telling them to 'get the f*** out of here' and saying they are 'disturbing the job

She hurls xenophobic remarks at them, telling them the land is hers and not theirs, but the protesters refuse to engage in a fight with her

'You're being recorded,' one of the group members tells the irate woman in the video

The maskless woman shouts at the group, telling them to 'get the f*** out of here' and saying they are 'disturbing the job' of constructing Trump's border wall.

She hurls xenophobic remarks at them, telling them the land is hers and not theirs, but the protesters refuse to engage in a fight with her.

Kumeyaay land lies between San Diego and Baja California in Mexico.

According to an Instagram post written by the group, the woman had also tried to tear down their tent.

'You're being recorded,' one of the group members tells the irate woman in the video. She replies 'I don't give a f***,' as she lunges at the person recording the scene.

The peaceful protesters respond in a non-violent manner and attempt to restrain the woman.

Later in the footage, as the group begin praying to their ancestors and singing and chanting, the Trump supporter appears to mock them by hopping around and mimicking their Native American dance rituals.

The peaceful protesters respond in a non-violent manner and attempt to restrain the woman

Later in the footage, as the group begin singing and chanting, the Trump supporter appears to mock them

The protest group describe themselves as a 'small indigenous initiative that is rooted in prayer' .

They say they are protesting against the border wall construction on behalf of 'the land and indigenous sovereignty'.

The caption of the Instagram post reads: 'Tonight we experienced a violent woman who tried to tear our tents down. We de-escalated and stayed non-violent.

'We used songs and prayers again just like how we non violently stop desecration to the land.'
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- Nelson Havi said Chief Justice David Maraga's advisory to the president stripped parliament of its powers and as such the House cannot perform any legislative function

- Havi stated that President Uhuru Kenyatta had no option but to dissolve parliament not later than 21 days from September 21

- The LSK boss said MPs like Alice Wahome, Peter Kaluma, Mutula Kilonzo and Gladys Sholei were ready to resign even before the 21 days lapsed

- Speaker Justine Muturi said dissolving parliament will call for by-elections across the country; a venture that he described as painful and expensive

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President of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) Nelson Havi has asked Treasury to stop disbursing salaries to MPs following Chief Justice David Maraga's advisory for President Uhuru Kenyatta to dissolve parliament.

Maraga had on Monday, September 21, advised Uhuru to dissolve parliament over its failure to pass the two-thirds gender rule.

READ ALSO: Chris Kirubi shows off his massive house, lake and expensive car collection

LSK president Nelson Havi (l) and Siaya senator James Orengo (r). Photo: Nelson Havi.

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: Uhuru's adopted son Daniel Owira says he nearly left school after becoming rich

According to Havi, Maraga's advisory took away the legislative powers from MPs, adding that any business they conduct will be considered unlawful.

"Effective today, any laws passed by the National Assembly and the Senate are null and void. Any oversight role they conduct will be of no effect.

But of more importance is that Treasury must henceforth cease paying salaries and allowances to MPs," Havi said during an interview on KTNNews.

READ ALSO: Picha za mtindo wa mavazi wa Rachel Ruto ambazo zinadhihirisha ni mke mcha Mungu

Havi said President Uhuru had a maximum of 21 days to dissolve parliament. Photo: Nelson Havi.

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: Wolves vs Man City: De Bruyne on target as City cruise to opening day victory

The LSK president further faulted a narrative by section of leaders who claimed that the CJ's advisory did not bind the head of state to any time-frames for compliance.

Senate majority whip Irungu Kang'ata was among MPs who said Uhuru would still have complied with the advisory if he dissolves parliament in June 2022, a few weeks before to the next General Election.

"Uhuru has no option but to dissolve parliament. It may be argued by those without the benefit of greater learning of this matter that there is not time frame.

Courts have interpreted time to mean reasonable time which means a minimum of 14 and a maximum of 21 days. He must act within 21 days and dissolve parliament," he added.

President Uhuru Kenyatta. Photo: State House Kenya.

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: We only support God and Uhuru, Akorino church declares

Havi stated that he was aware of MPs who were ready to resign even before the president dissolved parliament.

Among those who were ready to quit, Havi said, was Kandara MP Alice Wahome, Peter Kaluma (Homa Bay), Makueni senator Mutula Kilonzo and Uasin Gishu Woman Representative Gladys Shollei.

Chief Justice David Maraga. Photo: Judiciary Kenya.

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: Quickfix Plumbers Nairobi: Firm responding to plumbing emergencies within 45 minutes

Speaker Justine Muturi said dissolution of parliament will call for by-elections across the country, a venture that he described as painful and expensive.

"If the president dissolves parliament...within 60 days, there must be another parliament in place and this means by-elections need to be held in all constituencies even amid the COVID-19 pandemic and incompletely composed IEBC.

The task will cause a lot of pain which he (Maraga) must also be ready to persevere. Even if you dissolve parliament today, how are you going to ensure the two-thirds gender rule is observed? Parliament does not elect itself."

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.

Keep abusing me, you will get tired eventually - Kenya's youngest Reverend Victor Githu | Tuko TV.

Source: TUKO.co.ke
Boswell is also charged with conspiracy to commit murder and improper disposal of human remains.

It promises to be a different trial, and one, because of COVID-19 precautions, in which spectators, family members and most media will not be present. They will instead watch via a video hookup.

Trail, a talkative ex-convict who specialized in fraud and deception, went on social media shortly after Loofe, 24, was reported missing to proclaim in a video that he and Boswell had nothing to do with her disappearance. For her part, Boswell said that shed had a date with Loofe but had dropped her off in Lincoln on the night of Nov. 15, 2017, and had no idea where she was.

After more than two weeks of searches, Loofes remains were discovered, scattered along gravel roads wrapped in black plastic bags in rural Clay County. After that, Trail talked to investigators more than once, and even called reporters, as he spun a slowly evolving tale of how Loofe had died.

He ultimately changed his story at his trial  testifying that he had choked her to death accidentally, after she had agreed to be handcuffed during a sex party also involving Boswell. The testimony was labeled by one of the prosecuting attorneys as your biggest con.
We've lost count of how many times insiders have accumulated shares in a company that goes on to improve markedly. Unfortunately, there are also plenty of examples of share prices declining precipitously after insiders have sold shares. So before you buy or sell ThinkSmart Limited (LON:TSL), you may well want to know whether insiders have been buying or selling.

What Is Insider Selling?

It's quite normal to see company insiders, such as board members, trading in company stock, from time to time. However, rules govern insider transactions, and certain disclosures are required.

We don't think shareholders should simply follow insider transactions. But logic dictates you should pay some attention to whether insiders are buying or selling shares. As Peter Lynch said, 'insiders might sell their shares for any number of reasons, but they buy them for only one: they think the price will rise'.

See our latest analysis for ThinkSmart

ThinkSmart Insider Transactions Over The Last Year

Over the last year, we can see that the biggest insider purchase was by Independent Non-Executive Director Peter Joshua Gammell for UK480k worth of shares, at about UK0.24 per share. We do like to see buying, but this purchase was made at well below the current price of UK0.39. Because it occurred at a lower valuation, it doesn't tell us much about whether insiders might find today's price attractive.

ThinkSmart insiders may have bought shares in the last year, but they didn't sell any. The chart below shows insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year. If you click on the chart, you can see all the individual transactions, including the share price, individual, and the date!

ThinkSmart is not the only stock insiders are buying. So take a peek at this free list of growing companies with insider buying.

Insiders at ThinkSmart Have Bought Stock Recently

It's good to see that ThinkSmart insiders have made notable investments in the company's shares. In total, insiders bought UK502k worth of shares in that time, and we didn't record any sales whatsoever. This is a positive in our book as it implies some confidence.

Story continues

Insider Ownership

Looking at the total insider shareholdings in a company can help to inform your view of whether they are well aligned with common shareholders. We usually like to see fairly high levels of insider ownership. ThinkSmart insiders own about UK16m worth of shares (which is 40% of the company). I like to see this level of insider ownership, because it increases the chances that management are thinking about the best interests of shareholders.

So What Do The ThinkSmart Insider Transactions Indicate?

It is good to see recent purchasing. We also take confidence from the longer term picture of insider transactions. When combined with notable insider ownership, these factors suggest ThinkSmart insiders are well aligned, and quite possibly think the share price is too low. That's what I like to see! In addition to knowing about insider transactions going on, it's beneficial to identify the risks facing ThinkSmart. For instance, we've identified 3 warning signs for ThinkSmart (1 doesn't sit too well with us) you should be aware of.

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.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 21:32:57|Editor: huaxia

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JUBA, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- The UN humanitarian agency has announced 1.3 billion South Sudanese pounds (about 10 million U.S. dollars) to help people affected by flooding across South Sudan.

The UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said the funding from the South Sudan Humanitarian Fund seeks to provide services to flood victims.

OCHA said in its latest update on Tuesday that an estimated 625,000 people have been affected by flooding across the east African country since July.

The UN humanitarian agency warned that the number of displaced persons and water levels are expected to rise in the coming months, noting that the already fragile food crisis could also worsen in the 34 counties affected by the flooding.

"Light humanitarian hubs are planned in the most affected areas to overcome operational constraints caused by the flooding and COVID-19 related measures," OCHA said. Enditem
Umaria:

A man was attacked and brutally mauled by a tiger at a field in Machkheta village, Madhya Pradesh. A forest department staffer said that the attack occurred in the buffer zone of Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve.

The incident took place when forest ground duty staffers were trying to shoo away the tiger from a field to the Reserve, but instead it traversed from one field to another, forest guard Arun Prajapati told PTI.

The big cat then pounced upon the victim, identified as Gullu Singh, who was working in a field and attacked him.

Seeing villagers and forest staffers, the wild animal left Singh and fled the spot.

Singh, who sustained injuries in head and shoulders, was rushed in an unconscious state to the district hospital, Prajapati added.

The tiger is still said to be present in the buffer zone with human settlement and efforts were on to trace and bring it back into to the Reserve.

The forest department is taking care of the medical expenditure of the victim, he added.

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By the end of the summer holidays, hundreds of teaching and care facilities in Germany had been infected. But the school and health authorities, as well as the federal and state governments, with the support of the trade unions, are doing everything in their power to continue the life-threatening policy of opening schools for regular operations and to cover up outbreaks.

A report in Der Spiegel quoted a letter from a Hamburg teacher to the German Education and Science Union (GEW) saying, The number of suspected cases has increased in the last week and children were sent home in scores every day. It is not known whether any of these were tested at all, and which of them were positive, as there was no obligation to inform the public.

Another writes, Since Monday, an upper school pupil has also been affected, who is in hospital and has to be ventilated with a severe course of the illness. It is depressing for everyone when a fellow pupil is fighting for his life. For days on end. The outcome is still unclear.

Pupil Moritz is on his way to the first day at his new school in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Der Spiegel also reports the case of Theodor-Heuss-Realschule in Dortmund, where there had been a positive coronavirus case a fortnight ago. On the instructions of the authorities, the school management had only sent those sitting adjacent to the infected pupils into domestic quarantine. Further information was not provided by the authorities. Der Spiegel continued, In the new school year, several schools across Germany had to close down completely or individual classes and years were sent into quarantine. How many schools nationwide are affected is not recorded statistically by the authorities.

In the fight against the pandemic and for full transparency concerning the infection process, however, educators are also confronted with the trade unions themselves. A recent survey by the GEW (education sector union) showed that more than 70 percent of their members felt not sufficiently protected from the deadly COVID-19 pandemic, and a majority were in favour of the compulsory wearing of masks in the classroom. Der Spiegel summarises the GEWs position, which has always vehemently rejected compulsory mask-wearing in class, by saying that a further closure of schools must be avoided if possible.

Patrizia*, an after-school teacher from a large city in Baden-Wurttemberg, in an interview with the World Socialist Web Site, drew a stark picture of the consequences of the ruthless opening of schools in regular operation which highlights the back-to-work policy of the ruling elites in every country.

I am working at an integration institution, a so-called focal point school with over 300 children from socially deprived families, 98 percent of whom depend on bonus cards. Originally, we were 22 caregivers in the after-school care centre. Due to the catastrophic understaffing, Patrizias facility, a small, old all-day school with a separate after-school care building, had already served notice of the overload staff faced in the past, but the provider then only hired a single replacement teacher, who is currently on sick leave.

The providers own employees regularly resign because it is far too much to do for one person, explained Patrizia. In the meantime, three of her colleagues have suffered burn-out. Many other colleagues belong to the risk group and have therefore been given time off or with doing office work from home. This means that we are currently only nine educators in total. When Patrizias team recently decided to shorten the opening hours so as not to have to fully cover late and early duty, the school authorities immediately intervened. Such an emergency measure, it was said, was not legal because the parents had paid for the child-care relationship.

With an average of 33 children per employee, there can be little conception of a child-care relationship. But the same devastating shortages, Patrizia notes, prevail in every corner of the institution. There is a total lack of hygiene! We do not even have an active cleaning service. If we educators didnt disinfect the tables in between times, nothing would be cleaned at the momentnot even the toilets. As a result of coronavirus, the school management has, for the first time, seriously checked whether there is enough soap in the toilets. Because we only received two fabric masks per person from the provider, I had to buy an FFP2 mask at my own expense.

Protection against aerosolsthe most important form of spreading the coronavirusis also not guaranteed. In our classrooms, a plexiglass panel hangs in front of the teachers desk and there are stickers on the floor to help keep social distance, but this is impossible due to the lack of staff. The teachers are not allowed to use the FFP2 mask. For the same reason, says Patrizia, there is also a mixing of the different groups of children, despite the sometimes time-delayed breaks.

As the World Socialist Web Site has repeatedly stated, under these conditionswhich prevail at institutions throughout Germany and Europeschools and day-care centres become veritable breeding grounds for the coronavirus. The politically criminal role played by the school and health authorities of the federal states in covering up new infections, intimidating critical educators and enforcing regular operations against all warnings and resistance was already evident at Patricias facility immediately after the summer holidays during the first days of classes last week.

On the Monday after the school holidays, there were suspicious cases because positive cases were reported in several families, but since the parents concerned were still waiting for their test results at that time, all children had come to school. On Tuesday, four children were indeed confirmed to be infected.

After a joint consultation with her colleagues and the school management, Patrizia went home feeling run ragged. The school refuses to react, she reports, the headmistress reports false data to the health authority and keeps quiet about the mixing of the childrens groups, which is a consequence of the lack of staff. Only the formally responsible teachers and group educators are to be quarantined, although, in reality, we all come into contact with different groups every day. A colleague of mine has strong symptoms. I have also had myself tested.

Patrizia and her colleagues explicitly pointed out to the school management that all teachers are to be considered contacts of infected persons. However, although they jointly refused to put further children and colleagues in danger with their regular presence under these conditions, a general quarantine was only granted after a member of staff personally presented herself to the health authorities and described the real situation.

Meanwhile, the teachers in our facility continue to work as they are and do not go into quarantine, she added. If the authorities and the school management had had their way, we would not have been quarantined either. At the same time, the isolation period itself has been reduced to a few days, so that all staff were expected back to work as of Monday. In my opinion, the health authorities are not working properly. They do not look at the situation on the ground at all. I dont think they have ever heard of aerosols.

After her courageous move, Patrizia and her colleagues were confronted with fierce accusations from the school management and some parents. The psychological strain on us is immense, she said, I give us two weeks, then we can have ourselves committed. If we do nothing, it will go on forever. The bad thing is that its the same all over Baden-Wurttemberg. We are not allowed to talk to the press, we are not allowed to make political statements. Its in our employment contract and there has already been trouble because of it.

Given the policy of deliberately underfunding educational institutions for decades, the refusal of the responsible health authorities to conduct mass testing and their reluctant implementation of quarantine measures, Patrizia concluded, I think the whole thing is politically intended, the coronavirus cases must not be.

This assessment is now being confirmed by more and more parents and educators from all over Germany. Sandra*, whose son attends a grammar school in Bochum, told the WSWS about her fight against the cover-up by the school and health authorities.

This is now the fourth infected person at our grammar school, she says, but lessons are still going on. The health department even refuses to register contact persons correctly. They are simply not documented unless the people affected or the schools name them by name. The newly formed team at the health authority works without a contact address, without a telephone number, without an email address and without a face. This opaque secret team is now in charge of research and policymaking, but is allowed to remain completely out of the public eye.

Sandra herself is a qualified social education worker and social worker and worked in schools before the pandemic began. As it turned out, in the meantime, my son has had contact with children of an affected age group. He has ambiguous symptoms but was not named [as a contact person] by the school, so it is not recorded. When I asked the city council, they sent me a kind of standard letter with ostensibly personal passages.

In the letter, excerpts of which Sandra published in a Facebook group, it says that her son is not subject to any contact category and no further action needs to be taken. Although Sandra is free to have her symptomatic child tested for coronavirus via a general practitioner, the city council cannot judge whether a test is covered by health insurance. In general, Sandra should best do nothing.

If her son became infected, Sandra said, she now had written proof that the authorities considered no further measures to be necessary to prevent infection and mass outbreaks. If my son has coronavirusas the test will showhe may be treated as a school infector instead of someone infected by the school.

Meanwhile, the paediatrician refused to charge the test to the health insurance company, because my son does not have coronavirus, because otherwise, the health authority would have carried out the test. And this even though it had been the local health authority that had referred her to a general practitioner for a test in the first place.

The cover-up of coronavirus cases in schools and day-care centres makes it clear that the governments at state and federal level and authorities are in no way concerned about the welfare of the child. They want to keep childcare open at all costs to avoid absenteeism and to secure the profits of the corporations. Action committees for safe education are being founded all over the world to combat this policy of death. We call on readers to register now and tell us about their own experiences.

* We have changed Patrizia and Sandras names at their request.
Applications are now open for Australian nerds and 'beauties' looking for love on the next season of Beauty and The Geek.

The revived dating series is making a comeback in 2021 - and will appear on screens nationwide after being axed by Channel Seven in 2014.

It will be hosted by former Bachelorette turned Love Island presenter Sophie Monk, who has had her fair share of unlucky-in-love moments in the public eye.

It's back! Next year's Beauty and The Geek will be hosted by former Bachelorette turned Love Island presenter Sophie Monk (pictured), who has had her fair share of unlucky-in-love moments in the public eye

The blonde bombshell was pictured alongside a casting call for the revived show on production company Endemol Shine Australia's Instagram on Tuesday.

The post read: 'Casting: Beauty and The Geek ... Tag your beautiful or unlucky in love smarty pants friends - we want to hear from you all.'

The rebooted series will be part of Nine's prime-time schedule next year, alongside Celebrity Apprentice Australia.

Casting for the upcoming season extended to the company's website, calling for all 'big-hearted beauties' and 'geeky guys' to come forward.

Contestants will be required to compete in 'primarily academic subjects' and vie for popularity in the 'social realm' as part of the show.

Winners of the challenges then go onto select two teams to compete against each other in an elimination quiz, with the losers being sent home.

Casting for the upcoming season extended to the production company's website, calling for all 'big-hearted beauties' and 'geeky guys' to come forward. Pictured: Contestants from the fourth season of Beauty and The Geek

'The last teams standing battle it out for the cash prize and the coveted title of Beauty and the Geek champions 2021,' the company's casting call read.

Beauties and geeks are also required to be single and between the ages of 18 and 35 years.

In a statement on September 16, Nine said the 'big-hearted program' would 'showcase the power of love on the inside as a fresh group of beauties and geeks from all over the country test their brains and their charisma'.

Beauties and geeks are required to be single and between the ages of 18 and 35 years for next-year's series. Pictured: Former beauties and geeks on the show

'The new Beauty and the Geek promises to deliver laughs, tears and everything in between as two groups of people from completely different worlds are set to collide,' Nine's statement read.

'From the producers of ratings phenomenon Married at First Sight, Beauty and the Geek finds a new home on Nine with a rejuvenated and reimagined format as it explores the old saying that you can't always judge a book by its cover.'

The initial series, which ran for six seasons from 2009, was cancelled after ratings flopped.
The Douglas School Board recently approved a 20-acre purchase to add a new elementary school to its district in anticipation of the B-21 base coming to Ellsworth Air Force Base.

Douglas Superintendent Alan Kerr said the district expects to eventually add a high school for 1,400 students and three new elementary schools with 500 students each.

Were going to move or make the old high school as another middle school, Kerr said.

The middle school could handle about 700 students.

The 20 acres is between Creekside Estates and Prairie View in Box Elder. Kerr said the new elementary school will help change all the other elementary schools to kindergarten through 5th grade.

There are currently two elementary schools in the district that are kindergarten through 3rd grade, another thats 4th through 5th, a middle school thats 6th through 8th, and one high school.

Kerr also said the district will need another school bus to accommodate the predicted increase in students.

The B-21 program is now in the Engineering and Manufacturing Development phase but is on track with its schedule, cost and performance, said a spokesperson with Air Force Global Strike Command Public Affairs in an email to the Journal.

The B-21 Raiders would operate under the direction of the U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command and eventually replace the B-1 and B-2 bomber aircraft.

The Main Operating Base 1 Beddown, which will be at either the Dyess Air Force Base in Texas or at Ellsworth Air Force Base, will include B-21 operational squadrons, a formal training unit and Weapons Generation Facility.

In May, U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds told the Journal that Ellsworth Air Force Base will be the preferred site for the first two B-21 bomber squadrons.

Both Rounds and U.S. Sen. John Thune tweeted this month that they received updates about the B-21 basing process and that things are looking great for Ellsworth.

The Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the base was released in August.

The study notes that both bases are quite similar in size and facility installation and would even have similar environmental impacts.

According to a personnel table in the study, the number of military members, spouses and children under the B-21 Mission would be about 7,700, including 2,275 children.

If the base was established at Ellsworth, aircraft operations would increase by up to 15.8% and total flight operations would increase by 41.1% at the Powder River Training Complex. This could lead to increased congestion or impact the flight schedule, according to the study.

"The Air Force expects to deliver the first production aircraft to operational bases beginning in the mid-2020s," said a spokesperson with Air Force Global Strike Command Public Affairs.

According to the Air Force Civil Engineer Center, the draft Environmental Impact Statement Notice of Availability will be published Sept. 25. The public will be able to submit comments on the project website. They may also be mailed to Leidos, ATTN: B-21 EIS, 1456 Woodlawn Way, Gulf Breeze, FL 32563.

Comments must be submitted by Nov. 9.

There will also be virtual public hearings in October. Visit the project site at www.B21EIS.com for details on how to register and participate in the hearings. All hearings will begin at 5:30 p.m. and last until 7:30 p.m. The Oct. 13 and 15 hearings will be in Central Standard Time while the Oct. 20 and 22 hearings will be in Mountain Standard Time.

The determination for the base will be announced in the Record of Decision, which is scheduled for May 2021.

A printed copy of the draft environmental impact statement is available at the Rapid City Public Library, Devereaux Library at the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, Sturgis Public Library, Big Horn County Library and Miles City Public Library in Montana, Dickinson Area Public Library in North Dakota, Fort Sumner Public Library in New Mexico; and the Abilene Public, Howard County and Brownwood Public libraries in Texas.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 14:26:01|Editor: huaxia

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SUVA, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Fiji's Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama stressed here on Tuesday the importance of multilateralism to guide the development of the world in the years to come.

"Every nation, large and small, stands a better chance at our best future by acting in solidarity. Guided by the UN, we are building a world of peace. But a world of net-zero emissions, sustainably-managed oceans, gender equity, digital inclusivity, and equitable development is no less critical. We have the means to make that world reality. We must meet year 75 of the UN with the political fortitude to see it built. Multilateralism must deliver once again," he said while giving his remarks during the 75th Anniversary of the United Nations on Tuesday.

He said that if leaders give voice and vigor to that purpose, then their people and their children will all see the greatest gain.

The prime minister also recalled the optimism of Fiji's joining of the United Nations, saying that "I recall the optimism of that moment; that sense among our people that Fiji had something good to give the world and something much larger to gain from a multilateral pursuit of peace."

Fiji was the first country to ratify the Paris Agreement as well as the first small island state to lead the climate negotiations as Fiji held the President of the 23rd Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP23), he said, adding that they are now among the nations committed to net-zero emissions by 2050.

According to the prime minister, five years post-Paris, global temperature rise is still projected to rocket past the two, three, or even four-degree mark, their ocean ecosystems are acidifying, and a sixth mass extinction event is already underway.

As for the challenges brought by COVID-19, Bainimarama said that it led to months into economically-devastating lockdowns and border closures, and a COVID-19 vaccine is still only guaranteed for those who can afford it. Enditem
People are as terrified of Covid-19 spread now as they were during some of the bleakest days of the virus when it was claiming many lives, new research has revealed.

The poll, commissioned by the Department of Health, found the level of worry about the virus has risen to 6.5 out of 10. It has not been as high since April, a grim month for deaths and spread of the virus.

People's main sources of worry are the health system being unable to cope due to overload.

They also have major concerns about the health of family members and friends as well as the economy.

Nearly one in two think the worst of the pandemic is ahead of us, the highest level reported since April.

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And 52pc think there should be more restrictions, similar to the levels reported in March.

The poll provides an insight into the mindset of the public, as Dublin faces three weeks of restrictions and several other counties are on a watchlist as the virus takes hold again.

It comes as another 188 new cases of the virus were reported yesterday and no new deaths.

Some 76 of yesterday's cases are in Dublin, 25 in Cork, 21 in Donegal, 16 in Kildare, 13 in Galway, 7 in Roscommon and 7 in Waterford.

The remaining 23 cases were spread across 12 counties.

People are again being urged to halve their contacts in a bid to reduce the spread of the virus.

Dr Ronan Glynn, acting chief medical officer, said: "The spirit of the response to Covid-19 since the outset of this pandemic has been solidarity and co-operation.

"While this pandemic is a uniquely challenging time for everyone, we can and will support one another in getting through this.

"Encourage your family and friends to heed the public health advice. Now more than ever, we need to work collectively. Our individual actions count on a population level.

"Every one of us doing our bit in our daily lives - halving our social contacts, working from home, keeping our distance, wearing a face covering, washing our hands - matters a great deal.

"These small, positive steps taken together amount to our best and strongest defence against the virus."

Earlier, the Government raised concern about the spread of Covid-19 in eight counties other than Dublin, which is currently under enhanced restrictions.

Donegal, Leitrim, Limerick, Louth, Kildare, Offaly, Waterford and Wicklow were all highlighted by senior official Liz Canavan as she warned that people have to double their efforts to halt the spread of the virus.

They were urged to seize the window of opportunity they have now to avoid anti-Covid restrictions being imposed.

Meanwhile, HSE boss Paul Reid will be travelling to Dublin from his home in Leitrim during the current lockdown for "essential meetings only," the HSE confirmed.

Mr Reid now lives in Carrick- on-Shannon and he also has a house in Dublin.

A spokeswoman said: "Paul Reid lives in Carrick-on-Shannon. He travels to Dublin for essential meetings only. He has a house in Dublin."

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Under the current restrictions imposed to curb Dublin's spiralling rate of Covid-19 people in Dublin are asked not to travel outside the county except for essential reasons such as work and education.

The same barrier applies to people journeying to the county since the pandemic began.

Leitrim is now one of the counties on HSE public health doctors' watchlist because of trends in the spread of the virus.

It had previously recorded the lowest number of cases in a county. The most up-to-date figures show that on Wednesday Leitrim had 112 cases of the virus.

In Northern Ireland, extra restrictions on social gatherings are to be imposed across Northern Ireland from tomorrow evening.

First Minister Arlene Foster has said two more Covid-19 linked deaths were reported there.
The voters in state House District 134  a swing district that covers all or parts of River Oaks, Bellaire and Meyerland and includes the Texas Medical Center  face a tough choice in the Nov. 3 election.

Five-term Republican incumbent Rep. Sarah Davis and Democratic challenger Ann Johnson are both well-qualified, skilled communicators whose many talents would serve them well in the Legislature.

We recommend Davis, 44, based on her experience, growth in office and independence.

A rare Texas Republican who supports abortion rights, she has moved from the tea party positions of her first 2010 victory to embrace the Affordable Care Act provisions of Medicaid expansion and coverage of pre-existing conditions as well as bucking her party on other issues.

Johnson, a 46-year-old former human-trafficking prosecutor in the Harris County District Attorneys Office, has accused Davis of shifting her stands out of political self-interest. But Davis has taken risks that do not seem politically expedient, including pushing for more clarity and transparency on allegations of conflicts of interest against fellow Republican Rep. Jim Murphy.

Gov. Greg Abbott, Texas top elected Republican, spent more than $223,000 in a failed effort to knock her off in the 2018 GOP primary. He endorsed her this year after she failed to draw a primary opponent.

Through it all, Davis has worked her way into key leadership roles, including chairing a panel that helps craft the states health care budget.

Davis told the editorial board that she will use her seniority and influence to push for Medicaid expansion next year.

I know that is a partisan issue for some, she said. But Im hoping we can move past that. We have to do something to reduce our uninsured population, for those people and for the states budget.

Johnson has stressed her policy differences with Davis on immigration and gun control, where the incumbent is more in line with the GOP. Johnson has criticized Davis vote to let school districts arm teachers and to require universities to permit guns in campus parking lots and her sponsorship of a show me your papers bill to allow local law enforcement officials to ask about immigration status.

Those are not measures supported by the editorial board.

Davis, however, has a record of serving constituents in her district and has shown independence in the Legislature that is in great need and short supply. She deserves another term.
Ask Dr. Land: Why do so many young Americans hate their country's heritage?

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Question: Why are so many of Americas young people apparently beguiled into despising Americas founding and heritage?

I have had scores of Americans ask me that question in the last few months. My inquisitors have been baffled and perplexed as to why so many of our twenty and thirty- something citizens seem to so readily jettison what my questioners cherish as rich, meaningful, and critically important  an American heritage that has fostered and promoted individual human dignity (All men are created equal) with divinely imparted inherent rights (and endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights including life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness).

This priceless heritage, coupled with the Puritan ideal of being a city on a hill, lighting the way for the Old World to have a fresh, new birth of freedom, has been cherished and passed on from generation to generation for two and a half centuries, even as that ideal has been secularized down through the years, from Lincolns last, best hope of mankind, Wilsons war to end all wars and League of Nations ideals, and FDRs arsenal of democracy and Four Freedoms. And, of course, this American exceptionalism suffused JFKs inaugural address:

. . . the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God. . . . We are the heirs of that first revolution. Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans  born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage, and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today at home and around the world. Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty. This much we pledge  and more.

Many Americans, including myself, consider those words perhaps the most eloquent summary of Americas exceptionalism ever uttered. It is a doctrine not of rights and privileges, but rather sacrifice and service. To whom much is given, much is required (Luke 12:48).

It was this exceptionalism that caused a famous immigrant citizen  a voluntary American, Henry Kissenger  to explain that America was a country like any other, with interests and spheres of influence, but that it was also a cause, and the cause was freedom. When people yearn and strive for freedom, America is obligated to help them the same way the French helped us win our War of Independence.

A majority of Americans have believed this in the past, and at least a plurality of Americans still does. This is why older Americans, and many young ones as well, have been aghast at scores of rioters tearing down statues, not just of Confederate leaders, but of Washington and Jefferson and others.

As I was writing this column, I was reminded of a deeply moving experience I had while I was speaking at a conference on Freedom in Romania, just after they had overthrown the horrifically brutal Communist dictator Ceausescu in 1989. The conference was on how Romania could now install a free and democratically self-governing society with deep respect for human rights  a government of the people, by the people, for the people.

I was in a private, one-to-one meeting with the Romanian equivalent of the U.S. Attorney General. He pulled a book off the shelf in his office, opened it up, and started reading in English, When in the course of human events . . .  the American Declaration of Independence. After he had read the part, All men are created equal, he looked up with tears in his eyes and said, We want what you have.

I realized at that moment that I had been guilty of the sin of familiarity. We have all heard the shibboleth familiarity breeds contempt. I believe far more often it just breeds familiarity. We become familiar, blase if you will, about truly monumental things and fail to sufficiently appreciate just how extraordinary some things really are.

Shame on us as Americans for far too often treating the timeless truths embodied in the Declaration of Independence familiarly when they are indeed priceless and the Revolution those truths ignited in 1776 has deeply impacted people and ignited the fire of liberty in their hearts both here and around the globe. Those founding principles are what inspired Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to call for his fellow citizens to live up to the ideals spelled out in our founding documents  a call we continue to seek to fulfill for ever greater numbers of our people yet still today.

So why are so many of our young adults rejecting this widely held view which is a truly glorious heritage? Of all men and women, we are most blessed to be heirs of this inspiring legacy. Well, there are two reasons, one nefarious and the other merely scandalous.

The first reason is that for a generation now, too many radicals who reject Americas heritage on ideological and dogmatic grounds, have worked their way into public education, and they have undermined and distorted our heritage. Perhaps the most odious and infamous current example is the New York Times 1619 Project  a destructive attempt to completely re-write American history by declaring that America was founded in 1619.

The 1619 project has been eviscerated by serious historian from coast to coast and across generations. My extremely distinguished old Princeton history professor, James McPherson, was devastating in his critique.

Why would people try to foist this historical fiction and such an obviously inaccurate and unhinged from reality interpretation of Americas history on American students?

These people know that in order to dismantle the American constitutional order and replace it with a socialist and/or Marxist society, you must first discredit Americas origins as illegitimate and fatally tainted by racism from the beginning.

In actual fact, the first slaves may have landed on the North American continent in 1619, but the first Puritans didnt arrive until a year later. The Puritan ideal had far more to do with shaping the American character than slavery. G. K. Chesterton observed in the early 20th century that America was a nation with the soul of a church.

People who lose or are denied their history are ripe for revolution. This is more true for America than any other country because America is the only country in the world not based on blood and soil, but upon a set of ideas and ideals embodied in the Declaration of Independence (1776) and codified and implemented in the U.S. Constitution (1787). If we as a people lose our allegiance to these ideals, then centrifugal forces will rend us asunder and America will be Balkanized into several competing conglomerations of states seeking to impersonate nation-states.

The second reason our young adults have increased numbers of their cohort who reject our heritage is that they dont know a lot. They have been significantly undereducated in our public schools, and they are quite simply mind-numbingly ignorant.

E. D. Hirsch, in a recent interview with the Wall Street Journal (Bad Teaching Is Tearing America Apart") explains the serious unraveling of American public education at the elementary school level. Hirsch is author of the best-selling book Cultural Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know (1987). This book makes an impassioned plea for American children being taught tens of thousands of specific facts mainly about Western Civilization  thus opening Mr. Hirsch to charges of elitism?

In this interview he reveals that there has been a grievous decline in American education  particularly at the elementary level. After the 1950s American childrens verbal scores began to drop drastically. In the 1950s American children were number 1 in the world. We had dropped to 5th on the International Adult Literacy Survey in the 1970s and 14th in the 1990s. In the 21st century Americas children have dropped from 15th to 24th in reading on International Student assessments.

Mr. Hirsch describes himself as practically a socialist, but in his new book How to Educate a Citizen, he updates his earlier volume and indicts American public education for abject failure. Mr. Hirsch argues vigorously for elementary schools as culture makers and that America desperately need to create an American ethnicity and that elementary schools should exist to make children into good citizens.

American educators have either brainwashed or seriously under-served a whole generation of American young adults.

I can think of no better way to honor and celebrate Constitution Day (September 17) than for Americans to rededicate themselves to restoring our unique and invaluable heritage of liberty and freedom to the common experience and cognition of every American citizen.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 00:35:48|Editor: huaxia

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NAIROBI, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Kenya will set aside 400 million shillings (about 3.7 million U.S. dollars) annually to strengthen protection of rhinos in the wild amid growing threats, an official said on Tuesday.

Najib Balala, cabinet secretary for Tourism and Wildlife, said the new funding to be sourced from the public coffers, industry and overseas donors will support recruitment of rangers and acquisition of surveillance technology to enhance protection of the iconic but endangered species.

"Kenya is committed to reducing mortality of rhinos and sustain gains that have been achieved to secure their future," Balala said at a virtual observance of World Rhino Day held in Nairobi.

"We plan to mobilize 400 million shillings annually to recruit additional rangers to patrol rhino habitats and procure surveillance technology required to stamp out poaching," he added.

Kenya ranks fourth globally among countries with the highest population of rhinos after South Africa, Namibia and India.

Balala said that Kenya's population of rhinos, estimated at 1,441 in 2019, is still grappling with threats to their survival that includes poaching, habitat loss and climatic stresses.

"Poaching, though diminished, remains a threat to survival of rhinos in the wild while habitat loss and frequent droughts have further endangered these iconic species," said Balala.

He said the government will provide fiscal and regulatory incentives to ranchers and other large-scale landowners keen to engage in conservation of rhinos.

"The government will also provide dedicated spaces to facilitate breeding of rhinos and provide incentives to landowners who are willing to provide sanctuary to the giant land mammals," said Balala.

He said that Kenya lost only four rhinos to poachers in 2019 and has lost none this year thanks to the roll-out of robust interventions to eradicate the menace.

John Waweru, director-general of Kenya Wildlife Service, said that adequate funding is key to hasten implementation of a national rhino recovery program. Enditem
Fresh off his Emmy win the previous night, Jeremy Strong emerged from his hotel on Monday clutching his award.

The 41-year-old star was clad in casual clothes as he exited The Bowery Hotel in New York City with his wife Emma Wall by his side.

Emma could barely be seen behind a massive flower arrangement as the couple headed, with masks on, to a waiting car.

He did it! Succession star Jeremy Strong is pictured in New York City on Monday after his big win at the 2020 Primetime Emmy Awards

Jeremy paid tribute to Succession co-star Brian Cox on Sunday evening after beating him to the award for Lead Actor in a Drama Series at the 2020 Emmys.

The American actor, 41, ensured Cox, 74, was honored in a heartfelt tribute after winning his first Emmy during the virtual event.

Strong - who plays Kendall Roy in the hit show - insisted his co-star was as deserving of the accolade, while admitting it was show creator Jesse Armstrong's writing that helped get him nominated in the first place.

Celebratory mode: The couple emerged from the Bowery Hotel in NYC, Jeremy carrying his Emmy and Emma carrying some lovely flowers

Overwhelmed: Jeremy paid tribute to Succession co-star Brian Cox on Sunday evening after beating him to the award for Lead Actor in a Drama Series

He said: 'I read a poem by Stephen Dunn that said, "All I ever wanted was a book so good Ill be finishing it for the rest of my life.'

'This job was that, for me. Jesse Armstrong, I owe this to you, Brian Cox, I share this with you. Thank you so much.'

Other nominees for the award included Jason Bateman, Sterling K. Brown, Steve Carell and Billy Porter.

The win capped a successful night for Succession, with Armstrong also winning the award for Writing for a Drama Series and Cherry Jones triumphing in the category for Guest Actress in a Drama.

After his win, Jeremy spoke at the virtual press room about the next season of the HBO show.

'Were hoping sometime this fall-winter as soon as things are safe,' he said about production getting started. 'I know there's plans in the works. I'm certainly ready to get back to it.'

On the edge of their seat: Cox watched the ceremony with wife Nicole Ansari-Cox
Actor-auteur Maiwenn bills herself last in the principal cast credits for DNA, adding the distinguishing curlicue of an and citation when her name eventually pops up on screen. On the one hand, it seems a courtesy to the formidable ensemble of her fifth feature as director, stacked as it is with stars from Fanny Ardant to Louis Garrel to Marine Vacth  all on fine, uninhibited form in a dysfunctional-family drama that frequently demands maximum volume from them. Yet the modesty seems coy in a film that eventually becomes a magnified, almost impenetrably personal star vehicle for Maiwenn herself, inspired by her own investigation of her diverse cultural identity. Despite her plainly impassioned investment in the project, and some intense, raucously entertaining scenes of intimate warfare along the way, DNA becomes less engaging as its focus narrows.

Despite premiering in low-key fashion at the Deauville American Film Festival  somewhat ironically, for a film obsessively immersed in French and Algerian nationalities  with follow-up dates at San Sebastian and Zurich, DNA was to have been more prominently unveiled at this years scrapped Cannes fest, where it would likely have been a major red-carpet event. (Maiwenns last two features, 2011s Polisse and 2015s My King, both played in Competition there; theres little reason to speculate that DNA wouldnt have followed suit, though its a notch less polished than its predecessors.) Beyond the festival circuit, it ought to do good business on home turf, where its sociopolitical queries may resonate more directly than elsewhere.

Fans of Maiwenns work will know to expect a film that opens at fever pitch, pinballing chaotically between turbulent farce and teary angst, with minimal niceties of character introduction and narrative build: The opening scenes here feel akin to arriving late to an extended family Christmas dinner, at which you know nobody except the one member who invited you, and has passed out drunk in a corner. It takes time to disentangle even the essential generational strands of the large, permanently bickering Fellah clan, who seemingly agree only on their love for frail, Alzheimers-stricken patriarch Emir (Omar Marwan), who emigrated to France from his native Algeria in the 1950s, raising a brood that largely identifies as simply French.

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The exception is his granddaughter Neige (Maiwenn), an unsettled, depressive single mother, whos increasingly tormented by her lack of connection to her Algerian roots, and who attempts to force the subject into family conversation in ways that raise the hackles of her siblings and her estranged mother Caroline (Ardant). If even Neiges seemingly benevolent gesture of compiling a family history album to prompt Emirs escaped memories becomes a bone of contention, thats nothing compared to the meltdown that ensues when the old man dies. Sudden family feuds ensue over matters as minor as what shade of white to choose for the coffin lining, or more loaded matters such as whether to dress Emirs corpse in traditional Muslim garb or a western suit.

Ugly and aggravating as these scenes of domestic sturm und drang are, theyre also where Maiwenns filmmaking thrives: As we saw in her furious cop drama Polisse, she has a knack for pushing scenes of verbal conflict to a point of exhilarating hysteria that eventually tumbles into more bruising, visceral violence. Laure Gardettes fast, neck-craning editing and the hot colors of Sylvestre Dedise and Benjamin Groussains lensing further amplify the mood, while Maiwenns actors evidently feel unleashed under her command. Ardant, in particular, is something to see, compressing manifold frustrations, resentments and feelings of guilt until they irrationally explode, most vividly in a manic funeral scene that sees her literally crash the earnest eulogy her daughter is delivering.

That wild energy abruptly slackens, however, in the second half of this brief 90-minute film. Surrounding family politics fade into the background of Neiges solo quest to reclaim her Algerian nationality  both spiritually and officially, as she applies for citizenship and undergoes a dubious mail-order DNA test to determine her exact lineage. This is clearly the stuff of significant drama to Maiwenn, whose script  co-written with Matthieu Demy  was inspired by research into her own French-Algerian-Vietnamese heritage and, per press notes, a life-changing first trip to Algeria.

These questions of how we define ourselves within our family history, and the nature-or-nurture influence of our cultural makeup, are theoretically intriguing, but never gain real emotional urgency  in large part because Neige remains one of the films vaguest characters, given only faint sketch strokes of life or quirk beyond her one burning mission. We see little of her relationship with her own children, in particular, and rather more of her taking golden-hour scooter rides through Paris with her ex-boyfriend turned confidante Francois  played by a delightfully sardonic Garrel, who nonetheless doesnt emerge as a character in his own right either.

Neiges journey does work toward a cathartic, emotions-writ-large conclusion, egged on the swelling, weeping strings of a full-on score by Oscar-winning composer Stephen Warbeck. If you feel something, and you well might, thats because Maiwenns filmmaking is brashly skilled at telling you what to feel. Still, thats not quite the same as reaching an understanding of her troubled, defensive character, to whom the director is perhaps too close to really lay bare.

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Linkedin Moch. Fiqih Prawira Adjie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, September 22, 2020 16:03 487 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c466efe4 1 National Annas-Maamun,Riau,corruption,forest-conversion,bribery,graft Free

Former Riau governor and graft convict Annas Maamun has been discharged from the Sukamiskin penitentiary in Bandung, West Java, following clemency granted by President Joko Jokowi Widodo last year.

Annas Maamun was released on Sept. 21, 2020, Law and Human Rights Ministry Corrections Directorate General spokesperson Rika Aprianti said Tuesday.

The government issued the clemency for Annas  who served as governor in 2014  in October last year, reducing his sentence to six years of imprisonment from the initial seven years. With the clemency, he was eligible for parole in 2020, with an unconditional release in 2021.

Annas had been convicted of accepting more than Rp 1.5 billion (US$101,376) in bribes in a forest conversion case that caused Rp 5 billion in state losses. The Bandung Corruption Court sentenced him to six years of imprisonment in 2015. The Supreme Court increased his punishment to seven years in 2018 following a failed appeal.

Read also: KPK chides Supreme Court for leniency toward graft convicts

Jokowi cited humanitarian reasons for granting the clemency as Annas, now 80 years old, said in his plea that he was old and sick with declining health. Along with his plea, Annas also provided a statement from a doctor saying that the convict was suffering from several chronic illnesses and depression.

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) back in 2019 expressed its surprise over the clemency granted, given that corruption in the forestry sector greatly affected the forests, the environment and the public interest.

Antigraft activists lambasted the decision. Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW) said Jokowi had hurt the public sense of justice with the clemency, which was one of many setbacks in graft eradication efforts under his administration.

The other setbacks, according to ICW, are the revision of the KPK Law, a refusal to issue a regulation in lieu of law (Perppu) to overturn that same law, and appointing controversial leaders to the KPK.
Getty A North Dakota farm

A group of neighbors in North Dakota are showing their support for a farmer who suffered a heart attack after his combine caught fire while he was harvesting crops.

Lane Unhjem was using the machine on his farm near Crosby earlier this month when he suffered the medical emergency and was rushed to a Minot hospital, according to a Facebook post from one of the neighbors, Don Anderson.

While Unhjem was in the hospital, Anderson said about 40 to 50 farmers came together to help the beloved farmer finish his efforts, harvesting a total of 1,000 acres of crops in a little over seven hours.

"Now that Lane's health is being taken care of, it came time for his friends and neighbors to spring into action, which is common in small town life," Anderson explained in the post, which has since gone viral and shows the large group standing together in the fields.

"The Unhjems have a beautiful crop that will be safe in the bins today, and more importantly they have the comfort of knowing that they have a community of friends that are helping, praying and doing whatever they can to help them get through this tough time," Anderson continued. "What a great sense of pride we can all have knowing that when we face something like this, we're not alone."

RELATED: Farmers Harvest the Crops of Neighbor Who Was Diagnosed with Stage 4 Cancer, Free of Charge

According to NBC/Fox affiliate KFYR, Unhjem typically harvests durum wheat and canola at his farm  and neighbors knew letting those crops remain unharvested after Unhjem's heart attack would've been a major loss for his family, both personally and financially.

"Everybody knows the Unhjems, and they're good people and good in the community, and [it's] just kind of the farming way of life too. You help your neighbor out when they need it, and dont expect anything in return," family friend Jenna Binde told the local outlet.

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Because of that collective mindset, it wasn't long before neighbors jumped into action, showing up to Unhjem's farm with 11 combines, six grain carts and 15 semis to get the job done, KFYR reported.

RELATED VIDEO: Houston Neighbors Form Human Chain to Help Pregnant Woman in Labor Wade Through Floodwaters

Houston Neighbors Form Human Chain to Help Pregnant Woman in Labor Wade Through Floodwaters

When Greg Smith saw the rising floodwaters outside his Houston apartment on Sunday, he knew instantly that his pregnant wife Andrea Smith would go into labor that day

"I talked to a couple of farmers, got their equipment and then other people just started calling and we had equipment offered from all over the place in the county, and their workers to go with it," Binde told the outlet.

After the sweet gesture, Anderson wrote on Facebook: "You reap what you sow! Thats the old saying that can apply to a lot of things in life. Well, today it has a two fold meaning  harvesting crops and helping friends ... Kudos to all those that helped today."

Unhjem was expected to recover, though the process will be lengthy, his family told KFYR.
WASHINGTONThe team led by special counsel Robert Mueller failed to do everything it could to determine what happened in the 2016 election, shying away from steps like subpoenaing U.S. President Donald Trump and scrutinizing his finances out of fear he would fire them, one of Muellers top lieutenants argued in the first insider account of the inquiry.

Had we used all available tools to uncover the truth, undeterred by the onslaught of the presidents unique powers to undermine our efforts? wrote the former prosecutor, Andrew Weissmann, in a new book, adding, I know the hard answer to that simple question: We could have done more.

The team took elaborate steps to protect its files of evidence from the risk that the Justice Department might destroy them if Trump fired them and worked to keep reporters and the public from learning what they were up to, Weissmann wrote in Where Law Ends: Inside the Mueller Investigation, which Random House will publish next week.

While he speaks reverently of Mueller, he also says his bosss diffidence made him ill-suited for aspects of shepherding the politically charged investigation. He saw Mueller and his deputy, Aaron M. Zebley, as overly cautious.

Weissmann also defended against accusations by the president and his allies that he and other investigators were politically biased angry Democrats; Weissmann said his personal views had no bearing on the crimes that Russian operatives and Trump aides committed.

And he elevates particular details  for example, emphasizing that the same business account that sent hush payments to an adult film star who alleged an extramarital affair with Trump had also received payments linked to a Russian oligarch. The president has denied the affair; his former lawyer Michael Cohen controlled the account. Mueller transferred the Cohen matter to prosecutors in New York.

Previously a mafia and Enron prosecutor and then a lawyer at the FBI for Mueller, who was the bureaus director for 12 years, Weissmann ran one of three major units for the special counsels office. His Team M prosecuted Trumps former campaign chair Paul Manafort for numerous financial crimes. The goal was to flip him and learn whatever he knew about any Trump campaign links to Russia.

Manafort had worked for pro-Russian interests in Ukraine, and the investigation uncovered ties by his business partner, Konstantin Kilimnik, to Russian intelligence. The book builds toward investigators discovery that Manafort had shared internal campaign polling data with Kilimnik, who flew to the United States to meet with Manafort during the campaign, asking whether Trump would permit a peace plan for Russia to essentially take over all of eastern Ukraine.

But while admitting this much, Manafort  seeing the dangle of a potential pardon from Trump  refused to co-operate further. Investigators did not obtain any final puzzle pieces and lacked the evidence to charge anyone in the campaign with a criminal conspiracy involving Russias covert electoral assistance.

It would seem to require significant audacity  or else, leverage  for another nation to even put such a request before a presidential candidate, Weissmann wrote of Kilimniks request. This made what we didnt know, and still dont know to this day, monumentally disconcerting: Namely, why would Trump ever agree to this? Why would Trump ever agree to this Russian proposal if the candidate were not getting something from Russia in return?

Weissmann explained the significance of Manaforts interactions with Kilimnik  also a major focus of a recent bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee report, which explicitly labelled Kilimnik a Russian intelligence agent  more clearly than the Mueller report did.

Mueller had strictly forbidden leaks, and the special counsel team took extraordinary care to protect the high-profile, high-stakes investigation, Weissmann wrote. They kept window blind slats tilted at an angle to keep out prying eyes, shutting out natural light. They concocted an almost comically elaborate and surreal plan to sneak in through the many hidden arteries of the courthouse to obtain a grand jury indictment without tipping off reporters.

And worried about the possibility that Trump would fire them and the Justice Department would then seal off or destroy their evidence, the Mueller team members packed their numerous applications to judges for search warrants with extensive, up-to-date details about their investigation  ensuring they backed up their work beyond the reach of the executive branch.

Ty Cobb, a lawyer for Trump, also privately promised to be a canary in the coal mine and provide a heads up if Trump was going to fire the special counsel team, according to Weissmann. Cobb did not respond to a request for comment.

The investigation played out against the backdrop of regular vilification of the Mueller team by Trump and his allies like Fox News Sean Hannity  who turned out to be in regular contact with Manafort cooking up a smear campaign over text messages. Weissmann, a major target, wrote that such ad hominem insinuations of bias appealed to emotion rather than reason.

I am a registered Democrat, he wrote. Does this make Paul Manafort or any of the other 32 people our office charged any less guilty? Did Russia not attack our democracy and disrupt our election with its self-described online information warfare operation? Which facts that we alleged in our various indictments  and to which many of those we indicted, including Manafort, would plead guilty  did our attackers believe were invented as a result of our alleged bias as angry Democrats?

Trumps allies have recently pointed with alarm to documents showing that cellphones issued to Muellers team were erased during the investigation; Weissmann twice entered an incorrect passcode too often, triggering a security measure that erased his phone. In an interview, he portrayed the concerns as a tempest in a teapot and said his understanding was that all emails and other such data from phones were backed up. He called on the Justice Department to release information about the special counsels data backup system.

Weissmann also wrote that he is not anti-Trump but rather pro the rule of law. Still, the distinction is less than clear in a book that also portrays Trump as a liar and a dangerous demagogue trying to peel the world around him away from the rule of law  away from reason itself  and mould it to accommodate his desire for unchecked power.

Weissmann was equally scathing about Attorney General William Barr, calling him an enabler and likening his misleading letter last spring about the then-still-secret Mueller report as a betrayal and gut punch.

Weissmann also criticized colleagues, portraying the special counsel team as divided between aggressive investigators like him, FBI special agent Omer Meisel and prosecutor Jeannie Rhee  who headed Team R, which investigated Russian issues other than those centred on Manafort  and far more risk-averse law enforcement officials like Zebley who pulled punches.

In one episode in 2017, the Mueller team issued subpoenas to Deutsche Bank for information about Manaforts income in Ukraine. Deutsche Bank had also lent large sums to the Trump Organization, and the White House somehow found out about the still-secret subpoenas  though not their focus. The White House demanded to know what investigators were doing, and Mueller authorized Zebley to tell the White House that they had not been seeking Trumps financial information.

At that point, any financial investigation of Trump was put on hold, Weissmann writes. That is, we backed down  the issue was simply too incendiary; the risk, too severe.

The book provides many other examples of concessions large and small. Investigators did not try to question Trumps daughter Ivanka  who had spoken in the lobby to a delegation of Russians who came to Trump Tower in June 2016 to meet with campaign leaders who had been promised that they were offering dirt on Hillary Clinton from the Russian government.

They feared that hauling her in for an interview would play badly to the already antagonistic right-wing press  look how theyre roughing up the presidents daughter  and risk enraging Trump, provoking him to shut down the special counsels office once and for all, he wrote.

Similarly, they did not subpoena the Trump Organization for emails about its efforts to develop a Trump-branded building in Moscow, which were active deep into the 2016 campaign.

And they did not immunize Trumps son Donald Trump Jr., a step that would have prevented him from being able to invoke the Fifth Amendment to avoid testifying about matters like the Trump Tower meeting. Bound by grand-jury secrecy rules, Weissmann did not come out and say whether Donald Trump Jr. was threatened with or actually issued a subpoena and used his right against self-incrimination to repel it.

Weissmann laid much of the blame for what he saw as a pattern of timidity on Zebley, portraying him as a primary decision-maker. Repeatedly during our 22 months in operation, we would reach some critical juncture in our investigation only to have Aaron say that we could not take a particular action because it risked aggravating the president beyond some undefined breaking point.

Weissmann acknowledged, but did not clearly address, concerns that the aging Mueller had lost a step, both declaring that he was capable of making the tough decisions despite speculative concerns about his health but also describing him in one scene as looking drained and worn down by his years of gruelling public service.

While Zebley obtained Muellers sanction for many of his cautious directives, in one striking episode, Zebley appeared in Weissmanns telling to have unilaterally agreed  without Muellers knowledge  to a request by the office of the deputy attorney general overseeing them, Rod J. Rosenstein, not to co-ordinate with state prosecutors as it would undermine the presidents pardon power.

Two other former officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, disputed the account. Rosenstein did not decline any request to share information with state prosecutors, a person familiar with his thinking wrote in an email.

Another person familiar with how the special counsels office interacted with Rosensteins office denied that there had been any agreement about sharing evidence with or withholding it from state prosecutors, and said Zebley had consulted with Mueller on every material decision.

On the failure to subpoena Trump, Mueller was determined to avoid any public disagreements with Rosenstein, Weissmann wrote. Because the special counsel regulations required telling Congress about any instance in which Rosenstein overruled him, Mueller never actually proposed subpoenaing Trump, instead coyly asking what Rosensteins reaction would be. Rosenstein just kept demurring.

In the end, Weissmann said in an interview, the caution was more justified early on to avoid provoking Trump into firing them before they could get going. But he and Rhee, among others, believed the office should have been willing to be more aggressive later on, after they had learned much of what Russia had done and had already used indictments to drag it into public view.

We would have subpoenaed the president after he refused our accommodations, even if that risked us being fired, he wrote. It just didnt sit right. We were left feeling like we had let down the American public, who were counting on us to give it our all.

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Building on its successful mediation that culminated in the 1993 Oslo Accords, will Norway revive its diplomatic role for peace between the Israelis and Palestinians?

After the UAE and Bahrain had signed peace deals with Israel, Arab countries stressed they support peace initiatives based on Israels withdrawal from Palestinian lands and the establishment of a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The Palestinians, however, believe the latest peace accords do not encourage Israel to withdraw from their lands, saying that Israel occupied more Palestinian lands and built more settlements in the West Bank and Jerusalem after some Arab countries had stricken peace agreements with Israel.

The current stalemate in Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts brings to mind the nine-month closed negotiations the Norwegian diplomatic circle held when I served as Egypts ambassador in Norway from 1990 to 1994. The talks Norway spearheaded between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organisation culminated in the Oslo Accords signed in Washington in 1993. The deal was seen as a breakthrough in Palestinian-Israeli relations. However, the rising right wing led by Benjamin Netanyahu has subtracted hope in peace from the equation.

Will Norway, building on its past efforts and accumulated experience of over 30 years on this file, renew its diplomatic efforts to revive the peace talks between the Palestinians and Israelis? The Palestinian cause is in the international communitys spotlight and I believe a Norwegian diplomatic intervention will receive international support.

During Oslo, as is the case at present, Norway enjoyed the credence of both parties, the Israelis and Palestinians, having no self or regional interests to garner from the success or failure of talks. Norway sought justice for the Palestinians and security for the Israelis.

How Israel may respond to Norwegian efforts now will test the efficacy of the recent peace deals Israel signed to create an environment that further promotes comprehensive peace that grants the Palestinians rights.



*The writer is former ambassador of Egypt in Norway.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 24 September, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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CNBC.com's MacKenzie Sigalos brings you the day's top business news headlines. On today's show, CNBC.com's Brian Schwartz breaks down the millions of dollars pouring in from different outside groups ahead of the coming Supreme Court confirmation battle in the Senate. Plus, CNBC's Phil Lebeau explains all the twists and turns in the Nikola saga that forced out the founder and executive chairman of the electric vehicle company.

Outside groups gear up for expensive battle over Ruth Bader Ginsburg Supreme Court seat

Outside organizations are gearing up for a battle in the Senate over the Supreme Court seat once held by Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Many of those leading the effort say the various campaigns will spend millions to sway lawmakers after President Donald Trump chooses Ginsburg's replacement, who died on Friday after serving on the court for over 20 years. The tactics of these groups from both sides of the political spectrum range from TV and digital ads, to producing opposition research on Trump's shortlist of potential candidates. The moves come as Democrats and Republicans, from Trump to Democratic nominee Joe Biden to congressional lawmakers on Capitol Hill, are already at odds over whether a Supreme Court nominee should be brought up for a vote with just under 50 days until Election Day.

Nikola founder Trevor Milton forfeits $166 million in stock he would have lost anyway and gets to keep $3.1 billion under separation deal

Nikola founder Trevor Milton agreed to forfeit up to roughly $166 million of equity as well as a two-year, $20 million consulting contract as part of his abrupt departure from the company he started. However, the EV executive gets to walk away with more than $3.1 billion in stock as part of a separation agreement reached over the weekend. Milton, who's come under scrutiny in recent days, agreed to give up his position and duties as executive chairman of the board as well as all other board seats on the company's subsidiaries, according to the agreement dated Sunday. The deal strips the 39-year-old entrepreneur of any say in the company's operations and blocks him from attempting to influence any decisions for at least three years, according to a company filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday.

Barry Diller on TikTok deal: 'The whole thing is a crock'
By John Irish

PARIS (Reuters) - Mali's military junta must restore power to civilians and arrange quick elections, France's president said on Tuesday, warning that the French role in fighting Islamist militants in the region would depend on it.

Former Mali defence minister and retired colonel Bah Ndaw was named interim president on Monday while the leader of the junta that seized power last month, Colonel Assimi Goita, was appointed vice president.

France, the former colonial power in Mali and now with some 5,100 troops fighting jihadists across the Sahel region, worries that the Aug. 18 military coup will set a dangerous precedent and undermine the campaign against militant Islam.

"They (the junta) must put Mali on the irreversible path of returning to civilian power and organise rapid elections," Macron said in a speech to the United Nations General Assembly. "France, like its African partners in particular, can only remain engaged on this condition."

Despite France's military involvement and the support of the United States and some European powers, security has been progressively worsening since Paris intervened in 2013 to stop a jihadist advance to the Malian capital, Bamako.

Critics in the region have increasingly scorned Paris for failing to restore stability. Anti-French sentiment has grown as militants linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State have strengthened their foothold, making large swathes of the West African country ungovernable and stoking ethnic violence.

"The second these states want us to leave or consider that they can fight terrorism on their own, we will withdraw," Macron said. "On this subject we will remain extremely vigilant."

Several dozen people held an anti-French protest in downtown Bamako on Tuesday, the day Mali also celebrated the 60th anniversary of its independence from France. They chanted anti-French slogans and decried the presence of French troops in Mali, while some waved Malian and Russian flags.

(Additional reporting by Bate Felix in Dakar; editing by Mark Heinrich)
The father of a one-year-old boy who was shot in his stroller in Brooklyn has shared his anguish and pleaded for change as New York City's surge in gun violence rages on.

Davell Gardner broke his silence following the death of his son Davell Jr in a public service announcement shared by the NYPD on Monday.

'My one-year-old son was a victim to gun violence,' Gardner said, his voice shaking with emotion.

'There's just days that I wake up, and I just hope and pray  just to see him, just to hear his voice.

'I lost my firstborn, my baby boy.'

Davell Jr was struck by a stray bullet while sitting in his stroller during a cookout at a playground in Brooklyn's Bedford Stuyvesant neighborhood on July 12.

Police say the senseless shooting which sent shockwaves through the Big Apple involved at least one gang member.

Scroll down for video

Davell Gardner (pictured) shared his anguish over the shooting death of his one-year-old son Davell Jr in a public service announcement posted by the NYPD on Monday

Davell Jr (pictured with his father) was struck by a stray bullet while sitting in his stroller during a cookout at a playground in Brooklyn's Bedford Stuyvesant neighborhood on July 12

In his video for the NYPD, Gardner described the moment he learned that his baby had been shot.

'That night, planning his second birthday party, talking to him, hearing him outside playing, and for just that night to hear a phone call that he was shot in the stomach,' he said.

He rushed to Maimonides Medical Center, where Davell Jr was pronounced dead.

'The doctors just come in and just tell me my son is gone. It just took me to another world,' Gardner said.

'I just couldn't believe it. I just felt like I was living a nightmare and I couldn't wake up. I just felt lost. I was in a dark place.'

Gardner broke down in tears and apologized before composing himself and urging viewers to help prevent others from experiencing the same pain he has.

'Help make a change,' he said. 'This has to stop. This has to. I had to bury my son.

'There's a lot of parents out there [who] have to bury their kids. Help make a change.'

Gardner described the moment he learned that his baby had been shot, saying: 'I just couldn't believe it. I just felt like I was living a nightmare and I couldn't wake up. I just felt lost'

Gardner pleaded: 'Help make a change. This has to stop. This has to. I had to bury my son. There's a lot of parents out there [who] have to bury their kids. Help make a change'

Gardner's heartfelt plea came as police have yet to track down his son's killer and have repeatedly asked the public to offer up any information that could lead to a break in the case.

Surveillance video captured the moment two men dressed in black descended on the playground and opened fire at about 11.35pm on July 12.

The men appeared to chase after four adults while pointing weapons in their direction.

More than two months after Davell Jr's death, police have yet to find his killers

Last month the NYPD released photos and video of three men wanted for questioning in the attack, which wounded three men in addition to Davell Jr.

One video showed two men looking at their phones. One of the men's faces was obscured by a bandanna.

In a second video, a man can be seen walking inside a building along with a case or speaker.

Davell Jr's grandmother Samantha spoke to the New York Daily News after the shooting and demanded justice.

'When is it going to end? When are these young African American men, when are they going to stop with the shooting and the killing of all these innocent kids? It don't make any sense,' she said.

Samantha called her grandson the 'joy' in her life, adding: 'They need to stop this gun violence. I feel like this: You all are ranting and raving about black lives. But you take a life that was only a year and half old. And it's not fair.

'I hope they catch the b******s and put them under the jail cell.'

Surveillance video captured the moment two men descended on the playground and opened fire at about 11.35pm on July 12

Last month the NYPD released photos and video of three men wanted for questioning

One video showed two men looking at their phones. One of the men's faces was obscured by a bandanna

In a second video, a man can be seen walking insider a building along with a case or speaker

New York City has endured a vicious crime wave in recent months, with shootings skyrocketing by more than 90 percent and murders rising 27 percent compared to 2019.

Harrowing NYPD data published in the 2020 Mayors Management Report last week revealed a staggering 352 New Yorkers were murdered in the 2020 fiscal year - an extra 74 deaths compared to 2019.

The biggest crime spike was for gang-motivated incidents which skyrocketed 52 percent compared to the previous year.

While the report from City Hall attributes this particular surge to the NYPD 'improving its capacity to more accurately identify incidents as gang related', the findings come at a time when drive-by shootings and gun crime are becoming increasingly commonplace across the city.

The NYPD has blamed the rise in crime on Mayor Bill de Blasio's office, pointing to bail reform policies and the release of thousands of prisoners from Rikers Island during the coronavirus pandemic.

Police officials have also accused de Blasio of making their jobs more difficult by agreeing to slash the NYPD's budget under pressure from Black Lives Matter protesters.

Meanwhile de Blasio has argued that the crime spike was fueled by restlessness in the wake of coronavirus-related shutdowns and economic woes wrought by the pandemic.
United States President Donald Trump has said that he will announce this week his nominee to fill the vacancy in the Supreme Court created by the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.





Justice Ginsburg, 87, died on Friday. This would be Trump's third Supreme Court nominee in his first term. Unlike India where Supreme Court judges have a retirement age, judges to the US Supreme Court are appointed for life. The president has already said that he will nominate a woman for the position.

"I would say (announce) on Friday or Saturday I will be announcing the pick. Five women are being looked at and vetted very carefully, and we will make a decision probably Friday or Saturday," Trump told reporters at the White House.



Hours later, addressing an election rally, Trump took an impromptu poll from thousands of his supporters, who overwhelmingly endorsed his decision to nominate a woman for the US Supreme Court.

"It will be a woman and we're looking forward to it. And it's a big day for our country. It's a big day for you. It's a big day for Ohio. So, I think it'll be great," Trump told cheering supporters.



At the White House, Trump told reporters that he may meet Barbara Lagoa while he is in Miami on Friday raising speculation that the Cuban-American lawyer could be the president's nominee.



"I'm getting a lot of phone calls from a lot of people. She (Lagoa) has a lot of support. I don't know her, but I hear she is outstanding," Trump said.



Trump is also considering Amy Coney Barrett. He has nominated both Lagoa and Barrett to serve in their current positions on the federal appellate bench.



Responding to a question, Trump said he would much rather have a vote before the election because there's a lot of work to be done.



"I would much rather have it and we have plenty of time to do it. I mean there's really a lot of time so let's say I make the announcement on Saturday there's a great deal of time before the election," he said. The presidential election is on November 3.



"I think it sends a good signal and I'm just doing my constitutional obligation. I have an obligation to do this so I would rather see it before the election," he said.
Government officials in Brazil have blamed a party hosted by lower house speaker Rodrigo Maia on September 9 as the source of a COVID-19 outbreak that sicked eight officials, including Maia, who attended the September 10 swearing-in ceremony of Court Chief Justice Luiz Fux

Brazil's Senate resumed in-person hearings Monday for the first time in six months due to the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown, just 12 days after the House Speaker threw a party where he and seven other politicians caught Covid 19.

House Speaker Rodrigo Maia hosted a party at his residence in Brasilia on September 9 as a farewell bash for the departing Supreme Court Chief Justice Dias Tofolli, ahead of the September 10 swearing-in ceremony of Supreme Court Chief Justice Luiz Fux.

Officials and other guests mingled without wearing face masks and ignored social distancing measures, according to local media outlets.

The event led to a COVID-19 outbreak with at least eight, including Maia and Fux infected.

Supreme Court ministers Benedito Goncalvez, Justice Luis Felipe Salomao, Antonio Saldanha, Superior Labor Court minister Maria Cristina Peduzzi, Attorney General Augusto Aras and Tourism Minister Marcelo Alvaro Antonio also contracted the coronavirus.

Supreme Court Chief Justice Luiz Fux was diagnosed with COVID-19 following his swearing-in ceremony September 10

Brazilian Superior Labor Court minister Maria Cristina Peduzzi and Attorney General Augusto Aras were among the eight officials who contracted the coronavirus bug after attending a September 10 swearing-in ceremony at the Supreme Court

A COVID-19 outbreak infected eight government officials in Brazil since September 10, including Tourism Minister Marcelo Alvaro Antonio and Supreme Court minister Luis Felipe Salomao

Supreme Court minister Antonio Saldanha is one of the eight government officials in Brazil who have been infected with COVID-19

Supreme Court minister Benedito Goncalvez was among 48 people who attended the swearing-in event but the only infected official who skipped out on the dinner party

Goncalvez, who was among 48 people who attended the Supreme Court's swearing-in event on September 10, was the only infected official who skipped out on the dinner party, according Supreme Court's press office.

Brazilian news outlet Folha UOL reported that as many as 30 people attended an event in Fux's office.

At least 157 Supreme Court employees contracted the coronavirus. The viral bug infected 13 of 27 state governors and eight members of President Jair Bolsonaro's cabinet.

Government officials pointed to the event organized by Maia as the source of the outbreak, indicating that the Supreme Court exercised additional precautions with social distancing measures. Only 48 guests were allowed inside the court chamber which has a maximum occupancy of 250 people.

'To say that all these people got coronavirus because they spent two hours inside the [Supreme Court] plenary, with social distance, is very irresponsible,' a Supreme Court magistrate told Brazilian magazine Veja. 'You have to see what the guests have done before.'

The Senate, which had not hosted in-person sessions since April and held hearings and votes virtually, has not reported any positive cases since reopening.

Bolsonaro, who tested positive of the virus in July and once compared the virus to just 'a little flu,' said last Friday that stay-at-home measures were useless while meeting with agriculture businessmen in Mato Grosso.

'You did not get into this nonsense of ''stay home, well take care of the economy later,''' he said. 'Thats for the weak.'

Brazil ranks third in the globe behind the United States and India with 4,558,040 confirmed cases. The South American nation is second to the U.S. with 137,272 deaths.
State Education Commissioner to School Districts: Go In-Person or Face Audit

BOSTON.  Continuing a pressure campaign against local school districts that began over the summer, the commissioner of education this week sent multiple districts a letter requesting "further information" of those who are beginning the school year with remote instruction.

In a letter dated Friday, Jeffrey C. Riley told more than a dozen districts, including Pittsfield Public Schools, Hoosac Valley Regional and the Berkshire Arts and Technology Charter Public School, that they have "very low COVID-19 transmission" and that he is "concerned" that their school committees have elected to keep most students remote to start the academic year.

Riley's letter cites the fall reopening plan issued by the commonwealth in June, which, he notes, was endorsed by the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

He also refers to a July missive from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention titled "Importance of Reopening Schools."

"Death rates among school-aged children are much lower than among adults," the CDC document reads. "At the same time, the harms attributed to closed schools on the social, emotional and behavioral health, economic well-being, and academic achievement of children, in both the short- and long-term, are well-known and significant.

"Further, the lack of in-person educational options disproportionately harms low-income and minority children and those living with disabilities."

This summer , Riley reportedly privately told school superintendents that if they did not come up with reopening plans that created an in-person or hybrid model, he would "review their work." He then said publicly the "vast majority" of superintendents favor in-person or hybrid models.

On Friday, he was clear about the consequences of not instituting in-person or hybrid models in communities designated gray or green in the Department of Public Health's color-coded report on community transmission of COVID-19. All of Berkshire County is now in the gray, or lowest, level of transmission.

"In light of the stark discrepancy between local public health data and your reopening plan, I am requesting a timeline by which you anticipate providing in-person instruction for the majority of your students, including in-person instruction for vulnerable populations, such as students with disabilities, if these students have not already returned to in-person school," Riley wrote. "Please note that your response may trigger an audit to assess overall efforts to provide in-person instruction and to ensure your remote learning program is consistent with [Massachusetts law on student learning time]."

The president of the Massachusetts Teachers Association told CBS Channel 4 in Boston that Riley's letter was "threatening" to the districts that received it.

"It's Commissioner Riley's typical bullying tactics to drive a reckless agenda of pushing education communities back into school buildings against their will," union head Merrie Najimy told the Boston media outlet in a story on its website. "[The letter] felt very much to us like, You better give me my plan or we will subject you to an audit.' "

Hoosac Valley opened last week with kindergartners and special populations attending some in-person and the rest of the student body remote, with plans to phase into a hybrid system beginning in October; Pittsfield began fully remote last week and also plans to transition to a hybrid model by the end of October. BArT is fully remote but with plans in place to switch to hybrid should the health data remain positive with plans to evaluate this by Oct. 1.

Other Berkshire schools have started remote with dates to transition to hybrid, such as North Adams, in a hybrid model or, for some smaller schools, fully in person. Parents and teachers have the option to remain remote.

The private Pine Cobble School in Williamstown started in-person but is now in the second week of a two-week remote status after six positive tests for COVID-19. However, both Williams College and Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts have had a handful of cases between them and have continued without changing their schedules.

Gov. Charlie Baker, when addressing back-to-school issues, has repeatedly deferred to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, headed by Riley. But he also has talked about a desire for local control.

"Communities need to look at their data," he said on Aug. 7. "That's why we're going to start publishing a lot more data that's community-specific. And there are many communities in Massachusetts that are in very good shape when it comes to their COVID rates. But there are a bunch that we have work to do on.

"What do people love most of all about living in New England when it comes to governance?  We like local government, right? What we've tried to say from the beginning on this stuff is we will provide guidance and financial resources, which we have done, to our colleagues in local government, and then we really wanted them to make the best decision on behalf of their community.  If you look at the data across most communities in Massachusetts, there's plenty of opportunity there based on the science and what we know, for them to consider reopening, in some way, in person."
Video transcript Back bars 0:00 / 1:16 - 0:00 transcript Romney Says He Supports Filling Supreme Court Vacancy Senator Mitt Romney, Republican of Utah, said on Tuesday he supports holding a vote to fill the vacancy of the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. I think at this stage, its appropriate to look at the Constitution and to look at the precedent, which has existed over  well, since the beginning of our countrys history. And in a circumstance where a nominee of a president is from a different party than the Senate then more often than not, the Senate does not confirm. So the Garland decision was consistent with that. On the other hand, when theres a nominee of a party that is in the same party as the Senate, then typically they do confirm. I came down on the side of the Constitution and precedent, as Ive studied it, and made the decision on that basis. So I recognize that we may have a court, which has more of a conservative bent than its had over the last few decades. But my liberal friends have over many decades gotten very used to the idea of having a liberal court. And thats not written in the stars. And I know a lot of people are saying, Gosh, we dont want that change. I understand the energy associated with that perspective, but its also appropriate for a nation which is, if you will, center-right, to have a court which reflects a center-right point of view, which again, are not changing the law from what it states. But instead following the law and following the Constitution. Senator Mitt Romney, Republican of Utah, said on Tuesday he supports holding a vote to fill the vacancy of the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Credit Credit... Anna Moneymaker for The New York Times

Senator Mitt Romney, Republican of Utah, said on Tuesday that he would support moving forward to fill the Supreme Court seat left open by the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, all but assuring that President Trump has the votes he needs for an election-season confirmation to cement a conservative majority on the high court.

In a statement Tuesday morning, Mr. Romney echoed Republican leaders who have said that historical precedent supported filling the seat in an election year when the presidency and Senate were controlled by the same party.

The Constitution gives the president the power to nominate and the Senate the authority to provide advice and consent on Supreme Court nominees, he said. Accordingly, I intend to follow the Constitution and precedent in considering the presidents nominee. If the nominee reaches the Senate floor, I intend to vote based upon their qualifications.

Mr. Romney, the 2012 presidential nominee who is one of the few Republicans who have been willing to criticize Mr. Trump, had been closely watched as a potential defector given his past breaks with the president, including when he voted to convict him in the impeachment trial and remove him from office.

But with the rest of his party quickly swinging into line, it had become clear that Mr. Romneys opposition would not have been sufficient to block a swift march toward confirmation.

Speaking with reporters, Mr. Romney indicated he would defer to party leaders on whether to try to hold a vote before Election Day or after, but said it was only fitting that Republicans have the chance to install a conservative on the nations highest court.

My liberal friends have over many decades gotten very used to the idea of having a liberal court, but thats not written in the stars, he said. I know a lot of people are saying, Gosh, we dont want that change. I understand the energy associated with that perspective. But its also appropriate for a nation that is, if you will, center-right to have a court which reflects center-right points of view.

It appeared Tuesday that Republican leaders and Mr. Trump would hold defections within their own party to just two: Senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine, who have said they would not support filling the vacancy so close to the election. Given Republicans 53-to-47 majority, and Vice President Mike Pences ability to break a tie, Democrats would have needed four defectors to join them in defeating a nominee.

Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the majority leader, made no mention of the timing of a confirmation vote in remarks Tuesday morning, instead excoriating his Democratic colleagues for the outcry and hysteria that has already erupted.

Ill tell you what really could threaten our system of government  its not Senate Republicans doing legitimate things squarely within the Senate rules and within the Constitution the Democrats happen to dislike, Mr. McConnell said. No, what could really threaten our system is if one of our two major parties continues to pretend the whole system is automatically illegitimate whenever they lose.

Mr. McConnells top deputy, Senator John Thune of South Dakota, told reporters he believed it was a good idea for us to move forward before the election.
El Shafee el-Sheikh (L) and Alexanda Kotey (R) are currently in US custody (Syrian Democratic Forces/AFP via)

The mother of a suspected Isis terrorist has lost a High Court challenge against the UK home secretarys decision to share evidence about her son with US authorities.

Maha Elgizoulis lawyers had argued the move was unlawful as it was incompatible with the Data Protection Act and asked the court to order that no material should be provided to the US in a hearing in London on 11 September.

The case was rejected on Tuesday.

Ms Elgizoulis son, El Shafee Elsheikh, and Alexanda Kotey are accused of belonging to a group of militants dubbed The Beatles because of their British accents who executed a number of Western captives.

The hearing into Priti Patels decision to share evidence was held urgently as the US government indicated it will transfer the pair to Iraq for trial, where if found guilty they will be executed, if it does not receive all the evidence the UK has by mid-October.

As a result of the ruling, the evidence requested can now be handed over to the US authorities by the UK government.

Ms Elgizouli brought a judicial review earlier this month over Ms Patels decision on 24 August to provide material to the American government under a "mutual legal assistance" request, ahead of an intended prosecution in the US.

Her lawyers said the transfer of the evidence was "not strictly necessary" as it was made at a time when the Director of Public Prosecutions was due to make a decision "imminently" about whether there was enough evidence to prosecute Mr Elsheikh in the UK - which US authorities previously indicated a preference for.

Dame Victoria Sharp and Mr Justice Garnham rejected the case on Tuesday, saying it was "not properly arguable".

Dame Victoria said previous expressions of preference as to where a prosecution should take place were of "no relevance" to the issues the court had to decide.

She added: "The conclusion that, even if Mr Elsheikh could be prosecuted in England, it would still be necessary and proportionate to transfer the data to the US authorities remained a conclusion properly open to the Secretary of State."

Story continues

Mr Elsheikh and Mr Kotey, who have had their British citizenship removed, have been accused of belonging to a cell of executioners in Syria, which also included Mohammed Emwazi, known as Jihadi John, who was killed in a US air strike in 2015.

They are accused of being involved in Islamic State killings, including the deaths of US journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff and British aid workers David Haines and Alan Henning.

Mr Elsheikh and Mr Kotey, who were raised in the UK, were captured in 2018. They were held in custody in Iraq before being moved to the US.

Additional reporting by Press Association

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New Delhi, Sep 22 : At a time when India is aggressive for 'Make in India' , India's biggest state Uttar Pradesh has given a never-seen-before thrust to brand the state for its business potential. Defence Corridors, Film City, religious tourism hubs, toy cluster, pharma parks -- you name it.

The effort to position UP as a business-friendly state was palpable. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was speaking at a meeting of the High Level Authorised Committee on Monday. "Better law and order, the new industrial policy for all the important sectors has resulted in the fact that we have ranked number 2 in the Ease of Doing Business ranking nationally, jumping from 12," he said. He added that the Investors Summit of February 2018 showed the results of a changed climate and heavy investment.

The intent was clear -- make Uttar Pradesh synonymous with business and industry which effectively translates into more direct and indirect jobs. In presence of heads of industrial organisations such as FICCI, ASSOCHAM, CII, Laghu Udyog Bharti and IIA, the UP CM announced, the campaign to make Uttar Pradesh an industrial state has begun.

So what is Yogi Adityanath's grand plan to make Uttar Pradesh the business hub of India? Project: 'Biggest' Film City

Area: Gautam Budh Nagar

The Yamuna Expressway authority has sent a proposal to the Uttar Pradesh government for setting up a film city in the district, which is tipped to be the biggest in the country. The CM had on September 18 announced setting up what he called India's "biggest" and "most beautiful" film city bordering Delhi. It is said to be spread over an area of 1,000 acres.

The district's proximity to Delhi, Noida, Greater Noida or Yamuna Expressway will be beneficial. The upcoming Jewar International Airport will also help.

Another relatively small-sized film city may also come up in either Lucknow, Varanasi or Agra. The film city is planned to be spread over 200-250 acres.

"This proposed film city will not just provide filmmakers with better opportunities, but will also kickstart a massive job opportunity for the youth of Uttar Pradesh," Dr KK Agarwal, the President f PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry told IANS.

Project: Toy cluster Area: Greater Noida

The Uttar Pradesh government will now come up with a toy cluster in Greater Noida of Gautam Budh Nagar. This will be the first toy cluster in the country where toy industries will be put together on a large scale and it will be connected to the international market. This is significant given PM Modi's call for 'Make in India' toys.

The proposed Toy City will be ready in two years. According to the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Authority, 100 acres of land have been allocated for the Toy City. About 50 acres will have 80 toy factories and collective utility facilities. The remaining 50 will be left for the extension of Toy City. It will be developed as an international hub for the toy industry.

The Uttar Pradesh government has received 92 applications for setting up toy manufacturing units in Noida. Several factories will be set up in this toy city at a cost of Rs 600 crore which is likely to generate 15,000 jobs.

Project: Defence Corridor Area: Aligarh, Agra, Chitrakoot, Jhansi, Kanpur and Lucknow

Uttar Pradesh will also have a dynamic defence corridor. A total of 5,125.348 hectares of land has been proposed for the defence corridor project spread across Lucknow, Kanpur, Chitrakoot, Aligarh, Agra and Jhansi.

The development of the Defence Corridor is being handled by UP Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPDA). The Defense Corridor will also play a key role to cater to the needs of the Indian Navy. In late August, Union defence minister Rajnath Singh had reviewed its progress and directed completion of all works within the stipulated time.

Project: Pharma Park & Medical Device Park Area: Lalitpur, Bundelkhand & Gautam Buddha Nagar

The proposed pharmaceutical park at Lalitpur in Bundelkhand is expected to generate employment opportunities for 31,000 people. Similarly, the establishment of the proposed Medical Device Park at Gautam Budh Nagar, 25,000 people will get employment in a phased manner.

An investment of Rs 24 thousand crore is estimated on the bulk pharma park to be built at Lalitpur. The UPSIDA is working on a plan to develop it as a model industrial area. The park will be set up on 2060 acres. To connect it with airports and ports, it will be provided with water supply, pipe natural gas and digital fiber connectivity.

Project: Religious tourism hub Area: Ayodhya and surrounding areas

Though it is a bit premature in terms of other projects, the state government and the Centre are also gearing up to give Ayodhya and the surrounding areas a massive facelift, expecting nearly 100,000 pilgrims a day once the Ram Mandir is completed.

On Aug 5, during the ground-breaking ceremony, PM Modi had said, "There will be new opportunities in this region. People will come here from the whole world to pay obeisance to Lord Ram and Mata Sita. So much will change here." The idea is to promote the region as a religious tourism hub.

An international airport, a state-of-the-art Railway station, multi-level parkings, elevated roads, hotel chains will be part of the project.

This July, Union Road Minister Nitin Gadkari had said, "For beautification and construction-related works of the Ayodhya bypass, the NHAI has sanctioned a project worth Rs 55 crore." Union tourism minister Prahlad Patel also went to Ayodhya to discuss the project which will not only promote tourism but is expected to create thousands of jobs in the hospitality and mobility sectors.

Yesterday, while addressing the who's who of the industry, Yogi Adityanth informed about a massive Land Bank policy that is in works under which topics such as land leasing, land pooling, rapid acquisition along the side of the expressway, sub-leasing of additional land among others will be covered.

When the saffron-clad Chief Minister was throwing such jargon at the industry's best minds, he had one mission -- Make in UP.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
(Nikkei Asian Review)  The political friction between the U.S. and China over TikTok raises strategic questions for Japanese businesses that use the popular video-sharing app in advertising to young consumers.

High user engagement is among the platforms greatest strengths. Posts under a popular hashtag may draw over 100 million views, and brands have seen success with hashtag challenges encouraging viewers to upload videos of themselves performing a particular task, tagged with a certain phrase.

But data security fears tied to Beijing plague the app in the U.S., with Washington threatening a ban. Chinese operator ByteDance recently agreed to hive off its international operations under a new subsidiary partly owned by Oracle and Walmart. Similar worries have arisen in Japan, and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party has discussed restrictions on Chinese apps, apparently with platforms like TikTok in mind.

Companies are responding in different ways. Coca-Cola (Japan), which had used the platform for marketing, stopped posting new content there in July after its American parent halted social media activity.

But Kao, a household goods manufacturer, said it continues to use TikTok after receiving assurances from the Japanese arm of ByteDance that it does not collect users personal information.

Beverage maker Suntory Holdings will keep using the platform for the time being while paying attention to various circumstances, a company representative said.

Cosmetics producer Shiseido, when asked about the potential for leaks of user information on TikTok, replied that it is not in a position to comment. Sony, whose group companies post music and ads for anime on the platform, said it cannot respond at this time.

The number of TikTok video views in Japan climbed 160% as of June from a year earlier, while the average time that users spend daily on the app has jumped to 52 minutes from 42 minutes, the local unit said. An uptick in users in their 30s and 40s has occurred this year, as well as a rise in content offering tips for daily life  along with the dances and comedic videos for which the platform is known.

TikTok was rolled out in Japan in 2017 by ByteDances Japanese arm, which has an office in Tokyos central Shinjuku district and is a member of the powerful Keidanren business lobby. The local operation is run by General Manager Yoichi Sato, a tech industry veteran who took the post in January.

In a recent video on the platform, Sato said TikTok Japan stores user data on servers in Singapore and the U.S., and that the information is handled in line with the laws of those countries.

We have not received any requests for information from the Chinese government so far, and even if we do, we will not hand it over, Sato said.

The Japanese unit earns most of its income from advertising and does not disclose revenue figures. Besides TikTok, it operates the BuzzVideo video discovery platform and Ulike, a selfie app aimed at young women. The company says it has not seen a significant drop in users recently.

This article was originally published by Nikkei Asian Review

Contact editor Yang Ge (geyang@caixin.com)

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Officials are reviewing a fast-track regulation that would narrow the definition of a specialty occupation.

The administration of United States President Donald Trump is racing to toughen the process for US companies to hire skilled foreign workers before the end of the year, changes top Trump officials argue will preserve jobs for Americans amid high unemployment and be politically difficult to reverse.

With just weeks to go until the November 3 election, the White House budget office is reviewing a fast-track regulation that would narrow the definition of a specialty occupation eligible for a skilled-worker visa under the H-1B programme, according to the budget office website and administration officials.

A second fast-track regulation would raise the wages that employers must pay to demonstrate foreign workers will not displace Americans in the same occupation and geographic area.

Trump faces re-election on November 3 and has made immigration a focus of his campaign against Democratic challenger Joe Biden. The measures  along with a planned regulation to clamp down on visas for international students and journalists  could be some of Trumps final immigration moves before the election.

The last-minute blitz could make the new rules vulnerable to court challenges or, if Biden wins, possible reversal, according to experts. But White House senior adviser Stephen Miller, the architect of Trumps immigration agenda, argues the policies will have popular support.

Theres going to be no market for someone to drive back down wages on H-1Bs to displace American workers, Miller said in an interview, calling the measures utterly transformative.

Trump issued a sweeping proclamation in June that blocked the entry of many temporary foreign workers, saying it was necessary to preserve jobs for Americans. The US Chamber of Commerce, the countrys largest business association, sued the administration over that ban and said the planned regulations could create unnecessary hurdles for employers.

Companies across multiple industries are very concerned about the potential disruption these proposals will inflict upon their operations, Jon Baselice, the US Chamber of Commerces executive director for immigration policy, said in a statement.

Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia told Reuters News Agency that his department planned to raise H-1B wage requirements in light of Trumps June proclamation.

Theres been concern for a long time that the wages at which H-1B workers are allowed to be brought into the country are too low and are undercutting US workers wages, Scalia said in an interview. Thats never acceptable, but totally intolerable when youve got millions of Americans still out of work because of the pandemic.

Outsourcing companies typically make up the bulk of the programmes top users and most workers approved for the visas come from India.

Senator Dick Durbin, the second-highest ranking Senate Democrat, co-sponsored a bipartisan bill in May that proposed reforms similar to the Trump plans. But he rejected the Trump measures in a statement to Reuters, calling it an obvious political ploy.

Some advocates of reforming the H-1B programme are also sceptical.

If they really had prioritised this and cared about it, they would have done it months ago, if not years ago, said Daniel Costa, director of immigration law and policy research at the left-leaning Economic Policy Institute.
Ghislaine Maxwell once told Jeffrey Epstein's former housekeeper: 'I hate him but I can't leave'.

Juan Alessi claimed that Maxwell opened her heart to him when he asked why she was so close to the pedophile.

Alessi said he still did not understand her reply and said: 'Why? You have money, why are you not leaving?'

Alessi spoke out in a podcast interview with Virginia Roberts Giuffre, the Epstein survivor who claims she was forced to have sex with Prince Andrew, allegations he denies.

Jeffrey Epstein's former housekeeper Juan Alessi claims that Ghislaine Maxwell opened up to him when he asked her why she was so close to the pedophile

'I hate him but I can't leave,' Maxwell reportedly said to Alessi (pictured). Alessi, 70, worked for Epstein from 1991 to 2006 first as a maintenance guy on his homes and then the housekeeper and driver in Palm Beach

In Broken: Seeking Justice, Alessi reveals that the Duke of York visited Epstein's mansion in Palm Beach, Florida two or three times while he was there.

Andrew was memorable because he was so polite - and was the only one of Epstein's guests to leave him a tip.

The extraordinary interview with Alessi happens at his home in Florida when Giuffre turns up unannounced at his door and he lets her in.

They last saw each other in 2002 when Giuffre left for Thailand to train as a masseuse and never returned to Epstein, who had asked her to carry a baby for him and Maxwell before she left.

Their conversation turns to Maxwell and as former Epstein employees they used to bond over stories of mistreatment by their boss - Maxwell.

Epstein met Maxwell in the early 1990s around the time that her father, the late newspaper tycoon Robert Maxwell, fell off his yacht and died in mysterious circumstances.

They two dated for some time but broke up and after that remained very close with Maxwell allegedly managing his properties.

Prince Andrew's cousin Christina Oxenberg has told DailyMail.com that she got to know the couple in 1993 and thought that Maxwell wanted to marry Epstein but he wasn't interested.

In the podcast Alessi says: 'That relationship between Epstein and her I never understood.'

Giuffre says: 'Me neither, I asked Maxwell, so'

Alessi cuts in and says: 'I told her many times. I said: ''Ghislaine, why are you doing this? Why are you staying with this guy?'' (She said) ''I hate him, I hate him but I can't leave''. I said: ''Why? You have money, why are you not leaving?'''

Giuffre says: 'That relationship was confusing'.

Alessi spoke out in a podcast interview with Epstein survivor Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who claims she was forced to have sex with Prince Andrew

Alessi reveals that the Duke of York visited Epstein's mansion in Palm Beach, Florida two or three times while he was there. He's pictured with Virginia Roberts and Ghislaine Maxwell in 2001

The exact nature of Epstein and Maxwell's relationship will likely be central to the criminal case against her.

She is accused of helping him recruit girls as young as 14 between 1994 and 1997, allegations she denies, and is due to go on trial next year.

Alessi, 70, worked for Epstein from 1991 to 2006 first as a maintenance guy on his homes and then the housekeeper and driver in Palm Beach.

The episode of Broken: Seeking Justice is available on Wednesday

He says that Epstein 'liked massages from the day I met him' and talks of a regime of secrecy inside the house.

He says: 'I was not supposed to talk to the guests, I was not supposed to talk to Virginia. Nothing, no talking. I was not allowed to interrupt conversations'.

Alessi claims that he saw the lawyer Alan Dershowitz at Epstein's house 'many times' but never with underage girls - Dershowitz denies any wrongdoing.

Alessi says: 'Prince Andrew was at the house two or three times when I was there.

'He was always polite and a very nice guy. He was the only guy who left us a tip'.

In the episode Alessis says it is 'sickening' to think about Giuffre being abused and claims he never saw anything suspicious.

But as Broken host Tara Palmeri points out, Alessi's story is highly problematic because he has changed his story so often.

In an interview with Palm Beach police in 2005, Alessi admitted he would wash off vibrators and a long rubber penis after a young girl visited Epstein for a massage.

The bed would have to be made up after each massage as well, strongly suggesting some kind of sexual activity.

Alessi worked at Epstein's waterfront estate (pictured) in Palm Beach, Florida. In an interview with Palm Beach police in 2005, Alessi admitted he would wash off vibrators and a long rubber penis after a young girl visited Epstein for a massage

Even in the podcast Alessi says that Epstein would 'come to me and say call this girl, it was hundreds of girls that I have a list, call Joanne, call Judy, call Nicole, so many girls'.

Giuffre has mixed feelings about her encounter with Alessi but having spoken to him makes her feel validated.

She says: 'The sheer fact he puts Dershowitz there, the sheer fact he puts Andrew there, even though he says he didn't see Andrew do something wrong, he's had to set up all these massage tables upstairs.

'What were these massages about? We know they weren't just about shiatsu'.

Broken is available on Wednesday wherever you download your podcasts
Ohio law bars closing churches, changing election dates

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Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has signed a bill into law that restricts local and state officials from closing churches or other houses of worship and from changing election dates.

Pushed by Republican lawmakers, House Bill 272 prohibits a public official from ordering the closure of all places of worship in a geographic area and changing the time, place, or manner of conducting an election, except in certain circumstances.

The law will take effect in mid-December, according to Cleveland.com. DeWine spokesman Dan Tierney said that the governor agreed to enact the law curbing his own power to close churches because he never even contemplated taking such a step.

DeWine has been criticized for postponing the states March 17 primary election due to COVID-19 fears at the time.

Tierney said DeWine doesnt want to change the election dates again, as state officials instead have to prepare for a potential rise in the number of novel coronavirus cases around the voting.

The new legislation states that no public official shall cause an election to be conducted other than in the time, place, and manner prescribed by the Revised Code.

At that stage, remember, the pandemic was emerging in March, and the situation on the ground changed very rapidly and unexpectedly, Tierney was quoted as saying. That was certainly a unique situation.

The spokesperson added, Moving forward, the virus will not have the element of surprise.

DeWine has also been criticized for discouraging churches from holding in-person services, although he never passed such orders.

It just seems to me to be a huge mistake for any pastor of any church to bring people together tomorrow or any other day, DeWine said in late March, according to WCMH. This is a critical period of time and its not just for the safety of the people in your congregation. Frankly, its for the safety of their friends, their neighbors and total strangers. So I just cant imagine that anyone would want to take that risk.

Several states have restrictions in place on religious gatherings, which have led to legal battles for the religious freedom of churches and other houses of worship.

In California, several churches are fighting Gov. Gavin Newsoms COVID-19 orders banning indoor services.

In an earlier statement, Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mat Staver called Newsoms orders unconstitutional.

 Gov. Newsom supports tens of thousands of protestors, saying God bless you. Keep doing it. This is wrong, and the governors unconstitutional hostility and discrimination against religious worship must end, he said.
The logo of Pegatron Corp is displayed on a smartphone. Photo by Shutterstock/IgorGolovniov.

Pegatron Corp, a supplier for Apple, Microsoft and Sony, plans to invest $1 billion in an electronics manufacturing plant in northern Vietnam.

The Taiwanese company will invest $19 million in the first phase at the Dinh Vu Industrial Zone in Hai Phong City to produce computing, communications and consumer electronics, according to a recent report by the Ministry of Planning and Investment submitted to Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

It has received licenses for this and is seeking licenses for the $481-million second phase.

The two phases will create 22,500 direct jobs and contribute around VND100 billion ($4.3 million) annually to the governments coffers.

Pegatron would invest another $500 million in the plant in 2026-2027.

It seeks to move its research and development center from China to Vietnam at a suitable time.

The ministry said it is working with another Taiwanese company, Universal Global Technology, which produces smartphone and earbuds parts for Lenovo and Sony, to set up a manufacturing plant in Vietnam.

The company, a subsidiary of semiconductor maker ASE Technology Holding, is considering investing $400 million in two phases.

These are among major companies seeking to shift production facilities from China to Vietnam as they seek to diversify their supply chains following the huge disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and trade tensions between China and the U.S.

Apple has begun making its wireless earbuds AirPods Pro in Vietnam, and its contract manufacturer Foxconn said in June that Vietnam was its largest manufacturing hub in Southeast Asia.

Fifteen Japanese companies, mostly producers of medical equipment and electronic components, registered in July to move their production from China to Vietnam under a Japanese government-funded scheme.
A San Antonio man has a new lease on life after surviving a strep throat infection that spread to his heart and caused several organs to fail.

"Take every day and enjoy the moments. It sounds cliche, but its absolutely true," said Gary Thompson. "My time was technically up. To get a second chance is incredible. I no longer think about tomorrow, I live in the now."

Thompson, 33, fainted in his bathroom in May after weeks of battling what he thought was bronchitis, according to Methodist Hospital officials. A COVID-19 test had come back negative.

READ ALSO: Complaint made to OSHA alleges 14 employees tested positive for COVID-19 at San Antonio bar

His wife, Pamela, heard him collapse and called an ambulance while she tried to wake him up. He recovered by the time EMS arrived, but Pamela knew he needed medical help.

At Southwest General Hospital, Thompson's oxygen levels were low. He was placed on intubation and mechanical ventilation. Doctors found that an infection was preventing his heart valve from closing properly, causing blood to flow backwards. He was experiencing liver and kidney failure.

"The doctors were telling me to say goodbye and that Gary wasn't going to make it through the night," Pamela recalled.

Pamela was called to the hospital the next morning because her husband had coded, but the staff stabilized him. Thompson was transported to Methodist Hospital with a 30 percent chance at surviving surgery.

Surgeons performed a seven-hour operation to reconstruct his heart, then placed him on an ECMO and balloon pump to support the organ. He responded well to the surgeries and was taken off the ECMO after four days.

Doctors determined after several weeks of recovery that Thompson had a strep throat infection that spread to his heart, known as endocarditis. Antibiotics prescribed for his cough had disguised his condition.

"All I could think about was my wife and kids and getting home," Thompson said. "It got me through. I did not want this to be the end. I kept thinking to myself, this can't be the end, I have to get out of here."
Sen. Deb Fischer said Tuesday she is prepared to consider President Donald Trump's nomination of a new U.S. Supreme Court justice this year despite Republican refusal to consider Democratic President Barack Obama's Supreme Court nominee during the last presidential election year.

"Voting on President Trump's nominee is what the people who elected him in 2016, along with an enhanced Senate majority in both 2016 and 2018, expect us to do," the Republican senator said in a written statement.

"It is also what Democrat leaders have said they would do if they were in our position," she said.

Sen. Ben Sasse has been urging the president to nominate Circuit Court Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the open seat, according to James Wegmann, the senator's communications director.

"Ben's been on Team Barrett from Day One," Wegmann said.

"Over the last three years and in at least eight conversations  including one this week  he's been urging the president to nominate Judge Barrett to the Supreme Court" when there's an open seat, Wegmann said.

"If Judge Barrett is the nominee, expect a major fight over religious liberty," he said, and some "anti-Catholic bigotry."

Barrett is a Catholic mother of seven  two of the children are adopted  and has been a favorite of anti-abortion advocates.

Fischer said she will evaluate Trump's nominee "on the basis of their qualifications, temperament, understanding of the Constitution and commitment to the rule of law."

Four years ago, responding to a letter from a constituent, Fischer wrote: "It has not been the practice of the Senate to fill a Supreme Court vacancy that occurs during a (presidential) election year.

"The American people should have a voice in the selection," the senator wrote.

Obama nominated Judge Merrick Garland to fill the vacancy opened by the death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia in March of 2016.

The Senate did not give the nomination a hearing.

Sasse, a Republican, thus far has declined to comment on how he intends to vote, but is expected to support the president's nominee.

Sasse is a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which will decide whether to recommend Senate confirmation.

Reach the writer at 402-473-7248 or dwalton@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSdon

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Lebanons situation is increasingly like that of Sudan. Thanks to funding from some European countries and the United Nations, the government is setting up a food voucher programme. The number of people living below the poverty line and in extreme poverty is increasing. A funding plan to stop school dropout in the works. The Help devastated Beirut campaign continues.

Beirut (AsiaNews)  Lebanon risks experiencing a situation of poverty "similar to that of Sudan". As the number of poor Lebanese rises, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Tourism has promoted a campaign aimed at providing food vouchers.

According to Minister Ramzi Musharrafieh, at least 55,000 of the countrys poorest families will benefit from the plan. The initiative is funded by some European countries and the United Nations.

Food vouchers were introduced in 2011 as the country faces an increasingly critical situation, but their use has greatly expanded recently to meet growing needs.

COVID-19 tipped the balance, pushing 55 per cent of the population below the poverty line at a time of ongoing emergency that has also triggered, among other things, a rise in suicides.

The subsidies are still inadequate given the growing needs, especially considering that 250,000 households live in conditions of extreme poverty, Assem Abi Ali, director of the Lebanon Crisis Response Plan (LCRP), told L'Orient-Le Jour.

Charged by the government with distributing the food vouchers, he is very conscious of the state of crisis. "According to the World Bank, 45 per cent of the Lebanese population lived below the poverty line in March 2020, 22 per cent in conditions of extreme poverty, he said.

In recent months, the situation has worsened so much that "60 per cent of the population is now living in conditions of poverty, 25 per cent in extreme poverty with less than a dollar a day. That represents, according to our calculation, at least 250,000 families in extreme poverty.

To qualify for benefits, families must apply to the Ministry and get the go-ahead after an interview with social services. From an initial group of 10,000 families, the number rose to 15,000, but the goal, for Assem Abi Ali, is to help up to 55,000 families in need.

Most of the beneficiaries live in the north of the country and in the Beqaa. The aid obtained will allow us to help 55,000 households by February 2022. But the needs will increase as time goes by".

Discussions have been underway over the past few months with the World Bank to get a loan that could expand the scope of the aid, so that students from poor families could be included to prevent school dropout, the LCRP director explained.

About 40 per cent of young people between 12 and 15 years leave [school] because of the situation. Our plan would provide US a month. The talks have been slowed down by the resignation of the Diab government, but they must be resumed as soon as possible.

In order to help the people of Beirut and Lebanon, as well as Caritas Lebanon, AsiaNews is launching a campaign to Help devastated Beirut. Those who want to contribute can make a donation to:

PIME Foundation:

- International Bank Account Number (IBAN): IT78C0306909606100000169898

- Bank Identifier Code (BIC): BCITITMM

- Reason for transfer: AN04  HELP DEVASTATED BEIRUT
Heavy rains and flash floods wreaked havoc in Karnataka's coastal, southern and central districts for the third consecutive day on Monday, disrupting normal life, an official said.

"As the southwest monsoon remained intense, heavy and widespread rains with gusty winds caused flash floods in Kodagu, Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Chikkamgaluru, Hassan and Shivamogga districts," a state Disaster Management Authority official told IANS here.

The torrential rains also inundated villages, submerged houses in low-lying areas and caused landslides in the Western Ghat section, disrupting vehicular traffic and bringing down power lines.

"Heavy rains in the catchment areas have turned rivers and their tributaries in the regions in spate, forcing the authorities to advise the people living on banks or in the vicinity to safer and higher places," said the official.

With most reservoirs/dams across rivers Cauvery, Kabini, Hemavathy, Tunga, Bhadra, Harangi and Krishna filling up to the brim, the state Water Resources Department released excess water from them, leading to heavy outflows in the downstream, flooding several areas and submerging roads and bridges.

As the situation in the worst-hit Udupi remained grim, teams of State Disaster Response Force and the Disaster Response Force were deployed to rescue the stranded people in the temple town and villages in the coastal district.

"The teams have evacuated hundreds of people from their houses flooded with rain water and shifted them to about 30 relief centres set up in the town by the district administration, with food, drinking water and medicines," the official said.

Udupi Deputy Commissioner G. Jagadeesha visited the affected areas and supervised the rescue and relief operations in the town and villages.

In Dakshina Kannada district, several houses and buildings were submerged and vehicular movement was disrupted due to relentless rains since Saturday.

As the weather office has forecast heavy and gusty winds over the next two days, the district administration has warned fishermen from venturing into the Arabian Sea.

With the Cauvery catchment areas receiving copious rain, the water level in the Kabini dam in Mysuru district reached full level of 2,284 feet.

With heavy rains lashing Kodagu, the inflow into the Krishna Raja Sagar (KRS) dam across Cauvery at Srirangapatna in Mandya district continued to rise since Sunday.

As the water level in the dam reached the maximum level (124 feet), the Cauvery Neeravari Nigam Ltd released 37,000 cusecs of water into the river.

--IANS

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(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.)
Lebanon County investigators believe a man who went missing nearly two weeks ago staged his disappearance to avoid a sexual assault allegation.

Cleona Borough police began searching for Lebanon resident Robert Uhler Sept. 11 after his car was found in the Quittapahilla Creek in North Annville Township.

A warrant for Uhlers arrest was issued Monday in Lebanon County Court after he failed to appear for a sexual assault allegation.

Uhlers family has not heard from him since the morning of Sept. 11, when he sent text messages that made them concerned for his well-being, police said. Police said the family also reported a firearm missing from their home.

Uhlers maroon 1999 Oldsmobile was found in the creek near Syner Road and School Creek Lane, with the windows rolled down and the doors closed, police said.

The discovery led Cleona Borough police to search the area with the help of North Londonderry and Pennsylvania State Police.

About 20 volunteers from the Lebanon County Search and Rescue Team were also on scene the day after Uhlers disappearance, police said.

Anyone with information on Uhlers whereabouts is asked to contact Cleona Borough police or the Lebanon County District Attorneys Office.

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Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis admitted Monday that his government had made a mistake when it eased restrictions aimed at containing coronavirus over the summer.

His mea culpa came as governments across Europe struggle with a second wave of Covid-19 infections following the holiday months in which the number of cases began rising sharply.

Even I got carried away by the coming summer and the general mood. That was a mistake I dont want to make again," the billionaire populist said in a televised speech.

After fending off much of the pandemic earlier in the year with timely steps including mandatory facemasks outdoors, the government lifted most measures before the summer holidays.

The Czech Republic registered a record high of 3,130 coronavirus cases last Thursday, almost matching the total for the whole of March, although testing capacity was low at the start of the pandemic.

Interior Minister Jan Hamacek said the country was now ranked second worst in the EU behind Spain in terms of daily case growth per 100,000 residents.

The situation is serious. Experts say that if we exceed 120,000 new infections per month, well start running out of hospital beds. Well do our best to prevent this," he said.

Health Minister Adam Vojtech  a lawyer known for singing in the Czech version of the Idol" series  announced his resignation earlier Monday.

He was immediately replaced with epidemiologist Roman Prymula, who has helped coordinate government measures to curb infections.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 00:53:11|Editor: huaxia

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HONG KONG, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Hong Kong police said on Tuesday that to assist frontline police officers in performing their duties, the definition of "media representatives" under the Police General Orders will be amended.

After the amendment, "media representatives" will include reporters, photographers and television crews from media organizations that have subscribed for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government News and Media Information System; or internationally recognized, well-known non-local news agencies, newspapers, magazines, TV and radio stations, according to a letter to several journalists' groups from the police on Tuesday.

People who merely possess a membership card issued by the Hong Kong Journalists Association or the Hong Kong Press Photographers Association will no longer conform to the definition of "media representative" after the amendment.

Since June last year, a series of major public events took place in Hong Kong where the police found some people calling themselves "reporters" mingled with the crowds. These people were suspected of obstructing the police work and even attacking police officers, making it difficult for the police to carry out their duties, the letter said.

The police stressed that the definition of "media representatives" will be clearer after the amendment, allowing frontline officers to identify media representatives more effectively and quickly, so that they can facilitate media reporting as much as possible under the condition that the efficiency of police operation is not affected.

In Hong Kong, a person who holds a membership card of a journalists association can claim himself or herself as a journalist. The Hong Kong Journalists Association, established in 1968, not only issues membership cards to full-time reporters, but also accept membership applications from people whose main source of income is not from working as a journalist, including students. Enditem
Donald Trump and Xi Jinping offered starkly contrasting responses to the coronavirus pandemic on Tuesday, with the US president blaming Beijing for unleashing a plague on the world  and his Chinese counterpart casting the fight against the virus as an opportunity for international cooperation.

Related: UN warns of lost decade without Covid economic recovery plan

In his recorded video address to the annual UN general assembly, Trump unleashed a rhetorical assault on China which seemed pitched at a domestic audience.

Speaking as the US death toll from Covid-19 passed 200,000, Trump promised a bright future but said the world must hold accountable the nation which unleashed this plague on to the world: China.

Trump also took the opportunity to attack the World Health Organization  falsely describing it as virtually controlled by China  and again incorrectly claiming that the international body had said there was no evidence of human-to-human transmission.

The UN general assembly has itself been remade by the pandemic, reduced to a virtual event for the first time in its 75-year history, but sharp differences over the international response to coronavirus  and the contrasting world orders being offered by China and the US  were on clear display.

Trump promised to distribute a vaccine and said, We will defeat the virus, and we will end the pandemic and enter a new era of prosperity, cooperation and peace.

The US president also reprised his criticism of the UN, arguing that it should focus on what he described as the real problems of the world such as terrorism, the oppression of women, forced labor, drug trafficking, human and sex trafficking, religious persecution, and the ethnic cleansing of religious minorities.

Chinas UN ambassador Zhang Jun immediately hit back, saying: The world is at a crossroads. At this moment, the world needs more solidarity and cooperation, but not confrontation.

That message of co-operation was repeated throughout tXis speech, in which the Chinese leader posed as the UNs friend and offered extra cash to find a Covid vaccine, vowing Beijing has no intention to fight either a cold war or a hot one with any country.

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Xi said: We will continue to narrow differences and resolve disputes with others through dialogue and negotiation. We will not seek to develop only ourselves or engage in zero sum game. Unilateralism is dead.

Related: 'Our 1945 moment': UN faces fears of a 'great fracture' at general assembly

Echoing the sentiments of the UN secretary general Antonio Guterres, Xi called for a global response to the epidemic, co-ordinated by the WHO  from which Trump has withdrawn and his presidential rival Joe Biden has promised to rejoin.

In another implicit rebuke to the US, Xi sought to portray China as the country embracing modernity.

He said: Burying ones head in the sand like an ostrich in the face of economic globalization, or trying to fight it with Don Quixotes lance, goes against the trend of history. Let this be clear: the world will never return to isolation.

Trump tried to broaden his attack on Chinas handling beyond Covid by condemning Chinas carbon emissions record as well as its dumping of plastic.

Xi Jinping on screen at the UN. Photograph: Eskinder Debebe/AP

He said: Those who attack Americas exceptional environmental record while ignoring Chinas rampant pollution are not interested in the environment. They only want to punish America. And I will not stand for it. He made no mention of Chinas human rights record.

But Xi seemed prepared for Trumps unlikely line of attack, saying China was on course to reach zero carbon emissions by 2060. He added China would achieve a peak in carbon dioxide emissions before 2030.

The Chinese leader also signalled his intention to boost Chinas commitments under the Paris climate agreement  from which Trump has withdrawn.

When his turn came, Emmanuel Macron berated both superpowers for the paralysis of the UN security council in the face of the pandemic and the climate emergency.

In a 48-minute speech  more than three times his allotted time  the French president said the councils members havent been able to come together as we would have wished because two of them have preferred a display of their rivalry to collective efficiency.

Macron also rejected the US claim to have revived UN sanctions on Iran, saying the Trump administrations policy of maximum pressure had failed.

In his own speech, the Iranian president, Hassan Rouhani, relished the fact that the US won the support of only the Dominican Republic on the 15-member security council for its effort to snap back UN sanctions.

This is a victory not just for Iran but for the global community, Rouhani said. The United States can impose neither negotiations nor war on us.

In his opening address, Guterres tried to galvanise the 193-member assembly to acknowledge the world was at a 1945 moment, requiring unprecedented co-operation to prevent the world splitting into two competing empires.

Warning that we are moving in a very dangerous direction, Guterres said: Our world cannot afford a future where the two largest economies split the globe in a great fracture. A technological and economic divide risks inevitably turning into a geo-strategic and military divide. We must avoid this at all costs.

But he also nailed his political colours to the mast, saying the populists and nationalists had failed to tackle Coronavirus, and again urged world leaders to follow the science, and to recognise that the coronavirus was only a dress rehearsal for the challenges ahead.

Related: World leaders' UN video call backdrops  ranked!

Guterres won support from the Russian president Vladimir Putin, who proposed a high-level conference to spread research on a coronavirus vaccine and called for the WHO to be given greater powers.

The first leader to speak was Jair Bolsonaro, who used the occasion to deny that he had mishandled his countrys coronavirus crisis, and to claim that Brazil had been wrongly portrayed as an environmental villain.

Even as fires continue to rage in the Pantanal, the worlds largest tropical wetlands, Bolsonaro claimed Brazil had been the victim of a misinformation campaign.

Brazil has seen more than 137,200 coronavirus deaths  second only to the US  and Bolsonaro has faced accusations of catastrophically mismanaging the crisis by dismissing its severity and undermining containment measures.

In a speech which also seemed directed more to a domestic audience, Bolsonaro once more questioned the need for lockdown measures, and blamed the press for politicizing the disease, which has infected 4.6 million Brazilians.
Jeremy Corbyn, as we know, was on stage at the Durham Miners Gala at the weekend. The other three leadership candidates were also in town, but did not appear on stage. This was not because they were tongue-tied: it is because the organisers did not want to hear them.

The Morning Star reports that a request that Andy Burnham be allowed to speak, made via an adviser, was turned down, and that an aide who made the same request on Yvette Coopers behalf was told: If you swim across that river, underwater, right to the other side and you come up alive, you still wont get an invite to the Durham Miners Gala.

Dave Hopper, leader of the Durham miners, has vowed that as long as Im general secretary of this union, therell be no right-wingers here.

Tartan Army isnt barmy

The regimental discipline of the 56 Scottish Nationalist MPs is awesome. There were two examples in one day. On fox hunting, they announced that they would deliver 56 votes against the Government in a free vote on a matter, and the government whips, seeing that this was no idle threat, backed off to escape defeat.

Then Mhairi Black, the 20-year-old MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire South, delivered her maiden speech in the Commons, and the entire SNP contingent turned out in support. It was a reasonably good speech, confidently delivered, with one good joke, in which she quipped that her MPs housing allowance made her the only 20-year-old in the UK to get help from the Chancellor finding somewhere to live. She sat down to uproarious applause, for which her SNP colleagues got a ticking off from the Deputy Speaker, Eleanor Laing.

Social media was then bombarded with SNP messages lionising the speech as if it were one of the greatest parliamentary perorations of all time. Thus a star is made, by party solidarity. One MP from that chaotic organisation that calls itself the Labour Party exclaimed enviously: Theyre a Leninist party!

Gala pie in the face

Jeremy Corbyn, as we know, spent part of his weekend on stage at the Durham Miners Gala. The other three leadership candidates were also in town, but did not appear on stage. This was not because they were tongue-tied: it is because the organisers did not want to hear them.

The Morning Star reports that a request that Burnham be allowed to speak, made via an adviser, was turned down, and that an aide who made the same request on Yvette Coopers behalf was told: If you swim across that river, underwater, right to the other side and you come up alive, you still wont get an invite to the Durham Miners Gala. Dave Hopper, leader of the Durham miners, has vowed that as long as Im general secretary of this union, therell be no right wingers here.

The thought was there

I will call a House of Commons Greek solidarity meeting of Labour colleagues this week, the Labour MP Jon Trickett promised on Twitter. I hear the meeting was all set up, only to be cancelled when the Greek government acquiesced in the deal forced upon it in Brussels.

Wheres that again?

Jess Phillips, newly elected Labour MP for Birmingham Yardley, is not impressed by the strange customs of the House of Commons, such as the rule that MPs never address each other by name but by the constituencies they represent. She told Huffington Post: All that stupid Right Honourable Gentleman. Its designed to make you feel like when you get it wrong, youre some sort of stupid newbie. I dont know where half the constituencies are, let alone who represents them.

A return to the fold

As the Lords considered the Cities and Local Government Bill, which would create elected mayors in regions such as Greater Manchester, the Government suffered a series of defeats on points of detail. They lost one vote by 219 to 162, another by 224 to 158. What makes these votes unusual, however, is the fact that they both included Lord Hanningfield.

Hanningfield has only recently been allowed back in the building, after he was caught by a tabloid photographer going into the Lords to sign on and claim his 300-a-day tax-free allowance, and coming out 20 minutes later.

To see him actually voting is a rare privilege. On the website Theyworkforyou, the last recorded occasion on which he voted was in October 2006. That was before he was sent to prison for fiddling his expenses.
Luxury brands in the U.S. commonly make headlines for their styles. However, the newly released product by Gucci received a wave of criticism instead.

This month, Gucci began selling a pair of grass-stained jeans for $1,200. The design was created for their consumers who are a fan of earthy-but-dirty looks without actually wearing a dirty item.

The product, however, caught the attention of the netizens, not because they felt hype to buy it but because of its price amid the global health crisis.

Netizens took their dismay to Gucci on Twitter, with most of them calling the brand out for creating a fuss amid the global crisis.

"Gucci really putting out grass stained jeans, the world is going to [explicit]," one critic said.

Another one wrote, "Gucci selling grass stained jeans for that price? I could get 98 cent jeans from the thrift store and go mow the lawn in them hoes easily."

Meanwhile, other netizens somehow made the atmosphere lighter by joking about the product.

"If anyone if interested, we will sell these diesel, grass, and dirt stained jeans for $1,400. Authentically soiled in Bedford County TN. Proceeds will purchase supplies for local teachers," one netizen said before tagging Gucci.

The New But Controversial Gucci Product

Gucci transformed a low-waist, wide-leg blue jeans into an "environmental" friendly attire by using organic cotton and recycled materials. In addition, it features a green stain at the knee area to complete the effect.

In a photo posted on the Gucci's website, the pants also have the vintage Gucci logo on its back pocket, adding more "class" to the inauthentic stains.

Aside from this, the Italian designer also launched a farm-to-fashion-inspired version of the pants by making it overalls. Like the pants, it also has grass stains on the knee.

The only difference is that it features larger pockets and adjustable straps -- and it adds $200 to the pants' price.

"Gucci explores new takes on the cult fabric, reinterpreting it with different designs and washing techniques that blur the line between vintage and contemporary," read the overalls' description.

Gucci Not New To Condemnations

While a lot of people truly love Gucci, their prices have always been an issue and has attracted online criticisms in the past.

For instance, Gucci once released a pair of 1970s-inspired sneakers that looked, per the netizens, pretty dirty. The fasion house called it Screener sneakers and sold it $870 per pair online. The Gucci website even wrote on its description that it is "treated for an allover distressed effect."

"These shoes undergo a dedicated aging process which makes each product unique and the final color may vary from the photo," the website added.

In 2019, Gucci also released a pair of gloves which cost around $500. Again, netizens made fun of the item instead of buying it.

Some even called out the brand for its capitalism at that time. But who would have thought it could be worse amid the pandemic?

READ MORE: Jimmy Kimmel Embarrasses Himself After Emmys 2020 Defeat
A line at the Martin B. Retting gun store in Culver City earlier this year extended out the door and around the corner. (Los Angeles Times)

Sometime in the dark hours of a recent Sunday night, gunmen opened fire inside an illicit marijuana farm in Riverside County, killing seven people. It was, according to data maintained by the Gun Violence Archive, the 28th mass shooting in California since the beginning of the year, part of a nationwide anomalous trend: While overall violent crime has edged downward this year, homicides have increased in several major cities, including here in Los Angeles.

There also has been a spike in mass shootings (defined as single events in which least four people are wounded or killed) that began in the summer. At around 400 incidents, the number has already surpassed the annual totals in three of the last four years, according to an analysis by online news site the Trace.

Why is this happening? Some experts point to tensions arising from coronavirus pandemic lockdown policies, but they say too little data are available at this point to properly frame the issue. The Trace also reports another troubling reality: Through Aug. 24, nearly half of the nations mass shootings occurred in majority-Black census tracts, even though fewer than one in 10 tracts are majority Black.

Experts believe the pandemic has exacerbated the preexisting social problems that feed violence in certain areas  the lack of jobs and educational opportunities, reduced access to mental health care and other services and, now, an overlay of social isolation that can bring simmering personal conflicts to a full boil. Mass shootings often begin as domestic disputes, or confrontations among acquaintances. In fact, the Everytown for Gun Safety advocacy group reports that for the decade ending in 2018, six in 10 mass killings (defined as at least four people dead excluding the shooter) occurred in private homes.

Those domestic mass shootings dont grab the publics attention like a school, church or workplace shooting, where the death tallies have been numbingly high. And perceptions of the nature of the violence influences the public response. White males account for the majority of mass shooters, but when one locks his family in the house and then kills them before killing himself, it doesnt draw the same reaction from media or the public as when someone shoots up a school or a church. Mass shootings in low-income, nonwhite neighborhoods perceived by white society to be prone to violence get shrugged off, too, though the pain and anguish are no less. And if there is a clear crime nexus  a gang shooting, or the massacre of seven people at an illicit Riverside County pot farm  public interest is fleeting.

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Yet mass shootings have similarities. As the American Psychological Assn. points out, men commit the vast majority of gun violence, but a vast majority of men do not commit such acts. Remedies must focus on those who turn to violence as a perceived solution, and that requires, among other tactics, providing programs in schools and other settings designed to change gendered expectations for males that emphasize self-sufficiency, toughness, and violence, including gun violence.

Of course, there would not be mass shootings were it not for the presence of guns, and so far this year there also has been a surge in gun sales. Through the end of August, the Federal Bureau of Investigation processed nearly 26 million firearm background checks  a loose proxy for gun purchases  which is more than it processed in all of 2017. From 2017 to 2019 it averaged more than 2.2 million background checks a month. So far this year, the rate has jumped almost 50%.

Usually such leaps come when people fear that the government is poised to make it harder to buy guns, often after high-profile mass shootings at schools, churches or other public places. But according to a Brookings Institute report, a propelling factor this year is personal fear arising from the pandemic, augmented by reactions to political unrest and demands for defunding police in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd.

So partway through the pandemic, this is where the nation finds itself  with increased stress, a greater sense of personal isolation, elevated gun sales and less access to jobs and support systems apparently fueling more mass shootings. We can only hope that the pandemic will pass and that the stresses feeding this violence will fade away. But then well still have the guns, and the structural racism, and a body politic that has proved incapable of taking the steps necessary to reduce access to firearms while increasing access to the jobs and social services the experts keep telling us are necessary to reduce gun violence.
A UCLA-led report published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association Internal Medicine exposes what the authors call a weakness in the high-profile "Best Hospitals Honor Roll" published annually by U.S. News and World Report.

The data used to compile the rankings are collected from multiple sources, including outcomes reported to the Joint Commission, an accreditation agency. Every three years, hospitals are required to complete a comprehensive review by the Joint Commission to earn or maintain accreditation.

None of the top 20 hospitals in the 2020-21 U.S. News rankings reported to the Joint Commission on how they deliver smoking cessation care and treatment for tobacco dependence -- which the paper calls a significant disconnect.

The authors suggest that reporting on tobacco treatment should be a required measure, not an elective one, for accreditation and recognition.

An honor roll for best hospitals is missing the mark if these hospitals aren't helping smokers quit. The good news is that there are cost-effective treatments that work if health care providers include them as an expected part of care." Linda Sarna, dean of the UCLA School of Nursing and the report's lead author

According to the paper, almost 500,000 Americans die annually from tobacco use, and 16 million have serious tobacco-induced chronic diseases, which results in $170 billion in health care costs. Of the 34 million Americans addicted to nicotine, the authors write, too few receive cessation assistance from health care professionals.

"Including smoking treatment as part of hospital care just makes sense," said Dr. Michael Fiore, director of the University of Wisconsin Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention, and a co-author of the report. "How can a hospital be designated as 'best' if it neglects to help people overcome the biggest risk to their health?"

Given the lethality of tobacco dependence, the authors write that addressing it should be a priority, especially since tobacco use affects all of the health conditions on which hospital rankings are based.

"Our analysis of data from the Joint Commission demonstrates a major missed opportunity for our leading hospitals to focus vigorously on helping their patients who smoke to quit," said Dr. Steven Schroeder, professor of medicine at UC San Francisco and the paper's other co-author. "They could not only improve the health of their patients but also set an example for the rest of the country."
FORT COLLINS, Colo., Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a newly-released study1 commissioned by BillGO, an innovator in bill pay services, most banks continue to lose bill payment customers to biller sites due to outdated services. Of the 15.5 billion bills paid by U.S. consumers in the last 12 months only 2.1B were paid using bank bill pay. Accustomed to frictionless digital experiences in other areas of their lives such as shopping and entertainment, a majority of bank bill pay experiences do not meet the expectations of today's highly connected consumer.

The lack of updated features such as easy biller setup, multiple payment options and timely payment confirmations are to blame because consumers have become accustomed to frictionless digital experiences in other areas of their lives such as shopping and entertainment.

This is just one of the findings included in How Americans Pay Their Bills (infographic), a national study conducted by Aite Group whose highlights were released today. The report provides an up-to-the-minute, comprehensive overview of American bill-paying habits, identifying those channels and payment methods consumers prefer as well as how different demographic segments manage their financial obligations.

The 106-page report offers a wide array of insights into how financial institutions are missing out on opportunities to better serve and retain customers, and what they need to do to better meet consumer expectations.

Among the report's findings:

Consumers continue to reject legacy banking bill-paying platforms, which are perceived as inefficient. In most cases, they prefer making payments directly to service providers.

Among the 15.5 billion bills paid in the last year, only 35 percent were set up on a recurring basis, underscoring the need for more efficient and consumer-friendly platforms

Most respondents say they are forgoing some bills - charitable donations, student loan payments  to ensure they can meet their mortgage, rent, and utility obligations.

Despite a plethora of high-tech options, Americans still pay bills with checks (2.3 billion times), debit cards (2.5 billion times), and credit cards (2.6 billion times).

"The findings in this report confirm how imperative it is for banks to rethink their legacy bill-paying platforms if they intend to win over the next generation of consumers," said David Albertazzi, Research Director, Retail Banking & Payments, Aite Group. "A key finding in our new study is that Gen X and Gen Z expect immediate, frictionless transactions and banks are missing the mark. They must provide a better bill-paying experience if they intend to remain relevant."

"We compiled this report to give the industry an honest picture of bill-paying trends in today's economy," said Dan Holt, CEO of BillGO. "The data should serve as a wake-up call. Consumers expect a modern and centralized digital experience when managing and paying their bills, complete with real-time confirmations. Delivering anything less represents a missed opportunity."

Want to know more?

BillGO invites all financial services and banking executives to participate in an upcoming, can't-miss webinar entitled How Americans Pay Their Bills.

During the webinar, BillGO and Aite Group will discuss:

Key findings from the comprehensive How Americans Pay Their Bills report

report What consumers expect from their financial service providers and billers

Steps banks can take to recapture past customers while earning new ones

How banks can better manage costs by deploying next-gen bill-pay platforms

Reserve your spot for How Americans Pay Their Bills.

About BillGO

Harnessing the power of speed, choice, and intelligence, BillGO is reimagining bill pay. Driven by the core belief that everyone deserves access to a healthy financial future, we give people a faster, smarter, more secure way to pay bills and manage subscriptions. Our award-winning bill pay platform was innovated in response to the demands of today's digital lifestyle  a game-changer for banks, billers, and consumers.

Visit BillGO.com to learn more. Follow us at @BillGOPayments on Twitter and LinkedIn.

1 Methodology

The analysis is based on a Q2 2020 Aite Group survey of 3,039 U.S. consumers. The survey was conducted online among U.S. consumers who participated in a research panel. The profile of the sample is in proportion to the U.S. population for age, gender, income, geographic region, and race. The data for the full sample for each year have a margin of error of 3 points at the 95% level of confidence; statistical tests of significance were conducted at the 95% level of confidence.

SOURCE BillGO

Related Links

https://www.billgo.com


GODFREY  Due to the pandemic, the Womens Fellowship at Evangelical United Church of Christ in Godfrey will not be hosting uts annual Fall Festival and salad luncheon this year.

One popular event has been move to online. A basket auction will be held live 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 26 until 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3 at www.biddingowl.com/EvangelicalUCC. Themed baskets will be available for bidding.
The U.S. death toll from the coronavirus topped 200,000 Tuesday, a figure unimaginable eight months ago when the scourge first reached the worlds richest nation with its sparkling laboratories, top-flight scientists and stockpiles of medicines and emergency supplies.

It is completely unfathomable that weve reached this point, said Jennifer Nuzzo, a Johns Hopkins University public health researcher.

The bleak milestone, by far the highest confirmed death toll from the virus in the world, was reported by Johns Hopkins, based on figures supplied by state health authorities. But the real toll is thought to be much higher, in part because many COVID-19 deaths were probably ascribed to other causes, especially early on, before widespread testing.

The number of dead in the U.S. is equivalent to a 9/11 attack every day for 67 days. It is roughly equal to the population of Salt Lake City or Huntsville, Alabama.

And it is still climbing. Deaths are running at close to 770 a day on average, and a widely cited model from the University of Washington predicts the overall U.S. toll will double to 400,000 by the end of the year as schools and colleges reopen and cold weather sets in. A vaccine is unlikely to become widely available until 2021.

The idea of 200,000 deaths is really very sobering, in some respects stunning, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government's top infectious-disease expert, said on CNN.

The U.S. hit the threshold six weeks before a presidential election that is certain to be in part a referendum on President Donald Trump's handling of the crisis.

For five months, America has led the world by far in sheer numbers of confirmed infections and deaths. The U.S. has less than 5% of the globes population but more than 20% of the reported deaths.

In Texas, the COVID-19 death count stood at 15,111 as of Sept. 21, the Houston Chronicle reported. There have been 3,326 deaths in the Houston region.

Below is a map that includes the number of confirmed cases, deaths and recoveries in Texas:

And, here's a look at the cumulative number of deaths in Texas by date:

All the worlds leaders took the same test, and some have succeeded and some have failed, said Dr. Cedric Dark, an emergency physician at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston who has seen death firsthand. In the case of our country, we failed miserably.

Only five countries  Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Spain and Brazil  rank higher in COVID-19 deaths per capita. Brazil is No. 2 on the list of countries with the most deaths, with about 137,000, followed by India with approximately 89,000 and Mexico with around 74,000.

Blacks, Hispanics and American Indians have accounted for a disproportionate share of the deaths, underscoring the economic and health care disparities in the U.S.

Worldwide, the virus has infected more than 31 million people and is closing in fast on 1 million deaths, with over 965,000 lives lost, by Johns Hopkins' count, though the real numbers are believed to be higher because of gaps in testing and reporting.

In the Houston area, below is a look at the seven-day rolling average for new COVID-19 cases:

For the U.S., it wasnt supposed to go this way.

When the year began, the U.S. had recently garnered recognition for its readiness for a pandemic. Health officials seemed confident as they converged on Seattle in January to deal with the country's first known case of coronavirus, in a 35-year-old Washington state resident who had returned from visiting his family in Wuhan, China.

On Feb. 26, Trump held up pages from the Global Health Security Index, a measure of readiness for health crises, and declared: The United States is rated No. 1 most prepared."

It was true. The U.S. outranked the 194 other countries in the index. Besides its labs, experts and strategic stockpiles, the U.S. could boast of its disease trackers and plans for rapidly communicating lifesaving information during a crisis. The leadership of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was respected for sending help to fight infectious diseases around the globe.

But the stealthy coronavirus slipped into the U.S. and spread undetected. Monitoring at airports was loose. Travel bans came too late. Only later did health officials realize the virus could spread before symptoms show up, rendering screening imperfect.

The virus swept into nursing homes, where infection control measures were already poor, claiming more than 78,000 lives.

It also exploited inequalities in the United States: Nearly 30 million people in the country are uninsured, and there are stark health differences among racial and ethnic groups.

At the same time, gaps in leadership led to shortages of testing supplies. Internal warnings to ramp up production of masks were ignored, leaving states to compete for protective gear. Governors led their states in different directions, adding to public confusion.

Trump downplayed the threat early on, advanced unfounded notions about the behavior of the virus, promoted unproven or dangerous treatments, complained that too much testing was making the U.S. look bad, and disdained masks, turning face coverings into a political issue.

On April 10, the president predicted the U.S. wouldn't see 100,000 deaths. That milestone was reached May 27.

Nowhere was the lack of leadership seen as more crucial than in testing, a key to breaking the chain of contagion.

We have from the very beginning lacked a national testing strategy, Nuzzo said. For reasons I can't truly fathom weve refused to develop one. Such coordination should be led out of the White House, not by each state independently, she said. We arent going to restore our economy until every state has this virus under control."

The real number of dead from the crisis could be significantly higher: As many as 215,000 more people than usual died in the U.S. from all causes during the first seven months of 2020, according to CDC figures. The death toll from COVID-19 during the same period was put at about 150,000 by Johns Hopkins.

Researchers suspect some coronavirus deaths were overlooked, while other deaths may have been caused indirectly by the crisis, by creating such turmoil that people with chronic conditions such as diabetes or heart disease were unable or unwilling to get treatment.

Dark, the emergency physician at Baylor, said that before the crisis, people used to look to the United States with a degree of reverence. For democracy. For our moral leadership in the world. Supporting science and using technology to travel to the moon.

Instead, he said, "whats really been exposed is how anti-science weve become.

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
The San Diego non-profit has served over 950,000 meals and provided services for more than 8,000 senior San Diegans. Every year we set out to help older adults live healthy and fulfilling lives, said Paul Downey, CEO of Serving Seniors. This year has proven that in unprecedented times, our San Diego seniors need a safe haven more than ever.

Serving Seniors, a San Diego-based nonprofit helping older adults in poverty live fulfilling lives through health-promoting services, announced today that the organization set new records on seniors served through meal delivery and other services, as well as selecting new board members.

Every year we set out to help older adults live healthy and fulfilling lives, said Paul Downey, CEO of Serving Seniors. This year has proven that in unprecedented times, our San Diego seniors need a safe haven more than ever.

The 2019-2020 fiscal year saw exponential increases in both number of seniors provided services and total number of meals served. Serving Seniors clientele grew from 5,500 to 8,021, these seniors receive everything from meals to social and health services. Over the course of the year, the organization has provided 956,475 meals compared to 660,000 in the previous fiscal year. These meals provide proper nutrition and ensure full stomachs for seniors who are facing food insecurity due to economic reasons.

Even in times of social distancing, the organization provided necessary in-person visits in a safe manner to ensure the wellbeing of their clients. Serving Seniors provided almost 6,800 supportive services for vulnerable older adults, including housing social service visits, case management wellness visits and in-person health education and blood pressure checks through nursing case management.

In addition to the great work that Serving Seniors does across the community, the organization also welcomed three new board members. Jim Sikora, general manager of San Diego Slalom, brings his years of strategic consulting to Serving Seniors and will be continuing to help guide the organization in utilizing technological innovation. Bobby LaCour of Aldrich CPAs and Advisors also joins the board of directors and brings his extensive experience in providing attest accounting services in the nonprofit sector to the table. Nancy Vaughan joins the board as a retired attorney and brings her dedication and enthusiasm for serving the senior community.

We are excited to welcome our three new board members and cant wait to continue forward with serving the older San Diego community, continued Downey. Serving Seniors is appreciative of the time and effort that our entire board of directors dedicates to our mission.

To learn more about Serving Seniors, please visit http://www.servingseniors.org.

About Serving Seniors

Founded in 1970, Serving Seniors is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in San Diego, California, dedicated to serving low-income adults aged 60 and over. A leader in senior advocacy and programming, Serving Seniors has created an innovative model of comprehensive services including nutritional meals, housing, health and social services and lifelong learning opportunities to hundreds of seniors in need. It is the largest provider of meals to seniors in the county, and one of the only organizations in the nation providing such a robust range of services to vulnerable, at-risk older adults.

Serving Seniors President and CEO Paul Downey has been instrumental in the organizations growth over the past 25 years. Since being appointed the role in 1995, Downey has guided the nonprofits innovative efforts to provide supportive services focused on keeping low-income seniors healthy and independent.

Media Contact:

Lindsay Denietolis

lindsay@theforumpr.com

760-525-8857
The coronavirus risk has eased enough that San Antonio is reopening public places, such as the Convention Center, the Alamodome, basketball courts and city performance theaters, even if on a somewhat limited basis.

As of Monday, residents could return to reopened skate parks, playgrounds, sports fields and fitness stations. Officials also lifted the 10-person limit on in-person gatherings at city parks and plazas.

Some services, such as the city clerks vital records office, that had been put on pause by the virus will resume later this year. And some now-closed indoor facilities, such as senior centers and libraries, will reopen in the weeks and months to come.

I want to thank the residents of San Antonio, who by following the recommended protocols have helped put us in the position of being able to reopen many of the services they use on a regular basis, City Manager Erik Walsh said in a statement.

Residents can once more make reservations for pavilions at city parks. And special events in the parks can have up to 250 people in attendance.

The Alamodome and Convention Center have to operate at reduced capacity  17 percent and 25 percent, respectively. The Lila Cockrell Theatre and the Jo Long Theatre, housed at the Carver Community Cultural Center, will be held to 15 percent capacity.

Not every outdoor space and in-person service will reopen immediately. For example, splash pads will stay closed through March.

Express Briefing: Get the morning headlines in your inbox

While the coronavirus is far from gone, seven weeks of promising indicators have placed San Antonio in the safe zone for risk, officials reported.

For the second day in a row, one COVID-19-related death, a Hispanic man in his 60s, was reported in Bexar County on Monday.

New cases also were down  102, six fewer than the 108 reported Sunday by the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District. That number, in turn, was down from 173 reported Saturday.

But even with the new safe designation and reopened facilities, now is not the time to ease up on precautions, Mayor Ron Nirenberg said at the daily city-county coronavirus briefing.

I want to caution everyone still, he said. Were still in the middle of a pandemic, and as we open things up, the success of that depends upon you keeping in mind the public health guidelines. Wear your masks. Avoid large congregations.

On ExpressNews.com: Number of cases rises significantly with addition of backlogged cases

Not everything has improved: The positivity rate  the percentage of tests that come back positive  squeaked up to 6.4 percent, a bit higher than last weeks rate of 6 percent and not yet to the goal of 5 percent or lower.

We need to watch this very closely, Nirenberg said.

As the city reopens after an intense summer surge of cases, safety protocols, such as mask and physical distancing requirements, will remain.

City officials are expected to lay out a plan to reopen the citys libraries later this month. Now, residents are allowed to check out materials with curbside pickup. And some locations have opened for limited hours to let residents use the internet.

Senior centers will reopen Nov. 9 at 25 percent capacity. The natatorium will open Nov. 16 with a modified schedule. The Enrique Barrera Fitness Center will reopen by Oct. 31, officials said.

Municipal Court will stage a partial reopening Oct. 19 with limited in-person appearances and hearings. The city will try to resolve uncontested cases remotely.

The city clerks vital records office and passport services will reopen at 25 percent capacity Oct. 1. Right now, residents can access those services only with an appointment.

Top hits: Get San Antonio Express-News stories sent directly to your inbox

On Oct. 19, residents who need assistance from programs such as the citys housing assistance fund and the Under One Roof program can make in-person appointments with the Neighborhood and Housing Services Department.

Also, the citys development services center will allow up to 30 residents in the building by that time, officials said.

No noticeable Labor Day spike

The total number of COVID-19 cases in the county now stands at 53,443, including 1,062 deaths, since the pandemic began in the spring.

The COVID case count was significantly updated Sunday when a backlog of 2,473, the result of a lag in electronic lab reporting, was added to the tally.

Dr. Anita Kurian, Metro Health assistant director, said the slight uptick in the positivity rate was not linked to the backlogged cases. The city gets those numbers directly from area hospitals and commercial labs, so theres no lag time.

Its difficult to say why it went up, she said. It could be a one-time glitch or an early effect of the Labor Day weekend. Its difficult to look at one single factor, but we have to keep a close eye on it.

She said theres been no sudden spike so far in cases linked to Labor Day. But as parks and other facilities begin to reopen and life returns somewhat to normal, officials expect to see some increase in cases and the positivity rate, she cautioned.

What remains to be seen is, will we not have the sudden, consistent incline that we saw at the peak, she said.

On ExpressNews.com: Silent spreaders focus of new testing protocol

Mondays briefing held other good news: The number of patients in area hospitals Monday stood at 226, only one more than the day before, with 26 new admissions.

There were 85 people in intensive care units, seven fewer than Sunday; 45 were on ventilators, a number that stayed steady. The seven-day average of cases now stands at 136.

Since area schools have reopened, there have been 46 positive cases reported, 17 among students and 29 among staff, Kurian said.

Even as the city reopens, problems remain, Kurian said. For instance, only 28 percent of people called by contract tracers, whose job it is to inform those who may have been exposed to the virus, pick up the phone.

The fear is that these people arent getting tested, arent quarantining for 14 days, she said. The fear is we may not be able to get a handle on this outbreak like we wish to.

Melissa Fletcher Stoeltje is a general assignment reporter covering breaking news, cultural trends and interesting people and goings-on around San Antonio and Bexar County, as well as all across South Texas. To read more from Melissa , become a subscriber. mstoeltje@express-news.net | Twitter: @mstoeltje
Microsoft announced a slew of updates for Microsoft Teams meetings at Ignite, including more Together Mode scenes, custom layouts, breakout rooms and automated recaps. The maximum number of people who can attend a meeting is also expanding to 1,000 participants later this year, while Microsoft will bump up the view-only capacity to 20,000.

Together Mode, which Microsoft revealed in July, brings meeting participants into a shared virtual space to make it feel like youre sitting in the same room with everyone else in the meeting or class. Later this year, more location options will be available, including an auditorium, conference room and coffee shop. In addition, Microsoft is employing its machine learning smarts to scale and position attendees in their virtual seats for added realism.

Also later this year, presenters will be able to customize meeting layouts. They might, for instance, position their video feed on top of their PowerPoint deck for that Twitch streamer aesthetic.

Custom layouts in Microsoft Teams

Starting next month, Microsoft will support breakout rooms, which will allow participants to split off into smaller groups. Presenters will be able to make announcements to all of those rooms, jump between them or close them and pull all participants back into the main meeting room.

Anyone whos ever been tasked with taking meeting minutes knows how tedious that can be, and Microsoft should make things a little easier with automated recaps. Those will include a recording of the meeting, a transcript, chat and shared files. The recaps will be available in Teams and from the meeting event in your Outlook calendar. Theyll also soon be stored in Microsoft 365 so you can share them with folks who werent present at the meeting.

There are other updates on the way to Teams, including a streamlined view for calls, improved search and an increase in maximum team membership from 5,000 to 25,000.
Syracuse, N.Y.  Starting Monday, school-age kids in Onondaga County were able to get Covid-19 testing free at NBT Bank Stadium where Upstate University Hospital had a mobile van set up.

Saliva samples will be processed within 24 hours, promising quick results for sick kids. Tests are by appointment only, however. To register for an appointment, call 315-464-2582 and select option 4 or email CovidTesting@upstate.edu and indicate the appointment is for a student in Onondaga County.

Tests will be administered to symptomatic students, teachers, and school staff from Onondaga County. Hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday to Friday.

Patients are asked to bring their insurance card, but the cost will be covered even if families arent covered. Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

MORE ON CORONAVIRUS

Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources

Syracuse, Cornell mandate student flu shots to avoid twindemic of flu, coronavirus

Syracuse University lifts quarantine after 80 students test negative for coronavirus

Two Syracuse schools report staff coronavirus cases to the state; students are still learning remotely

Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com
New Delhi:

With a vision to push green technology in mass public transportation vehicles in India, Tata Motors on Wednesday launched a fully electric bus and a hybrid one, with indicative prices ranging between Rs 1.6 crore and Rs 2 crore.

The company, which is leader in the commercial vehicles space in the country with a market share of around 45 per cent, also showcased its LNG powered bus.

Besides, it also unveiled a bus with fuel cell technology and electric versions of its light commercial vehicles SuperAce, Magic and Magic Iris.

"At Tata Motors our aim is to not only comply with emerging regulations of clean and green emissions but also be ahead of the requirements," Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles Executive Director Ravindra Pisharody told reporters here. The biggest opportunity for such buses are in metros for public transportation, he added.

The company has already received order for 25 units of Starbus Hybrid buses from MMRDA Mumbai and deliveries would commence in first quarter of 2017-18.

It aims to start deliveries of fully electric buses in next quarter after getting clarity on subsidies for the segment, Pisharody said.

"We have been consistently developing and manufacturing products that can contribute to CO2 reductions across all road transport segments and with early investments in new technologies, we are geared up to further strengthen our market leadership," Pisharody said.

The company plans to play an active role in mass public transportation with the new range of future ready buses, he added.The home grown auto major also displayed an articulated bus.

Tata Motors currently designs, develops and manufactures buses in Pune, Dharwad, Pantnagar and Lucknow. It also has a joint venture with Marcopolo of Brazil for fully built bus solutions. It also has a partnership with ACGL of Goa for bus bodies.

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U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo looks at Brazilian Foreign Minister Ernesto Araujo speaking during a press conference at the Boa Vista Air Base in Roraima, Brazil, on Sept. 18, 2020. (Bruno Mancinelle/Pool via AP)

Pompeo Shores up Support of Venezuelas Neighbors to Pressure Maduros Regime

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo shored up the support of Venezuelas neighbors during a visit Sept. 17-20, to pressure Venezuelas President Nicolas Maduro to resign.

Pompeos visit to Guyana, Brazil, and Colombia comes as international efforts to advance democratic change in the country that appear to have stalled recently.

In January 2019, Venezuelan Congress head Juan Guaido proclaimed himself an interim president of the country until new free, transparent, and credible presidential elections could be held. Guaido has been recognized by more than 50 countries, including the United States.

Maduro has asserted his grip on power and overseen a six-year economic collapse of his country that drove 5 million Venezuelans to flee.

A report this week by United Nations investigators found Maduros government has committed systematic human rights violations, including murder and torture amounting to crimes against humanity.

Brazil

Pompeo visited on Sept. 18 a triage center for receiving Venezuelan refugees in the Brazilian city of Boa Vista, near the border with Venezuela, where he met with some who fled the country and spoke with Brazils Foreign Minister Ernesto Araujo.

The Venezuelan people are being forced to leave their country due to a humanitarian crisis that is caused by a despotic and tyrannical regime that isnt concerned with the wellbeing of its own people and that deliberately creates the worst possible conditions for its own peoples lives, Araujo said at a joint press conference with Pompeo.

More than 15 percent of Venezuelas population was forced to flee due to life conditions, the lack of freedom, and food shortages, Araujo said, adding that they sometimes walk 250 kilometers or more by foot to arrive in Brazil.

Brazils border with Venezuela has been closed since March 18 due to the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus pandemic, and the flow of migrants crossing into Brazil has dropped from an average of 600 a day to a handful of Venezuelans who walk along cross-country trails.

They want what all human beings wantdignity, they want a democratic, peaceful, sovereign Venezuela to call home, one where they and their children can find jobs and live, Pompeo said at an airbase in Boa Vista, capital of Roraima state.

The effort to help Venezuelan refugees is carried out in collaboration with the United States, Araujo said.

Brazils right-wing government two weeks ago declared Maduross diplomats personae non gratae but stopped short of expelling them.

Pompeo praised Brazils humanitarian efforts to receive 265,000 Venezuelans who have crossed the border. He said Washington was announcing an additional $348 million to help Venezuelan refugees, including $30 million for those in Brazil, bringing the total U.S. contribution to more than $1.2 billion since 2017.

Araujo said that the total U.S. donation accounts for 20 percent of $400 million spent in the past two years to operate shelters for Venezuelan refugees. This is extremely significant, he added.

The United States has also indicted Nicolas Maduro for drug trafficking, Pompeo said. He is not only a leader who has destroyed his own country but he also transits illicit drugs into the United States impacting Americans, Araujo said.

Pompeos stopover was deplored by former Brazilian leftist President Luiz Lula Inacio da Silva, who said Pompeo had only visited Brazil to provoke Venezuela.

Colombia

Colombian President Ivan Duque Marquez and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo bump elbows before attending a meeting at the presidential house in Bogota, Colombia, on Sept. 19, 2020. (Courtesy of Colombian Presidency/Handout via Reuters)

On Sept. 19, Pompeo visited Colombian President Ivan Duque who he thanked for his stance against Maduro and pledged continued assistance to help fight drug trafficking.

Your support for interim (Venezuelan) president Juan Guaido and the democratic transition for a sovereign Venezuela free of malign influence from Cuba, from Russia, from Iran is incredibly valued, Pompeo told Duque in a joint press conference in Bogota, adding that the United States also appreciates Duques leadership in confronting Hezbollah, a Lebanese terrorist group heavily supported by Iran.

The international community has to act to bring this situation to an end, said Duque, who has referred to Maduro as a dictator and often accuses him of sheltering and supporting members of Colombian rebel groups.

Colombia has denounced Maduro before the International Criminal Court along with other countries, Duque said, but the United Nations report of this week validates through its field visits that Maduros regime is responsible for crimes against humanity and calls for international action.

The head of the [Venezuelan] dictatorship is a war criminal and the international community must act to put an end to these violations, Duque said.

Duque thanked the United States and 23 other countries participating in an international naval operation called Orion for dismantling drug trafficking in the Caribbean, and praised the U.S. support and coordinated work to fight very dangerous criminal rings operating in Colombia.

Colombia faces constant pressure from the United States, a major destination for cocaine, to reduce the size of crops of coca, the drugs chief ingredient.

Duque has set a target to destroy 321,237 acres of coca this year, up from 247,105 acres last year, and has signaled aerial spraying of the herbicide glyphosate could restart.

Guyana

During a brief visit in Guyana, Pompeo and President Irfaan Ali signed agreements to strengthen U.S. investment and cooperation on energy and infrastructure while vowing to deepen cooperation on maritime security and drug trafficking interdiction.

Pompeo praised Alis support for the Lima Group, a regional body of American nations that have pushed for a diplomatic solution to Venezuelas political crisis.

We support the need for free and fair elections in our hemisphere, Ali said. With urgency, we believe that democratic values and principles should be respected in Venezuela as well.

Pompeo announced at a joint press conference with Ali that the United States has allocated $5 million to help Venezuelan refugees fleeing to Guyana.

Pompeo also stressed that Venezuela can only become democratic if Maduro resigns and Cuban security forces leave the country. This is the objective of the Venezuelan people as well as the EU countries, the United States, and other American countries that have recognized Guaido as the duly-elected leader of Venezuela, Pompeo said.

Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Thousands of Australians who lose their jobs before Christmas could be forced to wait months for income support.

People will soon be expected to draw down on their savings before accessing JobSeeker payments.

The Morrison government is reintroducing liquid asset waiting periods, which have been suspended for the past six months throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

Funds readily available to jobless people and their partners will be scrutinised again from this Friday, including money still owed by their employers.

Thousands of Australians who lose their jobs before Christmas could be forced to wait months for income support (Pictured: People are seen queueing outside the Centrelink office in Brisbane)

A car convoy of trade unionists and community activists drive through the Sydney CBD

Singles with as little as $5,500 in cash will need to wait at least a week before applying for JobSeeker, while those with $11,500 or more will be forced to wait 13 weeks.

The fund thresholds are doubled for people with partners or dependents.

The reinstated waiting periods will not apply to people already receiving the dole.

But with 400,000 more Australians expected to lose their jobs before Christmas, Labor is concerned about people pushed onto unemployment benefits for the first time.

People are seen queuing outside a Centrelink office in Brunswick, Melbourne

The Morrison government is reintroducing liquid asset waiting periods, which have been suspended for the past six months throughout the coronavirus pandemic (pictured: Women walking in Sydney)

Opposition frontbencher Linda Burney is worried about people who have dipped into their superannuation early and those who are no longer eligible for JobKeeper wage subsidies.

'The government wants to force struggling Australians to eat through their savings before they can access income support,' she told AAP on Wednesday.

'Now is not the time to resume the liquid assets waiting period.'

Labor wants the government to extend the suspension of the waiting periods and withdraw a bill from parliament that would double the lengths of time.
BERLIN (AP)  A suspect in the disappearance of British toddler Madeleine McCann faces another investigation over the alleged rape of an Irish woman in Portugal 16 years ago, German prosecutors said Tuesday.

German authorities in June said they had identified the German man as a suspect in the case of McCann, who disappeared from an apartment in 2007 while her family vacationed in the seaside town of Praia da Luz in Portugals Algarve region, and were investigating him on suspicion of murder.

Braunschweig prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters said the new possible victim came forward to British media following an international call for witnesses, news agency dpa reported. The German is now being investigated on suspicion of raping the Irish woman in the Algarve region in 2004, he said.

The suspect, who is currently in prison in Germany in a separate case, spent many years in Portugal, including in Praia da Luz around the time of Madeleines disappearance. He has two previous convictions for sexual contact with girls, authorities say. They have said, however, that they do not currently have enough evidence to hold him in prison on the strength of the McCann case alone.

Wolters said there is no new situation regarding the evidence that investigators have on the McCann case, and wouldn't give further details or elaborate on the nature of the evidence.
Edison, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/22/2020 -- A new business intelligence report released by HTF MI with title "Global Islamic Finance Market Insights by Application, Product Type, Competitive Landscape & Regional Forecast 2025" is designed covering micro level of analysis by manufacturers and key business segments. The Global Islamic Finance Market survey analysis offers energetic visions to conclude and study market size, market hopes, and competitive surroundings. The research is derived through primary and secondary statistics sources and it comprises both qualitative and quantitative detailing. Some of the key players profiled in the study are Citibank (United States), HSBC Bank (United Kingdom), Dubai Islamic Bank (United Arab Emirates), Nasser Social Bank (Egypt), Kuwait Finance House (KFH) (Malaysia), Al Baraka Banking Group (Jordan Islamic Bank) (Bahrain), Bahrain Islamic Bank (Bahrain), Islamic Bank of Iran (United Kingdom), Bank of Ningxia (Ningxia) and Bank Al-Rajhi (Saudi Arabia) are some of the key players profiled in the study. Additionally, the Players which are also part of the research are Qatar Islamic Bank (Qatar), Alinma Bank (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) and Bank Maskan Iran (Iran).



What's keeping Citibank (United States), HSBC Bank (United Kingdom), Dubai Islamic Bank (United Arab Emirates), Nasser Social Bank (Egypt), Kuwait Finance House (KFH) (Malaysia), Al Baraka Banking Group (Jordan Islamic Bank) (Bahrain), Bahrain Islamic Bank (Bahrain), Islamic Bank of Iran (United Kingdom), Bank of Ningxia (Ningxia) and Bank Al-Rajhi (Saudi Arabia) are some of the key players profiled in the study. Additionally, the Players which are also part of the research are Qatar Islamic Bank (Qatar), Alinma Bank (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) and Bank Maskan Iran (Iran).Ahead in the Market? Benchmark yourself with the strategic moves and findings recently released by HTF MI

Get Free Sample Report + All Related Graphs & Charts @ : https://www.htfmarketreport.com/sample-report/2832890-global-islamic-finance-market-1



Market Overview of Global Islamic Finance

If you are involved in the Global Islamic Finance industry or aim to be, then this study will provide you inclusive point of view. It's vital you keep your market knowledge up to date segmented by Applications [Authorized Investment Business, Special Investment Business and Other Financial Service], Product Types [, Islamic Bank and Islamic Financial Institution] and major players. If you have a different set of players/manufacturers according to geography or needs regional or country segmented reports we can provide customization according to your requirement.



This study mainly helps understand which market segments or Region or Country they should focus in coming years to channelize their efforts and investments to maximize growth and profitability. The report presents the market competitive landscape and a consistent in depth analysis of the major vendor/key players in the market along with impact of economic slowdown due to COVID.



Furthermore, the years considered for the study are as follows:

Historical year  2014-2019

Base year  2019

Forecast period**  2020 to 2026 [** unless otherwise stated]



**Moreover, it will also include the opportunities available in micro markets for stakeholders to invest, detailed analysis of competitive landscape and product services of key players.



Enquire for customization in Report @: https://www.htfmarketreport.com/enquiry-before-buy/2832890-global-islamic-finance-market-1



The titled segments and sub-section of the market are illuminated below:

The Study Explore the Product Types of Islamic Finance Market: , Islamic Bank and Islamic Financial Institution



Key Applications/end-users of Global Islamic FinanceMarket: Authorized Investment Business, Special Investment Business and Other Financial Service



Top Players in the Market are: Citibank (United States), HSBC Bank (United Kingdom), Dubai Islamic Bank (United Arab Emirates), Nasser Social Bank (Egypt), Kuwait Finance House (KFH) (Malaysia), Al Baraka Banking Group (Jordan Islamic Bank) (Bahrain), Bahrain Islamic Bank (Bahrain), Islamic Bank of Iran (United Kingdom), Bank of Ningxia (Ningxia) and Bank Al-Rajhi (Saudi Arabia) are some of the key players profiled in the study. Additionally, the Players which are also part of the research are Qatar Islamic Bank (Qatar), Alinma Bank (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) and Bank Maskan Iran (Iran).



Region Included are: South America (Brazil, Argentina, Rest of South America), Asia Pacific (China, Japan, India, South Korea, Taiwan, Australia, Rest of Asia-Pacific), Europe (Germany, France, Italy, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Rest of Europe), MEA (Middle East, Africa), North America (United States, Canada, Mexico).



Important Features that are under offering & key highlights of the report:

 Detailed overview of Islamic Finance market

 Changing market dynamics of the industry

 In-depth market segmentation by Type, Application etc

 Historical, current and projected market size in terms of volume and value

 Recent industry trends and developments

 Competitive landscape of Islamic Finance market

 Strategies of key players and product offerings

 Potential and niche segments/regions exhibiting promising growth

 A neutral perspective towards Islamic Finance market performance

 Market players information to sustain and enhance their footprint



Read Detailed Index of full Research Study at @ https://www.htfmarketreport.com/reports/2832890-global-islamic-finance-market-1



Major Highlights of TOC:

Chapter One: Global Islamic Finance Market Industry Overview

1.1 Islamic Finance Industry

1.1.1 Overview

1.1.2 Products of Major Companies

1.2 Islamic Finance Market Segment

1.2.1 Industry Chain

1.2.2 Consumer Distribution

1.3 Price & Cost Overview



Chapter Two: Global Islamic Finance Market Demand

2.1 Segment Overview

2.1.1 APPLICATION 1

2.1.2 APPLICATION 2

2.1.3 Other

2.2 Global Islamic Finance Market Size by Demand

2.3 Global Islamic Finance Market Forecast by Demand



Chapter Three: Global Islamic Finance Market by Type

3.1 By Type

3.1.1 TYPE 1

3.1.2 TYPE 2

3.2 Islamic Finance Market Size by Type

3.3 Islamic Finance Market Forecast by Type



Chapter Four: Major Region of Islamic Finance Market

4.1 Global Islamic Finance Sales

4.2 Global Islamic Finance Revenue & market share



Chapter Five: Major Companies List



Chapter Six: Conclusion



Complete Purchase of Latest Version Global Islamic Finance Market Study with COVID-19 Impact Analysis @ https://www.htfmarketreport.com/buy-now?format=1&report=2832890



Key questions answered

- What impact does COVID-19 have made on Global Islamic Finance Market Growth & Sizing?

- Who are the Leading key players and what are their Key Business plans in the Global Islamic Finance market?

- What are the key concerns of the five forces analysis of the Global Islamic Finance market?

- What are different prospects and threats faced by the dealers in the Global Islamic Finance market?

- What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?



Thanks for reading this article; you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Europe or Asia.



About HTF Market Report

HTF Market Report is a wholly owned brand of HTF market Intelligence Consulting Private Limited. HTF Market Report global research and market intelligence consulting organization is uniquely positioned to not only identify growth opportunities but to also empower and inspire you to create visionary growth strategies for futures, enabled by our extraordinary depth and breadth of thought leadership, research, tools, events and experience that assist you for making goals into a reality. Our understanding of the interplay between industry convergence, Mega Trends, technologies and market trends provides our clients with new business models and expansion opportunities. We are focused on identifying the "Accurate Forecast" in every industry we cover so our clients can reap the benefits of being early market entrants and can accomplish their "Goals & Objectives".
KYODO NEWS - Sep 22, 2020 - 16:07 | All, World, Japan

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison plans on traveling to Japan to meet the country's recently elected prime minister, Yoshihide Suga, as early as November, Australian media reported Tuesday.

The visit is aimed at reinforcing strategic cooperation between the two countries in the face of China's increasing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region, The Australian reported.

The meeting could be delayed to January 2021 if situations surrounding the novel coronavirus pandemic worsen or Suga decides to dissolve the House of Representatives for a general election before his envisaged visit, according to the newspaper.

The visit will be Morrison's first trip abroad since the pandemic and he will likely be obligated to quarantine for two weeks upon his return, it reported.

The two are expected to continue discussions regarding a visiting forces agreement which would provide legal status to members of Japan's Self-Defense Forces and the Australian military during joint drills on their respective lands, among other issues.

During a virtual meeting on July 9, Morrison and Suga's predecessor Shinzo Abe had agreed to hold a summit meeting in Tokyo in the near future.

On Sunday, Suga had a phone conversation with Morrison, the first head of government he spoke to since his inauguration on Sept. 16.

Related coverage:

PM Suga, Trump vow to boost Japan-U.S. security alliance

Australia suspends extradition deal with Hong Kong, extends visas

Leaders, gov'ts around world express concern about Abe's health
Islamabad, Sep 22 : Pakistan has started stage three clinical trials of a China-made Covid-19 vaccine, Executive Director of the country's National Institute of Health (NIH) Aamer Ikram said on Tuesday.

Addressing a press conference, the official said the vaccine will be administered to 8,000 to 10,000 volunteers across the country and its final results are expected to come out in about six months, Xinhua news agency.

After the results, Pakistan will start administering it to the general public.

He said the vaccine has already been declared safe on animals and there are high expectations that it will proven safe for humans too.

Special Assistant to the country's Prime Minister on National Health Services Faisal Sultan also briefed the media on the vaccine, saying that if the clinical trial succeeded, it will not only benefit Pakistanis but the world.

Sultan said the trial of the vaccine is a vital step for Pakistan because it will help in the capacity building of the country to prepare vaccines against other viral diseases.

The vaccine has been approved for trial by the drug regulatory authority of Pakistan and it will be administered under the supervision of the NIH.

Pakistan has so far reported more than 306,000 coronavirus cases and 6,420 deaths.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Tangram Insurance Services, Inc. ("Tangram"), a Managing General Agency, and Service American Indemnity Company (SAIC) announced today the launch of a workers compensation insurance program specifically serving the Portable Sanitation industry.

Tangram and Service American's joint program is designed to provide comprehensive workers compensation insurance and risk management services for operators specializing in portable sanitation equipment rental and related operations, including septic services. Tangram's program management approach combines a competitive insurance solution with underwriting expertise and consultative risk management around the niche exposures of this industry.

"Tangram's value proposition is to introduce better solutions in industry segments for our brokers and customers. We are excited to expand our current partnership with Service American, a carrier that is committed to the specialty space. Tangram has already gained traction in the portable sanitation industry through our package insurance solution, and the workers compensation offering will create even more value" said Rekha Skantharaja, President & CEO, Tangram Insurance Services.

For more information about the Portable Sanitation program please visit, https://www.tangramins.com/programs/portable-sanitation/

About Tangram Insurance Services, Inc.

Tangram Insurance Services, Inc. is a national program manager bringing in-depth expertise and specialized program capabilities to a variety of industries. With over a decade of experience, Tangram partners with the top insurance companies to deliver niche insurance solutions. For more information, please visit www.tangramins.com.

SOURCE Tangram Insurance Services, Inc.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 22

By Klavdiya Romakayeva - Trend:

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases for September 21 in Uzbekistan increased to 52,491, Trend reports with reference to the statistics of the Uzbek Ministry of Health.

To date, 48,606 patients have fully recovered in the country, while 440 have died.

At the moment, 3,445 patients are treated in medical institutions in Uzbekistan in accordance with the standards, 536 of them are in serious condition, and 283 patients are in critical condition.

From October 1, all border crossing points in Uzbekistan will be open for road, rail, and air transport.

Under the instructions of the 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.

The activities of preschool educational organizations and general education schools in a traditional and remote form is allowed from September 2020 in accordance with the opinions of parents and proposals of local councils of deputies.

Citizens are required to wear masks when entering public transport (buses).

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 the author on Twitter: @romakayeva
Tehran, Sep 22 : Iran is ready for a complete prisoner swap with the US, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said.

Zarif made the remarks in a virtual address to the Council on Foreign Relations in New York on Monday, reports Xinhua news agency.

In December 2019, the US and Iran completed a prisoner swap, freeing one scholar from each country.

Xiyue Wang, a US scholar who had been in Iranian custody since August 2016, and Iranian scholar Massoud Soleimani held by the US for more than one year, were released.

Wang was sentenced in 2017 to 10 years in prison after being found guilty of being "an infiltrating American agent".

Soleimani was reportedly arrested in Chicago last year and was charged with violating US trade sanctions against Iran.

Iran and the US have had an increasingly strained relationship in recent years and share no diplomatic links.
- A firefighter recently had Facebook buzzing with her beauty

- The young woman took to ImStaying to celebrate her 10 years of service

Trending topics on the go: How we write news at YEN.com.gh

It isn't every day one gets to see a female firefighter. And even more rare a sight is a beautiful female firefighter. Here in South Africa, however, anything is possible. A beautiful young woman recently proved this to be so true.

Thee Real Neo took to the popular feel-good Facebook group ImStaying to celebrate serving as a firefighter here in South Africa for 10 long years. She also declared that she will continue serving to the best of her ability going forward.

"Exactly 10 years in the service as an emergency medical technician and fire fighter! Feels like I've just begun... Tough and fierce as I look forward to serve my country during level 1.#BeSafeAlways#ImStaying," she wrote.

READ ALSO: Adwoa Amoako Adjei: 26-year-old Ghanaian lawyer launches 1st novel titled Mixed Up

Neo is a beautiful firefighter. Source: Facebook/Thee real Neo

Source: UGC

Her touching caption was also accompanied by a stunning selfie. While many appreciated her role in the South African fire department, most of them were floored by her beauty. The post racked up an incredible 15 000 likes and nearly a thousand comments. Read some of them below.

Constance Mutauhadzindi wrote:

"Absolutely gorgeous!!"

Joan Pretorius said:

"Beautiful! Congratulations!"

Wedzerai Mhunduru Chiyoka commented:

"You're amazing."

Kevin Seyffert said:

"Such a beautiful woman doing such a dangerous job. I salute you!"

Colleen Reimeringer-Visser had this to say:

"You are beautiful and brave. Thank you for your service."

READ ALSO: Lady humbly kneels to accept boyfriend's proposal; social media users impressed

YEN.com.gh also reported in another exciting story that a 22-year-old Ghanaian named Akpene Darko-Cobbina has become the youngest lawyer in Ghana after beating the record of Lawyer Adwoa Safo.

Information obtained directly by YEN.com.gh confirms that Adwoa Safo held the record as the youngest ever product of the Ghana School of Law after graduating in 2004 at age 22.

In October 2019, Akpene took over the title as he was called to the Bar at age 22 and 198 days, beating Adwoa Safos record of 22 years and 280 days.

Enjoy reading our stories? Download YEN's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Ghana news!

Ghanaian multi-instrumentalist Dela Jackson has charged the youth in Africa to wake up | #Yencomgh

Share your stories and news by getting interactive on our Facebook page!

Source: YEN.com.gh
With straight-ticket voting no longer an option in 2020, the Harris County Clerk estimates the average resident will spend a significantly longer time in the voting booth this fall, which could cause long lines at polling sites in the states most populous county.

No matter how much we do, I think at the end of the day there will be lines, said Benjamin Chou, director of innovation for the clerks office. Its just a matter of, will we avoid a nightmare scenario by doing as much as we can, by stretching the limits of what we thought was possible even just a few months ago?

The elimination of straight-ticket voting, combined with a ballot with more than 80 races and limited access to mail ballots have made this year particularly difficult for elections administrators. A stopwatch test by the clerks office calculated that a straight-ticket ballot takes two minutes to cast, while selecting a candidate for each individual race in November would take 15 minutes.

Using those estimates and turnout data from 2018, when 76 percent of voters selected a straight ticket, a Houston Chronicle analysis found county voters would spend a combined 187,000 more hours in the voting booth if forced to vote each race individually.

A more likely outcome is that some voters, late for work or family obligations or simply overwhelmed by the length of the ballot, make choices in only the top races, University of Houston political science Professor Elizabeth Simas said.

The fear would be they go to vote for president, maybe vote for senator, and then they walk out, Simas said. And were not going to get a large number of votes cast for the races that are much lower down the ballot.

Long lines historically have been more likely to occur in urban areas, which tend to favor Democrats, Simas said. The state Democratic Party unsuccessfully sued earlier this year to reinstate straight-ticket voting, arguing their voters were more harmed by the change than Republicans.

One key to the success of this falls election, Simas said, is how well the county clerks polling place wait times app functions. Poll workers failed to properly update the interactive map during the trouble-plagued March primary, leading voters to flock to sites that already were crowded. That was the first high-turnout election in which Harris County allowed voters to cast ballots anywhere, rather than their assigned precincts.

The clerks office is using a social media campaign to remind voters to select a candidate in each race, and is encouraging residents to take advantage of early voting. During the last presidential election four years ago, 76 percent of ballots were cast before Election Day. With an extra week of early voting, Chou said the county expects that figure to be higher this year.

In an effort to avoid voting delays, County Clerk Christopher Hollins has nearly tripled the number of early voting sites to 120 and increased Election Day polling places by 8 percent, to 808. The $27.2 million plan, the most expensive election in county history, also includes extended voting hours and drive-through balloting.

Gov. Greg Abbott also has added an extra week of early voting.

The Legislature abolished straight-ticket voting, effective in 2020, in an effort to ensure residents make informed choices about candidates.

With a projected record turnout of as many as 1.7 million voters, Hollins also is asking eligible residents to consider voting absentee, and has sent mail ballot applications to all registered voters 65 and older. The Supreme Court has, at least temporarily, ordered Hollins not to send mail ballot applications to all 2.4 million registered voters, as he had planned, pending the outcome of a lawsuit from Attorney General Ken Paxton.

Paxton argued that ending applications to younger voters who are not automatically eligible to vote by mail would create confusion that would lead to voter fraud. Hollins disagrees, as the application also includes a list of eligibility criteria.

Registered voters under 65 are eligible for mail ballots if they are disabled, out of the county or incarcerated during the voting period. The Supreme Court ruled in May that fear of COVID-19 alone is not a disability; however, it can be combined with other health factors to qualify a voter. That leaves voters to decide for themselves whether they are eligible to vote by mail.

The county had processed 204,793 mail applications as of last week, nearly double the number requested in 2018. Early in-person voting begins Oct. 13.

zach.despart@chron.com
Ashish Bhasin, President, Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) today handed over charge of AAAI to Anupriya Acharya, Publicis Groupes CEO, South Asia, who was elected as the President of Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) for the year 2020-21 at its Annual General Body Meeting held here today.

Also read: AAAI modifies business pitch guidelines for member agencies

Prasanth Kumar, CEO, South Asia, GroupM, was unanimously elected Vice-President of the Association.

Other elected members of the Executive Committee in alphabetical order are:

Anand Bhadkamkar, Dentsu Aegis Network Marketing Solutions Pvt Ltd

Kunal Lalani, Crayons Advertising Pvt Ltd

Mohit Joshi, Havas Media India Pvt Ltd

Pranav Premnarayen, Prem Associates Advertising & Marketing

Rana Barua, Havas Worldwide India Pvt Ltd

Vivek Srivastava, Innocean Worldwide Communications Pvt Ltd

Ashish Bhasin will be the ex-officio member of the AAAI Executive Committee for 2020-21 as its immediate past President.

On this occasion, Anupriya Acharya, President, AAAI, said, Its a tremendous honour and also an enormous responsibility to be elected as the President of such a prestigious organisation. I am acutely aware that our industry, like the rest of the world, has just witnessed the most unprecedented times and its a difficult time for most. The pandemic has only underscored the relevance of the collective thinking and the heightened role that AAAI can play. I will strive to do my best to further the interests of the advertising industry and take AAAI to greater heights as we emerge into the new normal. Many top advertising professionals have contributed very selflessly and relentlessly to the AAAI, both with and without executive positions. And that is what inspires me immensely as I take on this position. Many thanks to Ashish Bhasin for his leadership in the last two years as President  he has made great progress in making the association more inclusive, diverse and future-ready. Also thanks to all the Executive Committee members and the secretariat for all the learning they have given me in the past many years.

Outgoing President Ashish Bhasin stated, I have had the privilege to lead AAAI for two years as its President, I wish to thank all my fellow Executive Committee members for their wholehearted cooperation and valuable support. I would also like to congratulate Anupriya Acharya on her election as President. Anupriya has been a key member of the Indian media and advertising industry for a long time. Im sure she will play a stellar role in taking forward the Association and its work. I wish her the very best for this role.

The Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) is the apex national organisation of advertising agencies, formed in 1945, to promote their industry interests so that they continue to make an essential and ever-increasing contribution to the nation. The AAAI today is truly representative, with a large number of small, medium and large-sized agencies as its members, who together account for almost 80 per cent of the advertising business placed in the country.
Jordan Clapton bowls at Fairwood Lanes Sept. 16. | Photo: Carolina Journal

Jordan Clapton is happy to be back at Fairwood Lanes, but the owners, Elizabeth and Timothy Robinson, are feeling more cautious. | Photo: Carolina Journal

This post appears here courtesy of the Carolina Journal . The author of this post is AUTHORNAME.Bowling alleys are finally allowed to reopen in North Carolina. But for small town operations like Fairwood Lanes in Roanoke Rapids, the governor's permission slip may be too little, too late.The financial strain is crippling, Fairwood Lanes owners Elizabeth and Timothy Robinson tell me Wednesday, Sept. 16, when I visit to watch their Superheroes league, a group for bowlers with special needs. The last time I dropped by Fairwood it was July, and the Robinsons were locked in a legal battle with Gov. Roy Cooper over his prolonged COVID-19 shutdowns. Fairwood Lanes, along with bowling alleys across the state, reopened after Judge James Gale issued a preliminary injunction in their favor. The Robinsons rejoiced. But, one week later, the N.C. Supreme Court ordered bowling alleys to close again while it reviewed an appeal from Cooper. Democrats hold a 6-1 majority on the state's highest court  two of those Democrats are Cooper appointees  giving the governor a partisan edge.The Robinsons had to shutter things indefinitely. The blow was devastating.When Cooper finally moved the state into a modified Phase 2.5 on Sept. 4, bowling alleys could reopen. But Fairwood was closed for so long the damage was done, the Robinsons say. They're nearly $2 million in debt, Elizabeth tells me. The couple works in real estate development. They're trying to sell 60 properties just to make ends meet at Fairwood.Elizabeth is concerned, too, about social distancing and masks, which are required under Cooper's orders. The governor made the rules but left businesses to enforce them.Elizabeth says. She spent thousands of dollars on renovations to ensure social distancing. Fairwood now features sanitizing stations, Plexiglass dividers, and limited lanes to keep bowlers separated. Staffers wipe down every pair of shoes, every bowling ball, and every table after use. Elizabeth requires masks for all staffers.It's up to customers to follow the rules, Elizabeth says. But in this small town 100 miles from Raleigh and the governor's mansion, it's tough to make people comply. She understands their discomfort, but she's afraid of another forced closing.So is Jennifer Clapton, whose autistic 22-year-old son, Jordan, loves to bowl with the Superheroes league. Jordan awoke at 6 a.m. Wednesday and waited for his 4 p.m. bowling date. Now he's throwing balls down the wooden lanes, smiling, chatting with his friends.Clapton smiles behind her mask, but a layer of caution mutes her excitement.she says.Jordan's only social outlet is Fairwood Lanes, Clapton says. And while she's cautious about health and safety during the pandemic, she's equally concerned about her son's mental wellbeing. For months, Jordan stayed home, isolated from everyone but his family. He watched TV, played word games, and occasionally went to Walmart. But he missed socializing.He missed bowling.Just try explaining to Jordan why he can go to Walmart, but his favorite bowling alley  warm, welcoming, and safe  is off limits, Clapton says.Clapton says.Clapton wrote me a note after my Sept. 16 visit to Fairwood Lanes.she wrote.If people start getting sick with COVID-19 after bowling at Fairwood, then shut it down, fix it, and start over, Clapton wrote.Cooper's orders, which continue to block movie theaters, bars, lounges, and concert venues from opening, seem arbitrary and confusing to many, Clapton included. In March, the governor said his goal was to "flatten the curve" of coronavirus cases. But the goalposts have moved many times since. In May, Cooper told the public he wanted to lower the state's percentage of positive cases to 5%. North Carolina hit that number last week, but Cooper still didn't reopen the economy. During a news conference Thursday, Sept. 17, a reporter asked Cooper what "tangible metric" he was now aiming to hit before fully reopening the state. The governor's answer was cautious and noncommittal.he said.That's not a comforting answer for small business owners skittish about Cooper's arbitrary decision-making. But a recent federal court ruling in Pennsylvania could give them a legal precedent to follow if the governor closes the economy again.U.S. District Judge William Stickman on Sept. 14 blocked some of Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf's COVID-19 restrictions, calling them unconstitutional.Stickman wrote in his 60-plus page opinion.Like Cooper, Wolf placed limits on indoor and outdoor gatherings, and closed "nonessential businesses" to slow the spread of the virus. Wolf has appealed the ruling. It will head to the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, and could go to the U.S. Supreme Court.The outcome in that case could affect businesses that remain closed in North Carolina. I emailed Cooper's press office Thursday, asking if Stickman's decision gives the governor pause to reconsider his use of emergency powers. I got no response.Meanwhile, those businesses Cooper has allowed to open face harsh consequences.The Robinsons reduced their staff from 30 people to six. They reopened Wednesday with a limited menu and reduced operating hours. There's no money to sustain things if Cooper changes his mind, Elizabeth says.She adjusts her brightly covered mask and looks toward the door, where a handful of people are traipsing in. Even her regulars have been hesitant to return, she tells me. Some are concerned about safety. Others just don't want to bowl in a mask.Elizabeth says.
WORCESTER, Mass., Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. (NYSE: THG) today announced it has expanded its TAP Sales online quote and issuance capability to now include management liability and miscellaneous professional liability products. With this addition, the company's agent partners can now easily quote, rate, bind and issue stand-alone specialty policies for small business clients.

This expansion is part of a series of investments The Hanover has made in operational solutions to support the independent agency channel and it builds on the success of the company's other online quote-and-issue capabilities, including TAP Sales for builder's risk and contractor's equipment.

"Small businesses often require specialized coverages beyond the protection afforded by traditional small commercial policies," said Bryan J. Salvatore, president, specialty, at The Hanover. "There is high demand for robust, stand-alone errors and omissions, cyber, crime, and employment practices coverage for small businesses, and this small specialty market will only continue to grow. Our new quote-and-issue capability provides our agent partners the flexibility to offer account-focused solutions or stand-alone policies that focus on efficiently serving the specialty coverage needs of small businesses, helping to improve the agency and customer experience."

The new capability allows the company's agent partners to conveniently review appetite and eligibility alongside other commercial lines products before easily quoting admitted, stand-alone private company, nonprofit or miscellaneous professional liability policies.

In addition, the expansion of online quoting and issuance for management liability and miscellaneous professional liability allows agents to:

Obtain aggregate limits of up to $2 million online

online Select one, or a combination of, management liability coverage parts

Easily create multiple, tailored quotes by copying an initial quote and modifying limit, deductible, and coverage options

Align policy bill schedules with existing bills

Generate a professional binder or a quote proposal for use with customers

Obtain instant access to declarations packages upon issuance

The Hanover also offers a customer service center that can help manage this business written through TAP Sales on behalf of its agent partners. Acting as an extension of agencies, the service center can nurture and service these policies, driving greater agency efficiency.

TAP Sales for management liability is now available in all states except Alaska, with crime-only capabilities in California, while miscellaneous professional liability is now available in all states excluding California, Florida, Massachusetts, New York, Virginia and Washington.

Agent partners can access these new capabilities through the TAP link on hanover.com.

About The Hanover

The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. is the holding company for several property and casualty insurance companies, which together constitute one of the largest insurance businesses in the United States. The company provides exceptional insurance solutions through a select group of independent agents and brokers. Together with its agent partners, The Hanover offers standard and specialized insurance protection for small and mid-sized businesses, as well as for homes, automobiles, and other personal items. For more information, please visit hanover.com .

All products are underwritten by The Hanover Insurance Company or one of its insurance company subsidiaries or affiliates ("The Hanover"). Coverage may not be available in all jurisdictions and is subject to the company underwriting guidelines and the issued policy. This material is provided for informational purposes only and does not provide any coverage. For more information about The Hanover visit our website at www.hanover.com.

2020 The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.



SOURCE The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc.
Gov. Abubakar Bello of Niger has urged articulated vehicle owners to cooperate with the state government on the issue of the state roads in order to safeguard the socio-economic activities of the Nation.

The state roads serves as a major link between the Northern part of the country and the South-West part through its Bida to Minna axis which is a state road.

Bello, who spoke on the background of the re-opening of the closed Bida-Minna road, said the weight of the vehicles was heavily affecting the state of roads in the state.

He added that currently the Bida-Minna road has finally given way and motorists especially the truck drivers are going through another state road; the Bida-Lapai-Paiko road.

The governor said articulated vehicle should stick to the agreed tonnes of 40,000 litres of those carrying petroleum products and 35 tonnes dry weight for other goods.

One of the causes of the deplorable state of the roads is that overtime, no one has paid attention to trucks and trailers. So, tanker owners decided to increase the carrying capacity of their tankers from between 45,000 to about 90,000 litres. For dry cargoes, they carry 60 to 70 tons. I don't think any of our Nigerian roads have been designed to carry such weight.

So, within two to three years, we realised that most of the roads, especially in Minna town, from Chachanga Bridge to Kpakungu roundabout, have been destroyed by these trucks, not because of the volume of the trucks but the weight. The number of trucks that ply that road does not really matter, as long as they carry specified tonnage.

Recently, we awarded the contract to Dantata Construction Company for the reconstruction of Minna-Bida road. Unfortunately, the contractors are complaining that the pace of work is so slow because of the volume of trailers that ply the route, he said.

He explained that the re-opening of the state roads was to mitigate the negative economic hardship faced by people in the northern region due to shortage of petroleum products and food.

He added that since inception, the administration has been carrying out intervention works on some of the federal roads in the state, mainly to ameliorate the sufferings of its citizens in spite of lean resources.

The governor, however, said that the Federal and state government were taking remedial measures to forestall hardship and resolve the issue of bad road network in the state.

The decision led to shortage of petroleum products up Northern Nigeria, as Niger State, particularly Minna-Bida road became the transit route for tankers moving premium motor spirit (PMS). Other heavy duty vehicles between the South to the North suffered similar fate and food shortages stared all in the face.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a stakeholders meeting was convened in Abuja at the weekend, chaired by the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, with the Inspector General of Police, the Director General of the Department of State Services, the Managing Director of the NNPC and the Minister of Works in attendance.

Briefing the press after the meeting, Bello explained that the meeting looked at the shortage of the supply of petroleum products up north.

We also looked at causes of why we are having problems today.

Overtime, most of our highways have been ignored. We all know that the main road most people travel from the South-west to the northern part of this country is the Jebba-Mokwa-Tegina-Kagara-Birnin Gwari-Kaduna. That is a trunk 'A' road that has been abandoned and neglected for many years. It is not motorable at the moment.

The option was to take Mokwa-Bida-Agaie-Lapai-Lambata, which also is very bad.

I am glad today, in the meeting, we discussed this and agreed on 45,000 litres for PMS, which I believe is still too much but we can work with it, or 35 tons for dry cargo.

The idea is, if we control the weight, the road will probably survive the rainy season. We will do some remedial works, meaning, the failed section will be maintained and the bridges, whose integrity test is questionable or show signs of weakness will be fortified just to survive the rainy season.

I am aware, the minister of works is making arrangement to fund those contracts. His ministry has already awarded but at the moment, our major concern and challenge is to survive the rainy season. Once we are able to survive the rainy season, the contractors will go back to site.

We did not close the Minna-Bida road to inconvenience people but to save and protect the only road that connects the South-western and northern parts of the country.

My understanding is, while the state government is doing some remedial works on Farin-Doki up to Chachanga, City Gate to Minna town, then Pakungu to Bida road, the Federal Ministry of Works will concentrate on Lambata-Bida

Hopefully, they will also concentrate on Mokwa-Kagara-Tegina-Birnin Gwari road. Once those roads are fixed, people in Minna will begin to see reduction in the volume of trailers passing through Minna town.

On the measures put in place to ensure compliance with the new directive, the governor said: First of all, we expect the depots not to load any truck that is more than 45,000 litres of petroleum products. We also expect, especially the cement companies not to load any trailer that is more than 35 tonnes.(NAN)
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has supported the idea of creating a local free port for representatives of the IT industry in Odesa, said Oleh Filimonov, a candidate for mayor of the city from the Servant of the People party.

"My team and I have a good idea - to create an IT hub in Odesa. I have already spoken with Volodymyr Oleksandrovych and he supported my idea to make IT-free, that is, a point porto-franco place for IT-specialists," Filimonov said in interview with the Interfax-Ukraine agency.

He clarified that this is a zone with minimal taxation: "Quite right. First, there are tax holidays for IT-specialists to take root there, and then minimum taxes, minimum number of inspections, minimum access of any controlling authorities: prosecutor's office, SBU and others. Nobody should go there, there is nothing to do there. People come up with software, create software, start-ups and, God willing, sell it."
(Natural News) Its my greatest concern, my single greatest concern, warns Joe Biden: This president is going to try to steal this election.

(Article republished from WND.com)

Biden isnt alone among Democrats and their media allies suddenly warning with great excitement that Republicans are going to lie, cheat, steal and collude with foreign powers to win in November. Theyre all saying it.

How Trump Will Try to Steal the Election headlines a Washington Monthly story, saying If voter suppression and foreign influence dont work, hell contest the results. The Atlantics How Donald Trump Could Steal the Election contends The president cant simply cancel the fall balloting, but his state-level allies could still deliver him a second term. Then theres the Guardian, with Its all rigged: Trump foreshadows how he could undermine presidential election, and Salon, with Heres how Trump will steal the 2020 election, alleging the Republican Party has refined its strategy of voter suppression, voter intimidation and vote theft in elections across the country. But the grand prize goes to the Daily Beast for this headline: This Is How Republicans Steal an Election, and Maybe Kill Some Dems in the Process.

As usual with the left, its all shameless straight-up projection  accusing conservatives of the precise sins and crimes they themselves commit. Remember, it was the Democrats who bitterly complained in 2016 that Trump would not accept that elections results  and then, when they lost, spent the next four years hysterically and illegally attempting to overturn that election, ripping the country apart in the process.

But now its 2020, and the left is in total war mode, deploying its entire arsenal of weapons, from vote fraud of every sort, to blaming every societal problem  especially those they themselves created  on Trump, to Big Tech censorship of conservative media and purposeful manipulation of millions of undecided votes, to brazenly portraying Donald Trump as another Hitler.

During every election cycle, Democrats reflexively accuse Republicans of racism-motivated voter suppression, simply because the GOP believes voters should identify themselves before voting, to prove they are actually eligible to cast a ballot.

In truth, however, it is the Democratic Party whose entire growth strategy relies on various forms of voter fraud and abuse  from encouraging non-citizens to vote (the reason they fiercely oppose the most sensible voter ID laws), to wanting to lower the voting age to 16, to insisting that incarcerated criminals including mass-murdering terrorists be allowed to vote, to demanding universal vote-by-mail, to ballot harvesting, to eliminating the Electoral College, to same-day registration and much more.

The lefts ultimate get-out-the-vote strategy, of course, is to import into the United States an entirely new population of voters, one not loyal to either Americas Constitution or cultural values, to support Democrats unconstitutional, un-American and increasingly deranged socialist agenda. Statistically, the vast majority of recent immigrants, both legal and illegal, favor Democrats.

Just consider this, says Whistleblower Editor and bestselling author David Kupelian: If the Democrats and their Deep State and media allies were willing to illegally spy on Donald Trump, charge him with colluding with Americas enemies  essentially treason  while knowing full well it was all a lie; if they were perfectly willing to pervert and corrupt the most powerful and revered institutions of the federal government from the FBI to the DOJ; if they were willing to conduct transparently farcical impeachment hearings over a phone call they didnt like; if they are now fine with politicizing the coronavirus pandemic to cause as much panic, fear, anxiety, suffering, financial stress, joblessness and general misery as possible for political gain; and if they are willing to flat-out lie their heads off day after day to the American public  what would they not do now, to defeat Trump in the home stretch of 2020s do-or-die election?

Highlights of HOW DEMOCRATS PLAN TO STEAL THE 2020 ELECTION include:

Welcome to Opposite Land  where Democrats accuse Trump of stealing the 2020 election by David Kupelian

Gingrich: Heres how Democrats intend to steal the election: Ive spent a lifetime in politics and dont remember anything this bad

Twitter labels Trump tweet warning mail-in voting would lead to a rigged election as misinformation

Why all-mail elections are too risky and unwarranted by Hans von Spakovsky, who writes: In 2016, more mail ballots  6.5 million  were misdirected or unaccounted for than the margin of votes separating Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton

Tucker Carlson: Democrats are exploiting coronavirus to push mail-in voting

How ballot harvesting turned conservative Orange County blue in one election by Art Moore, on how Democrats will use the same means to manipulate the results of the 2020 elections

Democrats charged with mail-in voter fraud  yet the party continues to dismiss Trumps concerns about expansion of mail-in balloting, by Art Moore

Democrat election judge pleads guilty to stuffing ballot box

How Silicon Valley billionaires plan on making Biden president by David Kupelian on Sweeping, secret plans galvanizing the progressive tech sector in its 4-year quest to oust Donald Trump

Top researcher, a Democrat, warns Big Tech is stealing election from Trump: We either turn over democracy to the tech companies or we fight them by Art Moore

New Jerseys all-mail vote disaster provides warning for November election by Jason Snead, on how a staggering 1 in every 5 votes was rejected in the states third-largest city

2 out of 3 voters agree mail-in voting would increase fraud

Polling companies still purposely making the same mistakes as in 2016 by Rachel Alexander, on how oversampling of Democrats and unlikely voters has become a mainstay of most pollsters

Journalists once took voter fraud seriously by Jack Cashill, on how the Obama presidency radically changed the culture of the press  and how its even worse now

The only way to stop socialism is to decentralize the internet by Daniel Greenfield, on why Big Tech is indivisible from big government. Our government is as democratic as our internet

28 million absentee ballots missing or misdirected in past decade by Laura Hollis, on why mail-in voting is a grave threat to election integrity in America

We must decide whether we want to save America by David Limbaugh, who asks: Do we support policies that improve the lives of all people including minorities, or would we prefer to remain mired in hate and bitterness?

Comments Kupelian: Although of course we dont yet know who will win Novembers election, one thing is for sure: If the integrity of Americas elections is destroyed because of the lefts insatiable quest for power at all costs, then the great American experiment will finally be at an end. For if no one believes their vote really counts any more, the United States of America will have ceased to exist as a functioning, powerful and uniquely free society.

He adds: This issue of Whistleblower exposes, while there is still time to fight back, the many ways the maniacal left is planning on stealing the 2020 election  not from Donald Trump, but from the American people.

Read more at: WND.com
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending parents and children not do trick-or-treating for Halloween this year.

The CDC released its coronavirus guidelines for the Oct. 31 holiday Monday, ranking activities from low risk to high risk for Covid-19. Traditional trick-or-treating with kids going from door to door and trunk or treat events are considered high risk for spreading the virus thats killed more than 200,000 people in the U.S. over the last six months.

Many traditional Halloween activities can be high-risk for spreading viruses. There are several safer, alternative ways to participate in Halloween. If you may have COVID-19 or you may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, you should not participate in in-person Halloween festivities and should not give out candy to trick-or-treaters, the CDC says on its website.

Dr. Jana Shaw, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, recommended kids stay home this Halloween.

Im not sure the candy is worth the risk, even in our community, where the prevalence (of the virus) is very low, Shaw told syracuse.com last week. Im risk-averse. Its just not worth it as a mother, as a physician, as a pediatrician.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he wont ban trick-or-treating in New York, but the state has not issued guidelines for the Oct. 31 tradition. The state Department of Health is monitoring how schools open this month before issuing guidance for fall holidays, spokeswoman Erin Silk said last week.

The CDC says the following Halloween activities are considered high risk:

Participating in traditional trick-or-treating where treats are handed to children who go door to door

Having trunk-or-treat where treats are handed out from trunks of cars lined up in large parking lots

Attending crowded costume parties held indoors

Going to an indoor haunted house where people may be crowded together and screaming

Going on hayrides or tractor rides with people who are not in your household

Using alcohol or drugs, which can cloud judgement and increase risky behaviors

Traveling to a rural fall festival that is not in your community if you live in an area with community spread of COVID-19

Halloween activities with a moderate risk of spreading COVID-19 include:

Participating in one-way trick-or-treating where individually wrapped goodie bags are lined up for families to grab and go while continuing to social distance (such as at the end of a driveway or at the edge of a yard). If you are preparing goodie bags, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 second before and after preparing the bags.

Having a small group, outdoor, open-air costume parade where people are distanced more than 6 feet apart

Attending a costume party held outdoors where protective masks are used and people can remain more than 6 feet apart. Note: A costume mask (such as for Halloween) is not a substitute for a cloth mask. A costume mask should not be used unless it is made of two or more layers of breathable fabric that covers the mouth and nose and doesnt leave gaps around the face. Do not wear a costume mask over a protective cloth mask because it can be dangerous if the costume mask makes it hard to breathe. Instead, consider using a Halloween-themed cloth mask.

Going to an open-air, one-way, walk-through haunted forest where appropriate mask use is enforced, and people can remain more than 6 feet apart. If screaming will likely occur, greater distancing is advised. The greater the distance, the lower the risk of spreading a respiratory virus.

Visiting pumpkin patches or orchards where people use hand sanitizer before touching pumpkins or picking apples, wearing masks is encouraged or enforced, and people are able to maintain social distancing

Having an outdoor Halloween movie night with local family friends with people spaced at least 6 feet apart. If screaming will likely occur, greater distancing is advised. The greater the distance, the lower the risk of spreading a respiratory virus.

Halloween activities with a low risk include:

Carving or decorating pumpkins with members of your household and displaying them

Carving or decorating pumpkins outside, at a safe distance, with neighbors or friends

Decorating your house, apartment, or living space

Doing a Halloween scavenger hunt where children are given lists of Halloween-themed things to look for while they walk outdoors from house to house admiring Halloween decorations at a distance

Having a virtual Halloween costume contest

Having a Halloween movie night with people you live with

Having a scavenger hunt-style trick-or-treat search with your household members in or around your home rather than going house to house

RELATED:

Haunted houses in Syracuse and CNY: 2020 Halloween attractions list (with coronavirus changes)

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Oswego Speedway to host drive-thru trick-or-treating event on Halloween
A Second Positive Case of COVID-19 Has Been Identified Within Westside School

The Contact Tracing Bureau has been in contact with relevant staff members and students and interviewed them in order to ascertain which individuals were identified as close contacts and are therefore required to self isolate.

The latest available information is that 22 individuals (11 staff members and 11 students) have been deemed to have been in close contact with the positive case and all have been instructed to self isolate. Close contact is defined as close proximity within an enclosed area for a period of time longer than 15 minutes.

Students who attend Westside School are advised to attend school as normal if they have not been contacted by the Contact Tracing Bureau.

Parents and students are reminded that individuals with COVID symptoms should not attend school. They should stay at home, self-isolate and call 111.

Close contacts and siblings of children who have been asked to self-isolate should attend school as normal unless otherwise advised by the Contact Tracing Bureau.

Individuals who have specific concerns arising from any of this information are asked to contact the school by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
8 boatloads of migrants were spotted in Majorcan waters in the early hours of Tuesday morning and another was also discovered off the coast of Formentera.

A total of 128 people were onboard the vessels and most of them are from Algeria, according to Government sources.

A French Navy ship rescued 55 people from four pateras about 60 miles south of Cap Salines during a routine patrol at around midnight on Monday.

Salvamento Maritimo, Salvamar Acrux from Puerto Portals, and the ship Marta Mata from Ibiza were deployed to the rescue point to transfer the migrants to Palma where the Guardia Civil, National Police, Red Cross and Healthcare Personnel will carry out mandatory health protocols.

A second French ship rescued 45 migrants from three pateras in the same area who were also brought to Palma.

Another boat with 5 migrants onboard was located by the Guardia Civil on Tuesday morning near Cala Llombards and 9 others were intercepted in Colonia de Sant Jordi.

4 people were detained in Campos and 6 in Santanyi, who were reportedly from the Cala Llombards boat have been taken to Santanyi for processing by Manacor National Police.

Guardia Civil Officers from Formentera intercepted 9 Algerians when they landed near Platja de Migjorn and turned them over to Ibiza National Police for processing.

The Marta Mata de Salvamento Maritimo ship is patrolling the Balearic coastline in case there are more boats in the area.
As in the U.S., QAnon in Germany appeals to a hodgepodge of fringe groups, including anti-vaxxers and left-wing esoterics, but overall it skews sharply right. While 74% of Germans have a negative view of Trump, German followers of Q adore him. QAnon also appears to have merged with older and proto-Nazi conspiracy theories. One example is the movement of Reichsbuerger (Imperial Citizens), who believe theyre subjects of the old Reich (either the Kaisers or Hitlers) and that todays Federal Republic is actually a corporation formed by the Allied victors of World War II.
The critics of the reintroduced national water resources bill are anti-people and have no understanding of the provisions of the bill, the minister of information and culture, Lai Mohammed, has said.

The minister also accused those portraying the bill as a new source of conflict of being deliberately mischievous.

Mr Mohammed said this Tuesday at a press conference he had with the minister of water resources, Suleiman Adamu, in Abuja.

The bill, since its reintroduction, has been met with criticism, with many accusing the federal government of trying to seize absolute control of the water resources in the country.

One of such critics is the Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka, who recently condemned the bill and warned the President Muhammadu Buhari government against the bill.

We know many multinationals today that are bottling water and they are using large boreholes, large reserve of water that will affect you and me and they are paying no penny to anybody, and we are saying lets regulate this thing for the benefit of everybody, and you are talking about anti-people.

The only people who are anti-people are those against this bill, Mr Mohammed said.

Despite different groups opposing the bill, the minister said there is no going back on the passage of the bill.

Contrary to the majority opinion, he said there is no hidden agenda in the bill and it was not designed to cause water wars in the country.

There is nothing new about the National Water Resources Bill. This is because it is an amalgamation of water resources laws that have been in existence for a long time. These are:

 Water Resources Act, Cap W2 LFN 2004

 The River Basin Development Authority Act, Cap R9 LFN 2004

 The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (Establishment) Act, Cap N1100A, LFN 2004

 National Water Resources Institute Act, Cap N83 LFN 2004

The minister also said the laws are being re-enacted with necessary modifications to bring them in line with current global trends as well as best practices in Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM).

The overall objective of this amalgamation is the efficient management of the water resources sector for the economic development of Nigeria and the well-being of its citizens.

The bill provides for professional and efficient management of all surface and groundwater for the use of the people (i.e. for domestic and non-domestic use, irrigation, agricultural purposes, generation of hydro-electric energy, navigation, fisheries and recreation).

The bill will ensure that the nations water resources are protected, used, developed, conserved, managed and controlled in a sustainable manner for the benefit of all persons. Among other benefits, the bill:

 provides for the creation of an enabling environment for public and private sector investment

 provides for capacity building processes to foster good governance

 Establishes water use and licensing framework to ensure sustainable financing for Water Sector Development from tariffs, he said.

He said the controversy generated by the bill is from those that have not even bothered to read its provisions, thus depending on second-hand information to reach their conclusions.

Those who have read it have perhaps done so perfunctorily. We have therefore decided to look at the main arguments against the bill by the critics and respond to them, with a view to clearing any misgivings and also enlightening Nigerians.

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He said the federal governments intentions are not to take over the nations water resources by licensing and commercialising the use of water because the current Water Resources Act, 2004 (made pursuant to the constitution) already makes provision for that.

This bill is only trying to provide a framework for implementing that provision. The regulatory provisions of the bill require that commercial borehole drillers obtain a licence.

The code of practice for water well drillers issued by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria and the National Water Resources Institute (NWRI) in 2010 already requires this. The code provides technical requirements that a driller must possess to undertake drilling as well as information on each borehole to be provided to the national database.

That code, however, requires the license to be issued by the NWRI in Kaduna. This bill provides for such licenses to now be issued by the states, under delegation of the national regulator, the Water Resources Regulatory Commission.

He said borehole regulation is an international standard for the abstraction of large volumes of water.

Most countries in Africa, and almost every developed country, regulates commercial abstraction. It is

also important to note that there is no requirement for licensing domestic abstraction.

Regulating abstraction of large volumes of water is necessary because groundwater abstraction is an activity that has environmental and ecological impact.

He also said the bill is not seeking to implement Ruga by subterfuge because the bill reiterates the fact that land can only be acquired by any of the institutions established in accordance with the Land Use Act.

We are therefore using this opportunity to appeal to Nigerians to avail themselves of the provisions of the bill to avoid being misled by those who have chosen to politicise it. We also want to state that the bill is for the good of the nation, and has no hidden agenda whatsoever.

He said the bill, when passed into law, will provide for the enhancement of the Nigeria water sector, in line with global best practices.
Bengaluru communal violence: NIA takes up probe

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Sep 22: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken up the probe into the communal violence that broke out in DJ Halli Bengaluru last month.

More than 1,000 MLAs had gathered in front of the house of Congress MLA Srinivas Murthy. The mob was protesting against the derogatory post on the social media about Prophet Mohammad made by the nephew of the MLA and alleged that it insulted the sentiments of the Muslims. The NIA team headed by an IG rank officer is camping in Bengaluru in connection with the investigation, the NIA said.

One of those arrested was Muzammil Pasha, an SDPI leader. Sources tell OneIndia that Pasha had initially gone to the police station to complain about Naveen who had allegedly put out the offensive post. However he later addressed a gathering outside the police station. He is alleged to have been found rioting in D J Halli. The police suspect that this is part of a conspiracy to polarise the community ahead of the BBMP elections.

Bengaluru violence: HC appoints claim commissioner to assess damage to properties

Pasha had contested the previous BBMP elections from the Sagaypura Ward, which falls under Pulakeshinagar. The BBMP elections are likely to be September. An official confirmation on the dates are however awaited

The police have arrested 149 people so far for stone pelting and arson. "The miscreants in the DJ Halli police station has led to the assault and rioting at MLA Akhand Srinivasa's house and police station. Already, directives have been issued against the perpetrators and the government has taken all possible steps to curb the situation," Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said in a tweet.

The attack on journalists, the police and the public in the riot was unacceptable. The government will not tolerate such provocations and rumours. Strict action against perpetrators is certain. I appeal to people to maintain peace and act with restraint and without panic," he said in another tweet.

No decision on banning certain organisations for Bengaluru violence: Karnataka Law Minister

#Tesla 'secretly planning' R&D Centre in #Bengaluru? | Oneindia News

Three persons were killed in Bengaluru after police opened fire in August. The firing took place as violence broke out after a youth alleged posted derogatory content inciting hatred on Facebook.
Two Arctic explorers had a near-death experience when an iceberg they were climbing flipped into the sea, but luckily they both managed to survive.

Explorers Mike Horn and Fred Roux were scaling an iceberg near the North Pole when it flipped over, plunging them into the icy waters and nearly crushing them.

A heart-stopping video of the moment their iceberg flipped upside down has been viewed over 3.6 million times on YouTube.

Explorers Mike Horn and Fred Roux had a near-death experience when an iceberg they were climbing in the Arctic circle flipped into the sea

They were part of a team of explorers who were sailing around Svalbard - an archipelago in the Arctic circle between mainland Norway and the North Pole - when the incident happened.

Footage shows the two men sail up close to the iceberg and begin their ascent using ice picks and boots with crampons.

However, just as their boat starts to pull away, the iceberg begins to tilt slowly, tipping them towards the water.

A video filmed by fellow explorers shows the two men sail up close to the iceberg and begin their ascent using ice picks and boots with crampons

The iceberg begins to tilt slowly, tipping them towards the minus two degree water before it flips over completely

Realising what is happening, the men attempt to climb faster to save themselves from the freezing waters but it is too late.

The iceberg flips over, dropping the men into the minus two degree water.

Luckily they are both swept away by a wave and avoid being crushed by the colossal weight of the berg.

One of the men climbing the iceberg was Mike Horn, 54, who has been a professional explorer and adventurer for 30 years.

In a video posted on his YouTube channel on September 4, the South Africa born explorer explains that even professionals can make mistakes.

In a spine-chilling moment, the two men are plunged into the sea and narrowly avoid being crushed by the iceberg as they are swept away by a wave

He asked viewers to watch the video with open eyes as a lesson on 'what not to do in the Arctic'.

'I've been a professional explorer for 30 years,' he said. 'I've been doing my stupid things for 30 years all over the world.

'I've had quite a few accidents but we always try to make the right decision at the right time, to come home alive.'

In a YouTube video watched over 3.6million times, professional explorer Mike Horn asked viewers to watch the video with open eyes as a lesson on 'what not to do in the Arctic'. Pictured: The iceberg has flipped upside down

His shocked viewers commented their disbelief that the two men were still alive and one wrote: 'Even professionals make mistakes.'

On his website, it states that Mike Horn is 'globally acknowledged as the worlds greatest modern day explorer'.

He once swam the Amazon River solo and is also known for completing a one-year circumnavigation of the globe at the equator, without any motorised transport in 2001.

Commenting on his latest near-death escape he joked: 'It's safer to see ice cubes in your gin and tonic, than to see ice cubes falling on your face in the Arctic.'
Bengaluru: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday said that it will now probe the Bengaluru riots case that took place on 11 August and rattled India's technology capital.

The NIA named Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) leader Muzamil Pasha for instigating the mob and inciting violence, the central agency said in a statement on Tuesday.

"The State Secretary of SDPI, Muzamil Pasha had earlier called a meeting and directed the members of PFI/SDPI to instigate the mob and incite violence. The mob went on rampage in DJ Halli, KG Halli and Pulakeshi Nagar area under Bengaluru City," NIA said in its statement.

A mob of over a 1,000 people had spread across eastern parts of Bengaluru, damaging public property, committing arson and attacking the police.

A mob had gathered outside the residence of the Congress legislator from Pulekeshi Nagar, Akhanda Srinivas Murthy, after his nephew put up a derogatory Facebook post on Prophet Mohammed.

Though the police tried to calm tempers down, the growing mob went on a rampage across several localities in the eastern part of the city.

They attacked D.J. Halli and K.G. Halli police stations and set fire to the building and vehicles parked outside.

The incident had sparked off heated exchanges between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress who traded charges of inciting violence to appease its respective voter base.

The NIA has registered cases under Karnataka Prevention of Destruction and Loss of Property Act.

The NIA team, headed by an IG-rank officer, will be stationed in Bengaluru in connection with the investigation of these cases, the agency said.

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Paper engineer Matthew Reinhart broke into the world of pop-up books in 1999 with The Pop-Up Book of Phobias. A robust roster of pop-up books followed, including those created in collaboration with others (such as the Encyclopedia Prehistorica and Encyclopedia Mythologica trilogies with Robert Sabuda) and solo paper-engineering projects, among them Star Wars: A Pop-Up Guide to the Galaxy and Transformers: The Ultimate Pop-Up Universe. Now, Reinhart embarks on a new creative path with Pop Magic, his first series of pop-ups for the board-book audience, which Abrams rolls out this month with Whats Up, Fire Truck?, illustrated by Toby Leigh. Not your older siblings pop-up, the sturdy book features innovative sliders and double and triple flaps to lift and, after the story has been read, fold out (and up) into a toy fire truckcomplete with a towering ladder. PW asked Reinhart about the whys and hows of launching Pop Magic and making the leap into the preschool market.

What triggered your interest in creating books for preschoolers?

This series has been brewing in my head for a long time. Since the beginning of my career Ive wanted to do very young pops, since Ive always been a bit sorry that little ones were missing out on the excitement of pop-ups. When I watched kids with board books and I saw the aspect of play that goes onchildren really do play with books, holding them upside down and turning them sidewaysI wanted somehow to be part of that.

How did you finally make that happen?

I havent had a lot of spare time over the last few years and I hadnt found the right publisher for that kind of project. But I love Abrams books and I worked with Andrew Smith [senior v-p and publisher of Abrams Childrens Books] at the start of my career, when he was at Candlewick, so I thought it might be a natural fit. I pitched Andrew some different ideas we could go with using my experience and knowledge to make interactive books for the youngest readers. I was blown away when he said he was interested.

In order to stretch as an artist, I am always trying to learn new things in paper engineering. At the beginning of every book, I try to put myself in a place where Im a little doubtful about what Im doingand then eventually get where I want to be.

Was that the case with Whats Up, Fire Truck?

Yes, it was! I knew that bringing paper-engineering mechanisms into a younger realm would be a little tougher, because they have to be sturdier since little ones handle books with such gusto. We did a lot of testing and throwing models around, to make sure that they were fun, exciting, and sturdy. If I get excited about a book, young readers will too. I feel much younger than I am, and Im still excited about the things that excited me as a child!

How did you conceive of the concept of turning a book into a toy?

At first, I thought, Im not sure can do this, but I began playing with the idea of giving kids a chance to read a book and then play with it. Ive always loved toys. I am a toy collector and I try to pay attention to what is going on in the toy world. As I said, I still am a kidand I describe myself as a failed toy designer. I studied toy design at Pratt Institute in New York, and I have worked toy aspects into a lot of the interactive elements Ive done in books, but this is the first time Ive turned a book into a toy. So maybe Im not a failed toy engineer after all!

Why did you opt for a fire truck for your first book-toy hybrid?

Ive always wanted to do a book about a fire truck. I have since moved to San Francisco, but I lived in New York City for a long time. And every time I saw a fire truck parked by the side of the road, usually because the firefighters had gone into a grocery store, I had to stop to walk around the truck and look at that amazing machine. There are so many different read-outs, hose hookups, and boxes that hold thingsI decided it would be cool to figure out how to somehow replicate a fire truck in book form.

Flashing back to your earlier collaborations with other artists, what projects were especially memorable?

I of course collaborated on many wonderful books with Robert Sabuda, and early on in my career, in 2006, I was able to work with Maurice Sendak on Mommy? He would repeatedly say, when doing the art, Im totally screwing this up! We went back and forth many times. I remember when we started, he said, Im really fastIll be finished with the art in no time at all. And it took him four years! We got to be friends, and Id go to visit him. As a young artist, I was still figuring things out, and he was great to me. He had a reputation for being ornery, but to me he was a breeze and I loved collaborating with him.

I was also fortunate to collaborate with Tomie dePaola on Brava, Strega Nona!: A Heartwarming Pop-Up Book, and was able to learn a lot from him, too. Tomie was really wonderful, and he was a machinehe could work so fast! He touched so many lives and inspired so many people. What is exciting to me about collaborating is being able to vibe off each other and share the experience with another artist.

In the complicated paper-engineering world, how does your collaborative process with another artist work?

My first step is always thinking about it as though Im a director blocking actors on the stage. I sketch out art guides for artists so they know what to drawotherwise their art might limit what I can do as an engineer. I dont like to be limited, and because I know how to draw, I can explain very clearly what I need. Though when I look back at notes I have given illustrators, I realize that they can be frightening, because they are so detailed. Working with Toby [Leigh] on Fire Truck was easyI sent him sketches with notes and he took it from there. His work was beautiful. There were no corrections.

After you received the final art from Toby, what was your next step?

Toby sent me his digital artwork files and then I added a layer of die lines, which is essentially the template for cutting out the different pop-up pieces for the book. A layer for the text got added into this finalized digital file, which was sent, along with my hand-built prototype, to the manufacturer. That way, their team could replicate the book. I am always involved in the process throughout the entire productioneither in person or through Skype or videos. The book goes from my hands, creating the engineering and building the prototype, to me guiding the manufacturers hands so that the best possible book can get into the hands of readers. Its a complicated process, but I feel strongly that this is my responsibility as an author, illustrator, and paper engineer. Abrams has a great production team, and with Fire Truck everyone worked together to make sure that every part of the book was just right.

Given this painstaking process, how long was Fire Truck in the making?

Id say that it was two to three years before we had the actual books. The project was germinating for some time, and the art took at least a year, with a lot of starts and stops. And designing the book took about a month of nonstop work. Pop-up books can take a long time, but I enjoy the process a lot. Im a journey rather than a destination person, even though it sometimes can be annoying and hard and your head hurts a lot. I have both sides of my brain workingtheres the creative part and the how can we make this work? partfiguring out the minute, irritating details you want to be able to gloss over but you cant. Ive been thinking and dreaming about Pop Magic and this first book for the longest time, and I have to pinch myself realizing that it actually exists now!

What additional Pop Magic titles do you have in the works?

Well, Fire Truck gets it started with a bang, and future Pop Magic titles will include some playable object books and other books that offer interactivity in some way. I worked with the artist Ekaterina Trukhan on the next book, Colors: My First Pop-Up!, which will come out next spring. It has fun pull-tabs and some other cute interactive mechanisms. Id also love to do more vehicle books, and perhaps a book that turns into a house or part of a house, so kids can read the story, build the house, and play with it. I think books are so important to growing upnot just helping children learn how to read but learn how to imagine and how to explore the world. I hope Pop Magic books can add a little extra bit to that experience.

Whats Up, Fire Truck? by Matthew Reinhart, illus. by Toby Leigh. Abrams Appleseed, $16.99 Sept. ISBN 978-1-4197-4107-4
DEBENHAMS workers have staged protests at KPMG offices in Dublin, Cork and Galway today just hours after packers were sent into several stores.

Staff say that they are "incensed" at the dispatching of packers to stores.

"KPMG are attempting to grab stock from a number of shops. They haven't listened to workers and made a proposal for a few crumbs. Valuable stock in 11 shops is being protected by workers until a fair settlement is given," one protesting worker claimed.

Last week Debenhams workers on the Cork picket received support from former Vita Cortex workers.

The workers staged a successful 161 day sit-in back in 2011 at their factory in Ballyphehane, Cork, in a bid to secure a proper redundancy package.

Former Vita Cortex worker, Cal O'Leary, said that he was heartbroken to see history repeating itself with the Debenhams workers now 166 days into their protest.

"We were lucky in that we had visitors coming in and out bringing us food. These women are standing out in the rain. I was with Vita Cortex for 44 years and I know the staff here are also employed a long time.

"I never expected this to happen again. It is a disgrace. Some legislation has to be put in to protect workers," he said.

"These people worked twenty and thirty years for the shop and surely to be God something should have been put aside for them."

"I hope this never happens to anyone again. We were promised legislation and never got it. I hope they make a difference this time."

Cork Debenhams Shop Steward Valerie Conlon vowed they will find the energy to continue until a resolution is found.

"Everyone is a team here. All we are getting is empty promises from the Government. There is money in Debenhams. They have 95 million in the bank. Plus they are selling off their Danish company, which is worth 200 million.

"Whatever about anything else the Government has to change the legislation now for the employees going forward. "

Sinn Fein TD Thomas Gould has called on the government to listen to the requests of Debenhams workers.

"These are not outlandish requests. I support the establishment of a Levy Funds on Private Sector employers for such purposes (with contribution rates ranging from 0.66pc to 0.35pc of labour costs) such as that which exists in Germany and Austria because this will protect workers going forward," he said.

"These workers are brave and they are determined. They are now involved in the longest running industrial action this state has ever seen and it is time for the government to intervene, put an end to this and give the Debenhams workers what they are entitled to."

Workers are giving up dozens of hours every week standing outside stores nationwide to prevent stock from being removed onsite.

It is understood that stock across the Irish Debenhams stores nationwide is worth in the region of 20 million.

Workers believe the liquidated stock and cash in the stores should be going into the Irish redundancy pot.

Instead, 2,000 workers spread across 11 shops face receiving only statutory redundancy.

When Debenhams shut their Irish branches just before Easter the company said it was "desperately sorry" to have to liquidate its business in this country.

In a statement the company said that they regretted having to close their Irish stores.

"In these unprecedented times, Debenhams is having to make exceptionally difficult decisions. Unfortunately, our Irish business has had trading challenges which were exacerbated by the impact of Covid-19.

"In the UK, Debenhams has entered into administration in order to protect its business. Regrettably, due to the challenges facing Debenhams Retail (Ireland) Ltd, it is anticipated that an application will be made to appoint a liquidator to the Irish operations."

Debenhams opened its first outlet in the Republic in the Jervis shopping centre in 1996. Its big expansion in the Republic came in 2006 when it bought the lease for nine Roches Stores outlets nationwide.
The Securities and Exchange Commission announced settled insider trading charges against Robert Hoddes Jacobs, a California resident, who repeatedly traded on material, nonpublic information that he obtained through his work as an investor relations consultant.

According to the SEC's complaint, Jacobs received information concerning the financial results of public companies as part of providing assistance with the preparation of their earnings releases. The SEC alleges that, between February 2016 and March 2018, ahead of eleven earnings announcements, Jacobs traded the companies' stock while in possession of the information. For example, as alleged in the complaint, in February 2018, the CFO of a public company e-mailed Jacobs the company's draft quarterly financial results, which contained nonpublic, positive information about the company's quarterly income. According to the complaint, Jacobs then purchased 23,500 shares of the company's stock before this information was released to the public. As alleged, Jacobs' trading ahead of the eleven earnings announcements resulted in total profits gained and losses avoided of more than $79,000.

The SEC's complaint, filed in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, alleges that Jacobs violated the antifraud provisions of Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and Rule 10b-5 thereunder. Without admitting or denying the allegations in the complaint, Jacobs consented to the entry of a final judgment that enjoins him from violating the charged provisions, imposes a penalty of $157,095, and bars him from serving as a public company officer or director for five years. The settlement is subject to court approval.

The SEC's investigation was conducted by Christopher G. Margand and Ivan J. Snyder, with assistance from Dean M. Conway, Amy Longo, and Jan Folena, and was supervised by David Frohlich and Carolyn M. Welshhans. The SEC appreciates the assistance of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.
In a shocking development, the teachers at a reputed school in Uttar Pradesh's Meerut have accused the school management of not paying them salary for a long time, adding that the school management behave in indecent manners with women teachers when they demand salary.

Not only this, some teachers have accused the management of sexual abuse and told that the management has also installed spy cameras in the toilets meant for females.

Apart from this, some teachers also said that when a woman does not come under the control of management,they also take help of witchcraft.

The women teachers of Rishabh Academy School located in Sadar Bazar, Meerut, have accused school secretary Rajneet Jain and his son Abhinav of not giving their salary and sexually assaulting them. The teachers have also claimed that Ranjeet and his son are involved in embezzlement of huge amount of money.

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The teachers protested at the school and then they went to the police station to register their complaint.

According to teachers, Ranjit and Abhinav have installed cameras in the toilet of the school and have taken objectionable videos and pictures of them. The teachers claimed that the father-son duo are now using these pictures and videos to blackmail them and forcing the teachers to have a physical relationship with them.
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Gandhinagar, Sep 22 : Answering an 'urgent matter' question in the assembly about the video showing a Rajkot-based Corona victim being beaten up who later died, Health Minister Nitin Patel said certain elements were putting out fake videos and partial clippings on social media just to tarnish the health care services in the state.

The video which went viral on social media platforms depicted a Corona patient being manhandled by the healthcare services staff at Rajkot civil hospital and who later died. Based on the video, Congress legislator Poonja Vansh had raised the question under the urgent matter notice on the second day of the monsoon session of the Gujarat assembly. He asked the government as to what steps were being taken to ensure that patients who feel threatened and are afraid of getting beaten up, receive proper treatment and care instead of getting killed inside the hospital? Replying to the question, Health Minister and Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel said, "After viewing the CCTV footage, it was observed that the patient Prabhakaran Bhaidas Patil, had created a ruckus in the hospital. He started harassing other patients and misbehaving in the ward for which he had to be stopped. Following that after some effort, the hospital and security staff were able to control the patient." "The hospital staff immediately informed and discussed the patient's mental health with his wife. A mental health expert diagnosed him with delirium. But only a portion of the CCTV footage showing the patient being manhandled was posted on social media platforms which went viral and tarnished the image of the health care services," added Patel.

"We had the incident investigated and immediately held a press briefing, presenting the factual information of the incident to the media. The actual footage of the patient getting violent and misbehaving have been posted on WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter for the public to see," added Patel.

Patel also informed that government hospital staff has provisioned facilities for family members of the admitted patients to get in touch with them. "We have setup control rooms, help desks and video calling centres and other facilities so that the families can avail the live status of their admitted family members. We have ensured every possible steps for patients' health and safety," added Patel.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 14:31:29|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Monday that there is no alternative to multilateralism, calling on governments to reaffirm their commitment to the UN Charter and find collective solutions to global problems.

Reacting to global challenges is becoming more and more complex year by year, particularly in conditions where we see increasing discord in the international community, Lavrov said in a video message at a high-level meeting to commemorate the UN's 75th anniversary.

The Russian foreign minister made the remarks on behalf of the member states of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, a Russia-led military alliance that groups six former Soviet republics of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan.

Elaborating on the growing discord, Lavrov noted that some countries are reluctant to consider the legal interests of other states, attempt to meddle in the domestic affairs of other states, and apply unilateral sanctions violating the prerogative of the UN Security Council.

The world requires more multilateral assistance and cooperation, Lavrov said, noting that the aims that were laid down 75 years ago when the UN was founded are more timely than ever.

Stressing that there is no alternative to multilateralism, the foreign minister urged governments to restate their commitment to the UN Charter and the norms of international law, and make efforts to find collective solutions to global problems with the UN playing the central coordinating role.

Lavrov said the world needs once again, as in 1945, to set aside discord and to come together to resolve common problems with an emphasis on equal dialogue and mutual respect of interests, and that the UN is the forum that creates all the necessary conditions for this.

Monday's high-level meeting was opened by the new president of the 193-member General Assembly, Volkan Bozkir of Turkey, followed by remarks from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and other UN officials and representatives.

The meeting also heard statements from the host country, member states, observer states and the European Union. The theme of the meeting is "The future we want, the United Nations we need: reaffirming our collective commitment to multilateralism." Enditem
A disturbance over Cuba is expected to enter the Gulf of Mexico later this week, the National Hurricane Center said Tuesday morning. The system has a 10% chance of developing into at least a tropical depression.

The disturbance is one of four active systems forecasters are tracking in the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean.

Southeast Louisiana is under a flash flood watch related to rainfall from Tropical Storm Beta, which made landfall overnight in Texas. Coastal flooding from Beta also is being reported in Louisiana.

It's too early to tell if the system over Cuba could impact the Gulf Coast.

Hurricane Teddy and Tropical Storm Paulette, which reformed overnight, do not pose a threat to Louisiana.

Here's what to know about the tropics as of Tuesday morning from the National Hurricane Center.

Disturbance heading for the Gulf of Mexico

Forecasters on Tuesday were tracking an area of thunderstorms over the Bahamas west through the Straits of Florida and into the southeastern Gulf of Mexico.

The disturbance - associated with a frontal system - is expected to move south over Cuba the next couple of days and then north Thursday through Saturday, forecasters said.

Environmental conditions could be "marginally conducive" for some slight development over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico late this week, forecasters said.

Regardless of development, heavy rainfall is expected Tuesday and Wednesday over portions of Cuba.

The disturbance has a 10% chance of developing into at least a tropical depression within five days.

Read the latest.

Beta weakens to a tropical depression

Beta weakened to a tropical depression Tuesday morning after making landfall overnight in Texas as a tropical storm, forecasters said.

Beta was the ninth named storm that made landfall in the continental U.S. this year. That tied a record set in 1916, according to Colorado State University hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach.

It also was the first time a Greek letter named storm made landfall in the continental U.S. Forecasters ran out of traditional storm names on Friday, forcing the use of the Greek alphabet for only the second time since the 1950s.

+24 Photos: Tropical Storm Beta floods Galveston, coastal areas of Texas Storm surge and rainfall combined Tuesday to bring more flooding along the Texas coast after Tropical Storm Beta made landfall, threatening ar

As of 10 a.m., Beta was about 15 miles northeast of Victoria, Texas, and about 30 miles northwest of Palacios, Texas.

Beta is moving northeast at 2 mph. After stalling, the storm is expected to begin moving slowly northeast Tuesday night. It's expected to speed up Wednesday through Friday.

On the forecast track, the center of Beta will move inland over southeastern Texas through Wednesday and then over Louisiana and Mississippi Wednesday night through Friday.

It has weakened to 35 mph, and additional weakening is expected through the end of the week.

Get hurricane updates in your inbox Sign up for updates on storm forecasts, tracks and more. e-mail address * Sign Up

Read the latest about Tropical Depression Beta.

Heavy rain and storm surge expected

Coastal areas of Louisiana and Texas were reporting flooding Tuesday morning related to Tropical Storm Beta.

A storm surge of 1 to 3 feet is expected from Sabine Pass to Ocean Springs, Miss., including Calcasieu Lake, Vermilion Bay, Lake Borgne and Lake Pontchartrain.

A coastal flood warning is in effect in southeast Louisiana until noon Tuesday and then a coastal flood advisory goes into effect until 7 a.m. Thursday.

A flash flood watch remains in effect for most of southeast Louisiana, including New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Lafayette, through 7 p.m. Wednesday. Forecasters said 2 to 4 inches of rain are likely, with higher amounts possible.

Read more about the flash flood watch.

Hurricane Teddy heads for Nova Scotia

Hurricane Teddy, an "extremely large" storm, is expected to bring heavy rain, strong winds and destructive winds to Nova Scotia, forecasters said.

As of 10 a.m., it was about 345 miles south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, and was moving northwest at 16 mph. On the forecast track, the center will move over eastern Nova Scotia on Wednesday and then near or over Newfoundland by Wednesday night.

It has winds of 105 mph, making it a Category 2 storm. Although some weakening is likely later Tuesday and Wednesday, Teddy should be a strong post-tropical cyclone when it moves near and over Nova Scotia.

Read the latest about Teddy.

Paulette redevelops in Atlantic

Paulette, once a hurricane in the Atlantic, has redeveloped as a tropical storm, forecasters said.

As of Tuesday morning, it was about 335 miles southeast of the Azores and was moving east at 14 mph.

It weakened Tuesday morning and had winds of 40 mph. Paulette is expected to weaken to a remnant low within the next day or two, forecasters said.

Read the latest about Tropical Storm Paulette.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Don't miss a storm update this hurricane season. Sign up for breaking newsletters. Follow our Hurricane Center Facebook page.
AKRON, Ohio, Sept. 21, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- On September 24th at 8am, the Greater Akron Chamber will host a virtual annual meeting and kick-off the GAC Leadership Dialogue Series. Originally planned for March 2020, the Annual Meeting was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In lieu of holding a traditional annual meeting virtually, the Greater Akron Chamber will leverage this opportunity to launch the GAC Leadership Dialogue Series  a set of five virtual events aimed at convening the business community around pertinent topics for dialogue and perspectives from regional and national experts.

The Series will kick-off on September 24th at 8am with a dual-purposed event. The first part will feature traditional Annual Meeting content, including remarks from GAC Chair, Marc Merklin (Brouse McDowell) and Chair-Elect Grace Wakulchik (Akron Children's Hospital). The two will reflect on the accomplishments, outline the work to be done, and recognize the H. Peter Burg Award winner, Roger Read. The second part will be the first in the Series of Leadership Dialogues, featuring five Greater Akron business leaders as they share their perspectives on leadership, resilience, and change.

The remaining topics in the Series include those focused on diversity, inclusion and equity; the future of work and the workplace post-COVID-19; population health, with a focus on the impact of three health crises on business and the economy; and the 2021 economic outlook.

"There are so many critical issues facing the business community right now and this Series is a chance to draw attention to them and facilitate important conversations not only for greater awareness around these topics but also to empower the business community to act and grow," said GAC Chair, Marc Merklin, Brouse McDowell.

The Series includes an impressive lineup of local and national perspectives, giving business leaders and opportunity to get an inside perspective on their experiences, ideas and recommendations in each of these areas. Beyond that, participants will have the opportunity to engage directly with each of the panelists in a live Q&A session immediately following each of the panel discussions.

The investment from the Series Presenting Sponsors, including Brouse McDowell, FirstEnergy, KeyBank, Localiq, and Summa Health, has allowed us to take down the traditional 'pay wall' and membership requirements that come with access to content like this. Any business professional and leader can participate, regardless of their location or membership status.

"The restrictions imposed upon us by COVID-19 may prohibit our ability to bring people together in person, but it has also created a unique opportunity to engage business leaders who may not otherwise be able to attend. This content is important, regardless of whether or not you're a member of the Chamber, and we want to have any and all business leaders involved, if they want to be."

The Greater Akron Chamber remains focused on meeting the needs of the business community to facilitate their growth and success. These dialogues are critical to business resilience, building an inclusive economy, protecting our workforce, and positioning businesses for growth in the future.

To register and learn more about the panelists, click here. Questions should be directed to Brynn Popa at [email protected].

The mission of the Greater Akron Chamber is to drive economic growth and prosperity for Greater Akron by supporting the success of the business community and acting as a convener of stakeholders on key issues facing the region.

SOURCE Greater Akron Chamber

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YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 21, ARMENPRESS. The Hero of Our Time special award was bestowed upon conscripted serviceman Narek Hakobyan, as a collective character of the Armenian soldier, for their heroic actions in defending the country during the Azerbaijani attack in July 2020.

The award was presented by Samvel Udumyan, a resident of Aygepar, a village in the province of Tavush which was hit by Azerbaijani artillery strikes during the July battles.

On behalf of my brothers-in-arms, I would like to thank you for the appreciation, and I assure you that today, the Armenian soldier has high professional skills and abilities, is combat-ready and is firmly standing at our countrys borders, with indestructible decisiveness and a winners mentality ready to carry out any objective, Narek Hakobyan said.

This award is for those who gave their lives for their country, and those who returned victoriously. A collective award, which will go from base to base, from outpost to trench, reminding each of our heroes of our time  And That Person is You, the announcers said.

The other special prize of the Hero of Our Time award was presented to health workers who are fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Hero of Our Time Award is homage to the citizen of Armenia, honoring their selfless and diligent activities and achievements in different areas.

This year, organizers added two new awards for health workers fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and for the troops for their heroic actions in defending the country during the Azerbaijani attacks on Armenia in July 2020.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
Jackie Stallone, celebrity astrologist and mother of Sylvester Stallone, has died at the age of 98.

The news was announced on Monday night (21 September) by Sylvester Stallones younger brother, the actor Frank Stallone.

She was a remarkable woman, working out every day, full of spunk and fearless, he wrote, in a post on Facebook. She died in her sleep as she had wished. It was hard not to like her, she was very eccentric and flamboyant personShe lived through prohibition, the depression and World War II.

Jackie and Sylvester Stallone attend the Golden Apple Awards in 1997 in Beverly Hills, California (Getty Images)

I would talk to her for hours about the Twenties, Thirties and Forties. It was a history lesson. Her mind was as sharp as a razor till the day she died.

Stallone, born Jacqueline Frances Labofish on 29 November 1921 in Washington, DC, started out as a trapeze artist, dancer and hairdresser.

She became well-known in the 1990s after publishing a series of astrology-based books, also opening her own psychic hotline.

In the 1980s, she was also known for her appearances in the TV wrestling programme GLOW: Gorgeous Ladies Of Wrestling, which was later adapted into the Netflix series GLOW.

In 2005, Stallone featured alongside her former daughter-in-law Brigette Nielsen on the third season of Celebrity Big Brother, although was voted out of the house after just four days.

She was often characterised as an astrologist to the stars, and her website describes her as having advised kings, prime ministers, politicians, movie stars, gamblers, generals, gangsters, cops and priests.
Jennifer Aniston surprised her fans after she staged a mini "Friends" reunion with co-stars Lisa Kudrow and Courteney Cox during the 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday.

"The Morning Show" star had to rush to her house after she appeared in the opening ceremony together with Emmys 2020 host Jimmy Kimmel.

From a sleek classic black dress, the 51-year-old actress changed to a cozy loungewear donning her pink floral silk robe as Kimmel announced the best actress in a drama series, where she was nominated.

Surpringsily, as the host checked in on Anniston, the "Horrible Bosses" actress was joined by her former co-stars in an impromptu "Friends" reunion.

Cox interrupted the brief chat while she greeted the veteran host.

The brunette beauty also mentioned that "they live together" and have been "roommates since 1994," in reference to the debut of their hit sitcom. In the said series, Aniston played the spoiled rich girl Rachel Green, who lived with her neat-freak best friend Monica Geller -- portrayed by Cox.

Moreover, the two have a common friend named Phoebe Buffay, played by Kudrow. Her character was known to be the hippie guitar-playing chick of Central Perk.

Aside from the trio, the main cast also includes Monica's paleontologist brother Ross Geller played by David Schwimmer, Chandler Bing played by Matthew Perry, and Joey Tribianni played by Matt LeBlanc.

The reunion certainly of the three brought back memories from their "Friends" days. And with the show celebrating its 26th anniversary, we decided to take a look at some of the most unforgettable moments from the popular show.

"The One With Unagi"

In the sixth season, Ross bragged about how he used to study karate in the past and how he mastered the art of Unagi, which is a state of total awareness.

Both Rachel and Phoebe mocked him and insisted that Unagi is a kind of sushi.

To prove his point, Ross tried to scare the ladies at their apartment to teach them a lesson about Unagi's importance.

Phoebe and Rachel returned the favor and sneak into his apartment; however, Ross wanted to get even and sneaked into Phoebe's apartment but failed since the two notice him entering their home.

Ross' Pivot Moment

In the 16th episode of Season 5 of "Friends," Ross bought his new sofa but decided to skip paying the delivery fee. Instead, he asked for help from Rachel and Chandler to carry the furniture up in his apartment.

Ross tried to lead the group by navigating the couch up the stairs as he screamed "pivot" repeatedly.

Ross and Rachel Break Up

It's no secret that Ross had feelings with Rachel back when they were in high school, but since she is her sister's best friend, he decided to hide it.

Fortunately for him, they became a couple after she ditched her parents and decided to live with Monica.

Unfortunately, Rachel and Ross had an intense fight and told him, "maybe we should just take a break."

Heartbroken by Rachel's decision, he found himself drunk and had a one night stand with a woman he knows from his local copy place.

The next day, Rachel visited his place and found out that he invited a girl. She then accused him of cheating, to which he strongly denied.

Ross insisted that it wasn't "cheating" because technically, they were "on a break."

READ MORE: Emmys 2020: Best and Worst Dressed Stars in the Virtual Ceremony
Chinese real estate mogul Ren Zhiqiang - COLOR CHINA PHOTO

The former chairman of a state-owned real estate company who publicly criticised President Xi Jinping's handling of the coronavirus pandemic was sentenced to 18 years in prison on Tuesday on corruption charges, a court announced.

Ren Zhiqiang, who became known for speaking up about censorship and other sensitive topics, disappeared from public view in March after publishing an essay online that accused Mr Xi of mishandling the outbreak that began in December in the central city of Wuhan.

Mr Xi, party leader since 2012, has suppressed criticism, tightened censorship and cracked down on unofficial organisations. Dozens of journalists, labour and human rights activists and others have been imprisoned.

Mr Ren, 69, was convicted of corruption, bribery, embezzlement of public funds and abuse of power, the Beijing No. 2 Intermediate People's Court announced on its social media account. It cited Mr Ren as saying he wouldn't appeal.

The former chairman and deputy party secretary of Huayuan Group was expelled from the ruling party in July.

In a commentary that circulated on social media, Mr Ren criticised a Feb. 23 video conference with 170,000 officials held early in the pandemic at which Mr Xi announced orders for responding to the disease.

Mr Ren didn't mention Mr Xi's name but said, "standing there was not an emperor showing off his new clothes but a clown who had stripped off his clothes and insisted on being an emperor".

Mr Ren criticised propaganda that portrayed Mr Xi and other leaders as rescuing China from the disease without mentioning where it began and possible mistakes including suppressing information at the start of the outbreak.

"People did not see any criticism at the conference. It didn't investigate and disclose the truth," Mr Ren wrote, according to a copy published by China Digital Times, a website in California. "No one reviewed or took responsibility. But they are trying to cover up the truth with all kinds of great achievements."

Mr Ren had an early military career and his parents were both former high officials in the Communist party. Some called him a princeling, a term for offspring of the founders of the communist government, a group that includes Mr Xi.

He appeared to have crossed a political line by criticising Mr Xi's personal leadership.
Israeli warplanes have been spotted flying over the Syrian-Lebanese border, raising alarms and fears of an another round of airstrikes writes Al-Masdar.

Israeli warplanes were spotted on Monday, carrying out sorties along the Syrian-Lebanese border, prompting the Syrian air defenses to raise their alert level.

According to a field report from Damascus, the Israeli warplanes approached the Arab Republics borders from the occupied Golan Heights before turning around towards the southern region of Lebanon.

The Israeli warplanes were once again seen near the border region; however, they once again turned away towards southern Lebanon.

At the same time, local Lebanese news outlets have reported similar information, but with Israeli overflights in the Hasbaya and Rashaya directorates of southern Lebanon.

These Israeli warplanes were then said to have moved towards the occupied Shebaa Farms region, which is near the occupied Golan Heights.

In the past, the Israeli Air Force has used the occupied Shebaa Farms and Golan Heights to launch attacks on Syrias Quneitra and Damascus provinces.

However, the recent attacks by the Israeli Air Force have targeted areas away from the Syrian capital, with one particular strike targeting the Governorate of Aleppo.

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.
Edith Raymond Locke, who fled Nazi-occupied Vienna at 18 and rose to become a longtime editor of Mademoiselle magazine, where she worked with photographers like Arthur Elgort and mentored designers like Ralph Lauren, Betsey Johnson and Donna Karan, died on Aug. 23 at her home in Thousand Oaks, Calif. She was 99.

Her daughter, Katie Aviv, confirmed the death.

In the youthquake 1960s and beyond, Ms. Locke was a booster of young designers, models and photographers.

One talent was Ms. Johnson, who, after being a guest editor in 1964, stayed on at the magazines art department and made silver lame T-shirts and skinny sweaters, selling them to her colleagues. Impressed by her exuberant style, Ms. Locke recommended Ms. Johnson to Paul Young, the British entrepreneur who ran Paraphernalia, an influential youthquake emporium, making Ms. Johnsons career.

Ms. Johnson called Ms. Locke my fashion mommy in a 1995 interview with The New York Times.

Another protege was Ms. Karan, who was an assistant at Anne Klein in the late 1960s when Ms. Locke encouraged her to take the top job there after Ms. Kleins death in 1974.
"Every day seeing him get more obedient and more in tune with me and listening to what I'm telling him  it's pretty awesome, he said.

Sickles said getting the chance to become a K-9 handler after Igars death is a dream come true again.

I felt terrible when I retired him (K-9 Igar), and then I felt even worse when he passed. Now, getting a chance to do it again, I think honestly it's like a blessing," said Sickles, who added he thought he would be a one-time K-9 handler until receiving the opportunity to become a handler again.

Dyer Police Chief David Hein said K-9 Odin, who will be on day patrol, was purchased for $15,000 through money the department received from fundraisers for its K-9 program over the last year and a half.

K-9 Odin will be the third active K-9 on the Dyer police force, joining K-9 Kolt, who patrols schools with a school resource officer and does explosives detection, and K-9 Rocco, who works the midnight patrol shift.
NEW YORK, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Asia Brand Summit was organized in Shanghai on Sept. 22 by the World Brand Lab. The "Asia's Most Influential Brands 2020" list was released at the summit. Elie Ofek, professor at Harvard Business School, and Ravi Dhar, professor at Yale School of Management, attended the summit and delivered keynote speeches. This is the 15th time that the World Brand Lab has evaluated the influence of Asian brands. A total of 500 brands from 21 countries and regions have been selected. Toyota, State Grid and Tencent are listed as the top three. Haier, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, Samsung, Honda, Huawei, China Life and Sony follow them in the list of top 10. China, Japan and South Korea have emerged as the countries with the most selected brands.

World Brand Lab

The selection criterion is the brand's Asian influence, i.e., the brand's ability to explore and occupy the market to make profits. The basic indicators used by the World Brand Lab to evaluate the influence of Asian brands include Market Share, Brand Loyalty and Asian Leadership. Based on this, brands from 21 countries and regions have been chosen. China (including Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan) with 210 brands (158 of which are in mainland China) ranks first among all countries. Japan occupies the second ranking with 136 brands. Third is South Korea with 49 brands.

Consumer loyalty in the Asian market varies in different countries. Japanese consumers still display the highest national brand loyalty  as high as 81%; South Korea ranks second, with 69% national brand loyalty. Compared with the past, brand loyalty in China has increased to 56%, putting it third on the list. In order to help British, American and other Western brands to enter the Asian (especially Chinese) market, as a strategic partner, World Brand Lab will participate in the construction of the "iTrust" brand review platform. iTrust.com is an SNS marketplace with customer reviews and an actual rewards system. As a digital bridge designed to connect businesses and their overseas customers, iTrust creates a friendly ecosystem for content creators to showcase their talent and provides businesses with timely consumer feedback to increase brand engagement.

The motto for this year's "Asia Brand Summit" is "Innovation Drives Brand Value and Corporate Growth." Ravi Dhar, professor at the Yale School of Management, who participated in the conference, pointed out: "In the last five to 10 years, there has been a steep rise in purpose-driven brands. The new belief-driven consumers care not only about the functional and emotional benefits that a company provides but also how that company's values align with their own. Consumers now care about many stakeholders and consider how companies treat the environment, their community, and also their employees." Elie Ofek, professor at Harvard Business School, believes that technological innovation can help companies succeed and achieve growth by building strong brands. For example, Apple and Tesla are the most prominent examples of technology brands. These are brands that are not just known to consumers but also have meanings that matter to them. More importantly, these brands also represent who they are or who they aspire to be.

Haisen Ding, CEO of the World Executive Group and member of the World Brand Lab expert panel, believes that a brand is a warehouse of trust. As choices increase, this becomes hugely important. In the past, everyone had realized that brands can affect consumer decisions. Now, brands affect not only consumption but also investment. Intangible assets represented by brands are even changing the structure of global capital markets. From all components of the S&P 500 index, the proportion of intangible assets has risen from 17% of total assets in 1975 to 84% today, exceeding $20 trillion  a record high. The World Brand Lab, owned by the leading strategic consulting firm World Executive Group, is an international brand value research institution. Professor Robert Mundell, the winner of the 1999 Nobel Prize in Economics, serves as the chairman of World Brand Lab.

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Table 1: Top 10 of the 'Asia's 500 Most Influential Brands 2020'

table-2-top-10-countries-regions.png

Table 2: Top 10 Countries/Regions with Most Brands Selected

Related Links

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iTrust

SOURCE World Brand Lab

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An explosive device was discovered planted on a car in Daraa, which belonged to a prominent judge in the region, but it is unknown who placed the device writes SY 24.

Unknown assailants attempted to assassinate a judge affiliated with the Syrian regime in Daraa Governorate today, by planting an explosive device in his car.

According to SY 24s correspondent, The explosive device was planted in the car of Judge Jamal al-Zaabi, where it was discovered while he was in the town of al-Taybeh in the eastern countryside of Daraa.

The correspondent added that, the engineering teams of the regime were not able to dismantle the device so they decided to detonate it while it was still in the car, after clearing everyone from the area.

Another explosive device went off in the car of Anas al-Mahamid after midnight on Monday, while he was in Daraas al-Balad district. Mahamid was lightly wounded.

Mahamid used to be a military commander in the Ahfad al-Rasul Brigade (Grandsons of the Prophet Brigades), affiliated with the Syrian opposition factions, and he was part of the settlement agreement that was concluded with the regime under Russian auspices in 2018.

Last Thursday, unknown assailants carried out four assassinations in Daraa Governorate, killing five people, including a brigadier general in the regimes army and one of the judges in the Dar al-Adl (House of Justice) court of Houran.

Daraa Governorate, since it fell under the control of the Syrian regime and Russia in 2018, has been witnessing a state of security chaos, especially with regards to assassinations, arrests and violations against civilians, alongside a deterioration of services and precarious economic conditions that have been making life even more unbearable for people in all cities and towns of the province.

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.
Sylvan Beach, N.Y.  A woman has died and a Syracuse police officer is in critical condition in what state police said was a possible case of carbon monoxide poisoning aboard a boat in Sylvan Beach.

Blair M. Dodge, 34, of Central Square, and William R. LaShomb, 36, of Bridgeport, were staying overnight Sunday on a boat docked along the Erie Canal when they were stricken with carbon monoxide poisoning, said Trooper Jack Keller, a spokesman for the state police.

Blair Dodges obituary

When Dodge didnt show up for work Monday morning, her friends went looking for the couple.

Sylvan Beach firefighters found the couple on the boat, Keller said. State police were called to the scene around 2:30 p.m. Monday.

Dodge was pronounced dead on the boat.

LaShomb was found unconscious, but alive. He was rushed to an Oneida hospital before being airlifted to Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse, where he remains in critical condition.

Syracuse Police Officer William LaShomb pictured in a 2017 photo. Photo courtesy of The Stand.Michael M. Santiago | The Stand

LaShomb joined the Syracuse Police Department in 2008.

State police are investigating whether the boats engine or a portable space heater were the source of the carbon monoxide leak.

Police found no signs of trauma or any suspicious circumstances. The investigation remains ongoing.

A GoFundMe campaign to help Dodges family has already raised more than $32,000.

Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas which can cause sudden illness and death, according the the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The gas is produced any time a fossil fuel is burned.

The most common symptoms of CO poisoning are headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion.

Carbon monoxide poisoning ranks fifth in known causes of death among boaters, according to the U.S. Coast Guards report on 2017 Recreational Boating Statistics. More than 800 people have been poisoned by boating-related carbon monoxide over a 15-year period, with over 140 of these poisonings resulting in fatalities, according to an earlier CDC report.

Contact Jacob Pucci at jpucci@syracuse.com or find him on Twitter at @JacobPucci.
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Linkedin Rob Lever (Agence France-Presse) Washington, United States  Tue, September 22, 2020 08:25 487 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c464a20f 2 World Donald-Trump,TikTok,TikTok-ban-us-trump,US-China,US-China-tension Free

A deal to restructure ownership of the popular video app TikTok was thrown into doubt Monday when President Donald Trump vowed to block any deal that allows its Chinese parent firm to retain any control.

The comments raised fresh concerns over a weekend deal that appeared to avert a US-ordered ban of TikTok, which the Trump administration has called a national security risk and has threatened to ban without ownership changes.

The deal would make Silicon Valley giant Oracle the data partner for TikTok, with retail giant Walmart also taking a stake in a new entity to be called TikTok Global.

But details of the plan remained unclear, amid differing accounts on the American and Chinese shares of the new firm, and who would be in control of the data and algorithms.

Trump on Monday told Fox News that TikTok's Chinese parent firm ByteDance "will have nothing to do with it, and if they do, then we just won't make the deal."

He added that Oracle and Walmart "are going to own the controlling interest. Everything is going to be moved into a cloud done by Oracle... and it's going to be controlled -- totally controlled by Oracle."

Later in the day, Trump told reporters the deal was "working its way through," and added, "I've given a preliminary OK."

Battle for algorithms

ByteDance, under pressure in China not to give in to US demands, said it would hold an 80 percent stake in TikTok Global after a public share offering.

The Chinese firm said the current plan "does not involve the transfer of any algorithms and technologies," and that reports to the contrary were "rumors."

A separate statement from Oracle offered a different view of the transaction.

"Upon creation of TikTok Global, Oracle/Walmart will make their investment and the TikTok Global shares will be distributed to their owners, Americans will be the majority and ByteDance will have no ownership in TikTok Global," Oracle vice president Ken Glueck said.

TikTok -- which became a global phenomenon with its brand of short, addictive phone videos and has some 100 million US users -- has come under fire in recent months as tensions escalate between China and the west.

Trump has increasingly put national security and his aggressive stance toward China at the center of his re-election campaign, claiming without providing evidence that TikTok is collecting user data for Beijing.

It is the latest digital battleground between Beijing and Washington, which has also sought to cut off Chinese giant Huawei from the global tech supply chain on similar security concerns, and has moved to ban the multi-usage Chinese app WeChat in the United States.

'US bullying'

China's Commerce Ministry on Saturday condemned what it called US "bullying," saying it violated international trade norms and that there was no evidence of any security threat from TikTok.

Some analysts expressed skepticism that the TikTok deal could be structured in a way to win approval both from the US and China.

"It looks like Oracle and TikTok have made just enough concessions to pass the US administration but now comes the test of whether these concessions are too much for China," independent technology analyst Richard Windsor said in a blog post.

St. John's University said Trump's moves on TikTok and other China-based firms are seen by many Chinese as a "villainous" act and have led to "a growing patriotism in China" with respect to its companies.

The Chinese state-controlled newspaper Global Times suggested Beijing may block the deal, denouncing "Washington's bullying style and hooligan logic."

China "will not yield to US intimidation and will not accept an unequal treaty that targets Chinese companies," the newspaper said in an editorial.

The plan unveiled over the weekend would allow Oracle to take a 12.5 percent stake in TikTok and Walmart a 7.5 percent stake in a share offering valuing the platform at some $60 billion.

The ownership stake held in Chinese hands has been subject to differing interpretations, since ByteDance is 40 percent owned by American investors.

Also in doubt was Trump's claim that the new entity would make a $5 billion contribution to a "patriotic education" initiative.

Oracle and Walmart said TikTok Global would "pay more than $5 billion in new tax dollars" as part of the plan, which according to US officials would also lead to 25,000 new US jobs.
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NAUGATUCK  Two residents were displaced after a fire burned through a Hillside Avenue home Monday.

Firefighters were called to the 200 block around 12:45 p.m. for a structure fire in progress.

When crews arrived, the fire was on a porch on the homes second floor, but quickly spread into the interior and third floor, fire officials said.

Crews established water supply and stretched hand lines to make an attack on the fire, the Naugatuck Fire Department said in a Facebook post.

Approx. 12:45 today NFD was dispatched to the area of the 200 block of Hillside Ave. for the report of a structure fire.... Posted by Naugatuck Fire Department on Monday, September 21, 2020

Crews were called in from Waterbury, Middlebury and Beacon Falls to assist.

The fire became stubborn to fight because of hidden void spaces within the older home, Naugatuck fire officials said.

Firefighters were forced back out of the home to battle the flames from the exterior, then regained control and went back inside to extinguish the fire.

The fire did not result in any injuries, fire officials said.

The residents, both adults, were given comfort packages with toiletries and information on recovering from a fire by the Connecticut Red Cross, the organization said.

Property records show the three-story multi-family home was built in 1907. It was last sold in 2007, records show.
Overcoming a flooded job site: The Centre Medical Essaida au Bardo needed a robust and durable waterproofing solution. PENETRON ADMIX was the answer for the below-grade concrete structures. The PENETRON ADMIX-treated concrete, at the Centre Medical Essaida au Bardo, is impervious resulting in corrosion resistance, by protecting the embedded reinforcement steel in concrete from the aggressive saline environment of the Sebkha Sejoumi. Thats permanent protection.

In September 2020, the Centre Medical Essaida au Bardo in Tunis, Tunisia was inaugurated. PENETRON ADMIX was specified to prevent the penetration of corrosive chloride ions from seawater, ensuring the durability of the centers concrete structures.

The Centre Medical Essaida au Bardo is a new medical facility adjoining the Makni Bardo Clinic in the Le Bardo district of Tunis, just west of the city center. The four-floor project features medical offices (40-70 m2 layouts available), medical analysis and cytology laboratories (100-140 m2), a radiology center, physiotherapy center, and retail space on the ground floor (1200 m2). In addition, two below-grade floors (1200 m2) for underground parking are available.

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Collaborating with Job Beton, the projects ready-mix supplier, Penetron Tunisia recommended PENETRON ADMIX for all exposed concrete structures. The contractor, EBJ (Companie Belgique Jammel), then specified PENETRON ADMIX-treated concrete for the foundation slab, basement floors and retaining walls.

Keeping Seawater Out

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Thanks to our experience with many seaside projects in Tunisia, we were able to show how the Penetron System would be a very effective solution, adds Akrout Hamdi. The PENETRON ADMIX-treated concrete, at the Centre Medical Essaida au Bardo, is impervious resulting in corrosion resistance, by protecting the embedded reinforcement steel in concrete from the aggressive saline environment of the Sebkha Sejoumi. Thats permanent protection.

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Photo: Contributed

A string of violent acts over the past week in Prince George is believed to be linked to the drug trade.

RCMP say most of the incidents have been targeted attacks involving firearms and can be directly connected to two rival groups involved in the drug trade. Police have identified six separate incidents over the past week that are tied to these gangs.

Just after 3 a.m. on Sept. 15, multiple shots were fired targeting a house in the McIntyre Crescent area. Two adults and three children were in the home at the time, but no injuries were reported. Police believe there was a vehicle involved that fled the scene before they arrived.

Two days later, about 9 p.m., Prince George RCMP responded to a report of shots fired on Quinn Street. Police found a residence that had been shot at several times in what they believe to be a drive-by shooting. The three occupants of the house were not injured in the incident.

Just a few hours later, at about 2 a.m. on Sept. 18, another house was shot at. The Vancouver Street residence was shot at least once, and the people living there were unharmed.

On Sept. 21, about 2 a.m., police located a woman suffering from a gunshot wound in a driveway on Norwood Street. The 23-year-old woman suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Investigators concluded the shooting likely took place outside a home on Oak Street, three blocks away. The investigation into that incident is still ongoing.

Later that day, about 11 p.m., shots were fired on Bellos Street. Officers found firearm-related damage on a house, and no injuries were reported.

Just before 1:30 a.m. on Sept. 22, there was a residential fire on 1st Avenue. Investigators believe the fire was deliberately set. Most of the damage was limited to the front of the house, and the residents and their pets were able to escape safely.

"A common factor in each of these investigations is that the persons being targeted are not co-operative with police," says RCMP Cpl. Craig Douglass.

"The people using these firearms to commit these violent acts do so without a firearms licence or the ability to legally purchase firearms. The firearms used in these disputes are usually acquired through the theft of guns from legal gun owners."
President Trump has a perfect right to nominate an arch-conservative to the Supreme Court this week, and Sen. Mitch McConnell has a perfect right to rush the nomination through the Senate before the election in November. The rules allow for it.

Four years ago, McConnell had the perfect right to refuse consideration of President Obamas nominee, Merrick Garland, and leave the seat open for nearly a year instead. The rules allow for that.

And if Democrats win the presidency and the Senate in November, they have a perfect right to expand the court by four seats and to fill each vacancy with liberal justices to recapture the majority. The rules allow for that, too.

And while theyre at it, theres talk of making Washington, D.C. a state -- not because the existing arrangement is racist, which it is, but to give the party two more seats in the Senate. Perhaps Puerto Rico could be next.

The point is that democracies do not live by rules alone. They live when both sides play fair, show restraint, and respect the legitimacy of the opposition. Those are the key norms, the lubricant that makes the machine work.

Rules are important, but history shows they are not enough. When we have tried to bring democracy to places like Iraq and Afghanistan, the easy part is writing the rules. The tough part is baking in some appreciation for these norms.

Democracies die when these norms are cast aside by those greedy for power, as we can see today in countries like Turkey, Venezuela, and Russia. History is packed with examples, too. Adolf Hitler won a democratic election, then broke all the norms, bleeding the life from Germanys democracy and leaving it so brittle that it took only the Reichstag fire for him to seize power.

The lessons of history are clear, wrote Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt, authors of one of the decades most important books, How Democracies Die. Extreme polarization can wreck even established democracies. America is no exception.

Now, we watch in horror as President Trump breaks another norm, and compliant Republicans in the Senate line up behind him, nearly all of them going back on their words from 2016, when they said the Garland nomination, made in March, was just too close to the November election. The hypocrisy sets new records.

It would take four GOP defections to stop this travesty. So, again, the nation watches a few Republican stragglers in the Senate, hoping that this time, they wont slavishly obey. Please. Weve seen this movie before: This president and this Senate are almost certain to cast aside concerns for the health of our democracy and put another conservative justice on the court.

The hard truth is there is not a thing Democrats can do to stop them, beyond rattling their sabers and warning Republicans what awaits them when the table is turned.

Voters are appalled at this power grab and believe that the winner of the November election should choose the next justice, according to several early polls. But even voters cant stop Trump and McConnell.

The stakes, of course, are enormous. Abortion rights went on life support the moment Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg drew her final breath. Obamacare is on the line as well, as Republicans press their lawsuit to eliminate it. This new court could even wind up deciding the winner of the next election.

In the long run, the worst injury may be the damage to our democracy itself. A president who lost the popular vote by 3 million, aided by Republicans in the Senate who represent 15 million fewer Americans than their Democratic colleagues, is executing a power grab without restraint.

Democrats will have to answer this, somehow, when they get the chance. They cant be expected to watch passively as Republicans use such grotesque tactics to take two seats on the Court  this one, and the one Garland would have filled, which went instead to Justice Neil Gorsuch, a reliable member of the conservative block.

Its another dark day for Americas democracy in the Trump era. Where this downward spiral will end, and how, is anyones guess.

More: Tom Moran columns

Tom Moran may be reached at tmoran@starledger.com. Follow him on Twitter @tomamoran. Find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook.
The deaths of hundreds of elephants in Botswana in recent months has been linked to toxins produced by cyanobacteria in water, officials have said.

The government said in July it had launched an investigation into the strange deaths of the mammals. The southern African country is home to about a third of the continents dwindling elephant population.

Our latest tests have detected cyanobacterial neurotoxins to be the cause of deaths. These are bacteria found in water, Mmadi Reuben, principal veterinary officer at the Botswana department of wildlife and national parks, announced at a press conference on Monday.

However we have many questions still to be answered such as why the elephants only [died] and why that area only, Mr Reuben added. We have a number of hypotheses we are investigating.

The number of dead elephants has risen to 330, from 281 in July, the director of the department told the news conference.

The slew of deaths caused concern among conservationists, who alerted authorities in early May after counting 169 dead elephants during a three-hour flight over the delta. As the animals were found with their tusks intact, ivory poaching was quickly ruled out.

Some 70 per cent of the animals had died near water holes, an aerial survey showed.

Dr Niall McCann of the UK-based charity National Park Rescue described the spate of deaths as extraordinary, saying in July: This is totally unprecedented in terms of numbers of elephants dying in a single event unrelated to drought  It is only the elephants that are dying and nothing else. If it was cyanide used by poachers, you would expect to see other deaths.

The announcement follows the discovery of more than 20 elephant carcasses in a game park in neighbouring Zimbabwe in September. Authorities believe they died of a bacterial infection.

Botswana is home to the worlds largest elephant population, estimated at 130,000.
Democratic presidential nominee and former Vice President Joe Biden. ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden aimed to assure voters concerned about socialism by pointing to the fact that he beat Sen. Bernie Sanders in the primary.

I beat the socialist, Biden said on Monday. Thats how I got elected. Thats how I got the nomination."

President Donald Trump's campaign has attempted to characterize Biden as a "radical socialist."

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden aimed to assuage voter concerns about socialism by flatly pointing to his recent primary win during an interview on Monday.

"I beat the socialist," Biden said in a local news interview in Wisconsin. "That's how I got elected. That's how I got the nomination. Do I look like a socialist? Look at my career  my whole career. I am not a socialist."

The former vice president was referring to his victory over former 2020 Democratic rival Sen. Bernie Sanders for the party nomination earlier this year. A self-declared "Democratic socialist," Sanders is a staunch believer in the government playing a role to provide services to the public, including education and health care, but his thinking differs from "socialists" who generally believe the government should have total control over the economy.

After Sanders dropped out of the race, he endorsed Biden and worked with him to adopt some progressive policies under his platform, such as ensuring wealthy Americans and large corporations pay a fair amount in taxes.

Biden repeated an iteration of that proposal during the interview, claiming that President Donald Trump's promised tax cuts will result in a billionaire "paying less percentage of his taxes than you pay in your job and that's not right."

He later clarified his positions to voters "worried about socialism" and higher taxes, "what we're going to do is make sure that we make people begin to pay their fair share," he said. "I'm not trying to punish anybody."

Story continues

"I promise  I've never broken my word  anyone making less than $400,000 will not see one single penny in their tax raised," he added.

The Trump campaign has repeatedly attempted to characterize Biden as a "radical socialist" and made similar accusations about his running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris.

Over the past few days, Trump escalated the assertions during campaign rallies in Ohio and North Carolina, professing that the country would descend into communism should Biden become elected.

Recent polling suggests the line of attack has not swayed voters, who say that Biden is the more moderate candidate than Trump.

Still, Biden has continuously shut down the claims and defended his policies.

"You know me. You know my heart. You know my story," he said last month. "Ask yourself: Do I look like a radical socialist with a soft spot for rioters? Really? I want a safe America."

Read the original article on Business Insider
ALBANY  Albany County confirmed 16 new cases of coronavirus Tuesday, 11 of which are associated with the University at Albany.

Thirteen of the 16 cases were people who had close contact with an infected person, the county reported. Another case was traced back to a health care worker or resident of a congregate setting. Two cases could not immediately be traced back to a clear source of infection, the county said.

The UAlbany outbreak has kept county health officials busy in recent weeks.

According to the State University of New Yorks COVID-19 tracker, the campus has had 104 cases of the virus among students and staff since the fall semester began. Under state guidelines, if the campus has 100 cases among those who live, work or study on campus within a discrete 14-day time period, it must transition to fully remote learning.

The current time period began Sept. 12 and ends Friday. According to SUNYs tracker, UAlbany has had 57 cases within this window. UAlbany, which maintains a separate case tracker that is updated each night, showed 66 cases toward the 100-case threshold as of Tuesday morning.

Public health experts say SUNYs system of tracking cases in discrete time periods is epidemiologically unsound, and recommend tracking cases over a rolling time period such as the past 14 days. UAlbany tracks and publishes cases this way as well, and their tracker showed 107 cases in the past 14 days Tuesday morning  58 among students living on campus and 49 among those who live off-campus in the Capital Region.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Discrepancies between the SUNY and UAlbany tracker could be explained by the time of day each are updated.

Community-wide testing continues on the UAlbany campus by appointment only for those with or without symptoms. Appointments may be made by calling the NYS hotline at 888-364-3065 or by visiting the state Department of Health website.

Albany County also reported no new hospitalizations overnight. Eight residents remained hospitalized with the virus Tuesday morning.

The county has had 2,846 laboratory-confirmed cases of the virus since the pandemic began. On Tuesday, 104 of those cases remained active  a decrease of 11 from Monday.
On a chilly Saturday morning in September, Judith Weeks set up the Zoom call that would give her a short-but-liberating break from caring for her 90-year-old husband, Chris, who has worsening dementia.

As he does each week, Chris Weeks would talk for about an hour with Ximena (pronounced hee-men-uh) Trejo-Mora, a 20-year-old premed student at Temple University, as part of a new virtual program called Weekly Smile that pairs student volunteers with older adults who need care-giving, often for dementia.

Trejo-Mora was chosen to work with Weeks because the former State Department employee loves languages and travel, and they both speak Spanish. Her parents, who live in Lansdale, moved to the United States from Mexico when she was 3.

After asking how Trejo-Moras organic chemistry class was going  stressful  Judith Weeks left the two to talk.

Como estas? Trejo-Mora asked Chris Weeks.

Muy bien. Gracias, he responded.

From there, the Spanish deteriorated. She spoke a sentence. He looked puzzled. She translated, and he mostly answered in English with exceptions like absolutamente and delisioso. He apologized, gently and politely, with nearly the same words over and over: Im having a little trouble understanding what youre saying. Thats probably my problem, not yours. She responded with the slightest of smiles and patiently persisted with questions in Spanish, then English, that let him talk about his travels in Spain and the Middle East and food he has loved everywhere.

No matter. He was happily engaged in a conversation with a young, eager listener. His caregiver was getting a break, and she was happy that her husband was doing something that he loves that challenges his memory.

They both look forward to the visits, she said.

The program is a joint effort from the Penn Memory Center and Temple Universitys Intergenerational Center in the College of Education and Human Development. It started as Time Out about two years ago as a respite program funded by the Pew Charitable Trusts. Students were paid $8.50 an hour  well below the going rate for professional caregivers  to meet with elders for three to four hours at a time in person. That gave spouses and other family caregivers a chance to leave the house and run errands. And it gave students a chance to form intergenerational relationships and test what it would be like to work with older adults for a living.

Then the pandemic forced the program coordinators, J.T. Kendall from Temple and Megan Kalafsky from Penn, to get creative. The elderly are at high risk for serious complications from COVID-19 and death, so in-person visits were out. Instead, they began offering the shorter virtual visits this summer. On the plus side, that means student transportation is no longer an issue, so caregivers can live in a wider geographic area. Weekly Smile has volunteers from several area institutions, including Penn, Temple, Drexel University, and Haverford College. Caregivers or older adults interested in Weekly Smile can sign up at timeoutcare.org.

Trejo-Mora loved the idea of helping caregivers. She enjoys the challenge of helping Weeks remember the language he learned while working in Spain decades ago. His pronunciation is phenomenal, she said. She has not traveled widely and likes hearing about his adventures. Its very fun hearing about his life, she said.

She enjoys his positive energy and his drive to keep learning. I feel very fulfilled after our conversations, she said. She also appreciates stepping away from her studies: Its nice to just have an hour and stay in the present and have a conversation with someone.

Gabrielle Gigi Benzio, a 20-year-old art therapy major at Temple, signed up for the in-person version of the program because she had loved a program at her high school in Doylestown that paired students and people with dementia for art projects. Her first matches fell through, so she is now chatting on Zoom weekly with Ellen Staller, a 70-year-old Philadelphia woman with multiple health problems. Staller had no interest in doing art together, but enjoys talking. Benzio suggested a kind of show-and-tell where Staller discusses her favorite belongings. She also likes offering advice to the younger woman. Mostly, Benzio said, Staller tells her to cherish the people in her life and enjoy her youth. Staller likes to hear what Benzio is up to. Her life doesnt change too much, Benzio said.

Judith Weeks said she and her husband are usually active and do a lot of traveling. Its been hard for her to keep him interested while theyve been holed up at home in Center City. She likes seeing how much he enjoys talking with Trejo-Mora. Ximena is wonderful, she said. Shes very patient and shes very personable and shes very cheerful.

Asked whether the Zoom chats are a high point, Chris Weeks said, Absolutely. Im looking forward to it with enthusiasm.

Heather Staller, 47, moved in with her mother after the pandemic started. Her mother didnt want aides coming into the house in Philadelphia.

Ellen Staller doesnt always want to Zoom, but almost always brightens once she does. Once she starts talking, she comes out of her shell, Heather Staller said. She seems more cheerful. Her spirits seem lifted.

Meanwhile, the daughter has enough time for a walk, a bubble bath, or a cup of coffee on the balcony. Its kind of like a sigh of relief, she said. As short as it is, it also makes me smile.

The calls make life more interesting for the Stallers. It gives us something to talk about, Heather Staller said. When youre stuck with someone 24/7, how much can you talk about?
The shutdown early on didnt allow us to get out early and start knocking on doors, Slager said, talking about himself and his volunteers. So, interestingly, we started making calls in early April and actually used the pandemic in that way because people were home and they were interested in talking  they didnt have anything else to do.
ALBANY  New Yorks corrections' commissioner on Tuesday defended the steps his department has taken this year to protect prison inmates and staff members from COVID-19.

Any death is one too many, but we are at least gratified that it could have been much worse, Anthony Annucci, acting commissioner of the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, told a state Senate panel that is examining the handling of the coronavirus pandemic in New York's correctional facilities.

There have been 22 COVID-19 deaths connected to DOCCS' facilities  17 inmates and five staff members  and four parolees have died. The population of incarcerated people in the state is 36,704, Annucci said. Those figures correlate to a death rate of 46 per 100,000. Johns Hopkins University and University of Wisconsin researchers found that the national death rate for federal and state prisons is 39 deaths per 100,000  lower than the states results.

"You have had outbreaks across the country in prisons that have been quite significant," Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo had said in July. "Think about it. In some ways, it's worse than any other congregate facility, right? Because people are really on top of one another. More than in an [Office for People with Developmental Disabilities] facility, more than in a nursing home."

DOCCS has conducted more than 13,000 tests, Annucci said, with 773 positive. Thats an infection rate of higher than 5 percent and more than 20,000 inmates have yet to be tested.

The department initially tested people who were symptomatic or had a known exposure to COVID-19, then began testing people over the age of 55 as well as pregnant and postpartum inmates. The agency is currently testing every inmate in facilities in western New York.

Physical distancing and mask-wearing have been two of the keys to keeping the infection rate low, Annucci said, noting that the state's prison population has declined more than 7,500 since the beginning of the year, and to its lowest point since 1986. He added the state is seeking to eradicate bunk beds in its prisons.

Annucci told the panel DOCCS has verified COVID-19 deaths connected to its facilities through autopsies, and included data on deaths that occurred at outside hospitals. The 17 inmate deaths includes one that was primarily due to the person also having cancer.

In contrast, the state health department has declined to provide a breakdown on the number of nursing home residents who died after being transferred to hospitals, and a conservative-leaning think tank is suing the Cuomo administration for the data.

Senators pressed Annucci for demographic data of who has died and details of testing procedures. Annucci also told them any vaccine would be made available to inmates.

Rodney Holcombe, the state director of criminal justice reform at FWD.us, an advocacy group, said in a phone interview Monday that the key to containing COVID-19 behind bars is to reduce the population of people who are incarcerated.

Unfortunately, New York has an elder prison population that is ballooning and its something that needs to be addressed, he said, adding that releasing those older inmates would not result in more crime.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

He added that the conversation about reducing the prison population should be considered as part of the same Civil Rights discussion spurred by the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May.

Were in a moment where the movement for Black lives is a very big one. Its persisting and I think more and more historical ills are being uncovered, he said. I do think that as we push to acknowledge that Black lives do matter, we cannot leave out the Black lives that are currently behind bars.

Theresa Grady, 59, who lives in Harlem, said her husband remains incarcerated and has served 15 years of a 40-year sentence for attempted murder and robbery. Grady said she doesnt think her husband will survive to serve out his sentence given his underlying health conditions.

My husband has been in jail off and on, throughout his life. But this time has taken a toll on him. Hes missing his family. Hes missing his daughter, she said during an interview with the Times Union, adding they have been together for 45 years since meeting in high school. She said the stress of the pandemic has taken a toll on him.

Grady identified the governor as the person who should step in to provide clemency to older people who are incarcerated.

You have to look at the bigger picture, Gov. Cuomo. Youre sending people to what I call a death camp," Grady told the Senate panel. "I believe if you allow those 55 and older to come home due to the COVID, you wouldnt have to worry too much about them."
David Cameron must think the two kitchens story is doing Ed Miliband serious damage, because he managed to work no fewer than five jokes about it into Prime Ministers Questions.

Cameron and George Osborne are very sensitive about their image as two posh men who do not know what everyday life is like. They evidently want as much as possible of the same to be directed at Miliband.

Meanwhile, Cameron had himself photographed in The Sun, making a sardine and mayonnaise sandwich in a well-stocked kitchen, and he has proudly told Sarah Sands of the London Evening Standard: The kitchen is where you spend all your time. It needs a sofa you can slump on, a table you can sit at, a kitchen you can cook in, a place children can do their homework there has always been a kitchen at the heart of everything.

If he is prepared to let the world into his kitchen, what is his problem with Milibands? The answer is that Ed and Justine Miliband stand accused of trying to make their home appear more Spartan than it actually is by being photographed in a small, austere kitchenette when they have a larger kitchen on a lower floor.

You shouldnt pretend to be something you are not, Cameron told the Standard. It is an interesting pitch by Cameron that he is truly upper-class and rich, where Miliband is something he pretends not to be. I can see why it might hurt Miliband, but it is not going to do much for Cameron.

A bookie-bashing Budget

It was rash of Ladbrokes to offer odds of 10-1 that George Osbornes Budget speech would include a two kitchens joke. They admit it has cost them. The rumour is that, combined with odds of 4-1 that he would say were all in it together, it has set them back 20,000.

Archer turns up for once

There is a section of the gallery overlooking the Commons reserved for MPs and members of the House of Lords. It was, of course, full today. Sitting between Lord Mandelson and Lord Feldman was Lord Archer of Weston-Super-Mare, better known as Jeffrey Archer. He has not spoken or voted in the Lords for more than 14 years, since he was expelled from the Conservative Party, arrested and jailed for perjury. But he was never expelled from the Lords because, until this month, that could not be done.

The only reason Lord Archer never clocks in is that he chooses not to. This month, the law was changed, and a peer who behaves as Lord Archer once did can be expelled from the House of Lords. But he need not worry: it is not retrospective.

Mandy is Strictly desirable

Claudia Winkelman, co-host of Strictly Come Dancing, has named Lord Mandelson as the politician she would next like to see on the show. Not a bad choice. The journalist Anne McElvoy danced with Peter Mandelson when he was a new MP and found the experience glorious.

The MP for Hartlepools taut thigh muscles were locked behind mine as we flung this way and that, she wrote. Emboldened by our unexpected compatibility, we dabbled in the twist, the waltz, the hoe-down and a fetching hip-bumping number of our own invention. When they played one of those songs of the early 1980s, to which everyone does the same preposterous routine with their arms in the air, we abandoned all dignity and did that too.

I shall try to get that image out of my mind.
They were first linked romantically earlier this month.

And Katie Holmes and her new Emilio Vitolo Jr. were spotted putting on a tender display, while exploring New York City on Monday.

At one point, the 41-year-old actress and the 33-year-old chef strolled with their hands interlocked as they made their way through Downtown's famous Wall Street area.

Love in bloom: Katie Holmes and her new Emilio Vitolo Jr. were spotted putting on a tender display, while exploring New York City on Monday

Hand-in-hand: At one point, the 41-year-old actress and the 33-year-old chef strolled with their hands interlocked as they made their way through Downtown's famous Wall Street area

Holmes cut a stylish figure in a plaid FRAME blazer that she layered over a plain white tee.

She tucked her tee into a pair of marled drawstring sweatpants and she slipped her feet into her favorite white sneakers.

The Dawson's Creek star looked noticeably fresh faced, although she kept her mouth and nose concealed behind a medical grade face mask.

She let her lengthy brunette hair rock its natural wave, which created an overall voluminous look for the actress.

Stylish: Holmes cut a stylish figure a plaid FRAME blazer that she layered over a plain white tee

Natural beauty: The Dawson's Creek star looked noticeably fresh faced, although she kept her mouth and nose concealed behind a medical grade face mask

Vitolo, whose family runs and owns the famous restaurant Emilio's Ballato in NYC, looked undeniably suave with his perfectly slicked hair and stylish peacoat.

He also had on blue v-neck t-shirt and some dark wash denim jeans, which created a stylish, yet casual silhouette.

Following in Katie's footsteps, Emilio made sure to wear a face mask for their romantic outing.

His mask often slipped off his nose as he spoke to Katie and during one pit stop, Vitolo completely removed his mask from his face.

Suave: Vitolo, whose family runs and owns the restaurant Emilio's Ballato in NYC, looked undeniably suave with his perfectly slicked hair and stylish peacoat

Smiley: Katie, with a black tote bag slung over her shoulder, retrieved a package from her apartment and then returned to Emilio and his parked vehicle

He graciously carted Holmes around the city in his bright red Pontiac, even briefly swinging by her Soho apartment.

Katie, with a black Sharkchaser bag slung over her shoulder, retrieved a package from her apartment and then returned to Emilio and his parked vehicle.

Before sitting back down in the passenger's seat, the Batman Begins actress could be seen laughing at Emilio through the car's windshield.

The pair appeared to be having a ball taking on the city and made frequent stops along the way.

Having a ball: The pair appeared to be having a ball taking on the city and made frequent stops along the way

Masking it up: Following in Katie's footsteps, Emilio made sure to wear a face mask for their romantic outing

Katie and Emilio were first linked on Tuesday, September 1, while on an apparent date at Mediterranean restaurant Antique Garage in Soho.

But the romantic nature of their relationship was unveiled on Sunday, September 6, as they indulged in a hot and heavy make out session at Peasant Restaurant in Manhattan

The actress joyously sat on the chef's lap as they locked lips and erupted in frequent fits of laughter.

Chauffeur: Vitolo graciously carted Holmes around the city in his bright red Pontiac, even briefly swinging by her Soho apartment

Katie has been uncharacteristically public regarding her budding relationship with Emilio Jr. as she often seen hanging out with him at his father's popular restaurant Emilio's Ballato in Manhattan.

A source close to the situation recently dished to People that Katie is beyond 'smitten' with her toyboy and that she 'keeps texting him all day long and he loves it.'

The source added: 'He can't get enough of her attention.'

DailyMail.com confirmed exclusively on September 10 that Vitolo broke up with his live-in fiancee Rachel Emmons, 24, via text message when the photos of him locking lips with Katie went public.

Smitten: A source close to the situation recently dished to People that Katie is beyond 'smitten' with her toyboy and that she 'keeps texting him all day long and he loves it'; Emilio and Katie pictured on September 18

The bombshell break up forced the 24-year-old handbag designer to grapple with the end of an engagement amid COVID-19 and move back to her parents' home.

It was also uncovered that Katie and Emilio's friendship has been growing since October 2019, and that the actress appears unbothered by the chef's engagement drama.

Katie and Emilio first met when a mutual friend introduced them, and their passions have only intensified since she returned home to New York City following time quarantining with her family in Ohio.

An insider close to the Logan Lucky star said she's now behaving 'like a teenage girl in love' because Vitolo is 'openly affectionate with her, left his fiancee to be with her and gives her something [her ex-boyfriend] Jamie [Foxx] couldn't,' the source added.

Recovering: An insider close to the Logan Lucky star said she's now behaving 'like a teenage girl in love' because Vitolo is 'openly affectionate with her, left his fiancee to be with her and gives her something [her ex-boyfriend] Jamie [Foxx] couldn't,' the source added; Jamie and Katie pictured in 2019

The insider said Holmes had been devastated by her breakup last year with the playboy actor, who never seemed to give up his roving eye and was still too close for comfort with his baby mama.

The acting couple were first linked in 2013 hand-in-hand through Malibu, but they kept their relationship private throughout the years, but split after going public last year at the Met Gala.

Holmes was famously married to Tom Cruise, 58, from 2006 until their dramatic divorce in 2012, and they share daughter Suri, 14, born in 2006.

You can watch Dawson's Creek on Stan in Australia.
A man from North Carolina is being held on a $20 million bond after he was charged with 332 counts of sex crimes against children, according to the statement released by Hoke County Sheriff's Office on September 20.

Pedophilia and child abuse

The deputies were called to an address in Raeford on August 7 for a reported sexual assault on a child. As the deputed investigated, they obtained 156 arrest warrants for Joshuah Taylor Bradshaw, but he fled the state. The FBI eventually located him in Etta, Mississippi, and he was extradited back to Raeford to face his warrants.

Bradshaw's first court appearance is this week, and according to Hoke County Sheriff's Office, the investigation is ongoing and more charges are pending.

Bradshaw has been charged with 12 counts each of statutory sexual offense with a child, taking indecent liberties with children, crimes against nature, and first-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, along with 144 counts each of second and third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor.

According to the NC Beat, officials confirmed that there is one victim in the case.

Also Read: Pedophile Kills Divorcee Mother's Two Young Girls by Shredding Them Cruelly With a Knife

Similar cases

On September 21, a man from Colerian Township was indicted on nearly two dozen charges involving sexual assault and exploitation of minors.

The 36-year-old man, Nicholas Howell, was charged with 11 counts of rape, 11 counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, and one count of gross sexual imposition, according to WCPO.

According to Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters, the crimes involved multiple victims, some under the age of 10. Deters said that Howell bribed his victims using money and gift cards to keep their sexual abuse a secret. If convicted on all charges, he could receive multiple life sentences.

In July 2020, a 31-year-old man was arrested on allegations of a sex crime involving a minor. According to the arrest affidavit, the suspect Efren Moreno was invited to a home for a gathering on July 11.

Moreno got into a fight with the stepfather of a young girl over something that the suspect said about her. The stepfather told the girl's mother about what had happened and called the police. The girl then told them that she had been sexually abused at least three times a week by Moreno.

Moreno was arrested and charged with continuous sexual abuse of a young child. He is now being held in the Bexar County Jail with a $75,000 bond, according to KSAT12.

In August 2020, a man from Kimberly was arrested by an online Internet Crimes Against Children Investigation by the Fox Valley Metro Police Department.

According to Fox11, 36-year-old Brian Gagnon was arrested on four felonies that included the use of a computer to facilitate a child sex crime, attempted 2nd-degree sexual assault of a child, causing a child to view or listen to sexual activity, and solicitation of an intimate representation of a child.

According to officials, Gagnon was messaging online with an undercover officer who was posing as a female minor. Gagnon left his Kimberly home to meet with the female, and that was when he was arrested by the Fox Valley Metro Police. He was released from jail on a $10,000 bond.

Related Article: Michigan Brothers Jailed 5 Years After Stabbing, Killing Bipolar Mother and Her 11-Year Old Daughter

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President Uhuru Kenyatta has applauded President Salva Kiir and the people of South Sudan for the progress achieved in search of peace and stability in their country and the neighbouring Republic of Sudan.

The President said the milestones made in the South Sudan peace process since the commencement of the transition period in February this year were as a result of sacrifices made by parties to the conflict.

I commend my brother President Salva Kiir and people of South Sudan for the positive steps they have taken to ensure the transition period begins on a firm foundation, the President said.

President Kenyatta spoke Monday morning when he received special envoys of President Salva Kiir at State House, Mombasa.

South Sudanese envoys included the countrys Minister for Presidential Affairs Nhial Deng Nhial and his Foreign Affairs counterpart Amb Beatrice Khamisa Wani.

President Kenyatta congratulated the South Sudanese for committing to a permanent ceasefire and welcomed ongoing efforts to end intra-community violence.

Further, the Head of State urged for the fast tracking of pending issues in the peace accord key among them the reconstitution of the Transitional Legislative Assembly (TNLA).

President Kenyatta and the envoys also spoke about the peace process in the Republic of Sudan and commended President Kiir for his diplomatic engagements which led to the Juba Peace Process.

The hallmark of the Juba talks will be the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement on October 3rd this year between the Government of Sudan and the Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF).

At the same time, the President commended the Northern faction of the Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement (SPLM-N) for rejoining the talks and urged the remaining groups to follow suit.

The meeting was also attended by Foreign Affairs CS Amb Raychelle Omamo.
Egypt and the UK have maintained close political, military and economic relations for decades. In recent years, the two countries realised they have joint interests they should protect.

The UK is one of the largest investors in Egypt in several sectors, including financial services, energy, construction, tourism, pharmaceuticals, textiles and communications. The Egyptian-British Chamber of Commerce plays an integral role in supporting and developing trade and economic cooperation between businessmen from the two countries. With UK investments totalling approximately $48 billion, there are 1,816 British companies operating in Egypt.

For Egypt, the UK has a long-term vision and invariable policies for each part of the world. Regional diplomacy experts believe London has been maintaining a fixed policy for its relations with Egypt based on the notion that Egypt is the central country in the region. When Egypt sneezes, Middle East states get the cold, so goes the British saying.

Despite the positive developments in bilateral relations, Londons embracement of members of the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) organisation, which is banned in Egypt, is brought again to the fore, particularly following the arrest of Mahmoud Ezzat, the MBs supreme guide, in Cairo a few weeks ago.

Ibrahim Mounir declared himself the new MB supreme guide from his residence in London. Mounir has a long history with the group. He was the secretary-general of the international organisation, its spokesman in Europe, and the general supervisor of Ikhwanpress.com. Mounir was sentenced to 10 years of hard labour in the 1965 case of reorganising the MB, and in 2012 former president Mohamed Morsi pardoned him.

For the past 100 years, according to countless writings and testimonies, UK governments sought a raison detat with extremist Islamist forces, including terrorist organisations, providing cover for them, working alongside them, and sometimes trained and financed them, to promote specific foreign policy goals. The UK forged with some of these powers a perpetual strategic alliance to ensure the achievement of basic long-term foreign policy goals, and entered into a marriage of convenience and close union temporarily with other powers to achieve certain short-term results.

That the UK government and intelligence service act like the extremist organisation is not a threat to British interests and being hostile towards the MB could bring trouble to UK politics is a matter subject to UK estimates. However, the group supportive of terrorism has a deep effect on Egypt and the Middle East, which requires the reviewing of the presence and free operation of the MB in the UK, particularly when the group, whom the Egyptians revolted against on 30 June 2013, targets destabilising Egypt and supports terrorist activities that aim to undermine security and stability.

London has turned into a new hub and operation centre for the MB after it was toppled in Egypt. At present, the new supreme guide is reassembling the organisation and embarking on political moves that contravene the UKs interests with a pivotal state such as Egypt which is facing bloody terrorist attacks, border threats, a cyberwar by terrorist organisations and countries harbouring them.

This raises many questions about London not expressing reservations against the MBs free operation on its land despite the disgraceful history of the group that has sown racism, extremism and sedition in the West.

The record of the new supreme guide and the UKs interest in maintaining its relationship with Egypt call for the UK to revisit its policies regarding the presence and activities of the MB within its borders. Yesterdays standards are not valid today.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 24 September, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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Accessibility statement for Statistics Finland's stat.fi website

Statistics Finland aims to guarantee the accessibility of its web services in accordance with the Act on the Provision of Digital Services (306/2019).

This accessibility statement applies to Statistics Finland's stat.fi website. Separate statements have been made on Statistics Finland's other web services.

We have assessed the accessibility of the service ourselves. The main and most used pages have been examined in the assessment.

The accessibility statement was prepared on 14 September 2020 and it was updated on 5 March 2021.

How accessible are the web pages?

The stat.fi website is partially compliant with the A and AA level accessibility criteria required by law (WCAG criteria 2.1). The accessibility deficiencies on the website are described in more detail in this statement.

If you need such content that you cannot use because of deficiencies in accessibility, please contact Statistics Finland's information services. Email address of information services is info@stat.fi and telephone number +358 29 551 2220.

Why are there accessibility deficiencies in the service?

Statistics Finland's current website is very extensive and has been built using several different systems. The website contains content starting from the 1990s and has hundreds of thousands of pages. We are currently building a new website and, at the same time, we are renewing many of our systems. The aim was to publish part of the new website at the beginning of 2021, but the publishing of the new website section is postponed. We aim to make the new website accessible.

At the same time as we are building a new website and renewing our systems, we are not able to correct all the shortcomings of our old website due to the large volumes of data and the lack of cost-effective and automated methods, but the correction would impose a disproportionate burden. In assessing the disproportionate burden we have taken into account the needs of people with disabilities to use our web services. (Act on the Provision of Digital Services, Section 8).

Statistical releases are regulated by quality criteria. Once the release has been made, no content changes must be made to it without informing about the changes. Our statistical releases form an archive that is continuously accumulated and in which the releases are in the format they were published on a certain day. Some of the accessibility corrections would require changing the content. Such a change would be, for example, adding text alternatives to graphs. In addition, the oldest releases have been produced with such publishing software that are no longer available. For this reason we cannot make changes afterwards to the releases.

Our website also has content that is not covered by the Act on the Provision of Digital Services due to release time limits or content limitations (Sections 3 and 17 of the Act on the Provision of Digital Services). Such content includes

Videos published before 23 September 2020

Content archived before 23 September 2019

Files published before 23 September 2018

Map services not meant for navigation

Content produced by a third party that Statistics Finland has not produced or financed and the production of which has not been supervised by Statistics Finland.

What deficiencies in accessibility does the stat.fi website have?

Not all images on the website have text alternatives or the text alternatives are incomplete. In particular, the content of graphs related to statistical releases is not described in the text alternatives of the graphs. (WCAG 1.1.1)

The website has videos that do not have subtitling and do not have an audio description or script. The requirements of the Act do not apply to videos published before 23 September 2020. Audio description is also missing from videos published after that. (WCAG 1.2.1, 1.2.2, 1.2.3, 1.2.5)

There are shortcomings in the headings of the pages. For some pages the heading levels have not been used or they have not been used hierarchically correctly. Especially in tables the notations of column and row headings are missing. In the files on the pages the content structures have been marked deficiently. The requirements of the Act do not apply to files published before 23 September 2018. There are also deficiencies in newer files than this. (WCAG 1.3.1)

Some PDF files have deficiencies in reading sequence affecting meaning especially in graphs. The requirements of the Act do not apply to files published before 23 September 2018. There are also deficiencies in newer files than this. (WCAG 1.3.2)

Corrections made to statistical releases are reported only in red colour. A few instruction videos describe the use of Statistics Finland's website by referring only to directions. Only colour is used in statistical graphs for conveying information. (WCAG 1.3.3, 1.4.1)

In some pictures originating from international organisations the text is shown as figures and colour contrasts between the text and background are not sufficient. The requirements of the Act do not apply to such content of a third party. (WCAG 1.4.3, 1.4.5)

In statistical graphs, the contrast of all adjacent colours is not sufficient. (WCAG 1.4.11)

In some interactive visualisations, moving the pointer over an element triggers more content to become visible that cannot be hidden or shown. (WCAG 1.4.13)

The calendar menu of the release calendar cannot be used with the keyboard. However, dates can be entered in the search box. (WCAG 2.1.1)

The website data collection section is missing a transition link that bypasses blocks. (WCAG 2.4.1)

The titles are in good order in most parts of the website, but at places the titles do not describe the content sufficiently. (WCAG 2.4.2)

Accompanying letters for data collections are available on the web pages as PDF files. Swedish and English language files are marked as Finnish. There are also deficient language markings in other files. (WCAG 3.1.1)

The website has pages that contain sections in different languages without the different languages being marked in a way that is understood by assistive devices. For example, links referring to international materials are often in English and there are some expressions in Finnish on Swedish-language pages. (WCAG 3.1.2)

Elements on the website that implement the same functionality are not consistently marked. (WCAG 3.2.4)

The website code contains shortcomings and errors. Some errors may make it difficult to use or prevent using some pages with assistive devices. (WCAG 4.1.1, 4.1.2)

Due to the extent of the website, not all pages have been assessed and other deficiencies in accessibility may be found there.

We have corrected the major shortcomings and will continue to do so. Not all of the problems will be corrected on the current pages, but we are developing an entirely new, accessible website.

Did you notice any other deficiencies in accessibility?

If you notice any deficiencies in the stat.fi web service that are not listed on this page, please let us know about it. We will do our best to correct the deficiencies.

You can give feedback with our feedback form or by email at saavutettavuus@stat.fi. If you want to give feedback by telephone, call Statistics Finland's information services, tel. +358 29 551 2220.

We will respond to your feedback as soon as possible or within two weeks at the latest.

Accessibility supervision at the Regional State Administrative Agency for Southern Finland

If you notice accessibility problems on the website, start by giving feedback to us, that is, the website administrator. It may take up to 14 days before you receive a response.

If you are not satisfied with the response from us or if you do not receive any response within two weeks, you may file a report with the Regional State Administrative Agency for Southern Finland. The agency website has detailed instructions (in Finnish and Swedish only) on how to file a complaint and how the issue will be processed.

Supervision authoritys contact information

Southern Finland Regional State Administrative Agency

Supervision unit of accessibility

Saavutettavuusvaatimukset web service (in Finnish and Swedish only)

saavutettavuus(at)avi.fi

Tel. switchboard +358 295 016 000
(CNN)  A live audience is always difficult to impress, perhaps even more so in the age of social distancing.

An opera in Madrid was halted on Sunday night after audience members protested over concerns that seating was too crowded in the venue.

The Teatro Real in Spain's capital city was forced to cancel the performance of Giuseppe Verdi's "Un ballo in maschera" after a group of spectators staged a protest during the performance, eventually ending the show and closing the venue for the night.

Police officers were called to the site on Sunday.

The venue said Monday that it "greatly regrets what happened" but attributed the upset to shifts in the city's health regulations.

In July, the theater hosted performances of another Verdi opera, "La Traviata," and spaced out audience members by sealing off some chairs and placing empty chairs between each pair of occupied seats, it said.

But it relaxed its seating policy after the city eased coronavirus restrictions, allowing some venues to host bigger audiences. On Sunday, the Teatro Real was at 65% capacity, still below city guidelines that allow such venues to fill up to 75% of normal capacity, it said. Audience members were allowed to freely choose their seats, though they wore masks during the performance.

The Teatro Real on Monday acknowledged in a statement that some spectators had felt unsafe in their seats, "even if the current health regulations were scrupulously complied with, verified by the police who traveled to the [Teatro Real] last night."

The statement added: "The Teatro Real wants to reiterate its commitment to the health safety of the public, artists and workers, in which it has been working with dedication, responsibility and great energy, since April, with its own Medical Committee and scrupulous monitoring of the regulations of the Government of Spain and the Community of Madrid."

It also said the venue would "adopt all the necessary measures to make the audience feel safer [and would] also [reinforce] its communication with the public."

Madrid has seen a recent spike in coronavirus cases, accounting for approximately a third of all new cases, according to data from the Spanish Health Ministry. On Monday, strict distancing rules were imposed anew in several areas of the city.

Spain has now recorded more than 30,000 deaths since the start of the outbreak, with more than 600,000 total cases.

This story was first published on CNN.com 'Madrid opera canceled after audience revolts over social distancing concerns'
Apple CEO Tim Cook said hes been impressed by employees ability to operate remotely and predicted that some new work habits will remain after the pandemic.

During an interview at The Atlantic Festival on Monday, Cook said Apple created new products, despite the need for most employees to work away from the office due to Covid-19. Cook said he doesnt believe Apple will return to the way we were because weve found that there are some things that actually work really well virtually. Read more here Lets look at the global ...
Government pilots involving 'lab in a van' tests by the companies Oxford Nanopore (LamPORE technology), Optigene and DNANudge are already underway, but others are being developed and tested all the time.

These are some of the tests that could be involved in Operation Moonshot:

HALO - 'Game-changing' saliva test

HALO saliva test kit: Clients can take the test at home by spitting into a tube (top right, the tube, bottom right, the funnel), and sending the sample off for processing

Sample type: Saliva

Turnaround time: As little as seven hours

Tests per day: 'Over 250,000 tests per week'

Accuracy: 100% specificity ( claimed

Price: Unknown, but thought to be lower than 25 per kit. The website says: 'The cost is around the same as average private health insurance, and less than half that of the cheapest swab-based test.'

British biotech company Halo has unveiled a saliva test which it says provides results in under seven hours, delivered through a phone app.

Clients can take the test at home by spitting into a tube, and sending the sample off for processing at the company's lab at Imperial College London.

It is not yet clear how many tests could be processed a day at this lab alone or whether the test could be scaled up for mass use.

But Halo's website says: 'Each testing module is capable of over 250,000 tests per week. Although we have short term limits imposed by equipment, consumables and space, we can rapidly scale up our number of labs to meet any demand.'

Halo's test works similarly to a PCR test used globally for testing people for the coronavirus using a swab.

It purifies the genetic material from saliva and uses polymerase chain reaction to detect the virus in a lab.

The company claims it is '100 per cent specific' to SARS-CoV-2, meaning a person should never get a 'false positive' result if they don't have the virus.

It is 'ten times more sensitive than the PCR test', The Telegraph reported.

Internal tests correctly identified the virus in 100 per cent of tested samples when the viral load was 1,000 times lower than amounts typically found in patient saliva, the company claims, meaning it is able to spot the virus even when it is in low levels.

Jonathan Biles, Halo's chief executive, said: 'Our tests are very, very sensitive. We think we've got something that's game-changing,' The Financial Times reported.

'Saliva is much less intrusive, has a lower impact on the environment and is less labour intensive than other tests.'

Saliva test kits from HALO are sent out to people's homes in an envelope, arranged via an app.

The group's first customer is Exeter University which has bought tens of thousands of tests to conduct on students who display symptoms in a bid to avoid major disruptions from potential Covid-19 outbreaks.

Student's won't even need to leave their accomodation to get a test. They will be sent on through the post.

University of Exeter said: 'Those participants who take tests in the morning will receive same day results, participants in the afternoon will receive results the next day. The test results will then be fed into the national Test and Trace system.

HALO, a team led by Dr Craig Rochford, inventor of the life-saving Epipen, is supported by top medics such as Sir Walter Bodmer and Professor Karol Sikora.

The firm is now in talks with a global airline, a medical research facility, City firms and other businesses, to see how the test can fit in.

'It is designed for large British organisations to test their people conveniently and painlessly and get them back to work safely and cost-effectively,' the company said.

LamPORE  saliva sample testing in 90 minutes

Sample type: Saliva or nasal swab

Turnaround time: 90 minutes

Tests per day: 2,000 (small); 15,000 (large)

Accuracy: 99% ( claimed

Price: Unknown (UK has bought at least 450,000)

Biotech company Oxford Nanopore has developed portable swab-recording devices which use the firm's LamPORE tests

1) Biotech company Oxford Nanopore has developed portable swab-recording devices which use the firm's LamPORE tests and can determine whether a user has Covid in the space of an hour-and-a-half.

The machines take 90 minutes to give a result and can process up to 15,000 samples a day.

It involves taking a sample of saliva, unlike existing methods which require invasive and difficult nose and throat swabs.

The LamPORE device, which also comes in a desktop version which is about the size of a printer, uses electronic means to record and analyse the samples.

Each test is given a barcode which is individually assessed before returning back with the result. This must be done in a laboratory but the labs can be mobile and put into vans or pop-up test sites.

The portable version of the LamPORE device is the same size as a CD player.

Ministers have ordered 450,000 of the tests, which are now being trialled in Salford and Southampton. Millions more are due to be rolled out later in the year if they prove to be effective.

The Salford trial will invite people in the community to come for weekly tests using a new saliva Covid-19 test that produces results in under an hour and a half.

The pilot will begin with a select number of participants and up to 250 tests a day, to be scaled to the whole area.

Initially, the pilot will focus on specific high footfall locations in the city, which includes retail, public services, transport and faith spaces.

Phase two of the no-swab saliva test pilot in Southampton will also start this week.

The second phase of the pilot will trial the weekly testing model in educational settings, with participation from staff and students at the University of Southampton and four Southampton schools.

Over 2,100 pupils and staff across four schools will be invited to have a test as part of the pilot, which is led by a partnership of the University of Southampton, Southampton City Council and the NHS.

The makers of the test have not revealed how accurate it is, and the Government has refused to divulge that information, too.

Mr Hancock said of the tests: 'Oxford Nanopore's new rapid LamPORE tests will benefit thousands of people with fast and accurate test results, removing uncertainty and breaking chains of transmission quickly and safely.

'I am hugely grateful for the fantastic work Oxford Nanopore have done to push forward this important innovation in coronavirus testing.'

OptiGene  swab results in 20 minutes

Sussex-based biomedical company OptiGene has created a nasal and throat swab test that takes just 20 minutes to diagnose people

Sample type: Nasal & throat swab, or saliva

Turnaround time: 20 minutes

Tests per day: 300 per hour

Accuracy: 97%

Price: Unknown

Sussex-based biomedical company OptiGene has created a nasal and throat swab test that takes just 20 minutes to diagnose people.

Once swabs have been collected from patients, the samples are loaded into the devices, known as the Genie HT, which look for tiny traces of the virus in their DNA.

The machines amplify the DNA billions of times chemically so they can detect the virus with extreme sensitivity. They can also be used with saliva samples.

The device has proven to be just as accurate as PCR swabs, which take days to give results, in clinical trials by Public Health England.

In contrast to the widely used PCR tests, which need be processed at different temperatures, the Genie HT does not require a change in temperature to detect results.

It is currently being trialled by the Government on thousands in A&E departments, GP coronavirus testing hubs and care homes across Hampshire, and will be rolled out in the new testing programmes in Salford and Southampton.

Four thousand people of all ages have been involved in the Hampshire Hospitals NHS Trust trial.

A study done during that trial Hampshire have found the test to be 97 per cent sensitive, meaning it can find 97 out of 100 positive cases, and 99 per cent specific, meaning only one in 100 people would get a false positive result.

DNANudge  75 minutes to a result from a nostril swab

One of the new test kits, made by London-based DNANudge, scours DNA in nose swabs and takes just 75 minute

Sample type: Nostril

Turnaround time: 75 minutes

Tests per day: 15

Accuracy: 98%

Price: 28 each on average (UK paid 161million for 5.8m tests including 5,000 machines)

The DNANudge test can detect the virus from just a nostril sample - much less invasive than some throat swabs.

Once a swab is taken, it's inserted into a handheld reader that provides results within just 75 minutes.

The DnaNudge has a sensitivity of over 98 per cent - meaning it can pick up on mild and asymptomatic cases - and specificity of 100 per cent.

The 100 per cent specificity means it can tell the difference between a person who doesn't have the disease at all and a sample which wasn't taken properly, meaning there aren't any false negatives.

After successful trials on 500 patients in London hospitals, the 'lab in a cartridge' device was approved for clinical use by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) at the end of April.

The Government has purchased at least 5,000 of the DNANudge machines, which can process up to 15 tests a day, to provide six million tests in the coming months.

The test, developed by Imperial College London's Chris Toumazou, is based on the design of a DNA test and can give a result in just over an hour, significantly cutting down on the 48-hour wait for a laboratory diagnosis.

Matt Hancock has previously said about the machines: 'By quickly detecting whether the virus is present in an individual, this new test is an important step forward in point of care testing which means that positive cases can be identified and contained quickly and safely.

'I am hugely grateful to DnaNudge and their incredible work to innovate coronavirus testing, which will mean we can test millions more people in the coming months.'

PCR tests - set to be increased to 500,000 per day

Sample type: Nose and throat swab

Turnaround time: At least 24 hours

Tests per day: Currently 65,000

Accuracy: 87-92%

Price: Some 25 per test

PCR tests are the now-infamous nose and throat swabs which currently make up all of the Government's diagnostic testing programme.

Under 'Operation Moonshot', the Prime Minister said officials are 'working hard to increase our testing capacity to 500,000 tests a day by the end of October'.

Currently, between 150,000 and 200,000 tests are processed each day, but this includes surveillance studies that use antibody tests.

According to the most recent NHS Test and Trace data, 452,679 people were given a swab test under Pillar 1 (hospitals) and Pillar 2 (community) in the week August 20 to 26 - less than 65,000 people per day.

PHE provides instructions for people who are sent home kits every day in the UK (pictured). The accuracy of viral RNA swabs depends almost entirely on the quality of sampling

The swab test used worldwide is the so-called 'PCR test' that looks for active infection. It usually takes at least 24 hours to get a result back.

The sample is then sent to a lab, where it will be tested to determine if the patient's cells, swabbed from their throat and nose, are infected with the virus.

The coronavirus is a RNA virus, which means it uses ribonucleic acid as its genetic material. A process called reverse transcription is needed to transcribe the RNA into readable DNA.

A swab sample doesn't collect much RNA in one go, therefore a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is used to rapidly make billions of copies so it can be analysed.

The DNA is dyed a fluorescent colour, which glows if the coronavirus is present, confirming a diagnosis. It gives a yes or no answer, but not how much virus the person is infected with.

There are some drawbacks to the PCR test, including that a swab taken from someone who has very recently been infected by the coronavirus will not yet contain any virus.

The Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association (HCSA) says between two and three people who have Covid-19 may test negative.

This is dangerous because it means the patients may go outside and spread the virus to others, under the belief they are free of the infection.

The accuracy of viral RNA swabs depends almost entirely on the quality of sampling and when the sample is taken in the course of disease, which will vary greatly, experts say.

Public Health England (PHE) has never disclosed how accurate its antigen testing is, despite publishing public papers on the accuracy of antibody tests.

Meanwhile, it has recently come to light that the PCR test may be 'too sensitive'.

Up to 90 per cent of Covid-19 patients in Massachusetts, New York and Nevada in July carried barely any traces of the virus.

PCR tests analyse genetic matter from the virus in cycles and today's tests typically take 37 or 40 cycles, but experts say this is too high because it detects very small amounts of the virus that don't pose a risk.

The test's threshold is so high it detects people with the live virus and those with few genetic fragments that are leftovers from infection and no longer pose risk, Dr Michael Mina, an epidemiologist at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, said.

SAMBA II  30-a-go swab analyser is 99% accurate

The SAMBA II was created by University of Cambridge spin-off company Diagnostics for the Real World

Sample type: Nose and throat swab

Turnaround time: 90 minutes

Tests per day: 15

Accuracy: 99%

Price: 30 per test

The SAMBA II has shown to be almost 99 per cent accurate at analysing swabs and can give a result in just 90 minutes.

The portable machine can diagnose Covid-19 in less than 90 minutes, but only has the capacity to process 15 tests a day.

It was developed by University of Cambridge spin-off company Diagnostics for the Real World.

It scours DNA in throat and nose swabs to detect the virus.

Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge has been trialling the device since April.

They have shown to be so effective that the hospital switched nearly all of its coronavirus testing from standard lab tests to the Samba machines in May.

A Samba test, costing approximately 30 per sample, would outweigh the cost of each additional bed day at around 200 'many times over', the team said.

The tests have been validated at the Public Health England, Cambridge in 102 patient samples and shown to have 98.7 per cent sensitivity and 100 per cent specificity.

The machines are already used to diagnose other blood-borne diseases like HIV and hepatitis C.

Virolens - a 20-second test used at Heathrow

Sample type: Saliva

Turnaround time: 20 seconds

Tests per day: 'Hundreds' from one screening device

Accuracy: 97%+

Price: Unknown

Virolens is a screening device that uses a digital camera attached to a microscope to analyse saliva samples, giving results in 20 seconds

Virolens is a screening device that uses a digital camera attached to a microscope to analyse saliva samples, giving results in 20 seconds.

It's developed by British startup iAbra, with design and manufacturing expertise from TT Electronics and technology powered by Intel, and is about to embark on clinical trials which is necessary for it to be certified for medical use.

Heathrow boss John Holland-Kaye is urging the Government to fast track the test following a successful three-week trial at Heathrow Airport as part of the Government's Condor programme.

He said today: 'Testing for Covid-19 is the lifeline that the UK economy needs to get back on its feet.

'I have experienced iAbra's test myself, alongside the PCR test - it is quicker and cheaper, and potentially more accurate.'

People swab saliva from their cheek and tongue before placing the sample in a cartridge that is analysed by the device, cutting the need for a laboratory.

The Virolens system reportedly has a 99.8 per cent sensitivity, which means almost every single person who tests positive is truly infected, and there are no 'false negatives' - when someone is wrongly told they do not have the coronavirus.

And the test has 96.7 per cent specificity, based on the results of a study at the University of Bristol, meaning just over three in every 100 people will get a 'false positive' result  when people are incorrectly led to believe they have virus.

The company said the test does not need to be carried out by a healthcare professional, making it useful for airports, stadium and music venues.

Each screening device is capable of carrying out hundreds of tests per day. The Telegraph reports each unit can test some 1,650 people per day, and 15,000 units are in the pipeline for production.

The Government is reportedly in talks with epigenetics company Chronomics about its saliva test for coronavirus (pictured)

Chronomics - one-hour results from a spit test

Sample type: Saliva

Turnaround time: 1 hour

Tests per day: Unknown

Accuracy: 'Super accurate' ( claimed

Price: Unknown

London-based company Chronomics has developed an easy coronavirus spit test that has reportedly gained Government attention.

In June, The Telegraph reported that the Government was in talks with the British firm, founded by scientists at Universities of Oxford, Cambridge and University College London.

One expert involved with the project said the firm was aiming to produce test results within one hour of the samples arriving at labs.

Philip Beales, a professor at the University College London Institute of Child Health, who has been helping to coordinate the efforts of smaller firms, said: 'Our guys are working on a one hour turnaround time from receipt of the sample in the lab, to getting the actual result back.'

The kit, which requires someone to spit into a tube, is easier and less painful than swabs currently used at hospitals, drive-in test facilities and in home packs.

The collection of the sample can be done anywhere - at home, work or in hospital - by the patient themselves, and the person does not need to have symptoms.

It involves the individual spitting sputum - a mixture of saliva and phlegm - into a tube and then sending it to a lab, where technicians read it for RNA - the viruses genetic information.

Professor Beale said: 'The saliva test has this inactivation buffer in the bottom, which inactivates the virus, preserves the RNA and then in thousands of [labs] in the country, you can just do a straightforward RNA extraction.'

Chronomics says it has the ability to significantly increase how many tests are conducted and is the 'solution to mass scale testing'.

And it claims the saliva test is 'super accurate'. The website says: 'Even small errors at high numbers can have dangerous consequences in the context of an infectious disease.

'Our test... is incredibly sensitive (in a controlled lab environment it can detect a single copy of the virus), it is highly specific to SARS-CoV-2 (and won't be confounded by other human viruses) and it will detect all strains of the virus that have evolved to date.'

Randox  portable swab tester saves on lab time

Randox's portable antigen test, called the Vivalytic, can process five swabs an hour

Sample type: Nose and throat swab

Turnaround time: 12 minutes

Tests per day: Five per hour

Accuracy: Unknown

Price: Unknown

The Government partnered with Northern Irish firm Randox in April to ramp up testing in the nation.

Randox's portable antigen test, called the Vivalytic, can process five swabs an hour. These are likely to be the same type of swabs currently used  that go in the nose and mouth  but processed at speed.

It has been scaled up across multiple hospitals in Northern Ireland.

The device is also used at the point of care and operated by a healthcare professional.

Randox says its device works by 'identifying SARS-CoV-2 and differentiating it from nine other respiratory infections with similar symptoms, including influenza and all known coronaviruses'.

The devices are still being trialled.

In July, 750,000 swabs were recalled after they failed to meet the required safety standards. Randox said the issue was with one of its suppliers of its swabs.

The machines which process the swabs have not been deemed unsafe.

Pregnancy test-style kits  home tests for 5 being checked by PHE

Sir John Bell, an Oxford University scientist and key Government adviser, said cheap pregnancy-style tests devices were currently being assessed by scientists at Public Health England

Rapid tests for Covid-19 which give a diagnosis in minutes could be approved within weeks, according to a leading scientist.

Sir John Bell, an Oxford University scientist and key Government adviser, said the cheap devices were currently being assessed by scientists at Public Health England.

He did not reveal which tests have been selected for inspection by officials, but mentioned a 'lovely test from the US' being brought in.

He claimed they could be sold on Amazon or Boots for as little as 5 if they are proven to be over 90 per cent accurate.

Professor Bell said the devices, that are 'no larger than a teacup', plug into a socket in the wall and process swabs within an hour.

One from the US which is currently under review is able to process a sample in the time it would take for a person to have a shower or eat their breakfast, he claimed.

Sir John said scientists at Porton Down - government run laboratories in Salisbury, Wiltshire, are currently assessing rapid antigen tests.

Intelligent Fingerprinting  experimental kit that uses sweat

The rapid test scours sweat for the virus and takes just 10 minutes

This sweat-testing kit is not a confirmed part of the UK Government's considerations but has potential as a simple alternative to swab testing.

British diagnostics firm Intelligent Fingerprinting and Imperial College London joined forces to develop a rapid test that scours sweat for the virus.

The test is said to take just 10 minutes to produce a diagnosis. It works by collecting fingerprint sweat onto a small test cartridge for analysis. The sample is then analysed by a portable DSR-Plus analysis unit.

The machine uses sensitive lateral flow technology and fluorescence measurement methods.

Its makes say the test is more hygienic and has less chance of being done wrong because it utilises sweat samples rather than a throat or mouth swab.

It's unclear how accurate the test is or whether UK ministers are looking into it.

Nonacus - a spit test in development backed by Government funding

Birmingham-based Nonacus, who have developed a Covid-19 spit test, received the share of a 40million Government grant to speed up work.

The test involves spitting sputum into a tube - couriered or sent to a person's own home - which is then sealed and sent to the laboratory.

Nonacus said the samples obtained could be examined by a significantly higher and broader number of labs than those processing existing swabs, The Telegraph reported, because a solution in the bottom of the tube inactivates the coronavirus.

Under government rules, live samples, like those on swabs, can only be examined by labs with highly specialised equipment to avoid contamination or spread of the coronavirus.

In May, Nonacus revealed it was one of 800 companies that had been given a portion of 40million from Innovate UK, part of the 1.25billion coronavirus package first announced by the Chancellor Rishi Sunak to help UK businesses driving innovation and development during Covid-19.

It will use this validate rapid surveillance testing for Covid-19 and other respiratory viruses.

Chris Sale, CEO and co-founder of Nonacus, said: 'It will allow us to extend the technology to include SARS-CoV-2 as part of a comprehensive respiratory viral surveillance product so, if your cough is not due to COVID-19, we will be able to tell you what is causing it.'

The website said: 'Nonacus expect the product to become commercially available later this year.

'In order to support the governments back-to-work strategy and avoid a second spike of cases, accurate, real-time monitoring of the coronavirus and its spread is critical.

'This requires advanced testing methods which can be rapidly deployed across many laboratories, globally, to allow for the surveillance and monitoring of the virus within and between populations by public health institutions.'
Chinese President Xi Jinping took a veiled swipe at the U.S. in a strongly worded speech, saying no country should be allowed to do whatever it likes and be the hegemon, bully or boss of the world."

Pushing for developing countries to have a greater role in world affairs, Xi said the United Nations could be more balanced" and called for the international order underpinned by international law," the official Xinhua News Agency reported, citing remarks made at a meeting commemorating the world bodys 75th anniversary. He said countries must not be lorded over by those who wave a strong fist at others."

There must be no practice of exceptionalism or double standards," Xi said. Nor should international law be distorted and used as a pretext to undermine other countries legitimate rights and interests or world peace and stability."

Xi is scheduled to address the United Nations General Assembly via video link later Tuesday. U.S. President Donald Trump is also among world leaders expected to address the annual summit in New York.

Xis appeal for a multilateral revival was echoed by leaders from German Chancellor Angela Merkel to South Korean President Moon Jae-in, as concern grows about the stability of global institutions set up after the devastation of World War Two. China has sought to cast itself as a champion of a world order shaken by Trumps decisions to withdraw from the World Health Organization, the Paris climate agreement and the Iran nuclear deal.

While Xi didnt mention any country by name, his remarks come as the Trump administration hits China with sanctions for human rights abuses and labels WeChat and Huawei Technologies Co. security threats. Trump said last month that American exceptionalism" should be taught in schools, as he tried to contrast himself with Democratic nominee Joe Biden, who has promised to return the U.S. to a less confrontational foreign policy.

China faces a challenge in trying to fill the void on the global stage, as its accused of flouting international norms by asserting territorial claims in the South China Sea, enacting a national security law in Hong Kong and detaining ethnic Uighurs in Xinjiang. China has also faced accusations of bullying for using coercive trade policies in geopolitical disputes against countries from Australia to Sweden.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.

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As the deadline draws near for the 2020 Census, I pose this question to all Philadelphia veterans: Are you present and accounted for?

When I arrived at boot camp in May 2000, I was greeted by a swarm of instructors with spit bubbles foaming from their mouths directing me to get my slow, lazy behind in formation to be marked present and accounted for by Recruit Training Command. This was my very first military muster (aka attendance) but far from my last. Throughout my six-year naval career, I was marked present and accounted for thousands of times.

When I arrived home to Philadelphia after being honorably discharged, I did not identify with any community or creed. I did not identify as a civilian, and I didnt feel present and accounted for anywhere.

 READ MORE: 2020 Census efforts are targeting Philadelphia area households that havent responded

During Operation Iraqi Freedom, I had spent countless hours as a submariner stationed onboard a giant war machine knowing every action taken could mean death to our enemy, death to our crew, or death to our fellow service members on the ground. We identified as submarine warriors and keepers of the silent service. The truth was, that bravado typically hid physical, mental, and emotional scars we could no longer hide once we stepped off the boat for the final time.

At home, I could not relate to coworkers and neighbors. I could not explain the glory of servitude that I felt as a service member. That sense of duty that justified me trading in my freedom for the obligation of service to the greater good. That essence that made you feel present and accounted for.

I also did not identify as a veteran. I am a second-generation submariner. My father served as a submarine electrician onboard diesel-powered submarines in the 70s. But I cannot remember him ever identifying himself as a veteran. Like my father, when I came home, I never discussed or celebrated my military service. Once I took off the uniform, I lost that sense of pride, community, mission, and purpose.

But now I have connected locally and nationally with my fellow brothers and sisters who served in the Armed Services through organizations such as the Travis Manion Foundation, the Weekly Fight, the Greater Philadelphia Veterans Network, and several veteran centers in the Greater Philadelphia region. I have seen the combined impact veterans can have by empowering ourselves toward a new kind of service  this time in our communities through leadership in service projects, youth mentorship, and economic development.

I have discovered that the veteran community is not the broken population we have been characterized as. I am privy to the challenges faced by veteran service organizations and Veteran Affairs groups working tirelessly to serve our community. They need more funding and more resources. The census data must show this need for our region.

 READ MORE: 2020 Census has arrived. Heres what you need to know.

Our nation is currently mustering for the 2020 Census and the deadline is quickly approaching. Like fair and free elections, this is a constitutionally mandated evolution that has more at stake than you may know. Congressional representation for the next 10 years will be based on the statistical data collected from this decennial census.

Every Philadelphia veteran should be marked present and accounted for by completing their 2020 Census by the deadline of Sept. 30. Get counted by going to my2020census.gov or by calling 1-844-330-2020.

The 2020 Census is a short questionnaire that asks nine questions about your household and takes less than 10 minutes to complete. If you are not counted, our fellow citizens and local veterans in the Greater Philadelphia region may miss out on the readily available support they so desperately need.

Jimmy White IV is a South Philly native and an Operation Iraqi Freedom U.S. Navy submarine veteran.
One Room Schoolhouse

An American one room schoolhouse. with the class and teacher out front for their portrait, late 1880s or early 1890s Credit - Getty Images

Even before the United States had a Constitution, its founders were advocating for the creation of public education systems. The United States was an experiment in democracy unlike anything the world had ever seen, turning away from government dominated by elites and hoping that the common man could rule himself. If this experiment had any chance of standing the test of time, the nation needed far more schools to prepare everyday citizens for self-government. As James Madison, the father of our Constitution, remarked: a popular Government, without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a Prologue to a Farce or a Tragedy. Thomas Jefferson similarly argued that governments deriv[e] their just powers from the consent of the governed, but that it is education that makes that consent possible. President Washington, in his last annual message to Congress, added that expanding education was essential to the perpetuation of nations common values and the chance of a permanent Union.

While the countrys public education system is firmly established now, the underlying challenges of maintaining it and achieving its goals are resurfacing today. Those challenges range from the governments responsibility for operating and funding public schoolsparticularly a challenge during the pandemicto the need for those schools to unite culturally disparate and politically polarized communities.

In the nations early years, one of the first steps in dealing with these dynamics was to shift education responsibility from the individual to government. This was no small task. At the time, education was almost entirely a private and religious affair. But if it was going to be a natural extension of this new republican form of government, public education had to become a duty that government owed its citizens. Adams was explicit: the education of every rank and class of people, down to the lowest and the poorest had to be the care of the public and maintained at the public expense. Its importance required that no expense . . . would be too extravagant.

Story continues

Shortly after the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson tried to build a public education system in his home state. In the Bill for the More General Diffusion of Knowledge, he warned against the tyranny of government that would follow unless the people at large were educated at the common expence of all. His bill dictated the various intricacies of constructing and financing a statewide system of education out of whole cloth. Many today interpret the bills failure as a direct rejection of public schools, but they ignore context. Virginia suffered under the financial and violent effects of the ongoing and uncertain Revolutionary War. In this context, Jefferson was encouraged despite the bills failure: I never saw [a bill] received with more enthusiasm than that was . . . by the House of Delegates, who ordered it printed. And it seemed afterwards, that nothing but the extreme distress of our resources prevented its being carried into execution, even during the war.

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Working a few years later, John Adams achieved one of the most significant accomplishments in educational history: he wrote the Massachusetts Constitution of 1780 and placed education at the center of the states understanding of government. The Constitution declared that wisdom and knowledge . . . diffused generally among the body of the people [are] necessary for the preservation of their rights and liberties. . . . [Thus,] it shall be the duty of legislatures and magistrates, in all future periods of this commonwealth, to cherish the . . . public schools.

Jeffersons and Adams work and later advocacy significantly impacted the future of education elsewhere. Several states modeled their constitutions on Massachusetts, and Congress incorporated important aspects of their thinking into the Northwest Ordinances of 1785 and 1787. Those Ordinances divided up the territories and set their paths toward statehood. Congress placed public education at the literal center of these plans. The 1785 Ordinance specified how every square inch of land would be divided into counties and towns. Every new town had to set aside one-ninth of its land and one-third of its natural resources for the financial support of public education. And every town had to reserve one of its center lots for the operation of a public school. Then, alongside a number of individual rights that later made their way into the Constitution, the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 declared that as a necessity of good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged.

The Ordinances are part of the straight lines moving forward and back in timeback to Jeffersons and Adams education ideas and work, forward to Congress demands for affirmative education guarantees following the Civil War, and onward to a time when every state in the nation would guarantee education through its constitution. Just as Jeffersons Virginia bill called for six-mile square townships with a central block reserved for the schools, a decade later the Northwest Ordinance basically did the same. Just as Adamss 1780 Massachusetts Constitution declared education a necessity for the preservation of . . . rights and liberties, so, too, did the Northwest Ordinance declare education to be necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind.

The Ordinances lofty language and provision of land, however, alone were not enough to cause a nationwide system of education to spring forth. Land in an undeveloped frontier was not that valuable. It sadly never generated enough resources to support a system of schools in places where no formal government, no tax base and no system of doing things existed.

What the territories really needed was money. The United States did not have any money, so it just gave what it hadland. But it was the nations willingness to give what it had, to demand very specific commitments in return, and to articulate education as the foundation of government, not the short-term efficacy of the plan, that makes the Northwest Ordinances so important.

Americas education story is ultimately a story of the tension between the idea that the nations democracy rests on the foundation of education and the inability to ever fully deliver on that commitment. Education, like democracy, has long been a work in progress. But that progress has come by remaining fixed on our fundamental ideas, not questioning them because of our own failures to reach themand certainly not replacing them with something else. And as we ponder our own distinct, yet similar, challenges in providing education to all and uniting a polarized nation, we would be well served to ask whether we will resolve them by moving further away from or closer to our public education commitments.

PublicAffairs

Adapted with permission from Schoolhouse Burning: Public Education and the Assault on American Democracy by Derek W. Black, available now from PublicAffairs.


United Nations, Sep 22 : US President Donald Trump, who defied the UN and unilaterally reimposed sanctions on Iran, has boycotted the world body's 75th anniversary commemoration.

Trump was listed as the first national leader to speak at the General Assembly session honouring the 75th anniversary on Monday.

The President was to have sent in a pre-recorded speech like all world leaders, although he also had the option of coming in person.

Instead the session heard from the US Acting Deputy Permanent Representative Cherith Norman Chalet.

While the anniversary meeting was taking place in New York, the Trump administration announced a series of steps to back up the sanctions it reimposed on Iran on September 19.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told reporters in Washington that Trump's order to reimpose the sanctions gave a "new and powerful tool to enforce the UN arms embargo and hold those who seek to evade UN sanctions accountable".

But UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that there was "uncertainty" over the legality of the US action and the world body would not act on it till the Security Council clarifies the situation.

Western allies of the US on the Security Council, along with the others, have opposed the action.

Trump had pulled out of the international agreement made in 2015 between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany to lift sanctions imposed by the council in return for Tehran stopping its nuclear weapons programme.

But he withdrew from the deal in 2018.

The Trump administration said that it was reimposing claiming that Teheran violated its terms.

In his UN address, Chalet took a conciliatory approach mostly praising the UN's successes in which he said Washington "has played a central role".

"For the Trump administration, this anniversary is an important moment to mark the many successes of the UN, but to do so with clear eyes and a renewed determination to see this important body serve its intended purpose." He said that the US has been the UN's "largest and most reliable funder for all of its 75 years".

"That commitment ensures that UN organisations are able to reach millions in need, to coordinate global humanitarian action, and convene on issues requiring urgent action.

"The UN has for too long been resistant to meaningful reform, too often lacking in transparency, and too vulnerable to the agenda of autocratic regimes and dictatorships," Chalet said.

He added that the UN needs "new agility" to face "threats that include theft of intellectual property and efforts to undermine internet freedom".

(Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed on Twitter at @arulouis)
Bavaria approved a number of new COVID-19 restrictions on Tuesday. Photo: Peter Kneffel/picture alliance via Getty Images

The southern German state of Bavaria was the first one to announce a complete shutdown of public life in March, after people failed to heed warnings to stay home and practice social distancing.

On Tuesday, Bavarian state premier Markus Soder and his cabinet approved a number of new restrictions aimed at curbing a recent surge in coronavirus infections.

Soder said in a press conference that returning holiday makers are a key reason for the spike in the numbers, as well as general carelessness, especially among young people.

The tighter regulations, which Soder described as the basic principle of more masks, less alcohol will come into force later this week for areas, municipalities and communities with a high instance of new infections  areas reporting more than 50 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants per week.

Watch: What is the latest guidance on masks in the UK?

They will include mandatory mask wearing in crowded public spaces, as well as a ban on the consumption of alcohol in public, an 11pm curfew for bars and restaurants, and only five instead of 10 people will be allowed to meet  or maximum two households.

READ MORE: Germanys top virologist doesn't envisage a second national lockdown

Indoor parties should be restricted to 25 people  down from 100  and outdoor parties should be limited to 50 people, from the previously allowed 200 attendees.

Since the start of the pandemic, the state  Germanys largest by size  has reported some 65,000 virus cases, and the numbers are climbing.

Data from Bavarias Office for Health and Food Safety showed that 47% of all infections in the last week was among 15-to-34-year-olds.

We are at a very tense fork in the road, Soder said, adding that people should not lose patience in the fight against coronavirus, so as to avoid a second lockdown at all costs.

Watch: Germany's annual Oktoberfest canceled for first the time since WWII

Despite the cancellation of Oktoberfest in Munich, authorities were concerned about the amount of people gathering in the citys pubs last weekend to celebrate what would have been the opening weekend of the worlds biggest beer festival.

READ MORE: Oktoberfest cancellation a blow for Germanys beer brewers

German authorities reported 1,821 new coronavirus infections in the 24 hours to Tuesday morning. The country so far has had 276,779 cases in total, and 9,401 deaths from COVID-19 to date, according to Johns Hopkins University data.
An envelope laced with a poisonous powder that was mailed to the White House also contained a letter with an ominous message for U.S. President Donald Trump.

Give up and remove your application for this election, it said.

The writer went on to say that if the powder  which turned out to be the deadly toxin ricin  didnt work, Ill find (a) better recipe for another poison, or I might use my gun when Ill be able to come.

On Tuesday, the Quebec woman accused of sending the envelope made her first appearance in U.S. federal court in Buffalo.

Pascale Ferrier, 53, faces a charge of making threats against the president of the United States. The court entered a not-guilty plea on her behalf.

Ferrier, who wore a tan jail jumpsuit and whose hands were cuffed, said little other than to acknowledge receiving a copy of the complaint and agreeing to a court-appointed attorney.

Court heard that prosecutors are seeking to keep Ferrier detained until trial because she poses a serious risk of flight and because the allegations involve a crime of violence.

Her public defender, meanwhile, requested an identity hearing to confirm that Ferrier is, in fact, the person named in the complaint and a preliminary hearing to establish whether probable cause exists for the charges. She is scheduled to return to court on Sept. 28.

Authorities were notified Friday that a letter had been intercepted at a mail-sorting facility before it reached the White House and that it was found to contain a white powder, according to an affidavit filed by Jonathan Preston, an FBI special agent.

It later tested positive for ricin, which is derived from the seeds of the castor bean plant.

The letter stated: I found a new name for you: The Ugly Tyrant Clown I hope you like it. You ruin USA and lead them to disaster. I have US cousins, then I dont want the next 4 years with you as president. Give up and remove your application for this election. So I made a Special Gift for you to make a decision. This gift is in this letter. If it doesnt work, Ill find better recipe for another poison, or I might use my gun when Ill be able to come. Enjoy!

The letter was signed FREE REBEL SPIRIT.

FBI field offices in Texas, meanwhile, were notified days earlier of six additional letters, similar to the one addressed to Trump, that had been sent to various individuals working at penitentiaries and detention centres in Texas.

Those letters also appeared to have originated from Canada, contained a powdery substance and used similar language to the letter sent to Trump. Four of the Texas letters contained fingerprints that matched the defendants, the affidavit alleges.

None of the allegations have been tested in court.

Online records show that in March 2019, Pascale was booked into the main jail in Hidalgo County, Texas, on suspicion of unlawfully carrying a weapon and using a fake Texas drivers licence.

District Attorney Ricardo Rodriguez Jr. told The Canadian Press his office ended up not formally charging Ferrier with the alleged weapons offence because it didnt think it would be possible to get a conviction. A charge of tampering with government records was dismissed in May 2019, in part because Ferrier was facing deportation.

It appears from Ferriers Facebook account that she set off for Canada from Texas in June 2019. Upon her return, she found work at a grocery store.

Luc Gagnon, the owner of the store, said she never discussed politics or her time in the U.S.

She was a devoted employee, a hard worker.

Records show Ferrier had previously filed for bankruptcy in 2018, declaring $248,642 in liabilities and $222,441 in assets. Her LinkedIn profile shows she has a background in web development.

According to the FBI affidavit, Ferrier was arrested Sunday as she attempted to re-enter the U.S. at the Peace Bridge border crossing in Buffalo. She told customs officers she was wanted by the FBI for the ricin letters, the affidavit says. She had a loaded gun in her waistband, as well as a knife, its alleged.

A search of social media accounts linked to Ferrier revealed that messages posted on Sept. 9 contained the hashtag #killTrump and Ugly Clown Tyrant, the affidavit says.

A Texas man whose deceased ex-wife was related to Ferrier told the Star on Tuesday he was shocked to learn of the allegations, calling Ferrier a sweetheart.

The man, who asked not to be identified because of the seriousness of the allegations, said Ferrier visited him last year.

She had driven down to the U.S. in her RV and helped tend the animals on his farm, he said.

She was quite helpful when she was here and she was very sweet.

Later, when she ventured to the southernmost part of Texas, he learned that shed had a run-in with police.

He said he spoke to some of Ferriers relatives in France and told them he would do what he could to help her. Ferriers Facebook account indicates she obtained Canadian citizenship in 2015. Reuters reported she retains dual French-Canadian citizenship.

He went down to visit her in jail and gave her some money for basic necessities. At one point, he said, she confirmed she had a pistol and that she would visit a firing range with neighbours from the RV park where she was staying.

How in the world would someone  what would she hope to gain by something like that? he said after learning of the new allegations against her.

Thats kind of upsetting, he added. Trumps the best thing thats ever happened to the United States.

With files from The Canadian Press

Read more about:
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio  A trooper with the State Highway Patrol is facing multiple criminal charges, including rape and drug trafficking, according to reports.

The Champaign County Sheriffs Office arrested John McLeod, 40, of Marysville, on Friday, the Dayton Daily News reports. Records with Champaign Municipal Court show McLeod is charged with two counts of rape, two counts of sexual battery and one count of aggravated trafficking in drugs. He is scheduled to appear in court Thursday..

According to WHIO Channel 7, the charges are related to an incident in June. McLeod reportedly knows the victim.

The Daily News reports McLeod had been working as a trooper since 2013 and was assigned to the post in Springfield, which is located between Dayton and Columbus. He is on leave without pay during the investigation.

The allegations against Mr. McLeod do not reflect the values of this agency," the patrol said in a statement.

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Akron police stop speeding driver, discover hes been shot

Man charged in fatal shooting in Clevelands Old Brooklyn neighborhood

Man chased down, shot to death in Clevelands Glenville neighborhood
Asymmetrex Receives $0.42 Million R&D Award from NIH-NHLBI ...Asymmetrex is fortunate to have the kind of support that gets a company to important milestones like this one.

On the heals of Asymmetrexs recently published peer-reviewed report describing its development of a method for quantifying therapeutic tissue stem cells, on Saturday September 19, the company received a Notice of Award of its first Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the U.S. National Institutes of Health. Sponsored by the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, the $0.42 million 1 year award recognizes the potential major impact of Asymmetrexs first-in-kind technology in the stem cell medicine and drug development industries.

Asymmetrex founder and director James L. Sherley, M.D., Ph.D. spent most of Saturday contacting collaborators, contract service providers involved in the project, corporate partners, and industry colleagues who endorsed the grant application to share the news of the award. I couldnt wait until Monday to share this news. No one does biotechnology development and commercialization successfully alone; and Asymmetrex is fortunate to have the kind of support that gets a company to important milestones like this one.

The new funds will accelerate the technical and business development of two applications of the companys AlphaSTEM Test tissue stem cell counting technology. One goal is to evaluate in a head-to-head comparison how the companys computational counting technology relates to the only existing method for specific estimation of the dosage of a therapeutic tissue stem cell.

Human blood stem cells can be estimated specifically by transplanting cells into mice. This test method is expensive, slow (taking 12-16 weeks), and variable. Asymmetrex already established  reported in the recent publication  that its technology compares well to the published literature for the mouse test, but has significantly less variability. The direct comparison will increase industry confidence and pave the way to raising more financing for advancing the AlphaSTEM Test to clinical evaluations. The companys first clinical application target is determining the dose of stem cells in umbilical cord blood to identify which units will be lifesaving for children after leukemia treatment. In current clinical practice, 15-18% of children receive an ineffective transplant, because the stem cell dose was not known.

The second major milestone accomplished with award funding will be measurement of how well the AlphaSTEM Test identifies drug candidates that are toxic to tissue stem cells, like those in the liver and bone marrow. Drugs that are toxic to tissue stem cells cause chronic organ failure, a life-threatening event for clinical trial patients and a financial catastrophe for a drug development program. Such failures in Phase II and Phase III clinical trials cost the U.S. pharmaceutical industry $4-5 billion in losses each year. Currently, besides these late costly failures, the only way to identify tissue stem cell-toxic drug candidates is with expensive animal toxicology evaluations. Animal evaluations are notorious for their poor ability to predict human toxicities.

The companys seminal report contains preliminary evidence of the AlphaSTEM Tests ability to identify either tissue stem cell-toxic or tissue stem cell-activating compounds inexpensively in cell culture. The latter ability has application for discovery of new compounds that accelerate wound healing and combat effects of aging, including cosmetics. With the new award, Asymmetrex will extend the preliminary studies to the full-scale analyses needed by pharmaceutical companies for their evaluations.

About Asymmetrex

Asymmetrex, LLC is a Massachusetts life sciences company with a focus on developing technologies to advance stem cell medicine. The companys U.S. and U.K. patent portfolio contains biotechnologies that solve the two main technical problems  production and quantification  that have stood in the way of effective use of human adult tissue stem cells for regenerative medicine and drug development. Asymmetrex markets the first technology for determination of the dose and quality of tissue stem cell preparations (the AlphaSTEM Test) for use in stem cell transplantation therapies and pre-clinical drug evaluations. Asymmetrex is a member company of the Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute BioFabUSA and the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council.


MCLEAN, Va., Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- On Thursday, October 22, 2020, at approximately 4:05 p.m. Eastern Time, Capital One Financial Corporation (NYSE: COF) will release its third quarter 2020 earnings results. Additionally, the company will host a conference call at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time to review financial and operating performance for the quarter ending September 30, 2020.

The call will be webcast live and the earnings release will be available on the company's homepage at www.capitalone.com . A replay of the webcast will be available 24 hours a day, beginning two hours after the conference call, until 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on November 5, 2020, through the company's homepage.

About Capital One

Capital One Financial Corporation (www.capitalone.com) is a financial holding company whose subsidiaries, which include Capital One, National Association and Capital One Bank (USA), National Association, had $304.2 billion in deposits and $421.3 billion in total assets as of June 30, 2020. Headquartered in McLean, Virginia, Capital One offers a broad spectrum of financial products and services to consumers, small businesses and commercial clients through a variety of channels. Capital One, National Association has branches located primarily in New York, Louisiana, Texas, Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey and the District of Columbia. A Fortune 500 company, Capital One trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "COF" and is included in the S&P 100 Index.

Visit Capital One About for more Capital One news.

SOURCE Capital One Financial Corporation

Related Links

http://www.capitalone.com


Japanese food is one of the most sought-after cuisines in America, and Americans are now looking for more authentic Japanese food. Diners are no longer happy with knock-off sushi rolls or supermarket chicken teriyaki.

Americans are looking for the finest Japanese restaurants that serve the best food. One of the favorites is ramen, the noodle soup has now come a long way since they were first introduced in the country. Customized strands and slow-simmered broths are worth the visit to these places.

Ramen Tatsu-Ya in Austin, Texas

Ramen Tatsu-Ya started the ramen craze in Austin, thanks to its extraordinary intense broth. Takuya Matsumoto and former DJs Tatsu Aikawa created a tonkotsu that requires three days' worth of cook time, resulting in a delicious pork bone elixir that clings to the angel-hair noodle.

The custom strands come from revered producer Sun Noodle. It is topped with tender chashu, woodear mushrooms, and a marinated egg.

Also Read: Top 5 Best Korean Restaurants in America

Mu Ramen in New York City, New York

Mu Ramen features an overlooking open kitchen, where Joshua and Heidy Smookler, a husband-and-wife team, operate the sushi-bar intimacy.

The strands of the ramen are delicate, but with an al dente spring and a different variety showcased in each bowl. The must-try one is their flagship bowl that is built on a broth of oxtail and bone marrow. It also gets extra-meaty from melting cubes of brisket paired with shredded cabbage and half-sour pickles.

Tsujita in Los Angeles, CA

Tsujita's kurobuta pork bones are simmered for no less than 60 hours to create the dipping broth. Its noodles are thick, toothy and dense, and how ramen is served only at lunch so if you plan on visiting, you better get there early.

Tsujita serves the best ramen in Los Angeles. In fact, patrons tried other places, but they keep on going back to this magical place, as no other restaurant in West L. A can compare.

Toki Underground in Washington, D.C.

Toki Underground offers slurp-worthy bowls, and chef Erik Bruner-Yang sought inspiration on his creations from his travels across East Asia.

While the broths are decidedly Japanese, other components come courtesy of Japan's neighbors like China, Taiwan, and Korea.

The ramen has chewy, toothsome noodles, crispy fried chicken topping, and it is infused with pickled punch of fermented cabbage.

Johnny Noodle King in Detroit, Michigan

In recent years, Detroit has emerged as one of the country's top food destinations. One of the most visited ramen places is Johnny Noodle King, thanks to chef Les Molnar who reshaped the local dining landscape.

The ramen bowls range from traditional to inauthentic. You can go for creamy, tonkatsu made from boiled-down pig's trotters and heads to Southwest #2 that consists of green chilies, corn, coriander-roasted carrots, and fish sauce.

Uncle in Denver, Colorado

Uncle sells almost 2,000 bowls a week. It is a testament to the popularity of the restaurant's umami-laden offerings. Chef Tommy uses broths that are simmered for 16 hours, and the noodles come from Sun Noodle.

The chicken is spicy, and it is built on a tahini-soy-chili base, and it has rich Veggie Miso that is finished with wild mushrooms, snap peas, and watermelon radish.

Related Article: Top Popular Asian Food in the United States That Americans Love

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Tata Consultancy Services announced that it is using its new AI software, IUX for Workplace Resilience, to minimize the risks for its employees and ensure their safety, should their responsibilities require some of them to be in the office during the pandemic.

When COVID-19 forced companies to mandate working from home, TCS deployed its Secure Borderless Workspaces (SBWS) model, enabling its workforce of over 443,000 across 46 countries to work remotely, in just a few weeks. While lockdown restrictions have been eased, TCS has prioritized employee safety and well-being, and has enabled return to work in a carefully calibrated way, for under two percent of the workforce to date. To create a safe workplace for TCSers who need to return to work for some business-critical activities, TCS implemented IUX for Workplace Resilience, which is part of the SBWS framework.

From concept to deployment, TCS took just four weeks to begin running the software at its first location.

Part of the award-winning TCS Intelligent Urban Exchange (IUX) portfolio, the software helps enterprises make it safer for employees to return to the workplace amid COVID-19 by combining risk analytics with key business relaunch functions, including workforce safety, regulation compliance, operational resilience, and customer engagement.

With its business command dashboard, IUX for Workplace Resilience improves staff deployment planning by enabling site administrators to monitor the daily risk profile and risk prediction for over 180,000 TCSers in India on a rolling seven, 14- and 21-day basis. Based on the daily risk scores, administrators can decide which of the employees can be safely allowed to return to work, if required.

The software generates alerts if social distancing norms are not followed in common areas, monitors PPE use, and records employee temperatures at entrances and exits. In the event of an infection, it can be used to carry out contact tracing within 20 to 30 minutes versus the normal one week. All employee data and self-declared inputs are encrypted to ensure personal data privacy.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Industry veterans return to Atlanta is a nod to the citys growing creative culture and strength of its advertising market

Atlanta's WITH/Agency Adds new Executive Creative Director

(L-R) Jamie Sims, Co-Founder, Blair Brady, CEO and Co-Founder, Bowen Mendelson, Executive Creative Director at the WITH/Agency offices in Atlanta.

(L-R) Jamie Sims, Co-Founder, Blair Brady, CEO and Co-Founder, Bowen Mendelson, Executive Creative Director at the WITH/Agency offices in Atlanta.

ATLANTA, Sept. 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The WITH/agency, an independent, advertising and creative agency, announced today the arrival of a new Executive Creative Director to guide the award-winning agencys creative team.



Bowen Mendelson comes to WITH after a recent stint as the Director of Creative for Orangetheory Fitness, where he supervised the Companys creative department in producing a robust array of member-facing marketing communications and programs. He also co-created Orangetheorys very first digital workout series Orangetheory at Home.

I am thrilled to see Bowen step into this role and lead our creative team, says Blair Brady, CEO and Co-founder, the WITH/agency. Given the significance of our growing roster of clients, we felt the time was right to bring on someone of his caliber and double down on our investment in the agency and in creative talent for Atlanta. He has embraced the vision for the agency and his incredible experience and knowledge will make it come to life in our work.

Prior to working at Orangetheory Fitness, Mendelsons career has included an impressive list of roles -- both in-house and at agencies -- including stints at FitzCo, Ogilvy, Deutsch LA, Uber, and McCann NY, working with brands like Coca-Cola, Navy Federal Credit Union and Kimberly-Clark.

The WITH/agency role allows me to return to my agency roots with a company Ive come to respect and admire. WITH has a great roster of clients, and I cant wait to help shape its business for years to come, said Mendelson. Plus, Ive always felt that Atlanta was my permanent home, so this opportunity is everything I hoped for.

Story continues

Mendelson will begin work immediately with WITH/agency clients like Kaiser Permanent, PG&E, EarthLink, The Fox Theatre, Georgia Power, The Piedmont Bank, and Pretoria Fields, among many others.

About WITH/Agency

WITH/agency is an award-winning independent agency specializing in brand strategy, marketing and advertising serving corporate clients on a regional and national level. The Atlanta based agency is a certified WBE and was founded in 2012 by agency veterans Blair Brady and Jamie Sims. WITH proudly serves as an agency partner for many of Atlantas iconic brands such as: Kaiser Permanente, The Fox Theatre, EarthLink, Georgia Power, AT&T and The Piedmont Bank.

Contact:

Tony Carter

tony@thewithagency.com

404.316.0201

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/675edadf-68ac-4fd7-9254-d5306a5e6d47




Critics argued that the department was making it more difficult to deem a worker to be an employee rather than simply clarifying the criteria.

Its certainly a narrowing of the test, said Catherine Ruckelshaus, general counsel of the National Employment Law Project, a worker advocacy group. Employers know the rules. Workers know the rules. Employers just dont like where the lines are between employee and independent contractor. There really isnt very much confusion.

The Labor Department had already taken steps down the path of deeming gig workers to be employees. Not long after President Trump took office, the department rescinded guidance adopted under the Obama administration suggesting that gig workers like Uber and Lyft drivers met the criteria for employment status.

Last year, the department issued a so-called opinion letter advising an unnamed gig economy company whose workers clean residences that it considered them to be contractors rather than employees.

While such letters directly apply only to the companies that seek them, other companies tend to read them closely for guidance about the departments enforcement approach. Experts noted at the time that the letter appeared to be written broadly, somewhat in the vein of a policy pronouncement rather than merely advice to a specific company.

David Weil, who ran the wage and hour division under the Obama administration and is now dean of the Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University, said the rule proposed Tuesday was deeply flawed in elevating two factors in its analysis.

As articulated by Congress, and by many, many different courts, it is a multifactor test where no one factor predominates, Mr. Weil said. It is legally incorrect to say were going to cherry pick our two favorites. Its not how it works.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 15:34:25|Editor: huaxia

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Join farmers in Anjihai Township of Shawan County in northwest China's Xinjiang for harvesting chili peppers as the spicy fruit of plants dye the land red. Thanks to the abundant sunshine and the irrigation water that it receives from the Tianshan Mountains, more than ten kinds of peppers grow in the area with high quality. The chili pepper industry contributes to half of local farmers' income. In addition to be sold nationally, Anjihai's chili peppers are exported to countries including South Korea and Japan.
Turkey, Greece agree to talks on Mediterranean tensions Germany has mediated between the two neighbours to ease tensions.

Turkey and Greece have agreed to talks over disputed waters in the eastern Mediterranean, both sides said on Tuesday, after German-led efforts to defuse a crisis that has raised fears of conflict.

A standoff over gas exploration in contested waters has seen the NATO neighbours stage rival war games and ramp up their rhetoric, but the tone has softened this week, raising hopes for a diplomatic solution.

The latest flare-up began in August when Turkey sent a research vessel accompanied by warships to disputed waters near a Greek island, and prolonged the mission three times despite repeated calls from the European Union and Greece to stop.

But both sides said on Tuesday they were "ready to start exploratory talks" as a three-way videoconference between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and European Council chief Charles Michel took place, the Turkish presidency said.

The Greek foreign ministry also confirmed the talks, saying they would be held soon in Istanbul, without providing any precise date.

- Ship on the move -

Greece and Turkey have held talks on continental shelf disputes before -- the last were in 2016.

Ankara argues that it has the largest coastline of all the eastern Mediterranean nations but a disproportionately small share of the sea because of Greece's far-flung islands -- some of them within sight of Turkey's shore.

Athens says its claims are grounded in international law and past agreements signed by Ankara.

Turkish officials have insisted the Oruc Reis will return to its work, and ship-tracking website marinetraffic.com showed that the ship was on the move on Tuesday afternoon -- although it was not clear where it was heading.

Turkey has also extended the mission of another research vessel in disputed waters off Cyprus until October 18. A drill ship will also remain off Cyprus until October 12.

- 'Sincere dialogue' -

Greece and France have both demanded tough sanctions against Ankara, which could be agreed at an EU summit on October 1 and 2.

Story continues

Erdogan and French President Emmanuel Macron have traded barbs for weeks over the issue -- Turkey accusing the French leader of arrogance and despair after he called for a tough EU stance.

France also angered Turkey by sending fighter jets and vessels to the region in support of Greece.

However, the two men spoke over the phone late on Tuesday in their first contact since the tensions flared.

French officials said Macron told his counterpart to avoid taking any action likely to raise tension and to "engage without ambiguity in the construction of an area of peace and cooperation in the Mediterranean".

The Turkish side said Erdogan told Macron he expected "common sense and a constructive attitude" from France, claiming that he supports dialogue and cooperation to solve problems.

In an address to the United Nations General Assembly via videoconference earlier, the Turkish leader called for "sincere dialogue" to settle the row and rejected "any imposition, harassment, or attack in the opposite direction".

burs-raz-fo/jxb
Had the League of United Latin American Citizens annual convention not been scrubbed by COVID-19 this year, more people inside and outside the largest U.S. Latino civil rights organization might have heard about the work to get its founding father recognized.

Its 135,000 members might have heard more about the complicated series of events that led to 1929, its founding year, and a man from Alice named Alonso S. Perales, who transcended his tragic, humble beginnings to become a lawyer; a U.S. diplomat in his 20s after World War I; an author, public intellectual and civil rights attorney.

Yet Perales may be one of the most influential Mexican Americans of the 20th century whos still relatively unknown.

ROBERT MCLEROY, STAFF / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

Because of the dearth of Latino scholars at the time of his death in 1960, and a lack of interest among non-Latino historians, Perales never got his due, aside from an elementary school named for him in the Edgewood Independent School District.

A LULAC convention in the early 1990s paid tribute to him but not to the extent new research reveals he should be.

Two women seek to correct that wrong: His San Antonio-born daughter Marta Perales Carrizales, who now lives in Houston, and preeminent Mexican American scholar Cynthia Orozco at Eastern New Mexico University-Ruidoso.

His vast archives are key.

In 2009, they were given to the University of Houston, where they were digitized and categorized within six months.

His recognition also will be made easier by Orozcos forthcoming biography, Pioneer of Mexican American Civil Rights: Alonso S. Perales. Arte Publico Press was scheduled to publish it this spring. Orozco says it is set for publication later this year.

Orozco was set to speak about Perales at LULACs convention in July, specifically about his extensive writings on civil rights that made him LULACs intellectual brainchild.

LULAC has credited several Mexican American leaders, including Perales, and a merger of several South Texas groups for its creation, but Orozco says Perales was the major founder.

His critical role in an early convention of the Order of the Sons of America helped it survive and thus gave birth to LULAC. LULAC would not have existed had Perales not organized this convention.

Orozco said Perales died without the Mexican American community knowing much about him, and those who knew him couldnt collectively see his achievements.

David Contreras of Houstons LULAC Council No. 60 said they hoped to correct the record at this years convention with a book signing and talk by Orozco. They will make another attempt in 2021.

Perales was the true founder of LULAC, Contreras said. What we have known is superficial.

For Perales Carrizales, 70, the work of salvaging her fathers history has been personal. Shes making up for lost time when his archive was in her mothers control and inaccessible to scholars.

She hopes its contents will be studied by new generations of scholars who will read his correspondence with other civil rights leaders, his push for state and federal anti-discrimination laws and struggle against poorly funded schools for Mexican American children that predates better known battles during the second half of the 20th century.

She said few know that her father mentored key Mexican American figures, including congressman Henry B. Gonzalez, judge Carlos Cadena, attorney Gus Garcia, who argued the landmark Hernandez vs. Texas before the U.S. Supreme Court, and Vilma Martinez, who worked at Perales law office in San Antonio as a teen and ultimately headed the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund.

Orphaned as a child, her father came to San Antonio to work as a secretary after attending a business college, she said. During World War I, he served in San Antonio as a military court recorder, then was tapped by the federal government in Washington, D.C.

Thats where her father earned a high school diploma, a bachelors and law degree. He joined the diplomatic corps, serving in 13 missions in Latin America.

Perales Carrizales most seeks to amend Mexican American civil rights history to better reflect her fathers contributions starting around1919.

My father had a calling since he was young, she said. Something inside of him drove him. It wasnt learned. It was innate.

He talked about the importance of education and voting. That was the seed that motivated him to start an organization. It didnt have a name. It was an idea.

LULAC became that idea.

She hopes someday LULAC will better tell its origin story.

Elaine Ayala is a columnist covering San Antonio and Bexar County. To read more from Elaine, become a subscriber. eayala@express-news.net | Twitter: @ElaineAyala
WHITEHORSE, YT, Sept. 22, 2020 /CNW/ - As Canada's North continues to experience the impacts of climate change, many Indigenous communities have identified clean, reliable energy as key to a resilient future. This is why the Government of Canada is investing in clean energy projects across the territories, so that, together, we can work to achieve Canada's commitment to transitioning Indigenous communities away from diesel by 2030 while prioritizing reconciliation, self-determination, and community-led clean energy projects.

Larry Bagnell, Member of Parliament for Yukon, on behalf of the Honourable Seamus O'Regan, Canada's Minister of Natural Resources, today announced a $5.4-million investment in five community-led clean energy projects in Yukon. This funding will support communities in their efforts to build a cleaner future and reduce their reliance on diesel fuel for heat and power while creating jobs.

The investments are:

$2.1 million to Carcross /Tagish First Nation to install a biomass district heating system to displace existing electric and fossil fuel heating systems in five community buildings;

to /Tagish First Nation to install a biomass district heating system to displace existing electric and fossil fuel heating systems in five community buildings; $1.6 million to the Yukon Conservation Society to evaluate the technical feasibility and customer acceptance of utility-controlled electric thermal storage heaters that can provide reliable electricity capacity;

to the Yukon Conservation Society to evaluate the technical feasibility and customer acceptance of utility-controlled electric thermal storage heaters that can provide reliable electricity capacity; $800,000 to Teslin Tlingit Council to construct a biomass district heating system for eight new duplexes, including 16 housing units, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy costs for the community;

to Teslin Tlingit Council to construct a biomass district heating system for eight new duplexes, including 16 housing units, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy costs for the community; $574,000 to the Government of Yukon to work collaboratively with Yukon First Nations to evaluate and address gaps that delay the deployment of energy projects in communities; and

to the Government of to work collaboratively with Yukon First Nations to evaluate and address gaps that delay the deployment of energy projects in communities; and $345,900 to Kluane First Nation to develop a forest resources management plan for the First Nation settlement lands to meet current and future local biomass heating needs.

Funding for the projects is from the Clean Energy for Rural and Remote Communities program. The six-year, $220-million program aims to reduce reliance on fossil fuels in rural and remote communities by deploying and demonstrating renewable energy, encouraging energy efficiency and building local skills and capacity. It is part of the government's Investing in Canada infrastructure plan, a $180-billion investment over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes and Canada's rural and northern communities.

The government supports innovative energy initiatives that reduce our carbon footprint, create healthier communities and provide opportunities for economic development. This commitment will be more important than ever as we reopen the economy and plan our recovery from the COVID-19 crisis.

Quotes

"These communities are fighting climate change by taking control of their energy futures and being leaders in the clean energy economy."

The Honourable Seamus O'Regan

Canada's Minister of Natural Resources

"Clean energy is central to achieve net zero by 2050. Our government continues to work with Indigenous communities to transition away from diesel reliance and to invest in community-driven projects in remote and rural communities."

Larry Bagnell

Member of Parliament for Yukon

"With the Government of Canada's Clean Energy for Rural and Remote Communities funding, the Government of Yukon has launched a three-year initiative to better support Yukon First Nations with local energy projects. We are excited to be working in partnership with Yukon First Nations as we move toward a low-carbon energy supply that meets our territory's growing demands and facilitates ongoing economic growth and prosperity in Yukon."

The Honourable Ranj Pillai

Government of Yukon Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources

"The Yukon Conservation Society is appreciative of NRCan's support for the Yukon Electric Thermal Storage (ETS) Demonstration Project during such a crucial time in the advancements of green energy projects in Yukon. We would not have had this opportunity to demonstrate the potential for electric thermal storage to assist in Yukon's pursuit of a greener future without this funding. This project represents steps forward toward the renewable-powered, energy-independent Yukon that the Yukon Conservation Society has been working toward for over 50 years."

Coral Voss

Executive Director, Yukon Conversation Society

"Biomass technology presents economic opportunities for the TTC and its citizens while reducing forest fire risks around Teslin and its Traditional Territory. The ultimate goal of the Teslin Community Energy Strategy is to provide the community with the complete means to be energy self-sufficient."

Chief Richard Sidney

Teslin Tlingit Council

"The Kluane First Nation Forest Resources Management Plan project strengthens Kluane First Nation's ability to self-govern in a planned and measured way. This project has strengthened community resilience through the identification of local resources for biomass heating, as well as provided our community with valuable skills in the forestry sector that will see many benefits into the future. Kluane First Nation would like to express appreciation to Natural Resources Canada for its support of this project."

Chief Bob Dickson

Kluane First Nation

"Our environment is key to our way of life, and we are committed to continue finding ways to produce clean energy. This biomass heating system will mark a significant upgrade to our community's infrastructure. Carcross/Tagish First Nation is proud to work with the Government of Canada in our joint pursuit of a sustainable future."

Chief Lynda Dickson

Carcross/Tagish First Nation

Associated Links

Follow us on Twitter: @NRCan (http://twitter.com/nrcan)

NRCan's news releases and backgrounders are available at www.news.gc.ca.

SOURCE Natural Resources Canada

For further information: Ian Cameron, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Natural Resources, 613-447-3488, [email protected]; Natural Resources Canada, Media Relations, 343-292-6100, [email protected]

Related Links

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Regulated industries such as insurance, banking, and other financial services still rely heavily on manual, paper-based forms for sales processes and customer interactions including claims, policy issuance, customer onboarding, document submission, and remote servicing. EasySend's no-code platform converts those processes into digital journeys that can be built, analyzed, and optimized by non-technical staff without any coding via a simple drag and drop interface. This frees up IT teams from day-to-day maintenance issues and empowers employees across the enterprise to deliver new digital products in as little as a few days with a focus on an outstanding digital customer service experience.

The company raised its Series A round amidst the recent coronavirus outbreak, a turbulent time during which it has become clear to enterprises that "business as usual" is no longer sustainable in terms of customer experience. Now more than ever, financial services and insurance companies are searching for ways to digitize their operations rapidly and effectively to meet the growing demand for digitization from their customers.

"The world is changing. COVID-19 forced traditional enterprises to embrace digital transformation and digital culture at a pace and scale never seen before," said Tal Daskal, EasySend CEO and co-founder. "Our no-code platform is uniquely positioned to make this digital transition easier for enterprises from a wide range of industries  especially insurance and financial services  enabling them to create new digital products efficiently and effectively while boosting and creating digital opportunities which not only save on development and maintenance costs, but also drive revenue growth."

"Hanaco is firmly invested in building a digital future. By bridging the gap between manual processes and digitization, EasySend is making this not only possible, but also easy, affordable, and practical," said Hanaco founding partner Alon Lifshitz.

"Intel Capital chose to invest in EasySend because of its intelligent and impactful approach to accelerating digital transformation to improve customer experiences," said Nick Washburn, senior managing director, Intel Capital. "EasySend's no-code platform utilizes AI to digitize thousands of forms quickly and easily, reducing development time from months to days, and transforming customer journeys that have been paper-based, inefficient and frustrating. In today's world, this is more critical than ever before."

"The last few months have demonstrated the need to go digital," adds Yanai Oron, general partner at Vertex Ventures, who invested in the company's seed round. "And as a result, the demand EasySend was experiencing for its solution became even higher."

EasySend works with leading financial institutions in the U.S.A., Israel, and Europe, including top insurance companies such as Petplan and R+V Versicherung.

In addition, EasySend announced two new appointments to its board of directors, Alon Lifshitz, founding partner, Hanaco, and Roi Bar-Kat, investment director, Intel Capital.

About EasySend

EasySend is leading the charge for a digital future by empowering insurance carriers, banks, and financial services to transform manual, paper-based processes into powerful digital experiences on any device. EasySend empowers enterprises to deliver new digital products faster and improve the customer experience at a fraction of the cost with their innovative no-code development platform. By harnessing AI and machine learning, EasySend enables real-time insights into customer interactions, allowing processes to be optimized quickly and easily. The company was founded in 2016 and has offices in the U.S., Germany, and headquarters in Tel Aviv, Israel. For more information, visit https://www.easysend.io .

About Hanaco

Hanaco Venture Capital backs early-stage technology companies with bold, visionary, and passionate Israeli entrepreneurs aiming for significant markets with disruptive technologies including Moovit, Digital Ocean, Yotpo and more. The firm was founded by Alon Lifshitz, Lior Prosor, and Pasha Romanovski. It has offices in Tel Aviv and New York City. Learn more here.

About Intel Capital

Intel Capital invests in innovative startups targeting artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles, datacenter, and cloud, 5G, next-generation compute and a wide range of other disruptive technologies. Since 1991, Intel Capital has invested US$12.9 billion in more than 1,582 companies worldwide, and 692 portfolio companies have gone public or participated in a merger. Intel Capital curates thousands of business development introductions each year between its portfolio companies and the Global 2000. For more information on what makes Intel Capital one of the world's most powerful venture capital firms, visit www.intelcapital.com or follow @ Intelcapital .

About Vertex Ventures Israel

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The protesters came from the provinces of Koh Kong, Svay Rieng and Tbong Khmum. They blocked the access road to the land ministry and asked (in vain) for a meeting with the authorities. Behind the expropriations are businessmen linked to the ruling party or Chinese and Indian companies.

Phnom Penh (AsiaNews / Agencies) - About a thousand villagers from different provinces of Cambodia have gathered in Phnom Penh, blocking the road leading to the Land Ministry, to ask the government to resolve long-standing land disputes. They are arching against the (more or less legal) seizure of land by private companies or businessmen with important political ties and contacts.

Protesters from the provinces of Koh Kong, Svay Rieng and Tbong Khmum displayed placards and pictures with the faces of Prime Minister Hun Sen, his wife, King Sihamoni and the Queen Mother. They have appealed to the highest officials of the state in an attempt to settle the dispute. But their protest went unheard.

Yee Kunthea, representative of the coastal villagers of Koh Kong, reveals that his group has never received any compensation for land belonging to more than a thousand families and expropriated by a sugar cane company. The company belongs to Ly Yong Phat, senator of the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP), a businessman connected to him and a Chinese company, the Union Development Group (Udg). The demonstrators wanted to speak to the minister, but were forcibly driven out.

Khieu Sarun, spokesperson for the inhabitants of Svay Rieng, says she came to the capital with her fellow citizens because for over 20 years the local authorities have not been able to resolve a dispute that has arisen among 450 peasant families and an Indian company, the NK Venture. In recent years, the local administration has rejected any hypothesis of negotiations and repeatedly threatened the intervention of the security forces and the arrest of the families of the demonstrators.

A third group of demonstrators from the municipality of Trapeang Pring, in the province of Tbong Khmum, asks ministerial officials to resolve a dispute that has had them at loggerheads for years with the Chinese Hamenient Investment Company and to free two fellow citizens long in jail at the request of the village. Tha Lida, representing 42 families from the area, reports that the farmers never wanted to sell the land; however, local authorities tricked them into signing fake property transfer documents, selling off their only source of wealth and livelihood to private individuals.

From Cambodia to Vietnam, from Laos to various other countries in Southeast Asia, disputes surrounding the illegal expropriation of land are a common and widespread issue, a source of clashes and tensions. Entire plots are expropriated to encourage the construction of mega-projects (such as dams) or for extensive cultivation, most of the time without even compensating the minimum price for the loss of the crop, property and assets (farmhouses, agricultural equipment) connected.
By Dr Gideon Polya

September 21, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - On the occasion of the death of the remarkable, pro-womens rights US Supreme Court judge but fervent supporter of genocidally racist Zionism, Ruth Bader Ginsburg (RBG), one notes that in her outstanding over 60 year career she was utterly silent about the human rights of Palestinians, and that women and children are 75% of the 14 million sorely oppressed Palestinians, the 7 million Exiled Palestinians, the 8 million Palestinian refugees, the 5 million Occupied Palestinians with zero human rights in the military-guarded Gaza Concentration Camp (2 million) and West Bank ghettoes (3 million), and the 2 million Palestinian Israelis living as Third Class citizens of Apartheid Israel under over 60 race-based laws.

Genocidally racist American and British Zionists played a key role in the Balfour Declaration and the defeat of Germany in WW1 that had the dreadful consequences of Nazi German anti-Jewish anti-Semitism, WW2, the WW2 Jewish Holocaust (5-6 million Jews killed through violence or deprivation) and the ongoing Palestinian Genocide (2.2 million Palestinian deaths from violence, 0.1 million, or from imposed deprivation, 2.1 million, since the Australia-assisted British invasion of the oil-rich Middle East in 1914).[1]

Silence is complicity. Kathryn Shihadah has written about these horrendous historical realities and has described Judge Ginsburgs Palestinian Genocide-complicit silence as Progressive Except Palestine (PEP) (2017): Ginsburg [first Jewish woman on the US Supreme Court] has pursued justice wholeheartedly all her life, and has throughout her career advocated for progressive causes. In 1972, she co-founded the Womens Rights Project at the ACLU, and fought more than 300 gender discrimination cases between 1973 and 1974. But these admirable convictions we see in Ginsburg that are common among many Americans  empathy toward the marginalized, advocacy for defenseless  suddenly evaporate in certain situations. Perhaps its subconscious, but there lurks another loyalty ready to override the cause of true justice and compassion. Ruth Bader Ginsburg is among the many influential members of the P.E.P. Club: Progressive Except Palestine. For someone dedicated to liberty and justice for all, she is resoundingly silent on the issue of Palestine. Nowhere in her recently published collection of writings, My Own Works , do the words Palestine or Palestinian appear. Even Arab is nowhere to be found, although she discusses the Holocaust, Zionism, and Israel.

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Kathryn Shihadah has further commented on the malignant impact of Zionist US Supreme Court judges on WW1, WW2, the Jewish Holocaust and the Zionist invasion of Palestine (2017): Ruth Bader Ginsburg is [was] a big fan of the Supreme Courts first Jewish justice, Louis Dembitz Brandeis. Brandeis is revered today as a great judge, but at the time of his appointment  1916  he was recognized by some as unscrupulous in his methods and at times unethical in his behaviour In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson named Brandeis to the Supreme Court. As required, Brandeis officially resigned from his formal affiliations, including stepping down from his leadership role in Zionism. However, he zealously continued his work on a more informal basis, even from his Supreme Court chambers. Later, he would persuade the next 2 Jewish justices  Cardozo and Frankfurter  to join the ranks of the Zionist Organization of America, assuring a continued, subtle partiality toward the Jewish project Samuel Landman, secretary of the World Zionist Organization, claimed in a 1936 article in World Jewry, that it was Jewish help that brought USA into the war on the side of the Allies. The goal was not victory for the Allies, but real estate in Palestine, so Brandeis and associate Felix Frankfurter reportedly worked to ensure the war would last until Palestine was in the bag. They even reportedly sabotaged a potential opportunity to end the war in May 1917 (18 months early), which would have saved much destruction and many lives, including Brandeis fellow Americans. Eventually, of course, Germany was defeated. According to historian Henry Wickham Steed, one of Germanys top generals considered the Balfour Declaration to be the cleverest thing done by the Allies in the way of propaganda, and wished Germany had thought of it first. Landman further stated that Germany was aware of the Jewish connection, and, chillingly, this contributed in no small measure to the prominence which anti-Semitism occupie[d] in the Nazi program only a few decades later. This horrific irony can not be overstated. [2]

Seen in the light of this appalling history, at a personal level for me another ultimate consequence of malignant racist Zionism was the extermination of all but a dozen of my family in the ethnic cleansing of Jews from Hungary in 1944-1945. It is now too late to tell the famed human rights advocate but shamefully pro-Zionist and Palestinian human rights-ignoring Ruth Bader Ginsburg that silence is complicity.

Below is a 50-item summary of a century of horrors inflicted upon the Palestinians but utterly ignored by famed, pro-human rights, Jewish American Supreme Court judge, Ruth Bader Ginsburg:

(1). The ongoing Palestinian Genocide has been associated with 2.2 million Palestinian deaths from violence, 0.1 million, or from imposed deprivation, 2.1 million, since the British invasion of the Middle East in WW1.

(2). Eminent International law expert Professor Francis Boyle (University of Illinois) has stated: The Palestinians have been the victims of genocide as defined by the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, under which a government can be guilty of genocide even if it intends to destroy a mere part of the group.

(3). Of 14 million Palestinians (75% women and children), 7 million are Exiled from Palestine, 5 million are Occupied Palestinians highly abusively confined under military rule to the Gaza Concentration Camp (2 million) or to West Bank ghettoes (3 million), and nearly 2 million are Palestinian Israelis living as Third Class citizens under over 60 Nazi-style, race-based laws.

(4). In 1880 there were 25,000 Jews (mostly immigrants) and 500,000 Indigenous Arab Palestinians living in Palestine.

(5). The Palestinian Genocide commenced with the famine deaths of 100,000 Palestinians associated with conquest of Palestine in WW1 by the British and the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC).

(6). Palestine became disposable British property with the 1916 Sykes Picot Agreement that divided the oil-rich Middle East between the UK and France.

(7). The notorious Balfour Declaration from racist Lord Balfour to Zionist Lord Rothschild (2 November 1917) was sent only 2 days after the Australian cavalry charge victory over the Turks at Beersheba, Palestine (31 October 1917).

(8). The draft of the Balfour Declaration was strongly opposed by anti-racist Jewish British Government Minister Sir Edwin Montagu (only the second British Jew to enter the British Cabinet) as a grave injustice to the Indigenous Palestinians, and as anti-Semitic and in result will prove a rallying ground for Anti-Semites in every country in the world. Australias anti-racist Jewish Governor General Sir Isaac Isaacs, the first Australian-born Governor General, was also resolutely anti-Zionist.

(9). Orthodox Jewish rabbis, most notably the outstanding German rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch (after whom my great grandfather was named), were resolutely opposed to Zionism.

(10). Fervently pro-Zionist Jewish British historian Professor Sir Martin Gilbert in a book on WW1 stated that the Balfour Declaration was offered as an inducement for Zionist Communists to keep Russia in WW1. Professor Martin Gilbert has documented about 20 suggested locations around the world for a Jewish state, and indeed genocidal racist Theodor Herzl (the founder of Zionism) suggested Argentina as an alternative to Palestine.

(11). The violent killing of Indigenous Palestinians commenced with the 10 December 1918 Surafend Massacre by Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) soldiers in which about 100 Palestinian villagers were massacred.

(12). Genocidally racist American and British Zionists played a key role in the Balfour Declaration and the defeat of Germany in WW1 that had the dreadful consequences of Nazi German anti-Jewish anti-Semitism, the horrors of WW2, the WW2 Jewish Holocaust (5-6 million Jews killed through violence or deprivation), the ongoing Palestinian Genocide and the ongoing, US-imposed Muslim Holocaust and Muslim Genocide.

(13). Zionists contributed to the WW2 Jewish Holocaust by collaborating with the Nazis before and during WW2, and opposing Jewish refugees finding sanctuary anywhere except Palestine.

(14). In 2020 there are 13.9 million Israeli subjects, these comprising 6.6 million Jewish Israelis, 1.9 million Indigenous Palestinian Israelis, 5 million Occupied Palestinians, and 0.4 million non-Jewish and non-Arab Israeli subjects. Jewish Israelis are a 47% minority of the subjects of Apartheid Israel, and Indigenous Palestinians are 50% of Apartheid Israeli subjects.

(15). UN General Assembly Resolution 3246 (29 November 1974) states in part: 7. Strongly condemns all Governments which do not recognize the right to self-determination and independence of peoples under colonial and foreign domination and alien subjugation, notably the peoples of Africa and the Palestinian people.

(16). 90% of Palestine has now been ethnically cleansed of Indigenous Palestinian inhabitants in an ongoing war criminal ethnic cleansing that has been repeatedly condemned by the UN and most recently by UN Security Council Resolution 2334 that was unanimously supported except for a remarkable Obama US abstention.

(17). Apartheid Israel has also annexed and ethnically cleansed a small part of Lebanon and a large part of Syria.

(18). There are 8 million Palestinian refugees, 7 million Exiled Palestinians, 5 million Occupied Palestinians, and 1.9 million Israeli Palestinians, with all of these 14 million Palestinians variously excluded from all or part of Palestine, a land known as such for about 2,500 years after the Philistine coastal inhabitants of circa 1,000 BCE.

(19). 5 million Occupied Palestinians have zero (0) of the human rights set out in the 30 Articles of the Universal Charter of Human Rights.

(20). Nearly 2 million Palestinian Israelis live as Third Class citizens under over 60 Nazi-style race-based discriminatory laws and under threat of further genocidal mass expulsion.

(21). Despite massive and deadly imposed deprivation and repeated episodes of genocidal mass expulsion (800,000 in the 1948 Nakba or catstrophe and 400,000 in the 1967 Naksa or setback), Indigenous Palestinians today represent 50% of the subjects of Apartheid Israel (the ruling Jewish Israelis represent a 47% minority).

(22). 73% of the Indigenous Palestinian subjects of Apartheid Israel cannot vote for the government ruling them i.e. they are subject to egregious Apartheid that has been described by anti-racist Jewish and non-Jewish South African anti-Apartheid heroes as worse than Apartheid in South Africa.

(23). Dr H. F. Verwoerd (Prime Minister of South Africa from 1958 until his assassination in 1966 and the Architect of Apartheid in South Africa) at the UN (1961): Israel is not consistent in its new anti-apartheid attitude they took Israel away from the Arabs after the Arabs lived there for a thousand years. In that, I agree with them. Israel, like South Africa, is an apartheid state.

(24). The GDP per capita is US$42,000 for Apartheid Israel but a deadly $3,000 for Occupied Palestinians.

(25). 50% of the egregiously mal-treated Occupied Palestinians are children and 75% are women and children.

(26). In the 21st century each year an average of about 550 Occupied Palestinians have been killed violently by Apartheid Israel, and a further average of about 4,200 have died annually from imposed deprivation.

(27). In the 21st century there have been 1,615 non-terrorism Israeli deaths from homicide by Israelis, 164 Israeli deaths from terrorism in Israel (excluding Jerusalem), 1,183 further Israeli deaths from terrorism elsewhere in Zionist-ruled Palestine, 9,505 Occupied Palestinian deaths by Israelis, and 72,000 Occupied Palestinian avoidable deaths from imposed deprivation (2017 estimates).

(28). In the period 1920  February 2017 there were 3,847 Israeli/Zionist deaths from Palestinian violence as compared to about 100,000 Palestinians violently killed by Zionists and about 2 million Palestinians dying from imposed deprivation.

(29). In the 21st century each year an average of 70 Zionists are killed by Palestinians versus 550 Palestinians violently killed by Apartheid Israel, and through imposed deprivation, each year Apartheid Israel passively murders about 2,700 under-5 year old Palestinian infants and passively murders 4,200 Occupied Palestinians in general who die avoidably from deprivation each year. under Israeli Apartheid.

(30). There is a circa 10 year life expectancy gap between Occupied Palestinians and Israelis, this grossly violating Articles 55 and 56 of the Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War that demand that an Occupier must provide life-sustaining food and medical services to the Occupied subjects to the fullest extent of the means available to it.

(31). UN experts have recently described conditions in the illegally blockaded and regularly shelled and bombed Gaza Concentration Camp as verging on the unliveable.

(32). Apartheid Israel has attacked 13 countries and occupied 5, whereas Iran that Apartheid Israel threatens with nuclear destruction has not invaded another country for 1,300 years (i.e. from the time of the Sassanian Empire).

(33). Arabic has been the main language of Palestine for 1,400 years, and Indigenous Palestinians are 50% of the subjects of Apartheid Israel. However Arabic was relegated to merely a special language in the recent Nazi-style Apartheid Israeli Jewish Nation State Legislation.

(34). In its genocidal treatment of the Palestinians, US-, UK-, Canada-, France- , EU- and Australia-backed Apartheid Israel ignores numerous UN General Assembly Resolutions and UN Security Council Resolutions, the UN Genocide Convention, the Geneva Convention, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Rights of the Child Convention, the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the UN Refugee Convention, the UN Convention on Apartheid, and many other aspects of International Law.

(35). Apartheid Israel has violently invaded the territory of 13 countries (this including planes and ships, to whit Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Uganda, Tunisia, and the US (the attack on the USS Liberty in 1967 that killed 34 and wounded 171), and has occupied the territory of 5 other countries, namely Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, and Jordan.

(36). The 1950-2005 avoidable deaths (excess deaths) from deprivation in 5 countries variously occupied by Apartheid Israeli total 24 million.

(37). Of 5 million Occupied Palestinians (half of them children), many are routinely blackmailed through imprisonment, torture or denial of life-saving medical care to spy on fellow Palestinians for Apartheid Israel.

(38). 5 million Occupied Palestinians (half of them children) are excluded by armed military check points from Jews-only areas and Jews-only roads.

(39). 50% of Israeli children are physically, psychologically or sexually abused each year, but 100% of Occupied Palestinian children are subject to traumatizing human rights abuse by the serial war criminal Israel Defence Force (IDF) through actual or threatened deadly violence.

(40). With continuing deadly blockade and after repeated, large-scale destruction of homes, schools, hospitals and infrastructure, conditions in the Gaza Concentration Camp are appalling. Only about 30 Israelis gave ever been killed by home-made Gaza rockets but the grossly disproportionate Israeli bombing and shelling reprisals have devastated densely populated Gaza, and killed 4,600 and wounded about 20,000, most disastrously in 2008-2009 and in 2014.

(41). Since March 2018 the Israelis have killed about 200 unarmed Palestinians and wounded about 20,000 more out of scores of thousands of unarmed Occupied Palestinians protesting the Occupation weekly in Gaza (in the 1960 Sharpeville Massacre in Apartheid South Africa police killed 69 demonstrators and wounded 220 more).

(42). Apartheid Israel backed Apartheid South Africa and was variously complicit in the Guatemalan Mayan Genocide, the Sri Lanka Tamil Genocide, the Myanmar Rohingya Genocide, the Iraqi Genocide and the US-backed neo-Nazi Ukrainian Revolution.

(43). In repeated recent elections 6.6 million Jewish Israelis have overwhelmingly supported Apartheid, Occupation and the ongoing Palestinian Genocide.

(44). Apartheid Israel reportedly has up to 400 nuclear weapons, has 6 German-supplied submarine launch platforms, and helped Apartheid South Africa acquire nuclear weapons.

(45). Jewish Israelis overwhelmingly derive from Yemeni, Berber and Khazar converts to Judaism whereas it is actually the Indigenous Palestinians who are the descendants of the Jewish and non-Jewish inhabitants of Palestine at the time of that wonderful, Aramaic-speaking, Palestinian humanitarian, Jesus.

(46). Molecular biological and linguistic studies variously reveal that the Ashkenazim (the minority ruling Apartheid Israel) derive from Khazar converts to Judaism in the first millennium CE, and that there is a substantial prehistoric European ancestry amongst Ashkenazi maternal lineages.

(47). Zionist leaders from genocidal racists Theodor Herzl (Palestinian Genocide) and Winston Churchill (WW2 Bengali Holocaust) to genocidally racist Israeli prime ministers from David Ben Gurion to Benjamin Netanyahu have uttered deeply racist and indeed genocidal comments about Palestinians that would be totally unacceptable in the politically correct Western democracies that back Apartheid Israel.

(48). President John F. Kennedy and his brother Robert Kennedy unsuccessfully sought registration of Zionists as agents of a foreign power. Successive US administrations became beholden to the Zionists after Apartheid Israel acquired nuclear weapons by 1967 with French and US help.

(49). Successive US administrations have committed $6 trillion to Zionist-backed wars in which 32 million Muslims have died from violence (5 million) or deprivation (27 million) in 20 countries invaded by the US Alliance since the US governments 9-11 false flag atrocity that killed 3,000 people.

(50). Over 30 million Americans have died preventably since 9-11 from lifestyle choice and political choice reasons. Thus successive US administrations have committed $6 trillion to killing over 30 million Muslims abroad instead of trying to keep 30 million Americans alive at home.

Dr Gideon Polya (BSc Hons, University of Tasmania, 1966; PhD, Flinders University of South Australia, 1969; post-doc, Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York; Queen Elizabeth II Fellow, Research School of Biological Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia ) taught science students at La Trobe University for 4 decades.

Notes
The mystery surrounding hundreds of sudden elephant deaths in Botswana seems to have been solved and the findings bring an end to months of speculation on why at least 330 elephants were found dead in the northwestern region of the Southern African country earlier this year.

Initially, possible explanations over the deaths had ranged from poaching to anthrax to poisoning. Now, however, the country has pointed to toxic blooms of cyanobacteria, a naturally occurring neurotoxin and biological phenomenon which has increased due to climate change, according to Mmadi Reuben, principal veterinary officer at the Botswana department of wildlife and national parks.

As in so many other situations, such as the wildfires in California and Oregon and the floods in the U.K., climate change is the threat multiplier, Dr Niall McCann, co-founder of U.K.-based charity National Park Rescue, told ABC News. Climate change and the effect of global warming on the region is increasing both the intensity and severity of harmful algal blooms, making this issue more likely to reoccur.

MORE: Zimbabwe plans mass wildlife migration after hundreds of elephants die in drought

PHOTO: This image provided on July 3, 2020, courtesy of the National Park Rescue charity shows the carcass of one of the many elephants which have died mysteriously in the Okavango Delta in Botswana. (AFP Photo/National Park Rescue)

Our latest tests have detected cyanobacterial neurotoxins to be the cause of deaths. These are anaerobe bacteria found in water of seasonal water pans Mmadi Reuben told ABC News by phone from Gaborone, the countrys capital.

They spent months studying samples from the carcasses, environmental samples from soil and water as well as samples from the live animals and sent them to specialized regional laboratories as well as laboratories in the U.S., Canada and Europe, according to Reuben.

Most carcasses, spotted by aerial surveys, were found clustered around water sources close to the Okavango Delta which, in normal times, is a major tourist safari destination. Some animals were even seen walking dizzily in circles before suddenly dying.

The unexplained deaths ceased as these seasonal waterholes and water pans dried up in late June, the beginning of our fall, Reuben explained. We have a number of hypotheses we are investigating.

Story continues

With the exception of one horse, other animal species were not affected by the blue-green algae phenomenon.

One working hypothesis is that, unlike other animals, elephants suck water with their trunks from underneath, so they drink from deeper levels in the waterholes, closer to silt where the anaerobe toxins are contained, Reuben explained.

Although there are no official indications that the Botswana elephant deaths might be linked to the unresolved deaths of more than 20 elephants near Hwange, a national park in neighboring Zimbabwe, in August, McCann believes a common denominator is climate change.

MORE: Elephants may be able sniff out larger quantities through scent alone, study finds

PHOTO: This image provided on July 3, 2020, courtesy of the National Park Rescue charity shows the carcass of one of the many elephants which have died mysteriously in the Okavango Delta in Botswana. (AFP Photo/National Park Rescue)

Climate change is the ultimate cause, even if the proximate cause is something different, claims McCann. These type of things are only going to become more common, more frequent and the issue of warming waterholes is going to become worse and worse in time.

Because of climate change, Southern Africas temperatures are rising at twice the global average, according to CSAG, one of the leading climate research groups in Africa.

Botswana is home to about 130.000 elephants -- the world's largest elephant population -- with more than a third of Africa's elephants, according to the latest Great Elephant Census, which Reuben's colleagues at the Department for Wildlife and Natural Parks helped produce. It is also one of the most stable countries in Africa with one of the best wildlife records. Tourism accounts for a fifth of Botswana's GDP.

The important thing is that investigations continue into why this happened so that going forward we can stop this from happening again in time, concluded Reuben. The country is already engaged in development of monitoring plan aimed at detecting the blooms early in the water before they cause harm to the animals and taking necessary precautions,

Over 330 elephants suddenly collapsed and died. Scientists now have an explanation originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
The Duchess of Sussex - Pool

The Duchess of Sussex has been cold-calling Americans to ask them to vote, Gloria Steinem has revealed, claiming she came home for the presidential election.

The Duchess, who as a member of the British Royal Family was unable to share her political views in public, came home to vote, Ms Steinem said.

The pair have recently been working together to convince young women to vote, filming a video in which the Duchess said she is glad to be back in California for so many reasons.

She left the working Royal Family with Prince Harry in January in pursuit of privacy and financial independence in America, and has since been involved in numerous events leading up the US presidential election.

In an interview with Access Hollywood, Ms Steinem was asked how Meghan has inspired her.

Meghan and Gloria Steinem meet - MAKERSWomen

She has a kind of stereotype hanging over her head which is princess, she said.

The whole idea of princess is a problem. We [America] had a whole revolution to get rid of royalty.

Meg is herself smart, authentic, funny, political. She came home to vote.

The first thing we did, and why she came to see me, was we sat at the dining room table where I am right now and we cold-called voters.

Said hello Im Meg and hello Im Gloria and are you going to vote?

That was her initiative.

The Duchesss team has previously insisted her work to encourage Americans to vote is purely non-partisan.

Ms Steinem said in December: "I will work my heart out for any one of those [Democratic] candidates to make sure they get elected, and not Donald Trump.

"He has shown us everything thats wrong with the country at a high level."

In August, the Duchess joined an online summit of Michelle Obamas initiative When We All Vote urging women to vote for change in comments interpreted as a boost for the Democrat cause ahead of the US presidential election.

We can make a difference in this election and we will make the difference in this election, she said then.

Story continues

Its a countdown to the change we would all like to see for the better for our country and watching all of you do your part in whatever way, just encourages us to make sure our voices are heard.

In the fraught moment right now we find our nation, exercising your right to vote isnt simply being part of a solution, its being part of a legacy.

In separate events, the Duchess also appeared to share some of her frustrations about not being able to freely air her opinions during her life in Britain.

"I know what it's like to have a voice, and also what it's like to feel voiceless, she told a magazine, before declaring in an interview that she looked forward to "using my voice in a way that I havent been able to of late".
Error. Page cannot be displayed. Please contact your service provider for more details. (19)
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 22) - There will be no Mardi-Gras-themed street party in the City of Smiles this year as the Bacolod Cty government cancelled the 2020 MassKara Festival because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The local government issued on Sunday its Executive Order No. 62 to formalize the cancellation of all activities related to the 2020 MassKara Festival.

It also ordered its Business Permits and Licensing Office to set aside issuance of business permits or licenses related to the holding of the 2020 MassKara Festival. Likewise, prior permits issued are deemed revoked.

Bacolod City is under a stricter modified enhanced community quarantine due to its high number of COVID-19 infections.

As of Monday, the city recorded 64 new cases, bringing total tally at 3,079 confirmed cases. Some 159 recoveries were added, hiking the count to 1,763. While 51 died in the city due to COVID-19.

The MassKara Festival is held annually during the fourth Sunday of October, backed by a month-long celebration in the city.

Inspired by the Rio Carnival in Brazil, the MassKara Festival was conceptualized in the 1980s to uplift the spirits of the locals when a tragic ferry incident killed its passengers who were mostly Bacolod residents. The tragedy also caused the price of sugar, Negros Occidental's main source of livelihood, to reach an all-time low.

Colorful masks are worn by residents parading in the MassKara Festival while doing the traditional street dances. The word MassKara literally means "many faces."
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Giant queues formed outside Costco stores today as panic-buyers raced to bulk-buy essentials like toilet roll and tinned goods on the day tighter coronavirus restrictions were announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Supermarket shelves aross Britain have been emptied of pasta, rice and flour as desperate Britons prepare to hunker down at home for a second lockdown.

It comes as the Prime Minister made a speech in the House of Commons announcing tightened coronavirus restrictions.

The frenzied buying has echoes of the empty shelves seen in March as shoppers stocked up on essential items ahead of the first nationwide lockdown

This shopper's car was packed with loo roll as she prepared to depart the Costco store in Leeds this morning

An industrial trolley was needed for this massive haul of toilet tissue at the Leeds Costco superstore first thing today

Long snaking queues also formed at Costco in Chingford, north London, this morning with specialist barriers set up in a zig zag formation to control the growing crowds

Panicked shoppers are emptying the shelves of toilet roll amid fears a second coronavirus lockdown could be announced (pictured, shoppers at Costco in Leeds)

A zig zag barrier system was laid out at Costco's Chingford store to control the queues as big crowds descended on the store

Costco wholesale stores across the UK saw a surge in shoppers today, leading to long queues (pictured: Costco store, Leeds)

This was the sight at the Costco store in Leeds where metal barriers had been erected to control the growing crowds

Pasta, flour, rice and tinned goods were among the key items that people were buying as people stocked up at Costco stores today

Bottled water was among the list of fast selling items, with this couple leaving the Chingford Costco with trolley-loads

Two trollies were needed to carry this shoppers purchases as they were seen loading it in to the back of their car in Leeds

As customers flooded social media with pictures of empty aisles, one shopper declared: 'It's happening again' (pictured: Costco customer in Manchester)

This shopper did not appear to have brought any groceries on his visit to the Leeds Costco store, instead choosing to stock up on loo roll amid fears of panic-buying

His announcement comes after Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance said yesterday the UK could hit 50,000 cases a day by mid-October and 200 plus daily deaths by November unless Britain changes course.

The new restrictions, announced by Boris Johnson in a speech at the House of Commons, include:

A 10pm curfew on all pubs, bars and restaurants in England from this Thursday onwards.

Face coverings must be worn by retail workers, customers in indoor hospitality settings and taxi pasengers.

All those who can are now bring asked to work from home, with people like construction workers exempt.

Mr Johnson warned the new restrictions could 'remain in place for perhaps six months'.

Only 15 people will be allowed to attend weddings, with the cap remaining at 30 for funerals.

The Prime Minister will address the nation at 8pm to set out new Covid-19 rules

Items starting to disappear from shelves Pasta

Tinned tomatoes/tomato sauces

Toilet paper

Flour

Other tinned goods Advertisement

Amid growing concern that a second lockdown is on the way, shoppers have been emptying supermarket shelves of essential items.

Toilet rolls, frozen food and long-life produce was wiped from the shelves in some stores in scenes familiar to March before lockdown was announced.

Wholesale shop Costco was inundated with customers with stores in Leeds, London and Manchester seeing a surge in visitors.

Many stores had to erect barriers to regulate the growing queues, and shoppers were seen leaving with overflowing trollies as they stocked up on supplies.

As customers flooded social media with pictures of empty aisles, one shopper declared: 'It's happening again.'

Another wrote on Twitter: 'Masks, toilet paper, pasta, flour, bread and fresh meat. Queues at supermarkets for the above and empty shelves.'

But shoppers have been urged to restrain themselves from panic-buying, with retailers insisting there is not need for it.

Andrew Opie, director of food and sustainability at the British Retail Consortium, said yesterday: 'We urge consumers to be considerate of others and shop as they normally would.'

He played down the presence of panic-buying and paid tribute to the 'excellent job' of retailers to provide food during the pandemic.

Reassuring the public, he added: 'Supply chains are stronger than ever before and we do not anticipate any issues in the availability of food or other goods under any future lockdown.'

Customers (left and right) walk with their recently purchased toilet rolls after hitting the shops in Camden Town, north London

Customers place their items into their car after shopping at an Asda supermarket in Middleton, Leeds, amid the coronavirus pandemic

Buyers rush to an Asda supermarket in South London as the Government issues a series of tougher measures on the country in a bid to control the spread of coronavirus

The toilet roll section at a supermarket in Ashford, Kent, was looking sparse today as shoppers cleared the shelves

The bulk packs of toilet tissue flew off the shelves of shops in Ashford, Kent, as customers across the country emptied supermarkets of essential items in the wake of Boris Johnson's speech this morning

The Prime Minister is set to address the nation tonight amid fears over a second lockdown, which sparked a surge in people buying toilet tissue just like in March before the first lockdown

Members of the public panic buy toilet roll at a supermarket in Camden Town, north London, as the country gears up for a series of tougher restrictions amid the coronavirus pandemic

Extra security was on hand to police the growing queues as shoppers waited to get inside the Chingford Costco in north London to pick up essential items

People could be seen wearing masks as they queued behind barriers outside the Chingford Costco in north London

The queues come after Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance said yesterday the UK could hit 50,000 cases a day by mid-October and 200 plus daily deaths by November unless Britain changes course (pictured, Costco Chingford)

The queues could be seen stretching into the car park in this north London branch of wholeale shop Costco

Shoppers left with stacked trollies, with one person at Costco Chingford leaving with multiple packs of bottled water

Toilet tissue and juice were high on the list of priorites for this shopper who went to the Leeds Costco store this morning

This trolley was overflowing at the Leeds Costco branch today, where shoppers descended and formed long queues

Loading up his car with loo roll and other shopping, a man at the Leeds Costco store is seen wearing a mask

Customers at Costco in Leeds stock up on toilet roll amid the fear that another national lockdown is on the way

Shelves that once had toilet paper appeared empty at an Asda supermarket in South London after scores of customers once again hit the stores to panic buy

Shelves of toilet paper appear empty at an Asda supermarket in South London after scores of customers hit the shops to panic buy

Long-life milk appears to be running low at a Tesco in South London as scores of customers rush to their nearest shops to stock up

But supermarkets are bolstering security at their doors and have doubled the number of delivery slots.

One supermarket worker in Birmingham told The Mirror: 'Some people are definitely panic buying again. We have 4,000 more items this weekend than we usually would.

'When the panic buying started months ago, we hadn't experienced it. We are prepared now.'

Another tweeted today: ' I just finished my shift at work and witnessed so many customers panic buying again. Please dont - there is no need for it!'

It comes as Morrisons announced it will be reinstating marshals at its doors to limit the number of shoppers coming in and out, while also reminding them to wear face masks.

Shoppers have shared their concern on Twitter about fears of a second wave of coronavirus fuelling the return of panic-buying, which was seen at the beginning of the crisis in March

One person on Twitter recalled the first lockdown and how people started panic buying items around that time in March

Listing the most sought after essential items, this social media user reported empty shelves and long queues at shops

Branding panic buyers 'idiots' this person posted that they were informed of the panic buying by their Morrisons delivery man

Asda has increased its online delivery slots by 65 per cent - from 450,000 to 700,000, with Tesco also increasing their slots

Concerned shoppers took to Twitter over the weekend to share photographs of their local supermarkets, showing shelves completely emptied of essential items.

One Twitter user shared photographs of an ASDA in London where cereals seemed in short supply, leaving shoppers with fewer brands to choose from.

Another shopper posted pictures of a Tesco in the West Midlands, where kitchen roll and toilet roll was in short supply - but had not been completely cleared out.

Have you seen any panic buying? Email tips@dailymail.com Advertisement

One person shared pictures on Twitter, writing: 'This was my local Tesco! People are already panic buying once again! Even though supermarkets do stay open.'

An ASDA shopper said: 'This is our ASDA it's madness and as you say even though they are staying open.'

And another person predicted that 'It's happening again'.

Tesco's weekly ordering capacity has risen from 600,000 to 1.5million - but it remains fully booked until Wednesday.

Asda has increased its online delivery slots by 65 per cent - from 450,000 to 700,000.

There are three-day waiting times for Ocado, while Sainsbury's is experiencing high demand.

Sainsbury's revealed the number of Christmas pudding searches was four times higher than this time last year.

The online supermarkets pasted notices on their 'pick a slot' page warning customers the sites were experiencing high demand.

Ocado's read: 'Delivery slots are selling out faster than usual. If you can't find a slot now, please use the 'Next 3 days' button to see available slots further in advance.'

A notice on Sainsbury's delivery slots page said: 'Slots are still in high demand. We have been working hard to expand our service. More slots are now available and we are able to offer some of them to other customers.

'Customers who are vulnerable will get priority access and are able to book slots in advance of anyone else. We're releasing new slots regularly so please check back if you can't see any available.'

On Saturday, Tesco was fully booked until Wednesday with an available slots all priced at 5.50 - and there were no available spaces until Monday at Asda.

Crowds gathered as people queued to get into the large wholesale stores. Here cutomers at Costco in Leeds wait for entry

An overloaded trolley is pushed through the car park of a Costco store in Leeds as bulk-buying was seen at stores across the UK

One shopper in Leeds left Costco with at least 36 rolls of toilet roll, amid warnings from supermarkets not to bulk buy

These two men also stocked up on loo roll while shopping at the Leeds branch of Costco. The spate of bulk-buying comes ahead of Boris Johnson's speech later today, in which he is expected to announce tighter coronavirus restrictions

This is the sight at the Chingford branch of Costco, where many people turned up to do their shopping this morning

Supermarkets are boosting security at their doors and have doubled the number of delivery slots amid fears panic buying could return

The graphic above shows the break down of what Britons spent their cash on in the supermarkets when panic buying started back in March

The Prime Minister is now threatening to 'intensify' coronavirus restrictions as he blames the British public for the rise in cases - despite his repeated pleas for people to return to their desks and eat out at pubs and restaurants in a bid to resuscitate Britain's economy.

Government scientists have spooked Boris Johnson with warnings of hundreds of daily coronavirus deaths 'within weeks' as they said: 'There is no alternative to a second national lockdown.'

Mr Johnson looks to ditch his Rule of Six and introduce fortnight-long 'circuit breakers' nationwide for six months, following claims that it was 'inevitable' that a second wave would hit the country.

The new approach to get the UK through winter would see it alternate periods of stricter measures, including bans on all social contact between households and shutting down hospitality and leisure venues like bars and restaurants, with intervals of relaxation. Schools will be shut as a 'last resort', a Whitehall source claimed.
The chief executive of the Campaign for Real Ale, dubbed the pub curfew 'arbitrary.' Photo: Toby Melville/Reuters

New coronavirus restrictions are a potentially fatal blow for many of Britains pubs, bars, and restaurants, business chiefs have warned.

UK prime minister Boris Johnson faced a barrage of warnings over the threat to firms and jobs on Tuesday after he unveiled measures for England including encouraging home-working again and a 10pm shutdown for hospitality venues.

Johnson also told parliament new restrictions could last perhaps six months as Britain struggles to contain the resurgent virus through other measures. First minister Nicola Sturgeon announced the same hospitality curfew would apply in Scotland, and similar measures are expected in Northern Ireland and Wales.

Watch: What are the new Covid-19 measures for pubs?

Business leaders called for more support for hospitality firms facing fresh restrictions and dashed expectations of recovery on top of months of unprecedented disruption.

Kate Nicholls, chief executive of the UKHospitality trade body, warned: These restrictions are a further, potentially fatal, blow for many hospitality businesses. In isolation, they may appear moderate, but the cumulative effect is going to be hugely damaging.

READ MORE: Boris Johnson unveils new rules to combat coronavirus second wave

Hospitality firms in city centres, which have already lagged behind with many office workers and tourists yet to return, face another battering from the governments shift on home working, she said.

She warned some firms could lose half of their revenue from the order to close at 10pm, if they were unable to accommodate two meal sittings.

Tighter rules could also hit the fragile recovery in consumer confidence, she added. We cannot hope to recover while confidence remains low.

Watch: Pubs bosses insist early shutdown won't help reduce infection rates

Nicholls warned many firms would not survive six months of heavy curbs, and demanded help settling rent debts and an extension of the furlough scheme, VAT cuts and a business rates holiday for hospitality.

Story continues

The Confederation of British Industrys (CBI) director-general Carolyn Fairbairn echoed Nicholls warning about the risk to millions of hospitality and city centre jobs.

Six months would come as a shock to many firms, she added, acknowledging government action to curb rising cases was necessary but saying it would come at a serious price.

Fairbairn called for a new job protection scheme to replace the furlough programme which ends in October, and permission for firms to defer VAT payments. Testing must also improve to get people back to work and restore confidence, she added. Its time for a united national push to turbo-charge testing capabilities.

READ MORE: Pound takes another dip following tighter COVID-19 restrictions

Tom Stainer, chief executive of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), dubbed the pub curfew arbitrary, saying it punished firms complying with guidelines.

"Make no mistake about this  without a proper financial support package, communities will lose their local forever, people will lose their jobs, and publicans their livelihoods.

Sacha Lord, co-founder of some of the biggest music events in Europe, including The Warehouse Project and Parklife festival in Manchester, said staggered egress will end when pubs and bars all close at the same time.

Im expecting its going to be back to your traditional ring of the bell at quarter to 10 and doors close at 10.

From what Im hearing, I have spoken to a couple of operators, looking at rebelling on it, either go bust or take a chance and not sticking to the curfew.

Watch: What is a V-shaped economic recovery?

Johnson had told MPs as he outlined the new measures: We always knew that while we might have driven the virus into retreat, the prospect of a second wave was real and Im sorry to say that, as in Spain and France and many other countries, weve reached a perilous turning point.

He said no government wanted to stifle our freedoms, but the UK had to act now to avoid still graver consequences later on with infection, hospitalisation and death rates again rising across Britain.
Longmont, CO, Sept. 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Parascript, which provides intelligent document processing solutions with over 100 billion documents processed annually, announced today its new partnership with Aerow to offer accessible, accurate document recognition amid rising demand for automation. Aerow is a technology companywith offices in Mauritius, France and Belgiumthat specializes in the design and implementation of innovative mobile, multichannel, business solutions integrated with clients ECM, EIM and CRM systems.

We decided to partner with Parascript for three reasons, said Olivier Meyer, the Aerow ECM World, Ltd Director. First, we were seduced by how easily it worked. It was easy to understand, easy for us to create a demo and easy to show how it worked. Secondly, Parascript software does what we need it to do. You put documents in place, classify the documents, extract the data and verify it; and then its done. Simple. Parascript software capabilities are very straightforward to demonstrate and easy to understand. Third, the economic model is good because its within reach for the midsize businesses that we work with regularly but can also accommodate the largest of implementations.

Founded in 2004, Aerow is focused on a niche market: Enterprise Content Management (ECM). For the past 16 years, the team has grown rapidly to over 200 employees. Today, Aerow is the leading French integrator expert in ECM with large growth expected across Europe and the Indian Ocean over the next few years.

The Aerow partnership means a lot to us because their values are so closely aligned with ours, said Bill Johnson, Vice President of Global Sales at Parascript. Aerow recognizes that its employees are their most important asset, and it only hires the best experts. In fact, one of their mottos is that Aerow consultants are their best ambassadors. The Parascript team is all about precision and high accuracy results so this really resonated with us.

Since the pandemic, Aerow has found that even more businesses are looking to automate. Financial institutions and insurance companies as well as others needed to have some employees work from home. Employees no longer had easy access to documents, which were stored in boxes. Most of their customers documents were organized by hand with data entered manually into corporate systems. Developing an Aerow automated document workflow allows employees to focus on more critical and challenging tasks than the labor-intensive document classification and manual data entry.

Integrating Parascript software makes a difference with its auto-classification and ease of use. Prior to automation, our customers received documents, dispatched them internally, scanned them and put them in boxes. Within the company, departments typically managed documents differently, said Olivier Meyer. With Aerow (leveraging Parascript), document management workflows are standardized across the entire company and even better, are automated.

Parascript software outperforms other IDP systems in dynamic production environments since it adapts to new streams of documents in the background while documents are processed. FormXtra.AI simultaneously measures and improves performance in the background learning what data can run straight through with no user intervention to automatically ensure data quality.

A lot of technology providers add a bunch of stuff to make it sexier, but our customers arent looking for all these extra features, Mr. Meyer explained. They want document automation that works and produces high quality results. Data they can use.

About Aerow

Aerow Enterprise Content Management (ECM) brings together engineering and documentary consulting that allows public and private organizations to better manage digital documents and related processes. Aerow ECM provides regulatory traceability compatible with legislation, significant productivity and ergonomics gains, as well as the memory of your organization. Aerows 200 engineers and consultants are committed to the success of your ECM projects. Aerow offers end-to-end ECM implementations with extensive project experience. We know the organizational issues, the technological constraints and how to orchestrate projects. Visit Aerow.

About Parascript, LLC

Parascript software, driven by data science and powered by machine learning, configures and optimizes itself to automate simple and complex document-oriented tasks such as document classification, document separation and data entry for payments, lending and AP/AR processes. Every year, over 100 billion documents involved in banking, government, and insurance are processed by Parascript software. Parascript offers its technology both as software products and as software-enabled services to our partners. Our BPO, service provider, OEM and value-added reseller network partners leverage, integrate and distribute Parascript software in the U.S. and across the world. Visit Parascript.
The art world is scandalized by the Everson Museum of Arts decision to sell Jackson Pollocks Red Composition at public auction next month, where it is expected to fetch $12 million to $18 million.

Maybe the art world should join the real world  where benefactors (and money) dont grow on trees, and institutions must evolve if they are to remain relevant to the culture and their community.

The sharpest criticism of the Eversons deaccessioning of Pollocks 1946 drip painting comes from Los Angeles Times art critic Christopher Knight. He bashed the sale of this seminal piece of American art as an inexcusable move, a tragedy and a betrayal of its donors, the late Dorothy and Marshall Reisman.

Easier for him to say from a city blessed with museums endowed by billionaire philanthropists Eli Broad and J. Paul Getty. Syracuse has no Broads or Gettys, and keeping its tiny, yet mighty, museum afloat has been a struggle.

Yes, it is sad to see an early work by a superstar artist leave Syracuse  though it seems what will be missed more is the idea of owning the Pollock, since the painting itself was rarely on public view. The Everson does not consider it a signature holding.

Selling this one work will give the museum the breathing room to take better care of the 10,000 objects in its collection, such as the Henry Moore sculpture at the entrance to its iconic I.M. Pei building. Many museums are doing this under deaccessioning rules that were relaxed during the coronavirus pandemic, which closed institutions to visitors for months.

The sale also will allow the Everson to acquire many pieces from artists of color, women artists and other underrepresented artists  art superstars of the future, perhaps, in search of a champion. Correcting this curatorial blind spot grew more urgent this summer, as the city and the nation began to reckon with institutional racism in the aftermath of George Floyds murder.

Talk is cheap. The controversial sale of the Pollock blares the Eversons intention to remain strong and relevant for many years to come.

Leadership, solidarity at Le Moyne

Colleges are under the microscope these days. New coronavirus testing protocols and remote courses are aimed at trying to keep students and the surrounding community safe. Student behavior outside of class is driving virus infections on campuses around the state and around the country. And really, what did we expect would happen?

Le Moyne College President Linda LeMura has a novel and hands-on approach to this problem. LeMura has moved into a neighborhood near campus that also is home to Le Moyne students. Her presence and visibility on daily walks is a powerful symbol to all students.

LeMuras action goes beyond dampening the off-campus party scene, though. Her presence signals to the colleges neighbors that Le Moyne understands its students have an impact on the larger Syracuse community. By sacrificing the comforts of home, LeMura shows solidarity with students who are giving up an important part of their college experience in order to attend classes in person. Now thats leading by example.

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If you have questions about the Opinions & Editorials section, contact Marie Morelli, editorial/opinion leader, at mmorelli@syracuse.com
Joe Biden has pitched himself to voters as a union man, a son of Scranton, Pa., who respects the dignity of work and will defend organized labor if he wins the White House.

To rank-and-file members in some unions, especially the building trades, it doesnt matter. Theyre still firmly in Donald Trumps camp.

Labor leaders have worked for months to sell their members on Biden, hoping to avoid a repeat of 2016 when Donald Trump outperformed among union members and won the White House. But despite a bevy of national union endorsements for Biden and years of what leaders call attacks on organized labor from the Trump administration, local officials in critical battleground states said support for Trump remains solid.

We havent moved the needle here, said Mike Knisley, executive secretary-treasurer with the Ohio State Building and Construction Trades Council, who estimated that about half of his members voted for Trump in 2016 and will do so again. Even if given all the information thats been put out there, all the facts  just pick an issue that the president has had his hands in  it doesnt make a difference.

Among members of North Americas Building Trades Unions, there is a dead heat in six swing states, with Biden receiving 48 percent of the vote and Trump 47 percent, according to an internal poll shared with POLITICO.

He has a very, very, very solid foundation of our members, said James Williams, a vice president of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, whose surveys of members painted a similar picture. They connect with his messaging and a lot of the fear-mongering going all the way back to when he was first elected with, Be afraid of the immigrant. The immigrants here to take your job. That resonated with our membership. They feel like their way of life and their way of living is under attack and without really understanding the dynamics at play. I mean, the immigrant worker is being abused by employers.

Story continues

Trumps support in some unions could provide an opening for him in the Midwest, particularly in the key Rust Belt states that powered Trumps victory in 2016  Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin  where union voters have a sizable impact. Roughly one in six voters nationwide is either a union member or comes from a union household, according to a Gallup Poll earlier this month, and that number rises to more than one in four in states like Michigan.

Those voters, historically a bedrock of Democratic support, shifted away from the party in 2016, according to exit polls. Hillary Clinton won union voters by less than half as much as former President Barack Obama had four years earlier  and that swing alone may have been enough to account for her losses in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan, one analysis found. Even if Biden takes back the White House, there could be far-reaching impacts on the Democratic Party and labor movement if that trendline persists.

The question this year is whether Biden can win those union members back, and by how much. Some labor leaders said there is cause for hope for Biden: While many Trump voters remain firm in their support, they said, Biden is winning over more of their members than Clinton did. They attributed that in part to Trumps handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

Were seeing a whole different attitude toward Joe Biden than we saw mostly because Trump has a record of failure. Biden has a record of being there for us, said Rick Bloomingdale, president of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO. Its just a different feel out there. Obviously, we still have members who support Trump.

Joe Biden meets with union leaders outside at the AFL-CIO headquarters in Harrisburg, Pa., on Sept. 7, 2020.

Though it showed a virtual tie, the NABTU survey represented a seven-point drop for Trump from March, the first change for the president in two years, said Sean McGarvey, the union president. He attributed the change to Trumps management of Covid-19, calling it the greatest mistake of his presidency.

Its going to be close among my members between Biden and President Trump, but theres been dramatic change in the last six months, McGarvey said, adding that if Trump had been more aggressive toward the coronavirus, Hed be bulletproof. We wouldnt even be talking about Joe Biden now.

However, even as they praise the Democratic presidential nominee as a less-flawed candidate than Clinton, other union leaders said they fear theres nothing they can say to the Trump supporters among their ranks to sway their opinion between now and November.

They said parts of Bidens record, such as his past support for the North American Free Trade Agreement and the Trans-Pacific Partnership, hurt him, and that some members still look to the pre-pandemic economy under Trump as a high point.

It doesnt seem like theres anybody changing their minds, said Don Furko, president of the United Steelworkers Local 1557 in Clairton, Pennsylvania, who said the majority of his membership is backing Trump.

In northern Minnesota, local USW officials are working to educate members on steps Trump has taken to attack organized labor and encouraging them to vote for their jobs rather than on social issues like immigration, said John Arbogast, staff representative for District 11. But, he added, youre not going to change a Trumpsters opinion.

TJ Ducklo, Bidens national press secretary, said the former vice president sees this election as Park Avenue vs. Scranton  a choice between someone who has always stood up for working people and believes this country was built by unions, and Donald Trump, who punishes the middle class with tax cuts that only benefit him and his rich friends.

Samantha Zager, deputy national press secretary for the Trump campaign, said, Throughout his 50 years in politics, Biden has consistently put special interests ahead of American workers  including in his promise to shut the economy back down if he were elected  and thats why President Trump is seeing strong support from union members.

At a national level, most union officials have largely lined up behind Biden, appearing with him at events and acting as campaign surrogates. But they said their efforts to spread that enthusiasm have been hindered by the pandemic, which has severely limited organized labors in-person ground game.

With the exception of Unite Here, most unions have avoided door-knocking in an effort to prevent spreading the virus. Labor officials said some members dont share their cell phone numbers, which is a challenge when their efforts to boost Biden have shifted to phone-banking, texting and other virtual work. So-called labor walks  organized labors term of art for canvassing  are largely no more.

Pat Eiding, president of the Philadelphia AFL-CIO, said trades leaders need to talk with their members more often about Biden to be effective. A refinery closed recently in the city and Trump supporters have misleadingly made some union workers believe he'll bring back the facilities, he said.

The evidence that member outreach works, he said, is the 2008 presidential election, when they spoke frequently with the rank-and-file at job sites as early as 5 a.m. and overcame prejudice in their unions against an African-American Democratic nominee.

We said ... the mans Black. But here's the issues: Hell protect you and your jobs, he said. And when we were able to go directly to members, instead of just being on a bully pulpit, we were able to get them to vote for Obama. And that was not an easy thing to do.

Furko said the USWs political team is knocking on doors, but it has not come to distribute materials and share information about Biden at the plant and union hall as they normally would due to the virus  they simply sent fliers instead.

They know that theyre there if people want to come, he said. But I still have at least 2,000 pieces of paper on my table.

In a sign of the tension among construction workers about Trump, at least one building trades union has not yet endorsed a candidate in the presidential race: the International Union of Operating Engineers.

Everybody seems to be dancing on this thing. But if you go by my house, youll see on the lawn a Biden sign, said Robert Heenan, second vice president of IUOE. Among rank-and-file members in Pennsylvania, where he is business manager of Local 542, he added, I think a lot of them are going for Trump.

The United Mine Workers of America have also held back an endorsement. Members turned against Clinton in 2016 when she said she would put coal miners out of business, and many are staying away from Biden because they fear he is also anti-coal, said Chuck Knisell, an international vice president of UMWAs District 2.

The biggest argument that I have from our membership is that this isnt a blue-collar, working-class Democratic Party that my dad or mom was in, Knisell said. Its morphed into something different.

But within more liberal unions, especially those with large numbers of Black and Latino members, leaders report major excitement for Biden  which could potentially offset GOP gains in the building trades as well as other moderate- and conservative-leaning unions. Public-sector unions in major cities likewise tend to be a font of Democratic support.

Mary Kay Henry, president of the Service Employees International Union, said 70 percent of her rank-and-file members backed Clinton. This year, she said, at least 80 percent are supporting Biden.

And his pick of Kamala Harris has probably moved the needle  were just going back into the field with a poll  to 90 percent, she said. Our members are on fire for the Biden-Harris ticket.

Union officials said there is also some evidence that Biden may be making inroads among another camp of rank-and-file members: those who disliked both candidates in 2016 and chose to vote third party.

Labor leaders have zeroed in on those members as the most persuadable this year. Some estimate that third-party voters in the union ranks were as big a problem for Clinton as the voters who flipped to Trump, so winning that cohort alone could give Biden a significant boost.

Going into this election, those folks who sort of felt like they couldnt vote for Trump in 2016, but really werent enthusiastic about Clinton, really understand whats at stake now, said Michael Podhorzer, political director with the AFL-CIO. I think thats something of a bump that can be counted on.

Ryan Bennett, whos in charge of roughly 800 active and 200 retired plumbers and pipefitters as part of UA Local 174 in Coopersville, Mich., said hes starting to hear from members who view the past three-plus years of the Trump administration as a series of broken promises for organized labor.

Theyve all seen that none of that has come to fruition, Bennett said, referring to Trumps pledges to bring back manufacturing jobs and overhaul the countrys infrastructure. A lot of those members that were in the middle are going to end up on Joe Bidens side.
Although the All Progressives Congress (APC) lost Saturdays governorship election, it has congratulated the victor, Governor Godwin Obaseki of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The Chairman of the APC National Caretaker Committee, Mala Buni, says that the peaceful conduct of the election and its outcome represents a victory for Nigerias democracy.

He said this in a statement issued in Damaturu, Yobe State, on Monday, adding that the APC and President Muhammadu Buhari remained committed to free and fair elections.

This, he said, was critical to strengthening the foundation of the countrys political and moral authority.

Mr Bunis statement was released hours after he and Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano met with President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja.

The officials did not disclose details of their discussion with the president but they are believed to have discussed the Edo election.

President Buhari had earlier commended the election and pledged commitment to free and fair elections.

Mr Buni, who is also the Governor of Yobe State, commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, and all political parties that contested the election for the successful conduct of the exercise.

He also commended the APC candidate at the election, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, for his tenacity and leadership qualities.

Mr Buni also appreciated the efforts of the immediate past national chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole, and other members for demonstrating unwavering support for the party and its candidate in the election.

Mr Buni added that with the election over, it was time to unite to move the countrys democracy forward and put an end to the era when the electoral contest became warfare.

We appeal to our members to be strengthened by the outcome of the election and unite in order to correct the problems that worked against our party and our candidate in the election.

As progressives and democrats, we are confident that all leaders and members of the party will celebrate the outcome of the election as free and fair as acknowledge by our leader, President Muhammadu Buhari.

Let us unite to move our democracy forward.

We must put an end to the era when electoral contest become warfare.

We urge our candidate and all our members to join us in congratulating Mr Godwin Obaseki and the PDP as winner of the election.

Our attention must now shift to Ondo State and ensure that we win the October 10, 2020 election.

Sept. 19, 2020 Edo election should present a new watershed, Buni stressed.

Below is the full speech by Governor Buni.

Edo State Governorship Election: Victory for Democracy

September 21, 2020

The September 19, 2020 Edo State Governorship election is over, the winner has been declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the person of the Mr. Godwin Obaseki, candidate of the People Democratic Party (PDP). We hereby congratulate the winner of the election, the people of Edo State and all Nigerians.

The peaceful conduct of the election and its outcome represent victory for Nigerias democracy

As a party, we join our leader, President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, to affirm our commitment to free and fair elections in order to strengthen the foundation for our political and moral authority.

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We commend INEC, our security agencies and all political parties that contested the election for the successful conduct of the election.

As a governing party, we will take every step necessary to support the Federal Government to consolidate all the gains achieved.

We, in particular want to salute our candidate in the election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamuh for his tenacity and leadership.

We similarly commend our Edo State leaders, especially our immediate past National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and all our members in Edo State for demonstrating unwavering support for our party and our candidate in the election.

In the face of all the challenges, we collectively remained faithful and worked tirelessly during the campaigns.

We appeal to all our members to be strengthened by the outcome of the election and unite in order to correct all the problems that worked against our party and our candidate in the just concluded election.

Finally, we specially hereby celebrate our Edo State 2020 Governorship Campaign Council led by His Excellency Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Governor of Kano State. We acknowledge and appreciate the contributions of all members of the Campaign Council.

As progressives and democrats, we are confident that all leaders and members of the party will celebrate the outcome of the election as free and fair as acknowledge by our leader, President Muhammadu Buhari.

Let us unite to move our democracy forward. We must put an end to the era when electoral contest become warfare. We urge our candidate and all our members to join us in congratulating Mr. Godwin Obaseki and the PDP, being the declared winner of the election.

Our attention must now shift to Ondo State and ensure that we win the October 10, 2020 election.

September 19, 2020 Edo election should present a new watershed.

We will work hard to win the Ondo election. Having reaffirmed our commitment to free and fair elections, it is our expectation that all opposition parties in the country will also commit themselves to free and fair contests.

We will therefore accordingly expect congratulatory message from all parties just as we similarly guarantee that once we are defeated in a fair contest, we will congratulate the winner.

May God continue to bless our democracy, our nation and our people!

His Excellency, Mai Mala Buni

Chairman, APC Caretaker Extraordinary/Convention Planning Committee
Does Macomb County have its own version of a Loch Ness monster or the Creature from the Black Lagoon?

Macomb County Animal Control has received three reports of what appears to be either a crocodile or a caiman plying the waters of the Clinton River in Harrison Township.

Chief Jeff Randazzo of Animal Control said his department first received a call about the creature a couple of weeks ago. Then it received a second call, and a third call came in Monday afternoon at about 4 p.m.

The unidentified creature has been reported in the area of North River Road at Bridgeview Street. The area is south of Selfridge Air National Guard Base, and the bridge connects North River Road with South River Road.

We went out there four times today and havent seen anything, Randazzo said.

Based upon information Animal Control has received, Randazzo said its possible the reports are accurate, but he has been unable to confirm or validate the sightings.

Randazzo said two of the callers said the creature was a crocodile, and the third said it was a caiman. Eyewitnesses said the animal was about three feet long. Both animals are cold blooded and non-native to Michigan.

As Randazzo said, the animal would need to bask in the sun warm up and be active. He and his staff have gone up and down the river in that vicinity, and havent seen anything.

That area of the river is heavily populated with homes, and Randazzo said it was difficult to inspect all of the Clinton River banks in the area without trespassing on private property.

Randazzo said his department has also been monitoring Harrison Township neighborhood Facebook pages to gather more information and ask residents for any help finding the animal. He said if the animal does exist, it wont survive for much longer in Michigans colder climate.

Its in an environment where its set up to fail, Randazzo said. It wont live through the Michigan winter.

Randazzo said if the animal does exist, it was probably dumped into the river by an exotic pet owner who didnt want it or couldnt handle it anymore. He said its just another example of why purchase of exotic pets should be prohibited, or at least limited.

Were very intrigued by it, obviously. If it is confirmed, then we have a problem, he said. This is a great opportunity for municipalities, states, to develop stronger laws about not selling exotics. Theyre too easy to get. You can buy them in person or online.

Anyone with information or additional sightings is asked to call Macomb County Animal Control at 586-469-5115 .
Demonstrates how the new Fields of Research classifications will perform in structuring the research on Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, Maori and Pacific Peoples for assessment

LONDON, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Clarivate Plc (NYSE: CCC), a global leader in providing trusted information and insights to accelerate the pace of innovation, has released a regional landscape report highlighting the current trends in indigenous research across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Region. The report looks at the academics, affiliate institutions and regions that are contributing largely to indigenous research and identifies which journals publish this research. It also evaluates how the new Australian and New Zealand Fields of Research (FoR) classifications will perform in structuring indigenous research for assessment.

The report is based on data from the Web of Science Core Collection, the flagship collection in the world's largest publisher-neutral global citation database.

Key findings of the report include:

Just over 1% of research produced by authors in the region is directly related to indigenous research.

Indigenous research has a significantly lower citation impact than global or regional baselines. Indigenous research has a Category Normalized Citation Impact 1 (CNCI) of 0.65 when the baseline CNCI for all Australian and New Zealand research is more than twice that. (2010  2019).

(CNCI) of 0.65 when the baseline CNCI for all Australian and research is more than twice that. (2010  2019). New Zealand has produced a larger number of research outputs in indigenous research than any individual Australian state. This may be as a result of New Zealand's larger Maori population than the indigenous population size of Aboriginal Australia. However, when looking at the proportion of high impact research, New Zealand's research on indigenous populations performs less well than the research produced by any individual Australian state.

has produced a larger number of research outputs in indigenous research than any individual Australian state. This may be as a result of larger Maori population than the indigenous population size of Aboriginal Australia. However, when looking at the proportion of high impact research, research on indigenous populations performs less well than the research produced by any individual Australian state. The Universities of Auckland , Sydney and Otago have produced the largest libraries of research by volume and have received more citations for their publications than any other organizations. With regard to the bibliometric impact, the University of Waikato, Griffith University , James Cook University and Monash University have the most impactful research.

, and Otago have produced the largest libraries of research by volume and have received more citations for their publications than any other organizations. With regard to the bibliometric impact, the University of Waikato, , James Cook University and Monash University have the most impactful research. Under the new Australian and New Zealand Fields of Research (FoR) classifications, the areas of indigenous research most frequently published are Health and Wellbeing, Society and Community and Culture Language and History.

Mukhtar Ahmed, President, Science Group, Clarivate said: "Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific region covers a third of the earth's surface and is home to over 1200 languages. We are proud to provide our insights on indigenous research on this diverse region and help the research community better understand and measure its research and innovation efforts. We will continue to work proactively with the research network in this region to drive world-class research and innovation."

Download the full report entitled 'The State of Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, Maori and Pacific Peoples Research'

About Clarivate

Clarivate is a global leader in providing trusted information and insights to accelerate the pace of innovation. We offer subscription and technology-based solutions coupled with deep domain expertise that cover the entire lifecycle of innovation  from foundational research and ideas to protection and commercialization. Today, we're setting a trail-blazing course to help customers turn bold ideas into life-changing inventions. Our portfolio consists of some of the world's most trusted information brands, including the Web of Science, Cortellis, Derwent, CompuMark, MarkMonitor and Techstreet. For more information, please visit clarivate.com.

Media Contacts

Jack Wan, Director of External Communications, APAC

[email protected]

1 The Category Normalized Citation Impact of a document is calculated by dividing the actual count of citing items by the expected citation rate for documents with the same document type, year of publication and subject area.

SOURCE Clarivate Plc
NEW DELHI: Taking note of problems faced by sex workers on account of COVID-19 pandemic, the Supreme Court on Tuesday (September 22) asked the central government if something could be immediately provided to them in the exercise of its powers under the National Disaster Management Act.

The court also asked the state governments to respond on providing free dry rations and cash transfer to them.

Appearing for an NGO, senior advocate Anand Grover argued that a survey among 1.2 lakh sex workers in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Telangana found that 96 per cent of sex workers had lost their source of earning in the pandemic.

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The apex court was hearing an application filed by NGO, Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee which had moved the top court to highlight the destitution faced by sex workers on the account of COVID-19, and sought relief measures for over nine lakh female and transgender sex workers across the country.

Senior advocate Jayant Bhushan, who has been appointed as Amicus curiae to assist the court in the matter, submitted that the plight of sex workers could be solved if they were provided ration cards without insisting on identity proof.

"Sex workers have a right to live with dignity under Article 21 of the Constitution of India since they are also human beings and their problems need to be addressed," the Kolkata based group said in its plea.

It said that sex workers' have been left out of the COVID-19 response because of social stigma and marginalisation and are in frantic need of support.
Ron Cobb (Credit: Gerrit Alan Fokkema/Fairfax Media via Getty Images).

Lucasfilm and Mark Hamill have paid tribute to Ron Cobb, the veteran production designer behind movies like Back To The Future, Conan The Barbarian and Alien.

Cobb died yesterday, on his 83rd birthday, in Sydney from complications of Lewy body dementia.

Read more: The Mandalorian season two trailer

In a post to Twitter, Luscafilm, via its Star Wars account, said: We were saddened to learn of the passing of conceptual designer Ron Cobb, who designed one of the most memorable characters in the Mos Eisley cantina, Momaw Nadon.

He also contributed to E.T., Raiders of the Lost Ark, Alien, Back to the Future, and many more. He will be missed.

We were saddened to learn of the passing of conceptual designer Ron Cobb, who designed one of the most memorable characters in the Mos Eisley cantina, Momaw Nadon. He also contributed to E.T., Raiders of the Lost Ark, Alien, Back to the Future, and many more. He will be missed. pic.twitter.com/TP9RckDiI6  Star Wars (@starwars) September 22, 2020

Mark Hamill added that Cobb was 'a giant in his field'.

Ron Cobb was a giant in his field. His impact on sci-fi & fantasy films is immeasurable. Thank you for a lifetime of brilliant contributions & your incomparable imagination. #RIPRonCobb https://t.co/1muckonjaS  Mark Hamill (@HamillHimself) September 22, 2020

After working as an animator at Disney, he was laid off before joining the army, working as a draughtsman in Vietnam.

He later became an underground political cartoonist, and began designing album covers then moving into the movies, working on Star Wars, Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Alien, designing the interior and exterior of the space ship Nostromo.

Story continues

While working as a designer for John Milius on his fantasy classic Conan The Barbarian, he met Steven Spielberg, who was working on Raiders of the Lost Ark on the same studio lot, and worked on the original idea for the movie Night Skies, which would later become E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.

His career in production design took off, and he worked on movies including The Last Starfighter, Total Recall and True Lies.

For Back To The Future, he was credited as the 'DeLorean Time Travel Consultant', having created the home-made look for Doc Brown's now iconic time machine.

He is survived by his wife of 48 years Robin, and his son Nicky.


Many schoolteachers in the United States are choosing not to return to the classroom this year because of the coronavirus health crisis. Now, schools around the country are looking to find substitute teachers. In some places, officials are lowering requirements to help get substitutes in classrooms.

Several states have seen an increase in educators seeking retirement or taking time off from work. That is putting more pressure on school workers in places that were already dealing with a lack of teachers and substitutes.

Among those leaving is Kay Orzechowicz, an English teacher at northwest Indianas Griffith High School. The 57-year-old had hoped to teach for a few more years. But she felt her schools leadership did not fully support using recommended social distancing rules. She worried the school would not provide enough safety equipment to students and teachers.

With the technology requirements and the pressure to record classes on video, Orzechowicz said it just wasnt what I signed up for when I became a teacher.

Teachers in at least three states have died after being infected with COVID-19 since the start of the new school year. It is unclear how many teachers in the U.S. have become ill with the disease. But Mississippi alone has reported at least 604 cases among teachers and other school workers.

Some teachers could face pressure to return to the classroom after being exposed to the coronavirus. The administration of President Donald Trump has declared teachers to be critical infrastructure workers.

Officials in Indiana report that they have received more than 600 teacher retirements since July. Studies suggest more teachers could retire this year than usual, said Trish Whitcomb. She is executive director of the Indiana Retired Teachers Association.

Whitcomb said, Ive gotten more (teachers) calling me back saying, Well, Im going to go ahead and retire. Some still wanted to go back in the classroom, but they didnt think the risk was worth it. They looked at their grandkids and the life they have, and I think theyre saying, Im just not going to do it.

In Salt Lake County, Utah, more than 80 teachers have either resigned or retired early because of concerns about COVID-19 in schools. More than half of those happened in one of the countys five school districts, Granite School District. All of the districts teachers who left were fined $1,000 for failing to let officials know they were leaving at least 30 days before.

Mike McDonough is president of the Granite Education Association teachers union. He said teachers are resigning over concerns about how the schools have reopened. In Granite, most students will return to in-person classes for four days a week. There are few ways for teachers to give only online instruction.

Some teachers waited to leave until just before school started in hopes that the district would change its reopening plan. But leaving the classroom was the only way to keep themselves safe, McDonough said.

He added, I have heard from teachers that are just heartbroken to leave the classroom, but they didnt feel safe going back. They dont want that level of risk, and they have no other choice but to get out.

Education leaders in states including Arizona, Kansas, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and Texas have said they are preparing for worsening teacher shortages.

The Missouri Board of Education has made it easier to become a substitute teacher under an emergency rule. Instead of 60 hours of college credit, new substitutes now only need to have a high school diploma, complete a 20-hour online training class and pass a background check.

The state of Iowa also eased college class requirements and lowered the working age for new substitutes.

In Connecticut, college students have been asked to step in as substitutes. Michele Femc-Bagwell is director of the teacher education program at the University of Connecticut. She said the school has been getting requests to use fifth-year graduate students as substitute teachers. But class and work responsibilities limit their availability to one day a week.

Many people who work as substitutes are retired teachers, such as 67-year-old Margaret Henderson. But the former teacher from Phoenix, Arizona, says she will not return as she had planned.

Henderson said, I dont want to get called into a classroom where a teacher has called out because of the virus or to quarantine. And we know thats going to happen more and more.

Im Jonathan Evans.

Casey Smith reported this story for the Associated Press. Jonathan Evans adapted it story for Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor.

Quiz - Teacher Departures Leave Schools Searching for Substitutes Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

_______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

exposed  adj. not protected or covered

graduate  adj. of or relating to a course of studies taken at a college or university after earning a bachelor's degree or other first degree

infrastructure  n. the basic equipment and structures such as roads and bridges that are needed for a country, region, or organization to function properly

quarantine  v. to keep (a person or animal) away from others to prevent a disease from spreading
OdessaConnect offers a suite of products to help solve the daily frustrations so many senior living operators face today. They focused on the five greatest challenges: 1) enhancing resident, staff, and family communication, 2) growing and maintaining census, 3) increasing efficiency, 4) providing tools to better manage labor and 5) increasing resident engagement.

"I'm honored to join this amazing team at OdessaConnect," said Jessica Heck, Chief Business Development Officer. "Odessa is a platform for seniors, designed in collaboration with seniors. Our team spent three years developing the suite of products with the input of 50 plus senior focus groups, and over 300 one-on-one sessions with seniors. As a former Senior Living Operator, I know the struggles that teams face on a daily basis. How can our families still feel connected to our residents during this time? Do I have enough staff to cover tonight's shifts? Have we alerted everyone that we need to in the event of an emergency? How do I keep my residents engaged during quarantine? Odessa is a one-stop-shop to address all of these issues and more. Moving from the operator side to the technology side of the industry will allow me to work with our developers and customers to find innovative, never-before-seen solutions for seniors and senior living providers."

OdessaConnect's patented and easy-to-use remote control was designed by geriatric specialists specifically for seniors. Using the remote and other technology developed by the company, family members and staff can send texts, images, and videos directly to the resident's TV. A variety of content can be shared including: live streams of a grandchild's graduation, images of a birthday party, YouTube videos or a message to remind Mom of an upcoming doctor's appointment.

Odessa also provides communication solutions for staff and management. They can share activity calendars and dining menus with all residents (and families if desired) with the click of a button. They can send reminders and emergency communication directly to residents' TVs and family members' cell phones. They can track who has viewed the messages. To assist in preparing and managing schedules, Odessa has staffing functionality to notify teams when shifts are available, and through their phone, employees can claim open shifts. Odessa is the answer to ensuring strong communication and connection remain where it once might have been lost or quarantined.

Heck joins the team with nearly a decade in the senior living industry. Beginning with Atria Senior Living, Heck went on to work for Elmcroft Senior Living and Milestone. She rose to the position of Chief Strategy Officer at Blake Management Group and brings with her a demonstrated history of success working in the healthcare and hospitality industry. She serves on the Board of the Kentucky Senior Living Association as Chair of the Education Committee and is an Argentum Ambassador.

"It is such an exciting time for us, and I know Jessica's operating experience provides us with a wealth of knowledge to build even more solutions," said Todd Smith, Founder, and CEO. "Our mission is to reduce isolation for seniors and help solve the Operator's problems. Jessica will help shape this vision as we continue to create new products and grow our platform nationally."

The innovation, however, does not stop with senior living. Future developments are already in the works that will allow OdessaConnect to connect doctors, pharmacies, and even insurance companies with their patients.

Ultimately, OdessaConnect is a platform designed to broaden and enrich the user experience for everyone utilizing their suite of products.

About Odessa Connect

OdessaConnect is a healthcare technology team based in Louisville, Kentucky whose mission is to make technology simple and safe for seniors.

For more information on OdessaConnect, please visit www.odessaconnect.tv .

To learn more about OdessaConnect, you can also contact Jessica Heck at [email protected].

Follow Us!

On Facebook: www.facebook.com/OdessaConnectTV

On Twitter: www.twitter.com/OdessaConnectTV

On Instagram: www.instagram.com/odessaconnecttv

On LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/odessaconnect

SOURCE OdessaConnect
Member of Parliament for the Ashaiman constituency, Ernest Norgbey, has said the National Democratic Congress (NDC) will not relent in its efforts to ensure that eligible voters in Ashaiman are captured in the newly compiled voters register.

He made the statement while addressing the media on the ongoing voter exhibition exercise.

The MP said that although the EC has made claims that 14,000 names have been restored onto the electoral roll in the constituency after he raised concerns, there are still anomalies with the register in some parts of the community.

After restoring the 14,000, if you go to some polling centres like Nii Komietey, it's an electoral area, and a place we call August gate, they are supposed to have 606 names on their register. Now they are exhibiting 202. At Gate 2, they are supposed to be exhibiting 607 names but as we speak, about 500 people are being exhibited. So, it clearly shows that what the commission was saying that we have registered 160,068 was clearly false. That is the dishonesty of the Electoral Commission, he said.

The MP also stated that he would ensure that all eligible voters within his constituency are not disenfranchised in the upcoming polls.

Meanwhile, the Director of Elections for the NDC, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah has urged other members of the party to be vigilant so no one is disenfranchised.

Mr. Ankrah said that all the work they had put into their campaigning boiled down to the day of voting and so all members of parliament should take an active interest to ensure that eligible voters are not disenfranchised in the December polls.

He advised that they should be vigilant and active by going out there and making sure that their people's names were in the voters register.

He indicated that there is no single person who will deliberately be disenfranchised in this land called Ghana, it will not happen.

---citinewsroom
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Ex-Wikimart CEOs 3-year suspended term for $1.6 embezzlement upheld

 flickr.com/ quirischa

15:15 22/09/2020

MOSCOW, September 22 (RAPSI) - The Moscow City Court on Tuesday upheld a 3-year suspended term passed on ex-CEO of Russian online trading platform Wikimart Andrey Klenin in a criminal case over embezzlement of 124 million rubles (about $1.6 million at the current exchange rate) from iMoneyBank, the courts press service told RAPSI.

However, the court overturned a part of sentence concerned a civil claim and ordered the banks suit to be considered in civil proceedings declaring the plaintiffs right to the claim granting.

In May, the Golovinsky District Court in Moscow found Klenin guilty of aiding and abetting a large-scale embezzlement. In addition to the 3-year term he was sentenced to a 2-year probation term after release.

According to case papers, in 2016 Klenin instructed his subordinates to seek a 124 million-ruble loan in iMoneyBank. Investigators believe the banks ex-chairman of the board Igor Volchikhin knew Wikimart would not be able to return the borrowed sum; nevertheless, he approved the deal and later embezzled the money.

In 2017, the Moscow Commercial Court ruled iMoneyBank bankrupt as demanded by Russias Central Bank.

Wikimart is a Russian online trading center established in 2008; it served as a platform for goods of such large retailers as Detskiy Mir, Lamoda, Citylink, Eldorado. The center ceased its operations in 2016.




Mr. Aziz Futa, the NPP National Nasara Coordinator

22.09.2020 LISTEN

The National Nasara Wing of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), has described a promise made by former President John Dramani Mahama to build more mortuaries in the Zongo communities as not only a misplaced priority but absurd and an insult to Ghanaian Muslims.

These statements were contained in a press release issued in Accra and signed by the NPP's National Nasara Coordinator, Mr . Abdul Aziz Haruna Futa in response to an online publication in which the NDC flagbearer for the 2020 General Elections was alleged to have made those promises during an interview with XYZ and Woezor TV channels respectively .

Mr . Aziz Futa said that the NDC has never made any manifesto promise to the Zongo people except the repeated lies that the NPP will deport them when they win political power.

"Nana Akufo -Addo 's presidency rather gave more recognition and attention to the numerous challenges bedeviling the Zongos communities" Mr. Aziz Futa pointed out.

The press release explained that in accordance to the Islamic tradition,immediately someone dies steps are hurriedly taken to prepare the person for burial. Muslims do not preserve dead bodies to be buried later and therefore the essence of building mortuaries for the Zongos is a misplaced priority lies aimed at deceiving the people .

" This clearly shows that the much touted people's manifesto of the NDC is nothing but a ruse meant to deceive Zongo people ".

The NPP clearly understands the needs and recurring problems that has to do with the release of Muslim dead bodies to their families for burials by the respective health facilities, has therefore in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service, resolved to streamline the process and facilitate easy access to Muslim dead bodies in all health facilities nationwide as well as designate a particular place in all mortuaries for the bathing and preparation of all Muslim dead bodies .

The leading opposition party's manifesto for the 2020 polls ,according to the NPP Nasara Boss only contains archaic ideas that doesn't address immediate and pressing concerns of the Muslim communities.

The Nasara Coordinator also bemoans the densely populated structure of Zongo communities which has made it difficult to undertake developmental projects .

The NDC, Mr. Aziz Futa noted, chose to ignore the current challenges affecting the people such as lack of adequate hospital facilities, schools, proper road networks, water, electricity amongst others and decided to focus on building of mortuaries.

He therefore opined that the NDC as a party has proven to be empty when it comes to preferring alternative innovative solutions to tackling challenges facing Muslims in Ghana.

He among other things mentioned that the NPP has sent forty Muslims to Cuba to study medicine,allocates Ghc 10 Million as seed money to support businesses in the Zongos,building of schools and the promise to establish sixteen model senior high schools in selected Zongo communities , as some achievements and proposed projects of the NPP government to the Zongo people.

He cautioned the NDC to desist from using the Muslim communities as vote baskets but rather see the Zongos as partners in development for the country as done by the NPP.

The NPP National Nasara Coordinator indicated that the focus of their government is to develop the human resources in the Zongo youth through pro-poor policies such as the Free SHS, NABCO, planting for food and jobs and the stabilizing of the nation's economy.

" This government has performed better for Ghanaians and the Zongo people which justifies the four more to do more for the Zongo people and Ghanaians in general", Mr. Aziz Futa emphasized.
She's turned her top modeling career into an equally successful one as a TV personality.

And on Monday, Heidi Klum showed she's still got 'it' as she posed for pictures in a dramatic pantsuit by Valentino.

The blonde beauty, 47, looked sensational in the black and white giraffe print outfit in snaps she shared on her Instagram.

Still a top model: Heidi Klum showed she's still got 'it' as she posed for pictures in a dramatic pantsuit by Valentino in a snap she posted to her Instagram on Monday

The outfit had a crew neck with scarf and flared sleeves and trousers.

Heidi added a pair of white heels along with a gold ankle bracelet and gold chandelier earrings.

She wore her long hair up in a bouffant bun and was made up with black eye-liner and mascara with soft pink lip color.

She added a short video captioned 'Hurry up .....and wait !!!!!' and the images appeared to have been taken at a swanky outdoor eatery.

Flawless: The blonde beauty, 47, looked sensational in the black and white giraffe print outfit with a crew neck and flared sleeves and trousers

Pose and poise: Heidi added a pair of white heels along with a gold ankle bracelet and gold chandelier earrings, and she wore her long hair up in a bouffant bun

Heidi is currently serving as a judge on NBC's America's Got Talent after returning to the show following a brief hiatus.

When the reality show comes to an end, she will be heading to her native Germany this fall with her four children, whom she shares with ex-husband Seal.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the next season of her series Germany's next top Model can't film as usual in Los Angeles where Heidi lives, and so instead she is having to relocate to Berlin for three and a half months to film the show there.

No doubt also accompanying her will be husband Tom Kaulitz, a guitarist with German rock band Tokio Hotel.

She and Tom, 31, tied the knot in secret in February 2019 after starting to date in early 2018.

In love: Heidi married second husband Tom Kaulitz, 31, in a secret ceremony in February 2019. Tom, a German national like Heidi, is a guitarist in the rock band Tokio Hotel

TV gig: Heidi is currently serving as a judge on NBC's America's Got Talent after returning to the show following a brief hiatus

Celebrity mom: When AGT comes to an end, she will be heading to her native Germany this fall with her four children, whom she shares with ex-husband Seal (pictured October 2018 in LA)
SALT LAKE CITY - A 13-year-old Utah boy with autism was shot by police after his mother asked for help getting him hospital mental-health treatment and officers agreed to talk with him, police footage released Monday showed.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 21/9/2020 (487 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

SALT LAKE CITY - A 13-year-old Utah boy with autism was shot by police after his mother asked for help getting him hospital mental-health treatment and officers agreed to talk with him, police footage released Monday showed.

The videos show Salt Lake City officers chasing him down an alley after they arrive at his home, then yelling at him to get on the ground. The boy collapses after a series of shots ring out, moaning, "I dont feel good. I dont feel good." He survived but suffered broken bones and pierced organs, the family's attorney has said.

His mother, Golda Barton, had warned police that her son said earlier that day, Sept. 4, that he had a gun and had threatened to shoot her male coworker and break windows in the house, the video showed. But she told officers she thought it was a BB gun or pellet gun. There were no indications he was armed.

She wanted him to be hospitalized for help with his mental health issues.

Officers said they would have to proceed as though the boy did have access to a real gun, the videos show. Barton told officers the boy was "triggered" by seeing police.

"He sees the badge and he automatically thinks you are going to kill him or he has to defend himself in some way," she said. "He freaks out."

The video was made public under a Salt Lake City ordinance requiring the release of video from police shootings within 10 business days.

The shooting has raised new questions about how police deal with people with mental health issues amid nationwide calls for police reform. It came hours before new deescalation tactics were due to take effect for Salt Lake City police, which is also co-operating with an independent investigation of the shooting.

In one video, two officers can be heard discussing whether or not to approach the boy because they were concerned that the incident would result in a shooting.

"Especially when he hates cops, its probably gonna end in a shooting," one officer said.

As officers approach the house, one says he can see movement in the backyard. The officers start to run after the boy  yelling at him to stop and get on the ground. When they catch up to the boy, they ask him to get on the ground again.

Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall speaks during a news conference Monday, Sept. 21, 2020, in Salt Lake City. A 13-year-old Utah boy with autism was shot by police after his mother asked for help getting him to a hospital and officers agreed to talk with him, police footage released showed. She called the shooting a tragedy as she called for a quick but thorough investigation. "I am profoundly heartbroken and frustrated," she said. "It's a tragedy for this young boy, for his mother and for families and individuals who have acute mental health needs." (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

The boy ignores their commands and continues walking before a series of shots ring out.

The videos don't seem to show the boy holding any weapon and police don't mention any in a report also released Monday.

Barton has said she told dispatchers her son was having a breakdown and she needed help from a crisis-intervention officer.

On the 911 call recording, she said she has called the cops before on her son and that he has previously run away from officers.

"My biggest fear is that, I dont know I just dont want him to die," Barton said. "But the times theyve came he has been gone like hell take off and go running. Thats why I dont want to go thereI just dont want to alarm him."

She added: "Thats why we need a mental health worker," she said. "Its super important."

The Salt Lake City officers who arrived had some mental-health training but were not specialists in crisis intervention.

Linden, who the family wants to be referred to only by his first name, "was lucky to be alive," his attorney Zach Weyher said.

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Two weeks later, he remains hospitalized.

"Whatever happened, it was a 13-year-old boy who was unarmed. The police were called for a mental-health call, not a criminal act," Weyher said. "A child is laying in a hospital bed ... there has to be a better response."

The mayor of Salt Lake City, Erin Mendenhall, said at a news conference Monday that as a mother of a 14-year-old boy she was profoundly upset by the shooting. She called for a quick but thorough investigation about what happened.

"I am profoundly heartbroken and frustrated," she said. "Its a tragedy for this young boy, for his mother and for families and individuals who have acute mental health needs."

___

Eppolito is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a non-profit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 09:32:15|Editor: huaxia

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BOGOTA, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- Colombian President Ivan Duque said Monday that only multilateralism can effectively combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

"A global problem requires global solutions, so only through multilateralism, international cooperation and global governance, can we mitigate the serious consequences of this pandemic and thus build a better planet," Duque told a high-level meeting to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the United Nations (UN).

"Amid these difficult times, we send a message of solidarity to all nations that continue to tackle the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic with so much effort ... Today more than ever, we are all united in the face of the unprecedented challenge before us," he added.

"Being a member of the UN is a reflection of our multilateral vocation," said Duque.

Colombia is among the founding members of the UN and the late politician Indalecio Lievano of Colombia served as president of the UN General Assembly in 1978. Enditem
Louisiana seniors who are turning 65 this year are being urged to compare Medicare insurance policies. "You want to get the best coverage and the best or lowest cost, explains the director of the American Association for Medicare Supplement Insurance (AAMSI).

The organization has released their 2020 Medigap Price Index including Louisiana cities New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Shreveport. Medigap insurance premiums vary across the state according to the new data reported. There are roughly 4.6 million residents in the state and according to AAMSI some 16 percent are over age 65.

"When you turn 65 you have to make an important decision, one that might be irrevocable," shares Jesse Slome, director of the national Medicare Supplement insurance organization. "A 65-year-old man in New Orleans could pay as little as $140 monthly or he could pay as much as $341 for Medicare Supplement coverage The coverage would be essentially identical which is why comparing Medicare insurance costs and comparison shopping is so important."

The Medicare insurance expert suggests asking about fees and discounts when comparing policy options and costs. "Some insurance companies add policy fees," Slome notes. "Others offer discounts for two-person households that vary from zero to as high as 14 percent in Louisiana," he reports.

Louisiana Medicare 2020 Monthly Premium - Medigap Plan G

NEW ORLEANS, LA (Zip 70119)



FEMALE age 65, Plan G



Lowest: $121.61



Highest: $341.71

MALE age 65, Plan G



Lowest: $139.85



Highest: $392.88

BATON ROUGE, LA (Zip 70816)



FEMALE age 65, Plan G



Lowest: $107.34



Highest: $297.14

MALE age 65, Plan G



Lowest: $121.37



Highest: $341.64

SHREVEPORT, LA (Zip 71106)



FEMALE age 65, Plan G



Lowest: $103.08



Highest: $267.43

MALE age 65, Plan G



Lowest: $118.58



Highest: $307.47

Find Louisiana Medicare insurance agents by using the Zip Code based free online directory of local Medicare agents offered by the Association. "The national Zip Code-based listing shows nearly 1,000 area Medicare insurance advisors," Slome adds. "Access is free to use and completely private for seniors."
News

Portland, Oregon - A Colorado man has been charged with a hate crime after stabbing a Black man from Ontario, Oregon while the man was sitting in a fast food restaurant, announced Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams of the District of Oregon.

A federal grand jury in Portland has returned a one-count indictment charging Nolan Levi Strauss, 26, a Colorado resident, with a hate crime involving an attempt to kill.

According to the indictment, on the morning of December 21, 2019, a 48-year-old Black man arrived at an Arbys fast food restaurant adjoining the Pilot Travel Center in Ontario where he planned to provide final documentation for a pending job application. The man sat in the lobby of the restaurant while waiting for the manager.

Unprovoked and without warning, Strauss approached the man from behind and stabbed him in the neck. Following a struggle for the knife, the man freed himself and Strauss was detained by store employees. When asked by the store employee why he attacked the man, Strauss stated he did so because the man was Black, and I dont like Black people.

The stabbing resulted in two lacerations to the victims neck. Afterward, he was life-flighted to Boise, Idaho for emergency surgical intervention.

Strauss will make his first appearance in federal court on Oct. 19, 2020. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of life in federal prison.

This case was investigated by the FBI with assistance from the Ontario Police Department, Oregon State Police, and the Malheur County District Attorneys Office. It is being prosecuted by Gavin W. Bruce, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon, and Cameron A. Bell, Trial Attorney for the Civil Rights Division.

An indictment is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This article was written by Alex Sixt, a member of the Entrepreneur NEXT powered by Assemble content team. Entrepreneur NEXT is our Expert solutions division leading the future of work and skills-based economy. If youre struggling to find, vet, and hire the right Experts for your business, Entrepreneur NEXT is a platform to help you hire the experts you need, exactly when you need them. From business to marketing, sales, design, finance, and technology, we have the top 3 percent of Experts ready to work for you.

The average American college graduate spends approximately 29 percent of his or her life in an educational environment. From kindergarten to senior year of high school, we are trained in multiple important subjects such as mathematics, history, and science. Yet, after 17 years of schooling, institutions have failed to teach students the most important subject: how to navigate the workforce.

The world of work is not what it was even one year ago. Unfortunately, the general skills we are taught in classes do not typically translate to the working world, or they are so broad that students are unable to hone in on any specialized, marketable skill. The workforce is always changing, and although its difficult for the education system to catch up, the shift toward a more skills-based, fractional workforce must be taught to set up the students of today for success in the workforce tomorrow.

As COVID-19 continues to shape the workforce into a fractional model that allows workers more flexibility and choice in their careers, we must recognize that the old ways of beginning a career (i.e. standard application processes and stuffy offices) are no longer relevant. To prepare students for success, institutions and educators will need to re-evaluate how to teach their students to adapt to a consistently shifting landscape. Theres no doubt that it will take time for our educational system to learn how to prepare students for an entirely new way of working.

However, it is vital that we begin to address the changes that current curriculums fail to include. Here are some of the most important lessons about the workforce that institutions should include to prepare the leaders of tomorrow:

COVID-19

Although the impact of COVID-19 may not be a subject we currently teach in school, the pandemic is a crucial driver behind the most recent changes in the workforce. Theres no way schools could have prepared for this change any more than we could have prepared for a pandemic to consume the modern world. Nonetheless, there is an opportunity in the midst of it all to prepare students for how these changes will affect the workforce theyll enter in a few years.

Almost 40 million Americans lost their jobs due to the pandemic, and many of these jobs are likely to change in terms of skill level, demand and location (remote vs in office). Many jobs that were deemed necessary before the pandemic are now considered non-essential or the demand for that particular role may lessen over time as companies determine cheaper ways to work around them.

As the workforce begins to enter a critical phase of adapting to a new world, educational institutions will need to study these trends if they are going to help students succeed in a post-COVID job market.

Related: How COVID-19 Unveiled the Intense Need for Creative Work

Digital Transformation

As much as every student loves spending a quarter of their tuition on textbooks (not), the materials used in current classrooms arent able to be produced quickly enough to stay up to date with the shifts in the workforce. As weve seen with COVID-19, the market changes by the day, and mass-produced textbooks that are typically referred to for at least a few years by instructors leave our students decades behind present trends.

Nearly 40 percent of U.S. jobs are in occupations that are likely to shrink or be cut by 2030. Millions of jobs that exist today will be automated, as the digital transformation will rapidly change how companies choose to source the expertise for their roles. The issue with the current education system is that it focuses on a general overview of domains, many of which will be replaced by automated processes, potentially leaving millions of future job graduates out to dry with unusable skills.

The changing workforce doesnt wait for the newest textbook version to publish; trends fade fast, and even the most up-to-date practices taught to students quickly become too slow and outdated for the working world. With every technological and global advancement, companies expect more from their candidates. From the knowledge of the latest project management software to a particular, industry-specific skill, students must be taught how current information to compete with other job seekers.

Related: Why You Should Speed Up Your Digital Transformation During the Crisis

The number one problem shared among entrepreneurs today is finding, vetting, hiring, and retaining expertise.

Shift toward fractional workforce

Even before the pandemic, the workforce had begun to shift toward a fractional model, where workers flex their skills between multiple companies, enabling them to build a more flexible schedule and work-life balance. In response to the pandemic, companies have increasingly begun to hire fractional workers, as it allows for easier scaling of their workforce and creates more opportunities for quickly hiring in-demand skills. However, this model of hiring has yet to be taught in most schools, leaving students to prepare for traditional hiring processes that have already become outdated.

More than one-third of global executives say their organizations dont have the expertise they need to fill anticipated skill gaps, which foreshadows an even more skill-based, fractional workforce that is molded to fit the business needs and the workers freedom to flex their skills for multiple employers. Job descriptions that demand candidates master multiple skills areas for one job have become scarcer as executives recognize the value of hiring employees based on specific skills. Students who have only been taught the traditional, general domains are at an instant disadvantage without the specific expertise that companies are searching for.

Related: The Land of Business, In The Times of Corona

Shaping us into the leaders of the future

Cliche but true: the students in our classrooms today are the leaders of tomorrows workforce. If we dont want our leadership to be stuck in the old, traditional ways of working, then our educational curriculums cannot be, either.

The world has entirely changed before this generations eyes; theyve witnessed firsthand the disruption that the pandemic has created for society and the need for quickly adapting to evolving situations. The lessons from the pandemic cannot suffice for those taught in the classroom to our future workforce. Trends act as suggested- they change and shift constantly. To build successful leaders, the educational system will need to make room in their curriculum to teach students the most up-to-date information and give them the necessary resources to prepare themselves for the future of their domain.

Even if weve missed the mark on preparing students in the past, there are plenty of opportunities to begin implementing these lessons today. Educators can rework their lessons to include discussions surrounding the workforce and the adjustments students may need to make to their career paths. If possible, institutions should develop educational paths that focus on specializing students with a particular skill, rather than a general understanding of an area of study.

Related: How to Sculpt Yourself Into A Future-Ready Leader

If this sounds like an incredibly large issue to fix, thats because it is; but this doesnt mean this gap in education is too large to fix. Although it will take a lot of time, research and effort to reframe the way we prepare our students to prepare for the future of the workforce, the investment in building successful future leaders is well worth the sacrifice.

To hire the Experts you need, exactly when you need them, visit next.entrepreneur.com to schedule a meeting with our Expert solutions team.

Related:

What School Doesn't Teach Us About the Workforce

TikTok y WeChat quedaran prohibidos en Estados Unidos a partir del domingo

Facebook ya no recomendara grupos de salud



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Tatupa grafei. Credit: SPbU

An international team of scientists, including researchers from St Petersburg University, has discovered a new genus and species of bug from the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia. It was named Tatupa grafei and classified as belonging to plant bugs (Miridae).

The Heteroptera are a large group of insects. However, not all of its representatives are widely known as true bugs. For example, it includes a pond water strider (Gerris lacustris), which is very common in Russia. "Most often, when it comes to these insects, people imagine blood-sucking bed bugs. They bring the rest of the bugs into disrepute, but most of these insects do not bite. The bug we discovered belongs to the plant bugs (Miridae) and it also does not feed on human blood," says Veronica Tyts, the first author of the research, a first-year master's student in the biology program at St Petersburg University.

Borneo, also known as Kalimantan, is the third-largest island in the world. About 1% of the island's territory is occupied by the state of Brunei Darussalam where Ulu Temburong National Park is located. Its tropical forests remain practically intact and preserve an amazing variety of flora and fauna. Here Claas Damken, a research participant from Jalan Universiti, Brunei Darussalam, Brunei, collected the Heteroptera, which were later sent to Anna Namyatova, the second author, for identification.

"This collection included very important samples for us. Within the large family of the Miridae, there is a subfamily that I specialize in. Most of its representatives are extremely rare in different collections. The fact is that in nature they live in the forest floor and have a cryptic lifestyle. At the same time, the sample from Brunei turned out to be relatively large: nine specimens are representing the monotypic new genus Tatupa. Monotypic means that only one species belongs to itTatupa grafei. It is highly probable that the bug is endemic, that is, it does not live anywhere except the island of Borneo," says Tyts.

Tatupa grafei belongs to the relatively small Rhinocylapus-complex, currently comprising 24 species. Its representatives vary in color and have huge antennae, often twice longer than a body. The Tatupa grafei bug is golden and spotted. It is noteworthy that in the Rhinocylapus-complex, sexual dimorphism is very common: the male can be half the size of the female. Before copulation, the males sit on the back of the female and 'ride' it for some time.

"At the same time, the males and females of Tatupa grafei are the same size. Their body length, without antennae, is approximately five millimeters. Of course, there is a compelling question: why one part of the group is characterized by sexual dimorphism, while the other does not. In the future, we would like to find an answer to it as well," notes Veronika Tyts.

Tatupa grafei. Credit: SPbU

Most aspects of the behavior of the Tatupa grafei bugs are unknown due to the extremely small number of its representatives. These insects are often found on fungi growing on rotten wood. Because of this, it has been suggested that these bugs feed on fungi, but whether this is true remains to be explored. It is also possible that Tatupa grafei eats smaller insects, which feed on fungi. The third version is that the bug menu can be mixed and consist of both fungi and insects. The answers to these questions can be given by observing Tatupa grafei bugs in a natural environment, but it is pretty tricky to carry it out.

The genus name Tatupa is a random combination of letters. The scientists could not come up with a suitable name for it for a long time. It was important that no animal has the same name. Additionally, the scientists needed to find out if the word Tatupa exists in any languages and what it means. It turned out that there was only one hit on the Internetin an episode of a Polish television game where its participants are busy coining new words. The species is named after the Brunei professor Ulmar Grafe, who had provided significant support to the scientists.

"The planet's biodiversity is a great treasure that we, unfortunately, are constantly losing. It is important to find and describe new types of living organisms to preserve themif not in their natural habitat, then at least in the vast knowledge database created by mankind. Moreover, each of these creatures has a specific role in the global ecosystem. And the more ramified the connections in it, the higher its stability. Therefore, the small bug we discovered may play a significant role in the ecosystem of the island of Borneo," says Veronica Tyts.

Alongside Veronica Tyts, Fedor Konstantinov, Candidate of Biology and Associate Professor of the Department of Entomology at St Petersburg University, took part in the discovery and description of Tatupa grafei. Other authors of the research were: the already mentioned Claas Damken; Anna Namyatova, a senior research associate at the All-Russian Research Institute of Plant Protection; and Rodzay A. Wahab, a lecturer at Jalan Universiti, Brunei Darussalam, Brunei.

Color photographs of Tatupa grafei were taken at the Department of Entomology of St Petersburg University using a camera attached to a stereo microscope. The rest of the images were created using a scanning electron microscope of the resource centers of the Research Park of St Petersburg University "The Centre for Molecular and Cell Technologies' and "The Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis." Aleksei Miroliubov, a centre engineer, rendered significant assistance to the scientists.

The authors of the publication are currently continuing the research, which will result in a long paper on the phylogeny of rare bugs from the Rhinocylapus-complex. The researchers plan to build a phylogenetic tree that will reflect the probable evolutionary relationships of organisms. To achieve this, a morphological analysis of insects and an analysis of their DNA markers have been carried out. As for the specimens, seven of the nine provided specimens will return to their homeland in Brunei, while the other two will remain in the large collection of the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Explore further More assassins on the radar: As many as 24 new species of assassin bugs described

More information: Veronica D. Tyts et al, Tatupa grafei, a new genus and species of Cylapinae (Heteroptera, Miridae) from Brunei Darussalam, ZooKeys (2020). Journal information: ZooKeys Veronica D. Tyts et al, Tatupa grafei, a new genus and species of Cylapinae (Heteroptera, Miridae) from Brunei Darussalam,(2020). DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.946.51780
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 22

Trend:

In April, May and June 2020, representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) visited the persons detained during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Head of the Public Relations Department of the ICRC office in Azerbaijan, Ilaha Huseynova, told Trend.

In August and September, representatives of the structure again visited the persons detained during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. We continue to visit these individuals regularly. In accordance with its mandate, the ICRC organizes visits to monitor conditions of detention and treatment of detainees, and to help ensure that detainees are in contact with their families, said Huseynova.

In July 2014, during an operation carried out by Armenian special forces in the Shaplar village of the occupied Kalbajar district, Azerbaijani citizen Hasan Hasanov was killed, and Shahbaz Guliyev and Russian citizen Dilgam Asgarov were taken hostage. All of them intended to visit their native places and the graves of their relatives. A "criminal case" was initiated against Shahbaz Guliyev and Dilgam Asgarov. Then the so-called "court" sentenced Asgarov to life imprisonment, and Guliyev - to 22 years in prison.

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.
Doctor Luong Hoai Nam, an aviation expert, talks to VietnamPlus online newspaper about measures to ensure the efficiency of Vietnams resumption of international flights.

Airlines strive to reopen international flights after prolonged delay due to COVID-19.  Photo vietnamplus.vn

What do you think about Vietnams resumption of some international flights?

We can see the way that many countries in the world like Singapore and Thailand have gone. They have created travel bubbles which include bilateral or multilateral agreements that clearly regulate the responsibilities and tasks of the host countries and destinations to ensure the implementation of pandemic prevention and control regulations.

Only when the resumption of international flights is based on such detailed agreements can it gain trust from passengers on travel safety. If not, Vietnam could face a situation like some other countries that do not require social distancing and people will not feel secure to travel. In that case, airlines will face losses.

There are concerns that the resumption of international flights may import COVID-19 into Vietnam. What do you think?

I think Vietnam should soon negotiate with relevant countries and effectively control the pandemic to create travel bubbles to reopen international air routes and tourism at a more practical scale with a number of passengers big enough to increase the efficiency of the resumption of air and tourism services.

Whether the reopening of international flights imports the pandemic or not depends on the way we open and on the countries that we choose to open with. Secondly, we should have agreements with partners on processes that both sides need to do. So we should not say in general that resumption of international flights could import the pandemic if co-operation in pandemic control and prevention among countries is good enough. That is why Malaysia and Singapore have reopened flights between each other without much concern.

Malaysia and Singapore have also resumed travel on land with a large number of people travelling between the two countries but they have mutual agreements on the process that both countries must carry out so there is not any concern about the import or export of the pandemic between the two sides.

It is important that such agreements are made in detail and there is effective co-ordination among pandemic prevention and control centres and relevant agencies in Vietnam and partners.

To resume international flights, it is necessary to remove the psychological barrier of passengers about the possibility of getting infected with COVID-19 while travelling and being put into quarantine after arriving in destinations. What do you think?

We should make pandemic prevention and control agreements with relevant countries based on strict, clear and transparent principles to gain trust from passengers.

If we do not approach the reopening of international flights to welcome foreign tourists following the model of safe travel bubbles based on bilateral or multilateral agreements, no regions in the world can reopen international flights. As a result, we will miss the opportunity to revive the aviation and tourism sectors and economic development. VNS

Vietnam to resume some international flights, set up quarantine process The aviation authorities of China, South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan (China) have asked Vietnam to clarify the immigration process, isolation and medical requirements for international flights.
Dublin requires "a miracle" to emerge from increased Covid-19 restrictions next month, ministers have said, as concern around eight other counties increases.

Speaking after a Cabinet meeting today, ministers said there is "no chance" of restrictions being eased if case numbers do not begin to fall dramatically.

They were speaking as 334 new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed, 174 of which were in Dublin.

Restrictions in the capital were announced on Friday and ministers have cautioned that their effect may not be evident until after this weekend.

It is looking very doubtful Dublin will emerge. It would take a miracle when you look where the numbers are and, more alarmingly, where they are going, said one senior minister.

"At this point, it's hard to see it happening," one source said about the easing of restrictions in Dublin.

"You could need a week or two longer to really get the number down, said another.

Sources say there is increasing worry about whether the public is continuing to adhere to guidance, particularly among people aged 18-54. "It's not just the youngest of people at this point, people of all ages below the most vulnerable are weary."

Government sources also say they are worried by the rise in figures in Cork, which has thus far managed to avoid a second wave. Shutting down the two largest cities at once would be "a dire situation", they say.

Justice Minister Helen McEntee said the focus of the Government is to try and convince people, and younger people in particular, to stick to the guidelines, but admitted the numbers are going in the wrong direction.

What we need to focus on at the moment is to encourage people to adhere to the guidelines that are currently there. Yes, we have seen figures increase and there have been a number of counties that have been particularly highlighted, she told the Irish Examiner.

But until we get a recommendation from NPHET, until we are told they are at a point we need to move to a different level, then obviously we cant make a decision.

"What we need to do is encourage people across the country, and in Dublin as well, to adhere to the current guidelines so hopefully that will mean no county has to move backwards perhaps to various different level."

Ms McEntee said it is very hard to tell what will happen until NPHET meets again.

Unless people adhere to the guidelines, then the numbers will continue to go in a direction we dont want them to. We dont want to get to that point, she said.

Public Expenditure Minister Michael McGrath voiced concern, as "clearly the numbers are clearly going in the wrong direction".

Mr McGrath said if there were "flagrant breaches" of regulations, the Government would consider increasing the powers of gardai. He said the law must be enforced in order to protect the vulnerable.

"If that is required, that is what we will do. We will examine what more might need to be done to make sure there are adequate powers and resources for gardai to protect communities, he said.
Johnny Depp and Leonardo DiCaprio have collaborated in various projects in the past. Nonetheless, despite working with each other for a long time, the two did not establish a close relationship.

Depp, however, might be the reason why.

No Love for Brothers

In the 1993 flick "What's Eating Gilbert Grape," Depp and DiCaprio played as brothers who share an immense love for one another.

Both actors played their roles successfully -- much like they were brothers in real life. However, unknown to many, Depp actually tortured his co-star while making the film.

Per Cosmopolitan, Depp revealed that he underwent a hard time when they were filming the show. From being a teen heartthrob, he found it difficult to take on the role, which was too heavy for a 19-year-old star.

Unfortunately, this affected the way he treated Leo and ended up torturing him.

"He was always talking about these video games, you know? I told you it was kind of a dark period. [I would say] 'No, I will not give you a drag of my cigarette while you hide from your mother again, Leo'," Depp admitted.

For what it's worth though, Depp expressed his belief that DiCaprio did his best to give justice to his autistic character in the film.

Depp, DiCaprio No Longer in Good Terms

While the whole scenario damaged their relationship, Depp's recent claims could undoubtedly create more space between them.

DiCaprio, who is now enjoying a romantic relationship with Camila Morrone, has been included on Amber Heard's affairs list.

Per Us Weekly, Heard said that Depp accused her of having relationships with all her co-stars.

"He accused me of having affairs with each of my co-stars, movie after movie: Eddie Redmayne, James Franco, Jim Sturgess, Kevin Costner, Liam Hemsworth, Billy Bob Thornton, Channing Tatum; even women co-stars like Kelli Garner," the actress revealed.

Heard added that Depp nicknamed Leonardo a "pumpkin-head."

Depp and Heard recently ended their ugly legal battle; however, they are scheduled to go through another lawsuit trial soon.

When the claims about Heard's cheating scandal emerged, rumors about DiCaprio's alleged plans to ruin Depp's career also surfaced.

Leonardo DiCaprio Issues Warning To Johnny Depp?

Following Heard's revelations, an unnamed source reportedly told New Idea that Leonardo DiCaprio was upset with what Johnny Depp did, especially since he was never close to Heard at all.

The environmentalist allegedly pledged to ruin Depp's career in Hollywood further.

"Leo is livid. He's banned all his associates, as well as anyone who wants to work with him ever again, from dealing with Johnny. He can't believe Johnny's thrown him into his mess like it's no big deal," the unnamed source revealed.

According to the source, the two -- who are the most popular artists of their generation -- were once very close. Unfortunately, they drifted apart and DiCaprio developed a closer bond with Brad Pitt, George Clooney and Bradley Cooper in the end.

Until now, neither DiCaprio nor Depp has addressed if this rumor is true or not.

READ MORE: Johnny Depp in Marvel? Actor Could Land 3 Roles in MCU!
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair a high-level virtual meeting to discuss the coronavirus situation with the chief ministers of seven states tomorrow. The meeting comes as most of the states in the country have been witnessing a spike in the number of Covid cases over the last few weeks.

Chief ministers of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, UP, Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Punjab will be attend the meeting.

PM Modi to chair a high-level virtual meeting on 23rd September with CMs & Health Ministers of seven COVID19 high burden States/UT to review COVID response and management. These States/UT are Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, UP, Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Punjab: GoI pic.twitter.com/xfHBA385fo  ANI (@ANI) September 22, 2020

The prime minister has been regularly holding meetings to review the pandemic situation across the country. His last COVID-19 review meeting was on August 11 with chief ministers and representatives of 10 most-affected states.

"The Centre has been leading the fight against COVID-19 in effective collaboration and close coordination with the state and union territory governments. The Union government is supporting them to ramp up healthcare and medical infrastructure, with the clinical management capacities of the doctors manning the ICUs having been substantially upgraded through the e-ICU tele-consultation exercise undertaken by the Health Ministry in collaboration with AIIMS, New Delhi," the statement said.

India, the second worst coronavirus hit country in the world after the United States, has more than 55 lakh cases, according to the Union Health Ministry data. With 75,809 new cases in the past 24 hours, India's Covid-19 tally jumped to 55,62,663. Countrys single-day coronavirus cases had dipped below 76,000 on September 8 also, when 75,809 cases were reported. About 60 per cent of the country's active coronavirus cases are concentrated across five worst-hit states of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh.

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TORONTO - Ford Motor Company of Canada Ltd. has agreed to spend nearly $2 billion on its Canadian plants as part of tentative contract deal with Unifor announced Tuesday.

Under the proposed settlement, Unifor national president Jerry Dias said $1.95 billion will be invested in Fords Canadian plants, including $1.8 billion toward the production of five electric vehicles in Oakville, Ont., and an engine contract that could yield new jobs in Windsor, Ont.

The 6,300 union workers at Ford will vote on the deal this weekend, Dias said.

Talks between the union and the automaker came to a head on Monday ahead of a bargaining deadline of 11:59 p.m. ET, and talks continued for much of the night before parties settled on a deal around 5 a.m.

Workers had voted to support a strike if a deal could not be reached, with the future of the Oakville plant potentially on the line amid the end of the Ford Edge production.

The plant will now be retooled for electric vehicle production starting in 2024, Dias said, with the fifth and final model of the new deal hitting the assembly line in 2028.

Of the 4,250 Unifor workers at the plant west of Toronto, 3,400 are actively working (and not laid off or on leave.) Dias said he foresees about 3,000 jobs staying in Oakville under the new contract, but said that some of the current workers would be eligible to retire soon either way.

This is a major commitment from Ford, Dias said. This is going to be a key facility,not for the short-term, but for the long-term  this is a decade-long commitment.

Dias thanked local and federal politicians for support during the negotiations. When asked about government contribution toward electric vehicle production, Dias declined to confirm earlier news reports on the topic, saying the government will have to announce how much they plan to kick in.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has said that the province is contributing a massive amount to businesses like (Ford Canada) to bring battery manufacturing to the province, but has not shared a specific amount, citing ongoing negotiations. John Power, spokesman for federal Industry Minister Navdeep Bains, also declined to say how much Ottawa could commit, saying only that electric vehicle production would help meet climate goals and create jobs.

We have been talking for decades about having a national auto strategy in this country, and for some reason, we can never seem to get everybody in the room at the same time, Dias said.

Over the last several months, those walls have really been torn down  Im really pleased to see that the federal government and provincial government are working hand in hand.

Dias said that the provincial governments negotiations encompass the complete, A-to-Z manufacturing of batteries  a process that still requires a major manufacturer. Unifors deal with Ford will encompass just the assembly stage of the manufacturing process.

Once agreed to by union members, Fords deal on new product lines, shifts, wages, pensions and benefits will set the tone for upcoming talks with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and General Motors.

Dias said Fiat Chrysler will be next in line for negotiations, as the union plans to go toe-to-toe over shift cuts in Windsor and Brampton, Ont. facilities.

Although the last formal labour negotiations took place in 2016, the union has been in active scrimmages with GM since then, after last years downsizing at a GM plant in Oshawa, Ont.

In the U.S., GMs union workers went on strike last year. Going forward, Dias said the Canadian and U.S. unions will negotiate with the Detroit Three on the same schedule, as both groups try to keep jobs from moving south to Mexico.

That means the 2020 deal will be renegotiated in 2023, amid the expiration of major programs in GMs powertrain operation in St. Catharines, Ont.

Dias said Canadian natural resources, such as lithium, aluminum and cobalt, put the members in a strong position as more companies move toward electric vehicles.

Its an opportunity for our young people that work in Oakville, and frankly in Windsor, as well, and throughout the other operations, to sit back and say, With this announcement I can buy a house, I can plan my future, I can plan a family, Dias said.

It really is about young people being able to plan 20 years ahead, which will make a significant difference in their life.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 22, 2020.
Good morning, Bay Area. Its Tuesday, Sept. 22, and its National Voter Registration Day. Heres what you need to know before voting in the November election in the Bay Area.

The recent spate of wildfires across Northern California has caused a new concern for pregnant women already dealing with worries over the COVID-19 pandemic: Could exposure to toxic smoke and ash have a lasting impact on their prenatal and postnatal health?

Its a scary time to be pregnant, said Samantha Brancato, a San Francisco mother of two who is expecting her third child this year. We went for a walk around the block last week, and right away, I could feel it in my lungs.

Unfortunately, previous wildfire seasons in California and Australia have given researchers opportunity to study the potential affects. Aidin Vaziri reports on what we know  and dont  about wildfire smoke and pregnancy.

More: CDC removes new guidance on airborne coronavirus transmission, alarming Bay Area experts.

Flu shots in the Bay Area: Where to get yours, and why theyre so important during pandemic.

Weve got a big day ahead of us

Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle

Many of us have developed unusual pandemic hobbies. For Alexandra Kenin, its finding and climbing every public staircase in San Francisco. As of Monday morning, her tally was 837. But it might have changed by now. The number, like Kenin, just keeps climbing.

Kenin invited columnist Heather Knight to ascend with her on a recent afternoon, walking three of San Franciscos best hills  Telegraph Hill, Russian Hill and Forest Hill  to talk about her explorations and what you can find exploring your hometown.

Read more.

Looking for answers, safety

Yalonda M. James / The Chronicle

After years of falling gun violence and despite pandemic shelter-in-place orders, shootings appear to be on the rise in some San Francisco neighborhoods in 2020, a trend that became more stark as the weather began to warm.

ShotSpotter, a gunfire-detection system the city uses to pinpoint shootings in areas including the Bayview, Mission, South of Market and Visitacion Valley, recorded 744 incidents of shots fired in the first seven months of the year, a 32% jump from the 564 logged during the same period last year.

Read more from reporter Megan Cassidy about the long-term trends in shooting and how family members affected by deadly shootings are responding.

Around the Bay

Samuel Corum / Getty Images

 More court implications: The death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg could also prove fatal to the Affordable Care Act, the nationwide health insurance law that faces a Supreme Court hearing a week after Election Day. For California, the stakes are enormous, Bob Egelko reports.

 Its National Voter Registration Day: What you need to know before voting in the November election in the Bay Area.

 Homekey: A residential hotel in San Francisco and an unused college dormitory in Oakland are among buildings across the state to be turned into long-term housing for homeless people under a state program designed to keep people off the streets during and after the coronavirus pandemic.

 Federal death penalty: Big blowup in Catholic Church as Trumps attorney general is honored despite approving executions. Listen: Jason Fagone explains why executions under Trump have split Catholics on the Fifth & Mission podcast.

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.

 Planes, Turf Cleats and MRI Trucks: 49ers shouldnt ask what could go wrong next, Ann Killion writes, because they might find out.

 More cops in Vallejo? Vallejos police association says its on board with needed reforms. But the union is part of the problem, writes columnist Otis R. Taylor Jr.

 Unethical, unacceptable: S.F. human resources manager resigns after allegedly forging discrimination settlement.

In Case You Missed It

Gabrielle Lurie / The Chronicle

It has not been easy breathing for the last month in the Bay Area.

Major wildfires broke out in California from lightning strikes in mid-August, followed by a rash of blazes in Oregon and Washington, all combining to smother the Bay Area with smoke and filthy air for weeks.

After a record 30 Spare the Air days, the smoke finally began to clear last week. So how was the air quality overall during this past month, and how does it compare to previous years? Kellie Hwang looks at the data.

Bay Area air: Clear this week, but haze, smoke could return by Friday.

Bay Briefing is written by Taylor Kate Brown and sent to readers email inboxes on weekday mornings. Sign up for the newsletter here, and contact Brown at taylor.brown@sfchronicle.com.
The political divide separating Trump and Biden voters extends to whereand howtheir children are attending school for the 2020-21 school year, according to a nationally representative survey conducted by the EdWeek Research Center.

Supporters of Democratic candidate Joe Biden were far more likely than respondents overall to say their children will be engaged in full-time remote learning, compared to respondents who plan to vote for President Donald Trump. About 48 percent of Biden voters say their children are learning remotely, compared to around a quarter of Trump voters and more than a third of respondents overall.

In contrast, while roughly a quarter of Trump voters said their children were attending school full-time and in-person, thats far more than the 12 percent of Biden voters who said their children were doing the same. Overall, about 18 percent of respondents said their children were attending school full-time and in-person.

Overall, about 23 percent of respondents said their children were attending a hybrid public option of part-time, in-person and part-time, remote public school. On that option, Trump and Biden supporters did not vary meaningfully.

The online parent survey was administered to more than 2,000 parents of K-12 public and private school students Aug. 17-24. The margin of error is plus or minus 2 percent.

In general, Trump supporters also expressed much more trust that schools could safeguard their childrens health. And Biden supporters were more likely than overall respondents to say certain safety measures affected their trust level, such as large group gatherings, inadequate or adequate social distancing, testing students and staff for the coronavirus, quality of ventilation, and mask requirements. Trump supporters were less likely than overall respondents to say those factors affected the level of trust they had in their childs school.

Two parents offer almost perfect encapsulations of these views.

Its All Right

Kathryn Dormedy, a San Antonio mother of seven and a Trump supporter, has been more than ready to have her school-age children return to full-time, in-person school.

Three of her childrena high school senior, a freshman, and a 5th graderattend Alamo Heights ISD schools; three others are in private school, and the youngest is 13 months old. After a remote start for all students, Alamo Heights phased in a return to full-time classes by grade level, and is now offering in-person as well as remote instruction.

With distance learning, Dormedys children did not seem to understand that even though they werent in school, they still had to do school, she said. Plus, it was difficult to find a place for everyone to work quietly and listen to their teachers.

And also, with having my kids the ages that they aremiddle school and high schoolI wanted them to at least have some semblance of a school experiences. It was better to go back.

Dormedy said she feels comfortable with the districts plans for social distancing and mask wearing, which are required for students in 4th grade and higher.

I just sort of trusted that the school was going to do what they needed to do, Dormedy said. To be honest, Im one of those whos not that concerned. All of the findings show that children especially, even if they contract the coronavirus, theyre not going to be terribly affected. Theyll be OK, they have their masks, they eat their lunch in their room. Its all right.

Still Too Dangerous

Shirley Armstrong is raising seven grandchildren in Riverdale, Ill., a suburb on the south side of Chicago. Dolton West District 148, her local district, is offering only remote learning to its students for the entire fall semester. Armstrong said shes glad that the children, who range in age from kindergarten through 8th grade, are staying home.

I feel its still too dangerous, said Armstrong, who is supporting Biden for president. Im really not comfortable with it, and they havent found any evidence that theyre going to have a cure anytime soon. Im not going to lose any of my children to this.

Plus, with elderly adults in the household, in-person school would present risks to them as well, she said.

Im well pleased with the way [the district] is handling it, because now its so much more structured compared to the spring, Armstrong said. The children have their headsets on, theyre focused on the screens and doing their workthey even raise their hands to go to the bathroom.

We were told, you do not have to stand over your children. We want them to act like theyre in school, she said.

In-Person Classes More Likely in Areas of Strong Trump Support

Jon Valant, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution studying K-12 education policy and politics, used Education Week data to show that districts offering in-person school were more likely to be located in areas of strong Trump support. That was true regardless of the level of coronavirus spread in those communities, he found.

So some of the political differences could be driven by the different communities in which Trump and Biden supporters tend to live. Armstrongs neighborhood of Riverdale voted 99 percent for Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton in the 2016 campaign. In-person learning, for now, is not an option there or in neighboring districts such as Chicago Public School, even if families may want that.

Bexar County in Texas, where Alamo Heights is located, also supported Clinton in the 2016 election, 53.7 percent compared to 40.3 percent for Trump. However, Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, has ordered that all school districts in the state must offer full-time or part-time instruction unless theyve been granted a waiver. (Districts in Texas have the option of starting the first eight weeks of the school year remotely.)

The politics make it difficult to find clearsighted and science-based solutions in what is probably the most complex problem that public education has faced in generations, Valant said in an interview.

When you look at the school reopening decision there is no risk-free alternative, but the risks are felt by different groups of people. Valant said.

If youre opening in person, you may be doing whats best for kids learning in the short term, but that presents a potential risk to school staff, families, and the community at large, he said. Whereas if you go in the other direction, youre sticking those risks on kids educational outcomes, but protecting lots of other people.

Those are two terrible options that were facing here, Valant said. People are falling on different sides of those questions, which is something were going to be dealing with for a long time.
Donald Trump

President Donald Trump gestures to the crowd as he finishes speaking at a campaign rally at Bemidji Regional Airport, Friday, Sept. 18, 2020, in Bemidji, Minn. (AP Photo/ Credit - Evan VucciAP

Theres at least one person who thinks President Trump is likely to win Minnesota in November, even though polls show him well behind in the state. Theres no way that Im nine points down, Trump told the enthusiastic crowd that packed an airplane hangar in the small Northern Minnesota town of Bemidji on Friday night.

This, the President added, is not the crowd of somebody thats going to finish second in this state to Sleepy Joe, his derisive nickname for Democrat Joe Biden.

A few hours earlier, Biden, too, had appeared in northern Minnesota, touring a union hall outside Duluth and giving a speech about improving the lives of working Americans. The twin visits, which came on the states first day of early voting, shone a spotlight on the state that may be 2020s most intriguing new battleground.

The geographic and demographic trends that enabled Trump to win the Midwestern blue wall states of Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania in 2016and with them the electionnearly tipped Minnesota, too. The state has a large population of the rural white voters without college degrees who disproportionately support the President, even as urban, nonwhite and college-educated voters trend in the opposite direction. Minnesota was also the origin point for the summers racial justice protests after Minneapolis police killed George Floyd, sparking a worldwide movement. Trumps hopes depend on whether these trends intensify or reverse. That could make Minnesota the bellwether for the clashing political forces of the Trump era.

President Donald Trump speaks to supporters during a rally at the Bemidji Regional Airport in Ohio on Sept. 18, 2020. Stephen Maturen/Getty Images

No Republican presidential candidate has won Minnesota since 1972. But Trump outperformed expectations to come within 1.5 points in 2016, and his campaign has touted Minnesota as one of its top 2020 pickup targets. Like its Midwestern neighbors, the state has seen its rural areas trend increasingly Republican even as its urban and suburban areas increasingly vote Democratic. Nineteen counties in whats known as greater Minnesotaa term used to refer to areas outside the Twin Cities region, or non-urban areas more generallyflipped from supporting Barack Obama in 2012 to Trump in 2016, even as Hillary Clinton improved on Obamas margins in Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Story continues

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Its sort of a microcosm of the country: as the urban centers get more radical blue, it pushes everyone out here in Greater Minnesota into Trumps column and into my column, says Jason Lewis, the Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Democrat Tina Smith. A former one-term congressman and talk-radio host, Lewiss campaign signs say TRUMP ENDORSED.

Though Lewis is widely seen as a long-shot candidate, he says both he and Trump will benefit from a voter backlash to the protests over Floyds death, which consumed Minneapolis over the summer. The suburbs are coming back, dont get me wrong, because of the chaos, Lewis says. But theres 2.3 people in the metro [area]; theres 5.6 million in Minnesota.

Democrats, however, contend that Trump is likely to lose rather than gain ground in Minnesota this time around. Democratic turnout surged in the 2018 midterms, enabling the party to sweep the governorship and other statewide offices and flip the state House of Representatives. Biden has a 9-point lead in the polling average maintained by FiveThirtyEight. In the Duluth suburb of Hermantown on Friday, Biden emphasized his infrastructure proposals and kinship with working-class voters. I view this campaign as between Scranton and Park Avenue, he said, accusing Trump of favoring Wall Street.

President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at Bemidji Regional Airport in Bemidji, Minn., Sept. 18, 2020 Evan VucciAP

The themes of Trumps speech in Bemidji underscored the widening cultural and demographic gap between urban and rural Minnesota. The President repeatedly cited the Minneapolis protests, which he described as far-left rioters rampaging across Minneapolis, as well as the city councils subsequent attempt to get rid of the police force. (A proposal to change the city charter to allow replacing the current police department has been delayed and will not go before voters this November.) Trump also accused Biden of wanting to flood Minnesota with refugees from the most dangerous places in the world, and singled out Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Minneapolis Democrat and former Somali refugee, for particular opprobrium.

Northern Minnesotas Iron Range was once a Democratic bastion thanks to the labor unions whose members worked in its mining industry, which is the source of 85% of American steel production. Democrats hold on the region has weakened as they increasingly embrace socially liberal positions, as well as environmental policies that would stifle the areas extractive industries, including mining, logging and a controversial Northern Minnesota oil pipeline.

But like other Midwestern states, Minnesotas demographic trend lines appear to cut against Trump. The states overwhelmingly white rural areas are losing population, while its diverse, educated cities and suburbs continue to grow. For that reason, most analysts believe the polls are right and Trump is an underdog to win the state.

Theres certainly a chance Trump wins Minnesota, but how much of a chance is the question, says Larry Jacobs, a political scientist at the University of Minnesota. Trump is very strong in the northern part of the state, but his problem is that its just not where most of the votes are.
FAIRFIELD  Sacred Heart University officials indicated the school could suspend in-person classes if the rate of new coronavirus infections continues to climb.

The numbers speak for themselves, SHU President John Petillo said in a video message to the university community Monday.

Petillo said the school could not continue to operate business as usual, noting some students have opted to learn remotely, while some parents are calling for the university to suspend in-person classes.

Data from the universitys public dashboard Tuesday afternoon showed 15 new cases of COVID-19 reported in the last 24 hours.

Are you a Connecticut student going to college during the COVID-19 pandemic? We want to hear about your experience. Email us at tips@ctnews.com

The university reported 114 active cases as of Monday, the most recent testing data available. Of those, 92 are among students living off campus, 22 are among students living on campus.

Petillo said the school has heard reports of gatherings happening on and off campus.

Fairfield Police spokesman Lt. Antonio Granata said the department has not received any reports of off-campus parties in the past several weeks.

Petillo said the school has learned of gatherings through its silent witness program, which collects anonymous complaints regarding safety or security concerns. The program pre-dates the COVID-19 pandemic.

Students at Fairfield and Sacred Heart universities face a 30-day suspension if they are caught holding a large gathering and expulsion if caught a second time.

Petillo urged students to avoid contact with anyone outside of their roommates.

I know these requests may seem unusually harsh, but again, we are at a real point of decision about the future of the semester on ground, he said. We need to turn the tide and get the spread of the virus under control.

Late Monday, SHU officials said two new cases had emerged at Toussaint, a residence hall, marking the fourth dorm to have active cases.

More than a dozen of the active cases are at Merton Hall. The university has ordered students living there to quarantine and only leave their rooms to use their assigned restroom, after a students positive test was mislabeled by the lab.

We still need more data before we can make a final decision on the quarantine in Merton. We hope to be able to do that very soon, SHU officials said Monday in a message to the community.

To give residents of the hall time outside, the school said it would allow them to eat their meals on blankets on a nearby hill with their roommates for up to one hour.

On Tuesday, Fairfield University reported 17 new cases, all among students, within the last five days. (The school updates its COVID-19 dashboard twice a week on Tuesdays and Fridays).

Fairfield has reported 60 cases since the start of September, the schools data shows.

In response, the school said last week it would be restricting guests at dorms to only students living in the same housing community, and moving to grab and go dining. The school also placed restrictions on two recreation facilities and said it would be enforcing masks and hand-washing.

The new cases in Fairfield and Bridgeport stand in stark contrast to the University of Connecticuts campus in Storrs, where fewer cases have emerged in recent days following weeks of mounting cases.

On Tuesday, the school reported two new infections among students on campus who were already in quarantine. No new cases were reported among students living off-campus near Storrs, marking the second consecutive day of zero new off-campus cases.

Earlier in the month, university and local health officials quarantined UConn students at an entire apartment complex off-campus in order to stem the spread there.

University officials said that effort has paid off  claiming the data shows the virus prevalence among students living in The Oaks on the Square apartments has fallen by half.

The school currently has 54 positive cases on campus, and has recorded 60 cases off-campus since mid-September. No new cases were reported among the schools four other campuses or among staff as of Tuesday.

Around the state, Central Connecticut State University in New Britain announced last week that it would cancel spring break next year and instead move the start of the spring semester back by a week.

Yale University in New Haven reported two new cases on Sunday after several days without new infections, according to the schools public dashboard. New Haven officals said two students tested positive earlier in the semester attending a talk by a visiting professor who later tested positive as well.

Southern Connecticut State University, also in New Haven, reported four new cases last week two among commuter students, one among employees, and one among residential students. The school has recorded 15 cases in total.

The University of New Haven reported one new case, a residential student, last week.

Connecticut College in New London reported one new case last week. The school currently has two active cases, both among students.
Alicante, Spain All over the world youll find communities where your dollars buy moresafe, pretty, welcoming towns and cities where most Americans would be shockedpleasantly, mind youto discover that on a budget of $30,000 they can live really well.

All over the world youll find communities where your dollars buy moresafe, pretty, welcoming towns and cities where most Americans would be shockedpleasantly, mind youto discover that on a budget of $30,000 they can live really well, says Jennifer Stevens, Executive editor, International Living.

Were talking about $2,500 a month for a couple to enjoy a comfortable apartment or home, utilities and phone, health insurance and care, groceries, dining out, and extras, too. All across the US its not unusual to need at least twice that to bankroll a truly comfortable existence.

Yet in attractive towns and cities like Nosara, Costa Rica right on the Pacific Coast or Lucca, Italy an hour west of Florence in Tuscany or Vung Tau, Vietnam where surfers flockon $30,000 a year, instead of counting every penny, you could relax and enjoy life, as expats based there already are.

International Livings editors recently curated a report that explores 75 of The Worlds Best Towns and Cities for a Low-Cost Retirementall situated in countries represented on ILs annual Global Retirement Index.

Culled from that larger list, this grouping of 10 great-value escapes where a couple can live well for $30,000 a year (or less) offers options for potential expats on a budget in Europe, Latin American and Southeast Asia.

We chose these 10 great-value towns to illustrate that good options exist on a $30,000-a-year budget, no matter what your taste may bebeach town, inland, bigger cities, and smaller towns, says Stevens.

International Livings picks for 10 Surprising Towns and Cities Where $30,000 Can Fund a Good Life includes:

Granada, Spain

Reams of poetry and prose have been written about Granadathis city is genuinely beautiful. It still breathes romance.

Its hilly location, with the towers of the Alhambra looming over all, is superb. Across from and around the Alhambra lie the winding streets of the medieval Moorish quarter, the Albaicin, with its stone houses and flower-bedecked balconies.

The city is popular with European tourists. The upside to that, is that folks are more likely to find more locals in the service sectorsuch as waiters and shop attendantswho speak some English. And thanks to the many young tourists, Granada has an attractively youthful ambience, a lively bar and tapas scene, and plenty of good eats and lodgings at affordable prices.

Here a couple can live well on a monthly budget of $ 2,476, or $29,712 a year.

Prague, Czech Republic

Prague, in central Europe, is 100% authentic. The city was essentially undamaged by World War II and, thus, the streets are crammed with buildings that span the entirety of the architectural movements in Europe over the last thousand yearsRomanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque, up through Cubism, Stalinist, and Post-1989.

And yet, it isnt some kind of cultural Disneyland. Prague is an increasingly modern city, with all the creature comforts of the US. Its home to a diverse food scene, a high standard of living, high-quality healthcare, an expansive arts culture, parks big and small, and endless opportunities for walking and exploring.

Prague is a wonderful city to call homefolks are close to so much in terms of weekend getaways or longer trips. The lifestyle is relaxing. The city is eye-candy pretty much everywhere you go.

Best of all, Prague offers an affordable lifestyle. A couple can live the good life here on a budget of $1,900 a month, or $22,800 a year.

Lucca, Italy

Sometimes overlooked by tourists who are understandably caught up in the museums and other attractions of Florence, the ancient city of Lucca is well worth a visit in its own right. It is perfect for a day trip but it is also a great base from which to explore Pisa and Sienna to the south, Versilia and the coast to the west, or the Apuan Alps of northern Tuscany.

This convenient central location in Tuscany has caused Lucca some grief in its over 2,000 years of history, but being the center of many conflicts from Roman times all the way to the 16th century and beyond gave rise to Luccas most distinctive architectural feature: the impressive stone walls that surround and enclose the historic district of this fascinating Italian town.

Depending on where folks choose to live, a couple can live comfortably here on a monthly budget of $2,100, or $25,200 a year.

Nosara, Costa Rica

Nosara is a haven for surfers, yoga enthusiasts, and practitioners of alternative health and wellness who come from all over the world. The original fishing village has been surrounded by modern development, including shops, boutiques, homes from luxury to basic, and restaurants tucked away in the forest that blankets the area, although it remains low-key. There are no large hotels or resorts or tall condo towers here. In fact, building along much of the shore is not allowed due to a large wildlife refuge that protects nesting sea turtles. The arrival of thousands of sea turtles laying their eggs on the communitys beaches is a big tourist draw.

The main beaches in the area include Playa Guiones, a surfers paradise, and Playa Pelada, a scenic family beach. Playa Ostional further to the north is the main nesting beach for the endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles, and is protected in the Ostional National Reserve. Most of the expat communities, homes, and developments are in Guiones and Pelada.

A couple can enjoy the coast for $2,000 a month, or $24,000 a year.

Braga, Portugal

Like so many cities in Portugal, Bragas history was influenced by Roman occupation, and the citys architecture and landscape vividly recall those ancient days. Considered the oldest city in Portugal, Braga lies approximately 21 miles due east of the beach and windsurfing destination of Esposende, in the countrys north.

The centerpiece of the town is the large plaza in the downtown area, with a grand fountain, the cathedral, a few museums, bookstores, restaurants, and shops all on a primarily pedestrian promenade. The cathedral, or Se as they are known in Portugal, is the seat of a diocese that dates back to the third century AD; the building itself dates to the eleventh century. This is a university town, which means many of the younger folks speak English and the shopkeepers and restaurant owners cater to tourists, which makes it a relatively easy spot for expats to settle.

A couple could live well here for $2,050 a month, or $24,600 a year.

Ravenna, Italy

Art, history, culture, and beautyRavenna has it all. The only thing it doesnt have is crowds. It is classy and elegant, yet theres nothing austere about it. The city retains its Old World Italy appeal but mixes it up with a modern vibe; contemporary structures blend in with the old, even in the historic quarter. Ravenna has a sunny disposition about it with pastel-tinged stucco and portico-punctuated buildings.

Ravenna draws travelers to its stunning Byzantine mosaics that are a UNESCO World Heritage site. They show how the city was a bridge between Europe and the eastern world. But Ravenna largely remains off the expat radar, which is strange, because the city of 165,000 residents has dozens of museums and monuments, along with a vibrant velvet-draped theater and a healthy literary life, as well.

Here, a couple can live a cultured retirement on $1,517 a month, or $18,204 a year.

Mazatlan, Mexico

With a long history of welcoming immigrants, this mid-size city on Mexicos west coast offers visitors more than the standard golden trio of great weather, reasonable prices, and a stunningly beautiful location. Mazatlan is one of Mexicos few colonial towns actually on the coast, with miles of beautiful beaches, a thriving year-round cultural scene, fantastic fresh seafood, and a friendly community of local people and expats.

Recent renovations of the city have made it even more attractive, with two elegant oceanfront parks, a completely re-done Centro Historico, an easier-to-navigate path and glass-floored lookout at El Faro (the highest lighthouse in the world), and a beautified malecon, the 12-mile boardwalk along the glittering Pacific Ocean that now features Mazatlans first bicycle path.

A couple can enjoy a seaside retirement on $1,060 a month, or $12,720 a year.

Salento, Colombia

Salento is a quaint pueblo (town) in Colombias Andes Mountain coffee region. With a population of only 8,000, the town covers just 12 by 10 blocks. Like many Colombian pueblos, life centers around the main squarePlaza de Bolivar. Our Lady of Carmen church is the main focal point and towers over the palm trees, flowering plants, rustic benches, and of course, the statue of Simon Bolivar.

On weekends the plaza becomes a marketplace filled with food stalls, souvenir vendors, and pop-up restaurants. Walk a few blocks from Plaza Bolivar and youll be out in the countryside, surrounded by coffee fields, rolling green hills, cattle ranches, and distant mountains.

Here, a couple can live a relaxed retirement on $1,030  $1,280 a month, or $12,360-$15,360 a year.

Vung Tau, Vietnam

The pretty city of Vung Tau has been welcoming sun worshipers to its beaches since 1870. Its close enough to Ho Chi Minh City to play host to a good number of weekend visitors who come here to frolic in the water, play in the sand, fly their kites, and enjoy the ocean breezes. Surfers come here to take advantage of the waves, and joggers like the area for its nearly perfect year-round weather. Seafood aficionados love the many outstanding restaurants, and everyone adores the laidback vibe.

Vung Taus population of about 527,000 people includes several thousand westerners who have made the city their home. Americans and Australians make up the bulk of expatriates. Though many of them are retired, a few expats have opened small restaurants, bars, and other businesses.

Here, a couple can live well on $1,348 a month, or $16,176 a year.

Alicante, Spain

Alicante lies on the Costa Blanca, a 120-mile stretch along Spains eastern Mediterranean coast. But Alicante is the provincial capital, the largest city, and the communications hub for this entire coast.

Its a charming city, and a convenient place to retire. Alicantes old town, or Casco Historico, which lies close to the sea, is a neighborhood of winding streets, shops, and a wealth of restaurants, with the towering hulk of the castle of Santa Barbara at its north end. Beyond the seaside and the old city lie modern neighborhoods of apartment buildings, shady parks, andjust a 10-minute walk from the seathe Mercado Central, the citys daily indoor market.

On a monthly budget of $1,985, or $23,820 a year, a couple can enjoy a coastal retirement.

More information on 75 of the best towns and cities for retirement around the world in 2020 can be found, here: The Worlds Best Towns and Cities for a Low-Cost Retirement

Editor's Note: Members of the media have permission to republish the article linked above once credit is given to Internationalliving.com

Further information, as well as interviews with expert authors for radio, TV or print, is available on request. Photos are also available.

For information about InternationalLiving.com content republishing, source material or to book an interview with one of our experts, contact PR Managing Editor, Marita Kelly, +001 667 312 3532, mkelly@internationalliving.com

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About International Living

Since 1979, InternationalLiving.com has been the leading authority for anyone looking for global retirement or relocation opportunities. Through its monthly magazine and related e-letters, extensive website, podcasts, online bookstore, and events held around the world, InternationalLiving.com provides information and services to help its readers live better, travel farther, have more fun, save more money, and find better business opportunities when they expand their world beyond their own shores. InternationalLiving.com has more than 200 contributors traveling the globe, investigating the best opportunities for travel, retirement, real estate, and investment.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has obtained a letter rogatory for an investigation into the flow of funds into Vijay Mallyas accounts for evidence in the trial the businessman faces in two cheating and fraud cases in India. Courts of one country seek the assistance of the courts in another for the administration of justice there through letters rogatory.

The CBI has said it has reasons to believe that the loans Mallya availed from Indian banks were diverted and invested in companies based in countries like the US, UK, and Switzerland. It has called the funds lying in accounts associated with Mallya in such countries as the proceeds of crime.

Also read: SC asks Centre to clear stand on winding up of Mallyas United Breweries Holdings Limited

Mallya is among those who have fled India in recent years to escape prosecution including in loan defaults cases. He lost an appeal in Britains High Court in April against a 2018 decision to extradite him to India to face fraud charges linked to the collapse of his defunct company Kingfisher Airlines. Kingfisher is alleged to have taken loans with no intention of repaying them.

The CBI obtained the letter on Monday from a special court to ascertain the utilisation of funds received in an account with the American First Commerce Bank (now Pacific Premier Bank) from December 2007 to March 2009. It has sought evidence related to $20 million remitted by Airbus SAS (France) in June 2008 and over $5 million from the State Bank of Mauritius, etc.

The agency has said loans Mallya and his now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines availed from IDBI Bank, State Bank of India, and other consortium banks were diverted for purposes other than those avowed to the banks.

Kingfisher Airlines was incurring losses from its inception. It faced net losses of Rs 2,168 crores in the financial year that ended in March 2009. By 2009, Kingfisher had availed loans worth Rs 4,998.50 crore from various banks.

As the consortium of banks sought to recover the dues, Mallya left India for the UK. The CBI initiated a probe against Mallya, Kingfisher Airlines, and IDBI bank officials in 2015 for cheating and conspiracy to dupe banks. The Enforcement Directorate is probing money laundering charges against Mallya.

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President Donald Trump said that he will be announcing his pick for the Supreme Court probably this weekend.

Could have been earlier but Trump wanted to wait until the memorial services for the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg are done.

Ginsburg passed away on Friday, September 18 due to pancreatic cancer. She was 87 years old.

Trump discussed it during an interview on "Fox & Friends."

According to the U.S. president, he is considering four or five women to take the high court seat vacated by Ginsburg.

The two women who top Trump's list are appeals court judges Barbara Lagoa and Amy Coney Barrett.

Trump described Lagoa as someone excellent and that she comes from a politically important state-Florida.

The 52-year-old federal appellate court judge is a Cuban American who was born in Miami.

Barrett, on the other hand, was a runner-up to Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh whom the president nominated in 2018.

Trump had said that he wants a confirmation vote before the November 3 general election wherein he is running for re-election.

He added that the final vote should be done before the presidential election as there is still plenty of time.

The Democrats, however, had vowed to block Trump's replacement for Ginsburg because they wanted the Supreme Court seat to be left open until after the election.

They argued that the lifetime appointment should be done by whoever is victorious on November 3. This is the same argument that the Republicans used back in 2016 when a Supreme Court seat also became vacant just before the election. They had blocked Barack Obama's nominee.

Trump also said during his interview that the Supreme Court issue would be good for Republicans who are seeking re-election.

Not all Republican officials, however, agree with the president as Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska have said that there should no Supreme Court nomination vote in the middle of an election.

Trump's supporters have also waded in on the issue. During the Saturday rally in North Carolina, they had chanted "Fill That Seat!"

Trump's campaign is now printing the phrase on T-shirts that they are selling on their website.

There is also the matter of Ginsburg's dying wish which was revealed by her family.

They said that Ginsburg had dictated a statement to her granddaughter that she fervently wishes that she will not be replaced until after a new president is elected.

Trump, however, has casted doubt on Ginsburg's dying wish. He added that it sounded like something that would be written by Representative Nancy Pelosi or Adam Schiff or Chuck Schumer.

Schiff had denied Trump's statement on social media and vowed that he would fight to make Ginsburg's dying wish come true.

Schumer, for his part, said that he would also lead efforts to defeat the president's nomination.

Pelosi, on the other hand, is not ruling out impeaching Trump just to delay the Supreme Court nomination.

Check these out:

Barbara Lagoa, Miami-Born Woman Judge, Being Considered by Trump for the Supreme Court

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg: The Defender of Latinos and Immigrants

United Airlines, Unions Urge Congress to Continue COVID-19 Relief Aid
DETROIT - Dermatology researchers at Henry Ford Health System, in collaboration with a team at the University of Michigan, have demonstrated that certain N95 respirators tainted with COVID-19 can be effectively and safely decontaminated for reuse using ultraviolet-C light (UV-C), a method commonly utilized for treating rare skin diseases.

Researchers say the outside and inside of the facemasks were decontaminated in a prototype phototherapy unit that dispenses a UV-C dosing level high enough to effectively kill the virus in less than two minutes while still preserving the facemask's breathability, fit and overall integrity.

Of the five N95s used at Henry Ford and tested for the coronavirus in the study, the decontamination process worked best on two models - facepieces on 3M 1860 and Moldex 1511 and straps on 3M 8210 and Moldex 1511. The effects of the dosage varied on the other tested models and their straps, suggesting that the UV-C radiation can degrade them. Researchers say wiping the straps with ethanol before decontamination would likely be required as an additional disinfection step in the process to maximize the wearer's safety.

Researchers emphasized that fit testing be required each time a disinfected facemask is returned for use or a new model is being worn for the first time.

The research, conducted in partnership with the University of Michigan, is published in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases.

"Our findings reveal a practical, and viable option should hospitals encounter shortages of N95s in the future," says David Ozog, M.D., chair of Henry Ford's Department of Dermatology in Detroit and the study's lead author. "Using UV-C has been shown to be effective in killing other coronaviruses and the flu virus. We were able to replicate that sterilization effectiveness with COVID-19."

Ozog stressed that facemask sterilization should only be used in severe shortages of N95s.

Testing of the N95s for decontamination was performed at U-M's SARS-CoV-2 research lab in Ann Arbor.

"When Dr. Ozog approached us about helping to demonstrate the effectiveness of their UV sterilization procedure with live SARS-CoV-2 virus, we immediately agreed and understood that we could provide some confidence to their healthcare workers that this procedure was effective," says Jonathan Sexton, Ph.D., assistant professor of Internal Medicine and director of the U-M Center for Drug Repurposing and a study co-author.

The research culminated the work of a team of dermatologists and researchers who have devoted more than 400 hours since the pandemic hit Michigan to investigating how phototherapy - a type of medical treatment used for treating certain skin conditions - could serve a role in the global health emergency. The Henry Ford team includes Henry Lim, M.D., and Iltefat Hamzavi, M.D., both of whom are internationally recognized for their expertise using phototherapy for treating rare skin diseases like vitiligo and hidradenitis suppurativa.

The team's focus centered on the potential of decontamination contaminated N95s for reuse by healthcare workers. They examined the reliability of the prototype unit and ultraviolet light, the minimum dosage needed for decontamination, the importance of fit testing post-decontamination and four common methods associated with facemask decontamination.

The pandemic exposed a critical flaw in the global PPE supply chain as the health care industry struggled to obtain supplies of N95s, other facemask types, gowns, gloves and face shields. As a result, decontaminating N95s to be reused safely became essential for many health care systems and providers until new shipments of supplies arrived. Henry Ford decontaminated thousands of N95s and returned them to their user for reuse in the first couple months of the pandemic.

"The beginning of the pandemic was physically and mentally overwhelming for everyone. We desperately wanted to help our front-line workers, who were crushed with COVID-19 cases at Henry Ford," Dr. Ozog says.

UV-C is one of the four methods considered for facemask decontamination. It is well known for its ability to penetrate the DNA of bacteria and microorganisms and prevent them from multiplying or replicating. Previous research has shown UV-C to be effective at killing the flu virus as well two other well- known coronaviruses: severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS-CoV). Whether it could work on the novel COVID-19 virus was previously unknown.

Henry Ford's phototherapy unit was modified with the help of engineers at Daavlin Co., a phototherapy manufacturer based in Bryan, Ohio. It sits on a flat surface and is about five feet long. The decontamination field measures 15 inches deep by 45 inches long - plenty room to treat up to 27 facemasks at one time. The ultraviolet light is powered by at least 10 but not more than 20 UV-C lamps.

For the study, five types of N95s used at Henry Ford were tested at the U-M BSL3 biosafety lab. The respirators were contaminated with four drops of the COVID-19 virus taken from viral stocks obtained from the federal government's Biodefense and Emergency Infections Research Resources Repository. The virus droplets were placed in four areas: nosepiece, apex, chin and strap.

The facemasks were kept dry in a biosafety cabinet at room temperature for 40 minutes. Then they were moved to the phototherapy unit for decontamination using a dose of 1.5 J/cm2 ultraviolet light radiation - at a wavelength of 254 nanometers - to each side of the mask for about 60 seconds. Ultraviolet radiation is measured in three wavelengths: UV-C, UV-B and UV-A. UV-B and UV-A are associated with skin cancer and are also used in the treatment of some dermatologic diseases such as vitiligo and psoriasis.

Indermeet Kohli, Ph.D, a Henry Ford dermatology physicist, developed a formula by which the UV-C dose delivered to the exterior and interior parts of the facemasks can be assessed for decontamination and safe use. She says the curvature of the facemask and the distance between its surface and the lamps are crucial factors in achieving the proper dosage.

"It is imperative that this type of assessment be performed to make sure that the decontamination process is done properly," Dr. Kohli says. "Failure to do so could result in catastrophic consequences for the front-line healthcare workers."

The effectiveness of decontamination was measured in analytical chemistry terms by the limit of detection (LOD) and no cytopathic effect (CPE). LOD is the minimum concentration of a component that can be reliably detected. CPE means the virus yielded no infectious properties.

All five facepieces had below LOD and no CPE but some had traces of the virus on their straps, according to the research.

Researchers cautioned that none of the N95s tested were visibly soiled. Most health systems including Henry Ford prohibit the reuse of soiled N95s.

In a Letter to the Editor published in Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine, Shanthi Narla, M.D., a Henry Ford dermatology fellow, urged caution about using UV-C decontamination due to the variety of N95s in use across the country. "This process should only be considered as a risk mitigation effort during severe shortages," she wrote.

In a demonstration of the prototype unit, the facemasks are placed on a stainless-steel tray, separated by autoclave tape to keep them from touching each other. Once one side of the facemask is treated, it's flipped over to perform a separate decontamination. Researchers say any visibly soiled masks should not be treated but rather properly disposed as medical waste.

"Considering that many healthcare providers are using substitutes for N95s that offer very limited degree of protection, using (UV-C) and repurposing phototherapy devices could be the best practical solution at this time," Dr. Hamzavi wrote in Letter to the Editor published online in JAAD.

Researchers stressed that not all N95s are created equal and may not withstand decontamination. Degrading may occur in the facemask's outer surface and the elasticity of the bands. Thus, researchers underscored the importance of fit-testing after decontamination in a study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. Health care workers are fit-tested every year with their N95 to ensure a proper fit and no air can penetrate the outer edges.

UV-C is one of the four common methods used in health care to sterilize N95s. Hydrogen peroxide vaporization, microwave generated steaming and dry heating also have shown to be effective in varying degrees. UV-C and HPV are also commonly used for disinfecting patient care units, surgical suites and intensive care units in the health care setting. Only the UV-C method was used in the Henry Ford study.

Researchers strike a cautionary tone for N95 decontamination no matter the method.

"Given the current COVID-19 pandemic, extreme measures are needed to keep those on the front line protected," says Angela Torres, M.D., a Henry Ford dermatology fellow and lead author in a study published online in Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences. "These options are cost effective, quick to employ and have the potential to save many lives and valuable resources."

However, Dr. Torres says, discarding a contaminated disposable N95 after a single use is "still ideal."

###

MEDIA CONTACT: David Olejarz / David.Olejarz@hfhs.org / 313.303.0606

About Henry Ford Health System

Under the leadership of President and CEO Wright L. Lassiter, III, Henry Ford Health System is a $6.5 billion integrated health system comprised of six hospitals, a health plan, and 250+ sites including medical centers, walk-in and urgent care clinics, pharmacy, eye care facilities and other healthcare retail.

Established in 1915 by auto industry pioneer Henry Ford, the health system now has 32,000 employees and remains home to the 1,900-member Henry Ford Medical Group, one of the nation's oldest physician groups. An additional 2,200 physicians are also affiliated with the health system through the Henry Ford Physician Network.

Henry Ford is also one of the region's major academic medical centers, receiving more than $100 million in annual research funding and remaining Michigan's fourth largest NIH-funded institution. An active participant in medical education and training, the health system has trained nearly 40% of physicians currently practicing in the state and also provides education and training for other health professionals including nurses, pharmacists, radiology and respiratory technicians. For more information, visit henryford.com.
The US Secret Service investigating arrests in Toledo, Ohio, before Trump rally (iStock)

Two people were arrested at an Ohio airport with shovels, a gun and 200 rounds of ammunition before Donald Trumps rally in the city.

The FBI and Secret Service are now reportedly helping with the investigation into John Davison and Vicki Davison.

John Davison, 38, and Vicki Davison, 33, both of Virginia Beach, Virginia, face a string of charges including making terrorist threats, carrying a concealed weapon, inducing panic and criminal trespass.

They were both arrested behind Toledo Executive Airport in Lake Township, Ohio, which is a reliever airport for the citys main Toledo Express Airport 22 miles away across the city.

That airport in Swanton, Ohio, was where the president was holding his latest rally.

Police were called when a witness reported seeing two people get out of a car and walking on railroad tracks.

When they were arrested police found two shovels, a Glock pistol with an extended magazine, 200 rounds of ammunition and four tourniquets.

Lake Township Police Chief told the Sentinel-Tribune newspaper that officer ha searched the pairs rental car and found several items that were suspicious in nature but described those as odd items, but nothing illegal.

Chief Hummer told the paper that John Davison had been cited by police in Walbridge, Ohio, on Sunday night for criminal trespass.

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Sparkling wine has a significant content of carbon dioxide in it which gives it a sparkling quality and are sourced from the fermentation of grapes. Sparkling wine represents the fastest growing wine category and has witnessed massive growth in recent years.

Consumption of sparkling is considered a status symbol which is increasingly permeating/percolating among the global populace. Increasing alcohol-consuming population, increasing disposable income, and growing realization of the health benefits associated with the consumption of wine have resulted in additional demand within the global sparkling wine market.

Rigorous marketing and promotional activities by winemakers have resulted in increased brand awareness which is expected to create lucrative opportunities for market growth. In addition, the growing sale of sparkling wine through online channel has created online presence and raised awareness among consumers. Innovation in design, flavor, quality, packaging, along with rapid product developments and launches has reflected favorably on the growth of the global Sparkling Wine Market Analysis. In contrast, sparkling wine represents the premium category of wines and are more popular among niche consumers. The price of sparkling wines is slightly on the higher side which restricts market growth in price sensitive markets. Additionally, growing health consciousness has resulted in a decline in the consumption of alcoholic beverages. Besides, the production of sparkling wine is subject to regulatory monitoring and heavy taxes levied on them can constrain the market growth significantly. Furthermore, an increase in the prevalence of liver and heart diseases has also had a negative impact on the sales of sparkling wine.

Segmentation

The global sparkling wine market has been segmented based on type and distribution channel.

By type, the global sparkling wine market has been segmented into white, rose, and red.

By distribution channel, the global sparkling wine market has been segmented into food service and retail. The retail segment has been further segmented into supermarkets and hypermarkets, specialty stores, and others.

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Regional Analysis

By region, the global sparkling wine market has been segmented into Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), North America, and the Rest of the World (RoW).

Europe is domineering the global sparkling wine market. Europe is the largest producer of wine in the world and domestically produces as well as consumes huge volume of wine. The inherent tradition of consumption of wine across Europe is a major factor contributing to the growth of the market. Elevating standards of living, growing per capita income and increase in promotional and marketing activities spur the demand for sparkling wine in the region. Furthermore, expansion of the packaging industry along with innovation in packaging is stimulating the growth of the Europe market.

North America market is driven by high investment and celebrity endorsements in the region which creates opportunities for market expansion over the forecast period. However, heavy taxation and stringent regulations restrain the growth of the market to some extent.

APAC market accounts for a substantial share of the global sparkling wine market and is expected to demonstrate rapid growth in the years to come. Rapid urbanization, growing sophistication, and rise in the standard of living in the region, especially in countries such as India, Malaysia, and Indonesia are driving the growth of the APAC sparkling wine market. Additionally, the presence of large number of vineyards in Australia acts as a plus for the growth of the market.

Competitive Landscape

Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (Australia), The Sparkling Wine Co. (UK), Pernod Ricard (France), Moet Hennessy USA (US), Freixenet (Spain), Constellation Brands, Inc. (US), Illinois Sparkling Co. (US), E. & J. Gallo Winery (US), Bronco Wine Co. (US), and California Champagnes (US) are the noteworthy players in the global sparkling wine market.

Industry Updates

In December 2018, Henkell Freixenet, the global leader in sparkling wine, added a new alcohol-free sparkling wine to its namesake portfolio. The new alcohol-free sparkling wine is made using a low-temperature distillation system which keeps the natural aroma of grapes intact. The product is launched in white and rose variants.

In November 2018, House of Saka, Inc., a veteran of the adult beverage industry, launched the first-ever luxury line of cannabis-infused, alcohol-free wines. Saka's Sparkling Brut Rose and still Rose wines are sourced from Napa Valley, the world's foremost wine growing region.

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Note : Our team of researchers are studying Covid-19 and its impact on various industry verticals and wherever required will be considering covid19 footprints for a better analysis of markets and industries. Cordially get in touch for more details.

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BEIJING, Sept. 22 -- The newly released white paper, titled Chinas Armed Forces: 30 Years of UN Peacekeeping Operations, mentioned a series of important achievements China has made in fulfilling related commitments over the past five years.

Senior Colonel Cai Hui, an associate professor with the School of International Relations of the National University of Defense Technology and a senior instructor with the Center for Peacekeeping Affairs under the Ministry of National Defense (MND), summarized six highlights regarding the participation of the Chinese armed forces in the United Nations peacekeeping operations (UNPKOs) in an interview last Friday.

Over the past five years, the composition of Chinas peacekeeping forces has expanded from a single service to multiple services and arms, their missions have transformed from mere logistics support to comprehensive multi-function, and the operational objectives extended from stopping armed conflicts to building lasting peace. In all, their peacekeeping capabilities have been further improved, stated Senior Colonel Cai Hui.

China has completed the establishment of an 8,000-troop peacekeeping standby force. Rapid deployment of peacekeeping forces means greater opportunities to maintain peace and protect life. China fully supports the UN in developing the Peacekeeping Capability Readiness System (PCRS) and reinforcing peacekeeping operations rapid deployment capacity. At present, China has completed the registration of a UN peacekeeping standby force with 8,000 troops, which has 28 units in ten categories, including 7 PCRS Level 2 standby units and 6 PCRS Level 3standby units. China has topped the other countries in the world with the largest number of peacekeeping standby troops and the fullest range of professional contingents.

China has dispatched more support personnel to participate in UN peacekeeping operations. After the Leaders Summit on Peacekeeping in 2015, China responded actively to the UN call for more enabler assets including engineering and medical capabilities. Twenty-five rotations of engineer and medical units totaling 7,001 troops have been committed to missions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), South Sudan, Sudans Darfur, Mali, and Lebanon. As of August 2020, six Chinese engineer detachments of 1,188 troops and four medical detachments of 199 troops are serving on UN peacekeeping missions.

China has fulfilled the mission of offering training courses for foreign peacekeepers. In the past five years, China has provided 20 training programs to over 1,500 peacekeepers from more than 60 countries, including training courses for civilian protection, senior mission officials, trainers, military professionals, and female officers. The Chinese armed forces has trained more than 300 demining professionals from countries including Cambodia, Laos, Ethiopia, Sudan, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The Chinese Ministry of Public Security has also trained more than 1,000 peacekeeping police officers from multiple countries.

China has provided free military aid to the African Union (AU). Africa has the greatest need for peacekeeping. To help African countries improve their own capability to maintain peace and stability, and provide African solutions to African issues, the Chinese armed forces has been proactive in fulfilling Chinas commitment of gratis military aid of USD100 million for the AU to support setting up the African Standby Force and the African Capacity for Immediate Response to Crisis. Up to now, Chinese military has delivered the first installment of the aid including military equipment and supplies to the AU, has sent military experts to the AU to provide end-user training, and has agreed with the AU on the arrangement of the next aid installments.

China has sent the first peacekeeping helicopter unit for carrying out operations. Chinese military sent its first peacekeeping helicopter contingent with140 troops to the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) in August 2017. The contingent was composed of four medium multi-purpose helicopters and tasked with force delivery, operational support, search and rescue, medical evacuation, and logistic supply. It has become a pillar of the UN peacekeeping operations in Darfur.

China has established the China-UN Peace and Development Fund in support of the UNPKOs. To better support the UN efforts for peace and advance multilateral cooperation, China has established a China-UN Peace and Development Fund. From 2016 to 2019, the fund financed 52 peace and security projects to a total value of USD33.62 million. Twenty-three of these projects were in support of the UNPKOs, which cost USD10.38 million. The goals of these projects included strengthening coordination and planning of the UNPKOs, increasing African peacekeeping capacity, providing protection for peacekeepers, and improving peoples livelihood in Sudans Darfur, Mali and other mission areas.
The Expeditionary Sea Base USS Hershel Woody Williams (ESB 4) conducted a tracking exercise with the Royal Moroccan Navy in the Atlantic Ocean on Sept. 15, 2020.

The Expeditionary Sea Base USS Hershel Woody Williams (ESB 4) conducted a tracking exercise with the Royal Moroccan Navy in the Atlantic Ocean on Sept. 15, 2020.

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The Royal Moroccan Navy's Floreal-class Frigate Mohammed V conducts a training exercise with an MH-60S Seahawk helicopter, assigned to the "Ghost Riders" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 28, and the Expeditionary Sea Base USS Hershel "Woody" Williams (ESB 4) (not pictured) in the Atlantic Ocean, Sept. 15, 2020. Hershel "Woody" Williams is on its inaugural deployment in the U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa area of responsibility in support of maritime missions and special operations. (Picture source: U.S. Navy Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Conner Foy)

The Royal Moroccan Navy frigate Mohammed V worked with the regional Maritime Operations Center to track USS Hershel Woody Williams and simulate an interception and boarding off the Moroccan coast. The units conducted the exercise to build partner capacity and exercise Moroccan capabilities to track and intercept vessels of interest within the countrys Economic Exclusion Zone (EEZ).

The exercise also included simulated man overboard scenarios and communication links between the two vessels and an MH-60S helicopter, assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 28. U.S. Sailors with HSC-28 and U.S. Marines with II Marine Expeditionary Force (II MEF), embarked aboard Hershel Woody Williams, executed flight operations in support of the exercise, providing communications, visual imagery, and search and rescue (SAR) operations support.

The U.S. Navy routinely trains with allied and partner nations in order to enhance maneuverability capabilities and interoperability by establishing communication and safety standards that strengthen regional maritime security. This time, no boardings or personnel transfers were conducted during the training evolution as a precaution against COVID-19.

This exercise follows Moroccos participation in an air interoperability mission on Sept. 7. Four F-16s from the Moroccan Air Force participated in a training evolution alongside U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortresses and the Arleigh-Burke guided-missile destroyer USS Roosevelt (DDG 80) in the southern Mediterranean Sea.

Additionally, Morocco has hosted multiple major U.S. military exercises, including African Lion, the largest joint military exercise in Africa. Morocco will serve as host for African Lion in FY2021. Other U.S. military exercises Morocco participates in include Flintlock, Phoenix Express, and Obangame Express.

Hershel Woody Williams is on a regularly-scheduled deployment to the U.S. Naval Forces Africa area of operations and is a key element in integration between U.S. Navy and Marine Corps operations, especially Marine aviation and support to amphibious operations.

Other operations and training the ship can conduct include support to Special Operations, command and control, and staging of equipment and other assets, as directed. The ship will be a long-term presence assigned to the U.S. Africa Command mission set and will support security cooperation missions and operations in and around the African continent.

U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts joint and naval operations in order to support regional allies and partners and U.S. national security interests in Europe and Africa.
Film and television producer Haim Saban said in an exclusive interview with CNBC that he and his wife, Cheryl, plan to ramp up their campaign spending up and down the ballot to back Joe Biden and Democrats with just six weeks until Election Day.

The Sabans were relatively quiet with their contributions during the Democratic primary for president. They decided they would not get involved with the race for president until after Super Tuesday, as Haim Saban publicly opposed Sen. Bernie Sanders last year.

They also acknowledged that they are planning to move ahead with large investments into organizations looking to inform and educate voters on how best to vote by mail during the coronavirus pandemic. They made that commitment after CNBC pressed them on whether they're looking to contribute to such groups.

"From our view, we have done beyond what we have been asked to do and we continue what we are asked to do," Haim Saban said in a phone interview on Monday when discussing his contributions to help Democrats Senate candidates fighting in elections within key swing states.

"We are going to continue pushing and doing everything that's asked of us and then some," Saban said.

Their announcement of giving more toward competitive Senate races for Democrats follows the death of the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the ongoing battle on Capitol Hill on whether to move ahead with a new judicial nominee just before the election. The Senate confirms the president's Supreme Court nominations. President Donald Trump has vowed to move to fill the seat quickly.

Saban, CEO of investment firm Saban Capital Group, has given at least $2 million to the Senate Majority PAC throughout the 2020 election cycle, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics. The super PAC is dedicated to helping Democratic candidates running for Senate seats. Democrats raised at least $100 million in the days following Ginsburg's death, according to data from ActBlue.

Trump has said he will choose Ginsburg's potential replacement either Friday or Saturday. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell believes the Senate has enough time this year to confirm the presidents nominee. Saban called the decision to move ahead with the nomination process a "cynical catastrophe," citing McConnell's successful efforts to block President Barack Obama's pick to the Supreme Court in 2016, Merrick Garland, from receiving a hearing. McConnell said at the time that the Senate would not hold hearings for Garland because it should be the next president who chooses their preferred Supreme Court nominee.

There are at least seven Senate races in which Democrats are challenging vulnerable Republicans, including in Arizona, Maine, Colorado, North Carolina and Georgia. A Morning Consult poll taken after Ginsburg's death shows that half of the roughly 2,000 participants said the winner of the presidential election should choose the next Supreme Court justice.

Saban, who brought the "Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers" to the United States, said he and his wife are backing Biden in part because of his track record on supporting Israel and its alliance with the United States. Saban, an Israeli-American, said he also sides with Biden's support of a two-state solution between the Israelis and Palestinians.

When asked how they're looking to assist Biden, either through contributions to pro-Biden super PACs or other means, Saban told CNBC: "Every avenue available to every supporter, we will go down that path."

The Sabans, along with California Rep. Adam Schiff, hosted a virtual fundraiser earlier this month for Biden, with tickets at $500,000. The event raised $4.5 million.

The Sabans wouldn't give a top line total of how much they're looking to contribute down the campaign stretch. They gave over $16 million to Democrats running for federal office during the 2016 election, with most going toward supporting then Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, CRP data shows. At the time, they contributed millions to Priorities USA Action, a super PAC that backed Clinton and is now supporting Biden.

This cycle they've contributed just over $4 million to Democrats, records show. Haim Saban has a net worth of just under $3 billion, according to Forbes.

While Saban supports the Democratic Party, he has also has ties with Trump's son-in-law and senior advisor, Jared Kushner. Saban told CNBC that Kushner is one of four world leaders who should be given credit for putting together a diplomatic agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. Saban reportedly helped in the process of getting to a deal but insists his role was on the "periphery" and that the agreement came together after years of efforts on both sides. Saban was pictured attending the signing ceremony between Israeli, UAE, Bahrain and U.S. leaders at the White House earlier this month.

Still, when it comes to the campaign, Saban is looking to give Biden a boost to defeat Trump. Biden has had success fundraising already, making the media mogul's entrance into the money race an extra lift that will give the former vice president and the groups supporting him necessary cash to stay ahead of Trump.

Biden and his joint fundraising groups with Democratic National Committee finished raising $364 million in August. Trump and the Republican National Committee raised $210 million over that same period. Biden and his DNC fundraising committees went into September with $466 million on hand, a campaign aide confirmed to CNBC. Trump's campaign spokesman said last week on Twitter that the team, combined with the RNC, had $325 million on hand going into September.

After the story was first published, a spokeswoman for the couple told CNBC that the two combined to give $1.4 million in the third quarter to the Biden Victory Fund, a joint fundraising committee between Biden and the DNC. The filing for that committee does not become public until October.

Democratic super PACs backing Biden have largely combined to outspend committees supporting Trump.

Beyond helping Democrats, the Sabans are focusing on financially assisting outside groups that are looking to make an impact in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

With many states making mail-in ballots more accessible due to the pandemic, nonprofits and other organizations have been educating voters on how best to use the mail service as a way to vote. Saban said he and his wife are going to move ahead with giving through their foundation to similar groups in the coming weeks after CNBC asked whether they plan to support the larger vote-by-mail efforts across the country.

"We're going to get together with the head of our foundation after we hang up with you," Saban said about helping these groups. "This whole post office, voting by mail, voter suppression and all that. All these things, I imagine, could be determining factors on the outcome of the presidency. We are going to look at this right away and look to be helpful there." Many business leaders, including James and Kathryn Murdoch, have poured money into those types of groups.

"I think this is one of the best ways to give communities their chance to vote, when, especially now, it is very complicated for rural communities and senior citizens," Cheryl Saban, president of the Saban Family Foundation, said about mail-in voting.

Since the Covid-19 lockdown started, she said, they've contributed to a wide variety of groups that have focused on distributing food and aid to people affected by the coronavirus, especially those in marginalized communities. The groups that have seen their help over the last few months include Children Mending Hearts, Project Angel Food and Homeboy Industries.
SINGAPORE  Tensions are escalating in the Taiwan Strait and Beijing has been flexing its military might.

While a high-level U.S. State Department official visit to Taiwan last week angered China, it probably didn't cross any "red line," said Kelsey Broderick, China analyst at the Eurasia Group.

"Red lines are tricky, the only real red line we know from Beijing for certain is if Taiwan declares formal independence," Broderick told CNBC's "Squawk Box."

"However, anything that assumes or leans toward Taiwan sovereignty is maybe something of an orange line or a yellow line when it comes to China's relationship with Taiwan."

U.S. undersecretary of state for economic affairs, Keith Krach, visited Taiwan last week. It was the highest level visit to the island in decades, and came on the heels of another high-profile visit in August by U.S. Health Secretary Alex Azar.

The visits drew protests from China, which considers Taiwan as part of its territory that must one day be reunified with the mainland and therefore, has no right to participate in international diplomacy.

"For China, that was pretty escalatory in their view and something they were responding to. Was it a red line? Probably not," said Broderick.
W ith the eviction ban, and furlough likely to end, the country is facing a catastrophe of poverty, need and homelessness.

As a benefits adviser I know the system is failing. People are already in council tax debt because Universal Credit has failed as a catch-all benefit. Maximum backdating for all benefits needs to go back to the way it was  12 months at the very least. We face a bleak future if the Government doesnt address the benefits system, just as many new claimants join it.

I see little funding going to the advice centres that will pick up the pieces and actually save the UK billions. The country of the blind, eh!

Gary Martin

Editor's reply

Dear Gary

The Evening Standards homeless campaign highlighted at Christmas how the journey from comfortable employment to a night on the street or sofa-surfing can be terrifyingly short, so you write a timely reminder of the cash crisis facing many after months of income uncertainty, compounded by the furlough scheme expiring within weeks.

The risk of homelessness to renters in arrears is heightened now that landlords can bring eviction proceedings for the first time since March.

With fresh lockdowns looming, the Government must prioritise keeping a roof over generation rents heads by telling landlords to be patient a little longer.

Mark Blunden, News Correspondent

PM cannot hide behind experts

Am I alone in finding it strange that senior medical officers are sent to speak to the nation on so important a topic without a trace of the Prime Minister or Health Secretary? In some ways I would be happier if the UK were run by Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance, but surely those who won the election should take some responsibility?

Peter Bloxham
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 22) The countrys new telecommunications player has vowed to provide more access to people in far-flung and underserved areas in the Philippines, as it targets to expand its population coverage to over 80 percent within five years of its operations.

Its not just about profit, its also about serving those people, especially in the far-flung areas who are not able to access education, news, information because of the lack of coverage, Atty. Adel Tamano, chief administrative officer of Dito Telecommunity, told CNN Philippines' The Source on Tuesday. We hope to be able to address that within our 5-year commitment period.

Our government commitment is 87 percent after our fifth year of operation, but our internal goal is really well beyond that, he stressed.

For its first-year commitment to the government, Dito has targeted to cover 37 percent of the population. Under its certificate of public convenience and necessity, the company is also expected to provide an internet speed of 27 megabits per second (mbps).

Tamano remained confident that Dito would be able to deliver these technical audit requirements within the deadline provided by the National Telecommunications Commission, which is in January of next year. He added the firm is on track for the anticipated market rollout in March 2021.

The Philippines has an average mobile internet download speed of 7 mbps and an average upload speed of 2.2 mbps, according to a May report by international analytics company Opensignal.

Tamano acknowledged that achieving the higher speed target is not going to be easy, but he assured that the company would be using the latest technology in order to achieve the goal.

Our standard is quite high to reach 27 mbps. But were very confident using the latest technology and having no legacy systems, we will be able to reach that commitment to government, Tamano said.

He said the company is also aspiring to reach the capacities of neighboring countries such as Singapore and South Korea in the succeeding years of the company's operations.
US Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos speaks as Vice President Mike Pence listens during a White House Coronavirus Task Force press briefing at the US Department of Education July 8, 2020 in Washington, DC.

Alex Wong/Getty Images

Sec. of Education Betsy DeVos is being investigated under the Hatch Act, Politico reported.

The investigation is into comments she made on a Fox News interview slamming Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.

The Hatch Act bars top-level government officials, excluding the president and vice-president, from partaking in political activity.

Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos is being investigated by the Office of the Special Counsel for potentially violating the Hatch Act when she slammed Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden during an interview with Fox News, Politico reported.

The Hatch Act is a federal law that bars top-level government employees, excluding the president and vice-president, from partaking in political activity.

Politico reported that OSC Hatch Act attorney Eric Johnson told Scott Peterson, the head of investigative watchdog blog Checks and Balances about the investigation during an interview.

Video: How Kamala Harris compares with Joe Biden on key issues

In an interview with Fox News, DeVos criticized Biden for saying he would roll back her school choice policies.

"Today he's turned his back on the kids that we're talking about and he's turned his face in favor of the teachers union and what they have to say and what they have to demand and it's really shameful," DeVos said.

Politico reported that the Department of Education also sent out the Fox News clip in an email distribution under the heading "From the Desk of The Secretary."

The Department of Education did not respond to Business Insider's request for comment at the time of publication but a spokesperson told Politico: "The Secretary was asked to respond to oft-repeated criticism of her and her policies, and she defended her policies, including discussing the history of that criticism. The Hatch Act does not prohibit that kind of exchange with a journalist. Case closed. Of course, we will cooperate with OSC, should they choose to open an investigation of this frivolous complaint."

Story continues

DeVos is not the first official in President Donald Trump's administration to be investigated under the Hatch Act.

Multiple events at the Republican National Convention were criticized for violating the ethics law, including when Cabinet officials, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and acting Department of Homeland Security chief Chad Wolf, made appearances and speeches.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The Daily Beast

Reuters/Arnd WiegmannTheatrical rock superstar Meat Loaf, whose Bat Out of Hell is one of the bestselling albums of all time, has died at the age of 74. Reports say the singer and actor had recently fallen sick with COVID-19.In an emotional statement posted to Facebook early Friday, the performers family said he was with his wife when he died and had said his final goodbyes to his two daughters in the past 24 hours. The star sold 100 million albums in his five-decade career and starred in movie
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Linkedin Dian Septiari (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, September 22, 2020 07:53 487 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c464781a 1 World discourse,united-nations-general-assembly,UNGA,Retno-Marsudi,Joko-Widodo Free

President Joko Jokowi Widodo is to address the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in a video message early on Wednesday from Jakarta  the first time he will speak at the multilateral forum since entering office in 2014. Ahead of his maiden speech at the UNGA, The Jakarta Posts Dian Septiari speaks with Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi to touch on the key messages that the President is to raise, as well as Indonesias views on the UN as it celebrates its 75th anniversary.

Question: What key issues does Indonesia want to highlight at the UNGA?

Answer: There are several clusters in the Presidents messages. First, the President wants to remind us all why the United Nations was established. The UN was established after the war with the goal to prevent another war from happening again, and to create [...] a more peaceful, stable and prosperous world.

Second, the President wants to convey a message to all of us to see where we are now in terms of [a review]. Have all the dreams that the worlds nations held on to when they founded the UN been fulfilled? The answer is of course no; because this is an ongoing process, because we still see a lot of conflict, poverty, hunger and the negligence of international law, including respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The President will convey concerns that these problems are increasingly becoming more apparent, at a time when the world faces difficulties with COVID-19, where in fact we really need unity but instead see deepening division.

If this division continues, our dream will become more difficult to attain. The aspirations of establishing the UN to create a world that is peaceful and prosperous will be further removed from reality.

Therefore, the President plans to convey Indonesia's commitment to consistently contributing and being part of the solution to the worlds problems. Indonesia wants to continue to play the role of a bridge builder in the midst of differences that are increasingly widening.

The President will reiterate the importance of cooperation, emphasize equality and the relevance of the values that were imbibed in the Bandung Conference in 1955.

The President will also convey Indonesia's commitment to maintaining our neighboring region of Southeast Asia as a peaceful and stable region, including in the larger regional context of the Indo-Pacific.

The President will convey his support for Palestine, among others, and suggest how the UN as an organization can deliver [on its promises].

What does Indonesia want to hear from leaders of superpowers in this time of crisis? What are the messages that need to be amplified in this forum?

If we talk about what we want to hear, of course it goes back to the Presidents message about the purpose of the organization that was established after the war.

For that, all countries must participate. Therefore, I am sure that all of us, not only Indonesia, want to hear from all countries and their leaders reiterating their commitments.

This is a very appropriate time for the commemoration of the UNs 75th anniversary; we want to hear the commitments of all countries, especially the major players, outsized countries, who of course give color to the world.

We really need global collective leadership, because without it, it will be very difficult for us to create a world we dreamed of when the UN was born 75 years ago.

How does Indonesia see the role the UN has played thus far? What changes does the UN need to undertake to ensure its continued effectiveness?

Weve tried to see how far the UN has come in the last 75 years, what the results are, and I think the results are many. The fact that in 75 years there have been no major wars, no nuclear war and so on is a very big achievement. Its not easy but it can be achieved in the 75 years of the UNs existence.

We now have Sustainable Development Goals [SDGs], previously we had Millennium Development Goals, through which the UN played a big role in reducing poverty. For instance, I just read that 2.6 billion people have now got access to drinking water, then there is a figure that shows that HIV infection has decreased by 40 percent. These figures show that the UN has come far and that it has accomplished a lot.

It is now time to see where we are at again. UN Secretary-General [Antonio] Guterres just made a statement where he mentioned the enormous suffering of people caught in conflict, as is the case in Syria, Libya, Yemen and Afghanistan, where peace, in his terms, is overdue.

He is also concerned about the growing mistrust among countries and about the rise of populism and an increase in the zero-sum approach.

I think it actually reflects the concerns of almost all countries in the world, therefore, what we need to acknowledge are the results and the weaknesses, and then assess what we can do together. The UN will be able to function if it is supported by its member countries.

When we talk about the UN, it is not about the headquarters in New York, but the philosophy of cooperation; the most important thing is that there are values that came into existence at the time the UN was established.

We have to keep nurturing these values, because those values  including cooperation, equality and inclusivity  adopted 75 years ago are not only still relevant; they are even more relevant [today].
Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast/Getty

Following the death of Supreme Court justice and liberal icon Ruth Bader Ginsburg, President Donald Trump and his political aides have arrived at their apotheosis of owning the libs.

For the final two months of the 2020 presidential blitz against Joe Biden, Team Trump plans to hammer away at the new Supreme Court vacancygleeful at the angst it will cause on the left and shrugging off prospects that it could incite even more civil unrest across the country. They believe that the end result will be further juicing of their base turnout and, in turn, the rescuing of their campaign in an increasingly difficult race.

Trumps latest messaging reset comes at a time when GOP operatives and prominent party allies are thrilled to divert attention from other major issues that have threatened to doom Republicans this November: mainly, the presidents disastrous response to the coronavirus pandemic, and his equally hamfisted handling of widespread protests against racism in policing that have raged for months.

The president has said he wants this to be the biggest issue driving his campaign for the next two months. Period, said a senior administration official. Frankly, theres no reason it shouldnt He has said this is a fight that will define his legacy.

Ruth Bader Ginsburgs Death Spurs $100 Million in Donations to Democrats

Three other sources familiar with Team Trumps strategic planning in the past few days said that power centers of the campaign have rapidly shifted to make the Supreme Court vacancy afforded by Ginsburgs death their primary push before the November election. As of early this weekend, massive fundraising drives on the topic are being plotted. A taste of that came Sunday night, when the campaign sent out an email with the subject line, One Question and the preheader: Should President Trump nominate a Supreme Court Justice before the Election? Earlier in the day, the campaign was claiming that its FILL THAT SEAT T-shirts were SELLING FAST! from a limited edition set.

Story continues

In addition to the race for dollars, different event ideas for the president are being brainstormed, geared specifically around the forthcoming Supreme Court battle. And Trump has said that his conservative allies need to be prepared for Democrats to go scorched earth, especially given what happened during the Brett Kavanaugh hearings, and that they must be prepared to fight even harder between now and the end of Trumps first term, the senior administration official recounted.

This court vacancy could not have come at a more opportune time. It is a stark reminder to the presidents evangelical base of why they voted for him by such a huge margin in 2016, Robert Jeffress, a Dallas megachurch pastor and a key informal faith adviser to President Trump, said on Sunday afternoon. The coronavirus and the endless negative Trump books and allegations have become background noise between now and November 3.

If Trump is itching to make the Ginsburg seat the epicenter of his re-election bid, Democrats seem primed for the battle. Since Friday evening, liberal politicians, lawmakers, and grassroots activists across the nation have been readying themselves for all-out warfare, with implications that could be felt both in this election and long after Trump is out of office. The Democratic fundraising portal ActBlue reported seeing historic numbers of online donations coming in. And various opinion polls showed the public largely in favor of waiting until after the election for the Supreme Court confirmation process to begin.

Even some longtime conservatives said they did not believe the vacancy was the silver bullet that so much of Trumpworld seems to think it is.

If you werent planning to vote before, you arent planning to vote now. For every living, breathing human being planning on participating in 2020, it will have no impact on the vote, predicted Frank Luntz, a famed GOP pollster and Trump-critical conservative. There are still people who think the Supreme Court is led by Diana Ross. I do not think this will have a huge impact on the election; I do think it will have a significant impact on the debates because this is the rare time when one branch of government will directly impact another.

Luntz continued, You need an independent arbiter after this election. A 4-4 split [on the Supreme Court during a contested election], it is very frightening to me. I never took seriously we were headed toward a constitutional crisis. For the first time, I can finally conceive of it.

So too can Democrats. On Sunday, Biden urged Senate Republicans to de-escalate the looming crisis by putting off a confirmation fight. A day prior, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) told participants on a caucus conference call: If Leader McConnell and Senate Republicans move forward with this, then nothing is off the table for next year, according to a source on the call. Nothing is off the table.

As for explicit Democratic threats about potentially expanding the number of Supreme Court justices as retaliation against Trump, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and the presidents political orbit have been dismissing those threats all weekend.

Democrats have long been talking about packing the court so this is nothing new, Tim Murtaugh, Trump 2020s communications director, wrote to The Daily Beast. Whats next, will they threaten to set cities on fire? Oh, wait

The coming Trump messaging onslaught on filling the court seat before the inauguration early next year has offered some salvation for Trumps operation at a time when the president had already run through several other messaging reboots.

As the U.S. COVID-19 body count approached 200,000 dead and the economy remained far behind its pre-pandemic heights, President Trump couldnt help but focus his time and his administrations resources on personal hobby horses and Fox News-fueled ideological obsessions. He still keeps himself up to date on news regarding the NFLs television ratings. Hes routinely trashed Twitters trending algorithm, alleging that it is politically nasty and unfair to him and his supporters. Last week, Trump announced his planned formation of a commission to defend patriotic education and pro-American curriculum in U.S. schools, in response to academics whove wanted the system to more thoroughly teach the history of systemic racism in American institutions, slavery, and other matters. Early this month, he was focused on telling voters how good his brain still is, according to him.

The levels of his distraction were so pronounced, that earlier this summer, he personally became involved in his campaign-trail song choices.

In late June, shortly after the president walked off the stage to the sounds of the Rolling Stones classic You Cant Always Get What You Want at his disastrous Tulsa, Oklahoma, campaign reboot, The Rolling Stones blasted out a statement threatening a lawsuit if Trump and his team didnt finallyafter roughly half-a-decade of the band asking him to knock it offstop including their music at his rallies and public events. For now, it seems the Stones have won, with their music conspicuously evaporating since from the Trump 2020 playlist. According to two people familiar with the situation, this was a decision in which President Trump was intimately involved and one that he personally (and begrudgingly, according to one of the knowledgeable sources) greenlit weeks ago. Following the Stones threat to sue, Trump directed his campaign to remove You Cant Always Get What You Want, and instead slot in The Village Peoples 1978 smash-hit song, Y.M.C.A. as his walk-off number. He has privately said that he chose that particular number in large part because everyone loves that song, one of the sources said.

But this week, Trumps top campaign and White House advisers arent as worried about giving the president his guiding principle for the remainder of the 2020 race. From here on out, its going to be SCOTUS, SCOTUS, SCOTUS, said one senior campaign official. Its the most clarifying moment of this whole campaign and the choice could not be clearerbetween the two candidates competing visions for the country.

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Te Kupenga o Taramainuku is a photographic exhibition from contemporary Maori artist Simone Magner.

In 2017, Simone was commissioned by Te Runanga o Ngati Awa to capture the 152nd commemoration of an historic siege in 1865 by colonial forces at Te Kupenga o Taramainuku Pa, Te Teko.

Historically, the pa had been considered the social, political and economic hub of the lower Rangitaiki/Ngati Awa region - an important meeting place, as well as a centre of agricultural production and trade.

This battle directly led to the confiscation of 245,000 acres of Ngati Awa rohe by the Crown and the beginning of a long and painful journey for the iwi to reclaim what was lost. All Ngati Awa hapu were affected by this confiscation and the consequences have reverberated across generations.

In 2005, an apology from the New Zealand Government, as part of the Ngati Awa Treaty Settlement, included setting aside Te Kupenga as an historic site. And so for the first time, in 2017, Ngati Awa was able to hold its commemoration where only remnants of the pa remain.

Around 2000 people attended the day-long event in Te Teko, which began at dawn with karakia and pohiri performed by hundreds. The faces of generations of Mataatua iwi have been captured by Simones eagle eye as they gathered on this significant day.

I didnt set out to tell the story of Te Kupenga o Taramainuku, but I did want to tell the story of that day in 2017, Simon explains.

I felt that I captured a collective Ngati Awatanga. Te Kupenga Taramainuku commemoration was a public display of Ngati Awa reclaiming significant history. A lot of our community dont know what happened at Te Kupenga, some people never knew it existed. I hope this exhibition will have educational value for our wider community.

Simones work was partially intended to document Ngati Awa support for the establishment of a National Commemoration Day for the New Zealand Land Wars on October 28th each year.

Te Runanga o Ngati Awa is fully behind the exhibition as an opportunity to educate local rangatahi and future generations of Ngati Awa on one of the more controversial passages in their history.

Simones exhibition is, however, one of extreme relevance to the entire Eastern Bay community, showcasing images of our people and our place, and the events that shaped our environment.

Simone has many years of experience incorporating tikanga Maori and contemporary concepts within her artwork and photography practice.

In 2006 she was featured as an emerging Maori artist in the first international indigenous photo exhibition and symposium, Our People, Our Land, Our Images at the CN Gormon Museum, University of California and was one out of 100 NZ Artists selected in for Imago Mundi: Benetton Collection 2016 .

This is her first exhibition at Te Koputu a te whanga a Toi.
India on Monday hit back at Pakistan for raising the issue of Jammu and Kashmir during the high-level meeting to commemorate 75 years of United Nations (UN), saying Islamabad is globally recognised as the epicentre of terrorism which harbours and trains terrorists, hails them as martyrs and consistently persecutes its ethnic and religious minorities.

Exercising India's Right of Reply after Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi raked up the Kashmir issue in his address to UN, First Secretary India in UN, Vidisha Maitra, deemed Qureshi's speech as the "never-ending fabricated narrative" about the internal affairs of India.

The virtual edition of a special General Assembly session to mark 75 years of the institution commenced on Monday (local time).

"I take the floor in the exercise of the right of reply to the statement made by the representative of Pakistan. Our delegation had hoped that during this solemn commemoration of a shared global milestone, the General Assembly would be spared another repetition of the baseless falsehoods that have now become a trademark of Pakistan's interventions on such platforms," said Maitra.

"However, for a nation that is bereft of milestones, one can only expect a stonewalled and stymied approach to reason, diplomacy and dialogue. What we heard today is the never-ending fabricated narrative presented by the Pakistani representative about the internal affairs of India," she added.

Maitra said that India rejected the "malicious reference" made by Qureshi to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, which is an integral part of India.

"If there is an item that is unfinished on the agenda of the UN, it is that of tackling the scourge of terrorism. Pakistan is a country which is globally recognised epicentre of terrorism, which by its own admission harbours and trains terrorists and hails them as martyrs, and consistently persecutes its ethnic and religious minorities," she stated.

"It would do well turn its attention inwards to immediately addressing these pressing concerns, instead of misusing UN platforms to divert attention from them by misusing UN platforms," Maitra said.

(ANI)

Also Read: Ahead of crucial FATF meet, Pakistan continues to treat 21 dreaded terrorists as VIPs
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)Tuesday began conducting the compartment exams for its class 10 and 12 students amid strict safety measures to restrict the spread of Covid-19.

These are the first set of in-person exams being conducted by the board since the Covid-19 lockdown was imposed in March leading to the suspension and, eventually, the cancellation of the remaining papers of the board examination.

Shaad Ali, a resident of Yamuna Vihar in north-east Delhi, who appeared for his class 12 mathematics compartment exam, said he walked to his exam centre nearby to avoid using the public transport. The board has increased the number of examination centres from 500 (last year) to 1,268 this time to maintain social distancing among students. In Delhi, the exams were conducted at 247 centres.

My family had asked me to repeatedly sanitise my hands while at the exam centre. There is a health risk, but I could not miss my papers because that would affect my academic future. I wrote my papers wearing mask and gloves, and both were a bit uncomfortable. Although I could not take any tuitions due to the pandemic, my papers went well, said Ali.

This year, around 2,37,000 students from India and 16 other countries will be appearing for the compartment exams which will continue till September 30. Students of class 10 will be appearing for a maximum of two subjects while those of class 12 will appear for a maximum of one subject. The board had also allowed class 12 students to appear for improvement papers if they wish to better their existing score in the subject.

Himani Singh, a class 12 student of a government school in New Kondli, was among those who gave her improvement papers on Tuesday. Apart from a slight delay in distributing the papers due to the Covid-19 precautions, the exams were conducted smoothly. Students were made to sit at 6 feet apart and wrote their papers while wearing masks and gloves. We have gotten quite used to wearing masks for long hours, so it wasnt much of an issue, she said.

Her father Sukhpal Singh had taken a leave from work to accompany his daughter to and from the exam centre. There is not much fear because we have been taking all necessary precautions. Since the pandemic struck in March, people have had time to process things and take the necessary precautions. I took a leave from work today so that Himani wouldnt have to use public transport, he said.

BP Dhyani, head of a government school in Trilokpuri, which is an exam centre, said the school was taking all necessary measures to ensure safety of staff and students. Only 12 students are allowed per room and they are provided with sanitisers, masks and gloves if they dont have their own. We will be locking the rooms that were used for the exams today and using another set of rooms for the examination tomorrow to ensure desks arent repeated. Since compartment exams have fewer students (than regular exams), we can take these safety measures.
TikToks surging popularity has resulted in more video takedowns. The companys latest transparency report states that it removed 104 million clips during the first six months of 2020. For comparison, the last report  which was published a couple of months ago, but covered July to December 2019  revealed that roughly 49 million videos were deleted during the latter half of 2019. Its a significant jump that can be attributed in part to the apps ever-growing userbase, which was fuelled earlier this year by the start of the coronavirus pandemic, when people were trapped indoors and desperate for ways to entertain themselves and other people.

According to TikTok, the videos removed this year made up less than one percent of all content uploaded to the platform. Almost a third of the deletions contained adult nudity or sexual activities, while 22.3 percent were categorised as minor safety. A further 19.6 percent showed illegal activities and minor goods and 13.4 percent included suicide, self harm and other dangerous acts. Content related to integrity and authenticity, which includes impersonation and disinformation, only made up 1.2 percent of the takedowns. Other factors included violent and graphic content (8.7 percent), harassment and bullying (2.5 percent), hate speech (0.8 percent) and dangerous individuals and organizations (0.3 percent).

The transparency report also broke down the geographical origins of these removals. India came out on top, which partly explains why the government banned the app earlier this year. The US ranked second, followed by Pakistan, Brazil and the UK. In its report, TikTok said that 96.4 percent of takedowns occurred before a user had reported the video, and 90.3 percent happened before anyone had watched it. The document stops short of explaining how many were spotted and judged by a human or algorithmic moderator. TikTok did say, however, that it had been relying more heavily on technology to detect and automatically remove violating content in markets such as India, Brazil, and Pakistan.

As TechCrunch reports, legal requests also rose during the first six months of 2020. TikTok received 1,768 requests for user information from 42 regions, which included 290 from US law enforcement agencies.

Alongside the transparency report, TikTok has proposed a social media coalition to tackle harmful content. Vanessa Pappas, the companys interim head, has written to nine other platform holders  we dont know which ones, but it isnt hard to guess  suggested a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The agreement would encourage companies to give their competitors a heads-up whenever they spot violent or graphic content. A hashbank would ensure that everyone benefits from the detection and fewer users see harmful content, regardless of which apps they use. For now, its not clear if any companies have taken up TikToks offer. We will update this story if and when any confirm their involvement.

TikToks transparency report and coalition proposal follow a wave of unusual political pressure. The service was set to disappear from US app stores on Sunday  or not be available to download, at least  after a deal with Microsoft failed to materialize. President Trump informally approved a partnership between TikTok, Oracle and Walmart last Saturday, though. The details are still fuzzy but it seems as though Bytedance, the Chinese developer behind TikTok, is prepared to create a US subsidiary called TikTok Global. Oracle and Walmart will own at least some of the company, but its not clear if ByteDance will own any of it  Oracle has said it wont  and if the Chinese government will be happy with such a compromise.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 21:54:32|Editor: huaxia

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LUSAKA, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Zambia's cabinet has called for the undertaking of a comprehensive surveillance exercise to establish the extent of the infestation of the African migratory locusts, a government spokesperson said on Tuesday.

Dora Siliya said the Ministry of Agriculture has already conducted preliminary surveys in districts where the locusts have broken out.

She said in a statement released after a cabinet meeting that locust have so far broken out in three of the country's 10 provinces, adding that cabinet was aware of the disruption that could be caused to the 2020/2021 farming season.

"Cabinet agreed that in order to control the spread of the locusts, the Ministry of Agriculture needs to undertake ground and aerial spraying of the affected areas," she said.

The cabinet has since called on key stakeholders like the Food and Agriculture Organization to provide the necessary support on the control of the locusts. Enditem
Russian Foreign Intelligence Service Director Sergei Naryshkin has said that the termination of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project would be disadvantageous for EU member states and has expressed hope that European partners will not act to the detriment of their own interests in dealing with the issue.

"Most Europeans realize that they will incur substantial losses from terminating this project. This will narrow the resource base needed for the restart of the European economy, which will see an 8.6% contraction of the GDP this year, according to Deutsche Bank's estimates," Naryshkin said in a statement seen by Interfax.

Besides, it will be more difficult to create jobs amid the coronavirus, he said.

"I do not think that the Europeans will treat the Nord Stream 2 project on the principle of 'freezing my ears off just to spite Grandma', especially as the coming winter is expected to be severe and they will need a lot of gas," Naryshkin said.
During a break at the high-level Govern Up conference at Westminster today, which brought together civil servants, politicians and advisers from all of the main political parties, who should be seen standing to one side, engrossed in an intense private conversation, but Ed Milibands chief of staff, Tim Livesey, and Johnny Oates, who does the same job for Nick Clegg.

I wonder what they were talking about. Could it by chance have been about how to form a coalition after Mays election?

Give that Ukip man a map

Nigel Farage has so much on his plate that he does not know where Sandwich is. When an edition of Magna Carta that belongs to Sandwich Town Council turned up in the Kent county archives, Farage, who hopes to be the next MP for South Thanet, posted an excited tweet congratulating Sandwich, in Thanet. Separately, Ukip sent a letter to Sandwich residents, in Farages name, inviting them to a meeting at which the make-up of Thanet District Council would be discussed.

But Sandwich is not in Thanet. It comes under Dover District Council. That is the sort of basic error that really annoys residents. The first thing parliamentary candidates should do is get to know the area they are responsible for, an enraged member of Sandwich Rotary Club, David Robertson, 81, told the Kent Mercury.

Reckless waste of money

The Ukip MP Mark Reckless has been given a date when old Conservative Party colleagues expect to see him in court. Rochester and Strood Conservative Association is claiming 3,012, plus 185 in court costs, from Reckless and the former Tory agent, Chris Irvine, who both defected to Farages party in September. The claim against them is that, two days before they jumped ship, they committed the Tory association to printing campaign literature that had to be thrown away. A court date is set for 12 March.

Writ not so large

The secrecy that surrounds family courts is almost absolute if the courts judge that publicity might be harmful to children or other vulnerable people. When John Hemming, the Liberal Democrat MP for Birmingham Yardley, raised a point of order in the Commons today, about something that had been on the agenda for a committee of the European Parliament, he was politely but firmly told by the Speaker, John Bercow, not to say another word. In return for his public silence, he has been promised a private session with Bercow and his advisers, at which tea will be served while they hear what he wants to say.

But in this internet age it is hard to keep a lid on anything. The writ of a British family court does not run in Brussels, and information that Mr Hemming was not allowed to give out in Parliament, and British newspapers are not allowed to publish, is easily accessible on the internet, in the minutes of the relevant committee. By the way, it is not that interesting to anyone not directly involved, so do not ring me asking to hear more.

Cameron misquoted

According to the official record, David Camerons reply to a long, discursive question from the longest-serving MP, Sir Peter Tapsell, the Conservative member for Louth and Horncastle, began with the words: It is difficult to answer the Father of the House without a long, historical exegesis

It is a case of Hansard tactfully recording what someone meant rather than what he actually said. Everyone listening clearly heard the Prime Minister say hysterical. Long and hysterical are words that aptly describe the entire waste of time that is Prime Ministers Questions in the dying days of this parliament.
Huawei Africa cloud business vice president Michael Langeveld is one of South Africas top cloud executives, with nearly a decades experience in the field.

Langeveld started his career working with Microsoft products, after which he moved to IBM where he served as the companys hybrid cloud leader in South Africa.

He then moved to Huawei to head up its Africa cloud business, where he is growing the companys presence in the region.

In this discussion, Langeveld talks about what makes Huawei Cloud different from other products in the market.

He then moves onto the increase in cloud adoption and digitisation brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown.

Langeveld also gives examples of how Huawei Cloud has helped businesses during this time and what they are planning going forward.

Huawei recently launched an initiative to support the development of small businesses in Africa, which he sheds light on.

The conversation concludes with Langeveld giving details on why he thinks people should select Huawei Cloud over other products in the market.

The full discussion with Huaweis Africa cloud business vice president Michael Langeveld is embedded below.
Maharashtra on Tuesday reported 18,390 fresh Covid-19 infections, pushing the total to 1,242,770. The state surpassed 60 lakh Covid tests with its highest number of samples tested in a 24-hour period with 105,026 tests. Active number of cases in the state stood at 272,410.

Maharashtra also reported 392 fatalities, pushing the toll to 33,407. Of the 392 deaths reported on Tuesday, 243 were from the past 48 hours and 81 were from last week. Rest 68 deaths were from the period before last week.

Mumbai, meanwhile, reported 1,628 new cases to push its tally to 187,904. It also reported 50 deaths, taking its toll to 8,555.

For the fifth straight day, Maharashtras recoveries exceeded the number of fresh cases added. On Tuesday, the state reported 20,206 recoveries, pushing the tally of recoveries to 936,554. The recovery rate in the state has improved to 75.36%.

A senior health department official said that recoveries were not being reported regularly on the portal, therefore, there was a lag for a few days. Last week, the department has directed districts to pull up their socks and report recoveries regularly. The surge in cases from August led to some delay, but it is being streamlined. Our target is to cross and maintain 80% recovery rate, the official said.

Chief minister Uddhav Thackeray will participate in the high-level virtual meeting convened by prime minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday to review the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) situation in the seven worst-affected states in the country.

Maharashtra accounts for 22.34% of the countrys total confirmed cases and 37.56% of the overall fatalities recorded in the country.

Senior bureaucrats said that the chief minister is expected to raise the issue of discontinued support of the Centre. From September 1, as it had intimated, the Centre has stopped providing PPE kits, N95 masks, ventilators, testing kits. The CM will take up the issue and seek an extension of the support, a senior bureaucrat said.

State health minister Rajesh Tope added, Yes, definitely we will need the support in these matters from the Centre. It will be discussed at the meeting.

State health secretary Pradeep Vyas said that the daily testing is going to be increased in the coming weeks. Senior health department officials said that the target is to take daily tests to around 1.5 lakh in the next two-three weeks. With the increased testing, the number of cases reported daily is expected to further rise, officials said.

Over 36% of the total cases in Maharashtra have been reported in September so far, and over 26% of the fatalities in the state have come in the ongoing month. Maharashtra has reported 36.22% of total confirmed Covid-19 cases and 26.41% of fatalities. The state has so far reported a whopping 450,229 cases and 8,824 deaths in September alone. The state health department has attributed the higher numbers to increased movement of people and more testing.

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Nickel prices jumped to Rs 1,067 per kilogram on September 22 as participants increased their long position, as seen by more open interest positions.

Base metals continue to consolidate. Some profit-taking and risk aversion was seen in yesterday's session, as well as the buzz over a global money laundering list being published. United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson is also expected to unveil tougher measures to combat rising coronavirus cases.

Nickel prices are getting support from upbeat demand from Chinas stainless steel sector.

Sunand Subramaniam, senior research analyst at Choice Broking said, For the month ahead, we are expecting LME and MCX Nickel futures to witness downtrend on worries of declining demand from the battery sector in Germany amid the prevailing pandemic situation. The Chinese manufacturing and non-manufacturing PMI has shown recovery on monthly basis, but then the possibility of second wave of COVID-19 and global lockdown once again is likely to weaken the demand in the manufacturing sector.

MCX iCOMDEX Base Metal Index gained 79.85 points, or 0.69 percent, at 11,726.52 at 19:42.

In the futures market, nickel for September delivery touched an intraday high of Rs 1,073.90 and a low of Rs 1,058.40 per kg on the MCX. So far in the current series, the base metal has touched a low of Rs 1,027.50 and a high of Rs 1,158.40.

Nickel delivery for September contract gained Rs 3.10, or 0.29 percent, to Rs 1,067 per kg at 19:35 hours with a business turnover of 1,461 lots. The October contract rose Rs 3.10, or 0.29 percent, to Rs 1,076.90 per kg with a turnover of 466 lots.

MCX Nickel price is expected to trade negatively with resistance at Rs 1,080 level and intermediate resistance at Rs 1,073 level, according to Motilal Oswal. The brokerage firm advised its clients to sell on rallies targeting lower support at Rs 1,060-1,052 zone.

The value of the September and October contracts traded so far is Rs 819.13 crore and Rs 89.73 crore respectively.

At 1408 (GMT), the base metal price was up 0.72 percent quoting at $14,652.50 per tonne in London.
Kosovo war veterans said Tuesday they had been leaked a third batch of confidential files from a war crimes court in The Hague

Kosovo war veterans said Tuesday they had been leaked a third batch of confidential files from a war crimes court in The Hague, in what appears to be a security breach exposing protected witnesses.

The veterans hail from the ethnic Albanian guerilla group that waged a 1990s independence struggle against Serbia and is now under investigation by the Hague-based Kosovo Specialist Chambers (KSC) for war crimes.

Over the past two weeks the former rebels have reported receiving three packages of court documents that include information about witnesses whose identies are meant to be protected to shield them from retribution.

The tribunal itself has refused to confirm or comment on the incidents.

The matter is highly sensitive in Kosovo, where former rebel commanders still dominate political life.

The court operates under Kosovo law but is based in the Netherlands to shield witnesses from intimidation.

The veteran's association "received documents again from an unknown and masked person" who announced that "next time he would bring more on CD", the group's vice chairman, Nasim Haradinaj, told media Tuesday.

The latest documents include more witness details and the names of those who face indictments, he said.

The previous two document batches were swiftly seized by Hague investigators, according to the veterans.

Former fighters of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) fiercely oppose the work of the court, defending their "just" liberation war against Belgrade's oppression of Kosovo's ethnic Albanian population.

Top Serbian military and police officials have previously been convicted by international justice of war crimes from the conflict that left 13,000 people dead, mainly ethnic Albanians.

The KSC is investigating claims that the Kosovo rebels waged a campaign of revenge attacks on Serbs, Roma and ethnic Albanian rivals during and after the 1998-99 war.

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci -- the rebels' former political chief -- was the first to face accusations from the court prosecutors earlier this year.

He was accused of being "criminally responsible for nearly 100 murders".

Prosecutors said they took the unusual decision to publish his indictment before it was confirmed by a pre-trial judge because he and others were trying to "obstruct the work" of the tribunal.

Thaci has denied all allegations and said he would resign if the indictment is approved.

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INTERNATIONAL

An article on Monday about former world leaders demanding the ratification of a nuclear arms ban treaty misidentified the nationality of Willy Claes, a former NATO secretary-general. He is from Belgium, not the Netherlands.

NATIONAL

An article on Monday about Judge Amy Coney Barrett, based on the recollection of a family friend, referred incorrectly to the Down syndrome diagnosis of the Barretts son. In fact, the Barretts did not learn of that diagnosis through prenatal testing, according to a family member.

An article on Sunday about leading candidates for the Supreme Court vacancy left by the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg misstated the court on which Judge Amy Coney Barrett sits. It is the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, not the Sixth Circuit. The article also misstated the given name of another judge under consideration. He is Amul Thapar, not Amal Thapar.

An article on Sunday about letters sent to the White House and local law enforcement agencies containing the lethal substance ricin, using information from a source, referred incorrectly to the agencies in Texas that received the letters. They are local law enforcement offices, not federal agencies.
Like many Americans with aging parents, Dominque Jones-Johnson started checking in more regularly with her father when the coronavirus pandemic broke out - but unlike most families, the cost of the calls strained her budget to the breaking point. Her father, Charles Brown Jr., is incarcerated for aggravated rape, burglary and crimes against nature - she said he was falsely accused of all charges - in the Louisiana State Penitentiary, where a 15-minute phone call costs $3.15.

By May, these local calls - which would have been free for most people living in the state - had cost the family nearly $400. Theyre making me pay to incarcerate myself, Charles Brown Jr. told the Thomson Reuters Foundation earlier this month. A week later, he contracted Covid-19 and was put in isolation, no longer able to speak with his daughter. Jones-Johnson, who founded the charity Daughters Beyond Incarceration, said in a phone interview that the money stressed me out, but not talking to him stresses me out more.

With Covid-19 curtailing visits in many prisons and jails, families rely on phone calls, video chats and other forms of messaging, but advocates say the high costs of those services take a heavy financial toll on the people who can least afford them. Even before the pandemic, a third of families went into debt to finance visits to incarcerated relatives and use telephone and messaging systems, said Bianca Tylek, executive director of advocacy group Worth Rises.

Now, those communications services are essential to the roughly 2.3 million people behind bars in the United States. People need to be in touch more than ever, said Tylek. And they have less money than ever to pay for it. A spokesman for the Louisiana Department of Corrections said it offers 30 minutes of free calls a week during the pandemic and that it understands the importance of inmates maintaining contact with loved ones.

INFRASTRUCTURE

In U.S. prisons and jails, private firms build out the communications infrastructure in exchange for the opportunity to charge for their services, often splitting revenue from the calls, video chats and messaging services with the facility. Critics of the practice refer to it as a form of kickback, paid by the industry to win access to captive customers. A report published last year by the nonprofit Prison Policy Initiative (PPI) found that the average cost of a 15-minute call from local jails is $5.74.

Rates in state-run prisons are significantly lower, and calls across state lines from jails and prisons have been capped at 21 cents per minute by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which currently only regulates interstate calling. While phone calls make up the bulk of communications between prisoners and their families, video calling and email services, offered via kiosks and tablets, are often set up under similar agreements.

A 2017 case-study by the Vera Institute of Justice found the video calls in Washington State - which at the time cost $12.95 - proved too expensive for many inmates and nearly 90% never even tried to use the service. Jones-Johnson must pay $7.50 for a 30-minute video call with her father. For local and state governments, those costs can be a significant source of revenue, explained Democratic Representative Josh Elliott, who is sponsoring legislation that would make phone calls from Connecticuts state prisons free.

In 2019, Securus Technologies, a private firm that operates the phone network, spent $40,000 to hire lobbyists to oppose Elliotts legislation, according to government documents. After the lobbying became public Securus, which is owned by L.A.-based private equity firm Platinum Equity, promised it would no longer oppose the bill, Elliott said. This is the most straightforward thing, he said in a phone interview. Make calls free so people can be in touch with their families.

HEAVY COSTS

The pandemic has made a tough situation even tougher, said Mashonda Jones, whose son has been incarcerated for three years at the Virginia Beach Correctional Center following a conviction for breaking and entering, according to local media. Jones runs a soul food restaurant that was forced to shut down in March because of coronavirus restrictions - her sons facility is on lockdown and not allowing visitors. With money tight, she now spends $100 a week on calls and video conferencing so that her grandchildren can stay connected with their father.

Even though their dad is incarcerated I want them to know they still have a dad, she said.Global Tel Link (GTL), the company that operates the phones at the jail, offers two free five-minute calls a week, Jones said. Video conferencing at the facility costs $7.50 for 30 minutes. It wasnt enough, Jones said. Its just hello, how you doing, here are the kids and then hes gone.

A spokesman for GTL said it was evaluating ways we may be able to improve our permanent free weekly communications program in the future.Kathy Hieatt, spokeswoman for the Virginia Beach Sheriffs Office said in emailed comments that inmates pay 11 cents per minute for both local and long-distance calls, down from 15 cents per minute in 2018. A spokeswoman for Securus said it had lowered the average cost of calls by more than 30% per minute over the last three years. The company said this month it had offered 191 million free minutes of phone connections since the start of the pandemic. Tylek, with Worth Rises, pointed out that adds up to less than 10 minutes of free calling a week for the more than 1.2 million in facilities with Securus phones.

EMERGING SOLUTIONS

In recent years, lawmakers and regulators have taken steps to rein in the price of connection for incarcerated families. The Democrat-controlled U.S. Congress passed a law in May that would empower the FCC to limit the cost of calls within states as well as between states, and would bar local and state governments from taking a cut of the revenue. The law has not yet passed the Republican-controlled Senate. Brian Hill, the CEO of Edovo, a start-up that builds cheaper connectivity tools for incarcerated people - including tablets and free education software - said the root problem is the profit-sharing model.

The system taxes the families of those who are incarcerated, he said. Ideally, youd get rid of revenue sharing across the board. Tylek, who tries to convince investors to boycott companies that profit off incarceration, said the only solution is to put the firms out of business, and have the government pick up the bill for all essential services, like phone calls. Meanwhile, Jones-Johnson is so worried that her father wont receive adequate treatment for COVID-19 that shes willing to pay what it takes to check in on him. Its a constant struggle, said Jones-Johnson. But what else can I do?

(This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.)

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept.22

By Nargiz Sadikhova - Trend:

The value of trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Germany amounted to $939.3 million over the first seven months of 2020, compared to $914.9 million during the same period of 2019, Trend reports with reference to Kazakhstans Statistics Committee.

The share of Germany in the total value of Kazakhstans trade turnover stood at 1.9 percent during the reporting period compared to 1.7 percent during the same period of 2019.

Kazakhstans export to Germany amounted to $144.09 million over the period from January through July 2020, compared to $170.05 million during the same period of 2019

Germanys share in the total volume of Kazakhstans export amounted to 0.5 percent during the reporting period of 2020 compared to 0.51 percent during the same period of 2019.

In turn, Kazakhstans imports from Germany amounted to nearly $795.2 million over the reporting period, compared to $744.9 million during the same period of 2019.

Germanys share in the total volume of Kazakhstans import amounted to 4 percent during the reporting period of 2020 compared to 3.5 percent during the same period of 2019.

The total volume of Kazakhstans trade turnover amounted to $48.7 billion over the period from Jan. through July 2020 which indicates a decrease from $54.5 billion during the same period of 2019.

Kazakhstans export amounted to $28.6 billion during the reporting period of 2020 ($33.03 billion in the same period of 2019), whereas imports amounted to $20.1 billion ($21.5 billion in 2019).

During the reporting period, the main articles of Kazakhstan and Germany trade turnover were food products, agricultural products, as well as products of the chemical industry.

---

Follow the author on twitter: @nargiz_sadikh
'Prediction model' uses data that can help determine if patients' conditions are likely to worsen

Using a combination of demographic and clinical data gathered from seven weeks of COVID-19 patient care early in the coronavirus pandemic, Johns Hopkins researchers today published a "prediction model" they say can help other hospitals care for COVID-19 patients -- and make important decisions about planning and resource allocations.

Brian Garibaldi, M.D., associate professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, led a team that published in the Annals of Internal Medicine the article that shares important lessons learned in the care of COVID-19 patients between March 4 and April 24, 2020, at five Johns Hopkins hospitals in Maryland and Washington, D.C.

During those 52 days, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Howard County General Hospital, Suburban Hospital and Sibley Memorial Hospital admitted a combined 827 people age 18 or older -- 336 Black, 264 white, 135 Hispanic, 48 Asian, 2 Native American and 42 multiracial -- who tested positive for the coronavirus and had symptoms of COVID-19.

From the data those patients generated, the researchers developed a prediction model using a set of risk factors known to be associated with COVID-19 to forecast how likely a patient's disease is to worsen while being treated in a hospital and at what point in their care that might happen. Among the risk factors researchers considered as part of the model were a patient's age, body mass index (BMI), lung health and chronic disease, as well as vital signs and the severity of a patient's COVID-19 symptoms at the time of admission.

The model, called the "COVID Inpatient Risk Calculator (CIRC)," is available online. Garibaldi says the calculator is meant to help hospital physicians and other health care providers assess the risk of a patient's condition worsening.

"This is some of what we've learned in the months since we started seeing patients with COVID-19 at our hospitals," says Garibaldi. "As we continue to grapple with high numbers of COVID-19 infections across the United States, it's important to share knowledge with our colleagues at other hospitals."

Among the highlights of the study was the rapidity with which the disease can progress from mild or moderate to severe, particularly if a patient had all or some of the risk factors associated with the disease. Forty-five of the patients in the study had severe COVID-19 when they were admitted to the hospital. But 120 patients developed severe disease or died within 12 hours of being admitted. Of the 302 patients in the study who developed severe disease or died, the median time of disease progression was 1.1 days.

"Rapid progression of disease following admission [to the hospital] provides a narrow window to intervene," Garibaldi writes in the article. "Different combinations of risk factors appear to predict severe disease or death, with probabilities ranging from over 90% to as little as 5%."

For example, using the CIRC, Garibaldi and his colleagues estimate that a 60-year-old white woman with a BMI of 28, no chronic disease and no fever who is hospitalized for COVID-19 has a 10% chance of her disease worsening by day two of her hospital stay. The longer she's in the hospital, the greater that chance becomes, at 15% after four days and 16% after a week.

Conversely, the researchers considered an 81-year-old Black woman admitted to the hospital with COVID-19. The hypothetical patient has a BMI of 35, diabetes, hypertension and a fever. CIRC forecasts her probability of progressing to severe disease or even death by just the second day of her hospital stay is 89%. That percentage increases to higher than 95% by days four and seven.

By June 24, 694 of the patients in the study had been discharged from the hospital, 131 had died and seven were still hospitalized with severe COVID-19.

"We identified a few readily measurable demographic and clinical factors that, when assessed on admission to the hospital, can predict if someone has a 5% or a 90% risk of developing severe disease or dying from COVID-19," says Amita Gupta, M.D., professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, who directs the Center for Clinical Global Health Education and is a co-author of the study. "This is incredibly useful information to have when communicating with patients and their families, as well as for informing resource allocation in the hospital."

The study's data comes from a registry of all patients treated for the novel coronavirus infection at hospitals in the Johns Hopkins system. Known as "JH-CROWN," the registry -- which is funded by InHealth, the institution's precision medicine initiative -- offers demographics, diagnoses, procedures, social histories and other data points relevant to caring for COVID-19 patients.

"The JH-CROWN data registry embodies the same teamwork and dedication that went into the care of more than 3,000 COVID-19 patients admitted to Johns Hopkins hospitals since the start of the pandemic," Garibaldi says. "We hope it can teach us more about the nature of COVID-19 and improve both patient care and research as we prepare for a second wave of infections in the fall."

###

A co-author of the study, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health biostatistics professor Scott Zeger, Ph.D., calls JH-CROWN "part of a transformation of Johns Hopkins Medicine into a learning health care system," where data provides real-time analytics that help doctors, nurses and other health care professionals zero in on precision care for each patient.

In addition to Garibaldi, Zeger and Gupta, the article's authors are Matthew Robinson, M.D.; Masoud Rouhizadeh, Ph.D.; Jamie Perin, Ph.D.; Grant Schumock, B.S.; Paul Nagy Ph.D.; Josh H. Gray B.S.; Harsha Malapati, B.S.; Mariam Ghobadi-Krueger, B.S.; Timothy M. Niessen, M.D., M.P.H.; Bo Soo Kim, M.D.; Peter M. Hill, M.D.; M. Shafeeq Ahmed, M.D., M.B.A.; Eric D. Dobkin, M.D.; Renee Blanding, M.D.; Jennifer Abele, M.D., M.B.A.; Bonnie Woods, M.S.; Kenneth Harkness, M.S.; David R. Thiemann, M.D.; Mary G. Bowring, M.P.H.; Aalok B. Shah, M.Eng., and Antony Rosen, M.B.Ch.B., M.S., of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Jacob Fiksel Ph.D.; John Muschelli, Ph.D.; Mei-Cheng Wang, Ph.D., and Karen Bandeen-Roche, Ph.D., of the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health.

The authors report no conflicts of interest.
Pilgrims kneel at the Quylluriti shrine, with the Qulqipunku glacier rising in the background. Credit: Zoila Mendoza

Every year, more than 100,000 people travel to the Quyllurit'i glacier shrine from many communities and towns throughout the Cusco region and beyond, all participating in the largest pilgrimage in the Peruvian Andes. In 2014, a regional political party appropriated one of the central figures of the pilgrimage, the pablito or ukukua move that the pilgrimage's organizing body opposed. A recent study by Guillermo Salas Carreno analyzes this moment and how the response reveals emerging conceptions of what it means to be Indigenous in the Peruvian Andes.

The Qoyllurrit'i shrine is located just over 43 miles from the major city of Cusco. At an altitude of nearly 16,000 feet above sea level, the shrine sits at the foot of the Qolqepunku glacier. With its roots in both Andean religions and Catholicism, the pilgrimage honors Lord Quyllurit'i, the image of Christ on a rock. The pablito/ukuku dancers play a critical role in the pilgrimage, serving as the mediators between Lord Quyllurit'i and the sacred glacier. They circulate widely at the pilgrimage site, and they are the ones who ascend up to glacial ice at night, singing Quechua sounds in falsetto.

Cultural practices have long been appropriated and commodified in Peru with little to no pushback, but when in 2014 the pablito/ukuku was appropriated by the Kausachun Cusco Regional Political Movement, the Council of Pilgrim Nations Quyllurit'i organizing bodyresisted. The Council of Nations is composed of former pablito/ukuku dancers recommended by their community.

In 2004, the pilgrimage was declared part of the Cultural Heritage of the Nation by Peru's Ministry of Culture. Discourse around the pilgrimage began to evolve, with a new sentiment of national pride emerging among the public. In 2011, the pilgrimage was inscribed on the UNESCO List of Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

Ukuku is the Quechua word for the Andean spectacled bear. The pablito/ukuku dancer is half man, half bear, and was historically tasked with carrying ice down from the glaciers to the pilgrims in the valley. Credit: Flickr

Zoila Mendoza, a Peruvian anthropologist at the University of California Davis, explained that these declarations of cultural and intangible heritage in 2004 and 2011 set the stage for the political party appropriation in 2014. "All of this official attention to the site validated all of the images that are related to Quyllurit'i," she told GlacierHub. Of all of the symbols of the pilgrimage, the pabito/ukuku dancer is the most evocative, Mendoza said, "because the ukuku/pablucha/pablito character is the central character of the pilgrimageit represents the coming together of the glacier with people. It became iconic."

In 2014, Carlos Moscoso, a political candidate and founder of the Movimiento Fuerza Cusco, changed the name of his group to Kausachun Cusco Regional Movement, an organization somewhat like a political party, though with regional rather than national scope. He campaigned in the 2011 elections, drawing on pablito/ukuku imagery, ultimately coming in second to the winning candidate. The renaming of his political organization in 2014 represented a further attempt to associate with Quyllurit'i and appeal to regionalist sentiments ("kausachun" is a Quechua word that translates to "long live!"). In addition, the political organization continued to use pablito/ukuku dress and dance in its campaigning.

Beginning in 2013, the Council of Nations worked to prevent Kausachun from using the pablito/ukuku. Kausachun claimed both that it was not using the pablito but rather the ukuku image (both names for the same character, albeit with varying etymologies), and that the ukuku was part of the public domain. Finally, after a statement and demonstrations by the Council of Nations, and widespread local criticism, Kausachun changed its party symbol.

Carlos Moscoso, political candidate and founder of Kausachun Cusco, dons a pablito/ukuku mask in a campaign spot.

Musicians from the community of Pomacanchi. Credit: Zoila Mendoza

Though this incident is framed as cultural appropriation by a political party, problems arise when the conceptual frameworks around cultural appropriation in the United States are imposed on this incident. As Mendoza points out, in the pilgrimage "there is not a dichotomy as far as Catholic and not-Catholic. It doesn't exist." Nor is there a dichotomy between being Indigenous and mestizoa term that refers to having mixed Indigenous and European heritage. Bruce Mannheim, anthropologist at the University of Michigan, explained that the thinking around appropriation in the United States "has essentialized ethnicity in ways that it's not necessarily essentialized on the ground." The Quyllurit'i pilgrimage is composed of many mestizo participants, and though Western thought assumes Indigenous and mestizo identities to be mutually exclusive, the Council of Nations presented itself as an Indigenous organization in resisting the appropriation of the pablito/ukuku. Because historically there have not been strong claims to indigeneitywhich has long been associated with lower social standingin the Peruvian Andes, this response represents an emerging identity politics around indigeneity.

In addition, Mannheim explained to GlacierHub the significance of religious context in understanding the conflict over the appropriation of the pablito/ukuku dancers. "The ukukus have to be recruited through a religious brotherhood, and it requires devotion a kind of year-round participation in activities, culminating in going to Quyllurit'i," he said. "A political party cannot use ukukus because they belong to the religious context. So the appropriation is from religion to politics."

It remains to be seen whether the Council of Nations and other regional organizations will begin to self-identify as Indigenous. Regardless, the events of 2014 altered the political landscape of Cusco and opened the door to new possibilities for Indigenous self-identification. As this identification continues to evolve, it is likely to continue drawing on the longstanding devotion to the shrines and glacier peaks of the region.

Explore further When COVID-19 quarantines ancestral Andean rituals

More information: Guillermo Salas Carreno. Intangible heritage and the indigenization of politics in the Peruvian Andes: the dispute over the political party appropriation of the pablito/ukuku dancer, Latin American and Caribbean Ethnic Studies (2020). Guillermo Salas Carreno. Intangible heritage and the indigenization of politics in the Peruvian Andes: the dispute over the political party appropriation of the pablito/ukuku dancer,(2020). DOI: 10.1080/17442222.2020.1796316

This story is republished courtesy of Earth Institute, Columbia University http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu.
The much-awaited Apple India online store is finally going Live tomorrow, September 23. This launch of the Apple online store for India comes just in time for the festive shopping spree usually seen around the Dussehra and Diwali festivals. This will be Apples first direct retail presence in the country, at a time when the company is pushing for more Make in India initiatives, particularly for the iPhone line-up. The Apple online store for India will now join Apples ecommerce platforms in 37 other countries, including the US and UK. Till now, Apple relied on authorized distributors and retailers in India for offline sales as well as on online shopping platforms such as Amazon.in and Flipkart. Apple will offer trade-in for your existing iPhones as well as other smartphones when you buy a new Apple iPhone from the Apple India online store.

The Apple online store for India will sell the companys complete range of products, which includes the iPhone line-up, the Mac computing device line-up, the iPad series, Apple Watch, Apple AirPods family, HomePod smart speaker and more. Just as Apples experiential standardization at all its online and offline stores around the world, the India store will also have the same premium experience that Apple stores deliver in other countries. There will be localizations as well, which include Shopping Assistance that includes the ability to connect with Apple Specialists, in English and Hindi languages. These specialists will be able to help with support and pre-purchase guidance.

Apples complete line-up of iPhones, which include the latest generation Apple iPhone SE, Apple iPhone 11, Apple iPhone 11 Pro, Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max and the Apple iPhone XR will be on sale. It is expected that all variants as well as colour options will be available to order. Apple will also offer a trade-in option which will allow you to exchange your existing iPhone or any other smartphone and get an instant discount quote on the purchase of your new iPhonethe amount will be adjusted in the final bill that you need to pay. Were proud to be expanding in India and want to do all we can to support our customers and their communities. We know our users are relying on technology to stay connected, engage in learning, and tap into their creativity, and by bringing the Apple Store online to India, we are offering our customers the very best of Apple at this important time, says Deirdre OBrien, Apples senior vice president of Retail + People.

Alongside the Apple India online store will be the new Education Store, which will offer special discounts and pricing for the iPhone, iPad, Mac and other Apple products to teachers and students. There will also be special pricing for the accessories and the Apple Care+ extended warranty packages. This is something that Apple has on offer in many countries, and also offered it in India with the authorized distributors and retailers.

Apple says that there will be a wide range of payment and financing options which will be available to customers. EMI options for credit and debit cards, digital payment on delivery and RuPay cards will be accepted as payment methods. At this time, Apple is not offering cash on delivery (COD) as a payment option because of the contactless delivery requirements due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. RuPay is a domestic card payment service launched by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and plays a critical part in the governments push for digital transactions in the country.

All orders placed on the Apple India online store will be shipped with contactless delivery as the standard optionand delivers will be available across India. Orders will not require a signature to confirm receipt of delivery. Apple is partnering with Blue Dart for product shipment and expects all deliveries for orders to be completed between 24 hours and 72 hours from the time of payment.

Anyone purchasing an iMac 25-inch, iMac 27-inch, iMac Pro, Mac Pro, Mac Mini, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro 13 or the MacBook Pro 16 will also be able to take advantage of the Configure to Order option, which will allow you to pick and add upgrades for specifications such as processor, RAM, storage and graphics.

Ahead of the festive season, Apple will also offer gifting options as well as the ability to engrave text or emojis on Apple AirPods, Apple iPad and the Apple Pencil. Initially, engraving will be available in English as well as 7 Indian languages such as Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Marathi, Tamil, and Telugu for the Apple AirPods, and English for the Apple iPad and Apple Pencil.

Since the experience at a physical Apple retailer isnt exactly an option for many potential and new customers right now, Apple will be sharing invites with those who make a purchase via the Apple India online store for a post-delivery session with an Apple Specialist who can help with setting up the product as well as provide tips which can also be tailored specific to your requirements.

At this time, the Apple India online store will not be selling gadgets and accessories from third-party brands.

It was in August last year that the Government of India had made changes to the foreign direct investment (FDI) rules which earlier required companies including Apple to source 30% of the value of goods purchased locally. That definition was widened to count all procurements made from India by a single brand retail trade entity, towards local sourcing. The new guidelines also removed the requirement for companies to first set up a physical retail presence in the country.

Over the past few weeks, Apple has given the governments Make in India initiative a big boost by starting production of the latest generation iPhone SE as well as the flagship phones, the Apple iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and the iPhone 11 Pro Max in India. Apple also produces the iPhone XR in India. Apples partners in India, Foxconn and Wistron are now manufacturing and assembling the iPhones at their facilities in the country. The push for localized manufacturing and assembling, as well as the online retail presence, should combine to give Apple a big boost ahead of the festive season sales.

Have You Also Read?

Apple iPhone SE Is Also Now Made In India, But Does That Mean Your Next iPhone Will Cost Any Lesser?

India Could Clock More Than $100 Billion In Mobile Phone Exports As Apple And Samsung Lead The Way

With Made In India iPhones, Apple Set To Get Its India Online Store: Here Is What This Means For You
NEW HAVEN, Conn., Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Knights of Columbus has announced a "Novena for the Cause of Life" to be prayed over the nine days from Oct. 4 to 12 as part of Respect Life Month, annually observed by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).

K of C Supreme Knight Carl Anderson said the novena has been organized to include each day a period of reflection on a quote from Pope Francis on some aspect of the sanctity of life followed by a decade of the rosary and a closing prayer to Mary drawn from Evangelium Vitae, the 1995 pro-life encyclical by Pope St. John Paul II.

"The cause of life is today's preeminent priority, as Pope Francis indicated when meeting with the US bishops in January," Anderson said. "The Knights wish to join all Catholics in prayer with Pope Francis for an end to abortion, euthanasia and the many social ills that bring illness, broken families, unhappiness and premature death, especially for the vulnerable" said Anderson. "The theme of this year's national observance, 'Live the Gospel of Life,' says that, with Christ, we are meant to enjoy and foster life, the gift of being fully alive."

Each October the Church in the United States celebrates Respect Life Month with the first Sunday of October observed as Respect Life Sunday. During the month, the Church asks Catholics to reflect more deeply on the dignity of every human life.

"In 2020, we have lost lives due to the coronavirus pandemic and endured civil unrest, yet abortion remains the leading cause of death in America," said Anderson. "As the year enters its final months, we are prompted to pray more and with greater vigor that hearts may be more open to life in all of its stages."

The novena is available at kofc.org/novena.

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 offers extensive life insurance services to members and their families, resulting in more than $114 billion of life insurance in force. Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors offers investment services to individuals and institutions in accord with Catholic social teachings. From helping children in need, to providing wheelchairs for the disabled, to helping stock food banks, to offering top-rated and affordable insurance products to its members, the Knights of Columbus has supported families and communities for more than 138 years.

SOURCE Knights of Columbus

Related Links

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Prince Charles has warned that we must now put ourselves on a warlike footing and approach the urgency of the climate crisis with a military-style campaign.

The Prince of Wales delivered a keynote address at the opening ceremony of Climate Week NYC, which brings together global leaders to discuss climate action plans in the race towards a net-zero emissions future.

Speaking in a video message recorded in the grounds of Balmoral, Prince Charles said that climate change is now rapidly becoming a comprehensive catastrophe that will dwarf the impact of the coronavirus pandemic".

"At this late stage I can see no other way forward but to call for a Marshall-like plan for nature, people and planet.

He added: We must now put ourselves on a warlike footing, approaching our action from the perspective of a military-style campaign.

Climate Week is made up of more than 350 events with many being held virtually this year due to the coronavirus.

It kicked off on Monday as leaders prepare to meet at the UN General Assembly in New York to discuss global challenges, including the climate crisis.

The royal, a keen environmentalist, said the Covid-19 pandemic is a "window of opportunity" to reset the economy for a greener future.

Without swift and immediate action, at an unprecedented pace and scale, we will miss the window of opportunity to 'reset' for ... a more sustainable and inclusive future, he said.

Helen Clarkson, CEO of the Climate Group, which is behind the weeklong event, said: His Royal Highnesss address was incredibly moving  it is heartening to hear him and so many of our other speakers call for such large scale action.

"Invoking the Marshall Plan harks back to a very special moment in history, when the US led by example on the biggest issue of the day. I hope that decision makers in the US hear that call and take note.

The Prince of Wales, 71, who tested positive for coronavirus in March, previously urged members of the Commonwealth to come together to tackle climate change.

He called on business and political leaders to embrace a radical reshaping of economies and markets in order to tackle the crisis at the Davos summit back in January.

Last month a study suggested the global lockdown will have a "negligible" impact on rising temperatures but a green recovery could avert dangerous climate change.

Experts led by the University of Leeds found that lockdowns caused a fall in transport use, as well as reductions in industry and commercial operations, cutting the greenhouse gases and pollutants caused by vehicles and other activities.

However the impact is only short-lived, with analysis showing that even if some measures last until the end of 2021, global temperatures will only be 0.01C lower than expected by 2030.

The Press Association contributed to this report
Lac Simard Property Abuts Southern Edge of Agnico Eagle's Goldex Claim Block within a 20 km region with three operating Gold mines

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / September 22, 2020 / Victory Resources Corporation (CSE:VR)(FWB:VR61)(OTC PINK:VRCFF) ("Victory" or the "Company) is pleased to announce the arms-length acquisition of the Lac Simard Property in Quebec from Archie Capital Inc.

The Lac Simard Property (the "Property") is approximately 5 km south of Val-d'Or, Quebec. The Property abuts the southern edge of Agnico Eagle's Goldex claim block. There are 3 operating gold mines within 20 km of the Property including Agnico Eagle's Goldex and Canadian Malartic mines and Eldorado Gold's Lamaque mine. All three of which are considered to be orogenic gold deposits and occur along the Larder Lake - Cadillac Fault System.

Background on the Three operating Gold Mines in the area of the Lac Simard Property

Agnico Eagle's Goldex Mine is 6 km north of the Property. The Goldex Deposit has proven and probable mineral reserves of 1.1 million ounces of gold (21.0 million tonnes grading 1.61 grams/tonne gold) as of December 31, 2019. It is an underground mine exploiting a stockwork of quartz or quartz- tourmaline-pyrite veins and veinlets associated with the Goldex Granodiorite.

Canadian Malartic, also owned by Agnico Eagle (in partnership with Yamana Gold), is Canada's largest operating open pit gold mine. It is about 20 km to the northwest of the Property. The 55,000-tonnes/day open-pit mine and plant produced 662,918 ounces of gold in 2019. Its gold reserves as of 2019 were 2,389,000 ounces. Canadian Malartic is a large-tonnage, low-grade Archean gold system, consisting of a widespread shell of disseminated gold-bearing pyrite mineralization hosted by porphyritic felsic to intermediate intrusions and altered metasediments.

Lamaque is an underground gold mine owned by Eldorado Gold Corp., which declared commercial production on March 31, 2019. It is about 6 km north of the Lac Simard Property. Lamaque is expected to mine and process over 615,000 tonnes of ore at an average grade of 7.0 grams per tonne gold. Gold is found within quartz-tourmaline-carbonate veins, which are hosted within a series of sub-parallel sub- vertical shear zones centered around a steeply plunging cylinder-shaped porphyritic diorite.

The Property consists of 46 contiguous mining titles with a total area of 2560 hectares. The Property is largely underlain by metasediments of the Neoarchean Pontiac Group. Narrow ultramafic intrusives and/or volcanics occur at the west end of the Property. Several Biscotasing Dikes cross the Property. A regional fault which parallels the Larder Lake -Larder Lake Cadillac Fault system runs across the west half of the Property. The Property is road accessible and is crossed by an all-weather road.

Terms of the agreement include 5,000,000 shares at a deemed price of .115 CAD and $25,000. The shares will be subject to a four-month hold.

Scientific and technical information contained in this press release was reviewed and approved by Mr. Helgi Sigurgeirson, Victory geologist, and a "qualified person" under NI 43-101.

For further information, please contact:

Ivy Lu

Investor Relations

David Lane

President

Telephone: +1 (236) 317 2822

E-mail: IR@victoryresourcescorp.com

About Victory Resources Corporation

VICTORY RESOURCES CORPORATION (CSE: VR) is a publicly traded diversified investment corporation with mineral interests in North America. The company is also currently seeking other exploration opportunities, preferably in Canada.

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.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding future financial position, business strategy, use of proceeds, corporate vision, proposed acquisitions, partnerships, joint-ventures and strategic alliances and co-operations, budgets, cost and plans and objectives of or involving the Company. Such forward-looking information reflects management's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to management. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "predicts", "intends", "targets", "aims", "anticipates" or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases or may be identified by statements to the effect that certain actions "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. A number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause the actual results or performance to materially differ from any future results or performance expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company including, but not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions and dependence upon regulatory approvals. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. The Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by securities laws.

SOURCE: Victory Resources Corporation

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/607127/Victory-Resources-Announces-Acquisition-of-Lac-Simard-Quebec-Property
Tuesday turned out to be a day of symbolic fasting as two Rajya Sabha MPs, NCP chief Sharad Pawar and Rajya Sabha deputy chairman Harivansh, decided to go on an one-day fast for diametrically opposite reasons. While Pawar announced his fast in response to the suspension of eight Opposition MPs who were protesting against the two controversial farm bills, the Rajya Sabha deputy chairman hoped his fast may inspire a feeling of "self-purification" within the parliamentarians who "humiliated" him.

Eight Rajya Sabha MPs were suspended from the House on Monday for their "misconduct" during the passage of two farm bills on Sunday. Some of them threw rule book, tore its page and climbed the secretary general's table as they attacked Harivansh for going ahead with the process of the bills' passage.

Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, Pawar bemoaned the conduct of Deputy Chairman Harivansh and the Modi government''s decision of "bulldozing" the Opposition in the House. The eight MPs were expelled for expressing their opinion, Pawar said, adding the depty chairman did not give priority to (House) rules.

The whole fasting drama began in the morning after Harivansh offered tea to Opposition MPs sitting on dharna in Parliament complex, and also wrote a letter to Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu and President Ram Nath Kovind.

In the letter, he recalled his journey from a humble background and expressed his deep anguish at the "humiliating" conduct of several Opposition members towards him during the passage of farm bills on Sunday.

          ,      -                              ,      pic.twitter.com/K9uLy53xIB  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 22, 2020

Meanwhile, PM Modi hailed Harivansh's offer of tea to the suspended MPs and said the "inspiring" and "statesmanlike" conduct of Harivansh will make every democracy lover proud.

On the Rajya Sabha deputy chairman's letter to the president and the vice-president, Modi said, "I read the letter respected Harivansh ji wrote to the respected President. Every word of the letter has infused new confidence in our faith in democracy. This letter is inspirational and laudable too. There is truth in it and sensitivity too. I request every countryman to read it."

Praising the Rajya Sabha deputy chairman's gesture to the MPs on dharna, Modi said, "To personally serve tea to those who attacked and insulted him a few days ago as well as those sitting on dharna shows that Harivansh Ji has been blessed with a humble mind and a big heart. It shows his greatness. I join the people of India in congratulating Harivansh Ji."

The prime minister added, "For centuries, the great land of Bihar has been teaching us the values of democracy."
CLEVELAND, Ohio  Los Alamos County, New Mexico, was named the healthiest U.S. community in the U.S. News & World Report third annual 2020 Healthiest Communities rankings released Tuesday.

The Healthiest Communities list ranks 500 of the countrys healthiest communities based on evaluations of nearly 3,000 U.S. communities on health and health-related metrics in 10 categories, including education, population health, infrastructure and environment, U.S. News said.

It is a tool to help people, public health experts and policy makers understand where they are and how to improve, said Deidre McPhillips, senior data editor for U.S. News and World Report.

Among Ohio counties, Delaware County near Columbus ranked as the healthiest community with an overall ranking of 16, followed by Warren County near Cincinnati, with an overall ranking of 88 out of 500 ranked communities.

Delaware County earned its ranking due to good housing quality and good health outcomes, which measures life expectancy, teen birth rate and other factors, McPhillips said.

Among other Ohio counties, Medina County ranked 108th on the overall Healthiest Communities list of 500 ranked communities. Union County, with Marysville as its county seat, ranked 162. Geauga County ranked 206 in the rankings.

Medina Countys low health disparities and low numbers of premature deaths helped it earn that ranking, McPhillips said.

Cuyahoga, Summit, Lorain and Lake counties ranked below the cutoff of the 500 top counties in the rankings.

However, Cuyahoga County ranked high in infrastructure and access to care as compared to other Ohio counties, McPhillips said. Cuyahoga County ranked lower in health, education and income equity.

Having a population that exercises, enjoys high-quality housing, low health disparities and low teen birth rates helped some communities rank high on the U.S. News list.

Los Alamos County  which surrounds the city of Los Alamos  has consistently ranked high in the annual Healthiest Communities report because so many residents dont smoke and do get regular exercise, McPhillips said.

Douglas County, Colorado  part of the Denver-Aurora-Lakewood metropolitan area  ranked second in the Healthy Communities rankings, with Falls Church, Virginia, in third place. Communities in Colorado, Virginia and Minnesota rounded out the top 10 list.

This year, the Healthiest Communities report used new measures that explored medical debt, census self-response rates and eviction rates within communities.

The rankings used 2019 data that did not reflect the COVID-19 pandemic, McPhillips said.

The Healthiest Community report includes articles looking at COVID-19 case rates as it correlated to community health. The report found that the top 500 Healthiest Communities have a coronavirus case rate that is 40% lower than other counties, U.S. News said. Los Alamos County in New Mexico has one of the 100 lowest rates of COVID-19 cases in the country.

When looking at correlations between COVID-19 and race, the report found that majority-Black counties had an average case rate and death rate that are about double the national average. Of the 25 communities with the highest COVID-19 death rate, 20 have a Black population that is above average, and eight have a majority-Black population, the report said.

It was important to bring the COVID-19 element to the analysis because it touches on every part of community life, McPhillips said.

U.S. News also created separate lists for access to health care and mental health.

Olmsted County, Minnesota, surrounding the county seat Rochester, Minnesota, ranked No. 1 for access to health care. Not surprisingly, Honolulu County, Hawaii, was the top community for mental health.

The Healthiest Communities rankings, underwritten by the Aetna Foundation, are part of a $100 million Building Healthier Communities initiative, funded over five years by CVS Health and the CVS Health and Aetna foundations. The Aetna Foundation is an independent and philanthropic affiliate of CVS Health.

The Building Healthier Communities initiative advances CVS Healths goal of helping people achieve better health.

Data for the rankings came from U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, the U.S. Census Bureau, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other sources.

U.S. News partnered with the University of Missouri Center for Applied Research and Engagement Systems (CARES), a research institution skilled in community health assessment to compile the rankings for the Healthiest Communities project.
A new Louis Theroux episode The Night In Question, which surrounds campus sexual assault in the US, will have its Free to Air premiere on ABC in early October.

This has previously aired on Pay TV in May 2019.

At a time of increased scrutiny about what constitutes sexual assault, award-winning documentary-maker Louis Theroux heads to American college campuses and comes face-to-face with students whose universities are accusing them of sexual assault.

As reports of sexual violence have dramatically increased in recent years, the government has urged US colleges to enforce a stricter code of sexual conduct amongst students. Employing specialist administrators to carry out investigations into alleged misdemeanours, they now have the power to permanently exclude those they deem responsible.

For the victims of sexual assault these new processes, which require less stringent levels of proof than criminal cases, have allowed accusations that might have never been heard in a court of law to be vindicated. But alleged perpetrators believe the attempt to be more vigilant about rape and assault has turned into an overreaction that tramples on due process, and harms innocent people.

At the start of this journey, Louis meets a neuroscience major called Saif Khan, who has been accused of raping a fellow student. His University is investigating the claims separately even though Saif has been found not-guilty in a court of law. Though Saif continuously pleads his innocence, Louis is drawn into an increasingly complex world, where separating fact from fiction becomes increasingly challenging.

He also meets young women whose claims of sexual assault have previously fallen on deaf ears, who believe that a new approach to handling allegations of sex crimes is not only necessary but long overdue.

Production details: A BBC Studios Production. Filmed & Directed by Lottie Gammon.

Tuesday 6 October 9.30pm on ABC.
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Social isolation resulting from the pandemic has impacted some Americans' mental (45%) and physical (40%) health, with many worrying more now about their family's health (74%) and financial stability (62%) than they did before. Millennials and Gen Xers are more likely than Boomers+ to feel these impacts, saying they worry more now about their financial stability (71% and 69% vs. 52%), their health (68% and 67% vs. 60%) and death (54% and 53% vs. 38%).

A new Nationwide Retirement Institute survey conducted by The Harris Poll in May 2020 reveals over half of Millennials (52%) and Gen Xers (57%) have had certain aspects of their health and/or finances directly impacted by the pandemic, compared to 37% of Boomers+. In addition, nearly 2 in 5 Millennials (39%) and Gen Xers (37%) say COVID-19 has already impacted their retirement plans, compared to 1 in 5 Boomers+ (19%).

"Health care costs have long been a stressful topic for Americans, and even more so during the COVID-19 pandemic," said Kristi Rodriguez, leader of the Nationwide Retirement Institute. "In fact, nearly three in four Americans across all generations worry even more now about their family's health than they did before the pandemic. And all too often, that stress can impact their physical health as well as their mental health."

Much of this concern, particularly for Millennials and Gen Xers may be connected to the costs associated with health care, given nearly half report their financial health has been negatively impacted by health care costs (46% and 44% vs. 22% of Boomers+). A surprise health scare could also trigger a worse financial situation, since over a quarter of Americans (27%) say they wouldn't be able to pay off an unexpected $5,000 out-of-pocket medical bill today.

The uncertainty of health care costs in retirement also worries all generations, but especially Gen Xers, with a majority saying one of their top fears in retirement is their health care costs getting out of control (81% Gen Xers vs. 74% Millennials and 71% Boomers+). Most Americans, again especially Gen Xers but also Millennials, are also terrified of what health care costs may do to their retirement plans (70% Millennials, 77% Gen Xers vs. 58% Boomers+), as well as terrified of what a global health care crisis (such as COVID-19) may do to their retirement plans (73% Millennials, 81% Gen Xers vs. 62% Boomers+).

The stress of health care costs could also be worsening younger Americans' wellness, with 53% of Millennials and 42% of Gen Xers saying some aspect of their life has been negatively affected by financial stress. And about half of Millennials and Gen Xers say social isolation during the pandemic has had a negative impact on their mental (55% and 53%) or physical health (50% and 47%), compared to a third or fewer Boomers+ (33% and 28% respectively).



Lack of prioritizing preventative care

While younger generations are more likely to report wanting to do more to prioritize their health (83% Millennials and 85% Gen Xers, compared to 72% Boomers+), they are less likely to have taken the steps to address their health concerns through preventative care. While Millennials and Gen Xers are aware of the benefits these actions can have most agree that years from now, they'll say they wish they would have taken better care of their health (67% Millennials, 68% Gen Xers vs. 54% Boomers+)  they are not taking steps to address these concerns.



Younger generations are less likely to have received certain preventative care services such as physical or well-checks, preventative screenings, or flu shots or other immunizations in the past year (64% Millennials, 79% Gen Xers, 89% Boomers+)

Half of Millennials (52%) and Gen Xers (51%) have done something to save on medical related expenses, most commonly altering a medication regimen (32% and 32%) or delaying or skipping care (30% and 31%)

43% of Millennials and 49% of Gen Xers who haven't received preventative care say they don't know why they haven't

Relying on financial professionals

More than a quarter of Americans (30%) say COVID-19 has impacted their retirement or their retirement plans. Most of those who have financial professionals say they are relying on them more than ever due to COVID-19 (Millennials 79%, Gen Xers 70%, Boomers+ 52%) and about one in four Millennials (30%) and Gen Xers (24%) who don't have a financial professional say they plan to engage one due to COVID-19.



As the role of financial professionals evolves amid COVID-19, it is crucial to provide guidance around health care costs in and out of retirement with clients. This is especially important for Millennials, with over a quarter (27%) now expecting their financial professional to provide guidance on near-term health care costs. In addition, the average American lacks knowledge about health care costs, with only a third saying they feel knowledgeable about how much they'll need to cover health care costs in retirement (35% Millennials, 35% Gen Xers, 30% Boomers+).



"Although many adults are concerned about health care costs in retirement or in their later years, many are not having informed discussions with professionals on how to prepare," said Rodriguez. "Working with a financial professional and taking advantage of online planning tools can help adults both young and old reach their personal goals. In addition, talking about your plan with someone can help ease anxiety and reduce stress during this uncertain time."

To help financial professionals guide these conversations, Nationwide's Health Care Cost Assessment tool uses proprietary health risk analysis and updated actuarial cost data such as personal health and lifestyle information, health care costs, and medical coverage. It provides a meaningful, personalized cost estimate that will help financial professionals and clients estimate future medical and long-term care expenses.

To learn more about the 2020 Nationwide Retirement Institute Health Care Costs in Retirement consumer survey, visit www.nationwide.com/healthcareinsights.com. In addition, financial professionals can visit www.nationwidefinancial.com/healthcareinsights to learn more.

Methodology

The 2020 Nationwide Retirement Institute Health Care survey was conducted online within the United States between May 7-26, 2020 among 1,940 adults aged 24 and over by The Harris Poll on behalf of The Nationwide Retirement Institute.

Respondents for these surveys were selected from among those who have agreed to participate in our surveys. Because the sample is based on those who agreed to participate in the online panel, no estimates of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. Data are weighted where necessary by age by gender, race/ethnicity, region, education, income, marital status, household size, and propensity to be online to bring them in line with their actual proportions in the population.

About The Harris Poll

The Harris Poll is one of the longest running surveys in the U.S. tracking public opinion, motivations and social sentiment since 1963 and is now part of Harris Insights & Analytics, a global consulting and market research firm that delivers social intelligence for transformational times. We work with clients in three primary areas; building twenty-first-century corporate reputation, crafting brand strategy and performance tracking, and earning organic media through public relations research. Our mission is to provide insights and advisory to help leaders make the best decisions possible. To learn more, please visit www.theharrispoll.com.

About Nationwide

Nationwide, a Fortune 100 company based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest and strongest diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the United States. Nationwide is rated A+ by both A.M. Best and Standard & Poor's. An industry leader in driving customer-focused innovation, Nationwide provides a full range of insurance and financial services products including auto, business, homeowners, farm and life insurance; public and private sector retirement plans, annuities and mutual funds; excess & surplus, specialty and surety; pet, motorcycle and boat insurance. For more information, visit www.nationwide.com. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

This material is not a recommendation to buy, sell, hold, or rollover any asset, adopt an investment strategy, retain a specific investment manager or use a particular account type. It does not take into account the specific investment objectives, tax and financial condition or particular needs of any specific person. Investors should work with their financial professional to discuss their specific situation.

This information is general in nature and is not intended to be tax, legal, accounting or other professional advice. The information provided is based on current laws, which are subject to change at any time, and has not been endorsed by any government agency.

Nationwide and The Harris Poll are separate and non-affiliated companies.

Nationwide Investment Services Corporation (NISC), member FINRA, Columbus, OH. Nationwide Retirement Institute is a division of NISC.

Nationwide, the Nationwide N and Eagle, Nationwide is on your side and Nationwide Retirement Institute are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company  Nationwide 2020

NFM-20102AO

Contact:

Charley Gillespie

[email protected]

SOURCE Nationwide

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Wang Deying spent the first 82 years of her life in her ancestral village nestled in the misty mountains of south west China.

Living off the land, without power or water, her 721-person Tibetan community of Qingshui was largely cut off from China's rapid economic growth that has pulled millions of other villages out of poverty.

But then officials of the Sichuan provincial government arrived with construction equipment. They paved roads, installed lines for power and water, and built brand new apartments downhill not unlike planned suburban communities in the West.

They then relocated the entire village from old to new.

Wang hasn't looked back. She says she prefers watching television to the flames of the hearth and is proud that all of her five grandchildren are studying in college.

"Now even the pigs eat rice," she said. "You can eat whatever you like now."

Further down the hill from the new town, a dozen Tibetan women work cabbage patches on a series of wide terraces in the mountain valley.

Chen Shuying, 40, remembers life before the relocation of Qingshui  and she says she's happy now to earn 80 yuan (12 US dollars) a day harvesting cabbages.

She knows the government's plans to eradicate poverty, and says the entire community is backing the effort.

"This is the year to get rid of poverty. The government and everyone are all working on it; the public, the farmers, the village citizens," Chen said.

While other nations invest in developing poor areas, China doesn't hesitate to operate on a more ambitious scale by moving communities wholesale and building new towns in its effort to modernise.

The ruling Communist Party has announced an official target of ending extreme poverty by the end of the year, ahead of next year's 100th anniversary of its founding.

The party says such initiatives have helped to lift millions of people out of poverty. But they can require drastic changes, like uprooting whole communities.

They fuel complaints the party is trying to erase cultures as it prods minorities to embrace the language and lifestyle of the Han, who make up more than 90% of China's population.

At a time when the party faces protests by students in China's northern region of Inner Mongolia over plans to reduce the use of the Mongolian language in schools, officials want to show they are sensitive to minority cultures.

They invited reporters to visit Qingshui and four other villages Xujiashan, Chengbei Gan'en, Daganyi and Xiaoshan that are part of what authorities see as a successful development project for ethnic minorities of Tibetan and Yi peoples in Sichuan province's Liangshan prefecture.

The initiative is one of hundreds launched over the past four decades to spread prosperity from China's thriving east to the countryside and west.

In one village, Xujiashan, annual household income has risen from 1,750 yuan (260 US dollars) in 2014 to 11,000 yuan (1,600 US dollars), according to its deputy secretary, Zhang Lixin.

He showed journalists the old wooden homes of the villagers; dirt floors, cobwebs and sagging roofs.

Xujiashan, like most of Liangshan county, is the homeland of the Yi people, an ethnic minority with its own language, Nuoso.

The new village boasts multistorey white homes with power, electricity, and ubiquitous posters of President Xi Jinping.

Xie Jinming, a 70-year old Yi, enjoys the modern life.

Speaking to reporters beneath a portrait of Xi, he lamented the conditions of his old home and thanked the Communist Party for giving them new ones.

"That old house was very dusty because we burned wood. And now the Communist Party has built new houses for us," he said.

Murals on buildings in Xujiashan depict the Yi with members of the Han majority in amicable scenes. One shows a baby holding a heart emblazoned with the ruling party's hammer-and-sickle symbol.

In Sichuan, which includes some of China's poorest areas, 80 billion yuan (12 billion US dollars) has been spent to date to relocate 1.4 million people, according to the local government.

That includes 370,000 new homes and over 110,000 kilometres (68,000 miles) of rural roads.

Development initiatives can lead to political tension because many have strategic goals such as strengthening Han control over minority areas by encouraging nomads to settle or diluting the local populace with outsiders.

In Inner Mongolia, students boycotted classes in at least five areas this month over plans to eliminate Mongolian-language textbooks.

The party faces similar complaints that it is suppressing local languages in Tibet and the Muslim region of Xinjiang in the northwest.

Xinjiang's Han party secretary said in 2002 the language of the Uighurs, its most populous ethnic group, was "out of step with the 21st century" and should be abandoned in favour of Mandarin.
A $1bn (781.5m) fund Congress gave the Pentagon in March to build up the country's supplies of medical equipment has instead been mostly funnelled to defence contractors and used for making things such as jet engine parts, body armour and dress uniforms.

The change illustrates how one taxpayer-backed effort to battle the novel coronavirus, which has killed roughly 200,000 Americans, was instead diverted towards patching up long-standing perceived gaps in military supplies.

The Cares Act, which Congress passed earlier this year, gave the Pentagon money to "prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus". But a few weeks later, the Defence Department began reshaping how it would award the money in a way that represented a major departure from Congress's original intent.

The payments were made even though US health officials believe there are still major funding gaps in responding to the pandemic. Robert Redfield, director of the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, said in Senate testimony last week that states desperately need $6bn (4.68bn) to distribute vaccines to Americans early next year. There remains a severe shortage of N95 masks at numerous US hospitals. These are the types of problems that the money was originally intended to address.

"This is part and parcel of whether we have budget priorities that actually serve our public safety or whether we have a government that is captured by special interests," said Mandy Smithberger, a defence analyst at the Project on Government Oversight, a watchdog group.

Recommended Trump reverses Pentagon move to close military newspaper amid blowback from veterans

The $1bn fund is just a fraction of the $3tn (2.3tn) in emergency spending that Congress approved earlier this year to deal with the pandemic. But it shows how the blizzard of bailout cash was - in some cases - redirected to firms that weren't originally targeted for assistance. It also shows how difficult it has been for officials to track how money is spent and - in the case of Congress - intervene when changes are made. The Trump administration has done little to limit the defence firms from accessing multiple bailout funds at once and is not requiring the companies to refrain from layoffs as a condition of receiving the awards.

Some defence contractors were given the Pentagon money even though they had already dipped into another pot of bailout funds, the Paycheck Protection Programme.

Congress, at Donald Trump's urging, is now debating whether to pass another massive stimulus package, and the Pentagon and defence contractors have called for another $11bn (8.5bn) to be directed towards their programmes.

The $1bn fund was allocated under the Defence Production Act, which allows Mr Trump to compel US companies to manufacture products in the nation's interest.

Mr Trump has described the law as a "tremendous hammer" and boasted in August that he has "used the DPA more comprehensively than any president in history". His administration was under intense pressure this spring to use the law to address dire shortages in medical-grade masks and other supplies.

But in the months after the stimulus package was passed, the Pentagon changed how the money would be used. It decided to give defence contractors hundreds of millions of dollars from the fund, mostly for projects that have little to do with the coronavirus response. Defence Department lawyers quickly determined that the funds could be used for defence production, a conclusion that Congress later disputed.

Among the awards: $183m (143m) to firms including Rolls-Royce and ArcelorMittal to maintain the shipbuilding industry; tens of millions of dollars for satellite, drone and space surveillance technology; $80m (62.5m) to a Kansas aircraft parts business suffering from the Boeing 737 Max grounding and the global slowdown in air travel; and $2m (1.5m) for a domestic manufacturer of Army dress uniform fabric.

DOD officials contend that they have sought to strike a balance between boosting American medical production and supporting the defence industry, whose health they view as critical to national security. The Pentagon, which as of 2016 employed more than 156,000 people working in acquisitions alone, has also lent its expertise to the Department of Health and Human Services as it seeks to purchase billions of dollars in needed medical equipment.

Ellen Lord, undersecretary of defence for acquisition and sustainment, said her office has worked closely with Congress and federal agencies to meet the needs of both the medical and defence industries.

"We are thankful the Congress provided authorities and resources that enabled the [executive branch] to invest in domestic production of critical medical resources and protect key defence capabilities from the consequences of Covid," Ms Lord said in a statement. "We need to always remember that economic security and national security are very tightly interrelated and our industrial base is really the nexus of the two."

The Democratic-controlled House Committee on Appropriations has made clear that the Defence Department's decision to funnel the DPA funding to defence contractors went against its intent in that section of the Cares Act, which was to spur the manufacturing of personal protective equipment.

"The Committee's expectation was that the Department would address the need for PPE industrial capacity rather than execute the funding for the DIB (defence industrial base)," the committee wrote in its report on the 2021 defence bill.

Pentagon officials counter that they have been fully transparent with both Democrats and Republicans in Congress on their plans for the funds.

Defence officials say the Pentagon's funding priorities were influenced heavily by an industry study drawn up in 2018. The study, prompted by an early executive order from Mr Trump and by economic adviser Peter Navarro and carried out in close consultation with defence industry associations, pointed to several hundred supply chain shortfalls that could hamper the US military's ability to compete with China.

The Pentagon receives funding under the Defence Production Act each year to shore up companies it deems critical, but in much smaller amounts - the 2020 allocation was about $64m (50m). The money is disbursed by the Pentagon's industrial policy office under the law's Title III, which gives the president broad authority to mobilise domestic industry.

The pandemic funding "became an opportunity for the Department to take what is almost a windfall and use it to try and fill what are some very critical industrial base needs  but that are only tangentially related to Covid," said Bill Greenwalt, a visiting fellow with the conservative American Enterprise Institute who oversaw defence acquisitions in the George W Bush administration.

The virus-related funding came at a time when US military spending was already near all-time highs. The $686bn (536.8bn) defence budget for fiscal year 2019 is comparable to a typical year during the Cold War or the period shortly after 9/11, although it has declined somewhat as a percentage of the economy. Major defence contractors such as Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics and Northrop Grumman have remained financially healthy despite some pandemic-related disruption, and have continued paying stock dividends to investors.

Defence industry groups argue that the DOD awards are crucial to ensuring that important niche manufacturers don't wither away during the economic shock caused by the pandemic. Companies that sell aircraft parts for both military and commercial jets, for example, have been financially wrecked by a global slowdown in air travel.

"As you lose some of these capabilities, some of them are gone forever, and it comes at a very high price to reconstitute them," said Wes Hallman, vice president for policy at the National Defence Industrial Association, a trade group.

Over a third of the awards were for less than $5m (3.9m) and went to smaller firms such as the American Woolen Company in Connecticut, which received $2m (1.5m) to help make Army dress uniforms. Executives at the company did not return voice mails and emails. A batch of small awards went to companies working on drone technology.

"At the root of this was an enormous unprecedented crisis we were facing, and the need for government to move quickly, which it did," said Eric Fanning, a former Army secretary who is president of the Aerospace Industry Association.

But hundreds of millions of dollars also flowed to several large, established companies, such as GE Aviation, a subsidiary of General Electric, which received two awards worth $75m (58.7m) in June. A subsidiary of Rolls-Royce - a company best known for its luxury cars but that also has a lucrative line of business as a military supplier - received $22m (17.2m) to upgrade a Mississippi plant.

Rolls-Royce did not respond to specific questions about the award.

"This funding pulled planned work on existing signed contracts between GE Aviation and the US government forward and is an important way to help ensure our engineering activities and supply chain, which includes many small and medium-sized companies, can continue to deliver for the Armed Forces, sustain jobs and support the economy," said Perry Bradley, a GE Aviation spokesman.

Critics say it's unclear why the defence industry should have gotten what amounts to a dedicated bailout fund when few other sectors of the economy got the same treatment.

And government data shows that at least 10 of the approximately 30 companies known to have received the Defence Department DPA funds also got loans through the Paycheck Protection Programme, another relief package created by the Cares Act. That programme, overseen by the Small Business Administration, offered millions of firms forgivable loans if they used the lion's share on payroll.

For instance, Weber Metals, a California-based subsidiary of German firm Otto Fuchs, received between $5m (3.9m) and $10m (7.8m) through PPP in April to support 412 jobs, and then got an extra boost through a $25m (19.5m) DOD relief award in June. Weber officials did not respond to requests for comment.

Defence Department spokeswoman Jessica Maxwell said the two bailout programmes are not "in conflict or duplicative", because a PPP loan does not make any directive with respect to supporting national defence.

ModalAI, a small California company that builds drone flight controllers and computing platforms, received $3m (2.3m) through the Pentagon programme for an 18-month effort to develop a new flight controller. In April, it received a PPP loan of between $150,000 (117,458) and $350,000 (274,092).

Chad Sweet, chief executive and co-founder of ModalAI, said the company's proposal was long-planned - it started applying for the Pentagon funds last summer, several months before the pandemic hit. The process gained steam in March and April.

The Defence Department asked ModalAI for documentation on how its business was affected by the pandemic, as well as information on other relief funding it has received. The Pentagon then made the decision unilaterally that ModalAI's award would come out of the Cares Act funding.

"I don't know how they made that decision," Mr Sweet said. He said his firm has been able to hire about five to seven employees as a result of the DOD award.

The Pentagon did initially plan to spend the bulk of the $1bn fund on medical supplies. In April, Ms Lord told reporters that three-quarters would go toward medical resources, and the rest to defence contractors.

But in June, she told lawmakers during a congressional hearing that the department soon realised that defence contractors had "critical needs as well".

So DOD lawyers approved an arrangement whereby some $17bn (13.3bn) in HHS funds would be used for the medical industry instead, freeing up more money for defence contractors.

"So it expands the pool, and allows us to use even more money while taking the balance of the $1bn that came through for DPA Title III, and use a portion of that for the defence industrial base," Ms Lord said at the hearing. Ultimately, in the spending plan that the Pentagon presented to Congress in June, it set aside $688m (538.9m) for the defence industry.

Thomas Spoehr, director of the Heritage Foundation's Centre for National Defence, said Pentagon officials contend they have thrown all the money they can at the effort to produce the medical supplies needed to combat the pandemic.

"Their belief is that any investment that could be made to increase the production of Covid-19 items has been made," he said.

One midsized company that benefited from the DOD awards was SolAero Technologies, an Albuquerque firm that makes satellite solar power systems and employs about 320 people.

When the pandemic hit, the firm was squeezed between the huge companies it supplies, which slowed down production, and the smaller, often cash-based businesses that make up its own suppliers, which it was trying to support, said chief executive Brad Clevenger.

Around March, the company heard from Ms Lord's office, which was reaching out to defence contractors to understand how the pandemic was affecting them. SolAero worked with the Pentagon to check if the company was eligible for other relief programmes, which it was not, Mr Clevenger said.

In late May, the Pentagon announced a $6m (4.7m) award to SolAero to expand production. Mr Clevenger praised the process, which he said involved multiple layers of review but still delivered needed help in a span of two months.

In its news release announcing the deal, the Defence Department said the funds would "enable SolAero to retain critical workforce capabilities throughout the disruption caused by Covid-19 and to restore some jobs lost because of the pandemic". Mr Clevenger estimated that the award saved the jobs of 25 SolAero employees.

But the Pentagon did not impose any requirement that SolAero refrain from layoffs as a condition of receiving the funds, only that it deliver on the agreed project, Mr Clevenger said.

"How we do that, with what workforce, is up to us," he said.

The Washington Post
"Our DFARS and CMMC compliance solutions were created to take the confusion out of DoD compliance. DoD contractors want to comply and often need guidance because its not their area of expertise. Were happy to help them comply and keep DoD contracts." - Christian Espinosa, Alpine Security CEO

Cybersecurity training, testing, and auditing experts, Alpine Security, announce the inclusion of DFARS and CMMC Compliance audits to its portfolio. By providing these services to organizations, they help the Department of Defense (DoD) contractors safeguard Covered Defense Information (CDI). The compliance requirements are often complex, and businesses can benefit from third-party expertise.

This set of cybersecurity and compliance solutions aims to help businesses be compliant with DFARS Clause 252.204-7012, NIST 800-171, and CMMC security requirements. The program is set up to take a company through three evolutions. Each phase provides them with the insights and practices to mature their cybersecurity models and be proactive against cybersecurity risk.

In Evolution 1, a discovery session takes place to understand the organizations level of compliance. DFARS CUI (Controlled Unclassified Information) inventory occurs, followed by other assessments of assets and critical systems.

Evolution 2 focuses on remediation with the development of a CMMC Compliance Roadmap and an Incident Response Plan (IRP). This phase also covers Plan of Actions & Milestones (POA&M) with instructions on how to execute them.

In the final Evolution 3, the company performs a final compliance assessment and delivers recommended steps going forward. At the end, organizations have policies, procedures, workflows, and other documentation to support day-to-day operations.

Our DFARS and CMMC compliance solutions were created to take the confusion out of DoD compliance. DoD contractors want to comply and often need guidance because its not their area of expertise. Were happy to help them comply and keep DoD contracts", Christian Espinosa, Alpine Securitys CEO, commented.

Any business that has concerns around DFARS and CMMC compliance is a good fit for the program. Its the first step for companies to take to be compliance-ready. To learn more about the audit, visit https://alpinesecurity.com/services/dfars-and-cmmc-compliance-audit/ for details.

ABOUT ALPINE SECURITY

Alpine Security is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) formed in 2014. Founder Christian Espinosa, an expert in the field of cybersecurity, recognized the need for cybersecurity solutions for organizations to be more big picture than simply under the microscope. The company provides cybersecurity training, penetration testing, risk assessments, audits, and more. Learn more at alpinesecurity.com.
After a summer of rising tensions, it appears that Turkish provocations in the Eastern Mediterranean may be coming to an end

After a summer of political bravado and military showmanship in the Middle East, the East Mediterranean and North Africa (Libya), Turkey has shown, lately, that it is ready to climb down the escalation ladder.

Turkish provocations, particularly, in the Eastern Mediterranean have strained the relations of Ankara with some leading European powers, France especially, to the extent that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, contrary to all established diplomatic protocol, hurled nasty personal remarks against French President Emmanuel Macron. No need to quote him in this regard. International news agencies carried his words prominently.

This all comes against the backdrop of a severe economic crisis in Turkey where the Turkish lira lost 28 per cent of its value in the last eight months, with no prospects in sight  at least for now  that it would regain its former value against the US dollar. In addition, the current account is running a serious deficit.

The verbal bravado of the Turkish president coupled with the hawkish and war-like remarks of his top officials, namely his foreign and defence ministers, raised tension with European powers and with Greece and Cyprus in whose exclusive economic zones Turkey started exploration for oil and gas on the pretext that the two have violated the Turkish continental shelf and that Greek Cypriots violate the rights of Turkish Cypriots in Northern Cyprus regarding oil and gas resources in the Eastern Mediterranean.

But both the Turkish president and his foreign minister said last week that Turkey has no objections to starting a dialogue with Egypt in order to reach an agreement on the delineation of their respective maritime boundaries. On Wednesday, 16 September, the Turkish foreign minister, talking to a local Turkish TV station, said that in order to do so both Turkey and Egypt have to work on improving their political relations, relatively.

He added that such an agreement would be modelled along the lines of a similar agreement signed between Turkey and Libyas Government of National Accord (GNA) on 27 November 2019. He thanked Egypt, indirectly, for not violating the Turkish continental shelf in delineating its maritime boundaries with both Greece and Cyprus.

The Turkish president expressed his sadness Friday, 18 September, that Egypt had signed an agreement with Greece (on 6 August) on the delineation of their respective Exclusive Economic Zones in the Mediterranean. The Turkish president told the Turkish news media that there are talks taking place between the intelligence services of Egypt and Turkey centred on the prospects of reaching an agreement to delineate their respective maritime boundaries. These announcements came a few days after the Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri held talks with Greek officials in Athens.

Meanwhile, Turkey made it clear that it is ready to dialogue with Greece, while asking the European Union to be neutral when it comes to differences between Ankara and Athens related to their maritime differences. However, the Europeans have shown solidarity with both Greece and Cyprus, while calling for de-escalation and negotiations to reach a diplomatic solution to these serious differences.

In fact, the Europeans warned Turkey that it would be subject to sanctions in case it persists in military muscle-flexing and keeps violating the maritime sovereignty of Greece and Cyprus. The European Summit on 24-25 September is scheduled to take up this question of sanctions. Whether it would do so or not has been subject to speculation. What is certain is that the Europeans are working on a scenario to encourage Turkey to resort to diplomatic avenues to reach agreements with both Greece and Cyprus on the maritime boundaries among the three countries.

Of course, France is the leading European power in adopting a very firm stand against Turkish policies in the Eastern Mediterranean and in North Africa, while Germany is at the opposite end. France hosted a Med-7 Summit early September in Ajaccio, Corsica, a summit meeting that threated Turkey with sanctions in case it persists in violating the sovereignty and rights of Greece and Cyprus. The two attended this summit along with Italy, Spain, Portugal, Malta plus the host country France.

Meanwhile, in her first State of the Union address before the European Parliament on Wednesday, 16 September, the President of the European Commission Ursula Von Der Leyen, gave a hint as to how the European Union would handle one of its most delicate balancing acts in the Mediterranean at the present moment.

I quote: Our Member States Cyprus and Greece can always count on Europes full solidarity on protecting their legitimate sovereign rights. De-escalation in the Eastern Mediterranean is in our mutual interest. The return of exploratory vessels to Turkish ports in the past few days is a positive step in this direction. This is necessary to create the much-needed space for dialogue. Refraining from unilateral actions and resuming talks in genuine good faith is the only path forward. The only path to stability and lasting solutions.

The above is the most accurate description of where most member states within the European Union stand on the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean. No serious showdown with Turkey if it de-escalates. That is what Turkey is doing now. Whether this would remain the policy of Turkey after the European Summit this month remains to be seen. The odds are guardedly positive. After all, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo paid an official visit to Cyprus early September in a show of solidarity with the Cypriot government. This message was not lost on Ankara.

*The writer is former assistant foreign minister.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 24 September, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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It has been 75 years since the United Nations was founded. China's cooperation with the UN is growing stronger and deeper and is entering a new era.

China has taken a more proactive part in international affairs and made greater contributions to world peace and development. China stands for the international system built around the UN.

China plays an active role in safeguarding regional and international peace and security, and participating in UN peacekeeping operations. China also plays an essential role in addressing climate change, and promoting high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.

China and UN founding

The UN officially came into existence on Oct 24, 1945. China is a founding member of the intergovernmental organization and the first country to sign the UN Charter.

On October 25, 1971, the 26th Session of the UN General Assembly, recalling the principles of the Charter, adopted Resolution 2758 with an overwhelming majority and decided to restore the lawful seat of the People's Republic of China in the UN.

The resolution stated that the People's Republic of China is the only legitimate government of China. The resolution also recognized that the People's Republic of China is one of the five permanent members of the Security Council.

China and UN peacekeeping operations

Over the past 30 years, China has dispatched over 40,000 peacekeepers to 25 operations. Sixteen Chinese military peacekeepers have sacrificed their lives for the noble cause of peace. The Chinese peacekeepers are highly commended by the UN and host countries for their strict discipline and professionalism.

With more than 2,500 peacekeepers on duty as of August 2020, China is the largest contributor of peacekeepers among the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.

In September 2017, China completed the registration of a UN peacekeeping standby force of 8,000 troops. This force has 28 units in ten categories - infantry, engineer, transport, medical, force protection, rapid response, helicopter, transport aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, and surface ship units.

In addition, in June 2016, the Chinese Ministry of Public Security set up a permanent peacekeeping police squad, the first of its kind in the world.

China and UN 2030 Agenda

China seeks to advance both its own development interests and the shared interests of all nations. In the 40 years since 1978, when reform and opening-up began, more than 700 million Chinese people have been lifted out of poverty. This accounts for over 70 percent of poverty reduction worldwide.

Meanwhile, China has provided over 400 billion yuan in foreign aid and sent more than 600,000 aid workers to nearly 170 countries and international organizations. This is a big contribution to the global fight against poverty and to the development of all countries.

China is ready to share with other countries its experience in targeted poverty alleviation and eradication. Under the framework of South-South cooperation, China will continue to do its best to help other developing countries implement the 2030 Agenda.

China and UN reform

China supports Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' efforts to reform the UN system in the areas of peace and security, economic development and internal management. The reform should be led by member states and give full consideration to the concerns of developing members.

Stable and predictable funding is crucial to keep the UN running. China believes that the "capacity to pay" principle should be upheld and calls on member states to pay their assessments for both regular budget and peacekeeping operations on time and in full.

Since 2019, China has become the second largest contributor to the UN's regular and peacekeeping budgets and will continue to fulfill its financial obligations.

In 2015, a China-UN Peace and Development Fund was established, marking China's strong support for multilateralism and for the UN. Since its launch, the fund has financed about 100 projects and become a new platform for China-UN cooperation.

China's diplomacy at UN

As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China always stands on the side of peace, justice and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.

China actively looks for settlement of major regional hotspot issues, such as the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, the Iranian nuclear issue, Afghanistan, Myanmar, the Middle East, Syria, and South Sudan. In its pursuit of solutions to international and regional hotspot issues, China seeks to do it the Chinese way  a peaceful, legitimate and constructive way.

On the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, China stands for denuclearization, peace and stability on the peninsula and for a negotiated solution.

China thinks the implementation of the Iranian nuclear deal is not only what is required by the Security Council resolution, but also the only way to properly settle the Iranian nuclear issue.

Belt and Road and international cooperation

As of January 2020, 138 countries and 30 international organizations have signed Belt and Road cooperation documents with China. The initiative has become the largest platform for international cooperation and a popular public good in the world.

China has hosted the first and second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. Two separate lists of 279 and 283 practical cooperation deliverables were released at the two forums respectively.

During the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, a CEO conference was held for the first time, where participants signed project cooperation agreements worth over $64 billion.

China also has initiated 20-plus platforms for multilateral dialogue and cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative in areas like finance, ports, taxation, energy and environmental protection.

China and global climate change

China is among the first signatories to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, and played an important part in the conclusion of the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement.

Since the adoption of the Paris Agreement, China has worked actively for its ratification, entry into force and implementation worldwide.

At the 2018 UN Climate Change Conference in Katowice, China encouraged all parties to take a constructive approach and show flexibility, and put forward its solutions to key issues, thus playing an essential role in seeing the implementation rules of the Paris Agreement adopted as scheduled.

China supports the initiative of Secretary-General Guterres to convene a UN Climate Action Summit. As a co-lead of the Nature-Based Solutions, China is working closely with all other parties for a productive summit.

China and international arms control

China has stayed a participant in the international arms control treaty system. China is a party to over 20 international treaties on arms control. China follows a defense policy that is defensive in nature, and never takes part in any form of arms race.

China resolutely opposes the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery. China has established a well-functioning domestic legal system and enforcement regime on non-proliferation export control. China supports the UN and its Security Council in playing a key role in non-proliferation and works actively for the full implementation of Security Council Resolution 1540.

China supports and takes an active part in the international conventional arms control process. China is committed to properly address humanitarian concerns regarding conventional arms. China has provided international humanitarian assistance in mine clearance and sponsored training programs for over 40 countries.




State Bank of India (SBI) has introduced a loan restructuring policy with an aim to provide further relief to home and retail borrowers amid ongoing coronavirus crisis. India's largest lender has launched an online portal, as per one-time relief guidelines of Reserve Bank of India (RBI), for the implementation of the Restructuring Policy. The public sector lender has also released a set of FAQs to answer the queries regarding who is eligible for restructuring and how the process will work. However, to avail the benefit, the borrowers will have to demonstrate that their income has taken a hit due to COVID-19 pandemic.

The facility provides for an extension of the moratorium period by a maximum of two years. Only the borrowers who had availed a home loan before March 1, 2020 and were regular with EMI payments until lockdown can avail the offer. Under the scheme, the borrowers get the benefit to not be classified as defaulters. However, they will have to pay an extra interest of 35 bps each year.

How to restructure your loan

The borrower will have to apply online on the website (www.sbi.co.in)

After logging in using the bank account number, completing the OTP validation process and feeding necessary information, the applicant will learn about his eligibility. He will also receive a reference number which will be valid for 30 days.

During these 30 days, the borrowers can visit the bank branch where his account is maintained and submit the application.

The process will be completed after verification of documents and execution of simple documents at the branch.

Who all are eligible

Any borrower whose salary or income in August 2020 has reduced as against February 2020.

A customer who has seen reduction or suspension in salary during the coronavirus lockdown period.

A borrower facing job loss or closure of business.

self-employed or professionals or businessmen seeing closure during lockdown or reduced activity of units or shops or business establishments.

Loans covered

Housing and other related loans

Education loans

Auto loans (other than loans for commercial use)

Personal loans

With SBI taking the lead in providing relief to borrowers amid coronavirus pandemic, other banks are also expected to join in soon. The moratorium scheme, which was introduced by the government to provide relief to borrowers from coronavirus pandemic, ended on August 31.

Recently, the Centre and the RBI through Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the Supreme Court that the moratorium on repayment of loans is extendable to 2 years. "We are in the process of identifying the distressed sectors to vary benefits as per the impact of the hit they have taken," Mehta said.

On August 26, the apex court had observed that the Centre was "hiding behind the RBI" and had asked it to reply within a week on the issue of interest being charged on instalments which have been deferred under the central bank's scheme during the moratorium period amid COVID-19 lockdown.

Also read: No free lunches in SBI's loan restructuring; borrowers to pay extra interest
BERLIN, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- With respect to the final debate in parliament on a British Internal Market Bill, BDI Director General Joachim Lang says: "Another piece of bad news for companies on both sides of the English Channel"

"The Internal Market Bill is another piece of bad news for companies on both sides of the English Channel. It is right that the EU is making unambiguously clear that the British Internal Market Bill must not violate the agreements under international law in the Withdrawal Agreement. Without a change of heart in London , the route to an agreement on the future relationship is blocked.

, the route to an agreement on the future relationship is blocked. A trade agreement can only be reached with a functioning border regime on the island of Ireland. Anything else would constitute an attack on the EU Internal Market. The Internal Market, the domestic market for our industrial sector, will only function with a border regime.

German industry supports the negotiating position of the EU. A future agreement without clear rules for fair competition is unacceptable. The negotiating partners must now reach an outcome by the end of October. The United Kingdom is risking huge damage to its business sector and its employees."

The Federation of German Industries (BDI) is the umbrella organisation of German industry and industry-related services. It speaks for 40 trade associations and more than 100,000 enterprises with around 8 million employees. Membership is voluntary.

The Federation of German Industries

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Here in Singapore, nearly two in five (38%) said they have a negative impression of people with tattoos.

In a survey conducted by YouGov in 2019, it was revealed that this is particularly true for those over the age of 55, where over half (53%) have a bad impression of tattooed people. This is compared to a quarter (26%) of those aged 18 to 24. Furthermore, over half (55%) have neither a positive nor negative impression of tattoos, and 6% have a positive impression.

Another segment of the population who face judgment on a regular basisfar often than we imagineare mothers. Any mother, at some point in their motherhood, has probably been judged by other peopleby other mums, even.

So what would these statistics and realities mean for mothers with tattoos?

We spoke to theAsianparent VIPParent and social media influencer Jane Surin, perhaps one of the most colourful mums weve ever spoken with to date, to get a glimpse of how it is like being a mum with tattoos in this age, in Singapore.

From The First Tattoo

I got them when I wasnt even (of) legal (age). Youre meant to get one when youre 18, but I was 15, said Jane as she looked back at the time she got her first tattoo. It was a tattoo of a fairy.

I knew at the age of 12 I wanted to get a tattoo already. I just didnt know what exactly. When I was young, I liked fairies. I used to doodle in like my primary school book and be like, Ill get this, Ill get that. It was also during that time where I had images of celebrities who had tattoos on themselves plastered up on the wall, so the inspiration partly came from there, she laughed, I knew I wanted to get inked then, Jane said.

It didnt take long for Jane to get her second tattoo. At age 17 she got her second one, that of a mermaid, on her upper back. Over time, I added more and more, until I could no longer hide it in my clothes.

Jane Surin

Image source: Jane Surin

The 35-year-old model and social media influencer now has a full leg and a full back covered with ink. I have two more on my chest and then the back of my neck, the back of my ears. My finger. My earlobes are tattooed as well.

Story continues

But to Jane, her tattoos are more than just the colours and art. She said the tattoos represent many meanings.

My entire right leg used to be covered with a bunch of scars caused by a motorcycle accident I had been in as a pillion. For a long time, I walked around with the scars and people would give my leg weird looks as if asking: What is that? What happened to her? Jane said thats what made her decide to cover up the scars with tattoos, a process that she said took so much courage because it was a particularly painful experience.

The tattoos on Janes legs are the women of DC Comics which she said was because of her admiration for strong women.

Growing up Ive always loved superheroes like those in DC comics, and Marvel, even. I feel inspired and motivated by them, each one of them has something in them I really feel connected to. So when I was getting tattoos, I thought it would be great to make it that of the superheroes. I am covering scars, but I am also getting the strong women inked on my legs.

On Being Inked

Though still considered taboo in some cultures all over the world, tattoos are less uncommon than it used to be. However, there are still people out there who think tattoos should be off-limits to parents, particularly mums. Mums with tattoos are often perceived impure, deviant and not good role models to their kids. Mums like Jane bear the brunt of these stereotypes.

I get a lot of stares. When I take the train or take the bus, when I walk on the street, especially when I am with my kids, people would just look at me and stare, Jane said.

The elderly would come right at me and be like why did you do that to yourself? You ruined your body. Your skin is very nice you know, why ruin it like that and have tattoos?

But Jane said, after a while, she has gotten used to the attention.

jane surin

Image source: Jane Surin

They were a mix of good and bad reactions. With every negative comment, there are people who would give me positive ones like that looks really good, who is your artist? or Wow! That looks nice, was it painful?

Im quite lucky, I havent gotten any that made me go home and cry about, Jane said. But she noted that before making peace with peoples perception, she went through a phase of getting affected by peoples opinions of her having tattoos and would feel slightly self-conscious about them.

I remember back then when I was younger, I would get very affected by what people would say about me. Even at the slightest things. People would come straight at me and ask me why get so many, why do that to your skin? Jane said.

According to Jane, over time, she learned how to take the judgment in stride. I guess over time, these things make you strong.

Jane Surin: Inked and Proud

My appearance has its perks, Jane laughed, adding that she these days, more often than not, people would be nicer to her because of her tattoos.

Image source: Jane Surin

When Im out by myself or alone with the kids even, I think because Im heavily tattooed, people tend to be a bit nicer to me. I dont know why, maybe they think Im a really fierce person and are afraid of me, Jane said jokingly, But honestly, I feel that things are definitely a lot better now regarding societys perception towards us.

But being a tattooed mum meant questions about her parenting, and how she is raising her kids, Jane said.

I remember someone asking me on Instagram if I am worried my kids would turn out like melike its a bad thing. She asked if I am afraid when my daughter gets older, shed ask why I did this to myself (getting tattoos), or why did I ever get it in the first place.

Jane said she knew there would be prejudice about her being heavily tattooed and being a mum so she had thought of the same questions and said: I would tell my children the truth about my tattoos. Theyre not a bad thing. And they dont have to be.

And when asked if shed be okay if any of her kids decide to get a tattoo when they are older, Jane said: I will discuss with them thoroughly on their decision and when were both sure thats what they want, I will even help them look for a good artist so that they get something which they wont end up regretting. Im a perfect example of why you need to do your homework carefully when it comes to these things as Ive already been there and done that with bad tattoo choices! Jane laughs.

On Being A Tattooed Mother

No matter how confident Jane has become since embracing her tattoos, she acknowledges that some tattooed mothers still dont have it easy.

When people see heavily tattooed people, they think of all the negative stuff: gangs, crimes, no moral values, good-for-nothing, Jane said, so I think its really up to the tattooed dad or mum to rise above it.

If you get bad flak from strangers just entirely based on your appearance of having tattoos, just laugh it off. Life is too short to get affected by people who we dont know.

How you deal with these things, it reflects on your kids as well. Its very important to show your kidsmore than anyonethat all the negative connotation that comes with having tattoos dont have to be your reality. What really matters is your upbringing, how you raise your children, so make sure you raise good kids. You have to be a good example for your kids, Jane added.

But Jane also said the work doesnt have to come only from those who are inked. She said society should also start being more accepting of people with tattoos, and that tattoos are just a form of creativity and self-expression.

Get to know us first. Were human too. Were someones mother, daughter, and wife. We have feelings and underneath all the ink, were just people, too, Jane said. Being tattooed does not necessarily mean we are bad parents who will pass on uncultured behaviours to our children. Get to know us first, Im sure youll love us!

Jane Surin, 35, Tattooed Mother

Image source: Jane Surin

Now a mother to two kids, Jane said while it may be difficult to find time given how much of a handful her kids are now, she is still looking to get more tattoos in the future.

She plans on getting new tattoos inspired by her kids. I want to get something that symbolises them or something that has to do with them, I am just not sure what it is yet.

ALSO READ: 14 Days In A Hotel Room With A Toddler: A Working Mums Quarantine Story

The post Mum Shares Experience On Being A Tattooed Mother And Tips To Dealing With Stereotypes For Being Inked appeared first on theAsianparent - Your Guide to Pregnancy, Baby & Raising Kids.
BLOOMINGTON, Minn., Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Greenspring Media, parent company of Midwest Home magazine, announced today that Katelyn Bloomquist has been promoted to Editor for Midwest Home magazine, effective immediately. In her new role, Bloomquist will lead the strategic content development for the magazine in print, digital, and social forms.

Prior to becoming Midwest Home's Editor, Bloomquist has developed an array of experience with Greenspring Media's entire portfolio, most recently as Greenspring Media's Public Relations and Marketing Manager after serving as Associate Editor for Midwest Home. Over the years, Bloomquist has made immense contributions to Midwest Home, collaborating on its stunning redesign earlier this year as well as the Magazine of the Year honor by the Minnesota Media and Publishers Association. She has also contributed to Greenspring Media's custom publications and served as Editor in Chief of Flourish and Managing Editor of AccessU: Beyond the Cities.

"Katelyn has been an integral part in developing Midwest Home's content across print, digital, and social channels as well as editing, writing, and project managing other publications," said Tammy Galvin, Publisher of Greenspring Media. "As brand ambassador for the magazine and the Midwest Home Luxury Home Tour, she has built solid relationships with industry leaders, associations, and local media. Her background in lifestyle publishing will be indispensable as she continues to drive the editorial strategy to the next level. She is a strong and caring leader, and I am confident that she will lead Midwest Home to even greater success."

Katelyn Bloomquist

Editor

[email protected]

O: 612-371-5877

C: 651-380-1890

Greenspring Media is a multi-platform communications company specializing in the creation and distribution of lifestyle content that connects readers and viewers to advertisers and marketing partners. Greenspring Media publishes over 18 publications, including Minnesota Monthly and Midwest Home; a full service suite of digital services including Google Display and Programmatic Advertising, Paid Social Media Advertising, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Search Engine Marketing (SEM), Website Remarketing, Video and OTT Advertising, and more; custom publications for the best tourism bureaus, non-profit organizations and key clients; and produces the region's most targeted and qualified eventsall of which bring loyal readers and subscribers to clients who understand the value of 360-degree marketing programs in print, digital and face-to-face environments.

Media Contact

Arthur Morrissey, Greenspring Media

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A month later, Hetle pulled over an Ethiopian immigrant, according to a disciplinary letter from the Bellevue department obtained by the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Hetle made comments about the womans ethnicity and ability to speak English, sent a request to the state to make her retake her drivers test and told her he was going to get her deported, the newspaper reported the letter said. Hetle displayed animus toward the woman as an immigrant, the newspaper quoted the letter as saying.
One week after the signing, no one knows details regarding what Israel committed itself to, in the agreement  except for one person, who happens to be a criminal defendant. I am very worried  and there is real basis for my worry  that [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu may have traded Israels strategic advantage in the Middle East.

This tweet was posted Sept. 21 by Meretz Knesset member Yair Golan  a former deputy chief of staff who also served as commander of the Northern Command. Golan was widely viewed as an exceptional officer who, before he retired, had been a candidate for the position of chief of staff.

Since Golan entered politics about a year ago, he has become one of the lefts most aggressive critics of the prime minister, and some of his criticism has been populist. However, it is difficult to ignore this specific tweet because Golan is very well acquainted with the State of Israels array of national and defense interests and was privy to defense secrets over many years. Thus it is hard to brush him off as merely one more talking expert among many.

In addition to the tweet, Golan placed a parliamentary query on the Knessets table; it included a demand to examine the details of the agreements with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. In his query he also said the Sept. 15 agreements were never made fully public and their security ramifications were never discussed in the government or the Knesset. He said, As a former deputy chief of staff, I must express deep concern over the concealment [of the details involved]. I demand that the subject be brought to the table of the Knesset and to the Foreign Affairs and Security Committee, to examine the agreements and ensure that Israel retains its security advantage and qualitative military edge.

But after the signing ceremony in the White House, the content of the agreements was disseminated. So the question is: Are there other, nondisclosed clauses that can endanger the State of Israels national interests?

The situation is such that the prime minister alone conducted all the communication and holds exclusive political responsibility for the agreements signed. This, together with Netanyahus unstable political and legal circumstances, gives many reason to believe that Golans doubts should be aired.

The more time that passes since Netanyahu signed his name on a full normalization agreement with the UAE and one with Bahrain, on the White House lawn  the more the prime minister has come under attack. His opponents attribute personal, secret motives to him, motives that do not necessarily serve Israels national interests. For example, the fact that the agreements have not been discussed in any forum  whether binding or not  of the Knesset and the government lends itself to a sense that transparency is lacking. The Knessets Foreign Affairs and Security Committee, the government and the State Security Cabinet  none of these entities have discussed the agreements.

In addition to Golan, Knesset member Moshe Yaalon (of the opposition Yesh Atid-Telem party) asked to conduct a discussion in the Foreign Affairs and Security Committee regarding the agreements. He said, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu went to sign a diplomatic agreement without involving the Knesset, the Foreign Affairs Committee or even the Security Cabinet. This is dictatorship.

Meanwhile, Defense Minister Benny Gantz took a commercial flight for a quick, 48-hour visit to Washington. Gantz  a former chief of staff who was excluded from the agreement by Netanyahu and not even invited to the White House ceremony  is expected to meet with his American counterpart, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper and other bigwigs.

Before Gantz took off, people in his circle talked about "important security meetings to continue to maintain Israels security supremacy and the continued, joint struggle against Iran." However, even Gantzs involvement does not allay the fears of those who suspect that something inappropriate is hidden in the agreements.

On the eve of the Sept. 15 ceremonial signing, a group of businessmen  who are affiliated with a combative civil opposition (not politicians) to the prime minister  sent a lawyer to Netanyahu on their behalf: They argued that the prime minister alone is not authorized to sign such a diplomatic agreement. In response, the legal adviser of the prime ministers office said the agreement itself would clearly state that it would not come into force at the time of its signing; instead, it will be brought to the government for its confirmation, in accordance with the governments working regulations. In addition, she noted that in light of the importance of the agreement, the prime minister intends to suggest to the government that it be also brought for approval of the Knesset.

Meanwhile, the agreement has not been brought to the government or the Knesset for a discussion. Is Netanyahu really required to do so? In earlier peace agreements, such as Camp David in 1978, the agreement was brought to the Knesset for ratification only about 10 days after it was signed by Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat.

Similarly, the 1993 Oslo Agreement was signed by Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO leader Yasser Arafat in the White House, and then brought to the Knesset for ratification after about 10 days. Legal expers note that while there is no constitutional requirement for this, it has become accepted in Israel that the prime minister bring agreements to the Knesset for ratification.

Of course, Netanyahu  unlike Begin and Rabin  is now in a sensitive legal position. He is accused of bribery and faces a political-civic struggle regarding his legitimacy to continue to rule. The question intensifies when historic agreements are at stake, and thus conspiracy theories flourish.

The truth is that Netanyahu cannot conceal anything from the public for long. After all, a possible sale of F-35 jets would be uncovered sooner or later. Also, Gantz is in the United States now and likely would be privy to any secret clauses, should they indeed exist.

In fact, it is in Netanyahus interests that the agreement be brought to the Knesset for ratification. That would be a historic event, and would serve to bolster the prime ministers future legacy. A vote in the Knesset would hold great political power and might embarrass Netanyahus opponents if the prime minister emerges as a great statesman, with shoes too big to fit his opponents. The more that his opponents  including center and left-wing former senior army officers  try to undermine the agreements, the more that Netanyahu could have his revenge. He could expose them as deceitful, small-time politicians who cannot rise above themselves even when commercial and cultural agreements are being signed and sealed between former enemy states. And they, of course, would be hard pressed to vote against the deal.

When will the Knesset be privileged to validate the agreement? Local wisdom holds that it will happen when Netanyahu finds a politically appropriate time to do so. There is no law that limits him to a time frame.
Barasat :

A woman suffered serious injuries after she was allegedly thrown out of a running train by unidentified miscreants near Haroa station in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, the GRP said on Tuesday.

The incident occurred around 10.30pm on Monday when the 35-year-old woman, who works as an ayah, was on her way to Sealdah station from Basirhat in North 24 Parganas by the last train.

She was spotted this morning lying near the railway track by the locals who rushed her to Barasat Government Hospital. Hospital sources said she was critically injured in her head and leg.

The woman, the mother of two, was travelling alone and it was yet to be ascertained what prompted the miscreants to throw her out of the moving train, the Government Railway Police said.

The woman, a resident of Joynagar in South 24 Parganas district, had been away from home since Sunday. She has a 10-year-old son and a 13-year-old daughter. Investigation into the case was on, the GRP said.

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- A Kenyan woman lost her legs in an accident which also affected her family

- The bus Jane Wangui was driving in had a head-on collision with a lorry, and the impact threw her out of the bus

- The woman who was going for evangelism when the unfortunate incident happened has been living with a disability ever since

Trending topics on the go: How we write news at YEN.com.gh

A Kenyan woman identified as Jane Wangui lost her legs while going for evangelism in Tanzania with some church members.

According to Gist of the Day, there was a head-on collision between the bus Jane was driving in and a lorry.

YEN.com.gh notes that the impact of the collision sent the woman flying out of the bus through the front windscreen and she was said to have landed on a ditch.

Jane was flown to Kenya where she was booked for surgery. She was in Nairobi hospital for six weeks.

READ ALSO: Flexer Gh: Ghanaian star openly declares love for Efia Odo; promises to snatch her from Shatta Wale

The woman's family was affected by her accident as her daughter started having seizures and fainting at school. Jane's firstborn son became a heavy drinker thereafter.

Jane was referred to Kikuyu Mission Hospital which specialises in bone treatment when her stay at the first hospital became an expensive affair.

Jane Wangui. Photo credit: Gist of the Day

Source: UGC

However, Kikuyu Mission Hospital does not deal with spine treatment and it referred her to Nairobi Spine Injury Hospital where she was admitted from October till December 17th, 2012.

At Nairobi Spine Injury Hospital, she was told that her referral there was because she wanted to be taught how to adjust and live with her new disability.

In other news, a black woman with the Twitter handle @Niathelocgod has spoken about how she became a millionaire several days after she suffered a great ordeal.

Without giving any specific date, she said that she was hit by a car on Monday and days afterwards, became a millionaire..

The woman attached pictures showing when she was in the hospital receiving treatment and a photo where she was smiling with a glass of drink.

READ ALSO: Adwoa Amoako Adjei: Young Ghanaian female lawyer gets called to The Gambia and Ghana bars

When people really got confused about how she came by the new wealth, thinking she may have received the money as a form of donation, she clarified in subsequent tweets.

As previously reported, a powerful video of how the late world-renowned evangelist Reinhard Bonnke raised a dead man surfaced on the internet days after his burial.

It would be recalled how YEN.com.gh earlier reported that thousands thronged the funeral of the famous German evangelist, to pay their last respect to the preacher.

TD Jakes, Paula White, and Benny Hinn were some of the popular clerics that were at the event as the crowd sang Bonnke's favourite hymn.

Enjoy reading our stories? Download YEN's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Ghana news!

Ghanaian multi-instrumentalist Dela Jackson has charged the youth in Africa to wake up | #Yencomgh

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Source: YEN.com.gh
By Express News Service

VISAKHAPATNAM: The No Objection Certificates (NOCs) issued to Sravan Shipping Services Private Limited by the police for storing ammonium nitrate at its warehouses in Mindi, were cancelled on Monday. The Commissioner of Police has issued the order cancelling the NOCs given to it. Mondays action followed a show-cause notice served on the shipping firm on charges of non-compliance of rules under the Ammonium Nitrate Rules, 2012.

The alleged violations by the shipping company include construction of the store houses with different dimensions without keeping safety distance as specified in the rules and the site plan. It also found that the company didnt follow the safety distance of nine metres between storehouse and compound wall.
No EU sanctions on Belarus despite opposition leader plea Tikhanovskaya urged EU foreign ministers to sanction Lukashenko

EU foreign ministers on Monday failed to agree sanctions over the political crisis in Belarus, despite a plea for support from opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya.

The former Soviet republic has been convulsed by unprecedented demonstrations and a brutal crackdown by President Alexander Lukashenko since he was returned to power in a disputed August 9 election.

Tikhanovskaya met EU foreign ministers in Brussels and urged them to sanction Lukashenko but, despite repeated warnings to the veteran strongman, after more than six weeks the bloc has still yet to act.

Cyprus, which has good relations with Lukashenko's key supporter Russia, has blocked EU agreement on measures against Belarus, insisting that sanctions against Turkey over a maritime gas drilling dispute must be agreed at the same time.

"Although there is a clear will to adopt these sanctions, it has not been possible to do that today because the required unanimity was not reached," EU diplomatic chief Josep Borrell told reporters after hosting the talks.

Cyprus's position has support from some EU countries, but the patience of others is wearing thin.

"It is regrettable that today we could not decide on sanctions on violations of human rights there due to 'a hostage taking' by a member state," Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics wrote on Twitter.

"Sends a wrong signal to Belarusians, our societies and the whole world."

Cypriot foreign minister Nikos Christodoulides defended his country's stance, insisting the EU must have a coherent response to violations of sovereignty and human rights.

"Our reaction to any kind of violation of our core basic values and principles, cannot be a la carte. It needs to be consistent," he said.

France's minister for European affairs, Clement Beaune, told reporters in Brussels he understood Cypriot concerns about Turkey.

But added: "I think we have to unblock this, untie this bond. We must be able to make progress on the sanctions against Belarus, this does not weaken Europe -- on the contrary."

Story continues

- Sanctions call -

The matter will now be considered by EU leaders at a summit in Brussels on Thursday and Friday.

Borrell said he wanted the sanctions signed off before the next meeting of foreign ministers in October, warning that "the credibility of the European Union" depended on it.

After meeting the EU ministers, Tikhanovskaya told reporters that sanctions were a key tool to "force the so-called authorities to start dialogue with us".

"I think leaders have reasons not to push for these sanctions but at this meeting I asked just to be more brave in their decisions," she said.

The EU and other Western powers have rejected the result of the election, saying the poll was not free and fair, and Brussels has drawn up a list of around 40 members of Lukashenko's regime to hit with asset freezes and travel bans.

"We must also address the question of whether Mr Lukashenko, who is the main responsible, should not also be sanctioned by the European Union," said Germany's Foreign Minister Heiko Maas.

The strongman, who has ruled Belarus for more than a quarter of a century, has responded to the protests with a security clampdown and turned to his longstanding ally Russia for help.

Tikhanovskaya, who fled to Lithuania for her own safety after the election, backed sanctions on Lukashenko himself.

And she urged the EU to make a formal call for new elections -- something it has so far held off from, despite rejecting the August 9 poll as illegitimate.

In the latest protests against Lukashenko, tens of thousands defied a heavy security presence to march in the streets of Minsk on Sunday, with authorities saying they detained more than 440 people.

Tikhanovskaya warned care must be taken to ensure the money does not end up in Lukashenko's coffers, effectively funding him to carry out further repression.

Tikhanovskaya's meeting with EU ministers, followed by an appearance at the European Parliament, was part of her effort to maintain international pressure on Lukashenko as he clings to power.

bur-pdw/dc/jj/adp
Arctic summer sea ice melted in 2020 to the second smallest area since records began 42 years ago, US scientists announced Monday, offering further stark evidence of the impact of global warming.

Artic sea ice melts in summer and reforms in winter, but precise satellite imagery taken regularly since 1979 had documented how the cycle has been shrinking significantly.

The years minimum was reached on September 15, at 3.74 million square kilometers (1.44 million square miles), according to scientists at the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) at the University of Colorado Boulder.

Its been a crazy year up north, with sea ice at a near-record low heat waves in Siberia, and massive forest fires," said Mark Serreze, director of NSIDC.

The year 2020 will stand as an exclamation point on the downward trend in Arctic sea ice extent. We are headed towards a seasonally ice-free Arctic Ocean, and this year is another nail in the coffin."

Unlike melting glaciers on land, melting sea ice does not directly contribute to rising sea levels as the ice is already on the water, but less ice means less solar radiation is reflected and more is absorbed by the oceans, warming them.

The rapid disappearance of sea ice is a sobering indicator of how closely our planet is circling the drain," Greenpeace Nordic Oceans campaigner Laura Meller said in a statement released from a ship on the edge of the sea ice.

As the Arctic melts, the ocean will absorb more heat, and all of us will be more exposed to the devastating effects of climate breakdown.

We need to hit the reset button right now on how we look after each other and our planet by protecting at least 30 percent of our oceans by 2030 to help our planet cope with the climate breakdown."
Residents of Chushul village in Ladakh are taking an arduous journey to a Himalayan mountain peak known as Black Top to provide supplies to Indian Army engaged in a standoff with Chinese troops in a bid to safeguard their village from coming under Chinese control.According to a report in The Guardian, 100-odd men, women and young boys with unwieldy and overstuffed duffel bags, rice sacks, heavy fuel cans and bamboo canes strapped to their backs are moving upward to Black Top, where hundreds of Indian army tents are stationed on the horizon. They are not taking this journey out of kindness, reported Guardian. In the coming winter months, temperatures here will drop to minus 40 degrees Celsius. The villagers fear that if they do not help the Indian Army secure their positions along the mountain ridges bordering China and help prepare the troops for the harsh winter ahead, their village might soon be under Chinese control.



We want to help the Indian Army to secure their positions immediately, said Tsering, a 28-year-old volunteer from Chushul. We are carrying supplies to them, doing multiple rounds in a day, to ensure that the army doesnt face too many problems.India and China have been engaged in major conflict near the Panging Tso and several other friction points from Sub Sector North to the Chushul area of Ladakh.India also changed the rules of engagement of not using weapons during clashes with the Chinese after the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) killed 20 Indian soldiers in Galwan valley in June.Chushul, a hamlet of around 150 households, is one of the closest habitations to Indias border with China in eastern Ladakh. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi met recently in Moscow to reduce the tension.



According to a joint press statement about the meeting, the two leaders had a frank and constructive discussion on the developments in the India-China border areas as well as on India-China relations.

The two ministers agreed that both sides should take guidance from the series of consensus of the leaders on developing India-China relations, including not allowing differences to become disputes, it said.

But, according to the villagers, there is little evidence of disengagement on the ground.

Over the past week, Indian troops have continued to build-up along the border. A convoy of Indian Army vehicles has continued to bring supplies and ammunition to troops camped in posts along the border, and around 100 diggers have been brought in for the construction of roads and buildings, to further secure Indias position along the border.



ALSO READ: Refusing RS Deputy Chairmans call for truce, suspended MPs eye RS proceedings today

It is very clear that both sides are planning to stay there for winter; they seem to be anticipating that there will be no diplomatic outcome, said Manoj Joshi, a security expert at the Observer Research Foundation.This week, the villagers of Chushul have continued their non-stop efforts to bring supplies to the troops on Black Top, according to The Guardian.There is no road access to the mountain ridges that have become the new frontline. The area where the recent face-off took place is yet to have a road, let alone the infrastructure, said Tsering. How long will the Army keep supplies going like this?The new places where China has engaged the Indian army dont have proper living conditions. The army is being put up in tents. I do not know how they are going to build infrastructure good enough to live, when there is no road, Konchak Tsepel, another villager, said.
Srinagar: The security forces on Tuesday (September 22) morning gunned down a terrorist of Jaish Mohammad terror outfit in central Kashmir Budgam district's Char-e-Sharif area, the army said in a statement. The army also recovered arms and ammunition during the encounter.

The operation was launched on Monday evening at 7 pm. One soldier was also injured during the encounter.

IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar said ''one terrorist killed in encounter and operation is over.''

Sources in the police said one terrorist body was recovered along with arms and ammunition from the encounter site. However, the identity of the slain militant couldn't be ascertained yet.

Live TV

The police source further said that it's likely that taking advantage of the darkness the second terrorist escaped from the spot.

The operation was put on hold on Monday night and was resumed on Tuesday early morning.

The operation was conducted by joint teams of Jammu Kashmir police, local units of the army, and CRPF.

With the killing of one more terrorist, a total of 178 terrorists are killed this year in Jammu Kashmir in anti-terrorism operations.
By Associated Press

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump, who prefers speaking to boisterous crowds, is set to give a prerecorded address to the UN General Assembly as he grapples with the coronavirus pandemic, chilly relations between the US and China and ongoing threats from North Korea and Iran  all during a heated campaign for reelection.

Trump told reporters Monday that he'd have a strong message for China, where the first cases of COVID-19 were reported, but he didn't elaborate ahead of the Tuesday address. Earlier in his administration, Trump hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping at his Florida club, but now the two leaders are exchanging angry words over trade.

The administration has been slamming the Chinese Communist Party for its handling of COVID-19, election meddling, espionage in the United States and influence peddling across the world.

Trump is not popular at the United Nations and his speech this year comes at a time when UN members are pushing back against Washington. On Monday, Trump declared that all UN sanctions against Iran have been reimposed, a move that most of the rest of the world rejects as illegal.

Trump's statement came shortly after he signed an executive order spelling out how the US will enforce the snapback of sanctions. My actions today send a clear message to the Iranian regime and those in the international community who refuse to stand up to Iran," he said.

The US said it was reimposing sanctions on Iran for being in noncompliance with the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and global powers. But Trump in 2018 pulled out of the deal in which Iran agreed to curb its nuclear program in exchange for billions of dollars in sanctions relief.

Few UN member states believe the US has the legal standing to restore the sanctions because Trump withdrew from the agreement. The US argues it retains the right to do so as an original participant in the deal and a member of the council.

The White House has not previewed his UN speech, but Trump was expected to highlight agreements the US brokered between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. The historic agreements come as relations between the Jewish state and Arab nations are thawing as a pushback against Iran.

The president likely will take credit for brokering economic cooperation between Serbia and Kosovo and for pressuring NATO nations to meet their pledge to spend 2% of their gross domestic product on their own defenses to lessen the burden on the alliance.

He might also have words for North Korea's Kim Jong Un. In 2017, Trump told the UN he was bringing a message of peace, but then said that if the US was forced to defend itself against Kim, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea. He called Kim rocket man, but has since met with him three times, although North Korea has not made a move to give up its nuclear weapons.

Trump's has tussled with multilateral organizations throughout his presidency, although his aides say he is not against all multilateral groups, only the ones that aren't effective. After COVID-19 took hold, Trump yanked support from the UN 's World Health Organization, saying it was too beholden to China.




BROWNSBURG, Ind., Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Radial , a bpost group company, the leader in omnichannel commerce technology and operations, today announced its plan to bring on more than 2,500 entry-level fulfillment center workers in Brownsburg, Indiana just outside Indianapolis to support unprecedented ecommerce demand this holiday season. Seasonal workers will be responsible for processing online orders - including picking, sorting, packing and shipping - all in a fun team environment leveraging cutting-edge technology.

Consumer research reveals that 66% of shoppers plan to increase their online purchases during the holidays this year. As ecommerce demand reaches new heights in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, retailers must significantly scale their fulfillment workforce to meet holiday shopping needs. With 20+ fulfillment centers and a global fulfillment and transportation network, Radial is well-versed at helping retailers successfully navigate peak shopping season while keeping worker safety at the forefront.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Radial remains committed to safety and has made it a priority to implement processes and technologies to maintain the health and safety of every worker. These initiatives include:

Implementing automated temperature thermal screenings for anyone prior to entering every facility, visitors included

Requirements to wear masks at all times

Adjustments to working layouts and technology enhancements to enable and enforce social distancing

Wearable alert badges to remind and train new hires on social distancing best practices

Heightened hygiene and sanitation procedures across every site to reduce risk

"The health and safety of our employees is Radial's number one priority," said Eric Wohl, Chief Human Resources Officer, and Senior Vice President. "We've always prided ourselves on our people-first approach, and we've built a culture where coworkers feel like family. This close-knit community is part of what historically has made us so successful at achieving peak season goals for our clients. When demand increases, our people work together to rise to the challenge. Our people-first workplace has been tested since COVID-19 hit, and I am deeply proud of how we've evolved our working environment to keep our strong community values intact while deepening safety measures. At Radial, we know we all have a role to play in following safety precautions, and everyone looks out for each other so we help keep our workplaces and communities safe."

Seasonal workers at the Brownsburg location will enjoy benefits including competitive hourly wages and opportunities for overtime. Additionally, Radial leverages leading fulfillment technologies to enable new associates to safely and quickly learn job processes.

These seasonal roles are a great opportunity to kickstart a career with Radial. Seasonal workers will join the more than 3,000 regular, full-time employees at Radial's fulfillment centers across the country to help pack and ship holiday orders. For individuals seeking long-term employment, Radial plans to offer significant opportunities to convert into full-time positions this year to support Radial's strong growth.

There will be opportunities for local residents who worked in industries impacted by the pandemic such as retail storefronts, restaurants, and hospitality to switch career paths, and leverage transferable skills within the fulfillment centers. Radial is actively accepting seasonal candidates from all backgrounds. At the fulfillment center in Brownsburg, seasonal workers will have the chance to work with some of the world's favorite brands and retailers, such as The Children's Place and more. Workers will source orders and send them to their final destinations faster using Radial's technology, fulfillment, and transportation solutions.

To learn more about Radial's seasonal job openings in Brownsburg, Indiana, visit Radial's career page .

About Radial

Radial, Inc., a bpost group company, is the leader in omnichannel commerce technology and operations. Premier brands around the world confidently partner with Radial to deliver their brand promises, anticipate and respond to industry disruption, and compete in a rapidly evolving market. Radial's innovative solutions connect retailers and customers through advanced omnichannel technologies; intelligent payments and fraud protection; efficient fulfillment, supply chain services; and insightful customer care services  especially where high-value customer experiences are critical. We are flexible, scalable, and focused on our clients' business objectives. Learn how we deliver today's retail for you at radial.com and follow us on Twitter @radialcorp .

Press Contact for Radial:

Dana Trismen

[email protected]

617-502-4396

SOURCE Radial

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Former Councillor Ishrat Jahan, activist Khalid Saifi, suspended AAP Councillor Tahir Hussain, Jamia Millia Islamia Alumni Association President Shifa Ur Rehman and Jamia student Meeran Haider allegedly received Rs 1.61 crore for managing protest sites against the Citizenship Amendment Act in Delhi and executing the conspiracy hatched for the riots in north east Delhi in February, police have said in their chargesheet.

Police have filed the chargesheet against 15 accused in the case related to 'larger conspiracy' in the communal violence in north east Delhi in February.

During investigation it has come to notice that during the period December 1, 2019 to February 26, 2020 total Rs 1,61,33,703 was received by the accused persons Ishrat Jahan, Khalid Saifi, Tahir Hussain, Shifa-Ur Rehman and Meeran's Haider through bank account or cash. Out of the total Rs 1.61 crores, Rs 1,48,01186 was withdrawn as cash and spent in managing the protest sites as well to execute the conspiracy hatched in riots in Delhi," the chargesheet said.

The document claimed that on further investigation it has been found that on December 10, accused Ishrat Jahan received Rs 4 lakh in her bank account from a corporation bank account. On investigation, account was found in the name of Mahadev Vijay Kaste from Maharasthra, it said, adding that during his examination Kaste disclosed that he does not know Jahan directly and he works as a driver for Sameer Abdul Sai, a resident of Maharashtra.

He further disclosed on instruction of his employer Sai he took a gold loan of Rs 4,31,700 from ICICI bank. This amount was transferred by the ICICI bank to the above mentioned corporation bank account. He further disclosed that on asking, his employer Sai transferred Rs 4 lakh to Jahan's account from total amount, police alleged in the chargesheet.

It further alleged that Sai disclosed during examination that Imran Siddiqui from Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh was his business partner.

On December 9, 2019, Imran had given three bank account numbers belonging to Jahan, Gulzar Ali and Bilal Ahmad and asked him to transfer Rs 10 lakhs to these 3 accounts urgently. As he showed his inability to transfer Rs 10 lakhs, he insisted for Rs 5 lakhs to Jahan's account urgently," it said.

Police further alleged that Imran, brother-in-law of Jahan, disclosed that he took Rs 4 lakh from his sister-in-law for some business.

He did not mention in his IT return that he has taken a loan of Rs 4 lakh from Jahan. He did not give any satisfactory answer regarding expenditure/use of that money, police said.

Police further alleged in their chargesheet that on scrutiny of bank accounts of Jahan, it was found that on January 10, 2020, there was a cash deposit of Rs 1, 41,000 in her account by herself.

During interrogation she could explain the source of this amount. On scrutiny of the bank statements, it has been found that Jahan has withdrawn Rs 4,60,900 as cash from her bank account.

During investigation, it was found that Jahan had used this money to manage the protest sites and in purchasing the weapons through accused Abdul Khalid. The weapons were used during the riots, the chargesheet alleged.

During investigation, two bank accounts of accused Tahir Hussain's company and one bank account, which belongs to his brother-in-law and partners of his company were investigated, it claimed.

On the analysis of this account, it was found that during this period of December 1, 2019 to February 26, 2020, Rs 17,25,000 was withdrawn. It was further found that Rs 20 lakh on Jan 7, Rs 10 lakh on Jan 13 and Rs 16 lakh and Rs 14 lakh on Jan 14, were transferred through RTGS in the account from Sri Sai Traders. In this regard, the owner of Sai Traders, Jitender and the brokers namely Roushan Thakur, were examined and their statements were recorded, it said.

From the statements of the witnesses, it was found that the Hussain converted Rs 60 lakhs into cash through the channels against the commission, the chargesheet said.

From the statement of the protected witnesses and from the disclosure statement of the accused Tahir Hussain it was found that accused Hussain had spent huge amount of cash in running the protests, mobilizing of the people for riots and procuring the materials, which was later used in the riots, the chargesheet alleged.

It further said that during investigation, it was found that Alumni Association of Jamia Millia Islamia (AAJMI) has played a crucial role through its president Shifa Ur Rehman in the protests and riots which happened in Delhi.

During its investigation, it has come to the notice that AAJMI has two bank accounts. The bank account statements' analysis has found that from December 1, 2019, to February 26, 2020 Rs 87,500 were credited in an Indian Bank account, out of which, Rs 37,500 was credited to this account through an online transfer and Rs 50,000 were credited as cash deposits.

During investigation, accused Rehman had disclosed that he had deposited Rs 50,000 in cash amount in the account of AAJMI through someone whose name he could not remember. He had withdrawn Rs 70,000 from this account for the expenses of the ongoing protests, it claimed.

Analysis of the second bank account showed that during December 1 to February 26, 2020, Rs 4,41,059 was credited online in this account and Rs 60,600 was withdrawn during this period, it stated.

Rehman had disclosed that he withdrew Rs 60,000 from his bank account for managing the protests going on against NRC/CAB, it alleged.

Police further said the office of AAJMI was raided and documents were seized, whose analysis have shown that AAJMI had received Rs 7,60,000 as cash during this period.

It was found that out of the total amount, Rs 5,55,000 was received from the alumni working abroad, that is Saudi, UAE, Oman and Qatar. .. The police have relied on the statement of a protected witness who stated that Rehman had spent this money in the ongoing protest.

During verification of seized documents, fake bills and expenses in the name of AAJMI to the tune of Rs 1,69,554 were found on verification. This showed that the accused had tried to cover up his mistakes. Further investigation in this regard is going on, it stated.

The chargesheet further said Haider had one Indian bank account and its analysis showed that from December 1, 2019 to February 26, 2020, he received Rs 86,644 in his bank account through online transfer.

On April 6, 2020, a register was seized from Haider's room on which it was found that he has received Rs 4,82,500. Out of the total cash amount, Rs 50,000 was handed over by one Tanveer Ali, on behalf of a Dubai based resident. Ali disclosed to the police that in mid-February 2020, Haider asked him for Rs 50,000 that he needed for protests in CAA/NRC.

Meeran Haider had also received Rs 1,05,000 as cash from a Saudi Arabia based resident. Out of the total amount Rs 3,33,000 was received at the instance of accused Meeran. During investigation, it was found that he distributed Rs 2,86,000 to the Muslim community for the purpose of instigation of riots, it alleged.

(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.)
Flower Mound, Texas--(Newsfile Corp. - September 21, 2020) - Digital Development Partners, Inc. (OTC PINK: DGDM) (which will become Black Bird Potentials Inc.), exclusive distributor of MiteXstream biopesticide and manufacturer of Grizzly Creek Naturals CBD products, today announced that it has signed a distribution agreement with Raghorn Wholesale, a Montana-based distributor servicing over 1,000 convenience stores in Montana, North Dakota, Idaho and Washington.

A 2020 Objective Achieved. "We are extremely pleased to have secured our largest ongoing customer, Raghorn Wholesale, as a distributor for all of our products," said Fabian Deneault, DGDM's President. "Our deal with Raghorn assures that we will achieve our 2020 objective for the Grizzly Creek Naturals products of securing placement in 1,000 retail locations. The roll-out of our products across the Raghorn network is scheduled to begin in early October 2020."

In-Store Sales. Mr. Deneault added that, beginning with the second quarter of 2020, monthly sales of Grizzly Creek Naturals CBD products to ten Western Montana convenience store locations have averaged approximately $250 per store, despite limited marketing and promotional efforts. DGDM expects that, with its planned increase in marketing and promotion efforts, new per-location sales will at least equal existing per-location sales.

Online Sales. To date, online sales of Grizzly Creek Naturals products have represented a small percentage of total sales. However, as part of a planned increase in product marketing and promotion expenditures, to spur growth in this sales channel, redesigned product labels and a redesigned website are nearing completion. These efforts are expected to be completed in early October 2020.

DGDM: Doing Good, Doing More. DGDM is always looking for ways to live up to its mission statement, Doing Good, Doing More.

About DGDM

Through its subsidiary Black Bird Potentials, DGDM manufactures and sells CBD products, including CBD Oils, gummies and pet treats, and CBD-infused personal care products, as well as hand sanitizer gel and spray products. In addition, Black Bird is a licensed grower of industrial hemp under the Montana Hemp Pilot Program. Black Bird is the exclusive distributor in the U. S. and Canada for MiteXstream, a plant-based biopesticide effective in the eradication of spider mites, a pest that destroys crops, especially cannabis, hops, coffee and house plants, as well as molds and mildew. EPA approval of MiteXstream is expected in late 2020.

Story continues

Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking information including statements that include the words "believes," "expects," "anticipate," or similar expressions. Such forward looking-statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the company to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In addition, description of anyone's past success, either financial or strategic, is no guarantee of future success. This news release speaks as of the date first set forth above and the company assumes no responsibility to update the information included herein for events occurring after the date hereof. Information concerning these and other factors can be found in the company's filings with the SEC, including its Forms 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K, which can be obtained on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov.

Contact:

Eric Newlan

Vice President

enewlan@digitaldevelopmentpartners.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/64233
Facts of a significant number of the so-called "phantom soldiers" have also been revealed.

Press Secretary of Ukraine's Defense Ministry, Captain Yulia Pampukha has said commanders of some units of Russian occupation forces in Donbas reportedly embezzle funds, hiding the shortage of personnel.

The command of the Russian armed forces has extended the period of work for an audit commission at the 8th Army Headquarters of the Southern Military District, she said at a briefing on Tuesday with reference to the Defense Ministry's Main Intelligence Directorate, according to an UNIAN correspondent.

Read alsoDonbas war update: Ukraine reports three ceasefire violations on Sept 21The commission, which started working on September 12, has been inspecting formations and units of the Russian occupation forces.

"The commission has revealed numerous cases of embezzlement of funds intended for the payment of allowances to personnel," Pampukha said.

In particular, the shortage of personnel has been revealed in some units, as well as facts of a significant number of the so-called "phantom soldiers," which let some commanders embezzle significant amounts of funds.
By Earl Baker and T.J. Rooney

Despite Americas struggle to slow the rise in coronavirus cases and gridlock in Washington, stalling a new fiscal relief package, two Pennsylvanians are reaching across the aisle to find solutions to manage the growing national debt.

In June, U.S. Reps. Chrissy Houlahan, who represents Chester County and Reading, and Lloyd Smucker from Lancaster, joined a bipartisan group of 58 other legislators calling on House leadership to restore congressional accountability for decreasing the federal deficit.

In this moment, it is critical to manage the public health and economic crises. The federal government must support the country with near-term borrowing until the virus is controlled and the economic has recovered. These legislators acknowledged the necessity of large amounts of near-term borrowing to provide aid for Americans. But they also recognize the need to plan for what comes next once this crisis has subsided.

Even before the pandemic, America was on a precarious fiscal path. In the pre-pandemic period of economic growth, lawmakers from both parties continued to borrow money instead of paying down the debt accrued from the 2008-09 recession.

Coming into 2020, the deficit was already about $1 trillion. While pre-pandemic debt was expected to surpass the size of the entire economy by 2031, the emergency borrowing and economic recession has shifted this timeline up substantially.

The national debt now totals nearly $21 trillion and will exceed the size of the economy next year. Measuring the debt by the share of gross domestic product, it will reach a new record by 2023 (107%), surpassing the 106% mark set in 1946 just after World War II.

As seen after the 2008 financial crisis, finding policies to decrease the deficit is a politically unpleasant decision and one that Congress has been unwilling to make. However, with the uncertainties and dangers of the rapid deficit increase, it will be necessary for congressional action to preserve Americas fiscal future. In their letter to the House leadership, these Pennsylvania representatives have begun laying the groundwork for this process by highlighting bipartisan, common sense long-term budget reforms.

This letter listed three goals for budget reform that can be included in the upcoming relief package: improved transparency, Congressional accountability, and responsibility. Policies to establish fiscal goals and maintain trust fund solvency are offered as mechanisms to achieve these goals.

While reform would not be practical until after the current health and economic crises have passed, Congress should work proactively to mitigate long-term rising debt before we reach a point of fiscal reckoning, whether that happens during our lifetime, our childrens, or even our grandchildrens. The longer we wait, the more difficult it will be to change the national debts unsustainable trajectory.

Congress is long overdue for a discussion on the national debt. There will be disagreements over different options to decrease the deficit, but Congress must have these discussions to reach a compromise and find a solution.

In this Congress, Houlahan and Smucker have been leaders in proposing fixes to manage this countrys fiscal health. Both have offered legislation designed to prevent costly government shutdowns. The most recent shutdown cost the economy $11 billion. They have also cosponsored the Fiscal State of the Nation resolution. This bill would help raise public awareness of the debt by requiring the Government Accountability Office to issue an annual publication on the nations fiscal health and present it to the congressional budget committees.

In a time of hyper-partisanship, it is not easy for legislators to work together to find solutions. Taking proactive, bipartisan steps on an issue as challenging as the national debt is that much more admirable. Looking forward, we should encourage members of both parties to follow their example and work together to develop meaningful and effective solutions to solving our deficit problem.

Earl Baker is a former state senator from Chester County and former state Republican Party chairman. T.J. Rooney is a former state representative from Bethlehem and former state Democratic Party chairman.
KT CEO Koo Hyun-mo, left, with Startup Minister Park Young-sun, center, and INNOBIZ President Cho Hong-rae, right, during a mutual growth partnership ceremony held at the company's headquarters in Seoul, Tuesday. / Courtesy of Ministry of SMEs and Startups



By Baek Byung-yeul



KT will provide technological support using its 5G network-based artificial intelligence (AI) technology and smart factory technology to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and small business owners, the telecommunications company said Tuesday.



It said the Ministry of SMEs and Startups has chosen the mobile carrier as an "inclusive company."



"KT has become the first company in the telecommunications industry to be designated as an 'inclusive company' by the startup ministry," a KT official said. "This means KT will voluntarily share its technological knowhow and infrastructure not only with its contractors but also other small and medium enterprises and small business owners to achieve mutual growth."



KT said it signed an agreement with the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and its affiliate INNOBIZ to cooperate on boosting 5G technology-based contactless services. The ceremony featured Startup Minister Park Young-sun, KT CEO Koo Hyun-mo and INNOBIZ President Cho Hong-rae.



Since May, the startup ministry has been designating prominent companies such as Samsung Electronics, Hyundai Motor, Kia Motors and Naver as inclusive companies.



With this mutual growth partnership, KT will work on providing technological support in three parts  smart factory, contactless services and support for small business owners.



To allow more SMEs to adopt the smart factory system, the startup ministry and KT will provide 24 billion won ($20.6 million), while KT will also provide low-interest loans to SMEs through its financial fund.



In terms of contactless services, KT will team up with the startup ministry's affiliate the Korea Institute of Startup and Entrepreneurship Development and will provide a job education and training program to help SMEs and prospective entrepreneurs utilize AI technology.



KT will also use its affiliates such as K Shopping and K Shop as distribution channels to sell products developed by SMEs. About 200 KT smartphone retail shops will be utilized as after-sales service centers.



To encourage more consumers to visit shops run by small business owners, KT will promote startup ministry-certified shops on its navigation app ONE NAVI.



The startup minister has vowed to provide support for the success of this mutual-growth business model.



"I expect this agreement, which focuses on vitalization of 5G-based contactless services, will become a breakthrough in this difficult economic situation," Park said.



"While the importance of contactless businesses has emerged amid the COVID-19 pandemic, I would like to express my gratitude to KT for providing the mutual-growth business model. The government will provide active support for the success of this business model."



KT also expects the mutual-growth partnership will help SMEs and small business owners hit hard by the prolonged pandemic.



Koo said the telecommunications company will "try its best to contribute to the digital innovation of Korea by providing technological support to small business owners who are struggling due to the pandemic."


A group of selfless Sikh volunteers have reached nearly six months of consecutive days donating hearty meals to families in need in Melbourne.

Sikh Volunteers Australia on Tuesday reached 189 consecutive days of donating free curries to disadvantaged people across the city.

The volunteer group posted a video to their social media channels on Monday showing chefs hard at work in the kitchen getting their food deliveries ready for the day.

Five volunteers are seen in the footage packing dozens of containers filled with rice, salad and curry as they listen to music in their industrial cookhouse.

Sikh Volunteers Australia have been donating food (pictured) to Melbournians in need for 189 consecutive days in the coronavirus pandemic

Volunteer Coordinator Manpreet Singh told Daily Mail Australia the organisation's 189-day donation streak had happened organically.

'We started on the 18th of March for two weeks due to government lockdown announcements and it slowly increased to more days and just happened continuously,' Mr Singh said.

'We've had continued support from our community and volunteers so we kept extending our service out to nearly six months.'

The organisation was launched in 2014, with their food delivery service starting in 2017 in honour of Sikh First Master Guru Nanak Dev Ji, who started a free food service in the 15th century to help people in need.

They began serving food to homeless people twice a week, but have grown into their full scale daily operation in response to COVID-19.

More than 260 volunteers have participated in the organisation during the pandemic, including up to 35 people every day to help with food preparation, cooking and delivering meals.

At their peak the organisation deliver up to 900 meals per day to six councils around the city

Their meals are given to the elderly, unemployed, health workers and COVID effected people

Ten vehicles transport food using contactless delivery to six councils around Melbourne, including City of Casey, Frankston, Dandenong, Monash, Mornington Peninsula and Kingston.

The organisation celebrated their 100,000th meal delivery on September 16, with daily delivery numbers fluctuating with the pandemic.

Mr Singh said the group peaked at 900 meals per day in the first lockdown.

'At the moment we have 450 meals going out every day,' he said.

'Our food is going out to elderly people, single mums, the unemployed, international students, health workers and people facing hard time due to COVID-19.'

The organisation delivered meals to thousands of residents stuck in lockdown across Melbourne's housing commission towers in July.

'When the news came out, we received a few messages saying people needed help,' Mr Singh said.

Sikh Volunteers Australia food delivery service runs in honour of Sikh First Master Guru Nanak Dev Ji, who started a free food service in the 15th century to help people in need

'We didn't have much information, we just loaded up our food vans and went and served there for seven days.'

Sikh Volunteers Australia operates through donations of time and money from people and businesses in the broader community.

Mr Singh said community generosity is what has allowed their service streak to continue, with no sign of slowing down into the future.

'The response from the community has been overwhelming,' he said.

'Within six months we have received so many messages from people who are so thankful for this service.

'A lot of people have lost their jobs in the pandemic and it will take a long time for everything to go back to normal, maybe even years.

'We will keep this service running because people are still so effected.'
DUBAI (AP): The newly formed US Space Force is deploying troops to a vast new frontier: the Arabian Peninsula.



Space Force now has a squadron of 20 airmen stationed at Qatar's Al-Udeid Air Base in its first foreign deployment. The force, pushed by President Donald Trump, represents the sixth branch of the US military and the first new military service since the creation of the Air Force in 1947.



It has provoked scepticism in Congress, satire on Netflix, and, with its uncannily similar logo, Star Trek jokes about intergalactic battles.



Future wars may be waged in outer space, but the Arabian Desert already saw what military experts dub the world's first space war the 1991 Desert Storm operation to drive Iraqi forces from Kuwait.



Today, the US faces new threats in the region from Iran's missile programme and efforts to jam, hack and blind satellites.



We're starting to see other nations that are extremely aggressive in preparing to extend conflict into space, Col. Todd Benson, director of Space Force troops at Al-Udeid, told The Associated Press. We have to be able to compete and defend and protect all of our national interests.



In a swearing-in ceremony earlier this month at Al-Udeid, 20 Air Force troops, flanked by American flags and massive satellites, entered Space Force. Soon several more will join the unit of core space operators who will run satellites, track enemy maneuvers and try to avert conflicts in space.



The missions are not new and the people are not necessarily new, Benson said.



That troubles some American lawmakers who view the branch, with its projected force of 16,000 troops and 2021 budget of 15.4 billion, as a vanity project for Trump ahead of the November presidential election.



Concerns over the weaponisation of outer space are decades old. But as space becomes increasingly contested, military experts have cited the need for a space corps devoted to defending American interests.



Threats from global competitors have grown since the Persian Gulf War in 1991, when the US military first relied on GPS coordinates to tell troops where they were in the desert as they pushed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's forces out of Kuwait.



Benson declined to name the aggressive nations his airmen will monitor and potentially combat. But the decision to deploy Space Force personnel at Al-Udeid follows months of escalating tensions between the US and Iran.



Hostilities between the two countries, ignited by Trump's unilateral withdrawal of the US from Iran's nuclear accord, came to a head in January when US forces killed a top Iranian general. Iran responded by launching ballistic missiles at American soldiers in Iraq.



This spring, Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard launched its first satellite into space, revealing what experts describe as a secret military space programme. The Trump administration has imposed sanctions on Iran's space agency, accusing it of developing ballistic missiles under the cover of a civilian programme to set satellites into orbit.



World powers with more advanced space programmes, like Russia and China, have made more threatening progress, US officials contend. Last month, Defence Secretary Mark Esper warned that Russia and China were developing weapons that could knock out US satellites, potentially scattering dangerous debris across space and paralysing cell phones and weather forecasts, as well as American drones, fighter jets, aircraft carriers and even nuclear weapon controllers.



The military is very reliant on satellite communications, navigation and global missile warning, said Captain Ryan Vickers, a newly inducted Space Force member at Al-Udeid.



American troops, he added, use GPS coordinates to track ships passing through strategic Gulf passageways to make sure they're not running into international waters of other nations .



The Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which 20% of the world's oil flows, has been the scene of a series of tense encounters, with Iran seizing boats it claims had entered its waters. One disrupted signal or miscalculation could touch off a confrontation.



For years, Iran has allegedly jammed satellite and radio signals to block foreign-based Farsi media outlets from broadcasting into the Islamic Republic, where radio and television stations are state-controlled.



The US Federal Aviation Administration has warned that commercial aircraft cruising over the Persian Gulf could experience interference and communications jamming from Iran. Ships in the region have also reported spoofed" communications from unknown entities falsely claiming to be US or coalition warships, according to American authorities.



It's not that hard to do, but we've seen Iran and other countries become pretty darn efficient at doing it on a big scale, said Brian Weeden, an Air Force veteran and director of programme planning at the Secure World Foundation, which promotes peaceful uses of outer space. There's a concern Iran could interfere with military broadband communications."



Responding to questions from the AP, Alireza Miryousefi, a spokesman at Iran's mission to the United Nations, said, "Iran will not tolerate interference in our affairs, and in accordance with international law, will respond to any attacks against our sovereignty."



He added that Iran has faced numerous cyber attacks from the US and Israel.


The number of bankrupt state-owned enterprises (SOE) in reality is low, and is not commensurate with the number of private enterprises in bankruptcy.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment, which is building a plan on SOE governance reform, commented that there is a big gap between Vietnam and international practice, which explains why SOEs still cannot meet international standards on corporate governance.

At SOEs, the goals of the state as the enterprises owner are still unclear. In many cases, the goals are inconsistent with the states investment target as stipulated by the laws.

The states capital still exists in enterprises that do not belong to business fields for state investment, as stipulated in the law on using and managing state capital to invest in enterprises, or Law 69.

In addition, many SOEs dont have clear objectives and tasks, thus adversely affecting SOE governance.

The maintenance of too many wholly owned state-invested enterprises is a barrier for the state, which is the enterprise owner that should apply good corporate governance practices, MPI commented.

Modern SOE governance models require countries to restrict the creation of a separate legal framework for SOEs, and encourage the acceleration of these state owned entities to become companies.

Modern SOE governance models require countries to restrict the creation of a separate legal framework for SOEs, and encourage the acceleration of these state owned entities to become companies.

In Vietnam, the latter was done in 2010 when all SOEs shifted to operate as joint stock and limited companies.

However, 100 percent state invested enterprises are still covered by a specific mechanism under Law 69 and the documents that guide the implementation of the law.

MPI believes that the existence of a specific mechanism is not a good condition for the state, which acts as the owner of enterprises which must apply good standards to manage enterprises. The problems in corporate governance mostly arise in 100 percent state invested enterprises.

The laws on enterprise dissolution and bankruptcy applies to both state invested and private enterprises. In 1995, the SOE Law affirmed that SOEs must be dissolved and declare bankruptcy in accordance with the laws on dissolution and bankruptcy.

Nevertheless, MPI affirmed that the number of dissolved and bankrupted SOEs is very low, which doesnt truly reflect the real situation of SOEs.

In principle, creditors and other entities have the right to file unprofitable SOEs for bankruptcy. However, for many reasons they do not do this. In most cases, the state tries to save the enterprises by extending the time for debt and tax payments.

The treatment of 12 unprofitable projects of enterprises under the control of the Ministry of Trade and Investment is one example.

Another big problem is that the agency representing the state as the enterprise owner has the right to make an intervention in enterprises operations. However, when the enterprises take a loss, it is difficult to blame responsibility on individuals.

The state also decides many issues in business administration, especially in 100 percent state invested enterprises.

Luong Bang

MPI prepares new decree on SOE information disclosure The Ministry of Planning and Industry (MPI) is developing a new decree to guide State-owned enterprises (SOEs) on disclosing information, aiming to...
DUBLIN, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Liquid Biopsy Market (by Circulating Biomarker, Product, Application, End User, Clinical Application, Cancer Types, Sample Type, Regional & Country Wise Analysis), Initiatives, Funding, Major Deals, 35 Company Profiles and Recent Developments - Forecast to 2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global liquid biopsy market is expected to reach nearly US$ 8.2 Billion by 2027

The advantages of liquid biopsy over solid tumor biopsy, rising prevalence of cancer, increasing preference for non-invasive procedures, growing public and private funding to support research activities in the field of liquid biopsy and favorable government initiatives, are some of the factors expected to propel the growth of liquid biopsy market in the coming years. Some of the key factors inhibiting the growth of liquid biopsy market include clinical utility challenges, lack of sensitivity and specificity of liquid biopsy tests and unclear reimbursement & regulation scenario.

Recent Developments

In June 2020 , NeoGenomics, Inc. announced the launch of three liquid biopsy tests for advanced non-small cell lung cancer, all solid tumor types (pan-cancer), and certain breast cancer cases.

, NeoGenomics, Inc. announced the launch of three liquid biopsy tests for advanced non-small cell lung cancer, all solid tumor types (pan-cancer), and certain breast cancer cases. In June 2020 , Guardant Health presented new data demonstrating that its LUNAR-2 liquid biopsy is a highly sensitive test that can detect early-stage colorectal cancer.

, Guardant Health presented new data demonstrating that its LUNAR-2 liquid biopsy is a highly sensitive test that can detect early-stage colorectal cancer. In January 2020 , Personal Genome Diagnostics Inc. partnered with Eisai Co., Ltd. to develop a comprehensive liquid biopsy biomarker discovery solution for oncology

, Personal Genome Diagnostics Inc. partnered with Eisai Co., Ltd. to develop a comprehensive liquid biopsy biomarker discovery solution for oncology In November 2019 , Lucence Diagnostics Pte Ltd, a genomic medicine company based in Singapore , raised US$ 20 Million in Series A funding.

, Lucence Diagnostics Pte Ltd, a genomic medicine company based in , raised in Series A funding. In June 2019 , Saga Diagnostics, a Lund, Sweden based company raised US$ 4.1 Million in a financing round from Hadean Ventures.

, Saga Diagnostics, a based company raised in a financing round from Hadean Ventures. In February 2019 , MDxHealth SA signed an exclusive distribution agreement with LifeLabs to make SelectMDx, the Company's non-invasive liquid biopsy prostate cancer test, available in Canada

, MDxHealth SA signed an exclusive distribution agreement with LifeLabs to make SelectMDx, the Company's non-invasive liquid biopsy prostate cancer test, available in In August 2018 , Bio-Techne Corporation completed its acquisition of Exosome Diagnostics, Inc.

Key Topics Covered:





1. Executive Summary



2. Impact of COVID-19 on Global Liquid Biopsy Market



3. Global Liquid Biopsy Market & Forecast (2015 - 2027)



4. Global Liquid Biopsy Market Share & Forecast (2015 - 2027)

4.1 Global Liquid Biopsy Market Share & Forecast - by Circulating Biomarker

4.2 Global Liquid Biopsy Market Share & Forecast - by Product

4.3 Global Liquid Biopsy Market Share & Forecast - by Application

4.4 Global Liquid Biopsy Oncology Market Share & Forecast - by Clinical Application

4.5 Global Liquid Biopsy Oncology Market Share & Forecast - By Cancer Types

4.6 Global Liquid Biopsy Market Share & Forecast - by End User

4.7 Global Liquid Biopsy Market Share & Forecast - by Sample Type

4.8 Liquid Biopsy Market Share & Forecast - Regional Analysis

4.9 Liquid Biopsy Market Share & Forecast - Country Wise Analysis



5. Global Liquid Biopsy Market & Forecast - by Circulating Biomarker (2015 - 2027)

5.1 Global Liquid Biopsy - Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) Market & Forecast

5.2 Global Liquid Biopsy - Circulating Tumor DNA (ctDNA) Market & Forecast

5.3 Global Liquid Biopsy - Cell-Free DNA (cfDNA) Market & Forecast

5.4 Global Liquid Biopsy - Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) Market & Forecast

5.5 Global Liquid Biopsy - Other Circulating Biomarkers Market & Forecast



6. Global Liquid Biopsy Market & Forecast - by Product (2015 - 2027)

6.1 Global Liquid Biopsy - Kits and Consumables Market & Forecast

6.2 Global Liquid Biopsy - Instruments Market & Forecast

6.3 Global Liquid Biopsy - Services Market & Forecast



7. Global Liquid Biopsy Market & Forecast - by Application (2015 - 2027)

7.1 Global Liquid Biopsy - Oncology Application Market & Forecast

7.2 Global Liquid Biopsy Oncology Market & Forecast - By Cancer Types

7.2.1 Lung Cancer Liquid Biopsy Market & Forecast

7.2.2 Breast Cancer Liquid Biopsy Market & Forecast

7.2.3 Colorectal Cancer Liquid Biopsy Market & Forecast

7.2.4 Prostate Cancer Liquid Biopsy Market & Forecast

7.2.5 Gastrointestinal Cancer Liquid Biopsy Market & Forecast

7.2.6 Leukaemia Liquid Biopsy Market & Forecast

7.2.7 Others Liquid Biopsy Market & Forecast

7.3 Global Liquid Biopsy - Non-Cancer Application Market & Forecast



8. Global Liquid Biopsy Oncology Market & Forecast - by Clinical Application (2015 - 2027)

8.1 Global Liquid Biopsy Oncology Application - Therapy Selection Market & Forecast

8.2 Global Liquid Biopsy Oncology Application - Treatment Monitoring Market & Forecast

8.3 Global Liquid Biopsy Oncology Application - Early Cancer Screening Market & Forecast

8.4 Global Liquid Biopsy Oncology Application - Recurrence Monitoring Market & Forecast



9. Global Liquid Biopsy Market & Forecast - by End User (2015 - 2027)

9.1 Global Liquid Biopsy - Reference Laboratories Market & Forecast

9.2 Global Liquid Biopsy - Hospitals and Physician Laboratories Market & Forecast

9.3 Global Liquid Biopsy - Academic and Research Centers Market & Forecast

9.4 Global Liquid Biopsy - Other End Users Market & Forecast



10. Global Liquid Biopsy Market & Forecast - by Sample Type (2015 - 2027)

10.1 Global Liquid Biopsy - Blood Sample Market & Forecast

10.2 Global Liquid Biopsy - Urine Sample Market & Forecast

10.3 Global Liquid Biopsy - Other Fluids Sample Market & Forecast



11. Liquid Biopsy Market & Forecast - Regional Analysis (2015 - 2027)

11.1 North America Liquid Biopsy Market & Forecast

11.2 Asia Pacific Liquid Biopsy Market & Forecast

11.3 Europe Liquid Biopsy Market & Forecast

11.4 Latin America Liquid Biopsy Market & Forecast

11.5 Middle East & Africa Liquid Biopsy Market & Forecast



12. Liquid Biopsy Market Share & Forecast - Geographical Analysis (2015 - 2027)



13. Liquid Biopsy Initiatives



14. Liquid Biopsy Companies Financing Details



15. Company Profiles

15.1 Personal Genome Diagnostics

15.2 Guardant Health, Inc.

15.3 Pathway Genomics

15.4 RainDance Technologies (Acquired by Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.)

15.5 Cardiff Oncology (Previously Trovagene, Inc.)

15.6 LungLife AI (Formerly Cynvenio Biosystems, Inc.)

15.7 Biocept, Inc.

15.8 ANGLE plc

15.9 MDxHealth

15.10 Biolidics Limited (Formerly Clearbridge Biomedics Pte Ltd)

15.11 Exosome Diagnostics, Inc. (Acquired by Bio-Techne Corporation)

15.12 Foundation Medicine, Inc.

15.13 Roche Diagnostics (A Subsidiary of F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG)

15.14 Genomic Health (Now Part of Exact Sciences Corp)

15.15 Myriad Genetics, Inc.

15.16 Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.

15.17 QIAGEN NV

15.18 Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.

15.19 Menarini-Silicon Biosystems

15.20 GRAIL

15.21 NeoGenomics, Inc.

15.22 DiaCarta, Inc.

15.23 OncoCell MDx (Now Immunis.AI)

15.24 C2i Genomics

15.25 Biodesix

15.26 Freenome

15.27 Inivata

15.28 CellMax Life

15.29 Rarecyte Inc.

15.30 Saga Diagnostics

15.31 Thrive Earlier Detection Corp.

15.32 Lucence Diagnostics Pte Ltd

15.33 Karius, Inc.

15.34 Clinical Genomics Technologies Pty Ltd (CG)

15.35 Elypta



16. Global Liquid Biopsy Market - Driving Factors

16.1 Rising Applications of Liquid Biopsy Expected to Boost Liquid Biopsy Market

16.2 Personalized Medicine to Spur Use of Liquid Biopsy Tests in Clinical Practice

16.3 Rising Aging Population and Cancer Incidences to Drive Liquid Biopsy Market

16.4 New Liquid Biopsy Product Launches to Fuel Market Revenues

16.5 Government Funds for Refining Cancer Detection Drives the Liquid Biopsy Market Growth

16.6 Increasing Focus of Manufacturers on Research & Development Through Collaborations To bolster Growth of Liquid Biopsy Market



17. Global Liquid Biopsy Market - Challenges

17.1 Limitations in Third-Party Payer Coverage to Restrict Liquid Biopsy Market

17.2 Liquid Biopsy Clinical Utility Challenges

17.3 Unclear Regulations on Laboratory Developed Tests (LDT) for Liquid Biopsy

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/2wngzn

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WHITE PLAINS and SOMERS, NY / ACCESSWIRE / September 22, 2020 / Many express a desire to leave specific items of personal property to loved ones in their Last Will and Testament. Whether or not their wishes will actually be fulfilled, however, depends on a variety of factors. Westchester County elder law attorney Lauren C. Enea, Esq. of Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP in White Plains and Somers, N.Y., recently shed light on effective strategies for gifting as part of an individual's end-of-life planning.

"I have unfortunately seen family members spend thousands in legal fees disputing who gets dad's motorcycle or mom's silver - items of monetary as well as sentimental value," said Lauren Enea. "There are a number of practical steps that can be taken to help ensure that this doesn't happen - and that your wishes are followed."



Lauren C. Enea, Associate, Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP

First, consider gifting items of special importance while you're alive and still mentally competent. "As a client of mine once put it - a warm gift is much more enjoyable than a cold one," said Ms. Enea. "Although not always possible, many situations lend themselves well to lifetime gifting."

Another strategy is to specifically identify and bequeath the item of tangible personal property in a Last Will and Testament or Trust agreement that owns your home and its contents. "This will not only help identify the specific item and its recipient, but also segregates the item from other tangible property that one may be leaving to a larger group of individuals," she noted.

"Lastly, consider utilizing a signed and dated letter or memorandum to outlines your wishes," suggested Ms. Enea. "While this document is not legally binding in the State of New York, it will help guide one's Executors, Trustees and loved ones as to whom one would like to receive each item of tangible property after one passes away."

Admitted to practice law in New York and Florida, Ms. Enea concentrates her practice on Wills, Trusts and Estates, Medicaid Planning, Special Needs Planning and Probate/Estate Administration. She is a recipient of Westfair Communications' 2019 Millennial Awardsand secretary of CAREERS Support Solutions' Board of Directors, a non-profit helping individuals with disabilities obtain gainful employment in Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess Counties.

An active member of the local bar associations, Ms. Enea was appointed to the Executive Committee of the Westchester County Bar Association (WCBA) Trusts and Estates Section. She is also secretary of the WCBA New Lawyers Section, treasurer of the Columbian Lawyers Association of Westchester County, and sponsorship chair of the New York State Bar Association's Elder Law and Special Needs Section Sponsorship Committee.

Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP is located at 245 Main Street in White Plains, N.Y. with additional offices in Somers, N.Y. While the firm is open for a select number of in-person meetings following New York State's Phase 2 reopening guidelines, they continue to encourage telephone and video-conference meetings whenever possible. For more information or to schedule a consultation, call 914-948-1500 or visit www.esslawfirm.com.

About Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP

Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP is an AV preeminent rated elder law firm with offices in White Plains and Somers, N.Y. The practice concentrates on Elder Law; Medicaid Planning; Nursing Home and Home Care Applications; Wills, Trusts and Estates; Guardianships; Estate Litigation; Supplemental Needs Trusts; and Special Needs Planning. Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP serves Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, the Bronx, Manhattan, Long Island and Queens and is committed to providing the highest quality legal services to seniors, the disabled and their families. Visit the firm online at www.esslawfirm.com.

Press Contact

Kelly Lee

Co-Communications

914-666-0066

kelly@cocommunications.com

SOURCE: Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/606997/Westchester-County-Elder-Law-Attorney-Lauren-C-Enea-Sheds-Light-on-Practical-Steps-for-Gifting
This has been no easy transformation, to say the least.

I think its less about the podiums and the crowds than it is the rope lines for Joe  thats what he misses, said former Senator Christopher J. Dodd, Democrat of Connecticut and a close friend of Mr. Bidens. Thats where he makes his connections. Hes a face-to-face politician, and theres not a lot of that now.

How do you bring the country together while running a campaign that forbids nearly all togetherness? The awkwardness of this foray has been on display in recent weeks as Mr. Biden has dipped back into in-person campaigning across several battleground states.

He is just a natural in-person connector, said Representative Debbie Dingell, Democrat of Michigan, who spent time with Mr. Biden during his visit to her state this month. It is much harder to connect from behind a mask, much less a screen. Its an adjustment for everyone to campaign in a pandemic, Ms. Dingell said. But for Biden its more so.

The Biden campaign says its pronounced concern for social distancing is geared mainly toward public safety.

When we think about how were going to put together an event, the overarching concern is, How do we do this in a way that ensures were not posing a danger to the community? said Kate Bedingfield, a deputy campaign manager. She added that, even in a traditional election year, a campaign would reach more voters through local news coverage of a visit than through people who laid eyes on the candidate in person.

Critics of Mr. Bidens hyper-cautious approach have suggested that he can go too far at times, that some of his measures reek of showing off. Even after Milwaukee  the largest city in the swing state of Wisconsin  invested vast time and resources into the Democratic National Convention last month, the campaign declined to send Mr. Bidens running mate, Senator Kamala Harris, to the state for even a quick courtesy appearance, despite the fact that the Democratic National Committee still maintained a scaled-back presence in the city. (We determined this wasnt a time to bring her to the state without creating an unsafe environment on the ground, Ms. Bedingfield said.)
NEW YORK and MUMBAI, India, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), (BSE: 532540, NSE: TCS) a leading global IT services, consulting and business solutions organization, announced that it is using its new AI software, IUX for Workplace Resilience, to minimize the risks for its employees and ensure their safety, should their responsibilities require some of them to be in the office during the pandemic.

When COVID-19 forced companies to mandate working from home, TCS deployed its Secure Borderless Workspaces (SBWS) model, enabling its workforce of over 443,000 across 46 countries to work remotely, in just a few weeks. While lockdown restrictions have been eased, TCS has prioritized employee safety and well-being, and has enabled return to work in a carefully calibrated way, for under two percent of the workforce to date. To create a safe workplace for TCSers who need to return to work for some business-critical activities, TCS implemented IUX for Workplace Resilience, which is part of the SBWS framework. From concept to deployment, TCS took just four weeks to begin running the software at its first location.

Part of the award-winning TCS Intelligent Urban Exchange (IUX) portfolio, the software helps enterprises make it safer for employees to return to the workplace amid COVID-19 by combining risk analytics with key business relaunch functions, including workforce safety, regulation compliance, operational resilience, and customer engagement.

With its business command dashboard, IUX for Workplace Resilience improves staff deployment planning by enabling site administrators to monitor the daily risk profile and risk prediction for over 180,000 TCSers in India on a rolling seven, 14- and 21-day basis. Based on the daily risk scores, administrators can decide which of the employees can be safely allowed to return to work, if required.

The software generates alerts if social distancing norms are not followed in common areas, monitors PPE use, and records employee temperatures at entrances and exits. In the event of an infection, it can be used to carry out contact tracing within 20 to 30 minutes versus the normal one week. All employee data and self-declared inputs are encrypted to ensure personal data privacy.

TCS has successfully deployed the solution across nearly all of its locations in 19 cities across India, and will begin deploying it in North America this month, starting at its facility in Toronto, Canada, followed by offices in Edison, New Jersey; Cincinnati, Ohio; Plano, Texas; St. Petersburg, Florida; and Little Rock, Arkansas.

"Providing a safe workplace for employees is a priority shared by TCS and every one of our clients who is relying on us to maintain their businesses operations during COVID-19," said Ashvini Saxena, Global Head, Digital Software & Solutions, TCS. "Protecting on-premise employees requires managing risk at a much more granular level, using real-time city and enterprise data. As our clients reopen workplaces and campuses, we stand ready to help them keep their employees and customers safe, make it easier to comply with government regulations and better manage risks to their business."

Powered by TCS' Intelligent Urban Exchange big data and IoT analytics platform, IUX for Workplace Resilience can ingest and apply real-time analytics to any form of information  from public health and employee records to video, HR, supply chain and operations data. The software uses artificial intelligence to spot correlations, uncover insights, make predictions, and offer recommendations for making business more resilient, displaying them as visualizations on a business command dashboard.

For more information, visit: https://dss.tcs.com/smart-city-solutions/workplace-resilience/

About TCS Digital Software & Solutions

Launched in 2014, TCS Digital Software & Solutions is a strategic growth business within TCS that helps customers undergo critical digital transformations with modular, scalable and fully integrated, industry-tailored licensed software and solutions. Industries served are Smart Cities, Retail, Communications, and Banking, Financial Services, Insurance and Retirement. These markets have a particularly urgent need to adopt emerging technologies to enhance customer intelligence capabilities and rapidly shift product and service offerings to compete in highly competitive and customer-centric arenas. For more information, visit the TCS website or the Digital Software & Solutions page on LinkedIn.

About Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. (TCS)

Tata Consultancy Services is an IT services, consulting and business solutions organization that has been partnering with many of the world's largest businesses in their transformation journeys for over 50 years. TCS offers a consulting-led, cognitive powered, integrated portfolio of business, technology and engineering services and solutions. This is delivered through its unique Location Independent AgileTM delivery model, recognized as a benchmark of excellence in software development.

A part of the Tata group, India's largest multinational business group, TCS has over 443,000 of the world's best-trained consultants in 46 countries. The company generated consolidated revenues of US $22 billion in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020, and is listed on the BSE (formerly Bombay Stock Exchange) and the NSE (National Stock Exchange) in India. TCS' proactive stance on climate change and award-winning work with communities across the world have earned it a place in leading sustainability indices such as the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI), MSCI Global Sustainability Index and the FTSE4Good Emerging Index. For more information, visit us at www.tcs.com.www.tcs.com.

To stay up-to-date on TCS news in North America, follow @TCS_NA. For TCS global news, follow @TCS_News.

TCS Digital Software & Solutions media contact:

James Sciales Email: [email protected] | Phone: +1 917 981 7651

TCS media contacts:

SOURCE Tata Consultancy Services

Related Links

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WASHINGTON, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Arbonne International, LLC (Arbonne) will participate in the Sept. 23rd Direct Selling Day on Capitol Hill, hosted by Direct Selling Association (DSA), the national trade association for direct selling companies. Arbonne will join with other direct selling companies, bringing together more than 125 direct selling distributors and executives to urge over 100 members of Congress to consider the implications and importance of maintaining the independent contractor status for all direct sellers during this challenging time in our country. Direct sellers will participate in Direct Selling Day on Capitol Hill virtually this year through individual congressional video calls.

"Our inclusive community of Independent Consultants enjoy the freedom and flexibility of operating their Arbonne businesses independently," said Bernadette Chala, SVP chief legal officer and general counsel of Arbonne. "As a top social-selling company our Independent Consultants are unified by the mission to empower people to flourish while earning an income. We strive to continue providing the business opportunity for our independent consultants to share new, innovative products that support sustainable, healthy living."

"We are pleased to continue our annual Direct Selling Day on Capitol Hill with direct sellers and executives from Arbonne participating virtually from around the country," said Joseph N. Mariano, president and chief executive officer for the Direct Selling Association. "As the retail economy continues to evolve in the United States, it's crucial that our elected officials understand the benefits of direct selling in today's economy."

ABOUT THE DIRECT SELLING ASSOCIATION

For more than a century, the Direct Selling Association (DSA) has served as the national trade association for companies that offer entrepreneurial opportunities to independent sellers to market and sell products and services, typically outside of a fixed retail establishment. In 2019, direct selling took place across the United States, generating $35.2 billion in retail sales. More than six million entrepreneurs in the U.S. are selling products or services through the direct selling channel, providing a personalized buying experience for more than 36.9 million customers.

About Arbonne International

Since 1980, Arbonne International, LLC, has created personal care, beauty and wellness products crafted with plant-based ingredients, and grounded in science and clinical research. Arbonne's philosophy of healthy living to improve Mind. Body. Skin. combined with the entrepreneurial business opportunity fosters a holistic approach, focusing on the whole person to flourish inside and out. The brand core values are empowerment, transparency, and sustainability, with the vision that everyone can flourish by being good to themselves, their community, and the planet. Arbonne is a certified B Corporation, balancing people, planet and profit. Products are available at arbonne.com or through an extensive network of Arbonne Independent Consultants across the world. Arbonne is a privately held company and is headquartered in Irvine, California. For more information, please visit www.arbonne.com.

SOURCE Arbonne International, LLC

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WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump has said he would nominate a woman to replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died Friday at the age of 87 and was a champion of gender equality. A look at the top contenders:

___

AMY CONEY BARRETT

Barrett, 48, is widely considered to be the front-runner. She was previously considered as a finalist for Trumps second nomination to the high court, which eventually went to Justice Brett Kavanaugh. A devout Catholic mother of seven, she is a favorite of religious conservatives and considered a strong opponent of abortion.

Barrett was nominated by Trump to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit and confirmed by the Senate in October 2017 by a 55-43 vote. The 7th Circuit, based in Chicago, covers the states of Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin.

In her nearly three years on the bench, Barretts judicial record includes the authorship of around 100 opinions and several telling dissents in which Barrett displayed her clear and consistent conservative bent.

Barrett served as a law clerk to Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. She worked briefly as a lawyer in private practice in Washington, D.C., before returning to the University of Notre Dame Law School, her alma mater, to become a professor in 2002.

During her Senate confirmation hearing for the appeals court in 2017, Democrats pressed Barrett on whether her strong religious views would impact her potential rulings on abortion and other hot-button social issues.

Barrett responded that she takes he Catholic faith seriously, but said that I would stress that my personal church affiliation or my religious belief would not bear in the discharge of my duties as a judge.

She is married to Jesse Barrett, a former federal prosecutor who is a partner at a law firm in South Bend, Indiana. The couple have seven children, included two adopted from Haiti and one child with special needs.

___

U.S. Circuit Judge Barbara Lagoa, of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, is shown in this official undated photo released by the Florida Supreme Court. (AP Photo/Florida Supreme Court)AP

BARBARA LAGOA

Lagoa, 52, is a Cuban American judge from Florida who was nominated by Trump to serve on the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in 2019. Her name was first added to the White Houses list of potential high court contenders last month.

Raised in the heavily Latino Miami suburb of Hialeah, Lagoa is the daughter of Cuban exiles who fled the communist regime of Fidel Castro. She speaks fluent Spanish and has a solidly conservative judicial record. Lagoas potential nomination is being touted as a way for Trump to shore up flagging support in a crucial battleground state where recent polls have shown Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden with a narrow lead.

Lagoa also has the potential benefit of having been previously vetted by the Senate just 10 months ago, sailing to confirmation by a wide margin of 80-15 in a relatively rare bipartisan vote in November. The 11th Circuit covers Georgia, Florida and Alabama.

On Saturday, Trump said he had not yet met Lagoa but that shes Hispanic and highly respected.

Lagoa is a graduate of Florida International University and went on the earn her law degree from Columbia University in New York in 1992. She then worked in private practice in Miami for about a decade.

In 2000, Lagoa gained notoriety as part of the legal team that represented relatives of Elian Gonzalez, the young boy caught in a high-profile custody dispute between his father in Cuba and family members in Miami.

Lagoa is married to Paul Huck Jr., a Miami attorney. The couple have three children.

___

JOAN LARSEN

Larsen, 51, was a little-known University of Michigan legal scholar until 2015, when then- Gov. Rick Snyder, a Republican, tapped her to fill a vacant seat on the Michigan Supreme Court.

The following year, Justice Joan campaigned to fill the remaining term of her predecessor on the court by appealing to conservative voters, promoting an originalist interpretation of legal texts and pledging not to legislate from the bench. As a presidential candidate Trump included Larsens name on his first list of potential nominees to the nations highest court.

Trump carried Michigan that November and after becoming president quickly sought to elevate Larsen to the federal bench, tapping her in May 2017 to fill a vacant seat on the Cincinnati-based 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. Michigans two Democratic U.S. senators initially held up her appointment since the White House hadnt consulted them on the nomination, as is customary. But after meeting with the senators, Larsen was confirmed by the Senate by a 60-38 vote the following November.

Larsen grew up in Waterloo, Iowa, and graduated from the University of Northern Iowa before going to Northwestern University School of Law in Chicago. After graduating in 1993, Larsen landed a coveted clerkship with Justice Antonin Scalia.

Following the election for President George W. Bush, she joined the Office of Legal Counsel in the U.S. Department of Justice, where she authored a still-secret 2002 memo that addressed detainees' rights to challenge their detention.

Returning to teach law at Michigan, Larsen championed an expansive view of the powers of the presidency. She wrote a 2006 article defending Bushs use of signing statements to interpret laws passed by Congress. At her 2017 confirmation hearing for the federal bench, however, Larsen assured senators she would have no problem ruling against Trump if the law demanded it.

Larsen is married to Michigan law professor Adam Pritchard, an expert on corporate and securities law. They live in Scio Township near Ann Arbor and have two children.

___

ALLISON JONES RUSHING

Rushing, 38, was confirmed just 18 months ago to the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond. If elevated to the Supreme Court, she would be the youngest justice confirmed since the early 1800s.

She is a native of Hendersonville, North Carolina. Her potential selection is being championed within the White House by chief of staff Mark Meadows, who also hails from the mountains of the Tarheel State.

Rushing graduated from Wake Forest University before attending Duke University, where she earned her law degree in 2007. She then clerked for future Justice Neil Gorsuch, who was then an appeals court judge, as well as at the Supreme Court for Justice Clarence Thomas.

As an appellate specialist while in private practice at the Williams & Connolly law firm in Washington, Rushing filed scores of briefs with the Supreme Court. But her comparatively short legal career included prior work with a conservative Christian legal group that is sure to stoke Democrats and their allies to fight her nomination.

While in law school in 2005, Rushing interned at Alliance Defending Freedom, a group known for its opposition to same-sex marriage and expanded rights for transgender people. That has led Democrats to cast Rushing as an a young, ideological extremist.

Rushing is married to Blake Rushing. The couple have a young son.

___

KATE COMERFORD TODD

Todd, 45, is the only lawyer on Trumps potential shortlist for the Supreme Court who has never served as a judge.

A deputy White House counsel, her close connection to the Trump administration could give an opening to Democrats to attack her independence and relative lack of experience. However, her lack of a judicial record also leaves little paper trail for opponents to sort through for material to attack.

Todd graduated from Cornell University before attending Harvard Law School. She then clerked for Thomas at the Supreme Court. She worked in private practice before serving as the senior vice president and chief counsel for the U.S. Chamber Litigation Center, which is the legal arm of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Todd is married to Gordon Dwyer Todd, a partner at Sidley law firm in Washington specializing in white-collar defense and government litigation. The couple live in Northern Virginia with their four children.

--The Associated Press
About a month after South Carolina schools closed their doors this spring to stem the tide of the coronavirus pandemic, state and local officials noticed a disturbing trend.

The number of child abuse reports dropped steeply, even as conditions that typically lead to higher rates of in-home violence such as a weakened economy and increased isolation became more common. By April, abuse disclosures had dropped by 50 percent across the state according to multiple reports at the time, a decline that advocates say was roughly mirrored in Greenville County.

The drop was troubling, but not unexpected.

Reports fall every year when schools let out for summer and teachers, who are on the front lines of identifying signs of abuse and neglect, lose touch with their students. But it was unclear how long schools would be shuttered, and the uncertainty swirling around the pandemic gave rise to concern that children in South Carolina and the Upstate were suffering worsening abuse during the prolonged closure.

Greenville County Schools reopened Aug. 24, and since then, the number of abuse reports is higher than it was at the beginning of the pandemic. But disclosures still lag as students and teachers adjust to a hybrid schedule with limited in-person instruction. About a third of the district's roughly 77,000 students learn entirely from home after opting into the virtual academy.

Julie Valentine Center Executive Director Shauna Galloway-Williams, whose organization counsels and advocates for abused children in the Upstate, said reports are still about half of what they were this time last year.

Between March and June, about 23 children were referred to the center each month, according to Julie Valentine's records. That number rose to 34 in the month before schools reopened and in the weeks since the first day of school. In a normal year, the Julie Valentine's referrals are typically in the 60s or 70s.

"What we're seeing more of is severe cases, particularly with physical abuse cases," Galloway-Williams said. "Just extreme cases of neglect and physical abuse."

The drop is likely linked to teachers having less face-to-face time with students, who are in classrooms two days a week if they haven't chosen the all-virtual option, Galloway-Williams said. The center will be conducting its annual training with teachers in the coming weeks, and Galloway-Williams said it will include information on how to identify signs of abuse virtually.

"Some of the things we'd look at is parents who are being demeaning or not supportive of their kids. Now is the time to pay even more attention to that," she said. "The biggest thing I think teachers can do is to trust their guts."

The number one sign a child is being abused, Galloway-Williams said, is if they aren't logging in for virtual lessons at all. It's also important for teachers to attempt to meet with children virtually when they aren't in regular face-to-face contact, and to give them opportunities to reach out privately, whether through online messages or video chats.

She said a teacher with the district referred a student to the center after witnessing signs of abuse in the child's home during a video chat.

The pandemic has limited the center's outreach efforts. While Julie Valentine's in-person courses at schools often result in reports from participating students, Galloway-Williams said the nonprofit has developed virtual sessions for students while access to schools is limited.

Shannon Lambert, executive director of the Pickens County Advocacy Center, said her organization has faced similar challenges as reports continue to lag.

"It's difficult because we know that we aren't able to get as much access or reach out to those kids like we used to," she said.

While reports of child abuse to Lambert's organization are down by between 50 and 60 percent from last year, she said, more college students from Clemson University and Southern Wesleyan have come forward in recent weeks to report sexual assault as they return to the area.

But the number of those reports is still low compared to other years, likely because of a staggered campus arrival schedule and a drop in the number of parties, where many college assaults happen. Restrictions on gatherings have likely made victims more reluctant to admit they were at a social gathering or party when they were assaulted. Lambert said her center has already served one student who did not want to formally report an assault because she was worried she'd get in trouble for violating her school's social distancing policies.

"I think both those schools have amnesty rules, but college students are just worried about that no matter what," Lambert said.

The Pickens County Advocacy Center is working to adapt to the educational landscape the pandemic has created, but progress is slow.

"It's been very quiet," Lambert said. "When you get on a hierarchy of stress and know you're going to be staying home the majority of the time, that poses some difficult decisions for any victim to make on whether they're going to disclose or not."
By Online Desk

After a busy day in the Parliament on Tuesday, where atleast 11 Bills were passed as the Opposition members boycotted the proceedings in both the Houses, the MPs in Delhi gear up for another day where the Upper House will take up business at 9 AM while the Lower House will meet at 6 PM.

However, with rising number of Covid cases within the Parliament premises, the Lower House is likely to be adjourned sine die.

On Tuesday, the Rajya Sabha, in a matter of three and half hours, passed seven key Bills, including one that removes cereals, pulses and onion from the essential commodities list and another that abolishes penalty for certain offences by companies.

Similarly, the Lower House recorded passing of at least four Bills, including the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020, the Industrial Relations Code, 2020 and the Code on Social Security, 2020 and the Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Bill 2020. Most of the Opposition, including the Congress, Left, TMC, SP and NCP decided to boycott House proceedings in protest against the suspension of eight MPs.


They are already the proud parents of two children.

And now, Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban have added to their family by welcoming an adorable black-and-white rescue cat Louis.

Taking to Instagram on Monday, the 53-year-old Big Little Lies star introduced the furry new family member.

New addition: Hollywood actress Nicole Kidman, 53, (pictured) and Keith Urban, 52, have welcomed a surprise new addition to their growing family - a rescue cat named Louis

'Meet the newest member of our fur-family, Louis!,' she wrote on Instagram, as she shared a photo of herself rubbing noses with the cat.

Later Nicole could be heard talking to her new kitty in a video, purring: 'Louie, Louie. Hi, welcome. We love you Louie.'

Welcome home: In a video posted on her Instagram account, Nicole could be heard purring to her new kitty: 'Louie, Louie. Hi, welcome. We love you Louie.'

Louis appeared to be happily lounging on the couch while his superstar owner spoke to him.

A number of the star's fans immediately fawned over the animal, calling the cat 'cute' and 'precious'.

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, Nicole has had a renewed focus on family.

Loved up! The star shared a sweet tribute and photo of herself looking very loved up with country music megastar Keith on Saturday

The star shared a sweet tribute and photo of herself looking very loved up with country music megastar Keith on Saturday.

The Academy Award winner nestled into crooner in the selfie, which was taken at an idyllic farm.

'Listening to Keith's new album feels a little something like this,' Nicole wrote in the caption with a heart emoji, before going to promote her husband's new album.

New music: 'Listening to Keith's new album feels a little something like this,' Nicole wrote in the caption with a heart emoji, before going to promote her husband's new album

Last week, Keith did a virtual performance of his latest single 'One Too Many' with pop star Pink at the ACM Awards in Nashville.

Nicole is currently in Byron Bay filming her new series Nine Perfect Strangers.

She shared a sweet Instagram clip of herself beaming as she watched the show on a laptop.

'Wishing I was there': Last Wednesday, Nicole watched Keith hosting the ACM Awards in Nashville all the way from Byron Bay, where she is filming her new series Nine Perfect Strangers

Keith and Nicole were first introduced to each other in January 2005 at G'Day LA.

The couple tied the knot at the Cardinal Cerretti Chapel in the grounds of St Patrick's College in Manly, Sydney, in 2006.

They later welcomed daughters Sunday Rose, 11, and Faith Margaret, nine, in 2008 and 2010.
US officials on Monday unveiled a fresh set of highly anticipated measures against Iran over its procurement and sale of weapons. But far from being anything new, they appeared to be the same type of economic sanctions piled on Tehran with little discernible geopolitical impact.

America aims to sanction Iranians who buy and sell weapons, and sanction other nations and entities that buy or sell weapons.

Just imagine what Iran would do if it were able to more freely purchase advanced weapons, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said at a press appearance in Washington that included several cabinet members. We have no intention of letting that happen.

A decade-long ban on the Iranian purchases and sales of weapons to and from Iran is set to expire next month as part of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the nuclear deal signed by Iran and other world powers in 2015. The US pulled out of the deal in 2018, but under an application of international jurisprudence that almost all nations and legal experts have mocked, claims it still has the power to restore or snap back the arms embargo and all other sanctions lifted by the JCPOA.

But the new measures  which included even more sanctions against companies and entities and punishments against companies and countries that sell or buy weapons to the country  appeared to have little teeth. Asked directly by a journalist what the US would do if European powers continued to ignore the US position on snap back, Mr Pompeo demurred, instead rambling about how it was Iran and not the US that was isolated.

Asked by another reporter whether the US was increasing its defensive posture in the Middle East in response to the lifting of the arms embargo and the possible need to interdict ships moving weapons, Mark Esper, the defense secretary, said no adjustments had been made.

We continue to maintain all of [the] operational readiness we need, he said.

The new sanctions included measures against officials involved in Irans nuclear programme, ballistic missile programs and officials involved in weapons dealings with Venezuela and North Korea.

But during the press briefing and in documents released alongside it, the US cites no other tool in its arsenal of enforcement measures than more sanctions.

Additionally much of Irans weapons exports and imports are conducted through clandestine channels outside the US monitored banking system; Russia, the one country seemingly eager to sell Iran weapons, has explicitly stated that it will ignore Washingtons measures.

Washingtons moves boil down to dramatic posturing for the sake of subjecting the Security Council to its maximum pressure campaign on Iran and turning this respected institution into a tool at its disposal, the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement on Sunday. This did not work.

The Trump administrations modus operandi is to punch its allies in the nose until they submit and embarrass them Political consultant

Critics of the administrations Iran policy have struggled to understand what the administration is trying to achieve with its policy. Even State Department and Pentagon insiders have failed to unravel the strategy, which wavers between bellicose threats and calls for negotiations with Iran, and is occasionally punctuated by dramatic kinetic action, like the assassination earlier this year of Iranian commander Qassem Suleimani.

Some have concluded that the Iran policy is mostly a communications exercise aimed at pleasing a specific clique of donors, provoking Iran and embarrassing US allies that Mr Trump has long sought to undermine.

The Trump administrations modus operandi is to punch its allies in the nose until they submit and embarrass them, said one longtime consultant to foreign countries attempting to grapple with US policies. If they dont get what they want, fine. Its not about nuance. Theyve made a decision that its not about respect.

Iran, whose economy has been battered by harsh US sanctions since Washington withdrew from the JCPOA, has relished the spurning of the US position on the arms embargo. Of the Security Council members, only the Dominican Republic voted with the US on the snapback provision.

The United States made an illegal and wrong request that was rejected by the majority of the UNSC members decisively, Irans president Hassan Rouhani said in a speech on Sunday. From now on, whatever the United States says will mean nothing but insurgence and no one will accept it.
CHI Memorial Medical Group announces C. Lee Jackson, MD, is joining CHI Memorial Urology Associates. Dr. Jackson has been with CHI Memorial more than 10 years, and is one of the foremost surgeons in America using the da Vinci robotic prostate surgical system. The former head of urology at the renowned Cleveland Clinic Florida, he has performed nearly 1,800 robotic procedures.

Dr. Jackson received his medical degree from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He completed his residency in general surgery and urology, and fellowship in renal transplantation and renovascular surgery at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland, Oh. Dr. Jackson is board-certified by the American Board of Urology.

In addition to being a robotic prostate cancer surgeon, Dr. Jackson also serves as surgery service line medical director for CHI Memorial.

CHI Memorial Urology Associates has five locations. Dr. Jacksons office is at 1300 Cleveland Ave., Chattanooga, TN 37404. He joins Oliver Benton, III, MD; Kymber Habenicht, MD; John House, MD; David Sahaj, MD; Marty Scheinberg, MD, at this location. To schedule an appointment or for more information, call 756-7860.

Edward Henson, MD, Jeffrey Mullins, MD, and William Young, MD, see patients at the CHI Memorial Missionary Ridge Medical Tower office at 725 Glenwood Dr., Suite E-780, Chattanooga, TN 37404. To schedule an appointment or for more information, call 697-0072.

Mark Currin, MD, sees patients at CHI Memorial Hospital Hixsons Professional Office Building located at 2051 Hamill Road, Suite 401, Hixson, TN 37343. To schedule an appointment or for more information, call 541-1125.

Dr. Benton sees patients in Dayton at 301 White Oak Road, Suite 100. To schedule an appointment, call 756-7860.

Drs. Benton and Currin see patients at CHI Memorial Parkway at 4700 Battlefield Pkwy., Suite 320, Ringgold, GA. To schedule an appointment, call (706) 841-7415.

All physicians welcome new patients.
GREENWICH  Officers responded to a report of a dispute on Alexander Street shortly after midnight Monday and arrested two brothers who were allegedly involved in an altercation, police said.

A 27-year-old man who lives on Alexander Street was charged with assault and disorderly conduct, police said. A 28-year-old man from the same address was cited with disorderly conduct, police said. They were later released on bail.



A Bridgeport woman turned herself in at Greenwich police headquarters on Sept. 17 to face an arrest warrant charging her with a range of alleged financial crimes, police said.

Lesha Powell, 48, of Ezra Street, was charged with larceny from an elderly person, payment card theft, identity theft, criminal impersonation and illegal receipt from a payment card, police said.

An investigation into the alleged fraud began in February, according to police. Bail was set at $50,000.



A 21-year-old woman from Stamford was charged on Sept. 17 with unlawful dissemination of an intimate image, police said.

Officers in Stamford came across her and learned an arrest warrant had been issued on the charge by Greenwich authorities, police said. Bail was set at $1,000.



A dispute brought officers to a local residence Sunday around 11 a.m., police said. A 56-year-old resident of Greenwich was charged with disorderly conduct and interfering with a 911 call, police said. Bail was set at $1,000.



An 18-year-old man from Greenwich was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct after police said he caused a disturbance at a local residence around 6:45 a.m. Sept. 15. He was released without bail.



A 45-year-old man from Stamford was charged with harassment Sept. 15 in connection with alleged conduct involving text messages, police said.

He turned himself in at police headquarters and was released on $1,000 bond, police said.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 05:25:50|Editor: huaxia

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QUITO, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Crowds and gatherings in Ecuador have increased by 15 percent in the first week following the end of lockdown restrictions imposed to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), an official source said on Tuesday.

"The latent concern we continue to have is the issue of crowds, they are on the rise. At the national level we are growing by 15 percent and in (the capital) Quito, by 12 percent," Juan Zapata, director of the country's emergency service, ECU 911, told a local TV network.

Since a state of emergency was lifted on Sept. 14 after some six months, authorities have reported 57,726 crowds or social gatherings, mainly in the three largest cities: Cuenca, Guayaquil and Quito.

The impact of these social gatherings will be seen in 14 days, said Zapata, calling for continued social distancing.

"When the state of emergency is over, we don't all have to go out to public spaces, to offices, to neighborhoods, to parks, but to continue taking care of ourselves because the virus is still present," he said.

Officials are especially concerned about crowding on public transit, said Zapata, adding "experts say the virus moves with mobility."

According to the Ministry of Health, Ecuador has seen a total of 127,643 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 7,330 deaths from the disease as of Tuesday.

Another 3,796 deaths are considered to have been caused by COVID-19, but have not been verified, the ministry said. Enditem
It would have been a dangerous assertion in the middle of a deadly pandemic no matter where it came from: that wearing masks has little to no medical value and could do more harm than wearing no mask at all.

But it was especially remarkable given the source. Published on the right-wing website RedState, it turned out to have been written under a pseudonym by William B. Crews, a public affairs officer at the National Institutes of Health, promoting the same type of discredited information about dealing with the virus that his employer was working aggressively to beat back.

Mr. Crews abruptly retired from the N.I.H. as The Daily Beast prepared to expose his clandestine role as purveyor of misinformation. But by that point, writing for RedState under the name Streiff, Mr. Crews had published a slew of incorrect claims about this virus this year, some even directly attacking his boss, Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

Mr. Crews was especially focused on undermining efforts to persuade the public to wear masks, saying that math tells you the diameter of the virus is orders of magnitude smaller than the smallest opening between mask fibers.
Last Thursday, the European parliament passed a non-binding resolution, calling for an international investigation into the alleged poisoning of the right-wing Russian oppositionist Alexei Navalny. The resolution represents a significant escalation of the attempts by the European imperialist powers to destabilize the Putin regime and ratchet up tensions with Russia.

Without providing evidence for any of its claims, the resolution speaks about the attempted assassination of Alexei Navalny, condemning it as part of a systemic effort to silence him and other dissident voices.

The EU parliament urged an investigation involving the OPCW (Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons) into a violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention. The Russian Nezasimaya Gazetapointed out that such an investigation into Russian domestic affairs would be unprecedented, writing: The proposal of the European parliament is reminiscent of the practice of international tribunals which have been created for a number of countries, above all in [the former] Yugoslavia and Rwanda.

Alexei Navalny

The resolution also explicitly expressed political support for the anti-Putin opposition that Navalny is leading and calls for sanctions that target financial assets of corrupted figures from the Putin regime, in a clear attempt to further destabilize and foster divisions within the crisis-ridden Russian oligarchy. Finally, the resolution calls for pausing the construction of the almost completed Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which is to deliver gas directly from Russia to Germany, falling short of demanding that the project be scrapped entirely.

In the German media, an aggressive campaign has been waged ever since the illness of Navalny, demanding that the project be scrapped altogether. However, there are also concerns about the impact on German companies, which have been heavily involved in this project. Moreover, newspapers like the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ), a leading mouthpiece of the German bourgeoisie, have warned of giving up the project, which Washington has repeatedly demanded. Shortly before the Navalny case began, the FAZ insisted that to give in [to the US over Nord Stream] is not an option. The pipeline is also part of an energy and national security strategy by Berlin that is aimed at turning the country into a central hub for European energy supplies.

A few days after the EU resolution, on Saturday, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung published an interview with Leonid Volkov, the chief of Navalnys staff. In the interview, Volkov insisted that there was no question that Putin ordered the attack on Navalny, and called for involvement of the OPCW in an investigation.

There is little question as to what results such an investigation would bring: WikiLeaks documents have exposed the foul role of the OPCW in imperialist provocations during the Syrian civil war, in particular. In 2018, the OPCW fabricated a false report, on behalf of the US, Great Britain and France, that gave credence to their lies that the Assad regime was to blame for chemical attacks in the Syrian civil war. The doctored report, which was written in explicit opposition to evidence the OPCWs own investigators found, was critical to providing the pretext for a military attack on Syria.

Volkov also repeatedly compared Putin directly to Hitler, whose Nazi regime was responsible for the murder of 6 million European Jews, countless political opponents and tens of millions of civilians throughout Europe and the Soviet Union. These comparisons were gleefully encouraged by the interviewer, Konrad Schuller. Over the past years, the FAZ has played a central role in justifying the relativization of Nazi crimes by German academics like Jorg Baberowski, and has spearheaded the public campaign against the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (SGP-Socialist Equality Party), which has led the opposition to the resurgence of fascism in Germany.

Volkov then emphasized that the opposition had to be the strongest force in Russia should there be a palace coup and a movement against Putin.

The Navalny case bears all the hallmarks of a major political provocation. On a factual level, nothing makes sense. While the imperialist powers unanimously proclaim that he has been poisoned with the nerve agent Novichok, one of the deadliest poisons in the world, Navalny has almost recovered within weeks with no apparent lasting damage, and is now hammering away at the Putin regime on social media.

Navalny fell seriously ill on a flight from Tomsk to Moscow on August 20. His illness coincided with the peak of the crisis in Belarus, where mass protests and strikes against the Lukashenko regime erupted after the August 9 elections. The EU, and especially Germany, have sought to intervene in this crisis by bolstering the pro-NATO opposition, while seeking to contain the strike movement, to advance their geopolitical interests in Eastern Europe.

Within 48 hours, German Chancellor Angela Merkel arranged for his flight from Omsk to Berlins Charite, the leading university clinic in Europe. The flight was organized by an NGO whose backers and board members include Bill and Hillary Clinton, as well as the former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder and his foreign minister, Joschka Fischer.

In fact, by the time he reached Germany, his condition had already stabilized. Laboratory tests done by the German army (Bundeswehr) allegedly found traces of the extremely deadly Novichok nerve agent on a bottle that Navalny supposedly used, as well as on his body.

No one has even tried to explain how not only Navalny survived the alleged poisoning with Novichok largely unscathed, but also why no one in his surroundings showed the slightest symptoms of poisoning. When Sergei Skripal and his daughter were allegedly poisoned in Britain with Novichok in 2018a case that was generally no less obscure than that of Navalnyone person that had come into contact with the Skripals died, and entire buildings had to be evacuated for contamination.

The story was made even less credible when reports emerged last week alleging that supporters of Navalny had physically rescued this particular water bottle from a hotel room as soon as news of the poisoning had emerged. None of the teams members showed any signs of poisoning. Moreover, up until the German army lab claimed to have found Novichok on the bottle, there had been no reports whatsoever of any water bottle. On the contrary, Navalnys team insisted for days that all he had consumed on August 20 was a cup of black tea at the airport.

Despite these glaring contradictions, the German government and media have launched an extraordinary campaign over the Navalny case directed against the Putin regime. The Russian government has repeatedly described the case as a gross hostile provocation and has sharply warned of a serious deterioration of Russian-German relations.

Workers must be warned of the sinister operations of the imperialist powers which now center on escalating the military build-up and bolstering the forces around Navalny. Navalnys opposition has nothing to do with defending democratic rights or opposing the Putin regime on an even remotely progressive basis.

Navalny himself has long maintained ties to far-right forces in Russia, and Leonid Volkov is a key figure in the oppositions strategy of bolstering regionalist and separatist forces in Russia.

Volkov has close connections to Fedor Krashennikov, an advocate of separatism in the Urals who has been described by the Russian business daily Kommersant as one of the many local businessmen who feel squeezed by Moscow [businessmen]. In the past, Krashennikov has worked for Anton Bakov from the Monarchist Party of Russia, who is considered the grey cardinal of the separatists fighting for a Ural Republic. Last spring, Navalnys staff and Krashennikov co-led protests in Yekaterinburg, a city in the Urals, under regionalist and separatist banners. Navalnys opposition has also supported regionalist demands in the recent protests in the Far Eastern city of Khabarovsk.

Both Navalny and Volkov have participated in Yale Universitys World Fellows Program, which has a long record of training imperialist stooges in Eastern Europe.

Genuine popular opposition to the Putin regime and the criminal oligarchy that has emerged out of the Stalinist restoration of capitalism is growing by the day as the Kremlin, like capitalist governments around the world, is pursuing the murderous policy of herd immunity amid the pandemic. However, this opposition can only find a progressive expression if it is based on the independent mobilization of the working class, in conscious opposition to the machinations of imperialism and the capitalist system as a whole.
BASKING RIDGE, NJBernards School District Superintendent Nick Markarian answered questions from parents at Monday night's board of education meeting, addressing concerns about reopening, remote learning, and safety.

"We're focused on getting students back in school right now," Markarian said, "and having a pattern of success where we don't have to close like some of our neighbors have."

Several schools in Somerset and Morris counties have temporarily pivoted to online learning this month after positive coronavirus cases were reported. Bernards students were given an option of hybrid or all-remote school this fall. Markarian said one third of Bernards Township students chose remote-only learning.

Markarian and other school district leaders received seemingly contradictory guidance from the state in the leadup to the school year, as he and other New Jersey administrators spent most of the summer operating under the directive that some in-person school was required.

But an executive order issued by Gov. Phil Murphy on Aug. 12 reversed course, leaving teachers, school administrators, and parents upset and confused. Bernards Township schools are remote-only until October.

When switching to remote learning last month, the district said it was waiting for various PPE to be delivered and installed. The majority of the equipment and supplies that the district needed to put in place, including touchless faucets, and automatic hand sanitizer, soap, and paper towel dispensers, has been installed, according to Timothy Salmon of the finance committee.

"All bathrooms have these items," said Salmon, "and this will not prevent us from opening school."

Markarian said it was difficult to predict what will happen when in-person instruction resumes, and he couldn't give a specific scenario that would definitely trigger a continuation of online learning or another pivot once students are back in the building.

"It's really difficult to say, 'if this, then that,'" said Markarian, in response to a question about the potential for shifting back to remote learning after schools open Oct. 3. "What we can say is that we work with the health department to support their contact tracing, and they will make recommendations for what is appropriate for public health."

This article originally appeared on the Basking Ridge Patch
Update: Police Tuesday afternoon said 45-year-old Damian Asher Alexander of Vancouver was killed after driving on the wrong side of Interstate 5 and striking another vehicle. The driver of the other vehicle was taken to a hospital for treatment of injuries that werent life-threatening.

***

A driver was killed in a head-on crash involving three cars early Tuesday on Interstate 5 in Southwest Portland, police say.

One of the three drivers was going the wrong way on the northbound interstate, and at least two of the cars collided head-on near the Oregon 99W interchange, according to Portland police.

One of the drivers was killed. Another was taken to a hospital injuries that werent life-threatening, and a third wasnt hurt.

The northbound interstate was closed in the area. The closure cleared by 7:30 a.m.

The crash is under investigation.

-- Jim Ryan

jryan@oregonian.com; 503-221-8005; @Jimryan015
UPDATE: The incidents have been cleared.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The citys Notify NYC alert system is warning of extensive delays on the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, Brooklyn-bound, on Tuesday morning.

Two crashes have been reported on the upper and lower levels during the morning rush hour.

A notice for the most recent accident was posted by the MTA around 8:45 a.m. A two-vehicle collision on the upper level is blocking the HOV lane at the Brooklyn tower, according to the MTA.

A separate crash caused two lanes to be blocked on the lower level, according to the MTA.

One patient with minor injuries was transported to Staten Island University Hospital in Ocean Breeze following a crash reported at 8:21 a.m., according to a spokesman for the FDNY/EMS

Google Maps shows traffic backing up to at least Willowbrook Road.

S53, S79-SBS, S93-SBS and all Manhattan-bound SIM express buses are running with delays.

Traffic is backed up on the Staten Island Expressway during the morning rush hour on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020. (Google Maps)
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 22, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan delivered a speech on the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, the video of which, like that of the leaders of other countries, was published on the official UN website and on the YouTube channel, the PMs Office told Armenpress.

In his speech, the Prime Minister stated:

Mr. Secretary General,

Excellences,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We commemorate the 75th anniversary of the United Nations in difficult times for humanity in many aspects, including for the architecture of international relations and our shared institutions that channel international cooperation and provide a framework for achieving common goals.

Sovereignty of all states, no matter size and power, is better maintained, and national interests are better served in the current system, when there is respect for international law, including first of all the UN Charter.

The United Nation had a vocation to converge the everlasting dualism of international relations expressed in the natural selfishness of states and equally natural need of cooperation. The United Nations proved its vitality by converging these two seemingly incompatible notions into effective global system of sovereign nations united by common values and principles, sharing a common vision for the future, and having the determination to have common institutes of cooperation.

By effectively implementing the principle of self-determination of peoples, the United Nations gave birth certificates to, or helped restore the independence of, more than a hundred states. Many peoples, as never before in the history of humanity, received a chance to have their say in world affairs and to realize their potential of development, setting their nations on the path of prosperity.

Some might assume that this process stopped with the end of the Cold War. But that might b an illusion. Rejection of the right to self-determination could only lead to oppression and further violence. It would profoundly contradict the core values of the United Nations and the historical evolution of the global international order. The emergence of a number of states within the last two decades is the best evidence of that trend.

Another core value of the United Nations system is the prohibition of threat or use of force in the international relations, which is a central pillar for the preservation of global peace and security, and a major prerequisite for sustainable development.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Global challenges sometimes cause oscillation between international solidarity and self-interest, hesitation and even disappointment in multilateral institutions, as illustrated by the drastic situation caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and its dire social-economic consequences.

Effective multilateralism, with a central role for the UN, is instrumental in addressing global and regional challenges. Multilateralism is not mere arithmetic for counting the involvement of more than two parties. It is a principle, an ideology of mutual respect, trust, and a culture of consensus.

Likewise, the UN is not just its 193 member states. It is more than a common platform for presenting national interests. It is also a framework to shape common interests, to listen, and consider every voice from all over the world.

The UN is also about the protection of human rights and the universality of their application. Security is not possible without respect for human rights.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today, just like 75 years ago, the core task of the UN is to provide peace, and to promote solidarity and cooperation for sustainable development.

In these challenging times, in many parts of the world, including in our region, reckless revisionists are trying to score from the perceived weakness of the international order, posing a real danger to international peace and security. Social engineering of historic memories and even appropriation of the civilizational heritage of others are becoming commonplace.

That is yet another signal that we need to recommit to effective multilateralism in order to provide a strong institutional backbone to the international community for becoming more resilient in the face of global challenges.

As Jean Jacques Rousseau once wrote, obedience to a law which we prescribe to ourselves is liberty. As I congratulate all of us on this occasion, I would like to reiterate Armenias strong determination to join the common efforts aimed at achieving a better international order, based on the international law and the shared values of freedom and justice.

Thank you for your attention.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 22)  The Duterte administration now has 104 flagship infrastructure projects, after overhauling its priority list for the third time in four years.

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board chaired by President Rodrigo Duterte approved on August 19 a longer list of flagship projects under its "Build, Build, Build" program, although slightly cheaper at 4.13 trillion compared to last year's list of 100 projects at a cost of 4.23 trillion.

The list is the third version of the government's priority big-ticket items, coming from the original list of 75 projects first revealed in 2016. Taking center stage this time are projects involving mass transportation.

Acting Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua said during a Senate budget hearing last week that projects retained or added to the latest list are all either under implementation or are nearing rollout. He said all projects will definitely start before Duterte ends his term in 2022.

RELATED: 'Build, Build, Build' to fuel PH economy 'bounce back'  Dominguez

Projects in Luzon account for three-fourths of the funding, getting 53 projects worth 3.17 trillion, according to NEDA data. Of these, 25 are located in Metro Manila, including the first-ever subway in the country with a 356.97-billion price tag. The project is supported by the official development assistance (ODA) from Japan.

Another project that would benefit the capital region is the 102.1-billion contract to upgrade and repair the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, an unsolicited project proposed by a group of conglomerates but was later awarded to Megawide Construction Corporation and its partners.

There were 16 projects chosen for the Visayas worth 338.9 billion, the biggest of which are the 78.9-billion Cebu Monorail System and phase one of the 65.7-billion Panay-Guimaras Negros Bridge.

Meanwhile, Mindanao is getting 23 projects costing 498.9 billion. Major projects will benefit Davao, the President's hometown, through phase one of the Mindanao Railway at 81.7 billion and the 80.7-billion Davao City Expressway.

Twelve projects, worth 119.3 billion, are tagged for "nationwide" impact. These include the 20.3-billion national broadband program, the newly approved 33.9-billion ICT capability development and management program, and the 26.26-billion national ID project which the President wants activated the soonest.

What's in, what's out?

Presidential Adviser for Flagship Projects Vince Dizon said last month that about 13 projects were added to the new list, taking the place of shelved items which remain on the drawing board more than halfway into the President's term.

The plan to upgrade Sangley Airport in Cavite into a commercial gateway has been dropped from the list, which came after its supposed contractors MacroAsia and its controversial partner China Communications Construction Company failed to complete requirements for the final award.

The Chinese state-run company was recently blacklisted by the United States due to its involvement in illegal reclamation activities in the South China Sea.

The 56-billion Kanan Dam project that was supposed to boost the water supply in Metro Manila has also been dropped, as construction has yet to start. Its counterpart Kaliwa Dam has been retained, but other water projects like the Panay River Basin Development and the Kabulnan-2 Multipurpose Irrigation and Power Projects were shelved.

Others projects removed from last year's list were the 187-billion Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge, the 9.5-billion Dalton Pass East Alignment road project linking Nueva Ecija and Nueva Vizcaya, and the 14-billion New Zamboanga International Airport.

Apart from delays in construction, implementing agencies had to realign funding for some projects to be channeled to the government's COVID-19 response.

Among the new entrants were the 500-million Virology Science and Technology Institute of the Philippines under the Department of Science and Technology. The project was identified following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some new items on the list with their corresponding project cost are: the General Santos Airport (1.1 billion); the Central Command Center for the Land Transportation Office (950 million); and the Motor Vehicle Recognition and Enhancement System (750 million).

ODA is king

Foreign loans and private money will play key roles in the government's push towards what it once touted as the "Golden Age of Infrastructure."

Of the 4.13 trillion spending program, more than half or 2.26 trillion will be supported by loans and grants from other countries, which will be met by a small counterpart funding from the national government. Some 50 projects will be supported by ODA, which will be paid by the state in the years to come.

Public-private partnerships  once frowned upon by Duterte as a long, arduous process  is back on the table, supporting 29 projects worth 1.69 trillion. The biggest project on the list is the 736-billion New Manila International Airport in Bulacan pitched by San Miguel Corporation which is fully funded by private money. Next on the list are the two segments of the North-South Commuter Railway in Luzon for 628.4 billion.

Public spending will fully fund 25 projects cumulatively worth 180.321 billion. The largest stand-alone project of the government is the Philippine Identification System at 26.26 billion.

Summary

By implementing agency: Department of Transportation (41), Department of Public Works and Highways (40), National Irrigation Administration (7), Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (4), Department of Information and Communications Technology (4), Department of the Interior and Local Government (1), Bases Conversion and Development Authority (1), Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (1), Department of Energy (1), National Power Corporation (1), Philippine Statistics Authority (1), Local Water Utilities Administration (1)

By funding source: official development assistance (50), public-private partnerships (29), general appropriations act (25) (with some overlaps)
A former boxer and exotic dancer, Hollingsworth, 33, grew up in the Woodlawn neighborhood of Chicago and now lives in Englewood. In 2016 he faced a felony charge of gun possession, for which he served time. The gun wasnt his, he told the Tribune, but police blamed him. He struggled during that period, in part because of an injury caused by a stray bullet that hit him while he was driving to a barbecue in Chicago. But he said he found his footing again after his uncle Eddie Thomas introduced him to horses.
Gurgaon, Haryana, India  Business Wire India

An exasperated Pawan Kumar fell in a wooden cot in the courtyard immediately after returning from another strenuous trip to Delhi and back in his diesel truck. His 9-year-old son came to tell him there were visitors to see him. Looking at his plight, visitors felt they better walk up to him to speak to him. He was lifting himself by the time they stepped out and immediately folded his hands in greeting.

Sensing the weariness on his face, Subodh enquired before even exchanging pleasantries, curious to understand, What is it that troubles you most about driving?

I breathe in the poisonous smoke, Sir. You get so concerned when there is air pollution in winter months, but we face the same pollution for each day of the year. Last time I had a cough, it continued for over six months and only went away when I took a 15-day leave.

The roads in India are filled with vehicles everywhere driving with utter disregard to any norms. If something happens, we are blamed regardless of whose fault it is. I am literally standing on the clutch in my truck half the time. My seat is not that comfortable even after I have put a cushion made by my wife on them., he continued.

My back hurts from all the exertion. I was waiting for my son to start earning, but I dont think I will be able to continue for beyond two years now.

What was a routine interaction with Pawan for setting up the processes, led the foundation of many of the actions from the early days in the Companys journey. The team became sure that the organization will strive to make a meaningful difference in the lives of the entire community. The rampant pollution and progressive drop in air quality in National Capital Region in India further strengthened the collective resolve of substituting highly polluting heavy diesel trucks with electric trucks.

The truck drivers who drive heavy trucks daily for millions of miles so that the people enjoy the luxuries of life have a short working life of fifteen years before they get burned out. They breathe in polluted air mixed with emissions from the exhaust pipes of their and fellow drivers trucks. They drive these trucks while seated on poorly fitted unergonomic seats in unpredictable traffic having to continuously keep pressing heavy clutch pedals.

In the design of the electric truck, the team focused on the drivers. Despite 60% price premium over conventional transmission, an automatic transmission was chosen. No price is too high for lengthening the working lives of the drivers and lessening their driving fatigue.

Three years down, the companys empathetic work has ensured much love and wishes from many people. Advanced bookings were made by people from all over India after a commercial trial of the electric truck.

Pawan, who now drives an electric truck, remarks, This truck makes me feel relaxed. Driving this truck is better than driving a car.

Brimming with excitement, Pawan plans to continue driving for at least 20 years now. Pawan drove his son, now 12, with pride in his new truck. Pawans ambition is to own an electric truck now. With improved driving convenience and cleaner air to breathe in, the company hopes to improve the lives of millions of truck and trailer drivers like Pawan in India.

A mass substitution of diesel trucks with Electric will significantly enhance the overall air quality in India, particularly near urban agglomerations. Each truck will save 113 MT of CO2 emission annually which is equivalent to planting 4,520 trees. Replacing million such trucks will lead to savings of 113 million Tons of CO2 emissions (reducing Indias carbon footprint by 5%).

While electric revolution is most viable in commercial vehicles at present, the entire automotive sector will drive down this road subsequently as scale and scope economies further improve viability. The company hopes to be the catalyst of this change, which can preserve the quality of its natural resources for the generations to come. The entire team is fully in sync with the direction in which the company is moving forward with rarely seen motivation and drive, even when faced with challenges and adversities. The government should come out with measures and simplify existing schemes for accelerating the adoption so that the evolution can be fast-tracked.

About IPLTech Electric

IPLTech Electric (https://www.ipltelectric.com) is an Indian start-up founded by three technocrats, Sid Das, Subodh Yadav and Chetan Singhal. IPLTech Electric is the first company globally to put heavy duty electric vehicles in commercial operation for clients like ACC in Delhi-Gurgaon Region.

Disclaimer: This content is distributed by Business Wire India. No HT journalist is involved in creation of this content.
Former Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller arrives to testify before Congress on July 24, 2019, in Washington, DC. AFP/Saul Loeb via Getty Images

Andrew Weissmann, a former prosecutor on the special counsel Robert Mueller's team, offered a scathing review of Mueller's handling of the probe and the actions of President Donald Trump and Attorney General William Barr in an upcoming tell-all.

Trump is "like an animal, clawing at the world with no concept of right and wrong," Weissmann wrote in his book, according to The Atlantic.

Barr, meanwhile, "betrayed both friend and country" by deeply mischaracterizing Mueller's findings before his report was released to the public last year.

But Weissmann leveled some of his most damning criticisms toward Mueller, saying the special counsel's fear of Trump stopped his team from investigating Trump's shady business dealings with Russia and gaining leverage over the president.

Asked whether Mueller had let down the American public, Weissmann told The Atlantic: "Absolutely, yep."

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Andrew Weissmann, a prosecutor who worked on the former special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, offers a scathing account of Mueller's handling of the probe, President Donald Trump, and Attorney General William Barr.

Trump is "like an animal, clawing at the world with no concept of right and wrong," Weissmann wrote in his book, "Where Law Ends: Inside the Mueller Investigation." That's according to The Atlantic, which obtained an early copy of the book.

He went on to describe Trump as a "lawless" president and portrayed Barr as a partisan Trump lackey who "betrayed both friend and country." Weissmann was likely referring to Barr's longstanding friendship with Mueller before he took over as attorney general. That relationship soured when Barr released a four-page letter last year that deeply mischaracterized Mueller's findings in the Russia probe before the special counsel's report was released to the public.

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Mueller's report said prosecutors did not find sufficient evidence to establish a conspiracy between members of the Trump campaign and the Russian government during the 2016 election.

It also said Mueller's team declined to make a "traditional prosecutorial judgment" on whether or not Trump obstructed justice in the course of the investigation. The report cited a longstanding Justice Department Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) memo that says a sitting president cannot be indicted. It noted, however, that if prosecutors "had confidence" that Trump had not committed a crime, they would have said so.

Barr's letter describing Mueller's findings said the special counsel found "no collusion" between Trump and Russia  a non-legal term that Trump and his allies often amplified. The attorney general also cleared Trump of obstruction of justice, even though Mueller's office declined to make a judgment in the matter.

Weissmann told The Washington Post that he decided to write his book after reading Barr's letter.

"I wrote it very much so there would be a public record from somebody, at least one viewpoint, from the inside as opposed to the story being told in maybe a less accurate way by people from the outside," he told the Post.

But the former prosecutor, who is now a professor at New York University and an MSNBC legal analyst, leveled most of his frustration over the investigation at the former special counsel himself.

When asked if Mueller had let down the American public, Weissmann told The Atlantic, "Absolutely, yep." He added: "I wouldn't phrase it as just Mueller. I would say 'the office.' There are a lot of things we did well, and a lot of things we could have done better, to be diplomatic about it."

"There's no question I was frustrated at the time," he told the outlet. "There was more that could be done that we didn't do." He added that the Senate Intelligence Committee did a better job reaching concrete conclusions in its recent report detailing the panel's own investigation into Russian election meddling.

"Even with 1,000 pages, it was better," he said. "It made judgments and calls, instead of saying, 'You could say this and you could say that.'"

Overall, he wrote in his book that the Russia probe was hampered by its own internal strife and a special counsel who held back out of fear that Trump would shut down the office altogether and pardon associates who were charged.

"Like Congress, we were guilty of not pressing as hard as we could" for evidence, he wrote, according to The Atlantic. "Part of the reason the president and his enablers were able to spin the report was that we had left the playing field open for them to do so."

Elsewhere in the book, Weissmann wrote that Mueller's team pulled back from investigating Trump's financial ties to the Russian government and oligarchs, according to The Post. "We do not know whether he paid bribes to foreign officials to secure favorable treatment for his business interests, a potential violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act that would provide leverage against the president. We do not know if he had other Russian business deals in the works at the time he was running for president, how they might have aided or constrained his campaign, or even if they are continuing to influence his presidency."

Mueller declined to provide comment to both The Post and The Atlantic.

Weissmann's words are partially corroborated in the explosive tell-all that the former FBI agent Peter Strzok, who was fired from Mueller's team in 2017, released earlier this month. Mueller ousted Strzok from the investigation following the revelation of anti-Trump texts that he exchanged with Lisa Page, an FBI lawyer he was having an extramarital affair with at the time. Strzok was fired from the FBI in 2018 over the text messages.

In his book, "Compromised: Counterintelligence and the Threat of Donald J. Trump," Strzok referenced Trump's finances and said he believes the president is compromised by Russia because of his business dealings, controversial transactions at his now-defunct charity, illegal hush-money payments to women, and most of all, his "lies about his Russia dealings."

Ultimately, Weissmann wrote that Mueller's team was hamstrung by the special counsel's decision not to probe Trump's finances after the president warned that doing so would be crossing a "red line." They were also stymied by the president's public praise of associates who did not cooperate with Mueller's team and repeated assertions that he has the "absolute" to grant pardons to whomever he wished. That, Weissmann wrote, stopped prosecutors from pushing the president's associates as hard as possible, according to The Atlantic.

"This sword of Damocles affected our investigative decisions, leading us at certain times to act less forcefully and more defensively than we might have," Weissmann wrote, according to The Post. "It led us to delay or ultimately forgo entire lines of inquiry, particularly regarding the president's financial ties to Russia."

The book described several other investigative avenues that Mueller and his top deputy, Aaron Zebley, shut down out of fear of Trump's retaliation, including:

Subpoenaing Donald Trump Jr. over his participation in an infamous June 2016 meeting with a Kremlin-connected lawyer at Trump Tower to discuss information that would "incriminate Hillary [Clinton] and her dealings with Russia." The meeting was pitched to Trump Jr. as being "part of Russia and its government's support" for the Trump campaign.

Bringing Ivanka Trump, the president's eldest daughter, in for an interview with prosecutors. Ivanka Trump pushed the president's then-lawyer, Michael Cohen, to meet with a Russian athlete who could help secure a deal to build a Trump Tower in Moscow. She also attended a planning meeting during which Donald Trump Jr. mentioned the June 2016 Trump Tower meeting, according to witness testimony. Mueller "feared that hauling her in for an interview would play badly to the already antagonistic right-wing press ... and risk enraging Trump, provoking him to shut down the Special Counsel's Office once and for all," Weissmann wrote, according to The Atlantic.



He also said he was "flummoxed" by Mueller's thought process in the obstruction investigation. Mueller was "making his own, freelance judgments about what was appropriate and not delivering on what he was tasked with doing," Weissmann told The Atlantic.

He also told The Post that he wished Congress had done more with the final report but declined to comment on whether or not Trump should have been impeached.

"That's not my call," he said.

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Janusz Karkos tends the grave of a COVID-19 victim at Brooklyn's Green-Wood Cemetary on May 4. As of Sept. 21, the U.S. coronavirus death toll surpassed 200,000

Janusz Karkos tends the grave of a COVID-19 victim at Brooklyn's Green-Wood Cemetary on May 4. As of Sept. 21, the U.S. coronavirus death toll surpassed 200,000 Credit - Natalie Keyssar for TIME

Body count has long been the yardstick by which we measure calamity. There were the 58,000 U.S. lives lives lost in the Vietnam war; the 1,496 souls who perished on the Titanic. In the hours after the September 11 attacks, when the death toll was not known, then-New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani famously said, The number of casualties will be more than any of us can bear, ultimately.

We are, once again, trying to bear the unbearable as the U.S. today surpassed 200,000 deaths caused in the still-rampaging COVID-19 pandemic. We remain, as we have long been, the worlds hardest-hit country, with just 4% of the global population but roughy 21% of both deaths and overall cases; its a dubious distinction that was fast in coming.

It was not long ago, on Feb. 29, that the U.S.s first COVID-19 death was recorded, in Washington state. By March 29, the death count had exceeded the 2,977 people who ultimately did die in the 9/11 attacks. At that time, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, predicted that total deaths would be between 100,000 and 200,000, and the disease promptly set out to prove that prediction a tragic low-ball. On April 29, the Vietnam death toll was surpassed. On May 23 we had reached 100,000 deaths. On July 29 it was 150,000. With the 200,000 threshold now having been crossed, the outlook for the rest of the year remains grim. The Institute for Health Metrics (IMHE) at the University of Washington School of medicine now predicts a likely scenario of 410,000 deaths by the end of the year.

The fact that we find ourselves here was a result of serial failures in our politics, our culture and in our ability to imagine that the worlds most powerful nation could fail to rise to a health challenge many people had long predicted was inevitable. As TIMEs Elijah Wolfson and Alex Fitzpatrick have reported, 45 days before the first COVID-19 case was diagnosed, the Global Health Security Index was published, assessing 195 countries on their perceived ability to handle a major disease outbreak, and ranking the U.S. first.

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Its clear the report was wildly overconfident in the U.S., Wolfson and Fitzpatrick write, failing to account for social ills that had accumulated in the country over the past few years, rendering it unprepared for what was about to hit.

Exceedingly unprepared, as the families of the 200,000 dead could sorrowfully attest. Still, there are glimmers of good news obscured by the bad. A handful of states, including Maine, Vermont, New York and Massachusetts, have new-infection rates below 1% of all people tested. But 27 states exceed the 5% positivity line the World Health Organization sets as a standard that must be maintained for at least two weeks before a country or region should consider reopening its economy. Only 14 states have seen daily case counts hold steady or fall over the past 14 days.

Battling the pandemic remains difficult, especially with mixed messages continuing to come out of the White House and Washington. President Donald Trump continues to downplay the significance of mask-wearing, publicly breaking with CDC Director Robert Redfield, and calling him confused, after he testified before Congress that a simple face mask could be as effective in stopping disease spread as a vaccine. The President continues to hold public rallies with little social distancing or mask use, and claims that the 200,000 death toll is, in some ways, a success story since the numbers could have been much worse.

If we didnt do our job, it would be three and a half, two and a half, maybe 3 million people, he said on Friday. We have done a phenomenal job with respect to COVID-19.

History will be the ultimate judge of what kind of job the Administration and the nation as a whole have done in responding to the pandemic. But with a vaccine still months away and the coming winter forcing people back indoorsand into close, infectious quartersthe 400,000-plus figure is almost certain to be reached before the end of the year, with numbers equally certain to keep climbing after that. The final number of lives lost will, once again, be more than any of us can bear.
When it comes to organic reach and connecting with prospects or potential customers, many small-business owners believe that ad spend is not a matter of if they need it, but when they should invest in it. This isnt always the case. There are many entrepreneurs who strictly use organic reach to connect with prospects, and can then reinvest the money that they would spend on ads back into their business.

This can certainly add up. Libby Bierman, an analyst at SageWorks, reported in an article for Small Business Trends that the average company allocates about 1 percent of their annual revenue on ad spend. It may not sound like a significant expense," she commented in the article, "but the rate has been steady for the past few years."

Its certainly significant if it can be avoided, too. Think of it this way: if your business brings in even just $100,000 per year, thats still $1,000 that couldve been allotted towards a virtual assistant or to cover your websites overhead.

In the interest of bootstrapping and working "smarter not harder," here are some tried-and-tested ways to organically connect with prospects.

1. Post consistently on your websites blog

Think about your ideal prospect and what theyre looking for. If they need your services, theyre likely searching online for some guidance until they hire someone to help. So, posting consistent blog posts and articles offering free value in alignment with your service is always a compelling way to build trust organically with a prospect, especially if those blog posts featured well-researched keywords. (In fact, thats a must for organic exposure.)

Kathy Heil, partner at StoryTeller Media + Communications, shared in a company blog post that keyword research is always a first step for organic reach. Organic traffic relies on your ability to understand what search terms your customers and prospects are using to navigate the search engines, she wrote. Hence, keyword research. From there, she added, You can deploy a strategic content creation strategy to elevate your organic rankings."

Related: How to Scale Your Blog Like a Startup

2. Optimize your Facebook page and chat with new friends

Despite what some might say, Facebook certainly isnt dead, and more business owners and ideal prospects are still using it daily than youd think. Victoria Kennedy, social-growth expert and founder of Social Prospecting 101, cracked how to reach six figures in nine months organically and names Facebook as a secret weapon.

Treat your Facebook profile as a sales funnel, she shares. Do this by changing your cover photo to say what it is that you do (you can fit a lot on there if you design it in Canva!), then taking full advantage of your bio. That is critical real estate for a call to action.

According to Kennedy, the average Facebook user or prospect commits a whopping three seconds to assessing your profile. They need to know what you do and who you are within these three seconds, she continues. Otherwise, theyll move on.

From there, once you are Facebook friends with prospects, the conversation happens more organically. Build relationships by Facebook messaging," she advises. "Which isnt a cold intro anymore since youre already Facebook friends."

Related: 3 Little-Known Metrics That Can Help Optimize Your Facebook Page

3. Create a LinkedIn content strategy

If were talking about Facebook, LinkedIn should be in the conversation too, because of its unparalleled ability to reach new eyeballs. In fact, according to Robben Media, more than half of all B2B social media traffic is driven by LinkedIn. This is almost always done by posting compelling content. Because the algorithm boosts a post out to the connections of your connections, a web of potential prospects begins to take form. To take full advantage of this, consistently posting value-packed content is a must.

One company I've been seeing a lot lately in my LinkedIn feed posting engaging content is BurstIQ. I reached out to their account manager, Angie Gallagher, to get an inside look into her company's LinkedIn strategy. "The best content on LinkedIn educates and inspires your prospects without having to do a product slam," she explains. "Our content strategy for LinkedIn includes posting videos from our team of experts, blog posts, our media appearances, videos and more. Be sure to keep track of your metrics to learn what your audience appreciates most from your shares."

Make sure to incorporate a CTA in the post so prospects know what it is that you offer and that your inbox is open. If youre going to add a link to your website or to book a demo call with you, make sure to do so in the comments section. LinkedIn is like Facebook in that it demotes posts with links to other sites, but posting in the comments is a great way to circumvent the algorithm police. These posts are great starting points for conversations with prospects. Ask questions and spark discussion.

Heres another trick: Your LinkedIn posts can be taken straight from your companys blog postings. Every time you post, take a paragraph and turn it into a LinkedIn discussion or question. Covering both Facebook and LinkedIn while boosting your ranking in Google is a foolproof way to organically attract the attention of prospects without spending a dollar.

Related:

Grace Amidst Crisis: How One Company Mastered Disaster for 100 Years

4 Ways to Set Your Rates As a Solopreneur

Zooming Out Of Zoom Calls



Copyright 2020 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
At the sixth Corps Commander level talks held on September 21, India insisted that China should move back to the positions which existed before April-May 2020 timeframe in the Eastern Ladakh sector.

During the sixth Corps Commander level talks held on September 21, India insisted that China should move back to the positions which existed before April-May 2020 timeframe in the Eastern Ladakh sector. According to sources, India and China have agreed to continue talking to each other on the ground and keep lines of communication open to avoid the aggravation of the situation.

The sources further said that during the sixth Corps Commander level talks, China asked India to vacate the positions taken over by it on the south bank of Pangong Tso after August 29. India insisted that China should move back to the positions which existed before April-May 2020 timeframe in the Eastern Ladakh sector, the sources added. 14 Corps Chief Lt Gen Harinder Singh and his likely successor Lt Gen PGK Menon along with a Joint Secretary from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had attended the meeting from the Indian side at Moldo on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

The meeting started on Monday at around 10 am and went on till 11 pm. The Corps Commanders of the two sides met after more than a month as both sides had been engaged in at least three firing incidents that have taken place along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The Corps Commanders met at the Moldo hut opposite Chushul on the Indian side.

Also Read: India, China have agreed to continue talks on border situation: Beijing

Also Read: Farm bills row: Opposition stages walkout, threaten to boycott session

Prior to the meeting, the agenda and issues of the Indian side were discussed and finalised during a high-level meeting attended by National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat and Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane, last week on Friday. The talks happened at a time when the Indian side has also occupied six major hill features which are helping the Indian Army to be in dominating positions on heights. (ANI)

Also Read: Ladakh villagers help Indian Army face Chinese forces by providing supplies
Donald Trump said he will move ahead "quickly" with a Supreme Court nominee - Alex Edelman/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Donald Trump questioned Ruth Bader Ginsburg's dying wish that her replacement on the Supreme Court be chosen by the next US president as he vowed to announce a nominee by the end of the week.

Mr Trump suggested without evidence that Democrats had concocted Justice Ginsburg's deathbed statement during an interview with his favourite news programme Fox & Friends on Monday.

I dont know that she said that, or if that was written out by Adam Schiff, and Schumer and Pelosi, Mr Trump told the network, referring to three of the top Democrats in Congress, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, senator Chuck Schumer and congressman Adam Schiff.

That came out of the wind. It sounds so beautiful, but that sounds like a Schumer deal, or maybe Pelosi or Shifty Schiff, he said.

Justice Ginsburg, who had publicly criticised Mr Trump, dictated a statement to her granddaughter Clara Spera just days before her death from pancreatic cancer on Friday, in which she said my most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed.

Justice Ginsburg was the Supreme Court's senior liberal voice - Samuel Corum /Getty

The statement was first reported by Nina Totenberg, a journalist who has covered the Supreme Court for decades, and a longtime friend of Justice Ginsburg and her family. It was later confirmed to other US outlets by the justice's family.

Mr Schiff, the Democratic chair of the House Intelligence Committee, said the president had reached "a new low" for suggesting the 87-year-old Supreme Court Justice's statement was fabricated.

He tweeted: "No, I didn't write Ruth Bader Ginsburg's dying wish to a nation she served so well, and spent her whole life making a more perfect union. But I am going to fight like hell to make it come true. No confirmation before inauguration."

The issue of when the Supreme Court seat will be filled now dominates the US presidential campaign and has triggered a fierce political battle between Democrats and Republicans in Congress.

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Mr Trump said on Monday that he will announce his nominee to replace the firebrand liberal justice by the end of the week, in hope that the Senate will confirm his pick before November's election and secure a 6-3 conservative majority on America's highest court for years to come.

Joe Biden, Mr Trump's Democratic opponent said Mr Trump's plan to move ahead with a nomination before the election amounted to an "abuse of power".

The Supreme Court rules on issues that are fundamental to US society including on abortion, the environment, gay rights, the power of the presidency, and gun control.

Mr Trump has vowed to "move quickly" with a replacement but indicated he would wait until the public memorial services for Justice Ginsburg have concluded, saying he would make his decision on "either Friday or Saturday".

Justice Ginsburg will lie in repose outside the US Supreme Court on Wednesday and Thursday so members of the public can pay their respects to the 87-year-old who had become an icon for liberals across the US.

A public viewing will be held outside the Supreme Court on Wednesday and Thursday - Sarah Silbiger /Bloomberg

She will then lie in state in the US Capitol on Friday before a private burial service at Arlington National Cemetery next week.

The president said he is looking "very seriously" at five Supreme Court candidates. The favourite is thought to be federal appeals court judge, Amy Coney Barrett, 48, a devout Catholic, or Barbara Lagoa, 52, a Cuban-American.

Mr Trump's nominee would need to be confirmed by a majority in the Senate, which Republicans hold 53-47.

But he already faced a growing rebellion within his own party, with two Republican senators publicly opposed to moving forward before the election.
J D Wetherspoon is to cut up to half of its jobs at pubs across six UK airports.

The pub chain said it had written to its 1,000 airport staff to warn them that between 400 and 450 of their jobs are at risk of redundancy.

It comes after boss Tim Martin warned that new restrictions on the hospitality sector could wipe out pubs and restaurants.

The job cuts will take place at Gatwick, Heathrow, Stansted, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Glasgow airports.

Less than two months ago the company announced that it was planning to make between 110 to 130 head office workers redundant.

The decision is mainly a result of a downturn in trade in these pubs, linked with the large reduction in passenger numbers using the airports, said John Hutson, the companys chief executive.

We should emphasise that no firm decisions have been made at this stage, he added, saying that Wetherspoon will listen to its staff to reduce the number of compulsory redundancies.

Wetherspoon is proposing to collectively consult with employees through an employment representative committee, which will be established for this purpose, he said.

From Thursday Britains pubs, bars and restaurants will be forced to close by 10pm under restrictions that the Prime Minister is expected to announce on Tuesday evening.

Covid-19 cases have spiked in recent weeks following a drive to get people back into restaurants in August and pushes to make office staff go back to their workplaces.

Martin, who employs 43,000 people in Wetherspoons pubs and hotels, told The Sunday Times such measures would be even more devastating for a sector hit hard by the pandemic.

Greene King chief executive Nick Mackenzie, who is responsible for staff at 2,700 hospitality businesses, told the paper the Government needed to provide further clarity and assistance.

The sector is fighting for survival  we are already seeing pubs in areas where there are additional restrictions are performing less well, especially those in Scotland, Mr Mackenzie said.

New measures such as a 10pm curfew will cause further damage and hit city-centre pubs most, especially in London.
HERNDON, Va., Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Skience, the leading financial services solution and consulting provider, today announced that Doug Trott, former CEO and Board Chairman of PriceMetrix, has been elected to Skience's board of directors.

Mr. Trott brings to the Skience board more than 35 years of executive experience in the financial services industry, as well as operational expertise in product development and a passion for growing businesses.

"Skience's commitment to innovation and leadership in the market makes it an exciting time to join the board," said Mr. Trott. "Valued by its clients for proven cloud consulting expertise paired with an award-winning, integrated wealth management platform, Skience is uniquely positioned to meet the needs of a changing wealth management work environment. I look forward to collaborating with management and the board to achieve Skience's vision for continued growth."

Most recently, Mr. Trott was a Partner in McKinsey & Company's New York office. Earlier in his career, Mr. Trott co-founded and served as President, CEO and Board Chairman of PriceMetrix, a provider of SaaS data and analytics software to the North American full-service retail brokerage market, which he sold to McKinsey. Before founding PriceMetrix, Mr. Trott founded, grew, and sold The Taddingstone Consulting Group, a boutique strategy consulting firm.

"Doug is a well-respected innovator in the industry, and will add significant value as a Skience board member," said Sanjeev Kumar, CEO of Skience. "His leadership experience in building successful financial services technology solutions and companies is invaluable to our team. We look forward to leveraging his expertise as we continue to grow the company to better serve the needs of the financial services industry."

About Skience

Skience delivers innovative digital strategies and solutions that transform businesses. Skience offers consulting services and an award-winning integrated platform that provides wealth management firms and RIAs an efficient way to unify their technology, increase back-office and advisor productivity, and set the stage for a great client experience. The Skience platform features a streamlined, end-to-end client onboarding and new account opening experience, deep integrations with leading custodial and clearing firms, compliance features, and daily data consolidation. Skience received a 2020 Technology Provider award from WealthManagement.com, a 2020 American Business Awards Silver Stevie award for fintech solutions, and is a 2019 Northern Virginia Technology Council Tech100 honoree. Visit Skience.com to learn more.

Media Contact:

Kirsten Ly, Skience

571-373-2667

[email protected]

SOURCE Skience

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Linkedin (Kyodo News) Tokyo  Tue, September 22, 2020 07:00 487 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c4644a22 2 Lifestyle ANA,Pola-Orbis,Cosmetics,space,CosmoSkin Free

ANA Holdings Inc. has launched a joint project with cosmetics manufacturer Pola Orbis Holdings Inc. to develop the world's first-ever space-friendly cosmetics line by 2023.

With both companies holding high hopes for the rapidly developing field of space travel, they said the project, dubbed CosmoSkin, aims to create cosmetics that feel comfortable on the skin even in the extremely dry and zero gravity conditions of space.

ANA will provide aircraft, which can best simulate humidity levels and other conditions aboard a spacecraft, to carry out experiments to develop the products.

"This partnership with Pola Orbis group is a step in a bold new direction as we seek to bring the comfort and convenience of ANA beyond Earth and into the final frontier," the airline operator said in a press release.

Naoko Yamazaki, a former Japanese astronaut and the second Japanese woman in space, and Yusuke Murakami, a field architect researching extreme living environments, were guests in the online joint press conference held Sept. 11 to announce the project's launch.

The collaboration comes at a time when the reality of commercial space tourism is on the horizon.

Read also: Reality show to award contestant with trip to International Space Station

The Artemis program led by the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration intends to return humans to the Moon by 2024, and establish sustainable lunar surface exploration with its partners, including Japan, by 2028.

Meanwhile, SpaceX, officially known as Space Exploration Technologies Corp. and founded by Tesla Inc. billionaire Elon Musk, will send tourists on a 10-day trip to the International Space Station in late 2021 and is planning to offer a Moon tour by 2023.

ANA began eyeing a stake in the new market in January 2018, when it launched a cross-sector project to explore the possibility of future expansion into space travel, space transportation and satellite data utilization.

Its partnership with Pola Orbis was prompted by the cosmetics manufacturer winning the ANA Holdings Prize for its Wellnesskin Tourism proposal at S-Booster 2019, a space business idea contest hosted by Japan's Cabinet Office.

Both companies envision that innovative solutions developed to address issues related to living aboard a spacecraft, such as mental health and waste reduction, will also be used to improve life in an aging and post-coronavirus world.

"Future technology may also lead to solutions to problems we face on Earth," said a Pola Orbis staff member involved in the project.
Fruit and vegetables could double in price by Christmas because unemployed Australians refuse to move out to regional farms to work.

Despite the government offering the unemployed a generous allowance to move to a regional area, only 233 have signed up in the past year.

Fewer backpackers due to the coronavirus pandemic has left the agriculture industry with a predicted labour shortfall of 71,000 workers, which could cause a price rise by the end of the year.

The cost of fruit and vegetables could double by Christmas because unemployed Australians refuse to move out to regional farms to work

With backpacker workers (pictured) continuing to leave the country due to the COVID-19 crisis, data has found jobless Australians refuse to move to regional areas for work

The Relocation Assistance gives unemployed people $6,000 when they relocate to a regional area for work if they have been without work for 12 months.

They would have to relocate for a work placement of at least six months at 30 hours per week and and there are 500,000 people eligible nationwide.

Suncoast Fresh wholesaler Graeme Twine has estimated his consumers will begin to notice the change in price soon with summer and fruit vegetables to increase in price by 50 to 100 per cent.

'There is stuff in the ground now that will probably be ready for Christmas, so whether they can get it out is up to how many pickers they can get,' he told The Courier Mail.

Australian consumers will begin to feel the price pinch before the end of the year with a shortage of up to 71,000 workers in the agriculture industry (Empty Woolworths shelves earlier this year)

A generous incentive offering long-term unemployed Aussies $6,000 to move to a regional area was only snapped up by 233 people last year

Meanwhile, Fullerton Farms boss Ken Fullerton said he would happily hire Australians if they were to apply.

'We live close to Caboolture, which has high unemployment, and there's not many people coming out here looking for work,' he said.

Growcom CEO Richard Shannon said pushing for Australians to move to farms was the best chance for the industry, but JobSeeker was stopping them from wanting to take up work.

'We've had reports of long-term Australian employees leaving horticulture because there was only $200 difference between the work and JobSeeker,' he said.
A few days after the state education department formed committees to address complaints concerning fee hikes in private schools, it has now ordered an inspection of four such schools in Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai.

In a circular issued by the office of the deputy director on September 16, two committees of department officials have been formed to look into the complaints of parents from different schools. Officials appointed by the department will inspect the documents of St Josephs School in Panvel, Euro school in Thane, Universal School in Ghatkopar and Bright Start Fellowship International School in Grant Road pertaining to the last seven years.

While Euro School did not respond to requests for a comment, Universal School said that it would respond after taking legal opinion. A spokesperson from the Xaviers Group which runs St Joseph School said, The concerned education official has issued a letter to the school on September 10 and the same has been replied to. Officials at Bright Start Fellowship School could not be reached for comment.

Private schools have the power to fix their own fees as per the Maharashtra Educational Institutions (Regulation of Fees) Act, 2011. However, the Act has set some rules regarding a cap on the percentage fee hike, duration after which it can be imposed and has also laid down the procedure for its approval by the Parent Teachers Association. However, some parents have alleged that schools are not following these norms. We have thus asked for an inspection of such schools to verify their documents, said a senior official from the department.

Last week, several parents of students from different schools in the city met Bacchu Kadu, state minister for school education. Jayant Jain, president of the Forum for Fairness in Education coordinated with the delegation of parents from around 35 schools.

In the days to come, the department plans to inspect more schools. We are doing it in phases as we are short-staffed due to Covid-19 restrictions, added the official.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Loktantrik Janata Dal leader and former Union minister Sharad Yadav, who was admitted to a private hospital due to illness, is recovering, his close aide Arjun Rai said on Tuesday.

After a serious spell of illness, Yadav's health has shown improvement in the last couple of days, Rai said.

Yadav has been hospitalised for over 10 days.

With the Bihar assembly election schedule likely to be announced soon, it will be interesting to see as to what stand Yadav takes after fighting the 2019 Lok Sabha polls on the symbol of Lalu Prasad's RJD.

He was in the Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar-headed JD(U) for long but split with him over his decision to join hands with the BJP.
Quantum Genomics to receive up to $19 million in upfront and milestone payments plus double-digit royalties on sales



OEP to receive an exclusive license to develop and commercialize firibastat for the treatment of difficult to treat/resistant hypertension in South-East Asia, Australia and New Zealand

PARIS and NEW YORK, Sept. 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Quantum Genomics (Euronext Growth - FR0011648971 - ALQGC), a biopharmaceutical company specializing in developing a new drug class that directly targets the brain to treat difficult to treat/resistant hypertension today announced it has entered into an exclusive licensing and collaboration agreement with Orient EuroPharma (OEP) to develop and commercialize firibastat in South East Asia, Australia and New-Zealand. After its first partnership in Latin America, this new agreement is the first step of Quantum Genomics partnering strategy in Asia.

Under the terms of the agreement, OEP will receive exclusive commercialization rights to firibastat for the treatment of difficult to treat/resistant hypertension in Taiwan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Myanmar, Cambodia, Australia and New-Zealand. Additionally, OEP will fund part of the Phase III study in difficult to treat/resistant hypertension in Taiwan as part of the overall pivotal Phase III trial led by Quantum Genomics.

Quantum Genomics will receive upfront and milestone payments amounting up to $19 million, plus double-digit royalties on sales.

The population suffering from difficult to treat and resistant hypertension in the above territories is estimated to be 10 million.

OEP is the ideal partner for us with its experienced commercialization team, including dedicated sales forces, marketers, and existing successful partnerships with well-known companies in Asia, Europe and America. OEP has launched and marketed multiple cardiovascular drugs, and their proven track record and experience will be invaluable for the success of firibastat. This partnership highlights OEPs long-term confidence in firibastat and we look forward to working with them, mentioned Jean-Philippe Milon, CEO of Quantum Genomics.

Story continues

Calvin Tsai, CEO of Orient EuroPharma, said: OEP is always committed to improving human health, constantly seeking and launching innovative products to meet patients need. The Phase IIb results of firibastat in arterial hypertension are promising. Firibastat's profile on difficult-to-treat and treatment-resistant hypertension fits well into our current cardiovascular product portfolio and Asian expansion strategy. We are excited to have the opportunity to bring this potentially transformative drug to Taiwan, South-East Asia, Australia and New Zealand. We are looking forward to a successful cooperation with Quantum Genomics.

About Orient EuroPharma

Founded in 1982, Orient EuroPharma (OEP) became officially listed in the Taiwan Exchange in 2003. In the beginning, the Company was a prescription drug distributor, but has now become a full-scale, multinational pharmaceutical company. The core competencies of the Company not only include pharmaceutical innovation, R&D, manufacturing, sales and clinical trials, but has significantly increased the Company's operational efficiency through vertical integration to provide customers with more complete services. In 2019, the Company exceeded 1,000 employees worldwide, of which about 40% are overseas personnel, and the combined turnover exceeded NT$6 billion.

About Quantum Genomics

Quantum Genomics is a biopharmaceutical company specializing in the development of a new class of cardiovascular medications based on brain aminopeptidase A inhibition (BAPAI). Quantum Genomics is the only company in the world exploring this innovative approach that directly targets the brain. The company relies on 20 years of academic research from the Paris-Descartes University and the laboratory directed by Dr. Catherine Llorens-Cortes at the College de France (French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM)/ the Scientific Centre for National Research (CNRS)). The goal of Quantum Genomics is to develop innovative treatments for complicated, or even resistant, cases of hypertension (around 30% of patients have poor control of their condition or receive ineffective treatment) and for heart failure (one in two patients diagnosed with severe heart failure dies within five years).

Based in Paris and New York, Quantum Genomics is listed on the Euronext Growth exchange in Paris (FR0011648971- ALQGC) and trades on the OTCQX Best Market in the United States (symbol: QNNTF).

For more information, please visit www.quantum-genomics.com, or follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn

Contact information

Quantum Genomics Jean-Philippe Milon

CEO

jean-philippe.milon@quantum-genomics.com Benoit Gueugnon

CFO

benoit.gueugnon@quantum-genomics.com So Bang (Europe) Nathalie Boumendil

Financial Communications

+33 (0)6 85 82 41 95 | nathalie@so-bang.fr Samuel Beaupain

Media Relations and Scientific Communications

+33 (0)6 88 48 48 02 | samuel@so-bang.fr LifeSci (USA) Dan Ferry

Financial Communications

+1 (617) 430-7576 | Daniel@lifesciadvisors.com Mike Tattory

Media Relations and Scientific Communications

+1 (609) 802-6265 | mtattory@lifescicomms.com




CLEVELAND, Ohio -- As districts that began the school year remotely eye returning to the classroom, those that already took an in-person, hybrid approach are happy with the results.

So far, outbreaks at K-12 schools are limited in Ohio, according to state data. A coronavirus dashboard released Thursday showed a total of 394 new cases reported this week with 466 student and 273 staff cases to date. The state updates totals every Thursday.

Thats not to say there arent some hiccups along the way. Returning to school this year was difficult to prepare for, with districts needing to take every precaution. The decision to reopen school buildings was long-debated, and the Cuyahoga County Board of Health recommended that districts cancel extra-curriculars and begin the year remotely.

Its like building an airplane as youre flying it, Brecksville-Broadview Heights Superintendent Joelle Magyar said. You dont know what you dont know.

Brecksville-Broadview Heights bucked the Cuyahoga County trend by opting to begin the school year in-person. Magyar said the district has seen success with a hybrid return to school, where students with last names beginning with A-L come to school the first two days of the week, and M-Z come the last two days of the week.

The school changed the flow of traffic so that kids wouldnt be clustering in doorways, minimized the use of lockers and moved lunch from the cafeteria to classrooms. Students are given 10-15 minute socially distant mask breaks outside. The district now allows for late arrival and early dismissal depending on a students study hall and elective schedule.

The district reported one coronavirus case in a staff member since Sept. 8 as part of statewide mandated coronavirus reporting. Before that, two staff member cases were reported to the Cuyahoga County Board of Health.

Magyar said there havent been any procedural changes yet, but other districts have needed to make slight adjustments to the semester. For Chagrin Falls Exempted Village schools, Superintendent Bob Hunt said the district encouraged parents to drop off and pick up students as much as possible, because it would reduce potential spread if fewer students used group transport.

But the increased dropoffs made for difficult traffic patterns -- especially as theres widespread construction throughout Chagrin Falls. Part of the hybrid plan was rerouting dropoffs, as well as refining changed bus routes.

Chagrin Falls is working with about half of the student population in-building at a time, which has made hybrid learning easier, Hunt said. The school reported one staff case since Aug. 1.

The district is, however, using a model where some faculty are teaching to in-person and remote students at the same time, which needed some fine-tuning.

Some families were having trouble because of Wi-Fi capacity at home, and the district worked with them to find a solution. Teachers needed to get used to a new method of teaching and taking attendance, and the traditional 50-minute class periods were extended to 90 minutes. That means a major adjustment in lesson planning and pacing.

Ive heard the phrase a number of times (from teachers of) I feel like this is my first year all over again," Hunt said.

Painesville City Local Schools, in Lake County, were one of the first districts to return in-person. Superintendent Josh Englehart said the district also experienced problems with online teaching while finding that in-person classes were going well.

See an in-person walk-through of Painesville precautions and the return to school.

It was hard to parse out what are internal problems and what are external problems, he said.

Though the district worked out of its own technical glitches, Google Classroom and other learning platforms are experiencing capacity issues as schools nationwide either send all students online or -- like Painesville -- take a hybrid approach.

When surveyed during the summer, the majority of Ohios school districts, about 62%, were planning an in-person or hybrid start to the school year, though about 78 school districts did not submit data when the state released a map in August.

As the year progresses, others eye a return to buildings after starting school online, including Beachwood schools and Rocky River schools. Others are still assessing plans.

From a mental health standpoint, for all of us adults as well as the kids, I think its been a really great experience getting them back and seeing their faces -- of course under masks, Magyar said.
The church was born in a political context both like and unlike our own. We Christians today find ourselves worshiping amid empire, just as our first forebears did. Idolatrous civil religion now, as then, competes for the allegiance we owe to Christ.

But ours is an empire that wears the face of democracy, and our civil religion demands nothing so blatant as genuflection before a statue of Caesar. The apostle Paul was never asked how he thought Rome ought to be run. Simon the Zealots zeal, if of the nationalist variety some church traditions suggest, was patriotic fervor for a small, occupied nation that would soon be brutally crushed by a trio of wars.

American Christians, by contrast, can participate in the governance of the most powerful nation on Earth. Our political system invites us to be the rulers of the Gentiles [who] lord it over them (Matt. 20:25), to embody the very object lesson Jesus used to warn his disciples against seeking power. What does faithfulness in political engagement look like for us?

Evangelicals in the US have long vacillated between two theoriesor, perhaps, impulses. One draws on Reformed thinkers like Abraham Kuyper and asserts that our faith should be evident in all parts of our lives. Christians must use our political power to make state and society conform to Gods will as best we can. The second impulse, rooted in Anabaptism and Pietism, likewise takes a holistic view of faith but pairs it with a far stronger skepticism of sanctified power. Service to church and state require different, and sometimes incompatible, ethics and loyalties. As faithful citizens of the kingdom of heaven (Phil. 3:20), we are limited in what we can do as citizens of any earthly kingdom. ...

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CLEVELAND, Ohio  Former state Sen. Nina Turner announced Tuesday she is forming an Ohio-based public affairs firm to provide guidance for candidates, grassroots organizations and businesses wanting to implement liberal values and policies.

Turner, a Democrat who served as co-chair of Sen. Bernie Sanders' 2020 presidential campaign, said she is launching Amare Public Affairs, currently based in Cleveland, to assist candidates, grassroots campaigns and businesses on liberal values and movements. Marvin Hayes, who worked with Turner in Cleveland Mayor Michael Whites administration and as an adviser to Sanders' campaign, will serve as director of the firm.

We are living in a time when people, especially millennials and Generation Z, are demanding socially conscious solutions from governments and corporations, Turner said in a statement. We can build a better country and a more just society by engaging with each other in a meaningful way on the root causes of societal problems. That starts with ensuring our voice is heard from the streets of our forgotten cities to the roads of rural communities to Main Street America, and finally, to the halls of power in the public and private sectors.

Turner served on Cleveland City Council from 2006 to 2008 when she was appointed to the Ohio Senate. She won re-election twice, including a stint as minority whip. She unsuccessfully challenged Republican then-Secretary of State Jon Husted in 2014.

In 2016, she became one of Sanders' most high-profile surrogates and her future political career  including speculation she may run for mayor  has been tied to Sanders' movement ever since. In 2017, she became the president of Our Revolution, the political action committee aligned with Sanders.

In an interview, Turner said she hoped to apply her experience in the public and nonprofit sectors to anyone looking for assistance with implementing liberal values.

In terms of what the company or my venture is trying to do is just really make sure we bring in concerns of the Black community, communities of color, marginalized voices across society and show any individual entity that is interested in doing business a different way, Turner said. We want to raise the public consciousness.

If someone has been doing wrong by the environment, by Black people, by poor people and all of a sudden they have an epiphany and they want to do it a new way, call us up, Turner added.

Turner said her base of operation will be Cleveland, though she hoped to have clients nationwide.
NEW YORK, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Inc. magazine recently revealed that OCCU-TEC, Inc. holds several notable positions this year, this first being the No 1. ranked environmental consulting company in Kansas City. Furthermore, they remain one of the industry's top subject matter experts and national providers of environmental services, ranking within the top 85% of the nation's fastest-growing environmental companies. The list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the American economy's most dynamic segmentits independent small businesses. Intuit, Zappos, Under Armour, Microsoft, Patagonia, and many other well-known names gained their first national exposure as honorees on the Inc. 5000.

"Our steady growth is directly attributed to our dedicated team members and fantastic partners," said Skuli Gudmundsson, President & CEO, OCCU-TEC, Inc. "We are grateful to be listed among the elite ranks of the Inc. 5000 again. I want to thank our clients, business partners, and employees for their role in helping us achieve this recognition."

Not only have the companies on the 2020 Inc. 5000 been very competitive within their markets, but the list as a whole shows staggering growth compared with prior lists as well. The 2020 Inc. 5000 achieved an incredible three-year average growth of over 500 percent and a median rate of 165 percent. The Inc. 5000's aggregate revenue was $209 billion in 2019, accounting for over 1 million jobs over the past three years.

Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found at www.inc.com/inc5000. The top 500 companies are also being featured in the September issue of Inc., available on newsstands August 18.

"The companies on this year's Inc. 5000 come from nearly every realm of business," says Inc. editor-in-chief Scott Omelianuk. "From health and software to media and hospitality, the 2020 list proves that no matter the sector, incredible growth is based on the foundations of tenacity and opportunism."

The annual Inc. 5000 event honoring the companies on the list will be held virtually from October 23 to 27, 2020. As always, speakers will include some of the greatest innovators and business leaders of our generation.

OCCU-TEC, Inc. history dates back over 35 years to 1983, when it was founded as a consulting and training firm in Kansas City, Missouri. Their focus was on providing specialized business solutions to help clients effectively manage environmental, critical fuel systems, occupational health, and safety (EH&S) risks, control operational costs, and improve overall productivity. They are considered the "Solution Specialists" by clients.

Today, OCCU-TEC, Inc. has grown into a multi-disciplined organization with client service and loyalty remaining a key to their success. In today's competitive marketplace, many forward-thinking businesses and public agencies are evaluating their workplace and operational processes in order to control or eliminate potential losses, and they look to OCCU-TEC, Inc. as a trusted partner in providing subject matter expertise along with technical and operational assistance. They produce cost-effective solutions that substantially increase organization's bottom line and productivity.

To learn more and speak with a company representative directly please click here.

More about Inc. and the Inc. 5000

Methodology

The 2020 Inc. 5000 is ranked according to percentage revenue growth when comparing 2016 and 2019. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2016. They had to be U.S.-based, privately held, for profit, and independentnot subsidiaries or divisions of other companiesas of December 31, 2019. (Since then, a number of companies on the list have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2016 is $100,000; the minimum for 2019 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. Companies on the Inc. 500 are featured in Inc.'s September issue. They represent the top tier of the Inc. 5000, which can be found at http://www.inc.com/inc5000.

About Inc. Media

The world's most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit www.inc.com.

For more information on the Inc. 5000 Conference, visit http://conference.inc.com/.

SOURCE OCCU-TEC, Inc.

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HALIFAXResidents of Halifax and Nova Scotias eastern shore were warned to stay away from the coastline as hurricane Teddy churned its way toward Atlantic Canada on Tuesday, pushing a storm surge ahead of its swirling winds.

The immense Category 2 hurricane  measuring about 1,000 kilometres across  was roughly 450 kilometres south of Nova Scotia by late afternoon. Travelling northward at 45 kilometres per hour, the storms maximum sustained winds were clocked at 160 km/h, but it was expected to lose strength in Canadian waters.

Its a very large and powerful storm, said Bob Robichaud, meteorologist with the Canadian Hurricane Centre in Halifax.

Chuck Porter, the minister responsible for Nova Scotias Emergency Management Office, told reporters his biggest concern was the threat of storm surges accompanied by 10-metre waves.

I know people are attracted to the shoreline and they love to watch the waves, Porter said. I want to caution folks: please stay back. If you get trapped out there, somebody has to come and try to rescue you, putting people in jeopardy unnecessarily.

Robichaud said the storm surge along the eastern shore will come in two phases  as high tide approaches late Tuesday and again when daylight breaks on Wednesday and Teddys centre moves over the province.

Over the last number of years, weve lost a lot of people who have gone to the coast to watch those waves, Robichaud said. Thats what we need to avoid with this particular storm.

Later Tuesday, sheets of rain were flying sideways in Halifax, as wind gusts hit almost 50 kilometres per hour. Along the eastern shore, the wind was gusting at 85 km/h later in the afternoon at Beaver Island, near Ship Harbour.

Citizens living in high-risk locations in the Sambro area, Peggys Cove and along the eastern shore were asked by Halifax Regional Municipality to make plans immediately to self-evacuate and be in alternative locations prior to the arrival of the storm.

The Halifax airport tweeted that all flights in and out of the city were cancelled tonight.

Power outages were reported across mainland Nova Scotia, though they were sporadic. More than 3,000 homes and businesses were in the dark by 5 p.m., most of them in western Nova Scotia.

Localized flooding was expected as winds along the coast were forecast to reach 90 km/h Tuesday and more than 100 km/h on Wednesday morning.

Rainfall could exceed 50 millimetres across the province and in Prince Edward Island, with some areas on the left side of the storm getting as much as 100 millimetres over the next two days.

At the Sheet Harbour Discount convenience store, about 115 kilometres east of Halifax, manager Karen Malay said plenty of her customers were stocking up on essentials.

Theyre buying extra chips and pop, cigarettes, flashlights and batteries, Malay said. And theyre getting extra lottery tickets for the next couple of draws.

As well, Malay said customers were telling her that one of the local service stations had run out of gasoline  which was confirmed by the station manager.

Meanwhile, it was quiet down the road at the Church Point Variety Store, where the manager said it was business as usual. Everybodys used to it, she said, declining to give her name. Theyre just going with the flow.

By noon, the store still had a full supply of potato chips, which is unusual because Nova Scotians are known for quickly stocking up on storm chips in advance of nasty weather.

Officials in Halifax suspended the citys harbour ferry service at 2:30 p.m. after issuing a plea for residents to secure patio furniture, flower pots, toys, garbage containers and any debris that high winds could pick up. Curbside garbage collection was also cancelled for Wednesday. Bus service was to be suspended at 7 p.m.

Weather warnings were in effect for virtually all of Atlantic Canada.

Though Teddy will likely transition to a post-tropical storm as it approaches the Maritimes, it is expected to produce damaging winds.

Mark Sidebottom, chief operating officer for Nova Scotia Power, said the privately owned utility had 300 crews standing by to handle power outages. Sidebottom said 170 of those crews had recently arrived in Nova Scotia from other Atlantic provinces.

Paul Mason, executive director of Nova Scotias Emergency Management Office, said comfort stations set up for those fleeing the storm will comply with public health rules regarding physical distancing. He said larger facilities would be used or more stations would be opened to handle the load.

The storm was expected to track over eastern Nova Scotia, the eastern half of Prince Edward Island and southwestern Newfoundland.

Robichaud said residents of southwestern Newfoundland should also watch for a storm surge on Wednesday, which could lead to localized flooding. He said Teddy does not pose much of a threat to the area in terms of wind or rain.

Marine Atlantic, the Crown corporation that operates the ferry service linking Nova Scotia with Newfoundland, cancelled all sailings across the Cabot Strait on Tuesday night and all day Wednesday.

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By Ayya Lmahamad

Azerbaijani Energy Ministry and the Movement of the Enterprises of France (MEDEF International) have discussed cooperation in the field of energy between the two countries public and private sectors.

The meeting was chaired by Deputy Energy Minister Elnur Soltanov and General Director of MEDEF International Philippe Gautier, with the participation of Azerbaijani Ambassador to France Rahman Mustafayev, French Ambassador to Azerbaijan Zacharie Gross and over 20 companies.

Assessing the "Absheron" project as a contribution to the Azerbaijani-French cooperation in the field of energy, the Deputy Minister drew attention to the information about the current stage of development of the energy sector of Azerbaijan.

Moreover, during the meeting work done in the field of renewable energy, electricity and energy efficiency, the legal framework and goals set to 2030 were discussed. In addition, the great potential for cooperation in the field of renewable energy were noted.

Likewise, the presentation on Investment opportunities in the energy sector of Azerbaijan was held.

It should be noted that MEDEF International has been cooperating with Azerbaijan since 1992. MEDEF International is a non-profit private-funded organization, created in 1989 by MEDEF, the French Business Confederation. MEDEF International is the most representative organization of the French private sector at an international level.

Additionally, it should be noted that 65 French companies operate in various sectors of the Azerbaijani economy, including industry, energy, trade, services, agriculture and others. In addition, so far Azerbaijan invested over $2.1 billion in the French economy, whereas over 42.2 billion was invested from the French side to Azerbaijan.

The trade turnover between two countries amounted to $168.9 million during the period of January- August 2020. Of this, export amounted to $55 million, while import to $113.8 million.

French TOTAL company holds 50-percent-share in the project to develop Azrbaijan's Absheron gas condensate field. TOTAL and State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) signed a relevant agreement in 2016 for a period of 30 years. SOCAR holds another 5 percent of shares.

The field is being developed by JOCAP (Joint Operating Company of Absheron Petroleum), a joint venture between SOCAR and Total. The drilling was carried out by SOCAR's CDC (Caspian Drilling Company).

Absheron field is located in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea, southeast of Baku: 100 km from Baku at a depth of 500 meters. The Absheron field is one of the largest gas and condensate fields in Azerbaijan, as well as the largest discovery by Total in the last 10 years.

At the peak of the project, about 5 billion cubic meters of gas per year can be produced. All gas produced in the framework of the first stage will be directed to the domestic market of Azerbaijan. Also, the field will produce about 10,000 barrels of condensate daily.

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On Monday, September 21, Standardbred Owners Association of New York President Joe Faraldo wrote a letter to NYS Gaming Commission Executive Director Robert Williams stating that the SOA of NY is seeking immediate assistance with the resumption of pari-mutuel wagering at Empire City Casino/Yonkers Raceway.

The contents of the letter appear below.

Dear Executive Director Williams:

As you know, the gaming floors at Empire City Casino re-opened today for in-person gaming and the horsemen of the Standardbred Owners Association are obviously pleased that the video gaming machines (VGMs) at the facility will once again be generating critically important revenue for both education in New York State and for racing purses that support thousands of jobs across the agriculture industry. However, while wagering on the VGM floors is now allowed with strict, comprehensive safety protocols, Empire City has not re-opened either its outdoor parimutuel windows or the racing simulcasting facility located on the fourth floor, thereby depriving horsemen and our industry a significant source of income from wagering on races at Yonkers Raceway and simulcasting on horse races from around the country.

I am writing to request the New York State Gaming Commissions immediate intervention and assistance in re-opening the Casinos parimutuel wagering operations with similar strict and comprehensive safety guidelines as utilized on the adjacent VGM wagering floors. It is only logical to conclude that if the Gaming Commission can develop protocols for social distancing, cleaning, etc. for one casino space, then they can implement similar protocols for anotherregardless of whether that space features VGM machines and cashier windows or parimutuel betting kiosks and teller windows. Again, this includes both the teller windows outside on the track apron (which are open-air and obviously present fewer safety issues) as well as the simulcasting facility on the fourth floor (which could be outfitted with electronic parimutuel wagering kiosks and scaled-down, in-person teller operations). There is simply no intellectually honest distinction between these spaces  other than the type of wagering occurring and the financial benefits to Empire City Casino from each  and so we see no reason that protocols cannot be implemented immediately to re-start parimutuel wagering in Yonkers.

Parimutuel wagering has proven to be a successful economic engine for agriculture and breeding across virtually every region of the state and we fully believe it is in the states financial best interests  as part of its continued, carefully considered re-opening of our economy  to re-open betting at Empire City on both Yonkers own races and simulcasted races (which also generate revenue for New York State). I would ask that the Gaming Commission immediately convene a meeting with yourself, the SOA and Empire City Management to discuss any relevant issues/concerns with such a re-opening and work expeditiously to put a safe and comprehensive plan in place. I thank you in advance for your consideration and assistance.

Sincerely,

Joe Faraldo
- Karma's first ever all-electric variant to debut in 2021

- New family of sedans to wear the GS badge with updated technology and powertrain options

- Reservation site created for pre-orders

IRVINE, California, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Karma Automotive today announced it will be introducing a new name for a family of vehicles in 2021 called the GS Series. The lineup will include updated electrification options, technological advancements and Karma's first-ever battery electric (BEV) luxury sedan.

To facilitate orders, Karma created a new pre-reservation order site which is now live at http://www.karmaautomotive.com/reserve. For a fully-refundable $100 deposit, interested individuals can reserve a place in line. The GS lineup will retain the same exotic design of the Revero to continue with the brand's legacy but will include technological advancements and a price point that will help bring new customers into the brand.

"We are pleased to announce that Karma will now offer our first all-electric vehicle next year as part of the GS series," said Dr. Lance Zhou, Karma's CEO. "Cost reductions in the BOM, streamlining our supply chain and standardized production methods also allowed for a new, more attainable pricing structure for the GS lineup allowing for higher market penetration, opening up the market to a larger group of entry level luxury buyers."

ABOUT KARMA AUTOMOTIVE

Karma Automotive, founded in 2014, is a southern California based producer of luxury electric vehicles. Headquartered in Irvine, California with an assembly plant located in Moreno Valley, Karma sells vehicles via its dealer network comprised of 36 locations in North America, Europe, South America and the Middle East. Karma's Innovation and Customization Center, which opened in 2019 offers world-class engineering, design, customization, and manufacturing services along with electrification platforms. Karma's flagship vehicle, the Revero GT, Green Car Journal's 2020 Luxury Green Car of the Year, is an electric vehicle powered by dual electric motors that embodies Karma's goal of offering leading technology with a luxury experience. Every Karma vehicle is created with unparalleled individual care and craftsmanship.

For more information, visit www.karmaautomotive.com, or www.karmanewsroom.com.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1278429/GS_Teaser_Orange.jp
Specialty insurer Beazley has expanded its underwriting and claims presence in the U.S. with new hires for its Executive Risk team that focuses on board-level risks facing businesses and their executives.

Elizabeth Cassarino joins Beazleys Boston team as an underwriter. Most recently, Cassarino served as an executive risk underwriter at Chubb. She previously spent six years at ACE where she held several management and underwriting positions in the professional risk division.

Jeffrey Carney also joins in Boston as an underwriter. He was previously at Aon Risk Solutions where he was senior vice president. Prior to Aon, Carney held various management and underwriting roles at Travelers, CNA and The Hartford.

Allison Keenan joins the Executive Risk underwriting team in San Francisco.Keenan joins from Chubb where she was a senior underwriter and for the past six years worked in the public company management liability team.

Mia Hennessey joins the New York-based underwriting team. She most recently worked at Zurich North America as assistant vice president in the management solutions group. Previously, Hennessey held similar positions in professional risk at Aon and ACE across the U.S.

Also in New York, Greg Staron joins the Executive Risk underwriting team, having first joined Beazley in 2011 as an employment practices liability claims manager. He switched to underwriting in 2014 and has been focusing primarily on healthcare management liability risks.

Melanie Saponara joins Beazleys New York Executive Risk claims team and will primarily handle public company directors and officers (D&O) claims. She most recently served as a claims consultant at CNA responsible for D&O liability, employment practices liability, and representations and warranties. A member of the New York bar, Saponara previously worked at law firm Mendes & Mount LLP, specializing in insurance and reinsurance law.

These appointments further strengthen the U.S. Executive Risk team, led by Jeremie Saada and a newly formed leadership team which has brought added focus to each U.S. region.

Topics Trends USA New York Underwriting
Millions of homes and businesses are set to gain access to ultra-fast broadband speeds of up to one gigabit per second in an upgrade to the National Broadband Network.

The $4.5 billion network investment plan will give up to 75 per cent of fixed line premises, or 6 million homes, across regional and metropolitan Australia access to ultra-fast broadband by 2023.

This includes two million households that can access high-speed plans by requesting an extension of the fibre network from the street to the home.

Millions of homes and businesses are set to gain access to ultra-fast broadband speeds of up to one gigabit per second in an upgrade to the National Broadband Network

Another 2.5 million households can upgrade to the Hybrid Fibre Coaxial network, and a further 1.5 million through the newer fibre-to-the-curb network.

It will be financed through NBN Co borrowing from private debt markets.

Australians wanting quicker web speed can have their household connected by fibre to the network for free, but will pay higher prices for their broadband plan in line with the $149 a month paid by consumers already connected directly by fibre.

The plan will involve on-demand fibre to the node upgrades, capacity upgrades on the hybrid fibre coaxial network and work on the fibre to the curb network.

Communications Minister Paul Fletcher said Australians have a growing appetite for faster broadband speeds.

'This is the right time for this network upgrade,' he said, ahead of a speech to the National Press Club on Wednesday.

'There is a long term trend of broadband demand growth with a very significant spike this year as COVID-19 has changed the way we use the internet.'

'If a customer doesn't ask for it, we won't roll the fibre to your home. If the customer demonstrates that he or she has got the demand, then we will roll the fibre [out].

'This is totally consistent with the approach we've followed for seven years, which is being responsive to demand and tailoring the rollout to demand.'

Former prime minister Kevin Rudd, who announced the original NBN, has previously slammed the Federal Government for ditching the fibre-to-the-home rollout.

'Labor's NBN would have connected 93 per cent of premises with superfast fibre-optic cable & the rest by wireless/satellite. The Liberals butchered it,' Mr Rudd said in June.

From an economic perspective, the NBN is estimated to increase Australia's GDP by $6.4 billion a year by 2024, including $1.5 billion into regional areas.
Reality shows cover so many kinds of topics by now that if someone were to pitch a story about people who make their living by extracting tooth fillings and then melting them down to make silverware, someone would probably buy it. Swamp People, The History Channel series about alligator hunters, is another entry in the can you believe someone does this genre?

Series like these seem so outlandish that even if people believe it, on another level they also think this cant be for real. Thats why they routinely get accused of being fake. Swamp People has inspired at least one list of multiple reasons it seems fake.

Atmosphere from the cast of Swamp People brings alligators to Chelsea Market in New York City | Jeffrey Ufberg/Getty Images

What is Swamp People?

Think that the Netflix series Tiger King must be a unique take on people handling wild animals? Swamp People has been covering similar territory for 11 seasons and about 200 episodes now. The series follows alligator hunters around the swamps of Louisiana as they try to corral the toothy reptiles with vise-like jaws.

Key figures in the show include the Landry family. Jacob, Chase, and later addition Holden. There is also Elizabeth Cavalier, known by the more colorful names Lucky Liz and Gator Queen. We also meet R.J. Molinere and his son Jay Paul Molinere, Bruce Mitchell and Ron Methvin, and Roy Broussard and Harlan Bigfoot Hatcher, among others. The show has no shortage of characters in every sense of that word.

How successful is the show? Enough that a Slate article said the show got more viewers than the cult hit Community, which has inspired countless essays about why it should inspire six seasons and a movie. Swamp People has also spawned two mobile app games, Choot Em Angry Swamp, and of course, Swamp People.

Why do people say Swamp People is fake?

RELATED: Is American Pickers Fake? Stars Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz Dont Do Much Picking At All

Popular as it may be in some circles, other circles look at the show and think it hardly fits any definition of reality. The Travel did a deep dive into some of the more unbelievable aspects of the show. One factoid contends the gators dont seem to struggle much. That might be because the alligators are already dead, and wrestling is used to make the sport look more exciting. The same article also notes that not all of the Cajun community in Louisiana speak in thick southern accents and hunt gators.

Ranker, which offers all myth and manner of lists, states that there dont seem to be that many hunting locations. It says of the shows filming techniques Theres no way to get multiple shooting angles in the heat of a wrestling bout without staging some of it. While gator wrestling is inherently dramatic, its very likely that producers have to pre-film the swamp people pretending to shoot at things.

Does it matter if Swamp People is fake or not?

Some people will argue theres no such thing as a true reality show. What separates reality TV from conventional TV is that there isnt a script. Yet even without a script, producers are often accused of shaping a show to fit a certain narrative that will get more people watching. And on some level, a lot of viewers know that. Thats what they like about it.

Take professional wrestling. As the movie Fighting with My Family shows, fans will say that wrestling is not fake, but its fixed. In other words, the outcome may be predetermined, but the way they get there is the fun part. Dirk Hoogstra, Historys senior vice president for development and programming told Slate, When youre working in a high rise, and you live by the clock, theres an aspirational quality to looking at these guys and saying, These guys are carving out their living on their own in this beautiful environment. They are the modern-day American pioneers.
With the disaster-prone Northeastern states struggling to solve the natural disasters like flood and erosion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday asked IIT Guwahati to set up a centre for disaster management and risk reduction to help the region reduce their impacts.

"The Northeast is rich in biodiversity and traditional knowledge, which was passed from one generation to another generation. Can we relate this knowledge with modern science and technology and usher more development? The Northeast has specific challenges in the form of natural disasters. I want to request the IIT Guwahati to set up a centre for disaster management and risk reduction in order to help the region tackle the disasters and reduce their impact," Modi said while addressing the 22nd Convocation of the institute, through video conferencing.

A total 0f 1,803 students were handed over their degrees during the convocation.

Modi also said that the IIT Guwahati could help the Northeast region to tap its potential as the region was fast emerging as the country's gateway to the South East Asian nations.

"The mainstay of relations with these countries have been culture, commerce, connectivity and capacity. The IIT Guwahati can be a major centre to help Northeast reap maximum benefits of the initiatives taken by the Centre and thereby help local youths get jobs. There is a lot of potential areas such as solar energy, biomass, hydropower, rice, tea and bamboo," Modi said.

The Prime Minister said new opportunities are being created in the North-East as the government was laying a lot of emphasis for development of the infrastructure in the region especially railways, highways, airways and waterways.

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, who also virtually addressed the convocation before PM Modi urged the IIT Guwahati to study the state's river system and suggest measures to address the natural disasters like flood and erosion, which create havoc almost every year.

Director of IIT Guwahati, TG Sitharam said that the research dimension of the institute was broadening significantly with multiple industrially funded collaborative research projects. "There are 291 research projects in progress with a total sanctioned value of about Rs. 434 crores," he said.
Our fans are the reason we wake up in the morning, and were forever thankful for their continued support of damn good craft beer." - James Maravetz, VP of Marketing, Flying Dog Brewery

For 30 years, Flying Dog Brewery has been marching to the beat of its own drum. To mark the occasion, the brewery did what it does best - brewed a big, hoppy West Coast Style Double IPA that hits like a block party to celebrate. In honor of the brewerys 30th anniversary, Flying Dog today announced the release of Great Job!, a West Coast Double IPA.

Flying Dogs brewmasters boiled down everything they have learned in the past 30 years and poured it into one very special anniversary beer. This 9% ABV double IPA balances out the bitterness from Columbus, Centennial and Simcoe hops with subtle toasted malt sweetness. The medium bodied brew is bursting with dank and piney hop aromas and pours a light orange/amber color.

The special anniversary release is the brewerys way of saying thank you to all of their passionate fans that have supported Flying Dog from day one.

Our fans are the reason we wake up in the morning, and were forever thankful for their continued support of damn good craft beer, said James Maravetz, VP of Marketing for Flying Dog Brewery. Actions also speak louder than words, so if there is someone in your life that deserves to hear great job!, dont just tell them, crack open a beer and hand them one in recognition.

Flying Dog Brewerys story began 30 years ago when George Stranahan, founder of the Aspen Center for Physics, opened the Flying Dog Brewpub in Colorado. The name Flying Dog was inspired by an oil painting of a dog leaping upward toward the sky that George saw in a hotel in Pakistan after George and his band of innocents trekked down from K2s base camp.

30 years later, Flying Dog is proudly based in Maryland with a team of more than 100 dedicated craft beer crusaders, and it continues to be one of the fastest-growing regional craft breweries in the Mid-Atlantic.

To elaborate on a thought from our beloved friend and the artistic genius Ralph Steadman, its been 30 years from there to here, said Jim Caruso, CEO for Flying Dog Brewery. Thank you to all our fellow travelers and kindred spirits for joining us on this great adventure. We love you and we are even more enthusiastic about the upcoming decades.

The team at Flying Dog believes that beer is an art form, and uses creativity, humor, and innovation to challenge the status quo. With strong ties to the Gonzo founders themselves, Flying Dog is constantly drawing inspiration from Hunter S. Thompsons relentless truth seeking and Ralph Steadmans provocative drawings. Steadman has also created artwork for every major Flying Dog beer release since 1995.

A past anniversary beer, Raging Bitch, was released in celebration of the brewerys 20th, and it was Flying Dogs best-selling beer for almost 10 years. Great Job! began shipping to distributors on Friday, September 18th and is available in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles.
An independent cross-border investigation will be carried out into the murder of a man shot dead in Co Louth in 1976.

Seamus Ludlow, 47, a forestry worker, was killed on his way home from a pub in Dundalk, Co Louth.

Mr Ludlows family have led a campaign spanning decades to find the truth of the events surrounding his murder.

His family has long maintained Mr Ludlow was an innocent victim of a loyalist death squad comprising Red Hand Commando operatives and two members of the Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR) who travelled from Northern Ireland into the Republic of Ireland to commit the murder.

Family solicitor Gavin Booth said the investigation will be led by Jon Boutcher, a former police chief in England.

The PA news agency understands the investigation will form part of the wider Barnard Review into a notorious loyalist murder gang that operated from a farmhouse in Glenanne, Co Armagh.

Mr Boutchers team will review the evidence and information held by the PSNI, the families, security forces and any other relevant agencies.

Speaking at the Lisdoo Arms, where Mr Ludlow was last seen alive, Mr Booth also revealed that a witness has come forward with significant information in the last two weeks.

Expand Close Members of Seamus Ludlows family, sisters Eileen Fox (r) and Ann Sharkey (centre) with brother Brendan Ludlow (centre left) and nephew Michael Donaghan (Julien Behal/PA) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp Members of Seamus Ludlows family, sisters Eileen Fox (r) and Ann Sharkey (centre) with brother Brendan Ludlow (centre left) and nephew Michael Donaghan (Julien Behal/PA)

He added: Seamus was a quiet man.

He was a family man and occasionally visited pubs in Dundalk and was known for his charitable work here.

He was not political and was not interested in the conflict in the North and worked full time and was a devoted family man.

Joined by members of Mr Ludlows family, Mr Booth said the investigation will include cooperation of both the Police Service of Northern Ireland and An Garda Siochana.

This investigation will be headed by Jon Boutcher who will look at the actions of all those who played a part in the role of the murder of Seamus Ludlow, he added.

This includes the gardai, the British Army, the SAS, the RUC and any unknown others, including those suspects that were let go.

The Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) told the gardai in 1979 the names of four loyalists it suspected of being involved in Mr Ludlows killing but the information was not pursued at the time.

Expand Close (l to r) Solicitor Gavin Booth, and cousins Michael Donegan and Eileen Boland, family of Seamus Ludlow, speaking to the media (Niall Carson/PA) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp (l to r) Solicitor Gavin Booth, and cousins Michael Donegan and Eileen Boland, family of Seamus Ludlow, speaking to the media (Niall Carson/PA)

This included members of the Red Hand Commando and the British Armys UDR.

In 1998, four named suspects were arrested and questioned by the RUC and two of the men allegedly made confessions about their involvement in the murder.

The family also believe gardai were complicit in spreading false rumours that Mr Ludlow was killed for being an IRA informant, and that documents about the case, two bullets and items of the victims clothing have been lost by state agencies.

An Oireachtas committee in Dublin recommended more than 10 years ago that two commissions of investigation be held into the murder and subsequent events, after an official judge-led report damned the original botched garda probe.

Neither of the recommendations have been implemented by the Government.

Mr Booth said it is a police investigation and where evidence becomes available, arrests can be made.

He (Mr Boutcher) should also have the ability, where evidence exists, to chase that down and prepare files for either prosecution services North and South, Mr Booth added.

He also said the new evidence that has emerged in recent weeks is with Mr Boutchers team.

Its quite large in volume and its an independent witness that has come forward and were hoping that that will form part of the investigation and play a major part in uncovering what happened, Mr Booth added.

Michael Donegan, Mr Ludlows nephew, said the new evidence could be an earthquake.

We are very pleased that after 45 years we finally have a police team that wants to find the answers that we have been looking for, Mr Donegan added.

We have been let down time and time again by the gardai in the past and also by the RUC.

Both forces had information which they sat on.

The story that is in the public domain is not the true story, there is a different one we want to find and allow us to find closure.

This is not to put people in jail, I have no sympathy for the killers but they are old men and putting them in jail for two years is not going to bring Seamus back.

A spokesman for the gardai said: Since August 2018 An Garda Siochana has a number of high-level agreed points with Operation Kenova, under the lead of former chief constable Jon Boutcher.

An Garda Siochana will work closely and in full co-operation with the review of the investigation into the murder of Seamus Ludlow under the auspices of Operation Kenova.
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Linkedin Stevie Emilia (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, September 22, 2020 13:00 487 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c465d273 1 Health #health,#health-conference,#ageing,reproductive-health,#SexualReproductive,#Elderly,#SRHR Free

When it comes to sexual reproductive health and rights (SRHR), there is a common misperception that older people are not sexually active so they no longer need sexual health services and counselling.

Such stereotyping and discrimination against individuals or groups on the basis of their age is known as ageism.

Ageism is a barrier to sexual health for older people. [Making] older people are excluded from sexual health programming, said Caitlin Littleton, regional program advisor at HelpAge International Asia Pacific Region, which works in 75 countries, including Indonesia.

Littleton disclosed four main false beliefs about sexuality among older adults, including that older people are not able to have sex.

In reality, inability to have sexual intercourse is linked with health issues rather than age.

Another false belief is that older people do not want to have sex.

In reality, many older people continue to desire sex for the same reasons younger age groups do, such as for pleasure, relationships, reducing stress and increased wellbeing, Littleton said.

Others believe older people should not have sex, which she said is a largely an external viewpoint strongly reinforced by the media and societal norms, and some older people internalize this message. In reality, every adult should be able to safely and fully express their sexuality with respect to the rights of others, she added.

Some even believe older people do not have sex, while in actuality, just as with any age, there is a large variety in sexual frequency, activities and satisfaction.

Dismantling ageist views and discriminatory practices regarding sexual health are essential in achieving progress on sexual health across the population, right to health, womens rights, LGBT [lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender] rights, older peoples rights, she said.

Littleton gave a plenary presentation called the Sexual Health of Older People: An Overview at the 10th Asia Pacific Conference on Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (APCRASRH10) virtual conference on Sept. 14.

The conference, themed Population Ageing and SRHR in Asia Pacific, is part of a series organized by the steering committee of APCRSHR10, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Citizen News Service (CNS).

The stereotype that individuals become asexual as they get older was also found by Tey Nai Peng, an associate professor at the Department of Applied Statistics at the University of Malaya.

Old-age sexuality is a sensitive topic and taboo in many cultures, he said at the conference.

In Malaysia, people aged 60 and over make up 10 percent of the population and the figure is projected to reach 24 percent in 2050. About 90 percent of older men are married compared to only 50 percent among older women.

He said one study, data for which came from the 2014 Malaysian Population and Family Survey, showed that about half of older Malaysians still had a sexual desire and maintained an intimate relationship with their spouses.

About 80 percent share a bed and hold hands, and nearly 66 percent still hug and kiss their spouse. Overall, 57 percent of older men and 47 percent of older women have sex with their spouse, he said.

Sexuality is a lifelong need. Sexual activity remains an important aspect of life among older men and women. Education, health care, cultural practices, social media and the family have important roles in sustaining a happy and healthy sexual life in old age []

Indonesia has the fifth-largest elderly population in the world. (JP/Hengky)

Globally, the number of persons aged 60 and over is projected to reach 2 billion by 2050, or one in every five persons, largely contributed to the decline in fertility rates and increasing life expectancy.

As per 2019 estimates, 548 million (60 percent) of the worlds older population lives in the Asia-Pacific region and the number is projected to rise to nearly 1.3 billion by 2050. Women comprise 52.9 percent of the older population in this region.

In Indonesia, which has the fifth-largest elderly population in the world, the World Population Ageing report in 2015 projected the number of 60-year-olds and above would reach 39 million in 2030, or 13.2 percent of the population, and 61.8 million in 2050 or 19.2 percent.

In 2017, data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS) showed the country had 23.4 million people older than 60, or around 8.97 percent of the total population.

All smiles: Sixty percent of the worlds older population resides in the Asia-Pacific region and the number is projected to rise to nearly 1.3 billion by 2050. (Courtesy of HelpAge International/-)

Sai Jyothirmal Racheria, program director at Asia Pacific Resource Center for Women (ARROW), said in the Asia-Pacific region, women outlived men by at least four years on average.

Currently, there are 90.8 men for every 100 women above 60 years and 69.5 men for every 100 women over the age of 80, she said.

Womens longer life expectancy and the consequent larger proportion of older women living alone throws challenges toward a number of issues, as older women have less income security, as well as limited access to resources and opportunities, including health care, adequate housing, social protection and legal justice.

Most countries in the region, she said, would face major challenges to ensure their health and social systems were ready to deal with the demographic shift in ageing.

Some countries, she said, had come up with best practices, such as in Japan, which has integrated long-term care insurance to protect people from the costs of care, or Thailand, which was strengthening the integration of health and social care as close as possible to where people live. South Korea, she said, had guaranteed a basic pension for all older persons since 2015.

In Indonesia, according to the 2017-19 World Social Protection Report, only 14 percent of people older than the statutory pensionable age receive an old-age pension (contributory, noncontributory or both), emphasizing their vulnerability.

Some countries in the region have policies to provide free or subsidized health care for older persons [] However, the reach and range of services is a huge question, Racheria said.

Despite their demographic significance and the lifetime impact of gender disparities, women considered older than the reproductive age are excluded from most investments in global public health.

While development policies linking human rights with access to SRH care have improved the status of women and girls, older women have not benefited from these initiatives, Racheria said.

In the age of COVID-19, elderly people are considered vulnerable and therefore, kept even more isolated from social interactions.

The conferences chair, Sono Aibe, a United States based independent consultant who works with philanthropic and non-profit organizations, emphasized the challenges faced by older people in the low-income countries.

In low income countries, where healthcare resources are already very stretched, she warned that women who were not reached by reproductive and maternal health programs might be missing age appropriate preventive health education or regular check-ups or often had to deal with sometimes debilitating symptoms and psychological impacts all on their own.

So, our commitment to SRHR needs means that we have to work to make the SRH needs of all people throughout their life cycle.
WASHINGTON, DC, SEPTEMBER 21, ARMENPRESS. Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser has proclaimed September the 21st as Armenian Independence Day in the United States capital city.

Whereas, today the Republic of Armenia celebrates its Independence Day and this year also marks the 100th anniversary of the establishment of relations between the United States and Armenia, reads Bowsers proclamation.

Whereas, the United States has agreements with Armenia that affect trade investments, strengthen democratic institutions and foster sustainable and inclusive economic growth; and

Whereas, the Embassy of Armenia is located in Washington, DC and contributes to the cultural diversity and educational enrichment of our students through their participation in the DC Public School Embassy Adoption Program; and

Whereas, the Republic of Armenia continues to strengthen partnerships between the two countries to build better relations and goodwill; and

Whereas, I congratulate the Embassy of Armenia on this Independence Day celebration and look forward to your continued collaboration with the District of Columbia:

Now, Therefore, I, the Mayor of Washington, DC, do hereby proclaim September 21, 2020 in Washington, DC, as Armenian Independence Day.

In turn, the Armenian Embassy in Washington, DC expressed gratitude to the Mayor.

Editing by Stepan Kocharyan
Bihar police, with the help of security forces, arrested five hardcore Maoists late on Monday from Gaya and Jamui districts of the state while another wanted Maoist was caught in Kolkata. Two of the arrested men carried rewards of Rs 15 lakh and Rs 50,000 respectively.

CPIs regional committee member of Magadh zone, Rahul Yadav (50) alias Bada Vikas alias Sirji, was arrested from Bhraunda village under Gurua police station area when he was on way to Palamu.

Also read: Rs 10 lakh hike in ex-gratia for Odisha cops and staff killed by Maoists

Acting on a tip-off, a CRPF team of 159 battalion nabbed him in a joint operation with district police. Rahul, said to be on the run for the past 30 years, was the most active member in the regional committee of the Maoist group and had been involved in a number of violent incidents.

CRPF DIG Om Prakash Yadav said the Jharkhand government had, on July 31, 2020, announced a reward of Rs 15 lakh for his capture.

Gaya SSP Rajiv Mishra on Tuesday said that more than 48 cases were lodged against Rahul with different police stations of Bihar and Jharkhand.

Mishra said one of Rahuls aides, Jitendra Yadav, had also been caught. Yadav is said to have been working as a courier in the Maoist organisation.

Police said that Rahul is a close associate of Maoist commander Sandeep Yadav.

Police said another wanted Maoist carrying a reward of Rs 50,000 was nabbed from Kolkata. Jamui SP Pramod Kumar Mandal said following Ramesh Hembrams arrest in Kolkata , a joint police team of SSBs 16th battalion and Jamui police nabbed Arvind Sao alias Tenua, Rajesh Soren and Raju Soren.

All the three were allegedly involved in collecting levy for zonal commander Arvind Yadav and area commander Prakash Rana. Three cell phones were recovered from their possession.

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The father of an autistic teen who is missing in bushland east of Melbourne says he "just wants him home" as the search for the boy continues into the evening.

William Wall failed to return home after his daily walk. Credit:Victoria Police

William Wall, 14, left to go for his daily jog on the Warburton Rail Trail at Launching Place, east of Melbourne in the Yarra Ranges, about 6.45am on Tuesday.

He told his family he would be gone for 15 minutes but didn't return home.

An air and ground search involving the police air wing and local uniform members was launched with the help of members from the State Emergency Service.
The police have issued a warning to farmers after thieves stole thirteen tractor GPS systems in Lincolnshire over the course of a few days.

The thefts were reported around Boston and Spalding between 17 - 19 September, with thousands of pounds worth of equipment taken.

Equipment such as Trimble 500 and 750 Nav Systems, Trimble Satellite Receivers, TOPCON and Intelliview Computer Systems were stolen during the raids, with a majority occurring in rural areas.

Lincolnshire Police has now told farmers to remove GPS devices from their equipment following the spate of thefts.

Acting Detective Sergeant Walker said the trend was deeply worrying for farmers, who invest in high-tech equipment to make their farms more efficient and reduce pollution.

In an attempt to stop thieves targeting GPS kits, some manufacturers now provide personal identification numbers to prevent the equipment being used by others," he said.

Most GPS kits in use on farms today are fitted to tractors as an easily-removable accessory. To prevent thefts, farmers should remove the kit when its not in use and store it under lock and key.

We would ask farmers to ensure they remove GPS kits if possible and to report any suspicious activity by calling 101, or 999 to report a crime in action.

NFU Lincolnshire and Holland county advisers, Rhonda Thompson and Danny O'Shea, encouraged farmers to follow the police's advice.

"The targeted thefts can have a massive impact on farmers, their sense of security and their businesses and we'd urge members to follow the police's advice.

"Don't make it easy for these ruthless, opportunistic criminals - take your receiver, screen and, where possible, the nav controller with and secure them somewhere safe overnight.

"And make sure you add the serial numbers of each piece of equipment to your farm's asset register," they said.

The cost of rural crime in the UK reached an eight year high last year as criminal gangs continue to target the countryside, including GPS systems.

How can I protect GPS systems?

You can follow advice from the NFU here:

 Remove GPS guidance receivers, aerials and antenna globes from tractors when not in use and keep them in a secure locked place whenever possible

 Consider fitting security tethers or brackets to stop units being removed

 Mark your postcode on GPS units  either with a UV pen, engraving tool or forensic marking system

 Store machinery in locked buildings where possible

 Where locking machines away isnt an option, consider fitting mains or battery-operated alarms to cover around the perimeter of areas where machines are stored

 Record machinery serial numbers and photograph kit to help police identify stolen items and increase the chances of them being recovered
OTTAWA - Supreme Court justices pushed lawyers from Saskatchewan and Ontario hard Tuesday, demanding to know how Canada can help stop climate change if any single province chooses not to help.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 22/9/2020 (487 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Supreme Court of Canada is seen at sunset in Ottawa, Tuesday September 1, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

OTTAWA - Supreme Court justices pushed lawyers from Saskatchewan and Ontario hard Tuesday, demanding to know how Canada can help stop climate change if any single province chooses not to help.

But several of the justices also raised concerns that the federal government's carbon tax legislation might give Ottawa too much discretion.

The issues were raised during the first of two days of hearings this week on whether the federal government's Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act is constitutional.

The act was implemented in 2019, imposing a carbon price in any province without an equivalent system of its own. The appeals courts in Saskatchewan and Ontario ruled the law was constitutional in 2019, but in February of this year the Alberta Court of Appeal said it was not.

Many of the nine justices seemed seized with the notion that provinces may have the authority currently to put in place measures to curb the greenhouse gas emissions that cause to climate change but that doesn't mean they have to do it.

That, combined with the crisis climate change poses to Canada and the world, and the fact one province not acting could stymie Canada's overall efforts to combat climate change, could make it an issue of national concern, the judges mused.

"We're into a situation now where everybody as I understand it agrees that climate change is a serious threat to life on Earth as we know it," said Justice Michael Moldaver.

He added the "overriding critical concern" to him is that there is no guarantee provinces will all act on it.

"If one province decides not to do it, if one province decides to go rogue, this will have an impact potentially on the whole of Canada, and other provinces that are trying their best."

Justice Rosalie Abella echoed those sentiments, pointing out that emissions from one province can impact another.

"They can collectively choose to deal with those issues but they don't have Plexiglas at their borders and the effect of not choosing to engage in strategies that are ultimately helpful to the rest of the country has enormous implications," she said. "That's why we have the national concern test."

Meanwhile, lawyers for Saskatchewan, Ontario and Alberta argued Tuesday that the power to regulate emissions does lie with the provinces and Ottawa should not be allowed to grab that power for itself.

Josh Hunter, the deputy director of the constitutional law branch in the office of Ontario's attorney general, said the law treats provinces like subordinates.

"The way they've done it, it's even worse because it's not just they say they're going to regulate it," he told the court. "They say, 'You regulate it the way we like it or we will regulate it.'"

Guy Pratte, a lawyer presenting arguments for the federal government, said when it comes to issues over which Ottawa should have discretion, climate change seems like a clear one.

"If this is not a matter of national concern, what is," he asked.

He also said Ottawa had gone to great lengths to give provinces room to design their own systems, as long as they met the tests for national standards on pricing and sources of emissions.

Several justices expressed concern that the federal government was, with at least one part of the legislation, "picking winners and losers" among industries because the national standards they set differed by industry.

There were also queries about whether the government was taking too much power to change the standards at any time, with regulatory powers to increase the price or what certain industries can emit before paying it.

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"I am concerned about the broad discretion in the act," said Justice Suzanne Cote.

This was the first in-person hearing at the Supreme Court since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The justices were separated into two rows instead of the usual one, and had transparent barriers between each other's seats.

The court is also closed to the public, staff in the room were limited and had to wear masks, and the judges and lawyers presenting wore masks until they got to their seats. The lectern where lawyers presented was cleaned between each individual.

The hearing is also being webcast, although the top court has been livestreaming proceedings since before the pandemic.

Wednesday, the hearings will continue with arguments from other provinces, including Quebec, Manitoba and New Brunswick. Also on the schedule for Wednesday are several First Nations and Indigenous governing bodies, as well as more than a dozen special interest groups.

.
A High Court judge has fined a mother and son 6.26m over contempt of court orders requiring them to clean up two illegal dumps on their farm at Enfield, Co Meath.

Up to 100,000 tonnes of waste, including asbestos, was dumped on two unauthorised areas comprising three acres on the 253-acre farm over a three-year period up to October 2014. The farm, at Ballynakill, Rathcore, Enfield, is owned by Eileen Hendy and run by her son, Fred.

In a judgment published yesterday, Mr Justice Richard Humphreys said the Hendys had had three years since another High Court judge had ordered them to take steps to clean up the sites. They had been found last July in contempt of that order and they were not entitled to more time to comply.

The most appropriate option, and the one sought by the council, was for the court to fine the Hendys the 6.26m costs of remediation, to be charged on the lands, he said. The money is to be paid to Meath County Council,

The fact the remediation costs were probably going to be in excess of their means was "irrelevant", he said. While their counsel had argued a fine would infringe their property rights, those rights were subordinate to the requirement to comply with court orders which they had not done.

The fine is "coercive", not punitive, as it was not intended to punish them for their three-year contempt but rather to ensure the remediation happens, he said. It went without saying they cannot be imprisoned over failure to pay the balance of the fine once their assets have been exhausted, he added.

The council had in 2016 secured orders from the High Court against the Hendys aimed at securing remediation of the landfill sites in line with recommendations of the Environmental Protection Agency and also required the Hendys to pay costs, not then quantified, towards that remediation.

The court was told in 2016 the cost of dealing with the waste was about 2m if the sites were capped and left in place and would be some 6m if the waste was removed.

Ms Hendy lives with her daughter in a house on the lands while Fred and his family live nearby. During the 2016 hearing, Mr Hendy said he farms the lands and neither his mother nor his sister had any role in the waste activities.

The council claimed diaries kept by Mr Hendy indicated he was paid about 175,000 between 2011 and 2012 for taking in waste at rates lower that would have had to be paid to licensed landfills.

The council had also brought proceedings against a waste company and a number of hauliers but the claims against those parties were struck out.

The council in 2019 initiated contempt proceedings against the Hendys and Mr Justice Humphreys, at a hearing last July, found both in contempt.

Arising from that finding, he considered further submissions and gave judgment on those yesterday. He found the Hendys had no valid complaint about the council proceeding with the contempt matter. The council's main concern was to have the lands remediated and, despite arguments by the Hendys that they have tried alternative solutions, they had done nothing for three years. It would be "a fool's errand" to give them a further chance to begin to do something now, he said.

That meant the council itself had to remediate the lands and must have recourse to the respondents' assets to do so.
Iffath Fathima By

Express News Service

BENGALURU: In July, the government announced that Rs 5,000 would be given to every recovered Covid patient who has donated plasma. However, come September, not a single donor has received the amount. Whats surprising is that there is no data either on the number of donors.Health and Family Welfare officials said they are building a database of donors, and that the Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Team (SAST) will transfer the amount. A task force meeting was held on Monday where the issue was raised, they said.

Dr B Manjunath, director, Medical Management, SAST, said, The Karnataka State Aids Prevention Society (KSAPS) is working on the plasma package. It will inform us when we can start the payment process. A KSAPS official said We have started getting donor details from various blood banks in the state. There are over 60 centres that are authorised to carry out donations.

NT Abroo, executive director, SAST, told TNIE, The incentive has not reached donors as we didnt have data. In a week we will have all details in place and start making payments. None of the 320 plasma donors registered at Bengalurus HCG Hospitalhave got their incentive, said Dr Vishal Rao, associate dean at HCG Cancer Centre, and the man behind the plasma bank in Karnataka. The `5,000 should not be seen as an incentive. Instead, this amount should be given to cover donors travel and food costs. The act of donating plasma should be seen as pure goodwill.

Fathaheen Misbah, an IT engineer and who is a Covid-19 Sahaya Task Force member, said, On Monday, we were told the notification to provide Rs 5,000 to donors has been issued. We have been asked to inform the AB-Ark/SAST team regarding donor details, as well as the bank where the donation was made.


Washington: President Donald Trump said Monday he expects to announce his pick for the Supreme Court by week's end, before Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is buried, launching a monumental Senate confirmation fight over objections from Democrats who say it's too close to the November election.

Trump said he is planning to name his pick by Friday or Saturday, ahead of the first presidential election debate.

Ginsberg's casket is to be on view mid-week on the iconic steps outside the court and later privately at the Capitol. She is to be buried next week in a private service at Arlington National Cemetery.

Democrats, led by presidential nominee Joe Biden, are protesting the Republicans' rush to replace Ginsburg, saying voters should speak first, on Election Day, November 3, and the winner of the White House should fill the vacancy.

Trump dismissed those arguments, telling Fox & Friends," I think that would be good for the Republican Party, and I think it would be good for everybody to get it over with.''

Conversations in the White House and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's office were increasingly focused on two finalists: Amy Coney Barrett and Barbara Lagoa, according to a person granted anonymity to discuss the private deliberations.

Trump himself confirmed they were among the top contenders. Barrett as long been a favourite of conservatives, and was a strong contender for the seat that eventually went in 2018 to Brett Kavanaugh.At the time, Trump told confidants he was 'saving' Barrett for Ginsburg's seat.

Lagoa has been pushed by some aides who tout her political advantages of being Hispanic and hailing from the key political battleground state of Florida.

The impending clash over the vacant seat when to fill it and with whom has scrambled the stretch run of the presidential race for a nation already reeling from the coronavirus pandemic that has killed nearly 200,000 people, left millions unemployed and heightened partisan tensions and anger.

Democrats point to the hypocrisy of Republicans in trying to rush through a pick so close to the election after refusing to do so for President Barack Obama in February 2016, long before that year's election. Biden is appealing to GOP senators to delay the vote until after the election.

Ginsburg, 87, died Friday of metastatic pancreatic cancer.

Senate GOP leader McConnell vowed on Monday to have the chamber vote this year on Trump's nominee. With just over a month before the election, he said the Senate has more than sufficient time to handle the nomination.

Announcing a nominee on Friday or Saturday would leave less than 40 days for the Senate to hold a confirmation vote before the election.

No nominee has won confirmation that quickly since Sandra Day O'Connor with no opposing votes became the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court in 1981.

Protesters are mobilising for a wrenching confirmation fight punctuated by crucial issues before the court healthcare, abortion access and even the potential outcome of the coming presidential election. Some showed up early Monday morning outside the homes of key GOP senators.

Trump said Monday he had list of five finalists, probably four. He has promised to nominate a woman, and his preference is for someone younger who could hold her seat for decades.

Trump admitted that politics may play a role. Besides Lagoa, he gave a nod to another battleground state, Michigan, on Monday and White House officials confirmed he was referring to Joan Larsen, a federal appeals court judge there.

The president also indicated that Allison Jones Rushing, a 38-year-old appellate judge from North Carolina, is on his short list. His team is also actively considering Kate Todd, the White House deputy counsel who has never been a judge but was a clerk for Justice Clarence Thomas.

As the Senate returned to Washington on Monday, attention focused on Republicans Mitt Romney of Utah and Chuck Grassley of Iowa for clues to whether Trump and McConnell will be able to confirm Ginsburg's replacement anytime soon.

Four Republicans could halt a quick confirmation, and Trump criticized Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska for opposing a vote before elections. The president warned they would be very badly hurt by voters.

Trump went so far as to disparage reports that Ginsburg had told her granddaughter it was her wish that a replacement justice not be confirmed until the inauguration of a new president. ''It just sounds to me like it would be somebody else who said that,'' he said, providing no evidence and suggesting political foes including Rep. Adam Schiff, the House Intelligence Committee chairman.
China's three newly established pilot free trade zones will further facilitate the nation's high-level opening-up and boost high-quality growth through deeper reforms, especially in the areas of digital economy, high-end manufacturing and regional integration, senior government officials and experts said on Monday. They made the remarks after the State Council, the nation's Cabinet, released plans for the new pilot zones in Beijing and in Hunan and Anhui provinces on Monday, boosting the number of the country's FTZs to 21. Wang Shouwen, vice-minister of commerce, said the move shows the country's resolve to pursue high-level opening-up and ensure the safety and stability of the industrial and supply chains. China set up its first FTZ in Shanghai in 2013 to usher in more foreign investment and promote trade and regional integration. Since then, the country has added 20 zones, including those in such perse areas as the coastal provinces of Fujian and Guangdong and the inland provinces of Shaanxi and Sichuan. The pilot FTZ in Beijing will cover an area of 119.68 square kilometers, including three areas for science and technology innovation, international business services and high-end industries, according to the government plan. Beijing will implement the system of pre-establishment national treatment plus a negative list for foreign investment, improve trade facilitation and relax restrictions on service trade access in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region where conditions permit, said Yang Jinbai, Beijing's vice-mayor. A negative list determines which economic activities are prohibited, while all others are considered to be allowed. Pre-establishment national treatment refers to foreign investments being treated similarly to domestic investments as they gain market access. Beijing will build a pilot zone for digital and big data businesses to boost technological innovation and opening-up of the services sector and digital economy, he said. The pilot FTZs in Hunan and Anhui will cover areas of 119.76 square kilometers and 119.86 square kilometers, respectively, government officials said. He Baoxiang, vice-governor of Hunan, said that with new policy support and backed by a large number of export-oriented manufacturers, construction projects and service providers, the FTZ in Hunan aims to boost outbound direct investment and international cooperation, in particular with African countries and those related to the Belt and Road Initiative. The FTZ in Hunan will further improve the local business environment while promoting innovation and improving the intellectual property protection system, as well as encouraging more cross-industry cooperation with companies in the province, said Fernando Teixeira, CEO of Valin ArcelorMittal Automotive Steel Co in China, a Sino-European joint venture that has been working in steel production in Hunan for more than six years. "Benefiting from strong transportation links to the eastern hub with Shanghai, the southern hub with Guangzhou and the western hub with Chongqing, we believe the Hunan FTZ will enable tremendous opportunities for the growth of central China," he said. The Anhui FTZ, located in the Yangtze River Delta region, will boost the region's development and high-end manufacturing, integrated circuit, artificial intelligence and cross-border e-commerce businesses, said Zhang Xi, Anhui's vice-governor. Zhu Congjiu, vice-governor of Zhejiang, said Ningbo will be allowed to expand its pilot FTZ and the provincial government has made specific plans to build the zone into a global shipping hub, influential oil and gas resource allocation center, supply chain innovation center and a high-quality smart manufacturing demonstration area. Wei Jianguo, vice-chairman of the China Center for International Economic Exchanges, said China's latest move to establish and expand FTZs demonstrates its efforts to further open up its economy despite the COVID-19 pandemic and rising unilateralism globally. While China is working to give full play to its huge domestic market, it is still committed to promoting economic globalization, he said.


MARSEILLE, France  On the morning of Nov. 5, 2018, two residential buildings collapsed on the Rue dAubagne here, killing eight people and leaving a large gash in the citys heart. Hundreds of others living in run-down Marseille homes at risk of crumbling were evacuated. Nearly two years later, the pain remains acute: The site where the two buildings stood remains a giant cavity, surrounded by barbed wire, and a nearby billboard commemorates the eight victims.

That building collapse is one focus of an exhibition at Manifesta, the roving international biennial, which has gone ahead with its Marseille edition this year, even as the pandemic has forced the cancellation of other major art-world events.

The no-frills documentary presentation about Marseilles housing crisis, curated by Samia Henni, features photocopied photographs and sheets of text hanging from clothes pins. Speakers play recorded testimonies from campaigners, social workers, a bus driver and a policeman, who discuss Marseilles shantytowns, slums and displaced populations, such as the hundreds still waiting to be rehoused after the 2018 collapse.

When we went into lockdown, I thought, Whats the point of taking part in this exhibition, when people are dying, suffering, and losing their jobs? said Ms. Henni, an assistant professor of architecture at Cornell University.
NEW YORK - A New York police officer assigned to a Queens station house has been spying for the Chinese government, tracking local supporters of the Tibetan independence movement and giving "intelligence" to Chinese officials, federal prosecutors alleged Monday.

Baimadajie Angwang, 33, who is also a U.S. Army reservist as a staff sergeant stationed at Fort Dix in New Jersey, has been charged with illegally acting as a foreign agent, wire fraud and making false statements for lying on official government forms about his contacts with China. He's also accused of obstructing his national security background check, which helped conceal his spying efforts that began in 2014.

He faces a maximum of 55 years if convicted.

Angwang, a naturalized U.S. citizen, has been a member of the New York City police department since 2016. As an Army reservist, he had "secret" security clearance.

Federal investigators say several members of Angwang's family have been members of the Chinese Communist Party and have served in the People's Liberation Army, and that Angwang has maintained relationships with two officials at the Chinese Consulate in New York. He reported to his contacts at the consulate about "the activities of ethnic Tibetans" and worked to identify potential sources of information from within the community to assist in the PRC's monitoring efforts, according to court papers filed in the Eastern District of New York.

Angwang also tried to connect one of his consulate contacts with influential members of the NYPD by inviting the official to events, prosecutors said.

At his arraignment in federal court in Brooklyn on Monday, Angwang was ordered detained. His attorney can argue for bail at a future proceeding.

Angwang, who is ethnically Tibetan, had been given asylum in the United States after overstaying a visa and claiming that he'd been arrested and tortured by China "due partly to his Tibetan ethnicity," according to the criminal complaint.

He "violated every oath he took in this country" including to his country, the U.S. Army and the NYPD, Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said in a statement.

Angwang was assigned to the 111th Precinct located in Bayside, Queens.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

"From the earliest stages of this investigation, the NYPD's Intelligence and Internal Affairs bureaus worked closely with the FBI's Counterintelligence Division to make sure this individual would be brought to justice," Shea added.

Angwang violated "his sworn oath as a New York City police officer to protect and serve the citizens of New York by instead reporting to PRC government officials about the activities of Chinese citizens in the New York area and developing intelligence sources within the Tibetan community in the United States," acting U.S. Attorney Seth DuCharme added in a statement.
The TikTok deal has become confusing as both Oracle and ByteDance claim majority ownership of the company.

TikTok's Chinese parent ByteDance and U.S. based Oracle are saying conflicting claims on who gets ownership of the revamped TikTok Global.

On Sunday, ByteDance said in a statement that it will own 80 percent of the company's stake under the TikTok deal. Their claim leaves 20 percent of the company to Oracle and retail giant Walmart.

ByteDance seems to have not completely and publicly given up its ownership, said a report from The Verge.

The report said TikTok Global will launch an IPO in the U.S. stock exchange, and ByteDance's interest in the company will then be further diluted.

But on Monday, Oracle EVP Ken Glueck said in a statement that "Americans will be the majority" in the TikTok deal and "ByteDance will have no ownership."

Oracle claimed that TikTok will completely lose ties with ByteDance. But this is also different from what earlier reports have noted that the U.S. companies will only take 20 percent stake in the new venture.

Ownership is an important aspect of the TikTok deal, as they were forced by the Trump administration to make a deal. But the conflicting statements could derail this altogether, said a report from Variety.

Oracle, Walmart Share isn't Disputed

Whether or not ByteDance does hold a majority share of the company, what isn't denied is the stakes the U.S. companies will hold. Oracle will have 12.5 percent stake and Walmart will get 7.5 percent of TikTok Global.

This is only 20 percent of the overall shares, as what ByteDance claimed. But this leaves 80 percent unaccounted for.

While ByteDance said they will get the remaining stake, Oracle said it will be divided among American investors. This includes four venture-capital firms.

These four firms are existing ByteDance investors: Susquehanna International Group, General Atlantic, Sequoia Capital and Coatue Management.

If these companies are counted, this gives TikTok Global a 53 percent U.S. ownership, as reported by Wall Street Journal.

This confusion on the new ownership may appear to stem from the need to appease political leaders in both the U.S. and China.

Amid the confusion, it is also clear that the company will have to be based in the U.S. and will run in a cloud operated by Oracle.

ByteDance will still control the app's AI algorithms. This algorithm has to power to give users video recommendations.

TikTok Deal Far from Trump's Demands

President Donald Trump said the deal was a "win" for the U.S. and gave it his "blessing" on Saturday.

As CNBC reported, Trump noted that the company is now owned and controlled by Americans. This is despite the fact that a large part of TikTok may still have its Chinese parent's say.

Trump said on Fox News Monday morning that the Chinese won't have anything to do with TikTok after the deal goes through. He added that Oracle and Walmart will have "total control" over the app.

But assuming Oracle does not have total control, he said, "then we're not going to approve the deal." He noted that ByteDance would have "nothing to do" with the app, and if they do, a deal just won't happen.

Check these out!

Trump Approves TikTok-Oracle Deal

Trump Says He Does Not Approve of ByteDance Control in TikTok Deal

ByteDance Seeks $60 Billion TikTok Valuation in US Deal
Sir Keir Starmer will today seek to distance himself from his hard-left predecessor by painting Labour as the party of patriotism and of family.

In a speech in Doncaster, he will pledge the party is under new leadership and that under him, Labour is now serious about winning.

The Labour leader will put education and support for families at the heart of his mission to make Britain the best place to grow up in and the best place to grow old in.

Sir Keir Starmer (pictured) will today seek to distance himself from his hard-left predecessor by painting Labour as the party of patriotism and of family

And he will make a plea to thousands of voters across the north of England who turned to the Tories following the disastrous leadership of Jeremy Corbyn, saying: We hear you.

I ask you: take another look at Labour, Sir Keir will say. Were under new leadership. We love this country as you do.

This is the country I grew up in and its the country I will grow old in. And I want it to be the country I know it can be. That, in the end, is why I do this. To change lives for the better.

The speech is taking place on the day that would usually be the highlight of the Labour Party conference, which has been called off this year thanks to coronavirus.

In a speech in Doncaster, he will pledge the party is under new leadership and that under him, Labour is now serious about winning

Sir Keir will say: My vision for Britain is simple: I want this to be the best country to grow up in and the best country to grow old in. A country in which we put family first.

A country that embodies the values I hold dear. Decency, fairness, opportunity, compassion and security. Security for our nation, our families and all of our communities.

He will add: I can see in my minds eye the country I want us to be. Properly funded universal public services. World-class education which unleashes everyones potential.

A huge investment in skills and a plan, working hand-in-hand with businesses and trade unions, to create high quality jobs.

An economy that doesnt force people to move hundreds of miles from family and friends just to find a decent job. One that truly works for all regions and nations of this United Kingdom, with opportunity and security in every part of the country and at every stage of our lives.

A country committed to a greener, cleaner and fairer society. Where every policy is judged not just by how much it costs today but by what it does for the planet tomorrow.

A country which would be an active force for good in the world, once again admired and respected leading the world - and leading by example - in tackling the climate emergency.

Sir Keir will describe ending the education gap as a national mission and urge ministers to commit to closing it as part of the levelling up agenda.

The speech is taking place on the day that would usually be the highlight of the Labour Party conference, which has been called off this year thanks to coronavirus

Im calling on the Prime Minister to make this his priority, he will say. Bring forward a national strategy to close the education gap.

Enforce it through an independent body, such as the Childrens Commissioner, and make sure no family loses out because of the exams fiasco or delays in getting children into school.

In a direct message to people who have switched their vote to the Conservatives in recent elections, Sir Keir will say: Trust takes time. It starts with being a credible Opposition. With taking the job seriously. Thats what we will do.

So, to those people in Doncaster and Deeside, in Glasgow and Grimsby, in Stoke and in Stevenage to those who have turned away from Labour, I say this: we hear you.
FOSTERING closer economic and cultural links between India and Offaly forms part of the vision of the Indian Ambassador to Ireland he revealed during a visit to the county on Thursday last.

His Excellency, Sandeep Kumar visited Offaly History Centre as part of his itinerary and spoke eloquently about the connections between his native and adopted lands, particularly both countries struggle for independence from the British Empire in the last century.

He emphasised his desire to forge links between regions outside Dublin and India and the importance of Indian citizens here playing a full part in local and national life.

The purpose of my visit is to get out of Dublin. We do not think that Dublin is Ireland. Ireland is a composite of regions and we're trying to reach out to the sizeable Indian communities in those regions, he explained.

The Ambassador, in an informal discussion with the President and Secretary of Offaly History, Helen Bracken and Michael Byrne and Offaly Archive Centre Manager, Lisa Shortall, said he would welcome closer contacts being developed with the Society, particularly through lectures and film screenings.

Mrs Bracken agreed and said there was tremendous scope for this and that Offaly History would welcome closer contacts with all the communities in Tullamore and Offaly who were keen to know more and contribute more to our understanding of our heritage and history across nations.

The Ambassador was shown the work of the Society, its library and photographic collection and presented a copy of a biography of Rabindranath Tagore (friend of Yeats) to the Society to add to its collection.

Speaking to the Tribune, the Ambassador said he had also visited Tullamore hospital where a large number of Indian born health professionals worked.

He said they, like their Irish counterparts in the health service, were working in very challenging times during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Ambassador Kumar revealed his Embassy had been instrumental in establishing groups of its country's citizens from all walks of life around the country to provide a support network for the Indian community during the Covid crisis.

He added that the period had been especially difficult for the thousands of young people from India studying in the country and counselling and other support services had been put in place for them.

A lot of these students went back to India but are now returning ot start the new semester, he outlined.

Ambassador Kumar said he was intrigued to learn from Michael Byrne that a British expedition to climb Mount Everest in the early years of the last century had been led by a man with Tullamore connections, Howard Bury of Charleville Castle.

He said he hoped to meet the Cathaoirleach of Offaly County Council and other councillors in order to encourage cultural and economic links between Offaly and India.

Ambassador Kumar added that the links being discussed between Offaly History and the Embassy could be instrumental in building further connections between the county and India.
Bono Regional Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwame Baffoe aka Abronye DC says the main reason for the NDCs Flagbearer, Mr. Mahama rescinding his decision to tour the Region is to avoid disgrace.



According to him, John Mahama was not encouraged about the turnout after a meeting held at Esubett with his Regional executives ahead of the tour.



He has to return back to Accra and come back later after a better mobilization has been done, he said.



Former President John Dramani Mahama said he has truncated his campaign tour of the Bono Region to enable him and the leaders of the NDC to travel back to Accra "because of the increasing reports of challenges with the voter register and the exhibition process".



I am cutting short my tour of the Bono Region to return to Accra because of the increasing reports of challenges with the voter register and the exhibition process. Well address a major press conference on the issues in due course, Mr Mahama posted on his Facebook page.



Abronye DC noted that John Mahama In 2016 insulted the people of Bono region after the collapse of DKM''.



"The good people of Bono region have not forgotten about these insults because they do not have short memories as John Mahama thinks and that is why they refused to step out to welcome him when he visited the region", a statement by him read.



Read full statement below:



Re: John Mahama Cuts Short Visit To Bono Region



I have sighted an official communication from the office of the Former President cutting short his campaign at the Bono Region.



According to John Mahama, this has been necessitated due to several complaints with regards to abnormalities in the ongoing voter exhibition exercise.



It must be noted empathically that, the main reason for cutting short his tour in the region is that, yesterday after visiting Sunyani Odumasi around 1am midnight, John Mahama was not encouraged about the turn out and for that matter in a meeting held at Esubett with a session of his regional executives he told them that, to avoid any disgrace, he has to return back to Accra and come back later after a better mobilization has been done.



He was very furious with his regional Executives after they failed to make proper preparations by busing people from Bono East which is their stronghold to the Bono region.



John Mahama In 2016 insulted the people of Bono region after the collapse of DKM and stated that, even his illiterate uncle will not engage in such a ponzy scheme insinuating that, all persons who traded with DKM are senseless



The good people of Bono region have not forgotten about these insults because they do not have short memories as John Mahama thinks and that is why they refused to step out to welcome him when he visited the region.



To add to that, throughout his visit after seeing the good works done by Prez Akuffo Addo with regards to the road sector, infrastructure and other developmental projects and listening to the peoples feedback, he had no option than to return to Accra because no one paid attention to him.



For the purposes of the record, I would want to state categorically that this is not the first time there has been abnormalities in exhibiting a voter register.

That is why the process in itself is called an exhibition 



On this note the reason by John Mahama is unwarranted and unsubstantiated.



To add to the above, NDC in recent times has decided to engage in the tricks of blame game.



They intend to find faults at every activity of the Electoral commission.

They did the same during the exhibition done by the Electoral Commission after their compilation of the limited registration prior to the district assembly elections.



THANKS



SIGNED!!

Kwame Baffoe Abronye

Bono Region NPP

Source: Josephine Acheampomaa/[email protected]









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Wright is the second legislator reported to have tested positive for COVID-19 in a special General Assembly that began on Aug. 18.

The session has been transformed into a predominantly online spectacle because of the public health emergency that Gov. Ralph Northam declared more than six months ago over the pandemic.

Sen. Bryce Reeves, R-Spotsylvania, quarantined after testing positive for the virus in late August, but has returned to in-person sessions of the Senate at the Science Museum of Virginia.

The House, after its opening day session on Aug. 18, has met entirely online over the objections of the House Republican Caucus.

Two other House members, Del. Delores McQuinn, D-Richmond, and Del. Sam Rasoul, D-Roanoke, publicly had confirmed testing positive for the virus earlier this year.

House Minority Leader Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah, and House Republican Caucus Chairwoman Kathy Byron, R-Bedford, did not return requests for comment Monday.

Please direct further inquiries to Del. Wright, Republican caucus spokesman Garren Shipley said in a text message on Monday.
On an average day, we would have kids going out to outings and parents on campus, we would be able to do so many diff things with youth ... all of that has diminished significantly, Campagna Chief Operating Officer Kynesha Swain said. One thing we have done to bring normalcy to youth is increased recreational services.

Campagna staff have worked with the academys Residential Student Youth Council to bring engaging activities, such as campus scavenger hunts, a kickball tournament, an ice cream truck rental and a laser tag tournament to the 47-acre property.

Therapists and clinicians at the academy have worked with residents to help them understand changes. Students have discussed the changes in small groups and have engaged in cooking and art therapy projects to process stress brought by the pandemic

These are definitely unprecedented times. We were trying to figure things out with our students as the rest of the world was, said Megan Rigual, Campagnas director of clinical services. They have adapted pretty well.

Like many nonprofits in the pandemic, Campagna has moved its fall fundraising opportunities online. The academy is having a virtual auction in lieu of its traditional in-person Restoring Hope & Building Dreams Fundraiser event. For more information, see Campagna20.givesmart.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.
Om Birla says it pained him that Lok Sabha did not run smoothly during Monsoon session

Monsoon session Day 9: Congress makes three demands on farm bills for ending boycott of RS

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

New Delhi, Sep 22: The Congress on Tuesday said its boycott of Rajya Sabha will not end till the government brings another bill making it illegal for private players to buy food grains from farmers below the MSP, all state agencies comply by the MSP and the procurement price is fixed as per the Swaminathan panel's recommendations.

The Opposition party also called for revocation of suspension of eight MPs in the Upper House.

Senior Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad made this assertion outside Parliament while speaking to reporters and said the revocation of suspension of the Opposition Rajya Sabha MPs was not a demand, but a "request".

However, earlier, speaking inside Rajya Sabha, he had said that the opposition will boycott proceedings of the House till the suspension is revoked.

Outside Parliament, Azad said the Opposition has decided to boycott Rajya Sabha until the three conditions on the farm bills are met.

Monsoon session Day 9: Speaker Om Birla meets Opposition members after LS boycott

He said President Ram Nath Kovind should not give assent to the farm bills, alleging that proper procedure was not followed in their passage in Rajya Sabha.

But, in case assent is given by the president, the Opposition demands three things to end its boycott, either another bill be brought for it or Prime Minister Narendra Modi or the agriculture minister say it on the floor of the House that buying of farmers' produce at a rate lower than the minimum support price (MSP) by private players would be illegal, Azad said.

MSP should be fixed on the basis of the Swaminathan commission's recommendations and it should be mandated that agencies and the Food Cooperation of India buy farm produce at MSP, the Congress leader said.

"We will keep the boycott going till these demands are met...Fourth (issue) is a request that suspension of MPs should be taken back," he said.

The eight MPs were suspended on Monday over their "misbehaviour" with Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh during the passage of farm bills on Sunday.

Deputy Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Anand Sharma hit out at the deputy chairman, saying after "brazenly violating rules, procedures and practices for passing bills and making laws, the deputy chairman is shedding crocodile tears for parliamentary democracy".

"Token fast is nothing but a farce," he said.

Harivansh on Tuesday went on a 24-hour fast citing opposition members' "humiliating" conduct towards him.

Various opposition parties, including the Congress and the TMC, on Tuesday boycotted Lok Sabha in solidarity with the eight Rajya Sabha members who were suspended for unruly behaviour.

Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said all opposition parties are boycotting Parliament in solidarity with the Rajya Sabha members who were suspended on Monday.

"You have compelled us to do so," he said.

Opposition parties, including Congress, TMC, BSP and TRS, walked out of the Lok Sabha.

Chowdhury did not specify for how long the boycott would continue.

Chief Whip of the Congress in Rajya Sabha Jairam Ramesh listed the reasons why the Congress and like minded parties are boycotting the rest of the Monsoon session of Rajya Sabha.

The Monsoon session is scheduled to end on October 1.

However, the session is likely to be curtailed with several MPs testing positive for the coronavirus.

He said the Opposition is boycotting the session because of the manner in which bills have been bulldozed by the government and the manner in which eight MPs were suspended without listening to them and without division on suspension motion which is as per rules.

The boycott is also due to the manner in which the Leader of Opposition has not been allowed to speak, the manner in which the government has simply failed to accommodate views of the Opposition and the manner in which crucial bills have not been referred to standing or select committees, Ramesh said.

He also cited the manner in which division was not allowed on the two agricultural marketing bills and the manner in which MSP was not made part of the agricultural marketing law and not made applicable to private trade, as reasons for the boycott of the Upper House.
Chris Wallace has chosen six topics, including the Supreme Court and mail-in voting, for the first presidential debate between President Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden, the nonpartisan commission organizing the debates announced Tuesday.

Trump and Biden will spar for 90 minutes next Tuesday in the first of three debates.

Wallace, who is a host on Fox News but is known for his at-times harsh grillings of Trump, picked the topics for the Cleveland, Ohio debate.

The Fox News host has repeatedly asked Biden to join him for an interview, but has not been successful thus far.

The six topics, divided into separate segments, include the Supreme Court, coronavirus pandemic, voting integrity, 'race and violence in our cities,' economy and their track records.

Donald Trump and Joe Biden will spar for 90 minutes on six different topics at the first presidential debate next Tuesday  including the Supreme Court and mail-in voting

The first debate's moderator, Fox News host Chris Wallace  known for grilling Trump and constantly being denied interviews with Biden  chose the topics

TOPICS FOR THE FIRST PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE The Trump and Biden Records The Supreme Court COVID-19 The Economy Race and Violence in our Cities The Integrity of the Election Advertisement

The bipartisan Commission on Presidential Debates said in a statement that the six segments will last 15 minutes each.

This will be the first debate in a presidential campaign season upended by a pandemic that has complicated plans to hold in-person voting, killed more than 200,000 Americans and thrown millions out of work.

It also comes as Democrats and Republicans prepare to clash as Trump said Tuesday he will announce his Supreme Court nominee on Saturday.

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died Friday at the age of 87 from complications from her battle with pancreatic cancer.

The race by Trump and Republicans to fill her seat before the election November 3 has become a major campaign focus, with the prospect of a 6-3 conservative majority galvanizing voters in both parties.

Trump has demanded that Biden release his list of who he would nominate if he were given the chance, as the president released his own list even before Ginsburg's death.

Biden has said that he does not plan to release a list, which Republicans say is a sign that it would likely be a very progressive prospect.

Tuesday's debate comes as a seat on the Supreme Court has been vacated after liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died Friday from pancreatic cancer

Tuesday's matchup will be the candidates' first in-person debate, and comes as early voting is already under way in several states.

The format is intended 'to encourage deep discussion of the leading issues facing the country,' the debate organizers said, adding that subjects could change as news develops.

Trump and Biden will have a limited audience in person due to the pandemic but are expected to draw millions of viewers to watch commercial-free on television.

Case Western Reserve University and the Cleveland Clinic are hosting the debate on their shared campus in Cleveland.

Trump and Biden are due to debate twice more before the election  in Miami, Florida on October 15 and Nashville, Tennessee on October 22.
Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd. (NYSE American: CANF) (TASE:CFBI), a biotechnology company advancing a pipeline of proprietary small molecule drugs that address inflammatory, cancer and liver diseases, today announced the Company's VP of Business Development, Dr. Sari Fishman, is participating in two conferences where she will conduct one-on-one meetings with pharmaceutical companies for potential distribution and partnerships for the Company's drug candidates, Piclidenoson and Namodenoson. Both conferences include scheduled virtual partner meetings for Can-Fite, live sessions, and virtual networking.

BioPharmAmerica Digital

September 21-24, 2020

BIO-Europe Digital

October 26-29, 2020

Can-Fite recently announced achieving primary and secondary endpoints in its Phase II study of Namodenoson in NASH. Interim top-line results are expected before the end of 2020 in two Phase III studies of Piclidenoson in rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. Additional trials are ongoing or expected to start in COVID-19 and liver cancer. Can-Fite has received approximately $18 million in upfront and milestone payments to date through licensing and distribution deals for its drug candidates.

About Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd.

Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd. (NYSE American: CANF) (TASE: CFBI) is an advanced clinical stage drug development Company with a platform technology that is designed to address multi-billion dollar markets in the treatment of cancer, liver, inflammatory disease and COVID-19. The Company's lead drug candidate, Piclidenoson, is currently in Phase III trials for rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. Can-Fite's liver drug, Namodenoson, is headed into a Phase III trial for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common form of liver cancer, and successfully achieved its primary endpoint in a Phase II trial for the treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Namodenoson has been granted Orphan Drug Designation in the U.S. and Europe and Fast Track Designation as a second line treatment for HCC by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Namodenoson has also shown proof of concept to potentially treat other cancers including colon, prostate, and melanoma. CF602, the Company's third drug candidate, has shown efficacy in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. These drugs have an excellent safety profile with experience in over 1,500 patients in clinical studies to date. For more information please visit: www.can-fite.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements, about Can-Fite's expectations, beliefs or intentions regarding, among other things, market risks and uncertainties, its product development efforts, business, financial condition, results of operations, strategies or prospects. In addition, from time to time, Can-Fite or its representatives have made or may make forward-looking statements, orally or in writing. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "believe," "expect," "intend," "plan," "may," "should" or "anticipate" or their negatives or other variations of these words or other comparable words or by the fact that these statements do not relate strictly to historical or current matters. These forward-looking statements may be included in, but are not limited to, various filings made by Can-Fite with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, press releases or oral statements made by or with the approval of one of Can-Fite's authorized executive officers. Forward-looking statements relate to anticipated or expected events, activities, trends or results as of the date they are made. Because forward-looking statements relate to matters that have not yet occurred, these statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause Can-Fite's actual results to differ materially from any future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Many factors could cause Can-Fite's actual activities or results to differ materially from the activities and results anticipated in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: our history of losses and needs for additional capital to fund our operations and our inability to obtain additional capital on acceptable terms, or at all; uncertainties of cash flows and inability to meet working capital needs; the initiation, timing, progress and results of our preclinical studies, clinical trials and other product candidate development efforts; our ability to advance our product candidates into clinical trials or to successfully complete our preclinical studies or clinical trials; our receipt of regulatory approvals for our product candidates, and the timing of other regulatory filings and approvals; the clinical development, commercialization and market acceptance of our product candidates; our ability to establish and maintain strategic partnerships and other corporate collaborations; the implementation of our business model and strategic plans for our business and product candidates; the scope of protection we are able to establish and maintain for intellectual property rights covering our product candidates and our ability to operate our business without infringing the intellectual property rights of others; competitive companies, technologies and our industry; statements as to the impact of the political and security situation in Israel on our business; and risks and other risk factors detailed in Can-Fite's filings with the SEC and in its periodic filings with the TASE. In addition, Can-Fite operates in an industry sector where securities values are highly volatile and may be influenced by economic and other factors beyond its control. Can-Fite does not undertake any obligation to publicly update these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200922005126/en/

Contacts:

Can-Fite BioPharma

Motti Farbstein

info@canfite.com

+972-3-9241114
By PTI

JAIPUR: Veteran Congress leader and former Rajasthan minister Zakia Inam has died at a hospital here due to COVID-19. She was 71.

She died hours after she was admitted to Rajasthan University of Health Sciences Hospital (RUHS) Monday evening as she complained of breathing issues.

"She was admitted with symptoms of classic COVID pneumonia. Her lungs were badly affected," a senior doctor said.

Another doctor at the RUHS informed that her COVID-19 test report came positive on Tuesday.

Inam was a three-time MLA from Tonk and served as the state minister twice.

My heartfelt condolences at the passing away of Congress leader and former minister Zakiya Inam ji. May the Almighty give strength to her family members to bear this loss. May her soul rest in peace.. #Rajasthan  Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) September 22, 2020

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, PCC president Govind Dotasra, former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot and other leaders condoled the death of Inam.

Gehlot prayed for peace to the departed soul and courage for the bereaved family members.

"I deeply condole the demise of Zakia Inam, former minister and former legislator from Tonk. While holding the post of former minister and MLA, she did many important works for the development of the state and region," Pilot, who represents Tonk seat in the assembly, tweeted.

Health Minister Raghu Sharma said Inam was active in solving grievances of people throughout her life and contributed significantly towards maintaining communal harmony along with social service.

Inam is survived by a daughter.

ALSO WATCH:
Reality star Kate Gosselin was accused of physically and emotionally abusing her son, zip-tying him to a chair, inventing bizarre and humiliating punishments and making him sleep in the basement, bombshell new report claims.

Multiple sources have told DailyMail.com that documents submitted to a court in Pennsylvania during the bitter custody battle between Kate and ex-husband Jon Gosselin allege that Collin Gosselin detailed the horrific abuse by his mother to a court appointed therapist.

Citing a December, 2018 report submitted to the Court of Common Pleas of Berks County, Pennsylvania the sources claim a certified traumatologist and counselor concluded that Collin was suffering from trauma and chronic PTSD.

The female expert claimed in the paperwork that after her third session with Collin, as a mandated reporter, she was duty bound to report the alleged abuse to Childline.

DailyMail.com has reached out to Collin's father Jon who confirmed the existence of the shocking report, but he said he's unable to comment.

Kate Gosselin, of Jon & Kate Plus 8, has been accused of physically and emotionally abusing her son Collin and zip-tying him to a chair

Citing a December 2018 report, the sources claim a certified traumatologist and counselor concluded that Collin was suffering from trauma and chronic PTSD

DailyMail.com reached out to Collin's father Jon who confirmed the existence of the shocking report, but he said he's unable to comment

In the past, however, the former Jon & Kate Plus 8 star has accused his ex wife of child abuse multiple times.

But only now - as the bitter row between Jon and Kate erupts once again with allegations flying in both directions - is the full shocking extent of the allegations of mental and physical abuse of their son at the hands of Kate coming to light.

Jon has full custody of Collin after fighting for him when he discovered Kate had sent him to a child and adolescent behavioral health facility in Pennsylvania for three years without informing his father.

The most recent claims come as Kate, who has only seen Colin twice in the past five years, slammed her ex who was wrongly accused of abusing his son following a recent altercation.

'Jon is a violent and abusive person,' Kate, 45, told People on Wednesday last week.

Kate claimed she was notified by the County of Berks, Pennsylvania Child & Youth Services that Jon was under active investigation over the incident.

'If this doesnt qualify as assault, I dont know what does,' the Kate Plus 8 star said of the alleged encounter.

On September 3, Collin posted on Instagram that his father was a 'liar' who 'beat' him.

'He punched me in the face and gave me a swollen nose and I started bleeding,' wrote the teenager. 'He then continued to kick me in the ribs after I was on the floor.'

The post was subsequently deleted.

DailyMail.com has since learned the incident was investigated but any claims were unfounded and the probe was dropped within 24 hours, according to a letter given to Jon.

Berks County District Attorney John Adams confirmed no charges or citations were issued as a result of the incident.

Collin Gosselin, 16, claimed in a now deleted Instagram post that his father Jon, 43, kicked and punched him during a violent altercation earlier this month

Jon has full custody of Collin (pictured together) after fighting for him when he discovered Kate had sent him to a child and adolescent behavioral health facility for three years

Jon told DailyMail.com that Kate's claim is untrue and Collin is troubled as a result of the trauma and PTSD he has suffered due to the abuse by his mother.

'I really didn't want to have to come out and talk about this for Collin's sake, but when Kate is in the media attacking me, calling me a child abuser, I have to defend myself. I love my son and I would never hurt him.'

Collin and Hannah live with Jon, while the other children stay with Kate

Sources close to the case say Kate's comments against Jon are outrageous given her track record of allegedly abusing Collin.

In a heartbreaking report by Collin's therapist, which the sources claim is in the documents submitted to the court, Collin told the therapist his mother treated him differently than his other siblings, removed him from playtimes with his brothers and sisters and often made him sleep in a closet or the basement away from his family.

Kate, sources claims, branded Collin a 'bad' child in need of punishment and the boy felt he was seen as not deserving of the same affection his siblings would receive because he was still talking to his father Jon.

It's understood the traumatologist conducted a number of psychological tests on Collin and diagnosed him with chronic PTSD brought about by trauma.

According to the sources in her report, the therapist documents Collin's statements that as he grew older his experiences with his mother were based on fear.

According to one source, Collin told the therapist that when he didn't behave he would be subjected to bizarre and outlandish punishments by Kate including having him zip-tied to a chair.

'The report says he perceived certain events as threats which the therapist said is a classic reaction to trauma and PTSD.'

The shocking report, the sources state, is indicative of someone who has been victimized, suffering from emotional and physical abuse, leaving them feeling increasingly powerless.

According to the report, the reality star also allegedly shamed and humiliated him over his behavior - emotional abuse that led to a deterioration in how he behaved in public and at school.

And Collin places the blame on his mother who was his primary caregiver at the time.

On Thursday Jon's ex-wife Kate waded in telling People magazine she had been notified by the County of Berks, Pennsylvania Child & Youth Services that Jon was under investigation over the incident. Pictured: Kate with her and Jon's children, twins Mady and Cara (back row); sextuplets Collin, Leah, Hannah (l-r middle row), Aaden, Joel and Alexis (l-r front row)

'Collin is facing many difficult issues and my dad is doing everything in his power to help him. My dad loves us and has never been abusive to us in any way,' his sister Hannah said in defense of her father. She and Collin are pictured together

DailyMail.com reached out to the law firm representing Kate and asked whether her attorney Colleen Norcross had any response to the allegations of abuse leveled at her client.

An assistant said: 'We cannot talk about that,' before hanging up the phone.

Another source close to the family said: 'Jon is a loving father who has never abused his son. He has done nothing but parent his children and attempt to stay out of the public eye for years.

'Jon has evidential medical proof that Collin's PTSD was caused by Kate's relentless physical and emotional abuse of him. It's a sad situation when a mother who has both physically and psychologically abused her son then sent him away and abandoned him, points the finger at the innocent parent.

'Jon has 100% legal and physical custody of Collin who now refuses to see his mother because of her long term abuse.'

According to DHS documents seen by DailyMail.com multiple allegations of suspected child abuse against Collin when he was in Kate's care were investigated.

But in follow up letters Jon was informed that the agency had determined the reports were 'unfounded' due to a lack of evidence.

Jon claims Kate didn't like Collin being 'difficult' and 'stubborn' as a young boy so sent him into care despite him having no known diagnosed medical condition other than common ADHD.

Last year DailyMail.com published a heartbreaking letter written by Collin while inside the facility revealing how the then 12-year-old boy pleaded with his dad to get him out, writing: 'You're my dad, my savior, please help me.'

The letter, written in crayon, also detailed allegations that Kate had been 'abusive' towards her son.

The three page note, dated June 21, 2017, was smuggled out of the institution by the boy's older roommate and passed to Jon.

Last year DailyMail.com published a heartbreaking letter written by Collin while inside the facility revealing how the then 12-year-old boy pleaded with his dad to get him out, writing: 'You're my dad, my savior, please help me'

Horrified, Jon immediately took steps to verify the letter and have his son removed from the facility.

The family source said: 'Jon had to fight to find Colin and remove him from the facility to care for him and love him.

'Kate visited Collin a total of two times in three years while he was in the facility.

'Since Jon had him released, Kate has never attempted to contact, Collin or even show up to his custody hearing.

'Instead, she has shunned him and told his siblings he is "crazy" and to do the same.'

Legally the warring couple had joint custody over their flock for years but after a long protracted court battle a judge decided the children should decide for themselves where they want to live. Collin has been living with his father full-time since February 2018, along with his sister Hannah. The other four sextuplets: Alexis, Aaden, Joel and Leah live with their mother Kate, while twins Mady and Cara, 19, are away at college.

Jon and Kate divorced in 2009 after 10 years of marriage, and found huge fame thanks to their reality series Jon & Kate Plus 8

In an interview with DailyMail.com last week Jon says he has been dealing with the fallout of Collin's PTSD since he left the behavioral health facility.

'Dealing with a child with mental health issues is taxing, I'm taxed,' the IT consultant admitted. 'But I love my son. I will not give up. I go to therapy, we all go to family therapy, to deal with having a son that has been traumatized and abused by his mother.

'It's very difficult for me. I'm trying to learn how to handle Collin, I have my own demons as well, but I never punched him or kicked him or anything like that.

Jon added: 'None of this is Collin's fault. He's 16. He's got a lot of issues to work through and we're here to help him.'

Jon and Kate divorced in 2009 after 10 years of marriage, and found huge fame thanks to their reality series Jon & Kate Plus 8.

The former couple first welcomed their twins in 2001; the sextuplets followed in 2004. Most recently Kate starred in the reality dating series, Kate Plus Date, in 2019.
President Donald Trump is pushing for the Senate to confirm his Supreme Court nominee before Election Day  but Senate Republican leaders are noncommittal.

After holding their first leadership meeting since the Friday death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, GOP leaders indicated the party has not reached consensus on the timing for filling the vacancy. The full 53-member GOP Conference meets on Tuesday afternoon.

And in interviews with more than a dozen Republican senators on Monday, just a few expressed a preference to jam through a nominee to replace Ginsburg before Nov. 3. Most viewed a preelection confirmation as exceedingly difficult, while a vote in the lame-duck session would give them more time.

We know that some confirmations have occurred in a relatively short period of time, Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, an ally of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, said as he emerged from a GOP leadership meeting. But theyre probably during times of maximum cooperation. I dont think theres going to be maximum cooperation.

It would be the new recent world record if the Senate confirmed Trumps yet-to-be-announced nominee before Nov. 3, added Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri, a member of the GOPs leadership team. Indeed, Senate Majority Whip John Thune (R-S.D.) confirmed on Monday that a decision hasnt yet been made, noting that GOP senators will meet in person on Tuesday to discuss a path forward.

But each scenario  confirming Ginsburgs replacement before the election or in the lame-duck session  carries serious political risks for McConnell and Republicans, who are already at risk of losing their majority in the November election. Voting before the election could electrify liberals  but voting after, particularly if Trump loses, would be a decision of historic controversy that could lead to questions of legitimacy for whoever is seated on the high court.

Still, McConnell reiterated his vow on Monday that the chamber will vote this year on Trumps nominee, but he was not specific on the timing.

Story continues

Were going to keep our word once again, McConnell declared. Were going to vote on this nomination on the floor.

It comes as several hard-line conservatives and Trump allies, including Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, are pushing Senate GOP leaders to hold a confirmation vote before Election Day. Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) similarly said on Monday that we ought to do it as soon as possible and Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) said it should happen expeditiously.

McConnell has already locked down support among key Republicans to hold the confirmation this year, including the cadre of GOP institutionalists and those facing uphill reelection fights.

Senate Judiciary Chair Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) indicated later Monday that he plans to move the nomination through the committee in time to vote before Election Day.

"We've got the votes to confirm Justice Ginsburg's replacement before the election," Graham said on Fox News Monday evening. "We're going to move forward in the committee, we're going to report the nominee out of committee to the floor of the United States Senate so we can vote before the election. That's the constitutional process."

Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), one of the most vulnerable incumbents, became the latest on Monday to back McConnell, writing in a statement: I have and will continue to support judicial nominees who will protect our Constitution, not legislate from the bench, and uphold the law. Should a qualified nominee who meets this criteria be put forward, I will vote to confirm.

Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) oppose moving forward with a nomination, meaning that McConnell can afford to lose only one more Republican in the 53-47 GOP-majority Senate. Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) has yet to reveal his position, as Democrats remain united that Ginsburgs replacement should not be considered until next year.

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, listens to Surgeon General Jerome Adams give an opening statement during a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing to discuss vaccines and protecting public health during the coronavirus pandemic on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020, in Washington. (Greg Nash/Pool via AP)

Well find out at lunch tomorrow what the plan is, but I think whats in play here is to have one set of rules that we consistently follow, Collins, who faced backlash for backing Brett Kavanaughs Supreme Court confirmation in 2018 and who is trailing in polls in Maine, said on Monday. In this case, were talking about 40 days before the election. So I believe we should wait and see who the winner of the election is.

An average Supreme Court confirmation process takes more than two months, and the election is 43 days away. And even if the full Senate or just the Judiciary Committee remained in session through October, it would deprive some of McConnells vulnerable incumbents of the opportunity to campaign in their home states in the final stretch.

I think it should take as long as it takes, and at the same time I dont think we should drag it out, Blunt said. I dont think we should have a barrier here that gets in the way of people feeling like this took as long as it needed to take.

Cornyn posited that whether it happens before or after the election is not the most important point.

Its sort of like a vaccine. Im for doing a vaccine when its safe and effective. But Im not for accelerating the process just to [accelerate it]. Id want to make sure we do it right and its a pretty big step, he said.

Other GOP senators have raised concerns about entering Election Day with eight justices on the high court, noting that the 2000 presidential election was decided by the Supreme Court.

But waiting until after the election could protect vulnerable incumbents, while using the forthcoming vote to turn out the conservative base on Nov. 3. If the vote is after the election, though, McConnell could have a slightly slimmer majority if Sen. Martha McSally (R-Ariz.) loses to her Democratic challenger, Mark Kelly. In that scenario, Kelly could be sworn in later in November instead of January because the race is a special election.

It gets too complicated after that with the variable in Arizona, and I think if the shoe were on the other foot there would be a quick process to get the thing done, said Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.).

Republicans dismissed concerns about confirming a nominee in the lame-duck period, though, if Trump loses reelection or Democrats win control of the Senate.

A lot of presidents have lost and had judges confirmed during the lame duck, Blunt said.

Regardless of when the confirmation vote occurs, McConnell said Monday the Senate has more than sufficient time to process the nomination, citing Justice John Paul Stevens confirmation process, which took just 19 days, and Ginsburgs, which lasted 42 days.

Trump said Monday he wants to unveil a nominee, who he says will be a woman, at the end of the week after Ginsburg is laid to rest. The president has floated several names, including Amy Coney Barrett and Barbara Lagoa, both of whom serve on the federal bench.

McConnell and Senate Republicans spent most of the day Monday rebutting charges of hypocrisy, given that they held up President Barack Obamas nominee to fill Justice Antonin Scalias seat eight months before the 2016 election but are moving forward with Trumps nominee less than six weeks before the 2020 election. Republicans say its different now because the GOP holds the White House and the Senate, unlike in 2016 when Republicans controlled the Senate and Obama was in the White House.

The American people are about to witness an astonishing parade of misrepresentations about the past, misstatements about the present, and more threats against our institutions, McConnell said.

Meanwhile, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden is appealing directly to Republicans who might still be undecided, pleading with them to follow their conscience. As the minority party in the Senate, Democrats have few, if any, procedural tactics at their disposal to delay or stop a Supreme Court nomination. And Biden has little sway over current Senate Republicans, most of whom did not serve with him in the chamber.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said McConnell is taking an utterly craven position and undertaking an exercise is raw political power.

Schumer said if McConnell moves forward, the Senate will never be the same and over the weekend threatened payback.

Tell me how this would not spell the end of this supposedly great deliberative body, he added. Because I dont see how.
Joseph R. Biden Jr. declined on Monday to say whether he would consider adding seats to the Supreme Court, sidestepping an idea being pushed by some progressives after the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

In an interview on Monday with WBAY, a Wisconsin television station, Mr. Biden was asked if he would consider adding justices to the court if President Trump succeeded in appointing a successor to Justice Ginsburg, Mr. Biden won the election and Democrats won the Senate.

Its a legitimate question, but let me tell you why Im not going answer that question, responded Mr. Biden, who had previously expressed opposition to expanding the court. Because it would shift all the focus. Thats what he wants. He never wants to talk about the issue at hand. He always tries to change the subject.

Instead, Mr. Biden said, the discussion should be about why he is moving in a direction thats totally inconsistent with what the founders wanted. The former vice president added that filling the seat now, as votes are already being cast, would be a fundamental breach of constitutional principle.
Struggling businesses are set to miss out on JobKeeper from next week - causing two million workers to lose their wage subsidies and potentially their jobs.

Australia's economy is already in recession for the first in 29 years, after coronavirus shutdowns caused a record plunge in economic activity.

Since the pandemic began in March, the number of jobs across Australia has plunged by a national average pace of 4.5 per cent, official payroll data released on Tuesday revealed.

In Victoria, the tally of jobs have plummeted by an even more dramatic 8.3 per cent over six months - a level more than double the 3.7 per cent decline in neighbouring New South Wales and the 3.1 per cent drop in Queensland.

Melbourne, Australia's second biggest city, has been placed into a strict, Stage Four lockdown since August 2 with an 8pm to 5am curfew.

Struggling businesses are set to miss out on JobKeeper from next week - causing two million workers to lose their wage subsidies and potentially their jobs. From September 28, JobKeeper will cover 1.4million workers instead of 3.5million. Pictured is Melbourne's Chadstone Shopping Centre during the Stage Four lockdown in the Victorian capital

Despite that economic carnage, the number of workers across Australia eligible to receive JobKeeper wage subsidies from their employer will plunge from 3.5million to 1.4million from September 28.

Australia's COVID-19 jobs carnage by state VICTORIA: Down 8.3 per cent NEW SOUTH WALES: Down 3.7 per cent QUEENSLAND: Down 3.1 per cent SOUTH AUSTRALIA: Down 2.7 per cent WESTERN AUSTRALIA: Down 0.9 per cent TASMANIA: Down 4.3 per cent NORTHERN TERRITORY: Down 2 per cent AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY: Down 4.5 per cent AUSTRALIA AVERAGE: Down 4.5 per cent Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics payroll jobs data showing the changes between March 14 and September 5 Advertisement

That will see more than two million people lose JobKeeper as a flat $1,500 a fortnight payment is replaced with a $1,200 subsidy for those who work 20 hours or more.

Part-time workers putting in fewer hours will be eligible for just $750.

JobKeeper is being phased out completely in March with the October 6 budget reportedly ruling out another extension.

Making matters worse, businesses receiving JobKeeper 2.0 will be required to demonstrate their Goods and Services Tax turnover had plunged by 30 per cent in the September quarter of 2020 compared with the same three months in 2019.

Tax agent H&R Block's director of tax communications Mark Chapman said this would see many small businesses miss out, even if they had suffered a sharp revenue fall, putting jobs at risk.

'That could jeopardise the survival of many businesses because if, for example, they only show a 20 per cent fall, that is significant enough to make many small businesses non-viable, but not significant enough to qualify for JobKeeper,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

'At the very least, many affected businesses will let go of staff over the next few weeks as they can no longer afford to keep them on the books.'

Since JobKeeper debuted in April, 928,864 businesses have qualified for a wage subsidy.

Sydney's city centre, the home of struggling cafes, had 10,948 businesses receive JobKeeper while Melbourne's central business district had 7,165 firms propped up with a taxpayer subsidy.

While these businesses are set to continue receiving JobKeeper, the likes of suburban shops are likely to miss out by virtue of having revenue falls of less than 30 per cent.

Sydney's city centre, the home of struggling cafes, had 10,948 businesses receive JobKeeper

Small business accountant Ben Johnston, a director of Johnston Advisory, said stricter JobKeeper 2.0 rules would be devastating for the economy and would hurt the construction sector which didn't need help in March. Pictured is a Melbourne building site in September

Small business accountant Ben Johnston, a director of Johnston Advisory, said stricter JobKeeper 2.0 rules would be devastating for the economy - following a record seven per cent plunge in Australia's gross domestic product during the June quarter.

THE JOBKEEPER RED ZONES BY POSTCODE SYDNEY (2000): 10,948 businesses MELBOURNE (3000): 7,165 businesses LIVERPOOL, SYDNEY'S SOUTH-WEST (2170): 4,293 businesses CRANBOURNE, MELBOURNE'S SOUTH-EAST (3977): 3,134 businesses BAULKHAM HILLS, SYDNEY'S NORTH-WEST (2153): 3,096 businesses BANKSTOWN, SYDNEY'S SOUTH-WEST (2200): 2,505 businesses ROUSE HILL, SYDNEY'S NORTH-WEST (2155): 2,333 businesses CROWS NEST, SYDNEY NORTH SHORE (2065): 2,126 businesses CHATSWOOD, SYDNEY NORTH SHORE (2067): 2,090 businesses Source: Treasury Advertisement

'It's going to have an alarming, a huge impact on the economy,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

'We've got people that are heavily reliant on it for their businesses to support employment which is now going to be taken away from them.'

The tighter rules would be particularly devastating for dine-in restaurants, with social distancing rules limiting the number of customers allowed inside.

A reduction JobKeeper subsidies would also mean less money for workers to spend going out.

'A lot of the suburban restaurants, where people are now eating out, what I can't understate is the economy has been ticking over on artificial money,' Mr Johnston said.

Adding to those woes, Australia's 1.45million JobSeeker recipients will have their unemployment benefits, as of September 25, reduced from $1,115.70 a fortnight to $815.70 as the temporary coronavirus supplement is halved from $550 to $250.

Under the new JobKeeper wage subsidy rules, companies only qualify if they were in financial strife at the start of the pandemic in March.

Mr Johnston, who has been an accountant for 24 years, said construction firms that didn't need JobKeeper the first time around were particularly vulnerable now as an economic slowdown belatedly reduced demand for home renovations.

'Every construction client that I'm talking about is really, really worried about that impact leading into Christmas,' he said.

'People are unsure about job retention and people are getting made redundant.

Adding to those woes, Australia's 1.45million JobSeeker recipients will have their unemployment benefits, as of September 25, reduced from $1,115.70 a fortnight to $815.70 as the temporary coronavirus supplement is halved from $550 to $250. Pictured is a Gold Coast Centrelink queue in March

'The construction industry didn't feel it at the start because home owners had pre-approved construction loans and builders were on site so they kept working away through coronavirus because they had access to money.'

JOBS FALSE DAWN Unemployment rate fell from a 22-year high of 7.5 per cent in July to 6.8 per cent in August Participation rate rose from 64.7 per cent to 64.8 per cent Number employed rose by 111,000 to 12,583,400 Jobless ranks fell by 86,500 with women making up 55,000 or 64 per cent of those Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics Advertisement

H&R Block said companies that sold their assets to meet cash flow challenges may also have trouble qualifying for JobKeeper 2.0.

'Businesses need to include sales of capital assets - like plant and machinery, fixtures and fittings - in turnover for the purposes of the 30 per cent test,' Mr Chapman said.

'Some businesses have been forced to sell off their assets to survive  they will now be penalised because the proceeds of those sales will be included in their turnover, meaning that they may not qualify for JobKeeper.'

Australia's unemployment rate fell from a 22-year high of 7.5 per cent in July to 6.8 per cent in August, as 111,000 new jobs were created.

The fall in the jobless rate, however, was more the product of more retrenched people declaring themselves to be self employed - and therefore not being classified as unemployed.

Westpac senior economist Justin Smirk said the latest payrolls data, based on tax office figures, showed sectors that had previously weathered the coronavirus shutdowns were now shedding staff.

'The downtrend continues in Victoria while the job losses in NSW have broadened out to sectors not affected by the earlier lockdown,' he said.
The founder of fast-growing Grunt Style, a military-themed clothing brand headquartered in San Antonio, claims hes been cast out of the company.

Daniel Alarik, who started Grunt Style in 2009 and served as its CEO until June 2019, said Monday in a Gofundme post that the company recently fired him. Hes seeking online contributions for his familys mounting health care expenses.

I was terminated from the company that my wife and I founded and led for 10 plus years, Grunt Style, he said in the post. We were devastated and shocked.

The company, which bills itself as a lifestyle brand for military veterans, first responders and their supporters, moved its headquarters to San Antonio from Chicago in 2018. Turbulent times followed for Alarik.

Google Earth

Unexpectedly in 2019, we had an outside partner come into the business, which forced me to be removed from the CEO position, and I lost control of the company that we started, he wrote. Everything we had was invested into Grunt Style. But now we were left with no money, a minority equity and just an employment contract.

The company named Glenn Silbert, an apparel industry veteran and University of Texas alum, chief executive in February.

Company officials, however, said Alarik remains part of the company.

Daniel still plays a leading role at Grunt Style as the chairman of the board and holds significant equity in the company even though he no longer runs the day-to-day operations and has not done so since June 2019, a company spokesperson said. We are working through this matter directly with him and respect his privacy as we do with all employees of Grunt Style.

Google

According to Alarik, the new leadership and partners dismissed him, offering no reasons for the action that he claims left him jobless and without income or health care coverage.

I filed for unemployment while I look actively for work, and Ill do anything that can help feed and support my family during this time, he wrote. Theres no shame in any work that provides for your family.

Alarik, a former Army drill sergeant, started selling patriotic and military-themed t-shirts from the trunk of his car. He built the business with his wife, Elizabeth, into a multi-million-dollar company.

We have taken the fighting American spirit and instilled it in everything we do, Grunt Styles website says. You do not have to be a veteran to wear Grunt Style, but you do have to love freedom, bacon and whiskey.

With sales in excess of $100 million, nearly 400 employees and more than 2 million social media followers, Grunt Style is famous for its apparel emblazoned with American flags, crossed muskets and in-your-face slogans.

We are left with very little and need help with Lizs fight for continued cancer treatment and one of our sons special needs, he wrote in his Gofundme post. We are responsible for 100% of the medical coverage and need help.

Alarik remained optimistic as his family battles health and employment hardship.

I have no doubt that well be back on our feet someday. But that might take some time, he wrote. In the meantime, what matters to me the most is my family. Thats something that I hope can never be taken away.

Alarik wrote that hes not here to tell you to not buy from our old company, quite the contrary, there are good people there still.

With his massive social media following, the announcement spread fast. Hundreds of people showed their support for the Alarik family across social media platforms.

This is devastating, Dane Peters wrote on Facebook. Youve been a huge inspiration to myself and my team. I dont have a single doubt you will be back on top even higher than before.

Few mentions of Alarik remain on Grunt Styles website.

Alarik did not respond to requests for comment.

Brandon Lingle writes for the Express-News through Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms. To read more from Brandon, become a subscriber. brandon.lingle@express-news.net | Twitter: @Brandlingle
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 04:37:10|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Tuesday spoke out for the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, calling on the United Nations to work to eradicate racism.

"The year 2020 will be remembered for the massive groundswell to push back the frontiers of racism under the umbrella #BlackLivesMatter movement," Ramaphosa told the General Debate of the UN General Assembly.

"As a country that has known too well the anguish of institutionalized racism, South Africa supports the demands for swift action against racism, whether committed by individuals, companies, officials, or a state," he said. "South Africa calls on the United Nations to spare no effort to end prejudice and intolerance in all its forms and whatever and wherever it is found."

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere," he quoted the words of Martin Luther King Jr., the American civil rights icon.

The BLM movement surged around the world again earlier this year following the killing of George Floyd by a police officer in Minneapolis, the United States.

In his pre-recorded speech, Ramaphosa also called for solidarity to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic. "If we are to build a common and inclusive future in the aftermath of COVID-19, it is this solidarity that must endure," he said.

He called for efforts to mitigate climate change, reduce poverty and inequality, and silence the guns. He also called for Security Council reform and the empowerment of women and girls.

"As the founders of the UN stood at a crossroads in 1945, so do we 75 years later. They answered history's call to craft a new order for a world in crisis. Today we battle the fires of a deadly pandemic, of racism and prejudice, of violence, war and extremism -- and above all, of poverty and inequality," he said. "The order we seek to build must be rooted in solidarity, equality, and unity of purpose."

Ramaphosa said COVID-19 has presented the world with a choice. It is a choice between the global cooperation envisaged in the UN Charter, or the pursuit of narrow self-interest and unilateralism. It is a choice between tolerance, or prejudice. It is also a choice between economic justice, or growing inequality.

"The path we choose now will determine our collective destiny. Though we face the most daunting of prospects, we have at our disposal the most potent force. It is the solidarity and friendship upon which the United Nations was founded," he said.

"When history faithfully records the global response to the worst health emergency of this century, let it be said that we stood and acted as one, that we provided leadership, and that we gave the peoples of all nations hope and courage. The best and most fitting legacy of this 75th session will be that through our actions, we gave true meaning to the term, United Nations," Ramaphosa said. Enditem
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 21)  President Rodrigo Duterte will address the United Nations General Assembly this week, where he is expected to give his take on hot issues like the war on drugs and the Philippines' territorial row with China.

Chief of Presidential Protocol Robert Borje said Monday that Duterte will be joining the global body's 75th general debate this week, which will be held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This is the President's first time to face the UNGA during his term, as he refused previous opportunities to fly to New York.

READ: Duterte to ask United Nations to self-reflect in General Assembly debut

"President Duterte will articulate principled positions of the Philippines on a wide range of issues. I do not want to preempt the President but these are the ones of key importance to the country," Borje added. "That would be the global response to the coronavirus pandemic, peace and security  including terrorism and geopolitical developments in the Asia Pacific, sustainable development and climate change, the rule of law, justice and human rights, including the situation of migrants workers and refugees, as well as peacekeeping and United Nations reforms."

READ: UN rights chief says Duterte drug war without regard for due process, human rights

Borja said Duterte was convinced to speak before the UN given the "intensity and the urgency" needed to address global issues. "The President realizes that the Philippines cannot handle it alone, and the United Nations is the world's biggest platform where one country can articulate a country's principled positions on many issues," he added to explain why Duterte chose to join this year's proceedings.

Duterte is expected to tackle controversial issues like alleged human rights violations in the local drug war, as well the Philippines' territorial row with China in the West Philippine Sea, a portion of the South China Sea where Manila and Beijng have overlapping claims, Borje indicated.

RELATED: PH bares ongoing talks for joint human rights program with UN

Asked if Duterte will be more assertive of the Philippine position on the West Philippine Sea  which is backed by the ruling of an arbitral tribunal in The Hague  he said he does not know how strong the President's statement would be.

When asked if the Philippines will raise concerns on the seeming battle between the United States and China for alliances in the region over what Washington sees as Beijing's bullying in the South China Sea, Borje said "the President will be able to address that."

"As I said, the President will articulate the Philippines' principled positions on peace and security which includes terrorism and geopolitical developments in Asia and the Pacific," he added.

RELATED: UN sounds alarm on PH's 'highly militarized' lockdown response

The debates will be led by Turkish diplomat Volkan Bozkir, the new president of the assembly.

Duterte will be the 12th speaker on the first day of the assembly, which starts tomorrow at 9 p.m. Manila time. Other world leaders, including those from the United States, China, and Russia, will be among the first set of speakers during the five-day exchange.

Duterte earlier said he will raise the issue on the territorial row and the 2016 arbitral tribunal ruling that junked Beijing's sweeping claims in the South China Sea "at the right time."

Legal experts, including retired Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, said Manila should take up the matter before the UNGA so that the arbitral award may be enforced. However, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro "Teddy Boy" Locsin, Jr. has said this could be futile and may even risk an overturn of the landmark victory.

"We will leave it to the people to judge how strong the President's statement will be," Borje added.

Duterte's irritation towards the UN grew after rapporteurs and other member-states have criticized his administration's bloody war on drugs, even threatening to pull out of the organization and releasing expletives against those who criticize the human rights situation in the Philippines. He sent representatives from the Cabinet to attend previous high-level meetings in his stead.

RELATED: Duterte admin objects, condemns UN Council's resolution on PH drug war killings

Meanwhile, Borje said the looming revocation of the Philippines' trade and tariff-free perks to the European Union is something left for the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Trade and Industry to discuss. He noted, however, that the EU Parliament and the EU Commission  the former behind the push for trade sanctions against Manila  are two different bodies in the regional economic bloc.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 17:33:05|Editor: huaxia

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ISLAMABAD, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- A Pakistani soldier was killed in firing from across the Afghan border, the Pakistani military said on Tuesday.

An army statement said that the firing from the Afghan side of the bilateral border on a security forces' post in Bajaur tribal district in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province late Monday night killed one soldier.

"Pakistan has been consistently raising the issue for border management on the other side to avoid use of Afghanistan soil against Pakistan," the statement from the army's media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations said.

The outlawed Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement sent to local media.

Pakistani security officials have long been saying that militants have crossed border into Afghanistan as a result of major operations in the country's tribal regions. The militants routinely attack the border posts from the Afghan side.

Pakistan and Afghanistan have a nearly 2,600-km border, mostly porous. Pakistan is fencing the border with Afghanistan to block the movement of the militants. Enditem
New Delhi:

Fight erupted between two groups after a car collided with another one on Tuesday in Welcome area of Delhi.

A car rammed into footpath where a man named Waqar has kept his goods and materials. Soon after that Waqar started beating the driver of car which collided with footpath. The incident got uglier when supporters of car driver got involved.

The fight got even worse when onlookers also got involved leading to injury to many people.

Now it is alleged that a man named Waqar has done encroachment in footpath where he has placed some goods.

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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Simply not getting enough validation on social media can increase depression and anxiety, especially in the most vulnerable populations for whom these platforms may contribute to a cycle of rejection.

In a new paper published in Child Development, a large, multi-institution team led by researchers at The University of Texas at Austin employed an experimental social media task over three studies to explore the psychological effects of receiving insufficient positive feedback online.

Study participants helped test drive a new program that allowed them to create a profile and interact with same-age peers by viewing and "liking" one another's profiles. Likes received were tallied, and a ranking of the various profiles displayed them in order of most to least liked. In actuality, likes were assigned by computer scripts. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either few likes or many likes relative to the other displayed profiles. In a post-task questionnaire, students in the fewer likes group reported more feelings of rejections and other negative emotions than those who received more likes.

"So much of the research on social media and mental health uses survey methods, but we know that correlation does not guarantee causation," said David Yeager, co-author of the study and associate professor of psychology at UT Austin.

"This study is an important scientific advance because it uses an experiment, and it shows that not getting enough 'likes' actually causes adolescents to reduce their feelings of self-worth," Yeager said, adding that study participants were notified after the study that the feedback they received was controlled by a computer program.

A second study using the same experimental task found that adolescents with the strongest negative reaction to receiving insufficient likes were also more likely to experience symptoms of depression and had higher sensitivity to daily stressors.

"Adolescents with less self-worth are at higher risk for depression," said Chris Beevers, co-author of the study and professor of psychology at UT Austin who leads the Institute for Mental Health Research. "Feedback from peers is an important source of information that shapes how adolescents view themselves."

A third study showed that students who had been victimized by their peers at school had the most negative reactions to receiving fewer likes and also had the greatest propensity to attribute this deficiency of likes to flaws in their own character. Social status comes into sharp focus during the teenage years of human development, and adolescents are acutely aware of their relative popularity even in the absence of explicitly negative feedback.

"This study helps us understand the power of peer approval and social status during adolescence," said the study's lead author Hae Yeon Lee, who is now a postdoctoral researcher at Stanford University.

The authors note that social media has the potential to exacerbate feelings of rejection and inadequacy in adolescents, as those lowest on the popularity hierarchy may come to social media hoping to receive the validation denied to them in their daily lives only to experience the same disappointment of not measuring up to their peers.

"These results are striking, in part, because the adolescents aren't getting bullied or harassed; they're just not getting 'liked' as much as they want to be," Yeager said. "And that's leading them to show symptoms of depression."

More information: Hae Yeon Lee et al. Getting Fewer Likes Than Others on Social Media Elicits Emotional Distress Among Victimized Adolescents, Child Development (2020). Journal information: Child Development Hae Yeon Lee et al. Getting Fewer Likes Than Others on Social Media Elicits Emotional Distress Among Victimized Adolescents,(2020). DOI: 10.1111/cdev.13422
No casualties were reported in the past day.

Ukraine has reported three violations of the latest ceasefire by Russia-controlled armed groups in the Donbas warzone on Monday, September 21.

"In the past day, September 21, the Russian Federation's armed formations violated the July 22 ceasefire agreements three times," the press center of Ukraine's Joint Forces Operation (JFO) Command wrote on Facebook in an update as of 07:00 Kyiv time on September 22, 2020.

Read alsoIssue of peacekeepers in Donbas still on the agenda  ReznikovIn particular, the enemy used rifles and a grenade launcher near the town of Maryinka. Another ceasefire violation with the use of rifles was recorded near the village of Vodiane.

The Joint Forces did not return fire.

No casualties were reported in the past day.

Since Tuesday midnight, no attacks by Russian Federation's armed formations have been recorded, the JFO HQ said.

The situation is under full control of the Ukrainian military.

Donbas ceasefire: background
Slamming the state government for not supporting farmers in their fight against three agriculture ordinances that were passed in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, Lok Insaaf Partys (LIP) president, Simarjeet Singh Bains said that chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh should have led a march to Delhi where all the like-minded parties and farmer bodies would follow the path.

Addressing a meeting of LIP supporters in Dugri area on Tuesday, Bains said that on Wednesday his party would be organising a motorcycle rally from Fatehgarh Sahib to the Parliament in Delhi, where a protest would be staged.

Bains said, Captain Amarinder Singh had said that he is not in favour of the bills so he should come on streets and lead all the like-minded parties to protest against the Union government. We will not end our agitation until the ordinances are rolled back.

Bains also slammed Shiromani Akali Dal and former Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal for befooling farmers by resigning from the cabinet. Bains said that resignation is just an eyewash and SAD still stands with the BJP government.

SAD to block traffic on Friday

Former cabinet minister and senior SAD leader Maheshinder Singh Grewal said that the agriculture ordinances will not be beneficial for farmers and the nation. To oppose the ordinances and support farmers, SAD will hold protests and block traffic for three hours on September 25, he said.

Grewal said that they have chalked out a strategy to oppose the ordinances and will hold protests which will force the government to change its decision.

Youth Akali Dal district president Gurdeep Singh Gosha said that following the call of party president they have assigned the duties for protest. He said that earlier, the party president had opposed the ordinance in Lok Sabha and now the party will come out on streets to stand with farmers.
Nick Cleggs salary was halved when he lost his position as Deputy Prime Minister, falling from 134,565 to 67,060, but he may yet save himself the embarrassment of having to shop at Lidl instead of Waitrose. He has been signed up as a corporate speaker by Leading Authorities, a Washington-based agency.

The accompanying blurb says that he occupied the second-highest office in the country at a time when the United Kingdom was recovering from a deep recession, adding: Despite the hugely controversial decisions  Nick Clegg successfully maintained his partys support for a full five-year term of office. The agency tactfully omits any detail of what finally became of the Lib Dems under Cleggs leadership.

If you want to hire him as your after-dinner speaker, he is yours for 35,000. Two engagements a year, and his income is back where it was.

Uncertainty over Badawi

Stewart McDonald, MP for Glasgow South, has written to Tobias Ellwood, a Foreign Office minister, asking him to explain his mystifying claim in the Commons this week that the case of the Saudi blogger Raif Badawi is under review by the Saudi Supreme Court. Badawis family believed the court had ruled against him and that there is an imminent risk of his public flogging being resumed.

McDonald, who raised the Badawi case in Parliament, is asking that Ellwood either elaborate, or correct the record if he mis-spoke. The Foreign Office insists the minister did not mislead the Commons, but will not say any more. One day, hopefully, we will know what is happening to this brave man who faces being publicly tortured, possibly to death, for his opinions.

Spin doctor struck off

Billy Luffingham, who was the Green Partys campaign director, has quietly quit. He made the announcement on Twitter several days ago.

Mysteriously, there was no reaction: no one wished him luck. That silence may arise from the fact that one of his roles was media training the party leader Natalie Bennett, whose most memorable media appearance was on LBC, when she suffered an excruciating brain freeze.

After that incident, Luffingham sent for outside help to prepare her for the second TV leaders debate. His choice was Stephen Pritchard, whose full-time job is director of drama at Colstons, a 13,000-a-year private school in Bristol. Luffingham is an old boy of the school. So is his national campaigns assistant, Zak Bond. It was said that Colstons is to the Greens what Eton is to the Tories.

The young and the restless

That very authoritative tome, The Times Guide to the House of Commons 2015, is out, and I read in it that Jack Dromey, Labour MP for Birmingham Erdington, and husband of Harriet Harman, was born on 21 April 1964. Dromey became famous as the organiser of a strike at a London factory called Grunwick, in 1977. What a precocious 13-year-old he must have been! Other sources say he was born in 1948.

The grass is always greener...

There is an old argument about how the Hertfordshire town of Hemel Hempstead got its name. It is a very old name, predating the Norman conquest. One theory is that the hemp bit refers to the plant from which cannabis is derived. This is a source of great amusement for those campaigning for cannabis to be legalised, because the MP for Hemel Hempstead, Mike Penning, is also the Home Office minister in charge of drugs policy.

Parliament has broken up for the summer, and I am taking a break. This column will reappear in the autumn.
Traditional trick-or-treating and indoor costume parties are among Halloween activities deemed high risk by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The guidelines posted Monday night cover a wide range of fall holidays including Halloween and Thanksgiving. Activities are separated into three different risk groups: Low, moderate and high.

Many traditional Halloween activities can be high-risk for spreading viruses. There are several safer, alternative ways to participate in Halloween, the notice reads. If you may have COVID-19 or you may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, you should not participate in in-person Halloween festivities and should not give out candy to trick-or-treaters.

Note: Many cities in Michigan are telling residents to trick-or-treat at their own risk since the practice is not a formal event organized by community leadership in most cases.

Here is a look at CDC risk levels for several popular fall activities:

High risk (should be avoided)

High risk activities include traditional trick-or-treating, trunk-or-treating, attending crowded, indoor costume parties, going to indoor haunted houses where people may be crowded together and screaming and going on hayrides or tractor rides with people who are not in your household.

The CDC also notes that using alcohol or drugs can cloud judgement and increase risky behaviors.

Traveling to a rural fall festival that is not in your community if you live in an area with community spread of COVID-19 is also considered high risk by the CDC.

Moderate risk

The CDC deems so-called one-way trick-or-treating in which individually wrapped goodie bags are lined up for families to grab as moderate risk.

Also, moderately risky is having a small group, outdoor, open-air costume parade where people are distanced more than 6 feet apart or attending a costume party held outdoors where protective masks are used and people can remain more than 6 feet apart.

Speaking of masks, a costume mask (such as for Halloween) is not a substitute for a cloth mask, according to the CDC, and they should not be used unless it is made of two or more layers of breathable fabric that covers the mouth and nose and doesnt leave gaps around the face.

Going to an open-air, one-way, walk-through haunted forest, or visiting a pumpkin patch or orchard is also considered a moderate risk.

If screaming will likely occur, greater distancing is advised. The greater the distance, the lower the risk of spreading a respiratory virus, the CDC noted.

Low risk (encouraged as safe alternatives)

It doesnt have to be all doom and gloom this Halloween. Safe activities include carving or decorating pumpkins with members of your household and displaying them, carving or decorating pumpkins outside, at a safe distance, with neighbors or friends or decorating your house, apartment, or living space.

Doing a Halloween scavenger hunt where children are given lists of Halloween-themed things to look for while they walk outdoors from house to house is also encouraged, as is having a virtual Halloween costume contest or having a Halloween movie night with people you live with.
Peddler-supplier-consumer: NCB seeks help from international agencies in Sushant Singh case

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Sep 22: Several A-listers from Bollywood have come under the scanner of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), which is investigating the drug angle in film actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death.

The NCB has sought the help of agencies from various countries to find out more about the drug flow into India and particularly Mumbai. Sources tell OneIndia that apart from gathering evidence on those who consume hard drugs such as methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine, it is also important to unearth the supply chain.

Drug nexus in Bollywood: NCB raids 7 locations in Mumbai, Goa; agency to send summons to 25 celebs

In 2019, the NCB had registered a case based on a report filed in Australia about the flow of drugs. It was found that 300 kilograms of cocaine had landed in Mumbai in 2018. This came to light when a probe in Australia was launched to investigate the seizure of 55 kilograms of cocaine in the country. It was found that in all, 1,200 kilograms of cocaine had landed in India of which 300 kgs reached Mumbai alone.

The NCB has sought the help of agencies in Canada, Australia, US and UK in a bid to unearth the supply chain. Many actors from the industry are on the radar of the agency.

However, the NCB would dig deeper to unearth the complete supply chain which would begin with the supplier, peddler and up to the consumer.

The NCB would also summon a person from Punjab and this would help the agency detail the supply chain. Investigations in the past have shown that a majority of cocaine lands in India through the Columbia-Mozambique route. In the case of heroin, smugglers have used the Punjab route from Pakistan. They have also used the sea route from Gujarat.

#Tesla 'secretly planning' R&D Centre in #Bengaluru? | Oneindia News

It is a well-known fact that Pakistan has always used drug money to fund terror. The ISI has for long used the D-Syndicate to carry out the drug trade. This syndicate is very familiar with the terrain as a result of which they are able to push the drugs into India easily.

Further, the D-Syndicate has been told to cough up 30 per cent of its earnings from drug money to the ISI and this in turn is used to fund terror.
TYSONS, Va., Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- PenFed Credit Union, the nation's second-largest federal credit union, today proudly announced it was named a "Top 50 Best Company for Latinas to Work" by LATINA Style Inc. for the second year in a row. The annual list evaluates corporations on issues deemed most important to LATINA Style readers and includes Latina promotions, recruitment and retention, increase in the number of Latina employees at the company and veteran and military personnel programs. PenFed moved up in the rankings this year to 27 from its previously ranking of 32 in 2019.

"We are honored to again be recognized for our efforts in continuing to advance Latinas at PenFed and in the communities we serve," said PenFed Credit Union President/CEO and PenFed Foundation CEO James Schenck. "Our Latina employees are a tremendous asset to our workforce and help us provide best-in-class service for our more than 300,000 Spanish-speaking members."

PenFed operates a Bilingual Service Center in Fort Hood, Texas and currently employs bilingual service agents throughout the United States and Puerto Rico to field the approximately 15% of Spanish-language member service calls received. In addition to creating over 300 jobs for Spanish speakers across America, PenFed donated $150,000 through a partnership with EVERFI to teach students in Puerto Rico financial literacy in private and public high schools throughout the island. PenFed also donated $100,000 to the Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to further their mission of facilitating the success of Latino and other minority-owned businesses in the region.

After the devastation of Hurricane Maria, PenFed invested $8 million to open new facilities in Puerto Rico and rebuild the local economy. An additional PenFed financial service center opened in Ponce in September 2020.

PenFed donates 2% of its annual net income to charitable organizations, including many that improve the lives of Latinas.

About PenFed Credit Union

Established in 1935, Pentagon Federal Credit Union (PenFed) is America's second-largest federal credit union, serving over 2.1 million members worldwide with over $26 billion in assets. PenFed Credit Union offers market-leading certificates, checking, credit cards, personal loans, mortgages, auto loans, student loans, and a wide range of other financial services. Our mission is to empower members of our community to achieve their financial well-being. PenFed Credit Union is federally insured by the NCUA and is an Equal Housing Lender. To learn more about PenFed Credit Union, visit PenFed.org, like us on Facebook and follow us @PenFed on Twitter. Interested in working for PenFed? Check us out on LinkedIn. We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

SOURCE PenFed Credit Union

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Actor Brian Cox has leapt to JK Rowling's defence in the author's transgender debate and criticised the so-called 'Cancel Culture'.

The Scottish Succession star, 74, revealed he was out of the loop with the Harry Potter writer's widely publicised debate on menstruation and the transgender community after she shared her controversial opinions on Twitter in June.

When Cox was brought up to speed by his son, who explained the author tweeted about the phrase 'people who menstruate' instead of women, he exclaimed 'for Christ's sake!'

In today's Reader's Digest magazine, the Emmy winning actor said: 'Call something what it is, as opposed to something that you think it should be. And it is - it's the cancel culture. I keep well away from it.'

Scottish actor Brian Cox, 74, slammed 'cancel culture' in a new interview and defended JK Rowling in er transgender row, saying there's nothing wrong with saying 'women menstruate'

Explaining his stance to the magazine, he said: 'I was asking my son because I'd been away when this J.K Rowling thing had been going on.

'I kept saying "so what happened?", He said "well, she believes women menstruate".

'That's what they do, don't they? He said "well, people don't like that" and you go "oh, for Christ's sake!"'

In June, Rowling, 55, came under fire from the LGBTQ+ community and critics, including Harry Potter actors, when she tweeted opinions about the community.

Earlier this year, JK Rowling shared her controversial opinions on Twitter and tweeted about the use of the phrase 'people who menstruate' instead of women. Pictured, attending the 70th EE British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA) at Royal Albert Hall on February 12, 2017 in London

She said: 'I'm sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?'

Rowling's controversial tweet 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.

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.

In the controversial tweet, the author penned: 'I'm sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?' (pictured)

'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.

She was also accused last week of being Islamaphobic after an extract of her 2014 crime novel The Silkworm was shared to Twitter.

Rowling sparked outrage from LGBT charities following her controversial words and even Harry Potter actors condemned her following the incident in June (Pictured, Rupert GRint, JK Rowling, Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson at the world premier of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone)

The Edinburgh-based author, who writes the Cormoran Strike books under the male pseudonym Robert Galbraith, wrote a passage in the second book of the series where detectives suggest that a 'woman in a burqa' fed a murder victim 'halal takeaway' before death.

In recent weeks, the 'Harry Potter' creator told how 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.

Following the row, JK Rowling returned her Robert F Kennedy Ripple of Hope honour after Kerry Kennedy said the writer's outspoken views on gender 'diminished the identity' (pictured together)

'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.

'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.'

Brian Cox's latest film The Bay of Silence will be released on Monday, September 28.
A Shelby County man has filed a federal class action lawsuit against grocery chain The Fresh Market saying that the company does not provide federally-mandated nutritional information on its baked goods.

Joe Myhand, a resident of Shelby County who filed the lawsuit, usually shops at The Fresh Market location on U.S. 280. According to the 34-page lawsuit, the prepackaged containers of bakery goods he bought from the Fresh Markets bakery department do not give information mandated by the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act, which requires foods to bear labeling with nutrient content.

The products - cookies and muffins, according to exhibits in the lawsuit - came in containers without labels showing calories, carbohydrates and other nutritional information. The suit seeks damages for all Americans who have bought baked goods at The Fresh Market, contending that by not providing the information, the goods are misleading" consumers with misbranded food.

Despite being notified of their nutrition labeling requirements, Fresh Market has continued to skirt their legal obligation to the law and to the American public, the lawsuit states. The manner that Fresh Market places their bakery products for sale is important in defining its responsibility. Fresh Market has not to date placed either the old nutrition label or the new label on their subject bakery goods.

Fresh Market, based in North Carolina, did not immediately respond to requests for a comment.
Deputy head of the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs International Cooperation Department Ha Thi Minh Duc (Source: VNA)

Hanoi - The 15th virtual ASEAN GO-NGO Forum on Social Welfare and Development took place on September 21.

The annual event is held within the framework of the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Social Welfare and Development (SOMSWD).



Themed Strengthening Family Resilience and Solidarity: Braving the Adversity and Adapting to the New Normal, it is part of efforts by the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community to battle COVID-19.



Addressing the event, deputy head of the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs International Cooperation Department Ha Thi Minh Duc said COVID-19 has posed many socio-economic and medical challenges across the globe.



The pandemic has also dealt a blow to the lives of people, especially women, children, and families, she added.



More than 30 million Vietnamese have been affected by the disease and incomes have slumped 57 percent. Earnings from agriculture at half of families in rural areas are down 38 percent, while garment-textile is among the hardest-hit sectors.



In addition to curbing the spread of COVID-19, the Vietnamese Government and relevant agencies have rolled out a number of measures to support people affected by the pandemic and to recover business operations.



Delegates discussed family problems, particularly those arising from COVID-19, noting that the pandemic has had a major impact on vulnerable families in ethnic minority groups, those with non-official workers, and migrants. Quality and all-round access to essential services, including health care for mothers and children, education, and welfare are also hindered by the pandemic.



They also exchanged views on enhancing the role of families as an essential support system, and protecting families across ASEAN.

Stories from ASEAN nations on strengthening family resilience and solidarity amid COVID-19 were also shared.
Photograph: Andrew Kelly/Reuters

New York congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has emerged as one of the high-profile faces of the Democratic response to Republicans plan to quickly seat a new, conservative supreme court justice.

Ocasio-Cortez, one of the most prominent champions of the liberal wing of the Democratic Party, was quick to offer a rallying cry to supporters discouraged by the late-Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburgs death last week.

This moment is not the time for despair, it is not the time for cynicism. It is not the time to give up. It is not the time for us to say its too late or its too far gone or I dont know what to do, were going to talk about it right now, The New York congresswoman said in an 40-minute Instagram video posted on Saturday.

Because its that important. Because it is not hyperbole. The actual balance of our democracy rests in the actions that we choose to make  that I choose to make, that you choose to make, that every single individual  chooses to make between now and election day.

Ocasio-Cortez has also made appearances alongside New York senator Chuck Schumer, the top ranking Democrat in the Senate. They made a joint appearance Sunday night in Brooklyn to urge supporters to mobilize to fight against Republicans nominee to replace Ginsburg. That has suggested a strong sense of unity between Ocasio-Cortez and one of the most powerful establishment Democrats across the party.

I think that it sends a strong signal right off the bat that the party needs to be united in winning the fight as opposed to divided over the form of any retaliation might take, said Matt House, a former communications director for Schumer. Its a recognition that tipping your hand and being public about the exact form of retribution might take in the new Senate is counterproductive at this point. And it makes clear the progressive base understands that and its a strong signal that the partys united on that front.

Shes also been one of the highest profile voices laying out the options Democrats say they have if Republicans push through a new supreme court nominee before the election.

Story continues

Ginsburgs dying wish was for the winner of the November presidential election to nominate her replacement on the supreme court. But top Republicans, including Donald Trump and Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell, have signaled that they could move to confirm a new justice before the election.

Democrats have floated the idea of possibly adding additional justices to the high court or impeaching Attorney General Bill Barr as a means of stalling a new justice before the outcome fo the next election.

We should leave all options on the table, including the number of justices that are on the supreme court, Ocasio-Cortez said on Saturday.
A nurse prepares an injection for a patient suffering from covid-19 at the emergency unit of La Timone hospital in Marseille, southeastern France, on Sept. 11, 2020. (Christophe Simon/AFP via Getty Images)

Europe Adopts Tougher Virus Restrictions as Infections Surge

LONDONAs the U.S. closed in on 200,000 coronavirus deaths on Sept. 21, the situation deteriorated across Europe, with Britain working to draw up new restrictions, Spain clamping down again in Madrid, and the Czech Republic replacing its health minister with an epidemiologist because of a surge of infections.

The growing push to reimpose tough new measures in Europe to beat back a scourge that was seemingly under control in the spring also contributed to a sharp drop on Wall Street.

In Britain, Prime Minister Boris Johnson later this week is expected to announce a round of restrictions designed to act as a circuit breaker to slow the spread of the disease. British Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty warned that cases are doubling every seven days, and the experience in other countries shows that will soon lead to a rise in deaths.

We have, in a very bad sense, literally turned a corner, after weeks of rising infections, Whitty said.

In France, where infections reached a record high over the weekend, with more than 13,000 new cases in 24 hours, health authorities opened new testing centers in the Paris region to reduce lines and delays.

And the Norwegian capital of Oslo banned crowds of more than 10 people in private homes after a spike in cases and strongly urged people to wear face masks when traveling on public transportation amid a strike by bus drivers that forced many commuters to take the tram instead.

The situation in Oslo is serious. This development must be stopped, and we have to do it now, Mayor Raymond Johansen said.

The rise in infection rates in Britain comes as lawmakers across the political spectrum criticize the governments testing program amid widespread reports of people having to travel hundreds of miles and tests being discarded because it is taking labs too long to process them. France, likewise, has been plagued by long wait times for results.

Madrid Begins Lock Down

Police in the Spanish capital of Madrid and its surrounding towns began stopping people going in and out of working-class neighborhoods that have been partially locked down to combat Europes fastest coronavirus spread.

Authorities said that starting on Sept. 23, some 860,000 residents must be able to show that their trips out of their neighborhoods are justified for work, study, or medical reasons or face fines. Parks are closed and shops and restaurants in the affected zones are limited to 50 percent occupancy.

The targeted locations have some of the highest transmission rates in Europe. The measure has been met with protests from people who think the restrictions are stigmatizing the poor.

Madrid has become the epicenter of contagion, with an average rate of infection746 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in two weeksnearly three times the national average of 280. Europewide, that number last week was 76.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, a Socialist, met on Sept. 21 with Isabel Diaz Ayuso, of the conservative opposition Popular Party, agreeing for central and regional officials to hold bi-weekly technical and weekly political meetings to coordinate a stronger response to the outbreaks.

The central government is going to contribute by providing more health resources and military help, Sanchez said without elaborating.

Madrid requires a special plan, the prime minister said. We should be ready to contemplate other scenarios if it were necessary.

Some people online shared photos of crammed rush-hour subway trains, complaining that the problem was not in the suburbs but due to the lack of sufficient public transport.

In the hard-hit Vallecas district, Raul Hernandez said that his coffee shop expected less business.

Yesterday afternoon, the change started to be seen and today, we are not doing anything, he said. People are accepting it well, they understand it but they are afraid.

The German city of Munich, with one of the highest infection rates in Germany, will allow only up to five people or members of two households to meet and will restrict private indoor gatherings such as birthday parties, weddings, or funerals to no more than 25 people.

The Czech Republic also faces the possibility of new restrictions after the government-appointed epidemiologist Roman Prymula as health minister.

In the spring, the country recorded a relatively low number of COVID-19 cases and deaths compared with hard-hit Western European countries such as Italy, Spain, and Britain.

But after the government lifted most of its restrictions over the summer, confirmed cases began making a comeback and reached a record high last week. On Sept. 17, the day-to-day increase of new cases was higher than 3,000, almost the same number it was in the entire month of March.

Prymula said over the weekend that the loosening of restrictions was done too quickly.

By Danica Kirka & Sylvie Corbet
In anticipation of a crush of absentee ballots, a federal judge on Monday extended the deadline for counting ballots cast in Wisconsin and sent through the mail by almost a week after Election Day.

The sweeping order by U.S. District Judge William Conley just 43 days before the election makes it likely Wisconsinites wont know the unofficial results of the presidential election on Election Day this year, unless his ruling is reversed by the U.S. Court of Appeals or U.S. Supreme Court.

Conley immediately put his decision on hold for a week to allow for expected appeals. An appeal would likely go first to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit in Chicago, and then potentially the U.S. Supreme Court, where conservatives now hold a 5-3 majority following the death on Friday of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

In his order, Conley extended the deadline for absentee ballots to be counted until Nov. 9, the Monday after Election Day, as long as the ballots are mailed and postmarked on or before Election Day.

Election workers and voters experiences during Wisconsins primary election in April, which took place at the outset of the COVID-19 crisis, have convinced the court that some, limited relief from statutory deadlines for mail-in registration and absentee voting is again necessary to avoid an untenable impingement on Wisconsin citizens right to vote, including the near certainty of disenfranchising tens of thousands of voters relying on the states absentee ballot process, Conley wrote.

Wisconsin election officials are again expecting a surge in absentee ballots for the November election, with clerks in some jurisdictions expecting 60% to 70% of voters to cast their ballots absentee. As of Monday, 1,080,071 of Wisconsins 3.5 million registered voters had already requested an absentee ballot for November.

The Wisconsin Elections Commission may need to provide further guidance for returned ballots that dont have a postmark, after many ballots arrived with no postmarks, two postmarks or unclear postmarks in April.

The WEC left it up to municipalities to determine whether a ballot was timely. In Mondays ruling, Conley said he wants clerks to lean toward counting ballots that are received without postmarks until Nov. 9 as long as they dont show any evidence of having been mailed after Election Day.

Wisconsins normal deadline for absentee ballots is 8 p.m. on Election Day. A similar order from Conley in April also extended the absentee ballot deadline for the April 7 election, pushing back the counting of election results by about a week.

Conley, however, wont prevent election officials from counting and publicizing the results theyve already worked through on Election Day, meaning the bulk of election results could be publicized on or shortly after Election Day, with the rest trickling in during the remainder of the week. For the April election, Conley delayed clerks from counting ballots and reporting results until the week after the election.

In Wisconsin, a place where statewide elections are increasingly won on the margins, Conleys latest order could mean the perceived winner on Election Day ends up losing the race once all late absentee ballots have been counted by Nov. 9.

Republican President Donald Trump won Wisconsin by fewer than 23,000 votes in 2016.

Conleys order is in a slate of four lawsuits brought by the Democratic National Committee and others against the Wisconsin Elections Commission seeking election-related changes, such as the extension of voting and registration deadlines; ensuring safe in-person voting sites; and suspending the states photo ID requirement in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Republican National Committee, state Republican lawmakers and the state Republican Party intervened as defendants in the cases.

Conley granted many of DNCs requests but rejected others, such as the suspension of the photo ID or proof-of-residence requirements.

Democrats approve

The state Democratic Party praised the ruling.

We welcome the courts decision to expand voting in Wisconsin so that more voters have the opportunity to register and have their voices heard in this election, said DPW spokeswoman Courtney Beyer. We will continue to ensure Wisconsinites have the information they need to successfully cast their ballot.

Besides extending the deadline for absentee ballots to be received, Conley is also suspending state law to allow election officials to be residents of other counties within Wisconsin. The move is meant to allow more flexibility to municipal clerks to ensure there are enough poll workers, something clerks have struggled with during the COVID-19 pandemic.

More latitude

To prevent another complication wrought by COVID-19 on the April 7 election, Conley is briefly suspending the state law that prevents absentee ballots from being delivered online to domestic civilian voters. Conley will allow such voters to get their ballot delivered online or by email between Oct. 22 and Oct. 29, if those voters requested a timely absentee ballot and the request was approved and mailed, but the voter didnt receive it.

There were numerous reports of voters not receiving their absentee ballots for the April 7 election, in some cases due to mail delivery problems. The Elections Commission received reports of three tubs of ballots from the Appleton/Oshkosh area that had been undelivered.

In Fox Point, a bin containing 175 unopened and undelivered ballots was returned to the clerks office on the morning of Election Day.

Conley also extended the deadline for online and mail-in voter registration from Oct. 14 to Oct. 21 to accommodate voters.

Improved outlook

Conleys ruling comes as local elections officials in some of the states largest cities say they feel more prepared for the November election than they did during the Supreme Court election and presidential primary on April 7.

Some clerks reported purchasing new, high-capacity voting machines to handle the expected influx of absentee ballots, and others are fine-tuning their absentee ballot counting process.

While Milwaukee witnessed long voter lines in the spring election after limiting the citys polling places to just five, the city expects at least 172 of its normal 180 polling locations to be up and running on Nov. 3.

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5 women on Trumps SCOTUS shortlist

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Following the death of longtime U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, President Donald Trump is expected to announce his nomination for her replacement later this week.

At a rally in North Carolina over the weekend, Trump announced that the replacement for Ginsburg would be a woman.

Ginsburg, long seen as the anchor of the Supreme Courts liberal wing, died Friday at the age of 87. Her death came just 46 days before the hotly contested 2020 United States presidential election, where Trump had already raised control of the courts as a major campaign issue.

Two weeks ago, Trump updated his list of potential Supreme Court nominees that he first released after he became the presumptive Republican nominee for president in 2016.

Exit polling of the 2016 presidential election showed that those who viewed Supreme Court appointments as the most important factor in their vote favored Trump by a 15-percentage-point margin over Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.

Over the objections of Democrats, Trump has announced that he plans to nominate a replacement for Ginsburg before the end of the week, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. has indicated that he plans to give Trumps nominee hearings and a floor vote.

Despite Republicans 53-47 edge in the Senate, it remains to be seen whether they will have enough votes to confirm a nominee so close to the election as two Republican senators have said they believe the winner of the 2020 election should decide the next Supreme Court nominee.

The following pages contain important things to know about the top contenders on President Trumps updated Supreme Court shortlist.
About 100 reading spaces have been established across Anhui's provincial capital, Wang Kaihao reports in Hefei. For Hu Xunyou, 68-year-old resident of Luyang district, Hefei, the capital of Anhui province, Xinghua Park was an ideal spot for him to have fun with his grandson. However, as the child has grown and seems to have developed many more interests beyond walking in the park, the name of which means "apricot flowers", the senior Hu has found himself a new reason to remain a frequent visitor. In December 2018, the Apricot Flowers Academy opened in the park. It's a bookstore, a library and a place for people to enjoy some downtime during the scorching summer afternoons of August. "I always like to read," Hu says. "It's not particularly for any pragmatic purpose, and it's never too late to learn new things, especially in such a nice environment." The two-floor building, with its lakeside view, was originally planned to be a private club, the construction of which was not finished. However, as China launched a national campaign in recent years demanding such places in shared spaces like parks be returned to public use, it was repurposed to cater to the wider public interest. Since 2017, renovation has taken place on 92 idle buildings in Hefei, just like the one in Xinghua Park, and turned them into what are called urban reading spaces, according to Meng Xianlei, director of the public cultural service office of the city's culture and tourism bureau. There are three provincial and city-level public libraries in Hefei, which has over 3 million residents in its city core, and several other smaller-scale district-level libraries. "But they are unable to meet citizens' needs at a community level," Meng says. "That was why more spaces for reading have to be created." In 2017, Hefei city government drafted a blueprint to set up 100 urban reading spaces like Apricot Flowers Academy by 2020, and has spent 200 million yuan ($29.6 million) from its budget on the program. Despite the impact of COVID-19, which saw some construction postponed, Meng says the number of urban reading spaces will reach 113 by the end of this year, exceeding the expectations of the original plan. However, the government budget only covers the cost of constructing the reading spaces, operators of the venues have to create their own income. "For sustainable development in the long run, it's better to blend the government support with dynamic business models," Meng says. The city government has waived the rental costs and charges for water and power at the reading spaces, and the money to buy new books for the libraries will also be covered by the public purse. However, other outgoings, like employee wages, have to be met by profit generated by the venue. Consequently, operators of the reading spaces are encouraged to develop their own ways of attracting more visitors and making ends meet at the same time. Meng says seasonal evaluations involving 32 criteria have been done on the dozens of reading spaces, and bonuses will be granted to those displaying excellent performance. About 6 million yuan will be allocated this year. Zheng Fangfang, the manager of Apricot Flowers Academy, understands the challenge. Every week, her team will buy about 100 new items for the bookstore, and rotate them weekly to introduce resources from the city-level libraries. "We take the responsibility of making up the gaps in the public library system," she says. "But at the same time, we need to keep pace with the market." Sales of cultural souvenirs, food and beverages, as well as holding paid-up training programs have helped Apricot Flowers Academy to blossom in the community. However, Zheng has a bigger ambitionto revive reading among the general public, whose time and attention has been seized by digital devices and social media. "We have organized reading clubs," Zheng says. "People share the books they are reading in our WeChat group, and they are invited to attend in-person salons in our reading space. Sometimes, they talk about movies. "It's better to create an environment for people to share their knowledge and re-establish face-to-face interaction with real people," she adds. As COVID-19 wanes in China, such events have gradually resumed. Zheng is now drafting a list of planned, long-awaited lectures to cater to eager local readers. Zheng estimates that about 40 percent of readers at the Apricot Flowers Academy are elementary and high school students. The urban reading spaces seem to have become asylums for these regular denizens of cyberspaces to escape from their digital lives. It takes 14-year-old junior high school student Sun Tengfei 20 minutes to travel to Xinghua Park via the subway, including the walk from the station. However, compared with home, this place offers a more immersive atmosphere for absorbing knowledge. "My parents don't want me to spend too much time playing with my smartphone," he says. "But there are too many digital distractions at home, so I often come here during summer break to spend an afternoon reading several novels I like. It feels cozy." And many more students treat the reading spaces as their study rooms. Sometimes, a spot will be reserved so they can have a quiet area in which to work. However, it is difficult to cut ties with the digital world. After the outbreak of COVID-19, the reading space was temporarily closed, so an online bookstore was launched by Zheng's team to better serve the readers. It is now maintained to provide its patrons an extra option. Still, the reading spaces have proved that staring at their phones around the clock is not the only way for urban residents to spend their spare time. According to the statistics from the city government, Hefei's reading spaces jointly attracted a total of 8.73 million visits in 2019. Despite a hiatus lasting months and the current restrictions on the numbers of readers allowed in the venues at any one time due to pandemic prevention protocols, there still have been more than 2 million visits as of July. Hefei now boasts the highest number of these urban reading spaces among China's provincial capitals, and more are on the way to "enable any urban resident in Hefei to reach a reading space within 15 minutes", according to Meng. He says more work needs to be done. For example, only 10 spaces, including Apricot Flowers Academy, are currently capable of earning over 50,000 yuan a month, and around 50 are still operating in the red. "Nowadays, the operation of bookstores is a global challenge, let alone the reading spaces which also assume the duties of libraries," Meng says. "In the future, the government may pay them to provide more services, thus further facilitating residents' requirements." As more functions like hacker spaces, small theaters and package collection stations are planned and blended into the mix of services offered by the reading spaces, there are even more reasons for people to visit.


A Houston plaintiffs attorney defeated State Farm Lloyds for the fourth time on the same issue, this time coming away with a federal appellate court ruling that policyholders dont have to prove that their insurer acted in bad faith in order to collect 18% interest on late claim payments.

The Texas Supreme Court ruled essentially the same way last year in another lawsuit, but the Sept. 16 decision by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals puts a fine point on the precedent, clarifying that interest is owed starting from the date a final ruling is issued, said attorney Joshua P. Davis.

Davis said the lawsuit he filed on behalf of San Antonio homeowners Jesus and Margaret Agredano marked the fourth time he has taken State Farm to court seeking penalties under the Texas Prompt Payment of Claims Act, or TPPCA.

We did fairly well for ourselves and hopefully they will finally get the picture, Davis said Thursday.

The Agredanos filed a claim with State Farm seeking repairs to the roof of their ranch-style home in northeast San Antonio, which had been damaged by hail on Aug. 11, 2014. State Farm gauged the damage at $615.17, well below the amount of the deductible on the policy.

The Agredanos hired a public adjuster who estimated the damage would cost $45,270.33 to repair. The also hired Davis, who wrote a demand letter seeking $83,084.51. In addition to the cost of the repairs, Davis threw in $5,000 for mental anguish, court costs, attorney fees and 18% interest for State Farms alleged late payment of a valid claim. When State Farm refused to pay, the Agredanos filed a lawsuit, which was removed to the U.S. District Court for Western Texas in San Antonio.

At trial, Davis said he submitted a more reasonable damage estimate of $13,661. He acknowledged that public adjuster estimates can be expansive. The jury awarded Agredanos that amount after a trial.

The Agredanos asked the district court to add attorney fees and an interest payment to the judgment because of State Farms alleged violation of Texas prompt payment law. Judge Royce C. Lamberth refused, citing an unpublished decision by the 5th Circuit in 2018, titled Chavez v. State Farm Lloyds, that held the 18% interest penalty called for under Texas statute 542.060 is owed only when the plaintiff shows that their insurer acted in bad faith when denying a claim.

Since the district court had previously dismissed the Agredanos bad faith claim, the penalty statute did not apply, Lamberth decided. Davis filed an appeal.

After Lamberth issued his ruling in March, the Texas Supreme Court ruled in Barbara Technologies Corp. v. State Farm Lloyds that plaintiffs dont have to prove bad faith in order to collect an interest penalty under the prompt payment law. A dissenting justice said that the 6-3 decision was contrary to two dozen decisions of a dozen courts.

Nonetheless, the Texas Supreme Court is the final arbiter of the meaning of Texas state law. When Davis appeal of the Agredano decision came before the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, the panel ruled that the Chavez decision, which Judge Lamberth relied on to bar an interest penalty, no longer applies.

The statute requires only liability under the policy and a failure to comply with the timing requirements of the TPPCA, the 5th Circuit ruled.

Davis said the $13,661 awarded by the jury will now amount to about $140,000 after he tallies interest and attorney fees. He said he won similar judgments in three other cases against State Farm Lloyds. Each time the courts have ultimately ruled that State Farm had to pay 18 percent interest on valid claims that it refused to pay.

The Texas legislature designed it that way because insurance companies have so much power over their policyholders, Davis said. They want it to hurt. They want the insurance companies to hurt when they dont pay claims.

Davis said he took on the Agredanos claim because he didnt like the way they were being treated by State Farm.

To me, the Agredanos are a very nice couple, he said. They were taking care of their mom in their home. There was no reason for State Farm to do that to them the way that they did.

The attorney who represented State Farm, Katherine M. Willis, could not be reached for comment.

Topics Carriers Texas Legislation
This article is the first of a seven-part series. Every Tuesday between now and Election Day, SFGATE will report on how the current 2020 presidential election polling averages compare to the polling averages at the same time in the 2016 presidential election. After the election, SFGATE will examine whether the polls in 2020 were more or less accurate than the 2016 polls.

Any mention of the word "polls" when discussing the 2020 election will evoke the predictable, and semi-rational response of "The polls are meaningless! They were way off in 2016! We can't trust the polls!"

Yes, and no. Briefly, here are several reasons why poll analysis is still useful for 2020:

- National polling in 2016 was actually pretty good. Hillary Clinton's final national lead in the RealClearPolitics average was +3.2%. She won by the national popular vote by 2.1%.

- Some of the state polls were egregiously off (Clinton's final lead in Wisconsin on RealClearPolitics was +6.5% and Trump won it by 0.7%), but there are reasons to believe the state polls should be more accurate (but not completely accurate! Polls are never completely accurate!) this year. Many states  specifically northern Rust Belt states thought to comprise the Democrats' "blue wall"  were relatively under-sampled in 2016 as more attention was paid to the traditional swing states of Florida, Ohio, Iowa and Nevada.

- Another reason polling averages should be more reliable this time around is because many pollsters  but not all  have started weighting their samples by education after state polls in 2016 sampled a higher percentage of college graduates than the actual percentage of college graduates in the electorate. As the New York Times' Nate Cohn writes, "Voters with a college degree are far likelier to respond to telephone surveys than voters without one, and in 2016 the latter group was far likelier to support Mr. Trump. Over all, weighting by education shifted the typical national poll by around four percentage points toward Mr. Trump, helping explain why the national polls fared better than state polls."

- Here's another bullet point about education weights that highlights why this topic is important: In 2016, Monmouth University's final poll of Pennsylvania showed Clinton leading by 5%, but had the poll been weighted by education, it would have shown Trump leading by 1%. On election day, he won the state by 0.7%. Monmouth is now weighting all of their 2020 polls by education.

While another polling error is definitely within the realm of possibility (although seemingly less likely than it was in 2016), Joe Biden's polling average six weeks before Election Day is considerably stronger than Hillary Clinton's lead at this exact time four years ago. As you will see below, Biden not only has larger leads than Clinton, but also has more overall support in the averages since there are fewer undecided and third party voters in 2020 compared with 2016. The high number of undecided voters or "I hate both" types in 2016 may have contributed to polling errors, as those who made up their minds late overwhelmingly broke for Trump in 2016.

Below are the polling averages from exactly six weeks before election day in 2020 and 2016. FiveThirtyEight did not compile state polling averages in 2016, but rather offered a "projected vote share" based off of the most recent state polls. FiveThirtyEight's forecasted percentages for both Clinton and Trump were greater than the values reflected in state polls at the time, since 2016 polls consistently featured a robust group of respondents selecting a third party candidate or "undecided." Neither Clinton nor Trump got too close to 50% support in polling averages as a result of this large pool of undecided voters  a pool that is much, much smaller in 2020.

National polls

FiveThirtyEight average six weeks before election day in 2016: Hillary Clinton 42.5%, Donald Trump 41% (Clinton +1.5%)

FiveThirtyEight average six weeks before election day in 2020: Joe Biden 50.3%, Donald Trump 43.5% (Biden +6.8%)

RealClearPolitics average six weeks before election day in 2016: Hillary Clinton 47.4%, Donald Trump 44.4% (Clinton +3.0%)

RealClearPolitics average six weeks before election day in 2020: Joe Biden 49.5%, Donald Trump 43% (Biden +6.5%)

Actual national popular vote in 2016: Hillary Clinton 48.2%, Donald Trump 46.1% (Clinton +2.1%)

Pennsylvania

FiveThirtyEight projected vote share six weeks before election day in 2016: Hillary Clinton 47.3%, Donald Trump 44.8% (Clinton +2.5%)

FiveThirtyEight average six weeks before election day in 2020: Joe Biden 49.7%, Donald Trump 45.2% (Biden +4.5%)

RealClearPolitics average six weeks before election day in 2016: Hillary Clinton 45.4%, Donald Trump 43.0% (Clinton +2.4%)

RealClearPolitics average six weeks before election day in 2020: Joe Biden 48.7%, Donald Trump 44.7% (Biden +4.0%)

Actual Pennsylvania results in 2016: Donald Trump 48.2%, Hillary Clinton 47.5% (Trump +0.7%)

Wisconsin

FiveThirtyEight projected vote share six weeks before election day in 2016: Hillary Clinton 46.8%, Donald Trump 43.2% (Clinton +3.6%)

FiveThirtyEight average six weeks before election day in 2020: Joe Biden 50.1%, Donald Trump 43.7% (Biden +6.4%)

RealClearPolitics average six weeks before election day in 2016: Hillary Clinton 44.0%, Donald Trump 39.3% (Clinton +4.7%)

RealClearPolitics average six weeks before election day in 2020: Joe Biden 50.1%, Donald Trump 43.4% (Biden +6.7)

Actual Wisconsin results in 2016: Donald Trump 47.2%, Hillary Clinton 46.5% (Trump +0.7%)

Michigan

FiveThirtyEight projected vote share six weeks before election day in 2016: Hillary Clinton 47.3%, Donald Trump 44.3% (Clinton +3.0%)

FiveThirtyEight average six weeks before election day in 2020: Joe Biden 49.9%, Donald Trump 42.2% (Biden +7.7%)

RealClearPolitics average six weeks before election day in 2016: Hillary Clinton 45.7%, Donald Trump 41.0% (Clinton 4.7%)

RealClearPolitics average six weeks before election day in 2020: Joe Biden 47.8%, Donald Trump 43.0% (Biden 4.8%)

Actual Michigan results in 2016: Donald Trump 47.5%, Hillary Clinton 47.3% (Trump +0.2%)

Arizona

FiveThirtyEight projected vote share six weeks before election day in 2016: Donald Trump 47.5%, Hillary Clinton 42.7% (Trump +4.8%)

FiveThirtyEight average six weeks before election day in 2020: Joe Biden 48.6%, Donald Trump 44.1% (Biden +4.5%)

RealClearPolitics average six weeks before election day in 2016: Donald Trump 43.0%, Hillary Clinton 40.5% (Trump +2.5%)

RealClearPolitics average six weeks before election day in 2020: Joe Biden 49.2%, Donald Trump 44.2% (Biden +5.0%)

Actual Arizona results in 2016: Donald Trump 48.1%, Hillary Clinton 44.6% (Trump +3.5%)

Florida

FiveThirtyEight projected vote share six weeks before election day in 2016: Donald Trump 46.8%, Hillary Clinton 46.0% (Trump +0.8%)

FiveThirtyEight average six weeks before election day in 2020: Joe Biden 48.1%, Donald Trump 46.1% (Biden +2.0%)

RealClearPolitics average six weeks before election day in 2016: Hillary Clinton 44.8%, Donald Trump 44.2% (Clinton +0.6%)

RealClearPolitics average six weeks before election day in 2020: Joe Biden 48.6%, Donald Trump 47% (Biden +1.6%)

Actual Florida results in 2016: Donald Trump 49.0%, Hillary Clinton 47.8% (Trump +1.2%)

North Carolina

FiveThirtyEight projected vote share six weeks before election day in 2016: Donald Trump 47.1%, Hillary Clinton 45.7% (Trump +1.4%)

FiveThirtyEight average six weeks before election day in 2020: Joe Biden 47.7%, Donald Trump 46.4% (Biden +1.3%)

RealClearPolitics average six weeks before election day in 2016: Hillary Clinton 44.0%, Donald Trump 43.7% (Clinton +0.3%)

RealClearPolitics average six weeks before election day in 2020: Joe Biden 47.5%, Donald Trump 46.6% (Biden +0.9%)

Actual North Carolina results in 2016: Donald Trump 49.8%, Hillary Clinton 46.2% (Trump +3.6%)

Eric Ting is an SFGATE reporter. Email: eric.ting@sfgate.com | Twitter:@_ericting
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept.22

By Leman Zeynalova  Trend:

Azerbaijan is a platform of intercultural and intercivilizational dialogue, Domenico Letizia, Italian journalist and geopolitical analyst, told Trend.

He pointed out that the World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue, which is held in Azerbaijan every two years, has been recognized as a main platform for promoting intercultural dialogue.

Azerbaijan is a well-known center of multiculturalism in the world. Azerbaijan is a place where representatives of various cultures and religions live in together in peace and harmony, which cant be said about many other countries, noted the analyst.

Letizia noted that Azerbaijan, which has strong relations both with eastern and western countries, is working hard on implementing the intercultural and intercivilizational dialogue.

Azerbaijan plays a huge role in creating an even stronger synergy among countries from different parts of the world. Azerbaijans model of multiculturalism deserves to be known all over the world. I value Azerbaijan's experience in promoting dialogue between religions very positively. I propose digitalization of the interreligious and intercultural dialogues held by Azerbaijan. In the age of smart working, it is possible to work on a model of religious and intercultural dialogue both online and live. In my opinion, a work in this direction would allow Azerbaijan to become even more known and important all over the world, as well as to work for peace, democracy and dialogue between different faiths, he concluded.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn
A number of Trump aides, allies and senators met in the office of Jim DeMint, chairman of the Conservative Partnership Institute, on Monday night to discuss the nomination and how to confirm the nominee with the help of donors, outside support and the White House, according to three people familiar with the meeting who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the private talks. Among those present, Coney Barrett was the favorite candidate, two of the people said.
Xtalks Life Science Webinars Experts will describe how we derive relevant insights from the vast amount of publicly available information to provide clients with a focused assessment of key risks, tailored for each individual project.

At least 50 percent of drug safety failures are attributable to target-related effects. So, it makes sense to understand potential safety liabilities associated with a target early in projects, in order to anticipate and manage those issues before they arise.

A target safety assessment (TSA) brings together public domain information (target homology, gene and protein expression profiles, transgenic and mutation phenotype data, competitor compounds) into a report that identifies and categorizes key risks by organ/tissue and by physiological functions. This systematic categorization is used as the basis of a risk mitigation plan with ranking of risks and potential next steps, presented as a Word document with embedded PowerPoint.

Join this educational webinar to learn how target safety assessments (TSAs) are used to determine the potential consequences of modulating a target and provide options on how to assess those risks. Experts will describe how we derive relevant insights from the vast amount of publicly available information to provide clients with a focused assessment of key risks, tailored for each individual project.

Join Professor Ruth Roberts, Director and Co-founder, ApconiX Ltd, Dr. Claire Sadler, Project Toxicologist, ApconiX and Dr. Leigh Ann Burns Nass, President/Owner, Magnolia Toxicology Consulting, LLC in a live webinar on Thursday, October 1, 2020 at 11am EDT (4pm BST/UK).

For more information or to register for this event, visit Improve Drug Project Success by Understanding Drug Target Safety.

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L eighton Buzzard has been by a third earthquake in the space of two weeks.

The British Geological Survey (BGS) said it was investigating reports of an earthquake in the Bedfordshire town on Tuesday morning.

The 3.0 magnitude quake hit just north of the town shortly after 8.30am, BGS said.

"We're receiving reports about the earthquake, which followed previous events in the same area on 8 & 13 Sept, with magnitudes 3.5 & 2.1," it said on Twitter.

"Reports describe only lasted a couple of seconds & just felt a single jolt, a bit like being in a car that has done an emergency stop!"

On September 13, a 2.1 magnitude earthquake hit the area, and was thought to have been an aftershock from the magnitude 3.3 quake that was felt on September 8.

A BGS spokesman said at the time: "The most recent event was over 100 times smaller than the event on September 8 in the same area.

"The occurrence of smaller events from other previous UK earthquakes is not unknown.

"The small event that occurred in Bedfordshire last night could have occurred because all the stress in the rocks was not relieved by the event on September 8 in the same area or it caused a slight change to the stress regime in that location.

"There is constant ongoing research in the academic world on the issue of aftershock occurrence."

Glenn Ford, a seismologist at BGS, said Tuesday's tremor would be classed as an aftershock from the earthquake two weeks ago.

"They are not happening more frequently in the area - they are happening all the time in the UK," he told the Standard.

"What's unusual about them is we only feel about only 10 per cent feel them. We don't really perceive the UK as a country associated with earthquakes, so when they occur, it can be quite disturbing.

"But it's very typical behaviour seen in the UK and we have had historic activity in that area.

"Most of them are so small, people don't notice them."

Mr Ford explained: "We get about three earthquake a year of this size in the UK. To put it in perspective, it was six times smaller than the event that happened two weeks ago.

"In world terms, if we look back at the earthquake in Japan in 2011, it was a billion times larger than that."

Asked whether the earthquakes could be due to human activity, he said: "This is a natural tectonic earthquake.

"It's typical activity for us. They do occur much more frequently than we realise. It's just down to what we are calibrated to."

During the September 8 quake, residents described strong shaking and rattling walls, though police said no injuries were reported.

After the quake on September 13, the BGS tweeted: "One report describes It felt slower and less intense than the previous tremor."

Small earthquakes are not uncommon in the UK but are rarely felt in the Bedfordshire area.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte delivering his annual State of the Nation Address in congress in Manila, in handout photo taken and released by the Philippines' Presidential Photo Division, July 27, 2020.

The Philippine president made a strident statement Tuesday on the South China Sea to the United Nations General Assembly, describing a 2016 arbitral tribunal award that struck down virtually all of Chinas claims in the disputed waters as beyond compromise.

Like other world leaders addressing the pandemic-restricted event, President Rodrigo Duterte delivered the remarks in a pre-recorded video speech. His remarks aired shortly after Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered his address at the opening of the 75th session of the General Assembly.

The award is now part of international law, beyond compromise and beyond the reach of passing governments to dilute, diminish, or abandon, Duterte said, in reference to the outcome of the case the previous Philippine administration brought to The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration.

We firmly reject attempts to undermine it, he added in his first speech to the U.N. since his election in 2016.

The 2016 award refuted the legal basis for nearly all of Chinas expansive maritime and territorial claims in the South China Sea. It called Beijings insistence on holding historic rights to the waters there inconsistent with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, or UNCLOS.

China has never recognized the 2016 arbitration or its outcome.

Other countries  the United States, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and most recently the United Kingdom, Germany, and France  have brought up the 2016 arbitration award in their own complaints about Chinas behavior in the South China Sea, or have called China to come into compliance with the award as it now constitutes a precedent under international law.

We welcome the increasing number of states that have come in support of the award and what it stands for  the triumph of reason over rashness, of law over disorder, of amity over ambition, Duterte went on to say. This, as it should, is the majesty of the law.

Dutertes comments suggested a hardening in tone from the Philippines, which put its territorial disputes with China on the backburner after he took office four years ago. Duterte has sought closer economic ties with China and has toyed with a reduction in ties with its long-standing treaty ally, the United States.

On other topics, Duterte spoke about the climate crisis, the effects of the pandemic on migrants and stranded seafarers, and the need for a COVID-19 vaccine to be available as a global public good.

Duterte, who has faced international criticism over allegations of widespread extrajudicial killings in a bloody war on drugs, also delivered a lengthy diatribe against human rights advocates. He accused them of having weaponized human rights and of preying on the most vulnerable humans.

The opening day of the General Assembly was dominated by the tensions between the U.S. and China, with President Donald Trump blaming China for the spread of COVID-19. He demanded that China be held accountable.

Xi pushed back, saying China had no intention of entering a Cold War.

We will never seek hegemony, expansion, or sphere of influence, Xi said. We have no intention to fight either a Cold War or a hot war with any country. We will continue to narrow differences and resolve disputes with others through dialogue and negotiation. We do not seek to develop only ourselves or engage in a zero-sum game.

Xi made no mention of the South China Sea.

China currently considers itself to have a maritime dispute with six other Asian governments concerning the South China Sea. They are the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Taiwan, and Indonesia.

The United States recently updated its official stance on the dispute, calling Chinas maritime claims and claims to some submerged features in the South China Sea unlawful and illegal, slowly aligning the U.S. stance with the 2016 arbitration award. It has also recently changed its policies on Marine Scientific Research to reflect UNCLOS, despite the U.S. Senate never having ratified the Convention.
ATLANTA, GA / ACCESSWIRE / September 22, 2020 / Findit, Inc., a Nevada Corporation (OTC PINK:FDIT) owner of Findit.com, a full-service social networking management platform and online marketing service, has been retained by WynCore to improve overall web presence and exposure throughout social media.

WynCore has engaged Findit to help improve overall online exposure throughout search and social media with a customized marketing campaign. Findit will produce fresh content on a daily basis highlighting WynCore and their professional warehouse management systems (WMS) solutions. WynCore offers customized WMS solutions that are catered to your business to help improve efficiency. WynCore customized solutions covers: design and implementation, QA Testing, customized maintenance and support, and more. They can craft your WMS to suit your business and its needs.

As part of their campaign, Findit will create, post, and share freshly written content through the Findit URLs that WynCore has claimed as part of their marketing campaign with Findit utilizing the Claim your Name Feature. Findit is currently in the process of setting up these Findit URLs. The content created will consist of Right Now status updates. Once the posts are live, they can be shared to other social networking sites that include but are not limited to: Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Tumblr, and Twitter. Findit will also be producing videos highlighting the services WynCore provides.

Visit WynCore on Findit Under Some of Their Findit Names

findit.com/customize-logistics-software

findit.com/customize-warehouse-management-systems

Each piece of content that is created for WynCore will focus on reaching businesses that are looking for customized solutions to their warehouse management systems. Each piece of content written on Findit will also include pictures that have titles that we have manually entered for indexing purposes in Findit search as well as outside search engines that include Google, Yahoo, and Bing. Findit also includes a back link to specific pages on Wyncore.com to drive traffic to the website.

Clark St. Amant of Findit stated, "We are excited to work with WynCore to help improve overall indexing in search and exposure throughout social media to reach existing businesses who may be in need of customized warehouse management solutions. Our objective is to drive more traffic to WynCore's website through content created on Findit, improve indexing in search engines, and reach a wider audience throughout social media through social sharing. By doing so, we hope to heighten awareness of WynCore and their services to businesses who are in need of the services WynCore provides, but had previously not yet heard of WynCore."

Contact WynCore today for customized warehouse management solutions for your warehouse management software at 866-996-2673. To sign up for your own online marketing campaign on Findit, please call 404-443-3224.

About WynCore

Our founders met in college where they became fast friends. Together they started their careers at Manhattan Associates where they laid the foundation of their expertise in WMS. Their career journey pulled them in different directions until fate and a common friend intervened and reunited them. In this renewed friendship common business values came to light and a partnership was born. These values were focused on the team and providing the best value to the customer and they are the core principles that WynCore runs on today. If you want to learn more about how WynCore partners with our customers to be their trusted advisor in the WMS space, then contact us today.

About Findit

Findit.com, which is a Social Media Content Management Platform that provides an interactive search engine for all content posted in Findit to appear in Findit search. The site is an open platform that provides access to Google, Yahoo, Bing, and other search engines access to its content posted to Findit so it can be indexed in these search engines as well. Findit provides Members the ability to post, share, and manage their content. Once they have posted in Findit, we ensure the content gets indexed in Findit Search results. Findit provides an option for anyone to submit URLs that they want indexed in Findit search result, along with posting status updates through Findit Right Now. Status Updates posted in Findit can be crawled by outside search engines, which can result in additional organic indexing. All posts on Findit can be shared to other social and bookmarking sites by members and non-members. Findit provides Real Estate Agents the ability to create their own Findit Site where they can pull in their listing and others through their IDX account. Findit, Inc., is focused on the development of monetized Internet-based web products that can provide an increase in brand awareness of our members. Findit, Inc. trades under the stock symbol FDIT on the OTC Pinksheets.

Safe Harbor:

This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the 'Exchange Act'), including statements regarding potential sales, the success of the company's business, as well as statements that include the word believe or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Findit, Inc. to differ materially from those implied or expressed.

CONTACT:

Clark St. Amant

404-443-3224

SOURCE: Findit, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/607244/WynCore-Engages-Findit-To-Help-Improve-Overall-Exposure-Online
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 06:16:33|Editor: huaxia

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TUNIS, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Tunisian Defense Minister Ibrahim Bartagi on Tuesday said that his country is constantly coordinating with Algeria in the fight against terrorism.

Bartagi made the remarks during a visit to the 16th Infantry Regiment in the city of Ain Draham in Jendouba province, northwestern Tunisia, said a statement by the Tunisian Defense Ministry.

"Within the framework of cooperation with Algeria in the fight against terrorism, Tunisia is working to coordinate by exchanging information and holding periodic meetings for consultations on further tightening the control of the Tunisian-Algerian land borders," the minister said.

Bartagi called on Tunisian armed forces to continue the fight against terrorism and organized crime, reduce the scourge of smuggling, and combat illegal immigration.

During the visit, Bartagi inspected the living condition of the security forces and the operational readiness of the military units deployed on the western borders, given the dangers facing the country, in particular the terrorism, smuggling, organized crime and illegal immigration. Enditem
NEWS FLASH

El Als leisure subsidiary Sun d'Or plans to resume operations on October 1, with the Israeli carrier announcing it will operate charter flights to Croatia and Greece. Services to Zagreb and Dubrovnik will begin next month, with tickets on sale through selected wholesalers in Israel.
A Statement By The Pro-Democracy And Leading Civil Rights Advocacy Group-: Human Rights Writers Association Of Nigeria (HURIWA) Condemning The Portrayal Of Shiites In A Yet-To-Be-Released Nollywood Movie Titled, Fatal Arrogance, Disputing That The Chief Of Army Staff Is Not The one Who Sponsored The Movie, And Urging The Nigerian Government To End The Persecution Of The Islamic Movement Of Nigeria And Release Their Leader

PREAMBLE:

The Islamic Movement in Nigeria is the most widely known Shia group in Nigeria, where the vast majority of Muslims are Sunni. It was founded around 1978 by cleric Ibrahim Zakzaky while he was studying economics at Abu Zaria University in Kaduna, northern Nigeria, where many Shiites live.

His movement attracted support, mainly from fellow students, after the Iranian Revolution in 1979 when Iran became a Shia Islamic republic and came to prominence after Zakzaky convinced followers that an Islamic revolution, inspired by Iran, was possible in Nigeria.

Their first reported march in the country in 1980 was in support of Iran after a joint US-Canadian operation to save US diplomats trapped in Tehran in 1979. Zakzaky and fellow student members believed that an Islamic State was the only way to achieve social justice for Muslims.

They demonstrated with placards and spray painted Islam Only in Zaria city in Kaduna plState. Yet according to IMN, despite their early aim, the group now simply wants the freedom to practice freely in northern Nigerias Sunni dominated region.

As a result, the group has held several protest marches and processions, drawing the ire of northern Nigerias Sunni authorities and the countrys security forces. Nigerias government has accused the IMN of seeking to overthrow and undermine the state, alleging the group supports militancy and terrorism.

The sect has a history of protests and processions in northern Nigeria, the majority of which have occurred without issue. But some have also descended into violence. Many IMN shrines, community centres and schools have been demolished in Kaduna State, where the group is now banned.

THE ISSUE:

In the last few weeks, Nigerians have been overwhelmed with the alleged portrayal of Shiites in a yet-to-be-released Nollywood movie titled, Fatal Arrogance, which starred Pete Edochie as the lead character in the film.

Predictably, the movie, which was shot in Enugu and produced by Anosike Kingsley Orji, derived its title from the book written by a security analyst cum activist; Mr. Terrence Kuanum. What many are confused is why the filming of such a movie at a time the country is volatile.

In as much as we know that filmmakers have creative license to dramatize imaginary situations, this does not come into any of those realms. This is because the peaceful protesters of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria are mischievously depicted as armed protesters, with guns and knives tasty for the blood of the innocent.

We are shocked by the film where the popular Islamic Movement in Nigeria and its leader Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky are being depicted and badly portrayed as terrorists. It is regrettable that the group being portrayed as violent is perceived by lot of Nigerians as the victims of state sponsored terrorisms as a lot of them have been killed by armed security men while carrying out their peaceful processions and/or protests as the case might be.

In a swift reaction to the Movie, which is still in the oven of production, the IMN had issued a statement maintaining that the movie is a propagandist portrayal of its detained leader Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky and the Shiite followers, with the leadership of the Nigerian Army as the sponsors.

It would be recalled that the leader of IMN; Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky and his wife Zeenah Ibrahim have been detained since December 2015, accused of terror offences. They were seized from their home in Zaria after violence erupted at a procession of Shiites in the city.

The Nigerian military had in 2015 accused the group of attempting to assassinate its chief commander. According to Amnesty International and other rights groups, 347 mostly unarmed Shiite marchers were killed by Nigerian forces, and buried in mass graves.

In December 2016, the Federal High court dismissed the governments case and ordered that Zakzaky and his wife be released. The government refused to free them, instead mounting fresh charges in a Kaduna State court. Since then supporters have demanded his release, protesting in Nigerian cities.

OUR POSITION AND RECOMMENDATIONS:

We urge the Islamic Movement of Nigeria to try and go a bit above those kinds of sentiments. In whatever that is done that is being perceived to be against them, they shouldnt always begin to fire back at the Chief of Army Staff as being behind it.

According to credible sources, we have confirmed that the chief of army staff is not the sponsor of that Movie. We have made our enquiries unless there are superior arguments to counter the intelligence that has been given to us by those credible sources.

Therefore, the allegation that the Chief of Army Staff was the one that sponsored that Movie only exists in the figments of the imagination of some persons. They have not giving Nigerians any concrete and empirical proof pointing to the Chief of Army Staff as the one behind that movie.

Perhaps it would be apt to note here that the Chief of Army Staff; Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai is a disciplined professional Officer who knows and understands the rule of engagements.

In the Zaria matter, the National Human Rights Commission Special Investigation Panel never indicted him. Rather, according to the Anthony Ojukwus five-man Committee, the right of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, was violated by members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria during the December 2015 Shiite/Army clash in Zaria, Kaduna State.

The panel chairman, Mr Anthony Ojukwu, (now Executive Secretary of NHRC) who presented the report to the then NHRC Executive Secretary; Prof. Bem Angwe, said the blocked public highway by IMN infringed on the freedom of movement of the Chief of Army Staff.

However, that is not to say that the continuous killing of the members of the IMN should be tolerated. It is absolutely unlawful. What the Nigerian government is doing to that group is totally unacceptable. The declaration of the group as a terrorist group is completely unacceptable and illogical.

People that are going about their religious worship, which the constitution allows cant be called terrorists; they didnt kill anybody even when they were doing their own procession apart from that incident that happened in zaria , which we were not eye witness to.

Even, the Ojukwu-led panel in its report also noted that the right of the IMN to property was violated because their property was destroyed without due process by the Kaduna State government.

The committee among other things recommended that compensation computed in a fair manner by experts should be paid by the Kaduna State government to the victims of the demolished properties and also that members of the IMN arrested for various violations and offences should be speedily and fairly tried by the Kaduna State High Court.

Hence, we are by this statement demanding that government ends the persecution of those people and release their leader, appologise to them and compensate them. Additionally, government should remove the illegal toga of a terror group that was imposed on IMN illegally.

It is completely unconstitutional to say that people who are worshipping their God are terrorists when there is no evidence to show that they have killed anybody or that they dont recognize Nigeria as a country. If they dont recognize Nigeria as country they would have migrated out of Nigeria since.

All the riots that happened in the north that has to do with fundamentalism, the Shiites have never being involved; its not the Shiites that are killing people. Unlike what is obtainable in Iran where they have Shiite militia, we dont have it in Nigeria. Infact they are the most peaceful bunch of Muslims among the other group of Muslims we have.

HURIWA has a record of all the conflicts that have happened in the North and the Shiites have never been indicted in anyway in the last 30 years. For instance, the Christian-muslim riot that happened in kafachan in 1987, the founder of HURIWA was a witness to that and we can unequivocally attest to the fact that the Shiites were not involved. The Shiites have never being involved in creating riots in the north, which is known to be the hot bed of religious conflicts. So why is the government calling them terrorists and persecuting them?

COMRADE EMMANUEL ONWUBIKO:

NATIONAL COORDINATOR.

Miss. Zainab Yusuf:

Director, National Media Affairs.

HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA).

September 22nd 2020.


Diamonds are displayed during a visit to the De Beers Global Sightholder Sales (GSS) in the capital Gaborone in Botswana

By Brian Benza

GABORONE, Botswana (Reuters) - The Botswana government said there was no guarantee that it would be able to renew a new 10-year sales agreement with De Beers before the end of December, when the current one expires, as the coronavirus pandemic has delayed negotiations.

"The ideal situation would be to end the talks by December but there are no guarantees that will happen," said Mmetla Masire, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Minerals told Reuters in an interview late on Monday.

The deal is necessary for the Debswana Mining Company, jointly held by the world's biggest producer De Beers and the Botswana government, as it provides the country with around two-thirds of its foreign exchange and makes up a fifth of its GDP.

For De Beers, a new deal would mean another 10 years of clarity on the terms of its revenue stream from a country from where it sources 70% of its diamonds and 90% of its sales.

The wealth from diamond mining has helped transform the country from primarily a agri-based economy to one of Africa's richest countries.

A delay would set back President Mokgweetsi Masisi's efforts to boost a fledgling diamond polishing and cutting industry and create jobs in a country of 2.2 million with high unemployment.

Masire said the government had resumed talks for a new deal, but travel restrictions have kept the progress slow.

In 2011, De Beers agreed a deal to transfer its global sightholder sales, which accounts for 90% of its total diamond sales, from London to Gaborone, creating thousands of jobs and investment in the southern African country.

Botswana's government would want a higher allocation of diamonds produced by Debswana for sale from the current 15% agreed in 2011, or get a larger share of rough stones, said Avi Krawitz, an analyst from Israel-based diamond information provider Rapaport.

"This will be a sticking point for De Beers," he said.

Masire declined to divulge specific terms being negotiated in the talks.

De Beers, a subsidiary of Anglo American Plc, is an important business division for its parent contributing a fifth of its revenue. De Beers has not responded to an emailed request for comment sent on Monday.

(Reporting by Brian Benza in Gaborone; Editing by Promit Mukherjee and David Evans)
A giant pot of money intended to provide for pandemic relief needs and equipment within the Defense Department has been used to fund, among other things, the Army's new retro service uniform. And Congress is none too happy about it.

A new Washington Post report illustrates how the military spent $1 billion designated for shoring up stocks of masks and other medical supplies under the Defense Production Act, using it for shipbuilding and aircraft parts, among other things. A $2 million contract award was made in mid-June to the Connecticut-based American Woolen Company to produce the fabric needed to make the much-celebrated Army Green Service Uniform, designed in homage to the "Pinks and Greens" uniforms of the World War II era.

Read Next: Fort Bliss Widens Search for Missing Soldier as Case Details Change

"Using funds authorized and appropriated under the CARES Act, this DPA Title III investment will sustain the domestic production capability and capacity of poly/wool blend fabric for Army dress uniforms," the contract award reads.

"The sustainment of this production capability will ensure the U.S. Government gets dedicated long term industrial capacity to meet the needs of the nation. This investment will leverage American Woolen Company's manufacturing capabilities to commercialize the Army Green Service Uniform (AGSU) fabrics, enabling the government to diversify the supply chain and add a second source of innovation to the market."

Army officials acknowledged a query from Military.com on the award but said they would need more than 24 hours to respond.

The award notices have been released publicly, and DoD officials have been direct about their belief that supporting the defense industrial base is a crucial part of pandemic relief. DefenseOne reported in June about a $135 million bundle of contracts awarded with Defense Production Act funds intended to "help sustain defense-critical workforce capabilities in body armor, aircraft manufacturing, and shipbuilding."

Ellen Lord, the Defense Department's undersecretary for acquisition and sustainment, defended the spending, telling the Post she was grateful for resources that protected key defense capabilities.

"We need to always remember that economic security and national security are very tightly interrelated and our industrial base is really the nexus of the two," she said in a statement to the paper.

But the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, Adam Smith, D-Wash., issued a statement Tuesday condemning the DoD's apportionment of the funding.

"Instead of focusing on a clear, coordinated strategy to produce and acquire the medical supplies necessary to respond to the ongoing COVID-19 health crisis, the Trump Administration carved up this billion-dollar appropriation and spent three dollars on defense contracts for every dollar it spent on acquiring health resources," Smith said. "I've long said that the Pentagon's budget, which has continued to surge over time, is more than adequate to meet DoD's operational needs. It is alarming that they have not properly aligned their spending with strategic priorities and continue to ask for more."

He noted that the DoD has asked for $5.3 billion in additional funding under the DPA, and said officials had not provided "a properly detailed spending plan."

The defense budget for fiscal 2020 contained $738 billion in total funding. While some of the money earmarked for the DoD under the CARES Act COVID-19 stimulus bill has gone to buying protective equipment and components -- earlier this month, the DoD announced a $335 million contract award to nine U.S. companies for 73 million disposable isolation gowns to replenish the Strategic National Stockpile -- recent testimony by Centers for Disease Control officials has highlighted outstanding needs, such as a continued shortage of N95 respirators.

While the Army Green uniform will soon be issued to soldiers at some Army training posts, it is not required for possession or wear for any soldier until Oct. 1, 2027.

-- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck.

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One of the women on Donald Trumps short list to succeed Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the U.S. Supreme Court got her first taste of politics as a college student stuffing envelopes for Democrat Joe Bidens 1988 presidential run.

But, by 1996, Joan L. Larsen was volunteering for Republican Bob Dole, and today few doubt her conservative credentials, which includes a longtime affiliation with the Federalist Society.

Larsen is among a small group of female lawyers whom Trump is considering to replace Ginsburg, the liberal icon whose death last week gave conservatives a chance to move the court further to the right. White House officials say Trump was referring to Larsen when he said Monday his finalists included a great one from Michigan  On Tuesday, he called her very talented in an interview with a local television station.

In just five years, Joan L. Larsen has gone from a little-known University of Michigan legal scholar to a prominent federal appeals court judge and now a candidate for the high court.

Conservative activists hope that, if nominated and confirmed by the Senate, Larsen would carry on the legacy of her mentor, the late Justice Antonin Scalia for whom she clerked in the early 1990s and eulogized after his 2016 death.

For Trump, picking Larsen could give him a boost in the critical battleground state of Michigan, where she has raised her two children, advanced her career and won election to the state Supreme Court.

Liberals fear that she would follow in Scalias footsteps by voting to overrule decisions that legalized abortion rights and gay marriage and other rulings that Scalia and his followers vociferously oppose.

At 52, Larsen would be a candidate who could serve on the high court for three decades or longer. Her father, Leonard Larsen, the retired CEO of a Lutheran social services agency, died in April at age 91. Her mother is 89.

Larsens rise began when Michigan's then-Republican Gov. Rick Snyder appointed her to fill a vacancy on the state Supreme Court in September 2015, praising her as a superb attorney who had experience in government, academia and private practice.

When she called to tell me, I was shocked. I had no idea that she was thinking such a thing, said Sarah Zearfoss, a longtime colleague at the Michigan law school who has marveled at her friends ascent.

Justice Joan campaigned for a full term as a judge who would interpret the state constitution according to its original meaning and not legislate from the bench. Her campaign was backed by the Republican Party and business groups such as the Michigan Chamber of Commerce.

Even before she won a full eight-year term, Trump included her on his list of potential nominees to the Supreme Court  a development that she called a complete surprise. She easily won election in November 2016 on the same day that Trump carried Michigan in a surprise victory.

Trump tapped Larsen for a seat on the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in 2017, which hears appeals in federal cases in Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee.

Michigans Democratic U.S. senators initially held up her appointment since the White House hadnt consulted them, as is customary. But ultimately they allowed her confirmation to move forward after Larsen met with them, and joined with six other Democrats in a 60-38 confirmation vote.

In a 2018 interview, Zearfoss described Larsen as a solid Republican who is smart, thoughtful, kind and funny  even though they disagree on political issues.

It will be really hard not to like Joan, said Zearfoss, an assistant dean at the law school.

Critics say that during her relatively short judicial career, Larsen has at times favored corporations, insurers and police officers while showing less regard for workers, injured plaintiffs, environmental concerns, criminal suspects and immigrants.

In a recent decision, a dissenting judge accused Larsen and a colleague of turning a blind eye to race-based policing that violates the constitutional rights of black and brown Americans.

Republicans have defended the Northwestern Law School graduate as a mainstream judge with impeccable credentials. In her 2017 confirmation hearing, she said she has ruled evenly and never given any public or private promises that she would overrule Roe vs. Wade or any other precedents.

Attorney Richard Bernstein worked as co-counsel with Larsen on a yearlong trial when they were both lawyers at Sidley & Austin in Washington, which she joined for three years after clerking for Scalia. In a 2018 interview, he said Larsen was a smart lawyer and fine judge.

But Bernstein, a former Scalia clerk himself, said he worried that all candidates on Trumps list would seek to overrule decisions on abortion and gay rights that Scalia opposed.

The belief that those decisions are not only wrong but illegitimate runs so deep among movement conservatives, he said.

Larsen spoke at Scalias memorial service in 2016, praising his intellect, upbeat attitude and the opportunities he gave his clerks.

What better preparation for any of us, male or female, than to have matched wits with the justice? she said. With each thrust and parry, we got sharper."

Larsen appears to have an expansive view of the powers of the presidency, a topic which shes taught in law school. She wrote a 2006 article defending President George W. Bushs use of signing statements to interpret laws passed by Congress. She also worked in the Office of Legal Counsel in the U.S. Department of Justice from 2002 to 2003, drafting legal opinions involving the Patriot Act, detainees' rights and other matters.

Larsen assured senators in 2017 that she would have no problem ruling against Trump if the law demanded it. She said that Scalia taught her that the law governs, not personal interest.

Larsen is married to University of Michigan law professor Adam Pritchard. They live in Scio Township near Ann Arbor and have two children.
The Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), a PSU under the Ministry of Labour and Employment, has called for applications in a prescribed format from qualified and experienced individuals for filling Twenty Five (25) vacancies to the post of Assistant Director (Vigilance) on a deputation basis to be posted at EPFO's zones in Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Kolkata in India on a fulltime basis. The offline application process started on September 18, 2020 and closes on November 2, 2020.

CRITERIA DETAILS Name Of The Posts Assistant Director (Vigilance) Organisation Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) Educational Qualification Holding analogous posts on regular basis (substantive post) Experience Three years in a relevant domain Job Responsibilities null Skills Required Desirable Job Location Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad Salary Scale Rs. 15,600 to Rs. 39,100 per month Industry Provident Fund Agency Application Start Date September 18, 2020 Application End Date November 2, 2020

EPFO Recruitment 2020: Age Criteria And Fees

Candidates interested in applying for Assistant Director posts through EPFO Recruitment 2020 must meet the age criteria as per the EPFO norms, with relaxation (upper age limit) for reserved categories as specified in the EPFO Recruitment notification.

For details regarding application fee for Assistant Director posts through EPFO Recruitment 2020, refer to the EPFO Recruitment notification given at the end of the article.

WBPRB Recruitment 2020 For 139 Sub-Inspector, ASI And Constable Jobs. Apply Online Before October 18

EPFO Recruitment 2020: Educational Eligibility

Candidates applying for Assistant Director posts through EPFO Recruitment 2020 must be holding analogous posts on regular basis (substantive post) and possess three years of experience in dealing with disciplinary/vigilance cases as detailed in the EPFO Recruitment notification.

EPFO Recruitment 2020: Selection And Pay Scale

The selection of candidates to Assistant Director posts through EPFO Recruitment 2020 will be done through Shortlisting, Interview and Document Verification as notified in the EPFO Recruitment notification.

Candidates selected to Assistant Director posts through EPFO Recruitment 2020 will be paid emolument in the scale of Rs. 15,600 to Rs. 39,100 per month as specified in the EPFO Recruitment notification.

AIATSL Recruitment 2020 For Para Medical And Customer Agent Posts. E-mail Applications Before Oct 2

EPFO Recruitment 2020: How To Apply

Candidates applying for Assistant Director posts through EPFO Recruitment 2020 must fill the application form in a prescribed format attached with the advertisement, and send the same along with relevant documents to "Shri Brijesh, K. Mishra, Regional Provident Fund Commissioner-I(HRM), Bhavishya Nidhi Bhawan, 14 Bhikaiji Cama Place, New Delhi-110066" on or before November 2, 2020, and a scanned copy of the same must be e-mailed at rc.hrm7@epfindia.gov.in as mentioned in the EPFO Recruitment notification.

Download EPFO Recruitment 2020 PDF Notification for Assistant Director (Vigilance) posts
Although China may not have deliberately created Covid-19, it is possible that its release was the result of a lab accident at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, which has been doing gain-of-function research on bat coronaviruses. Such research modifies a virus to make it deadlier or more transmissible  specifically, transmissible between species. We may never know the truth of the viruss origin. But, the Covid-19 pandemic has shown the Chinese government what is possible: To decimate global economies without inviting a significant economic or geopolitical toll itself. So there are new dangers.

Gene editing has now made it possible to engineer viruses whose effects range from Covid-19 to the bubonic plague. And the danger comes not only from governments: Rogue scientists and bio-hackers have access to the same tools. This is why India must take the lead in developing bio-defences. In my book, The Driver in the Driverless Car, I warned about the dangers of gene editing, forecasting that, in an era of bio-ethicists and bio-hackers, we will have to make difficult choices about whether to restrict the synthetic-biology technologies making the manufacture of these viruses possible. The danger is acute, the book explains, because in the near future, we will routinely have our genetic material analysed. With Artificial Intelligence (AI) and genomic data, scientists will decipher the complex relationships between DNA and biological processes and find treatments for diseases. Later in this decade, we will be able to download and print at home medicines, tissues, and bacteria custom-designed to suit our DNA and keep us healthy.

As we are seeing with the development of vaccines for the Sars-CoV-2 virus, accelerated research and development is possible. In the past, the creation and testing of vaccine candidates against pathogens have taken decades. Now, we are on track to do it within months. There are several companies using genomic blueprints made of DNA or ribonucleic acid (RNA) to teach the body how to defend itself from Covid-19. By injecting these into human cells, they cause them to produce virus antigens  which the immune system reacts to. The Moderna Therapeutics and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine candidates, now in phase-three clinical trials, were developed in weeks; it is conceivable that the same could be done in hours once the technologies are perfected.

In the updated Indian edition of The Driver in the Driverless Car, I included details of a cancer-cure plan that I presented to Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi at Kevadia, Gujarat, last October, a plan predicated on Indias readiness to embrace advancing technologies. With these, India has the potential not only to provide its people with the most-advanced medical care but also to cure cancer itself. It can lead the world in research and innovation and lay the foundation for a trillion-dollar medical industry. I proposed that in order to achieve this, India launch the largest clinical trial in world history and use technologies such as genomics, synthetic biology, sensors, 3D printing, and AI to analyse data and develop treatments. Not only will this provide direct benefit to cancer patients; the discoveries will lead to the creation of hundreds of start-ups in India and fuel innovation in the medical sciences. This is the type of initiative that India must launch in preparation for the next pandemic.

India could also accelerate the process of testing vaccines  which has become the slowest part of the development cycle. In testing cancer drugs, for example, labs all over the world are creating three-dimensional cell cultures, patient-derived organoids, from a tumour biopsy. The leading company in this field, SEngine Precision Medicine, is able to test more than 100 cancer drugs on organoids, using the tumours rather than human subjects as guinea pigs. Researchers at Harvards Wyss Institute announced in January that they had developed the first human organ-on-a-chip model of the lung that accurately recapitulates human physiology and pathophysiology at organ sophistication. Massachusetts Institute of Technology engineers have been developing a microfluidic platform that connects engineered tissues from up to 10 organs, allowing the replication of human-organ interactions for weeks at a time and measurement of the effects of drugs on different body parts. Many more such systems are in development that could accelerate testing and treatment; and these are the missing component of bio-defence testing.

All of these technologies can be designed and developed in India, with an investment comparable to the cost of the Mangalyaan and Chandrayaan-2 missions. In my conversation with him, I found PM Modi to be brilliant in understanding technologies and their potential. He was excited about having India take the global leader in medical research, and asked his chief scientific adviser, K Vijay Raghavan, to present him with a proposal to implement it by February. Then Covid-19 happened and all efforts were put on hold. It is time for India to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat by the coronavirus  and to implement the grand plans to build its bio-defences and benefit the world by curing disease.

Vivek Wadhwa is a distinguished fellow at the Labor and Worklife Program of Harvard Law School and the author of The Driver in the Driverless Car: How Our Technology Choices Will Create the Future

The views expressed are personal

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 23:07:30|Editor: huaxia

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CAIRO, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Six Eastern Mediterranean countries signed a charter on Tuesday to formally establish a Cairo-based energy forum, according to a statement on the website of the Egyptian ministry of oil.

The East Mediterranean Gas Forum (EMGF) is set to become a vital platform that brings together gas producers, consumers and transit states to boost a sustainable regional market for gas, the statement said.

The charter was signed by Egyptian, Cypriot, Greek, Israeli, Italian, and Jordanian energy ministers in a virtual ceremony hosted by Cairo.

The forum was formed in January 2019 to reinforce cooperation among member states, create a regional gas market, optimise resource development, cut the cost of infrastructure, offer competitive prices and improve trade ties, said the statement.

Egypt's Minister of Petroleum, Mining, and Mineral Resources Tarek el-Molla said that "turning the forum into an international organization gives momentum to bolster cooperation and dialogue over gas in the region." Enditem
DETROIT, MI  Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris urged Black voters in Michigan to participate in the Nov. 3 election during a campaign visit to Detroit.

Harris toured Flint and held two events in Detroit Tuesday, a voter engagement rally behind the Detroit Pistons Practice Center and a socially distanced conversation with Black voters, Detroit NAACP President the Rev. Wendell Anthony and Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist in the parking lot at Headliners Barber Shop. In Detroit, Harris highlighted the importance Democrats are placing on Black voters in the presidential election.

Gilchrist noted that President Donald Trump won Michigan by 10,704 votes in 2016, the smallest margin of any state. He said the number is seared into his mind.

I challenge you: There are 11,000 Black men in Michigan who could turn that around, Gilchrist said.

Trump lost in the city of Detroit by a wide margin four years ago, collecting only 3% of the vote. However, Democratic votes in the surrounding Wayne County dropped by 76,402 from 2012 to 2016, and Trump became the first Republican to flip Michigan in nearly three decades.

Harris the presidential race will impact generations to come, stressing that a Biden-Harris administration will bring much-needed investment to Black communities. She touted Bidens proposed $2 trillion investment in public infrastructure and other investments in job training, manufacturing jobs and raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour.

Lets talk about Americas failure when it comes to creating safe communities, Harris said during a conversation with Black men outside the Detroit barbershop. It is outdated, it is wrongheaded to think the only way youre going to get communities to be safe is to put more police officers on the street. What we have to do, and what we will do is reimagine public safety. If you want a safe community you have to invest in the health and well-being of that community.

Democratic nominee Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden also visited Michigan in September.

We will keep coming back, because so goes Michigan goes the rest of the country, as far as we are concerned, Harris said.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat serving as an adviser to Bidens campaign, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and U.S. Rep. Brenda Lawrence, D-Southfield, spoke before Harris at the Pistons Practice Center. U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabneow, D-Lansing, also attended Harris' events in Flint and Detroit.

Whitmer recalled when she, Duggan and Harris met in Detroit the night before Biden won Michigans Democratic primary. One day later, the first confirmed case of COVID-19 was found in Michigan.

Since then, the state health department has confirmed 117,910 cases. The United States surpassed 200,000 deaths linked to the virus Tuesday, including 6,680 in Michigan.

COVID-19 has shown us who is in office can be life and death, Whitmer said.

During the earlier conversation with Black men from Detroit, Gilchrist said he personally knows 23 people who were killed by the coronavirus.

Not a single one of them had to die, Gilchrist said. Their death was a policy failure that started with a failure in the white house. That is why the stakes are so high. The majority of them were Black men.

Harris said Trump was more concerned with the virus' impact on the stock market as the death toll rose throughout the year. The California senator said Trump misled Americans about the severity of the coronavirus, and continues to put people at risk by holding large rallies against the recommendation of health experts.

We deserve better, Harris said.

Harris said Trump and his boy, Attorney General William Barr, are trying to end the Affordable Care Act through a legal challenge that is set to come before the Supreme Court later this year. Harris said the ACA is one of the most significant reforms of the health care system in history by bringing insurance to 20 million people, many who have pre-existing health conditions.

Harris expressed disgust that Trump would attempt to eliminate the ACA in the midst of a public health pandemic. She noted that Black Americans have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic, facing a higher rate of infection and death than other groups.

7 million people who contracted COVID, you can believe they have a pre-existing condition, Harris said. If Trump has his way, they can be denied.

Duggan criticized Trump for not doing more to help state and local governments secure testing materials during the height of the pandemic. He said the coronavirus response stands in stark contrast to how Biden helped manage Detroits bankruptcy and the federal bailout of Michigan automakers in 2009.

Stabenow and Whitmer also mourned the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, which leaves an open seat on the Supreme Court. Trump announced he will move to fill the seat before the election, leaving Democrats fearful of how a conservative majority court could peel back abortion rights and the Affordable Care Act, among other issues.

It is now up to us to embody her same courage and determination to fight for whats right and just for all Americans, Stabneow said. With this new Supreme Court vacancy, everything is on the line  This is not a time to agonize or give up. Its a time to organize and stand up.

Harris also touched on voting rights during her events in Detroit. She said the Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act in 2013, leading states to implement policies that make it difficult for Black people to vote. Meanwhile, she said the Russian government specifically targeted Black voters with disinformation to discourage their participation in the 2016 election.

I think all of this begs a question: Why are so many powerful people spending so much time to prevent us from voting? Harris said. The answer is: Because they know when we vote, things change. Let us not let anyone take our power from us. We must vote and we must vote early.

Tuesdays visit was timed around National Voter Registration Day, an informal holiday recognizing the importance of participating in elections. Republicans also held several voter engagement events, including a statewide bus tour and an Evangelicals for Trump rally at Motor City Church in Troy.

Harris visited Michigan two days before election officials begin mailing absentee ballots to a record number of voters who requested them. She was greeted by an enthusiastic crowd during a walking tour of downtown Flint, the first time since Harris appeared publicly in Michigan since being chosen to run alongside Biden.

The events in Detroit were closed to the public. Attendees were spaced six feet apart and wore masks.

Tuesdays itinerary included a mix of planned remarks and informal meet and greets with businesses and voters, similar to Bidens campaign visit to Warren and Detroit earlier this month. Harris also met the owners of Drought in Royal Oak, a woman-owned juice business, and handed out campaign signs to supporters before leaving Michigan.

The Trump campaign highlighted the presidents accomplishments for Black communities in a statement.

While Democrats like Kamala Harris and their radical policies have failed Black Americans for decades, President Trump and the GOP have an impactful track record of historic victories, like the investments in HBCUs through the FUTURE Act, criminal justice reform through the First Step Act, and Opportunity Zones through the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, said Paris Dennard, senior communications advisor for Black Media Affairs.

READ MORE ON MLIVE:

Kamala Harris visits Flint businesses affected by COVID-19 pandemic

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Donald Trump Jr. says Biden decimated Michigan jobs at campaign rally with Kid Rock
While a bustling city like Mumbai infuses an infectious energy to chase your dreams, it is also one of the most densely populated places in the world, bursting at the seams with high congestion and cramped spaces. In contrast, integrated townships offer the quietude of open spaces to live and the safety of walled enclosures where every amenity is easily available. Integrated townships allow you to enjoy the benefits of living in a big city while indulging in the perks of small-town life.

Townships foster a sense of community living, which brings people together and gives them a sense of belonging; something that has become a necessity especially due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Post this pandemic, people are seeing the merits of living in integrated townships, since it ensures that you have easy access to essentials, as all the amenities and stores you need are within close reach. And it also fosters connections with the community. Community living enriches lives and helps one maintain connections with the neighbourhood. In addition, townships facilitate much-needed infrastructure through retail outlets, schools, hospitals, clubhouses, designated spaces for social gatherings and sporting amenities, among other conveniences. In other words, everything is available within the confines of the wholesome community itself  all at the push of a button.

Sound infrastructure

Well-laid roads built with sound raw material, ample street lighting and sewage and water treatment plants make townships more desirable and hygienic than stand-alone towers. Builders have world-class security teams manning the gates along with 247 CCTV cameras installed. Families with small children find ample places for them to play  a distinct advantage over tinpot apartments. Townships are safe even for the elderly, who dont have to step outside the community, if they wish to go for a walk.

By virtue of living in an integrated township, people can interact and engage with one another. A special atmosphere binds all residents and they help create real communities, who live like extended families, helping each other when in need.

Sarova  One of Mumbais biggest integrated townships

Spread over 55 acres, the Sarova Township in Kandivali East is one of the biggest ever made in Mumbai. Designed by Japanese master planners Nikken Sikkei and India's prolific architect Hafeez Contractor, this ultra-modern integrated township is the perfect blend of high-rise, mid-rise and low-rise contemporary residences.

The Sarova Township offers a bouquet of inventory available in all types of construction phases, which include apartments that are ready to move in, some that are nearing completion and some that are under construction. You can choose from residential configurations of 1, 2 and 3 BHK to suit your needs. To create a complete living experience for its residents, and enable them to enjoy a fulfilling lifestyle with work-life balance, even in Mumbai's fast-paced life, this township brings together facilities such as high street shopping, a grand central park, hospitals, schools, a commercial complex, a central clubhouse, a mall and a multiplex to constitute a distinctive world of its own.

Thakur Village

The location of the project in Kandivali East offers it unique access. Its proximity to the Thakur village, which lies to the east of the Western Express Highway, signifies the rapid development that this area has undergone. Thakur village itself is a hub of modernity and civic activism. Residents Forum, a voluntary group of village residents, has implemented a `Say no to plastic bags and `Carry your own cloth bag policy since November 1, 2017. An ongoing initiative spearheaded by the volunteers of the Forum, it also includes interacting with customers, distributing cloth-bags and keeping a close eye on the usage of plastic bags in the area.

Easy access to business districts

The Sarova projects immediate access to various business districts of Mumbai, and to extended suburbs like BKC, Nariman Point, Andheri MIDC and Vashi, complete the ensemble. Proximity to the Western Express Highway will also make it possible for Sarova residents to travel to nearby cities and holiday destinations like Pune, Nashik, Lonavala and Ahmedabad without having to negotiate the dense Mumbai traffic. To add to this perfect web of connections is the upcoming Metro station, which is just two minutes away. Significantly, the developers have planned to connect the new metro station with a foot over-bridge (FOB) directly with the township for residents ease and convenience.

The Shapoorji Pallonji legacy

Such enterprise and brilliance are hardly surprising given the legacy backing it. When 153 years of building and redesigning experience is concentrated on a 55-acre project, the sky is the limit. The project designed by Indias top real estate companies, Shapoorji Pallonji Group and SD Corp, is certain to leave its imprimatur on the work that they do. The Shapoorji Pallonji Group was established in the year 1865. SD Corp is a Shapoorji Pallonji-Dilip Thacker Group venture.

This is a partnered post.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 13:54:16|Editor: huaxia

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TASHKENT, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Uzbekistan plans to bring the export of agricultural products to 5 billion U.S. dollars in the coming years by widening the export destinations and modernizing the sector, the presidential press service said Tuesday.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has instructed the government to increase the scientific potential of the agricultural sector and to introduce an international certification system in order to achieve the export target, the press service said in a statement.

"In 2019, the certificates to export 78 types of (agricultural) products to 19 countries of the world were obtained. But this is not enough for Uzbekistan with its huge potential," said the president.

Uzbekistan will pay special attention to negotiations with Lithuania, Latvia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Egypt, Qatar, Mongolia, Afghanistan and other countries to export fruits and vegetables, said the statement.

In March, the World Bank approved a 500-million-dollar financing package for implementation of the Agriculture Modernization Project in Uzbekistan, which will help the country modernize institutions and upgrade agricultural research and development capabilities.

Agriculture is the leading sector of the Uzbek economy, employing 3.6 million people and taking up 32 percent of the country's GDP. Enditem
New Delhi: You will be surprised to know that the conspiracy for Delhi riots started immediately after the results of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections were announced, and the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act gave it chance to give it a concrete shape, according to the charge sheet filed by Delhi Police's Special Cell.

As you know that riots broke out at many places in north-east Delhi in February this year, in protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act. On February 22, when the violence erupted, the anger appeared to be against the system, but the riots continued for 4 days, claiming 53 lives and around 600 people were injured. Several dead bodies were retrieved from a nullah, where mutilated bodies were dumped.

When the riots were spreading like a wildfire from February 22 to February 25, Zee News had reported that the violence appeared to be planned violence after its 4-day investigation.

All this was done under a larger conspiracy to destabilize the elected government at the Centre. The conspirators had designed these riots to embarrass the country on the international forum as the US President was on a visit to India at that time. The timing was already fixed and everything was planned. The messages through WhatsApp groups were spread on mobile phones to gather on the different roads in the capital.

Live TV

The script of the Delhi riots was already exposed by Zee News with proofs, but the Delhi Police charge sheet has further revealed the conspiracy. It has made some startling revelations.

According to the charge sheet, results of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections had instigated the conspirators to plan violent demonstrations against the government to create an atmosphere of instability.

The charge sheet further states that the sole purpose of conspirators was to overthrow the Indian government. The conspirators had chosen the time of US President Donald Trump's visit to meet their purpose, thereby, killing two birds with one stone.

During President Donald Trump's press conference in Delhi on February 25, questions on the Delhi riots were also asked, and it seemed that a part of the media was also working to discredit the nation.

The charge sheet has also mentioned Whatsapp Chats to expose the script of February 2020 violence that was written in December 2019. You may recall that Delhi was witnessing demonstrations in Shaheen Bagh at that time.

A message from a WhatsApp group, Warriors, on December 29 reads that Muslim women have hit the road - this is a big success. This is a breakthrough. On January 5, 2020, a picture was posted in this group stating women's revolution against CAA, NPR, and NRC. The picture also mentioned the time and place.

Another Whatsapp group named DPSG was also formed during this period. On February 17, 2020, a person from this group wrote that their protest should be non-violent and cautioned that they should not play with fire. However, violence erupted in Delhi on February 22, proving that there were talks of inciting violence on February 17 itself.

The Delhi riots were triggered through social media, and this medium was used as a weapon to execute the conspiracy. The chare sheet exposed as to how WhatsApp Groups, Facebook posts, and Twitter messages were used to incite the riots.

It also mentions the names of groups like Jamia Coordination Committee, Warrior, Khidmat, Auraton ka Inquilab, Delhi Protest Support Group (DPSG), Save Constitution that were used to trigger the riots in Delhi.

The DNA report will tell you about the chats of Whatsapp Group, Warriors, which was formed on December 27, 2019, by an accused Gulfishan. After forming the group, Gul Hassan wrote that he has created a group. This group will give you information about the plan.

On December 29, Hassan wrote that "Please try to come a little early tomorrow. Come at 10 in the morning for launching the campaign." Another message on January 17, 2020, said that all the women should reach the place of protest as the force is increasing and their number is less.

On February 23, 2020, another message was sent at 7.35 am, saying that women were sleeping in Hauzrani, but they woke after hearing about the blockade in Seelampur and started raising slogans in support.

On February 23, another message was forwarded that the historic Bharat Bandh has been started from Jafrabad Seelampur in Delhi. Arrive at Jafrabad in Delhi as the Bharat Bandh will be organised within the Constitutional framework. The BJP government will be made aware of the power of Bahujans.

The most shocking information has come out during the police investigation that the rioters selectively set fire the vehicles. The rioters used the E-Vahan app to ascertain the name of the vehicle owner before setting them on fire in the parking areas.

E-Vahan is a service provided through the Ministry of Transport to provide you information about the name of the owner of a vehicle. This also provides information about the vehicle owner's address.

In the Delhi riots, some people were directly responsible for the violence but there were few who played an indirect role, and this included journalists and some leaders from opposition parties.

The "key conspirators" had worked towards the creation of a WhatsApp group to mask the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act with a "secular facade" providing mass-based and more acceptable civil society participation, the charge sheet alleged.
Donald Trumps looming Supreme Court decision is dividing the presidents political orbit between the pragmatists and the purists.

One camp is dominated by the GOP operative class overseeing the partys electoral efforts, including the presidents own campaign advisers and donors. The imperative is to do anything possible to win the election, and Barbara Lagoa would be an undeniable boon, they say: a Florida-based, Cuban-American jurist from a must-win state, who might also help the president in Hispanic-heavy Arizona and Nevada.

The other, led by White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, consists of religious and movement conservatives. They want a cant-miss pick  someone who carries the lowest possible risk of becoming the next John Roberts or, worse, David Souter. The obvious choice to them is Amy Coney Barrett, an acolyte of former Justice Antonin Scalia whos been groomed for decades to ascend to the high court and is seen as having the inside track.

The two sides arent openly warring; instead, disagreements are surfacing in their attempts to bend the presidents ear and generate favorable media coverage for their preference. But the discord reflects the GOPs conflicting priorities six weeks out from an election that Trump could well lose.

Barretts boosters include Marjorie Dannenfelser, who heads the anti-abortion rights group Susan B. Anthony List. She said she spoke with Trump Monday to make the case for Barrett. Also in Barretts corner is Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council, another group that opposes abortion rights. He said he had reached out to the White House to press for Barrett and another judge seen as less likely to be nominated, Allison Jones Rushing.

In this May 19, 2018, photo, Amy Coney Barrett, United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit judge, speaks during the University of Notre Dame's Law School commencement ceremony at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind. Barrett is on President Donald Trump's list of potential Supreme Court Justice candidates to fill the spot vacated by retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy. (Robert Franklin/South Bend Tribune via AP)

Perkins said he also raised concerns about Lagoa, whom he describes as a relative unknown. The fact that more than two dozen Democratic senators voted for her 2019 confirmation to her current seat has raised suspicions, Perkins said. (That bipartisan vote is a plus in the eyes of Lagoas backers.)

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Perkins convened a conference call Monday with evangelical leaders and told POLITICO that the consensus of participants was in favor of Barrett and Rushing, but against Lagoa. While Barrett is a familiar figure after being previously considered by Trump for a Supreme Court seat, the concern is that a lesser-known jurist could end up deviating from conservative thought and leave activists feeling burned.

I want to know where they stand, and I think thats reflective of where social conservatives are, Perkins said. We worked too hard and for too long to miss at this point.

But by bypassing Lagoa, political operatives say the president would forgo an opportunity to bolster his chances in Florida.

Both would be great picks and would energize the Republican base. But with Lagoa, there is likely an immediate, tangible impact on a critical swing state in Florida, said Phil Cox, the former executive director of the Republican Governors Association.

Some Trump political advisers argue it would be risky for Democrats to go after Lagoa given their prior vote for her as well as her ethnic background. They also express concern about Barrett's writings before she became a judge indicating she opposes Roe v. Wade and the Affordable Care Act. Polls show both those issues are important to suburban women, who have broken hard against the president.

Democrats are also prepared to question Barrett about her reported membership in a far-right religious group that believes wives are subservient to husbands. The matter has been brought to the presidents attention, according to a Trump campaign adviser.

Within Trumps political orbit, there's little desire to spend the final weeks of the election dwelling on these issues  especially abortion, which they fear it would further mobilize liberal activists, some of whom are currently lukewarm on Joe Biden.

Do we want to be talking about this for the next 40 days?" said a Trump campaign adviser, who argued that Trump is already strong among evangelicals and that Lagoa is a conservative Catholic, too. We have a choice: We can put Democrats on defense and let them explain why theyre reversing their votes on Lagoa and why theyre attacking a Latina.

At the same time, Trump relishes culture war fights. And even Lagoa backers believe he might be drawn to Barrett because of the spectacle it would create when Democrats unload on her, including a hoped-for backlash from Catholic voters.

Top Florida Republicans close to the president  including Gov. Ron DeSantis, Sens. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott, and Rep. Matt Gaetz  have spread the word that Lagoa would be at least as good a justice as Barrett but would bring more political advantages.

The Trump campaign is also trying to make up lost ground in Arizona and pick up steam in Nevada, both states with large Latino electorates that advisers think would look favorably upon a Latina nominee. Another theory: picking a Latina could also allay concerns of white moderate voters put off by Trumps harsh and sometimes racist rhetoric toward Hispanics.

Trump has made Cuban-American outreach  especially in Miami  a centerpiece of his strategy after underperforming among the demographic group in 2016. The presidents campaign is also courting anti-socialist conservatives and independent Latinos.

Barbara Lagoa, center, Governor Ron DeSantis' pick for the Florida Supreme Court, speaks after being introduced, as DeSantis and Lt. Gov Jeanette Nunez, left, look on.

Recent polls have shown Biden lagging among Floridas Hispanic voters, forcing his campaign to intensify its outreach to them.

Assuming the qualifications of the [potential nominees] are about equal, and the calculation comes down to politics, Lagoa's Florida residency could tip the scales, said Neil Newhouse, who was the lead pollster on Mitt Romneys 2012 presidential campaign.

The high court vacancy has emerged as a central topic of discussion between Trump and his political advisers. The president met Monday with three top reelection officials, Bill Stepien, Justin Clark, and Jason Miller. While the Supreme Court came up, no specific potential nominees were discussed, according to a person familiar with the conversation.

Trumps outside allies, meanwhile, have begun polling to determine how Supreme Court-focused messaging will play in battleground states. The presidents campaign is also conducting polling.

There isnt unanimous agreement among the presidents more pragmatic supporters that Lagoa would be the best pick. Some of them contend that Barrett would be a safer choice since she's previously been vetted for the high court. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who is overseeing the effort to protect the partys imperiled majority, has told the president he prefers Barrett, according to a person familiar with the discussions.

So, too, has National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Todd Young, who represents Barretts home state of Indiana.

Conservative activists contend that Barrett would make the most sense politically, saying that a Lagoa nomination would risk alienating Trumps base ahead of the election.

Ned Ryun, a staunch Trump ally and the founder and chief executive officer of American Majority, said conservatives wont fight for Lagoa.

This isnt a time to play it too cute or virtue signal or anything like that, he added. Trump and the GOP Senate were elected to put the most conservative originalist judges on the court. They should take this moment to do precisely that.

To Perkins, the forthcoming pick is a matter near and dear to the hearts of conservatives who will determine Trumps fate on Nov. 3.

What the president needs and what the Senate needs is intensity among their base voters, he argued. This is turning the knob of intensity up about three clicks if he makes the right pick.

Democrats privately acknowledge that Lagoa would be more of a challenge in that regard. But the official Democratic Party line is that theres little difference between any of the potential Trump nominees.

It doesnt matter who he nominates because this president has been very clear about what his litmus test is: No. 1, will this nominee overturn Roe v. Wade? And No. 2, will this nominee overturn the Affordable Care Act, said Stephanie Cutter, a veteran Democratic strategist who worked against confirming President George W. Bushs high court picks and helped lead the effort to confirm President Barack Obamas.

And those two things combined are going to scare the heck out of suburban women voters across this country on Election Day.


Bill Clinton is said to have enjoyed a secret dinner with Ghislaine Maxwell in 2014 - years after she was first linked to Jeffrey Epstein's sex crimes.

The former US president, 74, ate with close friends, including Epstein's alleged madam and former girlfriend Maxwell, at vegan restaurant Crossroads Kitchen in Los Angeles in February of that year, The Daily Beast reports.

Maxwell, 58, who attended Chelsea Clinton's wedding in 2010, had been linked to Epstein's crimes in 2011 by Virginia Roberts, one of Epsteins prime accusers.

Her attendance at the 2014 meal is said to have been hotly contested by Clinton's team. The former president is said to have been 'relieved' the press did not find out about the dinner. DailyMail.com has contacted Clinton's team for comment.

Democrat donor Steve Bing, who killed himself earlier this year, is also thought to have dined with Clinton that night. Maxwell's rumored husband and tech CEO Scott Borgerson was also said to be on the guestlist.

TMZ reported at the time that producer Jerry Bruckheimer and actors Bruce Willis and Sean Penn were also at that the restaurant, although are not thought to have been part of Clinton's entourage. Video shows Clinton arriving via a back door.

Maxwell remains behind bars as she awaits trial on charges she recruited girls for disgraced financier Epstein to sexually abuse more than two decades ago. He killed himself in prison in August last year, several weeks after being charged with sex trafficking.

Clinton traveled numerous times on the dead pedophiles private Jet. In May he was forced to deny claims he had an affair with Maxwell in new book A Convenient Death: The Mysterious Demise of Jeffrey Epstein.

Bill Clinton, left, is said to have enjoyed a secret dinner with Ghislaine Maxwell, right, in 2014 - years after she was first linked to Jeffrey Epstein's sex crimes

The former US president, 74, ate with close friends, including Epstein's alleged madam, at vegan restaurant Crossroads Kitchen in Los Angeles, The Daily Beast reports

Epstein was first sentenced to 18 months in prison and registered as a sex offender in 2008.

Doug Band, who left his role with Clinton in 2012, is said to have banned Maxwell from the presidents network in 2011 but Clintons deputy chief of staff Jon Davidson, who helped organize the dinner, is reported to have known she would be there.

Clinton and Maxwell were once pictured together on the billionaire pedophile's plane back in the early 2000s.

A source told The Daily Beast: 'This is an intimate dinner with Clinton in LA. Think of all the people he knows in L.A., and Ghislaine gets to attend.'

Clinton and Maxwell are pictured aboard Jeffrey Epstein's private jet 2002. The pair are seen at a small airport in Portugal during a fuel stop for the plane bound to Africa from New York

Maxwell, who attended Chelsea Clinton's wedding in 2010, was linked to Epstein's crimes in 2011 by Virginia Roberts, one of Epsteins prime accusers; her attendance at the 2014 meal is said to have been contested by Clinton's team

Democrat donor Steve Bing, who killed himself in June, was also at the meal. Clinton and Bing are pictured in 2009

Clinton had been in LA for the Unite4:Humanity gala, where he was the keynote speaker; Maxwell stayed in the city and was pictured three days later with Elon Musk at the Vanity Fair Oscar's party.

Clinton's spokesman, Angel Urena, did not comment but referred to this 2019 statement: 'President Clinton knows nothing about the terrible crimes Jeffrey Epstein pleaded guilty to in Florida some years ago, or those with which he has been recently charged in New York.

'In 2002 and 2003, President Clinton took a total of four trips on Jeffrey Epsteins airplane: one to Europe, one to Asia, and two to Africa, which included stops in connection with the work of the Clinton Foundation. Staff, supporters of the Foundation, and his Secret Service detail traveled on every leg of every trip.

'He had one meeting with Epstein in his Harlem office in 2002, and around the same time made one brief visit to Epsteins New York apartment with a staff member and his security detail. Hes not spoken to Epstein in well over a decade, and has never been to Little St. James Island, Epsteins ranch in New Mexico, or his residence in Florida.'

Ghislaine Maxwell appears via video link during her arraignment hearing where she was denied bail for her role aiding Jeffrey Epstein to recruit and eventually abuse of minor girls, in Manhattan Federal Court in July

In photos obtained by the DailyMail.com earlier this year Clinton grinned with pleasure as he enjoyed an intimate neck massage with Epstein victim Chauntae Davies, then 22.

Clinton, then 56, had complained of having a stiff neck after falling asleep on Epstein's infamous private jet, nicknamed The Lolita Express, while on a humanitarian trip with the pedophile to Africa in September of 2002.

Maxwell is said to have repeatedly encouraged Davies to give Clinton a massage while the group was refueling at a small airport in Portugal after flying in from New York.

Epstein was first sentenced to 18 months in prison and registered as a sex offender in 2008. He was arrested again in July last year before being found dead in his prison cell a month later

After Maxwell's insistence, Clinton asked the twenty-something: 'Would you mind giving it a crack?'

Davies, who has claimed she was raped by Epstein several times after being recruited by Maxwell, said Clinton was a 'complete gentleman' on the trip.

In papers released by a judge Virginia Roberts, one of Epsteins prime accusers, also says Clinton strolled into the darkness with two girls while staying on Epsteins private Caribbean island. Clinton denies ever being there and has also always maintained he knew nothing of Epstein's abuse of young girls.

In an excerpt of A Convenient Death: The Mysterious Demise of Jeffrey Epstein, obtained by the New York Post, sources said Clinton would have sex with Maxwell during overseas trips on Epstein's Lolita Express plane and he would visit her at her Manhattan townhouse.

The former president has denied having the affair with Maxwell. Clinton's spokesman said: 'It's a total lie today, it's a total lie tomorrow, and it'll be a total lie years from now.'

Sources quoted in the book claim that Clinton was tied to Epstein only because of his alleged affair with Maxwell.

The book claims Clinton visited Maxwell at her Upper East Side townhouse on multiple occasions.

Maxwell, 58, remains behind bars as she awaits trial on charges she recruited girls for disgraced financier Epstein to sexually abuse more than two decades ago

They were also side-by-side at various events in New York City together, including ones held by his own Clinton Foundation.

Maxwell has pleaded not guilty to charges that she procured the girls, including one as young as 14, for Epstein to abuse in London and the United States in the 1990s. If convicted, she could face up to 35 years in prison.

Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to state charges in Florida of procuring a person under 18 for prostitution and felony solicitation of prostitution. He served 13 months, most of it on work release program at a county jail.
Susan Collins; Donald Trump

Susan Collins and Donald Trump Getty Images/Salon

Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine is in a tough fight for re-election, and it just got tougher.

Known for her relative independence historically, Collins' once soaring popularity has plummeted in her home state as she has been tied ever-closer to President Donald Trump, who is not popular with Maine voters. Her standing in the state seems to have been especially hurt by her support for the extremely controversial Justice Brett Kavanaugh during his 2018 nomination to the Supreme Court.

The last thing she would have wanted to do in the run-up to her re-election is wade into another Supreme Court battle, but that's where she finds herself. While the fight may help some Republican senators at risk in red states like Montana, it creates an impossible choice for Collins. If she supports the president's nominee to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, she will almost certainly outrage the majority of her state that dislikes the president. But if she doesn't support the nominee, then she risks alienating Trump supporters  who she desperately needs to have any chance of keeping her seat. A mealy-mouthed compromise position is likely to please no one.

She has already come out with such a position, saying she opposes the president nominating a new justice while also refusing to directly state that she would vote against any nominee. But Republicans plan to vet and vote on the new nominee before the election, so Collins' half-a-loaf answer isn't likely to stay fresh until Nov. 3.

And after her remarks were public, the president came after Collins directly.

"I think Susan Collins is very badly hurt by her statement yesterday," Trump said Monday morning on Fox News. He said the same about Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who expressed a similar sentiment to Collins', though the Alaska senator is not up for re-election. "I think that Susan Collins is going to be hurt very badly  her people aren't going to take this. People are not going to take it."

Story continues

Trump's comments are a major blow to Collins, exacerbating the already fraught dynamics of the issue for her.

And she already appears to be in trouble. Her Democratic opponent, Sara Gideon, has staked out a decent lead in several recent polls. One pollster had Gideon up by as much as 12 points ahead of Collins, though other polls assessed her lead as a more modest, but still formidable, 4 to 7 points.

The stress of the situation seems to be getting to Collins. CNN reporter Manu Raju said that he pressed the senator on her ambiguous statement about a potential nominee on Monday night, and she became "testy."

"I put out a statement, did you even bother to read it?" she said.

"But Collins didn't say if that [statement] means she would definitely vote no, and her office has not responded to questions about it," Raju noted. "She wouldn't answer either and walked onto a senators-only elevator."

You can watch the clip below via Twitter:

https://twitter.com/revrrlewis/status/1308022672207548417

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JOHANNESBURG - South Africas anti-COVID-19 lockdown is credited with helping to achieve a dramatic drop in rhino killings, but as the country opens up experts warn of a possible resurgence of poaching of one of Earths most endangered mammals.

Redoubled efforts are critical to protect the countrys rhinoceros population, South African officials and wildlife activists say, as World Rhino Day is marked Tuesday.

South Africas nationwide shutdown to combat the spread of the coronavirus was imposed at the end of March and stopped all international and domestic travel. The country has gradually reopened and will allow a return of international tourists on Oct. 1.

The lockdown presented an opportunity for us. There was no international or local tourism and the lockdown also prevented poachers from moving around and we were able to ramp up our protective measures, said Albi Modise, spokesman for the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries.

In the first six months of 2020, the numbers of South African rhinos killed by poachers fell by more than 50% from the previous year, to 166, according to official statistics from the environment department.

We realize that as the country opens up, we need to up our game to address the possible threat of poaching, Modise told The Associated Press.

South Africa has about 20,000 rhinos, estimated to be 80% of the worlds total population, and the country has been hard hit by poachers killing the animals for the illegal international trade in rhino horns. Other countries with significant rhino populations are Kenya, Namibia and Zimbabwe.

Although the killings of rhinos have reduced this year, this could be a temporary reprieve, said Cathy Dean, chief executive of Save the Rhino. With the economic downturn caused by the coronavirus, and the decline of tourism, many people are desperate and some may turn to poaching. With a resumption of international flights, we may again see seizures of illegal rhino horn, which indicates a resurgent trade.

South Africa deploys anti-poaching squads throughout its parks to protect rhinos, elephants and other game from poachers.

In the KwaZulu-Natal province, a technologically advanced smart fence is being built around the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi park, which alerts park rangers when any intruder tries to sneak into the park.

The fence has electrics both inside and outside its length and any tampering or cutting of the fence sends us an immediate message, pinpointing the location of the tamper, Nomusa Dube-Ncube, the provinces top official for tourism and environmental affairs, said in a statement.

Two sections of fence have been upgraded to date and we have already seen a shift in rhino poaching activity away from both areas, said Dube-Ncube, thanking the private organization Wildlife ACT for supporting the fence.

They have invested resources, technical support and the channeling of donor funding to these key initiatives, she said. We are hopeful of the decline in poaching losses.
Jesus Is the Way, Truth, Life: Atheism Is the Lost, Lie, Death: a straightforward discussion that reveals to the nonbelievers the divine power of God and how Jesus died for their salvation. Jesus Is the Way, Truth, Life: Atheism Is the Lost, Lie, Death is the creation of published author Michael A. Pietrzyk, a successful business owner with over forty years in the restaurant business. He and his wife, Pam, have been married over forty-nine years with four children and sixteen grandchildren.

Pietrzyk shares, If you cannot comfortably say with confidence that Jesus died for your sins and opens the door of salvation for you or that you deny Jesus, then this book is for you. So many Christians take Jesus for granted, and so many people do not understand His torment and the suffering He endured for us.

We began a spiritual journey when we enter this world. We have a natural body and a world full of responsibilities to challenge us on our journey. We are influenced by many outside sources and personal interactions with our family members and friends. Ultimately, we make the most important decision of our life. Do we believe in God and accept Jesus as our Savior, or do we reject God and accept atheism?

When you analyze the facts of the life of Jesus, his loving teachings, his horrible suffering, death and miraculous resurrection, you come to understand He did it for you. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. His teaching brings light into your life. Jesus is the gateway to eternal happiness when we leave this world.

Atheism with its evil influence wants to drag you down and have you reject God. Atheists are in total denial about God, Jesus, supernatural experiences, something from nothing, and the wisdom in the formation of this universe and mankind. Atheists want you to believe you will simply rot in the ground and accept life with no future hope.

If you are an atheist, dont laugh at this thought and concern. As a Christian, I care for you and your soul. That is certainly more than what the atheistic thinking has in mind for you. Atheism, under the influence of Satan, offers you nothing but the door way to eternal conscious separation from God.

This book is a direct challenge to the thoughts and beliefs of the atheist. I wrote this book with the hope it just might stir the mind of a non-believer. Then believing the Holy Spirit will do the rest.

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Michael A. Pietrzyks new book is a potent discourse that urges an understanding of Gods grace and invites the nonbelievers to realize His truths. The author hopes that everything in this book will help move the readers forward and closer to Jesus.

View a synopsis of Jesus Is the Way, Truth, Life: Atheism Is the Lost, Lie, Death on YouTube.

Consumers can purchase Jesus Is the Way, Truth, Life: Atheism Is the Lost, Lie, Death at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about Jesus Is the Way, Truth, Life: Atheism Is the Lost, Lie, Death, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.
The New York Times, without announcement or explanation, has abandoned the central claim of the 1619 Project: that 1619, the year the first slaves were brought to Colonial Virginiaand not 1776was the true founding of the United States.

The initial introduction to the Project, when it was rolled out in August 2019, stated that

The 1619 Project is a major initiative from the New York Times observing the 400th anniversary of the beginning of American slavery. It aims to reframe the countrys history, understanding 1619 as our true founding, and placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of black Americans at the very center of the story we tell ourselves about who we are.

The revised text now reads:

The 1619 Project is an ongoing initiative from The New York Times Magazine that began in August 2019, the 400th anniversary of the beginning of American slavery. It aims to reframe the countrys history by placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of black Americans at the very center of our national narrative.

A similar change was made from the print version of the 1619 Project, which has been sent out to millions of school children in all 50 states. The original version read:

In August of 1619, a ship appeared on this horizon, near Point Comfort, a coastal port in the British colony of Virginia. It carried more than 20 enslaved Africans, who were sold to the colonists. America was not yet America, but this was the moment it began. No aspect of the country that would be formed here has been untouched by the 250 years of slavery that followed.

The website version has deleted the key claim. It now reads:

In August of 1619, a ship appeared on this horizon, near Point Comfort, a coastal port in the English colony of Virginia. It carried more than 20 enslaved Africans, who were sold to the colonists. No aspect of the country that would be formed here has been untouched by the years of slavery that followed.

It is not entirely clear when the Times deleted its true founding claim, but an examination of old cached versions of the 1619 Project text indicates that it probably took place on December 18, 2019.

These deletions are not mere wording changes. The true founding claim was the core element of the Projects assertion that all of American history is rooted in and defined by white racial hatred of blacks. According to this narrative, trumpeted by Project creator Nikole Hannah-Jones, the American Revolution was a preemptive racial counterrevolution waged by white people in North America to defend slavery against British plans to abolish it. The fact that there is no historical evidence to support this claim did not deter the Times and Hannah-Jones from declaring that the historical identification of 1776 with the creation of a new nation is a myth, as is the claim that the Civil War was a progressive struggle aimed at the destruction of slavery. According to the New York Times and Hannah-Jones, the fight against slavery and all forms of oppression were struggles that black Americans always waged alone.

The Times disappearing, with a few secret keystrokes, of its central argument, without any explanation or announcement, is a stunning act of intellectual dishonesty and outright fraud. When it launched the 1619 Project in August 2019, the Times proclaimed that its aim was to radically change what and how students were taught about American history. With the aim of creating a new syllabus based on the 1619 Project, hundreds of thousands of copies of the original version of the narrative, as published in the New York Times Magazine, were printed and distributed to schools, museums and libraries all across the United States. A very large number of schools declared that they would align their curricula in accordance with the narrative supplied by the Times.

The deletion of the claim that 1619 was the true founding came to light this past Friday, September 18. Ms. Hannah-Jones was interviewed on CNN and asked to respond to Donald Trumps denunciation, from the standpoint of a fascist, of the 1619 Project. Hannah-Jones declared that the true founding contention was of course not true. She went further, making the astonishing, and demonstrably false, claim that the Times had never made such an argument.

The exchange went as follows:

CNN: Trumps Executive order speaks to a misconception that I know that you have tried to address about what the 1619 Project is, that it is not an effort to rewrite history about when this nation was founded. Hannah-Jones: Of course, we know that 1776 was the founding of this country. The Project does not argue that 1776 was not the founding of the country.

This is, of course, an outright lie. Hannah-Jones has repeatedly made the true founding claim in innumerable Tweets, interviews and lectures. These are attested to in news articles and video clips readily available on the Internet. Her own Twitter account included her image against a backdrop consisting of the year 1619, with the year 1776 crossed out next to it.

Credit: Twitter/@nhannahjones

Ms. Hannah-Jones, caught in one lie, doubles down with new and even bigger lies. The Times journalist-celebrity not only denies her projects central argument. In self-contradictory fashion, she also says that the true founding claim was just a bit of a rhetorical flourish. She told CNN that the 1619 Project was merely an effort to move the study of slavery to the forefront of American history.

If, as Hannah-Jones now claims, all the Times had sought to do was draw more attention to the history of chattel slavery in the years it existed in British North America (1619-1776) and the United States (1776-1865), there would never have been a controversy. Neither the World Socialist Web Site, nor the scholars it interviewedJames McPherson, Gordon Wood, Victoria Bynum, James Oakes, Clayborne Carson, Richard Carwardine, Dolores Janiewski, and Adolph Reed, Jr.ever disputed the importance of slavery in the historical development of the United States. Tens of thousands of books and scholarly articles have been devoted to the study of slavery and its impact on the historical development of the United States.

In its initial reply to the 1619 Project, published in early September 2019, the WSWS explained:

American slavery is a monumental subject with vast and enduring historical and political significance. The events of 1619 are part of that history. But what occurred at Port Comfort is one episode in the global history of slavery, which extends back into the ancient world, and of the origins and development of the world capitalist system.

The WSWS rebuttal of the Times provided an account of the emergence of chattel slavery in the Western Hemisphere, its central role in the formation of capitalism, and its revolutionary destruction in the Civil War. Hannah-Jones responded to the WSWS intervention by denouncing its writers as anti-black racists on Twitter.

When Wood, McPherson, Bynum, and Oakes, joined by Sean Wilentz of Princeton, wrote an open letter to the Times last December requesting specific corrections to clear errors of fact, they stressed that their objection was not over whether or not slavery was important. The five historians expressed their dismay at some of the factual errors in the project and the closed process behind it.

New York Times Magazine Editor Jake Silverstein published a haughty and dismissive reply, in which he flatly rejected their criticisms:

Though we respect the work of the signatories, appreciate that they are motivated by scholarly concern and applaud the efforts they have made in their own writings to illuminate the nations past, we disagree with their claim that our project contains significant factual errors and is driven by ideology rather than historical understanding. While we welcome criticism, we dont believe that the request for corrections to The 1619 Project is warranted.

Silversteins disgraceful letter appeared on December 20. At that point, he knew that the Times 1619 Project was fatally flawed and that the newspaper had surreptitiously made a fundamental change in the online text of the article to which the distinguished historians had objected. Silversteins behavior demonstrated a complete lack of professional ethics and intellectual integrity.

The Times is now obligated to issue a public statement acknowledging its distortion of history and the dishonest attempt to cover up its error. It should issue a public apology to Professors Gordon Woods, James McPherson, Sean Wilentz, Victoria Bynum, James Oakes and all other scholars it sought to discredit for having criticized the 1619 Project. To be perfectly blunt, Mr. Silverstein and his confederates in the editorial board of the Times should be dismissed from their posts.

Furthermore, the Pulitzer Prize given to Hannah-Jones this spring in the field of commentary for her lead essay, in which the false claims about the true founding and the American Revolution were made, should be rescinded.

The 1619 Project was never about historical clarification. As the WSWS warned in September 2019, the 1619 Project is one component of a deliberate effort to inject racial politics into the heart of the 2020 elections and foment divisions among the working class. As revealed in a leaked meeting with Times staff, Executive Editor Dean Baquet believed that it would be helpful to the Democratic Party to shift focus after the failed anti-Russia campaign. Baquet said:

[R]ace and understanding of race should be a part of how we cover the American story  one reason we all signed off on the 1619 Project and made it so ambitious and expansive was to teach our readers to think a little bit more like that. Race in the next yearand I think this is, to be frank, what I would hope you come away from this discussion withrace in the next year is going to be a huge part of the American story.

The fraud perpetrated by the Times has already had serious political consequences. As the WSWS warned, the 1619 Project has been an enormous gift to Donald Trump. On September 17, Constitution Day, Trump delivered a speech at the National Archives Museum in which he obscenely postured as a defender of the Declaration of Independence and Constitution against the radical left, specifically naming the 1619 Project. In his typically menacing fashion, Trump warned that he would restore patriotic education and that our youth will be taught to love America.

It was in response to Trumps attacks that Hannah-Jones appeared on CNN. She noted that Trump is trying to bring the 1619 Project into the culture wars. She went on, He clearly is running on a nationalistic campaign thats trying to stoke racial divisions, and he sees it as a tool in that arsenal.

True enough. But Hannah-Jones is one of the key stokers of racial divisions; and it was the New York Times that brought the 1619 Project into the culture wars, viciously attacking all critics of a historical narrative that makes racial hatred the driving force of American history.

The falsification of history always serves the interests of reactionary political forces. By repudiating and denigrating the American Revolution and Civil War, the New York Times has provided an opportunity for Trump to fraudulently posture as a defender of the great democratic legacy of Americas revolutions in the interests of his neo-fascist politics.
At the direction of U.S. Attorney General William Barr, the federal government is expected to approve the lethal injection of a condemned prisoner on Tuesday, the sixth federal execution since July. Two days later, a seventh execution is planned.

And on the day between those two scheduled executions, Barr is slated to accept an award from a right-wing Catholic organization for being one of Christs Faithful People  a move that has created a backlash among opponents of the death penalty, including thousands of Catholics.

Outraged at Barrs decision to reinstate the federal death penalty after a 17-year pause, they are using the occasion of the award to emphasize the churchs teaching on the death penalty  that it is wrong and should never be used  and to highlight what they say is Barrs flagrant violation of Catholic doctrine.

Its a big stink, frankly, said Nancy Haydt, a California defense attorney who grew up Catholic and directs Death Penalty Focus, a nonprofit based in Sacramento working to end capital punishment. Its a big blowup within the Catholic Church.

The Christifideles Laici Award honors a lay Catholic for fidelity to the Church and exemplary selfless and steadfast service in the Lords vineyard, according to the group that bestows it, the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast.

The Prayer Breakfast was formed in 2004 by conservative Catholics, including former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum. Although it is not an arm of the Catholic Church, it has drawn prominent Catholic officials to speak at past events, along with Republican politicians and operatives like Vice President Mike Pence and former Trump acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney.

The keynote speaker at Wednesdays virtual award ceremony is the Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles, Robert Barron, an influential Church official. He often appears on cable news and is one of the worlds most followed Catholics on social media, according to his personal website, with more than 50 million YouTube views and 3 million Facebook followers.

Barrons participation in the award ceremony has drawn the ire of death penalty foes, as the award becomes part of a larger battle over capital punishment in America and the churchs proper role in that fight.

In the past few decades, U.S. politicians have increasingly soured on the death penalty, pointing to evidence that the system is racially biased and prone to killing some who are innocent. Twenty-five states have abolished or paused executions, including California; Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a moratorium on state killings last year, calling the death penalty a failure.

Meanwhile, the Catholic Churchs views on the death penalty were evolving: To various degrees, the past three popes broke from a long line of Church teaching that capital punishment is a legitimate way to protect society from danger. Last year, after Pope Francis ordered a change in the churchs c atechism to call the death penalty morally inadmissible, U.S. bishops supported his move by a vote of 194 to 8.

Until recently, the Department of Justice also wanted little to do with the death penalty; executions of federal prisoners had been paused for 17 years.

That changed in July, when Barr announced that his DOJ would restart executions, scheduling the lethal injections of four men convicted of murdering children. The move came amid a pre-election push by Barr and other administration figures to brand the president as the law and order candidate.

Since then, Barr has presided over five executions  more in two months than his predecessors approved in almost two decades. And now comes the Christifideles Laici Award to Barr, sandwiched between a pair of lethal injections.

The Department of Justice did not respond to a request for comment, and the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast declined to comment.

Its a smack in the face of what the Catholic Church now stands for, said Father Bob Bonnot, 79, a retired priest in the Diocese of Youngstown, Ohio, and executive director of the Association of U.S. Catholic Priests, which tends to take more left-wing positions on Catholic issues and has 1,200 members in 145 dioceses across the country. Christifideles is a term that means faithful to Christ. And Jesus was not an executioner.

A second group of Catholics not affiliated with the church, the Catholic Mobilizing Network, also blasted the award and its timing, creating a web petition asking the attorney general to reverse course on federal executions and uphold the sanctity of all human life.

The danger here is that the public could mistakenly perceive the award as the churchs sanctioning or celebration of Mr. Barrs relentless push to restart the practice of federal executions after a 17-year hiatus, Krisanne Vaillancourt Murphy, the networks executive director, told The Chronicle.

On Friday, an official church organization weighed in on the controversy for the first time when the Archdiocese of Santa Fe issued a news release calling on the Prayer Breakfast to withdraw the award, in light of Barrs record with the death penalty. The archdiocese quoted Pope John Paul IIs plea for Catholics to be unconditionally pro-life and oppose killings of prisoners.

Let us not become the evil we despise, the archdiocese said.

Haydt, the California death penalty abolitionist, has been pressing Catholic officials in the state to speak out against the award and clarify the churchs position against executions, so far with little luck.

The Archbishop of Los Angeles, Jose Gomez, is the highest-ranking Catholic official in Bishop Barrons territory as well as the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Haydts group has gathered around 6,000 signatures on a petition asking Gomez and other USCCB leaders to immediately and publicly oppose the award to Barr.

A spokesperson for Gomez declined to answer questions about the award, instead referring the newspaper to the USCCB, which said in an email, We respectfully decline comment.

Michael Macor / The Chronicle

Meanwhile, in the Bay Area, a spokesman for San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone did not answer questions about the Christifideles Laici award, telling the newspaper that the Prayer Breakfast is an independent group not affiliated with U.S. bishops. Last year, when Gov. Newsom paused executions, Cordileone applauded him: We appreciate this recognition that the state has the adequate means to defend human dignity and public safety without recourse to capital punishment.

Some critics of the award are focusing attention on the role of Bishop Barron as keynote speaker. In a statement earlier this month, the Association of U.S. Catholic Priests urged Barron to withdraw from the event.

The bishops involvement projects, if you will, kind of an endorsement, said Bonnot of the Association of U.S. Catholic Priests. It can be used.

Barron told The Chronicle that criticism of his role is misplaced. Two months ago, he was invited to send a brief prerecorded speech to be played at the event, before he knew that an award would be given at the event, much less to the Attorney General, the bishop wrote in a statement provided through his media ministry, Word on Fire. Therefore, my speech represents absolutely no endorsement of the award.

Asked if his involvement might leave that impression with Catholics, Barron rejected the premise, saying that his job is to spread the Gospel in a wide range of settings.

If I were allowed to speak only in environments utterly sympathetic with official church teaching, my ministry to the wider culture would dry up.

Barron said he will not be praising or mentioning the attorney general in his speech on Wednesday. He will, however, mention the issue of capital punishment. Barron has criticized the death penalty in the past and led U.S. bishops in approving Pope Francis stance against it, and he reiterated to The Chronicle that I stand completely with the church in opposing capital punishment.

The bishop did not elaborate on the text of his speech.

I dont know what hell say, Bonnot said, but I think it will be very interesting.

Jason Fagone is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jason.fagone@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jfagone
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - September 22, 2020) - MinKap Resources Inc. (TSXV: KAP) (the "Company" or "MinKap"), is pleased to announce that further to its news release of September 15, 2020, the Company has completed the previously announced non-brokered private placement through the issuance of an aggregate of 9,999,998 ("Units") of the Company at a price of $0.075 per Unit for gross proceeds of $749,999.85 (the "Offering").

Each Unit consists of one common share (each, a "Common Share") in the capital of the Company and one Common Share purchase warrant (each, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Common Share at a price of $0.15 for a period of twenty-four (24) months from the closing date of the Offering.

The net proceeds of the offering will be used for the exploration and development of the Breccia Gold property and the contiguous Lightning Tree property (collectively referred to as, the "Breccia Gold Property"), located in Lemhi County, Idaho, USA, as well as for general working capital purposes.

All securities issued in connection with the Offering will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day. The Offering remains subject to final acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSX-V"). The Offering remains subject to receipt of all necessary regulatory and other approvals, including the final approval of the TSX-V.

In connection with the Offering, certain eligible persons (the "Finders") were paid a cash commission equal to 8% of the gross proceeds raised from subscribers introduced to the Company by such Finders.

The Breccia Gold Property

The Company has an option to earn a 100% interest in the Breccia Gold Property (as previously announced in the Company's press releases of September 15, 2020 and July 6, 2020, which are available under the Company's issuer profile on SEDAR), which is accessible by paved highway and a network of well-maintained gravel roads, situated approximately 40 kilometres southwest of Salmon, Idaho. The Breccia Gold Property is host to the historic Gahsmith gold mine, which is central to a significant low-sulphidation epithermal gold system. The Breccia Gold Property consists of 80 claims covering approximately 1,650 acres within the Blackbird Mining District, and contiguous to the south and southwest of the historic Musgrove Creek Gold Mine.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

MinKap Resources Inc.

Jonathan Armes

President & CEO

Phone 1 (416) 708-0243

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.

Forward-Looking Information

The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risks related to the Transaction and the Offering, risk related to the failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and on acceptable terms; risks related to the outcome of legal proceedings; political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; risks related to the maintenance of stock exchange listings; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities or the completion of feasibility studies; the uncertainty of profitability; risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; risks related to the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; results of prefeasibility and feasibility studies, and the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks related to commodity price fluctuations; and other risks and uncertainties related to the Company's prospects, properties and business detailed elsewhere in the Company's disclosure record. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company's expectations or projections.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/64381
After finally making progress towards a years long effort to get the Canadian side of the Niagara River designated under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, proponents are facing new stumbling blocks.

They fear the recent opposition has more to do with politics than concerns about any impact the symbolic designation could have on future development or agriculture, said Jocelyn Baker, co-chair of the Niagara River Ramsar steering committee.

Members the Niagara Regions planning a development services committee voted to put their support behind the initiative on Sept. 9  but Niagara Parks Commission board members met a day later and voted against acting as the lead nominator for the designation, and to step down from participating in the steering committee.

Meanwhile, Niagara Region councillors voted last week to defer a decision on the planning committees support for initiative, pending an external legal review of the initiative.

Although the Ramsar designation, named for the Iranian city where the treaty was signed in 1971, carries no regulatory authority, Baker told members of the Regions planning committee that it promotes community pride and eco-tourism opportunities, increase funding potential for tourism, economic development and resource management, increase marketing opportunities and allow the region to use globally recognized Ramsar logos in branding and advertising. It will also place Niagara on a list of other designated locations such as the Florida Everglades and Galapagos Islands.

The setback was a disappointment for Baker and members of the steering committee who have been working towards obtaining the designation for about seven years.

Its unfortunate that these types of things can become so small-p politicized, said steering committee member Patrick Robson. I appreciate the Region taking a pause. They havent said no. So, well see where that goes, and hopefully level heads prevail.

Baker said she believes the recent opposition was influenced by some of the bad information still leaving a lasting impact unfortunately, after the proposal was shot down by Niagara-on-the-Lake town council five years ago.

Thats been difficult to recover from, she said. Its really unfortunate when the agricultural community was given inaccurate information.  Were still seeing the effects of that today. And it really is rooted in unfortunate political maneuvering and agendas.

Baker has repeatedly said the designation will have no impact on agriculture or access to river water for irrigation.

Robson said he suspects that opposition is limited to a handful of farmers, adding Environment Canada has already weighed in on the issue saying the designation is not regulatory and it is primarily symbolic.

Baker said the use of the term wetlands in the Ramsar literature has also caused confusion, despite her efforts to clarify that the term refers to a water-based ecosystem rather than wetlands as we know them in southern Ontario to be a regulated feature.

But people are going to hear what they want to hear and what aligns with their agendas, she said.

Baker said the designation will also not have a bearing on developments in the area, including a marina being proposed on the river in Fort Erie and the Paradise project, commonly known as Thundering Waters, in Niagara Falls.

Despite the fact that we provided assurances from the federal government, the very people in charge of delivering Ramsar in Canada, there are a small minority unfortunately that are controlling the debate that weve seen in the last couple of weeks, still spreading misinformation, fears and lies. What more can I say? she said. There are a group of people, politicians who are locked into their position and well never change them.

Niagara Parks Commission chief executive officer David Adames said he cant comment on any political influences board members may have had when making their decision.

He said his staff provided information about the designation based on a legal review of the Ramsar proposal including concerns it could conflict with the organizations mandate.

Although the commission endorsed in principle being the lead nominator for the designation in 2014, that endorsement was pending a legal review. After several delays, it took until the end of last year before that review was finally conducted.

The legal review provided a few cautions, Adames said, referring to perceived conflicts between the Niagara Parks Act and any responsibilities the commission may have while acting as lead nominator for the Ramsar designation.

We just dont want to create any potential conflicts down the road with the legislation or the regulations that come out of that. We just want to stay focused on following the Niagara Parks Act, he said. It takes nothing away from our focus on our environmental stewardship initiatives, which are many.

If the commission is committed to environmental stewardship, why is this a problem? Robson asked, speculating on potential answers.

Robson said the committee has offered to make presentations to answer any questions about the potential designation, but that offer has not been taken up.

As a legal document, Adames said he could not provide much detail about the review the commission had conducted. However, he said the review did not identify any barriers that the designation could pose for developments planned for the waterway, such as the marina project in Fort Erie.
When the coronavirus swept across Europe this spring, overwhelming hospitals and killing thousands each day, only the sickest patients could be tested, leaving health officials in the dark about how widely covid-19 had spread.

Six months on, with the virus surging again, authorities can point to dramatically expanded testing capacity. Britain alone carried out some 1.3 million tests in a recent week -- a 20-fold increase from early April. France and Spain, covid hotspots, have likewise increased their capabilities.

The ramp-up is helping authorities identify thousands of infected individuals, a key step toward curbing the pathogen without resorting to economically devastating lockdowns. But cracks are emerging. The mass testing is straining labs, slowing results and complicating the contact tracing that's crucial to contain the virus. And many with the disease are ignoring rules on self-isolation.

"That warps everything," said James Naismith, a professor of structural biology at Oxford University. "Testing is only useful if it's paired with rigorous contact tracing and isolation."

With infections rising and winter around the corner, some public health advocates are sounding the alarm that the focus on testing is taking attention away from the other measures necessary to fight the pandemic.

Without testing, health officials can't track or isolate the sick, nor fully understand important facets of the virus, such as its lethality. In March, policymakers caught unprepared for the pandemic were unable to formulate a nimble response. The only way to bring the epidemic to heel was to impose national lockdowns -- to treat everyone as sick -- which curbed infections but triggered the worst economic slump in living memory.

That's an outcome leaders across the region have pledged to avoid this time around, though their options are narrowing.

In a shift from recent advice, the U.K. government is again encouraging the public to work from home if possible. It's also preparing to order hospitality venues across England to close by 10 p.m., starting Thursday.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson will convene crisis talks on tackling the resurgent virus on Tuesday, before briefing Parliament on further curbs and then making a broadcast to the nation at 8 p.m.

As infections in Europe subsided over the summer, testing capacity kept growing, allowing authorities to target wider groups -- including those returning from vacation or going back to schools or offices. While the surge in testing identified plenty of mild and even asymptomatic cases, it also brought many laboratories to the limits of their capabilities.

In France, the government made tests free and widely available, recently ratcheting up the total to 1.2 million a week. That's led to "gridlock in access to tests, especially in some large cities where the virus circulates a lot," Health Minister Olivier Veran said Thursday.

Until recently, more than 99% of tests were coming back negative in some nations -- a far cry from positive rates of as much as half during the spring. Nowhere has the turnabout been more pronounced -- or the political heat more intense -- than the U.K., which lagged behind other European countries in testing early on but has now been doing more of it than any of its continental neighbors.

With labs unable to handle the volume, officials in some countries are again prioritizing testing for those who show symptoms or may have been exposed to the virus. While that approach is in line with World Health Organization guidelines, it's reviving concern for some that tests are in short supply.

To improve tracing, France, Britain and other countries rolled out smartphone apps designed to notify those who may have been exposed to the virus -- but privacy concerns kept many from using them. And, as the number of covid clusters increases, the job of those working the phones to track down the contacts of infected individuals grows more daunting each day.

Still, if tracers manage to reach some 50% to 80% of contacts -- and if those people then adhere to rules on quarantining -- those efforts could be enough to prevent another lockdown, estimated Annelies Wilder-Smith, a professor of infectious diseases at the University of Heidelberg's Global Health Institute.

"We are morally and economically obligated not to give up," she said. "We owe it to our citizens."

Isolating the infected, especially those with a mild case, is another challenge. Only one in five people with covid-19 symptoms in the U.K. is properly isolating at home, according to a recent report from a government advisory panel. Johnson's office said Sunday that those in England who refuse an order to self-isolate could be fined as much as $12,779 (10,000 pounds).

France recently loosened its mandatory period of self-isolation for the infected to seven days from 14 -- betting that people will be more likely to obey if the period is shorter.

For its part, Germany has drawn praise during the pandemic for rolling out mass testing early on, imposing a relatively permissive lockdown in March and April and for putting together an effective army of contact tracers. Even so, its case numbers are rising again, heightening anxieties about the fall and winter.

In the German Alpine resort town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, the limits of testing recently came into sharp relief. An American woman in her 20s spent several recent nights visiting bars. When showing symptoms a few days later, she was tested and told by officials to isolate but continued to go out, according to local authorities. Health workers later found more than 30 new infections potentially linked to the woman. Prosecutors from Munich are investigating whether to bring charges.

"That's the whole story right there," Wilder-Smith said. "Isolation must be absolutely strict, you cannot have a mistake."
United Nations, Sep 22 : US President Donald Trump lashed out against China on Tuesday demanding that the UN should hold Beijing responsible for the consequences of unleashing the plague of COVID-19 on the world.

Speaking at the General Assembly's high-level meeting in a pre-recorded address, he said, "The Chinese government and the World Health Organization -- which is virtually controlled by China -- falsely declared that there was no evidence of human-to-human transmission. Later, they falsely said people without symptoms would not spread the disease." "The United Nations must hold China accountable for their actions," he declared.

He accused Beijing of allowing the coronavirus -- which he called "China virus" -- to spread.

"In the earliest days of the virus, China locked down travel domestically while allowing flights to leave China and infect the world. China condemned my travel ban on their country, even as they cancelled domestic flights and locked citizens in their homes." Trump offered to share the anti-COVID-19 vaccines.

"We will distribute a vaccine, we will defeat the virus, we will end the pandemic, and we will enter a new era of unprecedented prosperity, cooperation, and peace," he said.

Trump said his administration has "stood up to decades of China's trade abuses".

He attacked China on its environmental record contrasting that with that of his own country that is often under criticism.

Trump said, "China dumps millions and millions of tons of plastic and trash into the oceans, overfishes other countries' waters, destroys vast swaths of coral reef, and emits more toxic mercury into the atmosphere than any country anywhere in the world. China's carbon emissions are nearly twice what the US has, and it's rising fast." Defending his decision to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement, he said US emissions have come down since he took the action.

Trump asserted that "American prosperity is the bedrock of freedom and security all over the world".

In a campaign outreach to his domestic audience 42 days from the US elections, he said out of synch with the UN focus on disarmament, "Our military has increased substantially in size. We spent $2.5 trillion over the last four years on our military. We have the most powerful military anywhere in the world, and it's not even close." China's Permanent Representative Zhang Jun, before introducing the recorded speech of his country's President Xi Jinping, hit back at Trump saying that a "political virus" must not be spread when there is a need for solidarity and cooperation.

He said, "China resolutely reject the baseless accusation against China." (Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed on Twitter at @arulouis)
Amar Jyoti Mahapatra By

Express News Service

Today is World Alzheimers Day that is meant to remember those who forget. Nationwide, organisations, cities, old age homes, health institutions and governments observed the day in different ways, undeterred by the current pandemic.

This years theme Lets Talk About Dementia, is the first step towards acknowledging a societal problem that largely remains hidden. Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation flashed dementia awareness messages on all their billboards while FM Radio stations in Kolkata aired plays on the disease. States like Karnataka and Kerala and cities like Hyderabad and Coimbatore are ahead in the awareness curve. Odisha is evidently lagging behind, in fact, it is yet to start.

Estimating the numbers will establish the size of the elephant in the room. According to Dementia India Report, 2018 published by Alzheimers and Related Disorders Society of India (ARDSI), Odisha will have 2,15,800 confirmed cases of Alzheimers by 2026 growing by 125 per cent in two decades from 2006. Earlier in 2011, the Status of Elderly in Odisha report by United Nations Population Fund assessed a prevalence rate of 15 dementia cases per 1,000 population in the State that implies over half a million people with dementia (PWD) in the State as on date.

In a more recent paper titled Health Concerns of Older Adults: Observations from a Survey & Public Education Programme in Bhubaneswar published in March 2019 in the Journal of The Indian Academy of Geriatrics, memory disturbances were reported in around one in four people surveyed. Closer home, a Bhubaneswar-based home nurse provider says that almost a third of the people their caregivers attend to show symptoms of dementia. In absence of any dedicated facility, institution or research, identifying those in need of support is like chasing shadows.

Wherever dementia is recognised, it remains a stigma. A family member of a person with Alzheimers curtly asked me to stop contacting them as they had grown-up children. How was it linked - I asked? Their apprehension was that if their mother was identified with mental problems it could lead to difficulties in finding marriage matches for grandchildren.

It is not just for governments to deal with Alzheimers. The proven path for dealing with dementia is to create awareness across all levels, establish memory screening clinics, form collaborations with medical institutions and set up support groups that provide a forum for caregivers to discuss challenges they face.

Ironically, not a squeak was heard today in Odisha about Alzheimers. It is never too late but let us not wait till memory fades.

(Amar Jyoti Mahapatra is founder-Chairman of Alzheimers & Related Disorders Society of India, Bhubaneswar Chapter, co-founder of Silver Age Foundation for Elders. ARDSIs Bhubaneswar Chapter can be reached on phone +91 9090222666.)
At INBOUND today, HubSpot's Chief Product Officer Christopher O'Donnell said, "HubSpot is here to help businesses adapt to any new normal that comes their way. Over the past year, we have been working to add deep flexibility and power to our already easy-to-use software, and the features we've announced today are set to help businesses not only survive, but thrive, in the new economic environment."

Today's announcements include:

Sales Hub Enterprise  an enterprise sales CRM with custom objects, advanced permissions, and sophisticated reporting, as well as enhanced sales acceleration tools and configure-price-quote functionality.

 an enterprise sales CRM with custom objects, advanced permissions, and sophisticated reporting, as well as enhanced sales acceleration tools and configure-price-quote functionality. Scalable pricing  a new customer-friendly pricing model that enables companies to only pay for the contacts they actively market to.

Upgrades to Marketing Hub , including advanced personalization tools, a new report builder, and custom objects.

, including advanced personalization tools, a new report builder, and custom objects. Service Hub enhancements, such as logged-in visitor identification, help desk automation, and team management functionality, in addition to a multi-language knowledge base.

enhancements, such as logged-in visitor identification, help desk automation, and team management functionality, in addition to a multi-language knowledge base. Improvements to the HubSpot ecosystem, including a redesigned Solutions Directory and new remote work integrations in the App Marketplace .

An Enterprise Sales CRM That's Powerful and Easy to Use

HubSpot's enterprise sales CRM, Sales Hub Enterprise, has been upgraded with powerful, easy-to-use tools to help sales teams adapt to the new normal of inside selling. Custom objects and advanced permissions give users the control and flexibility they need to architect their entire sales operation on HubSpot, while new sales reporting functionality allows sales teams to gain deep insights into the overall health of their business. These improvements don't just enable sales leaders to increase the productivity of their teams, they empower sales operations professionals to unlock new levels of efficiency across their company's entire sales process.

HubSpot has also updated its suite of sales engagement tools to help salespeople connect with prospects at any time, from anywhere, on any device  an essential capability in the digital-first world. And with new configure-price-quote functionality that includes custom quote templates and integrations with NetSuite, QuickBooks Online, Xero, and Nubox, sales teams can turn quotes into closed deals with ease.

To learn more about the revamped Sales Hub Enterprise, visit here .

Scalable Pricing for Growing Databases

Businesses across every industry are currently navigating unprecedented levels of uncertainty. To remain nimble in the ever-evolving economic environment, they not only need flexibility in their software, they need scalability in their pricing too.

With HubSpot's new marketing contacts pricing model, Marketing Hub customers only pay for the contacts they market to via email or ads and get free storage of up to one million contacts they don't actively market to, such as unsubscribed and bounced contacts. And as they increase the number of contacts they want to market to, their cost-per-contact falls. This allows businesses to continue to grow their CRM database without worrying about a dramatically increased bill. Companies also have the ability to regularly modify their marketing contacts, giving them the flexibility needed to adapt to the ever-changing business climate.

Marketing Hub customers with October renewal dates will be able to opt in to the new pricing model on October 1, 2020. All Marketing Hub customers will gain access on October 21.

CRM-Powered Marketing for a More Personalized Customer Experience

To build meaningful relationships with customers in the digital-first world, companies need the ability to deliver deeper levels of personalization across their marketing channels. Today, HubSpot is unlocking the potential of CRM-powered marketing to enable marketers to do just that. With new custom objects functionality and updates to ads, automation, behavioral events, and email tools in Marketing Hub, businesses can leverage the rich data in their CRM to deliver deeply personalized experiences across multiple touchpoints. And with HubSpot's new custom report builder (beta) and increased reporting limits, businesses can gain in-depth insights into how customers are interacting with their marketing materials.

Leela Srinivasan, CMO of SurveyMonkey said, "HubSpot's Marketing Hub Enterprise enables seamless cross-functional collaboration from one easy-to-use platform, allowing us to launch global campaigns quickly, run sophisticated workflows, and continually optimize performance."

New Service Tools to Delight Customers at Scale

To help businesses deliver the type of experience customers expect during uncertain times, HubSpot has added logged-in visitor identification to Service Hub, enabling companies to respond to messages more quickly and personally  all from inside the conversations inbox.

Additionally, new help desk automation features allow businesses to quickly set up conversational bots to answer common questions, while updated team management functionality enables them to manage agent availability in one place. And to support companies with an international customer base, HubSpot has also added multi-language knowledge base capabilities.

An Expanded Ecosystem of Service Providers and App Integrations

As businesses rapidly adjust to the new normal, many are facing unique challenges that require unique solutions. To help companies find the right service provider to help them thrive in the digital-first world, HubSpot's Solutions Directory has undergone a complete redesign  including upgraded search functionality, a self-service listing experience, and a refreshed new look.

Additionally, HubSpot's App Marketplace has been enhanced to help businesses build a tech stack suited to the demands of the digital-first economy. Remote work apps such as Slack and Zoom have been updated, while new apps including Microsoft Teams (beta) have been added to the marketplace, which is now home to over 500 apps that integrate seamlessly with the HubSpot platform.

To learn more about the product announcements HubSpot made at INBOUND, please visit hubspot.com/new .

About HubSpot

HubSpot (NYSE: HUBS) is a leading growth platform. Since 2006, HubSpot has been on a mission to make the world more inbound. Today, over 86,000 total customers in more than 120 countries use HubSpot's award-winning software, services, and support to transform the way they attract, engage, and delight customers. Comprised of Marketing Hub, Sales Hub, Service Hub, CMS Hub, and a powerful free CRM, HubSpot gives companies the tools they need to Grow Better.

HubSpot has been named a top place to work by Glassdoor, Fortune, The Boston Globe, and The Boston Business Journal. The company is headquartered in Cambridge, MA with offices in Dublin, Ireland; Singapore; Sydney, Australia; Tokyo, Japan; Berlin, Germany; Bogota, Colombia; Paris, France; Ghent, Belgium; and Portsmouth, NH.

Learn more at www.hubspot.com .

SOURCE HubSpot

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There are times when Americans are concerned with the national debt. Now is not one of them.
A rights group has called on social media companies to save images and video that could be used as evidence to investigate serious crimes.

Companies like Facebook, YouTube and Twitter are removing material thought to be offensive or illegal, Human Rights Watch says in a new report. It noted that such material could be presented as evidence at trials for persons accused of war crimes or other charges.

The group said it understands why social media companies see the need to remove some material, including content that supports or incites violence. But it is urging the companies to collect and save such material for possible use in criminal cases.

In addition to using human monitors, social media services are increasingly turning to machine learning methods to remove content that violates their policies. Human rights researchers fear that the use of machines, without human intervention, could lead to important evidence being lost or destroyed.

Belkis Wille is a Human Rights Watch researcher and helped prepare the new report. She told VOA that videos and images from social media are often used in many of her groups investigations.

What we started to notice in the last few years, particularly since 2017, is that we would see a video of lets say soldiers executing someone, or an (Islamic State) propaganda video. If 15 minutes or an hour later we went back to look at a video again, it was suddenly gone, Wille said.

The report noted video evidence collected from social media by the international investigative group Bellingcat. These videos showed a Russian Buk ground-to-air missile launcher. International investigators say the device was used to fire the weapon that brought down Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17. The flight crashed in eastern Ukraine on July 17, 2014. All 298 people on the airplane were killed.

The Dutch-led Joint Investigation Team later presented the videos as evidence. Russia has denied involvement in the incident.

Belkis Wille said that during Bellingcats investigation, the group went to look for evidence it had found earlier on social media, but the material had been removed.

Governments are putting increasing pressure on online companies to remove offensive, illegal or dangerous material from the internet. Social media companies promised to do more to block extremist content after the live-streaming on Facebook of a terror attack on two Islamic centers in New Zealand in 2019.

Fifty-one people died in the attack.

Social media companies have told Human Rights Watch they are required by law to remove material that could be offensive or incite terror, violence or hatred.

Wille told VOA that the removal systems are now so effective that they are taking down content the minute it gets posted. So, no user actually gets to see that content before it comes down.

Syrian Archive is using social media videos to document possible war crimes, including the use of chemical weapons. The rights group has also raised concerns about important evidence being removed from social media before it can be saved and examined.

Wille said that one solution could be the creation of an international registry or archive system for collecting online images and video.

The people responsible for this record-keeping system would decide who should get access to the content, she said. The collected material would be kept for investigative purposes.

Human Rights Watch says it is in talks with social media companies about creating such an archive.

Im Bryan Lynn.

Henry Ridgwell reported this story for VOA News. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

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Words in This Story

content  n. information contained in a piece of writing, a speech, a movie or on the internet

monitor  n. a person whose job it is to watch or notice particular things

notice  v. to see or become aware of something

live-streaming  n. broadcasting content live on the internet

post  v. to publish a piece of information on the internet

access  n. the right or opportunity to use or see something
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The establishment of the eastern creative and highly interactive urban area of Ho Chi Minh City will propel the growth of infrastructure and the economy, while giving a boost to the local real estate market.

According to official plans by Ho Chi Minh Citys authorities, a new city under the Ho Chi Minh City administration, named Thu Duc City, will be founded from the merger of District 2, District 9, and Thu Duc District, creating a municipality that will spread over 211 square kilometers and house more than 1.1 million people.

The city is expected to become an economic spearhead with knowledge-based and innovative industries.

Furthermore, the real estate market here is projected to heat up due to the increasing demand for houses, apartments, and office buildings.

Soaring housing demand

Giving instructions to the implementation of the eastern urban area project, Nguyen Thanh Phong, chairman of Ho Chi Minh City, assigned the Department of Construction to map out a Thu Duc City development plan, going in tandem with the citys urban area development program until 2025.

The city leader also demanded the synchronized implementation of the two projects, plus an assessment scheme to have Thu Duc recognized as a first-tier city.

Local authorities intend to call for private investment to fund the projects.

In addition, the Department of Planning and Architecture was tasked with cooperating with the Department of Natural Resources and Environment and related agencies in building a legal framework for land management, planning, and investment in the novel city.

As perceived by Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper, the real estate market in the outlying area of the Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM) campus has become bustling in recent times.

This is attributed to media reports on the eastern city plan, encouraging thousands of young white-collar workers to come to seek a new home.

People usually try to lease or buy a house near their workplaces to reduce travel time and save time for personal life.

Even before the citys announcement, Thu Duc District and District 9 have been ideal choices for many residents as the two districts are close to the VNU-HCM campus and Di An City of Binh Duong Province, which accommodates six industrial zones and one industrial cluster.

The future creative urban area is also home to a slew of universities and colleges, namely Nong Lam University, Ho Chi Minh City University of Sports, Banking University of Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education, Ho Chi Minh City University of Transport, and others.

The educational establishments are expected to bring tens of thousands of lecturers and students to the area for work and study.

Dr. Tran Dinh Ly, vice-president of Nong Lam University, also confirmed the high housing demand in the area.

In fact, the majority of staff members and lecturers at the university are young workers living far from the campus, who have to commute a long distance to the workplace every day.

Dormitories for staff under 35

Currently, the VNU-HCM new urban area is serving some 3,000 staffers each day, not to mention over 34,000 students boarding at the VNU-HCM dormitory.

As of September 2019, the VNU-HCM Dormitory Management Center had put 47 buildings with 34,200 beds into operation, meeting 100 percent of the needs of its students and even accommodating some from other universities and colleges in the vicinity, said Tang Huu Thuy, director of the center.

According to Phung Quan, vice-chair of the trade union at VNU-HCM, member universities are arranging more classes in the VNU-HCM new urban area.

Every day, lecturers and staff of the universities have to use shuttle buses to go to the Thu Duc campus, which is inconvenient and time-consuming.

As per an annual survey by the trade union, accommodation is among the most pressing issues of young lecturers and staffers of the VNU-HCM.

Every month, trade unions at member universities receive many applications for the dormitory service, Quan said.

The VNU-HCM is running two dormitories, with one built along with the project and another refurnished.

The two buildings comprise a total of 264 apartments for 670 people, mostly staffers under 35 years old, he added.

According to Vu Hai Quan, deputy director of VNU-HCM, there is no available land for housing or residential area projects inside the campus.

Hence, one of the fundamental strategies for the development of the VNN-HCM urban area inside the highly interactive and innovative urban area is the connection with external regions via metro lines, Quan said.

Another strategy is to build multi-functional arterial roads linking the universities with large industrial zones as well as the surrounding smaller industrial complexes.

The private sector should be mobilized for infrastructural development to the west and around Nong Lam University, and for building a new residential area next to block B of the dormitory building, he added.

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P roperty firm Sigma Capital has teamed with an investment firm to create a 1 billion empire of rental homes in London.

The joint venture between Sigma Capital and the real estate arm of Sweden-headquartered investment group EQT, will look to have 3000 high-quality flats and houses built over a period of at least five years.

Sites in zones 3-6 will be sought, and homes will be let at market-rate rents.

The investment plan comes at a time when more people, particularly in London where it is increasingly tough to get on the housing ladder, look to lease properties for longer.

EQT Real Estate has committed an initial 300 million, and Sigma, which sources and manages sites, will put in 16 million.

Part of that, alongside a 50 million loan from the Governments Homes England, will be used to fund the acquisition of five sites with scope for 361 homes from Countryside Properties. They are in areas such as Enfield and Havering.

In addition, two further sites currently under development by Sigma in the boroughs of Barking and Dagenham and Havering will be acquired by the partnership on completion.

AIM-listed Sigma will receive fees relating to the identification, delivery and management of properties.

The joint venture marks EQT Real Estates first UK investment.

Peter Shacalis, head of UK at EQT Real Estate which will get long term rental income, said the London residential market has a severe supply shortage of professionally managed, high-quality, good value homes to rent.
WATERLOO  Earlier this year, Waterloo-based artificial intelligence firm DarwinAI set out to develop a neural network capable of detecting coronavirus in patients using just a simple chest X-ray of the lungs.

After months of development and analyzing thousands of X-rays, theyve discovered it may be capable of something even better.

Not only can the program, dubbed COVID-Net, help detect the disease, it may be capable of helping clinicians and doctors determine its severity by analyzing key visual indicators on the patients X-ray.

Detecting the disease using AI was a good start, but as we started doing more work on it and we learned more about the disease, the more advanced we could make the AI, said DarwinAI CEO Sheldon Fernandez. They named this more advanced version of the program COVIDNet-S.

The breakthrough was huge for doctors at Stony Brook Medicine in New York, which has partnered with DarwinAI on the project. The new information meant they could more effectively triage and prioritize patients based on the severity of the disease.

It was a pretty big realization ... that the AI could help with that, Fernandez said. The program was developed using more than 10,000 chest x-rays from hundreds of COVID-19 patients, and it looks for variations in air flow inside the lungs.

COVID-19 can cause lung complications such as pneumonia and, in more severe cases, lung failure. Patients who survive could be left with permanent lung damage.

The fact the assessment can be done using just a chest X-ray is significant, the CEO said, since X-rays are typically quicker and easier to complete than the PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test often used to determine if someone has COVID-19.

The canonical PCR test requires a lot of chemicals, a long turnaround time, but with a chest X-ray its nearly instantaneous and thats what makes it so powerful, Fernandez said.

Dr. Richa Mittal, a radiologist at Guelph General Hospital, has been assessing DarwinAIs program and its possible uses.

In a statement on a recent DarwinAI blog post, Mittal said the technology has the potential to improve diagnostic accuracy and standardize a grading system for disease severity. It will be a valuable tool for physicians in managing the next phase of this pandemic.

Dozens of hospitals around the world are now using COVID-Net, Fernandez said.

Their next step is to further improve the technology to help determine the risk the disease poses to individual patients based on the severity of their case, their age, weight, and other health complications.

COVID-Net is open sourced and available to doctors or clinicians interested in using the technology. Email info@darwinai.ca for more information.
Senate Republicans will vote to confirm Donald Trumps pick to replace the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg before the 3 November election, Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham has said.

Were going to have a process that youll be proud of. The nominee is going to be supported by every Republican in the Judiciary Committee, and weve got the votes to confirm the justice on the floor of the Senate before the election. And thats whats coming, the South Carolina Republican said.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who controls official action on the Senate floor, has not provided a timeline for confirming Mr Trumps Supreme Court pick, although he did note in his opening floor speech on Monday that the Senate could run through its official process in time for a pre-election final vote.

"President Trump's nominee for the vacancy will receive a vote on the floor of the Senate," he said, adding that there is more than sufficient time to process the nomination before the 3 November elections.

Mr Trump plans to pick a woman to fill the vacancy created by Justice Ginsburgs death. The leading candidates are reportedly federal Appeals Court Judges Amy Coney Barrett of the Seventh Circuit and Barbara Lagoa of the 11th Circuit.

The Senate could also vote on Mr Trump's nominee in the lame-duck session after the election, but Mr Grahams comments suggest the GOP does not want to wait until then.

The Judiciary chairman has done a complete 180-degree turn on confirming Supreme Court nominees during presidential election years.

At a Senate Judiciary hearing in 2016, he said: I want you to use my words against me. If there's a Republican president in 2016 and a vacancy occurs in the last year of the first term, you can say Lindsey Graham said let's let the next president, whoever it might be, make that nomination.

He continued: We are setting a precedent here.

Mr Graham is facing Democrat Jaime Harrison for re-election this fall, a closely fought race that several elections handicappers have rated Leans Republican.

Mr Harrison, who has out-fundraised Mr Graham so far this year but still trails him in total campaign cash on hand, blasted the incumbent on Twitter on Monday for his about-face about Supreme Court confirmation processes.

My grandpa always said that a man is only as good as his word. Senator Graham, you have proven your word is worthless, Mr Harrison wrote.
New Delhi: The Centre has spent Rs 393 crore since 2014 for advertising the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme that aims to improve child sex ratio, the Ministry of Women and Child Development told Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. According to data provided by Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani in the Upper House in reply to a query, Rs 96.71 lakh has been spent till September 17 in the financial year 2020-21 on advertisement or media advocacy of the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme.

In 2019-20 fiscal, Rs 23.67 crore has been spent for the purpose. The government spent Rs 18.91 crore in 2014-15, Rs 24.54 crore in 2015-16, Rs 29.79 crore in 2016-17 and Rs 135.71 crore in 2017-18 and Rs 160 crore in 2018-19, according to the data. Irani said the evaluation of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme carried out by the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) in August indicated a positive behavioural change towards the value of girl child.

Sex Ratio at Birth (as per Health Management Information System of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare) has been set as a parameter for monitoring the progress of this scheme. Sex Ratio at Birth has shown an improvement of 16 points at National level from 918 (2014-15) to 934(2019-20)," she said in a written reply. The Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme addresses issues relating to declining child sex ratio and aims to change the mindset of people to make them appreciate the value of girl child, Irani said.

It is a tri-ministerial, convergent effort of the Ministries of Women and Child Development, Health and Family Welfare, and Education, she added.

Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor
The National Peace Council (NPC) has called on citizens both home and abroad to jealously guard the democratic gains that Ghana has accrued over the years.



Maulvi Mohammed Bin Salih, a Board Member of the NPC said Ghana was a shining example when it comes to democracy and stability.



Maulvi Bin Salih was speaking at a commemorative event to celebrate the International Day of Peace on the theme: Shaping Peace Together-The Role of the Youth in Peace Building.



The event was organised by the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) in collaboration with the NPC and Women is the Centre.



The International Day of Peace was established in 1981 by the United Nations General Assembly and is observed around the world on 21 September.



He encouraged every citizen and institution in the country to remain committed to Ghana's quest to sustain its well-earned credentials of holding successful, inclusive, credible and peaceful elections.



He said this year's Day of Peace was even more special as we are preparing for elections in December and the message is simple, let us shape peace together.



He said in view of these unpalatable realities, the NPC and partners appealed to citizens, both home and abroad to get involved in the struggle to sustain the peace in Ghana, and to see the sustenance of peace in the country as an important vehicle for development.



He applauded the media, civil society organizations, political parties and citizens, whose watchdog responsibilities have contributed immensely towards the enhancement of citizens access to information and knowledge about the Voters' Registration Exercise.



We in like manner applaud the exhibited democratic responsibilities which all stakeholders contributed to enhance the credibility of the registration exercise, he added.



He said the Council has noted some bottlenecks that confronted a few of the Registration Centres during the registration and strongly condemned all incidences of confusion, violence, and shooting, which characterized the Voters Registration at some Centres.



Maulvi Bin Salih commended the media for the role they play in peacebuilding, urging the media to be circumspect in their reportage of actual or potential conflict situations because, information plays a vital role in conflict management and peacebuilding He said the passage of the Vigilantism and Related Offences Act, 2019 (Act 999) by the Parliament criminalizing political vigilantism was a welcome news.



He said the Peace Council has formed the National Monitoring Committee mandated to monitor the compliance to the Code of Conduct by the political parties and the full implementation of the recommendations in the Roadmap.



Additionally, he said the Peace Council has established partnerships with WANEP and CDD-Ghana to establish national and regional peace monitoring infrastructure for the forthcoming December 2020 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.



He called on the Inspector General of Police and the Ghana Police Service to rise up to the occasion as they usually do by arresting any persons, whose actions and inactions have potential to derail the peace of the country before, during and after the elections.



Mr Affail Monney, the President of GJA the countrys youthful age profile also explains the persky strategy of politician, who were on the prowls to amass votes for the December 7 elections to target the youth with their mouthwatering promises.



He said that is no problem, what is problematic, however, is the poisonous content and criminal intent of some of the messages which incite the youth to take to violence.



He, therefore, called on the youth never to mortgage their precious lives nor sacrifices their promising future on the alter of violence.



Allow people, who beat the drumbeat of violence to dance to their own time, he added.



Mr Daniel Mckorley, the Chief Executive Officer, McDan Group of Companies said I do not want to disturb the peace of the country, because Ghana has a great future.



He said the youth should stand against the careless statements from politicians and journalists.



He said if the youth come together to condemn the journalists and the politicians for their selfish gains and interest and with one accord we move forward as the youth, we have the future and cannot sit for our country to be destroy.



He said Ghana was about to explore with wealth and prosperity and why do we want to get the country into conflict at this time.



With patient, the right attitude and the consistency among the youth the future is their limit, he added.

Source: GNA









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(HealthDay)AstraZeneca is the latest drug company to release details about human tests of its COVID-19 vaccine in response to public demand for such information. Americans have increasing doubts about a COVID-19 vaccine, and experts are worried that an unproven or unsafe vaccine may be released prematurely due to pressure from President Donald Trump, The New York Times reported.

AstraZeneca's clinical trials have prompted particular concern because the company has refused to provide details about serious neurological illnesses in two participants in Britain. "If there are two cases, then this starts to look like a dangerous pattern," Mark Slifka, Ph.D., a vaccine expert at Oregon Health and Science University, told The Times. "If a third case of neurological disease pops up in the vaccine group, then this vaccine may be done." The cases led the company to halt its trials twice. They are still on hold in the United States but have resumed in Britain, Brazil, India, and South Africa.

AstraZeneca's "release of these [trial] protocols seems to reflect some public pressure to do so," Natalie Dean, Ph.D., a biostatistician and expert in clinical trial design for vaccines at the University of Florida, told The Times. "This is an unprecedented situation, and public confidence is such a huge part of the success of this endeavor."

A vaccine with 50 percent effectiveness is AstraZeneca's goal, according to the protocol released on the weekend. That is the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's threshold in its guidance for a COVID-19 vaccine. Moderna and Pfizer have also released information about clinical trials of their COVID-19 vaccine candidates.

There is a problem with all three companies' plans, according to Eric Topol, M.D., a clinical trials expert at Scripps Research in San Diego. They all count relatively mild cases of COVID-19 when assessing vaccine effectiveness, which could lead to uncertainty about whether a vaccine prevents moderate or severe illness, Topol told The Times.

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

More information: The New York Times Article

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Actor Rhea Chakraborty and her brother Showik, both arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), on Tuesday filed an application in the Bombay high court seeking bail. Their lawyer, Satish Maneshinde, said the plea will be heard on Wednesday before a bench of justice Sarang Kotwal.

Rhea, 28, was arrested by the federal agency, which is probing the drugs angle in actor Sushant Singh Rajputs death, on September 9. Her bail plea was rejected at that time by a special court and she was remanded to 14-day judicial custody. The special court on Tuesday extended her judicial custody till October 6.

According to NCB, Rhea and Showik financed and arranged drugs for Rajput at his instructions. NCB has so far arrested over 10 people in the case. Rhea says she is innocent, falsely implicated in the case, and was coerced into making self-incriminatory confessions by the NCB. The agency, meanwhile, summoned Bollywood talent management KWAN Agencys CEO, Dhruv Chitgopekar, in connection with its probe, NCB deputy director KPS Malhotra said. Chitgopekar reached the Bombay Port Trust (BPT) guest house, where NCB officials are questioning people, around 2pm.

Other actors in focus

Malhotra denied that any summons was sent to KWAN employee and Deepika Padukones manager, Karishma Prakash. No summons has been issued to Prakash. But we will summon her later this week, Malhotra said. NCB director general Rakesh Asthana said the agency did not send any summons to Padukone.

On Tuesday, actor Dia Mirza also dismissed reports that she was involved in consumption and procurement of drugs, a claim she said was made with mala fide intentions.

Rajput was found hanging in his residence in Bandra on June 14. The CBI is separately probing a case against Rhea and others for allegedly abetting the 34-year-old actors suicide
Many Michiganders might think of heading north when it comes to catching fall color, but there are some surprisingly spectacular drives in the states southern portions as well.

To find out where to go to see autumn leaves in full display in Michigans southeast corner, look no further than the County Road Association of Michigans annual list of best regional fall drives -- a social-distancing appropriate activity to get out of the house this time of year.

During this unprecedented time, were all looking for new, safe ways to spend our time, said Denise Donohue, executive director of the CRA. Enjoying a free fall color tour is the ideal way to pass the time while taking in Michigans natural beauty.

In previous weeks, the CRA has released a list of best Upper Peninsula drives as well as best county road drives in Northern Michigan. Each list is shared on the organizations Facebook page.

Read on for the CRAs picks from three Michigan southeastern counties; the expected dates for peak fall color on these routes are October 7 through October 14.

Southeast Michigan

Macomb County

Wales, McKail and Fisher roads in Bruce Township

M-53 between 23 and 26 Mile roads

24 Mile Road between Van Dyke Freeway and Shelby Road

M-53 between 28 Mile Road and 32 Mile Road

Tillson Street, Romeo, MI

Lakeshore Drive between 8 Mile Road and Marter Road

Oakland County

Lahser Road south of Square Lake Road to just north of Maple Road

Franklin Road

Orion Road between Rochester and Lake Orion

Washtenaw County

Huron River Drive between Mast Road and US-23

North Territorial Road between US-23 and M-52

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CHICAGO, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the new market research report "Life Science Analytics Market by Type (Predictive, Descriptive, Prescriptive), Application (Marketing, Compliance, Clinical trial, R&D, Pharmacovigilance, SCM), Component (Software, Service), Delivery, End User, & Region - Global Forecast To 2025", published by MarketsandMarkets, the global Life Science Analytics Market size is expected to reach 42.0 billion by 2025 from USD 22.1 billion in 2020, at a CAGR of 13.7% during the forecast period of 2020 to 2025.

Browse and in-depth TOC on "Life Science Analytics Market"

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The Growth in this market is mainly driven by technological advancements, big data in the life science industry, growing adoption of analytics solutions in clinical trials, increasing adoption of analytics for sales and marketing applications, need for improved data standardization, increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, growing pressure to curb healthcare spending, and the need for improved patient outcomes. On the other hand, high implementation costs are expected to restrain the growth of this market to a certain extent.

The on-demand model segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period.

Based on the delivery mode, the Life Science Analytics Market is segmented into the on-demand model and the on-premise model. The on-demand model segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period, owing to advantages such as increasing demand for self-driven analytics, lack of upfront capital investments for hardware, extreme capacity flexibility, and pay-as-you-go pricing of this model.

The descriptive analytics segment accounted for the largest market share in 2019.

Based on type, the market is segmented into descriptive analytics, predictive analytics, and prescriptive analytics. The descriptive analytics segment accounted for the largest share of the Life Science Analytics Market in 2019. The large share of this segment is attributed to the significant usage of descriptive analytics by stakeholders to gain a better understanding of the past trends and events occurring in real-time.

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In 2019, North America accounted for the largest share of the market.

In 2019, North America accounted for the largest market share, followed by Europe. The large share of this market can primarily be attributed to the strong economies in the US and Canada, which have allowed for significant investments in technology in this region. Growth in the North American market is supported by the growing adoption of IT in the life science industry, rising pressure to reduce healthcare costs, stringent regulations for the pharma-biotech and medical device industries, and the greater product and service availability in this region.

The prominent players operating in the Life Science Analytics Market are Oracle Corporation (US), Accenture (Ireland), SAS Institute Inc. (US), IBM Corporation (US), Wipro (India), Cognizant (US), SCIO Health Analytics (US), Allscripts Healthcare Solutions (US), Cerner Corporation (US), IQVIA (US), Microsoft (US), Infosys Limited (US), MaxisIT (US), Optum (US), and Cotiviti (US).

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Healthcare Analytics Market by Type (Predictive, Prescriptive, Cognitive) Application (Clinical, RCM, Claim, Fraud, Waste, Supply Chain, PHM) Component (Service, Software) Delivery (On-demand, Cloud) End User (Payer, Hospital) - Global Forecast to 2024

https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/healthcare-data-analytics-market-905.html

Healthcare IT Market by Product (EHR, RIS, PACS, VNA, CPOE, HIE, Telehealth, Healthcare Analytics, Population Health Management, Supply Chain Management, CRM, Fraud Management, Claims Management) End User (Provider, Payer) - Global Forecast to 2024

https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/healthcare-it-252.html

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As evolving technologies in the cloud and at the edge, along with super connectivity that boosts colocation and hosting services, pose disruption, traditional data centres apparently cant catch up with the trend. Supported by the rapid growth of artificial intelligence plus vast improvements in power and cooling, hardware, and software, enterprises need to transform that data centres establishment to avoid falling off the trend.

A Gartner report suggests that an overhaul would be necessary when technology chiefs plan their IT infrastructure and operations. The criteria are simple. First of all, a hybrid IT operation strategy would be useful when developing data management platforms.

Moreover, a full list of infrastructure products, people, processes, and providers across the IT project portfolio will help a smooth beginning of streamlining and standardising the whole process of transformation.

Finally, IT managers would probably need to stay ahead of the trend by selecting or designing an infrastructure resilient to future uncertainties while maintaining consistent business operations.

INVITE Systems SRL

INVITE Systems SRL is one of these enterprises to carefully plan its data centre facility. Founded in 2002, the Romanian network service provider is now one of the tops among its peers in the segment of Virtual Private Network (VPN). It is indeed one of the first network service providers to introduce digital hosting services, making INVITE Systems an industrial leader instead of a mere follower.

No Space Too Small

The COVID-19 pandemic caused a sudden surge in demand for online services in Romania, from gaming and videos to live broadcasts. This has threatened to overwhelm INVITE Systems' platform capabilities, pushing the company to quickly deploy a new data centre that can support its enterprise customers specializing in games and videos.

Today, the rate of service expansion is way beyond expectations. In the past, the planning and approval process for a new data centre proved extremely time-consuming. It usually involved multiple vendors designing and coordinating work for each subsystem, vastly increasing the complexity and time needed.

Unlike the traditional processes, a highly reliable data centre was deployed, efficiently bringing services online in the span of just a few short months during this important project in this European country.

In a bid to kickstart the project as early as they could, INVITE Systems decided to use its canteen  the only space available at that time. While the structure itself was sufficiently sturdy, space was limited and there were no raised floors. There were typical required in setting up a data centre in a traditional way, with a power density merely between three and five kW per cabinet. This power distribution, unfortunately, could take up half of the equipment room with the conventional set-ups.

Huawei

Apparently, INVITE Systems needed a partner with strong design capabilities, to help transform the space into a modern, highly reliable data centre. Huawei was chosen to complete the project, giving a new mission to the old canteen.

Easier Site Selection, Faster Deployment

Huawei's intelligent FusionModule2000 solution, which is fully modularized and integrated, enables fast deployment. No raised floors are necessary for this device, making it much simpler in site election, particularly overcoming the physical constraints of the canteen in this case.

"Huawei FusionModule2000 shortened the rollout time of our new data centre by more than two months, from preparation to installation and overall commissioning. Much to my surprise, deployment was completed in just one month, exceeding all our expectations, said Alexandru Catrin, CIO of INVITE Systems SRL

Coming with cold and hot aisle containment, in-row smart and local cooling, the design of FusionModule2000 vastly improves cooling efficiency and reducing overall power consumption.

Intelligent management methods can predict faults on all power supply and cooling links, further ensuring data centre reliability and lowering the skill requirements of Operations and Maintenance (O&M) personnel. Meanwhile, unified collaboration between the local smart large screen and a remote management platform drives data centre O&M efficiency by up to 35%.

Saving Space with SmartLi UPS

Another cutting-edge solution to help save space is the intelligent lithium battery solution in Huawei SmartLi Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS). Powerful enough in the limited space of just 20 square meters, SmartLi has a power density of 50 kVA/3U in each UPS module, bearing an overall footprint of just 0.51 square meters. By using lithium batteries for power backup, the physical footprint is dramatically reduced by 70%, compared to traditional lead-acid alternatives. This made it possible to fit the entire power distribution system of INVITE Systems' new data centre in the kitchen space, leaving the main area as a modular equipment room and ensuring sufficient space for expansion.

In addition, SmartLi UPS provides a ten-year, maintenance-free lifecycle and supports the mixed use of old and new batteries, boosting value for money and reducing the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).

The solutions have impressed INVITE Systems, as Catrin commented: "By working with Huawei, INVITE Systems SRL was able to keep growing its business at a rapid pace despite the challenges of the pandemic. This provided positive support for the company's profitability, giving us full confidence in the future of our company."

Similar solutions that help enterprises advance in the inevitable digital transformation were showcased in the fifth HUAWEI CONNECT that took place in Shanghai between 23 and 26 September. Industrial elites and tech experts, along with Huaweis partners and clients, have shared their insights of how different industries could benefit amid the changes.

For information, please visit here.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - September 22, 2020) -Novo19 Capital Corp. ("Novo19" or the "Corporation"), an unlisted reporting issuer in British Columbia and Alberta, is pleased to announce it has entered into a letter of intent dated September 17, 2020 (the "LOI") with Nobel Resources Inc. ("Nobel"), a private company incorporated under the laws of the Province of Ontario with mining assets located in Chile, pursuant to which Novo19 and Nobel have agreed to complete an arrangement, amalgamation, share exchange, or similar transaction to ultimately form the resulting issuer (the "Resulting Issuer") that will continue on the business of Nobel (the "Transaction"), subject to the terms and conditions outlined below. Concurrently with the completion of the Transaction, the Resulting Issuer will seek to list its common shares for trading on a nationally recognized stock exchange in Canada.

Nobel is an Ontario corporation with a head office in Toronto Ontario. Nobel, through its option agreement with Mr. Gunther Stromberger (90%) and Ms. Elsa Duarte Horta (10%) (the "Option Agreement"), holds interests in the Algorrobo IOCG Copper Project (the "Project" or "Algorrobo"), located in the coastal IOCG (Iron, Oxide, Copper, Gold) belt in northern Chile, approximately 25km from the port of Caldera on the Pacific Ocean. Pursuant to the Option Agreement, Nobel can acquire a 100% ownership interest in the Project.

Algorrobo is an extensively mineralized IOCG (Iron Oxide Copper-Gold) system in one of the most important producing IOCG belts globally and is relatively unexplored except for an extensive history of small-scale mining. Production from the Project is sold to Enami, the Chilean government mining company that has processing facilities (mill and smelter) in Copiapo approximately 50 km to the south. The Project is permitted for mining which is a key advantage for Nobel. The Project is located in the Atacama region of northern Chile. This area is host to numerous deposits including the Candelaria Mine with one of the large copper reserves in Chile estimated at 600 million tonnes of ore grading 0.95% copper, 3.84 million ounces of Gold and 576 million ounces of Silver.

Management and Board of the Resulting Issuer will include:

David Gower, (P.Geo), CEO and Director

Mr. Gower has held Executive and Director positions with several junior and midsize mining companies for the past 12 years, including Emerita Resources Corp, and President of Brazil Potash Corp. David spent over 20 years with Falconbridge (now Glencore) as Director of Global Nickel and PGM exploration and as a member of the Senior Operating Team for mining projects and operations. He led exploration teams that made brownfield discoveries at Raglan and Sudbury, Matagami Falcondo and greenfield discoveries at Araguaia in Brazil, Kabanga in Tanzania and Amazonas, Brazil. Mr. Gower is a Director of Alamos Gold Inc.

Lawrence Guy, Director

Mr. Guy is Chief Executive Officer of North 52nd Asset Management Inc and Chair of Emerita Resources Corp. Previously, Larry was a Portfolio Manager with Aston Hill Financial Inc. Prior to Aston Hill, Mr. Guy was Chief Financial Officer and Director of Navina Asset Management Inc, a company he co founded that was subsequently acquired by Aston Hill Financial Inc. Mr. Guy has also held senior offices at Fairway Capital Management Corp and First Trust Portfolios Canada Inc.

Mr. Guy holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Western Ontario and is a Chartered Financial Analyst.

Vernon Arseneau, (P.Geo), COO and Director

Mr. Arseneau has over forty years of experience in exploration, project management and development, of which the last twenty-five have been in South America, principally in Peru, Chile, and Argentina. Mr. Arseneau spent 20 years working as exploration manager and senior geologist for Noranda Inc in Canada and South America. He was general manager of Noranda's Peru office and project manager of the El Pachon porphyry Cu Mo project in Argentina. He has consulted on numerous base and precious metals projects including as Vice President Exploration for Zincore Metals Inc and was responsible for the exploration and feasibility studies of two zinc deposits and the discovery of the Dolores Cu Mo porphyry, Peru. More recently, he was COO of Royal Road Minerals Ltd exploring for gold in Colombia and Nicaragua. Vern holds a Bachelor of Science in geology.

Greg Duras, CFO

Mr. Duras is a senior executive with over 20 years of experience in the resource sector in corporate development, financial management and cost control positions. Mr. Duras has held the position of CFO at several publicly traded companies, including Savary Gold Corp, Nordic Gold Corp., and Avion Gold Corp. He is currently CFO of Red Pine Exploration. Greg is a Certified General Accountant and a Certified Professional Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Administration from Lakehead University.

Damian Lopez, Corporate Secretary

Mr. Lopez is a corporate securities lawyer who works as a legal consultant to various Toronto Stock Exchange and TSX Venture Exchange listed companies. He previously worked as a securities and merger acquisitions lawyer at a large Toronto corporate legal firm, where he worked on a variety of corporate and commercial transactions. Mr. Lopez obtained a Juris Doctor from Osgoode Hall and he received a Bachelor of Commerce with a major in Economics from Rotman Commerce at the University of Toronto.

Nobel and Novo19 are arm's length parties to one another. The valuations of Novo19 and the Nobel are to be determined by the parties. Nobel is seeking to complete an equity financing in September 2020 for minimum gross proceeds of CDN$1 million and maximum gross proceeds of CDN$1.5 million. It is anticipated that an additional financing for gross proceeds of between CDN$5 million and CDN$7 million will be completed upon closing of the Transaction. Nobel currently has 18 million common shares issued and outstanding, and no options or warrants issued.

The material terms and conditions of the LOI are non-binding, and completion of the Transaction is conditional on, among other matters, completion of due diligence, satisfactory determination of valuations, completion of the financings, the execution of a definitive agreement (the "Definitive Agreement") to be negotiated between the parties, and the listing for trading of the Resulting Issuer's common shares on a nationally recognized stock exchange in Canada.

There is no assurance that the parties will settle on satisfactory respective valuations, that the financings will be completed, or a that a Definitive Agreement will be successfully negotiated or entered into. The common shares of Novo19 are not currently listed for trading on any stock exchange. The parties will seek to list the common shares of the Resulting Issuer on a nationally recognized stock exchange in Canada.

Further Information

Novo19 will provide further and more comprehensive details in respect of the Transaction and the financings in due course by way of subsequent press releases as information becomes available.

All information contained in this press release with respect to Nobel and Novo19 (but excluding the terms of the Transaction) was supplied by the parties respectively, for inclusion herein, without independent review by the other party, and each party and its directors and officers have relied on the other party for any information concerning the other party.

About the Algorrobo Project

The Project is located approximately 850 km north of Santiago, in Region III, Province of Chanaral, Chile. The Project is located in the southern Atacama Desert, with the city of Copiapo located approximately 43 km to the southeast and the port at Caldera 25 km to the east.

The Project consists of 21 "Angela" and 11 "Roble" tenures, comprising a total of 6,161 ha (15,224 acres).

The Project hosts high grade copper mineralization with exploration and development potential for significant expansion that is consistent with an Iron oxide-copper-gold deposit (IOCG) along the western margin of both the Chilean Iron Belt and the Atacama Fault Zone. The Cerro Negro Norte iron deposit, having and similar structural setting and possible associated IOCG-style mineralization, is located approximately 15 km east of the Project. Manto Verde (120 million tonnes grading 0.73% Cu (Marschik et al 2011), approximately 30 km north) and the Punta del Cobre (>120 Mt grading 1.5% Cu, 0.2 to 0.6 g/t Au, and 2 to 8 g/t Ag (van Angeren 2005)) - Candelaria (Lundin) (366 Mt grading 1.08 % Cu, 0.26 g/T Au, and 5g/T Ag (Raab 2010)) belt (approximately 60 km south) are examples of IOCG deposits similarly located in the belt and are considered to be possible analogues for mineralization and economic potential for the Project.

From the 1920's until 1997, sporadic manual production on a limited basis was undertaken by local miners on extensions of the veins previously mined at the Project. Mining operations to date on the Project, and immediately area, resulted in approximately 35 mines, ranging from near surface workings to more extensive operations extending several hundred metres below surface. The Project has only been exploited to very shallow depths.

Within the old mines on adjacent properties to the Project, copper, as copper oxides, were mined to an approximate depth of 120 meters, with copper sulfide ores mined below to greater depth (i.e. 450 meters in the Viuda Mine). The mineralized trends are very well defined by abundant workings, both historical and those arising from more recent work, ranging from shallow pits and workings to mine development extending to depths up to 450 m below surface. Taken together, these workings delineate three major structures and a vast number of minor veins, having clearly evident surface extent of at least 1.3 km, with an interpreted potential surface extent of at least 4 km. In addition to the Major Veins, a number of subordinate, subsidiary and/or undeveloped veins are present between the Major Veins, defining the "Main Mineralized Trend". Veins on which the more significant workings have been developed are described as ranging between 1.2 and 3.5 metres at, or near, surface, and thickening with increasing depth up to 5 metres.

Analyses of select grab samples from the recently developed drifts, False Estaca and Descubridora, document "Direct Smelting Ore" grades of representative grab samples of Brochantite-bearing, high grade "Direct Smelting Ore" from Acme Analytical Laboratories S.A. in Copiapo confirm grades in excess of 30% copper. Independent analysis of a representative grab sample of Brochantite (Cu4SO4(OH)6), submitted to Acme lab in Santiago, returned an analysis of 34.27% Cu and 36 g/t Ag.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Mr. Vernon Arseneau, P.Geo, and Mr. David Gower P.Geo., Qualified Persons as defined by National Instrument 43-101 of the Canadian Securities Administrators.

For further information:

David Mitchell

Novo19 Capital Ltd.

Telephone: (416) 574-4818

Email: dmitchell@stillbridge.com

Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this press release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected" "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts". "estimates", "believes" or intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could, "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this press release, forward-looking statements relate, among other things, to: the Transaction and certain terms and conditions thereof; the business of Novo19 or Nobel, the financings; the listing application; shareholder, director and regulatory approvals; and future press releases and disclosure. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; and the delay or failure to receive shareholder, director or regulatory approvals. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this press release. Except as required by law, neither Novo19 nor Nobel assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law.

No stock exchange has reviewed the contents of this press release or the merits of the Transaction.

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.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION OR DISSEMINATION DIRECTLY, OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/64411
A woman arrested by US authorities on suspicion of sending a ricin-filled envelope to the White House was due to appear before a federal court in Buffalo, New York, on Tuesday.

The Department of Justice said Pascale Cecile Veronique Ferrier, 53, is charged with making threats against the president of the United States.

The envelope was intercepted at a government mail centre before it arrived at the White House, Canadian police said on Saturday.

Canadian police on Monday searched an apartment in a Montreal suburb linked to the suspect. She has joint Canadian and French citizenship, two sources told Reuters News Agency.

According to the charging documents released on Tuesday, Ferrier included a message to President Donald Trump in the envelope.

I found a new name for you: The Ugly Tyrant Clown. I hope you like it, she wrote. You ruin USA and lead them to disaster.

Supporters of President Donald Trump hold up signs as he speaks at a campaign rally in Ohio in September [Tony Dejak/AP Photo]

Ferrier referred to the poison in the envelope as a special gift, adding that if it did not work, she might find a better recipe for another poison or resort to using a gun.

Enjoy! FREE REBEL SPIRIT, she wrote.

US authorities arrested Ferrier on the Canada-US border on Sunday, at the so-called Peace Bridge that runs between Fort Erie, Ontario, and Buffalo.

She was due to make her initial appearance before US District Judge H Kenneth Schroeder Jr at 4pm EDT (20:00 GMT).

The woman is suspected of sending a total of six letters, with the other five addressed to law enforcement and detention facilities in South Texas, a US law enforcement source told Reuters.

So far, no links to political or terrorist groups have been found but the investigation is continuing, the source said.

The police department in Mission, Texas, received a suspicious letter within the last week, Art Flores, a spokesman for the department, said on Monday. The department did not open the envelope and turned it over to the FBI, he said.





Trump to suspend all immigration into US over COVID-19 (6:22)

Flores said police in Mission had arrested Ferrier in 2019.

The five other letters contained similar language to the letter that was sent to Trump and were sent to people affiliated with facilities where Ferrier had been jailed in 2019.

Investigators also matched Ferriers fingerprints from four of the letters, the complaint said.

Ricin can cause death within 36 to 72 hours from exposure to an amount as small as a pinhead. No known antidote exists to reverse its toxic effects.
T he boss of Wetherspoon has hit out at the Government after Boris Johnson confirmed the introduction of a 10pm curfew on pubs, bars and restaurants.

Tim Martin branded the move a public relations exercise and insisted pubs were not behind the recent surge in coronavirus infections.

He suggested the Prime Minister was imposing the strict measures "to be seen to be doing something".

Mr Martin, who founded the popular pub chain, said: I think the Government is out of touch and out of control."

He continued: Most people think of a pub, a vision from their youth, people dancing, loud music and raucous behaviour.

Most pubs are not like that and no pub when operating social distancing is like that.

Why have they done it?

The only thing I can think of is they must have the stats for pubs, very low figures for transmissions, so the reason they have done is its for PR reasons.

They want to be seen to be doing something.

A curfew is a bad idea because at the moment theres relatively low level of transmissions in pubs.

He said, of the 861 Wetherspoon pubs, as of last week, 810 had no infections reported and all were operating track and trace with 40 pubs having only one infection reported.

Mr Martin said only hand-washing and social distancing was proven to work against virus transmissions and called on Parliament to take charge to debate the way forward.

He recommended MPs look at how Sweden is tackling the pandemic.

Other things like moonshots, circuit breaks and rule of six, and now a curfew, are not scientifically proven to work, he added.

All you need to know from Boris Johnsons coronavirus statement to MPs

His comments came as Sacha Lord, the night time economy adviser for Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), suggested some venues may rebel and ignore the curfew.

Mr Lord, co-founder of some of the biggest music events in Europe, including The Warehouse Project and Parklife festival in Manchester, said the move would spark an "upsurge in house parties".

He continued: Im expecting its going to be back to your traditional ring of the bell at quarter to 10 and doors close at 10.

From what Im hearing, I have spoken to a couple of operators, looking at rebelling on it, either go bust or take a chance and not sticking to the curfew.

These operators are facing bankruptcy. Two people have said, we are going to go bust, they might try to squeeze another half hour or an hour out of the curfew, which I dont condone.

He continued: We have got the biggest student population in Europe (in Manchester). This is obviously going to create an upsurge in house parties.

Students are not going to leave pubs and bars and tuck themselves up in bed at 10pm.

Come kicking-out time at 10pm, I dont think you will see crime and disorder but an explosion of house parties.

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

Mr Lord, appointed in 2018 by Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham as an adviser on the regions night-time economy, said there are 900,00 people still furloughed in the hospitality industry, the UKs fifth biggest industry, which employs more than three million nationwide and supports 420,000 jobs in Greater Manchester alone.

Many are fearing for their jobs this morning, he said.

It feels today like the sector is on its knees.

I understand completely safety has to come first, but I dont think its very well thought out.

Mr Lord said the Government had done some great things to help the hospitality sector but with the furlough scheme due to end next month more support is needed citing extended government support for hospitality in France and Spain.

He added: Bear in mind Chancellor Rishi Sunak said he would stand with business, it feels now, and its not just me saying this, it feels hes turning his back on it.
T he number of coronavirus cases in the UK has passed the grim milestone of 400,000 as new infections rise by nearly 5,000.

As of 9am on Tuesday, the Government said that the total number of cases now stand at 403,551.

It comes as a further 4,926 cases of coronavirus in the UK have been lab-confirmed. This is the highest daily jump since May 7.

The Government's official figures also show a further 37 people died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 as of Tuesday.

This brings the UK total to 41,825.

Separate figures published by the UKs statistics agencies show there have now been 57,500 deaths registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.

The figures differ from those released individually by devolved authorities.

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

Confirmed coronavirus cases in Scotland have risen by 383 in the past 24 hours, the Scottish Government said on Tuesday.

A total of 25,009 people have now tested positive in Scotland.

This is 7.6 per cent of newly-tested individuals, up from 6.3 per cent on Monday.

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One new death of a confirmed patient has been recorded and the death toll under this measure is now at 2,506.

Of the new cases, 181 are in Greater Glasgow and Clyde, 92 in Lanarkshire and 51 in Lothian.

There are 73 people in hospital confirmed to have the virus, the same as Monday.

Of these patients, 10 were in intensive care, a rise of two.

In Wales, there have been a further 281 cases of Covid-19, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 21,159.

Public Health Wales said no further deaths had been reported, with the total number of deaths since the beginning of the pandemic remaining at 1,603.

Figures from England and Northern Ireland are yet to be released.
Donald Trump has once again touted his plans for a patriotic education commission for American schools to teach children to love America, a plan that has been likened to the Hitler Youth programme from Nazi Germany.

I announced last week that we're launching a pro-American lesson plan for students. [The] 1776 [Commission], Mr Trump said to a roar of applause from his supporters at an airplane hangar rally near Dayton, Ohio, on Monday.

We will teach our children the truth about America  that we are the most exceptional nation on the face of the earth, and we are getting better and better all the time.  No party can lead America that will not teach our children to love America, the president said.

Shortly after Mr Trump announced his plan for the 1776 Commission last week, Hitler Youth began trending on Twitter as users compared the two.

Since people are (correctly) equating Trump's new executive order with Hitler's Youth, here is an interesting factoid, wrote American author and film producer, Tariq Nasheed. Hitler's Youth was actually inspired by the Boy Scouts...Because the Boy Scouts was founded by white supremacist Robert Baden-Powell.

Mr Trump has made clear his 1776 Commission is intended as a counterweight to the New York Times 1619 Project, whose mission statement says it aims to educate Americans about slavery and the contributions of black Americans to national life.

1619 was the year enslaved Africans were first brought to the American colony of Virginia.

The left has warped, distorted, and defiled the American story with deceptions, falsehoods, and lies, Mr Trump said last week.

American universities have [rewritten] American history to teach our children that we were founded on the principle of oppression, not freedom, he said.

A spokesperson for the Times told Politico in a statement that the 1619 Project does not strive to teach American children to hate their country but to help them better understand the totality of its history.

It deepened many readers' understanding of the nation's past and forced an important conversation about the lingering effects of slavery, and its centrality to America's story, the spokesperson told Politico.
Duda, the professional website builder that digital agencies and SaaS companies can call their own, announced the launch of its new Duda University education program. This online resource offers free on-demand education and certification to help web professionals expand their knowledge and grow their businesses.

Over the years, thousands of web design and digital marketing professionals have built their businesses and careers with Dudas platform, said Itai Sadan, CEO of Duda. We believe this is due to our companys intense focus on the needs of web professionals. Duda University gives us the ability to build on this core competency and offer our customers and partners something that will enhance their skills and accelerate their professional opportunities, he continued.

Duda University is available to anyone with a Duda account and their team members, including free trial accounts. Course content is structured by role, with learning courses designed specifically for agency owners, designers, developers, agency sales professionals, and other related functions.

Upon earning a certification from Duda University, users receive a unique, verifiable certificate that validates their Duda platform and web design expertise. This can be easily added to a LinkedIn page, personal resume or website.

Duda University offers a variety of benefits to all web professionals including:



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For more information on Duda University, visit https://education.duda.co.

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Loaded with powerful team collaboration and client management tools, the Duda platform enables the building of feature-rich, responsive websites at scale. Every Duda website is automatically optimized for Google Lighthouse and great out-of-the-box SEO.

Duda has partnered with some of the biggest players in the industry, including Thryv, Hibu, Italiaonline, 1&1 Ionos, UOL, Sensis, Publicar, Solocal, Telstra, Broadly and Shore. The Company was founded in 2009 by Itai Sadan and Amir Glatt and is headquartered in Palo Alto, California. Learn more at https://www.duda.co.
Alisson Becker has praised fellow Brazilian Fabinho for his 'unbelievable' display against Chelsea on Sunday.

With Joe Gomez and Joel Matip unavailable, defensive midfielder Fabinho sat in at centre back and played superbly, nullifying Timo Werner and guiding the Reds to a clean sheet during the 2-0 victory at Stamford Bridge.

And compatriot Alisson, who saved a second-half penalty from Jorginho to preserve the Reds' two-goal lead, was complimentary of Fabinho's performance, speaking to the official club website.

Fabinho filled in at centre half for Liverpool against Chelsea and was named man of the match

Fellow Brazilian Alisson Becker was full of praise for his countryman after his performance

'He [Fabinho] was a monster! Unbelievable, but it's what I expect of him,' Alisson said.

'If it's a surprise for you I would be surprised, because he is a top player.

'Anywhere he played, from number six or centre back, he always does his best and his quality permits him to play in different positions.

'He's a really smart player on movements and also one-v-ones. That was needed against [Timo] Werner, against [Kai] Havertz and the other players with really good quality, so I congratulate him as he was in my opinion man of the match.'

Fabinho dealt admirably with Chelsea's attacking threats in the Premier League on Sunday

The victory on Sunday also saw 20m signing Thiago Alcantara make his debut, following his move from Bayern Munich last week.

Yet it was Thiago who fouled Werner in the box to hand Chelsea a lifeline - but the usually dependable Jorginho could not outfox Alisson from the spot.

'I'm really happy because in the Community Shield we lost on penalties,' Alisson explained.

'When the goalie doesn't save any penalties you stay a little bit down and then you think, "I could do more, I could do it differently."

Alisson's save from Jorginho's penalty preserved Liverpool's clean sheet at Stamford Bridge

'But the secret is to keep on going, to know that you are in a good direction, in the right direction, working hard and we did it together  me, John [Achterberg], Jack [Robinson], and all the video team who help us a lot.

'Also with the rebound, Millie [James Milner] and Virg [van Dijk] did really well and I think they showed confidence in me that I would save the penalty.'

Both Brazilians could be rested for Liverpool's next game - a Carabao Cup third round clash at Lincoln on Thursday.
Fewer US adults now willing to take COVID-19 vaccine amid concerns over safety: poll

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The percentage of U.S. adults who say they would definitely or probably get a COVID-19 vaccine has significantly declined over the last few months amid concerns about the vaccine's safety, according to a new Pew Research Center survey.

The national survey conducted Sept. 8 through Sept. 13 among 10,093 adults in the United States with a margin of error of plus or minus 1.6 percentage points shows growing concern about the safety of any likely vaccine across all major political and demographic groups.

As the race to develop an effective vaccine for the virus that has killed nearly 200,000 people in the U.S. and nearly 1 million people globally continues, the new Pew data shows that only 51% of respondents say they would definitely or probably get a vaccine to prevent COVID-19 if it were available.

Meanwhile, 49% say they would definitely or probably not get the vaccine.

When asked in May, 72% of respondents said they would definitely or probably get a vaccine and 27% said they definitely or probably would not get the vaccine.

There are widespread public concerns about aspects of the vaccine development process, Pew Researchers Alec Tyson, Courtney Johnson and Cary Funk wrote last Thursday. On the heels of a pledge from nine pharmaceutical companies to ensure that a potential vaccine would meet rigorous standards, the Center survey finds three-quarters of Americans (77%) think its very or somewhat likely a COVID-19 vaccine will be approved in the United States before its safety and effectiveness are fully understood.

According to the researchers, 78% of respondents fear that the pace of the vaccine approval process will move too fast without fully establishing safety and effectiveness. About 20% were concerned the process will move too slow and there will be unnecessary delays.

Some 58% of respondents who identified as Democrat or leaned towards the Democratic Party said they would take the vaccine compared to 44% of Republican or Republican-leaning respondents.

There were also different levels of faith in the potential vaccine according to race. But among all racial demographics, there was a considerable drop in the percentage who said they would get vaccinated.

This month, nearly three-quarters of Asian Americans (72%) said they would definitely or probably get a COVID-19 vaccine. Hispanics ranked second with 56% and were followed by white adults at 52%.

Only 32% of black adults said they were leaning towards taking the vaccine, reflecting a culture of vaccine hesitancy among this group.

In May, 91% of Asian Americans, 74% of Hispanics and white Americans as well as 54% of black Americans said they would definitely or probably get the vaccine if it were available.

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont was recently skewered by religious and political leaders in his state for suggesting that black churches should lead in support of a coronavirus vaccine.

We are not guinea pigs. This will not be another Tuskegee [Syphilis Study] and we are not going to allow it, civil rights attorney Tricia Lindsay said at a Sept. 11 press conference in response to Lamonts suggestion.

Ned Lamont is being called to the carpet and anyone else, any other legislator that is on this bandwagon, let him and his family take the vaccine first. Let Bill Gates and his family take the vaccine first. Let the legislators take the vaccine first. We dont need it. Were OK.

The historic relationship between the medical industry and the black community involves what many have come to know as the Tuskegee trial.

From 1932 through 1972, the U.S. Public Health Service conducted a study of the effects of untreated syphilis in black men in Macon County, Alabama.

Some men in the study were offered free medical care and burials, but not penicillin, which became the recommended drug for the treatment of syphilis in the 1940s.

At the recently held National Medical Association's virtual annual convention, past and present U.S. surgeons general said during a panel moderated by current Surgeon General Jerome Adams that vaccine hesitancy in the black community could worsen the disproportionate impact of COVID-19, Medpage Today reported.

Latinos and non-Hispanic black individuals are hospitalized for COVID-19 at a rate that is 4.7 times higher than the rate of non-Hispanic white people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
A look at the shareholders of Legal & General Group Plc (LON:LGEN) can tell us which group is most powerful. Large companies usually have institutions as shareholders, and we usually see insiders owning shares in smaller companies. Companies that have been privatized tend to have low insider ownership.

Legal & General Group is a pretty big company. It has a market capitalization of UK11b. Normally institutions would own a significant portion of a company this size. Taking a look at our data on the ownership groups (below), it seems that institutions are noticeable on the share registry. Let's take a closer look to see what the different types of shareholders can tell us about Legal & General Group.

Check out our latest analysis for Legal & General Group

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Legal & General Group?

Institutions typically measure themselves against a benchmark when reporting to their own investors, so they often become more enthusiastic about a stock once it's included in a major index. We would expect most companies to have some institutions on the register, especially if they are growing.

Legal & General Group already has institutions on the share registry. Indeed, they own a respectable stake in the company. This implies the analysts working for those institutions have looked at the stock and they like it. But just like anyone else, they could be wrong. When multiple institutions own a stock, there's always a risk that they are in a 'crowded trade'. When such a trade goes wrong, multiple parties may compete to sell stock fast. This risk is higher in a company without a history of growth. You can see Legal & General Group's historic earnings and revenue below, but keep in mind there's always more to the story.

Since institutional investors own more than half the issued stock, the board will likely have to pay attention to their preferences. Hedge funds don't have many shares in Legal & General Group. BlackRock, Inc. is currently the largest shareholder, with 6.3% of shares outstanding. For context, the second largest shareholder holds about 6.0% of the shares outstanding, followed by an ownership of 3.9% by the third-largest shareholder.

Story continues

Looking at the shareholder registry, we can see that 51% of the ownership is controlled by the top 24 shareholders, meaning that no single shareholder has a majority interest in the ownership.

While it makes sense to study institutional ownership data for a company, it also makes sense to study analyst sentiments to know which way the wind is blowing. There are a reasonable number of analysts covering the stock, so it might be useful to find out their aggregate view on the future.

Insider Ownership Of Legal & General Group

The definition of company insiders can be subjective and does vary between jurisdictions. Our data reflects individual insiders, capturing board members at the very least. Management ultimately answers to the board. However, it is not uncommon for managers to be executive board members, especially if they are a founder or the CEO.

I generally consider insider ownership to be a good thing. However, on some occasions it makes it more difficult for other shareholders to hold the board accountable for decisions.

Our information suggests that Legal & General Group Plc insiders own under 1% of the company. It is a very large company, so it would be surprising to see insiders own a large proportion of the company. Though their holding amounts to less than 1%, we can see that board members collectively own UK7.8m worth of shares (at current prices). It is good to see board members owning shares, but it might be worth checking if those insiders have been buying.

General Public Ownership

The general public holds a 15% stake in Legal & General Group. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies.

Next Steps:

I find it very interesting to look at who exactly owns a company. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. Be aware that Legal & General Group is showing 2 warning signs in our investment analysis , you should know about...

If you would prefer discover what analysts are predicting in terms of future growth, do not miss this free report on analyst forecasts.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.



Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com.
A coroner today recorded a verdict of suicide over the death of Tory MP Owen Paterson's wife who hanged herself in woods after making plans to meet her family - and left no final note for her loved ones.

Aintree racecourse chairman Rose Paterson, 63, was found dead by a police officer in woodland near her family home in Ellesmere, near Wrexham, in the early hours of June 24.

She had googled suicide methods three times before the tragedy, her son Felix told the inquest.

The wife of Tory MP Owen Paterson, Rose Paterson, pictured together, died on July 24

Mr Paterson, a former cabinet minister under David Cameron and Conservative MP for North Shropshire, raised the alarm and later revealed that his wife had been found dead at their constituency home in the early hours of June 24 (pictured)

'We are still a long way from beginning to come to terms with her death': Owen Paterson's full statement The Coroner's verdict confirming that my wife Rose committed suicide by hanging is absolutely tragic for me, our family and all who knew her. We were married for 40 very happy years. Rose will be remembered as a devoted, loving wife, mother and grandmother, as well as a most successful professional in her varied careers in the arts, charity and racing. We are still a long way from beginning to come to terms with her death. I would like to thank the Shropshire Coroner and West Mercia Police for the very sensitive manner in which they have handled this tragedy. I am now horribly aware that 18 people commit suicide every day in the UK and I intend to become more involved in suicide-prevention strategies. If I can help to prevent just one family going through the extreme anguish that our family is currently suffering, I will have done something really worthwhile. I ask everybody to respect our privacy at this desperately sad time. Advertisement

Mr Paterson said in a statement after today's verdict: 'The Coroner's verdict confirming that my wife Rose committed suicide by hanging is absolutely tragic for me, our family and all who knew her.

'We were married for 40 very happy years. Rose will be remembered as a devoted, loving wife, mother and grandmother, as well as a most successful professional in her varied careers in the arts, charity and racing. We are still a long way from beginning to come to terms with her death.'

The inquest was told Mrs Paterson had not left any note and had made plans to travel overseas to see one of their three adult children.

In a statement to the inquest, North Shropshire MP Mr Paterson, who attended the hearing by video-link, said his wife had been due to remotely chair an Aintree board meeting on June 24.

In a separate statement to the inquest, which was read to the court by Senior Shropshire Coroner John Ellery, Mr Paterson said he made a 999 call from his office after initial searches failed to find his wife, who had not answered four phone calls.

Family members were concerned Mrs Paterson may have been taken ill and had been unable to summon help, the MP said.

The inquest heard toxicology tests made no significant findings.

Pathologist Dr Joanne Stafford confirmed she died from hanging.

Speaking today, Mr Paterson thanked the coroner and West Mercia Police for their 'sensitive' handling on the tragedy.

He added: 'I am now horribly aware that 18 people commit suicide every day in the UK and I intend to become more involved in suicide-prevention strategies.

'If I can help to prevent just one family going through the extreme anguish that our family is currently suffering, I will have done something really worthwhile.

'I ask everybody to respect our privacy at this desperately sad time.'

Mrs Paterson died by hanging, her inquest heard today

Recording his verdict, Senior Shropshire Coroner John Ellery said Mrs Paterson's intentions could be established from the fact she was found in a remote area, and her internet searches made in May and June.

The coroner said: 'On the basis that I am satisfied that Mrs Paterson did take her own life, I do not need to investigate the reason why.

'I record a conclusion of suicide and that Mrs Paterson died on or about the 24th of June.'

Mrs Paterson was well known throughout the horse racing industry and served as the Jockey Club's first female chairman.

As Aintree chairman, she achieved record visitor numbers for the Grand National, and was praised for inviting 30,000 local people for a free day's racing.

She was passionate about animal welfare, helping to redesign Aintree's fences to make them safer for horses and, at the Jockey Club, overseeing a review of the use of whips.

At the time of her death, neighbours described the racing executive as a huge racing enthusiast and a lovely lady who would always greet everyone with a welcoming smile.

Mr and Mrs Paterson have three children, a daughter Evie, right with her parents, and two sons Ned and Felix

Grandmother-of-two Rachel Mottram, 65, a local farmer said: 'It is so sad, such a shock.

'She was a lovely lady. I don't have quite the right word - she was a true lady. It is so sad for everyone on the district.

'She used to regularly ride past the farm on her horse and there was always a smile and a greeting. She was a huge horse enthusiast.'

A close friend, who wouldn't give her name, said: 'We are still in shock. She was wonderful. She was a wonderful person with such a welcoming smile.'

Mrs Paterson was the daughter of the 4th Viscount Ridley, and sister of the current viscount, the Times science writer Matt Ridley.

She read History at New Hall, Cambridge, before working as a 'stable lad' in Newmarket and doing a course in art history in Venice.

She served in senior roles at Sotheby's and spent ten years as the Daily Telegraph's Northern art critic before being appointed Aintree chair in 2014.

In a statement issued shortly after Mrs Paterson's death, Sandy Dudgeon, Senior Steward of The Jockey Club, described her as a wonderful person who enjoyed participating in racing at grassroots level.

'She will be missed greatly for the person she was,' Mr Dudgeon said.

For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, see www.samaritans.org for details.
Its going to be an intense push  weve got to take the argument directly to the people of the country, Jealous said. At the end of they day, theyre the only ones who can push back against the special interests backing Trump and McConnell right now. . . . Theres very little that the Democrats can do procedurally to stop this. This is all about mobilizing the people of the country to appeal to the moral conscience of Republicans during this pandemic.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Spain's health minister on Tuesday called on Madrid residents to limit their movements and social contacts to the "essential" to reverse a surge in COVID-19 infections, a day afer new curbs took effect in some areas.

Spain is struggling to contain a second wave of the virus, which has already infected over 670,000 people and claimed over 30,000 lives, one of Europe's highest tolls.

Madrid has become the epicentre of the contagion with a rate of infection of nearly 700 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the last two weeksnearly three times the national average, which in itself is the highest in the European Union.

"I would recommend residents of Madrid to limit to the maximum their movements, that they scrupulously respect the measures dictated by the health authorities in the region and minimise their movements to what is essential and their contacts to those closest to them," Health Minister Salvador Illa said during an interview with radio Cadena Ser.

His comments come a day after a partial lockdown came into effect on some 850,000 people in the Madrid regionmostly in densely populated, low-income districts in the southwho account for 13 percent of the region's population of 6.6 million but 24 percent of virus infections.

The restrictions announced Friday prevent people from entering or leaving the affected areas, except for work, education or to seek medical care but they can move around freely within their zone.

'Priority areas'

But aside from reducing the maximum size of permitted social gatherings from ten to six people across the entire region, the regional government of Madrid did not impose any other measures to rein in infections elsewhere.

On Tuesday though regional leader Isabel Diaz Ayuso said her government was considering extending the partial lockdown measures to other areas.

"We will do everything that is necessary to contain (the virus) but we want to see how these measures work in these priority areas," she told radio Onda Cero.

"In a few weeks we will see the results but meanwhile we are studying where else to apply more restrictions."

Up until now the areas affected by the new mobility restrictions have all counted more than 1,000 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.

Many epidemiologists have expressed doubts about the effectiveness of Madrid's new measures but Illa said he believed they could help control the spread of the virus and that it would not be necessary to declare a state of emergency in the region, a step which would allow the government to confine people to their homes.

Since the central government ended its state of emergency on June 21, lifting all national lockdown restrictions, responsibility for public healthcare and managing the pandemic has been left in the hands of Spain's 17 autonomous regions.

Explore further Madrid region imposes partial lockdown as virus spirals out of control

 2020 AFP
Mumbai: Actress Rhea Chakraborty and her brother Showik Chakraborty, both arrested by the NCB which is probing drugs angle in actor Sushant Singh Rajputs death case, on Tuesday filed an application in the Bombay High Court seeking bail. Their lawyer Satish Maneshinde said the plea will come up for hearing on Wednesday before a bench presided over by Justice Sarang Kotwal.

Rhea Chakraborty was arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on September 9. Her bail plea was rejected at that time by a special NDPS court here and she was remanded in judicial custody for 14 days.

The special court on Tuesday extended her judicial custody till October 6. Showik Chakraborty was arrested by the NCB on September 5 along with Rajputs aide Samuel Miranda on charges of having procured and financed drugs for the late actor.

On September 11, the special court rejected the bail pleas filed by Showik, Miranda, and several other accused persons in the case. Later, Miranda, Rajputs personal assistant Dipesh Sawant, and alleged drug dealer Abdul Bashit Parihar, approached the high court, seeking bail.

Their plea was heard by Justice Kotwal last week.Further hearing on their pleas is scheduled for September 29.

While rejecting Rhea Chakrabortys bail plea, the special court had said she could alert" the people she named in her statement made to the NCB. The special court had also dismissed her submission that she was coerced by the NCB into making her statement.

While rejecting Showiks bail plea, the special court had said that if let out on bail, he was likely to tamper with the evidence collected in the case.
The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) has joined a new NASA space mission to the far side of the Moon to investigate when the first stars began to form in the early universe.

The universe was dark and foggy during its "dark ages," just 380 thousand years after the Big Bang. There were no light-producing structures yet like stars and galaxies, only large clouds of hydrogen gas. As the universe expanded and started to cool down, gravity drove the formation of the stars and black holes, which ended the dark ages and initiated the "cosmic dawn," tens of millions of years later.

To learn more about that dark period of the cosmos and understand how and when the first stars began to form, astronomers are trying to catch energy produced by these hydrogen clouds in the form of radio waves, via the so-called 21-centimeter line.

But picking up signals from the early universe is extremely challenging. They are mostly blocked by the Earth's atmosphere, or drowned out by human-generated radio transmissions. That's why a team of scientists and engineers have decided to send a small spacecraft to lunar orbit and measure this signal while traversing the far side of the Moon, which is radio-quiet.

The spacecraft, called the Dark Ages Polarimetry Pathfinder (DAPPER), will be designed to look for faint radio signals from the early universe while operating in a low lunar orbit. Its specialized radio receiver and high-frequency antenna are currently being developed by a team at the NRAO's Central Development Laboratory (CDL) in Charlottesville, Virginia, led by senior research engineer Richard Bradley.

"No radio telescope on Earth is currently able to definitively measure and confirm the very faint neutral hydrogen signal from the early universe, because there are so many other signals that are much brighter," said Bradley. "At CDL we are developing specialized techniques that enhance the measurement process used by DAPPER to help us separate the faint signal from all the noise." This project builds upon the work of Marian Pospieszalski who developed flight-ready low noise amplifiers at the CDL in the 1990s for the highly-successful Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP), a spacecraft that gave the most precise figure yet for the age of the universe.

DAPPER will be part of the NASA Artemis program with the goal of landing "the first woman and the next man" on the Moon by 2024. It will likely be launched from the vicinity of the Lunar Gateway, the planned space station in lunar orbit intended to serve as a communication hub and science laboratory. Because it is able to piggy-back off of the surging interest in sending humans to lunar soil, DAPPER will be much cheaper to build and more compact than a full-scale NASA mission.

NRAO will spend the coming two years designing and developing a prototype for the DAPPER receiver, after which it will go to the Space Sciences Laboratory at UC Berkeley for space environmental testing.

"NRAO is very pleased to be working on this important initiative," said Tony Beasley, director of the NRAO and Associated Universities Inc. vice president for Radio Astronomy Operations. "DAPPER's contributions to the success of NASA's ARTEMIS mission will build on the rapid growth of space-based radio astronomy research we've seen over the past decade. As the leading radio astronomy organization in the world, NRAO always looks for new horizons, and DAPPER is the start of an exciting field."

DAPPER is a collaboration between the universities of Colorado-Boulder and California-Berkeley, the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Bradford Space Inc., and the NASA Ames Research Center. Jack Burns of the University of Colorado Boulder is Principal Investigator and Science Team Chair. Project website for DAPPER: https://www.colorado.edu/project/dark-ages-polarimeter-pathfinder/

The National Radio Astronomy Observatory is a facility of the National Science Foundation, operated under cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc.

###
The meetings aim to bring an end to the differences between the pair, according to a report

The commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA) Khalifa Haftar and the head of the Libyan House of Representatives Aguila Saleh arrived in Cairo on Tuesday for talks with Egyptian officials, Al-Arabiya News reported.

According to sources that spoke with Al-Arabiya, the two sides will discuss the latest developments in Libya, particularly the latest round of talks between the eastern-based House of Representatives and the UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA), with the target of reaching a political settlement.

The sources said the meetings also aim to bring an end to the differences between Saleh and Haftar.

According to Saleh, these are not differences, but "differences in views" regarding the future road map of the country.

While Saleh has called for the restructuring of the current executive authority emanating from the political agreement signed in Skhirat, and the selection of its members to ensure the representation of the three historical regions of Barqa, Tripoli and Fezzan.

Haftar has said the political agreement will be dropped and he will accept the leadership through a "mandate from the people."

Cairo rejects foreign interference in its neighbour and has called for an end to the presence of foreign-backed militias.

Egypt announced an initiative, dubbed the Cairo Declaration, earlier this summer which posits a Libyan-Libyan resolution as a basis for resolving the countrys conflict, drawing on earlier international efforts, including the Berlin conference.

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The United States is approaching the milestone of 200,000 deaths from the coronavirus, say experts monitoring the outbreak.

The U.S. has more than 6.8 million infections, according to the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center, with 199,743 deaths, the most of any nation in either category. Recent growth in U.S. cases in the Southwest and Midwest is being attributed to the reopening of schools and colleges.

The race to produce a safe and effective coronavirus vaccine has sustained another setback. Britains Telegraph newspaper reported Sunday that late-stage human trials of an experimental vaccine in the United States have been paused due to concerns over a possible adverse side effect.

AZD1222, developed through a joint initiative by AstraZeneca and Britains University of Oxford, has been undergoing large-scale Phase 2 and Phase 3 trials in several nations, including the U.S., Britain, Brazil, South Africa and India.

But the Telegraph says testing was delayed twice in Britain after two volunteer participants were subsequently diagnosed with transverse myelitis, an inflammation of the spinal cord.

With the number of COVID-19 cases now over the 31 million mark, many places are also experiencing an increase in new infections, such as in Britain, which is nearing 400,000, including 3,899 new cases on Sunday. Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer, and chief scientific advisor Patrick Vallance, announced Monday during a nationally televised address that Britain is heading in the wrong direction and has reached a critical response in its response.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said Sunday that the country could face another round of strict restrictions if the public does not observe the new rule of six order issued earlier this month by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, which limits the number of people taking part in most social gatherings to six.

The pandemic is also having an effect on the worlds refugees. A new survey released Monday by the Norwegian Refugee Council shows nearly 80% of people displaced by conflicts have lost a job or revenue since the beginning of the outbreak.

In a survey of more than 1,400 respondents across 14 countries, including Afghanistan, Columbia, Iraq and Venezuela, the NRC found that some 70% of those asked said they had to cut the number of meals for their households, while 73% were less likely to send their children to school because of economic problems.

But some countries are reporting progress in the fight to contain the spread of COVID-19. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern Monday lifted restrictions for all of the country except Auckland, after authorities posted no new cases.

New Zealand had gone over 100 days without any new COVID-19 cases until last month, when a new cluster broke out in the northern city, prompting Prime Minister Ardern to reimpose the strict nationwide restrictions first enacted back in March.

Auckland will continue to remain under some restrictions for the next two weeks, but officials have increased the number of people in gatherings from 10 to 100.

In Australia, Victoria state reported just 11 new cases on Monday, its smallest one-day jump since June 16. Victoria had been placed under a state of disaster last month due to a dramatic surge in new cases, especially in its capital, Melbourne, with the average number of cases topping 700 as recently as last month. Residents were placed under a strict curfew, and were restricted to their homes except for work, shopping or medical care.

This is a great day, state Premier Daniel Andrews told reporters Monday, but he said he will not move up the timeline to begin easing the state of emergency. Authorities have said it will lift some of the restrictions, including reopening child care facilities and resuming manufacturing and construction, on September 27, but only if the average number of cases over a two-week period is under 50.

Despite more than 5.4 million COVID-19 cases, including about 100,000 new infections and more than 1,000 deaths daily, India reopened the Taj Mahal to visitors Monday.

India has 1.3 billion people and some of the world's most crowded cities, but a strict lockdown in March devastated the economy and the lives of tens of millions of people.

The government has since eased restrictions, including on many train routes, domestic flights, markets and restaurants.

Schools resumed Monday on a voluntary basis for students ages 14 to 17, but many Indian states have said it is too soon to have children in the classroom.

India has also reported 87,882 deaths.
Uber and Lyft drivers protest during a day-long strike outside Ubers office in Saugus, Massachusetts, U.S., May 8, 2019. REUTERS/Brian Snyder

The U.S. Department of Labor on Tuesday announced a proposed rule that would define by way of a test whether workers are employees or independent contractors under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

The proposed change would base classification on an economic reality test focused primarily on whether the worker is economically dependent on the employer.

Under this test, an individual is an employee if, as a matter of economic reality, he or she is economically dependent on the employer for work. A worker is an independent contractor if, as a matter of economic reality, he or she is in business for him or herself, as opposed to being economically dependent on an employer, a senior department official said in a call with reporters on Tuesday.

Some workers prefer to be independent

The rule, if implemented, could impact a fierce debate playing out across the country over the classification of gig economy workers such as ride hailing drivers for companies like Uber (UBER) and Lyft (LYFT), personal shoppers and food delivery drivers, as well as millions of other U.S. workers currently regarded as independent contractors. In its history, the FLSA has never defined the term independent contractor, leaving employers and employees to interpret the term based on state laws and legal decisions.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) independent contractors made up 6.9% of total U.S. employment in May 2017. However, prior government studies have estimated that the BLS data falls short of identifying all such workers and that the total may exceed 10% of the countrys workforce.

Uber and Lyft drivers protest during a day-long strike outside Ubers office in Saugus, Massachusetts, U.S., May 8, 2019. REUTERS/Brian Snyder

In response to the proposed rule, an Uber spokesperson told Yahoo Finance that Uber appreciates the Departments focus on independent workers and is reviewing the proposed rule. Unlike AB5, which would eliminate work for hundreds of thousands of people, this rule recognizes that the majority of workers on platforms like Uber want to stay independent. Uber plans to build on this foundation by working with government to create new benefits and protections for all gig workers.

Story continues

The department official said the economic reality test would put the majority of weight on two core factors to determine if workers are economically dependent on someone else: First, the nature and degree of the worker control over the work. And second, the workers opportunity for profit or loss based on the initiative and/or investment of the worker.

Additional factors that can be applied as guideposts if the two core factors are not determinative include the amount of skill required for the work, the degree of permanence of the working relationship between the worker and the potential employer, and whether the work is part of an integrated unit of production.

In California, which recently began categorizing gig economy workers as employees by adopting a more strict classification rule, AB-5, and for other states that have adopted more expansive laws governing worker classification, employers would still be required, for state purposes, to apply their more strict law. However, at the federal level, the analysis would be based on the labor departments standard.

How we would enforce that from the Department of Labor from the Wage and Hour Division would obviously be based on how we interpret the Fair Labor Standards Act, another senior department official said.

In a op-ed published Tuesday by Fox News, Labor Department Secretary Eugene Scalia wrote, Unlike AB-5, our rule doesnt aim to slant the analysis toward classifying independent contractors as employees. In part, thats because we recognize there are powerful reasons why some workers prefer to be independent, rather than accountable to a company as its employee.

Department officials said they expect publication of the proposed rule in the federal register between late this week and early next week. Comments will be due 30 days after publication.

Alexis Keenan is a legal reporter for Yahoo Finance and former litigation attorney.

Follow Alexis Keenan on Twitter @alexiskweed.

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Presidente del Consejo de Ministros: Informo a la ciudadania que acabamos de realizar una sesion del Consejo de Ministros, que ha sido presidida por el presidente de la Republica con la participacion de los ministros de Estado. pic.twitter.com/u1ysds8JTp
The Smithsonian Institution and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London are abandoning plans to jointly curate a gallery in the planned V&A East museum, slated to open in East London in 2023. The proposed gallery was expected to draw from both institutions permanent collections to explore the impact of human life on the natural world.  Artnet
Drivers age 65 and up will finally get special hours promised by a new state law starting Tuesday at Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) agencies designated as vehicle centers.

But the long-awaited appointments might be different than what some senior citizens expected.

MVC officials will offer special hours from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays for customers age 65 and over and those who are medically unable to wear a mask. They begin on Tuesday, Sept. 22.

MVC officials said in a statement that no individual appointments are necessary. Instead, eligible customers should arrive at the agency no earlier than 2 p.m. so that they can be ticketed for service and not have to stand in line to be served."

The senior hours are only to register and title new and used car purchases, at vehicle centers - which do not perform drivers license transactions. (License centers perform those services, and can be found here.)

Seniors who emailed NJ Advance Media specifically asked when they could start making appointments and what the procedures were

Senior hours and appointments were part of one of two laws that Gov. Phil Murphy signed on Sept. 10 to shorten lines at agencies that had been closed for four months during the height of the coronavirus pandemic.

One of the bills sponsors initially had some concerns.

We tried to give the MVC some discretion in how to implement the law, but my intention was always for there to be an appointment system established for seniors and others with certain medical conditions," said state Sen. Anthony M. Bucco, R-Morris, one of the bills sponsors. Im disappointed this is how the MVC has chosen to interpret the new law, and Ill reach out to see if they can enact a real appointment system as we envisioned.

Bucco said it doesnt make much sense to simply have those people line up at a different time on some other days.

Another sponsor wants to see how the process works out.

I think the law was flexible to allow different methods of implementation, Im willing to reserve judgement to see how the first week goes, said Assemblyman Daniel R. Benson, D-Mercer, one of the bipartisan legislations sponsors. We will be reaching out to MVC to better understand their implementation of the legislation.

Almost as important is educating seniors about the increased number of transactions that can be done on the MVC website, so they dont have to go to an MVC agency, Benson said.

The law also extended the validity of drivers license photographs to allow drivers under age 65 to renew that document online twice before having to go to an agency for a new photograph. Drivers over 65 are exempt from having to have a new photo taken for a standard license.

It was signed into law along with another bill that doubled the time period to 120 days for new residents to transfer out of state drivers licenses and registrations.

It is important to ensure there is enough capacity that seniors arent making multiple trips, if the ticketed slots run out at certain locations, Benson added.

The law said the MVC has to "offer appointments exclusively to "senior citizens or people who can prove they have a medical condition that prevents them from wearing a face mask. It only covers registering a newly purchased, newly acquired, or transferred motor vehicle.

This time has been set aside for those customers exclusively, said William Connolly, an MVC spokesman. The ticket referred to in the release is for purposes of handling customers in the order in which they arrive and to be called when their turn is up."

MVC agencies reopened on July 7 to long lines and waits measured in multiple hours, due to the backlog. MVC employees have hit a high of processing 285,000 transactions a week.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.

Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com.
PHILIPSBURG:--- More children on St. Maarten will now have access to online education amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.



CIBC FirstCaribbean recently supported the Rotary Club of Sint Maartens initiative Help St. Maarten Children Receive Online Education, which was launched following Governments mandate for schools to reopen with online learning for the academic year 2020/2021.



The bank made a donation towards the purchase of the devices to facilitate childrens access to their classes.



The club is dedicated to providing all children with proper access to their education and hence has set out to secure appropriate devices for students by collecting monetary donations as well as new and repurposed computers, tablets and other devices.



CIBC FirstCaribbean, through its FirstCaribbean International ComTrust Foundation, provides at least $1M US throughout the Caribbean in support of worthwhile projects in the various islands where the bank has businesses. The Foundations mandate is for the support of the youth, entrepreneurship and education; the community, including environmental projects, and health and wellness.



At the height of the Covid-19 lockdowns across the region, the Foundation provided US $250,000 to assist with the purchase of Personal Protective Equipment for those at the frontline of fighting the pandemic, as well as test kits and other support material used in the fight against Covid-19.
About 400 University of North Georgia (UNG) spring and summer graduates and their families celebrated their accomplishments in a series of small commencement ceremonies held Sept. 19-20. The carefully planned events were spaced out over two days with limited guests to facilitate social distancing to adhere to COVID-19 public health guidelines and state parameters on gatherings.

The long-awaited ceremonies brought smiles and relief at the Convocation Center on UNG's Dahlonega Campus. A trio of outdoor ceremonies had been planned for Sept. 18 on the Gen. William "Lipp" Livsey Drill Field, but events were moved indoors due to inclement weather.

"Our staff planned and executed these events creatively and meticulously to ensure our graduates and their families had a meaningful celebration in a safe environment," Dr. Kate Maine, UNG vice president of university relations and chief of staff, said. "While these were unconventional commencement events, we are very pleased that UNG was able to honor our recent graduates with a personalized experience."

Claire Allinson celebrates crossing the stage at a commencement ceremony held Sept. 19.

UNG awarded more than 2,100 degrees and certificates for the spring and summer semesters.

Claire Allinson, who earned mathematics and accounting degrees in May and had volunteered at previous commencement ceremonies, knew she wanted to participate in her own graduation. Allinson was thrilled the ceremony was still held amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

"You've worked so hard, and you get a whole day to let your family celebrate you," Allinson said. "It's passing from being a college student to an adult in the real world."

The Lilburn, Georgia, native was active on campus through her work with Outdoor Pursuits and as an orientation leader.

Octavio Aguado, who earned a biology degree in May, was determined to partake in commencement in whatever form it took.

UNG graduate Kacee Criddle turns the tassel on her graduation cap at a commencement ceremony Sept. 20.

"I wanted to celebrate with my parents. My parents have been a big part of my journey," Aguado said. "This was a way to see everybody in a safe way during the pandemic."

Aguado started a master's degree program in higher education leadership this fall at Valdosta State University.

For Kacee Criddle, a mother of four, the ceremony capped a long journey during which she overcame obstacles to earn an associate degree in the sociology pathway.

"It's that final reward of the effort you've put in," Criddle said. "It means everything to me. It makes me so proud to do that."

Criddle hopes to use her degree to be an advocate for patients or abuse victims.
Gardai in Cork are investigating a suspected arson incident that occurred on the north side of the city.

The incident occurred at a business premises on Redforge Road, Blackpool, in the early hours of Friday morning.
Say NO to smelly farts! Try this pill that will make your farts smell like roses

World Rose Day 2020: Celebrating spirit of cancer patients

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

New Delhi, Sep 22: World Rose Day is observed on September 22 every year in remembrance of a 12-year-old from Canada who was diagnosed with cancer (Askin's tumour) a rare form of blood cancer. It is a day dedicated to give hope and spread cheer among people fighting cancer.

After the diagnosis, the doctors had given her just weeks but she went on to live for six months, never giving up the hope of defeating cancer.

During her fight against the terminal disease, she wrote letters, poems and emails to cancer patients spreading cheer and showing support and care. This is said to have become her life's mission.

As most cancer treatments are harsh on the body, and have a deep psychological impact and stigma surrounding the disease, it is very important to keep the patients cheerful. September 22 is also a day to spread awareness about cancer among the people as early detection cures many types of cancer.

World Rose Day Wishes:

Cancer can affect many things in life, but it cannot cripple the love you have in your heart. Wishing all the survivors a wonderful Rose day and a miraculous recovery.

The important thing to keep reminding yourself is you have cancer, but the cancer is still not able to have you. On Rose Day, I wish you all the strength to fight and win.

Smiling is the best way to let everyone know you are getting stronger than the previous day. Wish you a heartfelt Rose Day.

World Rose Day is celebrated to instil hope, confidence, and joy in the minds of people who fight with cancer. Today, let's spend some quality time with them and bring happiness into their lives.
The Peoples Court of HCM City on September 21 opened a trial of 17 suspects - who are members of Trieu dai Viet (Viet Dynasty) - charged with terrorism to oppose the peoples administration in line with Article 113 of the 2015 Penal Code.

Defendant Nguyen Khanh (Source: VNA)

The mastermind, 56-year-old Nguyen Khanh from the southern province of Dong Nai, and three others are also charged with illegally manufacturing, storing and trading explosives under Article 305 of the 2015 Penal Code.

The case relates to a violation of national security committed by Trieu dai Viet that used terrorist acts aimed at overthrowing the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

The organisations founder, Ngo Van Hoang Hung (also known as Ngo Hung), was given the death penalty in 1979 (then commuted to a life sentence) in Vietnam for attempting to overthrow the administration, but fled to Canada.

He established Trieu dai Viet, frequently using social networks to lure people, including Nguyen Khanh, to the organisation.

Hung promised to appoint Khanh brigadier general and governor of Dong Nai province, and sent a total of 144 million VND (6,215 USD) and 600 CAD (455 USD) to Khanh to facilitate the operation.

Khanh used the money to buy 5 kg of explosives and 20 detonators from Nguyen Trung Truc, born in 1982 and residing in the Central Highlands province of Dak Nong, and handed over 7 kg of explosives and 25 detonators he had purchased earlier to Duong Ba Giang, born in 1971 and residing in Dong Nai province, in order to create 10 remote-control explosive devices.

Khanh asked Giang to give two explosive devices to 24-year-old Vu Hoang Nam from HCM City and 27-year-old Duong Khac Minh from north-central Thanh Hoa province, and guided them on how to use the devices.

Nam and Minh took the explosive devices, hidden in a backpack and a birthday gift box, to the headquarters of Police of Ward 12 in HCM Citys Tan Binh district on June 20, 2018.

Pretending to be a resident completing an administrative matter, Nam put the backpack in the reception area and the gift box in the parking area, and exploded the devices remotely. The two then fled to Dong Nai, where they met Khanh.

Khanh also handed over an explosive device to Nguyen Xuan Phuong with the intent to cause an explosion at the Tam Hiep ward police station in Bien Hoa city, Dong Nai province. Phuong, however, did nothing.

On June 23, 2018, Khanh gave three explosive devices to Nguyen Minh Tan, who, together with Pham Tran Phong Vu, caused an explosion at the headquarters of the police force in the Mekong Deltas Hau Giang province on July 5, 2018.

Tan gave another explosive device to Hua Hoang Anh, who, instead of causing an explosion at the headquarters of the police force of the Mekong Deltas Kien Giang province, put the device next to a power pole near his home in Minh Hoa commune in Kien Giangs Chau Thanh district.

Khanh and his son Nguyen Tan Thanh, who was also Khanhs accomplice, were arrested by HCM City police on June 26, 2018. Nam, Minh and others were caught later.

Police in Hau Giang and Kien Giang also arrested Tan, Vu, and others during the period from August 1 to August 7, 2018.

According to the indictment of the HCM City Peoples Procuracy, the group deeds are extremely serious as they caused social danger and directly violated national security as well as the legal rights and interests of people and society.

The trial is scheduled to last for two days./.VNA
BSE Oil & Gas| During the October-December quarter the Oil & Gas index remained positive for 6 out of 10 times. The index performance in the same period for the year 2019: 1%, 2018: -7%, 2017: 10%, 2016: 7%, 2015: 10%, 2014: -8%, 2013: 8%, 2012: -2%, 2011: -11%, and 2010: 1%.

COMEX gold trades moderately higher near USD 1910/oz after a sharp 2.6 percent decline on September 21 when it hit a low of USD 1885.4/oz, the lowest level since August 12. Gold is considered a safe-haven asset which benefits in time of economic and political uncertainty. Risk sentiment weakened yesterday amid concerns that Europe may reinstate lockdown to check the virus spread and on back of an investigative report about suspicious worldwide banking transactions.

Despite weaker risk sentiment, gold plunged over 2 percent as investors sought the safety of US dollar, yen and bonds and moved out of commodities and equities. The fall yesterday was reminiscent of the sell-off seen in March when US and other major countries first announced lockdowns. While US dollar is seen as the preferred asset at present, gold may also benefit from safe-haven buying if global risks continue to intensify.

Gold holdings with SPDR ETF rose by 19 tonnes to 1278.81 tonnes, highest since February 2013. Gold may witness choppy trade along with other commodities as market clarity in needed on possible lockdowns in European countries and the fraudulent banking transaction report.

However, we expect buying to emerge at lower levels as concerns about US economy may limit upside in US dollar. COMEX silver trades modestly higher near USD 24.6/oz after a sharp 10.1 percent decline yesterday when it hit a low of USD 23.78/oz, the lowest since August 12.

Silver fell sharply yesterday amid concurrent sell-off in gold and industrial metals on back of firmer US dollar. Concerns about health of US and European economies also dented demand outlook.

Meanwhile, ETF investors remained on sidelines despite lower prices indicating lack of buying interest. Silver holdings with iShares ETF were unchanged at 17211.13 tonnes, lowest since July. Silver may witness choppy trade as market players assesses recent developments, however, we expect buying interest to emerge at lower levels as general positive outlook for gold may support silver as well.

NYMEX crude trades moderately higher near USD 39.7 per barrel after a 4.4 percent decline yesterday. After a sharp 10 percent rally last week, crude oil was struggling to build the momentum above USD 41/bbl. Crude fell yesterday as part of sell-off across commodities and equities. Risk sentiment weakened as rising virus cases in Europe fueled worries about another lockdown.

As per Bloomberg reports, UK will announce new restrictions on bars and restaurants.

Adding to it were concerns about delay in US fiscal stimulus. US Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell reiterated that the US economy is improving, but has a long way to go before a full recovery from the pandemic, as reported by Bloomberg. Chicago Feds national activity index data also disappointed.

Crude weakened also on prospect of higher supply from Libya. As per Reuters reports, workers at Libyas major Sharara field restarted operations after the National Oil Corporation announced a partial lifting of force majeure. Also weighing on price is the restart of production in the Gulf of Mexico disrupted by Hurricane Sally earlier this month. As per US BSEE, about 8.39 percent of crude production in the Gulf of Mexico was shut as of September 21 as against 9.69 percent a day earlier.

However, supporting crude price is OPECs willingness to take additional measures if needed, decline in US crude oil stocks and continuing recovery in Chinese economy.

Crude may witness choppy trade unless there is more clarity on restrictive measures in Europe to limit the virus spread as well as the investigative report on suspicious transactions however we do not expect a sustained decline as OPECs production policy may continue to support.

The author is VP- Head Commodity Research at Kotak 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.
Telstra and TPG Telecom are warning a new push by NBN Co into the regional business market could see the company waste money duplicating fibre networks already on the ground.

NBN Co on Tuesday said over a million businesses around the country will be eligible to have fibre rolled into their premises free of charge, as part of a $700 million initiative. Under the announced plan, businesses that fall inside 240 dedicated "business fibre" zones, including those run from home and sole traders, will have the option to get a full-fibre connection free of charge.

NBN Co will build a fibre optic cable out to a business premises free of charge and provide an "enterprise ethernet" plan. Credit:Graham Denholm

It will also see up to 700,000 suburban and regional businesses receive internet services at the same price as businesses in metro areas. Some of these zones are near major hospitals and education facilities. The upgrade is the first sign of NBN Co using some of the $6.1 billion it raised in the private debt market in May.

NBN Co's plan poses a clear threat to Telstra, which owns and operates most of the networks used by regional businesses, and the telco said that the money could be better spent in upgrading NBN connections for homes.
Emirates, Almarai and Carrefour are the brands with the most loyal customers in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, respectively, as per the 2020 YouGov BrandIndex Customer Loyalty Rankings in Mena.



Within the top 10 in the UAE, the biggest movers were Lurpak, a new entry at tenth up from fifteenth last year, and Dettol, up to sixth this year from tenth last year.



In Egypt, the biggest movers were Dettol, up from thirteenth to sixth, and the National Bank of Egypt, which has made an entry into top 10 rankings this year, at ninth. Dettol makes an appearance in KSA rankings as well, remaining in the sixth position yet again this year.



Despite the flight restrictions in place, loyalty towards leading carrier brands has remained strong in the UAE and KSA. After Emirates (ranked 1st), Etihad appeared in the UAE rankings in fifth.



In KSA, Emirates has emerged as the biggest mover within the top 10 brands, making a new entry into the list in seventh, up from fifteenth last year. Saudias strong loyalty among Saudi customers landed it the second place in the 2020 rankings.



Popular handset brand, iPhone makes an appearance in the Loyalty rankings of all three countries. In the UAE, Saudi and Egypt, loyalty from customers towards the brand remains strong, not showing change in reconsideration rates despite its status as a luxury item in the midst of a tough economic climate.



YouGov BrandIndex has also released the ten most improved brands of the past year- brands that have registered the largest improvement to their loyalty score in the past year. Majid Al Futtaim is the most improved brand of the past year in the UAE, with a rise of +9.6 points to its Loyalty score. The brand also makes an appearance in the improvers lists of Egypt and Saudi as well, as the third and sixth most improved brand, respectively.



In Saudi, Al Raya is the most improved brand of the past year, with a rise of +7.7 points to its Loyalty score, and in Egypt, Jumia.com reigns as the most improved brand, with a rise of +12.5 to its score.



Consumer brands dominate the list of improvers this year, highlighting the role of familiar FMCG power brands in maintaining comfort through periods of prolonged lockdown and social distancing. Brands like Mirinda, Fanta and Cheetos make an appearance in the UAE list. Similarly, Egypt sees the presence of Tiger (change in score of +6.6), KFC (+5.7), Mountain Dew (+5.7), Maggi (+5.6), Heinz (+5.5) and Juhayna (+5.2), within the top 10 improvers.  TradeArabia News Service
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who recently recovered from a suspected poison attack, has said that Novichok agent was found in and on his body before accusing Moscow of keeping his clothes, which according to him is an important piece of evidence. Navalny in his blog post on September 21 said that Russian authorities did not give his clothes back when he was being taken to Berlin, adding that it is important evidence because the chemical agent Novichok was found in and on his body.

Read: Navalny Was Poisoned In Hotel Room And Not At Airport, Claims His Team

Navalny said that three laboratories have confirmed the presence of Novichok in and on his body and hence the clothes he was wearing before leaving Russia become an important piece of evidence for the investigative agencies. Samples taken from Navalny were tested in two independent laboratories in Sweden and France and one military laboratory in Germany, all of whom confirmed the presence of Novichok in his blood.

Read: Kremlin Critic Navalny Seen Walking Downstairs Amid Recovery From Poisoning

Last week, Navalny's team had said that traces of Novichok have been found on the water bottles from the hotel room, where the politician was staying before leaving for the airport on August 20. Navalny's team said that the politician was poisoned at his hotel room and not at the airport as suspected earlier. The team also posted a video on Instagram where they can be seen collecting everything they could from the hotel room right after Navalny fell sick.

Read: Russia's Navalny Says He's Now More Than 'technically Alive'

Navalny's poisoning

Alexei Navalny, a staunch critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, fell sick under mysterious circumstances on a flight back to Moscow from Siberia on August 20. He was rushed to a hospital in the Siberian city of Omsk after the plane made an emergency landing. Navalny was put into an artificial coma and was moved to Germany after much debate over his transfer. Navalny had remained in an induced coma until September 7 when doctors treating him informed that his condition has improved.

Doctors in Russia had denied any poison traces in Navalny's blood but when he reached Germany it was confirmed that he was poisoned. Russia has dismissed allegations of a state-sponsored attack on Navalny and has demanded more evidence in order to start a criminal investigation into the case.

Read: Germany Says Chemical Weapon Watchdog Still Investigating Alexei Navalny's Case

(Image Credit: AP)
Uganda Airlines is scheduled to resume its international flights on October 1st 2020 after five months of six months lockdown.

Last week, President Yoweri Museveni lifted the lockdown on air space among others following the closure of Entebbe international airport in April. The closure according to president Museveni peddled at curbing the spread of the deadly covid-19 pandemic.

According to a statement released by Uganda Airlines, the airliner will start its services with destinations in the month of October 2020. The destinations include; Nairobi, Dar-es-salaam, Juba and Mogadishu. Flights to previously served cities include; Bujumbura, Mombasa, Zanzibar will come later.

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Our plans to the Africa Network expansion will continue and we plan to launch scheduled operations to Johannesburg, Kinshasa, Harare, Lusaka and will resume in November, reads in part of the statement.

The company expressed its commitment to keeping passengers safe, and health through strict adherence to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) peddled at curbing the spread of Covid-19 and compliance with the national and international guidelines for safe air travel in light of Covid-19.
Press Release

September 22, 2020 Bong Go asks CHED, SUCs to ensure safety of students and personnel; reminds them to provide grants to qualified students, children of displaced OFWs Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, during a hearing conducted by the Senate Committee on Finance on Monday, September 21, implored the Commission on Higher Education and the leadership of all state universities and colleges to ensure the safety and well-being of their students and personnel as the country's education system adjusts to the adverse effects of the ongoing health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. "In the implementation of policies, listen to the students, the parents, the professors. We all have to be in this together. Nandito po ang national government para tumulong sa inyo," Go said. While expressing his full support to the agency and educational institutions during the budget hearing, Go quizzed CHED about the low number of universities and colleges with Centers of Excellence, Center of Development, with recognized flagship program, with Autonomous or Deregulated status, or with Level III or Level IV accredited programs. "Only 18% of Higher Education Institutions are with Centers of Excellence, Center of Development, with recognized flagship program, with Autonomous or Deregulated status, or with Level III or Level IV accredited programs," Go noted. "Ideally, the more we have of these excellent educational institutions, the better the quality of our education," Go further lamented as CHED Chair J. Prospero De Vera III emphasized that the quality of education is correlated to the level of government investment. Go also asked for updates regarding the agency's initiatives to render services in the education sector via digital means, saying, "I am pushing for the country's transition to the digital age through the E-Governance bill I filed. I see that CHED has been implementing initiatives to render services through digital means." "On this end, what are the primary obstacles which the CHED had encountered in its initiatives to use information and communications technology to improve the higher education system and how did you address these?" he asked. While some progress has been made, de Vera lamented that connectivity is still low in many external campuses around the country. For that, de Vera mentioned that the agency will need the help from other government agencies to resolve the connectivity issues in various educational institutions nationwide. In July of this year, Go filed a measure institutionalizing the transition of the government to e-governance in the digital age. Senate Bill No. 1738, or the E-Governance Act of 2020, mandates the government to establish an integrated, interconnected, and interoperable information and resource-sharing and communications network spanning the entirety of the national and local government, an internal records management information system, an information database, and digital portals for the delivery of public services. The measure, likewise, pushes for the digitalization of paper-based and other traditional modes of workflows for a more efficient and transparent public service. Under Go's proposed measure, the heads of government agencies are mandated to comply with the requirements of the bill, including related standards for all ICT infrastructure, systems, equipment, designs, and other technologies promulgated by the Department of Information and Communications Technology. Ending his manifestation of support to the CHED and SUCs, Go agreed that the education sector needs to be prioritized so it can recover swiftly from the COVID-19 crisis. "I express my full support to the CHED and all the state universities and colleges," he said, adding that "Education has been one of the hardest hit industries in our nation, and it is only right that we prioritize our education system as the country recovers from this crisis." Meanwhile, Go also reminded CHED to deliver on the President's directive to help students who are children of overseas Filipino workers. Last August 31, President Rodrigo Duterte announced the one-time grant of P30,000 as assistance to college students who are children of OFWs who were displaced, repatriated, deceased or affected due to the COVID-19 pandemic. "Paalala lang po sa lahat ng ahensya ng gobyerno: Dapat kung may binitawang salita, maibigay at huwag tagalan ang serbisyo. Siguraduhin nating matutupad ito," he reminded. This grant is intended for qualified beneficiaries who are enrolled or about to enroll in any state or private colleges and universities recognized by CHED. An estimated 33,000 students are expected to benefit from this assistance. Earlier, CHED also announced that application for the Tertiary Education Subsidy for the coming school year may be submitted already. The subsidy is not only for children of affected OFWs but also for other qualified college-level students, as provided by the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act signed by Duterte in 2017.
Nearly 1 in 4 Companies Facing More Cyber Risks During Pandemic

As workers across the country have been adapting to a remote workforce, it appears hackers have been doing so, too.

Nearly a quarter of information technology workers  24%  said their organizations cybersecurity risk has grown during the pandemic, according to a survey by Netwrix, an Irvine, Calif.-based information security company.

While increased hacker activity and human error are both partly to blame, some companies have stepped up their cybersecurity practices as a result.

Remote working fueling the increase

Even before the pandemic, cybercrime was a problem. In fact, a 2019 survey by ValuePenguin found that 43% of Americans have been the victim of a cybercrime.

Of the companies that believe they have become more at-risk since the pandemic started, 63% said they have noticed an increase in the frequency of cyberattacks targeting their organizations. On top of that, 60% said the transition to remote working has created new security risks as employees share information while working from home.

Some fault lies with employees, as 58% of companies said that employees ignored cybersecurity policies and guidelines designed to keep companies safe. Indeed, many workers have found themselves enjoying new freedoms without the oversight of managers and other colleagues in the workplace.

However, fault also lies with company leadership. More than 8 in 10 chief information security officers  85%  admitted that they had to sacrifice the cybersecurity of their companies when navigating the quick transition to remote work.

Cyber threats come in various forms

When asked what types of incidents have compromised cybersecurity since the move to remote working, the most commonly cited threat was phishing, a cybercrime in which a criminal secures personal or sensitive information from someone by sending a deceptive email posing as a legitimate entity. Among respondents, 48% said they had experienced phishing incidents in their organizations.

Story continues

That was followed by:

Admin mistakes (27%)

Improper sharing of data by employees (26%)

Notably, a quarter of respondents said their companies had experienced malware attacks, in which malicious software is deployed to inflict harm on the victim, such as by stealing sensitive information.

Some employers are also concerned about employees exploiting the cybersecurity risks that have been exacerbated by remote working. More than 1 in 10  14%  of organizations report that they have experienced data theft by employees. However, a much larger percentage of respondents  66%  said they are anxious about the possibility.

In response to the growing cybersecurity threats, some companies are stepping up their game. Larger companies are most likely to do so, with 47% of companies surveyed with 1,001 or more employees report taking moves to increase their cybersecurity, though 43% of companies with 101-1,000 employees and 28% of companies with 1-100 employees report doing so as well.

Methodology: Netwrix surveyed 937 information technology professionals across the world in June 2020 to get their assessments of how cybersecurity risk has changed due to the shift to remote work during the pandemic.
The INSEE Prize has unveiled a raft of exciting initiatives since its inception in 2009

When it comes to INSEE, many people think of cement and other building materials. But many students from the technical field are more familiar with the annual innovation contest first held in 2009. As with many other events impacted by COVID-19, this years competition is being held in video conference format, but appeal has not been lost.

According to Bruno Fux, director of Ecocycle and Sustainable Development at INSEE, although he missed face-to-face interactions with students it was a smooth process and did not see any negative impacts. Compared to the last years contest, I feel that the quality increased once again: students addressed the key issues of sustainable development in a comprehensive, innovative, yet feasible manner, said Bruno Fux.

Accordingly, the five finalist projects highly appreciated were the Project of Childrens Cultural Palace: Rustling Village (Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology); the Dreamer: a library space combined with playground (Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology); the Assemble House accommodation solution for students (Van Lang University); A COSY LIFE: a home for low-income people (Danang Architecture University); and CERAMIC: A cultural space at Bat Trang primary school (Hanoi Architecture University).

Formerly known as the Holcim Prize, the INSEE Prize is an opportunity for the young generation to approach and learn about sustainability, through which they can craft good ideas to bring benefits to society.

According to a representative of the organizing committee, INSEE wants to award projects that address sustainable development in a comprehensive manner. We are using a variety of criteria to evaluate each project along the triple bottom line of the environmental, social, and economic contribution of the project, the representative said.

Nurturing ideas

However, according to Bruno Fux, in addition to the above criteria, the judging board also evaluates by the innovation aspect and whether the project can be implemented in practice or not. In a world where climate change and resource scarcity are becoming more acute than ever, I would say the environmental aspect of the construction plays an ever-increasing role, he explained.

This is also a big obstacle for students to face off and approach the differences between dream and reality.

Tran Hai Ninh, human resources director at INSEE, shared her experience working with a team from Can Tho University who eventually won first prize, and which had the opportunity to see their project come to fruition.

This group of students reached the final round for the first time in 2017 and won third place. But they came back stronger to win first prize the following year with and were given more than six months working at INSEE to implement their ideas, recalled Ninh. The project was handed over to the local government in December 2018, and those same students became mentors for their junior team to go to the INSEE Prize final last year.

The INSEE Prize is an ideal platform for students to present ideas that are clearly changing the current way of construction. What we need are sustainable and innovative ideas that can be practically implemented, said Bruno Fux.

The line between a creative but not feasible project in reality today is difficult to predict. For example, a few years back, renewable energy was considered green but expensive to implement  nowadays, it becomes very cost competitive and can be implemented in a variety of projects.

I believe that some of the ideas proposed in this years contest might be considered as difficult to implement today but will become the new normal in a few years. If we dont dream it today, we will not implement it tomorrow, Fux explained..

Creative versus reality

Similarly, Ninh also said that INSEE never thinks of the aspect of Vietnamese students being overly creative leads to simply dreaming.

All projects and ideas are acknowledged and appreciated. We have known that in the world there are some seemingly impossible ideas but they can come true in another time, she said. The core idea here is that young people have a playground to freely think, create, and provide good ideas for sustainable development.

According to the INSEE representative, The construction field globally and in Vietnam still has a lot of potential for innovation and sustainable development. We as INSEE would like to contribute our part as the industry leader, for example with green products  we were the first company to attain a Green Label from the Singapore Green Building Council  or special solutions such as INSEE Extra Durable, which is high sulphate-resistant cement for the saline environment in the Mekong Delta.

In fact, the very first INSEE Prize in 2009, on collecting and thoroughly processing pesticide packaging implemented by Can Tho University students, became a pedestal that prizewinners now attempt to emulate.

After successfully implementing the project in Can Tho, INSEE continues to replicate the model in Kien Luong district of Kien Giang province and now more than three tons of packaging have been recovered and locally put in the co-processing system of Hon Chong Cement Plant.

This project was the premise for INSEE in general and Ecocycle in particular to join hands with many partners in programmes raising awareness about the environment such as Together with Farmers to Protect the Environment, which collected and handled pesticide packaging in 22 provinces in the south of the country, shared Ninh.

The INSEE Prize lists eight implemented projects which are distilled from more than 3,100 ideas from 43 universities, and with more than 5,000 direct and indirect beneficiaries.

We look forward to spreading to all students in different schools and regions, and calling for the cooperation of our partners to help mentor students while strengthening the ability of the projects, shared Ninh.
A cheating vicar has been banned from practising as a priest for life after admitting to a 'close and inappropriate relationship' with someone other than his wife.

The Reverend Martin Baldock also admitted failing to protect a vulnerable adult.

Mr Baldock is now retired but served as Vicar of St Edward the Confessor Church in Dringhouses, York, from 2000 to 2017.

In addition to the church's 'penalty of prohibition' from practising as a priest, Mr Baldock, who was also chaplain at both York College and St Leonard's Hospice and was Rural Dean of York, has lost the honorary title of Canon of York.

The news of his behaviour will be a 'cause of real shock and distress at St Edward's, and for others hurt by his actions too,' said the Bishop of Selby, the Rt Revd Dr John Thomson.

The Reverend Martin Baldock admitted to a 'close and inappropriate relationship' with someone other than his wife, and also to failing to protect a vulnerable adult

'This is deeply upsetting news for the Parish of Dringhouses, where Mr Baldock was held in respect and affection for 17 years, and where many members of the church and community trusted him with their deepest and sometimes their most sensitive feelings and experiences.

'The Church of England expects the very highest standards of conduct from its clergy in both their personal and their professional relationships, and in this case those relationships have gone wrong.

'The individuals most closely involved in this situation, and the people of Dringhouses Parish and at St Edwards are in my prayers, as they and their Vicar, Richard Carew, come to terms with this news while they work and pray to rebuild the community of love and trust that has always been at the heart of this parish.'

The Diocese of York said Mr Baldock, who now lived in retirement in the Midlands, had been subject to proceedings in 2019 under the Church of England's Clergy Discipline Measure, and admitted two counts of misconduct while in his post in York.

Mr Baldock is now retired but served as Vicar of St Edward the Confessor Church in Dringhouses, York, from 2000 to 2017

The charges are that he was 'conducting a close and inappropriate relationship with a person not his spouse over a sustained period' and 'failing to protect a vulnerable adult through not having due regard to the Church of England's safeguarding regulations'.

The report read: 'He accepted the penalty of prohibition from practising as a priest in the Church of England for life, imposed by the Bishop of Southwell & Nottingham, the Rt Revd Paul Williams.

'The Diocese of York is not aware of any other issues concerning Martin Baldock's years in Dringhouses - but anybody with any safeguarding concerns at this or any other church in the Diocese of York should contact the police, the relevant archdeacon or the Diocesan Safeguarding Team (safeguarding@yorkdiocese.org) as soon as possible.'

It added that he was conferred with the honorary title of Canon of York in 2017 before the concerns had been raised, and the title had now been withdrawn, and the diocese would be making no further comment to protect the identities of those involved.

The Bishop of Selby, the Rt Revd Dr John Thomson, said news of Mr Baldock's behaviour will be a 'cause of real shock and distress at St Edward's, and for others hurt by his actions too'

When Mr Baldock retired in 2017, aged 65, the local paper, The Press, reported how he had left his church in great shape, with a refurbished church hall serving as a hub for Dringhouses and the congregation increased from 120 to 150.

Mr Baldock, who has been approached for comment, was brought up in Dunstable, Bedfordshire.

The son of a pharmacist, Mr Baldock was a chorister at the Priory Church and went on to study pharmacy at Nottingham Universtiy.

He met his wife Sue at university and the pair moved to Zambia together where Martin worked as an administrator and pharmacist for three years.

According to his profile on the St Edward the Confessor Church website, it was while on a visit to a church in Zambia that Martin felt was 'the first place he ever heard of a Jesus who was part of everyday life'.

He returned to Nottingham University to study theology and was ordained in 1985 at Wells Cathedral, starting his career in the church at a Nailsea near Bristol.

He also worked as the vicar of Brampton for 11 years, before becoming the vicar of St Edward's in 2000, where he was appointed Rural Dean of York, a post he held from 2004 to 2012.

His ministry was successful enough to garner an honorary Canon of York Minster position in 2017, before he retired after 17 years at the parish.

He retired to Newham with his wife Sue.
E very Bethesda game, old and new, will be coming to Xbox Game Pass thanks to the new deal struck between Microsoft and Zenimax Media.

Zenimax is the parent company of Bethesda, which is responsible for creating some of the biggest franchises in gaming with the likes of The Elder Scrolls, Fallout and Doom falling under its large umbrella.

All of these games will be brought into the Xbox fold and a statement from Bethesda has shed some light on what that means for upcoming games, PlayStation exclusive titles and more going forward.

Starfield, a space-faring game which is still in development was mentioned specifically in the statement: Microsoft will grow from 15 to 23 creative studio teams and will be adding Bethesda's iconic franchises to Xbox Game Pass".

"This includes Microsoft's intent to bring Bethesdas future games into Xbox Game Pass the same day they launch on Xbox or PC, like Starfield, the highly anticipated, new space epic currently in development by Bethesda Game Studios".

While the fate of the Elder Scrolls VI is still up in the air, it seems likely that this would be an Xbox exclusive and, if it follows the same trajectory as the rest of these Zenimax Bethesda games, then it will also come to Xbox Game Pass when it is finally released.

Following the announcement this week, head of Microsoft Phil Spencer explained what the new merge means for Bethesda's exclusives which will be coming to the PS5 in the near future.

Microsoft has acquired Bethesda / Microsoft

Spencer told Bloomberg that Xbox will honour the PS5 exclusivity for both Deathloop and Ghostwire: Tokyo, which are listed as 'timed' PS5 exclusives.

Every future game by Bethesda will be on Xbox, PC first and it will examine each title on a case by case basis on whether or not it will be released on other consoles.

The most recent statement from Bethesda also mentioned that Elder Scrolls VI, and Starfield, will be benefiting from the "largest engine overhaul since Oblivion", which is sure to be welcome news to people who were worried that the next Elder Scrolls game would look exactly like Skyrim, complete with it's extremely terrible and rigid animations.

At the moment, Zenimax has a number of live service games like The Elder Scrolls Online and Fallout 76, but these titles will not be affected by the merge, other than having them remain on Xbox Game Pass in perpetuity.

It seems like the move was done to cement the clout and appeal of Xbox Game Pass, which has recently hit 15 million users for the monthly subscription service.

Now with the unfettered additions of Bethesda games, Microsoft might be trying to push more people to consider buying one of the new Xbox Series consoles through All Access payment plans.

These are basically contracts which see you buy a console and pay it off through monthly instalments.

Pre-orders for the Xbox Series S and Series X consoles went live earlier today, with many shops selling out quickly.

Amazon still has some Xbox Series S consoles available, which you can pre-order here.
India on Tuesday rejected Pakistans contention that the Kashmir issue is one of the most long-standing disputes at the United Nations (UN), saying Islamabad should instead focus on the unfinished task of tackling terrorism.

In a video message on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the world body, Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi lauded the UNs achievements but also referred to failings and deficiencies.

The organisation is only as good as its member states wish it to be. The Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) and Palestine disputes are the organisations most glaring and long-standing disputes. The people of occupied J&K still await fulfilment of the commitment made to them by the UN to grant them their right to self-determination, he said.

Today, the UN is derided as a talk shop. Its resolutions and decisions are flouted. International cooperation, especially in the Security Council, is at its lowest, he added.

Also Read: Rift in top army ranks comes to light, Gen Naravane steps in

Exercising its right of reply, the Indian delegation at the UN responded soon after. First secretary Vidisha Maitra said India had hoped the General Assembly would be spared another repetition of the baseless falsehoods that have now become a trademark of Pakistans interventions on such platforms during the commemoration of a shared global milestone.

However, for a nation that is bereft of milestones, one can only expect a stonewalled and stymied approach to reason, diplomacy and dialogue, she said.

Turning to the specific reference to the Kashmir issue, Maitra said Pakistan was interfering in Indias internal matters.

Also Read: Pakistan targeting Indians working in Afghanistan: Govt to Parliament

What we heard today is the never-ending fabricated narrative presented by the Pakistani representative about the internal affairs of India. We reject the malicious reference made to the union territory (UT) of J&K, which is an integral part of India, she said.

If there is an item that is unfinished on the agenda of the UN it is that of tackling the scourge of terrorism. Pakistan is globally recognised as the epicentre of terrorism, which by its own admission harbours and trains terrorists and hails them as martyrs and consistently persecutes its ethnic and religious minorities, she added.

Maitra said Pakistan would do well to turn its attention inwards to immediately addressing these pressing concerns instead of diverting attention from them by misusing the UN platform.
Mathura : , Sep 22 (IANS) In a shocking incident, a video clip of a Mathura doctor giving more than 15 of his own samples for conducting Corona test for completing the sampling target, has gone viral on social media.

The video that first came to light on Sunday is from the Baldeo community health centre and samples of Rajkumar Saraswat were seen being taken by a health worker. The samples were sent for tests with fake names to the CMO office.

In the video, Saraswat himself admitted that he is giving his own sample, as the number of samples collected are less than the target set by the chief medical officer's (CMO) office.

In the video, one of the health workers can be heard advising him not to conduct so many tests on himself, as it could land him in trouble. The video has now been taken off the social media Another doctor from the same community centre, Amit, filed a complaint with the CMO regarding this. According to Amit, he was assigned the job of collecting samples for Covid-19 on July 27. He alleged that CHC in charge Yogendra Singh Rana pressurized all contractual employees including him to conduct fake sampling, if patients were not coming to the centre for tests.

He also alleged that corona positive patients were being home isolated with his fake signatures.

He said that the CHC in-charge threatened them to conduct the target number of tests or else their contract would be terminated. Additional CMO Rajiv Gupta, who is also a nodal officer of district-level Infection prevention committee of Covid-19, said that the matter is being investigated.

"Action will be taken against the health official if he is found guilty," he said.

He said that there are two teams working for collecting samples -- a mobile team, which conducts random sampling and the other is a static team that takes samples of the patients, who visit the centre for tests.
Tacloban City (CNN Philippines, September 22) - A 19-year-old man arrived at his Eastern Samar hometown after riding his bicycle for 10 days from Paranaque City.

Peter Roncales arrived at the border checkpoint of the Municipality of Taft on Monday evening, which is 1,000 kilometers away from Paranaque City in Metro Manila.

Roncales decided to take the risky journey after losing his job due to the quarantine restriction brought by the pandemic.

Since he did not have enough money for fare to travel to Samar, Roncales decided to leave Metro Manila using his bike.

Upon arrival at the provincial border in Taft, he rested for a while as he awaited for personnel from his hometown, the Municipality of Oras, to fetch him. Oras is one hour away from Taft.

A vehicle of Oras local government drove him from the checkpoint to a quarantine center for locally stranded individuals, according to the Philippine News Agency. He will stay there for 14 days before he will be allowed to reunite with his family, it also said,
Philippines under state of calamity for another year

President Rodrigo Duterte has extended a state of calamity in the country by a year, allowing the government to draw emergency funds more quickly in the pandemic. The special measures will also allow Mr. Duterte to harness the police and military to maintain law and order.

Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly, he dismissed concerns about human rights under his government. Interest groups have weaponized human rights  some well-meaning, others ill-intentioned, he said.

Earlier this week, the president assailed critics who said his government had not done enough to contain the outbreak, one of the worst in Southeast Asia. What enough do you want? There are hospitals, beds and funeral parlors. Everything is there, he said in a televised address late Monday.

Details: The Philippines has more than 291,000 confirmed coronavirus cases. It was placed under a state of calamity in March, a designation that also allows officials to control the prices of basic commodities.
The Rev. Robert Graetz was 27, recently ordained in the Lutheran Church, when he received his first full-time assignment. It was 1955, and with a shortage of African American ministers, Lutheran officials decided to send him to a predominantly Black church in Montgomery, Ala.

Graetz, who was White, had demonstrated a growing interest in civil rights, joining the NAACP while in college and preaching to a small, majority-Black congregation in Los Angeles as an intern. Before sending him to Alabama, church elders asked him to promise not to "start any trouble."

Years later, after Graetz had become the only White minister to participate in the Montgomery bus boycott and long after he had confronted death threats and bombs from Ku Klux Klan members who targeted his home, he still believed he had kept his promise.

"We did not start that trouble," he often said. "We joined the trouble."

Graetz, who devoted his ministry to battling poverty and discrimination and to building what his colleague the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. called "the Beloved Community," was 92 when he died Sept. 20 at his home in Montgomery. He had Parkinson's disease, said his wife, Jeannie Ellis Graetz.

From its earliest days in December 1955, the Montgomery bus boycott marked a turning point in what was increasingly recognized as a national civil rights movement. Rosa Parks's refusal to give up her bus seat to a White man, in defiance of a city ordinance and state law, sparked a protest that lasted 381 days, turning Parks into a founding symbol of the struggle and establishing King as the movement's charismatic young leader.

It also transformed Graetz into a symbol of White support for Blacks in Montgomery and into a target for Klansmen and other white supremacists. Segregationists found the idea of a White man's actively cooperating with the boycott "astonishing and outrageous," according to civil rights historian Mills Thornton's book "Dividing Lines" (2002), and twice bombed his parsonage.

Graetz was "the only White visibly active in the protest," said David Garrow, another civil rights historian, and was the only White person to serve on the board of the Montgomery Improvement Association, the Black community group formed to coordinate the boycott.

He had met King, the association's president, soon after arriving in Montgomery. "I decided that anybody who sounded as smart as he was and was articulate as he was, and had the name Martin Luther, I had to get to know him better," Graetz told a public television interviewer in 2011.

And he was a friend and neighbor of Parks, a seamstress who led an NAACP youth group that met at his church, Trinity Lutheran Evangelical. When he learned secondhand that someone had been arrested for refusing to give up a seat on a bus, he called Parks to inquire, not realizing it was her.

"A wonderful lady, quiet, dignified, respectful," he later told NPR, "and yet full of that kind of quiet courage that you rarely see in anybody."

On the Sunday after Parks's arrest, Graetz stood at the pulpit and advised the more than 200 members of his congregation to participate in the newly announced bus boycott, adding, "If you need a ride, I'll be glad to come and take you wherever you need to go."

Graetz joined the boycott's organizers in driving some of Montgomery's 40,000 Black residents to and from work each day and helped oversee fundraising efforts to support the makeshift taxi service. He also sought to enlist other White ministers in the cause, asking them in a letter to "consider this matter prayerfully and carefully, with Christian love."

None heeded his call. Still, in the 1958 memoir "Stride Toward Freedom," King called Graetz "a constant reminder to us in the trying months of the protest that many white people as well as Negroes were applying the 'love-thy-neighbor-as-thyself' teachings of Christianity in their daily lives."

The boycott organizers met frequently, including over coffee at 2:30 a.m., and bonded as they and their families confronted threatening letters and phone calls. Vandals threw rocks through Graetz's windows and poured sugar into his car's fuel tank. His tires were slashed, and he said he was sometimes followed when he drove out of Montgomery, leading him to never use the same route twice in a row.

In August 1956, a few sticks of dynamite exploded about 40 feet from his front door, doing minimal damage. Graetz and his family were out of town, attending a civil rights workshop with Parks at the Highlander Folk School in Tennessee. Montgomery Mayor W.A. Gayle dismissed the attack, asserting that it might have been "a publicity stunt to build up interest of the Negroes in their campaign."

Five months later, a second bomb went off late at night, when the Graetzes were home with their 9-day-old baby boy. Their front door and front windows were shattered, and the roof was raised several inches, Graetz wrote in a 2006 memoir, "A White Preacher's Message on Race and Reconciliation."

After "stumbling over something in the driveway," he added, he his neighbors realized that another, unexploded device had landed outside the house, with enough dynamite to level the neighborhood. That same night, assailants bombed four Black churches and the home of the Rev. Ralph Abernathy, another boycott leader. (Seven Klansmen were arrested, and no one was convicted in connection with the bombings.)

Fred Gray, a civil rights lawyer who defended Parks, later wrote that when Graetz was attacked in the bombing, "there appeared to be even more hostility toward him - if it was possible - than toward Dr. King," presumably because Graetz was White.

In part, the hostility was driven by a sense of defeat. The Supreme Court had outlawed bus segregation in November 1956, and the court order went into effect in Montgomery the next month, spurring an end to the boycott.

The night the court decision was announced, Graetz read from the Bible at a mass meeting, choosing a passage from Paul's letter to the Corinthians: "When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things."

"The congregation burst into applause," King recalled in his memoir. "Soon they were shouting and cheering and waving their handkerchiefs, as if to say that they knew they had come of age, had won new dignity." After a second outburst occurred at the end of Graetz's reading, King realized that something had changed: "I knew then that nonviolence, for all its difficulties, had won its way into our hearts."

Robert Sylvester Graetz Jr. was born in Clarksburg, W.Va., on May 16, 1928, and grew up in the state capital, Charleston. His father was a glass-company engineer, his mother a homemaker, and the family was filled with Lutheran preachers, leading Graetz to join the ministry.

He received a bachelor's degree in 1950 from Capital University, a Lutheran school outside Columbus, Ohio, where he was doing research on anti-Semitism when he began to learn the history of anti-Black discrimination. "I in my Whiteness didn't know anything about it," he later said. "It was as if I had discovered a new country."

Graetz graduated from the Evangelical Lutheran Theological Seminary (now Trinity Lutheran Seminary) in Columbus and returned to preach in the city in 1958. He spent most of his career as a minister in Ohio, aside from several years in the late 1960s when he worked in Washington, helping organize a Lutheran street ministry and handing out food in the aftermath of the 1968 riots ignited by the assassination of his old colleague King.

"The riots were part of that mourning process," he wrote in his memoir.

Graetz was effectively joined in his ministry by his wife, the former Jean Ellis, whom he married in 1951. They had seven children, including Robert S. Graetz III, who inspired his parents to join the gay rights movement before his death in 1991 after being diagnosed with AIDS.

In addition to his wife and six remaining children, Graetz is survived by a sister, 26 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson.

In a phone interview, his wife, 90, recalled their years in Montgomery with some fondness. "The Ku Klux Klan didn't like us, but we got along with everybody else," she said. "We joked that we had the only integrated swimming pool in Alabama: a big tractor tire in the backyard. Put a tarp in it and fill it with water, and little kids had a good time in there."

She said the memory of the bombing was still raw. Along with her husband, she had learned "that forgiveness is necessary when you're going through all this."

"When you have hate in your heart, it's like a cancer in your life," she added. "One of our jobs in life is to heal all the bad things that are going on and help people to realize that fairness is necessary."
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 00:27:07|Editor: huaxia

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MOSCOW, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Washington is using the case of the alleged poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny to block the construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project designed to ship Russian natural gas to Europe, Russian Foreign Intelligence Service Director Sergei Naryshkin said Tuesday.

"It is extremely important for Washington to secure the closure of this project, which threatens the White House's plans to increase the supply of U.S. liquefied natural gas to Europe," Naryshkin said in a statement.

He said the proof of the American plot was evidenced by calls of U.S. President Donald Trump to the German leadership to withdraw from the project, statements by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on listing the project in the new version of the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, and threats of several Republican senators to the leadership of the German port of Mukran.

On top of it, Washington has launched a campaign of pressure on European countries through various confidential channels to block the construction of the project, Naryshkin said.

According to Naryshkin, most Europeans understand that abandoning the project will cause them significant damage.

"Moreover, a cold winter is expected and a lot of gas will be required," he added. Enditem
The Management Bill (PMB), which is pending in Parliament for passage, should be sent to a standing committee or select panel for further consultations with stakeholders as the proposed law has several loopholes, according to farm experts.

Earlier this year, the Union Cabinet approved the Management Bill, 2020, to regulate the business of and compensate farmers in case of losses from usage of spurious agro-chemicals.

The bill, which was introduced in the in March this year, seeks to protect the interest of farmers and ensure they get safe and effective pesticides.

Stating that the bill in the present form was not based on scientific facts, R B Singh, former president of the Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS), said the registration process of pesticides should be made time-bound and online to make it transparent.

He was speaking at a webinar organised by the All India Kisan Coordination Committee (AIKCC).

He also advocated stringent punishment for spurious pesticide makers.

"The PMB in the present form is not based on scientific facts and does not adequately address the concerns of the farmers," Singh said, and suggested that it should be sent to a parliamentary standing committee or select committee for wider consultations with the stakeholders.

He said the government should include the recommendations of NAAS and the Trust for Advancement of Agricultural Sciences (TAAS), which have been prepared after comprehensive consultations with all stakeholders.

This will, he said, not only enhance the credibility of the bill, but would also greatly augment the agro-ecological and socio-economic impact of pesticides as plant health chemicals.

Singh said pesticides play an important role in increasing agricultural productivity and preventing crop losses.

"However, despite very low intensity of pesticide use in the country, less than 0.5 kg/hectare, against over 13 kg/hectare in China, due to their indiscriminate use, negative impact on the health of humans, animals, biodiversity, and environment are not uncommon," he added.

Singh said NAAS has recommended that the definition of the terms used in the bill should be unambiguous and scientific, the import and registration of technical grade pesticides should be streamlined and it must have adequate provisions for data protection.

It has also suggested "decriminalization of the system, but fixing differentiated accountability along the value chain", he said.

C D Mayee, former chairman of the Agriculture Scientists Recruitment Board (ASRB), also stressed on timely and online registration process.

AIKCC's President Bhupinder Singh Mann said: "The PMB 2020 is an excellent opportunity to replace the old Insecticides Act, but, unfortunately it has again placed farmers back under the banyan tree."



The proposed law must provide right to technology to farmers for quality crop protection by overhauling the regulatory system, he added.

AIKCC was formed as a coordinating platform of various state level farmers organisations, currently 28 in number.

(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.)
 Close Donald Trump warns Democrats he might 'pack' Supreme Court if GOP holds White House and Senate

A Democratic sweep in November would have the best odds of boosting employment and rebounding the economy, Moodys found in its analysis of election scenarios.

The economic outlook is strongest under the scenario in which Joe Biden and the Democrats sweep Congress and fully adopt their economic agenda," analysts said.

The Democratic nominee has meanwhile ridiculed Donald Trump for his ignorance of American history and highly questionable advice on using household bleach to combat the coronavirus, turning the tables on a president known for his insults.

Im not the guy who by the way said the problem with the Revolutionary War is we didnt have enough airports," the candidate joked with a reporter in North Carolina. "Im not the guy who said the attack that took down the trade towers was on 7-Eleven.

The president again mocked his challenger at a rally in Jacksonville, Florida, on Thursday night as the former vice presidents latet polling from Fox puts him ahead in the key states of Ohio, Pennsylvania and Nevada, where the president trails by 11 points.

In an interview with MSNBC on Friday, Mr Biden refused to speculate on the doomsday scenarios that legal scholars and election analysts have considered following the presidents threats to the election, insisting that the president is using fear as a distraction from his administrations failures.The Democratic candidate instead suggested that the rule of law will prevail and American voters will have their voice heard at the polls.

The last thing we need is the equivalent of a coup, he said. No ones going to back him if that were to occur."

He added that the whole notion of him talking about this  is to take our eye off the ball, not to talk about whats happening about people dying of [Covid-19], not talking all the unemployment, not talking him being unwilling to bring Congress together and get off his golf course and out of the sand trap and have meeting in the White House.

Its always about distraction with him, he said.

He called the presidents attempts to undermine the results of the election irresponsible and outrageous" and he suggested that a massive voter turnout will overwhelm the presidents claims that the results will be disputed.

The people in this country are going to be heard on 3 November, he said.

The candidate and his wife Jill Biden appeared in Washington DC on Friday to attend services for late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, lying in state at the US Capitol.

Mr Trump is expected to announce his third appointment to the high court on Saturday.

Vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris will deliver remarks on Monday in response.

Follow live coverage as it happened

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WASHINGTON, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Pope Francis called for climate restoration in his statement on September 1, saying "climate restoration is of utmost importance." The Pope showed support for climate restoration and related solutions just two weeks before the second Annual Global Climate Restoration Forum , hosted by the Foundation for Climate Restoration (F4CR). At the Forum, innovators, scientists, and other thought leaders gathered to discuss the implementation of and investment behind climate restoration solutions.

Wrap up and Reflection - Second Annual Global Climate Restoration Forum Second Annual Global Climate Restoration Forum

"This second annual forum, one year after our inaugural event at the UN Headquarters, demonstrated how the climate restoration movement is gaining critical momentum," said Rick Parnell, CEO, Foundation for Climate Restoration. "Experts, leading scientists, and technologists are pushing for bold climate restoration solutions because they are necessary to ensure a habitable planet."

Climate restoration is the safe and permanent removal of the trillion tons of excess CO 2 in the atmosphere. This excess CO 2 is the main driver of global warming, and restoration, alongside mitigation and adaptation, is essential to combating climate change.

Statements from thought leaders included below:

"We need climate repair and climate restoration to be put on the agenda," said Sir David King, Former United Kingdom Chief Scientific Advisor to HM Government, Emeritus Professor, and Founding Chair of the Center for Climate Repair at the University of Cambridge. "If we continue to emit the present levels (35B tons of greenhouse gases (GHG)/year), the problem becomes really difficult and challenging and may not be manageable. By reducing emissions, we move on to the next steps that will help us manage the climate problem: remove GHG from the atmosphere and develop the supportive technologies."

"We've recently broken the carbon balance cycle. We can fix the problem by reversing the process - take the carbon out of the atmosphere and put it back into the geosphere," said Steve Oldham, CEO, Carbon Engineering. "The reality is that we are not ready to instantaneously switch away from fossil fuels, it is going to take time, but the decarbonization cannot wait."





"Climate restoration is one of the most important solutions we have for our changing planet," said Alexandria Villasenor, 15-year-old Youth Climate Activist and Co-Founder of Earth Uprising.

"We're marking 2021 as the year to restore the planet," said Kathleen Rogers, President, Earth Day Network. "We will not have a sustainable planet unless we include restoration, along with the mitigation and adaptation, as part of our urgent climate actions."

Other announcements at the Forum include:

All sessions from the Forum can be viewed on the Foundation for Climate Restoration's YouTube channel .

About the Foundation for Climate Restoration

The Foundation for Climate Restoration (F4CR) is a nonprofit whose mission is to catalyze action to restore the climate by 2050. It uses global dialogue and initiatives to unite the public, policy-makers, and technical and business experts behind the common goal of reversing global warming and restoring a healthy climate for future generations. The F4CR encourages and spotlights achievable solutions to permanently remove excess carbon dioxide from our atmosphere. For more information visit www.f4cr.org.

Media Contact:

Alexandra Pony

PONY Communications

250.858.0656

[email protected]

SOURCE Foundation for Climate Restoration
Technical University Teachers Association of Ghana (TUTAG) at the end of its 39th Delegate Congress in Koforidua in the Eastern is calling on Government to sign and implement the conditions of service document presented with the urgency it deserves.

The association threatened that further delays from the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE) and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) has the tendency of jeopardizing efforts at calming down the nerves of teachers of technical universities in the country.

At a press conference addressed by the associations National President, Dr Michael Akurugu Brigandi, under the theme Ensuring Violence free Elections, the Role of Technical University Teachers, he disclosed that the migration process of Wa and Bolgatanga polytechnics into universities has been successful by Government, but according to the Association what's delaying now is their migration onto the Public University Salary Structure (PUSS).

He added that all efforts to have the issue resolved have failed, for which reason, it will not entertain any further delay.

1. Peace Before, During and After Elections 2020

Peace can be likened to the air we breathe. As it is available, its existence is taken for granted, but when we dont have it, that is when we suddenly realize its essential nature to our very existence.

TUTAG hereby joins all well-meaning Ghanaians to keep to their commitments to a peaceful and violence free electioneering process. All political parties are hereby enjoined to act in a manner that promotes peace. Let all political parties demonstrate issues-based campaign, devoid of incendiary language. Ghana is all we have and it is surrounded by countries whose language we cannot speak. TUTAG will not support any political party that appears to divide us for cheap political gains. We encourage the media, civil society organizations and religious bodies to monitor and firmly rebuke any political actor(s) whose actions or inactions may endanger the peace we seek to jealously protect. All technical university lecturers are called upon to play the role of shaping a perfect and humane political discourse with the aim of promoting peace and unity among the citizens of our beloved Ghana. Society listens to us and relies greatly on our inputs. We must remain as touch bearers in the national quest for peace before, during and after the elections.

2. COVID-19 fight is not over

TUTAG is concerned with the current situation of gross disregard to the safety protocols in respect of the COVID-19 pandemic. The ease in restrictions should not be misunderstood to mean complete eradication of the dreaded virus. TUTAG calls on all Ghanaians to take a cue from the many souls that have sadly fell to the virus and those who suffered various degrees of casualties. All must commit to full adherence to the COVID-19 safety protocols. Your family needs you alive, and so does Ghana need you alive.

3. Conditions of Service of TUTAG

Ladies and Gentlemen, It will interest you and the general public to note that the last time the Conditions of Service for technical university lecturers was reviewed was in 2006, (14 good years ago!) No one needs to tell anyone that TUTAG as a union is at a very crucial stage and that government has exceeded TUTAGs tolerable limits. Government must sign and implement the Conditions of Service document presented by TUTAG with the urgency it deserves. Further delay from the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE) and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) has the tendency of jeopardizing efforts at calming down the nerves of teachers of technical universities in the country.

4. Migration of Wa and Bolgatanga Technical Universities onto the Public University Salary

Structure (PUSS)

TUTAG is happy to note that the conversion of the Wa and Bolgatanga Technical Universities has been successfully completed by government. However, what is delaying now is their migration onto the Public University Salary Structure (PUSS). The NCTE and Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) are feet dragging in this regard and the overwhelming nature of this attitude is what is giving TUTAG members sleepless nights. TUTAG expects nothing less than an expeditious migration of Wa and Bolgatanga Technical Universities onto the PUSS. Anything less than this will jeopardize the relative peace we are currently enjoying on our campuses.

5. Payment of Research Arrears Due TUTAG Members.

In the 2018/19 academic year, government increased the Research Allowance by 100% thus raising the figure from Five Hundred to One Thousand Ghana Cedis. The increase was paid to other university lecturers except TUTAG members for reasons best known to only government. TUTAG has since last year done everything peaceful and humanly possible to get government to pay the said arrears, but to no avail.

TUTAG will go all length in pressing home the demand for a review of its conditions of service, the migration of Bolga and Wa and the payment of the said arrears if government fails to act within two weeks from date of this communique.

6. Non Accreditation of Technical Universities Academic Programs

Ladies and Gentlemen, it is strange and indeed interesting to note that the very government that is committing heavy doses of resources into the development of the countrys manpower needs is the same government that is impeding the efforts of technical universities in their quest to train manpower to feed the economy. Government, through the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE) and the National Accreditation Board (NAB) is doing all it can to frustrate the existence of technical universities by failing to accredit well designed (Competency-Based) academic programs meant to produce the much needed manpower for the country. We consider this attitude unimaginable of the regulatory bodies.

Why will any government agency deliberately empanel theory-based academics to assess practical / competency based programs? More so the constitution of the Boards of these regulatory bodies is so skewed in favour of non-technical university experts. The situation can be likened to maize farmers being asked to guide rice farmers for good yield.

Again, the subtle underhand dealings of National Board for Professional and Technical Examinations (NABPTEX) is clearly evident in all the ongoing non-accreditation of technical university programs as the fear is that it may lead to loss of NABPTEXs monopoly over HND programs in Ghana.

TUTAG shall resist any further attempt by the aforementioned regulatory bodies to frustrate the growth and impact of technical universities on the Ghanaian and International academic landscape. Thank you all for your time.

Signed

Dr. Michael Akurugu Brigandi

National President
Disturbing footage has emerged showing a woman unleashing on a group of tree loppers for parking their 'heavy machinery' out the front of her house.

Video of the confrontation has been shared on social media, showing the woman - dubbed Karen from Sydney - screaming at the workers from across her brick fence.

She begins by threatening to call the police because she 'cannot deal with this noise'.

'Move the 'f***king truck somewhere else,' she yells.

Disturbing footage has emerged showing a woman unleashing on a group of landscapers for parking their 'heavy machinery' out the front of her house

She begins by threatening to call the police because she says she 'cannot deal with this noise'. 'Move the 'f***king truck somewhere else,' she yells

One of the men then tells the woman an email was sent out about the work they had been paid to do.

The woman responds saying the email never mentioned the 'piece of heavy machinery' being parked in front of her house.

The tree lopper asks where he should park the machinery instead.

'I don't give a s***,' she shouts back.

The woman then starts screaming: 'I don't give a s***, I just don't give a s***... F***ing move.

'If you don't move I will call the police. Do you understand?

'This is my house, I live here. How do you suggest that I deal with hours of noise. '

He responds saying they have permission to park at the front of her house.

She tells them again that the email never mentioned the machinery.

Another woman can be seen trying to pull the hysterical woman away but she refuses to move and continues to scream abuse at the men, telling them to move the machinery to her neighbour's place instead.

The woman erupts at one of the workers, calling them a 'f***ing a**hole'. 'I have to work today,' she yells

The workers tell her if they moved the truck it would be blocking the trees.

'How are we going to do the job without the machine?' one of the men asks.

They then ask if they can block her driveway and she agrees.

'Sure block my driveway, we're not going to use my car.'

The men then question what difference it would make whether they park at the front of her house or in her driveway.

She tells them she 'can't deal with the noise for hours'.

The woman then suddenly erupts again, screaming and pointing at another person.

'I have to work today,' she yells.

She then threatens to call the police once more, before the fed-up workers tell her to go ahead and do it.

The video has been captioned: 'Karen from Sydney is angry and has a go at tree loppers working next door'.
WILLIAMSPORT  An obstetrician has accused UPMC Susquehanna of causing an independent federally qualified health center (FQHC) in Tioga County to present false or fraudulent claims to the government for payment.

Dr. Matthew Heckman in a suit filed in U.S. Middle District Court claims UMPC has improperly exercised control over North Penn Comprehensive Health Services.

UPMC does not comment on pending litigation, spokesman Tyler Wagner said.

The suit against UPMC Susquehanna and North Penn contends Heckman is a victim of retaliation for objecting for what he perceives to be fraudulent and illegal activity by the two entities.

He contends he repeatedly advocated for making decisions in the best interest of patients in an underserved area with limited or no public transportation.

After he was fired by North Penn in April, he opened a private practice in Elkland focusing on prenatal patients. The suit states UPMC asked him to close it because it violated non-compete covenants but Heckman contends no other physician was providing obstetrics care in Elkland or Westfield.

On Aug. 4, he says North Penn sent him a letter demanding repayment of his $60,000 signing bonus plus interest. That amount would have been forgiven if he remained employed through Aug. 31, 2021, he says.

Heckman is seeking back pay, unspecified damages and reinstatement as North Penns chief medical officer, a position he held until demoted a year ago.

He also wants an injunction that would permit him to practice at UPMC Wellsboro.

He claims he has not resigned from the medical staff but his physician badge has not been returned and access to his hospital email account and inpatient electronic medical records have not been reinstated.

North Penn, which provides primary care and behavioral health services through six centers throughout Tioga County, partners closely with UPMC Susquehanna of which the Wellsboro hospital is a part, the suit states.

There is no affiliation between the two, Wagner said, but he acknowledged membership of the respective boards overlaps.

The suit contends Heckmans demotion and firing violated the Pennsylvania Whistleblower Act and UPMC is in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act by withholding payment for his work as medical director of the Green Home, a skilled nursing facility in Wellsboro.

Other allegations in his complaint include UPMC:

Siphoned money from grants North Penn receives to provide treatment regardless of the ability to pay by charging above-market rates for contracts for items such as information technology support, physician recruitment and building lease and maintenance.

Requested on multiple occasions North Penn physicians refer patients exclusively to UPMC Wellsboro in violation of federal law.

Directed North Penn to terminate its obstetrics services by last Oct. 1 thereby eliminating competition for Wellsboro.

North Penn, which has clinics in Blossburg, Lawrenceville, Wellsboro, Elkland, Mansfield and Westfield, was founded 1972 after Blossburg State Hospital closed.

Its designation as a federally qualified health center makes it eligible for certain grants from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
NASHVILLE, Tenn., Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- iRis Networks would like to announce that CEO and President Terry Metze will be leaving the company effective December 31, 2020. The iRis Board of Governors has started a national search to replace Terry. In the meantime, Terry will continue to lead the company and assist in the transition to the new CEO once the search process is complete.

"During his tenure as Chief Executive Officer, Terry has successfully repositioned the company from a TDM backhaul and voice tandem business to a full service carrier that provides up to 100Gbps services to carriers and enterprise customers across the region," says Mark Patterson, Chairman of the Board. "In doing so, he has established the path for sustainable growth. I want to thank Terry for his hard work and dedication to the iRis organization and wish him all the best in his future endeavors."

"I am grateful for the past six years with iRis during which I have had the opportunity to build a great team, expand broadband and connectivity across Tennessee, and dramatically improve the position of the company," says Terry Metze, Chief Executive Officer. "In light of the passion and the commitment of the iRis team, I am excited to see the future results of iRis and where the new leadership will take the organization."

In the near future, Terry will be relocating to South Carolina, taking a short break while spending more time with his family and grandchildren.

About iRis Networks:

iRis Networks delivers state-of-the-art, fiber transport for voice, video and data in and around Tennessee with over 5000 route miles of fiber. IRis is uniquely positioned because it provides a gateway of broadband transport to over 100 rural communities in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Alabama. iRis also provides fully redundant high capacity transport between the larger regional markets of Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Memphis, and Atlanta.

To learn more, give us a call at 615-423-2300 or visit www.irisnetworksusa.com and connect with us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Media Contact:

Steve Smith

615-425-2300

[email protected]

SOURCE iRis Networks
Lassie Charles was almost ready to give up.

She told her husband that they would have to close down the successful restaurant they had started eight years ago in order to find another location. Their new landlord was deliberately making it difficult for the couple to renew their lease agreement, even though they were ideal tenants.

Ideal in almost every way  except that they, and many of their customers, were Black.

That was the essence of a conclusion that an Ontario Superior Court judge came to in the case between Elias Restaurant and Keele Sheppard Plaza Inc. and Castlehill Properties Inc. in a judgement released earlier this month.

The case centered on the fact that the landlord and manager wanted a new tenant who would somehow be more suitable to the shopping plaza. They did everything they could to avoid responding to the Charles familys efforts to renew their lease, using a technicality to try to evict them from their bustling location at Keele Street and Sheppard Avenue. Such a move would cut them off from a diverse customer base that had remained loyal, even throughout the pandemic. The couple had continued to pay their monthly rent on time, despite a 125 per cent rental increase.

During the trial, various statements by representatives for the landlord were indicative of racial stereotyping, wrote Justice Ed Morgan in his September 11 judgement.

Identifying a family-run restaurant as not family-friendly, and impugning a restaurant-bar for serving liquor and having smokers stand outside the premises, all point to a mindset that condemns the minority population for what is considered normal behaviour for the majority population, he wrote.

This was racism, agreed Lassie in an interview. I was insulted on the phone and was told my place was undesirable and that they were going to renovate it to their liking. My husband deserves the credit for this because he said lets fight them.

The couple, originally from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, have lived in Canada for over 30 years. It was her husbands exceptional cooking skills (passed down from his mother) that led the couple to invest in a restaurant and bar that employ their 31-year-old son and two other servers. Over the years, they had invested $150,000 in the 1,500-square-foot space.

I told Lassie that I could win this case, said Clebirth Charles in an interview, speaking from the restaurants kitchen where he and his son prepare popular Afro-Caribbean cultural foods including curry goat, oxtail, and jerk chicken.

Their lawyer Miguna Miguna agreed, and argued they were being forced out because of anti-Black racism.

Over the years, the courts have not focused as much attention at the outright racism of commercial landlords, said Miguna in an interview from his office in Toronto, pointing out that the racism involving people of colour looking to rent or purchase property to live in is much more widely acknowledged than the ghettoization of Black-owned commerce. No one has ever interrogated through litigation the issue of racism and how it impacts negatively on African Canadians in business. I was hopeful that the judge would not turn the other way and he didnt.

Citing case law to support his conclusions, Justice Morgan described the landlords suggestions that the restaurant owners were unattractive tenants as a form of Othering of minority people . . . in the guise of a legal method. The lawyer for the landlord objected to the suggestion of racial bias, but Justice Morgan pointed out that it wasnt up to the justice system to determine whether someone is aware of their bias, only whether or not their statements and actions point to its existence.

For the judge to make such accurate and warranted remarks, is a testament to what the Black community endures in all aspects of life, said Earlan Charles, the couples son and the restaurants head chef.

To be honest, although we were the victims, I wonder if we would have gotten the same outcome if the attention and momentum around systemic racism wasnt on our side, he wondered.

Well never know, but this case demonstrates progress  and a much needed win.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 21, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Following a series of critical contract awards and hardware milestones, NASA has shared an update on its Artemis program, including the latest Phase 1 plans to land the first woman and the next man on the surface of the Moon in 2024.

In the 18 months since NASA accepted a bold challenge to accelerate its exploration plans by more than four years and establish sustainable exploration by the end of the decade, the agency has continued to gain momentum toward sending humans to the Moon again for the first time since the last Apollo lunar mission in 1972.

"With bipartisan support from Congress, our 21st century push to the Moon is well within America's reach," said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. "As we've solidified more of our exploration plans in recent months, we've continued to refine our budget and architecture. We're going back to the Moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits, and inspiration for a new a generation of explorers. As we build up a sustainable presence, we're also building momentum toward those first human steps on the Red Planet."

In its formal plan, NASA captures Artemis progress to date, identifying the key science, technology and human missions, as well as the commercial and international partnerships that will ensure we continue to lead in exploration and achieve our ambitious goal to land astronauts on the Moon.

The agency's powerful new rocket, the Space Launch System (SLS), and the Orion spacecraft are closer than ever to their first integrated launch. The spacecraft is complete while the core stage and its attached four engines are undergoing a final series of tests that will culminate in a critical hot fire test this fall.

Early Artemis Missions

Following a successful hot fire test, the core stage will be shipped to the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida for integration with the spacecraft. NASA will launch an SLS and an Orion together on two flight tests around the Moon to check performance, life support, and communication capabilities. The first mission  known as Artemis I  is on track for 2021 without astronauts, and Artemis II will fly with crew in 2023.

In the Phase 1 plan, NASA notes additional details about conducting a new test during the Artemis II mission  a proximity operations demonstration. Shortly after Orion separates from the interim cryogenic propulsion stage, astronauts will manually pilot Orion as they approach and back away from the stage. This demonstration will assess Orion's handling qualities and related hardware and software to provide performance data and operational experience that cannot be readily gained on the ground in preparation for rendezvous, proximity operations, and docking, as well as undocking operations in lunar orbit beginning on Artemis III.

While preparing for and carrying out these flight test missions, NASA already will be back on the Moon robotically  using commercial delivery services to send dozens of new science investigations and technology demonstrations to the Moon twice per year beginning in 2021.

In 2024, Artemis III will be humanity's return to the surface of the Moon. After launching on SLS, astronauts will travel about 240,000 miles to lunar orbit aboard Orion, at which point they will directly board one of the new commercial human landing systems, or dock to the Gateway to inspect it and gather supplies before boarding the landing system for their expedition to the surface.

Wearing modern spacesuits that allow for greater flexibility and movement than those of their Apollo predecessors, astronauts will collect samples and conduct a range of science experiments over the course of nearly seven days. Using the lander, they will return to lunar orbit before ultimately heading home to Earth aboard Orion.

Work is progressing rapidly on the Gateway. NASA will integrate the first two components to launch  the power and propulsion element and the habitation and logistics outpost  in 2023. This foundation for the Gateway will be able to operate autonomously, conducting remote science experiments when astronauts are not aboard. NASA has selected the first two science instrument suites to conduct space weather investigations in lunar orbit before crew visits.

While NASA has not made a final decision to use the Gateway for Artemis III, Artemis IV and beyond will send crew aboard Orion to dock to the Gateway, where two crew members can stay aboard the spaceship in orbit while two go to the surface. Over time, the outpost will evolve, with new modules added by international partners, allowing crew members to conduct increasingly longer lunar missions.

As detailed in the agency's concept for surface sustainability earlier this year, an incremental buildup of infrastructure on the surface will follow later this decade, allowing for longer surface expeditions with more crew. That concept calls for an Artemis Base Camp that would include new rovers, power systems, habitats, and more on the surface for long-term exploration of the Moon.

Throughout the Artemis program, robots and humans will search for, and potentially extract, resources such as water that can be converted into other usable resources, including oxygen and fuel. By fine-tuning precision landing technologies as well as developing new mobility capabilities, astronauts will travel farther distances and explore new regions of the Moon.

Learn more about NASA's Artemis program at:

www.nasa.gov/artemis

SOURCE NASA

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SULLIVAN  Call it a 60-year Sullivan sandwich story.

Tuesday marked the anniversary of Richard Nixon visiting Sullivan for a cookout and campaign speech. The vice president left his mark.

The buffalo barbecue sandwich that Nixon left on his plate on Sept. 22, 1960, became an enduring historical curiosity after Boy Scout Steve Jenne of Sullivan took it home with him.

Jenne has kept the sandwich frozen ever since then, an act that earned him an invitation to appear on a 1988 episode of the "Tonight Show" with television legend Johnny Carson.

Jenne, who now resides in Springfield, has been commemorating the 60th anniversary of Nixon visiting Sullivan and leaving behind that chicken sandwich  a story told in The Sandwich That Changed My Life!, a new book written by Jenne with help from former Sullivan resident Scot England.

In 1960, Jenne was 14 years old when his Boy Scout troop was asked to serve as an honor guard for Nixon during a cookout arranged by area Republican political leaders. Nixon flew into the Decatur Airport and rode to Sullivan in a convoy on a route that was lined with spectators.

Nixon's appearance in Sullivan drew thousands to Wyman Park for what became a scene of "organized chaos" as many crowded close to the vice president during an era when security was less restrictive, Jenne said.

The Boy Scouts stood on post behind Nixon and his wife, Pat, at the picnic pavilion until the couple left so that the visiting politician could deliver his speech. Jenne said he then noticed that Nixon had left a sandwich with a few bites taken out of it on his paper plate.

"I looked around and thought, 'If no one else was going to take it, I am going to take it,'" Jenne said.

After riding his bicycle home, Jenne said he presented his souvenir to his perplexed mother and asked her to preserve it. Jenne said she placed this sandwich in a glass jar in their freezer. Jenne said the frozen sandwich later relocated with his family from Sullivan to Springfield. Jenne said he took custody of the sandwich years later after he moved out and settled down in a permanent home of his own.

Jenne said word about his Nixon related sandwich spread over time in the area and ultimately drew the attention of the Decatur Herald & Review in 1988. Vicki (Shaw) Woodard, who was a reporter in the Mattoon bureau at the time, was assigned to write a feature story about the sandwich.

"That's how the story hit the (newspaper) wire services. Once it hit the wire services, it went all around the world," Jenne said.

The tale of the frozen Nixon sandwich eventually was told in a USA Today article that ended up drawing an invitation from the "Tonight Show," Jenne said. He carefully packaged this slightly shrunken souvenir in a carryon freezer bag for the flight to California and a trip to Carson's studio in Burbank.

Jenne said he was happy to shake hands with the well-dressed talk show host and to share the stage that night with comedy great Steve Martin. He said Martin performed an impromptu gag where he brought out a paper plate signed with a message saying that the comedian had eaten a chicken salad sandwich off this plate before his performance "bombed on 'The Tonight Show.'" Jenne ended up receiving this plate, plus a half-eaten snack from Carson, for what would become a growing collection.

Joked Carson: You could probably sell this to some museum  a very pathetic museum."

The Sullivan native said the notoriety he gained from the Nixon sandwich eventually led to him receiving souvenir sandwiches from Tiny Tim and Henny Youngman during performances by these entertainers in the region, plus an appearance on the rebooted "I've Got a Secret" game show in the 2000s.

Jenne said he never intended to have notoriety or a collection of frozen food from celebrities, but has enjoyed the opportunities that this has presented. Jenne said he hopes his story will now bring renewed attention to the Nixon visit plaque at Wyman Park in Sullivan, adding that he plans to continue taking care of the souvenir he gained that day.

"As long as I am living, that sandwich will be stored in my freezer in a container that is labeled, 'Save, don't throw away,'" Jenne said.

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AAMVA Veteran to Shape Mobile Business Development for mDL Technology Partners Scytales AB and GET Group

WALTHAM, Mass., Sept. 21, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Geoff Slagle, a globally-known patron and spokesperson for mobile drivers license (mDL) technology, has been appointed as President and Chief Business Development Officer of Scytales AB. The former director of Identity Management for the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) will help guide both Scytales and its global mDL partner, GET Group, in establishing a market-leading position for ISO-compliant mobile drivers licenses and mobile IDs.



Geoff Slagle has more than 23 years of identity management experience. Since 2008 he has been directing AAMVAs identity management program, including leading its mDL activities and managing its Electronic Identity and Joint mDL working groups. Mr. Slagle coordinated with the DMV of the Netherlands; the National Police Agency of Japan; and AAMVA (including seven of its jurisdictions) on mDL proof-of-concept. For the past four years he has also chaired the ANSI committee (INCITS DL) responsible for driver license standardization, including mDL.

GET Group, together with its affiliate GET Group North America, and Scytales AB partnered to develop a mobile identity technology platform that is fully compliant with the 18013-5 standard, which specifies technical and interoperability requirements for mDLs. The companies work in close collaboration to make this technology available across the world and to educate the market on the importance of the cryptographic proof of ID provided by ISO 18013-5.

Mr. Slagle is one of the most recognized and highly-regarded champions of mobile drivers license adoption and has been instrumental in coordinating and publishing AAMVAs guidelines and model legislation around the subject, said Alex Kambanis, president and managing director, GET Group North America. We are thrilled to have him supporting our efforts in North America in particularly, via his new role with our partner Scytales. Like us, Geoff recognizes the importance of 18013-5 standardization for mDLs to be truly trusted around the world and appreciates that GET and Scytales are the experts in ISO 18013-5 implementation.

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I am optimistic about the future of digital identity and impressed by the global partnership Scytales and GET Group have formed to produce mDLs that can be issued and used everywhere thanks to compliance with global identification standards, said Geoff. I have spent the last decade assisting with the creation and shaping of policies and standards that make possible the implementation of mDL. I now want to apply myself and invest in the execution of those in a practical way and know that Scytales and GET Group are poised to accomplish this better than anyone to the benefit of billions of individuals that currently hold a driver license and the potential to possess an mDL. The two companies have made significant financial investment into the technology and are ready to go right now with standing up mDL capabilities for issuing authorities. I look forward to working together with GET in my new capacity as President and Chief Business Development Officer of Scytales AB to make the promise of efficient, secure, and affordable mDLs possible for everyone.

About GET Group

GET Groups history spans more than 30 years of milestones, awards, partnerships and many achievements. Since its foundation in 1986, the Group has established and maintained a prestigious reputation in the fields of security printing, smart solutions, and, more recently, robotics and automation. Today, GET Group employs more than 1,000 professionals in five continents, with country representation offices in major economic and technological hubs around the world.



About Scytales AB

Scytales is breaking new ground by developing and offering ISO-Mobile Drivers Licenses, ISO-Mobile Derived IDs and Derived Mobile IDs, as a complement to Security Printed Documents, and Validation mechansims in realtime in online and offline modes. Scytales is also providing a Credential Service Provider (CSP), an ICAO 9303/PKD PKI, supporting multiple Mobile Driver Licenses (mDL), Mobile IDs (mID), Derived Mobile IDs and online identity validation providers. The companys Scandinavian roots and values are an important asset, as well as its extensive network of key players and legislators in 60 countries around the world.





CONTACT: PR Contact Jordan Bouclin SVM Public Relations & Marketing Communications Jordan.bouclin@svmpr.com (401)490-9700




Prime Minister Xavier Bettel and deputy PM Dan Kersch joined the Grand Ducal family for the tree planting ceremony.

A ceremony to honour the birth of Prince Charles Jean Philippe Joseph Marie Guillaume de Luxembourg took place on Monday in the Pescatore Park in the capital.

Members of the government joined the royal family to plant a tree for the baby prince, who was born on 10 May 2020.

The ceremony took place shortly before 2pm, with attendees wearing masks and observing safe distances as dictated by the health crisis.
HOLYOKE -Northbound traffic on Interstate 91 is slowed by a rollover crash just north of exit 17B, according to state police.

The crash, reported just before 3 p.m., has reduced traffic to one lane, according to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. The crash is about one mile north of the exit.

State Police said a 36-year-old Connecticut woman was trapped in her car following the crash and had to be freed by the Holyoke Fire Department.

The woman was taken to the hospital with serious injuries, according to Holyoke Fire Capt. Kevin Cavagnac.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 01:26:32|Editor: huaxia

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DAMASCUS, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- A total of 188 Syrians, who were stranded in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), returned to Syria on Tuesday, according to the state news agency SANA.

The return of the Syrians is part of the government's efforts to bring back Syrians stranded abroad as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In May, the Syrian airlines started organizing trips to bring back Syrians from foreign countries.

In August, the Syrian Ministry of Interior urged the Syrians abroad, who wish to return, to contact the Syrian embassies to come back home. Enditem
Return: a gripping and action-packed fantasy novel about the battle between good and evil on a remote Caribbean island. Return is the creation of published author, M. G. Vargas, who studied theoretical physics and quantum theory.

Vargas writes: Return is a story that tells how a great part and the inhabitants of a very old village, known today as the Cayman Islands, are branded with evil, a very powerful warlock by the name of Kendor. The warlock of the Jaguar Parliament returns from eternity to get his revenge against the descendants of those who one day took his life by burning him alive. When the evil forces are loose, the good ones also do the same. On this occasion, two curious characters are sent by the Greatest Power: a young and sentimental pirate that lived in past centuries and his estranged parrot that talks more than a politician. In this unequal struggle that day by day we hold against those spirits from darkness, we have to be sure, that neither you nor I should ever be by ourselves.

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, M. G. Vargas new book is a thrilling tale about the battle between forces good and evil, contemporary and historical, on a western Caribbean island.

The Greatest Power sends two utterly unique, idiosyncratic, and entirely unforgettable characters to contest the uprising of evil forces, resulting in a rollicking page-turner thats sure to have readers roaring with laughter one minute and on the edge of their seats the next.

View a synopsis of Return on YouTube.

Consumers can purchase Return at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about Return, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.
Attempts by Muslim Brotherhood television channels broadcasting from Turkey, Qatar and London to exploit the so-called Reconciliation Law and incite Egyptians to organise anti-government protests on Sunday backfired.

The Reconciliation Law, passed by parliament on April 2019 and ratified by President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi on 13 January 2020, seeks to crack down on building code violations but caused concern among citizens who complained that the fees payable to regularise the status of buildings were too high.

Local media reports agreed that the Brotherhoods campaign met with zero response. Western media outlets also noted that Egypt was calm on Sunday, with no street protests reported.

Political analyst Sobhi Aseela noted in Al-Ahram on Monday that this is the seventh time the Muslim Brotherhood has called for protests that failed to materialise. The outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, removed from office in a popular uprising in June 2013, still wishes to return to power and to achieve this wish they tried for the seventh time to mobilise Egyptians against their president and government, wrote Aseela. They resorted this year to the Reconciliation Law to trigger protests, and once again they failed.

Mohamed Ali, the fugitive contractor who last year attempted to stir protests by posting videos online, joined the hostile media campaign. Ali, has been sentenced to six months in jail on charges of tax evasion, had boasted he would be able to mobilise five million protesters. That not a single protest occurred left Ali fuming. Sada Al-Ballad channel subsequently aired a video in which Ali asked when will you cows protest? When will the party of the couch protest?

Abdel-Khalek, the fugitive contractors father, said his sons behaviour was inexplicable. I refuse to call my son Mohamed Ali any more. To me he is now Mohamed the traitor, said Abdel-Khaleq.

He said that his son was desperate for any kind of attention. At first he tried to be a movie star. When that failed he turned to politics, attempting to portray himself as an opposition figure.

Abdel-Khalek added that his son left Egypt for Spain in 2018 to act in a film in Barcelona.

When he returned he told me he wanted to live in Spain and set up a movie production company there. Once he returned to Spain he divorced his wife, married a Syrian woman and bought a palace. When I spoke with him on the phone and criticised him for his anti-regime videos he insulted me and I knew that he was taking drugs, said Abdel-Khalek.

Three months ago Mohamed told his father that he had repented and vowed to keep away from politics. Abdel-Khalek then told his son to return to Egypt again and file for a presidential pardon.

Now I feel sad that he joined the Muslim Brotherhoods scheme to stir chaos again this year, said Abdel-Khalek.

Essam Shiha, a Wafdist political analyst, said the Muslim Brotherhoods annual media campaigns are sponsored by Turkey and Qatar.

Egypt has become a major obstacle to both countries regional scheming. It has been successful in preventing Turkey and Qatar from gaining a foothold in Libya, and its cooperation with Greece and Cyprus over natural gas discoveries in the Mediterranean Sea has isolated Turkey, argues Shiha.

Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a big sponsor of Muslim Brotherhood activities, tried to threaten the national security of Egypt by intervening in Libya, but when Egypt said the city of Sirte is a red line Erdogan backtracked. Turkey and Qatar use these campaigns in a bid to tarnish Egypts government and disrupt the country.

Political analysts say the arrest of the Brotherhoods deputy supreme guide Mahmoud Ezzat three weeks ago was an enormous blow to the group.

The Brotherhood then decided to seek revenge by launching this new hostile campaign based on fabricated videos and photos, says Aseela.

Videos which the Brotherhood claimed show the public responding to their latest call to protest in fact date to 2013, 2014 and 2015.

Abdel-Halim Kandil, a leftist political analyst, agrees that the Muslim Brotherhoods anti-regime campaign was a fiasco. In an interview with MBC Masr channel on Monday Kandil said the reason why the Brotherhoods hostile media campaigns fail year in and year out is simple. Egyptians chose stability, and never want return to the chaos and disintegration that prevailed during the groups year in power.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 24 September, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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Medical workers wait to submit COVID-19 samples for nucleic acid test at the center for disease control and prevention in Fengman District of Jilin City, northeast China's Jilin Province, May 17, 2020. (Xinhua/Yan Linyun)

China has effectively contained the COVID-19 pandemic in three months, and now is time to look at how the Chinese society fights together against this public health crisis. Recently, articles published on the Bangkok Post analyzed how China was able to fight the coronavirus with high efficiency and effectiveness.

The epidemic was considered a major public health emergency, requiring a wide range of strong prevention and control measures.

Millions of Chinese medical workers fought on the front line in the battle against COVID-19, risking their lives to save many others. They are the ones who brought light and hope to the nation at a dark time. Over the past months, China has shared technical documents on treatment protocols and containment strategies with a total of 180 countries and over 10 international and regional organizations.

According to Sun Xi, scholar from Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore, there were three key pillars underpinning its success: strong leadership, a comprehensive mechanism, and broad support.

First, strong leadership ensured the right direction and strategy in fighting coronavirus. Although some may not be willing to admit it, there is no doubt that there was strong leadership from the Communist Party of China (CPC). Premier Li Keqiang was appointed to head the Leading Group of the CPC Central Committee on the Response to the virus outbreak. In times of the unexpected COVID-19 outbreak, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) has maintained its grasp over the situation while taking decisive actions. More than 4.6 million grassroots Party organisations led the fight on the ground across the country.

Second, a comprehensive mechanism could fully cope with the COVID-19 crisis. Public health emergency is not only a serious health issue, but also "a complex economic, social, and political problem," which needs systematic responses. In January, China set up the Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism of the State Council (JPCMSC) at the central government level, consisting of 32 agencies and covering disease prevention and control, scientific research, publicity, foreign affairs, logistics support, and frontline work. The total number of confirmed cases stands at 85,297 and the death toll at 4,634 on the Chinese mainland, while 391 asymptomatic patients are under medical observation.

Third, the broad support was crucial to battle against COVID-19. This is "people's war" and everybody plays a role in China. Mask-wearing, social distancing, self-isolation, and quarantine are effective ways to reduce the spread. However, those practices need individual discipline and full obedience.

With the understanding and cooperation of 1.4 billion Chinese people, the Chinese government was able to implement the most comprehensive prevention and control measures to battle the epidemic. By contrast, as Sun Xi suggested, many Western countries have been facing policy failures as their residents are not so supportive.

From the chaotic panic to the comprehensive response and systematic recovery, China has demonstrated its remarkable resilience, adaptability, resourcefulness, and self-reliance. "The pain is global," said Li Xiaoyun, lead chair professor at China Agricultural University. From the chaotic panic to the comprehensive response and systematic recovery, China has demonstrated its remarkable resilience, adaptability, resourcefulness, and self-reliance.

(With inputs from Bangkok Post)
One week has passed since Hamiltons virtual schools opened, and some elementary students whose parents registered them for remote learning in late August and early September are still waiting to be assigned teachers for their classes.

The Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) says a growth in enrolment for its virtual schooling program has delayed the start of online classes as the board races to hire enough teachers to fill the remaining vacancies.

The board now says it expects all students will be in class and with a teacher by Friday.

Because of the tremendous demand for remote learning, it is taking longer than anticipated to build the Remote Day Schools classes, hire and prepare teachers, and begin the teaching and learning process, the remote schools principals wrote in a letter to parents on Monday.

Although some students may be experiencing a delay in getting started with their class, we expect all students to make progress and be on their usual track by the winter holiday.

The delays have caused frustration among parents who registered their children for remote learning in late August or early September to avoid any potential health risks associated with in-person learning.

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On Sept. 11, the board told The Spectator it was confident its virtual program would open the following week with a full slate of teachers and finalized classes. However, the programs complete opening has been delayed several times since then.

The schools enrolment numbers jumped from 6,300 to 8,700 in early September, forcing the board to find an additional 90 teachers who can oversee the additional 2,400 students.

Peter Sovran, associate director of learning services for the HWDSB, said the increase in enrolment threw a wrench into the schools opening.

There are definite challenges when opening a brand new program with 8,600 students especially under these circumstances, Sovran told The Spectator last week.

But given that, I think everybody should be proud of what weve accomplished. Were just looking forward to getting everybody else into their classes.

Hamiltons Catholic board delayed its virtual school reopening twice in September  first because it said teachers needed more time to prepare, and then again last week due to a widespread power outage across the city.

The Catholic boards online program began last Wednesday.
- A Ghanaian pastor by name Rev Atta Badu Snr, who is also a UN peace ambassador has been honoured with an international chaplaincy award

- The ceremony that saw many prestigious people in attendance was held at London in the United Kingdom

- Rev Atta Badu is now qualified to offer advice to diplomats, inter-governmental bodies and royalty on matters relating to the peace of the world

Trending topics on the go: How we write news at YEN.com.gh

Rev Atta Badu Snr, a now renowned Ghanaian pastor who also serves as a Peace Ambassador for the United Nations, has received an international chaplaincy award.

A report sighted by YEN.com.gh on Ghanaweb.com indicates that the respected man of God received the award following his successful graduation from the Word of Life Ministries International (WOLMI) and the Canadian International Chaplaincy Association (CICA).

The ceremony during which Rev Atta Badu Snr got the honour was held in London in the United Kingdom and was graced by many international recognized Christian leaders.

READ ALSO: Adwoa Amoako Adjei: 26-year-old Ghanaian lawyer launches 1st novel titled Mixed Up

Ghanaian pastor & UN Ambassador receives international chaplaincy honour Source: Ghanaweb.com

Source: UGC

As International Captain of Chaplains, Rev Atta Badu is now qualified to offer advice to diplomats, inter-governmental bodies and royalty on matters relating to the peace of the world.

When asked about the secret to his success, the reverend who also responds to the title, 'His Excellency', wasted no time before attributing all the glory to God.

He also thanked everyone in the organizations he has been a part of for their massive support toward his development and successes, while he promised to use his positions to influence world peace, foster unity and make the world a better place.

READ ALSO: What my marriage and divorce taught me - Elikem Kumordzie speaks

In another exciting report by YEN.com.gh, a 22-year-old Ghanaian named Akpene Darko-Cobbina has become the youngest lawyer in Ghana after beating the record of Lawyer Adwoa Safo.

Information obtained directly by YEN.com.gh confirms that Adwoa Safo held the record as the youngest ever product of the Ghana School of Law after graduating in 2004 at age 22.

In October 2019, Akpene took over the title as he was called to the Bar at age 22 and 198 days, beating Adwoa Safos record of 22 years and 280 days.

Enjoy reading our stories? Download YEN's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Ghana news!

Ghanaian multi-instrumentalist Dela Jackson has charged the youth in Africa to wake up | #Yencomgh

Share your stories and news by getting interactive on our Facebook page!

Source: YEN.com.gh
Nokia will also launch a few more Ultra HD TVs in India. The smart TVs will offer features like advanced contrast ratio and micro dimming technology.

New Nokia-branded smart TVs are coming to India very soon. The new smart TVs will focus on mainstream screen sizes with 32-inch HD ready and 43-inch full HD resolutions, according to sources. The new lineup will also include a few more Ultra HD TVs.

Sources reveal the new Nokia TVs will come equipped with AI capabilities and will also offer better display experience through Pure technology. Other key features of the upcoming Nokia TVs include advanced contrast ratio and micro dimming technology, sources added.

We have also gotten hold of images of the upcoming Nokia TVs. These images reveal the Android TV operating system and support for Google Assistant.

As expected, these new Nokia TVs will be available online through Flipkart. You can also expect the new 32-inch and 43-inch models to come at lower price points.

Nokia Android TV is coming soon (HT Photo)

The first Nokia smart TV had debuted in India in December last year. Since then, Nokia is offering 43-inch, 55-inch and 65-inch models. The most recent in the three is the 43-inch model which is currently available on Flipkart for 31,999.

The 43-inch model comes with a UHD 4K LED panel and runs on Android TV. It also Dolby Vision support, 300 nits brightness, 60Hz refresh rate and 178-degree viewing angle. It also has HDR support.

For performance, it relies upon A53 quad-core processor paired with Mali 450 GPU. It also packs 2.25GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage. Connectivity options include 2.4GHz Wi-Fi support, Bluetooth 5.0, 3 HDMI ports, and 2 USB ports. Other features include JBL audio along with Dolby Audio and DTS TruSurround sound.
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange complained of hearing imaginary voices and music while detained in a high-security British prison, a psychiatrist who has interviewed him told his extradition hearing on Tuesday.

Michael Kopelman, a psychiatrist who has interviewed Assange around 20 times, said the former hacker would be a "very high" suicide risk if he were extradited to the United States for leaking military secrets.

He cited as evidence Assange's "severe depression" and "psychotic symptoms", which included auditory hallucinations while in solitary confinement in his cell at the high-security Belmarsh Prison in southwest London.

Kopelman told the Old Bailey court in central London that Assange said he hallucinated music and voices saying "you are dust, you are dead, we are coming to get you".

Assange's suicidal impulses "arise out of clinical factors... but it is the imminence of extradition that will trigger the attempt," he added, warning "he will deteriorate substantially" if extradited.

Assange's partner Stella Moris has previously said she feared he would take his own life, leaving their two young sons without a father.

James Lewis, representing the US government, quizzed Kopelman over the veracity of some of Assange's claims, suggesting he may have made them up.

Assange faces 18 charges under the US Espionage Act relating to the 2010 release by WikiLeaks of 500,000 secret files detailing aspects of US military campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Washington claims he helped intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to steal the documents before exposing confidential sources around the world.

If convicted, Assange -- who has been held at Belmarsh for the last 16 months -- could be jailed for up to 175 years.

US authorities recently laid out new evidence, alleging that Assange and others at the whistleblowing site recruited hackers.

The extradition hearing is the latest in a series of legal battles faced by Assange since the leaks a decade ago.

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In 2010, he faced allegations of sexual assault and rape in Sweden, which he denied.

He was in Britain at the time but dodged an attempt to extradite him to Sweden by claiming political asylum in Ecuador's embassy in London.

For seven years he lived in a small apartment in the embassy, but after a change of government in Ecuador, Quito lost patience with its guest and turned him over to British police in April 2019.

jwp/phz/dl
TORONTO, Sept. 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GOLDN FUTURES MINERAL CORP. (CSE: FUTR) (FSE: G6M), (the "Company), is pleased to announce that it has entered into a non-binding letter of intent with Argonaut Gold Inc. (Argonaut) to acquire up to a 90% interest in the Hercules  Elmhurst property (the Property) located 120 kilometers northeast of Thunder Bay, Ontario in the townships of Elmhurst and Rickaby, within the Thunder Bay North Mining District (the LOI). The Property lies within an Archean greenstone belt that extends from the Longlac area in the east to Lake Nipigon in the west, a distance of some 130 kilometers. The property consists of 372 contiguous claim cells (6951 hectares).



To date, the work completed on the Property forms an extensive database including reconnaissance grab samples; channel samples; a variety of geophysical surveys; and, a drill hole database that includes historic drilling totalling some 450 holes. More than a total of 2,000 grab and channel samples were collected from the Property. In the last two field seasons, more than 150,000 m2 of trenches were developed.

In May 2010, Watts, Griffis and McOuat Limited ("WGM") was retained by Kodiak Exploration Limited ("Kodiak"), the former owners of the Property, to produce a National Instrument 43-101 Mineral Resource1 (the Technical Report) currently classified as a historical estimate (Historical Estimate is defined below) for the Property. The Technical Report was prepared by WGM for mineralized zones that displayed sufficient data to allow for continuity of geology and grades. The zones included: Golden Mile (GM), Wilkinson Lake Gold Zone (WLG), Lucky Strike (LS), Marino and 7 of 9. Data is referenced in the chart below, following the definition of Historical Estimate:

Historical Estimate

The historical resource estimate is based on prior data and reports obtained and prepared by previous operators, and information provided by governmental authorities.

(i) a qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as current mineral resources or mineral reserves.



(ii) the issuer is not treating the historical estimate as current mineral resources or mineral reserves.

Establishing a current mineral resource estimate on the Property will require further evaluation, which the Company and its consultants intend to complete in due course.

Category Zone Tonnes Au (g/t)

Uncapped Contained

Ounces Au (g/t)

(Capped

@ 60 g/t

Au) Contained

Ounces Total Indicated Golden Mile & WLGZ 231,800 14.95 111,450 7.64 56,970 Total Inferred2 Golden Mile, WLGZ, Lucky Strike, Marino, 7 of 9 761,300 4.13 101,050 3.04 74,380

Notes:

The Historical Estimate referred to as Mineral Resource, which are not Mineral Reserves, do not have demonstrated economic viability and may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, sociopolitical, marketing, or other relevant issues.



The quantity and grade reported in the Historical Estimate as Inferred Mineral Resources are uncertain in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to define these resources as Indicated or Measured and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in upgrading them to an Indicated or Measured Mineral Resource category.



The Mineral Resources were estimated using the CIM Standards on Mineral Resources and Reserves, Definitions and Guidelines prepared by the CIM Standing Committee on Reserve Definitions and adopted by CIM Council December 11, 2005. However, the estimates are over 12 years old and do not reflect current inputs and parameters, and the CIM definition of a mineral resource and is being reported as a Historical Estimate (see Historical Estimate above).



The GM Trench Zone (surface at approx. 345 m) is 10-12 m deep and the WLG Trench Zone (surface at approx. 327 m) is 6-8 m deep.



Indicated Mineral Resources for the GM and WLG zones are based on the centroid of a block being a maximum of 15 m from a composite.



0.5 m Au composites were used for grade interpolation and were capped at 60 g/t.



A gold price of US$850 was assumed.



For the Historical Estimate a minimum horizontal width of 1.5 m and a 1.0 g Au/t cut-off was determined to be appropriate. This cut-off should be looked at in more detail in the next phase of study, as applying a single cut-off grade across all zones may not be appropriate due to the large difference in average grades between the zones.

Property Highlights

Direct road access and large continuous land package

 in close proximity (~70 km) to Greenstone Gold Mines Hardrock Deposit (4.2 Moz)

Host syn-volcanic Elmhirst Lake Intrusion Complex (2736 Ma)

 13 km by 7 km with felsic metavolcanic equivalents

 complex system of predominantly granodiorite-(trondhjemite-tonalite) intrusions (GTT) with a central magnetic core of diorite/quartz diorite

 extrusive co-magmatic felsic pyroclastics form arcuate apron about Elmhirst Lake Intrusion Complex (ELIC)

Hosts > 30 gold-bearing quartz vein/stockwork zones in shears within the ELIC



Golden Mile

the jewel of the multiple vein systems

has strike length in excess of 1.6km

characterized by laminated, sheeted vein system

averages 20.2 g/t Au / 4.0 meters true thickness over a 400m length

coarse visible gold (electrum) and local gold-bearing base metal mineralization

exceptional surface gold grades

 surface channels up 32.96 g/t Au / 11.55 meters; averaging 20.2 g/t Au over an average length of 4.0 meters. REF: Kociumbas, W.M., P.Geo., 2010, WGM, Technical Review and Mineral Resource Estimate of the Hercules Property, May 26, 2010. P-44 S 10.2.1.





 surface channels up 32.96 g/t Au / 11.55 meters; averaging 20.2 g/t Au over an average length of 4.0 meters. REF: Kociumbas, W.M., P.Geo., 2010, WGM, Technical Review and Mineral Resource Estimate of the Hercules Property, May 26, 2010. P-44 S 10.2.1. Open, high grade potential down-plunge of the Golden Mile vein system

 at shallow (50m) depths and in deeper (450m) parts of the vein system

 5 partially outlined gold shoots over a 2.2 kilometer strike length





 at shallow (50m) depths and in deeper (450m) parts of the vein system  5 partially outlined gold shoots over a 2.2 kilometer strike length Gold-bearing structures coincide with

 strong regional magnetic high and low features for over 3.6 kilometers

Similar in geological environment to

 Renabie Mine (1.1 Moz) in the Missinaibi Lake Batholith (2721 Ma)

 Bourlamaque Intrusive Complex (2700 Ma), which hosted approximately 4.1 Moz Au

 IAMGOLDs Cote Lake Deposit (10Moz) in the Chester Intrusive Complex (2740 Ma)

Upside potential for brownfield development

 open structural corridor for 3.6 kilometers

 multiple gold shoots

 a strong resource factor

 excellent gold recoveries



Terms of LOI

The Company can earn up to a 50% interest in the Property should the below terms be completed within the 4-year period:

Optionee to make the following payments to Argonaut:

(i) $500,000 on October 15, 2020;

(ii) $750,000 on October 15, 2021;

(iii) $1,000,000 on October 15, 2022; and,

(iv) $1,250,000 on October 15, 2023.

The Optionee shall incur $7,000,000 in Qualifying Exploration Expenditures, which will be specified pursuant to qualified technical reports, on the Property subject to the following annual minimums:

(i) $500,000 by October 15, 2021;

(ii) a further $1,500,000 by October 15, 2022;

(iii) a further $2,000,000 by October 15, 2023; and,

(iv) a further $3,000,000 by October 15, 2024.

Once the above conditions are satisfied and the Company has earned a 50% interest in the Property, the Company will have a further option to earn an additional 40% interest in the Property, the terms of which are to be negotiated. The Company will be the operator of exploration programs on the Property.

The LOI is non-binding in nature and is subject to due diligence, structuring and customary approval of the shareholders and/or directors of Argonaut.

Commented Theo van der Linde, CEO of the Company, Hercules is an extremely exciting project with a lot of history which can be viewed all over the internet, as it was selected by the Northwestern Ontario Prospectors Association as the discovery of the year in 2008. We plan on spending the next few months remodelling the deposit incorporating an additional 196 drill hole logs from 2011 not included in the WGM 43-101 report of 2010 as well as performing select downhole surveys. This will provide a much more detailed and accurate model of the deposit as well as an expected increase in the reports mineral resource estimate which utilized an $850 per oz gold price and a 1 oz/gm. Once complete, we will begin our drilling program. In addition, over the next few months we expect to add significant bench strength to our management team and board of directors. With gold hovering around $2000 per ounce, these are exciting times for our industry and in particular Hercules.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical content of this press release has been prepared, reviewed and approved by Mr. Walter Hanych, P. Geo., who is a Qualified Person under NI 43-101 regulations and is a consultant of the Company.

Option Issuance

The Company also announces that it has granted 1,000,000 options to a director of the Company in accordance with the Company's stock option plan. Each option is exercisable to purchase one additional common share of the Company at a price of $0.295 per share for a period of 5 years from the date of issuance.

About Goldn Futures Mineral Corp.

Goldn Futures Mineral Corp. (CSE: FUTR) (FSE: G6M) is a Canadian based exploration company focused on acquiring prospective precious metals properties with the objective of making new discoveries in established gold camps in Canada.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

For further information

Theo van der Linde, Director

Phone: 604-687-2038

The Canadian Securities Exchange accepts no responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on assumptions and judgments of management regarding future events or results. Such statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements. There is no assurance the private placement, property option, change of board or reinstatement of trading referred to above will close on the terms as stated, or at all. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to revise or update such statements.




Scientists have developed a new technique using tools made of luminescent DNA, lit up like fireflies, to visualize the mechanical forces of cells at the molecular level. Nature Methods published the work, led by chemists at Emory University, who demonstrated their technique on human blood platelets in laboratory experiments.

"Normally, an optical microscope cannot produce images that resolve objects smaller than the length of a light wave, which is about 500 nanometers," says Khalid Salaita, Emory professor of chemistry and senior author of the study. "We found a way to leverage recent advances in optical imaging along with our molecular DNA sensors to capture forces at 25 nanometers. That resolution is akin to being on the moon and seeing the ripples caused by raindrops hitting the surface of a lake on the Earth."

Almost every biological process involves a mechanical component, from cell division to blood clotting to mounting an immune response. "Understanding how cells apply forces and sense forces may help in the development of new therapies for many different disorders," says Salaita, whose lab is a leader in devising ways to image and map bio-mechanical forces.

The first authors of the paper, Joshua Brockman and Hanquan Su, did the work as Emory graduate students in the Salaita lab. Both recently received their PhDs.

The researchers turned strands of synthetic DNA into molecular tension probes that contain hidden pockets. The probes are attached to receptors on a cell's surface. Free-floating pieces of DNA tagged with fluorescence serve as imagers. As the unanchored pieces of DNA whizz about they create streaks of light in microscopy videos.

When the cell applies force at a particular receptor site, the attached probes stretch out causing their hidden pockets to open and release tendrils of DNA that are stored inside. The free-floating pieces of DNA are engineered to dock onto these DNA tendrils. When the florescent DNA pieces dock, they are briefly demobilized, showing up as still points of light in the microscopy videos.

Hours of microscopy video are taken of the process, then speeded up to show how the points of light change over time, providing the molecular-level view of the mechanical forces of the cell.

The researchers use a firefly analogy to describe the process.

"Imagine you're in a field on a moonless night and there is a tree that you can't see because it's pitch black out," says Brockman, who graduated from the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, a joint program of Georgia Tech and Emory, and is now a post-doctoral fellow at Harvard. "For some reason, fireflies really like that tree. As they land on all the branches and along the trunk of the tree, you could slowly build up an image of the outline of the tree. And if you were really patient, you could even detect the branches of the tree waving in the wind by recording how the fireflies change their landing spots over time."

"It's extremely challenging to image the forces of a living cell at a high resolution," says Su, who graduated from Emory's Department of Chemistry and is now a post-doctoral fellow in the Salaita lab. "A big advantage of our technique is that it doesn't interfere with the normal behavior or health of a cell."

Another advantage, he adds, is that DNA bases of A, G, T and C, which naturally bind to one another in particular ways, can be engineered within the probe-and-imaging system to control specificity and map multiple forces at one time within a cell.

"Ultimately, we may be able to link various mechanical activities of a cell to specific proteins or to other parts of cellular machinery," Brockman says. "That may allow us to determine how to alter the cell to change and control its forces."

By using the technique to image and map the mechanical forces of platelets, the cells that control blood clotting at the site of a wound, the researchers discovered that platelets have a concentrated core of mechanical tension and a thin rim that continuously contracts. "We couldn't see this pattern before but now we have a crisp image of it," Salaita says. "How do these mechanical forces control thrombosis and coagulation? We'd like to study them more to see if they could serve as a way to predict a clotting disorder."

Just as increasingly high-powered telescopes allow us to discover planets, stars and the forces of the universe, higher-powered microscopy allows us to make discoveries about our own biology.

"I hope this new technique leads to better ways to visualize not just the activity of single cells in a laboratory dish, but to learn about cell-to-cell interactions in actual physiological conditions," Su says. "It's like opening a new door onto a largely unexplored realm -- the forces inside of us."

###

Co-authors of the study include researchers from Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich, the Max Planck Institute and the University of Alabama at Birmingham. The work was funded by grants from the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, the Naito Foundation and the Uehara Memorial Foundation.
A British beer brewing firm that dates back centuries has installed new technology at one of its sites in an effort to streamline operations and use less electricity.

Last week, a crane was used to put the new yeast propagation plant into place at a Shepherd Neame facility in Faversham, located approximately 50 miles southeast of London. Yeast propagation refers to a process that brewers utilize to increase the amount of yeast they can use.

In a statement issued at the time, the business said the system would take small amounts of yeast produced in the brewery's lab and "multiply it into a large volume for use in the brewing process."



Mark Bowes, who is chief engineer at Shepherd Neame, explained that the brewery  which was officially founded in 1698 and is known as Britain's oldest  had been propagating yeast utilizing "an amalgam of equipment" that was not "specifically designed for the task" and "coming towards the end of its life."

The new plant, Bowes said, would "make a huge difference to the efficiency of our production process."

"A key difference is that the system is fully automated, so in addition to saving time for our team members, it will be a completely sterile process and will also ensure a consistency in quality," he added.

"Our previous system also required us to buy pure oxygen to aerate the yeast, while this system just uses air, and due to its energy-efficient design, it will also require less electricity to power the entire process." It's hoped that the system will be in use by the end of next month.

The development, which began in March but was halted due to the coronavirus pandemic, involved the removal of a Victorian-era brick wall and installation of a steel frame in its place. In addition, new foundations were created to make sure that the site could take the weight of the system.



Shepherd Neame is one of several companies in the drinks business attempting to harness new technologies and ideas in order to boost efficiency and cut energy use.

Earlier this summer, for example, Diageo announced that a whiskey distillery being built in Kentucky was "expected to be carbon neutral."

In a statement issued at the end of June, the drinks giant listed a number of features it hoped would boost the sustainability of the distillery and its operations.

These include: The facility running on 100% renewable electricity; the use of LED bulbs indoors to boost energy efficiency; and all vehicles operated there being electric.

In addition, interior lighting within the site's warehouse will use technology that "will only activate during loading or unloading activities," while electrode boilers will be used instead of fossil-fuel fired ones.
BATON ROUGE, La., Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In the wake of Hurricane Laura, Community Coffee Company has committed to donating 10% of proceeds from the sales of Community coffee and tea products in retail grocery locations in Louisiana and Texas through Oct. 31, 2020, up to $100,000, to support The Salvation Army's Hurricane Laura relief efforts.

The Salvation Army's mobile food pantries and meal programs have been stationed across the region since the storm made landfall on Aug. 27. Community Coffee Company has also been on the ground since the storm's landfall, bringing its mobile beverage vehicles to serve fresh coffee to first responders, work crews and residents in impacted areas in and around Lake Charles, Louisiana.

"We have seen firsthand how this hurricane has affected our local communities, and we are humbled to play a role in the rebuilding efforts," said Community Coffee Company CEO David Belanger. "We know that there's still a long journey to recovery for the affected areas in Louisiana and Texas, and we're committed to supporting these communities in the weeks and months to come."

"We're not just delivering food and water in these hard-hit communities  we're bringing hope," said Jeff Jellets, territorial disaster coordinator for The Salvation Army USA Southern Territory. "Donations like the one from Community Coffee will help us provide comfort, compassion and warm meals for storm-affected Texas and Louisiana residents in need."

More information about Community Coffee Company's hurricane relief efforts is available at https://www.communitycoffee.com/relief.

About Community Coffee Company

Now in its 101st year, Community Coffee Company is the No. 1 family-owned retail coffee brand in America and offers an expansive line of premium coffees, coffee beverages and teas. Four generations of the Saurage family have operated the company since its founding in 1919. For additional information, please visit CommunityCoffee.com or connect with the brand on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest.

Media Contact:

Ashley Bain

[email protected]

817-329-3257

SOURCE Community Coffee Company

Related Links

https://www.communitycoffee.com


China is pushing growing numbers of Tibetan rural labourers off the land and into recently built military-style training centers where they are turned into factory workers, mirroring a program in the western Xinjiang region that rights groups have branded coercive labour. Beijing has set quotas for the mass transfer of rural laborers within Tibet and to other parts of China, according to over a hundred state media reports, policy documents from government bureaus in Tibet and procurement requests released between 2016-2020 and reviewed by Reuters. The quota effort marks a rapid ...
Sher Bahadur Deuba to take oath as new Prime Minister of Nepal today

Our friendship with India and China remains of 'paramount importance': Nepal at UN

Nepal halts distribution of new text book with revised map including Indian areas

International

oi-Deepika S

Kathmandu, Sep 22: Nepal has stopped the distribution of a new textbook that includes the country's revised political map showing three strategically-important Indian areas as part of its territory, saying there were a number of factual errors in it, according to a media report on Tuesday.

India has already termed as untenable the "artificial enlargement" of the territorial claims by Nepal after its Parliament unanimously approved the new political map of the country featuring Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura areas which India maintains belongs to it.

A Cabinet meeting on Tuesday instructed the Ministry of Education not to distribute and print any more copies of the textbook meant for class IXth to XIIth as there were some reservations from the Ministry of Land Management and Cooperatives and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Kathmandu Post reported.

"The Ministry of Education does not have the authority to change Nepal's geographical area and there are faults in the book," said spokesperson for the Ministry of Land Reform and Cooperatives Janak Raj Joshi.

There are errors in the book prepared by the Ministry of Education on a subject it has no expertise, he said, adding that the higher authorities have been asked to take corrective measures.

The concerned body of the Nepal government is yet to officially declare the revised geographical area of the country.

Nepal introduces text books with revised map incorporating Indian areas

"The Department of Survey, which is the official agency that declares the total area of the country, however, hasn't made any decision on the area," Joshi said.

Education Minister Giriraj Mani Pokharel on September 15 released the 110-page book titled, Self Study Material on Nepal's Territory and Border which dwells around historical facts about the country's territory and its border dispute mainly with India.

The book states Nepal's new area to be 147,641.28 square kilometers including the 460.28 sq km area of the Kalapani area which was included in Nepal's political map on May 20 by the Cabinet.

Minister for Education Pokharel has written a six-page preface for the book in which he has mentioned about Nepal's border disputes and other related issues. He said that he had launched a campaign to protect the Nepalese territory, including the areas of Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura.

However, Pokharel told The Kathmandu Post that the distribution of the book has been halted for now.

After Nepal's Parliament approved the revised political map comprising Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura areas, the Cabinet had endorsed the new map and decided to use it in government offices and print school text books with the new map.

Nepal in May released the revised political and administrative map of the country laying claim over the three strategically important areas in Uttarakhand, more than six months after India published a new map in November 2019.

Following the endorsement of the new map by the Nepal Cabinet, then government spokesperson and Finance Minister Yuvaraj Khatiwada told the media that the government had decided to update the schedule of the Constitution and school curriculum incorporating the new political map.

India in its response said that it had already made its position clear on it.

"This artificial enlargement of claims is not based on historical fact or evidence and is not tenable. It is also violative of our current understanding to hold talks on outstanding boundary issues," the Ministry of External Affairs had said.

The India-Nepal bilateral ties came under strain after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated an 80-km-long strategically crucial road connecting the Lipulekh pass with Dharchula in Uttarakhand on May 8.

Nepal reacted sharply to the inauguration of the road claiming that it passed through Nepalese territory. India rejected the claim asserting that the road lies completely within its territory.

#Tesla 'secretly planning' R&D Centre in #Bengaluru? | Oneindia News

with PTI inputs
'The farm bills will not bring in corporate zamindari.'

IMAGE: Farmers in Bengaluru protest against the Farmers Bill 2020 passed by Parliament, September 21, 2020. Photograph: Shashidhar Byrappa/ ANI Photo

Despite the Opposition's stiff opposition in Parliament the Narendra Damodardas Modi government on Sunday passed two farm bills -- The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 and the Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 -- by voice vote in the Rajya Sabha, and they now await the President's nod to become law.

The Opposition wanted these bills to go to a select committee of Parliament for a review and demanded that the minimum support price clause be included in the bills.

They also alleged that the new legislation will weaken government mandis, as farmers have been allowed to sell their produce without going through the mandi system, and hence result in exploitation of farmers by corporate groups who will now enter the farming sector.

The government, however, was in no mood to listen to them and passed the bill with a voice vote even as the Opposition alleged foul play.

Minimum support price is the price which a farmer is assured by the government before he harvests his crop. There are 22 crops on the MSP list.

After the bills were passed, Prime Minister Modi tweeted, 'For decades, the Indian farmer was bound by various constraints and bullied by middlemen. The bills passed by Parliament liberate the farmers from such adversities. These bills will add impetus to the effort to double income of farmers and ensure greater prosperity for them.'

However, farmers across Punjab and Haryana have taken to the roads to protest against the bills for not assuring they will continue to get MSP for their crop.

P Chengal Reddy, chief advisor, Consortium of Indian Farmers, however, is clear that the legislation is beneficial for the Indian farmer who has hitherto been held hostage to the mandi system.

"How can your force my product to be sold to the local fellow who is absolutely corrupt and politically connected? They are extremely exploiting the people," Reddy tells Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com.

Farmers seem divided over the farm bills. While some are opposing it, especially in North India, there are also others who are supporting the farm bills.

It is not North India, but only Punjab, Haryana and certain parts of Uttar Pradesh.

Farmers's issue is very sensitive and they have been misled on the reforms initiated by Prime Minister Modi.

The existing mandi system was there for the last 40 years and it has in no way helped the farmers.

Local mandis have become a monopoly of local officials and politicians.

The reason there is big agitation today is that they (the Opposition) have created an apprehension that MSP will be go if the APMC reforms come in.

The government has itself said they will have the MSP.

But the word MSP is not mentioned in the bills.

I agree. When they were drafting the bill, they may have faced certain constraints. But I am looking at the advisory part of it.

I am (the farmer) removed from the clutches of the local mandi fellow.

As a cotton producing farmer or pulses producing farmer, today I must only go to my local mandi.

But why should I go? I am in Andhra Pradesh and I want to send my cotton to Gujarat, so what is wrong in it?

If I am producing oil seeds, why cannot I send it to Madhya Pradesh or Rajasthan where it is being processed?

Today I am compelled to sell only to middlemen.

Look at the advantage to a farmer due to this bill. I can get into a long term agreement with some food processing industry.

Tomatoes and mangos are being processed, but transportation, long term agreement are denied to me and I am only to be dependent on the existing mandi system?

In other words, you as a farmer you don't want a dhoti-kurta clad middleman, but you want a tie and coat sporting corporate middleman, is that it?

This is all jargon which I don't appreciate.

The point is, farmers should have alternate channels to market their produce.

Today, there is the sugar industry and milk industry which have long term agreements with farmers. Does it mean they are exploiting the farmers?

There must be some hiccups and problems. Simple, the issue is you are allowing multiple channels of marketing to industrial products and service products but not to farm products.

How can your force my product to be sold to the local fellow who is absolutely corrupt and politically connected? They are extremely exploiting the people.

But the APMCs were established to do away with local moneylenders and zamindars so that farmers can sell their products at a place where the government can ensure they are not exploited. But now you say you want to go to the corporate zamindar!

The farm bills will not bring in corporate zamindari.

The APMC goes back 40 years, have they ever held elections in any state? They (local politicians) don't allow any farmer to be in charge of the market yard.

They make any kind of fellow the market yard chairman and they have established a monopoly.

The market yard places have to be auctioned every two years, but that is not happening and they have become a monopoly.

Today, you have a market licence and it is worth crores in the Punjab mandi.

I as a farmer can take care of myself provided you (the government) allow me to run my own institutions.

But who stops you from contesting elections in the farmers's body?

There are no elections in farmers's; institutions for the last 30, 40 years.

Look at the co-operative bodies.

Take the case of Maharashtra (external link), there is a strong lobby that runs monopolies.

The panchayat system in the country is run by some IAS collector who does not understand the fundamentals of districts.

The answer for farmers is liberalisation.

The Modi government has given farmers freedom.

We have come out of the clutches of these jokers and rascals.

We have come out of restrictions and licences.

Yes, there will be problems for sure in future, but we will face it. You allow us to run our institutions.

But Bihar dismantled the APMC in 20006 and it was a failure. So how will this new law benefit farmers?

Yes, I agree it failed, but you must also see the other states like Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh where they gave a bonus to farmers.

That was opposed by Modi himself when (then and now Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister) Shivraj Singh Chouhan gave a bonus of Rs 150 to farmers for rice and wheat.

He told both (then Chhattisgarh chief minister) Raman Singh and Chouhan that if they give a bonus it will create problems in giving MSP to other state farmers.

And why Modi has brought in these bill is because COVID-19 has destroyed the industrial and service sectors.

The only option he has now is the farm sector, therefore he is bringing in reforms.

As far as the Bihar model is concerned it is a state which is extremely backward.

Today, 90 percent of Bihar's rice comes to Andhra Pradesh because they do not have rice mills. Even the basic infrastructure is not there.

In Andhra and Punjab there are very vocal farmers organisations. They procure 90 percent of wheat and rice through FCI with MSP.

But the same thing does not happen in Bihar and parts of Uttar Pradesh because there is no efficient system there.

On the contrary, in Telangana and Andhra every commodity produced by farmers was procured by the state government.

The fear is that the corporates will hoard food grains leading to prices going through the sky. Being purely profit-minded, won't they exploit the situation?

There is no monopoly in this country in any sector as there are many players. Be it in mobile phones, cinema, hotels or car industry.

Once you liberalise the farm sector, there is bound to be competition.

No Tom, Dick and Harry can store 50 million tonnes of food grains, it is nonsense.

In my own state of Andhra there are rice mills that can hold one lakh tonnes of rice, but that keeps on rotating. Every six months you get a new crop and if you do not circulate your old goods what will you do with your new farm produce?

There are three options today.

One is the local market yard itself.

Second, I can get into an agreement with a retailer or a wholesaler.

And the third option is that I can enter into an agreement with the processing industry. And then there is the opportunity for exports which is huge.

But when prices of food produce shoot up the government comes out with a ban on exports, like with onions recently. So there is inconsistency in the government's approach towards farmers.

It is because the governments are run by IAS officers and the politicians who run the country do not understand the farming issue.

Down south we produce red onions which is about half a million tonnes and not even five kilos of it is consumed in India. These idiots yesterday banned that onion too from exports.

It is a sorry state because from our farmers side there is no good representation.

The Shanta Kumar report says that only six percent of farmers get MSP. Is it true?

Yes, it is true. The entire MSP process has benefited farmers from Punjab, Haryana and Andhra Pradesh in the last 40 years.

But since Raman Singh and Shivraj Singh Chouhan came to power, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh started procurements.

Till then wheat and rice procurement was only in Punjab, Haryana and (undivided) Andhra Pradesh. The government procured only for vested interests and that too for the public distribution system. The rest they were not bothered about.

And for states like Odisha and Assam they did not bother as the government never considered them to be a part of India. They were aliens and they did not think of them as Indian.

Therefore, you think about why there is no agitation on the farm bill in other states.

The only thing we want is that MSP has to be in writing or for some kind of assurance from the government.

The prime minister of India tweeted though, so let us respect that.

These Congressmen did not utter a word against the Modi government when the M S Swaminathan report was not implemented.

Lastly, you made the argument that these reforms have come because of COVID-19.

When prime ministers are caught in a difficult situation, they look for options which are provided them to by bureaucrats.

And there is P K Mishra in the PMO who is an expert on agriculture and my guess is that someone has advised him, or this is his idea.

This will increase productivity, create employment, processing value addition. This can happen only in the farm sector.

There are 1,453 ongoing irrigation projects. And if Modi can pump in Rs 10 lakh crore and complete these projects, just imagine the benefit it can give to the steel industry, cement industry, transport industry and labour industry.

Once a farmer gets guaranteed water, the productivity improves 10 times and there is not assured but guaranteed returns.

You see Punjab and Haryana, they produce because there is water and good irrigation.

Let them come to Rayalaseema or Vidarbha to produce -- they will not be able to because there is no water there.
Thirty-four kg of ganja smuggled into Bengaluru from Odisha and Andhra Pradesh was seized on Monday and four suspected drug peddlers arrested.

Sanjaynagar police said they received a tip that ganja was being sold near a temple in Mohanraj Layout. When they rushed to the spot, they found a man, identified as Shabeer Khan, 34, carrying a bag. They picked him up for questioning and searched the bag which yielded ganja. Based on the information provided by Khan, police arrested two of his associates  Visakhapatnam natives Bheemanna and S Nanna Rao  near a mall in Kempapura. In all, police seized 30 kg of ganja worth Rs 9 lakh from the three men.

Police said Khan, a resident of New Layout in Bhoopasandra, was an auto-rickshaw driver who started peddling ganja after the lockdown wiped out his earnings. He bought the contraband from Bheemanna and Rao at a lower price and sold it to consumers in the city at a profit. Rao and Bheemanna sourced ganja from Odisha and sold it to sub-peddlers and consumers. Drug peddling was their only source of income, according to the police.

In another case, Soladevanahalli police arrested Surendra alias Surya, 21, a BSc student from Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, and seized 4 kg of ganja from him. Surya was arrested from Railway Parallel Road in Chikkabanavara on the basis of a tip-off given by his customer, one Jagannadam Vikash Mishra. Police said Surya sourced ganja from Anantapur and sold it to fellow students in Bengaluru.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 13:41:38|Editor: huaxia

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NUR-SULTAN, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on Monday urged efforts to uphold the United Nations (UN) Charter and build a community based on international law.

Tokayev made the remarks in a video message to a high-level meeting to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the United Nations.

Tokaev warned that multilateralism now is more vulnerable than ever since the end of the Cold War, as the world faces many new challenges and threats such as the COVID-19 pandemic and a new arms race.

Calling for continuous efforts to build a rules-based community instead of returning to lawlessness, Tokayev stressed that the role of the United Nations as a single, universal and most representative international organization is indispensable.

Kazakhstan appreciates the strong leadership of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and supports his ongoing work to boost effectiveness, transparency and accountability of the United Nations, said the president, adding that his country will continue to devote to upholding the UN Charter and achieving the shared aspiration of building a more peaceful, just and prosperous world. Enditem
With a scathing attack at the UN, India takes on Pakistan

International

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

United Nations, Sep 22: In a scathing attack on Pakistan, India has said that if there is an unfinished agenda at the UN, it is that of tackling the scourge of terrorism and the country, a globally-recognised epicenter of the menace, which harbours and trains terrorists and hails them as martyrs.

Exercising India's right to reply on Monday, First Secretary in the country's Permanent Mission to the UN Vidisha Maitra said: Pakistan is a country which is globally recognised as the epicenter of terrorism, which by its own admission harbours and trains terrorists, and hails them as martyrs and consistently persecutes its ethnic and religious minorities.

UN faces confidence crisis without comprehensive reforms: PM Modi

She was referring to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's remarks in the country's Parliament where he had termed former al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden as a martyr.

We reject the malicious reference made to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, which is an integral part of India. If there is an item that is unfinished on the agenda of the UN, it is that of tackling the scourge of terrorism, Maitra said.

As the UN member states marked 75 years of the United Nations in the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Monday raked up the issue of Jammu and Kashmir during his address to the high-level meeting on the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the world organisation.

Qureshi said Jammu and Kashmir and Palestine were the UN's most glaring and long-standing disputes and the people of Jammu and Kashmir still await the fulfillment of the commitment made to them by the UN to grant them their right to self-determination.

With Pakistan yet again raising the Kashmir issue at a UN platform, Maitra said India had hoped that during this solemn commemoration of a shared global milestone, the General Assembly would be spared another repetition of the baseless falsehoods that have now become a trademark of Pakistan's interventions on such platforms.

#Tesla 'secretly planning' R&D Centre in #Bengaluru? | Oneindia News

However, for a nation that is bereft of milestones, one can only expect a stonewalled and stymied approach to reason, diplomacy and dialogue.

What we heard today is the never-ending fabricated narrative presented by the Pakistani representative about the internal affairs of India, she said.

Strongly rejecting the malicious reference made to Jammu and Kashmir, Maitra said Pakistan "will do well to turn its attention inwards to immediately addressing these pressing concerns instead of diverting attention from them by misusing the UN platforms.
Dragon Capital investment company has developed a concept for the E40 Industrial Park with an area of 200,000 square meters on the 27th kilometer of the Zhytomyr highway (Kolonschyna village, Kyiv region), plans to start the construction of the first stage in 2021.

"According to the developed concept, the total area of the buildings of the industrial park will be 200,000 square meters, including class A production and storage facilities, cross-docking terminals, office, utility and infrastructure facilities (a hotel, a truck service station, etc.)," it said in a press release.

According to the report, the project will be located on a front land plot with an area of 49 hectares.

"Thanks to the support of Makariv Regional State Administration, as well as the Regional Development Agency of Kyiv region, Dragon Capital managed to develop and approve a detailed plan of the territory as quickly as possible. This will allow the company to proceed to the next step in the implementation of the project - the development of project documentation. Our company plans to start building the first stage of the E40 Industrial Park in 2021," the report says.

As reported, Dragon Capital acquired the relevant plots in 2018 from Europolis GmbH, which is part of the large real estate concern CA Immo Group (Vienna, Austria).

Dragon Capital is one of the largest groups of companies in Ukraine that operates in the field of investment and financial services and provides a full range of investment banking and brokerage services, direct investments, asset management for institutional, corporate and private clients.
Sinopec and a private equity-backed company are among some half a dozen candidates to acquire Exxons North Sea assets that the supermajor put up for sale earlier this year.

Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration, Siccar Point, and Tailwind Energyin partnership with Mercuriaare also among the bidders, Bloomberg reports, citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter.

Reports of the planned sale emerged in June, but the first mention of Exxons plans to exit the legacy oil producing region surfaced in August 2019. In that, the U.S. supermajor followed in the footsteps of other large oil companies from the States, while European majors have stayed on. For Exxon, the sale follows a wider exit from Europe, that also saw it leave Norway, after selling its asset there for $4.5 billion to Var Energi.

Exxons plans got delayed by oil prices but this year, after benchmarks crashed to the lowest in years, it likely decided to cut its losses. A sale of all its assets in the North Sea in 2019 was estimated to bring in as much as $2 billion but now that the oil demand outlook has grimed considerably, the price tag may be lower. There was no mention of price or value in the Bloomberg report.

According to it, Exxon would be selling stakes in 15 fields, which would this year contribute a combined 37,000 bpd to the companys total output. Two exploration blocks and Exxons stakes in pipeline networks in the region are also on the table. Binding bids are due next month and the sale is seen getting finalized in the first quarter of next year.

The number of bidders is a positive surprise: earlier this year, when media first reported about the planned sale, there were doubts Exxon would find buyers given the market environment and the outlook for the industry. Yet the North Sea appears to maintain a stable interest among some sector players on the lookout for bargains.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
WASHINGTON  Facebook has detected limited Chinese operations intended to both help and hurt President Trumps re-election chances, the company announced on Tuesday, the first public disclosure of Chinese efforts to influence the presidential election in November.

The Chinese activity, while modest and not directly attributed to the government in Beijing, could undercut Mr. Trumps repeated contention that China is intervening in the election to support former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., the Democratic candidate. While the intelligence community has assessed that China opposes Mr. Trumps re-election, officials said this week that the actions on Facebook so far were small and Beijing had not yet decided to mount a large-scale influence operation comparable to Russian efforts in 2016 and this year.

Facebook identified a range of fake accounts pushing information about American and Philippine politics and Chinese activity in the South China Sea. Though much of the activity outlined by China was centered on the Philippines, some was more directly relevant to American politics.

Facebook said it was removing the accounts for violating its policy against inauthentic behavior. The activity was coordinated and originated in China, though Chinese officials, including the ambassador to the United States, have denied allegations they are seeking to influence the vote in November.
Alpha, Beta, Silver, Gold, James and Bond. These are just some of the witnesses, placed under protective custody and referred to by their pseudonyms, who will be the key to the Delhi Police proving that February riots were part of a planned conspiracy by some anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act activists and timed with US President Donald Trumps India visit.

In a charge sheet submitted to a city court on September 16, police have attached the statements of at least 100 insiders or eyewitnesses (referred to by aliases) who have given statements claiming to have seen some of those arrested -- local leaders Tahir Hussain and Ishrat Jahan, former JNU student Umar Khalid, activist Gulfisha Khatoon, and Pinjra Tod activists Natasha Narwal and Devangana -- planning the violence.

The witnesses have recorded their statements before a judge under Code of Criminal Procedure 164, which is admissible evidence during a trial. However, the veracity of their statements will be tested during the trial, and some experts contend that the polices reliance on protected witnesses is a contravention of investigative procedure.

Delhi Police have maintained that some anti-CAA protest leaders, such as Umar Khalid, along with others such as Hussain, Jahan and other activists, planned the protests, mobilised people by blocking roads, and brought different groups together to incite people against the government.

They have all denied any wrongdoing.

As evidence of the role of those arrested, one protected witness, referred to by the pseudonym Lambda, has detailed the alleged role played by former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillor Tahir Hussain before a judge. Lambda has claimed to be an eyewitness to the preparations that Hussain made before the riots. His statement before a judge reads, I have known Tahir Hussain for more than a year. Before the riots, I had seen many cars entering his house. I would regularly see him buying bottles from scrap dealers. I have seen people taking acid inside. While the person carrying an acid bottle was coming out, I saw him dropping a bottle. There were fumes emanating, so I asked the person what it was. He said it was an acid. After that I saw that person a couple of times... He has five-six cars. I think he had three drivers. I have seen them carrying petrol tanks inside his factory.

Lamda has then claimed to have seen the former councillor leading a group and distributing money to his supporters while asking them to pelt stones.

Delhi Police in their case papers claim to have recovered stones, acid bottles, and Molotov cocktails from the terrace of his building. Hussain has repeatedly denied his role in the violence and said he is a victim of a political conspiracy.

The police charge sheet has the statement of another witness, who has been given the name Bond. In the statement before a judge on April 5, Bond said, Umar Khalid said that at the right time, they will also start Chakka Jam in Muslim areas of Delhi. Khalid said to the protesters that the government is a Hindu government and against Muslims so we have to overthrow the government.

Claiming to be an insider, Bond has described a meeting on December 16, 2019, in which he said that the group deliberately made women and children sit in the protest sites to ensure that police could not act.

Last week, Khalids counsel Trideep Pais had told a court that while Khalid was against CAA, and was not ashamed of it, he was not involved in the riots. He also said the police were yet to give any evidence linking Khalid, who was not even in Delhi during the riots, with the incident.

There is another witness -- the police call him Beta -- who has claimed to be an insider who joined the anti-CAA protests after watching videos of protesters burning buses near Jamia Millia Islamia last December. The witness told a judge on April 5 that they joined the protester because of sentimental reasons after watching buses burn. Beta has detailed several meetings that they were a part of since December and how protesters from groups such as Jamia Coordination Committee, Pinjra Tod and Bhim Army came together and conspired to protest.

All of the groups have denied any role in the violence.

Detailing a provocative speech on February 23 at Jafrabad Metro station (the first incident of violence) by Ishrat Jahan, a former Congress party councillor, Beta said,  Ishrat Jahan was there. She gave provocative speeches. She said we will finish the government. The stone pelting and riots happened soon after this. I was also beaten during the violence by a mob After watching everything I realised that all this was part of the plan.

Senior advocate Mahmood Pracha, who has also been named in the disclosure statement of many arrested persons but was not arrested or charged, said: Police have misused the law related to the use of protected witness. This is a bogus charge sheet. This evidence in this charge sheet has more diminished value than the behaviour of the police. Delhi Police are behaving like criminals in the investigation of the riots. Let me tell you that these witnesses are ghost witnesses. Police are not acting like a neutral agency while probing the case. All these witnesses are 100% fake. The CRPC 164 statements of such witnesses will not pass the litmus test of evidence during trial.

Pracha also said that while the protected witnesses may have given statement before a judge, they will again have to pass the litmus test of a judge during trial. The evidence that police has come up has zero value right now.

The Delhi Police has not responded to request for comment.

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UNGA 75 marks the 75th founding anniversary of the UN and 43 years of Vietnams admission to the largest multilateral organisation on the planet, in the context of Vietnam assuming the dual responsibility of ASEAN Chair 2020 and non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC) for the term 2020-2021.

The birth of the UN in 1945 reflected the common aspirations of the people of all countries for a world of peace, security and development. Over the past 75 years, the UN has become a broad global organisation with the participation of almost all independent countries on Earth and with a comprehensive system operating in diverse fields, ranging from the prevention and resolution of conflict, military disarmament, counter-terrorism, refugee protection and environmental protection to the promotion of democracy, human rights, gender equality and sustainable development. Thanks to its significant achievements, especially in key areas such as peace, security and development, strengthening international law, and ensuring and promoting human rights, the UN has been recognised by the international community as an organisation that plays an extremely important role in international political life and acts as an indispensable foundation for a more peaceful, prosperous and equal world.

Vietnam officially joined the UN on September 20, 1977. Over the past more than 40 years, Relations between Vietnam and the UN have been of great significance, from the period of post-war national reconstruction and escaping encirclement and embargo to the period of development and increasingly extensive international integration. Vietnam-UN cooperation has contributed to protecting and promoting Vietnams national interest, particularly in maintaining and consolidating a peaceful, secure and favourable environment for development; accelerating the countrys deeper international integration and strengthening its international role and position; and further deepening Vietnams relations with countries, key partners and friends, thereby taking advantage of international resources for national development.

Vietnam has made active, proactive and increasingly substantial contributions to the UNs activities, upholding the role of the UN and multilateralism, and promoting respect for the UN Charter and international law, equal relations between countries, and self-determination of nations. Vietnam has also opposed acts of oppression, aggression and unilateral embargo in international relations, while contributing to the discussion and adoption of many important UN resolutions and declarations on development cooperation, disarmament, anti-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, counterterrorism, and assurance of human rights. Vietnam has been evaluated by the UN and the international community as a successful example of the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and a country that is seriously determined in realising the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on climate change. The country has always actively promoted reform of the UN and is one of the countries taking the lead in the implementation of the UNs Delivering as One initiative and actively participating in UN peacekeeping operations.

With its effective and responsible contributions, Vietnam has been trusted by the international community to hold many positions, and has left strong imprints in many important UN agencies, such as the UNSC, UN Human Rights Council, and the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). As a non-permanent member of the UNSC for the term 2020-2021, Vietnam continues to promote its role, actively and proactively participating in the Councils affairs in the spirit of independence, self-reliance, responsibility and balance, as well as making substantial contributions to the process of negotiating and finding solutions to meet the international communitys common concerns, and working to promote cooperation between the UN and regional organisations.

Participating in this years UNGA, senior Vietnamese leaders have been invited to deliver video statements. Speeches by Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan convey messages on promoting multilateralism and the role of the UN, while stressing Vietnams pledge to continue making active, proactive and responsible contributions in the international communitys common affairs. Thereby, they affirm Vietnams foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation and development, and proactively and actively participating in multilateral mechanisms, contributing to building a fair, rules-based international political and economic order.

May UNGA 75 and Vietnamese leaders participation in the event be successful, contributing to promoting multilateralism and international cooperation to jointly respond to common challenges, prevent war and conflict, strengthen peace and boost mutually beneficial cooperation, and successfully realise sustainable development goals.
Shoppers wear face masks on Oxford Street in London on Monday. (AP Photo)

The rule of six laws do not go far enough and the UK needs to take immediate action to stop households mixing, a government science adviser has warned.

Professor Calum Semple, a member of the governments Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), said more measures are required to stop the spread of coronavirus.

On Tuesday, Boris Johnson will announce a 10pm curfew on all pubs, bars and restaurants in England, which will come into effect on Thursday.

As well as the early closing, establishments will be restricted by law to table service only.

Watch: What is the new Rule of six?

The prime minister is also considering other restrictions as COVID-19 case numbers in the UK continue to rise.

Another 4,368 new daily cases of coronavirus were reported in the UK on Monday, with 11 deaths.

On Tuesday, cabinet minister Michael Gove said plans for small numbers of fans to return to watch sporting events in England from the beginning of October had been shelved.

But Prof Semple, a professor of child health and outbreak medicine at the University of Liverpool, said neither the rule of six, which came into force earlier this month, nor the curfew will be sufficient measures on their own.

He told BBC Radio 4s Today programme on Tuesday: The time to act is now, we are in a serious situation, and the numbers that are rising are tracking the worse case scenario, so there is significant anxiety among the science and health community.

He said the UK needed quite a lot more restrictions in place to halt the spread of COVID-19.

Asked if the rule of six is enough to stem the spread of coronavirus for the time being, he said: I dont really think so, Im sorry to say.

This is where itll hurt people most. I think we will get to a stage where people shouldnt mix between households.

The rule of six has been tried and not had time to kick in yet, but based on the numbers Im seeing it doesnt go far enough, so I do think well be restricting inter-mingling between households.

Story continues

When asked if the incoming 10pm curfew for pubs and restaurants will be enough, Prof Semple replied: No, its not going to be.

Pubs, bars and restaurants in England will be subject to a 10pm curfew from Thursday. (AP)

There are several sectors of society that need to increase their restrictions, unfortunately - but its necessary, because were starting to see a rise in cases not just in the frail and elderly, but also in people under the age of 50.

He added: Were going to have to see reductions in sporting events and thats going to hit many of us hard.

Were likely to see restrictions on the hospitality sector and itll probably have to to go further than a 10pm curfew and table service only.

Prof Semple said a study he runs on hospital cases in England, Scotland and Wales has shown a rapid rise in admissions, including an increase in people aged 20 to 40, particularly women.

That suggests its community exposure in hospitality and care settings which we didnt see before, probably because people under 50 are less invested in social distancing, he said.

Watch: These were some of the most important moments from the COVID-19 briefing

The curfew on pubs and restaurants comes after the UKs COVID-19 alert level was raised to four, meaning transmission is "high or rising exponentially".

On Monday, the governments chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, said the number of new daily cases will reach 50,000 by mid-October if no action is taken.

This would, in turn, lead to 200 new daily deaths a month later in mid-November, he said.

Coronavirus: what happened today

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DUBLIN, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Immunotherapy in Oncology Startup Identification" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Cancer Immunotherapy is a very dynamic technological field and the global market is expected to grow and reach US$ 126.9 billion by 2026, with a CAGR of 9.6% from 2019 to 2026

Over 110 startups working in the field of Onco-Immunotherapy were identified

With an increasing number of people with cancer (17 million of new cases of cancer worldwide) and the need of new treatments, the immunotherapy domain sees the arrival of numerous startups every year. In this highly diverse and rapidly changing ecosystem, it is crucial to identify new players and monitor their activities to determine opportunities, threats, potential partnerships and collaborations. Because of their small size and technological diversity, these young companies are hard to identify by conventional approaches (web searches, workshops etc.).

In this report, the publisher has therefore investigated Onco-Immunotherapy-related patents in order to identify startups through their patent filings. More than 110 startups incorporated between 2010 and 2019 were thus identified, and for over 50 of them, the report describes their main activity, products, patents, and key people among their staff. This study reveals that Cell Adoptive Transfer (e.g. CAR-T cell) is by far the technology explored the most by startups working in the field of immunotherapy in oncology. Immune checkpoint inhibitor/modulator, bispecific antibody and vaccine are also technologies of interest for some startups identified.

Detecting hidden companies:

Looking at patent documents makes it possible to identify companies that do not communicate much or even at all. It is a good way to detect companies that could not be found using more conventional methods (e.g. trade fairs, conferences, web searches, etc.).

Assessing the technology:

Technology is one of the keys to a startup's success and being able to understand and assess it is highly valuable. The specification of a patent document includes a lot of technical information that can be used to determine the advantages brought by new inventions. The patent claims can also be used to determine the protection the applicant is asking for, and therefore where its interest resides.

Identifying the key people:

The success of a startup is strongly linked to the team that composes it. It is therefore important to know the founders and inventors to assess the odds of its success. Patents enable the identification of inventors inside the companies. These inventors are technical experts who have laid the foundation of the technology the startup is developing. Describing the background of key people can help in understanding the startup project, and their history can reveal the extent of the know-how they have accumulated.

Startup Identification

Startups have been identified by screening the patent documents published in 2019/2020 claiming Immunotherapy in Oncology. For each startup identified, the report provides a complete description of its activity and pipeline, with a link for ongoing clinical trials. Information about funding rounds and subsidies are also described.

Patent Description

This report includes a detailed description of all the patents filed by identified startups. The elements provided in each overview slide provide essential information to quickly understand the patented technology. For each patent family described, the publication number of Granted/Registered and Pending members are provided, as well as the abstract, the first claim, relevant information about the invention and the most relevant figure explaining how the invention can be carried out.

Key People Description

This report includes a description of the key people and/or inventors involved in each selected startup. Knowing the key people behind a startup helps assessing its chances of success by determining their individual strength and their complementarity. This report is focused on the description of the people who have a technical background. For each key person, the report shows a summary of their educational background, employment history, as well as their other current activities and a link to their LinkedIn profiles.

Report's Key Features

PDF with > 280+ slides

Identification & mapping of the startups that recently started to work in the field of Onco-Immunotherapy.

Segmentation by technology (Immune check point inhibitor, Adoptive cell transfer, Bispecific antibody, Vaccine etc.)

Description of the startups and their pipeline, funding rounds and subsidies.

Presentation of all their published patent families.

Description of key people and their background.

Key Topics Covered:

1. INTRODUCTION

Objectives of the report

Scope of the report

2. METHODOLOGY

Patent search, selection and analysis

Search strategy

Terminologies for patent analysis

Segmentation

3. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Startups mapping

Key facts

Summary table of the identified companies

Summary table of companies with little information available

4. NEW STARTUPS

59 Startup profiles

5. PUBLISHER PRESENTATION

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/7i78zz

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

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



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Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Eamon Ryan, gave legal status to the extension of the so called 'smoky coal ban' to all towns around the country with populations of 10,000 or more

28m of new grants have been allocated for community energy projects under the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).

The funding will be used to deliver energy upgrades to nearly 1,500 homes and community and commercial buildings throughout the country.

The successful communities will benefit from warmer and healthier buildings, lower energy bills, and reduced harmful CO2 emissions.

Read More

The programme has thus far supported upgrades in 19,300 homes and 2,922 non-domestic buildings and has seen 26,430 tonnes CO2 emission reductions annually, according to the SEAI.

The grants will support projects with a total investment value of almost 74 million.

The projects will also deliver significant employment benefits locally and nationally, the Dept of Communications, Climate Action and Environment has said.

The grant offers include 4.3 million specifically for projects delivering aggregated home retrofit upgrades. There are 14 such projects totalling 348 homes nationally.

The Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Eamon Ryan TD, today said: Through this scheme, the Government is helping to deliver three important and very beneficial outcomes. We are supporting people to improve their homes and buildings so they will be more comfortable and waste less energy.

We are expanding retrofit work, creating new green sustainable jobs in communities across Ireland and helping to grow companies. We are also cutting emissions thereby delivering a better environment for all of us.

I intend to use funding from the recently-announced July stimulus package to expand the Communities scheme so we can further grow the retrofit sector and benefit many more people in the months and years ahead.

William Walsh, CEO of SEAI said: "The Government's Climate Action Plan recognises the central role of communities in achieving our climate action ambitions. SEAI is working with hundreds of energy communities across the country, providing them with the knowledge and the means to plan their own ambitious low-carbon pathway.

Government-funded grants are a key support for communities ready to invest in sustainable energy solutions to meet their needs. The achievements of these communities can be replicated, drawing more citizens into Ireland's clean energy transition."
According to preliminary estimates of the Investment Promotion Office (UkraineInvest), it is expected to attract about $2.2 billion in investments in the Ukrainian economy in 2020-2022.

As UkraineInvest Executive Director Serhiy Tsivkach said at a press conference on Tuesday, the Office is currently working on 46 investment projects and expects the attraction of at least $ 2.2 billion in the Ukrainian economy in 2020-2022.

Companies already operating in Ukraine plan to invest about $527 million in the next year and a half, he noted.

"As for the UkraineInvest activity, we plan to open from 10 to 15 overseas offices. Now we are negotiating with such centers as New York, London, Stockholm and other capitals where potential investors live," Tsivkach said.

The Investment Promotion Office (UkraineInvest) is a permanent advisory body to the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, established by a government decree in October 2016 to attract foreign direct investment to Ukraine and improve the country's image as an attractive country for investment. UkraineInvest's work is aimed at providing investors with up-to-date information and advice on the peculiarities of doing business in Ukraine, as well as on activities in the main sectors of the economy: agribusiness, manufacturing, energy, infrastructure, innovation technologies. The main activities of the Investment Promotion Office are the formation of a favourable investment climate, assistance to investors in doing business in Ukraine, creation of opportunities to boost investments in Ukraine's economy.

Activities implemented by UkraineInvest include the conduct of investment workshops and meetings, participation in specialized exhibitions, conduct of direct marketing events, organization of visits of potential investors, search for local partners for potential investors, assistance in obtaining the necessary permits and approvals, etc.

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Authorities have identified the firefighter who is one of 26 people who have been killed in the disastrous wildfire wreaking havoc across the West Coast.

Charles Morton, 39, died on September 17 while battling the El Dorado Fire in San Bernardino National Forest about 75 miles east of Los Angeles. The fire erupted from a smoke-generating pyrotechnic device used by a couple to reveal their baby's gender.

Morton, was a 14-year veteran of the U.S. Forest Service and a squad boss with the Big Bear Interagency Hotshot Crew of the San Bernardino National Forest.

'Charlie was a well-respected leader who was always there for his squad and his crew at the toughest times,' said U.S. Forest Service Chief Vicki Christiansen.

'Charlie is survived by his wife and daughter, his parents, two brothers, cousins, and friends. He's loved and will be missed. May he rest easy in heaven with his baby boy,' Morton's family said in a statement.

A funeral procession wass held for Morton in San Bernadino on Tuesday.

Morton, was a 14-year veteran of the U.S. Forest Service and a squad boss with the Big Bear Interagency Hotshot Crew of the San Bernardino National Forest

A funeral procession is held for the death of Big Bear Interagency Hotshot firefighter Charles Morton in San Bernadino on Tuesday

Firefighters line up to form a procession for Morton, described as a 'well-respected leader'

The touching tribute come as a wildfire scorching its way through brush and timber from the mountains to the desert northeast of Los Angeles threatened more than 1,000 homes on Tuesday as crews across the West battled dozens of other major blazes. An airplane approaches a plume of smoke from the Bobcat Fire burning in the Angeles National Forest on Monday

The touching tribute comes as a wildfire scorching its way through brush and timber from the mountains to the desert northeast of Los Angeles threatened more than 1,000 homes on Tuesday as crews across the West battled dozens of other major blazes.

The Bobcat Fire in Southern California was advancing at one to two miles (1.6 to 3.2 kilometers) per hour at times and threatened the Mojave Desert town of Pearblossom after burning into the Antelope Valley foothill area, across the San Gabriel Mountains from Los Angeles.

The blaze that began September 6 has destroyed or damaged at least 29 homes and other buildings, with the toll rising to perhaps 85 when damage assessment teams can complete their work this week, authorities said.

Cheryl Poindexter lost her desert home.

'That fire came over the hill so hard and fast that I turned around and I barely got my eight dogs and my two parrots out,' Poindexter told ABC7. 'You can see everything is ash.'

Firefighters also battled flareups near Mount Wilson, which overlooks greater Los Angeles and has a historic observatory founded more than a century ago and numerous broadcast antennas that serve Southern California.

The fire was fueled by vegetation that hadn't burned in decades and pushed by erratic winds over the weekend, although they had died down by Monday, and were expected to remain light through Tuesday.

Numerous studies in recent years have linked bigger U.S. wildfires to global warming from the burning of coal, oil and gas, especially because climate change has made California much drier. A drier California means plants are more flammable.

This image taken from video and provided by the Orange County Fire Authority shows a firefighter saluting as a procession carrying Charles Morton

Dale Burton, of Leona Valley, tries to put out the fire that continues to smolder at his friend Cheryl Poindexter's property

Cheryl Poindexter returns to her property on Monday, after the Bobcat fire blazed through the area

Near Mount Wilson, firefighters set more than a mile (1.6 kilometers) of fires designed to burn out the blaze's fuel and act as a brake on its advance.

'We've got a fire here that is bigger than the city of Denver, and it did it in two weeks,' said Sky Cornell with the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

About 1,100 homes and some 4,000 residents remained under evacuation orders and the fire was only 17 percent contained, fire officials said.

Evacuation warnings - meaning residents should be prepared to flee if ordered - remained in effect for the Los Angeles suburb of Pasadena, home of the Rose Bowl and the annual Rose Parade, and Wrightwood, a mountain community near several San Bernardino County ski resorts.

In this aerial photo provided by the U.S. Forest Service, smoke from a wildfire is in part of Medicine Bow National Forest

An aircraft drops fire retardant to fight the Bobcat Fire in the Angeles National Forest near Los Angeles, California on September 21

The blaze was one of more than two dozen major wildfires burning across California, including five of the largest in state history.

More than 5,600 square miles (14,500 square kilometers) have been charred, an area larger than the state of Connecticut, and at least 23,000 people remain evacuated statewide, Gov. Gavin Newsom said.

Early estimates are that 6,400 buildings have been destroyed across the state, but Newsom said 'by no stretch of the imagination do we think this tells the entire story.' Damage assessments are ongoing, he said.

Nearly 19,000 firefighters in California are currently battling 27 major blazes, Newsom said. At least 7,900 wildfires have erupted in the state this year, many during a mid-August barrage of dry lightning that ignited parched vegetation.

Numerous studies in recent years have linked bigger U.S. wildfires to global warming from the burning of coal, oil and gas, especially because climate change has made California much drier

The blaze was one of more than two dozen major wildfires burning across California, including five of the largest in state history

The Bobcat Fire is one of the largest ever in Los Angeles County and it has burned for more than two weeks. It's just 15 per cent contained.

Authorities said more than 1,700 firefighters are battling the blaze. The Angeles National Forest released a containment date of October 30.

Evacuation orders and warnings are in place for thousands of residents in foothill and desert communities, where semi-rural homes and a popular nature sanctuary have burned. No injuries have been reported.

An enormous wildfire that churned through mountains northeast of Los Angeles and into the Mojave Desert was still threatening homes on Monday as it burned across more than 103,000 acres. Embers float from a burning tree in Wrightwood, California, Monday morning

The Bobcat Fire is one of the largest ever in Los Angeles County and it has burned for more than two weeks. It's just 15 per cent contained

Authorities said more than 1,700 firefighters are battling the blaze. The Angeles National Forest released a containment date of October 30

Firefighters battle the Bobcat Fire near Wrightwood, California. The fire has burned across a large percentage of the Angeles National Forest and threatened the historic observatories on Mount Wilson

Erratic winds that drove flames into the community of Juniper Hills over the weekend had died down, said US Forest Service fire spokesman Larry Smith.

'It's slightly cooler too, so hopefully that will be a help to firefighters,' Smith said.

Officials said it could be days before teams determine the scope of the destruction in the area about 50 miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles.

Firefighters fought back against another flareup near Mount Wilson, which overlooks greater Los Angeles in the San Gabriel Mountains and has a historic observatory founded more than a century ago and numerous broadcast antennas serving Southern California.

The Bobcat Fire started September 6 and has doubled in size over the last week. The cause is under investigation.

The wildfire also destroyed the nature center at Devil's Punchbowl Natural Area, a geological wonder that attracts some 130,000 visitors per year.

The Bobcat Fire, as seen from the 105/605 interchange, continues to burn, becoming one of the largest fires in LA County history

Erratic winds that drove flames into the community of Juniper Hills (pictured on Sunday) over the weekend had died down, said US Forest Service fire spokesman Larry Smith

Officials said it could be days before teams determine the scope of the destruction in the area about 50 miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles

The wildfire also destroyed the nature center at Devil's Punchbowl Natural Area (entrance pictured), a geological wonder that attracts some 130,000 visitors per year

A wildlife sanctuary on the property was undamaged, and staff and animals had been evacuated days earlier.

Nearly 19,000 firefighters in California are fighting more than two dozen major wildfires.

At least 7,900 wildfires have burned more than 6,000 square miles in the state this year, including many since a mid-August barrage of dry lightning ignited parched vegetation.

Officials were investigating the death of a firefighter at another Southern California wildfire that erupted earlier this month from a smoke-generating pyrotechnic device used by a couple to reveal their baby's gender.

The death occurred on September 17 in San Bernardino National Forest as crews battled the El Dorado Fire about 75 miles east of Los Angeles, the US Forest Service said in a statement.

Officials confirmed that the blaze is at 59 per cent containment.

The name of the firefighter killed has not yet been released. A statement from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire, said it was the 26th death involving wildfires besieging the state.

Authorities also have not released the identities of the couple, who could face criminal charges and be held liable for the cost of fighting the fire.

In Wyoming, a rapidly growing wildfire in the southeastern part of the state on Sunday closed in on a reservoir that's a major source of water for the state's capital city, Cheyenne.

The water system remained safe and able to filter out ash and other burned material that flows through streams and reservoirs after wildfires, said Clint Bassett, water treatment manager for the Cheyenne Board of Public Utilities.

Flames have blackened a record 3.2 million acres in California alone since mid-August. Another 1.7 million acres have burned in Oregon and Washington state since Labor Day.

The blazes, described by scientists and officials as unprecedented in scope and ferocity, have largely incinerated several small towns, along with thousands of dwellings.
New Delhi, Sep 22 : The Supreme Court, citing connectivity issues while hearing a plea via video conferencing on Tuesday, asked how could they ask the common man to vote electronically.

A PIL was filed in the top court by advocate Galib Kabir seeking direction to effectuate online voting by citizens.

After appearing on screen in the virtual hearing, Kabir began making his submissions, but the bench headed by Chief Justice S.A. Bobde pointed out that it seems due to technical glitches, he has been muted.

"Look at your problems in arguing before us in video conferencing. How can we ask a common man to vote electronically?" the Chief Justice told the lawyer.

Though the apex court declined to entertain the PIL, it, however, asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to consider the plea as a representation. The bench also asked the petitioner to file a representation before the government.

Amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, Assembly elections in Bihar are scheduled in October-November, though no formal announcement has been made so far.

Earlier this month, a plea was moved in the Supreme Court by the Rashtravadi Janata Party (RJP) to postpone the Bihar elections to March 2021, against the backdrop of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and the flood situation in the state also worsening.

"It will be better for the safety of the people of India to hold the said election sometime in the month of March 2021 when the situation in the state is somewhat normalised so that the citizen can participate and cast their votes safely and without there being any threat either of the pandemic or the flood," it had said.
Steel manufacturing firm, United Steel Limited, says it has laid off about 400 workers, at least temporarily, as it continues to remain shut as a result of an order by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).



The General Manager of the company, Mr Fadi El Chami, has since raised concern about the refusal of the EPA to allow the company to resume operations until adequate pollution control systems are installed.



The EPA ordered the steel manufacturer to halt operations after the company failed to meet a July 15, 2020, deadline for the installation of a modern pollution control system in line with environmental regulations.



The Executive Director of the EPA, Mr Henry Kokofu, led a tour of the companys facilities last Thursday to assess adherence to environmental safety standards.



Mr Kokofu, together with some senior management staff of the EPA, were on a follow up visit to some companies to assess their compliance levels in controlling smoke emissions from the furnaces at the respective facilities, as well as to check how well those companies were controlling the fume particles from sprinkling into the environment.





During the tour, Mr Chami alleged that similar pollution challenges within the Freezones enclave in Tema had been overlooked by the EPA, while United Steel remained shut.



There are sister companies within the enclave with similar smoke emission challenges which the EPA has allowed to continue to operate, while we remain shut although we have made nearly $2 million investment into fixing the challenge, and I think this is not fair, Mr Chami said.



Air quality



Per the EPA standards, the ambient quality should not exceed 35 micro grand per metre cube in order not to compromise the air quality in the enclave.



The authority maintained that United Steel exceeded the parameters, leading to visible smoke from its system on a continuous basis.



The EPA officials maintained that sulphur dioxide (toxic gas) and oxide nitrogen, fluid gases, were emitted as a result of the melting processes and once the smoke was visible, it demonstrated that the companies were not meeting the allowable standards.



Mr Chami told the team that the company had completed work on a primary pollution control system, with work on a secondary system underway, while awaiting the arrival of experts from India.



EPA not blamable



While sympathising with United Steel, he said it was because the management of the company did not meet timelines and targets regarding compliance with the specific environmental safety conditions upon persistent complaints by other companies within the enclave.



The issue of United Steel goes beyond the EPA, as there have been several petitions to the ministers of Environment, Interior, National Security and the Office of the President about the company, and this, therefore, requires that the challenges are addressed in the immediate before they are allowed to reopen the production units, he said.



He said the EPA had no interest in collapsing business, and that it was rather interested in safeguarding the environment.



So long as the environment is being protected, the company will be allowed to run, Mr Kokofu said.



Rider Steel



Rider Steel Limited, an adjoining company which also had similar challenges, was, however, in production using one furnace at the time of the visit, but Mr Kokofu pointed out that once the company was operating on one furnace which measured 20 tons, its emissions were within the acceptable standards.



United Steel has two separate furnaces measuring 50 tons each, making that companys emissions to go beyond the acceptable limits since they have no adequate pollution control systems, he pointed out.



He warned the companies that the EPA would not compromise on the quality of the environment, hence the need for them to ensure that they worked within the given limits to address the pollution challenges.



The General Manager of Rider Steel, Mr T.P. Patnaik, assured the team that they were awaiting the arrival of their engineers from China and India to undertake installation of the tertiary filter systems they had procured to address the situation.









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
EXCLUSIVE: Mikeona Johnsons sister, Allisha Tillman, is speaking out against Los Angeles authorities and local news outlets for not taking Johnsons disappearance seriously

Allisha Tillman is still trying to wrap her head around the fact that news stations in Los Angeles have been front and center at recent police brutality protests, yet, the disappearance of her sister, Mikeona Johnson, did not get much air time.

Johnsons family realized that the 23-year-old mother of two was missing after her boyfriend called her grandmother asking if she had seen Johnson. He told Johnsons grandmother that he fell asleep after she went to get food for the family from a local burger stand and when he woke up, he realized that Johnson had not returned.

Read More: California mom found dead in car one week after disappearance

Its not like my sister to just disappear like that. She takes her kids everywhere like a wallet. Wherever she goes, they go, said Tillman. She doesnt leave the kids behind for anything in the world, so we knew something was going on.

Tillman found herself searching for her sister throughout the streets of Los Angeles with family members, using social media to gather tips and share the news of her sisters disappearance.

Mikeona Johnsons family is pictured at a vigil in Los Angeles in September 2020.

Anytime someone would call with a tip, they would hop in the car and race to the scene, only to find that a car similar to Johnsons had been spotted.

Johnson disappeared in her silver Mercedes on Wednesday, Sep. 9. Her decomposed body was found a week later in the backseat, parked on a quiet residential street in front of Manhattan Place Elementary school.

My sister had the most beautiful smile and the deepest dimples. She had such a beautiful soul and wanted to help everyone. Mikeona has been through a lot and my sister tends to take on a lot, said Tillman.

People could do things to her and she would still break her back to make sure they are OK and that they have what they need.

Story continues

Mikeona Johnsons is pictured in an undated family photo.

Johnson was a devoted mother who cherished her children, ages 1 and 5. She grew up in Compton and developed a strong faith at a young age, praise dancing with her sisters in church and joining a traveling choir.

Although she was a private person, Johnson had some relationship troubles, according to her family, and had devoted her life to the father of her recent baby.

When you first meet someone, its the honeymoon stage where everything seems so cool and everybodys so happy and does not want to leave each others side. But, as time progresses, thats when you start seeing peoples true colors, especially when you have a child with someone.

Tillman explained that the family questions the involvement of Johnsons boyfriend not only because he was the last person to see her, but because he has given different responses to the same questions.

During a vigil held for Johnson last week, various Black women from the community spoke on the dangers of staying in abusive relationships, hoping to empower other women through their testimonies.

Family and friends pay light candles for Mikeona Johnson following the news of her passing in Los Angeles in September 2020.

It was made clear that more resources need to be developed within local police departments to assist women who are dealing with domestic violence.

Tilmman expressed she would like to see quicker movement from police moving forward when women, and especially Black women, go missing in Los Angeles. She believes there is a chance her sister could have been found alive if police acted with more urgency.

Read More: California Black man falsely accused of deputy ambush: Dont feel safe at all

They need to be more involved when someone goes missing. They need to get right to it. The longer they wait, you do not know whats going on in that time. If someone goes missing on a Wednesday, do not wait until Monday and a detective starts working on the case.

Johnsons aunt has mentioned setting up a trust for her young children. Tillman said she doesnt know if anyone has told Johnsons 5-year-old daughter yet, but she is aware of her mothers disappearance.

Everytime we would come back to the house from searching for Mikeona she would be at the door asking, Did you find my mommy?

Have you subscribed to theGrios new podcast Dear Culture? Download our newest episodes now!

The post Family questions police, media after missing LA mother found dead: They need to be more involved appeared first on TheGrio.
DUBLIN, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Truck Refrigeration Market Forecast to 2027 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis by Type; Application; Industry Vertical; Vehicle Type (Trailers and Medium & Heavy Commercial Vehicles" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

According to this report the market was valued at US$ 9,100.1 million in 2019 and is projected to reach US$ 13336.1 million by 2027; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.0% from 2020 to 2027.The report highlights the key factors driving the market growth, and prominent players and their developments in the market.

The safety of food products is a major concern worldwide, mainly due to the increase in demand for fresh food items. Shipping frozen and perishable food items such as meat, seafood, vegetables, and fruits is a major task in the food & beverages industry, which is increasing the requirement of advanced refrigeration systems for transportation. The rising demand for cold chain products is driving the adoption of refrigerated trucks.

Additionally, the rise in demand for online delivery of chilled and frozen products is generating the growth opportunities for the truck refrigeration market players. Mounting importance of organic food in countries such as Germany, the US, and the UK owing to the strict restrictions on the intake of synthetic ingredients such as artificial colors in the foodstuff is anticipated to encourage the scope of the refrigerated trucks in the coming years. Moreover, the global population is estimated to ramp up to 9.2 billion by 2050, and such rise in the population would trigger the requirement of essential food transport facilities in the future. Growth in the adoption of truck refrigeration systems in the food & beverages industry is a prime factor fueling the growth of truck refrigeration unit providers. The market for this industry is expected to reach US$5,563.1million by 2022.



According to the World Health Organization (WHO) report, India, the US, Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, Peru, Spain are among the worst-affected countries due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The tremendous growth in the spread of the virus has urged governments across the world to impose strict restrictions on transportation. The lockdown imposition has resulted in lesser production of goods and commodities. The truck refrigeration market players are also experienced a slowdown in production due to limited workforce availability at production plants. On the contrary, the operational activities of essential goods such as food & beverage, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals for biological or pharmaceutical laboratories, has created a demand for reefer trucks. This has led to rise in demand for truck refrigeration products, especially in countries such as China, Japan, India, the US, and Canada. These countries are among the hardest-hit countries, with extended lockdown periods.



Reasons to Buy:

Save and reduce time carrying out entry-level research by identifying the growth, size, leading players and segments in the global truck refrigeration market

Highlights key business priorities in order to assist companies to realign their business strategies

The key findings and recommendations highlight crucial progressive industry trends in the global truck refrigeration market, thereby allowing players across the value chain to develop effective long-term strategies

Develop/modify business expansion plans by using substantial growth offering developed and emerging markets

Scrutinize in-depth global market trends and outlook coupled with the factors driving the market, as well as those hindering it

Enhance the decision-making process by understanding the strategies that underpin commercial interest with respect to client products, segmentation, pricing and distribution



Key Topics Covered:



1. Introduction



2. Key Takeaways



4. Truck Refrigeration Market Landscape

4.1 Market Overview

4.2 PEST Analysis

4.2.1 North America

4.2.2 Europe

4.2.3 Asia Pacific

4.2.4 Middle East & Africa

4.2.5 South America

4.3 Ecosystem Analysis



5. Truck Refrigeration Market - Key Market Dynamics

5.1 Market Drivers

5.1.1 Growing Demand for Frozen and Perishable Food Items

5.1.2 Rise in the Supply of Pharma Products

5.2 Market Restraints

5.2.1 Rising Number of Technical Faults

5.3 Market Opportunities

5.3.1 Continuously Improving Logistics Sector

5.4 Future Trends

5.4.1 Electrifying Refrigeration Units

5.5 Impact Analysis of Drivers and Restraints



6. Truck Refrigeration - Global Market Analysis

6.1 Truck Refrigeration Market Global Overview

6.2 Truck Refrigeration Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)

6.3 Market Positioning - Global Market Players Ranking



7. Truck Refrigeration Market Analysis - By Type

7.1 Overview

7.2 Truck Refrigeration Market, By Type (2019 and 2027)

7.3 Split Systems

7.3.1 Overview

7.3.2 Split Systems: Truck Refrigeration Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)

7.4 Roof Mounted Systems

7.4.1 Overview

7.4.2 Roof Mounted Systems: Truck Refrigeration Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)



8. Truck Refrigeration Market Analysis- By Application

8.1 Overview

8.2 Truck Refrigeration Market, by Application (2019 and 2027)

8.3 Frozen

8.3.1 Overview

8.3.2 Frozen: Truck Refrigeration Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)

8.4 Chilled

8.4.1 Overview

8.4.2 Chilled: Truck Refrigeration Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)



9. Truck Refrigeration Market Analysis - By Industry Vertical

9.1 Overview

9.2 Truck Refrigeration Market, By Industry Vertical (2019 and 2027)

9.3 Food & Beverage

9.3.1 Overview

9.3.2 Food & Beverage: Truck Refrigeration Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)

9.4 Pharmaceutical & Chemical

9.4.1 Overview

9.4.2 Pharmaceutical & Chemical: Truck Refrigeration Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)

9.5 Ambulance

9.5.1 Overview

9.5.2 Ambulance: Truck Refrigeration Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)



10. Truck Refrigeration Market Analysis - By Vehicle Type

10.1 Overview

10.2 Truck Refrigeration Market, By Vehicle Type (2019 and 2027)

10.3 Trailers

10.3.1 Overview

10.3.2 Trailers: Truck Refrigeration Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)

10.4 Medium & Heavy Commercial Vehicle

10.4.1 Overview

10.4.2 Medium & Heavy Commercial Vehicle: Truck Refrigeration Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)



11. Truck Refrigeration Market - Geographic Analysis

11.1 Overview

11.2 North America: Truck Refrigeration Market

11.3 Europe: Truck Refrigeration Market

11.4 APAC: Truck Refrigeration Market

11.5 MEA: Truck Refrigeration Market

11.6 SAM: Truck Refrigeration Market



12. Impact of COVID-19 Outbreak

12.1 Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Global Truck Refrigeration Market

12.1.1 North America: Impact Assessment of COVID-19 Pandemic

12.1.2 Europe: Impact Assessment of COVID-19 Pandemic

12.1.3 Asia-Pacific: Impact Assessment of COVID-19 Pandemic

12.1.4 Middle East and Africa: Impact Assessment of COVID-19 Pandemic

12.1.5 South America: Impact Assessment of COVID-19 Pandemic



13. Industry Landscape

13.1 Market Initiative

13.2 New Development



14. Company Profiles

14.1 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, LTD

14.2 Carrier Global Corporation

14.3 Webasto Thermo & Comfort

14.4 Denso Corporation

14.5 DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, Ltd

14.6 Thermo King (Trane Technologies)

14.7 Songz Automobile Air Conditioning Co., Ltd

14.8 Subros Limited

14.9 Schmitz Cargobull AG

14.10 Klinge Corporation



15. Appendix

15.1 About the Publisher

15.2 Word Index



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/2iutnm

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


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Dramatic footage shows the moment a man escaped from his vehicle that became submerged in flood waters in Texas when Tropical Storm Beta made landfall Monday night as Hurricane Teddy prepares to bring dangerous rip currents to the East Coast.

Pastor Jaime Garcia recorded the moment he stood in waist deep water as the man managed to get out of his car.

'There's a gentleman I'm helping out right here in this area that got flooded. It's incredible,' Garcia said as he handed the man an umbrella.

The man was trying to get to a freeway when his car became submerged in flood waters. He didn't appear to be injured as he spoke with Garcia.

Since making landfall in Texas, Beta has dumped up to 12 inches of rain on the state.

Beta made landfall late Monday just north of Port O'Connor, Texas. Early Tuesday, Beta was 35 miles north northwest of the city with maximum winds of 40mph, the US National Hurricane Center said. The storm was moving toward the northwest near 3mph and is expected to stall inland over Texas.

'We currently have both storm surge and rainfall going on right now,' said National Weather Service meteorologist Amaryllis Cotto in Galveston, Texas.

Scroll down for video

Dramatic footage shows the moment a man escaped from his vehicle that became submerged in flood waters in Texas when Tropical Storm Beta made landfall Monday night

Pastor Jaime Garcia recorded the moment he stood in waist deep water as the man managed to get out of his car. 'There's a gentleman I'm helping out right here in this area that got flooded. It's incredible,' Garcia said as he handed the man an umbrella

The man was trying to get to a freeway when his car became submerged in flood waters. He didn't appear to be injured as he spoke with Garcia

Cotto said 6-12 inches of rain has fallen in the area, with isolated amounts of up to 18 inches. Dangerous flash flooding is expected through Wednesday, Cotto said.

Aerial footage from Texas shows highways engulfed by water as the storm passed through. Another video showed a pastor helping a man from his flooded vehicle.

Beta will move inland over southeastern Texas through Wednesday and then over Louisiana and Mississippi on Wednesday night through Friday, and the biggest unknown from Beta was how much rainfall it could produce. Beta was expected to weaken into a depression, but flash flooding was possible in Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi as the system moves farther inland.

'This still is probably the most uncertain part of the forecast,' Dan Reilly, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in the Houston-Galveston office, said about rainfall from Beta.

Earlier predictions of up to 20 inches in some areas were downgraded Monday to up to 15 inches. Texas coastal counties were most likely to see 4 to 6 inches with 2 to 4 inches farther inland, Reilly said.

Storm surge up to 4 feet was possible in the Galveston and Beaumont areas through Wednesday morning, forecasters said.

Tropical Storm Beta (center) made landfall in Texas Monday night and has dumped up to 12 inches of rain on the state as it threatens to bring dangerous flooding to coastal cities. Meanwhile, Hurricane Teddy (top right) is likely to cause dangerous rip currents along the East Coast

Beta made landfall late Monday just north of Port O'Connor, Texas. Early Tuesday, Beta was 35 miles north northwest of the city with maximum winds of 40mph, the US National Hurricane Center said. The storm was moving toward the northwest near 3mph and is expected to stall inland over Texas

Storm surge up to four feet was predicted in coastal cities in Texas

Rainfall is forecast through Friday with parts of Texas and Louisiana seeing between 3-5 inches

'We currently have both storm surge and rainfall going on right now,' said National Weather Service meteorologist Amaryllis Cotto in Galveston, Texas

An estuary was flooded by heavy rainfall brought on by Tropical Storm Beta

A speed limit sign along Ocean Drive in Indianola, Texas, is submerged in floodwaters from the storm surge from Tropical Storm Beta

In Galveston, an island city southeast of Houston, there was already some street flooding Monday from rising tides and part of a popular fishing pier collapsed due to strong waves.

On Monday, Gov Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration for 29 Texas counties ahead of Beta's arrival.

Beta is forecast to dump heavy rain on the southwestern corner of Louisiana three weeks after the same area got pounded by Hurricane Laura.

The rainfall and storm surge prompted Louisiana Gov John Bel Edwards to declare a state of emergency.

In Lake Charles, Mayor Nic Hunter worried about Beta's rainfall could set back efforts in his Louisiana community to recover after Laura, which damaged about 95 per cent of the city's 30,000 structures.

Hunter said the worry of another storm was 'an emotional and mental toll for a lot of our citizens'.

Parts of the Alabama coast and Florida Panhandle were still reeling from Hurricane Sally, which roared ashore Wednesday, causing at least two deaths.

Tropical Storm Beta made landfall on the Texas coast on Monday night as parts of the state and neighboring Louisiana braced for flooding and a storm surge of up to four feet

Rain from Beta was already coming down Monday in the Houston area as high waves battered the seawall in Port O'Connor (pictured)

Water rises from the storm surge of Tropical Storm Beta in The Strand as the storm made landfall in Galveston, Texas on Monday night

Forecasters said Beta was not expected to bring the same amount of rainfall that Texas experienced during either Hurricane Harvey in 2017 or Tropical Storm Imelda last year.

Harvey dumped more than 50 inches of rain on Houston and caused $125billion in damage in Texas. Imelda, which hit Southeast Texas, was one of the wettest cyclones on record.

The first rain bands from Beta reached the Texas coast on Sunday, but the heaviest rain wasn't expected to arrive until late Monday into Tuesday.

In low-lying Galveston, which has seen more than its share of tropical weather over the years, officials didn't expect to issue a mandatory evacuation order but they advised people to have supplies ready in case they have to stay home for several days if roads are flooded.

Forecasters ran out of traditional storm names on Friday, forcing the use of the Greek alphabet for only the second time since the 1950s.

After it reached Texas on Monday night, Beta became the ninth named storm to make landfall in the continental US in 2020 - tying a record set in 1916, according to Colorado State hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach.

Dario Romero kayaks to his house in Galveston, Texas on Monday as a tidal surge from Tropical Storm Beta inundated the low-lying areas around Galveston County

Michael Koudelka and Carol Kelly walk through tidal flood waters on East Hunter Drive in the unincorporated community of Freddiesville near Bayou Vista, Texas on Monday

A truck drives through a flooded street in Galveston, Texas on Monday as the tropical storm prepared to make landfall

Images showed how bad Strand Street in Galveston, Texas, was flooded by the storm on Monday

Texas is still bracing for heavy rainfall as the storm prepares to make landfall Monday evening

The hurricane caused about $2billion in privately insured losses from wind and storm surge, Boston-based disaster modeling firm Karen Clark & Company estimated.

That doesn't include uninsured losses, the National Flood Insurance Program claims or damage to offshore property, like oil rigs.

Meanwhile, Hurricane Teddy is continuing its path towards Canada, with a predicted landfall in Nova Scotia early on Wednesday before moving into Newfoundland on Wednesday night, forecasters said.

The large and powerful storm was causing dangerous rip currents along the East Coast, and tropical storm conditions were expected to begin in Nova Scotia by Tuesday afternoon, the National Hurricane Center said.

'We are going to see the potential for dangerous life-threatening surf and rip currents all along the East Coast,' Fox News Senior Meteorologist Janice Dean said.

Teddy was about 365 miles south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, early Tuesday with maximum sustained winds of 105mph.

Teddy was expected to weaken later Tuesday and Wednesday but forecasters said it would likely be a strong, post-tropical cyclone when it moves in and over Nova Scotia.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported on Tuesday an increase of 834 cases of coronavirus, as well as 19 more deaths.

Pennsylvanias case count is now up to 151,646 COVID-19 cases, and its death toll sits at 8,023.

Your coronavirus update:

(Cant see the map? Click here.)

Coronavirus in Pa.

More than one-third of Tuesdays 834 new cases belong to Centre County and Philadelphia County. Centre County had an increase of 195, while Philadelphia added 121. Centre Countys new cases contributed to a more than 10% rise in its total, which is now at 2,095. Largely centered at Penn State University, the outbreak in State College and University Park has resulted in 1,371 cases since Aug. 7, though most have come in the month of September.

According to the universitys COVID-19 dashboard, only 656 of those cases are no longer active. Despite multiple weeks of alarming numbers, not much is changing  according to the Centre Daily Times, 195 is the second-highest daily increase of cases.

Seven other counties had at least 30 new cases, but none of those more than 42.

The seven-day rolling average for new cases is now at 776, the first time in a week that the average dipped below 800. However, deaths are back up to a 21-per-day seven-day average, the highest since Aug. 18. Last week, it had dipped as low at 10. The states seven-day positivity rate is currently 6.2%, its lowest since Sept. 4

(Cant see the chart? Click here.)

Coronavirus in the Lehigh Valley

The Lehigh Valley saw an increase of 20 new cases, as of Tuesdays report; 11 of them were in Lehigh County, while Northampton County had nine new cases. Neither county reported any new deaths.

Lehigh County now has 5,505 total cases and 350 deaths, while Northampton County has 4,403 cases and 304 deaths. The region as a whole has had 9,908 cases of coronavirus and 654 coronavirus-related deaths.

Because of a week of relatively high new-case amounts in Northampton County last week, the Lehigh Valleys total seven-day rolling average is currently at about 31 new cases per day. While ideally Northampton County returns to more stable numbers, its not unrealistic to guess that the Lehigh Valley crosses the 10,000 total case mark by the end of the week, being only 92 cases away.

Here is how the Lehigh Valleys neighboring Pennsylvania counties are faring with the coronavirus, from the states data:

Berks County has 6,903 total cases and 391 deaths, with 41 new cases and no new deaths reported in the last day.

Bucks County has 8,590 total cases and 606 deaths, with 17 new cases and three new deaths reported in the last day.

Carbon County has 452 total cases and 28 deaths, with three new cases and no deaths reported in the last day.

Monroe County has 1,779 total cases and 131 deaths, with four new cases and one new death reported in the last day.

Montgomery County has 11,992 total cases and 876 deaths, with 30 new cases and two new deaths reported in the last day.

Schuylkill County has 1,068 total cases and 52 deaths, with three new cases and no new deaths reported in the last day.

(Cant see the chart? Click here.)

Pennsylvania launches new coronavirus alert app

Using a $1.9 million contract with federal grant money, the state of Pennsylvania has developed a new app with Ireland-based developer NearForm Ltd. that will help notify people if they have been exposed to COVID-19.

COVID Alert PA is now available in app stores.

The app, which is only usable by those 18 and older, will notify someone if they have potentially been exposed to the coronavirus. The app relies on Bluetooth technology, notifying an app user if theyve been in close proximity or contact with another app user who later tests positive for the coronavirus.

In addition to exposure notification, the app will have up-to-date information on case counts, hospitalizations and deaths.

Federal Judge denies Wolfs pandemic restrictions stay request

On Tuesday, a federal judge denied Governor Tom Wolfs request for a stay on the court decision that determined Wolfs coronavirus restrictions to be unconstitutional.

U.S. Western District Judge William Stickman IV ruled on Sept. 14 that the closure of non-essential businesses, stay-at-home order and banning of large gatherings were well-intentioned" but ultimately unconstitutional.

Wolfs administration requested the stay last week while it appeals the decision that the mandates are unconstitutional.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com.

Connor Lagore may be reached at clagore@njadvancemedia.com.
Nursing homes in New Jersey  long-plagued by staffing shortages that were exposed and exploited during the pandemic  would have to meet minimum staffing quotas for the frontline workers who feed, bathe and comfort residents under a measure two legislative committees approved Tuesday.

Labor unions and advocates for the elderly have fought for the staffing bill for five years, but have been unable to overcome the influence of nursing home operators, who argue quotas would hinder their ability to make staffing decisions based on patient need.

Then the pandemic hit in March. More than 7,100 nursing home residents and employees have died from the coronavirus. New Jersey has had the highest per capita death rate in long-term care facilities in the nation.

The staffing bill underwent revisions and a compromise was reached on Tuesday, when the Assembly Budget Committee required nursing homes to provide one certified nurse aide for every eight residents for the day shift. Last week, the ratio was 1 nurse for 6 residents.

Although we would prefer the stricter 1 to 6 requirement, we recognize the compromise necessary to get good legislation done, said Bryn Lloyd-Bollard from 1199SEU United Healthcare Workers East, which represents 8,000 nursing home employees.

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage

Short-staffing among CNAs has for years been the single most urgent concern expressed by our members in nursing homes, Lloyd-Bollards testified before the Assembly committee. New Jersey has consistently ranked among the very bottom of states for the hours of hands-on care provided to nursing home residents, and this pandemic has only made the situation worse.

The staffing ratios during the evening and overnight shifts also represent a compromise with the long-term care industry.

The legislation says one direct care staff member  defined as a certified nurse assistant, a licensed practical nurse or a registered nurse  shall tend to no more than 10 residents for the evening shift, provided that no fewer than half of all staff members are to be certified nurse aides, and each staff member will sign in to work as a certified nurse aide and will perform certified nurse aide duties.

During the overnight shift, one direct care staff member is needed for every 14 residents for the night shift under the same requirements, according to the bill, A4652.

Christina Martinho of Kearny, a CNA and housekeeper, told the Assembly committee she often reflects on the death of a resident from Russia who spoke very little English. After visitation was halted, she refused to eat unless someone was with her. Staff were often too busy and her tray would often go untouched, she said.

As CNAs, we want to do the job as best as we can. But the workload can be so great, people dont stay around. I cant tell you how many CNAs Ive seen over the years start working in the building, and then leave in a week because it is just too overwhelming, Martinho said. We need a CNA workforce that is able to spend the time necessary to do their jobs with compassion and love.

The Assembly Budget Committee approved the bill 9-4, along party lines, with Democrats voting yes and Republicans no. Assemblywoman Nancy Munoz, R-Union, a nurse, said quotas put everyone in a bad situation. It should be based on patient acuity and the experience of the providers.

There was no discussion in the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee before the 8-4 vote, also along party lines. Sen. Declan OScanlon, R-Monmouth, noted that there is a shortage of certified nursing aides already. The Legislature just cant snap its fingers and make it happen.

Gov. Chris Christie vetoed a version of the bill in 2016, Assembly leaders in the last legislative session watered it down before it died in January.

Lloyd-Bollard said he was cautiously optimistic that the bill will be passed and signed into law by Gov. Phil Murphy. Its been years in the making, he said.

The bill is on the voting agenda for both houses of the Legislature on Thursday.

Long-Term Care Ombudsman Laurie Brewer said problems associated with staffing shortages are the most common complaint her office receives.

Imagine being unable to remove yourself from your bed. Perhaps you are wet, or you are hungry, or you are in pain and calling for assistance and being ignored or having your call light turned off without anyone actually helping you, Brewer said in her testimony.

I can assure you this happens every day, every hour, in a New Jersey nursing home. And it is long past time that firm standards were put in place to try to address this problem.

One in four of the states 360 nursing homes had staffing shortages, according to a federal report last year.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Susan K. Livio may be reached at slivio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SusanKLivio.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept.22

By Zhale Gasimova  Trend:

Azerbaijan exported cotton fiber and cotton yarn worth $76.6 million and $11.3 million, respectively, from January through August 2020, the Ministry of Agriculture told Trend.

As reported, the cotton sown area in the current year amounted to 100,295 hectares, which is 0.18 percent more than last year (100,112 hectares).

In 2019, the cotton production made up 295,279 tons, and the total yield reached 29.5 centners per hectare.




South Korea's top pharmaceutical firm, Samsung Biologics Co., said Tuesday it has signed a long-term supply agreement, valued at approximately US$330.8 million, with British-Swedish bio giant AstraZeneca Plc.







Under the contract manufacturing organization (CMO) agreement, Samsung Biologics will provide large-scale commercial manufacturing for drug substance in its third plant located in Incheon, west of Seoul.







Samsung Biologics said it will also make drug products to support AstraZeneca's biologics therapeutics, which could be increased to $545.6 million depending on the client's demands.







"We are very proud to partner with AstraZeneca, a company that uses a rich history of science-led innovation to serve patients," CEO Kim Tae-han said in a press release.







Samsung Biologics, a biopharmaceutical unit of South Korea's largest conglomerate Samsung Group, was established in 2011 and got listed on the country's main bourse five years later.







Along with CMO, Samsung Biologics engages in contract development organization (CDO) and contract research organization (CRO) sectors. It has three plants in Incheon, which can crank out 362,000 liters of biosimilars per year, the world's largest.







In August, the company said it will build a fourth plant in the country in response to rising manufacturing demand. The 1.7 trillion-won (US$1.4 billion) plant in Incheon will have a bioreactor capacity of 256,000 liters, the company said in a regulatory filing.







With the fourth plant's completion, Samsung Biologics will secure a combined bioreactor capacity of 620,000 liters, making it the largest CMO facility at a single location in the world. (Yonhap)


TORONTO - Ford Motor Company of Canada Ltd. has agreed to spend nearly $2 billion on its Canadian plants as part of tentative contract deal with Unifor announced Tuesday.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 22/9/2020 (486 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Unifor President Jerry Dias, left, elbow bumps Ryan Kantautas, Vice President of Human Resources at Ford Canada, after a photo opportunity at the start of formal contract talks with the Detroit Three automakers, Fiat Chrysler, Ford and General Motors, in Toronto on August 12, 2020. Unifor says union workers at Ford Motor Company of Canada Ltd. (have reached a deal/will commence a strike) as part of its collective bargaining. Negotiations between the union and the automaker came to a head on Monday ahead of a bargaining deadline of 11:59 p.m eastern time, when an existing agreement expires. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

TORONTO - Ford Motor Company of Canada Ltd. has agreed to spend nearly $2 billion on its Canadian plants as part of tentative contract deal with Unifor announced Tuesday.

Under the proposed settlement, Unifor national president Jerry Dias said $1.95 billion will be invested in Ford's Canadian plants, including $1.8 billion toward the production of five electric vehicles in Oakville, Ont., and an engine contract that could yield new jobs in Windsor, Ont.

The 6,300 union workers at Ford will vote on the deal this weekend, Dias said.

Talks between the union and the automaker came to a head on Monday ahead of a bargaining deadline of 11:59 p.m. ET, and talks continued for much of the night before parties settled on a deal around 5 a.m.

Workers had voted to support a strike if a deal could not be reached, with the future of the Oakville plant potentially on the line amid the end of the Ford Edge production.

The plant will now be retooled for electric vehicle production starting in 2024, Dias said, with the fifth and final model of the new deal hitting the assembly line in 2028.

Unifor President Jerry Dias takes a question from a journalist after announcing a three-year labour agreement with the Ford Motor Company at a news conference in Toronto on Tuesday, September 22, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

Of the 4,250 Unifor workers at the plant west of Toronto, 3,400 are actively working (and not laid off or on leave.) Dias said he foresees about 3,000 jobs staying in Oakville under the new contract, but said that some of the current workers would be eligible to retire soon either way.

This is a major commitment from Ford, Dias said. This is going to be a key facility,not for the short-term, but for the long-term  this is a decade-long commitment.

Dias thanked local and federal politicians for support during the negotiations. When asked about government contribution toward electric vehicle production, Dias declined to confirm earlier news reports on the topic, saying the government will have to announce how much they plan to kick in.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has said that the province is contributing a massive amount to businesses like (Ford Canada) to bring battery manufacturing to the province, but has not shared a specific amount, citing ongoing negotiations. John Power, spokesman for federal Industry Minister Navdeep Bains, also declined to say how much Ottawa could commit, saying only that electric vehicle production would help meet climate goals and create jobs.

We have been talking for decades about having a national auto strategy in this country, and for some reason, we can never seem to get everybody in the room at the same time, Dias said.

Over the last several months, those walls have really been torn down  I'm really pleased to see that the federal government and provincial government are working hand in hand.

Dias said that the provincial governments negotiations encompass the complete, A-to-Z manufacturing of batteries  a process that still requires a major manufacturer. Unifors deal with Ford will encompass just the assembly stage of the manufacturing process.

Once agreed to by union members, Ford's deal on new product lines, shifts, wages, pensions and benefits will set the tone for upcoming talks with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and General Motors.

Dias said Fiat Chrysler will be next in line for negotiations, as the union plans to go toe-to-toe over shift cuts in Windsor and Brampton, Ont. facilities.

Although the last formal labour negotiations took place in 2016, the union has been in active scrimmages with GM since then, after last years downsizing at a GM plant in Oshawa, Ont.

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In the U.S., GMs union workers went on strike last year. Going forward, Dias said the Canadian and U.S. unions will negotiate with the Detroit Three on the same schedule, as both groups try to keep jobs from moving south to Mexico.

That means the 2020 deal will be renegotiated in 2023, amid the expiration of major programs in GM's powertrain operation in St. Catharines, Ont.

Dias said Canadian natural resources, such as lithium, aluminum and cobalt, put the members in a strong position as more companies move toward electric vehicles.

It's an opportunity for our young people that work in Oakville, and frankly in Windsor, as well, and throughout the other operations, to sit back and say, With this announcement I can buy a house, I can plan my future, I can plan a family, Dias said.

It really is about young people being able to plan 20 years ahead, which will make a significant difference in their life.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 22, 2020.
In the Talibans victory at Kabul, Al-Qaeda has a loud message on Jammu and Kashmir

Ties of blood: Why there is no separating the Taliban, Al-Qaeda and Haqqani Network

Terrorists arrested from Kerala, West Bengal were plotting a Ghazwa-e-Hind

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Sep 22: The nine persons who were arrested by the National Investigation Agency in connection with an Al-Qaeda module case were part of a chat group called Ghazwa-e-Hind.

There were 22 members on this group, investigations have revealed. However they had deleted the messages on September 19, the day when the nine persons were arrested from West Bengal and Kerala.

Ghazwa-e-Hind, when loosely translated means destruction of India. It had been propagated several years back by Ilyas Kashmiri, the head of the Al-Qaeda's 313 Brigade.

" title="Alarming rise of ISIS in South linked to seeds of radicalisation sown in Kerala 30 years ago" />Alarming rise of ISIS in South linked to seeds of radicalisation sown in Kerala 30 years ago

Today it is even propagated strongly by the Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Tayiba.

Interestingly, these terror groups have attributed Ghazwa-e-Hind to the Prophet. Citing the Prophet, the group tells its cadres that it had been said that the Army would rise from the west and seize India from Islam.

These groups during its various conclaves had cited this and attributed the same to the Prophet. During recent meetings of the two terror outfits, the leaders spoke about rolling out Ghazwa-e-Hind in a big way.

The first priority would be take over Kashmir, they had said. Once this is done the entire map of India can be changed. On the Kashmir issue, the commanders pointed out that Kashmiris has been fighting the Hindus even before the birth of Pakistan. Islam and Kashmir and Islam and Pakistan are not separate, they also said.

The terrorist groups, with close links with the Al-Qaida, had resolved at a conference held in Okara district in Pakistan on November 27, 2017, that it would continue its "Ghazwa-e-Hind" irrespective of the Indo-Pak ties.

NIA arrests 9 Al-Qaeda terrorists from West Bengal and Kerala

Last week, the National Investigation has arrested nine terrorists of the Al-Qaeda from West Bengal and Kerala.

Raids were conducted at several locations in Ernakulam (Kerala) and Murshidabad (West Bengal) following which the terrorists of the Pakistan sponsored module of the Al-Qaeda were arrested.

The NIA had information of an inter-state module of the terror group, whose operatives were active in various locations in India, including Kerala and West Bengal. The NIA said that the group was planning on carrying out attacks in various parts of the country. They had planned on killing people and also targeting vital installations.

NIA has arrested 6 terrorists from West-Bengal and 3 terrorists from Kerala in the early morning raids conducted today, the agency had said in a statement. Large quantity of incriminating materials including digital devices, documents, jihadi literature, sharp weapons, country-made firearms, a locally fabricated body armour, articles and literature used for making home-made explosive devices have been seized from their possession.

As per preliminary investigation, these individuals were radicalised by Pakistan-based Al-Qaeda terrorists on social media and were motivated to undertake attacks at multiple places including the National Capital Region.

#Tesla 'secretly planning' R&D Centre in #Bengaluru? | Oneindia News

For this purpose, the module was actively indulging in fund raising and a few members of gang were planning to travel to New Delhi to procure arms and ammunition. These arrests have pre-empted possible terrorist attacks in various parts of the country, the NIA further said.
Beijing has accused the United States of camouflaging the identities of their warplanes as civilian aircraft. The aircraft were reportedly sent to spy on China.

US Disguise

According to Wang Wenbin during a Chinese Foreign Ministry briefing this week, "it is the old trick of the US military to use a transponder code to impersonate civil aircraft of other countries," reported Express.

The disguise was reportedly through altering transponder codes at least 100 times this 2020. The allegation arrives at a time of brewing tension between the two powers, which has bolstered US military activity in the Indo-Pacific.

Report from a Chinese Think Tank

According to the South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative (SCSPI), it has registered incidents of the US cloaking its planes as civilian airliners. The SCSPI alleges that between September 8th and 10th US aircraft cloaked as Malaysia civilian planes flew over the disputed Paracel Islands in the South China Sea, the Yellow Sea near the Chinese coast, and the Taiwan Strait.

Neither Confirmed Nor Denied

A top Air Force leader in the Pacific neither confirmed nor denied recent reports that an American aircraft disguised itself as a Malaysian plane claimed to be impersonating a transponder signal to spy on the activities of the Chinese military. He said that the US did not contravene any rule.

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) stated the report and that the activity is provocative and dangerous.

A US Air Force RC-135W electronic reconnaissance aircraft reportedly flew from an airbase on Okinawa at 8:00 AM on September 16 which China accuses as a spy.

Also Read: New Chinese Epidemic? Over 3,000 Infected With Brucellosis Zoonotic Disease Due to Factory Leak

Beijing described the situation as a "serious security threat." Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said that their activity is a "vile of nature."

South China Sea

The US has rejected China's claims to the South China Sea and has remarkably geared its military presence in the area. Each party has cautioned the other of the harm of further escalation. The US has sanctioned China's firms that helped build its island outposts.

'Dangerous Provocations'

With US spy planes cloaking themselves as civilian aircraft, actual civilian aircraft are reportedly put in jeopardy.

Wang added, "We urge the US to immediately stop such dangerous provocations, to avoid accidents from happening in the sea and air," reported View from the Wing.

China added that if this situation continues, it could lead to "accidents."

When the US was accused of flying military aircraft out of Malaysia while cloaking themselves as civilian jets, Malaysia did not comment on the claims.

According to SCSPI, "This undoubtedly added up to great risk and uncertainty to international flight safety, which could lead to misjudgment (by ground air defence systems) and probably bring danger to civilian aircraft especially those being impersonated," reported I Know the Pilot.

The US Air Force, which has elevated its activities in the South China Sea in the past few months, uses commercial aircraft platforms for several of its planes with the RC-135 being based on a Boeing 707. This allows them to take civilian cover and why China accuses US aircraft as spies.

Related Article: Wuhan Families Accuse China of Barring COVID-19 Lawsuits

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SANTA CLARITA, Calif., Sept. 21, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the world's leading international premium cruise line, Princess Cruises, announced the sale of two of its ships, Sun Princess and Sea Princess, to undisclosed buyers. The sale of these vessels is in line with parent company Carnival Corporation's plan to accelerate the removal of less efficient ships from its fleet.

"Sun Princess and Sea Princess contributed to significant growth in Australian cruising," said Princess Cruises president Jan Swartz. "Both ships defined the premium cruise experience with Australians and New Zealanders spending close to 14 million nights aboard these ships. While it is never easy to say goodbye to any ship in our fleet, this will allow us to deploy newer ships enhancing our offerings for Australia cruisers and focus on bringing into service exciting newbuilds like the upcoming delivery of Enchanted Princess."

The first ship in the Sun Class, Sun Princess was introduced in 1995 debuting in the Caribbean and was amongst the largest ships in the world at the time. The 2,000-guest Sun Princess also sailed in Alaska and Panama Canal, among other destinations, before being homeported in Australia in October 2007. Sun Princess also helped us open the Japanese market in 2013 as the first foreign-flagged cruise ship to offer cruises designed specifically for the Japanese.

The 2,000-guest Sea Princess became synonymous with World Cruises, having completed six full world cruises since 2013. During her time based in Australia, Sea Princess travelled the equivalent of 35 times around the world. Prior to joining Sun Princess in Australia, Sea Princess sailed in Europe and Alaska as well as the Caribbean, including serving as a homeport ship in Barbados in the mid- to late-2000s.

Due to the imminent departure of these two ships from the fleet, Princess Cruises will cancel published itineraries which include:

Sun Princess sailings from December 28, 2020 through August 14, 2021

through Sea Princess sailings from December 23, 2020 through November 9, 2021

Guests with bookings will be notified, and along with their travel advisors, will receive information on how to book another Princess Cruise when operations resume. Guests who prefer a refund will be accommodated.

About Princess Cruises :

One of the best-known names in cruising, Princess Cruises is the fastest growing international premium cruise line and tour company operating a fleet of 16 modern cruise ships, carrying two million guests each year to 380 destinations around the globe, including the Caribbean, Alaska, Panama Canal, Mexican Riviera, Europe, South America, Australia/New Zealand, the South Pacific, Hawaii, Asia, Canada/New England, Antarctica and World Cruises. A team of professional destination experts have curated 170 itineraries, ranging in length from three to 111 days and Princess Cruises is continuously recognized as "Best Cruise Line for Itineraries." In 2017 Princess Cruises, with parent company Carnival Corporation, introduced MedallionClass Vacations enabled by the OceanMedallion, the vacation industry's most advanced wearable device, provided free to each guest sailing on a MedallionClass ship. The award-winning innovation offers the fastest way to an effortless personalized vacation giving guests more time to do the things they love most. The company is part of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE:CUK).

SOURCE Princess Cruises

Related Links

www.princess.com


Amnesty International has rounded on Twitter for not doing enough to protect women after a Belfast Telegraph survey showed that more than three-quarters of female MLAs had experienced abuse online.

Northern Ireland's five main parties have expressed serious concern after our survey showed that a quarter of women MLAs had been sexually harassed during their political lives.

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Our investigation found 70% had sexist remarks made to their face by men, and 78% have experienced sexism on social media.

First Minister Arlene Foster said it was "vital that a light is shone on attitudes towards female representatives".

Grainne Teggart of Amnesty International said Twitter had implemented only one of 10 recommendations it had made to the social media giant two years ago to protect women from online abuse and violence.

Ms Teggart said: "Twitter has long been a toxic and hostile place for women who all too frequently experience threats and harassment related to their gender, role in public life, ethnicity or sexual orientation.

"We cannot allow the trolls to win. Despite the claim to be on women's side, Twitter is failing to take concrete steps to address and prevent violence and abuse on its platform.

"It regrettably comes as no surprise that three-quarters of our female MLAs have experienced sexism online. Often online abuse translates to offline abuse and vice versa, perpetuating a culture of misogyny and violence against women."

Justice Minister Naomi Long said: "Shamefully, both sexism and misogyny are alive and well, and act as a barrier to many women coming forward to contribute to political and public life.

"It is most prevalent on social media, where Twitter's system for reporting abuse is particularly ineffective, and reports of abuse not taken seriously. This inaction is letting women down."

Mrs Foster said: "In the absence of action from social media platforms, there remains a need for proper regulation to help combat this scourge."

UUP leader Steve Aiken said the accounts of harassment and sexism given by female MLAs to the Belfast Telegraph were "sadly, not surprising".

He said: "The targeting of female elected representatives has disgracefully been a common feature of politics, particularly in the new era of social media.

"This should not, and cannot, continue to be tolerated and the culture that allows such unacceptable behaviour to exist must be challenged."

Expand Close Sinn Fein MLA Emma Sheerin / Facebook

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Whatsapp Sinn Fein MLA Emma Sheerin

Sinn Fein MLA Emma Sheerin said: "Sinn Fein will continue to work to ensure equal opportunities exist for females in politics, and that misogyny and all forms of discrimination are consigned to the bin. I would encourage any woman who has been a victim of sexual harassment or abuse in their workplace to report it to the relevant authorities."

An SDLP spokesperson said: "The testimony from female MLAs is deeply shocking and clearly demonstrates that misogyny is rife in political life.

"We are committed to playing our part in stamping it out for good and making public life a safer and more welcoming space for women. We'll also be working with women in the party to ensure that we're providing as much support as possible to help them carry out their public duties."
Daniel Boulud

French chefs have the reputation of being sticklers for regional authenticity. But give Daniel Boulud a bit of garam masala, and his eyes will brighten.

The 65-year-old, who injected some optimism in the restaurant business and public mood by announcing a delivery service in the US and a new restaurant in New York, enjoys using Indian flavours in his food.

I am a huge fan of Indian food and incorporate spices from India into my cooking whenever I can, Boulud once said in an interview to New York Times.

The flavours can be strong so they are best used in moderation, but they add pop when braising meats and making rubs for grilling.

Quail with garam masala is one of his signature dishes. Another is the intriguingly named Lamb Rekha.

The Coronavirus has gobbled up many restaurants. But when you are a culinary industry like Boulud with a net worth of millions, you can still think of growing your business.

Daniel Boulud (Image: DanielBoulud.com)

This month, Boulud signed up with a food delivery service in the US so people could order his dishes from home. Even if they have to sell their furniture after the meal. His bouillabaisse for four costs US $379 (approximately Rs 28,000).

Bouloud also announced a new place slated to open next year in New York, where restaurants are integral to the citys identity. Eateries in New York are opening at 25 per cent of their capacity from September 30.

Also Read: Thiem, Red Bull and the unusual dietary choices of athletes

Bouluds restaurant will be called La Pavillon, after an upscale French restaurant by the same name. The original was also launched during a tragedy, World War II.

This name is significant for New York, and Im a fan of the history, Boulud told New York Times. Its good to bring back memories of the past.
There's no 'chase', no gathering of evidence, no crime scene investigation, no exposition  all the tropes beloved of police procedurals  in Criminal: UK

Fictional detectives of a certain ilk  Sherlock Holmes, Hercules Poirot et al  have long maintained that solving crime is "a matter of the grey cells". Criminal: UK, the anthology crime drama by George Kay and Jim Field Smith with a second season now out on Netflix, embodies that philosophy in its premise. There's no "chase", no gathering of evidence, no crime scene investigation, no exposition  all the tropes beloved of police procedurals. Instead, we cut directly to the denouement: one suspect/person of interest in an interrogation room, a deadline, and a team of police detectives using the facts they have at their disposal and a carefully strategised line of questioning to elicit a confession (or enough incriminating evidence) to bring legal charges against the interviewee.

All the action in the series takes place within one room and an adjoining chamber; the hallway outside leading to an elevator is the furthest away we get from this main stage.

The 'props' are at a minimum: a table, (usually) four chairs, discreetly placed cameras and microphones within the interrogation room. A two-way mirror leads into the control centre, from where colleagues guide the officers in charge of an interrogation to cues they might have missed or provide supplementary information that helps them frame their questions. Theres a feeling of voyeurism in watching whats happening in the control room as the officers observe the interrogation; the watchers become the watched.

Criminal's stripped down quality is reminiscent of theatre (and such a palate cleanser if youre coming here directly from a watch of Ratched, like this writer). The drama of the confrontation, usually squeezed into the final 10 minutes of another police procedural, here gets nearly an hour to play out in. Over seven episodes, it should feel repetitive, but it's thrilling. The tension should lag at some point, but each episode stays taut throughout.

Season 1 comprised three episodes, featuring stars like David Tennant (as a doctor brought in for questioning over the murder of his 14-year-old stepdaughter) and Hayley Atwell (a suspect in an attempted homicide). Season 2s roster includes Sophie Okonedo as Julia Bryce, the wife of a man convicted of murder, who the police believe may have additional information on a second possible victim; there's Kit Harington playing Alex Daniels, a suspected rapist; Sharon Horgan as Danielle Dunne, the founder of a vigilante group that 'outs' pedophiles after entrapping them online; and Kunal Nayyar as Sandeep Singh, an incarcerated entrepreneur who hopes to have his sentence reduced for sharing information on an unsolved missing child case.

The line-up of officers this season has some minor changes, with last years regulars, officers Vanessa Warren (Rochenda Sandall), Tony Myerscough (Lee Inglesby) and Natalie Hobbs (Katherine Kelly) joined full time by Shubham Saraf as Kule Petit, and Aymen Hamdouchi as Jamie Reiss. Their tools of trade remain very much the same, however: the case files made available to them and their understanding of psychology of course, but also subtle things that work on an interviewee at the level of the subconscious  the thickness of an evidence folder, the slow cleaning of ones glasses, needling, negotiation, empathy, and also bias.

For the most part, the drama is confined to whatever is happening within the interrogation room: raised voices, the exposure of some truly dark/shameful/confounding human instincts. Less frequently, the drama moves to the control room, when the focus is on the backroom wheeling and dealing required for intra-agency cooperation, or for the levers of the legal system to grind just a little bit quicker, or for a carelessly dropped conversational clue to be examined in rigorous detail. And very infrequently, the drama shifts to the interpersonal relationships of the officers themselves; if in season 1, there was a minor narrative involving detective Hugo Duffy's (played by Mark Stanley) alcoholism, then this season carries forward the will they-won't they conjecture over officers Hobbes and Myerscoughs relationship, and a professional conundrum faced by Warren.

Within the interrogation room, the themes about crime and punishment that emerge in season 2 are broader than in Criminal: UKs debut. Episode 2, featuring Kit Harington, is particularly striking as he turns a predictable interview on its head and for once, leaves the investigators on the back foot. His dialogue draws us into the world outside the interrogation room, where the time spent within it has negative consequences for these individuals, even if they face no legal repercussions. Episode 3, with Sharon Horgan, builds up to a point where her character Danielle Dunne's cocky righteousness and certainty in her "mission" is punctured. The fourth episode, with Kunal Nayyar, is the only one that feels a little less organic than its predecessors. It begins promisingly, with Nayyar's Sandeep Singh taking a completely uncommunicative stance towards his interviewers when they quiz him about a suspected murder. But by the time his hour plays out, there's a far too convenient solution that neatly wraps up a case or two. It sticks out because Criminal is not a series with a fondness for pat conclusions.

The only downside to Criminal is the extremely limited number of episodes. Seven across a two-season run are too few for a show of its caliber and addictiveness. While theres no news of a third season in the immediate offing, theres still a way to get your fix  via the series spin-offs, Criminal: France, Spain and Germany. Now thats a binge were on board with.
Last fall, President Donald Trump asked Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to speak at one of his campaign rallies  an appearance that would have shattered longstanding norms keeping Americas chief diplomat away from partisan politics.

Pompeo wanted to speak at the rally, according to Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas), who raised the matter in a little-noticed exchange during a hearing with State Department officials last week. But, according to a congressional aide who later spoke to POLITICO, Pompeo backed down when advised it would violate existing rules.

Nearly a year later, Pompeo is brushing aside such warnings completely  throwing himself headlong into a heated presidential campaign like no other secretary of State in memory.

What he is doing is entirely unconventional, said Harry Kopp, an author of books about U.S. diplomacy. He added, however, The employees of the State Department have, by now, I think, no illusions about the partisan nature of their secretary of State.

On Wednesday, Pompeo will visit Wisconsin, a critical swing state, to deliver a speech in its state Capitol. The speech is ostensibly about foreign policy, but considering the presidential election is just weeks away, Pompeos appearance is arguably his clearest brush-off yet of critics who accuse him of politicizing his office.

Just last month, while on an official trip to Jerusalem, Pompeo broke with tradition observed by his modern predecessors and delivered remarks to the Republican National Convention. On Sunday, Pompeo visited the suburbs of Dallas, Texas, to speak to a Baptist mega-church, where he declared to a Trump-friendly audience that faith in the public square is not only lawful, but righteous. In the coming weeks, hell be hosting at least three more Madison Dinners  events that some State Department staffers complain are about promoting his political brand, not U.S. diplomacy.

Aides to Pompeo did not respond to a set of questions repeatedly submitted by POLITICO for this article, including about the campaign rally episode last fall, whether Pompeo has drafted new regulations that allow him to take part in partisan-tinged activities, and who came up with the idea for the visit to Wisconsin. A Trump campaign spokesman also did not respond to requests for comment.

Story continues

Critics allege that Pompeo is misusing his taxpayer-funded position and amenities to boost Trumps campaign while raising his own profile with Trumps electoral base in case he someday runs for president. Some speculate that Pompeo may not stick around much longer as secretary of State, even if Trump wins in November, because he will need to start building his own campaign and funding infrastructure for 2024.

Pompeo has engaged in politically flavored activities even though hes come under multiple investigations, one of which cleared him, about how hes using his government position. Besides, Trump has made it clear he wont punish anyone for using government resources for partisan ends, despite laws against such activities. The president himself used the White House to stage parts of this years GOP convention.

People become brazen when there are no consequences, said Philippe Reines, a longtime adviser to former Secretary of State and 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. Pompeo is brazen. But he also knows how to play the game and knows how to protect himself.

A gray zone

Pompeo has his defenders, some of whom say the incidents are being blown out of proportion.

Ari Fleischer, a former White House press secretary for the George W. Bush administration, disagreed with Pompeos decision to speak to the Republican convention, but he had no issues with the Madison Dinners or the Wisconsin visit.

I will take Mike Pompeo in Wisconsin any day over John Kerry in Tehran no matter what, Fleischer said, with a dig at the Obama-era secretary of State, who helped negotiate the Iran nuclear deal (although not in Tehran). Fleischer added that whispers about Pompeos political future were just a silly Washington speculation game.

Pompeo, too, insists hes within his legal rights  he often uses phrases like as required by law  but wont get into specifics. During the church visit, he said, As the secretary of State, Im not allowed to do politics, but I can do duty in urging the audience to vote.

Still, to anyone who watches Pompeo closely, its clear hes increasingly operating in a gray zone while edging toward outright violation of the rules and traditions that modern secretaries of State have tried to respect. Hes done so despite pressure from Democrats in Congress and even though he and his wife, Susan, are under investigation by the State Department inspector generals office and in Congress over their use of department resources. (Pompeo insists those probes are politically motivated and that he and his wife have done nothing wrong.)

While there are legal prohibitions on using tax dollars for partisan causes, secretaries of State have traditionally avoided domestic politics for another reason: to promote the idea that they, and by implication U.S. foreign policy, represent the whole country, not just one party.

Thus, secretaries of State typically avoid talking about U.S. domestic politics or attending events linked to a party.

Pompeo made a name for himself in Washington by acting in a highly partisan fashion. He came to the capital as a congressman from Kansas, winning the seat on the Tea Party wave of 2010. He was a loud critic of the Obama administration and appeared to take special delight in attacking Clinton, especially over the 2012 Benghazi attacks that killed a U.S. ambassador and three other Americans. Pompeo was one of two Republicans who effectively rejected their GOP colleagues findings on the Benghazi affair, issuing their own report that was harsher on Clinton.

Pompeos first position in the Trump administration was as CIA chief, and at times he was reported to make agency officials uncomfortable with his willingness to let his partisan instincts affect his views on controversial issues.

He left that role in spring 2018 to take over the State Department, where hes chafed at often-detailed restrictions on the political activities of diplomats such as himself. In September 2018, he surprised many by speaking at the Values Voter Summit, a gathering of conservative activists that draws many prominent Republican speakers.

In the months since, Pompeo has drawn attention for how frequently he travels inside the United States. Those trips have included stops in presidential battleground states such as Iowa, as well as several visits to Kansas at a time when Pompeo was flirting with a Senate run from the state.

Pompeo also has spoken at domestic events that seem to cater to key parts of the GOP base, especially evangelical voters. Last October, he gave a speech titled Being a Christian Leader to the American Association of Christian Counselors in Tennessee. This past February, Pompeo spoke at the Conservative Political Action Conference, a popular venue for aspiring Republican presidential contenders.

Pompeo and his aides have defended these appearances by citing the official reasons for them and insisting they are following the letter of the law.

Often, the official reason given for a Pompeo appearance is to promote awareness of the State Departments mission and activities. In the case of the Republican convention speech  a pre-recorded video delivered from the rooftop of the storied King David Hotel overlooking Jerusalem  the department insisted Pompeo was speaking in his personal capacity.

At the Values Voter Summit, Pompeo spoke about advocating for religious liberty, an important issue to evangelicals that also is a human rights priority of the State Department under Trump. On his fourth visit to Kansas in 2019, Pompeo joined Ivanka Trump, the presidents daughter and senior adviser, for an event on workforce development. Having a strong U.S. workforce, Pompeo said, was relevant to his job because without a robust and successful economy, other nations wont respect us.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks during a news conference to announce the Trump administration's restoration of sanctions on Iran, Monday, Sept. 21, 2020, at the U.S. State Department in Washington. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

For the visit to the Texas church this past weekend, the State Department initially said Pompeo planned to discuss Department of State priorities. But while Pompeo did talk about religious liberty, much of the speech was about himself, his faith and how he blends it with his work.

Pompeos visits to Kansas drew complaints from prominent Democrats in Congress, including Sen. Bob Menendez, the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, who asked a federal watchdog unit, the Office of Special Counsel, to review them. The OSC eventually told Pompeo that it had no evidence to conclude he was violating the Hatch Act, a statute prohibiting executive branch officials from campaigning on the taxpayers dime. OSC also noted that Pompeo had ultimately decided not to run for the Senate seat.

A pair of law professors, one of whom served as a top ethics adviser to George W. Bush, have since asked the OSC to look again at Pompeo, this time for his speech to the Republican convention.

Partisan preferences

Pompeos use of his office has drawn heightened scrutiny since last fall, when impeachment proceedings against the president kicked into high gear.

Lawmakers accused Pompeo of partisanship when his department failed to hand over any documents to House Democrats leading the impeachment inquiry. They also accused Pompeo of hypocrisy given how much he pressured the State Department to hand over materials related to the Benghazi attack when he was a congressman.

More recently, the State Department quickly produced thousands of documents for Republicans investigating Joe Biden, Trumps Democratic rival in Novembers election, while ignoring Democrats requests for the material. That led House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.) to pursue contempt proceedings against Pompeo. On Friday, Engel said the State Department had finally handed over the Biden-related documents; he will be dropping the contempt proceedings.

House Democrats also are investigating Pompeos role in the mid-May firing of Steve Linick, who had served as the State Departments inspector general since 2013. The inspector generals office had been  and still is  investigating whether Mike and Susan Pompeo have used taxpayer resources for their own personal benefit. That includes asking State Department employees to run errands for them, including helping produce their personal Christmas cards, according to aides interviews with congressional investigators.

The probe also may cover the Madison Dinners, which were first reported in detail by NBC News. The dinners are fancy, intimate gatherings, some two dozen of which were held before the coronavirus pandemic but which werent listed on Pompeos public schedule. They gathered prominent people from many spheres, but relatively few diplomats or State Department officials other than Pompeo.

Aides to Pompeo insist the dinners are about promoting the department. Critics say they are about building his Rolodex of future supporters and campaign donors, with help from public funds.

I hope someone at the State Department is keeping track of how much this abuse is costing taxpayers, Engel said in a statement to POLITICO. When this administration finally comes to an end, he ought to get an invoice.

Earlier this month, despite the ongoing pandemic and public criticism, Pompeo resumed hosting the Madison Dinners. The guests at the first dinner, held last Monday, included Ronna McDaniel, the chairwoman of the Republican National Committee, as reported by NBC News.

Current and former State Department employees have watched Pompeos moves with growing dismay. Still, many of them were surprised that Pompeo would go so far as to show up in Wisconsin just weeks before the election.

Hes not even trying to be discreet, one senior U.S. diplomat said. Its completely shameless.

Patrick Kennedy, a former undersecretary of State for management, said Pompeo shouldnt go to the swing state. It sends a message that the State Department is not the non-partisan institution that it has been for more than 200 years, Kennedy said.

Did he change the rules?

Pompeos recent moves have confused many State Department employees about what is and isnt permissible in terms of diplomats and political activity.

According to the congressional aide, the episode involving the Trump rally last fall led State Department acting legal adviser Marik String to sign off on a memo presenting Pompeo with two options: keeping the tight restrictions the State Department has long had on such activity, or rolling some of them back so Pompeo could engage in more political activity. At the time, Pompeo decided to keep the tight restrictions, according to the congressional aide, who learned of the situation from people inside the State Department.

During the recent hearing, Castro asked String about the incident last fall. String indicated that he didnt remember the details, saying: As I recall, there was a period in 2019 when that issue that you raised came up and it was reviewed. String is an increasingly controversial figure at the department, and his appointment to the legal office as well as some of his maneuverings have drawn scrutiny from lawmakers.

In December, some updates were made to State Department legal memos laying out the restrictions on diplomats political activities, but the rules still clearly barred Senate-confirmed presidential appointees, such as Pompeo, from participating in party conventions.

In February, Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun emailed State Department employees to remind them of their obligation to avoid partisan political activity, especially if they were overseas. Months later, a cable dated July 24 from the secretary himself was sent to all posts reminding them of the same restrictions. Both the February and July notes referred to the memos that were updated in December.

A month after the July cable, State Department employees were stunned to watch Pompeo deliver his pre-recorded speech to the GOP convention.

What remains unclear is if Pompeo decided to change the State Departments rules in the month that lapsed between the July cable and the Republican convention. Pompeo has relatively wide latitude to adjust State Department rules and regulations, but within the limits of laws such as the Hatch Act that are designed to bar tax dollars from being used for campaign activities.

State Department officials have not responded to questions about what changes, if any, Pompeo has made to the rules.

They have instead insisted that Pompeo spoke to the convention in his personal capacity and that no State Department resources were used. But they havent explained how that is possible given that Pompeo was on an official trip to the Middle East, always has security with him, and used a government-funded aircraft to reach Jerusalem, where he taped his remarks.

Pompeo himself keeps saying the lawyers signed off on it. All I can say in my role as secretary of State is the State Department reviewed this, it was lawful, and I personally felt it was important that the world hear the message of what this administration has accomplished, he said.

Some U.S. diplomats point out that, a year and a half ago, Pompeo established a State Department ethos statement that he expects his workforce to live up to. As the 2020 election gets closer, many of those diplomats believe hes ignoring that ethos.

I act with uncompromising personal and professional integrity, the ethos statement says. I take ownership of and responsibility for my actions and decisions. And I show unstinting respect in word and deed for my colleagues and all who serve alongside me.
NEW HAVEN  Goodbye Columbus, hello Italian Heritage Day.

The Board of Alders has approved, in perpetuity, celebrating Italian Heritage Day on the second Monday in October as a way to recognize the contributions of Italian immigrants to the city.

It is a counterpoint to the removal of the Christopher Columbus statue from Wooster Square, and the cancellation of the local celebration of the Columbus Day holiday over the explorers treatment of indigenous people.

In June, this set off confrontations between those who admired the explorer as a matter of ethnic pride and those revealing atrocities under his watch. The statue is being held by the city for safekeeping.

Peter Hvizdak / Hearst Connecticut Media file photo

A separate committee, which is asking the public to send recommendations, continues to study who should be memorialized in his stead in Wooster Square Park.

In an informal poll, the New Haven Register asked readers about who should be honored in the park. Out of 171 respondents to the informal poll, 31.9 percent thought a statue honoring Italian immigrants should be erected in place of Christopher Columbus.

Specific names came up too, including Frank Pepe and his wife Filomena. Pepe, the founder of the famous Frank Pepe Pizzeria in New Haven, was an Italian immigrant.

Hearst Connecticut Media

Other suggestions included Amerigo Vespucci, Leonardo Da Vinci and President Donald Trump.

Arnold Gold / Hearst Connecticut Media

Alder Anna Festa, D-10, said she was thankful the board established the heritage day in honor of the citys large Italian population, which emigrated here in the late 19th and early 20th century, settling in several neighborhoods, particularly Wooster Square.

Festa said, in a sense, it was the biggest gift we could ever give to her immigrant mother and the other thousands of immigrants who came to New Haven from Italy. Her mother, Linda DiPaola Saracco, died at the age of 86 on Sept. 8.

Brian Zahn /Hearst Connecticut Media file photo /

She passed away with the American dream that came true for her through her hard work, through her persistence, Festa said. She worked in sweatshops, she was discriminated against and yet she persisted.

She came to this country and she told me one time she cried so much when she first came that she had no more tears to shed, Festa said.

That actually broke my heart, she said. I want to thank you all for giving her this gift tonight and cherishing and honoring all the Italian immigrants that came over to this country to live that American dream as my parents did.

mary.oleary@hearstmediact.com; 203-641-2577.
NEW DELHI: India and China on Tuesday said they had agreed to strengthen communication, refrain from sending more troops to the border and avoid actions that would worsen tensions between the two countries.

The points of agreement, put out in a joint statement, after the sixth round of talks between senior military commanders on Monday, struck all the right notes but analysts warned that it would be actions on the ground that would show whether the situation was stabilising or not.

According to the statement issued by the Indian side, the two sides agreed to avoid misunderstandings and misjudgments, stop sending more troops to the frontline, refrain from unilaterally changing the situation on the ground, and avoid taking any actions that may complicate the situation."

The two sides also agreed to hold the 7th round of Military Commander-Level Meeting as soon as possible, take practical measures to properly solve problems on the ground, and jointly safeguard peace and tranquility in the border area."

This is the first time that India and China have issued a joint statement after military level talks to ease tensions between the two countries that had spiked after India in May detected multiple intrusions by Chinese troops in Ladakh along their undermarcated Line of Actual Control.

The sixth round of senior military commander level talks on Monday lasted almost 15 hours and focused on ways to defuse tensions along the high-altitude friction points in eastern Ladakh. The current levels of tensions are seen as unprecedented in recent times. A violent clash between the two countries on 15 June, left 20 dead on the Indian side and unknown number of Chinese casualties.

The commander level talks came after a meeting on 10 September between the foreign ministers of India and China in Moscow. That paved the way for a temporary truce that still holds though the tens of thousands of soldiers are ranged against each other with tanks, missiles and air support. At some points, the troops are less than a kilometre apart.

At the talks, the Indian delegation conveyed its position that the onus was on China to move back from the positions it was occupying. The agenda for the meeting was to chart out a specific timeline for the implementation of the five-point agreement reached between India and China on 10 September when foreign ministers of India and China -- S Jaishankar and Wang Yi  met in Moscow. India also insisted on a time-bound implementation of the agreement finalised the talks between Indias S Jaishankar and Chinas Wang Yi in Moscow.

The points in the joint statement are general --the reference to peace and tranquility, refrain from unilaterally changing the situation on the ground, and avoid taking any actions that may complicate the situation," said Srikanth Kondapalli, a professor of Chinese Studies at the New Delhi based Jawaharlal Nehru University.

The proof of the pudding is in the implementation. We have had previous agreements but then we had the 15 June incident" which was a violent clash between India and China in which 20 Indian troops and an unknown number of Chinese troops were killed. So we need to be careful. The question is the implementation at the local level and whether India's bottom line -- that the status quo ante is restored -- is met or not," he added.

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The blue SUV had been parked in front of the Omaha Bike Project near 33rd and California Streets, with its windows down, for more than three months.

After multiple calls to the Mayors Hotline failed to yield results, Chris Foster, a member of the Gifford Park Neighborhood Association, said he and his neighbors considered pulling the SUV into the middle of the street and then calling 911.

Theyd have to deal with it then, Foster said.

But it didnt come to that. When Foster drove by the bike shop Sept. 4, the SUV was gone.

Each month, Omahans like Foster report a range of problems to the Mayors Hotline. Abandoned vehicles often are near the top of the list.

In August, 715 of 2,554 reports to the hotline concerned nuisance vehicles, including those abandoned on streets and private property, according to the Omaha World-Herald.

In 2019, the hotline received 4,366 reports of abandoned vehicles, making it the second-most-reported issue behind 40,669 pothole complaints, according to the Mayors Office.

Foster said the SUV was just one example of a nuisance vehicle in his neighborhood. He often gets calls from neighbors who have tried to have someone with the hotline or Omaha police do something about unlicensed or illegally parked vehicles.

And then when nothing is done, he said, people start thinking about other ways to solve the problem.

We shouldnt be vigilantes about this, and we didnt (move the SUV), but we thought about it and we talked about it.

Abandoned vehicles have been a problem for years, said Omaha City Councilman Pete Festersen.

During the time Festersen spent as deputy chief of staff to Mayor Mike Fahey, 2001 to 05, he said, abandoned cars were among the most common complaints to the hotline.

In the last year or two, most major crime indicators have been trending down, with the exception of stolen vehicles, Festersen said. In conversations with the police, I dont think they can attribute it to any one thing.

Where the cars are left, he said, seems fairly random.

Anne Collett Cornell said a car seemed to appear out of nowhere in mid-July near her house in the Aksarben area.

We dont really know how it got there or why, she said.

After it stayed in one spot for about a week, Collett Cornell called the Mayors Hotline.

Collett Cornell said she was told that because of COVID-19, the impound lot was out of room, so the car wouldnt be towed right away.

She then contacted her City Council representative, Chris Jerram, and the car was soon towed away. It had been five weeks since the car appeared.

Just because someone calls the hotline about a car doesnt automatically mean it will be towed. Thats in part because not all cars that are reported abandoned actually are.

Some vehicles are owned by people who left or parked them on the side of the road with the intention of returning to retrieve them.

A more accurate label for these vehicles is dead storage, said Lt. Charles Ott of the Police Departments neighborhood services unit.

Dead storage vehicles and abandoned vehicles are not always the same thing, Ott said.

To Ott, abandoned means a person has left the vehicle somewhere with no intention of reclaiming it, often because the vehicle had been stolen.

A dead storage vehicle is a vehicle left unmoved on a public street by the owner for more than 48 hours, Ott said. Vehicles such as these arent towed until 48 hours after a yellow sticker is left on the vehicle to give notice to the owner that it could be declared dead storage and impounded.

Reports of such vehicles also arent always checked out right away. An abandoned vehicle call is considered a low priority by the Police Department. Most complaints about dead storage vehicles come in through the Mayors Hotline, not through 911 calls, Ott said.

When an officer does respond to an abandoned vehicle call, determining whether the vehicle has been stolen usually is the first step they take.

Its a common problem. Between January and July of this year, 1,477 stolen vehicles were reported to Omaha police, according to Police Department statistics.

Ott said that if a vehicle has been reported and the owner cant be contacted but the vehicle is legally parked and hasnt been reported stolen, it usually will be left where it is. If there are indications that the vehicle could have been stolen but the theft has not yet been reported, the officer most likely will have the vehicle impounded if the owner cant be found.

If the vehicle in question was not reported stolen, Ott said, the officer will attempt to contact the owner to ask if he or she knows the location of the vehicle or why it is at a particular location.

A car sitting on private property and not a city street is a bit more complicated to deal with, Ott said.

Vehicles can be towed only from city streets, not private property, unless a vehicle is determined to have been stolen or if property owners call about abandoned vehicles on their land.

An officer also can leave a Notice of Nuisance at the property and take enforcement action 10 days later with a search warrant, Ott said.

The vehicles that are towed away by the city end up in the Police Departments Vehicle Impound Lot. They sit there for at least 30 days before theyre auctioned to the public.

Omaha Police Capt. Edward Reyes said people typically get their cars out of impound before the 30 days are up.

Though Foster and Collett Cornell were told by the Mayors Hotline that the lot was at capacity, Reyes said the lot may have been near capacity in March but was never full.

The public, cash-only auctions were paused in March due to COVID-19 and resumed June 27. Theyre held on Saturdays, with dates determined by what inventory is available.

Vehicles incur storage fees the longer theyre left in impound.

Current impound lot charges include a $95 tow fee, $60 administration fee and $20 storage fee.

Typically, between 70 and 120 vehicles that range from functional to salvage are auctioned.

The auctioning of Omahas abandoned vehicles contributed more than $1.1 million to the citys general fund in 2019, which goes to all city departments.

Overall, the Omaha Vehicle Impound Lot contributed $3,514,510 to the general fund in 2019, according to city revenue reports.

The impound lots website notes that keys to the vehicles that are auctioned are not guaranteed.

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

Topics Auto Law Enforcement Property Nebraska
Mark Humphrey/Associated Press

Exxon Mobil Corp.s U.K. North Sea assets have attracted suitors from state-owned companies to private equity-backed firms as the U.S. oil giant seeks to exit the aging region altogether, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

China Petroleum & Chemical Corp., Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Co. and the U.K.s EnQuest Plc are among bidders, the people said, asking not to be identified as the process isnt public. Exxon started the sale in July following delays caused by the spread of the coronavirus and slumping oil prices.
New Delhi, Sep 22 : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday took over the probe into two cases of violence in Bengaluru following a directive from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

A NIA spokesperson here said that the anti-terror probe agency registered two cases on Monday for arson and violence. Both the cases pertain to violence on August 11 by miscreants in DJ Halli and KG Halli police station limits of Bengaluru City.

The official said that both the cases pertain to damage under the Public Property Act, the Karnataka Prevention of Destruction and Loss of Property Act and the UAPA registered by Karnataka Police in two separate cases filed on August 12.

Violence erupted in Bengaluru on August 11, around 8 p.m., when more than 1,000 people gathered in front of the house of Congress MLA Akhanda Srinivas Murthy (Pulakeshi Nagar constituency) in the Kavalbyrasandra area of Bengaluru City.

The mob was protesting against the alleged derogatory social media (Facebook) post about the Prophet made on August 11 by the Congress MLA's nephew reportedly hurting the religious sentiments of a section of the people.

Following the Facebook post, the State Secretary of the SDPI, Muzamil Pasha, called a meeting and reportedly directed the members of PFI/SDPI to instigate the mob and incite violence. The mob went on the rampage in DJ Halli, KG Halli and Pulakeshi Nagar area in Bengaluru City.

The mob attacked two police stations, D J Halli and K G Halli, and vandalized the property of the police stations including government and private vehicles parked in the vicinity.

In an attempt to disperse the unruly mob, the police opened fire following which three youths from the locality succumbed to bullet injuries later.

The mob also attacked the house of Congress MLA from Pulakeshi Nagar constituency before attacking the police stations.

The NIA team, headed by an IG-rank officer, is camping in Bengaluru in connection with the investigation of these cases.
Federal authorities seized more than 100 pounds of methamphetamine and more than 30,000 Aderrall pills at two search sites from operations in Sunland, California, in February 2020. (Drug Enforcement Administration)

179 Arrested, $6.5 Million Seized in Darknet Drug Trafficking Sting

The Justice Department announced on Tuesday that 179 people were arrested worldwide and large quantities of drugs, weapons, and currency seized following a crackdown on opioid trafficking on the darknet, an area of the internet that can only be accessed with specialized software.

The bust, which was dubbed Operation DisrupTor, was coordinated internationally and conducted across the United States and Europe. Most of the arrests121 of themwere made in the United States, with individuals in Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Austria, and Sweden also apprehended in the sting.

More than 1,100 pounds (500 kilograms) of drugs were seized worldwide, while 604 pounds (274 kilograms) were seized in the United States, including drugs such as fentanyl, methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, and ecstasy, federal prosecutors said. Meanwhile, over $6.5 million in cash and virtual currencies and 63 firearms were also seized as part of the operation.

Federal authorities seized more than 100 pounds of methamphetamine and more than 30,000 Aderrall pills at the two search sites from operations in Sunland, California, in February 2020. (Drug Enforcement Administration)

Authorities also identified individuals behind darknet vendor accounts, that usually operate anonymously, allowing them to dismantle the accounts and prosecute the individuals. Among them included the shutdown of one of the most prolific online drug trafficking organizations in the United States that operated under the name Pill Cosby. Members of this group have since been charged with manufacturing and distributing over one million fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills.

Similarly, a Costa Rican pharmacist has been charged by a grand jury in Washington for knowingly supplying large amounts of drugs to a dark web trafficker.

The operation also led to the successful shutdown of a drug trafficking organization that used online names such as Stealthgod to sell drugs. Authorities have linked this group to over 18,000 illicit sales to customers in at least 35 states and in numerous countries around the world.

Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen said at a press conference on Tuesday that young addicts are increasingly relying on online vendors to purchase opioids and darknet marketplaces have grown popular at an alarming rate.

Hiding behind anonymizing software known as Tor, a new sort of drug kingpin now is able to reach more buyers than ever before, through online marketplaces peddling every sort of illicit good and service imaginable, Rosen said. The darknet invites criminals into our homes, and provides unlimited access to illegal commerce.

(Drug Enforcement Administration)

Rosen said the joint international operation sends a strong message to these drug traffickers and criminals.

There will be no safe haven for drug dealing in cyberspace, Rosen said.

Edvardas Sileris, the head of Europols European Cybercrime Center, shared similar sentiments saying that the hidden internet is no longer hidden, and your anonymous activity is not anonymous. Operation DisrupTor was coordinated by Europol and Eurojust.

Trafficking of opioids is a national crisis and poses a major threat to the lives of many Americans, Rosen said. The Trump administration has taken multiple steps to crackdown on the trafficking of fentanyl and synthetic opioids.

Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid pain reliever, has been approved for treating severe pain for conditions such as late-stage cancer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Each day, 128 people in the United States die after overdosing on opioids, according to 2018 data by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The economic burden of prescription opioid misuse alone in the United States is $78.5 billion a year, according to the CDC. This includes the costs of healthcare, lost productivity, addiction treatment, and criminal justice involvement.

Over 67,000 people in the United States died of a drug overdose in 2018, Rosen said, citing the CDC.

Thats over 1,000 people dead each week1,000 lost parents, children, friends, and family members, he said. It is devastating our communities and our families.

Bowen Xiao contributed to this report.
Q: I am a mother of two, and grandmother of 6 and I recently read that New Mexico is ranked near the bottom of all 50 states for many childhood health care indicators. What I can I do to help?

A: Vote like your childs future depends on it!

Depending on ones view of the world, this missive is either somewhat true or completely true. Either way, its true.

Policies affecting our environment, educational system, personal safety, ability to get jobs and ability to advocate for our rights and freedoms all affect our childrens futures. These policies impact childrens access to health care, the availability of well-educated pediatric trained providers, and the ability to afford medications and treatments that may be required.

All this falls under the concept of health equity. Children are dependent on their caregivers to access health care, and any situation which impedes the caregiver from doing so has a negative impact on childrens health.

School-based health centers try to address this need. But even that resource is limited during these strange times of limited school attendance and staffing. Populations with restricted resources have children with higher rates of obesity, asthma and diabetes, among other things.

Examples of restricted resources include joblessness or very low salary, homelessness or housing insecurity, food insecurity, availability of child care givers, ability to take time off of work, ability to buy medications, and finally, the ability to navigate our complex and confusing health care system.

Through no fault of their own, these children suffer a health care disadvantage from a very early age, which can impact their growth, development and ability to grow into healthy, independent adults. Any policies that affect access to health care (enough hospital beds and doctors), public health resources (such as SARS-CoV-2 testing), education (understanding why testing and quarantining are important), housing (crowding increases virus transmission), and nutrition will impact the health of children.

Policies that acknowledge health inequity, and look for ways to improve access to quality health care, will positively impact child health.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is advocating for parents and caregivers to actively participate in the voting process through a campaign called Get Out the Vote. The AAP is a nonpartisan organization which believes that children should have optimal health and well-being and be valued by society.

Its mission is to attain optimal physical, mental, and social health and well-being for all infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. They work at many levels to achieve this goal.

At the provider level, AAP provides excellent educational materials to maintain a high level of knowledge, and opportunities for ongoing learning throughout a providers career.

At the policy level, AAP has an office in Washington, D.C., and regularly goes to Capitol Hill to meet with policy makers and explain the unique health care needs of children.

It also advocates for parents, by encouraging parents to Get Out the Vote. By asking parents to vote, it is asking them to take the time to learn what the different candidates stand for, and to think about what policies will most likely create an environment where children have consistent access to high quality health care.

Voting is one of the main ways parents and grandparents can change the underlying drivers of health inequities, to change public policy, and to achieve improved health status for all children.

While it is true that each child lives in a world created by their parents, it is also true that they  like us adults  are interdependent. The health of one child will affect the health of another.

This is why health inequity and the impact it has on resource-poor families is a concern for all families, even if your zip codes are miles apart. The fate of all children is intertwined in this way. All children deserve a chance to thrive and to grow into healthy, productive adults. And a collective will to provide those opportunities to all children is a good way to invest in our collective future.

Here are ways you can Get Out the Vote:

 Make sure you are registered to vote and know how to vote (vote.org).

 Encourage others to register to vote and help them get it done.

 Share messages on social media about why you plan to vote on policies that may impact child health.

 Visit the AAP website aap.org/votekids for more information.

Anjali Subbaswamy is a Pediatric Intensive Care Physician at UNM. Please send your questions to her at asubbaswamy@salud.unm.edu.
UPDATED (22 Sep, 9.30am): KKH has responded to the mothers feedback, saying they are reviewing ways to improve their directional signage. You can read their full statement below.

Every second counts. That holds true for one Singapore mum who lost her son while battling against time.

Juliana Goh recounts in her Facebook post (16 Sep), stating that her 11-year-old son lost consciousness in the middle of the night on Monday (24 Aug), after he complained of a headache and increased heart rate.

She immediately rushed him to the KK Womens and Childrens Hospital (KKH) where they arrived at 4.35 am.

However, because it was dark, Goh said she was unable to locate the Accident and Emergency (A&E) entrance. As such, she made a stop at the Urgent Obstetrics and Gynaecology Centre (UOGC) which had the most prominent lighted entrance.

The Urgent O&G Centre is a 24-hour walk-in centre for women with Obstetric and Gynaecological (O&G) conditions requiring immediate attention. | Image source: Facebook/Juliana Goh

Thankfully the nurse came to us and we got to place our unconscious boy onto the wheelchair, Goh wrote.

According to her, every second counts, and the nurse was running as fast as she could, which took her about one to two minutes to reach the KKH A&E.

However, when they arrived at the A&E, Goh said her sons pulse could not be located and he had to be resuscitated.

Turns out, there was a security barrier placed in front of the driveway leading to the A&E entrance.

KKH A&E Entrance Blockage Incident

Image source: Facebook/Juliana Goh

And not only that, but a tentage was also set up after the barrier which blocked the entrance to the Childrens Emergency.

KKH A&E Entrance Blockage Incident

Image source: Facebook/Juliana Goh

Visibility of the entrance is critical, highlighted Goh, who said they lost two minutes of precious time from not being able to find the A&E entrance.

Story continues

According to Gohs post, her frustrations did not stop there. She describes the whole experience as horrendous and painful and that there was simply no EMPATHY in the customer experience.

While both parents might be registered as caregivers, how the system works is that only one caregiver per patient is allowed in the ICU at a time.

When one is in the ICU, the other one requires a manual override of the system to allow entry, Goh explains.

The process apparently took quite some time and Goh claimed she had to wait for 10 minutes at times.

She points towards an incident on 2 September 2020 when the ICU doctor called them back at 2.40 am. Despite rushing back, Goh said they found themselves in the same situation where both of them were not allowed into the ICU at once.

The security guard got to use his own access for one of our entries, she said.

Gohs son was said to have passed away later that evening.

Once again, highlighting that every second count[s], Goh wrote: I do not wish for other caregivers to encounter similar painful experiences while they are already worried about their loved ones.

The least we as caregivers could ask for is EMPATHY.

KKH Responds

According to a statement from Mr Alson Goh, Chief Operating Officer of KKH, KKH is aware of the post and has reached out to the family to address their concerns and provide support to them.

The KKH spokesperson added: KKH is taking a review to enhance our directional signage leading into the hospital and around the Childrens Emergency (CE) to further facilitate way-finding.

In response to the barrier and tentage set up, according to the spokesperson, these are heightened measures put in place for the safe management of patients and visitors to tackling the COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore.

All measures, including the visitation policy are in line with existing COVID-19 guidelines, the KKH spokesperson said.

While we had made exceptional provisions to Childrens ICU (CICU) visitation in light of the condition of Ms Gohs son, we do acknowledge that our communication can be improved.

You can read Julianas full post here:

Image source: Facebook/Juliana Goh

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Man Alleges Eldercare Staff Put Soiled Mask Back on Mum After She Vomited

The post Singapore Mum Whose 11-year-old Son Passed Away Urges KKH To Make Improvements To Better Assist Patients appeared first on theAsianparent - Your Guide to Pregnancy, Baby & Raising Kids.
ExxonMobil and Global Thermostat have expanded their joint development agreement following 12 months of technical evaluation to determine the feasibility and potential scalability of Global Thermostats technology that captures carbon dioxide (CO2) directly from the air.

ExxonMobils scientists continue to research technology options aimed at reducing emissions at scale, which are key to achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement, said Vijay Swarup, Vice- President of research and development for ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company.

Our work with Global Thermostat has shown promising signs in the development of direct air capture technologies that could be brought to scale. We look forward to seeing how new materials might accelerate this potential, while also continuing our research that captures CO2 from power generation facilities.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change has said that CO2 capture, use and storage is a key technology for the decarbonisation of the energy sector in the long term.

In addition, the International Energy Agency recognizes that CO2 removal is expected to play a key role in the energy transition.

Global Thermostats CO2 capture uses proprietary amine-based adsorbents to remove CO2 from the air. These compounds act together like a filter to efficiently capture CO2, which can then be stored safely underground, used to make chemicals, consumer products or construction materials.

Global Thermostat is dedicated to addressing the risks of climate change and doing so in a way that creates global prosperity by working with others who have technology to transform the CO2 into fuels, chemicals and materials, said Peter Eisenberger chief science officer of Global Thermostat.

We look for companies that want to help us in our mission. After a year of working with ExxonMobil, we recognize our shared objective and they certainly have the capabilities we do not have. We are excited about continuing our work together to scale our technology and welcome others to join us.

ExxonMobil has a strong network of research partnerships across universities and national labs. As a part of the joint development agreement with Global Thermostat, ExxonMobil will leverage this network and engage the expertise of university partners that have strong expertise in material science and the US Department of Energys National Labs that offer expertise in CO2 capture and utilization. Global Thermostat will also engage its network of universities and industrial partners to help scale its technology. Tradearabia News Service
Irans outgoing Ambassador to Qatar Mohammad Ali Sobhani and Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani called for bolstering bilateral relations in various areas, Trend reports citing IRNA.

Sobhani made the remarks at the end of his mission in Qatar, terming the relations as historic and brotherly.

He considered the development of relations as a breakthrough, thanking the Qatari officials for constructive cooperation.
By Angeliki Koutantou

ATHENS (Reuters) - Greece is close to resuming talks with Turkey over maritime zones, government spokesman Stelios Petsas said on Monday, after Ankara this month recalled an oil and gas exploration vessel from disputed Mediterranean waters in a move welcomed by Athens.

NATO members Turkey and Greece bitterly disagree over maritime jurisdiction and energy exploration rights in the eastern Mediterranean, based on conflicting views about the extent of their continental shelves.

Turkey infuriated Greece last month when it sent the Oruc Reis seismic survey vessel to the area. Ankara says the boat has now been recalled for routine maintenance.

"We're close to resuming exploratory talks, but how soon this will happen depends on both sides, on Greece and Turkey. The sentiment is good," Petsas told reporters, adding that Ankara had also indicated its wish for a resumption of talks.

The long-running discussions between Athens and Ankara on demarcating their maritime zones broke down in 2016. Greek media say they could resume as early as this week.

Greece and its close ally Cyprus, both European Union member states, are locked in a dispute with Turkey over overlapping claims to areas believed to be rich in natural gas.

EU leaders are expected to evaluate the situation at a summit on Sept 24-25, though member states are divided over how best to proceed.

EU foreign ministers also discussed the issue at a meeting on Monday and agreed that Turkey's move to recall Oruc Reis was a first, positive step, Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias said after the meeting. He added that the EU wanted Turkey to make more efforts to show it respected international law.

Turkey's presidential spokesman said on Sunday that exploratory talks could resume but that threats of EU sanctions were not helpful.

Cyprus has pressed for sanctions against Turkey, angered by Ankara's move last week to extend the operations of two vessels in Mediterranean waters off Cyprus until mid-October.,

Story continues

But, underscoring Greece's milder tone following the withdrawal of the Oruc Reis, Petsas said on Monday the EU should examine ways to activate sanctions only if Turkey does not stick to its recent stance of de-escalation in the east Mediterranean.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is also due to visit Greece this month. He has said the United States is "deeply concerned" about Turkey's actions in the eastern Mediterrean and has urged a diplomatic end to the crisis.

(Editing by Gareth Jones)
Donald Trump, Russina President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping will all appear on stage at the first ever virtual United Nations General Assembly meeting this week.

The U.N. virtual event will feature several world leaders making pre-recorded speech, likely to focus greatly on the world-wide coronavirus pandemic.

Both Trump and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's speeches are expected to air Tuesday as the U.S. and Brazil have reported the highest and second-highest number respectively of coronavirus deaths.

The coronavirus has inflicted heavy tolls on both countries, close to 200,000 people in the U.S. and over 136,000 in Brazil, according to statistics collected by Johns Hopkins University.

Also on deck are Xi of China, where the virus originated, and Putin of Russia, which has raised international eyebrows with its rapid vaccine development.

After Monday's introductory session marking the U.N.'s 75th anniversary, the meeting's central event - speeches from each of its 193 member nations - start Tuesday. They traditionally serve as a platform for countries to tout accomplishments, seek support, stoke rivalries and express views on global priorities.

Donald Trump's pre-recorded address will play on Tuesday at the first-ever virtual United Nations General Assembly meeting

Among other world leaders, Chinese President Xi Jinping (left) and Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) will also deliver pre-recorded addresses, which are all expected to focus on the global coronavirus pandemic

This year, the platform is online, and there is a pressing new priority in the pandemic that has killed over 960,000 people worldwide.

'When we met in New York a year ago, no one could have imagined that 2020 would arrange such a powerful crash test for our world,' Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky remarked in his video speech for Monday's anniversary commemoration.

By custom, Brazil speaks first and the U.S. second as the host country in the annual meeting's 'general debate,' which is generally less a dialogue than a series of declarations.

Both Bolsonaro and Trump have been at odds, at least at times, with governors and health experts over the pandemic and have emphasized the economic consequences of shutdowns.

Both also are contending with plenty of other issues that command world attention, including Bolsonaros plans to develop the Amazon and Trump's 2018 decision to pull the U.S. out of Iran's nuclear deal with world powers. Washington took a further step this weekend with a unilateral, and disputed, declaration that all U.N. penalties eased under the 2015 nuclear deal had been restored, setting up a likely showdown at the assembly - where Iran's speech is also scheduled Tuesday.

So is Turkey's, a day after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the U.N. has 'flunked during the pandemic.'

The President of the International Court of Justice, Judge Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf (on screen), addresses the United Nations General Assembly to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the United Nations as it holds it's first ever virtual session

U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres speaks in the General Assembly in observance of the International Day of Peace, celebrating 75 Years of the United Nations, at UN headquarters

The virus was first detected in Wuhan, China, late last year. After building field hospitals and imposing a draconian 76-day lockdown to battle the virus there, China has said of late that it is seeing relatively few cases, mostly among people arriving from other countries. China, the world's most populous nation, has reported over 4,700 deaths.

Russia, where the death toll is over 19,000, last month became the first country to approve a vaccine for the COVID-19 virus. Russian President Vladimir Putin trumpeted the development, saying one of his adult daughters had already been inoculated. But international health experts have expressed caution about the vaccines effectiveness and safety because of the small study sample and other limitations.

A record number of heads of states and governments are due to speak at the virtual meeting, rather than sending ministers or diplomats. That's a good thing, 'but the idea that prime ministers and presidents are going to be sitting at home with a bucket of popcorn watching each others televised speeches is a bit silly,' said Richard Gowan, who oversees U.N. issues for Crisis Group, a Brussels-based think tank.

Still, German U.N. Ambassador Christoph Heusgen sees the assembly as a chance for a global meeting of minds when it's needed more than ever.

'Even in a digital format, UNGA-75 is an opportunity - especially in the face of international conflicts and dramatic challenges such as climate change or COVID-19,' he said.
A wildfire burning through brush and timber from the mountains to the desert northeast of Los Angeles threatened more than 1,000 homes on Tuesday as crews across the West battled dozens of other major blazes.

The Bobcat Fire in Southern California was advancing at one to two miles per hour at times and threatened the Mojave Desert town of Pearblossom after burning into the Antelope Valley foothill area, across the San Gabriel Mountains from Los Angeles.

The blaze that began Sept. 6 has destroyed or damaged at least 29 homes and other buildings, with the toll rising to perhaps 85 when damage assessment teams can complete their work this week, authorities said.

Firefighters also battled flareups near Mount Wilson, which overlooks greater Los Angeles and has a historic observatory founded more than a century ago and numerous broadcast antennas that serve Southern California.

The fire was fueled by vegetation that hadnt burned in decades and pushed by erratic winds over the weekend, although they had died down by Monday, and were expected to remain light through Tuesday.

Numerous studies in recent years have linked bigger U.S. wildfires to global warming from the burning of coal, oil and gas, especially because climate change has made California much drier. A drier California means plants are more flammable.

Near Mount Wilson, firefighters set more than a mile of fires designed to burn out the blazes fuel and act as a brake on its advance.

Weve got a fire here that is bigger than the city of Denver, and it did it in two weeks, said Sky Cornell with the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

About 1,100 homes and some 4,000 residents remained under evacuation orders and the fire was only 17 percent contained, fire officials said.

Evacuation warnings  meaning residents should be prepared to flee if ordered  remained in effect for the Los Angeles suburb of Pasadena, home of the Rose Bowl and the annual Rose Parade, and Wrightwood, a mountain community near several San Bernardino County ski resorts.

The blaze was one of more than two dozen major wildfires burning across California, including five of the largest in state history.

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

Topics California Catastrophe Natural Disasters Wildfire Homeowners
President Moon Jae-in (on screens) speaks during the 75th General Assembly of the United Nations, in New York, Sept. 21, 2020. EPA



South Korean President Moon Jae-in emphasized Monday the importance of global cooperation, based on multilateralism, in the fight against the novel coronavirus.



"Solidarity and cooperation is a power unique to humans that a virus can never match," he said in a video speech during an annual United Nations meeting. "At the same time, it is the most potent weapon at our disposal that can defeat the coronavirus."



In order to achieve the goal, he put forward three ideas: guaranteeing equitable access to vaccines and therapeutics, restoring multilateralism and promoting "Green Recovery."



"Through global funding, we should facilitate advance purchase of sufficient doses of vaccines for international organizations to ensure that developing countries can also share in the benefits," Moon said, addressing the high-level meeting to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the U.N.



He was speaking in his capacity as the leader of the country chairing the group of five middle powers, dubbed MIKTA, this year. The other four are Mexico, Indonesia, Turkey and Australia.



He pointed out that South Korea is home to the headquarters of the International Vaccine Institute, reaffirming its commitment to "active support to various activities" to provide developing countries with vaccines.



"Second, we must restore multilateralism to the international order," he stressed. "Together with infectious disease prevention measures, this will be the driving force of global economic recovery."



The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is threatening to undermine the spirit of multilateralism embodied by the U.N., he noted.



The president reminded the U.N. members of his suggestion during the virtual G-20 summit earlier this year that countries allow the essential cross-border movement of people, including business travelers, despite border controls in place against COVID-19.



He then said the international community should strengthen partnerships on the climate issue.



"I hope more countries will participate in the Global Green New Deal Solidarity which seeks to address the climate crisis while creating jobs and enhance inclusiveness at the same time," he said.



South Korea plans to host the P4G summit next year. P4G stands for Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030, a public-private initiative to tackle climate change and other sustainable development challenges.



Moon made clear that the five MIKTA members view "unity, solidarity and cooperation" as the key to responding to the virus.



He cited their agreement to play a bridging role between developed and developing nations, as well as among regions, and also to promote multilateral cooperation.



As a cross-regional and innovative partnership, MIKTA pledges to play a leading role in facilitating recovery in a way that reduces disparity, builds back better and realizes an inclusive community that leaves no one behind, he added.



Later this week, Moon is to deliver a pre-recorded address at the virtual session of the U.N. General Assembly, in which he's expected to make peace overtures toward North Korea. (Yonhap)


Chinese President Xi Jinping during his speech at the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday assured the countries that China has no intention to fight a cold war or a hot one with any country.

Defending his country, Xi said, China has no intention to fight either cold war or a hot one with any country. The leader also warned nations against the dangers of clash of civilizations.

At the virtual meeting of world leaders, Xi urged the countries to not politicise the fight against Covid-19.

Heres what all Chinese President Xi Jinping said at UNGA:

-- President Xi Jinping said that China will make Covid-19 vaccines available as global public good. He also said that several Covid-19 vaccines developed by China are already in phase three clinical trials.

Xi said that vaccines will be provided to developing countries on priority basis.

-- World should say no to unilateralism and protectionism, world trade organisation should be cornerstone of global trade, Xi said.

-- Any attempt to politicize Covid-19 pandemic should be rejected, Xi urged.

-- Chinese President Xi Jinping told UN: World should follow the guidance of science in combating Covid-19 virus.

-- Natural for countries to have differences but should address them through dialogue, Xi said.

-- Xi says world should give leading role to World Head Organisation (WHO) in international response to beat coronavirus pandemic.

-- We should enhance solidarity over coronavirus, the Chinese president said.

-- Covid-19 will not be the last global crisis, so we must join hands, Xi urged the world leaders at UNGA meet.

-- China will strengthen its Paris climate pledge by adopting more vigorous policies and measures, he said.

-- At the first virtual meet of UNGA, China pledged to achieve CO2 emissions peak before 2030, carbon neutrality before 2060.
Although people of any age can become infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, elderly patients face a higher risk of severity and death than younger patients. New research comparing the immune response among age groups, published this week in mBio, an open-access journal of the American Society for Microbiology, may help explain why. Older patients with the disease have lower frequencies of the immune cells needed to expel the virus from the body, the researchers found.

Elderly people have more severe diseases compared to young people, and we found that the cytotoxic part of immune control is not as efficient to respond to the virus in older people." Gennadiy Zelinskyy, Ph.D., Virologist at the University Hospital Essen, in Germany

Zelinskyy led the new study.

He and his colleagues analyzed blood samples from 30 people with mild cases of COVID-19 to observe how T cells, which are necessary for recognition and elimination of infected cells, respond during SARS-CoV-2 infection. Patient ages ranged from the mid-20s to the late 90s. In all patients, the investigators found that acute SARS-CoV-2 infections led to lower numbers of T cells in the blood of the patients, compared to healthy individuals.

This reduction has been one of many unwelcome surprises from COVID-19, said Zelinskyy. Most viruses, once inside the body, trigger an uptick in the immune system's expansion of T cells. These include "killer" T cells, which play a critical role in eradicating virus-infected cells. They produce cytotoxic molecules that destroy infected cells in the body. But if a person's immune system produces fewer of these T cells, said Zelinskyy, it will be less successful at fighting off a viral infection.

In the COVID-19 patient group studied by Zelinskyy and his colleagues, the researchers similarly found that the number of CD8+ T cells producing cytotoxic molecules in response to virus diminished with increased age, and that reduction was significantly higher, on average, in patients over 80. Moreover, the "killer" T cells from patients aged 80-96 produced cytotoxic molecules at a lower frequency than similar cells from younger patients.

The SARS-CoV-2 virus attaches to cells in the nose or mouth. From there, it may spread to the lungs and move on to other organs, triggering a life-threatening infection. "Cytotoxic T cells really fight for control during this acute phase of infection," Zelinskyy said. If an elderly patient's immune system produces fewer killer T cells, and these cells are inadequately armed, he said, they may be mounting an insufficient defense against SARS-CoV-2. The viral particles can continue to spread and, as a result, the infection worsens.

The new data suggest that cytotoxic T cells play a key role in control of early infections, but Zelinskyy cautioned that it's too soon to know if that connection can be harnessed to design an effective immunotherapy that uses these cells. In previous studies on viral infections in mice, his group found that a checkpoint inhibitor--an immunotherapy that activates killer T cells and effectively releases the brakes on the immune system--improved virus control at first but had the potential to later cause damage to the lungs and other organs. Further studies are warranted, he said, to better understand the potential risks and benefits of interfering with T cells as a way to control SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses.
A 21-year-old woman has been remembered as 'a bright light taken too soon' after she died when her car collided with a semi-trailer on a highway intersection.

Sam Policki was killed instantly while her passenger, who is believed to be her 25-year-old boyfriend, was injured in Bungama, just east of Point Pirie, in South Australia at 8:10pm on Sunday night.

SA Police believe Ms Policki was turning right from Warnertown Road onto the Augusta Highway when her Toyota Corolla collided with the truck.

Shocking pictures from the scene show the Corolla was severely damaged while the truck appeared to have swerved off the road and into bushland after the crash.

Sam Policki (pictured), 21, was killed after her Toyota Corolla collided with a truck on the Augusta Highway and Warnertown Road intersection in Bungama, just east of Point Pirie, in SA at 8:10pm on Sunday night

The boyfriend was airlifted to Flinders Medical Centre with non-life-threatening injuries while the truck driver was uninjured.

Ms Policki's distraught family and friends have begun to pay tribute to the young woman on social media.

'A bright light taken put out too soon! Who would have known our visit last year would be the last time,' Ms Policki's cousin wrote.

'I was blessed to be able to call you my cousin, you are one of the most beautiful souls I have had the privilege of calling family.'

Sam died at the scene and her boyfriend was airlifted to Flinders Medical Centre with non-life-threatening injuries while the truck driver was uninjured

'She was truly a beautiful person with the most beautiful personality... humbled and so sincere... always smiled... rest in peace our doll,' another family member wrote.

Meanwhile, one relative said: 'We've come such a long way my angel, you were like one of my daughters. Thinking of you.'

Ms Policki's death is the 67th life lost on SA roads this year compared with 80 at the same time last year.

Major Crash Investigators attended the scene to examine the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Royal Matchmaker is the third part of Hallmarks spring movie series. The romantic drama film premiered on March 24, 2018. It stars Joy Lenz as Kate Gleason and Will Kemp as Prince Sebastian in the lead roles. Royal Matchmaker also features Simon Dutton as King Edward, Joseph Thompson as Victor, Brittany Bristow as Britney, Eva Trill as Petra, Poppy Roe as Loraine, and Woody Hamilton Hurst as Rudy in supporting characters.

The romantic flick garnered applause for the performance of the leading stars and their chemistry. Moreover, viewers also loved and wondered about the filming location of Royal Matchmaker. So, we have mentioned everything that you need to know about the Royal Matchmaker filming location. Read on:

Details about Royal Matchmaker filming location

Filming location of Royal Matchmaker

The shooting of Royal Matchmaker took place in different locations of Romania like Bucharest and Sinaia. In an old interview with Hallmark, leading actor Joy Lenz opened up about the filming location of Royal Matchmaker. She also called the place a fairy tale village.

Some parts of the shooting of Royal Matchmaker took place in a ski town, Sinaia. It is a mountain resort in Prahova County. The place got its name from Sinaia Monastery of 1695. Moreover, this Royal Matchmaker filming location is a tourist spot in Romania.

Photos of Royal Matchmaker filming location

The actor shared various photos and videos from the filming location of Royal Matchmaker. She took to Instagram and posted content from the shooting of Royal Matchmaker in Romania. Here are some of the photos that you must check out right away.

Also read: 'The Take' On Netflix Streaming Without Subtitles Leaves Netizens Confused

Also read: What's Leaving Netflix In October 2020? Bid Goodbyes To These Netflix Shows In October

The plot of Royal Matchmaker

A matchmaker from New York City searches for the perfect match for a kings son. The family requires a suitable wife in time for a national celebration. However, as time proceeds, the matchmaker emerges to be successful in finding the one for the kings son, Prince Sebastian. As she witnesses the tender side of him, Kate Gleason finds herself falling in love with him. Check out the trailer of the Hallmark film.

Also read: Ryan Reynolds' 'The Change Up' And Other Hollywood Movies On Body/soul Swapping

Also read: Tom Felton Opts For A New Look For Netflix's 'A Babysitters Guide To Monster Hunting'
NEW YORK, Sept. 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bernstein Liebhard, a nationally acclaimed investor rights law firm, reminds investors of the deadline to file a lead plaintiff motion in a securities class action that has been filed on behalf of investors that purchased or acquired the securities of Airbus SE (Airbus or the Company) (OTC: EADSY, EADSF) in the United States between February 24, 2016 and July 30, 2020 (the Class Period). The lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey alleges violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.



If you purchased Airbus securities in the United States, and/or would like to discuss your legal rights and options please visit Airbus Shareholder Lawsuit or contact Matthew E. Guarnero toll free at (877) 779-1414 or MGuarnero@bernlieb.com.

The Complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Companys business, operations and prospects. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose: (i) that Airbuss policies and protocols were insufficient to ensure the Companys compliance with relevant anti-corruption laws and regulations; (ii) that, consequently, Airbus engaged in bribery, corruption, and fraud in order to enhance its business with respect to its commercial aircraft, helicopter, and defense deals; (iii) that, as a result, Airbuss earnings were derived in part from unlawful conduct and therefore unsustainable; (iv) the full scope and severity of Airbuss misconduct; (v) that resolution of government investigations of Airbus would foreseeably cost Airbus billions of dollars in settlements and legal fees and subject the Company to significant continuing government investigation and oversight; and (vi) that, as a result, the Companys public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.

On August 8, 2016, Reuters reported that the U.K. had opened a corruption probe into Airbus. Specifically, the SFO announced that it had opened a criminal investigation into allegations of fraud, bribery and corruption in the civil aviation business of Airbus, which relate to irregularities concerning third party consultants. The investigation followed Airbuss flagging of misstatements and omissions involving outside contractors in certain export financing applications to U.K. regulators and the European Export Credit Agencies earlier in the year, which the Company had found through an internal probe.

On this news, Airbus ADRs fell $0.21 per share, or 1.49%, to close at $13.86 per share on August 8, 2016, and Airbus foreign ordinaries fell $0.82 per share, or 1.45%, to close at $55.58 per share on August 8, 2016.

France and the U.S. later opened their own investigations into the subject of the SFOs allegations in 2017 and 2018, respectively. On January 31, 2020, media outlets reported that Airbus had agreed to a deal with U.S., U.K., and French prosecutors to settle bribery and export-control violations against the Company for 3.6 billion ($4 billion). Pursuant to the settlement, Airbus also agreed to appoint an external compliance officer for at least two years to monitor the Companys handling of its defense-related sales and disclosures.

On this news, Airbus ADRs fell $0.72 per share, or 1.93%, to close at $36.68 per share on January 31, 2020, and Airbus foreign ordinaries fell $2.21 per share, or 1.48%, to close at $147.00 per share on January 31, 2020.

Then, on March 15, 2020, the Wall Street Journal reported that Airbus executives had previously raised red flags about fees paid to a number of middlemen working with its helicopter division, led at the time by the Companys current Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Defendant Guillaume M.J.D. Faury that may have violated global bribery and corruption rules, according to internal documents related to Airbuss $4 billion bribery settlement, which were not previously made public and/or reported.

On this news, Airbus ADRs fell $3.44 per share, or 15.71%, to close at $18.46 per share on March 16, 2020, and Airbus foreign ordinaries fell $7.97 per share, or 9.3%, to close at $77.75 per share on March 16, 2020.

Finally, on July 30, 2020, the Wall Street Journal reported that the SFO had charged GPT and three individuals with corruption in connection with a defense contract the U.K. had arranged with Saudi Arabia. These charges were the culmination of the investigations initiated by the SFO back in August 2012.

On this news, Airbus ADRs fell $0.67 per share, or 3.56%, to close at $18.13 per share on July 31, 2020, and Airbus foreign ordinaries fell $2.85 per share, or 3.8%, to close at $72.10 per share on July 31, 2020.

If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than October 5, 2020. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. Your ability to share in any recovery doesnt require that you serve as lead plaintiff. If you choose to take no action, you may remain an absent class member.

If you purchased Airbus securities in the United States, and/or would like to discuss your legal rights and options please visit https://www.bernlieb.com/cases/airbusse-eadsy-eadsf-shareholder-class-action-lawsuit-stock-fraud-289/apply/ or contact Matthew E. Guarnero toll free at (877) 779-1414 or MGuarnero@bernlieb.com.

Since 1993, Bernstein Liebhard LLP has recovered over $3.5 billion for its clients. In addition to representing individual investors, the Firm has been retained by some of the largest public and private pension funds in the country to monitor their assets and pursue litigation on their behalf. As a result of its success litigating hundreds of lawsuits and class actions, the Firm has been named to The National Law Journals Plaintiffs Hot List thirteen times and listed in The Legal 500 for ten consecutive years.

ATTORNEY ADVERTISING.  2020 Bernstein Liebhard LLP. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Bernstein Liebhard LLP, 10 East 40th Street, New York, New York 10016, (212) 779-1414. The lawyer responsible for this advertisement in the State of Connecticut is Michael S. Bigin. Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.

Contact Information

Matthew E. Guarnero

Bernstein Liebhard LLP

https://www.bernlieb.com

(877) 779-1414

MGuarnero@bernlieb.com
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 22)  The total easing of the overseas deployment ban on health workers is off the table for now with a national state of calamity in place, the Palace said on Tuesday.

"Malinaw po ang Presidente: habang meron po tayong state of calamity dahil sa COVID-19, mahihirapan pong ma-lift yang ban na yan," Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a virtual briefing.

[Translation: The President's stand is clear: lifting this ban would be difficult to do while the country remains under a state of calamity due to COVID-19.]

While the government has yet to decide on the full lifting of the ban, President Rodrigo Duterte has allowed healthcare professionals with complete employment documents as of end-August to leave and work abroad, Roque announced on Monday.

READ: Health workers with complete employment papers as of Aug. 31 now allowed to leave the country

Duterte extended the country's state of calamity status until September 12, 2021 as the Philippines continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic. For him to lift the status, a vaccine and cure for the highly contagious disease must become available, the Palace earlier said.

The government has revised its stand on the deployment ban multiple times.

RELATED: Locsin pushes IATF to lift deployment ban on nurses or 'pay big money'

In April, authorities announced the exemption of all medical workers with complete documents as of March 8, ahead of the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine.

In August, the Inter-Agency Task Force released a resolution temporarily suspending the deployment of health professionals without any exemptions. The IATF eventually revised this resolution a few days after, allowing those with contracts and overseas employment certificates before March 8 to work abroad.
Duan Bai, a 19-year-old student has been dreaming of studying at The Paris Institute of Political Studies for three years. She was ecstatic when she was accepted into the school earlier this year, until the recent COVID-19 cluster infections in the school interrupted her plan.





Over 40 students in the renowned university tested positive of the coronavirus last Friday, and the school later decided to close the Paris campus for 14 days starting from Monday. Now, Duan has to take lessons from her home in China.

Countries across Europe are seeing a resurgence of COVID-19 cases after successfully slowing outbreaks early in the year. Among the countries, France is likely dealing with the most severe rebound. The country declared 13,498 new cases on Saturday, the highest figure recroded so far.

French Prime Minister Jean Castex on last Friday told reporters that there is a "clear worsening" of the spread of COVID-19, which has "not lowered in intensity" and "will still be with us for some months," adding the government is taking actions to curb it to avoid a "general lockdown."

According to France24, at least a dozen COVID-19 clusters have emerged in French campuses as schools opened this month. The resurgence has forced several schools to close, transferring to online classes. The change impacted thousands of students, especially those who came from overseas.

Campus France estimated that the number of foreign students will fall by 20 percent this year, especially those from Asia and the Americas. Its data shows that visa applications from Asian and American countries fell by 40 percent in September compared with that of last year though the French government promised in mid-August that it would grant preference to foreign students and researchers applying for a visa.

"I really want to buy a plane ticket to Paris right now," Duan said, "It will be great regret if I can't go there especially when I have dreamed of studying there for such a long time."

She said she was attracted by the university after she attended a lecture given by the school as a freshman in China. Since then, she set the school as her goal in the field of arts and humanities.

Despite the current situation, the girl stays positive as she believes that the coronavirus will eventually pass and the school will reopen once the epidemic is under control.

Though the coronavirus has disrupted plans for many prospective international students, research by QS World University Rankings shows that very few students thought of giving up their study abroad plans.

The research titled, "How COVID-19 is Impacting Prospective International Students Across the Globe" stated that though a large portion of international students are choosing to either defer or delay their entry until the following year, over 90 percent of them never thought of giving up the plan.

In China, only four percent of students expressed that they're no longer willing to to study overseas, though 66 percent said the pandemic had impacted their study abroad plans, according to the paper.

Duan's father said that the family considered the option of delaying entry as the university gave his daughter the offer at the peak of the epidemic in China, and soon European countries were overwhelmed by the epidemic, but they eventually respected Duan's decision as she was so determined and prepared a lot for the travel.

"She has her plan, and as her parents, we can only support her," the father said, adding though her daughter now is studying from home, they will eventually find a way out.

Similar as Duan, though France is experiencing a possible second COVID-19 wave, Xiao Lin never thought of delaying his plan as he is especially interested in the country and fond of its culture. Luckier than Duan, the school Xiao was admitted didn't close during the resurgence of COVID-19, and he arrived Paris on Saturday.

"Studying in France is not a rush decision. It's very cautious and well-planned. The pandemic is irreversible and I can't ignore it. But I can adapt myself to it and continue to pursue my dream," said Xiao.

His parents sent him off with over 200 face masks before he left.

Though QS data shows that very few cancelled their study abroad plans this year, study abroad agencies said the number only include the students who had been admitted by universities rather than students who have intentions to study abroad.

"Our data shows that students' intention of studying abroad next year has been greatly reduced, especially for senior high school students who previously showed us their intentions to study undergraduate courses abroad, but now they are hesitating and can't make a decision," said Wei Nan, an education consultant in a study abroad agency.

Wei said that the data of the agency shows that the number of students seeking consultation from the agency has dropped nearly 30 percent compared with last year and he believes the drop is caused by the coronavirus.
WASHINGTON  An independent government agency will investigate whether Education Secretary Betsy DeVos breached a law forbidding federal employees from engaging in political activities on the job after her department distributed a clip of Ms. DeVos criticizing the Democratic presidential nominee, former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., through government channels.

The U.S. Office of Special Counsel, which has jurisdiction to investigate violations of the law, known as the Hatch Act, will conduct the inquiry, according to the investigative watchdog blog that filed the complaint.

The revelation is the latest in a string of Trump administration officials to face accusations of breaching the government ethics law. But the power to levy penalties on officials like Ms. DeVos falls to President Trump, and he has shown little inclination to mete out punishment or follow the offices recommendations.

The complaint stems from an appearance by Ms. DeVos on Fox News this month, when the secretary said Mr. Bidens pledge to abandon her school-choice policies was shameful. She claimed that he had turned his back on the kids and turned his face in favor of the teachers union and its demands.
State House Republican leaders are seeking a stay of a Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling on the November election, which they decried as an openly partisan decision.

Last week, the state Supreme Court issued a decision which allows for mail-in ballots to be counted for three days after the election if they are postmarked by Election Day. The ruling also approved the use of drop boxes by counties and satellite election offices, a contentious point for some Republicans.

Gov. Tom Wolfs administration and Democrats hailed the ruling, saying it allows more access to voting in a pandemic. Republicans argued the Democratic-controlled court acted improperly and with an eye on aiding Democrats.

Pennsylvania House Speaker Bryan Cutler, R-Lancaster, and House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff, R-Centre/Mifflin, issued a joint statement Tuesday seeking a stay.

We believe the right to vote is not only fundamental, but that a secure, consistent, and reliable election system is paramount to having faith in the legitimacy of the government elected by it, Cutler and Benninghoff said in a statement. The election system approved by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court is not found in current law and opens the door to diminishing everyones vote by fraud or misconduct.

Last week, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court issued an openly partisan decision ignoring the federal and state constitutions that jeopardizes the security and integrity of our elections and will potentially put Pennsylvania in the middle of a disastrous national crisis as the world awaits for our Commonwealth to tally election results days or weeks following Election Day.

Gov. Tom Wolfs administration and the Democratic Party sought the measures on mail-in ballots and drop boxes, saying they were necessary in an election taking place during the coronavirus pandemic. Wolf has also pointed out the U.S. Postal Services warnings of potential delays in handling mail-in ballots.

Lyndsay Kensinger, the governors spokesman, said the court ruling seeks to ensure all votes are counted and she criticized GOP lawmakers for making false claims.

The Supreme Courts ruling last week will ensure that validly cast ballots from qualified, registered Pennsylvania voters are counted, which is not a partisan issue, it is a goal which should be shared by all who are committed to our democratic process, Kensinger said via email.

Despite the fear mongering and rhetoric, there is no evidence from Pennsylvania, or any of the other 19 states that allow ballots received after election day to be counted, that doing so encourages fraud or makes elections less secure," she said. "Repeating these discredited claims simply undermines public confidence in our election process, and degrades the hard work put in by counties across the state to administer safe and secure elections.

Last week, the governor and Attorney General Josh Shapiro hailed the courts ruling as a victory for voters.

This is a victory that will help ensure that every eligible voter will more easily be able to cast their ballot and have it counted fairly, Wolf and Shapiro said in a statement last week.

This is the first year voting by mail is widely available in Pennsylvania.

Last year, Wolf signed an election reform bill - with strong bipartisan support - expanding the ability of voters to cast ballots by mail. Previously, voters had to apply for absentee ballots and explain why they couldnt get to the polls. Now, registered voters can vote by mail simply as a matter of preference.

Voters cast ballots by mail in record numbers in the June primary. In June, nearly 1.5 million people voted via mail. Election officials expect far more to do so in November.

Last week, Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar said about 1.9 million people had already applied for mail-in ballots for the November election. She projected as many as 3 million could end up casting ballots by mail in the fall.

The governor and Republican lawmakers are still at odds over processing mail-in ballots ahead of the election.

Some election reform advocates and county officials have said its critical to begin taking steps such as removing mail-in ballots from envelopes and preparing them to be counted ahead of the election. Under current law, officials cant begin processing the mail-in ballots until Election Day.

Republican lawmakers had expressed willingness to process mail-in ballots ahead of the election. But Wolf and the GOP differed on how much time should be allowed. Wolf wants counties to have 21 days to process the ballots, while Republican lawmakers proposed a three-day window before the election.

The administration shares a desire to ensure that election results are available as soon after election night as possible, and again calls upon the General Assembly to pass legislation to allow counties to begin pre-canvassing mail-in ballots in advance of election day so that the results can be reported promptly, Kensinger said Wednesday.

More from PennLive

Federal judge denies Gov. Tom Wolfs request for stay on pandemic restrictions ruling

Sen. Pat Toomey says hell vote on President Trumps Supreme Court nominee

Former Pa. Gov. Tom Ridge urges states to allow processing of mail-in ballots before Election Day
Monetary Authority of Singapore (FILE PHOTO: Getty Creative)

By Chanyaporn Chanjaroen

(Bloomberg) -- Singapore and Hong Kong were the biggest destinations for suspect transactions in Asia, even though the financial centres saw just a small fraction of an estimated US$2 trillion in potentially dodgy money flows revealed in a report.

Singapore processed US$4.4 billion in suspicious flows through banks, including DBS Group Holdings Ltd., Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp. and United Overseas Bank Ltd., the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists said in an investigation published Sunday. Some US$4.1 billion was handled in Hong Kong by lenders including HSBC Holdings Plc and Deutsche Bank AG, it said.

The two banking centres are followed by China and India in Asia in terms of the size of suspect flows, according to the report based on a leaked trove of documents to BuzzFeed News. The documents detailed more than US$2 trillion in transactions between 1999 and 2017 that were flagged by financial institutions internal compliance officers as possible money laundering or other criminal activity.

The banks involved in the transactions are among global firms that profited from powerful and dangerous players even after the U.S. imposed penalties on the institutions, the report said.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore is closely studying the revelations and will take appropriate action based on the outcome of its review, it said in an emailed statement on Tuesday.

Hong Kong Monetary Authority said it was also aware of the report but doesnt discuss individual cases. The citys framework for combating money laundering and counter-financing of terrorism is effective and in line with international standards, a spokeswoman said in an email.

Shares Hammered

Bank shares were hammered by the revelations which added to a litany of woes for HSBC, pushing Europes largest bank to the lowest in more than two decades. Banks in Singapore also slid, with DBSs shares extending their loss for the year to 24% on Tuesday. OCBC and UOB also closed slightly lower.

Story continues

In an emailed statement, DBS said it has zero tolerance for bad actors abusing the financial system, but that its generally very difficult to delay or intercept money in transit given the impact on legitimate business unless there are sanctions on names or account freezes. The normal process -- which happens behind the scenes - involves subsequent investigations to establish suspicion, based on which the necessary action is taken.

OCBC and UOB said that their frameworks for detecting illicit flows are robust and that they keep improving their technology to spot money laundering. UOB said it complies with all applicable laws, rules and regulations in the markets in which we operate.

HSBC said Monday it started a multi-year journey eight years ago to overhaul its ability to fight financial crime in more than 60 jurisdictions, making it a much safer institution than it was in 2012.

In reaction to the report, Deutsche Bank said ICIJ raised a number of historic issues and those related to the bank are well known to regulators. The issues have already been investigated and led to regulatory resolutions in which the banks cooperation and remediation was publicly recognised, it said.

(Adds banks closing share prices in seventh paragraph.)

 2020 Bloomberg L.P.
New Delhi: The Lok Sabha on Monday passed a Bill to amend the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act which makes it mandatory for NGOs to provide the Aadhaar numbers of their officials at the time of registration. The Bill was passed amid concerns raised by Opposition MPs about possible witch hunting.

Minister of state for home Nityanand Rai said the Bill was not against any religion or NGO. The Bill was necessary for an Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) and that it will also help in curbing misuse of foreign funds, he said.

Among other provisions, the Bill proposes to enable the Centre to allow an NGO or association to surrender its FCRA certificate. It also proposes that not more than 20 per cent of the total foreign funds received can be spent on administrative expenses. Presently, the limit is 50 per cent.

Participating in the debate, Sougata Roy of the Trinamool Congress said there was "no need" for the Bill, stressing that when the Supreme Court has said Aadhaar is not compulsory then why is the government making it mandatory for registration of NGOs. Congress MP Anto Antony said an attempt was being made to "suffocate the NGOs" through the Bill.

BJP's Satya Pal Singh said many organisations receiving foreign contributions were not spending the money on the work it was meant for. He said money received as foreign contribution cannot be spent on terrorist activities.
Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) is seeking subsidy of Rs 31 crore for just 25 MW which is hampering the clean energy generation in the state, an industry body charged on Tuesday.

Maharashtra Solar Manufacturers Association (MSMA) in a release said that a study by the association has found that the demand of subsidy should have been of 1100-1200 MW.

The discom has demanded subsidy for only 25 mega watt as compared to 600 mega watt of neighbouring state Gujarat, the Maharashtra Solar Manufacturers Association alleged. The subsidy amount is just Rs 31 crore, it added.

This demand was very less and is hampering generation in Maharashtra, the association claimed. The number in Gujarat is 600MW and Rs 750 crore.

When contacted, the Pune-based association's president Pradeep Kulkarni told PTI that other policies are also hampering generation in the state.

Kulkarni said the categorization of contractors and the condition of getting minimum number of contracts should be relaxed in the state as this would deprive many customers from the subsidy.

The president also alleged that insurers have stopped providing insurance cover to solar projects due to their low costs. The companies now take insurance premium of entire property along with solar project which is loss to customer, he claimed.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Actor Payal Ghosh has thanked fellow actor Kangana Ranaut and senior actor and BJP leader Roopa Ganguly for their support. Payal has accused Bollywood director Anurag Kashyap of sexual misconduct.

Taking to Twitter, she thanked Roopa and wrote; Thanks for your support maam. A day before, she had thanked Kangana for the Queen actors support. She had written: Thank you so much for your support @KanganaTeam. This was high time and your support means a lot. We are women and we can together bring all of them down.

Thanks for your support maam  https://t.co/WgruWTMKPA  Payal Ghosh (@iampayalghosh) September 21, 2020

Thank you so much for your support @KanganaTeam. This was high time and your support means a lot. We are women and we can together bring all of them down. https://t.co/1NlWH0qngp  Payal Ghosh (@iampayalghosh) September 20, 2020

Kangana had previously written: Bullywood is full of sexual predators who have fake and dummy marriages they expect a new hot young girl to make them happy everyday, they do the same to young vulnerable men also,I have settled my scores my way I dont need #MeToo but most girls do #PayalGhosh #AnuragKashyap

On Saturday, Payal had, in an interview, detailed her experience with Anurag, which happened around the time he was making Bombay Velvet. Anurag had later tweeted and denied all charged against him. A host of Bollywood actors later came out in support of Anurag. Names included Taapsee Pannu, Tisca Chopra, Saiyami Kher and Radhika Apte to name a few. The directors two ex-wives - film editor Aarti Bajaj and actor Kalki Koechlin - had come out to defend Anurag.

Also read: Saiyami Kher shares note on Anurag Kashyap, says he asked her to come to his house, assured her his parents will be there

Payal had also named three other actors - Richa Chadha, Maahie Gill and Huma Qureshi - in her interview. Both Anurag and Richa have taken the help of law in the matter and have released statements via their lawyers.

Ever since the interview, a lot of people spoke about the misuse of Me Too movement. Responding to it, Payal had tweeted: People who are saying that its for politics and that I am misusing the situation. Imagine ( god forbid) your sister or daughter in my position, it can even be the mother.. and then lets talk. You would go to war against such men. Isnt it? PERIOD!!

She had continued, People blame women for everything and post smash the patriarchy. Its time to stand with the women. Let them be heard. A voice suppressed is a generation of women oppressed. Its 2020. Come on, India! #MeToo.

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With little progress been made in Corps Commander level talks between India and China, indications are that immediate de-escalation and withdrawal of Chinese troops may not happen. This would mean that troops from both India and China will have to live in the harsh conditions for a long time. Snowfall is expected in this region by next week or in the next days. It will render tanks and big guns useless and ultimately it will be a test of human endurance," an official in the security establishment explained.

To tackle the winter conditions, Indian Army is procuring Russian tents. A source said the ordinance factory in Kanpur has been approached to procure these tents. China has constructed semi-permanent structures at Pangong and at other friction points of LAC. Officials explained that the lockdown meant some of the contractors who could have helped Indian army build pre-fabricated structures to house troops, were not available. The Russian tents which can withstand Siberia-like cold has been arrived at as the quickest and most effective alternative.

Troops are also looking at desi jugaad to sustain themselves. ITBP jawans who because of long deployment understand the weather and living conditions better have decided to rely on shakkarpara as the super food. Shakkarpara is a north Indian snack where wheat flour dough is deep fried and dunked in sugar syrup. The wheat in it is filling, the sugar gives you energy. It is easy to make and carry," a deployed jawan explained on this unusual choice. The troop headquarters in Delhi also confirmed that batches of shakkarpara are being prepared and sent to forward posts.

Water supply is the other bigger worry on the heights which Indian soldiers have occupied. In some forward posts piped water from ground source has been arranged. Locals in Chushul have helped Indian army ferry water in some other locations. But largely forces are prepared to use the snow in winter months as a water source. The plan is to melt the snow over heaters that we have and strain it to provide drinkable water at certain heights," a senior officer in charge of troops told News18.

More than 30,000 soldiers have been deployed additionally in eastern Ladakh since the Galwan clash.
Hitting back at Pakistan for raising the issue of Jammu and Kashmir during the high-level meeting to commemorate 75 years of the UN, India said that Islamabad is globally recognised as the epicentre of terrorism which harbours and trains terrorists. India added that Imran Khan's 'Naya' Pakistan also hails them as martyrs and consistently persecutes its ethnic and religious minorities.

Exercising India's Right of Reply after Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi raked up the Kashmir issue in his address to UN, First Secretary India in UN, Vidisha Maitra, deemed Qureshi's speech as the "never-ending fabricated narrative" about the internal affairs of India. The virtual edition of a special General Assembly session to mark 75 years of the institution commenced on Monday.

'Trademark of Pakistan's interventions'

"I take the floor in the exercise of the right of reply to the statement made by the representative of Pakistan. Our delegation had hoped that during this solemn commemoration of a shared global milestone, the General Assembly would be spared another repetition of the baseless falsehoods that have now become a trademark of Pakistan's interventions on such platforms," said Maitra.

Another repetition of the baseless falsehoods that have become a trademark of Pakistans interventions. A nation bereft of milestones!



Watch Indias Right of Reply  pic.twitter.com/9fGPeAoKkp  India at UN, NY (@IndiaUNNewYork) September 22, 2020

"However, for a nation that is bereft of milestones, one can only expect a stonewalled and stymied approach to reason, diplomacy and dialogue. What we heard today is the never-ending fabricated narrative presented by the Pakistani representative about the internal affairs of India," she added.

READ | Coronavirus LIVE Updates: India's tally crosses 54.87 lakh; schools reopen partially

The Indian representative said that New Delhi rejected the "malicious reference" made by Qureshi to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, which is an integral part of India. "If there is an item that is unfinished on the agenda of the UN, it is that of tackling the scourge of terrorism. Pakistan is a country which is globally recognised epicentre of terrorism, which by its own admission harbours and trains terrorists and hails them as martyrs, and consistently persecutes its ethnic and religious minorities," she stated.

READ | Bollywood actresses D, K talk maal, hash on WhatsApp with Jaya Saha, read full text

"It would do well turn its attention inwards to immediately addressing these pressing concerns, instead of misusing UN platforms to divert attention from them by misusing UN platforms," Maitra said.

READ | Farm bills row: 15 opposition parties pen joint letter to President, urge him not to sign

READ | Rajya Sabha ruckus: Six videos accessed capturing 'unruly' behaviour of suspended MPs
By Jenna Mellor

September 24 kicks off New Jerseys second annual Free Naloxone Day when pharmacies across the state will give away doses of the opioid overdose reversal medicine commonly known as Narcan. New Jersey should be commended for making this life-saving medicine free and easily available throughout the state for the next three days - but this does not go far enough. If we truly want to end the overdose crisis, every day should be free naloxone day in New Jersey.

All too many New Jerseyans have lost a loved one to an overdose. And with the isolation and anxiety wrought by COVID-19, we stand to lose even more.

Fortunately, overdose deaths are often preventable - but only if we have the right public health policies in place. Widely available naloxone is one of the few proven ways to prevent overdose deaths. Thats why naloxone should be as easy to find as Tylenol or Advil  in pharmacies, delis, and most importantly, the hands of the people who need it.

Before last years free naloxone day, Human Services Commissioner Carole Johnson said you want the nearest person to have the tools to respond. Commissioner Johnson is right. The missing link is that the people most likely to be nearest an overdose are not EMTs, librarians or teachers. The first of the first responders  those most likely to witness and reverse an overdose  are people who use drugs.

In states that make it easy for people who use drugs to have as much naloxone as they need (both for themselves and to hand out to friends), people who use drugs are responsible for reversing nine out of 10 overdoses.

And this is backed up by a growing body of public health research: naloxone in the hands of people who use drugs, as well as their friends and families, is what will reduce deaths. This social network free naloxone model is an estimated five times more effective at reducing overdose deaths than one-off events such as a free naloxone day. Taking it a step further, syringe access programs that give away free naloxone are even more effective, resulting in an estimated eight times fewer deaths.

This is the level of death reduction that people who use drugs and our loved ones deserve. This is not, however, where naloxone distribution is currently being prioritized.

Of the naloxone the Department of Human Services reported distributing last year, more than half went to law enforcement. If people who use drugs will be the first responders to nine out of 10 overdoses, they should be getting a proportionate amount of naloxone given out by the state.

Think of it this way: if youre going out on a boat with your friends, would you feel safer if everyone on the boat had life vests or if the only life vests were in the hands of police officers who are miles away?

That is why, at New Jersey Harm Reduction Coalition (NJHRC), every day is free naloxone day. We partner with shelters, treatment programs and community organizations so they can add naloxone to their regular offerings for participants who use drugs. Through our partnership with NEXT Distro, we mail naloxone (confidentially and for free) to anyone in New Jersey who requests it, prioritizing those most likely to witness an overdose. Since March, NJHRC distributed over 3,000 doses of naloxone across the state - all through private contributions and the solidarity of other harm reduction advocates. This is a model that works, but it must be scaled.

We can do this by supporting and encouraging the widespread community distribution of all FDA-approved forms of naloxone - including generic intramuscular naloxone, which is vastly more affordable than its nasal spray counterpart.

We can do this by issuing a blanket statewide standing order prescription that allows all forms of naloxone to be freely handed out in our communities.

We can do this by lifting the restrictive municipal ordinance requirement that makes it hard for naloxone distribution and harm reduction centers to open. As it stands, we have only seven harm reduction centers in a state of nearly 9 million people.

People who use drugs deserve all of the public health tools needed to survive and thrive through the overlapping crises of COVID-19 and fatal overdoses.

New Jersey must move urgently because, without the right harm reduction policies and practices in place, every preventable death is a policy failure. Together, we have the power  and moral imperative  to end the overdose crisis.

Jenna Mellor is the executive director of the New Jersey Harm Reduction Coalition. To get a free naloxone kit, call or text 1-877-4NARCAN or visit www.nextdistro.org/newjersey.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

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A front-runner to fill the Supreme Court seat vacated by the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is a federal appellate judge who has established herself as a reliable conservative on hot-button legal issues from abortion to gun control.

Amy Coney Barrett, a devout Catholic, is hailed by religious conservatives and others on the right as an ideological heir to conservative icon Antonin Scalia, the late Supreme Court justice for whom she clerked.

Liberals say Barretts legal views are too heavily influenced by her religious beliefs and fear her ascent to the nations highest court could lead to a scaling back of hard-fought abortion rights. She also would replace the justice who is best-known for fighting for womens rights and equality.

President Donald Trump has said hell nominate a woman and Barrett is thought to be at the top of his list of favorites. The Chicago-based 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals judge was considered a finalist in 2018 for Trumps second nomination to the high court, which eventually went to Brett Kavanaugh after Justice Anthony Kennedy retired. Barretts selection now could help Trump energize his base weeks before Election Day.

At just 48, Barrett would be the youngest justice and her tenure could last for decades. Shes made her mark in law primarily as an academic at the University of Notre Dame, where she began teaching at age 30. She first donned judges robes in 2017 after Trump nominated her to the 7th Circuit.

But she wouldnt be the only justice with little prior experience as a judge: John Roberts and Clarence Thomas spent less time as appellate judges before their Supreme Court nominations and Elena Kagan had never been a judge before President Barack Obama nominated her in 2009.

Barrett mentioned Kagan when asked in a White House questionnaire in 2017 about which justices she admired most, saying Kagan brought to the bench the knowledge and skill she acquired as an academic to the practical resolution of disputes.

When Barretts name first arose in 2018 as a possible Trump pick, even some conservatives worried her sparse judicial record made it too hard to predict how she might rule. Nearly three years on, her judicial record now includes the authorship of around 100 opinions and several telling dissents in which Barrett displayed her clear and consistent conservative bent.

She has long expressed sympathy with a mode of interpreting the Constitution, called originalism, in which justices try to decipher original meanings of texts in assessing if someones rights have been violated. Many liberals oppose that strict approach, saying it is too rigid and doesnt allow the Constitution to change with the times.

Barretts fondness for original texts was on display in a 2019 dissent in a gun-rights case in which she argued a person convicted of a nonviolent felony shouldnt be automatically barred from owning a gun. All but a few pages of her 37-page dissent were devoted to the history of gun rules for convicted criminals in the 18th and 19th centuries.

And, all indications are that Barrett is staunchly opposed to abortion, though she often has side-stepped answering questions about the topic.

In the 2017 White House questionnaire, Barrett was asked if it was her view that abortion was always immoral. She didnt answer the question directly but said: If I am confirmed (to the 7th Circuit), my views on this or any other question will have no bearing on the discharge of my duties as a judge.

In a 2013 Texas Law Review article, Barrett listed fewer than 10 cases she said are widely considered super-precedents, ones that no justice would dare reverse even if they believed they were wrongly decided. Among them was Brown vs. Board of Education, which declared racial segregation in schools unconstitutional.

One she didnt include on the list: Roe v. Wade, the 1973 landmark case that affirmed a womans right to abortion. Scholars dont include it, she wrote, because public controversy swirling around it has never abated.

Abortion and womens rights were the focus of a bruising 2017 confirmation process after Barretts nomination to the 7th Circuit.

Others pointed to Barretts membership in the University of Notre Dames Faculty for Life group  and that she had signed a 2015 letter to Catholic bishops affirming the value of human life from conception to natural death.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein told Barrett her views suggested religious tenets could guide her thinking on the law, the California Democrat saying: The conclusion one draws is that the dogma lives loudly within you.

Barrett responded that her views had evolved and that she agreed judges shouldnt follow their personal convictions in the decision of a case, rather than what the law requires.

Sen. Chuck Grassley, an Iowa Republican, criticized Democrats for pressing Barrett on her faith, saying it could be seen as a religious test for the job.

The Senate eventually confirmed her in a 55-43 vote, with three Democrats joined the majority.

Her nearly three-year stint as a judge has included at least one abortion-related case.

An 2018 ruling by a 7th Circuit panel declared unconstitutional an Indiana law requiring the burial of fetal remains after an abortion or miscarriage, and prohibiting clinics from treating the remains as waste. The law, signed by then-Gov. Mike Pence, also barred abortions on the basis on the race, sex or disabilities of the fetus.

Barrett joined three conservative judges in asking for the ruling to be tossed and for the full court to rehear the case. They didnt have the votes to force a rehearing. But they issued a joint dissent on the rehearing decision, clearly suggesting they thought the Indiana law was constitutional.

The dissent, written by Judge Frank Easterbrook, argued that Indianas law would have been upheld had it concerned the remains of cats or gerbils.

Barrett was raised in New Orleans, the eldest child of a lawyer for Shell Oil Co. She earned her undergraduate degree in English literature in 1994 at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tenn. She and her husband, Jesse Barrett, a former federal prosecutor, both graduated from Notre Dame Law School. They have seven children, including two adopted from Haiti and one with special needs.

Before her clerkship with Scalia from 1998 to 1999, Barrett served as law clerk for Laurence Silberman for a year at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Between clerkships and entering academia, she worked from 1999 to 2001 at the Miller, Cassidy, Larroca & Lewin law firm in Washington, D.C.
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TROY  Former Rensselaer County District Attorney Joel Abelove told a grand jury in 2017 that he allowed Troy police Sgt. Randall French to testify with immunity before an earlier grand jury because he believed the sergeants fatal shooting of Edson Thevenin in 2016 was justified.

I felt, after reviewing all the evidence in the case, I was quite convinced that there was no criminal conduct on the part of Sgt. French, that it was a justifiable shooting, Abelove testified before the grand jury that was investigating his handling of the case. His life was in danger, not just in danger of being struck but of being struck and needing to defend himself."

When the grand jury presentation on the shooting was over, Abelove sent a text message to then-Troy police Chief John Tedesco telling the chief: "Your guys did great." The panel subsequently voted to clear French, and the district attorney sent a message to French's lawyer stating: "All good. Joel."

On Monday, those messages were read aloud in Rensselaer County Court, where Abelove is charged with first-degree perjury, a felony, and two misdemeanor counts of official misconduct. A conviction on the felony count would mean potential prison time and the automatic disbarment of Abelove, who served as district attorney from 2014 to 2018 and works in a private law practice.

The trial, a non-jury case before Columbia County Judge Jonathan Nichols, is centered on two grand jury proceedings more than a year apart.

In the first, prosecutors for state Attorney General Letitia James say Abelove rushed French's shooting of Thevenin before a grand jury in April 2016 -- just five days after the DWI stop and brief chase that ended with Thevenin's shooting. Abelove allowed French to testify with immunity, which meant the sergeant could never be charged by the grand jury that cleared him.

The second grand jury proceeding was in 2017, when Abelove testified before a grand jury that would later indict him for his handling of the police shooting. Prosecutors allege Abelove, apparently in an effort to justify his decision to grant French immunity, lied when he testified that it was precedented and his office had previously granted immunity to another officer in an unrelated shooting. That was false, but Abelove's defense attorney contends his client believed it was true.

Abelove sat at the defense table Monday in a courtroom that included Thevenin's mother, Gertha Depas, and supporters of the late Watervliet man. Prosecutors read the transcript of Abelove's 2017 grand jury testimony. Jen Sommers, deputy chief of the attorney generals special investigations and prosecution unit, read aloud the same questions she asked Abelove at the 2017 grand jury presentation. Nick Viorst, the acting chief of the unit, delivered Abelove's responses.

In often adversarial exchanges during that 2017 proceeding, Sommers asked Abelove if his messages to Tedesco and French's attorney were routine following a grand jury proceeding in a homicide case. Abelove responded that it was not a normal case and that "every case is different."

Abelove had answered "I can't recall" to many questions that Sommers posed to him in the grand jury. He said he knew French but that they were not close and that he had nothing to gain by helping him.

Abelove also strongly stood by his handling of the case.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo issued an executive order in 2015 designating the attorney generals office with the authority to investigate fatal encounters involving police and unarmed civilians. Abelove told the grand jury that he understood there were questions in the media about his decision to allow French to have immunity in his earlier grand jury testimony. But he claimed to have sole discretion to decide whether to allow immunity for a grand jury witness  and even whether to present the case to a grand jury.

"You felt completely confident that the shooting was justified?" Sommers asked Abelove.

"I wouldn't have given him immunity at the grand jury if I felt otherwise," Abelove responded.

"Well, if you felt that way, why did you give him immunity?" Sommers pressed.

Abelove said it was his discretion. If the grand jury came back and elected to indict French, he stated: "Then, I would have a lot of explaining to do to the public and I understand that."

He said he was not doing himself any favors by granting immunity to French. He said he thought the proof was overwhelming and there was no doubt in his mind that the shooting was justified. Sommers noted that one of the grand jurors voted to indict French on one of the charges.

"It would have been a pretty outrageous scandal, wouldn't it, if the grand jury had actually billed charges and then you had given immunity to the target?" she said.

Abelove said he "absolutely" would have had to answer for it.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

The case began on April 17, 2016, when French stopped Thevenin's Honda Civic on suspicion of drunken driving just after 3 a.m. Thevenin fled as the officer tried to restrain him and subsequently crashed into a concrete barrier near the entrance to the Collar City Bridge. French told investigators he was pinned against his police cruiser by Thevenin's revving sedan when he opened fire, striking Thevenin seven times.

Abelove testified before the grand jury investigating his handling of the case that Frenchs appearance before the earlier grand jury was still vivid. Abelove recalled that French limped into court with a cane and had expressed concern that he was going to be crushed by Thevenins car.

All he could think about was his wife and his daughters, Abelove testified.

Abelove contended the bullet holes and other evidence were consistent with Frenchs story, even though the shooting investigation was ongoing and the grand jury reviewing the fatal encounter never saw much of that evidence. Abelove told the grand jury he has been a prosecutor a long time and that, factually, it seemed to be a clear-cut case.

Thats what I have to concern myself with  that the evidence pointed to a justifiable shooting, Abelove testified. So, I guess, I didnt even have to put it front of a grand jury.

He added that he understood the public needs to have confidence in the process.

Prosecutors, meanwhile, contend Abeloves 2016 presentation was a charade and a whitewash predetermined to clear French.

Earlier: Internal probe concluded Troy police sergeant lied about fatal shooting

AG accuses of ex-DA Abelove of 'whitewash' to protect Troy police

Troy seeks 'mole' who disclosed internal report on fatal shooting

Crash expert concluded Troy police sergeant forced suspect off road

Abelove charged with felony perjury, official misconduct
It was Friday night and Fox News was gearing up for war. The news of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburgs death had broken about an hour earlier, and on Tucker Carlson Tonight, guest Saagar Enjeti was setting forth a dark vision of a world wracked by upheaval over the Supreme Court vacancy. Weve just seen the normalization of left political violence all across this country by the highest echelons of American society, said Enjeti, a conservative commentator who co-hosts a morning web show for the Hill. (Thats right, said Carlson.) We saw the groundwork for that laid during the Kavanaugh hearings, Enjeti continued. We remember protesters vandalizing the Supreme Court building, Abraham Lincoln, all across Washingtonthis could be that times 100, times 1,000. The stakes for the election are literally existential right now.

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A lot of people who dont watch Fox News would agree with Enjetis final sentence. But few would agree with his implicationsthat 1) Americas current existential crisis is posed by Democrats and their antifa puppet masters; and 2) its the upright citizens of the GOP who have the most to fear from the aftermath of Ginsburgs death. Welcome to the Fox News of fall 2020: a fever dream in a fun house mirror in which the excesses, abuses, and cruelties of the Trump era are distorted and reflected back as the sins of the violent, intolerant left. Here, Republicans are always at risk of losingeven, and especially, when they are clearly winning.

Saagar Enjeti and Tucker Carlson are already fear-mongering about left-wing political violence related to a SCOTUS nomination pic.twitter.com/jrXyJKtDed  nikki mccann ramirez (@NikkiMcR) September 19, 2020

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Fox News is most effective when it editorializes from a stance of grievance with the fury of the righteous, disempowered outsider. Though it is hard to present as an outsider when you speak for the political party that currently holds the White House and the Senate, Fox does it anyway. In the networks telling, Normal America is now being held hostage by politically correct elites and professional protest thugs who use rhetorical and actual violence to stifle dissent, intimidate law enforcement, and prevent white people from telling ethnic jokes on Twitter. This is all very dumbits funny how Fox News version of Normal America is so easily entranced with risible, xenophobic conspiracy theoriesbut it is a way of maintaining tribal unity in an era when it might be hard to otherwise rationalize being a Republican. Victimhood is Foxs superpower.

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It was jarring to see how swiftly and seamlessly Fox News incorporated the news of Ginsburgs death into its ongoing grind house narrative.

This editorial stance is so thoroughgoing on Fox News opinion programsand bubbling below the surface during its news coveragethat it persists even when the network has something to fight for, like an unexpected Supreme Court seat in what polls indicate may be the waning days of Donald Trumps presidency. And so for Fox, a rare vacancy on the court has hardly been cause for celebration, even with the virtual certainty that Ginsburg will be replaced imminently by the Republican Senate. Instead, on Friday and Monday, the network used the impending Supreme Court nomination process as just another opportunity to terrify its viewers and send them scampering back into Trumps stern and clammy embrace.

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The rhetoric of disorder, punctuated by lurid B-roll of protests and broad references to crime waves that are ostensibly sweeping the country, has been the lynchpin of the networks election coverage all summer. Since May, Foxs opinion hosts have been stoking the audiences supposed fears of impending societal collapse while scapegoating the radical left. But it was still jarring to see how swiftly and seamlessly the network incorporated the news of Ginsburgs death into its ongoing grind house narrative.

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A historic showdown over a Supreme Court vacancy was how Fox & Friends initially framed its lead story on Monday morning, and over the rest of the morning, the show made clear that this conflict is between principles and anarchy. In this telling, as in most tellings on Fox News, anarchy is represented by the Democrats, who will stop at nothing in their ongoing efforts to trample the Constitution.

They are going to get more radical, more frantic; you are going to see more crowds showing up at senators houses and trying to intimidate people, predicted guest Newt Gingrich. This sentiment was echoed by Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley, who equated Democratic threats to stall any nomination and perhaps later expand the court with actual arson. This is the same party that looks the other way while rioters and looters burn down our towns. Now Democrats say they will burn down the Constitution. These people should not be in power, Hawley said.

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Josh Hawley, who was supposedly on Trumps shortlist, apparently doesnt realize that nowhere in the Constitution does it state how many SCOTUS justices are required. Go back to law school, bruh! pic.twitter.com/kATZ3Emt1P  Jeff (@j_simpson3) September 21, 2020

Later, Fox & Friends welcomed Fox Business Network host Lou Dobbs, who upped the stakes by announcing that we are at a perilous point in our history. I truly believe the conditions are approximating that [of the] pre-Civil War. And its really important to have that court prepared with a nine: all nine seats filled, ready to rule on all of the contests in court that are suresureto lead up to and follow this historic election. (Lou, congratulations on your book, Ainsley Earhardt replied. Theres always a book.)

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I tuned back in about 12 hours later to catch some of Fox News evening shows. In his Monday night monologue, Carlson echoed these dark themes while ridiculing Democrats for suggesting that Senate Republicans should follow Ginsburgs dying wish and refrain from seating her replacement until after Inauguration Day. (Carlson professed skepticism that there had even been a dying wish.) Democrats have an alternative argument at the ready and thats one theyve been honing all year, he said. It goes like this: Do what we want or we will hurt you. Thats the real argument theyre making.

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Carlson meant hurt you literally. He went on to scold protesters for terroriz[ing] Mitch McConnell and his family by protesting outside of the Senate majority leaders house; named Sandy Cortez as the leader of the thugs who have spent the last three and a half months burning and destroying and in some cases killing on behalf, effectively, of the Joe Biden for President campaign; and theorized that, if a Supreme Court nomination reaches a floor vote this year, Democratic protesters might even come and physically prevent lawmakers from voting. Thats never happened before in the history of our country. It could happen now. People are calling for it. Who is calling for it? People, duh.

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At 9 p.m., Sean Hannity opened his nightly monologue with his great theme, which he plays almost every night like a demagogic music box: The radical, the extreme, the socialist Democratic Party will do anything for power. He continued in this vein: Right now we are witnessing something that is historic. Democrats, their allies in the media mob, state-run TV, they are throwing a collective temper tantrum of unprecedented and historic proportions by threatening the most extreme and radical retribution against the Constitution and the country if President Trump simply, well, does his job and fulfills his Constitutional oath and obligation which is to fill the vacancy of the United States Supreme Court left by the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. If you run this screed through a Hannity translator and separate out the keening hysteria, he is basically saying that it is untoward for Democrats to agitate against Trumps efforts to fill Ginsburgs seat. Thats an interesting line of argument, given the Republican treatment of Merrick Garland in 2016but since Friday, Fox News has made clear that it sees no contradiction, that if anything Democrats are the real hypocrites.

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Hannity threw it to a Trump rally soon thereafterbut Id seen enough to have a sense of how Foxs coverage will look over the coming weeks. It will look very similar to how it looked before Ginsburg died, because why would Fox fix something that is broken in the exact way that the network wants it to be broken?

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For decades, the network has allowed its opinion hosts to foreground a resentful and outraged metanarrative of American politics, in which the top story is rarely the news, but instead the ways in which Democrats and the media react to the news. Fox News is committed to keeping its viewers hot and bothered over what its hosts say that Democrats and the liberal media are saying and doing, regardless of whether they are actually saying and doing those things in any meaningful sense. I shouldnt have to say this, but, you know, Democrats are not actually devising dark plans to literally set Washington ablaze. Theyre not conspiring to torch cities. Nobody is murdering anybody in the name of Joe Biden. Is the left agitated right now over the Supreme Court? Yes. Does that mean were days away from antifa-led carnage in the streets, with Joe Biden and AOC leading the torch-and-pitchfork procession? No, it does not. The only people who think this is true are the dumbest members of the Fox News viewer base, and the network panders to these people at every possible opportunity.

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And so here we are! Even now, in this rare moment when theres too much actual news to handle and almost everyone cares about, or is at least aware of, the same thingsthe pandemic, the election, the vacancy on the Supreme CourtFox News still insists on leading with manufactured outrage about purported Democratic depravity and media bias. Lets not forget they literally accusedshamelessly accusedBrett Kavanaugh of gang rape, former White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said on Fox & Friends on Tuesday morning, and I can assure you that Fox News will never let you forget that point, which will always be presented in precisely that manner. They pushed that outrageous lie and tried to destroy him and his family and literally put them through hell. (The Kavanaugh hearings, by the way, are the chief context on Fox for the Republican rush to confirm a new justicenot, say, the brazen refusal to grant a hearing to Garland in 2016.)

Thats Fox News, where outrage always overtakes substance, even during the most substantive moment in recent American history. Fox News doesnt need to fight for Trumps nominee, because the network knows that Trump and McConnell likely have the votes to get the nominee past the Senate without their help. What Fox News needs to do is find ways to spin this sure thing into its ongoing narrative of grievance, terror, and conservative disempowerment. The Supreme Court seat is solid, the presidency might be lost, but theres stilltheres really only everthe ratings.
Third of Ukrainian IDPs have money only for food

21:00, 22.09.20 2635

Some 10% even struggle to buy enough food, the survey says.
BSY watches silently from back benches as Siddaramaiah roars in assembly

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Karnataka BJP strongly refutes reports about changing B S Yediyurappa as CM

India

oi-Deepika S

Bengaluru, Sep 22: The BJP in Karnataka on Tuesday termed as baseless and misleading reports about leadership change in the state by replacing Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa.

State BJP spokesperson Captain Ganesh Karnik said a few channels have repeatedly reported that there is going to be a change in the leadership of Chief Minister Yediyurappa.

"BJP strongly refutes this report," he clarified in an official statement.

Awaiting BJP high command's nod for Cabinet expansion: CM Yediyurappa

"We categorically state that such reports are absolutely baseless, misleading and far from truth," he added.

There have been strong speculations about possible change in leadership in the future, considering Yediyurappa's age, reported news agency PTI.

Pakistan flies drones across LoC at night to drop AK-47s for terrorists | Oneindia News

The speculation had gained momentum during the 77-year-old leader's recent visit to New Delhi, during which he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several Union Ministers and BJP national president J P Nadda.

According to news agency Press Trust of India, there were reports that Yediyurappa might be replaced after the Bihar assembly polls or after him presenting the budget in March 2021.

The cabinet currently has 28 members, and six berths are still vacant.
ARCHIVED - A further 170 irregular Algerian immigrants in 13 boats reach the Murcian coastline



The vessels started to arrive mid-afternoon and continued throughout the evening

Image; Archive

The seemingly endless stream of Algerian irregular migrants trying to reach Europe via the Spanish coastline continues and on Monday 21st September a further 170 Algerians in 13 boats entered Spain through the coastline of the Region of Murcia.

The first of the vessels was sighted 4 nautical miles out at sea from Cabo de Palos mid-afternoon and the Rio Guadalentin patrol vessel was dispatched to pick up the migrants out at sea.

A short while later a second boat containing 6 males was sighted and picked up by the same vessel.

By this point the Guardamar Caliope had been called into action and had picked up two more boatloads containing 16 and 17 Algerians.

And on it went, the perfect calm seas yielding boatload after boatload until 170 irregular migrants had been brought ashore.

All were of Algerian nationality and all were apparently healthy, having made the crossing quickly and without and difficulty.

All were taken to the Escombreras dock where resources are already being overwhelmed by the scale of the new arrivals; last Wednesday and Thursday 272 migrants in 19 boats made the same crossing.

The calm seas yesterday were also used by a second group of irregular migrants who chose the route across to the Balearic Islands.The vessels also left late in the afternoon, arriving overnight. In total, 164 immigrants in 11 boats were detected, according to the Government Delegate to the Balearic Islands.

The nationality of most of the migrants is not clear, although some of the vessels were certainly of Algerian origin.

Cadiz also reported the arrival of 16 migrants in four pateras, near to Gibraltar and Bolonia, in Cadiz, Andalucia. In this case, the migrants were of Magrebi origin.

Vessel No. 1, Intercepted 4 nautical miles southeast of Cabo Palos 10 male immigrants on board.Vessel

No. 2, Intercepted 8.5 nautical miles southeast of Cabo Palos with 6 male immigrants on board



Vessel No. 3, Intercepted 8 miles South Cabo de Palos with 17 immigrants, all males



Vessel No. 4, Intercepted 8 miles South of Cabo de Palos with 16 male immigrants



Boat No. 5. Intercepted 13 miles southeast of Monte Cenizas (with 11 immigrants (9 men, 1 woman and 1 minor)



Boat No. 6. Intercepted 15 miles southeast of Monte Cenizas with 15 immigrants (14 men and 1 woman).



Vessel No. 7. Intercepted 6 miles southeast of Cabo Tinoso with 16 immigrants (13 males and supposedly 3 minors)



Vessel No. 8. Intercepts 7.5 miles to the Southeast Monte Cenizas with 7 immigrants (6 males and 1 minor).



Vessel No. 9. Intercepted 16 miles southeast of Monte Cenizas with 19 male immigrants.

Vessel No. 10. Intercepted 9.5 miles south of Monte Cenizas with 10 male immigrants.

Boat No. 11.- Intercepted 15 miles to the South of Monte Cenizas with 9 male imigrants.

Vessel No. 12. Intercepted 14.2 miles southeast of Monte Cenizas with 18 male immigrants



Vessel n 13. Intercepted 14 miles southeast of Monte Cenizas with 16 male immigrants.

Total on September 21, 13 boats, 170 immigrants



Yet again, the Cruz Roja facilities in the Escombreras port area, temporarily ceded by the Cartagena Port Authority are overwhelmed by the number of new arrivals, and the police presence in the area has been increased to prevent any of the escape incidents which have made these arrivals such a politicial hot potato in the last few months.



The major problem continues to be the lack of proper accommodation, as the network of migrant transit centres remain closed, due to the closure of Moroccan and Algerian borders because of the covid crisis and the inability of the Spanish government to repatriate those who do reach Spain. This, in turn, is fuelling the numbers arriving, as its virtually open doors at the moment for anyone willing to make the crossing by sea and pay the criminal gangs up to 2,500 euros a head for their passage.



Diplomatic overtures have been made to the Algerian authorities, but as the political situation in Algeria is fragile to say the least, its a path that requires considerable caution.



In the meantime, the boats keep on arriving, and theres nowhere to house the migrants that gives the level of security desired by the regional police or politicians.



Background info:

During the last few weeks the Region of Murcia has received multiple boatloads of irregular migrants from Algeria.

This year the number of migrations to Spain has been lower than normal, due prinicipally to the restrictions caused by Covid-19, but in recent weeks there has been an upsurge in activity as organised crime gangs take advantage of the opportunity to bring increased numbers of economic migrants into Spain.

The desire to seek a better life and try to find employment is understandable, as unemployment is high in Algeria, the country is suffering from severe economic problems, and opportunities, particularly for young people, are extremely limited. Political opposition against the current regime has lead to public protests and an increased level of dissatisfaction within the country, leading many particularly young people to look at Europe as potentially offering better opportunities.

A migrant we spoke to a short time ago stated that Spain was not the ultimate destination for the migrants and that many would continue their journeys to France and Belgium, although some would continue on to try and reach the UK.

Although the number of migrants targeting the Murcia region as an entry point has been more noticeable in the last 3 months, the overall totals of migrants entering Spain via the Western Mediterranean route has fallen considerably, mainly due to the almost complete absence of Moroccans making the journey to enter Europe via the Spanish coastline.

Frontex, the EU border force, reports that there were nearly 1 600 detections of illegal border crossings on the Western Mediterranean migratory route in August 2020, 7% less than in the previous month.

The total for the first eight months of 2020, was nearly half the figure from the same period in the previous year at 8,200, down 46%.

However, Algerians have accounted for nearly two-thirds of all detections on the route this year, and the August figure was six times the figure from a year ago, which ties in with the deteriorating economic and political situation in Algeria, and the border closure in Morocco, which is preventing many of the sub-Saharan migrants getting into Morocco in the first place.

The distance for Algerians to the Spanish coastline favours the Murcia Region and Alicante as chosen destinations, the increase in Algerians logically leading to an increased level of traffic to Murcia.



NB: The migrants are referred to as irregular immigrants by the EU; the Spanish media tend to call them sin papeles meaning those with no paperwork entering the country illegally, others refer to them as illegal migrants. The phrase irregular migrants is used on MT in an attempt to convey that these are not refugees, but economic migrants, in this case from Algeria, entering Spain and the EU in an illegal fashion, without passports or documentation and without any legal right to enter the EU as Algeria is not an EU member and there is no migration agreement between the two countries.

Donate to Cruz Roja; Humanitarian work to ensure those arriving in Spain are treated with dignity is undertaken by the humanitarian organisation Cruz Roja. If you would like to donate, here is the link: Cruz Roja Espanola

Further reading

EU Action plan against Migrant Smuggling 2015/2020 Click to read

EU Directive f2008/115/EC Common standards and procedures in EU Member States for returning illegally staying third country nationals. Click to read

FRONTEX European coast guard and border control agency. This explains more about the migration issue and shows the different routes taken. Our routes here are the "Western Mediterranean" routes used principally by Moroccans And Algerians.Click Frontex
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

The global spread of vast forest plantations and agricultural monocultures are turning once diverse landscapes into areas of land supporting single plant species, with profound implications for our terrestrial water cycle, according to new research.

A new paper published in Nature Geoscience, and written by a global collaboration of interdisciplinary researchers studying ecohydrological systems, calls for policymakers and practitioners to consider these water-vegetation interactions in their land management decisions.

Professor David Hannah, who holds the UNESCO Chair in Water Sciences at the University of Birmingham, is a co-author of the paper. He said: "Scientists and policymakers need to work closely to translate scientific knowledge into action. We need to be designing forests and agricultural systems that embrace and enhance diversity. This approach is essential if we are to preserve the natural resilience of our water-dependent ecosystems and provide better stewardship of the Earth's finite water resources."

The authors of the paper argue that, while land-use cover change can be well intentionedwhether it is done to increase carbon sequestration or meet food, water, and energy demandsit can have unintended consequences that affect the water cycle.

Professor Irena Creed, co-lead author at the University of Saskatchewan, said: "There are hydrological consequences to consider when changing land cover types.People want to plant trees to help with carbon sequestration and climate change, but sometimes, when you do that and you plant a lot of fast-growing trees that are a uniform species and age, you're lowering the biodiversity and you're also homogenizing the water cycle. That basically means you're narrowing the range and response of the water cycle, and it makes it more susceptible to stressors like climate change."

Plant uniformity in highly managed landscapes that have replaced wetlands, for example, has been linked to increases in the frequency and severity of both floods and droughts, as well as the deterioration of water quality. Elsewhere, the growth of maize monocultures to produce ethanol and biodiesel in the United States are projected to increase areas at risk of groundwater nitrate contamination. And tree plantations grown to meet the demand for wood can reduce or even eliminate streams, leading to soils becoming more acidic or salinated and with increased susceptibility to fire.

In contrast, a more biodiverse system has trees and plant with different architectures, both above and below the ground, leading to a robust, natural system.

Delphis Levia, co-lead author at the University of Delaware, explained: "Think of soil moisture and rooting depth. If there are a variety of different tree species, some send roots down kind of shallow, some intermediate and some deep. That means there's a lot more soil moisture available to some forest species than others. But if you're in a monoculture situation, as with many staple crops, the rooting depths are more uniform. They don't penetrate the soil to varying degrees like natural vegetation in forests. And so, they can be more susceptible to drought."

The research team argue that further research is needed to analyze fully the relationship between vegetative complexity and water use. This would be done to see how losses in plant diversity affect the water cycle and planetary resilience to global change, and how that can lead to increased susceptibility to disease, fire, and other extreme weather events such as hurricanes.

John Selker, professor at Oregon State University and a co-author on the paper, said that knowing how the change in the water cycle is occurring quantitatively would allow proper management practices to be put into place.

"It is fine to know the qualitative trends, but to put this into management practices, we need some numbers on the resilience as a function of specific metrics of complexity," said Professor Selker.

The paper has its origins in the Ettersburg Ecohydrology Workshop funded by the University of Delaware and the UNIDEL Foundation. 29 experts and students from 11 countries gathered in Weimar, Germany to figure out how to start addressing the world's multifaceted water crisis. At the workshop, the experts worked together to identify the research needs that ecohydrologists must address so they can provide strategies and data to help mitigate some of the world's water crisis.

Explore further Improved functioning of diverse landscape mosaics

More information: Delphis F. Levia et al. Homogenization of the terrestrial water cycle, Nature Geoscience (2020). Journal information: Nature Geoscience Delphis F. Levia et al. Homogenization of the terrestrial water cycle,(2020). DOI: 10.1038/s41561-020-0641-y
Barcelona and Luis Suarez's lawyers spent Tuesday negotiating the termination of the player's contract, with Atletico Madrid waiting for him to become a free agent in order to sign him.

It looked as though the player had freed himself from the Camp Nou, though the Catalans became reluctant to let him leave on a free in order to join a rival in Atleti.

Sources from Barcelona have confirmed to EFE that another meeting will be held to solve the situation, which has become complicated by Atletico's interest.

Until this week the club had been expecting him to leave Spain altogether to join Juventus, which would have seen them liquidate part of his contract and Suarez himself giving up the rest.

But they don't want their No.9 to join Atletico without any financial compensation.

With nothing yet agreed, Suarez is continuing to work under Ronald Koeman's orders.
RENO, NV / ACCESSWIRE / September 22, 2020 /Thirty-four years after publishing American Commander in Spain-a gripping account of drama, love, and young idealists fighting against fascism threatening Europe-the University of Nevada Press is releasing the book in paperback.

Marion Merriman and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Warren Lerude tell the story of a remarkable man, Robert Hale Merriman, who commanded American volunteers in the Spanish Civil War.

"Marion thought the story could show young people that a combination of idealism and action can work, that one should fight for one's beliefs and never give up, never become cynical," said Lerude.

When American Commander in Spain (University of Nevada Press; September 22, 2020; 9781948908740; $30.00) was originally published, it was highly acclaimed by international media and sold over 5,000 hardbound copies-an impressive number for a small university press. The New York Times hailed it as "a priceless addition to Spanish Civil War literature."

This extraordinary story of idealists fighting for democracy is based on Robert?'s and Marion's diaries and personal correspondence, Marion's vivid account?s of service at Robert's side in Spain, as well as Warren Lerude's extensive research and interviews with people who knew Robert and Marion, government records, and contemporary news reports.

"Marion Merriman Wachtel stood victorious for an idea, an idea of freedom, and she stood victorious to tell a new generation a story of courage and commitment," said Lerude. Her message: "Idealism-combined with activism-can make a difference."

Today, as new generations face a resurgence in fascist ideas across the globe, idealism and dissent are needed just as they were in Spain leading up to World War II. "Our book, American Commander in Spain, salutes the courage of all who fought for freedom then, as well as those who stand for it in today's dangerously eruptive world," said Lerude.

About Us

ABOUT MERION MERRIMAN WACHTEL:

Marion Merriman Wachtel (1909-1991) was a veteran of the Spanish Civil War and served at her husband's side while he commanded the American volunteers. She was, in fact, the sole American woman to serve as a member of the Abraham Lincoln Battalion in the International Brigades. Mrs. Wachtel was a 1932 graduate of the University of Nevada, Reno, and worked at Stanford University for thirty years. She also served as commander of the San Francisco Bay Area Post of the Veterans of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade. She was a life-long activist for humanitarian ideas.

ABOUT WARREN LERUDE:

Warren Lerude is professor emeritus at the Reynolds School of Journalism, University of Nevada, Reno. He won a Pulitzer Prize in Journalism for editorial writing in 1977 as editor of the Reno Evening Gazette and the Nevada State Journal where he was also the publisher. He served as a director of the Oakland Tribune in California, a regional editor of USA TODAY, and a staff correspondent for the Associated Press. He and his wife Janet live in Reno and San Francisco.

ABOUT UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA PRESS

Founded in 1961 by Robert Laxalt, the University of Nevada Press publishes high-quality, deserving works that advance scholarly research, contribute to the understanding and appreciation of regional history and culture, and reach a wide range of academic and general readers. We publish in a wide range of disciplines, including fiction, memoir, environmental studies, Basque studies, Native American studies, public health, mining, urban studies, and gambling and gambling studies.

CONTACT:

Sara Hendricksen

Sales and Marketing Manager

shendricksen@unpress.nevada.edu

1041 N. Virginia Street, MS 0166

Reno, NV 89557

Work: 7756827395

http://www.unpress.nevada.edu

Links

https://unpress.nevada.edu/books/?isbn=9781948908740



SOURCE: University of Nevada Press

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/606052/INTERNATIONALLY-ACCLAIMED-WORK-BACK-IN-PRINT-AFTER-34-YEARS-Extraordinary-Story-of-Idealism-and-Sacrifice-Resonates-in-Todays-Contentious-Environment
Many foreigners stranded in Thailand due to COVID-19 (Source: Nikkei)

Bangkok  The Immigration Bureau (IB) of Thailand has urged foreigners who have been stranded in the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic to renew their visas before the end of an exemption which falls on September 26.

IB deputy spokesman Police Colonel Pakpong Sai-ubol said that more than 150,000 foreign nationals need to have their tourist visas renewed by September 26 or face a charge of overstaying.



Overstaying the tourist visa is punishable by both a jail term and fine under the Immigration Act, he said, adding offenders will also be deported to their countries of origin.



According to the law, anyone who has overstayed their visa for more than 90 days is barred from re-entering the kingdom for one year. The blacklist extends to a lifetime if the overstaying period exceeds 10 years.



Many foreign visitors were stranded in Thailand at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in late March when international flights were suspended and borders closed to stave off the transmission of the virus.



As of September 21 noon, the country had recorded 3,506 infections, including 59 fatalities.
A day after the Union government hiked the minimum support price (MSP) of wheat by 50 per quintal, an increase of just 2.6%, along with other Rabi crops, farmers in Haryana are not happy with the decision.

The MSP of wheat has been increased from last years 1,925 to 1,975.

As per the data, the percentage of hike in MSP for wheat has been reducing since 2018-19. In 2018-19, the MSP of wheat was 1,735 (6.8% hike from 2017-18), 1,840 (6.1% hike in 2019-20),  1,925 (4.6% hike in 2020-21) and 1,975 (2.6%) this year.

Dayanand Punia, secretary of Bharatiya Kisan Sabha, said the BJP had promised to provide 2,100 per quintal for wheat crop ahead of 2014 state assembly elections but farmers are yet to get that price. The BJP leaders had been protesting across the state against the then Hooda government for failing to address the farmers issue. Now, even they have failed to do so after coming to power.

He said, The BJP has been in power for the last six years but we have not got MSP of 2,100 for wheat crop as promised. The new MSP is just an eyewash as the Centre announced it on A2+ FL (family labour) not on C2 formula, which farmers have been demanding.

Another farm leader, Ramandeep Singh Mann, said the input cost of farming has been increasing but the Centre has been reducing the percentage of MSP rise every year for wheat since 2019. As per Centres data, the composite input price index (CPI) which includes human labour, machine labour, seeds, fertilisers, manures, insecticides and irrigation charges has been increased by 6.6% from last year but the increase in MSP of wheat is only by 2.6%, he said.

The centre has announced MSP for wheat at 225.50 per quintal less than the actual figures as per C2 formula, Mann said, adding that the governments new MSP hike will drag farmers into poverty.

Haryana agriculture minister JP Dalal said the Centre has given a reply to the opposition, who have been accusing the government of ending the MSP and mandi system by introducing the farm bills. The hiked prices for Rabi crops will help in doubling farmers income, he added.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 22)  Malacanang is asking testing facilities to charge less for coronavirus testing amid calls for the regulation of prices of COVID-19 swab tests.

"Napakadaming laboratories, gobyerno po ang nag-donate o kaya pribadong sektor ang nag-donate ng makina at mga test kits. Ibaba niyo po ang mga presyo," said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque in a virtual briefing.

[Translation: There are a lot of laboratories who received donations of (RT-PCR) machines and test kits either from government or the private sector. Please lower your (swab test) charges.]

The official also presented a list of testing centers who offer cheaper swab tests following the said donations, with test prices ranging from 1,750 to 2,000. These are:

- Philippine Children's Medical Center

- Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital

- Jose B. Lingad Memorial General Hospital

- Perpetual Help Medical Center - Las Pinas

- National Kidney and Transplant Institute

- Lung Center of the Philippines

- Western Visayas Medical Center - Iloilo

- Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical City - Cebu

- University of Cebu Medical Center - Cebu

- Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center - Tacloban, Leyte

- Baguio General Hospital

- Zamboanga City Medical Center

- St. Paul's Hospital - Tacloban, Leyte

- Teresita Jalandoni Provincial General Hospital - Negros Occidental

- Cebu Molecular Laboratory

These facilities are equipped to conduct either individual or pooled testing, with results out within 48 hours.

Roque mentioned pooled testing is already on pilot, adding the costs of swab tests will go down to as low as 550 to 1,000 following its wide-scale implementation.

The Health Department has called on President Rodrigo Duterte to issue an executive order mandating a price ceiling on swab tests in private hospitals and laboratories.
Two arrested in Kerala by NIA in connection with Bengaluru, Delhi blasts

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Sep 22: The National Investigation Agency has arrested two persons from the Trivandrum International Airport on Monday in connection with the Bengaluru and Delhi blasts case.

The two have been identified as Shuhaib and Gul Navas, residents of Kannur and Uttar Pradesh respectively. Both were arrested after they landed in Kerala from Saudi Arabia.

Shuhaib, is an accuse in the Bengaluru serial blasts case. He was absconding since 2008.

Terrorists arrested from Kerala, West Bengal were plotting a Ghazwa-e-Hind

He was part of the Indian Mujahideen from the days the outfit was formed.

He had moved to Pakistan after the blasts and got married out there. The Interpol told the NIA that he had moved to Riyadh. Following this, the NIA managed to have him extradited.

Gul Navas on the other hand is linked to the Delhi case. The NIA was probing a terror funding case, which emerged from Saudi Arabia. He is part of the Lashkar-e-Tayiba.

After the arrest, Shuhaib was questioned at Kochi, while Gul was interrogated at Thiruvananthapuram.

Last week, the National Investigation has arrested nine terrorists of the Al-Qaeda from West Bengal and Kerala.

Raids were conducted at several locations in Ernakulam (Kerala) and Murshidabad (West Bengal) following which the terrorists of the Pakistan sponsored module of the Al-Qaeda were arrested.

NIA arrests 9 Al-Qaeda terrorists from West Bengal and Kerala

The NIA had information of an inter-state module of the terror group, whose operatives were active in various locations in India, including Kerala and West Bengal. The NIA said that the group was planning on carrying out attacks in various parts of the country. They had planned on killing people and also targeting vital installations.

NIA has arrested 6 terrorists from West-Bengal and 3 terrorists from Kerala in the early morning raids conducted today, the agency had said in a statement. Large quantity of incriminating materials including digital devices, documents, jihadi literature, sharp weapons, country-made firearms, a locally fabricated body armour, articles and literature used for making home-made explosive devices have been seized from their possession.

#Tesla 'secretly planning' R&D Centre in #Bengaluru? | Oneindia News

As per preliminary investigation, these individuals were radicalised by Pakistan-based Al-Qaeda terrorists on social media and were motivated to undertake attacks at multiple places including the National Capital Region.

For this purpose, the module was actively indulging in fund raising and a few members of gang were planning to travel to New Delhi to procure arms and ammunition. These arrests have pre-empted possible terrorist attacks in various parts of the country, the NIA further said.

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Story first published: Tuesday, September 22, 2020, 10:44 [IST]
MIAMI, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Victor Center for the Prevention of Jewish Genetic Diseases, which offers preconception screening and genetic counseling for prospective parents, has recently expanded services to offer genetic screening and virtual clinical consults to couples and individuals in New York, New Jersey and Maryland.

The center, which also serves Florida, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, helps future parents identify whether they are at risk of passing on genetic diseases, including those common among people of Jewish ancestry.

"Not everyone knows their full ancestral heritage, so we encourage anyone planning to start a family and their partner to undergo screening," said Debbie Wasserman, Outreach Coordinator/Genetic Counselor for the Victor Center.

Jewish genetic diseases are a group of recessive, inherited disorders that occur with significant frequency in the Ashkenazi Jewish community (those of eastern or central European descent). Individuals of Ashkenazi descent have higher carrier rates for diseases such as Tay-Sachs, Canavan, familial dysautonomia, and Gaucher. Many of the diseases are severe, and some are fatal in childhood.

One in two of those of Ashkenazi descent is a carrier for at least one Jewish genetic condition, and Sephardic and Mizrachi Jews are also at increased risk for certain genetic disorders. More than half of participants in the Victor Center screening program are carriers for one or more of the 225 plus conditions on the expanded screening panel, which also includes disorders found in other ethnicities.

The Victor Center offers a convenient screening process during this time of social distancing. Upon request, a genetic counseling session is scheduled and a screening kit is mailed to the home. Recipients provide saliva samples and return the kit to a lab for processing. Once results are available, a video consult is coordinated to convey understanding and address questions.

There is a fee for Victor Center screening services. However, most medical insurance plans cover the service. For more information, please call 786-897-9587 or visit www.victorcenter.org

About the Victor Center

The Victor Center was founded in 2002 by Lois B. Victor in partnership with Einstein Healthcare Network in Philadelphia. Ms. Victor lost two children to a Jewish genetic disease before a test for the disorder became available. The experience galvanized her commitment to ensuring that no family endures the heartache of a preventable illness by making certain that Jews of childbearing age are screened and get the information they need to have healthy children. Nicklaus Children's Hospital was appointed the National Office for the Victor Center in 2017. The Nicklaus Children's Hospital Victor Center maintains the nation-wide collaborative work of the center in promoting education related to preconception screening while increasing knowledge, awareness, and access to genetic services.

About Nicklaus Children's Hospital

Founded in 1950 by Variety Clubs International, Nicklaus Children's Hospital is South Florida's only licensed specialty hospital exclusively for children, with nearly 800 attending physicians and more than 475 pediatric subspecialists. The 309-bed hospital, known as Miami Children's Hospital from 1983 through 2014, is renowned for excellence in all aspects of pediatric medicine with several specialty programs routinely ranked among the best in the nation by U.S. News & World Report since 2008. The hospital is also home to the largest pediatric teaching program in the southeastern United States and has been designated an American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet facility, the nursing profession's most prestigious institutional honor. For more information, please visit www.nicklauschildrens.org.

For more information:

Nicklaus Children's Hospital

Rachel Bixby, 305-663-8476



SOURCE Nicklaus Childrens Health System

Related Links

http://www.victorcenter.org


Yuma Library

Yuma, Arizona - On September 21, 2020, the Yuma County Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution to revise the Yuma County Library District fines/fees schedule to supersede the previous schedule, effective immediately. This allows the Library District to waive all existing overdue fines and discontinue the practice of applying overdue fines to items returned late.

We are proud to join many public libraries in eliminating overdue fines, said Library Director Lisa Mendez. We hope that eliminating overdue fines will bring patrons back to the library, as they were a barrier to some of our patrons. We want everyone in the community to have full access to the resources that the Library has to offer.



Late fines on all cardholder accounts will be removed, and will no longer be assessed. We appreciate your patience as we update our accounts.



Please note, library materials will still have due dates. Items may be renewed twice, as long as there are no holds on them. Library users are still responsible for fees associated with lost or damaged items.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recommended the posting of security personnel at ammonium nitrate warehouses in the Western Region to avert any eventuality, as they could be targets in the event of any instability in the neighbouring Mali and Cote dIvoire.



It observed that most of the ammonium nitrate at the warehouses is used at the mines in Mali and Cote dIvoire, and, therefore, could be targets of instability and proposed the use of tracking devices to monitor their movement



We also recommend that the security personnel should be engaged to escort ammonium nitrate from the harbour to various warehouses since there are transportation issues of trucks stopping at fuel stations, which are public areas and pose a challenge to safety, an EPA report on rapid site assessment of the chemical in the Western Region sighted by Ghanaian Times stated.



The report signed by the Acting Regional Director, Ing. George Diawuoh, indicated that the office would communicate the adverse findings to the respective proponents and ensure that swift action was taken to remedy key issues.



The report followed the Agencys public notice release on the recent explosion in Lebanon, which is alleged to have been caused by ammonium nitrate.



The EPA, led by Ing. Diawuoh, carried out an audit of ammonium nitrate warehouse facilities to ensure that all Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) were strictly implemented.



Ammonium nitrate, according to experts, is a crystal-like white solid which is made in large industrial quantities. Its biggest use is being a source of nitrogen for fertiliser, but it is also used to create explosives for mining.



Primarily, the audit was to determine the current scope of operations at the various ammonium nitrate warehouses, assess the nature of the adjacent lands and compatibility with neighbouring activities and make the necessary recommendations for appropriate improvement measures.



Facilities covered included Stellar Logistics  Funko; Ahanta Stellar Logistics  Prestea; Jocydeck Limited  Apowa; Greenline Logistics  New Amanful; K. Yalley Limited  New Amanful; Western Industries Limited  Apowa, all in the Ahanta West Municipality.



The exercise, which ended on Friday, August 14, 2020, noted that the warehouses were generally sited outside densely-populated areas within the Western Region, operated with the requisite environmental permits and did not pose any immediate and serious environmental and safety concern.



There were no observed fuel or sources of heat of close proximity to the permitted sites and all safety requirements and protocols are generally adhered to. We will continue to monitor the operations of such establishments and the activities of adjoining lands, the report said.



Generally, the EPA team concluded that most warehouses had fire extinguishers inside the facility, fire hydrants, water tanks, security, and personal protection equipment (PPE).



However, at Silver Hand Company Limited, permitted by the Agency to operate a warehouse for the storage of cement at Apowa in the Ahanta West Municipality, there were no security personnel at the entrance to prevent unauthorised entry.



Personnel at the site claimed there were two staff members assigned security duties around the facility during the day and also military personnel are engaged to guard the place during the night. There were no documents to support such an engagement with the military, the report said.



At Stellar Logistics at Prestea, also in the Ahanta West Municipality, the warehouse sited along the Apowa-Mpohor road was appropriate for the ammonium nitrate storage, but the report advised that fire extinguishers should be placed just outside the warehouse, so that in the event of a fire outbreak, access to the extinguishers would not be denied.



The EPA noted: Storage of Ammonium Nitrate outside the storage sheds of the warehouse is prohibited. The company should be directed to desist from such practices.



The report said Greenline Logistics Limited, located at New Amanful, should be directed to engage with Cape 3 Service Limited, an oil and gas service company, and K. Yalley Limited, to ensure their activities did not have unintended consequence on the storage of ammonium nitrate.

Source: The Ghanaian Times









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A fire that killed eight people and did more than $500,000 damage at an Alabama marina started accidentally but was worsened by the marinas limited fire safety practices, according to a federal report.

The National Transportation Safety Board, in a report released this month, said the Jan. 27 fire started near the electrical panel of a houseboat named Dixie Delight at the Jackson County Park Marina in Scottsboro. The fire spread quickly because of the abundance of combustible lawn furniture and propane cylinders for barbecue grills on the dock and boat decks. The report found the county and marinas limited fire safety practices contributing to the severity of the fire and loss of life.

The fire spread due to the neighboring vessels of similar fiberglass construction, an abundance of combustible lawn furniture on the vessel decks and open dock areas, and the presence of portable liquid propane cylinders used for barbecue grills, which all increased the docks fire load, the report found.

The marina did not have to adhere to current fire code standards that requires annual electrical inspections, fire response training and fire drills because it was built before those standards were adopted, but investigators said marinas should still have measures and guidelines in place to prevent and mitigate accidents for all moored boats and their occupants, the report stated.

The Jackson County Park Marina did not observe several existing safety best practices and guidelines created for and used by the marina industry, investigators wrote.

Investigators could not determine the cause of the fire, but said it began near the Dixie Delights electrical panel. The owner tried to extinguish it, and then to push the burning boat away from the dock, but the blaze engulfed the 43-foot houseboat and then spread to neighboring vessels and the wood-framed covered dock, the report found.

Five children, their mother and another woman died after they were trapped in one boats cabin by the flames. Another person drowned after jumping in the water to try to escape, the report said.

Seventeen people trapped on the dock were able to get away in two cabin cruiser-style boats after the Dixie Delight caught fire. But they couldnt start the engines and tried to paddle them with folding chairs and wash brushes, the report said.

As the fire fully engulfed the dock, the two boats were drawn back toward the end of Dock B, in what some survivors referred to as a fire-induced draft or vortex, it recounted.

Docked, unoccupied boats caught fire, burned through their mooring ropes, drifted into the other boats and set them on fire.

The fire destroyed the dock and 35 boats, worth a total of more than $500,000, the report said.

State investigators found in April that the fire was accidental.

Topics Alabama
ORANGE PARK, Fla.: A man was arrested last week after striking a 12-year-old girl in the face with a flagpole during a small rally for President Donald Trump near a Florida intersection, authorities said.

Norbert Logsdon Jr., 67, of Orange Park, was charged Sept. 16 with child abuse without great bodily harm and later released on bail, the Florida Times-Union reported.

Logsdon and others had been participating in a sidewalk support event for the Republican president near an Orange Park intersection, according to a Clay County Sheriffs Office arrest report. The girl had been riding in a car with her mother, who exchanged taunts with Logsdon as they waited to turn into a nearby restaurant, officials said. A video that the mother posed on Facebook appears to show Logsdon approach the vehicle, stick the flagpole through an open car window and hit the girl.

A deputy who later interviewed the girl noted redness on her face.

Jail records didnt list an attorney who could comment on Logsdons behalf.

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 flu shot increases ones chances of non-flu illness by 65 percent...

Physicians for Informed Consent (PIC), an educational nonprofit organization focused on delivering data on infectious diseases and vaccines, today sent a letter to the University of California Board of Regents urging university leadership to reconsider the recent flu vaccine mandate on behalf of hundreds of doctors and scientists and in the interest of preserving the health of UC students, faculty and staff. This letter presents a robust body of data indicating that this mandate will not only fail to address concerns about hospital capacity as related to COVID-19 but also may increase the risk of respiratory illnesses.

Theres data showing that the flu shot increases ones chances of non-flu illness by 65%meaning that not only does this mandate lack scientific justification, but it puts UC students, faculty and staff at a greater risk of other respiratory illnesses, said Dr. Shira Miller, founder and president of PIC. The studies referenced in the UC Regents flu vaccine mandate suggest positive effects of the flu vaccine on the incidence of illness caused by flu viruses; however, that benefit may be outweighed by an increase in non-flu respiratory illnesses. And, although the possibility has been studied, there is no evidence that the vaccine prevents the spread of influenza.

On July 31, 2020, the University of California issued an executive order, mandating that all members of the UC community including students, faculty, and staff receive the influenza vaccine prior to Nov. 1, 2020. This mandate was issued under the premise that the vaccine will decrease flu hospitalizations, thereby freeing hospital beds for COVID-19 patients. However, Physicians for Informed Consent points out the lack of scientific justification for this requirement.

On Sept. 17, 2020, attorneys Rick Jaffe and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. filed a motion for a preliminary injunction in order to stop the enforcement of the UC Regents new flu vaccine mandate. Their plaintiffs are Cindy Kiel, J.D., Executive Associate Vice Chancellor, UC Davis; Mckenna Hendricks, UC Santa Barbara Student; Edgar de Gracia, UCLA Student; Leland Vanderpoel, Employee, UCSF Medical Education Program; and Frances Olsen, Professor of Law, UCLA. Expert witnesses include Dr. Peter Gotzsche, M.D., Co-founder, Cochrane Collaboration; Dr. Thomas Jefferson, M.D., Fellow, Faculty of Public Health, United Kingdom; Peter Doshi, Ph.D., Associate Editor BMJ; Andrew Noymer, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Population Health and Disease Prevention, UC Irvine; and Professor Laszlo Boros, M.D., Professor of Pediatrics, UCLA.

In this lawsuit against the UC Board of Regents over their new flu vaccine mandate, some of the worlds top experts have provided declarations opposing the flu shot mandate, said Greg Glaser, Esq., general counsel at PIC. Their declarations will have a significant impact on decisions made regarding public health.

PICs letter points the UC Board of Regents to the following seven facts:

1. People who receive the flu vaccine are 65% more likely to contract non-flu viruses and bacteria than people who do not receive the flu vaccine.

2. There is evidence that the flu vaccine doesnt reduce demand on hospitals.

3. There is no evidence that the flu vaccine prevents the spread of influenza viruses.

4. The flu vaccine has not reduced pneumonia and influenza mortality.

5. The flu vaccine fails to prevent the flu about 65% of the time.

6. Repeat flu vaccination has been shown to increase the likelihood of flu vaccine failure.

7. The overall benefits of flu vaccination and flu vaccine policies are not clear.

To read the entire PIC letter to the UC Board of Regents, click here.

About Physicians for Informed Consent

Physicians for Informed Consent is a 501(c)(3) educational nonprofit organization focused on science and statistics. PIC delivers data on infectious diseases and vaccines, and unites doctors, scientists, healthcare professionals, attorneys, and families who support voluntary vaccination. In addition, its Coalition for Informed Consent consists of more than 200 U.S. and international organizations. To learn more or to become a member, please visit physiciansforinformedconsent.org.
(CNN)  President Xi Jinping has sent a message to China's private businesses: You can make money, but only if you follow my rules.

The ruling Chinese Communist Party this month published an unusually frank set of guidelines that call on its members to "educate private businesspeople to weaponize their minds with [Xi's] socialism ideology."

The private sector needs "politically sensible people," the directive said, who will "firmly listen to the party and follow the party."

The message comes as the world's second-largest economy continues its fragile recovery from the coronavirus pandemic and tussles with the United States over trade and the future of technology. Bringing China's independent-minded private businesses to heel could help speed that recovery, while extending the control of the most powerful leader the country has seen in decades at a time of mounting challenges at home and abroad.

The message was remarkable for its candor and zeal. In the past, Beijing had taken a more tactful approach when it wants to exercise control over companies beyond the state sector  like in 2018 when Xi offered the private sector tax breaks, financial assistance, and a personal vow of support to quell any fears that it was falling out of political favor.

And while it's not yet clear what practical effect the latest directive will have on private enterprise in China, one of Xi's catchphrases has been "the party exercises overall leadership over all endeavors across the country." The directive indicates that the Chinese leader wants to take more overt measures to spell out the importance of the Communist Party's philosophies. That could mean requiring private companies to take public stances on major political or foreign affairs, such as any territorial disputes that China is involved in.

The 'United Front'

The private sector is a vital part of China's economy. More than 30 million private businesses contribute over 60% of the country's GDP. The taxes they pay account for more than half of government revenue, and they employ more than 80% of China's workers.

The document explicitly called for the private sector to become part of the "United Front," a coalition of individuals and organizations tasked with carrying out the party's agenda and creating alliances among those with similar philosophies. The network's origins can be traced back nearly a century, and it was once credited by Chairman Mao Zedong as a "magic weapon" that helped the Communist Party triumph over its enemies.

China has not publicly released documents emphasizing the importance of aligning the private sector with the United Front since the late 1970s, when the country embarked on a decades-long path toward economic reform meant to stabilize the country after the Cultural Revolution.

But in some ways, this kind of messaging isn't entirely surprising, according to Steve Tsang, director of SOAS China Institute in London. While China's economy has managed to avert recession this year, the coronavirus pandemic has still wiped out much of its growth.

Chinese politicians have in the past expressed concern that prolonged economic instability could lead to social unrest. And given the financial turmoil the country's private sector has experienced in recent years, the government might be hesitant to afford those companies a lot of free reign at a precarious time.

China is also faces rising hostility from Western powers, noted Willy Lam, an adjunct professor at the Centre for China Studies, Chinese University of Hong Kong. The feud between Washington and Beijing has hurt the fortunes of many Chinese businesses, from TikTok owner ByteDance to tech firm Huawei.

"Xi wants the whole nation to act as one because the country is going though unprecedented challenges," Lam said. "Under the growing sense of crisis, Xi wants everybody in China to unite under the leadership of the party and speak the same voice."

Private sector on the defense

As extraordinary as last week's directive was, there have been signs for years that private enterprise in China is on the defense.

Following a stock market meltdown in 2015 and 2016  which experts at the time attributed to slowing economic growth and risky trading practices encouraged by cheerleaders in a bullish state media  an unprecedented amount of money began leaving China through private business.

Xi's government blamed the turmoil partly on high-flying financial tycoons, and since then Beijing has tightened the rules that govern the sector. Regulators have curbed excessive corporate borrowing and made it harder for money to leave China.

As that campaign was taking off around 2017, Xi was also openly talking about the importance of the Communist Party as the heart of "everything in China," Tsang pointed out.

"The economy is therefore not an exception," he added. "This generally implies that Xi's economic policy focuses on advancing the state-owned sector at the expense of the private sector."

Even more concerning, a handful of major companies had begun taking on a hefty amount of financial risk, raising fears of instability.

For example, in 2018 Chinese regulators seized control of Anbang Insurance, a major conglomerate that made big overseas deals and which once owned the Waldorf Astoria and Strategic Hotels & Resorts. Founder and chairman Wu Xiaohui was eventually sentenced to 18 years in prison for fraudulent fundraising and embezzlement, and the firm announced last week that it will apply for liquidation.

Earlier this year, the massive conglomerate HNA Group also fell under government management. The company had spent $40 billion on investments in Hilton, Deutsche Bank and other overseas assets in recent years, eventually finding itself so deep in debt that its finances became overstretched.

Even some of China's most successful private companies have been subject to government action. Last year, for example, officials in the city of Hangzhou were sent into some of the country's biggest private companies, including Alibaba and Geely, as "government affairs representatives."

That move may have been a message from the government to private companies: "Move closer [to us] and listen," Ronald Wan, chief executive for Partners Capital International in Hong Kong, told CNN Business at the time.

The private sector is also struggling financially.

Revenue growth at the top 500 private companies in China as measured by sales slowed by about 10% on average last year, according to a survey released earlier this month by the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, a chamber of commerce led by the Communist Party. The organization describes itself as a "bridge" linking the party and the government with private business groups.

Profit growth at those companies fell by an average of nearly 6%, while the size of their workforce slumped by roughly 1% compared to 2018.

Those problems aren't explained simply by government intervention. China's economic slowdown predated the pandemic, and was exacerbated by fallout from the unprecedented closures that were implemented to stem the spread of the virus. The US-China trade war also dealt a blow to businesses.

A secondary role

It's not that Beijing no longer cares about having a robust private sector. After all, such businesses are critical to the health of the economy.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang admitted in July that the combination of problems has left private businesses in the "most difficult times." He urged the government and any state-owned businesses to help in the recovery by repaying any loans owed to private companies.

"In reality, Xi is not anti-private sector per se," said Tsang, of the SOAS China Institute. "While he clearly puts the state sector ahead, he is willing to support private enterprises provided the enterprises concerned adhere closely to the party's leadership."

"But for private enterprises that do not adhere closely to the party's direction, they can expect to face pressure from the authorities," he added.

There are some consequences for such a strategy, though. Western authorities have been historically mistrustful of how closely some private companies are tied to Beijing  a concern that is only growing as tensions between the United States and China escalate.

The short form video app TikTok, for example, has ignited a political firestorm in the United States because US authorities are wary about its ties to Beijing.

But Lam, the professor, said those concerns might not matter much to Xi.

The Chinese leader has already made it clear that he wants his country to shed its reliance on the West for the critical technologies of the future, particularly as geopolitical tensions rise. For Xi and the Communist Party, the state sector is key to making that happen.

"Xi is a super hawk," Lam said. "He doesn't care much about the West, because his priority is about tightening the control of China and maintaining the party's domestic rule."

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Xi Jinping wants China's private companies to fight alongside the Communist Party"
A couple who had spent more than 43,000 euros on fertility treatment have welcomed miracle triplets after their parents stepped in to fund one last IVF cycle.

Niamh and Jeff Quinlan, both 37, of Dublin, had given up hope of ever falling pregnant and had decided to look into surrogacy after spending their life savings on five failed rounds of IVF and years of heartache.

Niamh's father and stepmother were devastated to see the couple struggling so much, so gave them the cash to fund one final fertility cycle.

The treatment was a success and baby girls Molly, Chloe and Megan were born last December.

Niamh and Jeff Quinlan, both 37, of Dublin, had given up hope of ever falling pregnant and had decided to look into surrogacy after spending their life savings on five failed rounds of IVF and years of heartache. They finally welcomed triplet girls (pictured) in December last year

Niamh's father and stepmother were devastated to see the couple struggling so much, so gave them the cash to fund one final fertility cycle. Pictured, the couple with their granddaughters

Molly, Chloe and Morgan spent weeks in hospital (pictured) following their birth before being allowed home

Niamh said: 'Life is pretty hectic now but I wouldn't have it any other way. It's the family I had always dreamed of. I have to pinch myself sometimes. We went through so many years where we thought we would never have one baby, let alone three.

'I had given up hope of ever carrying a baby when my dad called me and said he'd put 7,600 euros (7,000) in my account. I burst into tears at my desk at work. Even then, I thought it was probably going to be money down the drain.

'I got the shock of my life when I found out I was actually pregnant with not one but three babies.'

The couple started trying for a family shortly after they married in 2016.

But after a year with no luck, they consulted a doctor, who recommended they try IUI, a treatment that induces ovulation, after discovering that one of Niamh's fallopian tubes was blocked.

Niamh said: 'It came as a relief, knowing that there was a solution, and we just assumed we would fall pregnant right away. But another year on, we were told we'd need to try IVF.

The couple started trying for a family shortly after they married in 2016. However they suffered heartache when five rounds of IVF were unsuccessful. Pictured, baby Molly in hospital

Niamh and Jeff had almost given up hope of carrying their own children when IVF was successful. Pictured, daughters Molly, Chloe and Morgan at home

Molly, Chloe and Megan in their carriers at home in Dublin. The triplets are doted on by their family

After spending more than 43,000 euros (40,000), the couple decided to put any money they had into funding a surrogate but one final round of IVF worked. Pictured, the girls at home

'We put all our money into it and we thought, "this time, it will have to work" But I started bleeding within days. It was absolutely crushing.'

The couple underwent five cycles of IVF with each one ending in heartbreak.

After spending more than 43,000 euros (40,000), they decided to put any money they had into funding a surrogate - thinking they would never fall pregnant.

But Niamh's dad, Michael Foley, couldn't bare to see his daughter missing out on her dream - and he and Niamh's stepmother, Patricia, a midwife, convinced them to give it one more shot.

Michael said: 'Niamh had always been such a wonderful mother figure, even when she was a little girl.

'Niamh's mother died when she was a teenager, but she'd always looked after everyone else so well - Patricia and I knew she and Jeff would make such wonderful parents.

Niamh's dad, Michael Foley, couldn't bare to see his daughter missing out on her dream - and he and Niamh's stepmother, Patricia, a midwife, convinced them to give it one more shot. Pictured, the triplets at home

Niamh said she 'broke down in tears' when she learned her dad was giving her money for more IVF. Pictured, the adorable triplets at home

'It broke my heart to see my daughter having miscarriages and going through such a terrible time.

'Of course, as a parent, you don't want to interfere, but they had two embryos left and Patricia thought there was hope to go through one last try.

'We discussed it one night and I put the money into Niamh's account the next morning. I called her and said we'd gifted her some money, and it was up to her what she did with it - we didn't mind if they didn't want to go through IVF again. But it was up to her.'

Niamh said: 'I just broke down in tears when dad told me what they had done for us. It was so unexpected. We decided to go for one last shot with our frozen embryos, but in my heart of hearts, I didn't think it would work.

'A few days after the treatment, my abdomen started to swell, which can be a side effect of the drugs, and I needed to go to the clinic to have it drained.

Niamh said when she came round from anaesthetic, her father revealed that medics had done a test and she was pregnant. Pictured: Niamh with Molly, Chloe and Megan

'It had happened before so I wasn't concerned. I just thought this cycle would go the same way as the others.

'Jeff had an exam that day, and my dad had been staying at our house, so he and Patricia drove me to the clinic.

'But when I came round from the anaesthetic, dad was beaming at me. They had done a test and I was pregnant. I broke down. It seemed so fitting that he was able to be the one to tell me.'

Medics told Niamh that the reason her belly had swollen was actually part of body's reaction to extremely high levels of pregnancy hormone - caused by her carrying triplets.

She said: 'When we went in for our first scan, I had an inkling it might be twins because of my high hormone levels. But when they pointed out three babies on the scan, I was gobsmacked.

Niamh was told that her babies had to be delivered immediately, when she began to feel unwell at 30 weeks. Pictured: Molly, Chloe and Megan

'There was a moment of pure joy, but then i just felt full of fear - it was such a high risk pregnancy, I still didn't know if they would make it.

'It was only once I brought them all home that I felt I could finally embrace that moment of complete joy.'

After an uneventful pregnancy, Niamh began to feel unwell at 30 weeks and went into hospital for a check up, where specialists told her the babies needed to be delivered immediately.

A team of 40 specialist doctors and nurses delivered her daughters at Coombe Women's hospital, Dublin, on December 17, by emergency caesarean.

Baby Molly, born weighing 3lb 4oz, Megan, weighing 2lb 10oz and Chloe, weighing 2lbs 14oz, were all rushed straight to the NICU.

Niamh was warned by medics that her children may been to be resuscitated after birth because they were very premature. Pictured: Niamh and Jeff holding their daughters

It was days before the new parents were able to hold their babies and nine weeks before they were all able to come home.

Niamh added: 'As they wheeled me down to surgery they warned me that the girls were very premature and might need to be resuscitated when they were born.

'As each of them was born, I held my breath waiting to hear them cry. With each cry, I just felt a wave of relief flooding over me. The first cuddle I had with each of the girls was so special. It just took my breath away finally meeting them.

'They were still very poorly but I knew they were fighters.

'One day, Molly stopped breathing while I was holding her. A nurse rushed over and grabbed her from me and ran to get a doctor - it was the scariest moment of my life.

'She was the first one to come home but ended up being readmitted to the Children's hospital because of problems with her breathing.

Niamh said there was a time when one of her daughters was in the maternity hospital, while another was in the children's hospital and another one was at home

'At one stage one of them was in the maternity hospital, one was in the children's hospital and another one was at home.

'When they all finally made it home just before their due date in February, it was the best day of our lives.'

Due to Covid, doting grandparents Michael and Patricia hadn't been able to see their granddaughters since mid March until they were reunited last weekend.

Michael added: 'There is so much love in that household, it feels wonderful to go and be surrounded with such happiness. I am so glad I was able to help my little girl become a mother. My granddaughters are wonderful babies, we were so excited to be reunited with them.'

Niamh said: 'I can't thank my dad enough for what he did for us. It will be wonderful to tell the girls their special story when they grow up.'
SACRAMENTO  A residential hotel in San Francisco and an unused college dormitory in Oakland will be turned into long-term housing for homeless people under a state program designed to keep people off the streets during and after the coronavirus pandemic, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday.

The projects are among several in the Bay Area that have been granted a total of $110 million under Californias new Homekey program. Theyll provide 661 housing units in now-vacant hotels and other buildings, with support services for homeless people such as substance-abuse and mental-health counseling.

Cities and counties must immediately use the money to retrofit the rooms to house people, and the properties must be occupied within about 90 days. The project is largely funded by federal stimulus money.

This is happening in a historically short period of time, and it shows a resolve and commitment, Newsom said at a news conference. We have a moral and ethical obligation to address this issue head on.

San Francisco received $44.8 million to buy the Granada Hotel, a 232-unit single room occupancy hotel in the Lower Nob Hill neighborhood. The purchase fits into the citys plan to add 1,000 supportive housing units over the next year.

Supervisor Aaron Peskin, who represents the area, said the money could ensure that the Granada units continue to be available to low-income people, including some who live there now. The hotel was bought by a new owner about two years ago and houses many long-term tenants, he said.

Peskin said hes cautiously optimistic that the deal will close before the end of the year, as required for funding under the Homekey program. He added, As Yogi Berra said, It aint over till its over. 

Mayor London Breed said the project would help the city transition from providing emergency housing during the pandemic to providing permanent housing for years to come.

We know that housing is the solution to homelessness, she said in a statement.

Five other Bay Area projects received funding Monday, when Newsom unveiled more than $236 million in Homekey grant awards across the state. The Bay Area projects:

 Oakland received $10.2 million to buy Clifton Hall, a 63-unit dormitory owned by the California College of the Arts in the Rockridge neighborhood, for $10.2 million. It will be converted to housing for homeless senior citizens and families.

 Separately, Oakland and the nonprofit Bay Area Community Services received $10 million to buy 100 units at 20 smaller properties scattered across the city.

 Santa Clara County received $29.2 million to buy a 146-room hotel in Milpitas. The building is occupant-ready and has in-room kitchenettes.

 Mountain View received $12.3 million to buy land for 100 manufactured homes that will provide temporary housing and support services until residents can move to permanent housing.

 A tribal community near Santa Rosa, the Kashia Band of Pomo Indians of the Stewarts Point Rancheria, received $2.7 million to buy a vacant motel with 20 rooms. The project will decrease the bands homeless population by two-thirds.

The Homekey program is funded with $550 million in federal coronavirus aid and $50 million in state general funds.

Last week, the governor announced the first round of funding. Contra Costa County received $21.6 million to buy a 174-unit Motel 6 in Pittsburg, and San Jose was awarded $14.5 million to buy a 76-unit Best Western motel thats already sheltering homeless people during the pandemic.

More money for Bay Area projects could be forthcoming. Newsoms administration has said the state plans to announce projects every week until all $600 million for Homekey projects is distributed.

Dustin Gardiner is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dustin.gardiner@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @dustingardiner
The Little Britain star, 46, appeared ahead of the shows return to Channel 4 wearing a blonde wig and standing at a lectern featuring the slogan: Stay Alert, Bake Cake, Save Loaves.

Bake Offs broadcast was delayed by 15 minutes to make space for televised coronavirus addresses from Mr Johnson, Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford and Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, following the announcement of new restrictions.

Welcome to a new series of The Great British Bake Off - and a big hello to our new presenter Matt Lucas! #GBBO pic.twitter.com/0sa8NxTJtE  British Bake Off (@BritishBakeOff) September 22, 2020

Stumbling over his words, Lucas said: Good evening, lets get straight to it.

We are now approaching phase 46 which means that from Tuesday morning or Wednesday evening, depending on your height, we are saying, with regards to baking, that if you must bake in a tent, bake in a tent, but please dont bake in a tent

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He added: We are asking people to use common sense with regards to the distribution of the hundreds and thousands.

Lucas co-host Noel Fielding then appeared via video link to ask a question about the correct pronunciation of scone.

The comedian handed over to judges Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood, mimicking advisers Professor Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance, who disagreed on the matter.

I hope that clears it up for you, Lucas quipped.

He has replaced Sandi Toksvig on the Channel 4 show.

Production on the 11th series was initially delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic, but filming finished near the end of August.
As schools and daycare centres kick into high gear after months of quiet convalescence, parents who thought they would send their kids back, heave a sigh of relief and enjoy a martini on the back deck are in for a rude awakening.

If the emails clogging my inbox are any indication, unless little Johnny or Debbie head back to school in perfect health  and stay that way  they may boomerang back to their doorstep with a quarantine stamp and COVID test request pinned to their knapsack.

Sniffles, tummy aches, dizziness, loose stools.

When a colleague called in sick because his toddler was ejected from daycare with a runny nose and told her return was dependent on a negative COVID test, I figured it was a fluke.

They probably misread the regulations, I figured. Who would make a toddler to get a COVID test over a runny nose?

Then I walked outside and found two healthy-looking neighbour kids on the sidewalk with their harried mother, banished from school pending a negative test after the younger one complained he felt dizzy after spinning in circles at recess.

Whats that feeling you get when  in the middle of a sunny day  you feel a random raindrop, then another, and look up to see a torrential downpour about to crash down on your head?

BAM! In less than 24 hours I heard from a dozen or more outraged parents whose lives have been thrown into turmoil, their jobs in jeopardy, after kids have been turfed from schools and daycares with potential COVID symptoms.

I was fired (Wednesday) after I had to leave to get the kids from school, confides Shayna De Venanzo, a telecom worker whose kindergarten daughter told her teacher she had a tummy ache.

They said that while they sympathized with my situation, due to my availability, this wasnt going to work. This is now the second job I lost due to COVID.

De Venanzo takes it in stride. Shed only been there a week. Her husband is gainfully employed. She understands that schools are just following provincial directives.

What really bugs her is the constant, unrelenting confusion over protocols from the people in charge.

I was told they can return after shes symptom-free for 24 hours, notes the Kitchener mother of a four and five-year-old, who worries health officials are using a hammer to swat a mosquito.

Then I was told she could come back after a negative test AND symptom free for 24 hours, or after two weeks in quarantine if I decided not to get her tested.

I cant even make this stuff up, thats how ridiculous it all is.

After two aborted attempts at testing due to long lineups, she appealed to the schools principal, who agreed to let her kids, symptom-free, back in.

I dont blame the schools at all, she notes, grateful but exasperated.

Its not the teachers fault. Theyre doing what theyve been mandated to.

I have two kids, aged 10 and 12, who have been back at school five days without incident.

But like most parents, Im on tenterhooks, wondering how long theyll be able to attend with COVID numbers on the rise and flu season around the corner.

One month? Two? Everyone I know is predicting a shutdown, but until now, no one has suggested it would happen before Thanksgiving.

I had a mental bet with myself on how long my kids would make it through the school year before a sniffle or tummy ache sent them home (because every childhood malady=COVID symptoms), posted Waterloo councillor Tenille Bonoguore on Twitter earlier this week.

Got my answer. One day. One.

Bonoguores 7-year-old daughter  who woke up with a sore throat after the first day  was better by the next and headed back to school, symptom-free, on Friday.

But having assumed shed have a couple of weeks before illness reared its head, she senses a rocky road ahead for parents.

I think everyone is on high alert at the start of the year, notes the Waterloo councillor, whose kids, after some confusion, were allowed back without a COVID test.

Well see how things moderate. I would hope there would be some room for nuance.

Perspective counts, she says, and looking at the long game: Its a pandemic. We havent had anything like this in 100 years. Im not going to expect it to be wrinkle free.

You cant really go around blaming schools. I think we just have to help kids get through it.

No one disputes the right of health authorities to err on the side of caution, especially with COVID cases experiencing a provincewide spike.

But finding the balance between public safety and personal stress is a tricky business, and the fallout can be severe.

Its been a really rough and emotional morning, notes Marisa King, whose home business was sidetracked when her son developed a headache on the second day of Grade 1.

My son is heartbroken. Hes waited six months to see his friends, to now be sent home for a headache that was gone within an hour!

Our plans and my work have been turned completely upside down. Its crazy!

According to provincial guidelines, kids who present with COVID-like symptoms  and the list includes everything from sore throat to stomach pain  can return 24 hours after a negative test result is issued.

For a positive result, its a 14-day quarantine.

If a test isnt taken, its a 14 day quarantine.

The lone loophole: if your doc can confirm its not COVID without a test  a big if  your kid can go back 24 hours after symptoms disappear.

At least thats my interpretation. Different parents are being told different things by different schools and daycare centres.

My care provider called me because our daughter had a cough, notes Jesse Free, a single dad whose immunocompromised son necessitated that all three of his school age kids do digital learning.

I was then required to pick up all three and bring them home, forced off work. I subsequently received a call from the region who told me my children will not be allowed to return to care until a negative test result was provided.

People wonder why COVID test lines have suddenly ballooned to three and four hour wait times. This is part of it.

The parking lot was packed with stressed out parents, frustrated children and flustered security guards, notes Free, who says the wait time was 3.5 hours.

I ended up leaving because I couldnt entertain my children long enough. Ill try my luck with my family doctor.

He sounds fed up: I understand the concerns, I really do, but this is frustrating. The balance of paranoia and vigilance is exhausting.

Who are we kidding? This whole back to school plan was flawed from the start, with unreduced class sizes and a lack of social distancing flying in the face of expert recommendations as anxiety among teachers and parents reached a feverish crescendo.

Is it any wonder school boards are playing it safe? These are life and death issues. These are peoples kids.

But nothing happens in isolation.

Its gonna mean I need 30 sick days instead of 10, points out Deborah Rochon, a Kitchener mother of two who works at a local church and anticipates the worst. Ten for me and 10 for each of my kids.

She understands the need for safeguards, but the financial consequences of repeat absences, she notes, could be devastating.

The first time my employer will be good but if it happens a few times  and kids get sick a few times in winter just with coughs or flu  well be stuck.

I know a number of families in the same boat. COVID wiped out all our savings. If my kids get sent home it could ruin us. Its extremely stressful.

You dont have to tell Cambridge mom Tania Gonzalez, whose two-year-old son was sent home from daycare after a loose stool.

My husband and I had to take turns taking time off work while we waited for the (negative) results, notes the marketing company office manager who wonders why, if officials thought her son had COVID, no one at his daycare had to quarantine.

Its extremely hard  not just the taking time off work but still having to pay for daycare while waiting for the results. Im sure this was the first of many more tests to come, especially with flu season around the corner.

Kristan Beshara, who has worked as a nurse for nine years and has two kids in the school system, says testing every kid for every symptom is a gross overreaction.

I know when my kids are sick and when they arent, she insists. I dont think every sign of a sniffle should require them to be tested for COVID. Its not a pleasant test and to subject kids to it unnecessarily is ridiculous.

If a kid seems sick, she says, send them home, monitor for 24 to 48 hours and call the doctor if things dont get better.

If they think at that time they should be subject to the COVID test, then so be it. But Im telling you Im NOT getting my kids tested unless its absolutely necessary.

Its just not sustainable to test every child and family member who has the sniffles. People need to have some common sense and stop panicking.

Paul Maxwell, whose two young children are home from daycare after his three-year-old woke up with a cough, is feeling the stress of a no-win situation.

Do I take my kid for a COVID test and put him through that trauma, especially for a toddler? muses the president of Maxwells Concerts & Events. Or wait it out for 14 days without test?

Either way, he says, hell be paying hefty daycare fees.

We havent even hit cold and flu season yet. How do you get any work done? If this is what its going to look like financially, emotionally and physically, its not sustainable!

Like the others, his frustration is palpable: Its going to create a major public outcry.
Corona-induced CO2 emission reductions are not yet detectable in the atmosphere

Based on current data measured in the energy, industry, and mobility sectors, restrictions of social life during the corona pandemic can be predicted to lead to a reduction of worldwide carbon dioxide emissions by up to eight percent in 2020. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), cumulative reductions of about this magnitude would be required every year to reach the goals of the Paris Agreement by 2030. Recent measurements by researchers of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) revealed that concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere has not yet changed due to the estimated emission reductions. The results are reported in Remote Sensing (DOI: 10.3390/rs12152387).

The corona pandemic has changed both our working and our private lives. People increasingly work from home, have video conferences instead of business trips, and spend their holidays in their home country. The lower traffic volume also reduces CO2 emissions. Reductions of up to eight percent are estimated for 2020. "In spite of the reduced emissions, our measurements show that CO2 concentration in the atmosphere has not yet decreased," says Ralf Sussmann from the Atmospheric Environmental Research Division of KIT's Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research (IMK-IFU), KIT's Campus Alpine, in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. "To reduce CO2 concentration in the atmosphere in the long run, restrictions imposed during the corona pandemic would have to be continued for decades. But even this would be far from being sufficient."

To prove this, researchers additionally studied a long-term scenario that can be controlled well with atmospheric measurements: The goal of the Paris Climate Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius can only be reached by an immediate significant reduction of CO2 emissions and a further decrease down to zero by 2055. "The restrictions imposed during the corona crisis, however, are far from being sufficient. They have just resulted in a one-time reduction by eight percent. To reach zero emissions in the coming decades, cumulative reductions of the same magnitude would be required every year, i.e. 16 percent in 2021, 24 percent in 2022, and so on. For this, political measures have to be taken to directly initiate fundamental technological changes in the energy and transport sectors," Sussmann says.

For the study, the team used data from the Total Carbon Column Observing Network (TCCON). It measured the concentrations in different layers of the atmosphere above Garmisch-Partenkirchen and at other places around the globe. "High-tech infrared spectrometers are applied, which use the sun as a light source. The measurement method is highly precise, uncertainties are in the range of a few thousandths," Sussmann adds.

Long Life of CO2 Prevents Early Detection

According to the researchers, the long life of CO2 and the high background concentrations that have accumulated since the start of industrialization prevent the changes in the atmosphere from being detected. "But also natural impacts make early detection difficult: Anthropogenic emissions, the main cause of the long-term increase in atmospheric CO2, are superposed by annual fluctuations of the growth rate due to natural climate variabilities of ocean sinks and land vegetation," Sussmann says. Successful emission reduction, hence, is hard to detect by atmosphere measurements.

For their study, the researchers compared the TCCON measurements with the prognoses of the atmospheric growth rate for 2020 - with and without corona restrictions. "Precision analysis of atmosphere measurements revealed that the impacts of COVID-19 measures on the atmosphere might be measured after little more than six months, if the reference state without COVID-19 would be predicted precisely," the climate researcher explains. "In any case, we would be able to find out within presumably two and half years, whether global political and social measures will help us find viable alternatives of fossil fuels and reach the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement."

###

Original Publication:

Sussmann, R., and Rettinger, M.: Can We Measure a COVID-19-Related Slowdown in Atmospheric CO2 Growth? Sensitivity of Total Carbon Column Observations, Remote Sens., 12, 2387, 2020. doi:10.3390/rs12152387

More about the KIT Climate and Environment Center: http://www. klima-umwelt. kit. edu/ english

Contact for this press release: Martin Heidelberger, Editor/Press Officer, Phone: +49 721 608-41169, martin.heidelberger@kit.edu

Being "The Research University in the Helmholtz Association", KIT creates and imparts knowledge for the society and the environment. It is the objective to make significant contributions to the global challenges in the fields of energy, mobility, and information. For this, about 9,300 employees cooperate in a broad range of disciplines in natural sciences, engineering sciences, economics, and the humanities and social sciences. KIT prepares its 24,400 students for responsible tasks in society, industry, and science by offering research-based study programs. Innovation efforts at KIT build a bridge between important scientific findings and their application for the benefit of society, economic prosperity, and the preservation of our natural basis of life. KIT is one of the German universities of excellence.

This story has been published on: 2020-09-21. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
SEBEWAING  The 2019-20 school year was challenging because of the coronavirus pandemic and the restrictions imposed because of it.

The challenge continues during this school year as well because school districts like the Unionville-Sebewaing Area School District are offering both online virtual instruction and face-to-face instruction.

USA Schools received a financial boost recently to help with technology for online instruction.

USA Project Connect is helping families with internet access while enrolled in blended or online learning this year. The Michigan College Access Network awarded USA Schools a $10,000 grant for technology.

The district will use the grant funds to purchase 42 Wi-Fi hotspots to allow equitable resources for online and blended learning needs throughout the school year.

Overall, MCAN awarded $34,560 in its ninth round of COVID-19 Response Grants to six organizations in Michigan, the USA school district being one of those that received funding.

Because the state abruptly ordered school districts to close in March and the COVID-19 pandemic is continuing with no end insight, school districts  including USA Schools  started beefing up technology.

Over the summer the school district switched to Merit Internet Service as its provider for Wi-Fi service at a cost of $14,970, and approved having Abadata Computer Corporation of Sebewaing replace 35 wireless access points at a cost of $17,054.

The district also purchased 225 Chromebooks with the Google Chrome Management Operating System from Sehi Computers Products Inc. The cost of each Chromebook is $195, so the total price of the purchase was $43,965.

The grant for Wi-Fi hotspots builds on the districts efforts to provide technology for students.
Trinamool Congress leader Mahua Moitra once again went viral on social media with her speech in the Parliament on Saturday as she came down heavily on the Centre.

Moitra said the PM CARES Fund is against public interest as it is not answerable to Parliament even though it collects funds from the public.

In a fiery speech that is now going viral, Moitra said that 38 public sector companies contributed Rs 2,100 crore to the Fund. This is 70 per cent of the total corpus, she said, adding it should therefore be answerable to Parliament.

The TMC leader also alleged that the Fund got money from Chinese firms like Tik Tok which was banned by India and wondered why the government did not return the donations from such companies. Moitra questioned the need to institute a new fund (PM Cares Fund) when one already existed. Prime Ministers will come and go, but the existence of a fund is not up for discussion? What is this need to name everything after one individual?" she charged.

I wish to ask the naked emperor- WHERE ARE YOUR CLOTHES?https://t.co/YvgnAUCElh via @YouTube Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) September 19, 2020

Moitras speech has impressed many who shared clips from the speech on social media. Moitra led a scathing attack on several bills and acts passed by the government.

One of the most brilliant speeches in the history of the Indian parliamentary democracy. @MahuaMoitra has proven that parliamentary democracy in India is truly alive even if its not necessarily kicking. Thank you mam  Gopi Shankar (@ShankarGopi) September 20, 2020

Maam one more amazing eye-opening speech! Congrats! Keep doing this. You r our only hope.If we had even 5-10 parliamentarians like you, you people could have actually made them stand naked. Dr. Nikhil Aggarwal (@drnikhil143) September 19, 2020

Mindblowing didibhai. it again show taht you have capablity to raise a protest for not only for bengal also for protect indian democracy.point out the right thing right way. It is right time to mention  raja tor kapor koi who is blind not to see the present situatio. Subir Das (@SubirDa68464457) September 20, 2020

When you need a fiery speech in the parliament questioning the autocracy that this government is becoming, leave it out to @MahuaMoitra.. https://t.co/in7ENtH2C2 Koustav Garai (@KoustavGarai) September 22, 2020

After long time I am seeing such powerful speech in Loksabha. Such speeches reinforces faith in parliamentary democracy.  https://t.co/HfLXUJCpWD N Mahawar (@n_mahawar) September 20, 2020

She never disappoints with her incisive questions! https://t.co/QH8pUrmlXX Charles Mathew (@charliemat777) September 20, 2020

TMCs Mahua Moitra shot to fame in 2019 after her debut fiery speech in the Parliament. She had listed the danger signs of early fascism in India and had won the hearts of millions and even secured the attention of the international media. The 42-year-old, who is a former investment banker, even trended on social media after her speech in June 2019 during a debate on the presidents address. She had started her speech by accepting the resounding mandate of the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and had then criticised the dispensation.
For Red Bull Racing, the Grands Prix in Italy was dramatic. The team of Max Verstappen scored zero points in Monza and in Mugello only Alexander Albon managed to score points by riding to his first podium. For a long time there were doubts about Albon's place at Red Bull, but this podium seems to be another step in the right direction for the Thai.

That is what Christian Horner also sees. The Red Bull team boss has confidence in the young driver, which he often expresses. Albon replaced Pierre Gasly in mid-2019 and Gasly has been driving at AlphaTauri ever since. Horner already saw in that year that Albon was doing better than Gasly. When Alex got in the car and scored more points than him in fewer races", Horner explains in a conversation with ESPN.

Gasly not to Red Bull

Gasly himself indicated in an earlier interview that he knew exactly why Red Bull was not doing it, but Horner has his questions about that. I've got no idea what he's talking about. He had absolute equality of equipment to Max. Horner now sees that the Frenchman is doing well at AlphaTauri, but he does not expect a new driver change within Red Bull.

Pierre had a very tough time in the car here last year, so I think it was the right decision to make. He has recovered in that environment, the car is easier to drive, that's inspired confidence and he's got his mojo back. I'm delighted to see that going so well and Alpha Tauri's aspirations as a team have changed from being a junior team to a sister team. Horner therefore thinks that it is not smart to promote Gasly. They are very happy with his performances, he's happy in that environment and I still don't believe we've seen the best of Alex yet, the teamboss concludes.
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Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Oslo, Norway  Tue, September 22, 2020 16:38 487 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c466feea 2 People Nobel-Prize,Nobel-Peace-Prize Free

The Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo in December will be scaled back this year because of the novel coronavirus pandemic, the head of the Nobel Institute said Tuesday.

The prize, which will be announced for 2020 as scheduled on Oct. 9, is traditionally presented to the laureate on Dec. 10, the anniversary of the 1896 death of prize founder Alfred Nobel.

Unlike previous years, this year's ceremony will not be held in the main room of Oslo's City Hall, which can accommodate 1,000 guests, but in the auditorium of Oslo University, which can host around 100 people.

The banquet usually held in honor of the laureate the same evening has meanwhile been cancelled outright.

In July, the Nobel Foundation announced the cancellation -- for the first time since 1956 -- of the Nobel banquet in Stockholm for the prizewinners in the fields of medicine, physics, chemistry, literature and economics.

"We want to be in line with Stockholm and underline that this is an exceptional year: it's therefore good to move the award ceremony to another location," the head of the Norwegian Nobel Institute, Olav Njolstad, told public broadcaster NRK.

Read also: Greta Thunberg nominated for Nobel Peace Prize by Swedish MPs

"Secondly, we would not have been able to have more than 200 people in City Hall in a room that can accommodate 1,000, and it would have felt quite sparse," he said.

It is also not certain whether this year's laureate or laureates will be able to travel to Oslo to accept the prestigious prize in person, and the Nobel Institute is therefore also considering holding an online ceremony, with an in-person invitation postponed until next year, Njolstad told NRK.

The Nobel consists of a gold medal, a diploma, and the prize sum of 9.0 million Swedish kronor ($1.01 million, 865,000 euros).
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Selma Blair cut a casually stylish look while heading out to dinner in Los Angeles on Monday.

The 48-year-old actress shared new snaps on Instagram outside of Mauro's Cafe at Fred Segal in Los Angeles on Monday afternoon.

The Cruel Intentions star also shared with her fans that it was a 'rare' night out amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Stylish: Selma Blair cut a casually stylish look while heading out to dinner in Los Angeles on Monday

Blair was wearing a white jumpsuit from Alex Mill, with a pair of red sunglasses tucked into her pocket.

She also had a large silver heart pendant dangling from a silver necklace around her neck as she stepped out for dinner.

The Hellboy star completed her look with matching white flat shoes, with one of the snaps showing her wearing a green face mask covering her mouth and nose.

Jumpsuit: Blair was wearing a white jumpsuit from Alex Mill, with a pair of red sunglasses tucked into her pocket

'A fresh getup for dinner at Mauros. Clinging to it for dining sanity. Its my one big evening out every so often...the light has been golden from the fires. But clearing,' she began.

'Also Fred Segal is an LA staple and more charming and appreciated than ever. Also! thanks @thealist.us for introducing me to my chic, light, crisp white uniform of @alexmillny,' she added.

The actress added it was a, 'playful cool space and land standard jumpsuit' at the end of her post.

Fresh getup: 'A fresh getup for dinner at Mauros. Clinging to it for dining sanity. Its my one big evening out every so often...the light has been golden from the fires. But clearing,' she began

Her outing comes just two days after she penned a touching tribute to late Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

'Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg . Small and determined, the notorious RBG will always be a leader for equal rights,' Blair began.

'A visionary. A titan of the law. An original. My mother, a magistrate in her own life was also determined and focused but RGB was a major player in our justice system in her own incredible life,' Blair added.

Tribute: Her outing comes just two days after she penned a touching tribute to late Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

'She was radical and cool. She shook up preconceived notions pleasing supporters and skeptics alike. She was a true bipartisan. She could see both sides. May we remember this,' Blair said.

'What is good for the country. Her death on Rosh Hashanah makes her a tzaddik. A person of great righteousness. Peace upon you RBG. You earned it,' Blair concluded.

Blair will next be seen in After We Collided, which is slated for release on October 23.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 14:21:24|Editor: huaxia

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A man rides a bike on the street in Wellington, New Zealand, Sept. 22, 2020. New Zealand reported no new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday as the country embraced the first day of relaxed restrictions, or Alert Level 1, except Auckland, the largest city. (Xinhua/Guo Lei)

WELLINGTON, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand reported no new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday as the country embraced the first day of relaxed restrictions, or Alert Level 1, except Auckland, the largest city.

Auckland will ease restrictions on gatherings at midnight Wednesday, moving down from COVID-19 Alert Level 2.5 to 2, with the rest of the country moving down from Alert Level 2 to Level 1 from midnight Monday.

Auckland saw a second wave of COVID-19 community outbreak in August, with transmissions contained locally. Therefore, Auckland has maintained a higher alert level than the rest of New Zealand.

Auckland's Alert Level 2 means that gathering restrictions will increase from 10 to 100 people. At Alert Level 1, people need to be ready in case COVID-19 reappears. The new levels will be in place for 14 days before new decisions are made on Oct. 5.

There are currently 39 people isolating in the Auckland quarantine facility from the community, which includes 18 people who have tested positive for COVID-19 and their household contacts, according to the Ministry of Health.

Three people are in hospital with COVID-19, none in ICU.

The total number of active cases in New Zealand is 61; of those, 29 are imported cases in managed isolation facilities, and 32 are community cases, said a ministry statement.

New Zealand's total number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 remains at 1,464, with a total of 25 related deaths, it said.
Technavio has been monitoring the smart doorbell camera market and it is poised to grow by USD 2.75 bn during 2020-2024, decelerating at a CAGR of almost 46% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200921005551/en/

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Smart Doorbell Camera Market 2020-2024 (Graphic: Business Wire)

Although the COVID-19 pandemic continues to transform the growth of various industries, the immediate impact of the outbreak is varied. While a few industries will register a drop in demand, numerous others will continue to remain unscathed and show promising growth opportunities. Technavio's in-depth research has all your needs covered as our research reports include all foreseeable market scenarios, including pre- post-COVID-19 analysis. Download a Free Sample Report on COVID-19 Impacts

Frequently Asked Questions:

What are the major trends in the market?

The growing number of smart cities and urbanization are major trends driving the growth of the market.

The growing number of smart cities and urbanization are major trends driving the growth of the market. At what rate is the market projected to grow?

The year-over-year growth for 2020 is estimated at 53.75% and the incremental growth of the market is anticipated to be 2.75 bn.

The year-over-year growth for 2020 is estimated at 53.75% and the incremental growth of the market is anticipated to be 2.75 bn. Who are the top players in the market?

ADT Inc., Alphabet Inc., Amazon.com Inc., Arlo Technologies Inc., August Home Inc., Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Co. Ltd., Newell Brands Inc., SkyBell Technologies Inc., VTech Holdings Ltd., and Xiaomi Corp., are some of the major market participants.

ADT Inc., Alphabet Inc., Amazon.com Inc., Arlo Technologies Inc., August Home Inc., Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Co. Ltd., Newell Brands Inc., SkyBell Technologies Inc., VTech Holdings Ltd., and Xiaomi Corp., are some of the major market participants. What is the key market driver?

The use of security monitoring systems is one of the major factors driving the market.

The use of security monitoring systems is one of the major factors driving the market. How big is the North America market?

The North America region will contribute 48% of the market share.

The market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will decelerate during the forecast period. ADT Inc., Alphabet Inc., Amazon.com Inc., Arlo Technologies Inc., August Home Inc., Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Co. Ltd., Newell Brands Inc., SkyBell Technologies Inc., VTech Holdings Ltd., and Xiaomi Corp. are some of the major market participants. The use of security monitoring systems will offer immense growth opportunities. To make most of the opportunities, market vendors should focus more on the growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments.

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Technavio's custom research reports offer detailed insights on the impact of COVID-19 at an industry level, a regional level, and subsequent supply chain operations. This customized report will also help clients keep up with new product launches in direct indirect COVID-19 related markets, upcoming vaccines and pipeline analysis, and significant developments in vendor operations and government regulations.

Smart Doorbell Camera Market 2020-2024: Segmentation

Smart Doorbell Camera Market is segmented as below:

Product Stand-alone Integrated

Geographic Landscape APAC Europe MEA North America South America



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Smart Doorbell Camera Market 2020-2024: Scope

Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. The smart doorbell camera market report covers the following areas:

Smart Doorbell Camera Market Size

Smart Doorbell Camera Market Trends

Smart Doorbell Camera Market Industry Analysis

This study identifies the growing number of smart cities and urbanization as one of the prime reasons driving the smart doorbell camera market growth during the next few years.

Technavio suggests three forecast scenarios (optimistic, probable, and pessimistic) considering the impact of COVID-19. Technavio's in-depth research has direct and indirect COVID-19 impacted market research reports.

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Smart Doorbell Camera Market 2020-2024: Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2020-2024

Detailed information on factors that will assist smart doorbell camera market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the smart doorbell camera market size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the smart doorbell camera market

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of smart doorbell camera market vendors

Table of Contents:

PART 01: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

PART 02: SCOPE OF THE REPORT

Preface

Currency conversion rates for US$

PART 03: MARKET LANDSCAPE

Market ecosystem

Market characteristics

Value chain analysis

Market segmentation analysis

PART 04: MARKET SIZING

Market definition

Market sizing 2019

Market outlook

Market size and forecast 2019-2024

PART 05: FIVE FORCES ANALYSIS

Bargaining power of buyers

Bargaining power of suppliers

Threat of new entrants

Threat of substitutes

Threat of rivalry

Market condition

PART 06: MARKET SEGMENTATION BY PRODUCT

Market segmentation by product

Comparison by product

Stand-alone Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Integrated Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Market opportunity by product

PART 07: CUSTOMER LANDSCAPE

PART 08: GEOGRAPHIC LANDSCAPE

Geographic segmentation

Geographic comparison

North America Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Europe Market size and forecast 2019-2024

APAC Market size and forecast 2019-2024

South America Market size and forecast 2019-2024

MEA Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Key leading countries

Market opportunity

PART 09: DECISION FRAMEWORK

PART 10: DRIVERS AND CHALLENGES

Market drivers

Market challenges

PART 11: MARKET TRENDS

Growing number of smart cities and urbanization

Technological advances

Product launches

PART 12: VENDOR LANDSCAPE

Overview

Landscape disruption

Competitive scenario

PART 13: VENDOR ANALYSIS

Vendors covered

Vendor classification

Market positioning of vendors

ADT Inc.

Alphabet Inc.

Amazon.com Inc.

Arlo Technologies Inc.

August Home, Inc.

Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Co. Ltd.

Newell Brands, Inc.

SkyBell Technologies Inc.

VTech Holdings Ltd.

Xiaomi Corp.

PART 14: APPENDIX

Research methodology

List of abbreviations

Definition of market positioning of vendors

PART 15: EXPLORE TECHNAVIO

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Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200921005551/en/

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The Rajasthan high court on Tuesday stayed arrest warrants issued against three persons by a special Central Bureau Investigation (CBI) court in connection with alleged corruption in the 2002 sale of a hotel in Udaipur.

The high court also ordered that possession of the property, which was handed over by the court to the state government on September 16, be given back to the private company that ran it.

The courts decision came on petitions filed by Jyotsna Suri, chairperson and managing director of Bharat Hotels Limited, former disinvestment secretary Pradeep Baijal and then managing director of investment firm Lazard India Limited, Ashish Guha.

Petitioners shall not be arrested in pursuance of the arrest warrant issued in relation to the order passed by special judge, CBI cases, Jodhpur. Petitioners shall appear before the court below on October 8 and furnish a personal bond and two sureties, the single-judge bench of justice Dinesh Mehta said.

On September 16, the special CBI court ordered the registration of criminal cases against former Union disinvestment minister Arun Shourie, Baijal, Suri, Guha and Karamsey Vikamsey, then head of valuation firm Kanti Karamsey & Co. The CBI courts order came despite the agency filing a closure report.

The court will hear a petition by Shourie on Wednesday.

The case centres on the sale of the Laxmi Vilas Palace Hotel in Udaipur, earlier run by the Indian Tourism Development Corporation, to Bharat Hotels Limited in 2002. The CBI filed an FIR in 2014, alleging that government lost 244 crore in the sale.

Justice Mehta said that attaching the property of a running hotel business for a transaction that took place in 2002,that too, without notice to the petitioner or her hotel, is beyond comprehension; particularly when a decision about the petitioners involvement or guilt was yet to be taken by the court.
BEIRUT - Over half of the Lebanese are living below the poverty line and a fourth of the population is in a state of extreme poverty, the Lebanese government has said. The cabinet launched the alarm in a context of grave deterioration of the political and economic crisis, the worst in Lebanon in 30 years, which was amplified by the coronavirus pandemic and by the effects of the devastating explosion on August 4 in Beirut.

According to Assem Abi Ali, director of the Lebanon Crisis Response Plan of the Lebanese social affairs ministry, estimates elaborated in March by the World Bank have worsened over the past few weeks: ''the World Bank - Abi Ali was quoted as saying by local media on Tuesday - stated that 45% of the Lebanese population is below the poverty threshold and 22% of the population lives in a situation of extreme poverty. In the summer - he continued -we reached 60% of the Lebanese who are living below the poverty line and 25% in extreme poverty''.

Meanwhile the minister for social affairs, Ramzi Musharrafiye, announced that the government, with the financial help of European countries, including Italy, will start distributing food stamps to tens of thousands of disadvantaged families. The aid will be distributed after the ministry will have selected those most in need among a long list of requests.

The World Food Program supports the Lebanese government in this process, said Lebanese daily L'Orient-Le Jour.

Assem Abi Ali said there are at the moment 250,000 families who need food stamps in Lebanon. Only 55,000 can be helped currently, until 2022, he added. Each family member will have a right to a periodical bonus of 70,000 Lebanese lira, or about 7 euros, under today's exchange rates. Each family can receive a maximum of six stamps.


Seamless coordination ensured that there are just 38 local terrorists active in Kashmir

Salim Parray gone: Cops gun down Kashmirs most dreaded terrorist

J&K youth being tricked into joining terror ranks by Pakistan: Officials

Terrorist gunned down in Budgam, J&K

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Srinagar, Sep 22: An unidentified militant was killed on Tuesday in an overnight encounter with security forces in Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said.

The encounter began on Monday evening in the Nawad area of Charar-e-Sharief in central Kashmir's Budgam after the security forces launched a cordon and search operation there following information about the presence of militants, a police official said.

He said the security forces maintained a tight cordon of the area throughout the night and the gun fight resumed this morning.

3 terrorists gunned down in encounter with security forces

In the exchange of fire, a militant was killed, the official said.

He said the identity and group affiliation of the slain militant were being ascertained.

#Tesla 'secretly planning' R&D Centre in #Bengaluru? | Oneindia News

The operation is going on, the official added.

On Monday, when the cordon was being established, a CRPF trooper was injured in firing.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Tuesday, September 22, 2020, 12:24 [IST]
Domestic carriers will be required to give full refund on air tickets booked prior to lockdown for travel up to May 24 on national and international routes. This was clarified by the Centre in a fresh affidavit filed in Supreme Court on Tuesday. The affidavit came on the eve of a scheduled hearing on a bunch of PILs before the top court where the Centres scheme for refund of flights cancelled during lockdown is expected to be taken up for consideration.

This is the second affidavit jointly filed by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). On September 9, the top court had asked the Centre to file an additional affidavit to clarify whether the credit shell and incentive scheme formulated by Centre extended just to tickets booked during lockdown or the period prior to it. Several passengers had booked their tickets in advance and failed to get refunds from airlines after a travel ban during lockdown led to cancellation of their flights.

Clarifying its stand, the latest affidavit by Amit Gupta, Director with DGCA said, Passengers who have booked tickets prior to lockdown for travel up to May 24, 2020 (as the calibrated domestic operation recommenced from May 25, 2020), refund of fares to the passengers covered under this category shall be governed by the proposed formulation related to credit shell and incentive scheme.

Under this proposed formulation, if the airline is not in a financial position to refund within 15 days, a credit shell will be created in the name of the passenger that he/she can avail while flying next with the airline on any route on or before March 31, 2021. This credit shell will be transferrable and if the money is kept idle in the credit shell, the passengers will be entitled to 0.5 per cent interest from the date of cancellation till June 30 and thereafter, 0.75 per cent interest till March 31, 2021. The airline will be liable to return the credit shell amount with interest to the passenger after March 31, 2021.

The scheme will apply to all passengers who booked their tickets on domestic airline either individually or through travel agent for travel on domestic and international routes (provided flight originates from India). As regards foreign carriers, the credit shell scheme will not apply and passengers will be entitled to refund of fare within 15 days.

For passengers who booked tickets during the lockdown, the DGCA came out with a notification on April 16, 2020 providing for immediate refund. This notification clearly specified that airlines were not supposed to book tickets knowing about the travel ban in place. The latest affidavit also catered to tickets booked for travel after May 24. It said, Passengers who booked tickets at any period of time but for travel after May 24, 2020, refund of fares to the passengers covered under this category shall be governed by the provisions of Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR).

Advocate Jose Abraham appearing for one of the petitioners before the Court  Pravasi Legal Cell expressed satisfaction with the clarification issued by Centre. Speaking to HT, he said, We are happy that the Centre has accepted that those who booked tickets prior to the lockdown will get full refund within 15 days or credit shell facility and incentive scheme. Their earlier affidavit of Centre dated September 5 did not state so.

The Centre in its earlier affidavit referred to two categories of passengers  those who booked tickets from March 25 to April 14 (lockdown period) and those falling under any other cases without specifying the period of travel.

One grey area still remains as the scheme does not extend to international flights (both domestic and foreign carriers) where the flight originated outside India. For international air tickets to avail the proposed refund scheme, the booking must be ex-India, states the affidavit. This term is not defined in the Aircraft Act, 1934 or the Aircraft Rules, 1937, but the affidavit states, In aviation industry, this term denotes the flights which are originating from India.

Pravasi Legal Cell will challenge this aspect as several Indians arriving from foreign destinations could not arrive in the country as their flights stood cancelled during lockdown. This is a grey area still in the affidavit and we will seek clarification from Centre when the matter comes before the Court, said advocate Jose Abraham.

The scheme has largely found approval from all airline operators and travel agents. Some tour operators had on the previous date of hearing objected to the creation of credit shell in the name of passengers. The tour operators informed the Court that tickets are booked in advance without collecting money from passengers and hence the credit shell should not be in the name of the passenger.

The Centre clarified in its latest affidavit that the ticket will remain in the name of the passenger and in case the credit shell is utilized by the passenger, he/she has to pay to the agent and not the airline. But in case if the amount is not utilized, the money will go back to the same account of the agent from which the ticket amount was paid to the airline.
Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday would not promise a vote on President Donald Trump's nomination to the Supreme Court before the election.

McConnell said he would wait for the person to come out of Senate Judiciary Committee hearings and then set the date for the vote on the Senate floor.

'When the nomination comes out of committee, then I'll decide when and how to proceed,' he said after the Senate Republicans' lunch on Capitol Hill Tuesday.

He would not address if that vote would be before or after November 3, when voters decide who will be the next president of the United States.

President Trump has pushed for a vote on his nominee before the general election but McConnell could be more peckish on the timing to help out his senators in tight re-election contests who would prefer to deal with the issue after the voters go to the polls.

Timing in the Senate is also tough. There would be less than 40 days before the election to complete the process when most nominations take at least 70 days. Traditionally a nominee holds meetings with senators, has a confirmation hearing that could take two or three days, has to be voted out of committee and then has the final vote on the Senate floor.

Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell would not promise a vote on President Donald Trump's nomination to the Supreme Court before the election

Most Republican senators have said they back the president's right to move forward with a replacement for the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg instead of waiting for the winner of November's contest to name her replacement.

Senator Mitt Romney - the last remaining Republican holdout - said he would back the president and vote for a nominee in an election year.

'I intend to follow the Constitution and precedent in considering the president's nominee. If the nominee reaches the Senate floor, I intend to vote based upon their qualifications,' Romney said in a statement Tuesday morning.

And the president said he will announce his nominee on Saturday at the White House.

'I will be announcing my Supreme Court Nominee on Saturday, at the White House! Exact time TBA,' Trump tweeted on Tuesday morning.

The White House, meanwhile, would not address the timing of a Senate vote or if they thought they had enough votes to confirm the president's pick. While enough Republican senators have said they support moving forward in the nomination process, not all of them have promised to vote for the nominee, who has yet to be named.

'We go about this the way we always have putting forward a constitution abiding textualist, originalist that we believe the American people will appreciate and get through the approval process,' White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said at her press briefing on Tuesday.

And she wouldn't address if Republicans have the 51 votes needed for confirmation.

'I haven't spoke to him about the vote count,' she said of her talks with the president. 'We believe the Republicans will remained unified.'

President Donald Trump said he will announce his nominee to the Supreme Court on Saturday at the White House

Senator Mitt Romney - the last remaining Republican holdout - said he would back the president and vote for a Supreme Court nominee in an election year

Romney was the Democrats' last chance to pick off a Republican senator to support them in their quest to keep Ginsburg's court seat open until after the November election.

Even if Romney had sided with Democrats, the odds of their being able to keep the nomination off the Senate floor would be slim given only two other Republican senators said the nomination should wait. A total of four GOP lawmakers would need to defect.

Romney, a frequent critic of President Trump who voted for one article of impeachment against him, told reporters on Capitol Hill there is historic precedent for when one party controls the White House and the Senate for their nominations to be confirmed.

'I think there's some perception on the part of some writers and others that gee what happened with Merrick Garland and some others was unfair. I don't agree with that,' he said in reference to Barack Obama's 2016 Supreme Court nominee.

'I think at this stage its appropriate to look at the constitution and to look at the precedent which has existed since the beginning of our countrys history. In the circumstance where a nominee of a president is from a different party than the Senate then, more often than not, the Senate does not confirm. So the Garland decision was consistent with that. On the other hand, when there's a nominee of a party that is in the same party as the Senate, then typically they do confirm. So the Garland decision was consistent with that. And the decision to proceed now with President Trump's nominee is also consistent with history. I came down on the side of the institution and precedent as I've studied it. And, and made the decision on that basis,' he noted.

He declined to say if he would change his mind if Democrat Joe Biden wins the November election.

'I'm not going to get into the particulars of who wins and who doesn't. There are there are many possibilities that we could go through. I've indicated that what I intend to do, is to proceed with the consideration process and if a nominee actually reaches the floor, then I will vote based upon the qualifications of that nominee,' he said.

President Trump poses with the Supreme Court justices in June 2017: From left are, Associate Justices Elena Kagan, Samuel A. Alito, Jr., Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Anthony Kennedy, Chief Justice John Roberts, Jr., the president, Associate Justices Neil Gorsuch, Clarence Thomas, Stephen G. Breyer, and Sonia Sotomayor

Although Trump hasn't named his pick to the court - Judge Amy Coney Barrett is reported to be at the top of his short list with Barbara Lagoa at a 'distant second' - the nomination process appears to be all wrapped up with enough Republican senators on board to ensure the nominee gets a vote on the Senate floor.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham said Trump 'has the votes' to confirm his pick after two key Republican senators said they would back the president.

He said the timing of the confirmation vote was up to McConnell but he's confident the Judiciary panel could hold the hearings it needed in time for a vote before Election Day.

"I'll leave it up to Mitch. I'm confident we can have a hearing that will allow the nominee to be submitted to the floor before Election Day. Following the precedents of the Senate, I think we can do that. I'll tell you more about the hearing when we get a nomination Saturday, if that's when it is,' Graham told reporters on Capitol Hill Tuesday.

And he shrugged off the request of some senators to skip the confirmation hearings, which could become contentious amid Democratic objections over holding them in an election year instead of waiting to see who wins the White House in November.

'I think it's important to the country to have a hearing,' he said.

Graham is a part of a group of Republican senators pushing to hold the vote before the November 3 election.

'We've got the votes to confirm Justice Ginsburg's replacement before the election. We're going to move forward in the committee, we're going to report the nomination out of the committee to the floor of the United States Senate so we can vote before the election. Now, that's the constitutional process,' he told Fox News' Sean Hannity on Monday night.

Graham is one of many Republican senators who did not back then President Barack Obama's nomination to the Supreme Court in the 2016 election year but said they would back Trump's pick in this election year.

'I want you to use my words against me. If there's a Republican president in 2016 and a vacancy occurs in the last year of the first term, you can say Lindsey Graham said let's let the next president, whoever it might be, make that nomination,' the senator said four years ago when arguing against the Garland nomination.

Graham said his stance changed after the heated confirmation process for Trump's last nominee, Brett Kavanaugh.

'They said they tried to destroy Brett Kavanaugh so they could fill the seat - they were dumb enough to say that. I've seen this movie before. It's not going to work, it didn't work with Kavanaugh,' he told Fox News.

Graham's confident statements came after Iowa Sen Chuck Grassley, the former Judiciary Committee chair, and Colorado Sen Cory Gardner confirmed that they will back a hearing for Trump's nominee.

South Carolina Sen Lindsey Graham expressed confidence in Trump's chances of rushing through a Supreme Court pick in an interview with Fox News on Monday

President Trump's chances of confirming a nominee were boosted after Iowa Sen Chuck Grassley (left) and Colorado Sen Cory Gardner (right) confirmed that they will back a vote in an election year

It had been speculated that Grassley could try to block the nomination process because he'd previously opposed filling Supreme Court vacancies during an election year.

'The Constitution gives the Senate that authority, and the American people's voices in the most recent election couldn't be clearer,' Grassley said in a statement.

Grassley was chairman of the Judiciary Committee when Republicans blocked Obama's pick in 2016, when he joined McConnell in arguing that it was best to let voters decide who should fill the Supreme Court seat.

The senator maintained that stance as recently as this summer, telling reporters that he would still hold that position if he were chairman. But now he says he supports the president.

Gardner's stance was also in question because he faces a tough re-election race in his home state, and some thought he could side with Democrats to boost his standing among moderate voters.

But Gardner said: 'When a President exercises constitutional authority to nominate a judge for the Supreme Court vacancy, the Senate must decide how to best fulfill its constitutional duty of advice and consent.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell vowed on the Senate floor Monday there will be a vote on President Trump's Supreme Court pick this year

'I have and will continue to support judicial nominees who will protect our Constitution, not legislate from the bench, and uphold the law. Should a qualified nominee who meets this criteria be put forward, I will vote to confirm.'

The news of both senators preparing to back Trump came as a blow to the Democrats fighting to block Trump and McConnell's plans to rush the court appointment.

The nomination will come just six weeks before the election and has sparked fierce debate, particularly after Ginsburg - a beloved liberal icon - made her last wishes known.

Ginsburg, who died Friday from complications from colon cancer, dictated a statement to her granddaughter Clara Spera before her death, saying: 'My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed.'

Democrats have used her statement and Republican actions in 2016 - when they wouldn't move forward with Obama's nomination of Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court, citing election year politics - as the basis of their argument for holding off on confirming a new judge.

The Republican argument at the time was that the position should not be filled until a new president was elected by the American people - a standard set by the Republicans that the Democrats now argue the party must continue to honor.

Two GOP senators - Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins - have said the nomination should wait until after the November 3 election.

Trump criticized both of them for their stance. Collins, notably, did not rule out voting for the president's nominee if it came to the floor this year. She is in a tough re-election campaign. Murkowski doesn't face voters again until 2022.

Republican Senator Ted Cruz defended his colleagues' decision to support Trump's nomination after failing to support Obama's.

'Everybody has changed their position,' the GOP senator from Texas told CBS' 'This Morning.'

'Every Democrat has flipped,' he added. 'There's a reason for that. Both sides believe something fundamentally different about Supreme Court justices. The Democrats and Joe Biden have promised to nominate liberal activist judges.'

He noted Republicans - both President Trump and Senate Republicans - ran for office promising to name conservative judges to the courts, adding that since the GOP kept control of the Senate in the 2018 midterms, voters gave them the nod of approval to confirm a justice.

'President Trump ran promising to nominate principled constitutionalists to the court. The American people elected him.The American people elected a Republican majority three times in 2014, 2016, 2018. The Republican majority in the Senate ran promising to confirm constitutionalist judges,' Cruz said.

Two GOP senators - Lisa Murkowski (left) and Susan Collins (right) - said the new Supreme Court nominee should be named after the election

Judge Amy Coney Barrett (left) has reportedly emerged as Trump's top choice to replace Ginsburg, sources say - and Barbara Lagoa (right) is a 'distant second'

Republican Senator Ted Cruz defended his colleagues' decision to support President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee

Many Republicans senators have said they support voting on President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee in an election year after refusing to back then President Barack Obama's nominee in 2016

Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell, in March 2016, refused to bring President Barack Obama's Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland (above) to the Senate floor for a vote

In March 2016, Obama nominated Judge Merrick Garland,a moderate jurist, to fill the vacancy left by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia.

But McConnell refused to bring Garland's nomination to the Senate floor, saying the winner of the November election should get to pick the next justice even though the contest was eight months away.

Now McConnell and most of his Republican senators say they will back Trump's nominee, noting the circumstances are different from four years ago since their party controls both the White House and the Senate.

'We're going to vote on this nomination on this floor,' McConnell said Monday in a Senate floor speech.

Unfazed by the intense pressure to delay the nomination process, Trump has said he is 'strongly considering' five candidates to replace Ginsburg, with Barrett emerging as a favorite.

Trump met with Barrett, a judge on the Seventh Circuit and mother of seven who adopted two children from Haiti, at the White House on Monday.

Bloomberg reported that the president is 'leaning toward' Barrett for the nomination but is also planning to meet with another contender, Lagoa, sometime this week.

Sources told the outlet that Lagoa, a judge on the US Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit and former justice on the Florida Supreme Court, is the only other person being seriously considered for the job, but she is a 'distant second' to Barrett.

Trump said Monday that he will wait to announce his nomination until Friday or Saturday  after funeral services for Ginsburg have concluded.

'I think it'll be on Friday or Saturday,' Trump said of the impending announcement for his third Supreme Court nomination. 'And we want to pay respect. We, it looks like, it looks like we will have probably services on Thursday or Friday, as I understand it.'

'I think in all due respect we should wait until the services are over for Justice Ginsburg,' he told the Fox & Friends panel during a Monday morning call-in interview. 'And so we're looking probably at Friday or maybe Saturday.'

Trump told Fox & Friends Monday morning he will reveal his pick to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Friday or Saturday, claiming he wanted to 'respect' her by waiting until after her funeral services to make the announcement

Trump said he is 'seriously considering' five or four different people for the job, as a person familiar with the process said the White House narrowed it down to four women  Amy Coney Barrett, Barbara Lagoa, Kate Todd and Allison Jones Rushing

Speaking to reporters before leaving the White House on Monday, Trump urged the Senate to vote on the nomination before the election, claiming there is 'plenty of time' to get someone through the process before Election Day on November 3.

'I'd much rather have a vote before the election because there's a lot of work to be done,' the president asserted. 'We have plenty of time to do it. I mean there's really a lot of time. So let's say I make the announcement on Saturday, there's a great deal of time before the election. That'll be up to Mitch in the Senate. I think it sends a good signal. And it's solidarity I'm just doing my constitutional obligation.'

WHO'S WHO ON TRUMP'S SUPREME COURT SHORTLIST REPUBLICAN SENATORS Ted Cruz, Texas. 49 Josh Hawley, Missouri. 40 Tom Cotton, Arkansas. 43 JUDGES Bridget Bade, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. 54 Stuart Kyle Duncan, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. 48 James Ho, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, 47 Gregory Katsas, U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. 56 Barbara Lagoa, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. 52 Carlos Muniz, Supreme Court of Florida. 51 Martha Pacold, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. 41 Peter Phipps, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. 47 Sarah Pitlyk, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. 43 Allison Jones Rushing, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. 38 Lawrence VanDyke, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. 47 CURRENT AND FORMER REPUBLICAN OFFICIALS Daniel Cameron, Kentucky Attorney General. 34 Paul Clement, partner with Kirkland & Ellis, former solicitor general. 54 Steven Engel, assistant attorney general for the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel. 46 Noel Francisco, former U.S. solicitor general. 51 Christopher Landau, U.S. ambassador to Mexico. 56 Kate Todd, deputy White House counsel. 45 Advertisement

At the same time signaling 'respect' for the late justice, the president also brought into question her 'dying wish' that she not be replaced by a Trump nominee.

He cast doubt on Ginsburg's dying wish to have the next president replace her on the Supreme Court, alleging it was actually written by a Democrat.

Trump said it was actually Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi or House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff who were behind the justice's last request.

There is not proof that this allegation has any validity and Trump did not offer any explanation.

'I don't know that she said that, or was that written out by Adam Schiff, Schumer and Pelosi,' Trump said during his Fox & Friends interview.

'I would be more inclined to the second, it sounds so beautiful. But that sounds like a Schumer deal or maybe a Pelosi or shifty Schiff. So that that came out of the wind. Let's see. I mean, maybe she did and maybe she didn't,' he added.

Ginsburg's granddaughter Clara Spera said that in her dying days, the liberal justice dictated a dying wish to her.

'My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed,' she said.

Trump told reporters before boarding Marine One from the South Lawn Monday: 'It just sounds to me that it would be someone else. I don't believe  it could be, it could be and it might not be too.

'It was just too convenient,' he added.

Trump also lashed out at House Speaker Pelosi on Monday - calling her 'crazy' after she refused to rule out impeaching him in a gambit that could be used to stall a Supreme Court confirmation process.

Trump blasted the idea  which has some political risks and practical flaws  as he defended his infamous July 25, 2019 call with the president of Ukraine that was the subject of the Democratic impeachment effort as 'perfect.'

'@SenateGOP Crazy Nancy Pelosi wants to Impeach me if I fulfill my Constitutional Obligation to put forth a Nominee for the vacated seat on the United States Supreme Court. This would be a FIRST, even crazier than being Impeached for making a PERFECT phone call to Ukrainian Pres,' Trump tweeted Monday morning.

The attack came hours after Pelosi refused on Sunday to rule out impeachment as one of the 'options' Democrats could avail themselves of in an effort to try to stall a vote on the judicial vacancy.

'We have our options. We have arrows in our quiver that I'm not about to discuss right now but the fact is we have a big challenge in our country,' she told ABC's 'This Week ' when asked about the prospect.

'This president has threatened to not even accept the results of the election,' Pelosi continued. 'Our main goal would be to protect the integrity of the election as we protect the people from the coronavirus.'

Trump also attacked House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Monday as 'crazy' after she refused to rule out impeaching him in a gambit that could be used to stall a Supreme Court confirmation process

'We have our options. We have arrows in our quiver that I'm not about to discuss right now but the fact is we have a big challenge in our country,' said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who was asked if she might use impeachment as a tactic to slow a Supreme Court nomination

Ginsburg will be honored in a viewing outside the Supreme Court building later this week, according to pandemic-era guidelines.

The late Justice will lie in state this week as her casket will be on public view Wednesday and Thursday at the Supreme Court Building and Friday in National Statuary Hall in the US Capitol. Private ceremonies will also be held at both locations.

Pelosi announced Monday that the formal ceremony at the Capitol on Friday morning is invitation-only due to the COVID pandemic.

It's unclear if Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden will pay their respects and, if so, when.

Ginsburg will be buried next week at Arlington National Cemetery in a private service, the court said in a statement. Her husband, Martin Ginsburg, was buried at Arlington in 2010.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who was lovingly referred to as RBG, died last week at the age of 87 due to complications from an ongoing battle with pancreatic cancer. She will be honored in an outdoor viewing near the Supreme Court building later this week

The president has signaled an impending announcement following the death of Ginsburg last week, claiming it's his 'obligation' to nominate a new justice 'without delay.'

With Ginsburg's passing, only two of the remaining eight justices are women, prompting Trump to promise over the weekend he will nominate a female.

There are four women who have made the shortlist, a source with knowledge of the process said, according to Politico  Barrett, Lagoa, Kate Todd and Allison Jones Rushing.

Barrett is 48, Lagoa is 52, Rushing is 38 and Todd is 45. If any of these women are nominated and confirmed, they would be the youngest currently seated on the current Supreme Court.

'These are the smartest people, the smartest young people, you like to go young, because they're there for a long time,' Trump told Fox & Friends.

He added that his nominee would 'abide by the Constitution,' be a 'good person' and have 'very, very high moral values.'

Who is Amy Coney Barrett? On Saturday afternoon, Trump named Amy Coney Barrett, 48, of the Chicago-based 7th Circuit and Barbara Lagoa, 52, of the Atlanta-based 11th Circuit as possible nominees. Emerging as the favorite is Barrett, 48, a mother of seven children, including two adopted from Haiti and one with special needs. Her involvement in a cult-like Catholic group where members are assigned a 'handmaiden' has caused concern in Barret's nomination to other courts and is set to come under fierce review again if she is Trump's pick. The group was the one which helped inspire 'The Handmaids Tale', book's author Margaret Atwood has said. Barrett emerges now as a front runner after she was already shortlisted for the nomination in 2018 which eventually went to Brett Kavanaugh. Trump called the federal appellate court judge 'very highly respected' when questioned about her Saturday. Born in New Orleans in 1972, she was the first and only woman to occupy an Indiana seat on the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Married to Jesse M. Barrett, a partner at SouthBank Legal in South Bend and former Assistant United States Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana, the couple have five biological and two adopted children. Their youngest biological child has Down Syndrome. Friends say she is a devoted mother - and say with just an hour to go until she was voted into the 7th District Court of Appeals by the U.S. Senate in 2017, Barrett was outside trick-or-treating with her kids. Barrett's strong Christian ideology makes her a favorite of the right but her involvement in a religious group sometimes branded as a 'cult' is set to be harshly criticized. In 2017, her affiliation to the small, tightly knit Christian group called People of Praise caused concern while she was a nominee for a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. The New York Times reported that the practices of the group would surprise even other Catholics with members of the group swearing a lifelong oath of loyalty, called a covenant, to one another. They are also assigned and held accountable to a personal adviser, known until recently as a 'head' for men and a 'handmaid' for women and believe in prophecy, speaking in tongues and divine healings. Members are also encouraged to confess personal sins, financial information and other sensitive disclosures to these advisors. Advisors are allowed to report these admissions to group leadership if necessary, according to an account of one former member. The organization itself says that the term 'handmaid' was a reference to Jesus's mother Mary's description of herself as a 'handmaid of the Lord.' They said they recently stopped using the term due to cultural shifts and now use the name 'women leaders.' The group deems that husbands are the heads of their wives and should take authority over the family while 'the heads and handmaids give direction on important decisions, including whom to date or marry, where to live, whether to take a job or buy a home, and how to raise children,' the Times reported. Unmarried members are placed living with married couples members often look to buy or rent homes near other members. Founded in 1971, People of Praise was part of the era's 'great emergence of lay ministries and lay movements in the Catholic Church,' founder Bishop Peter Smith told the Catholic News Agency. Beginning with just 29 members, it now has an estimated 2,000. According to CNA, some former members of the People of Praise allege that leaders exerted undue influence over family decision-making, or pressured the children of members to commit to the group. At least 10 members of Barrett's family, not including their children, also belong to the group. Barrett's father, Mike Coney, serves on the People of Praise's powerful 11-member board of governors, described as the group's 'highest authority.' Her mother Linda served as a handmaiden. The group's ultra-conservative religious tenets helped spur author Margaret Atwood to publish The Handmaid's Tale, a story about a religious takeover of the U.S. government, according to a 1986 interview with the writer. The book has since been made into a hit TV series. According to legal experts, loyalty oaths such at the one Barrett would have taken to People of Praise could raise legitimate questions about a judicial nominee's independence and impartiality. 'These groups can become so absorbing that it's difficult for a person to retain individual judgment,' said Sarah Barringer Gordon, a professor of constitutional law and history at the University of Pennsylvania. 'I don't think it's discriminatory or hostile to religion to want to learn more' about her relationship with the group. 'We don't try to control people,' said Craig S. Lent. 'And there's never any guarantee that the leader is always right. You have to discern and act in the Lord. 'If and when members hold political offices, or judicial offices, or administrative offices, we would certainly not tell them how to discharge their responsibilities.' During her professional career, Barrett spent two decades as a law professor at the University of Notre Dame, from which she holds her bachelor's and law degrees. She was named 'Distinguished Professor of the Year' three separate years, a title decided by students. A former clerk for late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, she was nominated by Trump to serve on the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in 2017 and confirmed in a 55-43 vote by the Senate later that year. At the time, three Democratic senators supported her nomination: Joe Donnelly (Ind.), who subsequently lost his 2018 reelection bid, Tim Kaine (Va.) and Joe Manchin (W.Va.), according to the Hill. She was backed by every GOP senator at the time, but she did not disclose her relationship with People of Praise which led to later criticism of her appointment. Barret is well-regarded by the religious right because of this devout faith. Yet these beliefs are certain to cause problems with her conformation and stand in opposition to the beliefs of Ginsburg, who she would be replacing. Axios reported in 2019 that Trump told aides he was 'saving' Barrett to replace Ginsburg. Her deep Catholic faith was cited by Democrats as a large disadvantage during her 2017 confirmation hearing for a seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit. 'If you're asking whether I take my faith seriously and I'm a faithful Catholic, I am,' Barrett responded during that hearing, 'although I would stress that my personal church affiliation or my religious belief would not bear in the discharge of my duties as a judge.' Republicans now believe that she performed well in her defense during this hearing, leaving her potentially capable of doing the same if facing the Senate Judiciary Committee. She is a former member of the Notre Dame's 'Faculty for Life' and in 2015 signed a letter to the Catholic Church affirming the 'teachings of the Church as truth.' Among those teachings were the 'value of human life from conception to natural death' and marriage-family values 'founded on the indissoluble commitment of a man and a woman'. She has previously written that Supreme Court precedents are not sacrosanct. Liberals have taken these comments as a threat to the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion nationwide. Barrett wrote that she agrees 'with those who say that a justice's duty is to the Constitution and that it is thus more legitimate for her to enforce her best understanding of the Constitution rather than a precedent she thinks clearly in conflict with it'. Among the other statements that have cause concern for liberal are her declaration that ObamaCare's birth control mandate is 'grave violation of religious freedom.' LGBTQ organizations also voiced their concern about her when she was first named on the shortlist. She has also sided with Trump on immigration. In a case from June 2020, IndyStar reports that she was the sole voice on a three-judge panel that supported allowing federal enforcement of Trump's public charge immigration law in Illinois, The law would have prevented immigrants from getting legal residency in the United States if they rely on public benefits like food stamps or housing vouchers. Advertisement

Who is Barbara Lagoa? Barbara Lagoa , 52, was named by Trump as one of his potential nominees to the Supreme Court. A Cuban American who parents fled to the U.S., Lagoa was born in Miami in 1967. She grew up in the largely Cuban American city of Hialeah. According to the Tampa Bay Times, her parents fled Cuba over five decades ago when Fidel Castro's Communist dictatorship took over. During the 2019 news conference in Miami announcing her appointment to the Supreme Court, she told the crowd that her father had to give up his 'dream of becoming a lawyer' because of Castro. If nominated to the nation's high court by Trump and confirmed by the Senate, the mother of three daughters would be the second Latino justice to ever serve. She served on the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for less than a year after being appointed by Trump and confirmed by the Senate on an 80-15 vote Prior to that she also spent less than a year in her previous position as the first Latina and Cuban American to serve on the Florida Supreme Court. Lagoa is considered a protege of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a close Trump ally. Her position in crucial swing state Florida could help Trump politically. Last week, she voted in the majority in a ruling that barred hundreds of thousands of Florida felons who have served their time from voting unless they pay fees and fines owed to the state. This decision could have a major impact on the presidential race as Florida is often won by a candidate by only razor-thin margins. 'Florida's felon re-enfranchisement scheme is constitutional,' Lagoa wrote in a 20-page concurrence, according to USA Today. 'It falls to the citizens of the state of Florida and their elected state legislators, not to federal judges, to make any additional changes to it.' In 2000 Lagoa was one of a dozen mostly pro bono lawyers who represented the Miami family of Elian Gonzalez, a Cuban citizen who became embroiled in a heated international custody and immigration controversy. In 2016 while in the Florida Third District Court of Appeal, she wrote an opinion reversing the conviction of Adonis Losada, a former Univision comic actor sentenced to 153 years in prison for collecting child porn. She ruled that a Miami-Dade judge erred in not allowing Losada to defend himself at trial. That same month she became unpopular with free press advocates when she was one of three judges who allowed a Miami judge to close a courtroom to the public for a key hearing in a high-profile murder case. They ruled that publicity surrounding the machete murder of a student in Homestead might unfairly sway jurors at a future trial. Lagoa is a graduate of Florida International University and Columbia University Law. She is is a member of the conservative Federalist Society, which stresses that judges should 'say what the law is, not what it should be.' She is married to lawyer Paul C. Huck Jr., and her father-in-law is United States District Judge Paul Huck. Advertisement

WHO IS ALLISON JONES RUSHING? At 38-years-old, Judge Allison Jones Rushing is the youngest woman Trump is considering to become a Supreme Court Justice. The only other potential nominee younger than Rushing is Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, who is 34. But President Donald Trump vowed to nominate a woman to fill Ruth Bader Ginsburg's seat, meaning Rushing is effectively the youngest potential nominee. Trump told Fox & Friends he want to nominate someone young 'because they're there for a long time.' Rushing in from North Carolina and graduated magna cum laude Duke University School if Law in 2007, where she served as executive editor of the Duke Law Journal. She formerly worked at Williams and Connolly and now serves as judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth District. She clerked from 2007-2008 for then-Judge Neil Gorsuch, who went on to become a Supreme Court Justice by Trump's nomination. And also clerked for Justice Clarence Thomas during the 20102011 term. In March 2019, Rushing was confirmed as a federal judge after being nominated by Trump. During the confirmation proceedings, Rushing was asked about her ties to Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF)  which is a conservative Christian group she interned for in 2005 while in law school. ADF has received harsh criticism for opposing LGBT rights and had been labeled a 'hate group' by some. But Rushing said 'Hate is wrong, and it should have no place in our society. In my experience with ADF, I have not witnessed anyone expressing or advocating hate.' Advertisement
Iranian President Hassan Rohani has told the UN General Assembly that although life is difficult under U.S. sanctions, it is harder still [to live] without independence. In a prerecorded address from Tehran on September 22, Rohani said that whichever candidate wins the U.S. presidential election on November 3 he will have to surrender to the resilience of the Iranian people. U.S.-Iranian relations have worsened since 2018 when President Donald Trump withdrew Washington from a landmark multilateral nuclear deal with Iran signed by U.S. President Barack Obama and reimposed sanctions that have devastated the Iranian economy.
The 75 new licenses represent the first opportunity for new competitors to enter the recreational weed dispensary market in Illinois. The process was supposed to incorporate social equity consideration, allowing applicants with minority or female ownership, military service and those who live in an area disproportionately affected by the war on drugs to score extra points on the application.
President Donald Trump talks with Reuters White House correspondent Steve Holland as they walk down the West Wing colonnade with White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows before an interview with Reuters about China, COVID-19 pandemic and other subjects in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on April 29, 2020. (Carlos Barria/Reuters)

Trump Will Announce Supreme Court Nominee on Saturday

President Donald Trump will announce his Supreme Court nominee to replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Saturday after her death was announced last week, setting the stage for a bitter congressional fight ahead of the November election.

I will be announcing my Supreme Court Nominee on Saturday, at the White House! Exact time TBA, Trump wrote on Twitter.

Itll be up to us to make sure our nominee is prepared and up to them to take [the] vote, White House chief of staff Mark Meadows also told reporters on Tuesday morning near the White House. We do know there has been a quick timeline in the past for a number of justices.

Trump, he said, is confident that the nominee can be confirmed in the coming weeks ahead of the November election, potentially tipping the Supreme Court in favor of conservatives 63. The confirmation could have far-reaching implications on issues such as abortion, Obamacare, gun rights, and more.

When asked about the possibility of fallout or danger to Republican senators who are up for reelection, Meadows noted that when GOP senators vote like Republicans, it works well for them during elections.

Over the weekend, Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) both said they will work to try and confirm a judge, with the president saying that he wants to select a woman for the Supreme Court. Trump has already successfully nominated Supreme Court Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch.

Meadowss comments came after Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) announced in a Monday night interview that the GOP has enough votes to confirm Ginsburgs replacement.

Its pretty obvious that if they [Democrats] want an outcome, theyll just destroy anybodys life to keep the seats open, Graham told Fox News Sean Hannity, referring to previous Supreme Court battles in the Trump era.

Top Democrats including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) have both said they will go to lengths to ensure that a Supreme Court justice isnt confirmed in the coming weeks.

The US flag flies at half-staff outside of the US Supreme Court in memory of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, in Washington on Sept. 19, 2020. (Jose Luis Magana/AFP via Getty Images)

Pelosi was asked in a Sunday interview about possibly using impeachment as a way to delay the procedures, and she didnt exactly rule it out. We have a responsibility, we take an oath to protect and defend the constitution of the United States. We have a responsibility to meet the needs of the American people. When we weigh the equities of protecting our democracy, requires us to use every arrow in our quiver, Pelosi responded, without elaborating or providing a plan.

If you care about these things and the kind of country we live in, this election and this vacancy mean everything, Schumer said on the floor of the Senate Monday, explaining why the justice shouldnt be confirmed. By every modicum of decency and honor, Leader McConnell and the Republican majority have no right to fill it.

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg takes the court oath from Chief Justice William Rehnquist, right, during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington. Ginsburgs husband Martin holds the Bible and President Bill Clinton watches at left, on Aug. 10, 1993. (AP Photo/Marcy Nighswander, File)

Republican Sens. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and Susan Collins (Maine) have both said they do not support voting for a Supreme Court nominee ahead of the election.

On Tuesday, Meadows said its still not clear when the process will begin in the Senate.

We still have not made a decision on the timetable. The leader will ultimately make that after we have the hearings in Lindsey Grahams Judiciary Committee, but theyre all engaged ready to get to work and the president, as you have mentioned, plans to make that announcement this Saturday, Meadows told Fox News, adding that he is communicating with McConnell on a regular basis.

Trump also confirmed he will make his nominee selection public on Friday or Saturday, which would come after Ginsburgs funeral service.

And we want to pay respect. We, it looks like, it looks like we will have, probably, services on Thursday or Friday, as I understand it. I think, in all due respect, we should wait until the services are over for Justice Ginsburg. And so were looking probably at Friday or maybe Saturday, he said in a Fox and Friends interview this week.
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If youre a pastor during this election season, the easy path is to say nothing about politics. You wont step on anybodys toes. Nobody will walk out in the middle of your sermon. You wont lose disgruntled members (and donors!). A few people might ask you to say more about politics, and they will grumble, but they wont leave the church. Youre safe.

But does God want you to stay silent at this time?

I cant answer that for you. Its between you and God whether you preach about any political issues at all, and, if you do, which issues you decide to preach about. But I can make some observations that I think will give you a sense of permission (not from me, but from the Bible) to preach about at least some key political issues.

Whether you are a Trump supporter or a Biden supporter or somewhere in between, I intend my first seven points to apply to you, because I believe a democracy is healthy when differing views are expressed thoughtfully and carefully. My last three points will be based on my own preferences in this election.

1. Your listeners need to see that the Bible speaks to all of life, including politics.

Whether you eat or drink, says Paul, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). But can we do politics to the glory of God? Of course, because politics must be included in the phrase whatever you do.

Paul also says that All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for . . . training in righteousness, so that we may be complete, equipped for every good work (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Surely voting in an election is part of every good work that God wants us to do, and that gives a reason why we should expect Scripture to be profitable for . . . training in what kinds of candidates and policies we should support.

But if a pastor goes through an entire election season and gives no teaching about the Bibles application to political questions, he will be acting as if the Bible is irrelevant to political questions. Then how will his listeners ever think that the Bible is relevant for all of life?

In addition, many modern political issues were moral issues that the Bible talked about long before they became political issues in modern society  such as freedom of religion, abortion, sexuality, care for the poor, and racial discrimination. Should pastors not preach about such moral issues when they have implications for politics?

2. God cares about secular governments and their leaders

I decided to search out whether the Bible ever recorded some examples in which Gods people (those who were genuine believers) had a good influence, not just on the nation of Israel, but on secular governments outside of Israel. Does God care about secular governments and their leaders? I found much more than I expected.

For example, Joseph was the highest official after Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and had great influence in the decisions of Pharaoh (see Gen. 41:3745; 42:6; 45:89, 26). Daniel was a high official in King Nebuchadnezzars court. He was ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon (Dan. 2:48). He was regularly at the kings court (v. 49). And he gave moral instruction to the king:

Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity (Dan. 4:27).

I found more examples than these. Nehemiah was cupbearer to the king (Neh. 1:11), a position of high responsibility before King Artaxerxes of Persia. Mordecai was second in rank to King Ahasuerus of Persia (Esth. 10:3; see also 9:4). Queen Esther also had significant influence on the decisions of Ahasuerus, risking her very life in order to save the Jewish people from destruction (see Esth. 5:18; 7:16; 8:313; 9:1215, 2932).

The Bible doesnt merely say that these things happened, but the narrative texts view these events in a positive light, for they regularly record this influence on secular governments as a result of Gods favor toward his people and as a measure of blessing to those governments. This reminds us of Gods promise to Abraham that in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed (Genesis 22:18).

I realize that these examples are not exactly the same as a pastor preaching about politics today, but there are similarities. In the ancient world, giving advice and guidance to the king was the way to bring about beneficial political policies. In modern democracies, voting, and giving guidance to others who vote, is the way to bring about beneficial political policies.

The New Testament provides two additional examples: John the Baptist rebuked the Roman ruler Herod for all the evil things that Herod had done (Luke 3:19), which certainly must have included not only privately known sins but also publicly known governing decisions.

Another possible example is the apostle Paul. While Paul was in prison in Caesarea, he stood trial before the Roman governor Felix:

[Felix] sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you (Acts 24:2425).

The fact that Felix was alarmed and that Paul reasoned with him about righteousness and the coming judgment indicates that Paul was telling Felix that he would be accountable for his actions at the coming judgment. When the book of Acts tells us that Paul reasoned with Felix, the word (present participle of Greek dialegomai) indicates a back-and-forth conversation or discussion. We cannot be sure what they discussed, but it is very possible that Felix asked Paul, What about this decision that I made? What about this policy? What about this ruling? I cannot be sure about this, but at least we can say that Paul was discussing substantive issues with Felix, which may have included governmental decisions, and in that way Paul would have been preaching about politics to a Roman governor.

3. Preaching the whole counsel of God will include preaching about civil government

Pauls ministry also provides a good pattern for pastors to follow today: not merely preaching on our favorite passages of Scripture, but faithfully preaching about everything that the Bible teaches. Paul told the church leaders at Ephesus that he had been faithful in teaching them the whole counsel of God:

Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. (Acts 20:26-27)

I hope I will be able to say that to the thousands of students I have taught in 43 years as a professor of theology: I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27). But surely that must include some teaching about politics.

The New Testament has two passages that specifically address the responsibilities of civil governments (Romans 13:1-7 and 1 Peter 2:13-14) and several other verses with implications for government (such as Matthew 22:21 and 1 Timothy 2:1-3). The Old Testament contains many details about the actions of good and evil kings. The words king and kings occur 112 times in Psalms, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes alone, and ruler/rulers is found another 20 times.

Therefore, if a pastor feels a responsibility for declaring the whole counsel of God to his people, he will have to do some teaching on biblical principles regarding civil government. And what better time to do that than in the middle of an election season when questions about good and bad governmental policies are on everybodys mind?

4. Pastors throughout history have preached about politics

Historian Alvin Schmidt, in his book, How Christianity Changed the World, points out that the spread of Christian influence on government was primarily responsible for outlawing infanticide, child abandonment, and abortion in the Roman Empire (in AD 374); granting of property rights and other protections to women throughout history; prohibiting the burning alive of widows along with their dead husbands in India (in 1829); and outlawing the painful and crippling practice of binding young womens feet in China (in 1912). These reforms all required changes in a countrys laws, which is a political process that could not have happened unless numerous pastors had been teaching government officials and those who influenced them about the evils of these practices (that is, preaching about politics).

In the years leading up to the American War of Independence, many pastors were preaching that resistance to tyranny (that is, resistance to the reign of King George III of England) was a morally good action, while a minority of pastors disagreed, urging continued submission to the British. But the point is that both sides were preaching about the possibility of independence from Britain, which was both a moral issue and the most crucial political issue of the day. In 1750, Boston pastor Jonathan Mayhew delivered one of the most influential sermons in American history, A Discourse Concerning Unlimited Submission, in which he defended the moral goodness of seeking freedom from British tyranny. His sermon was reprinted and widely distributed throughout the American colonies.

Later, pastors played a major role in the struggle against slavery. In fact, two-thirds of the leading American abolitionists in the mid1830s were Christian clergymen who were preaching politics from the pulpit, saying that slavery should be abolished.

And in the 1960s, the American civil rights movement that resulted in the outlawing of racial segregation and discrimination was led by Martin Luther King Jr., a Baptist pastor who dared to preach about such political issues (which were, in actuality, also deeply moral issues).

5. Its not against the law to preach about political issues

It is a widespread myth that churches will lose their tax-exempt status if the pastor begins to speak about political issues. That is not true.

In 1954, the IRS code was amended to prohibit pastors or churches from explicitly saying they support or oppose any individual political candidate by name. (This amendment was introduced by then-Sen. Lyndon B. Johnson, so this is often called the Johnson Amendment.) However, in the 66 years since this amendment was adopted, no church has ever lost its tax-exempt status on the basis of anything a pastor said in the pulpit .

Clarification: In 1992, the IRS did revoke the tax-exempt determination letter they had sent to the Church at Pierce Creek in New York State, not because of anything the pastor had said in the pulpit, but because the church had taken out full-page ads opposing Bill Clinton in USA Today and The Washington Times. The IRS action was more symbolic than harmful to the church because churchs tax-exemptstatus was not affected, and no donations lost their tax-exempt status. This is because, unlike other nonprofit organizations, churches are automatically tax-exempt organizations whether or not they have an IRS determination letter affirming that status.

And the law in any case has never prohibited pastors or churches from taking positions on any moral or political issues that are part of an election campaign.

In addition, many legal experts believe the IRS would lose if this issue ever came into a court of law, because restricting what any pastor can say is a violation of freedom of speech and freedom of religion, both of which are part of the First Amendment to the Constitution. These experts believe the IRS regulation is unconstitutional, and I think they are correct.

Because of the particular status of tax law in the United States, such a law cannot be challenged in court until the IRS brings an action accusing someone of violating it. During the 2010s, a Christian legal advocacy group, the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), coordinated the efforts of hundreds of pastors who intentionally wrote sermons violating the Johnson Amendment by endorsing a candidate by name (such as Mitt Romney for president). The ADF then collected these sermons and sent them to the IRS, hoping that the IRS would charge some of these pastors with violating the Johnson Amendment so that they could finally have the amendment declared unconstitutional in a court of law.

But the IRS did nothing about these sermons. Why? My personal opinion (and it is only that) is that the legal experts in the IRS decided there was too great a possibility that the courts would find that the Johnson Amendment, in telling pastors what they could and could not say, was unconstitutional because it was violating both freedom of religion and freedom of speech, which are First Amendment rights and have higher authority than any law passed by Congress.

The Johnson amendment has never been repealed by Congress, but on May 4, 2017, President Trump signed an executive order directing the Department of the Treasury (which includes the IRS) not to target the tax-exempt status of the churches who favor or oppose specific political candidates.

Separation of church and state? A related objection is that if a pastor preaches about political issues, this will violate the separation of church and state.

In response, the phrase separation of church and state is found nowhere in our Constitution, though it is found in some later Supreme Court decisions. In any case, the phrase just means that the church and the civil government are two distinct organizations, with different people in authority over them. If understood in a positive way, it means that the government should not rule the church, nor should the church rule the government.

It does not mean that the church is prohibited from influencing the state. After all, pastors are also citizens of the nation, and, like all other citizens, they are free to speak their views and seek to persuade others. There is no law against the church influencing the state.

Two kingdoms? Others object that there are two kingdoms in operation  the kingdom of God and the kingdom of man  and that the church should teach about and build the kingdom of God and not get involved in the kingdom of man. Didnt Jesus say, My kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36)?

But surely these two kingdoms influence each other, for good or ill. And surely Christians are still called to do good for those who are not yet members of Jesus kingdom:

So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith (Galatians 6:10)

If we are to obey Jesus command You shall love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:39), that certainly includes seeking good government, not destructive and harmful government, for our neighbors as well as ourselves.



Read Part 2 here.
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. - In close elections, it doesnt take much for third-party candidates to play an outsize role  as Democrats learned the hard way in 2016.

President Donald Trump beat Hillary Clinton in Michigan by fewer than 11,000 votes that year while left-leaning Green Party candidate Jill Stein netted over 51,000 and Libertarian Gary Johnson won 172,000. In Wisconsin, Trump won by about 23,000 votes, fewer than Steins 32,000. And in Pennsylvania, Steins 49,000 votes eclipsed the margin by which Trump defeated Clinton.

Victory in those three states catapulted Trump into the White House. As he seeks another term amid a pandemic and sudden Supreme Court vacancy, there are questions about whether third parties could play a similar role in this years high-stakes election.

Green Party candidates in 2000 and 2016 fundamentally changed the course of the 21st century, said presidential historian Douglas Brinkley of Rice University. Trump has a terrible electoral map right now. The math is leaning against him. A vital third-party candidate would likely help him tremendously.

But third-party candidates are facing hurdles that didnt exist four years ago, potentially weakening their impact.

In a court decision last week, the Green Party candidate was barred from appearing on Pennsylvanias ballot. A flurry of legal challenges will keep significant third-party candidates off the ballot in Wisconsin.

Three other third parties  the Constitution, Libertarian and American Solidarity parties  have spots on the Wisconsin ballot, but Marquette Law School poll director Charles Franklin said theres reason to believe the third parties will have less influence than they did in 2016.

Franklin said recent history shows a falloff in third-party support four years after an election in which the Electoral College result differed from the popular result. Support for the Green Party plummeted in 2004, four years after Ralph Naders Green Party bid helped tip the election away from Democrat Al Gore and to Republican George W. Bush.

It drove home to both voters and nonvoters alike that we can have very close elections, and they have to consider that in deciding whether to cast a third-party vote or not, Franklin said.

Michael Meketa, 26, a registered independent from Johnstown, Pennsylvania, voted in 2016 for Johnsons combination of libertarian and smart economic policies but will opt for Biden this November because of what four years of Trump has wrought.

I saw last time, theres no hope in a third-party candidate in this basically two-party system that we have. But not only that, its just all the damage Trump has done, Meketa said. Im better off voting for Biden, and Id feel better voting for Biden just because theres some civility, some chance for recovery.

In Michigan, 5% of the electorate  nearly 242,000 people -- voted for a third-party candidate in 2016. But it was less than 1% in 2012 and on track to be low again this year, said local pollster Richard Czuba, who believes Democrats this time will stick with their candidate, which they didnt do four years ago.

Those Democrats not only didnt turn out, but a sizable number shifted over to a third party as kind of a protest vote. Oh, Hillary Clintons going to win this. I can protest, said Czuba, of the Lansing-based Glengariff Group. Were not seeing any of that happening this year.

Two of the key factors in the surge of third-party voting in 2016 was the number of voters who disliked both major-party candidates as well as those Democrats who believed there was little chance Trump could win.

For many folks who voted third party, they found both Clinton and Trump as objectionable and parked themselves elsewhere as a protest vote, said Kevin Madden, a Republican strategist who worked on Mitt Romneys 2012 presidential campaign. But there are no charged negative feelings toward Biden like there were toward Clinton. The lack of a third-party candidate hurts Trump.

Enter, Kanye West. Maybe.

The hip-hop star and fashion mogul has launched a scattershot campaign that many of Trumps allies believe could siphon votes away from Biden. With a number of Trump supporters working on the ground to advance Wests campaign, many Democrats view his candidacy as a dirty trick by Republicans.

West has denied the claim, but he has voiced support for Trump before, met with the president in the Oval Office and has sported one of his trademark red Make America Great Again hats.

It was not clear what impact Wests candidacy would have, despite his superstar status and near universal name recognition. He entered the race and failed to get on the ballot in battlegrounds like Michigan and Florida, but he could play spoiler in states where he will appear, like Colorado, Minnesota and Iowa.

Biden has faced questions about the enthusiasm of support he is receiving from African Americans, Brinkley said. This has been such a strange year: if West even gets 2 to 3%, that could matter.

Trump has consistently trailed in national polls this year, though his deficits in the battleground states have been smaller. In 2016, the presence of significant third-party candidates was just one of many factors  among them Clintons negative approval ratings, the FBI investigation into her email server and Russian electoral interference  that tipped the scales late to Trump.

But the presidents team, which has denied playing a role in Wests bid, has done little game-planning for a third-party candidate. Trump, however, has taken to Twitter on occasion to cheer for Stein and the brief third-party bid considered by independent Rep. Justin Amash.

Bidens campaign advisers are well aware of the third-party effects in 2016, but the dynamics leave them with a balancing act, rather than an exclusive focus on either progressive Stein voters or more Republican-leaning Johnson voters. They believe that four years of Trump as president, as opposed to the hypothetical that Trump presented in 2016, opens doors for Biden in both camps.

___

Eggert reported from Lansing, Mich. Glass reported from Minneapolis. Lemire reported from New York. Associated Press writer Bill Barrow in Atlanta contributed to this report.


By Choi Sung-jin





A single "military-related" issue dominated four days of interpellation during the 21st National Assembly's first regular session last week.



Some foreign watchers of Korean affairs might think that North Korea have resumed armed provocations or something. That's not the case. Nor did it involve the Moon Jae-in administration's mid-term arms buildup program involving its wish list of nuclear-powered submarines, light aircraft carriers, or the Korean version of the Iron Dome  Israel's missile defense shield.



The fierce verbal battles between lawmakers and government officials were actually about one soldier and his sick leave.



The big issue is that ex-soldier is the son of the incumbent justice minister, Choo Mi-ae.



The former serviceman, referred to simply by his surname, Seo, was a member of the Korean Augmentation Troops to the U.S. Army (KATUSA). Among Korean soldiers, the acronym is synonymous with easy and comfortable assignments.



According to The Korea Times, Seo had knee surgery in 2015 and joined the army a year later for his mandatory military service that would end in 2018. In June 2017, some eight months after Seo enlisted, he took two consecutive periods of sick leave  a combined 19 days  for repeat surgery and an additional four days of annual personal leave. However, it is alleged that there are no records to back up 13 of the 23 days of total leave which is considered unusually long for an enlisted man.



Now that the prosecution's probe is underway, the truth will be out soon. Some media reports say Seo's unit commander might have given verbal approval at the request of an aide to Choo, then chairperson of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK). In that case, the controversy is likely to end up another storm in a teacup. Even if it doesn't, was the controversy so important as to eclipse all other economic, diplomatic and social issues, such as getting COVID-19 under control, reviving the pandemic-stricken economy, and dealing with the Japanese government led by new Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga?



The reason was clear. The conservative opposition People Power Party (PPP) wants to oust Justice Minister Choo, who has spearheaded President Moon Jae-in's plan to reform  i.e., weaken  the all too powerful prosecution, another conservative group that monopolizes the right to investigate and indict. The PPP has a good excuse: Upon his inauguration in May 2017, President Moon said, "During my time in office, opportunities will be equal, processes will be fair, and results will be just."



As if by unhappy coincidence, however, Moon's past and present "justice" ministers have become entangled in scandals concerning their children. Former Justice Minister Cho Kuk is now on trial mainly due to a controversy surrounding his daughter's admission to a medical college. President Moon, known for his unwavering faith in his subordinates, stood by Cho, saying he had a "debt of gratitude" to the latter. The President did largely the same with the incumbent justice minister on Monday, entering a conference room side by side with Choo to demonstrate his confidence in her job performance. Moon may be a good boss, but far from a shrewd  or efficient  national leader.



In his address to celebrate the first "Youth Day" on Monday, the chief executive reiterated the word "fairness" no fewer than 37 times in an apparent attempt to appease the disgruntled younger generation. In response, however, many young people said they felt Moon's speech was "empty." Watching the two justice ministers and their children, young Koreans are lamenting their lack of "mom's help" or "dad's help." Moon is straightforward by nature and appears to put honor and loyalty ahead of all else. These are good traits for a factional boss. To be a good national leader, however, he needs to be shrewder and more encompassing. These officials might not have directly violated the laws themselves. In politics, however, there are "national sentiment laws." Moon's justice ministers broke these laws.



Historically, Koreans are stereotypically quite envious people. There is an old saying, "You get a stomachache if your cousin buys land," or its more recent version of "You may stand hunger but not a stomachache." Since the old caste system's abrupt collapse under Japanese colonial rule and the consequent fratricidal war, Koreans became even more conscious of equal opportunity and fair competition to climb the social ladder. Owing to the conglomerate-oriented growth strategy and neo-liberalistic economic system, however, most Koreans have learned to remain content with the middle-class life. Now even that is collapsing amid the U.S.-style polarization of the wealth gap rapidly making a 10/90 society.



That, and increasingly narrower job opportunities, have made many Koreans desperate, especially the young. Moon and his center-left party should not get on the nerves of these angry young men (and angry young women) if it is to "remain in power for at least two decades" as its outgoing party chairman once hoped.



Aside from who occupies Cheong Wa Dae, now is a bad time to be mired in petty partisan brawls. The entire planet is gripped by natural and manmade disasters  typhoons, hurricanes, floods, bush fires and pandemics. The world may also be moving toward another global military conflict amid new hegemonic competition between the U.S. and China.



President Moon should let go of Cabinet ministers responsible for causing popular disgruntlement, including the one who had a hand in soaring housing prices and the top law enforcement official who enraged political opponents  and many swing voters  with unnecessary and excessively arrogant behavior.



This is a time when the nation needs unity and harmony more than at any time before. Moon should ditch Private Seo, if only symbolically.





Choi Sung-jin (choisj1955@naver.com) is a Korea Times columnist.


Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 22)  Overseas Filipino worker Rose Policarpio returned home to the country on Tuesday after being acquitted of murder in the killing of her lady employer in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.

Policarpio was imprisoned for almost six years, and was once on the death row for allegedly committing the crime.

This is a vindication of Ms. Policarpio and a clear declaration of her innocence," Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Sarah Arriola said. "This is also a testament that the DFA and its people are willing to go the extra mile in order to protect and safeguard the rights of our kababayan wherever they are in the world.

According to a statement by the DFA, Policarpio was 31 when she flew to Saudi Arabia in 2013 to become a food server. She was imprisoned a few days after being accused of killing her employer.

However, Policarpio stood firm that she did not commit the crime, and was eventually found not guilty by the lower court. The verdict was sustained by the Court of Appeals that led to her release and repatriation.

The DFA settled her incurred immigration penalties and exit visa soon after her release.
Amid new research about the potential impact of COVID-19 on the brain, a Toronto medical firm is showcasing lighter, faster and cheaper MRI technology that makes it easier to scan patients.

Synaptive, a startup that began across the street from Queens Park at the MaRS Discovery District, has developed the Evry, a magnetic resonance imaging machine thats one-fifth the size and weight of the cumbersome existing machines  and about one-eighth the price.

Economic Development Minister Vic Fedeli toured the companys manufacturing facility Monday in a former textile factory on Richmond St. W., and said the technology is very impressive.

Its amazing that its made in downtown Toronto. Its designed, developed and constructed ... in Ontario, Fedeli said Monday after a visit to the 150-employee firm.

Synaptive has a great case to make to places like Ontarios Ministry of Health and other health facilities around the world, the minister said, standing beside crates containing one of the 2,000-pound machines that is being shipped to a Manhattan hospital.

There is already an Evry at the University Health Networks Toronto General Hospital and another in Halifax, with dozens more in operation around the world.

Company president and co-founder Cameron Piron said researchers have detected brain problems in roughly one-third of COVID-19 patients, which suggests more people will have to get scanned in the future.

An American study released last week suggested coronavirus, which had originally been thought to be a respiratory disease, also attacks brain cells, sucking up oxygen and causing cell damage.

Similarly, researchers in the United Kingdom found in July there could be nerve damage and other neurological problems from the virus.

But traditional MRI machines are massive and expensive  weighing between 10,000 and 20,000 pounds depending upon the size of their magnets and requiring 2,000 square feet of space in a hospital.

They are so cumbersome that hospitals must have their floors reinforced and cranes are needed to install some of the largest machines.

Piron said his firms machines take up just 250 square feet and cost $1.2 million (U.S.), compared to $10 million (U.S.) for the previous technology.

With the smaller magnet, we are seeing about a quarter of the cost per scan, he said, noting the new MRIs could replace computerized tomography (CT) scans that use inexpensive old X-ray technology.

As well, the Toronto-made machine can scan COVID-19 patients while they are on ventilators  a significant development.

Fedeli, who along with Premier Doug Ford has been pushing domestic manufacturing of medical technology so Ontario doesnt have to depend upon foreign suppliers, said the province must continue to improve the commercialization of such innovations.

When we talk about R and D, we are great at the R, but we have to get better at the D, the minister said, referring to research and development.

That Synaptive began at MaRS  the Ontario governments medical and research sciences incubator is encouraging, he added.

This is a successful case study in an idea that becomes a product that can be purchased worldwide.

Even though COVID-19 has forced 90 per cent of the firms employees to work remotely  including all the software engineers  the pandemic has increased demand for its other products.

A robotic arm, which uses Canadarm technology from the NASA space shuttle program, is being manufactured with auto-parts giant Linamar in Guelph.

It enables surgeons to remotely perform procedures on patients who may have contracted COVID-19 and is already in use in Vancouver, Edmonton, and Halifax and, by next year, in Toronto.

Using 3-D glasses similar to those worn in IMAX theatres and brain-mapping done by Western University scientists, doctors can more easily navigate when doing procedures.
President Donald Trump dared House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to impeach him a second time after she refused to take that maneuver off the table to stall a Supreme Court vote.

'I'm the only guy in the world that could be impeached for filling a seat,' Trump complained at his Toledo, Ohio rally Monday night, noting that he was 'constitutionally obligated' to nominate a new justice. 'Go ahead, I want them to do that.'

Trump and Senate Republicans want to push through a GOP-approved Supreme Court pick to replace the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg before the November election, when the White House and the Senate could change hands.

President Donald Trump complained Monday night at a rally at the Toledo Express Airport that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wouldn't take impeaching him again off the table. She suggested she could do it to stall him getting a replacement for Ruth Bader Ginsburg through

'I'm the only guy in the world that could be impeached for filling a seat,' Trump told a crowd of supporters in Ohio Monday night. They chanted 'fill the seat' several times, to which the president promised he would

Trump supporters hold up signs including 'fill that seat!' during Monday night's rally at the Toledo Express Airport in Ohio

Democrats are arguing that it's too close to the election, pointing to how Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell refused to allow Democratic President Barack Obama's Supreme Court pick Merrick Garland to get a vote because it was an election year.

Garland was chosen by Obama in March 2016 a month after the death of conservative Justice Antonin Scalia.

During back-to-back campaign events Monday night in Ohio, Trump told crowds his pick would indeed be a woman and that he would announce her name on Friday or Saturday.

At the Toledo Express Airport, Trump was met several times with 'fill the seat!' chants.

On Sunday, Pelosi had refused to take a second impeachment off the table, saying that 'protecting our democracy requires us to use every arrow in the quiver.'

On Monday night, Trump suggested Republicans would take back the House, which polling indicates will not happen.

'We're going to take back the House, we're going to get rid of this "crazy" Nancy Pelosi,' Trump said. 'People are so tired of her.'

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wouldn't take impeaching President Donald Trump a second time off the table as she discussed the tools Democrats could use to stall a Supreme Court nomination

He complained that he was originally impeached over a 'perfect phone call' with the Ukrainian president - a call a whistleblower reported amounted to a 'quid pro quo,' with Trump trying to pressure Ukraine to announce investigations into Hunter and Joe Biden, now officially his Democratic political rival.

'Now they want to impeach me again if I nominate somebody as I'm constitutionally oblicated to do to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States,' Trump said.

As chants broke out asking Trump to 'fill the seat' the president responded, 'We will. We will.'

'If he puts forth a highly qualified candidate, we will impeach you,' Trump said, continuing to knock Pelosi.

He then turned his attention to Biden, who Trump called a 'stone cold loser' at one point.

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany (left) and legislative aide Cassidy Hutchinson are captured doing the 'YMCA' as the Trump rally in Toledo concludes

Trump blasted Biden for not providing a list of potential SCOTUS picks, suggesting it's because the Democrat would 'pack the Supreme Court with far left radicals.'

'He knows they're too extreme to withstand any kind of public review,' Trump charged. 'So he doesn't want to show you who is judges are.'

'You would be unelectable,' Trump continued. 'Hopefully,' he's going to be unelectable anyway,' the president added.

Trump recently expanded on his 2016 Supreme Court list including Republican Sens. Ted Cruz, Tom Cotton and Josh Hawley.

At the rally, the president echoed tweets he had put out earlier.

'Crazy Nancy Pelosi wants to Impeach me if I fulfill my Constitutional Obligation to put forth a Nominee for the vacated seat on the United States Supreme Court. This would be a FIRST, even crazier than being Impeached for making a PERFECT phone call to Ukrainian Pres,' Trump tweeted Monday morning.
Left-wing campaign group Momentum has criticised the 'slogans and platitudes' in Sir Keir Starmer's conference speech.

The Labour leader made clear that he was breaking from the Jeremy Corbyn era in Doncaster this morning and said the party deserved its drubbing at the 2019 general election.

Sir Keir stressed that 'this is a party under new leadership' and touched upon patriotism and family values, while also condemning the Government's handling of the Covid-19 crisis and Brexit negotiations.

In a lengthy Twitter response to the virtual conference speech Andrew Scattergood, co-chair of Momentum - who were strongly supportive of former Labour leader Corbyn - said Starmer must show 'he's a man of his word, not a careerist politician.'

The Labour leader made clear that he was breaking from the Jeremy Corbyn era in his speech in Doncaster this morning and said the party deserved its drubbing at the 2019 general election

He said: 'Keir Starmer taking the fight to Boris Johnson today is welcome, but after months of the leadership not commenting on policies, Keir Starmers speech was a missed opportunity to show substance.

'If Starmer wants to appeal to working class voters, his pitch should be based on solidarity with the working class and defending their interests, not empty slogans and platitudes.

In a lengthy Twitter response to the virtual conference speech Andrew Scattergood, co-chair of Momentum - who were strongly supportive of former Labour leader Corbyn - said Starmer must show 'he's a man of his word, not a careerist politician'

'74% of people want test and trace taken away from private firms yet Starmer was silent on the catastrophic failure caused by the outsourcing of test and trace, including to companies with links to the Conservative Party, or of Labour's opposition to privatisation.'

Mr Scattergood said Sir Keir failed to mention the lifting of the eviction ban and also didn't reference the Black Lives Matter movement.

He added: 'Even as Starmer pledged to win back trust, his Shadow Foreign Secretary suggested on Politics Live that he is rowing back on key promises from his leadership campaign to tax the super rich and corporations and to bring key services into public ownership.

'Breaking your promises to your electorate is no way to win back trust. If Starmer wants to win this countrys confidence, he must show hes a man of his word, not a careerist politician wholl say what is needed to win power and then abandon his promises once he gets there.'

But The Confederation of British Industry welcomed Labour leader Sir Keir's commitment to invest in education and tackling the climate crisis.

Director general Dame Carolyn Fairbairn said: 'The Labour leader is right to prioritise investment in education and skills to manage the impact on the labour market and deliver high-quality jobs for the future.

Former leader Jeremy Corbyn at the Commonwealth Day Service, Westminster Abbey, in March this year

'The emphasis on efforts to tackle climate change is also welcome and something business is wholly committed to.

'From a sustained energy efficiency drive to delivering next generation low carbon transport, a green recovery offers huge economic opportunities across all parts of the UK.

'The past six months have shown what is possible with brilliant collaboration between the public and private sectors, and firms will be looking for Labour to set out how it will work with business on these shared challenges in the months ahead.'

And Frances O'Grady, General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress tweeted that it was a 'great speech'.

She said: 'Keir proves he's in touch with what working families want - a chance to get on in life, a decent job and a guarantee that hard work pays. #LabourConnected.'
A foot and ankle surgeon is challenged with operating on a patient with one of the longest toes that he's ever seen in My Feet Are Killing Me.

In tonight's episode of the Quest Red show, Dr Brad Schaeffer, of New Jersey, is visited by Russian patient Vahko who says his toes are long enough to be mistaken for fingers and hopes to have life-changing surgery to reduce their length.

Removing Vahko's shoes, Dr Schaeffer is stunned to see both of his second toes sticking out and curling inwards when he puts his shoes on.

'It was one of the longest toes that I've personally seen,' the foot and ankle surgeon says. 'They almost look like E.T. fingers! They're so long!'

Scroll down for video

Vahko (pictured left, with Dr Shaeffer) explains that his toes seems to be growing daily and he has to cover them with bandages because of the pain

BEFORE: Dr Brad Shaeffer is challenged with reducing the size of Russian patient Vahko's two second toes on tonight's episode of My Feet Are Killing Me. Pictured: Vahko's toes before surgery

AFTER: Dr Shaeffer creates a surgical plan to reduce the size of Vahko's toes and to ease his discomfort. Pictured: Vahko's toes after surgery

Speaking about the daily struggle he experiences with his extraordinarily long toes, Vahko says: 'So my toes are a little bit long, the second one. When I wear shoes it hurts me really bad. I have to cover my toe with a bandage, that's my problem.

'Sometimes I call my toes fingers, because they look like fingers!' It looks like it grows out every day, you know?'

Dr Schaeffer examines Vahko's feet as he continues to express how much discomfort they cause him.

'It really is a big problem for me,' he says. 'Sometimes I think I'll get a knife or scissors and cut it myself!'

Dr Shaeffer reassures Vahko that he has a plan to correct his toes and books him in for surgery.

Dr Shaeffer explains that the most challenging part of Vahko's surgery will be achieving the correct length that he's asked for

'So to fix Vahko's toe, my plan is to saw down the toe, shorten the toe and then suture is back in place,' he says.

Despite Vahko's nerves on the day of his surgery, Dr Shaeffer is confident that he'll be able to deliver his desired results.

He says: 'So the most complicated part of Vahko's surgery is achieving his desired length. So I need to get it just right so that he's happy after the surgery.'

After wheeling him into the Operating Room, Dr Shaeffer gets to work, making the incision into Vahko's toes.

Dr Shaeffer makes an incision into Vahko's toes and begins cutting the head of the bone to reduce the length (pictured)

With the bone saw, Dr Shaeffer begins cutting the head of the bone to shorten the toe, slowly cutting away at the bone.

Removing the head of the bone from the toe, Dr Shaeffer makes a note on just how big the piece of bone is.

'As you can see the head is very large,' Dr Shaeffer says, holding the piece of bone in his hand.

The next step is for Dr Shaeffer to shave down the bone and remove the fatty tissue, before placing steels rods down the middle of Vahko's toes, allowing them to set and heal straight.

Dr Shaeffer completed the operation on both of Vahko's feet (pictured), advising him to give it a few weeks for his bones to fuse together

Repeating the process with the other elongated toe, Dr Shaeffer stitches Vakho up and wheels him out of the operation room.

'We're going to leave this wires in for a few weeks, that's going to allow Vahko's bones to fuse together and it's going to allow the length that we just achieved and that he wanted,' he says. 'He's going to walk around that beach confident, so I'm really happy with the result.'

Dr Shaeffer is excited to see the results of his work when Vahko returns for a follow up appointment a few weeks after the operation.

'He had really long toes, and hopefully they're short enough for him and he's really happy.'

Vahko (pictured) appears confident as he returns for his follow up appointment, gushing that he's now able to wear any shoes

Dr Shaeffer declares the procedure a success, saying 'right now, this is night and day difference'

A dapper Vahko radiates confidence and smiles from ear to ear as Dr Shaeffer slips his shoes and socks off to have a look at his toes.

'Right now, this is night and day difference,' Dr Shaeffer says, examining his patient's feet.

'After taking off Vahko's shoes I'm very excited, because looking at his feet and looking at those toes and they're short enough, the parabular is perfect!'

And Vahko himself is delighted, admitting that he has a whole new lease on life.

'I feel very comfortable now, so much more comfortable than before,' he says. 'Now I can wear any shoes, sandals also. It makes me happy!'

My Feet Are Killing Me airs 10pm on Tuesdays exclusively on Quest Red, or stream on dplay
Samsung on Tuesday kicked off the fifth edition of its campus programme where students from 20 top B-Schools, engineering colleges and design schools will participate virtually this year.

Launched in December 2016, Samsung E.D.G.E. provides an opportunity to talented students to exhibit their talents, exchange meaningful insights and get a head-start in their careers.

"Over the years, Samsung E.D.G.E. has proved to be an enabler wherein students have the platform to showcase their creative solutions to real life issues. As we enter the fifth edition of the programme, we are hopeful of getting even more insightful solutions from students," said Ken Kang, President & CEO, Samsung SWA.

The brightest minds from the top colleges will work on real-life problems, interact with Samsung's top leaders and provide unique solutions to the problems.

For the programme, students can form a team of three members from within the campus belonging to different years/specializations.

In the ideation round, teams are expected to work on research, analysis, brainstorming and formulating the most innovative approach and submit the executive summary which broadly defines the strategy proposed, Samsung said.

In 2019, Samsung E.D.G.E. witnessed participation from 3,873 students comprising 1,291 teams and representing 20 leading institutes of the country.

The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Lucknow won the first position for its suggestions in ''Driving for Change'' for local communities in which the participants were encouraged to address the micro issues of local importance and present innovative solutions.
(TNS)  Californias Employment Development Department has stopped taking new applications for unemployment benefits until Oct. 5 while it resets itself to help prevent backlog growth, it said in a news release issued late Saturday The announcement was issued along with a 109-page report from a strike team appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom on July 29 to modernize information technology programs and transform the customer experience at the EDD, which has been unable to keep up with the crush of claims brought on by the pandemic. In addition to a huge backlog of initial claims that still need processing, the strike team estimated in its report that no more than 1 in 1,000 people who are trying to reach the sole call center able to help customers are getting through.When the EDD starts taking claims again on Oct. 5, people applying online will use a new automated identity verification system that will require them to upload an identification document and a selfie photo using a camera-equipped mobile phone or tablet. That will cut down on manual identity verification, a leading source of payment delays, and let the EDD devote more resources to its backlog of unpaid claims.Almost 600,000 Californians applied for unemployment insurance more than 21 days ago and have not had their initial claims processed. An additional 1 million people have received payments but subsequently had their claims halted for eligibility certification or other issues, and are awaiting resolution. Because of bottlenecks in the system, Californias current backlog of undetermined claims is growing by at least ten thousand claims per day, the strike team report said.It also found fault with the EDDs call centers. The one that can assist customers with their claims is only open weekday mornings, gets 6.7 million calls a month from about 600,000 individuals, and is unable to keep up.One major bottleneck is the EDDs process of flagging about 40% of new claims for manual processing, which delays a benefits determination for at least 21 days. Most are flagged for identity verification, often because the applicants name does not exactly match what is in Social Security or other databases, perhaps because they used a nickname or middle initial instead of a full name.The EDD said that between January and June, about 60% of the mail it sent out seeking additional information to verify a claimants identity was returned. That response rate dropped significantly to 15% in July and 9% in August  indicating a strong suspicion of recent fraud, it said . In the last month or two, many Californians have reported getting multiple pieces of mail from the EDD addressed to their homes but in the names of persons they did not know. Some envelopes appeared to contain debit cards, which the EDD uses to pay benefits. On Sept. 10, the EDD announced a number of steps it was taking to prevent fraud , such as limiting the number of benefits it would send to people at the same address.Organized high-volume unemployment fraud is a very real problem in every state, the strike team report said. However, most claims flagged for verification in California are legitimate. Fraudsters know how to submit false claims without getting flagged because the current automated identity verification process is simplistic and easy to exploit.During the two-week reset, EDD will integrate an identity verification tool called ID.me, made by a company of the same name. This tool uses data sources and algorithms to more accurately and efficiently validate a claimants true identity during the application process and stop scammers much earlier than through todays follow up process involving notices through the mail, the EDD said in a press release This tool will require new claimants to upload a photo of themselves and of their drivers license, passport or other identification document. It is expected to reduce the percentage of new claims being flagged for manual processing verification to 10% and increase the speed at which new claims are paid. It is expected that applicants without a camera-equipped phone or tablet can either borrow one, call an ID.me center that will help them apply using a computer, or apply by mail, said Amy Palmer, a strike team spokeswoman.People who want to file a claim before Oct. 5 will be directed to a temporary webpage where they can provide their contact information so EDD can get in touch with them after the reset ends.People who have already applied for benefits will not use the ID.me, but the new system should free up resources for EDD to deal with unpaid claims.The team also recommended that EDD adopt a burndown plan, in which older claims will begin to be addressed immediately, and with relief coming to many claimants as soon as a few weeks from now, and the final remnants of the backlog resolved within four months, it said.Other short-term recommendations include implementing a new dashboard to identify and close bottlenecks in claims processing, placing outbound calls to claimants to resolve issues, publishing a new dashboard that will identify the unemployment backlog each week and the estimated time it will take to eliminate it, and making it easier to use the online claims system on mobile devices.The strike team is headed by Yolanda Richardson, the California Government Operations Agency secretary, and Jennifer Pahlka, who co-founded the United States Digital Response, the United States Digital Service and Code for America. Pahlka is a private citizen who donated her time.Its report was originally due Sept. 12, but Newsom said last week he was delaying its release to give the EDD time to respond The team also made a number of long-term recommendations. EDD Director Sharon Hilliard said her department agrees with all of the reports recommendations and has either implemented or is in the process of implementing all recommendations provided by the Strike Team.The report highlights a number of troubling realities of how the department currently operates, said George Warner, an attorney with Legal Aid at Work, a nonprofit that represents employees. Particularly troubling is the reports findings that people calling EDD have a statistically insignificant chance of actually getting help on their claims.Warner agreed that EDD is far too focused on preventing fraud and said workers who dont speak English as a primary language struggle to use the departments website and access benefits. Even those fluent in English struggle to understand the departments densely worded notices and get discouraged by the bureaucratic maze.
A FATHER has hit out at visiting restrictions at University Maternity Hospital Limerick, as he is not allowed to be with his wife for important appointments, with just weeks before she is due to give birth.

Eoin Nelligan, from Castletroy, is calling for the easing of restrictions, which have been in place since March due to the coronavirus pandemic, which has swept the nation and around the world.

Mr Nelligan, who is an Aontu representative, said that his wife is due to give birth in a few weeks, and that this birth has been a very different experience for both of us compared to the births of our two older daughters.

Its a disappointment to me that I have yet to see our baby on the scans, but my disappointment pales when placed against the extra stress on my wife. Having to attend the maternity hospital on her own over the past few months has not been easy, he said.

Another expectant father took to social media to complain that he had to wait in the UMHL car park while his partner was at an appointment.

UL Hospitals has said it is necessary to keep the ban in place while the risk of a second wave of Covid-19 remains present as numbers continue to increase.

However, it said that restrictions are under continuous review at the hospital. There is a strict limit of one visitor per patient, and only the birthing partners are permitted to be present in the labour ward for vaginal births. Partners are allowed to be present during C-sections, however, this is not the case if the patient is under general anaesthetic.

Birthing partners are permitted to remain with mother and baby for approximately one to one-and-a-half hours after delivery but are unfortunately requested to leave when the patient is being transferred to the postnatal ward.

Discretions are made on a case by case basis where the newborn is gravely ill or unwell.

The hospital has implemented a secure video service for parents during the pandemic.
Pascale Ferrier appears in a jail booking photograph taken after her arrest by the Mission Police Department in Mission, Texas, March 13, 2019.

A Canadian woman criminally charged with mailing President Donald Trump the deadly poison ricin called him "The Ugly Tyrant Clown" in a letter containing the poison, according to a criminal complaint unsealed Tuesday.

The woman, Pascale Cecile Veronique Ferrier, was ordered held without bail after appearing Tuesday in federal court in Buffalo, New York, for the first time in the case on a charge of threatening the president of the United States.

Ferrier, 54, was apprehended Sunday at the U.S. border in Buffalo, where she told American authorities that she was wanted by the FBI for sending "the ricin letters" to Trump and other people, the complaint said.

Ferrier, who lives in the city of Laval, just north of Montreal, also was allegedly carrying a loaded firearm and a knife when she was arrested.

In the letter Ferrier mailed to the White House from Canada, a note addressed to Trump said, "I found a new name for you: 'The Ugly Tyrant Clown.' I hope you like it," the complaint says.

"You ruin USA and lead them to disaster. I have US cousins, then [sic] I don't want the next 4 years with you as president," the note said.

"Give up and remove your application for this election. So I made a 'Special Gift' for you to make a decision. This gift is in this letter. If it doesn't work, I'll find better recipe for another poison, or I might use my gun when I'll be able to come. Enjoy. FREE REBEL SPIRIT"."

Trump never saw the letter, which was received at the White House's mail sorting center last Friday.

According to the FBI, Ferrier on Sept. 9 posted messages on Twitter and Facebook that said "#killTrump" and used wording such as "Ugly Clown Tyrant."

Ferrier also allegedly sent six other letters containing a powdery substance to people who work in Texas jails and detention centers where she had been incarcerated after being arrested in March 2019 on a weapons possession charge in Mission, Texas, according to the complaint.

Those letters, mailed from Canada and received last week at the facilities in Texas, were found to contain fingerprints that matched those of Ferrier.

Those letters, like the letter to Trump, contained the phrase "if it doesn't work I will find a better recipe," and the signature block that said 'FREE REBEL SPIRIT," the complaint says.

During her appearance in court on Tuesday, Ferrier asked a judge to appoint a lawyer for her, after saying she did not plan to hire a private attorney.

The court-appointed lawyer said that Ferrier wanted both an identity hearing, which will require prosecutors to prove she is the person identified in the criminal complaint, and a probable cause hearing, which will require them to show that there is sufficient evidence to justify the charges.

Those hearings will be held Monday.
The Tamil Nadu State Child Protection Society (TNSCPS) has called for applications in a prescribed format from eligible and interested candidates for filling Sixteen (16) vacancies to the post of District Child Protection Officers (DCPOs) through direct recruitment on a fulltime basis to be posted in Tamil Nadu, India. The offline application process towards the same started on September 19, 2020 and closes on October 9, 2020 by 5:30 pm as stated in TNSCPS notification.

CRITERIA DETAILS Name Of The Posts District Child Protection Officers (DCPOs) Organisation Tamil Nadu State Child Protection Society (TNSCPS) Educational Qualification Graduation in Social Work/Sociology/ Psychology/Criminology/Child Development (10+2+3 pattern) Experience Five years in a relevant domain Job Responsibilities null Skills Required Desirable Job Location Tamil Nadu Salary Scale Rs. 33,250 per month Industry Child Protection Society Application Start Date September 19, 2020 Application End Date October 9, 2020

TNSCPS Recruitment 2020: Age And Fees

Candidates interested in applying for DCPO posts through TNSCPS Recruitment 2020 must have completed 26 years of age and not be more than 40 years as on September 1, 2020 with relaxation (upper age limit) for OBC/SC/ST and other reserved categories of Tamil Nadu as mentioned in the TNSCPS notification.

For details regarding application fee for DCPO posts through TNSCPS Recruitment 2020, refer to the official TNSCPS notification given at the end of the article.

SBI SO Notification 2020 For Sr. Consultant, AGM, Data Trainer And Data Translator Posts

TNSCPS Recruitment 2020: Educational Eligibility

Candidates interested in applying for DCPO posts through TNSCPS Recruitment 2020 must have passed Graduation in Social Work/Sociology/ Psychology/Criminology/Child Development (10+2+3 pattern) from a recognised University/Institution with 5 years' experience in the field of Social Work, Child Welfare, Social Welfare, Child Labour as specified in TNSCPS notification.

TNSCPS Recruitment 2020: Selection And Pay Scale

The selection of candidates to for DCPO posts through TNSCPS Recruitment 2020 will be done through a Shortlisting, Interview and Document Verification as specified in TNSCPS notification.

Candidates selected to DCPO posts through TNSCPS Recruitment 2020 will be paid an emolument of Rs. 33,250 per month as notified in TNSCPS notification.

SBI SO Recruitment 2020 For 26 Specialist Cadre Officer Posts, Register Online From Today

TNSCPS Recruitment 2020: How To Apply

Candidates interested in applying for DCPO posts through TNSCPS Recruitment 2020 must fill the application form in a prescribed format attached with the advertisement, and send the same along with relevant documents and a passport size photograph to "The Commissioner of Social Defence/Secretary, State Child Protection Society, Department of Social Defence, No,3O0, Purasawalkam High Road, Kellys, Chennai-600 010" on or before October 9, 2020 by 5:30 pm as mentioned in the TNSCPS Recruitment notification.

Download TNSCPS Recruitment 2020 Notification for DCPO posts
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 15:27:56|Editor: huaxia

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SUVA, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Fiji has reported a total of 32 drowning cases so far this year.

Fijian police confirmed on Tuesday that nine people died in separate drowning incidents in last three weeks alone with the latest case being a three-year-old boy who was found by police floating in a nearby river in Suva, capital of Fiji on Tuesday morning.

Education Minister Rosy Akbar has placed responsibility on parents, calling for more adult supervision during school holidays.

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama also has urged parents and guardians to supervise their children during the school holidays as Fiji enters a one week school break before the third term resumes.

He said he was saddened at the increased cases of drowning across the island nation and that it was crucial for students to stay home rather than go out for a picnic, to swimming spots and pools.

"It's crucial for us to be vigilant while going out for a swim," he said. "We have lost so many children to drowning".

Fiji recorded 25 drowning cases in the same period last year. Enditem
Spokesman Barend Leyts said Mr Michel today learned that a security officer, with whom he was in close contact early last week, tested positive for Covid.

Mr Leyts said the European Council chief is respecting Belgian rules and has gone into quarantine as of today.

The summit, originally set for Thursday and Friday, aims to address issues as wide-ranging as Brexit negotiations, climate change and tensions between Greece and Turkey over energy rights.

Preparations for the meeting were in full swing when Mr Michel made the sudden announcement. He postponed the summit by a week, to October 1-2.

The @eucopresident today learned that a security officer, with whom he was in close contact early last week, tested positive for COVID.



The President is tested regularly and tested negative yesterday. 

Respecting Belgian rules, he has gone into quarantine as of today. Advertisement  Barend Leyts (@BarendLeyts) September 22, 2020

Live summits with the leaders of EU nations coming to Brussels only resumed over the summer. Throughout the spring, they met through video conferences while staying in their own capitals.

As the chief of the European Council, Mr Michel is the host to the regular summits of EU leaders. In July, he forced the 27 leaders to stay for four days in Brussels to broker an 1.85 trillion-euro agreement on a pandemic recovery fund and long-term EU budget.

The postponement is a setback to the EU leaders hope for a return to normality.

Mr Michel, who tested negative for the virus on Monday, did not want to risk bringing the leaders together in one room, however big, for fear of further exposure.

The decision to delay took place against a backdrop of irritation when government officials do not take the same care with precautionary measures as the general public.

Last month, the chief EU trade negotiator and commissioner Phil Hogan had to resign when he admitted flouting some measures during a summer stay in his native Ireland.

Almost 150,000 people in the European Union have died in the pandemic, which also has thrown the bloc into the worst economic crisis of its history.
Activist Sabuni Francoise Chikunda has touched many lives in the three years since she arrived at Ugandas Nakivale refugee settlement.

To the children at the reception centre, the 49-year-old with a ready smile is a dedicated English teacher. To the women who meet every day to make handicrafts and discuss matters of concern at the Kabazana womens centre, she is their founder and chairperson. And to the hundreds of women in the settlement who have survived sexual and gender-based violence, she is their counsellor and confidante.

I want to help them forget the things they have gone through so they can start a new life, says Francoise, as she stands in a field at Nakivale, looking around the vast settlement that hosts some 133,000 refugees.

Turning extreme adversity into a fresh start is deeply personal for Francoise, who reached the settlement in Nakivale in June 2017 at the end of an ordeal of violence and displacement that reached back decades.

I want to help them forget the things they have gone through so they can start a new life.

During the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, she survived a brutal attack. She subsequently endured violence, torture and rape at the hands of armed militiamen in her native Democratic Republic of the Congo, who kidnapped her and held her as a slave for years.

I went through a lot ... I lost my home, my family, my job  everything, she says softly. I was raped several times. My husband and my four children were killed.

She managed to flee to Uganda where in just six months  and despite the trauma she had undergone  she became a community leader, a volunteer teacher and a counsellor, thanks to her upbeat personality and positive outlook on life.

Her face lights up as she walks around the now empty classroom at Nakivale where she used to teach English before all lessons were stopped due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

I love teaching, it is my hobby. It also keeps me busy, she says. The more I teach, the more comfortable I feel.

Congolese refugee, Furaha Ceru Olive (right), speaks with the Nansen Refugee Award regional winner for Africa, Francoise Sabuni Chikunda in Nakivale settlement, Uganda.  UNHCR/Esther Ruth Mbabazi

Congolese refugee Neema Claire, one of hundreds of women supported by Francoise Sabuni Chikunda, displays one of the wedding dresses she's made in Nakivale settlement, Uganda.  UNHCR/Esther Ruth Mbabazi

The Nansen Refugee Award regional winner for Africa, Sabuni Francoise Chikunda (right), meets with her fellow refugee women in Nakivale settlement, Uganda.  UNHCR/Esther Ruth Mbabazi

Ntahobari Nikuze (left), a Congolese refugee and survivor of violence speaks with the Nansen Refugee Award regional winner for Africa, Sabuni Francoise Chikunda in Nakivale settlement, Uganda.  UNHCR/Esther Ruth Mbabazi

One of the refugee women mentored by Sabuni Francoise Chikunda goes over the records of the women's group founded in Nakivale settlement, Uganda.  UNHCR/Esther Ruth Mbabazi

Standing in this classroom appears to give her some form of release from the past.

I treat the children like my own, she adds. I dont have children, so when Im with them, Im so happy.

Her own agonizing ordeal led her to seek out other survivors of violence at the settlement, beginning with a group of just 10 women who would meet at her home. They would share their experiences and  of vital importance  focus on the next steps they needed to take to remake their lives.

Her work is supported by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, through its partner agency, the American Refugee Council, which in 2018 provided Francoise with space to set up the Kabazana Womens Centre. Since its founding, more than 1,000 women have received training there in various income generating activities, ranging from tailoring to cooking, handicrafts, hairdressing and agriculture.

For her tireless activism, Francoise has been chosen as the regional winner for Africa for UNHCR's Nansen Refugee Award, a prestigious annual prize that honours those who have gone to extraordinary lengths to support forcibly displaced or stateless people.

The as-yet-undisclosed laureate of the award will be announced on 1 October. The prize itself will be presented by UNHCR, in a virtual ceremony on 5 October.

Day by day, when others see the change and the improvement in these women, they keep coming to the centre, says Francoise proudly.

As she walks around the settlement, she is joined by a group of women who greet her excitedly. They have not seen her in nearly three months, since she left for the capital, Kampala, for treatment.

I'dont think about what happened to me and in those moments, I dont cry.

Most of them are survivors of violence and beneficiaries of Francoises centre. Dressed in vibrant African print outfits, they hug Francoise, laughing loudly as they walk into a friends compound.

One of the women, Ntahobari, survived a horrific gang rape while fleeing the Congo in 2016. Separated from her husband and four children, she managed to make it to Uganda and has been in anguish since then. She does not know where her family are or even if they are still alive.

She met Francoise through the womens centre where she has been helped to stay occupied.

I dont think about what happened to me and in those moments, I dont cry, she says of the time she spends with the other women.

Francoise understands the need to stay occupied, as she often does herself, to keep the bad memories at bay.

You know when you are idle, the stress becomes a lot and you keep remembering the things you passed through, she explains. But when Im busy, teaching the women and children, exchanging our experiences, it helps a lot.

The women have opened various businesses and recently started making wine. But due to the COVID-19 restrictions on movement and subsequent lockdown, they had to adapt quickly and turned the winery into a pharmacy. They now plan to open a clinic.

Among those trained at the womens centre is Neema Claire, who learned tailoring and hairdressing. Together with Francoise, they saved enough money to start a business, making and renting out wedding dresses and event decorations in the settlement.

Every weekend we would rent out dresses to two, sometimes even four couples, she says.

With COVID-19, business has slowed but the women diversified their shop and started a grocery.

I have taught them to be independent and I am so proud.

Looking ahead, Francoise would like to receive additional funding, materials for tailoring and space to continue working with a growing number of women and girls at the settlement.

I want to see a change in their lives, socially and economically, while also introducing them to wider opportunities, she says.

I feel so good for healing my fellow refugees in these tough times, she adds with a smile. I have taught them to be independent and I am so proud.

The Nansen Refugee Award is named in honour of Norwegian explorer and humanitarian Fridtjof Nansen, the first High Commissioner for Refugees and Nobel Prize winner, who was appointed by the League of Nations in 1921. It aims to showcase his values of perseverance and commitment in the face of adversity.

You can read about the other regional winners of the UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award here.
Last week, at a Town Hall in Philadelphia, I asked President Donald Trump a question that stopped him in his tracks. Specifically, I asked him  since his popular campaign promises to Make America Great Again  when exactly America has ever been great for the Black community.

This question echoes through the corridors of our institutions, the classrooms where our children are taught, the neighborhoods where our people are struggling to survive, and during the everyday challenges that we face. So when I was told that I could ask our president a question, it didnt take much deep consideration. Black people have wanted an answer to it for a long time  and so far, Trump hasnt provided us any answers.

President Trump told me at that Town Hall that there is no race problem. He said America was great for African Americans six months ago, just before the pandemic. From where Im standing, that narrative is simply not true. In fact, Covid-19 has proven is just how absent this professed greatness actually is within our urban communities.

Over the last nine years, I have been privileged to hear the stories and understand the heartaches of the African American community in this nation. In urban areas especially, they have been victimized by oppressive systems which constantly work against them. From issues of red-lining, income inequality, underfunded education, gun violence and violent crime, homelessness, disparities in access to quality healthcare, misguided youth, and mass incarceration, Black people in America are struggling  and they have been struggling for a long time. There are too many systems in place in our country which perpetuate discrimination against people based on both their class and their color.

For the average Black American, America has never been great. My challenge to the President was to look with clear vision at the current status of our community and notice how both his and previous administrations have failed to permanently end these cycles. Statistics about decreasing unemployment rates, while noteworthy, do not solve the issues that everyday Black Americans face today. Jobs of any description and any condition are not a quick fix for racism.

Amongst my community in Philadelphia, I am Carl Day, founder of Culture Changing Christians and the Pastor of the H.O.O.D. The H.O.O.D acronym stands for the place where the Hopeless Oppressed Outcasts Dwell. This sad title should speak for itself.

The Covid-19 pandemic deepened inequalities in American society, and has made it more obvious than ever that the American dream is inaccessible for too many who live here. Now, the leader of the free world is telling us that he wants to make our country great and is therefore tasked with presenting us a plan to alleviate these conditions. Why is he failing to do that?

As a man of faith and a leader in my community, I too am charged with ensuring that none are left hopeless, oppressed, or outcast regardless of where they may dwell. It is a necessary part of my service to my community to provide tangible solutions and real-life actions when faced with their issues. It should not be a problem to ask that the politicians in charge of this country feel the same sense of responsibility.
A Chinese hacker using a computer in Dongguan, in China's southern Guangdong Province, on Aug. 4, 2020. (Nicolas Asfouri/AFP via Getty Images)

How Chinese Data Trove on 2 Million People Serves Beijings Unrestricted Warfare

News Analysis

A Chinese database containing the personal information of millions of people around the globe was recently leaked to Western media, offering a glimpse into the regimes vast data harvesting campaign targeting foreigners.

A private Chinese company, Shenzhen Zhenhua Data Technology, had amassed a database with files on 2.4 million people, compiled mostly from open-source material such as social media posts and online data. A reconstruction of 10 percent of the database by an Australian cybersecurity firm named Internet 2.0 revealed that it includes records on about 52,000 Americans, 35,000 Australians, 9,700 Britons, and 5,000 Canadians.

People in the database range from ordinary business professionals to prominent figures such as U.S. naval officers, China watchers in Washington, members of the British royal family, and company leaders. The data cache also provides details on countries infrastructure, movements of military assets, and public opinion analysis.

Zhenhua marketed the database, called the Overseas Key Information Database, to the Chinese military, government agencies, and commercial clients, according to The Washington Post. In company documents, it described itself as a patriotic firm, with the military as its main target customer.

The database was leaked by a source in China to American academic Christopher Balding, who was previously based in Vietnam but has since returned to the United States because of security concerns. He then gave it to Internet 2.0 for reconstruction and analysis.

Details were published by a consortium of media outlets last week, including The Washington Post and The Daily Telegraph in the UK.

Zhenhua said in a response to The Guardian, There is no database of 2 million people, and denied any links to the Chinese government or military. A representative for the company said Zhenhuas customers are research organizations and business groups.

Experts told The Epoch Times that such a denial was unsurprising.

Michael Shoebridge, director of defense at think tank Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), said the statement cannot be taken at face value, given that Chinese laws compel companies to assist Chinese security and intelligence agencies, and they must publicly deny doing so.

Unrestricted Hybrid Warfare

Casey Fleming, CEO of intelligence and security strategy firm BlackOps Partners, said the intelligence gathered in the database is used to support the Chinese regimes unrestricted hybrid warfare operations. This includes espionage, covert overseas influence campaigns, and stealing foreign innovation and military technology.

Unrestricted hybrid warfare refers to a strategy crafted by two Chinese military colonels in the 1990s, which espouses using a series of unconventional tactics designed to accomplish the objectives of war without engaging in actual combat.

The ultimate goal of this strategy, Fleming said, is to destroy democracy for the takeover of Chinese communism globally.

Zhenhuas majority owner, Wang Xuefeng, a former IBM engineer, had previously posted on Chinese social media about waging hybrid warfare by manipulating public opinion and psychological warfare, according to Australian broadcaster ABC.

Nicholas Eftimiades, a former U.S. senior intelligence official and author of the book Chinese Intelligence Operations, said that the database would help Chinese intelligence to target individuals primed for recruitment or blackmailthose with vulnerabilities that can be exploited, such as a need for money, [or] political feelings against the administration. For instance, the Chinese regime could look for social media posts that suggest dissatisfaction with the government or financial difficulties.

For influence operations, the process is similar: Chinese agencies would look for people who post views supportive of Beijings policies, Eftimiades said. They would then work to support that person, their organization, and amplify their views.

Shoebridge pointed out that the database includes profiles on children of powerful people such as politicians and business executives, allowing the regime to target these individuals through vulnerabilities found in their offspring.

Thats a pretty disturbing potential use of data like that, he said.

At the same time, many of these children may themselves become influential people later in life. And so the ability to exploit and influence those individuals is much greater because youve got a much more comprehensive understanding of them over time, Shoebridge said.

Massive Data Collection

The Zhenhua data leak provides but a small window into the Chinese communist regimes overall data harvesting activities.

The scope is beyond most peoples comprehension, Fleming said.

Shoebridge likened the database to a single plastic ball in a large ball pit. This dataset would be combined with data compiled by other Chinese entities to be used in a range of operations to further the regimes interests.

Its the interaction of companies with data like this with other companies and government data that gives the power, he said.

This strategy is reflected in the regimes civil-military fusion doctrine, which seeks to leverage innovations by private enterprises to power military development, Shoebridge said.

An October 2019 report by ASPI said the regime is creating a massive and global data-collection ecosystem by harnessing the capabilities of state-owned enterprises and private Chinese technology firms.

It cites the example of Global Tone Communication Technology Co., a subsidiary of a Chinese state-owned enterprise thats supervised by the regimes central propaganda department. The tech firm focuses on big data collection and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies such as facial recognition. It collects vast swathes of data around the world in more than 65 languages and processes it for use by Beijing for intelligence, security, and propaganda purposes.

Eftimiades believes there are likely dozensif not hundredsof Chinese companies involved in such big data collection to aid the regime. This doesnt include those run by Chinas security agencies, which are vacuuming up data on all 1.4 billion citizens via the countrys sweeping high-tech surveillance apparatus.

Chinese hackers have also stolen the personal data of tens of millions of Americans over the years, which are being fed to these databases in China and used to perfect AI tools, Eftimiades said. This includes the 2014 hack into the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the federal governments personnel agency; the breach of credit reporting company Equifax in 2017; and the 2016 cyberattack of health insurer Anthem.

The Epoch Times reported in February 2016, citing an insider source in China, that Chinese security agencies had built a database to handle the troves of stolen American personal informationincluding sensitive personal information detailed in the security clearances of 21 million of current and former federal employees in the OPM hack, and personal records of nearly 80 million of Anthems current and former customers and employees.

That database ran on powerful software capable of ingesting huge amounts of data and then analyzing it for relationships between different individuals and events.
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.  Purdue Universitys Agricultural Safety and Health Program released the annual Indiana Farm Fatality Summary with Historical Overview, coinciding with National Farm Safety and Health Week, which has been observed the third week of September since 1944. The program reported 21 work-related on-farm deaths in the state in 2019, the fewest number of documented cases since 2013.

Tractors and skid steer loaders were involved in at least eight of the 21 documented fatal farm incidents. Three of the victims were children under the age of 5, while 11 were 60 or older.

The continued incidence of tractor rollovers indicates that a greater focus on the value of Rollover Protection Structures (ROPS) - especially on tractors used for mowing - could prove beneficial, the report states.

The report also highlights the continued need for injury prevention educational programs for those 18 and younger.

The number of farm fatalities for the past 50 years continues to trend lower, probably reflecting safer machinery and work practices while also corresponding with a decline in the number of farmers. No Indiana agency documents farm-related non-fatal injuries, but prior research has indicated that approximately one in every nine Indiana farms has a farm-work-related injury incident that requires medical attention each year.

Bill Field, Purdue agriculture and biological engineering professor and extension safety specialist, has summarized over 1,100 farm fatalities during his career.

Every one of these lives mattered to someone. Each one was an added cost to the food we enjoy every day.

As Hoosier farmers prepare for harvest, program members remind farmers to keep safety a top priority and manage the expectations of machinery and people.

Purdues Agricultural Safety and Health Program has monitored farm-related fatalities in Indiana for nearly 60 years using sources including news reports, web searches, personal interviews and voluntary reporting from extension educators and individuals.

The full report is available at: www.inprepared.org.

Writer: Abby Leeds, 765-494-7817, mayer36@purdue.edu

Sources: Bill Field, 765-494-1191, field@purdue.edu

Edward Sheldon, ejsheldo@purdue.edu

ABSTRACT

2019 Indiana Farm Fatality Summary with Historical Overview

Compiled by the Purdue University Agricultural Safety and Health Program

Purdue Universitys Agricultural Safety and Health Program has been monitoring farm-related fatalities in Indiana for nearly 60 years. The earliest identified summary of cases, published in 1966, examined 76 fatalities reported during 1963. Purdues fatality database, though acknowledged as not being comprehensive of all farm-related deaths, provides a unique capacity to explore trends that have occurred over several decades, during which time agricultural production experienced considerable transformation in technology and practices. Analysis of only recent fatality data, for example, fails to recognize that during the 1940s and early 1950s the leading identifiable cause of death was livestock, primarily horses and bulls. These animal-related causes of injury and death largely have been replaced, at a much lower frequency, with tractors and machinery. The fatality data continues to show a general downward trend that parallels the decline in the number of farm operations, which has likely contributed more to the reduction in farm-related fatalities than any other single factor. The farm-related fatality rate, however, remains one of the highest of all Indiana occupations.

Agricultural Communications: 765-494-8415;

Maureen Manier, Department Head, mmanier@purdue.edu

Agriculture News Page
As Anurag Kashyap fights allegations of sexual harassment, levelled by actor Payal Ghosh, many of his industry friends and colleagues have rallied in support. Anurags former assistant Jaydeep Sarkar has also defended the filmmaker on social media.

Jaydeep shared a string of tweets on Monday, recalling an incident from years ago when he was working with Anurag and a female actor suggested sexual favours in exchange for work. He said that Anurag outrightly refused it and felt disappointed at what some women have to do to get work in the film industry.

This is the right time to recount this story. I was an assistant with @anuragkashyap72 in 2004. I was looking into secondary casting for Gulaal and was meeting many actors. A young actress, who really wanted a part in the film insisted she wanted to meet Anurag, he wrote. She waited a while and then Anurag got done with a narration and agreed to meet her. The young actress probably assumed the only way to get the role was through the casting couch. She tried suggesting a few favours verbally, he added.

She waited a while and then Anurag got done with a narration and agreed to meet her. The young actress probably assumed the only way to get the role was through the casting couch. She tried suggesting a few favours verbally.  Jaydeep Sarkar (@sarkarjaydeep) September 20, 2020

Jaydeep said that when Anurag refused her, she tried other ways. But when Anurag politely ignored it, she gently let her sari pallu drop. A few times. At this point, Anurag got up and requested her to not do this. He told her she would get the part if she was the right fit and nothing else would work. Saying this, he walked out of the room, disappointed. I was shocked by what I saw, but I had seen a hero get out of a situation, with respect and empathy for her. Later he told me he was disappointed that so many young women feel this is the only way they can make it, he said.

ALSO WATCH | Anurag Kashyap case: Payal Ghosh on political affiliation, thanks Kangana

Jaydeep said that Anurag always respected women. I dont blame the woman! Many like her come into the industry, believing this is how you get cast in a movie. And that may even be true, much like in any other field of work. But having worked with Anurag, especially in casting, the one thing I always observed was his absolute respect for women, he said.

Payal, who was seen in Patel Ki Punjabi Shaadi, accused Anurag of sexual harassment on Saturday. Speaking to ANI, she said, Five years ago I met Anurag Kashyap regarding work. He called me to his house. When I went there, he took me to a separate room and tried to sexually assault me. He forced himself on me.

Also read | Payal Ghosh slams those doubting her claims against Anurag Kashyap: People blame women for everything

Post the allegations, Kashyap responded on Twitter in which he denied the allegations, claiming that they were baseless. I neither behave like this nor do I ever tolerate this at any price, he said. His lawyer has also responded to the claims.

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Commentary For Myanmar Voters, the Election Is a Chance to Cast a Ballot for Democracy Itself

A voter casts his ballot in Naypyitaw during the general election in 2015. / The Irrawaddy

With the general election on Nov. 8, Myanmar will take one more step in its democratic transition, the ongoing process of reducing and ultimately ending the militarys role in politics. That broader aim explains why so many of Myanmars 38 million eligible voters appear so keen to exercise their right to participate in the democratic process by casting a vote; they are eager to cement the countrys fledgling democracy and to see more positive changes, politically and economically.

Thats the whole point of the election in Myanmar.

As they assess the Nov. 8 vote, many international observers will doubtless see only the selection of certain people to serve in political positions, and of a party to run the country. While its not wrong, such a generalized view misses the real significance of elections hereone that is being felt keenly ahead of the upcoming vote, as it was during the previous election.

For voters here, an election is not simply an opportunity to pass a verdict on an incumbent partywhether its the Democratic or Republican Party in the United States, or the Conservative or Labour Party in the United Kingdomand possibly give the opposition a chance to run the country for the next few years in the hope that it will do a better job. In countries with entrenched democratic systems, an election every four or five years is basically the electorates opportunity to vote in a better government.

For most of Myanmars 55 million people, however, elections are something more: they are an extension by other means of the political battle they started in 1988 with the pro-democracy uprising against authoritarian rule. That is to say, the very act of participating in the democratic process by voting in an election is a resolute rejection of the terrible system under which the generals ruled the country for six decades.

Thats it. But its a big deal. Thats why they can live with taking one step at a timeone step in the 2015 general election, in which the National League for Democracy won a landslide victory over the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), and now another step in this years election. For many voters, their aim is simply to take that next stride.

To the people of Myanmar, it can be thought of as a continuation of the battle by electoral means.

Because to this day, the military and the generals who ruled the country for nearly six decades from 1962 to 2010 remain in power and continue to enjoy the privileges granted to them by the Constitution they themselves created in 2008. In fact, the former generals who ruled the country via the militarys proxy party till early 2016 are still trying to take back full political power by contesting the election.

The Nov. 8 election will be just the second since the 2010 vote, which the former military regime rigged by manipulating advance votes to ensure power was handed over to its own semi-civilian government the following year. And this years election will be the very first held under the ruling National League for Democracy, which won a landslide in the previous election held under the semi-civilian government in 2015.

Thats why this election is touted as the second free election since 2010, or even since the 1990 election, which was held freely but eventually annulled after the NLD won in a landslide.

So for most of the people of Myanmar, this upcoming election is very important, not just as an opportunity to choose a person or political party to run the government, but as a way to continue their unfinished struggle to rid the country once and for all of military control, promising a fair political system and economic prosperity.

Whoever wins the election will continue the countrys political and economic reform. One of the main missions for the winner will be to continue the effort to amend the undemocratic Constitution drafted by the former military regime. Needless to say, however, parties like the USDP and others formed by ex-generals have no interest in radically amending the charter, though they might change a few articles if it buys them political allies.

Thats why we are seeing so many people from all walks of lifefrom trishaw drivers to vendors to celebritiesenthusiastically hoisting the flags of their preferred political parties above their houses, vehicles and even trishaws across the country, mostly in the big cities. Obviously, many of them are staunch supporters of the ruling NLD, but the variously colored flags of numerous parties are also visible.

One new problem Myanmar is facing during this electionone we cant get away fromis the second wave of novel coronavirus that has gripped the country. But its not a situation Myanmar is facing alone. It is a global problema new normal. Other countries that have held or plan to hold elections in 2020 are in the same boat. Among Asian countries, South Korea and Singapore held elections early this year as the first wave of COVID-19 was spreading around the world. Like Myanmar, the US will hold its general election in November. Many other nations will hold elections in the coming months, facing the same risks.

In Myanmar, the number of COVID-19 cases and fatalities has risen dramatically in recent weeks. As of Tuesday, there were over 6,000 positive patients with several hundred new cases being added every day. The death toll on Tuesday stood at 100 across the countryan alarming increase from six just a few weeks ago. Compared to other countries, however, the figures are still quite low. But the country is on edge. The government is trying to control the spike in COVID casesfor health reasons of course, but also because it is important for the nations political health that the election be held without major disruptions.

The election will be contested by 93 political parties. Very recently, during the ongoing second wave of COVID-19, the military-associated USDP and 23 allied parties asked the Union Election Commission (UEC) to postpone the poll. A couple of other parties added their voices to the request, but most parties, including ethnic parties, didnt join them.

The UEC has refused to delay the election.

The current circumstances do not yet warrant a postponement of the election, but the government, the UEC and all political parties have a responsibility to minimize the effect of the election on the spread of the virus, both during the campaign period and on election day. Their political campaigns should be conducted in such a way that they do not harm public health.

Barring a significant deterioration in the COVID-19 situation, well see millions of enthusiastic voters flocking to the polls on Nov. 8, as they did in 2015. It will not be like an election in other countries. This will be an election in which voters once again express their firm rejection of the old order, the establishment that ruined the country, while voicing support for the forces of liberal democracy in this Southeast Asian countryand for those who are in a position to consolidate the peoples power and continue the countrys still endangered democratic transition.

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The Victorian governments security firm of choice for guarding hotel quarantine guests was caught using unauthorised subcontractors in the lead-up to the first COVID-19 outbreak but was kept as a supplier to the program anyway.

Unified Security, recruited by Jobs Minister Martin Pakulas department as one of three private security companies with contracts to guard hotels, had only 39 permanent staff in Victoria and hired almost all of its 1754 guards through subcontracting arrangements without the formal approval of Jobs Department officials.

The Rydges on Swanston hotel in Carlton - Melbourne's first 'hot hotel'. Credit:Penny Stephens

The apparent poor behaviour of the security companies was tolerated in the program even though Jobs Department officials given the task of hiring them to do the sensitive work had been wary from the start of what they knew to be a "cowboy industry," with heaps of cash work.

In WhatsApp messages exchanged between departmental officials as they were setting up the private security arrangement, the staff said they did not want rogue operators "prowling the corridors" of hotels.
The moves signal the start of a monumental Senate confirmation fight over objections from Democrats that the appointment would come too close to the November election .

President Trump said he expected to announce his pick by the end of the week, before the court's liberal icon Ms Ginsburg is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

The US leader said he was still going to be interviewing other candidates and might meet with Judge Barbara Lagoa when he travels to Florida later this week.

The Supreme Court's liberal icon Ruth Bader Ginsburg is to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery / REUTERS

But Ms Barrett has long been favoured by conservatives, and those familiar with the process said interest inside the White House seemed to be waning for Ms Lagoa amid concerns by some that she did not have a proven record as a conservative jurist.

Democrats, led by presidential nominee Joe Biden, are protesting the Republicans' rush to replace Ms Ginsburg, saying voters should speak first, on election day on November 3, and the winner of the White House should fill the vacancy.

Mr Trump dismissed those arguments, telling Fox & Friends: "I think that would be good for the Republican Party, and I think it would be good for everybody to get it over with."

The mounting clash over the vacant seat - when to fill it and with whom - injects new turbulence in the presidential campaign with the nation still reeling from the coronavirus pandemic that has killed nearly 200,000 Americans, left millions unemployed and heightened partisan tensions and anger.

Up until now, the race has been largely a referendum on how Mr Trump has managed or mismanaged the Covid-19 pandemic.

Democrats point to hypocrisy in Republicans trying to rush through a pick so close to the election after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell led the GOP in refusing to vote on a nominee of President Barack Obama in February 2016, long before that year's election.

Mr Biden is appealing to GOP senators to "uphold your constitutional duty, your conscience" and wait until after the election.

Conversations in the White House and Mr McConnell's office have been increasingly focused on Ms Barrett and Ms Lagoa, according to a person granted anonymity to discuss the private deliberations.

An appellate court judge, Ms Barrett was a strong contender for the seat that eventually went to Brett Kavanaugh in 2018. At the time, Mr Trump told confidants he was "saving" Ms Barrett for Ms Ginsburg's seat.

Ms Lagoa has been pushed by some aides who tout her political advantages of being Hispanic and hailing from the key political battleground state of Florida.

Mr Trump said he was planning to name his pick by Friday or Saturday, ahead of the first presidential election debate. With little more than a month before the election, Mr McConnell said the Senate had "more than sufficient time".

No nominee has won confirmation so quickly since Sandra Day O'Connor - with no opposition from either party - became the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court in 1981.

Ms Ginsburg, 87, died on Friday of metastatic pancreatic cancer. She will lie in state at the US Capitol this week, the first woman ever accorded that honour. First, her casket is to be on view mid-week on the steps of the high court.

She is to be buried next week in a private service at Arlington National Cemetery.
As the nation prepares for an eventual coronavirus vaccine, Gov. Ned Lamont on Monday appointed a new commission to plan for inoculating Connecticut residents when such a vaccine is safe and available.

Speaking in a news conference after a call with Vice President Mike Pences White House coronavirus task force, Lamont said the new state group, which will include representatives from the General Assembly, has a mid-October deadline, as pharmaceutical companies continue two-tier trials on about 30,000 people.

His direction to all the governors was very clear, Lamont said. Get a plan ready for distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine. Its about outreach. So when we have the wide distribution of the vaccine readily available, we have people confident that they can take it, they can take it safely and itll make a difference.

Pence didnt think a vaccine will be available until the end of the year at the earliest, said Lamont, noting that the political aspects of the pandemic and the imminent presidential election have complicated the vaccine issues. The governor said that the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention believes that there will be a good supply of a vaccine by next April.

We have to build up confidence so people who are vaccine-shy, have some confidence that when we do this were doing it in an appropriate, safe and effective way, he said, stressing that Connecticut still has a 90-day stockpile of personal protective equipment, including masks, gowns and other gear. Pences group wants states to have 60-day supplies.

The governors new advisory group, which will meet in sessions available to the public, will establish priorities for handling and distributing a vaccine, including ways to communicate to residents who typically get flu vaccinations at an annual rate of about 50 percent.

Were going to do this only when its safe and and when its effective, Lamont told reporters. He announced that over the weekend three more fatalities occurred in the pandemic, bringing the total dead statewide to 4,495, as the nation closed in on 200,000 people who have died. Connecticut net hospitalizations totaled 68, declining by nine since Friday.

Lamont was encouraged that the state infection rate remains at about 1.1 percent of those tested, and hopes that the state will continue on its current path, including a variety of educational tactics for in-school and distance learning.

The new commission, which will meet in early October, will be led by Dr. Deidre Gifford, acting commissioner of the state Department of Public Health, along with Dr. Reggie Eadie, president and CEO of Trinity Health of New England and St. Francis Hospital in Hartford.

Now the work continues, Eadie said, adding that when talking with Gifford, they agree that biggest challenge when a vaccine becomes widely available is to assure the public it is safe and effective. We want to address any insecurities that exist in the community, Eadie said. We promise to be transparent with the work that were doing. These are unprecedented times, in any form of the imagination.

Eadie hopes for a target of 70-percent participation in a vaccination program.

Not everyone will be able to access a vaccine on day one, Gifford said, noting that there are some parallels to the H1N1 flu pandemic of 2009. Making clear how that process will happen is one of the major tasks that he has charged the advisory group with.

Lamont noted the irony in being ordered by the White House to make plans for distributing a vaccine that isnt ready, months after the administration had consistently downplayed the effects of the virus.

Im afraid thats the inevitable truth, Lamont said. If we had gotten more direction in terms of wearing the mask, how serious that is. If we had a better stockpile in terms of masks and availability there. If we had just taken this, all of us, seriously. We took it seriously as states, I think we really took the lead on this. But lives could have been saved if everything had gotten going sooner. Lives were lost unnecessarily.

kdixon@ctpost.com Twitter: @KenDixonCT
Individual letters or parts of letters are printed on each face of a cube, so cubes can be placed in rows to form words, or cubes with letter fragments can be stacked to create letters at a large scale. Theyre then placed on blank wayfinding infrastructure that has a small lip to hold them up. The resulting system is similar to a beautifully considered mega game of Scrabble, and can easily be adapted to meet the needs of the community it serves.  Fast Company
PHOENIX, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of its wider growth and diversification strategy, Universal Technical Institute (NYSE: UTI), the nation's leading provider of transportation technician training, is evolving and enhancing its instructional and operational model to better serve the country's need for skilled workers, capitalize on fast-growing interest in its educational programs and meet the changing needs of students and employers.

This learning model will blend UTI's high-quality hands-on training with best of breed instructor-facilitated online instruction. The learning model will not only increase access for students but will also better prepare them to be life-long learners. Students will continue to receive the industry-aligned hands-on lab training UTI is known for and the blended delivery model will allow UTI to continue to optimize the physical footprint at each of its campuses.

"Our response to the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated our journey toward blended learning and, because today's technicians perform many day-to-day tasks and continuing education courses online or on a digital device, this training model can give our students an even better and more relevant education experience," said Jerome Grant, UTI's Chief Executive Officer. "Now, we are focused on creating a truly transformational online and hands-on blended learning model that is difficult to replicate and gives students an excellent experience, the skills employers want and an education that sets them up for career success."

To support the blended learning initiative, UTI has hired Dr. Jeff Bergin into the newly created role of Vice President, Learning Products and Experience.

"Jeff is the ideal leader to help us design and build an exceptional blended learning experience," said Sherrell Smith, Executive Vice President, Campus Operations and Services. "In addition to more than 30 years of experience in the education sector, he's highly regarded and nationally known for developing digital and hands-on programs that deliver strong student outcomes and business results."

Bergin most recently served as Vice President, Professional Learning for Western Governors University. Prior to that, he was Vice President, Learning Research & Design for Macmillan Learning, where he led work to expedite the company's digital transformation, and researched and designed a blended-learning platform that drove a significant increase in learner outcomes. As Vice President, Learning & Experience Design for Pearson Education, he directed the rapid scaling of online courses and design of mobile, accessible, and cloud-based learning platforms based on learning science and best practices in pedagogy.

He holds a Ph.D. in Rhetoric, Composition, and Linguistics from Arizona State University, a Master of Arts in English from Northern Arizona University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Bergin has published numerous journal articles and book chapters on student success in online and blended learning.

About Universal Technical Institute, Inc.

With more than 220,000 graduates in its 55-year history, Universal Technical Institute, Inc. (NYSE: UTI) is the nation's leading provider of technical training for automotive, diesel, collision repair, motorcycle and marine technicians, and offers welding technology and computer numerical control (CNC) machining programs. The company has built partnerships with industry leaders, outfits its state-of-the-industry facilities with current technology, and delivers training that is aligned with employer needs. Through its network of 12 campuses nationwide, UTI offers post-secondary programs under the banner of several well-known brands, including Universal Technical Institute (UTI), Motorcycle Mechanics Institute and Marine Mechanics Institute (MMI) and NASCAR Technical Institute (NASCAR Tech). The company is headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona.

For more information, visit www.uti.edu. Like UTI on www.facebook.com/UTI or follow UTI on Twitter @UTITweet, @MMITweet, and @NASCARTechUTI.

Media Contact:

Jody Kent

(602) 445-0872

[email protected]

SOURCE Universal Technical Institute, Inc.

Related Links

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A Brisbane doctor allegedly supplied prescription drugs directly to bikie gang members so they could sell them at a profit.

Police arrested the doctor during raids across Brisbane, including two medical practices in Fortitude Valley and Chermside, on Tuesday.

Detectives also seized steroids, prescription drugs and a large sum of cash during the operation.

A Brisbane doctor has been charged with trafficking and supplying restricted medications after allegedly giving bikie gangs access to steroids and prescription drugs (pictured)

The doctor has been charged with trafficking and supplying restricted medications and is due to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

Detective Inspector Larissa Miller says unregulated prescription drugs cause significant harm to people who abuse them.

'These drugs were supplied to gang members by a medical practitioner who knew they were going to be onsold within the community for profit,' she said in a statement.

'The Organised Crime Gangs group continues to target OMCG members and those who facilitate their offending, including people who hold professional positions of trust within our community.'
For much of 2020, Al Grosss Senate campaign in Alaska has proceeded as something of an afterthought for most Democrats, a distant contest that was off the radar in terms of determining control of the U.S. Senate. After all, Mr. Gross is not even technically running as a Democrat, an affiliation that might doom him in a conservative state.

But in the hours after Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburgs death on Friday, Dr. Grosss campaign as an independent saw an infusion of attention and cash that could reshape the race: Nearly $3 million has poured into his coffers  about as much total money as the campaign had in the bank at the end of July.

Within 15 minutes of the sad news, you saw truly organic movement, said David Keith, who is managing Dr. Grosss bid to oust Senator Dan Sullivan, a Republican.

From Alaska to Maine to North and South Carolina, Democratic strategists working on Senate campaigns described a spontaneous outpouring of donations the likes of which they had never seen, allowing Democrats the financial freedom to broaden the map of pickup opportunities, or press their financial advantage in top battlegrounds already saturated with advertising.
New probes using incredibly bright dyes could help detect COVID-19 earlier, leading to faster testing even when only trace amounts of SARS-CoV-2 RNA are present.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, scientists search for ways to catch positive cases earlier and run samples faster. Rapid testing is crucial to slow the spread of the virus. High-brightness dyes offer the promise of greatly improving COVID-19 testing methods. Thats why the National Science Foundation (NSF) approved a new $256,000 grant for high-brightness fluorophores developed by Michigan Technological University researchers and StabiLux Biosciences, a Michigan-based health tech business founded by MTU faculty.

Typical virus RNA PCR testing takes six to eight hours, depending on the quality of the samples, with a 20% to 30 error rate. StabiLux's high brightness PCR probes greatly reduce how long it takes to detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus in a patient sample and at lower virus load thresholds. Graphic Credit: StabiLux

Currently, COVID-19 tests either detect viral RNA  genetic material from the SARS-CoV-2 virus  or immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies in samples. Antibody detection methods only work for patients who contracted COVID-19 more than seven to 14 days ago, which is not helpful for early detection, quarantining and treatment.

RNA extraction techniques are usually based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods, like those used in the Michigan Tech COVID-19 testing lab. PCR methods require lengthy thermal cycles to concentrate virus RNA in a given sample, which can lead to a 20% to 30% replication error rate.

The Michigan Tech-StabiLux team has invented a testing approach using high-brightness PCR probes. Based on recently developed proprietary dyes several thousand times brighter than commercial products, the probes will detect the novel coronavirus with trace RNA in a much shorter time period and with fewer thermal cycles. These high-brightness dyes could enable more robust testing and monitoring of viral RNA and could be applied to other virus and pathogen testing as well.

A Vote of Confidence from NSF

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Innovation and Industrial Partnerships (IIP) solicited research proposals for sensitive detection, effective vaccines and in-depth virology studies that will positively impact U.S. and global response to COVID-19. StabiLux answered that call and has been awarded a Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I grant for its high-brightness dyes research.

The novel high-brightness PCR probes project is a collaboration between Xiuling Liu, a postdoc in the physics department and StabiLux research scientist, and Dongyan Zhang, adjunct associate professor of physics. The high-brightness PCR probe technology was co-invented by Nazmiye Yapici 13, the chief scientist at StabiLux and postdoc in the physics department, and Yoke Khin Yap, University Professor of physics and the founder of StabiLux  both of whom are also collaborators on the grant.

Xiuling Liu (left) and Nazmiye Yapici review experimental protocols. Image Credit: StabiLux

Being able to detect, quantify, and track viral RNA at low concentration and high accuracy will expedite tests, reduce false negatives and accelerate vaccine and drug development to reduce the impacts of COVID-19 and of future pandemics, Yap said. The success of the novel PCR probes will save lives, accelerate the development of working vaccines and recover economic, social and educational activities.

The Benefits of Tech Transfer

The original high-brightness dye technology is currently funded as a NSF STTR Phase IIB project for rare antigens detection by flow cytometry. Funding for the Phase I and Phase II projects, led by Yapici, tops $1.6 million.

The primary goal of technology transfer is to achieve societal benefit from discoveries made by researchers, said Jim Baker, associate vice president for research administration. This recent support from NSF to investigate applications of our technology to address COVID-19 is a great example of the potential public benefit achieved through the commercialization of Michigan Tech research outcomes.

StabiLux has begun raising Series A funding to sustain their commercialization efforts. StabiLux was an Innovation Showcase finalist in a recent international conference, CYTO, and is a finalist at the Invest360 health care event on Sept. 24.

This technology will be disruptive to the $5.5 billion PCR market and help scientists develop a better virology understanding to prevent future pandemics, said Steve Tokarz, CEO at StabiLux.

While the work is still in the research stage, the research team expects high-brightness fluorophore dyes will lead to breakthroughs in immunology, drug discovery and medical diagnosis.

Research Award Yoke Khin Yap won the 2018 Michigan Tech Research Award for his research on boron nitride nanotubes. In 2020, Yap was awarded the title of Michigan Tech University Professor for his significant contributions to the University.

Michigan Technological University is a public research university founded in 1885 in Houghton, Michigan, and is home to more than 7,000 students from 55 countries around the world. Consistently ranked among the best universities in the country for return on investment, the University offers more than 125 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science and technology, engineering, computing, forestry, business and economics, health professions, humanities, mathematics, social sciences, and the arts. The rural campus is situated just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, offering year-round opportunities for outdoor adventure.
SEABROOK - Seabrook police were taking on road-blocking duties Monday night as Tropical Storm Beta had begun inundating several roads in the city along Galveston Bay.

Monday night, Beta, after meandering in the Gulf of Mexico since forming last week, was finally coming ashore near Matagorda Bay.

Coupled with high tides, Betas coastal surge was being felt throughout the day, prompting the closures of some streets that lead to the waters edge. Even as early as Sunday night, higher-than-usual water levels had waves starting to creep onto Todville Road, well-known for its flooding potential over the years.

At 6:30 p.m. Monday night, A police vehicle was blocking both the east and westbound lanes at the intersection of Main Street and North Meyer.

Elsewhere, vehicles heading south on Todville were forced to turn off at East Meyer Street with a sign that said water was over the road.

There was another barricade on Hammer Street, another road that heads for the bay.

Beta is projected to begin moving in a northeasterly direction sometime over the next 48 hours. By Wednesday afternoon, it will likely have been downgraded to a tropical depression as it reaches the vicinity of Galveston Bay. But by then, its forward motion will have accelerated, likely reaching Louisiana Wednesday night.

Elsewhere around the Clear Lake area, authorities closed Clear Lake Park Monday night out of concern for the higher levels of the water. One night earlier, Clear Lake already looked swollen.

At 9:36 p.m. Monday night, the Harris County Flood Control District was reporting that Clear Creek at Dixie Farm Road was at 27 feet and within three feet of flooding likely to occur. In one hour at that site, Clear Creek had risen from 25.53 feet to 27.33.

But from a historical standpoint, it still has a long, long ways to reach Harveys flooding numbers. At that location, the floodwaters reached an elevation of 40.30 feet.

ravery@hcnonline.com
Also added to the agreement is language specifying the kind of data that should be collected and reported, including data on community contacts, meetings, trainings, cases and investigations; educational programs; and other activities that the SRO is involved in at the schools. Additionally, a modification was made to a section on complaints to clarify that a state law outlines disciplinary procedures against officers and that nothing in the agreement should conflict or take precedence over that.
SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)

A shooting at an Armenian school over the weekend in San Francisco has sparked a new hate crime investigation -- the third hate crime against an Armenian establishment in the city within the last two months.

Around 2:25 a.m. Saturday, officers patrolling the city's Stonestown neighborhood heard gunshots near the Krouzian-Zekarian-Vasbouragan Armenian School at 825 Brotherhood Way.

Officers searched the area to no avail, but noticed a sign outside the school was riddled with bullet holes. No one was injured in the shooting, police said.

The shooting is the second hate crime to occur at the school.

On July 24, suspects were seen on surveillance video breaking into the same school and vandalizing its walls with graffiti that conveyed anti-Armenian messages. The suspects in that case remain at large, police said.

Then, early Thursday morning, firefighters extinguished a suspected arson fire at the St. Gregory The Illuminator Armenian Apostolic Church at 51 Commonwealth Ave. in the city's Laurel Heights neighborhood.

Although no one was injured in the blaze, it caused extensive damage to the church's office and library, among other facilities. The suspected arson fire drew outrage from District Attorney Chesa Boudin, as well as members of the city's Armenian community.

A GoFundMe campaign to help the church with repair costs has already raised more than $40,000 of its $100,000 goal as of Monday afternoon. The page can be found at https://www.gofundme.com/f/san-francisco-armenian-church-amp-community-offices.

Anyone with information about any of the cases is asked to contact to police's 24-hour anonymous tip line at (415) 575-4444 or to text a tip to TIP411 with "SFPD" at the beginning of the message.

Copyright  2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
A penguin has been found dead on a Brazilian beach after swallowing a whole face mask.

The N95 mask, used in industry and healthcare during the coronavirus pandemic, was found during an autopsy on the bird after its body was found on Juquehy Beach in Sao Sebastian, north of Sao Paulo.

The animal was a Magellanic penguin thought to have become lost from the rest of its group after migrating from Argentina's southern Patagonian region.

A penguin (pictured) has died on a Brazilian beach after swallowing a whole black N95 face mask

Distressing pictures of the face covering in the bird's stomach, taken by animal experts who practiced the necropsy, were released on Monday.

It is believed to have been discovered on September 9.

Hugo Gallo Neto, President of NGO Instituto Argonauta which carried out the examination, told local press: 'We have already warned about face masks, and this case is unequivocal proof that this type of waste causes harm and mortality in marine fauna.

'It also demonstrates the irresponsibility of the person who leaves a mask in an inappropriate place, as it is hospital waste at risk of contamination by other people.'

The NGO also said it had found 113 face masks discarded on beaches on Sao Paulo northern coastline, which includes Juquehy Beach, in the five month period to mid-September.

The mask (pictured), used in industry and healthcare during the coronavirus pandemic, was found during an autopsy on the bird

Face masks have been causing litter problems on land and at sea since they were made a legal requirement in many public spaces around the world.

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) warned in July that the incorrect disposal of personal protective equipment (PPE) from hospitals could pose a new threat to the environment.

It said: 'If only one per cent of the masks were disposed of incorrectly and perhaps dispersed in nature, this would result in 10 million masks per month in the environment.'
Imagine if there was a test for COVID-19 that could be done in 15 minutes, costs only $5 and didnt require a laboratory. Such a test was recently approved for use in the States  and its raising hopes that soon airlines will be able test passengers, theatres could test guests, and restaurants and retailers could regularly test employees, even customers.

Rapid testing would be a game-changer for struggling businesses, but while such tests have been given fast-tracked approval in the United States, Canada has yet to do the same. Experts say its time for Canada to get moving on rapid testing, especially as cases start to rise and fears mount that businesses could be forced to close again.

David Naylor, co-chair of the COVID-19 Immunity Task Force, said in an email that such rapid tests could be used for air travel and would help avoid contagion in any setting where remote work isnt feasible.

Rapid testing could really help to avoid clusters of COVID-19 cases such as weve seen in sites like food processing plants or long-term-care facilities, he said.

However, at this point Ontarios public health authority is only looking at evaluating a rapid test by U.S.-based Abbott, called Panbio, which is currently under evaluation by Health Canada alongside other similar tests. The test uses a deep-nostril nasopharyngeal swab.

Meanwhile, another test by Abbott already received emergency use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in late August. Its the first FDA-approved test that doesnt require specialty equipment for analysis and it uses a shallower nasal swab, making it easier to administer. Abbott promises a 15-minute turnaround and a (U.S.) $5 cost.

Air Canada is already exploring rapid testing with multiple companies, and is currently part of a project at Torontos Pearson airport performing regular tests on arriving travellers. An Air Canada spokesperson said that the company believes rapid testing has potential to add another level of protection to the layered approach we are already taking to biosafety.

Meanwhile, WestJet has partnered with Vancouver International Airport on a similar project that will test passengers on some departing flights (the type of test has yet to be determined). A WestJet spokesperson said that the company continues to advocate for the introduction of testing to offer our guests additional layers of safety during their journey.

David Lefebvre, vice-president of Restaurants Canada, said rapid testing could provide a boost for the hard-hit sector, as people may be more willing to dine out once testing is widespread. Rapid testing will improve contact tracing too, he said.

It will also help restaurants and their employers, Lefebvre said  if an employee has COVID-19 symptoms, they wont need to take a week off work before getting their test results.

David Juncker, a professor of biomedical engineering at McGill University, said he doesnt think Canada is moving fast enough. He thinks the effort to test and deploy rapid testing needs to be more concerted, similar to the creation of the COVID-19 Immunity Task Force  he wants to see a task force for deploying rapid testing.

The technology is getting there. We just need to streamline and marshal all these energies, he said.

A rapid-testing device could be approved in Canada any week now, Juncker added, but he cautioned that the tests wont be perfect at first.

Perhaps the most important aspect of rapid tests, other than their speed, is their sensitivity, he said. Theyre not as sensitive as the current testing method  but that could be a good thing. The current tests often catch people who are no longer contagious, and contagion is the most important thing to curb, said Juncker.

Theres a trade off between being super sensitive, catching all the positive cases ... and then balancing that out so that you dont have too many false positives.

But Naylor says we need to balance speed with efficacy. He said that while the FDA is ahead of Canada in approving COVID-19 tests, their decision-making has been subject to political pressure, and some of the tests that received fast-track approvals turned out to be inaccurate.

Overall, Canada tends to be more cautious than the United States about new medical technologies, he said, which is generally the best way to go  but too much caution could be slowing us down unduly.

Naylor does think its time for Canada to get moving on rapid tests, even though the tests are not without their critics.

Its suboptimal for Canada to be heading into the fall without a suite of rapid-test options, and without clarity about use of test substrates other than nasal swabs, he said.

Though the costs of widespread rapid testing may be high, Naylor said its clear this is the best way forward.

The price of wilful ignorance in human lives and suffering, and from a social and economic standpoint, is much higher than the cost of getting some rapid-testing systems in place as soon as possible.

With files from Kate Allen

Editors note  Sept. 22, 2020: This article was edited to the remove the reference to the Panbio rapid test by U.S.-based Abbott as older generation.

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SUNBURY  A Northumberland County man has admitted assaulting a Millersburg woman and not allowing her to leave his property until the following morning.

Kyle Joseph Dyer, 28, of the Dalmatia area, pleaded guilty Monday in county court to charges of simple assault and recklessly endangering another person.

Sentencing was deferred, but due to his lengthy criminal record he is expected to receive a state prison term.

The charges to which he pleaded stem from an April 19 verbal dispute with Elizabeth Houck that escalated into a physical altercation at his Malta Road residence in Lower Mahanoy Twp.

The arrest affidavit gives this account of what allegedly occurred:

Dyer took Houcks car keys and cell phone and as she attempted to get into her car to leave he grabbed her by the arm, threw her to the ground and began strangling her with both hands.

Houck was taken to a shed where her head was smashed against a wall. The protruding shelves caused her to become light-headed. She sat down in a chair but he flipped it, causing her to fall out.

Dyer slammed her head off the shed floor multiple times and began strangling her again, causing her to nearly pass out.

Houck claimed she was kept in the shed and house overnight and could not leave because he would not give her the car keys or cellphone.

Dyer has been in jail since the incident, unable to post the $250,000 bail and as a parole violator.

Charges of kidnapping, strangulation, unlawful restraint, false imprisonment and harassment are to be dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

His record includes 2015 guilty pleas in Northumberland County in a burglary case and in Dauphin County to a charge of illegal possession of a firearm. He received jail sentences in both cases.
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The German ambassador in Libya, Oliver Owcza, Tuesday presented to the managing committee of the Libyan national general electricity company a series of proposals to resolve the countrys electricity crisis, an official source said here
The conservative world is firing up its well-oiled machinery to fight its third Supreme Court battle in four years. But at the White House, a fresh crop of top aides is taking the reins.

Gone is the man who shepherded through President Donald Trumps first two Supreme Court picks  former White House counsel Don McGahn. In his place are top White House aides new to the very particular process of nominating a Supreme Court justice. Both McGahns replacement, White House counsel Pat Cipollone, and chief of staff Mark Meadows were not around the last two times Trump placed a justice on the high court.

White House aides met Monday to plot their path to confirming a replacement for Ruth Bader Ginsburg before the end of Trumps first term in January. On their list: Assemble an internal war room and prepare a fierce counteroffensive against Democratic complaints, even as they try to simultaneously secure enough votes in a Republican-controlled Senate where two Republican members have already indicated opposition.

Aides and advisers know they must act quickly with the presidential election less than 50 days away. Trump is expected to announce his pick as early as Friday, ahead of the first presidential debate on Tuesday, Sept. 29.

Time is your enemy, said one Republican familiar with the judicial selection process. That is the No. 1 lesson from [Brett] Kavanaugh.

Trump and his team have zeroed in two female judges as the top candidates  Amy Coney Barrett, seen as the frontrunner, and Barbara Lagoa  but the president plans to interview each of the five candidates he is considering, said one White House official. He will want to interview the top candidate in-person, said a second White House aide.

On Monday, Trump personally met with Barrett in the Oval Office shortly before he left for a campaign rally in Ohio. And Trump told reporters he had spoken to other potential candidates over the past two days.

Barrett already has a history with Trump. The president interviewed her roughly two years ago before settling on nominating eventual Justice Brett Kavanaugh. The meeting was not held under ideal circumstances  Barrett had pink eye and wore sunglasses to the interview, leading to some awkwardness, according to four people familiar with the process.

Story continues

But Barrett has the strong backing of several influential anti-abortion groups, and her record excites the Trump base of evangelicals and Catholic voters, whose support for the president has dwindled during the 2020 presidential race.

The president is not asking candidates if they will overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark case establishing abortion rights, said one White House aide, who called the focus on the landmark abortion rights ruling over-hyped. Democrats see the fate of Roe v. Wade  as well as a crop of new abortion restriction laws  as a key issue at stake with this confirmation process.

Barrett has a broad contingent of support among the White House staff, with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell leaning toward her potential nomination in recent days, said two Republicans familiar with the process.

Lagoas fiercest backers come from her home state of Florida, with her allies and some Trump aides arguing her nomination could help Trump secure support in the key swing state. Florida Republicans hope Trump meets with Lagoa because hell fall in love with her and be impressed, said one Republican close to the White House. "Evangelicals want Amy and that is their horse, so after Kavanaugh they would get their wish in his mind. I think he's struggling.

Donald McGahn listens as Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Sept. 5, 2018.

Although top White House aides are new to the process, the West Wing has a detailed road map to follow from the confirmation battles for both Kavanaugh and Justice Neil Gorsuch.

McGahn guided the confirmation for both justices, working closely with McConnell and the Senate Judiciary Committee. In addition to creating a smooth process for Gorsuch, it was McGahn who urged Kavanaugh to express anger in the hearing over sexual assault charges against him, during which Trump considered pulling the nomination. Kavanaughs performance ultimately rallied conservatives and impressed Trump.

Players from the past fights say the White House should move the upcoming confirmation as swiftly as possible and not waste too much time trying to compromise with Democrats, who are unlikely to drop their fierce opposition to any Trump nominee before the presidential election.

Former aides say by delaying the announcement until later this week, the White House gives itself more time to help the nominee prepare a speech and plan an event in the East Room where Trump will officially introduce his pick to the American public.

Announcing at the end of the week allows him the opportunity to prolong the momentum of news coverage of the nominee, and it shows that Republicans are likely going to use this as an election-year issue, said Ron Bonjean, a longtime Republican operative who served as a communications strategist for the Gorsuch confirmation.

This has become a political campaign in and of itself within an election-year campaign, Bonjean added. They have to be ready with a full complement of staff dedicated toward defining and protecting the nominee and in careful coordination with the Senate.

Cipollone will lead the confirmation battle from the White House counsels office, with every lawyer from the counsels office providing support. Senators already know Cipollone well from the Trump impeachment proceedings in January, when he was one of lead lawyers defending the president during his Senate trial.

Meadows will work closely with Cipollone and lead on outreach to Capitol Hill, where he served as a congressman for seven years.

The White House has no plans right now to hire anyone new to help with the war room, but that could change in the coming days. One official said the West Wing is standing up a war room composed of officials from the White House counsels office, rapid response team and the communications shop  and aides have been in regular contact with staff from McConnells office.

Vice President Mike Pence referenced that coordination in an interview Monday afternoon with CBS.

We're working already with the Republican leadership in the Senate to make arrangements for the process to move forward, Pence said.

The White House will also get outside help. Several well-funded conservative groups, including the Federalist Society, Judicial Crisis Network and Americans for Prosperity, will generate support for the nominee, placing surrogates on TV and spending millions on ads. On Monday, the Judicial Crisis Network unveiled a $2.2 million ad buy, which will appear in states such as Colorado, Iowa, Maine, North Carolina and Utah  all places with Republican senators who are not considered locks to support Trumps pick.

One White House aide said the chance to fill another Supreme Court vacancy just days before the election has both shocked and excited White House staff, changing the vibe inside the West Wing during a tough election.

A vote prior to the election  that is unlikely. But a hearing before the election with a vote in the lame duck is more likely, said one former senior administration official. Senators have moments of skittishness, and people need to be rallied around the ins and outs of it. It is a process.

Anita Kumar contributed to this report.
Activists sentence for assault on officer at illegal Moscow rally reduced by 6 months

 RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov

11:48 22/09/2020

MOSCOW, September 22 (RAPSI)  The Second Cassation Court of General Jurisdiction on Tuesday reduced sentence given to activist Kirill Zhukov, who had committed an assault on a National Guard officer during an unauthorized rally in Moscow on July 27, from 3 years in penal colony to 2.5 years in penal colony settlement, attorney Svetlana Bayturina told RAPSI.

In August, a court in Russias Nizhny Tagil refused to release Zhukov on parole.

On September 4, 2019, Moscows Tverskoy District Court convicted Zhukov of the use of force against a representative of authority. The court found that the defendant knocked down an officer by butting him in the face.

Zhukov pleaded not guilty.

Protest actions began in Moscow in mid-July 2019 after election commissions denied registration of certain opposition members as candidates for the Moscow City Duma elections reasoning that documents submitted by them contained numerous violations.

The first unauthorized rally took place hear the Moscow City Election Commissions building on July 14 and looked like a provocation, according to law experts.

Unauthorized rallies in support of candidates seeking to become lawmakers of the Moscow State Duma but refused registration by the Election Commission were also held on July 27 and August 3 in central Moscow. Over 1,000 people were arrested for various violations as a result.

Following the 27 July rally, the Investigative Committee opened a criminal case over mass riots. Investigators believe that the protest action was held with the use of force against representatives of authority.




There is no and there can be no authorities in Armenia that will go for an unfavorable solution for the Armenian side in the settlement of the Karabakh issue. Edmon Marukyan, chairman of the opposition Bright Armenia Party (BAP) and head of its parliamentary faction, said this during Tuesdays briefings in the National Assembly.

According to him, the Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) issue has always been a topic of political debates and manipulations in Armenia.

At the same time, the Armenian MP accused Azerbaijan and Turkey of trying to create military tension in the region. In particular, as per Marukyan, the recent statements of Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev are provocative, especially his allegation that Armenia is preparing for war. "They cannot be a source that can be trusted, and there is no need to draw conclusions from it. If there will be concrete negotiations and a document appears in which there will be an unfavorable solution for us and the [Armenian] authorities will go for it, then they will be trampled on [by their own people] after a few minutes," Marukyan stressed.

The lawmaker added that everything else is just talks and debates, whereas the actual negotiations should continue, as the parties to the Karabakh conflict are still very far from finding a solution that would be acceptable for the Armenian side. Therefore, as per the BAP leader, sooner or later the negotiations will resume as a result of the respective calls by the international community, as the alternative to the negotiations is war. "Negotiations will continue. The main thing is that after the July battles, we were able to strengthen our positions. What should have been done after the April [2016] war, but had not been done so far, can be returned to the agenda today," Edmon Marukyan said.
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Masco Foods Limited, franchise holders of KFC restaurants in Ghana have rewarded 200 candidates of the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) with free meals.



The food distribution which took place today at the premises of St. Patrick High School and the Good Shepherd Academy in Kasoa was to pat the back of candidates who wrote the exams as well as encourage them to aspire for the future.



The twister meal distributed by KFC contains fries, a twister, and a 300ml bottled coke.



The principal of St. Patrick High School, Mr. Patrick Yaw Ebiram commended KFC for their effort. Mr. Henry Anderson, Principal of Good Shepherd Academy expressed his appreciation by thanking the KFC team for such benevolence.



In her introduction speech, Madam Afua Kissi-Nyame- Marketing Manager, Masco Foods said,As part of our Corporate Social Responsibility, we look to extend support to the less privileged and deprived people in the areas we operate in. In this very case, we are happy to reward these students who have put in tireless effort in this pandemic. We are giving this to encourage all future BECE candidates.



KFCs Corporate Social Responsibility



KFC Ghana has 9 years experience in Quick Service Restaurant. They have over the years partnered a number of organizations and government institution since its inception in 2011 to render outstanding humanitarian service to the nation Ghana.

Just like its mother company- the Mohinani Group, Masco foods (KFC) prioritizes humanity and has People as its essence; giving every individual an equal opportunity to be a source of benefit to society.



As part of its objectives, KFC seeks to address this humanitarian urge by providing a healthy environment for the growth and development of the deprived in its sphere of contact and beyond.



During the lockdown, KFC donated over 5,000 meals to street folks and the needy in 20 communities in Accra and Kumasi. The company also partnered Vida E Caffe to donate food items to the aged in the tourism sector.



Aside food reliefs, the company- Masco Foods (KFC Ghana) has embarked on several clean-up projects in Accra, Kumasi and Takoradi; feeding schools and orphanages in these 3 cities.



The company currently has its 19th branch in Kwame Nkrumah circle-Accra and has future plans to open additional branches. KFCs CSR mandate is to touch and improve lives across profitable disciplines.

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
The greatest weapon we possess in the battle against Covid-19 is the evidence accumulated by scientists. Although this is a new disease, essentially unknown a year ago, we have gathered a vast amount of data on it.

No other disease in history has been so intensely studied by so many people around the world over such a concentrated period, both in the lab and in the real world.

Yet the British Government appears to be paying far less attention to this vital evidence than it should be.

The statement to the Commons earlier this week by the Health Secretary Matt Hancock was largely preoccupied instead with the overall number of cases.

Boris Johnson's British Government appears to be paying far less attention to this vital evidence than it should be

The greatest weapon we possess in the battle against Covid-19 is the evidence accumulated by scientists, says emeritus professor of bacteriology at the University of Aberdeen

This headline figure is misleading. Covid-19 does not affect all people equally.

For the majority, it is a comparatively innocuous infection that many young people will have without symptoms. For the vulnerable minority, especially the elderly, it can be very serious.

In the over-80s, in fact, the mortality rate is as high as it was for smallpox before the introduction of vaccines, more than two centuries ago. That is to say, for patients in that age group, Covid-19 is a very grave threat indeed.

Government policy, such as the introduction of a nightlife curfew yesterday, seems blind to this crucial difference. It concentrates simply on reducing the blanket figure, without making the vulnerable a priority.

This approach lacks common sense and seems to be driven solely by a fear of red bars on graphs.

A letter to Boris Johnson says the government's 'existing policy path is inconsistent with the known risk-profile of COVID-19 and should be reconsidered'

That is why about 30 scientific experts and I signed a letter to the Prime Minister and his advisers this week, calling for a targeted approach that is based on evidence.

At the forefront of this approach should be how we handle the crisis in care homes.

At the start of the pandemic, the disease was allowed to run rampant in homes for the elderly, and the result was many thousands of preventable deaths. It is no exaggeration to call this a national scandal of massive proportions.

The crisis is still not fully under control. Care homes should be at the apex of protective controls.

Above all, the policy ought to focus on ensuring Covid-19 does not get into the homes in the first place. The only effective way to do that is by consistent, reliable testing with quick results.

The statement to the Commons earlier this week by the Health Secretary Matt Hancock (pictured for a cabinet meeting at the FCO in London today) was largely preoccupied instead with the overall number of cases

It is impractical to expect carers, who work with very elderly residents, many of whom have dementia, to use full PPE or protective equipment.

The patients might well fail to understand what is happening, and be frightened.

It is also impossible to do this care work while maintaining social distance. Physical contact is an integral part of the job.

All the emphasis should be on frequent testing, to make sure carers can be confident they are not carrying the virus.

Yet we are hearing next to nothing from Government ministers about this. Most of our hospitals are not working at anything close to capacity.

About 30 scientific experts and professor Hugh Pennington signed a letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson (pictured addressing the nation on the new coronavirus rules tonight) and his advisers this week, calling for a targeted approach that is based on evidence

People are staying away as much as they can, believing both that they should leave the NHS to get on with handling Covid-19 cases and that hospitals are hotbeds of infection. Yet these are both misconceptions.

Serious illnesses including heart disease and cancer are being missed, because people are too scared to report their symptoms or get a screening.

As a result, lives are being lost. Already the data shows that unnecessary death or excess mortality is on the rise.

The Governments chief aim appears to be keeping the overall number of Covid-19 cases as low as possible, until a vaccine can be released.

Even by the most optimistic projection, this will not happen before next year, and a vaccination programme will bring its own problems.

Because multiple vaccines are being trialled and tested, the Government will face a difficult choice over which one to implement.

Worse, because this jab will be fast-tracked into use, it will be hard to assess how safe it is, or how good it is at stemming infections.

Even the best vaccines wont work unless they are applied across a large majority of the population. We already know from opinion polls that a substantial proportion of people will baulk at having a largely untried Covid-19 vaccine.

Especially as virtually all under-40s wouldnt need one for their own personal health, wed be asking millions of people to have a jab for purely altruistic reasons, to protect others.

I want to be optimistic, but vaccines will not be the silver bullet that ends the pandemic.

Waiting is pointless. We have to act now and be practical. That means focusing on protecting the vulnerable, most of all in our care homes, with effective testing.

This is the crucial aspect we must get right. Shutting down the country is a dangerous distraction.

Hugh Pennington is emeritus professor of bacteriology at the University of Aberdeen

When will 'the experts' face the facts about Covid? They say the virus is a risk to everyone - but here are the stats that reveal the truth

By ELEANOR HAYWARD HEALTH REPORTER FOR THE DAILY MAIL

The majority of people who are infected with coronavirus will never even know they had it.

Yet so far 130,000 patients in the UK have ended up in hospital with Covid-19  and more than 52,000 have died.

This staggering disparity in outcomes is what makes it so difficult to settle upon the best course of action. Why should teenagers have to stay at home when their risk of death is vanishingly small?

Since the pandemic was declared, the medical community identified several risk factors for severe Covid-19  including age, sex and obesity.

Out of 52,000 deaths in England and Wales since March, more than 22,000 were over-85s. 17,000 were between 75 and 84

Professor Chris Whitty said on Monday: You cannot in an epidemic just take your own risk  unfortunately, youre taking a risk on behalf of everybody else.

If I as an individual increase my risk, I increase the risk to everyone around me sooner or later the chain will lead to people who are vulnerable or elderly.

But some experts, such as former Supreme Court justice Lord Sumption and Oxfords Professor Carl Heneghan, claim that our detailed knowledge of the risk factors, outlined below, make blanket lockdown measures unnecessary.

Instead, they argue for targeted strategies to shield the most vulnerable, including those in care homes, while allowing everyone else to get on with their lives.

Ministers currently believe this thinking is flawed because there is no way of segregating society into the at risk groups.

Being obese increases the likelihood of dying from Covid-19 by up to 90 per cent, according to Public Health England

These, then, are the extraordinary facts about Covid:

AGE

Around seven in ten people do not get any symptoms.

A 40-year-old is ten times as likely to die as a 20-year-old. An 80-year-old faces 1,000 times the risk.

Under-55s are more likely to die in an accident than from Covid-19.

Out of 52,000 deaths in England and Wales since March, more than 22,000 were over-85s. 17,000 were between 75 and 84.

580 people under 44 have died, many of whom had underlying health conditions.

The virus does not appear to kill healthy children.

A 40-year-old is ten times as likely to die as a 20-year-old. An 80-year-old faces 1,000 times the risk

PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS

More than 95 per cent of patients who die have an underlying health condition  of the 29,705 patients who died in English hospitals, some 28,309 had a pre-existing illness.

One in four UK virus deaths were people with dementia.

45 per cent of Covid death certificates noted heart disease as a condition. One in five noted diabetes or high blood pressure.

It has been clear since the virus first emerged that men are more susceptible to severe illness than women. In the UK around 4,500 more men have died than women

OBESITY

Being obese increases the likelihood of dying from Covid-19 by up to 90 per cent, according to Public Health England.

Patients who are morbidly obese  with a BMI over 40  are four times as likely to be admitted to intensive care as those who are healthy.

Data found that in NHS intensive care units, 8 per cent of critically ill patients with Covid-19 have a BMI over 40, compared to less than three per cent of the general population.

Doctors say that if people are overweight, every kilogram they lose will reduce their risk of hospitalisation and death. Two thirds of adults in England are obese or overweight, with a body mass index (BMI) over 25.

More than 95 per cent of patients who die have an underlying health condition  of the 29,705 patients who died in English hospitals, some 28,309 had a pre-existing illness

ETHNICITY

In the first wave of the virus, black men in the UK died at three times the rate of white men.

Even after adjusting for age and deprivation, the Office for National Statistics found black men and women are up to twice as likely to die, and Bangladeshi, Pakistani or Indian men also face a significantly higher risk.

Scientists believe that it is due to a combination of genetic and socio-economic factors, with BAME communities more likely to live in urban areas and have frontline jobs that expose them to a higher risk of the virus.

Some ethnic groups are more at risk of conditions such as Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

GENDER
A firefighter who went missing while fighting the El Dorado fire has been found dead, authorities confirmed on Friday morning.

The firefighter was first reported missing on Thursday, but U.S. Forest Service (USFS) later revealed that the firefighter perished at the El Dorado fire. The agency said the incident took place on Thursday.

The firefighter was identified as Big Bear Interagency Hotshot Squad Boss Charles Morton, the NBC Los Angeles reported.

He served as a firefighter for the Forest Service for 14 years. He started with the Truckee Interagency Hotshots on the Tahoe National Forest, officials said.

"Charlie was a well-respected leader who was always there for his squad and his crew at the toughest times," said USFS Chief Vicki Christiansen said in a statement. "Our hearts go out to Charlie's loved ones, coworkers, friends and the Big Bear Hotshots."

In 2002, Morton also worked with the California Conservation Corps at the Butte Fire and moved onto Firestorm Fire Suppression in Chico.

Procession Held in Morton's Honor

A sad procession took place down the San Bernardino Mountains in honor of the firefighter's life and service, reported the CBS Los Angeles.

Members from the California Highway Patrol and local fire departments were there. They came from departments across Southern California and escorted the body down the highway.

Morton just celebrated his 39th birthday last month. He was a San Diego native as well, officials said. He was survived by his wife and daughter, parents, two brothers, cousins, and friends.

In the statement by USFS, his family said: "He's loved and will be missed. May he rest easy in heaven with his baby boy."

Cause and Location of Death

The USFS could not confirm where the death took place or if Morton had been away from the other fire crew. The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department sent investigators to the scene of his death.

They also said the cause of his death is still under investigation. They assured that more details could be made available once confirmed. The USFS sent their deepest sympathies with Morton's loved ones.

The El Dorado Fire is a 22 thousand acre blaze. It broke out on the morning of September 5 and was caused by a smoke-generating pyrotechnic used at a gender reveal party, said KTLA.

It was 65 percent contained as of Friday evening. It destroyed four homes and damaged two others. There are still about 26,000 people who remain threatened by the fire.

It was more active on Thursday, jumping containment lines. So far, the fire remains contained in the south. It has not crossed the Highway 38 to the north.

"As of this update, the El Dorado Fire has NOT crossed Highway 38," USFS wrote in an update. The agency assured the public the fire crews were working on the area and are still monitoring the possibility carefully.

Evacuation orders are still in effect in various areas such as the Mountain Home Village, Forest Falls, Angelus Oaks, and Seven Oaks.

Big Bear was not given an evacuation order, but officials said residents have to keep a close eye out for updates.

Check these out!

West Coast Winds Seen to Fuel the Spread of Wildfires

California, Oregon Wildfires Nearly 100% Contained

Wildfire Smoke from Oregon, California Drifts to East Coast
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - September 22, 2020) - Canadian Silver Hunter Inc. (NEX: AGH.H) ("Canadian Silver Hunter" or the Company") is pleased to announce that the TSX Venture Exchange has accepted for filing a non-binding letter of intent dated May 20, 2020 between Canadian Silver Hunter Inc. (the "Company") and Timothy Towers, whereby the Company is to acquire a 100% interest in the Lost Dog Property located in Denton Township, Northern Ontario (see press release of May 21, 2020).

The company looks forward to now implementing their planned work programs on the Lost Dog, Keeley-Frontier and Lac Lachance properties, and will be making additional announcements in the coming days.

Canadian Silver Hunter Inc. is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on gold and silver exploration on their three properties; the Silver Centre-Keeley Frontier property, located near Cobalt in Northern Ontario; the Lost Dog property, located near Timmins, in Northern Ontario and; the Lac Lachance property, located near Lebel-sur-Quevillon in Northern Quebec. For further details about the Company's projects and plans please visit the Canadian Silver Hunter Inc. website at www.canadiansilverhunter.ca

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT: 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. We seek safe Harbor.

For more information please contact:

Jeffrey Hunter

President & CEO

(416) 707-4230

jhunter@cshi.ca

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/64378
Communist Chinas Creeping Influence in Britain

News Analysis

Until recently, China was seen by the United Kingdom mainly as a business opportunity and a welcome source of cheap goods. But theres now a growing realization that the communist regime in Beijing poses a serious threat, not just to British values, but also to the UKs national security.

While the recent row over Chinese telecom company Huaweis involvement in the UKs 5G network drew considerable UK media attention, the Chinese regimes influence operations in Britain started decades earlier.

As detailed in the book, Hidden Hand: Exposing How the Chinese Communist Party Is Reshaping the World by Clive Hamilton and Mareike Ohlberg, the 48 Group Club grew out of a drive to promote closer relations between Britain and communist China in the early 1950s.

The networking group boasts high-profile British politicians from across the political spectrum in its ranks, as well as other business and cultural elites, according to the authors.

United Front and Friendship Groups

Another influential group is the United Front Work Department, a department that reports directly to the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party.

Ten years or 15 years ago, it was a bit of a backwater. But its now become far more extensive, far more powerful, and far more influential within government, Hamilton told The Epoch Times. The United Front Work Department stands at the apex of this vast apparatus of influence around the world, as well as in China itself.

This unit coordinates thousands of groups to carry out foreign political influence operations, suppress dissident movements, gather intelligence, and facilitate the transfer of other countries technology to China, according to a recent report by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute.

Its political influence initiatives target foreign elites, including politicians and business executives, and are often covert in nature, according to the report. Overseas Chinese communities are also key targets, with the Party seeking to co-opt and control community groups, business associations, and Chinese-language media.

The United Fronts work abroad amounts to an exportation of the CCPs political system. Its effort undermines social cohesion, exacerbates racial tension, influences politics, harms media integrity, facilitates espionage, and increases unsupervised technology transfer, the report states.

One of the mechanisms used by the United Front is China friendship groups, civic organizations set up ostensibly to foster ties with China but are, in fact, front groups for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), a report by the Center of Strategic and Budgetary Assessments (CSBA), a Washington-based think tank, said.

These groups are often disguised as homegrown organizations run by the host countries own citizensoften elites drawn from Europes political class and business community, the CSBA said.

These co-opted elites parrot the Partys talking points, deflect narratives harmful to Beijings image, host public events that showcase the Partys virtues, promote trade and investment, encourage technology transfers, and voice support for policies favorable to China, the report states.

The notion of friendship has particular connotations for the Communist Party, and isnt how we think of friendship in the West, Hamilton says.

Any organization that has the name friend or friendship, you know, is immediately suspicious, he said.

Media and Culture

The CCPs Central Propaganda Department is also actively involved in overseas influence operations. Nearly all Chinese-language media in the UK are effectively under CCP control, and even some mainstream UK media outlets have come under the CCPs influence.

For over a decade, the Daily Telegraph carried a supplement titled China Watch, both in its newspapers and on its website. The section was funded by China Daily, an official Communist Party newspaper, and was full of propaganda articles hailing Chinas standing in the world. The Telegraph only stopped publishing this paid-for section in April 2020 amid increasing criticism and scrutiny over Chinese influence operations in the UK, according to The Guardian.

The Chinese state also partially funds Confucius Institutes (CIs), which have been accused of promoting Chinese communist propaganda on British university campuses, under the pretense of promoting the Chinese language and culture. There are hundreds of CIs all over the world, including about 30 in the UK at universities and over 100 Confucius Classrooms in schools.

The provision of grants and research funds is another way in which the CCP exerts influence over UK institutions. Arts organizations have also been influenced in this way.

One of the things that shocked me the most about this process is the way in which the Chinese Communist Party, notorious for its vicious suppression of any cultural deviation from the correct line from Red culture in China, has been allowed to influence the major cultural institutions in the West, to effectively dictate the programs, to censor certain performances, Hamilton said.

Exploiting Pandemic

Meanwhile, a report published in March determined that Beijing was exploiting the global CCP virus pandemic, which first broke out in Wuhan, China, to advance its economic goals and fulfill its wider ambitions.

Beijing intends to use the global dislocation and downturn to attract foreign investment, to seize strategic market share and resourcesespecially those that force dependence [on China], according to a report by Horizon Advisory, a U.S.-based independent consultancy.

But many of the CCPs actions have backfired and a growing backlash is mounting.

During the pandemic, Beijing sent a slew of medical experts and supplies, such as masks and respirators, to countries where they were desperately needed in a bid to improve its image. But the products it delivered often turned out to be defective, leaving countries no choice but to reject the faulty goods.

The British government paid $20 million for COVID-19 antibody tests from two Chinese companies, only to later find they didnt work properly, it was reported in April. Ireland, the Netherlands, Spain, Turkey, the Czech Republic, and Finland also received substandard Chinese supplies.

Bowen Xiao and Tom Ozimek, and Jane Werrell of NTD, an affiliate of The Epoch Times, contributed to this report
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 22)  Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said on Tuesday that Victor Caindec, regional director of Land Transportation Office (LTO) in Central Visayas, is under investigation for corruption and wanted charges be filed against the Region 7 official.

Roque confirmed during his press briefing that Caindec was the "corrupt official" he alluded to on Monday, claiming that he is tied to anomalies on the delayed release of motorcycle plates and RFID stickers in the region.

"Yes, I was referring to Caindec," the palace spokesman said. "I have affidavits to prove na kinikikilan niya 'yung mga [he extorted money from] motorcycle distributors. This is a matter of public document already."

"Nang hindi po pumayag sa mataas 'yung kikil na ibibigay sa kanya, tsaka po siya nagkaroon ng kung ano-anong hadlang [When people did not agree to pay the amount he wanted, that's when he started being a hindrance]," he added.

Roque previously warned the LTO regional director to "shape up," adding that authorities are giving him time to rectify his supposed misdeeds. Some groups have complained about Caindec back in July for delays in the processing and release of certificates of registration for new cars and motorcycles in the region.

In a separate press conference spoken in the vernacular, Caindec claimed that Roque asked that he be fired after he "discovered anomalies in the car registration process," particularly the tax evasion schemes among car dealers. Caindec also questioned Roque's motive in calling him out.

"I got a call from the Assistant Secretary (Edgar Galvante) telling me, 'ayusin mo 'yan kasi si Secretary Roque, tumatawag [fix that issue because Secretary Roque is calling about it].' I got that to mean that must be good news initially because the issue is now in the perspective of higher government officials," Caindec said in an online press conference with Cebu-based reporters. "Apparently, in a series of other calls, there seems to be pressure on my side to no longer continue with the investigations."

Contrary to Roque's claims, Caindec said he was the one offered a bribe to drop the probe into local dealers who were allegedly selling motorcycles prior to securing LTO registration. He also denied causing delays in the licensing process, saying instead that there is a near-zero backog in pending applications in the region.

Caindec also questioned Roque's ties to the issue, saying that he is the former associate of the lawyer of the car dealer under investigation.

"I am supported by public documents and the corresponding charges will be (filed)," Roque responded, saying it's the same thing he did when he went after PhilHealth in 2019 for ghost dialysis payments.

However, Roque said he brought up the issue to LTO chief Galvante and it was only then when motorcycle owners in Cebu were allowed to register with LTO offices outside the province. He accused Caindec of suddenly running to the Bureau of Internal Revenue to get even with motorcycle distributors after they exposed him to authorities.

Roque then reiterated his warning against critics who claim that he does not speak on the President's behalf: "Tingnan po natin [We'll see about that]," he said. "I will bring the matter up now to the top leadership."

For his part, Caindec said he has informed former Presidential aide and now Senator Bong Go and Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Dino about the supposed massive tax evasion among Cebu dealerships.

President Rodrigo Duterte previously said he will not tolerate officials caught even with just a "whiff" of corruption. However, Roque on Monday said the LTO executive will be given a chance to clean up his act after he was tagged in the reported dirty deals possibly worth millions of pesos.

Cebu-based journalist Dale Israel contributed to this report.
MADISON, Wis.  Wisconsins attorney general announced Monday that he has selected a former Madison police chief to serve as an independent consultant for prosecutors weighing whether to file charges against the officer who shot Jacob Blake, a Black man who was left paralyzed from the waist down.

The shooting of Blake on Aug. 23 by a white Kenosha police officer made Wisconsin the epicenter of the nations ongoing debate over police violence and racial injustice. It came three months after the death of George Floyd in the custody of Minneapolis police.

Noble Wray, the expert who will review the file, is Black. Following his retirement as Madisons chief in 2013, Wray has become a national leader in working on police reform, fighting racism and educating about implicit bias. Wray was chief for nine years and worked 30 years as a police officer, experience that Attorney General Josh Kaul and Kenosha County District Attorney Michael Gravely said would be crucial when reviewing the file.

Gravely said he requested the consultant but that he asked the Department of Justice to choose.

Kaul said his departments investigation of the shooting is in its final stages. When its done, he will turn it over to Wray for review and an analysis. It will then be up to Gravely about whether to file charges. Gravely said Monday that he had not made any decision about filing charges yet.

Gravely said Wray would bring diverse and abundant perspectives to the case.

Wray said he will provide insight and perspective to the case but not prejudge it. Wray said he will complete his review as quickly as possible, but he has not been given a timeline once he receives the investigative file.

I have not prejudged the case, Wray said.

Blake was shot in the back seven times after walking away from the officer and two others who were trying to arrest him. The officer, Rusten Sheskey, shot Blake after Blake opened an SUVs driver-side door and leaned into the vehicle. Three of Blakes children were in the back seat. The shooting was captured on video and circulated quickly online, fueling protests hours later.

FILE - In this Friday, Sept. 4. 2020 file photo taken from Kenosha County Court video, Jacob Blake answers questions during a hearing in Kenosha, Wis. Wisconsin's attorney general planned to provide an update Monday, Sept. 21, 2020 on the investigation into the police shooting of Blake, who was shot in the back by a white police officer last month, sparking days of protests.Kenosha County Court via AP, File

The state Justice Department has said a knife was recovered from Blakes vehicle, but it has not said whether he was holding it when officers tried to arrest him.

Blakes attorney, Ben Crump, has said that Blake was only trying to break up a domestic dispute and did nothing to provoke police. Crump has called for the arrest of Sheskey, the officer who shot Blake, and for the two other officers involved in the shooting to be fired.

Sheskey and the other officers who were at the scene  Vincent Arenas and Brittany Meronek  were placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation by the Wisconsin Department of Justice. None of them have been charged.

The Kenosha police union has said that officers were dispatched on Aug. 23 because of a complaint that Blake was attempting to steal the callers keys and vehicle. Union attorney Brendan Matthews said officers were aware that Blake had an open warrant for felony sexual assault before they arrived.

Blake pleaded not guilty on Sept. 4 to charges accusing him of sexually assaulting a woman in May. A trial date was set for Nov. 9.

Kenosha is a city of about 100,000 people on the shores of Lake Michigan midway between Milwaukee and Chicago.

-- The Associated Press
Seven decades, sixteen Lok Sabha and two hundred and fifty one Rajya Sabha sessions later, we have reached a situation where executive doesnt just have a link to legislature through Parliament, but there is a near-complete Executive take-over of the Legislature. Bit by bit, over these seven decades, every government has contributed to the undermining of the institution of Parliament.

The concerns expressed by some members of the Constituent Assembly in its meeting on 10 December 1948 proved to be prophetic for what happened in Rajya Sabha on 20 September 2020.

Professor KT Shah, noted economist and a Member of the Constituent Assembly moved an amendment for insertion of a new Article in the Constitution providing for complete separation of powers between the principal organs of the state viz. the Legislative, the Executive and the Judicial. Though the framers of the Constitution had already decided on the Parliamentary form of government, Professor Shah advocated for the Presidential system. With respect to the kind of link that Parliamentary form of Government creates between Executive and Legislature, where Executive are also part of the Legislature, he insisted, The less contact there is between them, the better for both. His reason was that Executive can offer Ministerships, Ambassadorships and other offices in exchange for votes of the members (of Parliament). Some other Members concurred with him.

Professor Shibban Lal Saxena, a professor of mathematics and philosophy, was of the opinion that Legislature will only pass Bills which the leader of the majority party wantsm making it a one-man government than anything else. He cautioned that the Legislature will not be independent, but be submissive to the Executive. Kazi Syed Karimuddin, a skilled lawyer, argued that in Parliamentary system political opponents are practically crushed, neglected and ignored. He further contended that in absence of conventions and discipline, our people are not trained to put up with the opposition.

There were several proponents of the Parliamentary system as well, including Dr. BR Ambedkar who found the Parliamentary System to be more responsible than the Presidential System. He argued that government will be answerable to the legislature through Parliamentary interventions like questions etc. and will be in office only as long as it enjoys the confidence of the legislature. On link between executive and legislature through Parliament, Dr. Ambedkar argued that the work of Parliament is so complex that members of Parliament will need guidance from the executive to carry on the work of the Legislature. The amendment moved by Professor Shah was negated.

Seven decades, sixteen Lok Sabha and two hundred and fifty one Rajya Sabha sessions later, we have reached a situation where executive doesnt just have a link to legislature through Parliament, but there is a near-complete Executive take-over of the Legislature. Bit by bit, over these seven decades, every government has contributed to the undermining of the institution of Parliament.

Parliament convenes only when convenient for the executive, to put its stamp of approval, willingly or not, on all executive proposals. Numbers predict the outcome of a debate and not the substance of the matter being discussed. Providing little to no time to MPs to study a Bill leads to only muted protests as there is no appreciation of the responsibility of a member as a lawmaker. The executive is assumed to already contain all the legislative wisdom needed, to which legislature cannot make any valuable contribution.

Standing Committees are routinely bypassed and if the government agrees to refer a Bill to a Committee for study, it is projected as an act of executive magnanimity. The executive also selectively approves recommendations made by a Standing Committee, with several ignored and amendments to Bills proposed by MPs during a debate are defeated without even the pretense of a discussion on the same. There is an utter disregard for Parliamentary procedures which are not seen as drivers of healthy deliberations but as brakes on ambitions of a government determined to serve its mandate at any cost. Parliaments authority to seek accountability from the Executive has been systematically weakened and conduct of presiding officers, sworn to uphold the constitutional values of our democracy above anything else, has often left much to be desired.

Therefore, the unfortunate events which transpired on 20 September 2020 would not have come as a surprise to anyone closely watching the developments in the last couple of months and perhaps years.

Ambedkar had laid great stress on the Parliamentary system being a more responsible system where the Executive will be responsible for the Legislature. But every avenue to extract accountability from the Executive is being compromised. Governments decision to cut short the Budget Session of Parliament in March this year, a day before imposition of a unilateral decision of nationwide lockdown, caused Lok Sabha to pass the Finance Bill 2020 within minutes without any discussion.

During the long period of more than five months of Parliament not being in session, Executive promulgated eleven ordinances, including the controversial agriculture related ordinances.

Even as several countries across the globe moved their parliamentary work online, not just our Parliament, but our Standing Committees also remained dysfunctional for more than three months. The preparations of holding the Monsoon Session of Parliament, with MPs being physically present started two months ago and yet, after a five month gap, only an eighteen day short session was convened with each House scheduled to sit for only four hours everyday.

The unprecedented circumstances and short time was cited as a reason to do away with question hour, but didnt prevent the government from keeping an ambitious legislative agenda of close to forty bills. Whether Members are raising matters of urgent importance or speaking on Bills, they are being asked to rush with their speeches and in several cases, being asked to confine themselves to a minute only. What meaningful deliberation is possible in the present state of affairs?

Of the nineteen Bills that have been passed by both Houses in this session, only two were studied by Standing Committees. Executives hesitation to send Bills to Committees for review is confounding even as ample evidence exists of the usefulness of this exercise. In the Monsoon Session itself, government withdrew three Labour Codes (Occupational Health, Safety & Working Conditions Code, Code on Social Security and Industrial Relations Code) which were introduced in 2019 and thereafter referred to Standing Committee for review.

According to the statement given by the labour minister while withdrawing these Bills, the Committee recommended 233 amendments to the Code of which government accepted 174 leading to substantial changes in the Codes. The Minister therefore withdrew the earlier Codes and introduced new ones. When such possibilities of improvements exist, what prevented the government from referring the two agriculture related Bills also to Select Committee for review, as demanded by the Opposition in Rajya Sabha, which ultimately became the bone of contention leading to protests?

On the first day of Monsoon Session, the motion to suspend Question Hour came up for discussion and voting in Lok Sabha and while speaking against the Motion, a member asked for division. The Speaker denied the request without citing any reason and the motion was passed through a voice vote. Voice vote is the preferred form of voting on motion and bills as it is anticipated that government has majority. It is also easier and quicker.

However, any member can ask for division which paves way for recording of votes. Division is the only way to know for certain that a motion or a bill has majority support and to record, for posterity, the vote of each member present and voting.

It is being said that on 20 September 2020 the government was not sure of its numbers and wanted to prevent division on the Bills or on the motion to send Bills to Select Committee, which the Opposition MPs were protesting about. The protest was because MPs were being prevented from seeking division and the protest became the reason for not allowing division. For division to happen, there must be order in the House, but even for Bills to be passed by voice vote, House must be in order. How did it deem appropriate to the Deputy Chairman to deny division to MPs but at the same time proceed with clause by clause voting on Bills amidst din and chaos? Several amendments were also moved by MPs which also couldnt be voted upon. The questionable conduct of some of the protesting MPs further dented an already broken system.

While this is what happened in Rajya Sabha in the afternoon, later in the night, Lok Sabha cleared as many as four Bills within an hour. We need to seriously introspect on what metric needs to be applied to measure the quality of deliberations and manner of passing of Bills in Parliament.

The concerns expressed by Members of Constituent Assembly seven decades ago on the ills and perils of Parliamentary system manifested in the last couple of days in the most disturbing manner. This indicates that we adopted a system and instead of making it more vigorous and robust, we have let it bled of its vitality, its dignity and its efficacy. Till we demand better from our institutions, the question that will continue to haunt us is - if the present Parliamentary system is positioned to check the Executive which is expanding its sphere of influence and power or has it capitulated before the Executive?

The author is a lawyer, public policy researcher and founder of Maadhyam, a civic engagement initiative
KEY HIGHLIGHTS

Diversified Funds have lesser risk but also give muted returns

Concentrated stocks have potential to deliver high returns but have higher risk

Focused funds invest in few concentrated high-conviction stocks

Invesco India Focused 20 Equity Fund intends to invest only in 20 stocks across caps

This fund is meant for investors who are looking for higher return and have higher risk appetite

Go for this fund only when you are well-versed with equity market and understand the risk of concentrated portfolio

If your risk appetite and life goal are aligned you can invest in the fund beyond NFO

When you invest in a large number of stocks from diverse industries the law of averages saves you from ending up with lowest return. However, this strategy also denies you the opportunity to earn high returns from top performing stocks. If you invest only in top performing stocks you can drive home greater returns.

This strategy is known as concentrated portfolio investment which puts money only in few high-conviction stocks. But the problem is how skilled you are in identifying the outperformers at the right time. This is where the role of an expert fund manager comes into play, especially in MF category called Focused Equity Funds.

Invesco Mutual Fund has come up with its new fund Invesco India Focused 20 Equity Fund, an open-ended equity scheme investing in maximum 20 stocks. The multicap fund adopts a high conviction approach to investing while maintaining a balance between conviction and diversification.

"If you analyse the data you will find a handful of stocks have contributed to most of the returns at different points in time. Further, there is also huge divergence in returns across and within the sectors which lays emphasis on the right stock selection. Our investment expertise and research prowess enables us to identify the right investment ideas with the potential of generating wealth and helping investors get closer to their financial objectives," says Saurabh Nanavati, Chief Executive Officer, Invesco Mutual Fund.

The fund currently intends to invest a large portion of the portfolio in large-cap stocks (approx. between 50% - 70%). Its exposure to midcap stocks will be in the range of 30% to 50%, while exposure to small-cap stocks will be in the range 0 - 20% of the portfolio (based on current views and may change from time to time). The portfolio will comprise of both growth and value stocks. The fund will be benchmarked to S&P BSE 500 TRI.

"Over the last 12 years, our thorough research, risk management processes and comprehensive in-house coverage of Indian equities have enabled us to deliver strong and consistent returns across our equity strategies. We are also proud to announce that we have crossed over 10 lakh investor accounts - a reliable testimony of our commitment to the Indian market and faith reposed by retail investors in our equity funds," said Nanavati.

The minimum investment amount during the NFO is Rs 1000 and in multiples of Rs 1 thereafter. For SIP investments, the minimum application amount is Rs 500 and in multiples of Rs 1 thereafter.

No exit load will be charged, if upto 10 percent of the units are redeemed/switched out within 1 year from the date of allotment. If more than 10 percent of the units are redeemed/switched out within 1 year from the date of allotment, exit load of 1 percent will be charged. No exit load will be charged for units redeemed/switched out after 1 year from the date of allotment. The New Fund Offer (NFO) is open for subscription and will close on September 23, 2020.

Should you invest in this fund?

You must do due diligence about the fund house if you are planning to invest into a new fund that does not have past track record. Invesco India has been there for around 14 years and with AUM of over Rs 23,000 crore as of quarter ending June 2020. Out of 45 schemes that it currently runs, 3 schemes are ranked 1 by CRISIL while 6 schemes are ranked 2 and 5 schemes are ranked 3.

The second factor you must assess is the track record of the fund manager managing this scheme. Taher Badshah, Chief Investment Officer will be managing this fund. He has over 26 years' of experience in the Indian equity markets and is also responsible for the overall equity management function at the firm. Prior to Invesco he was with Motilal Oswal Asset Management where he was the Head of Equities.

This fund also comes at a time when multi-cap fund category, a very popular fund category, is facing regulatory headwinds. The rigid categorisation of multi cap funds has reduced the flexibility of fund managers to change the allocation into different caps as per changing market dynamics. In such a situation the focused fund category gives desired flexibility to fund managers to deploy their strategy without any regulatory hurdle.

Investing in NFO is different from investing in an IPO, and when it comes to NFO the timing hardly plays a decisive role. If you are convinced with the philosophy of the fund and find it right fit to achieve your life goals, then you can start long term investment at any point of time.

If you are new to equity investment you should rather spend some time, and begin with well diversified funds especially large cap funds. However, if you have already spent some time with equities and understand the nuances and are willing to take additional risk for higher return then you can consider focused fund.
CAESAREA, Israel and AGOURA HILLS, Calif., Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- V-Wave Ltd., a cardiovascular device company developing proprietary, minimally invasive interatrial shunt devices for treating patients with severe symptomatic heart failure (HF) and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), announced today that it has closed a Series C extension of up to $98M. The financing assures capital to complete clinical trials for the Ventura Interatrial Shunt for the treatment of advanced heart failure and to obtain FDA clearance subject to final data and agency review. The Ventura Interatrial Shunt is currently being evaluated in the international, multicenter RELIEVE-HF randomized trial in patients with both reduced and preserved ejection fraction who are advanced NYHA Class II, Class III and ambulatory Class IV and already receiving optimal medical therapies. The company is also conducting the RELIEVE-PAH trial from patients suffering from PAH. The financing was led by Deerfield Management with participation from Aperture Venture Partners, BRM Group, Endeavour Vision, Johnson & Johnson Innovation - JJDC Inc., Pontifax, Pura Vida Investments, GHS Fund (Quark Venture LP), as well as Triventures and Israel Secondary Fund.

"V-Wave has developed a novel technology that modifies the physiology of HF by reducing left atrial and pulmonary artery pressures in a continuous, real-time manner without any intervention by the patient or a caregiver. Heart failure is not a static disease and patients' pressures and symptoms vary from day to day or week to week. The Ventura shunt helps reduce excessive rise in left atrial pressure before the patient is aware that this is happening and prior to worsening symptoms. This technology has the potential to become a disruptive, game changer in the management of advanced heart failure," remarked Dr. Andrew ElBardissi, Partner at Deerfield Management, the lead investor in the Series C financing.

"The RELIEVE-HF trial is a randomized pivotal controlled clinical trial currently enrolling in the U.S. and 8 other countries. The RELIEVE-HF trial has both a double-blinded randomized cohort and an open label registry. From the latter, we are excited about the early signals related to ease of implantation and procedure safety. With respect to ease of implantation, within the spectrum of structural heart procedures the Ventura Shunt is on the more simple and straightforward side," said V-Wave CEO Dr. Neal Eigler MD. "Feedback on the product from physicians in the registry is very good with respect to ease of use, deployment and reliability," added Dr. Eigler.

V-Wave Chairman Dr. Frank Litvack added, "With more than 26 million patients suffering HF globally and more than 6 million in the US, there is a huge unmet clinical and economic need for simple, cost effective new therapies. Advanced heart failure has a prognosis worse than many cancers and is one of the leading drivers of hospital expenditures both domestically and abroad. We are excited about RELIEVE-HF and to seeing our final data once the trial is completed."

About V-Wave Ltd.

V-Wave is a privately held medical device company with offices in Israel and the U.S. For more information, please visit www.vwavemedical.com

About Deerfield

Deerfield is an investment management firm committed to advancing healthcare through investment, information and philanthropy. For more information, please visit www.deerfield.com

About Endeavour Vision

Endeavour Vision a global investor in exceptional medtech companies, led by extraordinary teams, working on big ideas with the potential to meaningfully improve the standard of care. For more information, please visit www.endeavourvision.com.

About Quark Venture

Quark Venture Inc. headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, and is focused on equity financing of innovative biotechnology and health sciences companies with breakthrough technology platforms and projects. For more information, please visit www.quarkventure.com.

About Aperture Venture Partners

Aperture Venture Partners is a healthcare-focused investment firm committed to working with exceptional entrepreneurs to build innovative companies in the medical device, pharmaceutical, healthcare IT/services and diagnostic sectors. For more information, please visit www.aperturevp.com.

About Pura Vida Investments

Pura Vida is a hedge fund focused on both public and private companies in the healthcare industry. The fund invests across all sectors and stages of healthcare. For further information please visit www.puravidainvestments.com

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including statements related to clinical development and potential regulatory approval of V-Wave's products. All forward-looking statements and other information included in this press release are based on information available to V-Wave as of the date hereof, and the Company assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements or information. The company's actual results could differ materially from those described in the company's forward-looking statements.

CAUTION: The V-Wave Ventura Interatrial Shunt System is not available for sale in the United States or other countries.

Press Contact:

Nigel Tinberg, Director of Marketing

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: +1 818 629 2164

SOURCE V-Wave Ltd.

Related Links

http://www.vwavemedical.com


Microsofts revamped, Chromium-powered Edge browser will finally arrive on Linux next month  but only as a developer preview, the company announced today. Youll be able to snag it on the Edge Insider site once its available, or on the Linux package manager. Just like on Windows and Macs, the new Edge features the same browser engine that powers Google Chrome (it even supports Chrome extensions).

But Microsoft has added more privacy features, to give you direct control over how websites can track you, as well as its own innovations like Collections for organizing information from across the web. By bringing Edge to Linux, Microsoft is clearly trying to court developers and other technical users. But that may be a tough sell when alternatives like Firefox and Brave are more established and fully open source.
According to representatives of University of Massachusetts employees, the COVID-19 slogan Were All in This Together is not being practiced by those who run the system.

Three speakers gave scathing assessments of administration handling of the funding crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic, while trustees disputed some of their assertions but also promised better communication in the future.

Meeting by Zoom on Tuesday, Anneta Argyres, Steve Striffler and Verena Lisinski offered blistering takes on what they consider the short and long-term damage of layoffs, furloughs, and negotiations that leave employees little choice but to accept unfair conditions  which they insist is unnecessary, in part because they say available reserves could cover much of the hit being taken by COVID-19 losses.

Argyres and Striffler represent employees at UMass Boston. Lisinski is the Educational Services Unit Chairs at UMass Dartmouth, but all spoke in broader terms about the state of the entire system, which includes UMass Amherst, where negotiations between Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy and employee unions have been contentious and testy.

Trustee Stephen Karam, speaking for the Committee on Administration and Finance, disputed that reserves could cover an estimated $335 million shortfall  about 10% of the budget.

"Not all of the reserves are available to be spent,'' said Karam, who added that use of endowments is restricted because donors have given them for long-term purposes, not emergency funding.

Karam also ruled out deficit spending as a solution he called irresponsible.

Trustees chairman Robert Manning played the role of moderator. Manning said a call by trustee Steve Tolman, who sought a committee to improve labor-management communications, could not be enacted Tuesday because it was not on the agenda.

Manning did promise to pursue the concept, rather than summarily dismiss complaints by unions and employees, including those who spoke Tuesday.

Tolman is the president of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, and therefore the most identifiable supporter of labor on the Board of Trustees.

While speakers made references to high administrative salaries, Manning said UMass President Marty Meehan took a significant pay cut when the pandemic hit.

"I dont think anybody knew that, but they know it now,'' Manning said.

Meehan participated in the Zoom meeting but details of his salary cut were not elaborated. The president signed a contract in 2018 that carried his total potential compensation to rise to $964,512 by fiscal 2023, with a base salary of $639,377 in fiscal 2023.

Meehan said UMass officials are exploring ways to reopen campuses safely for the spring semester. He said improved testing of studies of techniques used by currently open campuses might provide a pathway, but stopped short of promising in-class instruction by spring.

Administrators say remote learning has added cost to education. Striffler said its being done all wrong, with larger classes and fewer instructors for Zoom sessions he said are effective only with smaller student numbers.

"See what a Zoom class is like with 80 students. Mine is open any time,'' Striffler said in a challenge to trustees.

Striffler wasnt cheering remote education as a long-term solution, either.

"Virtual education is simply inferior. We should not pretend otherwise,'' he said.

Argyres led off with a brief presentation that was unsparing and, to some degree, personal.

The approved budget is doing harm - you are doing harm. It is hurting families, students, employees and the institutions. And the worst part is that its not necessary, she said.

Union leaders have blasted what they consider the callous approach of administrators, but they also insist the job losses and furloughs are an unnecessary, damaging short-cut solution. One reason, they said, was that enrollment has not plummeted, as officials had feared when the pandemic closed campuses in March and extended into the summer and fall.

Enrollment this fall is down a half-percent, a far cry from the 5% projections once predicted. Remote learning has taken a big bite out of dormitory and meals fees.

"UMass has the funds to cover the housing (losses),'' Argyres said.

The speakers maintain the austerity strategy also contradicts the mission of the university system at a time students need better educational resources, not a sharp reduction through staff and faculty cuts.

Meehan said the crisis extended beyond campus borders. He said the Massachusetts Legislatures promise of level funding for kindergarten-through-12 public schools was not extended to higher education, though advocacy is ongoing in hopes of reaching an acceptable solution.

Meehan also said 50,000 higher education personnel have lost their jobs across the nation. "Our goal is still the retention of (staff and faculty) talent,'' he said.

One fact on which all sides agreed was that the pandemic has created unprecedented challenges. Where they part is on whether administrators on the campuses - and at the university system level - are compounding the problem with hasty staff cuts and furloughs, or whether these cuts are being taken as a "last resort,'' as Meehan said when he claimed the challenge was being met in the spirit of shared sacrifice.

"These cuts are hurting the very institutions you trustees (represent),'' Argyres said. These harmful effects will be felt, long after the pandemic is over.
Ellen DeGeneres is facing renewed criticism after she issued an apology in response to allegations of a toxic work environment on her show that was seen by some as disingenuous, half-hearted and tone deaf.

DeGeneres launched the new season of her daytime talk show on Monday with a joke-filled monologue where she apologized for 'ever hurting' anyone, took responsibility for claims of misconduct on her set and admitted to being impatient - but insisted she was the person she appears to be on TV and not a behind-the-scenes villain.

Several current and former employees reacted to the monologue in interviews with Buzzfeed News, saying that they felt like DeGeneres' jokes were inappropriate given the severity of their experiences on the show.

'Not only did Ellen turn my trauma, turn our traumas, into a joke, she somehow managed to make this about her,' one former employee told the outlet.

'When she said: "Oh my summer was great" and that was supposed to be funny, I thought: "It's funny that you had a rough summer because everyone was calling out all of the allegations of your toxic work environment and now you're the one suffering?"' another said.

One current employee said they were glad that DeGeneres addressed the controversy directly, but felt that it was an insincere PR move to win back viewers.

Ellen DeGeneres is facing renewed criticism after she issued an apology in response to allegations of a toxic work environment on her show that was seen by some as disingenuous, half-hearted and tone deaf. The daytime talk show host is seen delivering her monologue at the start of the first episode of Season 18, which aired Monday

The Ellen Show was thrown into turmoil this summer after allegations emerged that DeGeneres treated staffers with little or no respect and that senior producers allowed and encouraged a toxic work environment rife with racism, sexual harassment and misconduct.

Three producers were fired and there were questions of whether or not it would return to the air.

DeGeneres opened the first pre-taped episode of season 18 on Monday afternoon with her monologue addressing the controversy.

She was neither unrepentant nor deeply apologetic, saying that she had 'learned' of things at the show that needed to be changed but squeezing in some jokes about her impatience.

'How was everybody's summer? Good, yeah? Mine was great. Super terrific,' the host said sarcastically.

THE CLAIMS AGAINST ELLEN APRIL: Ellen staffers' complain about how they've been treated during the pandemic in a Variety report which said producers left them 'high and dry' JULY 16: BuzzFeed article alleging toxic environment including claims that; staff were fired for taking leave, including for bereavement

racism caused one employee to walk out of the job on the spot

two black female employees were told by a boss, Oh wow, you both have box braids; I hope we dont get you confused.

staff told not to speak to Ellen if they saw her on-set JULY 31: Second BuzzFeed article alleging more misconduct, this time of a sexual nature AUGUST: Executive producers Ed Glavin and Kevin Leman, and co-executive producer Jonathan Norman are all fired SEPTEMBER: Former household staff speak out, saying Ellen treated them 'like nothing' and lay traps like matchsticks to make sure they were dusting 'every inch' of her home Advertisement

Shifting to a more serious note, she told the audience of virtual viewers: 'You may have heard, this summer there were allegations of a toxic work environment at our show and then there was an investigation.

'I learned that things happened here that never should have happened. I take that very seriously and I want to say I am so sorry to the people who were affected.

'I know that I am in a position of privilege and power and I realize that with that comes responsibility and I take responsibility for what happens at my show.

Later, she went on: 'There were also articles in the press and on social media that said I am not who I appear to be on TV because I became known as the be kind lady and here's how that happened.

'I started saying be kind to one another after a young man named Tyler Clementi took his own life after being bullied for being gay. I thought the world needed more kindness and it was a reminder that we all needed that.

'I think we need it more than ever right now. Being known as the be kind lady is a tricky position to be in.

'Let me give you some advice out there, if anybody is thinking of changing their title or giving yourself a nickname, do not go with the 'be kind lady'. Don't do it.

'The truth is I am that person that you see on TV. I am also a lot of other things. Sometimes I get sad. I get mad. I get anxious. I get frustrated.

'I get impatient. And I am working on all of that. I am a work in progress.

'And I am especially working on the impatience thing. And it's not going well because it's not happening fast enough I will tell you that.

'Listen, I don't know. I'm a talk show host but maybe some of you know that I was an actress.

'I've played a straight woman in movies so I'm a pretty good actress but I don't think that I'm that good that I could come out here every day for 17 years and fool you.'

DeGeneres then announced that she had promoted Stephen Laurel 'tWitch' Boss to become her executive co-producer.

She also said she'd come to learn she had 'great power and privilege' as a boss of more than 200 people.

'I know that I am in a position of privilege and power and I realize that with that comes responsibility and I take responsibility for what happens at my show.

'This is the Ellen DeGeneres show, I am Ellen DeGeneres, my name is there, my name is there, my name is on underwear... we have had a lot of conversations over the last few weeks about our show, our workplace and what we want for the future,' she said, before vowing to make it the 'best season' the show had ever had.

'I got into this business to make people laugh and feel good.

'That's my favorite thing to do. That and Jenga. I love that game. And now I am a boss of 270 people. 270 people who help make this show what it is. 270 people who I am so grateful for.

'All I want is for every single one of them to be happy and be proud to work here,' she said.

The monologue was met with mixed reactions from fans - with some saying it missed the mark and others finding it genuine and sincere.

But among current and former employees, it received mostly negative reviews.

DeGeneres delivered her monologue to a virtual audience due to the coronavirus pandemic

The monologue was met with mixed reactions from fans - with some saying it missed the mark and others finding it genuine and sincere

The aforementioned current Ellen Show employee told Buzzfeed that they believe the monologue was merely a ploy to increase ratings for the new season.

'It's always tactical,' the employee said. 'The average person will listen to it and make their own choices, but what people don't always take into account is that information is power, and she's sharing it now because it's for premiere week and it's to get viewers back, and that just feels the opposite of what this message is about.'

But the employee said they were shocked that DeGeneres brought the allegations of misconduct into the open after they were kept a secret for so long.

'It's kind of amazing that this is being discussed on her show,' they said.

'To actually go from an environment where nothing is said and everyone keeps their head down, to now when it's the topic of her first show back is pretty amazing.

'Whether or not I believe in this message that she is saying is another issue.'

One of the former employees highlighted the fact that DeGeneres didn't sign off with her 'be kind' motto, and said that she was 'deflecting' from taking responsibility for the fact that the phrase didn't match what happened behind the scenes of the show.

'I don't feel sorry that she's in a s**t load of trouble because she branded herself the "be kind" person,' they said.

'She's acting like it was something she said in passing that just stuck with her. It's not something that stuck with her, it's not an accident. She went forward with this idea and this marketing strategy that was not true behind the scenes.'

'There's nothing wrong with being the "be kind lady" if you're actually true to your word,' they added.

Another former employee who was part of WarnerMedia's investigation into the misconduct claims said they were frustrated that the apology was made on the show instead of directly to staff.

'The right thing would be to follow up with these people who are humans who were affected by this,' they said. 'They have a responsibility to kind of close this chapter of our lives and move on.'

They said they wished someone at WarnerMedia had reached out and 'said something like: "We're so sorry this happened to you," not for Ellen to go on air and say: "I heard this happened and I'm sorry if it happened to you."'

They said of the investigation: 'It was like: "Tell us all of the most f**ked up things that happened to you for the investigation, and now that we've written it all down, see you later."

'It just feels like there's no ending to this for people who came forward and said things that happened to them and reopened these wounds and rehashed these memories.'

DeGeneres announced that she had promoted Stephen Laurel 'tWitch' Boss to become her executive co-producer

Pictured left to right top producers on the show Andy Lassner, Jonathan Norman, Mary Connelly, Ed Glavin and Kevin Leman at the 44th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards in 2017. Glavin, Leman and Norman have all been ousted from the popular talk show

Among the allegations against DeGeneres ran a workplace which fostered racism, sexual misconduct and bullying.

She apologized to staff privately in a conference call, reports claimed.

A wave of stars came to her defense. Among them was Kevin Hart who faced his own controversy last year when homophobic tweets he'd posted in the past resurfaced and cost him his Oscars hosting job.

The controversy was first sparked by a Buzzfeed expose into the show in June which revealed claims made by one current and 10 former employees of Ellen's talk show saying they experienced racism, fear and intimidation while working on the long-running series and accusing producers Andy Lassner, Mary Connelly and Ed Glavin of bullying.

The show then faced additional accusations about sexual misconduct in a second BuzzFeed News article on July 30, in which dozens of men and women accused Kevin Leman, Glavin and Norman of sexual harassment, misconduct or assault.

Leman and Norman denied the claims. They and Glavin were promptly suspended while Warner Bros launched an investigation.

They both were fired along with Leman. His attorney said at the time that he was being made a scapegoat.

'The fact that a deeply flawed BuzzFeed article has led to the termination of an innocent man  a popular figure and a creative force behind the Ellen show and a string of other projects produced with Ellen  is shocking.

'Kevin is devastated by being scapegoated and is not yet ready to comment,' the attorney said.

DeGeneres herself was accused of taking joy in making staffers cry and behaving like such a diva that employees were told not to speak to her, look at her or even stay in a room if she entered it.
A bull rider and Oklahoma State University (OSU) student has been killed at a competition that took place in Texas last week.

Rowdy Lee Swanson was thrown from his bull at the ProRodeo in Mineral Wells, Texas, reported ABC News.

It was unclear what specific injuries Swanson suffered at the event organised by the Palo Pinto County Livestock Association.

Announcing the death of a rider, OSUs Rodeo Team said they had lost one of our own.

With a heavy and aching heart, I am saddened to announce that the OSU Rodeo Team has lost one of our own, Rowdy Swanson, wrote Cody Hollingsworth, in a statement on Twitter.

He was a big part of our rodeo family and he will be missed immensely, he added. Our thoughts are with the Swanson family at this time.

Swanson, who was from Duncan, Oklahoma, was said to have been studying animal sciences at OSUs Stillwater campus.

George Taylor, CEO of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, said he was deeply saddened by the accident.

The hearts of the entire rodeo community go out to Rowdys family in this tragic time. We will continue to keep Rowdy and his family in our thoughts and prayers, he added.

The Palo Pinto County Livestock Association also addressed Swansons death, reported ABC News, saying The entire rodeo committee and our rodeo family extend our heartfelt condolences and deepest sympathies to Rowdys mother Venessa, his brother Roper, and his entire family.
The Shiv Sena on Tuesday attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over its silence on Bollywood actor Kangana Ranauts tweet calling farmers protesting the farm bills passed by the government as terrorists. The Sena, in an editorial in Saamana, said that the political party that glided like snakes to what the actress said are now silent on the insult to farmers.

After the bills were passed by the Rajya Sabha amid din on Sunday, Prime minister Narendra Modi, in a series of tweets, reassured the farmers that the MSP and the government procurement of farmers produce will continue. Ranaut picked up one of PMs tweets, described the protesters as the same terrorists who indulged in bloodshed even though no countryman lost citizenship due to CAA.

      ,                    ,                ,          https://t.co/26LwVH1QD9  Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) September 21, 2020

The actor later clarified that she did not call farmers terrorists and dared anybody to prove it. On Monday, the actor tweeted, Like Lord Krishna has Narayani Army, similarly Pappu has his Champu army that knows only to fight on the basis of rumours. This is my original tweet, if somebody can prove that I called farmers terrorists then I will apologize and leave Twitter forever.

Also read: Please return farmers niwala - AAPs Sanjay Singh responds to PM Modi

Without naming Ranaut, the editorial said, Farmers fighting for their rights are terrorists, if anyone is saying this then it is dishonesty. But the political parties that glide like a snake when an actress speaks are now silent on the insult of the farmers.

ALSO WATCH | Kangana Ranaut on Anurag Kashyap harassment charge: Many big heroes...

It added that farmers are being called dishonest and terrorists, but what recourse is left for them then to commit suicide. In a veiled attack on Ranaut, the editorial said, Farmers are terrorists, Mumbai is Pakistan and the civic body is Babars army et cetera,. Leave other accusations but the ruling BJP should at least remove their face mask over the insult of the farmers. This was our only expectation.

It also asked if the bills brought by the Modi government were revolutionary and historical why was coercion and the majority used to get the Bills approved. The editorial added the bills have led to peaceful protests by farmers in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

Also read: Congress to boycott session, says Oppositions views not accommodated

In Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, farmers have come out on the streets to protest against the farm bills. They have blocked roads at many places. When all this was going on in moderation and peace, what symptoms would it be to term them terrorists? it said.

Further attacking the BJP, the editorial added, Farmers have been lathi-charged and have cases registered against them. This is extreme. Even Baburs army did not do this much oppression. But the people who have made this country Sujalaam, Suflaam, have been termed terrorists by a pro-BJP actress. If the protesting farmers are terrorists, then the government approved a new agricultural bill for all the terrorists?

The Shiv Sena took different stands in both Houses of the Parliament. When the bills were introduced in Lok Sabha, Sena MP welcomed it. Later, when it was tabled in Rajya Sabha, Sena took a critical view of the bills. Sena MP Sanjay Raut said that the party has taken a neutral stand on the bills.

However, it raised questions on the bills in the editorial. We never say that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the enemy of the farmers. The new bill has two sides. The government ended the brokership in APMC and enabled the farmers to sell their produce even outside the markets but who would buy them? This is the controversy. Big industrialists are now investing in the grocery business. This means that there is a possibility that farmers will now be caught in the new slavery of corporate companies.

Farming has also been approved to be done in a contractual manner but the scheme has flopped in the US and Europe. Farmers fear that they will not get the lowest support price. The government says this will not happen. It is all rumoured, Shiv Sena said. If MSP will continue, why has a Union minister resigned over the farm bills and why has the farmers come to the streets to protest against the bills, it said.
An arms consignment believed to have been dropped by a drone from Pakistan-based terrorists was seized in Akhnoor sector here in the early hours of Tuesday, a senior police officer said.

Senior Superintendent of Police (Jammu) Shridhar Patil said two packets containing two AK assault rifles, three magazines with 90 rounds and a pistol with two magazines and 14 rounds were seized in a joint operation by police and special forces of the Army from Sohal Khad, located at an aerial distance of 13 km from the border.

"We have successfully scuttled the attempt to send weapons to the terrorists active in Jammu and Kashmir... Dropping weapons from drones is a new technique being used by terrorist organizations," he told reporters here.

He said the investigation is on to identify the terrorist group which is behind the dropping of the weapons.

"A case has been registered in connection with the recovery of the weapons and further investigation is on," Patil said.

He said security agencies are aware of the threat posed by the use of drones to drop weapons in India from across the border and "we are tackling it by the use of technology and human intelligence. Human intelligence played a key role in today's recovery".

The arms and ammunition were packed in blue thermacol with wooden fittings, wrapped by adhesive tape, the officer said, adding that two rolls of parachute thread about 300 metre in length was also seized.

The SSP said a joint operation was launched after credible information was received about a planned attempt by anti-national elements to smuggle arms into India.

"The search operation was started at various places in Jammu, including Sohal Khad, Shamshan Ghat, Punnu Chowk, Sohal Market in Akhnoor sector. While recovering a packet containing arms, the sound of a drone was heard but it was not visible due to darkness," he said.

Patil said continuous search led to the recovery of another packet of arms and ammunition.
Nigeria is currently in the process of ensuring the ratification of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement, the minister of trade, Niyi Adebayo, said on Monday.

Ratification is the action of signing or formally consenting to a treaty, contract, or agreement, after due legislative process, thus making it valid for official purposes.

Treaties or agreements concluded between Nigeria and other nations can mostly be legally binding after they have been enacted into law by the National Assembly.

Mr Adebayo also said Nigeria has set up a National Action Committee on AfCFTA.

He disclosed this today while welcoming the Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, Wamkele Mene, who was on his first official visit to Nigeria.

The committee has rolled out the implementation strategy with a view of taking full advantage of the agreement, the minister was quoted as saying.

President Muhammadu Buhari recently signed the AfCFTA agreement.

The essence of the agreement is to create a single market and promote easy movement of goods and services within the fifty-five member states of the Africa Union.

Elated

In his remarks, Mr Mene said Nigeria plays a leadership role in the success of the AfCFTA and he looked forward to having a good working relationship with the federal government

We have a lot to leverage in terms of experience in trade policy and negotiations experience of Nigeria in this area. And so its very important to me, that we have a very good and close working relationship, he said.

Addressing individual countries policies and laws that contradict the free trade, he said may take some time but countries will eventually align.

Well, that actually is a challenge not just in Africa, but it continues to be a challenge in Europe today. And the Europeans are 60 years down the line in this route of regional integration.

When a country ratifies the agreement, the country is saying that we are ready to apply the rules of the agreement, we are ready to abide by the obligations that are set out in the agreement.

That means that the next step is domestication. You then have to ensure that your laws are aligned and are consistent with the international instrument in this case, the AfCFTA.

I am under no illusion that that will happen overnight. It is going to take a very, very long time because this agreement is very comprehensive, he said.

He also said when the agreement is concluded, it will entail a universe of laws that each individual country may have to amend so that the countrys national laws are consistent with the AfCFTA.

He noted that members of the WTO who joined the WTO in 1994/1995 are today grappling with this issue of aligning their domestic legislation to the international instruments under the WTO.

So I will have to work very closely with national governments to make sure that we support one another in order to amend countrys laws once a country has ratified the agreement.
TROY  The city has finally appointed a new police captain, nearly eight months after the vacancy occurred when a retirement opened up the post.

Capt. Shane Kiley is the newest captain, taking over the internal affairs post which became vacant when his predecessor Capt. Adam Mason moved into the detective bureau captain position following the retirement of Capt. Joseph Centanni.

The citys delays in promoting its last two captains led to the Troy Police Benevolent Association filing grievances for back pay for captain for the sergeants that were on the promotional list but not promoted. The budgeted base pay for a captain is $97,000 compared to $78,834 for a sergeant.

The city sued the PBA, which represents officers, detectives and sergeants, to stop the cases from going to arbitration. The city lost the lawsuits but has appealed.

Officer Nick Laviano, the PBA president, said it was about time the internal affairs post was filled. The PBA has criticized Madden for not making prompt promotions.

The internal affairs captain spot has been vacant since Jan. 11. The PBA is glad to see the city is finally filling that spot and we can work toward being a more transparent department with the public, Laviano said in a statement.

John Salka, a spokesman for the mayor, declined to comment on the litigation with the PBA citing city policy.

Kiley's promotion came following the death of Sgt. Randall French from COVID-19 at the end of April. This allowed the police command to reach Kiley, who had not been among the top three sergeants on the captains civil service list.

French had routinely scored first in the captains civil service test. Sgt. Stephen Seney and Sgt. Salvatore Carello were the next two top scorers.

French, while favored among many officers to be promoted, was considered to be politically unacceptable as a result of his fatal shooting in April 2016 of Edson Thevenin during a DWI stop and a pending civil rights lawsuit brought by Thevenins family. A county grand jury voted not to indict French in Thevenins death.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Centanni wrote an internal affairs report that was critical of Frenchs actions in the fatal shooting of Thevenin. The city commissioned Michael D. Ranalli, a former Glenville police chief, to evaluate Centannis findings about Frenchs shooting of Thevenin. Mayor Patrick Madden has refused to release the Ranalli report citing the pending civil litigation.

The police department didnt respond to requests for comments about Kileys promotion. The city has not been announcing promotion ceremonies during the coronavirus pandemic and has limited attendance to them.

Joel Abelove, a former Rensselaer County district attorney, is presently on trial for two misdemeanor counts of official misconduct for allegedly not presenting evidence to a grand jury investigating Thevenins death and not having French waive his immunity from prosecution before testifying to the grand jury. Abelove also faces a felony count of first-degree perjury for lying about a previous officers waiving immunity to prosecution in another fatal police shooting case.

Also promoted in the Troy police department were Sgts. Rob Smith and Carlos Nazario from the rank of officer.
Aerial view of a burnt area of the Pantanal, the world's largest tropical wetland, in Mato Grosso State, Brazil. The Pantanal, famed for its wildlife, is suffering its worst wildfires in more than 47 years

As the destruction of the Amazon rainforest and Pantanal wetlands bruise Brazil's international image, bankers, business executives and even agribusiness firms are calling for a greener economy, adding to pressure on President Jair Bolsonaro.

Bolsonaro, a far-right climate-change skeptic, has called environmental groups a "cancer" for attacking his policies, which include pushing for protected lands to be opened to mining and agriculture in the world's biggest rainforest.

But he has been forced to respond more cautiously as international investors, powerful voices in the business world, and agribusiness giants such as JBS and Cargill have joined in the criticism.

In keeping with tradition, the Brazilian leader will give the first speech to the United Nations General Assembly Tuesday, delivered remotely due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Last year, Bolsonaro used the forum to condemn news on the fires ravaging the world's biggest rainforest as "media lies."

This year's speech will again touch on the Amazon, though the goal will be "to show everything we're doing" to protect it, said Vice President Hamilton Mourao, the head of the government's task force on fighting Amazon deforestation.

With countries around the world trying to chart the future of their post-pandemic economies -- not least Brazil, the country with the second-highest Covid-19 death toll after the United States -- now is the perfect time for Latin America's biggest economy to go green, said Paulo Branco, head of the Development Frontiers Institute.

"We have a great window of opportunity, and we have to take advantage of it to push for a sustainable reboot of the economy," he told AFP.

"With our huge green potential, an 'agri-environmental' agenda is the way to a faster recovery," said Marcello Brito, of the Brazil Climate, Forests and Agriculture Coalition.

His group, an unprecedented alliance of 230 environmental groups and Brazilian agribusiness companies, sent an open letter last week to Bolsonaro urging him to do more to fight deforestation in the Amazon.

Story continues

In June, 29 global investment firms managing nearly $4 trillion in assets also sent an open letter to Bolsonaro, urging him to change policies blamed for accelerating the destruction of the rainforest.

Environmental destruction by Brazilian firms is also threatening a long-sought trade deal between the European Union and the Mercosur bloc, of which Brazil is a member.

So far, the president has continued to publicly deny the impact of the record Amazon deforestation on his watch.

"Brazil is the country that does the most to preserve the environment," he said last week, even as record-shattering fires tore through the Pantanal, the world's biggest tropical wetlands, and deforestation in the Amazon for January to August came in just five percent shy of last year's all-time high.

But there are signs he is starting to feel the pressure -- including naming the Amazon task force headed by Vice President Mourao and deploying the army to the rainforest to fight wildfires.

- Redirecting investment -

"It's unfortunate that the environment issue has become so ideological," said Shigueo Watanabe, a researcher at the ClimaInfo Institute.

"I don't defend the environment just because I like trees. I do it because I want the country's economy to grow, and to do that you need agribusiness," he said.

"If we destroy the Amazon, we'll destroy Brazilian agribusiness," he added, referring to the devastating climate impact that scientists say the collapse of the rainforest ecosystem would cause across the region and the world.

Greening the Brazilian economy could create two million jobs and add 2.8 trillion reals ($530 billion) to gross domestic product by 2030, according to a recent report by the World Resources Institute.

"Brazil would actually grow more with a green recovery than under its current development model," said the institute's Viviane Romeiro.

"It doesn't mean a total break with the past.... It's about redirecting investment and expanding best practices in the infrastructure, agriculture and industrial innovation sectors."

It is an issue that will increasingly touch all sectors of the economy.

"Companies will no longer make big profits with no regard for their environmental impact," said Denise Hills, global head of sustainability at Brazilian cosmetics giant Natura, a trailblazer in the field.

"This is an essential issue to the new generation of consumers."

pr/jhb/mtp
The most-awaited live adaptation of the 1998 animated film came to life through the "Mulan" 2020 movie. However, the portrayal of its lead actress ended up disappointing fans.

Nearly 1,000 candidates tried to grab the lead role for Disney's live-action film. But out of all the people who auditioned, Liu Yifei stood out and snagged Hua Mulan's role.

It has been two decades since Disney fans last saw the character's bravery, so people immediately showed their support toward the live adaptation. In addition, having a budget of US$200 million truly set people's hopes high.

Unfortunately, that excitement faded even before the film's premiere.

Previously, Variety reported that the movie only made around $38.5 million in China, dealing a massive blow on Disney's overall sales.

Furthermore, it harvested pitiable reviews and an overall rating of 4.9 out of 10 on the popular user review site, Douban.

Such recognition is a shame, especially when Hua Mulan is a much-loved character among Disney characters. However, it is also worth noting that there is a long list of characters who flawlessly played the role, and Enstarz selected the three among them.

Vicky Zhao Wei in "Mulan" (2009)

After the "Mulan" 2020 movie flopped, the negative reviews eventually prompted Chinese viewers to re-watch the 2009 live-action remake of "Mulan" instead.

Directed by Jingle Ma Cho-shing, the 2009 version of "Mulan" was much more admired compared to its latest adaptation. This film also gave its lead actress, Vicky Zhao Wei, another chance to show her acting skills a decade after she filmed "Princess Pearl."

Zhao Wei's version showed how Mulan fought for the man she loves while protecting her family and country, giving the film a little twist it deserves.

Although the character is well-known for her strong approach, the Zhao Wei's Mulan had more crying scenes. This is due to the story's plotline, which is her journey after she left her loved ones.

Despite that, Zhao Wei displayed a more mature and composed character, making her one of the best Mulan actresses ever.

It is also worth noting that people applauded her for introducing Mulan's mental struggle in fighting as a man in disguise.

Cynthia Khan in "Mulan" (1996)

This version of "Mulan" may be one of the oldest depictions, but this is more packed with martial arts compared to other films.

Its head actress, action star Cynthia Khan, is well-versed in martial arts. With that said, she literally gave life to Mulan.

Since this "Mulan" is a 40-part China-Taiwan co-production, Khan had to record many action scenes. Surprisingly, Khan did all her part without having a body double.

Unfortunately, she got severely hurt after a five-meter fall incident. It happened when the wire that was suspending her broke mid-air in one scene.

Chinese audiences then commended her more for showing professionalism.

Anita Yuen in "Hua Mulan" (1999)

Anita Yuen led another "Mulan" classic in 1999.

In the Taiwan-made TV series, Yuen displayed her lively personality, which complemented the character perfectly. This version also focused on the wars where she and her love interest and lead general, played by Chiu Man-cheuk, fought.

Her role as Mulan showed masculinity and soft femininity at the same time -- the trait that was respected by Chinese audiences.

READ MORE: 'Mulan' Epic Fail: Disney's 'Worst' Adaptation Facing Financial Disaster
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...Bitterly cold temperatures are forecast for the North Country tonight... Another round of cold temperatures are expected tonight with low temperatures generally dipping to between 10 and 30 below zero. Although winds will be light to calm, protect against hypothermia and expect to need multiple layers of clothing if heading outdoors. Running or even a brisk walk in these conditions could result in frost bite on exposed skin.
People enjoy outdoor dining amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., September 14, 2020. Jeenah Moon | Reuters

Coronavirus cases in the U.S. are beginning to rebound following weeks of reported declines and warnings from top U.S. health officials that the country could be vulnerable to fresh outbreaks coinciding with the forthcoming flu season. New cases were growing by 5% or more, based on a weekly average to smooth out the reporting, in 29 states and Washington, D.C., as of Monday, according to a CNBC analysis of data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. Wisconsin, Utah, Montana, Minnesota and Wyoming reported record high averages in daily new cases, according to the data. Nationwide, daily coronavirus cases have grown nearly 20% compared with a week ago, moving above 43,300 new cases on average. The U.S. surpassed 200,000 reported Covid-19 deaths on Tuesday, the most of any country on the globe, according to Johns Hopkins. "We are seeing a pretty sharp uptick here in the United States," Dr. Scott Gottlieb, former U.S. Food and Drug Administration chief, told CNBC's "Squawk Box" on Tuesday. "Now whether or not that's a post-Labor Day bounce, and it's going to start to level off or it's a beginning of an uptrend heading into the fall, it's unclear right now."

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The increase in new cases follows weeks of declines since the coronavirus ripped through America's Sun Belt states over the summer. After the U.S. reached a peak of more than 67,300 new coronavirus cases on average in late July, that figure dropped nearly 50% by mid-September but has since started to rise again. Gottlieb said last week that the coronavirus will likely have "one more cycle" in the U.S. before next year, though he predicts that the nation will avert stringent lockdowns similar to those earlier in the outbreak now that it's equipped with more Covid-19 testing and treatments. "I think that there is a real risk that we're going to see rising cases heading towards the end of this year," Gottlieb told CNBC on Tuesday.

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White House coronavirus advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci has said for weeks that the U.S. is reporting an "unacceptably high" number of new coronavirus cases every day as the nation approaches the fall season. Ideally, the U.S. should be reporting daily new cases below 10,000, not around 40,000 as it currently stands, Fauci has said. "Ultimately some will lead to hospitalizations and those will lead to deaths," Fauci said during CNN's Citizen conference on Tuesday, adding that the U.S. needs to reduce its daily number of cases "down sharply to a very low level." "When you have a lot of cases floating around, it's much more difficult to contain that than if you have a relatively low number."

'This has not gone away'

Some of the increase in Covid-19 cases across the U.S. is likely due to returning students and staff at universities and schools, on top of the Labor Day holiday, Dr. Carlos del Rio, a professor at the Emory University School of Medicine who specializes in infectious diseases, said. While most of the newly reported cases appear to be growing among young people, who typically don't develop severe symptoms that require hospitalization, that could change when people return home for the upcoming holiday season and mingle with older family members, del Rio warned. "It's important to remind people that this has not gone away," del Rio said.

Northern Hemisphere approaches flu season
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.  By Sunday morning, less than two days after the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the signs were already stapled to telephone poles in this liberal college town. VOTE! they read, above an Uncle Sam-style image of the iconic feminist jurist.

Not that voters here needed a reminder of the stakes in this election.

North Carolina, where the changing demographics reflect America as much as the urban-rural divisions mirror its polarization, was already a crucial bellwether. The state is critical to President Trumps re-election bid, particularly as he has slipped in the industrial Midwest and come under more pressure to retain the rest of his 2016 map.

With competitive races for president, Senate and governor and control of the State Legislature up for grabs, voters are being deluged by advertisements: More money has been spent on television commercials here than in any other state.

And now, Justice Ginsburgs death has made North Carolina even more important. If Mr. Trump and Senate Republicans try to hastily push through a new justice before or immediately after the election, it could doom three senators in states where they were already trailing, and where Joseph R. Biden Jr. appears well-positioned: Maine, Colorado and Arizona.
Hundreds more Cuban medics have joined a case against Havana at the International Criminal Court, accusing the government of submitting its overseas medical corps to slavery, an NGO said on Tuesday.

The medical corps, a flagship initiative started in the 1960s, is one of the Cuban governments most lucrative sources of income and employs thousands of professionals in dozens of countries.

But the lawsuit accuses former president Raul Castro and current leader Miguel Diaz-Canel of crimes against humanity for running a programme that acts as a form of modern slavery.

The Cuban Prisoners Defenders (CPD) advocacy group and a political group called the Cuban Patriotic Union filed the case in May 2019, initially including 110 testimonies by doctors.

But last month hundreds more joined the case, which now counts the testimonies of 622 doctors, the CPD said.

Speaking in Madrid, CPD president Dr Javier Larrondo said the doctors had given accounts that were identical or very similar showing they had suffered from slavery.

Last year, Luis Almagro, secretary general of the Organization of American States, described the medical corps programme as a system of modern slavery.

It involved tens of thousands of people who are forced to live abroad without knowing where they are going next, whose passports are confiscated, who are controlled by intelligence agents and have most of their earnings confiscated by the Cuban government, he said.

Dr Manoreys Rojas, a trauma specialist, told reporters that since giving up his position in Ecuador in 2015, he had not been allowed back to see his family in Cuba and was even refused entry when his daughter attempted suicide in 2018.

I have tried to see them in various different ways and Ive not been able to, he said, fighting back tears.

The case, which has been shrugged off by Havana, centres on Cubas decades-old tradition of medical diplomacy in which teams of medical professionals, mostly doctors, are sent to work abroad for three-year periods during which most of their salaries are paid directly to the Cuban government.

A cornerstone of Cuban foreign policy, the programme is the islands most important source of income bringing in $11 billion in revenue between 2011 and 2015  outstripping money earned from foreign remittance, tourism and nickel exports.

But that income has dropped in recent years largely because of the crisis in Venezuela, where more than 20,000 medics had been working, and Havanas decision to cancel the programme in Brazil following the rise of far-right president Jair Bolsonaro.

Created in 1963, the medical corps was one of the flagship initiatives of the revolution led by the late Fidel Castro. By the end of 2018, there were 34,000 professionals working in 66 countries under the scheme.
Jake Daniels

Purchases at Raising Canes Chicken Fingers locations in Beaumont today will help contribute to the companys fundraising goal to aid communities across Louisiana and Texas impacted by Hurricane Laura.

Raising Canes is trying to raise at least $100,000 by donating 15% of the days sales to local American Red Cross chapters and
The Congress and a few other Opposition parties on Tuesday boycotted the proceedings of Rajya Sabha, demanding that the suspensions of eight of its members be revoked.

The government responded that it was not in favour of keeping the suspended MPs away from the House, but they must express regret over their unruly conduct in the House on Sunday, when two contentious farm bills were passed.

Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad also demanded that the government introduce a bill mandating that private companies and even Food Corporation of India (FCI) will not purchase farm produce below the minimum support price (MSP).

The government should introduce another bill which ensures that private players do not purchase beneath the MSP. On this, farmers can move court. MSPs should be announced using the Swaminathan formula. The state corporations and FCI should not purchase below MSPs. Our colleagues who have been suspendedtheir suspension should be revoked. Till the time the government does not take it back, we will boycott the proceedings of the House, Azad said.

Also Read: Farm bills row: Rajya Sabha deputy chairperson Harivansh to observe 24-hour fast

Several Opposition members, including Samajwadi Partys Ramgopal Yadav, Praful Patel and Keshav Rao, who spoke after Azad, also supported the demand to revoke the suspensions.

Azad, who is the Leader of the Opposition in the Upper House, said no one, whether from the ruling side or the Opposition, was happy with what happened in Rajya Sabha on Sunday. Two agricultural reform bills  the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 and the Farming Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020  were cleared by voice vote in Parliament on Sunday even as the Opposition protested and stormed the well of the House seeking that they be sent to a select committee.

The high-pitched protests were also the most aggressive in recent years and continued even after the House was adjourned at 1pm.

Aaam Aadmi Partys Sanjay Singh, Derek OBrien and Dola Sen (Trinamool Congress); Congress Rajeev Satav, Syed Nasir Hussain, and Ripun Borah; and KK Ragesh and Elamaram Kareem of the Communist Party of India (M) were suspended on Monday for seven days under Rule 256(2) for gross disorderly conduct.

Azad blamed time constraints in the House and said they often did not allow members to elucidate upon important issues. He said Lok Sabha could sit longer as proceedings began at 3pm, which provided the MPs with more time, while Rajya Sabha had to wind up early. We fight for every minute like soldiers fight on borders, Azad said.

Also Read: Sloganeering, raising placards: Protests in Parliament over the years

He said the MPs had been feeling uncomfortable about several such issues for some time now, and Sundays proceedings were the last straw that broke the camels back. He said members were also upset that bills were not sent to select or standing committees when they should have.

I dont approve of someone breaking the microphone or standing on a table, but this had been pent up over a long time and came out like a storm, said Azad.

Parliamentary affairs minister Prahlad Joshi said the time constraint was not a new phenomenon. Many leaders, Joshi said, had sought that the proceedings be concluded early. Four hours were allocated and the discussion took place from 9am till 1pm, Joshi said.

The dispute was over the sense of the House. Sense of House does not mean numbers. Sense of House means majority of political parties. Their were 18 parties on one side and one party on the other, Azad said.

He said that the House depends on coordination within the government, and between the Opposition and government. But there should not be coordination between the chair and government, he said.

I do not know if the government had the numbers. But there could be no division on resolutions or amendments, Azad said, referring to the passage of the farm bills.

He said parliamentarian Arun Jaitley had said a government becomes illegitimate if the Speaker does not allow division of votes. Rajya Sabha chairman M Venkaiah Naidu retorted that Jaitley had also spoken of the tyranny of the minority.

Azad said government announced the MSPs on Monday, but gave no further information during discussion in the House, adding the cabinet meeting should have been held earlier.

The government has put forward a new sloganone nation, one marketin an advertisement. My request is dont go towards one nation, one party, he said.

Meanwhile, Naidu said the chair should not be dragged into the controversy.

Dont try to put the blame on the chair or the person in the chair, he said, asserting deputy chairman Harivansh had shown restraint. If some people think my way or the highway, I will not accept it, he added.

Naidu said the members had a right to ask for a division and the deputy chairman had said 13 times that he would allow one and asked members to go back to their seats, but they did not do so.

The Rajya Sabha chairman said that the eight suspended members had not only admitted to their unruly behaviour, they had even justified their actions. Some people justify all this. I cannot justify it, Naidu said.

Referring to statements by Opposition leaders calling the suspensions and the contentious passing of the farm bills unprecedented, he said there were several instances of bills being passed amid a lot of din in Parliament and that it was not the first time MPs were being suspended either. What is unprecedented about this? he asked, adding that passing bills amid a ruckus was not healthy and he was not happy about the suspensions either.

On Sunday, Opposition parties sat in Rajya Sabha for two hours after it was adjourned and drafted a no-confidence motion against Rajya Sabha deputy chairman Harivansh, which was rejected by Naidu on Monday. Naidu said it was non-admissible under the Constitutions Article 90. The article deals with vacation and resignation of, and removal from the office of the deputy chairman of the Upper House of Parliament.

Harivansh met the suspended members, who staged an all-night sit-in on the lawns of Parliament, on Tuesday morning and offered the lawmakers tea and snacks. The lawmakers declined the refreshment and appeared unwilling to end their protest even as Harivansh said he will undertake a day-long fast over the humiliating conduct against him.

Also Read: Suspended Rajya Sabha MPs on sit-in outside Parliament refuse deputy chairmans tea

Naidu said that he had told the secretary general that the protesting members must be taken care of. The secretary general, however, pointed out that members could not use the precinct of Parliament House to hold any protest, dharna or religious ceremony, he said.

I again appeal, if they [the suspended MPs] express regret for whatever has happened , the government is not very particular that they be kept out, Joshi said.

Meanwhile, the eight protesting members ended their sit-in outside Parliament after Congress and other Opposition parties boycotted the proceedings.
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said Tuesday that an Australian judge on Hong Kongs top court gave no reason for his resignation, a move that has raised questions about the semiautonomous Chinese territorys reputation for judicial independence.

Judge James Spigelman told Australian media that his resignation was related to the content of the national security legislation, a reference to a sweeping new law for Hong Kong that was enacted by Beijings rubber stamp congress in June. He gave no details.

Asked about it at her weekly news conference, Lam said Spigelman in his resignation letter to her did not mention at all any reason or any consideration in his decision, so I could not speculate on his rationale for doing so.

The much criticized law was passed in Beijing after Hong Kongs legislature was repeatedly blocked from doing so by opposition among the territorys 7.5 million people, who were guaranteed their own legal, social and economic system for 50 years after the handover from British to Chinese rule in 1997.

The law was an outgrowth of sometimes violent anti-government protests that shut parts of Hong Kong down for periods last year. It outlaws speech and writing seen as secessionist or subversive as well as collusion with foreign forces and disrupting transport and other services. Penalties include sentences of up to life in prison.

China insists the law places no significant limits on business or civil liberties and accuses critics of exaggerating its impact.

Hong Kong has about a dozen foreign judges on its courts who it touts as evidence of judicial impartiality under common law, a status not shared by courts in mainland China that are entirely subservient to the ruling party.

However, with the political system, the schools, security forces, most of the media and other swathes of Hong Kong society already firmly under Beijings control, critics worry the courts could be next, potentially undercutting the territorys key advantage as a safe place to do business.

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New Delhi, Sep 22 : After openly coming in support of Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday shared a letter written to President Ram Nath Kovind by the Deputy Chairman over the Upper House ruckus issue.

"I read the letter written to the Honourable President by Honourable Harivansh ji. Every word of the letter has given new faith in our belief in democracy. This letter is inspiring and praiseworthy. There is truth and sensitivity in it. My request is, all citizens must read it," said the Prime Minister.

In the said letter, the Deputy Chairman has listed the "violence" and "intimidation" by a few Rajya Sabha members. He stressed he was born in the village of JP, whose social reform call changed India's polity in the past. He also mentioned how the ruckus has affected him.

The Deputy Chairman quoted Dinkar and said he would observe a day's fast against Sunday's ruckus by a few opposition members in the Upper House.

Earlier Prime Minister Modi tweeted, "Everyone saw 2 days ago how he was humiliated, attacked in the temple of democracy and then the same people sat on a dharna against him. But you will enjoy that today, Harivansh ji made the same people drink tea from his house in the morning." The eight suspended MPs, who created a ruckus, had been sitting on a dharna in the Parliament House premises since Monday. The protest was later called off.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
WATERLOO  A resolution for a countywide mask mandate failed to pass before the Black Hawk County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday morning, with only one of five officials supporting the guidelines.

The decision came after words of support for the mandate from University of Northern Iowa President Mark Nook, health department officials, health board members, local professors, pastors and other community members. It followed the Monday evening decision by Waterloo City Council to extend its own mask mandate for another six weeks.

If passed, the mandate would have required face masks in public when 6-feet distancing cannot happen. The guidelines would require masks in schools, stores, public buildings and when using transportation services.

Chris Schwartz, a Democratic supervisor, was the only official to approve the resolution. His term expires this year, and he is running for re-election in the Nov. 3 election. Supervisors Tom Little and Linda Laylin, Democratic officials who are also up for re-election in November, did not approve the guidelines, along with Democrat Craig White and Republican Daniel Trelka. Trelka is running for county sheriff against incumbent Tony Thompson.

Laylin questioned whether the county could focus more on its education efforts rather than enforcement of a mask mandate. The proposed mandate would call for misdemeanor-level fines for violators, though County Sheriff Tony Thompson said Tuesday that criminalizing masks would not be high priority for the department.

Nafissa Cisse Egbuonye, county health director, said the health department already went above and beyond educating business, health care and education sectors, as well as community members in all areas of the county.

I have to say, I take it very personally, Egbuonye said. Public health has been politicized, and that has been unfair to us. It is very hard to protect the health of our citizens when public health has been politicized.

Trelka said he respects masking guidelines in businesses and cities, but would not support a countywide mandate.

I believe in wearing a mask, he said Tuesday. I do not believe in criminalizing not wearing a mask.

Nook said the mandate was needed to prevent the university from transitioning to online classes if COVID-19 cases surge. Students and employees are required to wear masks on campus, he said.

We must continue to keep our businesses, schools and communities open and functioning, but it will take some additional sacrifice at this time, he said.

Other speakers at Tuesdays meeting pointed to the disproportionate effect of COVID-19 on communities of color. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that social and health inequities contribute to the disparity. Although 9.7% of county residents are Black or African American, nearly 17% of the countys reported cases are Black and African American residents, according to county data. Data shows that COVID-19 also affects Latinx and Indigenous people at higher rates than white people.

These masks mandates  they do work. The data is there. Please look at it, said Catherine Zeman, a public health professor at UNI. If you get a bad case of COVID, it is frightening what it does to the cells of your lungs, your kidney, your heart, even your bone marrow were finding now. It devastates people.

Tuesdays resolution was brought to the Board of Supervisors after the health board passed guidelines Sept. 2.

Cedar Falls passed its own mask mandate in recent weeks, implementing similar guidelines as Waterloo.

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The U.S. is claiming that North Korea and Iran have resumed cooperation in the development of long-range missiles, Reuters reported last week.

"Iran and North Korea have resumed cooperation on a long-range missile project, including the transfer of critical parts," it said citing an unnamed senior official.

The claim came as U.S. President Donald Trump is desperately trying to justify fresh sanctions against Iran to an increasingly skeptical world.

The official claimed it was therefore only natural for the U.S. to declare on Sept. 19 that all UN Security Council sanctions against Iran have been restored. He was unable or unwilling to say when Iran began cooperation with North Korea, when, if ever, it was suspended, and when they resumed it.

North Korea did sell missiles to Tehran during the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988) and thereafter.

Iran's Shahab-2 and Shahab-3 missiles are believed to be based on North Korea's Scud-C and Rodong-1 missiles. There is also speculation that a new Iranian ballistic missile tested in January 2017 is a copy of North Korea's Musudan missile.

In a report early this year, the U.S. Congressional Research Service speculated that Iran continues to rely on North Korea for help with mid- and long-range ballistic missiles.

In April last year, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told state TV that he was preparing to visit North Korea as he was threatening to withdraw from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, in retaliation against Trump unilaterally pulling out of a nuclear deal with Tehran.


Besides signing a megadeal with Netflix, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are expected to fund their newfound private and independent life through speaking engagements that could earn them a lot of money.

However, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex might lose some of their income sources as clients start to get turned off by their massive demands in attending an event.

According to an events manager, the ex-royal couple will likely earn lesser money from speaking gig than previously estimated. It is because clients interested in guest them feels like the Sussexes is the one running the event because of their strict and numerous demands.

Speaking to "The Sun," the anonymous events expert said that instead of getting a whopping $1 million from speaking engagements, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle would likely only get around $250,000 to $400,000 each event.

"Harry and Meghan coming on the speaker circuit is certainly as significant as the likes of President Obama or Arnold Schwarzenegger," the events manager said.

"The pair are fascinating, uniquely experienced individuals, who have a wide reach, who would have been a huge draw to a live audience pre-Covid. So back then, figures between the $750,000 and $1 million pre-Covid steep but possible," he added.

The expert also claims the negotiation part becomes tricky as the clients are starting to raise eyebrows on the kind of control they are demanding in events.

The couple's strict demands are reportedly similar to the one implemented by British royals when attending events. The expert finds it ironic since the main reason for the couple's exit is being subjected to strict royal protocols.

"While every speaker has a right to demand the parameters of an appearance, as the price increases often so do the expectations of clients," the events manager explained.

"Not many clients ever like inviting talent as star guests, who may be seen as running their event and telling them what to do," he added.

The expert claims that the Sussexes demands were "uncommon" compared to other high-profile speakers. That is why clients felt that paying $1 million for speakers does not worth it for someone who will only boss around on how their event will run.

"The contract paperwork appears to read that the speakers have full control of the client's event. It certainly raises eyebrows and will put off many potential large corporations," the events manager explained.

While Prince Harry and Meghan Markle could still negotiate their fee and demands, the expert expects that most of the negotiation will end in stale.

"Nevertheless, I expect there will be some give and take on parts of their deals, but they will turn down many more events than they accept," the source said.

"My guess would be ninety percent of opportunities will be passed on, once their speaking brand reaches its peak," he added.

READ MORE: Prince Andrew Ruined: New Witness Rats Out Duke of York on Jeffrey Epstein Scandal
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Linkedin Laurie Chen and Beiyi Seow (Agence France-Presse) Beijing, China  Tue, September 22, 2020 12:45 487 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c465cbf8 2 World China,Xi-Jinping,tycoon,critics Free

A Chinese real estate tycoon and outspoken critic of President Xi Jinping was jailed for 18 years on Tuesday for corruption, bribery and embezzlement of public funds, a court statement said.

Ren Zhiqiang -- once among the ruling Communist Party's inner circle -- disappeared from the public eye in March, shortly after penning an essay that lambasted Xi's response to the coronavirus outbreak.

His outspokenness had earned the former chairman of state-owned property developer the Huayuan Group the nickname "Big Cannon".

Tuesday's verdict said Ren embezzled almost 50 million yuan ($7.4 million) of public funds and accepted bribes worth 1.25 million yuan, according to a statement from the Beijing No. 2 Intermediate People's Court.

It said the 69-year-old "voluntarily and truthfully confessed all his crimes", and would not appeal the court's decision.

He was also fined 4.2 million yuan ($620,000).

Rights campaigners accuse Xi and the Communist Party of using corruption charges to silence dissent.

Beijing has stepped up its crackdown on civil society since Xi took power in 2012, tightening restrictions on freedom of speech and detaining hundreds of activists and lawyers.

Tuesday's verdict claimed that Ren also "abused his power" in his role at Huayuan Group, which caused more than 116 million yuan of losses to the state-owned holding company and more than 53 million yuan worth of property losses for the group.

Outspoken

The Communist Party's disciplinary watchdog launched an investigation into Ren in April, and the trial opened at a Beijing court on September 11 with a handful of supporters outside and a heavy police presence.

One supporter told AFP they backed Ren because he "dares to speak the truth".

Ren's essay from earlier this year, which criticized Xi, has been scrubbed from China's internet -- which regularly censors content that challenges the authorities -- but was shared online outside China.

"This epidemic has revealed the fact that the Party and government officials only care about protecting their own interests, and the monarch only cares about protecting their interests and core position," Ren wrote, without naming Xi.

His influential blog on the Twitter-like Weibo platform attracted millions of followers before his account was closed by authorities in 2016 after he repeatedly called for greater freedom of the press.

The son of a former vice-commerce minister and a Communist Party member for decades before he was expelled in July, Ren was well connected with party elites.

He wrote in his memoir that he had been friends with vice-president and former anti-corruption chief Wang Qishan since they were teenagers, when Wang was assigned by their school to mentor the younger Ren.

He is also a controversial figure, particularly over his defense of China's soaring house prices -- once telling Chinese media that people who had been unwilling to invest in real estate before the boom "now deserve to be poor".
Bengaluru, Sep 22 : In a major breakthrough in 2008 Bengaluru serial blasts case, the Anti Terrorist Cell (ATC) has arrested the key accused in connection with the case after chasing him for 12 years, police said on Tuesday.

Speaking to reporters, Joint Commissioner of the Bengaluru City Police (Crime), Sandeep Patil asserted that the ATC wing officers had been camping in Thiruvananthapuram for the last one week and coordinating with national agencies for the key arrest.

"In July 2008, there were serial blasts in Bengaluru where seven low intensity bombs were exploded. The city police had identified 32 accused of which 22 have been arrested so far and investigations are on. Shohaib had a major role to play in this entire episode and has been absconding since 2008, 12 years since bombs exploded in the city," he recalled.

He added that after relentless investigations in this case, the ATC got a breakthrough last year and with the help of national agencies the accused was arrested on Monday night.

"The moment we have received an information about him, we issued a red corner notice last October and on a tip-off about his return to Thiruvananthapuram , we nabbed him," the Joint Commissioner added.

According to him, Shohaib is a resident of Kerala and will be brought to the city for further investigations.

"We are expecting them to reach this evening, we will start interrogating thereafter," he said and added that there are many missing links in this case, which could be established once the interrogation is completed.

It can be recalled that in these serial blasts, one person was killed and 20 injured in the attacks. The confirmed dead was a woman waiting at a bus shelter in Madiwala on the Hosur road, while her husband and another person were seriously injured. The injured were admitted to the St. Johns Hospital.

Then it had been reported that gelatine sticks were used in the bombs. The police indicated that all bombs had timer devices attached to them and that mobile phones were used to trigger the bombs.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made key progress Monday in locking down Republican support for a vote this year -- possibly even before Election Day -- to replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Iowa Republican Sen. Charles Grassley, who Democrats had hoped might side with their objections, instead said he was good with moving forward on President Donald Trump's expected nomination.

"While there was ambiguity about the American people's will for the direction of the Supreme Court in 2016 under a divided government, there is no such ambiguity in 2020," Grassley said in a statement.

"So, make no mistake: if the shoe were on the other foot, Senate Democrats wouldn't hesitate to use their Constitutional authority and anything else at their disposal to fill this seat," he added.

MORE: Trump meets with Barrett, says Supreme Court pick 'probably' coming Saturday

Colorado Republican Sen. Cory Gardner, in a fierce reelection battle and another Democratic target, while refusing to answer reporters' questions Monday about where he stood, said in a statement it was up to the GOP-controlled Senate to decide.

"When a President exercises constitutional authority to nominate a judge for the Supreme Court vacancy, the Senate must decide how to best fulfill its constitutional duty of advice and consent," Gardner said.

PHOTO: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell walks to the chamber to speak about the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, at the Capitol in Washington, Sept. 21, 2020. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)

Another GOP senator, Mitt Romney of Utah, has said he will not be announcing his position immediately as others have.

A spokeswoman for Romney told ABC News that the senator wants to consult with his GOP colleagues at a weekly lunch Tuesday before making any decisions.

Romney, the lone Republican to vote to convict Trump in the impeachment trial earlier this year, is one of few Republicans who could potentially scuttle the planned vote.

McConnell can afford to lose only three of his conference members and still keep a Trump nominee on track to a final confirmation vote. Currently, there are two -- Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine -- who say they do not back a confirmation vote before the election.

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Trump has said he plans to name a nominee by week's end and wants to have his replacement confirmed by Nov. 3. But historically, Congress has taken far longer to complete the entire process, an average of 70 days, according to a Congressional Research Service report.

MORE: GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski says she 'would not support' taking up a Supreme Court nominee before election

Other Republicans to watch include centrists such as Sens. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, though insiders say they would be surprised if the pair bucked their party leadership and Trump.

Over the weekend, institutionalists like Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., and Rob Portman, R-Ohio, made it clear they are behind McConnell and Trump.

PHOTO: Senator Mitt Romney speaks during the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee business meeting on Capitol Hill, Sept. 16, 2020. (Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP, FILE)

In a Senate floor speech Monday on the Supreme Court vacancy, McConnell -- who began with a tribute to the late Ginsburg -- said point blank what he had indicated in his paper statement over the weekend, "President Trump's nominee for this vacancy will receive a vote on the floor of the Senate."

Mitch McConnell: "The Senate has more than sufficient time to process a nomination. History and precedent make that perfectly clear." https://t.co/mQgz26Y5z1 pic.twitter.com/lJLDN9nBdu  ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) September 21, 2020

He took aim at what he called "reckless" Democratic efforts to stop a vote.

"Now, already, some of the same individuals who tried every conceivable dirty trick to obstruct Justice (Neil) Gorsuch and Justice (Brett) Kavanaugh are lining up, lining up to declare the third time will be the charm."

MORE: Sen. Ted Cruz, contradicting 2016 remarks, cites possible contested presidential election in urgent push to fill Ruth Bader Ginsburg's seat

Without committing to a vote before the election, McConnell made clear he thinks there's plenty of time to confirm a Trump nominee before year's end.

"We're already hearing incorrect claims that there is not sufficient time to examine and confirm a nominee," he said. "We can debunk this myth in about 30 seconds."

McConnell warned of the coming attacks by Democrats and their allies, saying, "Two years ago, a radical movement tried to use unproven accusations to ruin a man's life, because they could not win a vote fair and square. Now they appear to be readying an even more appalling sequel. This time, the target will not just be the innocence for one American, but our very governing institutions themselves."

PHOTO: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer speaks on the floor of the U.S. Senate in Washington, March 5, 2020. (ABC News)

Speaking after McConnell, Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said much "hangs in the balance," ticking off a wide-ranging list of consequences for everything from health care to climate change.

"The right to join a union, marry who you love, freely exercise your right to vote, the right of a parent with a child who has cancer not to watch helpless as their son or daughter suffers without proper health care -- if you care about these things and the kind of country we live in -- this election and this vacancy mean everything and by all rights -- by every modicum of decency and honor -- Leader McConnell and the Republican senate majority have no right -- no right to fill it."

He laid into McConnell, Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham and other Republicans for reversing position on filling a court seat in an election year after not allowing a vote on President Barack Obama's nominee Merrick Garland in 2016.

"Why even bother constructing a pretense for your position? Why say it's this rule or that rule and then do the exact opposite when it suits your interests. Why not just come to the floor and say -- I'm going to do whatever's best for my political party -- consistency be damned, reason be damned, democracy be damned. Just admit it."

He warned that a handful of Republicans have it in their power to save the Senate, saying, "Tell me how -- tell me how this would not spell the end of this supposedly great body?"

"I don't see how. There's only one way -- one way for us to have some hope of coming together again, trusting each other again lowering the temperature  moving forward -- and that is for four brave Senate Republicans to commit to rejecting any nominee until the next president is installed. That was Justice Ginsburg's dying wish and it may be the Senate's only last hope," Schumer said.

McConnell consolidates GOP support for SCOTUS nomination vote but timing unclear originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Massachusetts State Police are searching for a person who reportedly jumped off a bridge Tuesday morning into the Charles River in Cambridge, authorities said.

The person jumped off the Longfellow Bridge toward the Cambridge side of the river around 9 a.m., state police said in a statement.

Patrols from state police in Boston, personnel from the State Police Marine Unit and Dive Team and Cambridge firefighters responded to the scene, according to the statement.

The search is currently ongoing, state police said shortly after 9:50 a.m.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
DUBLIN, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Fiber Optic Components Market Forecast to 2027 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis by Type, Amplifiers, Splitters, Connectors, Circulators, Transceivers, and Others); Data Rate; Application" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

According to this report the market was valued at US$ 16,546.7 million in 2019 and is projected to reach US$ 39,150.3 million by 2027; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 11.27% from 2020 to 2027.

Asia Pacific dominated the fiber optic components Market in 2019 with a share of 35.8% followed by North America. The fiber optic components market in APAC is analyzed based on historical, current, and future trends across the region. The fiber optic components market in APAC is further segmented into China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and the Rest of APAC. The adoption of fiber optics is high in this region owing to development in the communications applications; thus, the fiber connectivity in this region is likely to surge.

In March 2018, the consortium of APAC network operators signed a contract with NEC Corporation, a Japan-based company to design a submarine cable (SJC2), which connects Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Cambodia, Vietnam, Taiwan, China, and Korea. Several companies contributed to the SJC2 cable, such as Chuan Wei, China Mobile International, Chunghwa Telecom, Singtel, KDDI, SK Broadband, VNPT, and Facebook. In this region, 5G technology is likely to have a positive impact on the fiber optic industry for 5G network infrastructure.

The upcoming 5G network installations would offer new market opportunities for fiber optic cables and other high-speed connectivity products. The fiber optic cables connect micro base stations and edge nodes in the 5G network infrastructure; this would be an important factor driving the growth of fiber optic demand. The 5G high reliability and low latency application need edge computing solutions, which are anticipated to surge the demand for fiber optic cables. APAC has arisen as the largest consumer market of the fiber optic cable industry owing to major investments by the government to deploy fiber optic cable.

In 2019, North America stood second in the Fiber Optic Components market with a decent market share, and it is anticipated to witness a steady CAGR from 2020 to 2027. North American region comprises significant countries, such as the US, Canada, and Mexico. Technological advancements have led to highly competitive markets across North America, with the US being a developed country in terms of acceptance of modern technology electronic components. The region hosts several technological giants that invest significant amounts in the development of robust technologies. With the growing demand for better quality and efficiency of electronic devices among North Americans, the OEMs focus on the development of advanced technological components. The fiber optic components market is anticipated to grow further in the region owing to growing industrialization and infrastructural development. The government focuses on investing in telecommunication infrastructure since it spurs economic growth and creates employment.

Companies adopt inorganic market strategies to expand their footprints across the world and meet the growing demand. The fiber optic components market players mainly focus on the acquisition strategy to expand their business and maintain their brand name globally. For instance, in 2020, Fujitsu Optical Components Limited (FOC) introduced compact and low power consumption 400Gbps ZR transceivers. These transceivers are compliant to the Optical Internetworking Forum (OIF) Implementation Agreement 400ZR for cloud data center interconnects (DCI) of up to 120km transmission.

Impact of COVID-19 on Fiber Optic Components market

According to the latest situation report from World Health Organization (WHO), the US, Spain, Italy, France, Germany, the UK, Russia, Turkey, Brazil, Iran, and China are among the worst affected countries due to COVID-19 outbreak. The outbreak first began in Wuhan (China) during December 2019, and since then, it has spread at a fast pace across the world. The COVID-19 crisis is affecting the industries worldwide, and the global economy is anticipated to take the worst hit in 2020 and 2021. The outbreak has created significant disruptions in the construction sector. The sharp decline in the international trade is negatively impacting the growth of the global economy. The production shutdowns, restrictions on supply chain, procurement management, labor scarcity, and border lockdowns to combat and contain the outbreak have adversely affected the construction sector. The production slowdown in the construction industry is directly affecting the adoption of various ad-hoc technologies and solutions such as fiber optic components, as the telecommunication companies have reduced their spending on adopting several technology solutions to deal with the current scenario.

Reasons to Buy:

Highlights key business priorities in order to assist companies to realign their business strategies.

The key findings and recommendations highlight crucial progressive industry trends in the fiber optic components market, thereby allowing players to develop effective long term strategies.

Develop/modify business expansion plans by using substantial growth offering developed and emerging markets.

Scrutinize in-depth global market trends and outlook coupled with the factors driving the market, as well as those hindering it.

Enhance the decision-making process by understanding the strategies that underpin commercial interest with respect to type, data rate and application.

Key Topics Covered:



1. Introduction



2. Key Takeaways



3. Research Methodology

3.1 Coverage

3.2 Secondary Research

3.3 Primary Research



4. Global Optic Fiber Component Market-Key Dynamics

4.1 Market Drivers

4.1.1 Escalating data centres across the globe

4.1.2 Increasing penetration of internet

4.2 Market Restrains.

4.2.1 Risk of physical damage and transmission loss

4.3 Market Opportunity

4.3.1 Emergence of 5G

4.4 Future Trends

4.4.1 Emergence of smart cities

4.5 Impact Analysis of Drivers and Restraints



5. Fiber Optic Components Market Landscape

5.1 Overview

5.2 PEST Analysis

5.2.1 North America

5.2.2 Europe

5.2.3 APAC

5.2.4 MEA

5.2.5 SAM

5.3 Expert Opinions



6. Fiber optic components Market - Global Market Analysis

6.1 Fiber optic components Market Global Overview

6.2 Global Fiber optic components Market Forecast and Analysis

6.3 Market Positioning - Five Key Players



7. Fiber optics components Market Analysis- By Type

7.1 Overview

7.2 Global Fiber optics components Market Breakdown, by Type, 2019 & 2027

7.3 Cables

7.3.1 Overview

7.3.2 Cables Market Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)

7.4 Active Optical Cables

7.4.1 Overview

7.4.2 Active Optical Cables Market Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)

7.5 Amplifiers

7.5.1 Overview

7.5.2 Amplifiers Market Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)

7.6 Splitters

7.6.1 Overview

7.6.2 Splitters Market Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)

7.7 Connectors

7.7.1 Overview

7.7.2 Connectors Market Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)

7.8 Circulators

7.8.1 Overview

7.8.2 Circulators Market Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)

7.9 Transceivers

7.9.1 Overview

7.9.2 Transceivers Market Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)

7.10 Others

7.10.1 Overview

7.10.2 Others Market Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)



8. Fiber optics components Market Analysis- By Data Rate

8.1 Overview

8.1.1 10G

8.2.1 Overview

8.2.210G Market Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)

8.3 40G

8.3.1 Overview

8.3.40G Market Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)

8.4100G

8.4.1 Overview

8.4.2100G Market Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)

8.5 Above 100G

8.5.1 Overview

8.5.2 Above 100G Market Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)



9. Fiber optics components Market Analysis- By Application

9.1 Overview

9.2 Global Fiber optics components Market Breakdown, by Application, 2019 & 2027

9.3 Communications

9.3.1 Overview

9.3.2 Communications Market Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)

9.4 Distributed Sensing

9.4.1 Overview

9.4.2 Distributed Sensing Market Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)

9.5 Analytical and Medical Equipment

9.5.1 Overview

9.5.2 Analytical and Medical Equipment Market Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)

9.6 Lighting

9.6.1 Overview

9.6.2 Lighting Market Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)



10. Fiber Optic Components Market - Geographic Analysis

10.1 Overview

10.2 North America: Fiber Optic Components Market

10.3 Europe: Fiber Optic Components Market

10.4 APAC: Fiber Optic Components Market

10.5 MEA: Fiber Optic Components Market

10.6 SAM: Fiber Optic Components Market



11. Fiber optic components Market- COVID-19 Impact Analysis

11.1 Overview

11.2 North America

11.3 Europe

11.4 Asia-Pacific

11.5 Middle East and Africa

11.6 South America



12. Global Fiber Optic Component Market-Industry Landscape

12.1 Overview

12.2 Market Initiative

12.3 Merger and Acquisition



13. Company Profiles

13.1 Accelink Technology Co. Ltd.

13.2 Broadcom, Inc.

13.3 EMCORE Corporation

13.4 FUJITSU LIMITED

13.5 Furukawa Electric Co. Ltd.

13.6 II-VI Incorporated

13.7 Lumentum Operations LLC

13.8 O-NET TECHNOLOGIES (GROUP) LIMITED

13.9 Reflex Photonics Inc.

13.10 Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.



14. Appendix

14.1 About the Publisher

14.2 Word Index



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/qw05ds

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

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

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[email protected]



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A Wisconsin man will serve three years in prison after he defrauded his former employer out of millions of dollars, spending the funds on vacations, college tuition, online gambling and more, federal authorities said.

A judge sentenced Steven C. Gold, 47, of Pleasant Prairie, Wis., to 36 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.

The charge against Gold stemmed from his employment by JST, a supplier of electronic components based in Illinois. Also tied up in the scheme was East Haven resident John T. Finkle III, authorities said.

Gold, who ran the companys accounting and billing systems, was linked to two separate schemes that defrauded his former employer out of more than $9 million, authorities said. Finkle worked in sales.

From February 2015 through December 2018, Finkle conspired with Gold and Kenneth Pedroli, another employee, to defraud the company, authorities said.

Authorities said the trio hatched a plan to buy electronic components that Pedroli made from JST for a business he ran in New York. As part of the scheme, authorities said, Finkle told Pedroli to put his orders and list prices at a fraction of JSTs published prices.

Once Pedrolis orders were submitted to JST at the discounted prices, the products were shipped to him. Finkle told Pedroli to pay only a portion of the invoice price and make the payments directly to him, authorities said.

Finkle deposited the payments into his personal checking account, giving some of the funds to Gold, who authorities say manipulated the account records at JST to make it seem like Pedroli paid JST in full for the products, authorities said.

During that specific scheme, investigators said, JST was defrauded out of $3,359,058.69.

As investigators looked into that scheme, they said they found an additional $6,060,151 that they say Gold stole from JST by accessing and changing the accounting system. He used those funds to pay for things like vacations, online gambling, home improvement costs, furniture, clothes, restaurants, college tuition and car payments.

Authorities said Gold also unlawfully transferred hundreds of thousands of dollars in JST funds to his wifes company.

The judge ordered Gold to pay restitution of $9,419,209.69.

Gold pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and one count of wire fraud. He was released on a $500,000 bond and told to report to prison Dec. 2.

Finkle and Pedroli pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud.

On Nov. 22, 2019, Finkle was sentenced to two years in prison. Pedroli was sentenced to three years probation on Dec. 12, 2019.
Widespread COVID-19 testing may be an obvious way to control an outbreak in a long-term care facility. But communication among the facility's staff, its residents and the residents' family members is crucial, too.

A new study led by Carl Shrader, a physician and researcher in the Department of Family Medicine in the West Virginia University School of Medicine, revealed the role that communication played in quashing a COVID-19 outbreak at Sundale, a long-term care facility in Morgantown.

"Timely communication was challenging and made more difficult by a lack of evidence-based information and widely circulating misinformation," said Shrader, who directs WVU's residency program. "There is a delicate balance between rapid dissemination of accurate information with the need for personal individual discussion in an unknown situation."

Shrader is also the medical director at Sundale, which was the epicenter of West Virginia's COVID-19 pandemic. From the first diagnosis of COVID-19 in a Sundale resident--in March--he took a leading role in the facility's response to the outbreak.

Before the facility was free of COVID-19, 52 residents and 19 staff members would be diagnosed with it. For five of those residents, the virus would prove fatal. But "despite the challenges of managing a COVID-19 outbreak in the absence of information, our facility's staff, families and leadership were able to work together to ensure limited viral spread and no change in the average monthly mortality at the facility," Shrader said.

He feels that early and widespread COVID-19 testing at the facility was key to keeping the infection rate low. As soon as the first cases came to light, the staff immediately tested all of the facility's hundred residents, whether or not they had symptoms of COVID-19. People who tested positive were separated from the other residents and housed in the same unit to prevent the virus from spreading.

Follow-up testing in the weeks that followed identified more residents who had the virus and confirmed when residents had gotten over it.

Because test kits were scarce early in the pandemic, not every staff member at Sundale could be swabbed for the virus. Fifty-six of the 162 staff members--mostly certified nursing assistants and licensed practical nurses--were chosen for testing because of their frequent contact with residents. All other facility staff members were directed to local drive-up testing sites.

"Maintaining availability of adequate staff in all divisions to ensure safe operation of the facility was high priority," Shrader said. "Clear communication about testing and staffing decisions was crucial in allaying fear and frustration."

Meeting with the staff members and explaining why some of them received the rapid test while others didn't alleviate staff members' concerns, prevented resentment from building and fostered the spirit of teamwork that makes good resident care possible.

Staff members weren't the only people who benefited from communication. So did residents' family members.

At first, the facility staff tried to keep family members informed by speaking to them over the phone, but they soon discovered that they couldn't keep up with the calls. There were simply too many people--with too many questions and concerns--to speak to them all individually.

Much of the information staff members were providing applied to multiple residents. So, with the residents' and family members' permission, they began using a version of Zoom that's compliant with medical-privacy laws to talk--and listen--to many family members at once.

Not only could the staff communicate with family members this way, but the family members could share information and build relationships with each other as well.

"Families, residents and staff bonded through this unique experience, and the creative use of technology to maintain open communication aided in this," said Courtney Pilkerton, an assistant professor of family medicine and member of the research team. "Zoom meetings continue to be popular, and many family members have requested that calls continue as they have found significant value in sharing their experiences with each other."

But communicating with one category of people was particularly difficult: residents with dementia.

"Living with dementia means a life revolving around a structured schedule," said Shauna Assadzandi, a medical resident at Sundale who was involved in the study. "Disruptions in that schedule can bring significant distress. If their son came every day to feed them lunch and dinner and now is not there, they may feel abandoned--not understanding why their son can no longer visit."

Staff at the facility had to pay special attention to those residents so they could spot psychosomatic symptoms--such as lack of appetite--and address them early. Just because some residents couldn't describe their feelings of loneliness, sadness or worry doesn't mean they weren't experiencing them.

"Older individuals--and, more specifically, those with dementia--don't always verbalize concerns, and it becomes crucial to watch for physical signs of distress, including weight change and intake of food and fluids," Assadzandi said.

"Much of our nursing staff has worked in the facility on the same unit for many years," she said. "They know the residents well and are often the first to notice small changes in behavior. These strong connections between staff and residents allow for more rapid and individual changes to care when needed."

###

Citation

Title: Responding to a COVID-19 Outbreak at a Long-Term Care Facility

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0733464820959163

Link: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0733464820959163

Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, a division of the National Institutes of Health, under Award Number U54GM104942. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of NIH.
Unless you live under a rock, youve most likely seen the viral video of a young reporter who was left starstruck by President Uhuru Kenyatta in Mombasa.

Dennis Mudy, a Kakamega-based reporter attached to MK TV, was shooting an episode of his show, Hustle Mtaani, when he had a chance encounter with the President on Sunday.

A video doing rounds on social media shows Mudy being overwhelmed with excitement and even breaking down in tears.

Speaking about the incident, the rookie reporter said it was President Kenyatta who asked to be interviewed.

I was shooting one of my shows. Luckily, the president was inspecting Mama Ngina Drive. He passed by our location and he found me there. He was very impressed with me for travelling from Kakamega to Mombasa to interview small business people. He asked me what I was up to so I explained it to him. He was very happy and he challenged me to interview him, Mudy told Kenyans.co.ke.

The reporter said he does not regret his animated reaction as it was a life-changing encounter with the President.

I have been in journalism for only three months, interviewed many people mostly traders but never in my wildest dream did I ever think someday I would interview the president himself. It was so overwhelming at some point I just broke down. It was my first to meet the president and I knew I would have a breakthrough in life. They were tears of joy.

My dream is for MK TV to grow to another level both in Kenya and internationally, he said.

Mudy said Uhuru scheduled for another meeting on Monday, September 21, which was short-lived given the presidents busy schedule.

The reporter said he was referred to another state official who promised to get in touch with him for a meeting.
Tedros Adhanom, director general of the World Health Organization, shakes hands with Chinese leader Xi Jinping before a meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, Jan. 28, 2020. (Naohiko Hatta/Pool via Reuters)

CCP Virus Pandemic Could Have Likely Been Prevented If China, WHO Acted Differently: GOP Report

The Chinese Communist Party and the World Health Organization are culpable for the spread of the CCP virus and the global pandemic could have likely been prevented had they acted differently, an audit by congressional Republicans stated.

The CCP engaged in active cover-up efforts of information surrounding the spread of the CCP virus, also known as the novel coronavirus, and the WHO enabled the cover-up by praising the CCP and parroting its speaking points, according to a report (pdf) released Monday by Republican members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

It is beyond doubt that the CCP actively engaged in a cover-up designed to obfuscate data, hide relevant public health information, and suppress doctors and journalists who attempted to warn the world, the 90-page report stated.

Research shows the CCP could have reduced the number of cases in China by up to 95 percent had it fulfilled its obligations under international law and responded to the outbreak in a manner consistent with best practices, the report continued, citing a study on Medrxiv, a Yale University-linked online site sharing non-peer-reviewed, pre-publication medical manuscripts. It is highly likely the ongoing pandemic could have been prevented.

Michael McCaul (R-Texas), the lead Republican of the committee, said in a statement, It is crystal clear that had the CCP been transparent, and had the head of the WHO cared more about global health than appeasing the CCP, lives could have been spared and widespread economic devastation could have been mitigated.

Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Oct. 15, 2019. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

Revealing the truth is just the first step; we must hold both the CCP and WHO Director General Tedros accountable for the suffering they have allowed the world to endure, he added.

The report provides four recommendations, which include calling for a change in leadership at the WHO, Taiwans re-admittance to the WHO as an observer, and concrete reforms to the International Health Regulations (IHR).

It also calls for the United States to join with likeminded WHO member states and Taiwan in an international investigation of the CCPs cover-up efforts of the virus and the WHOs failure to fulfil its obligations under the IHR.

Read More INFOGRAPHIC: How the Chinese Regime Colluded With WHO During the Pandemic

CCPs Cover-Up

The report said that the CCP had enough information by no later than Dec. 27, 2019, to find that it was legally obligated to inform the WHO that the CCP virus outbreak in Wuhan may constitute a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), but it chose not to do so, in violation of international law.

Had it been transparent and followed international health regulations, Chinas ruling CCP could have prevented an estimated two-thirds of cases in China prior to the end of February, and could have helped the rest of the world better respond to the outbreak, the report said.

Instead, there were multiple, disturbing examples of the CCP harassing and detaining Chinese doctors who attempted to warn others about the realities of the outbreak, the report noted.

Read More Silenced: Stories of Citizens Suppressed for Speaking the Truth About the CCP Virus

The CCP also nationalized control of its medical supply chain and directed that all production and distribution of medical suppliesincluding other nations production lines in Chinabe for domestic use in order to stockpile personal protective equipment (PPE) in China, the report said.

Stock photo of surgical face masks. (Mika Baumeister/Unsplash)

This enabled the [CCP] to increase production of face masks from 20 million to more than 100 million per day, at the expense of foreign companies being allowed to export their productsseveral manufactures have stated that the PRC would not authorize them to export PPE produced in their facilities, the report stated.

It is highly likely that Chinas nationalization of the manufacturing capacity of foreign companies, including 3M and General Motors, directly impacted the ability of the United States and other countries to procure PPE on the global market, the report said.

The P4 laboratory (L) on the campus of the Wuhan Institute of Virology in Wuhan in Chinas central Hubei province on May 27, 2020. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images)

The authors also noted that the CCP continues to refuse to share lab samples from the Wuhan Institute of Virology that would help in seeing whether the research institute played a role in the origins of the pandemic.

WHOs Mishandling

Republican lawmakers stated that the United Nations WHO has been complicit in the spread and normalization of CCP propaganda and disinformation.

WHO Director-General Tedros has responded to the CCPs cover-up by praising the CCP for their transparency, despite internal documents showing WHO frustration with the CCPs failure to share critical data and information about the virus, the report stated. The WHO has repeatedly parroted CCP talking points while ignoring conflicting information from reputable sources.

The WHO also failed to investigate questions and warnings from Taiwan and Hong Kong about potential human-to-human transmission of the CCP virus in the early days, it stated.

The logo of the World Health Organization (WHO) at its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, on Jan. 30, 2020. (Denis Balibouse/Reuters)

Taiwan said it had written to the WHO and China as early as Dec. 31 asking for information about the outbreak in Wuhan, including whether there was human-to-human transmission. Later on Jan. 4, Dr. Ho Pak-leung of the University of Hong Kongs (UHK) Centre of Infection a member of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Controlwarned that human-to-human transmission was likely already occurring.

Under Article 9 of the IHR, the WHO is mandated to investigate unofficial reports and warnings like those from Dr. Ho, the report stated. Had the WHO done so, the world would have been warned about the high likelihood of human-to-human transmission sixteen days prior to the CCP confirming what Dr. Ho already knew. 

The report said that WHO Director General Tedros had enough information to declare a public health emergency (PHEIC) by Jan. 23 but chose not to do so, which violated WHO mandates. The report also stated that the decision appears to be of a political nature, not scientific.

The chair of the Emergency Committee explained the lack of a recommendation supporting a PHEIC declaration was in part due to the negative perception of such a declaration by the people in the PRC responding to the outbreak, the report stated. It appears self-evident that this is a reference to the CCP, not doctors or patients in Wuhan.

The WHO also routinely lagged behind the scientific community in its technical guidance as to how to respond to the pandemic.

In addition to not recommending the widespread use of masks for 130+ days, their guidance on aerosol transmission has been widely criticized by health experts, the authors noted.
A number of opposition parties on Tuesday staged a walkout from Rajya Sabha and decided to boycott proceedings of the House till the suspension of eight members is revoked, even as the government insisted on their apology.

Later, various opposition parties, including the Congress and the Trinamool Congress, on Tuesday boycotted the Lok Sabha too in solidarity with the suspended MPs.

IMAGE: Opposition leaders stage walk-out from Rajya Sabha. Photograph: ANI Photo

Rajya Sabha

Among the parties that boycotted the proceedings of the House included the Congress, which was the among the first to walkout, followed by members of the Communist Party of India-Marxist, Communist Party of India, Trinamool Congress, Nationalist Congress Party, Samajwadi Party, Shiv Sena, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Dravida Munnetra Kazagham, Telangana Rashtra Samiti and Aam Aadmi Party.

Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad, said they would boycott the proceedings till the suspension of members is revoked and also demanded that the government bring another bill to ensure that no private player should buy food grains from farmers below the MSP fixed by the government.

"I demand that the government brings another bill in the House which should ensure that no private player can buy food grains from farmers below the MSP. The government should also ensure that the MSP is fixed as per c2 formula under Swaminathan Committee and the should also ensure that all procurement done by central, state governments and FCI be not done below MSP.

"The colleagues who have been suspended for the rest of the session, their suspension be revoked. Till the government does these three things, we will boycott the session," he said in the House while walking out.



Eight members of Rajya Sabha were suspended on Monday over their 'unruly behaviour' during the passage of the two key farm bills on Sunday.

Azad also said members should get more time to speak and time constraint has become a major issue of discontent among opposition parties.



He said the sense of the House should not mean mere numbers, but by political parties as 18 political parties are on one side demanding more time.

Maintaining that the voice of the opposition and rights of members are not heard and bills are not sent for scrutiny to Select Committee or Standing Committees, Azad said, "I think the day before yesterday was the last straw that broke the camel's back."

The Congress leader said the government now wants "one nation, one market" with which they have no problem.



"The government earlier said 'one nation, one tax' and then 'one nation, one ration card', but for God's sake, don't go towards 'one nation, one party'."

Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu lamented that the chair has been dragged into the controversy and said members should not put the blame on the chair.

Naidu made a fresh appeal to members of all opposition parties to rethink their decision of boycotting proceedings and participate in discussions of the House.

"I appeal to all members to rethink their decision of boycott and participate in the discussion," he said.

The Chairman said democracy is for debate, discussion and decision and not disruption.

He also lamented that the suspended members in an interview justified their action and showed no remorse.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said: "The government is not hell-bent upon keeping the suspended MPs out of the House".

"If they express regret, the government will look into it," he said on demands by some members that their suspension should be revoked and that the government should have a large heart.

Leader of the House Thaawarchand Gehlot said the suspended members tried to portray that it is the mistake of the Chair and not the opposition.

"This is not proper. Everyone is condemning that day's incident and saying it is sad. LoP also termed it sad but he tried to prove it by saying against the Chair, that the chair had taken a wrong decision. This is not proper.

"I want to bring this on record. I have 35 years of parliamentary experience, have not seen such a sad incident in my life.

"Breaking mikes, sitting on table, showing hands at Harivansh Ji, climbing on table, tearing the rule book and bill's copy. This is condemnable and sad state of affairs.

"The LoP's allegation on chair is not justifiable. The Chair's decision is supreme, its disrespect is not proper," he said.

Former PM and Janata Dal-Secular leader H D Deve Gowda said the government and Opposition should sit together to run the House.

Ram Gopal Yadav of the SP said, "A mistake has taken place by opposition members, but elders should be large hearted. I urge that their suspension be revoked and I apologise on their behalf."

K Keshava Rao of the TRS said whatever happened in the House is condemnable and 'we are sorry for it'.

Tiruchi Siva said opposition members got agitated after the chair did not allow division of votes.

Ram Chandra Prasad Singh of Janata Dal-United said, "What was their intention as they were tearing papers and throwing at Harivash babu. Division can happen only when there will be order."



They showed aggression towards Harivash, he said, adding, "It is his (Harivansh) decency that no untoward incident took place. This is not good. They disobeyed, staged dharna as if fighting for the freedom of the country. This should not be forgiven."

Praful Patel (NCP) said his party has never entered the well or did anything which is not in the best parliamentary traditions.

"We maintain a certain decorum in the House. Whatever happened, though it is unfortunate".

"In the best traditions of Parliamentary democracy... you could consider and withdraw the suspension. It will go a long way in building the trust deficit between the ruling and opposition side," he said.

Those suspended include Derek O'Brien (TMC), Sanjay Singh (AAP), Rajeev Satav (Congress), K K Ragesh (CPI-M), Syed Nazir Hussain (Congress), Ripun Boren (Congress), Dola Sen (TMC) and Elamaram Kareem (CPI-M).

Lok Sabha

Later in the day, Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said all opposition parties are boycotting Parliament in solidarity with the Rajya Sabha members who were suspended on Monday.

"You have compelled us to do so," he said.

Opposition parties, including Congress, TMC, Bahujan Samaj Party and Telangana Rashtra Samiti, walked out of the Lok Sabha.

Chowdhury did not specify for how long the boycott would continue.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla warned that members should not mention about the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha.

He said all references made by members would be removed from the records.
Calls have been made for farmers to have increased access to new technologies as public concern rises over the impact of the pandemic on UK food supplies.

The public have highlighted their worry over the fragility of the food system in the face of Covid-19, climate change and possible trade interruptions.

More than two thirds (66%) of adults are worried about the impact that a second wave would have on food supplies, a new YouGov survey has shown.

Fears for the food systems resilience in the face of climate change and trade interruptions after the Brexit transition period ends are also playing on public consciousness.

The survey of over 2,100 adults was carried out on behalf of the Agricultural Biotechnology Council (ABC), which has called for farmers to have access to 'all the tools available' in order to fight the threats.

Although food supplies have stabilised since the early days of the pandemic, when empty supermarket shelves were commonplace, the crisis has left people sensitised to the issue.

Whereas only 7% were worried this time last year, nearly five times that number (34%) are now concerned what the next decade will bring.

Less than half (48%) are confident that the food and farming system is prepared for a second wave of Covid-19 or a future pandemic, the survey shows.

One in three (32%) are more worried about the availability of fresh food in the UK now or in the next year, compared to the views of food security in other countries.

Fears about the security of the UK food supply are not limited to Covid. Two thirds raised fears about the consequences of climate change, such as drought, amidst another British summer with soaring temperatures.

Only 32% are confident that the food and farming system is prepared for environmental extremes such as extreme heat or flooding, and only 34% confident that we are prepared for biological threats such as new pests.

Additionally, repeat assurances that the UK will secure favourable trade deals with Europe and US after the transition period ends appear to have fallen on deaf ears.

Only three in 10 adults (32%) believe that the UKs food and farming system is prepared for trade interruptions or problems with either the US or EU.

A third of people also raised fears for the impact of interruptions such as bans on types of seeds available to farmers, or restrictions on the use of crop protection chemicals.

Notably, the data suggests the public thinks more should be done to support farmers and food producers to future-proof the sector and help it remain resilient.

In particular, more than half (52%) expressed support for the use of new agricultural innovations such as new plant breeding techniques like gene editing to make crops more nutritious and resistant to pests and diseases.

Mark Buckingham, Chair of the Agricultural Biotechnology Council, said farmers faced 'serious threats' to future harvests.

"These results demonstrate a clear need to provide farmers with the opportunity to access all the tools available to them," he added.

"Our farmers need the same access to new technologies such as gene editing that their counterparts do in countries like Australia and Canada, to help UK food production remain resilient and sustainable."

It comes as the government recently confirmed a consultation on the future regulation of precision plant breeding techniques post-Brexit.

According to ABC, gene editing in the UK could help British farming 'flourish' whilst maintaining the high levels of consumer safety and environmental protection.

A recent report by the group examined a number of global regulatory systems, finding that modelling UK regulation away from the EU's would help British farming thrive.

Paul Temple, farmer and AHDB Board Member said this year's weather had produced the worst wheat harvest for decades.

"We need more than ever new breeding solutions to provide the resilience to changing climate, pests and diseases," he said.

"At the same time the pandemic has highlighted how important a secure food and farming system is to this country.

"Thats why we need to ensure we are protecting it and strengthening it for the future."

YouGov also asked about support for other interventions to help improve British farming for future demand.

A third said they would support intensification of farming, for example more use of green houses and polytunnels, while 27% backed restriction of food exports from Britain.

Nearly two thirds would welcome people being encouraged to consume a greater proportion of seasonal produce.
Barcelona forward Luis Suarez is one of the key senior players out of favour under new manager Ronald Koeman and had been touted with a move to Serie A champions Juventus before the transfer fell through. The Suarez transfer to Turin depended on the Uruguayan international passing the citizenship test, as the Old Lady had no non-EU slots. However, reports have now emerged that the Luis Suarez Italian exam was rigged and the 33-year-old already knew the contents of the exam.

Also Read: Luis Suarez's Move From Barcelona To Atletico Compared To David Villa's Transfer In 2013

Luis Suarez transfer: Suarez Italian exam had 'irregularities', police to probe Juventus

Barcelona striker Luis Suarez had arrived in Perugia last week to take an Italian test ahead of a potential move to Juventus ahead of the new season. While he passed the citizenship test, the Suarez transfer fell through and the Uruguayan could be all set to join Atletico Madrid according to reports. While the Suarez to Juventus move never materialised, the Old Lady could land themselves in huge trouble, after claims by Repubblica and Ansa that there were 'irregularities' in the Suarez Italian exam. Reports suggest that the 33-year-old already knew the contents of the Italian language (B1 level) exam in advance, and passed having already been told the answers.

Also Read: Luis Suarez Transfer: Barcelona Star Tipped To Join Atletico Madrid; Morata To Juventus

Big issue. There has been irregularities in the test of Luis Suarez for Italian Exam in the University for Perugia. Suarez got advance questions, he had the passport by cheating, according to preliminary investigations [Ansa]. Meanwhile, hes waiting to join Atletico...  pic.twitter.com/Idy1gisZFu  Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 22, 2020

The police are set to be investing the case and are acquiring documentation from the University of Perugia and Luis Suarez risks heavy legal action by the Public Prosecutor of Perugia. In a statement, the Prescutior said that after an investigation it was found that the exam topics were previously agreed with Suarez and that the relative score was assigned even before the oral test was conducted. The University for Foreigners of Perugia which conducted the test denied any wrongdoing and reiterates the accuracy and transparency of the systems followed for the exam.

Also Read: Neymar Accused Of Calling Hiroki Sakai A Racial Slur As Ligue 1 Racism Row Continues

Luis Suarez to Atletico Madrid? Diego Simeone closing in on Suarez transfer

With the Luis Suarez transfer to Juventus falling through, the Serie A champions moved quickly to secure the services of Atletico Madrid striker Alvaro Morata, who has played for Juventus before. The Spaniard joins Juventus on a 10million loan deal, with an option to make the deal permanent for 45million. The LaLiga giants have swiftly moved to secure Suarez's services, who is reportedly keen on joining Diego Simeone's side.

Suarez and Barcelona are trying to find an agreement to terminate the contract and join Atletico Madrid on a free. However, while Blaugrana remain keen on getting the striker off their wage bill, they don't want 33-year-old join a list of vetoed clubs, including rivals Real Madrid, Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain. Barcelona are pushing to include their LaLiga rivals in the list and Suarez to Atletico Madrid deal hangs in the balance due to this latest development. Atletico Madrid are also targeting Edinson Cavani this summer in case their deal for Suarez falls through in the latter stages.

Also Read: Rakitic Reveals He Was Never Close Friends With Messi Or Suarez At Barcelona

(Image Courtesy: Luis Suarez Instagram)
Facebook India has challenged before the Supreme Court the authority of Delhi Legislative Assemblys panel in summoning its officials in connection with the Delhi riots. Facebook India, through its vice-president and managing director Ajit Mohan, filed a petition in the top court on Tuesday for quashing the two summons and warnings issued to the social networking platform.

The petition, filed through advocate Mayank Pandey, said that the Delhi Assembly Peace and Harmony Committee, which is looking into the role of several factors in the Northeast Delhi riots, has no constitutional powers to either summon Facebook or examine issues that fall in the exclusive domain of the Centre.

The committee lacks the power to summon or hold petitioners in breach of its privileges for failing to appear since such powers do not extend to compelling non-members when the non-member has not impeded or obstructed legislative functioning, said the plea. It added that because Mohan has done nothing to impede or obstruct the legislative functioning of the Delhi Assembly  even by not appearing  the committee has no authority to compel his testify or hold him in breach of privileges.

The petition further said that when the Delhi Assembly cannot exercise powers with respect to issues relating to public order, police and communication because there are exclusively in the domain of the central government, a committee of the same Assembly cannot go into the same.

Here, the Committee, through the Impugned Summonses, seeks to exercise powers which have been expressly denied to the Legislative Assembly itself. The Committee seeks to compel Petitioner No. 1 (Mohan) to provide testimony on subjects within the exclusive domain of the Union of India. Specifically, the Committee is seeking to make a determination of the veracity of allegations levelled against Facebook in the Delhi riots, which intrudes into subjects exclusively allocated to the Union of India, said the plea, adding that the two summons dated September 10 and September 18 tend to violate fundamental rights of the petitioners to privacy and remain silent, without self-implication.

By targeting the Facebook service  a platform that allows users to express themselves  the impugned summonses create a chilling effect on the free speech rights of users of the Facebook service, said the petition, also complaining about committee chairman Raghav Chadhas press conference on August 31 on the alleged complicity of Facebook and rioters.

The Committees infringement of these rights is especially problematic given that the Impugned Summonses and the Committees statements in press conferences demonstrate that petitioners are being treated as an accused and guilty as charged, it said.

At the same time, the plea added that Mohan is not even being accorded the constitutional right to be silent and is instead being compelled to speak against himself and other petitioners (Facebook India and Facebook Inc) in response to the Committees assertions that Facebook was complicit in the Delhi riots.

This is impermissible under law and constitutes a gross violation of due process and Petitioner No. 1s rights under Article 19(1)(a) and Article 21 of the Constitution, it added.

The petition, as an urgent measure, has requested the top court to stay the operation of the two summons and restrain the Committee from issuing any further summons or take any coercive measure.

The matter will be heard on Wednesday by a bench led by Justice Sanjay K Kaul. Senior advocates Harish Salve and Mukul Rohatgi are expected to represent Facebook and Mohan respectively.

Facebook India executives last week had skipped a summon issued by the Assembly panel over a Wall Street Journal report that claimed Facebook deliberately did not act on hateful content in the country.

Instead, the panel had received a letter signed by Vikram Langeh, Director of Trust and Safety, Facebook where the latter objected to the notice and requested to recall it.

All members of the Delhi Peace and Harmony Committee, who were present at the last meeting, had taken strong exception to the reply received from Facebook India and had termed the letter as contempt of the house", vague", breach of privilege", and evasive". The panel members had urged the Chairman to send a strong message to them to appear and the matter be referred to the privilege committee if they fail to appear and after speaking to the Speaker, a warrant must be issued against them".

One member had even alleged that Facebook was perhaps acting on behalf of the central government".
While best known for his observant, insightful and often hilarious magazine stories about the real Texas  its people and places  [in GQ, The New York Times Magazine, Esquire, and especially Texas Monthly], Reid authored such works as Let the People In: The Life and Times of Ann Richards and The Bullet Meant for Me, his moving account of being shot and almost killed by a robber in Mexico City in 1998.  The Dallas Morning News
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 20:31:40|Editor: huaxia

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CANBERRA, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- The government of Australian state of South Australia (SA) announced on Tuesday that it would open its borders to New South Wales (NSW) subject to no community transmission occurring there.

Premier of South Australia state Steven Marshall said travelers from NSW to SA will no longer be subjected to a mandatory 14-day quarantine period from Thursday.

He said the "significant announcement" would relieve a "massive burden" on families and businesses, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

"Subject to no community transmission occurring in NSW between now and midnight tonight we will open the border from midnight tomorrow," Marshall said.

"This will be a massive, massive relief to people who have been isolated from friends, from family, from business opportunities."

The announcement came as NSW, Australia's most populous state, reported no locally acquired cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday for the first time since July, with two new cases both recently returned travelers in hotel quarantine.

As of Tuesday afternoon, there had been 26,942 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Australia, and the number of new cases in the last 24 hours is 33.

Victoria, the hardest-hit state by the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, confirmed 28 new cases.

The national death toll has grown from 851 on Monday to 854 with all three new deaths linked to aged care facilities in Victoria.

The 14-day average for new cases in metropolitan Melbourne, the capital city of Victoria, has fallen to 32.8, paving the way for strict restrictions in the city to be eased from Sunday.

"Within Victoria, 24 of the new cases are linked to outbreaks or complex cases and four are under investigation," said a statement from the Department of Health and Human Services in Victoria, with all cases linked to outbreaks relate to aged care facilities. Enditem
VAN BUREN TWP., MI - A Michigan township will pay absentee ballot return postage for its residents ahead of the November 2020 election.

Van Buren Township, located in western Wayne County between Ann Arbor and Detroit, announced in a news release Monday that it has paid postage for the general elections ballot returns to improve voting for residents.

We want to make voting accessible for all residents, Township Clerk Leon Wright said in a statement. Our goal is to make voting as easy as possible for all voters in VBT. If you decide to mail your ballot, you dont need to put a stamp on it, however, we encourage voters to utilize the drop box in the front of the building."

Alysha Albrecht, a communications specialist for the township, said the township has paid $5,622.50 so far for the 65-cents in postage per ballot. She said the state will reimburse the cost.

The Michigan Alliance for Retired Americans recently asked a Michigan judge to eliminate the requirement that absentee voters supply their own return postage, but she denied the request.

She ruled the postage burden is slight and not likely prevent someone from voting.

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced that the Bureau of Elections will allocate an additional $5.5 million to support voters and clerks, including $2 million to reimburse jurisdictions that pay postage on ballot return envelopes.

In Van Buren Township, there have been 8,650 absentee ballot requests in the township so far out of 24,113 registered voters, Albrecht said. About 35% of registered voters there have requested an absentee ballot.

In Michigan, about 2.4 million voters have requested absentee ballots ahead of the November election. Clerks have encouraged using Michigans recent law change allowing no-reason absentee ballot requests as an alternative to in-person voting during the coronavirus pandemic.

A third of active Michigan voters have requested absentee ballots

Absentee ballots will be mailed to residents by Friday, Sept. 25, the township said in the news release. It said thousands of absentee ballots were dropped off the day before and the day of the August primary election and encouraged residents to mail in or drop off ballots earlier.

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VICTORIA - Voters in British Columbia go to the polls on Oct. 24. Here's some of what you need to know about B.C. politics:

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 21/9/2020 (487 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

VICTORIA - Voters in British Columbia go to the polls on Oct. 24. Here's some of what you need to know about B.C. politics:

 The NDP formed a minority government in 2017 with support from the Green party after finishing on election night with two fewer seats than the B.C. Liberals, while the Greens had an election breakthrough, winning three seats and holding the balance of power.

 The last time B.C. had a minority government before that was in 1952 and the NDP's rise to power in 2017 ended a 16-year span outside government.

 The B.C. Liberals were in power from 2001 to 2017.

 Andrew Wilkinson became leader of the Liberal party in February 2018, replacing Christy Clark.

 John Horgan was acclaimed NDP leader in 2014 and first won a seat in the legislature in 2005.

 Sonia Furstenau has been on the job for about a week, being elected to lead the Greens on Sept. 14.

 This election has 87 seats up for grabs. At dissolution, the NDP and Liberals were tied with 41 seats. The Greens held two seats, there were two Independents and one seat was vacant.

 The Liberal Party of British Columbia is not affiliated with the Liberal Party of Canada and describes itself as "a made-in-B.C. free enterprise coalition."

 The NDP was in power from 1991 to 2001 with four different party leaders during its time in office.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 21, 2020.
On a Sunday evening in early March, I arrived to find a police officer parked in my workplaces garage. I stopped as soon as I saw his car and honked to get his attention. He jumped out of his car, ran to mine, and pointed his gun at my head. Just like that. So quickly. He didn't believe it when I told him I owned the building.

The police officer is white, and I am brown, from India. I believe his treatment of me was influenced by my color, and that he pulled his gun too fast. I believe things would have definitely been worse if I were darker, and better if I were lighter. This is the unfortunate truth. We have a culture of police brutality in America, especially towards people of color. There are many recent examples from Aurora, now including mine.

When we watch three police officers escalate a walk home into a chokehold death, we have a culture problem. When those three are cleared by a District Attorney, we have a culture problem. When we see three more reenact the chokehold, we have a culture problem. When four police put a 6-year-old girl and her sisters face down on the pavement, guns drawn, we have a culture problem.

When the officer pointed a gun at my head in my own driveway, it was a reflection of that culture problem. And for every one of those terrible viral videos, there are 100 more that arent recorded. This is a culture problem.

The police officer who threatened me was suspended for 40 hours. That suspension, in my opinion, is insignificant for pointing a gun at someones head, and with that action, for a moment, threatening to take my life.

And in all honesty, I dont think whats been done helps. Even firing a few police officers who did harm wont help. Internal Affairs Investigations dont help when their charades are readily overturned by Independent Review Boards. Creating Civilian Oversight Boards doesnt help when they hold no power over the Police Unions. City Council wont help when their only tool is a new Chief cut from the same cloth. Cultural sensitivity trainings don't help.

Ending qualified immunity helps. According to Forbes, In 1982, the U.S. Supreme Court created qualified immunity, which shields officers from any legal liability, unless the rights they violated were clearly established. Thanks to qualified immunity, countless victims have been unable to vindicate their civil rights in federal court. It is a pioneering step in Colorado, and one that may slowly change the culture. Because thats the real solution: changing the culture and then the laws.

Our nationwide debates are strawmen in a field where the whole crop has gone bad. And when your whole crop is bad, you need to look at the climate: We need to face that the police reflect us, the country.

My older friends insist they earned their successes all through hard work, downplaying their skin color and overlooking their family property stolen from indigenous people. Such vestiges of colonialism can be found in many countries in the world. The United States was founded on enslaving Black people, and has not come far enough since.

My parents were born under British rule in India, a country that fared the opposite of the United States since colonialism. I was born in Canada, but have lived most of my life in America. I tried hard to fit in, even earning my Boy Scouts of America Eagle rank before I became a United States citizen. Still, I have always felt like an outsider, never fitting in, regardless of where I am.

I am now a family doctor for refugees, people who fled to safety, only to find danger Colorado where police officers can point guns at people parked in a garage.

We are far from a land of the free.
The Bermuda Triangle area has been shrouded in mystery, from UFOs to the lost continent of Atlantis. But, one scientist has a logical explanation why it's simpler than even trans-dimensional portals.

One scientist is proposing a simple solution for all the eccentricities of the Devil's triangle. The notorious triangle has had 1,000 people disappear in its confines unexplainably as most would say. Inside a 500,000 kilometer that straddles Florida, Puerto, Rico, and Bermuda is the locus of vanishing ships and people, reported Express UK.

In 1945, the Navy flew five US Navy Avenger Torpedo Bombers from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, that made it to Bimini Island as the last radio contact. One of the pilots made their last call on the radio, and note that their compasses were awry. They disappeared from radar and were never found. When they disappeared, three search planes followed and were never seen again.

On the radio, Lieutenant Charles Taylor, lead plane pilot, reported a mysterious message. They were entering a zone of white water and expressed disorientation despite their instruments. All planes and pilots lost all orientation then water turned green and not white. Silence followed, and there was no more contact with Flight 19.

From then on, it was speculation and conspiracy theories as the U.S. Navy Flight 19 vanished and the rescue plane to find them. No explanation was given by the Navy top brass.

Attempts to look for the three rescue planes were the same. But the search ended when nothing was found. Most blame the triangle and other major disappearances for it.

Also read: UFO Sighting: Witnesses Share Videos of Bright Flying Objects Over Missouri, Lake Okanagan

Erratic weather conditions may be to blame

According to Shane Satterley, a Ph.D. candidate at Griffith University, it is just as obvious as looking into the records of the acclaimed disappearance. This will clear the Devil in the Triangle, which is notorious for conspiracy theories.

He wrote an article for The Conversation, about the disappearance of Flight 19 with Charles Taylor and the Navy Avenger Torpedo Bombers. Naval authorities followed up with an investigation, according to Business Fast.

One particular conclusion naval investigators had agreed on is they were overtaken by nightfall, and the weather was erratic. Put to blame was pilot error caused by the Flight leader pointing all 5 planes in the wrong way and into disaster.

One comment by the investigation said that Taylor got lost several times while airborne. He ditched his plane twice in the Pacific Ocean. The navy had an explanation for what preceded when the planes disappeared into thin air.

US Navy's official line

With finality, the disappearance of Flight 19 is still attributed to unknown causes. Taylor's mother did not want her son to be the cause of supposed pilot error. Without wreckage or the pilots' remains, it was unknown what happened.

Overall, the episode was unexpected and the Navy did not want any its airmen to be responsible for the perceived accident. Navy acquiesced to the mother's wishes.

Another point for the final decision is that most were just trainees with the veteran flight leader. It would have compounded their ability to use the flight indicators in night flight or terse weather.

Another input is that water will sink any plane in 45 seconds if they crashed into it. The unforgiving sea claims crashed planes easily in its depths.

Satterley said this is the answer to the Bermuda Triangle Mystery and disappearances, and any conspiracy ideas would be farfetched.

Related article: Bermuda Triangle Theory Not Real? SS Cotopaxi Shipwreck Found in Atlantic Ocean

Fligh

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Bed Bed & Beyond has revealed which 63 locations will be the first to close their doors by the end of the year as part of the company's cost-cutting strategy.

The news comes two months after the New Jersey-based home goods retailer announced plans to shutter 200 Bed Bath & Beyond stores and eliminate 2,800 jobs over the next two years.

Stores in 29 states are on the chopping block, with California and New York set to lose the most retailers at six locations each.

Bed Bed & Beyond has revealed which 63 locations will be the first to close their doors by the end of the year, including this Boca Raton, Florida, store

Bed Bath & Beyond's shares were up more than 12 per cent buy midday Tuesday

LIST OF BED BATH & BEYOND STORES SET TO CLOSE:

Alabama: 1640 Gadsden Highway, in Birmingham 300 Colonial Promenade Parkway, in Alabaster Arizona: 10845 North Tatum Blvd, in Phoenix California: 39125 Fremont Hub, in Fremont 10822 Trinity Parkway, in Stockton 12410 Amargosa Road, in Victorville 21640 Valley Blvd, in City of Industry 6365 Pats Ranch Road, in Mira Loma 2449 Golden Hill Road, in Paso Robles Colorado: 4735 29th Street, in Greeley 23901 E. Orchard Road, in Aurora Connecticut: 13 Sugar Hollow Road, in Danbury, 1212 Boston Post Road, in Milford 1603 Southeast Road, in Farmington 1914 East Street, in Torrington Florida: 5803 S US Highway 17/92, in Casselberry 11470 Pines Blvd, in Pembroke Pines 10856 SW Village Parkway, in Port St. Lucie Georgia: 6680 Douglas Blvd, in Douglasville Illinois: 203 Orland Park Pl, in Orland Park 2838 North Broadway, in Chicago 2530 Sycamore Road, in Dekalb 734 East Boughton Road, in Bolingbrook Indiana: 8655 N. River Crossing Blvd, in Indianapolis 2520 East 79th Ave, in Merrillville 280 N. Gates Drive, in Bloomington 6010 West 86th Street, in Indianapolis Kentucky: 3220 Nicholasville Road, in Lexington Louisiana: 901 Manhattan Blvd, in Harvey Maryland: 558 N. Frederick Ave, in Gaithersburg 7000 Arundel Mills Circle, in Hanover 2653 N. Salisbury Blvd, in Salisbury Maine: 730 Center Street, in Auburn Advertisement

Michigan: 3180 Fairline Drive, in Allen Park Missouri: 8520 North Evanston Ave, in Kansas City North Carolina: 8241 Concord Mills Blvd, in Concord 6270 Glenwood Ave, in Raleigh Nebraska: 5040 N. 27th Street, in Lincoln New Jersey: 4075 Route 9, in Howell 202 Enterprise Drive, in Rockaway New York: 3349 Monroe Ave, in Rochester 410 E. 61st Street, in New York 2700 Veterans Road West, in Staten Island 21855 Towne Center Drive, in Watertown 3597 W Genesee Street, in Syracuse 40-24 College Point Blvd, in Flushing Ohio: 1230 S. Holland Sylvania Road, in Holland 1750 Hill Road North, in Pickerington 2720 Towne Drive, in Beavercreek 1170 Polaris Parkway, in Columbus Oregon: 719 NW 12th Street, in Gresham Pennsylvania: 2410 Chemical Road, in Plymouth Meeting Tennessee: 211 Opry Mills Drive, in Nashville Texas: 9333 Research Blvd, in Austin 853 Northeast Mall Drive, Hurst 7616 Denton Highway, in Watauga 5752 Highway 6, in Missouri City Utah: 2159 Harris Blvd, in Layton 7142 South Plaza Center Drive, in West Jordan Virginia: 900 Army Navy Drive, in Arlington Washington: 1130 S.E. Everett Mall Way, in Everett Wisconsin: 605 Main Street, in Brookfield West Virginia: 172 Retail Commons Parkway, in Martinsburg Advertisement

Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Texas will each lose four stores, followed by Florida and Maryland with three; Alabama, Colorado, New Jersey, North Carolina and Utah with two, and Arizona, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and West Virginia with one shuttered store each.

'This is an important step in our multi-year program to create a sustainable, durable business and invest where it matters most to our digital-first customers and our people,' Bed Bath & Beyond spokesperson Jessica Joyce told USA Today, which first reported on the looming closures.

The store closures were first announced in July after sales fell 50 per cent during the chain's first quarter as the coronavirus outbreak was unfolding.

At the same time, Bed Bath & Beyond reported that online sales increased by 100 per cent during April and May.

The spike was attributed to customers rushing to purchase cleaning products and home items during the pandemic. Online sales represented about two thirds of the total for the first quarter.

New York is one of two states that are set to lose the most Bed Bath & Beyond stores, including this location on East 61st Street in Manhattan

Indiana is set to lose four retailers, among them this location on West 86th Street in Indianapolis

Bed Bath CEO Mark Tritton said at the time that closing the 200 locations would save the company between $250 and $350million per year.

Bed Bath and Beyond has nearly 1,480 stores in the US and Canada, including 955 that operate under the chain's brand name. The company also operates buybuy Baby, Christmas Tree Shops and Harmon Face Values.

The pandemic has had a devastating impact on retailing across the US, as other chains reported similar losses during their first quarter due to COVID-19.

J Crew, JCPenney and Neiman Marcus have filed for bankruptcy after failing to cope with market uncertainties and mounting debt.
The personal data of 2,000 Belarusian police officers was leaked by anonymous hackers in retaliation for a crackdown on demonstrations against president Alexander Lukashenko, as more than 100,000 people marched through Minsk for the sixth straight weekend.

Many walked in a column stretching back several kilometres, clad in opposition red-and-white colours and chanting go away as riot police patrolled the streets, a witness said.

At least 196 people were detained across the country on Sunday, human rights group Spring-96 said.

Russias Tass news agency quoted police as saying at least 10 people had been detained, while videos shared by local media showed security forces in helmets and masks hauling protesters off the streets.

Hundreds of soldiers blocked off the centre of the capital, deploying water cannons and armoured personnel carriers and erecting barbed-wire barriers.

But in a statement distributed by the opposition news channel Nexta Live on the messaging app Telegram, the hackers said: As the arrests continue, we will continue to publish data on a massive scale.

No one will remain anonymous, even under a balaclava.

The first batch of 1,000 names was released on Saturday and widely distributed on Telegram channels.

The second batch of more than 1,000 names was released on Sunday evening, targeting officers in the western city of Brest where the hackers said the police had been particularly heavy-handed.

The government said it would find and punish those responsible for leaking the data.

The forces, means and technologies at the disposal of the internal affairs bodies make it possible to identify and prosecute the overwhelming majority of those guilty of leaking personal data on the internet, said Olga Chemodanova, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The loyalty of the security forces is crucial to Mr Lukashenkos ability to cling on to power following Augusts presidential election, in which he claimed a landslide victory but his opponents and some poll workers say was rigged to hand the former Soviet collective farm boss a sixth term.

Security forces with their faces often obscured by masks, balaclavas or riot helmets have detained thousands of people to tackle a wave of rallies and strikes aimed at keeping up the pressure on the Belarusian leader to quit after 26 years in power.

Some protesters have torn off the masks of several officers.

The government said 390 women were detained for taking part in a protest on Saturday, but most have now been released.

The president has rejected suggestions of dialogue with the protesters.

The European Union vowed to impose sanctions on Mr Lukashenkos government for alleged election fraud and human rights abuses weeks ago, but it looks likely to miss its own Monday deadline for action.

Minsk reacted angrily on Saturday to reports that Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the leading opposition candidate in last months election, could soon meet EU foreign ministers.

Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova also criticised the EU for inviting Ms Tsikhanouskaya to the ministerial meeting and for considering sanctions against Minsk, saying Brussels was trying to rock the boat in Belarus.

Additional reporting by agencies
With over 55 Sikh women being kidnapped and forcibly converted to Islam in Pakistan over the past few months, New Delhi on Monday took up the issue with Imran Khans government in Islamabad and asked it to stop the persecution of religious minority community in the neighbouring country.

A senior diplomat of the High Commission of Pakistan in New Delhi was summoned to the South Block, where top officials of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) conveyed his concerns of the Government of India over a series of incidents of abduction and forced conversion of women of minority communities in the neighbouring country, sources said.

New Delhi also conveyed to Islamabad the anguish of the Sikhs in India over such incidents of persecution of the community in Pakistan.

Also Read | Delhi's DSGMC protests kidnapping of Sikh girl in Pak

India particularly took up with Pakistan the recent incident of alleged abduction and suspected forced conversion of Bulbul Kaur, the daughter of Pritam Singh, a granthi (or reader of holy text Guru Granth Sahib) of the historic Panja Sahib Gurdwara at Hassan Abdal in the neighbouring country.

A delegation of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) had on Saturday met the senior MEA officials and requested that the Government of India should take up with Pakistan the issue of alleged abduction and forcible conversion of Bulbul Kaur. The MEA officials summoned the diplomat of the High Commission of Pakistan in New Delhi and conveyed the concerns of India.

Another Sikh girl, Jagjit Kaur, daughter of a granthi of Gurdwara Nankana Sahib in Pakistan, was also kidnapped and forced to convert to Islam last year, the DSGMC leaders had pointed out during the meeting with the MEA officials.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 22, ARMENPRESS. Armenias Market Control Inspection Body carried out inspections in the market of alcohol-based hand sanitizers.

Based on the results of the laboratory testing no toxic substances were found in the alcohol-based hand sanitizers.

The Inspection Body carried out the inspections after several cases of alcohol poisoning have been registered across the Republic, and also by taking into account the concern that maybe methanol (methyl alcohol) which was the cause of the numerous poisoning cases has been used in the alcohol-based hand sanitizers.

However, the results of laboratory tests showed that alcohol-based hand sanitizers produced by a concrete legal entity do not contain methanol or other toxic substances dangerous for human life.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 05:05:27|Editor: huaxia

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Video: Volkan Bozkir, president of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), on Sept. 21, 2020 stresses the importance of multilateralism, calling for collective efforts for a better future. (Xinhua)

"The three pillars of the United Nations -- peace and security, development, and human rights -- are equally important, interrelated, and interdependent," says Volkan Bozkir.



UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- Volkan Bozkir, president of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), on Monday stressed the importance of multilateralism, calling for collective efforts and prompt action for a better future.

"Multilateralism is not an option but a necessity as we build back better and greener for a more equal, more resilient and more sustainable world," Bozkir said in his opening remarks at a high-level meeting to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the United Nations.

Volkan Bozkir, president of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), addresses a high-level meeting to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the UN at the UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 21, 2020. (Manuel Elias/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)

He noted that "the three pillars of the United Nations -- peace and security, development, and human rights -- are equally important, interrelated, and interdependent," which is what the UN has been striving for over the past 75 years with the support of the member states.

The UN has worked tirelessly to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms for all and has also shaped the norms for international development, Bozkir told the meeting.

Volkan Bozkir (rear L), president of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), addresses a high-level meeting to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the UN at the UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 21, 2020. (Eskinder Debebe/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)

He called for collective efforts and continued commitment from nations to work together to strengthen coordination and global governance for the common future of present and coming generations.

"The United Nations must be at the center of our efforts," Bozkir said, adding "the world has changed in unimaginable ways" since the UN was established.

United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (L) talks with Volkan Bozkir, president of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), prior to a high-level meeting to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the UN at the UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 21, 2020. (Eskinder Debebe/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)

The UNGA president said an upgraded UN must respond to challenges and changes to stay relevant and effective, noting "it must be inclusive and consult widely with all relevant stakeholders" to ensure an effective response to common challenges.

Bozkir said "no other global organization gives hope to many people for a better world," as "there is no other global organization with the legitimacy, convening power and normative impact as the United Nations."

United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres addresses a high-level meeting to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the UN at the UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 21, 2020. (Eskinder Debebe/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)

The organization's work is more crucial than ever, especially in the context of the threats posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and support from the member states is an indispensable part, according to the UNGA president.

Noting "the United Nations is only as strong as its members' commitment to its ideals and each other," Bozkir emphasized that "it is now time to mobilize our resources, strengthen your efforts, and show unprecedented political will and leadership to ensure the future we want, and the United Nations we need."

"It is now time to act. I am taking the call for renewed global actions seriously," he said. 
Rajesh Asnani By

Express News Service

JAIPUR: With former Congress colleagues and friends Jyotiraditya Scindia and Sachin Pilot ranged on opposite sides, the Madhya Pradesh bypolls have become a high-pitched electoral clash even before their exact schedule has been finalized.

The Madhya Pradesh Congress has asked Sachin Pilot to campaign for the party candidates in the by-elections for 28 Assembly seats in the state, most of which are in the Gwalior-Chambal region, considered to be the bastion of Scindia. Most of the seats for which Pilot has been called have a large number of Gujjar voters and Congress hopes to use Pilot to woo them.

Former CM Kamal Nath is also reportedly keen to rope in Pilot to campaign in the Gwalior-Chambal region.

Pilot is said to have readily agreed to the invitation as he is quite familiar with MP politics. He has campaigned in the same MP region in the past. Besides Kamal Nath, even Ajay Maken, the AICC General Secretary Incharge for Rajasthan, has urged Pilot to campaign in Madhya Pradesh.

On March, 22 Congress MLAs from the Scindia camp had quit the party and as lawmakers causing the collapse of the Kamal Nath-led government. Later, they joined the BJP and many of them are now ministers in the Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led state government.

The bypolls now are a prestige battle and Gujjars have an influence and a substantial presence in the 16 Assembly seats of the Gwalior-Chambal region where elections are now due.

However, Pilots exact programme is yet to be chalked out as the Election Commission is still to declare dates for the polls, to be held simultaneously with the Bihar Assembly election. Of the 28 seats, 25 were vacated by Congress MLAs who switched to the BJP, while three fell vacant due to the death of sitting MLAs.

But the electoral battle in the Gwalior-Chambal region will be closely watched as it is considered a stronghold of now BJPs Rajya Sabha MP Jyotiraditya Scindia, a former Congress colleague of Pilot, whose defection along with 22 Congress MLAs in March brought down the 15-month Kamal Nath government. Inevitably, Congress is highlighting the betrayal of the rebels to woo voters in the region.

More recently, Pilot, the former Congress chief in Rajasthan had also rebelled against Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot but later affirmed his allegiance to the party after a meeting with Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi. According to sources, the BJP could harp on the theme that talent and capability find little credence in the Congress, as Jyotiraditya Scindia had tweeted in support of Pilot in July.
A British man questioned over the alleged hacking of an account belonging to the Duchess of Cambridge's sister has been jailed for five years in an unrelated case.

Nathan Francis Wyatt, who was part of a hacking collective called The Dark Overlord, was sentenced for helping the group steal information from several companies in the United States, including in Missouri, Illinois and Georgia.

The 39-year-old pleaded guilty in federal court in St Louis to conspiring to commit aggravated identity theft and computer fraud. He was also ordered to pay some 1.5 million dollars (1.17m).

In 2016, Wyatt was arrested by police in the UK who were investigating the hacking of Pippa Matthews' iCloud account, amid reports pictures of Kate and her children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, were among thousands of images taken.

The father-of-three was released with no further action in relation to that case in September, 2017.

In St Louis, federal prosecutors said The Dark Overlord stole medical records, client files and personal information from the companies, then demanded between 75,000 and 300,000 dollars (58,000 to 234,000) worth of Bitcoin to return the information.

Wyatt set up a phone account and accounts on Twitter and PayPal that were used to communicate and receive money, she said.

None of the companies paid the ransom but the conspiracy did cost them because of the intrusion and release of data, federal prosecutor Laura Kathleen Bernstein said.

Wyatt apologised during the hearing, held via Zoom, saying he was on medication for mental problems that led him to make bad decisions, the St Louis Post-Dispatch reported.

"I can promise you that Im out of that world, he said.

"I dont want to see another computer for the rest of my life."

His lawyer, Brocca Morrison, said Wyatt did not orchestrate the hacks and is the only hacker who has been identified.

Ms Bernstein said Wyatts actions helped the other hackers remain anonymous and that his phone account was used to send threatening text messages to relatives of victims.

Wyatt was indicted in 2017, but he was not extradited to the US until last year after British lawyers fought to keep him in that country.

He had served 14 months in a British prison after pleading guilty to 22 charges after he was accused of demanding money from the owner of a hacked computer and using stolen credit cards.
Islamabad, Sep 22 : Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that the people in his country were keenly looking forward to welcoming Chinese President Xi Jinping, the media reported Khan made the remarks on Monday during a meeting with the outgoing Chinese Ambassador Yao Jing, reports Dawn news.

The premier praised the Chinese leadership for bringing about a socio-economic transformation, saying there was a lot to learn from Beijing's efforts for banishing poverty.

Khan lauded the efforts of Ambassador Yao to strengthen the Pakistan-China "All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership".

He said that during the Ambassador's tenure, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) had entered its second phase and the focus was now on industrialisation, agriculture and socio-economic development.

Yao thanked Khan for his role in further cementing the bond between the two countries.

The outgoing Ambassador said Khan's personal focus on poverty alleviation would bring substantial and immense benefits not only to the people of Pakistan but also the entire region.

Yao served in Pakistan from October 2017.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text




Scenes from "Hellper 2  Killberos," an online comic published on Naver since 2011 by SSAK, which came under fire for including misogynistic content. Screen capture from Naver





By Park Ji-won







As Korean webcomics boom in popularity, discussions about the boundaries of freedom of expression are taking center stage as the industry debates the issue of controversial content criticized as misogynistic, violent and abusive.







Recent episodes of "Hellper 2  Killberos," a webtoon serialized on Naver since 2011 and created by an artist who goes by the name SSAK, came under fire for including violent and misogynistic content.







The 247th episode released on Sept. 9, depicts an elderly woman who is kidnapped, tied up naked and injected eight times. In addition to this episode, the comics show various abusive scenes, including one in which male characters discuss ways to rape minors and a scene where a female middle school student is sexually harassed.







A scene, left, from Kian84's "Bokhak Wang" shows a female intern cracking open shellfish to impress her male boss in the hope she'll be hired as a full-time employee. Another scene, right, is an edited version created as the first was considered to be inappropriate. Screen capture from Naver





Last month, the work of webcomic artist Kim Hee-min, who releases his comics under the pseudonym Kian84, came under fire for including misogynic expressions in his work "Bokhak Wang." In a recent issue of the comic on Naver in August, Kim showed intern Bong Ji-eun being hired as a full-time worker at a conglomerate after her internship, despite her sloppy behavior and incompetence, implying that she was hired after she slept with her boss. Last year, the webcomic artist repeatedly came under fire for belittling people with disabilities and immigrant workers in Korea.







Boycotts and criticism of the webcomics and Naver intensified. When Kian84 came under fire for his work, some activists took to the streets in front of Naver, criticizing the search engine for giving writers rights to promote "hatred" by letting them draw whatever they want and calling for the suspension of Kian84's series. Some internet users on "Hellper 2  Killberos"' fan websites, also criticized the violent imagery. A Korean hashtag that translates to "stop misogyny in webtoons" spread on Twitter.







As the criticism continues, SSAK and Naver released statements, respectively, apologizing over the offending works and pledging to suspend SSAK's series temporarily.







SSAK wrote, "As someone who loves comics, thinking that the range of expressions in the medium is way more limited than other content, I tried hard to expand the boundaries of expression. But it ended up creating a backlash and I apologize to webcomic lovers and writers."







Naver released a statement saying, "We apologize for failing to closely handle the level of expression in comics. We created concerns because of the sensational expressions in the work."







At this point in time there are no organizations or laws tasked with overseeing the content in online comics. Based on a 2012 MOU between the Korea Communications Standards Commission and the Korea Cartoonist Association, the association's committee can issue five advisories on comics raising concerns include the ceasing of an offending publication and the amendment of offending content.







Naver has remained passive in involving itself in the issue of offensive webcomic content and has referred to any such involvement as censorship.







"Censorship was conducted by the government in the past. But it is now carried out by Korean citizens and readers, which is very problematic because it means it is the era of the 'dictatorship of Korean citizens,'" Joo Ho-min, writer of famous comics "Along with the Gods" said during his live broadcast on Aug. 18. One day after, he apologized for saying "Korean citizens' dictatorship'" after it made headlines. The Webtoon Association released a statement over the Kian84 controversy in August that says "We think the calls from some organizations to stop the publication of Kian84's work could become the beginning of censorship We don't agree with the idea of certain ideologies setting boundaries on creativity and eliminating existing works."







Experts point out that the current system is not satisfying some readers' ethical standards as webcomics are one of the main sources of online traffic of Naver's Korean search engine.







"The reason why the platform didn't involve itself in the situation is that webcomics play a big role in creating online traffic. So, the search engines naturally release the comics without editing. Now it is the time for the platform to learn the public's ethical standards," Kim Jung-young, professor of Chungkang College of Cultural Industries, said in an interview with YTN.






New Independent Living Community in Jacksonville, Florida.

Situated on 12.14 acres, the 227,000 square foot building will boast a total of 169 apartments dedicated to luxury independent senior living.

The community will feature 1- and 2-bedroom apartments sized up to 1,200 sq. ft, paired with resort-style amenities. Multiple dining venue options will include formal, terrace level and private dining in addition to more casual options in a bistro/bar, wine lounge and game/club room. Residents will enjoy an onsite spa with salon and massage services as well as fitness and wellness areas with state-of-the-art equipment, outdoor walking paths with surrounding wetland and forest preserves access and a zeroentry outdoor pool. The community will boast outdoor engaging areas such as a grilling area, putting green, pickleball court and dog park. Practical solutions for downsizing include climate-control locker storage and covered parking. An array of services including but not limited to housekeeping and in-home care options will also be available.

The community will be equipped with entry-area cameras, health monitoring systems for alerting staff and concierge/security personnel for 24-hour emergency assistance. Referring to the amenities Benjamin commented, "To ensure the safety and well-being of our residents and peace of mind for their families, we have incorporated state-of-the-art technology with sensible options for outdoor engagement in addition to wonderful programming and resort-like services to deliver a uniquely care-free lifestyle."

The project is part of an ongoing relationship with Baxter Development. "Partnering with Baxter Development to introduce our senior living lifestyle to Jacksonville, FL is a great opportunity," according to Benjamin who is excited about the future growth of the Inspirations brand. In addition to Inspirations at Town Center, Inspired Living and Baxter Development will be introducing several new Inspiration branded projects in 2021.

Baxter Development's Bryan Schnurr, VP of Senior Living Development, shares the sentiment stating, "Inspired Living has a proven track record as an operator of these luxury communities. We are looking forward to more great things to come."

A sales trailer is expected to be onsite by November for prospective residents and their families to inquire in-person. Validus estimates that the doors will open for the first tours as early as spring of 2021 with an anticipated grand opening for the community in fall of 2021.

Inspirations at the Town Center's website is expected to launch on Sept 30th with an evolved online presence equal to the vision of the future of the new Independent Living Community. For more details about the new community, please call 813-540-5936 or visit Inspiredliving.care to learn more about the Inspired Living brand.

Inspired Living is an upscale brand of Validus Senior Living Communities specializing in independent, assisted living and memory care services throughout the Southeast United States. Validus is an owner, operator and third-party manager of Senior Living communities throughout the Southeast and is based in Tampa, FL.

Media Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE Inspired Living

Related Links

https://inspiredliving.care


Philippine police and military troops secure the site of an explosion in the town of Jolo, Aug. 24, 2020.

Philippine police have arrested a man in the Manila area who allegedly recruited fighters for the local branch of the extremist group known as Islamic State, the countrys top cop said Monday.

The suspect, Kevin Madrinan, did not resist arrest when officers raided his hideout in Quezon City on Thursday. Madrinan also goes by the names Ibrahim Abdullah Madrinan and Ibrahim Khalil Al-Garaba, national police chief Gen. Camilo Cascolan told reporters.

Arresting officers seized a handgun, a grenade and cash from the suspect, Cascolan said.

Background investigation revealed that Madrinan is a Muslim convert who is the contact person and liaison in Luzon of Daulah Islamiyah members, Cascolan said. The Daulah Islamiyah is the local name for the Islamic State (IS).

He is responsible for the recruitment of Muslim converts and facilitating their travel to Mindanao for training and jihad exposure, the chief said.

Investigators allege Madrinan received orders directly from Abu Turaife, the leader of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), a militant group that operates in the southern Philippines. It is a splinter group of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, once the countrys largest separatist group that signed a peace deal with Manila and controls a Muslim autonomous region in southern Mindanao Island.

Turaife, who leads a few dozen followers, broke away from the MILFs chain-of-command after accusing the leaders of selling out when they dropped their independence bid.

A day after Madrinans arrest, suspected BIFF militants detonated a homemade bomb along a road in the southern Maguindanao province, killing a Marine and injuring four others.

Lt. Col. Anhouvic Atilano, spokesman for the Armys 6th Infantry Division, said members of Marine Battalion Landing Team-5 were on a truck patrolling the highway between Shariff Aguak and Datu Hoffer towns in Maguindanao when the bomb exploded Friday evening.

It was a terrorist attack, a retaliation because we had an operation against them, Atilano said.

Militants linked to IS were blamed for a siege in 2017 that led to a five-month battle with government forces and left the southern city of Marawi in ruins.

While about 1,200 militants, security forces and civilians were killed in the battle that ended on Oct. 23, 2017, authorities said those who escaped spread across Mindanao in the south and have set out to recruit Muslim fighters across the mainly Catholic country.

The IS-linked militants have been blamed for deadly attacks including the twin suicide bombings in Jolo last month that left 15 people dead and more than 70 injured.
Four held in Gujarat, days after 6 workers died due to inhalation of chemical fumes leaked from tanker

No love for those who do not love cows: Bhupendrasinh Chudasama

India

oi-Briti Roy Barman

Ahmedabad, Sep 22: Bhupendrasinh Chudasama, Gujarat's Minister for Cow Breeding, has on Tuesday said the Vijay Rupani-led state government has "no love for those who don't love cows".

"The BJP government has taken strictest of measures to stop cow slaughter," he told the Gujarat Assembly."

Cow safaris: UP govts new plan for better safety, upkeep of stray cattle

"Gujarat would be the only state to have given Rs 61 crore in a year to gaushalas and panjrapoles," the minister added.

"We have no love for those who do not love cows. This slogan has been given by (chief minister) Vijay Rupani and (State Minister for Home) Pradeepsinh Jadeja. The BJP's government has taken the strictest of measures to stop cow slaughter," said Chudasama during a discussion on a short notice question raised by Congress MLA Kanti Kharadi on presence of cows on roads in North Gujarat.

"Rupani government is the one which believes in 'jeevdaya' (compassion for all living beings).

#Tesla 'secretly planning' R&D Centre in #Bengaluru? | Oneindia News

During the current year, despite Covid-19, the government, gave Rs 61 crore to the state.

This was part of Rs 25 daily fodder assistance given to cattle, which is not a regular payout. Banaskantha district along was given over Rs 10 crore, Chudasama highlighted steps taken by the Rupani government for the welfare of cows and other animals.

Notably, India holds the second position in beef export business after Brazil. Brazil, India, Australia and the United States are projected to export more than 1 million metric tons of beef in the year 2020.
(Natural News) A little stress may help a persons body clock run better, suggests a study published in the journal Neuron.

The body has its own internal clock called the circadian clock. It runs in the background to carry out essential functions, which occur in alignment with certain circadian rhythms, such as the sleep-wake cycle.

A closer look into the factors shaping the circadian clock shows that various cell signals play an integral role in its function.

Researchers from the U.S. and Canada examined the potential effect of various stress signals. They found that they influence how fast the circadian clock runs and how robust it is.

Stress signals improve circadian clock

Cells respond to various stress signals by activating a signal transduction cascade that triggers a series of molecular events. This process involves the protein eIF2?, which plays a major role in protein synthesis in cells.

The team found that stress leads to rhythmic phosphorylation of eIF2? in the central brain clock. In turn, phosphorylation promotes the production of the ATF4 protein. This protein activates the Per2 gene, which makes the circadian clock tick faster. Meanwhile, the activation of the gene is necessary to maintain a robust clock.

Therefore, the researchers concluded that stress signals influence how fast and robust the circadian clock is.

The study provides one of the first pieces of evidence linking the circadian clock to stress response. Furthermore, while scientists know that the circadian clock is disrupted among diseased individuals, they are uncertain why that happens. The studys findings may help answer this question. According to the researchers, stress responses are often impaired among people with a disease, which can disrupt their body clock.

Hopefully our work can lead to discovering medicine that can manage the stress level and regulate the clock function in disease to keep people healthier, said co-author Ruifeng Cao, a professor at the University of Minnesota Medical School.

Link between circadian rhythms and stress hormones

In another study, published in the journal Neuroendocrinology, researchers found that stress hormones help control the circadian rhythms of brain cells.

They examined a brain component, the suprachiasmatic nucleus, which is the principal circadian pacemaker in the mammalian brain. It regulates the circadian rhythms of several areas of the brain, including the cerebellum and the cerebral cortex. However, the team noted that these two areas are not directly linked to the suprachiasmatic nucleus by neurons, which implies that there might be other players involved.

They conducted a series of tests on mice by removing the suprachiasmatic nucleus from their brains. This effectively impaired circadian rhythms in the mice. For example, their body temperatures, activity levels and hormone production went from rhythmic to static.

This was reversed when the researchers administered carefully metered doses of a stress hormone called corticosterone at different times of the day and night, mimicking the biological schedules in mice. Corticosterone is the rodent equivalent of cortisol in humans, which plays an important role in helping the body respond to stress.

The researchers conducted more trials to ensure the consistency of their findings. And again, they were able to detect rhythmic activity in the clock genes in rodent cerebellum, even though the suprachiasmatic nucleus was removed.

This is hugely interesting from a scientific point of view, because it means that we have two systems  the nervous system and the hormonal system  that communicate perfectly and influence one another, said co-author Martin Fredensborg Rath of the University of Copenhagen. (Related: Does stress have benefits? A certain form of stress may be linked to longer life, say scientists.)

The team concluded that circadian rhythms are controlled by means of signaling agents such as corticosterone.

Learn more about the effects of stress at MindBodyScience.news.

Sources include:

ScienceDaily.com 1

ScienceDaily.com 2

ScienceDirect.com
This article will be updated throughout the week with coronavirus case counts and other need-to-know information about the pandemic in San Antonio.

Backlog of cases: A backlog of 2,794 coronavirus cases reported Sunday pushed the total number in Bexar County since the start of the pandemic to 57,145, according to the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District.

September 26

One new death: The San Antonio Metropolitan Health District reported one death and 100 new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday. That pushes the death toll in Bexar County to 1,074 and the count of positive test results to 54,295 since the novel coronavirus pandemic started in mid-March.

September 25

The number of coronavirus cases in San Antonio rose by 224 Friday, tipping the countys total since the start of the pandemic above 54,000. Mayor Ron Nirenberg reported no new deaths. The countys death toll stands at 1,073, while the number of total cases is 54,195.

September 24

Five more COVID-19 deaths: The Metropolitan Health District reported 177 new cases of the novel coronavirus in Bexar County Thursday, 22 more than the 155 reported Wednesday. Five deaths that occurred within the last two weeks also were reported Thursday, bringing the citys death toll to 1,073.

September 23

COVID-19 numbers update: Metro Health officials reported no new coronavirus-related deaths on Wednesday, as cases and deaths overall continue a steady, downward trend in San Antonio.

There were 155 new coronavirus cases, a slight uptick from the weekend  which officials said could be due to the Labor Day holiday  but still a far cry from the reports of over 1,000 new daily cases that occurred earlier in the summer.

Mass weekly testing begins: It was the first day of a new routine at Somerset Independent School District: a mass testing for the coronavirus developed by Community Labs, a San Antonio-based nonprofit that promises the ability to process thousands of tests a day, with results available within 24 hours. The Southwest Bexar County school district agreed to demonstrate the system in hopes the pilot program would speed the return to classroom learning at its seven schools.

September 22

COVID-19 numbers update: Six more people in San Antonio and Bexar County have died of the novel coronavirus, the most in nearly two weeks, officials said Tuesday.

September 21

COVID-19 numbers update: The risk level for coronavirus entered the safe zone in San Antonio on Monday, allowing for the reopening of various city services and facilities, at least on a limited basis.

September 20

COVID-19 numbers update: The city reported a backlog of 2,473 COVID-19 cases Sunday, bringing Bexar Countys total since the start of the pandemic to 53,341, according to the Metropolitan Health Districts daily coronavirus update.
Report suggests Iran has over a million converts to Christianity

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In a recent survey of about 50,000 Iranians over the age of 20, a Netherlands-based secular research group found that 1.5% of respondents identify as Christian.

Applied across Irans population of more than 80 million, the number of Christians in Iran is without doubt in the order of magnitude of several hundreds of thousands and growing beyond a million, the research group GAMAAN said after the study.

Open Doors USA, a global persecution watchdog organization, says until now, there was no in-depth research to substantiate the claims about the number of Christians in Iran. Given the high-stakes consequences of leaving Islam in Iran, estimates by Christian organizations in the past decade have been based only on extrapolations of the small known number of conversionslargely based on contact with Christian satellite television channels.

The nonprofit watchdog group Article 18 noted, If this figure is extrapolated across Irans over 80 million people, then even taking into account the approximately 300,000 recognized Christians of Armenian and Assyrian descent, this would suggest an additional one million converts to Christianity.

Mike Ansari of Mohabat TV, a ministry that broadcasts the Gospel into Iran, was quoted as saying, Iranians are turning their back [on] their faith, [on] their institutional faith, and receiving Christianity as their new faith. One-point-five percent becoming Christian may not seem a big number. But for a country that is closed and persecutes Christianity, that number is a huge indication of the gospel growth.

Ansari told The Christian Post in 2018 that Iran had "one of the fastest growing underground church movements in the world" and that hundreds were asking about Jesus on a daily basis. But the growth has also led to ongoing persecution.

Iran is an Islamic republic and Shia Islam is the official religion of the country. It is illegal for Muslim citizens to convert or renounce their religious beliefs. Conversion from Islam is considered a crime punishable by death. It is also illegal for Christians to share the Gospel with Muslims. Proselytizing is punishable by death.

Those who convert to Christianity usually practice their faith in secret. House churches are often monitored and raided and dozens of Christians are imprisoned, Open Doors noted in its annual World Watch List, which ranked Iran as the ninth worst county when it comes to Christian persecution.

That ranking comes as several house churches were raided during the World Watch List reporting period  Nov. 1, 2018, to Oct. 31, 2019. During that period, Open Doors reports that at least 169 Christians were arrested in Iran.

In June, Article 18, which promotes religious freedom and tolerance for Christians in Iran, released a report in collaboration with its partner organizations Open Doors, Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Middle East Concern and The World Evangelical Alliance, listing five ways Iran violates Christians right to religious freedom.

Iran prohibits Persian-language church services and religious materials, and forces closure of those that fail to comply, the report pointed out, adding that the countrys Penal Code is used to prosecute Christians for their peaceful religious activities.

Iranian authorities prosecute  and in one case executed  Iranians who leave Islam on charges of 'apostasy,' and justifies it through the use of Article 220 of the Iranian Penal Code and Article 167 of the Constitution, which allows judges to rely on non-codified Islamic law, the report pointed out.

This month, three Iranian Christian converts, who were facing a combined 35 years in prison because of their faith, fled the country after a court rejected their appeal.

The three converts, identified as Kvian Fallah-Mohammadi, Hadi Asgari and Amin Afshar-Naderi, were charged due to their connection to a December 2014 Christmas celebration, according to the U.S.-based International Christian Concern.

The three men fled the Islamic country just weeks after two other Christians  a pastor and his wife  were forced to flee after their appeals were rejected, ICC reported, noting that the flight of five Christians from within a space of a few weeks is noteworthy, especially as their cases were some of the most publicized among Irans persecuted Christian community.
A strike action declared by the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) has left the Hohoe Municipal Hospital in the Volta Region with no official to attend to patients.

The Out-Patient Department looks deserted with the absence of nurses.

Patients with new cases were turned away with explanations that nurses are on strike.

The Ghana News Agency (GNA) observed that the Records, Surgical Medical Emergency and Chest Clinic Services were opened to attend to patients.

Some patients said they were not attended to because of the strike and described the action as worrying.

Mr Joseph Nukpeza, a farmer, said he was not attended to when he went to the hospital for treatment.

He called on the government to address the issue to enable things to return to normalcy.

The GNA learnt that doctors are working and attending to cases that need their services.

---GNA
I believe it is more than clear which side is destructive and belligerent, which side is attacking the other side and which side is leading the negotiations to failure or trying to lead them to failure. This is what deputy of the My Step faction of the National Assembly of Armenia Ruben Rubinyan told reporters today, touching upon President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyevs statements.

Armenia has always been constructive with its stance and statements in order to reinforce the peace process, he said.

Rubinyan stated that the Azerbaijani side always makes categorical statements on the peace process, stating that the conflict can only be resolved within the scope of Azerbaijans territorial integrity, but Armenias position is logical, that is, it is impossible to lead substantive negotiations when one of the sides constantly threatens to use force.

The deputy also emphasized that all conflicts of the world are resolved upon consent of the peoples of all the parties. Either this conflict will be resolved based on an option that will be acceptable for the peoples of Armenia, Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) and Azerbaijan, or it wont be resolved, he added.
Turkey and Greece have agreed to talks over disputed waters in the eastern Mediterranean, both sides said on Tuesday, after German-led efforts to defuse a crisis that has raised fears of conflict.

A standoff over gas exploration in contested waters has seen the NATO neighbours stage rival war games and ramp up their rhetoric, but the tone has softened this week, raising hopes for a diplomatic solution.

The latest flare-up began in August when Turkey sent a research vessel accompanied by warships to disputed waters near a Greek island, and prolonged the mission three times despite repeated calls from the European Union and Greece to stop.

But both sides said on Tuesday they were ready to start exploratory talks as a three-way videoconference between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and European Council chief Charles Michel took place, the Turkish presidency said.

The Greek foreign ministry also confirmed the talks, saying they would be held soon in Istanbul, without providing any precise date.

Ship on the move

Greece and Turkey have held talks on continental shelf disputes before  the last were in 2016.

Ankara argues that it has the largest coastline of all the eastern Mediterranean nations but a disproportionately small share of the sea because of Greeces far-flung islands  some of them within sight of Turkeys shore.

Athens says its claims are grounded in international law and past agreements signed by Ankara.

Turkish officials have insisted the Oruc Reis will return to its work, and ship-tracking website marinetraffic.com showed that the ship was on the move on Tuesday afternoon  although it was not clear where it was heading.

Turkey has also extended the mission of another research vessel in disputed waters off Cyprus until October 18. A drill ship will also remain off Cyprus until October 12.

Sincere dialogue

Greece and France have both demanded tough sanctions against Ankara, which could be agreed at an EU summit on October 1 and 2.

Story continues

Erdogan and French President Emmanuel Macron have traded barbs for weeks over the issue  Turkey accusing the French leader of arrogance and despair after he called for a tough EU stance.

France also angered Turkey by sending fighter jets and vessels to the region in support of Greece.

>> Erdogan warns Macron 'not to mess with Turkey' amid Mediterranean tensions

However, the two men spoke over the phone late on Tuesday in their first contact since the tensions flared.

French officials said Macron told his counterpart to avoid taking any action likely to raise tension and to engage without ambiguity in the construction of an area of peace and cooperation in the Mediterranean.

The Turkish side said Erdogan told Macron he expected common sense and a constructive attitude from France, claiming that he supports dialogue and cooperation to solve problems.

In an address to the United Nations General Assembly via videoconference earlier, the Turkish leader called for sincere dialogue to settle the row and rejected any imposition, harassment, or attack in the opposite direction.

(AFP)
U.S President Donald Trump is seen on a video screen remotely addressing the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020, at U.N. headquarters. This years annual gathering of world leaders at U.N. headquarters will be almost entirely virtual. Leaders have been asked to pre-record their speeches, which will be shown in the General Assembly chamber, where each of the 193 U.N. member nations are allowed to have one diplomat present. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

Donald Trump has demanded that the United Nations holds China accountable for the coronavirus pandemic as he defended his own handling of Covid-19 in America where the death toll has passed 200,000.

We have waged a fierce battle against the invisible enemy  the China virus  which has claimed countless lives in 188 countries, the president said in a pre-recorded address to the UN General Assembly.

As we pursue this bright future, we must hold accountable the nation which unleashed this plague on to the world: China.

While he blames Beijing, he has been harshly criticised for his administrations track record in battling coronavirus, now a top issue in his bid for re-election.

Those who attack Americas exceptional environmental record while ignoring Chinas rampant pollution are not interested in the environment. They only want to punish America. And I will not stand for it Donald Trump

Democratic opponent Joe Biden claims Mr Trump bungled the response to Covid-19 and is responsible for the US having more deaths than any other nation.

The president encouraged the reopening of US society even as the virus was spreading rapidly and holds campaign rallies where few wear face masks or practise social distancing.

But Mr Trump points to the viruss origins in China and says the Chinese government acted irresponsibly in allowing the virus to spread.

The United Nations must hold China accountable for their actions, Mr Trump said. The president also took aim at Chinas environmental record and the UN itself.

Those who attack Americas exceptional environmental record while ignoring Chinas rampant pollution are not interested in the environment. They only want to punish America. And I will not stand for it, he said.

Earlier in his administration, Mr Trump hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping at his Florida club and spoke warmly of their relationship, but the two nations now regularly exchange angry words and take punitive actions against each other.

Mr Xi, in his own speech, later took oblique potshots at the US and its foreign policies, cautioning that the world must not fall into the trap of a clash of civilisations.

Major countries should act like major countries, he said, casting the fight against the virus as an important exercise in international co-operation, an opportunity to join hands and be prepared to meet even more global challenges.

Covid-19 reminds us that the economic globalisation is an indisputable reality and a historical trend, Mr Xi said.

Burying ones head in the sand like an ostrich in the face of economic globalisation or trying to fight it with Don Quixotes lance goes against the trend of history. Let this be clear: the world will never return to isolation.

Mr Trump is not popular at the UN and his speech this year came at a time when members are pushing back against Washington. On Monday, he declared that all US sanctions against Iran have been reimposed, a move that most of the rest of the world rejects as illegal.

His statement came shortly after he signed an executive order spelling out how the US will enforce the snapback of sanctions. My actions today send a clear message to the Iranian regime and those in the international community who refuse to stand up to Iran, he said.

The US said it was reimposing sanctions on Iran for being in non-compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and global powers, but Mr Trump in 2018 pulled out of the deal in which Iran agreed to curb its nuclear programme in exchange for billions of dollars in sanctions relief.

Few UN member states believe the US has the legal standing to restore the sanctions because Mr Trump withdrew from the agreement. The US argues it retains the right to do so as an original participant in the deal and a member of the council.
EDGEWATER, Md. and AARHUS, Denmark, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- LMS365 reached 100% growth in the government sector in the past year due to the increasing demand for simple, easy-to-access training, the company announced today. Providing a learning management platform built directly into Microsoft 365, LMS365 is transforming how government agencies deliver, track and report on training to employees within their existing IT infrastructure and tools.

Click to Tweet: As municipalities' need for training increases, @lms365 sees exponential growth: https://tinyurl.com/yxsnwo5o #digitallearning

Across local, state and federal government organizations, compliance and regulation requirements continue to grow as workforces become more dispersed with the rise of remote work. To ensure that employees at all levels of the organization receive access to necessary training and learning, these organizations need a centralized approach that fits into their regular workflows. LMS365 is available in Microsoft's Government Community Cloud (GCC) Public and GCC High versions, providing a learning platform that's built into Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Teams.

LMS365 offers government agencies with a full-featured learning platform built into their existing Microsoft 365 environment so they can:

Easily provide training to employees distributed across town or around the country

Deliver, track and report on training from one, centralized platform

Enable collaborative knowledge sharing, communication and learning

Avoid the high costs of standard classroom learning programs

LMS365's integration into Microsoft Teams and Microsoft 365 enables government agencies to deliver training directly within their existing IT infrastructure and tools, eliminating user adoption issues and increasing productivity and retention. Not only does this help maximize the investment in Microsoft, but it also increases learning engagement and reduces overall administrative costs. More information on LMS365's offering for state and local agencies can be found here.

Kevin Gallagher, Business manager, LMS365, said: "Given the complex set of compliance and regulatory requirements to maintain, coupled with a geographically dispersed workforce and COVID-19, government agencies need intuitive learning tools to easily push training out across an entire organization. At the same time, these organizations are looking to maximize their investment in their existing Microsoft 365 infrastructure. Our growth in this area demonstrates that LMS365 is meeting these needs with a modern learning platform built into organizations' existing Microsoft 365 infrastructures."

About LMS365:

LMS365 has 700+ enterprise and public customers with over 4 million users. 50+ trusted partners have implemented the solution in more than 40 countries, with customers in all sectors, and deployments ranging from a few hundred employees to 50,000+ employees. LMS365, a Microsoft Preferred Solution, is one of the fastest-growing cloud-based Learning Management Solutions in the market today. LMS365 provides a modern, integrated, and familiar learning experience as learning is now made possible within Microsoft Teams, Mobile and SharePoint Online. LMS365 is fast to install, highly configurable, easy to use and fully integrated with the rest of your digital workplace, including Office 365, SharePoint & Teams. Website: LMS365.com

PR Contacts:

Shyna Deepak

Nadel Phelan, Inc.

831-440-2408

[email protected]

SOURCE LMS365

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The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) is asking the National Labour Commission (NLC) to go on is knees and apologise to the striking nurses and midwives over the decision to block their industrial action with court injuntion.

According to the GMA Chairman of the Ashanti region, Dr Paa Kwesi Baidoo, the move by NLC has the tendency to provoke the health workers.

The NLC went to court last Friday in an attempt to block the strike which had been planned for Monday September 21.

Speaking to Francis Abban on the Morning Starr Tuesday, Dr Kwesi Baidoo appealed to government to quickly address the concerns of the nurses so they can return to work.

I think the labour commission should apologize to nurses for the stance they wanted to take. Going forward, they shouldnt employ such tactics. Once you go to court in that manner you make people angry. These are people who have sacrificed so much, they have given everything.

They are asking that the same hospitals they are working they are given some basic care and leverage and not to continue with the situation where when they are sick they are asked to pay initial cost before they are treated, he told Morning Starr host Francis Abban.

He also accused successive governments of neglecting the welfare of health workers.

I am honestly not surprised that the condition of service hasnt been addressed. I will say successive governments for a lack of a better word havent respected the condition of service of health workers. In the midst of this pandemic, this is a bad situation so if President Akufo-Addo is listening, please take personal responsibility and deal with this matter.

Background

Nurses and midwives across the country commerced strike action on Monday, September 21,2020 over poor conditions of service.

It comes after the failure of government to agree with the health workers on their demand for improved conditions of service.

A press release by the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association noted having reconvened in the meetings held on 15th and 16th September 2020 the posture of the Employer changed for the better but did not meet the expectation of the majority of Nurses, Midwives, Physician Assistants and Certified Registered Anaesthetists in Ghana.

The statement, therefore, directed its members to stay away from work until the outstanding issues are addressed with their employer.

Meanwhile, an Accra High Court on Friday granted an interlocutory injunction application by the National Labour Commission against the strike.

The move by the court presided by Justice Frank Aboagye Rockson is to stop the health workers from their industrial action.

---starrfm
NEW YORK, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Kaplan Fox & Kilsheimer LLP (www.kaplanfox.com) is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Deutsche Bank AG ("Deutsche Bank" or the "Company") (NYSE: DB).

On Sunday, September 20, 2020, BuzzFeed News reported that "secret U.S. government documents reveal that[a number of big banks, including Deutsche Bank] have defied money laundering crackdowns by moving staggering sums of illicit cash for shadowy characters and criminal networks that have spread chaos and undermined democracy around the world." Further according to BuzzFeed News, the records show that five global banks, including Deutsche Bank, "kept profiting from powerful and dangerous players even after U.S. authorities fined these financial institutions for earlier failures to stem flows of dirty money."

Reportedly, Deutsche Bank's top leaders were warned multiple times about serious compliance failures that exposed the bank to money launderers. According to BuzzFeed News, the supervisory board and committees that included Chairman Paul Achleitner were informed in 2013 and 2014 of anti-money laundering problems on at least three occasions. Presentations at the time showed how the bank was struggling to vet its clients and facing technology as well as staffing issues for its compliance team, wrote.

On September 21, 2020, Deutsche Bank's shares fell $0.75 per share, 8.25%, to close at $8.34 per share on unusually heavy trading volume.

If you purchased Deutsche Bank shares and would like to discuss our investigation, please contact us by emailing [email protected] or by calling (646) 315-9003.

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.

Kaplan Fox & Kilsheimer LLP, with offices in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago and New Jersey, has many years of experience in prosecuting investor class actions. For more information about Kaplan Fox & Kilsheimer LLP, you may visit our website at www.kaplanfox.com. If you have any questions about this investigation, your rights, or your interests, please contact:

Frederic S. Fox

KAPLAN FOX & KILSHEIMER LLP

850 Third Avenue, 14th Floor

New York, New York 10022

(646) 315-9003

E-mail: [email protected]

Laurence D. King

KAPLAN FOX & KILSHEIMER LLP

1999 Harrison Street, Suite 1560

Oakland, California 94612

(415) 772-4704

Fax: (415) 772-4707

E-mail: [email protected]

SOURCE Kaplan Fox & Kilsheimer LLP

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Stepping up its desperate measures to create unrest in Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan is using drones to airdrop weapons across the Line of Control (LoC) in Akhnoor region of Jammu district in Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police seized two AK assault rifles, one-star pistol, three AK magazines and 90 rounds of live AK 7.62 mm ammunition from a village in Akhnoor region.

Based on a specific input that some weapons were dumped by a Pakistani drone in a village at night a search was conducted at Niwala Khad near Akhnoor border, 35 km from Jammu.

Live TV

In Jammu, drones have been seen on the border of Samba, Kathua, Hiranagar in the last few days. Pakistani drones have been seen on the borders of Samba, Kathua, Hiranagar coming inside India from Pakistan.

Pakistani drones circling inside the Indian border shows that Pakistan is planning to execute a major conspiracy in Jammu. The Border Security Force (BSF), Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police are monitoring this.

The festivals of Navratri, Dussehra and Diwali will be observed in a few weeks and Pakistan is trying to make something big happen during these festivals.

On September 20, Pakistan dropped weapons and some cash in Indian currency using a drone in Rajouri district, Director General of Police Dilbag Singh had said on September 19, announcing the arrest of three LeT terrorists who had picked up the consignment near the Line of Control.

Singh said the major success was achieved on Friday evening, following a well-coordinated joint operation by police and 38 Rashtriya Rifles in Rajouri sector of Jammu region, frustrating Pakistan's design to step up violence and disturb the prevailing peace in the Union Territory.

"All the three Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists were residents of Kashmir and had come to pick up the consignment, which was dropped by Pakistan on this side using a drone," the DGP, who was flanked by Inspector General of Police (IGP), Jammu Division, Mukesh Singh, had told reporters in Rajouri district.

The IGP informed this was the third successful operation in the twin districts of Rajouri and Poonch since September 11. Earlier, a huge consignment of arms and ammunition was recovered from two people in Balakote sector of Poonch three days later 11 kg of heroin worth Rs 11 crore, meant to fund terrorism activities, was seized in Rajouri district.

"Pakistan and its agencies always remain active and are making every effort to disturb peace and law and order in J-K. It is using drones to drop weapons and narcotics and also push terrorists from both Rajouri and Poonch districts, which had witnessed a spurt in ceasefire violations - almost on a daily basis," the DGP had said. However, he said the police, Army and other forces are working together to scuttle Pakistan's design and to maintain peace and law and order in the Union Territory.

"We are enjoying good operational synergy and the latest arrest of three LeT terrorists and seizure of a huge cache of arms and ammunition was its result. We received information about the movement of some suspicious people and accordingly launched the cordon and search operation," he had said.

He had said three people were seen moving with a bag and were challenged but they hurled a grenade, which luckily did not explode and the trio was overpowered. The search of the bag led to the recovery of two AK-56 rifles, two pistols, four grenades and Rs 1 lakh in Indian currency, which had smuggled from Pakistan to escalate violence, Dilbag Singh said it came to light that the consignment was dropped on this side of the LoC by Pakistan using the drone and the trio, who hail from Kashmir, had come to pick up the consignment. "Their interrogation is underway and further details will be shared later," he had said.

In response to questions, he said Pakistan is doing its best to revive terrorism in the twin districts of Poonch and Rajouri, which falls in Jammu division and were cleared of militancy over a decade back. "The people of Rajouri and Poonch are peace-loving and they will not allow Pakistan to succeed in its design. There are some elements with whom we will deal sternly," he had said.

He had termed the dropping of weapons through drones as a "big challenge" and said this is the first such aerial drop in the district through a similar attempt was foiled by the Border Security Force (BSF) along the International Border in Kathua district sometime back. "This is hilly terrain and drones just bypass the deployment on the LoC," he had said, adding that "we are vigilant to the threat and have taken necessary measures".

On the recovery of a large number of US-made rifles in the recent past, the DGP had said that "we have recovered such types of rifles like M-4 and M-16 in large numbers in the past as well. These rifles are duplicate weapons manufactured in Pakistan and are being smuggled by LeT and Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists".

The IGP had said on September 11, police and Army arrested two people and recovered a cache of arms and ammunition, including three pistols, 11 grenades, improvised explosive device (IED) material and a pen drive, frustrating terrorists plan to carry out target killings and blasts in Poonch district.

In another operation on September 14, one person was arrested with 7 kg heroin in Rajouri and later at his disclosure one more arrest was made from Kulgam district of south Kashmir.

Three residents of Poonch were also arrested and their questioning led to the recovery of 4 kg of heroin from the same spot from where the earlier consignment of 7 kg was dumped after smuggling from across the border, he had said. The IGP had said the money from the heroin was meant to support terrorism.
Facebook India and its vice president and managing director, Ajit Mohan moved the Supreme Court on Tuesday challenging the September 10 and September 18 notices issued by the Delhi Legislative Assemblys Peace and Harmony Committee which sought Mohans presence before the panel which is probing the Delhi riots of February 2020 and the role of the social media giant in failing to curb hate speech in connection with the riots.

The petition stated that the subject matter under investigation by the Delhi assembly falls within the exclusive domain of the Union government and a state legislative assembly cannot compel witnesses to appear and provide evidence on such subjects.

The Committee seeks to compel petitioner No. 1 (Ajit Mohan) to provide testimony on subjects within the exclusive domain of the Union of India. Specifically, the Committee is seeking to make a determination of the veracity of allegations levelled against Facebook in the Delhi riots, which intrudes into subjects exclusively allocated to the Union of India, the petition said.

Regulation of intermediaries like Facebook falls within the Union list of the Constitution under the Entry Communication (Entry 31) in the said list. The Parliament, in exercise of that power enacted the Information Technology Act, 2000 to regulate intermediaries. Therefore, any assessment of the veracity of allegations against Facebook as an intermediary is exclusively a Union subject, it was submitted.

Besides, it was contended that the summons violates the right of the petitioner to remain silent and right to privacy which are fundamental rights under Articles 19 and 21 of the Constitution.

By targeting Facebook  a platform that allows users to express themselves  the summons create a chilling effect on the free speech rights of users of the Facebook service, the plea added.

The case will be heard by a 3-judge bench headed by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul on Wednesday.

Mohan was first summoned by the committee for its meeting of September 15 in connection with the complaints alleging deliberate omissions and inaction by the social media company in removing hateful content and posts. The committee had earlier said that in its meeting of August 31, it had prima facie found Facebook India was allegedly complicit in aggravating the communal violence in north-east Delhi in February that left at least 53 people dead and over 400 injured.

A notice was issued to Facebook officials on September 10 based on that finding asking them to appear before the panel on September 15 but Facebook officials had failed to appear for that meeting after which a second notice was issued on September 18.

In its summons issued on September 18, the committee had said that it is empowered to make suggestions to the central government and it is in line with co-operative federalism which encompasses a large number of areas including making recommendations to the union government when the same is required.

The committee is investigating the matter based on several complaints received from the public after an article was published in the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on August 14.

The WSJ report titled Facebook hate speech rules collide with Indian politics had alluded to the role allegedly played by top Facebook officials, particularly its public policy head Ankhi Das, by citing business imperatives to refrain from applying hate-speech rules to at least 4 individuals and groups linked to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), though the groups and individuals had been internally flagged for promoting or participating in violence.

Meanwhile, Facebook had written a letter to the Delhi assemblys panel on September 13 stating that the matter was already under consideration by a parliamentary committee and the subject matter relating to content regulation is outside the scope of state assembly.

This stance was reiterated by Facebook and Mohan before the top court with the petition stating that a state legislative assembly cannot compel non-members to appear before it for an investigation into a subject matter which is beyond its jurisdiction.

The Constitution of India, in conferring powers upon Parliament and State Legislatures endows them with the power to hold a non-member in breach of privileges, but only if that non-member has impeded or obstructed the bodys legislative functions. The Committees powers do not extend to compelling non- members to appear when the non-member has not impeded or obstructed legislative functioning, the plea said.
The insider-outsider debate has got celebrities opening up on their experiences in the Hindi film industry. Actor Amruta Subhash, who is what one would term an 'outsider' to the film industry, shares that she has felt welcomed.

Acknowledging that getting an entry to the industry is difficult as an outsider, she also said that it is always directors who have approached her for projects and not the other way round.

Speaking to Hindustan Times in an interview, Amruta said, "Entry is difficult no doubt but till date the directors, of the films I've worked with, have always approached me instead the other way round. In fact Bollywood has been welcoming to me. I've never felt like an outsider here. Fortunately, till now I never had to face any of the biases or discrimination. But I won't say that they don't exist. Everyone's journey is different. Like anywhere else, the industry is filled with both good and bad people."

Talking about her experience working with filmmakers like Zoya Akhtar, Anurag Kashyap and Alankrita Shrivastava, Amruta said, "From the actor who has the minimum screen time to the one who has the maximum presence, everyone is treated with equal importance. They push you out of your comfort zone but never let you fall. I can't work in an environment which is devoid of respect and understanding. Had I not got that I would've definitely not continued."

Amruta was last seen in the Netflix original film Choked, which was directed by Anurag Kashyap. The film also starred Saiyami Kher, Roshan Mathew and Rajshri Deshpande.

Her next web project is titled Bombay Begums.

ALSO READ: Neha Dhupia On Making It To Bollywood As An Outsider: The Learning Has Been The Fun Part Of It

ALSO READ: John Abraham Talks About Insider-Outsider Debate: You Either Do Your Job Or Complain About It


WATERBURY  A city man, who fled to the Dominican Republic while out on bond on federal charges, will serve five years in prison for his role in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy dating back to 2018, according to federal authorities.

A judge sentenced Joevanny Vicente, 34, last week to 60 months in prison, followed by four years of supervised release.

In 2018, law enforcement identified Vicente as a broker of kilogram-quantity cocaine transactions, a news release from the office of U.S. Attorney for Connecticut John Durham said.

Vicente was arrested on Sept. 10, 2018, after authorities say he delivered 2 kilograms of cocaine to another person in Waterbury.

After a grand jury indictment on the case, Vicente was released on a $100,000 bond on Nov. 13, 2018.

The bond was co-signed by two individuals and secured by a residential property on York Street that Vicente owned.

Vicente subsequently fled to the Dominican Republic, authorities said.

He was arrested in Puerto Rico on March 5, 2019, after he traveled there to visit his son, according to authorities. He has been detained since his arrest.

On Feb. 1, 2019, a federal judge ordered Vicentes bond and his York Street property forfeited.

Vicente pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, 500 grams or more of cocaine.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept.21

Trend:

In its 75th anniversary we call for further strengthening and modernizing the United Nations, revitalizing the UN General Assembly and strengthening its authority as the most democratic, accountable, universal and representative body of the Organization, including in the area of international peace and security, and reforming the UN Security Council, in order to transform it into a more democratic, effective, efficient, transparent and representative body, and in line with contemporary geo-political realities, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said during his speech at a high-level meeting to mark the 75th anniversary of the United Nations held on the sidelines of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Trend reports.

The head of state emphasized that the United Nations is the only global body with universal membership and is, therefore, well positioned to address global economic governance with the objective of reaching sustainable development.

"The role of the UN in global economic governance should thus be strengthened. For the United Nations to fulfill its role in global economic governance, the political will of all Member States to commit to the UN processes and to multilateralism and its underlying values is critical," the head of state said.
>>> Affirming Vietnamese agricultural products value



>>> Agricultural sector receives good news from large markets



>>> Ben Tre exports first batch of fruit to EU under EVFTA

The latest statistics from the General Department of Vietnam Customs showed that by the end of August, total export turnover from Vietnam to the EU had reached US$25.92 billion. In August alone, the figure reached US$3.78 billion.

Compared with the average of the first seven months this year, export value to the EU in August was about US$600 million higher, thanks to the positive effects of the EVFTA.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the effective EVFTA has created a great opportunity for Vietnam's exports, helping to diversify markets and products for Vietnam export activities, with some of Vietnamese key products enjoying high tax cuts, such as agricultural products, fisheries, furniture, textiles, footwear and electronics. The EU has been the third largest market for Vietnamese exports over the past eight months.

After more than a month since the agreement came into force, a range of Vietnams export products have seen positive changes in the EU market, including some that have been exported recently such as brackish shrimp from Ninh Thuan, coffee and passion fruit from Gia Lai and rice from Can Tho.

In addition, cell phones and components are the largest group in Vietnam's exports to the EU and the bloc is also the largest export market for this key sector from Vietnam. In August, export turnover of phones and components to Europe reached more than US$1 billion, thereby increasing total turnover in the first eight months to US$6.96 billion. Although it decreased by 17.2% over the same period in 2019, it still accounted for 22% of Vietnams total export turnover of phones and components.

In addition, the EU is also the leading export market for Vietnam's important commodity groups, such as computers, electronic products and components; textiles; agricultural products; and footwear, with turnover worth billions of USD in each group.

In the opposite direction, by the end of August, Vietnams total import turnover from the EU had reached US$9.82 billion. In August alone, the figure reached nearly US$1.4 billion, US$200 million higher than the average for the first seven months of the year.
Speaking at the Republican convention, Senator Tim Scott said: "My grandfather's 99th birthday would have been tomorrow. Growing up, he had to cross the street if a white person was coming. He suffered the indignity of being forced out of school as a third-grader to pick cotton and never learned to read or write. Yet he lived to see his grandson become the first African-American to be elected to both the United States House and Senate. Our family went from cotton to Congress in one lifetime."

In contrast to Tim Scott's family, my family in the USSR went from hope to despair in one lifetime.

My father was born in 1917 as the Russian Revolution was taking place. He believed in all the slogans: equality, fairness, taking from the rich and giving it to the poor, no private property. He accepted Marx's declaration that "religion is the opium of the people" and slogans such as "Those who are not with us  are against us!" My father joined the Communist Party, hoping for a better future for his children and grandchildren.

As the socialist economy marched toward a bright future of communism, Soviet citizens continued to face poverty, chronic shortage of basic necessities, ethnic discrimination, anti-Semitism, and a total disregard for human dignity. When we decided to emigrate in 1979, my father knew that there was no future for his children and grandchildren in the socialist USSR.

American Democratic Party leaders insist that there is nothing exceptional about their country. Today on the streets of many American cities, "mostly peaceful" protesters are reciting familiar slogans from the past. They are chanting old socialist slogans while destroying property, burning American flags, and assaulting police. These people are not seeing what Senator Tim Scott describes, the incredible opportunity that is unique to America. Everything they are shouting about America we were previously taught in Soviet schools many decades earlier.

When we came to United States, we had nothing. In addition, we spoke very little English. Yet, in about five years, we reached a higher standard of living than all prior generations of our family had back in USSR.

I strongly believe that America is an exceptional country because people have the liberty to strive for success. In America, the sky is the limit. Therefore, imposing equality of outcome is a destructive concept. If the Democratic Party succeeds in imposing their priorities on us, American citizens, we will lose the freedom to choose our own destiny, which is what makes this country exceptional.

Image Ryan Johnson, North Charleston.
The first KF-X advanced multirole fighter prototype is being assembled at a Korea Aerospace Industries facility in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province, Sept. 3. Courtesy of Defense Acquisition Program Administration



By Jung Da-min



Korea and Indonesia are working on a new agreement for their joint fighter jet project, which has hit a snag following Indonesia's delay in paying hundreds of millions of dollars.



About 10 officials from the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) and Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI)  the maker of the KF-X aircraft  left for Jakarta, Tuesday, to meet Indonesian officials on Wednesday and Thursday, according to the two organizations.



The joint fighter jet project is called the KF-X (Korean Fighter eXperimental) in Korea and the IF-X (Indonesian Fighter eXperimental) in Indonesia.



While the two sides have held four rounds of renegotiations, the latest talks come after about a year. It is also the first meeting since Indonesia's Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto took office last October. Subianto had been putting off resuming talks with the Korean government, saying he would review the overall content of the country's defense budget and weapons systems.



During this week's meeting, officials of the two countries are expected to review conditions of the joint development project to strike a deal, as Indonesia wants a reduction in how much it promised to pay the Korean government.



Indonesia initially agreed to pay 1.7 trillion won ($1.46 billion), which accounts for about 20 percent of the total 8 trillion won project budget. But it has only paid about 220 billion won. It stopped paying in late 2017, citing the country's deteriorating financial situation.



While payment is supposed to be completed by 2026, the arrears are around 500 billion won.



According to industry officials, the Indonesian side wants to reduce its contribution from the promised 20 percent to 15 percent. The proposal was raised by Indonesian President Joko Widodo when he met President Moon Jae-in during a visit to Korea in September 2018, according to the officials.



Last year, Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Wiranto said the country was considering offering CN-235 aircraft from the country's state plane maker PT Dirgantara Indonesia as part of its contribution, instead of cash.



Industry officials said Indonesia also wanted the Korean government to transfer more of the technology for the fighter jet development to Indonesia  a request that Korea cannot decide alone because some of the technology is linked to the United States.



Meanwhile, the fighter development by KAI is going smoothly, with the manufacturer set to roll out the prototype in the first half of 2021. Earlier this month, KAI started assembling the prototype of what will be the country's first indigenously developed fighter jet.


Iran's president, Hassan Rohani, told the UN General Assembly on September 22 that Tehran rejected U.S. efforts to make his country "a bargaining chip in U.S. elections and domestic policy."



He said the United States could force "neither negotiations nor war" on Iran.



The United States on September 21 announced new sanctions against Iran's Defense Ministry and other bodies involved in its nuclear and weapons program, continuing a policy it describes as "maximum pressure" in response to "malign behavior" by Tehran.



The United States can impose neither negotiations nor war on us, Rohani said. Life is hard under sanctions. However, life is harder without independence.



The United States this week imposed sanctions on more than two dozen people and entities involved in Iran's atomic activities or its missile and conventional weapons programs as Washington unilaterally seeks to enforce a UN arms embargo against the Middle East nation.



Rohani said "any U.S. administration after the upcoming [U.S.] elections [in November] will have no choice but to surrender to the resilience of the Iranian nation."



The punishments are part of a new sanctions offensive by the Trump administration that rests in part on a "snapback" clause from the 2015 nuclear agreement between Tehran and world powers that the United States abandoned two years ago.



"The United States has now restored UN sanctions on Iran, President Donald Trump said in a statement after he signed an executive order spelling out how Washington will enforce the "snapback." "My actions today send a clear message to the Iranian regime and those in the international community who refuse to stand up to Iran."



The U.S. effort has prompted objections from China and Russia and increased frictions between Washington and some European allies over the United States' legal right to reinstate the embargo.



French President Emmanuel Macron said in his video address to the UN General Assembly on September 22 that Europe "will not compromise" with the United States over the sanctions mechanism.



"This would undermine the unity of the [UN] Security Council and the integrity of its decisions, and it would run the risk of further aggravating tensions in the region," Macron said.



The Trump administration reimposed U.S. sanctions on Iran two years ago, after withdrawing from the 2015 deal.

A week ago, Tehran warned Washington against making a "strategic mistake" after Trump said that any attack by Iran would be met with a far greater response in reaction to a news report that said that Iran planned to assassinate a U.S. diplomat to avenge the killing of top Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani in January.

Any "new strategic mistake" by the U.S. leadership would be met with a "decisive response from Iran," Iranian government spokesman Ali Rabiei told a news conference on September 15.



Hours earlier, Trump had tweeted: "Any attack by Iran, in any form, against the United States will be met with an attack on Iran that will be 1,000 times greater in magnitude!"



Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said in a virtual address to the Council on Foreign Relations in New York on September 21 that Iran is prepared for a full exchange of prisoners with the United States.



In response to a question about whether Tehran would free Iranian-American father and son Baquer and Siamak Namazi, Zarif said the only way for him to have influence on the courts is through a swap for Iranians he claimed the United States is holding unjustly.



Washington has long demanded that Iran release U.S. citizens including Baquer and Siamak Namazi, who were jailed in 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Based on reporting by Reuters and AFP
Press Release

September 22, 2020 Pia: UP's high global ranking in health research citations should prompt PH to invest more on health research, innovation Senator Pia S. Cayetano congratulated the University of the Philippines (UP) for the high scores it obtained in the latest World University Rankings for its clinical, pre-clinical, and health research citations, noting that Philippine universities have lagged behind in the area of research for the past decades, but UP is finally putting us on the map of top universities of the world. "Most of us may not be aware of it, but UP now ranks among the world's top universities in terms of citations for clinical, pre-clinical, and health subjects," Cayetano shared, following Monday's (Sept. 21) Senate Committee on Finance hearing on the proposed 2021 budget for the UP system, State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). "This is great news coming at a time when the country is realizing how investments in research are crucial to addressing public health emergencies like COVID-19. Despite UP being cited, our overall research capability as a country remains low," added the Vice Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance overseeing the budget for health and education. The senator was referring to the 2021 Times Higher Education World University Rankings (THE-WUR), wherein UP's citation score for its clinical, pre-clinical, and health research (91.9%) ranked higher than some of the world's top universities, including University of Oxford (74%), University of Cambridge (68.8%), and Harvard University (66.7%). "UP's high score is an indicator of the impact and influence of its research, which researchers from other countries have cited for succeeding studies and possible innovations," she explained. Cayetano added that "strategic investments in public health research and innovation would allow the country to catch up with some of our neighbors in Southeast Asia which have been able to handle COVID-19 more efficiently using advanced science and technology." "We act surprised that our neighbors, like Thailand and Vietnam, are already developing a vaccine, when in fact, we have not been investing in research laboratories for decades," she stressed. On the other hand, Cayetano noted that funding for the research budget of the 111 other SUCs in the country is very low compared to the research expenditures of some of our ASEAN neighbors. "Sadly, the budget for research for all the SUCs that Senator Joel Villanueva proposed and that we supported in the 2020 budget, was one of the items that was realigned for COVID response. The same happened to the research budget for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and futures thinking," noted Cayetano, the Chairperson of the Senate Committee on SDGs, Innovation, and Futures Thinking. As reported before the committee by Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC) President Dr. Tirso Ronquillo, government funding for SUCs' research and technical advisory extension programs represent just 3% and 2%, respectively, of the P64.7-billion proposed SUCs budget this year. Overall, Dr. Ronquillo noted that the country's budget for research and development only represents 0.16% of our GDP, which is lower compared to Singapore (1.94%), Malaysia (1.44%), Thailand (1%), and Vietnam (0.53%). "Our finance committee chair, Sen. Sonny Angara understands and supports the need for funding in research. We will work together to ensure we have a strong budget for research for 2021. We already have the foundation and potential. We just need to translate these into concrete programs to better serve the needs of Filipinos," Cayetano concluded.
In the story of American wildfire, no year has proved more pivotal than 1910.

That August, what became known as the Big Blowup scorched three million acres and killed 78 firefighters in the Northern Rockies. Hundreds of other large fires erupted in forests from the Pacific Coast to the Great Lakes. Small towns in Idaho and Minnesota were reduced to smoldering ruins. Smoke from the Mountain West colored skies as far east as New England.

As momentous as the fires were on the ground, the struggle over how to respond to them proved even more consequential. Two starkly divergent proposals emerged: on the one hand, total fire suppression; on the other, light burning to pre-empt the chances of a conflagration  what we now call prescribed fire.

The basic idea of prescribed fire  pre-empting huge, destructive fires with more modest, beneficial ones  had a counterintuitive subtlety that was no match for painting fire as the deadly foe of the nations forests. Those who favored total fire suppression won the debate, and the nascent Forest Service began approaching fire as an enemy. That militaristic approach, which Ive seen up close in nearly 20 years as a Forest Service fire lookout, remains in place today.
NEW DELHI/ MUMBAI : Delhi high court on Tuesday stayed any tax assessment against Tiger Global on the Flipkart exit till 18 January. The tax department has 10 weeks to file a counter affidavit, according to a ruling by a division bench of Justice Manmohan and Justice Sanjeev Narula.

The tax department aimed to start tax assessment proceedings against the US-private equity firm following an Authority of Advanced Rulings (AAR) order that had denied it India-Mauritius treaty benefits.

The US-based private equity firm had moved the high court on Monday as it believed that there is enough substance and decision making in the deal structure to get India-Mauritius treaty benefits. It said AAR had not gone into all the aspects of the deal before denying it treaty benefits. AAR had in June had rejected a petition by Tiger Global claiming an exemption from tax on capital gains resulting from the 2018 sale of its Flipkart stake to Walmart. Tiger Global had claimed nil withholding tax on the capital gains, as its firms that made the Flipkart investment were based in Mauritius were set up before 2017. AAR ruled that they suspect the tax treaty is being abused to avoid tax.

The matter pertains to the exit by Mauritius-based entities that were part of Tiger Global. These entities had sold their stakes in Flipkart Singapore to a Luxembourg-based company for over 14,500 crore and had sought an advance ruling for zero withholding tax.

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LONDON, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- AxiomSL, the industry's leading provider of risk and regulatory reporting solutions, today announces its association with Confinale, an IT consulting and software development company specializing in the banking sector. Confinale's long term consultancy and implementation knowledge in the region and AxiomSL's platform for regulatory reporting will provide clients in Switzerland, Germany and Liechtenstein with a data and technology driven approach, that enables financial firms to address multiple risk and regulatory mandates, on a single platform.

AxiomSL ControllerView data integrity and control platform will enable financial firms in the region to meet multiple regulatory mandates, including the Swiss National Bank (SNB), Financial Markets Authority (FMA) Liechtenstein, Bank Centrale du Luxemburg and Oesterreichische National bank (OeNB) - which cover regulations such as Basel IV and its upcoming new liquidity and capital credit requirements, financial and statistical reporting to mention only a few. With AxiomSL's holistic and transparent platform, clients will be empowered with end-to-end risk and regulatory reporting solutions via Confinale's integration ecosystem. This collaboration will enable a smooth, seamless, and efficient data transition over to AxiomSL's platform where a myriad of regulatory reports will be generated and submitted to the relevant authorities, with short implementation timeframes.

Roland Staub, CEO, Confinale, commented: "The cooperation of AxiomSL and Confinale combines the core competencies of two market-leading companies in the banking industry. We provide implementation services based on a stable customer base in the Swiss, German and Liechtenstein banking sector. We are looking forward to a successful collaboration with AxiomSL, a leading technology partner for risk and regulatory reporting solutions. Our integration framework will reduce implementation times while allowing banks to meet their regulatory mandates faster, and achieve full transparency from data ingestion to submission, including data lineage to the source system".

Edward Royan, Head of Global Products, AxiomSL, states: "We are very pleased to be working with Confinale in line with our vision to expand AxiomSL's footprint across these regions, while delivering a data and technology driven platform, that enables clients to meet regulatory and risk reporting requirements. This collaboration will provide financial firms with a seamless process for complying with regional, as well as global regulatory reporting mandates. In addition, with our German speaking Frankfurt office, we are thrilled to address the requirements of Swiss and Liechtenstein-based financial institutions for an effortless data transition. Thanks to Confinale's well-designed integration framework and AxiomSL's enterprise-wide data management capabilities, such migration process will be easier to implement, by further enhancing and automating existing processes, whilst increasing workflow efficiency".

About AxiomSL

AxiomSL is a global leader in risk analytics, data-management, and regulatory-reporting solutions. Leveraging more than 25 years' experience, AxiomSL combines its deep industry experience and intelligent data-management platform to deliver solutions and services around regulatory and risk reporting, liquidity, capital and credit, operations, trade and transactions, and tax analytics. The platform can be deployed on premise or on the cloud. Its client base spans regional and global financial institutions with more than $43 trillion in total assets and investment managers with more than $11 trillion in assets under management. Its coverage encompasses more than 110 regulators across 55 jurisdictions. AxiomSL is in the top 20 of the Chartis RiskTech100 2020 ranking.

Website: www.axiomsl.com

About Confinale

Founded in 2012, Swiss-based Confinale is an IT consultancy and software development company that specialises in digitisation projects for the banking sector. The firm is Premium Implementation Partner of Avaloq and has a deep expertise in the business areas of Regulatory Reporting, Wealth Advisory, Tax, Compliance and Credit Business. Confinale has been one of the most active members of the Avaloq community since its foundation. To date, this partnership has produced over 80 successful Avaloq projects, where Confinale has proved its expertise. The company has over 65 employees, the majority of whom are Avaloq certified specialists and have served over 35 satisfied Avaloq customers in Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany and the UK. https://confinale.ch/

Press contacts

Shamira Alidina

Media Relations Director, Dina Communications

Tel +44 (0) 7801 590718

Email: shamira@dinacomms.com

Francine Gittins

Global Head of Marketing and Communications, AxiomSL

Tel: +1 212 248 4188

Email: fgittins@axiomsl.com

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YEREVAN, 22 SEPTEMBER, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, 22 September, USD exchange rate up by 0.03 drams to 485.29 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 5.40 drams to 569.58 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.07 drams to 6.39 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 8.89 drams to 620.78 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price down by 417.84 drams to 29790.51 drams. Silver price down by 5.98 drams to 411.28 drams. Platinum price down by 513.97 drams to 14151.41 drams.
Two inmates who 'savagely' attacked a prison guard with makeshift 'shanks' while wearing fake suicide belts and shouting 'Allahu Akbar' were 'Islamic extremists intent on becoming martyrs', a court has heard.

Convicted terrorist Brusthom Ziamani, 25, and radicalised inmate Baz Hockton, 26, launched themselves at prison officer Neil Trundle while his back was turned, the Old Bailey was told.

The pair 'raining down blows' on the prison officer's neck and chest during the attack at HMP Whitemoor in Cambridgeshire, the court heard.

It is alleged they used several makeshift weapons including lumps of twisted metal with fabric grips, and two improvised knives made using odds and ends they could find in the jail, during the attack.

As the pair slashed at Mr Trundle, a nurse, Jayne Cowles, and a prison officer, Georgina Ibbotson, ran to help their colleague, but were also turned on by Ziamani, the court heard.

Ziamani then immediately returned to the assault on Mr Trundle, a prison officer of 14 years, while Hockton chased and 'violently confronted' another prison officer, prosecutor Annabel Darlow QC told jurors.

Convicted terrorist Brusthom Ziamani, 25, and radicalised inmate Baz Hockton, 26, launched themselves at prison officer Neil Trundle while his back was turned, the Old Bailey was told.

The pair 'raining down blows' on the prison officer's neck and chest during the attack at HMP Whitemoor in Cambridgeshire (pictured), the court heard

Ms Darlow said Hockton had registered his Islamic faith at HMP Whitemoor but that had been 'corrupted into extremism' and he had been radicalised.

He befriended Ziamani, who arrived at the prison in 2017, last December despite their cells initially being located in different wings, jurors heard.

Extremist writings were recovered from both men, including a four-page hand-written letter carried by Ziamani spelling out his 'expectation of immediate martyrdom' and 'strong belief in violent jihad', Ms Darlow said.

Material was also recovered from Hockton's cell setting out his desire to become a martyr, the court was told.

The court heard how one extract from the note read: 'Oh don't hesitate, oh Knights of Islam. To sacrifice your souls for Allah, depending on your state, Shayteen (satan) tries to put doubts in your minds but ignore him and fulfil your duties to sacrifice your souls for Allah.'

Another read: 'Our knives seek skin to pierce to allow torrents of blood to flow from you as you have with us.'

Ms Darlow said that during the attack the pair were 'cold and focussed' - wearing fake suicide belts made from underwear elastic and wires, with Ziamani shouting 'Allah Akbar' and 'I have a bomb'.

She added: 'When they carried out the attack they shouted Allahu Akbar - "Allah is most great".'

Opening their trial, in which the pair both deny attempted murder, Ms Darlow said they attacked 'kind and helpful' Mr Trundle for 'terrorist purposes'.

She told jurors: 'The attack on Prison Officer Trundle was carefully planned and executed using a number of makeshift weapons constructed from the limited materials available to two men being held in prison, including a homemade shank, lumps of twisted metal which had been covered in fabric to form grips, and two makeshift metal stabbing implements.'

She said the defendants planned to 'lure' a target to a store cupboard 'on the pretext of asking a prison officer to fetch a spoon'.

Ms Carlow said: 'The prosecution say that asking for a spoon was just a ruse by Mr Ziamani, a trick to get a prison officer, whichever prison officer agreed to go to the door of the cupboard, knowing, we say as he did, that the prison officer would have to turn their back on whoever was with them in order to unlock the door to the storage cupboard giving a moment where the officer would be vulnerable to being attacked

Extremist writings were recovered from both men, including a four-page hand-written letter carried by Ziamani spelling out his 'expectation of immediate martyrdom' and 'strong belief in violent jihad', jurors heard

'As the attack begins, three people come to assist, two females and a male, Mr Ziamani goes after the two females, he attacks both of them and after he knocks them over - disposing of the threat.

'He immediately returns and resumes the attack on Mr Trundle.

'Mr Hockton, for his part, goes after the male who has come to intervene and you will see him chase him off in the opposite direction.

'Other officers then come onto the scene and begin the task of trying to retain these two men who are very forcibly resisting.'



She added that without the help of fellow officers and the nurse, the outcome could have been likely been fatal.

She said: 'What Mr Trundle recalls is blows being rained down on him and specifically they were targeting his neck, chest and head area the prosecution say that was deliberate because those are the parts of the body most vulnerable to a fatal attack.

'The arrival of other officers and attempts to assist, you may think, undoubtedly prevented far more serious injury to the officer.'

Mr Trundle escaped without life-threatening injuries, instead suffering multiple superficial wounds to his scalp, right arm, and shoulder, a cut above his left eyebrow and a 2.5cm laceration to his right ear and 5cm laceration to the right side of his scalp which was closed with glue.

It took five or six officers to restrain Ziamani, who was laughing and muttering 'Allahu Akbar' before the belt with wires coming out of it was cut off him, the court heard.

Asked about the belt, Ziamani allegedly told an officer: 'I just wish it was real. It's a suicide belt.'

The defendants were transferred to different prisons and their cells searched.

There were pieces of wire and plastic like those used to make the hoax suicide belt in Ziamani's cell, jurors heard.

A note on a scrap of brown envelope about someone in uniform and sticking 'a spike in his head like a unicorn' was allegedly found in Hockton's cell.

Ziamani, formerly of Camberwell, southeast London, and Hockton, formerly of Wellington Crescent, Ramsgate, both deny attempted murder and wounding with intent to PO Trundle.

Ziamani is also charged with two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm against Ms Ibbotson and Ms Cowles.

The trial continues.
Job Title: Administrative Officer

Organization:

Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

Duty Station:

Kampala, Uganda

Reports to: DCOP-Operations-VINES

About US:

Catholic Relief

Services (CRS) is an international non-governmental organization (NGO)

supporting relief and development work in over 100 countries around the world.

CRS carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist

the poor and vulnerable overseas. CRS Catholic identity is at the heart of our

mission and operations; serving people on the basis of need, regardless of

creed, ethnicity or nationality. CRS works through local church and non-church

partners to implement its programs.

CRS has worked in

Uganda since 1965, initially providing emergency assistance to Sudanese

refugees living in the north. Over the years, CRS has expanded its programming

to also address development needs in western, central and eastern Uganda. CRS

projects in Uganda currently include agriculture, health, microfinance,

peacebuilding and youth. CRS Uganda implements its programs through

partnerships with local organizations, including the Catholic Church, other

faith-based organizations and community entities for maximum impact and

sustainability. CRS Uganda employs around 190 staff and has its main office in

Kampala, with sub-offices in Moroto, Yumbe, and Hoima

About Vines Project:

The Vines Project,

implemented by CRS Uganda, is a five-year, $13 million Food for Progress

project that will make Uganda the worlds next leading supplier of high-quality

vanilla. Vines will leverage the expertise of CRS and its partners to enhance

the production of safe, pure vanilla and develop sustainable market links with

US vanilla companies, directly transforming the lives of 16,200 farmers, 836

supply chain actors and create 15,820 new jobs to reach 32,856 vanilla

stakeholders. The Vines strategy reflects best practices in sustainable

development and will leave Uganda with a robust vanilla farming community

resilient to the boom/bust nature of the market and a cadre of private sector

agricultural extensionists to support more sophisticated production,

processing, and marketing needs.

Job Summary: The Administrative Officer will provide

service in the day-to-day delivery of responsive, effective and efficient

administrative activities in support of the Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

mission to serve the poor and vulnerable. You will provide consistent and

high-quality service and contribute to the proper stewardship of resources to

help ensure operational effectiveness in support of high-quality programming

and a high-quality service approach are integrated into administrative systems,

policies, and procedures.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:



cost efficient and quality service delivery from administrative support

functions. Coordinate and report on activities and required resources to ensurecost efficient and quality service delivery from administrative supportfunctions.



processes and support coordination of transaction processing (e.g. payment

requests, travel authorizations, travel advances, visas, etc.). Prepare transactional documents in support of general operationsprocesses and support coordination of transaction processing (e.g. paymentrequests, travel authorizations, travel advances, visas, etc.).



general administration processes (e.g. various contact lists, employee

leave balances, staff attendance reports, Vehicle Log Sheets review,

visitors welcome packages, etc.). Compile data perform data entry and data verification in relation togeneral administration processes (e.g. various contact lists, employeeleave balances, staff attendance reports, Vehicle Log Sheets review,visitors welcome packages, etc.).



line with agency standards and donor and local law regulations. Help ensure administrative systems, processes, and policies are inline with agency standards and donor and local law regulations.



Help ensure fully compliant procurement of office materials and asset management

systems. Coordinate the efficient use of CP assets and rented facilities.Help ensure fully compliant procurement of office materials and asset managementsystems.

as property receipt and

distribution, property labeling, physical counts, etc. Support implementation of property management processes, suchas property receipt anddistribution, property labeling, physical counts, etc.



services to staff and visitors. Coordinate event planning activities,

including delegation visits, trainings and workshops. Coordinate the provision of travel and logistics support andservices to staff and visitors. Coordinate event planning activities,including delegation visits, trainings and workshops.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:



Administrative Officer job placement must hold a High School diploma.

Bachelors Degree in Business Administration or relevant field preferred. The ideal candidate for the Catholic Relief Services (CRS)Administrative Officer job placement must hold a High School diploma.Bachelors Degree in Business Administration or relevant field preferred.



functions, with increasing responsibility. Experience with a local or

international NGO a plus. At least two years of work experience in administrative supportfunctions, with increasing responsibility. Experience with a local orinternational NGO a plus.

Additional education may substitute for some experience.



PowerPoint, Visio) and information management systems. Experience and proficient skills in MS Office package (Excel, Word,PowerPoint, Visio) and information management systems.

Personal Skills:

Good planning, organizational and time management skills



interpersonal skills Strong customer service orientation with very good communication andinterpersonal skills

Ethical conduct and ability to maintain confidentiality

Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented



Travel: English fluency, including excellent oral and written skills, requiredTravel:

Must be willing and able to travel up to 30%

Agency-Wide Competencies (for all CRS staff): These are rooted in the mission, values, and

principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her

responsibilities and to achieve the desired results.

Serves with Integrity

Models Stewardship

Cultivates Constructive Relationships

Promotes Learning

NOTE: To

apply, please follow these instructions exactly otherwise your application will

NOT be considered.

How to Apply:

All candidates should

Email a cover letter and CV only to ug_recruitment@crs.org

Large files and/or

scans of documents will lead to rejection of your application, in the subject

line of the email, copy and paste  ADMINISTRATIVEOFFICER only

All applications

that do not contain this exact subject line will be rejected and not read.

Deadline: 2nd October 2020

For more of the

latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com

or find us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline


T he UKs coronavirus response has divided opinion among two groups of leading health experts who have written separate letters to the UKs chief medical officers.

One group of doctors and academics has called for targeted measures, such as shielding of vulnerable groups, to be adopted instead of local or national lockdowns.

The other has denounced the idea of targeting restrictions until herd immunity has developed, saying there are no examples of this working in any country.

The comments from the opposing groups came in open letters addressed to the chief medical officers of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and Sir Patrick Vallance, the Governments chief scientific officer.

The authors of the letter in favour of a more tailored approach include Sunetra Gupta, professor of theoretical epidemiology at Oxford University, and Carl Heneghan, director of the Centre for Evidence Based Medicine at Oxford.

Signatories argue that the Government should adopt targeted measures because 89 per cent of Covid-19 deaths are in the over-65 group, while a majority of deaths are concentrated in people with pre-existing conditions.

The letter states: The unstated objective currently appears to be one of suppression of the virus, until such a time that a vaccine can be deployed.

This objective is increasingly unfeasible and is leading to significant harm across all age groups, which likely offsets any benefits.

Sir Patrick Vallance: UK could see 50,000 cases a day by mid-October unless action is taken

Instead, more targeted measures that protect the most vulnerable from Covid, whilst not adversely impacting those not at risk, are more supportable. Given the high proportion of Covid deaths in care homes, these should be a priority. Such targeted measures should be explored as a matter of urgency, as the logical cornerstone of our future strategy.

Conversely, a letter led by Trisha Greenhalgh, chair of primary care health sciences at Oxford University, and supported by 22 other health experts, backed current efforts to suppress the virus across the entire population, rather than adopt a policy of segmentation or shielding the vulnerable until herd immunity has developed.

They highlighted that Covid-19, while affecting demographic groups differently, had led to deaths occurring in all ages, genders and ethnic backgrounds, as well as in people with no pre-existing medical conditions.

The experts said long Covid was also a debilitating disease affecting tens of thousands of people in the UK that can occur in previously young and healthy individuals.

While backing extra protections for care homes and the vulnerable, they warned cutting off vulnerable people would be practically impossible, particularly for disadvantaged groups, such as those living in cramped housing and multi-generational households or grandparents carrying out childcare.

The letter, which was published by the British Medical Journal, states: Despite claims to the contrary from some quarters, there are no examples of a segmentation-and-shielding policy having worked in any country.

We believe that rather than absolute measures (lockdown or release), we should take a more relativistic approach of more relaxation/more stringency depending on control of the virus.

Normality is likely to be a compromise for some time to come.
Mychal Denzel Smith writes about Trump, toxic masculinity, the American identity, and more in his reflective second book, Stakes Is High: Life After the American Dream.

The American Dream is bullshit.

So writes Mychal Denzel Smith near the end of his second book, Stakes Is High: Life After the American Dream. This is a sentiment we hear many times as Smith pens his thoughts on Donald Trump, toxic masculinity, New York City, and the American identity. Divided up into four parts (and with a fitting red, white, and blue cover) Stakes Is High, named after De La Souls fourth full-length album, defies genres; it is at times a call to arms, a case study, a critique, and a self-interrogation.

Mychal Denzel Smith is the New York Times bestselling author of Invisible Man, Got the Whole World Watching and a 2017 NAACP Image Award nominee. From the inauguration of the first Black president to the death of Trayvon Martin, Invisible Man  Smiths first book  is part-memoir, part-political tract as Smith narrates his own millennial coming-of-age in a world where Black men were never intended to.

Read More: Naomi Osaka wears Trayvon Martin mask at US Open: Things have to change

(Photo: Bold Type Books)

Stakes Is High takes a less personal approach, instead leaning into the research-heavy essayist work weve seen from Smith in his pieces for The Nation. Smith writes with authority and clarity  but most importantly, self-awareness. The book never strays into condescension or self-righteousness, but instead presents a clear-eyed and down-to-earth analysis of the broken foundation of the American Dream and how our culture can move past it.

Perhaps the most insightful chapter is the first, Delusions, where Smith dissects how Americans, even the most critical among us, still buy into the American Dream, and thus uphold it. Even as we suffer under the boot of oppression, we are not immune to the indoctrination into the American myth, he writes. The promise of a free, equal, and just America in which your own destiny is completely under your own control sounds wonderful, and because it hurts too much to think that your future is controlled by anything more than your own actions, it is easy to fall under this spell

Story continues

Smith does not exclude himself from this critique, acknowledging how even he finds himself holding on desperately to this dream: There is a part of us that wants to believe that the good of America can outlast the bad. In this, Smith aptly tears down the figure that Americans have erected of the presidency as a unifying force that serves as a symbol of freedom and democracy, untouched by partisanship and pettiness, and instead asks us to put down our idols and take a sober look at what our country needs to truly live up to its ideals.

Read More: Don Lemon suggests eliminating electoral college amid Supreme Court battle

The danger in idolizing politicians or activists, Smith writes, is that our attempt to memorialize them often diminishes their message, citing the whitewashing of Martin Luther King Jr. into the American zeitgeist despite his controversial stance against the Vietnam War or the publics disapproval of him at the time of his death.

Martin Luther King delivers the I have a dream speech from the podium, August 28, 1963. (Photo: Library of Congress)

In the chapter Justice, Smith tackles how New York City poses itself as a place of endless opportunity despite rampant homelessness, police violence, economic injustice, and housing segregation. Smith writes of how he, like many others who now call New York home, left his hometown behind in exchange for city lights and subway cars. But all that glitters is not gold, as Smith soon discovers: When people become problems to solve, it produces a callous indifference toward life.

Justice hones in on the vast income inequality that still plagues New York City as he observes the differences in his neighborhood in Brooklyn and that of the Upper East Side where he treks to appointments with his therapist, whether it be an influx of trash or law enforcement. In the chapter, Accountability, he takes a deeper look at how the criminal justice system creates a flawed binary of morality that divides predators and non-predators rather than examining the culture that creates them; in Freedom, he envisions a world where Shirley Chisolm won the presidency in 1972.

Read More: Shirley Chisholm NYC statue to help correct glaring inequity in public spaces

Among the many books of its kind, scrambling desperately to explain 2020, Stakes Is High sets itself apart. The book at times would benefit from a clearer structure that would allow for more throughlines and avoid repetition. Yet still, it is a grounded and necessary take on the falsehood of the American Dream and what our future might look like if we dont abandon it. As the books title and its author suggest: the stakes are high.

Stakes Is High hits shelves on Sept. 15, available in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook.

Noelle D. Lilley is a Southern California native who loves her alma mater (go, Sun Devils!), reading, Back to the Future, Slurpees, and social justice. She is an Ida B. Wells Scholar, a CNN Media Leadership Project Fellow at the City University of New York. Her work can be found on CNN, KERO-TV/23ABC News, Chicago Reader, The Nation, Arizona PBS, City Limits, BKLYNER, amNewYork, and elsewhere.

Have you subscribed to theGrios podcast Dear Culture? Download our newest episodes now!

The post The stakes are high in NYT bestselling-author Mychal Denzel Smiths latest book appeared first on TheGrio.
Food policy since Independence has been trying to chase the chimaera of an impossible trinity of ensuring the supply of food grains to the consumers at an affordable price, ensuring a fair return to farmers, and ensuring food security.

Using the State apparatus to artificially ensure higher prices to farmers benefits medium and large farmers  the beneficiaries of the green revolution. Whereas the small and marginal farmers, the majority, are net buyers of foodgrains need support as the consumers. Higher prices to benefit politically and socially influential farmers hurt the consumers, and this brings upon a counter political pressure on the government, especially from the urban populace.

Over the decades, the objective of food security has resulted in unpredictable and ad-hoc policies such as the essential commodities Act, banning the exports of agricultural products at the whims of the government when farmers could have benefited from the higher international prices.

Listen | Setting Sail: The question is not if, but when will India become a $10 trillion economy

That it is impossible to achieve these objectives simultaneously did not force the rethink under successive governments, but instead caused them to double down with even more rules and regulation  and micromanagement. The result was an agriculture sector where the worst form of license-permit raj reigned supreme even as India was progressively dismantling them in other sectors.

The reason is not difficult to understand if we look at the rural politically economy spawned by decades of such policies. The control over Agriculture Produce Market Committees (APMCs), co-operative bank and other co-operatives, fixation of higher MSP for specific crops are the sources of power for the local elites. Moreover, for the political parties, these local semi-feudal elites are the route to political power.

It was, therefore, impossible to introduce any reforms that would disturb the prevailing equilibrium even though the need for it was widely recognised in all policy circles. It was impossible until a full-majority government decided to put its political capital at stake.

The Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government has succeeded in passing three farm Bills in the Lok Sabha and two in Rajya Sabha. The Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 ends the monopoly of the APMCs and their political overseers. It allows the farmer to sell their produce directly anywhere in the country at any prices.

Neither are the APMCs abolished nor is the MSP discontinued. Instead, the absurdity of the farmer being the only producer without the right to fix the price of their produce is over. Contrary to the apprehensions, the MSP isnt included in the legislation because its an administrative mechanism, not legislative so that it can have flexibility as per the requirement. Also, the farmers will only sell to the private player if they get a price above the MSP under the State procurement.

It also seeks to promote barrier-free inter-state and intra-state trade and commerce without any fee or levy outside the physical premises of markets notified under the State Agricultural Produce Marketing legislation.

The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 allows contract farming. It enables farmers to enter into a contract with agribusiness firms, processors, wholesalers, exporters, or large retailers. It will enable them to access credit, technology, and assured prices. The small and marginal farmers can also benefit via aggregation under contract with a single buyer.

The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020 removes cereals, pulses, and other products from the essential commodities list. It removes the imposition of stock holding limits except in situations like war. It will enable businesses to operate freely without bureaucratic and regulatory hassles. In 2019, 76,000 raids were conducted under the Act with zero impact on price volatility which actually increased. Hardly 2-3 percent cases stand in the court, and the Act was used to harass traders and enabled rent-seeking by the officials.

The roots of the APMC goes back to colonial rule with the aim of ensuring the cheap supply of raw cotton to mills in Britain. The basic idea of these policies could never produce prosperity or stability for the farmers no matter if they were 'adapted' in the socialist era. Dismantling of these regimes will allow more economic freedom to the farmers.

These reforms will attract private investment in rural infrastructure such as cold storage, and transportation. It will enable modern agri-business tech companies and startups to enter the market and provide innovative solutions while leveraging new economic opportunities. The results can only be beneficial both for the farmers and consumers as it reduces the 'farm to table' distance.

It will, however, require a robust legal and intuitional mechanism for fair play, protection of the farmers and reduce the time and cost of dispute resolution. The success, in the end, will depend on the co-ordination between the Centre and states, unlike the politics of protests we see today.
Two former Nigerian presidents, Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, were probed for years by the United States authorities, through the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), an agency of the U.S. Department of Treasury.

PREMIUM TIMES review of FinCEN files showed that financial records of the former Nigerian leaders were closely scrutinised in relation to investigations about the Malabu OPL245 scandal.

Both men were probed alongside other individuals and companies suspected to have been involved in the controversial scheme.

Details of the probe are part of #FinCEN files, a new investigation by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), BuzzFeed and 108 media partners across the world, including PREMIUM TIMES.

The files are a large volume of confidential financial reports relating to the transaction activities of world leaders, terrorists, drug dealers and money launderers.

The investigation involved 16-month collaborative work involving more than 400 journalists in 88 countries.

The files include a large number of Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) filed by banks and other financial institutions to the U.S. Government as required by the Bank Secrecy Act, with the total amount in suspicious transactions reported being $2 trillion ($2,099584,477,415.49).

Fresh Details

A review of the #FinCEN files showed that individuals pencilled for investigations in connection with the Malabu OPL 245 saga included Messrs Obasanjo and Jonathan, Ednan Agaev (former Russian diplomat and project consultant), Daniel Etete (former Nigerian petroleum minister), Mohammed Abacha (son of former Head of State, General Sani Abacha), Abubakar Aliyu (Abuja-based businessman and property merchant), among others.

The documents indicated that based on a request from FinCEN, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (DBTCA) kept a close tab on all fund transfers related to the named individuals and companies that passed through its network, especially those connected to Malabu OPL 245.

As part of the inquiry, DBCTA conducted a search of its wire transfer database for transactions occurring between January 1, 2010, and June 21, 2013, involving individuals and companies American authorities suspected may have benefited from the Malabu largesse.

This search identified three hundred and ten (310) transactions, totalling $761,263,590.63, sent and received during the period  all in amounts ranging from $300 to $400,000,000.

However, within the period under review, #FinCEN found that there were no transactions involving Mr Jonathan.

There were also no transactions involving Systems Numeric, Novel Properties and Development, Novel Properties, Daniel Etete, Mohammed Abacha and Diane Detalle-Arnold, a British artist whose connection to the Malabu saga remained unclear.

In the case of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, there were also no transactions related to Malabu. The 29 financial transactions associated with him during the period were linked to his charity works, payments for international travels, honorarium for speaking engagements, transfers to family members and payment for other domestic concerns.

Some parties standing trial or testifying in the long-running Malabu trial in Italy have mentioned Messrs Obasanjo and Jonathan as playing some roles in the infamous saga. But the former presidents have consistently rejected allegations they benefited from the transaction or engaged in any wrongdoing.

Mr Obasanjo governed Nigeria between 1999 and 2007, while Mr Jonathan was president between 2010 and 2015. Both men were elected presidents on the platform of the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Other Details

Further checks through #FinCEN, however, revealed details of transactions made by a controversial businessman named in the scandal, Abubakar Aliyu, and some companies through which huge funds were moved.

Mr Abubakar is popularly regarded as the owner of one of Abujas most luxurious buildings and a friend to a number of Nigerian government officials, past and present.

A PREMIUM TIMES report had detailed how former Minister Etete transferred huge funds from Malabu Oil and Gas bank accounts to those of companies controlled by Mr Abubakar.

In 2016, Nigerias anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), filed money laundering charges against him for roles the agency claimed he played in the Malabu $1.1 billion saga.

He is being prosecuted alongside former Minister Etete, a former Attorney General, Mohammed Adoke; Malabu Oil and Gas; and five other companies he (Mr Abubakar) allegedly controls.

He is also being tried in Italy for his role in the matter.

The FinCEN files showed that there were fifty-seven (57) transactions involving Mr Abubakar, totalling $113,336.

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The Bank to Bank Instructions for the transactions included details like Travelling Expenses, Estacode Allowance, Accommodation Fees, Allowance, Feeding Allowance, School Fees for Aliyu Abubakar (B Intl Business Admin) and Upkeep.

Aside from those of Mr Abubakar, other accounts that were checked included those of Malabu Oil and Gas, Rocky Top Resources Limited, AS Sunnah Bureau De Change Limited, Mega Tech Engineering Limited, Megatech Engineering, Megatech Engineering Construction, Mega Tech Engineering and Construct Equipment Est, Pt Megatech Engineering, A Group Construction Company Ltd, and Imperial Union Limited.

The FinCEN papers showed that there were 94 transactions involving Rocky Top Resources Limited, totalling $271,614,022.15.

The Bank to Bank Instructions (BBI) for the transactions included information about Payment OPL 245 Malabu Oil and Gas, Aviation Bombardier Global, Oklahoma account, in favour of m jeanmichel bargiarelli, f of chief dl /etete, among others.

For Megatech Engineering, Megatech Engineering Construction, Mega Tech Engineering and Construct Equipments Est, and Pt Megatech Engineering, there were forty-one (41) transactions totalling $2,011,311.56 sent from January 21, 2010, through May 30, 2013.

The BBI for the transactions included information on Parker Hannifin India Pvt Ltd, Import Financing, Overpayment Refund, Trade Purposes, Chennai Trade Purposes, and Payment For Invoice.

In the case of A Group Construction Company Ltd, there were three transactions totalling $5,174,520 sent from 2011 through March, 2012. One of those transactions, involving $500,000, was sent from Mega Tech Engineering Limited on November 10, 2011, and the BBI indicated Trf Fro Abuja Aminu Kano Way.

For Imperial Union Limited, there was one transaction in the amount of $30,450,000 sent on December 9, 2011. The BBI for the transaction showed Trf Frm Abuja Banex Plaza Br.

In the case of Agaev Ednan, a payment of $200,000 was made to him on May 7, 2012. There was another transaction involving a partial name Agaev in the amount of $200,000 sent on May 6, 2012. The BBI for both transactions indicated Loan Repayment.

Mr Agaev, a middleman and defendant in the case, once claimed Mr Jonathan allegedly received $200 million in the controversial deal, an allegation the former president rejected. The Russian middleman helped negotiate the transfer of the OPL 245 oil block to Shell and Eni.

For OPL 245, there were six transactions with the description NAE OPL 245, and two transactions labelled OPL 245, totalling $11,889,520.50. The payments were made between September 23, 2011, and June 14, 2013.

One of the transactions was initiated by Rocky Top Resources Limited for $6,100,000 and the Bank to Bank Instructions for the payment showed information on Payment Invoices and Payment OPL 245 Malabu Oil and Gas.

There were two (2) transactions named Malabu Oil and Gas Ltd, totalling $406,100,000 and sent on August 23, 2011. One of these transactions was sent from Rocky Top Resources Limited for $6,100,000. No address was listed for Malabu Oil and Gas Ltd in the transaction details. The Bank to Bank Instructions for the transactions indicated Payment OPL 245 Malabu Oil and Gas.

Meanwhile, in another SAR filing, Rocky Top Resources made three transactions totalling $16,999,817. The transfers, made between April 30, 2012, and May 10, 2012, originated from account Number 3610042596 domiciled at a Keystone Bank branch on Adeola Hopewell Street in Lagos. The bank utilized U.S. correspondent bank, Deutsche Bank Trust Co Americas, to remit the funds.

The purpose of the transactions, as stated in the Remittance Reference, is /AE250110090030200009452.

The Malabu Scandal

In 1998, the Nigerian government allocated OPL 245, one of Africas richest oil blocks, to Malabu Oil and Gas, a company formed in violation of Nigerias Corporate and Allied Matters Act.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how officials approved the transfer of about $1.1 billion from the Nigerian governments account in London into Malabu accounts controlled by Mr Etete.

The money was paid by oil giants, Shell and ENI, into a federal government account, for OPL 245, estimated to contain nine billion barrels of crude.

Only $801 million of the money could be transferred to Mr Etetes Malabu due to legal issues raised in a British court by Emeka Obi, a businessman who is also being prosecuted in Italy.

After the transfer to Mr Etete, over half of the money was paid to accounts of the five companies controlled by Mr Abubakar.

Authorities in Nigeria, UK, and Italy accuse Mr Abubakar and other individuals and companies of wrongdoing in the matter, charges they all deny.

Mr Abubakar is alleged to have laundered funds to some politically exposed persons who benefitted from the funds, including officials who served under Mr Jonathan.
COVID-19 reminds us that the economic globalization is an indisputable reality and a historical trend, Xi said. Burying ones head in the sand like an ostrich in the face of economic globalization or trying to fight it with Don Quixotes lance goes against the trend of history. Let this be clear: The world will never return to isolation.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 22)  The Social Welfare Department on Tuesday explained why millions of families havent received their second tranche of the Social Amelioration Program.

Called SAP for short, the governments cash aid is for the countrys 18 million poorest families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and community quarantines.

Social Welfare Secretary Rolando Bautista reported during the agencys budget hearing at the Senate that 3.79 million families have not gotten their SAP.

DSWD has released 99.91 billion to 17.69 million families during SAPs first tranche from April to June. Each family received at least 5,000 up to 8,000.

On the second tranche, however, only 13.90 million families received monetary aid amounting to 83.05 billion, or 16.86 billion less than the first tranche.

Senator Ralph Recto reminded them that they are mandated to give the aid to 18 million families in two tranches under the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act.

Mayroong four million families na nakatanggap [ng] isang SAP lang. And you know, the SAP 2 is even more important dahil yung [nakatanggap ng] SAP 1, nawalan na ng trabaho. SAP 2 continuing din yun, walang trabaho iyang mga yan, the Senate president pro tempore said.

[Translation: there are four million families which received one SAP only. And as you know the SAP 2 is even more important because those who received SAP 1 lost their jobs. SAP 2 is contnuation of that, those people lost their jobs].

DSWD Undersecretary Danilo Famonag said local governments units nationwide have submitted to them over four million less names than the first tranche.

Famonag added that out of the supposed 8.5 million wait-listed family beneficiaries, the LGUs only gave them 5.1 million names for the second tranche of SAP.

He also said that the DSWD has already given several deadline extensions for the LGU officials to submit the complete list of names of beneficiaries but to no avail.

We wouldve wanted to give the SAP to all the 18 million [families]. However, the LGUs have just submitted 14 million [names], Famonag said in response to Rectos queries.

Bautista, meanwhile, said some beneficiaries were no longer included in the SAP 2 since they were given cash aid twice during the SAP 1.

The retired general added other beneficiaries have also received emergency subsidies from the Departments of Labor and Employment and Agriculture.

What we did was those who are identified as double compensation, apparently we did not include them on the second tranche, Bautista told lawmakers.

The remaining funds for the supposed SAP 2 beneficiaries, he said, will be re-allocated to their livelihood assistance fund for 664,726 household beneficiaries.

Each family who has a member working in the informal sector as a vendor will receive 15,000 to restart their livelihood amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The social welfare secretary explained that the Office of the President and the Inter-Agency Task Force told them to do so that they can use the remaining funds.

Some senators, meanwhile, told them to distribute the funds to more beneficiaries since theyve been getting a lot of complaints on the ground.

Senator Nancy Binay said she is wondering why the DSWD was able to save over 10 billion when she thought the SAP funds arent enough to cover all families.

Binay recalled many LGUs were complaining that the funds given to them could only provide for six out of ten families during the Bayanihan One Act hearings.

Parang hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit nagkaroon ng savings na 10 billion eh parang kulang na kulang. In fact, yung mga jeepney drivers natin na na-displace, hanggang ngayon nagrereklamo na wala pa silang natatanggap, Binay added.

[Translation: I cannot understand why there is a savings of P10 billion when it seems there is shortage of funds. In fact, our displaced jeepney drivers up to now are complaining that they have not received (aid)]

Senate Finance Committee Vice Chair Imee Marcos, meanwhile, told DSWD officials to submit more detailed breakdowns of their SAP disbursement for their next hearing.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 10:51:20|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- No new locally transmitted confirmed, asymptomatic, or suspected cases of COVID-19 were reported in Beijing on Monday, the municipal health commission said Tuesday.

The capital also reported no new imported confirmed, asymptomatic, or suspected cases on Monday, according to the commission.

On Saturday, Beijing reported one imported asymptomatic COVID-19 case, the first such case since the city resumed direct international passenger flights on Sept. 3. Enditem




Prosecutors have searched the home and office of Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae's son to investigate allegations of preferential treatment during his military service in 2017, the prosecution said Tuesday.



The 27-year-old, surnamed Seo, lives in Jeonju, 243 kilometers south of Seoul. The raid took place Monday, according to the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors Office.



Seo is suspected of getting a special extended leave during his mandatory military service in 2017 thanks to the influence of his mother, who was then the chairwoman of the ruling Democratic Party.



Choo has denied allegations that she or her husband made a phone call to the military to request extended leave for their son following his knee surgery in June 2017.



Seo was on leave from June 5-27, including two successive medical leaves and four personal vacation days. Opposition lawmakers and whistleblowers have alleged that the extensions were granted without following due procedures.













On Saturday, prosecutors also searched the home and office of a captain who served with Seo's unit at the time, as well as the home of a former aide to Choo.



Prosecutors secured their cellphones and are comparing records of past calls and text messages.



Investigators earlier determined that the two spoke at least three times by phone between June 5 and 27, 2017. They are now looking at whether there were additional calls between them and the possible involvement of a third party.



Seo served his military duty in the Korean Augmentation to the United States Army (KATUSA) for the 2nd Infantry Division of the U.S. 8th Army.



The case has become a hot potato in South Korean politics, as issues of fairness are known to rile up the public.



Choo's predecessor, Cho Kuk, stepped down a month after taking office amid a massive public uproar over alleged admissions irregularities and dubious investments involving his family. (Yonhap)
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 22, ARMENPRESS. At the initiative of Armenias Human Rights Defender, a human rights project in the field of biomedicine will be implemented with the Council of Europe in the CoE space for the first time, the Ombudsmans Office told Armenpress.

Today the first online session of the commission coordinating the action plan Human Rights in Biomedicine took place. The program aims at raising public awareness about human rights standards in the fields of biomedicine and medicine, strengthening the capacities of lawyers, doctors and state structures in applying these standards.

The online session was attended by Ombudsman Arman Tatoyan, First deputy minister of healthcare Anahit Avanesyan and other officials.

The program will be implemented in 2020-2022.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
Photo: CTV News

UPDATED: 11:10 a.m.

The final results of British Columbia's 42nd provincial election may not be known for more than three weeks after election day.

Monday, Premier John Horgan announced the election will occur on Oct. 24, about a year earlier than mandated.

The election will be one of the more unique elections B.C. has ever seen, and a number of new measures will be in place to help keep voters safe.

Tuesday morning, B.C.'s chief electoral officer Anton Boegman said voting locations will have physical distancing measures in place along with sanitizer on site and capacity limits. Election officials will wear personal protective equipment and have barriers set up, while the number of early voting days will be increased to keep line-up sizes down.

Most voters will likely only spend minutes inside a voting place, Boegman said. Casting your vote will be like getting a take-out coffee, or picking up milk and eggs at the grocery store.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many more British Columbians are expected to vote by mail, while those forced to self isolate due to the virus may be able to vote by telephone.

Boegman said upwards of 40 per cent of eligible voters have expressed interest in voting by mail, and in the past 24 hours, 20,000 people have made requests for vote-by-mail ballots. Upwards of 800,000 voters could vote by mail this election.

In past elections, about 90 per cent of votes are counted on election night, resulting in the announcement of projected winners in most ridings. Mail-in ballots and other absentee ballots are required to take a minimum of 17 days to count, to ensure the integrity of the ballots. With substantially more mail-in ballots this election, Boegman says the final results may not be known for about three weeks after election night, although he's unsure of an exact timeline.

Telephone voting is also available for those who have some type of disability that would prevent them from voting independently. Boegman said this option may also be used by those who are required to self isolate due to COVID-19 infection, but it's not available to the general public. Those interested can contact Elections BC for guidance.

Boegman said the pandemic may also make it tougher for Elections BC to find adequate staffing at voting locations, which is why they have switched voting day to a Saturday.

As COVID-19 numbers continue to rise across the province, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry would not speculate on whether it would be safer to hold the election next spring, or next fall. She said she has a high-degree of confidence that the election can be held safely this October using the measures that have been put in place.

ORIGINAL: 8:45 a.m.

Provincial health officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry and B.C.'s chief electoral officer Anton Boegman will hold a joint press conference Tuesday morning at 10 a.m. to outline plans for a safe 2020 provincial election in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The people of British Columbia will be heading to the polls on October 24, 2020, NDP leader John Horgan announced on Monday.



CTV News Vancouver is reporting This morning the plan for a safe election will be unveiled, including plans for physical distancing at polling places.

We know that electoral officials will be required to wear masks and other personal protective equipment and polling stations will be monitored for capacity limits.

Voters will be asked affirm their voting status verbally and mail-in and advanced voting will be encouraged to mitigate long line-ups at polling stations.

-with files from CTV News Vancouver
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Security forces on Tuesday recovered a cache of arms and ammunition dropped by a Pakistani drone across the Line of Control (LoC) in the Akhnoor sector of Jammu division in the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K).

It was the fifth such incident since June 20 when a similar arms-laden drone was shot down by the Border Security Force (BSF) personnel at Rathua in Kathua districts Hiranagar sector.

Also read: Official probing Sopore mans death asks family, public to record statements

Pakistan, which is desperate to fuel terrorism in the UT, has adopted the latest modus operandi of using drones to drop arms, ammunition, drugs and money.

A J&K Police official said that a Pakistani drone dropped arms and ammunition at Sohal Khad -- a dry rivulet -- in Pallanwala, which is located about 12 kilometres (km) from the Akhnoor sector.

The arms and ammunition were dropped in the rivulet and the drone flew back into Pakistani territory, he added.

He said the area was located at a crucial intersection of the LoC and the International Border (IB).

We have recovered a packed bag that contained two AK-47 assault rifles, three AK magazines, 90 AK bullets, measuring 7.62 millimetres (mm), two pistols and pistol magazines along with bullets, he added.

On September 19, a Pakistani drone had dropped arms and ammunition across the LoC in Jammus Rajouri district for three Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants.

The LeT militants had come from Pulwama in the Kashmir valley via the Mughal road and had picked up the consignment before security forces arrested them.

The militants have been identified as Rahil Bashir alias Ayaan Bhai (20) of Tickan in Pulwama; Amir Jaan alias Hamza (25) of Kakapora in Pulwama; and Hafiz Younus Wani alias Zubair (19) of Shopian.

Security forces had seized two AK-56 assault rifles, six AK magazines with 180 rounds of ammunition, two Chinese-made pistols, three pistol magazines with 30 rounds of bullets, four grenades and Rs 1 lakh in cash from the arrested trio.

Dilbagh Singh, director-general of police (DGP), J&K, said though detecting weapons being dropped via drones in hilly areas was a challenging task, security forces were taking counter measures to thwart the nefarious designs of Pakistan-based subversive elements.

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Convicted paedophile John Joe Patterson is released from the Midlands Prison in Portlaoise on Monday morning. Photo by Steve Humphreys.

Two sisters who waived their right to anonymity after their stepfather was jailed for sexually abusing them when they were children have said they fear he will reoffend after he walked free from prison yesterday.

John Joe Patterson (60) was sentenced to eight years in November 2015, with the final 18 months suspended.

He was released yesterday from the Midlands Prison in Portlaoise after serving less than five years.

Yesterday, Emma and Vanessa Witherow, now aged 33 and 29, said he showed no signs of remorse and fear he could be a threat to others.

Mammy

Patterson was found guilty by unanimous verdict at Nenagh Circuit Court in 2015 of 39 counts of sexual assault on Emma, which began when she was aged nine.

Expand Close Emma, Vanessa Witherow arriving at Nenagh Court. Photo: Brian Gavin Press 22 / Facebook

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Whatsapp Emma, Vanessa Witherow arriving at Nenagh Court. Photo: Brian Gavin Press 22

The court heard Patterson would abuse her, then give her 50 and tell her: "Good girl. Don't tell mammy."

He pleaded guilty to one of three counts of sexually abusing Vanessa, who was also nine when the abuse began.

"I'm sick to the stomach that he's back out and could be in the area where we still live," Emma said.

"He showed no remorse and I fear he'll reoffend.

"Five years was a stupid amount of time to be sentenced, considering how he destroyed our lives for ever."

Patterson tried to conceal his identity as he left the Midlands Prison just before 11am yesterday.

Wearing a dark fleece, face mask and flat cap and carrying a plastic bag of belongings, he tried to shield his face from photographers with a file that had his name written across the front of it.

He was driven away from the jail in a silver-coloured car driven by a man who had arrived early in the morning and waited in an adjacent car park.

Despite his crimes, Patterson's wife Frances - the girls' mother - has stood by the paedophile and insisted he is innocent.

Patterson is originally from Cashel, Co Tipperary, but has an address in Kilclooney, Thurles.

He and Frances used to run a Christmas hamper delivery service.

"We don't have a relationship with our mother," Emma told the Herald.

"She has seven grandchildren and will never have contact with any of them. That has been the situation for 13 or 14 years now. We will never speak to her again."

At the time Patterson was sentenced, Emma said her mother "totally denied everything she heard and said I was only attention seeking".

In a desperate attempt to get away from Patterson, Emma left the family home when she was 18, taking Vanessa (13) with her.

Ignored

"I went to my mother for help, as a child should be able to do, but she gave me no help and ignored my plea," she said.

Frances Patterson held her husband's hand throughout the 2015 sentencing hearing, which lasted more than three hours.

The couple have two young sons together who do not see their sisters.

Patterson told gardai his only defence was his wife was ill and he was "under pressure".

Judge John Hannan said he represented "the dark underbelly of Irish family life".

He had "destroyed" the sisters' childhood and their relationship with their brothers and mother.
El Aaiun (Saharawi Republic) 22 September 2020 (SPS)- Saharawi Organ against the Moroccan Occupation (ISACOM- in its Spanish abbreviation), affirmed attachment to the right of the people of Western Sahara to freedom and independence, in its Founding Communique issued Sunday 20 September 2020.

The Organ, which elected Saharawi imminent human rights defender, Ms. Aminatou Haidar, as President, besides the election of an Executive Bureau of 6, and a General Assembly of 33 members, also confirmed that it is committed to the principles and values of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Saguia el Hamra y Rio de Oro aimed at liberating the homeland from occupation and establishing a fully sovereign Saharawi state with free society governed by the rule of law and strong institutions.

It further affirmed commitment to defending the Saharawi peoples rights to freedom, independence and dignity through legitimate non-violent means as stipulated in international frameworks and the African Charter for Human and Peoples Rights based on the protection of all civil, political, economical, social and cultural rights.

Following is a translation in English to the communique originally in Arabic:

Founding Communique of the Saharawi Organ against the Moroccan Occupation

The Saharawi activists, assembled during this Founding Conference, some of whom having had experienced forced disappearance in Moroccan secret detentions camps such as PC CMI, Agdz, Magouna and other prisons; who are recognised for their sacrifices, and experience as human rights defenders, and who pioneered during the last two decades the human rights activism in Western Sahara, including some of the laureates of international prizes for their contribution to raise awareness on the culture of human rights.

Having examined and reviewed extensively the current situation surrounding the Saharawi peoples fate, marked by Moroccan occupying states policy of abuse, dispersion, assimilation and repression, committed with the support of well-known international allies, who are pushing towards an uncertain future in Western Sahara aimed at depriving the Saharawi people of imposing their legitimate choice to freedom and independence;

Convinced by the just cause of the Saharawi people and their legitimate struggle for freedom and independence based on the legal status of Western Sahara considered by the United Nations as a territory awaiting decolonization, parts of which are still under illegal military occupation; Committed to the principles and values of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Saguia el Hamra y Rio de Oro aimed at liberating the homeland from occupation and establishing a fully sovereign Saharawi state with free society governed by the rule of law and strong institutions, an aim that Saharawis have aspired for and sacrificed thousands of martyrs to achieve; Cognisant of the challenges that obstructed the implementation of the OAU-UNs Settlement Plan for Western Sahara over the last three decades due to Moroccos defiance, supported by some UN Security Council members especially France; having repetitively attempted to derail the MINURSO from organising the referendum and reducing its role to protecting the occupation and maintaining the status quo;

Alarmed by the deteriorating human rights situation of all Saharawis in occupied cities of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic, southern Morocco and various universities, becoming a matter of national and humanitarian consciousness, further compounded by the illegal plans of Moroccan occupying authorities for settlements in Western Sahara, as well as preventing journalists, international organizations and other entities from visiting the territory; Further alarmed by the collective punishment of Saharawis by the Moroccan occupying authorities, the systematic and illegal exploitation of their resources, and Moroccos complacency in maintaining the status quo as an attempt to replace the OAU-UNs Settlement Plan with occupation, as well as falsifying the will of the Saharawi people by silencing the voices calling for independence, and other attempts by Morocco to foil demands by Saharawis for freedom and independence;

We, Saharawi activists gathered, having reviewed the conditions establishing this organ, delegated a technical committee to prepare a guiding framework, statute and a code of conduct and henceforth:

 Declare the establishment of a Saharawi entity called: the Saharawi Organ Against Moroccan Occupation;

 Commit to defending the Saharawi peoples rights to freedom, independence and dignity through legitimate non-violent means as stipulated in international frameworks and the African Charter for Human and Peoples Rights based on the protection of all civil, political, economical, social and cultural rights;

 Reject all dubious proposals by Morocco and other local and international parties, which do not ensure and guarantee the exercise by the Saharawi people of their inalienable, imprescriptible and ineluctable right to self-determination;

 Condemn the current continued stalemate given that the MINURSO is a United Nations mission with the mandate to finalize the decolonization of Western Sahara as Africas last colony, and should not turn into a protection platform for the occupation;

 Pledge the Saharawi peoples right to exercise sovereignty over all their homeland as enshrined in international and continental treaties and norms, in particular the relevant United Nations and African Unions resolutions and the 1975 International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion on Western Sahara;

 Call upon all organizations, international and democratic bodies, and people with conscience across the globe to stand by and support our call to liberate all Saharawi political prisoners currently in Moroccan jails, and to put an end to the continued violations of our rights by the occupying state;

 Demand the United Nations and the African Union to immediately intervene to halt the systematic and illegal exploitation of natural resources in Western Sahara by the occupying authorities, as well as multinational companies, countries and other entities responsible for the plunder with the Moroccan regime;

 Demand the international system to put pressure on the Moroccan occupying state to dismantle the military wall of shame and remove all landmines, as well as urge Morocco to sign and ratify the Ottawa Convention on the prohibition of mines;

 Appeal to the United Nations, the African and European Union, and other international and continental bodies, to maintain humanitarian aid to Saharawi refugees who have been suffering displacement and exile from their land since 1975 due to the crimes committed by the Moroccan occupation, as well as the United Nations failure to fulfil its promise and commitment to decolonize their occupied country;

Hereby:

 CALL ON the United Nations, through its General Assembly and Security Council to mandate the MINURSO to immediately conduct the mission it was established to fulfil, which is that of finalizing the decolonization of Western Sahara and organizing a referendum on self-determination, as well as the urgent need to empower the MINURSO, in accordance with international standards given to similar UN peacekeeping missions, to observe and report on the situation of human rights and the exploitation of resources in Western Sahara; which have disastrous consequences for the future generations and grave violation of international law.

 ALSO CALL ON the African Union, all its organs and the Assembly of Heads of State and Government to demand the Kingdom of Morocco, as new member of the African Union, to comply with the principles of the Constitutive Act, in particular the principles of respect of borders existing on achievement of independence, and prohibition of the use of force or threat to use force among Member States of the Union.

 REQUEST the African Union to also respect its own principle of the right of the Union to intervene in a Member State pursuant to a decision of the Assembly in respect of grave circumstances, namely: war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity, which are all crimes committed and continue to be systematically committed by the Moroccan authorities in the occupied territories of the Saharawi Republic, the founding member of the African Union.

 APPEAL to all national organizations and groups in the occupied territories to be steadfast and strengthen the frontlines of the struggle to overcome the challenges in the collective struggle against the plans and policies of the Moroccan regime. ALSO CALL ON the Saharawis to assume the national responsibility entrusted on them and to fulfil their national duty by amplifying the means and ways of calling for an end to the occupation and liberating the territory and the Saharawi people and protect all their rights.

Done in El Aaiun,

Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic

20 September 2020." (SPS)

090/500/60 (SPS)
Chinese President says his country will aim to stop pumping additional carbon dioxide, the main gas, into the atmosphere by 2060.

Xi's announcement during a speech Tuesday to the UN General Assembly is a significant step for the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases and was immediately cheered by climate campaigners.

Calling for a green revolution, Xi said the coronavirus pandemic had shown the need to preserve the environment.

Humankind can no longer afford to ignore the repeated warnings of nature, he said.

Citing the Paris Agreement that he and former US President Barack Obama helped forge in 2015, Xi said his country would raise its emissions reduction targets with vigorous policies and measures. We aim to have CO2 emissions peak before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060, he said.

Many countries have pledged they will aim to go carbon neutral by 2050, including the European Union.

The United States has so far not set such a goal. President Donald Trump, who once describing climate change as a hoax invented by China, has started the process of pulling the US out of the Paris accord.

(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 US coronavirus death toll has passed 200,000, as the number of new daily cases once again begins to increase.

The milestone was passed on Tuesday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University, just over six months after the first death was recorded in the country.

Total confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the US are set to pass 7 million in the coming days, with global cases now exceeding 30 million.

Over the last week, the average number of new daily cases in the US has risen from 34,000 to over 43,000.

The number of new daily deaths, by contrast, has slowed in recent days  reflecting a trend from a few weeks ago when the number of new daily cases saw a brief drop.

(The Independent)

There have now been more coronavirus deaths in the US than there were US combat deaths in the First World War, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the war in Afghanistan, and the Iraq War combined, as well as every terrorist attack, mass shooting and natural disaster ever recorded in the US.

(The Independent)

The death toll is the highest in the world, accounting for more than one fifth of global deaths.

The US also has one of the highest infection rates per capita, with more than 20,000 people per million confirmed to have caught the deadly virus.

The US accounts for 21 per cent of all global cases, despite only having only 4 per cent of the worlds population.

(The Independent)

The seven-day average for daily cases in the US is currently the second highest in the world.

Only India is seeing a higher number of new infections, recording more than 90,000 cases each day over the last week.

(The Independent)

But while Indias case numbers are now dropping, the US is seeing an ominous uptick in new cases.

Since the first wave of the virus hit in March, the US is yet to drop below 20,000 average daily cases.

President Donald Trumps handling of the pandemic has been widely criticised. Last week, Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden accused his rival of almost criminal failures when it came to containing the Covid-19 virus.


SEATTLE (dpa-AFX) - Echelon has partnered e-commerce giant Amazon.com Inc. to launch a new exercise bike at a significantly lower price compared to those of rival exercise bike maker Peloton.



The new EX-Prime Smart Connect Bike, also known as the Prime Bike, made its debut as Amazon's first-ever connected fitness product. The Amazon-exclusive bike, which will give customers access to hundreds of live and on-demand classes, will retail for $499.



'The Prime Bike was developed in collaboration with Amazon, aiming to create an amazing, connected bike for less than $500 and it's proven to be a phenomenal match. Amazon looking to us to partner on their first-ever connected fitness product is recognition of our commitment to deliver quality at a reasonable price-point as reflected in our explosive growth over the last year,' said Lou Lentine, President and CEO of Echelon Fitness.



Echelon is also offering an Echelon United Membership 30-day free trial with the purchase of a Prime Bike. The company noted that riders will have access to thousands of live and on-demand classes, as well as a number of scenic rides.



The Echelon EX-Prime Smart Connect Bike joins a family of Echelon Fitness products, including the Connect EX bike series, Echelon Row and Reflect Fitness Mirrors, as well as a commercial product portfolio. Echelon debuted its first Connect Bike in 2017.



In early September, rival exercise bike maker Peloton said it has added new products to its lineup - a more expensive exercise bike and a lower-priced treadmill - and also reduced the cost of its original exercise bike by 15 percent.



Peloton reduced the price of the original Peloton Bike by $350 to $1,895, with a 30-day home trial for new purchasers.



Peloton launched a new premium model, called the Peloton Bike+, which has added features such as a 23.8-inch rotating HD touchscreen and a four-speaker sound system. The new Peloton Bike+ is priced at $2,495.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de
Amid protest by the villagers, police on Tuesday arrested nine persons, including six women, who allegedly chopped off a womans hair and forced her to parade in the village after branding her a witch in Simdega districts Kolebira block, around 110-km from capital Ranchi, police said.

Simdega superintendent of police (SP), Dr Shams Tabrez, while briefing media persons, said, The victim lodged a complaint on Monday evening. On the basis of her complaint, we set up a special investigation team (SIT). The team arrested all the nine accused in the case on Tuesday.

The incident took place on Saturday at Kombakera Ganjhutoli village in Kolebira block where villagers held a meeting, led by a village priest, and branded a 55-year-old woman a witch.

They alleged that a village boy died a month back due to black magic performed by the woman. The villagers decided to punish her. They publicly chopped off her hair and forced her to parade in the village, police said.

Rameshwar Bhagat, the officer in-charge of Kolebira police station, said the woman, fearing villagers, did not approach the police. Upon receiving information, the police visited the village on Monday and asked the victim to file a written complaint in police station.

The woman filed a complaint on Monday evening. On the basis of her complaint, FIR was lodged against nine named persons and 40 unknown, he said. The accused were booked under various sections of the IPC and under sections 3 and 4 of the Prevention of Witch (DAAIN) Practices Act.

Simdega sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) Raj Kishore said, They left for the village on Tuesday morning. A section of the villagers were protesting police action but we arrested all the nine accused in the case.

All the accused underwent Covid test at Kolebira.

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The husband of late Emmerdale star Leah Bracknell has said he feels his wife's spirit is still alive and she has simply moved to 'another realm' in an interview to mark the year after her death.

Emmerdale star Leah Bracknell lost her battle with stage 4 lung cancer in September 2019 at the age of just 55, three years after her devastating diagnosis.

During an interview on ITV's Loose Women today, her husband, Jez Hughes, 46, suggested the couple have a long distance relationship because she resides in another Shaman world.

He said: 'Her spirit is as alive now as ever...She is in a different world. We did long distance previously. Now it's more distant but that isn't to say death is a defining end. I understand that we move onto different realms and places.'

The husband of late Emmerdale star Leah Bracknell, Jez Hughes, 46, has said he feels his wife's spirit is still alive and she has simply moved to 'another realm' in an interview with Loose Women to mark the year after her death

Leah, who also had roles in A Touch of Frost, The Royal Today and DCI Banks, was diagnosed in September 2016 after rapid weight gain around her abdomen and breathlessness prompted her to seek medical help.

While undergoing treatment, the media personality married her long-term partner Jez in a quiet ceremony at a grade II listed Georgian building in Horsham, West Sussex.

She went on to die three years later after losing her battle with the lung cancer.

Speaking today, a week after the anniversary of her death, Jez said he felt 'deep sorrow and pain' when she passed away: 'Grief is like a monster who brings along a lot of their mates like anger and pain. It's like being physically assaulted, the pain.'

Emmerdale star Leah Bracknell lost her battle with stage 4 lung cancer in September 2019 at the age of just 55, three years after her devastating diagnosis

He said with time the pain he experienced got a little easier to deal with, explaining: 'The places in between the grief get longer. You feel normal and laugh and smile, living life again which brings up other stuff like guilt.

'It can just hit you suddenly, going from completely normal and then it just hits you.

'Over time you go back to a sense of normality so when you're sucked back into the grief it's almost harder.'

He continued: 'Grief is about finding beauty, life can be cruel and cancer is cruel. Being on a grief journey is finding the beauty within that.

'I think that's what Allie did in facing cancer, she found beauty and laughter and love.'

Jez, who is a Sharman, told the panel on Loose Women that he felt her spirit was 'as alive as ever'

He also revealed he watches old episodes of the soap to feel connected to his wife, saying: 'It helps me connect with her. Yes that is before I knew her but obviously it meant so much to her.

'It feels important to connect with that part of her. There's moments, if there's an emotional scene in the programme I know those moments, I know those facial expressions, that touches somewhere deep inside me.'

Before her death, Leah described how she had an 'attitude of gratitude' during her cancer battle.

She was often vocal about her cancer treatment, sharing her experiences in a blog and through interviews.

In the months leading up to her death she wrote 'The Cancer Rebel's Manifesto for Life' to 'reject the notion of being a victim'.

In it, she said: 'I rebel against the fear of cancer, against pity from others and myself, against being defined by cancer, and against being bullied by cancer.'

In her final interview in August 2019, she said that she wouldn't 'let herself live in fear' adding that she was 'just going to have a good life.'

During an interview on Loose Women today, a week after the anniversary of Leah's death, Jez said he felt 'deep sorrow and pain' when she passed away, comparing it to being physically assaulted

Tragic: Lea was diagnosed in September 2016 after rapid weight gain around her abdomen and breathlessness prompted her to seek medical help (left in 2017, right earlier this year)

She said: 'I don't need to go and fulfil a bucket list, that's not my style, I just want to do the things I want to do while I am healthy and strong.

'I won't let myself live in fear, I'm just going to live a good life.'

Speaking about her willingness to speak candidly about her diagnosis, Jez said: 'That was real, it wasn't put on for the telly, that's how she approached cancer and then diagnosis when we were told there's nothing they could do.

'Everytime she faced that wall she expanded. That bravery to look mortality in the face. She made choices to rise above.

'She wanted to be defined by her responses - not her diagnosis or treatment or how long she lived for. She was incredible. She never moaned about that.'

The widow, who calls his wife Allie, a nickname derived from her real name Alison, said he feels it is important to connect to the fact he and Leah had a long relationship and she had a long life before cancer.


Laois and Offaly firms could play a vital role in the battle against Covid-19 which could also secure business and protect jobs if the Government supports the Irish production of personal protective equipment (PPE) need by health service staff, according to a local TD.

Speaking in the Dail, Sinn Fein TD Brian Stanley said 1 billion is being spent by the HSE on PPE with one Chinese company paid 225 million this year for the equipment.

He told the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael McGrath, that there are firms in the midlands and around the country that could do the work.

"There are many small firms, including in my own constituency of Laois-Offaly, that are involved in fabrics and upholstery etc. that could produce masks, gowns and visors, etc.. I am proposing to the Minister that he put in place a scheme through the local enterprise offices to identify companies and to work with local businesses to establish local supply chains and to begin developing the capacity to produce PPE in this country," he said.

Deputy Stanley said more money spent on PPE should be kept in Ireland.

The HSE is forecasting that it will spend more than 1 billion this year on PPE. From Sinn Fein's point of view it is essential that we retain as much of that money as possible in the Irish economy. This means purchasing as much PPE as possible from businesses in Ireland and developing domestic capacity over time. This will help to relieve pressure on the Exchequer, it will stimulate job creation and allow us to recirculate a significant amount of money within the Irish economy.

"Prior to Covid-19, the HSE typically spent 20 million per annum on PPE with little or no indigenous production. It, therefore, makes perfect sense for us to begin to develop our own capacity of PPE supply chains not just for Covid-19 but for post-Covid-19 when the health sector will require a larger supply.

"From the information released by the HSE we can see that only a fraction of the HSE spend is being retained in Ireland. One particular Chinese company, China Resources Pharmaceutical Group, has been paid more than 225 million this year for PPE. We accept that PPE had to be purchased quickly but we should not be facing into a crisis in that way. Surely, we can find a more practical way of providing PPE which represents better value for money," he said.
Kangana Ranaut has taken a sly dig at Deepika Padukone, who is a depression survivor, by tweeting that depression is a consequence of drug abuse." Quoting Times Nows newsbreak, Kangana wrote, Repeat after me, depression is a consequence of drug abuse. So-called high society rich star children who claim to be classy and have a good upbringing ask their manager, MAAL HAI KYA?"

Meanwhile, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) will reportedly issue a summon to actor Sara Ali Khan during this week to record her statement in connection with the agencys probe against the drug syndicate that supplied narcotics to Bollywood. According to the NCB sources, actor Rhea Chakraborty, arrested in the drugs case lodged in connection to the Sushant Singh Rajput death probe, had named her during her questioning by the agency between September 6 and 9. It did not specify in what connection Rhea had named her.

The NCB on Monday questioned Sushant Singh Rajputs talent manager Jaya Saha and celebrity manager Shruti Modi in a drugs-related case for more than five hours. Saha was questioned for over five hours by NCB sleuths over alleged chats related to drugs. An NCB source revealed to IANS that Saha was also questioned about her drug chats with several other celebrities. Shruti Modi was questioned about drug usage by Sushant and Rhea.
Even as the Government ramps up its anti-virus strategy  including 10,000 fines for those who break test-and -trace rules and 10pm curfews for pubs  it is preparing to ramp down its economic one of support.

Protections for businesses unable to pay their rents have been extended until the end of the year. But the furlough scheme is due to stop at the end of October. This will be painful for the five million still relying on it, but it cannot be extended any longer.

We simply cant afford to keep paying such vast numbers of people for jobs that will never return.

This time the Chancellor should be more targeted with his support for businesses and the self-employed. It is now clearer exactly where the virus is damaging the economy  in areas like the arts and hospitality.

Businesses in these sectors could be paid to bring employees back to work  perhaps part time or in job-sharing schemes. The health experts have had their say, tonight we hear from Boris Johnson.

But in the coming days, Rishi Sunak must step up and tell us how he will use the Treasurys clout to soften the coming blow to the economy. There are many good businesses with bright, long-term futures that deserve help. Allow them to collapse now and we will regret it in decades hence.

After 9/11, people declared we would never work in skyscrapers again, or board aeroplanes. So, while market forces should be allowed to prevail in general, the Chancellor must continue to offer a helping hand.

The opposition has an important role to play in encouraging the Government in this direction, too.

In his conference speech today, Keir Starmer launched a more fulsome attack on Boris Johnson and his leadership than we have seen previously. That is welcome as he should be bolder in his criticism  right now we need an effective opposition working full tilt at keeping the Government to its promises and ensuring parliament gets to vote on major decisions.

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Bare-faced commuters

Rules only tend to work if they are enforced. Commuters are told to wear masks on the Tube, but many dont. Why? Unfortunately, too many are allowed to get away with it.

That is unfair on those who use the Tube as a matter of necessity. Many cannot work from home and it is the only way they can get to work. These Londoners are being put at considerable risk.

Ensuring commuters wear masks is an easier rule to enforce than some, too. Fines are in place  theres no reason why they shouldnt be enforced more strongly. At present they are not a big enough deterrent.

Cheers for Spurs fans

Amongst all the doom and gloom, its the little gestures that can make a difference and Spurs legend Gary Mabbutt has touched more than most during these Covid-restricted times.

The former Tottenham captain, a diabetic who has been shielding during lockdown, has spent hours every day ringing Spurs fans on their birthday and is close to completing 1,000 calls so far.

These acts of kindness will have brought light to so many  well done Gary.
A day after West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee called for a nationwide protest against the contentious farm bills, Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar alleged that over 70 lakhs farmers in the state were denied PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme due to the laxity and inaction of the state government.

In a letter to Mamata Banerjee, the Governor alleged laxity and inaction in providing benefits from the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi to over 70 lakh farmers in the state, especially during these stressed times.

Over 70 lakh farmers would have got Rs 12,000 directly in their bank account without any intermediary. There is no rationale to deny this benefit to our farmers as there is 100 per cent contribution from the government of India, Dhankhar said.

State does not incur any financial burden or liability. State government has only to impart details, which it has unfortunately not been done, with no explicable premise or rational approach, he added.

Dhankhar claimed that had the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme been implemented by the West Bengal government, 70 lakh farmers in the state would have benefited of Rs 8400 crores.

All across the country, except in West Bengal, farmers have enormously benefited from the PM-Kisan scheme and so far more than Rs 92,000 crores have been defrayed to them, the Governor said.

Due to inaction of the West Bengal government, our farmers are also deprived from reaping the benefit of the package of Rs 3.5 lakh crore unfolded by the central government during the Covid-19 pandemic. There would have been accrual of benefit to our farmers by over Rs 30,000 crores if the state government had taken an affirmative stance as regards PM-Kishan, Dhankhar added.

The Governor requested the state government to keep the differences aside for the betterment of the farmers in the state.

Confrontational stance at the cost of farmers suffering is indeed worrisome. It is high time this grave injustice to our farmers is redressed so that they come to secure due benefits of the PM-Kisan and the Rs 3.5 lakh crore package like rest of their brethren in the country, he added.
Authorities in the southwestern Chinese province of Yunnan have formally arrested a dissident poet who spoke out in support of the Hong Kong protest movement and his wife on "subversion" charges.



Police in Yunnan's Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture have applied for indictments of poet Wang Zang and his wife Wang Li for "incitement to subvert state power," with the charges citing his recent poetry, essays, interviews with foreign media, and performance art since his last release from prison in 2015.



Wang was taken away on May 30 by police from the Chuxiong Economic Development Zone police department.



According to the U.S.-based Human Rights in China (HRIC), lawyers Lu Siwei and Zhang Lei were able to meet with him on Sept. 17.



"They reported that though Wang was in relatively good condition and grateful for the solidarity expressed by his supporters, he was extremely concerned about his wife and the well-being of their four children," the group said.



A person familiar with the matter told RFA on condition of anonymity that Wang Li's younger sister Wang Xiaomin has also been detained and taken to the police station for questioning after speaking out about the authorities' treatment of her family.



"[Wang Xiaomin] is in such a difficult situation, with eyes everywhere and surrounded by police officers, so the information she has given [me] has been very limited, but what she has sent has been very useful," the source said.



"Maybe she is now in trouble because of this, because she is now incommunicado ... this is the most worrying thing that has happened so far," the source said. "If the authorities really want to silence her, she may never reappear."



"They really don't want anyone hearing about Wang Zang and his family," they said.



'Innovative methods'



Beijing-based rights activist Hu Jia said different regions of China are currently vying with each other to see who can crack down more heavily on dissent.



"They want to show that they each have their own way of protecting national security, and their own innovative methods," Hu said. "They are showing that they will arrest anyone who speaks out of line, and even their relatives if they won't keep quiet."



Dozens of police and officials raided the family home on May 30, pinning Wang Li, the couple's four young children, and Wang Zang's elderly mother to the ground, HRIC said in a Sept. 21 statement on its website.



"[Police] then took the entire family to the police station. Wang Li was interrogated for more than ten hours before being allowed to return home," it said. "Police agents stayed at Wangs home for two days, ostensibly to 'take care of the children'."



The family has been under close surveillance since, with their bank cards frozen and parcels sent by well-wishers intercepted by police.



The charges against Wang Li appear to stem from her speaking out about her husband's arrest via social media and interviews she gave to foreign journalists, HRIC said. She was redetained on June 27.



According to notifications of arrest received by the family in September, Wang Zang and Wang Li were formally arrested by the Chuxiong Prefecture Public Security Bureau on July 3 and July 24, respectively, for "incitement to subvert state power."



Wang Li is being held in the Chuxiong Prefecture Detention Center, HRIC said.



Wang Zang was previously a resident of Beijing's Songzhuang artists' village, and has previously been targeted with repeated forced evictions and a jail term for showing online support for the 2014 Occupy Central movement in Hong Kong.



Reported by Gao Feng for RFA's Mandarin and Cantonese Services. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
Attorney William F. Kelley The need for partnerships by nonpartisan organizations like the NWSBA and the League of Women Voters to inform the electorate and protect the right to vote has never been greater. It is not only our constitutional right, but it is also our responsibility as Americans, Kelley stated.

Attorney Gary A. Newland of Newland & Newland, LLP in Arlington Heights, IL, President of the NWSBA, suggested that the NWSBA partner with the LWV as part of his initiative to collaborate with other civic organizations in the community. Gary believes it is part of the NWSBAs civic responsibility to offer this seminar, stressing the importance of exercising the right to vote by actively participating in our democracy.

Attorney William (Bill) F. Kelley of Kelley, Kelley & Kelley in Schaumburg, IL, is coordinating the Voter Eligibility and Voter Protection seminar and will serve as its moderator. As a past President of the NWSBA, Bill also served on the Board of Governors. Bill has been instrumental in developing the seminar platform and is at the forefront of promoting the non-partisan Voter Eligibility and Voter Protection program. In addition, Heidi Graham, President of the LWV, will highlight the different types of voter resources that are provided by the LWV.

Bill recognizes the League of Women Voters efforts in supporting and promoting the informed exercise of Illinois citizens voting rights. He also appreciates the tireless efforts of NWSBA members over the years in vetting judicial candidates through screening, evaluation, and issuing recommendations as part of the Associations community service.

For more than 40 years, Bill has engaged in voter protection efforts as a volunteer during elections to provide voters with reliable information. He believes attorneys are uniquely positioned to protect this right, yet many might be unaware of the changing voting parameters, especially early voting, absentee/mail-in voting, and curbside voting.

Many NWSBA members will travel to Wisconsin to serve as volunteers for this election. The NWSBA is providing a great service to members who may need to know not only recent changes to Illinois law but also Wisconsin law amendments. With that in mind, the NWSBA has enlisted two presenters: Matthew Flamm will address voter eligibility in light of the Illinois law the General Assembly passed in June of 2020. Hillary Vedvig will speak to Voter Eligibility and Voter Protection issues in Wisconsin.

There is also a real concern among people across the country that voter intimidation may be prevalent in this election. In addition, disinformation could include incorrect polling place locations or hours, plus fraudulent campaign mailers. Bill sees the NWSBAs Voter Eligibility and Voter Protection seminar as an outstanding opportunity to bring clarity to this subject and arm attorneys and citizens with the facts and the laws they need right now to vigilantly protect this precious right.

The need for partnerships by nonpartisan organizations like the NWSBA and the League of Women Voters to inform the electorate and protect the right to vote has never been greater. I cherish the right to vote; I believe it is at the very core of our democracy. It is not only our constitutional right, but it is also our responsibility as Americans, Kelley stated.

About the Northwest Suburban Bar Association (NWSBA)

The Northwest Suburban Bar Association (NWSBA) was formed over 50 years ago by founding members Kenneth G. Meyer, Don Norman, Jim Dowd, and Bill Moore to serve the Northwest Suburban legal community. Since then, it has grown into one of the largest Bar Associations in Illinois, with approximately 600 members. The NWSBA is dedicated to improving the quality of life in the community by inspiring excellence in the practice of law.

To learn more about the NWSBA, visit https://www.nwsba.org/ or call 847-621-2378.
By Akbar Mammadov

Female members of Azerbaijans Karabakh Liberation Organization (KLO) organization have criticized the Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pahinyans wife Anna Hakobyan for organization yet another military training for Armenian women in occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region.

The 45-day military training for Armenian women will be held with the organization and participation of Anna Hakobyan in occupied Azerbaijani territories as of October 1.

The illegal training by Anna Hakobyan with women in the Nagorno-Karabakh territory of Azerbaijan after presenting herself as a peace advocate in the region in 2018 and calling on Azerbaijani women to the "Women for Peace" campaign, shows the hypocritical policy of the occupying Armenian state, the female members of the KLO said in a statement published in local media.

If even women in Armenia are preparing for war, how can we believe that this country wants peace? the statement reads.

The members of the organization said that Armenia has been using the cease-fire regime since 1994 to further expand the policy of occupation, to illegally settle Armenian families living abroad in Karabakh in a bid to delete Azerbaijans traces in the region.

"Armenia has been occupying Nagorno-Karabakh, an integral part of Azerbaijan, for 30 years, ignored the world community's demand for withdrawal, repeatedly committed provocations on the front line with Azerbaijan and made another attempt against the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan in the direction of Tovuz, the statement reads.

The organization urged the international community to put an end to Armenias illegal activities and to and demand the immediate withdrawal of the Armenian occupying forces from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, in line with the resolutions of the UN Security Council and the decisions of the OSCE."

It should be noted that Anna Hakobyan initiated and participated in military training for fifteen civil women in one of the Armenian military units in the occupied Karabakh region of Azerbaijan from 25 August to 31. During the so-called combat preparedness training, Hakobyan and the other women were completely immersed in military life, wearing uniforms, being stationed in their unit and undergoing professional, physical, combat preparedness and first aid training.

---

Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
U.S. President Donald Trump told the United Nations General Assembly that his administration was focused on achieving peace through strength in Afghanistan and Middle East. In a seven-minute-long prerecorded address from the White House on September 22, Trump listed what he saw as his foreign policy achievements  including sanctions against Iran, an economic cooperation deal between Kosovo and Serbia, and U.S.-backed peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban.
It stands to reason you probably wouldn't throw a large house party if you tested positive for COVID-19. But that wasn't the case for some students at Miami University of Ohio.

When Oxford police arrived to break up a large house party hosted by students over Labor Day weekend, officers discovered one student had tested positive for COVID-19 and been ordered to quarantine a week prior. Bodycam video from the Oxford Police Department shows several students sitting on the porch, unmasked, drinking and listening to music, according to report from WOIO.

"I WILL NEVER FORGET THESE WEEKS": Houston ICU doc describes what it's like on COVID-19 frontlines

"How many people are in the house? Twenty people inside? You might want to start clearing out, please," one officer ordered the students in the video.

After running one student's identification, an officer calls him over.

"I've never seen this before, there's an input on the computer that said you tested positive for COVID?" The officer asked the student. The student then informed the officer that everyone at the party has coronavirus.

"How many other people have COVID?" the officer asked.

"They all do," the student answered, gesturing to other roommates.

After the incident, police fined the six men in the house and a guest $500 each.

"This particular case is egregious, but I think for the most part, by in large, the students have been very well behaved," Oxford Police Department's Lt. Lara Fening told WKRC.

According to Miami University of Ohio health officials, more than 1,243 students at the school have tested positive for coronavirus in cumulative cases since mid-August.

Miami University officials say they charge mass gathering citations under endangering public health and safety in the student code of conduct. This violation typically calls for suspension, according to WKRC.

"We take these matters most seriously, and students can face suspension or dismissal for these types of violations," a spokesperson for the university told CBS News.

According to the Miami University health officials, all students returning to campus for in-person learning must be tested for coronavirus before moving into dorms.

"We want to stay safe; we want to be healthy. We want everyone around us to be healthy. We want this town to be thriving. We don't want this town to be shut down again. We want the underclassmen to come back," Fening said.


WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - RCI Hospitality Holdings Inc. (RICK) announced the settlement by the company, chief executive officer Eric Langan, and former chief financial officer Phillip Marshall of a civil administrative proceeding with the SEC and the conclusion of SEC investigation. Former independent board member Steven Jenkins, a Texas-licensed accountant, has also agreed to settle charges concerning his failure to disclose his personal bankruptcy history.



As part of the settlement, the company agreed to a civil penalty in the amount of $400,000, and Langan and Marshall agreed to civil penalties in the amount of $200,000 and $35,000, respectively.



The SEC's order found that, from fiscal year 2014 through 2019, RCI failed to disclose a total of $615,000 in executive compensation in the form of perquisites.



In addition, the order found that RCI failed to disclose related party transactions involving Langan's father and brother and a director's brother.



The order also found that RCI failed to keep books and records that allowed it to report, and lacked sufficient internal controls concerning, these executive perquisites and related party transactions.



Separately, the SEC also reached a settlement with Steve Jenkins, a former member of RCI's board of directors. He failed to disclose to the company that he filed two personal federal bankruptcy petitions.



The order further found that the company was required to disclose in its proxy statements if an officer or director had filed for personal bankruptcy within the past ten years.



Jenkins has agreed, without admitting or denying the SEC's findings, to a cease-and-desist order and to pay a $30,000 civil penalty. Jenkins has further agreed to be suspended from appearing or practicing before the SEC as an accountant, with the right to apply for reinstatement after three years.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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SYDNEY (Reuters) - The Australian operation of Chinese telecommunications equipment maker Huawei Technologies Co Ltd said it would continue to cut staff numbers and investment in the country amid strained relations between Beijing and Canberra.

In 2018, Australia banned Huawei from supplying equipment for a 5G mobile network citing national security risks, a move the company criticised as being politically motivated.

"In simple terms the 5G ban on Huawei has cost us 1,000 high-tech and high-wage jobs from the economy," Jeremy Mitchell, Huawei's chief corporate affairs officer for Australia, said in an emailed statement.

"We have gone from 1,200 staff to fewer than 200 and by next year it will be lower still."

The Australian Financial Review first reported the comments.

Huawei had terminated A$100 million ($72.3 million) of research and development investments in Australia since the 5G ban, Mitchell said.

Huawei last month said it would end its sponsorship of an Australian rugby league club a year earlier than expected due to a downturn in its business. [nL4N2FX13O]

Diplomatic relations between Australia and China have soured this year after Australia called for an independent international investigation into the source of the coronavirus pandemic.

Beijing was angered by the move and has since blocked Australian beef imports, placed dumping tariffs on Australian barley, and launched an anti-dumping investigation into Australian wine.

(Reporting by Renju Jose; Editing by Stephen Coates)
BEIJING, Sept. 21, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- With a theme of "Creativity empowers cities, technology creates the future", the Third UNESCO Creative Cities Beijing Summit explored how culture, creativity, and technology can enhance urban city management. The summit participants stressed the importance of international cooperation across regions.

"Digitalization has been a major game-changer and will certainly remain a key component of a new normal," said Lamia Kamal-Chaoui, Director of the OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, Small & Medium Enterprises, Regions and Cities. "Many cities have adopted smart city tools, especially to deliver municipal service.

"Cities also have the opportunity to reconsider their tourism growth models and explore alternatives to large-scale tourism, by taking advantage of technology to showcase over-visited global attractions and promoting local industries."

Since Beijing was designated a UNESCO City of Design in 2012, its creative industry has become a new source of economic growth. The transformation of Shougang No. 3 Blast-Furnace - the venue of this summit - from a steel structure in an industrial park into an open space for the public, closely aligns with UNESCO's mission and priorities.

Advocating for an open and inclusive city cooperation environment, many leaders stressed the importance of international cooperation during the summit.

Virginia Raggi, Mayor of Rome, stated, "We focus on urban regeneration as a factor in improving the well-being of residents and tourists, and strongly believe in international collaboration. Multilateralism and reciprocity represent the founding values of our democracy."

"If something was clear to all of us, it is that 'no one can be saved alone'," said Enrique Avogadro, Minister of Culture of the Government of the City of Buenos Aires. "We have a unique opportunity to build a new reality and a future different from the one we had in mind. And more importantly, we can do it collectively, listening and giving space to all voices and ideas."

About the Third UNESCO Creative Cities Beijing Summit

The third UNESCO Creative Cities Beijing Summit is held in Beijing during September 17-18, 2020. The summit provides an international platform for discussion and networking, bringing together a diverse set of urban stakeholders, including Mayors and policymakers, representatives from UN agencies, academics and experts, as well as innovators and entrepreneurs. For more information on the summit, click here.

SOURCE Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission
A deal intended to address the Trump administrations concerns about TikToks ties to China was complicated on Monday by a disagreement over whether a US company would control the social media app and the presidents threat to block any agreement that leaves the service in the hands of a Chinese company.

On Saturday, President Donald Trump said he had given his blessing to a transaction that he said would result in non-Chinese investors, including Oracle and Walmart, owning TikTok.

But ByteDance, the Chinese owner of TikTok, threw cold water on that structure Sunday, disputing both Oracles and Trumps characterization of the deal. ByteDance said it would hold a majority share of the new company until it went public within the next year. Oracle said Monday that as soon as the new company, TikTok Global, was created, ByteDance would lose its ownership stake in the service.

Read: US President Donald Trump to 'cut off' TikTok if deal cannot be saved

Asked during a television appearance on Fox & Friends on Monday about the potential that ByteDance would still own 80 per cent of the service, Trump said that the Chinese firm would have nothing to do with it, and if they do, we just wont make the deal.

On Saturday, the Commerce Department delayed for one week a plan to ban TikTok from US app stores while the government reviewed the transaction. If the deal doesnt satisfy Trumps concerns, new downloads of TikTok could essentially be banned in the United States.

Also Read: Trade deal or toughness of US: What the TikTok deal achieved

China could also scuttle the deal.

A spokesman for TikTok said Sunday that ByteDance would hold 80 per cent of the new company until a planned public offering for the service took place on the US stock market in about a year. Oracle and Walmart would hold a 20 per cent stake, the spokesman said. ByteDance echoed that characterization in a statement posted online in China on Sunday, where it said that the deal did not involve a transfer of TikToks valuable algorithm  a detail that is likely to fuel the administrations national security concerns.

On Monday, Ken Glueck, an executive at Oracle, said in a statement that upon creation of TikTok Global, Oracle/Walmart will make their investment and the TikTok Global shares will be distributed to their owners, Americans will be the majority and ByteDance will have no ownership in TikTok Global.
DUBLIN, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --The "Soil Treatment Market - Growth, Trends, and Forecast (2020 - 2025)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The Global Soil Treatment Market valued at USD 36.5 billion in 2018 and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 6.2% during the forecast period 2020-2025. Soil treatment can be used to treat the contaminated soil and convert it into usable agricultural soil. It helps to enhance the performance of the soil and soil fertility as well. This treatment helps in soil conservation and helps to improve soil health. Biological treatment or bioremediation is widely used to remediate soil off organic components like fuel or oils using bacteria to break down the substances in the soil. Although biological treatment is an economical option, it is time-consuming and takes as long as 1 to several months to be carried out. The suitability of bioremediation depends on the contaminants, site conditions, and target levels. The remediation of polluted soil using the microbial process has proven effective and reliable due to its eco-friendly features and the segment is likely to grow further in the coming years.



Key Market Trends



Decreasing Per capita Arable Land and Increasing Demand For Food



The global population is increasing at a rapid rate. According to the United Nations, the global population is likely to reach 9 billion by 2050, a 49% rise in population from the present value. With the increasing population, the demand for food is projected to become double, in the years to come. Supplying food to this growing population has become a threat. On the other hand, due to industrialization and urbanization, the arable land in the major agricultural countries is declining. As per the resource outlook to 2050 released by FAO, only 12% of the global land surface is used for crop production and there is little scope for the further expansion of the agricultural land. Hence there is pressure on the existing arable land to produce more food by using soil treatment products. The FAO in 2011, reported the decline of 54 million ha of arable land, in the developed countries, like North America, Europe, and some of the South Asian countries. The projections of this study foresee a further slow decline in their arable area to 608 and 586 million ha in 2030 and 2050, respectively. Adequate and balanced use of soil treatment products will help in feeding the growing population from the available cultivable land.



North America Is Dominating the Market In Terms Of Revenue



The North America soil treatment market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 6.0% globally in terms of revenue during the forecasted period. The North America soil treatment market is shared by the United States, Canada and Mexico with the United States holding a major share of 30.1% during the forecasted period. The country's awareness about the rising impacts of soil contamination and its efforts to keep the soil clean is leading to the growth of the soil treatment market in the country. Soil loss through erosion and flooding has become one of the most serious problems affecting the environment and the agricultural industry in the North American countries like Cuba. Out of the 8 million hectares of arable land in the country, half of the same suffers from erosion in one way or another. Hence, there is a rising need to protect these soils and the governments of these countries are increasingly investing in soil protection.





Key Topics Covered:



1 INTRODUCTION



2 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY



3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY



4 MARKET DYNAMICS

4.1 Market Overview

4.2 Introduction to Market Drivers and Restraints

4.3 Market Drivers

4.4 Market Restraints

4.5 Porter's Five Force Analysis



5 MARKET SEGMENTATION

5.1 Technology

5.2 Type

5.3 Geography



6 COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

6.1 Most Adopted Competitor Strategies

6.2 Market Share Analysis

6.3 Company Profiles

6.3.1 Bayer CropScience AG

6.3.2 American Vanguard Corporation

6.3.3 BASF SE

6.3.4 Novozymes A/S

6.3.5 Soil works LLC

6.3.6 DOWA ECO-SYSTEM Co.,Ltd.

6.3.7 Isagro S.P.A

6.3.8 ADAMA Ltd. (Makhteshim Agan Group)

6.3.9 Southern Petrochemical Industries Corporation (SPIC) Limited

6.3.10 SA Lime & Gypsum

6.3.11 Soil Technologies Corp.

6.3.12 SWAROOP AGROCHEMICAL INDUSTRIES

6.3.13 SAINT GOBAIN

6.3.14 Rallis India Limited

6.3.15 Ohp Inc.

6.3.16 Agro phos india limited

6.3.17 Terracottem Australasia Pty Ltd

6.3.18 Terramanus Technologies LLC

6.3.19 KANESHO SOIL TREATMENT SRL/BV

6.3.20 Platform Specialty Products

6.3.21 Sardar Bio Chem

6.3.22 International Rehabilitation and Soil Stabilization Services (IRASSS)

6.3.23 UPL Limited

6.3.24 Corteva Agriscience



7 FUTURE TRENDS AND MARKET OUTLOOK



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/7avzc7

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ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

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

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In a quiet office in San Antonio, Texas, a gong rings out. Staff members flood from their offices to clap and cheer, congratulating a client on his daughters graduation from college.

At PAX Financial Group, this mid-afternoon ceremony isnt unusual. Companies define success in many ways, but PAX is dedicated to measuring hope. Because PAX, a financial planning firm, serves people, not investment portfolios, they praise what is praiseworthy in their clients lives, and each milestone is documented in the companys system and observed by the ringing of the gong.

Today, the gong sounded for a father seeing a child graduate from college. Tomorrow, it could ring out to celebrate a business owner retiring well 50 years after launching. Last week, it marked one client paying off her mortgage and another clients decision to donate six figures to worthy causes.

In an industry laser-focused on wealth accumulation, PAX is dedicated to celebrating every step of the stewardship journey. They recognize that more than leaving a legacy, clients are desperate to live one, finding ways to rejoice in today as well as prepare for tomorrow.

Like PAX, many financial institutions across the nation are turning notions of greed and gain upside down. Gospel-centered leaders of wealth-management companies are changing the financial climate and the publics perception of it as they focus on building their clients lives, not just their profit margins.

Living a legacy

Inheritance is what you leave to someone, but legacy is what you leave in someone, says Darryl Lyons, co-founder and CEO of PAX. Living a legacy is much more rewarding, and much more fun, than just accumulating money to leave behind.

A commitment to generosity is revolutionizing the financial planning industry. According to cofounder Joseph Schuetze, inspiring generosity rather than simply pushing toward endless wealth accumulation allows companies to ensure that each clients legacy when theyre goneand their life nowwill be richer. Schuetze credits C12, an organization that compels and equips Christian CEOs and business leaders to achieve excellence with eternal impact, as being a consistent driver behind these choices. He says, C12 isnt afraid to offer tough accountability and push you to live with high integrity.

Its antithetical to this industry to convince clients to give more money away, Schuetze explains. Were actually cutting into our own fees. But we are staking our claim to the ideals of the kingdom of God, not the ideals of the world of finance. PAX goes beyond simply encouraging clients to give to charitable organizations by prompting them to actively engage with those organizations. As a result, clients see their generosity making a difference in the community. They get to live their legacies.

Mentorship and beyond

Doing things together and being for one another is the ultimate way to bring about change, says Travis Penfield, CEO of 49 Financial. Hes certainly seen this to be true in his own life. After a stint in consulting, Penfield was ready to pursue a job that allowed for less travel and more time at home and in his community. Financial advising seemed like the perfect fituntil he noticed that the job retention rates, especially for employees in his age bracket, were shockingly low.

Enter Jeff Davidson, cofounder and co-CEO of Camp Gladiator. Previously, Davidson led in AXA Austin, a provider of financial services for consumers and businesses, and in 2012 he approached Penfield with an irresistible offer. Ill mentor you as a financial planner for the next two years, teach you everything I know, Davidson suggested. Then Ill hand over the reins to you when I step out of the industry.

Penfield took him up on it, and soon he and Davidson shattered previous company records as they proved the value of coupling the dynamism and energy of a new hire with the trustworthiness and expertise of a seasoned investor. Penfield expanded on this innovative financial planning partnership as he founded a new firm, 49 Financial.

The mission of 49 Financial is based squarely on the principle laid out in Ecclesiastes 4:9: Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. In an industry that is often known for a fend-for-yourself mentality, Penfield saw mentorship as the perfect way to counter that culture. His new companys policy of rising together lifts new advisors through the ranks while giving industry veterans a chance to pass on their expertise. An abundance mindset coupled with a discipleship model is radical, simple, and, unfortunately, unusual.

A financial industry molded around mentorship may be a novel concept, but it works. Retention rates and job satisfaction have substantially increased at 49 Financial. But mentorship involves more than sharing trade secrets and hitting performance benchmarks. The 49 Financial model strives to care for the whole person, a philosophy Penfield gleaned from his C12 peer advisory group. Experienced team members teach younger hires how to separate identity from success, celebrate wins and bounce back from losses, and couple values with results. This system creates a culture of high integrity and low burnout, setting advisors up for a long, healthy future in the industry.

When people think of financial advisors, they think of greed and ego, Penfield says. Gratitude is one of our main values for that reason. A grateful heart is the antidote to greed and ego. It shows: 49 Financial is seeing growth in both their returns and their relationships, adding more than 100 team members in a single year. When advisors are able to make choices based on their values and not their bottom line, they can then shift the thinking of their clients, spurring them on to acts of gratitude and generosity in their own lives.

Investing ethically

Many Christians want to integrate their spiritual and financial lives but dont know where to start. What practical choices can we make with our finances today that will make a difference tomorrow?

Beacon Wealth Consultants believes biblically responsible investing is the answer. The company has spent the past two decades researching how to build clients portfolios in alignment with their faith. Beacon Wealth Consultants seeks to protect investors from unknowingly supporting unprincipled companies by implementing a rigorous internal screening process. Theyre not only on the lookout for unethical or problematic business practices but also for companies who are actively improving the world around them, finding new avenues for flourishing, and creating a safer, better tomorrow. Clients can rest assured that companies Beacon Wealth Consultants recommends have been thoroughly vetted.

As for concerns that screening based on ethics rather than profitability will counteract competitive returns, Kayleigh Kulp with U.S. News and World Report confirms that there is no negative financial impact in choosing ethically screened investing. Over the last five years, a composite of the returns from all of the equity mutual funds within the Christian Investment Forum  outperformed the industry average by 77 basis points annually, she wrote.

In addition, Cassandra Laymon, President of Beacon Wealth Consultants, believes that the positive gospel impact helps every penny invested go further. Clients practice a deeper form of generosity consistent with biblical principles when their investments are in companies who give to their communities.

An entire industry is being revolutionized by faith-driven, results-minded owners and CEOs who allow the gospel to shape everything from profit margins to employee practices as they run their business as a ministry. The most exciting thing I see is the heart change among advisors and investors alike and the positive impact biblically responsible investing is beginning to have on publicly traded companies as a result, says Rick Laymon in an online interview with Beacon Wealth Consultants. Living legacies, mentoring the new generation, investing biblicallythese CEOs are part of a movement transforming the marketplace with the gospel, with the satisfaction of their employees and clients speaking for itself.

Jessica Fralin is an author and freelance writer living in Nashville, Tennessee. Her first book, #Stolen, addresses the world of social media and the ways it has shaped our identities in recent years. You can connect with her on social media at @jessicafralin.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi doesnt have to worry about confirming a Supreme Court nominee, but shes got her own drama to deal with.

The California Democrat is under pressure to placate an animated liberal base eager to battle Republicans over filling the seat of the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in the waning weeks before the election.

Pelosi also must attempt to appease a coalition of vulnerable moderate Democrats, desperate for a coronavirus relief deal they see as key to their reelection. These centrist Democrats are worried the Supreme Court fight could overshadow any negotiations, not to mention make the party seem extreme.

Both factions see their priorities as key to delivering Democrats sweeping power in the House, Senate and White House next year. Whether Pelosi can keep her sprawling caucus from splintering in the month before the election will be critical.

Leadership has to try to tend to the many different voices in a big very tent. And I understand that, said Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), a senior member of the House Oversight Committee.

But I think this goes beyond an issue of politics, Connolly added. Its about the future of the country. And thats why I favor robust action that would have been considered really out there  bold  a few years ago.

Since the death of the liberal icon on Friday, Pelosi has carefully sought to temper progressive expectations about the Supreme Court fight without dampening their enthusiasm  and risk depressing voter turnout on the left over the issue.

Liberal Democrats, both in Congress and leading grassroots groups across the country, have been incensed as they watched Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) lock down support for a vote before the election or during a lame duck that could give the court a conservative majority for decades.

Cash is flooding in, and protests have lined the streets of Washington. Activists and even some elected Democrats have begun to talk seriously about packing the courts or an end to the Senate filibuster  historic institutional changes that establishment Democrats have long rejected.

Story continues

Some chatter even emerged on the left of pursuing the impeachment of a Trump appointee like Attorney General William Barr in a last-ditch attempt to slow the process, though progressives in Washington have been far more restrained in their messaging. Senior Democrats have also repeatedly privately dismissed the idea, saying it wouldnt work anyway.

Weve got to talk about whats at stake now, whats at stake in the lives of millions and millions of people, said Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) when asked about liberal calls for court-packing or ending the filibuster. Health care is on the ticket once again. ... This fight touches the lives of every single person in this country.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., questions Postmaster General Louis DeJoy during a House Oversight and Reform Committee hearing on the Postal Service on Capitol Hill, Monday, Aug. 24, 2020, in Washington. (Tom Williams/Pool via AP)

The most progressive voices in the party, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), have clearly articulated their support for Senate Democrats to ultimately strike back, such as eliminating the legislative filibuster and adding justices to the court.

Frankly, I think if Vice President Biden wants to accomplish anything significant in his term, that is what is going to be necessary, the liberal Democrat told POLITICO. If Im Joe Biden and I completely shut down the possibility of expanding the court, I would seriously question what you can even accomplish as president.

But Ocasio-Cortez has also made a concerted effort to stay on message with the Democratic party leadership in the crucial final run-up to the November election.

Over the weekend, Ocasio-Cortez appeared alongside Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) in a New York City press conference, where both insisted that Democrats would keep their options open. And Ocasio-Cortez also said even though Biden hasnt embraced far-left ideas like court-packing, he is at least open to different ideas and she thinks he is calculating correctly.

The demands of the far left could hardly look more different than the centrist wing of the Democratic Party, which is more worried about holding onto their seats in November. They say the partys only response should be talking more about the threats to Americans health care  repeating the playbook that helped propel the party back to power in the House in 2018.

And most centrist Democrats have little interest in heeding demands of outside liberal groups and even some members, which they fear will cause lasting damage to the institution and may only backfire the next time the Republican party seizes power.

We have to focus on right now and protecting health care today, said Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.), who leads the caucus messaging arm. If were privileged enough to win the House, the Senate and the White House, well have lots of opportunities to talk about solutions. But right now, we need to call out the president for what he is attempting to do.

Moderate Democrats were privately furious that some of their more liberal counterparts, like Judiciary Chair Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), would float the idea of expanding the court in retaliation for Republicans ramming through a new Supreme Court justice this year.

And even publicly, some congressional Democrats argue that the vocal calls for scorched-earth tactics right now could have unintended consequences for the party.

Why provide anybody any ammunition at all to attack us for something that is speculative? said Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), a member of the Judiciary Committee. The Republicans would love nothing more than to shift this into an academic discussion about the number of times that the Supreme Courts size has changed.

Pelosi refused to rule out extreme dilatory tactics like impeachment during an interview on ABC on Sunday, saying the House will use every arrow in our quiver to stop Republicans from confirming President Donald Trumps third high court nominee. But Democrats privately shut down the idea of pursuing impeachment. And Pelosi has repeatedly tried to shift the focus to what the Supreme Court fight means for preserving or destroying Obamacare.

Pelosi and Schumer circulated talking points encouraging Democrats to frame the Supreme Court fight in those terms. And Pelosi has repeatedly emphasized the success of Democrats almost singular health care message in 2018.

Pelosi speculated that Republicans and Trump were rushing to fill the high court vacancy to strike down the Affordable Care Act, a move she predicted would backfire on the GOP like the party's effort to dismantle the law in 2018. The Supreme Court is slated to hear arguments in the Trump administration's challenge to Obamacare the week after the election.

You overturn the Affordable Care Act, you overturn preexisting conditions, 2018 will be a way of life for Republicans, Pelosi told Democrats on a private call Tuesday, according to sources on the call.

Many moderate Democrats have already made health care a top issue in their reelection campaigns this fall.

But theyve also begun to feel the intense pressure on another issue: economic relief for tens of millions of Americans whove been left struggling as the U.S. economy sputtered over the last six months due to the pandemic.

People in my district are worried about their pocketbooks and their kids, Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), a frontliner, said in an interview Tuesday. And while they feel very strongly about the importance of a lifetime appointment  they want to know when the next Covid emergency relief bill is gonna be here, they want to know how they can get masks and supplies to keep their businesses open, they want to know whats happening with unemployment.

Democrats in the most competitive races have begun vocally pressing Pelosi and her leadership team for more dramatic steps on a coronavirus relief package. More than 20 Democrats, including Slotkin, signed a bipartisan letter to Pelosi and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) on Tuesday urging them to keep lawmakers in Washington until a relief bill can be passed  even if it means less time to campaign before November.

This should be our number one priority in the coming days, lawmakers wrote in the letter, which was first reported by the New York Times and obtained by POLITICO.

At least a dozen Democrats are also privately discussing joining a GOP discharge petition that would force a vote on additional aid for small business grants, known as the Paycheck Protection Program. That includes Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.), Anthony Brindisi (D-N.Y.) and Jared Golden (D-Maine)  all facing tough reelection battles this fall.

In one sign of hope, Pelosi told her members in a private call on Tuesday that shes still pushing to secure a pandemic aid package with GOP leaders  regardless of the intense discussions over the court across the Capitol  with hopes of delivering relief before the election.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) told members on Tuesday they should be expected to remain in town next week and he is keeping the schedule open for a potential vote.

Getting into these beltway arguments, in this bubble, when people are hurting, small businesses are going out of business every day for good.  What are we quibbling about here? said Rep. Kathleen Rice (D-N.Y.), referring to the debate over court-packing and nuking the filibuster.

Theres still an alarming rate of Covid positive tests in this country. I just think its a little premature to talk about what Democrats are gonna do in the Senate in January.
Sen. Ed Markeys recent call to bar police from using weapons of war and ban tear gas, rubber and plastic bullets and bean bag rounds amid weeks of protest in U.S. cities prompted criticism from the Massachusetts Police Association, whose leader urged Markey to step down after the slap in the face to law enforcement.

In a statement, the 18,000-member organization denounced Markeys Sept. 14 tweet, which asserted that Portland police routinely attack peaceful protesters with brute force. In a letter to Markey, James R. Guido, president of the police association, made the case that police have been battling disrespectful outright lawless rioters nightly in Portland and throughout the country.

It is hard to fathom that a United States senator could make such an outrageous statement that is non-factual and a slap in the face to the men and women of law enforcement who put their lives on the line everyday protecting their communities, Guido wrote. There is a difference between peaceful protesting and what is actually taking place in Portland, which could be considered domestic terrorism in our own country."

John Walsh, Markeys campaign manager, argued Markeys position was about protecting Americans.

Its about removing weapons of war from our neighborhoods and communities, Walsh said. Senator Markey, with Senator Bernie Sanders, introduced legislation that would prohibit federal, state and local law enforcement officers' use of tear gas and rubber bullets by banning federal officers' use of riot control agents and kinetic impact projectiles. This legislation is in keeping with the Chemical Weapons Convention, to which the U.S. is a signatory, which bans the use of riot control agents  including tear gas  in warfare."

The Democratic senators calls for police reform have become an early flashpoint in his race against Republican challenger Kevin OConnor. OConnor, an attorney and small business owner, said in a statement that brave members of our law enforcement community put their lives at risk every day to ensure our neighborhoods and communities are safe, but liberal Ed Markey is taking his hostility towards police officers to a whole new level.

The Markey campaign declined to respond directly to OConnors comments. The pair will take the debate stage on Monday, Oct. 5 on GBH.

Guido, whose organization offers a legal defense fund and other support to police officers and their families, added that he had backed the senator throughout his lengthy career in Congress, but now calls on him to step down, suggesting hes out of touch with the American people.

Portland police routinely attack peaceful protestors with brute force. We must disarm these officers, and every other police department in America, of weapons of war, and enact a nationwide ban on tear gas, rubber and plastic bullets, and bean bag rounds. https://t.co/PDZcjhmSLB  Ed Markey (@SenMarkey) September 14, 2020

Since the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May, which sparked protests across the country and in the Bay State, Markey has called for expansive police reforms to prevent excessive force and to eliminate qualified immunity, which shields government officials, including police, from being sued for on-duty actions.

In June, a Suffolk University poll released by GBH, MassLive, The Boston Globe and the State House News Service showed compelling signs that the majority of Massachusetts residents support protesters and wants police reform. Strong majorities called for bans on officers using chokeholds, military-style vehicles, tear gas and rubber bullets. Half of those polled believed police budgets should be reduced, and money transferred to social services," compared to 41% who did not.

The city of Portland has been embroiled in both violence and politics, with President Donald Trump routinely blaming unrest on Democratic leadership. The president in July ordered a surge of federal agents in Portland and several other cities amid violence.

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Lauren Pasquale Bartlett Their leadership has been instrumental in helping to rapidly deploy nurses to critical needs throughout the country during times of crisis such as hurricanes, census spikes and most recently the COVID-19 crisis."

Fastaff Travel Nursing and U.S. Nursing Corporation announce the inclusion of two key executives  Michelle Savell and Lauren Pasquale Bartlett  to Denver Business Journals prestigious C-Suite awards list. Both Savell and Bartlett were honored at the September 21 virtual celebration.

I am thrilled to see the accomplishments of Michelle, Lauren and their teams recognized by the Denver Business Journal and other professionals for their exceptional performance, said Bart Valdez, chief executive officer at Fastaff and U.S. Nursing. Their leadership has been instrumental in helping to rapidly deploy nurses to critical needs throughout the country during times of crisis such as hurricanes, census spikes and most recently the COVID-19 crisis. I couldnt be more honored to work alongside such accomplished executives. 

The 2020 C-Suite Awards honor the CFOs, COOs, CMOs, CLOs, Regional Managing Partners and other senior executives throughout the metro Denver area who have demonstrated vital leadership and business acumen to guide their companies to success this year.

Savell serves as the senior vice president of U.S. Nursing and has been with Fastaff/U.S. Nursing for more than six years. She has led teams in a variety of key production roles, including recruiting operations and account management, and in her current role leading the critical and dynamic U.S. Nursing healthcare strike replacement business. Savell is a driver of innovation for the company from people, process and technology, and has transformed the way the company provides healthcare staffing during job action events. She recently led the digitization of a 100% virtual induction process for hundreds of nurses in two simultaneous nursing strikes in California and Illinois, as a precautionary measure to limit the spread of COVID-19.

As senior vice president of marketing, Bartlett is responsible for the strategies and efforts to strengthen the companys unique market position as a category of one, and for the long-term viability of a diverse and experienced healthcare provider database. She advises the CEO and other executives on matters of strategic marketing and long-term growth, brand differentiation, publicity, crisis management and corporate and employee communications. Since her arrival in 2015, Bartlett has driven several major initiatives, including a company-wide brand definition movement, the introduction of an integrated digital marketing strategy and an ongoing acquisition effort that has doubled the size of the database in the midst of a compounding nursing shortage.

Together, and with the rest of the Fastaff and U.S. Nursing leadership team, Savell and Bartlett are fortifying the unique market position held by both brands within the travel nurse staffing industry.

About Fastaff Travel Nursing:

Almost 30 years ago, Fastaff pioneered the practice of Rapid Response travel nurse staffing. Since then, the company has grown to become the leading provider of urgent and crucial temporary nurses to help hospitals provide continuous, high-quality patient care, while offering premium pay to nurses. In partnering with many of the nations largest and most prestigious healthcare facilities as well as small community hospitals, Fastaff provides enriching employment opportunities to nurses while also providing the highest pay in the industry to meet acute staffing needs and provide unparalleled patient care.

Visit http://www.fastaff.com for more information and connect with Fastaff on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn.

About U.S. Nursing

Since 1989, U.S. Nursing has been working with healthcare facilities and nursing professionals to provide turnkey staffing solutions during labor disputes. U.S. Nursing has staffed or helped avert more than 95% of all healthcare labor disputes nationwide, and is the pioneer and industry leader for comprehensive services throughout strike preparation and implementation.

When facing an organized labor strike, U.S. Nursing helps facilities negotiate from a position of strength. In the event of a job action, U.S. Nursing will provide a core group of proven healthcare professionals -- ensuring continuous, quality patient care.

Visit http://www.usnursing.com for more information.
A serial fraudster and convicted stalker who pretended to be an airline pilot to obtain a bank loan for more than 40,000 was jailed yesterday for 18 months

A serial fraudster and convicted stalker who pretended to be an airline pilot to obtain a bank loan for more than 40,000 was jailed yesterday for 18 months.

David Nevin (46), who had been living in a high-end apartment in the Malahide area of the capital but is originally from Terryglass, Nenagh, Co Tipperary, was handed the jail sentence by Judge Elma Sheahan at Dublin Circuit Court.

Judge Sheahan noted the offences showed a significant degree of planning and premeditation.

She said they were indicative of an "aspirational lifestyle" and had not been committed out of "dire necessity" but were an attempt to "enjoy the high life".

Expand Close David Nevin posed as an airline pilot as part of his schemes / Facebook

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Payslips

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard Nevin, who has 20 previous convictions, used fake bank statements and payslips to obtain the loan and a car in his attempts to live it up.

Detective Garda Mark O' Riordan outlined the facts of the case at a previous court hearing.

These included an incident in July 2017 when Nevin secured a loan from Bank Of Ireland by providing a false AIB statement that claimed he was being paid more than 8,000 a month as a pilot for Etihad.

Nevin also pleaded guilty to inducing the handover of a car at Leaseplan, Turnpike, Road, Ballymount, on June 14, 2018.

He further admitted using a fake AIB personal bank account statement at Leaseplan Fleet Management Services on May 28, 2018, with the intention of inducing another to accept it.

Nevin also pleaded guilty to attempted deceptions at KBC, Sandwith Street, Dublin, in relation to the use of a false payslip in the course of a credit card application, and at Audi Athlone, Co Westmeath, on June 7, 2018 in relation to the sale of an Audi A5 car.

The court heard Nevin has so far repaid 5,500 and had brought 1,000 to court yesterday.

Judge Sheahan noted Nevin had cooperated with the garda investigation.

She took into account difficulties in his background outlined in a psychiatric report and that he wished to rehabilitate and work in the future.

The judge noted that his guilty plea was of value to the court "in these unusual times".

She added, however, that there was a clear pattern of offending, and he had reached a point where a custodial sentence was inevitable.
In one of the most crucial battleground states in the country, Democrats have prevailed in a series of critical court fights aimed at increasing ballot access in population-rich Philadelphia.

Last week, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled on a series of measures that would effectively expand vote-by-mail opportunities. Ballots were given an extra three days after Election Day to arrive at election offices and still be counted. Officials are no longer allowed to immediately reject ballots if they think the signature does not match. And voters can now use drop boxes to return their ballots.

The rulings were among a series of successful court fights Democrats have had in dozens of states, which could potentially create a narrow but critical edge in the 2020 election.

Ed Rendell, the former governor of Pennsylvania and former chairman of the national Democratic Party, told ABC News the rulings were critical in their ability to expand voting access in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, and said they would have a positive effect for Democrats, who use mail-in-voting more than Republicans do. Rendell said the Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision was backed up by "the facts and the law, and it was made with the idea to make it easier to vote."

"Shame on anybody who wants to keep a system in place that makes it harder for people to vote," Rendell said.

The fight in Pennsylvania is far from settled. A lawyer for the Trump campaign told ABC News they are prepared to appeal up to the U.S Supreme Court, if necessary. A separate lawsuit by the Trump Campaign seeking to remove drop boxes in the state and lift bans on poll watchers traveling over county lines is eligible to resume proceedings on Oct. 5 after a federal judge, who was appointed by President Donald Trump, put the case on hold in August in order to give the state courts time to address or narrow the issues raised by the campaign and the Republican party, according to The Associated Press.

Story continues

The attacks on the vote-by-mail system and the changes to requirements and deadline can have a dizzying effect on voters who need or want to utilize the system this election season as the coronavirus pandemic continues, and could cause distrust in the system. According to a recent ABC News/Washington Post poll, 49% of registered voters see voting by mail as vulnerable to significant levels of fraud, even though there is no evidence to support it.

(MORE: Heres what to know about mail-in voting for November)

As tensions over mail-in-ballots rage and dozens of lawsuits from both parties over election laws make their way through courts across the country, the intense legal battle in Pennsylvania is seen as crucial to the election. A new FiveThirtyEight analysis ranked Pennsylvania as possibly "the single most important state of the presidential election" with a 31% chance of being the tipping point state that clinches a victory for either Trump or former Vice President Joe Biden.

The latest Monmouth Poll in Pennsylvania from Sept. 2 showed a tight race: Biden leads Trump by just 4 points in the state among all registered voters, a slim margin that narrows even more among likely voters to just 1 to 3 points, depending on turnout.

Democrats have seen successes in courtrooms elsewhere as well.

A Georgia court issued a ruling last month extending the deadline for ballots to arrive at polling locations by three days. In Mississippi, a judge ruled on Sept. 2 that voters with underlying medical conditions would be allowed to vote absentee, according to the American Civil Liberties Union, reversing a statewide restriction. In Harris County, Texas, a judge ruled officials can send all voters mail-in-ballot applications, a move that President Trump has repeatedly decried. In Michigan, a judge last week extended the deadline that mail in ballots can arrive by to after the election.

Last week, a federal judge blocked a Tennessee law which barred first-time voters from voting by mail unless they showed identification in-person at an election office beforehand, according to the Associated Press.

And on Monday alone, Democrats notched two more wins: A judge in Nevada dismissed a Trump campaign lawsuit challenging the state's effort to send every voter an application for an absentee ballot, and a Wisconsin judge gave ballots almost an extra week to arrive as long as they are postmarked by election day.

And on Saturday, just one day after the Pennsylvania ruling, a South Carolina court struck down the state's witness requirement, which forces voters to have a separate witness sign their ballots. It was the party's "fifth victory for the week," according to Democratic Party attorney Marc Elias.

PHOTO: Mail-in primary election ballots are processed at the Chester County Voter Services office in West Chester, Pa., May 28, 2020. (Matt Rourke/AP, FILE)

"After today's string of decisions, we are down to 31 pending lawsuits in 16 states--all of which need to be decided by November," Marc Elias, a Democratic lawyer, tweeted Friday after the Pennsylvania ruling. "It is going to be a very busy few weeks."

An RNC spokesperson pushed back on the idea that Democrats had been gaining an election edge through court actions, noting that numerous decisions had come from what they called "friendly" courts and betting on a win in an appeal.

"Many of their 'wins' have relied on half-hearted defenses from politically motivated state officials," the spokesperson said.

Matthew Morgan, Trump campaign general counsel, told ABC News that Republicans are also seeing decisions that they consider important to their efforts. Morgan pointed to a ruling in Pennsylvania last week in which the court blocked third-parties from delivering ballots on behalf of voters, or so called "ballot harvesting," an issue central to Republican's concerns over mail-in voting.

According to Democracy Docket, a platform that tracks election-related litigation around the country, election-related suits are still being litigated in critical battleground states including Florida, Michigan and Wisconsin.

The Republican Party is involved in about 40 election-related lawsuits around the nation, according to an RNC spokesperson, and has committed to spending $20 million on litigation efforts.

"Democrats are determined to remove every safeguard on absentee ballots that ensure the integrity of the process," Republican National Committee Spokesperson Mandi Merritt told ABC News in a statement, "and the RNC will continue to intervene to hold Democrats accountable."

Alex Conant, a political consultant and longtime Republican communications strategist who most recently worked on Marco Rubio's 2016 president campaign, said the outcome of these court battles could be critical.

"The rules are being written as we are holding the election," Conant said "Depending on how you write the rules, it's going to advantage one party over the other ... If it's a close election like it was in 2016, a couple thousand votes makes a huge election."

Information on how to vote in each state in the 2020 presidential election is available from FiveThirtyEight.

Court rulings around the country are giving voters more ways to cast ballots. Dems hail the decisions; GOP files appeals originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Posters that have been stuck up on the walls in Bengaluru.  DC Photo

Bengaluru: A massive anonymous poster campaign, alleging Rs 2000 crore corruption by the government during COVID-19 pandemic surfaced in various parts of Bengaluru city on Sunday night, just hours before the Legislature session started.

Though no organisation has claimed responsibility for sticking posters, it has clearly mentioned that the government had looted over Rs 2000 crore in the name of fighting COVID-19 and pushed the State to brink of economic disaster.

"The government, which came to power through money, for the sake of money and with intention of making money has looted the state to the tune of Rs 2000 crore in the name of tackling COVID-19. The government has made money over dead bodies of the people and in the name of Corona Warriors. This government is infected with corruption," the posters read.

The posters were mainly found near Mekhri circle, Palace road, TV tower road, Shankar Mutt, Kamakshipalya and areas surrounding Rajajinagar.
Lucknow, Sep 22 : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has announced that the entire Kashi area would be developed as a model of development and tourism.

He said that Varanasi is fast emerging as a hub for agriculture export, silk and handloom production and export, health and tourism.

Yogi Adityanath said that a record developmental work had taken place in the state during the last over three years, but the special interest of the Prime Minister, coupled with the coordinated efforts of the Centre and the state, has ensured unprecedented infrastructure development in Varanasi.

The Chief Minister, while addressing a review meeting, late on Monday night, said that Varanasi has got a global identity with a perfect mix of religion and spirituality with modern development.

The multimodal connectivity by road, air and rail has facilitated tourists from all over the world to visit Kashi, which is said to be the abode of Lord Shiva.

He said that in view of tourism, the heritage signage, ghat revitalization and facade improvement of 84 ghats, cultural upliftment of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple and ghats, tourism facilities in the Dashashwamedh ghat and development of a market complex are some of the development works being undertaken in Varanasi.

The Chief Minister asked the officials to speed up the sewer projects under the AMRUT scheme in Varanasi, Jaunpur and Ghazipur. The construction and beautification of parks is being taken up under the AMRUT scheme as well.

During the meeting over video conferencing, the Chief Minister interacted with the ministers and elected representatives of the area and took their feedback.

The Chief Minister said that the network of Expressways in the state will give impetus to the overall development.

The Purvanchal Expressway in Ghazipur will give a new dimension to eastern Uttar Pradesh and the state's infrastructure.

Emphasizing on the quality of work and maintenance of the timeline of all the projects, he pointed out that any delay in the developmental works unnecessarily escalates the project cost.

"Every project should be undertaken on a fixed timeline while observing all the quality norms. It is extremely important that work is given to such agencies which have sufficient manpower and capacity to execute the work on time. The utilization certificate should be made available after completion of 75 per cent of the work so that the remaining funds may be released timely," he added.
Jill Biden's ex-husband has said he was 'betrayed by the Bidens', claiming once again that he was still married to Jill when she met Joe, and denying the well-publicized story of the Bidens' meeting on a blind date.

Bill Stevenson, 72, told Inside Edition on Monday night that the Bidens' fairytale story of meeting on a blind date, shortly after Jill finalized her divorce and while Joe was dealing with the trauma of his first wife's death in a car crash, was a lie.

Stevenson had told DailyMail.com the story in an exclusive interview in August.

During tonight's interview, host Steven Fabian asked Stevenson: Is the story of the blind date true?

'No, not even a little bit,' he replied.

Bill Stevenson spoke to Inside Edition to claim that his ex-wife Jill had an affair with Joe Biden

Stevenson told Steven Fabian (right) the story of the Biden's blind date meeting was untrue

Stevenson married Jill in 1970, and two years later he said they worked on Joe's campaign

Jill and Joe Biden insist that they did not begin dating until after her divorce, in 1975

Stevenson is about to publish an as-yet untitled book that he says will blow the lid off the sham story.

Stevenson insisted that he and Jill were still married when Jill met Joe - and that they met three years before the Bidens claim.

'I was betrayed by the Bidens. Joe was my friend; Jill was my wife,' he said.

Stevenson met Jill in August 1979, and the pair married six months later, when Jill was 18 years old.

Stevenson, who ran a celebrated rock venue in Wilmington, Delaware, said that he introduced Jill and Joe in 1972.

At the time, Joe was a council member campaigning for the U.S. Senate, and was married to his first wife, Neilia.

'I threw a fundraiser for him in August, raised between $2,500 and $3,000,' said Stevenson.

'I introduced Joe to Jill in 1972. Right before the election, in '72,

'Jill, Joe, Neilia and I were in his kitchen. How do you forget that?'

Neilia Biden would die four months later, in a car crash in December 1972.

Stevenson said he first suspected Biden and Jill were having an affair in August 1974. He was then 26, Jill was 23 and Joe was 31.

At the time Biden was married to his first wife Neilia who died along with their one-year-old daughter Naomi in a car crash between the election and Biden taking his Senate seat. Pictured: Biden, with both of his sons during an appearance at the Democratic state in summer of 1972. At center is his wife Neilia, who was killed in a car crash that December

Stevenson said he first suspected Biden and Jill were having an affair in August 1974. He was then 26, Jill was 23 and Joe was 31. 'Then one of her best friends told me she thought Joe and Jill were getting a little too close. I was surprised that she came to me.' Pictured: Jill and Joe in 1987

Joe and Jill Biden are pictured in February 1988 at the Walter Reed medical center

Bruce Springsteen was due to play at Stevenson's venue, The Stone Balloon, and Stevenson had to go to northern New Jersey to pay him in advance.

'He told the show he asked Jill to go with him and she said no  something he vividly remembers.

'She said Joe asked me to keep an eye on the boys,' he said. 'I thought, hmm...'

In October, he said he was certain Jill was having an affair.

Their car, a brown Corvette, was involved in a crash in May, he discovered, and, surprised, he asked the man who informed him about the crash for details.

'He looks at me and says oh, she wasn't driving.

'I said, her beloved Corvette, she wasn't driving? He said, no, Senator Biden was driving.'

Stevenson said he then confronted Jill, and asked her if she was having an affair with Biden.

'She didn't say anything - she just looked at me,' he recalled.

'I said you have to go. You have to get your own place.'

The Bidens are pictured on September 11 en route to a memorial service in Shanksville, PA

The way the Bidens tell their story, Joe saw a picture of Jill in March 1975  after her marriage crashed  and they went on a date and have been together since

Stevenson and Jill divorced in May 1975.

Jill and Joe say that they did not meet until March 1975, when the divorce was nearly finalized.

'It's years ago, but guess what - it's so current right now. Because he is picking on people about character,' said Stevenson.

'I've said from the very beginning that I have no hard feelings, about Joe, Jill, the affair. But if I don't do it now, it's never going to be able to be brought up.'

Stevenson said he voted for Barack Obama, but will vote for Donald Trump in November, because he agrees with his stance on backing the police.

Jill Biden's spokesman dismissed Stevenson's claims.

'These claims are fictitious, seemingly to sell and promote a book. The relationship of Joe and Jill Biden is well documented.'
G ene expression data m a y explain differences in clinical adverse event profiles of FGFR inhibitor s

A ntitumo r activity of derazantinib in preclinical cancer models with F GFR aberrations support s planned gastric cancer study

Full resultsfrom the completed phase 1 study in patients with brain cancer underscores the potential for lisavanbulin to be developed in a targeted patient populationusing end-binding protein 1 (EB1) as a patient selection criterion





Basel, Switzerland, September22, 2020

Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. (SIX: BSLN) today reports on several e-posters with new preclinical and clinical data on its fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) inhibitor derazantinib and its tumor checkpoint controller, lisavanbulin, presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Virtual Congress 2020, which took place from 19-21 September, 2020.

A preclinical study showed that treatment-specific gene expression patterns in tumor models may help elucidating the biological processes driving differences in the clinical adverse event profiles of FGFR inhibitors. Moreover, the results from this study may explain low rates of adverse events reported with derazantinib for retinal events, mucositis and nail toxicities.

Results from a series of preclinical efficacy models of breast, colorectal, head & neck, lung, ovarian and gastric cancer with confirmed FGFR1-3 genetic aberrations, showed that FGFR2-fusion-positive gastric cancer models were particularly sensitive to treatment with derazantinib. In addition, gastric and lung cancer models showed the strongest correlation of FGFR1-3 expression versus the anticancer activity of derazantinib. The results support the planned clinical investigation of derazantinib in gastric cancer as its next indication.

Full results from a phase 1 study with once-daily oral lisavanbulin in adult patients with recurrent glioblastoma (GBM), or high-grade glioma, showed an overall clinical benefit rate of 44% at six months at daily doses of 25-30 mg. There was an exceptional long-lasting response in a patient, whose tumor tissue was positive for end-binding protein 1 (EB1), a previously identified response predictive biomarker for lisavanbulin in preclinical studies. A phase 2 expansion study will be initiated shortly, which will use EB1-positivity as a patient selection criterion.1 Lisavanbulin is dosed at the recommended phase 2 dose of 25 mg/day in this phase 2 study in patients with recurrent GBM. The prevalence of EB1-positivity in GBM is estimated at 2-5%.

Dr. Marc Engelhardt, Chief Medical Officer, said: "The results presented at ESMO support our differentiation strategy for derazantinib, which is based on its unique kinase inhibition profile and its clinical safety profile. They also provide the preclinical rationale for our decision to initiate a clinical study of derazantinib alone and in combination with other therapies in patients with advanced gastric cancer. The full results from the completed phase 1 study with lisavanbulin underscore its potential to be developed in a targeted patient population. Our initial focus will be on glioblastoma. We may decide to explore other tumor types upon achieving clinical validation of EB1 as a response-predictive biomarker in glioblastoma."

The following e-posters were presentedat ESMO Virtual Congress 2020: Presentation # Title 1960P Differential induction of gene expression may explain differences in reported adverse event profiles between the FGFR-inhibitors derazantinib and erdafitinib: an analysis in safety relevant normal tissues from urothelial cancer (UC) patient-derived mouse xenograft (PDX) models. 541P Derazantinib (DZB), an oral Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor inhibitor (FGFRi), shows promising activity in PDX-tumor models with aberrations in FGFR1-3 382P The potential utility of end-binding protein 1 (EB1) as response-predictive biomarker for lisavanbulin: Final results from a phase 1 study of lisavanbulin (BAL101553) in adult patients with recurrent glioblastoma (GBM)

For further information, please visit https://www.esmo.org/meetings/esmo-virtual-congress-2020

About derazantinib

Derazantinib is an investigational orally administered small-molecule FGFR kinase inhibitor with strong activity against FGFR1, 2, and 3.2 FGFR kinases are key drivers of cell proliferation, differentiation and migration. FGFR genetic aberrations, e.g. gene fusions, mutations or amplifications, have been identified as potentially important therapeutic targets for various cancers, including intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA), urothelial, breast, gastric and lung cancers.3 In these cancers, FGFR genetic aberrations are found in a range of 5% to 30%.4

Derazantinib also inhibits the colony-stimulating-factor-1-receptor kinase (CSF1R).2, 5 CSF1R-mediated signaling is important for the maintenance of tumor-promoting macrophages and therefore has been identified as a potential target for anti-cancer drugs.6 Preclinical data has shown that tumor macrophage depletion through CSF1R blockade renders tumors more responsive to T-cell checkpoint immunotherapy, including approaches targeting PD-L1/PD-1.7, 8

Derazantinib has demonstrated antitumor activity and a manageable safety profile in previous clinical studies, including a biomarker-driven phase 1/2 study in iCCA patients,9 and has received U.S. and EU orphan drug designation for iCCA. Basilea is currently conducting two clinical studies with derazantinib. The first study, FIDES-01, is a registrational phase 2 study in patients with inoperable or advanced iCCA. It comprises one cohort of patients with FGFR2 gene fusions and another cohort of patients with mutations or amplifications.10 The second study, FIDES-02, is a phase 1/2 study evaluating derazantinib alone and in combination with Roche's PD-L1-blocking immune-checkpoint inhibitor atezolizumab (Tecentriq)11 in patients with advanced urothelial cancer, including metastatic, or recurrent surgically unresectable disease, expressing FGFR genetic aberrations.12.

Basilea in-licensed derazantinib from ArQule Inc, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., U.S.A.

About lisavanbulin (BAL101553)

Basilea's oncology drug candidate lisavanbulin (BAL101553, the prodrug of BAL27862)13 is being developed as a potential therapy for diverse cancers.1, 14, 15 In preclinical studies, lisavanbulin demonstrated in-vitro and in-vivo activity against diverse treatment-resistant cancer models, including tumors refractory to conventional approved therapeutics and radiotherapy.16,17, 18 Lisavanbulin efficiently distributes to the brain, with anticancer activity in glioblastoma models.19, 20, 21 In preclinical studies, end-binding protein 1 (EB1) was identified as a potential response-predictive biomarker in glioblastoma models.21 The active moiety BAL27862 binds to the colchicine site of tubulin, with distinct effects on microtubule organization,22 resulting in the activation of the "spindle assembly checkpoint" which promotes tumor cell death.23

About Basilea

Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company, focused on the development of products that address the medical challenges in the therapeutic areas of oncology and infectious diseases. With two commercialized drugs, the company is committed to discovering, developing and commercializing innovative pharmaceutical products to meet the medical needs of patients with serious and life-threatening conditions. Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland and listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange.

Disclaimer

This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements, such as "believe", "assume", "expect", "forecast", "project", "may", "could", "might", "will" or similar expressions concerning Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. and its business, including with respect to the progress, timing and completion of research, development and clinical studies for product candidates. Such statements involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. is providing this communication as of this date and does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Derazantinib and its uses are investigational and have not been approved by a regulatory authority for any use. Efficacy and safety have not been established. The information presented should not be construed as a recommendation for use. The relevance of findings in nonclinical/preclinical studies to humans is currently being evaluated.

For further information, please contact:

Peer Nils Schroder, PhD



Head of Corporate Communications & Investor Relations Phone +41 61 606 1102 E-mail media_relations@basilea.com (mailto:media_relations@basilea.com)

investor_relations@basilea.com (mailto:investor_relations@basilea.com)

This press release can be downloaded from www.basilea.com.

References

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02490800 T. G. Hall, Y. Yu, S. Eathiraj et al. Preclinical activity of ARQ 087, a novel inhibitor targeting FGFR dysregulation. PLoS ONE 2016, 11 (9), e0162594 R. Porta, R. Borea, A. Coelho et al. FGFR a promising druggable target in cancer: Molecular biology and new drugs. Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology 2017 (113), 256-267 T. Helsten, S. Elkin, E. Arthur et al. The FGFR landscape in cancer: Analysis of 4,853 tumors by next-generation sequencing. Clinical Cancer Research 2016 (22), 259-267 P. McSheehy, F. Bachmann, N. Forster-Gross et al. Derazantinib (DZB): A dual FGFR/CSF1R-inhibitor active in PDX-models of urothelial cancer. Molecular Cancer Therapeutics 2019 (18), 12 supplement, pp. LB-C12 M. A. Cannarile, M. Weisser, W. Jacob et al. Colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R) inhibitors in cancer therapy. Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer 2017, 5:53 Y. Zhu, B. L. Knolhoff, M. A. Meyer et al. CSF1/CSF1R Blockade reprograms tumor-infiltrating macrophages and improves response to T cell checkpoint immunotherapy in pancreatic cancer models. Cancer Research 2014 (74), 5057-5069 E. Peranzoni, J. Lemoine, L. Vimeux et al. Macrophages impede CD8 T cells from reaching tumor cells and limit the efficacy of anti-PD-1 treatment. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science of the United States of America 2018 (115), E4041-E4050 V. Mazzaferro, B. F. El-Rayes, M. Droz dit Busset et al. Derazantinib (ARQ 087) in advanced or inoperable FGFR2 gene fusion-positive intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. British Journal of Cancer 2019 (120), 165-171. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01752920 FIDES-01: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03230318 Tecentriq ist eine eingetragene Marke von Hoffmann-La Roche AG. FIDES-02: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04045613. J. Pohlmann, F. Bachmann, A. Schmitt-Hoffmann et al. BAL101553: An optimized prodrug of the microtubule destabilizer BAL27862 with superior antitumor activity. American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) annual meeting 2011, abstract 1347; Cancer Research 2011, 71 (8 supplement) ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03250299 ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02895360 A. Sharmq, A. Broggini-Tenzer, V. Vuong et al. The novel microtubule targeting agent BAL101553 in combination with radiotherapy in treatment-refractory tumor models. Radiotherapy Oncology 2017 (124), 433-438 G. E. Duran, H. Lane, F. Bachmann et al. In vitro activity of the novel tubulin active agent BAL27862 in MDR1(+) and MDR1(-) human breast and ovarian cancer variants selected for resistance to taxanes. American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) annual meeting 2010, abstract 4412; Cancer Research 2010, 70 (8 supplement) F. Bachmann, K. Burger, G. E. Duran et al. BAL101553 (prodrug of BAL27862): A unique microtubule destabilizer active against drug refractory breast cancers alone and in combination with trastuzumab. American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) annual meeting 2014, abstract 831; Cancer Research 2014, 74 (19 supplement) A. Schmitt-Hoffmann, D. Klauer, K. Gebhardt et al. BAL27862: a unique microtubule-targeted agent with a potential for the treatment of human brain tumors. AACR-NCI-EORTC conference 2009, abstract C233; Molecular Cancer Therapeutics 2009, 8 (12 supplement) A. C. Mladek, J. L. Pokorny, H. Lane et al. The novel tubulin-binding 'tumor checkpoint controller' BAL101553 has anti-cancer activity alone and in combination treatments across a panel of GBM patient-derived xenografts. American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) annual meeting 2016, abstract 4781; Cancer Research 2016, 76 (14 supplement) R. Berges, A. Tchoghandjian, S. Honore et al. The novel tubulin-binding checkpoint activator BAL101553 inhibits EB1-dependent migration and invasion and promotes differentiation of glioblastoma stem-like cells. Molecular Cancer Therapeutics 2016 (15), 2740-2749 A. E. Prota, F. Danel, F. Bachmann et al. The novel microtubule-destabilizing drug BAL27862 binds to the colchicine site of tubulin with distinct effects on microtubule organization. Journal of Molecular Biology 2014 (426), 1848-1860 F. Bachmann, K. Burger, H. Lane. BAL101553 (prodrug of BAL27862): the spindle assembly checkpoint is required for anticancer activity. American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) annual meeting 2015, abstract 3789; Cancer Research 2015, 75 (15 supplement)

Attachment
As part of the Hyundai Disaster Relief Program, Hyundai of Albany offers a $750 discount for individuals that have a vehicle that was damaged by the recent wildfires.

The recent wildfires in Oregon and California have been heartbreaking, with a significant number of acres of forests destroyed. In addition to the destruction to these natural treasures, the wildfires have resulted in the loss of life, many missing people, a high level of air pollution, homes and other structures destroyed, and thousands of people forced to evacuate their homes. Hyundai of Albany is very empathetic to the suffering of the victims of the wildfires. While theres nothing that the dealership can do to even come close to alleviate the suffering of the wildfire victims, Hyundai of Albany wants to do its part to make a positive difference. With this in mind, the dealership has a Hyundai Disaster Relief Program for victims of the recent wildfires.

The Hyundai Disaster Relief Program can be utilized by individuals that have a vehicle that was damaged by wildfires in Oregon or California. The program enables these victims to utilize a $750 discount for the purchase or lease of a new 2020 or 2021 Hyundai model at Hyundai of Albany. While it's a small gesture, the dealership hopes that it helps alleviate at least some of the financial burden for wildfire victims.

In addition to the Hyundai Disaster Relief Program, Hyundai of Albany offers several other financial programs. This includes deferred payments and 0% financing for select new Hyundai vehicles, a $500 bonus for military service members, a $500 bonus for first responders, up to a $1,000 bonus for adaptive equipment in a Hyundai vehicle, and a $400 bonus for recent college graduates.

Hyundai of Albany has a wide selection of Hyundai models. SUVs offered at the dealership include the Hyundai Venue, Palisade, Santa Fe, Tucson, Kona and Kona Electric. The sedan lineup includes the Hyundai Elantra, Accent, Sonata, Sonata Hybrid and Sonata Plug-in Hybrid. Customers that desire a hatchback can check out the Hyundai Elantra GT, Veloster, Veloster N, Ioniq Hybrid, Ioniq Plug-in Hybrid or Ioniq Electric.

For more information about the Hyundai Disaster Relief Program and other financial programs at Hyundai of Albany, customers can visit the dealerships website at http://www.hyundaiofalbany.com or call (541) 967-9105.

Hyundai of Albany is located at 2425 Santiam Highway SE in Albany.
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- kathy ireland Worldwide (kiWW) is delighted to announce that its Small Business Network clients will now receive access to UBS Global Wealth Management's vast array of services.

kathy ireland Small Business Network (kiSBN) clients will be working closely with UBS financial advisors experienced in the needs of small businesses, supported by UBS's Business Owners segment team. This includes cash management, financial education programs for owners and employees, risk management, business lending and expense control.

"As a world-leader in Wealth Management, we felt that UBS's suite of services enable entrepreneurs at every level, from small family-owned businesses to CEOs of Fortune 500 companies, to continue to adapt and innovate in these unusual times," said Kathy Ireland. "Equally important to us is the tremendous focus UBS has on philanthropy and financial literacy."

The kathy ireland Small Business Network was formed specifically to help owners of small businesses strategize and implement individual marketing plans, seek growth potential, and give back to colleagues and communities.

"We are incredibly inspired by UBS and their best-in-class, financial products and services and it is a privilege that we are able to suggest these services to our clients," said Ms. Ireland.



About kathy ireland Worldwide:



kathy ireland Worldwide (kiWW) is listed as one of the most powerful brands in the world by License Global Magazine. Furniture Today names Kathy Ireland herself as one of the most influential leaders in the home/furniture industry. Kathy is named one of the 19 most influential women in licensing by License Global Magazine and according to Fairchild Publications, Kathy is one of the 50 most influential people in fashion as well. kiWW is the recipient of multiple awards including several Good Housekeeping Seals. Kathy Ireland appears regularly in Forbes, gracing the cover twice in the U.S. and once in Asia to date.

SOURCE kathy ireland Worldwide
Film Review - Agents of Chaos This image released by HBO shows Andrew McCabe in a scene from the documentary "Agents of Chaos." (HBO via AP)

Let's take a trip back in American history, but not too way back. To a time not that unfamiliar  the last presidential election. Do you remember all the stuff swirling around in 2016?

Fancy Bear. Paul Manafort. Julian Assange. Guccifer 2.0. George Papadopoulos. The Steele dossier. The Access Hollywood tape. The FBIs Crossfire Hurricane investigation. James Comey and Roger Stone.

Remember how they all fit together? No? You're not alone.

Enter director Alex Gibney with HBO's two-part Agents of Chaos, a timely yet dispiriting look at how a whole bunch of Russian dirty tricks helped Donald Trump into the White House  just in time for a possible replay.

I am interested in figuring out this Trump-Russia thing. What was that all about? asks Gibney, who has previously made documentaries on Steve Jobs and Scientology. (He also did a film about Julian Assange, who naturally shows up here, too, thanks to WikiLeaks).

Every time someone asked me what this movie was about, I'd say, Well, how much time do you have? Gibney asks at the beginning. It turns out: Almost four hours, which will tax even political junkies.

Agents of Chaos is a rabbit hole that's fascinating but ultimately frustrating. It's a well-documented account of what seems to have happened in 2016 without breaking much new ground. These days, if you come at the king, you best not miss. If you just recount, you missed.

Part one lays down the background, exploring the rise of Kremlin-backed trolls, Russia's interference in Ukraine and then Vladimir Putin's spies turning their attention to America to disrupt the 2016 vote, which Gibney calls the most chaotic election of our lifetimes.

Part two  co-directed with Javier Alberto Botero  is how Trump fit into all this, with the subsequent investigations into shadowy and oddball characters: Carter Page, George Papadopoulos, Michael Flynn and Paul Manafort. Remember collusion?

Being an agent of chaos was part of Trumps brand. More chaos, the better, the film says.

Story continues

The film has frank assessments by former officials at the National Security Council and Department of State, as well as journalists Michael Isikoff and Margarita Simonyan. Former Hillary Clinton campaign head John Podesta, whose emails were hacked, speaks of the breach, as well as former CIA director John Brennan, former Sen. Harry Reid and former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe. Page defends himself from collusion and Trump business associate Felix Sater lays out what he knows.

The look at Russian meddling in Ukraine in 2014 is a highlight, explaining how trolls created fake news sites to drive a wedge in that country, sowed distrust, used anti-Semitism and painted opponents as neo-Nazis. The left and the right were lost in their own internet bubbles. Sound familiar?

The film argues that Russian military intelligence used much of that playbook two years later in America. While Trump was clearly more pro-Putin than Clinton, the goal was less a Trump win as much as sowing distrust and alienation. Russian trolls were pushing both Blue Lives Matter and Black Lives Matter and trying to dampen turnout.

Twitter accounts of seemingly solid U.S. citizens were actually run by a team in St. Petersburg, often amplifying contradictory falsehoods in a carousel of lies. Some lies  like the murder of Democratic staffer Seth Rich  jumped to shady online sites like Infowars, and eventually mainstream media.

While paid trolls were doing that, Russian intelligence was actively hacking. The Democratic National Committee's emails were dumped on the Russian online front DCLeaks or appeared on WikiLeaks, revealing that Democratic officials favored Clinton over her rivals. The media, wanting to seem balanced when it came to Trump, seized on the controversy and elevated it.

It was a three-ring circus of election meddling, the film concludes.

The DNC email dump often got conflated with an earlier controversy when Clinton was accused of misusing the handling of emails while Secretary of State, meaning Clinton could never escape her name associated with an email scandal, a controversy inadvertently fed by the FBI that ultimately had little heat, much less smoke.

The problem with the film is that  after four hours  it can't generate much heat, either. Agents of Chaos gives us a great blueprint of how all this happened. Too often daily revelations are overwhelming and Gibney does a superb job linking them coherently.

But Trump's odd orientation toward Putin is left to pure speculation, often getting no closer than, on social media, Russian trolls harmonize with the Trump chorus. Gibney can't go further than saying some things in the Steele dossier might be true. That's not good enough. He says the president's Russian ties are pretty obvious and conducted with winks and nods.

After such a long trip, it's both too much and not enough.

Agents of Chaos, an HBO release, is rated TV-MA for language and disturbing imagery. Running time: Part one is 117 minutes, part two is 119 minutes. Two and a half stars out of four.

___

Online: https://www.hbo.com/documentaries/agents-of-chaos

___

Mark Kennedy is at http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / September 22, 2020 / Pelangio Exploration Inc. (TSXV:PX)(OTC PINK:PGXPF) ("Pelangio" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that a phase 2 drill program has begun at its Grenfell gold project located 10 kilometers ("km") northwest of Kirkland Lake Ontario. The phase 2 drill program is expected to run for about two weeks and assay results will be released thereafter.

HIGHLIGHTS

The phase 1 drill program returned 314 g/t gold over 1.74 m (uncut) including a higher grade section which assayed 1810 g/t gold over 0.3 m in hole JS2004; as well as a broader gold intercept of 2.5 g/t gold over 26 m (including 9.39 g/t gold over 3m) in hole JS2005 (Reference Press Release March 1, 2020).

The phase 2 drill program is designed to further test these results as well as test additional priority targets.

The Grenfell Gold Project is comprised of 38 mining cells and eight leased claims covering an area of approximately 6.7 km2, located 10 km northwest of the Town of Kirkland Lake Ontario (see Map 1, Grenfell Project Property Geology).

Following further analysis of the successful phase 1 March 2020 drilling program, a number of targets in the vicinity of the old mine workings have been prioritized for this drill program.

Ingrid Hibbard, President and CEO commented, "We are excited to begin the next phase of drilling at our Grenfell gold property. The success from our first drill program this spring is extremely encouraging and we are now further testing these highly prospective targets."

The priority targets (see Map 2) to be tested in the phase 2 program are as follows:

Further evaluation of the strike extension of the northwesterly trending No.6 Vein system. Hole JS2004 returned 2.50 g/t gold over 26 m (including 9.39 g/t gold over 3 m) and hole JS2005 assayed 314 g/t gold over 1.74 m (uncut) in the spring 2020 drill program.

Drill testing of the intersection of the No.6 Vein and No.1 Vein for a potential mineralized chute. Historical drifting and sampling on the 250 level of the former mine demonstrated that the No.1 Vein averaged 0.2 oz/ton gold over a width of 3 feet for a strike length of 180 feet. A surface bulk sample of 21.7 tons grading 0.456 oz/ton gold was extracted from a trench on the No.1 Vein.

Very limited drilling is known to have been conducted on the No.1 Vein despite extremely encouraging sampling results as documented above. A hole is planned to confirm values on the higher grade portion of the No.1 Vein documented in the historical mine level plans.

Historical mine plans on the 250 level have shown two other north northwesterly trending structures in a very similar orientation to the No.6 Vein (see Map 2). These structures have been designated as the Central Target and the Shea Vein. Mine plans and historical reports have documented significant gold mineralization associated with these structures. A historical hole on the Shea Vein returned 0.41 oz/ton gold over 3 feet. Drilling will be conducted on the two targets to test for both potential high grade mineralization as well as broad mineralized wall rock intercepts similar to that found on the No. 6 Vein.

Note: Historical intercepts quoted from a J. Londry P. Eng; Report on the John Sirola Property, Grenfell Township, 1985

The tables below represent location and noteworthy results from two significant holes completed in the spring 2020 drilling program.

GRENFELL DRILL HOLE LOCATION DATA

HOLE NO. EASTING NORTHING AZIMUTH DIP (Degrees) LENGTH (m) JS2004 560318 5336214 198 degrees -47 60.00 JS2005 560318 5336214 198 degrees -60 125.50

GRENFELL SIGNIFICANT ASSAY INTERCEPTS

HOLE NO. FROM TO METERS G/T Au G/T Au

(CUT) G/T Au

(UNCUT) ** JS2004 14.00 15.00 1.00 3.73 ** JS2004 19.00 45.00 26.00 2.50 includes 26.00 45.00 19.00 3.18 29.00 45.00 16.00 3.23 37.50 45.00 7.50 4.81 37.50 40.50 3.00 9.39 ** JS2005 33.00 59.00 26.00 1.32 33.00 59.00 26.00 21.80 Includes 36.26 38.00 1.74 7.95 36.26 38.00 1.74 314.00 includes 36.26 36.56 0.30 1810.00

Notes:

**Denotes intervals reported in previous press release March 1, 2020 Intervals shown as cut with high-grade assays over 34.28571 g/t Au were cut to 34.28571 g/t Au All intervals shown in the accompanying tables are core lengths as the estimated true width of the zone cannot be determined at this time

Map 1: Grenfell Project Property Geology

Map 2: Composite Surface and 250 Level Plan

Holes JS2004 and JS2005 are represented on the map as "Holes 4-6"

Quality Assurance/Quality Control

All core logging and sampling were conducted in a secure core logging facility in Timmins Ontario. Core logging and sampling of NQ diamond drill core was carried out by J.K. Filo P.Geo. Core logging and sampling adhered to 43-101 protocols and industry standard best practices. Each drill hole was sampled entirely and sample lengths varied from 0.26 meters to 1.5 meters maximum. Drill core was sawn in half with a diamond saw, tagged, and placed in securely sealed bags. Samples were transported to Actlabs facility in Timmins, Ontario by Pelangio personnel. Half of the core was retained for reference purposes.

Gold analysis was completed using a standard fire assay with a 50-gram charge with and atomic absorption (AA) finish (Actlabs 1A2-50 Procedure). Samples over 5 grams/ton were re-assayed by fire assay with a gravimetric finish. With each batch of 25 samples, one blank and one Oreas gold standard were submitted for analysis for QA/QC purposes. QA/QC samples were within acceptable tolerance levels. Full details on Actlabs analysis procedures and associated sample preparation can be reviewed on their web site.

Qualified Person

Mr. Kevin Filo, P.Geo. (Ontario), is a qualified person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Filo approved the technical data disclosed in this release.

About Pelangio

Pelangio acquires and explores world-class gold belt land packages in Canada and Ghana, West Africa. Its key properties in Ontario, Canada, are the Grenfell property, located 10 km from Kirkland Lake, and the Dome West property, situated some 800 meters from the Dome Mine in Timmins. In Ghana, the Company is exploring its two 100% owned camp-sized properties: the 100 km2 Manfo Property, the site of seven near-surface gold discoveries, and the 284 km2 Obuasi Property, located 4 km on strike and adjacent to AngloGold Ashanti's prolific high-grade Obuasi Mine. See www.pelangio.com for further detail on all Pelangio's properties.

For additional information, please visit our website at www.pelangio.com, or contact:

Ingrid Hibbard, President and CEO

Tel: 905-336-3828 / Toll-free: 1-877-746-1632 / Email: info@pelangio.com

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements herein may contain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements or information appear in a number of places and 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. Forward-looking statements and information include statements regarding the Company's ability to complete the planned work programs, the Company's strategy of acquiring large land packages in areas of sizeable gold mineralization, the Company's plans to follow up on previous work, and the Company's exploration plans. With respect to forward-looking statements and information contained herein, we have made numerous assumptions, including assumptions about the state of the equity markets. Such forward-looking statements and information are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statement or information. Such risks include the changes in equity markets, share price volatility, volatility of global and local economic climate, gold price volatility, political developments in Ghana, and Canada, increases in costs, exchange rate fluctuations, speculative nature of gold exploration, including the risk that favourable exploration results may not be obtained, and other risks involved in the gold exploration industry. See the Company's annual and quarterly financial statements and management's discussion and analysis for additional information on risks and uncertainties relating to the forward-looking statement and information. There can be no assurance that a forward-looking statement or information referenced herein will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements or information. Also, many of the factors are beyond the control of the Company. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward- looking statements or information. We undertake no obligation to reissue or update any forward-looking statements or information except as required by law. All forward-looking statements and information herein are qualified by this cautionary statement.

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: Pelangio Exploration Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/607289/Pelangio-Commences-Drilling-at-Grenfell-Project-to-Follow-Up-on-Previous-High-Grade-Results
By Associated Press

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump has said he would nominate a woman to replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died Friday at the age of 87 and was a champion of gender equality. A look at the top contenders:

AMY CONEY BARRETT

Barrett, 48, is widely considered to be the front-runner. She was previously considered as a finalist for Trumps second nomination to the high court, which eventually went to Justice Brett Kavanaugh. A devout Catholic mother of seven, she is a favorite of religious conservatives and considered a strong opponent of abortion.

Barrett was nominated by Trump to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit and confirmed by the Senate in October 2017 by a 55-43 vote. The 7th Circuit, based in Chicago, covers the states of Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin.

In her nearly three years on the bench, Barretts judicial record includes the authorship of around 100 opinions and several telling dissents in which Barrett displayed her clear and consistent conservative bent.

Barrett served as a law clerk to Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. She worked briefly as a lawyer in private practice in Washington, D.C., before returning to the University of Notre Dame Law School, her alma mater, to become a professor in 2002.

During her Senate confirmation hearing for the appeals court in 2017, Democrats pressed Barrett on whether her strong religious views would impact her potential rulings on abortion and other hot-button social issues.

Barrett responded that she takes he Catholic faith seriously, but said that I would stress that my personal church affiliation or my religious belief would not bear in the discharge of my duties as a judge.

She is married to Jesse Barrett, a former federal prosecutor who is a partner at a law firm in South Bend, Indiana. The couple have seven children, included two adopted from Haiti and one child with special needs.

BARBARA LAGOA

Lagoa, 52, is a Cuban American judge from Florida who was nominated by Trump to serve on the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in 2019. Her name was on the White Houses list of potential high court contenders released earlier this month.

Raised in the heavily Latino Miami suburb of Hialeah, Lagoa is the daughter of Cuban exiles who fled the communist regime of Fidel Castro. She speaks fluent Spanish and has a solidly conservative judicial record. Lagoas potential nomination is being touted as a way for Trump to shore up flagging support in a crucial battleground state where recent polls have shown Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden with a narrow lead.

Lagoa also has the potential benefit of having been previously vetted by the Senate just 10 months ago, sailing to confirmation by a wide margin of 80-15 in a relatively rare bipartisan vote in November. The 11th Circuit covers Georgia, Florida and Alabama.

On Saturday, Trump said he had not yet met Lagoa but that shes Hispanic and highly respected.

Lagoa is a graduate of Florida International University and went on the earn her law degree from Columbia University in New York in 1992. She then worked in private practice in Miami for about a decade.

In 2000, Lagoa gained notoriety as part of the legal team that represented relatives of Elian Gonzalez, the young boy caught in a high-profile custody dispute between his father in Cuba and family members in Miami.

Lagoa is married to Paul Huck Jr., a Miami attorney. The couple have three children.

JOAN LARSEN

Larsen, 51, was a little-known University of Michigan legal scholar until 2015, when then- Gov. Rick Snyder, a Republican, tapped her to fill a vacant seat on the Michigan Supreme Court.

The following year, Justice Joan campaigned to fill the remaining term of her predecessor on the court by appealing to conservative voters, promoting an originalist interpretation of legal texts and pledging not to legislate from the bench. As a presidential candidate Trump included Larsens name on his first list of potential nominees to the nations highest court.

Trump carried Michigan that November and after becoming president quickly sought to elevate Larsen to the federal bench, tapping her in May 2017 to fill a vacant seat on the Cincinnati-based 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. Michigans two Democratic U.S. senators initially held up her appointment since the White House hadnt consulted them on the nomination, as is customary. But after meeting with the senators, Larsen was confirmed by the Senate by a 60-38 vote the following November.

Larsen grew up in Waterloo, Iowa, and graduated from the University of Northern Iowa before going to Northwestern University School of Law in Chicago. After graduating in 1993, Larsen landed a coveted clerkship with Justice Antonin Scalia.

Following the election for President George W. Bush, she joined the Office of Legal Counsel in the U.S. Department of Justice, where she authored a still-secret 2002 memo that addressed detainees rights to challenge their detention.

Returning to teach law at Michigan, Larsen championed an expansive view of the powers of the presidency. She wrote a 2006 article defending Bushs use of signing statements to interpret laws passed by Congress. At her 2017 confirmation hearing for the federal bench, however, Larsen assured senators she would have no problem ruling against Trump if the law demanded it.

Larsen is married to Michigan law professor Adam Pritchard, an expert on corporate and securities law. They live in Scio Township near Ann Arbor and have two children.

Rushing, 38, was confirmed just 18 months ago to the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond. If elevated to the Supreme Court, she would be the youngest justice confirmed since the early 1800s.

She is a native of Hendersonville, North Carolina. Her potential selection is being championed within the White House by chief of staff Mark Meadows, who also hails from the mountains of the Tarheel State.

Rushing graduated from Wake Forest University before attending Duke University, where she earned her law degree in 2007. She then clerked for future Justice Neil Gorsuch, who was then an appeals court judge, as well as at the Supreme Court for Justice Clarence Thomas.

As an appellate specialist while in private practice at the Williams & Connolly law firm in Washington, Rushing filed scores of briefs with the Supreme Court. But her comparatively short legal career included prior work with a conservative Christian legal group that is sure to stoke Democrats and their allies to fight her nomination.

While in law school in 2005, Rushing interned at Alliance Defending Freedom, a group known for its opposition to same-sex marriage and expanded rights for transgender people. That has led Democrats to cast Rushing as an a young, ideological extremist.

Rushing is married to Blake Rushing. The couple have a young son.

Todd, 45, is the only lawyer on Trumps potential shortlist for the Supreme Court who has never served as a judge.

A deputy White House counsel, her close connection to the Trump administration could give an opening to Democrats to attack her independence and relative lack of experience. However, her lack of a judicial record also leaves little paper trail for opponents to sort through for material to attack.

Todd graduated from Cornell University before attending Harvard Law School. She then clerked for Thomas at the Supreme Court. She worked in private practice before serving as the senior vice president and chief counsel for the U.S. Chamber Litigation Center, which is the legal arm of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Todd is married to Gordon Dwyer Todd, a partner at Sidley law firm in Washington specializing in white-collar defense and government litigation. The couple live in Northern Virginia with their four children.
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While this year Australians have been forced to stay in their homes during lockdowns, some have been blissfully unaware living in a COVID-free bubble at a remote outpost.

Almost 90 people stationed in Antarctica are bracing for a whole new world as they prepare to return from their expeditions to places like Melbourne, where people are only allowed a limited time to exercise each day and wearing masks is mandatory.

Maree Riley, organisational psychologist at the Australian Antarctic Division, is now trying to help those returning understand just how much life has changed and warning them of the struggle to readjust.

When about 25 people working at Davis Station left Australia last October, people were planning overseas trips, nightlife was well alive and cities were bustling.

Australians based at Davis Station in Antarctica are preparing to return home. Source: AAP

But fast-forward almost 12 months and people are dying of a new deadly disease, others are forced apart from loved ones and thousands are losing jobs.

As those 25 people were preparing to return home this October, their expedition has now been extended by about three-and-a-half months to 2021 due to coronavirus. Ms Riley has already started bracing them for whats to come.

We routinely provide support to expeditioners coming home after a period of time. There is usually an adjustment but this year is quite different, she told Yahoo News Australia.

When many of them left, COVID-19 wasnt even part of the vocabulary and this has all happened while theyve been away. They are coming back to a very different world they left.

Ms Riley said while those in Antarctica intellectually understood what was happening through the media, it is a different thing altogether to actually experience it.

The food court at Melbourne Airport is now completely deserted. Source: Getty

When they come home to a world we are familiar with now  we social distance, we dont hug, we work from home and wear masks  it will be an abrupt adjustment, she said.

While weve been social distancing, theyve been gathering in groups for meals and social activities so we need to do some work to help prepare them psychologically, and are practically looking at doing things on stations like activities to give them some exposure to social distancing and wearing masks.

Story continues

Melbournes ghost town revealed to Antarctic expeditioners

Ms Riley added she was showing expeditioners video footage of what its like to walk into a supermarket, of Melbournes ghost town CBD and of deserted airports.

We walk them through it so they understand what the reality is like rather than just getting off a plane or a ship and seeing this whole new world, she said.

The team have been living in one of the few virus-free spots on the planet. Source: Facebook/antarctica.gov.au

If they werent prepared for what they were coming home to thered be that shock of where they fit in the world. It would impact on their adjustment and time it would take to integrate.

Coronavirus is not a shared experience theyve had with family and friends and they dont truly understand the impact it has had on them. They dont know these rules and they have to learn even things like not being able to hug people.

Excluded from the Covid experience

Ms Riley said people at the stations in Antarctica were concerned by coronavirus and not being able to support family and friends.

They are also worried about how they will fit back in, with it usually taking people returning from Antarctica at least three months to readjust and integrate back into normal life.

Melbourne's CBD resembles a ghost town during coronavirus lockdown. Source: Getty

Seeing what the job market is like, there are concerns about the ability to find work and theyll want to come back and travel, its what a lot of them do when they come home, but they cant do that now, she said.

Its a whole reshaping of what happens when they come home.

Ms Riley said so few people on the planet had no direct impact of coronavirus, and expeditioners in Antarctica were in the small minority.

Theyve missed out on a pretty historical event and when they do come home and people are talking about their experience and what it was like during COVID-19 lockdown, its hard for them to understand what that experience is like.

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.
German national carrier Lufthansa said that during the summer season in 2021 15 new sunny destinations, which are highly attractive for holidaymakers, are now available for booking.



The focus is on Greece (Corfu, Chania/Crete, Mykonos, Kos, Kavala/Thrace and Preveza/Peloponnese). Other attractive destinations in the program are in Spain (Jerez de la Frontera, Canary Islands and Tenerife will be continued from winter), Egypt (Hurghada), Cyprus (Paphos), Croatia (Rijeka), Italy (Lamezia Terme), Tunisia (Djerba) and Bulgaria (Varna).



The departure and arrival times of the new destinations are ideal for holidaymakers: Departures from Frankfurt were scheduled for the early morning hours and return flights to the Frankfurt Main metropolis in the evening.



"Never before have we included so many new vacation destinations in our program. This is our response to the wishes of our customers. The demand for vacation and leisure trips is recovering much faster than that for business trips. With Lufthansa, we already have a great and longstanding deal of expertise in tourist offers and we are now resolutely expanding this as part of our strategy," said Harry Hohmeister, member of the Executive Board of Deutsche Lufthansa AG.



By deploying up to five additional aircraft, the company will in future offer around 70 weekly connections to 29 purely tourist destinations, 15 more than in the same period last year. Lufthansa's goal is to actively shape the future of tourism. This was a strategic focus even before the coronavirus pandemic. Since the beginning of July 2019, Lufthansa has been offering numerous additional tourist destinations.



The flights are bookable from September 16. Summer flights 2021, which are purchased until December 31, 2020, can then be rebooked as often as desired free of charge. Additional costs can arise if, for example, the original booking class is no longer available when rebooking to a different date or destination, an airline statement said. - TradeArabia News Service
FLINT, MI  Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris attracted hundreds of supporters to downtown Flint on Tuesday while visiting Black-owned businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Harris stopped to talk with business owners and supporters as she walked along Second Street to the Flint Farmers Market, where she purchased some produce. Harris then departed for Detroit, where she is scheduled to hold two more events during her first campaign stop in Michigan since becoming Joe Bidens running mate.

The California senator was accompanied by her colleague U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Lansing, Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley and his wife state Rep. Cynthia Neeley, D-Flint. Harris was also joined by Flint native and former WNBA athlete Deanna Nolan while walking through downtown for roughly 45 minutes.

Earlier in the day, Harris spoke with some Flint community leaders in a closed-door meeting. According to the Biden campaign, Harris said the federal government must help states improve water infrastructure, and the Biden-Harris administration will have a partner in Gov. Whitmer.

The campaign did not release additional details about who she met.

Harris' visit was meant to highlight the disproportionate impact COVID-19 has had on businesses owned by Black Americans.

Harris first met with Earl Jones and Tim Tyler, owners of Magnificlips, a downtown barbershop that opened in March. Their business was shut down one week later under an executive order issued by Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to prevent COVID-19 outbreaks, which lasted until June.

Reporters were kept several feet from Harris at all times, so it was difficult to make out much of what was said. Harris could be heard speaking about the campaigns plans to rebuild the U.S. economy.

Harris wore a black mask while visiting Flint, though supporters crowded around her at a few points during her walking tour. Many, but not all of the people who came to see Harris wore face coverings.

Harris also met with Egypt Otis, owner of Comma Bookstore and Social Hub. The business is focused on promoting Black authors and business owners.

The senator stopped near a mural painted on the alley of a side street. A crowd of more than 100 people cheered and chanted we love you and Kamala, Kamala.

Harris also took a few moments to talk with Bedrock Apparel owner Jason Trice, who owns a downtown boutique.

After visiting the farmers market, Harris departed for Detroit. She is scheduled to participate in a roundtable conversation with Black voters and host a voter mobilization event to highlight the start of absentee voting on Sept. 24.

President Donald Trump lost in Flint by 41 percentage points in 2016, but the number of Democratic votes in the surrounding Genesee County was much lower, compared to the previous election. Democratic votes dropped by 20%, a total of 26,277 votes.

Michigans expansion of absentee voting in 2018 has led to a massive increase in the number of mail-in ballots requested this year.

Just under a third of all Michigan citizens who are registered to vote and 35% of the states active voters requested an absentee ballot as of Tuesday. A record-breaking 2.39 million Michigan voters have requested absentee ballots, according to the Secretary of States office, far surpassing the 587,618 absentee ballots requested in 2016.

Those ballots will start being mailed to Michigan voters starting Thursday.

Related: A third of active Michigan voters have requested absentee ballots

Related: Michigan clerks begin mailing absentee ballots this week
1H'20 financial results driven primarily by a 10% reduction in total operating expenses (without COGS) and a 17% reduction in net loss compared to prior year period

Preliminary Third Quarter Total Sales Increase 2% to 11% year-over-year; U.S. Sales up 1% to 3%

Regulatory News:

Mauna Kea Technologies (Paris:MKEA) (OTCQX:MKEAY) (Euronext: MKEA) inventor of Cellvizio, the multidisciplinary probe and needle-based confocal laser endomicroscopy (p/nCLE) platform, today announced full financial results for the first half of 2020 ended June 30, 2020 and its preliminary sales for the third quarter. Given the significant uncertainties associated with pace of recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company has elected to provide, in this context, specific information on current-quarter expected revenue trends.

Preliminary sales figures for the third quarter are unaudited.

Preliminary Sales Summary for Third Quarter 2020 (Unaudited figures)

Preliminary sales for the third quarter of 2020 are expected in a range of 1.8 million to 2.0 million, representing growth of approximately 2% to 11% year-over-year Preliminary Q3'20 Sales by Geography: U.S. sales are expected to increase approximately 1% to 3% year-over-year Rest of World (ROW) sales are expected to increase approximately 4% to 19% year-over-year Preliminary Q3'20 Sales by Category: Consumables sales are expected to decrease approximately 27% to 23% year-over-year Systems sales are expected to increase approximately 46% to 60% year-over-year Services sales are expected to increase approximately 21% to 29% year-over-year



First Half 2020 Financial Summary

Total revenue 1 for the first half of 2020 decreased 1.3 million, or 30% year-over-year, to 3.2 million. Total revenue for the first half of 2020 was significantly impacted by the global crisis caused by the coronavirus, or COVID-19.

for the first half of 2020 decreased 1.3 million, or 30% year-over-year, to 3.2 million. As previously reported, total sales for the first half of 2020 decreased 1.8 million, or 47% year-over-year, to 2.1 million Consumables sales decreased 1.1 million, or 52% year-over-year, to 1.0 million Systems sales decreased 0.8 million, or 59% year-over-year, to 0.6 million Services sales increased 36 thousand, or 7% year-over-year, to 0.6 million

Gross margin was 67.2% in the first half of 2020 period, compared to 62.7% in the first half of 2019 period

Total operating expenses (without COGS) decreased 1.0 million, or 10% year-over-year, to 8.7 million

Operating loss decreased 0.4 million, or 6% year-over-year, to 6.2 million

Net loss decreased 1.4 million, or 17% year-over-year, to 6.7 million

As of June 30, 2020, the Company had a cash balance of 4.2 million and total long term debt obligations of 16.1 million, compared to 10.0 million of cash and 15.5 million of total long term debt obligations, as of December 31, 2019. In July 2020, the Company announced it had drawn down the 6m second tranche of their 22.5 million loan agreement with the European Investment Bank and announced it received financing approvals from BNP Paribas and Bpifrance for a total of 4 million in non-dilutive financing in the form of French state-guaranteed loans (Prets Garantis par l'Etat, or PGE in France).



"We are pleased to see the business return to year-over-year growth in the third quarter driven by continued improvement in our underlying business trends as customers around the world begin to return to normal case-loads," stated Robert L. Gershon, Chief Executive Officer of Mauna Kea Technologies. "We are also encouraged by the strong new system adoption trends we experienced during the third quarter and believe this reflects both the improving health of the global capital equipment environment, and, early evidence that our new U.S. targeting strategy is well-defined."

Mr. Gershon continued: "Despite the challenging operating environment during the first half of 2020 which resulted in year-over-year declines in revenue, we reported strong improvement in our gross margins and reduced our total operating expenses (without COGS) and net loss by 10% and 17%, respectively, year-over-year. We have further enhanced our financial condition with non-dilutive financings and the drawdown of the second tranche of our financing agreement with the European Investment Bank. Together, these actions should provide sufficient liquidity to manage the business through the third quarter of 2021. We also made progress towards our third strategic priority for 2020, our formal evaluation process for identifying a new clinical indication for Mauna Kea's next commercial focus-area. We are encouraged by the work we have done thus far in Interventional Pulmonology, specifically in starting a pilot clinical study, combining nCLE and robotic navigational bronchoscopy, using both Cellvizio and the Monarch Platform as part of our collaboration with the Lung Cancer Initiative at Johnson Johnson. We are also continuing to push other new potential indications through the formal evaluation process, and we look forward to updating investors as initiatives develop this year."

First Half of 2020 and Recent Operating Highlights:

On January 8, 2020, the Company announced a publication that demonstrates how Cellvizio positively impacts the diagnostic yield and the clinical management of pancreatic cystic lesions (PCL).

On January 27, 2020, the Company announced it received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) clearance for the Cellvizio 100 series and all associated Confocal Miniprobes for the additional indication of visualization of blood flow when used in conjunction with a fluorescent dye, fluorescein, as a drug device combination. This marked the 17th U.S. FDA 510(k) clearance of the Cellvizio p/nCLE platform.

On March 3, 2020, the Company announced it obtained 510(k) clearance (K193416) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and CE marking of the next-generation Cellvizio endomicroscopy platform, built with the company's new proprietary system architecture. This marked the 18th U.S. FDA 510(k) clearance of the Cellvizio pCLE/nCLE platform.

On April 23, 2020, the Company announced it obtained confirmation from the EIB of its consent to disburse the second tranche of their 22.5 million loan for an amount of 6m with revised terms.

On May 26, 2020, the Company announced that the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) Technology and Value Assessment Committee (TAVAC) published a review on the safety and efficacy of confocal laser endomicroscopy as a diagnostic tool for the evaluation of gastrointestinal pathologies. This article, entitled "SAGES TAVAC safety and efficacy analysis confocal laser endomicroscopy," was published in a peer reviewed international journal, Surgical Endoscopy (doi.org/10.1007/s00464-020-07607-3).

On June 24, 2020, the Company announced that, as part of its collaboration with the Lung Cancer Initiative at Johnson Johnson, Christopher Manley, M.D., Director of Interventional Pulmonology and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Fox Chase Cancer Center (FCCC) in Philadelphia, and Jouke T. Annema, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Pulmonary Endoscopy, Amsterdam University Medical Center, have received the authorization from FCCC IRB to start a pilot clinical study, combining nCLE and robotic navigational bronchoscopy, using both Cellvizio and the Monarch Platform from Auris Health, Inc., one of the Medical Devices Companies of Johnson Johnson, for the diagnosis of peripheral lung nodules. This study is co-funded by the Lung Cancer Initiative at Johnson Johnson and Mauna Kea Technologies (Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT04441749).

On July 6, 2020, the Company announced it had drawn down the 6m second tranche of their 22.5 million loan agreement concluded on 20 June 2019 with the European Investment Bank.

On July 17, 2020, the Company announced it received financing approvals from BNP Paribas and Bpifrance for a total of 4 million in non-dilutive financing in the form of French state-guaranteed loans (Prets Garantis par l'Etat, or PGE in France).

On July 23, 2020, the Company announced the appointment of Claire Biot, Ph.D., as an Independent Director, effective immediately. Dr. Claire Biot is currently employed as Vice-President Life Sciences Industry at Dassault Systemes, "the 3DEXPERIENCE Company".

First Half of 2020 Consolidated Financial Results:

(in millions) IFRS First Half 2020 First Half 2019  Chg. Y/Y % Change Y/Y Operating Revenue Sales 2.1 3.9 ( 1.8) (47%) Other Income 1.1 0.6 0.5 85% Total Revenue  3.2  4.5 ( 1.3) (30%) Cost of Sales 0.7 1.5 ( 0.8) (53%) Gross Profit  1.4  2.5 ( 1.1) (43%) Gross Margin (%) 67.2% 62.7% Research Development 1.5 2.1 ( 0.6) (29%) Sales Marketing 4.2 4.6 ( 0.4) (9%) Administrative Expenses 2.9 2.6 0.3 11% Share-Based Payments 0.2 0.4 ( 0.2) (57%) Total Operating Expenses  8.7  9.7 ( 1.0) (10%) Operating Profit (Loss) ( 6.2) ( 6.6) ( 0.4) (6%) Interest expense (income), net 0.5 1.5 ( 1.0) (67%) Net Profit (Loss) ( 6.7) ( 8.1) ( 1.4) (17%)

*numbers may not tie due to rounding

Gross profit for the first half of 2020 period decreased 1.1 million, or 43% year-over-year, to 1.4 million, compared to 2.5 million for the first half of 2019 period. Gross margin for the first half of 2020 period was 67.2%, compared to 62.7% in the first half of 2019 period.

Total operating expenses for the first half of 2020 period decreased 1.0 million, or 10% year-over-year, to 8.7 million, compared to 9.7 million for the first half of 2019 period. The decrease in total operating expenses was primarily driven by a 0.6 million decrease in research and development expenses, a 0.4 million decrease in sales marketing expenses and a 0.2 million decrease in share-based payment, offset partially by a 0.3 million increase in administration expenses, compared to the first half of 2019 period.

Operating loss for the first half of 2020 period was 6.2 million, compared to an operating loss of 6.6 million for the first half of 2019 period. The decrease in operating loss was driven by the 1.1 million decrease in gross profit, offset by the 1.0 million decrease in total operating expenses and by the 0.5 million increase in 'other income', compared to the prior year period.

Net loss for the first half of 2020 period was 6.7 million, compared to a net loss of 8.1 million for the first half of 2019 period. The decrease in net loss was primarily driven by the decrease in operating loss compared to the prior year period as well as an decrease in interest expenses, net, driven primarily by non-recurring financial costs of 1.7 million associated to the early repayment of the IPF Partners bond financing which impacted net loss results in the first half of 2019 but did not impact results during the first half of 2020 period.

As of June 30, 2020, the Company had a cash balance of 4.2 million and total long term debt obligations of 16.1 million, compared to 10.0 million of cash and 15.5 million of total long term debt obligations, as of December 31, 2019. The change in cash during first half of 2020 period was driven by 4.0 million of cash used in operating activities, 0.9 million of cash used in investing activities, and 0.9 million of cash from financing activities.

The consolidated accounts for the half year 2020 period have been audited and legal audit reports are currently being issued.

Mauna Kea Technologies will host a conference call today at 6:00 pm (CEST Paris time) 12:00 pm (ET New York time) to discuss the Company's first half of 2020 financial results and preliminary third quarter sales results and to provide a business update. The conference call will be hosted by Robert L. Gershon, CEO, and Christophe Lamboeuf, CFO. To access the conference call, please use one of the following dial-in numbers at least 5 minutes prior to the scheduled start time and follow the instructions: USA: +1 646-722-4916 UK: +44 (0)20 7194 3759 FR: +33 (0)1 72 72 74 03. The passcode for the conference call is: 80840227#. Following the conclusion of the live call, a replay will be available for 90 days. To access the replay, please dial one of the following numbers: USA: +1 (646) 722-4969 UK: +44 (0)20 3364 5147 FR: +33 (0)1 70 71 01 60. The passcode for the replay is: 418950560#.

Next Sales Results Announcement:

Third quarter of 2020 sales October 19, 2020 after market close

Financial calendar

Please note that the 2020 financial calendar is available on the Mauna Kea Technologies website:

https://www.maunakeatech.com/en/investors/financial-calendar

About Mauna Kea Technologies

Mauna Kea Technologies is a global medical device company focused on eliminating uncertainties related to the diagnosis and treatment of cancer and other diseases thanks to real time in vivo microscopic visualization. The Company's flagship product, Cellvizio, has received clearance/approval in a wide range of applications in more than 40 countries, including the United States, Europe, Japan, and China. For more information on Mauna Kea Technologies, visit www.maunakeatech.com

Disclaimer

This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning Mauna Kea Technologies and its activities. Such forward looking statements are based on assumptions that Mauna Kea Technologies considers to be reasonable. However, there can be no assurance that the anticipated events contained in such forward-looking statements will occur. Forward- looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties including the risks set forth in the Universal Registration Document of Mauna Kea Technologies registered by the French Financial Markets Authority (Autorite des marches financiers (AMF)) on August 7, 2020 under number 926346434_20200807 and available on the Company's website (www.maunakeatech.com), and to the development of economic situation, financial markets, and the markets in which Mauna Kea Technologies operates. The forward-looking statements contained in this release are also subject to risks unknown to Mauna Kea Technologies or that Mauna Kea Technologies does not consider material at this time. The realization of all or part of these risks could lead to actual results, financial conditions, performances or achievements by Mauna Kea Technologies that differ significantly from the results, financial conditions, performances or achievements expressed in such forward-looking statements. This press release and the information it contains do not constitute an offer to sell or to subscribe for, or a solicitation of an order to purchase or subscribe for, Mauna Kea Technologies shares in any country.

1 Total Revenue in the first half 2020 period includes 1,064,000 from research tax credit and U.S. government grant, compared to 576,000 of research tax credit in the prior year period.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200922005804/en/

Contacts:

United States

Mike Piccinino, CFA

Westwicke, an ICR Company

443-213-0500

France and Europe

NewCap Investor Relations

Thomas Grojean

+33 (0)1 44 71 94 94

maunakea@newcap.eu
United Nations, Sep 22 : Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is vying for the leadership of Islamic nations, brought up the Kashmir issue again at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday calling it a "burning issue".

He criticised the abolition of the special status of Kashmir last year saying that steps taken after it "further complicated the problem".

"The Kashmir conflict which is also key to the stability and peace of South Asia is still a burning issue," he said.

"We are in favour of solving this issue through dialogue within the framework of the United Nations resolutions, especially in line with the expectations of the people of Kashmir," he added.

The prime Security Council directive on Kashmir, Resolution 47, called for Pakistan to remove its troops and personnel from the region as the first step and a pre-condition for a referendum.

Islamabad has rejected it and continued its occupation allowing for India to settle the matter through elections in Kashmir.

Erdogan avoided naming India directly, while he had named countries in many of the conflicts from Azerbaijan to Armenia that he spoke about.

At last year's high-level meeting of the General Assembly, only Erdogan and Mahatir Mohammed, the then-Prime Minister of Malaysia, joined Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan to talk about Kashmir.

While he condemned terrorism in other parts of the world, Erdogan was silent on the terrorism directed against India.

In his attempt to challenge the Saudi leadership of the Islamic nations, he criticised attempts to bring about reconciliation with Israel, but did not directly mention the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, which recently set up diplomatic resolution with Israel, with the apparent approval of Riyadh.

"Participation of some countries of the region in this game does not mean anything beyond serving Israel's efforts to erode basic international parameters," Erdogan said.

Turkey itself has diplomatic relations with Israel.

(Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed on Twitter at @arulouis)
This is a very, a very significant day for victims of child sexual abuse across our entire state, and to come, as it does, so close to Jewish New Year, can I say Shanah Tovah to Dassi Erlich and her sisters, Andrews said, using a Hebrew New Year greeting.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

Niger's opposition leader said Tuesday that nothing stands in the way of his running again for the country's presidency despite his past conviction for baby smuggling

Niamey, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 22nd Sep, 2020 ) :Niger's opposition leader said Tuesday that nothing stands in the way of his running again for the country's presidency despite his past conviction for baby smuggling.

Speaking to reporters, Hama Amadou, 70, said he fulfils the two constitutional requirements of being of Nigerien origin and enjoying his civil and political rights.

"I consider that I fully enjoy my rights," he said, noting that a judge had rejected a prosecutor's demand that he be stripped of his rights for five years over the criminal record.

"It's not automatic," said the former premier and parliamentary speaker who heads the Nigerien Democratic Movement.

He received a presidential pardon in March because of the coronavirus pandemic with less than three months remaining to serve of his one-year prison sentence.

Amadou was convicted along with one of his wives in March 2017 for their alleged role in a child-trafficking ring.

The case -- which he and his supporters decried as a political witch hunt -- allegedly entailed smuggling babies from Nigeria via Benin for wealthy couples in Niger.

While the constitution is silent on past convictions, the country's electoral code could bar Amadou, but he said "it's not automatic".

"The government wants to bar me from being a candidate as it tried to do in 2016," he said. "I intend to be a candidate, and to win the election."
New bioarchaeology research from a University of Otago PhD candidate has shown how infectious diseases may have spread 4000 years ago, while highlighting the dangers of letting such diseases run rife.

Yaws - from the same bacteria species responsible for syphilis (Treponema pallidum) - is a childhood disease causing highly infectious skin lesions. It is spread via touch from person to person and, in advanced cases, can leave sufferers with severe bone disfigurement. While it is easily curable in its early stages, the bone disfigurements are irreversible.

The disease has been eradicated from much of the world but is still prevalent in the Western Pacific, affecting some 30,000 people. A previous global attempt to eradicate this tropical disease failed at the last hurdle in the 1950's and a new attempt was curtailed by the COVID-19 outbreak, University of Otago Department of Anatomy PhD candidate Melandri Vlok says.

Ms Vlok's PhD research uses archaeology to shed light on the spread of diseases when different human populations interact for the first time. Her specific interest is in what she calls the "friction zone", where ancient agricultural people met hunter gatherer people.

In 2018 she travelled to Vietnam to study skeletal remains from the Man Bac archaeological site. From the Ninh Binh Province in the north of the country, Man Bac was excavated in 2005 and 2007 and has delivered a treasure trove of information for archaeologists thanks to its role during the transition away from foraging to farming in Mainland Southeast Asia.

Now housed in Hanoi's Institute of Archaeology those remains are well-studied but had not been analyzed for evidence of yaws, Ms Vlok says.

Her supervisor at Otago, renowned bioarchaeologist Professor Hallie Buckley, had seen what she thought might be yaws on a photograph of Man Bac remains. Professor Buckley travelled with Ms Vlok and together with a passionate team of experts from Vietnam they confirmed their suspicions, Ms Vlok says. Later, Ms Vlok found a second example of the disease.

This was significant, as the Man Bac site dates back 4000 years. Till now, there was no strong evidence for yaws in prehistoric Asia.

Ms Vlok's research suggests yaws was introduced to hunter-gathers in present-day Vietnam by an agricultural population moving south from modern-day China. These hunter-gathers descended from the first people out of Africa and into Asia who also eventually inhabited New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Australia.

The farmers had been in China for at least 9000 years but it wasn't until around 4000 years ago farming was introduced to Southeast Asia. It is possible this movement of people brought diseases, including yaws, at the same time.

Ms Vlok says the length of time the disease has existed in the region is relevant when addressing how hard it has been to eradicate.

"This matters, because knowing more about this disease and its evolution, it changes how we understand the relationship people have with it. It helps us understand why it's so difficult to eradicate. If it's been with us thousands of years it has probably developed to fit very well with humans."

This year's COVID-19 pandemic has focused people's attention on infectious diseases, and there are lessons to be learned from the past, Ms Vlok says.

Archaeology like this is the only way to document how long a disease has been with us and been adapting to us. We understand with COVID-19 today how fantastic that disease is at adapting to humans. And Treponema has been with us for so much longer. So, this shows us what happens when we don't take action with these diseases. It's a lesson of what infectious diseases can do to a population if you let them spread widely. It highlights the need to intervene, because sometimes these diseases are so good at adapting to us, at spreading between us." Melandri Vlok, PhD candidate, Department of Anatomy, University of Otago
50 pc efficacy in phase 3 trials needed for COVID-19 vaccine approval: Drug authority's guidelines

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Sep 22: A COVID-19 vaccine candidate should show at least 50 per cent efficacy during phase III of clinical trials for it to be widely deployed, according to a draft guidance document for vaccine developers issued by the central drug authority.

However, adequate data informing about the potential risk of vaccine-associated Enhanced Respiratory Disease (ERD) will need to be generated, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) said in its draft ''Regulatory Guidelines for Development of Vaccines with Special Consideration for COVID-19 Vaccine''.

It said people with a history or laboratory evidence of prior novel coronavirus infection should be allowed to participate in trials if they did not have acute COVID-19 or other acute infectious illness.

The draft guidelines have been uploaded on the CDSCO's website. It is seeking comments and feedback from the public till October 12.

"To ensure that a widely deployed COVID-19 vaccine is effective, the primary efficacy endpoint point estimate for a placebo-controlled efficacy trial should be at least 50 per cent...," the guidelines said.

Considering the urgent need for a safe and effective vaccine for the prevention of COVID-19, clinical development programs of COVID-19 vaccine may proceed through an adaptive and seamless approach.

Explained: Will India trails Novavax vaccine from October 2020?

"However, as applicable for any vaccine, regardless of whether clinical development programs proceed in discrete phases with separate studies or via a more seamless approach, an adequate data, including data to inform the potential risk of vaccine-associated Enhanced Respiratory Disease (ERD) will be needed," they said.

Consideration may be needed for conducting more than one vaccine efficacy trial in case different subtypes of a pathogen are involved, the guidelines underlined.

In such cases, the efficacy trials may be required to be conducted in different regions where certain subtypes are known to predominate.

It is anticipated that adequately powered efficacy trials for COVID-19 vaccines will be of sufficient size to provide an acceptable safety database for younger adult and elderly populations, provided that no significant safety concerns arise during clinical development that would warrant further pre-licensure evaluation.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Dr Balram Bhargava, director general, Indian Council of Medical Research, said all vaccines for respiratory viruses are not 100 per cent effective.

Pakistan flies drones across LoC at night to drop AK-47s for terrorists | Oneindia News

"There are three things for a vaccine -- first the safety, second the immunogenicity and third the efficacy. The WHO says that if we can get more than 50 per cent efficacy that is an accepted vaccine. For respiratory viruses, we never get 100 per cent efficacy. We are aiming for 100 per cent efficacy but may get 50-100 per cent."

According to the CDSCO guidelines, as it is possible that a COVID-19 vaccine "might be much more effective in preventing moderate to severe versus mild COVID-19", consideration should be given for powering efficacy trials for formal hypothesis testing on a severe COVID-19 endpoint.

Regardless, moderate to severe COVID-19 should be evaluated as a secondary endpoint (with or without formal hypothesis testing) if not evaluated as a primary endpoint, the guidelines said.

Establishing vaccine safety and efficacy in SARS-CoV-2 naive individuals is critical, they added.

Vaccine safety and COVID-19 outcomes in individuals with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection who might have been asymptomatic are also important to examine because pre-vaccination screening for prior infection may not be feasible in practice when the COVID-19 vaccine is approved and introduced in the market.

"Therefore, subjects with history or laboratory evidence of prior COVID-19 infection should not be excluded from COVID-19 vaccine trial. However, subjects with acute COVID-19 or other acute infectious illness should be excluded from such trials," the guidelines said.

Evaluation of vaccine safety and efficacy in phase III clinical trial in adults should include adequate representation of elderly individuals and individuals with comorbidities, they said.

Further, productive and developmental toxicity data should be there as per the requirements specified in the New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules, 2019 to support the inclusion of pregnant women and women of childbearing potential, they added.

It is important for COVID-19 vaccines to plan for pediatric assessments of safety and effectiveness considering the pandemic in accordance with the New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules, 2019.

After approval of a vaccine, it is essential to monitor vaccine safety in routine use, the guidelines underscored.

They also recommended the use of an independent Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) for vaccine-associated ERD and other safety signal monitoring, especially during the later stage development.

In general, all vaccines, including those against coronavirus infection manufactured or imported into the country, are required to comply with the requirements and guidelines for chemistry, manufacturing and controls (CMC) specified in the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945 and New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules, 2019.

All vaccines are required to be characterised and manufactured in compliance with good manufacturing practices as prescribed in the rules.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 22

By Elnur Baghishov  Trend:

As many as 3,712 people have been infected with the coronavirus (COVID-19) in the past 24 hours in Iran, said Sima Sadat Lari, spokesperson for Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Trend reports citing the ministry.

According to Sadat Lari, 178 more people have died from the coronavirus over the past day.

Sadat Lari added that the condition of 3,922 people is critical.

The official said that Iran's Tehran, Isfahan, Qom, East Azerbaijan, South Khorasan, Semnan, Qazvin, Lorestan, Ardabil, Khuzestan, Kermanshah, Gilan, Bushehr, Zanjan, Ilam, Razavi Khorasan, Mazandaran, Alborz, West Azerbaijan, Markazi, Kerman, North Khorasan, Hamadan, and Yazd provinces are considered 'red' zones.

So far, more than 3.8 million tests have been conducted in Iran for the diagnosis of coronavirus.

Iran continues to monitor the coronavirus situation in the country. According to recent reports from the Iranian officials, over 429,100 people have been infected, and 24,656 people have already died. Meanwhile, over 363,700 have reportedly recovered from the disease.

The country continues to apply strict measures to contain further spread. Reportedly, the disease was brought to Iran by a businessman from Iran's Qom city, who went on a business trip to China, despite official warnings. The man died later from the disease.

The Islamic Republic only announced its first infections and deaths from the coronavirus on Feb. 19.

The outbreak in the Chinese city of Wuhan - which is an international transport hub - began at a fish market in late December 2019.

The World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11 declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Some sources claim the coronavirus outbreak started as early as November 2019.
I have written a lot about mortgages in recent weeks, talking to an expert about a number of topics, including fixed rates and switching. I had intended to move to other topics for a while but a number of moves in the housing market in recent days are worth highlighting.

The news, announced earlier this year, that Avant was entering the Irish mortgage market was greeted with delight by brokers and now we know exactly why they were so pleased.

"Avant Money will initially be offering a market-beating 1.95% three, five and seven-year fixed rates on less than 60% loan to value with a follow-on variable rate of 2.5%, Martina Hennessy, Managing Director of doddl.ie. explained. They have come to market offering fixed rates of 3, 5 and 7 years with strong follow on variable rates.

At every loan to value bracket, they offer rates that are equal to or lower than existing rates on market offering value to consumers regardless of loan to value.

The introduction of Avant Moneys lower fixed rates is very timely as three-quarters of all new mortgage customers to end June took a fixed option over a variable.

Where lenders on market currently offer fixed rates tiered by loan to value of less than 60%, 60 to 80% or over 80, Avant Money discount at every 10% loan to value interval. Consumers cannot get these deals by going directly to Avant Money, who instead are offering their mortgage products via a select number of mortgage brokers, including Doddl.

Irish Mortgage Corporation (IMC) is another of the mortgage brokers working with Avant and they have crunched the numbers to see how much homebuyers could save as a result of these new rates.

Read More Secret Teacher: The CAO is not the only route to take after school

In Cork City, the average price of a 4-bed semi is 358,750. Over the course of 30 years, with the most expensive lender, IMC calculates a buyer will pay back 220,611 in interest. Though if buyers now choose Avant Money as their lender, they will only pay back 129,793 in interest, a spokesperson said. Over 30 years, that is a huge saving of 90,818. It is important to note that Avant is only offering mortgages to homebuyers in specific geographic areas.

Currently, they are Dublin county plus any town within 30km of Dublin county border, Cork city plus locations within 30km of Cork city centre, Galway city plus locations within 30km of Galway city centre, Limerick city plus locations within 20km of Limerick city centre and Waterford city plus locations within 20km of Waterford city centre.

The good news for people outside those areas is Avant are not the only ones bringing new rates to the mortgage market.

AIB, who is Irelands largest mortgage provider, has introduced a range of Loan-to-Value (LTV) fixed-rate mortgages which will see the bank offer a range of fixed price points for customers, including rates as low as 2.25%.

Our new LTV fixed-rate bands give customers the opportunity to reduce their mortgage repayments as their capital balances reduce, Colin Hunt, CEO of AIB said. We have also introduced new LTV bands for our Green Mortgage, further supporting Irelands transition to a low-carbon economy.

The company also announced that Haven, their intermediary channel, will be offering 5,000 cashback for new customers who draw down a fixed-rate mortgage of 300,000 or higher.

Brokers are clear on the potential benefits for consumers, even if you are happy with your current repayment, there are opportunities to make long-term savings.

With the new market-challenging rates announced by Avant Money, the new lower fixed rates from AIB, and Havens latest 5,000 cashback offer, there has never been a better time for existing homeowners to consider switching provider and save thousands of euro on their mortgages, Trevor Grant, Chairperson, AIMA (Association of Irish Mortgage Advisors) said.

Our members regularly meet consumers who are paying 200 - 300 a month more than they need to, which is not an effective use of their hard-earned money. With so many offers out there, many if not most homeowners could now secure a better deal for themselves if they shopped the market.
This man hires woman to slap him every time he opens Facebook; Elon Musk approves

How much do Facebook, Google earn from India? Here's what BJP lawmaker says

Facebook India head moves SC against Delhi Assembly panels notice, hearing today

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Sep 22: Ajit Mohan, the India head of social media giant Facebook on Tuesday moved Supreme Court against the Delhi Assembly panel's notice that asked him to appear before it for the social media platform's alleged role in the Delhi riots in February.

The petition will be heard by a three-judge bench headed by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul.

On Sunday, the Delhi Assembly's Peace and Harmony committee had issued a fresh notice to Mohan asking him to appear before the panel on September 23.

"Any defiance to the subsequent notice for appearance shall be deemed to be an act of breach of constitutionally-guaranteed privileges of the committee," a statement released Sunday afternoon said.

Hateful content: Delhi Assembly panel issues final summons for Facebook to appear on Wednesday

"The indifference exhibited by the representative of Facebook India is also a contempt to the people of Delhi... was unanimously decided... that in the event of subsequent default, (the) committee shall be constrained to invoke its power to initiate breach of privilege proceedings against Facebook India and thus (invite) penal jurisdiction of the house," the statement added.

The summon by the Delhi Assembly panel on peace and harmony follows a recent Wall Street Journal report which claimed that one of Facebook's senior India policy executives intervened in internal communication to stop a permanent ban on a Bharatiya Janata Party lawmaker from Telangana after he allegedly shared communally charged posts.

Pakistan flies drones across LoC at night to drop AK-47s for terrorists | Oneindia News

Last month, Facebook had said its social media platform prohibits hate speech and content that incites violence and these policies are enforced globally without regard to political affiliation.

"We prohibit hate speech and content that incites violence and we enforce these policies globally without regard to anyone's political position or party affiliation.
The outdoor event at 301 N. Washington St. will feature a variety of activities, including an area to make puppets and put on a show, a Literature Laboratory where guests can dream up their own stories, and a chance to create pages of a giant storybook, a news release said.
Biotech has become one of the hottest areas of venture investment in recent years, as progress in machine learning, genetics, medical devices and biology fuse together into new products for the gargantuan health industry.

Case in point: Grail, which began in 2016 as a spinoff from genetic sequencing giant Illumina and co-founded by longtime Google executive Jeff Huber (who was involved in the creation of the companys experimental laboratory Google[x]), is now being spun back in to the tune of an $8 billion acquisition announced this morning.

Illumina originally invested $100 million in the spinout, and Grail would go on to raise about $2 billion in funding from prominent biotech firm ARCH, one of Chinas top VCs Hillhouse Capital, among many others according to Crunchbase. Illumina currently owns 14.5% of the company's outstanding shares, making the effective purchase price for Grail closer to around $7 billion.

Grails technology was designed to use modern genetic sequencing tools coupled with data science to detect cancer earlier than other competing products on the market.

As we discussed on TechCrunch back in 2017 when the company raised $900 million, while liquid biopsies to detect cancer arent anything new and GRAIL will have to compete with several other contenders both large and small, the technology to take a blood sample and detect the early, free-floating cancer DNA floating in your bloodstream is revolutionary in the industry and only made possible through new DNA sequencing machinery.

Cancer screening is a $100 billion market and growing rapidly, particularly internationally as countries like China and India develop economically and more patients require active screening. Detecting cancer early is pivotal for reducing mortality risk, and so Grails promise was to offer the holy grail (couldnt help myself) for saving these lives. According to the U.S. government, roughly 600,000 people will die this year from cancer, and it is a leading cause of death.

Story continues

As part of the deal, Grail will receive $3.5 billion in cash, with another $4.5 billion earmarked for Illumina stock. The company set a deadline of December 20th for consummating the acquisition, at which point Illumina will begin offering Grail $35 million per month in cash payments until the deal closes. The two companies have signed a $315 million merger termination agreement as part of the deal.

The acquisition is subject to customary regulatory review.

Update Sept 21, 2020: Added Illumina's current ownership of Grail numbers.
The resonance of unruly scenes - torn papers, broken microphones and sloganeering - that unfolded in Rajya Sabha on Sunday when a group of MPs from the Opposition benches surrounded the Chairmans desk, where deputy chairman Harivansh sat while conducting the House proceedings, is being felt in election-bound Bihar.

Harivansh is a native of the state and a member of the ruling JD(U). Senior BJP and JD(U) leaders, while condemning the Opposition MPs conduct, have made pointed references to the heckling, abuse and disrespect shown to him.

The Opposition MPs created a commotion in the House after the chair refused to grant more time for discussion on two contentious farm bills that were passed by a voice vote. The Opposition also alleged that their demand for seeking a division of votes was not met; violating the parliamentary procedure.

Congresss Rajya Sabha MP, Jairam Ramesh alleged that the BJP is politicising the issue. He tweeted, The shadow of the forthcoming Bihar elections has fallen over Parliament now. It is all very well for Constitutional authorities to demand respect. They must, in fact, command respect by their non-partisan actions.

Also read: Rajya Sabha passes bill to bring co-op banks under RBI supervision

  !

   

                         (1/3) pic.twitter.com/jwA3kZUUE1  Ravi Shankar Prasad (@rsprasad) September 22, 2020

On Monday, Union law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, who represents Patna Sahib constituency in the Lok Sabha, referred to the ruckus and said the party will not politicise the issue. Prasad, however, linked the issue to Bihari pride. Harivansh ji is an eminent writer, we have all felt very bad at the treatment meted out to him. An eminent Indian who hails from Bihar was humiliated; the people of Bihar will give a response. Harivansh ji remained dignified We will not make it a political issue but people are hurt, the minister said.

The minister also trained his guns at the Opposition and said, The way the Congress and the RJD were silent and even encouraged the protesting MPs in the Rajya Sabha, this will be told to the people of the state. Both the Congress and the RJD will have to answer.

On Tuesday, following reports that the 8 MPs who were suspended for their conduct in the House declined to have the tea which Harivansh carried to their protest site inside Parliament complex, Prime Minister Narendra Modi put out two tweets to appreciate the deputy chairpersons gesture.

          ,      -                              ,      pic.twitter.com/K9uLy53xIB  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 22, 2020

To personally serve tea to those who attacked and insulted him a few days ago as well as those sitting on Dharna shows that Shri Harivansh Ji has been blessed with a humble mind and a big heart. It shows his greatness. I join the people of India in congratulating Harivansh Ji, the PM said.

In an earlier tweet, there was a reference to his Bihar roots. For centuries, the great land of Bihar has been teaching us the values of democracy. In line with that wonderful ethos, MP from Bihar and Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson Shri Harivansh Jis inspiring and statesman-like conduct this morning will make every democracy lover proud, the PM said.

This is the second time when the PM has invoked the deputy chairpersons connection with the state where elections are expected in November. On September 14, when Harivansh was re-elected to the position for the second term, the PM mentioned how he belonged to the land of democracy.

Also read: Glided like snakes... now silent - Sena slams BJPs silence on Kanganas terrorist remark

When anyone who is a seeker of democracy, from the land of democracy, Bihar, from JPs (Jayprakash Narayan) and Karpuri Thakurs land, from Bapus (Mahatma Gandhi) Champaran, steps forward to take responsibility, this is what happens what Harivansh has accomplished, the PM said while complimenting his conduct of the House.

Support for Harivash, who will undertake a day-long fast, anguished by the occurrence in the house and the humiliating conduct against him also poured in from Vice President Venkaiah Naidu who expressed displeasure over the ruckus in the House.

This is a Gandhian way, this is the JP way. We shouldnt try to score political points Despite everything, Harivansh ji made tea at home and brought it for the protesting MPs, Naidu said.

In Bihar, where the BJP is part of the government in alliance with the JD(U), the party that Harivansh belongs to, deputy chief minister Sushil Modi also said the incident has hurt the pride of Bihar.

While the NDA feels that the issue will impact the electoral outcome in the state, Shankar Dutt of the Patan University said the polls will be dominated by issues of healthcare, employment and education that has not been able to address concerns about employability.

The statements made by the political parties are for scoring brownie points, but I dont think it will have an electoral impact, he said.

While a no-confidence motion against Harivansh moved by the opposition was not admitted, AAPs Sanjay Singh, Derek OBrien, and Dola Sen of Trinamool Congress; Congress Rajiv Satav, Syed Nasir Hussain, and Ripun Bora; CPIMs KK Ragesh and Elamaram Kareem were suspended for the remainder of the session for gross disorderly conduct after the House passed a motion by voice vote.
As a taxpayer, do you want the crew that does the best job for the best price to build your infrastructure and get your hard-earned tax dollars?

Or one that shells out money to a union?

Of course the two are not mutually exclusive, but under the proposed Community Workforce Ordinance, co-sponsored by Commissioners Debbie OMalley and Jim Collie and on the County Commission agenda tonight, the latter would be a requirement.

The ordinance would essentially require union participation in large county projects. And that would stifle competition and drive construction costs up as much as 18%, insist officials with the Associated Builders and Contractors New Mexico and Northern N.M. Independent Electrical Contractors.

Under the proposal, contractors and subcontractors selected for county construction projects costing at least $5 million and employing skilled workers in three or more crafts would have to execute a community workforce agreement, also known as a project labor agreement, which dictates a certain amount of union worker participation.

Never mind that more than 90% of New Mexicos private construction workforce does not belong to a union. Or that the county could skip the union mandate and require contractors to provide health insurance and time-off benefits.

Which OMalley says is the intent of the ordinance.

Never mind that, according to Carla Kugler, president and CEO of the builders and contractors N.M. chapter, and Ron Alley, executive director of the northern N.M. electrical contractors group, most members already provide health care and other fringe benefits to employees. Kugler correctly says contractors should be able to staff a project how they want, with quality work and affordable prices being the paramount concerns.

Requiring health care might be the smart thing to do, saving taxpayers from picking up uninsured tabs in case of job site injury. Ditto for retirement, as a majority of New Mexicans have little-to-nothing put by for their so-called golden years.

But even supporters of the ordinance concede non-union workers could get less money in their paychecks to pay for fringe benefits they may not need or want. And Kugler says requiring contractors to fill union slots on CWA job sites would not only weed out many of New Mexicos smaller contractors, it would also require the county to seek more out-of-state contractors who meet the CWA requirements. Its not exactly New Mexico True to reserve our local public works jobs for out-of-state contractors.

It would be interesting to know if OMalley or Collie have ever required their roofing, lawn maintenance or plumbing companies to provide proof their workers have union-level health care and retirement benefits.

Wanting to provide skilled workers with fair pay and benefits is laudable, but there is already a state-established prevailing wage, and benefits should not require union dues. Our elected leaders have a fiduciary responsibility to deliver taxpayers the best bang for their bucks. That should take precedence.

The proposed ordinance is clearly intended to provide an advantage to union contractors, at the expense of the industrys majority of non-union craftspeople as well as taxpayers. This kind of social engineering has no place in public projects and needs to be defeated in the interest of taxpayers and workers alike.

This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers.
Tim Keller rejects claims that Christians must vote a certain way, says stop demonizing opponents

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Notable author and pastor Timothy Keller has denounced the idea that a Christian must vote for Donald Trump or must vote for Joe Biden, citing a liberty of conscience.

In a series of posts to Twitter last week that has sparked debate, Keller discussed how Christians should approach conscience and political involvement.

The Bible binds my conscience to care for the poor, but it does not tell me the best practical way to do it, he tweeted. Any particular strategy (high taxes and government services vs low taxes and private charity) may be good and wise 

[It] may even be somewhat inferred from other things the Bible teaches, but they are not directly commanded and therefore we cannot insist that all Christians, as a matter of conscience, follow one or the other.

Keller went on to declare that Democrats and Republicans offer a potpourri of different positions on these and many other topics, most of which, as just noted-the Bible does not speak  to directly, he continued.

This means when it comes to taking political positions, voting, determining alliances and political involvement, the Christian has liberty of conscience. Christians cannot say to other Christians no Christian can vote for or every Christian must vote for [] unless you can find a Biblical command to that effect, continued Keller.

Keller received several critical posts in response, including one from Charles Yarbrough, a pastor and Bible teacher from Georgia.

Hey Tim...No Christian should vote for anyone who advocates the murder of babies in the womb, and in some cases like the governor of Virginia, even after they are born. This is indescribable evil...period, Yarbrough tweeted.

Marshall Albritton, a lawyer, tweeted in response that while he agreed with Keller, he nevertheless felt that 2 things are essential and nonnegotiables.

Everyone, including political leaders regardless of party, must say that abortion is evil, said Albritton. The Govt should not fund abortion. Political reality now is that 1 party refuses to do either of these.

For his part, Keller responded to some of the criticism, believing that many of the posters had misinterpreted his remarks as saying he supported legalized abortion.

The Bible tells me that abortion is a sin and great evil, but it doesnt tell me the best way to decrease or end abortion in this country, nor which policies are most effective, tweeted Keller.

Kedron Bardwell, professor and chair of the Political Science department at Simpson College, chimed in to argue that Democratic presidents were better at reducing abortion.

The idea that reducing abortion is something that happens under GOP (or even pro-life) leadership is a myth, tweeted Bardwell.

Abortion rate is lower under DEM presidents and record drop was under Clinton in 1990s. If you really want fewer abortions it hinges on culture/contraception and economy.

As the presidential election draws near, some faith leaders have argued that believers must vote one way or the other or else they are not true believers.

Pastor Robert Jeffress of First Baptist Dallas argued that evangelicals who vote for Biden "have sold their soul to the devil and accepted the Democrats barbaric position on abortion."

Tony Perkins, the head of Family Research Council, has also made a case against voting for Biden, arguing that Biden's Catholic faith doesn't "square" with his "radical position" on abortion.

Last month, Grace Community Church Pastor John MacArthur told the Falkirk Center at Liberty University that any real Christian will vote for Trump.

In his interview with Falkirk, MacArthur recounted a recent phone call between himself and the president amid the pastors legal battle with California over holding indoor worship services.

[We] talked a little bit about why, certainly from a biblical standpoint, Christians could not vote Democratic, recalled MacArthur.

Theres no way that a Christian can affirm the slaughter of babies, homosexual activity, homosexual marriage, or any kind of gross immorality.

In more recent comments, Keller contended that it is wrong for Christians to "speak of their opponents in a demonizing and dehumanizing way," noting that everyone "fall[s] infinitely (and therefore equally) short of loving and serving God in the way that is due him."

"So Christians can never feel morally superior to any one else at all. That means (MAIN POINT) when we call out evildoing in others, as vital as that is, we can never imply by our attitude or language that they deserve Gods condemnation, but we do not," he tweeted Sunday. "Right now our very social fabric is tearing apart because of, among other things, increasing, mutual demonizations ON BOTH SIDES. Christians must not contribute to this in any way."

A Pew survey, conducted in June, showed that a majority (82%) of white evangelicals said they will vote for Trump. Among black Protestants, 88% said they will vote for Biden and 52% of Catholics said they'll choose Biden.
Most of the legislators from the ruling and Opposition parties gave their consent with an oblique resistance.

Bengaluru: In the wake of the resource crunch caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Karnataka Assembly on Monday passed a bill to cut the salaries of its legislators, including the Speaker, Deputy Speaker and ministers, by 30 per cent.

Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister J.C. Madhuswamy proposed the Karnataka Salaries and Allowances of Members, Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly (Amendment Bill), 2020 on Tuesday, the second day of the six-day Monsoon Session.

According to the provisions of the bill, there will be a salary cut of 30 per cent of all the legislators for a period of one year starting April 1. The objective of the bill is to utilise the savings to fight the Covid-19 pandemic in the state.

The amendment bill proposed a salary cut by 30 per cent of the state Assembly members, including the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, ministers, and the Leader of Opposition.

While extending his support for the bill, senior Congress leader H.K. Patil said that it could have been more comprehensive had the state government included high court judges, bureaucrats and other stakeholders too.

He quickly added that the Congress has been supporting the bill right from the start, but "we also suggest and recommend the state government to practice austerity measures in other quarters also".

"We suggest the government should curb their extravagant splurging of public money in celebrations and events," he said.

The six-day monsoon session of the Karanataka Assembly began on Monday. Due to the pandemic, the House has been allowed to function without any public spectators. Around 32 bills will be tabled in the House during the session.
WASHINGTON - Its so on brand for Sen. Susan Collins to be in a pressure cooker over how shell vote in a showdown riveting the nation.

This time, its unclear how the battle over President Donald Trumps effort to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the Supreme Court will affect the Maine Republicans bid for a fifth term. It comes six weeks from an Election Day when Trump might lose and Democrats could win Senate control, and its further complicating perhaps her toughest reelection race.

A day after Ginsburg, 87, succumbed to cancer, Collins said Saturday that Ginsburgs replacement should be nominated by the President who is elected on November 3rd. She said the Senate shouldnt vote until after the election.

She told reporters Tuesday shed oppose any Trump pick if the vote occurs before Election Day, not because of the nominee but out of fairness.

She cited Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnells 2016 decision to block President Barack Obamas effort to fill a court vacancy that occurred nine months before Election Day, claiming the next president should make the selection. Ginsburg died 47 days before the coming election.

I now think we need to play by the same set of rules, Collins said.

Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski has said shes against voting on a nominee before the election, but opposition by her and Collins isnt enough to derail a nomination in the Republican-run chamber.

For Collins, 67, a no vote could risk support shell need in her reelection from conservative Republicans demanding fealty to Trump. At the same time, she cant afford to alienate independents and cross-over Democrats who value moderation.

If the Senates Supreme Court vote occurs before Election Day, Collins position will be magnified as an issue in her race. Even if it doesnt, her stance will be high on voters minds.

It ties her into a pretzel, said Dan Eberhart, a major GOP donor to Trump and Senate candidates, though not directly to Collins. She needs the base, but she also needs the centre or she will lose.

Trump plans to announce his selection Saturday. McConnell, R-Ky., has said the Senate will vote this year but hasnt specified when.

Democrats hope the nomination fight will remind liberal voters of Collins support for Trumps controversial last Supreme Court pick, Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

It might also focus progressives on how abortion rights and President Barack Obamas health care law could be threatened by a conservative-dominated Supreme Court. The justices plan to hear arguments on a GOP effort to annul the health care law the week after Election Day.

Collins Democratic opponent, Sara Gideon, began airing a TV ad Tuesday saying our children and our grandchildren will be affected by Trump judicial nominees the McConnell-led Senate is rubber-stamping.

We have to change the people who make him majority leader. That includes Sen. Susan Collins, Gideon says.

Until Tuesday, Collins carefully worded statements hadnt specified how shed vote if McConnell forced the issue.

People dont know what she stands for, said Lauren Passalacqua, spokeswoman for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, the partys Senate political arm. She also cited Collins refusal to say if shell vote this year for Trump, with whom shes had a fraught relationship.

Republicans say Collins stance illustrates an independence that Maine voters have long prized.

Our state and our country need problem solvers, said Michael Thibodeau, a Republican and former state Senate president. People who can compromise and see value in others ideas and are not driven solely by the most partisan aspects of politics.

Senator Collins always does what she thinks is right for Maine and America, no matter which political party is in power, said Annie Clark, a Collins campaign spokesperson.

Polling illustrates the perils that Trump poses for Collins, one of the most vulnerable GOP senators facing reelection this year.

A Maine poll by The New York Times and Siena College, released last week before Ginsburg died, showed Trump substantially trailing Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden. It showed a majority wanting Biden to select the next justice, spotlighting Collins risks if she assents to Trumps pick.

The poll also showed Collins slightly trailing or even with her Gideon, underscoring that Collins can ill afford to lose support over the court fight.

Shell get dinged on by the right, and dinged on by the left, said Democratic consultant John Lapp.

In a further problem for Collins, Maines political ground is shifting. State records show nearly 387,000 Democrats in July and 340,000 unenrolled independents, giving Democrats the largest voting block for the first time since at least the 1980s, according to Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap. Republicans trail both groups.

Collins is one Congress few remaining GOP moderates. Shes backed abortion rights and won praise from Democrats when she helped kill Trumps 2017 drive to erase Obamas health care law.

But Democrats have complained that despite her penchant for publicly agonizing over difficult issues, she too often follows the GOP line when her vote is needed.

In a deal-breaker for Democrats and many #MeToo movement supporters, Collins cast a pivotal vote for Kavanaugh to fill a Supreme Court vacancy in 2018, despite accusations that hed committed sexual assault while in high school. Kavanaugh denied the allegations.

Collins has said she believes Kavanaugh wont overturn the courts Roe v. Wade decision finding abortion legal. Abortion rights advocates say they think he will.

Collins didnt support Trump during the 2016 election because of his constant stream of denigrating comments. Asked Monday on TVs Fox and Friends about Collins distancing over the court vacancy, Trump said: I think that Susan Collins is going to be hurt very badly.

Both sides have so far spent or allocated $97 million on the Collins-Gideon race, with Democrats having a modest edge, according to the ad tracking company Kantar/CMAG.

In a sign of conservatives ambivalence, the Club for Growth hasnt endorsed Collins but is collecting contributions for her that may total $200,000, said the conservative groups president, David McIntosh. He said Collins remarks indicate shes open to backing a Trump pick and added, Its an important race for keeping the majority.

Republicans control the Senate 53-47.

___

Sharp reported from Portland, Maine.
By Caitlin Johnstone

September 21, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - Stephen F Cohen, the renowned American scholar on Russia and leading authority on US-Russian relations, has died of lung cancer at the age of 81.

As one of the precious few western voices of sanity on the subject of Russia while everyone else has been frantically flushing their brains down the toilet, this is a real loss. I myself have cited Cohens expert analysis many times in my own work, and his perspective has played a formative role in my understanding of whats really going on with the monolithic cross-partisan manufacturing of consent for increased western aggressions against Moscow.

In a world that is increasingly confusing and awash with propaganda, Cohens death is a blow to humanitys desperate quest for clarity and understanding.

Very sad. A huge loss. Americas leading expert on Russia, Stephen Cohen, has died, aged 81. Stephen was subjected to a horrible smear campaign when he questioned US-policy towards Moscow after the 2014 estrangement. Condolences to @KatrinaNationhttps://t.co/3PNLdl758f  Bryan MacDonald (@27khv) September 19, 2020

I dont know how long Cohen had cancer. I dont know how long he was aware that he might not have much time left on this earth. What I do know is he spent much of his energy in his final years urgently trying to warn the world about the rapidly escalating danger of nuclear war, which in our strange new reality he saw as in many ways completely unprecedented.

The last of the many books Cohen authored was 2019s War with Russia?, detailing his ideas on how the complex multi-front nature of the post-2016 cold war escalations against Moscow combines with Russiagate and other factors to make it in some ways more dangerous even than the most dangerous point of the previous cold war.

Were in a new cold war with Russia that is much more dangerous than the preceding cold war for various reasons, Cohen told The Young Turks in 2017. One is that there are at least three cold war fronts that are fraught with hot war: that would be Ukraine, that would be the Baltic Black Sea region where NATO is undertaking an unprecedented military buildup on Russias border, and of course in Syria, where American and Russian aircraft are flying in the same airspace. And I would add to those three cold war fronts what is now called Russiagate, because the accusation that Trump needs to be impeached because hes somehow a Russian agent so distorts and cripples the possibility of the White House making Russia policy that I think its a cold war front.

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Cohen repeatedly points to the most likely cause of a future nuclear war: not one that is planned but one which erupts in tense, complex situations where anything could happen in the chaos and confusion as a result of misfire, miscommunication or technical malfunction, as nearly happened many times during the last cold war.

I think this is the most dangerous moment in American-Russian relations, at least since the Cuban missile crisis, Cohen told Democracy Now in 2017. And arguably, its more dangerous, because its more complex. Therefore, weand then, meanwhile, we have in Washington theseand, in my judgment, factless accusations that Trump has somehow been compromised by the Kremlin. So, at this worst moment in American-Russian relations, we have an American president whos being politically crippled by the worst imaginableits unprecedented. Lets stop and think. No American president has ever been accused, essentially, of treason. This is what were talking about here, or that his associates have committed treason.

Imagine, for example, John Kennedy during the Cuban missile crisis, Cohen added. Imagine if Kennedy had been accused of being a secret Soviet Kremlin agent. He would have been crippled. And the only way he could have proved he wasnt was to have launched a war against the Soviet Union. And at that time, the option was nuclear war.

A recurring theme of my recently published book War with Russia? is that the new Cold War is more dangerous, more fraught with hot war, than the one we survived, Cohen wrote last year. Histories of the 40-year US-Soviet Cold War tell us that both sides came to understand their mutual responsibility for the conflict, a recognition that created political space for the constant peace-keeping negotiations, including nuclear arms control agreements, often known as detente. But as I also chronicle in the book, todays American Cold Warriors blame only Russia, specifically Putins Russia, leaving no room or incentive for rethinking any US policy toward post-Soviet Russia since 1991.

Finally, there continues to be no effective, organized American opposition to the new Cold War, Cohen added. This too is a major theme of my book and another reason why this Cold War is more dangerous than was its predecessor. In the 1970s and 1980s, advocates of detente were well-organized, well-funded, and well-represented, from grassroots politics and universities to think tanks, mainstream media, Congress, the State Department, and even the White House. Today there is no such opposition anywhere.

A major factor is, of course, Russiagate, Cohen continued. As evidenced in the sources I cite above, much of the extreme American Cold War advocacy we witness today is a mindless response to President Trumps pledge to find ways to cooperate with Russia and to the still-unproven allegations generated by it. Certainly, the Democratic Party is not an opposition party in regard to the new Cold War.

Detente with Russia has always been a fiercely opposed, crisis-ridden policy pursuit, but one manifestly in the interests of the United States and the world, Cohen wrote in another essay last year. No American president can achieve it without substantial bipartisan support at home, which Trump manifestly lacks. What kind of catastrophe will it takein Ukraine, the Baltic region, Syria, or somewhere on Russias electric gridto shock US Democrats and others out of what has been called, not unreasonably, their Trump Derangement Syndrome, particularly in the realm of American national security? Meanwhile, the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists has recently reset its Doomsday Clock to two minutes before midnight.

And now Stephen Cohen is dead, and that clock is inching ever closer to midnight. The Russiagate psyop that he predicted would pressure Trump to advance dangerous cold war escalations with no opposition from the supposed opposition party has indeed done exactly that with nary a peep of criticism from either partisan faction of the political/media class. Cohen has for years been correctly predicting this chilling scenario which now threatens the life of every organism on earth, even while his own life was nearing its end.

And now the complex cold war escalations he kept urgently warning us about have become even more complex with the addition of nuclear-armed China to the multiple fronts the US-centralized empire has been plate-spinning its brinkmanship upon, and it is clear from the ramping up of anti-China propaganda since last year that we are being prepped for those aggressions to continue to increase.

We should heed the dire warnings that Cohen spent his last breaths issuing. We should demand a walk-back of these insane imperialist aggressions which benefit nobody and call for detente with Russia and China. We should begin creating an opposition to this world-threatening flirtation with armageddon before it is too late. Every life on this planet may well depend on our doing so.

Stephen Cohen is dead, and we are marching toward the death of everything. God help us all.

Caitlin's articles are entirely reader-supported, so if you enjoyed this piece please consider sharing it around, liking her on Facebook, following her antics on Twitter, checking out her podcast, throwing some money into her hat on Patreon or Paypal, or buying her book Woke: A Field Guide for Utopia Preppers. https://caitlinjohnstone.com
Israeli Ambassador to Vietnam Nadav Eshcar expressed his gratitude to Vietnam and spoke highly of efforts made by the country in fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The aid manifests the two countries solidarity and joint efforts during times of difficulties and a proof of the Israel-Vietnam friendship and cooperation, he underlined.

Vietnam and Israel have carried out various cooperation activities in healthcare over the years, especially training courses in first aid for cardiovascular emergencies arranged in eight Vietnamese provinces with the participation of Israeli experts in late 2019.

A three-week lockdown is underway in Israel since September 18 as many new COVID-19 infections emerged in the country.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 21:44:26|Editor: huaxia

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Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani (3rd R) applauds as representatives of the Afghan government and Chinese company MCC 19 exchange documents in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sept. 22, 2020. Chinese company MCC 19 signed a contract with the Afghan government in the Presidential Palace on Tuesday to build 1,400 housing units in Kabul, a statement from the palace released here said. (Afghan Presidential Palace/Handout via Xinhua)

KABUL, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese company MCC 19 signed a contract with the Afghan government in the Presidential Palace on Tuesday to build 1,400 housing units in Kabul, a statement from the palace released here said.

Inked in the presence of President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, the housing project will be launched in the Nila Bagh area of Darul Aman.

The memorandum of understanding for the housing project was signed in 2015, according to the statement, under which China pledged to construct 10,000 apartments for the government's civil servants.

China has largely contributed to the reconstruction process of Afghanistan since the collapse of the Taliban reign in late 2001. The housing project is the largest China-funded project in the conflict-battered country. Enditem


Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 22)  Ombudsman Samuel Martires on Tuesday defended his recent directive to restrict public access to the statement of assets, liabilities and net worth or SALN of public officials, which he described as a tool being used to "weaponize" against enemies in politics.

"Sa ekspiryensiya po ng Obudsman, na-weaponize po ang SALN. Ginamit po ito na means para siraan ang isang tao, isang kalaban sa pulitika," Martires said during the budget hearing before the House appropriations committee.

[Translation: In the experience of the Ombudsman, the SALN was weaponized. It was used as means to go against someone, anyone who is an enemy in politics.]

Through its Memorandum Circular 1, the Office of the Ombudsman declared last week tighter rules for SALN access, including those filed by public officials last August 30.

"You cannot use the SALN if it is against moral and public policy," Martires reasoned.

He added that a SALN is not necessary in the prosecution of a graft or plunder case.

No more lifestyle checks

Martires also bared that since assuming office, he had ordered a stop to the conduct of lifestyle checks on public officials due to questionable provisions of Republic Act 6713, also known as the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

"I wanted to propose to the Congress to amend RA 6713 because there really are provisions there na kung hindi malabo, parang walang hulog sa logic (if not vague, seem to have no logic)"

RA 6713, the same law that requires public officials and employees to file a SALN, also requires them and their families to "lead modest lives appropriate to their positions and income." They shall also not "indulge in extravagant or ostentatious display of wealth in any form."

Martires noted that a government official with "distorted values or priorities" and lives beyond his means cannot be immediately accused of committing a corrupt act.

"Ano hong pakialam natin? Sino tayo para husgahan ang taong ito...anong pakialam natin sa buhay ng may buhay kung hindi naman nagnanakaw?"

[Translation: Why would we care? Who are we to judge a person, someone's business if that person was not proven to have stolen anything.]

He added: "What is simple living to me may not be simple living to you or anyone.
- In the stakeholders meeting on Monday, September 21, three dates, October 4, 12 and 19 were picked as the possible dates of reopening

- The exact date will be selected depending on how fast teachers will prepare schools by installing safety measures such as hand washing points

- In the first phase of reopening, 50% of learners comprising of Four Fours, Class Eight, Class Seven and Grade Four learners will return to school first

Learners could go back to school between October 4 and 19 depending on how fast teachers will prepare learning institutions, it has now emerged.

In the meeting on Monday, September 21, by stakeholders at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD), three dates were selected, October 4, 12 and 19.

READ ALSO: Baby born on EgyptAir flight given free air travel for life

A schoolgirl writing on a blackboard. Learners will either go back to school on October 4, 12 or 19. Photo: Getty Images.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Uhuru's adopted son Daniel Owira says he nearly left school after becoming rich

Sources intimated to Citizen TV that the speed of teachers in preparing schools by arranging desks and beds to enhance social distance, installing hand-washing points among other safety measures will determine which of the three dates will be picked.

If within a week from September 28 all measures will have been put in place, students and pupils will reopen schools on October 4.

But if more precautions will be needed by the end of the first week, the date will be pushed to October 12 and if more measures will be needed, the date will be pushed to October 19.

READ ALSO: Chris Kirubi shows off his massive house, lake and expensive car collection

CS Magoha talking to journalists. Stakeholders in the Education Ministry agreed 50% of learners will report first. Photo: Citizen TV.

Source: Twitter

In the first phase of reopening, 50% of learners comprising of Form Fours, Class Eight, Class Seven and Grade Four learners have been proposed to report back to school first.

Further, the situation will be examined and any problems that many arise solved before the next group of learners join their counterparts a week or two after.

On syllabus coverage, in the period between October and December, learners are expected to cover term two content with the stakeholders presuming term one syllabus was covered before COVID-19.

Students will then take a two-week Christmas break resume third term in January which will be concluded in April.

READ ALSO: Musalia Mudavadi celebrates 60th birthday with intimate party surrounded by wife and kids

Students sitting for national exams in the past. The next national tests will take place in April 2021. Photo: UGC.

Source: UGC

National examinations will take place in April 2021 after which a new calendar will be formulated in May 2021.

This is all geared toward ensuring no student repeats a class.

Universities and institutions of higher learning can reopen after they were given a nod.

READ ALSO: 7 photos of Rachel Ruto in modest clothes which magnify her godly nature

The proposals by the committee will be reviewed by a sub-Cabinet committee who will then hand over its recommendations to President Uhuru Kenyatta before his next address.

This came a day after the Teachers Service Commission asked teachers to report to work on September 28 to prepare for reopening of schools.

The TSC boss Nancy Macharia asked tutors to comply with the directive in order to ensure learning institutions were well prepared before the resumption of studies.

Magoha said September 28 will be the deadline for teachers to report back to schools.

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It is also likely that some students found online learning so tedious or hard to keep up with that they just dropped out, especially since many schools stopped grading or taking attendance once they closed their doors.

Most states are pushing school districts to return to normal attendance and grading policies this fall, now that they have had some time to improve their distance learning programs. That is putting pressure on schools not only to keep students engaged, but also to keep tabs on their personal circumstances and emotional health.

Theres no question states have moved from treating remote learning as a special-case scenario in the spring, when they let up on expectations, to saying now, You need to go back to business as usual, said Bree Dusseault, a researcher at the Center on Reinventing Public Education, which is tracking distance learning around the country.

Returning to normal attendance expectations has sharpened a debate among education officials about how to approach truancy. Last spring, Massachusetts school officials reported dozens of families to the states Department of Children and Families because of issues related to their childrens participation in remote learning, The Boston Globe reported last month. Districts with large Black and Latino populations filed the most reports, the paper found.

When they come in for an investigation, there is always a possibility of your child being taken away, said Meri Viano, associate director of the Parent/Professional Advocacy League, a statewide group that has been in touch with parents who have been reported, though she added that she had not confirmed any instances of that happening as of yet. That, to me, is a huge unnecessary risk for families that are in crisis in this pandemic.

But Hedy Chang, the director of Attendance Works, a national group that promotes solutions to chronic absenteeism, said many districts had in fact eased up on harsh truancy rules  which can involve fines and even jail for parents and, sometimes, students  during the pandemic out of concern that students had legitimate obstacles to attending class.

I do think more schools are open to the notion that you need alternatives to legal action, she said. Theres a lot more empathy.
STRUTHERS, Ohio  A man wanted in connection with a shooting that left a 4-year-old boy dead has surrendered to authorities, hours after a plea from the boys father.

WFMJ Channel 21 reports Kimonie Bryant, 24, turned himself into U.S. Marshals at 8 p.m. Monday. Bryant is is being held in the Mahoning County Jail on a charge of aggravated murder, but likely will face more charges, the Warren Tribune reports.

Bryant is a suspect in a shooting early Monday morning at a residence in Struthers in which four adults were wounded and 4-year-old Rowan Sweeney was killed. Reports say the child died in the arms of his mother, Alexis Schneider, 22, who also was wounded.

During a news conference Monday, the boys father, David Sweeney, urged the gunman to surrender to police, WKBN Channel 27 reports.

Whoever did this, man, just turn yourself in," Sweeney said. Just be a man, dude. Just be a man. Youre sick. Youre just sick. You took my son from me. This is my baby boy. You took him because youre sick. You can live with that for the rest of your life, but this is my baby.

The three other adults wounded were identified as Cassandra Marsicola, 20, of Campbell, Yarnell Green Jr., 30, of Youngstown, and Andre McCoy Jr., 20, of Youngstown. Green and McCoy were in critical condition Monday, while Schneider and Marsicola were in stable condition, the Tribune reports.

Police say the shooting does not appear to be random, saying the suspect was familiar with the victims. Investigators have not revealed a possible motive.

More crime-related content on cleveland.com:

Ohio state trooper accused of rape, drug trafficking

Shot fired during fight outside Great Lakes Mall in Mentor

Akron police stop speeding driver, discover hes been shot

Man charged in fatal shooting in Clevelands Old Brooklyn neighborhood

Man chased down, shot to death in Clevelands Glenville neighborhood
FN Media Group Presents Microsmallcap.com Market Commentary

NEW YORK, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- As gold prices near all-time highs, mining companies are finding more opportunities for funding than they have seen in years. Mining companies raised a total of $1.48 billion in August according to BMO Capital Markets, making August 2020 the biggest month for mining funding in more than six years. Investors are looking to capitalize on the ongoing gold run by throwing money at gold explorers and producers with prime mining assets that are set up for big returns. This past month was packed with examples of junior and intermediate receiving non-brokered private placements and bought-deal financings, with major investments heading to companies like Blackrock Gold Corp. (TSX-V: BRC) (OTCQB: BKRRF), PureGold Mining Inc. (TSX-V: PGM), Orefinders Resources Inc, (TSX-V: ORX), StrikePoint Gold Inc. (TSX-V: SKP), and First Mining Gold Corp. (TSX: FF).

Blackrock Gold Corp. (BRC.V) (BKRRF.QB) Receives Major Investment From Billionaire Eric Sprott

Blackrock Gold Corp. announced on August 4 that the company had closed a C$7.5 million private placement, led by a C$5 million investment from billionaire businessman Eric Sprott. The private placement was previously announced on July 22. As per the company's announcement, Sprott received a total of 10,416,667 shares in Blackrock at a price of C$0.72 per share.

Blackrock Gold Corp. intends to put this funding to use for exploration on the company's impressive Tonopah West property and for general working capital.

Sprott's interest in Blackrock Gold Corp. (BRC.V) (BKRRF.QB) likely has a lot to do with the company's control over more than half of the Tonopah Silver District, one of the most desirable mining districts in the state of Nevada. As the last great silver district to be discovered in the state in 1900, Tonopah has produced more than 174 million ounces of gold and 1.8 million ounces of silver. Despite this, Blackrock is the first company to bring modern exploration to Tonopah since production in the district shut down nearly a century ago due to low metals prices

Blackrock's Tonopah West land package comprises of 97 patented and 17 unpatented mining claims covering 4.5 sq km (1,100 acres) of the Tonopah Silver District. In early September, Blackrock announced its second discovery on the property, drilling 2,215 G/T silver equivalent over 3.0 meters within 4.6 meters of 1,577 G/T silver equivalent.

Blackrock Gold Corp. is also commencing exploration on a second property in Nevada. The company is starting with a 3,500 meter, 14-drill-hole program at the Silver Cloud property in Northeastern Nevada. Blackrock came into possession of Silver Cloud shortly after the property was foreclosed, eliminating the royalty agreements that kept exploration and production of this asset financially non viable since its stake in 1999. In September, Blackrock announced that the company was considering spinning off a subsidiary company that would be solely focused on exploration at Silver Cloud.

Junior and Intermediate Miners Receive Major Investments

On August 18, junior mining company PureGold Mining Inc. (TSXV:PGM) announced that major mining company AngloGold Ashanti had increased its shareholding in Puregold to 16%. AngloGold Ashanti exercised 5,036,250 share purchase warrants at a strike price of $0.85 per share for a total investment of C$5.0 million.

Orefinders Resources Inc. (TSXV:ORX) announced on August 31 that the company had entered into a private placement agreement with Echelon Wealth Partners Inc. According to the company's announcement, Echelon Wealth Partners will receive C$2,000,000 worth of shares in Orefinders. Echelon has also received an option to purchase up to an additional 15% of units and flow-through units.

StrikePoint Gold Inc. (TSXV:SKP) (OTCQB:STKXF) announced in early September that the company had increased the size of its previously announced non-brokered private placement toC$3,000,000 through the sale of 20,000,000 Units at a price of $0.15 per unit. The offering includes a lead order by Crescat Capital.

On August 18, First Mining Gold Corp. (TSX:FF) announced the increase of a previously announced bought-deal financing led by Cormark Securities Inc. to C$25 million. Cormark, along with other underwriters, will receive 50,000,000 units of First Mining at a price of $0.50 per unit. First Mining intends to put the funding towards exploration, development, and permitting at its Canadian gold projects, as well as potential new acquisitions.

These are huge days in the mining industry. Other markets are struggling amid economic uncertainty, but gold and silver are surging. This means that companies like Blackrock Gold Corp. (BRC.V) (BKRRF.QB)with prime precious metals assets are set up to bring in major funding opportunities.

For more information about Blackrock Gold Corp. (TSXV:BRC) (OTCQB:BKRRF), click here.

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A 12-year-old boy has avoided jail time for causing a crash that killed an 11-year-old girl.

The boy, who cannot be named, was doing donuts in his dad's ute in Wyndham, in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, when the vehicle rolled, killing Abbey Forrest.

Abbey had been sitting in the tray of the ute with another girl when it flipped.

The boy was sentenced to an eight-month intensive youth supervision order at the Kununurra Children's Court on Monday after pleading guilty to dangerous driving causing death.

Children's Court Judge Hylton Quail was scathing of the child's parents for giving the boy access to the vehicle, ABC News reported.

Abbey Forrest, 11, (pictured) died after sliding out the tray of a ute near Wyndham in the Kimberley region of Western Australia on September 7, 2019

'The truth is this tragic accident should never have been allowed to happen,' Judge Quail said, accusing the father of a 'gross failure' of parenting.

The court heard the child's father had done donuts with him while they were in the car together.

Judge Hylton Quail said he also taught his son to drive and knowingly gave the boy the keys to the car.

The star student was named junior person of the year at the East Kimberley Aboriginal Achievement Awards only weeks before her death

The 12-year-old was originally charged with manslaughter but the charge was downgraded to dangerous driving causing death.

The judge also acknowledged the child's remorse and ongoing trauma as a result of his friend's death.

He said the boy was so upset he was unable to apologise personally to Abbey's mother after the crash because he was scared to talk to her.

Instead, he wrote a letter of apology to the family and pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.

Abbey's family remains devastated over the death of the talented Aboriginal student.

Her brother Tom Forrest said it was difficult to comprehend the child responsible was only given eight months.

Her mother, Jessica Forrest (pictured together), laid her daughter to rest on October 7 last year - what would have been Abbey's 12th birthday

The schoolgirl's family say they are still coming to term with Abbey's death, but are finally starting to get closure

But he agreed the situation was a result of 'irresponsible parenting' and said the family was finally getting closure over Abbey's death.

'I think our family always knew the sentence would never make us feel good, or would never be enough to match what we've been through with Abbey's death,' Mr Forrest said.

'We feel like we've lost everything, and the other party hasn't lost anything.'

The star student was killed in the fatal accident on September 7 last year.

Just weeks before her death, Abbey was named junior person of the year at the East Kimberley Aboriginal Achievement Awards.

She had also been offered four scholarships and was only days away from starting her induction at a private school in Perth.

Abbey was buried on October 7 2019 surrounded by family, elders, classmates and community - some of whom read letters to her during the service
NEW YORK and OREGON, Wis., Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Palladium Equity Partners, LLC (along with its affiliates, "Palladium"), a middle market private equity firm with approximately $3 billion in assets under management, today announced that it has acquired Trachte USA ("Trachte"), a leading provider of engineered buildings, hardware and related solutions that house electrical controls, switchgear, and other advanced equipment and systems, in partnership with management and members of the Trachte family, who will continue to be investors in the business.

Palladium is acquiring a majority equity interest in Trachte from MPE Partners, which will also maintain a minority equity interest in the business. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Trachte's products serve a broad base of customers including electric utilities, renewable energy companies, hospitals and data centers. Among these products are steel structures that house and protect critical infrastructure within transmission and distribution substations and key equipment in industrial applications such as switchgear, motor controls and fire protection pumps. Trachte's approximately 200 employees, including approximately 50 engineers, provide coverage to customers nationwide. The company has manufacturing facilities in Wisconsin and Georgia.

"We have been proactively seeking an investment in the Power and Utility space, and believe that Trachte is an ideal growth platform to execute this strategy," said Caleb Clark, a Partner at Palladium. "Trachte provides a highly engineered, total solution to its customers. The company's design engineering, project management and related value-added services and reputation for quality make it the provider of choice for leading utilities and equipment OEMs. We are excited to work with Trachte's exceptional management team led by Jim Gross in supporting the company's legacy and the execution of its organic and acquisition growth strategy. Lastly, we also are pleased to be partnering with the Trachte family, who will continue to be investors in the business."

Jim Gross, President and Chief Executive Officer of Trachte, said, "We welcome Palladium as our new partner, and look forward to benefiting from their experience accelerating growth and enhancing operations, which is the focus of their portfolio companies. At the same time, we thank MPE Partners for their contributions to the company over the past five years."

Joe Machado, Partner at MPE Partners, said, "Palladium brings a wealth of knowledge, expertise, and resources to Trachte. We are also impressed with their ability to close a negotiated transaction during the COVID pandemic. MPE will continue to support Trachte as a co-investor alongside Palladium."

Marcos Rodriguez, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Palladium, said, "We look forward to supporting Trachte in writing the next chapter in a great American success story which began more than a century ago. The company's rich history as a technological innovator began with the Trachte brothers' first patent in 1910. We are delighted to be partnering with this team in their mission to upgrade, protect and harden the country's electrical grid while making it more efficient by ensuring the delivery of safe, clean energy. We also are pleased to make an investment that represents a commitment to U.S. manufacturing jobs at this challenging time."

Stephens Inc. acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Trachte on the transaction. Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C. served as legal counsel. Stifel acted as exclusive financial advisor to Palladium on the transaction. Greenberg Traurig acted as legal counsel.

About Trachte

Trachte is a leading provider of easy-deployment application-engineered protection and control buildings. Founded in 1919, the company has unparalleled experience in prefabricated structures that provide state-of-the-art environments and protection for its customers' investments in critical equipment and systems such as switchgear, battery systems, servers, and data center hardware that control and protect electrical infrastructure and equipment. Trachte's success is based on continuous technological advancement, quality improvement and mutually beneficial relationships and strategic partnerships with end users, consulting engineers, contractors, OEMs and value-added resellers. Additional information may be found at www.trachteusa.com.

About MPE Partners

MPE Partners ("MPE" or "Morgenthaler Private Equity") seeks to be the preferred partner for entrepreneur- and family-owned companies. Based in Cleveland, OH, and Boston, MA, MPE invests in profitable, lower middle market companies with EBITDA between $5 - $20 million. MPE has two primary target investment areas: high-value manufacturing and commercial & industrial services.

About Palladium Equity Partners, LLC

Palladium is a middle market private equity firm with nearly $3 billion in assets under management. The firm seeks to acquire and grow companies in partnership with founders and experienced management teams by providing capital, strategic guidance and operational oversight. Since its founding in 1997, Palladium has made 36 platform investments and over 135 add-on acquisitions. For more information on Palladium, please visit www.palladiumequity.com.

Media Contact for Palladium Equity Partners:

Todd Fogarty

Kekst CNC

[email protected]

212-521-4854

SOURCE Palladium Equity Partners, LLC
Moussa Traore, who gained power in the West African nation of Mali in a military coup and lost it in another coup more than 22 years later, has died. He was 83.

His son Idrissa Traore confirmed the death but did not say when or where Mr. Traore died or specify the cause.

Mr. Traore, who had studied at a French military academy and served in the French army, seized power in 1968, eight years after Mali gained independence from France, amid growing discontent with Modibo Keita, the countrys first president. Mr. Keita had turned Mali into a socialist state, with collective farms, trade with the Soviet Union and China and Chinese-built state-owned factories.

Mr. Traore and other officers set up the Military Committee for National Liberation, abolished the countrys constitution and established a regime. He served as the countrys military leader until 1979, when he installed himself as civilian president of a one-party state. He was the sole presidential candidate in the election held in 1985.
Officials at a division of the U.S. Agency for International Development that tries to prevent conflict are so fed up with their new boss that theyve crafted a lengthy memo chronicling their frustrations in the hopes Trump administration officials will intervene.

The turmoil in USAIDs Bureau for Conflict Prevention and Stabilization is just the latest strife to hit the agency since spring, when the White House began filling it with a slew of new political appointees after its previous administrator quit.

The officials 13-page memo targets Pete Marocco, a political appointee who has left a bitter trail at other government departments where hes served. Marocco now leads USAIDs Bureau for Conflict Prevention and Stabilization.

The memo was put together by a very small group of experienced staffers in the bureaus Office of Transition Initiatives, a USAID official said. That office, which has a variety of programs that help countries moving toward democracy or trying to stabilize after conflicts, has come under extra scrutiny by Marocco.

Dated Sept. 17, the document was sent to USAIDs inspector general and placed in its Dissent Channel, where it is meant to reach USAID top leaders.

The memo, a copy of which was shared with POLITICO, casts Marocco as a micromanager who is disrupting numerous aspects of the bureaus work, marginalizing many of its employees and giving vague directives that are a challenge to implement. As a result, the complaint says that thousands of hours of staff time are being spent unnecessarily and unproductively.

Marocco has leveraged once-routine administrative processes to reopen previously-approved plans, interrogate and redirect country programs, halt movement on programs, procurements, and people, and inject uncertainty into daily operations and office planning, the complaint states. He has eschewed providing direction in writing or through other formal channels, and rarely sent guidance to teams directly implicated. Instead, he has conveyed orders and decisions, sometimes only orally, to individual staff  who then must attempt to relay this information as best they can to colleagues. This has inevitably generated significant confusion over intent and expectations, and made it difficult to confirm decisions or maintain adequate records.

Story continues

A man walks past boxes of stockpiled USAID humanitarian aid meant for Venezuela at a warehouse in Colombia.

Marocco didnt respond to requests for comment. USAID acting spokesperson Pooja Jhunjhunwala in a statement confirmed that the agency leadership had received the memo. We will not characterize the subject or the number or level of signatories, to respect the process that permits individuals to candidly express views to senior leadership, she said.

Since he took office, President Donald Trump and many of his aides have shown skepticism toward the U.S. foreign aid system. Theyve tried to dramatically cut funding for it, an effort Congress has blocked. Theyve also considered various ways to make aid funding more targeted and aligned with certain priorities, including reducing funding to countries that dont back the United States in forums such as the United Nations.

The memos descriptions of Marocco suggest he wants to rethink USAIDs priorities, but is doing so in ways that are causing internal chaos.

The document says Marocco has put up numerous roadblocks that make it harder for OTI employees to do their jobs in countries such as Ukraine, Malaysia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Burkina Faso.

OTIs core capacity to operate effectively is being rapidly degraded, as the Office becomes less field-driven, less flexible, less rapid, less trusted, and less efficient, and staff morale plummets, the memo states.

Marocco opposed a $2 million extension of an OTI program in Ukraine that is supported by senior USAID and State Department officials. A proposal to extend the program has been sitting on Maroccos desk for approval since his arrival in July, according to the complaint.

He has twice said he wanted to cancel the program and asked for an estimate of how much it would cost to do so. But he hasnt said what he would want to do instead with the money besides do something important like train and equip the military or police, or work on security sector reform, according to the memo, which notes that the first suggestion is prohibited by law, while the second is not a USAID priority in Ukraine.

Marocco, who infuriated numerous colleagues in past jobs in the departments of Defense, Commerce and State, ordered the nixing of 75 percent of OTIs activities to support Malaysia, including programs to support civil society. The U.S. ambassador to the country, Kamala Shirin Lakhdhir, fought the decision, telling him: Cancelling our commitments will undermine our credibility with government and civil society stakeholders in these initiatives.

Shirin Lakhdhir didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

Marocco also has ordered that 55 out of 69 activities in Bosnia-Herzegovina wrap up immediately, according to the memo, saying that significant project and activity pivots (were) necessary but not providing reasons why he didnt like the activities in the country. He said on Sept. 8 that the activities should be realigned with U.S. national security priorities, such as threats posed by Islamist extremists, even though USAID field staffers and Embassy personnel believe that the activities already are advancing such priorities.

[Maroccos] proposed pivot would overrule USAID, the Embassy, and the interagencys strategic priorities, likely run afoul of the Establishment clause, and risk worsening ... tense sectarian tensions by affirming one sides narrative while stigmatizing the other, the complaint reads.

The complaint alleges that Marocco is requiring that he personally approve all office expenditures over $10,000 and be notified of all spending below $10,000 in an office with an average annual budget of $225 million.

The alarmed staffers said thousands of hours of staff time have been spent on unnecessary and unproductive requests by Marocco, instead of on actually managing the programs in vulnerable foreign countries.

Marocco has also undermined a number of senior and working-level staffers at OTI, including Rob Jenkins, a longtime USAID official and former head of OTI, whose role has been reduced by Marocco. Jenkins has been excluded from many meetings and even told by Marocco to hang up on a recent call he didnt want Jenkins on, according to the complaint.

Jenkins referred a request for comment to USAIDs press office. Some USAID staffers frustrations with Marocco were chronicled recently by Foreign Policy.

During several of Maroccos conversations with OTI field staffers, he openly impugned their motives and commitment and told some that they were underperforming and threatened to block the renewal of their contracts.

Maroccos skepticism towards decisions, commitments, and processes that precede his arrival, coupled with his orders that he approve virtually all decisions across the office, have introduced extraordinary levels of inefficiencies, the memo says.

Another area the memo focuses on is how Marocco has seemed to disregard the Trump administrations National Security Strategy, which has a section on fragile states, saying the U.S. will prioritize programs that empower reform-minded governments, people, and civil society.

The dissident employees write that Marocco has repeatedly stated that the Bureau for Conflict Prevention and Stabilization should instead focus on his priority of national security, though he has not explained what that means in practice. At an internal town hall meeting with USAID employees on Aug. 4, he suggested that employees consult the National Strategy for Counterterrorism instead.

Dissent channels are official vehicles that allow government staffers to voice alternative points of view, typically on matters of policy. People who use the channels are supposed to be protected from reprisal.

As of Tuesday morning, USAIDs leadership had not yet responded to the complaint, the USAID official told POLITICO. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of a lack of authorization to talk on the matter.
Phoenix, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - September 22, 2020) - The Stock Day Podcast welcomed ADM Endeavors, Inc. (OTCQB: ADMQ) ("the Company"), a company whose wholly owned subsidiary, Just Right Products, Inc., has operated a diverse vertical integrated business in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, which consists of a retail sales division, screen print production, embroidery production, digital production, import wholesale sourcing, and uniforms. CEO of the Company, Marc Johnson, joined Stock Day host Everett Jolly.

Johnson began the interview by discussing the Company's strategy in dealing with the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. "We've implemented all of the CDC guidelines for the safety of our customers and employees," said Johnson. "In early March, we saw that there was going to be a demand for masks, so we started selling masks and that's been one of our leaders even today in sales," he continued. "The COVID environment hurt a lot of our core business - school uniforms and restaurants," said Johnson, noting that the Company has overcome this challenge by seeking out uniform contracts with government entities.

Johnson then elaborated on the Company's marketing strategy, which has resulted in an increased ad budget since the start of the pandemic. "With the current environment, we found that Google click and ad marketing dollars go a lot further. The cost-per-click, because there's less competition, has gone way down," explained Johnson. He then shared that the Company has expanded its online platform to meet the increasing demand of at-home shoppers. "70% of our business is local, so we've also increased our delivery routes," said Johnson, adding that some local customers are now eligible for free delivery. "That's the kind of service you will have to do in this environment."

"Can you give my listeners some background information about your company?" asked Jolly. Johnson explained that the Company offers a wide range of products, including business cards, coffee mugs, and uniforms. "Our logo is: We sell anything with a logo," explained Johnson. "We have in-house manufacturing, which includes embroidery, screen printing, and digital product offerings," said Johnson. He then shared that customers interested in purchasing products from the Company can visit fwpromo.com, which will allow them to place an order directly on the site.

Jolly then commented on the Company's increasing stock price over the last 30-60 days. "Where do you see the growth going from here?" he asked. Johnson explained that despite the challenges presented by COVID-19, the Company's sales have increased. "Our school uniform sales are understandably down 80% in comparison to last year, but our overall sales have actually increased," said Johnson. "I think a lot of that has to do with our shift in focus to government and masks, as well as the increased marketing push," he continued.

Johnson then shared that the Company has recently been added to several bid lists for government contracts, and has been dedicated to ensuring that each contract is produced accurately and efficiently to reduce the chances of any lost funds.

"Any expansion plans?" asked Jolly. "We've purchased 10.5 acres, and the plan is to move there," said Johnson, adding that the Company has also put an additional 6.5 acres under contract. "We see growth coming, and in our current location we can't handle it," said Johnson. "We have to expand to meet the demand, so the next step is to relocate to a different facility."

To close the interview, Johnson expressed his confidence in the Company's growth and what it could mean for shareholders. "I'm in it with them. I own stock, so if the company does well, I do well. For shareholders, it's the same thing, if the company does well in theory they should do well with an increase in stock price."

To hear Marc Johnson's entire interview, follow the link to the podcast here: https://audioboom.com/posts/7688423-ceo-of-adm-endeavors-inc-marc-johnson-is-featured-on-the-stock-day-podcast

Investors Hangout is a proud sponsor of "Stock Day," and Stock Day Media encourages listeners to visit the company's message board at https://investorshangout.com/

ABOUT ADMQ:

Since 2010, our wholly owned subsidiary, Just Right Products, Inc., has operated a diverse vertical integrated business in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, which consists of a retail sales division, screen print production, embroidery production, digital production, import wholesale sourcing, and uniforms. The Retail Sales Division focuses on any product with a logo. It sells a very wide range of products from business cards to coffee cups. Our motto is "We Sell Anything With A Logo!" Just Right Products' salespeople excel because they are selling the items people like to buy. The Screen Printing Department utilizes its five screen printing machines to print garments and can produce more than 8,000 units per day. The Embroidery equipment has 51 heads of embroidery capacity. The Digital Department and all the other departments have significant growth potential. The Import Department sources products for retail and wholesale customers. ADM Endeavors has employees fluent in Chinese, Spanish and Arabic thereby affording significant opportunities to interact directly with multiple product sources internationally. The Uniform Division sells uniforms to businesses and schools, with the advantage of in-house production and international sourcing.

Forward Looking Statement:

This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements," as defined in the United States PSLRA of 1995, that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and the actual results and future events could differ materially from management's current expectations. The economic, competitive, governmental, technological and other factors identified in the Company's previous filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements in this press release. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contact: ADM Endeavors, Inc.

Paul Knopick

pknopick@eandecommunications.com

940.262.3584

About The "Stock Day" Podcast

Founded in 2013, Stock Day is the fastest growing media outlet for Nano-Cap and Micro-Cap companies. It educates investors while simultaneously working with penny stock and OTC companies, providing transparency and clarification of under-valued, under-sold Micro-Cap stocks of the market. Stock Day provides companies with customized solutions to their news distribution in both national and international media outlets. The Stock Day Podcast is the number one radio show of its kind in America. Stock Day recently launched its Video Interview Studio located in Phoenix, Arizona.

SOURCE:

Stock Day Media

(602) 821-1102

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/64374
(Natural News) Nothing can enhance the right persons reputation like passing on. Ruth Bader Ginsburg is no exception.

(Article by Selwyn Duke republished from TheNewAmerican.com)

The 87-year-old Supreme Court Justices death last Friday has been followed by effusive praise, even from conservatives, and New York politicians intend to erect a statue in her honor. Shes most commonly lauded as a giant, often of the Supreme Court. The reality, however, is far different: Ginsburg was intellectually dishonest, as one commentator put it yesterday; expressed eugenicist sentiments; supported racial discrimination; and, in general, was a mortal enemy of our Constitution.

Biographical news coverage Friday routinely mentioned how, after graduating law school in 1959, Ginsburg found that New York law firms were reluctant to hire women. Not mentioned was that she wouldnt have made it on the SCOTUS if she hadnt been a woman. President Bill Clinton, who nominated her in 1993, was looking to increase the courts diversity (as defined by the Left), and Ginsburg fit the bill as a Jewish female.

Advancement by way of affirmative action is never a good start, and Ginsburg certainly lived down to this beginning. She wasnt just a living document justice as one might expect, but actually stated that American judges should let international law help shape their thinking.

Thats right: American citizens should be subject to court rulings influenced by law they had no part in creating.

As Ginsburg put it to the American Constitution Society in 2003, judges are becoming more open to comparative and international law perspectives.

While you are the American Constitution Society, your perspective on constitutional law should encompass the world, she told the group of judges, lawyers and students, reported WND.com. We are the losers if we do not both share our experiences with and learn from others.

As judges so often do, Ginsburg sought to justify her constitutional trespass with precedent, buttressing her theory by citing three cases: The Nereide, 13 U.S. 388 (1815); The Paquete Habana, 175 U.S. 677 (1900); and Martin v. Hunters Lessee 14 U.S. 304 (1816), reports commentator Andrea Widburg.

But as Widburg  who in the past sometimes had to read Ginsburgs opinions as part of her legal research  explains, the justice was being intellectually dishonest. Widburg points out that, in a nutshell, the reason those cases spoke about international law was because they involved international problems.

Consider the Nereide case, for example. Widburg writes that it

arose when a Spanish citizen named Pinto sought to recover for goods seized from a British vessel during a battle in the War of 1812. Pinto claimed that, because he was not actively engaged in battle, the law of nations entitled him to recover his goods or their value. [Chief Justice John] Marshall carefully analyzed the Constitution, laws, and treaties of the United States to see if there was anything that specifically addressed the facts of the case involving third-party goods seized from an enemy vessel during a war.

It was in that context that Marshall said that, absent American authority for this international problem, Till such an act be passed, the Court is bound by the law of nations which is a part of the law of the land. Contrary to Ginsburgs typically dishonest implication, Marshall was not saying that, for matters arising with America, the Supreme Court was free to look around for international authority it liked better.

Ginsburgs position does violence to self-governance. Applying foreign law in a case involving a foreigner not under American jurisdiction, and when no corresponding American law exists, is one thing. That foreigner has no political representation in the United States, anyway.

But to make Americans subject to laws they had no part in creating and can do nothing to change  while subordinating laws they did have a hand in creating to those foreign laws  would mean we were no longer a government of, by, and for the people. Its a slap in the face.

Its no surprise, however, that Ginsburg thought little of constitutional constraints. She never hid her dislike for our founding document, after all. Just consider her remarks to the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt when it was considering creating its own constitution in 2012.

I would not look to the U.S. Constitution, if I were drafting a constitution in the year 2012, Ginsburg said in an interview on Al Hayat television, Fox News reported at the time. I might look at the constitution of South Africa. That was a deliberate attempt to have a fundamental instrument of government that embraced basic human rights, have an independent judiciary. It really is, I think, a great piece of work that was done.

Speaking of pieces of work, Ginsburg also supported racial discrimination, what some people call racial quotas and yet others euphemize as affirmative action. This was largely hidden during her 1993 confirmation hearings, however.

Most shockingly, though, was when the justice expressed what some characterize as eugenicist sentiments. As The New York Times Magazine reported in 2009, Yes, the ruling about that surprised me, stated Ginsberg, referring to Harris v. McRae in 1980, in which the court upheld the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits using Medicaid for abortion.

Frankly I had thought that at the time Roe was decided, there was concern about population growth and particularly growth in populations that we dont want to have too many of, Ginsburg continued. (Emphasis added.) So that Roe was going to be then set up for Medicaid funding for abortion.

Its so bad that I thought it had to be fake when I first saw it, remarks pundit Monica Showalter. I had to look it up to confirm its authenticity. Who talks like that in 2009? Heck, who talks like that in 1973?

Hapless souls today have been canceled for far less. But Ginsburg? She was a giant  despite devoting her time on the bench to canceling the rule of law, as she trampled the supreme law of the land, the Constitution.

Then again, Ginsburg certainly might have appeared a giant to the real source of her success: the woke Lilliputians who elevated her to prominence.

Read more at: TheNewAmerican.com
Charlie Hebdo's head of human resources was given 'ten minutes' to leave her home forever after police received credible death threats during the terror trial.

Marika Bret has been living under police protection for nearly five years in the aftermath of the terrorists assault on the satirical magazine's headquarters in January 2015.

But she was escorted out of her home by police last week after receiving threats that were 'sufficiently concrete to be taken seriously'.

Bret said that she would not be returning.

Marika Bret (pictured) has been living under police protection for nearly five years in the aftermath of the deadly assault on the satirical magazine's headquarters in January 2015

'I had ten minutes to gather my things and leave my home. Ten minutes to leave behind a part of my life, that's a bit short, that's very brutal,' she told weekly news magazine Le Point published on Monday.

The threats coincide with the trial of 14 suspected accomplices of the perpetrators of the massacres at Charlie Hebdo and a Jewish supermarket that left a total of 17 dead.

Twelve people, including some of France's most celebrated cartoonists, were killed on January 7, 2015, when brothers Said and Cherif Kouachi went on a gun rampage at the offices of the magazine, whose no-taboo style, including publishing cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed, had divided the country.

Brett, the head of human resources, (pictured wearing a face mask to walk into the courthouse in Paris for the trial earlier this month) was given 'ten minutes' to leave her home forever after police received credible death threats during the terror trial

Twelve people were killed on January 7, 2015, when brothers Said and Cherif Kouachi went on a gun rampage at the offices of the magazine (above)

There is 'a crazy amount of hatred surrounding Charlie Hebdo', Bret told Le Point, saying the forced departure from her home 'translates the unprecedented level of tension that we are having to deal with'.

Since the start of the trial, which prompted Charlie Hebdo to republish controversial cartoons, 'we have received all kinds of horrible messages, notably threats from Al-Qaeda, and calls to finish the job started by the Kouachi brothers,' Bret said.

Al-Qaeda earlier this month threatened Charlie Hebdo with a repeat of the massacre of its staff.
Researchers at the University of Helsinki have developed a technique in which a computer model visual perception by monitoring human brain signals. In a way, it is as if the computer tries to imagine what a human is thinking about. As a result of this imagining, the computer is able to produce entirely new information, such as fictional images that were never before seen. The study was published in the Scientific Reports journal in September. Scientific Reports is an online multidisciplinary, open-access journal from the publishers of Nature. The technique is based on a novel brain-computer interface. Previously, similar brain-computer interfaces have been able to perform one-way communication from brain to computer, such as spell individual letters or move a cursor.

As far as is known, the new study is the first where both the computers presentation of the information and brain signals were modelled simultaneously using artificial intelligence methods. Images that matched the visual characteristics that participants were focusing on were generated through interaction between human brain responses and a generative neural network.

*Neuroadaptive generative modelling

The researchers call this method neuroadaptive generative modelling. A total of 31 volunteers participated in a study that evaluated the effectiveness of the technique. Participants were shown hundreds of AI-generated images of diverse-looking people while their EEG was recorded. The subjects were asked to concentrate on certain features, such as faces that looked old or were smiling. While looking at a rapidly presented series of face images, the EEGs of the subjects were fed to a neural network, which inferred whether any image was detected by the brain as matching what the subjects were looking for.

Based on this information, the neural network adapted its estimation as to what kind of faces people were thinking of. Finally, the images generated by the computer were evaluated by the participants and they nearly perfectly matched with the features the participants were thinking of. The accuracy of the experiment was 83 per cent. The technique combines natural human responses with the computers ability to create new information. In the experiment, the participants were only asked to look at the computer-generated images. The computer, in turn, modelled the images displayed and the human reaction toward the images by using human brain responses. From this, the computer can create an entirely new image that matches the users intention, says Tuukka Ruotsalo, Academy of Finland Research Fellow at the University of Helsinki, Finland, and Associate Professor at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

Unconscious attitudes may be exposed

Generating images of the human face is only one example of the techniques potential uses. One practical benefit of the study may be that computers can augment human creativity. If you want to draw or illustrate something but are unable to do so, the computer may help you to achieve your goal. It could just observe the focus of attention and predict what you would like to create, Ruotsalo says. However, the researchers believe that the technique may be used to gain an understanding of perception and the underlying processes in our mind. The technique does not recognise thoughts but rather responds to the associations we have with mental categories. Thus, while we are not able to find out the identity of a specific old person a participant was thinking of, we may gain an understanding of what they associate with old age. We, therefore, believe it may provide a new way of gaining insight into social, cognitive, and emotional processes, says Senior Researcher Michiel Spape.

According to Spape, this is also interesting from a psychological perspective. One persons idea of an elderly person may be very different from anothers. We are currently uncovering whether our technique might expose unconscious associations, for example by looking if the computer always renders old people as, say, smiling men.

(This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.)

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Minimum support price hiked for wheat, 5 other rabi crops amid Farm Bills Row

Government has hiked minimum support prices (MSPs) for six rabi crops while intense protests by farmers continue across the country over the new farm laws. Farmers are apprehensive that the new laws will undermine the MSP system.

15% of Rs 31.3 lakh crore corporate debt under stress

Close to 15 per cent or corporate debt worth Rs 4.6 lakh crore is stressed, revealed a study by IIFL Securities. These estimates were arrived at using the parameters set by the RBI and were analysed on the universe of 2,306 companies that had an aggregate debt of Rs 31.3 lakh crore and pertains to companies with debt more than Rs 1 crore as of FY20.

'Still-born effort': Rajan, Acharya on Modi govt's reform of public sector banks

The reform of public sector banks so far by Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA government is a "still-born effort," said former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan and former deputy governor Viral Acharya in a newly released research paper. The paper suggested the government to privatise select public sector banks, set up a bad bank to deal with NPAs, and dilute the role of the Department of Financial Services.

E-healthcare platform Medtalks sees 10,000% growth in 6 months

Doctors as well as public have gone virtual to study and keep updated on the happenings in the healthcare sector as the stalemate and anxiety across social life continue due to COVD-19. Healthcare learning and patient education platform Medtalks.in, a leading education platform for all healthcare professionals including doctors, allied healthcare workers, patients and general public, recorded 15 lakh plus visitors, a 10,000% growth in numbers over the last 6 months.

India's Taj Mahal gets first visitors as coronavirus infections climb

India reopened the Taj Mahal after six months on Monday, with the first visitors trickling into the famous monument as authorities reported 86,961 new coronavirus infections across the country, with no signs of a peak yet.
White House chief of staff Mark Meadows tells Axios that President Trump will not meet with shortlisted Supreme Court candidate Barbara Lagoa during a campaign visit to Florida on Friday, and that any talks with court candidates will take place in Washington.

The backstory: Axios reported on Tuesday that Trump would meet with Lagoa during his Friday campaign trip, citing two sources familiar with his plans. When we initially approached the White House with this reporting, officials declined to comment.

Several hours after we posted this story, Meadows sent this statement: There are no plans to conduct interviews in Florida. The entire process will be handled in Washington, D.C. as expeditiously as possible."

"Any suggestion of interviews with any candidate in other locations is not accurate."

What we're hearing: Sources who know both Trump and Lagoa say they still expect the president to pick Judge Amy Coney Barrett.

The majority view in Trumps inner circle is that Barrett would be easier to confirm because senators are familiar with her. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has told Trump that senators feel comfortable with Barrett.

A source close to the process said anything that complicates the confirmation proceedings  and allows more time for Democrats to inject mischief  is to be avoided at all costs. More education would be needed for senators who are less familiar with Lagoa, the source added.

Trump met with Barrett at the White House on Monday.

Between the lines: Lagoa, a 52-year-old judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, is the daughter of Cuban exiles.

Top aides to the president say Lagoa, who grew up in a heavily Hispanic suburb of Miami, could be politically beneficial to Trump, who without winning Florida could lose reelection.

What they're saying: Trump said Monday that he does not personally know Lagoa, but called her terrific.

Trump added that he tries not to say that politics would play a role in his decision, but "I think probably automatically it is. Even if youre not wanting to do that it becomes a little automatic.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to include Meadows' statement, and the headline has been changed.
A UK man who threatened to publicly release stolen confidential information unless the victims agreed to fulfill his digital extortion demands has finally pleaded guilty on Monday at U.S. federal district court in St. Louis, Missouri.

Nathan Francis Wyatt , 39, who is a key member of the infamous international hacking group 'The Dark Overlord,' has been sentenced to five years in prison and ordered to pay $1,467,048 in restitution to his victims.

Wyatt, who was extradited to the United States late last year after being held for over two years in the United Kingdom, has pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit aggravated identity theft and computer fraud.

U.K. police first arrested Wyatt in September 2016 during an investigation into the hacking of an iCloud account belonging to Pippa Middleton, the younger sister of the British royal family member Duchess of Cambridge, and stealing 3,000 images of her.

Though he was released in that case without charge due to lack of evidence, Wyatt was again arrested in September 2017 over hacking companies, credit card frauds, and blackmailing schemes to extort money from the victims.

According to court documents, Wyatt has attacked multiple healthcare providers and accounting firms in Missouri, Illinois, and Georgia states as a member of The Dark Overlord since February 2016, but the court documents do not name the companies.

The Dark Overlord (TDO) is infamous for remotely accessing the computer networks of victim companies in the United States and then stealing sensitive data, like patient medical records and personal identifying information.

"The Dark Overlord has victimized innumerable employers in the United States, many of them repeatedly," said U.S Attorney Jeff Jensen. "I am grateful to the victims who came forward despite ransom threats and to the prosecutors and agents who were the first to catch and punish a member of The Dark Overlord in the United States."

Wyatt admitted that his hacking gang members typically worked by obtaining sensitive data from victim companies and then threatening them to release the stolen data unless they paid a ransom of between $75,000 and $350,000 in bitcoin.

Wyatt's role at TDO was directly contacting victims and maintaining communication, payment, and virtual private network accounts that he used to send threatening and extortionate messages to victims and their family and friends.

In one such threatening message, Wyatt sent to the victims involved the daughter of one of the owners of the Farmington company, asking her, "hi ... you look peaceful ... by the way did your daddy tell you he refused to pay us when we stole his company files?," adding that "In four days we will be releasing for sale thousands of patient info. including yours."

"Nathan Wyatt used his technical skills to prey on Americans' private data and exploited the sensitive nature of their medical and financial records for his own personal gain," said Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the DOJ's Criminal Division.

"Today's guilty plea and sentence demonstrate the department's commitment to ensuring that hackers who seek to profit by illegally invading the privacy of Americans will be found and held accountable, no matter where they may be located."

The Dark Overload has previously been attributed to several hacking events, including leaking ten unreleased episodes of the 5th season of ' Orange Is The New Black' series from Netflix and hacking Gorilla Glue , Little Red Door cancer service agency, among others.
Major exhibit on Egyptian artifacts to open in Saudi Arabia Agreement between ministers during World Tourism Organization

(ANSAmed) - NAPLES, SEPTEMBER 22 - The Ithra Museum in Dhahran, in Saudi Arabia, will host a major exhibit of ancient Egyptian artifacts from November this year until November 2022, Gulf News reports. The paper explained that the exhibit, which was approved by the Egyptian government, will display over 84 objects of ancient Egypt.



The announcement came at the end of a meeting between Egyptian Tourism Minister Khaled Al Anani and his Saudi counterpart Ahmed Al Khatib during the executive council of the World Tourism Organization held in Georgia. The decision was made after the transfer of artifacts to Saudi Arabia was approved. The transfer will take place according to health and safety standards.



The Egyptian minister stressed the importance of close relations between the Saudi kingdom and his country, also recalling the peculiarity of the Saudi market for Egyptian tourism.



The museum of Ithra has four main galleries, respectively dedicated to contemporary art of the Middle East, Saudi culture, Islamic art, and natural history of the Arabic peninsula, succeeding in mixing ancient and contemporary art. (ANSAmed).




Chinese President Xi Jinping addresses a high-level meeting to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the United Nations via video on Sept. 21, 2020. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday shared his thoughts on the role of the United Nations (UN) in the post-COVID era, opposing unilateralism, bullying or any country acting like "boss of the world."

Xi made the comments at a high-level meeting to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the UN.

Stressing that the UN must stand firm for justice, Xi said no country has the right to dominate global affairs, control the destiny of others, or keep advantages in development all to itself.

"Even less should one be allowed to do whatever it likes and be the hegemon, bully or boss of the world," Xi said.

He said it is imperative that the representation and voice of developing countries be increased so that the UN could be more balanced in reflecting the interests and wishes of the majority of countries in the world.

Stressing that the UN must uphold the rule of law, Xi said relations among countries and coordination of their interests must only be based on rules and institutions.

"They must not be lorded over by those who wave a strong fist at others," Xi said.

Big countries should lead by example in advocating and upholding the international rule of law and in honoring their commitments, he added.

"There must be no practice of exceptionalism or double standards. Nor should international law be distorted and used as a pretext to undermine other countries' legitimate rights and interests or world peace and stability," Xi said.

The Chinese president said the UN must promote cooperation, noting that "Cold War mentality, ideological lines or zero-sum game are no solution to a country's own problems, still less an answer to mankind's common challenges."

"What we need to do is to replace conflict with dialogue, coercion with consultation and zero-sum with win-win," he added.

The Chinese president also said that the UN must focus on real action.

"To put into practice the principle of multilateralism, we must act, not just talk," Xi said. "There must be a cure, not just a therapy."

The UN should aim at problem solving and move toward tangible outcomes as it advances security, development and human rights in parallel, he added.

In particular, he said priority should be given to addressing non-traditional security challenges such as public health.

At the meeting, Xi lauded UN's role in 75 years, saying the organization has traveled an extraordinary journey.

He said the 75 years has seen dramatic progress in human society and profound changes in the international situation, and has been a period of rapid development of multilateralism.

Xi said China firmly defends the central role of the UN in international affairs.

China firmly upholds the UN-centered international system and the international order underpinned by international law, he said.

"Let us renew our firm commitment to multilateralism, work to promote a community with a shared future for mankind," Xi said before concluding his remarks.
America can be proud of many things: our innovation, generosity and entrepreneurial spirit are unsurpassed. Yet when it comes to our nation understanding one of the greatest gifts ever given to humanitythe Biblewe're moving from dumb to dumber, and it's no laughing matter.
New Delhi:

Bombay Stock Exchange's initial public offer which is aimed at garnering Rs 1,243 crore was oversubscribed 11.85 times till afternoon trade on the last day of the offer on Wednesday.

The IPO received bids for 12,80,04,066 shares against the total issue size of 1,07,99,039 shares, data available with the NSE till 1330 hrs showed.

BSE, the oldest stock exchange in Asia, aims to raise up to Rs 1,243 crore from the IPO, which has a price band of Rs 805-806 per share.

During the initial share sale which is also a first by any company this year shareholders will sell 15.43 million shares estimated to be worth around Rs 1,243.44 crore at the higher end of the price band.

The IPO of 15,427,197 shares of face value of Rs 2 each will constitute up to 28.26 per cent of the fully-diluted post offer issued share capital of BSE.

Bids for the issue can be made for a minimum of 18 shares and in multiples of 18 thereafter.

Last Friday, BSE had raised Rs 373 crore by allotting shares to anchor investors. BSE shares will be listed on NSE as Sebi rules do not allow self-listing for an exchange.

Capital market regulator Sebi had given its final go-ahead to the draft prospectus for the IPO on December 30.

Meanwhile, rival NSE too filed draft papers with Sebi last month for an estimated Rs 10,000-crore IPO.

Among the existing BSE shareholders are Bajaj Holdings Investment, Caldwell India Holdings, Acacia Banyan Partners, Singapore Exchange, Mauritius-based arm of American investor George Soros' Quantum Fund and foreign fund Atticus.

There are an estimated 9,000 shareholders at BSE, where mostly brokers held shares earlier. However, a host of foreign investors and domestic financial institutions have acquired shares over the years and the IPO will provide some of them an exit window to monetise their investments.

The issue is being managed by Edelweiss Financial Services, Axis Capital, Jefferies India, Nomura Financial Advisory and Securities (India) Pvt, Motilal Oswal Investment Advisors, SBI Capital Markets and SMC Capitals.

BSE is the world's largest exchange by number of listed companies. It is India's largest and the world's 10th largest exchange by market capitalisation.

The market capitalisation of BSE-listed companies stands at Rs 1,12,92,607 crore.
Imperial Valley News Center

International Competition Network Addresses Enforcement And Policy Challenges of the Digital Economy at United States-Hosted 19th Annual Conference

Washington, DC - The International Competition Network (ICN) held its 19th annual conference on September 14-17, 2020. Co-hosted by the Antitrust Division and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the conference was the ICNs first virtual conference.

Originally planned as an in-person conference in Los Angeles in May, the conference transitioned to a virtual format as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Assistant Attorney General Makan Delrahim of the Antitrust Division and FTC Chairman Joseph J. Simons led the U.S. delegation.

Global engagement through ICN is essential to our work in preserving market competition in the United States," said Assistant Attorney General Delrahim. "We are proud to have co-hosted this years ICN conference and to have had conversations on issues of great national importance, such as the role of antitrust enforcement in the digital economy, made available to the public."

In these challenging times, it has been uplifting to see the strong commitment of the global competition community to reaffirming the central importance of competition policy to growth, innovation, and economic recovery, said FTC Chairman Simons. The FTC is proud to have co-hosted the ICNs 19th annual conference and looks forward to working with our colleagues around the world to meet the challenges of the digital economy and ensure competitive markets that serve consumers.

The conference examined a range of competition enforcement and policy issues, including those involving the digital economy. Over 2,500 delegates from around the world participated in the conference, including agency leadership and staff, as well as competition experts from international organizations and the legal, business and academic communities.

Assistant Attorney General Delrahim and Chairman Simons opened the conference and participated in a showcase program that explored competition enforcement in the digital economy, including enforcement tools and international cooperation.

During the conference, the ICN working groups on cartels, unilateral conduct, advocacy, mergers, and agency effectiveness highlighted achievements and developments with respect to their projects.

Deputy Assistant Attorney General for International and Policy, Rene Augustine, led the Divisions international team in the strategic development and implementation of the international conference.

Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard Powers of the Antitrust Division spoke on a panel discussing big data and cartelization inspired by a scoping paper finalized this year by the Cartel Working Group. Under the Antitrust Divisions leadership, the group also finalized guidance on enhancing cross-border leniency cooperation.

FTC Commissioner Christine Wilson spoke on a panel on the objectives, design, and implementation of remedies in unilateral conduct s cases involving digital markets. The Unilateral Conduct Working Group produced a report detailing the results of an ICN survey on dominance and substantial market power in digital markets.

The Advocacy Working Group held a panel on competition advocacy in the digital age. The group also issued a report on providing input to policymakers on the competitive impact of government regulations.

The Merger Working Group organized a panel on merger investigations in the digital sector that addressed the characteristics of digital mergers, theories of harm, remedies, and the scope for international cooperation. The group also issued a report on agency experiences with conglomerate mergers and work exploring the impact of procedural infringements by parties during merger investigations.

The Agency Effectiveness Working Groups panel focused on competition agencies strategies to address the challenges of the digital economy. The group also has led the ICNs efforts since the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic to share operational experiences and information on agencies adaptation policies.

The ICN Steering Group has also begun exploring the issues related to competition enforcement and advocacy pertaining to the intersection between competition, consumer protection, and data privacy law and policy, a project initiated by the FTC.

The ICN also unveiled its plan to conduct a comprehensive organizational review, co-led by the FTC, of the ICNs substantive coverage, tools, and operational framework with a view to preparing for future developments and challenges as the ICN enters its third decade in 2021.

Recordings of the conference will be available on the ICN conference webpage after the close of the conference. Materials and recordings related to the Antitrust Divisions participation are available on the divisions International Program page

Supplemental annual conference programming will be held throughout the fall, including additional sessions organized by each of the ICNs five Working Groups. The Antitrust Division, together with its co-chairs, will also lead a session for participants in the ICN Framework on Competition Agency Procedures (CAP).

The ICN was created in October 2001 to increase understanding of competition policy and promote convergence toward sound antitrust enforcement around the world. It was founded by 15 agencies including the Antitrust Division and the FTC, and has grown to 140 agencies from 129 jurisdictions, supported by a wide network of non-government advisors from around the world.
A transgender thug who identifies as a woman has been jailed in an all-male prison for 20 weeks following a racist rampage inside a Sainsbury's.

Rachelle Mikhnevich, 36, kicked and attempted to bite two police officers after shouting racial slurs at store employees when she struggled to scan items at a self-service checkout in Manchester.

Mikhnevich assaulted an assistant and kicked the store manager in the attack, before telling a security guard: 'Go away you f***ing n****r, go away.

'F***ing look the other way lad before I f***ing knock these c**ts out, f**k off you ugly c**t.'

Following the incident, which took place at a supermarket inside Manchester Piccadilly station on March 16, Mikhnevich claimed she had drunk three bottles of wine before the attack.

Rachelle Mikhnevich, 36, kicked and attempted to bite two police officers after shouting racial slurs at store employees when she struggled to scan items at a self-service checkout in Manchester

She insisted 'I'm not a racist' when speaking to police, while apologising and claiming: 'It's not how I usually behave.'

'I am shocked by what I have done and I am disgusted with myself and I can only apologise,' she said.

Mikhnevich, from Helsby near Frodsham, Cheshire, was jailed for 20 weeks at Manchester Magistrates' Court after she was convicted of assault and racially aggravated public disorder.

She is now being detained at the men-only Altcourse Jail in Liverpool, where she is undergoing hormone therapy while awaiting surgery for the next stage of her five-year gender reassignment transition.

Prosecuting, Eileen Rodgers explained how Mikhnevich was at the self-service till at around 9.15am when an employee approached her to ask if she 'needed any help as he could see she was struggling'.

Miss Rodgers told the court: 'She said the items had already been purchased but couldn't prove that to the shop employee.

Mikhnevich (pictured) assaulted an assistant and kicked the store manager in the attack, before telling a security guard: 'Go away you f***ing n****r, go away'

Following the incident, which took place at a supermarket inside Manchester Piccadilly station on March 16, Mikhnevich claimed she had drunk three bottles of wine before the attack

'He then challenged her and she became abusive and kicked him in the legs.

'The store manager ... then became involved when he saw what was going on and went over to try to calm the situation but he was kicked between the legs and looked to be in a lot of pain.

'They couldn't stop [her] from kicking and shouting 'f*** off' again and again and had to hold on to her for five minutes before the police arrived.'

Miss Rodgers explained how a security guard then came over to diffuse the situation, but Mikhnevich began shouting racial slurs at him.

'He was also kicked as well,' she said. 'Police were called to attend but during the arrest, she was very abusive and was very drunk and on numerous occasions attempted to bite these officers and decided to try and spit at them.

'She later admitted in interview to being extremely drunk ... and had consumed at least three bottles of wine.

'She made numerous apologies confirming she has no proper recollection due to memory loss and the alcohol she had taken in.

'She was completely remorseful and apologised and said she should not have done that and she's not a racist by nature. She doesn't believe in anything like that at all.'

The victims suffered no lasting injuries as a result of the attack.

In evidence, security guard Amate Ayittey said: 'I heard one of the staff saying they want to check the receipt of the customer but the customer was trying to throw all the items from his bag and kicked off.

'Sid [Keita, the store employee] is from Nigeria and the customer used the N word. We were doing our duty and I was just trying to protect the staff. I felt bad that Sid had been called that name.

Mikhnevich (pictured) had 17 offences on her record including previous assaults on emergency workers, sending threatening letters and having a bladed article

She is now being detained at Altcourse Jail in Liverpool, where she is undergoing hormone therapy while awaiting surgery for the next stage of her gender reassignment transition

'The store was busy and there were people around who where shocked.'

Mikhnevich had 17 offences on her record including previous assaults on emergency workers, sending threatening letters and having a bladed article.

In mitigation, defence lawyer Steven Alis said: 'By her nature, she's not a racist person but she accepts she was very intoxicated.

'She was very upset on the day and struggled and kicked out but fortunately for her none of the staff or police officers suffered any serious injuries apart from some discomfort on the actual day.

'She takes on a daily basis 17 tablets to cope with various ailments some on which are hormone tablets. She has a lot of personal issues going on in her life.

'The transgender journey is a five-year journey and she started on taking hormones over the past 18 months.

'She is currently awaiting an appointment for the next stage but according to her, it'll be about another three years before the whole process assuming it goes smoothly is completed. She's not someone who has just begun this journey it's been a long time.

'She said she realised at a very young age she was in the wrong body and her journey has taken a long time to start and she has been abused on the way.

'She is a miss but inside a male prison as she's currently pending an operation.'
The Secretary, Onion Farmers Association of Nigeria, Aliyu Umar, has called for more investment in onion farming in order to cash in on its potential and opportunities.

Mr Umar made the call during the planting of high yielding onion seedlings at Tunga village in Rabba Local Government Area of Sokoto State, on Tuesday.

He suggested that Nigeria should pay more attention to agriculture, to fast track the revival of the nations economy.

The secretary commended the federal government on its commitment to transform the nations economy, through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Anchor Borrower Scheme.

He said the intervention has uplifted the standard of onion farming from subsistent to large scale.

I want you to know that there is great potential and opportunity in the onion value chain.

Sokoto (happens) to be the largest producer of onion. From April to August this year, we sold onions worth four billion.

Coronavirus pandemic and recent floods that have affected investment into the onion value chain did not stop us, he said.

Mr Umar, however, called for more investment in the onion value chain to boost the nations economy.

Also, the Agric Officer, Central Bank of Nigeria, Sokoto Branch, Abdullahi Farouk, said that the Central Banks Anchor Borrower Scheme was designed to transform agricultural potentials of the country.

Mr Farouk said the planting of new onion seeds was aimed at improving onion production among farming communities by providing them with high yielding seeds and other support.

He described agriculture as a major tool to fight poverty and provide jobs for the teaming unemployed youth in Nigeria.

We have decided to come here, because Tunga will be the main production centre of seeds, from Kebbi to Sokoto states and even part of Niger Republic.

We are aware that farmers come here to buy seeds, that is why we have chosen this location to breed the seed so that we can share better seeds to our farmers for better yield, and get them out of poverty Mr Farouk said.

The CBN official noted that Sokoto State was one of the largest onion producers in Nigeria, just as Nigeria was the largest producer of onion in sub-Saharan Africa.

He added that the programme was aimed at bridging the gap between consumption and production, in order to have surplus for export.

With this programme, we hope to bridge the gap between production of onions in Nigeria, which stands at about 1.4 million metric tons per annum.

The consumption is 2.5 million metric tonnes per annum, so you can see that there is a gap of about 1.1 million metric tonnes and which we believe with this programme, we will be able to cover that gap and even export onions, he added.

According to him, the market for onion is vast, as countries like Niger, Ghana, Burkina Faso and Cote dIvoire depend on Nigeria for their supply of onions.

It is, therefore, imperative for onion farmers in Nigeria to do more to exploit the market and bring in more foreign exchange to Nigeria, Mr Farouk said.

In his remark, Danjuma Ibrahim, the Chairman of DAWI Farms, coordinating the onion component of the anchor borrower programme, called on the farmers to embrace the opportunity to raise their production.

We are calling on our farmers who have this rare opportunity to be committed and do the needful, more so that we have been anticipating getting this high yielding seeds.

We thank Allah that we have it now, so lets do what is expected of us, Mr Ibrahim said.

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(NAN)
Australians have named extreme weather as the top priority for new infrastructure planning as the Morrison government prepares a wave of spending on major projects in the October budget.

The government's peak infrastructure agency has been told 94 per cent of Australians want new projects to prepare for more extreme events such as floods and fires, suggesting climate change should be a factor in planning.

Preparing for extreme weather events such as floods and fires was considered a major priority among 68 per cent of respondents and a minor priority among another 26 per cent. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Infrastructure Australia, which guides governments and business, found a similar concern about planning for diseases and pandemics.

The findings, based on polling in June, are helping shape the agency's next national plan at the same time as state and federal governments lift their spending on road, rail and other projects.
"At Accelerate, we value our long-standing partnerships with our retail partners and wanted to show support for the schools in their communities with our face mask donation," said Accelerate Chief Executive Officer David Parry.

LifeToGo and Performance Inspired worked with local school districts in each of the selected cities to identify schools that could best use an influx of face masks. More than 1.3 million students and teachers have received the disposable 3-ply masks in Bentonville (AR), Boise (ID), Chicago (IL), Cincinnati (OH), Grand Rapids (MI), Lakeland (FL), Minneapolis (MN), Portland (OR), Quincy (MA), Rochester (NY), Salisbury (NC), San Antonio (TX), and Woonsocket (RI).

"This is a great opportunity to partner with LifeToGo and help our students and educators across the country to stay healthy and safe so they can focus on education," said Performance Inspired Founder Mark Wahlberg.

LifeToGo and Performance Inspired have also posted billboards in the same markets featuring Mark Wahlberg thanking essential workers. "With the help of Mark and Performance Inspired, we hope that the billboards also show our appreciation for the essential workers who are bravely stepping up to the challenges created by the pandemic everyday" said Accelerate Chief Business Officer Trey Holder.

Launched as a direct-to-consumer platform by Accelerate in April of 2020, LifeToGo recently launched a successful line of Personal Protection Equipment that includes hand sanitizer, gloves, disinfectant wipes, cloth and disposable face masks, PPE safety kits and immunity boosting supplements available at national retailers and LifeToGo.com.

Mark Wahlberg and Tom Dowd, a 25-year industry expert and the ex EVP, GM, & CMO of GNC, launched Performance Inspired in 2016 to help inspire people to live a more active and healthier lifestyle by offering honest, natural and trustworthy products. Currently, two percent of net profits of Performance Inspired goes directly to charity, and the team is always looking for new ways to contribute.

About Accelerate360, LLC:

Accelerate360, LLC is one of the leading wholesale distribution companies in the United States distributing a wide array of products in the general merchandise and wellness space. It provides a number of turnkey business solutions for both businesses and brands including sourcing, distribution, program development, market research, merchandising, and marketing. Headquartered in Smyrna, Georgia, Accelerate has 1,500 employees across 50 states, with more than 50 distribution locations and more than 500 delivery trucks servicing grocery, mass, drug, convenience and other commercial entities. For more information, please visit www.accelerate360.com.

About Performance Inspired:

The Performance Inspired mission started to help inspire people to live a more active and healthier lifestyle by offering honest, all-natural and trustworthy products.

Giving back and charity along with the desire to inspire others is what drives us everyday. Honest marketing without misleading and over-hyped marketing with meaningful formulas without risky or unproven ingredients sets Performance Inspired apart for other brands. Our efficacious, clean and tested formulas are value loaded, and you will feel the difference! Everyone deserves natural, robust and proven products at a great value, not just the celebrity or professional athlete! Do not compromise, select clean, natural active lifestyle products you can trust! Learn more and upgrade to all-natural, robust, clean nutrition at PINutrition.com

SOURCE Accelerate
Michael Lonsdale, a giant of the silver screen and theatre in France who worked with some of the worlds top directors in an acting career that spanned 60 years, died on Monday, his agent said. He was 89.

From his role as villain in the 1979 James Bond film Moonraker to that of a French monk in Algeria in the 2011 movie Of Gods and Men, Lonsdale acted, often in brilliant second roles, under top directors including Orson Welles, Steven Spielberg, Francois Truffaut and Louis Malle.

French actor Michael Lonsdale has died aged 89. Credit:Jacques Brinon

The child of a French mother and British father, Lonsdale, with a soft voice and beard, was a man consumed by his art. He made more than 100 films and performed on stage. His final performance was in a short film last year for the Opera of Paris, Degas et Moi (Degas and Me).

Lonsdale died peacefully at his Paris home of old age, his agent of 20 years, Olivier Loiseau, told The Associated Press.
YSR Congress party president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Tuesday requested the Centre to order a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the alleged irregularities in land transactions in the Amaravati capital region during the previous Telugu Desam Party regime.

The chief minister made the request to Union home minister Amit Shah at a brief meeting in New Delhi in the evening. Jagan is expected to have another round of meetings with Shah and later with finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday morning.

According to a party functionary familiar with the development, Jagan explained to the home minister in detail how several Telugu Desam Party leaders, including family members of then chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu made huge purchase of land in and around Amaravati between June and December 2014, before the region was declared as a capital.

He pointed out that the cabinet sub-committee which probed into this insider trading by the then TDP government had found several irregularities including fraudulent means of grabbing assigned and government land and surrendering it for land pooling to get the benefits announced by the government.

Jagan also requested Shah to order a similar CBI probe into the alleged irregularities in the AP State Fibernet Limited (APSFL) to the extent of over Rs 600 crore. There were grave irregularities right from bidding to undue favours granted to the company owned by Naidus then IT advisor Vemuri Harikrishna Prasad.

Jagan also reportedly asked Shah to approve the AP Disha Criminal Law (AP Amendment) Bill and secure the President of Indias assent for it to become an Act.
You are here: Business

Taiwan companies received export orders from the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong worth of 12.88 billion U.S. dollars in August, up 21 percent year on year and 7.5 percent over July, the island's economic affairs department said Monday.

Orders for electronic products showed the greatest increase, growing by 43.7 percent year on year in August, followed by orders for basic metals and optical components, the department said in a press release.

Export orders from the United States, Europe and the Association of South East Asian Nations also increased year on year in August, while those from Japan dropped, the statement said.

Taiwan companies saw total export orders up 13.6 percent year on year to 45.49 billion dollars in August, but slightly down by 0.2 percent from that of July.

The department attributed the increase of export orders to the soaring demand for high-end semiconductors and long-distance communication products.

The statistics consist of export orders taken by Taiwan enterprises and produced both in and outside Taiwan.
Xi'an Symphony Orchestra gives an online outdoor concert near the iconic Big Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province on Sept 19, which attracts over 5.6 million viewers. [For China Daily]

Xi'an Symphony Orchestra gave an outdoor concert near the iconic Big Wild Goose Pagoda, a Buddhist pagoda built in the Tang Dynasty (618-907), in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province on Sept 19.

Under the baton of conductor Huang Yi, the orchestra played repertories including Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin, Op. 24, Act III: Polonaise, The Firebird by Igor Stravinsky and Chinese composer Yin Qing's Under the Sun.

Pianist Zhang Haochen performed Sergei Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody On A Theme of Paganini along with the orchestra.

The concert was also broadcast online, which attracted over 5.6 million viewers.

Founded in 2012, the orchestra has recruited musicians from around the country, mostly those younger than 30. To bring classical music closer to the public, it has been looking at different types of performance. For example, the orchestra has held outdoor concerts at landmark sites in Xi'an, such as the Terracotta Warriors Museum and Huashan Mountain.

Pianist Zhang Haochen performs Sergei Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody On A Theme of Paganini along with the orchestra. [For China Daily]

Xi'an Symphony Orchestra gives an online outdoor concert near the iconic Big Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province on Sept 19, which attracts over 5.6 million viewers. [For China Daily]

Xi'an Symphony Orchestra gives an online outdoor concert near the iconic Big Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province on Sept 19, which attracts over 5.6 million viewers. [For China Daily]

Xi'an Symphony Orchestra gives an online outdoor concert near the iconic Big Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province on Sept 19, which attracts over 5.6 million viewers. [For China Daily]

Xi'an Symphony Orchestra gives an online outdoor concert near the iconic Big Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province on Sept 19, which attracts over 5.6 million viewers. [For China Daily]

(Source: chinadaily.com.cn)
Astronomers have spotted an object with an incoming trajectory towards Earth that could become a temporary minimoon.

Dubbed 2020 SO, the entity has been on an Earth-like orbit for more than a year and is set to become trapped in our planet's gravity starting in October and stay until May 2021.

However, some experts have noticed it is moving much slower than a typical asteroid and suggest it could be man-made space junk.

A NASA scientist has speculated that it may be a discarded part of the Surveyor 2 Centaur rocket that launched in 1966.

Tony Dunn, an astronomer, told DailyMail.com: 'Further observations will reveal its density. If it is hollow like a rocket booster, solar radiation pressure will significantly alter its course.'

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Astronomers have spotted an object with an incoming trajectory towards Earth that could become a temporary minimoon

DailyMail.com has contacted NASA for more information and has yet to receive a response.

Earth has only had two minimoons on record  one in February 2020 and the other in 2006.

Unlike the other two, 2020 SO has yet to be confirmed as an asteroid, as some scientists believe it could be space junk hurling towards Earth.

However, 2020 SO has been classified as an Apollo asteroid in NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Small-Body Database, which is a class of asteroids whose paths cross Earth's orbit.

Dubbed 2020 SO, the entity has been on an Earth-like orbit for more than a year and is set to become trapped in our planet's gravity starting in October and stay until May 2021

However, some experts have noticed it is moving much slower than a typical asteroid and suggest it could be man-made space junk. A NASA scientist has speculated that it may be a discarded part of the Surveyor 2 Centaur rocket that launched in 1966

NASA's Center for Near Earth Object Studies Database shows the object is between 12 and 46 feet long, which also matches properties of the 1966 Centaur that measures 41.6 feet long.

Experts have also noted that 2020 SO's velocity is much lower than that of an Apollo asteroid.

Space archaeologist Alice Gorman of Flinders University in Australia told ScienceAlert: 'The velocity seems to be a big one.'

'What I'm seeing is that it's just moving too slowly, which reflects its initial velocity. That's essentially a big giveaway.'

Paul Chodas with JPL identified this with the Surveyor 2 Centaur rocket body, launched on September 20, 1966.

'The very low Earth encounter velocity (0.6 km/sec is even low for lunar ejecta, so it is unlikely it is a natural body, even lunar ejecta, more likely space junk,' he wrote.

NASA's Center for Near Earth Object Studies Database shows the object is between 12 and 46 feet long, which also matches properties of the 1966 Centaur that measures 41.6 feet long

In February (pictured), NASA announced it had confirmed a new visitor in Earth's gravity. NASA-funded Catalina Sky Survey discovered a temporarily captured asteroid, called 2020 CD3, which has been orbiting our planet for three years

An animation of the object in question shows that it is in fact heading towards Earth and will make close swoops when it arrives.

In December, 2020 SO is expected to pass by Earth at a distance of around 31,000 miles and two months later, it will fly by at 136,701 miles.

In February, NASA announced it had confirmed a new visitor in Earth's gravity.

NASA-funded Catalina Sky Survey discovered a temporarily captured asteroid, called 2020 CD3, which has been orbiting our planet for three years.

The tiny cosmic object was estimated to be about six to 12 feet in diameter and had a surface brightness similar to C-type asteroids, which are carbon rich and very common.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 21, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian Assembly of America has addressed greetings on the occasion of the Independence Day of Armenia.

The Armenian Assembly of America, together with the Armenian American community, sends its warmest congratulations on the 29th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Armenia.

We continue to remember this day in 1991 with pride and hope. From the beginning of the independence movement, the Armenian Assembly of America has been a stalwart supporter, committed also to the principle of non-partisanship in the interest of the people of Armenia. As we navigate this new normal under conditions of a global pandemic, we celebrate the freedom of the people of Armenia by continuing to advocate for their prosperity, with commitment to the Armenians of Artsakh and concern for new waves of Armenians uprooted from the Middle East who have found refuge in Armenia, and the strengthening of political and economic ties between the United States and Armenia.

Happy Independence Day, Armenia!
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Uber for Business, the business side of the consumer ridesharing service, has typically focused on helping companies track their Uber expenses, but during a pandemic, needs have changed. It's no longer about getting employees to and from the airport or shuttling an important client from the hotel to the office, it's about getting essential personnel to the office safely, and to that end, Uber introduced a couple of new business commuting options today.

"Uber for Business is really about how we allow organizations of all shapes and sizes around the world to leverage the great consumer technology that Uber makes available, for business purposes," Ronnie Gurion, global head at Uber for Business told TechCrunch.

While the business side of the house helps employees charge business-related Uber rides to their employers, it can now help them choose a couple of commuting options beyond the standard ridesharing everyone has access to, regardless of who is paying the bill.

For starters, the company is introducing Employee Group Rides. Group might be an overstatement, as it involves two employees in the same area sharing an Uber for the purpose of getting to or from work. It works in a similar fashion to the way Uber Pool worked, except it only involves matching employees at the same company.

In terms of safety, Gurion says that Uber sees this as a "transit bubble" with employees who are working together anyway willing to share a car together. "We're seeing that companies are finding this option to be more attractive because they are comfortable putting more than one person in the same office in the same car, when they're going to be in the same office together anyway, once they get to the office. So, it makes things a little more socially distant or creates a social transit bubble, so to speak, to get people to and from the office," he explained.

Uber Business Charter in Uber app

Image Credits: Uber

The second option is called Business Charter, and this involves Uber connecting the customer to a third-party fleet partner, who can pick up multiple employees and bring them to the office.

Story continues

"A company can come and create a commute program with Uber across sedans, SUVs, vans and buses, and based on the employee base and commuting data, it might order 20 sedans and X number of our [larger] vehicles, and decide how to deploy them -- and we can do that, and those vehicles will only accept rides from that employer," Gurion said.

As for commuting during the pandemic, Gurion points out that these programs are being introduced in the EMEA, APAC and North American regions for starters, and that each of these geographies is in different places in terms of COVID. "Not every market looks like the U.S. There are a wide range of situations, but core safety issues are relevant everywhere," he said.

While Uber has instituted a safety program to help ensure both drivers and passengers are wearing masks, and has devoted $50 million to providing cleaning supplies to drivers, they don't have a formal testing program in place for drivers, Gurion said. How comfortable employees are with these arrangements will likely depend on individual preferences.

In addition to these commuting options, Uber for Business also offers Uber Eats for Business, a food delivery service geared for business users, and Uber Direct, a package delivery platform.
MOSCOW, Sept 21 (Reuters) - Russia and Turkey have suspended joint patrols of the M4 highway in Syria for security reasons and will resume them once the situation there calms down, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in comments published on Monday.

Lavrov also said in an interview with Al Arabiya's New York bureau that a ceasefire in Libya must be reached by the parties in the conflict.

Lavrov said Moscow views the possible imposition of U.S. sanctions on Russia over its partnering with Iran as illegal, according to a transcript of the interview published on the Russian foreign ministry's website. (Reporting by Andrey Ostroukh Editing by Gareth Jones)
REUTERS

Shopify (SHOP) (SHOP.TO) has notified the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police of a data breach that has affected fewer than 200 merchants.

The e-commerce giant (SHOP) (SHOP.TO) says the data breach was a result of two rogue members on a support team who allegedly engaged in a scheme to obtain customer transactional records of certain merchants.

Shopify said in a notice on the companys discussion forum that after an investigation it terminated the two support team members access to the Shopify network and referred the incident to law enforcement.

We are currently working with the FBI and other international agencies in their investigation of these criminal acts. While we do not have evidence of data being utilized, we are in the early stages of the investigation and will be updating affected merchants as relevant, Shopify said.

Shopify added this was not a result of technical issues or vulnerabilities and that the vast majority of merchants using Shopify are not affected. As of October 2019, Shopify had one million merchants using its platform.

It did note that data of customers related to those merchants could have been exposed, including contact information like email and names, addresses, order details, and products and services purchased.

Complete payment card numbers or other sensitive personal or financial information were not part of this incident, Shopify said.

A spokesperson from Shopify Canada said in an email that all affected merchants have been notified, but did not provide information on how many, if any, were Canadian. The spokesperson also did not clarify when the company became aware of the breach.

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Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Prague, Czech Republic  Tue, September 22, 2020 07:53 487 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46485c3 2 World Czech-Republic,Andrej-Babis,Prime-Minister,coronavirus,COVID-19,coronavirus-restrictions,pandemic,SARS-CoV-2,virus-corona,novel-coronavirus Free

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis admitted Monday that his government had made a mistake when it eased restrictions aimed at containing coronavirus over the summer.

His mea culpa came as governments across Europe struggle with a second wave of COVID-19 infections following the holiday months in which the number of cases began rising sharply.

"Even I got carried away by the coming summer and the general mood. That was a mistake I don't want to make again," the billionaire populist said in a televised speech.

After fending off much of the pandemic earlier in the year with timely steps including mandatory facemasks outdoors, the government lifted most measures before the summer holidays.

The Czech Republic registered a record high of 3,130 coronavirus cases last Thursday, almost matching the total for the whole of March, although testing capacity was low at the start of the pandemic.

Interior Minister Jan Hamacek said the country was now ranked second worst in the EU behind Spain in terms of daily case growth per 100,000 residents.

"The situation is serious. Experts say that if we exceed 120,000 new infections per month, we'll start running out of hospital beds. We'll do our best to prevent this," he said.

Health Minister Adam Vojtech -- a lawyer known for singing in the Czech version of the "Idol" series -- announced his resignation earlier Monday.

He was immediately replaced with epidemiologist Roman Prymula, who has helped coordinate government measures to curb infections.
Massachusetts businesses are in line to save on workers' compensation insurance over the next year while efforts in the Legislature to expand the ability of workers to tap into those benefits for COVID-19 care appear to have hit a dead end.

Workers' compensation coverage for COVID-19 in Massachusetts is limited to situations in which the hazard of contracting such diseases by an employee is inherent in the employment, the attorney generals office said, meaning health care workers like nurses are likely to be covered.

As of late August, officials in at least 15 states had passed legislation, issued executive orders or enacted other administrative policy changes to directly address workers' compensation coverage of COVID-19, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

In Massachusetts, the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development this month put two workers' compensation bills -- H 4749 from New Bedford Rep. Chris Hendricks and H 4739 from Bedfords Rep. Ken Gordon and Cambridge Rep. David Rogers -- into a study order, effectively spelling the end of the line for those bills during this extended legislative session.

Hendricks wrote in May that he filed his bill to fast-track workers compensation benefits for frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 crisis and asked Gov. Charlie Baker to issue an executive order to streamline workers' compensation claims and create a rebuttable presumption that any essential worker infected with COVID-19 contracted the virus while on the job.

As the law stands today, front-line workers are already able to file workers compensation claims related to COVID-19 diagnoses. However, these employees will unfortunately have the burden of showing that the COVID-19 diagnosis was a result of their job. This will lead to insurance companies denying claims en masse, because - while it is obvious that these diagnoses are the result of being on the front-lines - it is nearly impossible to show where the COVID-19 molecule was actually ingested, Hendricks wrote in a May letter to Baker. In short, the current threshold will be too high for these workers. We owe it to them to ease this burden.

Under Hendricks' bill, as well as Gordons, infected frontline workers would become eligible for immediate wage relief in the form of 60 percent of their average weekly wage, as well as 100 percent of COVID-19-related medical care at Department of Industrial Accidents rates.

During a time when our unemployment benefits system will be challenged in ways that we have never seen before, it is crucial that we ease that administrative burden by rightfully directing these cases into the workers' compensation system, Hendricks wrote.

The committees dismissal of the bills could keep the landscape steady for businesses, which stand to save on workers' compensation insurance costs thanks to a recent state approval of rate with an average reduction of 6.8 percent.

The Workers' Compensation Rating and Inspection Bureau of Massachusetts, an industry group that represents hundreds of member carriers, filed its request for an average 3.8 percent decrease in workers' compensation premiums, effective July 1, 2020, back in December. By late January, the WCRIBMA, the State Rating Bureau and the attorney generals office had started negotiating a possible settlement.

On March 13, the parties filed a stipulation that provided for a 6.8 percent reduction in the existing overall average workers' comp insurance rates for policies effective July 1, 2020. The presiding officer from the Division of Insurance ruled March 24 that the stipulation would provide for classifications and rates that are not excessive, inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory for the risk to which they respectively apply, and fall within a range of reasonableness. On March 27, Commissioner of Insurance Gary Anderson affirmed the ruling.

We appreciate the collaboration by all the parties to lower workers' compensation rates. This relief removes any further delay and uncertainty for policyholders and is especially important for businesses grappling with the economic impact of the COVID-19 public health crisis, Anderson said in a statement in March.

Though there are some exceptions, most Massachusetts businesses are required to purchase workers' compensation insurance to cover lost wages and other expenses for employees who become injured on the job. The Division of Insurance said the 6.8 percent average decrease in premiums for the next year will result in savings for business owners across the Commonwealth.

Thats in stark contrast to what Massachusetts business owners can expect when it comes to unemployment insurance costs. With a jobless rate that was the highest in the nation for two months and as the unemployment insurance trust fund braces for a multibillion-dollar deficit over the next four years as a result, unemployment insurance contributions from businesses are poised to increase nearly 60 percent when the calendar turns to 2021.

A group that analyzes workers' compensation insurance industry trends said it is important to keep in mind that ratemaking is prospective in nature, meaning that it reflects anticipated losses and payroll in the future, during the effective period of the rates. That makes it difficult to account for the impacts of an unfolding pandemic.

At present, the uncertainty surrounding the course of the COVID-19 pandemic and unavailability of quantitative COVID-19-related ratemaking data prevents determining a credible estimate of anticipated future losses and makes forecasting COVID-19 claims in the effective period uncertain, the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) wrote in a post about the 2020-2021 rate filing season. In addition, potential impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic will not be explicitly reflected in filed trend factors, as the combined impact and direction of all direct and indirect COVID-19-related forces is unknown. It is reasonable to believe the pandemic will give rise to component changes that may, to some extent, have offsetting impacts on system costs.

For example, the NCCI said, there might be a steep increase in claims from occupations that have greater potential exposure to the coronavirus, but there could also be an overall decrease in claims since so many more employees are working from home.
The top 10% of Irish earners are responsible for over a quarter (26%) of the nations carbon emissions, according to a new report from Oxfam Ireland.

The bottom 50% emits only 29% of emissions, despite having five times more people in it (about 475,000 people compared to 2,375,000 people in the top 10%).

Today we released our Confronting #CarbonInequality report which assesses global consumption emissions of different income groups over 25 years - when humanity doubled the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. https://t.co/y7221yri1P pic.twitter.com/KEKIHU5eGo  Oxfam Ireland (@OxfamIreland) September 21, 2020

The report, based on data from Oxford and Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), assesses the carbon consumption emissions generated by different income groups in Ireland from 1990 to 2015.

Based on 2015 data, the top 1% in Ireland have an average per capita carbon footprint of 66 tCO2, compared to 5 tCO2 for the average Irish citizen.

To achieve Irelands Paris Agreement commitments, we need to reach an average per capita carbon footprint of just 2.1 tCO2 by 2030.

Oxfam Irelands report coincided with the release of global research conducted by Oxfam and the SEI which revealed similar unequal carbon emissions trends.

Between 1990 and 2015, global annual carbon emissions grew by around 60%, and the total emissions added to the atmosphere since the mid 1800s approximately doubled.

In this 25 year span, the richest 5% globally accounted for over a third (37%) of the total growth in carbon emissions.

In response to the Oxfam report, Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg said "we are not equally responsible for stealing the future." Picture: Mary Altaffer

In the global report, Oxfam and SEI stated that coronavirus restrictions resulted in a fall in global emissions this year but unless emissions continue to decline rapidly, the 1.5C global carbon budget will be fully depleted by 2030.

Oxfam Ireland is calling on the Irish government to address our extreme carbon inequality by introducing focused policy measures targeting excessive and luxury emissions (such as private jets and SUVs), ending tax breaks for aircraft fuel and exploring ways to discourage frequent fliers, and ending government bailouts and subsidies for sectors associated with luxury carbon consumption.

"The richest 1% cause double the CO2 emissions of the poorest half of the worlds population"



The climate crisis isn't something "we" have created.

"We" are not equally responsible for stealing the future. #FaceTheClimateEmergency@Oxfam @SEIclimate https://t.co/JWaw2RCk8C  Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) September 21, 2020

The new Irish government needs to confront extreme carbon inequality, Oxfam Ireland said.

To continue to prioritise unequal carbon-based economic growth will mean jumping from the frying pan of the current pandemic to the fire of an uncontrolled and irreversible climate crisis," the group said.

Those most responsible for causing climate change, both in Ireland and around the world, have the most responsibility for addressing this issue. To do this Ireland must put tackling the twin climate and inequality crises at the heart of their Covid 19 economic recovery," they concluded.
Former Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar on Tuesday criticised Rajya Sabha deputy chairman Harivansh for his conduct during the passage of two contentious farm bills on Sunday and said he is holding a day-long fast in solidarity with eight members of the House suspended for protesting against it.

The eight were suspended on Monday for the remainder of Parliaments ongoing monsoon session for storming the Well of the House and charging towards Harivansh, who was presiding over the proceedings on Sunday. Parliament marshals formed a double-layered barricade to protect Harivansh. The lawmakers were angry as their demand for the division of votes on the bills was ignored. The bills were passed by voice vote while the opposition wanted them to be referred to a select committee.

Pawar called Harivanshs behaviour objectionable and added it does not suit the reputation of the Upper House. I have decided not to have food today [Tuesday] to express my support for the eight members of Rajya Sabha. The members wanted a proper discussion on the farm bills but the deputy chairman chose to pass them without discussion and that too with a voice vote, he said. I have never seen such a behaviour by a presiding officer in any of the Houses where I have been a member for 50 years.

Pawar said he is happy that the lawmakers did not touch the tea Harivansh offered the eight lawmakers and continued their protest. ...It would also be a bold statement to make that the protests would bring changes in the deputy chairmans behaviour and thus I would not dare to make it, he said.

Harivansh on Tuesday met eight lawmakers, who staged an all-night sit-in on the lawns of Parliament, and offered them tea and snacks. The lawmakers declined the refreshment and appeared unwilling to end their protest even as Harivansh said he will undertake a day-long fast over the humiliating conduct against him.

Pawar said the ideas of Gandhi have never been destroyed like this in the country. He questioned the intentions of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government regarding the farm bills. Pawar said there was no reason to clear the bills in one go. There was a doubt in the minds of the members over the Centres intention because it is claiming to make the market free for all and also boasts that farmers can sell their produce wherever they want. But on the other hand, they impose a ban on the export of onions, Pawar said.

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade banned all exports of the item on Monday following a shortage and sudden increase in prices in the domestic market.

Pawar, who backed the farmers agitation against the legislation, underlined his Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) does not support the bills. [NCP lawmakers] Supriya Sule in Lok Sabha and Praful Patel in Rajya Sabha have opposed the bills. He added he could not attend the Parliaments proceedings as he stayed in Mumbai to discuss the Maratha reservation issue.

Pawar said he has also received a notice from the income tax department over financial statements he has submitted with his election affidavits for the last three elections. The notice says that the Election Commission is not satisfied with the details shared and thus the department has sought the clarification. I heard even Supriya Sule is also going to get such a notice. It looks like they have much love and respect for some people.

Pawar said he has read somewhere that similar notices have been sent to Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray and his son, Aaditya Thackeray. He was responding to a question on whether he was being targeted because NCP is an ally of Shiv Sena-led Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi government in the state.

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EasySend CEO Tal Daskal

EasySend, an Israeli no-code AI-powered platform transforming manual processes into digital journeys, raised $16m in funding. In conjunction with the announcement, CEO Tal Daskal answered our questions about the company, their achievements, the funding and future plans.

FinSMEs: Can you tell us a bit more about you. Whats your background?

Daskal: My name is Tal Daskal, and Im the CEO and Co-Founder of EasySend, a SaaS company based in Tel Aviv, New York, and EMEA. After working at one of the largest insurance companies in Israel, I saw first-hand the extent of the problem that paperwork and manual processes create in insurance  and with that, EasySend began. Im an expert on all things digital transformation in banking and insurance, and Im a passionate advocate for the paradigm shift towards no-code application development in the financial sector.

FinSMEs: Lets speak about the company. Which is the market problem do you want to solve? Which is the real opportunity?

Daskal: Large enterprises such as insurance companies and financial institutions, who traditionally rely on paperwork to support core business processes, are struggling to keep up with the demand for digital transformation which has intensified since COVID-19. Utilizing PDF forms and other manual processes are not only more likely to lead to human error and poor customer service, but they are also static processes that fall short of analyzing and optimizing the customer form completion experience. Today, many enterprises that digitize their operations hire a team of developers to do the job, which not only takes months, but is also costly. Beyond that, once enterprises in the heavily regulated financial services, banking and insurance industries go digital, they struggle to ensure that all their sales are signed, recorded, and stored in a safe and efficient manner.

EasySend  a fully no-code platform is leading the charge for a digital future by helping companies transform paperwork, such as PDFs, into digital journeys, allowing them to create online forms in minutes with a click of a button  without a single line of code. The company takes lengthy, complicated forms and automatically transforms them into amazing digital journeys that can be completed on any device. Using real-time advanced analytics, companies that go digital with EasySend gain full visibility into their customers workflow activities and behaviors. Companies can easily identify where their customers dropped out of workflows so that they can optimize their form completion rates, drive revenue growth as well as enhance customer experience and satisfaction rates.

EasySend makes it possible for any manual process to be converted into a digital journey by non-technical staff via a simple drag and drop interface. Journeys can include everything in a financial services process: legally binding eSignatures, files and attachment uploads, and data validations to ensure accuracy  which is all protected under the highest security and compliance standards in the market. With an innovative no-code development platform, EasySend empowers enterprises to deliver new digital products faster and improve their customer experience at a fraction of the cost. Banks and insurance companies can quickly convert and digitize dozens of paper forms and cumbersome PDFs (including claims, policy issuance, customer onboarding, document submission, and remote servicing) into beautiful and compliant eForms that prioritize customer experience.

FinSMEs: How does it work? Which are the main features?

Daskal: There are three main features  the platform, known as the Builder, Kadabra AI, and the eSignature tool. As the name suggests, the Builder builds enterprises digital journeys  its a no-code, user-friendly, drag-and-drop platform that makes it all possible. EasySends proprietary Kadabra AI is an easy-to-use, AI tool that converts paperwork-based processes and PDFs  by recognizing forms structure and fields  into digital customer journeys in a matter of minutes. To add to that, EasySends end-to-end digital experience solution is complete with qualified, legally binding eSignatures. Whether its the issuance of a new policy, the setup of an account, or any other electronic transaction, EasySend makes it easy, intuitive, and secure to sign off on a document.

FinSMEs: What are the features differentiating the product from competitors?

Daskal: EasySend is the only no-code platform in the market for building and optimizing digital customer journeys in the insurance and banking sectors. Our focus is not only to digitize existing manual processes, but to take that one step further and to build optimized digital journeys that impact enterprises bottom line.

EasySend is a comprehensive solution to all customer-facing challenges. We transform the way that insurers communicate with their customers from the bottom up, empowering true digital transformation and agility in a traditionally slow-moving space.

With a simple to use, no-code builder, EasySend enables business users without technical knowledge to quickly build digital customer journeys without having to resort to lengthy and expensive development projects that strain internal resources. EasySends data visibility and optimization tools help business users continuously improve ROI of digital channels and boost efficiency, customer satisfaction, and revenue.

In the current environment, insurers are forced to go from having no digital customer support solution to migrating everything online with never-before-seen urgency. EasySends no-code solution is uniquely positioned to help financial enterprises achieve just that.

FinSMEs: You just raised a new funding round. Please, tell us something more about it

Daskal: We just completed an $11 million Series A round led by Hanaco and Intel Capital. The investment follows a previously undisclosed $5 million Seed round from existing investors Vertex Ventures and Menora Insurance.

We raised our Series A funding amidst the Coronavirus pandemic within just two months after starting the fundraising process  which just goes to show the current need and desire for secure, efficient and easy to use digital processes. We plan to use the investment to expand our operations in the United States, as well as broaden our verticals, such as government, telecom, medicine, and more.

FinSMEs: Can you share some numbers and achievements of your business(clients/partnerships/employees)?

Daskal: We currently have offices in Israel, New York, and Germany where we have over 50 employees. We expect to reach over 100 employees by 2021. We have over 40 enterprise customers worldwide such as Petplan and R+V Versicherung and a partnership with SAP, Amdocs, Capgemini, and Deloitte.

FinSMEs: Whats your medium-term plans?

Daskal: After achieving 90% market share in the Israeli financial services market, we are now actively expanding in the United States, EMEA, and APAC. Our roadmap includes strengthening the three pillars of our solution:

Build  a no-code platform for building digital journeys

Optimize  data-rich dashboards, insights, and analytics to bring visibility into the chaotic world of digital transformation

Integrate  launching a marketplace and strengthening our integrations capability

FinSMEs

22/09/2020
Our editors independently selected these items because we think you will enjoy them and might like them at these prices. If you purchase something through our links, we may earn a commission. Pricing and availability are accurate as of publish time. Learn more about Shop TODAY.

Sydney Sadick is a fashion and lifestyle expert who also hosts a weekly show on @TMRWxTODAY talking to the hottest internet celebrities of the moment. In her new book, "Aim High: How to Style Your Life and Achieve Your Goals," Sadick opens up about gaining 30 pounds in college and learning to ignore Instagram messages calling her "chubby." Read the excerpt below.

Chapter 9: Tipping the Scale

When I was growing up, I never thought about my weight. My mom cooked almost every night, so what I ate was essentially chosen for me. I loved sweets, (and still do) and I always had a healthy relationship with food. Unlike many of the girls around me, I didnt control the food I ate or not eat something that I really wanted. I never overanalyzed how I looked in clothes and kind of accepted myself as is. I was happy with how I looked, and confident with my outfit choices. I was fortunate to have a caring family that enabled me to develop this healthy relationship to body image.

"Aim High: How to Style Your Life and Achieve Your Goals," by Sydney Sadick

Aim High: How to Style Your Life and Achieve Your Goals (Amazon / Amazon)

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However, I was surrounded by friends who sometimes grew up with different circumstances and obsessively discussed body image. Frequent complaints included My hips are too wide! and My stomach isnt flat enough! The list went on and on. Remember that iconic scene in "Mean Girls" when Gretchen Weiner says, My hairline is so weird and the rest of the clique follows suit with My pores are huge and My nail beds suck? Honestly the rants became background noise to me, because at that time I couldnt relate. But these insecurities, retrospectively, represented something bigger. Your weight, health, and exercise habits can impact all aspects of your life, including how you dress. Feeling good impacts looking good and creating this foundation early is advised.

Story continues

When I was 18, I entered my freshman year of college at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and there was a lot of talk about the freshman fifteen (a typical weight gain of 15 pounds). Even then, I didnt take this phenomenon seriously; it applied to others and not me. I felt totally immune to it, concluding that the freshman fifteen was linked to horrific eating habits like late night pizza (everyone in D.C. went to Jumbo Slice, the after-party hot spot also known as the hub for the best pizza in town) and drinking lots of alcohol (a prerequisite for Jumbo Slice). College drinking is such a major contributing factor to weight gain and luckily it wasnt my thing. Ive never been fond of alcohol, never experimented with it in high school, and didnt even drink until I turned twenty-one in college. I still dont drink that much to this day.

During my first week of college I met two boys who grew up in Pittsburgh, my moms hometown. They all went to the same high school. We quickly realized that we all were focused on our work and careers and hated drinking and going to clubs. So much for fun college times! So, when my girlfriends went out to the bars and clubs, the three of us tried different restaurants around D.C.pizza places, Chinese, Italian, the list continues. Retrospectively, I was ordering more than I realized to keep up with the boys larger appetites. Even when I started with healthy salad, I had French fries on the side. Pasta alone apparently wasnt enough, so I added bread. Lots of it.

To top it off, dessert became a habit each and every night. I am not talking about shared desserts with my friends or a few bites of a chocolate cake. Let me get real with you: think mile high cakes, bread puddings, cookies, and pies. There was no stopping me at Old Ebbitt Grill, a restaurant next to the White House known for top politicians meeting and negotiating policies. For me, this is where I negotiated (with myself) how much dessert I could eat in one night. D.C. was also a launching pad for several amazing cupcake emporiums, and I suddenly became a cupcake aficionado! Loads and loads of cupcakes in every flavor combination imaginable from smores to banana. Cupcakes became my freshman year guilty pleasure and I downed them as often as my friends downed beers. Give me some Red Velvet and "Sex and the City" reruns and I was good to go!

I remember the very day I realized Id gained weight. I had just finished rushing for my sorority. I put on a black dress for a girls night out and my stomach was truly bulging out of it.

It was a food baby on steroids. I couldnt believe it. Its even hard writing about this now, years later, because it was such a raw moment. I totally lost control. At first I thought I was just bloated (maybe my period was coming?), but I was actually bloated for the prior three weeks. Looking at myself in the mirror, I was beyond upset, so I decided to go weigh myself on a scale.

Id gained thirty pounds. Im really petite (five foot one) so a thirty-pound weight gain on someone with my height and build was impossible to hide and I didnt handle it well. I became the latest person to embark on a trend that I had not been planning on following: not just the freshman fifteen, but the freshman thirty. I was devastated, to say the least.

Weeks went by and I still felt horrible, so I called my grandpa Marvin because he was the only person who could make what felt like the worst scenario seem OK. He told me Im beautiful and I would deal with it like I do with everything else. That was helpful, but it would take a long time for me to feel confident in my own body again.

It wasnt until I moved back home after graduation that I made health (not weight loss) a priority. I hired a trainer (Yeufre; you can see him in my Instagram stories), worked out three days a week for an entire year, and ate smaller portions. Also, just being back in New York City made a difference. I could walk everywhere. In college I was basically walking from the dorm to class to the library and back to the dorm. NYC was my playground to walk around in! I was studying so much in D.C. that I was just sitting all the time and had limited natural exercise. Finally, post-grad, I found a winning combination of the changes I made and saw strong results. These changes didnt happen overnight though; to be realistic, it took a few years of a stressful job and a healthy exercise and food program to get into the best shape of my life and back to feeling confident wearing clothes beyond leggings and sweatshirts. A friend of mine once told me to be careful when wearing leggings because they are almost too comfortable, and its easy to eat as much as you want. Quite honestly, those clothes make me a little uncomfortable now. They take me back to the years of my struggle and you shouldnt own or wear anything that will impact your mood or confidence. All of those college clothes were either sent to a consignment store or given away. As a graduate trying to make waves and achieve her goals, there was no room for memories of these haunting times.

To note, Im not a hundred pounds like I was when I started college, but I still lost a lot of weight and have never looked thinner or felt better! It really isnt about the number, but how the weight is distributed, and, as we know, muscle weighs more than fat. Its almost scary looking back at how naive I was in my food choices. Even sadder is how upset I was at myself: how much I hated looking in the mirror and getting dressed in the morning. It still hurts when I get random direct messages from women on Instagram today, almost weekly, criticizing my weight, one writing that I have a fupa; another that Im chubby. Ive found that the better I look the more girls are being catty and making my weight a topic of their conversation. I believe women should be supportive of each other and not putting them down. Its so disappointing to see this happening. Its frankly body-shaming and cyber bullying.

Today, I focus on what and how much I eat. While not obsessive, I avoid foods that result in binge eating and try to be healthy each and every day. I never eliminate my favorite chocolate candy or chocolate chip cookies. But I do stay away from the dreaded cupcakes and maybe only indulge in one (typically mini versions from Baked by Melissa) a few times a year. I definitely have cupcake anxiety  eek!

I work out as much as I can, which is sometimes difficult with my career, but I dont get upset with myself anymore. I just strive to improve and have a more consistent workout schedule, when possible. The point of my cupcake story is a lot of us have experienced or are experiencing a struggle with how we feel about our bodies. Just because we might not be in what we view as our ideal state of being doesnt mean were not worthy of looking great.

Aiming high is all about still wearing incredible outfits, dressing up, and showing up every day for your present and future self, because no one else is going to show up for you. Living a balanced life is critical and creates a spiral effect from your health right down to your clothing choices. Today, Im way more confident in what I wear because I know Im a work in progress.

And when I throw on a pair of heels, they make me feel unstoppable even when I eat too many cupcakes and all I have on is a pair of biker shorts and an old tee.

Excerpted with permission from "Aim High: How to Style Your Life and Achieve Your Goals" by Sydney Sadick. Copyright 2020 Skyhorse Publishing.
Photo credit: Ron Lewis

From Autoweek

The NHRA is suing its sponsor Coca-Cola after Coke officials told the racing series that it was ending its sponsorship.

It's a sponsorship deal that the NHRA says was supposed to run through 2023.

In the lawsuit, NHRA claims that Coca-Cola missed a $2.86 million payment on May 15. The sponsorship deal is a six-year agreement with Coca-Cola that calls for Coca-Cola to pay the NHRA $5.72 million per year.

The lawsuit also alleges that "Coca-Cola has seized on global tragedy, the COVID-19 pandemic, as a pretext to claim a breach and terminate the sponsorship agreement early to save money. But neither the Agreement nor the law allows Coca-Cola to do so. This action seeks to hold Coca-Cola to its contractual promises."

NHRA president Glen Cromwell posted to the series' competition website on Monday a statement outlining a missed payment and Coca-Cola's decision to leave the NHRA. Coca-Cola and the NHRA have been partners since 2002.

Coca-Cola, through its Mello Yello brand, is currently the series' title sponsor. Coca-Cola's Powerade brand was the series title sponsor before it became the Full Throttle Series in 2009. It's been the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series since 2012.

"Im truly proud to say that the NHRA is the largest and greatest auto racing organization in the world, and we have all of you to thank for that, as well as everyone else with a passion for NHRA racing." Cromwell said. "When the pandemic struck, our entire racing family focused on everyones health and safety. On the pro series side, we continued to work closely with our series sponsor, Coca-Cola, and their Mello Yello brand. Even though they decided to withhold a payment from us during the pandemic, they worked with us and all systems were go for their sponsorship to continue, as contracted, through the end of 2023.

"Recently, Coca-Cola had a change of heart, and told us they would walk away from their agreement to sponsor our professional seriesnot at the end of 2023, as promised in their agreement, but now, after being with us since 2002. Were deeply disappointed that theyve taken this position."

Story continues

So disappointed, in fact, that Cromwell said that the series has filed a lawsuit in California.

"NHRA has always treated our sponsors as part of our family. Family sticks together when times get tough," Cromwell said. "But it seems The Coca-Cola Company is using the pandemic as an opportunity to break their promise. We cant let that stand. We owe it to everyone who makes the NHRA so excellentall our employees, teams, tracks, fans, partners and sponsorsto hold Coca-Cola to its promises.

"Today, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, we filed a lawsuit against The Coca-Cola Company. We have never filed a lawsuit like this in our history, and we never expected to be forced to take action against such a longstanding partner. We value relationships with our sponsors. We do not take this action lightly. But we are unwavering in our belief that we have no other option to protect our rights and the interests of our racing community, especially the racers whose purse was funded in large part by this agreement."
Joe Biden is likely to win Latino voters in Texas and across the country in this years presidential election. That shouldnt come as a surprise.

But with the Nov. 3 election just weeks away, Biden isnt walking away with the hugely important Latino vote. Polls show the former vice president is underperforming among these voters relative to Hillary Clinton in 2016  while President Donald Trump has made some gains in recent months.

A new poll from the Texas Hispanic Policy Foundation finds Biden winning 48 percent of Latino voters in Texas, compared to 38 percent who favor Trump. Thats a 10-point margin, which is anemic when you compare it with the 27-percent margin of victory that exit polls showed Clinton receiving among Latino Texans in 2016.

Recent polls in Florida have also shown Trump making inroads among Latino voters who were relatively skeptical of his candidacy in 2016.

Those polls have elicited plenty of consternation among Democrats, as well as glee among Republicans, in part because they subvert expectations.

Biden is a moderate and a Catholic from a working-class background, meaning he might be able to find some common ground with Latino voters in states like Texas and Florida, who tend to be more conservative than Latino voters in California and New York.

Trump, by contrast, hasnt exactly made Latino outreach a priority until recently. He launched his bid for the Republican presidential nomination with a 2015 speech slurring Mexicans as criminals and rapists and then boasted he would build a border wall and make Mexico pay for it. As president, he has led an administration with a notoriously draconian approach to immigration across the southern border, including an overt policy of family separations. Moreover, Trumps bungled response to the coronavirus pandemic, and the ensuing economic fallout, has taken a particularly heavy toll on Latino families.

No community has been more affected by COVID-19 than the Latino community, said Rebecca Acuna, the Texas state director for Bidens campaign, in a virtual news conference with several south Texas Democratic leaders last week.

Experts have long warned against making sweeping assumptions about Latino voters, a diverse subset of the electorate.

First of all, lets not forget that even though Latinos have historically been more Democratic than Republican, theres still a chunk of Latinos that are Republican, said Victoria DeFrancesco Soto, a professor at the University of Texass LBJ School of Public Affairs, in an interview this last week.

In Texas, its a relatively large chunk. Republicans running for statewide office since the mid-1990s have managed to win roughly a third of Latino voters, if not more, since George W. Bush  on the advice of political strategist Karl Rove  led the Texas GOP to recognize the importance of competing effectively in an increasingly diverse statewide electorate.

Even in the Trump era, Texas Republicans have managed to retain relatively high levels of Latino support. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, who is of Cuban descent, won 35 percent of Latino voters on his way to squeaking out a re-election victory over then-U.S. Rep. Beto ORourke in 2018.

And Democrats who assumed that Trump would prove uniquely noxious to Latino voters shouldnt have assumed that his Democratic challenger could afford to be complacent.

Biden never really introduced himself to the Hispanic population, right? DeFrancesco Soto said.

Hes starting to do that nowsomewhat belatedly, she continued. Even at the Democratic National Convention, held virtually last month, there were relatively few Latino leaders on the prime-time stage.

Meanwhile, DeFrancesco Soto added, Trump has been reaching out to Latino voters.

Trump has been putting in the work, especially in Florida and a little bit here in Texas, DeFrancesco Soto said. Hes up with ads, hes Facebook messaging  they may not be the most sophisticated ads, but hes out there.

(And this week, multiple news organizations reported that he was considering Judge Barbara Lagoa, a Cuban-American from Florida, for the Supreme Court vacancy created by the death Friday of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.)

Former state Rep. Jason Villalba, president of the Texas Hispanic Policy Foundation, said he would have expected polls to show Biden running closer to Clintons benchmark. But, like DeFrancesco Soto, he can make sense of the numbers as they are.

Clinton had an institutional step up because of her relationship with her husband, said Villalba, referring to former President Bill Clinton. Biden, he argues, is a lesser-known figure among Texas voters, even though he served for eight years as Barack Obamas vice president. And prior to securing his partys presidential nomination, Villalba added, Bidens outreach to Latino voters was limited, compared to that of some of his rivals.

During the primary, Bernie Sanders did so well with Latinos because he really committed significant time and resources and people to engagement, Villalba observed. He did a really good job cultivating that over the course of time.

Trumps brio, Villalba suggested, may help explain why his groups poll found a significant gender gap among Latino voters, as well as improved overall support for Trump: Someone with Trumps machismo, and his populist message, that really resonates with Hispanic men.

Bianca Garcia, the president of Latinos for Trump, told the Chronicles Alejandro Serrano that she agreed with Trumps stance on strengthening the border and appreciated how he tells it like it is. She said he also understands the struggles of those running small businesses, like herself.

Experts agree there is the potential for massive turnout this year, which presumably would benefit Biden and downballot Democrats. The Texas Secretary of State this week reported that the state now has a record-high 16.6 million registered voters, an increase of more than 800,000 people since 2018.

And in Texas, at least, the Biden team is trying to make up for lost time. His statewide leadership team, announced last month, is led by Latinas from South Texas  Acuna and Jennifer Longoria  as state director and deputy state director respectively. The campaign has held numerous virtual events focused on Latino voters since then and conducted direct outreach in English and Spanish  in recognition, Democrats say, of the fact that Latino voters are core to any successful campaign strategy in Texas.

Our campaign is mobilizing and engaging thousands of Latino voters a week, Acuna told me.

Latino voters make up some 20 percent of the statewide electorate  so, if Biden can earn the same level of support among Latino voters that Clinton did, hed likely carry the state.

While the poll results may be puzzling, the takeaway is clear: in the home stretch of this years fiercely fought and high-stakes campaign, Biden needs to make Latino voters a priority

erica.grieder@chron.com
An Oregon sheriff's office made 21 arrests for theft and trespassing over the past two weeks in evacuation zones ravaged by wildfires.

Clackamas County Sheriffs Office reported Monday that between 6am on September 8 and 4pm September 21, deputies made the arrests in Level 2 and Level 3 evacuation zones as looters hoped to steal from homeowners who had abandoned their possessions amid the flames.

Across the area, some residents have erected anti-looting and trespassing signs in an attempt to warn off the opportunist thieves. Some of the signs warned that looters and arsonists would be shot.

According to Fox News, Clackamas County Sheriff Craig Roberts last week warned against residents taking action for themselves after receiving reports that armed individuals were illegally stopping drivers in evacuations zones at gunpoint to ward away potential looters

James Dean Shotwell, 34, was charged with theft and burglary on September 11

James Dean Shotwell, 34, (right) and Sandy Faye Lenox, 34 (left) were charged with theft and burglary after they were found with two gas-powered generators, a box of hand tools including a cordless drill, two leaf blowers, and at least one gas can they had allegedly stolen

Buck Adam Nickel, 41, allegedly tried to help himself to a trailer that another couple were using to try to help residents evacuate the area. He was caught in the act by a sheriff's deputy

Clackamas County Sheriffs Office made 21 arrests for theft and trespassing over the past two weeks in evacuation zones ravaged by wildfires between September 8 and 21

He said that all suspicious activity should be reported to the sheriff's office as some drivers could be returning home to collect possessions.

Among those arrested, charges included criminal trespassing, second-degree burglary, possession of burglary tools/ theft device, possession of stolen property, recklessly endangering, first-degree theft.

Others were charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, a felon in possession of a restricted weapon, resisting arrest, possession of heroin and meth and interfering with a peace officer.

Several of those arrested faced multiple charges including Ryan Burnette, 31, and Justin Valente, 32, who were taken into custody on September 13 after being found in their vehicle with heroin, methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, a dagger, an air-powered pistol replica, an assortment of shaved vehicle keys, and a single firework, as well as various hand and power tools.

Justin Valente, 32, was charged with drug possession and possession of a Restricted Weapon

Deputies had been dispatched to investigate their car in a Level 3 evacuation area after reports of suspicious activity.

As deputies approached, they attempted to flee but were stopped using spike strips.

Burnette stated he fled because he was scared and believed he had a warrant for his arrest. He said he was in the area to help his dad move, but was unable to provide his dad's address.

Andrew Eric Roberts-Nichols, 32, was also charged with possession of heroine on September 10. He was already on probation for mail theft.

Also in the car were Trevor Irish, 42, who was cited for a suspended license for unpaid tickets, and Holly Fawn Fay, 32, who was cited for heroin possession and a warrant for possession of methamphetamine.

Fay was also on probation for drug possession.

Justin Valente, 32, being placed under arrest after a highway chase

Cops were forced to use spike strips to stop Valente's car

Andrew Eric Roberts-Nichols, 32, was charged with possession of heroine on September 10

On September 11, Buck Adam Nickel, 41, and Kimberlee Tipton, 52, were arrested and charged with Theft I after they allegedly attempted to steal a tractor being used by another couple to help people evacuate from the area.

The couple got a flat tire on the trailer they were using to help others. They unhooked the trailer and went to get supplies to fix the tire, leaving the trailer on Judd Road in Eagle Creek.

While they were gone, the two suspects found the trailer and decided to help themselves, it is alleged. A deputy found the trailer as they were in the middle of stealing it.

Nickel was also found in possession of a firearm.

Buck Adam Nickel, 41, allegedly attempted to steal a tractor being used by another couple to help people evacuate from the area but were caught by deputies on September 11

The other couple got a flat tire on the trailer they were using to help others

They unhooked the trailer and went to get supplies to fix the tire, leaving the trailer on Judd Road in Eagle Creek, where Nickel and Tipton tried to pick it up

Nickel also had a concealed .357 handgun, deputies discovered

Just minutes earlier, deputies had detained James Dean Shotwell, 34, and Sandy Faye Lenox, 34, after receiving reports of two suspicious individuals possibly walking onto a property on Ringo Road, near Mulino.

They found the suspects with two gas-powered generators, a box of hand tools including a cordless drill, two leaf blowers, and at least one gas can from a neighboring property that they had stolen.

They were charged with Theft I and Burglary II.

Sandy Faye Lenox, 34, being placed under arrest for burglary

Deputies found James Dean Shotwell, 34, and Sandy Faye Lenox, 34 in possession of these stolen goods after receiving reports of two suspicious individuals walking onto a property

On September 15, Paul Theodore Nichols, 32, and Taleina Renee Johnson, 32, were also charged with theft after they found drugs and stolen items in their car.

Both of the suspects were well known to authorities.

In another incident, a couple in the county was forced to watch on a livestream as thieves broke into the home they had evacuated just days earlier.

Tracy and Marvin Johnson, who live in the unincorporated hamlet of Beavercreek in Clackamas County, recalled for KION 6 News how they watched the robbery unfold on their doorbell camera.

The suspects fled before police arrived.

As well as the arrests, there were 54 criminal reports taken in these evacuation zones and 743 self-initiated activity calls in Clackamas County during those two weeks.

These included 96 subject stops, 99 premise checks, 295 traffic stops, and 253 suspicious vehicle stops.

Paul Theodore Nichols, 32, was charged with theft on September 15

K9 Grimm was present at the call and found methamphetamine in Johnson's purse

The yard tools found in Nichols' car had been reported stolen

Deputies also carried out 94 welfare checks and unaccounted person follow-ups as the state struggles to push back the historic wildfires.

In contrast, during the same time period in 2019, deputies only made 13 arrests in these same patrol areas, completed 16 crime reports, engaged in 148 self-initiated activities, and made 28 welfare checks and follow-ups.

Clackamas County is not the only area that has faced the threat of looters as the wildfires worsened.

In Marion County, two men were charged with looting properties that were evacuated by owners fleeing the deadly wildfire.

The escalating tensions and fear of crime have seen local residents begin posting signs bearing slogans like, You loot, we shoot outside of their homes

Police in Oregon have arrested a string of suspected looters during the ongoing wildfires, as cops claim the criminals are making bogus 911 calls to divert officers elsewhere

Anthony Travis Bodda, 21, and Alexander Justin Jones, 36, were arrested on September 10 after they allegedly led law enforcement officials on a high-speed chase in fire-ravaged Santiam Canyon.

As of Tuesday afternoon, close to one million acres had burned across the state since September 8, 2,584 acres of which was in Clackamas County.

It is the third-most populous county in the state with 75,000 residents and borders nearby Multnomah County, where Portland is located.

There have been nine confirmed fatalities and five missing persons reported across the state, as well as at least 1,556 structures being destroyed.

There were ten active fires on Tuesday, down from eleven on Monday.

There were still ten active fires in Oregon as of Monday

The fires have also left many residents with air quality warnings

On Tuesday, the Oregon Office of Emergency Management was forced to dispel rumors that Antifa were starting fires in the state.

'Any disaster really starts up the rumor mill spinning whether it's where the fires are going to go, donations that are needed that can inundate emergency management with stuff that just adds to the complexity of the response,' Director Andrew Phelps told Fox.

'Rumors are never helpful, we always ask folks to get their information directly from local government sources and we rely on the accurate reporting of news partners across the state and around the country to get accurate and timely information out to the public to help us do our jobs, to control rumors and get accurate information.'

He added that the recovery from the fires will take years and that it's going to be a long-haul fight to get the fires in check.

Phelps said that recent wetter weather had helped somewhat but had also prevented aerial firefighting from going ahead.

The fires are also having an impact on air quality in the area as smoke worsens.
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Wonderful Company, which is dedicated to harvesting health around the world, announced today that it has chosen its first 15 nonprofit organizations and schools in California's Central Valley, including its largest grantees, the California Farmworker Foundation, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Fresno County, and California State University, Bakersfield (CSUB), to receive funding from its COVID-19 relief fund. The special fund is part of the Wonderful Community Grants program.

The $1 million COVID-19 relief fund was established in August 2020 to support local programs, services, and resources that were affected by COVID-19 either by state and federal budgets cuts or in response to new critical need. Nonprofit organizations and schools that demonstrate community impact were eligible to apply for funding and with this round of grants, the relief fund has been fully distributed.

Andy Anzaldo, chief operating officer of Philanthropy at The Wonderful Company, said, "On behalf of Lynda and Stewart Resnick, we are pleased to award 15 organizations with desperately needed funding. These non-profits have demonstrated that through their tireless efforts in the face of this devastating pandemic, they have had a profound impact on the Central Valley's wellbeing. It's an honor to recognize and further their contributions to the communities where our Wonderful families live and work."

"We are very thankful to The Wonderful Company for believing in our mission and funding our COVID-19 initiatives for Farmworkers in California. Many farmworkers find themselves in dire need of emergency assistance for rent, and this grant will help them, and their families, meet their housing needs," said Hernan Hernandez, Executive Director at The California Farmworker Foundation.

Diane Carbray, President and CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Fresno County, said, "The funding coming from Wonderful for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Del Rey and Mendota couldn't come at a better time! We rely heavily on this support for our clubs to continue to offer services and provide children with internet access in safe, quiet places while their families work."

"On behalf of CSUB's Center for Economic Education and Research, I wish to express my gratitude to The Wonderful Company for the grant that will enrich the academic experience for college students from Kern, Tulare, and Fresno county," said Nyakundi M. Michieka, associate professor of Economics and co-director of the Center for Economic Education and Research at California State University, Bakersfield. "By providing employment opportunities to these young people, many of whom are first-generation students, we can continue to change lives in the Central Valley."

Since its launch in 2016, the Wonderful Company Community Grants program has contributed more than $2 million to 90 grants, including nonprofit and city and county governments. This effort is part of a broader initiative in which the company has invested over $11 million to protect its workforce and fight COVID-19. Each year, The Wonderful Company invests millions of dollars in far-reaching community development, education, and health and wellness programs across the Central Valley and beyond, with the goal of enriching and enhancing the lives of our employees who live there.

Assets here: https://bit.ly/3hGeRLJ

About The Wonderful Company:

The Wonderful Company is a privately held $5 billion global company dedicated to harvesting health around the world. Its iconic brands include FIJI Water, POM Wonderful, Wonderful Pistachios, Wonderful Halos, Wonderful Seedless Lemons, Teleflora, JUSTIN Wines, JNSQ Wines, and Landmark Wines.

The Wonderful Company's connection to consumers has health at its heart and giving back in its DNA. To learn more about The Wonderful Company, its products, and its core values, visit www.wonderful.com, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. To view the current Corporate Social Responsibility report, visit www.wonderful.com/csr.

About Stewart and Lynda Resnick:

Philanthropists and entrepreneurs Stewart and Lynda Resnick are co-owners of The Wonderful Company, a privately held $4.6 billion global company dedicated to harvesting health and happiness around the world through its iconic consumer brands, which include Wonderful Pistachios, Wonderful Halos, POM Wonderful, FIJI Water, JUSTIN Wine, and Teleflora. The Resnicks have a long-standing commitment to sustainability and giving back. Their philanthropy includes historic gifts to local institutions including UCLA, LACMA, and Caltech, and a transformational effort in California's Central Valley where they support paradigm-changing work in community engagement, health and wellness, and education.

SOURCE The Wonderful Company LLC

Related Links

http://wonderful.com


(Natural News) In a very bizarre exchange on Fox News Outnumbered, guest Newt Gingrich was essentially censored for bringing up the name of Hungarian-American philanthropist George Soros.

Gingrich, the former House Speaker, mentioned during his appearance how billionaire Soros has been using his substantial wealth to influence local district attorney races throughout the country, who have then been incredibly soft on the leftist thugs behind the violence the nation is seeing.

Gingrich stated: The Number 1 problem in almost all these cities is George Soros-elected, left-wing anti-police, pro-criminal district attorneys who refuse to keep people locked up, adding that just the day before, someone wanted for two murders in New York City was put back on the streets.

He then explained what Joe Biden and his running mate Kamala Harris really mean when they talk about progressive district attorneys, saying: Progressive district attorneys are anti-police, pro-criminal and overwhelmingly elected with George Soros money, and theyre a major cause of the violence were seeing because they keep putting the violent criminals back on the street.

This seemed to prompt panic mode all around, as commentator Melissa Francis quickly stated: Im not sure we need to bring George Soros into this, although she conveniently failed to mention why she believes that.

Gingrich fired back: He paid for it! I mean, why cant we discuss the fact that millions of dollars

At that point, another panelist cut him off. Co-host Marie Harf creepily chimed in: I agree with Melissa. George Soros doesnt need to be a part of this conversation.

Gingrich then replied: Okay, so its verboten.

Then, an awkward silence hung in the air for a few beats too long before host Harris Faulkner said it was time to move on.

Why is Fox News protecting George Soros?

This led many to wonder why Fox News was protecting Soros and preventing Gingrich from talking about his record of election meddling throughout the nation. For example, GOP House candidate David Dudenhoefer of Michigan tweeted: I didnt realize how far left Fox News has become until this very moment. After saying he agreed with Gingrich, he posed the question: What does George Soros have on the powers-that-be at Fox News?

The ire grew so strong that Faulkner apologized the next day on her show, saying the little incident was not smooth and that the way she sat silently as it played out was not ideal.

She added: Our guest, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who is beloved, and needed to be allowed to speak with the openness and respect that the show is all about, was interrupted.

Faulkner went on to say that We dont censor on this show.  except, apparently, when they stop people from mentioning the name of George Soros.

Earlier this month, Gingrich asked on Twitter why the left is so afraid of his name being mentioned, reiterating the fact that he is funding the district attorneys who are doing so much harm to our nation.

The list of far-left causes Soros has contributed to is quite long, but one of his more recent sizeable donations was $220 million to Black Lives Matter. His foundation revealed much of his money would be going toward efforts to defund the police, and his son said they are looking to abolish American prisons as well.

We often discuss the rampant censorship of conservative voices by Big Tech, but now even Fox News executives are getting in on the act and inexplicably blocking people from drawing attention to the fact that an evil globalist activist billionaire is pumping millions of dollars into local elections to get far-left progressives into office who are ruining our country.

Sources for this article include:

ZeroHedge.com

NeonNettle.com
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 18:05:32|Editor: huaxia

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GAZA, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian foreign minister announced on Tuesday that Palestine decided to give up its right to chair the presidency of the Arab League in its current session.

"This doesn't mean we will give up our seat in the league because that will create a vacuum which can generate different scenarios ... we don't want at this sensitive time," Riyad al-Maliki told a news conference in Ramallah.

"The State of Palestine is a member of the Arab League and has always worked to enhance its role and position," he noted.

The Palestinian announcement came in the wake of the Arab League's failure to stop Israeli normalization agreements with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.

Palestine "is not honored to witness the Arabs scrambling toward free normalization with Israel during its presidency of the League Council," al-Maliki said.

"Free normalization is a flagrant violation of the decisions of the Arab summits regarding the Arab Peace Initiative," he added.

According to the Arab Peace Initiative in 2002, the Arab states can only normalize relations with Israel after Israel ends its military occupation of the Palestinian and Arab territories. Enditem
Liam Hemsworth's girlfriend Gabriella Brooks turned up the heat during a photo shoot in Byron Bay.

On Monday, the model was spotted hard at work as she battled the gusty winds at the iconic Wategos beach.

Despite the weather challenges, the 21-year-old appeared to be in good spirits as she smiled radiantly for the camera.

Model life: On Monday, Gabriella Brooks (pictured) was spotted hard at work on a photo shoot, as she battled the gusty winds at the iconic Wategos beach in Byron Bay

Gabriella, who hails from Sydney's northern beaches, looked glam in a cute white sundress that showed off her trim pins.

She kept the accessories simple opting for a gold pendant necklace and her long brunette locks cascaded over her shoulders.

When it came to her makeup, Gabriella went glam for the photo shoot opting for bronzer, eyeshadow and bold brow.

Legs for days: Gabriella, who hails from Sydney's northern beaches, looked glam in a cute white sundress that showed off her trim pins

Blown away: Despite the weather challenges, the 21-year-old appeared to be in good spirits as she smiled radiantly for the camera

Gusty: Gabriella went barefoot for the shoot and posed for several photos in the shallow waters as she tried to tame her mane in the wind

Gabriella went barefoot for the shoot and posed for several photos in the shallow waters.

At times, she struggled to keep her long locks in place as they blew in the gusty wind.

However, she took it all in her stride, sharing a laugh with the photographer before the crew decided to try a large sunhat.

Glam: When it came to her makeup, Gabriella looked stunning opting for bronzer, eyeshadow and bold brow

Lights, camera, action: The photoshoot took place on Byron Bay's iconic Wategos beach and involved a small crew

Well styled: The stunning brunette kept her hand firmly on her sunhat while she took another series of photos in the water

Gabriella kept a hand firmly on the hat while she took another series of photos in the water.

Following the shoot, Gabriella swapped into a sweet white dress featuring yellow flowers.

She accessorised the look with heeled woven slides and toted a cream handbag.

Stunner: Gabriella kept her accessories simple opting for a gold pendant necklace and her long brunette locks cascaded over her shoulders

It takes a team: The small crew attended to Gabriella as they added a sunhat to her cute summer look

Outfit change: Following the shoot, Gabriella swapped into a sweet white dress featuring yellow flowers

The brunette beauty looked relaxed and happy as she chatted away to one of the crew members in the car park.

Gabriella has been holed up with her beau, Liam in the stunning NSW coastal town amid much of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The couple were first spotted together for the first time in mid-December last year as they enjoyed a lunch date in Byron Bay with Liam's parents, Craig and Leonie Hemsworth.

Gossip time: The brunette beauty looked relaxed and happy as she chatted away to one of the crew members (pictured) in the car park

Dressed to impress: Gabriella accessorised the look with heeled woven slides and toted a cream handbag, while the crew member went casual in jeans and a black T-shirt

Liam was previously married to American popstar Miley Cyrus, but the pair split in June last year.

The former couple did not publicly confirm their breakup until two months later.

Meanwhile, In March, Us Weekly quoted an insider who alleged that Liam 'feels more at home with Gabriella than he did with [his ex-wife] Miley and feels like he can be his complete self without any drama.'
Happen to step outside early this morning? If so, you could have mistaken it for mid-October. Fall is officially here, and with it comes some changes that we should be talking about. And, today also marks six weeks until Election Day. Theres a county in Pennsylvania thats correctly signaled the states presidential winner in four of the last five elections. My colleague was on the ground in Berks County to see whats going on.

 Josh Rosenblat (@joshrosenblat, morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

About 90 minutes northwest of Philadelphia, Democrats and Republicans have descended upon Berks County to court support for their presidential candidates, and for good reason.

Voters in Berks County have backed the winner of Pennsylvania in four out of the last five presidential elections. A local Republican chair told my colleague Chris Brennan that Berks County is a harbinger" for the state and a Democrat state senator called it a microcosm of Pennsylvania.

The autumnal equinox arrives at 9:30 this morning, meaning that for an instant the sun will divide its energy equally between Earths Northern and Southern Hemispheres. In other words, its the first day of fall. And it sure feels that way with temps in the 40s early in the morning.

With the arrival of fall, sunlight is making way to darkness, which is increasing by more than two minutes a night. And that can disrupt sleeping and eating patterns. My colleague Anthony R. Wood spoke with experts about how to deal with the new season.

What you need to know today

Through your eyes | #OurPhilly

Ready or not, the first day of fall is today. Thanks for sharing these shots, @tominphilly.

Tag your Instagram posts or tweets with #OurPhilly and well pick our favorite each day to feature in this newsletter and give you a shout-out!

Thats interesting

Opinions

Im not trying to change your vote. But I am asking you to join me in working for the country that most of us believe in, where everyone counts and every vote is counted. There will be challenges to our election system this election season that weve never seen before. If we join together, I know we can meet them.  writes Jane Palmer, a volunteer organizer and founder of Berks Stands Up, about Pennsylvanians needing to do more than vote this election season.

The Parkway encampment isnt sustainable, writes Dennis J. Boylan, the president of the Logan Square Neighborhood Association.

Columnist Will Bunch writes about what he thinks should happen if President Donald Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell try to confirm a new Supreme Court justice.

What were reading

Your Daily Dose of | Nature

Venezuelan artist Carols Gil takes photos of nature, then uses digital technology to combine between five and eight layers of pictures that he manipulates by mixing composition and color. Theyre like paintings, my colleague Jesenia De Moya Correa writes. Gil is based in Philly and has a new exhibit called Apparent Spaces at Taller Puertorriqueno.

Correction: An earlier version of this newsletter misstated the number of times Berks County voted for the candidate who won Pennsylvania in the past five presidential elections. It was 2, not 4.
Its an educational opportunity for students to learn about other cultures and different people and to get exposed to different people and their perspectives, Guzman said.

Over the school year, WNCC will highlight different cultures from the area. Hispanic Heritage Month is Sept. 15-Oct. 15, so the programs started with that culture. Black history and Black identity will be included, along with Native American identity and a German-American event as well.

Its important because were preparing our college students to live in an interconnected, globalized, inter-cultural world where, with technology, students could be working in one industry with people from lots of different places, Guzman said. Its great for our students to have a better understanding of the people they live with, the people they go to school with, but also the people theyre going to interact with in the future.

It also helps break down barriers, too. When youre able to try similar foods or able to try similar activities, it expands our students world, and makes them better citizens.

The importance of addressing social issues has become even more important as the country as a whole struggles with the issues.
New Orleans police jailed a suspect Tuesday in the 2019 fatal shooting of a Danish tourist, but the victim's family is worried the accused woman  who just completed an unrelated drug sentence  may not face a murder charge without stronger evidence.

Jefferson Parish sheriffs deputies initially arrested Brandy Myles on charges of possessing heroin on May 22, 2019, and within hours New Orleans police announced they had a warrant to book her with second-degree murder in the killing four days earlier of Poul Hansen, 44. Yet an Orleans Parish district attorneys office spokesman later said the evidence presented by police was considered insufficient to bring before [a] grand jury in hopes of securing an indictment for second-degree murder against Myles, who reportedly blamed Hansen's killing on a stranger.

+2 In Danish tourist's killing near New Orleans East motel, woman booked with murder A Gretna woman with a history of prostitution- and drug-related arrests has been jailed in the fatal shooting of a Danish tourist in New Orlea

Myles pleaded guilty to the heroin charge on June 22 in return for a two-year sentence. She had never posted bond after that arrest, meaning she'd been behind bars for more than a year when she entered that plea. And because inmates who demonstrate good conduct are often released early in non-violent cases, Myles was eligible for parole.

Records show Myles was paroled by Tuesday morning. New Orleans police then booked her on the murder warrant.

A Denver-based private investigator working for Hansens family said the Orleans district attorney's office informed her last week that the agency would not pursue a murder charge against Myles, 38, without the discovery of new, stronger evidence. The investigator, Natasha Powers, said she isnt completely sold on Myles innocence. But she said she respected prosecutors position and asked that anyone who might have information contact the Police Department.

The family is desperate to find out who did this, because Poul was a husband and father of two, Powers said. I know the Police Department is overwhelmed with cases, but the [Hansen] family was really disappointed. They thought  theyd have some sort of justice.

Danish tourist found murdered in New Orleans East; killing may have happened during robbery A war veteran from Denmark who was vacationing in the United States with a group of fellow motorcycle riders was found fatally shot in New Orl

The district attorney's office on Tuesday issued a statement noting that authorities could keep Myles detained in jail in lieu of a bond for up to 120 days without filing charges. An office spokesman said the agency intended to evaluate the "facts and circumstances" of the case during that time before making a decision about whether to charge Myles.

The Police Department didn't respond to a request for comment Tuesday.

Myles was unlikely to appear in front of a bail judge before Wednesday.

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Hansen was in New Orleans as part of a motorcycle tour of the United States with fellow riders and war veterans from Denmark. The group was staying at a Super 8 motel on Chef Menteur Highway in New Orleans East, off the beaten path for many visitors but close to Interstate 10.

He was found dead from a bullet wound to the head in the 4200 block of America Street, less than a half mile from that motel. Police said surveillance camera video showed a car near the body, and detectives linked the vehicle to Myles.

Authorities tracked Myles to her apartment in Gretna, and she let them search the place, according to records filed in 24th Judicial District Court in Gretna. Following that search, deputies booked her with possessing heroin, drug paraphernalia and pharmaceutical pills.

New Orleans police questioned Myles, and she reportedly told them she met Hansen on Bourbon Street in the French Quarter hours before he was found dead. Myles told investigators she and Hansen were going back to his motel to have sex, but they pulled into a nearby residential neighborhood at his request.

Myles said she and Hansen had gotten out of the car when another man approached and frightened her, prompting her to speed away alone. Police said Myles reported hearing gunfire erupt as she drove off and suggested she thought the man who startled her was Hansens killer.

Investigators didnt believe Myles account was consistent with evidence they had gathered, and they obtained a murder warrant to arrest her.

Police never specified what that contradictory evidence was. And the only charges filed against her involved the drugs at her apartment, to which she pleaded guilty after several routine court delays.

Second-degree murder convictions carry a life prison sentence. Murder has no statute of limitations in Louisiana, meaning there's no deadline to file charges if no one is in custody.

Investigators have never publicly offered a possible motive for Hansens slaying.

But Powers on Tuesday said both a mobile phone and distinctive hammer pendant belonging to Hansen were never recovered, leading his family to think he might have been killed in a robbery.

Hansens group of war veterans and motorcycle riders was named Blood of Heroes. He had served Denmark's army in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden warns opponent over 'abuse of power' (AP)

The Biden campaign released a new attack ad roasting Donald Trump's coronavirus response, latching onto Bob Woodward's revelations that "he knew" the true extent of the threat posed to Americans.

It comes as the president himself gave Joe Biden praise as a professional that would do well in the upcoming debates, but not without slipping in a jab that the ex-VP is "not all there".

The Democratic presidential challenger, meanwhile, accused Republicans of treating the fight to replace the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the Supreme Court like a game. At the same time, Biden has refused to release his own list of preferred nominees for the post.

The late justice and feminist icon, who passed away on Friday aged 87, said her dying wish was for her replacement to be nominated by the winner of the upcoming election, a plea Donald Trump and Senate leader Mitch McConnell look set to ignore in favour of pressing ahead with their own choice.

Biden held a campaign event in Wisconsin, where a new poll from Reuters/Ipsos shows Biden ahead in Wisconsin, but with a narrower lead in Pennsylvania. He said the US can't allow itself to become numb to the increasing Covid-19 death toll as the country continues to face a public health crisis.

At Trump's own campaign rally today, the president only made his usual passing references to the China virus, instead accusing Biden of treason for his role in the Obama administration's so-called "spying" during the presidential 2016 election.
New Delhi, Sep 22 : The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has informed the Supreme Court that people who had booked air tickets during the lockdown are entitled to immediate refunds.

The DGCA also clarified that in case of tickets booked prior to the lockdown up to May 24, the refund would be governed by the credit shell and incentive scheme.

The Centre had earlier introduced an incentive scheme by which 0.5 per cent interest will accrue on the original fare lying in the credit shell from the date of cancellation of the flight till June 30, 2020. Beyond this period, the passenger can avail 0.75 per cent interest every month till March 31, 2021.

In a supplementary affidavit, the DGCA clarified that the refunds were broadly divided into three categories.

The first category is of those who booked tickets prior to the lockdown for travel up to May 24 (as calibrated domestic operation recommenced from May 25, 2020), who will be governed by the proposed credit shell and incentive scheme.

In the second category, passengers who booked tickets during the lockdown will be entitled for immediate refund of fares by the respective airlines as the latter were not supposed to book such tickets.

In the third category are persons who booked tickets at any point in time, but for travel after May 24, to whom refunds will be governed by CAR (Civil Aviation Requirement) provisions.

Advocate Jose Abraham, representing petitioner Pravasi Legal Cell, said: "The present affidavit filed by the Union of India clarifies that the scheme for full refunds is applicable to all tickets booked prior to the lockdown, which was not clear earlier on. Tickets booked during the lockdown are also entitled to immediate refunds.... It is definitely a welcome stand as far as the petitioners are concerned." On September 9, the Centre had assured the Supreme Court that there was no catch in its proposal with regard to the refunds for tickets booked during the lockdown.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, told a bench comprising Justices Ashok Bhushan, RS Reddy and MR Shah that if the tickets were booked on March 15, before the lockdown, even then these would be fully refunded.

In the case of tickets booked through tour operators, the Centre clarified that if such operators had already paid the money to the airlines for tickets but the clients were yet to pay the operators, the tickets will remain in the name of the prospective passengers on cancellation and converted to credit shell. In case the prospective travellers utilise the credit shell, they will pay the money to the tour operator/agent and not the airlines.

The Centre had proposed that full refunds be given by airlines within 15 days for tickets booked during the lockdown. If any airline was in financial distress, a credit shell should be provided up to March 31, 2021 on the routes of passengers' choice, it said. The full refunds were proposed for tickets booked with domestic and foreign airlines.

In an affidavit in the Supreme Court, DGCA OK Gupta said full refunds should be given immediately by domestic airlines if tickets were booked directly with it or through agents during the first lockdown period, that is, March 25 to April 14 for journeys to be undertaken in both first and second lockdown (March 25 to May 3) periods in all such cases.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 04:57:37|Editor: huaxia

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Video: The world's challenges are interconnected and can only be addressed through reinvigorated multilateralism, the United Nations (UN) says on Sept. 21, 2020 in a declaration to commemorate its 75th anniversary. (Xinhua)

The COVID-19 caught the world off guard, which is a reminder for all nations of improving their preparedness for various challenges and crises by strengthening international cooperation, coordination and solidarity, says the UN.



NEW YORK, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- The world's challenges are interconnected and can only be addressed through reinvigorated multilateralism, which is a necessity as we build back better for a more equal, more resilient and more sustainable world, the United Nations (UN) said Monday in a declaration to commemorate its 75th anniversary.

Volkan Bozkir (rear L), president of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), addresses a high-level meeting to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the UN at the UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 21, 2020. (Eskinder Debebe/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)

The COVID-19 pandemic, the largest global challenge in the history of the UN, has not only caused death and serious illness, but also global economic recession, increased poverty, anxiety and fear, leaving no one untouched, the UN said.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has reminded us in the most powerful way that we are closely interconnected and only as strong as our weakest link," the UN noted, calling for solidarity to end the pandemic and build resilience against future challenges.

Thus, multilateralism has become a "necessity" as the world has been striving to "build back better for a more equal, more resilient and more sustainable world," it said, stressing that the UN must be at the center of these efforts.

United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (L) talks with Volkan Bozkir, president of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), prior to a high-level meeting to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the UN at the UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 21, 2020. (Eskinder Debebe/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)

The COVID-19 caught the world off guard, which is a reminder for all nations of improving their preparedness for various challenges and crises by strengthening international cooperation, coordination and solidarity, said the UN.

"It is important to learn and share experiences and information to reduce risks and make our systems more resilient," the UN noted. "There is an urgent need to accelerate development, production, as well as equitable and affordable global access to new vaccines, medicines and medical equipment."

The UN highlighted the importance of digital cooperation, as digital technologies have profoundly transformed society and shown a potential to speed up the realization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres addresses a high-level meeting to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the UN at the UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 21, 2020. (Manuel Elias/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)

Shaping a shared vision on digital cooperation and a digital future, as well as addressing digital trust and security, must continue to be a priority, as the world is now more than ever relying on digital tools for connectivity and socioeconomic prosperity, the UN stressed, adding that safe and affordable digital access for all must be ensured.

"The United Nations can provide a platform for all stakeholders to participate in such deliberations," it said.

"The next 10 years, which have been designated as the decade of action and delivery for sustainable development, will be the most critical of our generation. It is even more important as we build back better from the COVID-19 pandemic," the UN said, stressing that the world needs a strong UN development system. 
STEPANAKERT, SEPTEMBER 22, ARMENPRESS. President of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan met today with Defense Minister of Armenia Davit Tonoyan in Yerevan, the Artsakh Presidents Office told Armenpress.

The President praised the high level of cooperation between the Defense Army and the Armed Forces, stating that issues relating to defense and external security are under the spotlight of both the Artsakh and Armenian political authorities. According to Arayik Harutyunyan, the Armenia Army plays a key role in terms of keeping stability and peace in the region.

Davit Tonoyan welcomed the President on the occasion of his first official visit to the defense ministry of Armenia, assuring that they will continue strengthening the security system of the two Armenian states through coordinated actions.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
The reactor of Unit 1 of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in the UAE has achieved 50% of its electricity production capacity, said Nawah Energy Company, the joint venture nuclear operations and maintenance subsidiary of the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) and Korea Electric Power Corporation (Kepco).

The milestone was announced on the sidelines of the 64th Annual Regular Session of the IAEA General Conference in Vienna, where the UAE hosted a side event entitled UAE Peaceful Nuclear Energy Program: The Journey.

Reaching 50% power at Unit 1 of Barakah is an important step in the process of Power Ascension Testing (PAT), and comes at a historic time for the UAE Peaceful Nuclear Energy Program, one month after the safe and successful completion of the synchronization of Unit 1 to the UAE transmission grid and the dispatch of the first megawatts of clean electricity from the Barakah Plant to the nation, said a statement.

Mohamed Ibrahim Al Hammadi, Chief Executive Officer of ENEC, said: The UAE is now producing clean, baseload electricity through Unit 1 of the Barakah Plant, and the Unit has now achieved 50% power as part of the Power Ascension Testing our teams at Nawah are currently undertaking. Safety and quality-led progress is continuing to be made across all four Units of the Plant, and we are delighted to participate in the IAEA General Conference to share the latest updates with our industry partners on this strategic clean energy infrastructure project for the UAE.

The UAE Peaceful Nuclear Energy Program is an engine of growth for our nation, delivering abundant clean electricity to support the UAEs economic diversification efforts, while in parallel contributing to the countrys climate change commitments, added Mohamed Ibrahim Al Hammadi.

Engineer Ali Al Hammadi, Chief Executive Officer of Nawah, commented: This is a proud moment for everyone involved in the delivery of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, as we mark the continued progress being made at Unit 1. We are operating Unit 1 of the Barakah Plant with an absolute commitment to safety and quality as we advance one step further towards commercial operations.

The PAT process is safely and successfully on track and moving ahead in line with national regulatory requirements and the highest international standards, despite the challenging environment we are all facing globally. We are pleased to be part of the 64th IAEA General Conference during such a significant time in the development of the Barakah Plant, and we look forward to announcing further achievements over the coming months as we further increase the power levels of Unit 1 and continue with our operational readiness preparations for Unit 2, he added.

A delegation from the UAE including Hamad Al Kaabi, UAE Permanent Representative to the IAEA; Mohamed Ibrahim Al Hammadi; christer Viktorsson, Director General of the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulations (FANR); and Eng Ali Al Hammadi is currently participating in the IAEA Conference. It is being held from September 21 - 25 at the Vienna International Centre in Vienna, Austria, and has brought together high-ranking officials and representatives from IAEA Member States, both physically and virtually, to discuss a range of nuclear energy topics.

The UAEs participation comes as Nawah gradually raises the power levels of Unit 1 of the Barakah Plant  over a number of months  as a part of the ongoing Power Ascension Testing. Throughout this process, the Units systems are tested in line with national regulatory requirements and international best practice as the operations team safely makes progress towards full electricity production. Once the process is completed, Unit 1 will enter commercial operations and deliver abundant baseload electricity for up to 18 months prior to refueling, demonstrating how efficient and reliable nuclear energy is at generating clean electricity 24/7. - TradeArabia News Service
Congress president Sonia Gandhi accompanied by her son Rahul Gandhi returned to India on Tuesday morning after undergoing a routine health check-up in the United States, people familiar with the development said.

The two had left for the US on September 12.

Both of them missed a major part of the monsoon session of Parliament that began on September 14. The session is likely to be curtailed in view of the rising number of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases in the country with several Members of Parliament (MPs) and the Parliament staff having tested positive.

Confirming their return, an aide of Rahul Gandhi said the two leaders reached Delhi at around 7am on Tuesday.

Also Read: Opposition to boycott Rajya Sabha until MPs suspension is revoked

Congress President, Smt. Sonia Gandhi is travelling today onwards for a routine follow up & medical check-up, which was deferred due to the pandemic. She is accompanied by Sh. Rahul Gandhi. We take this opportunity to thank everyone for their concern & good wishes, the partys chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala had tweeted on September 12.

Before leaving, Sonia Gandhi had carried out major organisational changes, reconstituted the Congress Working Committee (CWC) and her team of office bearers, and also formed a special panel to help her in organisational and operational matters till the next session of the All India Congress Committee (AICC), to be held within six months.

Apart from Surjewala, the committee comprises AK Antony, Ahmed Patel, Ambika Soni, KC Venugopal and Mukul Wasnik.

She had also chaired a meeting of the partys parliament strategy group.

Also Read: Suspended Rajya Sabha MPs on sit-in outside Parliament refuse deputy chairmans tea

It was decided in the meeting that the Congress will raise the issues of the India-China border standoff, the Covid-19 situation across the country, the impact of lockdowns, the current state of the economy, the decline in GDP, GST compensation to states, job losses, agrarian distress and restoration of Question Hour during the session. The party had also decided to oppose the three farm bills.

The two agricultural bills  the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 and the Farming Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020  were cleared by voice vote in Parliament on Sunday even as the Opposition protested and stormed the well of the House seeking that they be sent to a select committee.

The ruckus resulted in the suspension of eight lawmakers  Rajeev Satav, Syed Nasir Hussain and Ripun Bora of the Congress, Derek OBrien and Dola Sen of the Trinamool Congress, KK Ragesh and Elamaram Kareem of the CPI(M) and Sanjay Singh of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

Parliament on Tuesday also passed the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill after the Opposition staged a walk-out and decided to boycott the entire session till the suspension of the eight MPs was revoked.

And from September 24 onwards, the Congress will hit the streets across the country against the government for passing anti-farmer and anti-poor bills in Parliament.

The party will also launch a campaign to collect two crore signatures from protesting farmers against the proposed legislations.

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A court in HCMC sentenced 20 people to up to 24 years in jail on Tuesday for their involvement in the bombing of a police station in 2018.

The HCMC People's Court deemed the bombing a dangerous act that violated national security.

Nguyen Khanh, residing in Dong Nai Province that borders HCMC, that mastermind in the bombing, will serve a 24-year prison sentence for terrorism and illegal manufacturing, possession and purchase of explosives.

The court also imposed a VND10 million ($429) fine per each of 20 defendants, who will have to enter local confinement for three to five years after their release.

Nguyen Khanh after a trial against his directing a police station bombing in HCMC, September 22, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Huu Khoa.

According to the panel, Khanh was upset over a local land dispute and enticed by 68-year-old Ngo Van Hoang Hung in Canada to join Trieu Dai Viet (Vietnam Dynasty), which opposes the Vietnamese government. Khanh was promised the position of the organization's chief of Dong Nai Province upon the successful purchase of explosives and recruitment of additional organization members.

Hung sent Khanh VND144 million ($6,200) and 600 CAD ($450) for operating expenses.

Khanh ordered Nguyen Trung Truc to buy five kg of explosives and 45 detonators, mixed with another 7 kg of explosives at home, given to Duong Ba Giang to build remotely-operated bombs.

On June 19, 2018, Khanh told Giang to hand two bombs to Vo Hoang Nam and Duong Khac Minh (Hungs acquaintance) and teach them how to detonate each device, ahead of a planned state agency strike meant to popularize the organization.

The next day, Nam and Minh bombed the police station of Ward 12, Tan Binh District, in HCMC, injuring two people and causing extensive property damage.

Vo Hoang Nam, who directly detonated bombs at a HCMC police station in 2018, makes his way to court on September 22, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Huu Khoa.

In addition, Khanh also supplied three bombs to Nguyen Minh Tan, appointed Mekong Delta commander. Tan then gave them to Pham Tran Phong Vu to blow up a police station in the delta's Hau Giang Province. But before attacking another police station, they were arrested.

Hung sent Tan an additional VND160 million while creating a fake list of over 200 members to source more funds for the organization. Tan still had VND150 million left when caught.

Duong Ba Giang and Nguyen Minh Tan were sentenced to 18 years in prison. Vu Hoang Nam, Duong Khac Minh and Pham Tran Phong Vu got 17 years. 14 others related to the case were sentenced to 2-12 years in prison.

They were charged with either terrorism or illegal manufacturing, possession and purchase of explosives.

Security agencies have prosecuted Hung, currently residing in Canada, on terrorism charges and issued an international warrant for his arrest.

Hung was sentenced to death by a court in Tien Giang Province in the Mekong Delta, later reduced to life on charges of conspiracy to overthrow the government back in 1979.

The Tay Son Movement was launched in the U.S. during 2016 to unite organizations opposing the state of Vietnam. By early 2017, internal conflict had divided the group, with Hung elected supreme commander of a separate cell in Canada named Trieu Dai Viet.

Hung's organization instructed Vietnamese in the country and abroad to employ violence against the Vietnamese state, which it seeks to depose.
Adventure retailer Kathmandu is banking on Australians enjoying outdoor activities more post-COVID after the company weathered a brutal year due to the pandemic.

On Wednesday, Kathmandu revealed the virus had cost the retailer an estimated $NZ135 million ($125 million) in lost sales due to widespread store closures and weaker spending as customers were locked indoors.

Kathmandu has weathered a brutal year at the hands of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Total revenue still grew significantly, up 48.7 per cent to $801.5 million thanks to the company's $350 million acquisition of surfwear brand Rip Curl late last year, which contributed $315 million to Kathmandu's overall sales.

However, the strong sales growth did not flow through to Kathmandu's earnings, with the company's underlying profit falling 44.5 per cent to $31.5 million. When including a slew of one-off items, net profit shrank to $8.9 million, down 85 per cent.
The Rajya Sabha on Tuesday passed the Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2020, to bring cooperative banks under the control of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The amendment, which got approval from Lok Sabha on September 16, aims to improve governance at such banks and protect depositors' money. The Bill, which replaces an ordinance promulgated on June 26, was passed by a voice vote in Rajya Sabha.

Replying to a short debate on the bill, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the amendments will completely protect the interest of depositors and also help with quick recovery in cases of stressed co-operative banks without any moratorium.

She clarified that the amendment is only for cooperative societies engaged in banking activities. During COVID-19 pandemic, many cooperative banks came under stress and their finances are being closely monitored by the regulator RBI, the Finance Minister said.

Also Read: Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill: How RBI will ensure safety of depositors' money in cooperative banks

The Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill came in the backdrop of the PMC Bank scam, which put the savings of lakhs of small depositors at stake. PMC Bank was later put under restrictions by the RBI, following the unearthing of Rs 4,355 crore scam. Even today, PMC Bank customers are struggling to get their hard-earned money back.

The legislation seeks to strengthen cooperative banks by increasing their professionalism, enabling access to capital, improving governance and ensuring sound banking through the RBI.

Also Read: Bill to bring cooperative banks under RBI control gets Lok Sabha nod

Justifying the need for the amendments, Sitharaman said the government was able to quickly resolve the crisis-hit YES Bank as it was governed by commercial bank rules, but the resolution to the PMC Bank crisis is yet to be found.

Commenting on the development, Veena Sivaramakrishnan, Partner, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co. said, "Dual regulation has caused confusion and has often been a source of double trouble. Bringing cooperative banks under RBI will bring necessary stability. The amounts of money are huge and for the faith, this is a step in the right direction."

By Chitranjan Kumar
(HealthDay)Nearly half of all school employees meet the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention definition for increased or potentially increased risk for severe COVID-19, according to a study published online Sept. 17 in Health Affairs.

Thomas M. Seldon, Ph.D., from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality in Rockville, Maryland, and colleagues used prepandemic household data to examine how often persons at risk for severe COVID-19 were connected to schools. Connections included being school employees or living in the same household as school employees or school-aged children.

The researchers found that of all school employees, 42.0 to 51.4 percent met the CDC definition for having or potentially having an increased risk for severe COVID-19, respectively. Between 33.9 and 44.2 million of all adults with CDC risk factors for severe COVID-19 had direct or within-household connections to schools.

"For many school districts, decisions over whether and how to reopen will likely be revisited throughout the school year," the authors write. "Against this backdrop, evidence regarding the health risks of adults with connections to schools is one piece of the puzzle."

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

Copyright  2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Group photo taken on Sept. 16 at the Final Contest of Guardians Alliance aiming to popularize professional knowledge on how to identify product qualities to general public with simple and interesting writing styles [Photo/courtesy of SQI]

Creative writing may no longer be a vehicle exclusive to professional writers.

Engineers working for market regulation in Shanghai are depending on the knack to popularize their professional knowledge to ordinary people by means of simple, lively and understandable writing circulating among social media Wechat.

To promote the practices, Shanghai Institute of Quality Inspection and Technical Research (SQI) and Shanghai Caohejing Hi-Tech Park jointly organized a contest, entitled "Guardians Alliance - popularization of professional judgement on product qualities through creative writing".

The award ceremony hosted on Sept. 16 at the Final Contest of Guardians Alliance aiming to popularize professional knowledge on how to identify product qualities to general public with simple and interesting writing styles [Photo/courtesy of SQI]

The final competition hosted on Sept. 16 was running with 10 finalists who had outperformed others among 80 articles submitted for a blind trial by August 31.

The articles, consisting of words, graphics and pictures, covered a variety of topics, like, virtual reality products, stainless steel cutlery and magnetic toys.

During the last round, the finalists were required to complete their articles in one hour after drawing lots among three topics: whether helmets are necessary for electronic motorbike drivers; how to ensure the safety of a Charge Pal (mobile power bank) and how to categorize the use of face masks.

Jiang Jianjun, an engineer from Institute of Quality Inspection of Light Industry and Chemical Products of SQI, received the top prize for his analytical article on whether N95 facial masks can be applied for medical use.

Li Sihui and Song Liu, also engineers of SQI, were runners-up with their articles being focusing respectively on safety concerns of Charge Pal and helmet use.

"We should share our professional knowledge with the general public in a simpler, livelier and more straightforward way. The technical jargon we have taken for granted is something that could confuse our customers," said Tang Rong, an official from Shanghai Municipal Bureau for Market Regulation.

However, despite the strong sense of humor presented in their articles, the contestants faced stringent requirements to guarantee the accuracy of their contents.

According to Tang, the writings, though creative, should rule out fabrications and sensationalism seeking to attract wider readership.

"Over the past three years since we started to popularize our professional knowledge to general public, all articles, including those from SQI, published in the Journal of Safety Information on Product Quality and our internal periodical, can be guaranteed as trustworthy," Tang added.

Jiang Shiliang, director of Shanghai Science Writers Association, appreciated the efforts taken to popularize professional knowledge on how to evaluate product qualities to schools, communities, suburban towns and rural villages.

However, he also noted that, despite the strenuous efforts taken to popularize the knowledge, the writing in some articles still needed further simplification, for which the association was more than willing to render a helping hand.

"Creative writing can transform abstruse reports into interesting stories, in which emotionless data can be demonstrated in more dynamic ways," said Wu Liming, director-general from the Shanghai Municipal Center for Health Promotion.
The government has signed off on 10 new special advisers for ministers of State.

The appointments follow weeks of confusion over whether junior ministers would get advisers.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin initially suggested all ministers of State would be entitled to advisers.

But following controversy over the spending on political appointments the Cabinet decided each minister would have to make a case to secure taxpayer funding for an adviser.

Today, Cabinet agreed to appoint advisers for 10 of the 17 ministers of State.

At one point, it was suggested to ministers they would have to share from a pool of advisers. However, the idea was dropped following backlash from ministers of State.

Fianna Fail and Fine Gael were given four advisers each and the Green Party got two.

The new advisers will be on assistant principal salaries which start at 67,659 and can go up to 83,740.

The ministers who received advisers are:

Minister of State for Older People and Mental Health Mary Butler Minister of State for Disability Anne Rabbitte Minister of State for European Affairs Thomas Byrne Minister of State Department of Finance for Financial Services, Credit Unions and Insurance Sean Fleming Minister of State for Office of Public Works Patrick O'Donovan Minister of State for Special Education and Inclusion Josepha Madigan Minister of State for Employment Affairs, and Retail Businesses Damien English Minister of State for Research and Development, Farm Safety, and New Market Development Martin Heydon Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform Malcolm Noonan Minister of State for Community Development and Charities Joe O'Brien

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald told the Taoiseach in the Dail that she was absolutely astounded and gobsmacked that the Government had approved the hiring of 10 special advisers for junior ministers at a time when the Pandemic Unemployment Payment was being cut for ordinary people.

I think it's outrageous  you might clarify this matter, she said in the chamber.

But the Taoiseach in reply accused Ms McDonald of hypocrisy and claimed she was an enthusiastic supporter of special advisers, sometimes knows as Spads.

The special advisers that you employ in your Executive, they're earning much more, Mr Martin said. And youre one of the original enthusiasts for special advisers.

He added: You've been one of the original enthusiasts for special advisers, always have been. Youve been a long term advocate for special advisers in politics, and you've never shown any disdain for that.

So stop the hypocrisy, in relation to that issue.

Ms McDonalds Twitter account soon afterwards posted a fact-check, claiming that there are only 14 special advisers in the whole five-party Government at Stormont.

There was no significant discussion on the rise of Covid cases at Cabinet today.

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly did not attend the meeting at Dublin Castle in person as his is still restricting his movements.
Prime Minister Ludovic Orban on Tuesday said that Romania will use European funds to rebuild all the important railways in the country.

He participated, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Transport, in the signing of the agreement for the rehabilitation of the Brasov-Simeria railway line, part of the Rhine - Danube Corridor, for the maximum speed of 160 km/h, the Brasov-Sighisoara section, and the 2 Apata-Cata subsection."With the signing of the agreement for this section, we have basically signed the construction agreement for all the railway sections on the main pan-European corridor, the connection between Brasov and Curtici. From the pan-European Corridor IV, from Constanta to Curtici, it remains only one section to be built, the Predeal-Brasov section. All the other sections have either been finalized or under construction, and I am talking now about the modernization of the railway to reach European standards, allowing speeds up to 160 km/h in the case of passenger trains and up to 120 km/h for the transport of goods, on a double, electrified line," said the Prime Minister.According to Orban, this section is an "extremely complicated" one, with a high value."We will take advantage of the massive funding that Romania will benefit from in the next period and our goal is to rehabilitate all the important railway routes," he said.The Prime Minister stated that, regarding the railway route on the Pan-European Corridor IX, from Ploiesti to the eastern border, there are already agreements in place for the production of technical and economic documentation for all sections."We will introduce them in the multiannual financial year because there is a priority at European level in terms of transport strategy, rail transport being considered a priority transport because it provides safety, speed and is environmentally friendly. Also on the section. Bucharest-Craiova-Turnu Severin-Caransebes-Timisoara-Arad railway, except for the Bucharest- Craiova section, we are in the phase of issuing the technical-economic documentation on all sections, from Craiova to the western border, and the most advanced sections "This part of the railway will also be modernized to the standards we want," said Ludovic Orban.He added that the auction procedure is underway, after the approval of the technical-economic documentation, for the signing of the design and construction agreement on the section Cluj Napoca-Oradea-Episcopia Bihor, which will aim at modernization and electrification.The government is also considering the connection between Bucharest and Giurgiu, through the reconstruction of the Gradita Bridge on a new route, Orban added."The sign of the impotence of the previous governments is the Gradistea Bridge, which was destroyed by floods, if I remember correctly, and which has not been repaired until today. We are considering the rebuilding of the Gradistea Bridge, of course, on a new route, which resulted from the technical-economic documentation, so as to ensure the direct connection between Giurgiu and Bucharest, I hope, in this financial year, that CFR SA will be equipped with technological trains so that we can have the ability to make repairs on routes that are not necessarily on the rail corridors. The certainty is that the development of railway infrastructure is a priority for us, and the railway must become what it once was, support for economic development, as are all the others. investment in infrastructure" said Prime Minister Orban.
Mathematicians have developed a framework to determine when regions enter and exit COVID-19 infection surge periods, providing a useful tool for public health policymakers to help manage the coronavirus pandemic.

The first published paper on second-surge COVID-19 infections from US states suggests that policymakers should look for demonstrable turning points in data rather than stable or insufficiently declining infection rates before lifting restrictions.

Mathematicians Nick James and Max Menzies have published what they believe is the first analysis of COVID-19 infection rates in US states to identify turning points in data that indicate when surges have started or ended.

The new study by the Australian mathematicians is published today in the journal Chaos, published by the American Institute of Physics.

"In some of the worst performing states, it seems that policymakers have looked for plateauing or slightly declining infection rates. Instead, health officials should look for identifiable local maxima and minima, showing when surges reach their peak and when they are demonstrably over," said Nick James a PhD student in the School of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Sydney.

In the study, the two mathematicians report a method to analyse COVID-19 case numbers for evidence of a first or second wave. The authors studied data from all 50 US states plus the District of Columbia for the seven-month period from 21 January to 31 July 2020. They found 31 states and the District of Columbia were experiencing a second wave as of the end of July.

The two mathematicians have also applied the method to analyse infection rates in eight Australian states and territories using data from covidlive.com.au. While the Australian analysis has not been peer-reviewed, it does apply the peer-reviewed methodology. The analysis clearly identified Victoria as an outlier, as expected.

"What the Victorian data shows is that cases are still coming down and the turning point - the local minimum - has not occurred yet," Dr Menzies said. He said from a mathematical perspective at least, Victoria should "stay the course".

Dr Menzies, from the Yau Mathematical Sciences Center at Tsinghua University in Beijing, said: "Our approach allows for careful identification of the most and least successful US states at managing COVID-19."

The results show New York and New Jersey completely flattened their infection curves by the end of July with just a single surge. Thirteen states, including Georgia, California and Texas, have a continuing and rising single infection surge. Thirty-one states had an initial surge followed by declining infection to be followed by a second surge. These states include Florida and Ohio.

Mr James said: "This is not a predictive model. It is an analytical tool that should assist policymakers determining demonstrable turning points in COVID infections."

METHODOLOGY

The method smoothes raw daily case count data to eliminate artificial low counts over weekends and even some negative numbers that occur when localities correct errors. After smoothing the data, a numerical technique is used to find peaks and troughs. From this, turning points can be identified.

Dr Menzies said their analysis shows governments should try not to allow new cases to increase, nor reduce restrictions when case numbers have merely flattened.

"A true turning point, where new cases are legitimately in downturn and not just exhibiting stable fluctuations, should be observed before relaxing any restrictions."

He said that the analysis wasn't just nice mathematics, using a new measure between sets of turning points, the study also deals with a very topical problem: looking at state-by-state data.

Mr James said that aggressively pushing infection rates down to a minimum seemed the best way to defeat a second surge.

PEAKS AND TROUGHS

To determine the peaks and troughs, the algorithm developed by the mathematicians determines that a turning point occurs when a falling curve surges upward or a rising curve turns downward. Only those sequences where the peak and trough amplitudes differ by a definite minimum amount are counted. Fluctuations can occur when a curve flattens for a while but continues to increase without going through a true downturn, so the method eliminates these false counts.

Both from Australia, the two mathematicians have been best friends for 25 years. "But this year is the first time we have worked on problems together," Mr James said.

Mr James has a background in statistics and has worked for start-ups and hedge funds in Texas, Sydney, San Francisco and New York City. Dr Menzies is a pure mathematician, completing his PhD at Harvard in 2019 and his undergraduate mathematics at the University of Cambridge.

###

DOWNLOAD graphs and the research at this link.

INTERVIEWS

Nick James | School of Mathematics & Statistics | The University of Sydney

nicholas.james@sydney.edu.au | +61 433 952 207

Max Menzies | Yau Mathematical Sciences Center | Tsinghua University

max.menzies@alumni.harvard.edu | +1 (617) 545 4649 (WhatsApp)

MEDIA ENQUIRIES

Marcus Strom | Media adviser | The University of Sydney

marcus.strom@sydney.edu.au | +61 423 982 485

DECLARATION

The authors received no external funding for this research.
KYODO NEWS - Sep 22, 2020 - 21:35 | World, All, Japan

A zoo in Taiwan agreed Tuesday to give a Japanese zoo one of its female white rhinos, which will make the journey to Saitama Prefecture near Tokyo next year.

Representatives from Leofoo Development Co. and Tobu Railway Co. inked the agreement at a signing ceremony at a Taipei hotel.

The ceremony, which coincided with World Rhino Day, was witnessed by Kuo Chung-shi, secretary general of the Taiwan-Japan Relations Association, and Mitsuaki Hoshino, the chief deputy representative of Japan's de facto embassy in Taiwan, the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association.

Hoshino revealed in his opening remarks that the four-year-old female rhino named Emma is scheduled to travel to Tobu Zoo and Amusement Park in March next year. Her partner-to-be is a two-year-old white rhino at the zoo named Moran.

Lulu Chuang, chairwoman of Leofoo Tourism Group, said Emma will be sent off to Tobu Zoo to help improve the genetic diversity of the endangered white rhino.

"This exportation is only a beginning," she said. "We hope many more countries will join the effort in the future."

Emma was bred at the Leofoo Safari Park in Hsinchu County, northwestern Taiwan. Since the park brought eight white rhinos from Africa in 1979, their number has grown to 23.

Sean Wu, head of the zoo's animal management department, told Kyodo News that Emma was chosen because of her young age and small size, which makes transporting easier.

Emma is about 250 centimeters long and weighs 650 kilograms. The largest rhino at the park weighs in at around 2,100 kg.

Wu said every rhino has a unique personality and described Emma as being shy and mild-tempered.

According to Wu, female rhinos reach sexual maturity at around four or five years old, but they do not have their first calf until they are seven or eight. In other words, it will be at least three years before Emma has her first calf.

According to its website, Tobu Zoo cares for roughly 1,200 different animals from over 120 species, including a rare species of white tiger.

Related coverage:

Japan's ex-PM Mori meets Taiwan leader ahead of memorial service

Japan neighbors hope to improve ties with Tokyo as Suga succeeds Abe

Taiwan's Tsai demands restraint from China after fighter incursions
UPDATE: This story has been updated with additional comment from the EPA.

On a September day at an airline hanger in Freeland, Michigan, President Donald Trump stood at a podium, in front of a handful of American flags, and trumpeted himself as a benefactor of the Great Lakes.

I also authorized millions of dollars to save Michigans Soo Locks, he said. Forget all the problems they had.

Trump went on to proclaim a victory for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, a major, bipartisan program that puts hundreds of millions of dollars toward Great Lakes cleanups and protection projects.

Its all done, he said. "That deal is all done.

This wasnt the first time Trump came to Michigan and declared himself a friend of the Great Lakes. But his critics say actions speak louder than words, and when it comes to actions, Trumps administration has been focused on weakening environmental programs that help the Great Lakes.

Hes doing damage, experts who focus on the Great Lakes say. Damage that could take years to fix, if it can be fixed at all.

Funding with a side of deregulation

It took four years before Trumps proposals recommended fully funding the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI). In the past, he had recommended cutting the initiative. In 2019, Trump had plans to cut the GLRI by 90 percent as part of his 2020 budget.

Hes done a 180, said U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph. We fought him, the first two years  the whole delegation did.

The GLRI funds efforts to protect and restore the Great Lakes, like fighting invasive species, cleanup of toxic substances, and establishing foundations for future restoration.

Its not a charity program. A 2018 University of Michigan study found every dollar of federal spending on GLRI projects between 2010 and 2016 will produce $3.35 in economic activity in the Great Lakes region through 2036.

Congress had allocated $300 million for the GLRI every year since 2014.

But up until 2020, Trump had attempted to either zero-out or drastically cut the funding. Trumps attempts to undercut the funding for the GLRI stopped in February when he announced that he would in fact seek a $20 million increase for the initiative.

When faced with the facts he made the right decision and on the spot reversed himself, Upton said.

Trump has been rolling back environmental regulations since he started his term. On March 28, 2017, he signed an executive order requiring all environmental departments to look through their regulations for what can be cut and scaled back.

His executive order required departments to look for regulations that potentially burden" the use or development of USA produced energy resources and essentially get rid of them unless they are "necessary to protect the public interest or otherwise comply with the law.

When he announced the executive order at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) headquarters, Trump called the move an historic step to reverse government intrusion, and to cancel job-killing regulations.

An analysis by the New York Times found that Trumps administration, as of July 2020, had completely rolled back, or was in the process of rolling back, 100 environmental rules.

And some of those rollbacks will have a drastic impact on the Great Lakes, according to environmental experts.

One involves rolling back restrictions for emissions from power plants, especially coal fired power plants. Those plants release heavy metals like arsenic and mercury that are toxic to human health, and stick around in the air and water.

In August, the Trump administration weakened a 2015 regulation that required coal plants to treat wastewater with more modern, effective methods to curb the amount of contaminants getting into rivers and streams. In Michigan, those power plants tend to be near the Great Lakes so the plants can use the water source.

Thats concerning for the Great Lakes," said Casey Godwin, an assistant research scientist for the University of Michigan. Hes also part of the Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research (CIGLR).

Over the past 50 years weve seen these contaminants like mercury  which, a lot of mercury comes from that base from the coal industry  can persist in the lakes in their food web for decades.

Others say those concerns are meritless.

I think were tilting at windmills, said U.S. Rep. Paul Mitchell, R-Dryden. Mitchell pointed to the move away from coal plants, and a recent Wall Street Journal article about Trumps inability to keep his promise to bring back coal plants due to demand for cheaper alternatives.

I think sometimes people need to step back and recognize progress and not just look for a reason to be critical, Mitchell said. In the grand scheme of things, it just doesnt matter.

But it does matter, said Nick Dodge, of the Michigan League of Conservation Voters. Coal is still Michigans second largest source of electricity, right behind natural gas.

Pollution from these plants are impacting the health of these communities, and the rollbacks from the Trump administration are making it worse," Dodge said.

Trumps administration has also weakened the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) by removing the requirement to take into account impacts of climate change on major developments. Its a major conservation law, and Trumps unilateral change will speed up the permitting of federal infrastructure projects like freeways, power plants and pipelines because he limited the public review process.

Trump claims he is helping to cut through unnecessary red tape, but he lacks foresight, said Godwin. By not taking into account the impact of climate change, the policy shows a lack of regard for long-term consequences, he said.

If that continues for a long period of time for several years, obviously, that has a much greater impact," Godwin said. "So I think its shortsighted.

Experts say the Great Lakes are already feeling the impacts of climate change in the form of increased regional soil moisture and wetness, which exacerbates flooding and leads to increased runoff pollution. That has helped boost lake levels over the past couple years to record high marks less than a decade after hitting historic lows. That cycle is supposed to normally occur over decades.

Other rollbacks have environmental experts concerned for the health of the Great Lakes, including an executive order that overrides state control of pipeline safety regulations in order to speed up oil and gas projects, and weakening protections for certain tributaries and wetlands that were regulated under the Clean Water Act.

But Trumps administration points to the funding and new programs aimed at cleaning up the Great Lakes.

Weve seen nothing but both financial as well as program support for the Great Lakes, said Kurt Thiede Region 5 administrator for the EPA.

Thiede pointed to the Great Lakes cleanup Action Plan III, a proposal for how to cleanup and restore the Great Lakes from fiscal year 2020 to 2024. It was announced by the EPA in October of 2019.

The action plan was unveiled in Detroit and EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler said in a statement, The Trump Administration is taking action to improve water quality while boosting local economies across the country."

That action plan is part of the work of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. The same organization Trump spent years trying to defund.

Pollution without consequences

On Friday, March 27, the Trump administration announced it would stop the enforcement of some environmental rules, including compliance with routine monitoring and reporting of pollution. The EPA also announced that it wouldnt seek penalties against organizations that fall out of compliance as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This move startled environmentalists.

Unfortunately, this president has gone forward with giving polluters a lot of leeway in reporting and so when the coronavirus hit and he basically just suspended implementation and reporting of a lot of these environmental rules, said Dodge of the Michigan League of Conservation Voters.

The impact is going to be great, he said. I mean these are toxic contaminants that are going into our water.

The EPA stated, in an email, that it did not curtail its enforcement during this public health emergency. The department claims that from March 16 - July 31, 2020, the EPA has opened criminal enforcement cases, charged defendants, concluded cases, and obtained commitments for cleanups, among other things.

But the policy specifically states, in part, In general, the EPA does not expect to seek penalties for violations of routine compliance monitoring, integrity testing, sampling, laboratory analysis, training, and reporting or certification obligations."

Experts say it shows that even without a pandemic, the Trump administration is slacking when it comes to enforcing regulations in the Great Lakes area.

A report from the Chicago-based Environmental Law and Policy Center nonprofit found that during Trumps time in office, there were fewer regulatory cases started and finished by the EPA in Region 5, which covers Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Ohio.

According to the ELPC report, there was a 28 percent decrease in regulatory cases filed and concluded by the EPA against polluters in that region between fiscal years 2016 and 2019. The report also indicates compliance with environmental regulations has also dropped, with an increase in the number of major facilities identified by the EPA as in significant noncompliance with the Clean Water Act since 2017.

The EPAs unwillingness to enforce the Clean Water Act in the Great Lakes region gives a green light to other companies around the Midwest that they can pollute into our waterways without fear of significant penalties, said Kiana Courtney, ELPC staff attorney and co-author of the report.

The EPA disputes that, saying in an email that this administration is aggressively enforcing against polluters. The EPA said it has collected, more in civil penalties for violations of environmental laws in the Trump Administration than EPA collected in the first four years of the previous administration.

In response to this story after it was published, the EPA said it measures success in the enforcement program differently than past administrations, although it did not provide any specific examples.

Unfortunately, the previous administration created the misconception that more regulations somehow means better oversight, but reality has proven thats not the case, Thiede said. We maintain a robust compliance assurance and enforcement program thats focused on outcomes, not outputs. We dont set quotas for enforcement cases, but regardless the fact is here in Region 5 our new water enforcement cases have actually increased.

The ELPC report, however, shows that since 2016, both total and average civil penalties in Region 5 have fallen under the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System program jointly administered by the EPA and states.

We certainly have gone backwards on the Great Lakes in terms of quality of the Great Lakes, said U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Lansing, who is co-chair of the bipartisan Senate Great Lakes Task Force.

The longer this approach goes on  of not enforcing action against polluters, of not providing the air and clean water standards that we need, not funding the research we need and the efforts for the Great Lakes  the longer that goes on the more damage there is, she said.

A lasting impact

The Great Lakes community is worried about further backsliding on environmental protection, particularly in the wake of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburgs death this weekend. Ginsburg was a reliable pro-protection vote on the Supreme Court, where complex questions of environmental law and regulation often land.

Third party groups like the ELPC have used the courts as a venue to force the hand of regulators . The nonprofit sued the EPA to force a more vigorous approach to water quality regulation in western Lake Erie, where agriculture runoff is fueling an annual algae bloom that turns the lake green and slimy each summer .

Weak pollution enforcement will, over time, result in degraded Great Lakes water quality  regardless of how much is spent to cleanup old pollution or build new shipping infrastructure, said Joel Brammeier, president and CEO of the Alliance for the Great Lakes.

That is, I think, the trend that nobody wants to see, he said. The risk that you run when you start unpacking these kinds of programs and projects is that you will accumulate that kind of damage over time.

The concern is also economical, said Stabenow. One in five jobs in Michigan are connected to our water.

Forty million people get their drinking water from the Great Lakes, and it basically is our way of life in Michigan, she said.

U.S. Rep. Daniel Kildee, D-Flint, said this is how Trump thinks - short-term, not long-term.

Hes willing to sacrifice the long-term health of the lakes and the long-term economic strength of the region in order to put cash in somebodys pocket right now, he said.

It is this obsessively short-term thinking that is profit focused. And hes an economic and environmental day trader. Hes so focused on getting what he can right now."

For the Great Lakes, that short-term thinking isnt possible. While funding clean-up programs like the GLRI are necessary and important, its the regulations that will have the greatest impact on the quality and future of the Great Lakes.

And those regulations are worth fighting for, said Jennifer McKay policy director for Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council.

Its going to take many years to probably undo all of the damage he has done in deregulating a number of things, she said.

Its going to take a number of years to get all of those protections back in place. And well have to wait and see what damage is done, while we work to regain those protections.

More Great Lakes Coverage From MLive:

Great Lakes high water is going to affect everyone in Michigan

Major Lake Michigan tributary removed from polluted site list

$8M for Asian carp gauntlet project restored by Michigan Legislature

As the Great Lakes surge to record heights, coastal areas face a time of reckoning

Michigan beaches closed by pathogens more than 100 times this year

Great Lakes beach cleanups took a hit during the summer of coronavirus
In this article

Healthcare workers wearing protective suits take a swab sample from a resident of the Hospital Sant Miquel care home in Barcelona. LLUIS GENE | AFP | Getty Images

LONDON  There can be no doubt now that Europe is now facing the much-feared "second wave" of coronavirus cases, after severe restrictions on public life were lifted and the summer lull in new infections came to an end. As cases rise rapidly in the region, various European nations are taking action in an effort to stop the surge in infections and prevent a significant rise in fatalities. To date, there have over 2.9 million confirmed cases of the virus in Europe and over 186,000 people have died, data from the European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention shows. In descending order, Spain, France, the U.K., Italy and Germany have seen the highest numbers of infections during the pandemic, so far. Despite the risks accompanying a surge in infections, leaders in the region are reluctant to impose nationwide lockdowns again, given the economic and societal implications of such moves, and are now looking at more targeted, localized measures. Here's a snapshot of what Europe's biggest economies are doing to stop the spread of the virus:

Spain

Spain has recorded 682,267 infections  the highest number in Europe, and 30,904 deaths, according to the latest Johns Hopkins University data. On Tuesday, more than 10,000 new infections were recorded, up from the previous day's tally, according to Spanish health ministry data. Madrid has become a virus hotspot, with 953 new cases reported Tuesday. The surge has prompted the president of the city's regional government to request help from the army to help battle the rise and parts of the capital have been put in lockdown, prompting protests. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez warned Monday that data in Madrid showed "the infection rate is double the national level, the numbers of intensive care beds in use is three times the national level." He signaled more stringent measures could be introduced in the city, saying it "demands its own plan," El Pais reported.

France

France has the second-highest number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Europe after Spain, with 507,150 infections to date and 31,426 deaths, JHU data notes. France reported just over 10,000 new infections Tuesday from the previous day. Last Friday, France reported 13,215 new infections, its highest daily number since the start of the pandemic. As a result of surging cases, the city of Lyon (France's third-largest city) has introduced tighter restrictions, limiting public gatherings and prohibiting the sale and consumption of alcohol outdoors after 8pm, France 24 reported Monday. Visits to nursing home residents will also be restricted to two per week. Similar restrictions have already been imposed in other cities including Marseille and Bordeaux.

UK

The U.K. has also seen a dramatic rise in coronavirus cases over recent days, prompting the government to introduce localized lockdown measures in parts of northern England and more national restrictions. To date, the country has recorded just over 406,058 coronavirus cases and 41,951 deaths, according to the JHU. Almost 5,000 new infections were reported Tuesday, government data showed. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Britain was at a "perilous turning point" as he called on people to work from home once again if possible and that pubs and restaurants would have to close from 10 p.m. Groups of more than six people are already not allowed to meet. Johnson warned that the measures could be in place for up to six months. It was reported that the prime minister had been considering a "mini" national lockdown of two weeks to try to act as a "circuit-breaker" in an effort to stop the spread of the virus, but he stopped short of that Tuesday and there is a reluctance to damage the economy further. The government's chief medical and scientific advisors warned on Monday that, without action, the U.K. could see up to 50,000 new coronavirus cases per day by mid-October, which could lead to 200-plus deaths per day by November.

People wearing facemasks wait to buy vegetables at a market vegetable stall as essential retailers reopen from the coronavirus (Covid-19) shutdown. SOPA Images | LightRocket | Getty Images

Germany

Germany was praised for its initial response to the first wave of the coronavirus crisis. To date, Germany has recorded over 277,412 cases, but has reported fewer than 10,000 deaths, JHU data shows, a far lower number of fatalities than its European counterparts. Nonetheless, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) shows that cases are rising, particularly in the cities of Munich and Hamburg. On Wednesday, a further 1,769 cases were reported after 1,821 new infections were registered Tuesday, the RKI noted. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has reportedly called for a crisis summit next week with regional governors, German media reported Monday. Munich has tightened rules on face masks, which must now be worn in public, and contact restrictions. German Health Minister Jens Spahn has also said Germany will step up its testing regime as cases rise. On Monday, the RKI called for "the entire population to be committed to infection control" by consistently observing rules of distance and hygiene, and advising that "crowds of people should be avoided if possible and celebrations should be limited to the closest circle of family and friends."

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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, September 22, 2020 16:35 487 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c466f160 1 City TNI-AU,Air-Force,Halim-Perdanakusuma-Air-Force-Base,military,ceremony,Noise Free

In a strange turn of events, the Indonesian Air Force has said the rumbling noises that rattled Jakarta over the weekend originated from a ceremony held at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base in East Jakarta.

Air Force spokesperson First Marshal Fajar Adriyanto said the event, which was held to welcome new recruits, featured a series of ceremonial gestures, including the ignition of the highly-explosive substance trinitrotoluene (TNT).

Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base base spokesperson Maj. Rizwar confirmed that TNT had indeed been exploded twice on the site at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday evening and at 5 a.m. on Monday morning.

He claimed the explosions were part of the Air Forces tradition and that the resulting rumble was simply a sound effect of the ceremony.

[] the rumbling was only a sound effect; it was not destructive, Rizwar said on Monday as quoted by kompas.com.

Previously, social media users in Jakarta reported hearing two loud rumbles of unknown origin on Sunday evening. Some claimed that the sound  described as resembling distant thunder  was significant enough to have rattled objects in their homes.

Prior to the Air Forces statement, the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) assumed that the sound was likely produced by thunder over Mount Salak in Bogor, West Java.

The result of the BMKGs inspection using lightning detectors shows a number of lightning-related activities around Mount Salak between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., BMKG tsunami and earthquake mitigation head Daryono told kompas.com on Sunday.

He said the noise was not produced by seismic activity, adding that it was possible that similar sounds would be heard in the future. (rfa)
A neon sign blaming Donald Trump for 200,000 coronavirus deaths in the US was placed outside the White House.

The pointed message reading Trump lied, 200,00 died was held up by a group of Democrat politicians and paid for by the Democratic National Convention.

They lit the sign on Sunday night as the death toll from Covid-19 continues to grow dramatically in the US.

The death toll in the US reached 200,087 on Tuesday morning, according to the New York Times.

The US now accounts for 21 per cent of all confirmed Covid-19 deaths despite having just 4 per cent of the worlds population, according to CNBC.

And coronavirus deaths have overtaken the combined number of US soldiers killed in World War I and the Vietnam War.

The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington predicts that the country will reach 378,000 deaths by the new year.

The president has been strongly criticised for telling journalist Bob Woodward on tape in March that he wanted to always play it down when asked about the potential dangers of the virus.

Meanwhile, a series of marches have been organised by Refuse Facism to mark the 200,000 death toll are set to happen this week in New York, Los Angeles, Washington DC and Boston.

Mr Trump falsely claimed at a campaign rally on Monday that the virus affects virtually nobody below the age of 18.

But in a March 19 interview with Mr Woodward the president admitted that plenty of young people were impacted by Covid-19.
A webinar hosted by the International League of Peoples Struggle (ILPS) on September 11 shed further light on why the Stalinist Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) has reacted with such fury to the exposure of its support for fascistic President Rodrigo Duterte before, during and after the 2016 election.

Jose Maria Sison, the founder of the CPP and chairperson emeritus of the ILPS, has repeatedly lashed out at historian Dr. Joseph Scalice, whose August 26 lecture, First as Tragedy, Second as Farce: Marcos, Duterte and the Communist Parties of the Philippines, documented the CPPs support for Duterte and other capitalist politicians since its founding in 1968. Sison has slandered Dr. Scalice as an agent of the CIA and an informer for the Duterte regime, while repeating discredited Stalinist lies about Trotskyism.

The ILPS webinar, entitled Importance and Program of the National Democratic Revolution, continued these attacks, while defending the Maoist-Stalinist program of class collaboration with so-called progressive sections of the bourgeoisie, including factions of the military.

Jose Maria Sison in the International League of Peoples' Struggles webinar on September 11

Sison spoke alongside Renato Reyes Jr., secretary-general of Bayan, an alliance of organisations that follow the political line of the CPP. Asked by the moderator to comment on Trotskyite attacks on the ND [national democratic] movement and its supposed role of enabler of Duterte, Reyes raised the Maoists main concern: The recent attacks, he said, come at a time when the Philippine people, the mass movement and the opposition are trying to build the broad united front against Duterte [The Trotskyists] are seemingly trying to put a wedge within the united front by attacking those belonging to the national democratic movement.

The CPP and the national democratic movement (Bayan and its associated parties) are seeking to cement a united front with Leni Robredo, the vice-president, her bourgeois Liberal Party and sections of the military leadership to oust Duterte (see: Political crisis in the Philippines intensifies).

Masses of young people and workers hate the Duterte regime, which has unleashed a campaign of mass murder and terror against the poor in the guise of a war on drugs. The wilfully negligent response to the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in thousands more deaths and exacerbating social inequality, is driving more and more people to the left.

Bayan and the CPP are offering their services to politically subordinate the movement against Duterte to the pro-Robredo faction of the bourgeoisie, and prevent the emergence of an independent socialist movement. The broad support for Dr. Scalices lecture threatens to undermine this politically criminal operation by putting a wedge between the Stalinist organisations and workers and young people who are looking for a genuine socialist perspective to fight against fascism, inequality and militarism.

Reyes declared that it was unfair and dishonest for Dr. Scalice to say that Bayan had supported Duterte, given that so many activists have been arrested, have been killed, subjected to militarisation, displaced by the regime.

In fact, political responsibility for risking the lives of activists rests with the leadership that promoted illusions in Duterte. Bayan chairperson Carol Araullo, for example, described Duterte in Business World on May 24, 2016, as an avowed leftist and socialist. After referring to the four cabinet posts that Duterte had offered to individuals nominated by the CPP, she said there were positive signs of how well, how fast and how far he will and can go towards instituting genuine change with the Left behind and alongside his Presidency.

Reyes wrote on July 4, 2016, after Dutertes murderous campaign was well underway: [T]o be immediately confrontational every time the President said something disagreeable during the past month would have weakened the alliance. He appealed to his readers, We should at least give him a chance.

Sison, for his part, praised Duterte repeatedly and hailed him as the Philippines first left president, with a socialist orientation.

Sison, Reyes and other national democratic leaders are desperately seeking to cover up this record, in order to maintain some credibility in the eyes of the masses and to be able to serve Dutertes rivals in the Filipino ruling classincluding the armed forces.

Asked about the prospects for ousting Duterte, Sison replied that Robredo as the constitutional successor can get enough support from the military. Robredo and the military, in turn, had to be supported by gigantic mass actions similar to those that ousted Marcos in the period of 83 to 86.

During that period, the CPP helped maintain bourgeois rule by calling for a passive boycott of the 1986 election, rather than putting forward an independent alternative to the bourgeois opposition. The mass movement mobilized against Marcos was channeled behind Corazon Aquino and factions of the armed forces, along with Washington, withdrew their support for the dictator Ferdinand Marcos. The CPP began to enthusiastically promote Aquinos presidency.

Sison stressed that a majority of military officers are patriotic and pro-US, but anti-China, whereas Duterte had sought to strengthen trade and investment ties with China while maintaining the US alliance. Amid the escalating drive towards war by Washington, Duterte faces opposition from the military and pro-US factions of the bourgeoisie grouped around Robredo. The CPP is increasingly depicting Duterte as a puppet of China, which Sison labelled an imperialist power threatening the Philippines.

In an article on February 26, Sison said he had friendly contacts with some police and military officers, who told him that anti-Duterte and pro-US officers were particularly angered by Dutertes threats to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement with the US military. The Maoist leader wrote that gigantic mass actions would embolden the pro-US officers in the military to turn against Duterte and have him replaced by Robredo.

Julie de Lima, Sisons wife and the chairperson of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) peace negotiations panel, announced on September 17 that the NDFP would take the unprecedented step of bypassing the government and negotiating directly with Robredo for a resolution to the armed struggle waged by the CPPs New Peoples Army. De Lima stated that the negotiations with Robredos Liberal Party should become a rallying point in the effort to oust Duterte.

In summary, the Philippine Stalinists propose to support a capitalist government resting on the military and US imperialism. Such a regime would not represent a progressive alternative to Duterte; it would deepen the assault on the working class and accelerate preparations to join a US-led war with China.

Those seeking a socialist alternative must study the program and history of Trotskyism, embodied in the International Committee of the Fourth International. This is the only movement that fights for the political independence of the working class from every faction of the bourgeoisie, on the basis of an internationalist program aimed at uniting workers in the Philippines with those coming into struggle against capitalism throughout the world.
Protesters march in support of China's Uighurs and in solidarity with Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil after the furore caused by his criticism of China's policies toward the Muslim minority in Istanbul, Turkey, December 20, 2019. REUTERS/Umit Bektas

On September 1, officials in Xinjiang, China, sent CNN a six-page fax outlining answers to questions requested for an article published a month earlier.

In it, the officials acknowledged that birth rates in the region  home to detention camps that house at least 1 million Uighurs and other ethnic minorities  fell by nearly a third in 2018, but called claims of genocide "pure nonsense."

Xinjiang is home to the Uighurs, a mostly-Muslim ethnic minority that has in recent years faced unprecedented oppression and surveillance by the Chinese state.

The fax was sent to CNN after it published a story that said Uighur women were forced to use birth control, or were being sterilized to control birth rates.

China claimed that CNN's source, expert Adrian Zenz, was "deliberately fabricating lies," and that he was a religious fanatic.

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Bureaucrats in Xinjiang, China, have acknowledged that birth rates in the region  home to hundreds of detention camps that house at least 1 million detained Uighurs and other ethnic minorities  fell by nearly a third in 2018, but called reports of forced sterilization "pure nonsense."

On September 1, Xinjiang officials sent CNN a six-page fax outlining facts requested for an article published a month earlier.

Xinjiang is home to the Uighurs, a mostly-Muslim ethnic minority that has in recent years faced unprecedented oppression and surveillance by the Chinese state.

People there have been forced to cut off contact with the outside world, and at least 1 million Uighurs and other ethnic minorities have been detained in what China calls "re-education centers" and given arbitrary charges.

One part of the crackdown involves controlling people's reproductive rights.

The fax was sent to CNN after it published a story that said Uighur women were forced to use birth control, or were being sterilized to control birth rates.

Story continues

The previous CNN story, based on a report by Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation senior fellow Adrian Zenz, said official documents showed sterilizations had risen from less than 50 sterilizations for every 100,000 people in 2016, to nearly 250 sterilizations per 100,000 people in 2018.

Zenz said imposing these measures to prevents births was a form of genocide under the United Nations' definition.

This was far from the first report on China's treatment of the Uighurs.

In June, the Associated Press published a report based on interviews with 30 people, which found the authorities were cracking down on the birth rate by forcing women to take pregnancy tests, forcing women to have abortions, force-feeding women birth-control pills, or making women have IUDs to prevent pregnancies.

In August, reports also emerged of hospitals in the region that were aborting late-stage pregnancies and killing newborns, Business Insider previously reported.

Despite the multiple reports, in the fax to CNN, the officials said Zenz's report was not "in line with the real situation."

The response said he was "deliberately fabricating lies," and that he was a religious fanatic.

"The rights and interests of Uyghur and other ethnic minorities have been fully protected. The so-called 'genocide' is pure nonsense," the fax said, using an alternative spelling for "Uighur."

The government claimed that Xinjiang's population had risen by 3 million people between 2010 and 2018.

The officials didn't dispute the high rate of IUDs, however.

In 2018, Xinjiang had nearly 1,000 new IUD implants per 100,000 people, equating to 80% of China's total new IUD implants, per Zenz's report.

According to CNN, the fax also claimed that of the 120,000 fewer newborns from 2017, around 80,000 were due to family planning policies working better, and that everyone who followed the protocols did so voluntarily.

The other 40,000 fewer babies were linked to education and economic development, the government said in its fax to CNN, according to the outlet.

Zenz was skeptical that 17 times more women "spontaneously wanted to be sterilized," and noted that Uighurs have previously resisted all forms of contraceptive, according to CNN.

Read the original article on Insider
Mumbai: ASUS India, the Indian arm of Taiwanese IT major, on Monday forayed into the commercial PC market in India with launching "Expert Series" brand with 11 devices across laptops, desktops and All-in-Ones, targeting the key enterprise segments in the country.

Powered by Intel Core processors and variants with Windows 10 Pro support, the ASUS 'Expert Series' will offer innovative cutting-edge tech solutions for business users leveraging ASUS's over 30 years of integrated engineering expertise in the PC business, the company said in a statement.

Available soon, the ASUS ExpertBook range has six laptops while ASUSPRO ExpertCenter lineup offers three desktops. ASUS also launched two All-in-Ones (AiOs).

ASUS ExpertBook B9 starts from Rs 102,228 while ASUS ExpertBook P2 will begin from Rs 58,697.

ASUSPRO ExpertBook P1 Series starts from Rs 25,323 and ASUSPRO ExpertCenter D8 will begin from Rs 55,429 (inclusive of a monitor).

"With Expert Series, we are offering enterprises the opportunity to experience the cutting-edge technology, groundbreaking innovation, and unparalleled performance of our commercial PCs," said Leon Yu, Regional Director, System Business Group, ASUS India & South Asia.

"We understand that serving the needs of the business customers requires much more than just delivering hardware. We will focus on delivering solutions and unmatched customer service," he added.

ASUSPRO ExpertCenter D6 will come for Rs 29,669 onwards while ASUSPRO ExpertCenter D3 will cost you Rs 27,429 onwards.

The ASUS AiO (V241FA) starts from Rs 58,466 while ASUS AiO begins from Rs 25,839.

The new series will cater to businesses of all sizes, including educational institutions, government, micro businesses, SMBs and large enterprise customers.

"These latest Expert series offerings from ASUS, powered by Intel Core processors, deliver the intelligent performance features that enable businesses to work efficiently and accelerate productivity," said Prakash Mallya, Vice President and Managing Director of Sales, Marketing and Communications Group, Intel India.

Weighing just 995 grams, ASUS ExpertBook B9 is the world's lightest and most powerful 14-inch business laptop, built with best-in-class strength magnesium lithium alloy, with up to 10th Gen Intel Core i7 Processor and 24-hour battery backup.

ASUS ExpertBook P2 is touted as the most versatile laptop in its segment with Nvidia Discrete Graphics and up to 10th Gen Intel Core i7 Processor.

"ASUSPRO ExpertBook P1 series is an affordable line-up of 14-inch and 15-inch laptops with segment leading features such as FHD Display with thin bezels, fingerprint sensor and up to 10th Gen Intel Core i5 Processor," the company informed.

ASUSPRO ExpertCenter Desktop series are business desktops designed for enterprises, governments and SMBs to fulfill their business needs.

"ASUS All-in-One (AiO) series offers slim-bezel NanoEdge FHD IPS display, segment leading connectivity, SonicMaster audio, wireless peripherals that support up to 10th Gen Intel Core i5 processor," the company added.

The company said it has set up a dedicated helpline for sales and services of the new 'Expert Series' PCs with extended hours of operation.
HOUSTON - Immigration authorities have stopped sending detained women to a rural Georgia gynecologist accused of performing surgeries without consent, a government spokesman said Tuesday.

Dr. Mahendra Amin faces allegations that he administered hysterectomies and other procedures that women held at the Irwin County Detention Center didnt seek or fully understand. Amin has seen at least 60 detained women, said Andrew Free, a lawyer working with other attorneys to investigate medical care at Irwin County, on Tuesday.

Bryan Cox, a spokesman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, confirmed that Amin would no longer see patients, but declined to comment further, citing an ongoing investigation by the Department of Homeland Securitys inspector general.

The Irwin County Hospital issued a statement defending Amin, saying he is a long-time member of the Irwin County Hospital medical staff and has been in good standing for the entirety of his service to the Irwin County community.

The statement did not address Amins role as chief executive of MGA Health Management, a company that began managing the Irwin County Hospital in 1996, according to the hospitals website.

According to the statement, Amin operated on two detained women who were referred to the hospital for hysterectomies. Heath Clark, the hospitals general counsel, did not respond to questions about whether Amin performed hysterectomies in cases where the women had a different initial referral. Clark also did not say how many other procedures he had performed that could jeopardize a womans ability to have children, including the removal of fallopian tubes or ovaries.

Scott Grubman, a lawyer for Amin, did not respond to a request for comment.

The allegations against the doctor were first revealed in a complaint filed last week by a nurse at Irwin County Detention Center. The nurse, Dawn Wooten, alleged that many detained women were taken to an unnamed gynecologist whom she labeled the uterus collector because of how many hysterectomies he performed.

The Associated Press on Friday reported that at least eight women since 2017 had been taken to see Amin for gynecological treatment, though it did not find evidence of mass hysterectomies as alleged in the complaint. Free said Tuesday that a team of lawyers had heard from dozens of more women raising concerns about the doctor.

Its long past time to stop sending women to this physician and to companies that provide services on his behalf, he said, adding that he was concerned women detained at the facility could potentially face retaliation for coming forward about the doctor.

Scott Sutterfield, an executive at LaSalle Corrections, which operates the detention centre, said the company would not take or threaten any action against detainees who report information in good faith.
Sprawled on a smoky street, a crew of Oregon firefighters sang their hearts out after a long day fighting fires.

Take me out to the fire.

Take me out to the line.

Bring me some sawyers and hazel hoes.

I dont care if I ever get home.

The Grizzly Firefighters from The Dalles, Oregon, had just wrapped up a 14-hour day of battling the Lionshead Fire on Sept. 14, near the community of Detroit, said crew boss Theodore Hiner.

An Oregon fire crew takes a break after fighting the Lionshead Fire. (Courtesy of Theodore Hiner)

Even after a grueling day, Hiner said his crew still made him laugh, according to his Facebook post.

They spent the day cutting line, or building a perimeter of mineral soil to keep the fire from spreading, he said.

Yet they still had enough spirit to come up with a parody of Take Me Out to the Ball Game using firefighting terms for the lyrics. For those not in the know, a hazel hoe is used to trench and clear the area, while a sawyer is a person trained to down limbs and trees during wildfires.

Typically, fires consume about 500,000 acres a year in Oregon, Gov. Kate Brown said. But in just one week, we burned over a million acres of beautiful Oregon.

Power lines extend through heavy wildfire smoke on Sept. 10, 2020, in Estacada, Ore. (Nathan Howard/Getty Images)

The 20-person crew has been in the Detroit area for 10 days now, Hiner said.

Hiner says he hails from Sweet Home, Oregon, and has been fighting fires since 1996. He said hes never missed a season. While he and his crew were fighting the Lionshead Fire, his family was forced to evacuate their home.

Remains of a mobile home are seen after a wildfire swept through an R.V. park, destroying multiple homes in Estacada, Ore., Sept. 12, 2020. (ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images)

Yes my house was in danger, Hiner said in between fighting fires. Thankfully, we made it out OK.

His wife, children, and dogs evacuated their home for four days. Lucky for this firefighter, everyone is safe.

As for the rest of the song, here you go:

Root, root, root for the red crew

You know we want the most days.

For its 1, 2, 3 tool types out at the old fire line.

The CNN Wire contributed to this report.
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Photo: DARREN STONE, TIMES COLONIST Victoria man's solo sailing trip around the world cut short by stroke

A Victoria sailors attempt to circumnavigate the world solo was cut short after he suffered a massive stroke at sea, sparking a major rescue mission off the coast of San Francisco.

Glenn Wakefield is now in critical condition in a trauma centre in San Jose, California, and his family, unable to fly down and see him because of COVID travel restrictions, are facing massive medical bills.

The 70-year-old veteran mariner left the Royal Victoria Yacht Club on the West Wind II on Sept. 6 on his third attempt to sail around the world on his own.

On Sept. 16, while sailing 420 nautical miles west of San Francisco, Wakefield suffered a massive stroke, his wife MaryLou Wakefield wrote on a fundraising page. Before he lost consciousness, Wakefield sent a message to his wife that he needed help.

She notified the U.S. Coast Guard that her husband was in medical distress and provided his approximate GPS co-ordinates. The coast guard issued a broadcast asking any nearby vessels if they could assist.

While initially hampered by rough seas, the coast guard and a nearby ship, MV Columbo Express, worked together and used a small rescue boat to transfer an unconscious Wakefield to the larger ship, his wife wrote.

The following day, Wakefield was hoisted from the container ship by an aircraft with the California Air National Guard and taken to the San Jose Regional Hospital, where he remains in critical condition.

This is a devastating situation for our family, MaryLou Wakefield wrote on the fundraising page. We are shocked, saddened and filled with worry for Glenns recovery. Glenn is a person who pushes through difficulty and always comes out on top. He is strong, passionate and full of life. We never imagined he would be stricken by something like this. All the hours we have spent worrying about the gales and seas he has to manage  but never this.

She started the fundraiser to cover Wakefields medical bills, which are expected to be more than $100,000. Wakefield did not have U.S. medical insurance because he did not anticipate touching American soil. His family is also trying to determine how to recover his boat, which is adrift off the coast of California.

Wakefields 18,000-nautical-mile trip was expected to take eight months. A 2008 circumnavigation attempt ended when he lost his boat in a storm near the Falkland Islands. The vessel rolled over twice during the night, leaving Wakefield with a concussion and broken ribs. He was brought to safety by the Argentinian navy.

This is personal, Wakefield told the Times Colonist on the day he left Victoria on his current journey. Its not for any trophies or rules or to break records or anything else.
New Delhi:

Japanese motorcycle manufacturer Yamaha on Tuesday launched its latest 250cc bike FZ 25 priced at Rs 1.2 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), to bank on premium bikes and scooters in the country. The new superbike is exclusively launchedA in the Indian market.A

With this launch, Yamaha is looking to sell 1 million units in India this year that is likely to make the country the company's second-biggest global market after Indonesia.

"In 2016, we sold 7.86 lakh units at a growth of 32 per cent from the previous year. This year, we are targeting a total sales of 1 million units," Yamaha Motor India Sales Pvt Managing Director Masaki Asano told reporters in New Delhi.

He further said that in terms of global markets of Yamaha, India was the third-biggest after Indonesia (1.45 million units) and Vietnam (8 lakh units) last year.A

It's time to #RiseTheForceWithin with #YamahaFZ25!

How did you like the new Street Fighter? pic.twitter.com/hNhyQkLoaS a Yamaha Motor India (@India_Yamaha) January 24, 2017

"This year, when we reach one million units, India will be the second-biggest market for Yamaha," Asano said, adding that the company is hoping that it would achieve that in 2016 itself, but demonetisation had impacted sales towards the end of the year.

Bullish on the Indian market, he said: "In five years, India will be the number one market for Yamaha."A

Spelling out the company's plans, Yamaha Motor India Sales Pvt Vice-President Roy Kurian said that out of the 1 million target for 2017, 6 lakh will come from scooters and 4 lakh from motorcycles.

A "We are targeting to sell around 8,000 to 9,000 units of the new FZ 25. Besides, our other model in premium segment R15 sells around 3,500 units a month," he added.

On exports, Asano said Yamaha is looking at over 2 lakh units this year, up from around 1.9 lakh units in 2016. "Mostly, our exports are to neighboring countries like Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka along with South America such as Colombia and Argentina," he said, adding that the new FZ 25 will be for the Indian market primarily.

According to him, there has been a moderation in demand due to economic slowdown in some of the export markets. "If there's demand for FZ 25 from other countries, we will export, but we have designed and developed this bike for India," Asano disclosed.

Asked about impact of demonetisation, he said sales were hit Initially, but these have recovered since. "It is a temporary phenomenon. I am hoping that by the end of the month, everything will be normal. The buying power is still there and customers are waiting," he added.

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(Natural News) A Black Lives Matter (BLM) protester who vice presidential hopeful Kamala Harris urged her followers to help bail out of jail was previously charged with raping an eight-year-old girl back in 2015.

Timothy Wayne Columbus, 36, faces up to 30 years in prison for allegedly sexually assaulting the pre-pubescent minor, though he was released from a Minneapolis jail back in early July with the help of Harris, who successfully raised $75,000 for his bail.

One day after his release, reports indicate, Columbus signed a document asking the court to return any refunded bail to the MFF (Minnesota Freedom Fund), indicating that the fund played a role in securing his release from jail, reported the Daily Caller News Foundation (DCNF), citing a court document it obtained.

This same court document outlined the horrid details of Columbus child rape case, indicating that he laid the eight-year-old down on the couch and held her down as he unbuckled his pants and pulled down her pants.

The victim indicated to authorities that Columbus, regarded as a hero by Harris, put his thing inside me, adding that Tim, as she referred to the perpetrator, told her not to tell anyone and continued to penetrate me.

The George Soros-backed Minnesota Freedom Fund, by the way, is a phony charity supported not just by Harris but also famous names like Justin Timberlake, Steve Carell and Seth Rogan, along with Democrat Reps. Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC).

Kamala Harris also raised support for violent felon who assaulted 71-year-old woman

If this is not enough, Harris is also responsible for raising funds to post bail for another violent felon accused of assaulting a 71-year-old woman and burglarizing her home.

Just one week after this felon was released, thanks to Harris support, he was found to be in violation of his bail. The Daily Caller reported that the Hennepin County Sheriffs Office has indicated that there is still an active felony warrant out for that mans arrest.

Another gem of a human who was released from jail with the help of Harris was a violent criminal who allegedly stomped on and robbed a victim on the streets of Minneapolis on May 25, the same day George Floyd died while in police custody.

Despite all this, Harris still has a tweet posted on her Twitter account pleading with her followers to chip in to the MFF to help post bail for those protesting on the ground in Minnesota.

None of this is a surprise when considering Harris extensive track record of criminal injustice. Harris believes that people who use cannabis for their health should be locked away in prison forever, while those who rape children are beneficial contributors to society.

Joe Biden is no better, by the way, as at least 13 of his staffers have contributed to the MFF, which has raised a whopping $35 million since George Floyd started making headlines. Of this $35 million, only about $208,500 has gone towards bailing pedophiles out of jail. The rest, meanwhile, has been used for who knows what.

Follow the money and see where it leads, wrote one commenter at The Gateway Pundit. Then paste it all over gropey joe and the horizontal ho.

And this news, which wont be told in the media, needs to go viral by us, wrote another. The Democrats are now *openly* pro-war and pro-child trafficking, among other disgusting things. Great questions to ask any Dem you know if they approve of either.

You can keep up with the latest news about Kamala Harris and the violent criminals she supports by bookmarking KamalaWatch.com.

Sources for this article include:

TheGatewayPundit.com

NaturalNews.com

NaturalNews.com
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 20:47:46|Editor: huaxia

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ADDIS ABABA, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on Tuesday said more than 200,000 refugee children are out of school in Ethiopia due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

"The Ethiopian Ministry of Education has initiated consultations with education and health partners on possible reopening of schools during the new academic year. Schools have been closed since March due to COVID-19, leaving over 200,000 refugee children out of school," the UN refugee agency said in its situation update issued on Tuesday.

The East African country is one of the largest refugee-hosting countries in Africa, sheltering about 779,261 registered refugees and asylum seekers as of the beginning of this month, according to the latest figures from the UN refugee agency.

According to the agency, essential primary healthcare activities are maintained in all refugee camps, which are currently part of the ongoing national campaign to enhance awareness and testing for COVID-19.

It also noted that an additional 200,000 face masks have been delivered to the refugee camps to improve the protection of frontline responders, while infrared thermometers, disposable gloves and surgical masks have been procured for distribution.

The UNHCR, however, stressed that refugees continue to receive only about 84 percent of the minimum standard food ration of 2,100 kcal per person per day. "This has kept the global acute malnutrition rate in most camps higher than the acceptable standards."

It also said that it has received 1.8 million U.S. dollars from Education Cannot Wait (ECW) to strengthen its COVID-19 response in education.

The Ethiopia Ministry of Education is also working with partners to develop guidelines on how to mitigate COVID-19 and ensure a safe learning environment. Enditem
Blac Chyna's request to dismiss an assault and battery lawsuit filed by her ex Rob Kardashian has been denied by the court.

The 32-year-old reality star was sued by Kardashian, 33, and his half-sister Kylie Jenner, 23, in 2017.

People Magazine report the minutes of the hearing read: 'The Motion for Summary Judgement filed by Angela Renee White on 02/20/2020 is Denied. Defendant's alternative motion for summary adjudication is DENIED as to both issues...

Request denied: A judge has denied a request made by Blac Chyna, shown in November in New Jersey, to dismiss an assault and battery lawsuit filed by her ex Rob Kardashian

Chyna filed the motion to dismiss in February on grounds that she 'did not intend to inflict injury on Rob and because she did not in fact harm him, Rob's claim for assault and battery fail,' the filing stated.

Kardashian in the lawsuit claimed that Chyna tried to choke him with an iPhone cord in December 2016 during a fight at a home owned by Jenner.

He also alleged in court papers that in addition to suffering injuries to his neck, head and face that Chyna also extensively damaged Jenner's home.

Jenner claimed that damages were in excess of $100,000.

Former couple: Kardashian and Chyna, shown in May 2016 in Los Angeles, split in 2017

Chyna's motion to summarily dismiss the lawsuit included a document of 'undisputed' evidence that allegedly showed Kardashian 'did not suffer any cognizable' damage.

The motion claimed that 'the only ''harm'' Rob suffered that night night relates to his heartbreak that Chyna moved out of Kylie Jenners home with their newborn baby girl, Dream'.

Chyna and Kardashian have a three-year-old daughter Dream together.

Reality stars: Kardashian is shown with half-sisters Kendall and Kylie Jenner, who owned the home where the alleged assault took place in December 2016

The filing also noted that they reconciled days later and Kardashian 'did not seek medical treatment' or 'suffer any loss of earnings' after the alleged assault.

Jenner also 'voluntarily dismissed her claims' in March 2018, according to court documents.

'Other than admitted damage to a T.V. set, Chyna did not cause any physical destruction to Kylie Jenners home during the alleged ''assault'',' Chyna's lawyer said in court papers.

Kardashian and Chyna split in February 2017 and agreed to joint custody of Dream in September 2017.

Chyna also has seven-year-old son King Cairo Stevenson with ex-fiance Tyga, 30, who previously dated Jenner.
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TSX/NYSE/PSE: MFC SEHK: 945



An A+ was awarded for the strategy and governance, listed equity incorporation, and fixed-income SSA modules

TORONTO, Sept. 18, 2020 /CNW/ - Manulife Investment Management announced today that it has been recognized with top scores from the United Nations-supported Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) annual assessment report. For the second year in a row, Manulife Investment Management received a score of A+ for strategy and governance from the PRI for integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations into investment practices across a range of asset classes. An A+ was also awarded in the listed equity and fixed-income sovereign, supranational, and agency (SSA) integration modules.

Other notable achievements included:

Manulife Investment Management's public markets received an A in all other direct investment and active ownership PRI modules for which it was assessed. Other modules covered its investments in corporate bonds and securitized debt. Manulife Investment Management saw notable increases in its scores as compared to 2018 in areas such as: communications regarding ESG screens, and integration and implementation of analysis of the ESG information for internally managed listed equity holdings. There was also improvement in the number of companies engaged with and the intensity of engagement and effort. Similarly, for fixed income, Manulife Investment Management saw improvements in the integration and implementation of the ESG issues reviewed and its disclosure of approach with the public. For securitized, an outcome of either financial/ESG performance was also noted as an additional assessment indicator.





Manulife Investment Management's private markets continued to be recognized as a leader with real estate receiving an A for the third consecutive year under the property module. In addition, Manulife Investment Management demonstrated its commitment to sustainable investing within private markets by expanding the scope of the assessment in 2019 to include submissions for infrastructure and private equity, achieving a B in each respective module.

"Manulife Investment Management strives to be a leader in ESG investment practices as a responsible steward of client capital," said Christopher P. Conkey, CFA, global head of public markets, Manulife Investment Management. "We are very proud of our investment teams for achieving an A+ for ESG strategy and governance for the second year in a row and for earning superior marks in the screening, integration, and engagements modules for listed equities and in direct fixed-income SSA. This is not only important for our clients who entrust us to implement ESG for specific portfolio goals, but also for the overall relevance of our strategies as we look to the future of investment management."

"Sustainability is one of the keys to creating long-term value for our clients within private markets," added Stephen J. Blewitt, global head of private markets. "It is important for us to consider sustainability because we're generally long-term investors across a diverse range of private markets asset classes and submitting to the PRI is an opportunity for us to demonstrate transparency while tracking our progress. It is rewarding for the work we have done to be recognized."

The key activities within Manulife Investment Management's investment teams in 2019, which helped to achieve the PRI scores include:

The release of its inaugural sustainable and responsible investment report in 2019.

Increased integration in industry analysis, sovereign analysis, and securitized fixed income. Manulife Investment Management developed a proprietary sovereign ESG assessment model in 2019, which is currently in use by its investment teams as an input into credit analysis. The model produces sovereign-specific baseline views on ESG issues.

The use of scenario analysisa key tool for companies in demonstrating planning for climate change.

Engagement with 724 companies in 940 separate engagements across all investment teams. In 2019, 26% of engagements had an environmental factor focus, 20% had a social factor focus, and 54% had a governance factor focus.

For more information on Manulife Investment Management, please visit manulifeim.com/institutional

About Manulife Investment Management

Manulife Investment Management is the global wealth and asset management segment of Manulife Financial Corporation. We draw on more than a century of financial stewardship and the full resources of our parent company to serve individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. Headquartered in Toronto, our leading capabilities in public and private markets are strengthened by an investment footprint that spans 17 countries and territories. We complement these capabilities by providing access to a network of unaffiliated asset managers from around the world. We're committed to investing responsibly across our businesses. We develop innovative global frameworks for sustainable investing, collaboratively engage with companies in our securities portfolios, and maintain a high standard of stewardship where we own and operate assets, and we believe in supporting financial well-being through our workplace retirement plans. Today, plan sponsors around the world rely on our retirement plan administration and investment expertise to help their employees plan for, save for, and live a better retirement.

As of June 30, 2020, Manulife Investment Management had CAD$900 billion (US$660 billion) in assets under management and administration. Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulifeim.com.



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It is a well-known fact that the GCC countries have historically turned to expatriates to work alongside their nationals in building the modern infrastructure of their countries, post the seventies oil boom. And yet, ex-pat employees are unfortunately the soft target whenever GCC governments and lawmakers need a bit of chest-thumping to show that they are working for nationalization.

Of all the initiatives that the region has seen, perhaps HRH the Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifas successful dismantling of the rigid sponsorship system was perhaps the most effective because it led to the establishment of a transparent development and training channel in Tamkeen while giving foreign workers the right to change jobs, thus levelling the workspace.

Bahrain has also always topped the table of investor-friendly countries, thanks to a clear and fair legal system and a sizeable pool of educated Bahrainis, willing to work. But this has to now be measured in terms of what support we are giving our investors at the time of the pandemic. Attracting investors with our undeniable advantages during good times is the easy part.

Keeping them and protecting our goodwill in international business circles is the true test of our ability to remain in the big league where FDI  foreign direct investments  are concerned. To do this, we need our MPs to draft a clear recovery plan that will include foreign business owners as well.

It will be unfair to exclude them from the concessions since many have chosen Bahrain to invest their life-savings in business. They pay VAT and they pay GOSI charges for employees just like the Bahraini business owners do and we must reciprocate by supporting them.

Besides our MPs, we need bodies such as the BCCI to connect with the business community and investors and understand how they are coping and what help they need. Our government is most forward-looking and we need to give them data and inputs on how they can support investors at this critical juncture. The same level playing field that workers today enjoy, must be a measure of success for investors too.
Japan will offer a visa lasting up to two years for graduating university students who plan to start a business in the country, in an effort to attract more ambitious and talented individuals.

To qualify for the transitional status, foreign students need to graduate from one of roughly 40 universities including the University of Tokyo and Kyoto University and receive a recommendation from their schools based on their resumes and business plans.

The qualifying schools are part of a government initiative to globalize Japan's universities and help foreign students find jobs. Applications will open shortly.

Foreign students wishing to start a business in Japan are typically required to obtain a new visa as a business manager immediately after graduation or go home. But that visa requires a business to have an office, employ at least two workers and possess at least 5 million yen ($47,800) in capital. This has deterred would-be entrepreneurs.

As a solution, Japan began offering a one-year transition period to foreign graduates in limited parts of Japan in fiscal 2018.

"The program is geographically limited, and one year is still too short a time to start a new business," one critic said.

The Justice Ministry said 560 people transitioned from a student visa to a business manager visa in 2018. Entrepreneurs likely made up only a small portion of that number.

Japanese universities hosted a record high of about 140,000 foreign students as of May 2019, the Japan Student Services Organization said.
Drug busts land weapons haul, draft dodger

PHUKET: A series of raids by the Thalang Police have netted three suspects on drugs charges, with two of the men also facing firearms charges. One of the two men is the son of an officer on active duty at Thalang Police Station.

drugscrimepolice

By Eakkapop Thongtub

Tuesday 22 September 2020, 05:32PM

A fourth man was arrested for avoiding military conscription.

According to a report by the Thalang Police, the raids, led by Thalang Police Deputy Chief Lt Col Seksan Khomsakhon, were conducted yesterday (Sept 21).

The raids resulted in the seizure of 531 pills of methamphetamine (ya bah), 82 grammes of crystal meth (ya ice), some marijuana, a handgun and ammunition, Lt Col Seksan explained.

The first two arrests were those of Chanathip Fip Dada, 23, and Phummikorn James Narongrit, 26, he said.

The two were found with 529 ya bah pills and 81.93g of ya ice, 3.72g of dried marijuana and four sets of drug-taking equipment at a house in Tambon Thepkrasattri.

In conducting the raid, police also seized a .45-calibre handgun, 26 .45-calibre bullets, 62 9mm bullets, and six 12-gauge shotgun cartridges, as well as a mobile phone and a digital scale, he added.

Chanathip and Phummikorn were both charged with possession of a Category 1 drug with intent to sell and both were charged with illegal possession of firearm and ammunition, while Chanathip was also charged with possession of a Category 5 drug, Lt Col Seksan confirmed.

Lt Col Seksan also confirmed that Chanathip is a son of Thalang Police officer Snr Sgt Maj Wichit Dada.

In another raid, officers arrested Songphon Tern Phumphichit, 36, after he was found with two pills of ya bah at a house in Tambon Thepkrasattri, Thalang, Lt Col Seksan said

Songphon was charged with possession of a Category 1 drug, he added.

Songphon was also wanted on an arrest warrant issued by Phuket Provincial Court on Nov 26, 2018, for the same charge, Lt Col Seksan explained.

The fourth arrest noted in the report was that of Woraphong Songlert, 22, who was arrested at a house in Phuket Town.

Woraphong was wanted on an arrest warrant issued by Phuket Municipal Court (Khwaeng Court) on Feb 6, 2020, for not reporting himself for military conscription, Lt Col Seksan said.

All the suspects were taken to Thalang police station and charged accordingly, he noted.
Six Louisville Metro police officers have been named in an internal investigation in connection to their roles to the deadly Breonna Taylor shooting, officials confirm.

A spokesperson for the Louisville Metro Police Department confirmed to sister station WLKY that the police department's Professional Standards Unit has initiated the internal investigation.

The investigation will determine if the officers broke department policies.

The officers include Sgt. Jon Mattingly and Detective Myles Cosgrove, who fired their weapons during the raid on March 13 at Taylor's apartment.

Detective Brett Hankison was the other officer who opened fire, but was fired in June. The LMPD said he violated two standard operating procedures, including obedience to rules and regulations and use of deadly force.

The other officers named in the PSU investigation include detectives Joshua Jaynes, Tony James, Michael Campbell and Michael Nobles.

Jaynes is the detective who sought the no-knock warrant for Taylor's apartment. He was also put on reassignment, along with Mattingly and Cosgrove.

Mattingly was shot in the leg during the incident.

The PSU investigation is separate from the one that Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron's office is conducting, which will determine whether Mattingly, Cosgrove or Hankison will face charges.

Sources have said that Cameron plans on making an announcement in the case this week. Anticipation has been building since Mayor Greg Fischer announced a $12 million settlement with the Taylor family.

The LMPD has been undergoing preparations ahead of an announcement, including canceling off-day and vacation requests until further notice.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the United Nations faces a crisis of confidence and reiterated Indias long-standing call for reform at the world body to reflect todays realities and give voice to all stakeholders. India has sought a permanent seat in a reformed and expanded UN Security Council.

The prime minister was participating in a virtual high-level meeting of the UN general assembly to mark the 75th anniversary of the global body. He is scheduled to deliver his speech at the High-Level General Debate of the assembly on Saturday, as the opening speaker of the day.

We cannot fight todays challenges with outdated structures, Modi said in a short address in English.

Without comprehensive reforms, the UN faces a crisis of confidence. For todays interconnected world, we need a reformed multilateralism that reflects todays realities, gives voice to all stake holders, addresses contemporary challenges and focuses on human welfare.

He recounted that India was a founding signatory of the UN that was born out of the horrors of World War II and shared Indias own philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, which states the whole world is one family.

Our world today is a better place because of the United Nations, Modi said. We pay tribute to all those who have advanced the cause of peace and development under the UN flag, including in UN peacekeeping missions, where India had been a leading contributor.

But, he added, while much has been achieved, the original mission remains incomplete, which was to be reflected in the declaration of the General Assembly, to be adopted at the end of the one-day commemorative meeting.

It would argue that more is needed to be done towards preventing conflict, ensuring development, addressing climate change, reducing inequality and leveraging digital technologies.

It would also acknowledge need for reform of the United Nations itself, Modi added.

India and many other countries have called for reforming the UN, arguing it must reflect the changing world order and accommodate the aspirations of emerging powers.

Several countries including India have sought permanent membership in the Security Council, the worlds most exclusive club of nations, as part of a larger overhaul.

The United States, the United Kingdom, France and Russia  four of the five permanent members of the Security Council  have endorsed India, but there has been no real progress in the process, called the Inter-Governmental Negotiations (IGN), which has been on for a long time.

India has accorded the highest priority to permanent membership, the ministry of external affairs said on Monday in a parliamentary reply. And it has pursed it on both bilateral and multilateral platforms, especially in concert with other aspirants such as G-4 partners Japan, Germany and Brazil and the trilateral IBSA (India, Brazil and South Africa).

IBSA foreign ministers met last week virtually for their annual meeting around the UN general assembly sessions, and expressed frustration with the slow pace of progress on Security Council reforms in the IGN process which, they complained, lacked transparency in its working methods.

We insist that the time has come to move towards a result-oriented process, with provision for substantive negotiations based on a single comprehensive text, in a formal setting, they said in a joint statement, underscoring the need for some form of a document that can be negotiated, modified or rejected.

India will begin a two-year term on the Security Council coming January as a non-permanent member, for the eighth time. It hopes to use the opportunity to further burnish its credentials for a seat as a permanent member. Its previous non-permanent terms were 1950-1951, 1967-1968, 1972-1973, 1977-1978, 1984-1985 and 1991-1992.
Less than a year after taking the helm of Howard Hughes Corp. and orchestrating cost cuts and a headquarters move to Houston from Dallas, Paul Layne has stepped down as CEO.

Layne, named chief executive last October after being a senior executive of the company since 2012, retired, the company announced Monday afternoon.

David OReilly, 46, Hughes Corps president and chief financial officer, has been named interim CEO. The company said it has begun a a search for a permanent replacement.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Howard Hughes Corp. CEO Layne sees wide-open future

Pauls superb oversight of the development of The Woodlands and his strong stewardship during the pandemic have created and preserved tremendous value for our shareholders, positioning Howard Hughes for long-term success, Bill Ackman, billionaire hedge fund manager and the companys board chairman, said in a press release.

Publicly traded Hughes Corp. owns, manages and develops commercial, residential and mixed-use real estate throughout the United States. It owns some of the countrys largest master-planned communities, including The Woodlands, The Woodlands Hills and Bridgeland in the Houston area, as well as Summerlin in Las Vegas, Ward Village in Honolulu, Columbia in Maryland and the Seaport District in New York.

As CEO of Hughes Corp., Layne led the company through a transformation plan to focus the organization on its master-planned communities. That included reducing overhead expenses by some $50 million annually and selling assets. Layne led the acquisition of land and approximately 1.4 million square feet of office space in The Woodlands from Occidental Petroleum, and directed the development of 110 North Wacker, a luxury office tower in Chicago set to open next month.

Layne, 63, said he was proud of everything the company has achieved and the pace at which the changes occurred.

The things weve been able to accomplish at Howard Hughes in the last year have been absolutely phenomenal, he said late Monday. Weve accomplished the vast majority of things that we were targeting in the transformation plan.

The companys stock price, however, has fallen about 54 percent this year as the COVID-19 pandemic had a draconian effect on the company initially, according to a mid-year financial report of Ackmans Pershing Square Holdings.

The company saw rent collections decline drastically, residential lot sales freeze and would-be buyers of Hughes Corp. assets walk away from negotiations or cut their offer prices, the report noted.

In addition, a loan to replace bridge financing for the companys acquisition of the former Anadarko corporate campus in The Woodlands fell through due to the decline in oil prices and the creditworthiness of Occidental, which leased back one of the buildings, according to the report. In response, the company raised $600 million in equity in late March and Pershing Square committed $500 million of capital in the offering to protect its investment and position it for a rebound in stock price.

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On June 3, Pershing Square sold 1.7 million shares in the company at $58.66 per share, according to a public filing.

Layne came to the Hughes Corp. with a background in office development and marketing. He previously served as executive vice president for Brookfield Properties Corp., overseeing a 9.7 million-square-foot portfolio in downtown Houston.

During his nine years with Hughes, Layne helped lead more than $1.2 billion in development of office, retail, apartment, hotel and storage properties in The Woodlands.

Mr. Layne steered the Company through the onset of the coronavirus pandemic and leaves Howard Hughes in a strong and opportunistic position as a result of its recent highly successful equity and bond offerings, according to Mondays press release.

Layne, who was president of the companys central region before being named CEO replaced David Weinreb, who also gave up his seat on the board. President Grant Herlitz left at the same time.

OReilly, his interim replacement, has been CFO since 2016 and his role was expanded in June when he was appointed president.

Laynes 2019 employment agreement outlined terms including a $750,000 annual salary and as much as a $1 million annual bonus based on certain goals beginning in 2020.

Layne, who also stepped down from the companys board, said he is looking forward to seeing whats next.

Im excited about the next chapter in my career, he said.

nancy.sarnoff@chron.com

twitter.com/nsarnoff
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 21:53:31|Editor: huaxia

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MACAO, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- The business performance of restaurants and retailers in Macao was subdued in July 2020, but both sectors were expected to slightly improve their performance in August, the special administrative region's statistic service said here on Tuesday.

The latest report from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that there were 83 percent of the interviewed restaurants and similar establishments recording a year-on-year decline in revenue in July, a four percentage point increase from June.

Meanwhile, 12 percent of the interviewed restaurants reported a year-on-year rise in revenue, the same level as in June.

The DSEC report added that there were 84 percent of the interviewed retailers registering a year-on-year sales decrease in July, a rise of 4 percentage points from June.

On the other hand, 12 percent of the interviewed retailers recorded a year-on-year sales rise in July, a decrease of 4 percentage points from June.

The business of both industries was expected to improve slightly in August. There were 22 percent of the interviewed restaurants anticipating a year-on-year rise in revenue or steady performance, up by 3 percentage points from July.

As for retail trade, 23 percent of the retailers predicted that their sales would increase year-on-year or remain stable in August, a growth of one percentage point from July. Enditem
There are people who will doubt what an interim superintendent can do in a short period of time.

Anyone who read the Facebook comments about the story on Midland ISDs interim chief Ann Dixon has seen that. How much can she impact culture and straighten out a district in which the problems go back more than a decade?

Even the straight-shooting comments from Dixon herself couldnt eliminate all the doubters. Maybe thats where John Anderson comes in. Anderson is Red Oak ISD board president. For those interested, Red Oak is a district located south of Dallas that serves more than 6,000 students.

First comments about Dixon were from Anderson: She is the epitome that dynamite comes in small package and that she makes up in stature with her work ethic. Driving by the district building at 9 p.m. and seeing her light on is not out of the ordinary, Anderson said.

She is probably working, because she doesnt want to go to hotel, he told the Reporter-Telegram.

Anderson said she takes the responsibility of being an interim superintendent seriously. Looking at Dixons resume, interim work has become her specialty. Her last 21 jobs have been as an interim or consulting superintendent. She works an average of five months at a time in a district, but that doesnt mean she acts like a short-timer. She knows how to go into a district, identify problems, and most importantly, gives districts a chance to fix those problems, Anderson said.

She doesnt leave a stone unturned, he said. This is my 19th year as a school board member, and we learned new things from her.

Andersons comments are likely a boost for Midlanders, who have been shell-shocked by recent educational events -- ratings, leadership change, COVID-19 changes and school renaming. Anderson said Midland is lucky to have captured her because had MISD not locked her into an agreement, another district would have.

She doesnt sit around and wait for someone to call, he said.

Having written that, Midland ISD will be different. Midland ISD is one of the largest districts she has led and certainly a district beaten down by the inability to solve problems. MISDs problems with long-term failing campuses are well-documented. The sheer number of failing campuses per capita rival any larger school district in the state. Midland isnt like most other communities in Texas with its separation between the haves and have nots, as well as the number of private schools. School choice is practiced in Midland like few other communities around the state, and with that, Midland has been impacted by the amount of support in the community.

But Anderson said the challenges feed into what Dixon does best or, as he said, that is the beauty of her. Dixon wants the challenge that a new district brings, whether it is helping turn around a district struggling financially or working to help get a bond passed (both are part of her past, she said). She wants to get everyone calm and going down the right path, Anderson said.

And Dixon wasnt shy about talking about accountability. She said her contract is one that either side can break with two weeks notice. If she isnt performing, the district can go in another direction and vice versa. She also talked about accountability for those in the district. Dixon looked at Midland ISDs metrics and was concerned about the lack of results and wants to know why that was the case.

I don't like to say schools fail. I know that everything else says that. And I don't like to say kids fail, Dixon told the Reporter-Telegram in an article Sunday. We failed. The people making these decisions are the ones who have failed. And so, I want to find out who's failing and what changes do there have to be. Now, saying that and saying that to you, because the recorders probably back on, then people are going to feel like they've been put on notice. And if that's what it takes, then that's what we're going to do.
At moments like these, Im limited as a parent  not just by my ignorance of stellar life cycles but also by my desire not to have him sympathize too deeply with everything from stars in the far reaches of space to the broccoli on his plate. I dont want him to be paralyzed by empathy, become unable to let negative energy exist without absorbing it. I try to find shortcuts out of unwinnable conversations, ways not to have to admit that existence is fleeting and that, yes, honey, death does, indeed, come for us all.
Lawyers representing a Google employee suing the company want to know whether the search engine giant believes it's allowed to view his digital communication, a case that has renewed questions about the extent of Google's power to surveil.

According to a new motion filed in court by the employee's attorneys Monday, DeWayne Cassel, who's still employed by Google, gave up "any reasonable expectation of privacy" on any "Google property" or anything used to conduct Google business when he signed his employment agreement with the company. Cassel filed a race discrimination lawsuit against the company nearly three years ago. But Google has declined to answer questions from Cassel's attorneys, who asked earlier this year whether the company thinks it can still access his data according to the employment agreement.

The attorneys also have asked Google whether the company's terms of service, which allow it to access user data to "protect Google," would enable it to access the personal data of non-employees involved in the case, including the judge. Monday's filing in California Superior Court for Santa Clara County asks Judge Brian C. Walsh to compel Google to answer the questions.

"This motion is completely meritless. We work hard every day to protect personal information, and have not - and would not - access the personal data of Mr. Cassel, his attorney, or the judge assigned to this case," Google spokeswoman Jennifer Rodstrom said in an emailed statement to The Washington Post.

"We do not file meritless motions," Cassel's attorneys wrote in an emailed response to Google's statement. Cassel, they wrote, "looks forward to Google responding to his important questions, under oath, and pursuant to the judicial process."

The case raises new questions about employee surveillance. Google has faced criticism in the past for using software to keep a watchful eye over its workforce. The Cassel case brings the debate into the courtroom, and could force Google to answer a thorny question that may not have a straightforward answer.

Google's business relies on scooping up a nearly unfathomable amount of personal information, from a person's search history to the contents of their emails and Google Docs files, and feeding it into some of the world's most powerful computers. The data are used to sell ads and develop artificial intelligence algorithms that do everything from interpret language to automatically make calendar appointments. Google is also facing intense pressure from regulators and lawmakers, some of whom are paying close attention to any statements the company makes about data collection.

If Google accessed communication between Cassel and his attorneys, it could be viewed critically by the judge in the case, said Michael Volkov, principal at the Volkov Law Group and an expert on corporate compliance. "The best strategy is to wall yourself off from communications related to the case," he said. Volkov said it's unlikely that a company like Google would cross that boundary and access data from Cassel or the judge.

But there is some precedent for the type of hypothetical behavior that Baker is asking about. Microsoft's attorneys, for instance, once signed off on accessing the private Hotmail account of a tech blogger to find a leaker in its midst. Microsoft cited its terms of service as the reason it decided the search was permitted. After the case gained media attention, Microsoft changed its policies. It now seeks input from outside experts on whether it should search user accounts and publishes the number of these searches in an annual report. The company declined to comment.

Usually, employees who sue companies for discrimination don't continue to work for that company. But Google has not fired Cassel, opting to put him on leave and continue to pay him.

Cassel claims Google hired him and other black employees under false pretenses, promising one job and then giving them a different one once they arrived. Cassel alleges the "bait and switch" was part of an effort to increase the company's diversity numbers. The lawsuit says Google retaliated against him when he complained. Cassel, according to the complaint, has tried to find a new job within Google, but Google has not put him back to work.

Google has denied the allegations in court. Cassel, through his attorney, declined to comment on Monday's filing.

Cassel's lawyers say Google could have an advantage in the litigation if it compiles data and uses it to learn more about the parties involved. Monday's filing cites Google's terms of service, which all customers agree to when using any Google product. "The privacy policy states Google may use User Data internally to, among other things 'Protect Google.' One way Google might well 'protect itself' is through litigation defense," the filing reads. "Google has both motive and the opportunity to access the User Data of adversaries and judicial officers for use in litigation."

Monday's filing says Google attorneys at first offered to discuss the question with Cassel's attorneys this summer, but then put their foot down, refusing to answer. Google, the filing says, cited attorney client privilege as one of the reasons. Cassel's attorneys' said they could answer the question without disclosing any privileged conversations Google's attorneys may have had. Google's attorneys also said they didn't understand the question.

Cassel's attorneys disagreed that the question was difficult to understand. The requests "are not vague and ambiguous," they wrote, countering, "Google comprehends English. Google Translate understands many languages."
Jimmy Kimmel failed to draw laughs during the 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards after he chose the wrong venue to make an insensitive joke.

On Sunday, the Emmy Awards officially kicked off its main event by presenting the major awards nominees for who were on standby in their homes. The virtual ceremony marked the first time Emmys chose not to publicly hold the event due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Meanwhile, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences pushed through with Kimmel as their host after previously leading it in 2012 and 2016.

Although Kimmel was definitely a solid choice to host the Emmys 2020, the 52-year-old comedian disappointed the viewers when he cracked a joke about the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.) and John Oliver.

After learning that his "Jimmy Kimmel Live" lost the Outstanding Variety Talk Series to HBO's "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver," Kimmel quipped an unreasonable remark.

"Congratulations again to John Oliver, I will be reporting him to I.C.E.," Kimmel said.

After Sunday's result, Oliver's show has now beaten Kimmel's for the fifth consecutive year. Although losing can really cause dismay to some, Kimmel's unprofessionalism truly hit him back.

Because of his statement, netizens called him out for his "white privilege."

Netizens Slammed Kimmel

Of course, the joke did not impress netizens, especially amid reports about immigrant women in a Georgia facility allegedly suffering from "mass hysterectomies."

"The amount of white privilege it took for jimmy kimmel to get up on stage at a nationally televised event and make a joke about ice and have not one tell him that that isn't okay, is absolutely astonishing to me," one Twitter user said in disbelief.

Another one hit him back with a joke and wrote, "Happy Hispanic Heritage Month from the # Emmy's where the only Latinx representation we got was Count von Count ft. Lin Manual [and] America Ferrera presenting an award and Jimmy Kimmel's tasteless and hurtful I.C.E. joke."

Most of the commenters pointed out how they did not find Kimmel funny at all. Instead, the host ruined the award show they hoped to enjoy.

Meanwhile, another netizen noted how I.C.E is currently tearing families apart. With that said, the user said she does not get how Kimmel can make such a joke during one of the biggest awards shows.

What's With I.C.E.?

One week before the Emmys 2020, a whistleblower filed a complaint to the Department of Homeland Security and revealed that "mass hysterectomies" were performed on immigrant women.

The whistleblower, Dawn Wooten, is a former nurse who worked at Irwin County Detention Center. Hence, her statement sound accurate and valid.

A hysterectomy is a process of removing a woman's uterus out of her body. Once it happens, she could no longer conceive again.

Furthermore, Wooten also stated in the document that, while some women may really require hysterectomies, everybody's uterus cannot be that bad.

Wooten then disclosed how an unidentified doctor outside the detention center performed a "high rate of hysterectomies." Unfortunately, many women did not understand why they underwent the procedure.

"Everybody he sees has a hysterectomy - just about everybody," Wooten said. "He's even taken out the wrong ovary on a young lady."

Meanwhile, I.C.E. debunked the claims and said in a statement that they only referred two women to an outside gynecologist for hysterectomies in the past two years.

READ MORE: D.C.D.C. Universe: 3 DC TV Shows You Can Watch on HBO Max Soon
Defense, security budget 2021 largest over years of independence

21:45, 22.09.20 3517

The draft provides for an increase in funding for the Foreign Intelligence Service, the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Defense Ministry, the Security Service of Ukraine, the State Border Guard Service, and the State Emergencies Service.
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The Massachusetts home where notorious suspected ax murderer Lizzie Borden lived out her final days after being acquitted of bludgeoning her father and stepmother to death in 1892 has hit the market for $890,000.

The house in Fall River that once belonged to the suspected killer and where she lived up until her death in 1927 was recently listed for sale with Century 21.

Lizzie was sensationally tried and found not guilty of her parents' violent murders but, more than a century on from the grisly crimes, she continues to be the prime and only suspect in the slayings.

The Massachusetts home where notorious suspected ax murderer Lizzie Borden lived out her final days after being acquitted of bludgeoning her father and stepmother to death in 1892 has hit the market for $890,000. The home pictured

The house in Fall River that once belonged to the suspected killer and where she lived up until her death in 1927 was recently listed for sale with Century 21. It has been restored in its Victorian-era style

Named Maplecroft, the 4,000-square-foot home has been restored in the high style of its Victorian past but with the benefits of 'today's modern conveniences', according to the listing.

The sprawling mansion boasts seven bedrooms, 3.5 baths and six fireplaces and is nestled in just under half an acre of land.

It also features tin ceilings in the kitchen, coffered ceilings, walnut wainscoting, inlaid parquet floors and stained glass in a hark back to its Victorian heyday.

The new home can be snapped up fully furnished with period pieces including exquisite mantle pieces that the listing describes as 'holding a hidden meaning'.

Built in 1887 at what is now 306 French Street in the historic Highlands District, it could be the perfect home for a true crime fan looking to snap up a piece of American history.

However, the new owners can sleep easy without worrying about the ghosts of Lizzie's parents making an appearance because it is not the house where the infamous murders took place.

Lizzie (pictured) was sensationally tried and found not guilty of her parents' violent murders but, more than a century on from the grisly crimes, she continues to be the prime and only suspect in the slayings

That property, also in Fall River and located on 230 Second Street, has been a bed and breakfast since 1996.

Maplecroft is still considered a historical landmark as the place Lizzie lived out her dying days.

Its current owners, who bagged the property in February 2018 for $600,000, had planned to turn the house into a bed and breakfast.

Lizzie is suspected of murdering her father Andrew and stepmother Abby back in 1982.

The two very wealthy victims were found hacked to death in the Fall River home they shared with his adult daughters Lizzie and her sister Emma on the morning of August 4.

Named Maplecroft, the 4,000-square-foot home has been restored in the high style of its Victorian past but with the benefits of 'today's modern conveniences', according to the listing

The sprawling mansion boasts seven bedrooms, 3.5 baths and six fireplaces and is nestled in just under half an acre of land

It also features tin ceilings in the kitchen, coffered ceilings, walnut wainscoting, inlaid parquet floors and stained glass in a hark back to its Victorian heyday

The new home can be snapped up fully furnished with period pieces including exquisite mantle pieces that the listing describes as 'holding a hidden meaning'

The interior design of the mansion has been restored in the style of the Victorian era when it was built

Built in 1887 at what is now 306 French Street in the historic Highlands District, it could be the perfect home for a true crime fan looking to snap up a piece of American history

Andrew's body was found on the living room couch, where he had been sleeping.

His face almost split in two from the violent ax attack.

Abby, who both Lizzie and Emma disliked, was found upstairs in a pool of blood.

The Borden sisters, whose mother died when they were younger, called Abby 'Mrs. Borden' and were fearful that she and her family wanted to get their hands on Andrew's money.

With both Andrew and Abby out the picture, Lizzie and Emma would inherit their father's fortune.

Wallpaper, net curtains, furniture and decorations in one of the bedrooms all match the Victorian design

However, the new owners can sleep easy without worrying about the ghosts of Lizzie's parents making an appearance because it is not the house where the infamous murders took place

Maplecroft is still considered a historical landmark as the place Lizzie lived out her dying days

One of the bathrooms is fitted with a roll top bathtub and Victorian-style tiles in a hark back to its history

Its current owners, who bagged the property in February 2018 for $600,000, had planned to turn the house into a bed and breakfast

Lizzie allegedly discovered her father's body that morning and called for the housekeeper Bridget.

The net closed in on Lizzie when she was found to have burned a dress similar to the one she wore on the day of the murders in the week after her parents' killings.

She claimed the dress had been covered in paint but prosecutors said she was burning the blood-stained dress to cover-up the murders.

Prosecutors also said she had bought a small ax the day before.

She was also the first person on the scene of the murders and the only person, other than the housekeeper, in the home at the time.

Emma was out of town when the murders took place.

The sweeping staircase is covered in patterned Victorian-style carpet while the hallway features parquet floors

Lizzie is suspected of murdering her father Andrew and stepmother Abby back in 1982 but was sensationally acquitted

Lizzie spent her dying days in the Fall River home above - a property she bought with her parents' inheritance

The furniture, fixtures and fittings all come with the property and are fitting with its 1887 roots

A chandelier and ceiling beams hang over the dining table that is decked out with floral wallpaper

The new owners can enjoy the outdoors with a large porch overlooking almost half an acre of land

An aerial view of the property that is seen as a historical landmark especially among true crime fanatics

Lizzie was arrested and put to trial for double murder.

The widely publicized trial began in New Bedford in June 1893 and she was acquitted of the murders on June 20 after the jury deliberated for just 90 minutes.

The jury was thought to have been swayed by the fact she was an active member of the local church while the police had refused to carry out fingerprint testing on the murder weapon found in the basement saying the technique was unreliable.

No one else was ever suspected or taken into custody and the case went cold.

The Borden house where the mutilated bodies of Andrew and Abby Borden were found in 1982

Andrew's body was found on the living room couch, where he had been sleeping. His face almost split in two from the violent ax attack (pictured the crime scene)

Abby, who both Lizzie and Emma disliked, was found upstairs in a pool of blood (pictured). The Borden sisters, whose mother died when they were younger, were fearful that she and her family wanted to get their hands on Andrew's money

A courtroom sketch of the trial of Lizzie Borden where she was acquitted of the murders. Despite her acquittal, the community continued to suspect Lizzie of the grisly murders

Lizzie and Emma inherited their father's money and lived the high life in Fall River, buying the property now known as Maplecroft where they lived together for many years.

However, despite her acquittal, the community continued to suspect Lizzie of the grisly murders and she was accused of shoplifting four years later.

Her sister Emma moved out of the home in 1905 after the two once-close sisters fell out for unknown reasons and never spoke again.

Lizzie died from pneumonia in 1927 and was buried in the family plot next to her parents.
JERUSALEM (AP): Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz headed to Washington on Monday for talks with his US counterpart on maintaining Israel's qualitative military edge in the Middle East following its historic normalisation agreement with the United Arab Emirates.



Since the agreement was announced last month, the UAE has made no secret about its desire to acquire F-35 warplanes and other advanced US-made weaponry. Israel is the only US ally in the Middle East to possess the stealth fighter jet.



Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu initially said he opposed the sale of the planes to any other nation in the region, even an Arab country at peace with Israel. But since then, he has softened his line, signaling he will trust the U.S. to honor its commitment to ensure Israel's military edge in the region, even if the UAE obtains F-35s.



Gantz's office said he would meet with U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper and other top Pentagon officials. It said the trip would include meetings to discuss maintaining Israel's qualitative edge, international policy vis-a-vis Iran and strategy for stopping its expansion and entrenchment in the Middle East, as well as discussion on defense cooperation and procurement.



Gantz, a former chief of staff of the Israeli military, has had cool relations with Netanyahu since the two rivals formed their coalition government in May. Gantz was not informed about the deal with the UAE until after it was reached.



President Donald Trump has said he is fine with selling the aircraft to the UAE and that the request is under review.


With COVID-19, incidents of alcohol abuse reportedly on the rise

Alcohol Detection Anklets (ADA) are garnering a lot of attention in New Zealand and Australia for helping alcohol-involved clients refrain from drinking. The anklets use transdermal technology to detect alcohol use in individuals who have been ordered by court or parole to refrain from consumption as a condition of release.

Alcohol Detection Anklets, otherwise known as SCRAM Continuous Alcohol Monitoringare manufactured by SCRAM Systems based out of Littleton, Colorado, in the United States.

The technology has been through numerous pilots and trial usage in New Zealand with impressive results:

In one pilot, 153 offenders were monitored for a total of 18,442 days. There were confirmed drinking events on only 649 of those days, indicating that wearers remained sober 96.5% of the time. Of the 153 clients monitored, 115 remained completely abstinent from alcohol for the entire duration of their sentence, a 75.2% sober rate.

A report from the NZ Department of Corrections indicates that testing for alcohol and other drugs is essential for corrections and police officials to be able to intervene with high-risk offenders who are ordered to abstain from alcohol use by the court or Parole Board. This is often the case when the individual is at risk of causing harm from substance misuse.

In May of this year, the Ministry of Justice in the United Kingdom announced new legislation under which offenders who commit an alcohol-fueled crime can be banned from drinking and made to wear the anklets, referred to as 'sobriety tags' in the UK. The UK went from trial to national rollout with stats mirroring the success seen in New Zealand.
US President Donald Trump has threatened to cut off TikTok if the popular Chinese video sharing apps tentative deal with two American companies Walmart and Oracle does not go through.

Trump has for weeks threatened to ban TikTok, which is owned by Chinas ByteDance, on national security grounds unless an American company takes control of its US operations.

TikTok has roughly 100 million users in the US, and Trump says the app gives China access to the personal data of Americans. Trumps latest remark came a day after he announced a possible deal between Oracle and Walmart to share the US operations of TikTok, which was placed on a ban list due to security concerns.

Thats working its way through. Ive given a preliminary okay, the president told reporters at the White House on Monday They will work  theyre two great companies  Oracle and Walmart.

(Oracle CEO) Larry Ellison is a great genius at that kind of thing. The technology is incredible. They will work  theyre two great companies  Oracle and Walmart. So if we can save it, well save it.

And if we cant, well cut it off. But they have (a) preliminary (deal). Well see what they can do. We have to have total security.

Thats the only thing  very important. We have to have total security, Trump said in response to a question. Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy praised Trump for his move on TikTok.

He is standing up and keeping us safer by not allowing China to spy on Americans through their devices of TikTok and others, keeping the ability of Americans to use it, but keeping you safe, he told Fox News.

White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said that the US is working through the deal. But rest assured that this president is putting the safety of the American people first.

The Chinese Communist Party having access to the data of millions of Americans is not a tenable situation. But Ill leave it to him to announce exactly what that deal looks like, she said.

The proposed deal of TikTok with Oracle and Walmart mandates the creation of a new American company  incorporated in Texas  and the prospect of 25,000 new jobs.

Further, TikTok will give USD 5 billion to fund the education of American youths. The proposed deal of TikTok with Oracle and Walmart mandates the creation of a new American company  incorporated in Texas  and the prospect of 25,000 new jobs.

The US last week issued orders to ban popular Chinese social media apps  TikTok and WeChat  to safeguard national security. The ban on downloading TikTok, originally scheduled to take effect on Sunday, was postponed to September 27, according to the US Department of Commerce.

Last month, President Trump signed an executive order to ban TikTok and WeChat by September 15 unless the ownership of the two Chinese companies changed to American. TikTok made its debut in the US in 2018 and sees American traffic of more than 100 million users each month.
The 2021 Honda Pilot is now available at Capital Honda. All trim levels have the same engine which is a 3.5-litre direct injection i-VTEC V6 engine that produces 280 horsepower and 262 pound-foot of torque.

Individuals who have been searching for a new vehicle that is spacious, powerful and full of technology features would benefit from a 2021 Honda Pilot. There are six trim levels available which include the LX, EX, Black Edition, Touring 8P, Touring 7P and EX-L Navi. All trim levels have the same engine which is a 3.5-litre direct injection i-VTEC V6 engine that produces 280 horsepower and 262 pound-foot of torque.

Inside of the 2021 Honda Pilot, there is a seven-inch TFT centre meter display with driver information, active noise cancellation, HandsFreeLink, steering wheel mounted controls, heated front seats and many other features that help the ride inside of the vehicle more comfortable. Additionally, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard in the 2021 Honda Pilot.

Drivers who value active and passive safety features will appreciate with the 2021 Honda Pilot offers. Active safety features found in the 2021 Honda Pilot include a Collision Mitigation Braking System, Forward Collision Warning System, Lane Departure Warning System, Road Departure Mitigation System and a few others. Passive safety features include three-point rear seat belts, childproof rear door locks, SmartVent side airbags and a few others.

Potential customers who would like to learn more about the 2021 Honda Pilot can visit the dealerships website, https://www.capitalhonda.com/. Capital Honda can be reached by phone at 902-566-1101 for those who have more questions about the vehicle. Finally, for those who would like a more personal experience or see the 2021 Honda Pilot in person, the dealership is conveniently located at 40 Lower Malpeque Road.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Launching today, on National Voter Registration Day, truth, the proven-effective and nationally recognized youth smoking, vaping and nicotine prevention campaign from Truth Initiative, is partnering with TurboVote on a new campaign titled, "You're Registered, Right?" aimed at empowering young voters to turn out and vote this November. As part of the campaign, truth is offering a series of tools across social platforms including key dates, practical tips for getting to the polls and information for voting confidently across the ballot to engage and motivate young people, especially first-time voters, to exercise their right to vote. The partnership with TurboVote helps young voters start the process of registering to vote, provides help with absentee or mail-in ballots and tracks deadlines.

According to a study from Pew Research Center, 24 million Gen Z voters will be eligible to vote in the upcoming election.1 Those old enough to vote for the first time are more diverse and educated than ever, and 54% are urban dwellers.2 Together, Gen Z and millennials make up 37% of eligible voters this election.3 This latest effort from truth builds on the campaign's work in delivering engaging digital programs to help young people make informed choices and influence others to do the same.

"The truth campaign is encouraging young people to cast their vote and be counted by providing the facts they need to make sure they are registered and ready for November, and that they speak up and spark conversations with friends to do the same," said Robin Koval, CEO and president of Truth Initiative. "As voter registration deadlines near, we want to empower young voters, especially those voting for the first time, with the information they need to cast their vote and be counted this Election Day."

For more information about truth, please visit, thetruth.com.

About Truth Initiative:

Truth Initiative is a national public health organization dedicated to a future where tobacco and nicotine addiction are things of the past. We are inspiring lives free from smoking, vaping and nicotine through our rigorous scientific research and policy studies, our proven-effective and nationally-recognized truth youth public education campaign, our community and youth engagement programs supporting populations at high risk of using tobacco products, and our innovations to end nicotine addiction by helping people quit. Our 20 years of lifesaving work has helped drive down the youth smoking rate from 23% in 2000 to a historic low of 3.7% in 2019 by preventing millions of young people from becoming smokers. We are equally committed to achieving the same results in ending the youth e-cigarette epidemic. Formerly known as the American Legacy Foundation, Truth Initiative was established and funded through the landmark 1998 Master Settlement Agreement, the largest civil litigation settlement in U.S. history, which resulted in tobacco companies paying states and territories compensation for tobacco-related diseases and losses to local economies. Truth Initiative is also contributing to ending the opioid misuse epidemic by sharing our expertise in youth and young adult education and prevention. To learn more, visit truthinitiative.org.

1 Parker, K. & Igielnik, R., (2020). On the Cusp of Adulthood and Facing an Uncertain Future: What We Know About Gen Z So Far. Pew Research Center https://pewrsr.ch/35RCM93

2 IPUMS Census data from 2017: https://www.axios.com/2020s-new-voters-demographic-transformation-9da0acc7-0a30-447d-a4a2-4ef66640eee9.html

3 Cilluffo, A. & Fry, R., (2019). An early look at the 2020 electorate. Pew Research Center https://pewrsr.ch/2ZME3dk

SOURCE Truth Initiative

Related Links

https://truthinitiative.org


If you really want to honour him, implement his inclusive ideology: SC Bose's grandnephew

At DMs meets, PM calls for direct, emotional connect between administration and public for good governance

PM Modi visited 58 countries since 2015: Govt informs Parliament

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Sep 22: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has visited 58 countries since 2015 and a total expenditure of Rs 517 crore was incurred on them, the government said on Tuesday.

Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan provided details of the prime minister's visits abroad since 2015, including their outcome, in a written reply in Rajya Sabha.

"The total expenditure on these visits was Rs 517.82 crore," he said. According to the details provided by Muraleedharan, the prime minister made five visits each to the US, Russia and China, and multiple trips to some other countries like Singapore, Germany, France, Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates.

Some of the visits the prime minister undertook were multi-nation trips while some were standalone bilateral visits. Modi's last trip was to Brazil on November 13-14 in 2019 where he attended a summit of influential grouping BRICS (Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hold discussions with Sri Lankan counterpart on September 26

Muraleedharan said Modi's visits to the countries have enhanced their understanding of India's perspectives on bilateral, regional and global issues. He said the visits helped in strengthening India's relations with the countries in a wide range of sectors including trade and investment, technology, defence collaboration and people-to-people contact.

"These, in turn, have contributed to India's national development agenda to promote economic growth and well being of our people," the minister said.

"India is now increasingly contributing to shaping the global agenda at the multilateral level including on climate change, trans-national crime and terrorism, cyber security and nuclear non-proliferation, and offering to the world its own unique initiatives for global issues like the International Solar Alliance," he added.

To a separate question on Nepal, Muraleedharan said India's age-old ties with the neighbouring country are "unique and special", based on shared history, geography, culture, close people-to-people ties, mutual security and close economic linkages.

Asked whether the government is aware that Nepal has signed a number of transit and transportation treaties with China in the past few years to shrug off its dependence on India, he said New Delhi's ties with Kathmandu stand on their own merit.

Pakistan flies drones across LoC at night to drop AK-47s for terrorists | Oneindia News

"Two-thirds of Nepal's global trade is with India and over 90 per cent of Nepal's third country import-export transit is through India. India's ties with Nepal stand on their own merit, and are independent of Nepal's relations with third countries," he said.

India's ties with Nepal came under strain after the Himalayan nation came up with a new political map in May showing Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura in Uttarakhand as its territories.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 00:36:50|Editor: huaxia

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NUR-SULTAN, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Kazakhstan's largest air company Air Astana will resume flights from Nur-Sultan to Moscow from Sept. 26 with further departures operated every Wednesday, the aircraft carrier said Tuesday.

The first flight will be carried by a Boeing 767 plane. Only Russian and Kazakh citizens, as well as permanent residents of Kazakhstan, will be allowed to board the flights, according to the company.

The airline noted that passengers must take a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test for the coronavirus within 72 hours before departure from Kazakhstan and fill out a questionnaire. Transit through Moscow to third countries is temporarily prohibited.

The Kazakh Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development added the first flight of Russian airline Aeroflot from Moscow to Nur-Sultan is scheduled for Sept. 27.

Kazakhstan has begun to steadily resume international flights since August and now operates flights to Turkey, South Korea, the Netherlands, Belarus, Germany, Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and the United Arab Emirates. Enditem
FLINT, MI  Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris will visit Flint and Detroit Tuesday on a campaign swing through Michigan.

Harris will make her first visit to Michigan since becoming the running mate of Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden. The California senator has multiple events planned in the same month Biden held events in the metro Detroit area and his wife visited West Michigan.

Harris plans to will tour small businesses in Flint that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, then travel to Detroit to participate in a roundtable conversation with Black voters. Harris is also scheduled to participate in a voter mobilization event in Detroit to highlight the start of absentee voting on Sept. 24.

Tuesday is on National Voter Registration Day, an informal holiday to recognize the importance of participating in American elections.

The stops in Flint and Detroit target areas where Democrats are trying to boost turnout after President Donald Trump flipped Michigan in 2016. Trump won by only 10,704 votes in an election that saw Democratic turnout drop by 295,730 votes statewide compared to the previous election.

Harris is the daughter of immigrants from India and Jamaica, making her the first Black woman to earn a major partys nomination for vice president.

Tuesdays events are closed to the public. The campaign has arranged a livestream for Harris' two stops in Detroit, which can be viewed here.

Meanwhile, Republicans are continuing a bus tour across the state this week. Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel, a Michigan native, has several visits planned in the metro Detroit area Tuesday.
Danny Dyer has credited late playwright Harold Pinter for helping him stay proud of his 'working-class roots'.

The EastEnders actor, 43, from Newham detailed the impact the legendary screenwriter had on his life and how he was something of a father figure for him, 12 years after his death.

In promotion of Sky Arts special documentary Danny Dyer on Harold Pinter, the soap star said in a press release: 'Harold never wanted me to change or hide my working-class roots, even though he did when he was younger.'

'He never wanted me to change': Danny Dyer has credited late playwright Harold Pinter for helping him stay proud of his 'working-class roots'

Sharing what he had instilled in him as a performer, the thespian added: 'It was the notion of not letting where you come from define where you're going... Harold had given me the confidence that a lot of people had knocked out of me.

'When I was in a room of middle-upper-class people, I felt that it was OK just to be me and Harold installed that in me.'

The Hackney-born director - who is widely recognised as one of the most influential British dramatists of all time - worked with Danny in stage performances such as Celebration (2000) and the revival of No Man's Land between 2001 and 2002.

'He gave my confidence': The EastEnders actor, 43, from Newham opened up on the impact the legendary screenwriter had on his life, 12 years after his death (pictured in 2000)

'I think he respected me': The hardman also recalled when they met at an audition for their first collaboration 21 years ago

The hardman also recalled when they met at an audition for their first collaboration 21 years ago.

He admitted: 'I walked in the audition room and, me being like I am and not really treating people any differently, I just walked in and went up to Harold and said, ''Hello son. How you doing?'' I felt the whole room just go, ''Ooh, oh dear.'''

However, Danny insisted his relaxed introduction endeared him to Harold, who cast him in the production.

The media personality explained: '[I don't think] anyone's approached him that way and I think he sort of respected that.'

Upcoming documentary: Danny Dyer on Harold Pinter airs on Tuesday at 9pm on Sky Arts and NOW TV, as part Sky Arts move to free to air

Nobel Prize winner and barbed political activist Harold passed away on Christmas Eve 2008 aged 78 following a battle with cancer.

His influential plays, including The Caretaker in 1960 and The Homecoming in 1965, were regarded as among the finest of the past 50 years and enjoyed a renaissance as audiences tapped into his dark studies of tedious lives balancing on the edge of chaos.

The theatre executive was also a vociferous critic of US and UK foreign policy, voicing opposition on a number of issues including the bombing of Afghanistan in 2001.

Danny Dyer on Harold Pinter airs on Tuesday at 9pm on Sky Arts and NOW TV, as part Sky Arts move to free to air.
An independent consultant has been appointed to investigate the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha.

Former Madison police chief Noble Wray said at a press conference on Monday that the investigation will be a moment of truth for Wisconsin, and that the outcome of the case has not been predetermined.

While the investigation will continue to be led by the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), the final investigative file would be handed over to Mr Wray for expert analysis in recommendation of a charging decision.

Mr Blake, 29, was shot in the back by police officer Rusten Sheskey on 23 August, leaving him paralyzed and the city of Kenosha in a state of civil unrest.

Mr Wray said he is acting as a subject matter expert in both policing and the use of force, and that he would be reviewing the investigations witness statements, forensic evidence and video footage.

Its broader than use of force, you know that when it all comes down to it, that single incident that you see out there is a whole host of things that a department does, Mr Wray said.

District attorney Michael Gravely, who appointed Mr Wray, said a copy of the DCIs investigative file would be shared with Mr Wray for his expert analysis on how the facts of the case line up with standard police practices.

Mr Wray would not be conducting any additional investigations other than analysis of the evidence provided by the Kenosha authorities.

No predeterminations have been made, but I believe chief Wray is really ideally situated to bring a diverse and abundant set of perspectives of what now needs to be thought about, Mr Gravely said.

Wisconsin attorney general Josh Kaul said he identified the retired police chief at the request of the district attorney, based on his extensive experience as a police reform specialist for the US Department of Justice.

I am confident that Chief Wray will provide a thoughtful and fair analysis of this case, Mr Kaul said.

When asked about his reaction to the shooting, Mr Wray said the video was graphic.

But I have not prejudged the case, and I know as an experienced investigator that you may hear something or see something, or someone may report something to you, and then after you look at the full weight and body of the investigaiton, you realize it may not be exactly what you thought at the beginning, Mr Wray said.

Im from Wisconsin and this is Wisconsins moment of truth, and I want the best for this state and the people in this state.
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'Sincere dialogue necessary in Mediterranean', Erdogan In UN intervention video,'we don't tolerate imposition, attacks'

(ANSAmed) - NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 22 - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has asked for a ''sincere dialogue'' on the eastern Mediterranean, refusing ''harassment''. ''Our priority is to resolve controversies with a sincere dialogue, based on international law and on an equal basis'', added Erdogan.



''However, I would like to clearly state that we will never tolerate any imposition, harassment or attack in the opposite direction''. (ANSAmed) (ANSA).




FILE PHOTO: A logo of Brazil's state-run Petrobras oil company is seen at their headquarters in Rio de Janeiro

BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazilian Chief Justice Luiz Fux on Tuesday postponed voting on the sale of state-controlled oil company Petrobras' <PETR4.SA> refineries without setting a new deadline.

Initially, the Supreme Court had until Friday to rule on the matter.

Three justices on Brazil's Supreme Court have voted against the sale of the refineries, in a setback for Petrobras, which is counting on asset sales to reduce its debt.

Despite these three votes against the privatizations, XP Inc's analyst Debora Santos said in a note to clients that the Supreme Court is likely to support the assets sale, adding that last year most justices had adopted a more flexible position regarding privatization of state-controlled companies' assets.

Preferred shares in Petrobras were up 0.8% in the morning trading, almost in line with the country's stock exchange index.

(Reporting by Ricardo Brito in Brasilia; additional reporting by Luciano Costa, in Sao Paulo; editing by Jason Neely and Steve Orlofsky)
Chinese President Xi Jinping appears on an outdoor screen in Beijing as he speaks by video link at the United Nations General Assembly

Chinese President Xi Jinping vowed Tuesday that the world's largest greenhouse gas polluter will peak emissions in 2030 and go carbon neutral by 2060, in what environmentalists hailed as a major step forward.

The goals were the most concrete yet announced by China, which accounts for one quarter of the planet's greenhouse gas emissions blamed for fast-rising temperatures.

In an address to the UN General Assembly, Xi renewed his support for the Paris climate accord and called for a green focus as the world recovers from the Covid-19 crisis.

The Paris accord "outlines the minimum steps to be taken to protect the Earth, our shared homeland, and all countries must take decisive steps to honor this agreement," Xi said in a virtual address.

"We aim to have C02 emissions peak before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060," he said.

"We call on all countries to pursue innovative, coordinated, green and open development for all," he said urging them to "seize the historic opportunities presented by the new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation."

China, in its submission under the Paris accord, said that its emissions would peak "around" 2030.

The European Union had been pushing China to be more ambitious by moving the peak date to 2025, arguing that the five years are crucial as the planet falls behind in fighting climate change.

Joeri Rogelj, a climate expert at Imperial College London's Grantham Institute, called Xi's pledge "unexpected and eye-opening."

"All in all, China's announcement is a defining moment that resets the ambition of global climate action," he said.

Faced with poor air quality and rising temperatures, China has moved aggressively to cap coal and move to renewable energies.

The national effort contrasts with the United States, where President Donald Trump has pulled out of the Paris accord negotiated by his predecessor Barack Obama.

Trump called the accord unfair to coal miners and other constituencies, although individual US states such as California have kept up their own ambition.

Explore further US should stay in Paris climate accord: energy secretary

 2020 AFP
TEL AVIV, Israel, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- MedHub, a med-tech company that is leveraging AI to help interventional cardiologists make better decisions, announced today that its AutoCathFFR system has been certified to bear the CE Mark, signifying compliance with the European Union's health and environmental safety regulations. "Following our recent AMAR regulatory approval, the CE Mark is another important milestone for MedHub," said Or Baruch El, MedHub's Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Baruch El added, "This approval paves the way for future expansion into Europe, allowing us to offer a novel, non-invasive tool for cardiac disease assessment in the European Economic Area (EEA)."

CE certification confirms that AutoCathFFR meets European Union quality standards for design, manufacture, and final inspection. While AutoCathFFR is not yet available in Europe, the certification permits MedHub to market the system to EEA member countries. With its near-term goal of penetrating the UK market, the company is pursuing opportunities to expand into Europe as part of its global go-to-market strategy.

MedHub cofounder and Chief Operating Officer, Mr. David Goldman, said, "AutoCathFFR has been designed to make cardiac catheterization procedures more patient-friendly, inexpensive and to simplify the procedures to require as minimal invasive interventions as possible."

MedHub has already entered into agreements with multiple sites regarding purchase of the AutoCathFFR system. These sites are ready and eager to commence procedures now that AutoCathFFR has achieved CE Mark approval.

About MedHub

MedHub has developed the world's most efficient and user-friendly image-based FFR system, built on revolutionary AI technology. MedHub's vision is to simplify and streamline cardiac catheterization by eliminating costly, invasive supplementary procedures and replacing them with image-based software. The company's software platform allows for more accurate and better patient care, thereby accelerating the global transition from conventional to personalized medicine.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1091894/MedHub_Logo.jpg

Contact:

MedHub

Or Baruch El, CEO, Or@medhub-ai.com

David Goldman, COO, Davis@medhub-ai.com

www.MedHub-AI.com
The British government on Tuesday unveiled plans to provide stronger legal protections for military personnel and veterans who could face war crimes allegations but denied they amounted to an amnesty.

The prosecution of British soldiers for historic alleged crimes in Northern Ireland, and more recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, has been a controversial issue that has dogged the military and government for years.

The draft legislation proposes measures to reduce uncertainty arising from historical allegations and create a better legal framework to deal with claims from future overseas conflicts, according to the defence ministry.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said the new law would deliver on the Conservative governments 2019 election promise to protect service personnel and veterans from vexatious claims and endless investigations.

Our armed forces risk their lives to protect us and it is vital we continue to progress this legislation, providing certainty for the troops, he added, as lawmakers prepare to debate the bill Wednesday.

Ahead of his emphatic election victory last December, Prime Minister Boris Johnson vowed to end moves to bring charges against army veterans who had served in Northern Ireland during the so-called Troubles.

The government said Tuesday it would introduce separate legislation to address the historic and sensitive situation in the British province.

 No case to answer 

The Overseas Operations Bill will introduce a statutory presumption against prosecuting current or former soldiers for alleged offences committed on overseas operations more than five years ago.

It raises the threshold prosecutors will use in deciding to pursue a case after five years to exceptional, and require them to weigh the public interest and get consent from the attorney general before prosecuting.

The bill will restrict the discretion of courts to extend time limits for bringing civil claims for personal injuries, deaths and human rights act violations to a maximum of six years.

It also obliges future governments to consider overriding the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) in relation to significant overseas operations.

However, the government said such operations will continue to be governed by other international humanitarian law.

This legislation is not about providing an amnesty or putting troops above the law but protecting them from lawyers intent on rewriting history to line their own pockets, junior defence minister Johnny Mercer said.

The defence ministry said around 70 percent of allegations received by the independent Iraq Historic Allegations Team were dismissed because there was no case to answer.

But the UK military has been accused of covering up credible evidence of war crimes by soldiers against civilians in Afghanistan and Iraq, according to leaks last year from two government-ordered inquiries.

In June, an independent British investigator looking into the Iraqi allegations said that all but one of thousands of complaints  which ranged from rape and torture to mock executions and other atrocities  had been dropped.

That followed a 2017 UK tribunal ruling that ex-lawyer Phil Shiner, who investigated and chronicled hundreds of the accounts of such crimes, was guilty of misconduct and dishonesty.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi turned the mirror towards the United Nations and urged it to take a hard look at its "crisis of confidence", ratcheted up the call for a new template of multilateralism that "reflects today's reality" and wrapped up a lightning-quick speech on Day One at the United Nations high-level week being live-streamed to the world from the UN headquarters in New York City. "The UN faces a crisis of confidence.

Dear Reader,

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if the people of Biafra want Republic of Biafra, it will be a reality during my administration. ----Donald Trump Donald Trump I wi...
Kourtney Kardashian has recently been the subject of rumors that she's having another baby with on-again/off-again Scott Disick.

And the Poosh creator has recently shared her latest craving with her 101million Instagram followers.

She teased her taut tummy in red Monday, as she enjoyed some authentic Italian gelato with her kids and sister Kendall Jenner in some throwbacks from their trip to Sardinia last summer, captioned: 'a love story'

Love story: Kourtney Kardashian teased her taut tummy in red Monday, as she enjoyed some authentic Italian gelato with her kids and sister Kendall Jenner in some throwbacks from their trip to Sardinia last summer, captioned: 'a love story'

The 41-year-old sported a rust colored bandeau with a matching pair of high-waisted flared trousers, featuring a fine chevron print.

She finished the look with some cat-eye sunglasses on her head, a gold watch and a pair nude stiletto sandals, while carrying a petite Louis Vuitton handbag.

Kourtney enjoyed her vanilla cone, while sitting on a short stone wall with Kendall, 24, who stunned in a chic short-sleeve wrap jumpsuit with a green leafy print.

She completed the ensemble with a pair of sparkling clear white chunky heels, while carrying a white Prada handbag over her shoulder.

Travel style: The 41-year-old sported a rust colored bandeau with a matching pair of high-waisted flared trousers, featuring a fine chevron print

In the bag: She finished the look with some cat-eye sunglasses on her head, a gold watch and a pair nude stiletto sandals, while carrying a petite Louis Vuitton handbag

Stylish sisters: Kourtney enjoyed her vanilla cone, while sitting on a short stone wall with Kendall, 24, who stunned in a chic short-sleeve wrap jumpsuit with a green leafy print. She completed the ensemble with a pair of sparkling clear white chunky heels, while carrying a white Prada handbag over her shoulder

Mama's girl: In one photo, Kourtney shared her gelato with daughter Penelope Scotland, eight, who let mom try her chocolate selection

Sweet tooth: The mother-of-three also got down on the ground, as son Reign Aston, five, helped her finish the vanilla cone, which was dripping on the ground

Someone's missing: Not pictured was her oldest son Mason Dash, 10, whom she also shares with ex Scott Disick, 37, when they dated off and on from 2006 to 2015

In one photo, Kourtney shared her gelato with daughter Penelope Scotland, eight, who let mom try her chocolate selection.

The mother-of-three also got down on the ground, as son Reign Aston, five, helped her finish the vanilla cone, which was dripping on the ground.

Not pictured was her oldest son Mason Dash, 10, whom she also shares with ex Scott Disick, 37, when they dated off and on from 2006 to 2015.

She recently took to her Instagram Story with some sage motherhood advice she shared with sisters Kim and Khloe in a group text.

Kourtney wrote: 'The 5 As of good parenting : Attention, Appreciation, Affection, Acceptance, Allowing. When these are met in children, they are able to have secure attachment relationships later in life.'

She and Scott sparked rumors of another baby on the way, as sister Kim Kardashian, 39, put them on the spot during a family gathering.

New addition? She and Scott sparked rumors of another baby on the way, as sister Kim Kardashian, 39, put them on the spot during a family gathering

Number four: The SKIMS mogul said in a teaser for Keeping Up with the Kardashians: 'Scott's like, "We're going for baby number four"'

Rumor mill: 'Is that serious? I want to know,' Kim pressed, as 'momager' Kris Jenner asked the pair: 'Are you pregnant?'

Co-parenting goals: The exes have certainly been spending plenty of time together with their kids during quarantine, after he split with girlfriend Sofia Richie, 22, back in May

The SKIMS mogul said in a teaser for Keeping Up with the Kardashians: 'Scott's like, "We're going for baby number four."'

'Is that serious? I want to know,' Kim pressed, as 'momager' Kris Jenner asked the pair: 'Are you pregnant?'

The exes have certainly been spending plenty of time together with their kids during quarantine, after he split with girlfriend Sofia Richie, 22, back in May.

But a source told HollywoodLife that they're strictly co-parents: 'So much time has passed since they have been in a romantic relationship and they are not interested in rekindling it.

'They are just trying to be good parents and if that means they hang out more together, that is totally something they can figure out. They are very happy to be in each others lives forever even if it doesnt return to a deeper love connection that they had in the past.'

Kourtney is preparing to bid farewell to KUWTK for good, when they air their 20th and final season, after 13 years on E!

She left the show back in March, later citing a 'toxic environment' to Vogue Arabia as reason for her departure.

The end: Kourtney is preparing to bid farewell to KUWTK for good, when they air their 20th and final season, after 13 years on E!
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KRChoksey's research report on HCL Technologies

HCL Technologies has announced its intent to acquire Australia-based IT, business and management consulting firm DWS Limited. DWS - listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) - employed 772 people as of June-end, has offices in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane and Canberra and provides a range of IT services including Digital Transformation, Application Development & Support, Program & Project Management and Consulting, mainly in Australia and New Zealand. The acquisition will be done by a process of Scheme of Arrangement to be approved by courts in Australia. It will be subject to the approvals of Australias Foreign Investment Review Board, Australian Competition Commission and New Zealands Overseas Investment Office. The transaction will also require approval of DWS shareholders. The acquisition will be done through HCL Australia Services Pty. Limited, a wholly owned step-down subsidiary of HCL Technologies.

Outlook

We maintain our ACCUMULATE rating on the stock, with a revised target price of INR 893, as we roll forward our valuation to FY23E EPS, giving a target PE multiple of 16x FY23E EPS.

For all recommendations report, click here

Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts/broking houses/rating agencies on moneycontrol.com are their own, and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.

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Do you ever think America has gone crazy  that too many now have bats in their belfry  that much of our leadership has lost its way with no true north to guide them? Its not hyperbole to say that were living in a time when good is called evil, and evil is called good. America has gone nuts, and yet so much of whats accepted is treated as perfectly normal.

In his book, The Gospel and the American Dream, Bruce L. Shelly recounts the interesting story of Peer Gynt, told by the Norwegian dramatist Henrik Ibsen. In the play, Gynt goes to a mental hospital and finds that no one in the institution seems crazy. The people there talked quite normal, sensibly. They discussed their plans with such reason and precision; he felt confident that they must be sane. Gynt was mystified by the experience and asked the doctor about his discovery.

Theyre mad, the doctor assured Gynt. They talk very sensibly, I admit, but it is all about themselves. They are, in fact, most intelligently obsessed with self  morning, noon, and night. We cant get away from self here. We lug it along with us, even through our dreams. O yes, young sir, we talk sensibly, but were mad right enough.

Shelly uses the illustration to contend a similar societal madness is produced by decades of something he calls, The myth of Escalating Emancipation.

This myth, he asserts, claims that every step forward in the intellectual, social, and political fields is a part of a movement in universal liberation. Minorities are being liberated from political oppressorswomen from servitudechildren from the tyranny of parents, citizens from the constraints of poverty, homosexuals from the laws against perversion, couples from the lifelong prison of marriage etc. He adds that according to this myth, The business of dismantling past restrictions must go on indefinitely.

But this myth of Escalating Emancipation, which rejects conventional wisdom and urges us to throw off restraint and give way to insatiable appetites and impulses in the name of liberation, has just the opposite effect on its adherents. It isnt liberating. And though its objectives might seem quite natural to so many, its end-result is a culture of crackpots.

Jesus spoke of this principle when he said, Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it (Matt. 7:13).

In the Synoptic Gospels, there is the story of a man who was literally out of his mind. His insanity required that he be chained. However, his ailment was so terribly pervasive that even when such measures were taken, he would break away. Only after the man had a remarkable life-changing experience of meeting Christ does the Bible say he was seen dressed and in his right mind (Mk. 5:15).

Shelly adjures us to reject the myth of Escalating Emancipation, which leads to both a form of mental and spiritual insanity  an irrationality which may seem quite ordinary but actually shuts us away from the sane and expansive world of the life of God.

Biblical sanity is whats desperately needed today, wrote Shelly.

First, biblical sanity recognizes a liberating world beyond this life", Secular thinking in America persistently treats this world as The Thing. The Christian, however, believes that human life and human history are in the hands of God. The whole universe is sustained by the Almightys power and love. The natural order is dependent upon that supernatural order; time is contained within eternity. This earthly life is a temporal place, a significant preparation for another, a final world beyond the grave.

Second, biblical sanity holds that human life is handicapped by a pervasive evil in society and every human heartAmericans assume that human nature is basically good and that life can operate reasonably well without religious and moral judgments. But according to the Christian moral order, the key sin in life is egocentric pride, that perversion of human thinking and choosing by which the self becomes the center of the universe. The key virtue in the Christian moral system is obedience, that commitment of self in thought and act by which God is revered as the center of the universe. The Christian goal, then, is to make all of lifes activities and relationships a fit offering to God.

Third, biblical sanity attests to an objective standard of truth, the basis for a meaningful view of life and morality in the world. Contemporary Americans are in the habit of asserting the opinionated self as the only judge of truthChristianity; however, recognizes divine revelation as the touchstone of truth.

Finally, biblical sanity highlights concern for other people. The Christian sense of the sacredness of human personality is grounded in the fact that God became a man [in Jesus Christ]. Therefore, every human being, regardless of class or conditionis the center of Gods intentional love.

Could there be a more sublime view of ones fellowman? Hardly!

Who else but Christ, what else but the Bible, can actually bring some semblance of sanity to the myth of Escalating Emancipations? concludes Shelly.

Shelly made these arguments more than 30 years ago, but they remain steadfast and true. In fact, its been this way for thousands of years. The hope of any society gone crazy is still Jesus Christ.
NPG Media behavior in recent years has cost media  known as the Fourth Estate  its most important asset: public trust.

As national media outlets continue to focus on the pandemic, the upcoming 2020 election, and wildfires, Negative Population Growth has published a new Forum paper dissecting the transition of todays media behavior from expansive information platforms to limited information islands that effectively censor broad critical discussions.

Titled Why Population Really Disappeared from the News and Became Politically Incorrect! and authored by Kathleene Parker, a long-time journalist, the paper demands a closer look at media behavior and the far-reaching effects of deregulation. Defined by Cambridge Dictionary as, a process in which a government removes controls and rules about how newspapers, television channels, etc. are owned and controlled, critics, like Parker, believe deregulation gives too much power to individuals who own many forms of mass media.

Parker begins her work with a searing indictment of the press, saying: Media behavior in recent years has cost media  known as the Fourth Estate  its most important asset: public trust.

Parker believes that todays media purposefully mislead and suppress full discussions about population, immigration, and a host of other critical issues. According to Parker, deregulation is why we have become a nation that governs to that which media put forward and to the will of those who scream the loudest or posture most effectively for the T.V. cameras, rather than being a nation of majority rule.

Showcasing the resignation letter of New York Times editor Bari Weiss (published in July 2020) to further her point, Parker states: until we somehow reform the Fourth Estate, population activists, immigration reduction activists, and those concerned about the environment at deep causal levels are going to be denied our ability  our RIGHT in a democracy  to be heard and our message to be respected. Parker then strengthens her calls for media reform, noting the creation of near-media monopolies, saying: Enormous  now global  conglomerates have control of media  and the power that represents  and they are not going to easily let go of their ability to control the message.

Addressing what journalism has transitioned to since deregulation, Parker states: Today, journalists almost universally do advocacy reporting that takes one point of view, excluding all that does not conform to that viewtodays reporting merely confirms our prejudices  incites, rather than informs, and constantly divides us into red and blue thinking.

To illustrate her point, that deregulated media causes an immediate and tangible disruption in the sharing and distribution of facts, Parker brings into focus the stark declaration presented in a joint statement backed by scientists all over the world in November 2019, which clearly explains that climate change cannot be fought without addressing the population. Parker zeros in on the lackluster media reports, positing: The scientists, I believe, deftly shot themselves in the foot, media-wise, when they tied everything to population. Had they just declared a climate emergency, they would have had lead-story status on the evening news and page A-1 coverage in every major newspaper, but the inconvenient truth of population, for Big Media, resulted in the story receiving only minimal coverage in a few newspapers, the internet, or with population omitted.

Parker believes: The media-created atmosphere that those opposed to unfettered immigration are xenophobes and racists is the main reason the environmental community no longer embraces population. That, combined with deregulation, leaves little room for conversation, debate, and new population policies.

Parker closes her paper with a call to action, saying: we mustpressure leaders, speak out in letters to editors (where the opportunity still exists) and use every avenue to educate others as to the imperative  for democracy and for our planet  of regaining a professional, objective, independently owned Fourth Estate.

Founded in 1972, NPG is a national nonprofit membership organization dedicated to educating the American public and political leaders regarding the damaging effects of population growth. We believe that our nation is already vastly overpopulated in terms of the long-range carrying capacity of its resources and environment. NPG advocates the adoption of its Proposed National Population Policy, with the goal of eventually stabilizing U.S. population at a sustainable level  far lower than todays. We do not simply identify the problems  we propose solutions. For more information, visit our website at NPG.org, follow us on Facebook @NegativePopulationGrowth or follow us on Twitter @npg_org.
A social media influencer has defended shaming an alleged racist on her Instagram account days after she claimed he told her to go back to Wuhan at a popular restaurant.

Korean-American Sophia Chang addressed her 543,000 Instagram followers in an emotional video on Monday afternoon (local time) after last week sharing a clip of the aftermath of the alleged incident as well as a photo of the man involved and details about his employer, who has since dismissed him following investigations.

I have received some [direct messages] from people who think that Im taking it too far, she said.

Theres this one person who [direct messaged] me that said since I have a platform that its my responsibility to teach my followers how to deal with racism with grace by walking away.

I couldnt disagree more. Because of this platform I have the responsibility to show people that it is not OK to be talked to like that and racially harassed for no reason.

Chang, who is also a prominent YouTube vlogger with nearly 850,000 followers, alleges the man told the influencer and her sister to go back to Wuhan as he passed their table at the Bluewater Grill in Newport Beach, in the US state of California, in an unprovoked attack.

Wuhan is the original epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic after the virus rapidly began to spread through the Chinese city at the beginning of 2020.

When Chang and her sister called the man out on his alleged remarks, she says he told them I dont speak Chinese.

The man was filmed by the sisters after the alleged incident. Source: Instagram/ Sophia Chang

Changs video last week shows the man denying the allegations before a female employee informs Chang she will handle it and approaches the mans table.

The restaurant later confirmed in a statement the man had been ejected from the restaurant and it did not condone racism in any form, while the man was no longer welcome on their premises.

Chang stands up for victims of racism amid pandemic

Chang said if the man had minded his own f****** business that day, we wouldnt even be in this situation.

Story continues

I didnt ask to be in this situation. What would you want to happen? Him not have any kind of consequence? she asked.

An emotional Chang said she was desperate to do the right thing and stand up for Asians who have been racially abused during the pandemic.

Ive realised this whole situation is much bigger than my sister and I. Theres so many Asians in America who have dealt with racism since the pandemic hit and its not OK, she said.

Some people feel like they dont have a voice and others simply just walk away and that is something I just could not do.

Sophia Chang documented the alleged incident on her Instagram page. Source: Instagram/ Sophia Chang

Walking away does not solve the issue and that is why I am choosing to speak up.

She said she hoped people looking to express discriminative views would think twice before they decide to attack anyone else.

In one of her posts, Chang previously identified the man as a Prudential employee.

A Prudential spokesperson told Yahoo News Australia on Thursday the matter was under investigation.

Prudential has zero tolerance for discrimination and takes these allegations very seriously. This matter will be thoroughly investigated and appropriate action will be taken, as warranted, the company said.

On Wednesday, the spokesperson confirmed to Yahoo News Australia the worker has been stood down.

After thoroughly investigating the incident in Newport Beach, we have made the decision to end our relationship with the financial representative involved, they said.

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.
Union Health Minister on Tuesday said the scheme has provided free treatment to more than 1.26 crore beneficiaries since its launch in September 2018.

Over 23,000 hospitals have been empanelled so far and more than 12.5 crore e-cards have been issued, a health ministry statement said.

Also, 57 per cent of the total amount utilised under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) has been for tertiary procedures related to treatment of major illnesses like cancer, cardiac ailments, orthopaedic problems, and neo-natal, Vardhan said as he chaired the 'Aarogya Manthan' 2.0 celebrating the second anniversary of AB-PMJAY.

Vardhan pointed out that 45 per cent of the empanelled hospitals are private facilities providing 52 per cent of the overall treatments and raising 61 per cent of the hospital admissions claims amount, the statement said.

As the "world's largest public-supported health assurance scheme", it provides financial risk protection to over 53 crore Indians from economically and socially disadvantaged backgrounds by assuring them with a health cover of Rs 5 lakh per eligible family per year to avail cashless inpatient secondary and tertiary healthcare, Vardhan noted according to the statement.

"It has provided treatments worth more than Rs 15,500 crore. It has saved crores of lives and households from getting wiped out due to catastrophic expenditure on health that pushed an estimated 6 crore families below poverty line each year," he was quoted as saying in the statement.

Nearly half of the beneficiaries have been girls and women.

He also added that in these two years, the scheme has provided free treatment to more than 1.26 crore beneficiaries, the statement said.

He also outlined the scheme's portability as one of its outstanding feature.

"An eligible patient from any state implementing PMJAY can avail of cashless treatment anywhere in India, in any empanelled hospital. Portability has been built into the design of the scheme and enabled 1.3 lakh citizens of the migrant population to avail of care at the nearest hospital," he was quoted as saying in the statement.

He added that PMJAY's capability building approach would go a long way in making Prime Minister Narendra Modi's dream of Atmanirbhar Bharat a reality.

He congratulated the 32 states and union rerritory governments who have committed to the scheme.

He presented awards to the winners of the PMJAY start-up grand challenge to support the implementation of PMJAY along seven implementation challenges such as beneficiary empowerment, increasing quality of care, minimising fraud and abuse control, and hence, help transform healthcare delivery to the poorest citizens, the statement said.

The Union health minister launched the AB-PMJAY Joint Certification Programme.

"I am confident that this promising programme will develop the skills and knowledge of relevant stakeholders in medical audit and health insurance for accurate and efficient processing of claims and prevention and detection of fraud and abuse," he stated.

He also released the "AB-PMJAY Anti-Fraud Framework: Practitioners' Guidebook".

This will serve as a useful tool for the states as it is a repository of the anti-fraud guidelines, techniques, advisories along with legal remedies/course of action presently available under applicable Indian laws, the statement said.

This guidebook will serve as an excellent instrument for capacity-building for the state health agencies to take effective measures for prevention, detection and deterrence of fraud under AB-PMJAY, he stated.

"The focus this year will be on expanding the reach of the PMJAY network and services to other left-out population groups such as manual scavengers, road traffic victims, truck drivers, among others through convergence with other central health schemes.

"Along with the recently-launched National Digital Health Mission, which will build the necessary digital health ecosystem to enable enhanced access to safe, timely, quality and affordable healthcare for 1.3 billion Indians, Ayushman Bharat will become a pillar of the country's healthcare system," Vardhan 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.)
With the opposition deciding to boycott the Rajya Sabha, its eight suspended MPs on Tuesday ended their overnight sit-in inside the Parliament House complex and said they would take their fight against the farm bills to the street.

IMAGE: TMC MP Dola Sen stages a protest over her suspension from the remaining Monsoon Session of Parliament over the ruckus created in Rajya Sabha, at Parliament House in New Delhi on Tuesday morning. Photograph: Kamal Kishore/PTI Photo

The suspended Rajya Sabha parliamentarians, who spent the night on the lawns near Mahatma Gandhi's statue in what several old-timers said was the first such overnight protest in the complex, got a surprise visitor in the morning -- Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh who came with tea and snacks.

Till late night, the protesting MPs raised slogans and sang songs while a host of Opposition leaders such as National Conference's Farooq Abdullah, Samajwadi Party's Jaya Bachchan and Congress' Ahmed Patel, Digvijaya Singh and Shashi Tharoor visited them to express their support.

But their morning visitor did not receive the same enthusiastic response, said some of the protesting MPs.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Harivansh's gesture was proof of his greatness, adding that his 'inspiring' and 'statesmanlike' conduct will make every democracy lover proud.

'To personally serve tea to those who attacked and insulted him a few days ago as well as those sitting on Dharna shows that Shri Harivansh Ji has been blessed with a humble mind and a big heart. It shows his greatness. I join the people of India in congratulating Harivansh Ji,' he tweeted.

The Rajya Sabha deputy chairman, the protesters said, came early with a posse of news cameras and was told by a senior MP to visit without the cameras and sit with them.

"Another senior MP also told him that while bringing tea was a nice gesture, he was still in the wrong in what he did. He was told he was the one who broke the rules," a protesting MP told PTI.

Several leaders said they did not accept the tea and snacks offered by the deputy chairman.

"I did not have the tea brought by him," said Aam Aadmi Party leader Sanjay Singh.

"Farmers have been cheated. We kept asking for proper voting and we were ignored completely. This is not the time to make friends but to fight for the rights of farmers, and we sat here the whole night to protest against the anti-farmer Bills," he added.

A motion for the suspension of the eight leaders -- Rajeev Satav, Syed Naseer Hussain and Ripun Bora (Congress), Dola Sen and Derek O'Brien (Trinamool Congress), K K Ragesh and Elamaram Kareem (Communist Party of India-Marxist) and Sanjay Singh (AAP) -- was moved by the government on Monday and approved by a voice vote in the House.

They were suspended for the remaining part of the current session over their 'misbehaviour' with the deputy chairman during the passage of the farm bills on Sunday.

With the opposition parties boycotting the rest of the session, there was no point in continuing with the dharna, which started on Monday afternoon and ended 24 hours later on Tuesday, said Congress MP Hussain.

"All the opposition parties have boycotted the rest of the session (in Rajya Sabha), nobody is attending the session. They appealed to us to withdraw the dharma and since nobody is attending the session till the suspension is revoked, there is no point in continuing with the dharna," he told PTI.

His party colleague Rajeev Satav added that they will now hit the streets against the farm bills. Trinamool Congress' Sen agreed.

"After many Opposition parties have boycotted the remainder of the Monsoon session of the Rajya Sabha, the dharna at Gandhi statue has ended. Now we will take our fight for the rights of the farmers to every town and village in the country," she told PTI.

"I demand the government withdraws the black laws passed unconstitutionally without voting. Get the voting done and then see the result. You know you don't have the required votes that is why you are scared of getting the voting done," said Singh of the AAP.

CPI-M MP Kareem said the fight would continue.

'Opposition decided to boycott the session. Why should we attend if they don't want us to speak/vote? Govt still not ready for discussion & correct their undemocratic approach towards Parliament. We'll continue our fight for farmers & resist moves to derail Parliamentary Procedure,' he said on Twitter.

Earlier, senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel said the MPs who spent the night in front of Parliament don't need tea but justice.

'The BJP government evicted and attacked them because they stood up for farmers. Justice is their right & they will have it. Constitution expects those in power to offer justice, not tea,' he tweeted.

Expressing his deep anguish and pain at the opposition members' 'humiliating' conduct towards him, Harivansh has announced a 24-hour fast, saying he hoped it will inspire a feeling of 'self-purification' in them.

Harivansh has been in the thick of things since the suspension drama unfolded.

Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu had rejected a notice for a no-confidence motion against Harivansh as it was not in proper format and did not give a 14-day notice period.

Several opposition parties, including AAP, TMC and the Left parties, led by the Congress walked out from the Rajya Sabha demanding that the suspension of the eight members be revoked. But the government is insisting on an apology first.

Before the walkout, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad said the opposition will boycott proceedings of the House till the suspension is revoked.

Various opposition parties, including the Congress and the TMC, also boycotted the Lok Sabha in solidarity with the eight Rajya Sabha members.

Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the government will consider revoking their suspension only after they apologise for their behaviour in the Upper House.

Later, the Rajya Sabha chairman made a fresh appeal to members of all opposition parties to rethink their decision of boycotting the House proceedings and participate in the discussions.

Naidu, while presiding over the Rajya Sabha, said he had directed the secretary general to get in touch with the Lok Sabha secretariat to ensure the protesters are taken care of properly.

He, however, said the secretary general had shown him instructions issued earlier that members cannot be in the Parliament House complex for any demonstration, dharna, strike, fast or even any religious ceremony.

The Monsoon Session is scheduled to end on October 1. However, the session is likely to be curtailed with several MPs testing positive for COVID-19.
Former Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer stands with former members of the famed Tuskegee Airmen, including George W. Biggs on the far right, at an event in 2013.

PHOENIX  One of the last living Tuskegee Airmen from Arizona died on Saturday at the age of 95, a family member confirmed to The Arizona Republic.

George Washington Biggs, a native of Nogales, Arizona, died at a senior-care facility in Tucson, according to his daughter, Rose Biggs-Dickerson.

Biggs joined the U.S. Army Air Corps  a precursor to the modern U.S. Air Force  in 1943 after he turned 18, though he had attempted to join in 1941 when he was 16 but was denied, she said.

He requested a position that would allow him to see combat rather than something like a cook, Biggs-Dickerson said, and ended up being placed in the Tuskegee Institute, where Black men trained to fly and maintain combat aircraft and eventually fight in World War II as the Tuskegee Airmen.

She said that her father never saw himself as a hero, but rather as a soldier who followed the orders he was given.

"He was very humble," Biggs-Dickerson said. "He did not want to be considered a hero because  in the air  they did what they were supposed to do. So there was no heroism in what they did when they served."

Arizona Rep. Ruben Gallego lauded Biggs' military service while wishing him a happy 95th birthday on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this year.

"I believe that Mr. Biggs' character and actions truly embody what it means to serve one's country," Gallego said. "Not only did he fly in multiple wars, he rose above expectation and obligation as a Navigator and an officer. In addition to his time in the Army Air Corps and Air Force, his integrity, modesty, and principled character are values that we can all learn from and should strive to emulate."

Tuskegee Airmen George Biggs signs an autograph in 2012 at the Commemorative Air Force Arizona Wing Aviation Museum in Mesa.

Facing decades of discrimination

Biggs-Dickerson said her father and other Black men faced discrimination upon their return to the U.S. and said prisoners of war from enemy countries were treated better than them.

"The airmen will tell you that they were made to be in the back of the ship and the soldiers from the  I don't know if it was the German soldiers or the Japanese soldiers  had more rights than them and were allowed to be in certain parts (of the ship) where they were not allowed because they were African American," Biggs-Dickerson said.

Story continues

Biggs-Dickerson said her father tried searching for work after the war but struggled to find a job. He eventually re-enlisted as a noncommissioned officer, she said.

He was stationed at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona, around the mid-1950s as one of the base's first African-American officers where he helped integrate minority soldiers, Biggs-Dickerson said.

He was eventually promoted to major and flew B-47 and B-52 bombers in the Korean and Vietnam wars while earning numerous military accolades for his achievements.

Biggs-Dickerson said her father faced discrimination throughout his military career. Pilots would say they didn't want Biggs as a navigator because he was Black and sometimes ignored his warnings when they entered enemy territory before he guided them out to safety.

She said her dad eventually retired from the U.S. Air Force during the 1970s and became an agent for the U.S. Customs Service in Nogales, Arizona.

Biggs-Dickerson said her father was quite strict, with many conversations involving responses that necessitated either a "yes sir" or "no sir" from her and her siblings. But she said that she eventually understood her father was raised to abide by a strict sense of integrity and honor that carried on into his parenting.

Congressional Gold Medal recipient

Though her father didn't want to be seen or treated as a hero, Biggs-Dickerson said he and the other living Tuskegee Airmen were touched when they were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal  the highest civilian recognition given by Congress  in 2007.

"When they got the Congressional Medal, George Bush saluted them," Biggs-Dickerson said. "And it was the first time they had been saluted to. And these airmen were just touched. They were touched because they realized that they finally got the respect that they deserved."

Follow reporter Perry Vandell on Twitter @PerryVandell.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: George Biggs, one of last living Tuskegee Airmen from Arizona, dies
Just two months after pubs and restaurants were allowed to reopen, the rules have tightened again.

On Tuesday 22 September, prime minister Boris Johnson announced a raft of new restrictions designed to curb the further spread of coronavirus after the chief medical officers of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland raised the alert level for Covid-19 from three to four.

This is the moment where we must act, he said during a speech at the House of Commons. We've reached a perilous turning point.

In addition to asking people to work from home where possible and reducing the number of guests permitted at weddings, Mr Johnson implemented a series of restrictions on the hospitality industry, including a new curfew for pubs and restaurants and the banning of buying drinks at the bar.

The prime minister apologised to businesses just getting back on their feet, stating that we must stop the virus being transmitted in bars and restaurants.

So, what are the new rules set to come into force in the next week? Here is everything you need to know.

10pm curfew

The prime minister has ordered all hospitality venues in England, including pubs and restaurants, to close by 10pm from this Thursday.

Mr Johnson made clear that the curfew is the time at which outlets should shut their doors, not just last orders.

To help the police to enforce this rule, I am afraid that means alas closing, and not just calling for last orders. Simplicity is paramount, he said.

Takeaways are included in the order to close at 10pm. However, deliveries of food are still allowed between 10pm and 5am.

This means while customers cannot collect a takeaway after 10pm, they can get it delivered to their home.

Table service only

As well as forcing pubs and restaurants to close at 10pm, Mr Johnson said there will be a restriction on pubs and restaurants to offer table service only, meaning buying drinks at the bar will be banned.

From Thursday all pubs bars and restaurants should operate table service only except for takeaways, he said.

Face masks

On 22 September, Mr Johnson has said that customers should now be wearing masks when moving around hospitality businesses, such as walking to their table or visiting the toilet.

The masks should only be removed when eating or drinking and sat at your table). This rule will come into force from Monday 28 September.

Previously, customers only had to wear a face covering if they were buying food or drink to takeaway, with ministers saying it was impractical to wear them in restaurants and pubs.

This update also applies to staff at hospitality venues, who now should be wearing masks when working.

The penalty for not wearing a face mask has doubled to 200 for a first offence.

Rule of six

As part of what Mr Johnson dubbed the rule of six, pubs and restaurants are only allowed to take bookings of up to six people in line with the new rules on socialising. The six people can be from multiple households, however social distancing rules should still be observed.

Hospitality venues can have more than six people inside in total, but customers on individual tables must not exceed that number.

Businesses can be fined up to 10,000 if they take reservations of more than six people.

Track and trace

Pubs and restaurants are legally required to collect details for track and trace.

Previously, businesses did not had to enforce this as it was merely guidance. But now customers will have to give their details to help prevent the spread of Covid-19, otherwise they will be breaking the law.

Venues that fail to ensure their premises adhere to the rules face fines.

UK pub and hospitality bodies state that contact details only need to be taken from one person in a group, that the details must be kept for 21 days and that customers only need to give their name and phone number.
A day after Biju Janata Dal opposed the twin bills on farming in Rajya Sabha, arguing that it did not have any provisions for small and marginal farmers, several farmer leaders in the state alleged that the partys opposition was half-hearted and it was indulging in doublespeak.

The BJD on Sunday had opposed the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 and Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of the Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020, alleging that it had little provision for small and marginal farmers as well as sharecroppers. We cant support the bill till we are sure that farmers interest will be protected, said BJD leader and Rajya Sabha member Prasanna Acharya.

Incidentally, the party had not supported the bill in the Lok Sabha as there was no voting on it with party MP Anubhav Mohanty urging the government to send the bills to select committee of the House. In the Rajya Sabha too, where the party has nine parliamentarians, there was no voting.

Also read: Govt didnt talk to us, it should consult farmers - Sukhbir Singh Badal

BJDs opposition to the twin farm bills came as a surprise to several political analysts who were taken aback by the partys stand considering that the party had supported the NDA on CAA, demonetisation, revocation of Article 370 and Triple Talaq Bill.

Political analysts Satya Prakash Dash of Sambalpur University said BJDs opposition to the central bill was a clever ploy to guard its support among farming community who have supported it over the years. As close to 70 percent of the states population are farmers and many of them are BJDs supporters, the party perhaps wanted to send a message that it is ready to oppose the BJP when it comes to agriculture, said Dash.

But despite the partys opposition to the twin farm bills, farmer leaders did not seem to be impressed with the BJDs stand with many of them calling it a half-hearted attempt. The Odisha Agricultural Produce and Livestock Contract Farming and Services (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance, 2020 which is almost similar to the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 was brought in at least three weeks before the central ordinance. The BJP and the BJD are hand in glove when it comes to sacrificing the interest of farmers at the altar of the marketplace, said Lingaraj, convenor of Paschim Odisha Krushak Sangathan Samanwaya Samiti, an umbrella body of various farmer organisations.

Lingaraj said while the central Act ensures that no market fee, cess levy can be collected from farmers, traders and e-trading platform for the trade of scheduled farmers produce in the trade area, the Odisha ordinance(to be brought in as bill in the coming monsoon session) has provision of market committee collecting fee on notified commodities within the market yard. The most important part is both the state and central ordinances and Acts support contract farming which would prove to be harmful for farmers of the state, he said.

Another farmer leader Akshay Kumar of Navanirman Krushan Sangathan said on principle both the BJP and the BJD are on the same page when it came to contract farming. For the last several years, Odisha has been trying to get contract farming knowing that it would not be beneficial to small and marginal farmers. Yet they brought in an ordinance and now would make it an Act. There is not much to choose between the two parties when farmers interest is concerned, said Kumar.

Also read: UN needs to address crisis of confidence: PM Modi calls for reformed multilateralism

Noted farmer leader Ashok Pradhan of Sambalpur said BJDs opposition to the bill did not carry any meaning as the party has hardly done anything for the farmers in last 20 years of its rule. BJD is also bringing two bills on farming that are in essence similar to central ones. When the BJD brought in the two ordinances in May this year we had warned of its disastrous consequences. While northern Indian states have some sorts of infrastructure for farmers, Odisha farmers do not have that luxury. The central Act, as well as the Odisha ordinances, would not help the farmers here anyway. The BJD opposition looks like some kind of deal, said Pradhan.

Pradhan further said in the last many years, many paddy farmers of Odisha do not get the minimum support price despite the state governments regular announcement. Unlike northern and central states, Odisha farmers dont get any bonus. Farming is totally unremunerative and there is no incentive for farmers. The central Act, as well as the proposed Odisha Bill on farming, would ensure big business houses would make the farmers agricultural labourers in their own fields, he said.

Agriculture expert Devjit Sarangi, who has studied the central bill, as well as the Odisha ordinance, said a farmer can enter into a written farming agreement for any farming produce as per central bill, the proposed Odisha Bill has similar provisions. The Odisha one only talks about state government collecting a facilitation fee of maximum 4 percent from the corporate houses that come for contract farming while there are no such features in the central bill. But if one looks at the central and state laws, there is hardly any difference, he said.

The Odisha Agricultural Produce and Livestock Contract Farming and Services (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance, 2020, promulgated by the state government on May 13, aims at registration of farmers with contract farming companies for improving production and productivity by way of land, soil management, seeds, saplings, fingerlings, inputs, feed and fodder, technology and other such services. The ordinance covers sale and purchase of 50 varieties of plant produce and 5 varieties of animal produce.

The Odisha ordinance, like the central bill, would provide for geographically restriction-free trade and transaction of agricultural produce, including livestock, across the State and country to give freedom to the farmers to sell their produce in a better manner.
US-based Binswanger Commercial Real Estate Services and ANAROCK Group have partnered to offer boutique advisory, brokerage, and transaction services on industrial real estate opportunities between India, USA, and other global markets.

The objective of this collaboration is to offer innovative solutions, property purchase and leasing strategies, development consultancy, and investment advice for industrial and logistics, thereby enabling cross-border synergies between Indian and US-based Industrial corporations.

This partnership will leverage ANAROCK's matchless India presence and Binswanger's relationships with industrial clients in high-value geographies such as North and South America, and other global markets.

The partnership also proposes to tap into a growing data center market to facilitate global hyper-scalers and ramp up their digital infrastructure initiatives across India in line with the vision of the Government of India.

"Manufacturing is the strongest common denominator among developed and developing nations, irrespective of other economic indicators," said Jeff Binswanger, Managing Partner, Binswanger.

"Many of our US-based clients doing international business are eager to expand or explore opportunities in India. We are excited to partner with ANAROCK Group, India's pre-eminent real estate services company, to open up cross-border channels in industrial real estate," added Jeff.

"The Government of India's thrust on self-dependence and local manufacturing has led to increased activity amongst international industrial units such as electronics, solar, chemicals, to name a few to ramp up capacities in India. Further, there is a growing trend amongst high export industries such as Indian Pharma to look at expansion to the US and other countries," said Anuj Puri, Chairman, ANAROCK Group.

"Binswanger has extensive experience over the past 90 years in industrial real estate having worked with over half of the Fortune 500 companies. Coupled with ANAROCK's industry-defining relationships and reach in India, this is a winning combination. Industrial real estate is a global phenomenon that must not be limited by borders," added Anuj.

ANAROCK leverages its innovative business model and user-friendly technology platform, to provide holistic service offerings across residential, retail, commercial, investment banking, industrial, hospitality, land, consulting, and real estate technology solutions.

Binswanger specializes in the disposition of unique real estate assets such as corporate headquarters and industrial spaces in manufacturing, distribution, specialized chemicals, biotech, life sciences, microchip manufacturing, and other technical facilities.

Binswanger, a global leader in full-service commercial real estate, has been helping its clients realize their full real estate potential since 1931.

Founded by real estate innovator and pioneer, Frank Binswanger Sr, the company operates with the understanding that real estate has the ability to strengthen businesses and transform communities.

The company offers a variety of services benefitting both owners and occupiers including global real estate brokerage, location consulting, investment sales, tenant representation, corporate advisory, strategic consulting, and a variety of management services.

Having worked with more than half of the Fortune 500, the employee-owned company has long been known as the industry leader in the acquisition and disposition of industrial and commercial facilities around the globe.

For more information, please visit www.binswanger.com.

ANAROCK is India's leading independent real estate services company, chaired by Anuj Puri, with 14 offices across India and the Middle East, and 1800 plus experienced professionals.

The company has diversified interests across the real estate lifecycle and deploys its proprietary technology platform to accelerate marketing and sales.

ANAROCK's services include residential broking & technology, retail (in partnership with Vindico), commercial, investment banking, hospitality (via HVS ANAROCK), land services, industrial and logistics, investment management, research, strategic advisory & valuations, and project management services (in partnership with Mace).

The company has a unique business model, which is an amalgamation of traditional product sales supported by a modern technology platform with automated analysis and reporting tools. This offers timely solutions to its clients while delivering financially favorable and efficient results.

Within a period of three years, ANAROCK has become the fastest-growing real estate company in India. Our assurance of consistent ethical dealing with clients and partners reflects our motto - Values Over Value.

For more information, please visit www.anarock.com.

This story is provided by India NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article.

DISCLAIMER

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Supreme Court Tuesday asked the Madhya Pradesh Assembly Speaker to apprise it by next week as to when he would decide the disqualification petitions against 22 Congress MLAs who switched sides to the ruling Bhartiya Janta Party. A bench of Chief Justice SA Bobde and Justices AS Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian, while hearing a plea filed by Congress MLA Vinay Saxena, said the speaker has to only make a statement as to when these applications will be decided.

At the outset, senior advocate Vivek Tankha, appearing for Saxena, said that disqualification petitions are pending with the Speaker since March 12. He said the speaker has to pass an order on disqualification petitions otherwise some of them will continue to be ministers in the state government. We want that the speaker should decide these petitions within a week, Tankha said. The bench noted that a letter for adjournment of the hearing in the matter has been circulated among the parties.

Counsel appearing for Vidhan Sabha secretariat said that they have been served the copy of petition Monday evening only and three weeks be given to them to respond. We understand the request for time but you only have to make a statement when it will be decided, the bench said. The counsel replied that he was appearing for Vidhan Sabha secretariat and not the Speaker.

To this, the bench observed, We don't see any practical difference between the Vidhan Sabha and the Speaker. The counsel for Vidhan Sabha then sought two weeks' time to respond. The bench then asked the lawyers appearing in the matter as to who was appearing for the Speaker. A lawyer said that he was to appear for the Speaker but had been discharged on Monday. The bench then posted the matter for next week and said that the Speaker should make a statement on deciding the disqualification applications.

On August 17, the top court had sought response from the office of the speaker on the plea of Saxena which had contended that Congress MLAs, who have resigned to join BJP, cannot be appointed as ministers in the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government, during the pendency of their disqualification proceedings. The plea had said that as per the apex court verdict in Manipur case, the disqualification proceedings have to be decided within a period of three months by the speaker. It had said that during the pendency of these disqualification applications, 12 out of 22 Congress MLAs who have resigned to join BJP have been appointed as ministers in the state government.

The plea said that the disqualification petitions have been pending against the rebel MLAs since March 12 but no proceedings have been initiated till now and the delay will amount to virtually defeating the very purpose of anti-defection law. On June 2, Chouhan carried out a major expansion of his cabinet, including 28 new members, a dozen of them former Congress MLAs whose rebellion contributed to the collapse of Kamal Nath led Congress government in the state.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 03:30:51|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Tuesday told the General Debate of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) that Iran is not "a bargaining chip" in the U.S. elections and domestic policy.

"Dignity and prosperity of our nation are essential for us; and they are attained through diplomacy relying on national will coupled with resilience," the Iranian president told the UNGA's virtual summit, noting that "we are not a bargaining chip in U.S. elections and domestic policy."

"The United States can impose neither negotiations nor war on us," Rouhani said. "Life is hard under sanctions. However, harder is life without independence."

"Any U.S. administration after the upcoming elections will have no choice but to surrender to the resilience of the Iranian nation," Rouhani said at the summit in a pre-recorded speech.

"And for the world: Today is the time to say 'no' to bullying and arrogance. The era of dominance and hegemony is long over. Our nations and children deserve a better and safer world based on the rule of law," Rouhani said.

"Now is the time for the right choice," the president noted.

The United States on Monday announced fresh sanctions and measures against entities and individuals related to Iranian nuclear and conventional weapons programs, a move to support its self-claimed UN "snapback" sanctions widely ignored by the international community.

The overwhelming majority of UN Security Council members asserted that the United States has no right to invoke the "snapback" mechanism as the country is no longer a participant following its withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal in May 2018. Enditem
The ESRF can image dense neuronal wiring in the brain with a resolution never seen before, as a paper published today in Nature Neuroscience shows. The Extremely Brilliant Source (EBS), the new machine at the ESRF, will enable scientists to accelerate imaging speed and further improve resolving power, opening new avenues in X-ray neuroimaging.

One of the grand quests in neuroscience is to build precise maps of the brain, charting all its neurons and the connections between them. Such wiring diagrams, called connectomes, promise to shed light on how a collection of cells can together give rise to thoughts, memories and behaviours, and to help uncover the pathways of neurological diseases. Mammalian brains contain tens of millions to billions of neurons, so studying neural circuits is a monumental challenge that requires to develop new techniques, says Alexandra Pacureanu, researcher at the ESRF and co-corresponding author of the paper.

Today, researchers led by the ESRF and Harvard Medical School and Boston Childrens Hospital (US), demonstrate in Nature Neuroscience a cryogenic X-ray microscopy approach to image dense neuronal wiring in millimeter-sized samples. The technique, developed at the nano-imaging beamline ID16A of ESRF, and dubbed X-ray holographic nano-tomography (XNH), achieves unprecedented resolving power in thick brain tissue specimens.

Combined with artificial intelligence-driven image analysis methods developed in collaboration with scientists at Janelia Research Campus, the team reconstructed neuronal processes in 3D, comprehensively cataloging neurons and even tracing individual connections from muscles to the central nervous system in fruit flies.

XNH imaging allows us to resolve the individual wires, but at the same time cover enough volume to see the big picture. This can fundamentally change how we understand brain circuits, to fully appreciate how populations of intricately interconnected neurons give rise to nervous function and ultimately cognition, says Aaron Kuan, researcher at Harvard Medical School.

The authors imaged over two days a fruit fly leg and its connections to the central nervous system, a structure that extends over a millimetre and is difficult to section and study with Electron Microscopy (EM). They were able to map all of the motor neurons extending from the fly equivalent of a spinal cord into a leg, as well as the sensory neurons that relay signals to the central nervous system. "I am amazed at how much I have learned from this technique. My mental picture of the musculature, tendons, joints, and neural control is practically complete now", explains Anthony Azevedo, neuroscientist working with fruit flies at Washington University in Seattle (US).

They also studied a mouse brain, focusing on an area of the cortex involved in integrating sensory stimuli and perceptual decision-making. Previous EM studies have noted interesting structural characteristics of so-called pyramidal neurons in this area but have been limited to sample sizes of around 20 neurons. Using XNH, the researchers scanned over 3200 cells in this area. Combined with aligned EM data, the team characterised the structure and connectivity of hundreds of pyramidal neurons, which revealed distinct structural propertiessuch as strong and spatially compressed inhibitory inputs onto certain neurite areasthat suggest previously undescribed functional properties.

Throughout recent years, scientists have made remarkable progress in imaging neural circuits, primarily using a painstaking approach: taking serial slices of brains, each a thousand times thinner than a human hair, imaging the slices with EM and stitching the images together for analysis. This can be prohibitively costly in terms of time and resources, requiring large numbers of EM images, which have a narrow field of view, and intense effort to reconstruct even small neural circuits. With XNH, there is no need to section or ablate the tissue and data collection times may be reduced from months or years to days. XNH has transformed how we think about mapping brain wiring. It may be an exciting new route to mammalian whole-brain connectomes, explains Wei-Chung Allen Lee, co-corresponding author.

The new ESRF source, EBS, will enable to accelerate throughput and it will improve imaging resolution. We strive to further push resolving power and, at the same time, extend the tissue coverage capabilities. By harnessing the benefits of EBS, we hope to identify synapses connecting neurons and investigate neural circuits in multiple samples to discover how connectomes evolve, for example, in the context of neurological disorders, concludes Pacureanu, who leads the X-ray neuroimaging at nanoscale research unit at ESRF.

The X-ray neuroimaging at nanoscale research unit is supported by an ERC starting grant of 1.43 million euros awarded to Pacureanu for a project entitled Bright, coherent and focused light to resolve neural circuits, which will exploit the capabilities of the new EBS.

Reference:

Kuan, A.T., et al, Nature Neuroscience, 14 September, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-020-0704-9.
Edward Snowden's book, Permanent Record, was released last year.

It offers by far the most expansive and personal account of how Snowden turned from obscure NSA worker to whisleblower, a move which set off a national debate about the extent of government surveillance by intelligence agencies desperate to avoid a repeat of the September 11 attacks.

Intelligence officials who conduct annual classified assessments of damage from Snowden's disclosures have said the documents will continue trickling out into the public domain for years to come.

Though the book comes six years after the disclosures, Snowden, who fled first to Hong Kong and then Russia, attempts in his memoir to place his concerns in a contemporary context.

'What is real is being purposely conflated with what is fake, through technologies that are capable of scaling that conflation into unprecedented global confusion,' he says.

The story traces Snowden's evolution from childhood, from growing up in the 1980s in North Carolina and suburban Washington, where his mother worked as a clerk at the NSA and his father served in the Coast Guard.

He came of age as the Internet evolved from an obscure government computer network and describes how a youthful fascination with technology - as a child, he took apart and reassembled a Nintendo console and, as a teenager, hacked the Los Alamos nuclear laboratory network - eventually led him to a career as an NSA contractor, where he observed high-tech spy powers with increasing revulsion.

Analysts used the government's collection powers to read the emails of current and former lovers and stalk them online, he writes.

One particular program the NSA called XKEYSCORE allowed the government to scour the recent Internet history of average Americans.

He says he learned through that program that nearly everyone who's been online has at least two things in common: They've all watched pornography at one time or another, and they've all stored videos and pictures of their family.

'This was true,' he writes, 'for virtually everyone of every gender, ethnicity, race, and age - from the meanest terrorist to the nicest senior citizen, who might be the meanest terrorist's grandparent, or parent, or cousin.'

He struggled to share his concerns with his girlfriend, who joined him in Russia and is now his wife.

'I couldn't tell her that my former co-workers at the NSA could target her for surveillance and read the love poems she texted me. I couldn't tell her that they could access all the photos she took - not just the public photos, but the intimate ones,' he writes.

'I couldn't tell her that her information was being collected, that everyone's information was being collected, which was tantamount to a government threat: If you ever get out of line, we'll use your private life against you.'

Before summoning a small group of journalists to Hong Kong to disclose classified secrets, knowing that a return to the US was impossible, he says he prepared like a man about to die. He emptied his bank accounts, put cash into a steel ammo box for his girlfriend and erased and encrypted his old computers.

These days he remains outside the reach of a US Justice Department that brought Espionage Act charges just weeks after the disclosures.

He spends many of his days behind a computer and participating in virtual meetings with fellow board members at the Freedom of the Press Foundation. 'I beam myself onto stages around the world' to discuss civil liberties, he writes.

When he does go out, he tries to shake up his appearance, sometimes wearing different glasses. He keeps his head down when he walks past buildings equipped with closed-circuit television. Once, he says, he was recognized in a Moscow museum and consented to a selfie request from a teenage girl speaking German-accented English.

It's unclear when or even if Snowden will return to a country where his family has deep roots. He traces his lineage back to the Mayflower and ancestors who fought in the Revolutionary War.

He was shaken by the September 11 attacks, but describes his 'reflexive, unquestioning support' for the wars that followed as the greatest regret of his life.

'It was as if whatever institutional politics I'd developed had crashed - the anti-institutional hacker ethos instilled in me online, and the apolitical patriotism I'd inherited from my parents, both wiped from my system - and I'd been rebooted as a willing vehicle of vengeance.'

He describes the 18 years since the September 11 attacks as 'a litany of American destruction by way of American self-destruction, with the promulgation of secret policies, secret laws, secret courts and secret wars'.

Reporting by Ross Ibbetson for MailOnline


Health officials around the world are concerned about rising numbers of new coronavirus cases. But another highly infectious virus will soon be returning to Earths Northern Hemisphere. That virus is influenza, commonly called the flu.

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that about eight percent of Americans get influenza each year. The flu season takes place during the winter months. During that time, hundreds of thousands of people are sick enough with the flu to be admitted to hospitals.

This year, with the U.S. health system already dealing with COVID-19, medical experts are concerned about the return of the flu.

"We really, really want to emphasize the potential for disaster," said Jeanne Marrazzo. She directs the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and is a member of the Infectious Diseases Society of Americas board of directors.

Experts are urging Americans to get the flu vaccine in an effort to ease the pressure on healthcare workers and hospitals.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that as many as 61,000 people die from influenza in the United States each year. It adds that U.S. hospitals treat as many as 810,000 Americans infected with the flu. People older than age 65 or those who have other health conditions are at greatest risk.

But the United States and much of the world is already fighting the novel coronavirus. The Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center reports that nearly 200,000 Americans have died from COVID-19.

"We still are on what we think of as a razor's edge with regard to COVID," Marrazzo noted.

As summer comes to an end, "I expect it to get worse," said Michael Mina. He is an assistant professor of epidemiology at Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health.

Rates of many respiratory diseases, including flu and the common cold, increase in autumn and winter. The reasons are not entirely understood, but the viruses that cause the diseases may spread more easily in colder, drier air than in warmer, wet weather.

Also, people spend less time outside the home in the winter and more time close to each other, often breathing the same air. Children may pass around viruses more readily in schools than when they are home for the summer and spending time outside.

It remains unclear how much the weather affects the spread of the coronavirus. Scientists are actively studying the question. The coronavirus is related to other viruses that cause the common cold. Mina noted, "what we see with those viruses is that come October, November, December they skyrocket."

"I hope that for some reason this virus behaves differently, but I don't anticipate that it will," he added.

Officials: flu shots are very important

While a safe coronavirus vaccine is in the future, U.S. health officials are urging everyone to get a flu shot as soon as possible.

In most years, not even half of all adult Americans get vaccinated. The rate is even lower among minority groups. That is in part because getting a flu shot does not guarantee protection against the virus.



"Influenza vaccine in a good year is generally between 40 and 60 percent effective," said Walter Orenstein associate director of the Emory University Vaccine Center in Georgia. "Not perfect, but it's a lot better than zero percent effective, which is (what you get) if you don't get vaccinated."

The vaccine helps, even if it does not stop the infection, noted William Schaffner. He is an infectious diseases expert at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee.

"Even if you get influenza after you've had the vaccine, that illness is likely to be less severe," he said. "You're less likely to need to go to the emergency room, less likely to be hospitalized, less likely to die."

That is good news for patients, and it also helps the health care system. "The last thing we need is a huge surge of flu cases now," he added.

Vaccine manufacturers are expecting to produce a record supply of nearly 200 million doses of flu vaccine this year. However, the conditions making flu shots so important are the same conditions that make them harder to provide to everyone, Schaffner noted.

Fewer people will get flu shots at work this year because more people are working from home. Many public health centers are closed or are working on COVID-19 cases. Many people are avoiding doctor's offices completely out of fear of getting infected there.

Drug stores and supermarkets are still good places to get vaccinated, noted Jeanne Marrazzo of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. "People will probably need to be perhaps a little bit more creative," she said.

The steps taken to limit the spread of the coronavirus, such as covering ones face, hand washing and social distancing, all seem to work against the flu.

The World Health Organization says these measures are likely to have led to the mild flu season currently coming to a close in the Southern Hemisphere.

Im Ashley Thompson.

And I'm Mario Ritter Jr.

Steve Baragona reported this story for VOANEWS. Mario Ritter Jr. adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

hemisphere  n. a half of the Earth, usually divided between the northern and southern halves

emphasize v. to give special importance or attention to something

razor's edge n. a dangerous position in which two different things are carefully balanced

respiratory adj. related to breathing and the lungs

humid adj. when there is a lot of gaseous water in the air

skyrocket v. to go up or increase at a very fast rate

anticipate v. to expect something to happen in the future

dose n. an amount of a medicine needed to give a good result

mild n. not severe or strong

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T Muruganandham By

Express News Service

CHENNAI: A high-level committee, headed by former RBI Governor C Rangararajan, on Monday suggested that Tamil Nadu increase the capital expenditure for various sectors and implement an Urban Employment Scheme, among other measures, to stimulate the economy. The committee also hinted that given the consumption of power and fuel after easing of the lockdown, the State may be heading towards the pre-pandemic junction within the next two months.

Handing over its economic prescription to stimulate the economy with short term relief and long term revival to Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, the committee has given sector-wise suggestions to spur industrial growth and generate employment. Rangarajan also briefed the Chief Minister about the key aspects of the report. Palaniswami, in turn, has promised Rangarajan that the government would consider these measures.

Talking to Express, Rangarajan said, We think the government can increase the capital expenditure for various sectors provided in the Budget by another `10,000 crore. This will generate employment and lay the basis for future growth. We have also made similar recommendations to stimulate the economy immediately. Rangarajan said implementing an Urban Employment Scheme for cities and towns is a must in the present situation, given the fact that the rural employment scheme has benefitted many people in the villages.He said the `3,200 crore lying in the construction workers fund should be spent for workers to bring back migrant labourers to Tamil Nadu.

The Inter-State Migration Act should be implemented because that requires registration of all migrant labourers, with a separate regulating body for them, he said.Coming up with the idea of a better accommodation for workers, he said, Their residential facilities should be improved. We have suggested affordable housing for them - at least on a rental basis immediately. The government can build dormitories etc., for them.

The capital for TN Industrial Investment Corporation should also be increased by `1,000 crore to provide long-term finance to industries since the banks are not interested in extending long-term finances to industries at this moment. We have also recommended industrial towns and industrial parks with all the infrastructure and equipment so that more industrial estates could come up. A particular part of parks or townships should be reserved for MSMEs. A credit guarantee scheme should be implemented for minor industries at the State level, he said.

We need a decentralised delivery system for many sectors. For example, in a city like Chennai, there are many government hospitals, whereas they are very few in suburban areas. The government has already announced 2,000 micro clinics across the State. But, for small complaints, why should people move to general hospitals? There should be a larger number of small clinics with one doctor, a nurse and a compounder, he said.

Talking to reporters, he said the economic process had slowed down in the State due to the pandemic. We have to come out of this lockdown soon and implement other measures to prevent the spread of infection. As per our assessment, TNs growth rate would be around 1.71 per cent in 2021 and there is likely to be a slide. We cannot give the exact picture right now. But, the taxes for petrol and power consumption indicate that the State is moving towards a pre-Covid situation. In the next two months, we may be back in the earlier position. Asked whether there was any recommendation to reduce the tax, he said, Everyone is asking for reduction of taxes. So, there is no way to hike the tax this year.

As regards debt burden of the government which stood at above `4 lakh crore, Rangarajan said, Debt burden will go up this year since expenditure towards the health sector has gone up, while income has come down. According to our assessment, the State government will be in need to spend around `5,000 crore more in the health sector alone this year. So, naturally, the fiscal deficit will go up in TN.On whether any recommendation were made for increasing per capita income, he said if the government steps up spending, it would lead to economic growth at this juncture. We have recommended to spend `10,000 crore above the Budget proposals.

Alternative measures to curb virus

The panel headed by Rangarajan has recommended alternative measures to prevent the spread of Covid and to continue supply of free rice beyond November
New Delhi: Actor Tiger Shroff, who is all set to make his singing debut with the single 'Unbelievable', has been sharing his excitement by posting pictures on his social media. As soon as he began working on the song in May, the actor called his 'Student Of The Year 2' director Punit Malhotra, requesting him to develop the music video.

Of which, Punit Malhotra says, "I wasn't surprised when Tiger said he has sung a song, he has a lovely voice. I was kicking myself because I should have displayed his singing skills in 'Student Of The Year 2'."

Excited to reunite with the leading man of his college caper after over a year, the director also feared shooting the video in the midst of the pandemic.

"Initially, we were scared at the idea of going back to work. But once we did, it felt like a reunion of old friends. As the director, I was doubly vigilant and adopted safety measures over and above those stated by the government. Tiger Shroff was a source of support. His constant reassurance - 'Punit, we will get by this' - helped me," he adds.

Armed with a crew of 40 members, the actor-director duo shot the music video over three days at a five-star hotel in Lower Parel.

"Since the hotel was in a lockdown, it was the most sanitised place we could have shot at. We chose a theme that didn't need a big team. At the same time, we ensured we did not compromise on the scale. We explored a tender romance between two hotel staff members," shares Punit Malhotra.
Stephen Merchants stunning girlfriend Mircea Monroe has gone some way towards proving what initially turned the British actors head after posing for a new modelling shot.

The American actress, best known for her roles in Magic Mike, Episodes and The Rookie, shows off her cleavage in a loose fitting semi-sheer blouse, teamed with polka-dotted underwear.

With her tousled blonde hair cascading across her shoulders, Mircea, 38, offers the camera a coquettish glance while posing with one hand pressed against her thigh.

Looking good: Stephen Merchants stunning girlfriend Mircea Monroe has gone some way towards proving what initially turned the British actors head after posing for a new modelling shot

Mircea has dated The Office co-creator Merchant, 45, for around two years after they were first romantically linked in 2017.

The actor previously credited his Missouri born girlfriend for drawing a line under his eligible bachelor status after embarking on a series of short lived romances Los Angeles.

He told the i: 'Aside from the fact that shes great, hitting 40, theres something very pleasing about not having the endless concern about filling that part of your life.

Close couple: Mircea, 38, has dated The Office co-creator Merchant, 45, for around two-years after they were first romantically linked in 2017

'The life of a single person is a very lonely life. Theres a lot of nights where youre watching DVDs on your own.'

'Youre going out, youre eating three-course meals. Its expensive, youre overweight, youre drinking a lot'.

He also poked fun at how his height can impact his prowess in the bedroom as he said: 'If theyre down there and Im up here, its a bit tricky.'

The one: The actor previously credited his Missouri born girlfriend for drawing a line under his eligible bachelor status

At 6ft 7inch, beanpole star Merchant towers over his girlfriend, who is a comparatively short 5ft, 4inch.

As well as a string of acting credits, Mircea is also a former cover girl for lads mag Maxim with an education obtained at the Virginia Commonwealth University.

Her latest film credit, Masquerades, is currently in post-production and is expected to be released in 2021.
Want to travel but have nowhere to go? The lack of a destination may soon not be problem.

Taking a cue from some international airlines, notably Australias Qantas Airways, Indias national carrier Air India is planning to start its own version of flights to nowhere that will take-off from and land at the same airport, taking flyers on a picturesque journey in a bid to scratch the travel itch.

Airline officials familiar with the developments told HT that these scenic joy flights will be low-flying expeditions that give passengers an aerial tour of famous spots in India. What these spots will be is still being discussed, as is pricing and other modalities, the officials added.

Yes, we are exploring the possibility of starting a scenic flight service. Other details are to be decided, an Air India spokesperson said, adding that wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 747 will be used for the service.

A second official, who asked not to be named, said that the idea was discussed earlier this month after Qantas announced seven-hour-long flights during which the passenger will be able to spot attractions such as the Great Barrier Reef and the Sydney Harbour. Qantas announced that the flights -- priced between $575 and $2,765 (between 42,000 and 2 lakh) depending on the cabin class -- were sold out in 10 minutes. Apart from Qantas, other airlines, including Royal Brunei, are operating similar flights.

Health experts, however, warned that these flights may be an avoidable risk at a time when cases in India are still rising, and that only essential travel is recommended.

Doctor RK Singhal, director, department of medicine, at Delhis BLK Super Speciality Hospital, said Covid-19 cases in the country are going over 90,000 a day and at least 4000 daily in Delhi. This is the tip of the iceberg. The numbers are on a continuous rise... When cases are still to peak in the country, such unnecessary movements need to be restricted, Singhal said.

Aviation expert Mark Martin said low-level flying usually means flying aircraft at 1,000 feet above the Minimum Obstacle Clearance Altitude (MOCA), which varies from place to place depending on obstacles and visibility. Usually this depends on the region in which an aircraft is flying. For example, for Mumbai, the MOCA is about 3,000 feet. In such cases the air traffic control takes the call and allows an aircraft the level it can fly lowest at, Martin said.

He said a Boeing 747 can fly as low as 500 to 1,000 feet for display flights, but in what regions it can be allowed to fly that low depends on the region and on the Air Traffic Controls safety approval.

Cruising speed of a normal Boeing 747 during a low-altitude flight would be around 250 knots i.e. roughly 400 km per hour.

After a two-month suspension of airspace in March to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease, India resumed flight operations on May 25. International flights are going only to select destinations under an air bubble arrangement under the Vande Bharat Mission. Domestic flights in India are operating to all routes, but with strict safety measures in place.

Of late, many flyers have taken to social media to narrate how they feel about not being able to go on vacations or fly out of their cities because of Covid outbreak. Many also spoke about how they miss flyings but cannot go to tourist destinations as tourism is also affected due to existing restrictions in the country. The joy flights will get experience of flying back, and will also be something never experienced before. It is expected to be welcomed by the Indian flyers also, said a third official aware of the development who asked not to be named.

But experts warned that Covid safety measures will have to be considered.

At least three studies have analysed in-flight transmission of Covid-19. They found that the air circulation inside the airplane cabin may have reduced the rate of transmission and that wearing masks could further reduce the risk of spread, while seat proximity increased this risk. In one of the instances, a 10-hour flight from London to Hanoi resulted in 15 people getting infected from one index patient. The second detailed in-flight transmission in two people on a 4 hour, 40 minute Tel Aviv-Frankfurt flight and the third studied transmission in two passengers and two crew members on a 15-hour flight from Boston to Hong Kong.

Doctor T Jacob John, a retired professor of clinical virology at Christian Medical College, Vellore said it is crucial that airlines take all necessary precautions. This will get people out of monotony and airlines will earn revenue at the same time. Everyone must wear a mask. Transmission inside an aircraft does occur, but at a slow pace because the air is sucked away regularly and is recycled. Theres some risk but if people will be properly screened its a good initiative. Im sure airline will be considering all safety precautions, John said.
League City authorities was keeping an eye on swollen Clear Creek Tuesday, warning that high water could rise more later in the day when more rain is expected from Tropical Storm Beta.

Providing an update on the citys Facebook page around noon, Ryan Edghill, the citys emergency management coordinator, said the creeks water level at at Walter Hall Park remained high with heavy rain bands expected later in the afternoon.

Potential for another 5 to 10 inches of rain

Edghill said that League City had seen between 6 and 7 inches of rain overnight, while areas including Friendswood were seeing up to a foot of rain.

I mention that because all those areas are along Clear Creek, and so the biggest concern we have right now (is the creek) because the levels continue to rise, he said. Even with the lull in rainfall (in the afternoon), all of that heavy rainfall just to the northwest (near Friendswood) has to wash down, run out and continue to fill the creek.

Edghill urged residents in areas near the creek to remain vigilant.

Our threat (is expected) to last through early (Wednesday) morning, and hopefully, the storm will clear out a little bit, but there is a potential to see a repeat of what we saw last night and another 5 to 10 inches of rain in the same type of locations, he said.

City crews had spent Monday evening clearing drains to prevent street flooding and responding to reports of high water, according to the citys Facebook page. Overnight, the city received reports of high water on the north and southbound frontage roads on Interstate 45, including near Victory Lakes and the southbound feeder north of Texas 96 and urged residents to stay clear of these areas, which city crews worked to barricade.

With heavy rainfall expected Tuesday night, Edghill urged residents familiar with trouble spots like the feeder roads on I-45 and construction sites on Calder Road to take precautions, especially at night.

In the daytime, its great to say you know how deep it is, but especially as it gets dark, turn around and dont drive  never, ever drive through standing water especially when you dont know the depth  its a recipe for disaster, he said.

Alert about floating ant beds

The city closed several public parks Tuesday morning as a precaution due to potentially dangerous floating ant piles that can form in high water. The city posted a photo on its Facebook of a floating ant bed found Tuesday morning at Countryside Park and urged residents not to walk in flood waters. The parks will be closed until further notice and include Heritage Park, the Dr. Ned and Fay Dudney Clear Creek Nature Center, Lynn Gripon Park at Countryside (including the dog park), Ghirardi Family Watersmart Park, and the League City Boat Ramp.

The League City Volunteer Fire Department remained on standby with high-water vehicles and rescue boats.

For updates on flooding on roads, the creek and bayou, click on the link to the Harris County Flood Warning System.

For updates from the city of League, follow its Facebook page.

yorozco@hcnonline.com
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More than 200,000 Americans have now died from COVID-19 - a bleak milestone reached on Tuesday that comes even as the national death rate continues to decline.

The number of Americans dying from coronavirus per day, based on a weekly average, is now at just over 760.

It is down from the peak 2,000 deaths being reported per day back in April.

While deaths continue to decline across the country, fatalities related to COVID-19 are a lagging indicator and can potentially rise several weeks after new cases.

The national infection rate started increasing just over a week ago, which is a rise health experts have attributed to some schools reopening and parties over the Labor Day holiday.

The average number of COVID-19 cases being reported per day is now at just under 40,000 with total infection in the US topping 6.8 million.

The number of Americans dying from coronavirus per day, based on a weekly average, is now at just over 760. It is down from the peak 2,000 deaths being reported per day back in April

Before this uptick, cases, on average, had been trending downwards nationally since July when about 70,000 infections were being reported daily.

California, Texas and Florida - the three most populous US states - have recorded the most coronavirus infections and have long surpassed the state of New York, which was the epicenter of the outbreak earlier this year.

The southern states of Texas and Florida contributed the most deaths in the US in the past two weeks and were closely followed by California.

Deaths in those three states are currently declining.

The states that saw the largest increases in deaths in the last week were Arkansas, Kansas and Virginia.

The University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation is predicting that deaths will rise to more 378,000 by the end of the year.

The model forecasts that more than 114,000 lives could be saved if the majority of Americans wear masks but epidemiologists have already warned that mask-wearing is already declining across the country.

The national infection rate started increasing just over a week ago. The average number of COVID-19 cases being reported per day is now at just under 40,000 with total infection in the US topping 6.8 million

The death rate projected by the IHME model, which has been cited by the White House Coronavirus Task Force, would more than triple the current daily death rate to to 3,000 per day in December.

During the early months of the pandemic, 200,000 deaths was regarded by many as the maximum number of lives likely to be lost in the United States to the virus.

'The idea of 200,000 deaths is really very sobering, in some respects stunning,' Dr Anthony Fauci, the government's top infectious-disease expert, told CNN.

President Donald Trump on Monday said he had done a phenomenal job on the pandemic.

'It affects virtually nobody. It's an amazing thing,' Trump told supporters at a Swanton, Ohio, campaign rally Monday night.

'It affects... elderly people with heart problems and other problems - if they have other problems that's what it really affects, that's it.'

Trump has admitted to playing down the danger of the coronavirus early on because he did not want to 'create a panic.'

The states that saw the largest increases in deaths in the last week were Arkansas, Kansas and Virginia
There are no Nurses at major hospitals in the Greater Accra Metropolis, the Ghana News Agencys (GNA) investigation at the facilities on Monday has revealed.



At the time of the visit, the GNA observed that only doctors were attending to patients, at facilities including; Accra Ridge hospital, Korle-Bu Teaching hospital and Adabraka Polyclinic.



A source at the Ridge hospital said some few nurses who were not in uniform were seen around, but could not confirm if they were working or not.



According to the source, the absence of the nurses had created a huge vacuum and was impeding the flow of work.



A number of patients the GNA interviewed appealed to the government to address the grievances for the nurses to return to work.



Papa Jones Quartery, a Patient urged the nurses to return to duty, while their leaders dialogued with the Government on their conditions of service.



We plead with the nurses to have a human face because life lost as a result of strike cannot be reversed, but issues of money can be addressed, he said.



The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) comprising all public sector nurses, midwives, Physician Assistants (PAs) and Anesthetists (CRAs) today embarked on a strike to demand improved conditions of service.



Although the National Labour Commission (NLC) had secured an interim injunction to restrain members of the Association from laying down their tools, the nurses say their strike is in full force.



Meanwhile, the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) had asked the nurses to back down on its intended strike and return to the negotiation table to have its grievances resolved.



According to the Commission, the government had shown enough commitment to have the concerns of the health staff resolved, and the labour action was in serious breach of the rules of engagement between the two sides.



In a letter from the FWSC detailing the extent of deliberations between the government and the nurses, the Commission said the strike by the GRNMA was illegal because both parties had in principle agreed to six out of the eight outstanding proposals as presented by the Association with a four-week time frame for further action following their last meeting on September 16, 2020.

Source: GNA









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A 'crazy' year of heat waves and forest fires has led to Arctic sea ice melting to the second lowest level on record, according to a new study.

Experts from the National Snow and Ice Data Centre (NSIDC) found that the sea ice in the Arctic was 1.44 million square miles at the end of the annual summer melt.

This is the second lowest level of sea ice cover at the end of summer in the nearly 42 years since satellites started recording sea ice extent - the lowest was in 2012.

The low level of sea ice has been blamed on a crazy year due to near 100 degree Fahrenheit heat waves in Siberia and massive forest fires across the region.

Campaigners have called for governments to take immediate action including policies aimed at reducing the level of greenhouse gas emissions.

A 'crazy' year of heat waves and forest fires has led to Arctic sea ice melting to the second lowest level on record, according to a new study

Mark Serreze, director of NSIDC said 2020 will stand as an 'exclamation point on the downward trend in Arctic sea ice extent'.

'We are headed towards a seasonally ice-free Arctic Ocean, and this year is another nail in the coffin,' explained Serreze.

Ed Blockley, Met Office scientific manager for polar climate, said it was only the second time sea ice in the Arctic has dropped below 1.5 million square miles.

'This threshold has been crossed because this summer has seen several periods of very rapid sea ice loss linked, in part, to the record-breaking heatwave in Siberia.

'The Arctic is one of the most vulnerable regions on Earth to climate change and warming here will have consequences for the region and the planet as a whole.'

The news of the low ice cover prompted calls from environmental campaigners for rapid action to curb climate greenhouse gas emissions and protect the oceans.

Rod Downie, chief polar adviser at WWF, said the Arctic was in 'meltdown' and was one of the most 'visible and dramatic' signs of the climate crisis we face.

'That has profound implications for the iconic species of the ice, from walrus to polar bears, and for the people who call the Arctic home,' said Downie.

'What happens in the Arctic doesn't stay in the Arctic,' he warned, adding that the UK is the Arctic's closest neighbour and these extreme events affect us all.

He warned of changes in the weather to increasing sea levels as potential impacts on the UK as a direct result of the climate crisis in the Arctic.

Martin Siegert, Co-Director of the Grantham Institute - Climate Change and the Environment at Imperial College London, said we are causing climate change.

'The level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is over 400ppm, and it hasnt been that high for something like four million years,' he said.

The last time atmospheric carbon dioxide levels were that high - temperatures were 5.4F-7.2F higher than today and the sea level was 65 feet higher.

'Given enough time thats where well be,' warned Siegert.

Ed Blockley, Met Office scientific manager for polar climate, said it was only the second time sea ice in the Arctic has dropped below 1.5 million square miles

Dr Jack Landy, Lecturer and Research Fellow, University of Bristol, said it was just a single tongue of sea ice drifting out into the Canadian Beaufort Sea that kept up from setting another record minimum sea ice cover level.

'Every year seems to drag the declining sea ice trend steeper and steeper downwards. But we cannot really expect anything else unless the equally record-setting Arctic temperatures start to abate.'

Greenpeace Ship Arctic Sunrise, campaigner Laura Meller said this was a sobering indicator of how closely our planet is circling the drain.

'As the Arctic melts, the ocean will absorb more heat, and all of us will be more exposed to the devastating effects of climate breakdown.'

She said the Arctic ice cap is a frozen ocean in need of protection and we need to 'hit the reset button right now' on how we look after each other and our planet.

Hitting the reset button involved protecting at least 30 per cent of our oceans by 2030 to help our planet cope with the climate breakdown, Meller explained.

Dr Twila Moon, Research Scientist, University of Colorado at Boulder, said it was devastating to see yet another Arctic summer end with so little sea ice.

Greenpeace Ship Arctic Sunrise, campaigner Laura Meller said this was a sobering indicator of how closely our planet is circling the drain

'Not only is there a very small area of sea ice, but it also younger and more vulnerable overall. The Arctic is a changed place. All hope rests on humans to act on climate and slow this alarming pace of ice loss.'

We are living in a changed world and very low sea ice areas are one indicator of this dramatic change - others include the Arctic wild fires and heatwaves.

A low sea ice area also affects animals that people use for food and the climate that we feel even in countries far from the Arctic.

'Any hope of slowing the loss of sea ice rests in people and nations all over the world taking action to counter climate change,' explained Moon.

'The antidote is strong policy and action by citizens across the globe to reduce emissions of polluting gases.

'Not only will this help to protect Arctic sea ice and the animals and people who depend on it, but also reduce future risks from all climate hazards  from flooding to drought, wildfires, and health and economic impacts of sea level rise. We must act.'
Dragonflies, mayflies and caddisflies may be small, but their appearance could signal a big comeback for the beleaguered rivers of the American Southwest

Throughout the late 19th century, rivers across the southwestern United States were parceled out, and flows were diverted through irrigation canals and trapped behind dams. Growing populations put new demands on groundwater sources. Coupled with changing climate conditions, water tables sank and perennial streams began to run dry.

The fate of the Santa Cruz River in southeastern Arizona was no different.

The banks of the river, described in 1855 by explorer Julius Froebel as "covered with poplars and willows, ash-trees and plantains, oaks and walnut trees," would be unrecognizable by the late 1940s.

Nearly 70 years after the historic downtown reach of the Santa Cruz River ran dry, water returned in the form of 2.8 million gallons of reclaimed water released daily through the city of Tucson's Santa Cruz River Heritage Project.

When the water valves opened, researchers from the University of Arizona School of Natural Resources and the Environment were there to witness the occasion. Their driving question: When and how would the aquatic biodiversity return?

"Within the first day, we saw seven different species of dragonflies," said Michael Bogan, an assistant professor of natural resources with the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

After 10 months, the team found over 40 species.

"Which is what you would see in a site that had been flowing for a very long time," Bogan said.

More than a year of effluent-fed river flow later, the results of the "grand experiment" - published this week in the environmental science-focused, open-access journal PeerJ - are simple: Just add water.

"If you can put water back into these river systems that have been essentially de-watered, aquatic life will respond," Bogan said. "It will come back, even after a long absence, as is the case with the river in downtown Tucson."

The Good, the Bad and the Stinky:

Historically, effluent-dependent streams have been widely seen as degraded ecosystems, with much lower biodiversity than natural streams.

"This was due to relatively poor water quality being discharged into streams from wastewater treatment facilities," said Hamdhani, a graduate student in the School of Natural Resources and the Environment.

Hamdhani led a review study of water quality in effluent-fed streams across the globe, recently published in the journal Freshwater Biology.

"It revealed that some critical water quality parameters are often negatively impacted in portions of streams, typically closest to the effluent outfalls," Hamdhani said. "Some common issues include elevated temperature, nutrients, trace organic contaminants and low dissolved oxygen."

However, many wastewater treatment plants have been upgraded to provide better reclaimed water quality, and this better water is now supporting surprisingly high levels of biodiversity, as is the case in the Santa Cruz River.

"A lot of that is due to changes that the county made about eight years ago to both of the treatment plants that feed the northern reaches of the river," Bogan said. "Prior to 2012, they discharged lower quality water. You used to be able to smell the river when you drove in on I-10."

Both treatment plants went through a major upgrade in the early 2010s, where they improved the water treatment process.

"After that, the smell disappeared," Bogan said. "And biodiversity returned."

Crossing the Border, Changing Directions:

The Santa Cruz River, a tributary of the Gila River, runs approximately 184 miles. It springs from the grasslands of the San Rafael Valley east of Patagonia, Arizona, and is the only river in the U.S. to cross the border twice. Running south into Mexico for roughly 10 miles, it changes course and turns north to cross the border again just east of Nogales.

"The river channel flows all the way to the confluence of the Gila River south of the Phoenix area," said Drew Eppehimer, a doctoral student in arid lands resource sciences. "Traditionally, it never really flowed that far. Maybe in huge monsoon flood events, but the formerly perennial sections of the river, here near town, dried up in the early 1900s because of groundwater pumping."

Eppehimer studies water management along the borderlands, focused particularly on treated effluent-fed streams and river systems as a potential source of novel habitats for aquatic life in the desert.

In Arizona, there are about a dozen effluent-dependent river and stream systems, making up about 90 miles of effluent flow.

Reclaimed water released from two wastewater treatment plants just north of Tucson helps the Santa Cruz flow as far as the Pinal County line. Beginning in 2017, Eppehimer delved into the at-times waist-deep waters in these northern reaches of the Santa Cruz River to study the resurgence of aquatic life taking root.

"There wasn't a lot of historical research on that reach of the river, but there was some. When you look at what they found, they would see a handful of insects, five or 10 different kinds," Bogan said. "Whereas Drew went out there and found over 150 different kinds. That's all thanks to the upgrade of these treatment plants and the higher water quality that we have now."

"Mayflies and caddisflies are quite abundant in that part of the river, which kind of shocked us," Eppehimer said. "You think of this effluent as maybe being of poorer quality than a natural stream system, and a lot of other studies view treated wastewater as a detriment to aquatic environments, but here it's the only water we have that sustains year-round flows in the river."

The biodiversity in the northern reaches of the effluent-dependent Santa Cruz River are encouraging; caddisflies and mayflies are not only indicators of a fairly healthy water system, but signs of a comeback, according to the researchers.

New Reaches, New Beginnings:

The new Santa Cruz River Heritage Project is a third discharge location along the river near Tucson, south of downtown and farther upstream. Eppehimer's findings in the northern reaches of the river served as the baseline for additional research.

"The downtown reach gave us that opportunity to say, OK, from day one, who arrives first, which species do well, and how long does it take for that same level of biodiversity that we see in the northern reaches to build up in this new reach? In the case of the dragonfly, it actually became that best case scenario within a year," Bogan said.

Innovative new projects using effluent to restore flow in rivers, like the Santa Cruz River Heritage Project, are showing almost immediate positive biodiversity effects, and the return of species to these rivers after very long dry spells can be incredibly fast.

Still, questions remain. Despite improved wastewater treatment technologies, trace levels of contaminants, such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and pharmaceuticals, pass through treatment and persist in streams.

"Further questions surround the things we cannot readily observe, or those mixtures of environmentally persistent compounds that are not yet regulated and slip by treatment processes," said David Walker, an assistant research scientist in the UArizona Department of Environmental Science.

Walker adds that these compounds may have cumulative biological and behavioral effects on organisms and aquatic life, and says it is often the mixture of these micropollutants in treated effluent discharged into rivers that account for the biggest unknowns.

"Effluent can potentially still pose water quality impairments that may cause biological community degradation," Hamdhani said. "However, when wastewater treatment standards are high, effluent-fed streams can serve as refuges for aquatic biodiversity and corridors of ecological connectivity, especially in semi-arid and arid regions where natural streams have been depleted."

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MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia and Turkey have suspended joint patrols of the M4 highway in Syria for security reasons and will resume them once the situation there calms down, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in comments published on Monday. Lavrov also said in an interview with Al Arabiya's New York bureau that a ceasefire in Libya must be reached by the parties in the conflict. Lavrov said Moscow views the possible imposition of U.S

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia and Turkey have suspended joint patrols of the M4 highway in Syria for security reasons and will resume them once the situation there calms down, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in comments published on Monday.

Lavrov also said in an interview with Al Arabiya's New York bureau that a ceasefire in Libya must be reached by the parties in the conflict.

Lavrov said Moscow views the possible imposition of U.S. sanctions on Russia over its partnering with Iran as illegal, according to a transcript of the interview published on the Russian foreign ministry's website.

(Reporting by Andrey Ostroukh; Editing by Gareth Jones)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
The Health Service Executive has admitted there has been a recent surge in Covid-19 testing in Louth as it emerged that at least two primary schools and a secondary school in Dundalk have confirmed cases of the coronavirus.

Parents of pupils at two local national schools Scoil Eoin Baiste and Castletown Girls School in the town and De La Salle College in Dundalk have been alerted that a student has tested positive for coronavirus.

It comes as the HSE admitted that there has been an increase in both community and schools testing in Louth in the past week.

However, the HSE failed to answer specific questions put to them by the Democrat, which enquired if there is a backlog of people waiting to be tested in Dundalk, and if that was the case how long people should expect to wait for a test after their GP referred them and if the possible delay in testing was due to the drive-thru testing centre at the Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) closing after the college reopend.

The HSE simply responded with the short reply saying: There has been a surge in both community and schools testing in Louth in the past week.

The HSE is looking on all options to have tests completed as soon as possible including increasing capacity.

It comes as it emerged that three schools in Dundalk had a confirmed case of Covid-19 last week which would have resulted in local testing centres having an increase in the number of children who were deemed close contacts needing to be tested.

Parents of children attending Scoil Eoin Baiste received a letter from the HSE last Monday alerting them that there had been a confirmed case at the school.

A confirmed case of Covid-19 in your childs school, Scoil Eoin Baiste has been confirmed to the Health Protection Team, Department of Public Health, HSE North -East, the letter from the HSE last Monday, which was seen by the Democrat, said.

A public health risk assessment has been undertaken and the parents of children deemed to be close contacts of the confirmed case have been contacted and advised accordingly.

If your child has not been identified as a close contact at this time, your child does not need to test for Covid-19 and may continue to attend school.

However, the letter advised parents that if their child developed symptoms that could suggest they have coronavirus, such as a cough, fever and loss or change in their sense of taste or smell, they should not send them to school, they should phone their GP and restrict their kids movement in accordance with health advice.

Parents with children in close contact with the confirmed case of Covid-19 were advised to self-isolate and request a test.

Parents of children in Castletown Girls school were also alerted last Monday that there was a confirmed case of Covid-19 in their 3rd class.

The school sent a letter to parents to tell them that children in 3rd class should stay at home.

We received notification this evening that there is a positive case of Covid-19 in third class, the letter said.

The HSE will be in contact with the school in the morning to get phone numbers and emails for parents and will inform you of the next step to be taken.

In the meantime, they have advised me that 3rd class should stay at home tomorrow and await a call from the HSE.

Your child will be scheduled for a Covid-19 test as soon as possible.

The Department of Public Health has advised that children outside 3rd class can continue to attend school as normal.

The HSE also contact parents of students at the De La Salle College, Dundalk last Tuesday to alert them that there was a confirmed case of Covid-19 in their childs school.

Again, the students deemed close contacts were advised to self-isolate and contact their GP to be referred for a Covid-19 test.

The Department of Health warned ahead of the reopening of schools that infections were "inevitable", and that it was not a major cause for concern as long as all guidelines are followed.

The confirmed positive cases of Covid-19 in local schools came as it emerged last week that schools are to be subject to new Covid-19 safety checks.

The Department of Educations inspectorate and the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) have developed an agreed plan to monitor schools compliance with Covid-19 rules on a trial basis, it was reported.

While the results of these checks will be shared with school leaders on the day of inspection, there is no guarantee parents or teachers will get to see the findings.

A spokesperson from the Department of Education said: These visits will facilitate professional dialogue between the school principal and an inspector on issues surrounding the schools plans and the measures taken to ensure its safe and sustainable reopening.

Inspectors will monitor compliance with the departments Covid-19 response plans for schools and will provide feedback that can be used to assist schools to identify strengths in their response plans and to highlight any aspects that may require further development.

The spokesman added that the boards of participating schools in these initial visits may choose to make records of the visits available to their own school communities.
Brits online are trying to see the funny side after Boris Johnson announced a new wave of Covid-19 restrictions that could last up to six months.

On Twitter 'SIX MONTHS' has started trending, as people joke or show their exasperation at latest announcement.

Keith Lowis joked: 'Extra six months of Zoom quizzes for everyone?'

But another user failed to see the funny side, conceding: 'Christmas is really cancelled let's all just accept that now.'

Speaking in Parliament this afternoon, the Prime Minister announced that pubs, restaurants and bars would now operate under a 10pm curfew.

He also announced stricter punishments for people disobeying the rule of six, while halving the number of people who could attend a wedding.

In his speech, Mr Johnson told MPs that Britain had reached a 'perilous turning point,' before adding: 'Unless we palpably make progress, we should assume that the restrictions I have announced will remain in place for perhaps six months.'

Brits are trying to see the funny side of Boris Johnson's announcement today, as new Covid-19 restrictions could last six months

Mr Johnson ditched the Government's back to work message today and encouraged people to return to working from home.

He went on to say: 'From Thursday all pubs, bars and restaurants must operate table-service only, Mr Speaker, except for takeaways.

'Together with all hospitality venues, they must close at 10pm.

'To help the police to enforce this rule, I am afraid that means alas closing, and not just calling for last orders. Simplicity is paramount.

'The same will apply to takeaways - though deliveries can continue thereafter.

'I am sorry this will hurt many businesses just getting back on their feet, but we must act to stop the virus from being transmitted in bars and restaurants.

'Third, we will extend the requirement to wear face coverings to include staff in retail, all users of taxis and private hire vehicles, and staff and customers in indoor hospitality, except when seated at a table to eat or drink.

'Fourth, in retail, leisure, tourism and other sectors, our Covid-secure guidelines will become legal obligations.'

As Boris Johnson set out the latest wave of Covid-19 restrictions, Twitter users voiced their shock at another six months of social distancing measures

Mr Johnson told Parlaiment: 'I want to stress that this is by no means a return to the full lockdown of March.

'We are not issuing a general instruction to stay at home.

'We will ensure that schools, colleges and universities stay open - because nothing is more important than the education, health and well-being of our young people.

'We will ensure that businesses can stay open in a Covid-compliant way.

'However, we must take action to suppress the disease.

Yesterday the Chief Medical Officer and Chief Scientific Adviser warned that the doubling rate for new cases could be between seven and 20 days with the possibility of tens of thousands of new infections next month.

Pubs and other venues will be allowed to serve seated customers only and drinkers will be banned from gathering in crowds. Chief medical officer Chris Whitty said yesterday it was crucial to break 'unnecessary links between households'.

But amid new curbs to the hospitality sector, one bar and pub operator in Manchester, Newcastle and Leeds, warned the rules would be the 'final nail in the coffin,' for some firms.

Londoners were out drinking on the streets of Soho last night, but pubs and bars could soon have to shut at 10pm

A quarter of venues aren't taking details A study has found up to a quarter of pubs, cafes and restaurants are failing to record customers' contact details. The report in The Times found three quarters of 65 businesses visited took down visitors' details, in order to help with contact tracing efforts. A QR code will be put on display from Thursday to allow people to interact with the NHS app as a further means of tracing. The study found six out of 10 pubs in Bristol took details, while nine out of 10 took them in Southampton. But in Soho, three out of five took no details, while in Islington, North London, all eight pubs and cafes took reporters' details. Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UK Hospitality, told The Times: 'It is absolutely vital that hospitality businesses comply with the test-and-trace requirements . . . everyone should be doing it.' Advertisement

Health Secretary Matt Hancock warned Covid transmission 'tends to be in social settings, people coming around to your house, or you going out and socialising'.

But hospitality businesses under a 10pm curfew from Thursday, people took to Twitter to question the proposal.

Piers Morgan said: 'Speaking as someone who grew up in a pub, I imagine this will just make people drink more, faster.'

The Good Morning Britain presenter had said yesterday: 'Hearing Boris Johnson is going to order pubs to close at 10pm from tomorrow. What possible difference is that going to make? Does he think Covid respects opening hours?'

Speaking on Radio 4 this morning, Martin Wolstencroft chief executive of Ark Inspirations, which runs bars and restaurants in Leeds, Manchester, York and Newcastle, said: 'The 10pm curfew will be absolutely devastating for our business, it's just such disastrous news.

'We may as well not open some of our bars that's when after 10pm is when we start making money.

'We don't know how long it's going to be for, what's going to happen next, this is going to be the final nail in the coffin for many operators, it's just disastrous news.

The limit on guests at weddings has been be slashed from the current limit of 30. A senior Government source last night acknowledged the Prime Minister's 'back to work' drive would be paused after scientific advisers warned that workplace transmission was a concern.

The Prime Minister is understood to have found it hard to resist the demands of the Health Secretary and the Government's scientists as panic about rising cases of coronavirus set in within official circles.

Mr Johnson was reportedly talked out of shutting the entire hospitality sector down by Chancellor Sunak and Business Secretary Sharma, who feared that drifting into a second national lockdown would devastate UK plc, according to The Times.

Brits are trying to see the funny side of a new curfew measure that could shut bars and pubs, but many are still baffled by the idea

Some experts believe the longer people are gathered in hospitality venues, the more likely it is that they will let their guard down and stop socially distancing.

Professor Linda Bauld, from the University of Edinburgh, told HuffPost UK: 'Many countries have taken this approach. The principle is, we know that night time economy generally is risky.

'There have been outbreaks linked to nightclubs - which are obviously closed here - and to bars and restaurants. We've known this for months.

'The longer people are in these venues, the more they probably let their guard down and the mix of social distancing and alcohol is not a good one despite the best efforts of publicans and venue owners.'

Others believe that the 10pm curfew is arbitrary and will still be ineffective. Exeter University epidemiologist Dr Bharat Pankhania told the BBC: 'The virus doesn't understand the clock so if you're going to close at 10pm, what about at 9pm, what about 8pm?'

Boris Johnson hits reverse: PM will order pubs and restaurants to close at 10pm, tell workers 'stay HOME if you can' and demand police crack down hard on rule breakers in TV speech TODAY

Boris Johnson will unveil a major crackdown on normal life today in a bid to halt a second wave of coronavirus.

He will drop his 'back to work' drive, announce restrictions on socialising and impose a 10pm curfew on bars and restaurants from Thursday.

Pubs and other venues will be allowed to serve seated customers only and drinkers will be banned from gathering in crowds. Chief medical officer Chris Whitty said yesterday it was crucial to break 'unnecessary links between households'.

Northern Ireland last night announced a ban on families visiting other households and there was speculation England could follow suit.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock warned Covid transmission 'tends to be in social settings, people coming around to your house, or you going out and socialising'.

The limit on guests at weddings may also be slashed from the current limit of 30. A senior Government source last night acknowledged the Prime Minister's 'back to work' drive would be paused after scientific advisers warned that workplace transmission was a concern.

In July, Mr Johnson urged staff to 'go back to work if you can' in a bid to prevent city centres becoming ghost towns.

But a source told the Mail that employees will be advised to 'work from home if you can' during the coming weeks.

The Prime Minister was reportedly set to shut down the entire hospitality sector after the Health Secretary and the Government's scientists began pushing hard for more draconian measures, according to The Times. It is understood that the Cabinet's economic hawks pulled him back from the brink.

The restrictions have divided the Cabinet, with Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Business Secretary Alok Sharma both warning about the potential impact on the economy. But a senior Government source insisted all ministers accepted the move was needed to bring the R-rate, which measures how fast the disease is spreading, back under control.

'The aim is to cause maximum damage to the R and minimal damage to the economy,' the source said. 'Unless we act now, there will be greater economic damage later on.'

Businesses and schools will be allowed to stay open, with Government sources insisting the measures do not amount to a second lockdown. In other developments:

The Covid-19 alert level was raised from three to four, meaning virus cases are either high or rising 'exponentially';

The number of confirmed cases rose by 4,368, up from 3,899 the previous day. There were 11 more deaths;

More than 430,000 residents in South Wales were placed under local lockdowns following an increase in cases;

Taxpayers face paying billions more to keep trains running after financial support for rail firms was extended by 18 months;

Rules for areas in local lockdown are being relaxed so grandparents can look after their grandchildren;

More than 30 leading doctors and academics criticised 'harmful' plans to impose blanket lockdown measures in an open letter to the Prime Minister.

Boris Johnson will unveil a major crackdown on normal life today in a bid to halt a second wave of coronavirus. He will drop his 'back to work' drive, announce restrictions on socialising and impose a 10pm curfew on bars and restaurants from Thursday

Pubs and other venues will be allowed to serve seated customers only and drinkers will be banned from gathering in crowds (pictured, people enjoying a drink outside the Red Lion pub in Westminster, London)

In July, Mr Johnson urged staff to 'go back to work if you can' in a bid to prevent city centres becoming ghost towns. But a source told the Mail that employees will be advised to 'work from home if you can' during the coming weeks (pictured, commuters getting into work in Manchester's main tram stop at St Peter's Square)

The Prime Minister will urge the public to follow the 'rule of six', and carry on with basic measures like hand washing  or risk an even tougher lockdown in the coming weeks (pictured, police searching people on Brighton beach)

Official Downing Street slides showed that if the current rate of infection continues there could be 50,000 coronavirus cases every day by the middle of October and that could lead to 200 plus deaths a day by the middle of November

The number of new Covid-19 being admitted to hospitals in England has been increasing since the start of September

The map on the left shows spikes in cases in the north west of England but cases are increasing almost across the board

Sadiq Khan says he wants facemasks worn in ALL London's public spaces as part of 15-point Covid crackdown - as it's revealed infection rates in 20 boroughs are HIGHER than areas of England already hit by restrictions Sadiq Khan yesterday said he wants face masks worn in all London's public spaces in a 15-point coronavirus crackdown he thrashed out with council leaders. The Mayor of London has also urged ministers to impose a 10pm curfew on all pubs and restaurants throughout the capital in a bid to 'reduce the amount of hours people spend with each other inadvertently passing the virus on'. He blamed young people socialising in August for an 'exponential' increase in coronavirus cases after the Government's top scientists today claimed there could be 50,000 daily infections within a month unless draconian action is taken. Speaking on Sky News, Mr Khan hinted at further restrictions on people's lives in his 15-point coronavirus plan, including curbs at funerals and weddings, as he claimed the Rule of Six 'isn't by itself sufficiently slowing down the virus spreading'. The mayor threatened to take 'additional measures' to suppress coronavirus as he called on Londoners to avoid public transport and work from home 'where possible'. It comes as new data reveal that coronavirus infection rates in 20 London boroughs are higher than areas of England already hit by restrictions. Public Health England's most recent watchlist shows the authority in England with the lowest case rate considered an 'area of intervention' - the highest degree of concern - is Ribble Valley, with 18.3 cases per 100,000. But Kensington and Chelsea, Enfield and Southwark, among others, have infection rates higher than that. Redbridge (34.2), Hounslow (32.5) and Barking and Dagenham (29.3) are the three worst-hit parts of the capital. Advertisement

A No 10 spokesman said: 'No one underestimates the challenges the new measures will pose to many individuals and businesses. We know this won't be easy, but we must take further action to control the resurgence in cases of the virus and protect the NHS.'

The measures announced today will be accompanied by a new push on enforcement, including more fines for individuals and on-the-spot closures for venues that fail to follow the rules.

The final package will be signed off by the Cabinet this morning and coordinated with leaders from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland at a meeting of the Government's emergency committee Cobra.

The Prime Minister will unveil details of the restrictions to parliament at lunchtime before making an address to the nation at 8pm this evening.

He will urge the public to follow the 'rule of six', and carry on with basic measures like hand washing  or risk an even tougher lockdown in the coming weeks. Mr Hancock last night said the UK was at a 'tipping point' where failure to follow the rules could lead to the virus running out of control.

In a gloomy televised briefing yesterday, Mr Whitty said restrictions may have to last for six months to help the NHS cope through the winter.

The Government's chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, told the briefing without action, Covid cases could hit 50,000 a day by the middle of next month, with deaths hitting 200 a day by November.

Neither of the leading scientists took media questions about their presentation, which critics said was misleading. Mr Johnson will also duck media scrutiny when he makes his televised address tonight.

The warning came amid Tory unease about the prospect of further restrictions and 'authoritarianism'. Sir Edward Leigh warned the Government was becoming 'increasingly incompetent'.

Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers, accused Mr Johnson of 'ruling by decree' and treating the public 'like children'. One Cabinet minister told the Mail that the Prime Minister also has grave reservations about imposing new restrictions on an economy struggling to recover from lockdown.

The source said: 'My impression is that the last thing Boris wants to do is get sucked back into another lockdown, but he is finding it very hard to resist the message from the scientists.'

The Prime Minister is understood to have found it hard to resist the demands of the Health Secretary and the Government's scientists as panic about rising cases of coronavirus set in within official circles.

Mr Johnson was reportedly talked out of shutting the entire hospitality sector down by Chancellor Sunak and Business Secretary Sharma, who feared that drifting into a second national lockdown would devastate UK plc, according to The Times.

10pm curfew is about reducing 'viral load' if exposed, says expert Though the Government's 10pm curfew on bars and restaurants may seem arbitrary, public health officials claim that most viral transmission in August was caused by increased socialising - among young people. Some experts believe the longer people are gathered in hospitality venues, the more likely it is that they will let their guard down and stop socially distancing. Professor Linda Bauld, from the University of Edinburgh, told HuffPost UK: 'Many countries have taken this approach. The principle is, we know that night time economy generally is risky. 'There have been outbreaks linked to nightclubs - which are obviously closed here - and to bars and restaurants. We've known this for months. 'The longer people are in these venues, the more they probably let their guard down and the mix of social distancing and alcohol is not a good one despite the best efforts of publicans and venue owners.' Others believe that the 10pm curfew is arbitrary and will still be ineffective. Exeter University epidemiologist Dr Bharat Pankhania told the BBC: 'The virus doesn't understand the clock so if you're going to close at 10pm, what about at 9pm, what about 8pm?' Advertisement

Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove, together with Mr Hancock, is thought to have been keen for swift and decisive action to suppress coronavirus. 'The scientific evidence speaks for itself,' he is said to have told them.

Government scientists are also said to have told the Prime Minister that a 10pm curfew on pubs and restaurants would just cram drinkers in tighter, and to have claimed 'the only thing we know is that lockdowns work'.

Concern that the shutdown could last indefinitely unless there was a marked reduction in transmission set off alarm bells in the Treasury, which feared that the economic cost would be high.

Mr Sunak reportedly struck a compromise with Mr Johnson by asking him: 'Can you keep going on the things which financially you need to keep going, while being tough on large groups of people hanging out in parks, which has no economic consequence?' However, it is understood the new restrictions go well beyond what the Chancellor wants, and not far enough in the eyes of the Health Secretary and the scientists.

London mayor Sadiq Khan last night revealed he is planning new 'restrictions' in the capital, including asking more employees to work from home, reintroducing the two-metre rule and extending the number of locations where masks are required.

Government sources last night confirmed that the new restrictions will include a national 10pm curfew on the opening hours of all hospitality businesses.

From Thursday, all pubs, restaurants, casinos and other hospitality businesses will be forced to close their doors early and operate a table-service only model.

Capital Economics warned last night that a 10pm curfew on restaurants and bars until the end of the year would cost the economy 4.5billion over this period.

Simon Emeny, head of pub chain Fullers, said he was 'very, very concerned' about the idea of 'further regulations being imposed on this industry at a time when we have only just got back to reopening'.

Professor Vallance's PROJECTION of UK Covid cases by mid-October: 50,000 a day. The REALITY if we echo increase in France and Spain: 10,000 a day

By Sophie Borland, Health Editor for the Daily Mail

Scientists have questioned whether the UK is likely to see 50,000 new infections a day by next month as projected by the Government's chief scientific adviser.

Sir Patrick Vallance yesterday said he believed the epidemic was doubling every seven days, which would lead to 200 deaths a day by mid-November.

The chief scientific adviser stressed that there were a lot of unknowns behind those projections.

He said: 'If, and that's quite a big if, but if that continues unabated, and this grows, doubling every seven days... if that continued you would end up with something like 50,000 cases in the middle of October per day.' Sir Patrick explained that the UK's rise in cases was closely following the trends in France and Spain and pointed to a graph to illustrate this.

Scientists have questioned whether the UK is likely to see 50,000 new infections a day by next month as projected by the Government's chief scientific adviser. If the UK were to continue to follow the trends in these two countries, then cases would be at 10,000 a day by next month. And if they were to jump to 50,000 a day by next month then they would be off the scale compared with France and Spain, rather than following them

It comes amid fierce criticism from experts of the Government's top scientists, England's chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty (left) and the UK's chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance (right), after they presented a 'doomsday' scenario of 50,000 daily coronavirus cases within a month - which appeared not to be backed by data from France and Spain

However, if the UK were to continue to follow the trends in these two countries, then cases would be at 10,000 a day by next month. And if they were to jump to 50,000 a day by next month then they would be off the scale compared with France and Spain, rather than following them. Another point of contention concerns the virus's growth rate, the rate at which cases are increasing.

The UK's current growth rate is somewhere between 2 and 7 per cent, according to Government figures last Friday.

Third of Welsh population is plunged into lockdown from 6pm tomorrow amid 'worrying and rapid' spike in Covid cases as towns including Newport and Merthyr Tydfil are subjected to strict new rules Almost a third of the Welsh population will be plunged into lockdown from tomorrow amid a 'worrying and rapid' spike in Covid-19 cases. The areas of Bridgend, Merthyr Tydfil, Newport and Blaenau Gwent will face the new regulations from 6pm. Pubs and bars have been ordered to close by 11pm and meeting people from outside your own household is now banned. All licensed premises will have to shut at 11pm. The latest measures push the number of people affected by local lockdowns in south Wales to 850,000, after Caerphilly county borough and Rhondda Cynon Taf were also handed new rules last week. Health minister Vaughan Gething said there had been a 'worrying and rapid rise' in cases of Covid-19 in the four areas in south Wales. Mr Gething said many of the coronavirus cases had been linked to people socialising indoors without physical distancing. 'We are seeing evidence of coronavirus spreading,' Mr Gething told a press conference in Cardiff. Advertisement

But if the virus cases were doubling every day, the growth rate would be just over 10 per cent. It could be that officials expect the growth rate to increase  as it has been over the past few weeks  but this was not explained at yesterday's briefing.

Scientists also pointed out that restrictions imposed in recent weeks, including the 'rule of six' and local lockdowns, would bring down the infection rate. Professor Paul Hunter, a professor in medicine at Norwich Medical School at the University of East Anglia, said: 'What they presented is the very worst possible case, given the state of the epidemic at the moment.

'I think it is pretty implausible we will be seeing 50,000 cases a day by the middle of October. It's important to bear in mind that they were not making a prediction, they were presenting an illustration of what would happen if cases continued to double, which they almost certainly will not.'

He said the growth of an outbreak tends to decline as it moves towards the peak, adding: 'It would not surprise me if we end up following the trajectory of France and Spain over the next few weeks  it's entirely plausible we would be seeing 10,000 cases a day by the middle of October.'

Dr Michael Head, a senior research fellow in global health at the University of Southampton, said the 50,000-a-day figure was a 'worst case scenario'.

He added: 'We are very unlikely to see cases at that level because interventions will be rolled out that restrict the spread of the virus, such as regional lockdowns.'

Nigel Marriott, an independent statistician, claimed that although the cases were doubling in parts of the North they were actually falling in some regions in the South. He added: 'This regional disparity makes the national picture hard to interpret and it suggests that the goal should be to halt the northern wave as fast as possible before it has a chance to spread to the South.'

Meanwhile, the UK's Covid-19 alert level was raised from three to four last night as Government advisors warned that virus cases are probably rising 'exponentially'. The decision was taken by the nation's four chief medical officers, who urged the public to follow basic hygiene and social distancing practices to avoid 'significant excess deaths'.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: 'This country now faces a tipping point in its response and it is vital everybody plays their part now to stop the spread of the virus and protect lives.' It followed a rare televised address by Sir Patrick and Professor Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer for England.

Professor Whitty appealed to the public's selflessness in adhering to the rules and not just assuming they could 'take their own risks'. He said: 'The problem with a pandemic or an infection such as this is that if I as an individual increase my risk, I increase the risk to everyone around me and everyone who's a contact of theirs.

'Sooner or later the chain will lead to people who are vulnerable or elderly or have a long-term problem with Covid.' Despite the gloomy tone of the briefing, Sir Patrick said there was a chance a vaccine could be available by the end of the year.
SEOUL, South Korea and NEW YORK, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Hyundai Motor Company and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have entered into their inaugural agreement aimed at spreading messages of sustainability to people around the world and turning their proposals for sustainable innovation into tangible initiatives.

Under the agreement, Hyundai Motor and UNDP will collaborate for the first time to create a global initiative, titled for Tomorrow, which will help accelerate progress towards the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030.

The agreement will enable Hyundai Motor and UNDP to crowdsource innovations from the public and help implement these solutions, a much needed response to the world's escalating environmental and socio-economic challenges.

To mark the inauguration of the project in safety amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, a signing ceremony was held online between Hyundai Motor Group Executive Vice Chairman Euisun Chung and UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner, during which they discussed the future of their partnership and global cooperation for sustainability. Also in attendance were actress, activist, and social impact entrepreneur Jessica Alba, who officially endorses 'for Tomorrow,' and British journalist Lucy Siegle, who moderated the conversation.

"The for Tomorrow project we are launching today with UNDP aims to offer concrete solutions to many of our problems today," said Mr. Chung of Hyundai Motor Group. "Through this project, Hyundai Motor Company will help mobilize the power of cooperation and innovation to engineer sustainable progress for humanity."

At the signing ceremony, Mr. Chung and Mr. Steiner unveiled a preview of the for Tomorrow project (www.fortomorrow.org), a focal point for the collaboration and open innovation platform where people can share solutions to be amplified and scaled up. Hyundai Motor and UNDP launched dedicated Instagram channels (@forTomorrow2030) to promote the project. Under this year's theme and slogan, "Make Cities Inclusive, Safe, Resilient and Sustainable," for Tomorrow will accept proposals from October 2020 through April 2021, in time for Earth Day on April 22, with project acceleration in the ensuing months.

"UNDP is committed to supporting the incredible power of local innovators to change the world for the better  for not only today, but also for tomorrow and into the future," said Mr. Steiner. "With the launch of this platform in partnership with Hyundai, we want to explore new ways of connecting these pioneering minds together - and help them unleash their full potential to build a greener, more resilient, more inclusive and more sustainable future."

On Tuesday September 22 (10 a.m. EST/ 11 p.m. KST), an online launch event was held at www.fortomorrow.org, endorsed by Jessica Alba, with Hyundai Motor Company Global Chief Marketing Officer Wonhong Cho, UNDP Special Advisor Jason D'Cruz, UNDP Accelerator Labs Sudan representative Basma Saeed and UNDP Accelerator Labs Philippines representative Rex Lor. The event was moderated by British journalist Lucy Siegle.

"It is inspiring to witness the United Nations and Hyundai come together to collaborate on an initiative like this. We have all spent the better part of the year facing challenges we never thought we would, and through that it's become clear that working together is our only way forward to create a better, more sustainable and more humane world for today and tomorrow," said Jessica Alba.

Hyundai Motor and UNDP will support solutions shared on the platform by advancing, sharing and building upon them with the help of the the UNDP Accelerator Labs, a global network of 60 labs that are tapping into local innovations to create actionable insights and reimagine sustainable development for the 21st century to address global challenges like climate change and socioeconomic inequality.

Through for Tomorrow, Hyundai Motor will share its commitment to sustainable mobility and lifestyles via its vision of enabling "Progress for Humanity." The company, via for Tomorrow and ensuing sustainable initiatives, plans to leap forward from simply "doing well" to "doing good," engaging the environmentally conscious and committed local innovators of the millennial and Z generations

For Tomorrow is the first step in the two parties' global partnership for sustainable development and lays the foundation for their active involvement in the celebration and amplification of grassroots initiatives. Hyundai Motor and UNDP will continue to work together with people around the world for humanity's shared liveable future.

About Hyundai Motor Company

Established in 1967, Hyundai Motor Company offers a range of world-class vehicles and mobility services in more than 200 countries. Hyundai Motor sold more than 4.4 million vehicles globally in 2019, and currently employs some 120,000 personnel worldwide. The company is enhancing its product lineup with vehicles designed to help usher in a more sustainable future, while offering innovative solutions to real-world mobility challenges. Through the process, Hyundai aims to facilitate 'Progress for Humanity' with smart mobility solutions that vitalize connections between people and provide quality time to its customers.

More information about Hyundai Motor and its products can be found at:

http://worldwide.hyundai.com or http://globalpr.hyundai.com

Disclaimer: Hyundai Motor Company believes the information contained herein to be accurate at the time of release. However, the company may upload new or updated information if required and assumes that it is not liable for the accuracy of any information interpreted and used by the reader.

About the United Nations Development Programme

UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet.

In 2019, UNDP set out in 2019 to build the world's largest and fastest learning network on wicked sustainable development challenges. Co-built as a joint-venture with the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany and the Qatar Fund for Development, the UNDP Accelerator Lab Network is covering 78 countries (and expanding to 114 countries this year), and tapping into local innovations to create actionable insights and reimagine sustainable development for the 21st century.

Read more about the UNDP Acelerator Lab Network: https://acceleratorlabs.undp.org/

Continue the conversation about the power of bottom-up innovation at the SDG Action Zone, 24 September 11.45 EST : https://sdgactionzone.org/class/innovative-solutions-grassroots-local-innovations-to-accelerate-action/?wcs_timestamp=1600947900

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Linkedin Margareth S. Aritonang (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, September 22, 2020 09:44 487 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46528e2 1 National Bruder-Angelo,Angelo-Ngalngola,Catholic-church,sex-abuse,#catholicsexabuse,KPAI Free

Four more victims and witnesses have come forward and made a report after the Depok Police in West Java reopened a year-old investigation into a case of sexual abuse of orphanage boys, allegedly committed by their sole guardian, a Catholic brother.

The investigation was restarted following the publication of stories by The Jakarta Post and Tirto.id that shed light on the failure of the state and the Catholic Church to give the victims justice. The suspect in the case, Lukas Lucky Ngalngola, or Brother Angelo as he styled himself, is a member of a Philippines-based Catholic congregation, the Blessed Sacrament Missionaries of Charity (BSMC), and founded an all-boys orphanage called Kencana Bejana Rohani.

The boys from the orphanage called Angelo kelelawar malam (night bat), since he would allegedly carry out his acts after midnight, putting on all black attire. The boys claimed Angelo drugged his victims.

The police have recorded new statements against Angelo from four boys, who are now under the care of Darius Rebong, the founder and head of a new orphanage, also in Depok. One of the boys had gone through a physical examination, said Depok Police investigator Second Insp. Tulus Handani.

The process is still in its early stages, Tulus said. What we must do from now on is to protect the children in a safe place so that they can provide further statements when needed in order to ensure the legal process runs smoothly, unlike the previous one.

Last year, the police failed to complete the dossiers for the prosecutors office to bring the case to court because they claimed they could not find the whereabouts of the three boys who first made a report against Angelo. By the time the police found the boys, they made a statement to retract their report. By law, the police should have continued the case regardless of the victims' retraction, but they did not pursue more statements for the dossiers, resulting in a rejected dossier by the prosecutors.

The boys at that time did not receive any legal or psychological assistance from anyone. Even the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) left the legal process to a bystander in the case, an orphanage forum leader in Bogor, Farid Ari Fandi. After three months, the investigation crumbled and Angelo walked free in December last year. He soon established a new orphanage and lived among boys again in Depok.

For the current investigation, the four boys were accompanied by Darius, who is the founder of the orphanage where the four, along with 40 others, lived, Tulus said, adding that he had made the police report in his capacity as the guardian of the children.

The four boys that have provided their statements to the police are currently under the protection of the Social Affairs Ministrys children rehabilitation center in Jakarta. The ministry provided a trauma healing program for them. During the initial investigation, none of the boys received such service from the state.

To keep the four children in a safe place, far from the orphanage, is important to protect them from any unwanted interventions that might influence them to change their mind later, as happened to their peers last year, KPAI commissioner Putu Elvina, who is in charge of the case, says.

Last year the police failed to complete the dossiers for the prosecutors office to bring the case to court because they claimed they could not find the whereabouts of the three boys who first made a report against Angelo. By the time the police found the boys, they made a statement to retract their report. (JP/Hengky Wijaya)

Working together with child protection officers from related institutions as well as the childrens lawyer, we continuously encouraged them [the four boys] to be courageous in telling their stories, Putu told the Post in a recent interview.

A joint effort led by the KPAI is also looking into the possibility of human trafficking in the case due to reports of Angelos method of recruiting boys who joined his orphanage. Most of the boys in the orphanage are not really orphans, but rather children from poor families in North Sumatra, Maluku and East Nusa Tenggara. Some of the boys told The Jakarta Post and Tirto.id that Angelo or his partners promised a scholarship to pursue a better education in Depok.

We believe that he [Angelo] does not work alone, said Putu.

While the legal process against Angelo is ongoing, the KPAI is assessing the condition of the rest of the boys who formerly lived at Angelos Kencana Bejana Rohani orphanage, and who currently live under the care of Darius Rebong. Returning the children to their parents or transfering them to other orphanages that are considered more established and professional are the feasible options on the table for the time being.

At the same time, the state-sponsored Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) is also reaching out to children who may have been Angelos victims as well as other individuals who might know about their stories in order to make sure that the legal process against Angelo actually proceeds.

The LPSK has received a request for protection from Farid, the first person who reported the case to the police.

We have been in contact with Darius, the current guardian of the children, LPSK commissioner Edwin Partogi Pasaribu said.
A British man questioned over the alleged hacking of Pippa Middleton's iCloud account has been sentenced to five years in jail in the US in an unrelated case.

Nathan Francis Wyatt, who was part of a hacking group called The Dark Overlord, was sentenced for helping the group steal information from several companies in the US, including in Missouri, Illinois and Georgia.

The 39-year-old pleaded guilty in federal court in St Louis to conspiring to commit aggravated identity theft and computer fraud. He was also ordered to pay $1.5 million dollars (1.17m) in restitution.

Nathan Francis Wyatt (pictured in 2016), who was questioned over the alleged hacking of Pippa Middleton's iCloud account has been sentenced to five years in jail in the US

In 2016, Wyatt was arrested by UK police investigating the hacking of the Duchess of Cambridge's sister, Pippa Middleton.

There were reports that pictures of her sister Kate and her children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, were among thousands of images taken.

The father-of-three was released with no further action in relation to that case in September, 2017.

In St Louis, federal prosecutors said The Dark Overlord stole medical records, client files and personal information from the companies, then demanded between $75,000 and $300,000 dollars (58,000-234,000) worth of Bitcoin to return the information.

The father of three (pictured with partner Kelly Howell), was part of a hacking group called The Dark Overlord and was sentenced for helping the group steal information from several companies

In 2016, Wyatt was arrested by UK police investigating the hacking of the Duchess of Cambridge's sister, Pippa Middleton (pictured)

None of the companies paid the ransom but the conspiracy did cost them because of the intrusion and release of data, federal prosecutor Laura Kathleen Bernstein said.

Wyatt set up a phone account and accounts on Twitter and PayPal that were used to communicate and receive money, she said.

Wyatt apologised during the hearing, held via Zoom, saying he was on medication for mental problems that led him to make bad decisions, The St Louis Post-Dispatch reported.

'I can promise you that I'm out of that world,' he said, voice breaking. 'I don't want to see another computer for the rest of my life.'

His lawyer, Brocca Morrison, noted Wyatt did not orchestrate the hacks and is the only hacker who has been identified.

Ms Bernstein said Wyatt's actions helped the other hackers remain anonymous and that his phone account was used to send threatening text messages to relatives of victims.

Wyatt was indicted in 2017, but he was not extradited to the US until last year after British lawyers fought to keep him there.

He had served 14 months in a British prison after pleading guilty to 22 charges after he was accused of demanding money from the owner of a hacked computer and using stolen credit cards.
U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., on Tuesday joined the growing ranks of GOP Senate lawmakers backing the idea that President Trump proceed with choosing a replacement for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg rather than wait for the November election.

In a written statement, Toomey, who opposed the nomination of Judge Merrick Garland in 2016, laid out his reasoning for the president to move ahead filling the vacancy in the U.S. Supreme Court following Ginsburgs death Friday.

He explained that his opposition in 2016 to then President Barack Obamas nomination of Garland some 10 months before the election was related to the circumstances at the time.

In 2016, the White House and the Senate, which share equally the constitutional authority for filling a Supreme Court vacancy, were controlled by different parties, Toomey explained. When power is divided during a presidential election year, the Senates general practice has been to leave open a Supreme Court vacancy so that the voters may speak and possibly resolve the disagreement created by the division."

The practice, Toomey noted, has been endorsed by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Joe Biden. Toomey said Republicans were following the Senate practice when they opposed Obamas 2016 nomination of Garland.

The circumstances surrounding the current vacancy are, in fact, different, Toomey said. While there is a presidential election this year, the White House and the Senate are currently both controlled by the same party. The Senates historical practice has been to fill Supreme Court vacancies in these circumstances.This is also a view Democrats once held. We know this because every single Democratic senator pushed for Judge Garlands confirmation and told anyone who would listen that if Democrats controlled the Senate  that is, if they were in the position that Republicans are in today  they would have confirmed him. Are we now supposed to operate by two different sets of rules that systematically advantage the Democrats?

U.S. Sen. Bob Casey Jr., a Democrat, has called on the Senate to wait until after the election to vote on Ginsburgs replacement. On Friday, he called on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to follow the precedent he set four years ago.

Toomeys announcement came soon after Sen. Mitt Romneys statement earlier in the morning that he would vote on a Supreme Court nominee.

With his endorsement of an immediate Trump nomination process, the Utah Republican cleared the way for a vote this year by the GOP-led Senate on a Trump nominee. The president is expected to name his pick for the high court on Saturday. Later Saturday, Trump is slated to visit Harrisburg International Airport for a rally).

With his endorsement of a Trump nominee, Romney, who thinks Trump should get to choose a replacement for Ginsburg regardless of whether he wins in November, likely reduced pressure on Toomey to weigh in on his vote.

Toomey said that in 2016, the voters spoke by electing a Republican president and a Republican-controlled Senate, expanding the majority in the midterm election. He said he saw no reason to delay filling the vacancy.

I will evaluate President Trumps nominee to replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg based on whether the nominee has the character, intellect, and experience needed to serve on our nations highest court," Toomey said. "These are the same objective, non-partisan criteria that I have used to evaluate judicial nominees under both President Obama and President Trump. Based on these criteria, I supported President Obamas nomination of then-Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court and voted to confirm almost 70 percent of the judges nominated by President Obama and considered by the Senate during my time in office. If the person President Trump nominates also meets these criteria, I will vote to confirm this nominee.

Ginsburg died Friday night at the age of 87. Hours after her death, McConnell said the Senate would vote on a nominee put forward by Trump.
The ceasefire in Idleb has been repeatedly violated by the regime and Russia, preventing the return of many families to their homes and killing a number of civilians reports Nadaa Syria.

The response coordinators team confirmed that the ceasefire agreement in Idleb, which was concluded in Moscow at the beginning of last March, has been violated nearly 2,800 times by the Assad regime and its supporters.

The team said in a statement today that the Russian and Iranian militias continue to violate the truce agreement in northwestern Syria, deliberately targeting residential areas and neighborhoods in the villages and towns of the Idleb countryside to prevent the return of displaced civilians.

According to the statement, the number of violations from Mar. 5  Sept. 21, 2020, reached more than 2,793, including violations by Russian warplanes and drones, which left 29 civilian casualties. Thirteen key facilities were also targeted.

The team condemned the ongoing violations by the Assad regime and Russia, stressing that they resulted in delaying the return of hundreds of civilians and sent a number of families into displacement again.

According to the statement, the fact that international actors are turning a blind eye to the ongoing hostile behavior and violations is being leveraged by the regime to violate all international agreements and carry out systematic terrorism against its people. The statement called on the international community to take vigorous action to save civilian lives and stop war crimes against them.

Russian and Iranian militias have intensified their bombing of villages and towns in the southern countryside of Idleb over the past few days. They carried out several infiltration attempts, while Russian warplanes launched more than 27 raids on the western outskirts of Idleb. Moreover, Russia asked Turkey to withdraw a number of its observation sites and reduce its military presence, which Ankara rejected.

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.
Tropical Storm Beta, now downgraded to a tropical depression, had not caused significant issues in Montgomery County as of Tuesday morning but officials continue to monitor the slow moving storm that could dump more rain over the next 24 hours flooding remains a serious threat.

County officials are urging residents to stay home if possible and not to drive through flood waters. Rain changes for Conroe will increase to 90 percent into Wednesday morning.

Overnight rains accumulations (were) relatively low, County Judge Mark Keough posted to social media Tuesday. With the highest amounts being in far west county at 1.4 inches to the lowest in east county at .12 inches. Rain accumulations are expected to rise today thru tonight. Remember, we are still under a flash flood watch.

Jason Millsaps, Keoughs chief of staff, said the Pinehurst area has seen the most significant rain.

Portions of the county can expect another 3-5 inches today, he said. Most of the county has received very little over the last 24 hours. However, southwest Montgomery County near Pinehurst has received 4 inches so far. That area should remain vigilant because any additional have rainfall or higher accumulations could result in low lying areas starting to pond water and street flooding. So far we have not had any issues today and we are prepared for anything that could change today with the weather.

We urge residents to avoid driving on covered roadways. Turn around dont drown.

Commissioners James Noack and James Metts said high water was not a threat Tuesday afternoon but said they were continuing to monitor conditions.

All is quiet so far on the drainage level, Metts said noting he did have reports of several downed trees. Its pretty quiet in Precinct 4.

Noack said he had no reports of high water in The Woodlands area but with the slow moving storm, some minor street flooding was possible through the night.

The Lake Conroe reservoir level was roughly 16 inches below full pool of 201 feet at noon Tuesday, according to a release from the San Jacinto River Authority.

Based on the current forecast, no reservoir releases are expected. Less than one inch of rain has been recorded at Lake Conroe in the last 24 hours, the river authority stated.

We urge the public to follow their local offices of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and to check SJRA social media channels and website for the most up-to-date information, said SJRA General Manager Jace Houston.

According to the National Weather Service, the biggest flood threat continues for the coastal areas, however rain bands were moving north through Montgomery County. The storm is expected to track slowly east and then east northeast. The wind threat from the storm is minimal.

cdominguez@hcnonline.com
Om Birla says it pained him that Lok Sabha did not run smoothly during Monsoon session

Harivansh meets Opposition MPs who staged overnight sit-in protest at Parliament

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

New Delhi, Sep 22: Deputy chairperson of Rajya Sabha, Harivansh on Tuesday met the protesting MPs from the Opposition parties, who carried out an all night sit-in on the lawns of Parliament in protest against the passage of two of the contentious farm bills without a division of votes on Sunday in the Upper House.

Harivansh offered tea to the MPs, who moved a no-confidence motion against him a day earlier.

Speaking to a news agency, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Sanjay Singh said that they are protesting to protect the rights of the farmers and against the way the "black laws" were passed in Parliament. He said this is not about a personal equation but an issue that concerns farmers.

More than one lakh vacancies lying vacant in CAPFs: Nityanand Rai tells Rajya Sabha

Derek O'Brien smells something fishy in tea offer by Harivansh | Oneindia News

Singh, who is among the eight MPs suspended for the remainder of the session after ruckus in Rajya Sabha on Sunday, said the MPs are protesting against the way in which the demand for putting the bills to vote was not met and the rules and procedures were set aside to pass the bills.

Earlier, TMC's Derek O'Brien and Dola Sen, Sanjay Singh of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Congress leaders Rajeev Satav, Ripun Bora and Syed Nasir Hussain and KK Ragesh and Elamaram Kareem of the CPI(M) were holding placards and pamphlets which say 'we will fight for farmers'.

Some MPs of Opposition parties also held protest in front of Gandhi statue in Parliament premises against the suspension of the eight members.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Tuesday, September 22, 2020, 9:39 [IST]
Indias International Centre for Entrepreneurship and Technology (iCreate) and Israels Start-Up Nation Central on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to work together on a bilateral programme to accelerate innovation and technology cooperation between startups and corporates from both the countries.

The programme aims to bring together Israeli and Indian entrepreneurs and startups to collaborate on innovative projects, the embassy of Israel in India said in a statement.

The MoU was signed by Professor Eugene Kandel, CEO of Start-Up Nation Central from Jerusalem and Anupam Jalote, CEO of iCreate from Ahmedabad.

Dr Ron Malka, Israels ambassador to India and Yaakov Finkelstein, Israels consul general attended the event in Mumbai while Professor Vijay Raghavan, principal scientific advisor to the government joined through video-conferencing.

Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani also sent his best wishes for the programme through a video message.

According to the statement, iCreate and Start-Up Nation Central will initiate a unique Online Acceleration Program for market penetration to work with relevant technologies that match up to requirements of Indian corporations.

The program will define a set of challenges which will then be shortlisted to the most relevant solutions and technology providers. This will be followed by a matchmaking mechanism that will be developed by leveraging both countries networks to support the process of adaptation and piloting these solutions in India, it added.

The embassy noted that growing Israel-India ties have developed into a strategic partnership in the recent years, and since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, the two countries have collaborated on a number of joint ventures such as Operation Open Skies and integration of Israeli medical equipment and technologies in Indian hospitals.

Ambassador of Israel to India, Dr Malka said, Today we close a circle. A circle that started in 2018 when PM Modi and PM Netanyahu inaugurated this important incubator, iCreate, and now, two years later, we are signing, on the very spot where they stood, an MoU on innovation between Israels Start-Up Nation Central and Indias iCreate. This agreement is an important milestone in the growing innovation collaboration between Israel and India and stands in line with the visions of the Prime Ministers. Israel has the most startups per capita worldwide, and India is the top innovation destination in Asia.

Together, both countries continue to form partnerships and collaborations in technology and innovation to solve a range of global issues like Covid 19, renewable energy and more, implementing high end technologies like AI, big data analysis and more, she added.

Prof. Eugene Kandel, CEO of Start-Up Nation Central termed the singing of the MoU an important step in realizing the potential of the India-Israel relations in the field of innovative technologies.

Im confident this partnership will pave the way for more Israeli startups to collaborate with Indian organizations and firms to develop and implement cutting-edge Israeli technologies that address Indias and the worlds most pressing needs, Kandel said.
Chan joined TMLS last year as head of insurance operations, holding the position for roughly a year. He spent 27 years with NTUC Income, having held various leadership positions in compliance, life and health insurance operations, distribution middle office, corporate planning and information technology.

Goh has more than 17 years of experience in the financial services industry with roles in equity analysis, fund management and investment products management/advisory. Before joining TMLS as head of investment in 2017, he previously worked at Tokio Marine Asset Management International, Citibank and Bank of Singapore, and started his career as an auditor in Ernst & Young.

According to TMLS chief executive Christopher Teo, the companys chief risk officer, Philip Woo, will take an expanded scope of responsibility, with regulatory and compliance functions added to his portfolio.

This announcement is all part of TMLSs continuing endeavour to strengthen its overall leadership and management bench strength to attain the companys ambition for a more sustainable growth intent. I truly believe that Edwin, Esmond and Kay Yiong will be valuable assets to the company, Teo said.
Newell Lessell, CEO for Chroma Technology said, A strong workplace culture is so important to a companys success. Maras leadership as a human resources strategist and her deep passion for building best-in-class workplace cultures is a tremendous asset to Chroma.

Mara Neufeld Rivera, MS, SHRM-SCP, has been named the 2020 Human Resources Professional of the Year by the Vermont State Council of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). The award, sponsored by the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, was announced on September 15 at the joint conference of the Vermont and New Hampshire 2020 Twin State Virtual HR Summit. This prestigious award recognizes a human resources professional each year who inspires innovation, creativity, development, and organizational excellence that has significantly impacted business success in Vermont.

Mara currently serves as vice president, head of People & Culture at Chroma Technology Corp., a high-tech manufacturer for the scientific, biomedical, and photonics imaging industries located in Bellows Falls, Vermont. Rebecca Greenough, director of the Vermont State Council , said It was a unanimous recommendation by the committee for this years awardee. Mara earned this through her hard work, diligence, ingenuity, and empathy  all the right elements for a great HR person!

Newell Lessell, CEO for Chroma Technology, agreed. A strong workplace culture is so important to a companys success. Maras leadership as a human resources strategist and her deep passion for building best-in-class workplace cultures is a tremendous asset to Chroma.

Prior to her role at Chroma Technology, Mara served as chief administrative officer of PC Construction, vice president of Human Resources and Communications for Simon Pearce, and principal at Mara Rae Consulting. She holds a master of science in human resources management from Milano Graduate School of International Affairs at The New School and a bachelor of arts in communications from Queens College, City University of New York.

Mara is a SHRM senior certified professional and a member of the national and several local SHRM chapters. She has served on the Industry Advisory Board of the City University of New Yorks Fashion Institute of Technology, as an employer champion for the Working Bridges Employer Collaborative of Granite United Way, and as a member of the Corporate Workforce Development Committee of Vital Communities.

A 100% employee-owned company, Chroma Technology produces optical filters for the scientific, biomedical, photonics, and imaging and detection industries. The filters and mirrors that Chroma manufactures are used in microscopes, DNA sequencers, and clinical diagnostic devices, among other applications.

About Chroma Technology Corp.

Founded in 1991 as a 100% employee-owned company and now a B Corporation, Chroma Technology is a leading manufacturer and OEM supplier of highly precise optical filters using thin-film coating technology. With a reputation built on dedicated customer service, including free technical and applications support, we remain committed to serving the scientific and technical communities in their pursuit of the scientific endeavor. Learn more at http://www.chroma.com.
Andrew Lloyd Webber has detailed his experience of receiving an experimental coronavirus vaccine as part of an Oxford trial in a bid for all theatres to re-open.

The world-renowned composer, 72, appeared on Tuesday's Good Morning Britain to reveal the tests - which were temporarily on hold after a volunteer reportedly developed 'transverse myelitis', [an inflammation of the spinal cord] - are 'very carefully monitored'.

Impresario Andrew also insisted commercial theatre 'can't work' with current social distancing measures and urged the government to provide the industry with 'more help'.

'It's very carefully monitored': Andrew Lloyd Webber has detailed his experience of receiving an experimental coronavirus vaccine as part of a trial in a bid for all theatres to re-open

On the trial, the songwriter told hosts Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid: 'It's very carefully monitored, you do comprehensive blood tests.

'I fill in a daily form online which I then say if I have any symptoms. All that information is collated.

'They asked for older people to come down. They originally said not to but then on the Sunday I got the call to come down. Two women reacted badly to the trials in America, which they obviously discovered it was unrelated.

'There are two vaccines and they don't tell you which one you've actually had. I probably shouldn't say any more as they want to keep it slightly under wraps.'

Halt: The tests were temporarily on hold after a volunteer reportedly developed 'transverse myelitis' (Andrew pictured taking the test last month)

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE BRITISH VOLUNTEER? There have been several reports about the woman's state of health since AstraZeneca first announced trials were being paused on September 8. The drug giant announced studies in the UK, US, South Africa and Brazil had been paused indefinitely while it investigated whether the patient's illness was connected to the vaccine. No details about the patient suffering the potential side-effect, or the nature of the reaction, were given in the initial statement, which said: 'In large trials illnesses will happen by chance but must be independently reviewed to check this carefully.' Medical news site Stat first reported the pause in the study, while The New York Times quoted a source saying a trial volunteer had transverse myelitis. Amid rife suspicion, on September 9, Stat News reported AstraZeneca's CEO, Pascal Soriot, told investors in a conference call that the trial was stopped because the woman had symptoms consistent with transverse myelitis. Later that day, AstraZeneca said the media reports were 'incorrect', and that Mr Soriot had 'stated that there is no final diagnosis and that there will not be one until more tests are carried out'. A leaked AstraZeneca report seen by CNN gave details about the 37-year-old woman. The document, which is labelled an 'initial report', was sent to doctors running the clinical trials to warn them of the hospitalised British patient. It described how the study participant 'had trouble walking, weakness and pain in her arms, and other symptoms'. Fourteen days after receiving her second dose of the vaccine in late August, the woman 'experienced confirmed transverse myelitis', the report allegedly says. On September 2, while running, the study participant 'had a trip (not fall) with a jolt.' The report notes that she did not have any obvious injury to her cervical spine. The next day, the woman had symptoms including difficulty walking, pain and weakness in her arms, pain and reduced sensation in her torso, a headache and reduced ability to use her hands. She was hospitalised on September 5, several days prior to the SUSAR sent to doctors, and medical news website Stat said she was due to be discharged on September 9  a discharge date was never officially confirmed. The AstraZeneca report mentions twice that the woman was diagnosed with 'confirmed' transverse myelitis - which is in contrast to the company's claims last week that the condition was yet to be confirmed. The cover sheet on the report, allegedly sent by a contractor hired by AstraZeneca, also described her illness as 'confirmed' transverse myelitis. A neurologist who saw the woman said her case 'suggested the symptoms were consistent with the diagnosis of transverse myelitis' and that she had no past history of neurological symptoms or significant illnesses. But at another point, the report claimed to highlight there was 'limited information concerning the subject's relevant medical history.' The neurologist said the woman's symptoms started to get better quite rapid 'considering her illness started only four days ago'. 'Her symptoms were improving. Her strength and dexterity in her hands was getting better,' the report said. Physicians diagnose transverse myelitis by performing a thorough neurological examination. They use tests, such as an MRI and lumbar puncture, to rule out any other problems, such as an injury. In response to the article in CNN, AstraZeneca said it contained 'inaccuracies including the diagnosis, which is based on preliminary findings'. But it refused to reveal what they were.

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The University of Oxford and the drug company AstraZeneca are currently working on the development of the experimental vaccine called ChAdOx1 nCoV-19.

Thousands of people in the UK, United States, Brazil and South Africa have volunteered to take part in clinical trials.

Human trials of Oxford's vaccine are still on hold in the US over safety concerns, two weeks after they were first paused. AstraZeneca stopped global trials on September 8 because a British volunteer was hospitalised.

Leaked documents claimed the patient, a 37-year-old woman, suffered from inflammation around the spinal cord, typically triggered by viruses but a potential side effect of other vaccines.

'We can't survive unless the government give us some help': The world-renowned composer appeared on Tuesday's GMB to insist theatre 'can't work' with social distancing measures

Onboard: The next step in the study involves expanding the trial at a higher dose to thousands more people, which is where Andrew appeared to come into the play

Doctors restarted trials in the UK five days later on September 12 after it was deemed safe to do so by an independent safety review committee and the UK regulator, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency. They have also continued in Brazil, India and South Africa.

The next step in the study involves expanding the trial at a higher dose to thousands more people, which is where Andrew appeared to come into the play.

West End shows to return with special coronavirus measures The Nimax Group, the owner of the Apollo, Duchess, Garrick, Lyric, Palace and Vaudeville theatres, has announced it will welcome patrons back to the West End from October. The venues will use the following measures:

The audience will be socially distanced with seats removed, giving patrons more legroom.

Patrons will have fill out a health questionnaire before they arrive.

if you feel unwell before the play, Nimax will offer you a refund or a change of date until 10am on the day of the performance.

Temperature checks and masks will be compulsory, with hand sanitation zones around each theatre.

Staff will ensure a one-way system is followed with audience members marshalled to their seats and social distancing queues outside the toilets.

There will also be click-and-collect drinks for audience members to purchase during the interval, to avoid queueing.

Each theatre will also undergo regular deep-cleans. Advertisement

Andrew explained the negative effects of COVID-19 on the theatre industry, stating: 'Well I mean I've been in theatre for 50 years and never seen anything like it and the stories are really heart-breaking. A really talented viola player I saw the other day is stacking shelves in Morrisons.

'I don't think commercial theatre could survive unless the government give us some help, I have noticed in recent years it has been pretty far down the food chain anyway. TV and film get a lot of credit.'

Claiming venues can 'open completely safely like restaurants', the Cats star added: 'Theatre goers are conformist crowd, if they are told to wear a mask and they will wear a mask.

'Shows will the 3 to 6 months to rehearse. You can't just put a show out. You have to make sure a cast is safe. It's vital that we have a target to when we can reopen. Commercial theatre can't work with social distancing.'

Andrew and fellow stage stars have highlighted the lack of Government guidance for the reopening of theatres, and implore the Government to provide the industry with a date when theatres can reopen without social distancing amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Last month, venues were allowed to open for the first time since the start of lockdown, but with a majority of seats remaining empty to ensure strict guidelines, many owners say it is not financially viable.

There has finally been some green shoots of recovery with the owner of the Apollo, Duchess, Garrick, Lyric, Palace and Vaudeville theatres announcing they will welcome audiences again from October.

The Apollo will be the first Nimax Group theatre to return, following seven months of closed doors.

It will open with This is Going to Hurt on October 22, which will run until November 8. The play is written and performed by ex-doctor Adam Kay with the first performance free and for NHS staff only.

However, Nimax has admitted its most popular production, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, still needs more work and is expected back at the 1,400-seater Palace Theatre early in the new year.

Theatre-goes will still be able to enjoy favourites such as Everybody's Talking About Jamie and comedy The Play That Goes Wrong, both returning in November.

Unfortunate: In August, Sir Cameron Mackintosh made 200 staff redundant from his West End theatres in a blow to an industry already on its knees (pictured in 2012)

Nica Burns, chief executive of Nimax, and her team have drawn up a 100-page guide for each of the six theatres to reopen.

The audience will be socially distanced with seats removed, giving patrons more legroom.

You will be able to buy up to six tickets online or on contactless devices available at the theatre. Patrons will also have fill out a health questionnaire before they arrive.

However, if you feel unwell before the play, Nimax will offer you a refund or a change of date until 10am on the day of the performance.

Temperature checks and masks will be compulsory, with hand sanitation zones around each theatre.

Staff will also ensure a one-way system is followed with audience members marshalled to their seats and social distancing queues outside the toilets.

There will also be click-and-collect drinks for audience members to purchase during the interval to avoid queueing, and each theatre will also undergo regular deep-cleans.
Earlier this month in Salt Lake City, police officers walked a suburban street looking for a 13-year-old boy with autism. His mother had just told police that the teen might have a gun, hated cops and was experiencing a psychological break.

Less than 20 minutes later, one of the officers shot the boy after a short foot chase, despite a colleague telling him earlier she didnt want to get into a shootout with an emotionally disturbed kid.

"If it's a psych problem and she (the mother) is out of the house, I don't see why we need to approach in my opinion, an unidentified female cop tells her male colleague in a video released by Salt Lake City late Monday, later adding: I'm not about to get into a shooting because he's upset. Sorry.

The teen, who is white, survived, but the incident is just the latest in a string of high-profile, use-of-force encounters fueling an ongoing national debate sparked by the Memorial Day death of George Floyd by Minneapolis police.

Thirteen-year-old Linden Cameron, who has autism, lies on the ground after being shot by Salt Lake City police, in this still from a body camera released by the agency on Monday. The boy's mother, Golda Barton, had called 911 because she was concerned about her son's behavior.

Other such incidents this year include the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin; the fatal restraint of Daniel Prude in Rochester, New York; and the response by Aurora, Colorado, police to a mistaken case of a stolen vehicle during which police forced a woman and four girls out of their car at gunpoint to lay lie face-down on the ground.

In almost all such cases, officers say they acted consistently with their training, a common defense used against excessive force allegations. But experts told USA TODAY that law enforcement training is often outdated and promotes a react first, think later mentality  ultimately validating officers' decisions even when they appear to defy logic.

The officer makes that decision in the heat of the moment, and then their supervisors and you and me and everyone else looks at it afterwards, said Geoff Alpert, a University of South Carolina criminology professor.

Alpert said hes never seen a police officer admit to acting unreasonably in any of the thousands of police shootings hes reviewed over the past four decades. Of course theyre going to say that [they were following their training], wouldnt you?

Story continues

Slowing down the clock

Police scholars for decades have studied why some law enforcement encounters with civilians turn violent.

Sometimes its unavoidable in the high-stakes context of policing. But experts said current training methods exacerbate the odds of violence by instilling in officers a fear that their lives are at constant risk. To protect themselves, theyre taught to make snap judgments. This culture of urgency, the experts said, leads officers to react with immediate violence whether the situation warrants it or not.

In his book, You See a Hero, I See a Human Being, Detroit police officer-turned-civil rights lawyer David Robinson argues that officers often create life-threatening situations because they react out of a sense of urgency instead of calmly evaluating circumstances before reacting.

Robinson pointed to the 2014 fatal shooting of Tamir Rice in Cleveland.

Tamir Rice

Cleveland police officer Timothy Loehmann shot the Black 12-year-old seconds after police arrived. Officers said Rice reached for his waistband. A prosecutor later cleared Loehmann of criminal charges, saying he had reason to fear for his life given the high-stress circumstances and his police training.

Had the officers asked the dispatcher for more information, Robinson said, they might have learned that Rice was playing in a park with what was likely a toy gun. They also could have stayed inside their patrol car and used a megaphone to talk to Rice and determine what he was doing.

They put themselves in the dangerous situation, so they shouldnt be able to avail themselves of that so-called justification, Robinson said. You see this pattern over and over again in these incidents. It almost seems like the cops get excited to catch the bad guy, and thinking and discretion sort of goes out the window.

After the Aurora incident where officers forced Brittney Gilliam and four girls ages 6-17 to the ground before handcuffing Gilliam and the two older girls, interim police Chief Vanessa Wilson said that the officers did follow protocol. In cases of stolen vehicles, Wilson said, standard tactics include drawing weapons and requiring all occupants to exit the vehicle.

Aurora, Colo., police officers drew their guns and handcuffed a woman and four children after mistaking their car for a stolen vehicle.

But she acknowledged the need for officers to have discretion and to deviate from this process when different scenarios present themselves.

Gilliam, who is Black, was incensed in particular about how the police treated the children.

Theres no excuse why you didnt handle it a different type of way, Gilliam told KUSA. You could have even told them, Step off to the side, let me ask your mom or your auntie a few questions, so we can get this cleared up. There was different ways to handle it.

In a cellphone camera video of the incident, a passerby recorded one of the girls crying and asking for her mother while another girl wailed.

Police said Gilliam's license plate matched that of a stolen vehicle. But the missing vehicle was a motorcycle, not a car, and the license number was issued in a different state.

Aurora Police declined to comment on the case to USA TODAY, saying that it is still under investigation. Department officials forwarded a copy of Wilsons statement from August. In it, she said she had already directed leaders within the agency to look at new practices and training.

Houston police Chief Art Acevedo took more drastic measures this month, when he decided to fire four officers who in April shot a suicidal Hispanic man 21 times. Nicholas Chavez, 27, was on his knees, bleeding from previous wounds when he grabbed an officers stun gun that had been deployed and couldnt be used again.

Police union leaders in Houston insisted that, based on the officers training, they had no choice but to shoot. Acevedo disagreed, saying those fears were unrealistic with more than two dozen officers on the scene. He said the officers had little regard for Chavezs life.

This is a matter of judgment, and if youre that fearful, with 28 officers, of a man thats been wounded already, then I dont need you as a police officer, Acevedo said.

Scrambling to catch up

Another complicating factor is that while societys understanding of mental illness has evolved over the past half-century, law enforcement training hasnt, said W.D. Dan Libby, a retired police chief and sheriff who now testifies as an expert in use-of-force cases.

For about the past 10 years now, law enforcement has scrambled to change the way they deal with those situations, Libby said. Some are improving, but there are others out there still trying to catch up.

Like union officials in Houston, Rochester Police Union President Michael Mazzeo said the officers involved in Prudes death were following their training.

Video footage of the incident shows Prude, who is Black, ranting incoherently and at one point telling officers he had coronavirus. Officers said they put a spit hood over his head to keep him from getting bodily fluids on them. After that, at least three officers pinned him to the ground until he stopped moving or breathing.

Daniel Prude, 41, died of asphyxiation after being pinned to the ground by police in Rochester, N.Y.

Prude was taken to a hospital and died a week later. A Rochester-area medical examiner ruled his death a homicide by asphyxiation.

The U.S. Department of Justice and the National Institute of Justice warned as early as 1995 that applying pressure to someones back while the person is restrained and lying on the ground could be deadly. The subdued person finds it harder to breathe and instinctively struggles and moves more in an attempt to breathe. Officers in turn tend to interpret that as resistance and respond by applying more pressure.

In Prudes case, the result was deadly. But that, Mazzeo says, was not the officers fault.

"An officer doesn't have the ability to go off-script," Mazzeo, president of the Rochester Police Locust Club Union, told the USA TODAY Networks Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. "They have to follow protocol and do what they are trained to do.

Police in Rochester have yet to outline what changes, if any, they will make to their training in light of Prudes death. A spokeswoman for the department did not respond to calls and emails seeking comment.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office exonerated officers in a case that bears resemblance to Prudes. In 2017, Whittier, California, police killed 26-year-old Jonathan Salcido while trying to restrain him during a schizophrenic episode. They handcuffed him, placed him face-down on the ground and piled on top of him.

Because the officers used objectively reasonable force to overcome Jonathans resistance to their lawful duty of detaining him for his own safety, they did not commit an assault under the color of authority, the DA's Office concluded.

Although it may seem counterintuitive that officers can legally kill a man while restraining him for his safety, Alpert said, they are trained to treat threats and physical violence with force of their own.

So even if theyre going there to try to protect him, and if he starts fighting or he has a knife or he has a gun," Alpert said, "that becomes a separate event."

In the Salt Lake City case, police were called to the scene hours before a requirement took effect mandating the use of de-escalation tactics before deploying deadly force.

The shooting happened after the boys mother, Golda Barton, called 911 to get police to help her take her son, Linden, to the hospital. Linden has autism and was acting out.

Salt Lake City resident Golda Barton speaks to police officers responding to her call about her 13-year-old son, who has autism and was acting out, in this still from body camera footage of the Sept. 5, encounter released by the agency. Moments after speaking to the mother, one of the officers shot her son.

Barton said her son had threatened someone that day with either a BB gun or a pellet gun. In the video released Monday, one of the responding officers told Barton as they stood outside her house that they would have to treat the gun  whatever it was  as a real threat.

When police approached the home, the teen ran from the back door. The officers chased him through the backyard, over a fence and onto a sidewalk. One of them yelled for him to get on the ground before firing multiple shots. The officer then shouted for Linden to show his hands.

I don't feel good, Linden said as he lay curled on the ground. Tell my mom I love her.

Salt Lake City Police did not answer USA TODAYs question about whether the officer who fired was following department training and policy. But in a statement Monday, the department said all officers in the department receive 40 hours of crisis training.

That is still part of an open investigation by the protocol team as well as internal affairs and the civilian review board, the department wrote in a statement.

In light of this shooting, though, Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall said in an interview with USA TODAY that shes looking at a number of ways that our police department can better serve our residents who are on the spectrum or have sensory needs, including expanding our training.

Contributing: N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA TODAY, and Gary Craig, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Police in use-of-force cases cite training as defense; it's outdated
Officers then tried to arrest Blake. Sheskey and Arenas attempted to use their Tasers, but DOJ said they were unsuccessful in stopping Blake. Blake walked to his vehicle, opened the driver's side door, and leaned forward. While holding onto Blake's shirt, Sheskey fired his gun seven times into Blake's back.

The ensuing investigation found Blake acknowledged at one point that he had a knife in his possession, and agents recovered a knife from the driver's side floorboard of Blake's vehicle. No other weapons were found.

It's unclear whether officers saw a knife or whether Blake had been holding one during the incident; DOJ in its updates never provided clarification on that point.

The lawyer representing Blake's family, Ben Crump, disputed that account in a statement after Kaul's initial update last month, saying that witnesses had confirmed Blake wasn't in possession of a knife and didn't threaten officers.

Jacob did nothing to provoke police," the statement said.

The Kenosha police union in its own statement last month alleged Blake held a knife in his left hand and ignored officers' orders to drop it. It also said Blake "forcefully" resisted arrest and fought with officers, putting one in a headlock.
Abu Dhabi is no longer requiring people to have a license to obtain alcohol. The new measure comes as the United Arab Emirates seeks to boost its hospitality industry amid the continued pandemic.

The UAE capital citys Department of Culture and Tourism informed liquor dealers of the decision on Monday. The new rules stipulate that people need only be 21 years old and consume the alcohol at home or in a licensed area, such as a bar or hotel, The Associated Press reported.

The Department of Culture and Tourism has not made an official public announcement about the measure.

Previously, people in Abu Dhabi needed to show a license to buy alcohol in liquor stores, bars and restaurants, though the rule was rarely enforced. In the Emirates other major city, Dubai, liquor store purchases require a license, but buying booze in a bar or restaurant does not. Dubai also made obtaining the licenses easier this year, including allowing tourists to obtain a temporary one with their passport, according to the Abu-Dhabi based news outlet The National.

Abu Dhabi is not yet open to foreign tourists, but the emirate is looking for ways to boost hospitality revenues. This month, Abu Dhabis Department of Culture and Tourism instructed hotels to add kosher dining options to their menus in anticipation of the arrival of religious Jewish tourists following the normalization agreement between the UAE and Israel.

On Saturday, Abu Dhabis Yas Island will begin hosting the second Fight Island for the Ultimate Fighting Championship. The major mixed martial arts event will not have spectators, but the fighters and their teams will be allowed to move around the luxurious complex freely following testing and a quarantine.

The United Arab Emirates as a whole is contending with an outbreak of COVID-19 and the country is registering all-time highs in daily cases. Last week, Emirati authorities approved the use of an emergency vaccine for high-risk workers.

People entering Abu Dhabi by air must now wear a wristband to track their movements as they undergo a mandatory two-week quarantine. Dubai is more relaxed and continues to welcome tourists.
Ah, the stages of the pandemic. We had Tiger King, we had banana bread, we had staycations, and now we have sure, TikTokers will flatten the curve.

As coronavirus cases rise, there has been a crackdown on socialising, with the number of household visitors allowed drastically reduced and, in Dublin, the closure of pubs and restaurants that dont offer outdoor seating.

The so-called wet pubs (surely there has to be a less stomach-churning name) in the capital also remain closed.

While there is the major issue of hundreds of people, middle-aged and beyond, marching through the city centre claiming that being told to wear a mask while in Lidl is against their rights as a citizen, a close eye is being kept on the pesky youths.

Concerned about the admittedly frustrating videos of house parties emptying out like clown cars, Taoiseach Micheal Martin wants young people abiding by the rules to tell their mates to cop on and stay inside, and is now looking at outsourcing the tough love to influencers.

Speaking to Pat Kenny, he said: The mechanisms and the platforms, maybe using more influencers to communicate at the level young people are at in terms of the various platforms that they access... I think is key.

Expand Close Taoiseach Micheal Martin. Photo: Tom Honan/PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp Taoiseach Micheal Martin. Photo: Tom Honan/PA

Fine Gael TD Neale Richmond suggested that influencers could get 20,000 for telling youths to wear a mask via a TikTok set to Blinding Lights, with Higher and Further Education Minister Simon Harris saying the budget will be there to pay them what is necessary.

The mere mention of the word influencers is a magnet for mockery and proclamations of what is the world coming to? It was the same with reality stars, and one of them is now President of the United States, so Im not going to argue the legitimacy of social media in this day and age.

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But in fairness to An Taoiseach, the idea that influencers could be used to pass on a message is not that ridiculous.

Many of the naysayers forget that your average 18-year-old isnt religiously listening to Morning Ireland or reading the broadsheets front to back. Thats not to say theyre disengaged; theyre more engaged than most, but theyre getting their news from social media and from TikTok, an app that is shaping political discussion as much as it is viral dance routines. Teenagers do make-up tutorials while explaining why private prisons should be abolished; viral challenges are hijacked by people debunking conspiracy theories and hoaxes. So getting somebody with social media clout to deliver a message about public health to the masses is just as feasible as getting them to promote whitening toothpaste.

TikTok in particular would target the exact demographic the Taoiseach is failing to. While 27pc of users are aged between 13 and 17, 42pc are in the 18-24 category, the people that, according to some figures, are apparently oblivious to the notion that theres a pandemic on and theyre a lethal enemy to their granny.

Ireland wouldnt be the first to try this tactic out. The UKs Cabinet Office paid Love Island stars to promote the governments Test and Trace program - but there have been plenty of people complaining that if influencers, whether theyre on TikTok, Instagram or YouTube, are to help out the Government, they shouldnt be paid - that they should do it out of the kindness of their own hearts.

I get it, we all need to be pitching in, but this is their job, whether you think its a job or not, and if you wouldnt do the governments leg work for free, neither should they. This is an advertisement, and like a TV station or a magazine, they deserve to be paid for their platform.

Theres also been concern over whether influencers are responsible enough to convey the message, and absolutely, the chosen messengers should be vetted, like any brand chosen to promote a message would be.

The Government really doesnt need to cough up 20k to an Instagram star to tell her followers stay at home, lads!, only to see her off in Ibiza hanging out with her mates and getting a picture with Wayne Lineker a week later. But if everyone is vetted, and an influencer uses their platform and, well, influence to urge their vast trusting audience to be a bit safer, how can that hurt?

My concern is that the buck will be passed to the influencers, and to the young people who just wouldnt listen. We got their favourite MUA (thats make-up artist, for the uninitiated) to tell them to social distance - its not our fault they didnt pay attention!

There's no denying that there needs to be a reduction in house parties. But under-18s are also back in school, in classrooms with other children, with other families and other vulnerable grandparents and on public transport getting there and back.

Gen Z and Millennials make up much of the retail and service workforce that have been forced to mix with the public for months, with less stability and sick leave, and they are the ones in over-stuffed flat-shares that make social distancing an impossibility, sharing kitchens and bathrooms with people they often barely know because the renting system is broken.

Most young people are being responsible - it's their circumstances that are making things difficult.

Every little helps, and getting the GOAT House to tell teens to wash their hands over a Jason Derulo song is all well and good. But dont expect a TikToker with a million followers to make the problem go away.
The total number of Covid-19 cases in has reached 190,929, with 3,027 new cases, Israel's Ministry of Health said on Monday.

The death toll reached 1,273 after 17 new fatalities were added, while the number of patients in serious condition increased from 643 to 653, out of 1,359 patients currently hospitalised, Xinhua reported.

The number of recoveries reached 136,780, with 2,711 new ones, while the active cases reached a record high of 52,876.

Earlier on Monday, the health ministry declared a state of emergency in all hospitals after the recent soar in Covid-19 morbidity and overload of the wards.

In a letter to hospital chiefs, Hezi Levi, director-general of the ministry, warned that the Israeli health system is expected to hit capacity limit within weeks or even days.

He also announced the setting up of national operation headquarters to supervise all hospitals' situation of the and provide solutions to problems arising in the hospitals around the clock.

--IANS

pgh/

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 00:11:37|Editor: huaxia

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NAIROBI, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has called for the rebuilding of the UN system to better address global crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic that has excessively impacted developing and emerging economies.

Kenyatta, who delivered a statement on Monday evening during the virtual high-level meeting to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the UN that also marked the opening session of this year's UN General Assembly (UNGA 2020), noted that the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the global vulnerabilities of the UN.

"Now more than ever, we are called on to reflect on the words of the UN Charter that urge us to employ international machinery for economic and social advancement of all," he said in a statement issued on Tuesday in the coastal city of Mombasa after the meeting.

The Kenyan leader called for meaningful international partnerships and multilateral cooperation to build back better together.

He called for concerted efforts towards a UN system that is better financed and equipped to be more impactful to deal with humanitarian crises and be effective in the mitigation as well as elimination of civil and long protracted wars.

He said the world needs a multilateral system that directly targets poverty and inequalities as a global priority and pointed out that today's world is more diverse and complex yet more interdependent.

"The juxtaposition must ignite our collective resolve to act now but more importantly to act decisively in solidarity so as to ensure that the UN serves well the needs of the world's people, the people in whose name this great organization was established," said Kenyatta.

He urged the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other multilateral lenders to be responsive to proposals of debt management especially from developing countries so as to create fiscal space that accommodates needed for the economies to survive the negative effects of the COVID-19 global health crisis.

Kenyatta pointed out that global challenges have unprecedentedly intensified, citing innovation and technology that have created great opportunities while at the same time unleashing challenges that would have been unimaginable to the visionaries who created the UN.

"Therefore, I do believe it is incumbent upon us to rethink how we can build a better United Nations. But in order to Build Back Better, the United Nations system, we must ensure that it is closer to the people, more representative of the 21st Century and in line with the spirit of leaving no one behind," he said.

He said the anniversary provided an opportunity for the world to reflect and assess the role and relevance of the UN system, especially its charter which speaks of a future that the world needs. Enditem
Sex and the City star Kim Cattrall is officially an American citizen now and the English-born actor had a significant reason for it. Cattrall, who was raised in both Canada and the United States, explained that while she had been living in America for decades - she pursued citizenship so she could vote this year.

Appearing on Live with Kelly and Ryan, she called the upcoming US election the specific reason and became a citizen this year so I could vote. Cattrall has been living in New York since she was 16 years old according to InStyle.

Though Cattrall usually lives in New York, she has been quarantining in Canada alongside her partner Russell Thomas to be closer to her mother (who lives in a senior facility). However, she travelled back to New York for her citizenship test and later her oath over the pandemic.

( ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty Images) / ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty Images

She explained that once she had passed the difficult test and took her oath, she was surprised at how emotional the process was - even moving the officer overseeing her oath.

Cattrall said, I was so emotional. I didnt expect that reaction. The officer who sent me through said to me, You know, some people dont take this as seriously and I was really touched at how emotional it was for [you].

Kim Cattrall and the Sex and the City cast / Getty Images

In another recent interview, Cattrall also said she would no longer be talking about her public feud with her former co-star Sarah Jessica Parker. Speaking to Los Angeles Times, she said, I feel that that was then, and when I look at whats going on around me, I just dont have any regrets.

Cattrall is currently starring on the television show Filthy Rich, which airs on Fox in the US.
Kanpur, Sep 22 : The Kanpur police are preparing to file charge sheet in court next month in the Bikru village massacre case in which eight policemen were shot dead on July 3.

The charge sheet that is being prepared, names 42 accused, including six of those killed in police encounters after the massacre. Eight policemen, including a deputy Superintendent of Police rank officer, had lost their lives in the ambush led by slain gangster Vikas Dubey and his henchmen.

The accused have been booked under Sections 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting with a deadly weapon), 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 394 (voluntarily causing hurt in committing robbery), 120 b (punishment of criminal conspiracy), 7 CLA Act and 3/25 Arms Act with regard to Bikru shootout.

"As of now, more than 80 per cent of task on the charge sheet with regard to Bikru incident has been achieved. It will hardly take two more weeks to complete the same. Five police stations in charge have been roped in to compile it. We have taken statements of nearly 150 witnesses including doctors of post-mortem panel and those involved in 'panchnama', besides locals of Bikru and nearby villages," said SP (rural) Brijesh Kumar Srivastava.

Then SP said that they hoped to file the charge sheet before the 90 day period that ends on October 3.

"The findings are based on the probe and the evidence. It would soon be filed in court. Also, we are preparing another file so that some of the accused can be booked under National Security Act (NSA)," he said.

DSP Devendra Mishra was among eight policemen shot dead in Chaubeypur area on July 3 when they had gone to Bikru to arrest Vikas Dubey.

Dubey was killed in an encounter in the morning of July 10 when a police vehicle carrying him from Ujjain to Kanpur met with an accident and he tried to escape from the spot in Bhauti area in Sachendi, the police had said.

Prior to Dubey's encounter, five of his alleged associates were killed in separate encounters, while more than 44 other accused have been identified. Thirty-six accused have been arrested and sent to jail and only two others are still absconding.
The liberals have been more diverse: Elena Kagan (73 percent in favor of the religious side), Stephen Breyer (61 percent), Sonia Sotomayor (29 percent) and Ruth Bader Ginsburg (21 percent). With Justices Sotomayor and Ginsburg at the bottom of the ranking, the Roberts court has been the most polarized on religious issues in the seven decades, and probably ever.

The numbers for the current Roberts court come with a caveat: The volume of cases is relatively low (ranging from four for Justice Kavanaugh to 33 for Justice Thomas), which reduces their reliability. Moreover, these numbers reflect only cases in which oral arguments were held and thus omit the two cases this year in which Chief Justice Roberts joined the liberal justices in upholding pandemic-related orders against religious challenges and another upholding abortion rights (it was not a First Amendment case, but conservative Christian organizations had a strong interest in it).

Still, the growth of partisan polarization on religious issues on the Roberts court is unmistakable. What is going on?

The conservative bloc on the Supreme Court sees the promotion of religious rights as a legitimate way to push back on the socially liberal rulings of the court. For over 50 years, conservatives have railed against rulings that have established constitutional protection for contraception, pornography, nontraditional family arrangements, abortion and the rights of sexual minorities, including the right to same-sex marriage.

During that time, the court recognized relatively weak constitutional protections for religious organizations, and those protections were focused on followers of non-mainstream religions who faced discrimination  dissenting Christians like Seventh-day Adventists as well as Jews and Muslims. Mainstream Christian groups often lost in disputes involving state funding for religious schools, prayer in schools and religious holiday displays on public property.

But the conservative justices seem to have realized that by strengthening religious rights under the First Amendment, they can both weaken the anti-religion precedents and make progress against the socially liberal rulings. Recent cases have strengthened the hand of religious schools that seek state funding and continued a trend of protecting religious organizations from state laws that offend their beliefs.

Justice Kagan memorably argued that the conservative majority had weaponized the free-speech clause of the First Amendment by extending its protections for political dissenters to corporations. The Roberts court is doing something similar with the religion clauses of the First Amendment, converting them from protections for religious dissenters to means for advancing conservative Christian values.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday re-arraigned a former Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Kabiru Turaki, at the Federal High Court, Abuja, for alleged fraud.

Also arraigned alongside Mr Turaki were his former Special Assistant, Sampson Okpetu, and two firms, Samtee Essential Limited and Pasco Investment Limited.

They were last arraigned on May 4 on a 16-count charge bordering on unlawful and criminal misappropriation of funds.

Count one of the charge reads: That you Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (whilst serving as Minister for Special Duties and Inter Governmental Affairs) sometime in January 2015 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did use the sum of N159,104,000 (One Hundred and Fifty Nine Million, One Hundred and Four Thousand only) out of the sum of N359, 104,000 (Three Hundred and Fifty Nine Million, One Hundre and Four Thousand Naira only) released to the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-governmental Affairs for the purpose of sensitization and enlightenment of Muslim Youths, knowing that the said sum is proceed of unlawful activity to wit: criminal misappropriation and you thereby committed an offense contrary to section 15(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under section (15(3) bf the same Act.

They pleaded not guilty to all 16 counts and the court ordered that the defendants continue to enjoy the administrative bail condition granted them by the EFCC.

When the case resumed on Monday, the EFCC produced its first witness, Tahir Umar, a former aide to former Vice President Namadi Sambo.

Mr Umar, during cross examination by the defendants counsel, Joe Gadzama, admitted to receiving N200 million out of the N359 million allegedly approved by former President Goodluck Jonathan for the purpose of enlightenment of Muslim organisations for the 2015 general elections.

The witness also said the EFCC demanded that N20 million out of the N200 million should be refunded.

Mr Gadzama challenged him saying the records showed that only N3 million out of the N67 million had been refunded.

How much have you refunded so far? Mr Gadzama asked the witness.

I have refunded about N1.7 million, said the witness.

When Mr Gadzama asked Mr Umar of the actions he took when he realised that only N200 million out of N359 million was released, the witness refused to provide an answer. Instead, he sought protection from the judge, Inyang Ekwo.

I seek the protection of my lord to offer an explanation, Mr Umar said.

But Mr Gadzama insisted he should answer the question.

No, this is a simple question. You told the court that N359 million was approved to you and you got N200 million. What did you do to get the balance? Mr Gadzama said.

I asked the minister and he said the release was in tranches and I have no reason to doubt him, Mr Umar responded.

At this point, Mr Ekwo cautioned Mr Umar when the cross-examination session got heated.

Your language is very bad. You need to know you are before the court, the judge said.

Mr Ekwo however adjourned till Tuesday for further cross examination and continuation of trial.
Bengali actor Rupaa Duttas claim that filmmaker Anurag Kashyap sent her sexually suggestive messages on Facebook DMs in 2014 has been disproved after a fact check. It appears that the actor was conversing with another man who shared his first name with the director.

On Saturday, after actor Payal Ghosh accused Anurag Kashyap of sexual misconduct, Rupaa shared screenshots of her text chat with Anurag on her social media accounts. Hello friends. This is from the time in 2014 when I used to talk to Anurag Kashyap. His ID was Anurag Safar on Facebook. I stopped talking to him because he was talking inappropriately. This man does not even know the limit of disgusting behaviour. There is no respect for any woman in the eyes of Anurag Kashyap. Which is what I found out after knowing him. All of you must have come to know from my and Anurags conversation. That is why Payal Ghoshs allegation is correct. Anurag Kashyap should be punished harshly. And he takes drugs too. Supplies to his artistes too. NCB should investigate, please. #arrestanuragkashyab, she wrote. The screenshots show how Anurag has asked her why she won an award and that he is interested in married women.

However, a report by Alt News says the account never belonged to the filmmaker. The Anurag Safar account was earlier in the name of Anurag Kashyap and a few media outlets had even tagged it when reporting on Anurags films. The user later changed the ID to Anurag Safar in 2009. He did the same on Twitter as well.

The user had also clarified that he is not the filmmaker. Pl Excuse me friends!!! I am not film director or producer Anurag Kashyap. I am another Anurag. Please do not bug me considering him, he had written in a Facebook post in 2010. He denied it again on 2016 in a reply to a comment. Have I ever claimed to be AK? Are you out of your mind? he had written.

Anurag Kashyap also denied using the account to Alt News. He said he is on Facebook under username anuragkashyap1972 and has a verified profile.

On Saturday, Patel Ki Punjabi Shaadi actor Payal Ghosh, had also accused Anurag of sexual harassment. Speaking to ANI, she said, Five years ago I met Anurag Kashyap regarding work. He called me to his house. When I went there, he took me to a separate room and tried to sexually assault me. He forced himself on me.

Also read | Payal Ghosh slams those doubting her claims against Anurag Kashyap: People blame women for everything

I request the authorities to kindly take action and let the country see the demon behind this creative guy. I am aware that it can harm me and my security is at risk. I am seeking action against him, she said.

Post the allegations, Anurag responded on Twitter in which he denied the allegations, claiming that they were baseless. I neither behave like this nor do I ever tolerate this at any price, he said.

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Cutcliffe King is an Australian-born former teacher of mathematics and science who heeded the call of adventure, lived in a variety of exotic and untamed locales, and now resides with his family and their blue heeler, Jedda, in the White Mountains of Arizona. He has published his new book The Javelin Trilogy: The Recruitment: a compelling choice for avid action and mystery readers.

In 1944, two United States Army Air Corps Officers are recruited for a missiona TOP SECRET mission to coincide with another.

Between departing England and arriving in Australia, their shuttle airplane is attacked by Japanese fighters. However, the planes are reduced to dust by blasts fired from an untraceable source. Originally ordered to fly directly to Antarctica, the shuttle pilots receive orders to off-load the pilots in Albany, a small whaling town in Western Australia. Awaiting the pilots, Colonel Jeremy McCloud and Colonel Kevin Stillwell, are new orders to sail on board United States submarine, USS Javelin.

After their arrival in Albany, attempts are made to assassinate the two pilots by German SS Abwehr assassins from a German raider sailing off the Australian coast. Under the arms of the assassins, killed in the futile attempts to murder the American military officers, the word Xranon is found etched into their skin---birthmarks!

Following the destruction of the German raider by USS Javelin, Germans are captured and interred in the towns POW compound. With Christmas being a time for celebrations, strange occurrences mar this time for conviviality. Colonel Stillwell is subjected to allegations he changed from human form into an extraterrestrial alien. All German prisoners are extricated by an unseen enemy. Those in charge explain the disappearance as a mass escape, adding that wounded police officer, Detective Sergeant Bruce Hardy, was taken hostage to ensure the Germans safe escape.

A number of strangers, dressed identically, are sighted around Albany. Their presence is unexplained and unknown! Mystery surrounds the appearances, with intrigue mounting as to what the Americans are doing in the small town. Even more intriguing, a journalist follows the pilots, supposedly returning to England. He reports the pilots boarded their aircraft, when they actually embarked on the submarine for the voyage to their assigned destination---Antarctica!

Published by Page Publishing, Cutcliffe Kings engrossing book is a gripping and potent thriller that keeps the pages turning until the tantalizing conclusion.

Readers who wish to experience this engaging work can purchase The Javelin Trilogy: The Recruitment 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.
WASHINGTON - Jockeying over President Donald Trump's next Supreme Court pick ramped up Monday as the president pledged to unveil his candidate to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg by the end of the week and conservative groups began aligning behind a push to quickly confirm the eventual nominee.

Trump continued to sound out advice from senior officials White House, key Senate Republicans and conservative leaders about his Supreme Court choice, who if confirmed would cement a conservative majority on the court for years. The momentum appeared to grow behind Judge Amy Coney Barrett of the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals who met with Trump at the White House Monday, according to two people familiar with her visit.

She is a favorite of religious conservatives and is already battle-tested after going through a ferocious confirmation fight in 2017 for her seat on the appeals court. But Trump aides and allies continue to push other candidates with Judge Barbara Lagoa of the 11th Circuit considered the other top contender.

As the lobbying unfolded, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., began coalescing his ranks behind a confirmation vote for Trump's nominee, perhaps before the election - although he has not committed to a timetable. Only two GOP senators - Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska - have said they oppose voting on Trump's pick before Nov. 3, while GOP support has only grown for Trump's public demand for Senate Republicans to hold a vote by then.

"I'd much rather have a vote before the election because there's a lot of work to be done, and I'd much rather have it," Trump told reporters at the White House on Monday before leaving for a campaign rally in Dayton, Ohio. "And we have plenty of time to do it."

He prodded wavering GOP senators to get in line behind him.

"I think their voters - the people that voted them put them there because of a certain ideology or certain feel," he said. "And they don't want to have somebody" be reluctant about Trump's pick.

Several officials familiar with the discussions over the pending nomination outlined Trump's current thinking on who should replace Ginsburg, the liberal icon who died of pancreatic cancer on Friday, and the state of play in the Senate on the condition they not be named because the talks are private.

Two Trump advisers said the president told others on Monday that he was leaning toward Barrett - a Catholic conservative who fended off attacks on her religion during her appeals court confirmation hearing - because it would help with his base, particularly evangelical voters.

One official pushing that perspective is White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, who has been meticulously sussing out the political ramifications of each potential nominee.

Barrett has other powerful backers within the White House, with counsel Pat Cipollone among her boosters and Vice President Mike Pence - who, like Barrett, hails from Indiana - advocating for her internally. She served as clerk for former Justice Antonin Scalia, and could boost support for Trump among Catholics in critical swing states such as Pennsylvania this fall.

McConnell has made it clear to the White House that while he will advocate for any nominee that Trump puts forward, the majority leader views Barrett as the best choice, according to several people briefed on his views. Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., who leads the Senate GOP's campaign arm, is also lobbying for a Barrett nomination.

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., who has said publicly that he will only support a nominee who believes Roe vs. Wade, the landmark 1973 case that legalized access to abortion, was incorrectly decided. He said Monday that Barrett "clearly meets that threshold that I've talked about."

But some advisers to president are concerned that nominating Barrett will drive the focus of the last weeks of the presidential election to abortion, galvanizing the left and ultimately hurting the president's prospects in November.

"If we are talking about abortion and Roe vs. Wade, for the next six weeks, that's not a good thing," one senior Republican said. "We will lose."

In turn, Meadows has been privately advising against Lagoa amid concerns that the Florida jurist and the other front-runner for the Ginsburg vacancy is not sufficiently conservative in her opinions.

But other advisers believe Lagoa - who enjoys significant support among Miami legal circles - could be a political boon in the presidential race as Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden are in a tight contest for Florida and are trying to win the support of more Latino voters nationwide. Lagoa was the first Latina on the Florida Supreme Court and would be the second on the U.S. Supreme Court after Justice Sonia Sotomayor.

Much of Trump's decision, however, will hinge on his interviews with the finalists. He told reporters that he might interview Lagoa - whom he has not met in person - when he visits Miami on an unrelated trip later this week.

Trump has told advisers that he relishes a fight over the seat because it changes the topic of the campaign from the coronavirus and shows voters that he is fighting for them and that Democrats will overplay their hand.

Trump said publicly on Monday that he was considering five women for the vacancy, but that it was unlikely he would interview all of them for the position.

The decision will come "probably Saturday," Trump said, although he said it could come on Friday. Ginsburg will lie in repose at the Supreme Court on Wednesday and Thursday and lie in state Friday at the Capitol, making her the first woman to be honored in that way in the Capitol's 227-year history.

Other candidates in the mix but who are considered as long shots at the moment are Judge Allison Jones Rushing of the 4th Circuit and deputy White House counsel Kate Todd.

Meadows, who like Rushing is from North Carolina, has been the primary voice floating her for the vacancy. Rushing, 38, was first brought to the attention of the White House by Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., who worked with administration lawyers on her nomination to the Richmond-based appeals court. Meanwhile, Todd has worked closely on judicial nominations at the White House but has not been through the confirmation process herself and is not considered a top-tier pick.

A range of Trump aides, allies and senators met at the office of Jim DeMint, chairman of the Conservative Partnership Institute, on Monday night to discuss the nomination and how to confirm the nominee with donors, outside support and White House work, according to three people familiar with the meeting. Among those present, Barrett was the favorite candidate, two of the people said.

McConnell on Monday did not say anything publicly about whom he prefers for the position. But he reiterated that the Senate has a right to take up the nomination in this election year, even though he denied Merrick Garland, a nominee of President Barack Obama, the same hearing and vote for months before the 2016 presidential election.

The majority leader continued to stop short of laying out a timeline for the vote, even as Trump and conservative GOP senators began to agitate to confirm the eventual nominee before the election.

"I think it should take as long as it takes," said Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., a member of GOP leadership. "At the same time I don't think we should drag it out. I don't think we should have a barrier here that gets in the way of people feeling like this took as long as it needed to take."

Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, is being closely watched as a third potential defection. A spokeswoman for the senator said he will not say anything publicly until at least Tuesday afternoon, after he meets for lunch with other Senate Republicans and hears their views.

Trump also solicited advice from prominent social conservative leaders such as Ralph Reed, the founder of the Faith and Freedom Coalition, and Marjorie Dannenfelser, the president of the Susan B. Anthony List, a group that opposes access to abortion. The president felt confident after those conversations, feeling that the conservative movement was aligned behind his court strategy.

"He is right," Dannenfelser tweeted Monday. "We agree the vote on a nominees must occur before the election. Plenty of time. #prolifecourt"

That point was emphasized in a list of talking points distributed from the White House to outside allies on Monday, which said that "it's not unusual for a justice to be confirmed in a short period of time." The average length of a Supreme Court nomination since 1975 has taken upward of 70 days.

"The President and his team will be working closely with Leader McConnell and the Senate to ensure a timely and thorough process," read the talking points, a copy of which was obtained by The Washington Post. "There is ample time for the Senate to fulfill its constitutional obligation and take up this nomination."
OTSEGO COUNTY, MI  An 85-year-old Bay City man succumbed to his injuries and died after a rollover crash near Gaylord.

Ernest Stanley Rytlewski was traveling eastbound on M-32 near West Martin Lake Road in Elmira Township when he lost control of his vehicle, according to a news release from Michigan State Police. The vehicle left the roadway, rolled and struck a tree around 12:21 p.m. on Sept. 16.

Troopers from the MSP Gaylord Post responded to the single vehicle crash. Rytlewski, who was the only person in the vehicle, was extracted from the vehicle and airlifted to Munson Medical Center in Traverse City, police said. Rytlewski died on September 17.

A police investigation found that alcohol and drugs were not a factor in the crash; all tests for intoxicants were negative, police said.

Troopers were assisted by the Elmira Township Fire Department, Otsego County EMS and Otsego County Fire Department.

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Three months after the Spanish government ended lockdowns amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the resurgence of the virus is again swamping Madrids hospitals. Health authorities report 90 percent of beds in Madrid intensive care wards are occupied; 139 people died of Covid-19 there last week.

These events are a warning to workers across Europe and internationally: the premature ending of lockdowns is leading to catastrophe. In Spain, there have been 31,428 new Covid-19 cases found and 168 deaths just since Friday. In Madrid, the number of cases has been multiplied by 73 since July, rising from 9 to 659 per 100,000 inhabitants. Similar surges are taking place in every European country, and many European cities are only weeks behind Madrid in the spread of the virus.

Working class neighborhoods in the south of the city are hardest-hit by the virus, with double the average rate of infection: Puente de Vallecas has 1,280 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, Villaverde 1,208 and Usera 1,198. Many essential workers highly exposed to Covid-19 live in these areas, where many large families live together in small, cramped apartments.

One doctor from the Doce de Octubre hospital in southern Madrid, which has begun canceling scheduled surgeries to deal with the Covid-19 surge, told the press: The situation is beginning to be unsustainable. We are no longer short of protective equipment or respirators, but we are short of hands. The workforce is very depleted. There is a lack of doctors, nurses, administrators. We have warned of it over and over again, but no one listens.

Not only are hospitals collapsing amid the influx of patients, but contact tracers and testing centers are falling far behind in identifying and testing all those exposed to Covid-19 patients.

The right-wing Popular Party (PP) government of the Madrid region, led by Isabel Ayuso, admitted this weekend that its own calculations show it must double the number of contact tracers, but will take a month to hire them all. Currently we have over 800 contact tracers, Madrid health counselor Enrique Ruiz Escudero said. The objective is to have 1,100 by the end of the month and arrive sometime in October at 1,500, so we can do the work of investigating both the infected and their contacts, as well as daily follow-up.

On Friday, Ayuso announced a 14-day order for restriction of mobility and reduction of activity in 37 Madrid districts housing 850,000 people, one-eighth of Madrids population. Ayuso also claimed health officials would administer 1 million Covid-19 antigen tests there. Yesterday, Madrid regional officials began working with Spanish national police and Civil Guard under the authority of Spains Socialist Party (PSOE)-Podemos coalition government to enforce the restriction orders.

Ayusos restriction order is not a quarantine or lockdown policy aiming to stop the spread of Covid-19 by ensuring social distancing and letting non-essential workers shelter at home. In fact, it declares workers can still be required to travel for work, medical reasons or access to education and to then return to their residences; to assist elderly, minor or dependent persons; to access banking, security, or administrative entities; to attend examinations or any other necessity that has priority, is urgent or arises from force majeure .

It is, in fact, primarily a ban on workers and youth socializing while they are not at work or school, but otherwise forcing them to expose themselves to Covid-19 to make profits for the corporations and banks.

Ayuso is applying in Madrid the European Unions (EU) Covid-19 policies enacted by the PSOE-Podemos government. The EU has adopted 750 billion in corporate bailouts, backed by a 1.25 trillion European Central Bank (ECB) bank bailout, to enrich corporations and investors. These bailouts are predicated on ending social distancing and returning working class youth to classrooms so their parents can return to work, and profits can keep flowing to bailed-out corporations.

PSOE Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez met yesterday with Ayuso to repeat that there would be no lockdown or quarantine measures. While Ayuso provoked widespread disgust with fascistic comments blaming Covid-19 on the lifestyles of immigrants here, as well as by predicting that practically all children will contract Covid-19 after returning to school, Sanchez held a joint press conference with her. Standing side by side with Ayuso, he said: Those hoping to see confrontation here will go home empty-handed.

Sanchez ruled out invoking of a state of alarm, the juridical mechanism used to impose a quarantine or lockdown order in Spain, to reverse the rising curve of infections: There are many ways of slowing the curve that do not require declaring the state of alarm. Backing Ayuso, Sanchez added: This is an epidemiological, not an ideological battle.

Ayuso insisted non-essential work and students return to in-person classes would continue. She said, Madrid has never stopped, and our community has continued working like everywhere else. She hailed the national police and Civil Guards: We need our security forces to help us apply our measures.

Such politically criminal policies are provoking explosive anger among workers. According to the states own CIS poll, 58.3 percent of Spaniards want stricter isolation measures, and 56.8 percent do not trust state policy. Such sentiment came out in La Sexta televisions interview of Flora, a nurse who has worked for 15 years in Vallecas, that went viral online.

She said there is no need to be genius to see what is happening: There are people who work, the working class; there are those who commute, the working class; there are those who cant work remotely, the working class. Who lives with six to eight people in 45 square-meter apartments? The class that lives in Vallecas, Carabanchel or Usera. She added that you dont need to know much about public health to see why working class areas have the highest infection rates.

The only way to halt a devastating resurgence of the virus that could claim hundreds of thousands of lives in Spain, and millions across Europe, is for the working class to mobilize in a general strike against the back-to-work and back-to-school policies. Lockdowns are critical to establish social distancing, let non-essential workers shelter at home, and halt the spread of Covid-19. Massive financial resources are required to provide workers and small business owners full pay while sheltering at home and to support the critical health sector.

An integral part of a struggle to prepare general strike action is the fight to mobilize left-wing opposition among workers to the PSOE and the left populist Podemos party, which is complicit in Sanchezs murderous policies. A general strike inevitably entails a struggle to bring down the PSOE-Podemos government in unity with workers opposing the homicidal Covid-19 policies of capitalist governments across Europe.

For several days, thousands of protesters have gathered in the evenings in Madrids Puerta del Sol square to protest Ayusos reactionary policies. These actions pose very starkly the political issues facing the working class in the struggle with the PSOE-Podemos government amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Local Podemos and trade union officials have enforced these protests, called by Madrid neighborhood associations in areas hit by Ayusos restriction order, denouncing it as totally unacceptable, useless and clearly tainted by segregationism and classism.

In fact, Ayusos refusal to let workers shelter at home is worked out with the Sanchez government, of which Podemos is an integral part. Nor do Podemos officials call for a shelter-at-home policy, but only for more contact tracers, lab personnel and support for Primary Care centers. Thus they aim to create conditions to railroad workers and students back to work and school, cynically claiming they are doing the best they can, while implementing policies that spread the virus.

This underscores that the way forward for the working class against the pandemic is to build its own independent organizations of struggle and fight to bring down the PSOE-Podemos government.
An officer of the New York Police Department (NYPD) has been charged with conducting spying activities for China.

Authorities accused Baimadajie Angwang, who was born in Tibet, of providing information about the activities of Chinese citizens in New York City. They also believe Angwang has been monitoring potential sources of intelligence within the Tibetan community.

Chinese spy

According to BBC, the suspect is a naturalized citizen of the United States and has been working with the police department's community affairs unit. Authorities revealed that he was arrested on Monday.

If Angwang is convicted of the allegations, he faces up to 55 years in prison. Prosecutors said that the U.S. Army Reserve employed the suspect where he worked as a civil affairs specialist.

Authorities believe Angwang has been contacting two Chinese consulate officials. The suspect also allegedly gave the Chinese consulate access to senior NYPD officials by providing invitations to official events.

Court documents detailed how Angwang told his Chinese official handler that he wished to gain a higher position within the NYPD to support China better and bring glory to the country. Authorities also accuse the suspect of committing wire fraud, making false statements, and obstruction of an official proceeding.

Officials wrote that the People's Republic of China (PRC) sent a hefty amount of wire transfers to Angwang for his covert services.

Also Read: Donald Trump's Life in Danger? Woman Responsible For Sending Poisonous Ricin Letter to POTUS Arrested

Angwang's father was a retired member of China's main army and part of the Communist Party of China. The documents also note that his mother was also a member of the party and was a former government official of the country.

The commissioner of the NYPD, Dermot Shea, stated that the court documents detailed how Angwang violated the oaths he took within the country. The suspect broke his promises to the United States, the U.S. Army, and the police department.

Protected country

The head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) New York Office, William Sweeney, stated that Angwang did not compromise national security or operations of the NYPD. However, he added that the suspect remained a threat as an insider in the department, as reported by The Guardian.

The 33-year-old police officer was held without bail and appeared at an initial court hearing held on Monday. His lawyer did not respond to questions about the case when called by phone.

Court documents detailed that authorities were able to intercept communications between Angwang and an official of the Chinese consulate. The suspect called the official "big brother" and "boss" while identifying dissenters.

Angwang told his handler that the people he observed did not believe in Tibetan Buddhism. He added that they should be grateful when the consulate extends a helping hand to make them feel the warmth and love of their motherland.

According to The New York Times, Angwang told his handler in 2018 that they should visit a new Tibetan community center located in Queens, arguing it would be an excellent opportunity to located potential intelligence assets to bolster their forces.

Prosecutors said that Angwang believed the venues were the most significant areas of activities at the time and were an excellent spot to further their agenda.

Related Article: Man Keeps Girlfriend's Head and Organs Inside Suitcases After Killing and Dismembering Her

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The viability of Queensland-only cruises leaving from the new Brisbane International Cruise Terminal is being considered by tourism and cruise ship industries.

The $177 million terminal at Luggage Point, near the mouth of the Brisbane River, was set to open on October 3 before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the world's cruise ship industry.

Activities aboard the Ovation of the Seas, during a 2017 visit to Brisbane. Credit:Chris Hyde

Cruise ships were banned from operating in Queensland in June, for the duration of the pandemic.

Now, the Cruise Lines International Association, the Port of Brisbane Pty Ltd and the Queensland Tourism Industry Council are exploring Queensland-only cruises from the new terminal.
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America is getting older. In 1950, near the beginning of the Baby Boom era, the average life expectancy of Americans was 68. Today, it is 79. By the year 2040, one in five Americans will be over the traditional retirement age of 65.

With so many facing life at or beyond retirement age, a new group of Christian leaders based in Colorado Springs is asking us to engage in some non-traditional, but thoroughly biblical, thinking about retirement itself.

This group says that age 65 isnt the age to retire. Its an age to re-fire, re-boot, and re-focus on your calling, influence, and ministry. Its a time to pursue purpose, not pastime.

To focus their commitment, this group has produced a Retirement Reformation Manifesto, which begins: Reforming retirement requires a reframing of our thinking, allowing us to shine a light into the purposeless retirement void and finding freedom from unending leisure, indulgence, and self-gratification.

The group is led by Bruce Bruinsma, a 77-year-old entrepreneur and financial planner still active in business. Bruinsma says the Bible teaches that Christians are called to bear fruit in every season of life. Thats why the Manifesto aims to inspire a movement where every Christ follower is confident in Gods plan for a lifetime of faithful service and committed to helping the Body of Christ reform its understanding of retirement.

Bruinsma said: As Christians, we are to remain faithful for a lifetime. My hope is that the Retirement Reformation Manifesto will inspire many, many people to believe God still has more for them in their later years.

According to a statement released by Bruinsma and the other drafters of the document, the 10-point manifesto challenges signatories to overturn traditional attitudes toward senior years as merely a time of relaxation and leisure. Instead, they are urged to embrace their final quarter of life as time to find spiritual fulfillment and meaning in using their life experiences and resources to serve and enrich others.

Among the commitments those who sign the manifesto make are to:

challenge societys typical view of retirement

exercise wise physical and financial stewardship to ensure making the most of what could be as many as 30 years of post-work

build intergenerational community

The topic of retirement is one we care about at the Colson Center, in large part because Chuck Colson himself talked about it often in the last years of his life. He swore hed never spend his final years chasing a little white ball around. Older Christians, he firmly believed, should be actively pouring their lives into other, younger people who could carry on Kingdom work.

In fact, the Colson Center owes its current vitality in part to Chucks belief that Christians should always die with our boots on. Chuck modeled that for us when, at 80 years old during The Colson Centers 2012 Wilberforce Weekend, he collapsed on-stage mid-speech and had to be helped into a waiting ambulance. He died just a few weeks later.

In that speech and in many others, Chuck said that senior-citizen Christians might give up their 9 to 5 jobs, but they should never retire from Kingdom work. Deuteronomy says that teaching our children and our childrens children to love and fear the Lord is a part of the Christians job description. The Apostle Paul praised Lois, Timothys grandmother, for discipling her grandson in the faith.

Bruinsma and the Retirement Reformation team is taking up that message. We believe that the Retirement Reformation Manifesto has the potential to be history-making, said Bruinsma. Imagine what might happen if millions of seniors are inspired and equipped to approach their retirement radically differently, finding meaning and satisfaction through helping extend Gods kingdom, as they pursue purpose rather than just pastimes.

I can imagine it. Come to BreakPoint.org, click on this commentary, and well link you to the Retirement Reformation Manifesto.

Resources

The Retirement Reformation Manifesto: Don't Retire. Re-fire! Warren Smith, BreakPoint, March 1, 2019

Originally posted at Breakpoint.
Cindy McCain, the late Sen. John McCain's widow, formally endorsed Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden on Tuesday, rebuking President Donald Trump for his reported comments where he called members of the military 'losers.'

'My husband John lived by a code: country first. We are Republicans, yes, but Americans foremost. There's only one candidate in this race who stands up for our values as a nation, and that is @JoeBiden,' she tweeted on Tuesday evening, a few hours after Biden made the surprising announcement about her endorsement during a virtual fundraiser.

Biden said Cindy McCain was endorsing him because of comments Trump was reported to have made about those in uniform, calling them 'losers' and 'suckers' in an article from The Atlantic that the president has denied.

Sen. John McCain's widow Cindy is endorsing former vice president Joe Biden, the Democratic candidate revealed Tuesday

'Maybe I shouldn't say it but I'm about to go on one of these Zooms with John McCain's wife, who is first time ever is endorsing me because of what he talks about with my son and John's who are heroes, who served their country, you know he said they're losers, they're suckers,' Biden said on the fundraising call.

Beau Biden, the late son of the former vice president, and McCains' two sons - John Sidney McCain IV and James McCain - have all served in uniform.

Cindy McCain, who has largely stayed out of politics after her husband's death, told the Arizona Republic her endorsement had nothing to do with John McCain's treatment at the hands of the president.

'It had nothing to do with John McCain at all; it had everything to do with how I felt and how I'm feeling, especially during these tough times,' she said, pointing to Biden's respect for the military.

'That's really important to my family,' she said. 'Our members of the military are not losers. They're not losers. You call one a loser, you call all the members of the military losers, including my son.'

In her statement endorsing Biden, she noted their political differences but praised him as a fellow parent who has sent a child off to war.

'Joe and I don't always agree on the issues, and I know he and John certainly had some passionate arguments, but he is a good and honest man. He will lead us with dignity,' Cindy McCain wrote on Twitter.

'He will be a commander in chief that the finest fighting force in the history of the world can depend on, because he knows what it is like to send a child off to fight,' she added.

Biden responded to her tweet with one of his own: 'Cindy  I'm deeply honored to have your support and your friendship. This election is bigger than any one political party. It requires all of us to come together as one America to restore the soul of the nation. Together, we'll get it done.'

Her decision caps a years long feud between the McCain family and President Trump.

McCain was one of the most prominent, respected Republican senators in the nation but repeatedly butted heads with Trump before his death in 2018. The relationship was so bad the bickering continues to this day. Now his widow is endorsing the Democratic candidate for president.

Biden, served in the Senate for decades with McCain and the two had overlapping interests, particularly in foreign policy.

The men became close and Biden gave one of the eulogies at McCain's funeral service in Arizona.

The Biden campaign did not immediately provide specifics about Cindy McCain's endorsement other than what Biden revealed on the call.

Cindy McCain vouched for Biden during the Democratic convention

Cindy McCain also cut a video for Biden at his mostly virtual convention last month. She spoke about how Biden met McCain back when he was assigned to be a military aide on a congressional trip overseas. The two became friends and the families would picnic together.

'They would just sit and joke. It was like a comedy show, sometimes, to watch the two of them,' she said.

She did not appear the convention but made sure her voice was heard.

Joe Biden said in late August he planned to visit Arizona, the McCain's home state, after Labor Day. No visit has been announced but it would make a likely location for Cindy McCain to appear in public with Biden.

Democrats are hopeful they can pick up Arizona this year.

Except for Bill Clinton's win in 1996, Arizona has voted Republican since 1952. Trump had made several campaign visits to the state as has Vice President Mike Pence. Ivanka Trump was there last week.

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) receives the the 2017 Liberty Medal from former Vice President Joe Biden at the National Constitution Center on October 16, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Back in April  before Trump's reported comments  Cindy McCain said Biden was a 'wonderful man and a dear friend of the McCain family.'

'However,' she added that 'I have no intention of getting involved in presidential politics.'

Biden said her change of heart came after The Atlantic reported last month, quoting sources with knowledge of the situation, that Trump had called fallen troops 'losers' and 'suckers.'

One instance related to Trump's scrubbed trip to the Aisne-Marne cemetery in France. The White House denied it.

John McCain, the son of a Navy admiral was a prisoner of war in Vietnam, touted his service throughout his life. Trump mocked him in the 2016, saying 'I like people who weren't captured.'

McCain's daughter Meghan, a Trump critic who has bashed the president on ABC's 'The View,' spoke about her own preferences back in April.

'It shouldn't take a rocket scientist' to know her intentions, she said. 'There's one man who has made pain in my life a living hell and another man who has literally shepherded me through the grief process,' she said.

Trump and the late senator had a long history of enmity with the president targeting McCain both before and after his death.

In 2015, as a Republican presidential candidate, Trump said McCain - who spent five and half years in captivity during the Vietnam War - wasn't a hero 'because he was captured. I like people who werent captured.'

In July 2017, McCain, in his last vote as a senator, angered Trump when he gave a dramatic thumbs down to vote against repealing President Obama's healthcare law. McCain was the deciding vote.

When McCain died on a Saturday in 2018 after suffering from brain cancer, the Trump administration lowered the flag over the White House to half-staff but had raised it by Monday.

There was a public outcry and the flag was eventually lowered again. Trump pointedly wasn't invited to McCain's funeral, which took place in Washington's National Cathedral.

Instead McCain was eulogized by Obama, who defeated him in the 2008 presidential race with Biden as his running mate, and former President George W. Bush, who defeated McCain in the 2000 Republican presidential primary. Bill and Hillary Clinton were also in attendance as was a who's who in the political world.

Biden gave a eulogy for McCain at a memorial service for him in Arizona ahead of his formal state funeral. Biden was a pallbearer for McCain during the service at Washington's National Cathedral.

Cindy McCain with her son John McCain IV at the senator's funeral service in August 2018

Joe Biden seen with his son Beau, who died in 2015, at Camp Victory outside Baghdad on July 4, 2009

Even after his death, Trump continued to attack John McCain, going after him in March 2019 for his role in the Justice Department investigation into Russian efforts to influence the 2016 presidential election. During that contest, McCain received a copy of the unverified Christopher Steele dossier - which claimed that the Russians had blackmail material on Trump - and turned it over to then-FBI director James Comey. Later a longtime McCain aide, David Kramer, admitted he circulated it to several news organizations.

And during Trump's May 2019 visit to Japan, the White House asked the U.S. Navy to move 'out of sight' the warship USS John S. McCain ahead of President Trump's visit to the shipyard at the Yokosuka Naval Base, where several American battleships were docked.

The ship is actually named after three McCains who served in the Navy: the late senator, as well as his grandfather, John S. McCain Sr., an admiral during World War II, and his father, John S. McCain Jr., an admiral in the Vietnam era.

Trump denied any knowledge of the request. Meghan McCain, in response, called the president a 'child' who will not let her late father rest in peace.

'Trump is a child who will always be deeply threatened by the greatness of my dads incredible life.

'There is a lot of criticism of how much I speak about my dad, but nine months since he passed, Trump won't let him RIP. So I have to stand up for him. It makes my grief unbearable,' she wrote on Twitter.

Biden's campaign has pushed a unity message and he has portrayed himself as someone who can unite the country.

At the Democratic convention, a handful of Republicans endorsed Biden, including former Ohio Gov. John Kasich, former New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman, former New York Representative Susan Molinari and former GOP California gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman, the former CEO of Hewlett Packard who now runs Quibi.
ANKARA, Turkey: Turkey on Tuesday accused the European Union of rewarding the aggressor after the 27-nation bloc slapped sanctions on three transport companies for violating the U.N. arms embargo on Libya, including the Turkish shipping firm which operates a vessel that was at the center of a naval standoff in the Mediterranean Sea between Turkey and France.

A Turkish Foreign Ministry statement dismissed the decision as of no value." It insisted the ship was providing aid to Libyas U.N.-recognized government based in the capital, Tripoli, and accused the EU of ignoring countries and companies sending arms to the rival Libyan National Army, led by Gen. Khalifa Hifter, which controls the east.

With this attitude, the EU insists on maintaining a double-standard attitude  which rewards the aggressor, instead of taking an attitude in favor of international legitimacy, the ministry said.

The statement also said it is extremely unfortunate that the decision came as efforts are underway to reduce tensions between Greece and Turkey over energy exploration rights in the eastern Mediterranean.

At talks in Brussels on Monday, EU foreign ministers imposed sanctions on the Avrasya Shipping company, which is headquartered in Turkey, saying it was found to have violated the arms embargo in Libya. The EU noted that the company operates a cargo ship called Cirkin, which has been linked to transports of military material to Libya in May and June 2020.

On June 10, a French frigate acting on NATO intelligence tried to inspect the Cirkin off the coast of Libya to check whether it was smuggling weapons in. But France says that Turkish naval vessels escorting the Cirkin locked onto the frigate with targeting radar. The frigate withdrew to avoid a conflict.

Ankara has denied that any action by the Turkish warships was hostile. A NATO probe into the incident was inconclusive, according to Turkish officials, and its findings were never made public.

France, which was working with NATOs Operation Sea Guardian at the time and is an ally in the military organization along with Turkey, pulled the frigate out of the fleet and is now working with the EU operation policing the arms embargo on behalf of the United Nations.

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 Latino cop made it a mission to help the people in his community deal with the coronavirus pandemic by educating them.

Noe Marquez, second in command at the Fairmont City Police Department, knew the people's struggles in his hometown, and he chose to help and be a go-to guy for public health information in their community.

There is more than 80 percent of the Hispanic population in the southwestern Illinois village, and 27 percent are not U.S. citizens.

A first-generation Mexican-American, Marquez is the link to an English-speaking world that can be unfamiliar to Latino Fairmont City residents.

As a lieutenant-detective, his white colleagues depend on him when connecting to the Spanish-speaking community. He is also the only full-time Latino officer in the 21-member department, said former coworker Scott Penny Jr.

According to MSN, the COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted Latino communities, including Fairmont City.

That's why Marquez decided to adopt another unofficial title since the pandemic began; the go-to guy for public health information.

Local county leaders and Gov. J.B. Pritzker's office translate information and news conferences into Spanish, but gaps in language, culture, and technology still complicate matters.

The 42-year-old Latino cop witnessed the problem first-hand. Two residents he knew died of COVID-19, and hundreds more fell ill.

After the death of a 50-year-old woman, who frequently baked bread for the officers, Marquez realized how bad the situation is. The woman rarely left the house because of health concerns, but the virus got her through visitors.

Marquez noted that Fairmont is a small community, and they had never thought that the coronavirus would come to their community.

When the testing began increasing in early July, village leaders discovered that the coronavirus was more a problem than expected. The testing revealed new infections each day after factories reopened in late June to non-essential workers. This contributed to increasing coronavirus transmission, and suspicion of testing may also contribute.

"A lot of Hispanic men look at it as you're weak if you have a cold and you call off work. You muscle through it, or you get picked on at work," Marquez said.

According to Marquez, most undocumented immigrants in their place are afraid to get a test for COVID-19, as the government might know the place they live. So there is a lot of reluctance for people to get tested.

"For me, it had a lot to do with growing up and not having resources provided for the Hispanic community," Marquez said.

One of Marquez's biggest problems was helping people understand that they couldn't do the traditional customs of conducting frequent parties. He said Latinos love parties.

Jose Martinez, former St. Louis Cardinals outfielder and first baseman, recorded a video in the Spanish language for Fairmont City people urging them to follow health guidelines.

The Spanish broadcaster for the Cardinals, Polo Ascencio, also appealed to residents to stay at home when possible, wash their hands, wear masks, and maintain social distancing.

Even if it is only one or two deaths, Marquez said every loss is a blow to the small village. The Latino community looked up to Marquez for help. However, police still have "walls to break down," especially in their community where residents would not trust the law enforcement in the country where they came.

"It's not a secret that not just in Mexico but a lot of governments in other countries, are involved in crime and corruption. They come here just assuming that's natural. That's why doing community policing is the number one priority here," Marquez said.

Check these out:

Over 70% Latino Households Report Financial Difficulties Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

J&J Recruits 20,000 People in Latin America for the COVID-19 Vaccine Trials

Latin American Hospitals Allowing Visitors of Dying COVID-19 Patients Increases
A federal judge on Tuesday denied Gov. Tom Wolfs administrations request for a stay on a federal court decision that found some of the governors COVID-19 pandemic restrictions to be unconstitutional.

The Wolf Administration sought the stay while appealing U.S. Western District Judge William Stickman IVs order that was issued last week that ruled the governors closure of nonessential business, a stay-at-home order and an order to limit gathering sizes were unconstitutional.

In denying the stay, Stickman said, the public interest would be ill served if the court would grant the stay allowing the unconstitutional measures to remain in place.

Wolf argued in the underlying case that his actions mirrored those of other governors and said it has saved lives. In seeking the stay while the litigation is heard by the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals, the governors team argued staying the decision was necessary to ensure life-saving mitigation tools ... remain in place.

The lawsuit against the governor and state Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine challenging the constitutionality of the governors orders was filed a group of seven businesses and their owners, a congressman, three state representatives and Butler, Fayette, Greene and Washington counties.

In his 66-page ruling, Stickman found the governors orders, though well-intentioned to protect Pennsylvanians from the coronavirus, violated the First Amendment, and the Equal Protection Clause and Due Process Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment.

At an afternoon news conference in Philadelphia about the launching of a COVID alert app, Wolf acknowledged that the judges ruling does lift the prohibition of mass gatherings of people.

However, he added, were working in the meantime to present schools and others with guidance to say ok, in our best estimation from the health point of view, you got to be careful if you get together. And if you get together in bigger and bigger numbers, youre leaving yourself open to bigger and bigger likelihood that youre going to catch the disease.

Levine said that has been shown to be the case in a number of outbreaks in places around the country.

Its no ok to gather in large numbers, she said. "There are consequences to peoples actions. What this virus has certainly taught us as were all interconnected and you cant avoid that. This is not a political issue. Its not a partisan issue. its a public health issue. "

*This post was updated to include comments from the governor and health secretarys afternoon news conference.

Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JanMurphy.
The United States Department of Justice has offered a $5million reward for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of an alleged leader of a Colombia guerrilla group.

Wilver Villegas Palomino is accused of 'narco-terrorism, international cocaine distribution conspiracy, and international cocaine distribution' by the United States District Court, Southern District of Texas.

A warrant for his arrest was issued February 13, 2020.

Villegas Palomino, who is in his late 30s, is ranking leader with the National Liberation Army, which is recognized as a terrorist organization by the U.S., the European Union, Colombia, Venezuela's National Assembly and Canada.

Villegas Palomino is suspected of of drug trafficking activities in the Catatumbo region of Colombia and Venezuela.

The United States offered a $5 million reward for information leading to the arrest of Wilver Villegas Palomino, a top ranking leader for the National Liberation Army, a revolutionary left-wing armed group in Colombia. A federal court in Houston accuses him of 'narco-terrorism, international cocaine distribution conspiracy, and international cocaine distribution'

The announcement was made Monday by United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who last week toured Latin America, meeting with the leaders of Colombia, Brazil, Guyana and Suriname.

'We're offering up to $5M for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of indicted narcoterrorist Wilver Villegas Palomino,' Pompeo tweeted. 'The U.S. is committed to helping the Colombian government disrupt and dismantle transnational criminal organizations operating in the region.'

According to the Colombian Resource Center for Conflict Analysis, the National Liberation Army has been linked to a number of attacks that have left 38 people dead between January and August, a 31 percent increase compared with the same period in 2019.

Members of the Ernesto Che Guevara front, belonging to the National Liberation Army guerrilla group in Colombia, shoot during a training in a jungle located in the Colombian province of Choco on May 26, 2019

The National Liberation Army was founded in 1962 and reportedly has 2,500 fighters

Members of the National Liberation Army's Ernesto Che Guevara cell clean their weapons in the jungle in Choco, Colombia, on May 25, 2019

National Liberation Army is Colombia's last rebel army and one of the oldest guerrillas in Latin America

The National Liberation Army, founded in 1962, reportedly has 2,500 fighters.

The paramilitary group allegedly orchestrated a 2019 car bombing outside a Bogota police academy that killed 22 police cadets and injured 89 people.

The reward for Villegas Palomino's apprehension was revealed by the United States after six young men were killed Sunday following after a grenade exploded at local cockfighting venue in Cauca, a province in southwestern Colombia.

It is unknown if the National Liberation Army was involved with the deadly incident.

The reward, which is offered as part of the Department of Justice's Narcotics Rewards Program, has led to the arrest and conviction of more than 75 drug traffickers since the program was introduced in 1986.

The DOJ reports more than $130 million in rewards for information leading to the arrest of narco capos.
Enormous California Wildfire Threatens Desert Homes Near LA

LOS ANGELESAn enormous wildfire that churned through mountains northeast of Los Angeles and into the Mojave Desert was still threatening homes on Monday and was one of more than two dozen major fires burning across California.

Five of the largest wildfires in state history are currently burning and more than 5,600 square miles (14,500 square kilometers) have been charred, an area larger than the state of Connecticut, Gov. Gavin Newsom said.

At 165 square miles (427 square kilometers), the Bobcat Fire is one of the largest ever in Los Angeles County after burning for more than 2 weeks. It was only about 15 percent contained.

Evacuation orders and warnings are in place for thousands of residents in foothill and desert areas, where semi-rural homes and a popular nature sanctuary have burned. Statewide, at least 23,000 people remain evacuated, Newsom said.

No injuries have been reported for the fire about 50 miles (80 kilometers) northeast of downtown Los Angeles.

However, 18 homes and other buildings have been destroyed and 11 damaged, some in the Juniper Hills area, with the toll rising to perhaps 85 when damage assessment teams can complete their work this week, fire officials said Monday evening.

Erratic winds that drove flames into the community of Juniper Hills over the weekend had died down, said U.S. Forest Service spokesman Larry Smith.

Its slightly cooler too, so hopefully that will be a help to firefighters, Smith said.

Jesse Vasquez, of the San Bernardino County Fire Dept., hoses down hot spots from the Bobcat Fire in Valyermo, Calif., on Sept. 19, 2020. (Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP Photo)

A home burns along Cima Mesa Rd. as the Bobcat Fire advances in Juniper Hills, Calif., on Sept. 18, 2020. (Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP Photo)

However, evacuation warningsmeaning residents should be prepared to flee if orderedremained in effect for Pasadena, home of the Rose Bowl and the annual Rose Parade, and Wrightwood, a mountain community near several ski resorts.

Officials said it could be days before teams determine the scope of the destruction in the area burned by the Bobcat Fire.

Early estimates are that 6,400 buildings have been destroyed across the state, but Newsom said by no stretch of the imagination do we think this tells the entire story. Damage assessments are ongoing, he said.

The Bobcat Fire started Sept. 6 and has doubled in size over the last week as it ripped through forested areas that hadnt burned in decades. The cause is under investigation.

Firefighters battled back against another flareup near Mount Wilson, which overlooks greater Los Angeles in the San Gabriel Mountains and has a historic observatory founded more than a century ago and numerous broadcast antennas serving Southern California.

Flames destroyed the nature center at Devils Punchbowl Natural Area, a geological attraction that sees some 130,000 visitors per year. A wildlife sanctuary on the property was undamaged, and staff and animals had been evacuated days earlier.

Nearly 19,000 firefighters in California are currently battling 27 major blazes, Newsom said. At least 7,900 wildfires have erupted in the state this year, many during a mid-August barrage of dry lightning ignited parched vegetation.

A member of a Los Angeles County Fire crew hoses down flames while protecting a home from the advancing Bobcat Fire along Cima Mesa Rd. in Juniper Hills, Calif., on Sept. 18, 2020. (Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP Photo)

Twenty-six people have been killed. Officials were investigating the death of a firefighter at another Southern California wildfire that erupted earlier this month from a smoke-generating pyrotechnic device used by a couple to reveal their babys gender.

The death occurred Sept. 17 in San Bernardino National Forest as crews battled the El Dorado Fire about 75 miles (120 kilometers) east of Los Angeles, the U.S. Forest Service said in a statement. That blaze is 59 percent contained.

The firefighter was identified Monday night as Charles Morton, 39, who was a squad boss with the Big Bear Interagency Hotshot Crew of the San Bernardino National Forest. He had worked with the U.S. Forest Service for 14 years.

Charlie was a well-respected leader who was always there for his squad and his crew at the toughest times, said U.S. Forest Service Chief Vicki Christiansen.

Charlie is survived by his wife and daughter, his parents, two brothers, cousins, and friends. Hes loved and will be missed. May he rest easy in heaven with his baby boy, Mortons family said in a statement.

In Wyoming, officials warned that gusty winds on Monday could cause more growth of a wildfire burning toward cabins and an important water supply reservoir thats a major source of water for the states capital city, Cheyenne. The fire in the Medicine Bow National Forest is burning in heavily forested, rugged terrain which would usually would be busy now with hunters at the start of elk hunting season.

And in Colorado, more evacuations were ordered on Sunday as winds caused the states largest wildfire to grow. Firefighters had to temporarily retreat from the massive Cameron Peak Fire near Red Feather Lakes. Flames later spread into flatter ground which gave crews a better chance to battle the blaze, fire managers said.

More than 9,000 firefighters continue to battle 27 large wildfires across Oregon and Washington, where thousands of residences have been destroyed, the Pacific Northwest Region of the Forest Service said.

By Christopher Weber
Im Backing the Blue and throwing out the radical police-hating politicians in Connecticut.

I am vehemently opposed to the HB6004 bill recently rammed through the state legislature in late July, stripping cops from all the immunity protections they have always had which are needed for such a difficult job requiring them to protect the public from criminals and maintain public safety. I never thought I would see the day where a slogan defund the police became a realistic option.

The bill was introduced by state Rep. Joe Aresimowicz, 30th Dist; state Sen. Looney, 11th Dist.; state Rep. Matt Ritter, 1st Dist.; and state Sen. Bob Duff, 25th Dist.

This type of ignorant legislation expects police to keep the peace when its breached with a kind word and a fuzzy cute stuffed animal. Reality tells us that ideology is a joke.

Excessive force laws are already on the books and will hold those who dont abide by them accountable. Not all situations have to end with a Black or (white) or any person being shot or victimized by excessive force instead of taken into custody somewhat reasonably. Being a cop is already a very dangerous and difficult job without everyone hating on all cops because of some bad ones.

If we want a safe place to live and the ability to walk the streets without being personally armed at all times (not a bad idea either) and send our kids to school safely, we cant be hating on all cops without rationalizing that they are the only barrier between us being safe and the pervasive and increasing crime and rampant lawlessness of the present, currently met with little or no penalties or deterrents.

It is not hard to understand that cops morale is way down as they feel like they are not supported and movements to de-fund and remove immunity laws are now commonplace. Yet we are expecting them to maintain public safety in our communities? What hypocrisy. When the cops do their job and arrest those in the interest of keeping the peace and protecting law abiding citizens it seems fruitless as the new bail elimination and reform bills just process these criminals and put them back on the street in a 24-hour period. How do we expect cops to be willing to continue to do their job when our legislators work against them and wont do their most important job, protecting the law abiding citizenry?

I am asking all voters to be aware of how your local Connecticut legislators voted and in the upcoming November election hold them accountable for decreasing safety in your local communities.

I am on a mission to expose our state legislators who supported this politically charged partisan bill HB 6004 police accountability. This ill-thought-out, useless legislation is a slap in the face to those employed in our local police departments to protect and serve. It was passed into law quietly with a politically correct debate then signed by our feckless Gov. Ned Lamont. This controversial bill was immediately challenged by the Connecticut State Troopers Association in court.

Does anyone think this woefully uninformed position which creates laws holding police more accountable for the necessary force needed to apprehend criminals than the laws criminals face for their crimes works? Everyone should see that our Connecticut legislators have traded sound judgment and the practice of common sense to pacify an angry mob of anarchists in a politically charged environment, thus to the detriment of the law abiding citizens safety.

Read the bill on the General Assembly website, see how your representatives voted and vote against them as they voted against you and your familys safety.

Remember in November!

Liz Conti is a resident of Norwalk.
PORT JERVIS, N.Y., Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- When documentary filmmaker, Kay Rubacek of Swoop Films, began interviewing former Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials for her award-winning movie, Finding Courage, she was shocked when they described themselves as the "Walking Dead." As she found and interviewed more CCP officialsincluding a labor camp director, a propaganda official, a criminal court judge, an army colonel, a diplomat, a national security agent, and a CCP role-model student, among othersshe found that their experiences lifted the veil on the opaque world of China's officialdom.

Book cover image of "Who Are China's Walking Dead?" written by Kay Rubacek, published by Liberty Hill Press. Author and producer/director, Kay Rubacek, interviews Guangsheng Han, a former Chinese labor camp director and Chinese Communist Party official from the Ministry of Public Security and Justice Bureau.

"The world of CCP officialdom is very cruel and dark," said the Labor Camp Director. "We had to know that propaganda and reality are disconnected," said the Propaganda Official. "The law is only for people who are low-classwho don't have any connections," said the Chinese Diplomat. "You are forced to tell lies. It won't work if you don't tell lies. As a result, everyone becomes a liar," said the High-Ranking Official.

Rubacek creates an engaging and eye-opening narrative by cleverly weaving together her interviews with the CCP officials and detailed research, including leaked CCP directives, documents. Each chapter reveals fresh insights into what drives the CCP regime today, how the CCPs operativesCCP officialsrise and fall in rank, and how the CCP culture has shaped the lives of more than a billion people in the world's most populous nation.

Kay Rubacek is an author, producer, and director of award-winning non-fiction works. Her family members escaped communism in Russia, China, and the former Czechoslovakia between 1918 and 1986, and she was arrested in China in 2001 for being a human rights advocate. Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, she now lives in New York's Hudson Valley with her husband and two children and works as a director/producer for New York-based film production company, Swoop Films.

Please contact Timothy Gebhart ( [email protected] or 503-855-8050) to request a copy of Who Are China's Walking Dead? (Liberty Hill Press, 2020) or to schedule an interview with Kay Rubacek. For more information visit: www.ChinasWalkingDead.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Timothy Gebhart, Swoop Films

Phone: 503-855-8050

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @swoop_films or @krubacek

ChinasWalkingDead.com

SOURCE Swoop Films

Related Links

https://www.swoopfilms.com


KALAMAZOO, MI  City commissioners and other officials took time to publicly thank outgoing Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety Chief Karianne Thomas during the Monday Kalamazoo City Commission meeting.

Thomas announced recently she would retire in the wake of controversy and criticism over how the department responded to events in May, June and August.

Mayor David Anderson and Commissioners Eric Cunningham, Chris Praedel and Jeanne Hess thanked Thomas for her service to Kalamazoo during the Monday, Sept. 21, city commission meeting.

Thank you, Chief Thomas, for your service to our community and for loving our community, Cunningham said.

The commissioner welcomed the incoming chief, Vernon Coakley, and said he is looking forward to working with community members about addressing concerns and moving forward.

Whatever perceptions you may have of him, erase them," Cunningham said. You know, lets work with him.

City Manager Jim Ritsema appointed Vernon Coakley as the new chief last week. Coakley faced criticism in recent months, since he ordered tear gas to be used on citizens during a protest in Kalamazoo in June.

Praedel noted Coakleys commitment to relationships and team building, and thanked Ritsema for appointing Coakley.

These are difficult times, Praedel said while praising city staff for dealing with tense and difficult issues.

Its easy to throw arrows, but If anybodys led thru a global pandemic, please raise your hand," Praedel said, also mentioning racial division and unprecedented gun violence in the city.

Praedel thanked Thomas for her leadership and service. He said he thinks she worked in the role out of a love and care for the community.

Commissioner Jeanne Hess said she has gratitude for Thomas and for the outgoing chiefs leadership and love for the city.

Thank you, Karianne, Hess said. I know your officers followed your lead, respected your leadership and we are going to miss you dearly.

Hess said she looks forward with Coakley.

Your faith is amazing, especially your faith in this community and these people, Hess said of the incoming public safety chief.

Mayor David Anderson said he has the utmost respect for Thomas.

Commissioner Jack Urban acknowledged that Coakley has himself faced scrutiny in recent months.

I must say his courage and creativity in dealing with very difficult situations really impressed me, Urban said, wishing him the best in the new leadership role.

The Kalamazoo Gazette emailed all city commissioners last week seeking comment about Thomas' resignation and the change in leadership at KDPS.

Vice Mayor Patrese Griffin responded to the email on Tuesday, Sept. 22, saying she has no information to answer the questions and cannot comment on reasons behind Chief Thomas' departure. Griffin, along with Cunningham and Praedel, recently volunteered to serve on a city subcommittee focused on public safety.

Urban referred questions about Thomas' departure to the city managers office. Mayor Anderson said he planned to respond to the questions sent by email, but had not as of Tuesday.

The city managers office responded to the email, but did not answer questions about the reasons for the chiefs resignation.

Chief Thomas was eligible for full retirement as of 2017 and will receive a one-year severance package, per her contract, the city managers office said.

Thomas spent 27 years at the department and has truly been an outstanding public safety chief and community leader," City Manager Jim Ritsema said in an email to the Gazette. She helped build an outstanding department that has become a model for public safety services across the nation.

Ritsema also spoke about Thomas during Mondays meeting, saying she will be sorely missed in Kalamazoo.

I would be remiss if I didnt acknowledge the great work Chief Karianne Thomas has done for the city of Kalamazoo, Ritsema said.

The city manager said he also looks forward to working with Coakley as the departments new chief.

Assistant Chief Coakley is the ideal candidate to move us forward and strengthen relationships and partnerships in the Kalamazoo community, Ritsema said in an email message to the Gazette.

The city managers office did not respond to questions about the process to select Coakley, or about the decision to hire internally rather than conducting a search for candidates.

I believe Assistant Chief Coakley has the skills and experience to build on KDPS' many successes and continue its track record of service and safety while making improvements to the department as detailed in the recent subcommittee report, Ritsema said.

Ritsema gave a brief update Monday on a city subcommittee tasked with developing a definition of success regarding how the city handles protests demonstrations and rallies, and to help guide planning and response to future events.

Five areas were identified as guiding principles for that group: Define success; First Amendment assemblies and communication strategies; protocol for operations planning; training and accountability.

Read more:

My heart was wrenched with pain, assistant chief says of ordering tear gas on protesters

Kalamazoo Public Safety Chief Karianne Thomas to step down

Kalamazoo City Commission forms committee to guide police force in response to protests

Why the Proud Boys visited Kalamazoo
Get back: A woman in a face mask by a statue of The Beatles in Liverpool as the UK planned a return to lockdown. Photo: Phil Noble/Reuters

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will announce national Covid restrictions today including early pub closing and a return to working from home as he starts to reverse the freedoms of recent months.

Mr Johnson will order all hospitality venues in England to close by 10pm from Thursday after the coronavirus alert status was raised to the second-highest level for the first time since June.

In a televised address to the nation this evening, he will also tell people to return to home working where it does not detrimentally affect businesses, and will restate the need for mask-wearing, hand-washing and social distancing.

It comes after the UK government's scientific advisers warned that coronavirus cases could increase to 50,000 per day by mid-October, with 200 or more deaths per day in November "if we don't change course".

Chris Whitty, England's chief medical officer, suggested restrictions would be needed for another six months and said it was vital to "break unnecessary links" between households.

Mr Johnson will for now stop short of the two-week "circuit breaker" lockdown some advisers had favoured, but ministers are so concerned about the rising rate of infections that they have discussed banning people from different households from mixing and scrapping the "rule of six".

Mr Johnson is expected to hold that option in reserve, but senior government sources confirmed he will encourage people to go back to working from home if they have the blessing of their employer, in what will be a blow to catering and retail outlets that depend on office workers for trade.

Cabinet ministers appear to be split on the severity of the restrictions that should be imposed, with Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, and Alok Sharma, the business secretary, understood to be among those arguing the economic case for keeping restrictions to a minimum.

Mr Johnson also faces a backlash from backbenchers who consider any reimposition of lockdown measures an unnecessary danger to the economy. And more than 30 scientists, academics and medics wrote to Mr Johnson urging him to "step back" and "fundamentally reconsider" the government's response to the pandemic.

The authors, who include Sunetra Gupta and Carl Heneghan of Oxford University, argued that imposing blanket restrictions, which affected healthy working-age people as well as the vulnerable, would do more harm than good in the long term.

After a cabinet meeting this morning, Mr Johnson will chair his first meeting of the Cobra emergency committee in four months, to be attended by the leaders of the four UK nations.

He will then make a statement in parliament before his 8pm TV address. ( Daily Telegraph, London)

Visit our Covid-19 vaccine dashboard for updates on the roll out of the vaccination program and the rate of Coronavirus cases Ireland

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021]
Gourav Vallabh By

The announcement of the quarterly or annual GDP growth numbers is a feast for the economists, but the common man is always stuck with the age-old question: What does it mean for him/her? While in the stable pre-Covid scenario, it wouldnt have meant anything starkly different, it does now. Earlier, there was a hope of revival and any downturn came as a shock. This period is different as it comes on top of a struggling Indian economy and a policy paralysis for the last few years.

All indicators that have come out paint the same picturethe great fall of our economy. Annual GDP growth for this fiscal (FY21) is expected to hit negative double digits. The gravity of this economic inactivity in terms of jobs now provides a glaring picture for everyone. Close to 94 lakh people have withdrawn Rs 35,445 crore from their EPF accounts in the last four months, up 33% from last year. This clearly indicates massive job losses or salary cuts. As per CMIE reports, salaried jobs grew by a meagre 1.6% in 2017-18, which registered a negligible growth of 0.1% in 2018-19. It has gone downhill ever since. The number of salaried jobs contracted by 1.8% in 2019-20. So, even before Covid kicked in, we were struggling to create salaried jobs. So far, during April-August 2020, we have lost close to 2.1 crore salaried jobs. The bigger question is: Why is our economy failing to create jobs for our youngsters? Is this a common problem across the bigger economies?

ALSO READ | Why the economy cant wait any more

Every global economy is different in its composition. So, looking at numbers relatively might not make a lot of sense. But if we focus on the five-year trend between 2014-19, it does tell us a storythe policies by all other major economies like the US, UK, Germany and Japan seem to have been bearing fruit. As per the International Labor Organization, there has been a consistent downtrend in their unemployment percentage between 2014-19. The US and UK, which were at an unemployment rate of around 6.2% and 6.1% in 2014, have seen numbers come down to 3.7% and 3.9% respectively in 2019. India is the only exception.

I tried analysing the triggers for it. Firstly, the Gross Fixed Capital Formation (as % of GDP) for India, that in layman terms indicates net investment, had been on a constant decline between 2014-19 (except 2018), falling from 30.1% to 27.4%. Developing countries generally invest heavily in fixed assets to increase aggregate demand and prepare capacities to meet future demands. A downward trend in Gross Fixed Capital Formation means that companies have not been adding capacities for the last few years, leading to no new resource requirements or the trimming of existing workforce.

Secondly, our economic growth has witnessed a downturn for the last four years, which indicates a slow demand. When consumption and demand are low and households adopt a tight fist in investing, the industrial activity slows further. If it continues for a long period, as it has in our case, organisations are left with no other alternative but to shed some of their workforce or no longer add more people.

ALSO READ | Economy hit by growing Covid-induced fear psychosis, say experts

Thirdly, Indias reliance on employment in the agricultural sector is still very high. This sector absorbs close to 42% of the total workforce. As per the World Bank, the share of manufacturing in Indias GDP has been on a steep decline and fallen from 15.6% in 2015 to 13.7% in 2019. Manufacturing as a sector has a good potential to create more jobs with its growth. With it struggling, creating more jobs seems a far-fetched dream.

What next? What should be done to create more jobs?

Firstly, the priority of the government four months ago was to help businesses stay afloat through opening new credit lines and debt restructuring. Right now, it should be to create stable demand. Industries are operating at capacities below 70%. When demand picks up, the industrial activity will pick up, which in turn would lead to more jobs. Reducing and rationalising GST slabs for some of the commodities like two-wheelers from 28% to 18% will help push sales and create demand.

Secondly, infrastructure spending by the Centre needs to go up. As compared to the Rs 9.47 lakh crore expenditure by the Centre between April and July 2019, this year it has only increased to Rs 10.54 lakh, that too mostly towards salaries and other regular expenses. The spend needs to go up to create more jobs and push the money in the hands of the people so that consumption picks up.

Thirdly, surplus monsoons can only take you so farrural jobs have started falling again. Around 60% of the rural income comes from non-farm sectors. Pushing MNREGA deeper and increasing the scope can be a possible solution. Connecting our cities and villages is very important. Non-farm employment opportunities in the villages should be focused either by encouraging private investment or pushing public spending.

Gourav Vallabh

Professor of Finance and National Spokesperson, Congress

(Views are personal)

(gourav.vallabh@gmail.com)
America is now under siege by climate change in ways that scientists have warned about for years. But there is a second part to their admonition: Decades of growing crisis are already locked into the global ecosystem and cannot be reversed.

This means the kinds of cascading disasters occurring today  drought in the West fueling historic wildfires that send smoke all the way to the East Coast, or parades of tropical storms lining up across the Atlantic to march destructively toward North America  are no longer features of some dystopian future. They are the here and now, worsening for the next generation and perhaps longer, depending on humanitys willingness to take action.

Ive been labeled an alarmist, said Peter Kalmus, a climate scientist in Los Angeles, where he and millions of others have inhaled dangerously high levels of smoke for weeks. And I think its a lot harder for people to say that Im being alarmist now.

Last month, before the skies over San Francisco turned a surreal orange, Death Valley reached 130 degrees Fahrenheit, the highest temperature ever measured on the planet. Dozens of people have perished from the heat in Phoenix, which in July suffered its hottest month on record, only to surpass that milestone in August.
A team of scientists at Colorado State University was awarded a base contract worth $3.1 million from the National Institutes of Health to continue development of a coronavirus vaccine candidate known as SolaVAX.

The funding comes from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), a part of NIH, and includes an additional $15.5 million over five years if all options are implemented. The additional funding will support pre-clinical research and a move to Phase I human clinical trials to test the safety and immune response of the vaccine.

SolaVAX repurposes a commercial platform that is currently used to inactivate pathogens in blood transfusions. The strategy uses UV light and riboflavin to create an inactivated virus, which stimulates a person's immune system to fight the virus. The research team aims to demonstrate the effectiveness of the SolaVAX process to inactivate SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19, to be used in a vaccine against the disease.

The NIAID contract will support research at CSU's Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing and Academic Resource Center (BioMARC) facility, where scientists will work to produce strains of the coronavirus to be used in SolaVAX.

This vaccine has already been successfully tested in a pre-clinical testing feasibility program at CSU, according to Ray Goodrich, principal investigator for the project and executive director of the Infectious Disease Research Center at CSU.

Alan Rudolph, CSU's vice president for research, said this award underscores the university's prominence in emerging infectious disease research and the rapid response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Our researchers moved swiftly to provide the state, the nation and the world with a range of potential solutions and medical countermeasures to the virus," he said.

Years of experience lead to SolaVAX research

Goodrich said the current work builds off nearly 20 years of his experience using the UV light and riboflavin process to improve the safety of blood transfusion products.

"We have incredible resources at CSU that we have mobilized in the face of a global pandemic," he said. Earlier this year, Goodrich assembled a diverse team of scientists at the university to work toward producing a therapeutic or treatment to combat COVID-19.

As the research progresses, the team will scale up production of the virus and key reagents for research and manufacturing at BioMARC. The Biosafety Level 3 cGMP facility is already making products for other infectious diseases with support from the federal government, industry and major foundations. cGMP stands for Current Good Manufacturing Practices, as designated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Unique research, manufacturing capabilities

John Wyckoff, director of BioMARC and an immunologist by training, said his team will develop processes to grow the virus and test it to make sure it's inactivated. They'll then purify the virus particles, eliminating components that won't be a part of the final vaccine candidate.

"We'll make sure the vaccine we produce is physically stable," he said. "And we'll eventually move into producing material that will be used in human clinical trials."

SolaVAX research team spans multiple disciplines

Dr. Marcela Henao-Tamayo, a member of the research team and an assistant professor in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology at CSU, said that landing this support from the federal government speaks to the high level of expertise at the university.

"Our researchers quickly started working together and collaborating in a matter of weeks," she said. "We have great resources in terms of our Biosafety Level 3 space, which allows us to work with infectious pathogens."

Henao-Tamayo, who has a medical degree from the University of Antioquia, Colombia, said support early on from the university - specifically from the Office of the Vice President for Research - was key.

"Without initial help from the university, we wouldn't be where we are," she said.

Wyckoff acknowledged the excitement and pride among the research team, as support for the vaccine candidate research grows.

"Handling the coronavirus is not something that can be done just anywhere," he said. "This is what we're made for, this is why we're here at CSU."

Lindsay Hartson, lab manager and part of the research team, said it feels great to have the validation through these new contracts that the work that is being done is valuable.

"It is amazing how many capabilities we have to test the virus as well as the vaccine," she said. "Every time we generate data and share information with others on the team, we more thoroughly characterize what the vaccine is doing and what the virus itself is doing," she said.

Dr. Izabela Ragan, a veterinary scientist and part of the Bowen Lab at CSU, said the team is currently summarizing research findings for publication.

"Receiving NIH funding will help us build on that momentum, understand the vaccine platform, and benefits for in vivo models," she said. "That will help us understand what this vaccine is doing in terms of protection."

This award follows a $699,994 award from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) to support preclinical research on the vaccine technology process.

The Infectious Disease Research Center is home to one of 14 labs across the country that are part of the Regional and National Biocontainment Laboratory network under the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

Additional members of the SolaVAX research team include:

Richard Bowen, professor and veterinary scientist, Department of Biomedical Sciences

Sandy Brown, business development manager and contract supervisor, BioMARC

Joanna Ellinghuysen, head of project management, BioMARC

Darragh Heaslip, head of technical operations, BioMARC

Celeste O'Connor, head of quality, BioMARC

Brendan Podell, veterinary scientist and assistant professor, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology

Mark Stenglein, molecular geneticist and assistant professor, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology

This research team is supported by Dinaida Egan and BreeAnn Brandhagen (Research Acceleration Office) and Lisa Anaya-Esquibel (Office of Sponsored Programs).

This project has been funded in whole or in part with Federal funds from the Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, under Contract No. 75N93020C00053.

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When the twin crises of Covid-19 and Brexit are behind us, says a Fianna Fail TD, the next big challenge for the Republic will be the unification of Ireland.

Jim O'Callaghan is a representative for Dublin Bay South and he knows that the primary challenge for him is actually to keep Sinn Fein at bay and as far away as he can push them.

Current polling shows Fianna Fail at 19% and Sinn Fein at 32%. That's a headache for his party.

O'Callaghan is seen as a likely leadership contender, though he denies that he wants to usurp Micheal Martin.

He is strong on social issues, like health and housing, and it would not be cynical to suggest that he is trying to colonise the Sinn Fein vote by appealing on the matters of concern to them, or, indeed, inappropriate of him to do so.

And if that is the case, can we expect to hear more talk of unity? I think so.

Micheal Martin is clearly in no hurry. His vision of a united Ireland is more a "shared island" aspiration.

One gets the sense that he would like to outflank Sinn Fein on traditional republicanism and steer us towards a constitutional compromise that will appeal to unionists.

In July, he ruled out the idea of a referendum on unity as "divisive" and says he wants a stronger north-south relationship instead.

And he knows that he is not going to get that relationship if he puts an Easter lily on his beret.

Mary Lou McDonald says that a united Ireland is now part of "everyday conversation". She doesn't think people are waiting until Covid and Brexit are sorted out, but that the burden of these two problems is actually focussing minds on unity. She wants preparatory work done now and regards a border poll as inevitable, though the British have not been explicit about the conditions which would trigger it.

But unionists are not part of this conversation and this creates the risk, as Martin knows, that proceeding despite them will strain relations.

And it seems the sensible thing for unionists to do: to stay out of this; trusting that, even if they are in a minority in Northern Ireland, enough middle-grounders will draw back from an Irish unity that doesn't have their assent for a border poll to fail.

The issue is discussed in a new publication out this month. Fortnight@50 marks 50 years since the first publication of Fortnight magazine.

In one article, Richard Humphreys, a judge in the High Court of Ireland asks, "What do we talk about when we talk about a united Ireland?" He argues that the unitary state idea is out; indeed, would be contrary to the Good Friday Agreement, which requires special arrangements for the north.

Nationalists, he argues, don't seem to have any great ideas for how unionism is to be accommodated in a united Ireland and need to get on with thinking that through.

Even the constitution of the Republic would have to be changed. It requires that, to be a member of the Irish parliament, you have to be an Irish citizen. But the Good Friday Agreement says you can define yourself as British and he assumes that that right would continue in the agreed Ireland of the future. He says joint authority is out, though unionism should have foreseen that it might be a desirable outcome for them in a future in which a border poll is imminent and might be lost.

That leaves a federal state, with Stormont staying in place, though with power devolved from Dublin.

The weakness in that idea, to my mind, is that Sinn Fein, if it retained its current strength, could collapse Stormont again by walking out.

Colin Harvey begins his discussion of the question by observing that Northern Ireland "was withdrawn from the EU without consent and the right of self-determination in the Good Friday Agreement offers a way back".

Harvey is a professor of law at QUB. He wants the British and Irish governments to prepare the ground for unity, setting out in a joint declaration what the process would be. And now the EU would have to be involved.

And, right now, the Republic could "signal its welcome for everyone in Northern Ireland".

Tom Hadden, the founding editor of Fortnight, asks if we really need to decide now. Instead of focussing on what some of us want and some of us don't want, we should just concentrate on "what is most likely to maintain the relative peace and stability that has prevailed since 1998".

Hadden says there is a strong case now for seeking a larger majority in favour of a united Ireland than the simple 50%-plus-one required by the Good Friday Agreement. Seamus Mallon made the same suggestion in his memoir.

The example of how unsettling a narrow majority can be was demonstrated by the Brexit vote. But the simple reality is that this is now provided for in the Agreement, a binding treaty, and could not be changed other than by renegotiation.

Hadden's suggestion that nationalists should not demand a border poll "until there is clear support for a change in sovereignty in the unionist community" amounts to asking nationalists not to be nationalists until unionists have stopped being unionists. Which is a marvellous idea, but inconceivable.

But he agrees with Humphreys that power-sharing would have to continue in the north after unification, then raises another problem.

The political profile of Northern Ireland is changing. It may not be just, or democratic, to divide power between nationalists and unionists when both of these forces are in a minority.

Already the parties which refuse to identify by communal affiliation are as strong, combined, as either the nationalists or the unionists.

Fortnight@50 will make for glum reading for traditional republicans, who long for the day when the island will be governed as a single jurisdiction, an island nation free of its divisions.

But if unity is already being reshaped in the minds of political thinkers into something well short of the ultimate defeat of unionism, should unionists not enter that discussion themselves?

And, if Fianna Fail is going to have a struggle within itself between conceptions of a wholly united Ireland, or a compromise "agreed Ireland", then it would be in unionism's interest to show that it favours one idea over the other.

There is a trade-off they can offer for the best terms and that is the north's membership of the EU's single market.

Fortnight@50 is available through No Alibis bookshop, Botanic Avenue, Belfast
AIN QANA, Lebanon - A powerful explosion shook a Hezbollah stronghold in southern Lebanon on Tuesday, sending thick grey smoke billowing over the village, but the cause was not clear.

The Lebanese army said the blast occurred in a building in the southern village of Ain Qana, above the port city of Sidon, and that it was investigating. Lebanons official news agency, NNA, said the explosion coincided with intense Israeli overflights that did not leave the skies over the area since Tuesday morning.

It said the cause of the explosion, which damaged buildings, shattered windows and caused panic among residents, was not known.

The mysterious blast added to collective anxiety in a country still reeling from last months massive explosion in Beirut and struggling with an unprecedented economic crisis.

Thank God that there were no human losses, but there was a lot of panic, everyone was frightened, said a villager who identified himself by his last name, Honeina.

The Israeli military declined to comment. Hezbollah and Israel fought a month-long war in 2006. Since then, the Iran-backed militant group is believed to have expanded its arsenal, amassing tens of thousands of rockets and missiles that can hit virtually anywhere in Israel.

Hezbollah members imposed a security cordon around the blast area Tuesday, barring journalists from reaching it. Footage broadcast by the local Al Jadeed station showed damage to buildings and debris scattered across a large area. The shaky footage also showed what appeared to be a minibus on fire. Other footage showed a wrecked SUV parked outside a damaged house.

The mysterious blast comes seven weeks after the giant explosion at Beiruts port, caused by the detonation of nearly 3,000 tons of improperly stored ammonium nitrate. That explosion killed nearly 200 people, injured 6,500 and damaged tens of thousands of buildings in the capital.

It is still not clear what caused the initial fire that ignited the chemicals, and so far no one has been held accountable.

A Hezbollah official said there were no casualties from Tuesdays explosion and that no Hezbollah members were targeted. Another local Hezbollah official in Ain Qana, Ali Nazar, said the explosion destroyed a house where old mines and shells leftover from past Israeli aggression were being collected by a de-mining agency for disposal.

A Lebanese security official in southern Lebanon said the explosion occurred in a Hezbollah arms depot in the village, but did not elaborate on the cause. The official spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.

Israel violates Lebanese air space on an almost daily basis, and its aircraft have flown particularly low over many areas in the past few days. The commander of the U.N. peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon, Maj. Gen. Stefano Del Col, told NNA Monday that the force has in recent days recorded a large number of air violations by the Israeli military.

He said the continuous overflights constitute a violation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701 and Lebanese sovereignty.

Such continued violations lead to an escalation of tension and can lead to incidents that threaten the cessation of hostilities between Lebanon and Israel, he was quoted as saying.

Israel accuses Hezbollah of violating the same U.N. resolution by operating close to the border, where it says the militants maintain forward operating posts and dig tunnels intended for future attacks.

Neither side is believed to be seeking war, but both have warned that the next round of hostilities will be far more devastating to the other side than the 2006 conflict.

___

Karam reported from Beirut.
Regulatory News:

IMPLANET (Paris:ALIMP) (Euronext Growth: ALIMP, FR0013470168, eligible for PEA-PME equity savings plans), a medical technology company specializing in vertebral and knee-surgery implants, today announces its support of the Societe Francaise de Chirurgie Rachidienne (SFCR, the French spine surgery society) Annual Conference, which takes place September 25 to 27 at the Parc des Expositions et des Congres in Dijon, France, in strict compliance with measures covering the health and protection of personnel and visitors.

Implanet's participation in this event, Booth #21 (Hall 1, street level), will mark the official resumption of the launch of JAZZ Cap, which was suspended at the beginning of the pandemic. At this event, Implanet will also present to surgeons the latest developments of its global range of JAZZ products, the new generation of implants developed to provide a response to spinal disorders.

The CE marking for the entire JAZZ range was recently renewed through May 2024, thus providing Implanet with excellent regulatory visibility.

During this conference, Implanet will launch a multi-center clinical study utilizing JAZZ Cap, targeting enrollment of one hundred patients. The aim is to publish, within the next 18 to 24 months, the first clinical results of this proprietary solution and to meet the requirements of the latest regulations to come into effect.

Ludovic Lastennet, CEO of IMPLANET, commented: "Over the last two months, Implanet has observed a tangible resumption of surgical operations to the 2019 level. We support the SFCR's approach within this context of a post-lockdown upturn in activity. This conference will provide an opportunity to capitalize on the successes recently recorded by the Company, such as the renewal of the CE marking on the entire JAZZ range, illustrating the clinical quality of our products. We actively relaunch our JAZZ Cap range, and accompany this resumption with the launch of a study to document clinical outcomes. In the United States, our partner Seaspine is waiting for the registration of this implant adapted to its range and which should be effective soon. Every element of our strategy is in place. Thanks to our positioning, our investments in innovation and the clinical validation of Implanet's platform of unique orthopedic products, the Company is confirming its status as a leading player in the spinal disorder segment

Founded in 2004, the SFCR is a medical association comprising some 450 members of the spine surgery community, both neurosurgical and orthopedic. The 2020 edition of this annual conference, co-sponsored by Implanet, will still have its usual sessions, round tables and symposiums, as well as a scientific program adapted to the current health situation.

Upcoming financial events:

Q3 2020 revenue, October 13, 2020 after market close

About Implanet

Founded in 2007, Implanet is a medical technology company that manufactures high-quality implants for orthopedic surgery. Its activity revolves around two product ranges, the latest generation JAZZ implant, designed to improve the treatment of spinal pathologies requiring vertebral fusion surgery, and the MADISON implant designed for first-line prosthetic knee surgery. Implanet's tried-and-tested orthopedic platform is based on product traceability. Protected by four families of international patents, JAZZ and MADISON have obtained 510(k) regulatory clearance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States, the CE mark as well as the ANVISA authorization in Brazil. Implanet employs 36 staff and recorded 2019 sales of 7.4 million. For further information, please visit www.implanet.com. Based near Bordeaux in France, Implanet established a US subsidiary in Boston in 2013. Implanet is listed on Euronext Growth market in Paris.

The Company would like to remind that the table for monitoring the equity line (OCA, OCAPI, BSA) and the number of shares outstanding, is available on its website: http://www.implanet-invest.com/suivi-des-actions-80

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200922005742/en/

Contacts:

IMPLANET

Ludovic Lastennet, CEO

David Dieumegard, CFO

Tel.: +33(0)5 57 99 55 55

investors@Implanet.com

NewCap

Investor Relations

Sandrine Boussard-Gallien

Nicolas Fossiez

Tel.: +33 (0)1 44 71 94 94

implanet@newcap.eu

NewCap

Media Relations

Nicolas Merigeau

Tel.: +33 (0)1 44 71 94 94

implanet@newcap.eu
A Chinese property mogul and critic of President Xi Jinping, has been jailed for corruption after calling the president a clown.



Ren Zhiqiang, the former chairman of Huayuan, a state-owned real estate group, was sentenced to 18 years in prison for corruption, bribery, and embezzlement of public funds. He was also fined 4.2million yuan (484,485) fine, Beijing No. 2 Intermediate Court said on its website on Tuesday.



The court verdict said the 69-year-old voluntarily and truthfully confessed all his crimes, and would not appeal the courts decision.



Rights campaigners have accused President Xi Jinping and the Communist Party of using corruption charges to silence dissent.



Ren, an influential critic of the Chinese Communist party described president Xi Jinping as a clown over his handling of the coronavirus outbreak, was put under investigation in April for serious violations of discipline and the law.



Back in March, the retired property executive went missing after writing a critical essay about the outbreak. At the time, Rens friends told Reuters they had not been able to contact him, and they were extremely anxious.



The Communist Party's disciplinary watchdog launched an investigation into Ren in April before the trial opened at a Beijing court on September 11.



His essay took aim at a speech Xi made on 23 February, and said it revealed a crisis of governance in the party without mentioning Xi by name.



Ren reportedly wrote that he saw not an emperor standing there exhibiting his new clothes, but a clown stripped naked who insisted on continuing being emperor.



A translated version of the essay said, 'This epidemic has revealed the fact that the Party and government officials only care about protecting their own interests, and the monarch only cares about protecting their interests and core position,' Ren wrote, without naming Xi.



He added: 'Standing there was not an emperor showing off his new clothes, but a clown stripped of clothes who insisted on being an emperor.'



The reality shown by this epidemic is that the party defends its own interests, the government officials defend their own interests, and the monarch only defends the status and interests of the core.



In 2016, Ren was put on probation for a year as punishment for his public criticism of government policy. His social media accounts, which had tens of millions of followers, were shut down.

















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At least seven Michigan counties will be aerially sprayed Monday night to kill off mosquitos carrying Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), a potentially deadly disease.

Weather-permitting, six other counties south and east of Lansing will be sprayed as well, according to a press release from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS).

The scheduled sprays will take place in Allegan, Barry, Kent, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo and Oceana Counties. Areas in Calhoun, Jackson, Livingston and Oakland counties may also be sprayed.

This map shows the planned areas that will be aerially sprayed against Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) on Monday, Sept. 21.

The announcement came after the total number of animal cases of EEE in Michigan hit 32. Thirty were identified in horses, and two in deer. EEE is a potentially fatal disease, found in animals and human, and carried by mosquitos.

One human case has been identified in Barry County.

An EEE vaccine is available for horses, but not for people. Last year, 10 people in Michigan were infected and six died from the virus, which has a 33 percent fatality rate in people who become ill, according to MDHHS. People under the age of 15, and older than 50, are at greatest risk of severe disease after infection.

Symptoms of EEE include fever, chills, and body and joint aches. This can progress to severe encephalitis, resulting in headache, disorientation, tremors, seizures and paralysis.

Last year, the state health department proposed aerial spraying but were met by civilian resistance. Mondays round of aerial spraying comes a week after 10 Michigan counties were sprayed.

Read more on MLive:

Aerial mosquito spraying planned in 10 Michigan counties with no opt-out option

Michigan Gov. Whitmer unveils first state building named after a Black woman

Crews looking for 12-year-old boy swept off Lake Michigan pier
Canadas immigration minister: 56,000 study permits approved in first stage Canada's immigration minister Marco Mendicino provided an international student update on September 22, 2020. Kareem El-Assal Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif

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Immigration minister Marco Mendicino made two notable revelations today during an international student update he provided via a webinar.

Mendicino stated that Canada has already issued 56,000 first stage approvals for study permit applications.

Secondly, as previously reported by CIC News, the minister confirmed that the federal government, led by Health Canada, continues to work with designated learning institutions to identify how they can physically welcome international students onto their campuses during the coronavirus pandemic.

According to Mendicino, Minister Patty Hajdu is working to ensure each designated learning institution (DLI) has met the public health requirements of the province and territory they are located. This approach will protect health and safety of international students and Canadian students.

DLIs are universities, colleges, and other educational institutions that have obtained federal and provincial government approval to welcome international students. Some DLIs have indicated an interest in welcoming international students during the pandemic. However, due to Canadas travel restrictions, most international students are currently unable to travel to the country.

The discussions between Health Canada, provinces, territories, and DLIs are aimed at identifying whether DLIs can safely form quarantine and socially distancing plans that would enable them to potentially welcome international students in the coming months. Under Canadian law, most travelers must quarantine for 14 days immediately upon arriving to Canada. Moreover, provinces and territories across Canada have strict social distancing measures in place to help contain the spread of COVID-19, although Canadas coronavirus case tally has been increasing significantly in recent weeks.

Canadian International Council  International Education at a Cross-Roads in Canada On September 22, ApplyBoard CMO and Co-Founder joined the Canadian International Council of the Waterloo Region for International Education at a Cross-Roads

In the meantime, Canada has announced a number of major policy reforms to enable international students to pursue their Canadian studies amid the pandemic. Among the reforms, Canada announced a two-step study permit process in the summer to give students certainty so they can begin their studies while overseas.

In addition, international students can study online while overseas but still be able to work in Canada under a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) once the pandemic is over.

The minister revealed that 56,000 international students have been approved for a study permit under stage one so far. This means that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has provided students with approval after reviewing each applicants letter of acceptance from a DLI, proof of funds that they can support themselves and their studies financially, among other criteria.

Get help with your study or work permit

Once the students are able to travel to Canada, they need to complete a medical exam, criminal background check, and biometrics in order to get stage two study permit approval.

Mendicino delivered the remarks during a webinar hosted by the Canadian International Council, which is an organization that brings Canadians together to explore foreign affairs issues.

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Mendicino made sure to affirm Canadas ongoing commitment to welcoming immigrants, international students, and global talent in general.

I steadfastly believe that immigration will play a vital role in our economy, as it has in recent years.

Get help with your study or work permit

 2020 CIC News All Rights Reserved
David Daleiden sues Planned Parenthood, seeks $75K for defamation

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Pro-life activist David Daleiden, whose undercover videos exposing Planned Parenthood's practices led to a congressional investigation, filed a federal defamation complaint against Planned Parenthood on Tuesday, arguing that the abortion giant lied to the media about his videos.

Daleiden, the founder of the Center for Medical Progress, filed the complaint in a New York federal court. He alleges that Planned Parenthood told the media that he and CMP manufacture[d] and created a false smear campaign when they released a series of undercover videos and transcripts showing Planned Parenthood officials discussing their willingness to engage in the illegal sale and harvesting of aborted babies' organs, tissue and limbs.

In his new complaint against the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Daleiden, represented by the Thomas More Society, says CMPs videos show evidence of high-level Planned Parenthood officials discussing their questionable practices in their abortion and fetal tissue harvesting programs.

The complaint calls out PPFA Senior Vice President of Communication and Culture Melanie Newman and accuses her of issuing a statement to media on Sept. 18, 2019, that was published by Rewire News, an outlet that advocates for abortion. Newman was quoted accusing CMPs investigation as a multiyear illegal effort to manufacture a fake smear campaign against Planned Parenthood.

On Nov. 15, 2019, the complaint adds, PPFA posted on its official Twitter account that Daleiden and others created a false smear campaign against Planned Parenthood.

The comments were made after Daleiden, CMP and other defendants were ordered by a California federal judge earlier to pay $2.3 million in damages to Planned Parenthood after a jury had found Daleiden and an associate guilty of crimes including creating fake government-issued identification cards, illegal recording and trespassing.

In reality, as PPFA and its representatives recorded on the videos readily admit in other fora, Plaintiffs videos accurately record Planned Parenthood officials own shocking words spoken in real life, the complaint contends.

According to the new complaint, PPFA has caused substantial reputational, emotional, financial, and other damages as a result of objectively false assertions made about Daleiden and CMP.

The complaint asks for PPFA to pay actual and punitive damages of $75,000 to make Plaintiffs whole for the presumptive impairment to their reputation, personal humiliation, mental anguish and suffering. The complaint also requests punitive and exemplary damages, in an amount necessary to punish PPFA for its malicious conduct toward Plaintiffs.

Daleiden is also asking the court for an injunction requiring PPFA to retract and remove all false statements about CMP and Daleiden on its Twitter page and made to Rewire News.

The legal complaint also seeks to force PPFA to issue a publicly accessible correction of these statements.

Planned Parenthood is not content to make obscene financial profit by killing off Americas next generation and endangering pregnant women. Additionally, they feel that they must obliterate the reputation of anyone who dares to challenge them and suggest that what they are doing is not the great philanthropic work that they pretend it is, Tom Brejcha, president and chief counsel of the Thomas More Society, said in a statement.

Planned Parenthoods very existence is an anathema to Americas pursuit of the most basic of human rights and they know it. We have not been surprised over their campaign to smear the reputation of Mr. Daleiden, but they are not allowed to falsely besmirch his reputation for exposing the truth.

Newman told The Christian Post in a statement responding to the complaint that Daleidens claims are still baseless.

They are just another desperate attempt by a discredited source to get publicity, she argued.

Last fall, a jury  with all of the facts fully presented to it  decided that David Daleiden and the Center for Medical Progress intentionally broke the law in a multi-year, malicious campaign to advance their goals of banning safe, legal abortion in this country, and preventing Planned Parenthood from serving the patients who depend on us. The result: Daleiden was ordered to pay millions of dollars in damages. And, he still faces criminal charges.

Since 2015, Daleiden and CMP have released several full-length investigative videos that have shocked many in the pro-life community and angered abortion-rights supporters. Many of the videos show the abortion giants employees discussing how clinics received payments priced per fetal specimen and the ways surgical abortions are altered to obtain intact organs, limbs and tissue for research. Altering an abortion procedure for this purpose is illegal.

As a result of the undercover investigation, Republican-led congressional committees launched investigations into the practices of the nations largest abortion provider. The Trump Justice Department has also looked into the matter. The videos also reenergized calls to strip Planned Parenthood of federal funding.

One of CMP's undercover videos from 2014 filmed at a Planned Parenthood workshop in Michigan showed an abortion provider arguing against helping children who are victims of rape and sexual assault. The speaker said that because clinic workers are not state employees, they should not be required to report known cases of child abuse to authorities.

In a report released in 2016, the House Select Investigative Panel on Infant Lives found evidence that several tissue procurement companies and abortion clinics might have violated federal felony laws barring the sale of human tissue. The report included information on criminal and regulatory referrals filed by Republican members of the panel.

The House Oversight and Reform Committee, now chaired by Democrat Carolyn Maloney of New York, issued a statement refuting many of CMPs findings, arguing that CMP's videos "include no credible evidence that Planned Parenthood profits from its fetal tissue donation program."

In October 2015, PPFA announced that it will no longer accept reimbursements to cover the costs of fetal tissue donations.
DUBLIN, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Europe Wipes Market Forecast to 2030 - COVID-19 Impact and Regional Analysis by Type; Distribution Channel" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The European wipes market accounted for US$ 3,623.1 Mn in 2018 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 11.4% during 2019-2030, to account to US$ 12,674.0 Mn by 2030.

Apart from maintaining personal and household hygiene, wet tissues and wipes also exhibit antibacterial, exfoliating, and moisturizing properties. Moreover, rising concerns related to personal hygiene and increasing influence of social media and other promotional media have increased consumer awareness about health and hygiene products. This has significantly driven the demand for personal care products such as baby wipes, facial wipes, moist flushable wipes, and household wipes. However, disinfectant wipes are mainly used in the medical industry, hotels and restaurants, schools, and colleges for disinfecting the surfaces. Thus, disinfectant wipes and sanitizers are used on a large scale as a precautionary measure to fight against the currently ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Rising awareness among the consumers in the developed and developing countries about the importance of hygienic products have propelled the demand for wipes in North America. Increased use of mobile phones, computers, and laptops has helped in the growth of online, both in strength and volume.



The Europe wipes market is segmented based on type as baby wipes, facial wipes, moist flushable wipes, household wipes, and others. The baby wipes segment is estimated to hold the largest share of the Europe wipes market by 2027, whereas the household wipes segment is estimated to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period.



The European wipes market is sub segmented into Germany, the UK, Russia, France, Italy, and the Rest of Europe. Germany holds the largest share of the market, and the wipes market in UK is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Germany is considered as an attractive market for wipes. Consumers in Germany value hygiene at their houses. Thus, they highly demand personal care and cleaning products that can help them maintain a clean and hygienic home, including wipes, are in high demand. The wipes market in France is growing since the past few years due to the rising concern of infectious disease. Growing concerns among consumers related to the potentially toxic components in wipes are driving sales of medically specialized intimate wipes, such as brands sold in pharmacies, which benefit from having a healthier image. Further, wipes are increasingly becoming part of consumers' daily routine in Italy. Rising concern regarding infectious disease among the people has propelled the demand for wipes in the country. Baby wipes, facial wipes, moist flushable wipes, and household wipes, etc., are popular among the Italian consumers. Wipes with antibacterial and disinfectant properties are increasingly gaining high popularity in the UK. This has further propelled the demand for antibacterial wipes in the UK. Consumers are increasingly focused on the importance of living in clean and hygienic homes. This has further led to a surge in demand for household wipes in the country. The growth of the wipes demand in Russia is mainly supported by the rising consumer interest in personal care and hygiene products. The busy and hectic lifestyle of the consumers is attracting the Russian consumer toward convenient and handy personal care products, such as baby wipes and facial wipes. The Rest of Europe includes countries such as Spain, Italy, Turkey, Poland, Austria, Belgium, and the Netherlands.



Key report features:

Highlights key business priorities in order to assist companies to realign their business strategies.

The key findings and recommendations highlight crucial progressive industry trends in the Europe wipes market, thereby allowing players to develop effective long term strategies.

wipes market, thereby allowing players to develop effective long term strategies. Develop/modify business expansion plans by using substantial growth offering developed and emerging markets.

Scrutinize in-depth the market trends and outlook coupled with the factors driving the market, as well as those hindering it.

Enhance the decision-making process by understanding the strategies that underpin commercial interest with respect to products, segmentation and industry verticals.

Key Topics Covered:



1. Introduction



2. Key Takeaways



3. Research Methodology



4. Wipes Market Landscape



5. Europe Wipes Market - Key Industry Dynamics



6. Wipes- Europe Market Analysis



7. Europe Wipes Market Analysis - By Type



8. Europe Wipes Market Analysis - By Distribution Channel



9. Europe Wipes Market - Country Analysis



10. Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Europe Wipes Market



11. Company Profiles

Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc.

Procter & Gamble

The Clorox Company

Contac Inc.

Diamond Wipes International Inc.

DuPont de Nemours, Inc.

Rockline Industries

Kimberly-Clark Corporation

Nice-Pak Products, Inc.

S.C. Johnson & Son

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/410bkl

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.

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New Delhi: Amid the simmering debate over the language politics in Tamil Nadu, a retired doctor from Ariyalur district's Gangaikondacholapuram has alleged that he and an accompanying engineer were treated disrespectfully and denied a loan by the manager of an Indian Overseas Bank branch, for not knowing the Hindi language.

As per reports, it has been revealed that the accused manager has been transferred with immediate effect, to a regional office in Trichy district.

Dr C Balasubramanian said he and a friend had approached the Indian Overseas Bank branch in Gangaikondacholapuram for availing a loan for construction-related work. However, the Manager of the branch, who was not a native of Tamil Nadu is said to have dealt with the senior citizen and his accomplice for over 10 minutes without even asking them to sit.

On seeing the loan application documents, the manager is said to have rejected them on the grounds that it was out of his jurisdiction, thus prompting the senior citizen to show the documents, records and explain.

Balasubramanian alleged that when the records were shown and they were conversing in English, the manager had asked him if he knew Hindi.

"We were having a conversation in English and he asked if we knew Hindi (in English) and added that there was a language problem. I told him that I knew English and Tamil and assured that I would explain everything in English. Thats when he flatly rejected the loan application," Balasubramanian stated.

"He could have rejected the loan for any valid reason, but the way he said, it was not right. He asserted that he was from Maharashtra and this isnt the right way to interact with the public. We didnt like the way he behaved," the retired Doctor added while showing his loan application documents.

The senior citizen said that he felt hurt as the manner in which the manager had behaved, was inappropriate and saddening because the loan was not rejected on any technical grounds or under a valid reason.
Finally, a product that represents how we're all feeling in 2020. We're keeping it together on the outside, but we're salty on the inside.

To introduce Reese's Big Cups with Pretzels, you may have noticed some salty tweets from us  but you know we're just saying what you're thinking.

"Let's face it, we're all feeling a little bit salty this year," said Ian Norton, Reese's senior director, Reese's brand. "In true Reese's fashion, we channeled our feelings into sweet and salty deliciousness with new Reese's Big Cups with Pretzels."

Reese's Big Cups with Pretzels will be available in a 1.3 oz. standard size/single cup (SRP $1.49) and a 2.6 oz. king size/two cup (SRP $2.09) and will be available November 2020.* Additionally, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups with Pretzels Miniatures (SRP $3.79) will be available in January 2021.* Reese's Big Cups with Pretzels and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups with Pretzels Miniatures will be a permanent addition to the Reese's line-up at retailers nationwide.

Oh, and we should probably also mention, there's one more salty savior coming too  Reese's Big Cups with Chips  which will be available for a limited time only beginning March of 2021.

Get your Reese's Big Cups with Pretzels soon. Get excited and stay salty for what's to come. You're welcome.

*Pricing is at the sole discretion of the retailer, SRPs are based off of historical data averages at a total class of trade level.

For more information check out Reeses.com and follow:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reeses/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/reeses

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reeses/?hl=en

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/reeses/

About The Hershey Company

The Hershey Company is headquartered in Hershey, Pa., and is an industry-leading snacks company known for bringing goodness to the world through its iconic brands, remarkable people and enduring commitment to help children succeed. Hershey has approximately 16,000 employees around the world who work every day to deliver delicious, quality products. The company has more than 80 brands around the world that drive $8 billion in annual revenues, including such iconic brand names as Hershey's, Reese's, Kit Kat, Jolly Rancher, Ice Breakers, SkinnyPop and Pirate's Booty.

For more than 125 years, Hershey has been committed to operating fairly, ethically and sustainably. Hershey founder, Milton Hershey, created the Milton Hershey School in 1909 and since then the company has focused on helping children succeed.

To learn more visit www.thehersheycompany.com

Follow:

http://www.twitter.com/hersheycompany

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SOURCE The Hershey Company

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"First and foremost, I would like to extend an apology on behalf of the District and the Board of School Directors to the student who was involved and to his family. They did not ask for this incident to occur, nor do they deserve the negative attention that it has brought." - school board President Tina Stoll
New York  A New York City police officer was charged on Monday with being an intelligence asset for the Chinese government who agreed to spy on U.S. supporters of the Tibetan independence movement.

Baimadajie Angwang, a naturalized U.S. citizen from Tibet, worked since 2018 as an agent for the Peoples Republic of China in its effort to suppress the movement, according to a criminal complaint filed in Brooklyn federal court. It says he secretly worked for unnamed handlers from the Chinese consulate in New York.

There was no allegation that Angwang compromised national security or New York Police Department operations. Still, he was considered the definition of an insider threat, William Sweeney, head of the FBIs New York office, said in a statement.

Angwang, 33, was ordered held without bail at an initial court hearing on Monday. There was no immediate response to a phone message seeking comment from his lawyer.

Along with being a NYPD officer, Angwang is a staff sergeant in the U.S. Army Reserve who was given security clearance by the Department of Defense, according to court papers that accuse him of lying during a background check that got him that status.

Angwangs job as a spy for China was to locate potential intelligence sources and identify potential threats to the PRC in the New York metropolitan area, court papers say. He also was expected to provide consulate officials access to senior NYPD officials through invitations to official NYPD events, they add.

The papers say the evidence includes intercepted communications between Angwang and a consulate official  someone Angwang called big brother and boss  about how to identify dissenters in the independence movement.

They dont believe in Tibetan Buddhism, Angwang told the handler, according to the papers. When the consulate extends a helping hand to them, they will feel the warmth of the motherland. How wonderful would that be?

At one point, Angwang suggested that issuing 10-year visas to Tibetans in the United States would help recruit other spies, the papers say.

Angwang has worked at a NYPD precinct in Queens as a community liaison, authorities said. Before becoming a citizen, he sought asylum by claiming he had been arrested and tortured in China partly because of his Tibetan ethnicity, they said.

An advocacy group, International Campaign for Tibet, said in a statement that the arrest shows that the Chinese Communist Party is engaged in malign operations to suppress dissent, not only in Tibet  but any place in the world where Tibetans are free to express themselves.
LONDON  As the coronavirus pandemic lurches toward its first year mark, one trend has become clear: the disproportionate burden it places on women and girls.

Along with the widespread suffering and hardship caused by the virus, Covid-19 risks setting womens rights back by decades, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations Amina Mohammed told NBC News in an exclusive interview.

From child marriage to domestic abuse to online harassment, Mohammed said Friday, violence against women increased during the lockdowns as many victims were trapped at home with their abusers.

Image: Women wearing masks to curb the spread of the new coronavirus, participate in

With more lockdowns looming as infection rates rise globally, this shadow pandemic, as Mohammed called it, is something that she said cant be ignored.

The United Nations marked its 75th anniversary Monday as it kicked off the General Assembly  an annual meeting of world leaders  with no presidents or prime ministers physically present in New York. The pandemic has already claimed nearly a million lives around the world and crippled the global economy.

The U.N. has also called the effect of the pandemic on schooling a global education emergency, but Mohammed said its especially sensitive for some 743 million girls who have been left out of school because of it.

My greatest fear is that this then becomes a cause, a root cause, of children, of young girls getting married when they shouldnt have to get married, she added.

Watch the interview on TODAY at 9:10 a.m.

Meanwhile, with nearly 1.5 billion schoolchildren affected by Covid-19 school closures, Mohammed said the pandemic has also forced millions of women around the world to choose between feeding their children and educating them at home.

It shouldn't be a choice any woman, or any family, should ever have to make, not in 2020, she said.

Image: Girls wearing a protective face mask look on ahead of a nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), which is set to begin on Friday, in Tel Aviv, Israel (Corinna Kern / Reuters)

In a speech last week, Mohammed said that in developed countries, figures are already emerging showing that women are more likely to have lost their jobs and less likely to be hired for new ones since the pandemic.

Story continues

She said the situation is even worse in the informal economy where jobs are neither legally regulated nor protected.

A report released by the U.N.s gender equality agency earlier this month estimated that 740 million women work in the informal economy. It said their income fell by 60 percent during the first month of the pandemic.

Independent analysis backs up the U.N.'s and Mohammeds stark warnings.

According to analysis by the consulting firm McKinsey & Company, womens jobs are 1.8 times more vulnerable to the Covid-19 crisis than mens jobs. The study released in July showed that women make up 39 percent of global employment but account for 54 percent of overall job losses.

Clare Wenham, assistant professor of global health policy at the London School of Economics, said that could be because industries in which many women work  restaurants, markets and tourism  have been decimated by the global lockdowns.

So-called micro factors, such as families deciding for the man to remain in the workforce and the woman to look after children, are also likely a cause.

Researchers like Sarah Hawkes, professor of global public health at University College London, say there is an urgent need for governments now faced with new waves of the pandemic to plan and implement interventions that are gender responsive, like ensuring that women and children who are at risk of violence in their homes are adequately provided for and protected.

The lack of attention being paid to gender equality and womens rights in the pandemic reflects that these are often seen as a luxury add-on and not a core obligation for states to fulfil, Hawkes said.

But despite challenges posed by Covid-19, Mohammed remains optimistic about reaching the organizations ambitious sustainable development goals, which include gender equality, by 2030.

Don't fail before you get there, she said. Take the Covid-19 moment, get with the goals and run with it.
Election 2020 Man With Shady Background Behind a Political Party in Myanmar

U Kyaw Myint of the UDP with the Chinese ambassador to Myanmar in December 2013. / Chinese Embassy Facebook

When people talk about political parties in Myanmar ahead of the November general election, what normally pop-ups in their mind is the National League for Democracy (NLD) and the main opposition and military proxy, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP).

In terms of the number of candidates filed for the election, the NLD is largest with 1,143 while the USDP has 1,129 candidates. But there is also a less well-known party with more than 1,130 candidates.

Enter the United Democratic Party (UDP).

The party chairman is U Kyaw Myint, also known as Michael Kyaw Myint or Michael Hua Hu, but few people know him in Myanmar.

But the party claims he is ethnic Kachin and the adopted son of Zahkung Ting Ying, the leader of the New Democratic Army-Kachin (NDAK) militia group in northern Kachin State. According to a party leaflet, he has been involved in politics since he was 16 and a follower of the legendary Thirty Comrades and late Brigadier General Kyaw Zaw.

It said he was also a peace builder in 1989 when the powerful Communist Party of Burma (CPB)faced mutiny and collapsed, according to the party statement. U Kyaw Myint claimed he once served in the United Wa State Party (UWSP). But many senior officers in the UWSP deny any knowledge of him.

U Kyaw Myint claimed he was a commander in the CPB in the late 1980s, rising to second-in-command in the northern division of the CPBs army under Zahkung Ting Ying. But former CPB members said they did not remember him.

In addition, he also received several degrees from Harvard University and universities in Canada. He is a successful businessman but few in Myanmar are familiar with him and his background. None of his claims can be independently confirmed.

But some political exiles have known him. So who is U Kyaw Myint?

According to Burmese opposition sources in Canada, the UDP had no chairman when it was founded in around 2010 but it was led by well-known Burmese businessman U Kyaw Myint, also known as Michael Hua Hu.

When he was in Myanmar, U Kyaw Myint ran a company, Myanmar Kyone Yeom, which was involved in money laundering in the 1990s.

The now-defunct Hong Kong-based magazine Asiaweek reported that a company run by U Kyaw Myint was laundering money for the United Wa State Army (UWSA), which was then heavily involved in the drug trade.

Asiaweek reported in January 1998 that Myanmar Kyone Yeom was accused of acting as a money-washing machine for the UWSA.

In November 1998, Janes Intelligence Review reported that U Kyaw Myint, who claimed to be a deputy minister of finance for the UWSA, flouted Myanmars business laws. The company was outlawed by the Myanmar Investment Commission and U Kyaw Myint was given a 10-year prison sentence.

A US State DepartmentsInternational Narcotics Control Strategy Report, 1998 said in February 1998 that the Burmese regime effectively suspended Kyone Yeom for violating the Myanmar Company Act, although the government did not indicate that this was a counter-narcotics action.

He did not serve his full jail term and escaped. Several former intelligence officers who served in the previous regime said they had no idea how he had escaped from prison. It was suspected that he bribed prison officers to send him to a labor camp from where he escaped to Thailand.

He then went to Canada where he took asylum. However, U Kyaw Myint once told the Burmese service of the Voice of America that he was arrested for political reasons and charged under the State Emergency Act. He later escaped from prison and traveled first to the US and then Canada, reportedly with the help of the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). In Thailand, he reportedly met US diplomats in Bangkok and provided information about illicit drug activities in Myanmar. He then went to the US.

In April 2009, according to the Vancouver Sun, U Kyaw Myint said the DEA helped him to obtain political asylum in the US and he moved to New Jersey. He later moved to Canada in 2002, seeking political asylum and lived in Vancouver.

News then surfaced that U Kyaw Myint was involved in NAH Development Group Inc., a company based in Canada.

In 2009, news of U Kyaw Myint came into the spotlight in Canada when trading in the Future Canada China Environment Inc. was halted by the US Securities and Exchange Commission, when the value of the companys stock rose rapidly to more than US$1 billion.

The price jumped on the strength of a proposed merger with a company that appears to be connected to Michael Hua Hu [U Kyaw Myint], according to a report in the Vancouver Sun.

The commission temporarily suspended trading in the securities of Future Canada China Environment Inc. because questions have arisen concerning recent trading activities in the companys stock during which its share price increased from US$ 0.92 to US$28.50, the US Securities and Exchange Commission announced in January, 2009.

The commission cautioned brokers, dealers, shareholders and prospective purchasers that they should carefully consider the details along with any information subsequently issued by the company.

The company has negligible assets and no operating business. Its stock price ostensibly jumped on the strength of a proposed merger with a company that appears to be connected to Michael Hua Hu, a former Burmese businessman now living in Vancouver, the Sun reported in February. After reporting on these issues, U Kyaw Myint then threatened to sue The Irrawaddy.

In 2011, the British Columbia Securities Commission panel added him to a disciplined list, which means it permanently banned U Kyaw Myint from the provinces securities markets, and fined him US$1.5 million for engaging in illegal insider trading and making false and misleading statements to investigators.

The BCSC panel found that U Kyaw Myint, while a director and chairman of Maple Leaf Reforestation Inc., bought shares in the company while knowing undisclosed material information about a biodiesel project (known as the Xinjiang project) that Maple Leaf was negotiating in China. The panel also found that Hu made false and misleading statements to commission staff when he denied knowing the individual who held the online brokerage account that Hu used to make the purchases.

He denied allegations of drug dealing and money laundering in a statement.

I, U Kyaw Myint, have never conducted or been involved in the illegal drug business or money laundering business in my life, said the statement on his website.

U Kyaw Myint stated: All my businesses in North America and Asia are legal.

Ahead of Myanmars general election in 2010, U Kyaw Myint recruited some politicians in Myanmar and established the UDP inside the country. U Thu Wai, a veteran politician, and U Ye Tun, a well-known businessman, in Yangon, were named chairman and vice chairman of the party. But they were no longer with him. In his interview with The Irrawaddy in 2015, U Thu Wai said U Kyaw Myint was close to some of Myanmars diplomats, including an ambassador and a military attache in the US and they issued the papers enabling him to go back to Myanmar. The party also contested the 2015 election but it failed, as it did in 2010.

It is still a mystery how someone with a shady background like U Kyaw Myint established the UDP and registered the party in Myanmar. Now he lives in Yangon and travels with several bodyguards. He also had closed meetings with several business tycoons in Myanmar. It is believed that he has solid financial backing and support from some ethnic armed groups.

In December 2013, his meeting with the then Chinese ambassador to Myanmar, Yang Houlan, was posted on the Chinese embassy website. It said: They had a extensive discussions on the recent development in Myanmars political, economic and social life as well as the proposed exchanges between two countries and parties. Both sides agreed to promote people-to-people communications and mutually beneficial cooperation in the future.

Meanwhile, the party seems to be in top gear as the election approaches. In some areas, it was known as the Red Rose Party after the partys logo.

In its electoral pledge, the UDP said: If you dont see any development in the country in five years, send the chairman to jail and set the UDP posters on fire.

You may also like these stories:

Election 2020

Candidates From Four Parties in Myanmars Kachin State Face Off in Debate

Political Party Withdraws Election Broadcast After Censorship by Myanmar Authorities

Myanmars Election Commission Rules Out Postponing Election Due to COVID-19
Today, Tuesday September 22, marks the 9th annual National Voter Registration Day - a nonpartisan and collaborative effort that involves partners of all stripes and sizes across the country to register voters ahead of the November election. This year, over 100 premier partners and 4,500 community groups have partnered with National Voter Registration Day to combat the impact of COVID-19 on voter registration by organizing both virtual and safe, in-person voter registration drives in communities nationwide.

Celebrated each year on the fourth Tuesday of September, National Voter Registration Day is a nonpartisan civic holiday that celebrates our democracy and involves the collective efforts of thousands of volunteers, nonprofit organizations, businesses, schools, libraries and election officials from all over the country. One in four eligible Americans is not registered to vote, and National Voter Registration Day seeks to make voter registration calls to action impossible to ignore, so that as many citizens as possible are empowered to participate in our democracy.

This year, due to COVID-19, voter registration is more important than ever. Because of the closure of DMVs and halting of voter registration field programs amid the pandemic, the number of new and updated voter registrations collected across the country has fallen dramatically since March. In order to combat this, National Voter Registration Day is bringing together partners and community groups to host both digital voter registration drives and safe, in-person registration events. Partners are also working to provide accurate information to voters on how to prepare to cast a ballot, either through mail-in voting, early in-person voting, or going to the polls on Election Day.

Civic participation is the cornerstone of a healthy democracy, said Dr. Deborah Turner, president of the League of Women Voters, one of the founding organizations of National Voter Registration Day and which has almost 600 local Leagues signed on as 2020 partners. We are excited and encouraged by the record-setting number of coalition partners assembled under the banner of National Voter Registration Day this year. This degree of participation underlines the fact that Americans are determined to keep our democracy strong despite the challenges presented by the pandemic."

Since its establishment in 2012, nearly three million voters of all political ideologies and affiliations have registered on National Voter Registration Day. Demonstrating the holidays quickly-growing momentum, almost half of those three million registrations took place in 2018 (865,000) or 2019 (474,000). This year, National Voter Registration Day and partners are seeking to overcome the setbacks of COVID-19 by continuing this trend of mass registration through creative and unique initiatives. Among many others, partners in 2020 include: American Library Association, United Way, Feeding America, Target, Levi Strauss & Co., Uber, Airbnb, the Military Officers Association of America, the NAACP, and the Students Learn Student Vote Coalition, as well as thousands of grassroots community groups such as libraries, college groups, co-ops, nonprofits, election offices, businesses and more.

National Voter Registration Day is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate each citizens role in shaping our country and its future,'' said Lauren Kunis, Program Director of National Voter Registration Day. If we want to see more Americans participate in our democracy, it is crucial that the next few weeks bring record-setting levels of voter registration that will enable as many citizens as possible to have their voices heard this November.

In advance of this years National Voter Registration Day, both chambers of Congress have put forth bi-partisan resolutions to recognize September 22, 2020 as National Voter Registration Day. The resolutions received support from both sides of the aisle, with Sen. Roy Blunt (MO) and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (MN) backing the Senate resolution and Rep. Kathy Castor (FL) and Rep. Billy Long (MO) backing the resolution in the House of Representatives. The resolutions encourage all eligible citizens to register to vote, verify that their registration information is current, and to cast a ballot on or before Election Day.

Please contact press@nationalvoterregistrationday.org if youre interested in connecting with one of National Voter Registration Days spokespeople, including Secretaries of State, corporate partners, nonprofits, or NVRD representatives. For further details on National Voter Registration Day, please visit nationalvoterregistrationday.org. Visitors to the site can register to vote at nationalvoterregistrationday.org/register.

About National Voter Registration Day

National Voter Registration Day is a single day of coordinated events by thousands of national and community partners across the nation to raise awareness of registration opportunities. Held on the fourth Tuesday of every September, it is endorsed by the National Association of Secretaries of State, National Association of State Election Directors, National Association of Election Officials, and the U.S. Election Assistance Commission.
The 14-day judicial custody of Bollywood actor Rhea Chakraborty, who was arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) earlier this month for her alleged involvement in a drugs case linked to Sushant Singh Rajputs death, will end on Tuesday. She was remanded to 14-day judicial custody after being arrested.

Chakraborty was arrested on September 8 by the agency after three days of questioning over the drug abuse case in connection with the death of actor Rajput on June 14. If found guilty, she faces up to 10 years in jail.

The 28-year-old was arrested on the basis of statements from other accused who have been arrested in connection with the case. She was confronted with her younger brother Showik Chakraborty, Rajputs house manager Samuel Miranda and his house staff Dipesh Sawant to ascertain their roles in an alleged drug racket.

A special court had denied bail to Chakraborty on September 11, saying if she was released on bail she might alert others and they might destroy evidence. Chakraborty, in her plea, had stated that she was innocent and falsely implicated. She has been booked under several sections of the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, which provides for punishment for financing illicit traffic and harbouring offenders.

Also read | NCB to summon Sara Ali Khan, Rakul Preet Singh, Simone Khambatta

Chakraborty has been charged under Section 8(c) (produce, manufacture, possess, sell, purchase, transport, warehouse, use, consume, import); 20(b)(ii) (punishment for contravention in relation to the cannabis plant and cannabis where such contravention relates to small quantity, involves quantity lesser than commercial quantity but greater than small quantity, involves commercial quantity); 22 (punishment for contravention in relation to psychotropic substances); 27A (punishment for financing illicit traffic and harbouring offenders); 28 (punishment for attempts to commit offences); and 29 (punishment for abetment and criminal conspiracy) of the NDPS act.

Also read | NCB probe leads to Pak and drug cartels; Bollywood A-listers under scanner

Additional sessions judge GB Gurao of the NDPS act court observed that as the investigation was still in the initial phase if the accused is granted bail, she may tamper with the prosecution evidence. In addition, according to the prosecution, the accused has taken the names of other persons. The investigation in respect of those persons is in process. If the accused is released on bail then she will alert those persons and they will destroy the evidence. There is a possibility of tampering of evidence, the order had said.

Also read | Sushants former talent manager Jaya Saha quizzed by NCB, called again along with Shruti Modi

Chakraborty has allegedly named 15 Bollywood celebrities, including those producing and consuming drugs, news agency ANI reported quoting sources. NCBs investigation also revealed that there is some circle also which procures and supplies drugs to celebrities, it added.

The agency has so far arrested dozens of people, including Chakraborty, her brother Showik, and drug peddlers from Mumbai and Goa.

(With agency inputs)
CAIRO  President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi received a phone call on Sept. 17 from the president of the European Council, Charles Michel. The two officials discussed a number of issues of common interest, including recent developments in the Eastern Mediterranean region and in Libya. They agreed to boost bilateral channels of consultation and stressed the need to reach a comprehensive political settlement of the Libyan issue in a bid to restore regional stability.

The phone call came after the head of Libyas Government of National Accord, Fayez al-Sarraj, announced Sept. 16 his plan to resign from his post, saying, We [the government] did not work under normal conditions. We were the target of internal and foreign conspiracies.

For his part, Khaled Okasha, a member of the Egyptian National Council for Combating Terrorism, said in a phone intervention on Al-Masry Afandi show broadcast on Al-Kahera Wal-Nas TV on Sept. 17 that by resigning, Sarraj is backing the efforts to reach a cease-fire and form a new transitional government. Okasha also expects the militias to withdraw following the announcement, adding that all Libyan cities will now feel security and stability.

Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou on Sept. 15 hosted Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, who was on an official visit to Athens upon the invitation of his Greek counterpart, Nikos Dendias. Discussions covered ways to enhance bilateral cooperation and coordination between the two countries in various fields, as well as regional and international issues of common interest.

After a meeting between the foreign ministers of the two countries, Egypt and Greece denounced any provocative acts that could destabilize the Eastern Mediterranean region and lead to confrontation. They agreed to continue making contacts with key international parties, stressing the need to work together in order to turn the Eastern Mediterranean into a region of prosperity and cooperation and consolidate regional and international stability.

These consultations fall within the scope of Egypt's ongoing efforts to deter Turkish influence in the Eastern Mediterranean. On Sept. 11, President Sisi and his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, affirmed in a phone call the consistency of interests and common positions regarding the Eastern Mediterranean region. They rejected any escalations that may harm the interests of the countries of the region, stressing that achieving security and stability in the region is a priority that calls for coordination and solidarity.

The Eastern Mediterranean region is experiencing rising tension as Turkey insists on exploring for gas near the borders of Greece and Cyprus (riparian countries with Egypt), both of which reject such exploration. In another vein, Turkish forces and armed militias are present on Libyan soil (bordering Egypt from the west) in support of the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) headed by Fayez al-Sarraj.

Mustapha Kamel Al-Sayyid, a professor of political science at Cairo University, told Al-Monitor the role Egypt is seeking to restore stability in the Eastern Mediterranean based on its will to preserve its economic interests in natural gas in the region. Tension in the Eastern Mediterranean negatively affects these interests, he said.

Egypt has common interests with Greece and Cyprus. Turkeys positions that harm the interests of these countries affect Egypt by extension. That is why Egypt is trying to attract the support of major powers that can exert pressure on Turkey to persuade it into halting its moves in the region, Sayyid explained.

He continued, The presence of Turkey and its gas exploration in the Greek economic zone affects the implementation of the maritime boundary delimitation agreement signed by Egypt and Greece on Aug. 6. Therefore, Egypt seeks to deter Turkish moves in the Eastern Mediterranean. This is part of its policy aimed to curb Turkish influence in other regions, including in Syria and Libya.

Foreign ministers Shoukry and Dendias had signed on Aug. 6 an agreement in Cairo designating the exclusive economic zone between Egypt and Greece in the Eastern Mediterranean. This zone contains promising oil and gas reserves. Meanwhile, in a statement on the same day, Turkeys Ministry of Foreign Affairs vehemently denounced the agreement as null and void for violating the Libyan maritime borders. The statement said the area delimited by the Greek-Egyptian agreement infringes on Turkey's continental shelf.

Mohamed Hegazy, a former Egyptian assistant foreign minister, described the security of the Eastern Mediterranean region as an overriding concern for Egypt and the European East Mediterranean countries in light of Turkish interventions and provocations that flared up tensions in the region, whether in Libya, Syria or Iraq.

This Turkish intervention necessitated an active stance on the part of Egypt to push the parties toward negotiations, Hegazy told Al-Monitor via phone.

Egypt warned on June 20 the Libyan GNA factions and pro-Turkish militias in Libya against crossing the Sirte and Jufrah red line in Libya. Egypt is seeking to protect its economic interests in the Eastern Mediterranean by achieving regional stability, he added.

Hegazy stressed that the security and stability of the Eastern Mediterranean region require a vision based on understanding, reconciliation and strengthening good neighborly relations. These are paramount goals for Egypt. This was highlighted through its maritime borders delimitation agreement with Greece, aimed to keep its (Egypts gas) exploration activity from infringing on the continental shelf of other countries, like Turkey is doing.

On another note, Turkey had signed Nov. 28, 2019, a deal on maritime borders with Sarraj. The deal aims to protect Turkey's rights in the Mediterranean, according to the statements of Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu at the time.

In a press release by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry on the same day, Egypt, Greece and Cyprus voiced their objection to the deal as falling outside the scope of powers of the Libyan prime minister, adding that it will not affect the rights of the countries bordering the Mediterranean in any way.

In a statement to Al-Hilal Al-Youm portal on Sept. 15, Sayed Abu-Zeid, former assistant foreign minister for Arab and Middle East Affairs, stressed the importance of the recent meeting of the Egyptian and Greek foreign ministers, indicating that Egypt is seeking Egyptian-Greek-Cypriot coordination to counter Turkish action in the Middle East.

He said Egypt wants to form a strong political position through the two European Union state-members, Cyprus and Greek, to curb Turkish regional interventions. Abu-Zeid noted that Egypt's moves to stop Turkish threats to regional security enjoy strong Arab support.
31977

Mei App launches its Messages Improved network of apps to be the first advanced messaging network that allows people to securely message with friends and family for free.

FREMONT. CA: Mei App launches its Messages Improved network of apps with the support of telecommunication operator partners worldwide. This network is poised to be the first advanced messaging network that allows every person with an Android smartphone to securely message with friends and family for free, even when they run out of data or can't connect to Wi-Fi.

The operator partners' initial set spans over ten different countries & territories, including Bangladesh, Kenya, Hong Kong, Nigeria, Poland, Ukraine, and Venezuela. For each partner in its pilot program, the company will release an app in 2020 to serve as the default texting app on the operators' Android subscribers' phones. Each Messages Improved app can interoperate with each other and the default texting apps on every smartphone through common messaging protocols: SMS, MMS, and RCS. RCS or Rich Communication Services is the upgrade to SMS/MMS that enables modern messaging features like high-quality pictures/videos and large group sizes, transmitted over the internet. RCS lets all communication technology to adopt a uniform deployment so that each could communicate with another no matter what app or platform the user is on, enabling an internet of messaging to develop.

The Messages Improved apps are the first default texting apps with end-to-end encrypted RCS publicly available in the Google Play Store. RCS vision is to build a secure and free 'internet of messaging' where users can freely chat with any person or bot on any app or platform. The company welcomes more partners to work towards global interoperability."

Additionally, mobile subscribers in the pilot territories may soon be able to message without using their data allowance. The company is working with each local partner to allow messaging even if the subscriber runs out of data and can't connect to Wi-Fi so that each smartphone user will never be completely disconnected from the world. In times of emergency, having a messaging app with a guaranteed source of connectivity is invaluable.
21/09/2020 - Ensuring that multinational enterprises pay their fair share of tax is a growing concern worldwide. Tax Inspectors Without Borders (TIWB) - a joint initiative of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)  has been working with developing countries since 2013 to improve auditing and tax compliance.

TIWB Annual Report 2020 will be presented by TIWB's Governing Board Co-Chairs, Mr. Angel Gurria (Secretary-General, OECD) and Mr. Achim Steiner (Administrator, UNDP), during a high-level panel entitled "Supporting Financing for Development in the Era of COVID-19 and Beyond through the Tax Inspectors Without Borders Initiative" co-hosted by the Permanent Mission of Finland to the United Nations in the margins of the 75th United Nations General Assembly.

The event will provide the opportunity to engage with government ministers and senior officials on the success of the TIWB initiative , achieving scale through expanded partnerships and collaboration, as well as promotion of South-South and triangular co-operation. Moreover, the panel will explore TIWB's expansion into new tax areas, including Tax Crime Investigations, Effective use of Automatically Exchanged Information, Tax Treaty Negotiation and Administration, Natural Resources, and Environment Tax.

The Annual Report covers TIWB activity from January 2019 to June 2020  TIWB's fourth full year of operations under the OECD/UNDP partnership arrangements.

Journalists can request an advance copy of the TIWB Annual Report 2020 under embargo, a day before its release, by emailing the TIWB Secretariat. The full report is only available in English at this time, and the Executive Summary is available in French and English. Full French and Spanish versions will be published in October. In asking to receive the report under embargo, journalists undertake to respect the OECD's embargo procedures*. Interview requests may be sent to Lawrence Speer in the OECD Media Office at +33(0) 1 45 24 79 70 or Sangita Khadka at UNDP (+1 212 906 5043).

For further information, please contact the TIWB Secretariat.

More information can be found on www.tiwb.org

Follow TIWB on Twitter: @TIWB_News



*Note: The OECD's embargo rules prohibit any broadcast, news wire service or Internet transmission of text or information about this report before the stated release time. They also prohibit any communication of the contents of the report or any comment on its forecasts or conclusions to any outside party whatsoever before the stated release time. News organisations receiving OECD material under embargo have been informed that if they breach the OECD's embargo rules they will automatically be excluded in the future from receiving embargoed information.
You can listen to the latest episode of Today in Pa at this link, or on your favorite app including Alexa, Apple, Google, Spotify and Stitcher. Episodes are available every weekday on PennLive. Subscribe/follow and rate the podcast via your favorite app.

Today in Pa. Daily Podcast | Sept. 22, 2020

Governor Wolf follows through on a promise to veto a bi-partisan backed bill concerning school sports. Top election official warns that more than 100,000 ballots could be tossed out due to current restrictions. Pennsylvania launches its official COVID-19 app. Bethlehems Christmas market plans to open 6 weeks early.

Those are the stories we cover in the latest episode of Today in Pa, a daily weekday podcast from PennLive.com and hosted by Julia Hatmaker. Today in Pa is dedicated to sharing the most important and interesting stories in the state.

Todays episode refers to the following articles:

If you enjoy Today in Pa, consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts or on Amazon. Reviews help others find the show and, besides, we like to know what you think of the program.
HOLYOKE  The Holyoke Soldiers' Home board of trustees will discuss the implications of a judges ruling on ousted Administrator Bennett Walshs employment status at a special meeting on Sept. 30.

Board of Trustees Chairman Kevin Jourdain thanked Hampden Superior Court Judge John S. Ferrara for his his Sept. 21 ruling, which found the board has the ultimate say on the hiring and firing of the facilitys leader. The issue had been hotly contested since the Baker administration suspended Walsh in March and fired him in late June.

The firing came the day a damning report on the Soldiers' Home response to the spread of COVID-19 was made public.

We appreciate the thoroughness behind his decision, Jourdain said. He has given us good guidance relative to that it is ultimately the boards decision  the hiring and firing of the Soldiers' Home administrator.

Jourdain said the discussion will take place with the facilitys legal counsel in executive session. Jourdain does not expect the board to vote during the meeting on whether to fire Walsh or keep him on board.

Beginning in late March, dozens of veterans at the home succumbed to the virus. The ultimate death toll was 76, with dozens more residents and staff sickened by the disease. The independent report by Boston attorney Mark Pearlstein, commissioned by Gov. Charlie Baker, placed responsibility largely with Walsh and his top staff.

Walsh, a decorated combat Marine hired to run the long-term care facility in 2016, was suspended by state officials on March 30. The state sent in an emergency response team to try to quell the spread of the highly contagious virus, which had already taken hold. He was fired by Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders with the blessing of Baker on June 24.

Other top staff at the Soldiers' Home and former state Secretary of Veterans Services Francisco Urena also lost jobs over the crisis. In the meantime, attorneys for Walsh filed a lawsuit  first, to slow the trustees vote on Walshs continued employment and later to challenge Sudders firing.

In Ferraras ruling, he said the state erroneously cited the wrong law to claim authority over the position from the outset. In a quirk of state law, statutes governing management of the Holyoke Soldiers' Home and its counterpart in Chelsea are different.

The dispute as to the validity of Walshs termination from his position as Superintendent derives in large part from the erroneous citation to (the law) in both the letters of appointment and termination, Ferrara wrote.

On that basis, Ferrara ruled in Walshs favor, deemed the firing invalid and void.

A spokeswoman for the Executive Office of Health and Human Services said the judges ruling is under review.

Though the matter of Walshs employment has been litigated for months, it is doubtful that the ruling will have any practical impact on his future at the Soldiers' Home. Jourdain declined to comment on how he expects the boards ultimate decision will shake out. He said the board plans to follow Ferraras guidance in concert with Walshs attorneys and those for the state.

Not long after Walshs firing, the state posted his position on its website. Jourdain said applications have come in, but the board has not yet interviewed any candidates.

As far as Im concerned, first things first  we need to resolve the employment of Bennet Walsh before we consider any successors, Jourdain said. This is a matter that has a sense of urgency because the home needs leadership, and shouldnt continue in a state of limbo.

Val Liptak, CEO of Western Massachusetts Hospital, was appointed by the state as interim administrator.

The state attorney generals office and U.S. attorneys office have previously announced separate investigations into the fallout at the Soldiers' Home. Both investigations are active and ongoing, spokeswomen for each office said Tuesday.
AfriAg Global PLC

('AfriAg' or the 'Company')

UK FCA Policy on Medical Cannabis Decision

AfriAg Global PLC (London AQSE: AFRI) notes recent FCA guidance published on the 18th September regarding eligibility requirements for admission to the Official List in the UK.

AfriAg would like to confirm that given this new guidance and regulatory clarification we now have further confidence in our previously announced deal with UK-based medical cannabis company Apollon Formularies Ltd ("Apollon").

Apollon holds an indirect 49% interest in the issued share capital of Apollon Formularies Jamaica Limited ("AFJ"), a limited company incorporated under the laws of Jamaica.

AFJ is a fully licensed vertically integrated medicinal cannabis company approved by the Jamaican government to cultivate, process, conduct human Research and Development as well manufacture medicinal formulations that can be sold through their licenced dispensary as used in their therapeutic and R&D clinical trials.

Pursuant to the proposed deal, Apollon will be assigned a 49% interest (the maximum allowed under Jamaican law) of the stock in AFJ immediately on approval of the assignment by the Cannabis Licensing Authority of Jamaica ("CLA"), and be entitled to 95% of the net profit of the business of AFJ. The proposed deal acquisition is subject to regulatory approval and will constitutes a reverse takeover under the AQSE Growth Market Rules and is therefore conditional amongst other things, on the AfriAg Shareholders approval.

The full text of the announcement made by the Financial Conduct Authority can be found at;

https://www.londonstockexchange.com/news-article/market-news/listings-of-cannabis-related-businesses/14690682

The Company looks forward to providing further updates in due course.

The directors of the Company accept responsibility for the contents of this announcement.

-ENDS-

For further information on AfriAg Global please visit the www.afriagglobal.com or please contact;

AfriAg Global Plc:

David Lenigas (Executive Chairman) +44 (0) 78821 825378

Peterhouse Capital Limited +44 (0) 20 7469 0930

Guy Miller

Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This announcement includes "forward-looking statements" involving the Company, the other entities referenced in this announcement, and the respective subsidiaries, affiliates and associates of the Company and such other entities (collective, the "Involved Entities"), which include all statements other than statements of historical facts, including, without limitation, those regarding the financial position, business strategy, plans and objectives of management for future operations, and any statements preceded by, followed by or that include forward-looking terminology such as the words "targets", "believes", "estimates", "expects", "aims", "intends", "will", "can", "may", "anticipates", "would", "should", "could" or similar expressions or the negative thereof. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors beyond the control of the Involved Entities that could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Involved Entities to be materially different from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions regarding the present and future business strategies of the Involved Entities and the environment in which the Involved Entities will operate in the future. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this announcement. The Company, on behalf of itself and each of the Involved Entities, expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to disseminate any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained in this announcement to reflect any change in expectations of any Involved Entities with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are based. As a result of these factors, readers are cautioned not to rely on any forward-looking statement.
An almost completed 154-foot U.S. Coast Fast Response Cutter floats in the water at Bollinger Shipyards in Lockport. The Coast Guard has awarded a contract to Bollinger Shipyards to build four more Sentinel-Class Fast Response Cutters, which will bring the total number of the vessels built at the Lockport shipyard to 60. The ships are scheduled for delivery in 2022 and 2023.
NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / September 22, 2020 / Aegis Capital Corp. (www.aegiscapcorp.com) a full-service wealth management, financial services and investment banking firm is pleased to announce Rick A Davidson, located in our Miami, FL office, has joined the firm as a Managing Director

Rick A. Davidson has worked as a financial advisor dealing primarily with high net worth clients for over 35 years. He began his career in the financial services industry with Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corp. and went on to gain experience working at investment firms such as Credit Suisse Securities, Morgan Stanley and Jefferies LLC. Rick has received multiple awards from past firms as well as being listed on Barron's top financial advisor list multiple years.

Robert Eide Aegis' CEO commented: "We are thrilled to welcome Rick to Aegis. His personalized wealth management approach is an excellent value-add to his clients and our culture. We look forward to supporting him and know he will be a strong addition as we continue our growth in the South Florida region."

Michael Pata Aegis' Head of Business Development commented: "Rick comes to Aegis with more than three decades of industry experience and has dedicated his career to providing his clients with the highest quality advice and service. I am excited to add another excellence member to our team and look forward to working with Rick as we continue to grow and attract top advisors."

About Aegis Capital Corporation

Aegis Capital Corporation "Aegis" has been in business for over 35 years and maintains a conflict free service platform catering to the needs of private clients, institutions and corporations. Aegis was founded in 1984 and offers its investment representatives a conflict free service platform and is able to provide a full-range of products and services including investment banking, wealth management, insurance, retirement planning, structured products, private equity, alternatives, equity research, fixed income and special purpose vehicles. Aegis is able to bring quality service through its primary clearing relationship with RBC Correspondent Services whose parent company, Royal Bank of Canada (NYSE:RY), is one of the world's leading diversified financial services companies. Member: FINRA & SIPC

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Any questions contact:

Michael Pata, Head of Business Development

Telephone: 1-212-813-1010

mpata@aegiscap.com

www.aegiscapcorp.com

SOURCE: Aegis Capital Corp.





View source version on accesswire.com:

https://www.accesswire.com/607298/Aegis-Capital-Corp-Announces-the-Hiring-of-a-New-Managing-Director-in-Our-Miami-FL-Office




KAMPALA  Five more prison escapees have been killed, bringing the total number of inmates killed to 13 in an ongoing pursuit of 219 inmates who had escaped in a massive jailbreak in the northeastern district of Moroto, a military spokesperson said on Sunday.

Flavia Byekwaso, Ugandas military spokeswoman, told Xinhua by phone that the Uganda Peoples Defense Force killed three inmates who escaped from the Singila prison on Wednesday afternoon in the ongoing pursuit. She said one escapee of South Sudanese origin who had been recaptured died of bullet wounds sustained in the manhunt while the fifth prisoner was lynched by the angry mob in Moroto. The pursuit is on. We have five more prisoners killed between yesterday (Saturday) evening and today (Sunday) morning. We have one captured, said Byekwaso. A total of ten escapees have now been recaptured and detained.

The spokeswoman said the local members of the community are helping the security forces in the manhunt for the escapees, mainly traditional Karimojong warriors and cattle rustlers serving jail sentences of illegal possession of firearms. The population is really very vigilant. They are helping the forces whenever they see someone whom they suspect. They usually give them away. They inform us, said Byekwaso.

The 219 out 620 inmates broke into a prison armory, taking a total of 15 guns and several rounds of ammunition before overpowering a prison warden on duty. In March, at least three prisoners were killed and six others injured when the inmates attempted to escape in the northwestern district of Arua.

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Sachin Pilot

Jaipur: Former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot said that the centre has passed "anti-farmer" bills in the Rajya Sabha by suppressing the voice of the opposition but the Congress is standing with farmers and will continue their fight.

Condemning the suspension of eight Rajya Sabha MPs, the Congress leader said it was symbolic of dictatorship.

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Sachin Pilot tweet

"After passing the bills in the Rajya Sabha in an undemocratic manner, the decision to suspend 8 Rajya Sabha MPs today is a symbol of utter dictatorship," Pilot tweeted in Hindi.

Our parliamentary traditions were not like this. Rather they have been respectful of deliberation, consent and disagreement, he said.

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Sachin PilotPilot said the "anti-farmer" bills were passed by suppressing the opposition's voice which was condemnable.

Why does the BJP not care for farmers? The Congress party stands with the farmers of the country and we will continue their fight, he said.
Its sad how the good guys are demonized, and criminals are canonized, Sgt. John Mattingly allegedly wrote to colleagues.

As the city waits with bated breath for a decision in the shooting death of Breonna Taylor, one of the officers involved in the case, allegedly sent an email to over 1,000 officers at 2 a.m. complaining about the investigation.

Roberto Aram Ferdman, a correspondent from VICE News, posted the letter in full on Twitter. The veracity of the email has not been verified by TheGrio.

In the email, Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly allegedly wrote that he is sorry that his LMPD Family has to go through this. He writes that he is sorry Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, Amy Hess, the citys chief of public service, and Louisville Metro Police Department Chief Steve Conrad failed all of us in epic proportions for their own gain.

You DO NOT DESERVE to be in this position, the letter reads, The position that allows thugs to get in your face and yell, curse and degrade you. Throw bricks, bottles, and urine on you and expect you to do nothing. It goes against EVERYTHING we were all taught in the academy.

One of the officers involved in the Breonna Taylor case allegedly sent an email to over 1,000 officers complaining about the investigation and calling Louisville protesters thugs. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

The position that if you make a mistake during one of the most stressful times in your career, the department and FBI (who arent cops and would piss their pants if they had to hold the line) go after you for civil rights violations. Your civil rights mean nothing, but the criminal has total autonomy, it continued.

The letter goes on to say that cops sign up to protect those who cannot protect themselves. It reads that we as police DO NOT CARE if you are Black, white, Hispanic, Asian, what you identify asthis week. We arent better than anyone. This is not an us against society, but it is good versus evil.

Read More: Louisville police officers under investigation in Breonna Taylor shooting death

The letter goes on to say that the author is still proud to be a cop. To be an LMPD cop. No matter the ineptitude in upper command or the mayors office.

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With that being said these next few days are going to be tough. They are going to be long, they are going to be frustrating. They will put a tremendous amount of stress on your families.

Do what you need to do to go home you (sic) your family. Just do it with dignity and make sure you can justify your actions because everything down there is recorded.

Read More: Regina King accepts Emmy for Watchmen wearing Breonna Taylor t-shirt

As the letter comes to a close, the author appears to allude to Taylors killing: I know we did the legal, moral, and ethical thing that night. Its sad how the good guys are demonized, and criminals are canonized.

Stay safe and do the right thing, it says near the end. YOU ARE LOVED AND SUPPORTED by most of the community. Now go be the Warriors you are, but please be safe! None of these peaceful protesters are worth your career or freedom.

The letter is signed Sgt. John Mattingly.

Fischer issued a state of emergency yesterday in anticipation of an announcement related to the Taylor case this week by Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron.

Have you subscribed to theGrios Dear Culture podcast? Download our newest episodes now!

The post Officer accused of shooting Breonna Taylor calls protesters thugs in alleged email appeared first on TheGrio.
The mother of Julian Assange's children has opened up about the couple's prison wedding plans and her push for Australian citizenship.

South African-born lawyer Stella Morris and Assange began dating in 2015 after she helped work on a legal bid to halt his extraditions.

The 49-year-old Australian faces espionage charges over the leaking of hundreds of thousands of classified U.S. intelligence documents.

He was also wanted in Sweden after being accused of rape. Assange always denied the sex allegations, which have now been dropped.

Gabriel, three, and his brother Max, one, were conceived while Assange was hiding out in the Ecuadorian embassy in London.

South African-born lawyer Stella Morris (right) and Assange (left) began dating in 2015 after she helped work on a legal bid to halt his extraditions

'It was a rational decision, I was 33 at the time and I knew I wanted children and it was faith in our love for each other and the certainty, a feeling that this was right,' Ms Morris told Sydney Morning Herald.

The WikiLeaks founder was granted political asylum by Ecuador in 2012 until April 2019 when he was dragged out and taken to prison.

Ms Morris said she plans to marry Assange outside Belmarsh Prison in London's outskirts by Christmas this year.

The couple's children visited Assange in prison last month and Ms Morris tries to keep him 'present' in their lives by talking about him and watching videos.

'I don't want Julian to become a martyr. We're a family, he's not a symbol to us. He's part of ... he's Daddy. So I just tell them that Daddy's coming home,' she said.

But Ms Morris is aware there is a chance the children will never be reunited with their father again.

She would love to move to Australia - as long as the government can protect her family.

'I'll live wherever he is safe and that's why I want Australia to tell us that he will be safe there,' she said.

Gabriel, three, and his brother Max, one, were conceived while Assange was hiding out in the Ecuadorian embassy in London

Ms Morris said she asked Prime Minister Scott Morrison for political intervention but claims she was told they won't protect Assange from extradition.

Assange's partner previously lifted the lid on how the couple managed to have children while he was holed up inside the embassy.

'We grew closer and became friends and watched movies together and I just loved spending time with him. It was very romantic and cautious and very sweet,' she told 60 Minutes earlier this year.

'It wasn't easy but when you're with someone you love you can make impossible situations possible.'

When Gabriel was conceived in 2016, Assange had been inside the embassy for four years and was thought to be under constant surveillance by American security services.

Pictured: Assange arriving at Westminster Magistrates' Court last year

But Ms Morris said she and Assange - who became engaged in 2017 - conceived both their sons in rooms of the embassy that didn't have CCTV cameras.

'Julian had private spaces, his bedroom and office had no cameras,' she said.

'But when I got pregnant the first time there were microphones everywhere, so I had to write it down on a piece of paper to tell him.

'We loved each other, and we wanted to start a family. All these other circumstances would change but that was a certainty. I got pregnant and we were over the moon,' she said.

Ms Morris was able to hide both her pregnancies from authorities and the media, who still weren't privy to any romantic relationship between the pair.

'I just piled on layers [of clothes] and complained about getting fat to hide it,' she said.
New Delhi, Sep 22 : The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought a response from the Madhya Pradesh Assembly Speaker on a plea that sought a decision on the disqualification of 22 Congress MLAs who switched over to the BJP, an issue pending for more than six months.

A bench comprising Chief Justice SA Bobde, Justice AS Bopanna, and Justice V Ramasubramanian said: "List the matter next week. Counter affidavit may be filed in the meantime." Senior Advocate Vivek Tankha, representing Congress MLA Vinay Saxena, said that the case had been listed for Tuesday for a response from the Speaker.

Tankha argued that disqualification petitions were pending with the Speaker since March 12, and insisted that he should pass an order on these petitions.

The petitioner argued that 12 of the 22 MLAs had since been appointed Ministers in the state. The plea contended that the delay virtually defeated the very purpose of the anti-defection law.

The counsel for the Assembly Secretariat contended that he had received a copy of the plea on Monday and hence sought two weeks time to file a response.

The bench said that it understands the request for time but the Speaker has only to make a statement as to when these petitions would be decided, to which the counsel replied that he was representing the Vidhan Sabha Secretariat and not the Speaker.

The bench replied: "We don't see any practical difference between the Vidhan Sabha and the Speaker." Tankha argued that the Speaker must decide the disqualification petitions within two weeks.

The bench listed the matter for next week and noted that the Speaker should make a statement on the issue.

The apex court had sought the Speaker's response on the plea on August 17.

MLA Saxena had contended that the Congress MLAs who switched over to the BJP cannot be appointed as Ministers, as disqualification proceedings were pending against them.

His plea also cited an apex court ruling in a case from Manipur, wherein it held that the disqualification proceedings should be decided within a period of three months.
Findings from containment zones in 10 hotspot cities were not included in the first national serosurvey study paper published recently as the sample size was very small and the zones are "dynamic and change from day to day and week to week", Director General Balram Bhargava said on Tuesday.

His remarks come in the backdrop of media reports claiming that health researchers, apparently under instructions from senior officials,were not allowed to include data from containment zones in 10 hotspot cities inthe first national serosurvey studypaper published recently in the Indian Journal of Medical Research (IJMR).

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) had on Sunday said that the findings of the previous serosurvey from the dynamic containment zones in ten cities toassess the extent of COVID-19 transmissionin those areas have been communicated to the states for further action.

At a press briefing on Tuesday, Bhargava, while replying to a query, said the first and second nationalserosurvey had a national representative to estimate the burden, and the sampling was done for that.

"The part that was not included in the publication was (on) the containment zones whichare very dynamic. They change from day to day and week to week.

"Also a very small sample size was done in the containment zones and the purpose of that was served by igniting the spirit of serosurveys in those larger cities and that was the purpose of doing these in the containment zones and that was effectively done," he said.

He cited the example of Delhi where three serosurveys were carried out in June, July and August end with results of 22 per cent, 27 per cent and 33 per cent, respectively.

"So that was the purpose and once you estimate the statistical size, this will not be accepted in a publication if you add a little bit of data from a containment zone in that paper," he said.

The apex health research body had tweeted on Sunday it has been continuously communicating with the respective state authorities and the findings of the previous survey from the dynamic containment zones were communicated to the states for further action.

"The second round of countrywide serosurvey led by has been successfully completed. The final phase analysis of the survey is now underway and will offer a comparison with the results of the first survey," it said in another tweet.

To further aid in developing state intervention plans, following the ICMR survey, states have also conducted their zone/city-specific surveys, the ICMR 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.)
It comes as Premier Daniel Andrews' much-anticipated appearance before the inquiry has been pushed back from Wednesday to Friday afternoon due to scheduling issues. Loading Counsel assisting the inquiry, Rachel Ellyard, said "these timetabling [changes] have been at the board's initiative and we are very grateful to the ministers for accommodating us." In his daily press conference this morning, Mr Andrews stood by his August statement to Parliament's accounts and estimates committee that it was "fundamentally incorrect to assert there was hundreds of ADF staff on offer and somehow someone said no." Mr Andrews said this morning: "I made comments on the matters and I stand by the comments I made and, again, I'm not interested in adding to those comments."

The evidence to the inquiry so far strongly suggests that from the first day the program was set up on March 27, there was help available from the Australian Defence Force for the quarantine effort. The decision to use private security over police or Defence troops has been a contentious issue politically and before the inquiry. More than 30 security guards contracted COVID-19 while working in the hotels before the virus spread into the community and caused Victoria's second wave. Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp. Credit:Luis Ascui Mr Andrews said this morning the mistakes made in the program were unacceptable and the inquiry was set up to shed light on what happened. "I don't believe anyone in any position of authority is in any doubt, those mistakes are unacceptable to me and unacceptable to the Victorian community," he said.

While Victoria's top decision-makers, including department heads who ran hotel quarantine, the current and former police chiefs and Mr Crisp have told the inquiry they don't know who made the call to use private security, Mr Phemister was clearer in his evidence today. Mr Phemister told the inquiry he received a briefing after the crucial 4pm state control centre meeting from Jobs Department executive Claire Febey, who was in the meeting, and she told him the department had been directed to procure private security. He said immediately after that debriefing, his staff began looking for security companies. If the decision had been made earlier, he would have contracted security firms sooner, he said. "I'm certain I wouldn't have waited hours and others in the planning wouldn't have waited hours to tell me a decision had been taken," Mr Phemister said. "I would have done that earlier had I been aware of it earlier."

Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Mick Grainger told Mr Crisp during the meeting that it was the force's preference that private security be the "first line of security." Victoria Police have argued that they were expressing a preference, not a direction. Mr Phemister said he has listen to the recordings of the meeting and said the experts were in the room, they were senior people and decision-makers. "I take that as a clear direction we should go off and do it," he said. A transcript of the meeting shows Ms Febey telling Assistant Commissioner Grainger she wanted to have a follow-up conversation with him about the police's role, "which I would have thought was around where things are not going as they should and you need to be called in to assist with enforcement". Assistant Commissioner Grainger has told the inquiry he did not receive a follow-up call from Ms Febey.

The part of the transcript, which was shown during cross-examination of Mr Phemister by police lawyer Dan Star QC, showed that the Jobs Department's view was always that private security was the lead and police would assist. Loading "Claire [Febey] is contributing a thought to an hour long meeting where there are many thoughts," Mr Phemister responded. "It was an exploratory conversation at that point where Ms Febey was expressing a view." Mr Phemister said the decision to use security guards was not made during a Victorian Secretaries Board meeting that was happening about the same time and involved Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton and Department of Premier and Cabinet boss Chris Eccles. Mr Phemister said the role of the state control centre was to make those operational decisions.

The exchange of WhatsApp messages about the quality of guards came within a departmental group calling itself "Working with Vic A team" at just after 10pm on March 27, the night the key decisions were made. Loading One of three security firms hired was Unified Security. It was the most expensive bidder, but it hired almost all of its guards through sub-contracting and was not a government-approved supplier. Despite this it was awarded the work for most of the hotels. Ms Ellyard said there did not seem to be any formal process of notification or approval of the subcontractors chosen by the department. Instead, a "personal rapport through a professional connection" was developed between the department and the security firm, she said. Mr Phemister said Unified came at the recommendation of members of his department who ran the Jobs Victoria scheme and had worked with the company before. He said the company performed well in the early days of the program and was able to provide staff at short notice.
Stock Market Correction Approaching Initial Objective

Current Position of the Market

SPX Long-term trend: For now, the best guesstimate is that we are still in the bull market which started in 2009. Where we go from here and how far will be gauged after the September-October correction.

SPX Intermediate trend: Potential intermediate correction in progress.

Analysis of the short-term trend is done daily with the help of hourly charts. It is an important adjunct to the analysis of daily and weekly charts which discuss longer market trends.

Daily market analysis of the short-term trend is reserved for subscribers. If you would like to sign up for a FREE 4-week trial period of daily comments, please let me know at anvi1962@cableone.net

Approaching Initial Objective

P&F: Short-term projection: 3300-3260 - Objective reached on 9/18 with SPX 3292 intra-day low.

Cycles: Looking ahead! 90-yr cycle  last low: 1932. Next low: 2022

7-yr cycle  last low: 2016. Next low: 2023

20-td  9/17 - bottomed on 9/18

Nest of short-term cycle lows on about 10/15-20

Market Analysis (Charts courtesy of QCharts

SPX-TRAN-IWM daily charts:

Both TRAN and IWM showed relative strength to SPX last week, suggesting that we should start to rally. This would make sense since a short-term cycle apparently bottomed right on time, on Friday. The relative strength of TRAN to SPX is far more positive than IWMs. I am not sure if this has implications for the longer term. I have not followed this aspect of their relative strength long enough to come to a firm conclusion. I assume the days ahead will make this clearer.

SPX daily chart

Since the decline from the 2588 high, the daily trend has shifted from the blue channel to the green channel. The green channel is divided into sections which are anchored at various previous lows. The first parallel which coincided with the 50-dma did not hold and was breached by the bottoming of the 20-td cycle which made its low on Friday at the suggested short-term P&F target, and this allowed for the next parallel close below to hold and provide a rally which could climb back above the 50-dma and repair some of the damage -- temporarily. With the nest of cycles due in mid-October, it is likely that after the upward phase of the 20-td has exhausted itself, the decline will continue.

It is too soon to establish another P&F projection but we can get a sense of where the next low might occur by considering a potential .382 retracement of the uptrend from March. This is reinforced by the fact that this retracement is just below the 200-dma which tends to provide support.

Last weeks decline has sent the momentum oscillators (CCI,SRSI) back to their lows, and the A-D oscillator from a slight positive back into negative. However, the latter has developed some good positive divergence which strengthens the potential for a countertrend rally in conjuntion with the minor cycle reversal.

SPX hourly chart

There were two short-term cycle lows a week apart which conspired to reverse the primary trend from the March low and created a sharp profit-taking spree. After the first one had made its low, it caused a sharp rebound, but the second cycle also had to have its say. At first, it looked as if it would bottom at a slightly higher level but, although it tried to hold at 3330, it could not and dropped to just below 3300 on Friday. The 35-point bounce from the low which stopped at its 9-hr MA just before the close was preceded by some good positive divergence at the hourly level  a common occurrence.

It would not take much to push the index back into a short-term uptrend. A positive opening on Monday morning with any kind of follow-through would most likely produce a short-term buy signal in the momentum oscillators. The SRSI stopped just short of a giving one, but it will require both becoming positive to give a confirmation.

A short-term rally back to the top of the channel would take the index close to the 3450 level, and that may be all that we can expect for now. In about a week, we could be making a secondary top which would result in an extension of the decline into mid-October.





UUP (dollar ETF) ($USD chart not available from this data provider)



UUP has been holding above its recent low, perhaps building a base to move higher. However, the 50-MA looks just ahead, and it will have to be exceeded before further appreciation can take place.







GDX (gold miners)



GDX pushed slightly higher and pulled back. It has continued to find support on the 50-MA but each time, it could only muster a weak bounce instead of finding aggressive buyers. Although the indicators have not yet given a sell signal, if this action continues it will result in additional consolidation -- perhaps back down to about the 38.00 level where there is good support.





PAAS (Pan American Silver Corp)



PAAS is in the same fix as GDX and it could pull back to about 30.00 before finding good support.







BNO (U.S. Brent Oil fund)



BNO bounced but must get back above the 50-MA to resume its uptrend to the 200-MA (13.02).





Summary

SPX has reacted to two minor cycles making their lows a week apart and has most likely ended its initial correction phase. After a rebound which could take it back to the top of the current consolidation channel near the 3450 level, it should be ready for another, possibly more severe phase of the correction.

Andre

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Disclaimer - The above comments about the financial markets are based purely on what I consider to be sound technical analysis principles uncompromised by fundamental considerations. They represent my own opinion and are not meant to be construed as trading or investment advice, but are offered as an analytical point of view which might be of interest to those who follow stock market cycles and technical analysis.

Andre Gratian Archive

 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication.




The new Apple Watch's biggest feature is not, for the most part, visible to anyone who is wearing it. Every so often, in the dark, your wrist might glow red, reflecting a light shining out of the Watch that is measuring your blood.

The Watch uses that glow to measure the amount of oxygen in your blood. And, Apple hopes, that measurement could provide entirely new ways of understanding your own wellbeing.

That red glow comes from LEDs on the back of the watch, which shine out, through your skin and into the blood. A sensor made up of photodiodes, in the same panel, can measure the amount of light that's reflected back  the brighter the blood, the more oxygen it is carrying  feeding those measurements into algorithms that provide an estimate of blood oxygen.

When you head to Apple's page for its new Watch, it's not the speed of the processors or the brightness of the screen that it tries to sell you on. Instead, there's that same red glow, and the promise that "the future of health is on your wrist".

Apple hasn't always talked about its Watch this way. When it first arrived, in 2015, it wasn't necessarily particularly health-focused at all.

Early marketing focused on three main features: its function as a way of telling the time, its various communication features, and its role as a "comprehensive health and fitness device". But that was weighted much more towards fitness than it was health, and the heart rate monitor that was included on its back was put there primarily as a way of ensuring that it could get an effective measurement of calories, rather than offering any view of the heart itself.

Over time, that changed. With the introduction of the Series 4 in 2018, Apple added the ability to collect an electrocardiogram or ECG, a graph showing the precise workings of a person's heart. It received clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration  the first time a smartwatch had done so  and Apple stressed that while many people might never require the feature, it could be vital for those who do.

Over time, Apple highlighted some of those: its keynotes began to feature messages from people who had been alerted by the heart rate monitor to unusual readings, whose Watches had detected a fall and allowed them to call for help, whose ECGs had shown irregularities. Those features  largely living in the background, and focused on people's wellbeing  became a key part of Apple's presentations. Measurements of the speed of a processor or battery life being displaced by measurements of heart rate and cardiovascular health.

Tim Cook said in 2019 that  when people look back from an imagined future at the work his company did  he believed Apple's greatest contribution to mankind would be "about health". It was a bold claim for a company that prides itself on fundamentally having changed the way people communicate with the iPhone, and other advances, but if nothing else it was an indication of where Mr Cook's priorities are.

The new Series 6 is surely the most clear example of that yet. While the Watch does have other advances and new features that are of the kind you would normally expect from a technology company  a faster processor, a brighter screen  it's the blood oxygen sensor that dominated the introduction, and which is the new feature that Apple has spent the most time talking about.

It's a change that has happened gradually over the now relatively long life of the Apple Watch. But the company is aware of its particularly topical nature at the moment, as the entire world grapples with a health crisis unprecedented in living memory.

"Were living in a time with a constant reminder that there's nothing more important than your health," says Jeff Williams, Apple's chief operating officer. "At Apple, our health journey happened organically. It happened as we pulled on threads at different points.

"We have an opportunity and a huge responsibility as a matter of fact to help people and empower them with more information about their health.

Other companies have added blood oxygen sensors before: Garmin, for instance, has incorporated it in many of its high-end watches and uses it to inform indications of whether its wearer has adjusted to changes in altitude and how much that might affect their exercise.

But the metric has never enjoyed quite such a mainstream presence, being promoted by the biggest company in the world on the biggest watch in the world.

For now, the uses of the blood oxygen sensor are somewhat limited. There's not all that much a person can do about the amount of oxygen in their blood, and so it is better described as a measure of a person's wellbeing than a target to improve like some of the other metrics that come out of the watch.

"Blood oxygen saturation reflects both the environment youre in - whether youre at high altitude for example - and how well your body is able to take oxygen in and deliver it through the blood," says Williams. "It is a powerful signal about you and your wellbeing."

But pulse oximetry is an investment for the future. As a measure of how well the blood is doing its job, it could be a key metric for predicting, sensing and living with a variety of medical issues.

Those people who buy the new Apple Watch are participating in work that is heading towards that. During the reveal of the watch, Sumbul Desai, Apple's vice president of health, announced that the company was not only integrating the blood oxygen sensor but launching three new studies to understand how it might be used.

"It is meant for fitness and wellness purposes," says Desai. "We're doing research to learn more. And backing what we can do with science is really important which is why we take the approach of research and want to go on this journey together with both our users and the medical community.

That research includes an asthma study working with University of California, Irvine, and Anthem and another looking at the relationship between metrics including blood oxygen and heart failure, working with the University Health Network and the University of Toronto. But perhaps most exciting for the future  and certainly most topical  is a study working with the Seattle Flu Study and the University of Washington School of Medicine to see whether heart rate and blood oxygen can be used to spot respiratory conditions including flu and covid-19.

There have already been indications that pulse oximetry could be used to spot such diseases, and a range of technology companies are working to understand whether their blood oxygen sensors might have any role in the fight against covid-19. But again Apple's scope  of its products, the number of its users and its ambitions  could rapidly accelerate that research, meaning that the sensor that is used for wellness today could one day become even more, precisely as a result of you buying and wearing it.

Blood oxygen isn't the only new feature that aims to bring what has historically been a specialised and medicalised measurement onto the watch. With new updates, Apple has added the ability to measure VO2 max in a lower range, which it says will be useful for those people who are using their watch to bring their fitness up from a lower level.

VO2 max is a fairly specialised metric: in its strictest sense, it measures the maximum amount of oxygen that a person is able to take in. But it has also been used a test of a person's cardiovascular fitness, and it's that more general indication of health that the Apple Watch aims to recreate.

Historically, the VO2 max test was a fairly gruelling endeavour: a participant straps on a mask that monitors their breathing while they undertake intense exercise such a running or moving on an exercise bike. The Apple Watch has been able to recreate that by watching its wearer's heart rate as they exercise, inferring their fitness by measuring how much a given activity requires of their cardiovascular system.

"The thing that's really powerful about VO2 Max is that you traditionally have to go into a clinic," says Desai. "It's a really uncomfortable test to do. Now to be able to measure that with watch will be really powerful.

Now the Watch will be able to expand that metric, giving it to even more people. And the utility of the readings is that  perhaps unlike blood oxygen  people can very much do something about this, since improving their fitness will improve the measurement, and what they do will be reflected in that reading over time.

"Apple did a huge body of work to measure lower VO2 max range," says Williams. "Now its easily available, I see a future where this is a much more common and meaningful metric of health. And the great news about this one is that you can actually take action and improve it. Its not just a signal that youre in a low range, you can change the trajectory of.
A 30-year-old man from Jhajjar was found dead on the railway tracks near Dhanwapur on Monday evening. The police said that a probe revealed that he had died by suicide. The police have initiated inquest proceedings under Section 174 of the Code of Criminal Procedure(CrPC).

The police said the deceased was found dead around 7pm by a team of government railway police (GRP). A blood-stained kitchen knife was found next to his body and he had injuries on his head and body. This led the police to initially suspect that he was killed and that his body was dumped at the tracks.

A police official privy to the investigation, requesting anonymity, said, A preliminary probe, however, suggests that he died by suicide after coming in front of a train that was passing through. He was suffering from a mental illness and was undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Gurugram. According to his family members, on an earlier occasion too, he had gone missing from his house and had taken a knife along.

The police said no suicide note was recovered, adding that his body was handed over to the family after a post-mortem examination on Tuesday.

The family has not filed any complaint. Prima facie, foul play has been ruled out. We have filed an inquest report in the case, said the police official, quoted above.

Gurugram does not have a dedicated helpline to deal with such situations. A few major suicide prevention helpline numbers in India are +914066202000 from Roshni (Hyderabad-based) and +914424640050 from Sneha India Foundation (Delhi-based).
Shoppers have been showing off their incredible must-have buys from The Reject Shop after the budget retailed unveiled a stunning homewares range that rivals Kmart and Aldi.

The discount chain experienced a huge increase in sales, driven by customers panic buying during the COVID-19 crisis - making it one of a few retailers to flourish during the pandemic.

And the retailer, which is best known for its very affordable everyday items, has continued to win over its shoppers by dropping hidden gems in its homeware aisles.

Thousands of customers are flocking to the one-stop-shop for all their modern home decor, storage solutions and on-trend furniture pieces.

Thousands of customers are flocking to The Reject Shop for all their modern home decor. One mother purchased a $12 white and $9 brown vases that looks considerably more expensive than its affordable price tags

One shopper poured herself a glass of wine after a long day to relax in their bathtub with one of the retailer's best-selling item - a $20 bamboo caddy (pictured)

The chain experienced a huge increase in sales, driven by customers panic buying during the COVID-19 crisis - making it one of a few retailers to flourish during the coronavirus pandemic

The Reject Shop's top bargain buys Bathroom caddy: $20 Tall ceramic white vase: $12 Artificial plants: $5 Pantry labels: $4 Metal floor lamp: $39 Haven Metal Alarm Clock: $12 Basket with timber handles: $10 5-drawer cabinet: $15 Pot plant with saucer: $12 Food canister with lid: $5 Advertisement

Among the deals are stylish vases, ranging between $9 and $12, that look considerably more expensive than its affordable price tags.

One mother explained how she strategically placed the vases on her kitchen bench to hide the power points on her wall.

'I needed something to hide it and make it look more appealing to the eye. So I used some cutting boards to hide the power points and some vases from to spruce it up,' she wrote on Instagram.

Thousands of Australians have been sharing pictures of their home transformations on Instagram after styling their space on a tight budget.

'Lord Mayor of spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on a house and filling it with things from The Reject Shop,' one shopper said.

'The baskets with timber handles are my latest find! $10 each and they fit perfectly sideways in my pantry and perfectly longways in my laundry.'

Australians are turning to the retailer to get their budget items - including faux plants

The retailer, which is best known for its very affordable everyday items, has continued to win over its shoppers by dropping hidden gems in its homeware aisles

Australians have been styling their homes on a budget (picture of some items from The Reject Shop, including the chic white pot plant)

Many shoppers have been able to re-organised their entire pantry using canisters and pantry labels from the discount store. Prices for canisters range between $3.50 and $5

Thousands of customers are flocking to the one-stop-shop for all their modern home decor, storage solutions and on-trend furniture pieces

Some shoppers are pouring themselves a glass of wine after a long day to relax in their bathtub with the retailer's $20 bamboo caddy.

Other shoppers revealed they were able to re-organise their entire pantry cupboards, using canisters and $4 food labels.

'Sorry Kmart but I much rather The Reject Shop pantry labels. Kmart labels only have half of the herbs and spices needed whereas The Reject Shop has dozen extras, plus they're easier to read on the larger jars,' one shopper said.

One mother created the ultimate 'medicine cabinet' using three five-drawer cabinets she found from the store for just $15 each.

'I decided it was time to re-organise my medicine cupboard. While I already had this system in place it still requires some maintenance like all spaces you organise,' she said.

'I went through and grouped the categories back together, discarded any out of date items and made sure labels were still relevant for the categories.'

One shopper found these stylish baskets with timber handles from just $10 each

Thousands of Australians have been sharing pictures of their home transformations on Instagram after styling their space on a tight budget

The storage boxes with bamboo lids sitting on the bottom shelf are all from The Reject Shop. The boxes are available in three sizes - $7 small, $12 medium and $14 large

Interior enthusiasts have been styling their homes using budget items such as this rug (pictured above) from The Reject Shop

One woman found a $39 metal floor lamp from the discount retailer for her living space

One mother created the ultimate 'medicine cabinet' using the storage boxes with drawers she found from the store. The five drawer cabinet cost $15 each

The new range comes just months after The Reject Shop released Tesco-branded grocery items in stores across Australia.

The retailer had signed a million-dollar deal with Tesco, the UK's largest supermarket, to be able to sell its top items in its stores.

Sure to be a hit with British expats, Australians can now get Tesco Gold Instant Coffee 100g for $6, tinned vegetable soup, bottles of vinegar and packets of rice cakes for $2 and Tesco biscuits are range from $2 to $2.50.

The Reject Shop CEO Andre Reich said the supply deal meant huge savings were here to stay.

'We've teamed up with one of the biggest supermarkets in the world selling their best-selling lines. The higher the volume we buy, the cheaper it will be for customers,' he said.

The new range comes just months after The Reject Shop released Tesco-branded grocery items in stores across Australia after signing a million-dollar deal with Tesco

Mr Reich told news.com.au: 'A lot of people are struggling to make ends meet, that's one thing COVID has taught us. We're all facing tough economic times. This is about giving Australians the best-quality products at the best price

As well as dry-store packaged food, Tesco will also supply The Reject Shop with a range of health and beauty products in coming months as well as other household items.

Although both parties admit the unusual deal may take some customers by surprise, Tesco Group Export Director Jack Brabin said it will be a major windfall for Australian consumers - along with the 1.2 million British expats living Down Under.

'We're delighted to be partnering with The Reject Shop to provide a range of fantastic Tesco products across grocery and baby care,' he said.

'As the UK's leading food retailer, we take enormous care to ensure our products are the best quality and offer great value. We look forward to sharing them with The Reject Shop's customers.'
ATHENS, Greece - Greece and Turkey are close to reviving talks on long-standing maritime disputes following a tense standoff over rights to exploit potential offshore natural gas deposits in the eastern Mediterranean, a Greek official said Monday.

We are close to restarting the exploratory talks, Greek government spokesman Stelios Petsas told reporters. There will be an announcement when this is finalized but the atmosphere is good.

Petsas also confirmed local media reports that U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is expected to visit Greece for a meeting with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to discuss the crisis, but said the schedule is still being worked out.

The two neighbouring NATO members have been at odds for decades over maritime boundaries for commercial exploitation in the Aegean Sea, as well as in an area of the eastern Mediterranean between Turkeys southern coast, several Greek islands and the war-divided island of Cyprus.

Under international pressure, Turkey pulled back a research vessel in the area while both countries have also eased their naval presence and halted military exercises.

Greek-Turkish talks on maritime boundaries were last held in 2016. In recent years, the dispute has been fueled by soured relations between the EU and Turkey and well as the discoveries of large natural gas fields in other parts of the eastern Mediterranean.

Turkey argues that Greek islands near its coastline should be excluded from the calculation of commercial maritime boundaries that far exceed the limits of territorial waters.

Athens calls the Turkish position a violation of international law, but says it is willing to settle the dispute at an international court.

In Turkey, Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said his country backs dialogue with Greece but would not shy away from defending its rights.

We are for peace, stability, negotiation and dialogue. We support them, but we would not allow any fait accompli, Akar said in a video conference with Turkish military commanders.

The minister also said Turkish and Greek teams would hold a fifth round of talks at the NATO headquarters on Tuesday aimed at preventing accidents or armed conflict between the two allies.

Separately, Turkish prosecutors launched an investigation into a Greek right-wing newspaper, Dimokratia, over a front-page headline last week that used an obscene expression in Turkish against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The investigation, triggered by a formal complaint by Erdogans lawyers Monday, could lead to a court case in Turkey against the newspapers journalists.

Last week, the Turkish Foreign Ministry summoned Greeces ambassador over the incident. The Greek foreign ministry condemned the headline, while stressing that Greece respects freedom of the press.

Thousands of people have been convicted for insulting the president, which is a crime in Turkey.

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MELBOURNE, AustraliaI am writing from one of the strictest and longest lockdowns in the worldor so people here like to say.

Since July 9, my city has been under strict stay-at-home orders in response to a second wave of coronavirus infections, with only four permissible reasons to leave the house: essential work, exercise, health care, and to purchase food and necessary supplies. Since July 23, masks have been compulsory outside the home. Since Aug. 2, we have been under a nightly curfew, banned from going more than 5 kilometers from home for essentials and limited to one hour of exercise per day, with the rest of the state of Victoria soon placed under lockdown too. Melbournians cannot leave the bounds of the city; Victorians arent allowed into other states; were all banned from leaving the country. Though we are now entering a phased reopening, the Melbourne stay-at-home orders will remain in effect for at least another month, possibly more, with other restrictions to stay in place much longer. By the time we are free to go out for any reason, Melbourne will have endured more than 100 consecutive days of lockdown.

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So it might surprise you to learn that we recorded just 28 new cases of the coronavirus on Monday, in a city of 4.25 million people. There are currently 620 active cases in the state. At the outbreaks peak, in early August, the state had 6,784 active casesfewer than most U.S. states have right now.

Sound crazy? Or does it sound like something a responsible government would do, as, anecdotally, many Americans have enviously remarked to Australian friends and colleagues? You can find supporters of both stances right now in Melbournea city divided, not over whether to go into lockdown, but whether to come out, where the general consensus weve had regarding lockdowns and containment measures is starting to fray.

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A panicked Australia was broadly accepting of its original March lockdown and of decisions to quarantine returning Australians in state-managed hotel facilities. The compliance paid off: By early May cases were firmly under control, with daily national numbers in the low teens, and states began cautiously rolling back restrictions. But a late May breakdown in Melbournes hotel quarantine system, blamed on the states decision to use private security over the army or police, saw a new strain of the virus spread unchecked through June. Gathering limits were rolled back from June 20 onward, but cases continued to climb, and it soon became apparent that another lockdown would be needed, with the second outbreak far more severe than the first. (The rest of Australia has kept the virus very much under control, and multiple states havent seen a locally acquired case in 100-plus days.) After approximately 40 days of lockdown followed 40 days of limited freedom, and with just over 1,000 active cases, Melbournians returned to their homes.

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Melbournes second lockdown was mostly uncontroversial going in, with the exception of the order in which it was implemented. The government made an appalling decision to lock down those in public housing on July 4 with no warning and no reasons to leave their homes for five days, to contain an outbreak. But once it was applied to everyone, Melbournians were stoically accepting of the return to lockdown, glad their progressive state leader Daniel Andrews was taking things seriously. Sniping about Dictator Dan was generally confined to the conservative opposition and Murdoch mediathe same group complaining about the first set of lockdowns back in March and April. Though we had our share of anti-maskers, most of us were quick to put them on. Even in August, when the restrictions were significantly tightened in response to still-growing numbers, 67 percent of those polled thought it was appropriate: 72 percent approved of the curfew, 71 percent of restrictions on leaving the house, and 70 percent of the 5 km radius. The curve began to flatten soon after.

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The last thing Victoria wants is a relapse, a third wave, and a return to lockdown, wasting all its efforts.

But as time has gone on, and lockdown end dates continually pushed back, gripes have begun to come from all cornersacademics, epidemiologists, ethicists, even the federal government. No one expected it to go on this long, nor the targets to be so lofty; family members are breaking out into fights on social media, and active dissenters, though still in the minority, have gotten louder, with police being forced to shut down small protests every weekend. A highly cautious reopening roadmap, released Sept. 6, seems to be the final straw for many: While the rest of the state of Victoria has now had its monthlong stay-at-home order lifted, Melbournians wont have restrictions on leaving home lifted until our daily case average is under five. Even for those who are pro-lockdown, its a lot to take. Why is Melbourne still shut?

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There is no doubt Melbournes lockdown was and is particularly extreme for its circumstances. There are cities in the world under comparably lengthy lockdowns, like Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Santiago, Chile (lockdowns that, despite Melbournians fondness for referring to ours as the strictest and longest, were even stricter and longer). But these cities have far worse outbreaks than ours, especially now. Whats more, Melbournes goal posts for ending restrictions are far stricter than those of our fellow capital cities, or even for us the first time around. Privileges that residents of Sydney currently enjoy with their limited caseshaving parties of 20, eating inside restaurantswont come back to us until we go 14 days without a single new case. So, its reasonable that many are beginning to question whether we are being too extreme.

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Many voices in the federal government and mainstream media are now claiming that its time for Melbourne to lift the lockdown, and do it at a faster rate than the current one. The targets are ambitious, and at 11 cases, it does seem bizarre that we will be here for another month. But as Andrews stressed while announcing the road map, the last thing Victoria wants is a relapse, a third wave, and a return to lockdown, wasting all its efforts. Victoria having been the only state in the country with a second wave has made Andrews particularly cautious.

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Some academics are now saying we may have gone too hard with this sledgehammer approachthat the same effect could have been achieved eventually with less draconian measures and at lower cost (ignoring the additional deaths that a slower flattening would have caused, and the fact it would likely never have brought us down to zero). Others now say that such intense targets, from the position we were in, were folly to begin with; Victoria may have been a victim of its early success, with our quashing of the first outbreak creating unrealistic expectations of what was worth striving for. Europe, some note, has turned away from lockdowns for its second wave, with leaders arguing life must go on, although New Zealand, another country that used severe lockdowns to great effect early on, recently returned Auckland to one for 18 days to tackle a minioutbreak. (That country, too, started to see small but regular protests.) Many beyond the pages of the Murdoch media are beginning to question the appropriate value to place on saving elderly lives, and whether we here in Melbourne paid too high a price.

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Still, theres a difference between being fed up with lockdown and actively opposing it. While anti-lockdown protests have been increasing in frequency, they remain fringe events, widely mocked ones at that. Retrenched workers are suing the state for damages in a class-action lawsuit, but Australian union boss Sally McManus says Victorias sacrifices have saved the rest of the country. And while voter dissatisfaction with certain restrictions is understandably growing by the week, those polled remain generally supportive of the lockdown. The latest poll shows that 54 percent of Victorians feel the restrictions were appropriate, compared with 37 percent who say they were too strict and 6 percent who say they were too lenient. While many are calling for a recent improvement in numbers to trigger our next step out of lockdown early (the steps have minimum dates as well as minimum case targets, and weve hit our Sept. 28 target), those polled are still more concerned about relaxing restrictions too quickly than too slowly.

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Victoria isnt the only jurisdiction taking things too seriously. A number of states that have eliminated the virus have sealed their state borders and refuse to admit outsiders without quarantining them, even if theyre coming from other safe states, much to the federal governments annoyance. (Western Australia, which has seen no locally acquired cases for about 134 days, refuses to admit nonresidents even if they agree to quarantine. The Trumpian mining magnate and Titanic enthusiast Clive Palmer is suing WA, though the feds have now pulled out of the legal challenge.) The federal government, meanwhile, has put controversial caps in place for Aussies returning from overseas in order to strictly manage their return, leaving tens of thousands of Australian citizens locked out of their own country in the middle of a pandemic. Flights are still running but are regularly canceled at the last second to ensure returns remain under the capthey have been known to fall far below them. Our national borders are, unsurprisingly, closed to foreign nationals, but Australians are also not allowed out of the country, at least not without a government exemption. Melbourne may be more severely restricted than our neighbors, but were part of one giant national lockdown.

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Well all be debating the efficacy of different strategies for years to come: At what stage of an outbreak is a lockdown worthwhile, effective, and achievable, and when is it not worth the pain? At this stage, a short, sharp lockdown could help the U.S. bring the virus slightly under control, but it would take a devastating amount of time to bring it back to zero.

Victorias lockdown was intense and, Ive come to realize, a rather unique feat. While a small number of countries and regions have (temporarily) eliminated the virus, few have done so from the verge of catastrophe; when Melbourne is done, it will join cities like Wuhan and Singapore in bringing a serious outbreak back to just a handful of cases. Returning to where the rest of Australia sits is both possible and worth striving for: a seminormal life back, without the accompanying death rate.

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Melbourne, Australias culture capital, has been laid low by this outbreak. Victoria has lost 763 people to COVID-1990 percent of Australias death tollbut we know it would have been so much worse without our sacrifices. But beyond what weve averted, theres also what weve gained: a hopefully COVID-free summer ahead, guilt-free trips to the pub, fear-free hugs with our loved ones. Life will not be one calculated risk after another. I may not have eaten in a restaurant or seen my friends since June, but I know even without a lockdown that would have been the right thing to do. The choices Americans are faced with every dayshould I go to this restaurant, should I attend a partywere taken out of my hands, and out of my neighbors too, and Im grateful for it.

The price has been high, but that first beer with my friends in our COVID-free state is going to be worth it.
A lack of sunshine does not make people feel more depressed, a study has claimed.

Scientists found that those with a sunny disposition do not have their mood affected by the drawing in of the long winter nights.

They made the discovery after asking 5,282 participants how they felt at different points in the year, revealing only those already high in neuroticism - the tendency to be more likely to suffer negative emotions such as anxiety, fear and worry - felt worse at the end of the summer.

A new Dutch study claims that a lack of sunlight does not influence a person's mood (stock image)

In the Dutch study, published in the journal PLOS One, the scientists claimed that their findings 'do not support the widespread belief that seasons influence mood to a great extent'.

Wim Winthorst, from the University of Groningen and author of the research, told The Times that some people may be more depressed during the winter as they attribute their negative mood to factors outside their control.

'Another explanation might be that the winter may serve as a stressor for them, instigating an increase in negative affect and other depression-related symptoms,' he said.

'There has been found considerable overlap between seasonal affective disorder and neurotic depression.'

The discovery sheds light on seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a type of depression that occurs during the winter months where symptoms are more apparent and severe.

Around one in three people in the UK, and up to 20 per cent of people in the US, suffer from the condition - which has symptoms including a low mood, loss of interest in day-to-day activities and feelings of despair, guilt and worthlessness experienced during the winter months.

The only people whose mood was affected by a lack of sunlight were those who scored highly in neuroticism - a personality trait that can make a person moody or experience despression-like symptoms (stock image)

Current theories claim it is caused by a lack of sunlight stopping the hypothalamus in the brain from working properly, and allege it may cause a surge in melatonin production, the sleep hormone, encouraging people to sleep more.

Treatments for the condition focus on changes to lifestyle, such as getting as much sunlight as possible, exposure to a special lamp to increase the amount of sunlight received, and counselling.

A rise in sunshine levels is also thought to affect people's mood.

Dr Max Pemberton wrote in the Daily Mail in July last year that when it's sunny, he prefers to avoid the sunshine if he can.

'So I've never understood those among my fellow Brits who long for scorching weather and who, if they can't get it here, flee abroad. But dare to say this out loud and most people stare at you in utter bewilderment: Am I mad?,' he wrote.

'A friend tested me last week saying: "I keep wanting to cry. I'm trying to keep my negative feelings to myself, but I just don't understand why people enjoy this sunny weather." She added that she hadn't left her house for three days.

'The symptoms of summer-SAD are thought to be exacerbated because we are expected to be happier during the warmer, lighter months. That makes those who are adversely affected feel even more isolated, compounding their low mood.'

He said there is no known treatment or cure for the condition, although doctors have tried similar methods to those used to treat the winter version.

The prevalence of the condition in the UK was identified in research carried out in 2014 by the Weather Channel and YouGov, and the figure for the US was identified by FamilyDoctor.
September is proving to be one of the worst months of the Covid pandemic for the state police force, with the months death count reaching 73 after seven more fatalities were reported among police personnel on Tuesday. In August, 54 deaths were reported, while the number was 43 in July, 33 in June and 23 in May. In April, only three policemen had succumbed to the disease. Eight days are left for the month to end and we are just praying that the situation doesnt get worse, said a senior police officer. The death toll among state police is 229.

According to the Maharashtra Police, 263 new personnel got infected on Monday. With this, the overall caseload of the state police now stands at 21,574. According to information provided by Manoj Patil, superintendent of police (control room), holding additional charge of assistant inspector general of police (law and order), the force has 3,548 active patients while 17,797 have recovered fully. At present 10,542 policemen are in quarantine.

On Tuesday, the state police control room received information of the death of seven policemen from Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Pune city, Pune rural, Akola and Gondia districts.

In Mumbai, a 28-year-old constable from Ghatkopar police station succumbed. Mukesh Thakur, who had joined the force at the age of 22 had also been battling blood cancer since the past few years. On September 13, he contracted the virus and was undergoing treatment at Manodaya Cancer Centre in Nashik. Originally from Igatpuri, Thakur was living with his wife and son at Titwala.

Navi Mumbai police have recorded two deaths. Shantilal Koli, a 55-year-old assistant sub-inspector posted at the NRI Coastal police station and head constable Vinod Pataskar, 45, attached to the headquarters, both succumbed to Covid-19 on Monday at DY Patil Hospital in Navi Mumbai.

Pune city police recorded a fatality as assistant sub-inspector Bhagwan Nikam died of the coronavirus. Attached to the special branch, the 55-year-old was receiving treatment at Commandant Hospital in Wanawadi, but his condition deteriorated and he succumbed on September 17.

Pune rural police also recorded a Covid death. A 47-year-old head constable Sanjay Gilbile from Mansar police station lost the battle with the disease and died on Sunday at Dinanath Mangeshkar Hospital.

In other Covid casualties, two head constables from Akola and Gondia districts lost their lives to the coronavirus. Raju Khedkar, 52, and Imran Kazi, 56, were attached to the Akola headquarters and Ramnagar police station, respectively. Khedkar died on Monday at Sarve Upchar Hospital, Akola while Kazi succumbed on September 17 at KTS District Hospital.

So far, Mumbai Police has been at the top of the list of forces with most Covid-infected personnel and casualties. In Mumbai, 5,785 cases of Covid infection have been reported till Tuesday, of which 80 have succumbed. A senior IPS officer said that 75% of infected policemen in Mumbai have already recovered and resumed duty. The city polices mortality rate is 1.38%.
Watch: This is the shocking moment a Co-op customer smashes wine bottles after being told to follow one-way system

This is the shocking moment a Co-op customer smashes wine bottles and aisles after being told to observe social distancing measures in a store.

Footage shows the woman flying into a rampage after staff at the shop in Lingfield, Surrey, asked her to follow the one-way system intended to stop customers coming into close contact with one another.

A store worker said the woman then rushed to the alcohol aisle and tore several bottles off the shelves after screaming at several Co-op workers.

Describing the incident, the staff member told Metro: She got very angry and started shouting at me and my colleague who were serving customers from behind the protective till screen.

The woman can be heard verbally abusing staff. (Co-op)

She stormed up to the till screen and just flipped out, punching and kicking it before rushing over to the alcohol aisle where she started grabbing bottles of wine, sending them smashing them to the ground.

The staff member said it was not the first time she had experienced violence while working in the shop.

Just last year I was actually punched in the face by a female customer because I had refused to serve her alcohol as she was clearly intoxicated, she added, Im still recovering from the mental strain that this has caused me.

It comes as CEOs from 23 major British retailers and the sectors leading industry bodies joined forces in writing to the prime minister to ask him to provide effective legal protection for shop workers in the face of increasing levels of abuse and violence.

This week, Alex Norris MP is due to get a second reading of his private members bill entitled Assaults on Retail Workers.

The bill, which the Co-op has been supporting for the last two years, calls upon the government to create a new offence which would carry higher penalties for those that abuse or attack shop workers.

Story continues

In the letter, the conglomerate of retail bosses, who collectively employ over 1.25 million shop workers, state: In partnership with our colleagues on the front-line, with USDAW and with a cross-party coalition of MPs, we support Alex Norris Private Members Bill to provide that greater protection for our colleagues.

This united response from business leaders, trade unions and frontline workers should demonstrate the need for these additional protections.

We believe there is a clear and broad-based consensus behind this Bill, and we ask that the Government acts now to support this important Bill and find time for it to pass through Parliament.

Among the other signatories are the bosses of Aldi, Homebase, Lidl and Morrisons.

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Alabama 300,000 people have voted so far. 3,407,000 were registered to vote as of Aug. 30. Absentee voting Voters are allowed to cite Covid-19 as a reason to vote absentee. Officials started sending out ballots on Sept. 9. In 2016, 4 percent of all votes were cast early. Absentee ballot requests so far As of Nov. 2, as a share of active registered voters. Total requests 331,000 9% 66% Voted in 2016 8% 300,000 ballots

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Alaska 152,000 people have voted so far. 594,000 were registered to vote as of Oct. 3. Absentee voting All voters are allowed to vote absentee. Officials started sending out ballots on Oct. 9. In 2016, 32 percent of all votes were cast early. Absentee ballot requests so far As of Nov. 2, as a share of registered voters. Total requests 194,000 32% 60% Voted in 2016 25% 152,000 ballots

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Arizona 2,471,000 people have voted so far. 3,989,000 were registered to vote as of Aug. 4. Absentee voting All voters are allowed to vote absentee. Officials started sending out ballots on Oct. 7. In 2016, 61 percent of all votes were cast early. Absentee ballot requests so far As of Nov. 2, as a share of eligible voters. Total requests 3,448,000 86% 74% Voted in 2016 61% 2,471,000 ballots

returned Ballot requests by party affiliation DemocratsDem. 1,206,000 35% No party/otherOther 1,003,000 29% RepublicansRep. 1,238,000 36% Note: When Arizonans register to vote, they can sign up to automatically receive an absentee ballot for every election.

Arkansas 912,000 people have voted so far: 118,000 have voted absentee and 794,000 have voted early in person. 1,810,000 were registered to vote as of Oct. 6. Absentee voting All voters are allowed to vote absentee. Officials started sending out ballots starting the week of Sept. 14. In 2016, 58 percent of all votes were cast early. Absentee ballot requests so far As of Nov. 3, as a share of registered voters. Total requests 130,000 7% 64% Voted in 2016 6% 118,000 ballots

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California 12,090,000 people have voted so far. 21,240,000 were registered to vote as of Sept. 4. Absentee voting Absentee ballots will be sent to all registered voters. Officials send out ballots no later than Oct. 5. In 2016, 58 percent of all votes were cast early. Absentee ballot requests so far As of Nov. 2, as a share of registered voters. 75% Voted in 2016 56% 12,090,000 ballots

returned Ballot requests by party affiliation DemocratsDem. 10,170,000 46% No party/otherOther 6,527,000 30% RepublicansRep. 5,344,000 24%

Colorado 2,887,000 people have voted so far: 2,809,000 have voted absentee and 78,000 have voted early in person. 3,647,000 were registered to vote as of Oct. 1. Absentee voting Officials started sending ballots to all registered voters on Oct. 9. In 2016, 100 percent of all votes were cast early. Absentee ballot requests so far As of Nov. 3, as a share of active registered voters. 86% Voted in 2016 77% 2,809,000 ballots

returned Ballot requests by party affiliation DemocratsDem. 1,215,000 30% No party/otherOther 1,785,000 43% RepublicansRep. 1,110,000 27%

Connecticut 636,000 people have voted so far. 2,220,000 were registered to vote as of Sept. 21. Absentee voting Applications for absentee ballots will be sent to all registered voters. Officials started sending out ballots on Oct. 2. In 2016, 8 percent of all votes were cast early. Absentee ballot requests so far As of Nov. 2, as a share of active registered voters. Total requests 715,000 32% 76% Voted in 2016 28% 636,000 ballots

returned Ballot requests by party affiliation DemocratsDem. 338,000 47% No party/otherOther 263,000 37% RepublicansRep. 112,000 16%

Delaware 148,000 people have voted so far. 726,000 were registered to vote as of Aug. 4. Absentee voting Applications for absentee ballots will be sent to all registered voters. Officials started sending out ballots on Oct. 4. In 2016, 6 percent of all votes were cast early. Absentee ballot requests so far As of Oct. 29, as a share of registered voters. Total requests 186,000 25% 66% Voted in 2016 20% 148,000 ballots

returned Ballot requests by party affiliation Based on ballot request data as of Nov. 6. DemocratsDem. 114,000 60% No party/otherOther 37,000 19% RepublicansRep. 39,000 21%

Washington, D.C. 260,000 people have voted so far: 191,000 have voted absentee and 68,000 have voted early in person. 504,000 were registered to vote as of Sept. 30. Absentee voting Absentee ballots will be sent to all registered voters. The District sends out mail ballots starting the first week of October. In 2016, 39 percent of all votes were cast early. Absentee ballot requests so far As of Nov. 2, as a share of active registered voters. 65% Voted in 2016 37% 191,000 ballots

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Florida 9,069,000 people have voted so far: 4,737,000 have voted absentee and 4,332,000 have voted early in person. 14,065,000 were registered to vote as of Aug. 31. Absentee voting All voters are allowed to vote absentee. Officials started sending out ballots on Sept. 24. In 2016, 69 percent of all votes were cast early. Absentee ballot requests so far As of Nov. 3, as a share of active registered voters. Total requests 6,011,000 42% 74% Voted in 2016 33% 4,737,000 ballots

returned Ballot requests by party affiliation DemocratsDem. 2,687,000 45% No party/otherOther 1,448,000 24% RepublicansRep. 1,875,000 31%

Georgia 4,013,000 people have voted so far: 1,318,000 have voted absentee and 2,694,000 have voted early in person. 7,002,000 were registered to vote as of Sept. 1. Absentee voting All voters are allowed to vote absentee. Officials started sending out ballots on Sept. 15. In 2016, 59 percent of all votes were cast early. Absentee ballot requests so far As of Nov. 5, as a share of active registered voters. Total requests 1,781,000 25% 76% Voted in 2016 18% 1,318,000 ballots

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Hawaii 484,000 people have voted so far. 795,000 were registered to vote as of Aug. 8. Absentee voting Absentee ballots will be sent to all registered voters. Voters should expect to receive their ballot by Oct. 16. In 2016, 54 percent of all votes were cast early. Absentee ballot requests so far As of Oct. 30, as a share of registered voters. 58% Voted in 2016 60% 484,000 ballots

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Idaho 402,000 people have voted so far. 907,000 were registered to vote as of June 3. Absentee voting All voters are allowed to vote absentee. By Oct. 5, officials must send out absentee ballots to all voters who have requested one up to that point. After Oct. 5, absentee ballots are mailed out on a rolling basis, as requests come in. In 2016, 29 percent of all votes were cast early. Absentee ballot requests so far As of Nov. 1, as a share of registered voters. Total requests 402,000 44% 87% Voted in 2016 44% 402,000 ballots

returned Ballot requests by party affiliation Based on ballot request data as of Nov. 6. DemocratsDem. 82,000 19% No party/otherOther 130,000 30% RepublicansRep. 215,000 50%

Illinois 3,591,000 people have voted so far: 1,759,000 have voted absentee and 1,832,000 have voted early in person. 8,890,000 were registered to vote as of Oct. 7. Absentee voting Applications for absentee ballots will be sent to all registered voters. Officials started sending out ballots on Sept. 24. In 2016, 32 percent of all votes were cast early. Absentee ballot requests so far As of Nov. 2, as a share of registered voters. Total requests 2,345,000 26% 63% Voted in 2016 19% 1,759,000 ballots

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Indiana 1,834,000 people have voted so far: 506,000 have voted absentee and 1,328,000 have voted early in person. 4,672,000 were registered to vote as of Sept. 29. Absentee voting Voters require a reason in order to vote absentee. Officials started sending out ballots on Sept. 19. In 2016, 34 percent of all votes were cast early. Absentee ballot requests so far As of Nov. 3, as a share of registered voters. Total requests 581,000 12% 58% Voted in 2016 10% 506,000 ballots

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Iowa 996,000 people have voted so far. 2,056,000 were registered to vote as of Oct. 1. Absentee voting Applications for absentee ballots will be sent to all registered voters. Officials started sending out ballots on Oct. 5. In 2016, 41 percent of all votes were cast early. Absentee ballot requests so far As of Nov. 3, as a share of active registered voters. Total requests 1,030,000 50% 79% Voted in 2016 48% 996,000 ballots

returned Ballot requests by party affiliation DemocratsDem. 462,000 45% No party/otherOther 226,000 22% RepublicansRep. 341,000 33%

Kansas 770,000 people have voted so far: 422,000 have voted absentee and 348,000 have voted early in person. 1,852,000 were registered to vote as of July 1. Absentee voting All voters are allowed to vote absentee. Officials started sending out ballots on Oct. 14. In 2016, 43 percent of all votes were cast early. Absentee ballot requests so far As of Nov. 2, as a share of registered voters. Total requests 508,000 27% 67% Voted in 2016 22% 422,000 ballots

returned Ballot requests by party affiliation DemocratsDem. 231,000 46% No party/otherOther 86,000 17% RepublicansRep. 190,000 38%

Kentucky 1,508,000 people have voted so far: 575,000 have voted absentee and 933,000 have voted early in person. 3,565,000 were registered to vote as of Oct. 1. Absentee voting Voters are allowed to cite Covid-19 as a reason to vote absentee. Officials started sending out ballots on Sept. 15. In 2016, 6 percent of all votes were cast early. Absentee ballot requests so far As of Nov. 1, as a share of registered voters. Total requests 655,000 18% 58% Voted in 2016 16% 575,000 ballots

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Louisiana 977,000 people have voted so far: 159,000 have voted absentee and 817,000 have voted early in person. 3,054,000 were registered to vote as of Oct. 1. Absentee voting Voters require a reason in order to vote absentee. Officials started sending out ballots on Sept. 19. In 2016, 26 percent of all votes were cast early. Absentee ballot requests so far As of Nov. 1, as a share of registered voters. Total requests 159,000 5% 67% Voted in 2016 5% 159,000 ballots

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Maine 499,000 people have voted so far. 1,067,000 were registered to vote as of Aug. 3. Absentee voting All voters are allowed to vote absentee. Officials started sending out ballots on Oct. 5. In 2016, 33 percent of all votes were cast early. Absentee ballot requests so far As of Nov. 2, as a share of registered voters. Total requests 531,000 49% 72% Voted in 2016 46% 499,000 ballots

returned Ballot requests by party affiliation DemocratsDem. 249,000 47% No party/otherOther 155,000 29% RepublicansRep. 126,000 24%

Maryland 2,178,000 people have voted so far: 1,316,000 have voted absentee and 861,000 have voted early in person. 4,106,000 were registered to vote as of Sept. 30. Absentee voting Applications for absentee ballots will be sent to all registered voters. Officials started sending out ballots on Sept. 24. In 2016, 38 percent of all votes were cast early. Absentee ballot requests so far As of Nov. 1, as a share of active registered voters. Total requests 1,683,000 40% 70% Voted in 2016 32% 1,316,000 ballots

returned Ballot requests by party affiliation DemocratsDem. 1,127,000 67% No party/otherOther 294,000 17% RepublicansRep. 261,000 16%

Massachusetts 2,352,000 people have voted so far: 1,384,000 have voted absentee and 968,000 have voted early in person. 4,666,000 were registered to vote as of Sept. 1. Absentee voting Applications for absentee ballots will be sent to all registered voters. Officials will begin sending out ballots no later than the first week of October and they will continue to be mailed on a rolling basis through the application deadline. In 2016, 35 percent of all votes were cast early. Absentee ballot requests so far As of Nov. 3, as a share of registered voters. Total requests 1,591,000 34% 74% Voted in 2016 29% 1,384,000 ballots

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Michigan 2,841,000 people have voted so far. 7,915,000 were registered to vote as of Oct. 8. Absentee voting All voters are allowed to vote absentee. Officials started sending out ballots on Sept. 24. In 2016, 26 percent of all votes were cast early. Absentee ballot requests so far As of Nov. 2, as a share of registered voters. Total requests 3,318,000 41% 64% Voted in 2016 35% 2,841,000 ballots

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Minnesota 1,716,000 people have voted so far. 3,537,000 were registered to vote as of Oct. 1. Absentee voting All voters are allowed to vote absentee. Officials started sending out ballots on Sept. 18. In 2016, 23 percent of all votes were cast early. Absentee ballot requests so far As of Nov. 2, as a share of registered voters. Total requests 2,055,000 58% 91% Voted in 2016 48% 1,716,000 ballots

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Mississippi 231,000 people have voted so far. 1,920,000 were registered to vote as of March 10. Absentee voting Voters require a reason in order to vote absentee. Officials started sending out ballots on Sept. 21. In 2016, 9 percent of all votes were cast early. Absentee ballot requests so far As of Nov. 1, as a share of active registered voters. Total requests 248,000 12% 65% Voted in 2016 12% 231,000 ballots

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Missouri 827,000 people have voted so far. 4,276,000 were registered to vote as of Oct. 2. Absentee voting All voters are allowed to vote absentee. Officials started sending out ballots on Sept. 22. In 2016, 10 percent of all votes were cast early. Absentee ballot requests so far As of Nov. 1, as a share of registered voters. Total requests 876,000 20% 70% Voted in 2016 19% 827,000 ballots

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Montana 529,000 people have voted so far. 726,000 were registered to vote as of Oct. 7. Absentee voting Officials started sending ballots to all registered voters on Oct. 9. In 2016, 65 percent of all votes were cast early. Absentee ballot requests so far As of Nov. 2, as a share of registered voters. 74% Voted in 2016 72% 529,000 ballots

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Nebraska 482,000 people have voted so far. 1,252,000 were registered to vote as of Oct. 1. Absentee voting Applications for absentee ballots will be sent to all registered voters. Officials started sending out ballots on Sept. 28. In 2016, 27 percent of all votes were cast early. Absentee ballot requests so far As of Nov. 2, as a share of eligible voters. Total requests 546,000 43% 71% Voted in 2016 38% 482,000 ballots

returned Ballot requests by party affiliation DemocratsDem. 197,000 36% No party/otherOther 101,000 19% RepublicansRep. 247,000 45%

Nevada 1,122,000 people have voted so far: 579,000 have voted absentee and 543,000 have voted early in person. 1,742,000 were registered to vote as of Oct. 1. Absentee voting Absentee ballots will be sent to all registered voters. Officials will send out ballots between Sept. 24 and Oct. 14, depending on the county. In 2016, 69 percent of all votes were cast early. Absentee ballot requests so far As of Nov. 3, as a share of active registered voters. 74% Voted in 2016 33% 579,000 ballots

returned Ballot requests by party affiliation DemocratsDem. 667,000 38% No party/otherOther 533,000 30% RepublicansRep. 568,000 32%

New Hampshire 181,000 people have voted so far. 1,018,000 were registered to vote as of Feb. 11. Absentee voting Voters are allowed to cite Covid-19 as a reason to vote absentee. Officials send out absentee ballots as soon as applications are received. In 2016, 10 percent of all votes were cast early. Absentee ballot requests so far As of Oct. 27, as a share of registered voters. Total requests 225,000 22% 75% Voted in 2016 17% 181,000 ballots

returned

New Jersey 3,658,000 people have voted so far. 6,366,000 were registered to vote as of Oct. 1. Absentee voting Absentee ballots will be sent to all registered voters. Ballots will be sent to current voters no later than Oct. 5, and anyone who registers after that will receive a ballot once their registration is processed. In 2016, 9 percent of all votes were cast early. Absentee ballot requests so far As of Nov. 2, as a share of registered voters. 68% Voted in 2016 57% 3,658,000 ballots

returned Ballot requests by party affiliation DemocratsDem. 2,385,000 39% No party/otherOther 2,295,000 38% RepublicansRep. 1,373,000 23%

New Mexico 788,000 people have voted so far: 320,000 have voted absentee and 467,000 have voted early in person. 1,328,000 were registered to vote as of Sept. 30. Absentee voting Applications for absentee ballots will be sent to some registered voters. Officials started sending out ballots on Oct. 6. In 2016, 66 percent of all votes were cast early. Absentee ballot requests so far As of Nov. 2, as a share of registered voters. Total requests 386,000 29% 62% Voted in 2016 24% 320,000 ballots

returned Ballot requests by party affiliation DemocratsDem. 237,000 62% No party/otherOther 65,000 17% RepublicansRep. 83,000 22%

New York 3,743,000 people have voted so far: 1,236,000 have voted absentee and 2,507,000 have voted early in person. 11,701,000 were registered to vote as of Feb. 21. Absentee voting Voters are allowed to cite Covid-19 as a reason to vote absentee. Officials started sending out ballots on Sept. 18. In 2016, 5 percent of all votes were cast early. Absentee ballot requests so far As of Nov. 2, as a share of active registered voters. Total requests 2,286,000 19% 67% Voted in 2016 10% 1,236,000 ballots

returned

North Carolina 4,597,000 people have voted so far: 977,000 have voted absentee and 3,620,000 have voted early in person. 7,200,000 were registered to vote as of Oct. 3. Absentee voting All voters are allowed to vote absentee. Officials started sending out ballots on Sept. 4. In 2016, 66 percent of all votes were cast early. Absentee ballot requests so far As of Nov. 4, as a share of registered voters. Total requests 1,456,000 20% 68% Voted in 2016 13% 977,000 ballots

returned Ballot requests by party affiliation DemocratsDem. 669,000 46% No party/otherOther 498,000 34% RepublicansRep. 288,000 20%

North Dakota 251,000 people have voted so far: 174,000 have voted absentee and 77,000 have voted early in person. 581,000 were registered to vote as of June 9. Absentee voting All voters are allowed to vote absentee. Officials started sending out ballots on Sept. 24. In 2016, 39 percent of all votes were cast early. Absentee ballot requests so far As of Nov. 2, as a share of eligible voters. Total requests 213,000 36% 61% Voted in 2016 29% 174,000 ballots

returned

Ohio 3,000,000 people have voted so far. 7,984,000 were registered to vote as of Sept. 25. Absentee voting Applications for absentee ballots will be sent to all registered voters. Officials started sending out ballots on Oct. 6. In 2016, 34 percent of all votes were cast early. Absentee ballot requests so far As of Nov. 2, as a share of registered voters. Total requests 3,211,000 40% 71% Voted in 2016 37% 3,000,000 ballots

returned

Oklahoma 444,000 people have voted so far: 279,000 have voted absentee and 165,000 have voted early in person. 2,206,000 were registered to vote as of Oct. 1. Absentee voting All voters are allowed to vote absentee. Dates that ballots are sent out vary by county. In 2016, 18 percent of all votes were cast early. Absentee ballot requests so far As of Nov. 2, as a share of registered voters. Total requests 352,000 15% 67% Voted in 2016 12% 279,000 ballots

returned Ballot requests by party affiliation DemocratsDem. 159,000 45% No party/otherOther 52,000 15% RepublicansRep. 140,000 40%

Oregon 2,155,000 people have voted so far. 2,924,000 were registered to vote as of Sept. 30. Absentee voting Officials started sending ballots to all registered voters on Oct. 14. In 2016, 100 percent of all votes were cast early. Absentee ballot requests so far As of Nov. 3, as a share of registered voters. 80% Voted in 2016 73% 2,155,000 ballots

returned Ballot requests by party affiliation DemocratsDem. 1,055,000 36% No party/otherOther 1,131,000 38% RepublicansRep. 762,000 26%

Pennsylvania 2,615,000 people have voted so far. 8,897,000 were registered to vote as of Oct. 5. Absentee voting All voters are allowed to vote absentee. Dates that ballots are sent out vary by county; most planned to begin mailing ballots in September. In 2016, 5 percent of all votes were cast early. Absentee ballot requests so far As of Nov. 5, as a share of registered voters. Total requests 3,096,000 34% 71% Voted in 2016 29% 2,615,000 ballots

returned Ballot requests by party affiliation DemocratsDem. 1,945,000 63% No party/otherOther 362,000 12% RepublicansRep. 787,000 25%

Rhode Island 305,000 people have voted so far: 156,000 have voted absentee and 149,000 have voted early in person. 795,000 were registered to vote as of Sept. 1. Absentee voting All voters are allowed to vote absentee. Officials started sending out ballots on Oct. 5. In 2016, 9 percent of all votes were cast early. Absentee ballot requests so far As of Nov. 2, as a share of registered voters. Total requests 175,000 22% 59% Voted in 2016 19% 156,000 ballots

returned Ballot requests by party affiliation Based on ballot request data as of Nov. 9. DemocratsDem. 109,000 62% No party/otherOther 50,000 29% RepublicansRep. 17,000 10%

South Carolina 1,309,000 people have voted so far. 3,370,000 were registered to vote as of Sept. 17. Absentee voting All voters are allowed to vote absentee. Officials will send out ballots approximately 30 days before the election, but dates vary by county. In 2016, 24 percent of all votes were cast early. Absentee ballot requests so far As of Nov. 3, as a share of registered voters. Total requests 1,347,000 39% 67% Voted in 2016 38% 1,309,000 ballots

returned

South Dakota 202,000 people have voted so far: 118,000 have voted absentee and 83,000 have voted early in person. 568,000 were registered to vote as of Oct. 8. Absentee voting All voters are allowed to vote absentee. Officials started sending out ballots on Sept. 18. In 2016, 29 percent of all votes were cast early. Absentee ballot requests so far As of Oct. 30, as a share of active registered voters. Total requests 134,000 23% 62% Voted in 2016 20% 118,000 ballots

returned Ballot requests by party affiliation DemocratsDem. 44,000 33% No party/otherOther 26,000 19% RepublicansRep. 63,000 47%

Tennessee 2,280,000 people have voted so far: 210,000 have voted absentee and 2,070,000 have voted early in person. 3,931,000 were registered to vote as of June 1. Absentee voting Voters require a reason in order to vote absentee. Counties started sending absentee ballots in mid-September. In 2016, 66 percent of all votes were cast early. Absentee ballot requests so far As of Oct. 29, as a share of active registered voters. Total requests 210,000 5% 71% Voted in 2016 5% 210,000 ballots

returned

Texas 9,719,000 people have voted so far: 973,000 have voted absentee and 8,745,000 have voted early in person. 16,617,000 were registered to vote as of Sept. 22. Absentee voting Voters require a reason in order to vote absentee. Officials started sending out ballots on Sept. 19. In 2016, 50 percent of all votes were cast early. Absentee ballot requests so far As of Oct. 30, as a share of registered voters. Total requests 973,000 5% 59% Voted in 2016 5% 973,000 ballots

returned

Utah 1,124,000 people have voted so far. 1,620,000 were registered to vote as of Oct. 5. Absentee voting Officials started sending ballots to all registered voters on Oct. 13. In 2016, 50 percent of all votes were cast early. Absentee ballot requests so far As of Nov. 3, as a share of active registered voters. 81% Voted in 2016 69% 1,124,000 ballots

returned

Vermont 255,000 people have voted so far. 495,000 were registered to vote as of Sept. 30. Absentee voting Officials started sending ballots to all registered voters on Sept. 21. In 2016, 30 percent of all votes were cast early. Absentee ballot requests so far As of Nov. 2, as a share of registered voters. 68% Voted in 2016 51% 255,000 ballots

returned

Virginia 2,758,000 people have voted so far: 962,000 have voted absentee and 1,796,000 have voted early in person. 5,825,000 were registered to vote as of Aug. 31. Absentee voting All voters are allowed to vote absentee. Officials started sending out ballots on Sept. 18. In 2016, 14 percent of all votes were cast early. Absentee ballot requests so far As of Nov. 2, as a share of registered voters. Total requests 1,128,000 19% 72% Voted in 2016 16% 962,000 ballots

returned

Washington 3,545,000 people have voted so far. 4,630,000 were registered to vote as of Sept. 1. Absentee voting Absentee ballots will be sent to all registered voters. Officials will send out ballots no later than Oct. 16. In 2016, 100 percent of all votes were cast early. Absentee ballot requests so far As of Nov. 2, as a share of active registered voters. 78% Voted in 2016 76% 3,545,000 ballots

returned

West Virginia 136,000 people have voted so far. 1,268,000 were registered to vote as of Oct. 20. Absentee voting Voters are allowed to cite Covid-19 as a reason to vote absentee. Officials started sending out ballots on Sept. 18. In 2016, 31 percent of all votes were cast early. Absentee ballot requests so far As of Nov. 2, as a share of registered voters. Total requests 153,000 12% 57% Voted in 2016 10% 136,000 ballots

returned

Wisconsin 1,924,000 people have voted so far: 1,275,000 have voted absentee and 649,000 have voted early in person. 3,583,000 were registered to vote as of Oct. 1. Absentee voting Applications for absentee ballots will be sent to all registered voters. Officials started sending out ballots on Sept. 17. In 2016, 28 percent of all votes were cast early. Absentee ballot requests so far As of Nov. 3, as a share of active registered voters. Total requests 1,421,000 39% 83% Voted in 2016 35% 1,275,000 ballots

returned
A south London council has apologised for scaring social media users after sharing advice warning people to make plans for a potential evacuation.

Wandsworth Council uploaded an image to Twitter on Sunday recommending that residents prepare an emergency bag in case you need to flee your home immediately without time to pack.

Some of the items suggested for the grab-and-go bag included a first-aid kit, batteries, a whistle and a torch.

The notice sparked a backlash from members of the public, who complained about a lack of context for the post, which some felt could cause additional distress in a time of uncertainty.

The council later clarified: Dont worry, were not trying to scare you."

It explained that the picture was part of its contribution to an annual nationwide campaign, #30days30waysUK, which aims to help households and communities prepare for environmental risks.

Dozens of local councils, as well as other institutions, have also signed up to the campaign, and some tweeted similar messages over the weekend.

The council replied to a comment from one Twitter user, who wrote: Great idea but perhaps could have read the room and considered the anxiety this could cause some. Could have been worded a bit better.

Agreed. Were sorry to have caused alarm, its official account said.

A spokesperson for Wandsworth Council said: This is part of an annual national campaign, supported by many public bodies up and down the country, including councils, the NHS, police and fire services, and is aimed primarily at those in vulnerable situations who may need to leave their homes at a moments notice.

This includes people living in a flood risk area, victims of domestic violence or those who may be affected by a gas leak or a power cut.

This national campaign simply urges people to be prepared for sudden emergencies.
THE Government has shut Ireland down with some of the most drastic travel restrictions in Europe because of Covid-19, according to former IAG chief executive Willie Walsh.

Mr Walsh retired as CEO of IAG, which owns Aer Lingus, earlier this month.

The Irish Government have taken probably the most extreme view on travel around Europe, where effectively theyve shut the island down, he said.

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Mr Walsh was speaking on Tuesday on a webcast of Hardtalk, an aviation programme produced by Brussels-based Eurocontrol  the organisation that manages Europes airspace.

Eurocontrol is headed by former Irish Aviation Authority CEO Eamonn Brennan.

The former IAG boss said that the airline industry will never be the same after the pandemic.

I think its going to be a new normal, said Mr Walsh. I dont see the industry ever going back to the way it was. Theres going to be so much repair that needs to be done. Even airlines that have received state aid in the main, thats coming in the form of debt.

Airline balance sheets will require a lot of attention over the years ahead. Youre not going to get back to the same level of growth for some considerable time, he added.

Aircraft that have been retired will be taken out of operation permanently.

I cant see anybody rushing out there to order significant new numbers of aircraft, Mr Walsh predicted.

You will always have airlines taking advantage. Michael OLeary timed it brilliantly back in 2001. Ive no doubt that he will think of doing the same this time round. In the main, I think the industry is going to have to be very careful and its never going to get back, absolutely, no doubt about it, to the way it was.

Davy Stockbrokers predicted last week that Ryanair will place an order for aircraft by the end of the year.

Mr OLeary has previously said that the carrier is in talks with Boeing to place an order for Max 10 jets  a variant of the troubled Max aircraft.

Mr Walsh said the impact of the pandemic will create consolidation opportunities.

Unfortunately, there will be failures, he said. When the weak airlines disappear, thats a cheap and a good form of consolidation. I suspect we will some moves towards mergers, but itll be some time away.
3 1 of 3 Brian A. Pounds / Hearst Connecticut Media Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Brian A. Pounds / Hearst Connecticut Media Show More Show Less 3 of 3





SHELTON  With the pandemic preventing many from participating in a traditional synagogue service, Chabad of Shelton and Monroe took the service outdoors Sunday.

Rabbi Shneur Brook hosted an outdoor Rosh Hashanah service on the Huntington Green, that included prayers for the well being of all humanity  a key theme of Rosh Hashana.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 16:23:24|Editor: huaxia

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MANILA, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Philippines surged to 291,789 after the Department of Health (DOH) reported 1,635 new daily cases on Tuesday, the lowest in 15 days.

The DOH reported 1,383 new daily cases on Sept. 7.

The DOH said that the number of recoveries also rose to 230,643 after it reported 450 more patients have survived the disease.

The DOH added that 50 more patients have succumbed to the viral disease, bringing the death toll to 5,049.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said the government is doing everything it can to stem the spread of the COVID-19 as it waits for a vaccine.

Duterte appealed to the public to be patient until an effective inoculation becomes available.

"We are surviving. We are only waiting for the vaccine. Unless the vaccine is available and effective, the efficacy is proven, then we can say that we are moving far as we are," Duterte said in a public address late Monday night.

At the same time, Duterte urged the public anew to continue observing strict health protocols such as wearing a mask, face shield, and keeping a distance when out in public.

Duterte also assured the Filipinos that the government would raise the needed fund to purchase vaccines for mass immunization.

Carlito Galvez, the chief implementer of the government's response to combat COVID-19, said that the government's policy that bans home quarantine helped stem the spread of the virus.

"Our strategy to involve the local government units in the COVID-19 response has worked in strengthening the testing capacity and the quarantine facilities at the community level," Galvez said.

Galvez said the Philippines now has 227,648 contact tracers all over the country. "We continue to strengthen the contact tracing teams," he added. Enditem
SINGAPORE  Google's monopoly over Android  the mobile operating system used by most smartphones around the world  is a major concern for Indian start-ups, a top executive at online payments firm Paytm said Tuesday.

Paytm has become a ubiquitous name in India's digital payments sector. The mobile app is used by millions of Indians to pay for things including utility bills, groceries, recharging mobile connections, or movie tickets. Paytm is also a fully licensed digital bank.

Last Friday, the app was temporarily removed from the Google Play Store. Paytm said the U.S. tech giant told the Indian tech firm its app contained "content that doesn't comply with (Google's) Gambling policy."

On the same day, Google said in a separate blog post it doesn't allow online casinos or support any unregulated gambling apps that facilitate sports betting. It did not name Paytm, but Reuters reported that the U.S. tech giant confirmed the app's removal due to policy violations.

Paytm had to remove a cashback campaign before the app was restored on the Google Play Store about eight hours later, according to Madhur Deora, president of Paytm.

"I think we are focused on some of the bigger questions that this raises, which is that effectively, Google has a monopoly on the Android ecosystem in India, which is 95% of phone users. And they can basically decide what policies they want to make and how arbitrarily they want to enforce them," Deora said on CNBC's "Street Signs Asia."

"That's a big sword that is hanging over the necks of all Indian start-ups who are innovating for India, that Google can one day decide that they no longer like your app and effectively remove access to it," he added.

In response to CNBC's requests for comments on Deora's assertions, Google said, "Offering cashbacks and vouchers alone do not constitute a violation of our Google Play gambling policies."

"We enforce our policies very thoughtfully to provide a safe and secure experience for consumers, while also giving developers the platform and tools they need to build sustainable businesses," Google said. "In the case of repeated policy violations, we may take more serious action which may include terminating Google Play Developer accounts. Our policies are applied and enforced consistently."
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 14:12:02|Editor: huaxia

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SARI PUL, Afghanistan, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Five militants were killed as fighting planes struck Taliban militants in Sozma Qala district of Afghanistan's northern Sari Pul province on Monday, provincial police said in a statement here Tuesday.

According to the statement, the Taliban militants were attacking security checkpoints in Sozma Qala district on Monday afternoon when the fighting planes targeted the insurgents, killing five on the spot, forcing the insurgents to flee.

Three more insurgents were injured in the air raids, the statement said.

The Taliban outfit has yet to make comments. Enditem
A kebab shop owner in Sydney's LGBTI heartland has been driven off social media over a homophobic meme.

Ziftekhar Hasan's business, Yilmaz Grill & Bakehouse in Waterloo in Sydney's south has been the target of increasing backlash from neighbours after the offensive post was shared to the shop's Facebook page.

The page was then inundated with so many negative comments and reviews, even after Mr Hasan issued a grovelling apology, that he was forced to close the account.

Mr Hasan (pictured) said he has been seeing increasing backlash from locals after the post

'It came to my attention that an eatery in our building was posting ant-gay memes. I will not be buying from there again ... I urge the gays of the village to boycott this business,' one neighbour wrote.

Mr Hasan defended the meme which Daily Mail Australia has chosen not to publish due to its offensive content.

'It's not about me being homophobic it's just me sharing a meme that I've seen online,' Mr Hasan told A Current Affair outside his shop.

One of the shop's neighbours urged other locals to avoid the business

The business (pictured) in Waterloo in Sydney's south regularly hosts $15 all-you-can-eat nights

Locals, however, didn't seem to be buying the change of heart with one woman throwing eggs at Mr Hasan from her balcony across the street.

'You're a homophobe Shut your business down now,' the woman then yells.

Shutting his shop down would certainly hurt Mr Hasan's back pocket - with the successful business earning him enough to drive a lime green Lamborghini worth more than $200,000.

The car, emblazoned with the store's logo, is one of a number of expensive vehicles regularly parked outside Mr Hasan's shop on $15 all you can eat nights he puts on for his mates.

One person said they notified popular food delivery company Menulog and received a reply that they had chosen to no longer partner with the restaurant.

'It's kind of silly especially knowing the demographics of this place which is pretty gay friendly,' another local said.

Mr Hasan said his post was prompted after a mate of his was sexually assaulted by a gay person in 2014.

However, he also later brushed off the meme as 'just a joke' and said they were not his 'genuine' views when interviewed by the program.

Mr Hasan's said the community should celebrate its similarities rather than differences and he hopes to repair his standing with the locals in his suburb and wider LGBTI community.
Despite the many pressing security issues at hand, Defense Minister Benny Gantz lightning US visit this week is intended primarily to mark territory in Israel's internal politics, as one of his associates puts it.

The status of Israeli leaders is determined to some extent in Washington. For Israeli defense ministers and prime ministers, the US capital is a necessary and particularly photogenic component in branding their leadership. Gantz tight schedule follows a familiar pattern, including a sit-down with his US counterpart Mark Esper.

Prior to his departure, his aides were still trying to gauge the possibility of an impromptu meeting with President Donald Trump during Gantz scheduled session with national security adviser Robert OBrien, as well as a brief get-together with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Previous American presidents who sought to favor Israeli leaders would occasionally drop by during their meetings with national security advisers. Given Trumps hectic schedule at the height of his reelection campaign, he's not likely to make time for such an encounter.

Gantz talks in Washington will focus on the snapback option, this weeks dramatic US move to reimpose sanctions on Iran for violating its nuclear agreement with world powers. The controversial move is presumably the final phase of the tremendous American effort to cement an alliance between Israel and the Sunni Gulf States in light of Irans expected resumption of major conventional arms deals, mostly with Russia and China, now that the sanctions are about to expire.

The Gulf is terrified by this possibility, a senior Israeli security official told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity. The fact that Iran will now be able to renew its conventional arsenals, buy missile cutters, fighter jets, rockets, missiles and other weapons in order to ramp up its pressure on the states of the region is causing sleepless nights for many in the region.

The United States presumably pledged to the states that agreed to bring their covert relationships with Israel into the open that it would do all it could to reconstitute the international sanctions imposed on Iran 13 years ago that are due to expire on Oct. 18. Israel, obviously, supports the snapback option, which most UN Security Council members, especially Russia and China, reject as invalid considering the 2018 US pullout from the nuclear deal. The Americans are doing this mostly because they are the only ones who can, the senior Israeli security source told Al-Monitor, But it is essential in order to prevent Irans further conventional re-armament.

Nonetheless, the Israeli administration clearly assumes that the Iranians are gearing up for negotiations with the United States on a new nuclear agreement. They are preparing for this possibility both in case Joe Biden wins, and in case of the opposite, a Trump victory, a former top military official told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity. They realize that the current situation is untenable. They prefer a Biden victory, in which case they would seek to revamp the previous agreement, but either way, it is pretty clear negotiations will occur.

On the face of it, Israel would rather see Trump continuing to conduct policy on Iran. Nonetheless, no Israeli, not even the heads of the various intelligence agencies, can forecast the outcome of talks between Trump and the Iranians. The American president loves his dealmaker image, now embellished by his peacemaker branding and bid for the Nobel Peace Prize. Trump may well be willing to consider far-reaching concessions in future negotiations with Iran as he continues to wage the ambitious campaign he launched in recent weeks. Israel does not hold out high hopes for Trump deploying military force to destroy Irans nuclear infrastructure. While some in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus circle continue to believe in such an option, most associates of Gantz and Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi do not.

In any case, there is across-the-board agreement in Israel on the need to forestall Irans conventional re-armament. It is inconceivable that Iran will now be rewarded for its behavior and for consistently violating the nuclear agreement, a top Israeli defense source said on condition of anonymity regarding recent news reports that Iran will have sufficient fissile material by years end for a nuclear bomb. The Americans are very determined on this issue and they have announced that anyone who does not cooperate in following the US and restoring sanctions would be deprived of access to the US market and risk sanctions, the source said. While it is unclear what influence this will have, we now have a dramatic, sane and logical last-minute measure to counter attempts to undermine the fragile stability in the Middle East.

Israel is counting on the Europeans to cooperate at the last minute with the snapback move. We are talking mostly about Germany and the UK, which understand the absurdity of lifting the embargo on Iran at this point, a senior Israeli defense official told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity. The French are the recalcitrant ones  and we are not counting on them. Israel is monitoring closely the US-European contacts on this issue and is well aware of Pompeos uncompromising position as expressed to his European counterparts a few weeks ago, when he warned that failure to join the US effort would be tantamount to treason.

In his Washington talks this week, Gantz will also discuss ways to preserve Israels qualitative military edge in the Middle Eastern arms race in the wake of the declared American intention to sell F-35 stealth fighters to the United Arab Emirates. The arms deals that the US will sign with Israels allies in the Gulf, the senior Israeli defense-system official added, are designed to ease concerns in the Gulf capitals and maintain their capacity to defend themselves against Iran as it renews its conventional capabilities. It is clear to us that the US agreement to upgrade the Gulf states arsenals is linked directly to the fact that starting Oct. 18, the Iranians will have access to parallel weapons systems. What is going on here, in fact, is an accelerated arms race, along with an inter-power game of chicken and a war of nerves vis-a-vis Iran, with everyone on tenterhooks ahead of Nov. 3.
Google's top AI executive, Jeff Dean, told college students they should look to the events of 2020 for inspiration when deciding what they should pursue in their education and careers.

"2020 has been an incredibly challenging year with so many different things that are unusual or unexpected or very harmful from a society point of view and ecological point of view," Dean said in a virtual fireside chat with college students Tuesday. "You have the pandemic, which has completely changed how we're operating as societies, you have things like the George Floyd murder and the outrage justified from that. Then, you have things like the wildfire, which  I live in California and the sky two weeks ago was this apocalyptic orange."

Dean said despite 2020 being an "unusual confluence of events," he urged students to pursue education and careers that address large problems, such as climate change, health and social justice.

"It's important to keep working to make society and the problems you care about better. It's important to solve problems that you think are important and that are going to advance all of us, collectively," he told students. "Try not to focus on the negative aspects of what's happening now and focus on the few positive things you see and build on those."

Dean, who joined Google in 1999 when it was still a start-up, is one of the few Google executives who has been regularly vocal on recent events of 2020  particularly on Twitter, where he has criticized the Trump administration's stance on policies related to science and immigration, and acknowledged bias and lack of underrepresented workers in the tech industry.

Google, alongside other tech companies like Facebook and Amazon, is facing scrutiny over its own role in society as it addresses internal diversity woes, misinformation, and anticompetitive practices  particularly as the 2020 U.S. election approaches. The company recently said it hopes to run on 100% carbon-free energy by 2030.

Dean acknowledged that the tech industry needs to take its own advice, giving the example of improving how it gives people from underrepresented backgrounds more opportunity at the company and the industry overall.

"I believe really, really strongly that we need as an industry to create opportunities for people who maybe don't have as much opportunity in their early education," Dean said. "You want the best people in the world and that means making sure they're not at a disadvantage because they didn't have a laptop and were programming from age nine."

WATCH: Former Google CEO says coronavirus will be with us forever
DUBLIN, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Quantum Magnetometer Markets: 2020 to 2029" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The market for quantum magnetometers is forecast to grow to well over $700 million by 2025 driven by compelling value propositions in medicine, the military, and geophysical applications. This report examines both technical and market factors driving the market for quantum magnetometers:

Geophysical studies and exploration is by far the biggest market for magnetometers and this area has used classical magnetometers for half a century for applications such as mineral explorations, magnetic survey, and hazard detection. This report discusses how the use of quantum technology for magnetometers is expanding the market for geophysical studies.

While all quantum magnetometers offer users enhanced sensitivity compared with classical magnetometers, there is growing competition in the field between optically pumped magnetometers, proton magnetometers, Overhauser magnetometers, SERFs, NV-diamond vapor cell magnetometers and SQUIDs. In this report, we discuss how each of these magnetometer types fit the needs of key end-user industries.

While, quantum magnetometers have been shown to add value to some established markets, interesting - and potentially profitable - new applications for quantum magnetometers are also beginning to appear.

For example, beyond medical imaging, the extreme sensitivity of SQUIDs makes them ideal for biological investigations of various kinds. And NV-diamond center magnetometers are being used in navigation systems where conventional GPS won't work. A detailed assessment of the commercial potential for such novel systems is also included in this report.

Quantum magnetometers have a large number of applications in the military. Both researchers in the US and China are working on such applications and this report discusses the impact that an era of Sino-American tensions may have on the quantum magnetometer business.

The report also examines new quantum technology developments in the magnetometer. In particular, it looks at chip-scale atomic magnetometers and what these might mean in drones for aerial systems, the measurement of interplanetary magnetic fields or deployed close to the heart for magnetocardiography, among other applications.



The report also includes a country-by-country analysis of both R&D and commercial development of quantum magnetometer systems. This includes strategic profiles of the leading firms manufacturing and marketing quantum magnetometer. In addition, there are detailed ten-year forecasts with breakouts by type of magnetometer and application.

Key Topics Covered:





Chapter One: Background to this Report

1. Emerging Market Opportunities in the Quantum Magnetometer Space

2. Objective and Scope of this Report

3. Methodology of this Report

4. Plan of this Report



Chapter Two: Quantum Magnetometer Products and their Evolution

2.1 SERFs: Powerful but Flawed

2.2 SQUIDs versus SERF Competition

2.3 NV-centers Sensors for the Quantum Magnetometer Market

2.4 Proton Magnetometers: Rough but Cheap

2.5 Overhauser Magnetometers: What's Next After Proton Magnetometers

2.6 Optically Pumped Magnetometers: Cesium, Potassium, and Others.

2.7 Chip-scale Atomic Magnetometers: Market Potential and Technical Evolution

2.8 Key points from this Chapter



Chapter Three: Magnetometer Markets and Applications

3.1 Healthcare and Medicine: MEG, Cardiology, and Other Markets

3.1.1 How Credible is MEG as a Killer App for SQUIDS

3.2 Defense and Aerospace Uses for Quantum Magnetometers

3.3 Quantum Magnetometers and the Expansion of Global Positioning and Communications

3.4 Scientific Research and R&D Markets

3.5 Key Points from This Chapter



Chapter Four: Quantum Magnetometers: Products and Development

4.1 R&D Activity

4.2 Quantum Magnetometer Development in Europe

4.3 Quantum Magnetometer Development in the US and Canada

4.4 Chinese Academy of Sciences

4.5 Key Points from This Chapter



Chapter Five: Ten-Year Forecasts of Quantum Magnetometers

5.1 Forecasting Methodology

5.2 Forecast of Quantum Magnetometers in Healthcare by Type of Magnetometer

5.3 Forecast of Quantum Magnetometers in Defense/ Aerospace by Type of Magnetometer

5.4 Forecast of Quantum Magnetometers in Global Positioning/Communications by Type of Magnetometer

5.5 Forecast of Quantum Magnetometers in Geophysical Applications by Type of Magnetometer

5.6 Forecast of Quantum Magnetometers in R&D by Type of Magnetometer

5.7 Forecast of Quantum Magnetometers

Companies Mentioned



Chinese Academy of Sciences

Gem Systems

GeoMetrics, Inc

Lockheed Martin

Marine Magnetics

QuSpin

Tristan Technologies

Twinleaf

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/gdyre4

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The graceless acknowledgement came after Suga made no mention of Korea in his first press conference in office last Thursday.

Japan's new Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga finally responded Saturday to a congratulatory message from President Moon Jae-in that was sent three days earlier.

Cheong Wa Dae on Monday said Suga thanked Moon for the message and stressed that the two countries are "important neighbors." He added hopes that Seoul and Tokyo will build a "future-oriented relationship by overcoming difficult problems."

Moon said in his message that he is "ready to sit down any time for dialogue with Japan," referring to Tokyo as Seoul's "closest friend." Suga did not take the bait.

In an article for the forthcoming October edition of the conservative monthly Bungeishunju, Suga insisted that Seoul and Tokyo reached a "final and irreversible agreement" on the issue of compensating Korean women who were forced to serve as sex slaves for Japanese troops during World War II.

But he warned that the chances of Korea reversing the agreement are "not zero" and revealed that Japan asked the U.S. to "bear witness" to the agreement by getting Washington to issue a statement welcoming the pact.

In the 1965 treaty normalizing diplomatic ties, Korea jettisoned all claims to reparations for colonial and wartime atrocities in return for a lump sum payment from Japan. But the Supreme Court here ruled in 2018 that a treaty between governments cannot override individual claims for compensation.

Suga said the U.S. probably knows whether it is Korea or Japan that is "moving the goalposts." This suggests Suga is minded to continue his predecessor Shinzo Abe's policy of ingratiating himself with Washington to get his way in disputes with Korea.

So far the U.S. has not bitten and asked the neighbors to sort the issue out between themselves.
NASA on Monday revealed its latest plan to return astronauts to the Moon in 2024, and estimated the cost of meeting that deadline at $28 billion, $16 billion of which would be spent on the lunar landing module.

Congress, which faces elections on November 3, will have to sign off on the financing for a project that has been set by President Donald Trump as a top priority. The $28 billion would cover the budgetary years of 2021-25.

In a phone briefing with journalists Monday on the Artemis mission to return human beings to the Moon, NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine noted that "political risks" were often the biggest threat to NASA's work, especially before such a crucial election.

Barack Obama cancelled plans for a manned Mars mission, after his predecessor spent billions of dollars on the project.

If Congress approves the first tranche of $3.2 billion by Christmas, "we're still on track for a 2024 moon landing," Bridenstine said.

"To be clear, we're going to the South Pole," he said, ruling out the sites of the Apollo landings on the Moon's equator between 1969 and 1972. "There's no discussion of anything other than that."

Three different projects are in competition to build the lunar lander that will carry two astronauts -- one of them a woman -- to the Moon from their vessel Orion.

The first one is being developed by Blue Origin, founded by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, in partnership with Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and Draper. The other two projects are being undertaken by Elon Musk's SpaceX and by the company Dynetics.

The first flight, Artemis I, scheduled for November of 2021, will be unmanned: the new giant rocket SLS, currently in its test phase, will take off for the first time with the Orion capsule.

Artemis II, in 2023, will take astronauts around the Moon but will not land.

Finally, Artemis III will be the equivalent of Apollo 11 in 1969, but the stay on the Moon will last longer -- for a week -- and will include two to five "extravehicular activities."

"The science that we would be doing is really very different than anything we've done before," said Bridenstine. "We have to remember during the Apollo era, we thought the moon was bone dry. Now we know that there's lots of water ice and we know that it's at the South Pole."





This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.

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Big cities like Chicago inspire unconventional innovation more than do suburbs. Credit: The Ohio State University

The disruptive inventions that make people go "Wow!" tend to come from research in the heart of cities and not in the suburbs, a new study suggests.

Researchers found that, within metro areas, the majority of patents come from innovations created in suburbsoften in the office parks of big tech companies like Microsoft and IBM.

But the unconventional, disruptive innovationsthe ones that combine research from different technological fieldsare more likely to be produced in cities, said Enrico Berkes, co-author of the study and postdoctoral researcher in economics at The Ohio State University.

These unconventional patents are ones that, for example, may blend research on acoustics with research on information storagethe basis for digital music players like the iPod. Or patents that cite previous work on vacuum cleaning and computing to produce the Roomba.

"Densely populated cities do not generate more patents than the suburbs, but they tend to generate more unconventional patents," said Berkes, who did the work as a doctoral student at Northwestern University.

"Our findings suggest that cities provide more opportunities for creative people in different fields to interact informally and exchange ideas, which can lead to more disruptive innovation."

Berkes conducted the study with Ruben Gaetani, assistant professor of strategic management at the University of Toronto. Their research was published online recently in The Economic Journal.

Previous research had shown that large metropolitan areas are where patenting activity tends to concentrate, Berkes said, suggesting that population density is an important factor for innovation.

But once Berkes and Gaetani started looking more closely at metro areas, they found that a sizable share of these patents was developed in the suburbsthe least densely populated part.Nearly three-quarters of patents came from places that had density below 3,650 people per square mile in 2000, about the density of Palo Alto, California.

"If new technology is spurred by population density, we wanted to know why so much is happening in the least dense parts of the metro areas," Berkes said.

So Berkes and Gaetani analyzed more than 1 million U.S. patents granted between January 2002 and August 2014. They used finely geolocated data from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office that allowed them to see exactly where in metro areasincluding city centers and specific suburbsthat patented discoveries were made.

But they were also interested in determining the type of innovations producedwhether they would be considered conventional or unconventional. They did this by analyzing the previous work on which each patent was based.

The researchers tagged new patents as unconventional if the inventors cited previous work in widely different areas.

For example, a patent from 2000 developed in Pittsburgh is one of the first recorded inventions in wearable technologies and one of the precursors to products such as Fitbit. It was recognized as unconventional because it cites previous patents in both apparel and electrical equipmenttwo very distant fields.

After analyzing the data, the researchers found that both urban and suburban areas played a prominent role in the innovation process, but in different ways, Berkes said.

Large innovative companies, such as IBM or Microsoft, tend to perform their research in large office parks located outside the main city centers.

"These companies are very successful in taking advantage of formal channels of knowledge diffusion, such as meetings or conferences, where they can capitalize on the expertise of their scientists and have them work together on specialized projects for the company," Berkes said.

"But it is more difficult for them to tap ideas from other scientific fields because this demands interactions with inventors they're not communicating with every day or running into in the cafeteria or in the hallway."

That's where the urban cores excelled. In cities like San Francisco and Boston, researchers may meet people in entirely different fields at bars, restaurants, museums and cultural events. Any chance encounter could lead to productive partnerships, he said.

"If you want to create something truly new and disruptive, it helps if you have opportunities to casually bump into people from other scientific fields and exchange ideas and experiences and knowledge. That's what happens in cities," he said.

"Density plays an important role in the type, rather than the amount, of innovation."

These findings show the potential value of tech parks that gather technology startup companies in a variety of fields in one place, Berkes said. But they have to be set up properly.

"Our research suggests that informal interactions are important. Tech parks should be structured in a way that people from different startups can easily interact with each other on a regular basis and share ideas," he said.

Explore further Innovation is widespread in rural areas, not just cities

More information: Enrico Berkes et al, The Geography of Unconventional Innovation, The Economic Journal (2020). Enrico Berkes et al, The Geography of Unconventional Innovation,(2020). DOI: 10.1093/ej/ueaa111
As the pandemic continues to radically alter how Canadians spend their money, experts say a second wave of COVID-19 will likely see consumers plagued by shortages  but this time stemming from lifestyle changes rather than panic buying.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 22/9/2020 (486 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A radiant heater, used on restaurant patios and at outdoor venues, is seen on a workbench at Sunbelt Rentals in Ottawa, on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020, as businesses look for solutions to extend their season during the COVID-19 pandemic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

As the pandemic continues to radically alter how Canadians spend their money, experts say a second wave of COVID-19 will likely see consumers plagued by shortages  but this time stemming from lifestyle changes rather than panic buying.

The early days of the pandemic saw toilet paper emptied out of store shelves and some retailers are running low once more as cases rise, but experts say shifts in consumer behaviour over the past six months mean lengthy backorders are more likely to arise on discretionary items ranging from upscale stationary bicycles to patio heaters.

The retail upheaval is a sign of the ongoing COVID-induced cultural and economic phenomenon sweeping the country, as people work from home, shop online and rethink how they spend time  and money.

But the disruption to usual shopping patterns has led to widespread inventory issues as the industry scrambles to meet changing consumer demand.

The bottleneck wont be people buying tons of toilet paper, said Diane J. Brisebois, Retail Council of Canada president and CEO. It will be the supply chain trying to adjust to changes in lifestyles and discretionary spending habits.

Compounding the problem is a sweeping channel shift away from brick-and-mortar stores towards online shopping.

Statistics Canada said in July that retail e-commerce sales had soared to an all-time high, reaching a record $3.9 billion in May  an increase of 110 per cent compared with May 2019.

The spike has left many retailers straining to keep up with the trifecta of traditional home delivery, buy online and pick up in store, and curbside pickup.

For many, the rapid pace of change has exposed an inventory management nightmare: Orders arrive on the doorstep or curbside incomplete, delivery dates are revised into the distant future or orders are simply cancelled.

Deloitte Canadas Jim Kilpatrick said the pandemic has challenged the best practice of using historical sales and consumption data to predict future demand and drive inventory decisions.

Its been really difficult to pick up an accurate signal about what products people want and in what quantities, said Kilpatrick, the consulting firms global supply chain and network operations leader.

While retailers and manufacturers are becoming more nimble in responding to shifts in demand, he said the coming months will still be tricky.

We've seen a tremendous acceleration to online shopping, Kilpatrick said. That puts a lot of stress on the system.

It can also create headaches for shoppers.

Lynn Matheson ordered pants from American clothing retailer Anthropologie in July.

But a few days later, she received an email informing her that the pants were out of stock and the order was cancelled.

"I'm normally a second-hand shopper, but they were very cool harem pants," she said in an interview from her home in Lake Echo, N.S. "They sent me a free shipping code for my next order, but it was still disappointing."

While items like fireplace inserts and billowy harem trousers may be hard to come by in the coming months, experts say groceries and essential items are in good supply.

The food industry has been preparing for months for a potential second wave, said Sylvain Charlebois, a professor of food distribution and policy and director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University.

If there are more lockdowns, the food industry is even better equipped now than during the first wave.

But that doesnt mean shoppers wont notice changes to everyday staples on store shelves.

Anna Petrova, vice-president of supply chain at Kraft Heinz Canada, the largest food company in Canada, said the business has made some temporary tweaks to the range of products it offers to maximize the production of its most popular items.

Increasing supply to meet pandemic demand sometimes means that we have to limit production of certain varieties, she said. Were concentrating on the top sellers.

Manufacturers of goods ranging from food products to toilet paper have temporarily limited the number of stock keeping units  or SKUs  they make. The move increases production by limiting changeovers  the process of converting a machine or line from running one item to another.

Grocery store shelves will be well stocked with the original Kraft Dinner, for example, while production of the organic and white cheese varieties have been scaled back.

We are able to handle spikes in pandemic volume, Petrova said. We have been working very hard to create additional capacity to produce more products to satisfy Canadians.

Try our Dish The latest on food and drink in Winnipeg and beyond from arts writers Ben Sigurdson and Eva Wasney. Dish arrives in your inbox every other Friday. See sample. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

Meanwhile, for people still worried about toilet paper  dont be, says Dino Bianco, CEO of Kruger Products LP, Canadas biggest tissue products manufacturer.

Our assets are running full out and were continuing to build inventory, said Bianco, noting that the company  maker of the Cashmere and Purex brands of toilet paper  has doubled its inventory of raw materials to maintain a 60-day inventory, up from 30 days.

Still, Kruger is also focusing on key products. While consumers will find plenty of the companys Cashmere brand toilet paper, for example, Bianco said its recycled sub-brand EnviroCare may be harder to come by.

Its a much slower mover, so we decided to put a halt on that one for now."

Sept. 22, 2020.

Companies in this story: (TSX:TKTK)
A gambling addict who conned almost $800,000 from businessmen she met on Tinder and gave deadly threats to her victims' families has been jailed for four years.

Jocelyn Zakhour, 41, had been living as a VIP member in Melbourne's Crown Casino when she falsely told two men she needed money to invest into a blueberry and tobacco farm in NSW.

Between June and November in 2018, Zakhour managed to swindle more than $780,00 from both of her victims.

She eventually pleaded guilty to multiple fraud, blackmail and extortion charges and on Tuesday cried when she was jailed for a maximum of four years and six months with a non-parole period of two years and eight months.

Jocelyn Zakhour has been jailed after fleecing more than $780,000 from businessmen she met on Tinder

The County Court heard how Zakhour managed to fleece the men including telling them she needed cash for her employees, The Herald Sun reported.

Zakhour managed to swindle $728,700 from her first victim after promising him a 300 per cent return for his investment into the fake farm.

She also gifted him with a fake Rolex to ensure what she was doing wasn't a 'scam'.

He initially transferred her $200,000 but was forced to give her more after Zakhour said 'the employees would find him and his family and harm them'.

'Tell your ex-wife you will kill yourself if she doesn't give you the money,' she said.

Zakhour also told the victim to take money out of his super and if he didn't workers would 'come to Melbourne and do something to him and his family'.

The 41-year-old threatened her victims and their families if they did not continue to pay her

The serial gambler also sent out 240 threatening emails to her first victim before she was eventually reported to police in November, 2018

The first man eventually reported Zakhour to police in November, 2018 after she sent him 240 emails threatening his ex-wife, children and even his mother.

Detectives swooped on Zakhour after one of her victims arranged to meet up with her at a restaurant.

The 41-year-old told police she regretted blowing all the money on pokies and baccarat at the casino, adding her victim 'knew what type of girl I am'.

'The thing that's killing me is I did nothing with the money, I could have brought the biggest business, I didn't even buy myself a car, not even property, nothing to show for it,' Zakhour said.

'I don't feel sorry for him, how can you be so stupid to believe those stories.'

Her second victim, a financial planner, was conned into paying her $61,000 which she said would go towards farm equipment and staff wages.

She lived large as a VIP member of the Crown Casino and even gambled away $24million between 2016 and 2018

It was also heard that Zakhour had been held hostage by a man in Syria who then forced her family to pay up $400,000 in order to let her go.

This resulted in Zakhour gambling heavily in a bid to pay her parents back.

She lived as a VIP member of the Crown Casino and even gambled away $24million between 2016 and 2018.

She said her high-rolling lifestyle gave her a sense of 'power'.

Judge Gregory Lyon said the fraudster had 'ruthlessly exploited' her victims and ruined their lives and ability to trust others.

Zakhour wrote an apology letter to her victims, spent the past 18 months volunteering at a soup kitchen, and paid back her victims about 10 per cent of what they had lost.

She sobbed in court upon being sentenced to jail.
A man fills his car at a Shell garage in Glasgow. Photo: Jeff J Mitchell/Reuters

Royal Dutch Shell (RDSB.L) is looking to cut up to 40% off its costs related to producing oil and gas as it focuses on the renewable energy and power markets.

Thats according to a source who spoke exclusively to Reuters.

The project is known internally as Project Reshape and is expected to be completed by the end of this year, said Mondays report. There will be three main divisions of the business that are impacted by the cuts and they will reportedly be in addition to a $4bn (3.1bn) target set in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis.

Royal Dutch Shell shares were trading lower on Monday at around 2:30pm London time. They are down 1.9%, falling to annual lows amid the wider market slump.

The business is looking to revamp its strategy with more of a green energy focus. Chart: Yahoo Finance

Shells strategic move comes in the wake of similar ones by its peers, including BP (BP) and Total (TOT), which have also been battling for a greater share of the renewable energy market. Shells cost cuts key are key for it to transition into the renewables market as margins in it are relatively low.

We had a great model but is it right for the future? There will be differences, this is not just about structure but culture and about the type of company we want to be, a senior Shell source, who declined to be named, told Reuters.

The business is exploring ways to reduce spending on oil and gas production in its largest division, known as upstream, according to two sources who spoke to Reuters. Roughly 30% to 40% of those cuts will be in operating costs and capital spending on new projects.

Shell also will refocus its oil and gas production on a few key hubs, including the Gulf of Mexico, Nigeria and the North Sea, the sources said.

Last year, Shells overall operating costs came to $38bn and capital spending totalled $24bn.

READ MORE: Oil slides as Libya production resumes and fears grow over COVID-19 hit to demand
People have a tendency to interpret new facts as being consistent with their strongly held beliefs. This propensity, known as confirmation bias, is well known. What is not generally appreciated, however, is that confirmation bias is not just a mild affliction. It is a dominating factor in human thinking -- especially with matters distant from one's direct personal experience.

Nobel prize-winning cognitive psychologist Daniel Kahneman explained that confirmation bias comes from when you have an interpretation, and you adopt it, and then, top down, you force everything to fit that interpretation. And Karl Popper noted that if we are uncritical we shall always find what we want: we shall look for, and find, confirmations, and we shall look away from, and not see, whatever might be dangerous to our pet theories.

Confirmation bias has two basic components. First, we embrace and amplify facts that confirm our existing narratives. And second, we resist and diminish evidence that is inconsistent with our narratives.
BRUSSELS - The coronavirus pandemic forced the European Union to postpone a scheduled summit for a week after EU Council President Charles Michel went into quarantine because a close collaborator was diagnosed with COVID-19.

Spokesman Barend Leyts said Tuesday that Michel today learned that a security officer, with whom he was in close contact early last week, tested positive for COVID.

Leyts said that the European Council chief is respecting Belgian rules and he has gone into quarantine as of today.

Even as the United Nations held its annual General Assembly remotely with video screens, the 27-nation EU had been preparing to stage its second live summit in a little over two months. A July summit took place with exhaustive precautions and no reported health consequences.

This week, it took one person from Michels inner circle to test positive to scuttle plans two days ahead of the meeting.

The summit set for Thursday and Friday was to address issues as wide-ranging as Brexit negotiations, climate change and the tensions between Greece and Turkey over energy rights.

Preparations for the meeting were already in full swing when Michel made the sudden announcement. He postponed the summit by one week, to Oct. 1-2.

Live summits with the leaders of EU nations coming to Brussels only resumed over the summer. Throughout the spring, they met through video conferences while staying in their own capitals.

As the chief of the European Council, Michel is the host of the regular summits of EU leaders. In July, he forced the national leaders to stay for four days in Brussels to broker an 1.85 trillion-euro agreement on a pandemic recovery fund and long-term EU budget.

The 27 leaders often wore facemasks and met in a room that normally holds 300 to accommodate social distancing. Key meetings were held on a roof terrace under the open sky.

Tuesdays postponement is a setback to the EU leaders hope for a return to normalcy.

Michel, who tested negative for the virus on Monday, did not want to risk bringing the leaders together in one room, however big, for fear of further exposure. The decision to delay also took place against a background of irritation when government officials do not take the same care with precautionary measures as the general public does.

Only last month, the EUs chief trade negotiator, Commissioner Phil Hogan, had to resign when he admitted flaunting some measures during a summer stay in his native Ireland. EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier tested positive for the virus in March.

Almost 150,000 people in the European Union have died in the pandemic, which also has thrown the bloc into the worst economic crisis of its history.
Bills designed to address the issue of missing and murdered Native Americans that passed unanimously in the House Monday are headed to President Trump's desk to be signed into law.

Why it matters: The first bill, Savanna's Act, "addresses a tragic issue in Indian Country and helps establish better law enforcement practices to track, solve and prevent these crimes against Native Americans," said Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Chair John Hoeven (R-N.D.), who co-sponsored the bill, in a statement.

A tweet previously embedded here has been deleted or was tweeted from an account that has been suspended or deleted.

The big picture: Savanna's Act is named for Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind, a 22-year-old member of the Spirit Lake Sioux Tribe from Fargo, North Dakota, who was eight months pregnant when she was killed in 2017. Former Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) originally introduced the bill that year.
Its a legitimate question, but let me tell you why Im not going answer that question, Biden said. Because it will shift the focus. Thats what [Trump] wants. He never wants to talk about the issue at hand and he always tries to change the subject. Lets say I answer that question, then the whole debates going to be about what Biden said or didnt say, Biden said he would or wouldnt.
Chinese-speaking scammers are posing as Chinese authority figures (including police) and duping Chinese students in Australia to participate in "virtual kidnappings," while extorting their family members at the same time (Image Supplied NSW Police).

Latest Virtual Kidnapping Scam Claims $200,000 From Concerned Parents

SYDNEYAn international Chinese student has been found safe after an elaborate virtual kidnapping incident in Sydney that saw a family in China pay more than $200,000 in ransom money.

The 18-year-old woman was reported missing on Sept. 8 to New South Wales (NSW) Police by friends concerned for her welfare.

Police were told videos and images of the woman had been sent to family members overseas via Chinese social media app WeChat.

The videos were followed by demands for money by scammers purporting to be Chinese police, in exchange for the womans safe release. The family would gradually transfer $213,000 to an offshore account in the Bahamas.

Chinese-speaking scammers are posing as Chinese authority figures (including police) and duping Chinese students in Australia to participate in virtual kidnappings, while extorting their family members at the same time (Image Supplied NSW Police).

The State Crime Commands Robbery and Serious Crime Squad, together with local detectives, began investigating along with police negotiators, the Australian Federal Police, and Chinese authorities.

Detectives found the woman safe and well at Pyrmont on Sept. 15.

Afterwards they raided a unit at Chatswood on Sydneys north shore. The residence of a 22-year-old law student who was also contacted by the scammers.

According to NSW Police Force State Crime Command Director, Detective Chief Superintendent Darren Bennett, the student was believably co-opted into assisting the scammers and thought he was looking after a protected witness for Chinese police.

The student met with the woman at the Sydney Fish Market before she stayed at his residence for a few days.

Police revealed the woman was contacted by scammers in July receiving an email from Chinese police who claimed her personal details had been illegally used on a package intercepted overseas.

Chinese-speaking scammers are posing as Chinese authority figures (including police) and duping Chinese students in Australia to participate in virtual kidnappings, while extorting their family members at the same time (Image Supplied NSW Police).

Bennett renewed recent warnings of elaborate virtual kidnapping scams targeting the Chinese community and international students in Australia.

It appears these scammers are continuing to operate and are once again preying on the vulnerabilities of individuals in the community who are not in direct physical contact with their families, he said in a statement.

The individuals behind these virtual kidnapping scams continually adapt their scripts and methodology, which are designed to take advantage of peoples trust in authorities.

NSW Police have revealed a spate of similar incidents this year involving Chinese families.

On June 17, a father in China paid $2 million after receiving a video of his 22-year-old daughter in Sydney tied up.

The father said the ransom caller pretended to be from the Chinese police. His daughter was later found safe in a hotel in Hurstville following an investigation.

On April 22, officers from Sydneys Ryde Police Station were contacted by a university concerned for the welfare of one of its students.

The students family from China allegedly told police that their daughter had been kidnapped. The family paid $300,000 in ransom demands.

Following the latest incident, police reiterated that those who receive a call demanding money under the threat of violence should hang up or contact the Chinese consulate in Sydney to verify the claims.
A University of Texas at Arlington civil engineering professor is developing non-destructive evaluation (NDE) techniques, computer modeling and full-scale load testing to provide a complete and accurate picture of the strength and remaining life of Texas bridges.

Using a three-year, $903,754 contract with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), Nur Yazdani will assist TxDOT engineers in prioritizing which bridges need to be repaired or replaced, without closing roads for long periods of time.

Yazdani is the first researcher in the U.S. to combine NDE techniques, computer modeling and load testing to analyze bridge condition and integrity.

NDE techniques such as ground-penetrating radar, thermal imaging, impact echo and ultrasonic tomography can detect and quantify concrete cracks, delamination and embedded rebar condition. They also can provide an internal 3D image of bridge components to show the actual extent of damage or deterioration, much like an X-ray.

For load testing, Yazdani places pre-weighted trucks at specific spots on a bridge deck and uses sensors to collect data on strains, deflections and rotations caused by trucks. The data allows him to understand the structural behavior of the bridge.

A computer model that incorporates the NDE and load testing data can be used to show the effects of specific bridge rehabilitation procedures on improving performance and service life.

"We have the equipment, manpower and know-how to perform NDE, modeling and load testing, and we can use all of that data to determine the true condition of the bridge," Yazdani said. "We can also test repair options on the computer and provide a cost-benefit ratio that will allow TxDOT to make the best decision for each situation."

Yazdani and his team have already tested their techniques on several bridges in the Dallas-Fort Worth region. The methods also can be used on bridge retaining walls and culverts.

"Congratulations to Dr. Yazdani for securing this impactful large grant to address the health of bridges and infrastructure in Texas, which will undoubtedly result in national and international recognitions by departments of transportation," said Ali Abolmaali, chair of the Civil Engineering Department. "His constant efforts and adroitness in NDE research has enlightened and brought a new dimension in health evaluation of our nation's infrastructure."

Yazdani has contracted with TxDOT several times previously on bridge testing, including a a 2019 project to develop a decision tool for bridge repair and/or retrofit, a 2017 project to inspect and evaluate new and existing bridge components using NDE methods, and a 2015 project to test the performance of carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer wrapping for bridge repairs.

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1
Alan Blum is the Director of The University of Alabama Center for the Study of Tobacco and Society. Eric Solberg is Vice-President for Academic and Research Affairs of the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. This is an edited version of their opinion recently published in The Cancer Letter.

The unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic makes it possible to compare and contrast the public health and political responses to previous health crises. The most obvious comparison is to the influenza epidemic of 1918-19, which took the lives of 675,000 Americans in less than two years. Yet a comparison with cigarette smoking, which killed untold millions of Americans in the 20th century and continues to take the lives of 500,000 a year, is more illuminating.

At first glance, comparing COVID-19 to cigarettes seems illogical. Yes, people who take up smoking do so willingly, although most do so before they reach adulthood. And yes, those who contract COVID-19 do not willingly seek out the virus.

Disease and death from smoking take years, even decades, to occur. Deaths from COVID-19 can occur within days or weeks, albeit in less than 3% of victims, most of whom have underlying conditions such as hypertension, obesity, and emphysema.

But hard-earned lessons gleaned from efforts to address the tobacco pandemic can be applied to the efforts against COVID-19

As defiant and skeptical as President Trump may be of the personal preventive measures that all infectious disease experts agree are the best steps to contain the spread of the virus, his magical thinking approach mirrors the playbook of previous presidents to ending the cigarette pandemic, even long after smoking was recognized as the nations leading avoidable cause of death and disease.

Should anyone really be surprised that when it comes to public health and health care, money and politics take precedence over science and common sense?

In early April, no sooner had Dr. Anthony Fauci, of the White House COVID-19 Task Force, come to the conclusion that all Americans, not just front-line health workers and patients, needed to wear face masks, practice social distancing, and wash their hands to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Trump began subverting this message by retweeting Faucis original assertion in March that mask-wearing by the general public was not yet necessary.

By mid-summer, Trump had rejected the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on protecting meat processing plant workers, teachers, other school personnel, and children from COVID-19. Trump not only muted, muzzled, and marginalized the CDC, he also became its spokesman.

Even as he has publicly played down the ease of spread and the adverse health consequences of COVID-19, we now know that in February he privately acknowledged the ferocity of the new virus in recorded interviews with reporter Bob Woodward, who in 1974 exposed the Watergate cover-up orchestrated by President Nixon.

Trumps behavior calls to mind the response by another president to the efforts by the top health official in his administration to launch the federal governments first anti-smoking campaign. In January 1978, US Secretary of Health Education and Welfare Joseph A. Califano, Jr., announced that HEW would place the weight of its scientific authority behind programs to inform the public  especially the young  about why they should not smoke and how they can quit if they wish. As the chief health officer of government, I have the duty to see that we do just that.

Within weeks, Califanos efforts were being undermined by President Jimmy Carter, who traveled to North Carolina to assure tobacco famers that the government would make cigarette smoking even safer than it is today. As Califanos campaign continued to gain momentum, and after HEW published the most comprehensive indictment yet of cigarette smoking in its 1979 Surgeon Generals Report, Carter fired Califano. There was little doubt that the main reason was his fervent anti-smoking stance.

The present-day opposition to state and local ordinances mandating the wearing of face masks in public places is akin to the vocal opposition in 1964 to federal legislation to require an understated warning on the side of cigarette packs (Caution: Cigarette Smoking May Be Hazardous to Your Health) and to smokers' rights protests in the 1980s and 1990s against smoking bans on airlines and in restaurants and bars.

The staunchest opponents of the warning labels in the 1960s were not just the cigarette manufacturers and tobacco state Congressmen, but also the American Medical Association, which claimed that the public was already well informed about the dangers of smoking.

By the 1980s, North Carolina Senator Jesse Helms was beating back anti-smoking bills on behalf of Big Tobacco. Today, we can take in the spectacle of Sen. Rand Paul (a physician) and House Members Matt Goetz, Luis Gohmert, and Mark Meadows deriding the recommendation to wear face masks. All four contracted COVID-19, with Gohmert blaming his infection on having to wear a mask.

At his nationally televised town meeting on Sept. 15, in which he claimed that herd mentality could make the virus disappear, Trump also claimed that the repeated putting on and taking off a mask could increase the chances of becoming infected with COVID-19.

200,000 deaths  in addition to hundreds of thousands of potential long-haulers suffering from crushing fatigue, lung and heart damage, and other problems  caused by a single pathogen in just six months extrapolates to 300,000 deaths this year, plus a lingering morbidity comparable to that caused by cigarette smoking. And there is no cure in sight, but rather false promises by the president of a breakthrough vaccine just around the corner, coincidentally, just before Election Day.

Writing in Financial Times on Aug. 4, Sir Richard Feachem, who directed the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, warns that counting on a COVID-19 vaccine to come to our rescue soon is not only unlikely but is a dangerous assumption on which to plan the overall response to the pandemic.

Politicians and vaccine developers have incentives to reinforce this assumption, he notes, in spite of the long odds against a vaccine with high efficacy, a protracted duration of protection, a convenient dosing schedule, and the ability to administer billions of doses.

The fastest vaccine ever developed  for mumps  took four years. We still lack vaccines for other pandemic infectious diseases such as AIDS and malaria.

Trumps Warp Speed approach to find a COVID-19 vaccine is reminiscent of the half-century long quest for a safe cigarette.

Following the release of the 1964 Surgeon Generals Report by Alabamian Dr. Luther Terry, there was a dramatic increase in advertising claims by the tobacco companies implying that filtered cigarettes were safer than non-filtered ones. Alas, the history of the filter is at the heart of why the reduction in smoking has been so slow.

Beginning in the early-1950s, when the devastating reports of the impact of smoking on health were making front-page news and beginning to drive down cigarette sales, the tobacco industry proclaimed in full-page newspaper ads that it would fund research to identify and remove any harmful ingredients from cigarette smoke. The federal government bought into that approach: until the 1980s the National Cancer Institutes research efforts on smoking were almost entirely directed toward finding a safer cigarette.

The unequivocal conclusion of the landmark 1964 US Surgeon Generals report on smoking and health that cigarettes cause lung cancer and other diseases was supposed to end a debate that had raged for decades.

Instead, the tobacco industry made a preemptive strike by funneling a total of $18 million over 14 years to the American Medical Association  one of the few health organizations that did not endorse the report  to conduct more research.

Why did the AMA choose not to campaign against smoking, but rather to conduct the same kind of research that the report had already found sufficient for its indictment of smoking?

It did so in order to remain in the good graces of tobacco state senators, whom it counted on to help prevent the creation of Medicare by Congress.

The AMA/tobacco industry collaboration distributed research funds to dozens of universities to keep scientists in their laboratories and not out testifying to the need to end smoking now.

The safer cigarette con endures to the present day. 99% of cigarettes sold are filtered brands, in spite of the fact that filters increase the risk of death and disease from smoking by virtue of the smoker needing to inhale more deeply  and by fostering complacency about the dangers of smoking.

The same mentality that denied smokings devastating health toll and was skeptical of efforts to restrict smoking in public places is at it again with COVID-19. The cigarette companies' filter and low-tar hucksterism is not unlike the touting of oleander, hydroxychloroquine, zinc, bleach, Lysol, and UV light for the prevention of COVID infections.

By his masks-be-damned photo ops and his tweets to Liberate Michigan! and other battleground states with Democratic governors from the inconvenience of wearing a mask, Trump has become a 21st century Typhoid Mary, a super-spreader of COVID-19 through his crowded campaign rallies.

In addition, the FDA has been compromised by pressure from Trump to approve hydroxychloroquine and convalescent plasma as treatments for COVID-19 in spite of the absence of safety data. Fauci has been told to refrain from stating that children can transmit COVID-19. And CDC has been forced to walk back recommendations on school reopening and to watch its venerable weekly report to the health community censored by non-scientists planted by the White House.

Listening today to Fox News' downplaying of the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic and the criticism of face mask mandates and other measures we know can help prevent the spread of infections is to relive the era of willful ignorance on smoking promoted by the cigarette makers through its Tobacco Institute.

Yes, research to identify a vaccine is essential, but its not a substitute for wearing masks until we get a safe and effective vaccine.

In his July 2 column in The New York Times, Nicholas Kristof wrote that in the face of coronavirus Americans are acting curiously helpless... We dont seem willing to assert independence from a virus that in four months has killed more Americans than the Korean, Vietnam, Gulf, Afghanistan and Iraq wars did over 70 years.

The cost of distribution of free masks, he added, would be negligible compared to the cost of hospitalizations. Repudiating Trumps assertion that mask-wearing is simply a personal choice, Kristof warns that in a time of plague, shunning a face mask is, like driving drunk, putting everyone in your path in danger. We now know that in April Trump vetoed such a free mask distribution program via the United States Postal Service.

By 1964, we knew what we needed to do to end the smoking and lung cancer pandemic, and we didnt do it. Every president, Democrat and Republican  Johnson, Nixon, Carter, Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Bush, and Obama  passed the buck on cigarettes. Now, incredibly, with COVID-19 we are witnessing the same misguided politics and the same fear on the part of academia and organized medicine in speaking truth to power.

Our economy-over-lives political system has made it impossible to put the simplest, most effective, and least expensive measures as the first priority.
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Linkedin Benny Mawel and Budi Sutrisno (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta and Jayapura  Tue, September 22, 2020 20:35 486 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c467d297 1 National TNI,Papua,pelanggaran-HAM,HAM,human-rights-abuse,separatists,Intan-Jaya,clergy,PGI,pendeta-dibunuh Free

The recent killing of pastor Yeremia Zanambani in Intan Jaya regency, Papua, allegedly carried out by personnel from the Indonesian Military (TNI) is the third case targeting a churchman in Papua since 2004, a church fellowship has said.

The TNI has denied involvement in all three killings, accusing separatists of killing two of them and claiming that the other one was not actually dead. Human rights institutions have called on the government to open an independent investigation to shed light on the killings.

President of the Papuan Baptist Churches Fellowship, Sokratez Sofyan Yoman, has alleged that prior to Yeremia, TNI members shot dead two other pastors, namely Geyimin Nirigi and Elisa Tabuni, in separate incidents.

Geyimin was killed in Mapenduma district, Nduga regency, on Dec. 19, 2018, he said, adding that the victim was reportedly forced to dig a grave in the backyard of his house, before being shot dead and his body burned.

[Geyimin] had been a church pioneer since 1963. He was an old man, a figure who had received the gospel in Nduga, Sokratez told The Jakarta Post on Monday.

Socratez said a TNI spokesman at that time had denied the allegation, saying Geyimin was alive and well. However, he added, the results of an investigation by the Papuan Human Integrity Justice and Peace Foundation showed that Giyimin had died, allegedly at the hands of TNI personnel.

Meanwhile, Elisa was reportedly handcuffed and shot dead by members of the Armys Special Forces (Kopassus) in Tingginambut district, Puncak Jaya regency, on Aug. 16, 2004, Sokratez said.

He said the TNI had also denied this allegation, claiming that Elisa had died at the hands of Goliath Tabuni, a separatist leader based in the district.

Read also: Churches union condemns shooting that killed pastor in Papua, urges Jokowi to take action

Socratez strongly condemned the recent killing of Yeremia, as well as the other two cases, saying that it was an accursed act before God and man.

The cruelty, violence and savagery of the TNI against the pastors is an affront to humanity and should be condemned, he said.

Local news in Papua reported that Yeremia was shot dead on his way to his pig pen on Saturday, at the same time as a military operation was taking place.

Socratez said at least seven churches had been emptied, with many members of the congregations fleeing into the forests, as a result of military operations in Papua.

Yeremia was the head of a theological school in Hitadipa district in Intan Jaya and a pastor in the Imanuel Hutadipa congregation of the Indonesian Evangelical Christian Church (GKII). He was also a Bible translator and a community leader of the Moni tribe.

Executives of the GKII and the Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI), as well as figures from the Moni tribe, are currently probing the incident.

The PGI has sent a letter to President Joko Jokowi Widodo, urging him to establish an independent team to thoroughly investigate this case, with support from the Papuan Police and the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) in Papua.

Socratez urged Jokowi to end military operations in Papua. He also urged the Papuan Council of Churches (WPCC) to write to the Pacific Conference of Churches (PCC) and the World Council of Churches (WCC) to urge Pacific island nations to raise the issue at a United Nations forum.

Read also: After a year of Papuan antiracism rallies, discrimination remains an everyday occurrence

Komnas HAM commissioner Beka Ulung Hapsara said the commission had received a report regarding the latest incident from Papuan Students Alliance head John Gobay on Monday, and had immediately launched an investigation into the case.

We have not concluded who is responsible. However, Komnas HAM believes that the government needs to evaluate its security approach in Papua to stop the cycle of violence involving TNI, armed groups and civil society, to which a long list of people have fallen victim, Beka told the Post on Tuesday.

Amnesty International Indonesia executive director Usman Hamid urged the government to investigate Yeremias case and provide an explanation whether TNI personnel were responsible for the incident.

This shooting again shows the failure of the state to bring peace to Papua. Since the beginning of the year, there have been at least 15 cases of extrajudicial shootings there. When can Papuans be free to live in peace? Usman said in a statement on Tuesday.

The Papua Police said the latest incident was committed by an armed group, aiming to attract global attention ahead of the UN General Assembly scheduled for the end of this month, although the police were investigating the motive behind the shooting.

TNI spokesperson for the Joint Regional Defense Command III in Papua Col. Gusti Nyoman Suriastawa also said Yeremia had been shot by an armed group, although he said he was still waiting for the results of an investigation by the Cendrawasih Regional Military Command.

I don't know [if there were two previous cases]. It's been a long time. I'm afraid I might provide an incorrect statement. Let's all wait for the investigation while we mourn the deceased, he told the Post.

Cendrawasih Regional Military Command spokesperson Lt. Col. Reza Patria said on Tuesday that his team was still investigating the incident and declined to elaborate further.
22.09.2020 LISTEN

The strike by the Ghana Registered Nursing and Midwives Association of Ghana (GRNMA), took effect on Monday, September 21 and has left patients across the country stranded without healthcare.

Uginlen Nabuja, an 88-year-old woman from Parambo in the Pru East district, died at the Mathias Catholic Hospital's emergency unit as the strike took off.

This was because all the staff are not at the post, A GRNMA regional executive, Mr Mark Otoo opined Citi News.

Several other patients with critical health conditions have apparently been left to their own fate.

A patient at the Mathias Catholic Hospital, Mr Samuel Nana Aquah expressed his fears with the situation.

We the patients will genuinely suffer in respect to the continuity of the drugs that they were giving us because they will now curtail it.

Another patient, Agnes Sarfo, pleaded with the government to heed to the Nurses' demands because they [the patients] are dying.

None of the nurses are here. When we asked them, they said the government isn't paying them so they would also not work, but we are sick. We plead with the government to heed to their demands because we are dying.

The Atebubu District Hospital, Kwame Danso District Hospital among others in the Bono East Region had empty Out-Patient's Departments and wards with only patients as the strike sees full enforcement.

---citinewsroom
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 22:22:46|Editor: huaxia

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MOGADISHU, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- The UN humanitarian agency on Tuesday called for increased funding to provide life-saving humanitarian assistance to millions of Somalis in need.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that slowing down programs due to funding constraints could reverse recent humanitarian and socio-economic gains in Somalia.

The OCHA said Somalia funding constraints come when the triple threat of COVID-19, floods and locusts has aggravated humanitarian needs.

"It is critical that further support is provided to ongoing humanitarian responses," the UN humanitarian agency in a statement.

According to OCHA, the Somalia Humanitarian Response Plan which seeks 1.01 billion U.S. dollars to assist and protect three million out of 5.2 million people in need, has only received 575 million dollars.

It said several humanitarian clusters have received less than 35 percent of required funding, which has impacted their programs in the Horn of Africa nation.

The OCHA said it works with 363 humanitarian partners that provide life-saving assistance and protection to 3 million out of 5.2 million people who need assistance across Somalia. Enditem
3 1 of 3 Texas Most Wanted Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Texas Department of Public Safety Show More Show Less 3 of 3





The Texas Department of Public Safety has arrested a San Antonio man who was on its 10 Most Wanted List, the department said Tuesday.

Tyrell Ezeekiel Darden, 20, was arrested Thursday in Irving and charged with aggravated robbery and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Within months, the centuries-old, lavish marriage tradition for which Indian-administered Kashmir is known has changed drastically in a region that already suffered months-long security lockdown last year.

The three days of feasting, elaborate rituals and huge gatherings have been replaced by muted ceremonies attended by a limited number of close relatives and neighbours.

Months before the pandemic, Haseeb Mushtaq had drawn up a guest list of hundreds of guests and made grand plans for celebrating his wedding in May.

But then the pandemic prevented him from going back home for his wedding from Dubai, where he has an engineering job. When he finally arrived for his postponed wedding in September, he was only able to invite about 100 people, mostly from his extended family and close friends.

Marriage is a once-in-a-lifetime affair and I feel really bad that we couldnt invite most of our relatives, friends and neighbours, Haseeb said at the ceremony.

Still, Haseeb considers himself lucky. One of his friends, who works in Saudi Arabia, was unable to travel home for his own marriage and had to postpone it to next year.

Kashmiris normally hold elaborate marriage feasts, with meals cooked over open fires through the night by teams of chefs called Wazas. Hundreds of guests are invited for lunch and dinner and served up to 30-course meals. The feast is called a Wazwan.

The peculiarity of a Wazwan is that every part of a lamb, except the hide, head and hooves, is used to make different dishes.

In the past, guests would gather in groups of four around large copper platters heaped with rice and various mutton and chicken dishes. The Wazas move among the guests, dressed in crisp white baggy trousers and tunics, serving more food.

The Wazwan tradition is so entrenched across all classes in Kashmir that numerous attempts by social groups and the government to raise awareness around food waste have failed to result in any significant restraint.

The pandemic has largely achieved that in a matter of months.

Wedding ceremonies require prior permission from the authorities, and limits on the number of guests and physical distancing rules are mandatory. Most Wazwans are restricted to 10 dishes and the chefs are advised to wear protective suits and gloves.

Health officials say 63,990 coronavirus cases have been reported in the region through September 20, including 1,001 deaths.

For master chef Ghulam Qadir and his team of over three dozen cooks, the pandemic has impacted their earnings badly for the second straight year.

Last August, India suddenly scrapped disputed Kashmirs statehood and imposed an unprecedented security clampdown, creating economic disaster and the cancellation of most wedding celebrations.

Qadir said the pandemic has posed another challenge to the cooks  keeping themselves and guests safe while cooking and serving the marriage feasts.

It is sad to see our hundreds of years of tradition changing in few months due to the pandemic. We used to eat from one big platter and now we have a small plate for each guest, Bashir Ahmed said at a relatives wedding.

It looks like a small change, but this kind of change saddens me.
The Social Policy Ministry of Ukraine has represented a new Strategy for Digital Transformation of the Social Sphere, which will create a single information environment of the social sphere.

The presentation of the strategy took place on September 21, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.

According to Deputy Social Policy Minister for Digital Development, Digital Transformations and Digitization Valerii Bushkov, the single information system of the social sphere is expected to be fully implemented by the end of 2022. As part of the digital transformation of the social sphere, the ministry will create a single social web resource on the Diya portal, a single register of social assistance recipients, a single social treasury and a social sphere archive.

Bushkov has noted that first social services may appear this year.

The deputy minister has added that the creation of a single information system in the social sphere will be based on existing information systems, in particular on the basis of the Register of Insured Persons managed by the Pension Fund of Ukraine. The Social Policy Ministry is planning to create a single register of providers and recipients of social services and benefits, as well as to introduce a system of their verification. It is also planned that the implementation of the strategy will allow better control of social spending, through the introduction of a single system of management, distribution and control over their intended use.

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Pregnant women at the Chuchuliga Health Centre in the Builsa North District of the Upper East Region were on Monday turned away following the industrial strike action declared by the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA).



The pregnant women were disappointed at the turn of events, when they visited the facility for their usual Antenatal and Postnatal services.



They grumbled as they walked away from the deserted facility, after some nurses and midwives told them from their nearby quarters about the strike action, they had formed queues hoping to be attended to.



Madam Gifty Anigi, a pregnant woman said she was not aware of the strike action, because I dont want to join a long queue, I was here very early only to be told that the nurses are on strike. I came from a far place, now I have to walk back without any care, she said.



Another expectant mother, Madam Patricia Amabe was also disappointed as she walked away unattended to, Nurses on strike, then we will die, I had no idea they were on strike, I was scheduled for ANC today, so when will they resume, she asked.



About 10 pregnant women were seen walking away when the GNA arrived at the facility at 1140 hours.



Mr Gibilida Atanga, a nurse at the facility told the GNA that the Out-Patient Department was full as at 0600hours, We had to inform them that we are on strike and cant attend to them, so they had to go.



Today is Monday most of them are here for wound dressing, ANC and Postnatal services, but we had to return them. We cant render services, it is sad because some of the wounds had not been dressed for the past three days.



He said the pregnant women needed proper care, but the nurses could not help and advised them to visit private health facilities for health care services.



While at the facility, a woman rushed to the premises of the health centre, with her child of about five years tied to her back with the complain of cat bite, but was also turned away without any care.



The GRNMA and its allied Association are demanding better conditions of services from government and hope to achieve their aim with the strike action.

Source: GNA









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OTTAWA - The federal Liberals' throne speech Wednesday is to lay out plans for child care, health care, affordable housing and navigating the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 22/9/2020 (486 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Governor General Julie Payette delivers the Throne Speech in the Senate chamber, Thursday December 5, 2019 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

OTTAWA - The federal Liberals' throne speech Wednesday is to lay out plans for child care, health care, affordable housing and navigating the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The speech, crafted by the governing party but delivered by Gov. Gen. Julie Payette, will be given in the shadow of rising COVID-19 cases across the country, prompting Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to deliver an unusual televised address of his own a few hours later.

Trudeau's own speech will deliver a message to Canadians on the "urgency of fighting COVID-19" as the country faces a second wave of the pandemic, according to his office.

Trudeau will also speak about how the Liberals plan to combat COVID-19 with government action and to build the economic recovery from pandemic-related shutdowns earlier this year, repeating elements of the throne speech.

Payette is expected to add her own commentary to the throne speech about the pandemic, which will broadly be a message of hope for Canadians in these trying times, according to a source with knowledge of the additions who wasn't authorized to speak publicly about them.

What the Liberals have told various stakeholders is to expect a two-step approach: promises of short-term help, mixed with references to a longer-term vision for the country.

For instance, sources who have knowledge of the government's thinking on child care, and spoke on the condition of anonymity to detail private conversations, said there is a much broader policy discussion behind the scenes about reforming the sector that the speech may allude to, while pledging more immediate help.

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce has asked the Liberals to establish a long-promised child care secretariat that would guide policy decisions, suggesting tax incentives for parents, guardians and daycare owners.

Martha Friendly, executive director of the Childcare Resource and Research Unit, a Toronto think-tank, says the pandemic has created a "eureka'" moment for policy-makers about the necessity of child care to the country's economic and social recovery.

"I hope there has also been the equally crucial 'aha' that the reliable, safe, high-quality child care families can count on in good times and bad depends on a transformation of government policy, not just money alone  a bold, ambitious strategy," she said.

Small businesses are hoping for a lifeline for companies that are barely hanging on. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business is hoping to see a rejigging of a commercial rent-assistance program that has fallen short of expectations, which the Liberals have hinted at doing.

"There are still hundreds of thousands of businesses that have received no government support at all," said CFIB president Dan Kelly, noting it could be years before business revenues return to pre-pandemic levels, even as costs remain steady.

"They're starting to fail and we've got to make sure that we can help bridge more of them to the finish line."

There's the possibility of a bold statement on homelessness and housing, which would disappoint people who want specifics.

"If its too broad of a statement then thats frankly too much wiggle room," said Jeff Morrison, executive director of the Canadian Housing and Renewal Association.

Based on the signals going out, the speech will put promises into one of three buckets, said Elliot Hughes, who was an adviser to former finance minister Bill Morneau.

The first bucket will be about navigating the health crisis. Bucket 2 will be about holding up those who have had the financial floor fall from under them. Bucket 3 will be big-picture vision statements, such as national child care, pharmacare and possibly creating a guaranteed minimum income, Hughes said.

"This is the Liberals' plan for the time between now and election day," said Hughes, now with consulting firm Summa Strategies.

"The speech is really the opening salvo in what is going to be the governments pitch to Canadians."

What will follow in October or November will be an economic update or a full-fledged budget in which Canadians will find out how big each bucket will be  and how much more public debt the Liberals will pile on.

Still, the throne speech can't be dismissed as politics and fluff, said Kathy Brock, an expert on Canada's parliamentary system from Queen's University in Kingston, Ont. The speech also tells the bureaucracy what areas will receive resources, allows opposition parties to set up their alternatives and lays the groundwork for an election.

All of which raises questions about why Trudeau wants to give a presidential-style television address shortly after instead of speaking in the House of Commons, Brock said.

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"This undercuts one of the basics of our democratic system," she said.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh hinted again on Tuesday his party will support the speech, which would allow the minority Liberals to survive a confidence vote.

He said he wants an immediate extension of the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, and legislation for paid sick leave for all workers.

"I don't want them to signal they're doing something, I want them to actually do it," Singh said.

Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet said in a statement that he wants a pledge to immediately provide billions more to provinces in health transfers. He warned his party won't give the Liberals a blank cheque and wants its demands addressed.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 22, 2020.
A student has his temperature taken as he arrives at STAR Eco Station Tutoring & Enrichment Center for remote school classes in Culver City, Calif., on Sept. 10, 2020. (Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images)

OC Districts Proceed With Caution After Schools Allowed to Reopen

Beginning on Sept. 22, schools throughout Orange County, California, will no longer be required to apply for a waiver to reopen for in-person learning.

The county received approval on Sept. 8 to reopen all schools two weeks later after meeting the states requirement for improving COVID-19 case rates.

Many of the 139 schools in Orange County approved for a waiver amid the COVID-19 pandemicmostly private elementary schoolshave already started in-person or hybrid learning, or are preparing to start the process.

However, even with the waivers becoming obsolete, not all schools will be reopening at that time.

Santa Ana Unified, one of Orange Countys largest school districts, includes the city with the highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the county, with just over 10,000 cases.

The countys other pandemic hot spot is in the city of Anaheim, with 8,896 cases.

Neither Anaheim nor Santa Ana have set a date for the start of in-person learning in their schools.

Due to our higher COVID-19 data, our schools will continue to remain in Distance Learning format until further notice, said Christopher Downing, superintendent of the Anaheim Elementary School District, in a Sept. 17 letter to families.

Downing told The Epoch Times that Anaheim is still in the process of consulting with the Orange County Health Care Agency and the Orange County Department of Education regarding a safe way to reopen.

The district adopted a plan for a hybrid learning schedule back in June, and also opened a brand new online-only academy for students.

Even when we return to in-person instruction, our families have the option of having their children continue with distance learning through this new school, Downing said.

Capistrano Unified, another large school district, has created a detailed plan for reopening schools next week. The plan includes asking families to check the temperatures of students every day before school, and then school staff checking the students temperatures again before arriving on campus.

Any student that refuses to wear a mask will be given several warnings before being assigned to online-only classes.

Capistrano Unified will begin its phased reopening plan on Sept. 28 for special education students, Sept. 29 for kindergarten and first grade, and Oct. 1 for second and third grades.

The Districts priority is to reopen campuses safely for our 47,000 students and 5,000 staff and teachers, and to minimize any chance of future disruption, wrote Superintendent Kirsten Vital in a message to the district.

Board members from the Huntington Beach City School District have approved a plan to transition from distance learning to a hybrid instruction model no earlier than Oct. 26 provided Orange County continues to meet State and County health requirements, according to an update by the district.

Elementary schools in Laguna Beach Unified School District were granted a waiver to open on Sept. 16, but the school board has yet to set a date to begin the districts staggered reopening of in-person learning.

When they return, elementary students will only be on campus four days of the week.

Spokesperson Anakaren Ureno told The Epoch Times via email that the district initially applied for the waiver to keep all options open for their consideration should Orange County numbers change.

Meanwhile, Fountain Valley School District has indicated that all elementary schools will reopen as allowed on Sept. 22 with a hybrid schedule. All district middle schools will open on either Sept. 24 or Sept. 25.

In Costa Mesa, some residents gathered on Sept. 20 to protest Newport-Mesa Unified School Districts plan to allow students to gradually return to campus beginning Sept. 29. The residents, including some regional teachers, cited safety concerns and indicated the district was reopening too soon.

Other residents demonstrated in Irvine earlier this month to demand schools reopen as soon as possible.

Its very challenging for the students to be at home, isolated in their bedrooms, Amy Connelly, a mother of three children in the Tustin school district, told The Epoch Times at the time.

My youngest child has a learning disability, and for him to be separated from his teacher has caused tremendous anxiety, stress, and challenges for him.

Irvine schools now plan to reopen either Sept. 24 or Sept. 25but only for families that selected an in-person learning model.

Many other county school districts are also offering several options for students and their families.

Orange County was moved from the purple to the red tier on the states Blueprint for a Safer Economy monitoring scale on Sept. 8 due to improving COVID-19 case rates, allowing for restaurants, movie theaters, and other businesses to reopen for indoor services with limited capacity. Schools were authorized to reopen for in-person learning two weeks later.

On Sept. 9, the California Supreme Court refused to hear a petition by the Orange County Board of Education to allow public schools to reopen early.
The unfolding accounts about Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, the first Prime Minister and President of Ghana are quite fascinating even though history hadnt been kind to him, particularly, his birthplace in certain ways.

Like many rural boys, Nkrumahs formative year was a carefree oneliving in a bush, around the sea, and enduring difficult moment with his parents in Nkroful, a small village in the Nzema area.

When Nkrumah became adult, he suffered rejections, betrayals, arrests, imprisonment, assassinations including a coup detat. Yet, his background didnt deter him from realizing his dreams for his nation.

Indeed, Nkrumahs accomplishment is revolutionary, and I dont intend to bore readers with all that. However, in this article, my focus is to explore just one aspect, that is, his leadership, vis-a-vis, the missing link about his role as a father of the nation. Further, I shall examine the implication the role has on Ghanaian politicians, particularly, parliamentarians.

Of primary import, somewhere in 1951 - thats exactly 69 years ago - Mr Baako of blessed memory, while debating a motion on the floor of parliament to seek lawmakers approval to honour Nkrumah on his 52nd birthday anniversary, has remarked that: It was said of Aggrey that the man is a saint; let it be said of Nkrumah that the man is a God-sent, damn his race.

But now, for this article, Ill comfortably say of the venerable Nkrumah that he's a God-sent; damn his role as an absent father.

By absence, I dont imply Nkrumahs death, since death is a different psychological event. However, this absence describes a living circumstance. Here, I use the notion to indicate a phenomenon where Ghana as a child lived part or all of its childhood (Im referring to the immediate post-independence Ghana) in a house without her biological father, because probably the parents and children have split up or never lived together.

To buttress the above point, George P. Hagan in his work, Nkrumah's Leadership StyleAn Assessment from a Cultural Perspective, admitted that the style of leadership which Nkrumah developed as an international statesman departed much from the style of a regular father, which finds expression in the obligation of a traditional leader.

I couldnt agree with him more because theres a Ghanaian proverb that says in the absence of the cat the mice come out to play. Thats to say a father doesnt spend much time outside, he stays at home.

Justifiably so, the less attention Nkrumah gave to domestic issues was what has eventually increased the popularity of his political opponents, thereby contributing to his unpopularity.

Whether true or untrue, in some literature it was recounted that Nkrumah was so international in his dealings that more often than not he communicated to his children (the people of Ghana) from airport gangways on his way to and from a foreign country.

And istead of playing the good father by balancing his trips abroad with his stay at home, it became uneasy for his children to meet him face-to-face.

Even more unusual was the fact that his officials could hardly reach him except at the airport. Schoolchildren couldnt set their eyes him except along the street as he met and drove past with international dignitaries.

Theres an adage that when beads break in front of elders none gets lost. Woefully, Nkrumah was lost in global assignments so much that he failed to promote the quality of father-child relation that would erase the scar that was left behind by our colonizers. To this end, he unable to give ear to the burning issues at home and provide fatherly care at the time his children needed him most.

As many others have shown, I find Nkrumah's father character a bit baffling. Even though we cant go into the proximate causes now, its quite surprising to note how Nkrumah, a leader whos spent a good time on political organizing; a man whos skilled in synthesizing traditional aspects of leadership with modern thinking; a man whos desired to pursue a new African democratic culture without his people feeling isolated suddenly turned his back on those ideals.

Throughout our political history up to the current fourth republic, psychological, social and economic harms of father absence still persist. Like Nkrumah, a lot of our politicians, particularly, lawmakers cant succeed in balancing well their functions in the house of parliament with other constituency obligations. Always, their newfound political crafts are getting them separated from the people in unfortunate ways.

In every way, Nkrumah was a strong, discrete and natural leader. But a wandering child, they say, doesn't witness her mother's funeral.

Unfortunately, on the occasion of Nkrumahs 111th anniversary, many politicians in Ghana, particularly, members of parliament (MPs) whore fathers over constituencies, today, continue to face the same challenges of domestic unpopularity.

Just as it became late for Nkrumah who regretted his domestic mistakes on his way to Hanoi, the same way I think its getting late for many MPs now, as electorates already have their minds made up to show some of them the exit in the coming parliamentary elections in December 2020.
(ANSA) - ROME, SEP 22 - The Italian public has approved a cut in the number of parliamentarians on referendum staged on Sunday and Monday while a round of regional elections endedin in a tie, with the centre left and the opposition centre right .wining three each.

In the referendum, people were asked whether to approve a law that amends the Italian Constitution to reduce the number of MPs in parliament, from 630 to 400 in the Chamber of Deputies and from 315 to 200 in the Senate.

The yes vote prevailed with 69.64%, compared to 30,36% fort the no vote (ANSA).


Some senior personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Monday, narrated how lack of transfer allowances, accommodation, and training dampens their morale toward effective service delivery. They also complained that lack of purposeful leadership under the current commandant general, Abdullahi Gana Muhammadu, often leads to creation of specialised departments and their later abandonment, citing the Agro-Rangers unit of the corps as an example.

One of them who claimed to have been recently transferred to Owerri from Ibadan told our correspondent on condition of anonymity that, There is a total decadence in the job across the federation. I am a commandant and was recently posted to Owerri. I can tell you that there is no provision for any allowances. It is affecting us too much. Aside transfer allowances, the corps does not make provisions for cadre training for its personnel. The implication is that promotion has been stalled because it is only after such training that officers are promoted. It is a hopeless situation.

Another officer, who said he was transferred from Abuja to Enugu, said, Im a commandant; that is an equivalent of a commissioner of police. I have no official vehicle. I operate in my private car, at times to execute official assignments.

Onuigbo.com gathered that the spirit among the rank and file is also at its lowest ebb following alleged favouritism in its posting administration. A source said, There are some juicy places which the power welders have reserved for their cronies only, as well as those that can foot the bills of such places, or can bring returns. This has brought division among us as we see ourselves as more equals than others.

Investigations by our correspondent at the corps headquarters in Abuja reveal that the Agro-Rangers Department recently created in the NSCDC to protect agricultural activities and curtail the excesses of herders in the country has become comatose and faces extinction as it lacks coordination. An unconfirmed source claimed about 5000 personnel of the corps were trained in the department, although the corps claims it only trained 3000. Recall that the Agro-Rangers Unit was an initiative of the minister of agriculture and rural development, Audu Ogbeh, and his interior counterpart, Abdurahman Dambazau, as a unit under the NSCDC. A senior officer at the NSCDC headquarters said, Till date, the officers, especially the last trainees, have not been given their specialized uniform which is an army green colour with NSCDCs inscriptions. They were drawn from the corps Armed Squad and already trained in military weaponry. 

It was also gathered that the corps has no records of barracks to house its rank and file in the country, making them susceptible to hoodlums. Again, they are not paid any special allowances for accommodation.

Our correspondent reports that the last time the NSCDC recruited officially was in 2016 with the corps having around 60, 000 personnel across the federation.
Photograph: Rebecca Blackwell/AP

Mexicos militarised crackdown on organised crime has left nearly 39,000 unidentified bodies in the countrys morgues, which are often unable to handle the volume of corpses brought in for autopsies.

A new investigation by the investigative NGO Quinto Elemento Labs found that an alarming number of people were simply buried in common graves without proper postmortems. Some were left in funeral homes and more than 2,500 bodies were given to medical schools.

Its possible that [medical] students are learning with bodies of persons being searched for by their families, said an article accompanying the report, published on Tuesday. The forensic crisis has transformed the Mexican state into a burying machine: 27,271 unidentified bodies went from the morgue to common graves  70% of the total.

Mexicos militarised war on drugs has claimed nearly 300,000 lives over the past 14 years. Another 73,000 persons have gone missing  with their families often left to search for their loved ones unassisted by the authorities.

Calderon sends in the army

Mexicos war on drugs began in late 2006 when the president at the time, Felipe Calderon, ordered thousands of troops onto the streets in response to an explosion of horrific violence in his native state of Michoacan.

Calderon hoped to smash the drug cartels with his heavily militarized onslaught but the approach was counter-productive and exacted a catastrophic human toll. As Mexicos military went on the offensive, the body count sky-rocketed to new heights and tens of thousands were forced from their homes, disappeared or killed.

Kingpin strategy

Simultaneously Calderon also began pursuing the so-called kingpin strategy by which authorities sought to decapitate the cartels by targeting their leaders.

That policy resulted in some high-profile scalps  notably Arturo Beltran Leyva who was gunned down by Mexican marines in 2009  but also did little to bring peace. In fact, many believe such tactics served only to pulverize the world of organized crime, creating even more violence as new, less predictable factions squabbled for their piece of the pie.

Story continues

Under Calderons successor, Enrique Pena Nieto, the governments rhetoric on crime softened as Mexico sought to shed its reputation as the headquarters of some the worlds most murderous mafia groups.

But Calderons policies largely survived, with authorities targeting prominent cartel leaders such as Sinaloas Joaquin El Chapo Guzman.

When El Chapo was arrested in early 2016, Mexicos president bragged: Mission accomplished. But the violence went on. By the time Pena Nieto left office in 2018, Mexico had suffered another record year of murders, with nearly 36,000 people slain.

"Hugs not bullets"

The leftwing populist Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador took power in December, promising a dramatic change in tactics. Lopez Obrador, or Amlo as most call him, vowed to attack the social roots of crime, offering vocational training to more than 2.3 million disadvantaged young people at risk of being ensnared by the cartels.



It will be virtually impossible to achieve peace without justice and [social] welfare, Amlo said, promising to slash the murder rate from an average of 89 killings per day with his hugs not bullets doctrine.

Amlo also pledged to chair daily 6am security meetings and create a 60,000 strong "National Guard". But those measures have yet to pay off, with the new security force used mostly to hunt Central American migrants.

Mexico now suffers an average of about 96 murders per day, with nearly 29,000 people killed since Amlo took office.

The investigation found that the number of unidentified corpses in Mexican morgues was 178 in 2006  the year president Felipe Calderon first deployed the countrys armed forces against drug cartels.

That figure soared by 1,032% over the next 13 years to 38,891 , as the murder rate mushroomed.

Mexican morgues have routinely run out of space to store unidentified bodies, prompting some local authorities to seek makeshift solutions such as storing bodies in refrigerated trailers. In 2018, a scandal erupted in Guadalajara when the stench of decomposition led to the discovery of a trailer containing 273 corpses which had been parked in a suburban neighbourhood.

Stories have also surfaced of workers and neighbours protesting against horrible stenches coming from overcrowded morgues in cities such as Tijuana on the US border and Chilpancingo in the heroin-producing heartland of Guerrero state.

The number of unidentified bodies in Mexican morgues has continued to accelerate, even as the current government of Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has promised to take action. An additional 4,905 were brought to Mexican morgues in 2019, according to the report.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 20:07:13|Editor: huaxia

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A visitor poses for a photo with figures made with straw during an event celebrating the Chinese Farmers' Harvest Festival in Datong Town of Jiande City, east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 22, 2020. (Xinhua/Weng Xinyang)

BEIJING, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of millions of Chinese farmers celebrated the third harvest festival on Tuesday, as the country expects a bumper harvest despite the impacts of COVID-19 and severe floods.

The Chinese leadership has described the anticipated autumn harvest as "hard-won" after the country saw severe floods in the Yangtze River, disruptions by the epidemic, droughts in the north, as well as typhoons.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has said this year's autumn grain production is generally guaranteed, citing better-than-expected pest control and quick recovery from the summer floods.

It said the area of autumn grain, which accounts for the bulk of the yearly grain production, is estimated to reach 85.6 million hectares this year, an increase of more than 333,333 hectares.

The optimism is palpable in China's major breadbasket regions, where farmers marked the festival with songs and dances, product exhibitions, carnivals, and ceremonies to award "best-performing farmers."

In Yuncheng City of north China's Shanxi Province, the main venue of this year's harvest festival celebration, farmers and business people from nine provincial-level regions of the Yellow River basin attended farming-themed activities and promoted their products at exhibitions.

Shi Yaowu, president of a Shanxi-based millet processing company, said local millet farmers were expecting "probably the best harvest in a decade," as the province was exempted from major natural disasters this year.

Gai Yongfeng, a farmer in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, won the title of "King of Soybeans in Heilongjiang," in a ceremony in Fujin City.

The COVID-19 outbreak earlier this year had threatened to disrupt Gai's plan to sell soybeans and corn, the money from which Gai relied on to buy seeds and fertilizer for a new round of farming.

"Fortunately, the government opened a 'green channel' for us to sell grain and an online platform to order agricultural materials, so our crop cultivation went on smoothly," Gai said.

HEIGHTENED SUPPORT, BETTER INFRASTRUCTURE

Known as China's "grain barn," Heilongjiang boasts the country's largest plantations of rice, corn, and beans. Local officials said the autumn harvest was almost certain despite three typhoons in recent months.

Apart from government aids, Gai said more advanced agricultural techniques and better-quality seeds helped local farms withstand natural disasters.

The provincial government said nearly 5 million pieces of agricultural machinery were employed this spring, together with the implementation of stricter farm management and higher standards.

Liu Chun, the president of a local agricultural machinery cooperative in Fujin, was leading farmers to drain water from rice paddies after heavy rain unleashed by Typhoon Haishen in early September.

"Our crops used to be soaked in water after heavy rain for a long time. But we can drain water quickly this time thanks to the upgraded drainage ditches, so a good autumn harvest is guaranteed," said Liu.

Strong government assistance, construction of farming infrastructure, and promotion of farming technologies are also credited for the relatively fast recovery in many flood-devastated regions.

Anhui Province, located in the Yangtze and Huaihe river basins, is one of the worst-hit areas by floods. As floodwater receded, Wang Qiquan, a farmer in Funan County, was preparing his croplands for cabbage seedlings.

Living in Kanghu, a village along the Huaihe River, Wang relied on his 1-hectare farmland to lift his family out of poverty in 2016. This year, the field of rice and watermelons were all inundated by floodwater, casting a shadow on his livelihood.

To help farmers recoup some losses, the local government purchased the cabbage seedlings from east China's Shandong Province and distributed them to farmers for free.

"The vegetables will be harvested in two months. That won't affect the wheat planting in October," said Zhang Tao, a township agricultural official who was helping Wang replant.

"SPECIAL SIGNIFICANCE"

Starting in 2018, the Chinese farmers' harvest festival coincides with the autumnal equinox each year, which is one of the 24 solar terms of the Chinese lunar calendar and usually falls between Sept. 22 and 24 during the country's agricultural harvest season.

China's total grain output consists of three parts -- early rice, summer grain, and autumn production. Autumn grain crops, which include corn and middle- and late-season rice, account for the bulk of the grain production.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, China had bumper harvests of both summer grain and early rice in 2020, marking year-on-year increases of 1.21 million tonnes and 1.03 million tonnes, respectively.

The summer grain output, in particular, reached a historic high of 142.81 million tonnes this year in the 17th consecutive year of a bumper harvest.

China's autumn harvest this year is of special significance as COVID-19 continues to rage globally, prompting some countries to partially ban grain exports, a development that heightened food security concerns, said Li Guoxiang with the Rural Development Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

Almost 690 million people worldwide went hungry in 2019, and the COVID-19 pandemic is estimated to tip over 130 million more people into chronic hunger by the end of 2020, according to a UN report.

"China is making great contributions to, and boosting the confidence of, global food security, by ensuring food supplies to its own 1.4 billion population," said the researcher. Enditem
Its almost like the eye of the storm, Rubin said. You come out from this resurgence during summer, and its like youve broken through the eyewall. And its suddenly calm. . . . It gives you this false sense of security, that maybe were through the worst  when in fact youre about to go through the other side of the eyewall.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Due to continual improvements in transportation technology, people travel more extensively than ever before. Although this strengthened connection between faraway countries comes with many benefits, it also poses a serious threat to disease control and prevention. When infected humans travel to regions that are free of their particular contagions, they might inadvertently transmit their infections to local residents and cause disease outbreaks. This process has occurred repeatedly throughout history; some recent examples include the SARS outbreak in 2003, the H1N1 influenza pandemic in 2009, andmost notablythe ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Imported cases challenge the ability of nonendemic countriescountries where the disease in question does not occur regularlyto entirely eliminate the contagion. When combined with additional factors such as genetic mutation in pathogens, this issue makes the global eradication of many diseases exceedingly difficult, if not impossible. Therefore, reducing the number of infections is generally a more feasible goal. But to achieve control of a disease, health agencies must understand how travel between separate regions impacts its spread.

In a paper publishing on Tuesday in the SIAM Journal of Applied Mathematics, Daozhou Gao of Shanghai Normal University investigated the way in which human dispersal affects disease control and total extent of an infection's spread. Few previous studies have explored the impact of human movement on infection size or disease prevalencedefined as the proportion of individuals in a population that are infected with a specific pathogenin different regions. This area of research is especially pertinent during severe disease outbreaks, when governing leaders may dramatically reduce human mobility by closing borders and restricting travel. During these times, it is essential to understand how limiting people's movements affects the spread of disease.

To examine the spread of disease throughout a population, researchers often use mathematical models that sort individuals into multiple distinct groups, or "compartments." In his study, Gao utilized a particular type of compartmental model called the susceptible-infected-susceptible (SIS) patch model. He divided the population in each patcha group of people such as a community, city, or countryinto two compartments: infected people who currently have the designated illness, and people who are susceptible to catching it. Human migration then connects the patches. Gao assumed that the susceptible and infected subpopulations spread out at the same rate, which is generally true for diseases like the common cold that often only mildly affect mobility.

Each patch in Gao's SIS model has a certain infection risk that is represented by its basic reproduction number (R 0 )the quantity that predicts how many cases will be caused by the presence of a single contagious person within a susceptible population. "The larger the reproduction number, the higher the infection risk," Gao said. "So the patch reproduction number of a higher-risk patch is assumed to be higher than that of a lower-risk patch." However, this number only measures the initial transmission potential; it can rarely predict the true extent of infection.

Gao first used his model to investigate the effect of human movement on disease control by comparing the total infection sizes that resulted when individuals dispersed quickly versus slowly. He found that if all patches recover at the same rate, large dispersal results in more infections than small dispersal. Surprisingly, an increase in the amount by which people spread can actually reduce R 0 while still increasing the total amount of infections.

The SIS patch model can also help elucidate how dispersal impacts the distribution of infections and prevalence of the disease within each patch. Without diffusion between patches, a higher-risk patch will always have a higher prevalence of disease, but Gao wondered if the same was true when people can travel to and from that high-risk patch. The model revealed that diffusion can decrease infection size in the highest-risk patch since it exports more infections than it imports, but this consequently increases infections in the patch with the lowest risk. However, it is never possible for the highest-risk patch to have the lowest disease prevalence.

Using a numerical simulation based on the common coldthe attributes of which are well-studiedGao delved deeper into human migration's impact on the total size of an infection. When Gao incorporated just two patches, his model exhibited a wide variety of behaviors under different environmental conditions. For example, the dispersal of humans often led to a larger total infection size than no dispersal, but rapid human scattering in one scenario actually reduced the infection size. Under different conditions, small dispersal was detrimental but large dispersal ultimately proved beneficial to disease management. Gao completely classifies the combinations of mathematical parameters for which dispersal causes more infections when compared to a lack of dispersal in a two-patch environment. However, the situation becomes more complex if the model incorporates more than two patches.

Further investigation into Gao's SIS patch modeling approach could reveal more nuanced information about the complexities of travel restrictions' impact on disease spread, which is relevant to real-world situationssuch as border closures during the COVID-19 pandemic. "To my knowledge, this is possibly the first theoretical work on the influence of human movement on the total number of infections and their distribution," Gao said. "There are numerous directions to improve and extend the current work." For example, future work could explore the outcome of a ban on only some travel routes, such as when the U.S. banned travel from China to impede the spread of COVID-19 but failed to block incoming cases from Europe. Continuing research on these complicated effects may help health agencies and governments develop informed measures to control dangerous diseases.

Explore further Mathematical models with complicated dynamics for disease study

More information: Gao, Daozhou. How does dispersal affect the infection size? SIAM J. Appl. Math. (2020).
The City of East Ridge and the East Ridge Police Department will be hosting a National Night Out event at East Ridge City Hall on Tuesday, Oct. 6, starting at 5:30 p.m. Booths will be set up along the back lawn of City Hall with safety information, Neighborhood Watch info, fingerprint kits for children, activities and food.Also present will be the East Ridge Animal Shelter, the East Ridge Fire Department and other City volunteers. The City will also hand out free face masks and have hand sanitizer on hand, as well as will practice safety and social distancing.The National Night Out event is in its 37th year and involves citizens, law enforcement agencies, civic groups, businesses, neighborhood organizations and local officials from 16,790 communities from all 50 states, U.S.territories, Canadian cities and military bases worldwide. In all, over 38 million people participated in NNO 2018.National Night Out is designed to: (1) Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness; (2) Generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime programs; (3) Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and (4) Send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.
A Hezbollah arms depot in southern Lebanon has been destroyed as the country was rocked by another explosion, a security source said.

The blast at the Iran-backed Shi'ite Muslim group's depot on Tuesday injured several people and sent a new shock wave across the country.

It comes after a massive explosion hit Beirut last month, killing hundreds and causing devastation across the city.

The security source said the arms depot blast, which sent a huge column of black smoke into the sky, was caused by a "technical error".

Lebanon: Beirut explosion aftermath - In pictures 1 /90 Lebanon: Beirut explosion aftermath - In pictures The scene of an explosion in Beirut AFP via Getty Images A man reacts at the scene of an explosion at the port in Lebanon's capital Beirut AFP via Getty Images Firefighters spray water at a fire following an explosion in Beirut's port area, Lebanon REUTERS A helicopter puts out a fire at the scene of an explosion at the port of Lebanon's capital Beirut AFP via Getty Images An aerial view of ruined structures at the port Getty Images A Lebanese couple drive past the debris of a building in the damaged neighbourhood of Mar Mikhael AFP via Getty Images An aerial view of ruined structures at the port Getty Images Lebanese activists take part in a campaign to clean the damaged neighbourhood of Mar Mikhael AFP via Getty Images An aerial view of ruined structures at the port, Getty Images A statue representing the Lebanese expatriate is seen in front of a building that was damaged by an explosion that hit the seaport of Beirut, Lebanon AP A fireball exploding while smoke is billowing at the port of the Lebanese capital Beirut MOUAFAC HARB/AFP via Getty Image Lebanese firefighters work at the scene of an explosion in the Lebanese capital Beirut AFP via Getty Images The scene of an explosion at the port in the Lebanese capital Beiru AFP via Getty Images A helicopter puts out a fire at the scene of an explosion at the port of Lebanon's capital Beirut AFP via Getty Images TALAL TRABOULSI via REUTERS A view shows the aftermath of yesterday's blast at the port of Lebanon's capital Beiru AFP via Getty Images Lebanese soldiers search for survivors after a massive explosion in Beirut, Lebanon AP A man walks by an overturned car and destroyed buildings on August 4, 2020 in Beirut, Lebano Getty Images Lebanese soldiers search for survivors after a massive explosion in Beirut, Lebanon AP A view shows the aftermath of yesterday's blast at the port of Lebanon's capital Beiru AFP via Getty Images Smoke rises after an explosion in Beirut, Lebanon via REUTERS A drone picture shows the scene of an explosion that hit the seaport of Beirut, Lebanon AP People gather outside American University of Beirut (AUB) medical centre following an explosion in Beirut, Lebanon REUTERS People ride past a car destroyed after a building wall collapsed after a large explosion in Beirut Getty Images Damaged church and vehicles are seen following yesterday's blast that shook the Lebanese capital Beirut AFP via Getty Images A drone picture shows the scene of an explosion at the seaport of Beirut, Lebanon AP The scene of an explosion at the port of Lebanon's capital Beirut AFP via Getty Images Buildings and cars are partially destroyed in the neighbourhood of Mar Mikhael following an explosion at the port of Beiru AFP via Getty Images A rescue worker tends to an injured man following an explosion at the port of Beirut AFP via Getty Images Smoke rises from a port facility after large explosions Getty Images The destroyed silo sits in rubble and debris after an explosion at the seaport of Beirut, Lebanon AP Smoke is seen after an explosion in Beirut, Lebanon GABY MAAMARY via REUTERS Civilians help an injured man at the explosion scene that hit the seaport of Beirut, Lebanon AP Smoke rises as people walk near the site of an explosion in Beirut, Lebanon REUTERS Lebanese soldiers stand outside American University of Beirut (AUB) medical centre following an explosion in Beirut, Lebanon REUTERS Smoke rises from a port facility after large explosions Getty Images Damaged vehicle and buildings are pictured near the site of Tuesday's blast in Beirut's port area, Lebanon REUTERS A general view shows the damage near the site of Tuesday's blast in Beirut's port area, Lebanon REUTERS People stand near damaged cars following an explosion in Beirut, Lebanon REUTERS Smoke rises from a port facility after large explosions Getty Images People inspect the damage near the site of Tuesday's blast in Beirut's port area, Lebanon REUTERS A view shows the damaged facade of a building following Tuesday's blast in Beirut's port area, Lebano REUTERS A wounded man walks next to a damaged car on a street, following an explosion in Beirut, Lebanon via REUTERS Damaged buildings are seen after an explosion in Beirut, Lebanon via REUTERS Smoke rises over destroyed structures following large explosion Getty Images A view shows the aftermath at the site of Tuesday's blast in Beirut's port area, Lebanon REUTERS Smoke rises from a port facility after large explosion Getty Images AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images REUTERS AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images REUTERS REUTERS AFP via Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images REUTERS REUTERS Getty Images

The explosion rocked the village of Ain Qana in south Lebanon, a political stronghold of the heavily armed and politically powerful group which has fought wars with neighbouring Israel.

The blast has further rattled a nation grappling with its worst crisis since the 1975-1990 civil war and still reeling from a devastating explosion at Beirut port that ripped through the capital, killing at least 190 people.

Since the Beirut blast on August 4, subsequent fires at the port and elsewhere in the capital have caused panic in Beirut and the country, whose economy is in meltdown.

Another security source said Hezbollah had set up a security cordon around the blast site, about 50 km (30 miles) south of Beirut. Journalists were prevented from approaching the area.

There was no immediate statement from Hezbollah.

Security sources said there were several injuries without giving figures.

A witness near the village said they felt the ground shake.

Footage from the area broadcast by Al-Jadeed showed men walking over scorched ground littered with debris. Damage was shown in an adjacent house where the floor was covered in glass and what appeared to be a pool of blood.

At least one fire was still burning in the location, the footage showed.
New evidence contradicts official explanation of March 2020 explosion that killed 23 in Nigeria

A BBC documentary has uncovered new evidence that contradicts the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporations (NNPC) official explanation of an explosion that killed 23 people in March. At the time, the NNPC said the blast was caused by a truck crashing into gas cylinders near one of its pipelines, however new evidence from BBC Africa Eye shows a leak from an NNPC pipeline was to blame.

The March 15 explosion in Lagos - Image: Shutterstock

The explosion in Nigerias largest city Lagos killed 23 people and injured over 20 others while also destroying around 50 nearby buildings, including a boarding school for girls. The state-owned NNPC explained at the time that the blast occurred after a truck crashed into gas cylinders at a gas processing plant located near to where the companys 2B underground petroleum pipeline ran.

However, the new BBC Africa Eye documentary published on September 20 highlights video evidence that indicates the NNPCs explanation is wrong.

The documentary highlights mobile phone footage taken five minutes before the blast that shows a large leak of vaporised liquid. BBC Africa Eye pinpoints the exact spot of the leak and shows how the leak was coming from a spot nearby the truck. Moreover, the BBC shows that there was no gas processing plant at the site of the leak.

BBC Africa Eye consulted with three experts  one in petroleum pipeline safety, one in LPG safety, and another in explosion analysis. The three engineers analysed the footage and confirmed that a leak of such intensity could not have come from gas cylinders. Eyewitnesses also confirmed that a leak was coming from the ground and that they did not see gas cylinders or a crash involving a truck.

The BBCs findings point to the explosion being caused after a heavily laden truck stopped on an unsurfaced road eroded by recent rainfall, pressuring the pipeline underneath to breaking point and causing the large leak of vaporised liquid. The leak was then blown downwind where it met the open gas flame of a tea seller on the side of the road and ignited.

The documentary goes on to explain that although responsibility can sometimes be hard to pin down, it is not in this case. The webpage of Nigerian Pipelines and Storage Company (NPSC), a subsidiary of the NNPC, says that it is responsible for the maintenance and integrity of petroleum pipelines, including protecting them from washouts and being subjected to abnormal loads.

BBC Africa Eye concludes that despite the NPSCs regulations and the fact that the pipeline ran through a densely populated area, the evidence shows that the NNPC did not appropriately address the erosion of the road surface, sufficiently protect the pipeline from the truck's abnormal load, and did not maintain the integrity of the pipeline.

More information...
'The Dublin-listed company is focused on the Tomsk Oblast region of the country, where it owns and operates 50pc of Licences 61 and 67.' Stock photo: Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg

Oil and gas explorer PetroNeft has agreed a deal with Alexandrovskoye Oil Refinery for up to $1m (844,000) to finance infrastructure development on one of its licenses in Russia.

The Dublin-listed company is focused on the Tomsk Oblast region of the country, where it owns and operates 50pc of Licences 61 and 67.

The latest finance is to further develop the infrastructure of Licence 67 to enable year-round production from next year.

At present the well can only produce for three to four months each winter.

The financing will be repaid in tranches with produced oil at market rates, according to a statement from PetroNeft.

AOR is located at Alexandrovskoye town in the north-western part of the Tomsk region located 230km from the Cheremshanskoye oil field. PetroNeft said AOR purchased all the oil produced from the C4 well - part of Licence 67 - during the recent extended well test at "competitive market rates".

Production will recommence from the C4 well as soon as the winter road is in place, which is expected to be by the end of December.

Construction of the new road should be completed in early 2021.

David Sturt, chief executive of PetroNeft Resources, said: "The financing arrangement will enable us to establish year-round production from Licence 67 from the beginning of 2021 and also provides a secure buyer for our produced oil at competitive market rates. It may also have further value, as we look at the potential of further development on Licence 67."

In other exploration news, Petrel Resources - whose chairman is veteran investor John Teeling - saw its losses more than double year-on-year in the six months to June 30.

The group made a pre-tax loss of 243,000, all of which was down to administrative expenses. The company has interests in Iraq, Ghana and offshore Ireland.

Petrel said it is active again in Iraq after a hiatus since 2010 due to political and financial instability.

Mr Teeling said the world oil and gas industry has taken "a public relations hammering in recent times yet world demand continues, and will continue, to grow".

In Ireland, where Petrel holds a 10pc working interest in a licence in the Porcupine Basin, Mr Teeling said offshore exploration here was a "sad scene".
Vodacom is in discussion with Remgro to acquire Community Investment Ventures Holdings (CIVH), which owns Vumatel and DFA.

This is feedback from well-placed sources who told MyBroadband Vodacoms interest in Vumatel did not die down after the CIVH acquisition.

In May 2018, MyBroadband reported that both CIVH and Vodacom were in discussions to acquire Vumatel.

At the time, Vodacom CEO Shameel Joosub said the company wanted to become a bigger player in the fibre-to-the-home market.

CIVH won the battle and acquired 34.9% of Vumatel for an undisclosed amount in June 2018. It bought the remaining 65.1% in May 2019.

This means that CIVH, which is majority-owned by Remgro, now owns two of South Africas biggest fibre players  DFA and Vumatel.

After the acquisition, Vumatel started working in tandem with DFA to provide fibre access to South African businesses and homes.

Their fibre rollout in recent years is impressive. Vumatel and DFAs 29,300km fibre network scales across all key metros in South Africa.

It passes 690,000 premises and connects 11,500 mobile base stations and 240,000 homes and businesses.

This valuable telecommunication asset remains attractive to Vodacom, and well-placed sources told MyBroadband it is in discussion with Remgro to acquire CIVH.

While the details of what such a deal may look like remain sketchy, it is widely accepted that Vodacom will have to pay a premium for this asset.

Remgro has invested a large amount of money and resources into building CIVH into a strong fibre player.

According to Remgros financial results for the period ended 31 December 2019, the net current book value of DFAs fibre-optic network is more than R9 billion.

The future value of DFAs current annuity contracts  excluding open orders  is more than R12 billion.

Add Vumatels fibre assets and its strong position in the fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) market to the mix and it makes for a valuable telecoms player.

Remgro put an intrinsic net asset value of R16.44 billion on CIVH, which gives an idea of where negotiations will start.

Remgro and CIVH comment

Remgro did not directly answer questions related to discussions with Vodacom, saying it does not comment on speculation.

Remgro executive and CIVH chairman Pieter Uys, did, however, tell MyBroadband CIVH started a primary capital raise programme last year.

CIVH appointed advisors in November 2019 to help with this new capital raise.

As part of the capital raise, some of the minority shareholders indicated they are ready to sell their stake in CIVH.

There was a lot of interest from both local and international players to invest in CIVH  both directly and to buy out other investors.

Uys said both these processes have stalled during the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown.

However, the markets are starting to function again, which means CIVHs management has reignited the search for new investors.

There is also still the possibility that the smaller CIVH investors may sell their stake in the company.

Uys added that Remgro remains very happy with its stake in CIVH and is currently not looking to dispose of this investment.

Vodacom comment

Vodacom would not comment on the discussions, saying we do not comment on market speculation.

CIVH history and opportunities

Now read: Vumatel and DFA contribute to CIVH loss
WASHINGTON  Senate Democrats and their liberal allies confronted the reality Monday that they have no path to blocking President Donald Trumps pending Supreme Court nomination other than a political pressure campaign that peels away a minimum of four GOP votes.

Deep into their sixth year in the minority, Democrats can use some procedural tactics that might briefly slow the confirmation process, but if at least 50 Republicans approve of Trumps pick to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, that nominee is certain to be seated.

Publicly, Democrats vowed to fight with every fiber in the Judiciary Committee confirmation hearings and on the Senate floor as the liberal alliance of outside interest groups began planning how to mount a campaign that would try to turn Republicans against the nominee. But the process ahead leaves no room for error, and even a perfectly executed pressure campaign could fall short.

Were in a situation where Mitch McConnell is the only person in this building that can decide when and whether and how to move the nomination forward. My hope is that there will be enough Republicans to stop it, but I dont think the likelihood of that is high, said Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., made clear Monday that he will press ahead with the confirmation process 43 days before the election, shrugging off criticism that his actions were brazenly hypocritical. In 2016, McConnell refused to consider President Barack Obamas nominee for a court vacancy eight months before the election, insisting that voters should have a say.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., appeared to recognize the limited leverage. In a floor speech Monday, he did not threaten retaliatory tactics per se, should Republicans move a nominee through before the election. But he sought to shame his GOP colleagues by holding up their previous words about election-year Supreme Court nominations to suggest they were being insincere.

Confirming a replacement, Schumer argued, could upend the Senate entirely, spelling the end of this supposedly great deliberative body.

If a Senate majority over the course of six years steals two Supreme Court seats using completely contradictory rationales, how could we expect to trust the other side again? he asked. How can we trust each other if, when push comes to shove, when the stakes are the highest, the other side will double cross their own standards when its politically advantageous?

 READ MORE: Judge Amy Coney Barrett emerges as Supreme Court favorite; Trump to pick by weekend

McConnell, expanding on a rule change that Democrats made when they were in charge, has lowered the threshold to break a filibuster to a simple majority for all presidential nominations, leaving the 47 members of the Democratic caucus with little power.

Two Senate Republicans have said the Senate should wait until after the election: Susan Collins of Maine, who faces a difficult reelection battle in a Democratic-leaning state; and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, who publicly broke with Trump after his actions during this summers protests against racial injustice.

With 53 Republicans in his caucus, McConnell can afford to lose one other vote and muscle the nominee across the finish line with Vice President Mike Pence providing the tie-breaking vote.

Democrats are eyeing Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah, the lone Republican to vote to convict Trump in last winters impeachment trial, but the 2012 GOP presidential nominee has been supportive of the presidents judicial nominees. He said Monday that he will wait until he talks to his colleagues.

Outside liberal groups began their pressure campaign Monday, including predawn protests outside the Capitol Hill home of Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Graham originally pledged to never consider a Supreme Court nominee during a presidential election year but disavowed that statement after Ginsburgs death provided an opening for Republicans to claim the seat of the most liberal member of the court.

Other groups were talking about mounting an ad campaign. Demand Justice, a group founded by former Schumer staffer Brian Fallon, pledged $10 million to fight the nomination. Theyve already been in touch with Senate Democrats to sync up strategy and messaging.

In a Monday interview, Ben Jealous, the president of People For the American Way, said his group was already cutting ads and organizing ground-game campaigns to pressure GOP senators. They were preparing to target some Republicans facing reelection, such as Sens. Joni Ernst of Iowa, Cory Gardner of Colorado, Graham and some they think could be compelled to vote differently should enough constituents balk.

 READ MORE: Biden warns in Philly that confirming a new Supreme Court justice now would cause irreversible damage

The latter list includes Romney and Sens. Tim Scott of South Carolina and Lamar Alexander of Tennessee. Alexander is retiring but made clear in a statement Sunday that he backed McConnell.

Its going to be an intense push  weve got to take the argument directly to the people of the country, Jealous said. At the end of they day, theyre the only ones who can push back against the special interests backing Trump and McConnell right now.  Theres very little that the Democrats can do procedurally to stop this. This is all about mobilizing the people of the country to appeal to the moral conscience of Republicans during this pandemic.

In one digital ad, the group will run a clip of Graham justifying the GOPs refusal to give Obamas Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland a hearing in 2016 because it was an election year  as well as his instruction to use my words against me if the tables ever turned. Its time for Senator Graham to honor his word, the narrator says in the ad, which will go up shortly.

Vanita Gupta, president and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, a coalition of about 220 liberal groups, said her group also would be running ads and organizing in states where vulnerable Republicans are on the ballot in November. That, she argued, was Democrats' main lever for stopping confirmation: pressuring those most likely to lose.

The main thing is really to hone in on is whats at stake right now for Americans on health care, on womens access to abortion and reproductive rights, racial justice, voting rights  the court touches all of this, she said.

Their conservative counterparts are planning their own offensive. On Monday, the Judicial Crisis Network announced an initial $2.2 million ad campaign to support whoever the nominee is, ensuring a clash of TV commercials and digital ads across the nation.

 READ MORE: Trumps autocrat buddies would applaud his plan for replacing RBG | Trudy Rubin

Liberal groups have had some mixed success on such campaigns before, in part because they have lagged behind their conservative counterparts in Supreme Court showdowns.

In 2016, after Justice Antonin Scalias death, Democrats originally planned a $36 million campaign to boost Garland, but the donations barely materialized. Ultimately the liberal groups raised and spent less than $10 million because their donors wanted to focus instead on the 2016 White House race instead, according to journalist Carl Hulses book Confirmation Bias.

Some Democrats are pushing to go further than a public pressure campaign against the GOP. On Sunday, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., said the party should leave open the possibility of impeaching Attorney General William Barr, hoping it would force a trial in the Senate that would prevent the confirmation until at least after the Nov. 3 elections. Impeachment rules require that the upper chamber take up articles of impeachment immediately, so a House impeachment power play could gum up the confirmation process, at least in theory.

These are procedures and decisions that are largely up to House Democratic leadership, Ocasio-Cortez told reporters. But I believe that, also, we must consider, again, all of the tools available to our disposal and that all of these options should be entertained and on the table.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., would not rule out the possibility when asked about it Sunday. But House Democratic officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity to talk frankly, downplayed this possibility, arguing that it would look overtly political.

 READ MORE: Can Trump and McConnell get through the 4 steps to seat a Supreme Court justice in just 6 weeks?

A few Democrats were privately more interested in holding a stopgap government funding bill hostage to try to get what the party wants. The government runs out of spending authorization at the end of the month, and lawmakers are trying to put the finishing touches on an agreement to keep the government running. Some have toyed with the idea of using the legislation as leverage.

But Pelosi during a Sunday interview panned the idea, which probably would blow back on Democrats politically.

None of us has any interest in shutting down the government, Pelosi told George Stephanopoulos on ABCs This Week. There is some enthusiasm, some exuberance on the left, as you said, but were not going to be shutting down the government.

Yet another group of Democrats wants to hear Senate Democratic leadership make some sort of threat that will make Republicans think twice. Some have pushed for more talk of a possible Senate Democratic majority expanding the number of justices on the Supreme Court should they reclaim the upper chamber on Election Day.

But Schumer has not weighed in on that possibility, resorting to the same language of keeping all possibilities on the table and arguing instead that voters need to give the chamber to Democrats for them to even viably consider the option.

We first have to win the majority before that can happen, he said Sunday when asked about expanding the court. But once we win the majority, God willing, everything is on the table.
The number of Americans who say they will not get the first coronavirus vaccine that is approved in the US is growing, a new poll suggests.

Conducted by Axios-Ipsos, the report found that nearly six in 10 people do not want to receive the jab against COVID-19 as soon as it becomes available.

This is a 15 percent increase from the 53 percent that reported the same sentiment at the end of August.

Percentages of both Republicans and Democrats willing to take the initial shot approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also fell over the course of a month.

It comes as the US recorded 200,000 deaths due to coronavirus, more than any other country in the world, and fears that the FDA is under political pressure by President Donald Trump to approve an immunization before the November 3 presidential election.

In a new poll, 39% of US adults said they are not likely to get the coronavirus vaccine when it becomes available, down from 53% surveyed last month (above) with drops also seen among Republicans and Democrats

Just 9% of surveyors said they were 'very likely' to be immunized with the first available vaccine, a decrease from 17% in August. Pictured: Volunteers are given the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine in Detroit, Michigan, August 5

There are more than 170 coronavirus vaccine candidates in various stages of development around the globe, according to the World Health Organization.

At least nine are currently in large-scale trials in humans to prove the jabs are both safe and effective.

Earlier this month, it was revealed CDC officials told state health officials to be prepared to distribute a vaccine by late October or early November.

This has left many to fear that safety and efficacy regulations will be relaxed in order to get a vaccine on the market as soon as possible.

For the survey, the results of a poll of 1,100 US adults surveyed between August 28 and August 31, 2020 were compared to the answers of 1,008 adults from September 18 to September 21.

Last month, 53 percent of those surveyed said they'd be willing to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as a jab is available.

In the later survey, just 39 percent reported similar feelings.

Axios also reported that just nine percent of surveyors said they were 'very likely' to be immunized with the first available vaccine, a drop from 17 percent in August.

One-third of respondents said they were 'not at all likely' to be given the shot, an increase from 26 percent.

Vaccine resistance also increased among both left-leaning and right-leaning voters, the poll shows.

Democrats saw the biggest decline with 43 percent saying they're likely to get the jab as soon as it's available, down from 56 percent last month.

Republicans who reported their likeliness of receiving the first approved shot also fell from 49 percent to 41 percent.

Independents fell just two points, from 45 percent to 43 percent.

Thirty percent of respondents said they would wait a few months before being given the shot while nearly one-quarter said they will not get the shot at all. Pictured: A protester holds a placard that says 'Freedom No Lockdown Masks Tests Vaccine during a demonstration outside the California State Capitol, May 23

There was a variation among how soon after the vaccine first become available that participants said they would be immunized.

The majority, 30 percent, said they would wait a few months before the national rollout, compared to 13 percent who said they would be immunized right away.

About one-fifth said they would wait at least a year and one-quarter said they would not get the jab at all.

Of the people who plan to get the shot, almost 40 percent said they expect it to be given by their doctor.

About 17 percent expect to receive the vaccine at a pharmacist, six percent from their employer and five percent from a drive-thru.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / September 22, 2020 / XPhyto Therapeutics Corp. (CSE:XPHY) (OTC:XPHYF) (FSE:4XT) ("XPhyto" or the "Company"), a next-generation bioscience company, is pleased to announce an update on its oral disintegrating film ("ODF") drug delivery programs.

XPhyto's wholly owned German subsidiary, Vektor Pharma TF GmbH ("Vektor"), is currently advancing two sublingual ODF development programs for the delivery of the active pharmaceutical ingredients ("APIs") cannabidiol ("CBD") and tetrahydrocannabinol ("THC").

The US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA) have approved CBD based medicines for the treatment of severe childhood forms of Epilepsy, specifically Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. THC based medicines have been approved for the treatment of nausea associated with cancer chemotherapy and for the treatment of anorexia associated with weight loss in AIDS patients. The registered formulation for CBD is a lipophilic solution in sesame oil and for THC it is a soft gelatin capsule filled with THC in a sesame oil carrier.

XPhyto is developing ODF dosage forms for CBD and THC based on Vektor's ODF platform. The dosage forms are designed to increase API bioavailability using Vektor's rapid release technology. Increased product efficacy and patient convenience is expected through anticipated faster onset of drug action, more predictable therapeutic activity and ease of use. In addition, research organizations will have an opportunity to work with a reliable and reproducible dosage form to study THC and CBD activity and develop innovative treatment regimes. Cannabinoid ODF dosage forms are also expected to yield reduced costs per daily prescription versus oil-based systems due to the use of significantly less API per daily dosage.

Initial dissolution data for XPhyto's sublingual CBD product, first announced December 6, 2019, indicates an at least 5-fold increase in API bioavailability over oil-based delivery methods. A European human bioavailability study for its sublingual CBD product is planned for Q1 2021 with results expected in Q2 2021. XPhyto anticipates initial dissolution data for its sublingual THC product to be available and announced in the coming weeks.

Further to its current CBD ODF and THC ODF development programs, the Company has identified a 1:1 CBD/THC ODF product for the treatment of MS induced spasticity as a prospective candidate for future development. Additional cannabis ODF products are being investigated as potential future development initiatives. XPhyto is reviewing these opportunities with respect to R&D timelines and capacity, cost of development and market opportunities. The Company will announce progress on new ODF initiatives as they are advanced.

The global thin film drug market is expected to grow to USD $29.2 billion by 2024 at a CAGR of 10.5% according to Market Data Forecast. The global cannabis market is forecast to grow to USD $63.5 billion by 2024 with a CAGR of 21.1%, with Germany set to lead industry growth with a CAGR of 76.8% into 2022 according to Arcview Market Research. Germany is a medical cannabis only market.

About XPhyto Therapeutics Corp.

XPhyto Therapeutics Corp. is innovating and commercializing the next-generation drug delivery, diagnostic, and cannabis investment opportunities: precision transdermal and oral dissolvable drug dosage forms; rapid, low-cost infectious disease and oral health screening tools; and validation of approved cannabis-based therapeutics focused on European markets.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Hugh Rogers"

Hugh Rogers, CEO and Director

Investor Inquiries:

Mr. Knox Henderson

T: 604-551-2360

E: info@xphyto.com

www.xphyto.com

Forward looking statements

This news release includes statements containing forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities law ("forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "develop", "plan", "continue", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "potential", "propose" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur, and in this release include the statement regarding the Company's goal of building a successful diagnostic, drug delivery, and medical cannabis company. Forward-looking statements are only predictions based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including: that the Company may not succeed in developing a commercial product; that the sale of products may not be a viable business; that the Company may be unable to scale its business; product liability risks; product regulatory risk; general economic conditions; adverse industry events; future legislative and regulatory developments; inability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources, and/or inability to access sufficient capital on favourable terms; currency risks; competition; international risks; and other risks beyond the Company's control. The Company 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.

Neither the CSE nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

SOURCE: XPhyto Therapeutics Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/607245/XPhyto-Announces-Update-on-Oral-Thin-Film-Drug-Delivery-Programs
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 01:42:42|Editor: huaxia

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JERUSALEM, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa talked over the phone on Tuesday.

Netanyahu said in a statement issued by his office that the talk focused on the implementation of the normalization agreement signed by the two sides.

Israel's Ynet news site reported that the crown prince said during the talk that the establishment of diplomatic ties with Israel strengthens the region's stability.

The talk marked the first publicly-acknowledged conversation between Israeli and Bahraini leaders since U.S.-brokered normalization accords were signed in the White House last week between leaders of Israel, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates. Enditem
Help.org, a trusted online resource for individuals who struggle with addiction and their loved ones, has announced the Best Rehab Facilities in Lagrange, Georgia for 2020. The informational guide recognizes the top 5 rehab facilities based on cost, treatment options, location, accompanying services and more.

According to recent studies, drug overdose is the leading cause of death among people under age 50. In Lagrange, deaths related to opioid abuse increased significantly from 2011 to 2015. Substance abuse among adolescents is also escalating in Lagrange with 55 percent of high school students reported using alcohol, 38 percent reported using marijuana, 8 percent reported using prescription drugs without a valid prescription, and 2 percent reported using heroin. With the growing need for accessible and high-quality rehab programs, Help.org has developed a unique ranking process to help connect individuals with treatment providers that meet their needs.

The Help.org research team analyzed thousands of facilities across the country and then identified the most cost-effective and highest rated programs in larger cities like Lagrange. Each facility was evaluated based on rehabilitation services, treatment approaches, cost, special programs for unique demographics and ancillary services. The website also provides information about drug use and side effects as well as educational articles. For a detailed listing of the Best Rehab Facilities in Lagrange, Georgia please visit https://www.help.org/drug-and-alcohol-rehab-centers-in-lagrange-ga

2020 Best Rehab Facilities in Lagrange, Georgia (in alphabetical order)

Addiction Recovery Service

610 Ridley Avenue

Lagrange, GA 30240

706-594-4735

Center of Renewed Promises

1485 East Highway 34, Suite 1-A

Newnan, GA 30265

770-502-0880

Columbus Womens Rehab

5304 Hurst Drive

Columbus, GA 31904

706-507-3705

New Horizons Behavioral Health

2100 Comer Avenue

Columbus, GA 31907

706-596-5500

ABOUT HELP.ORG

Help.org is an online resource for individuals who struggle with addiction and their loved ones. The website provides the latest research through scientifically proven methods, community recovery resources as well as information about local financial assistance. Help.orgs team of researchers, activists and writers work together with addiction counselors and other professionals to offer useful and accurate resources to help individuals seeking recovery. To learn more, visit https://www.help.org/.
As the coronavirus pandemic evolves and spreads worldwide, more information emerges on how the virus affects the body. What was once a respiratory illness has now become a systemic infection, affecting multiple organs.

Now, a new study published in the journal EClinicalMedicine shows that the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus that causes the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), targets the retina.

A team of researchers at the Eye Clinic, Luigi Sacco Hospital, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, and the Department of Infectious Diseases in Italy aimed to determine if the COVID-19 disease affects the retina since the disease has been liked to microvascular alterations.

The researchers analyzed the retina of COVID-19 patients within 30 days from the start of the symptoms.

Alterations of the retina

To arrive at the study findings, the team screened the fundus of patients with COVID-19 to detect alterations of the retina and its vasculature to explore potential correlations with clinical parameters.

The researchers conducted a cross-sectional and monocentric study at the Luigi Sacco Hospital, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Science in Milan, Italy, one of the countries heavily impacted by COVID-19.

The participants of the study included patients who were admitted to the infectious diseases department of the hospital, and who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection. The team excluded patients admitted to the intensive care unit and those with retinal disorders, including diabetic retinopathy.

Study participants completed questionnaires describing their ocular symptoms. They also underwent pupil dilation of both eyes using mydriatic drops about 15 minutes before the researchers captured retinal images.

Study findings

Overall, 54 patients and 133 unexposed participants were included in the study. The findings show that people with COVID-19 had retinal findings of hemorrhages, cotton wool spots, dilated veins, and tortuous vessels.

Further, after the team measured the mean arteries diameter (MAD) and mean veins diameter (MVD) among the participants, they found that both the MAD and MVD were higher in patients with COVID-19 than unexposed participants.

"We found that both retinal arteries and veins were larger compared to unexposed subjects. Besides, veins diameter was larger in more severe cases and showed an inverse correlation with time to symptoms onset," the researchers wrote in the paper. "COVID-19 can affect the retina. Retinal veins' diameter seems directly correlated with the disease severity. Its assessment could have possible applications in the management of COVID-19," they added.

The research findings provide a better understanding of how SARS-CoV-2 could target many parts of the body, aside from the lungs. In the past, people with underlying medical conditions are at a high risk of getting sick with COVID-19, and they are more likely to die from complications.

As the pandemic grew, the virus has shown to affect not only the lungs but also the heart, brain, and other vital organs. Previous studies have reported a link between COVID-19 and the eyes. Now, this study provides a deeper understanding of the virus's wrath, affecting the retina, vital for vision.

COVID-19 cases around the world

The coronavirus disease is actively spreading in many countries across the globe. The United States is still the nation with the highest number of infections, with more than 6.88 million cases. Overall, the global case toll has now ballooned to a staggering 31.44 million cases, with the death toll surpassing 967,000.

Many countries report a surging number of cases, particularly those that have reopened most of their businesses and schools. India and Brazil follow the U.S. in terms of the number of cases, with more than 5.56 million and 4.55 million cases, respectively.
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- New peer-reviewed research, published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, has found that county-level voter unhappiness prior to the 2016 election mattered more to Donald Trump's electoral success than a host of other factors, including the county's level of income, its unemployment rate, population age, and racial composition.

The study was led by George Ward, a behavioral scientist at the MIT Sloan School of Management, together with Jan-Emmanuel De Neve of the University of Oxford, Lyle H. Ungar of the University of Pennsylvania, and Johannes C. Eichstaedt of Stanford University.

"The question of why Trump won the White House in 2016 has inspired a wide range of research studies, newspaper articles, and think pieces," says Ward. "Some have pointed to economic factors such as stagnant wages among middle-class Americans and job losses arising from the decline in domestic manufacturing and the rise in trade competition. Others have focused more on cultural issues such as racial and religious identity, and feelings of status threat. Our study takes a rigorous look at one thing many of these explanations have in common: they describe a pretty unhappy population."

Long-run data suggest that happiness has been on a steady decline in the U.S. since the 1970s, despite large increases in GDP.

To investigate, the research team drew on more than two million responses to the Gallup Organization's U.S. Daily Poll during the years preceding the 2016 election, aggregated to the county level. The survey asks participants questions about how satisfied they are with their life overall, how much purpose they feel they have in their life, as well as their day-to-day experience of various positive and negative emotions such as happiness, enjoyment, stress, and fear. This dataset allowed them to build a detailed picture of the wellbeing of different and diverse areas of the country.

The researchers found that wellbeing was a powerful predictor of the 2016 electoral outcome regardless of levels of income, unemployment rates, population age, and racial makeup. Counties comprised of voters who expressed low levels of life satisfaction and positive emotions (and high levels of negative emotions) were strongly associated with an increase in Trump's vote share over and above what a Republican candidate in a given jurisdiction would ordinarily receive.

These findings were confirmed at the individual level using well-being measures in the American National Election Studies as well as presidential approval data in the Gallup World Poll collected during Obama's time in office. The researchers also demonstrated the relationship between happiness and voting in other elections. They found, for instance, that unhappier counties were more likely to vote for Bernie Sanders in the Democratic primaries.

"At the individual level, Trump was adept at mobilizing unhappy people who previously voted Democrat or who didn't vote in prior elections," says Eichstaedt. "While we don't necessarily know why these members of the electorate were unhappy, it does appear that they were looking to cast a vote against the government, and the establishment more generally."

The researchers noted that a growing number of governments around the world have focused their attention on measuring the subjective wellbeing of their citizens. Many countries generate national wellbeing statistics to guide and evaluate their public policies. The U.S. has generally lagged behind on this idea, however.

"If our study has one clear message it's that unhappy people vote against the status quo," says Ungar. "The data suggest that governments should pay close attention to the happiness of citizens if they want to get re-elected."

The researchers say that it is difficult to predict the role that voter happiness will play in the upcoming presidential election. Amidst a global pandemic, economic crisis, and social unrest, Americans have experienced a record drop in happiness and life satisfaction, according to Gallup's most recent figures.

While this does not bode well for Trump's chance of re-election, the study also found that low levels of happiness correlated with a higher vote share for anti-establishment candidacies.

"Trump often presents himself as an outsider, even now after four years in office," says De Neve. "His anti-establishment stance could appeal to unhappy voters. But to the extent they think that Trump, the incumbent, has become the establishment, past data suggests that unhappy people are likely to vote against him."

About the MIT Sloan School of Management

The MIT Sloan School of Management is where smart, independent leaders come together to solve problems, create new organizations, and improve the world. Learn more at mitsloan.mit.edu.

For further information, contact:

Paul Denning

Director of Media Relations

617-253-0576

[email protected]

Patricia Favreau

Associate Director of Media Relations

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SOURCE MIT Sloan School of Management

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Adapted from a book, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, was released in 1971. With Gene Wilder portraying Wonka, the film followed a reclusive candy makers attempt to find a successor for his business through a worldwide contest. The ensuing commotion led people from around the globe to buy up massive supplies of chocolate. That wasnt the point of the contest, though. Charlie Bucket, a poor local boy, became the unlikely recipient of the final golden ticket. One fan theory suggests that Charlie might not have found his ticket by chance, though.

A fan theory suggests Charlies golden ticket was too coincidental

The worldwide pandemonium over the golden tickets had rich people buying up as many candy bars as they could in an attempt to win a chance to tour Willy Wonkas factory. So, what are the odds that a poor local like Charlie would have found the ticket by purchasing a couple of candy bars with found money? Astronomical, claims one fan.

Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory | GAB Archive/Redferns

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Clement Pit-Claudel, an MIT student, outlined just how many candy bars Veruca Salts father would have needed to buy in order to have a reasonable chance at finding a golden ticket. According to Pit-Claudel, Mr. Salt would have needed to purchase 12.9 million chocolate bars to have a 70% chance of finding a golden ticket. If the Salt family purchased that many candy bars to reach a 70% chance of taking home the prize, Charlies likelihood of finding a ticket by purchasing one candy bar is pretty much nil.

One fan theory suggests Charlie was purposefully sold the winning bar of chocolate

Charlies likelihood of finding a bar by chance was incredibly low. There might be a simple explanation, though. Charlie was handpicked to win the prize, according to one Reddit fan theory and there is plenty of evidence to back up the theory.

A Wonka Bar wrapper | Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Charlies family was incredibly poor, and they certainly didnt have extra money to purchase a ton of candy. After the final ticket was reportedly found in Paraguay, the commotion around the chocolate bars died down. Charlie, walking home from school, found cash in a gutter and eagerly ran into a candy shop to purchase a bar. The candy shop owner, Bill, handed over one bar of chocolate that Charlie eagerly gobbled up. He decided to buy a second bar for his Grandpa Joe. As the Redditor noted, Bill appeared to hand-select a specific bar for Charlie from behind the counter. That bar turned out to be the winning bar.

The fan theory suggests that Bill was employed by Willy Wonka to find a deserving local to win the prize. Wonka admitted to employing Arthur Slugworth to weed out greedy recipients, so is it so far-fetched that he would have hired Bill to handpick a winner? Not really.

Charlie won the top prize because he came about his winning ticket honestly

It also makes sense that Charlie would be the one to win the candy factory. After all, he was the only winner who came about his prize honestly. The rest of the recipients were all spoiled, and all purchased an abundance of chocolate to win their prize. That wasnt the case with Charlie. In fact, he found his ticket when the contest was officially believed to be over.

Grandpa Joe, Willy Wonka and Charlie Bucket in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory | Paramount/Getty Images

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If Wonka wanted to find someone to carry on his legacy, he would have wanted someone who loved candy the way he did. He certainly wouldnt have wanted someone who was obsessed with winning. Charlie was that person. Bill could have been instructed to hold onto the final winning ticket until the hype about the contest had died down. By doing so, Wonka could ensure at least one of the recipients came across the prize organically.
This fall, healthcare practices are preparing for the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic being amplified when flu season sets in. To provide assistance in keeping their frontline reception staff, and the patients they serve, safe and supported over the next several months, the Contactless Communication Platform, MicroMetrics , today announced it will donate $2 million worth of software to doctors clinics, dental clinics, veterinary clinics, massage therapy clinics, and other healthcare practices.

MicroMetrics has provided technology tools to thousands of frontline hospitality, travel, and retail workers to safely engage with more than 15 million people over the last seven years.

As the flu season, and possible second COVID-19 wave approach, the need for quick and concise communication between patients and their health care providers will be amplified further.

For instance:



As many practices do not keep email addresses on file, it will not be sustainable to call every patient to communicate flu season protocols.

Clinics are experiencing a ~3x increase in call volume during COVID-19, creating challenges for patients to connect with reception for appointment booking, confirmations, and urgent care requests.

Waiting rooms will continue to be a source of concern, as patients that require an in-person visit are often the most high-risk.

MicroMetrics Healthcare is an SMS-based, Contactless Communication solution that helps frontline healthcare receptionists engage with their patients in a more safe and sustainable way, resolving these challenges.

A clinic can be up and running in less than 30 minutes and save upwards of 100 patient phone calls each day thanks to practice-specific messaging templates and automated workflows. The platform ensures a smoother patient experience before, during, and after their appointment while also reducing the need for in-person conversations with reception and avoiding time spent in waiting rooms.

I have just been introduced to a critical piece of communication software for primary care offices: an SMS messaging service to manage patient bookings, customer service inquiries and infection prevention guidance. This is going to be a GAME CHANGER as we prepare for the COVID-19 and influenza season. - Alykhan Abdulla, MD, Assistant Professor - The University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine, Board Director - Bruyere Foundation

MicroMetrics is receiving advisory services and research and development funding from the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) to help pivot its current product offering (largely aimed at the hospitality, travel, and transportation industries) and develop its solution for healthcare teams to better serve their patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. The company will be offering the new Contactless Communication Platform to approximately 4,500 healthcare practices from September to December, 2020.

COVID-19 has had a devastating effect on our healthcare system, creating greater pressure on clinic wait times and in-person care. We are providing our technology to help protect patients and their loved ones at clinics all across Canada and assist healthcare professionals deliver effective care despite the ongoing changes created by this pandemic. By empowering clinic staff to communicate with their patients in a safe, secure, and scalable manner, we are doing our part in helping frontline teams automate basic communication to refocus on what matters most  patient care.- Artem Abramov, CEO, MicroMetrics

To learn more about MicroMetrics Healthcares Contactless Communication Platform, frontline healthcare workers are encouraged to visit http://www.micrometrics.com/healthcare. On the website, there is an option for patients to send an email to their existing healthcare providers, notifying them of the donation being offered.

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For nearly a decade, MicroMetrics mission has been to improve the communication experience between frontline workers and the people they serve.

Originally focussed exclusively on the hospitality industry, helping the worlds top hotel brands create memorable guest experiences, unravel missed in-stay service opportunities, and cultivating deep-rooted relationships with loyal guests to drive direct bookings, MicroMetrics now provides its Contactless Communication Platform to a variety of frontline focused service providers. Regardless of the industry we are serving, our partners rely on MicroMetrics to help them deliver a safe, secure, and scalable experience to their guests, patients, shoppers, travellers, or whatever form their customers take.
United Nations, Sep 22 : UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned on Tuesday that Covid-19 presages more crises, and is "a dress rehearsal for the world of challenges to come".

"We must move forward with humility - recognising that a microscopic virus has brought the world to its knees," he said inaugurating the annual high-level meeting of the General Assembly.

"But it is also the kind of crisis that we will see in different forms again and again. Covid-19 is not only a wake-up call, it is a dress rehearsal for the world of challenges to come," he said.

Guterres said that to deal with the coronavirus crisis, "in an interconnected world, it is high time to recognise a simple truth: solidarity is self-interest".

He also warned "that terrorist and violent extremist groups will exploit the pandemic".

Calling for a New Social Contract for building inclusive and sustainable societies, he said: "Inclusivity means investing in social cohesion and ending all forms of exclusion, discrimination and racism." "The pandemic has exploited these injustices, preyed on the most vulnerable and wiped away the progress of decades.

"We need to ensure that the developing world does not fall into financial ruin, escalating poverty and debt crises," he said.

Guterres said that the UN was backing efforts for a "people's vaccine" available and affordable everywhere.

He criticised what he said was "vaccinationalism" - countries making side deals to corner supplies, saying it "is not only unfair, it is self-defeating. None of us is safe, until all of us are safe".

The coronavirus is not the only threat the world is facing, according to Guterres.

The world is seeing "the highest global geo-strategic tensions in years, an existential climate crisis, a deep and growing global mistrust and ... the dark side of the digital world".

Guterres expressed concern over the "dangerous" US-China confrontation.

"Our world cannot afford a future where the two largest economies split the globe in a Great Fracture - each with its own trade and financial rules and internet and artificial intelligence capacities." He warned: "A technological and economic divide risks inevitably turning into a geo-strategic and military divide." "We must avoid this at all costs." General Assembly President Volkan Bozkir said: "As we commemorate the UN's 75th anniversary, we must recommit to and strengthen multilateralism and acknowledge its achievements. The UN is the world's foremost forum to address issues that transcend national boundaries, maintain international peace and security, promote sustainable and inclusive development and protect human rights." In a sign of its power, the coronavirus has single-handedly stopped Presidents, Prime Ministers and royalty from 193 countries to come to New York for the meeting at the UN's 75th anniversary, and instead speaking through canned video speeches to a hall of socially-distanced, masked diplomats.

Guterres and Bozkir spoke in person before the meeting to be spread over six days switched over to the virtual mode.

(Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed on Twitter at @arulouis)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 21

By Tamilla Mammadova  Trend:

Georgia imported 212,559 tons of cement from Azerbaijan worth $10.62 million from January through August 2020, Trend reports referring to the National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat).

Compared to the same period last year, cement imports is $4.48 million or 29.7 percent less in value and 62,650.5 tons or 22.7 percent less in terms of volume.

Georgia imported 275,209.8 tons of cement from Azerbaijan in January through August 2019. The value of imports amounted to $15.10 million.

Georgia exported products to Azerbaijan in the amount of $84.2 million from January through August this year. In January through August 2020, Georgia imported products worth $309.5 million from Azerbaijan.

In the same period, the volume of trade turnover between Georgia and Azerbaijan amounted to $594 million. Compared to last year, the volume of trade turnover between Georgia and Azerbaijan decreased by 13 percent.

The share of Azerbaijan in the total trade turnover of Georgia amounted to 8.5 percent. This means the fourth place among the trading partners of the neighboring country after Turkey, Russia, and China.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @Mila61979356
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 22)  President Rodrigo Duterte called out critics of the efforts to clean up Manila Bay's Baywalk area, particularly the overlaying of crushed dolomite on the beach.

In his weekly address, Duterte said, "People now are really enjoying the reclaimed area with white sand, maski na papano. Wala naman talaga tayong magawa. You do it, may masabi sila. You do not do it, may masabi si (Vice President) Leni (Robredo). What do you want us to do?"

[Translation: People now are really enjoying the reclaimed area with white sand. We can't do anything. You do it, they say something. You do not do it, Leni will say something. What do you want us to do?]

The project has drawn flak from critics, particularly the Vice President, who said earlier this month that the money used for it could have been put to better use.

She said the 389 million fund reportedly allocated for the government initiative to overlay 'white sand' on the shores of Manila Bay could have instead gone to over 80,000 poor families who were left hungry due to the pandemic.

Other critics also said the project was merely aesthetic and did little to contribute to the rehabilitation and restoration of the area.

Duterte also defended Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu and recalled how he gamely said he could take on the project of cleaning up Manila Bay.

"I remember that meeting, and I think everybody was there, when I said, 'Roy, kaya mong linisin 'to [can you clean this up]?' And the answer was a very curtly...'kaya [I can],'" Said Duterte.

He said he was impressed with Cimatu's answer which he called "very positive."

"People are now enjoying the benefits of the determined action of a Cabinet member to do good," said the President of Cimatu, and extended his thanks to the rest of his team, saying he could not have done so much if not for their help.
HOBART, Australia  Around one third of an estimated 270 pilot whales that became stranded on Australias island state of Tasmania have died, with rescuers managing to return 25 to the sea in an ongoing operation, officials said Tuesday.

The whales were discovered Monday on a beach and two sand bars near the west coast town of Strahan. Sixty people have joined the rescue effort.

Weve rescued about 25 at the present time and escorted them out the channel and out to sea and crews are continuing to work, so that number will increase before we get to the end of the day, Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service Manager Nic Deka told reporters late Tuesday afternoon.

Image: Rescuers work to save a pod of whales stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania. (BRODIE WEEDING / AFP - Getty Images)

Wildlife biologist Kris Carlyon said progress would be slow. Well take the animals with the best chance to start with and the ones that we are able to deal with, he said.

About one third of the whales had died by Monday night and most were inaccessible by boat, Carlyon said.

He also said that pilot whales are a robust species and the survivors have a chance of lasting several days if the weather stays cool.

Tasmania is prone to whale strandings, but this is the largest mass stranding on Australias most southern state in years.

Authorities do not know why the whales became stranded.

Wildlife scientist Vanessa Pirotta said earlier on Monday: To see a stranding like this is not unusual. It just doesnt happen every day.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 22, ARMENPRESS. His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, sent a congratulatory letter to President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian on the Independence Day, the Armenian Presidents Office told Armenpress.

On this occasion we reaffirm that the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia should continue supporting the further strengthening of the independence of our Homeland, as well as all projects aimed at further enhancing and prospering it, His Holiness Aram I said in his letter, wishing good health and success to the President.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
Zhiqiang disappeared from public view in March after publishing an essay online that accused Xi of mishandling the pandemic that began in December last year

Beijing: The former chairman of a state-owned real estate company who publicly criticized President Xi Jinpings handling of the coronavirus pandemic was sentenced to 18 years in prison on Tuesday on corruption charges, a court announced.

Ren Zhiqiang, who became known for speaking up about censorship and other sensitive topics, disappeared from public view in March after publishing an essay online that accused Xi of mishandling the outbreak that began in December in the central city of Wuhan.

Xi, party leader since 2012, has suppressed criticism, tightened censorship and cracked down on unofficial organizations. Dozens of journalists, labor and human rights activists and others have been imprisoned.

Ren, 69, was convicted of corruption, bribery, embezzlement of public funds and abuse of power, the Beijing No. 2 Intermediate Peoples Court announced on its social media account. It cited Ren as saying he wouldnt appeal.

The former chairman and deputy party secretary of Huayuan Group was expelled from the ruling party in July.

In a commentary that circulated on social media, Ren criticized a 23 February video conference with 170,000 officials held early in the pandemic at which Xi announced orders for responding to the disease.

Ren didnt mention Xis name but said, "standing there was not an emperor showing off his new clothes but a clown who had stripped off his clothes and insisted on being an emperor.

Ren criticized propaganda that portrayed Xi and other leaders as rescuing China from the disease without mentioning where it began and possible mistakes including suppressing information at the start of the outbreak.

"People did not see any criticism at the conference. It didnt investigate and disclose the truth," Ren wrote, according to a copy published by China Digital Times, a website in California. "No one reviewed or took responsibility. But they are trying to cover up the truth with all kinds of great achievements."

Ren had an early military career and his parents were both former high officials in the Communist party. Some called him a princeling, a term for offspring of the founders of the communist government, a group that includes Xi.
Amid the greatest crisis of the university sector in decades, compounded by the global COVID-19 pandemic, the pseudo-left tendencies around the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) are trying to fashion themselves as a new leadership for the union.

These groups criticise some of the most blatant offers of sacrifices of jobs, wages and basic conditions made to the university managements by the increasingly discredited current union leadership, which have sparked rebellions against the NTEU.

At the same time, the fake socialist groups are trying to head off these revolts by urging university workers to join and try to rebuild the same union.

These supposed socialists are seeking to keep workers trapped within the industrial and political straitjacket of the NTEU and all the other trade unions. They are hoping to follow in the footsteps of their pseudo-left predecessors in taking full-time positions in the union bureaucracy.

The grouping around NTEU Fightback, which has close ties with Socialist Alternative (SAlt), is the most revealing.

In an article NTEU Fightback: Rank and file rebellion in a most unlikely union, published in the latest edition of SAlts Marxist Left Review, Diane Fieldes and Jordan Humphreys, begin by saying: The COVID-19 pandemic has fundamentally transformed the university sector.

In reality, the pandemic has only laid bare and accelerated catastrophic processes that have been underway for decades.

The purpose of their formulation is to conceal the fact that the NTEU has long played the central role in implementing attacks on university educators and staff. Via one enterprise agreement after another, the NTEU has facilitated the transformation of universities into highly-casualised corporate entities serving the needs of big business.

As part of this process, the NTEU fully backed the last Greens-backed Labor Party governments education revolution. Introduced in 2012, it compelled universities to compete with each other for enrolments, while cutting billions of dollars from their budgets by the time the government lost office in 2013. The current Liberal-National government has simply intensified the process.

The SAlt leaders present the union leaders as mistaken, or weak. Shamefully, the top officials of the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) responded by surrendering without a fight, they write.

There was no surrender. Instead, the NTEU led the offensive against workers, which has continued unabated. At the start of the pandemic, the union leaders rushed into closed-door discussions with the employers. On May 13, the NTEU released a Job Protection Framework, which called for wage cuts of up to 15 percent, and for the acceptance of the destruction of an estimated 18,000 jobs.

This was no aberration. It was not only in line with the NTEUs long prior record. It matched similar moves by the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) and the trade union movement as a whole to impose sweeping cuts of jobs, working hours, penalty wage rates and other basic conditions on millions of workers, including in the retail, hospitality and clerical sectors.

Hostility by many members forced the NTEU to withdraw its framework, but the union officials only stepped-up their partnerships with individual managements to impose cuts, while blocking any unified national struggle. This has paved the way for a tidal wave of job losses and restructuring.

The NTEUs conduct is a continuation of the role of the unions over decades in collaborating with employers to attack working class conditions. Under the Hawke and Keating Labor governments from 1983 to 1996 the unions, through a series of Accords, joined with the government and industry leaders to impose sweeping job and wage cuts, break up shopfloor workers committees and begin the pro-market restructuring of the economy, including education, to make Australian capitalism more profitable.

The root cause of this collaboration by the unions, not just in Australia but on a global scale, was to be found in the globalisation of production, which shattered the previous trade union perspective of seeking concessions within national economies while tying workers to the wage labour system of capitalism. The unions became police forces over workers, intent on making their national capitalist economy competitive on world markets by extracting sacrifices from their members.

SAlt claims that unions can be rebuilt to defend workers. That is because SAlt is seeking to enter the union bureaucracy in order to save it, just like SAlts forerunners.

As the article notes, Alison Barnes, the NTEU national president, was a member of one of SAlts antecedents, the International Socialist Organisation (ISO) and Michael Thomson, the unions New South Wales (NSW) state secretary, was a member of Solidarity, another ISO offshoot, and continues to work closely with them.

Likewise, another NTEU national executive member, Damien Cahill, the NSW assistant secretary, was a student protestor and editor of the University of Wollongongs student newspaper, and the NTEU branch presidents at James Cook University and Charles Sturt University are members of another pseudo-left group, Socialist Alliance.

SAlt members themselves sit on various union branch committees. Their aim is to fully enter the union bureaucracy. In their article, Fieldes and Humphreys insist that SAlt members must work with any union boss, even the most despicable. Moreover, even though the left officials (such as Barnes, Thomson and Cahill) have a history of selling out rank and file members, it would be a mistake to write them off.

The article says SAlt is engaged in activity that is modest in scale in other unions too, and none of it is anywhere near enough to turn the tide in the class struggle. For Fieldes and Humphreys the supposedly difficult objective conditions mean it is necessary to work with trade union officials on joint campaigns where possible.

The truth is that SAlt and all the pseudo-left satellites of the unions are concerned about a movement of the working class erupting outside the unions. That is why they constantly turn reality on its head to present defeats as victories.

In another article published in Socialist Alternatives Red Flag in July, titled The NTEU fightback goes onon difficult terrain, Fieldes claims that members of NTEU Fightback and other union activists at the University of Melbourne defeated a management-initiated attack on wages and conditions in June. This sent a message to higher education workers everywhere that it is possible to defeat such attacks, although so far it has been an isolated success.

This was not a success but a slight delay as university management prepared to implement sweeping job cuts with the collaboration of the NTEU. In early August, Vice-Chancellor Duncan Maskell announced the destruction of 450 permanent jobs, or the equivalent of 5 percent of the workforce, plus an unknown number of casual and fixed-term positions. Maskell told staff that he would begin formal consultation with the NTEU to work out the details.

While a disaster for workers, for the NTEU this is a success because it retained its role as the facilitator of the managements cuts, stifling staff opposition and keeping a seat at the negotiating table. This is precisely the role the NTEU has played in enforcing pay and job cuts on campuses nationally.

Fieldes attempts to portray this collaboration as an unfortunate error on the part of the union leaders, who mistakenly believe that agreeing to cuts will save jobs. Agreeing to wage cuts and undermining conditions just signals to the government and management that university workers are an easy target, Fieldes writes. But the NTEU officials are incapable of learning this lesson.

But no break from the NTEU can be tolerated. Hence Fieldes concludes by stating that the tasks of NTEU Fightback remain, arguing that unions exist to fight the bosses, not to do deals with them, and building rank and file confidence to act on it.

In other words, the task of the NTEU Fightback group is to instil illusions among workers that unions exist to fight the bosses, when these apparatuses have long ceased to be working class organisations in any sense.

NTEU Fightback and similar pseudo-left groups are fashioning themselves as the unions future leaders and beneficiaries of all the associated perks and privileges.

To fight for their interests, university workers must break free from the union bureaucracy. They have to join with students in building new organisations of strugglerank-and-file committees, totally independent of the unions. These committees are essential to prosecute a national and international industrial and political struggle against all the union-enforced cuts, as well as returns to classrooms in unsafe COVID-19 conditions.

This requires rejecting the dictates of the capitalist profit system and turning to a socialist perspective based on the total reorganisation of society in the interests of all, instead of the financial oligarchy. That is the perspective fought for by the Socialist Equality Party and the Committee for Public Education.

Email: mailto:cfpe.aus@gmail.com

CFPE Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/commforpubliceducation/

Twitter account: @CFPE_Australia
A creative Australian home stylist has demonstrated how she used a $99 bench seat from Target to add a chic touch to her bedroom.

Liz Amaya, from Brisbane, shared a video on Instagram with her 67,000 followers and placed the wooden seat at the foot of her bed.

She said the $99 bargain is the 'perfect addition' to the cosy space as it creates texture and matches her other wooden decor.

The video tells a 'from store to home' story of one simple way the $99 bench can be used to create style within the home.

A creative Australian home stylist has demonstrated how she used a $99 bench seat from Target to add a chic touch to her bedroom

According to the product description, the Target product features a wooden top with wooden veneer legs and boasts a scandi-style look.

It's versatile, practical and has received an average of 3.9 stars out of five online.

The social media video was 'liked' more than 500 times and several Instagram users praised Liz for her creative style.

Liz Amaya, from Brisbane, shared a video on Instagram with her 67,000 followers and placed the $99 wooden seat at the foot of her bed

According to the product description, the Target product (pictured) features a wooden top with wooden veneer legs and boasts a scandi-style look

'Love this, so wonderful to see from shop to home,' one person said.

'That was a really epic video Liz, love your creativity,' another said.

A third said: 'I like this, always inspiring me.'

'I wish l had your magic powers, love it!!' another said.
By Anthony Boadle

BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro told the United Nations on Tuesday that indigenous people in the Amazon were to blame for fires in the rainforest this year and attacked the media for spreading panic about the coronavirus pandemic.

In a pre-recorded speech to a remote session opening the U.N. General Assembly, the far-right leader rebutted international criticism of his environmental policies and his handling of the world's second-most deadly coronavirus outbreak after the United States.

He said the rainforest's humidity prevents fire spreading, countering experts who say ranchers use fire to clear newly deforested land for pasture, which in dry years can burn into woodland.

"The fires practically occur in the same places, on the east side of the forest, where peasants and Indians burn their fields in already deforested areas," Bolsonaro said.

Sonia Guajajara, head of Brazil's main indigenous umbrella organization, said Bolsonaro was lying to the world. "We must denounce this political catastrophe that destroys the environment and our future," she said.

Bolsonaro, who has repeatedly downplayed the gravity of the coronavirus, lamented the more than 137,200 COVID-19 deaths in Brazil.

But he accused the media of "politicizing" the pandemic and causing panic among Brazilians by telling them to stay home, which he said almost led to "social chaos" while his government "boldly" took emergency economic measures to protect jobs and incomes.

The Amazon rainforest is experiencing its worst rash of fires in 10 years, and the Pantanal wetlands, the world's largest, has the most blazes ever recorded.

Environmental advocates blame Bolsonaro for emboldening illegal ranchers and land speculators to deforest land.

The president said Brazilian agriculture feeds one billion people in the world, and that the country has the best environmental legislation.

Story continues

"And yet we are the victims of one of the most brutal campaign of misinformation about the Amazon and the Pantanal," he said, without specifying what information was false.

Bolsonaro said it was difficult for Brazil to fight the Amazon fires and illegal logging in an area bigger than Western Europe, but was trying to do so with the help of the military.

His government has said criticism of its environmental policies are just a cover for protectionism in Europe, where farmers see Brazil as a competitor and businesses have threatened to boycott Brazilian products.

Bolsonaro said his government is still committed to concluding a free trade agreement between the European Union and the South American trade bloc Mercosur.

(Reporting by Anthony Boadle; Editing by Bill Berkrot)
WASHINGTON  A former Connecticut resident is fighting a second attempt by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement to deport him to Uzbekistan after being held in ICE custody for more than two and half years, his lawyer said.

Bakhodir Madjitov, 39, was told ICE intends to remove him from the country on Tuesday morning, his lawyer Diana Blank of New Haven Legal Assistance said. Madjitov tested positive for coronavirus in July and according to a complaint filed with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, is now battling the coronavirus on top of depression and anxiety.

ICE declined to comment on the existence of any plans to remove Madjitov from the country, Monday. The agency has not stopped deporting immigrants during the pandemic, even at times carrying out the removal of detainees who have symptoms of the virus or have tested positive, multiple news outlets have reported, contributing to the spread of covid-19.

ICE said on its website only detainees with medical clearance are placed on removal flights.

Any ICE detainee who fails to pass screening by a flight medical provider and/or is suspected of having a health-risk condition potentially contagious to other detainees, staff and/or third parties, will be denied boarding and referred to an ICE approved facility for screening, ICE said.

RELATED: I dont want to die in detention: COVID-19 strikes CT man in ICE custody

On Friday, Madjitovs attorneys filed a tort claim against ICE alleging members of the agency assaulted Madjitov in New York while attempting to remove him from the country in 2019 against the orders of an immigration judge. In the complaint, Madjitov of use of excessive force, negligence, false imprisonment and intentional infliction of emotional distress in violation of his rights. Madjitov also sought a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to prevent his removal from the U.S.

Attorneys for ICE argued the lawsuit was improperly filed in New York and this court did not have the authority to stay his removal.

A judge in New York denied Madjitovs request to stay his removal Monday afternoon, Blank said. She said they would pursue an emergency stay from the U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.

Last week, ICE moved Madjitov from Etowah County Detention Center in Alabama, where he has been held a thousand miles from home for the better part of two years, to the LaSalle ICE Processing Center in Jena, Lousiana, the complaint states.

Madjitov is seeking release to his family of U.S. citizens in Broad Brook, Connecticut. Originally from Uzbekistan, he has never been arrested for or convicted of a crime but has been held in ICE custody since Dec. 2017. He has attempted to secure legal status in the U.S. through many applications and appeals. He believes he will be subject to persecution and torture if he is forced to return to Uzbekistan.

My family theyre young. My kids theyre young. I want to go back to my family, Madjitov said in a phone interview with Hearst Connecticut Media in June. I dont want to die in detention.

A few non-profits supporting immigrants rights held a rally outside ICE offices in New York City to object to his deportation on Monday afternoon.

emilie.munson@hearstdc.com; Twitter: @emiliemunson
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

An extra $10 million in help is soon to flow into the Albuquerque business community.

The Albuquerque City Council on Monday night unanimously approved using $10 million of the citys $150 million in federal coronavirus relief money to make grants to small businesses  more than triple the amount of COVID-19-related business assistance laid out in Mayor Tim Kellers current fiscal year 2021 budget proposal.

In a six-hour meeting that also saw the council strike down a couple of firearms-related bills, the business bill unified the nine-member panel.

Councilor Trudy Jones, who co-sponsored the legislation with Brook Bassan, said she considered it an urgent issue since so much of the citys economic health rests on small businesses.

The people of our city need it now, she said, adding that many families survival is tied to small businesses. Were not just helping people who own businesses and are running businesses; were helping all the people who come down stream from them  all the people who depend on those jobs in those businesses.

Under the ordinance, businesses with 50 or fewer employees can apply for grants of up to $10,000. With $10 million available, at least 1,000 businesses should benefit.

Kellers current budget proposal  now pending before council  had included about $3.4 million for business grants and related assistance and otherwise earmarked all of the remaining federal CARES Act relief money for payroll or COVID-19-related programs.

Chief Financial Officer Sanjay Bhakta told the council that it would be possible to redirect enough to cover $10 million in small business grants by pulling it away from other programs or making moves that would reduce the $40 million contingency Kellers budget proposes taking into the next fiscal year.

Some councilors said they wanted another two weeks to look closer at the options, but Pat Davis motion to defer a vote until Oct. 5 failed on a 4-5 vote.

If were behind this bill, we need to get this money on the street sooner rather than later, Isaac Benton said of the proposal.

The bill itself ultimately passed 9-0.

Bassan said the $10 million reflects the need, noting that 1,400 businesses applied earlier this year for the citys microbusiness grant program that had only enough funds to help 150.

Bernalillo County  which received $32 million in CARES Act support  has already exhausted the $6 million it set aside for small business relief, a spokesman said Monday.

Businesses that received help from Bernalillo County or the state can still qualify for the Albuquerque grants, though their cumulative total cannot exceed $10,000.

In other action Monday, the council rejected a bill that would have banned firearms from City Hall in Downtown Albuquerque, city libraries and many other city facilities, striking it down 3-6.

Council President Davis had pitched the bill  which would have exempted police officers  as a way to protect members of the public who are forced to visit the city/county building for certain business matters and for city employees exposed to agitated constituents, including at city council meetings themselves. The legislation cited more than a dozen shootings that have occurred at government buildings around the country in the last 25 years, including a 2017 library shooting in Clovis that killed two.

There are things unique about this (City Hall) building and our jobs that require people to come here under heightened situations, under heightened emotions and, simply put, the mix of firearms and (those situations) has proven to be problematic, said Davis, who co-sponsored the bill with Benton and Diane Gibson.

Only the three sponsors voted for it.

Councilors Bassan, Cynthia Borrego, Don Harris, Jones, Klarissa Pena and Lan Sena voted against it.

Bassan said the bill might have required spending on things like metal detectors at a time when finances are tight. She said she also did not think it was safe to keep guns out of the meeting area.

I want to be sure that someday when were in council chambers, if someone comes in to attack, I really hope the good guys are there to protect us.
NORRISTOWN  As the coronavirus pandemic continues to grip the region, forcing governments and businesses to change their routines, the Montgomery County Sheriffs Office has devised an innovative way to conduct its next sheriffs sale.

Sheriff Sean Kilkenny will conduct the first online sheriffs sale in Pennsylvania at 1 p.m. Oct. 28. The virtual sale will be hosted by the online auction company Bid4Assets, which has a long history of working with county tax collectors to conduct online tax foreclosure auctions, commonly known as tax sales, and is expanding into sheriffs sales.

We weighed the pros and cons of moving our sheriff sales online and found that there are numerous benefits with little downside for Montgomery County, Kilkenny said. COVID-19 was clearly the precipitating factor and an online auction is a safer way to go in the current health crisis.

Online auctions also attract a wider pool of real estate investors who will buy and renovate foreclosed properties and reduce blight. Bid4Assets services come at no cost to Montgomery County and the taxpayers we serve, Kilkenny added.

The upcoming sale will include properties countywide, including from Norristown, Pottstown, King of Prussia, Lansdale and Willow Grove.

Officials said the online nature of the Bid4Assets platform will eliminate COVID-19 concerns surrounding the sales, allowing auction participants to bid using cellphones, laptops and computers from the safety of their homes.

Were honored to work with the Montgomery County Sheriffs Office to conduct their sheriff sales online, said Jesse Loomis, chief executive officer of Bid4Assets. Bid4Assets has one of the largest databases of real estate investors, approximately 16,000 of which reside in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

The current health risks associated with gathering at the courthouse has led many sheriffs to reconsider online auctions. We plan to expand our services to other sheriffs in the Commonwealth and all around the U.S., Loomis added.

Sheriff sales are auctions conducted by the sheriffs office and are a result of mortgage foreclosures and money judgments. Montgomery County sheriff sales typically occur on the last Wednesday of the month and are held in a large courtroom at the courthouse.

The sheriffs sales of real property had been postponed by court order after the pandemic began in March. The decision to bypass the sheriffs sales was made in accordance with a series of declarations of judicial emergency due to COVID-19 mitigation efforts calling for the temporary suspension of certain court functions and an executive order by Gov. Tom Wolf halting foreclosures and evictions through Aug. 31.

In a July 23 court order, President Judge Thomas M. DelRicci scheduled the Oct. 28 sale to be conducted by way of an online auction format.

In an effort to foster and maintain appropriate social distancing guidelines during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Montgomery County Sheriffs Department shall continue to conduct its sheriffs sales via this online auction format through March 31, 2021, or upon further order of this court, DelRicci wrote in the order.

The move to online sheriffs sales is in accordance with enhanced public safety measures designed to safeguard participants and staff, officials said.

There is no cost for bidders to register on Bid4Assets and view properties, though a $10,000 deposit will be required in order to bid on the auctions. Auctions can be viewed at any time at www.bid4assets.com/MontcoPASheriff

A full listing of properties being sold and additional information about the sale is available on the sheriffs website at www.montcopa.org/sheriff

Bid4Assets, an online auction site based in Silver Spring, Md., was founded in 1999. The privately held company auctions distressed real estate for the federal government, sheriffs offices, county tax-collectors, financial institutions and real estate funds. Bid4Assets conducted the first online tax sale and the first online federal forfeiture auction in 2000, according to company officials.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 01:50:11|Editor: huaxia

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DAMASCUS, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- A total of 13 Syrian soldiers and 15 Islamic State (IS) militants were killed over the past 24 hours in the desert of the northern province of Raqqa in Syria, a war monitor reported on Tuesday.

The battles are part of the ongoing attacks by the IS militants on government troops' positions in the desert region of Raqqa and the nearby provinces of Aleppo and Hama, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The desert battles have been intensifying since March.

The observatory said 759 Syrian soldiers and pro-government fighters as well as 364 IS militants had been killed in the battles of the desert since March. Enditem
The Uttar Pradesh governments internal Covid-19 tracking site has been reported to have had multiple bugs, which seemingly exposed private data of over 8 million users in the public domain. Security researchers Noam Rotem and Ran Locar, on behalf of vpnMentor, reportedly made this discovery about Surveillance Platform Uttar Pradesh Covid-19, the official internal coronavirus tracking platform used by the UP state government. After the report was raised with CERT-In, Indias emergency cyber threat response department, the bugs are said to have been patched, and the data in question is no longer vulnerable to being found by malicious threat actors.

According to a report by The Next Web, Rotem and Locar detected the breach on August 1 and verified it by August 9. Subsequently, they attempted to contact authorities in the UP government and raised it with CERT-In. The bugs were patched on September 10. The report also states that there is no clear indication if this vulnerability was exploited by any cyber attacker in the duration of it being exposed in the public domain.

The report affirms that the flaws included a vulnerable code repository that also included key login credentials of administrator accounts with access to the information database. Attackers could have taken control of the dashboard, manipulating case statuses or modifying patient data, the report added. This comes at a time when the Indian government has affirmed that it is ramping up its cyber security protocols, in light of Chinas geopolitically incentivised cyber espionage activities in Indias cyberspace.

Other flaws in this system also included a vulnerable database that contained user data of people outside Uttar Pradesh as well. The data is said to be personally identifiable in nature, and reportedly included details such as names, addresses, tracking dates, test results and phone numbers of over 8 million people. Following the ethical disclosure attempts undertaken by the security researchers in partnership with The Next Web, the flaws are now said to be patched.
President Xi Jinping delivers a speech via video from Beijing to a high-level meeting in honor of the United Nations' 75th anniversary on Monday. [Photo/Xinhua]

China supports United Nations' central global affairs role, rejects unilateralism China firmly supports the United Nations' central role in global affairs and opposes any country acting like boss of the world, President Xi Jinping said on Monday. Xi made the remark in a video speech delivered at a high-level meeting in honor of the UN's 75th anniversary. "No country has the right to dominate global affairs, control the destiny of others or keep advantages in development all to itself," Xi said. Noting that the UN must stand firm for justice, Xi said that mutual respect and equality among all countries, big or small, is the foremost principle of the UN Charter. No country should be allowed to do whatever it likes and be the hegemon or bully, Xi said. "Unilateralism is a dead end," he said. Xi pointed out that it is imperative that the representation and voice of developing countries be increased so that the UN is more balanced in reflecting the interests of the majority of countries in the world. Big countries should lead by example in advocating and upholding the international rule of law and in honoring their commitments, Xi said. International laws should not be distorted or used as a pretext to undermine other countries' legitimate rights and interests or world peace and stability, he added. Xi said that a Cold War mentality, ideological lines or a zero-sum game are no solution to a country's own problems, still less an answer to mankind's common challenges. "What we need to do is to replace conflict with dialogue, coercion with consultation and zero-sum with win-win," he said. Xi called on UN members to focus on real action, rather than just talk, to put into practice the principle of multilateralism. The UN should aim at problem-solving and move toward tangible outcomes as it advances security, development and human rights in parallel, he said. Xi reaffirmed China's commitment to following multilateralism, saying that the country will stay actively engaged in reforming and developing the global governance system. Xi spoke highly of the role played by the UN in promoting peace and stability of the world since the organization's establishment in 1945, with a great many countries having gained national independence and over 1 billion people having emerged from poverty since then. Noting that problems facing the world are big and global challenges are on the increase, Xi said the problems can only be resolved through dialogue and cooperation. "The understanding that we are all in the same boat is now the popular consensus in the global community," he said. China is a founding member of the UN and the only developing country that has a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. The theme of the high-level meeting is "The future we want, the United Nations we need: reaffirming our collective commitment to multilateralism."


ERS Genomics Limited ("ERS"), which was formed to provide broad access to the foundational CRISPR/Cas9 intellectual property (IP) co-owned by Dr. Emmanuelle Charpentier, today announced the appointment of Michael Arciero as Vice-President of Intellectual Property and Commercial Development. In the new role, Michael will oversee the intellectual property portfolio of the company and will become a core member of the Company's global business development team.

Michael has over 15 years of experience in corporate and academic transactions. Most recently he was Director of Technology Commercialization and New Ventures for the USC Stevens Center for Innovation. In this function he led the technology transfer and corporate alliance teams supporting innovation across all disciplines, stemming from over $900M in annual research expenditures. Michael was pivotal in the establishment of new ventures based on intellectual property originating at USC. He has a bachelor's degree in Biology from the University of California, San Diego, and a Juris Doctorate from the University of San Diego School of Law.

"We are absolutely thrilled to have Michael joining ERS at this stage in our corporate development," said Eric Rhodes, CEO, ERS Genomics. "Michael brings a strong background not only in intellectual property matters, but also in structuring deals with a wide range of companies. He will be a key asset in our global expansion efforts, focused on widespread adoption and use of CRISPR/Cas9 across industries including life sciences, veterinary science, and industrial chemicals."

"The CRISPR/Cas9 system has already led to important research breakthroughs and we've only scratched the surface of what is possible," commented Michael Arciero, Vice-President of Intellectual Property and Commercial Development, ERS Genomics. "I'm excited to join ERS and help advance the Company's mission to increase global commercial access to this revolutionary technology."

For additional information please visit www.ersgenomics.com

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Federal investigators say that several members of Angwangs family have been members of the Chinese Communist Party and have served in the Peoples Liberation Army, and that Angwang has maintained relationships with two officials at the Chinese Consulate in New York. He reported to his contacts at the consulate about the activities of ethnic Tibetans and worked to identify potential sources of information from within the community to assist in Chinas monitoring efforts, according to court papers filed in the Eastern District of New York.
Bihar DGP Gupteshwar Pandey took voluntary retirement from service on Tuesday evening. September 22 was the last working day for the 1987-batch IPS officer. The Bihar Governor late on Tuesday evening approved the request of Pandey seeking VRS from services. A notification in this regard was also issued by the home department.

Pandey in all probability will contest assembly polls. He was due to retire in February next year.

Following the VRS of DGP, Director general of Homeguard and Fire services, Sanjiv Kumar Singhal has been given additional charge of the DGP .

Gupteshwar Pandey has been in the news recently. He has made it to the headlines and is a talking point on social media in connection with the Sushant Singh Rajput case.

Pandey had earlier taken premature retirement to contest Lok Sabha elections in 2009.

Gupteshwar Pandey, a 1987 batch IPS officer of Bihar cadre, reportedly wished to contest from the Buxar Lok Sabha seat on a BJP ticket in 2009.

With the intention of contesting the Lok Sabha polls, the now Bihar DGP opted for voluntary retirement scheme in March, 2009. His dream to plunge into electoral politics, however, did not materialize.

Nine months after his VRS, Pandey requested the Bihar government to allow him to withdraw his resignation.

The Nitish Kumar-led government approved Pandeys plea and the high-profile cop reported back to work. He went on to become the DGP of Bihar Police before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

He was born in 1961 in Geruabandh village in Buxar district of Bihar. Pandey graduated from Patna University in Sanskrit and even took his UPSC exam in Sanskrit. He cleared the UPSC in his first attempt and went on to become an Income Tax officer. In his second attempt, he cleared the IPS.

Pandey served as the SP of several Naxal-affected districts like Aurangabad, Jehanabad, Arwal, Begusarai and Nalanda, besides being DIG of Munger and Muzaffarpur zone. Later, he became the IG of Muzaffarpur Zone and was DG of Bihar Police (training) before he went on to become the DGP.

He has also been active in leading the alcohol ban campaign by the Bihar government.

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For the past couple of days, fashion retailer Nordstrom has been the butt of a lot of jokes on social media, after it was revealed that it is selling a pair of jeans caked in fake mud for a whopping $425.

The Barracuda Straight Leg Jeans are apparently brand new, but make you look like youve just finished feeding your pigs, or you just fell in a ditch after a wild night of partying. They look filthy, but thats apparently the point, as Nordstrom claims the mud shows youre not afraid to get down and dirty.

The description on the Nordstrom website explains that the mud-caked jeans embody rugged, Americana workwear thats seen some hard-working action. Ironically, they are made in Portugal, by a company called PRPS, which specializes in distressed jeans covered in holes, rips and patches.

Photos of the Barracuda Straight Leg Jeans went viral online recently, with people leaving all kinds of snarky reviews on the Nordstrom website.

Gotta love being able to look like I have fed the pigs, helped deliver a calf, and get the tractor unstuck without ever having to leave my BMW. Love it, one person wrote.

These are perhaps the best jeans Ive ever owned. Perfectly match my stick on calluses, another commented.

Nordstrom eventually removed the reviews, but the onslaught continued on Facebook, Twitter and the comment sections of major news sites. They even got a comment out of Mike, Rowe, the famous host of popular Discovery Channel show Dirty Jobs.

The Barracuda Straight Leg Jeans arent pants. Theyre not even fashion. Theyre a costume for wealthy people who see work as ironic  not iconic, Rowe wrote on Facebook.

Ainsley Eardhardt of Fox&Friends apparently shares the same opinion. Its for the trust fund baby. Its for the kid who inherits the millions of dollars, the kid who doesnt want to work hard and wants to go into Nordstrom, pay a lot of money and act like they work, she said on the show.

But if youre one of the few people who actually find these $425 pre-muddied jeans cool, Ive got a tip for you. Youre going to love this . PRPS also makes a matching $425 fake mud-caked denim jacket, so you can really rock the dirty job look. And guess what, Nordstrom is also selling that one. Youre welcome!

Photos: PRPS/Nordstrom
MUMBAI: India's natural gas production fell 13.2% during April-August compared to a 1% fall registered in the corresponding period last fiscal, said Care Ratings in a note.

The cumulative fall in production was primarily a result of restricted or negligible offtake by consumers due to the pandemic and ensuing lockdowns.

While domestic production from onshore fields was around 34%, coal-bed methane (CBM) fields contributed around 2% to total natural gas production during April-August.

"Major part of the output however was from the offshore gas fields which constituted around 64% of the total domestic natural gas production. NOCs* have contributed around 88% of the total domestic output whereas PSC* fields have contributed the remaining around 12%," Care Ratings said.

Natural gas is used as a fuel and as a feedstock, with demand largely dependent on fertiliser industry (28%), power (23%), city gas distribution entities (16%), refinery (12%) and petrochemicals (8%) industries.

Consumption of natural gas fell 9.5% year-on-year during the period under review. Except in the case of urea production and demand from piped natural gas (PNG) consumers, there has been a fall in power generation, drop in the demand for CNG refueling, fall in refineries throughput and fall in petrochemical production during the aforementioned time period.

However, imports of liquefied natural gas fell 5.5% compared with an increase of 9.1% during April-August of last fiscal.

LNG catered to 53.3% of natural gas consumption during April-August. India imports LNG from Qatar, Nigeria, UAE and Nigeria.

"The overall macros of the natural gas industry is still below its pre-covid levels but on the other hand the situation seems to be improving with the unlocking of the economy. In August20 the imports of LNG have increased by 5.4% and consumption has decline by 1.8% on a y-o-y basis," said Care Ratings.

India's FY21 gross natural gas output, however, estimated to decline 10.6% as exploration and production prospects look bleak with refraining from increase output in the current low price regime.

Domestic gas price is expected to fall further in the second half of this fiscal in line with the trend in global energy markets.

Consumption for the full year is expected to fall 3.2% on account of subdued sales of compressed natural gas, weaker demand from gas-based power plants on account of fall in electricity demand and a cut in refinery throughput by oil refiners.

Demand, however, would be supported by an increase in production of urea.

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We are constantly at home, and so the boundaries of our space assume an urgent relevance, the one piece of Earth I can protect. While my daughter plays in the yard, I strip away invasive vines and scatter flower seeds. One warm afternoon, I spend an hour planting dozens of acorns harvested from a centuries-old red oak that had to be chopped down and hauled away from our yard last year, a loss I resisted fiercely until arborists assured me it was inevitable. The massive tree had been a concern for years. It was the topic of one of the very last conversations I had with my mother, who admired the oaks magnificence but worried about how close it stood to my daughters bedroom window.
Hong Kong is under pressure to add Covid-19-stricken European nations to its list of high-risk countries under which travellers must prove they are not infected with the coronavirus before boarding flights, as the citys leader revealed on Tuesday that a review was under way.

France, Spain, Britain and Russia are among the countries that should be added to the list, according to a leading public health expert advising the government on its anti-pandemic strategy.

Five more imported Covid-19 cases were recorded on Tuesday  out of a total of eight confirmed infections. The government also extended social-distancing measures for another week, meaning the public would not be out celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival, which falls on October 1, in large numbers.

Get the latest insights and analysis from our Global Impact newsletter on the big stories originating in China.

The city has maintained its trend of declining Covid-19 infections in recent weeks, down from more than 100 a day for a spell in July, but the number of imported cases remains alarming.

Children celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival at Victoria Park in Causeway Bay in 2018. Photo: Sam Tsang

Of the 236 cases confirmed in September to date, 99, or 41 per cent, were imported. But the situation worsened over the past week, with 63 per cent of cases involving returnees from overseas.

They mostly involved those returning from India, the Philippines, Nepal, Pakistan and Britain, while a smaller number of cases were from France, Spain and Russia.

Chinese Universitys Professor David Hui Shu-cheong, a government health adviser, noted that Britain, France and Spain were facing a second wave of coronavirus infections, adding that he believed the health crisis in Europe would become severe as the weather turned cooler.

Official figures showed Britain was seeing a resurgence of cases but, so far, had not reached the levels seen in March and April, while France and Spain were dealing with a much-feared second wave.

Story continues

Hui suggested the government review its list of high-risk countries, from which residents returning to the city needed to present proof of negative Covid-19 test results and hotel bookings for not less than 14 days before boarding their flights. Returnees from other locales, meanwhile, simply face a mandatory 14-day quarantine period.

Ten countries have been on the high-risk list since July 15.

In the past seven days, France has had about 66,000 cases, Spain has around 50,000, while England also has 25,000. The infection figures are not small, so we must pay special attention to these European countries that might have a large outbreak, Hui said.

He said the government could look at which destinations had an epidemic when deciding upon the list.

For example, Britain saw a surging number of cases. Perhaps there should be an update on a regular basis, like once a month, he added.

Speaking ahead of her weekly Executive Council meeting, Hong Kongs leader, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, said the Centre for Health Protection was reviewing the list, and would announce when it was ready.

We believe that imported cases cannot be completely avoided, and we will closely monitor the latest global pandemic development, she said. The Centre for Health Protection is now examining whether there are other high-risk areas that need to be added to the list.

Lam said that although Hong Kongs third wave of coronavirus infections was gradually receding  with just seven confirmed cases of unknown origin detected in the past week  the city should not let its guard down.

As I predicted a week ago, it would be difficult to further relax our social-distancing measures in a weeks time, she said.

Existing curbs, including limiting to four the number of people allowed to eat out together or gather in public, will now remain in place until October 1, the date of the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day.

Most leisure venues, such as karaoke lounges, bars and theme parks were allowed to reopen last Friday, subject to conditions to curb the virus spread. While Ocean Park immediately reopened last week, Hong Kong Disneyland was set to reopen on Friday, initially for five days a week.

The theme park on Lantau Island would remain shut on Tuesdays and Thursdays until further notice, except for public holidays, and special occasions as designated by the resort. All guests had to book online and make a health declaration in advance.

The extension of social-distancing rules came as health authorities announced the eight new coronavirus cases, including three locally transmitted infections, all of which were from traceable sources.

Among the three local cases were two domestic helpers, aged 23 and 30, who lived in Hung Hom and Tuen Mun, respectively. The other was a 14-year-old girl, who is a family member of a previously known case. They were all sent to hospital from quarantine centres.

The latest figures took the total number of confirmed cases in the city to 5,046, with 103 related deaths.

Meanwhile, a four-year-old boy tested preliminarily positive for Covid-19 after being admitted to Tuen Mun Hospitals accident and emergency department on Monday. He was in a stable condition in an isolation ward.

The boy, who has a chronic disease, receives regular treatment. He was last treated on Friday in the hospitals paediatric ward for two hours. He had no respiratory symptoms and was wearing a mask for most of the time, the Hospital Authority said.

Ten children were identified as close contacts and required quarantine measures for 14 days. Another six children would be put under 28-day surveillance. An operational assistant responsible for cleaning the patients toilet also had to be quarantined for 14 days for not having a face shield.

In another development, the Department of Health said investigations and testing work were still ongoing in relation to a University of Hong Kong researcher whose infection was announced on Saturday, adding that, so far, no more related positive cases had been identified.

Separately, the citys public hospitals pledged a multipronged strategy to increase service capacity and reschedule non-emergency and non-essential appointments disrupted by the third wave as infection numbers dwindled. But at the moment, visitation would continue to be suspended.

Dr Ian Cheung Tsz-fung, a Hospital Authority chief manager, said family visitation to inpatients, which was suspended again during the third wave, could resume at the earliest if there were few or no Covid-19 infections of unknown origins for about five to six days after the Mid-Autumn Festival, but he stressed no decision had been made yet.

Additional reporting by Kanis Leung and Victor Ting

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This article Coronavirus: Hong Kong urged to add France, Spain, Britain and Russia to Covid-19 high-risk list first appeared on South China Morning Post

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The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Tuesday said it is yet to come up with a resolution plan for Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative (PMC) Bank, and named a new administrator for the crisis-ridden lender.

While the central bank and the PMC Bank administrator have been exploring various options, "factors such as huge losses incurred by the bank resulting in its entire net worth getting wiped out, steep erosion in deposits, etc. continue to pose serious challenges in finding a workable plan for revival of the bank, the RBI said.

Nevertheless, PMC Bank and the RBI are continuing to engage with stakeholders to find a viable and workable solution for the resolution of the bank, it added.

The RBI appointed former Union Bank of India executive A K Dixit as the new administrator of PMC Bank, replacing Mr J.B. Bhoria, who stepped down on September 22 due to health reasons.

PMC Bank has been making efforts for recovery of NPAs although the progress has been constrained because of the COVID-19 pandemic and legal complexities, the central bank said.

The RBI superseded PMC Bank in September last year after the discovery of a fraud and significant financial irregularities. Of its total loan book of Rs 8,383 crore as on March 31, 2019, about 70 percent had been taken by real estate firm HDIL. The bank had Rs 11,600 crore in deposits.

The police arrested Joy Thomas, former managing director of the PMC Bank, in October. A few more arrests have been made since then.

During investigations, it was found that the bank had been allegedly running fraudulent transactions for several years to facilitate lending to HDIL through fictitious accounts and violating single-party lending rules.

The RBI imposed restrictions on deposit withdrawals and superseded its board after the fraud was detected. Deposit withdrawal restrictions were imposed on the bank - initially Rs 1,000 per account, which was later increased to Rs 50,000.

About 78 percent of the depositors have since been allowed to withdraw their deposits upto a limit of Rs 50,000. While this limit was further enhanced to Rs 1 lakh in June this year, many depositors who have bigger amounts parked in the bank are still unable to get their money back.

While enhancing the withdrawal limit to Rs 1 lakh, the RBI had said more than 84 percent of depositors would be able to withdraw the entire balance in their accounts.

However, two depositors of the PMC Bank told Moneycontrol that the bank is insisting on written requests from some customers for withdrawals.
Bengaluru: Ola is seeing demand recover faster in metro cities like Bengaluru and Mumbai, with offices and leisure travel gradually opening up, the cab aggregators chief executive and co-founder Bhavish Aggarwal said on Tuesday.

Demand for airport transfers and office commute has aided recovery for Olas core cab sharing segment, especially in Mumbai, where 80% of the demand has returned when compared to pre-covid levels, he said.

Ever since a national lockdown was implemented in March, demand for shared cabs and two-wheeler taxis had plunged as most people in cities and smaller towns stayed indoors. Aggarwal said that in the past few months, mobility usage trends indicate customer ditching public transport for more personal mobility choices like a rented scooter or a car.

Mobility businesses have been affected, but its not like people will stop moving in the long-term...they still need to go meet their friends, and people need to continue with economic activity, and goods need to be shipped. The challenge for mobility now is to create hygienic, and safe solution for movement. In fact, there is a shift happening to personal mobility from public transport (options)," he said. Aggarwal was speaking at All India Management Associations (AIMAs) 47th National Convention.

Currently, Ola is present across four major business categories including on-demand cabs, two-wheeler electric vehicles, financial services, and food delivery. Mint reported recently that Ola has been speeding up plans to launch its own two-wheeler EV along with software integrations like Ola Play, and locally manufactured hardware, including NavIC, the Indian global positioning system.

Ola Electrics upcoming two-wheeler electric vehicle (EV) will be a reconfigured version of Netherlands-based Etergo BVs App Scooter. Etergo, which was acquired by Ola Electric in May, will launch the App Scooter in the European market this year and in Asia next year, with India being first on the list, Mint reported on 9 September.

The startup has also been stepping-up expansion of its private food delivery brands into new categories such as biryani, pizza, health and self-help meal kits.

Ola had also expanded its cab-hailing business to overseas markets such as Australia, New Zealand and United Kingdom in the past. The overseas expansion of Ola comes at a time when it has been trying to establish itself in a duopoly cab-hailing market.

By late 2017, we realized that in the Indian market, we have executed our business strategy fairly well to gain a leadership position in a duopoly. We also realized that the technology and resources we built in India can also be leveraged in other markets globallyso we chose Australia, UK, New Zealand over the last two yearsWhile these are Commonwealth countries, and legal system similarities existed in these countries, these are also developed nations, so it also made sure to rise to the challenge of making sure our technology system is best in class in the world or on the world stage," Aggarwal added.

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National polls show that former Vice President Joe Biden is leading President Trump: Biden has a 50 percent approval rating versus 43 percent for Trump.

But can voters believe those numbers? Many remember the 2016 presidential election when Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton was favored to win, according to the polls.

Are polls reliable? Yes, said Casey Klofstad, professor of political science, who has spent much of his academic career studying and conducting polls. But polls are not infallible, he pointed out.

Polls are designed to represent the opinions of the population on a particular subject or contest. There is no way to poll everyone in a population. Instead, pollsters randomly select and survey a smaller subset . When done correctly, random sampling allows the pollster to make an accurate estimate of the opinions of the entire population. This estimate includes a margin of error, a number that represents uncertainty about the polls findings because of the fact that only a subset of the population was surveyed.

There is always uncertainty in polls, said Klofstad. It is not a crystal ball. Always look for the margin of error when you see polling data. Reliable pollsters and media outlets will report it. Higher quality polls will have a margin of error around or below 4 percent.

Klofstad also added that what a person tells you today can always change. But he believes that polls are the best tools available to learn peoples opinions and intended actions.

But what of the polls in 2016? The 2016 presidential election taught pollsters a great deal. National polls predicted a sure win for Hillary Clinton. The national vote or popular vote did go for Clinton, as predicted. But what elects a president is not the popular vote but the Electoral College. Despite Clintons national vote victory, Trump won the Electoral College and the presidency.

Where did the polls get it wrong? asked Klofstad. The answer is threefold.

There was not enough reliable polling done close enough to the election in a few key states such as Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Florida, said Klofstad. Trump unexpectedly won in those states, defying the national predictions.

Traditionally, people with higher levels of education tend to be more engaged with politics and may be more responsive to answering polls about politics during election season. This can lead to an overrepresentation of college graduates in polls. This occurred in 2016, when the fact that many Trump supporters tended to have lower levels of education was not taken into consideration and many of these supporters were not polled.

The third factor that may have affected the 2016 election was what many called the shy Trumpersvoters who were voting for Trump but decided not to reveal that in polls before the election.

Klofstad believes that for this current election pollsters have learned from the lessons of 2016. More careful polling of key states will be carried out and a persons education will be accounted for in analysis of polling data.

The shy Trump effect is a hard nut to crack, he said. But if we can clean up the first two it will go a very long way to give us a more reliable result for the Electoral College.

According to Klofstad, as election day nears, voters should rely on established sources such as Pew, Gallup, Roper, and YouGov. A site like Nate Silvers FiveThirtyEight is also a useful reference because it grades polls according to their past record and soundness of methodology, he added.

But ultimately, polls can contribute to elections being covered like the horse races, Klofstad explained. They tell you who is up and down at a particular point in the race and focus on data public opinion rather than on the candidates themselves. Polls should never be used to determine a vote for a particular candidate, he explained. Instead, voters should listen to what candidates have to say and determine which one matches their view of what they want from a politican.

Also, polls should not determine whether you turn out to vote, said Klofstad. In 2016, there may have been people who looked at polls and determined that Hillary would win handily and then decided not to vote.
Two North Korean government officials and two bomb squad technicians were killed when a long-buried Korean War-era bomb exposed by recent typhoons blew up as they attempted to disarm it, RFA has learned.

The explosion occurred Sept. 7, at a site where typhoon recovery efforts were underway in Kangwon, a province in the countrys southeast, that was hit by back-to-back typhoons earlier this month.

On the 7th, a massive explosive device went off at a typhoon recovery site in Kumgang county, Kangwon province, a Kangwon province official told RFAs Korean Service Monday.

Four people were killed at the scene including the head of the Kumgang county party committee and the head of the countys public security department, and two bomb disposal agents from the countys public security department who were trying to dispose of the explosive, said the official, who requested anonymity to speak freely.

The official said that the unidentified explosive had been buried under the ground during the 1950-53 Korean War and became exposed by the heavy rains from Typhoons Maysak and Haishen.

Sources told RFA that officials in Kangwon province and its coastal city of Wonsan had been threatened with punishment by the central government for not doing enough to prevent the damage from Typhoon Maysak, which slammed into the coastal province on Sept. 3, followed by Typhoon Haishen on Sept. 7.

They said the two officials lost their lives because they did not want to appear disloyal, remaining close to the two-man bomb squad that worked to dispose of the device.

It exploded while members of the bomb disposal team from the public security department were working to dispose of the explosive, the official said.

The head of the Kumgang county party committee and the head of the public security department evacuated solders and construction workers who had been mobilized for the recovery effort, and the two died along with the bomb disposal agents, the source said.

The source said that it was impossible for witnesses to identify the type of explosive because it went off while they were still trying to disarm it.

It is no exaggeration to say that the accident was caused by the urgency of the Kumgang county officials, who were under pressure from the authorities over the typhoon damage in Kangwon Province, said the source.

The source said the two officials would not have lost their lives if it had not been for the Central Party blaming Kangwon province for being unprepared for the typhoons.

Authorities have long stressed to officials that they always have to be there for the people wherever they are having difficulties. Moreover, the Highest Dignity lashed out at Wonsan city and Kangwon province officials for failing to prevent the damage from the typhoon at the partys expanded political bureau meeting on the 25th of last month, the source said, using an honorific title to refer to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

The Kumgang county officials lost their lives while not leaving the explosion site and watching the disposal of the explosive, the source said.

However, authorities are blaming the U.S. for the explosion, saying it was one of the bombs dropped by the U.S. military during the Korean War, the source said.

A resident of the county confirmed the bomb disposal mishap to RFA Monday.

The head of the county party committee and the head of the countys public security department stayed at the bomb disposal site, saying they cannot let only bomb disposal agents take the risk, the second source said.

Authorities have stressed to officials that they should take the lead in difficult tasks. But they have not given even a single comment on the dedicated sacrifice of the explosion victims. They are only focusing on promoting the greatness of the highest dignity inspecting the typhoon damage recovery site.

North Korean state media has over the past month widely publicized Kim Jong Uns public visits to inspect areas heavily damaged by the heavy rains and the three typhoons in what some say are mere public relations stunts.

The government has also been quick to find scapegoats for the extensive damage.

The Rodong Sinmun newspaper reported on Sept. 5 that the Central Party held a meeting to draw lessons from the irresponsible attitude of officials in Kangwon province, who they said caused severe casualties by neglecting to implement the partys policy to prevent damage from Typhoon Maysak.

Unexploded ordnance from the 1950-53 Korean Warmostly American in originis relatively common in North Korea. The Associated Press reported in 2017 that North Korean bomb squads find thousands of bombs, mortars and pieces of live ammunition each year with one squad leader saying that it would take more than 100 years to completely clear.

Saturation bombing of North Korea by the U.S. during the war had taken out almost all worthwhile targets by 1952. As a result, North Korea is now likely second only to Cambodia as the most bombed country ever.

Additionally, the U.S. Army reported in 2012 that during typhoons, unexploded ordnance is often uncovered in South Korea, sometimes in very public places like in backyards, on farms, in the mountains, in rivers and at the beach. Unexploded North Korean landmines are even washed away to parts of South Korea, according to that report.

Reported by Sewon Kim for RFAs Korean Service. Translated by Leejin Jun. Written in English by Eugene Whong.
Yoshihide Suga, Japan's new prime minister, speaks during a press conference in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 16, 2020. (Carl Court/Pool via Xinhua)

By Lyu Yaodong

On the evening of September 20, Japans new Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga made his inaugural call in office to his Australian counterpart Morrison, which drew close attention in the international policy circle.

Over the phone call, the two leaders reached consensuses on tightening their cooperation in building "free and open India-Pacific" and promoting international prosperity and stability in the post-COVID-19 era. They also agreed to intensify their bilateral relationship and expressed the wish to deepen the special strategic partnership between the two countries. The author believes Yoshihide Suga took the move to enhance Japans quasi-alliance with Australia and seek more acting points around the country on the basis of Abe's Free and Open Indo-Pacific(FOIP) vision, to open up a new diplomatic vista.

First, the Japan-Australia defense cooperation will be closer and more regular. Previous talks between the two countries heads of state usually focused on defense and security cooperation as they, in consideration of the DPRKs nuclear and missile development and Chinas active maritime activities, especially stressed the joint exercises between Japanese Self-Defense Forces and the Australian military as well as intensified cooperation in defense equipment. During the latest call, Yoshihide Suga proposed to deepen the cooperation with Australia in building a free and open Indo-Pacific region in the post-pandemic era, highlighting the importance of Tokyo and Canberra in shaping the quadrilateral cooperation including the US and India as well as the relevance to be tough on China over issues related to the East China Sea and South China Sea. The Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) that was agreed between both parties during Abes reign may be signed much sooner. The agreement is a special arrangements made to uplift the two parties' military cooperation by legalizing the activities of each others military personnel and equipment in the other country. Once signed, it will allow both sides to carry equipment, ammunition and other materials to the other country when staying there for joint training, thus enhancing their defense cooperation in intensity and depth.

Second, Japans new prime minister shows his intention to form an iron triangle with Washington and Canberra to reinforce the countrys geostrategic control in Asia Pacific. In recent years, Japan has been actively establishing the so-called political and security mechanism of democratic states based on common values in the name of safeguarding the common goal of achieving peace and economic prosperity in the Asia Pacific and the world at large. Regarding maritime security cooperation in the Asia Pacific, the Asia country has strengthened its cooperation with the US and other allies to obstruct Chinas right-defending activities on the sea. The defense ministers of Japan, US and Australia hold regular meetings on Asia Pacific maritime security, and have worked out the defense cooperation action plan concerning information exchanges and intensified monitoring and vigilance through joint military training on South China Sea issue, posing as the so-called defenders of freedom of navigation and international norms. Japan is also eager to form the special strategic partnership with Australia and intensify their security cooperation through the foreign and defense ministers consultation mechanism (Two Plus Two mechanism), to make the Abe-proposed FOIP more influential and appealing.

Third, Japan and Australia are strongly motivated to bond closer considering Trumps emphasis on America first and his request for all allies to be more independent in defense while sharing more responsibilities. Japan hopes to have Australias help in implementing its strategic conception and confronting China in certain domains, while Australia is looking for a strategic pivot in the north of the West Pacific. As Washington becomes less influential in the Asia Pacific, Tokyo and Canberra have to reaffirm its importance in the region and jointly prevent their alliance with the super power from becoming an empty shell. Both the two countries intend to facilitate more active communication of ideas and opinions based on the Japan-US and US-Australia alliance. Taking it upon themselves to share regional security responsibilities in the Asia Pacific with the US, Tokyo and Canberra, as important allies in strategic international defense cooperation with Washington, find it imperative to expedite the formation of their quasi alliance. Its foreseeable that the two countries will take further steps to enhance their so-called special strategic partnership.

(The author is a research fellow at the Institute of Japanese Studies under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.)
One out of a gang of seven robbers who attempted to steal cattle from some Fulani herdsmen at Tingakrom near New Lunglo on the Kintampo road that links Wench-Wa road has been killed by some irate youth in the community.

The deceased has been identified as Malik Iddrisu, 25. The others  Abdulai Gamba, 41; Nurudeen Alhassan, 30; Salifu Yakubu, 21; Hamidu Haruna, 30; Seidu Umar, 35, and Kwabena Gyan, owner of a taxi cab used in the operation  are in the grip of the police.

They were arrested on Friday whilst the taxi cab with registration number BA 3509-13 has been impounded.

The Kintampo Divisional Police Commander, ACP Francis Enor, confirmed the incident to DAILY GUIDE on phone and said the robbers were arrested by a patrol team from the Kintampo division upon a tip-off. They are currently in our custody assisting us in further investigation, ACP Enor said.

He explained that Tingakrom had become cattle raiding grounds for robbers who go there often to attack herdsmen. So that very night the robbers numbering about seven went into the community and attempted to tie one of the herdsmen in his room and later brought a KIA truck to convey some cattle they had stolen but luck eluded them when the alarm was raised. Malik Iddrisu was arrested and lynched while the rest managed to escape, he added.

When the deceased was searched, eight cartridges, including other offensive weapons, were found in his pocket. The rest who managed to escape were later arrested by our men. They will be charged with robbery and put before court on September 22, 2020, he narrated.

He said one of them had been identified to be a regular cattle raider and arrested on three occasions. He, therefore, appealed to residents around the area to volunteer information to the police to enable them to arrest those behind the criminal acts.

---Daily Guide
Myanmar & COVID-19 Myanmar Bans Restaurant Dining to Tackle COVID-19

A tea shop closed opened for take-aways in April in Yangon. / Myo Min Soe / The Irrawaddy

YANGON  Myanmars government has imposed a nationwide ban on dining at restaurants and teashops to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Since Aug. 16, Myanmar has been battling a resurgence of COVID-19 cases after initial success in containing coronavirus.

Since Aug. 16, the number of cases has jumped from 374 to 6,471, including 100 deaths by Tuesday morning.

Presidents Office spokesman U Zaw Htay told reporters in Naypyitaw on Monday that all dine-in services will be banned across the nation as some recent transmissions have been linked to restaurants.

Following his remarks, Naypyitaw Council announced that it would ban dine-in services and operate only takeaway services from Tuesday. The council also asked restaurants to follow health ministry guidelines when providing takeaway service.

In Yangon Region, where the highest number of COVID-19 cases have been reported, a ban on dining was imposed on Sept. 8.

Food deliveries are becoming increasingly popular and many shops have also started delivery services.

The health ministry has also introduced stricter stay-at-home orders and told companies to work from home in Yangon.

You may also like these stories:

Myanmars COVID-19 Center Yangon Imposes More Restrictions as Cases Soar

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Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs David Helvey testifies to Congress in Washington on Sept. 22, 2020. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Pentagon Planning for Possibility of Total Withdrawal From Afghanistan by May 2021

U.S. military officials are planning out the possibility of fully withdrawing from Afghanistan by May of next year, a top official confirmed Tuesday, though Secretary of Defense Mark Esper has not yet issued orders for the total withdrawal.

U.S. officials are aiming at drawing down to 4,500 troops in the Central Asian country by late October or November.

Id like to make it clear that secretary has not issued orders to reduce military personnel below this 4,000 to 5,000 level in Afghanistan, although we are conducting prudent planning to withdraw to zero service members by May 2021 if conditions warrant, per the U.S.-Taliban agreement, David Helvey said in Washington.

Helvey, the principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific security affairs, was speaking during a House Oversight and Reform Subcommittee on National Security hearing.

Taliban leaders must uphold guarantees made to the United States, including participation in intra-Afghan peace negotiations, Helvey said, for the United States to move forward with withdrawing troops.

Well be watching very carefully to assess the conditions of Taliban compliance with the terms of its agreement, and that will be used to inform decisions on further and future withdrawals, he added later.

That agreement also includes commitments to counterterrorism.

Taliban negotiator Abbas Stanikzai, center, arrives for the opening session of the peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban in the Qatari capital Doha on Sept. 12, 2020. (Karim Jaafar/AFP via Getty Images)

There is an expectation of a reduction in violence and the violence that we are seeing today is too high, Helvey said.

At least 57 members of Afghan security forces were killed in clashes this week between the forces and Taliban, Reuters reported, citing security officials.

The violence unfolded as teams representing both sides negotiated in Qatar.

The Taliban has taken some positive steps, Zalmay Khalilzad, special representative for Afghanistan reconciliation, told the House subcommittee.

We look for more steps before we are satisfied, and I believe that once we reach 4,500, wed do an evaluation of ties and actions that they have taken, and make decisions based on that, he said, adding that the United States could change its force posture if they dont deliver on their commitments.

Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.), chairman of the subcommittee, said President Donald Trumps administration has continued to draw down troops despite the Taliban failing to deliver on some promises.

Despite multiple indications that the Taliban have not fully met their commitments under the February agreement, the Trump administration has steadily withdrawn U.S. forces from Afghanistan, which has ceded much of our leverage to help shape the future of Afghanistan for its people and our national security interests, he said.

While we are all eager for our sons and daughters in uniform to return home, it is also important that we do not needlessly or recklessly bargain away the rights and freedoms that the Afghan people have gained at such a huge cost in American, coalition, and Afghan lives.

Military officials have cast doubt on whether the Taliban can meet its commitments and sever ties with al Qaeda.

The Taliban has still not shown conclusively that theyre going to break with al Qaeda, U.S. Central Command commander Gen. Frank McKenzie told reporters on Sept. 9.

Zalmay Khalilzad, U.S. envoy for peace in Afghanistan is seen during talks between the Afghan government and Taliban insurgents in Doha, Qatar, Sept. 12, 2020. (Ibraheem al Omari/Reuters)

As you know, they have been very consistent on not attacking us and the coalition. However, they have continued to go after the Afghan security forces at a pretty high tempo. And theres some pretty stiff fighting going on as you know, as a result of that.

He added later, There are still some things out there that concern me about the Talibans either ability or willingness to comply with all the terms of the deal.

Trumps longtime goal has been complete withdrawal from what he describes as endless wars.

U.S. troops invaded Afghanistan in 2001 and have maintained a presence there to this day.

The drawdown earlier this year saw force levels cut from about 13,000 to 8,600.

Were there 19 years, Trump told reporters in May in Washington. I think thats enough.

McKenzie said 4,500 troops would still enable the military to accomplish core tasks.

Weve shown more than ample goodwill and our willingness to demonstrate that we dont want to be an occupying force in this country. But we do have strategic interests, vital interests, that compel us to be certain that these entities, such as al-Qaida and ISIS, cant be guests there to attack the United States, he said.
Amid the tension along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), India and China have agreed to stop sending more troops to the frontline, according to a statement on Tuesday. On September 21, senior commanders held the sixth round of Military Commander-Level Meeting where both the nations also agreed to refrain from changing situation on the ground.

According to a joint statement, the two sides had a candid and in-depth exchange of views on stabilizing the situation along the LAC in the India-China border areas. They agreed to earnestly implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries.

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In the meeting, they also decided to strengthen communication on the ground, avoid misunderstandings and misjudgments, and stop sending more troops to the frontline. A decision was also taken to refrain from unilaterally changing the situation on the ground, and avoid taking any actions that may complicate the situation.

The two sides also agreed to hold the 7th round of Military Commander-Level Meeting as soon as possible, take practical measures to properly solve problems on the ground, and jointly safeguard peace and tranquillity in the border area.

However, according to sources, India and China agree are yet to agree on disengagement of troops along the LAC but have agreed that no further buildup will take place.

14 Corps Chief Lt Gen Harinder Singh and his likely successor Lt Gen PGK Menon along with a Joint Secretary from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had attended the meeting from the Indian side at Moldo on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The meeting started on September 21 at around 10 am and went on till 11 pm.

The Corps Commanders of the two sides met after more than a month as both sides had been engaged in at least three firing incidents that have taken place along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The Corps Commanders met at the Moldo hut opposite Chushul on the Indian side.

Prior to the meeting, the agenda and issues of the Indian side were discussed and finalized during a high-level meeting attended by National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat and Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane, last week on Friday.

The talks happened at a time when the Indian side has also occupied six major hill features which are helping the Indian Army to be in dominating positions on heights.
Princess Cruises has announced the sale of two of its ships, Sun Princess and Sea Princess, to undisclosed buyers.

The sale of these vessels is in line with parent company Carnival Corporations plan to accelerate the removal of less efficient ships from its fleet.

Sun Princess and Sea Princess contributed to significant growth in Australian cruising, said Princess Cruises president Jan Swartz. Both ships defined the premium cruise experience with Australians and New Zealanders spending close to 14 million nights aboard these ships. While it is never easy to say goodbye to any ship in our fleet, this will allow us to deploy newer ships enhancing our offerings for Australia cruisers and focus on bringing into service exciting newbuilds like the upcoming delivery of Enchanted Princess.

The first ship in the Sun Class, Sun Princess was introduced in 1995 debuting in the Caribbean and was amongst the largest ships in the world at the time. The 2,000-guest Sun Princess also sailed in Alaska and Panama Canal, among other destinations, before being homeported in Australia in October 2007.

Sun Princess also helped us open the Japanese market in 2013 as the first foreign-flagged cruise ship to offer cruises designed specifically for the Japanese.

The 2,000-guest Sea Princess became synonymous with World Cruises, having completed six full world cruises since 2013. During her time based in Australia, Sea Princess travelled the equivalent of 35 times around the world. Prior to joining Sun Princess in Australia, Sea Princess sailed in Europe and Alaska as well as the Caribbean, including serving as a homeport ship in Barbados in the mid- to late-2000s.

Due to the imminent departure of these two ships from the fleet, Princess Cruises will cancel published itineraries which include:

*Sun Princess sailings from December 28, 2020 through August 14, 2021; and

*Sea Princess sailings from December 23, 2020 through November 9, 2021.

Guests with bookings will be notified, and along with their travel advisors, will receive information on how to book another Princess Cruise when operations resume. Guests who prefer a refund will be accommodated. -- Tradearabia News Service
University of Warwick astronomers have shown that water vapour can potentially be detected in the atmospheres of exoplanets by peering literally over the tops of their impenetrable clouds.

University of Warwick astronomers have shown that water vapour can potentially be detected in the atmospheres of exoplanets by peering literally over the tops of their impenetrable clouds.

By applying the technique to models based upon known exoplanets with clouds the team has demonstrated in principle that high resolution spectroscopy can be used to examine the atmospheres of exoplanets that were previously too difficult to characterise due to clouds that are too dense for sufficient light to pass through.

Their technique is described in a paper for the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society and provides another method for detecting the presence of water vapour in an exoplanet's atmosphere - as well as other chemical species that could be used in future to assess potential signs of life. The research received funding from the Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC), part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

Astronomers use light from a planet's host star to learn what its atmosphere is composed of. As the planet passes in front of the star they observe the transmission of the stellar light as it skims through the upper atmosphere and alters its spectrum. They can then analyse this spectrum to look at wavelengths that have spectral signatures for specific chemicals. These chemicals, such as water vapour, methane and ammonia, are only present in trace quantities in these hydrogen and helium rich planets.

However, dense clouds can block that light from passing through the atmosphere, leaving astronomers with a featureless spectrum. High resolution spectroscopy is a relatively recent technique that is being used in ground-based observatories to observe exoplanets in greater detail, and the Warwick researchers wanted to explore whether this technology could be used to detect the trace chemicals present in the thin atmospheric layer right above those clouds.

While astronomers have been able to characterise the atmospheres of many larger and hotter exoplanets that orbit close to their stars, termed 'hot Jupiters', smaller exoplanets are now being discovered at cooler temperatures (less than 700C). Many of these planets, which are the size of Neptune or smaller, have shown much thicker cloud.

They modelled two previously known 'warm Neptunes' and simulated how the light from their star would be detected by a high resolution spectrograph. GJ3470b is a cloudy planet that astronomers had previously been able to characterise, while GJ436b has been harder to characterise due to a much thicker cloud layer. Both simulations demonstrated that at high resolution you can detect chemicals such as water vapour, ammonia and methane easily with just a few nights of observations with a ground-based telescope.

The technique works differently from the method recently used to detect phosphine on Venus, but could potentially be used to search for any type of molecule in the clouds of a planet outside of our solar system, including phosphine.

Lead author Dr Siddharth Gandhi of the Department of Physics at the University of Warwick said: "We have been investigating whether ground-based high resolution spectroscopy can help us to constrain the altitude in the atmosphere where we have clouds, and constrain chemical abundances despite those clouds.

"What we are seeing is that a lot of these planets have got water vapour on them, and we're starting to see other chemicals as well, but the clouds are preventing us from seeing these molecules clearly. We need a way to detect these species and high resolution spectroscopy is a potential way of doing that, even if there is a cloudy atmosphere.

"The chemical abundances can tell you quite a lot about how the planet may have formed because it leaves its chemical fingerprint on the molecules in the atmosphere. Because these are gas giants, detecting the molecules at the top of the atmosphere also offers a window into the internal structure as the gases mix with the deeper layers."

The majority of observations of exoplanets have been done using space-based telescopes such as Hubble or Spitzer, and their resolution is too low to detect sufficient signal from above the clouds. High resolution spectroscopy's advantage is that it is capable of probing a wider range of altitudes.

Dr Gandhi adds: "Quite a lot of these cooler planets are far too cloudy to get any meaningful constraints with the current generation of space telescopes. Presumably as we find more and more planets there's going to be more cloudy planets, so it's becoming really important to detect what's on them. Ground based high resolution spectroscopy as well as the next generation of space telescopes will be able to detect these trace species on cloudy planets, offering exciting potential for biosignatures in the future."

###

Co-author Dr Matteo Brogi, from the University of Warwick Department of Physics, said: "Despite planets with intermediate size between the Earth and Neptune being the most common in our Galaxy, our solar system does not host any of them. Being able to determine the nature of these exoplanets allows us to better place our solar system in context, which brings us one step closer to unraveling the mystery of our origins."

 'Seeing above the Clouds with High Resolution Spectroscopy' is published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, DOI: 10.1093/mnras/staa2424, Link: https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/staa2424

Notes to editors:

For interviews or a copy of the paper contact:

Peter Thorley

Media Relations Manager (Warwick Medical School and Department of Physics) | Press & Media Relations | University of Warwick

Email: peter.thorley@warwick.ac.uk

Mob: +44 (0) 7824 540863

The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)

The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) is part of UK Research and Innovation - the UK body which works in partnership with universities, research organisations, businesses, charities, and government to create the best possible environment for research and innovation to flourish. For more information visit UK Research and Innovation.

STFC funds and supports research in particle and nuclear physics, astronomy, gravitational research and astrophysics, and space science and also operates a network of five national laboratories, including the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory and the Daresbury Laboratory, as well as supporting UK research at a number of international research facilities including CERN, FERMILAB, the ESO telescopes in Chile and many more. Visit https://stfc.ukri.org/ for more information. @STFC_Matters
RICHMOND  Two years after defeating a Republican incumbent in a congressional district traditionally hostile to Democrats, Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-7th, is defending her seat in an election that could steal the public spotlight in Virginia and determine control of the U.S. House of Representatives.

The battle between Spanberger and Del. Nick Freitas, R-Culpeper, is one of several Virginia congressional races that are expected to carry the most political suspense in a state that has moved dramatically toward Democrats since Donald Trump was elected president four years ago.

Rep. Elaine Luria, D-2nd, also is defending a swing seat she won in 2018 when Democrats took control of the House. She faces former Rep. Scott Taylor in a rematch for the seat, anchored in Virginia Beach.

Republicans are trying to hold the 5th District seat after ousting Rep. Denver Riggleman in a drive-through GOP convention in June. In the sprawling 5th District, which extends from Fauquier County south to the North Carolina line, Democrat Cameron Webb, a physician and director of health policy and equity at the University of Virginia, faces Republican Bob Good, a former Campbell County supervisor and former Liberty University employee.

The three congressional campaigns are the big focus, said Bob Holsworth, a veteran political analyst and public policy consultant in Richmond.

But that doesnt mean Trump, who lost Virginia four years ago, wont be a dominating presence here.

The 7th District campaign is likely to be framed by Democrats as a referendum on the U.S. response to a public health pandemic that has killed about 200,000 Americans. Republicans are likely to frame it as a mandate for law and order in the face of sometimes violent protests against racial injustice that have roiled Richmond and cities across the country since the end of May.

Spanberger and Freitas, who both turned 41 in August, are competing in a 10-county district rooted in the Richmond suburbs of Henrico and Chesterfield counties, branching from Nottoway County in rural Southside to Culpeper County in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The district includes Orange and Louisa counties.

Both have backgrounds in national security  Spanberger as a former federal agent for the U.S. Postal Service and case officer for the CIA, and Freitas as a former member of the U.S. Army Special Forces who served twice in the Iraq War.

She is a member of the Blue Dog Democrats, a centrist coalition of representatives from conservative-leaning districts who emphasize fiscal responsibility and national defense. He is a free-market conservative with a Libertarian streak who won a third term in the House of Delegates last year but lost the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate in 2018.

Rep. Don McEachin, D-4th, who faces a re-election challenge from Republican Leon Benjamin, said of Spanberger, Shes not a liberal Democrat. Shes very much her own person.

I have yet to see her have a knee-jerk reaction to anything, McEachin said.

Riggleman, who is considering running for governor next year, knows and respects both candidates, although he said he aligns politically with Freitas. He thinks the 7th District election could be a bellwether for the rest of the country.

We need to have a courageous center, he said in a recent interview. Once we have that courageous center, we can take away the fringes.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce endorsed both Spanberger and Luria, which Holsworth called pretty remarkable. But the National Federation of Independent Businesses, representing small businesses, endorsed Freitas the next day.

The small guys came out for us, Freitas said with a grin in an interview at his campaign headquarters in Culpeper.

The candidates already have begun trying to frame each other on the extremes, with Trumps presence as a wild card in a district where Spanberger topped Rep. Dave Brat by about 6,800 votes in a race that included a Libertarian candidate who received about 4,200 votes. Spanberger carried Henrico by 20,000 votes and Chesterfield by 10,000 while Brat won the districts eight rural counties.

The uncertainty is where Henrico and Chesterfield are about Trump, Holsworth said.

Chesterfield and Henrico account for more than 61% of the voters in the 7th District, which Trump carried in 2016 and Republican Ed Gillespie won in his unsuccessful bid for governor in 2017. Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine won the district in 2018 against Corey Stewart, who had defeated Freitas for the GOP nomination.

Spanberger

Spanberger doesnt call out Trump by name, but she is critical of the presidents handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, which she said has redefined everything.

Its the lens through which were looking at every challenge our country faces, she said in a recent interview at the Henrico Health District.

Spanberger had just met with county and city public health employees about the difficulties they have faced in responding to the public health crisis. Later, she visited a free community testing event in North Richmond and received a nasal swab test that came back negative.

During the meeting with public health workers, she said testing for the virus hasnt been what I thought it should have been and talked about the need for the president to use the Defense Production Act to require industry to produce critical supplies of personal protective equipment.

My background in intelligence is, if you dont understand the problem, you cant deal with the problem, she said.

Before the pandemic, Spanberger had focused on policy priorities such as campaign finance reform and expanding broadband telecommunications, which the public health emergency has made more urgent as communities rely on their computers for telehealth, virtual learning and working remotely.

She lives in western Henrico, where COVID-19 ravaged long-term care facilities such as Canterbury Rehabilitation & Health Care Center, with 51 deaths, and made the county second in Virginia for fatalities from the virus.

Spanberger worked on legislative solutions  from more federal help with personal protective equipment to aid for nursing homes and long-term care facilities  in alliance with Republicans such as Riggleman and Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-9th, who later tested positive for COVID-19. She also voted for a series of bipartisan emergency relief bills, signed by the president, that included forgivable loans to businesses crippled by the virus, enhanced unemployment benefits for those thrown out of work, money for health care providers and aid to state and local governments.

But Congress and the White House have not been able to agree on another round of emergency relief.

Were basically at a little bit of a standstill, she told public health employees.

Freitas

Freitas commended the presidents response to the public health emergency, including sending a hospital ship from Norfolk to New York City when the virus was raging there and providing support in pandemic hot spots.

The Trump administration has done a good job of allocating resources to make sure medical resources were not overwhelmed, he said.

Freitas is wary of additional emergency aid, although he reserves judgment on any stimulus package that might emerge. The response cant be just the government handing out money it doesnt have, he said. The response has to be how to allow people to operate in a safe and responsible manner.

Theres no solution to any of this that doesnt involve people being able to responsibly go back to work, he said.

Freitas frames the election as a contrast in philosophies about the role of government in responding to crises, whether its COVID or differentiating between protests and rioters and looters.

He also wants to campaign on law and order, as Trump has done nationally since the protests against police started.

Youve got a lot of people who work in Richmond and live in Chesterfield and Henrico, and theyre watching whats happening in that city right now, he said.

I dont think anyone has a problem with peaceful protests. ... But were watching as Democrat leadership in Richmond has allowed protests to turn into riots without doing anything about it, Freitas said.

I dont think anybody wants to see that happening either in Richmond or in their own neighborhood, he said.

Spanberger said people generally have protested peacefully against racial injustice and police brutality in communities throughout the district. Ive attended a number of them, she said.

Incidents of violence are always detestable, she said. Frankly, they do significant damage ... to the message of the peaceful protesters.

Spanberger predicted the issue will continue to be a discussion point by those who want to sow division in our communities.

Holsworth, who lives in South Richmond, is skeptical that the law-and-order strategy will work in the 7th District race.

Trying to talk about the protests in Richmond and pin Spanberger to it is going to be a little bit of a reach, he said.

Politically, Holsworth called the 7th a very tough district for Democrats, but he said Spanberger has a fundraising advantage  shes raised almost $5 million, compared with about $1 million for Freitas.

He also said Freitas doesnt live in the part of the district where most of the voters do.

He has the challenge of introducing himself to everybody but Republicans, Holsworth said.

However, Riggleman cautioned, You dont want to underestimate Abby Spanberger, but you definitely dont want to underestimate Nick Freitas.
When Mike Dorsey met his husband Chih Lin in 2007, he had never made dumplings. But as he fell in love with Lin, so too did he become enamored with dumplings, and soon his inamorato was tutoring him on the fine but often deceptively finicky art of folding and stuffing pockets of dough.



Lin is a third-generation dumpling-maker, having learned from his maternal grandmother, whom he calls his biggest hero.



My grandma was just an amazing human being," Lin said. "Even though she came from a pretty wealthy family and theoretically didn't need to work, she insisted on going to school to become a teacher.



After Lins family immigrated to the United States, grandmother and grandson lived for a period of time under the same roof. It was during that time Lin received his formative dumpling training.

To this day, the recipes Dorsey and Lin use are derived from those of the beloved matriarch. Although Lins grandmother has passed, Dorsey feels blessed to have had the opportunity to meet her and even make dumplings alongside her and her grandson.



We originally used dumpling-making parties as a way to introduce our separate friends to each other in the beginning of our relationship, explained Dorsey, to which Lin added, It was our sneaky way to see if everyone could get along.



Twelve years later, Dorsey and Lin are married, their friends still get along and they now host their own dumpling parties through their EaDo-based business the Dumpling Dudez.



Their journey to becoming the Dumpling Dudez has not been without challenges.
Constitutional hardball just got harder

After the death of Justice Antonin Scalia in 2016, Mr. McConnell made the unprecedented decision to block President Barack Obama from naming a successor in the remaining 11 months of his term on the grounds that it was too close to an election. Many prominent Democrats, Mr. Obama among them, have called on Mr. McConnell to abide by that standard now, but he has argued that it no longer applies.

Attempts to shame the Republican Party into forfeiting its political advantage have predictably proved futile, but as the Times columnist Michelle Goldberg writes, Democrats have few other options: Holding only a 47-person minority, they would need at least three and very possibly four Republicans to break with their party. Two  Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Senator Susan Collins of Maine  have said they would oppose voting for a nominee at least until the election is decided, but Mr. McConnell already seems to have the votes he needs.

Its doubtful that three Republican senators would show such civic decency, but we should still use every tool at our disposal to demand it of them, Ms. Goldberg writes. Outraged people should take to the streets en masse. Democrats in the Senate may not be able to stop Republicans from shoving a nominee through before the election or during a lame-duck session, but if it happens they should do all in their power to grind Senate business to a halt.

How? In The Times, Adam Jentleson, a former deputy chief of staff for Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, lays out the range of tools available:

Denying unanimous consent. The Senate operates on unanimous consent agreements that set the daily schedule and terms of conduct. By systematically denying this consent, which would require only a single senators objection, Democrats could hold up the confirmation process.

Quorum calls. The Senate needs a quorum of 51 senators to operate. While there are 53 Republican senators, bringing 51 of them to the floor can be difficult, since many of them are busy campaigning in competitive races. By noting the absence of a quorum in a quorum call, a Democratic senator can freeze the Senate until 51 senators arrive on the floor.

Boycott confirmation hearings. The hearings are unlikely to affect the outcome of the nomination, but Mr. Jentleson argues that attending them at all would lend the proceedings an air of normalcy.

Together, Mr. Jentleson says, these tactics can slow and delegitimize the confirmation process. This is a dark time for Democrats, but it has the potential to be clarifying, he writes. The Senate is awash in myths and misconceptions about norms and traditions, most of which were invented to serve narrow political interests. Republicans naked hypocrisy will reveal that much of what senators assure us is grand Senate tradition is just hardball politics.
Many hotels are cutting down on daily cleaning during the pandemic, and they say its for the safety of their guests and employees. But unions representing hospitality workers say its a cost-cutting measure, and that its actually making things less safe.

Guled Warsame, president of Unite Here local 75, which represents hospitality workers in Toronto and south-central Ontario, said occupancy in hotels is currently very low.

Many hotels in North America (Unite Here has around 300,000 members across the continent) are cutting down on daily room cleaning, said Warsame  instead, workers have to do a much deeper clean after a guest leaves. Cleaning staff often have room quotas, he said, adding those quotas havent necessarily changed even though the rooms require extra cleaning.

We believe that there is more cleaning needed, not less, said Warsame. He said some hotels have changed their tactics after pressure from the union.

Unfortunately this virus doesnt discriminate between guests and workers, so we just want to make sure everyones protected.

Stephanie Fung, communications specialist for Unite Here local 40 in British Columbia, agreed. She said workers are telling the union its more difficult to clean between stays, and the union believes daily cleaning is safer.

Unite Here cited research and public health guidelines as proof that daily room cleaning should continue throughout the pandemic.

A June 29 memo from the Yale School of Occupational and Environmental Medicine provided to the Star by Unite Here recommends that public areas of hotels should be stringently cleaned, and so should rooms during guests stay, unless the guest has symptoms or a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19.

The Hotel Association of Canada and the American Hotel & Lodging Association released a joint document outlining hotel cleaning standards in response to COVID-19. The document describes enhanced cleaning standards of guest rooms, but says housekeeping staff should not enter guests rooms during their stay unless specifically requested, or approved, by the guest, or to comply with established safety protocols.

Susie Grynol, president and CEO of the Hotel Association of Canada, said in an email statement that many hotels are limiting in-room cleaning during guests stays as a safety measure.

Colin Furness, an epidemiologist and assistant professor at the Faculty of Information at the University of Toronto, said while stringent cleaning between guests is of high importance, he doesnt think daily room cleaning is worth the risk to employees and guests.

I think it is safer to have less contact, and I think thats what the hotels are doing, he said. Theres no advantage to a guest having someone come into their room.

If the guest is out, Furness said, the risk of an employee contracting or spreading COVID-19 while cleaning the room is much lower, but he still thinks that serious cleaning between guests is whats necessary. And even better if the room can be left alone for several days. If theyre not busy, theres no cost to doing that.

Either theyre sick or theyre not, and going and cleaning the room is not going to change that one way or the other.

Read more about:
An Airbus A350 takes off at the aircraft builders headquarters in Colomiers near Toulouse, France, on Sep. 27, 2019. (Regis Duvignau/ Reuters)

Airbus, Worlds Largest Planemaker, Warns of Layoffs Due to Pandemic

Airbus, the worlds biggest aircraft manufacturer, warned it may have to resort to mandatory layoffs amid broader cost-cutting measures due to the ongoing, pandemic-driven drop in demand for travel, CEO Guillaume Faury told French radio station RTL on Tuesday.

Faury said Airbus will do its best to meet cost reduction objectives without slashing staff, including voluntary redundancies, but warned theres no guarantee this wont happen as the outbreak of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus has hit air travel with a colossal blow. With the pandemic-fueled drop in demand for air travel, airlines have slowed deliveries of new aircraft.

The crisis is existential. Our life as a business is potentially at risk if we dont take the right measures. We are taking them, Faury said.

The planemaker has already committed to cutting 15,000 jobs, with a number of layoffs made through a voluntary redundancy scheme. But on Tuesday, Faury warned some of the cuts may be compulsory.

The situation is so serious, and we are faced with so much uncertainty, that I think no one can guarantee there wont be compulsory redundancies if were to adapt to the situation, especially if it evolves further, he added.

On the other hand, what I say clearly is that we have a lot of work to do, we will do everything we can to avoid arriving at that point, he told the radio station. There are lots of measures we can take between voluntary redundancies and compulsory redundancies, he said.

Earlier this month, in a letter sent to staff, Faury warned Airbus may have to resort to compulsory layoffs as air travel has failed to recover from the pandemic as quickly as hoped.

At the end of June, Airbus announced plans to hold output down by 40 percent for 2 years.

For the next 2 years2020/21we assume that production and deliveries will be 40 percent lower than originally planned, Faury told the German newspaper Die Welt at the time.

He added that he expects output will return to normal by 2025, while depressed deliveries will catch up with production by the end of 2021.

Airbus is expected to rely partly on early retirements, with around 37 percent of its 135,000-strong workforce due to retire this decade. Its main plants are in France, Germany, Spain, and Britain.

Meanwhile, Republican senators on Monday introduced a bill that would give Americas ailing airline industry more than $28 billion in additional aid as carriers prepare to cut more than 30,000 jobs as restrictions preventing layoffs imposed on air carriers under a previous round of aid lapse at the end of the month.

As part of the CARES Act, Congress approved $32 billion in aid for airlines, on condition that they maintain certain levels of service and dont cut jobs or pay until Sept. 30. Airlines have warned that without more relief, they will likely have to slash jobs. The new bill would protect jobs until the end of next March.

Reuters contributed to this report.
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Zelensky and Borrell also discussed preparations for the 22nd Ukraine-EU summit, which will take place in Brussels on October 1.

President Volodymyr Zelensky, during a meeting with Vice-President of the European Commission, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, discussed issues of a peaceful settlement in Donbas and the situation in the temporarily occupied Crimea.

According to the press service of the President's Office, Zelensky thanked the EU top diplomat for the visit amid the coronavirus pandemic.

"During the meeting, key attention was paid to the issues of peaceful settlement in the east of Ukraine and the situation in the temporarily occupied Crimea," the statement says.

The EU High Representative was briefed on the security developments in Donbas and the progress in the implementation of agreements reached at the Normandy Four (Ukraine, Germany, France, Russia) summit in Paris in December 2019.

Zelensky noted that during the trip of EU officials to Donbas, scheduled for this week, they will be able to see firsthand how ceasefire is observed and what are the conditions for the Ukrainian military to serve in the Joint Forces Operation zone.

The president stressed "critical importance" of keeping the topic of ending the occupation of Crimea in focus of both the UN and the EU.

The question of creating a negotiating platform for ending the occupation of the Crimean peninsula was also raised.

"For us, the key issue is to set up a permanent platform where, first of all, humanitarian issues, issues of human rights, issues of Ukrainians living in the territory of the temporarily occupied Crimea, in general, issues of regaining our occupied territory would be raised," the head of state said.

Zelensky and Borrell also discussed preparations for the 22nd Ukraine-European Union summit, which will be held in Brussels on October 1. The president expressed hope that the joint statement to be adopted following the summit will properly reflect the level of both parties' ambitions to further deepen the strategic partnership and economic integration.

Russia's annexation of Crimea: background
- Dancehall star, Flexer Gh has said he would snatch Efia Odo from Shatta Wale and the superstar should prepare for a heartbreak

- Flexer Gh, whose real name is Sedrick Ahiamadia, called Efia a perfect fit for his future throne, among other heartwarming messages

- There has never been any proof that Efia Odo and Shatta Wale are going out but their amicable friendship cannot be doubted

Trending topics on the go: How we write news at YEN.com.gh

Ghanaian reggae dance artiste, Sedrick Ahiamadia, also known as Flexer-GH, has promised to win Efia Odo from renowned dancehall king, Shatta Wale.

In a post sighted by YEN.com.gh on his official Instagram handle, Flexer Gh indicated that Efia Odo was his future Queen and Shatta Wale must prepare for the heartbreak.

In his own words,

I Will Soon Snatch You From @shattawalenima And Make Him Cry Like A Baby.

READ ALSO: Stunning mom celebrates 49th birthday, has the internet thirsty

Flexer Gh: Ghanaian star openly declares love for Efia Odo; promises to snatch her from Shatta Wale Source: Ghbase.com, Instagram, Shatta Wale

Source: UGC

The young musician who was born August 16, 1993, further mentioned Efia Odo's official Instagram handle and said that,

@efia_odo Baby Get Prepared Cos Your The Perfect Queen For My Throne.

There has been no official report that Shatta Wale and Efia Odo are going out, but they are undoubtedly extremely close.

Not long ago, the dancehall superstar, Shatta Wale, gifted the actress and TV personality, Efia Odo, 50,000 US dollars (over GHc288,000).

However, according to Efia Odo, Shatta Wale is her 'bestie' and there is no way it can materialize into something else.

READ ALSO: Meet the 15 richest people in Africa who are all billionaires; includes 1 woman

This may mean that Flexer Gh may have a great chance at Efia, if he tries to take a shot at her, and not need to break Shatta Wale's heart before doing so.

Meanwhile, Rodney Cudjoe, a Ghanaian musician in his 30s was reportedly sacked from the United Kingdom after he got married to a 68-year-old white lady from the United Kingdom.

According to a report sighted by YEN.com.gh on Ghanacelebrities.com and Mirror.co.uk, the young man fell in love with the old lady through a social media conversation, where the love affair began from.

It is reported that Beth Hainling, the 68-year-old lady flew to Ghana in August 2015 in the heat of the moment between the two lovers.

Enjoy reading our stories? Download YEN's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Ghana news!

Ghanaian multi-instrumentalist Dela Jackson has charged the youth in Africa to wake up | #Yencomgh

Share your stories and news by getting interactive on our Facebook page!

Source: YEN.com.gh
HARTFORD, Conn. - Rhode Island and four other states have reappeared on Connecticuts COVID-19 travel advisory, given recent upticks in cases in those locations.

As of Tuesday, anyone travelling from 35 states and territories with a positive case rate thats higher than 10 per 100,000 residents, or a higher than 10% test positivity rate over a seven-day rolling average, are required to self-quarantine for 14 days.

Rhode Island, the only neighbouring state on the list, made a brief appearance in August but was removed a week later. The other four states added Tuesday  Arizona, Minnesota, Nevada and Wyoming  had recently been dropped from the list. The quarantine requirement applies to someone visiting Connecticut for more than 24 hours. Theres an exemption for certain workers travelling on business.

The required self-quarantine period from the 35 locations also applies to someone entering New York and New Jersey.
S hutting pubs and restaurants at 10pm could lead to a surge in house parties, hospitality leaders have said.

The Government has laid out plans for night-time venues to close at 10pm from Thursday in a bid to stem rising coronavirus cases , with some scientists welcoming the move.

On Tuesday, Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove said the shift would make a difference, adding: There is evidence that the longer venues stay open, the greater degree of social mixing that takes place.

Asked if a group of six people could leave a pub at 10pm and carry on drinking at a house, Mr Gove suggested they could as this was within the rules.

Michael Kill, chief executive of the Night-Time Industries Association, said the 10pm closures were a devastating blow, adding: As a result of this measure, we foresee a surge of unregulated events and house parties which are the real hot beds of infection, attended by frustrated young people denied access to safe and legitimate night-time hospitality venues.

The announcement has been called 'heartbreaking' by hospitality leaders / AFP via Getty Images

Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer and Pubs Association, said curfew plans are particularly heart-breaking for pubs in areas where infection rates are under control.

Make no mistake, a 10pm curfew will devastate our sector during an already challenging environment for pubs, she said.

Pubs were struggling to break even before today and these latest restrictions will push some to breaking point.

Removing a key trading hour on top of fragile consumer confidence and the reduced capacity pubs already face will put thousands more pubs and jobs at risk.

Job losses continue to mount in the hospitality sector / AP

The announcement comes as job losses continue to mount in the hospitality sector, which was particularly hard hit by initial lockdown restrictions.

Earlier on Tuesday, Premier Inn owner Whitbread said it plans to cut 6,000 roles after a slump in demand, while pub giant Wetherspoons announced it will axe up to 450 positions at its airport sites.

Dr Jennifer Cole, biological anthropologist at the Royal Holloway University, said: There has been a lot of concern that closing bars at 10pm rather than closing them at all will seem to make little difference, but people need to remember that the virus doesnt spread in a vacuum  the biggest influence on its spread is peoples behaviour.

She added: We know that one of the biggest influences in peoples risk-taking behaviour is alcohol. The more drunk you are, the less inhibited and less risk-averse you are.

Closing the bars and restaurants at 10pm simply keeps people more sober.

It gives them plenty of time for a meal, or a quick drink with friends after work, but means they are likely to be sober enough to remember to put on a face-covering on the train or bus home, and to be careful around elderly relatives when they get home.

It gives restaurant and bar staff time to give the venue a thorough clean when the last customers have left, without having to work unreasonably late.

This means that a lot of the risk is reduced.

UK Hospitality pointed to Public Health England (PHE) data for the week ending September 13, which showed there were 34 acute respiratory infection incidents linked to food outlet/restaurant settings, where 25 had at least one person testing positive for Covid-19.

This compares to 313 incidents in care homes, 193 in schools and colleges and 110 in workplaces.
Anthony Fauci

National Institute Of Allergy And Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Anthony Fauci looks on during a press conference about the coronavirus outbreak in the press briefing room at the White House on March 17, 2020 in Washington, DC. Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Despite the devastation the pandemic has inflicted domestically and across the globe, so-called "coronavirus truthers" continue to insist that the COVID-19 is exaggerated and isn't nearly as severe as the media says. And according to the Daily Beast, a popular pseudonymous truther known as "streiff" is actually William Crews  a staffer for Dr. Anthony Fauci and a public relations official at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

Crews, according to the Beast's Lachlan Markey, has been promoting coronavirus conspiracy theories on the right-wing website Red State. In June, streiff wrote, "I think we're at the point where it is safe to say that the entire Wuhan virus scare was nothing more or less than a massive fraud perpetrated upon the American people by 'experts' who were determined to fundamentally change the way the country lives and is organized and governed. If there were justice we'd send and (sic) few dozen of these fascists to the gallows and gibbet their tarred bodies in chains until they fall apart."

Fauci is one of the leading immunologists in the world and has been a valuable source of information during the pandemic, but far-right conspiracy theorists have been claiming that he was added to the White House coronavirus task force to undermine the president. And Markey reports that streiff has slammed Fauci as an "attention-grubbing and media-whorin ... mask nazi."

According to Markey, the Beast has confirmed that Crews is RedState's "streiff" by checking public records, social media posts and internal records of the National Institutes of Health.

Markey explains:

Story continues

William B. Crews is, by day, a public affairs specialist for the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. But for years, he has been writing for RedState under the pseudonym. And in that capacity, he has been contributing to the very same disinformation campaign that his superiors at the NIAID say is a major challenge to widespread efforts to control a pandemic that has claimed roughly 200,000 U.S. lives.

Markey also reports: "The Daily Beast could not definitively determine whether Crews was writing for RedState, or posting to his Twitter account, while on the clock at his government job. But the vast majority of his writing at the site this year has been published during the work week, often during normal business hours  raising questions about the ethical use of taxpayer resources."

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Daniel J. Hilferty, a tireless and influential Philadelphia civic leader, on Tuesday announced his retirement as chief executive of Independence Health Group, the regions largest health insurer.

While leading Independence during a period of growth, including the rollout of the Affordable Care Act, Hilferty, 64, played central roles in raising money for Pope Francis visit to Philadelphia in 2015 and the Democratic National Convention the next year.

I made this decision knowing our organization is well-positioned to succeed now and into the future. Independence has never been stronger, said Hilferty, who is to leave Dec. 31 but will serve as an adviser for two years.

Hilfertys successor is Gregory E. Deavens, who joined Independence as its chief financial officer in 2017 after serving in senior positions in the life insurance industry. Deavens, 59, becomes the first African American to take over the Blue Cross insurer. He will lead a company that has seen its revenues more than double in the last decade, from $9.3 billion in 2010 to $19 billion in 2019. Much of the increase came from the growth of its Medicaid subsidiary, AmeriHealth Caritas, providing medical care for low-income people.

Independence employs 4,200 in the Philadelphia area and 11,500 nationally. The health insurer is among the regions most prominent companies not just because its a sponsor of efforts such as the Broad Street Run and Indego, the citys bike-sharing system, but also because its dominant position in health insurance puts it at the intersection of employers, families, and health-care providers.

As Deavens takes over, challenges loom, with the potential unwinding of the Affordable Care Act at the Supreme Court. Closer to home, theres the possible arrival of a new insurance competitor if Thomas Jefferson University completes its acquisition of Health Partners Plans Inc., a nonprofit Medicaid insurer, and expands into employer-sponsored commercial insurance with its own network of hospitals and doctors.

And then theres the ever-surging cost of health care, which has made employer-based health insurance more expensive and led employers to put more costs on their workers. In Pennsylvania, the average annual cost of an employer-sponsored family health plan soared to $20,255 in 2018 from $12,339 in 2008, according to the Commonwealth Fund, a nonprofit that studies health care.

If there are changes in the ACA, Deavens said, Independence is ready to partner with state and federal authorities to make sure its members continue to have access to affordable quality health care.

Ed Hanway, a former CEO of Cigna, knows both Hilferty and Deavens, who was head of investor relations at Cigna in the early 2000s, and said he was pleased to hear that Deavens will take over from Hilferty. He described Deavens as unflappable and a great communicator.

As to the possibility of new competition for Independence from Jefferson, Hanway said: That might make it more interesting, but IBC has tremendous strengths and a lot of great people. Whether they are competing against Aetna, Cigna, or UnitedHealthcare, or Health Partners, they will be successful. They will be very formidable.

Independence controls more than 50% of the employer-sponsored health insurance market in Southeastern Pennsylvania, with Aetna and UnitedHealthcare the next biggest, according to testimony last week in the Federal Trade Commissions court fight against Jeffersons acquisition of Einstein Healthcare Network. Independence also has the largest shares of Medicare Advantage and Medicaid managed care in the region.

Its biggest unit, AmeriHealth Caritas, had $12 billion in revenue last year running Medicaid managed-care plans in 13 states and Washington. Independence owns 61% of that company.

Independence also owns AmeriHealth New Jersey, which sells health insurance in New Jersey, and Tandigm Health, which promotes coordinated care to improve health and cut costs in primary care in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Other businesses include AmeriHealth Administrators, which manages plans for companies that pay directly for their employees health care. That unit handled $8 billion in payments last year that are not counted in the companys annual revenue.

Deavens said he expected Independence to continue as a sort of Switzerland in the Southeastern Pennsylvania health-care market well into the future. We get along well with just about everyone, he said. We partner together on the things that we think we need to partner on to make sure that our members and the providers patients have access to care that is as affordable as we can make it.

That fact that Hilfertys successor is African American is no surprise to Sharmain Matlock-Turner, president of the Urban Affairs Coalition, who said she and Hilferty have talked about the importance of African American leadership. Those conversations happened long before a Minneapolis police officer killed George Floyd in May, sparking a national discussion of racial issues.

As to the choice of Deavens to succeed Hilferty, she said, Independence has picked someone who reflects Hilfertys values: Be committed to the business, make sure its successful, make sure it delivers the quality of service to those who are members, and also be engaged with the community because we are ultimately all connected.

Deavens, who is married with three adult children, has a bachelor of science degree in accounting from Florida A&M University. In the nonprofit world, he is on the boards of the African American Museum in Philadelphia and the Executive Leadership Council, a Washington nonprofit that describes itself as opening channels of opportunity for Black executives to positively impact business and communities.

Hilferty has been the CEO of Independence for 10 years. For a long stretch of his career before that, he led AmeriHealth Caritas.

Aside from spending more time with his wife, their children, and their grandchildren, Hilferty said he plans to focus on substance abuse and mental health advocacy. I have a passion around supporting efforts to get people into recovery, and then making sure we address key mental health issues in society as a whole, he said.

Beyond his responsibilities at Independence, Hilferty has become an indispensable civic leader, say business community colleagues.

Dan is absolutely one of the most outstanding business and civic leaders of this generation, said David L. Cohen, senior executive vice president at Comcast Corp. You cant think of an important project that was happening in Philadelphia where the mayor, the governor, the chair of the Chamber of Commerce have not gone to Dan Hilferty and said, Can you help? And you cant think of a situation where Dan has said no.

Drexel University president John Fry described Hilferty as an incredibly humane and good guy.

Fry said that when he was dealing with the closure of Hahnemann University Hospital, which was the main teaching location for the Drexel University College of Medicine, he consulted Hilferty and got more than wise counsel. I got advice, and I also got solace, commitment, and I got solidarity, Fry said.
Violence has broken out yet again in strife-torn Colombia after a law student was killed by police in Bogota two weeks ago for allegedly breaching coronavirus social distancing restrictions. Those clashes led to at least 13 dead after days of protest and come on the back of last years anti-government protests. Labor unions are currently attempting to revive countrywide mass protests against President Ivan Duque. That recently led to the formation of a car caravan in Bogota, Colombias capital, to protest the governments economic and social policies. Rising insecurity in the capital and the countryside, where community leaders and massacres are increasing, triggered concerns that Colombias security crisis is spiraling out of control. This, it is feared, will sharply impact the Andean countrys economically vital petroleum industry, which had recently been showing signs of recovery. Growing civil unrest is spreading throughout Colombia as unhappiness over the policies of President Ivan Duque, who took the countrys top job in August 2018, increases. This is being magnified by a series of scandals involving Duques administration. These include allegations of vote buying during the 2018 presidential election, failing to implement the 2016 peace accord with the FARC, formerly Colombias largest Marxist guerilla group, and a growing number of social activists being murdered. Colombias military was caught in a spying scandal earlier this year, which even attracted the attention of U.S. Congress. The COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, which has contributed to an increase in poverty, and the recent detention of President Duques mentor former president Alvaro Uribe is adding fuel to the fire.

There is the very real likelihood of further significant protests which have the potential to disrupt Colombias economically vital oil industry. Rural communities have a long history of using barricades to exert control over local territory, including cutting the vital Pan-American Highway in Southern Colombia multiple times during 2013 and 2019. That combined with local blockades in the department of Putumayo, which holds the Putumayo Basin, and attacks on Colombias oil pipeline infrastructure, which is the only means of economically transporting crude in the Andean country, poses a key threat to the oil industry. Farmers blockades in Colombias southern Putumayo Basin forced the Andean countrys fourth largest oil producer Gran Tierra to shutter operations taking up to 5,000 barrels of crude daily offline.

Related: The Tipping Point For Mass EV Adoption

There has also been an uptick in the number of former FARC combatants remobilizing, which is fueling an escalation in violence. This is occurring primarily in rural areas where coca is grown, or major trafficking routes intersect. That along with the last major guerilla group, the ELN, and various neo-paramilitary groups seeking to extend their control of those regions is fueling greater conflict. This combined with growing community dissent against the oil industry is behind recent attacks on oil infrastructure, notably petroleum pipelines and the May 2020 assault on Ecopetrols La Cira-Infantas oil field which saw 31 wells disabled.

Those events are not only disrupting Colombias oil production but will lead to lower investment and notably a reduction in all-important exploration activity. A lack of oil exploration coupled with the Andean countrys low proven oil reserves of just over 2 billion barrels at the end of 2019, giving a limited production life of 6-years, poses a key risk to the sustainability of Colombias petroleum industry. In fact, there have been no major hydrocarbon discoveries for over a decade, underscoring the lack of potential.

Moves to boost economically vital oil reserves and production by opening Colombia to shale oil and natural gas exploration and production have met significant headwinds. Unconventional oil operations in Colombia has encountered significant community and legal resistance. It is feared that if the required legal approvals are obtained and production pilots start, they could trigger an escalation of attacks on oil infrastructure with shale oil operations being targeted.

Related: Why Syria Is A Critical Part Of Russia's Energy Strategy



The deteriorating security situation in Colombia is of grave concern for the petroleum industry. Even the historic 2016 peace agreement with the FARC, which was heralded as an event that would boost security and economic growth, has failed to substantially reduce violence. Many of Colombias oil fields are in rural locations where the state historically has lacked control, making well-heads and supporting infrastructure vulnerable to attack.

Source: Pinterest.

Crucial oil pipelines, which are the only economic means of transporting crude through Colombias rugged terrain, pass through hundreds of kilometers of remote countryside making them difficult to protect and particularly vulnerable to attack. That has also seen a sharp uptick in the illegal siphoning of crude from pipelines. According to Ecopetrol, during the first eight months of 2020, 900 illegal valves were identified on petroleum pipelines, a 20% increase over the 747 found for the same period a year earlier. That according to the national oil company, led to the loss of 2,5000 barrels of oil and derivative products daily, a substantial number. This activity has long been associated with criminal groups in Mexico and Venezuela, where it became an important source of income for illegal armed groups, and it appears Colombia is now on a similar trajectory.

The growing risks associated with operating in Colombia, especially because of the conflict-scarred countrys limited oil reserves, saw national oil company Ecopetrol look to other jurisdictions in which to operate. Colombias national oil company recently announced that in an alliance with Occidental Petroleum, it intended to develop acreage in the prolific U.S. Permian Basin by drilling up to 100 wells by the end of next year. This will allow Colombias national oil company to address the issues associated with its Colombian operations, most notably rising local security risks, which are disrupting oil production, and a lack of proven oil reserves.

When those factors are considered along with oils prolonged price slump and rising community discontent with the industry, global oil majors will look elsewhere to invest in lower-risk oil acreage and projects to develop. That means that Colombia will struggle to attract vital investment in its oil industry, especially that required to drive exploration activity in remote regions.

By Matthew Smith for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Bihar Chief Minister on Tuesday expressed happiness that the has done away with Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) Act across the country,and taking a swipe at the critics said some people are speaking on the issue without having any knowledge about it.

Farmers used to face a lot of problems earlier as they were not able to sell their produce anywhere in the country due to the Act, Kumar said.

He said the Bihar government had repealed the in 2006 itself and there is no chance of restoring it.

Kumar,in whose first chief ministerial tenure the decision to end APMC in the state was taken, said those engaged with it have already been accomodated in other government works.

Though the has been done away with but it will not have any adverse impact on bazar samitis and mandis,rather they will continue to operate as usual.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made it clear that farm bills were not against Krishi Mandi. These mandis will continue to operate as usual, Modi said while emphasising that it was his NDA government which has taken a slew of measures to modernise mandis of the country.

Those who say that new farm bills will abolish mandis are completely telling lies to farmers, the PM had said.

Taking a veiled dig at rivals, Kumar said "some people are saying anything on the two farm bills without having any knowledge about them".

The chief minister was speaking at the launch function of Mukhyamantri Harit Krishi Sanyantra Yojana under which farmers can take farm equipment and machinery on rent from Primary Agricultural Credit Society (PACS).

Kumar inaugurated, laid foundation stones and started works under various schemes/projects,including Patna metro rail project which will be completed in the next five years.

Other prominent schemes for which foundation stones were laid by Kumar during the function held through video- conference were three medical colleges- one each at Vaishali, Sitamarhi and Siwan- and Dolphin Research Institute at Patna.

Kumar also inaugurated State Cancer Institute at Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS), Patna apart from laying stones for 76 other schemes worth Rs 2814.47 crore of the health department.

Appointment letters were also given to 68 Assistant Engineers of Water Resources Department, e-rickshaws were distributed among 500 people who used to run tonga in Rajgir area (Nalanda).

In addition, foundation stones were laid for 200 schemes worth Rs 4733 crore relating to the road construction department.

Expressing happiness over the start of work on the Patna metro rail project, Kumar said the foundation stone of it was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 17, 2019.

The work under the project has been awarded to Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Limited (DMRC).

Kumar said work on the two phases of the Patna metro project will be completed within five years at a cost of Rs 13,590 crore.

Talking about the improvements in health sector, he said people must know what happened during the 15 years when they (RJD) were in power and what has happened in during the same period after 2005.

People who ask questions about achievements of the government must answer as what was the rate of immunisation in the state earlier, Kumar said adding it was at a dismal 18 per cent when he took over as CM in 2005 which now has increased to 86 per cent.

Infant mortality rate has declined to 32 per thousand from 61 during the NDA regime which is equal to the average, he said adding that maternal mortality rate (MMR) has dropped to 149 per lakh from 312 per lakh (during RJD period).

The fertility rate in Bihar presently is 3.2 against 4.3 (during the RJD regime), he said, adding the number of patients visiting primary health centres has increased to over 10,000 from 39 per PHC in an year in 2005.

Making a scathing attack at the opposition especially RJD and its heir apparent Tejaswhi Prasad Yadav, though the CM did not name him, Kumar said there are people who have the habit of criticising others and talk varied things through tweets, but "they forget their regime (1990-2005). What they did when they got the opportunity to serve the people.

"We worked for masses when we got the opportunity. It is my duty to serve the people as I consider it as my religion.

"We will further work for the development of the state if people, who are the real masters (in democracy), give us opportunity to serve them again", Kumar, who will be seeking fourth term in the office in the upcoming polls, said.

Taking potshots at his bete noire RJD chief Lalu Prasad, Kumar said "I do not believe in promoting 'pariwarvad' (dynastic politics). For me, entire Bihar is my family, but for some, family is confined to their sons and daughters.

"They see nothing beyond them... They even dont give respect to their party leaders.

The chief minister said this was probably the last function (meant for laying stones,inauguration and dedication) of such kind of the prsent dispensation.

Polls are expected in Bihar in October-November.

Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, ministers- Bijendra Prasad Yadav, Nand Kishore Yadav, Mangal Pandey, Rana Randhir, Krishna Kumar Rishi, Suresh Kumar Sharma and Sanjay Kumar Jha were linked digitally on the occasion.

(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 judicial custody of actor Rhea Chakraborty , who was arrested on 8 September by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in the drug abuse angle linked to the death of Sushant Singh Rajput, has been extended till 6 October. by special NDPS court.

The actor and girlfriend of late actor Sushant was produced before special judge G B Gurao who extended herjudicial custody, said special public prosecutor Atul Sarpande.

Other accused arrested in the case will be produced in court on Wednesday, he said.

Rhea Chakraborty and her brother Showik Chakraborty have filed bail applications in the NDPS case before the Bombay High Court. It will come up for hearing on 23 September. Details of the applications will be shared after the hearing, said Satish Maneshinde, lawyer for the siblings.

The NCB has so far arrested more than 12 people in connection with the probe into the drugs angle in the case of the actor's death.

Chakraborty had earlier filed a complaint before Mumbai Police requesting that a First Information Report (FIR) be registered against Sushant Singh Rajput's sister, Priyanka Singh, Dr Tarun Kumar of RML Hospital, Delhi and others under IPC, Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and the Telemedicine Practice Guidelines.

In her complaint to the Senior Inspector of Police, Bandra Police Station, Chakraborty stated that Priyanka Singh had sent Rajput a prescription by Dr Tarun Kumar and he "appears to have prescribed medication controlled under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 to Sushant without any consultation as mandated by law."

The CBI has registered an FIR against Chakraborty and others in connection with the actor's death.The Enforcement Directorate had on July 31 registered an Enforcement Case Information Report in the late actor's death case after an FIR was filed by Rajput's father KK Singh against Rhea Chakraborty in Bihar on July 28.

Meanwhile, NCB has summoned actor Deepika Padukone's manager Karishma Prakash and a talent management agency's CEO Dhurv Chitgopekar in connection with its probe into the alleged Bollywood-drug nexus, an official said on Tuesday, according to news agency PTI.

Both of them will be questioned by the NCB on Tuesday afternoon, he said.

Chitgopekar is the CEO of KWAN talent management agency and Karishma Prakash is employed with the agency, the official said.

During the NCB's investigation into the drugs angle in actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death case, a wider drugs nexus in Bollywood surfaced.

Rajput's talent manager Jaya Saha was questioned by the NCB on Monday.

During her questioning, the NCB got information about many persons allegedly having an active role in the Bollywood-drug nexus, the official said.

Rajput (34) was found hanging at his home in Bandra area here on June 14.

With inputs from agencies

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Reddy's Laboratories Ltd could begin late-stage Indian clinical trials of Russia's potential coronavirus vaccine in the next few weeks, an executive at the Indian drugmaker said on Tuesday.

Indian trials of the Sputnik-V vaccine candidate, being developed by Russia's sovereign wealth fund, will enroll 1,000-2,000 participants and be conducted at multiple government and private hospitals across the country, Deepak Sapra, CEO for API and pharmaceutical services at Dr. Reddy's, told Reuters.

"We want to get to the first step - which is the commencement of the clinical trials by getting the necessary approvals from the Indian regulators - within the next few weeks," Sapra said.

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine  one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show

The trials are part of a deal between the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and Dr Reddy's, in which the Indian firm will conduct Phase III studies in India, pursue local regulatory approvals and, subject to approval, distribute the finished vaccine product in India. RDIF will supply 100 million doses to Dr Reddy's.

The RDIF has also reached agreements with Indian manufacturers to produce 300 million doses of the shot in India. Russia was the first country to grant regulatory approval for a novel coronavirus vaccine.

Sputnik-V doses supplied in India will likely be a combination of Indian- and Russian-made doses, Sapra said, adding that RDIF and Dr Reddy's would soon identify potential manufacturers in India.

The RDIF has said vaccine deliveries to India could begin in late 2020, but Sapra suggested it could take longer. "I think it's going to be several months before we accomplish all the steps in the process," he added.

India, which has a population of more than 1.3 billion, is the world's second worst affected country by COVID-19 behind the United States. For weeks, it has reported the world's highest daily jump in infections, which reached a total of 5.6 million on Tuesday.
The Maryland Soybean Board has launched a contest to name its attention-grabbing character created from the SMV emblem  a bold orange triangle with red border sign that is required on all SMVs. Auto crashes involving farm vehicles or equipment can be costly both in terms of property damage and injuries, and in some circumstances, result in fatalities. We want to minimize these occurrences.

As combines take to the fields to harvest fall crops, the risks of accidents on rural roads rises. Slow-moving vehicles (such as farm machinery, animal-drawn vehicles and construction equipment), are identified as traveling at speeds of 25 m.p.h. or less, and can pose a serious risk to drivers who are unaccustomed with the measures required to safely travel the roads with them.

Decreasing the number of dangerous encounters involving motorists and slow-moving vehicles (SMVs) is a goal of the Maryland Soybean Board (MSB). Its new education initiative reminds drivers of safety measures to take when driving a SMV or driving near a SMV. The campaign has been launched with a contest to name its attention-grabbing character created from the SMV emblem  a bold orange triangle with red border sign that is required on all SMVs. The contest the winner will receive a $100 gasoline gift card.

Weve had many farmers tell us they had to drive off the road to avoid a vehicle trying to pass them when oncoming vehicles were headed their way, commented Brian Johnson, MSB Chair. Auto crashes involving farm vehicles or equipment can be costly both in terms of property damage and injuries, and in some circumstances, result in fatalities. We want to minimize these occurrences.

This education campaign is one strategy from the MSB-funded road safety study, which provided insight into causes of accidents and recommendations for improved safety. The research showed that accidents frequently involved more than just farm equipment, and education about all SMV vehicles was needed.

The number of farm vehicle crashes grows each year. Not surprisingly, they most frequently occur during peak farming season - June through October. Over 75% occurred during daylight hours, with only 16.5% occurring in the dark. Over 72% occurred in clear weather, while only 9% occurred in precipitation - rain, sleet, or snow.

We applaud the work of organizations that share information with drivers to improve road safety, stated Johnson. MSB wants to increase the impact of these efforts in improving road safety and reach a full range of stakeholders. We invite anyone interested in making our drives safer to team with us to lower the accident rate on Maryland roads.

Driver tips and the name contest is at http://www.findmedriving.com. The Maryland Rural Roads Safety Study is available on the Maryland Soybean Board website.

In Maryland, farmers grow about half a million acres of soybeans, producing more than 20 million bushels of beans each year. With a value of nearly $200 million to the states economy, soybeans are one of Marylands top crops.

About Maryland Soybean Board: The Maryland Soybean Board is funded by the national soybean checkoff program, which assesses one-half of one percent of the net market value of soybeans at the first point of sale. The board consists of ten volunteer farmer-directors and directs funds for research, marketing and education programs to benefit the Maryland soybean industry.


OLATHE, Kan., Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Terracon is pleased to announce its acquisition of Environmental Planning Group (EPG), headquartered in Phoenix. EPG is a privately held consulting company with more than two decades serving public- and private-sector clients in the Western U.S. and nationally.

Founded in 1999, EPG offers interdisciplinary services including environmental planning and permitting, landscape architecture planning and design, biological and cultural resources, earth sciences, paleontology, public involvement, geographic information systems (GIS), and environmental mitigation and construction support.

"EPG brings a tremendous wealth of experience and strong professional presence in the region, further enhancing our environmental engineering and consulting services in the Southwest and Western U.S.," said Gayle Packer, Terracon president and CEO. "We're excited for this great team of professionals to bring their talents to our shared vision of client service, now and in the future."

EPG's approximately 50 employees will immediately become part of Terracon, serving clients from offices in Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Denver, and Las Vegas. The organization will continue to serve clients locally as Environmental Planning Group, A Terracon Company.

"This opportunity is a result of our ongoing commitment to providing excellent capabilities and service to our clients," said Paul Trenter, CEO of EPG. "Becoming part of Terracon's national team of experts will leverage our existing strengths and set us on a new path for growth."

The new acquisition is supported by Terracon's existing offices in the Phoenix, Denver, Salt Lake City, and Las Vegas metro areas, and others throughout the region.

The company's diverse portfolio of clients and projects include electrical transmission and generation, oil and gas, mining, municipal and private development, communities, parks and recreation, transportation, and other infrastructure projects.

Terracon is an employee-owned consulting engineering firm with more than 5,000 employees providing environmental, facilities, geotechnical, and materials services from more than 150 offices with services available in all 50 states. Terracon currently ranks 22nd on Engineering News-Record's list of the Top 500 Design Firms. For additional information about Terracon, visit terracon.com.

SOURCE Terracon

Related Links

http://terracon.com


Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 06:23:42|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday proposed a regional conference over the maritime dispute in the Eastern Mediterranean.

"I would like to repeat here our call for establishing dialogue and cooperation between coastal countries of the Eastern Mediterranean," Erdogan said in his video remarks to the general debate of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly.

"For this purpose, we would like to propose the convening of a regional conference, including Turkish Cypriots, in which the rights and interests of all the countries of the region are considered," he added.

The dispute over Turkish natural gas explorations off Greek islands in the Eastern Mediterranean has escalated in recent weeks.

Greece considers the explorations illegal. The Turkish government, on the other hand, believes the waters, in which natural gas is being drilled on a trial basis, belong to the Turkish continental shelf. Enditem
Last Friday, the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mikmaw Chiefs declared a state of emergency.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 21/9/2020 (487 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Last Friday, the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mikmaw Chiefs declared a state of emergency.

"This decision is in response to the violence occurring over Mikmaq fisheries across the province," the chiefs wrote. "The Assembly will be co-ordinating assistance and support across organizations and service providers in order to protect the safety and security of Mikmaq."

Last week and into this week, Mikmaw have been harassed, threatened and sabotaged by Canadian fishers predominantly at the Saulnierville wharf in southern Nova Scotia (where Mikmaw dock their fishing boats).

The fishers are angry that the Mikmaw have a right to fish "out of season" due to the 1760-61 treaty they share with the Crown  a right recognized 21 years ago by the Supreme Court of Canada.

At issue are approximately 350 lobster traps  which Mikmaw from nearby Sipeknekatik First Nation say gives them a barely livable income. More traps would be set but Canada has used "conservation" as an argument to limit Mikmaw rights and impose a quota.

Its a sham argument. Commercial Nova Scotia fishermen are allowed more than 325,000 traps during fishing season  and most companies break the law and overfish.

Any issues with protecting lobster stocks belongs solely in Canadian hands, not to mention that the Department of Fisheries published a report in 2019 stating, "Lobster stocks across the Maritimes Region remain very healthy."

Still, the Mikmaw are targeted over their rights.

On Sunday, Sipeknekatik Chief Mike Sack informed media that boats were vandalized and Canadian fish harvesters cut the lines on his communitys lobster traps. In St. Marys Bay, Mikmaw fishing boats were blocked from travelling, shot at by flare guns and surrounded by dozens of non-Indigenous commercial fishing boats while checking traps.

ANDREW VAUGHAN / CANADIAN PRESS FILES Members of the Sipekne'katik First Nation prepare to go fishing in Saulnierville, N.S. on Thursday.

RCMP, in the meantime, have done next to nothing in response to hundreds of incidents. Since the conflict began, only two people have been charged.

As a result, Mikmaw community members have created a checkstop into the wharf to reduce the violence.

The conflict has now attracted the attention of federal Fisheries Minister Bernadette Jordan, who spoke with Sack Saturday evening, a meeting that did not produce a solution.

So, if Canadians wont respect the "rule of law," why the heck would anyone else?

The "rule of law" is universally loved by Canadians; politicians in particular.

Its evoked every time there is an Indigenous "protest," march or action that expresses Indigenous and treaty rights and disrupts the comfort of Canadians.

The right thing to do is for Canada to recognize the Supreme Courts affirmation of Mikmaw rights and territories and arrest everyone perpetuating violence.

Premier Brian Pallister criticized Indigenous activists last February as forming "illegal blockades" across Canada in support of the Wetsuweten hereditary chiefs, "including one right here in Manitoba." Promising to remove them by force, Pallister said: "We respect the rights of protesters. But laws need to be applied."

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney loves using the "rule of law" when defending Albertas oil and gas development projects. Its the sole reason he introduced and passed Bill 1, the Critical Infrastructure Defence Act.

Bill 1, according to Kenney, will "strengthen penalties against those who would lawlessly trespass or jeopardize public safety by seeking to block critical public infrastructure, including roadways, railways and other important infrastructure."

In other words, any project dependent on Indigenous territories.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also uses the "rule of law" argument when it comes to Indigenous peoples expressing their rights. Speaking of Indigenous protests, he has said Canada is "a country of the rule of law and we need to make sure those laws are respected."

MARK O'NEILL / THE CANADIAN PRESS Sipekne'katik First Nation community members wave a flag that reads 'We are all treaty people', while a coast guard helicopter hovers in the background in Saulnierville, N.S. on Sunday.

In the case of the Mikmaw, the real problem is that they are the only one respecting the law.

Not Canadians. Not RCMP. Not politicians. Just them.

At the same time, they are expressing Mikmaw law over their lands, waters and way of life  things they have never surrendered, agreed to share or stopped using.

The Mikmaw have found a path to use both Canadian law and their own. If it werent for the fact Canadians are so lawless, I might even call this reconciliation.

The problem, of course, is that people's lives are on the line.

The Assembly of Nova Scotia Mikmaw Chiefs announced Monday they are looking at extending their state of emergency and expanding it "to include Cape Breton Island."

This means more blockades, standoffs and, likely, more violence. Unlikely from Mikmaw hands.

Fishers stand at a barricade in Meteghan, N.S., on Sunday. A spokesman said about 100 boats were removing Indigenous lobster traps and fishers were intending to take them to the wharf in Meteghan later in the day.

The right thing to do is for Canada to recognize the Supreme Courts affirmation of Mikmaw rights and territories and arrest everyone perpetuating violence.

You know, follow the rule of law.

But I guess if that was gonna happen it would have by now.

So, the Native Womens Association of Canada and the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs both released statements Monday offering unequivocal support for the Mikmaw. Insert national solidarity actions next.

How do you feel about an economic slowdown during the current slowdown, Canada?

Blame Canadian lawlessness.

Not the people following the law.

niigaan.sinclair@freepress.mb.ca

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Election observer groups, Yiaga Africa and the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD), have described the just concluded Edo governorship election as relatively credible.

The groups in separate statements said this is despite reports of vote buying, intimidation of journalists and observers as well as disregard for COVID-19 safety protocols.

Saturdays election witnessed the emergence of Governor Godwin Obaseki as winner for a second term of four years.

Mr Obaseki polled 307,955 votes to defeat his closest rival, Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who polled 223,619 votes.

While Yiaga Africa commended the people of Edo State for maintaining peace through the voting and counting and result collation process, it decried the intimidation and harassment of observers, voters and polling officials by party thugs, which led to violent disruption of the voting process in some polling units and likely disenfranchisement of voters in the affected locations.

The group also observed state-wide disregard of COVID-19 protocols at polling units.

Some critical incidents observed during the polls include violent disruption of the accreditation and voting process, intimidation and harassment of election observers, ballot snatching and compromising the secrecy of the ballot.

It however said the Edo election was an improvement on the 2019 Kogi and Bayelsa governorship elections.

Yiaga Africa also noted that INECs official results fall within its Watching the Vote estimated ranges and so governorship contestants, parties, and voters should have confidence that INECs official results for the 2020 Edo gubernatorial election reflect the ballots cast at polling units.

Other infractions it noted include interference by party agents, vote buying and non-conclusion of elections.

The group therefore urged Mr Obaseki and his supporters to be magnanimous in victory.

For those candidates who did not win, we urge them to accept the results because they reflect the votes cast. Yiaga Africa calls upon all candidates, all parties and all Nigerians to show political maturity and to maintain the peace.

Given the significant rate of procedural infractions around counting of spoilt and counterfoil ballot paper, Yiaga Africa recommends better training for election day INEC ad-hoc officials. And INEC should address logistical challenges observed relating to late commencement of polls for the upcoming gubernatorial election in Ondo State, the group said.

The group also urged the National Assembly to accelerate reforms to the Electoral Act to legalise electronic transmission of results as the INEC results viewing portal deployed for the election has demonstrated how citizens access to polling unit results increases the integrity of the electoral process and encourages acceptability of electoral outcomes.

In the same vein, CDD described the polls as relatively credible compared to other polls, despite the challenges and infractions, which dogged the process.

In its final report signed by CDD Director, Idayat Hassan, the group said the peaceful conduct of the election points the way away from the degeneration that has historically been the countrys sad experience with electoral outcomes, and towards outcomes that significantly reflect the mandate of the electorate.

In this respect, the election potentially augurs well for the future of democracy and development in the country, particularly in view of the determination shown by the electorate to protect their mandate and ensure that it counted in the critical penultimate months to the election day, part of the statement read.

The CDD however warned that decline in voter turnout would threaten robust participation of the electorate, including marginalised groups and could be read as a steady loss of faith in the electoral process, as well the entire democratic system of governance.

The centre also identified the controversial modality used for selecting the governorship candidates of the two major political parties as a major cause of tension during the electioneering.

The acrimony that resulted from it created serious intraparty fissures that cast an ominous pall over the peaceful conduct of the election. Another process issue was the political culture of a zero-sum approach to the competitive electoral process that tends to precipitate violent electoral conflict and to encourage the abuse of the power of incumbency for partisan party political advantage.

A third factor was the general poverty in the state and the high unemployment rate, particularly among the youth, that provided a pool from which political parties and their candidates drew to corrupt the electoral process and to steal the peoples mandate.

A fourth issue is a competent and effective administration and management of the election by INEC to generate trust in the conduct of the election. A final issue is the conduct of the election during the COVID-19 pandemic, in view of the conduct implications for public health.

It warned against the combination of vote-buying and insidious influence campaigns an emerging trend and urged INEC to address the problem of malfunction of smart cards readers in future elections.

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It, however, acknowledged that the overall performance was smooth across the state.

Also most polling stations opened on time. We commend INEC for the introduction of the result viewing portal in improving transparency and accountability of the collation and declaration of results. This has enhanced citizens trust in the electoral process. Generally, the COVID-10 Protocols that INEC outlined in its guidelines for the elections, particularly social distancing were not complied with. This has far-reaching health implications for the state, it said.

As part of its recommendations, the CDD emphasised the need for electoral reform which it said will strengthen electoral integrity and to more broadly promote sustainably good governance in the country.

Importantly we task INEC to concentrate on the dual purpose of implementing her protocol on conducting elections during COVID 19 and improved voter education program. This broad task that must be implemented ahead of the forthcoming Ondo governorship elections.

It also called for open, transparent, inclusive, and democratic elections of party leadership and nomination processes for elective public political offices. This measure, it said, would ensure that political parties pay more attention to the nomination of women and youths as candidates and have equal access to leadership opportunities within party organisations.

On the problem of extreme poverty and unemployment, which it noted was responsible for buying and selling of votes, CDD called on the government and citizens to push to encourage compliance with Chapter II of the Nigerian Constitution and achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in order to curb poverty in the country.
The Central Asian governments have tried to stay out of Beijing's ruthless campaign against Uyghurs and other minorities in China's western region of Xinjiang, officially known as the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

But not getting involved in that situation has proven impossible for Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan and likely will continue to be.

The area China now calls Xinjiang and the countries on the other side of the Tien-Shan Mountains known as Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan have been linked for millennia by trade and culture.

Significant events cannot happen in one without it affecting the other.

Locked Up In China: The Plight Of Xinjiang's Muslims Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty is partnering with its sister organization, Radio Free Asia, to highlight the plight of Muslims living in China's western province of Xinjiang.

This was clear again in the first years after the Soviet Union collapsed in late 1991 and the five Central Asian republics became independent countries.

On July 29, 1992, the Russian daily Nezavisimaya gazeta reported about a meeting of the For a Free Uyghuristan party in the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek.

There were some 270 delegates there, most from Kyrgyzstan but also some from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkey.

The party's goal was to establish an independent state of Uyghuristan on the territory of Xinjiang Province, but they vowed that they intended to do so exclusively within the norms of international law, though they were sparse on details about what they considered those "norms" to be.

At that time, it had been barely six months since China had established diplomatic relations with the Central Asian countries. Moreover, the Soviet Union had portrayed China as an enemy for more than 20 years, and the Central Asians did not recall their relations with China during the hundreds of years prior to the arrival of the Russians with much fondness.

There were at that time about a quarter-million Uyghurs living in Kazakhstan and some 50,000 more in Kyrgyzstan.

The For a Free Uyghuristan party was not the only Uyghur organization active in Kyrgyzstan. There was also Ittipak (Union) and the Uyghur Association of Kyrgyzstan.

In Kazakhstan, there was the Association of Uyghurs based in Almaty along with other Uyghur groups.

These groups regularly demonstrated and called press conferences in Bishkek and Almaty when there were problems and the mistreatment of Uyghurs in Xinjiang by Chinese officials.

Separatist Fears

In July 1996, Uyghur groups in Kazakhstan reported fighting between Chinese security forces and a group called the United Revolutionary Front of East Turkestan (URFET), an Uyghur separatist group that claimed it killed some 450 Chinese troops and security forces during those clashes.

The leader of URFET, Yusupbek Mukhlisi, had lived in Almaty since fleeing there in 1960.

In February 1997, Chinese troops opened fire on Uyghur protesters in the city of Ghulja (Yining in Chinese) who were demonstrating against the execution of 30 Uyghur activists who had called for independence from China.

Officially, nine Uyghurs were killed but some activists say the number of dead was more than 100. That spurred protests outside the Chinese embassies in Bishkek and Almaty in March 1997.

On March 25, 1997, Beksultan Sarsekov, who was then the secretary of Kazakhstan's Security Council, said at a press conference in Almaty that "we are concerned by events" and by the "harsh measures" used by the Chinese government against the Uyghurs.

But Sarsekov added that under an agreement signed between Kazakhstan and China in 1996, the two sides promised not to help separatist movements in the other country and therefore the problems in Xinjiang were not the business of Kazakhstan.

It is worth remembering that at the time, the Kazakh government had its own worries about Cossack separatists in northern parts of the country near the Russian border.

The agreement Sarsekov referred to were actually the border treaties signed in April 1996 in Shanghai between Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Russia, and China that replaced the previous Soviet-Sino border treaty. The group called itself the Shanghai Five and would later become the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Uyghur groups in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan reported that following the signing of that agreement, China started a wave of arrests in Xinjiang.

Authorities in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan were bound by the border treaties not to help Uyghur separatists in Xinjiang, but they did little to stop Uyghur protests against China in their own countries.

Small groups of Uyghurs continued to protest outside the Chinese Embassy in Almaty, in April and July 1997. In January 1998, the opposition Azat movement and Azamat party held a press conference to condemn the execution of 13 more Uyghur activists in December 1997.

In early November 1999, dozens of Uyghurs rallied outside Uzbekistan's embassy in Almaty, calling for Uzbek President Islam Karimov to raise the issue of the plight of Uyghurs during an upcoming visit to China.

The Problem Crosses The Border

The problems in Xinjiang inevitably spilled over into Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

In September 2000, two policemen were killed and four wounded in an attack in Almaty. Four suspects were killed shortly after and then-Kazakh Foreign Minister Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev -- now the president -- said the four were Uyghurs from China. The Chinese Embassy in Kazakhstan expressed its full support for the operation that led to the killing of the Uyghurs.

Kazakhstan had already begun sending Uyghurs back to China by that time despite international criticism.

Kyrgyzstan also became an extension of the conflict in Xinjiang. In March 2000, the leader of Ittipak, Nigmatulla Bazakov, was shot dead outside his home in Bishkek. One Uyghur community leader had already been killed in 1998 and another was killed in 2001.

In May 2000, a member of an official delegation from Xinjiang was gunned down and two other delegation members wounded outside the Dostuk Hotel in Bishkek, about the same time that a fire broke out at a Bishkek wholesale market where the majority of merchants came from Xinjiang.

In late June 2002, a senior Chinese diplomat was shot dead in Bishkek.

On March 27, 2003, a bus going from Bishkek to Xinjiang with 21 Chinese citizens on it was attacked. The passengers were shot dead and the bus was torched.

By that time, Chinese money had started to flow into Central Asia and, after the 2008 global financial crisis, China was so entrenched financially in Central Asia that the governments there had become dependent on Beijing to keep their economies afloat.

Problems Spilling Over Again

When reports started to emerge from Xinjiang a few years ago about a new campaign against Uyghurs, the governments in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan turned a blind eye.

The first instances mentioned discrimination against Uyghurs -- their clothes, their beards -- but then became increasingly harsh as reports came of forced internment in so-called reeducation camps, intermarriage with Han Chinese, rape, torture, forced sterilizations, and resettlement away from Xinjiang to other areas of China.

When the crackdown was broadened to include other Turkic Muslims, namely among the 1.5 million Kazakhs and more than 200,000 Kyrgyz who inhabit Xinjiang, some of the people in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan started asking why their governments were not raising this issue more forcefully in meetings with Chinese officials.

People such as Serikzhan Bilash, an ethnic Kazakh originally from Xinjiang who is now a Kazakh citizen, founded Atajurt (Fatherland), a group dedicated to exposing Chinese abuses against Kazakhs and other minorities in Xinjiang.

Kazakh authorities pressured Bilash to be quiet. He was arrested and put on trial for fomenting ethnic hatred against Chinese, but public sentiment was on Bilash's side and eventually he was fined and released after promising to refrain from political activism for seven years.

The Kazakh government then registered a different Atajurt Eriktileri (Volunteers of the Fatherland) that was controlled by defectors from Bilash's group and takes a much softer line on events in Xinjiang.

This year, when Bilash started posting a program on YouTube, Kazakh authorities again came and fined him.

But there are still a dozen or more ethnic Kazakhs who have escaped from Xinjiang into Kazakhstan and the authorities have bowed to public pressure not to send them back to China.

And there are dozens more ethnic Kazakhs and Kyrgyz originally from Xinjiang who received citizenship in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan but unfortunately returned to Xinjiang for brief visits only to be caught in the crackdown.

Their stories repeatedly come up in the media in both countries.

The horrific treatment that more than an estimated 1 million Uyghurs in the camps in Xinjiang are undergoing on a daily basis -- reports denied by Beijing despite the shocking amount of testimony -- is almost surely happening as well to the ethnic Kazakhs and Kyrgyz also confined in these camps and it is only a matter of time before the stories are heard in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

The governments in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan will then be under greater pressure to take a stronger stand against China's campaign in Xinjiang.

Once again it is clear that when something major happens on one side of the Tien-Shan, it affects what happens on the other side of those majestic mountains.
National Security operatives have arrested leaders of a group suspected of extorting money from young graduates with the promise of a better life under a shady network marketing scheme.



The three young men who were initially arrested for posing as national security operatives as a cover for their recruitment business denied the claims saying they are rather training young marketers under a network marketing business.



They said, We represent QNET in our locality, our region or our country, so it only means that our products and services are mainly from QNET. And for that matter we take our products from them and we get payments in the form of commission.



So on such issue that we reps of QNET are using QNET as creating job opportunities under the guise of National Security operatives is simply a false accusation. We neither are not national security nor are we workers of QNET, we are independent representatives of QNET.



About 80 young people have already paid 4,300 each to be initiated into the QNET scheme.



Police sources reveal leaders of the scheme have found ways to regroup after previous arrests.



They have since been handed over to the Ashanti Regional Police Command for further investigation.









Source: The Ghanaian Times









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The N7 close to where the horror smash took place

An innocent man was killed in a horror road crash when a convicted burglar fled from gardai before driving his car the wrong way down a dual-carriageway and smashing into his vehicle.

The deceased, named locally as Anatolie Butucel (45), was pronounced dead at the scene after suffering catastrophic injuries in the head-on collision on the N7 yesterday morning.

Mr Butucel, who had celebrated his birthday last Thursday, had been living in Crumlin and was originally from Moldova.

His front-seat passenger, a man aged in his 30s, was also seriously injured and last night remained in Tallaght Hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Scoping

No arrests have yet been made and the matter is also being examined by the Garda Siochana Ombudsman (Gsoc) as the other vehicle involved, a Volkswagen Passat, had interacted with gardai earlier.

The Herald can reveal that two men known to gardai, aged 28 and 43, were seen acting suspiciously in the car by gardai moments earlier.

"There was a suspicion that these men were involved in scoping properties for the purpose of burglaries earlier," a source said.

The car they were travelling in had also been in a chase with gardai in Tallaght last week, but on that occasion managed to escape.

Gardai signalled for the vehicle to stop but it took off, driving along a footpath at speed and ending up heading the wrong way outbound along the N7 dual-carriageway, at which point it wasn't being pursued.

A short time later, at Kingswood, the car ploughed head-on into the Yaris being driven by Mr Butucel.

The driver of the Passat was being treated for non-life threatening injuries at Tallaght hospital.

The 28-year-old has previous convictions for burglary, assault and public order crimes, and currently lives in a plush south Dublin area.

The passenger, a 43-year-old male, is originally from Tallaght and is also known to gardai.

Manoeuvre

A source said: "This vehicle was seen acting suspiciously and performed an illegal manoeuvre before driving away from gardai.

"There was completely irresponsible driving involved here, between mounting a footpath and speeding the wrong way down a dual-carriageway."

Investigators yesterday informed Mr Butucel's relatives in Moldova about the tragedy.

The road was closed temporarily for Forensic Collision Investigators to carry out an examination and was later re-opened.

A garda spokesman said: "As one of the vehicles came to the attention of gardai prior to the incident, this matter has been referred to Gsoc."
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 23:05:57|Editor: huaxia

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GENEVA, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Unilateral coercive measures could impact nearly all human rights, notably in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, a UN expert said Tuesday at the on-going 45th session of the UN Human Rights Council.

Alena Douhan, UN Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights, said at the session that the role of the United Nations must not be undermined by unilateral coercive measures.

Presenting a report on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures to the UN rights agency, Douhan said that one of the main challenges faced today by the world community was the absence of consensus about nearly everything that related to unilateral sanctions, including their notion, characteristics, legal grounds and humanitarian impact.

"Unilateral sanctions had changed today so much that many existing forms had not been envisaged even five years ago, such as so-called 'sectoral' sanctions, which applied non-selectively to individuals and organizations acting in a particular sphere of the economy without any identifiable reason or violation from their side," she said.

Moreover, the UN expert added, unilateral sanctions had started to be applied to international civil servants for doing their job, inter alia, in the sphere of human rights.

She stressed that no pursuit of "common good" could justify the violation of fundamental human rights, including the right to life, the right to health and the right to food, especially in respect of those whose rights unilateral sanctions sought to promote.

Representatives of Burkina Faso, Syria, China, Namibia, Botswana, Iran and a number of countries also spoke on unilateral coercive measures Tuesday at the session.

Speakers said that under no circumstances should access to humanitarian commodities be blocked due to unilateral coercive measures, and deplored that calls to lift such sanctions to facilitate the response to the COVID-19 pandemic had been unheeded. Enditem
Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the introduction of "military-political work" in the country's National Guard, paving the way for Soviet-style ideological political education within its ranks.

A decree signed by Putin on September 21 gave no details about what the new practice would entail.

But it comes after National Guard (Rosgvardia) head Viktor Zolotov announced plans to introduce "an institute of military-political instructors" within Russia's federal service.

"We associate further development of moral and psychological support with the implementation of proposals worked out last year and supported by the supreme commander-in-chief on the creation of military-political bodies in the troops," Zolotov said during a National Guard board meeting in March.

The National Guard, formed in 2016 from Interior Ministry troops, is not part of the armed forces and answers to the president under his role as chairman of the national Security Council.

Zolotov, who holds the rank of army general, is a member of the Security Council and is seen as deeply loyal to Putin.

The new measure is the latest signal of a return to the indoctrination of troops with political ideology and propaganda, a practice that began in 1919 in Soviet Russia but ended with the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991.

In July 2018, Putin decreed the establishment within the Defense Ministry of a Military-Political Directorate.

The directorate describes itself as being engaged in "military-political propaganda and agitation"; "maintaining the moral and political state of the military"; and "the formation of an ideologically convinced personality of a serviceman."

Andrei Kolesnikov, a senior fellow and chair of the Russian domestic politics program at the Carnegie Moscow Center, has suggested that the amended law expanding the role of the National Guard could be seen as a "preparation for the revolt" in Russia.

"The Belarusian experience has been taken into account," he tweeted on September 21, referring to the large protests against Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka after a disputed election, and to the violent police crackdown that has ensued. "Military-political work" (i.e. incitement of hatred in the riot police against protesters) will begin at Rosgvardia."

With reporting by RFE/RL's Russian Service
Reuters

PARIS (Reuters) -Qatar Airways took a spiralling $4 million-a-day dispute with Europe's Airbus to social media on Friday, publishing a video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKN0SpWeILo&feature=youtu.be of the scarred exterior of grounded A350 jets that the airline said underscored "serious and legitimate safety concerns." The two companies have been locked for months in a dispute over deterioration to paint and anti-lightning protection on the long-haul jets, which Airbus has acknowledged needs attention while insisting it does not put safety at risk. Qatar Airways hit back with the first official images of jets grounded by its national regulator in a bid to keep the spotlight on technical matters after Airbus accused the state-owned airline of engineering the dispute to obtain compensation.
In February 2016, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made up a rule that presidents may not install a Supreme Court justice in the last year of their terms. Most Republicans fell in line, endorsing this principle on the grounds that the American people should decide who gets to pick the next justice. Many of these same lawmakers are now backing McConnells plan to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in the midst of a presidential election. They have abandoned any real effort to justify their reversal.

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This about-face, while degrading, presents Democrats with an opportunity. After more than four years of gaslighting, Republicans have stopped pretending that their blockade of Barack Obamas nominee, Merrick Garland, was rooted in anything other than sheer partisanship. In the past, the Senate considered a presidents nominee then provided its advice and consent by taking a vote. But Republicans killed that process in 2016 and are now stamping on its remains. They have now established a new rule: The party in power can use every tool at its disposal to seize the Supreme Court, within constitutional limits. If Democrats win unified control of the federal government in November, they must draw from the Republicans new rule to expand the court.

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Every justification for McConnells Supreme Court brinkmanship, in fact, doubles as a justification for court expansion. Republicans rationalizations now hinge on the claim that because Republicans can replace Ginsburg, they must do it. The Constitution gives senators the power to do it, explained Tennessee Sen. Lamar Alexander, and no one should be surprised when they do. The Constitution gives the President the power to nominate and the Senate the authority to provide advice and consent on Supreme Court nominees, Utah Sen. Mitt Romney agreed. Republicans have a responsibility to ensure we have an impartial judiciary that upholds the Constitution and the rule of law, said Sen. John Thune of South Dakota. Both the White House and the Senate have some obligation to do what they think in the majority in the Senate is the right thing to do, Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri announced on Meet the Press.

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The White House has taken a similar stance. Press secretary Kayleigh McEnany accused Democrats of evincing blatant disregard for the United States Constitution by opposing an election-season confirmation. There is nothing in the Constitution that says the president stops being the president in an election year, McEnany told reporters.

Faced with this onslaught of disingenuity, Democrats have two options. They can accept a half-century of far-right, partisan jurisprudence while protesting that Republicans are hypocrites. Or Democrats can stop complaining about the new rules and start playing by them. The first choice rests upon the theory that it is possible to shame politicians whove demonstrated, over and over again, that they have no capacity for shame. The second rests upon the theory that Democrats have an obligation to play constitutional hardballnot just to protect their agenda, but to save the courts legitimacy and preserve democracy itself. And if that obligation does exist, the proportional response is immediate and unapologetic expansion of the Supreme Court.

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There is, of course, a key difference between McConnells antics and court expansion: Blockading a Supreme Court nominee for 11 months was completely unprecedented in American history; expanding the court is not. To the contrary, Congress has altered the size of the court many times throughout history, occasionally for political purposes, as the Constitution does not set a fixed number of justices; Congress simply sets the number by passing a law. There have been as few as six justices and as many as 10. In 1863, Congress added the 10th justice to dilute the influence of Southerners on the court. Then, in 1866, Congress subtracted three justices, largely to prevent President Andrew Johnson from making any appointments. Finally, in 1869, Congress brought the number back to nine, allowing President Ulysses S. Grant to fill the newly restored seats.

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Indeed, McConnell himself has altered the number of justices to influence the courts outcomes. By refusing to consider Garland, McConnell reduced the Supreme Court to an eight-member body for more than a year. Multiple Republican senators, including Ted Cruz, said they would not confirm any nominees put forth by Hillary Clinton; their scheme would have reduced the courts membership indefinitely. Republicans have already legitimized the strategy of modifying the Supreme Courts membership by changing the number of justices on the bench.

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These tactics may be distasteful, but they are plainly lawful. And under Republicans current reasoning, if Democrats take power in November, they will have every rightperhaps even a dutyto add seats to the Supreme Court. In Alexanders words, no one should be surprised if Democrats expand the court, since the Constitution gives senators the power to do it. After all, in Thunes phrasing, Democrats must ensure we have an impartial judiciary, not one biased toward a particular party. And what about Blunts belief that senators have some obligation to do what they think a majority of senators want? If a majority of the Senate supports court expansion, dont senators have an obligation to respect their wishes?

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Under Republicans current reasoning, if Democrats take power in November, they will have every right to add seats to the Supreme Court.

This overt politicization of the Supreme Court might constitute mutually assured destruction. The court would lose institutional prestige. Lawmakers would surely be tempted to reject its decisions outright, denying the justices authority to say what the law is. But if Trump rams through another justice, that threat will exist regardless of whether Democrats retaliate. Countless Americans will reject the courts legitimacy as it entrenches more and more Republican policies against the popular will. At worst, expanding the court will neutralize the GOPs power grab, delegitimize the court, and shift constitutional decision-making back to the democratic branches.

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It may be difficult for some Democrats to accept that the old rules governing Supreme Court nominations have gone out the window. There was once, at least in the popular imagination, a playbook, respected by both sides, that kept politics at arms length from the confirmation process. But McConnell lit that playbook on fire in his ruthless crusade to transform the court into an arm of the GOP. Now Democrats have to decide if they will accept a partisan, far-right judiciary for the next generation or use the new rules to respond in kind.

Listen to What Next on Apple Podcasts

Democrats have options to combat a conservative SCOTUS supermajority.
vmargineanu/iStockBy IVAN PEREIRA, ABC News



(KENOSHA, Wis.) -- Investigators in Wisconsin said Monday they are in the final stages of their probe of last month's shooting of Jacob Blake by a Kenosha police officer, and that their report will be reviewed by an experienced third party.



Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul and Kenosha County District Attorney Michael Graveley announced that retired Madison Police Chief Noble Wray will analyze their report of the Aug. 23 incident and provide further input before any charges are made.



"Noble Wray is a longtime Wisconsin resident and a widely respected retired Madison police chief who has extensive experience in law enforcement, including experience at the national level as a police reform specialist for the U.S. Department of Justice," Kaul said in a statement about Wray, who is Black.



Wray noted at a news conference that he was part of the investigation into the 2014 police shooting of Tamir Rice in Cleveland. He told reporters that he had seen the video of Blake's shooting, calling it "graphic," but said that he has not "pre-judged" the case.



The report, from the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, will not include recommendations for charges against Officer Rusten Sheskey, who is accused of shooting Blake.



"Chief Wrays analysis will assist the district attorney in his review of the facts and their relationship with standard law enforcement practices as he makes a charging decision," the attorney general's office said in a statement.



In video taken on Aug. 23, Blake, a 29-year-old Black man, was seen being shot seven times in the back by Sheskey, 31, who was one of a group of officers responding to a domestic violence call. An unidentified woman called 911 claiming her boyfriend was at her premises and not supposed to be there, according to the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation. Footage of the incident showed the moments when Sheskey, who is white, shot Blake in the back.



Investigators haven't said if Blake was the subject of the complaint.



Officers contend they tried to arrest Blake and used a Taser on him, but he walked to his car and tried to get into the driver's seat. Ben Crump, an attorney representing Blake and his family, said the 29-year-old was helping to deescalate a domestic incident when police drew their weapons and used the Taser.



Blake is paralyzed from the waist down and may never walk again, according to his family. All of the officers involved in the incident have been placed on administrative leave as investigators look into the situation, but as of Monday, no charges were announced against them.



News of Blake's shooting sparked more protests throughout the country against police violence and discrimination against the Black community. Demonstrations in Wisconsin turned deadly in Kenosha after a 17-year-old Illinois resident, who was armed with an assault rifle, allegedly fatally shot Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber, and allegedly wounded Gaige Grosskreutz on Aug. 25.



Kyle Rittenhouse was charged with homicide and is awaiting trial for the shootings, which were partially filmed by bystanders.



Copyright  2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
It is heartening to see that farmers in several states have risen up against some of the new farming changes being proposed by the government. Almost surreptitiously and slyly, the government had introduced various changes by means of these farm bills. Most of the proposed changes have to do with some form of an increased stake of private players in the farm sector.Not that there are many areas of Indian agriculture unaffected by some form of corporate intervention. One of the key points the farmers are raising currently is regarding the composition of mandis and the entry of private players in it. However, the farm bills also included provisions for further easing the terms of contract farming.The jury is still out on the success of the contract farming model in India, with the feeling that it generally favours the corporations more than the farmers. There has not been much discussion and debate in the country over the implications of these measures. It does not seem that the big farmers organizations have had much say in these matters.All along the period there have been various farmers protests but they have gone unnoticed. It is now that we are finally seeing some sort of a momentum building up, what with the parliament also in session.But what is a little disconcerting is the quiescence of the progressive labour movements in India. All through the massive distress caused to the migrant workers on account of the lockdowns and the secretive attempts to alter labour laws during the pandemics (related to working hours etc), one failed to see an adequate response from the Indian labour forces.They did not take to the streets, they did not come in support of the migrant workers' plight and take the issue up with the government when the issue was live. They continued to exist in some sort of slumber.Now the government has had the gall to deny any data on migrant workers' deaths whereas even ordinary citizens know that the workers lost their lives each day as they headed back home, on highways, through jungles, along railway tracks. All that unnecessary -- but forced -- death, as if in vain.What an ultimate disrespect to the toiling, self-respecting Indian working class, a large proportion of them dalits and adivasis by denying a record of their deaths, even if they are just numbers.All along, we have not seen any large-scale mobilization by Indias more settled, organized working classes. This is a strange and unexplained silence and even a left-leaning article on the site "Sanhati" had to observe that, Alongside civil society organisations and NGOs, many trade unions have been transformed into purveyors of charity
After years of falling gun violence and despite pandemic shelter-in-place orders, shootings appear to be on the rise in some San Francisco neighborhoods in 2020, a trend that became more stark as the weather began to warm.

ShotSpotter, a gunfire-detection system the city uses to pinpoint shootings in areas including the Bayview, Mission, South of Market and Visitacion Valley, recorded 744 incidents of shots fired in the first seven months of the year, a 32% jump from the 564 logged during the same period last year.

John Blanchard / The Chronicle

May, June and July saw a 43% increase, from 251 gunfire incidents during those months in 2019 to 360 in 2020.

The bullets  at least those that could be located  penetrated homes and pierced street signs and cars. Others struck gang rivals or innocent bystanders, such as 22-year-old public transit advocate Courtney Brousseau and Jace Young, a 6-year-old boy who was fatally shot while watching Fourth of July fireworks.

Overall, violent crime decreased in San Francisco while the city sheltered in place due to the coronavirus.

But the uptick in shooting incidents has corresponded with a rise in homicides. The city to date has tallied 35 homicides, a 30% rise from the 27 recorded by this time last year. Firearms were used in 22 of this years killings. There were 41 killings in all of 2019  a 56-year low for the city.

Its happening all the time, said Rudy Corpuz Jr., the founder and executive director of United Playaz, a San Francisco violence prevention organization, in a Friday interview. Corpuz, who tracks reports of local crime on a neighborhood watch app, said hes noticed a spike in the number of shots fired. Just as were speaking, I got another notification.

Criminologists caution against putting too much weight on short-term crime trends and assigning them to a single cause, and peaks and valleys are normal to see year-over-year. However, police officials and others said a rise in gang-related violence, as well as national events like the coronavirus pandemic and civil unrest, could be contributing to the uptick.

Yalonda M. James / The Chronicle

San Francisco Supervisor Catherine Stefani said the trend is alarming to residents and gun safety groups. She recalled a conversation she had with a woman who recounted having to duck for cover, while six months pregnant, under a car during a shooting in Glen Park.

People are feeling very unsafe in San Francisco, said Stefani, a gun control advocate and vice chair of the Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee. Ive been hearing from people who are afraid to take their kids to the park  shootings are taking place in places where people are just walking to work.

Stefani plans to call for a hearing on the recent increase in gunfire.

National data show that the city isnt alone. ShotSpotter, a for-profit company that tracks gunfire with acoustic sensors in San Francisco and more than 100 other cities, found that every week in 2020 to date saw more gunfire than its counterpart in 2019.

Stanford Criminal Justice Center Director Robert Weisberg noted that crime rates in San Francisco and other cities have been historically low in recent years, so percentages can be skewed by the small number of incidents.

However, he said, the jump in San Franciscos shootings isnt trivial.

Killings arise from interpersonal stress or conflict, and for all we know, COVID has increased those stressors, Weisberg said, noting that more research is needed. Since many people shoot without aiming to kill, the stress explanation would work even better for shootings than for killings.

I think a lot of people are desperate, Corpuz said. Theres no jobs, less opportunities  people are just getting out there and robbing, taking what they can, because theyre in desperate situations.

ShotSpotter sensors record all gunfire in their tracking areas, and seek to filter out similar noises like fireworks and car backfires. San Francisco, like many cities that use the technology, chose coverage areas that receive the most reports of violence

Raw data reviewed by The Chronicle show that gunfire incidents were clustered in Bayview-Hunters Point over the past year. San Francisco police Deputy Chief David Lazar said many of this years shootings were attributed to escalating gang wars.

Such was the case on Aug. 17, he said, when a rolling gunbattle that began between two gang members in the Sunnydale neighborhood spilled into the Excelsior district. A bystander who was sitting at a bus stop downrange of the shooting was struck in the face.

Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle

Were noticing that so many innocent people are being affected by these shootouts that are taking place, whether its people or property, Lazar said.

Another alarming trend is the types of weapons being used, Lazar said. In 2019, police recorded three incidents involving rounds from high-powered guns, such as AR-15s. There have been at least 20 such shootings so far in 2020, Lazar said.

He said the department is deploying a range of strategies, understanding that it cant arrest its way out of the problem. Officials have begun working with the California Partnerships for Safe Communities, a data-driven coalition of organizations that target people at the highest risk of violence.

San Francisco police are also leaning on their own relationship-building units like the gang task force, which Lazar credits for helping to drive the citys violent crimes to historically low levels.

It might seem adversarial between the police and the gangs, but in many cases the investigators have a good rapport with those that are engaged in this activity.

Jason Young, the father of Jace Young, said theres been little headway on his sons case since the July 4 shooting in the Bayview, despite police officials recent announcement of a $100,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.

For all intents and purposes, it was a gang shooting, he said.

Jace Young, 6, was at a July party at a friends house when he was struck and killed. The tragedy sparked an outpouring of support from city officials including Mayor London Breed and Supervisor Shamann Walton, but police have not announced any arrests.

Young said hes trying to move his family out of the Bayview. He has at least 10 other family members who have been victims of gun violence, many of whom live in the neighborhood, and three shooting attempts on his own life in the last few years.

Its too easy to obtain a firearm, he said. You use one, you get rid of it, there aint no rules, no morals.

Yalonda M. James / The Chronicle

San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin said that while the city has seen an increase in shootings this year, other gun-related crimes that dont involve bullets being fired have fallen. Assaults with guns that dont involve a shooting are down 58%, and there have been no rapes involving a firearm reported. Last year, there were seven such incidents.

Shootings, gun violence, is tragically a part of the urban landscape in every American city, Boudin said.

He said most of the illegal weapons fired in San Francisco come from other states like Arizona and Nevada, and called for more robust gun-control laws to curb the trafficking.

Stefani has requested a report from the Budget & Legislative Analysts Office to dive into the causes of the trend.

What Im hearing anecdotally is we have an increase in gang gun violence and we need to find out exactly whether or not thats true, she said. Is it an increase, is it the type of weapons being used, is it random? These are important questions that I think we need to get to the bottom of.

Megan Cassidy is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: megan.cassidy@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @meganrcassidy
While she hasnt explicitly challenged the precedent established by Roe v. Wade in her capacity as a judge, Amy Coney Barrett  pegged by some as the odds-on favorite to be President Trumps Supreme Court nominee  has more than demonstrated her commitment to life in the way that shes formed her family.

While serving as a judge on the Seventh Circuit, Barrett has not questioned Roes overall precedent in two separate cases involving abortion. But her legal credentials and personal background  Barrett is a mother of seven, including two adopted children from Haiti and a biological son with Down syndrome  have drawn rave reviews from conservatives and pro-life activists.

Marjorie Dannenfelser, the president of the Susan B. Anthony List, told the New York Times that Barrett is the perfect combination of brilliant jurist and a woman who brings the argument to the court that is potentially the contrary to the views of the sitting women justices.

A Senate GOP aide said that the consensus view among Republicans is that Barrett would be rock solid on pro-life issues, according to Politico.

Further proof of Barretts strong pro-life credentials comes from the judge herself.

Judge Patrick J. Schiltz, a mentor of Barretts, told the Times that Barrett learned of her youngests diagnosis in prenatal testing, and chose to keep the pregnancy. And in an interview hosted last year by the Notre Dame alumni club of Washington, D.C., Barrett described how in 2009, she and her husband Jesse  despite having four kids at home already  were trying to adopt a second child from Haiti, a process that seemed destined for failure.

It looked like it wasnt going to happen, and then they told us it wasnt going to happen  paperwork things had just gone south. And so mentally and emotionally, we had closed that door, Barrett recalled.  . . . It was right around December and I thought to myself, we should just cut that paperwork, just pull it out and bring it to a close, because they told us that its not happening, so we might as well just not have that loose end hanging out there. But Christmas came and we didnt do anything about it.

Story continues

After the horrific 7.0 magnitude earthquake that rocked Haiti in January 2010, however, the U.S. State Department eased some adoption requirements to expedite the process, and the Barrettss case was allowed to proceed.

And as Jesse was figuring out how to pick up their new son in Florida, Barrett suddenly learned that she was pregnant  despite thinking at the time that for a variety of reasons, we werent sure that would happen  turning everything back on its head.

We had an intense three-hour period where we had to decide were we going to go forward with going to get John Peter in Florida, because we discovered that Juliette was going to be coming that year too, Barrett said, recalling the disbelief from adding one child to the family to suddenly having an additional one.

I walked up to the cemetery on campus and I just sat down on one of the benches and I just thought okay, well if lifes really hard, at least its short, Barrett recalled joking to herself. But I thought, what, what greater thing can you do than raise children? Thats where you have your greatest impact on the world.

Jesse Barrett ultimately went to Florida and brought home John Peter.

More from National Review
New Delhi: Timely efforts by the Centre and states and stringent protection measures have revived the rhinoceros population in the country, Union Minister Babul Supriyo said on Tuesday, asserting that India was in the right direction for a better future for the iconic" species. During a virtual celebration on the occasion of World Rhino Day, he spoke about the population of greater Greater One-horned Rhinoceros which reached to the brink of extinction by the end of the 20th century with fewer than 200 animals in wild.

India has more than 2,500 rhinoceros, according to official figures. Supriyo congratulated the frontline forest staff and officials and expressed his gratitude towards them for working tirelessly to save rhinos, and said India has been successfully saving its rhinos.

Today, approximately 75 per cent of the entire population of Greater One-horned Rhinoceros now occurs in India in Assam, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. Rhino census is undertaken by the state governments periodically," the minister said. World Rhino Day is celebrated every year on September 22 to emphasize the importance of conservation of Rhinoceros and its habitats.

Senior officials of the ministry, state forest departments and other organizations such as Central Zoo Authority, WWF-India, Aaranayak, UNDP and others also attended the event. Supriyo also thanked Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for accepting the Central Zoo Authoritys request towards translocation of an alpha male rhino from Patna zoo to Delhi zoo.

Efforts are going on in the country to protect the existing rhino population and also to increase the distribution of the species through the Indian Rhino Vision (IRV) 2020 programme. Success was achieved in restocking the rhino population in the World Heritage Site of Manas National Park recently through wild to wild translocations. One-horned rhinoceros is one of the 21 species identified for a recovery programme for critically endangered species," the environment ministry said in a statement.

The ministry has also launched the National Conservation Strategy for the Indian One-Horned Rhinoceros to repopulate rhino population in those areas which used to hold the species earlier by augmenting and strengthening existing conservation efforts through scientific and administrative measures. The ministry and the State Forest Departments of the Assam, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal with support from other organizations are taking appropriate steps under the New Delhi Declaration.

The declaration was signed after the Second Asian Rhino Range States Conservation meeting held on 26th-28th February last year in New Delhi wherein representatives from Bhutan, Indonesia, Malaysia and Nepal attended the meeting besides India, the ministry said.

Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor
Kannada actor Yogesh, popularly known as Loose Mada Yogi, was recently called for a police inquiry. According to several reports, he was called for a general inquiry set up by the Internal Security Division police. While talking to news channels, Yogi clarified, "I want to make it clear that I have not been in touch with Ragini Dwivedi since many years." Notably, Ragini is currently under arrest for her involvement in the Sandalwood drug racket case.

In the media interaction, Loose Mada Yogi informed that he used to know Ragini earlier, but haven't spoken to her for a long time. The actor also added that he was not asked anything about Aindrita Ray and Diganth, who have already been summoned by Central Crime Branch (CCB) in connection with the drug case. Interestingly, Ragini Dwivedi and Yogesh were reportedly dating each other many years ago. However, none of them confirmed their relationship officially.

While speaking about the inquiry, Yogi revealed that it was solely based on his life and lifestyle. He has given all the details to the officials and told them that he neither attends parties nor indulges in drugs. When asked about the accused names, he clarified that he has never heard about them from his immediate circle of friends.

Also Read : Ragini Dwivedi, Sanjjanaa Galrani's Family Visit With Chocolates And Makeup Products: Reports

Meanwhile, the special court for NDPS cases has adjourned actresses Ragini Dwivedi and Sanjjanaa Galrani's bail plea till September 24 (Thursday). The CCB reportedly arrested a drug peddler and businessman Srinivas Subramanian aka Sri on Sunday (Sepember 20). They have seized varieties of drugs from his flat in Sahakarnagar, Bangalore.

Also Read : Sandalwood Drug Racket: Ragini Dwivedi Can't Sleep In Jail Due To Mosquito Menace: Reports
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 22:48:54|Editor: huaxia

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TRIPOLI, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on Tuesday said that 119 illegal immigrants have been rescued off Libya's western coast.

"A total of 119 refugees and migrants, aboard two rubber boats, were intercepted/rescued off Libyan coast, after departing from Sabratha and Al Khums (western Libya)," the UNHCR tweeted.

Following the 2011 fall of former leader Muammar Gaddafi's government, Libya has been plagued by a state of insecurity and chaos that prompts thousands of illegal migrants to attempt to cross the Mediterranean Sea toward Europe.

Many illegal immigrants, who were either rescued at sea or arrested by authorities, remain detained in overcrowded reception centers in Libya, despite repeated international calls to close those centers. Enditem
Om Birla says it pained him that Lok Sabha did not run smoothly during Monsoon session

LS passes Bill making Aadhaar mandatory for NGOs to receive foreign funds

India

pti-Deepika S

New Delhi, Sep 21: The Lok Sabha on Monday passed a bill to amend the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act to make furnishing of Aadhaar numbers of office-bearers of any NGO mandatory for registration and also effect other changes, with the government asserting that the proposed legislation is not against any religion.

Amid concerns raised by various Opposition members about The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2020, Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai asserted that the bill is not against any religion or NGO. The proposed legislation will also not stop foreign contributions in any way, he noted.

The bill, which also seeks to bar public servants from receiving funds from abroad, was passed after a discussion in the Lower House even as many Opposition parties raised objections to the bill.

Replying to the discussion on the bill, the minister stressed that it was necessary for an Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India). Among other provisions, the bill proposes to enable the centre to allow an NGO or association to surrender its FCRA certificate.

According to the minister, there was misuse of funds by way of transferring the money to other entities and the bill seeks to curb such things.

"We will stop misuse of funds," Rai stressed. Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said there is a political agenda in bringing the bill and claimed that things are being done to protect PM-CARES Fund.

Farm bills: SAD team meets President Kovind, requests him not to sign farm bills | Oneindia News

Shiv Sena's Shrirang Appa Barne supported the bill and said that there was a need to come out with a strict law to stop religious conversions. During the discussion, BJP's Satya Pal Singh said there were many organisations receiving foreign contributions but were not spending the funds for the work it was given but for some other activity.

He also said that money received as foreign contribution cannot be spent on terrorist activities.

TMC's Sougata Roy said the bill was to tighten all the organisations getting funds from abroad. When the Supreme Court has said that Aadhaar was not compulsory, then "why should you (government) make Aadhaar compulsory," he asked.

Opposing various provisions of the bill, NCP's Supriya Sule wanted to know why the government was doing "micromanagement" as she referred to the proposal that only up to 20 per cent of the foreign funds received could be spent on administrative expenses.

Presently, the limit is 50 per cent. "... tomorrow, you will say salaries of CEOs will be controlled," she remarked. She said that NGOs should not be undermined and requested the government to "stop bulldozing people doing good work". Sule also said that it is almost like an emergency without calling an emergency.

Regarding the provision to bring 20 per cent limit, the minister said there have been instances where money was collected for public welfare but was used for family things. About the Aadhaar requirement in the bill, Rai said Aadhaar is an important document for identification and wondered what if there is a situation where a director tries to hide the identity.

Taking strong objection to certain remarks by Satya Pal Singh, Sule said there are thousands of NGOs that are doing good work and that Singh defended a case that had happened in Odisha where a family was burnt alive. "Please do not think that the world is full of chors (thieves) and bad people...," she remarked.

Responding to criticism by Sule, Singh said that he did not condemn all NGOs. With regard to the Odisha incident, he clarified that he was only talking about the motivating factor.

TMC member Mahua Moitra said the government was going after NGOs doing work and that she does not understand the dichotomy. Syed Imtiaz Jaleel (AIMIM) said that somehow he feels the bill will create hurdles in smooth running of Christian convent schools.

"We feel that there is a hidden motive behind the bill to target certain individuals, organisations and definitely certain castes and communities. I request the government to withdraw this bill," he said. Gaurav Gogoi (Congress) said that the bill should be sent to a Parliamentary standing committee.

Another Congress member Vincent Pala alleged that the bill is a multi-pronged attack on civil society and minorities as he urged the government to withdraw the bill. He also said the bill was against Christians and minorities and that the government is only for sections of the people. Anto Antony (Congress) said through this bill an attempt is being made to suffocate NGOs.

Stating that NGOs' also help in the country's economy, he said that action should definitely be taken if there are any anti-national activities. But in some cases, it has been seen that due to technical reasons licences get cancelled "which is an attack on the minority", he added.

TRS member Bheemrao Baswanthrao Patil opposed the bill and said the proposed legislation will have a devastating impact on community work done by NGOs.

IUML member E T Mohammed Basheer also opposed the bill. Kaushalendra Kumar (JD-U) and Bellana Chandra Sekhar (YSR Cong) supported the bill.
From economy to psychology, from environment to diplomacy, what happens in the U.S. election will have a profound impact on Canada. Northern Exposure is a series of stories looking at whats at stake for us as America decides its future.

WASHINGTONCanadians are watching this strange U.S. election season closely. But many of them are fighting the urge to cover their eyes.

Were all glued, Meera Thakrar, an immigration lawyer with Larlee Rosenberg in Vancouver, told me recently. And yet she said that since Donald Trumps election in 2016, the effect of watching the upheaval thats followed has led to exhaustion, and puzzlement. And dread.

My mind wanders to what happens geopolitically, like to Canada, what happens? I havent even  I kind of feel a bit nauseous.

Canadian author Andrew Pyper, whose new novel The Residence takes place in the White House, described a similar feeling. It makes me think of that wonderful horrific moment that had everyone screaming in the cinemas when it first came out, that moment in The Ring where the character is watching the television of the well, and the ghoulish girl climbs out of the well and approaches the screen  and then crawls out of the camera and grabs us. I think that is about as apt a metaphor of what it feels like to be a Canadian watching the U.S., and specifically the U.S. election, as anything else.

When you look at whats at stake for Canada in this U.S. election, there are many areas that are obvious and perennial: the importance of the economic relationship with a country that accounts for 75 per cent of Canadas trade; the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and its effect on the border; the reliance for military security Canada has on the U.S., and the fate of decades of mutual participation in international relations; the environmental impact of one of the worlds largest economies, with which Canadians share coastlines and pipelines and breathe the same North American air.

Those issues are both real and urgent  and well explore them in the coming days  but at this particular moment, under this particular incumbent president, there is an overwhelmingly dark shadow hanging over the perspective of many Canadians. It comes from watching a neighbour, the country that has been Canadas closest friend in the world and partner in democracy, go through a crisis that increasingly feels like it could end in chaos, authoritarianism and even a kind of civil war.

Im very bullish on the U.S. generally, said Peter Loewen, a political scientist at U of Ts Munk School who once headed up the Centre for the Study of the United States. But boy, Im more bearish now than Ive ever been on it. Its not clear to me that November is going to play out as it should.

Loewen says the deeply worrying possibility that Trump could successfully claim victory even if he lost the election, or could win because of voter suppression, massive misinformation or corrupt election administration, even the surrealistic potential of serious violence on election day is deeply, deeply dangerous territory. Which its impossible to feel indifferent to in Canada.

Which one of us doesnt share sadness and feel it viscerally when we see a family that were close to break down? The analogy is pretty apt, I think, right? Loewen said. This is a group of people for whom Canadians have good reason to feel proximity and affinity and concern. Contempt in some cases and frustration and others. But this is more than just simple economics. This is fellow feeling, and its really reasonable for Canadians to look at it and say, Boy, I wish this wasnt so. 

Yet many Canadians fear it is so. This summer, 79 per cent of Canadians told EKOS Research they agreed with the statement, I really worry that the United States is on the verge of chaos and this could have negative impacts on Canada.

EKOS president Frank Graves says Canadians are following U.S. politics at least as closely as theyre following Canadian politics, and are alarmed by Trump, by the coronavirus response, by civil unrest and episodes of violence in the streets. He says Canadians wouldnt write off the idea that the election could result in the U.S. descending into a civil war along the lines of what went on in Ireland for many, many years. I think they see those kinds of images, and they go, Oh, wow, could that then spill over into Canada?

Historian Daniel Bender, an immigrant from the U.S. who has lived in Toronto for 20 years, is an expert in American cultural history at the University of Toronto. He describes watching a Black Lives Matter march earlier this summer through his parents window in St. Louis, the one during which a couple waved guns at protesters in front of their house. I didnt get to see what was happening in their front yard, but we did get to see the rally as it went into that neighbourhood, Bender said. And it was a kind of a surreal thing  of kind of hope?  that has increasingly given way to just sheer despair for me.

Bender describes watching, among other things, the apparent efforts to sabotage the mail system in the U.S., and the suppression of voting among African Americans in some states, the efforts to violently suppress protests and what he sees as Trumps transparent authoritarianism. Fascism has a way of not staying within borders, let me put it that way. And, you know, you wonder how long ill winds can stay just there, he said. Its really hard to live next to a civil war, as much as it can provoke a really deep searching conversation. The question is, are people willing now to say, lets get busy on protecting democratic government here, before its too late?

Pyper expressed a similar fear  that if Trump is reelected or if he seizes power, having lost the election, then the presumed distance the border provides, both culturally and physically, would collapse. Suddenly, formerly unthinkable scenarios  from a military invasion to a Canadian embrace of authoritarianism, he says, seem possible. To me, equally worrying to a military invasion is just, you know, throwing up your hands and falling in line.

Graves mentions that U.S. extremist groups such as QAnon and the Boogaloos have a foothold in Canada, and says his own research on the authoritarian outlook that research shows drives support for Trump is a force thats definitely in play in Canada  partly due to the first-past-the-post electoral system and the fragmentation of the centre left. Indeed, in the most recent Canadian election, Graves says in a paper published this summer, that outlook was the most reliable predictor of voting for Conservatives.

For Canadians who fear that outlook  and the results it is producing in the United States  how to react to it is unclear. The question of, what does the everyday Canadian do in the face of a sort of genuine authoritarian state south of our border? I dont quite know what the answer is, Pyper said.

Bender suggests leaders may need to stop being so laser-focused on the economic relationship with the U.S. As long as Canadian foreign affairs gets focused on protecting Canadian trade, then it makes it that much harder for Canadians to talk about protecting Canadian democracy. That cant be done solely from home, he says, but must be part of a global movement  one that becomes harder to see forming in a world where potential partners like the U.S., the U.K. and India all appear to be embracing right-wing populism, and other large powers such as China and Russia are longtime anti-democratic regimes.

Is it reasonable then for Canada, as a country and as a government, to think of ourselves as allied with nations? he asked. Or should we be allied with democratic movements? He admits he doesnt know what that looks like in action for a leader like Justin Trudeau or Jagmeet Singh, trying to distance themselves from an America in crisis and its potential spread to Canada. But hes convinced that a conversation needs to happen, and that a traditional self-congratulatory impulse among Canadians to feel good because local problems arent as bad as those in the U.S.  as they have on racism, gun violence or health insurance, for instance  shouldnt lead to complacency if the U.S. comparison becomes one of anti-democratic civil war.

Of course, even the avoidance of the worst-case scenarios for chaos or violence in the U.S. after the election wont make some of these trends go away.

The deep cultural trenches into which the U.S. is digging itself are going to be there. Those arent going away with a Biden presidency overnight, Loewen said. Now theres a possibility that hes able to do some healing, I hope, but theyre still deep wounds.

And it might restore some Canadian confidence in their neighbours  some sense of hope. It was noteworthy in the recent Pew Research survey of global attitudes toward the U.S. that Trumps unpopularity among Canadians seems to have led for the first time since measurements began to poisoning Canadians on the U.S. itself. Never, before Trump, in the history of the survey, have a majority of Canadians held a negative view of the U.S. Now, roughly two-thirds of Canadians do. It is as if watching the Trump presidency has shattered the faith of Canadians in the American public.

Pyper describes the feeling of recent experience of watching the U.S. as that shock from coming to learn that they, perhaps in some fundamental way, arent who you thought they were.

A peaceful election, or a clear Biden victory that roughly 80 per cent of Canadians tell pollsters theyd prefer, wouldnt lift all of the darkness many Canadians feel, and wouldnt eliminate the strain of authoritarianism simmering in North America and around the world. But perhaps it would restore a bit of the sense that Americans are a people Canadians understand  and, with that, provide a bit of hope.

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UAE and South Korea have agreed to enhance cooperation in 10 new vital and strategic sectors and programmes.

The agreement came about in the seventh session of the UAE-South Korea Joint Economic Committee (JEC) which was held virtually.

The agenda of the seventh JEC included 10 new development programmes for cooperation that will continue to be implemented and followed up over the next two years, until the next session of the Committee 2022. These include science, IT & telecommunications; agriculture technology including smart agriculture; renewable energy, including investment in alternative and clean energy projects, and the development of public transportation systems in line with the hydrogen city model; recycle resources; SMEs and start-ups; oil & gas; infrastructure, including projects and desalination technology; healthcare and medical services, including the response to Covid-19 pandemic, and the exchange of knowledge and experts in the medical field; Education, tourism, and Intellectual Property, especially patents; and Strengthening government cooperation channels, including medium-term economic development plans, and policies to deal with the effects of Covid-19 on the economy.

The meeting was chaired by Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy and Nam-Ki Hong, Korean Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, in the presence of Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade.

Cooperation and joint investments aimed at industrialisation and commercial production in the sectors of SMEs and communication, information technology (IT), artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of things (IoT), 5G, smart agriculture, green economy, energy, renewable energy, science and innovation in the medical and agricultural sectors, in addition to education, tourism, financial services and transportation were discussed.

The two sides stressed the need for continuing efforts to open up new avenues for the private sector in the two countries. It was also agreed to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry in the UAE with the Korean side to activate the cooperation frameworks related to Korea's participation in the Expo, which has been postponed to next year in compliance with the precautionary measures implemented globally in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic.

The countries emphasised the strength of the UAE-Korean relations, which have witnessed a significant expansion since the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations in 1980. They further indicated the need to continue joint work to expand the scope of this strategic partnership to include more sectors and opportunities, in a way that serves the interests and aspirations of both countries in development and prosperity.

In addition, the UAE and South Korea discussed the global economic developments in light of the spread of Covid-19 and its impact on global trade. Furthermore, both sides expressed satisfaction with the trade exchange rates over the past years. In this context, the two sides agreed to work closely to enhance mutual non-oil trade, exchange experiences and knowledge, and enhance access to development opportunities in the two countries' markets.

Bin Touq said that the bilateral and economic relations between the UAE and Korea and are based on a long history of friendship and mutual respect and include almost all sectors. In addition, he highlighted the UAEs keenness to establish frameworks for cooperation in the fields of technology to benefit from the world-leading Korean experience in this regard.

He noted that the importance of this partnership is being reflected in the progress made by both the UAE and Korean economies, with increased participation from the private sectors.

He added that the volume of non-oil trade exchange between the two countries is promising, as it amounted to more than $5 billion in 2019. The volume of UAE exports to Korea doubled compared to 2018, while re-exports grew nearly three times.

Bin Touq added that the scope of the current mutual investments includes wide sectors in the two countries' markets, such as energy, manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, logistics services, technology, communications, financial services, construction, real estate, port management, and others.

We are focusing on the advanced technology sectors in particular, so that the UAE and Korean economies can progress and work together through joint investment in the fields of innovation, research and development, to reach the commercial production in the sectors of the new economy, he said.

He also touched on how the UAEs leadership is expediting the systematic response to the economic challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, pointing to the UAE governments recent launch of a flexible package and a general plan of 33 initiatives to support various economic sectors. The Minister added that MOE will implement this package to provide integrated programmes and boost development of the national economy, and that the outputs of this package will serve the country's economic relations with global partners.

Through this session of the JEC, we are keen to open up new channels for cooperation in the health sector, especially in response to the pandemic. We will also work to develop cooperation at the governmental and private sector levels in the areas of entrepreneurship and SMEs, while striving to develop sustainable partnerships in more fields including energy, renewable energy, food security, aviation, tourism, intellectual property, education, financial services and others," he concluded.

Nam-Ki Hong said: This year marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the UAE and the Republic of Korea. We have been developing an exemplary cooperation over the years, particularly in the field of healthcare, energy and infrastructure, and Barakah nuclear power plant is a perfect example for this.

This year, very close cooperation between both countries in dealing with Covid-19 has once again proven the value of our outstanding strategic partnership. Given the history of our highly successful and mutually beneficial cooperation, I look forward to advancing these efforts to the next stage by jointly developing strategies for the post Covid-era. Recently, Korea announced the Korean Green New Deal Strategy, much like the 50-year strategy announced by the UAE, which aims to develop future industries based on AI, IOT, 5G, ICT and advanced manufacturing. The two countries have many things in common in our future development strategies. We can find our next stage of cooperation in this area and the 7th JEC did serve as a springboard for the next stage, he concluded.

-- Tradearabia News Service
Millie Bobby Brown has detailed the humble start to her stardom.

Appearing on BBC Radio One's Millie Bobby Brown: The Story So Far, revealed her father Robert would drive her to auditions across LA, yet they did not have enough money for gas so could only go if she knew all her words.

Ahead of her big break in Stranger Things, the actress, 16, Millie and her dad fought hard for her fame, yet she insists she is unchanged by her stardom.

Way back when: Millie Bobby Brown has detailed the humble start to her stardom

On her rise to fame, ever-humble Millie candidly revealed: 'We would drive 45 minutes drive into LA every single day, I'd get a Mountain Dew and these seeds, these nuts because I was so freaked and nervous.'

She revealed that to up her chances of getting roles, Millie, who grew up in Bournemouth, would put on an American accent.

She said: 'In the audition, I'd do a full American accent for the full audition, they though I was American - higher chance for role...

[I'd wear] long socks with Chucks, denim shorts, stripe tee No logo, curled hair, no make-up, ready for audition., do it every single day

Daddy dearest: Her dad Robert (pictured in 2018) helped her rise to fame

Open and honest: Appearing on BBC Radio One's Millie Bobby Brown: The Story So Far, revealed her father Robert would drive her to auditions across LA, yet they did not have enough money for gas so could only go if she knew all her words

'We did not have enough money for gas, dad wouldn't drive me in unless I knew every line. Desperate to be on camera/work. I was very grateful and honoured to get the role but I was very wanting.'

On her rise to fame, she said: 'I don't think I've ever looked at myself and thought I'm famous' she said most crazy moment in her career is meeting Obama.

She also appeared on Roman Kemp's Capital Breakfast Show.

The I'm A Celeb star asked her: 'One thing that I know wouldve upset you, I know youre a massive Kardashian fan, what did you make of them saying that its finishing, Keeping up with the Kardashians?'

Happy days: Ahead of her big break in Stranger Things, the actress, 16, Millie and her dad fought hard for her fame, yet she insists she is unchanged by her stardom

She responded: 'I mean I have loved that show since I was 9 years old, Ive been watching every single season. I just think that its genuinely the best reality show and I guess I just have to restart it and watch it again....

'But Im very sad to know that thats whats going on. My older sister is devastated but Im obviously sad, its horrible, they are an iconic family that you love to watch and they say the funniest things, so Im definitely going to miss them'.

Roman said: 'A lot of people willwell listen the relationship you seemingly have with your brother, I mean whats the chance of you getting your own reality show?'

She replied: 'Everyone says this but we cannot have our own reality show [laughs]. We just cant, I mean were just all very crazy and very loud and I dont think any crew member would ever want to be in our house'.

Watch the full interview on Radio 1s The Story So Far on BBC iPlayer

Tune into Capital Breakfast with Roman Kemp, weekdays from 6am  10am across the UK
The lack of response by Moscow to the proposal has led some U.S. officials to conclude that Putin has not empowered Ryakbov to cut a deal. Billingslea made his public comments to the Russian newspaper Kommersant in part to underscore the U.S. offer to Putin and seek clarity from the Russian side on its interest in an agreement, according to the U.S. officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss ongoing diplomatic negotiations.
I will never forget the sights and sounds the first time I visited monarchs' overwintering sites in Mexico. Our guide pointed in the distance to what looked like hanging branches covered with dead leaves. But then I saw the leaves flash orange every so often, revealing what were actually thousands of tightly packed butterflies. The monarchs made their most striking sounds in the sun, when they burst from the trees in massive fluttering plumes or landed on the ground in the tussle of mating.
New Delhi, Sep 22 : Being a female author can come with its own set of challenges, especially when one is trying to juggle a career in the demanding field along with a personal life. From burning the midnight oil to pursue writing, to managing multiple roles, budding authors share how they used writing as a tool for empowerment.

'Four Dances of the Moon' author Shikha Rinchin Tiku explains how every journey is different and so are the challenges. "I got my inspiration for writing from my father, who wrote poetry in his spare time. I wrote my first poem when I was just eight. It was only last year when I was about to become a mother, I felt this urge of fulfilling my goal of becoming a published author, and I embarked on the journey of publishing my first ever poetry book. As they say, it's never too late. There were a few challenges that I had to overcome during my publishing journey.

"Writing a book requires immense discipline and time management. I am a full time working professional, so setting time aside to create and edit my work was a task. I spent all my weekends working on the book, so that I could get it published by the target date. It was the time when Covid-19 had just hit us, so keeping myself composed was also something that I had to do. I kept myself emotionally resilient to keep at it. I was soon going to be a mother, so managing work, my health, and my book was a challenge. But when you have a burning desire to fulfill your goals, you always find a way," she told IANSlife.

There has been an interesting rise in the number of young and empowered women authors who are using the power of their mind and pen to put their thoughts out in the world.

For some authors the journey is more important than the destination. Author Subhashini Prasad, who wrote 'Not Really Indian' has this story to tell: "Three years ago, I sat in my office in a commercial bank, running through financial analysis and numbers, when I thought: 'Is this what I want to do for the rest of my life?' The answer as you see today was obvious. Since I was 11, I wanted to be an author. Days of reading Enid Blyton and Harry Potter inspired me to create stories of my own. When I was at the crossroads of choosing between a stable job and writing, I chose the latter. I decided that if I don't act on my passion now, I will always regret it. That was the kickstart to my writing journey and has led to my debut book: Not Really Indian. I have also written my first kids book, titled Hoo and Hau, on Storyweaver." Challenges, according to Prasad, of becoming an author were aplenty. "Self-doubt and learning to view failures as stepping stones have been the toughest challenges. As women, we have it tougher than the rest. Society expects more out of us and we expect the impossible out of ourselves. So, when I first decided to pursue writing, I always thought I was not good enough to be an author. As a mother of two, I also feel torn between spending time with the kids and finding no-distraction time to write. But as I read other women writers, I realized believing in one's work is of utmost importance and key to success. And that it is always possible to find time for doing what you love." Tanya Walia, Author of 'Forever' shares that she had that "writer's bone" in her from the word go. "I used to keep a journal and I used to write plays for class projects, one time I wrote a poem for someone else and he was appreciated. But I never pursued it from the fear of people's opinions. Then at 23, I read "The Diary Of A Young Girl' by Anne Frank and it blew me away how in such a situation she had dreams and hopes of becoming a writer," she told IANSlife.

"When I started, I was preparing for a government job and there was a lot of pressure, managing both wasn't easy. But I think the biggest challenge for me was finding the right publisher because I was new and I didn't have anyone to guide me. Don't let the pressure around you break your spirit. If you are happy write and if you are sad write more. Start finding the right publisher from the beginning and not when the book is complete. It can save you a lot of time." Young author Anamika Mishra, a motivational speaker and author of ''For The Sake Of Love'' says she was obsessed with stories and storytelling since childhood, and has been writing from school days.

"I remember once when I was a kid, after completing a novel ('David Copperfield' by Charles Dickens), I was so inspired by it that I immediately told my mom that I want to write books. I think this kept on hitting my mind. I read more, I wrote more - poems, stories, articles, shayaris." Spurred on by her parents to pursue writing as a career, Anamika finds inspiration to be an author in their words even if they're not here anymore.

As the writers conclude, authors are rarely made overnight, so be patient and persistent until hard work bears fruit.

(Siddhi Jain can be contacted at siddhi.j@ians.in)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Irelands classes are the largest in EU and well above the European average of 20 pupils per class.

Our average class size is 25 pupils, but the reality is that one in five children in Ireland is taught in a class of 30 or more.

Keeping an adequate distance between children, or even groups of children, in the average Irish classroom, when you have more than 30 children in that room, is a near-impossible task. Our supersized classes hindered our ability to reopen schools and may well challenge Micheal Martins great intentions to keep them open.

In Laois, 15% of pupils learn in classes of more than 30 children.

As we approach this years budget, it seems we may have to live with this pandemic in our communities well into the future. If we want to keep our schools open, we simply have to lower our class sizes and that needs to happen in the budget.

The Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) is asking the government to commit to reducing the class sizes by one pupil per class per year over the lifetime of the government, starting in the forthcoming budget. The government must, now more than ever, deliver on its commitment to tackle supersized classes. Great effort has gone into getting our schools opened safely.

Lets now ensure that we can keep them open.
(Natural News) Just 45 days before the 2020 election, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the first Jewish female justice of the Supreme Court, died from complications of metastatic pancreas cancer, triggering a wave of weeping and gnashing of teeth among leftists who worshiped her for supposedly being a champion of justice. But what about justice for the tens of millions of unborn human lives that were terminated in the womb, thanks to Ginsburgs aggressive support for abortion?

The pro-death, pro-LGBTQ justice is a long-beloved icon of the far-left who, according to Shannon Bream, died peacefully while surrounded by her friends and family. The same, however, cannot be said of the untold millions of innocent babies who under Ginsburgs rule were violently ripped from their mothers wombs and destroyed in the name of womens rights.

Despite supposedly being passionate about Judaisms concern for justice and shaped in the crucible of its minority status, Ginsburg was a strong proponent of baby murder, believing unborn human lives to hold no value.

Among many other pro-death positions, Ginsburg voted to strike down a law that would have banned partial-birth abortions in Nebraska, for instance. She also voted to strike down the Defense of Marriage Act back in 2013, after which she became the first Supreme Court justice to officiate a homosexual wedding ceremony.

Murdering babies, even when they are fully developed and about to be born, is always a womans right, according to Ginsburg. She infamously declared that any laws or regulations that have the purpose or effect of placing a substantial obstacle in the path of a woman seeking an abortion of nonviable fetus violate the Constitution, period.

These and other far-left positions represent the bedrock of todays Democrat Party, by the way, which is why many are now speculating that leftists will become even more unhinged now that Ginsburg is dead. To learn more, check out the following episode of The Health Ranger Report:

Ruth Bader Ginsburg was also a strong proponent of pedophilia and child rape

Another little-known fact about Ginsburg is that she fully supported pedophilia and child sex abuse, having written in a book she co-authored entitled, Sex Bias in the U.S. Code: A report of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, that the age of consent for sexual activity should be reduced to 12.

Concerning laws specifically related to pedophilia and sexual abuse, Ginsburg openly suggested that the phrase, carnal knowledge of any female, not his wife, who has not attained the age of 16 years be eliminate[d] and replaced with, A person is guilty of an offense if he engages in a sexual act with another person .. (and) the other person is, in fact, less than 12 years old.

Furthermore, Ginsburg also declared the Mann Act to be offensive. If you are unfamiliar with it, the Mann Act exists to punish people who engage in the interstate sex trafficking of women and girls.

Is it any surprise disgraced former President Bill Clinton nominated and appointed Ruth Bader Ginsburg? reports Fulcrum News. The same Bill Clinton that has been caught numerous times on the flight logs to Jeffrey Epsteins Pedophile Island?

Amazingly, Ginsburg is also an admitted racist, having stated during a 2009 interview that Roe v. Wade, the infamous case that legalized abortion in America, was necessary to address population growth, and particularly growth in populations that we dont want to have too many of.

Ginsburgs subtle racism promoting eugenics against minority communities makes it all the more baffling that Democratic and Progressive voters alike would view her as heroic, Fulcrum News further reports.

More related news about Ruth Bader Ginsburg can be found at DemonicTimes.com

Sources for this article include:

LifeSiteNews.com

WashingtonPost.com

FulcrumNews.com
The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith publishes a document affirming the Church is also opposed to persistent therapeutic treatment, welcoming palliative care, and recommending support for the families of those who are suffering.

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - "To cure if possible, always to care". These words of John Paul II can be seen as the principle that animates the Letter of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith Samaritanus bonus on the care of people in the critical and terminal stages of life.

It is about "accompanying a suffering person in the terminal stages of life in this world, and to offer this assistance in a way that respects and promotes the intrinsic human dignity of persons who are ill, their vocation to holiness, and thus the highest worth of their existence ".

The document, made public today, reaffirms as the Church's "definitive teaching" that "euthanasia is a crime against human life", as is any collaboration with it, and reaffirms the right to conscientious objection. The Church is also opposed to persistent therapeutic treatment, welcomes the application of palliative care, and recommends support for the families of the suffering.

Nowadays, the document notes, there are some factors that limit the ability to grasp the value of life. The first is an equivocal use of the concept of "dignified death" in relation to that of "quality of life", with a utilitarian anthropological perspective. Life is considered "worthy" only in the presence of some psychic or physical characteristics. A second obstacle is a misunderstanding of "compassion". True human compassion "human compassion consists not in causing death, but in embracing the sick, in supporting them in their difficulties, in offering them affection, attention, and the means to alleviate the suffering" by offering him affection and means to alleviate his suffering. Another obstacle is growing individualism, the root of the "most latent disease of our time: loneliness".

Faced with all this, the Church " the Church is convinced of the necessity to reaffirm as definitive teaching that euthanasia is a crime against human life because, in this act, one chooses directly to cause the death of another innocent human being." Faced with cultural and political pressures that tend to affirm the right to die with dignity ", the document states that to end the life of a sick person who requests euthanasia is by no means to acknowledge and respect their autonomy, but on the contrary to disavow the value of both their freedom, now under the sway of suffering and illness, andof their life by excluding any further possibility of human relationship, of sensing the meaning of their existence, or of growth in the theologal life. Moreover, it is to take the place of God in deciding the moment of death..

At the same time, it is emphasized that "physicians themselves report that abuses frequently occur when the lives of persons who would never have desired euthanasia are terminated. The request for death is in many cases itself a symptom of disease, aggravated by isolation and discomfort." Values of life, autonomy, and decision-making ability are not on the same level as the quality of life as such. ". Moreover, it is an expression of that "culture of waste" denounced by Pope Francis for which the value of a person is linked to his economic efficiency, as well as physical. "The victims are the weakest human beings, who are likely to be discarded when the system aims for efficiency at all costs."

The Letter then notes that "the request for death is in many cases itself a symptom of disease, aggravated by isolation and despair", " the pleas of gravely ill people who sometimes ask for death are not to be understood as implying a true desire for euthanasia; in fact, it is almost always a case of an anguished plea for help and love. What a sick person needs, besides medical care, is love, the human and supernatural warmth with which sick persons can and ought to be surrounded by all those close to him or her, parents and children, doctors and nurses. A sick person, surrounded by a loving human and Christian presence, can overcome all forms of depression and need not succumb to the anguish of loneliness and abandonment to suffering and death.

Finally, it is not "lawful to suspend treatments that are required to maintain essential physiological functions, as long as the body can benefit from them (such as hydration, nutrition, thermoregulation, proportionate respiratory support, and the other types of assistance needed to maintain bodily homeostasis and manage systemic and organic pain). ". "The renunciation of treatments that would only provide a precarious and painful prolongation of life can also mean respect for the will of the dying person as expressed in advanced directives for treatment, excluding however every act of a euthanistic or suicidal nature ". "Every medical action must always have as its objectintended by the moral agentthe promotion of life and never the pursuit of death. The physician is never a mere executor of the will of patients or their legal representatives, but retains the right and obligation to withdraw at will from any course of action contrary to the moral good discerned by conscience ".

On the other hand, the opinion on palliative medicine is entirely positive. It constitutes a precious and crucial instrument in the care of patients during the most painful, agonizing, chronic and terminal stages of illness. Palliative care is an authentic expression of the human and Christian activity of providing care, the tangible symbol of the compassionate remaining at the side of the suffering person. Its goal is to alleviate suffering in the final stages of illness and at the same time to ensure the patient appropriate human accompaniment improving quality of life and overall well-being as much as possible and in a dignified manner. Experience teaches us that the employment of palliative care reduces considerably the number of persons who request euthanasia."

Analgesic therapy using drugs that can cause suppression of consciousness (sedation) also falls within the scope of palliation. "A While a deep religious sense can make it possible for a patient to live with pain through the lens of redemption as a special offering to God, the Church nonetheless affirms the moral liceity of sedation as part of patient care in order to ensure that the end of life arrives with the greatest possible peace and in the best internal conditions. This holds also for treatments that hasten the moment of death (deep palliative sedation in the terminal stage), always, to the extent possible, with the patients informed consent."

In this regard, the document recalls that we are faced with a principle set out by Pius XII as early as 1957.

The document then recommends a specific formation of priests and addresses the question of administering the sacraments to a person who has asked to die. They will be able to receive the sacraments Such a penitent can receive these sacraments only when the minister discerns his or her readiness to take concrete steps that indicate he or she has modified their decision in this regard. Thus a person who may be registered in an association to receive euthanasia or assisted suicide must manifest the intention of cancelling such a registration before receiving the sacraments."

The greatest misery - reads the conclusions of the Letter - consists in the loss of hope in the face of death. This hope is proclaimed by the Christian witness, which, to be effective, must be lived in faith and encompass everyonefamilies, nurses, and physicians. It must engage the pastoral resources of the diocese and of Catholic healthcare centers, which are called to live with faith the duty to accompany the sick in all of the stages of illness, and in particular in the critical and terminal stages of life as defined in this letter. (FP)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 02:33:43|Editor: huaxia

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ADDIS ABABA, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Ethiopian Ministry of Health on Tuesday announced that the country's total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases hit 70,422 after 713 new cases were reported on Tuesday.

According to the ministry, the number of COVID-19 related deaths in the East African country reached 1,127 as of Tuesday, after 19 new COVID-19 related deaths were reported during the last 24-hours period.

The ministry said that some 28,991 patients who tested positive for COVID-19 had recovered so far, including 357 in the last 24-hour period.

According to the ministry, a total of 40,302 COVID-19 patients are still undergoing medical treatment, including 251 in severe condition.

Amid the increasing number of COVID-19 cases across the country, the Ethiopian House of Peoples' Representatives (HoPR) - the lower house of the Ethiopian parliament, on Tuesday called on the general public to abide by the recommended precautionary measures so as to curtail the spread of the virus.

The call was made by Tagesse Chafo, speaker of the HoPR, during the parliament's session on the report presented by the Ethiopian Minister of Health Lia Tadesse, regarding the country's COVID-19 response efforts.

Ethiopia, Africa's second-most populous nation with about 107 million people, has the highest number of COVID-19 cases in the East African region.

Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa is currently the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic accounting for more than 50 percent of all confirmed COVID-19 cases, according to the ministry.

Ethiopia had last week overtaken Nigeria to become the fourth most COVID-19 affected country in the African continent, with only South Africa, Egypt and Morocco having greater numbers of COVID-19 cases.

Ethiopia confirmed its first case of COVID-19 on March 13.

According to the latest figures from the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases across the African continent has reached 1,412,699 as of Tuesday.

The continental disease control and prevention agency said in a statement that the death toll related to the pandemic now stood at 34,077 so far. Enditem
Mayor Bill de Blasio has refused to say how many teachers he has hired of the 4,500 needed to reopen classrooms next week, after the first day of remote classes was plagued by technical difficulties.

More than one million New York City students returned to school on Monday through remote-learning, following weeks of delays and confusion over the city's reopening plan.

Only Pre-K and some special education students ended a six-month absence from school buildings and returned to the classroom at select schools.

Meanwhile, those who started classes online kicked off the school year with delays and glitches after the online student portal crashed for several minutes at the start of the day.

De Blasio has come under fire by parents and residents over his handling of students' return to school which was postponed several times after the city failed to commit to a safe learning model in time, amid the pandemic.

Mayor Bill de Blasio on Tuesday reassured New Yorkers that the city is on track to hire thousands of teachers ahead of the reopening of classrooms next week

Monday's start to the school year was plagued with technical difficulties after the students online portal crashed for several minutes at the start of the day

Kindergarten through fifth grade schools and grade 5-8 schools are now due to resume in-person learning next Tuesday, while high school students will return on Thursday, October 1.

De Blasio previously said a staffing shortage was one of the major issues driving the latest delay and announced the Department of Education is hiring an additional 2,500 teachers on top of the 2,000 he said were being added earlier last week.

During a press conference on Tuesday, the mayor responded to questions regarding concerns over the teacher shortage and whether the city will be able to hire enough staff on time.

'We've had until now, a changing situation in terms of the number of teachers available, the numbers of students available,' de Blasio said.

'It has caused some real challenges in getting the numbers right, but what we saw in the last few days is that we surged a certain number of personnel to make sure the needs were filled.'

Angry New Yorkers criticized the mayor and the DOE for the crash

The mayor explained the city is planning to apply the same model used at Pre-K schools this week when reopening elementary schools and high schools next week.

He did not specify how many teachers of 2,500 required that have been hired, but said the numbers are now 'coming in much stronger.'

'There's confidence those numbers are coming forward in the way we need them to. There's a lot of people looking for work,' the mayor said.

'What we are finding is, the thousands of educators who now work at the DOE, who are certified, ready to go, who were working at other jobs not in classrooms - they're moving into the classroom. That's working smoothly.

'The substitute pool is over 5,000, who are already certified - they're moving into place.'

'We're finding more and more teachers who have taught previously and want to come back into the profession. Young people planning to be teachers in the middle of their degree programs - there's a lot of different pieces here.'

De Blasio said the Department of Education is also looking at adjunct professors at CUNY schools who have been laid off and are now looking for work in lower education.

When asked about how many teachers he was aiming to hire, de Blasio admitted there 'isn't yet a final number'.

'[W]hat we found out in the previous dynamics was there was so much complexity going on that we had to cut through it and get the numbers right, case by case, school by school and that process clearly needed work,' he said.

'And now what I saw going into yesterday was it had finally aligned the way we needed it to, and remember originally we had hoped to be up and running September 10th, 11 days later 1,800 sites up and the staffing was right.

'It was proven now on a large scale, that same model is going to work for next Tuesday and next Thursday, we got a lot of work to do, but we finally have the design we need to do it.

'We will be able to tell you a final number, but it's going to need a little more work to get to that final number,' he said.

New York City Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza, right, talks at a news conference at the Mosaic Pre-K Center while Mayor Bill de Blasio, left, listens on the first day of school

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio does a social distancing elbow bump with four-year old Oliver as he welcomes students to Pre-K at Mosaic Pre-K Center in the Queens on Monday

The mayor proudly claimed the city was 'off to a really strong start' with yesterday's reopening, but did not mention the technical glitches experienced by remote learners.

The Department of Education on Monday took to Twitter to address the website's crash around 9am, shortly after millions of students logged on for class.

'The DOE login page was down for 10 min around 9am, which may have affected Zoom, TeachHub, email, & other platforms. We were back in business within minutes & we're continuing to keep an eye on it. Families who have any other issues can submit a ticket,' officials said on Twitter.

Angry New Yorkers responded to the tweet, with some claiming the system had been down for longer.

'SSO was down a lot earlier and longer than that! Didn't expect a million kids to be logging on at the same time?,' user Jocelyn Fung said.

'I mean, it's not like this hasn't happened before,' tweeted another user while sharing a screenshot of the offline student portal from last week.

Kate Polson, whose children are first grade and kindergarten students, told Gothamist her kids were unable to log on to class for the first minutes of the day because the link to the virtual classroom did not work.

'None of the families could get online, and so then it took another five minutes after that for that to be resolved by the teachers. And so that was 15 minutes late for everyone to be able to get it on the site,' she said.

'And then there were minor technical issues while we were on the video stream. The teacher didn't know how to make her sound when she was streaming a video; hadn't figured out how to make the sound go through to all the students. So we had to sort of work around that.'

On Monday, de Blasio's Twitter was immediately inundated with calls to resign from angry New Yorkers.

'First lesson of the school year: Resign,' one tweeted.

Another said: 'Teachers and principals are going above and beyond. You should be ashamed of yourself. Just resign.'

The rate of COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations plunged after an April peak and has largely flattened this summer across the state: New York has seen an average of 1% of daily tests coming up positive since June.
Last week, local councillors voted to keep next year's local property tax rates in line with 2020.

Property tax has long been a bone of contention where the author of this column is concerned especially when faced with a yearly 465 levy.

It's even more relevant when one considers this writer's Cavan roots and fledgling years across the Irish Sea when Poll Tax or Council Tax charges covered your bin collection, library and police and fire service costs.

Of course, comparing one jurisdiction with another is idealistic at best.

Yet, having sat through last week's council meeting where it emerged close to 18m could be set to come Longford's way next year in inward investment and the thoughts of paying 465 a year or less than 9 a week gradually became a lot more palatable to digest.

Local authorities retain the power to vary the rate of local property tax (LPT) by more than the 15% in order to ensure as much, or most, of its revenue streams are retained locally.

Longford has, for the past number of years, cemented its position at the apex of a central equalisation table which divides LPT returns to 20 local authorities nationwide.

In what has become known as the so-called 'Longford Model' other councils have attempted to follow the county's lead by varying their property tax levels upwards in a bid to bankroll local projects.

Next year promises to be little different with up to 100 different applications for funding are either on schedule or expected to be made between now and the end of next year.

Among those include a 14m investment in the development of Longford's Camlin Quarter, 16m for the advancement of the town's former Connolly Barracks alongside six figure funding streams coming via Just Transition, Town and Village Renewal Schemes and CLAR.

Not bad for a county with one of the smallest revenue streams in the country and with possible central government cutbacks on the way in the midst of an unrelenting Covid-19 crisis.

Cavan roots or no Cavan roots, that 9 a week charge doesn't look too bad at all.
An enormous wildfire that churned through mountains north-east of Los Angeles and into the Mojave Desert was still threatening homes on Monday and was one of more than two dozen major fires burning across California.

Five of the largest wildfires in state history are currently burning and more than 5,600 square miles have been charred, an area larger than the state of Connecticut, state governor Gavin Newsom said.

At 165 square miles, the so-called Bobcat Fire is one of the largest ever in Los Angeles County after burning for more than two weeks. It was only about 17% contained.

Evacuation orders and warnings are in place for thousands of residents in foothill and desert areas, where semi-rural homes and a popular nature sanctuary have burned. Statewide, at least 23,000 people remain evacuated, Mr Newsom said.

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No injuries have been reported from the fire about 50 miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles.

However, 18 homes and other buildings have been destroyed and 11 damaged, some in the Juniper Hills area, with the toll rising to perhaps 85 when damage assessment teams can complete their work this week, fire officials said Monday evening.

Nearly 19,000 firefighters in California are currently battling 27 major blazes, Mr Newsom said. At least 7,900 wildfires have erupted in the state this year, many during a mid-August barrage of dry lightning ignited parched vegetation.

Twenty-six people have been killed. Officials were investigating the death of a firefighter at another Southern California wildfire that erupted earlier this month from a smoke-generating pyrotechnic device used by a couple to reveal their babys gender.

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Erratic winds that drove flames into the states community of Juniper Hills over the weekend had died down, said US Forest Service spokesman Larry Smith.

Its slightly cooler too, so hopefully that will be a help to firefighters, Mr Smith said.

However, evacuation warnings  meaning residents should be prepared to flee if ordered  remained in effect for Pasadena, home of the Rose Bowl and the annual Rose Parade, and Wrightwood, a mountain community near several ski resorts.

Numerous studies in recent years have linked larger US wildfires to global warming from the burning of coal, oil and gas, especially because climate change has made California much drier, meaning vegetation is more flammable.

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Whatsapp An air tanker prepares to drop retardant while battling the August Complex Fire(Noah Berger/AP)

Officials said it could be days before teams determined the scope of the destruction in the area burned by the Bobcat Fire.

Early estimates are that 6,400 buildings have been destroyed across the state, but Mr Newsom said by no stretch of the imagination do we think this tells the entire story.

The Bobcat Fire started on September 6 and has doubled in size over the past week while ripping through forested areas that had not burned in decades. The cause is under investigation.

Firefighters battled back against another flare-up near Mount Wilson, which overlooks greater Los Angeles in the San Gabriel Mountains and has a historic observatory founded more than a century ago and numerous broadcast antennas serving Southern California.

Flames destroyed the nature centre at Devils Punchbowl Natural Area, a geological attraction that draws some 130,000 visitors per year. A wildlife sanctuary on the property was undamaged, and staff and animals had been evacuated days earlier.
What is basic income?

Universal Basic Income is a concept first put forward by writer Thomas More in his 1516 novel, Utopia. It is meant to provide unconditional annual income, paid by the government.

Does Canada have basic income?

Ontario introduced a three-year basic income pilot project in 2017, but it was scrapped by Doug Fords Progressive Conservatives when they swept to power in June 2018.

The federal Guaranteed Income Supplement for seniors is a form of basic income. It effectively doubles Old Age Security payments for seniors below the poverty line.

And while the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, introduced earlier this year in response to massive unemployment during the COVID-19 shutdowns, isnt a purely universal basic income, it has UBIs intended effect of maintaining a decent income and personal dignity in millions of households after a drastic loss of income, Star business columnist David Olive wrote earlier this year.

How much would basic income cost?

The Parliamentary Budget Office in 2018 estimated it would cost Ottawa just $43 billion in new funding to provide a national, guaranteed minimum income, similar to the one Ontario tested in 2017. And it would support about 7.5 million working-age Canadians.

How is it different from welfare?

Under Ontarios basic income pilot, single people received annual payments of up to $17,000  about twice as much as someone on welfare. Couples got up to $24,000 and those with disabilities received a $6,000 top-up. People who worked saw their basic income reduced by 50 cents for every dollar earned until their income reached $34,000 for singles and about $48,000 for couples.

The pilot project included 4,000 low-income people. It was intended to give people struggling on poverty-level welfare payments and low-wage jobs a basic income with no strings attached.

What are the benefits?

University of Manitoba economist Evelyn Forgets research on Manitobas minimum basic income experiment in the late 1970s has been a major force behind renewed interest in the concept. One of her promising findings from the rural town of Dauphin, where most low-income families received the benefit, was a drop in hospital admissions and an increase in high-school graduations.

Because Ontarios pilot project ended two years earlier than planned, the province  and researchers watching around the world  were not able to determine if sending unconditional cash payments to low-income residents improved their health, education, housing and employment prospects.

But informal surveys of those who participated showed promise. A majority who had low-wage jobs before the trial remained in the workforce. Many went back to school, and mental health improved dramatically.

And despite critics fears that free cash would drive people to quit work, a McMaster University study found three-quarters of people who were employed before joining the basic income pilot project continued to work while receiving the no-strings-attached monthly stipend. And more than one-third of those low-wage workers were able to move to higher paying and more secure jobs, the Stars Laurie Monsebraaten reported.

What is the future of basic income?

Former Tory senator Hugh Segal helped design Ontarios basic income pilot project. He told the Stars Laurie Monsebraaten the global pandemic highlights the vulnerability of precarious workers and people with disabilities struggling to survive on social assistance. Polling shows close to 70 per cent of Canadians support basic income, Segal noted.

Ottawas CERB program, which gives $2,000 a month to out-of-work Canadians, is seen as a signal that our leaders recognize the value of a basic income as an economic recovery measure, Toronto businessman Floyd Marinescu, founder of UBI Works Canada, said this year. This emergency basic income will open the door for our government to learn about the benefits of a UBI as an economic stimulus that will benefit all Canadians  and act to make it reality.

Last week, a coalition of nearly 4,000 people and organizations called on the federal government to implement a guaranteed basic income to address the systemic gender inequities exposed and intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Earlier this month, federal Labour Minister Filomena Tassi said the government is considering a guaranteed basic income. Everything is on the table for us as we move forward, she said. And recently, Liberal MPs made implementing a guaranteed basic income their top policy resolution for consideration at the partys national convention in November.

With files from Laurie Monsebraaten, Brendan Kennedy and David Olive
New software has launched allowing farmers a look at over 40 different animal traits, providing the most comprehensive set of interactive dashboards available.

The farm management software, developed by AgriWebb, aims to help farmers understand patterns and trends in their activities and livestock in order to identify over or under performers.

The software helps to answer farmers' questions ranging from which vendor rears the best sheep, to which of the cattle tend to grow and finish the fastest.

Finding these common traits in animals that farmers purchase or breed will help improve and replicate herd or flock performance.

Using, for example, the projected weight gain tool will allow beef farmers to finish their cattle weeks or months earlier, not only boosting their bottom line but reducing emissions.

As cited by the NFU, by focusing on productivity and the physical performance of the business farmers can also reduce their carbon footprint.

For example, by selecting to increase cattle lifetime growth rate by + 5% farmers can save up to 0.3kg/CO2 per kg of meat produced.

Or by improving by achieving +0.1 lamb per ewe a year producers could reduce their carbon footprint by 0.74kg/CO2 per kg of meat produced.

Commenting at the launch of the software, the NFU highlighted that now is the right time for farmers to review the latest cost-effective tools available.

Philip Hambling, NFU Head of Food and Farming said farmers were facing the 'perfect storm' of a recession, the Covid-19 risk and restrictions and a looming international trade headache.

"Controlling everything you can on farm  particularly through acting on insights from your data  is a must, he said.

John Royle, NFU Chief Livestock Adviser said farm management technology had come into an 'exciting new age' in the past 12 months with fresh players emerging.

"Not only are technologies that help you to build your business getting better and better, there is a growing supply chain requirement," he added.

"Customers are asking for more information about their meat, and increasingly, the environmental sustainability of production.

"Tracking the heritage, feed and treatments of animals over their lifetime is imperative in proving the responsibility taken in rearing British produce and in pursuit of improved efficiency."

The NFU's recent assessment of the top five areas of productivity highlighted the opportunity for farmers to use technology

It recommended collecting key farm management data to report on, conducting farm carbon audits, and tracking better health and genetics.

AgriWebb is the worlds leading farm management software, leveraging data to increase on-farm productivity, traceability and sustainability.
Foreigners entering Vietnam on commercial flights would have to pay around VND1.468 million ($63) for two mandatory Covid-19 tests, and register contact and quarantine details.

With commercial flights having been allowed to resume starting mid-September to and from certain countries and territories, those entering Vietnam for more than 14 days have to be tested for Covid-19 twice using the real-time reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), each costing VND734,000 ($31.53), the Health Ministry said Monday.

The arrivals would have to pay additional VND238,000 ($10.22) for using rapid test kits.

The rates are applied to all people coming from overseas, including Vietnamese citizens.

Before boarding, passengers are required to present their passport, entry visa and a certificate confirming they have tested negative for novel coronavirus using the RT-PCR method within three days. This certificate must be certified by Vietnamese diplomatic agency in their host country.

Airlines are only allowed to sells tickets to passengers after they provide contact details in Vietnam, as well as the address and phone number of the quarantine facility registered, phone number of the person or organization picking them up at the airport. During check-in procedures, foreign arrivals must present quarantine registration papers in Vietnam.

Those entering Vietnam for less than 14 days are exempt from centralized quarantine and will be quarantined at their workplace, factories and hotels while those coming to Vietnam for more than 14 days will be taken to centralized quarantine facilities run by the government. Vietnamese carriers could refuse to transport those with body temperatures exceeding 37.5 degrees Celsius.

All passengers would have their samples taken for the first test upon landing at Vietnamese airports. They would be tested again on the sixth day after entering Vietnam.

Those testing positive for the novel coronavirus will be admitted to medical centers for treatment; while those reporting negative results twice can switch from centralized quarantine camps to isolation at home or their place of work or a hotel until they complete the 14-day quarantine period as per health ministry protocol under supervision of local authorities.

Those showing infection symptoms will have to continue staying in the centralized quarantine facilities until they are cleared to leave.

Foreign nationals and Vietnamese returning from abroad have to pay a minimum of VND120,000 ($5.16) a day for quarantine at government facilities under a decision approved last week. Foreigners are required to register their accommodation before booking flights to Vietnam.

Hotels and resorts in Hanoi and HCMC designated as quarantine facilities are charging VND1.2-5 million a room per night.

The government has allowed the resumption of commercial air services to mainland China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, as well as Cambodia, Laos and Thailand.

However, no official schedule for the two-way commercial flights has been released so far.

The only foreigners allowed in now are those with diplomatic and official passports, experts, managers, high-skilled workers, investors, their family members, international students and family members of Vietnamese citizens.

Vietnam suspended all international flights on March 25.

Vietnam has recorded 1,068 Covid-19 cases so far, 83 of them active. Its Covid-19 death toll stands at 35.

There has been no community transmission of the virus in the country for more than two weeks.
LOBAMBA  Yesterdays sitting in the House of Assembly was unceremoniously ended as tempers flared, resulting in the Speaker, Petros Mavimbela, exercising his powers and adjourned the House sine die (until further notice).

The issue at hand was none other than the contentious motion which was moved by Hosea Member of Parliament (MP) Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza, calling for the disqualification of veteran Lobamba Lomdzala MP, Marwick Khumalo, as a legislator.

Point of Order Speaker was the phrase of the day as a majority of the MPs wanted to be heard.

It was just around 5:45pm when MP Mabuza read Motion 24/2020, calling for the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Pholile Shakantu, through the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) to disqualify the Lobamba Lomdzala MP.

Supported

He was supported by Maseyisini MP Mduduzi Small Joe Dlamini. Just after MP Mabuza had read the private members motion, Kwaluseni MP Sibusiso Mabhanisi Dlamini stood on a point of clarification.

MP Mabhanisi said he wanted to know if such matters were allowed to be deliberated in the House and if they were not encroaching on the rights of the forums of other arms of government, in particular the Judiciary.

He said the issue of MP Khumalo, who was charged with an offence mentioned under the Prevention of Corruption Act No.03 of 2006, was before the courts. Since it is before the courts, then allow that body to finish the process, said the Kwaluseni MP. He added that by qualification, no one in the House of Assembly qualified to remove another member. He cited Section 101 (1) (b) of the Constitution, which he said stated that a parliamentarian could only be disqualified from the House if the High Court ruled in that manner.

Before MP Mabhanisi could finish his submission, MP Mabuza was already on his feet with a point of order. The Kwaluseni MP submitted that he was not directing his point of clarity to Mabuza, but to the Speaker and Minister Shakantu.

However, MP Mabuza said he greatly respected the Kwaluseni MP, but the latter was jumping the gun and should have listened to him as the mover first because he engaged on issues that he, as mover, was probably not going to discuss.

Submissions

He must wait for me to motivate my motion and then he can make his submissions because now he is telling me that I will mention court issues, yet he does not know where my debate is headed, said Mabuza.

The Speaker however, directed that MP Mabhanisi should finish making his statement. This matter is before court and the matters that the mover has cited are before the court, there is no way that we can then debate them in the House, he said.

However, Ngwempisi MP Mthandeni Dube interjected and said the Kwaluseni MP should allow the mover to finish making his submissions, then they could debate the matter. Dube was supported by Nkwene MP Vulimpompi Nhleko.

However, the Kwaluseni MP said he had no problem that the House debate the issue, but said they should not set a bad precedent by debating matters which were before the courts.

Manzini South MP Thandi Nxumalo then also got to her feet and said she was supporting the Kwaluseni MPs submission, taking it from the manner in which the motion was written on the Order Paper. He is only seeking clarity on whether we are allowed to debate this matter and that is where I stand as well, she said.

MP Nxumalo said she wanted to know if they were doing the right thing.

Yena loloyifake la ku (even the person who included the matter here) Order Paper because he was not supposed to even put it here in the first place, further said Nxumalo. At this point, many MPs were on their feet and the Speaker had a tough time deciding whom to point at first. He said they should give MP Mabuza the opportunity to move the motion. However, Mntfongwaneni MP Roy Fanourakis was again on his feet, stating that the House had an attorney general (AG) whom the questions could be directed to.

Resolved

He said the AG should have been given the floor so that the matter could be quickly resolved.

The Speaker said MP Fanourakis was raising a valid point that the House had an AG who was mandated to advise it. At this point, the Hosea MP was constantly on his feet indicating that he wanted to speak.

However, Mavimbela submitted that when they wanted to discuss matters pertaining to the law, the AG was the only one in the country who could advise, be it in Parliament or Cabinet.

I know you want to speak, but allow the AG to apply himself in the matter, said the Speaker.

The MPs, however, insisted that they wanted to make their submissions before the AG gave his advice.

The Speaker insisted that it was crucial to listen to the AGs advice.

Meanwhile, in the motion, Mabuza had called for the Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister to implement the provisions of the motion within 48 hours of its adoption.






The extended Labor Day special is 0%-APR financing for 72 months and $0 down payment for qualified buyers. These reduced rates are available on nine different Nissan models.

Palm Springs Nissana Nissan dealer located in Cathedral City, Calif., that serves Riverside Countyhas been offering extended Labor Day financing specials all September long. These financing offers are available on select new 2020 Nissan models. Interested parties are encouraged to act quickly, as all offers end September 30, 2020.

The extended Labor Day special is 0%-APR financing for 72 months and $0 down payment for qualified buyers. These reduced rates are available on nine different Nissan models. Applicable models include the 2020 Nissan Rogue, the 2020 Nissan Rogue Sport, the 2020 Nissan Kicks, the 2020 Nissan Sentra, the 2020 Nissan Versa, the 2020 Nissan Altima, the 2020 Nissan Murano, the 2020 Nissan Pathfinder and the 2020 Nissan LEAF. With the special financing, eligible buyers can expect lower-than-usual payments, such as $214 per month on the 2020 Nissan Kicks or $234 per month on the 2020 Nissan Versa. Eligible models can be found in the New inventory section on the Palm Springs Nissan website.

For persons with a vehicle to trade in, Palm Springs Nissan has a True Market Value tool powered by Edmunds. With it, potential buyers will receive a no-commitment estimate of their vehicles market value. To utilize the feature, parties will need to enter the model year, the make and model name alongside a few other details.

Anyone that would like to learn more about the extended Labor Day financing specials can visit the Palm Springs Nissan website at https://www.palmspringsnissan.com/ or call the dealership at 760-328-2800. Palm Springs Nissan is located on 68177 Kyle Road, Cathedral City.
But it was the coronavirus that was both the core and the backdrop of Trumps address. Speeches by U.S. presidents are normally a highlight of the annual General Assembly, a premier event on the global diplomatic calendar. But this years gathering is being held remotely because of the pandemic. Trump, denied an auditorium packed with global leaders, gave a speech lasting just under eight minutes, the shortest General Assembly speech by a U.S. president in more than two decades.
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell will appear before the Congress to urge them to release the stimulus before election and not after.

Federal Reserve Board Chairman Jerome Powell will head to Capitol Hill this week for three days of testimony in what will possibly be his remaining risk to try to push Congress toward another coronavirus relief invoice before Election Day.

For months, Powell has informed lawmakers that the Fed has "lending powers, not spending powers," and that enormous COVID-19 useful resource is needed sooner instead of later. Without it, Powell warned as recently as the final week, millions of Americans may preserve to suffer from joblessness and homelessness, notwithstanding a slow development inside the economy.

"So one can begin to show up in monetary interest. It's going to also show up in such things as evictions and foreclosure and things so as to scar and harm the economic system," Powell told reporters following the Fed's final policy meeting earlier than the elections.

Powell is ready to make a case for stimulus this week earlier than three congressional committees. However, the near ties among Powell and lawmakers that gained the Fed wide bipartisan praise and billions to backstop the disaster reaction early on in the pandemic can also yield little progress towards his goal.

The months-lengthy stalemate between Republicans and Democrats over the dimensions and scope of some other coronavirus package has only deepened with Election Day kind of six weeks away.

On pinnacle of that, the Sept. 30 deadline to ward off a government shutdown and the bitter battle over the ideally suited courtroom emptiness left by way of the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg have shifted the focal point of many lawmakers.

The Fed is also dealing with the grievance of its personal response to the disaster as bold programs intended to strengthen corporations and local governments have stumbled out of the gate.

"Congress is increasingly more looking to stress him to do what he can because they recognize that they are no longer doing whatever both," stated Ian Katz, director at policy studies company Capital Alpha partners.

"But I suppose they know that he honestly has a fairly sturdy argument that if you really want to transport the needle in this, probable, Congress has to do something."

The March enactment of the $2.2 trillion Coronavirus resource, comfort, and economic protection (CARES) Act may be the excessive-water mark of the Fed's collaboration with Congress. The report-breaking stimulus invoice boosted and elevated eligibility for unemployment coverage, provided direct stimulus exams to U.S. families, quickly banned eviction and foreclosures, and gave the Fed billions in credit protection for emergency lending packages.

Powell and economists widely credit score the CARES Act to dampen the pandemic's initial shock and pave the manner for the following monetary recuperation. However, with six months considering that its passage and nearly months in view that better-unemployed benefits expired, the recovery seems to be slowing as the U.S. heads into a frightening winter.

Powell is one among dozens of excessive-profile economists who have advised Congress to approve another boost to jobless benefits, resource kingdom, and neighborhood governments to save you massive layoffs and increase housing protections.

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With the deadline to fill out the 2020 census coming to a close next Wednesday, Metro East legislators and community leaders are urging all St. Clair and Madison County residents to fill out the census to improve the low response rates.

Filling out the census is an easy process and a 100% response rate is critical in sustaining the quality in community assets such as schools, roads and hospitals, Sen. Christopher Belt (D-Centreville) said. Sept. 30 is the last day to get counted and millions of dollars in federal funding is at risk if residents dont take getting counted seriously. I strongly urge all residents to fill out the census before its too late.

Seven municipalities in St. Clair County and one in Madison County have a rate of 55% or under of people who have completed the census this year. The cities and villages included by name and rate listed are:

 Washington Park  32.8%

 Brooklyn  39.8%

 Venice (Madison County)  42.7%

 Alorton  48.5%

 East St. Louis  45.5%

 Centreville  52.2%

 Fairmont City  55%

 Cahokia  51.7%

As the deadline for the census approaches, it is important more than ever for our community to make sure it receives the resources and attention its people deserve, Rep. LaToya Greenwood (D-East St. Louis) said. Census participation will impact investment decisions for our local schools and job creation for the next decade, so make sure your voice is heard.

Data from the 2020 census will be used to draw new congressional district maps, helps determine how federal funds flow into states and provides information that will affect communities across Illinois for the next 10 years.

If weve learned anything from the pandemic, its that were more successful when we work together, Sen. Rachelle Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) said. Help us secure the representation we deserve, support our rural hospitals, public libraries and schools and ensure the next 10 years are full of opportunities for all who call the Metro East home by completing your census.

The group also reminds students, faculty and staff at local universities and community colleges to fully participate in the census to help the region rebound from the social and economic devastation communities have experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The results of the 2020 census will play a crucial role in determining the economic future of our community for those who call it home, said Rep. Jay Hoffman (D-Swansea). At a time when economic uncertainty has surpassed what many of us could have imagined, census participation is especially important because the outcome will impact the availability of federal funds and resources which will leverage economic activity in our communities.

Responding to the census will help Madison and St. Clair County communities get its fair share of the more than $675 billion per year in federal funds spent on schools, hospitals, roads, public works and other vital programs such as Head Start and the National School Lunch Program.

In order to secure our share of federal dollars for our local schools, roads and other critical services, we must all be counted in the 2020 census, said Sen. Katie Stuart (D-Edwardsville). Its safe and easy to participate from home, and not too late for your response to influence funding for community resources over the next 10 years. If youve already responded, take a moment to check with your friends, family members and neighbors to make sure they get counted, too. 

Residents can complete the census by mail or online at https://my2020census.gov.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 23)  A division head of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is facing complaints for allegedly accepting bribes from individuals tagged in the pastillas scheme.

The NBIs Special Action Unit on Wednesday filed formal complaints against Atty. Joshua Capiral, head of legal assistance division, and his brother Christopher John Capiral, an immigration officer, for extortion and violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

The Capiral brothers are also accused of violating the executive order for government personnel with access to classified matters as well as the code of conduct and ethical standards for public officials.

Atty. Janet Francisco, chief of the NBIs anti-human trafficking division, earlier said her colleague, Joshua Capiral, was arrested in an entrapment operation on Monday night.

Vinerify ko po ang information na iyan sa isang opisyal ng legal service namin at kinonfirm po na na-entrap po si Atty. Joshua Capiral, said Atty. Janet Francisco, chief of the NBIs anti-human trafficking division during a Senate hearing on Tuesday.

[Translation: I verified this report from an official of our legal service, who confirmed that he was arrested in an entrapment operation.]

The kickback was allegedly in exchange for not including some individuals in the list of names that will be charged by the NBI.

Francisco said based on the initial information she received, Capiral has a brother who is working at the BI.

She added that the NBI will file a complaint against Capiral before the Department of Justice today.

CNN Philippines is still awaiting NBI's reply about the specific complaints that will be filed and who among those linked to the pastillas scheme made the bribe offer to Capiral.

Nineteen immigration personnel are facing graft complaints for their involvement in the scheme, the NBI said early this month.

In February, Senator Risa Hontiveros exposed the pastillas scheme. The operation is called "pastillas" because money would be hidden in rolled bond paper like the wrapping for the milk candy. But Hontiveros said this has been upgraded to pay envelopes for the release of kickbacks.

A whistleblower then bared a sweeter deal between immigration officers and Chinese nationals, including blacklisted individuals, which ranged from P50,000 to P200,000. If they are high-profile individuals, the bribe could be in the millions of pesos, according to Allison Chiong, who worked at the BI.

Former Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II served as the "protector" of the modus and has been receiving his share from the grease money even after leaving office, columnist Ramon Tulfo earlier said. Aguirre flatly denied the allegations. The BI is under the DOJ.
WASHINGTON  The Justice Department on Wednesday plans to brief officials from state attorneys general offices on its antitrust action against Google, in what is expected to be one of the final steps before filing a landmark case against the tech giant.

The department will outline a potential lawsuit against Google in a call with state attorneys general, according to four people with knowledge of the plan who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the deliberations are private. The suit could come within days, they said.

The case is expected to focus on the companys search business, and whether the company used its dominant search position to block rivals and harm consumers, according to some of the people. The suit may also accuse the company of anticompetitive practices in the ad tech market, but that part of the investigation hasnt been as fully developed as the case on search, the people said.

An agency spokeswoman declined to comment. A press officer for Google didnt immediately respond to requests for comment.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has visited 58 countries since 2015 and a total expenditure of Rs 517 crore was incurred on them, the government said on Tuesday.

Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan provided details of the prime minister's visits abroad since 2015, including their outcome, in a written reply in Rajya Sabha.

"The total expenditure on these visits was Rs 517.82 crore," he said.

According to the details provided by Muraleedharan, the prime minister made five visits each to the United States, Russia and China, and multiple trips to some other countries like Singapore, Germany, France, Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates.

Some of the visits the prime minister undertook were multi-nation trips while some were standalone bilateral visits.

Modi's last trip was to Brazil on November 13-14 in 2019 where he attended a summit of influential grouping BRICS (Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa).

Muraleedharan said Modi's visits to the countries have enhanced their understanding of India's perspectives on bilateral, regional and global issues.

He said the visits helped in strengthening India's relations with the countries in a wide range of sectors including trade and investment, technology, defence collaboration and people-to-people contact.

"These, in turn, have contributed to India's national development agenda to promote economic growth and well being of our people," the minister said.

"India is now increasingly contributing to shaping the global agenda at the multilateral level including on climate change, trans-national crime and terrorism, cyber security and nuclear non-proliferation, and offering to the world its own unique initiatives for global issues like the International Solar Alliance," he added.

To a separate question on Nepal, Muraleedharan said India's age-old ties with the neighbouring country are 'unique and special', based on shared history, geography, culture, close people-to-people ties, mutual security and close economic linkages.

Asked whether the government is aware that Nepal has signed a number of transit and transportation treaties with China in the past few years to shrug off its dependence on India, he said New Delhi's ties with Kathmandu stand on their own merit.

"Two-thirds of Nepal's global trade is with India and over 90 per cent of Nepal's third country import-export transit is through India.

"India's ties with Nepal stand on their own merit, and are independent of Nepal's relations with third countries," he said.

India's ties with Nepal came under strain after the Himalayan nation came up with a new political map in May showing Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura in Uttarakhand as its territories.

India maintains that these areas along the border with Nepal in Uttarakhand belong to it.
The Justice Department identified New York City, Portland, Oregon, and Seattle as three cities that could have federal funding slashed under a memorandum by President Donald Trump that sought to identify localities that permit anarchy, violence and destruction in American cities.

The designation, which could open the door for the federal government to cut off some funding to the cities, drew immediate criticism from local elected officials. It comes as Trump throughout the summer has cast American cities run by Democratic mayors as under siege by violence and lawlessness, despite the fact that most of the demonstrations against racial injustice have been largely peaceful.

An attempt to cut off federal funding to the cities would likely be met with immediate legal challenges and several federal judges ruled in favor of municipalities over similar attempts to withhold funding tied to immigration policies.

The Justice Department said the three cities were designated because they meet four main criteria, including whether a jurisdiction forbids the police force from intervening to restore order amid widespread or sustained violence or destruction and whether the city disempowers or defunds police departments.

In Seattle, officials pointed to the occupied protest zone, also known as the Capitol Hill Occupied Protest zone, or CHOP, which emerged during nationwide protests over the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, though Seattle police officers wearing helmets and wielding batons and rifles, cleared the area by force on July 1. In Portland, they pointed to 100 consecutive nights of protests marred by vandalism, chaos, and even killing and in New York City, the Justice Department pointed to a skyrocketing number of shootings throughout the five boroughs.

It is not the first time the Justice Department has attempted to take action against city officials for the violent demonstrations.

The department also explored whether it could pursue either criminal or civil rights charges against city officials in Portland after clashes erupted there night after night between law enforcement and demonstrators. For weeks, hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside the federal courthouse in Portland, some throwing bricks, rocks and other projectiles at officers, leading officers to fire volleys of tear gas and pepper balls at the crowd.

56 Portland protests continue for 101st consecutive night

When state and local leaders impede their own law enforcement officers and agencies from doing their jobs, it endangers innocent citizens who deserve to be protected, including those who are trying to peacefully assemble and protest, Attorney General William Barr said in a statement. We cannot allow federal tax dollars to be wasted when the safety of the citizenry hangs in the balance.

Barr said he hoped the designation would convince the cities to reverse course and become serious about performing the basic function of government and start protecting their own citizens.

The attorney generals statement drew immediate condemnation from New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and Governor Andrew Cuomo, both Democrats, who accused the Trump administration of politicization of law enforcement.

This is just another one of President Trumps games, de Blasio said.

Trump has heaped blame for the unrest on Democrats, who are leading the cities where violence has occurred, and tried to focus squarely on pockets of protest-related violence instead of the larger point of the racial injustice movement.

In a joint statement, de Blasio, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler and Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan decried the designation as thoroughly political and unconstitutional.

The President is playing cheap political games with Congressionally directed funds. Our cities are bringing communities together; our cities are pushing forward after fighting back a pandemic and facing the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, all despite recklessness and partisanship from the White House, the statement said.

In a separate statement, Durkan said the threats to defund the cities were are a gross misuse of federal power and blatantly unlawful.

Trump, the Department of Justice, and Barrs obsession with Seattle and me is irrational and most importantly, a huge distraction, she said.

A number of cities, including New York, sued the U.S. government after the Justice Department announced in 2017 that it would withhold grant money from cities and states until they gave federal immigration authorities access to jails and provide advance notice when someone in the country illegally is about to be released. Federal appeals courts in Chicago, Philadelphia and San Francisco have ruled against the federal government by upholding lower-court injunctions placed on the enforcement of some or all of the challenged conditions, though in February the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan overturned a lower courts decision ordering the administration to release funding to New York City and seven states

Just like with sanctuary cities when he did that a couple of years ago and lost, if he actually does this, we will sue and he will lose once again, Cuomo said.
The "Luxembourg Cards Payments: Opportunities and Risks to 2023" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Luxembourg Cards Payments: Opportunities and Risks to 2023' report provides a detailed analysis of market trends in the Luxembourg's cards and payments industry. It provides values and volumes for a number of key performance indicators in the industry, including cash, cards, credit transfers, cheques, and direct debits during the review-period (2015-19e).

The report also analyzes various payment card markets operating in the industry and provides detailed information on the number of cards in circulation, transaction values and volumes during the review-period and over the forecast-period (2019e-23f). It also offers information on the country's competitive landscape, including market shares of issuers and schemes.

The report brings together research, modeling, and analysis expertise to allow banks and card issuers to identify segment dynamics and competitive advantages. The report also covers detailed regulatory policies and recent changes in regulatory structure.

'Luxembourg Cards Payments: Opportunities and Risks to 2023' report provides top-level market analysis, information and insights into the Luxembourg's cards and payments industry, including

Current and forecast values for each market in the Luxembourg's cards and payments industry, including debit and credit cards.

Detailed insights into payment instruments including cash, cards, credit transfers, cheques, and direct debits. It also, includes an overview of the country's key alternative payment instruments.

E-commerce market analysis

Analysis of various market drivers and regulations governing the Luxembourg's cards and payments industry.

Detailed analysis of strategies adopted by banks and other institutions to market debit and credit.

Scope

With the growing preference for contactless payments, banks are introducing various contactless payment tools. In January 2020, BIL launched its support for Apple Pay, allowing its credit and debit card holders to make contactless payments using their mobile devices. BCEE made Apple Pay available for its customers in November 2019. In March 2019, major banks BIL, BCEE, Raiffeisen Bank, and BNP Paribas launched their support for contactless payments via Garmin and Fitbit wearable devices. Customers holding credit cards from any of these four banks can make contactless payments via any compatible Garmin or Fitbit wearable device.

The government is pushing e-commerce adoption among SMEs through several initiatives, including the Luxembourg Internet Days event conducted in November 2019. Previously, the Ministry of the Economy launched national e-commerce marketplace letzshop.lu in September 2017, enabling Luxembourg's merchants to sell their goods online. Meanwhile, physical retailers are increasingly introducing online stores in Luxembourg. In February 2019, IKEA launched its online store in the country, while COS, Weekday, Monki, and Arket fashion brands owned by H&M Group launched their respective online stores in the country in May 2020.

To benefit from the growing preference for alternative payments, banks and payment service providers are launching new payment solutions. In May 2019, Apple launched its digital wallet solution Apple Pay in Luxembourg. The solution enables users to make in-store, online, and in-app payments. Users can add cards to the wallet by scanning them with their phone's camera or by entering the details manually. Digicash is another popular mobile payment service in Luxembourg. The solution allows users to make in-store, online, and in-app payments as well as fund transfers using their mobile phone. It is offered by the country's five major banks: BNP Paribas, BCEE, BIL, ING Bank, and POST Luxembourg

Companies Mentioned

SBanque et Caisse d'Epargne de l'Etat

BNP Paribas

BIL

Banque de Luxembourg

Apple Pay

PayPal

Visa

Mastercard

American Express

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/3gxhzx

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200922005582/en/

Contacts:

ResearchAndMarkets.com

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 22

By Nargiz Sadikhova - Trend:

Kazakhstans Air Astana company is resuming flights operation to and from Russia, Trend reports with reference to the company.

The direct flights between Nur-Sultan and Moscow cities will be resumed starting Sept. 26. 2020 and will be carried out once a week on Wednesdays.

Transit through Russia is temporarily prohibited.

Kazakhstan and Russia are resuming air traffic starting Sept. 21, 2020.

The mutual flights will be performed once a month. Russia has also decided to resume air flights with Kyrgyzstan and Belarus.

In June 2020, Kazakhstan announced a decision to launch international flights to several countries following coronavirus-related restrictions on flights. The flights are being gradually resumed to Turkey, China, South Korea, Thailand, and Japan from June 20, 2020.

The list was then further expanded and included Hungary, India, Germany, Czech Republic, Malaysia, Egypt, Ukraine, Poland, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.

Recently the list of countries was extended with the UAE, Belarus, Germany, the Netherlands, Egypt, Ukraine, and Russia.

The first two cases of coronavirus infection were detected in Kazakhstan among those who arrived in Almaty city from Germany on March 13, 2020.

---

Follow the author on twitter: @nargiz_sadikh
Thousands of Colombians took to the streets of Bogota on Monday in anti-government protests spurred by police violence.

Many of the demonstrators marched peacefully toward the center of the city carrying banners and flags.

But some protesters were dispersed with tear gas after small groups of youths in black balaclavas started to break storefront windows.

The protests were organized by unions, Indigenous groups and student organizations who were behind massive anti-government rallies last year.

This time, crowds were only a small fraction of those in November, with less than a thousand eventually making it to the iconic Bolivar square on Monday.

Two weeks ago 13 people died from bullet wounds during protests over the police beating of Javier Ordonez, a 42-year-old father of two, who later died in hospital.

The two police officers implicated in the death of Ordonez were sent to prison on Monday while they await their trial.

During Monday's protest police were barred from carrying firearms.

Unions in Colombia are also protesting a government proposal that would make it easier for companies to hire workers by the hour.

The demonstrations come as Colombia emerges from five months of strict social distancing measures, and seeks to reopen its economy.
The status of news related to George Soros on Fox News gets curiouser and curiouser. On September 16, Newt Gingrich was unceremoniously interrupted and silenced when he began mentioning Soros's funding the campaigns of radical district attorneys on the daytime show Outnumbered, sparking outrage on the part of many viewers.

But last night, the network's top-rated star, Tucker Carlson, took up the subject of Soros funding radical D.A.s as a lead-in to an interview with Florida governor Ron DeSantis, who has proposed legislation cracking down on violent demonstrators of the sort that have not been prosecuted by Soros-funded D.A.s. Here is a screen grab of the start of that segment, taken from a YouTube capture of the broadcast as loaded to that site by someone identified as Jancsci Sobaka.



YouTube screen grab.

Here is an embedded version of that video, cued to 21:03, when the Soros segment begins:

Because this version of the program is not monetized with commercials, I assume that it is a bootleg copy that could be taken down at any moment by Fox News asserting its copyright.

But the story gets weird when it comes to a fully monetized YouTube version of the program, featuring much higher definition than the video above. The poster of this version is identified as Baba Urdu, but the insertion of commercials suggests that the poster has a copyright claim on the content.

On this version, embedded below, the Soros segment and DeSantis interview are missing. Check for yourself:

Carlson did not break any new ground in his discussion of Soros funding D.A. campaigns. He listed a number of such campaigns and noted that Soros is sponsoring a D.A. candidate is Los Angeles.

I have no idea what is going on with the edited version of the show posted by Baba Urdu. Is this an official Fox News account? If not, why does it have commercials, and whu did it edit out the Soros content?

Fox News really needs to clarify the status of news involving Soros.
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Tuesday (September 22) stayed the AAP government's decision to reserve 80 percent ICU beds for coronavirus patients in 33 private hospitals.

The High Court observed that ICU beds cannot be reserved only for sickness, and said that the Delhi government's September 13 order is "arbitrary, unreasonable and violative of fundamental rights of citizens" guaranteed under the Constitution.

Hearing the petition of the Association for Health Care Providers, the High Court stayed the Delhi government's decision.

The bench of Justice Navin Chawla also issued notices and sought responses of the Delhi government and the Centre on a plea by 'Association of Healthcare Providers' to quash the order to reserve 80 percent ICU beds for COVID-19 patients.

Defending its decision in the court, the Delhi government said that it is only for 33 hospitals, and 20 percent ICU beds remain for the non-COVID-19 serious patients. It was done keeping in view the sudden spike in cases of the coronavirus virus, it said.

Live TV

Meanwhile, the Delhi government has decided to challenge the HC order staying reservation of 80% ICU beds for COVID patients in 33 private hospitals. The AAP-led dispensation is likely to challenge the court order on Wednesday.



A Delhi government official told PTI that it is extremely important to reserve ICU beds in private hospitals to deal with the rising coronavirus cases in the national capital.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, September 22, 2020 16:36 487 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c466f5a6 4 Politics 2020-regional-elections,Pilkada-2020,pilkada,azyumardi-azra,COVID-19 Free

Azyumardi Azra, a prominent Muslim scholar and a professor at Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University (UIN Jakarta), has publicly announced that he would be a nonvoter in the December regional elections.

He said the decision to be a golput -- an Indonesian term meaning abstention -- was taken as a form of "humanitarian solidarity" with thousands of people who had died of COVID-19.

"I'll be a golput in the regional elections on Dec 9 to express my humanitarian solidarity with those who have passed away due to COVID-19," Azyumardi wrote on his Facebook account as reported by kompas.com.

On Dec. 9, 270 regions will hold simultaneous elections, including nine provinces, 224 regencies and 37 municipalities.

Azyumardi said the government seemed to have no empathy for those who had died from the coronavirus by insisting on going ahead with the regional races as scheduled.

"If [the government] still conducts the regional elections on Dec. 9 while it is still failing to control COVID-19 transmission, it will implicitly show [the public] that it has no empathy for the victims of the pandemic. It would also open the door for new COVID-19 clusters," Azyumardi further wrote.

He called on the government to postpone the elections for a year until the pandemic was over or to change the regional elections mechanism to indirect voting.

"The regional leaders could be elected by members of regional legislative councils (DPRD). It is not against the law, since the 1945 Constitution only requires direct elections for president and vice president," he said.

Read also: Government steadfast despite growing calls to postpone elections

The Indonesian government is currently facing mounting pressure to postpone the December regional elections amid concerns over public health and widespread coronavirus transmission in the country.

Several polls conducted in July revealed that most Indonesians disagree with the governments decision to hold the 2020 simultaneous regional elections on Dec. 9.

Indonesia's two largest Islamic organizations, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah, are among the latest groups to call for the postponement of the races, citing the need to minimize the risk of coronavirus spread.

Last week, the North Sumatra National Movement to Safeguard the Ulema Fatwa (GNPF) filed a lawsuit against the General Elections Commission (KPU) and the Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) demanding the two-state bodies postpone the upcoming regional elections in Medan.

Although the government had put health protocols in place, hundreds of candidates were reported to have violated the policy during the registration phase for the elections from Sept. 4 to 6.

Bawaslu reported 243 violations of health protocols during the registration period, with many candidates taking along crowds and entourages despite calls to reduce mass gatherings amid the pandemic. (nal)
MONTREAL - Religious leaders in Quebec are denouncing new restrictions on the number of congregants allowed inside houses of worship as officials clamp down amid a spike in new COVID-19 cases

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 21/9/2020 (487 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Quebec Deputy Premier and Public Security Minister Genevieve Guilbault speaks at a news conference on the COVID-19 pandemic, Monday, September 21, 2020 at the legislature in Quebec City. Guilbault will replace Premier Legault who is temporarily confined after being in contact with a COVID-19 infected person. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot

MONTREAL - Religious leaders in Quebec are denouncing new restrictions on the number of congregants allowed inside houses of worship as officials clamp down amid a spike in new COVID-19 cases

Quebec on Sunday tightened public health directives for indoor public and private gatherings, saying a maximum of 50 people can now attend indoor religious services.

In regions classified as orange under the province's alert system, including Montreal and Quebec City, that limit goes down to 25.

In a statement on Monday, a group of leaders from various faiths said they want houses of worship to be classified like theatres and concert halls, which can host as many as 250 people, even in orange zones.

Their demand comes as Quebec reported 586 new cases of COVID-19  a jump of more than 100 infections compared with Sunday.

Health officials also reported three additional deaths attributed to the novel coronavirus, which they said occurred from Sept. 14-19.

Quebec has reported a total of 68,128 COVID-19 infections and 5,804 deaths attributed to the virus. Health officials said they mistakenly attributed an earlier death to the virus and removed it from the total.

The province's public health director, Horacio Arruda, and the director of Montreal public health, Mylene Drouin, both said on Monday that Quebec was at the start of a second wave of the pandemic.

Arruda urged Quebecers to reduce their contact with others to prevent the potential spread of the virus.

Speaking alongside Arruda, Genevieve Guilbault, Quebec's deputy premier, said police handed out more than 90 infractions to bars and restaurants across the province over the weekend for violating public health guidelines.

Police officers conducted over 2,000 visits as part of blitz, said Guilbault, who described it as a "great success."

She also urged people across Quebec to keep social gatherings to a minimum and avoid parties, dinners with family and other gatherings.

Health officials said Monday that the number of people in hospital increased by 10 compared with the prior day, for a total of 148. Of those patients, 30 people were in intensive care, one fewer than on Sunday.

The province said it conducted 23,126 COVID-19 tests on Saturday, the last date for which the testing data is available.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 21, 2020.
Despite the damage of a huge fire this month, the Babcock Building that's a cornerstone of the ambitious BullStreet District should be able to still be used for historic redevelopment, the project's top executive said Monday.

Robert Hughes, president of BullStreet master developer Hughes Development, said fire damaged the building's center, destroying the building's iconic garnet cupola, but was not destructive to the rest of the 254,000-square-foot structure thanks to the efforts of Columbia and Fort Jackson firefighters.

Speaking to a Columbia Rotary meeting, Hughes called the Sept. 12 fire "probably the toughest day in BullStreet's history."

Hughes said that the fire at the former Department of Mental Heath site was like a nightmare for him as it was happening.

"It was definitely a gut punch," Hughes told the group.

"I really thought at some point during that morning that it happened that, 'I'm going to wake up, this isn't real.'"

Hughes said many decisions still need to be made about the restoration plan for the building. His company will be working with redeveloper Clachan Properties of Richmond, Va., which already had possession of the building and was close to launching work.

The pre-fire plan was to convert the longtime hospital into more than 200 apartments.

"We are optimistic but there still is a lot of work to be done," Hughes said.

The cause of the fire that caused millions in damage remains under investigation.

Despite the setback at Babcock, other parts of the BullStreet project should show major growth in the coming months.

The Starbucks on the site adjacent to Bull Street should open in December or January next to the REI outdoors store that opened this fall, he said. Other new tenants at BullStreet are likely to be announced soon.

Hughes also expects to hold a formal opening for the city park that sprawls across the campus this fall.

The park includes a section of Smith Branch Creek that was brought out of underground pipes to flow again across the site in a restored creek bed.

The park with the restored creek flowing through it becomes the second-largest one in the city, Hughes said.
Giuliana Rancic revealed her entire family had contracted COVID-19 on Sunday when the veteran E! News host announced she would not be able to attend the Emmys.

And now her husband Bill Rancic is commending the breast cancer survivor, 46, for her strength, stopping by The Doctors to update everyone on their condition.

Bill, 49, was happy to report that Giuliana's symptoms were less severe than his own, telling Dr. Ian Smith: 'Shes strong as a bull  so knock on wood thank god that everything is okay.'

One tough cookie: Giuliana Rancic's husband Bill commended the E! Host/breast cancer survivor for her strength after news their entire family had contracted COVID-19. She's seen at January's Golden Globes above

As for his own health, the restaurateur said: 'I had some respiratory symptoms and a little bit of body aches,' according to a preview seen by People.

Bill was surprised to learn their family of three had come down with the disease, noting that they had been carefully quarantining in Idaho since March.

'Shockingly me, Giuliana and our son Duke, we all tested positive, needless to say we were rather shocked because we were all so cautious wiping every package down. We didn't travel on airplanes,' he explained.

Though they had been taking every precaution Bill decided to get tested after a pal in their in their quarantine 'pod' contracted the virus.

Giuliana's husband of 13-years first dismissed his respiratory symptoms as just irritation from smoke in their area, before learning he and his family were sick.

Tough: Bill, 49, was happy to report that Giuliana's symptoms were less severe than his own, telling The Doctors: 'Shes strong as a bull  so knock on wood thank god that everything is okay'

No joke: Bill stressed the gravity of the virus, telling The Doctors: 'We got it while we were in seclusion which tells you anyone can get it ... this is not a joke'

Bill stressed the gravity of the virus, telling The Doctors: 'We got it while we were in seclusion which tells you anyone can get it ... this is not a joke.'

Giuliana first revealed she and her entire family had contracted COVID-19 in a statement via E! on Sunday, sharing: 'Hey, everyone. As I go into my 20th year on the E! red carpet I have to say I do not take missing an award show lightly, but unfortunately this year is just so different.'

'As part of E! and NBCUniversal's very strict testing guidelines, especially before an event like this, I did find out that I tested positive for COVID-19.'

Serious stuff: Giuliana revealed she and her family had contracted COVID-19 in a statement via E! on Sunday, sharing: 'Hey, everyone. As I go into my 20th year on the E! red carpet I have to say I do not take missing an award show lightly, but unfortunately this year is just so different.' She's seen during the 2019 People's Choice Awards with the Kardashians above

'Now as much as I didn't want to hear that, I'm very thankful I heard it before I traveled and possibly could have exposed other people. So for that, I'm thankful.'

'As far as my health, I'm doing well. My husband and our son also did test positive, but we're all doing well and taking care each other so I'm going to get back to doing that.'

She signed off, 'I just want to say I'm wishing you all the best and please protect yourselves and protect those around you. Take good care and I'll see you on the next red carpet.'

Unlucky: At the same time, co-host Vivica A. Fox also revealed she had tested positive for COVID-19, forcing her to skip the show as well. She's seen in February above

At the same time, co-host Vivica A. Fox also revealed she had tested positive for COVID-19, forcing her to skip the show as well.

But it turns out Vivica's first test, which she administered to herself at home, was actually a false positive.

After getting a second test from a medical professional, Fox discovered she was COVID-free.

Vivica explained in a statement shared to social media on Tuesday, saying: 'On Friday I took a self administered COVID-19 test and as many of you are aware, it came back positive.

The details: Vivica explained what happened in a statement shared to social media on Tuesday, also stressing the importance of relying on healthcare professionals for proper testing

'Two days ago I took another COVID test, this one administered by a medical professional, and I am thrilled to announce that last night my results came back NEGATIVE!'

Fox thanked everyone for their well-wishes, saying: 'I am feeling great and I want to thank everyone for their show of love and support.'

She also stressed the importance of relying on 'medical professionals' and not DIY test in her caption.

'GM Dawlings! Got a 2nd opinion, was tested by a MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL this time. I'm THRILLED to announce my Covid-19 test results are NEGATIVE! #Lifeisgood #GodIsGood.'
We are at a curiously contradictory place in our dealings with the ferocious Covid-19 virus. All of Dublin has been put into lockdown and tighter restrictions have extended all across the six counties of Northern Ireland.

There are eight counties outside Dublin - Louth, Waterford, Limerick, Kildare, Leitrim, Donegal, Offaly and Wicklow - where the rising instances are a concern. But we have also happily ended six months of drought for many by re-opening all the regular pubs outside the capital.

To garnish those contradictory messages we have also learnt of an outdoor rave in Dublin's south inner city and another in a field in Co Meath.

There are some contentious issues surrounding the incident near Oliver Bond flats in Dublin on Saturday night with online video evidence of it widely circulated.

The people who live there have told the Irish Independent they feel they have suffered unfairly and see the locality's reputation tarnished by things over which they had no control. Damage to a synthetic-turf pitch, where the "rave" took place, compounds the residents' understandable fury and frustration.

Local Sinn Fein TD Aengus O Snodaigh told Raidio na Gaeltachta that An Garda Siochana were told about the incident after 7pm on Saturday.

He said it was after 11pm when gardai broke up the gathering of about 100 people.

Mr O Snodaigh and Independent councillor Mannix Flynn have called for a more targeted Garda response.

Initially, gardai said they were not aware of any Covid-19 rule breaches. But Dublin City Council said the video footage showed evidence of breaches and An Garda Siochana later said they would investigate.

It is well to point out all of this was happening less than 24 hours after new restrictions came into force in Dublin. Some modicum of tolerance and understanding must be applied to what may be an isolated incident. But we may also be on the cusp of a new tougher attitude by the authorities to ensure the rules are kept by everybody - not just the vast majority. That would mean tougher policing and more rigorous application of penalties.

This writer has in the recent past adverted to the element of a "Faustian bargain" built into policing. Just as the mythical German Dr Faustus sacrificed something of a greater moral significance for a more immediate gain, all citizens surrender some of our own principled liberty to a police force in return for an expected gain in personal protection and better social order.

There have been lapses and controversies over the years. But by and large An Garda Siochana - translatable as the Civic Guards - have kept their side of the bargain via light-touch policing which fought shy of political involvement. If you have difficulty accepting that concept, try living in any one of a number of mainland European countries and observe the difference.

An Taoiseach Micheal Martin told Pat Kenny on Newstalk yesterday that giving gardai more powers to punish those who break the rules "is very difficult in itself".

"There are issues in terms of gardai going into every single house, that potentially is an issue that many people would have significant reservations about. And the practicality of gardai going into every single household is something that would be quite challenging in itself," Mr Martin said.

Away from discussion around tougher policing, there was an effort to explain what is happening. Dr Pete Lunn, who heads the ESRI's behavioural research unit, spoke of the need to learn from recent mistakes.

Dr Lunn told Kieran Cuddihy on Newstalk's Hard Shoulder programme we are witnessing "a time lag" in people's attitude and behaviour to which everyone - including the authorities - should have cottoned on more quickly.

He argues a good case. But we may be running out of time to be reasonable here. The time may be right for a little more carrot than stick.
Clerks across Michigan plan to mail more than 2.2 million absentee ballots to Michigan voters this week.

Michigan law requires clerks to send out absentee ballots 45 days ahead of election day. Clerks started sending ballots to military and overseas voters Sept. 19 via mail, email and fax. Those ballots must be returned by mail. Absentee ballots for domestic voters will start being mailed Thursday, Sept. 24. Those can be returned by mail or in person at clerks office or drop boxes.

Related: Absentee ballots delayed in mail must be counted, judge rules

East Lansing City Clerk Jennifer Shuster said her staff worked through the weekend to send out absentee ballots to military and overseas voters and to prepare for Thursday. As of Monday, Shuster said almost 8,500 East Lansing voters have requested absentee ballots.

We also have to fulfill the requests for absentee ballots that are coming this week, Shuster said. This is an unprecedented, record-breaking amount for not only our jurisdiction but jurisdictions across the state, given the fact that people are opting to vote by mail.

Requests for absentee ballots are processed by local clerks offices, which compare signatures on applications to signatures in the Michigan Qualified Voter File, Shuster said.

Thats the signature that is on file when you go to the Secretary of State and get your drivers license or state ID, Shuster said. Then we have to make sure we are issuing the correct ballot style.

Each voting precinct could have a different ballot style, Shuster said. In East Lansing, three school districts have board elections and each will have a different ballot style.

Then we issue voters the next ballot number in the sequence, we make sure that the labeling is right on those ballots, we stuff them into envelopes and they go through a double-check process before they are mailed out, Shuster said.

Residents have until 5 p.m. on the Friday before the election, Oct. 30, to get their absentee ballot requests to their clerks office. Anyone registering to vote or updating their address by appearing at their clerks office on Election Day can request an absentee ballot at that time.

If someone requests their ballot the day before or the day of the election, the ballot must be filled in the clerks office.

Because we dont want any errors, we also make sure the ballots are being sent to the address requested by the voter, Shuster said. So, if someone is spending time in another state or city and they want their ballot sent to them there, we have to make sure we are sending it that address and not necessarily where they are registered to vote.

Voters are encouraged to send ballots at least two weeks ahead of the election. Ballots can also be dropped off at local ballot boxes, which can be located here, or at clerks offices.

All voters can track the progress of their absentee ballots by looking up their voter information here.

Read more on MLive:

Appeals court rules sending absentee ballot applications to all registered voters was legal

Michigan Senate passes bill to allow absentee ballot processing to begin one day early

Michigan extends special appointments, extended hours for license renewals through October
by Biju Veticad

New legislation favours large monopoly groups, which will now be able to impose prices. Small-scale farmers want to continue selling their products through government bodies. For Card Alencherry, farmers should not be denied their rights. Liberalising the sector will create wealth, the government claims. Public agencies cannot compete with large corporations, experts say.

New Delhi (AsiaNews)  Protests are mounting against two bills adopted by the Modi government in order to liberalise agricultural trade.

Indias Lower House, the Lok Sabha, approved the new laws last Thursday, followed on Sunday by the Upper House, the Rajya Sabha. Now, to become law, the bills must be signed by Indian President Ram Nath Kovind.

As a result of the new legislation, thousands of people have staged protests and organised roadblocks in farming states like Punjab (pictures 1 and 2), Andhra Pradesh (picture 3), Kerala and Hariyana.

For small farmers, the new legislation reduces the support price for their products, and limits the possibility of storing production in state warehouses, a system with many defects but which has nevertheless produced good results since farmers are paid in advance by the government.

Until now, farmers could sell their produce directly to public agencies. The fear is that with the new regulatory regime the market will end up in the hands of monopoly groups.

Speaking at a webinar of the Justice, Peace and Development Commission of the Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council, Card George Alencherry, major archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church, asks that "farmers not be denied their rights".

According to Commission chairman Bishop Jose Pulickal, liberalisation is a permanent threat to small farmers because it favours large corporate groups like Ambani and Adani, which will now be able to impose prices and control the agricultural market.

All the opposition parties have protested against the measures. Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Minister for Food Processing Industries, resigned last Thursday over the issue.

According to Jayaram Ramesh, a member of the Indian Congress Party, the main opposition party, the government was in a hurry to pass the bill to save the individual interests of some of the large companies that support it.

Punjab's Catholics, who are mostly farm workers, feel threatened by the new laws. Farmers risk not getting a fair price for their goods, and in the long run they could go into debt," said Fr Subin Thekkedath, head of social works at the Diocese of Jalandhar, speaking to AsiaNews.

The Modi administration has defended the new laws, stating that they will bring great benefits to farmers all over the country, because they facilitate transportation of agricultural products within and between states.

Government supporters note that the legislation does not dismantle the system for purchasing rice or grains by public agencies, nor does it eliminate the guaranteed minimum price of agricultural products.

For several observers, however, government bodies will struggle to compete with large groups in a competitive market.
A group of 161 prominent international political figures, including thirteen former national presidents, past prime ministers and current or retired members of national parliaments, have announced their opposition to the British extradition show-trial of WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange and have joined demands for his immediate freedom.

The signatories endorsed a letter to the British government issued last month by the Lawyers for Assange group, which comprises more than 150 legal experts from around the world, as well as bar associations covering major countries and entire continents.

That document was a meticulous exposure of the litany of abuses perpetrated against Assange by the British and US governments, including the denial of access to his lawyers, his inability to engage in his own defence, and his imprisonment in the maximum-security Belmarsh Prison, despite the fact that he has not been convicted of a crime.

The lawyers were unequivocal, branding the attempt to extradite Assange from Britain to the US, where he faces life imprisonment for publishing evidence of war crimes, as a violation of international law that must be immediately halted. They warned that Assange would face torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment if dispatched to his American state persecutors, and insisted on the necessity for his unconditional freedom.

The politicians who have taken up this demand include Jose Luis Zapatero, prime minister of Spain (200411), Alberto Fernandez, president of Argentina (2019), Dilma Rousseff, president of Brazil (201116), Evo Morales Ayma, president of Bolivia (200619), Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, president of Brazil (200310), Rafael Correa, president of Ecuador (200717), Kevin Rudd, prime minister of Australia (200710 and 2013) and Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the British Labour Party (20152020).

Fernandez of Argentina and President Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela are the only two current heads of state to have endorsed the initiative. Other signatories include prominent current national politicians from Australia, Britain and Germany, as well as a host of officeholders from Latin America, spanning from mayors to governors and leading members of national assemblies.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro with former Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa (Credit: Telesur)

Several signatories accompanied their endorsements with statements of support for Assange. Lula of Brazil declared: If the democrats of the planet Earth, including all journalists, all lawyers, all unionists and all politicians, have no courage to express themselves in defence of Assange, so that he is not extradited, it means we have a lot democrats out there who are liars. Assange should be perceived as a hero of democracy. He does not deserve to be punished.

Kevin Rudd warned that a successful US prosecution of Assange would open the door for broader attacks on press freedom and journalists.

The range of signatories is an indictment of the US, British and Australian governments, and all those who have facilitated Assanges persecution.

The statement provides a glimpse of the real global public opinion concerning the Assange case, which is suppressed by a pliant corporate media.

Britain, the land of the Magna Carta, and the US, founded on a revolution that declared the sanctity of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, are increasingly viewed as rogue states, which trample on international legal norms and use their military and diplomatic power to bully and oppress the worlds population. Assange, meanwhile, is widely regarded as a heroic figure, who has risked all to reveal the truth to ordinary people.

The opening weeks of the resumed British extradition hearings undoubtedly provided an impetus to the signatories. The proceedings have been marked by further abuses, including the filing of a late indictment by the US Justice Department, aimed at preventing any possibility of a defence, attempts to limit witness testimony and assertions by prosecutors that the American government has the right to determine what journalists may or may not publish, wherever they are in the world.

This has only deepened the latent popular support for the WikiLeaks founder, under conditions of a global breakdown of capitalism, mass hostility to the criminally-negligent response of governments to the pandemic and a reemergence of the class struggle. It can hardly be an accident that so many of the signatories are from Latin America, where the masses have endured decades of US imperialist military interventions, coups and dictatorships, and the poverty and oppression that have accompanied them.

By giving a pale reflection of sentiments from below, the signatories are undoubtedly expressing concerns from within the national political establishments.

Firstly, they are fearful that the naked lawlessness of the pursuit of Assange risks further discrediting the entire political set-up which they defend, and could become the focal point for broader opposition to war and authoritarianism. Secondly, they are worried that the Trump administrations assertion that US law applies extraterritorially, in every corner of the globe, will be used not only to target courageous journalists, but also political opponents and anyone perceived as an obstacle to American imperialism.

Many of the politicians who have endorsed the letter are representatives of the South American pink tide, the wave of bourgeois nationalist governments that came to office over the past two decades, by posturing as opponents of US imperialism and deploying vague left-populist rhetoric to mollify the masses.

This project has collapsed, with the installation of US-backed authoritarian regimes throughout the continent, in many instances directly facilitated by the leaders of the pink tide itself. Figures such as Brazils Lula, of the misnamed Workers Party, won office by posturing as champions of ordinary people, only to impose the dictates of the banks and the financial elite.

To describe their record on democratic rights as patchy would be a gross understatement. To a man, the leaders of the pink tide repressed strikes and protests of workers, sought to come to an accommodation with imperialism, and leaned heavily on the military.

Assange interviewing then Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa before he sought political asylum in the embassy in 2012

Former Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa, for instance, granted Assange political asylum in 2012 in an important blow to the US conspiracy against the WikiLeaks founder. By 2016, however, his government shut off Assanges internet access for several weeks, at the direct behest of the US government.

Correa facilitated the installation of Lenin Moreno who acted on the precedent of his predecessor by severing Assanges communications in early 2018, before handing him over to his US and British persecutors the following year, the same time his government responded to mass demonstrations against IMF-dictated austerity measures by imposing virtual martial law.

Ecuadorian protesters wearing Assange masks shortly after his expulsion from the embassy in April, 2019

A similar story could be told for many of the Latin American signatories. Their political project having come crashing down, a number of them are in exile, or face the threat of politically-motivated prosecutions, undoubtedly heightening their sensitivity to the judicial frame-up of Assange.

Other signatories, to be blunt, are simply political scoundrels.

Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is one of the Australian political leaders who directly facilitated the persecution of Assange when he was in office, only to discover, years later, that prosecuting a journalist for publishing truthful information would establish a dangerous precedent. It must be stated that such individuals, if it were in their interests, could just as easily turn against Assange once again and throw him to the wolves.

Rudd in discussion with President Barack Obama in 2009 (Credit: Obama White House)

Jeremy Corbyn, former Labour Party leader, and his Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, similarly refused to mobilise support for Assange when they were in influential positions, not even mentioning him during last years British election.

To the extent that both have since made several statements in defence of Assange, it has been to foster illusions that the fight for his freedom can go forward through feckless appeals to the British courts, the parliament and the state apparatus, i.e., the very forces persecuting Assange.

The record of the decade-long US pursuit of Assange has more than demonstrated that this perspective is a dead-end, which, if not challenged, will result in Assanges extradition and his death in a CIA prison.

The turn must not be to parliaments but to the working class, and the popular sentiment that the politicians who have endorsed the initiative, are seeking to contain and corral behind the official political establishments. The basis for a mass movement to secure Assanges freedom exists in the immense political disaffection among ordinary people everywhere and the resurgence of working class struggle, including in the United States and Britain.
Louisville, the United States  The mayor of Louisville, Kentucky has declared a state of emergency ahead of an expected decision on whether charges will be brought against the officers involved in the police killing of Breonna Taylor, an unarmed Black woman.

Mayor Greg Fischer said in a statement on Tuesday that he does not know when State Attorney General Daniel Cameron will announce a decision in the case, but we must prepare for it.

Our goal is ensuring space and opportunity for potential protesters to gather and express their First Amendment rights after the announcement, Fischer added.

The declaration will allow the mayor to implement curfews and other restrictions as needed, the statement said.

Memorial to Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky [Laurin-Whitney Gottbrath/Al Jazeera]

Parts of downtown Louisville were eerily quiet on Tuesday after the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) closed down traffic to vehicles, barricading streets and prohibiting street parking. The LMPD on late Monday declared its own state of emergency in preparation for the expected announcement. The department also cancelled all off-day and holiday requests until further notice.

Due to increased attention and activity in anticipation of an announcement from Attorney General Daniel Cameron regarding the Breonna Taylor case, a decision was made to accelerate plans to physically restrict access to the downtown area, the LMPD said in a statement early on Tuesday.

Many businesses in the area were boarded up. One local university announced it would move to online classes on the day Cameron makes his announcement.

Protesters accused police of caging in a section of the city.

Whats happening in this city is once again a sign of the failed leadership. Who in their right mind thought caging in a section of this city was smart? It reminds me of a lyric in No Love by Lil Wayne that says, OK, you want me up in a cage, then Ill come out in beast mode,' tweeted Louisville-based activist and writer Hannah Drake.

You dont cage ANYONE into submission. This was not the way. The leadership in this city doesnt think. They just do  poorly, she added.

Whats happening in this city is once again a sign of the failed leadership. Who in their right mind thought caging in a section of this city was smart? It reminds me of a lyric in No Love by Lil Wayne that says, OK, you want me up in a cage, then I'll come out in beast mode. pic.twitter.com/7rfnL5KYwW  Hannah Drake (@HannahDrake628) September 22, 2020

Interim Police Chief Robert Schroeder on Tuesday morning apologised to those who viewed the restrictions as a lockdown, but said they were necessary during this time.

We just ask that people bear with us as we go through these unprecedented times, Schroeder said at a news conference. We felt these steps were necessary to help protect the public. LMPD officials also stressed they do not know when Cameron plans to announce a decision in the case.

Cameron has not publicly commented on the case since September 9, when he cautioned against reading into conflicting rumours.

When the investigation concludes and a decision is made, we will provide an update about an announcement. The news will come from our offices and not unnamed sources. Until that time, the investigation remains ongoing, Cameron said in a statement at the time.

The attorney generals office did not respond to Al Jazeeras request for comment on Tuesday.

Several dozen demonstrators, meanwhile, gathered in Jefferson Square Park, the site of ongoing protests, on Tuesday. Protesters mostly quietly talked among themselves. Some walked around the makeshift memorial that has been erected to remember Taylor and call for justice. At one point, a woman removed the silver bracelet she was wearing, placed it on the memorial and bowed her head in reflection before walking away.

Louisville native Travis Nagdy, who has participated in the protests since May, said he was emotional, very emotional.

Im sick to my stomach for one, just anxious, Nagdy told Al Jazeera. Ive been crying a lot.

He said he was especially emotional on Monday morning after a large caravan of cars passed protesters in support. It kind of set it in, like, oh s***, this is like D-day.

Racial justice activist Chris Wells called the police barricades an overreaction and just a back-door way of controlling the situation.

Standing in Jefferson Square Park on Tuesday, he said he did not know how protesters would react if the Kentucky attorney generals announcement fell short of demonstrator demands that the officers involved in Taylors killing be charged with murder. He said he would encourage people to vote local leaders out of office, and noted We just need change.

On Tuesday night, protesters marched in the city centre chanting Whose street? Our street.

Demonstrators calling for justice for Breonna Taylor [File: AP Photo/Steven Senne]

Say her name

Taylor, 26, was killed by police in the early hours of March 13 when plainclothes officers conducting a narcotics investigation barged into her home to serve a no-knock warrant. Taylors boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, said he mistook police for intruders and fired his weapon, injuring one officer. LMPD Sergeant Jonathan Mattingly, Detective Myles Cosgrove and then-Detective Brett Hankison returned fire. Taylor was hit at least five times and left bleeding in her hallway where she died, according to the Courier-Journal.

Tamika Palmer, the mother of Breonna Taylor, speaking during a protest at the Jefferson County offices of Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron [Bryan Woolston/Reuters]

The case garnered little national and international attention at the time, but it became a focal point during daily Black Lives Matter protests in Louisville after the May 25 police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Chanting say her name, protesters have taken to Louisvilles streets for more than 115 days, demanding the officers involved in Taylors death be charged.

Last week, the city of Louisville announced it will pay Taylors family $12m and implement police reforms.

Taylors family welcomed the settlement, but demanded criminal charges against the officers involved.

Im hoping to hear that there will be charges  that these people will be fired and arrested, Tamika Palmer, Taylors mother, told National Public Radio last week.

Sam Marcosson, a professor at the University of Louisville School of Law, said he believes homicide charges are unlikely, in part because officers could claim they acted in self-defence after Taylors boyfriend fired a gun.

Lesser charges could include wanton endangerment against Hankison, who was fired in June. Chief Schroeder in his termination letter said Hankison fired wantonly and blindly into the apartment.
Attending the pre-inquest review hearing into my cousins death was harrowing. Ive felt fury, grief, horror and fear and much of that because I know the reason Gaia Popes story is resonating with so many people. It wasnt an isolated tragedy. It is the reality facing thousands of sexual abuse survivors nationwide.

It was December 2015 when my mum called to tell me that Gaia was in the hospital. After a year of silence shed finally disclosed she had been raped by a known sex offender who threatened to kill her and us if she spoke out. The trauma was so immense she had to be hospitalised.

She was my cousin but I loved her like a sister and came home to support her in dealing with the police and trying to access support. We did improvised art therapy and went to self-defence classes together. The whole family did their best to help her heal but it was no substitute for the professional trauma-informed care she needed.

None of our lives were ever the same. Gaias descent into post-traumatic stress turned the life of this bright, caring and civic-minded young woman into a series of flashbacks, anxiety attacks and increasingly serious epileptic seizures that often ended in the back of an ambulance. The pattern of escalating mental health episodes all focused on the rape. She was begging for someone to save her life.

Early in 2017, the year she died, Gaia learned the perpetrator was being released early from prison, having been convicted for further sex offences. This prompted an episode so severe she was sectioned under the Mental Health Act. In hospital, the one place she should have been safe, she was instead sexually harassed by another patient. Theres not much we know about that yet except that a safeguarding referral should have been made for her and was not.

On 7 November 2017, the day Gaia disappeared, she had two appointments, one with her GP to request mental health support and another with Dorset Police for the first time since they dropped her rape case. Still unbroken, she wanted to report an incident of sexual harassment online. She never made either meeting.

She disappeared in a state of such acute distress we think she wouldnt have been able to keep herself safe. The paperwork says she died of hypothermia but I call it a death by indifference. Almost three years later no one has been held accountable for any of this and that is a matter not just of our private grief but of public concern.

In court last week we were finally able to tell some of this story but in the bizarre position of having to request a delay in the inquest weve waited and fought so long for. Big gaps in the evidence remain and Covid-19 has crippled the courts ability to safely host the kind of inquest we need: full, fearless and open to the public.

We want nothing more than for this to be over but truth and justice matter more, especially since this pandemic is amplifying the risks for victims and survivors and threatening to roll back decades of progress on womens rights. Its also compounding the devastation wreaked on support services by a decade of government austerity cuts, creating a perfect storm.

If youre raped in the UK today youre less likely to get a conviction than you were in the 1970s. With 82 reports per conviction in 2018, Dorset Police has the worst conviction rate in the UK. Dorset also has particularly poor mental health outcomes and evidence that there is something really wrong within Dorset Healthcare Trust too is mounting. In the three years leading up to Gaias, unexpected deaths of mental health patients rose 50 per cent. Earlier this year a child psychiatrist was convicted of child abuse pornography offences and there have been other cases of sexual abuse not only by patients but also by staff.

Theres still a lot about what happened to Gaia that we still dont know but we do know this: we need radical change not only in Dorset but nationwide.

We intend to do everything in our power to make sure that your family never has to stand where we stand today, fighting for justice for someone whos been taken from you and who can never be replaced. That is what Justice for Gaia means to us.
Police Tuesday claimed to have busted a gang of thieves that posed as contractors and labourers and stole underground telephone cables using forged documents of Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL), authorising them to carry out digging and repairing of cables.

Eight members of the gang were arrested for allegedly stealing over 200 kilograms of MTNL cables from west Delhis Janakpuri on the night of August 31, police said.

The gang members used to wear safety gear, including helmets and florescent jackets, used all necessary machines such as earth movers, and even carried forged work order permit to avoid any suspicion. They used to take the copper wires from the cables and sell them, said deputy commissioner of police (west) Deepak Purohit.

Those arrested were identified as Azharuddin, leader of the gang, Moshir Siddiqui, Parvez alias Baijal, Shakib, Laddu, Manzoor Alam, Shahid, and Mohammad Yusuf. All of them are originally from Bihar but have been living in Delhi for the past few years.

Nine pieces of stolen telephone cables, of a total length of 60 feet and weighing 218 kilograms, forged MTNL order orders, an earth mover, ten yellow helmets and as many fluorescent jackets, six red bollards, two torchlights and two traffic bar lights, and other documents were seized from them, said the DCP.

Azharuddin is a scrap dealer by profession and is into crime for over a decade. The other seven belong to his village in Bihar. Together, they planned to steal underground telephone cables using the unique modus operandi. Azharuddin has been previously involved in three similar crimes, DCP Purohit said.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  Abu Dhabi, the conservative capital of the United Arab Emirates, is eliminating its licensing system for alcohol purchases for drinkers after Dubai repeatedly loosened its own rules to boost sales and tourism amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The emirate's Department of Culture and Tourism announced the new rules in a circular dated last week to distributors and liquor stores, but otherwise did not publicize the decision. Government officials did not respond to requests for comment Monday from The Associated Press.

Previously, individuals had needed a license to purchase, transport or have alcohol in their homes. But the new rules appear to only set an age limit of 21 and require drinkers to consume the beverages inside private homes or other licensed areas like bars. That would allow Muslims who had been barred from obtaining licenses to be able to purchase from retailers.

We would like to announce the cancellation of alcohol licenses for individuals, the circular said. Residents and tourists will be permitted to buy and possess alcohol from licensed retail shops, and are allowed to drink within tourism and hotel establishments, clubs and independent outlets.

Abu Dhabi, like Dubai, has bars at hotels and other locations that serve customers without checking for licenses or asking about a person's religion. But the oil-rich capital home to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque long has been more conservative than the entrepot of Dubai, whose vast array of bars, lounges and nightclubs offer imbibers a moment for a quiet beer or a shouting, bass-thumping party complete with sparkler-laden Champagne bottles.

Eliminating the licenses also would decriminalize alcohol possession, although the Emirates maintains a strict no-tolerance policy on drunk driving and public intoxication.

Alcohol sales go on in six of the UAE's seven sheikhdoms, while Sharjah remains dry like the neighboring nations of Iran, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. These sales provide a major source of tax revenue for each emirate's ruling family, as well as reflect the confidence of the UAE's vast foreign workforce in their own finances and in turn, the economy. The UAE's economy already stood on shaky ground amid a global slump in oil prices and collapsing real-estate prices in Dubai.

Story continues

Overall sales of alcohol by volume in the UAE fell sharply in 2019 to 128.79 million liters (34 million gallons), down some 3.5% from 133.42 million liters (35.2 million gallons) sold the year before, according to market research firm Euromonitor. The 2019 sales are down nearly 9% from 2017, which saw 141.51 million liters (37.3 million gallons) sold.

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, Dubai has further loosened its own liquor laws and allowed for home delivery of beer, wine and spirits. Dubai also simplified its licensing process, eliminating purchase restrictions and the ability of employers to block workers from obtaining a card. However, those living in Dubai are still required to obtain a license to purchase, transport or have alcohol in their homes  though many skirt the requirement by purchasing drinks in other emirates.

The new alcohol rule also comes just after Abu Dhabi ordered hotels to offer Kosher food, a nod toward the UAE normalizing relations with Israel.

___

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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, September 22, 2020 21:07 486 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c467dee6 1 National COVID-19,Central-Java,Semarang,coronavirus Free

Health authorities in Central Java have forced two women to self-isolate after they had planned to visit shopping centers despite having tested positive for COVID-19.

The women, who are residents of Semarang and were only identified as F and L, reportedly had a conversation on WhatsApp, in which one of them allegedly prodded the other to spread the virus.

Screen captures of the alleged chat went viral on social media.

In the conversation, F reportedly convinced L that it was okay to travel without regard for health protocol. She said one of her neighbors who had also contracted the virus had been going out as well.

Semarang Health Agency head Abdul Hakam said the local COVID-19 task force had examined the two residents.

At around 5 p.m. they had been brought by ambulance to the official residence of the Mayor, Abdul told tribunnews.com on Saturday.

The residence is currently being used as an isolation facility.

Hakam said the Karanganyar Community Health Center (Puskesmas) had traced the contacts of F and L as well as their families, and some of their family members subsequently tested positive for the coronavirus.

However, they were allowed to undergo self-isolation with close monitoring by the authorities as they showed only mild symptoms.

L and her two children were now in isolation at the mayoral residence, Hakam said, while F was in self-isolation at home as she had to take care of her mother, who had also been infected with the virus and had just returned from the hospital.

F is the only child, so she doesnt have any siblings to take care of her mother, Hakam said.

Moreover, he said, the task force was also considering the psychological health of Fs mother, whose husband had died recently.

Semarang Mayor Hendrar Prihadi said he had coordinated with the Semarang Health Agency and other stakeholders in handling the case.

This is just a misunderstanding between neighbors whose conversation was spread through [WhatsApp]," Hendrar said, as he called on the public not to worry about this incident.

In an interview with Kompas TV, Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo admitted that many residents still had poor understanding of COVID-19, while some were upset or confused about the situation.

If you witness such cases, report them to the nearest local officials or contact me directly through social media, Ganjar said.

According to a regional regulation on the management of infectious diseases, Ganjar said, health protocol violators could be charged with six years of imprisonment or a fine of Rp 50 million (US$3,380). (syk)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 14:21:14|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on Sept. 14, 2020 shows the United Nations (UN) flag flying outside the UN headquarters in New York, the United States. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

The UN must stand firm for justice, uphold the rule of law, promote cooperation and focus on real action, said Chinese President Xi Jinping while addressing the UN high-level meeting via video.

"To put into practice the principle of multilateralism, we must act, not just talk."

BEIJING, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Global leaders have called for efforts to address global challenges by upholding multilateralism and supporting the United Nations (UN), as a high-level meeting to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the UN was held Monday.

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday made four proposals on the development of the UN and its role in the post-COVID era.

The UN must stand firm for justice, uphold the rule of law, promote cooperation and focus on real action, said Xi while addressing the UN high-level meeting via video.

"To put into practice the principle of multilateralism, we must act, not just talk," said Xi, stressing that the UN must focus on real action.

Lauding the UN's role in 75 years, Xi said the 75 years has seen dramatic progress in human society and profound changes in the international situation, and has been a period of rapid development of multilateralism.

Chinese President Xi Jinping addresses a high-level meeting to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the United Nations via video on Sept. 21, 2020. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa called on all countries to support the UN to "resolve our global challenges -- be they health emergencies, transnational crime, conflict and war, climate change, migration or natural disasters."

"It is only through multilateralism that common strategies can be forged for the benefit of all," Ramaphosa said in his weekly presidential address on Monday.

"A global problem requires global solutions, so only through multilateralism, international cooperation and global governance, can we mitigate the serious consequences of this pandemic and thus build a better planet," Colombian President Ivan Duque told the high-level meeting.

"Amid these difficult times, we send a message of solidarity to all nations that continue to tackle the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic with so much effort ... Today more than ever, we are all united in the face of the unprecedented challenge before us," he added.

Volkan Bozkir (rear L), president of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), addresses a high-level meeting to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the UN at the UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 21, 2020. (Eskinder Debebe/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)

"Multilateralism is not an option but a necessity as we build back better and greener for a more equal, more resilient and more sustainable world," Volkan Bozkir, president of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly, said in his opening remarks at the meeting.

The organization's work is more crucial than ever, especially in the context of the threats posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and support from the member states is an indispensable part, according to the president of the assembly.

"The United Nations must be at the center of our efforts," Bozkir said.

"We must support the United Nations to evolve into more agile, effective, and accountable organization, so it is fit for purpose and can deliver the future we want," he said.

European Council President Charles Michel (on screen) addresses a high-level meeting to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the United Nations at the UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 21, 2020. (Manuel Elias/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)

European Council President Charles Michel said Monday that this world needs multilateralism and a strong and effective UN for all people across the world.

"It is with solemnity that today I renew the vow of multilateralism on behalf of the European Union," Michel said at the high-level meeting.

Since the signing of the UN Charter, each time that cooperation, exchange and tolerance have been put into practice, the conditions of life have improved, he said. "Whereas division, isolation, discrimination and injustice have always been synonyms of regression, conflict and, sooner or later, war." 
In the first half of September, Vietnam exported US$12.6 billion worth of goods, thereby bringing the total revenue from the beginning of the year to September 15 to approximately US$188 billion, while recording total import revenue of US$173.5 billion.

In the first 15 days of this month alone there were 4 groups of export goods recording a revenue of over US$1 billion.

Phones and components posted revenue of nearly US$2.33 billion, bringing the total revenue from the beginning of the year to US$33.9 billion.

The remaining billion dollars groups are: computers, electronic products and components (nearly US$2.2 billion); textiles and garments (nearly US$1.37 billion); and machines, equipment and tools and spare parts (nearly US$1.22 billion).

Notably, as the European Union - Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) took effect in August, export revenue to this market reached US$3.78 billion, higher than the average of the previous seven months (US$3.2 billion per month).
Longtime couple Leslie Mann and husband Judd Apatow are pictured in New York City on Sunday.

The duo - have been married for 23 years - bundled up against the fall chill as they headed to lunch to meet with their 22-year-old daughter Maude and her boyfriend.

Maude was spotted putting on an affectionate display with her British talent manager boyfriend Charlie Christie, who she's been dating since April 2018.

Longtime loves: Leslie Mann is pictured walking with husband of 23 years Judd Apatow in NYC on Sunday

Actress Leslie and Judd have been married since 1997 and also have a younger daughter, Iris, 17, who is also an actress like Maude, known for her role in Netflix series Love.

For the casual outing Leslie, 48, wore a Moncler puffer jacket with jeans and sneakers.

Her movie director spouse wore a zip-up jacket and jeans.

Cute couple: Maude, 22, was spotted putting on an affectionate display with her British talent manager boyfriend Charlie Christie, who she's been dating since April 2018

Leslie has acted in multiple of Judd's projects including movies like The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up and This Is 40.

However, she was not featured in Judd's latest film The King Of Staten Island starring Pete Davidson which Maude had a role in.

Next year Leslie will be seen as leading lady Elvira in a film adaptation of Noel Coward's beloved darkly comic play Blithe Spirit.

Meanwhile, Maude's acting career is going from strength to strength.

Sunday outing: The two couple's met for lunch in New York sitting out on a sidewalk patio

She stars in Euphoria with a supporting role as the friend of series lead Zendaya's character and the younger sister of Sydney Sweeney's Cassie, a sexually adventurous girl who's bullied by her fellow students.

Filming for the second season was scheduled to begin in March, but was put on hold indefinitely following the coronavirus pandemic.

HBO and the production company A24 haven't yet released a new start date yet.
The Labour bill would provide access to sick pay for everyone who has to take days off due to a positive or suspected case of Covid-19.

However, the Government wants to take six months to consider the implication that statutory sick pay would have for businesses.

Labour leader Alan Kelly described the decision as frankly stupid: I heard from the response from your Cabinet meeting today that youre proposing a six month review of the bill were bringing in tomorrow in relation to sick pay and parental leave.

Thats frankly stupid. This is a Covid measure. Six months, I mean is this a laugh.

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The Dail was due to debate the bill that would entitle all employees to sick pay tomorrow. The bill also allows for leave for parents whose children have to stay home due to Covid-19.

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Mr Kelly said the bill would provide important protection for workers: We believe that the lack of sick pay, where were one of only five countries in the EU, is a real issue as regards people in... precarious employment whereby they have faced with an uneviable option  if they dont go to work, they dont get paid.

It comes as trade unions have said that private sector employers are "underpaying" their workers as there is no legal right to sick pay in the country.

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has said it is time for legislation to guarantee minimum sick pay terms.

Earlier this month, Meat Industry Ireland said the matter was off the table in talks with unions on Covid-19 safety, after outbreaks in its members' plants.
Posted on September 22, 2020

We are collaborating with FactCheck.org, a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania, in an effort to identify misinformation and to ensure news consumers get the facts. This story first appeared on FactCheck.org.

At a rally in Fayetteville, North Carolina, President Donald Trump falsely claimed that a Pennsylvania court had permitted election officials to take as long as they want to count mail-in ballots.

In fact, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court had ruled that the ballots mailed by Election Day (or presumed to have been mailed by Election Day) could be counted if they arrived by 5 p.m. on Nov. 6, three days after Election Day.

The case focused on the deadline for accepting ballots, not how long the count would take. In fact, the court said in its decision, We observe that this extension provides more time for the delivery of ballots while also not requiring alteration of the subsequent canvassing and reporting dates necessary for the Secretarys final reporting of the election results.

Trump, Sept. 19: You saw what happened in Pennsylvania. Some state Supreme Court justice just ruled that they can take as long as they want to count the ballots. That means Ill be leading and winning Pennsylvania like we did last time. Yeah, yeah. Well be leading, well be winning Pennsylvania. Were going to win it easy.

Heres the background:

On Oct. 31, 2019, Gov. Tom Wolf signed legislation allowing Pennsylvanians for the first time to vote by mail without a specific reason. The law specified that the ballots must be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day in order to be counted, regardless of when they were postmarked. (See Voting by Mail in the Swing States.)

In August, expressing concerns that the U.S. Postal Service wouldnt be able to deliver the ballots on time, the Wolf administration asked the state Supreme Court to extend the time for accepting the ballots by three days as long as they were postmarked by 8 p.m. Nov. 3, Election Day. The administration cited a letter from U.S. Postal Service General Counsel Thomas Moore warning that the states deadlines were too tight to guarantee delivery of all the ballots.

In the states June primary, tens of thousands of mail-in ballots arrived after the deadline. Wolf extended the deadline in some counties so that ballots there could be counted.

Mail-in voting in the general election is expected to be high in Pennsylvania and across the country in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Pennsylvania Secretary of the Commonwealth Kathy Boockvar said she expects as many as half of the states voters to vote by mail in November.

Republicans opposed extending the deadline.

On Sept. 17, the state Supreme Court extended the deadline for accepting ballots with the proper postmark until Nov. 6 at 5 p.m. The justices also said that ballots received within this period that lack a postmark or other proof of mailing, or for which the postmark or other proof of mailing is illegible, will be presumed to have been mailed by Election Day unless a preponderance of the evidence demonstrates that it was mailed after Election Day.

The opinion pointed out that Pennsylvania would be accepting military and overseas ballots for seven days after the election. (It will finishing counting them Nov. 11.) The court said, We conclude that this extension of the received-by deadline protects voters rights while being least at variance with Pennsylvanias permanent election calendar, which we respect and do not alter lightly, even temporarily.

Counting the ballots begins at 7 a.m. on Election Day.

Trump was also wrong when he attributed the decision to some state Supreme Court justice. The extension was granted in a 4-3 ruling by the entire court.

Pennsylvania is an important swing state. Trump narrowly won the Keystone State in 2016, and its 20 electoral votes were crucial for his victory. It was the first time since 1988 that a Republican presidential nominee won the state.

Thus far in the campaign Democrat Joe Biden is leading in the state, according to the polls. But the race is fairly close. The most recent average of polls from Real Clear Politics shows Biden ahead by four points, 48.7% to 44.7%.

The state Supreme Court made a couple of other decisions on Sept. 17 also considered helpful to the Democrats. The court ruled that the Green Party hadnt followed proper procedures and so its presidential candidate, Howie Hawkins, could not appear on the ballot. And it rejected the Trump campaigns effort to prohibit the use of ballot drop boxes.

Trump has made his opposition to mail-in voting a major theme in his campaign. About a quarter of ballots cast in the 2018 general election nationwide were by mail, according to the Election Assistance Commission. And mail-in voting soared during this years primaries as the nation struggled with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Trump has complained that because of mail-in voting, results may not be known on election night. You wont know the election result for weeks, months, maybe years after, he said at the White House on July 31. Maybe youll never know the election result, and thats what Im concerned with.

The president has drawn a distinction between absentee voting, which he says is good, and mail-in voting. But as we have reported, its a distinction without a difference. Voting experts have told us verification is the same for both, and many states consider them the same thing.

As we have written, there is no evidence to support the claim that mailed ballots are corrupt. Voting experts say the president is exaggerating when he says mail ballots are fraudulent in many cases. While the instances of voter fraud via mail-in or absentee ballots are more common than in-person voting fraud, the number of known cases is relatively rare.

That said, mail-in ballots are not without problems. Ballots have been rejected because they arrive late, because voters forget to sign them or other errors. Because of a massive increase of mail-in voting, two congressional races in New York City remained undecided nearly six weeks after voters went to the polls.




With the senator for Utah, Mitt Romney, announcing he will vote to confirm Donald Trumps nomination to the Supreme Court based on their qualifications, Republicans have secured enough votes to advance the presidents pick.

My decision regarding a Supreme Court nomination is not the result of a subjective test of fairness which, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. It is based on the immediate fairness of following the law, which in this case is the constitution and precedent, Mr Romney said in a statement on Tuesday.

The historical precedent of election year nominations is that the Senate generally does not confirm an opposing partys nominee but does confirm a nominee of its own, he said.

I intend to follow the constitution and precedent in considering the presidents nominee. If the nominee reaches the Senate floor, I intend to vote based upon their qualifications.

While Mr Romney did not commit to rubber-stamping Mr Trumps selection to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the fact that he is willing to vote on a nominee in an election year is a blow to Democrats who are hoping to block the presidents nominee as when the Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, blocked Barack Obamas nomination of Merrick Garland to the court in 2016.

Mr McConnell has not officially announced a timeline for the confirmation process, but he has said there is plenty of time to hold a confirmation vote by the elections on 3 November.

We're going to keep our word once again  we're going to vote on this nomination on this floor, the Kentucky Republican, who is also up for re-election this year, said on Tuesday.

At a campaign rally near Toledo, Ohio, on Monday, Mr Trump reaffirmed his commitment to nominating a woman to the Supreme Court. He will make his selection probably on Saturday, after all funeral ceremonies for Justice Ginsburg have concluded.

In a Fox News interview on Monday evening, the presidents close ally Lindsey Graham said Senate Republicans would confirm that pick before the 2020 election.

The leading candidates are reportedly federal appeals court judges Amy Coney Barrett of the seventh circuit and Barbara Lagoa of the 11th circuit, although the official shortlist includes three other female judges.

The president met with Ms Barrett at the White House on Monday afternoon before boarding Air Force One for Ohio.

She's one of the people that's very respected, but they're all respected, Mr Trump told reporters, when asked about Ms Barrett. She is certainly one of the candidates, yes.

Senate Democrats had been holding out hope that Mr Romney and one other Republican would join GOP Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska in blocking Mr Trumps nominee to replace Justice Ginsburg.

Scores of Republicans have backtracked on their position from 2016 that election years are not a time in which to select Supreme Court justices.

Mr McConnell has now said that Mr Obama was asking for an unusual favour in 2016 for a GOP-controlled Senate to confirm an opposite-party presidents nominee seven months away from a presidential election.

The difference now, less than seven weeks before the 2020 election, is that Republicans control both the White House and the Senate, Mr McConnell said.

The Republicans argument for blocking Mr Garland in 2016 does not square with their decision to move forward with Mr Trumps nominee this year, the Senate minority leader, Chuck Schumer, has said.

Leader McConnell has defiled the Senate like no one in this generation, and [he] may very well destroy it, the New York Democrat said on Tuesday.

If leader McConnell presses forward, the Republican majority will have stolen two Supreme Court seats four years apart, using completely contradictory, rash analysis, he said.
LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / September 22, 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 presents what safety and anti-theft devices will help drivers get better car insurance rates.

Installing certain modifications to their cars will allow drivers to ask for discounts and obtain better rates. Insurance companies will allow drivers to install certain devices and systems, as long as they lower the chances of being involved in accidents or having the car stolen. Drivers can install the following:

SAFETY DEVICES:

Adaptive cruise control. By utilizing sensors and radars, this safety device will monitor the traffic around the car and will try to maintain a safe distance from the car upfront by automatically braking if when the vehicles get too close.

Rearview cameras. A camera that displays a live video feed of the view from the back of a car for the driver to use when backing out or parking.

Blindspot warnings. Sensors monitor the lanes in the left and right of the car, and when they detect a vehicle is in a blind spot, they will issue a visual, or audio warning.

Airbags. Frontal airbags are mandatory since 1999. Additional types of airbags like full-front seat airbags, side airbags can lower the insurance cost.

Automatic emergency braking. Often paired with the adaptive cruise control system, this safety device will begin to automatically brake if they sense a potential collision.

ANTI-THEFT DEVICES

Satellite tracking systems. Small devices that are hidden inside the vehicle, and are capable of emitting signals in order to track their location. Past reports show that 90% of the vehicles that were stolen and had GPS tracking systems installed, were eventually recovered by the authorities.

Steering wheel lock. They are simple to install and quite effective. Place this device over the steering wheel and lock it.

Ignition kill switch. This device will disable the ignition switch and prevent the car from starting. This system is cheap and can be installed in hidden places.

Car alarm. This alarm will emit a strong beeping sound when someone tries to open the car without the right key, or they smash the car's windows.

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.

"Investing in anti-theft and safety devices will be rewarded by insurance companies", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company.

CONTACT:

Company Name: Internet Marketing Company

Person for contact Name: Daniel 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/607209/Safety-And-Anti-Theft-Devices-That-Will-Help-Drivers-Get-Cheaper-Car-Insurance




Its important for residents to know we agree with them, Braun said. Were not going to stop trying. We are using every resource available, but at the end of the day, we have to get IDOTs support for a traffic signal and theres a procedure for doing that. We believe we are following that based on the studies we are performing and getting the support from legislators and residents.
Prince Edward Island has now issued 1,583 invitations to Express Entry and Labour Impact candidates over the last 12 months.

P.E.I. issues record-breaking number of invitations in latest draw Prince Edward Island has now issued 1,583 invitations to Express Entry and Labour Impact candidates over the last 12 months.

P.E.I. issues record-breaking number of invitations in latest draw Prince Edward Island has now issued 1,583 invitations to Express Entry and Labour Impact candidates over the last 12 months.

P.E.I. issues record-breaking number of invitations in latest draw Prince Edward Island has now issued 1,583 invitations to Express Entry and Labour Impact candidates over the last 12 months. Alexandra Miekus Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif

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The province of Prince Edward Island has invited 345 economic immigration candidates to apply for a provincial nomination in a draw held September 17.

After issuing the largest number invitations to Express Entry and Labour Impact candidates on August 20, the Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP) distributed yet another record-breaking number of 345 invitations to candidates in all streams on September 17.

A total of 313 candidates in Prince Edward Island (PEI)s Express Entry and Labour Impact categories received invitations in the latest draw.

PEIs provincial nominee program, the PEI PNP, did not disclose specifically how many Express Entry candidates were invited to apply.

Another 32 entrepreneur candidates were invited through PEIs Business Impact: Work Permit Stream.

The PEI PNP is a component of Canadas Provincial Nominee Program, which allows participating provinces and territories to nominate a set number of economic immigration candidates for permanent residence each year.

The PEI PNP has an Express Entry category that is aligned with the federal Express Entry system, which manages the pool of candidates for three of Canadas main economic immigration categories  the Federal Skilled Worker Class, Federal Skilled Trades Class and Canadian Experience Class.

Find out if you are eligible for Canadian immigration

PEI Express Entry Category

The PEI PNPs Express Entry Category is aligned with the Canadian governments Express Entry system.

Eligible candidates are given a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score for their age, work experience, education, and language proficiency in English and French.

Express Entry candidates who receive a provincial nomination are given an additional 600 points toward their CRS score, and are effectively guaranteed an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence in a subsequent Express Entry draw.

In order to be considered for a provincial nomination from PEI, Express Entry candidates need to create an EOI profile with the PEI PNP.

EOI profiles are given points based on the provinces unique points grid. The highest-scoring candidates are then invited to apply through monthly draws.

The PEI PNP did not provide a breakdown of how many Express Entry and Labour Impact candidates were invited, nor the minimum EOI score required for each category.

Labour Impact Category

The Labour Impact Category is for foreign nationals who have a valid job offer in PEI, and have support from their employer. It is divided into three streams: Skilled Worker, Critical Worker, and International Graduate.

Candidates in this category must also submit an EOI profile in order to be considered for a provincial nomination through the Labour Impact Category.

Business Impact Category

The 32 candidates who were invited through the Business Impact Category on September 17 needed a minimum EOI score of 102. These invitations were issued under the Work Permit Stream, which is for foreign entrepreneurs who wish to own and operate a business in PEI.

Find out if you are eligible for Canadian immigration

 2020 CIC News All Rights Reserved
Forecasts released for 2020 grain, legumes harvest

18:00, 22.09.20 647

The ministry no longer plans to revise its forecast for this year's harvest.
The world is closing in on a grim milestone of one million deaths from COVID-19 since the onset of the pandemic. The United States, with only 4.25 percent of the worlds population, accounts for nearly one-fifth of the deaths worldwide, or 200,000 people.

The reopening of schools is now a focal point of both the efforts by the ruling elites to abandon the most basic precautions against the spread of the virus and the growing resistance of workers and youth throughout the world.

In the United States, public health experts are warning of an apocalyptic fall, in large measure because of the opening of schools and colleges. In a deliberate effort to conceal this danger, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Monday retracted passages from guidelines it had released just a few days prior that acknowledged COVID-19 is mainly transmitted through airborne particles. The retracted information included the following warning: In general, indoor environments without good ventilation increase this risk.

On Monday, 90,000 pre-K and special education students returned to classrooms in New York City, the nations largest school district. After a series of protests by teachers and parents last week, including at poorly ventilated schools, Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio delayed full resumption of in-person learning for hundreds of thousands of students until September 29, one week from today.

A teacher reaches her hand out to Pedro Garcia, 4, as he arrives for the first day of school at the Mosaic Pre-K Center in Queens, Monday, Sept. 21, 2020 in New York. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

The reopening of the schools across the country has already led to tragedy, including the deaths of at least three teachers reported last week alone. Colleges and universities have also been hotspots, with at least 90,000 infections over the last few weeks. While this policy has been spearheaded by the Trump administration, it has been backed and implemented by Democrats who run state governments and the largest urban school districts.

In Brazil, which has the worlds second highest number of COVID-19 deaths, with over 137,000 dead, the fascistic President Jair Bolsonaro has denounced educators who struck and protested against unsafe conditions as an an extreme left minority who do not want to work. His ostensible political opponents in the Brazilian Social Democratic Party (PSDB) plan to resume face-to-face instruction in Sao Paulo, the largest school district in the Americas, with two million students, by October 7.

Across Europe, schools are reopening despite a resurgence of infections and death. A poll released in Britain Monday revealed that 82 percent of schools have been forced to send students home to self-isolate because they cannot get a test for the virus. Prime Minister Boris Johnson remains emphatic about keeping schools open no matter what the cost, even as new cases are expected to rise to more than 50,000 a day within the next several weeks.

In France, the education ministry announced Sunday that classes in preschool and primary schools will continue to be held as usual even if a classmate tests positive for COVID-19. In Germany, teachers and childcare workers are charging that government officials are deliberately concealing the outbreak of infections.

In South Africa, which ranks ninth on the list of total confirmed cases, the African National Congress is moving ahead with school openings this week after a delay due to a spike in infections.

What is motivating this global war against students, teachers and other educators?

Whether they admit it or not, capitalist governments around the world have adopted the policy of herd immunity, that is, allowing the virus to spread without restraint. Even conservative estimates say this policy will lead to more than 23 million deaths globally in the coming years.

The US and many other leading capitalist countries took their lead from Sweden, whose government officials knew that schools would become superspreaders, but deliberately kept them open. As Swedens chief epidemiologist Anders Tegnell wrote last March, they did so in order to reach herd immunity more quickly.

Governments in the US, France, the UK and other countries pointed to Swedish officials claims that keeping the schools open had not appreciably impacted the spread of the virus. But authorities in Sweden, which has one of the highest COVID death rates, have since admitted that they did not track infections among school children. And even larger outbreaks, which caused schools to close, were not counted in the official case totals.

The back-to-school campaign is driven not by public health concerns, let alone the needs of children, but by the interests of the ruling class. After handing over trillions of dollars to prop up the banks and major corporations, governments are sending children back to school so their parents can resume producing the profits needed to finance this mountain of debt.

The growing realization that governments around the world are deliberately infecting children and teachers with the deadly virus is provoking immense anger and opposition among educators, with hundreds of protests around the world against the reopening of schools and colleges.

On August 5, the Socialist Equality Party (US) issued a statement calling for the formation of rank-and-file committees to prepare for a nationwide strike to stop this homicidal policy. The measures demanded by teachers, the SEP wrote, correspond to what scientists and epidemiologists insist is necessary to stop the spread of the pandemic. Two absolutely opposed social interests are involved. Teachers are fighting for life. The ruling class is fighting for profits and death.

Since this call to action, a global network of Educator Rank-and-File Safety Committees has begun to emerge. Committees have already been formed throughout the US, including in the two largest school districts in the country, New York City and Los Angeles. Committees have been formed in Michigan, Texas, and Florida. Similar committees have been launched in Germany, the UK, and Australia.

These committees are independent of the corporate-controlled trade unions, which have worked to suppress opposition to the opening of the schools. The demands of the safety committees are based not on the interests of the capitalist class, which has enriched itself while a million people around the world have died, but what is necessary to protect the lives and well-being of children, educators and the entire working class.

In waging this struggle, the rank-and-file committees have adopted the demand for the immediate closure of all public, private and charter schools; full income protection to all parents and caregivers who stay home with their children; and for the trillions of dollars handed over to the rich to be redistributed to provide full funding for public education, online instruction, high-speed internet, food security, mental health care, special education support and all other resources needed to provide the best quality remote learning.

The rights of the working class, including the right to health, safety and life, depend upon the international coordination of its struggles and the development of a powerful socialist movement, whose aim is the expropriation of the ruling class and the reorganization of economic life on the basis of social need, not private profit.

The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) and its youth and student wing, the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE), are at the forefront of the fight to mobilize the working class in a revolutionary struggle against the source of all suffering wrought by the pandemic: the capitalist system.

We urge youth, educators and all other workers to join the fight for life and the working class, which is the fight for socialism.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued new guidance for school communities to consider when reopening or closing schools amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak -- including a five-tiered color-coded risk scale that shows indicators and thresholds for the risk of COVID-19 in schools.

The scale is expected to help local health officials, school administrators and communities prepare, plan and respond to COVID-19 as it continues to evolve.

To make decisions about operational conditions, like beginning, continuing, or pausing in-person learning, schools in cooperation with local health departments must be able to monitor the local spread of COVID-19 and assess their own ability to implement prevention and mitigation strategies for students, teachers, and staff, stated the CDC.

The five-tiered color-coded scale transitions from green, the lowest risk of COVID-19 transmission, to red, the highest level -- based on different indicators.

The CDC recommends the use of three core indicators when it comes to reopening schools.

That includes two measures of community spread -- the number of new cases per 100,000 people in the past 14 days, and the percentage of diagnostic COVID-19 tests that are positive in the past 14 days -- and one self-assessed measure of a schools implementation of key mitigation strategies to the greatest extent.

Those strategies include consistent and correct mask usage, social distancing, hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette, cleaning and disinfection, and contact tracing in collaboration with the local health department.

Secondary indicators include the percentage of hospital beds and intensive care unit beds occupied in local hospitals, and the number of in-patient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients -- which can indicate severity of illness in a community.

The core and secondary indicators, the CDC stated, reflect the mutually dependent relationship between schools and their community. The scale is meant to assist school districts and communities rather than establish regulatory requirements.

The guidance comes as states and cities across the country began the 2020-2021 school year -- some in-person and others fully remote. While the CDC said states and school districts have asked the agency how to determine when its safe to reopen schools for in-person learning, the CDC said there is no easy answer or single indicator.

Many variables must be considered, the CDC stated.

You can view the color-coded scale below.

The CDC shared core indicators that schools should consider when reopening from green, the lowest risk of transmission, to red, the highest risk. (Courtesy/CDC)

NYC RETURNS TO SCHOOL

Some New York City public school students returned for in-person learning on Monday, as part of the citys phased-in reopening of school buildings for the 2020-2021 school year. Catholic school students returned to campus earlier this month.

Across New York City, students are returning to school buildings part-time under a blended learning model, or they will learn at home remotely full-time for the 2020-2021 academic year. Those participating in the blended learning model will go to school two to three days a week and learning remotely on the other days.

And there will be an abundance of safety protocols and procedures in place to curb the spread of the coronavirus while kids are learning in-person, including faces masks and social distancing.

Heres how to check the number of coronavirus cases in each school on Staten Island.

If new coronavirus cases surpass the 3% threshold using a seven-day rolling average, all schools in New York City will need to close.

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FOLLOW ANNALISE KNUDSON ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.
The Inglewood Oil Field is home to nearly 1,000 wells. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

A national environmental organization on Monday threatened to sue Gov. Gavin Newsom to halt all new permits for gas and oil wells in the state, saying the governor has failed to protect Californians and the environment from hazards and pollutants released by the state's billion-dollar petroleum industry.

In a letter sent to Newsom on Monday, the Center for Biological Diversity accused his administration of being friendly to California's oil industry and issuing new permits without proper environmental reviews. The organization plans to take legal action unless the Democratic governor "promptly direct[s] your regulators to halt permitting."

"We urge you to direct your regulators to immediately stop issuing the illegal permits, hold the oil industry accountable for its damage and stop allowing oil companies to profit from their oil spills," attorneys Kassie Siegel and Hollin Kretzmann told Newsom in the letter.

An official with the state Department of Natural Resources, which oversees that agency that regulates oils and gas wells  California Geologic Energy Management Division, known as CalGEM  disputed the assertion that any permits were issued improperly, saying the state has abided by all laws and court decisions regulating the process.

"CalGEM is not illegally issuing permits or violating CEQA. It follows all state laws and regulations in approving permits," department spokeswoman Lisa Lien-Mager said in an email Monday. "This administration has strengthened oversight, imposed more rigorous standards for permit review and institutionalized independent scientific and technical review of its processes. California standards exceed those of any other state in the country."

Newsom during his first year in office vowed to protect Californians against the hazards of oil and gas production, but environmental groups have grown increasingly frustrated with what they consider a lack of consequential action.

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Siegel and other environmental advocates also criticized Newsom for allowing the California Geologic Energy Management Division, known as CalGEM, to issue close to 50 new hydraulic fracturing permits to Chevron and Aera Energy, a partnership of Shell Oil and ExxonMobil, since April.

The permits were issued after a November announcement by Newsom that he would temporarily block new hydraulic fracturing permits until those projects could be reviewed by an independent panel of scientists at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

State Oil and Gas Supervisor Uduak-Joe Ntuk said in August that the permits that were granted underwent independent environmental review, and that six permits had been denied and more permits were still pending review by the panel.

Environmental groups, however, called the review inadequate. They also noted that adverse health impacts from the oil industry were disproportionally felt in Black and Latino communities.

A recent study by researchers at UC Berkeley, published by the National Institutes of Health, found that living near oil and gas wells caused significant adverse health effects to pregnant mothers and newborn babies.

"We have waited and waited and waited. They've said they're going to take action, they've asked people to be patient. But it seems that what they've done with that time is come up with new ways to serve the oil industry," Siegel said Monday. "When we see a flood of illegal permits continued despite the damage, it's time to get tough."

The letter to Newsom also cited a recent story by the Desert Sun and ProPublica showing that oil companies in California have made millions by selling the oil extracted from their own spills.

Legislation to put in place minimum setback distances between the wells and residential areas, along with public places such as schools and playgrounds, failed to pass in the state Senate  in large part because of opposition from the petroleum industry and trade unions, according to the bill's author, Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi (D-Rolling Hills Estates).

Muratsuchis proposal would have required the state Department of Conservation to adopt mandatory setbacks  and, specifically, to at least consider setbacks of 2,500 feet from schools, playgrounds and other facilities where children are present.

The Newsom administration, however, is currently considering new regulations that could include those setbacks. Officials with the Department of Conservation have been holding public hearings in person and online throughout the year on proposed public health and safety protections for communities near oil and gas operations.

Lien-Mager said the drafting of the regulations to protect public health are being "guided by science, data and sound engineering practices."

On Wednesday, Newsom called for a ban on fracking in a news conference at which he unveiled a goal to require all new car sales to be zero-emission vehicles by 2035, but again frustrated some environment groups who faulted him for not doing more to restrict fossil fuel production.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
(Natural News) Appearing during a recent episode of Tucker Carlson Tonight on Fox News, Chinese scientist Dr. Li-Meng Yan made the claim that the communist Chinese regime is directly responsible for unleashing and spreading the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19).

Reiterating what she has been saying in other forums, Dr. Li-Meng explained how the Frankenstein virus was intentionally developed through genetic engineering to make such harm in the world.

The bombshell interview, which is gaining plenty of media attention, furthers the narrative that the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) is anything but a random occurrence in bats. Instead, it represents the essence of a man-made plandemic intended to cause global pandemonium and chaos.

According to Dr. Li-Meng, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has been trying to silence her message, which implicates the regime in basically unleashing a bioweapon. She says her confession is being suppressed and made to disappear, though she has found numerous forums, including at Fox News, to spread it.

Almost immediately after releasing a report suggesting that SARS-CoV-2, as the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) is also called, was man-made, Dr. Li-Mengs Twitter account, which had 60,000 followers, was suspended. She has also been silenced by the left-wing media, which is completely ignoring her claims.

This is created in the lab, this is from, technically owned by China military and also it is spread to the world to make such damage, Dr. Li-Meng, who fled Hong Kong back in April for her own safety, told Carlson.

Do you believe the Chinese government released this intentionally, on purpose? Carlson further asked.

Yes, of course its intentionally, Dr. Li-Meng responded.

More related news about the China Virus, as President Trump is calling it, can be found at Pandemic.news.

Dr. Li-Meng worked in top coronavirus lab where designer viruses are made

Dr. Li-Mengs background includes her work as a virologist in a World Health Organization (WHO)-run reference lab at the University of Hong Kong, where coronaviruses are routinely dissected and manipulated using genetic engineering.

I work[ed] in the WHO reference lab, which is the top coronavirus lab in the world, in the University of Hong Kong, she explained to Carlson. And the thing is I get deeply into such investigation in secret from the early beginning of this outbreak.

I had my intelligence because I also get my own unit network in China, involved [in] the hospital  also I work with the top corona[virus] virologists in the world, she added.

Dr. Li-Meng is convinced that she has solid scientific evidence of malfeasance concerning the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19), which she says actually is not from nature, it is a man-made virus created in the lab.

Carlson, startled by the claim, inquired further into the matter, to which Dr. Li-Meng responded that the Chinese military discovered and owned the very unique bat coronavirus which cannot affect people, but after the modification becomes the very harmful virus as now.

Dr. Li-Meng is planning to unveil even more evidence in the future towards this end, which she says will solidify her claims. This evidence will also detail precisely how the CCP developed the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) to make it both highly infectious and pernicious.

As it turns out, virus genomes have their own unique fingerprints that function like identifiers as to their true origins. And the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19), Dr. Li-Meng contends, clearly shows that it originated from the Chinese governments own special bat coronavirus that was modified for the purpose of targeting humans.

What youre alleging is even more shocking than I anticipated when we invited you on, Carlson told Dr. Li-Meng, who confirmed that big suppression from the Chinese government is the reason why the truth about the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) has taken this long to get out there.

Sources for this article include:

LifeSiteNews.com

NaturalNews.com
Principal hardware architect Nicolas Villar puts the Premonition mosquito-tracking system through its paces in a Microsoft lab. (Microsoft Photo)

Five years after starting out as an experimental project to see if advanced sensors and artificial intelligence could spot the signs of a disease outbreak before it happens, Microsoft Premonition is turning into an honest-to-goodness biothreat protection network.

Premonitions researchers aim to set up about 100 sensor stations in Texas Harris County, to track swarms of mosquitoes that could transmit diseases ranging from malaria and dengue fever to Zika and West Nile viruses. AI algorithms will analyze that tracking data for the telltale signs of an epidemic in the making, just as weather forecasting programs look for the signs of a storm on the way.

It will really be almost like a weather map, the likes of which has not really been seen before in the mosquito vector space, Ethan Jackson, senior director of Microsoft Premonition, told Geekwire.

The expansion of the Premonition program was announced today in conjunction with this weeks annual Microsoft Ignite conference for software developers.

Harris County, dominated by the city of Houston with a population of 4.7 million, was the site for Microsoft Premonitions earliest experiments. Those field tests were aimed at determining whether sensor-equipped mosquito traps could identify the particular types of mosquito that causes particular diseases  for example, Anopheles mosquitoes for malaria, Aedes mosquitoes for Zika and dengue, Culex mosquitoes for West Nile.

Microsoft researchers found that they could, based on data from optical sensors that tracked the beat of the mosquitoes wings. During 2016s field tests in Harris County, the system recorded a 90% accuracy rate for identifying the mosquitoes linked to the Zika virus. Thats no small feat, considering that there are 3,600 known species of mosquitoes, 50 of which are active in Harris County.

Since then, Jackson and his colleagues have widened the systems capabilities by bringing wild mosquitoes to a custom-built facility on Microsofts campus in Redmond, Wash., known as the Premonition Proving Ground.

Story continues

This is Microsofts first biocontainment facility, Jackson said. Its unique in its ability to allow us to import wild species, rear them up from eggs, and then digitize them in our sensors so that we can pre-train our classifiers.

Researchers can then check test their robotic traps and digitized models with real-life mosquitoes. We have a feedback loop, an agile engineering loop thats happening at Microsoft, Jackson said.

Microsoft researchers evaluate robotic designs and train artificial intelligence models to recognize different species of mosquitoes inside a biosecure Premonition Proving Ground on the Redmond campus. (Microsoft Photo)

The lab experiments helped Microsoft fine-tune Premonitions tools.

Were at a place now where were ready to go back and try these systems at scale, and see what happens when you instrument this city with these kinds of systems so youre getting 24/7 monitoring of the biome, Jackson said.

Umair Shah, executive director of Harris County Public Health, hopes the technologys impact wont be limited to mosquito-borne diseases.

This partnership will also evaluate new genomic capabilities to detect known and emerging pathogens from environmental samples, which we now know is especially important for diseases like COVID-19, he said in a Microsoft blog posting..

Being able to predict where an outbreak might blossom would help public health officials stay a step ahead  for example, by using pesticides in targeted areas to tamp down mosquito swarms, or ramping up localized strategies to catch coronavirus before it spreads.

One of Microsofts corporate partners on Premonition is Bayer, which is participating in an industry campaign to eradicate malaria by 2040. Jacqueline Applegate, president of Global Vegetable Seeds and Environmental Science at Bayer, said Microsoft Premonition will help Bayer be even more prescriptive and optimize our vector control strategies so that they have the greatest impact.

Over the past five years, Microsoft Premonitions technologies have been tested at sites ranging from the sands of the Florida Keys to the forests of Tanzania. Jackson said the follow-up experiments have shown that sensor networks can pick up a wide spectrum of information about biological interactions in ecosystems.

To explore the wider applications, Microsoft is partnering with academic researchers at Vanderbilt University, Johns Hopkins University, the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Washingtons Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. This month, the academic consortium began a $924,000 project funded by the National Science Foundation to develop predictive models of ecosystem-wide activity.

Jackson marveled at how his perspective on Premonition has progressed.

When we first started this project, we were asking, how could you understand biological threats from the perspective of a mosquito? That was the science question that drove our initial engineering, he said. Weve really evolved from that question to say theres a set of technologies that form a sensor network, and that sensor network is the thing thats missing today.

After five years, Microsoft says its ready to fill in that missing piece.

More from GeekWire:
The American flag is flown at half-staff at the U.S. Capitol on Sept. 21, 2020. (Stefani Reynolds/Getty Images)

Democrats Cant Stop Senate Confirmation of Ginsburg Successor; Only Republicans Can

News Analysis

Senate Democrats have virtually no chance of stopping Republicans in the chamber from confirming a sixth conservative justice on the nations highest court before the Nov. 3 election, Senate experts on both sides of the aisle tell The Epoch Times.

There are parliamentary delaying tactics that will slow things temporarily such as quorum calls and repeatedly demanding time-consuming on-the-record votes, but most of the advantages are with the 53 Republicans who control the Senate, as long as they stay united.

Plus, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is considered a master of Senate procedures, a fact that has often frustrated the Senates 45 Democrats and two independents who typically vote with them.

The fact is that for just about everything the Democrats can dream up, McConnells got a response, Democratic strategist Jim Manley told The Epoch Times on Sept. 21.

Manley, the former communications director for then-Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), said he initially thought keeping enough Democrats off the Senate floor to prevent a quorum could work.

The Constitution requires 51 senators to be present to have a quorum to conduct official business, but as a practical matter, a quorum is routinely assumed present. Any individual senator can demand a quorum call, which stops official business until the necessary 51 senators are on the floor.

I tweeted that last night, based on the advice of one person who I trust, but another person who I trust even more is now weighing in, saying its not viable, Manley said.

Manley, who also advised Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) and then-Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell (D-Maine) on media relations, is an influential voice among Democratic strategists, especially on major issues such as Supreme Court nominations.

Brian Darling, founder of Liberty Government Affairs and former senior counsel to Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), told The Epoch Times that Democrats could use the quorum denial approach but only as a delaying tactic. Darling also handled Senate relations for the Heritage Foundation think tank for several years.

Asked what McConnell could do in response, Darling pointed to the Washington Post article, Midnight Manhunt in the Senate in 1988, which describes how then-Senate Majority Leader Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) dispatched the sergeant-at-arms and Capitol Police to arrest Sen. Robert Packwood (R-Ore.), who was then bodily carried onto the Senate floor to reach a quorum.

In that case, it was senators hiding in their offices. In this case, I think it would be more akin to what happened in Wisconsin in 2011, where senators just leave, they cant be found, Darling said, referring to Democratic state senators fleeing to Illinois to prevent the passage of a measure supported by then-Gov. Scott Walker.

Even so, Darling said, Democrats cant win, but Republicans could lose.

Its going to be a war of wills, and Republicans can win this if they keep the caucus together as much as they can, Darling said. They just need 50 votes of senators and then a tie-breaking vote from Vice President Mike Pence.

The vice president presides over the Senate but can only vote when there are ties.

Manley agreed, saying, If there was a silver bullet available to Democrats to block something like this, it would have been utilized during the Kavanaugh nomination.

Even so, David Williams, president of the Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA), predicts Democrats will wail and complain until the last vote is counted.

Expect vitriol and chaos during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearings as the Democrats do whatever they can do to score political points. The hearings are sure to be less about substance and more about political grandstanding and posturing, Williams told The Epoch Times.

Similarly, Matt Mackowiak, a GOP campaign strategist and former aide to two Senate Republicans, said he expects Democrats will try the Kavanaugh playbook and issue threats, all while complaining and throwing a temper tantrum. It wont work.

They lost credibility during the Kavanaugh spectacle.

Votes Lining Up

And Jimmy Williams, a South Carolina-based Democratic strategist and former senior economics counsel to then-Senate Majority Whip Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), told The Epoch Times: Senate Democrats cannot stop the nomination  The only thing Democrats can do is hope four Republicans tell McConnell they will vote no.

Democratic hopes are fading, however, despite optimism over the weekend fueled by Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) both saying they think the Senate should delay consideration of a Ginsburg successor until after the November election.

On Sept. 19, Collins issued a statement, saying, in fairness to the American people, who will either be re-electing the President or selecting a new one, the decision on a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court should be made by the President who is elected on November 3rd.

On Sept. 20, Murkowski announced that for weeks, I have stated that I would not support taking up a potential Supreme Court vacancy this close to the election. Sadly, what was then a hypothetical is now our reality, but my position has not changed.

With those two Republican senators joining Democrats, only two other Republicans would be needed, with Mitt Romney of Utah and Cory Gardner of Colorado considered likely candidates.

But on Sept. 21, Gardner said he would support moving forward in the Senate, and on Sept. 22, Romney said he also would back holding the vote on a Ginsburg replacement.

Barring something unforeseen, the numbers now strongly favor McConnell, with the key vote coming before the election and with 51 Republicans voting for cloture to move to a final debate and decision on the nominee.

That leaves Democrats with only the faintest of hopes that Gardner and Romney might change their minds when the final vote must be cast, leading to a 5149 defeat for the nominee.

Colorado Democrats, though, arent likely to reward Gardner for changing sides in a reelection effort in which he has trailed former Gov. John Hickenlooper for much of the race.

And Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) President Grover Norquist doubts Romney would switch, either.

To stop a good justice would be an unforgivable act. He could never explain it as anything other than pique, Norquist told The Epoch Times.

Contact Mark Tapscott at Mark.Tapscott@epochtimes.nyc
Cape Town, Sep 22 : The Unicef on Tuesday called on governments, parents, and teachers across Eastern and Southern Africa to urgently and safely re-open schools.

Across this region, of the nearly 65 million children remaining out of school, around one in two do not have any form of learning, while millions of children continue to miss what was their one nutritious meal of the day, Xinhua news agency quoted the Unicef as saying.

"Seven months into the pandemic, we must be very clear about the gravity of this crisis: we are at risk of losing a generation," said Mohamed Malick Fall, Regional Director for Unicef in Eastern and Southern Africa.

"We see lost learning, rising violence, rising child labour, forced child marriages, teen pregnancies, and diminished nutrition." A generation of children is at risk, and at the most critical time in the continent's history, Fall lamented.

As the region is experiencing unprecedented population growth, it's important that this expanded workforce can receive quality learning at school so as to ensure that the potential for increased production could sustain an economic boom to drastically reduce poverty in Africa - where currently 70 per cent of sub-Saharan Africa's people live on less than $2 a day, Fall said.

Safely re-opening schools by the beginning of October this year will give scholars a full term and vastly reduce learning losses, he said, adding that it will also reduce losses incurred by both parents and governments.

Unicef's call to safely re-open schools follows scientific evidence which shows children are not super-spreaders of Covid-19, and are the least affected by the virus in the region, with a mere 2.5 per cent of confirmed cases attributed to kids between five to 18 years.

Most countries in Eastern and Southern Africa have seen the rationale of a phased return to schools, starting with exam classes in countries such as Botswana, Eritrea, Eswatini, Madagascar, Somalia, Zambia, and recently Malawi and Zimbabwe.

Bigger countries with larger Covid-19 caseloads and higher student populations - such as South Africa - have re-opened schools for all grades since the end of August.
Bible translator killed in clashes between Indonesia's military, separatists

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A Christian pastor and Bible translator in Indonesia's easternmost region of Papua was shot and killed in clashes between separatists and the military.

Yeremia Zanambani, the pastor of the Gospel Tabernacle Church of Indonesia (GKII) known for translating the Bible into Papua's Moni dialect, was found dead outside his home in the village of Hitadipa in Intan Jaya district on Sept. 19, UCA News reports.

The death of the 67-year-old pastor, who also ran a local high school, was confirmed by GKII church officials in Jakarta.

Reverend Zanambani was shot dead on Saturday afternoon on his way to his pigpen. This is a deep sadness. We are deeply saddened by the loss of a religious leader who served the Moni community so well, GKII said in a statement on Sept. 20.

The local military commander also confirmed Zanambanis death, claiming he been killed by a separatist group.

The ferocity of these Papuan terrorists continues in Hitadipa. Reverend Yeremia Zanambani was a victim of the group, said Col. Gusti Nyoman Suriastawa, head of Regional Command III.

However, another pastor at the church, Timotius Miagoni, told Reuters that Zanambani's wife had found her husband bleeding in the pigsty and told Miagoni he had been shot by military personnel.

Additionally, Father John Djonga, an activist priest from Jayapura Diocese in Papua, told UCA News the shooting happened amid a military operation, two days after two soldiers were killed by separatists.

Sebby Sambom, spokesman of the Free Papua Movement separatist group, corroborated the account, claiming the pastor was murdered by Indonesian security forces amid escalating tension between military personnel and separatists groups.

The Indonesian military should not make such ridiculous and groundless claims. The military, police and government should take responsibility for this murder, he said.

According to GKII, at least seven congregations in the area fled to the forest following the pastors killing and urged authorities to protect civilians.

The Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI) has urged Indonesia's president, Joko Widodo, to order a thorough investigation into the Zanambanis shooting and hold those responsible for his death accountable.

I strongly condemn the shooting that killed pastor Yeremia Zanambani, said PGI Chairman Gomar Gultom, according to The Jakarta Post.

"Papua has long been caught in bloodstained [conflict], and all the violent and military approaches don't solve any problem in Papua. Instead, they create an endless circle of violence, he added.

He further urged the president to fulfill his promises of utilizing a cultural approach instead of a violent one to address the unrest in Papua. The Papuan people and the churches in Indonesia will demand that the president stick to his word.

Tensions between the Indonesian military and separatists have been high in Papua  the poorest province in the country  since the passing of a U.N.-backed 1969 referendum called the Act of Free Choice, which formalized Indonesias control over the former Dutch colony.

Over 80% of the population in Papua identifies as Christian, contrasting the predominantly Muslim Indonesia.

Persecution watchdog International Christian Concern notes that many Papuans dont see themselves as Indonesians and are frustrated by the peripheral treatment of the Indonesian government.

Open Doors USA ranks Indonesia among the 50 countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian.
Have you made a will? And when did you last update it? Whoever you are, I strongly advise you to draft a will with a solicitor.

And then you should regularly review its contents, as both your own financial circumstances and your beneficiaries tax implications will change over time.

When drafting your will, you should consider the tax implications on an eventual inheritance by your beneficiaries. Poor succession planning can often result in the taxman becoming the third child in the family.

When preparing or reviewing your will, you should consider transfering part of your assets during your lifetime if tax reliefs are available to your beneficiaries (particularly where the transfers will not impact on your current livelihood).

For example, where agricultural assets are being willed to a beneficiary along with substantial non-agricultural assets, that beneficiary may not obtain Agricultural Relief if the Farmer Test is not met.

With Agricultural Relief, 90pc of the market value of agricultural assets gifted/inherited are not assessed to gift/inheritance tax.

The Farmer Test is not a test on the knowledge of farming. It is basically a computation whereby on the date of gift or inheritance, the beneficiarys total value of assets including the assets received must consist of at least 80pc in value relating to agricultural assets.

So the disponer (person providing the gift/inheritance) may consider transferring part or all of the agricultural assets during their lifetime when the beneficiary would meet the Farmer Test, so that the agricultural relief is applied on the first transfer.

The following example illustrates this point:

Example

John has decided to leave all his assets to his son Peter in his will. John retired from farming in 2010 (aged 60) and has let the farm on a 10-year lease agreement to a qualifying farmer.

John has also built up a substantial portfolio of investment assets.

Peter has a full-time job and has no interest in farming.

John also has a 30,000 pension which currently provides for his everyday living requirements.

Farm land: 1,000,000 (agri asset)

Farmhouse: 100,000 (agri asset, if transferred at the same time as the land)

Co-op shares: 50,000 (non-agri asset)

Cash/investment funds: 350,000 (non-agri asset)

Total: 1,500,000

Even assuming Peter has no other non-agri assets at the date of inheritance, he would still not meet the 80pc Farmer Test, due to the high value of non-agri assets also being inherited on that date:

Agri assets: 1m + 100K) = 1.1m

Total assets: 1.5m

Agri assets as % of total: 73.33%

Less than 80%  so condition for Agri Relief not met

Therefore Capital Acquisitions Tax (CAT) on inheritance (assuming no previous gifts from parents) would be:

Inheritance: 1,500,000

Tax-free lifetime threshold: (335,000)

Taxable benefit: 1,165,000

CAT @ 33%: 384,450

Given John s pension it is likely that the rental income yielded from the land letting will also accumulate, increasing the taxable cash amount available for transfer on final inheritance.

This will further reduce the percentage of agri assets to total assets.

Lifetime transfer

Re-applying the Farmer Test, Peter would meet the 80pc Agri Relief criterion on this first transfer:

Agri assets: 1m

Total assets: 1m

Agri assets make up 100% of the total

If Peter lets the property over the next six years under a lease agreement to a qualifying farmer, he should then qualify for Agricultural Relief.

And the tax computation is:

Gift: 1,000,000

Agri Relief @ 90%: (900,000)

Assessable benefit: 100,000

Tax-free lifetime threshold: (335,000)

Taxable excess: N/A

CAT @ 33%: Nil

So 900,000 (90pc) of the farm value gifted does not become a taxable benefit for the purpose of gift/inheritance tax.

There are, however, stamp duty costs arising on the above gift, which is currently 1pc (10,000).

Some or all of the rental income generated from the land thereafter by Peter should also be exempt from income tax, depending on the number of years he leases his land.

Had John continued to draw the rental income, then these monies if accumulated would also have been liable to inheritance tax on the eventual transfer to Peter.

On the eventual inheritance of the remaining non-agricultural assets the tax liability should be:

Farmhouse: 100,000 (no longer an agri asset as it is separate from the farm transfer)

Co-op shares: 50,000

Cash/ investment funds: 350,000

Total: 500,000

Remaining tax-free threshold: 235,000 (335,000-100,000)

Taxable benefit: 265,000

CAT @ 33%: 87,450

A summary of the taxes payable on an inheritance of all the assets versus a part gift/part inheritance transfer can be seen in the table:

So there can be substantial tax savings to be made by reviewing the possible lifetime transfer of assets to beneficiaries included in your will.

Points to note:

 Where a farmhouse is transferred with adjacent farm lands it may qualify for Agricultural relief. However, where the house is separated and transferred separately at a later date, then it will not qualify for Agricultural Relief at that time.

 Where property is gifted during the lifetime of the disponer, stamp duty arises on the beneficiary. However a transfer on inheritance does not give rise to a stamp duty liability.

 The small gift exemption of 3,000 has been ignored for this example.

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Brian Harty, of Harty Tax Consulting, is a chartered tax adviser based in Cloyne, Co Cork. email: info@hartytaxconsulting.ie
The Delhi government Monday asked district commissioners (DCs) to mandatorily shift any Covid-19 patient, being treated under home isolation, to institutional quarantine if the person is found violating Covid-19 protocols, said senior health officials.

Delhi government reports show that in 20 days, the number of Covid-19 patients under home isolation has increased by 133% -- from 8,119 on September 1 to 18,910 on September 20 (Sunday). Active cases in the city during the same period have increased by 102% -- from 15,870 to 32,097.

The directive was issued by special secretary (health and family welfare) Udit Prakash Rai after lieutenant-governor Anil Baijal, who is also the chairperson of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority, on Friday asked the government to explore an alternative strategy for Covid-19 control in the city, including revising the containment zone policy.

All DCs may kindly ensure that in all such cases where the home isolation criteria are not being fulfilled by the positive patients, they must be shifted to CCC/Covid Health Centre/ Covid Hospitals as per their health condition without fail starting today (Monday). There should not be any laxity shown in adherence to the protocol of home isolation, Rai said in his directive to all 11 districts in the city.

Delhi health minister Satyendar Jains office said field teams have been told to remain in frequent contact with neighbours of Covid-19 patients under home isolation to verify if these patients or families are violating protocols.

We are also deputing additional trained civil defence volunteers to conduct inspections. Those who do not want to isolate at home, to avoid putting their family members at risk, may opt for the Delhi government facilities for free. For a more premium experience, two private hospitals  Max Saket Hospital and Sir Ganga Ram Hospital  have paid quarantine facilities, the government spokesperson said.

A senior health official said nearly 2,000 homes are visited daily by field teams to check on people under home isolation. Until last week, around 10 to 20 patients were being shifted to Covid Care Centres or hospitals every day. Now, with stricter enforcement and surveillance, this number is likely to increase, the official said.

The health department clarified that each district has been specifically asked to check and ensure that only the patient who fulfils the laid down criteria for home isolation is allowed to get treated at home.

As per the protocol laid down by the Centre, which is being followed by Delhi, a Covid-19 patient under home isolation is considered discharged after 10 days of the onset of symptoms,if the person has no fever for three consecutive days. Thereafter, the patient is advised to isolate at home and self-monitor for seven more days. There is no need for testing after the home isolation period is over, but every discharged person must receive a fitness certificate from the district officials, state the guidelines issued by the Union health ministry on July 2.

In a special session of the Delhi Assembly on September 14, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal had informed the House that around 96,000 people have recovered from Covid-19 under home isolation and that only 30 deaths were reported from among such patients.

Calling Delhis home isolation strategy a model for other states, he said providing pulse oximeters to such patients was the key to its success in addition to its tele counselling initiative.

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New York, Sept. 21, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Tissue Processing Systems Market Research Report by Volume, by Product, by End User, by Distribution Mode - Global Forecast to 2025 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05942189/?utm_source=GNW



The Global Tissue Processing Systems Market is expected to grow from USD 391.56 Million in 2019 to USD 682.57 Million by the end of 2025 at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 9.70%.



Market Segmentation & Coverage:

This research report categorizes the Tissue Processing Systems to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets:



"The Medium Volume Processor is projected to witness the highest growth during the forecast period"



Based on Volume, the Tissue Processing Systems Market studied across High Volume Processor, Medium Volume Processor, and Small Volume Processor. The Small Volume Processor commanded the largest size in the Tissue Processing Systems Market in 2019. On the other hand, the Medium Volume Processor is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period.



Based on Product, the Tissue Processing Systems Market studied across Fluid Transfer Processor and Tissue Transfer Processor.



"The Pharmaceutical Company is projected to witness the highest growth during the forecast period"



Based on End User, the Tissue Processing Systems Market studied across Hospital, Pharmaceutical Company, and Research Laboratory. The Hospital commanded the largest size in the Tissue Processing Systems Market in 2019. On the other hand, the Pharmaceutical Company is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period.



"The Online is projected to witness the highest growth during the forecast period"



Based on Distribution Mode, the Tissue Processing Systems Market studied across Offline and Online. The Offline commanded the largest size in the Tissue Processing Systems Market in 2019. On the other hand, the Online is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period.



"The Asia-Pacific is projected to witness the highest growth during the forecast period"



Based on Geography, the Tissue Processing Systems Market studied across Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The Americas region surveyed across Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and United States. The Asia-Pacific region surveyed across Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, South Korea, and Thailand. The Europe, Middle East & Africa region surveyed across France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom. The Americas commanded the largest size in the Tissue Processing Systems Market in 2019. On the other hand, the Asia-Pacific is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period.



Company Usability Profiles:

The report deeply explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Tissue Processing Systems Market including Agar Scientific Ltd., Agilent Technologies, Inc., Bio-Optica Milano Spa, BioGenex Laboratories, Danaher Corporation, F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, General Data Company Inc., Jokoh Co. Ltd., Leica Biosystems Nussloch GmbH, MEDITE GmbH, Merck KGaA, Milestone Medical srl, Roche Diagnostics, Sakura Finetek Europe B.V., Siemens AG, Slee medical GmbH, and Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc..



FPNV Positioning Matrix:

The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Tissue Processing Systems Market on the basis of Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape.



Competitive Strategic Window:

The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies. The Competitive Strategic Window helps the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. During a forecast period, it defines the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth.



Cumulative Impact of COVID-19:

COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, so for and, the long-term effects projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. Our ongoing research amplifies our research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlaying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report is delivering insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecast, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market.



The report provides insights on the following pointers:

1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on the market offered by the key players

2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyzes the markets

3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments

4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players

5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and new product developments



The report answers questions such as:

1. What is the market size and forecast of the Global Tissue Processing Systems Market?

2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Tissue Processing Systems Market during the forecast period?

3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Tissue Processing Systems Market?

4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Tissue Processing Systems Market?

5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Tissue Processing Systems Market?

6. What are the modes and strategic moves considered suitable for entering the Global Tissue Processing Systems Market?

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05942189/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



__________________________
GALLUP  An Army tank crewman from New Mexico who died at Fort Hood, Texas, messaged his fiance that he was concerned about three men who didnt like him and that something was wrong shortly before his death, his family said.

The Army said Pvt. Corlton L. Chee, 25, collapsed during fitness training at Fort Hood on Aug. 28. He died two days later.

Carma Johnson, Chees cousin and his familys spokesperson, said in a phone interview with the Gallup Independent last week that Chee was being targeted and did not want to go to the fitness training that morning because he felt that something was going to happen.

It was the last time the family heard from Chee, Johnson said. Authorities informed his family that night that he was in the hospital in critical condition.

Johnson said Chees body was found with bruises, scratches and a bump on the back of his head. The family is alleging that foul play was involved.

Fort Hood officials issued a statement Sept. 8 denying that foul play was a factor in Chees death.

Witnesses stated PV2 Chee showed no signs of struggling and was running at the front of the group when he collapsed near the end of the run, the statement said. They said an exact cause of death had not yet been determined.

There have been 27 other soldiers who have died at Fort Hood this year. Congress has launched an investigation into all 28 deaths.

Chee was from Pinehill, New Mexico, and his awards included the National Defense Service Medal and the Army Service Ribbon, officials said.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 06:54:52|Editor: huaxia

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LA PAZ, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on Monday condemned outbreaks of violence in several Bolivian cities amid heated presidential campaigns in the run up to Oct. 18 general elections.

"Within the framework of the International Day of Peace and two weeks after the restart of the election campaigns, the mission condemns the recorded incidents of violence that affect the rights of citizens and the various political parties to proselytize," the OHCHR's mission in Bolivia said via Twitter.

The agency called on all sides to ensure campaigns are carried out in a climate of tolerance, civility and mutual respect.

"The desire of the Bolivian people to hold peaceful elections must prevail," the agency added.

Since Sept. 6, attacks against various parties have occurred in the cities of Potosi, Sucre, La Paz, El Alto, Oruro, Cochabamba and Santa Cruz, and in two incidents, "press personnel" were attacked, the agency said.

Representatives of the Bolivian Episcopal Conference, the European Union and the United Nations who are monitoring the transition process on Saturday called for the campaigns to be carried out in "an orderly, democratic process." Enditem
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is very likely to attempt to kill himself if he is sent to the United States to face espionage charges, a psychiatric expert said Tuesday at an extradition hearing in London.

Michael Kopelman, emeritus professor of neuropsychiatry at Kings College London, said Assange has a history of depression and there is a very high risk of suicide if the U.S. extradition attempt succeeds.

Its the imminence of extradition and/or an actual extradition that will trigger the attempt, in my opinion, Kopelman said during testimony as a witness for Assange at Londons Old Bailey criminal court.

U.S. prosecutors have indicted Assange on 17 espionage charges and one charge of computer misuse over WikiLeaks publication of secret American military documents a decade ago. The charges carry a maximum sentence of 175 years in prison.

Kopelman said Assange faced an abundance of known risk factors including a family history of depression and suicide and the isolation he has experienced  first in the Ecuadorian embassy in London, where he took refuge in 2012, and since April 2019 in a British prison.

Kopelman said Assange has also been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, which has been associated with an increased tendency to ruminate on suicide.

He said Assange had an intense suicidal preoccupation.

Hes made various plans and undergone various preparations, such as confessed to the Catholic priest, who granted him absolution, began to draft farewell letters to family members and close friends, hes drawn up a will," said Kopelman.

Kopelman said he had visited Assange about 20 times in London's high-security Belmarsh Prison, where he is being held as he awaits an extradition decision. He said the 49-year-old Assange had experienced auditory hallucinations in which he heard derogatory and persecutory voices.

The voices are things like, you are dust, you are dead, we are coming to get you," he said.

Under cross-examination by James Lewis, a lawyer representing the U.S. government, Kopelman said he was always alert to the possibility a patient might be malingering or exaggerating.

Assanges defense team argues that he is a journalist and entitled to First Amendment protections for publishing leaked documents that exposed U.S. military wrongdoing in Iraq and Afghanistan. They also say the conditions he would face in a U.S. prison would breach his human rights.

The extradition hearing in London began Sept. 7 and is due to last until early October, with Judge Vanessa Baraitser likely to take weeks or months to consider her decision.
The SPO is committed to vigorously investigating and prosecuting individuals who commit any such crimes, including the disclosure of the identity of individuals who may be called before the court or any information that could lead to their identification.
The United Nations, beginning with 51 signatories at the end of World War II, has now grown to be a 193-nation body. As it celebrates its 75th founding anniversary, the organization and multilateralism it represents are facing unprecedented challenges with the rise of unilateralism and protectionism.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200921005948/en/

The challenges are being compounded by COVID-19, which has infected more than 31 million people and taken over 960,000 lives worldwide.

"What kind of UN does the world need and what role should it play in the post-pandemic era?"

Chinese President Xi Jinping raised the question and made proposals on Monday when addressing the high-level meeting to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the UN via video link.

The UN should uphold justice as countries, regardless of their sizes, are equal and should respect each other, Xi said, noting that this is a requirement of the progress of the times and the most important principle in the UN Charter.

The organization should be committed to achieving shared growth through consultation and collaboration, he stressed, calling on countries around the world to maintain common security and share the fruits of development.

Xi called for increased representation and a louder voice for developing countries in the UN and upholding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.

He said the UN should promote international cooperation and lead efforts to solve various problems in the world. It should advance security, development and human rights in a balanced manner and give more emphasis to development on its global agenda, he added.

Uphold multilateralism, enhance cooperation

"During the 75 years of the UN, the world has seen rapid progress of the human society, profound changes in international situations and fast development of multilateralism," the Chinese president said.

He reiterated China's commitment to multilateralism and determination to safeguard the international system with the UN at its core.

As the international community strives to find solutions to problems faced by mankind, "multilateralism" has been a buzzword during the 75th session of the UN General Assembly that opened last week.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged world leaders to work together at a time when there is a surplus of multilateral challenges and a deficit of solutions. "The future we want, the United Nations we need, is reaffirming our collective commitment to multilateralism is under way," he said.

Indeed, the need for more  and more effective  multilateralism is well known, he said, stressing that national sovereignty  a pillar of the Charter of the United Nations  goes handinhand with enhanced international cooperation, based on common values and shared responsibilities for progress.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the international community is becoming increasingly fragmented, adding that "this is largely attributable to the fact that some countries are meddling in the domestic affairs of other states and imposing unilateral sanctions."

"The world is tired of dividing lines, of separating states into friends and foes, and demands stepping up all-encompassing and inclusive mutual assistance and cooperation," he said.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the interests of individual member states had "too often" forced the UN to lag behind its ideals.

"Those who believe that they can get along better alone are mistaken. Our well-being is something that we share  our suffering too. We are one world," she told the General Assembly.

While customs and cultures may differ, cooperation requires unstinting efforts to overcome misunderstanding, and beyond that, to embrace respect, European Council President Charles Michel noted.

"It is not our rhetoric that will matter," he said, but rather, the collective actions taken to foster a better world.

The theme of this year's UN high-level sessions is "The Future We Want, the UN We Need: Reaffirming Our Collective Commitment to Multilateralism." It echoes Xi's consistent call to build a community with a shared future for mankind.

Meanwhile, 48 former UN and government officials from around the world released an open letter  "A Time for Renewal: Calling for a Strengthened Multilateral System"  last Friday, expressing their hope that the UN would be transformed into a "stronger, more accountable, inclusive multilateral system."

"There is an urgent need for an explicit recognition by global leaders that we are at a turning point and must act decisively to defend and rejuvenate multilateralism," they said, stressing that recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic needs national leadership and effective global cooperation.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200921005948/en/
Chandigarh: The Punjab unit of the Congress on Tuesday lodged a strong protest with Haryana Chief Minister M L Khattar over denial of permission for a tractor rally, organised by the partys youth wing against the Centres farm bills, to pass through the state. In a letter to Khattar, state Congress chief Sunil Jakhar said Punjab Youth Congress had announced the protest on September 20 against the Centres anti-farmer laws". Under this, a tractor rally comprising protesters and farmers, which started from Punjab, was to reach Delhi after passing through Haryana, he wrote. But it was a matter of great regret and sadness that the Haryana government didnt allow the Youth Congress workers to go to Delhi by stopping the rally at the Ambala border in a very undemocratic manner. The move was not in line with the fair administrative working, so it was painful. Haryana and Punjab have always acted like brothers and maintained a fair relationship," Jakhar, who had also joined the rally, wrote in the letter, according to a party release.

Jakhar said the central government enacted black-laws that violate the interests of the farmers. Now by stripping them (farmers) of their right to protest, the Haryana government under Khattars leadership has insulted the great freedom fighters who sacrificed lives for freedom of this country". Jakhar told the Haryana CM that if he looks into his heart and hears the inner voice of conscience, he will agree that the black laws will have the worst impact on the farmers of Punjab as well as Haryana". He hoped from Khattar that the Haryana government will avoid reoccurrence of such undemocratic actions in the future, and respect the spirit of the Constitution as well as the pain of the farmers".

While Bharatiya Kisan Union, supported by some farmers bodies, were holding a protest in Haryana against the Centres farm bills on Sunday, Punjab Youth Congress workers had started a tractor rally" on the same day from Mohali district which was to culminate in Delhi. However, when the rally reached Haryanas border in Ambala, Haryana Police used a water cannon to stop Congress workers from entering the district and travelling ahead to Delhi.

Indian Youth Congress president Srinivas B V had also taken part in the tractor rally.

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
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 22

By Tamilla Mammadova  Trend:

Georgia exported 540.6 tons of fresh or dried citrus fruits to Azerbaijan, Trend reports referring to the National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat).

Exports in monetary terms amounted to $474,500.

The export was carried out in all months of the current year, except for April.

For 8 months of last year, Georgia sold 201.9 tons of citrus fruits to Azerbaijan for $101,400.

Georgia exported products to Azerbaijan in the amount of $84.2 million from January through August this year. In January-August of this year, Georgia imported products worth $309.5 million from Azerbaijan.

In January-August of this year, the volume of trade turnover between Georgia and Azerbaijan amounted to $594 million. Compared to last year, the volume of trade turnover between Georgia and Azerbaijan decreased by 13 percent.

The share of Azerbaijan in the total trade turnover of Georgia amounted to 8.5 percent. This means the fourth place among the trading partners of the neighboring country after Turkey, Russia, and China.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @Mila61979356
Minister of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine Oleksandr Tkachenko discussed with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Canada to Ukraine Larisa Galadza the issues of bilateral cultural cooperation.

A video conference meeting took place on September 21, the Ministrys press service informs.

"The parties discussed Ukraine-Canada cultural cooperation, in particular the ratification of the agreement on joint production of audiovisual works," reads the statement.

Tkachenko informed the Ambassador about the preparations for the launch of the Great Restoration program, the creation of cultural service centers, and the implementation of state programs to promote reading, develop domestic tourism, and improve media literacy.

In turn, the Canadian side expressed interest in the launch of a cash rebate system in Ukraine and declared the readiness to inform its filmmakers about the system.

I am grateful to our Canadian partners for support. It is nice to have a dialogue with colleagues whom we should not convince that the possibilities of culture are extremely powerful, Tkachenko said after the meeting.

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By AFP

BRUSSELS: The EU's highest court on Tuesday approved British government subsidies for a new nuclear power plant, throwing out an appeal by Austria to rule them in breach of the bloc's state aid rules.

Britain has now left the EU but the case dates back to 2014 when the European Commission approved government aid for the Hinkley Point C plant in southwest England, which is due to be completed in 2025.

Anti-nuclear Austria challenged the commission's green light and, after losing in the General Court of the EU, appealed to the higher European Court of Justice.

But the ECJ ruled that EU environmental regulations did not automatically bar governments from paying subsidies to build nuclear power plants.

"A member state is free to determine the conditions for exploiting its energy resources, its choice between different energy sources and the general structure of its energy supply, and which does not preclude that choice from being nuclear energy," the ECJ said in a statement on the ruling.

French energy giant EDF and China General Nuclear Power (CGN) are working together on the 19.6-billion ($26-billion, 22-billion-euro) Hinkley plant, which is key to the British government's long-term energy plans.

London wants to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, using nuclear power to help meet the country's electricity needs.

But as diplomatic tensions with Beijing rise, there is growing unease about the wisdom of allowing China to play such a pivotal role in major infrastructure projects.

Austria has long campaigned against nuclear power, bolstered by a referendum in 1978 rejecting atomic energy.
New Delhi: Actor Ali Fazal has lauded actress-fiancee Richa Chadha's decision to send legal notice to actress Payal Ghosh after her name was "falsely dragged" in the Anurag Kashyap #MeToo controversy. Ali shared a copy of the statement released on behalf of Richa's lawyer on Monday and is all praises for his ladylove, "who has stood up for women time and time again".

In the Instagram post, the 'Mirzapur' actress wrote, "My love, you, who has stood up for women time and time again, today had to go through this ordeal. And yet, you come out strong as ever. My partner, your resilience, your kindness, and empathy have touched many people, and I have had the fortune of being witness to that over the time I've known you. The battles you've fought to create an equal society which isn't fractured by hate. And within that to be able to champion women all along ... and keep your art at par with the best, takes courage and nerves of steel. I am so proud of you because I know you won't stop standing up for those in need, especially women whove lost their voices within the many patriarchal setups we face today the world over."

Read Ali's Fazal full post here:

On Saturday, Payal Ghosh accused Anurag Kashyap of sexual harassment. She posted on Twitter that the filmmaker "forced himself upon her". She also named Richa Chadha and other actresses in an interview. Following which, Richa issued the statement.

Anurag Kashyap, however, denied the allegations, claiming that they were "baseless". He also released a statement denying the #MeToo accusations levied against him, terming it "completely false, malicious and dishonest".
Barclays bank told hundreds of office staff who had returned after lockdown to restart working from home tonight - following vague new advice from the Prime Minister branded 'unclear and inconsistent' by business leaders.

The huge company had originally brought 1,000 employees back after the strict pandemic shut-down over the summer.

It came as other business bosses savaged Boris Johnson over the woolly comments in Parliament - warning they could come at the expense of the pandemic-ravaged economy.

Mr Johnson set out a raft of new restrictions in the face of rising Covid-19 infections, including a hint to avoid workplaces if possible.

But the new advice came just 21 days after he told his Cabinet 'People are going back to the office in huge numbers across our country and quite right too'.

And it gave businesses less than 24 hours to work out whether they were coronavirus-secure enough to stay open, as well as wonder whether anyone would still turn up on Wednesday after the Prime Minister's advice.

The restrictions also signalled a hammer blow to smaller businesses who relied on footfall from office workers to survive.

Mr Johnson's wobble came as the economy was starting to show signs of recovery after Britain's high streets had become ghost towns during lockdown.

The new measures also prompted an avalanche of calls between workers and bosses about whether they would still be in offices.

Employment law expert Alicia Collinson told MailOnline: 'I think there will be a lot of conversations like that tonight and tomorrow.'

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been condemned for mixed messages and advice

The British Chambers of Commerce said before the announcement that 'Unclear and inconsistent guidance on day-to-day working life will sap business and consumer confidence at a delicate moment for the economy'.

After the PM gave his speech to the commons BCC Director General Adam Marshall added: 'Businesses understand that further restrictions are necessary to tackle the rising number of Coronavirus cases, but these measures will impact business and consumer confidence at a delicate time for the economy.

'Businesses, their employees and customers need to see a clear road map for the existing restrictions and those that may be introduced in the future.

'This must include transparent trigger points, and clarity about the support available to protect jobs and livelihoods.

'The government should waste no time in setting out a comprehensive support package for firms forced to close or reduce capacity through no fault of their own.'

The measures announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson come amid mounting fears of mass unemployment when the furlough scheme for workers ends next month.

In London there had been many office blocks completely deserted during the pandemic

Business hubs, including Canary Wharf pictured, were like ghost towns with no workers

Businesses were also warned by Mr Johnson that they face fines of 10,000 and could be closed if they breach new Covid-19 regulations.

Ray Berg, managing partner of law firm Osborne Clarke, told the Financial Times it had planned to get a quarter of staff back in but was not sure whether it still would continue.

He added: 'In the City, I felt we were approaching something like critical mass which was enabling restaurants and shops to open.

'Confidence was returning and revenue has been up quite sharply compared to the spring/summer.

'This feels like a kick in the teeth in some ways but we will follow what the government advises.'

Dame Carolyn Fairbairn, director general of the CBI, said: "A second national lockdown would be devastating for our economy, so it's right to prioritise bringing infections under control.

The U-turn came as many officer staff had started returning to work after strict lockdown

Should I stay or should I go? What is the law on working from home? Office workers and bosses could be locked in talks about working from home - amid fears some staff could refuse to go in or stay home. Alicia Collinson, solicitor at Leeds employment specialists Thrive Law, said that changes employer responsibilities. She told MailOnline: 'What we saw last time was specifically the Government saying work at home when you can, here the Government are saying work from home where possible. The word possible adds some discretion for the employer. 'We advise employees to speak to employers. Where we talk about whats possible, the employee could disagree, but if an employer can justify why its impossible and asks their employees to still go in, to not do so could be failure to follow reasonable management instructions. 'At the moment its not like last time when people weren't able to leave their homes. The approach at the moment emphasises that the economy needs to keep going and with furlough stopping, it's about people keeping their jobs. 'If someone said they weren't going in because Boris Johnson said it was better to work from home, the employer would have to explain why this wasn't possible. If they can prove its not possible, the employee should still go in. 'I think there will be a lot of conversations like this tonight and tomorrow. The use of the word 'possible' means that the employer seems to have more decision making power than before.' Advertisement

"But there can be no avoiding the crushing blow new measures bring for thousands of firms, particularly in city centres and for our hospitality sector employing over four million people.

"It is vital that all announcements of restrictions go hand in hand with clarity on the business support that protects jobs."

Mike Cherry, national chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses, said small firms and the self-employed will be "dismayed" at another six months of restrictions.

He said: "Many businesses - particularly those at the heart of our night-time economy and events industries - are now seriously fearing for their futures.

"Having lost the summer, a lot of them would've been pinning their hopes to increased trade in the run-up to Christmas. Their plans are now in disarray."

He added: "Some of those who've taken on emergency finance will be finding that the initial injection of funds will not be enough to keep them afloat for another two quarters."

The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) said the new rules could be a "fatal blow" to many pubs, cafes and their suppliers and made a plea for targeted support for the sector once furlough ends.

Dorset Chamber chief executive Ian Girling said the country was at a critical point in the fight against coronavirus.

He added: 'Some hospitality businesses will undoubtedly be disappointed and the guidance on homeworking is a major change just when employees were returning to the office.

'We must not hide away from the fact that a return to homeworking will not be easy for some employers and employees.

'Some roles are suited to homeworking while others are not. There is productivity to consider, and it may be problematic from a HR management perspective as well as for those people who do not have ideal homeworking conditions.

'Many businesses have already carried out a huge amount of work to make their offices Covid-safe and now face implementing fresh working practices.

'There will be an economic impact from the new measures but the Government is in a high-stakes balancing act and a full national lockdown is the very last thing anyone wants.'
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Tuesday took at a dig at the Centre after receiving a notice from the Income Tax department. The notice, he said, was sent to him because the Centre loves us.

We are happy that they (the Centre) love us from among all the members... the notice was served by Income Tax after the Election Commission asked (it) to... we will reply to the notice, he said while speaking to reporters.

The notice was sent in connection with poll affidavits Pawar submitted to the Election Commission.

Pawar said the Income Tax department has sought his clarification and explanation on some poll affidavits.

The NCP chief was responding to a question on reports that his daughter and Lok Sabha member Supriya Sule, Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray and state environment minister Aaditya Thackeray had received similar notices from the Income Tax department.

He is observing a day-long fast on Tuesday to protest the suspension of eight Rajya Sabha members. Pawar, a Rajya Sabha member, bemoaned the conduct of deputy chairman Harivansh and the Modi governments decision of bulldozing the Opposition in the House.

The eight MPs were expelled for expressing their opinion, Pawar said, adding that the deputy chairman did not give priority to (House) rules.

The MPs were suspended for the remaining part of the monsoon session over their misbehavior during the passage of the farm bills on Sunday. The two agricultural bills - the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 and the Farming Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 - were cleared by voice vote in Parliament. The Opposition was demanding that these bills should be sent to a select committee.

Three of the eight suspended MPs belong to the Congress. The party, along with a few others, has said that they will boycott the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha till the time the MPs suspension is revoked.

The Congress has also said that it will hit the streets across the country against the government for passing anti-farmer and anti-poor bills in Parliament.

The party will also launch a campaign to collect two crore signatures from protesting farmers against the proposed legislations.
Pakistan on Tuesday began trials of Phase III of a COVID-19 vaccine developed by a Chinese company, Planning Minister Asad Umar said.

The country enjoys a sharp decline in new infections, which has encouraged authorities to lift all virus-related restrictions.

Just launched the phase 3 trials of a Covid-19 vaccine in Pakistan, Mr Umar said.

A total of 40,000 people  including 10,000 Pakistanis  will participate in this trial in seven countries, Mr Umar said.

The initial results are expected in four to six months, he added.

Trials of the vaccine candidate, developed by biopharmaceutical company CanSinoBio and the Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, are already under way in Argentina, Chile, China and Russia.

According to the National Institute of Health, which oversees the process, the first and second phase trials of the vaccine candidate, completed in May and June respectively, have shown promising results.

Several Chinese companies have joined in the global race to develop a vaccine to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, which originated in China late 2019.

Pakistan has witnessed a sharp decline in new COVID-19 infections since July.

That prompted the government to lift restrictions.

Earlier this month, Pakistan allowed schools to reopen.

The country has so far reported 306,866 COVID-19 infections and 6,424 deaths.

According to the health ministry, 582 new cases were reported during the last 24 hours, out of 36,155 tests.

Pakistan, Chinas neighbour and long-time political ally, relies heavily on Beijings support for its troubled economy, which was struck hard by the pandemic.

(dpa/NAN)
Green banks have a track record of accelerating low-carbon, climate-resilient development, and are especially well-positioned to drive green recovery programs.

Today, three leading clean energy, finance and environmental organizations announced the formation of a strategic partnership to undertake a comprehensive review of the current global impact of green banks and identify the finance, technology, and policy requirements needed to expand green banks globally, allowing countries to attract private investment for low-carbon, climate-resilient solutions.

The partnership between Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), a leading global clean energy non-profit, the Green Finance Institute, a UK Government-backed action tank, and Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), an international nonprofit environmental organization, will inform the co-development of a Green Bank Design Platform, which will support governments and institutions to establish a green bank or similar green financing vehicle. ClimateWorks Foundation is providing funding to support the initial review and Platform development.

A green bank is a specialized public finance institution, or separately managed facility, which acts as the focal point for scaling up domestic investment in climate solutions. It mobilizes private investment into low-carbon, climate-resilient projectssuch as solar arrays, wind farms and energy-efficiency building projectsby tailoring financial products to address market barriers.

Paul Bodnar, managing director, Rocky Mountain Institute says: Green banks have a track record of accelerating low-carbon, climate-resilient development, and are especially well-positioned to drive green recovery programs. It is no surprise that so many countries are actively pursuing the model, which is why we are exploring a forum that would connect them with the expertise, best practices, and capital sources to succeed. RMI is proud to partner with the Green Finance Institute and NRDC to accelerate this historic shift in climate finance.

The three organizations will continue to engage with countries around the world to identify the challenges in setting up green banks; understand the restrictions to green bank development within both emerging and developed markets; map the skills needed to overcome capability gaps; and determine the products, services and resources required to support the successful formation of green banks.

Dr Rhian-Mari Thomas, chief executive, Green Finance Institute says: Green banks are increasingly being recognized for their role in financing the transition to a low-carbon economy. In addition to investing in green innovations and infrastructure, they are able to channel large scale and global financing to local solutions. Unlocking barriers to deploy capital at pace and scale towards impactful real-economy outcomes underpins our work at the Green Finance Institute, as does collaboration, and we are excited to be working with strategic partners RMI and the NRDC on the Green Bank Design Platform.

The three organizations will also publish a State of Green Banks 2020 report in November. The first survey of its kind, this report will represent a comprehensive review of the impact and developments of green banks in 34 countries. Its key findings will provide an understanding of green bank activities around the world that funders, countries, development finance institutions, and others can use to further the global green bank movement and will highlight the application of the green bank model across different geographies.

Doug Sims, Director and Senior advisor at NRDCs Green Finance Center says: Green banks have a unique ability to jumpstart and accelerate financing for the investments that propel us toward our collective environmental ambitions of a climate-safe, healthy, resilient and prosperous future. They also help achieve inclusive social objectives such as creating jobs, building sustainable affordable housing, lowering energy costs, and adapting communities to withstand impacts from climate change. Were thrilled to be working with RMI and the Green Finance Institute to globally scale these innovative institutions.

Ilmi Granoff, Finance Program Director at the ClimateWorks Foundation says: Green banks put public capital to work with the focus, efficiency, and speed necessary to reach net-zero emissions by mid-century, and they help unlock the private capital we need for scale. ClimateWorks has long worked closely with RMI and NRDC, and we are extraordinarily excited about the Green Finance Institutes involvement in this work. After all, the UK Government pioneered the green investment bank model and it is a state investment bank innovation that could help economies around the world achieve rapid decarbonization.

Ends

Contact:

Rocky Mountain Institute: Alexandra Chin, achin@rmi.org +1 973-262-0002

Green Finance Institute: Catrin Thomas, comms@gfi.green +44 (0) 7753-612-523

Natural Resources Defense Council: Jake Thompson, jthompson@nrdc.org, 1-301-602-3627

About the Green Finance Institute

The Green Finance Institute is an independent, commercially focused organization, supported by Her Majestys Treasury, the UK Governments Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the City of London Corporation. As the UKs principal forum for public and private sector collaboration in green finance, it is uniquely placed to mobilize capital to accelerate the domestic and international transition to a sustainable, net-zero carbon economy that is also climate resilient. The Green Finance Institute convenes and leads mission-led coalitions to identify and unlock barriers to deploy capital at pace and scale towards impactful, real-economy outcomes. For more information visit greenfinanceinstitute.co.uk and follow the Institute on Twitter and LinkedIn.

About the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)

NRDC (the Natural Resources Defense Council) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Since 1970, our lawyers, scientists, and other environmental specialists have worked to protect the world's natural resources, public health, and the environment. NRDC has offices in New York City; Washington, D.C.; Los Angeles; San Francisco; Chicago; Bozeman, Montana; and Beijing. Visit us at nrdc.org and follow us on Twitter @NRDC

About Rocky Mountain Institute

Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) - an independent nonprofit founded in 1982 - transforms global energy use to create a clean, prosperous, and secure low-carbon future. It engages businesses, communities, institutions, and entrepreneurs to accelerate the adoption of market-based solutions that cost-effectively shift from fossil fuels to efficiency and renewables. RMI has offices in Basalt and Boulder, Colorado; New York City; the San Francisco Bay Area; Washington, D.C.; and Beijing. More information on RMI can be found at http://www.rmi.org or follow us on Twitter @RockyMtnInst.


BRESLAU  All 165 spots at Country Paws Boarding in Breslau were booked months in advance for March break.

By the time it started, only four reservations remained.

The province had begun its long fight with the COVID-19 pandemic, one that continues six months on. The results have been disastrous for the dog boarding industry.

It was supposed to be the best week of the year for us, said Country Paws Boarding owner Jaymie Crook. So, that was our introduction for what the COVID-19 pandemic had in store for us.

With travel grinding to a halt in March, coupled with the land border to the U.S. shutting down, travel plans the world over have been put on hold.

And dog boarding is a mirror image of the travel industry, explained Crook.

With more people staying at home  or exploring Ontario  it means their faithful pup isnt in need of their own hotel destination.

Daycare dog services for front line workers helped ease some of the burden in the early days, and it was an important service for those that needed it. But between his two boarding locations in Breslau and London, Crook has dropped from about 85 employees to 25 today.

They were able to take advantage of government subsides for as long as they could manage. But when it became clear that business wasnt picking up, they had to let go out of most of their staff.

Crook estimates they are back to about 40 per cent of their regular occupancy, and thats during the summer months when travel is usually at its highest. From July to August, he said they tend to be close to full occupancy for all eight weeks.

We anticipate it to stay this way until it is safe to leave the country, he said.

During the 2008 financial crisis, Crook said most families were scaling back their vacations, opting for American destinations instead of flying to Europe or the Caribbean. But they were still travelling, he said, and it had nowhere near the impact the pandemic has had.

For the staff that have remained, Crook is now working to train them as dog trainers to expand the business.

Dog grooming has been one of the bright spots over the last few months. And dog treat sales have been another surprise, outperforming previous years with more owners at home and paying attention to their dogs wants and needs.

But the pandemic wont last forever. And with 25 years of experience, Crook has seen generations of dogs from loyal pet owners, and he knows they will return.

We know these dogs on a first-name basis, joked Crook. We know them better than we know the owners, and I think they appreciate that. We dont know what the future holds, but people will travel again. When they do, well be here and ready for their dogs.
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A My Faith Votes Q&A with Phil Robertson of Duck Dynasty

We recently had the opportunity to catch up with our friend and My Faith Votes influencer Phil Robertson. He is the founder of The Duck Commander, star of the television series Duck Dynasty, host of the Unashamed podcast and a New York Times best-selling author.

We discussed his latest book, Jesus Politics: How to Win Back the Soul of America, the importance of having a kingdom perspective and why Christians should participate in elections.

This conversation has been edited for clarity and length.

Talk a little bit about why the book is called Jesus Politics.

Satan himself is the instigator of all evil behavior. It's what you're witnessing on the streets. The burning, the looting, the shooting and all of the immorality. Get rid of Trump as president. Arm the people, get rid of law enforcement. Get rid of all historical monuments. Get rid of love, replace it with hate. Get rid of joy, replace it with anger. Get rid of peace, replace it with anarchy  I'm giving you the fruit of the spirit and the opposite of that  Get rid of patience, replace it with belligerence. Get rid of kindness, replace it with vulgarity. Get rid of goodness, replace it with depravity. Get rid of faithfulness, replace it with filth. Get rid of gentleness, replace it with recklessness. Get rid of self-control, replace it with wicked lawlessness. Come join us. We were trained by Karl Marx.

That's what the books about. I'm trying to warn America that the coming cloud is not going to be a pretty sight. This election is really important. I've had three sessions with [President] Donald Trump. All three times, this was at the center of it. I told him about Jesus. I told him about the resurrection, God removing his sin. I said, Trump, you do have sins, don't you? He said, Oh, yeah. I said, So does everybody else, dude. We're all going into a six-foot hole, or cremated or whatever. What then? Jesus will give you life and immortality, guaranteed.

He listened intently. And the little notes I was reading from, he said as I left, Hey, can I have that? The next time I talked to him, it was a phone call. He said, Phil, I want you to know, I still have that paper that you wrote down about Jesus. I said, Put it in your heart. Mr. President.

Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. I wanted him to have a relationship with Jesus like everybody else.

Many Christians say, I don't want to be involved in politics, but thats exactly where this battle is happening. Talk to that a little bit.

The nice thing about a democratic republic, a constitutional republic, is that you can vote the evildoers out, and you can elect godly people. Look at their background, check them carefully. I try to find the godliest ones. Encourage godly men and women to run and put them in [office]. It would be amazing, our policies will begin to shift, if the Lord Jesus, through his Spirit, dwelt in the human hearts of the United States of America.

You talk about the Kingdom Manifesto throughout your book. What do you mean when you use that term?

John the Baptist said, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near (Matthew 3:2). Jesus set up the disciples and said, Proclaim this message: The kingdom of heaven is at hand (Matthew 10:7).

Jesus said the kingdom does not come visibly. We are the kingdom of God. Jesus is the king. It's an eternal kingdom working within, in our case, the confines of a constitutional republic. So we are here to teach people to be loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind and help them with self-control.

A government can't remove our sin. I'm going to vote for the godliest among us. But theyre not the answer to our problems. Only King Jesus is. So I bow down to him and him alone. So it's a pretty cool thing to be in the arms of Jesus Christ. It gives you what is the rarest of commodities: peace of mind.

This is the election of our lifetime. Speak to that a little bit.

When you start to see your fellow Americans burning Bibles, youre close to the tipping point and Satan winning the war. Those people you mentioned that claim Christianity [also] claim Jesus [but] don't vote. They don't realize how critical a time we live in; you can lose your freedom. So we better buckle up, and we better go to the polls.

Watch the full interview with Phil Robertson on My Faith Votes Youtube channel.

Phil Robertsons new book, Jesus Politics: How to Win Back the Soul of America, is available wherever books are sold.
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Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Madrid, Spain  Tue, September 22, 2020 17:50 486 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46748af 2 World Spain,coronavirus,Madrid,COVID-19,coronavirus-restrictions,pandemic,SARS-CoV-2,virus-corona,novel-coronavirus Free

Spain's health minister on Tuesday called on residents of Madrid to limit their movements and social contacts to the "essential" to put the brakes on a surge in COVID-19 infections, a day after new restrictions came into effect in part of the region.

Spain is struggling to contain a second wave of the virus, which has already infected over 670,000 people and claimed over 30,000 lives, one of Europe's highest tolls.

Madrid has become the epicenter of the contagion with a rate of infection of nearly 700 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the last two weeks -- nearly three times the national average.

"I would recommend residents of Madrid to limit to the maximum their movements, that they scrupulously respect the measures dictated by the health authorities in the region and minimize their movements to what is essential and their contacts to those closest to them," Health Minister Salvador Illa said during an interview with radio Cadena Ser.

His comments come a day after a partial lockdown came into effect on some 850,000 people in the Madrid region -- mostly in densely populated, low-income districts in the south -- who account for 13 percent of the region's population of 6.6 million but 24 percent of virus infections.

The restrictions which came into force on Monday prevent people from entering or leaving the affected areas, except for work, education or to seek medical care but they can move around freely within their zone.

The affected areas have all counted more than COVID-19 cases per 100,000 inhabitants -- around five times the national average, which in itself is the highest in the European Union.

The regional government of Madrid, which is responsible for health care, also reduced the maximum size of permitted social gatherings across the entire region from ten to six.

Many epidemiologists have expressed doubts about the effectiveness of Madrid's new measures but Illa said he believed they could help control the spread of the virus and that it would not be necessary to declare a state of emergency in the region, a step which would allow the government to confine people to their homes.

Since the central government ended its state of emergency on June 21, lifting all national lockdown restrictions, responsibility for public healthcare and managing the pandemic has been left in the hands of Spain's 17 autonomous regions.
After serving four years in the U.S. Army, Jacob Quinn moved to Midland and spent grueling 10- to 12-hour days working in various customer service and retail jobs. Now, after receiving a Bachelor of Applied Technology degree in Organizational Management from Midland College, Quinn is enjoying a career as operations manager at Texas Leadership Charter Academy.

I grew up in the El Paso area and graduated from Fabens High School in 2007, Quinn said. When I was discharged from the Army in 2011, I moved to Midland because the job outlook was better than in El Paso. It wasnt difficult finding a job in Midland, but without a college degree, I was often passed by for promotions.

Quinn first earned an associate degree in management from MC and then continued taking classes toward a bachelors degree. After six years of attending college, both full- and part-time, he graduated from Midland College in May 2019 with a Bachelor of Applied Technology degree. Then it wasnt long before he was hired in his current position at Texas Leadership Charter Academy.

My job is to take care of the physical plant, maintenance, custodial services and transportation services so that the principal, Maggie Speed, can focus on overseeing the important aspects of teaching and learning, Quinn said. A clean, well-maintained physical plant helps to facilitate productive learning. I have a great team, and we take pride in the fact that we are an integral part of the schools success.

Quinn said he learned the importance of teamwork during his service in the military. As a Specialist E-4, Quinn was stationed at Fort Bliss in El Paso after having gone through basic training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and airborne training at Fort Benning, Georgia. He was assigned to Patriot Missiles Operations and 2009-2010 in Qatar in support of Afghanistan.

We operated and maintained missiles, and I often served as a radio operator, Quinn said. Many times that meant working 24- to 36-hour shifts in the back of a truck. We all had to work in tandem and rely on one another to get the job done. I apply that same concept of teamwork to my current job.

Quinn said there are 800 students at Texas Leadership Charter Academy, which is located at the corner of Midkiff Road and Illinois Avenue. The physical plant is composed of three buildings totaling over 50,000 square feet.

Management classes at Midland College helped prepare me to think outside the box, Quinn said. There are some days when you cant just go by the books. Dealing with almost 1,000 people daily, including students, teachers and staff, and ensuring that everything is clean and equipment is working properly sometimes requires solving problems quickly. I credit my Midland College classes in giving me the knowledge I need to handle those situations.

Rebecca Bell is executive director of Institutional Advancement.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi accompanied by her son Rahul Gandhi returned to India on Tuesday after undergoing a routine health check-up in the US, people familiar with the development said. The two left on September 12.

Both of them have missed a major part of the monsoon session that began on September 14. The session is likely to be curtailed in view of the rising number of Covid cases in the country with several Members of Parliament (MPs) and the Parliament staff testing positive.

Confirming their return, an aide of Rahul Gandhi said the two leaders reached Delhi around 7 am on Tuesday.

Later, Rahul Gandhi posted a series of tweets accusing the Modi government of working for the development of crony capitalists at the cost of farmers.

2014- Modi jis election promise of Swaminathan commission MSP (minimum support price) for farmers. 2015- Modi government said in court that this will not be possible. 2020- Black agriculture laws, he tweeted in Hindi. Then, in a four-line verse in Hindi, he sarcastically said, Modi jis intention is clear with new anti-agriculture attempt.

Before leaving for abroad, Sonia Gandhi carried out major organisational changes in the Congress Working Committee and her team of office bearers.
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Linkedin (Reuters) Milan, Italy  Tue, September 22, 2020 11:32 487 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c4659f08 2 News Italy,France,travel Free

Italy will make testing for COVID-19 compulsory for people traveling from Paris and some other areas of France, Health Minister Roberto Speranza said on Monday, following growing concerns about rising cases in Europe.

"European data is worrying. Italy is doing better than other countries but we need to be cautious," Speranza wrote on Twitter.

A health ministry spokesman said the new testing would start from Tuesday.

Read also: Italy orders virus tests on Croatia, Greece, Malta, Spain arrivals

Testing will be compulsory for those travelling from Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, Corsica, Hauts-de-France, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Occitanie, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, and Ile-de-France - the region that includes Paris, the ministry said in a statement.

French health authorities reported 10,569 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on Sunday, down from the previous day's record increase of 13,498.

Italy, hit by one of Europe's worst outbreaks of COVID-19 with over 298,000 confirmed cases and 35,700 deaths, managed to contain the contagion after a peak in March and April. On Sunday it reported 1,587 new cases.

Topics : Italy France travel
If there is something Indian parents are more eager about than getting their kids to clear JEE NEET, it is to get them married and 'settled down'.



The moment you enter your mid-twenties, the whole world around you suddenly develops a newfound obsession to see you tie the knot. You can feel that right?

However, many people nowadays are reluctant to get married for several reasons. From wanting to focus on building their careers to not feeling the need to get tied for life with someone else, there are several reasons why one chooses to not get married or to get married at an older age. And that is absolutely okay.

 Representational/Singapore Tatler

But it looks like peoples reluctance to get married is creating bigger issues for Japan.



Japan is currently battling such a situation where people are simply unwilling to get married or are marrying at an age where they can no longer have children of their own, thereby reducing the countrys overall birth rate. Now thats problematic for the future of a nation.

 Representational/Unsplash

Therefore, in a bid to encourage people to get married, the Japanese government has come up with a lucrative offer.



It is offering up to 600,000 Yen (Rs 4.2 Lakh approx) to newlywed couples to help them to start their new life, Japan Today reported. Isnt this cool?

 Representational/Unsplash

The money, in fact, would help the newlywed couples pay rent and cover other household expenses. India me aisa kyu nahi hota, bhai? *smh*.



According to the policy, both husband and wife will have to be under 40 years of age, as of the registered date of marriage, and should have a combined income of less than 5.4 million Yen (Rs 37 Lakhs approx).

 Representational/Unsplash

As per the report, so far, 281 municipalities in Japan have adopted this support program.



Well, I am thinking of packing my bags already. Is anyone willing to join?
A warming climate and more frequent wildfires do not necessarily mean the western United States will see the forest loss that many scientists expect. Dry forest margins may be more resilient to climate change than previously thought if managed appropriately, according to Penn State researchers.

"The basic narrative is it's just a matter of time before we lose these dry, low elevation forests," said Lucas Harris, a postdoctoral scholar who worked on the project as part of his doctoral dissertation. "There's increasing evidence that once disturbances like drought or wildfire remove the canopy and shrub cover in these dry forests, the trees have trouble coming back. On the other hand, there's growing evidence that there's a lot of spatial variability in how resilient these forests are to disturbances and climate change."

The researchers studied forest regeneration at four sites that had experienced wildfires in the eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains in California. The sites sit at the forest margin, a drier area where forest meets sagebrush grassland. These dry forest margins may be the most vulnerable to climate change-driven forest loss, according to the researchers.

Large fires in the area tend to consume the forest starting from the steppe margin then sweeping up the mountain, said Alan Taylor, professor of geography and ecology who has worked in the area for decades.

"You wouldn't see forest anymore over 10 or 20 years, and it seemed like the lower forest margin was getting pushed way up in elevation because it's so dry near the sagebrush boundary," Taylor said. "My research group wanted to look at this in detail because no one had actually done it."

Harris and Taylor's research team measured tree diameters and litter depth, counted the number of seedlings and saplings and identified tree species at the research sites. They also quantified fire severity, the amount of moisture available for plant growth and water deficit, an indicator of drought intensity. They then fed the data into five models to see how the probability for tree regeneration varied based on fire severity, climate and location, and remaining vegetation and canopy cover. They report their results today (Sept. 21) in Ecosphere.

The researchers found that 50% of the plots at the sites showed signs of tree regeneration, and water balance projections through the end of the current century indicate that there will be enough moisture available to support tree seedlings. The key is to prevent severe fire disturbances through proper management, according to the researchers, because tree regeneration was strongly associated with mature trees that survived fires.

"In these marginal or dry forest areas, management approaches like prescribed burning or fuel treatments that thin the forest can prevent the severe fires that would push this ecosystem to a non-forest condition," said Taylor, who also holds an appointment in the Earth and Environmental Systems Institute. "The study suggests that these low-severity disturbances could actually create very resilient conditions in places where most people have been suggesting that we'll see forest loss."

The researchers also noticed a shift in tree composition from fire-resistant yellow pines to less fire-resistant but more drought-resistant species like pinyon pine. They attributed the shift to drying and fire exclusion policies in effect over the last century.

"The shift could be beneficial if the species moving in is better suited to present and near-future climates," said Harris. "However, it could be dangerous if a bunch of fire-sensitive species move into a place and then it all burns up. Many trees would die, and we could see lasting forest loss."

California's climate is projected to warm, but many climate models also forecast an average increase in winter precipitation, especially in the northern part of the state and in the mountains, continued Harris.

"On the one hand, you have greater drought intensity for sure, but also you're going to have these wetter periods where there's more moisture available for tree growth in the spring and maybe into the early summer," he said. "So if the trees are able to survive that drought stress and take advantage of the additional moisture present in some years, they might be able to maintain or even expand their distribution."

This forest system is important for recreation, carbon storage, biodiversity and wildlife habitat, said Taylor. It also comprises part of the western side of the Great Basin, the largest area of contiguous watersheds that do not empty into an ocean in North America.

"There's not much forest in the Great Basin, which is a huge area of sagebrush grassland in Utah, Idaho, Oregon, Nevada and Arizona," Taylor said. "So the forests of the eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains represent a significant component of the forest found in that system."

###

The National Science Foundation and Penn State, through a Center for Landscape Dynamics research award and a Ruby S. Miller Graduate Student Fellowship, funded this study. Marilyn Fogel, emerita professor in Earth and environmental sciences, University of California, Riverside, provided support for an undergraduate student conducting field work on the project.
GLENVIEW, Ill., Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Chicago Wine Consulting announces the grand opening of the first retail location at 1047 Waukegan Road in Glenview, Illinois with a special public ribbon cutting ceremony hosted by the Glenview Chamber of Commerce on Friday, September 25th at 12pm  all are welcome. The Chicago Wine Consulting store focuses on French wines, particularly wine from the Burgundy region of France and also offers a great selection of accessibly-priced wines for everyone from seasoned oenophiles to emerging wine enthusiasts.

Chicago Wine Consulting Store in Glenview, Illinois Interior Photo. Grand Opening Event on Friday, September 25, 2020 at 12pm - All are welcome to attend. Large selection of wines from rare and difficult-to-find wines to everday drinking wine available at Chicago Wine Consulting wine shop in Glenview, Illinois. Delivering to Glenview, Chicago, and the surrounding Chicago suburbs. (PRNewsfoto/Chicago Wine Consulting) Selection of wines available at the Chicago Wine Consulting Shop in Glenview, Illinois photo. Wide variety of wines for sale from everday drinkers to rare and challenging-to-source wines for sale including: burgundy wine, bordeaux wine, French wines, Spanish wines, Italian wines, California wines, everyday drinking wine. (PRNewsfoto/Chicago Wine Consulting)

The newly-opened Chicago Wine Consulting store is open 10:30am to 6:30pm Tuesday through Saturday (closed Sunday and Monday) and offers free delivery to Glenview as well as Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. Next month the complete Chicago Wine Consulting inventory will be available on ChicagoWineConsulting.com for online ordering with secure credit card processing.

On the new Chicago Wine Consulting store, Mike Widmaier said: "My goal was to create a wine shop for both Collectors and local, Glenview, North Shore and Chicago wine fans. As a collector and as French Burgundy wine guy, we not only have rare and fine wine treasures for seasoned collectors, but also great weeknight pizza wines, patio pounders, and great everyday drinkers. We're a local wine shop for everyone."

In addition to the offerings at the store, Chicago Wine Consulting also offers other specialized private wine cellar management services including Inventory & Upload to Cellar Tracker, Cellar Organization & Wine Pulls, and Wine Cellar Audits. With over 40 years of combined experience in the fine wine industry, Mike and Paula are trusted professional wine experts.

About Chicago Wine Consulting:

Chicago Wine Consulting is a family-owned wine store located at 1047 Waukegan Road in Glenview, Illinois, 60025 as well as a fine wine consultancy specializing in private wine cellar management, along with wine appraisals and wine cellar evaluations. Chicago Wine Consulting was started in 2014 by Mike Widmaier and Paula Widmaier, both members of the International Society of Appraisers (ISA). Mike holds as a W.S.E.T. Level II Certification (Wine and Spirits Education Trust) and is a Certified Sommelier from the Court of Master Sommelier. Paula has over 20 years of experience in the fine wine industry working for a wholesale wine distributor and subsequently representing a portfolio of Blue Chip Wineries to fine dining restaurants and upscale retailers in the Chicago area. For more information please visit the Chicago Wine Consulting website, contact Chicago Wine Consulting online, or email [email protected].

Media Contact:

Mike Widmaier

847-791-4885

[email protected]

SOURCE Chicago Wine Consulting

Related Links

http://www.chicagowineconsulting.com


Rock or bouncy ball?

Thats the question in a federal case filed against a 20-year-old man now accused of assault on a federal officer.

Prosecutors say Nicholas Joseph Bantista threw a rock that struck the helmet of a Federal Protective Service officer around 11:30 p.m. Friday outside the ICE field office in Southwest Portland after ignoring multiple orders to disperse.

Bantista told authorities it was a bouncy ball and that he didnt mean any harm.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Natalie Wight on Monday told a judge that Bantista had been living in a tent in Portland for three or four days and came to the city to wreak havoc during these riots. Bantista is from Illinois and is on probation for assaulting an officer there, according to court records.

Bantista should be held in jail at least through the upcoming weekend when a giant melee or potentially violent demonstration is planned, Wight said. She was referencing a planned rally by the right-wing Proud Boys, set to take place Saturday in Delta Park. The group has gained national attention for its heated rhetoric and marches that often devolve into violence.

We want to keep him and the rest of the community safe this weekend, Wight said.

Bryan Francesconi, an assistant federal public defender representing Bantista, said the government is resorting to pure hyperbole to paint his client as a danger to the community.

Francesconi said the government lacks evidence showing Bantista threw a rock or came to Portland to riot. Bantista stopped here on his way to live along the Washington coast after spending three weeks in San Francisco, he said.

On Friday night, officers chased Bantista, took him to the ground and arrested him after he was seen throwing what a Federal Protective Service officer thought was a rock that struck the officers helmet near Southwest Moody Avenue and Bancroft Street, according to a federal affidavit.

During a struggle, police recovered an airsoft replica gun between Bantistas chest and the ground, the affidavit said. Police had no idea if the gun was real or not when they tried to arrest him, Wight said.

An air soft pistol and a box of nail gun cartridges were confiscated from Nicholas J. Bantista, 20, after his arrest Friday night, according to a federal affidavit.

During an interview at 3:13 a.m. while in custody inside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement building, Bantista admitted to throwing an object at an officer but claimed it was a bouncy ball and he didnt intend any violence, the affidavit said.

Officers had seen such balls thrown at them earlier in the night.

The officer struck, though, said the object felt denser than a bouncy ball and the sound and impact of the object felt against (the officers) helmet was more consistent with a rock, wrote Agent Thomas McNutt , a fellow Federal Protective Service officer, in the affidavit.

Police also seized a box of nail gun cartridges from Bantista and were investigating whether the airsoft gun may have been altered to fire the cartridges, Wight said.

Bantista is on probation stemming from a September 2019 conviction for felony aggravated assault of an officer in Illinois, Wight said. He waved a gun and told police hed fire it if they didnt shoot him, she said.

He also was arrested in June on suspicion of damaging state property in Illinois and suffers from mental health issues, the prosecutor said.

Francesconi said hed agree to have Bantista sent to a halfway house, the Northwest Residential Re-Entry Center in Northeast Portland, saying he doesnt pose a danger.

He goes to a protest site littered with bouncy balls, and he throws one of them, Francesconi said.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Youlee Yim You ordered Bantista to remain in custody. She said his past criminal history and arrests in Illinois stood out as red flags for her, noting hes on felony supervision and faces other charges.

Bantista is one of 40 people accused of assault on a federal officer stemming from the protests in Portland that began shortly after the May 25 death of George Floyd, a Black man who died after a Minneapolis police office knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes. Another 11 people are accused of federal civil disorder.

Four people have been charged with federal arson or attempted arson. Twenty-one others are accused of failing to comply with a federal officers order. Four are accused of creating a hazard or disturbance on federal property and three with destruction or damaging federal government property.

-- Maxine Bernstein

Email at mbernstein@oregonian.com; 503-221-8212

Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian

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Actress Uzo Aduba wore a tee-shirt with the name Breonna Taylor imprinted on it, when she accepted an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or a Movie for Mrs America, and said, Lets change the world!. Breonna Taylor was a Black woman who was fatally shot in her own home in Kentucky by the police during a drugs investigation. Through the night on Sunday, in almost every acceptance speech, A-list TV stars sat in their homes and spoke of hope, for a better America, and, in turn, a better world.

In many ways, the 72nd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards was nothing like ever before. Held in the middle of a global pandemic, host Jimmy Kimmel spoke to an empty auditorium. This while stars of the night sat in their homes with their families, friends and co-stars, and while fans across the world watched what became a night of passion, power and politics.

Recognising that Covid-19 is changing the world as we know it, the winners did their best to make the most of the night, not just to triumph in their own glory, but to speak of and condemn the injustices exacerbated under the leadership of Unites States (US) President Donald Trump.

From slamming Trumps move to downplay Covid-19, to highlighting police brutality and racial inequality (which reignited the Black Lives Matter movement), the winners emphasised the need for TV fans everywhere to register to vote in the upcoming presidential elections, trust the US Postal Service and elect a government that promotes inclusivity, love, compassion and kindness.

Major stars such as Mark Ruffalo (who won for I Know This Much Is True), Regina King (Watchmen), Dan Levy (Schitts Creek), Jesse Armstrong (Succession) and Anthony Anderson (the star of Blackish, who presented an award), spoke with passion and conviction for their various causes. Ruffalo, whose speech made headlines, said, And if we have privilege, we have to fight for those who are less fortunate and more vulnerable  and thats what is great about America, our diversity We are stronger together when we love each other and we respect each others diversity.

King, said of police brutality, The cops still havent been held accountable. She represents just decades, hundreds of years of violence against Black bodies  Breonna Taylor does., while wearing a tee-shirt honouring Taylor. This was reminiscent of award-winning author and journalist Ta-Nehisi Coates bestseller Between the world and me, in which he wrote of the fear of inhabiting a Black body in America.

Even comedian Kimmel acknowledged that in hosting the event, he had the platform to do more, and so, he did. In his opening monologue, he said, Of course we dont have an audience. This isnt a MAGA (Make America Great Again) rally, its the Emmys. This was a dig at the president, who held a rally even as the pandemic required people to take precautionary measures such as physical distancing. The US has so far seen over six million cases of Covid-19 and over 200,000 deaths.

Whats important about the political overtones that eclipsed the awards show was that these actors have been actively involved in various movements, both on and off screen: Be it the BLM movement, the climate crisis or Covid-19. Their passion-fuelled speeches only proved their resolve.

But make no mistake. This messaging isnt new. Awards shows in the US have been overtly political, more so since Trump came to power in 2016. This includes the Emmys. They have questioned government policies, highlighted gross inequalities in American society and stood up against oppressive structures that they claim destroy American culture. In this regard, it wasnt surprising. But with rising intolerance, White supremacy and exclusionary right-wing populism on the rise, and with the US presidential election only months away, they pleaded with American viewers to make their vote count, to ensure that the November elections are a beacon to build an inclusive America.

But it is often observed that Trump thrives in an environment where the elite attacks his presidency. He claims that the Hollywood A-listers are out of touch with real America. Therefore, the overt politicisation of the awards show can galvanise his campaign and his core base, which thrives in an us vs them narrative.

All in all, the awards show was a signal fire, an attempt for viewers everywhere to dispel Trumps idea of America and vote him out. The elections in November will prove if the messaging of influential artists from the thespian community can effect change. Time will tell.

marika.gabriel@htdigital.in

The views expressed are personal
Dubai:

As the Abu Dhabi-based carrier struggles with investments in European airlines, Australian James Hogan is to standdown as head of the Etihad Airways group, the company said on Wednesday.

After piloting the state-owned Gulf airline through more than a decade of growth, Hogan will leave his post in the second half of 2017, Etihad Aviation Group said in a statement.

Hogan was the architect of a strategy that saw Etihad buy significant stakes and make major investments in other airlines, notably Air Berlin and the long-struggling Alitalia.

But Etihad Aviation Group chairman Mohamed al-Mazrouei said it was time for a company-wide review, following continued cash injections into Etihad's partners.

"We must progress and adjust our airline equity partnerships even as we remain committed to the strategy, "Mazrouei said in the statement.

"We must ensure that the airline is the right size and the right shape."

Hogan's approach was in stark contrast to the strategies of fellow Gulf airlines Emirates, based in Dubai, and QatarAirways, which instead invested in developing their own services.

It saw Etihad spend hundreds of millions on stakes in foreign airlines, including acquisitions of 49 per cent ofAlitalia, 29 percent of Air Berlin, 19.9 percent of VirginAustralia and three per cent of Irish carrier Aer Lingus that it offloaded in 2015.



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Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 23:54:33|Editor: huaxia

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SANAA, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Houthi rebels said a Saudi-led coalition airstrike hit a plastic factory in the western outskirts of the capital Sanaa on Tuesday.

The militia-run al-Masirah TV said the targeted factory is located in Radam area in Bani Matar district.

It provided no further details.

The Saudi-led coalition has made no comment yet on the alleged attack.

Houthi militia has intensified cross-border missile and drone attacks on Saudi cities over the past days. All Houthi attacks had been intercepted, according to the coalition statements.

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 internationally-recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of Sanaa.

The Saudi-led coalition intervened in the Yemeni conflict in March 2015 to support Hadi's government. Enditem
Citing a desire to have a full and independent investigation into the shooting of Jacob Blake by Kenosha Police Officer Rusten Sheskey in August, Wisconsin's Attorney General Josh Kaul has added a new element to the case.

Kaul announced Monday night in a press conference at the Kenosha County Detention Center that former Madison Police Chief Noble Wray has been brought on board as a consultant.

Wray, who retired from Madison in 2013, will receive the final report from the Wisconsin Department of Justice, review and analyze it, and then give his findings to Kenosha County District Attorney Michael Graveley.

Graveley then will make the final decision on whether criminal charges should be brought against Sheskey or the two other officers involved in the Aug. 23 shooting  Vincent Arenas and Brittany Meronek.

"As we have communicated about this investigation as it's moved forward, D.A. Graveley and I have discussed the value that we believe a consultant with expertise in police practices can bring to the evaluation of this case," Kaul said.

"(We) both believe that having an evaluation of the facts conducted by a consultant who can evaluate those facts in light of standard policing practices and explain where they're consistent with those practices or where they differ from them will help reach the most just outcome in this case."

The selection of Wray, who also has worked on the national level since his retirement, was done without Graveley's input, and that was by design, he said.

"When I brought up the idea of the use of force or policing expert to be brought into this case, I asked the Department of Justice to determine that expert themselves," Graveley said. "I actually asked that I not be a part of the selection process, and I did that because I wanted the maximum confidence for whatever decision results in this case."

At the top of priority list is that the investigation be fair to everyone, Graveley said.

"A comprehensive and fair investigation is absolutely what all parties involved in this case deserve," he said.

Graveley said the investigation by the Department of Criminal Investigations is nearing completion. No timetable has been set for that work to be turned over to Wray.

All three officers have been on administrative leave since the shooting, which set off several days of both peaceful protests and rallies in the city and violent riots and civil unrest. Three protesters were shot, two fatally, by 17-year-old Illinois teenager Kyle Rittenhouse on the third night of the unrest.

This is a developing story. For more, see Wednesday's Kenosha News and www.kenoshanews.com.

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Linkedin Nina Loasana (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, September 22, 2020 07:16 487 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c464534b 1 National liputan6com,doxing,intimidation,journalist,Jakarta-police,LBH-Pers Free

Popular news outlet Liputan6.com filed a report of alleged intimidation, in the form of doxing, against one of its journalists, Cakrayuri "Cakra" Nuralam, to the Jakarta Police on Monday.

"We have reported the [unlawful] publication of a Liputan6.com journalist's personal information [to the police]. This report is a way to fight against intimidation toward journalists," Legal Aid Institute for the Press (LBH Pers) director Ade Wahyudin said on Monday.

Liputan6.com editor-in-chief Irna Gustiawati said she had also reported the intimidation to the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) last Tuesday.

In a meeting, the commission said doxing was a violation of human rights, especially since the attack did not only affect the victim but also his family members.

On Sept. 11, several social media accounts published Cakras personal information on several platforms, such as Instagram and Telegram.

In a bid to discredit him, the perpetrator edited Cakra's photos and published them without his consent. Moreover, the perpetrator also edited pictures taken by Liputan6.com journalists to be used in a campaign of harassment against the news outlet and the journalist.

Read also: AJI urges police to investigate alleged intimidation, doxing of Detik journalist

The intimidation was apparently inspired by a fact-check article published on Sept. 10, in which Cakra refuted claims that a member of the House of Representatives from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) is the grandson of the founder of the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) in West Sumatra.

A day later, four Instagram accounts posted Cakra's personal data, such as his social media accounts, email addresses and phone numbers.

Those accounts also posted hate speech against him, calling Cakra "the regime's journalist", "a monkey" and "a PKI supporter" among other things.

Throughout 2019, LBH Pers recorded an increasing number of incidents of violence against journalists, including cyberattacks and doxing. The institute found 79 attacks against journalists in 2019, which was eight more cases than in 2018.

Ade expressed hope that other journalists who experienced similar cyberbullying could also file a report to the police.

"Filing a report is necessary as a deterrent effect against perpetrators. Journalists work for the public interest and they are protected by the Press Law," he said.

According to the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI), three cases of doxing against journalists were reported to authorities in 2018. However, no case of journalist doxing has been solved by the police or law enforcement.
Godwin Obaseki, governor of Edo, says there will be no mercy for Adams Oshiomhole, former national chairman of the All Progressives Congre...

Godwin Obaseki, governor of Edo, says there will be no mercy for Adams Oshiomhole, former national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), if he creates problems in the state.

Obaseki was re-elected on Saturday, having secured the highest votes in the governorship election.

He secured 307,955 votes across 18 local government areas while Osagie Ize-Iyamu, candidate of the APC, polled 223,619 votes.

The governor won in 13 local government areas while Ize-Iyamu, his closest challenger, won in five.





Oshiomhole, Obasekis predecessor, turned his back against the governor and supported Ize-Iyamu.

The former national chairman also made several allegations against the governor.

Speaking on ARISE TV on Tuesday, Obaseki said Oshiomholes negative remarks will no longer be tolerated.

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He said the former APC chairman will be shown no mercy if he tries to create problems in the state.

I dont have any plans to (drive him out of town). But if he continues to behave the way he has always done, if he continues to be disruptive, if he continues to flaunt his lions and tigers in Edo state and tries to create problems for us here, then we would not have any mercy. So it is totally up to him, he said.

Obaseki accused Oshiomhole of causing disharmony between him and Ize-Iyamu whom he described as a relative.

When asked if he would forgive the former governor for his conduct during the campaigns, Obaseki said Oshiomhole betrayed his trust, adding that he should maintain his lane.

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For Oshiomhole, I wont want to say much here. But when you find that you have been deceived, you dont share the same values, you dont trust at all, he said.

It is his responsibility to rebuild that trust and to show if his values align with what we represent as a people. Clearly I am not God but I will say he should on his lane while I maintain mine.

Obaseki said he does not intend to run for senatorial office after the expiration of his second term as governor.

He also said it will be unfair of him to leave the PDP which gave him a platform to be reelected.

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I won the election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). I think it will be immoral and unfair to even have any other consideration at this point about leaving the platform that gave me the mandate, he said.

There must be moral on politics, people must be ethical. At this point in time, I do not think it is a proper thing to do, to jettison the party that has brought me into the party. Particularly, I have no issues or challenge with the party now.
The establishment of the Forum comes amid tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean over Ankara's hunt for gas in violation of the territorial waters of Greece and Cyprus

Six energy ministers, including from Egypt, signed the East Mediterranean Gas Forum (EMGF) charter on Tuesday, establishing a vital platform that brings together gas producers, consumers and transit states to boost a sustainable regional market for gas.

According to a joint statement, Egypts petroleum ministry hosted on Tuesday the signing ceremony of the Middle East energy forum  which will have its headquarters in Cairo  via teleconference with the participation of the seven ministers.

The forums members are Cyprus, Egypt, Greece, Israel, Italy, Jordan.

The forum was formed in January 2019 to "create a regional gas market, optimise resource development, cut the cost of infrastructure, offer competitive prices and improve trade ties.

The EMGF will set a shared vision and systematic and regulated dialogue over natural gas policies to maximise the regions resources.

The EMGF fully respects the rights of its members in their natural resources under international law, and supports efforts to invest their reserves and their use of current and future infrastructure for gas through effective cooperation with gas industry parties, it said.

The statement said that EMGF is open for membership submissions by any state in the Eastern Mediterranean, and any other state or regional or international organisation as an observer.

It said it valued support provided by international parties and organisations including the European Union (EU) and World Bank (WB).

In a separate statement, Egypts Petroleum Minister Tarek El-Molla said that turning the forum into an international governmental organisation in the region gives momentum to establishing a body that aims to bolster cooperation and dialogue over natural gas.

He affirmed the importance of member countries role in finalising the charter in a record time of only 20 months, and establishing the forums bodies despite the unstable global circumstances.

EMGF countries have succeeded in making history and contribute together to pushing peace, he said.

The signing of the charter comes amid tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean region over Ankara's hunt for gas in the region in violation of the territorial waters of Greece and Cyprus, two close allies of Egypt.

Conflict further heightened after Egypt and Greece signed a maritime demarcation deal in August establishing an exclusive economic zone between the two countries, sparking an angry response from Turkey.

However, Greece signalled on Monday a resumption of talks with Turkey over maritime zones, after Ankara retracted an oil and gas exploration vessel from the disputed area.

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The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) have announced that they have signed a strategic agreement to train Emirati astronauts in Nasa.

This partnership aims to prepare Emirati astronauts for advanced space missions by providing them with the highest level of expertise and knowledge.

Under the agreement, four Emirati astronauts will be provided advanced training. Emirati astronauts Hazzaa AlMansoori and Sultan AlNeyadi are currently taking part in the training as part of the strategic partnership between the two organisations.

Two astronauts to be selected from the second batch of the UAE Astronaut Programme will also join the 2021 Nasa Astronaut Candidate Class, in which they will receive the training that US space agencys astronauts undergo. The training programme will prepare Emirati astronauts physically and psychologically for future space missions.

The training programme will be conducted at Nasa's Johnson Space Centre, one of the world's largest centres for spaceflight training, research, and mission control. A pioneer in human space exploration for more than half a century, the Johnson Space Centre, founded in 1961 in Houston, has been at the forefront of American human space flight programmes.

The programme created as part of the new partnership includes the same modules and components featured in the training of Nasa astronauts. Under the programme, the astronauts will be trained to manage various missions on the International Space Station, including simulated spacewalks and long duration stay, along with training in major systems, robotics, extravehicular activity, T-38 jet courses, water and land survival, Russian language skills and theoretical training.

The UAE's participation in the Nasa training programme reflects the global reputation of the countrys space sector and its leadership among spacefaring nations.

AlMansoori and AlNeyadi had earlier trained at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre in Star City, Moscow in September 2018 as part of their preparation for their launch to the International Space Station.

Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, Chairman, Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre, said: The global space sector is based on international cooperation fostered by establishing alliances and building bridges of knowledge with leading international space organisations and agencies. The strategic partnership with Nasa, a space pioneer for more than 60 years, supports the strategy of the UAEs National Space Programme. Emirati astronauts will benefit from Nasas extensive infrastructure, experience and knowledge in spaceflight development and operations."

Al Mansoori further added: This agreement is a clear testament of the strong economic, cultural and diplomatic ties between the UAE and the USA. The UAE space sector today has advanced expertise that must be enhanced and utilised for future space missions. These accomplishments have raised the global profile of the UAE space sector and enhanced the capabilities of Emirati astronauts."

Yousuf Hamad Al Shaibani, Director General, MBRSC, said: "This agreement supports the objectives of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre to promote the Emirates Astronaut Program and global partnerships for the country in the area of manned spaceflight. This is being achieved through investments in specialised space training and other projects related to scientific research and development of space technologies. These initiatives pave the way for future strategic partnerships that can support the growth of the UAEs space sector.

Al Shaibani added: The agreement with Nasa aims to increase the readiness of Emirati astronauts and prepare them for future long-term space missions. The partnership reflects our endeavours to lay strong foundations for the sectors continued development.

The USA and the UAE enjoy a strong relationship in the space sector, and we are excited to extend that relationship with this agreement. The UAE has made extraordinary progress in the space arena in a short amount of time with the successful launch of the Hope Mars probe, the regions first interplanetary spacecraft, the latest example of the countrys ambitious space programme, said James W Morhard, Deputy Administrator, Nasa. This agreement to train Emirati astronauts will pave the way for even closer relations between our two nations creating new opportunities for the UAE to become involved in the International Space Station, Artemis, and other Nasa activities.

Salem AlMarri, Head of the UAE Astronaut Programme, MBRSC, said: This agreement supports the strategic objectives of the UAE Astronaut Programme to enhance the position of the UAE's space sector and contribute, together with counterparts from all across the world, to space research. This initiative represents a quantum leap for the UAE Astronaut Programme, which is one of the main pillars for developing scientific cadres and creating future generations of pioneers, in accordance with the highest international standards. It also contributes to realising the nations aspirations for promoting scientific exploration in this field.

The UAE Astronaut Programme is one of the projects managed by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre and funded by the ICT Fund of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), which aims to support research and development in the ICT sector in the UAE. -- Tradearabia News Service
(Reuters) - Nike Inc beat analysts' estimates for quarterly revenue on Tuesday, powered by a rebound in demand for its sneakers and apparel in China, as well as strong online sales. The world's largest sportswear maker said revenue fell 0.6% to $10.6 billion in the first quarter ended Aug.31, while analysts on average had expected $9.15 billion, according to IBES data from Refinitiv. (Reporting by Nivedita Balu in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila)

(Reuters) - Nike Inc beat analysts' estimates for quarterly revenue on Tuesday, powered by a rebound in demand for its sneakers and apparel in China, as well as strong online sales.

The world's largest sportswear maker said revenue fell 0.6% to $10.6 billion in the first quarter ended Aug.31, while analysts on average had expected $9.15 billion, according to IBES data from Refinitiv.

(Reporting by Nivedita Balu in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
NYPD officer Baimadajie Angwang speaks at a press conference in New York on Feb. 7, 2019. (The Epoch Times)

Chinese Consulate Directed NYPD Officer Who Was Charged With Spying for China: US Prosecutors

A New York Police Department (NYPD) officers arrest has placed a spotlight on how the Chinese consulate seeks to infiltrate and influence local dissident communities.

Baimadajie Angwang, a 33-year-old ethnic Tibetan and naturalized U.S. citizen, was arrested on federal charges for allegedly acting as an illegal agent for Beijing.

Federal investigators found that he was feeding intelligence to the Chinese consulate in New York City, including on the activities of ethnic Tibetans in the New York area. He also developed intelligence sources within Tibetan communities, and helped consular officials gain access to senior NYPD officials through invitations to official NYPD events, according to federal prosecutors.

Angwang was charged for acting as an illegal agent for China, committing wire fraud, making false statements, and obstructing an official proceeding. He is being held without bail.

If convicted of all these charges, he faces up to 55 years of imprisonment, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Though ethnically Tibetan, court documents show that Angwangs loyalty lies with the Chinese regime. In a 2018 conversation with his handler at the consulate, he described himself as an asset of the regime.

Since the Chinese Communist Party invaded the Tibet region, it has severely suppressed local customs and Tibetan Buddhist practices. Many Tibetans have fled persecution in China and thousands have settled in New York City.

Dorjee Tseten, executive director of Students for a Free Tibet, a New York-based advocacy group, said in a statement that the case should be a wake-up call for all our leadersat the federal, state and local levelabout the alarming depth and reach of Chinas espionage operations.

He added that Tibetans have long known the Chinese government is spying on our communities, even in a free country like the United States, and this incident shows the lengths to which Beijing would go to undermine the Free Tibet movement, which believes in political separation between China and Tibet.

Family Background

Angwangs family has extensive ties to both the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the Chinese military, the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA). According to the criminal complaint, his father has retired from the PLA while his mother is a retired Chinese government official. Meanwhile, his brother is currently a PLA reservist.

His parents are also members of the CCP, and the three family members live in China. Court documents did not indicate where in China.

United Front

Before his arrest, Angwang was assigned to NYPDs community affairs unit, serving as a liaison to a portion of Queens serviced by the 111th Precinct.

Angwang began acting at the direction and control of officials at the Chinese consulate in New York since at least 2014, according to the DOJ.

His handler at the consulate was believed to be assigned to the China Association for Preservation and Development of Tibetan Culture, a division of Chinas United Front Work Department (UFWD), according to court documents.

UFWD carries out foreign influence operations known as United Front work to co-opt and neutralize sources of potential opposition to the CCP, according to a 2018 report published by the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC).

United Front work serves to promote Beijings preferred global narrative, pressure individuals living in free and open societies to self-censor and avoid discussing issues unfavorable to the CCP, and harass or undermine groups critical of Beijings policies, the report explained.

In the United States, cultural and friendship associations are one of many local groups guided or funded by the UFWD.

Angwang regularly referred to the Chinese official connected to the UFWD as Boss and the two exchanged texts and talked on the phone on at least 55 occasions between June 2018 to March 2020, according to the criminal complaint. On at least one occasion, Angwang addressed the official as big brother.

In a phone call in November 2018, Angwang suggested to the official that the latter needed to develop intelligence sources from Catholics, Muslims, or people of Hui ethnicity in the Tibetan community.

In another phone call in February 2019, Angwang identified a U.S. citizen of Tibetan ethnicity as a good intelligence source, who planned to run for political office again in the future after an unsuccessful campaign. Angwang said he would send information about the individual, including his past employment and family members, to the Chinese official.

Falun Gong

The Epoch Times sister media, New Tang Dynasty Television (NTD), was a topic of conversation between Angwang and the Chinese official during a phone call in November 2019.

In the call, Angwang sought permission from the Chinese official on whether he could appear on NTDs program Xiaotian Interview, saying he didnt dare to be too reckless. According to the criminal complaint, NTD asked the NYPD for an officer with fluency in the Mandarin dialect as a candidate for its interview, and the NYPD responded by asking Angwang if he could do it.

In response, the Chinese official told Angwang he absolutely shouldnt do it because China is totally against [NTD] due to its ties to Falun Gong.

In the future, if you want to go back [to China] or something, it will have an enormous impact, the official said, warning Angwang about the consequences if he were to appear on the NTD program.

Incidentally, Angwang had appeared on NTD news segments in April 2019 and November 2019. But he did not appear on the Xiaotian show.

Once you go on their program, China does not differentiate whether you are FLG [Falun Gong] or not, the official added, before adding that China has not eased up on FLG.

The Epoch Times and NTD were founded in 2000 and 2001 respectively by a group of Chinese-Americans who are adherents of the spiritual practice known as Falun Gong. They founded the media in order to bring a free press to China.

While The Epoch Times and NTD were founded by Falun Gong practitioners, they are independent businesses that dont represent Falun Gong, nor are they owned by it.

Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a spiritual practice with meditative exercises and moral teachings based on truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance. According to the Falun Dafa Information Center, there were 70 million to 100 million adherents prior to the Chinese regimes persecution in July 1999. Since then, hundreds of thousands have been detained and tortured in jails, brainwashing centers, and labor camps.

The Chinese official asked Angwang to come up with a suitable [reason] to turn down NTDs interview request.

Angwang also asked the Chinese official if the presence of NTD reporters at NYPD press conferences would be a problem. In reply, the Chinese official said: You cannot block them from coming. Its freedom of the press.

According to the criminal complaint, Angwang informed his NYPD superiors that he did not want to be interviewed by NTD in January 2020.

It is unclear if officials at the New York Chinese consulate paid him for the information he provided. However, a conversation dated December 2018 between Angwang and the Chinese handler suggested that payments were made to Angwang.

During the phone call, Angwang said that he was willing to assist without the expectation of paymentwhatever is worth money or not worth money to your side.

Moreover, investigators uncovered financial ties between Angwang and China beginning in 2014.

In January 2014, Angwang received two separate payments of $50,000 and $20,000 from an account at the Bank of China in New York.

In April 2016, Angwang wired $100,000 from a U.S. bank account to a bank account in China held by his brother. Angwang wired an additional $50,000 a month later to another Chinese account held by an unnamed individual. Also in May 2016, his brother wired Angwang $49,985.
The Bobcat fire burning through the Angeles National Forest reached Cruthers Creek as viewed from Juniper Hills and Longview roads. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Highway 1 reopened Monday after a closure that lasted more than a month as firefighters battled flames near Big Sur in Monterey County.

But millions of acres of public lands remain closed because of fire threats or air befouled by smoke. Along the Sierra in the center of the state, Yosemite and Sequoia national parks are closed, but Kings Canyon National Park is expected to reopen Wednesday.

In Southern California, all of the region's national forests are closed, including Angeles, Cleveland, Los Padres and San Bernardino national forests.

The Forest Service has a regional order in place that closes those forests through Wednesday. It's still "a day to day decision" on when to reopen, said U.S. Forest Service spokesman Jonathan Groveman.

As of Tuesday morning, the Bobcat fire in Angeles national forest had claimed more than 109,000 acres and was 17% contained.

Joshua Tree and Death Valley national parks remain open.

Farther north, these national forests are open to varying degrees: Eldorado, Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, Lassen, Mendocino, Modoc, Plumas, Shasta-Trinity, Stanislaus, and Tahoe. These forests are closed through at least Thursday: Inyo, Sequoia, Sierra, Klamath and Six Rivers.

Over the last month, since the Dolan fire was sparked in Monterey County (Aug. 18) and Caltrans first closed Highway 1 (Aug. 19), the roadblocks have moved with the fire lines. For its last several days, the closure covered the 13 miles between Gorda and Lucia, just south of Big Sur.

Meanwhile, though the road is open, several of Monterey County's state parks remain closed, including Julia Pfeiffer Burns, John Little State Natural Reserve, Limekiln, Pfeiffer Big Sur and Point Sur State Historic Park. And the fire still burns.

As of Tuesday morning, the Dolan fire had blackened more than 128,000 acres and was 46% contained. About 535 firefighters are currently working on the blaze, whose origins are unknown.





Authorities urged would-be visitors to check individual forest web pages (for specific restrictions), the Cal Fire website (for updates on the blazes in progress) and AirNow or a comparable source (for air-quality readings).





This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
CAIRO - One of five members of the current Libyan Presidential Council, Mohammed al-Ammari, has firmly rejected an agreement signed Friday by deputy premier Ahmed Maitig and general Khalifa Haftar to resume oil production and exports from all oilfields and terminals in the country, including those patrolled by Russian mercenaries or troops loyal to the Cyrenaica strongman. ''We confirm our absolute refusal of any parallel process of negotiation on the source of income of the Libyan people or the signature of any accord with the man whose hands are stained with Libyan blood'', wrote al-Ammari in a statement printed on paper with the letterhead of the ''Presidential Council of the Government of National Accord'' of which ANSA obtained a copy. The member of the Council led by the outgoing premier Fayez al-Sarraj also ''welcomed the revocation of the main force announced by Noc'', the Libyan national company, on ''some safe oil installations or in which there are foreign mercenaries''. Al-Ammari among other things stated that ''the only way out of this crisis'' includes the intention announced last Wednesday by Sarraj to step down by the end of next month and the ''upcoming organization of legislative elections based on the electoral law of 2014''. The statement came after others opposed the agreement between Maitig and Haftar including, among, others, Noc; the president of the High Council of State, Khalid Al-Mishri; the military commander of the western zone, Osama Joueili, and allegedly Sarraj.
Mayank Singh By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: In a significant move aimed at easing tension on the Line of Actual Control (LAC), India and China have agreed to stop sending additional troops to their respective sides of the LAC in eastern Ladakh. The major decision was taken while the Corps Commanders of the two countries met for the sixth round of talks on Monday.

A joint India-China official statement issued on Tuesday read, Corps Commanders agreed to earnestly implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, strengthen communication on the ground, avoid misunderstandings and misjudgments, stop sending more troops to the frontline, refrain from unilaterally changing the situation on the ground, and avoid taking any actions that may complicate the situation. There are 40,000 troops each from the Indian and Chinese sides with tanks, artillery and missiles positioned against each other.

ALSO READ: China doubles air bases, air defence positions and heliports near LAC

The Indian Army described the talk as candid in which the Indian and Chinese senior commanders had in-depth exchanges of views on stabilising the situation along the LAC in the India- China border areas.

Both sides said the talks will continue. The two sides also agreed to hold the 7th round of Military Commander-Level Meeting as soon as possible, take practical measures to properly solve problems on the ground, and jointly safeguard peace and tranquility in the border area, the joint statement added.

ALSO READ: Government's high-power China Study Group carries out comprehensive review of situation in eastern Ladakh

In a bid to resolve the issue with better inputs from all quarters, the Indian team comprised Naveen Srivastava, Joint Secretary (East) in the MEA and a senior representative of the The Indo-Tibetan Border Police, in addition to the military commanders of the 14 Corps, which has entire LAC in Ladakh as its area of responsibility. The marathon talks were held on Monday for about 14 hours in Moldo on the Chinese side of the LAC across Indias Chushul sector in eastern Ladakh.

Demand for early, complete pullout

The Indian delegation headed by Lt Gen Harinder Singh pressed for an early and complete pullout of Chinese troops from all the friction points. The two sides also mentioned about the harsh winter in the Ladakh region beginning October when temperatures fall up to -25 degree C and oxygen becomes scarce
CONDITIONAL CITIZENS

On Belonging in America

By Laila Lalami



Laila Lalami begins Conditional Citizens with the promise of U.S. citizenship: On a steamy day in 2000, she goes to the Pomona Fairplex, a place that also hosts the Los Angeles County Fair, to be sworn in as an American citizen. Moroccan by birth, Lalami came to the United States for graduate studies in linguistics, fully intending to return home. But she met a man, fell in love  and stayed. She and hundreds of other immigrants who have studied and mastered the grand ideals of this country are handed miniature American flags that day and pledge an oath to the United States, its Constitution and its laws. These ceremonies can be deeply moving, and Lalami, a novelist who often writes about being an outsider, emerges convinced she is now an equal citizen in a country where everyone shares common values.

I thought, somewhat naively, I admit, that I would be treated no differently than other Americans, Lalami writes. In joining Americas 22 million naturalized citizens, she assumed she had gotten the key to the promised land; she is the bearer of an American passport. It doesnt take long for her  an immigrant, woman, Arab and Muslim  to grasp the yawning gap between the ideal taught in civics lessons and reality. In many ways, she argues, she is a conditional citizen, one who soon understands what it is like for a country to embrace you with one arm and push you away with the other.

Conditional citizens, in Lalamis account, are not allowed to dissent or question the choices of their government; if they do, they are viewed with suspicion, their allegiance to their new country questioned. Conditional citizens also have less freedom of movement. Border patrol agents rely on at least 136 checkpoints (the total number in operation at any given time is not publicly available) that are up to 100 miles inside of U.S. borders to stop and question residents. That territory potentially ensnares two-thirds of this countrys population, and each year, hundreds of U.S. citizens are wrongfully held in immigration jails.

[ Read an excerpt from Conditional Citizens. ]

Lalami shows how our nations schizophrenia toward immigrants  Immigrants built this great country! We are a nation of immigrants! Immigrants bring disease, crime and rob us of our jobs!  can give conditional citizens whiplash as they are simultaneously regarded as Americas best hope and its gravest threat, a combination of suspicion and rejection that Asians, Italians and the Irish, among others, have all faced.
Russia said Tuesday it will develop military cooperation with Tehran after a United Nations arms embargo on Iran expires next month.

"New opportunities will emerge in our cooperation with Iran after the special regime imposed by UN Security Council Resolution 2231 expires on October 18," Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, told the Interfax news agency.

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Imagine how Master KG felt when President Ramaphosa recommended that South Africa take up the "Jerusalema" challenge on Heritage Day. Perhaps it felt better than the day the song hit 100 million views on YouTube. Or better than the day Nigeria's biggest music star, Burna Boy, remixed the song, propelling it right across Africa and straight onto the US Billboard charts. And what about the day the dance challenge started (in Romania of all places) and then spread like wildfire?

Timing is everything

The case for collaboration

The sincerity factor and authenticity

There have been many highlights for Master KG and his collaborator Nomcebo since "Jerusalema" was released in November 2019, every one of them a marketers dream. The process of a company bringing a new consumer product to market couldnt be more different from an artist releasing a new piece of art, but are there lessons here for product marketers and brand managers?Marketers start by lining up all their facts  perceived need, consumer research, price points, etc. When everything is in place they release the product, surrounding it with a big budget to ensure that consumers go out and buy it. Its an expensive undertaking and no company is going to do it unless theres a quantifiable and achievable profit at the end.Artists are the opposite. Whether the artist is a painter, writer or musician, theyre not producing their art in the expectation of profit, but because they have something inside them that needs expression. Its instinctive and driven by passion and dreams. They put it out there never quite knowing whether its going to land.When we study the "Jerusalema" phenomenon, certainly timing contributed to the songs success, coinciding with the advent of the coronavirus as it did. The world was in shock and everyone was going through a tough time. Along came a song with the universal appeal of an upbeat melody, which was then added to by an easy-to-learn traditional African dance, and it proved to be just what the world needed at the time. This couldnt have been planned for or managed, it just happened.But "Jerusalema" seems to prove that the bigger the need the bigger the impact of the product that addresses it. The need to be reminded of joy and celebration gave the song and its trajectory. How many of the consumer products that are launched into the world every day are really new, and how many answer a real and equally new need?There is also a lot to be said for the collaboration factor. Master KG made a better song when he invited Nomcebo Zikode to join him, but this was his only intended collaboration. Burna Boy enhanced the song with his remix, a happy but uninvited collaboration, as did the first dance challenge. If anything, "Jerusalema" proves the case for collaboration, even with unexpected partners.Marketers already know that packaging and distribution are important. Whats interesting about Master KG is that he has understood this because hes kept himself in touch with his audience. He knows that he finds most of his fans on Facebook, but he also knows that he has an audience that is not digital. He produced a CD because it was the best way for his grandfather to hear his music, and it turned out his grandfather wasnt the only one who wanted a CD. If anything, he is a master of people with whom he has a deep affinity, a quality that few marketers possess.Then there is the sincerity factor. Even though the lyrics are in a little-understood local language, Jerusalem is a holy city sacred to many religions. Using its name made the gospel nature of the song clear for all to see. No doubt it evoked a global subconscious spiritual connection, and that connection is the key. Not to put too fine a point on it, there is something sacred in making a real connection with an audience, whether youre a product, a company or an artist.Another equally important lesson is about authenticity. "Jerusalema" is a good song that comes from a good authentic place. No doubt Master KG hoped for success but he couldnt have dreamt of the scale on which hes achieved it. His song wasnt motivated by the hard, cold cynicism that profit inevitably requires, but by his passion for his art. How many products do you know that do the same thing or rather have the same passion for the consumer? Obviously, its hard for a bar of soap to achieve this, but then I would question the necessity of yet another samey consumer product.Im not suggesting that every consumer product can be a "Jerusalema" but theres no doubt that many would benefit from addressing a human truth rather than being only driven purely by a profit motive. If the coronavirus and "Jerusalema" have taught us anything it is that commercial consideration doesnt move consumers. Heart does.
PRAGUE and DUSSELDORF, Germany, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Ondrej Vlcek, CEO of Avast (LSE: AVST), a global leader in digital security and privacy products, and Garry Kasparov, chess grandmaster, chairman of the Human Rights Foundation in New York, and Avast Security Ambassador, will be discussing privacy and security in our "new normal" at DMEXCO @home , this year's virtual version of the conference focusing on digital business, marketing, and innovation. The conversation will be streamed on Wednesday, September 23, at 4 p.m. CET in Studio 1 of DMEXCO.

Nikolaus Rottger, journalist and founder of the start-up magazine Business Punk and co-founder of the strategic future and brand consulting company FutureStory, will moderate the discussion around digital privacy and security in the current global situation, where professional and social activities have moved online. The speakers will discuss whether people have the rights, tools and knowledge to protect themselves, and if AI can help fight bad actors.



The conference agenda can be found here .

About Garry Kasparov, Avast Security Ambassador

Garry Kasparov became the youngest world chess champion in history in 1985 and was the world's top-rated player for 20 years. He first discovered the potential of AI during his famous matches against the supercomputer Deep Blue. Ever since, he's spoken about future tech, most recently as Avast's security ambassador. His matches against arch-rival Anatoly Karpov and the IBM supercomputer Deep Blue popularized chess and machine intelligence in unprecedented ways.

About Ondrej Vlcek, CEO of Avast

Ondrej Vlcek serves as Chief Executive Officer for Avast. Together with his senior management team, he executes on Avast's vision to deliver people-centric security and spearheads the Company's product innovation program for emerging consumer technology categories, including the Internet of Things and 5G security. Mr. Vlcek was previously President of Avast Consumer, the largest business within the Company, and directed the development of Avast's artificial intelligence-based cloud security network. Mr. Vlcek was also a key member of the executive team that took the company public on the London Stock Exchange in May 2018.

About Avast

Avast (LSE:AVST) is a global leader in digital security products. With over 400 million users online, Avast offers products under the Avast and AVG brands that protect people from threats on the internet and the evolving IoT threat landscape. The company's threat detection network is among the most advanced in the world, using machine learning and artificial intelligence technologies to detect and stop threats in real time. Avast digital security products for Mobile, PC or Mac are top-ranked and certified by VB100, AV-Comparatives, AV-Test, SE Labs and others. Visit: www.avast.com.

Media contact

[email protected]

SOURCE Avast

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JAMUL, Calif., Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Authors Kerry McDonald and Robert Coles see Sir Henry Morton Stanley as a historical figure that should be learned from. Their debut book, Into Africa, is a re-imagining of the Stanley-Livingstone story. It highlights Stanley's troubling attitude towards race and women, amidst the stark realities of the African slave trade.

Available on publisher's website: https://www.level4press.com/book-into-africa

Into Africa Book Cover

"Dr. Livingstone, I presume?"a phrase that captured the imagination of millions and catapulted Stanley into international stardomhas come under new scrutiny. According to BBC News, more than 1000 people inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement have signed a petition to remove Stanley's statue in Wales. They claim that he is a symbol of "excessive violence, wanton destruction, the selling of laborers into slavery, and shooting Africans indiscriminately."

"Slavery destroyed Africa to such an extent that it has not recovered," states Coles. "Through the main character, Janet, and to a lesser extent, David Livingstone, I want readers to see it was possible then and now for whites to change, to break from Victorian racial mores. I want readers to view this change from an African perspective, where it will take more than words and promises to transform. For whites to change, they will have to initiate new deeds and actions and make difficult decisions, but it is possible."

It's the 19th century, and Africa is under British colonial rule. World famous missionary and explorer, David Livingstone, has vanished. His sister, Janet, receives a cryptic message from Africa, along with a necklace she gave him, and she knows he is still alive and needs her help.

Enter the divisive Henry Stanley. All too happy to make his mark by finding David Livingstone, he is not about to let a woman slow him down. He'd lead the team, assuming Janet, who had never left her tiny Scottish town, would simply drop out before they even started.

Into Africa is the thrilling story of Janet Livingstone, her epic clash with Henry Stanley, and her surprising relationship with their guide, Goma Foutou, amidst the brutal reality of a continent ravaged by the slave trade and European colonialism.

Learn more about Level 4 Press: https://www.level4press.com/corporateinformation

SOURCE Level 4 Press Inc.

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The family of David McAtee has filed a lawsuit against Louisville Police and the National Guard after his shooting death in June.

A Kentucky family seeks justice after their loved-one died from a shooting at the hands of law enforcement.

Read More: Louisville police officers under investigation in Breonna Taylor shooting death

USA Today reports David YaYa McAtee died June 1 from a single bullet wound to the chest fired by an unnamed guard member. The shooting occurred as the Louisville Metro Police and the Kentucky National Guard responded to protests demanding justice for Breonna Taylor. McAtee, a 53-year-old restaurant owner, was fatally wounded in his kitchen during the violent exchange.

David McAtee (Credit: WLKY-TV)

According to the news outlet, attorneys representing the McAtee family claimed the overuse of force and missteps by officers and soldiers, including violating department policies and direct orders, resulted in the death of their loved one in a lawsuit filed on Monday. The police officials said evidence showed that the victim fired at least two rounds from a 9mm handgun and that two guard members and two police officers fired at least 19 shots in response. The two officers are identified as Katie Crews and Austin Allen.

Steve Romines, a Louisville civil rights attorney, informed USA Today one reason for the lawsuit is the family has not been able to get clear answers on the guards role, policies, and chain of command that night. The weekend in question, protests across the city resulted in Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear deploying the National Guard for the first time in decades. Romines told the news platform any reports of unrest near the area of the shooting are false.

Theyre lies, Romines said to USA Today. Any hope of change, voluntary change is just that  hope.

Read More: Yvette Gentry, a Black woman, named interim police chief in Louisville

LOUISVILLE, KY  JUNE 06: General view of a makeshift memorial for David McAtee outside the location where he was shot and killed by police in the early hours of Monday morning on June 6, 2020 in Louisville, Kentucky. This is the 12th day of protests since George Floyd died in Minneapolis police custody on May 25. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)

A police raid carried out across the street at a Dinos Food Mart lead to the disruption. On the night of the shooting, McAtee fired back after several people rushed to his property after being targeted with pepper balls, chemical, and projectile weapons at the hands of law enforcement and national guard soldiers. According to USA Today, McAtee was uninformed of the events unfolding at the Dinos across the street from his property.

Story continues

From inside the kitchen, Maychelle McAtee and David McAtee did not know that the persons firing (pepper balls) at the restaurant were law enforcement officers, the lawsuit stated according to the news outlet.

USA Today reports officer Crews wandered away from her peers taking a different route and was seen on camera walking towards the property line and shooting pepper balls onto David McAtees property, including inside of the kitchen. Maychelle McAtee, the victims niece was hit three times by the pepper balls. She is a plaintiff alongside his mother Odessa Riley.

Listed in the lawsuit are unspecified compensatory and punitive damages for wrongful death, assault on McAtee and his niece, excessive use of force, negligence, trespassing, and emotional distress according to USA Today.

The complaint also detailed how the cops and guard violated LMPDs standard operating procedures for crowd dispersal by not identifying themselves by name and rank, not issuing a dispersal order, not giving people a reasonable amount of time to disperse, and not warning people before the use of any chemical agent, USA Today reports.

Jean Porter, a spokeswoman for Mayor Greg Fischer told the news website the lawsuit is being reviewed. The Governor offered USA Today no comment. J. Michael Brown, Beshears Executive Cabinet secretary, said nothing exists to suggest a significant difference between the findings and what had been preliminarily determined by police based on surveillance video claiming the shooting was justified.

The news of this lawsuit comes shortly after the family of Taylor was awarded $12 million in a wrongful death lawsuit against the city of Louisville. theGrio reported despite the settlement and the passing of an ordinance titled Breonnas Law, which banned no-knock warrants, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron has yet to announce whether charges will be filed against the three officers involved.

Have you subscribed to theGrios podcast Dear Culture? Download our newest episodes now!

The post Family of David McAtee files lawsuit against Louisville police, National Guard appeared first on TheGrio.
The European Union is ready to provide EUR 1.2 billion in macro-financial assistance to Ukraine, but constructive cooperation with the International Monetary Fund and strengthening of the rule of law is needed.

"We are ready to provide EUR 1.2 billion in macro-financial assistance to help address the economic downturn caused by the coronavirus pandemic, but Ukraine needs to work constructively with the International Monetary Fund and implement all the requirements to strengthen the rule of law," Vice President of the European Commission, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said at a joint briefing with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba in Kyiv, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

As Borrell noted, coronavirus is one of the biggest challenges faced today, and the European Union expresses its solidarity with Ukraine, in particular by providing unprecedented support for Ukraine to combat the pandemic. "This is almost EUR 200 million, the largest financial assistance provided to our eastern partners," the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy stressed.

On September 22, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy - Vice President of the European Commission Josep Borrell makes the first official visit to Ukraine since assuming his position.

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A Chinese city on the border with Myanmar last week began testing thousands of residents for the coronavirus after two Myanmar migrants tested positive.

In Ruili, a Yunnan province transit point on the porous 2,200-kilometer border, officials issued a lockdown order. Authorities rounded up many illegal migrant workers and sent them back to Myanmar.

China declared Ruili was in wartime mode as officials launched an effort to test some 200,000 people. Ruan Chengfa, deputy secretary of Yunnans party committee, said in a meeting that authorities had a strict policy of complete inspection, strict quarantine. No entry and no exit.

By Thursday, September 17, or two weeks after the first two migrant cases were detected, more than 360 testing sites had been set up in Ruili, with 1,200 health workers conducting tests.

On Monday, provincial authorities said all residents have tested negative for coronavirus, and the citywide stay-at-home order would be lifted, according to Reuters.

Apart from the two imported cases, no local cases nor local transmission of the virus were found, the Yunnan government said in a statement

Home quarantine for residents was scheduled to be lifted on Monday at 10 p.m. but cinemas, bars and internet cafes will remain shut, Reuters reported from the statement.

That partial reopening will come a day after the Myanmar Health Ministry announced a stay-at-home order for the Yangon region effective Monday amid a record daily increase in new cases of COVID-19. There are 44 townships in the Yangon region with a total population of more than 5 million people.

On Monday, the health ministry said it had recorded 264 new coronavirus cases, with most of the recent new infections in Yangon, Myanmars largest city and commercial center. Myanmar has reported a total of 6,151 COVID-19 cases and 98 deaths as of Monday, according to the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center.

The Ruili episode began on September 3, when a 32-year-old woman from Myanmar took her three children and two nurses across the border from Muse to Ruili and stayed at her sister's home, according to one of Chinas official news outlets, The Global Times.

Everyone in the sisters residential area was tested, and all 1,185 results were negative. Authorities tracked down 190 close contacts and quarantined them, according to the report.



While the virus appears to be under control in much of China, Myanmar has seen a recent spike in COVID-19 cases and the scare in Ruili resulted in the shutdown of all business operations and public transit with everyone required to wear masks in public places.

The lockdown made life difficult for many.

Even though the border gate is not completely closed, there are very few trucks crossing the border, Win Aung Khant, chairman of Muse Highway Truckers Association said. Myanmar trucks are not allowed to enter or unload goods in  Ruili. There are almost no Myanmar workers in Chinese side.

Nang Aye Sein, spokesperson for the Lashio Chamber of Commerce, said agricultural and fishery export businesses were the most affected by the lockdown.

In a press conference on September 14, Yang Bianqiang, deputy director of the police department in Dehong Prefecture, where Ruili is located, said securing the border was difficult.

There is no natural border between Ruili and Myanmar, he said. Citizens in Ruili and Myanmar speak the same language and visit each other very often. It is difficult to monitor their travels.

The Myanmar and Yunnan border is infamous for its illicit activities in commodities such as jade, the number of illegal migrant workers who cross into China and the Chinese who cross into Myanmar to gamble in border town casinos.

In February, authorities on each side of the border in Ruili and Muse cooperated after five people believed to be infected with the coronavirus crossed from China into Myanmar.
If Joe Biden wins the election, will he go along with the Democrats proposal to pack the Supreme Court? Good question! Biden admits, in fact, that it is a legitimate question, but one he prefers not to answer:

Joe Biden on court packing: Im not going to answer that questionhttps://t.co/474yMypd1T pic.twitter.com/FZhkF8oJSq  RNC Research (@RNCResearch) September 22, 2020



I think we can take it that the answer is yes, but dont look for any mainstream reporters to press Biden on the issue.
Sooinn Lee, Co-Founder & CEO of Enuma, Inc., which provides digital early learning solutions that are accessible to all children, has been named a Schwab Foundation Social Innovator of the Year 2020 in the Social Entrepreneur category. Lee is being recognized as one of 23 change-makers responding to the needs of those disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and is one of the few awardees in the education field. Lee will accept the award during the World Economic Forums Sustainable Development Impact Summit at 5:00am Pacific Time on 22 September.

COVID-19 is widening the gap between those with resources and access, and those without, says Sooinn Lee, Co-Founder & CEO of Enuma. We want to help all children learn in spite of this global pandemic, regardless of their circumstance. Enuma has been tackling issues of equity and inclusion in education through the use of technology long before the pandemic. Since its founding, Enumas solutions have enabled self-directed learning for children across a wide range of abilities and contexts, including remote villages and refugee camps without internet or teachers. In response to the education crisis caused by the global pandemic, Enuma made its early learning program Kitkit School available for free through 2021, with the support of the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). Kitkit School does not require wifi once installed on a tablet, and is currently available in English and Swahili. Enuma aims to increase the number of languages and cultures where it can be used.

Im a game designer and my husband/co-founder is an engineer, says Sooinn Lee. When our son was born with special needs, we made the decision to focus on using technology to help all children learn independently. They founded Enuma in 2012, and their products have now reached over eight million people across six continents.

This is not the first time Enuma and Lee have been recognized internationally. In 2019, Enumas Kitkit School was named a co-winner of the Global Learning XPRIZE, which challenged teams to develop open-source, scalable software that would enable children without access to schools to teach themselves basic reading, writing and math within 15 months. In 2017, Lee was named an Ashoka Fellow for changing the paradigm of basic education through child-centered learning.

The Schwab Foundation social innovator awardees are being recognized for driving significant social and environmental impact in service of vulnerable and excluded communities. They were selected based on their innovative approach and potential for global impact. The Social Innovators of the Year 2020 represent a new ecosystem of leaders who are driving change and shifting organizations and systems towards a more just, inclusive, sustainable future, said Hilde Schwab, Co-Founder and Chairperson of the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship.

About Enuma, Inc.

Enuma is a mission-driven company that creates exceptional learning apps to enable all children, including children with special needs, to become independent learners. The name Enuma comes from the word enumerate, or to name one by one, which underscores our commitment to every childs individual success.

Enumas products include Todo Math and Todo English with over 8 million downloads worldwide, along with Kitkit School, a tablet-based learning suite for early learners that co-won the Global Learning XPRIZE. Enuma was founded in 2012, and is headquartered in Berkeley, California with offices in Seoul and Beijing.

________________

Notes to editors

Visit Enuma: https://enuma.com/

Visit Kitkit School: http://kitkitschool.com/

Request free access to Kitkit School: http://kitkitschool.com/download-request/

For more information on the Schwab Foundation Social Innovators of the Year 2020, visit https://www.schwabfound.org/
SAO PAULO, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- As Climate Week 2020 (September 21st to 27th) takes on a consequential role in determining how society moves forward in a post-pandemic world, Natura &Cothe group that comprises Avon, Natura, The Body Shop, and Aesoptoday announces significant steps to support key multilateral efforts to deepen its commitments to address the climate crises and to tackle gender inequality. Natura & Co launched its Commitment to Life on June 15th 2020 and stated that it will achieve net zero carbon emissions for its four businesses by 2030. The company also committed to achieve gender parity by 2023.

Roberto Marques joins the Board of United Nations Global Compact

Roberto Marques, Executive Chairman and Group CEO of Natura &Co will continue the legacy of Natura &Co's co-founder Guilherme Leal by joining the Board of UN Global Compact, the world's largest sustainability initiative. He will be the sole representative on the Board hailing from Latin America. Guilherme Leal served on the UN Global Compact Board for two years.

Mr Marques commented: "I'm honored to continue the legacy of Guilherme Leal by joining the Board of UN Global Compact. Now more than ever, as we plan to build back better in a post-COVID-19 world, business leaders across sectors must work together collectively to create a clear path towards a more sustainable environment and more inclusive society. The United Nations have the legitimacy and the necessary connections to do that. I look forward to working with a group of leaders who have consistently demonstrated their commitment to addressing the world's most pressing issues."

At the invitation of UN Global Compact, Natura &Co will sponsor two Initiatives: Ambition to 1.5oC and Target Gender Equality, to help drive dialogue and action towards achieving the ambitions of the UN Sustainable Development Goals addressing both the climate crisis and gender equality.

The two Initiatives are time-bound accelerator programs rolled out at the country level in collaboration with Global Compact Local Networks, operating in nearly 70 countries. They are designed to mainstream sustainable business practices, scaling the collective impact of business toward the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. With their local and regional expertise, Local Networks are uniquely positioned to help companies understand what responsible business means within different national, cultural and language contexts.

Sanda Ojiambo, CEO and Executive Director of the UN Global Compact added: "Natura &Co has consistently demonstrated its commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through its business practices, and so we're delighted that they will be UN Global Compact patrons on global climate action and for the Target Gender Equality programs. Their support will help raise the bar for business action on the climate crises and gender equality across the world and we look forward to working with them."

Mr Marques commented: "We will leverage, more than ever, the power of the "&" and the "Co" in Natura &Co. The "&" represents our belief that economic development and environmental protection is achievable, while the "Co" represents the power of cooperation, collaboration, and all that unites people towards action. It's why we believe that governments, civil society, businesses, scientific communities, financial institutions, and academia must work together to find solutions that enable faster and wider positive impact. The age of unilateralism is over. We need to embrace a multilateral approach in how we, as a society, drive decisions, even when we don't yet have all the answers. We're committed to ensuring that this is the decade of decisive, urgent action for the climate and gender equality."

In June 2020, Natura &Co announced its Commitment to Life, a comprehensive sustainability plan which stepped up the Group's actions to tackle some of the world's most pressing issues, including the climate crisis and protecting the Amazon, the defense of Human Rights, and ensuring equality and inclusion throughout its network, and embracing circularity and regeneration by 2030.

During Climate Week, Natura &Co will participate in a series of key discussions and panels designed to progress the environmental and social agenda.

Monday 21st September

Peace One Day Event  UN Peace Day. Click here.

UN Global Compact Private Sector Forum. Click here.

Tuesday 22nd September

UN Global Compact impact Forum. Click here.

Wednesday 23rd September

UN Global Compact/BTEAM/ICC/UNDESA SDG Business Forum. Click here.

CDP Event  Unlocking Nature's potential. Click here.

About Natura &Co

Natura &Co is a global, purpose-driven, multi-channel, and multi-brand cosmetics group which includes Avon, Natura, The Body Shop, and Aesop. Natura &Co posted net revenues of R$ 14.4 billion in 2019 and R$32.9 billion on a proforma basis, including Avon. The four companies that form the group are committed to generating positive economic, social, and environmental impact. For 130 years Avon has stood for women: providing innovative, quality beauty products which are primarily sold to women, through women. Founded in 1969, Natura is a Brazilian multinational in the cosmetics and personal care segment, leader in direct sales. Founded in 1976 in Brighton, England, by Anita Roddick, The Body Shop is a global beauty brand that seeks to make a positive difference in the world. The Australian beauty brand Aesop was established in 1987 with a quest to create a range of superlative products for skin, hair and the body.

Contacts

For Press:

Amy Greene  Vice-President for Communications

[email protected]

For Sustainability:

Marcelo Behar  Vice-President for Sustainability & Group Affairs

[email protected]

SOURCE Natura & Co
UPDATED: 11.05am

The HSE chief executive Paul Reid says he is "very concerned" about the number of people in hospital with Covid-19.

There have been 14 new admissions to Irish hospitals with Covid-19 in the last 24 hours, the highest daily figure since the end of May.

There are now 94 people in hospital due to the virus compared to 23 a month ago, with 17 cases in ICU, leading to concerns from the HSE.

However, the HSEs chief clinical officer Dr Colm Henry has warned that more intensive care beds are not the solution to the spread of Covid-19.

We cant rely on intensive care beds as a line of defence, Dr Henry told Newstalk Breakfast, adding that the only way to prevent spread of the virus was to limit contacts.

We need to reduce any opportunity to catch [Covid]. You need to assume you have the virus in terms of your social contacts.

Advertisement

Dr Henry said that while there was the aim to double the number of ICU beds, that would not prevent community transfer which was the problem.

Yes, we absolutely need more beds, they were at a miserable 225 and were at 278 beds now.

Trained staff and the availability of specialist equipment such as ventilators were what had led to a 79 per cent recovery rate earlier this year, he added.

This comes as a leading immunology expert says several more counties are on the brink of Level Three restrictions due to increased levels of Covid-19.

Another 188 cases of the virus were reported yesterday, including 25 in Cork, 21 in Donegal and 16 in Kildare.

According to a new Department of Health survey, 52 per cent of the population are in favour of more restrictions being introduced.

Professor Kingston Mills, from Trinity College, says more counties are in danger of restrictions similar to Dublin's.

"There's a number of counties now where the rate per 100,000 is creeping up and with the pubs opening, that's not the ideal situation.

"I imagine if those numbers creep up in those counties, we could be looking at further restrictions in a number of other counties outside Dublin."

Level Three restrictions were imposed in Dublin from midnight last Friday, while such restrictions are reportedly being discussed for seven counties outside the capital: Louth, Waterford, Limerick, Kildare, Leitrim, Donegal and Offaly.
HAMILTONBack in March, when the pandemic forced schools across Hamilton to close, Wendy Young broke the bad news to her music students at Orchard Park Secondary School.

The concerts theyd prepared for would be cancelled, she told them. No more field trips, no more community performances. Students would take their instruments home and practice by themselves. Final exams would be conducted via video call.

It was an anti-climactic ending to the school year.

Especially for the senior students in Grade 12, Young told The Spectator. Theyd practised so much, only to have their final performances cancelled.

Working with students remotely gave the teacher an idea. In spite of the cancelled events, Youngs students would take up a project from the comfort of their homes: a performance of Bare Necessities, from Disneys animated classic The Jungle Book.

Each student would record their part of the song and Young would compile the recordings into one video. She asked one of her tech-savvy students to edit the clips and enlisted her husband, a retired music teacher, to help with the audio.

The project proved much harder than expected, but gave the students something to focus on.

It was the best thing to come out of last school year. I dont think the students knew how much work they were in for, but they put in so much effort to make it happen.

Young, who now heads the music department at Orchard Park, has taught music in the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board for the past 40 years. Her band classes have performed in concert halls across the city and, in 2018, won $5,000 from CBCs Canadian Music Class Challenge for their rendition of Leonard Cohens Hallelujah.

The problems facing music programs in Hamiltons schools due to the COVID-19 pandemic are unlike anything shes seen before, Young said.

Similar to other school boards in Ontario, woodwind and brass instruments have been banned from all in-person classes in the HWDSB as well as Hamiltons Catholic board. Students at Orchard Park practice rhythm and tempo on percussive instruments, or, when there arent enough drums to go around, they use their music stands instead. They use keyboards to practice pitch and notation.

The reduced programming has led to a drop in student enrolment, raising fears about the future of music in schools.

Last (school) year hurt the music programs, and, honestly, Im worried that music could disappear, Young said.

I was hoping, with a project like this, that students could see whats possible to accomplish even though things are different.

In September, the former class gathered via video conference to watch the final rendition of their project.

The performance was a hit, Young said. The video has inspired her current students to work on similar projects this semester. For the holiday season, her senior class is starting work on a rendition of Jingle Bell Rock to include in Christmas cards.

The projects are a unique solution to a problem that plagues music programming in schools. But for Young, the problem presents an opportunity for something new.

Forty years later, Im still passionate about music, so Im going to give my students the best music experience possible.

Jacob Lorinc s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative. The funding allows him to report on stories about education.
(Natural News) Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden often makes comments that raise questions about his sanity, but a recent remark at a CNN Town Hall may take the cake.

At the event, he stated that President Trump is responsible for every COVID death in America.

If the president had done his job, had done his job from the beginning, all the people would still be alive. All the people  Im not making this up. Just look at the data. Look at the data, he said.

Thats right; he seems to think that our president personally killed all the Americans who have died from the disease rather than China, the country that actually built the bioweapon in the first place and then unleashed it upon society.

So PolitiFact did as Biden instructed and looked at the data, and not surprisingly, the result was an article entitled Joe Biden wrongly claims Trump couldve prevented every COVID-19 death.

Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security Senior Scholar Amesh Adalja told PolitiFact: I think its impossible to say every life could have been saved.

While its nice to see it stated so succinctly by an expert, you dont need to be a senior scholar to reach that conclusion. In fact, everyone except Joe Biden could have told you that.

You know Biden has gone way off script when a professor from the super-liberal University of California, Berkeley, contradicts him. Biostatistics professor Nicholas Jewell said the suggestion that we could have prevented all deaths was magical thinking.

Even the Washington Post knew it would lose what little credibility it may have left by supporting such a ridiculous statement. They said Biden is making this up, adding: There is no data to support this, even if the president had moved rapidly in January to deal with the coronavirus and been able to persuade the Chinese leadership to be more forthcoming about the situation.

Meanwhile, Boston University Assistant Professor of Global Health Brooke Nichols said that it would have been hard to avoid any COVID deaths regardless of who is in charge. She said that perhaps it could be theoretically possible had we developed a testing capacity immediately upon hearing about the pathogen and rapidly tested every person who arrived from abroad, but it seems quite unlikely.

Even countries that seem to be faring well in managing the disease, such as New Zealand and South Korea, have not been able to avoid deaths entirely.

China deserves all the blame

Of course, the main reason our response couldnt have been any swifter was because the World Health Organization conspired with China to suppress potentially life-saving information about the disease.

If there is one leader who could have prevented COVID deaths around the world, its Chinese president Xi Jinping, who has made one misstep after another in handling the virus. We cant say for sure how involved he was in the creation of the virus in a Wuhan lab, but we do know that a Chinese virologist has stated that the virus was a Frankenstein strain that was genetically engineered to target human beings using a template that came from the Chinese military and that it was intentionally released.

Intelligence reports show the country acted incredibly irresponsibly, with the Federal Intelligence Service of Germany estimating that Chinas actions served to lose four to six weeks to fight the virus worldwide. China destroyed samples of the disease and suppressed information about the virus itself, its origins and its mode of transmission, making it impossible for other countries to respond properly. Indeed, many believe it was Chinas quest to appear superior to other countries that was driving the research in the Wuhan lab that led to the creation of the virus in the first place.

We know that Biden is senile, but comments like this  and, of course, that time he said 200 million Americans had died of coronavirus (which is two thirds of the population) rather than 200,000  show just how far out of touch with reality this man truly is. Do people really think we should be trusting him with our country?

Sources for this article include:

WND.com

PolitiFact.com

NaturalNews.com
ANNAPOLIS, Md. - This pandemic has Geri Swann working her cellphone constantly as she deals with up to 100 emails a day seeking help for students and their families.

Finding them Chromebooks, and then buying eyeglasses for kids squinting at screens. Helping people get unemployment checks. Delivering groceries so a woman can feed her school-aged grandchildren while their parents recover from COVID-19.

This is what a community schools co-ordinator does  and as coronavirus infections cloud a new academic year, Swann has only been busier in support of the struggling families at her diverse Baltimore charter school.

When we hit a rocky patch, we want a hand to guide us, said Swann, who has built a reliable network during her 14 years at Hampstead Hill Academy. Your community schools person is that hand, because if theyre truly doing their job they know the community. They know the resources.

School districts nationwide are cutting back as states lose tax revenue due to coronavirus shutdowns, just when jobs like Swanns have become key to academic success. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced $355 million in cuts to K-12 in May. Georgia lawmakers cut funding for K-12 schools and higher education by 10% in June. Michigan narrowly avoided 25% cuts this month after tax collections improved and federal bailout money arrived.

Maryland was supposed to be an exception already, with its legislature approving a multi-billion-dollar 10-year school investment plan just as the outbreak was escalating in the spring.

Gov. Larry Hogan vetoed it, saying its too costly in these uncertain times. But Democrats have veto-proof majorities in both chambers, and are determined to override the Republican leaders objections when they reconvene next year.

The widening opportunity gaps between low-income and affluent jurisdictions have come full force to our attention through this pandemic, said Senate President Bill Ferguson, a Baltimore Democrat.

The Blueprint for Marylands Future would fund free full-day pre-kindergarten for all 4-year-olds and for all low-income 3-year-olds, as well as counsellors, tutors and after-school and summer academic programs. Commonly called Kirwan after William Kirwan, who chaired the state commission that spent three years preparing it, the blueprint also would raise teachers pay and boost college and career readiness.

Community school programs are just one part of the sweeping plan, which would expand them tenfold and statewide, to more than 550 schools where most students are so poor that they get free or reduced-price meals. About 50 schools have the programs now, mostly in Baltimore.

While Hogans veto blocked the legislation from moving forward for now, hundreds of millions of dollars in funding was already approved last year to begin implementing the ground-breaking plan, which by 2030 would cost about $4 billion more annually. And while some critics say the timing for a costly overhaul couldnt be worse, supporters say improving equity in education is even more important.

Theres a huge infusion in the early years of funds for tutors, particularly in the elementary schools, and so with all of the educational deficits that are being created because of the pandemic, having this cadre of tutors coming into the schools to help get kids caught up is exactly what is needed, Kirwan said in an interview.

The plan was a top Democratic priority, and lawmakers say an override is likely, but they also are weighing difficult budget choices and waiting for the possibility of more federal help. Some spending may have to wait until later in the decade.

The basic premise, the whole purpose of Kirwan, I think will be intact, but just maybe some modifications based on how we look budget-wise, said House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones, a Baltimore County Democrat.

Separate legislation to improve online learning also will likely be taken up next year, Jones said.

Principal Matthew Hornbeck said Hampstead Hill Academy has received hundreds of thousands of dollars in federal, state and local grants in the last three months. But he called these Band Aids compared to what Kirwan could mean for his students, let alone for K-12 education statewide.

If the conditions pre-pandemic merited the passing of Kirwan, the conditions mid-pandemic and certainly post-pandemic are crying out for Kirwan and the speedy overturning of the veto, Hornbeck said.

Hogan praised its positive aspects, but his veto message last May said the economic fallout from this pandemic simply makes it impossible to fund any new programs, impose any new tax hikes, nor adopt any legislation having any significant fiscal impact.

The Kirwan commission built oversight and accountability standards into the blueprint, and worked with a think-tank , the National Center on Education and the Economy, to compare Marylands public education policies with high-performing systems in Finland, Singapore, Canada and China, as well as Massachusetts, New Jersey and New Hampshire in the United States.

What seems absolutely clear is that our nation is going to have to make a new investment, a reinvestment, in education, because were at risk of allowing children across the country to fall behind what are rather modest expectations  at least by international standards, Kirwan said.
Joe Biden on Monday lamented the 200,000 US deaths in the coronavirus pandemic, discussed the importance of unions, warned of the health risks posed by Donald Trump's rallies, and touted his roots in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

But over nearly 30 minutes, speaking in a small industrial city in Wisconsin, he never mentioned the Supreme Court vacancy or the political earthquake that has followed the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

It was the clearest sign yet of Mr Biden's belief that most voters are not animated by the divisive fight that is consuming many in Washington. His approach contrasts sharply with the bubbling anger among many Democrats over Republican tactics regarding the Supreme Court, a fury that began on the left but is seeping into the party's mainstream.

As Mr Trump has made it clear that he intends to fill the court vacancy as swiftly as possible, Mr Biden's restraint is the result of several days of intense debate inside his campaign. He showed on Monday that he sees little advantage in becoming embroiled in what's shaping up as a bare-knuckle fight bound to send Americans into their partisan corners.

Instead, Mr Biden delivered a broad populist message including a direct appeal to Trump voters."I know many of you are frustrated. You're angry," he said. "You believe you weren't being seen, represented or heard. I get it. It has to change. And I promise you this: it will change with me."

In a call with Democratic congressional aides on Monday, Mr Biden's team urged them to connect the Supreme Court vacancy to broader issues such as health care and immigration, according to a person familiar with the conversation. Several Democratic leaders have argued that a new conservative justice could mean the end of the Affordable Care Act, which faces a challenge before the court.

Mr Biden's approach raises the question of how he would react if Senate Republicans reject his pleas to step back from the brink and push ahead with confirmation hearings. If that happens, as seems likely, Mr Biden will face great pressure from his liberal flank to adopt the more belligerent stance he has been studiously avoiding.

With few legislative options to block a confirmation, Democratic leaders are edging closer to threatening moves that have long been considered off limits. They are signalling that if they capture the White House and Senate, they might expand the Supreme Court by adding new justices and filling those slots with liberals.

That reflects a broader anger at what many in the party feel is a breakdown in the rules of American democracy - from gerrymandering to the electoral college, from the filibuster to attacks on voting. That has prompted more support for moves including ending the filibuster and creating statehood for Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia, which are heavily Democratic.

Mr Biden - who has staked his candidacy largely on returning to normalcy, protecting institutions and forging bipartisanship - has been reluctant to consider such ideas.

When asked on Monday by WBAY-TV in Green Bay whether he would consider adding more justices, Mr Biden said he did not want to engage.

"It's a legitimate question, but let me tell you why I'm not going answer that question," Mr Biden said. "Because it will shift the focus. That's what [Trump] wants. He never wants to talk about the issue at hand, and he always tries to change the subject. Let's say I answer that question, then the whole debate's going to be about what Biden said or didn't say, Biden said he would or wouldn't."

But others in the party are increasingly expressing openness to them. Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer, D-NY, appearing with representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-NY, at the steps of Ginsburg's former high school in New York on Sunday, was asked about expanding the Supreme Court and responded by saying that "once we win the majority, God willing, everything is on the table".

Senator Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., spoke on Monday at an online kickoff of a new coalition of civil rights groups focused on goals such as expanding the Supreme Court, ending the filibuster, terminating the electoral college and granting statehood to DC.

Asked why Democrats should push to change the court, Ms Warren cited the 2018 confirmation battle over Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who had been accused of sexual misconduct when he was a student, something he forcefully denied, and then echoed Mr Schumer's words from the night before.

"Leader Schumer is right. Everything should be on the table," Ms Warren said.

Democrats are particularly frustrated that Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., refused to consider Barack Obama's 2016 Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland, who was nominated eight months before the election, but is rushing to secure a Trump pick just weeks before Election Day.

One Biden adviser said over the weekend that the campaign was considering adding some nuance to Mr Biden's response that would not completely close the door to adding justices. "He's going to make a really powerful case that it shouldn't have to come to that," said the adviser, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal talks. "He's going to make the case for de-escalation."

Mr Biden did not take questions from reporters after his Wisconsin appearance. He gave an address on Sunday that focused on Ginsburg, but he did not take questions at the end.

Mr Biden's campaign has been coordinating with Democratic leaders in the House and Senate over the past several days, according to a campaign aide. Mr Biden has made public appeals to Republican senators, asking them to help him avoid a crisis. He apparently has not called them directly.

Aides to a number of key Senate Republicans - including Mitt Romney of Utah, Charles Grassley of Iowa and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina - said they have not heard from Mr Biden. A spokeswoman for Lisa Murkowski of Alaska would not say whether Mr Biden and the senator had spoken.

Brian Fallon, executive director of the group Demand Justice, which is working to make the courts more liberal, said he wishes that Mr Biden would release a list of potential Supreme Court nominees, something the presidential nominee has steadfastly refused to do.

Still, Mr Fallon said he is not distressed by what he is hearing from Mr Biden.

"I don't expect Joe Biden to talk about it," he said of expanding the court. "If you're the Biden campaign, this is not the main message. I think they are smart to focus on the impact" of court fights over issues such as the Affordable Care Act.

Mr Biden's job is to win in November, he said, and it is the job of activists to press these issues.

Stasha Rhodes, the campaign director for 51 for 51, which supports DC statehood, said her group is pushing to make expanding the court part of the national discussion about replacing Ginsburg. "People are talking more openly about it now," said Ms Rhodes. "We have to make up for the seats that have already been stolen by McConnell and Republicans."

In the past, Mr Biden has been adamantly opposed to the idea of expanding the Supreme Court, and the question is whether circumstances will now force him to soften his opposition. Some critics have warned of a scenario where each party expands the court every time it regains control of the Senate.

"I'm not prepared to go on and try to pack the court, because we'll live to rue that day," he told Iowa Starting Line in July 2019.

"We begin to lose any credibility the court has at all," he said in an October debate. "I would not pack the court."

Some Democrats say that even if most voters care little about the court itself, Ginsburg was unique: a justice who was crafted into an action figure, became the subject of movies, and evolved into a pop culture sensation known as the Notorious RBG. Her death, they argued, could galvanise voters in a unique way, especially women younger than 40.

But that activity is occurring without Mr Biden.

"This is our stand. Everything the last four years has led to this moment," said Rachel Carmona, chief operating officer of Women's March, which co-hosted a vigil at the Supreme Court Saturday night. "No Democratic response should be off the table, including expanding the Supreme Court. We are in a life-and-death struggle for the soul of our country, and we should use any means necessary."

Alexis McGill Johnson, the president of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, said Democrats should focus on what unites them - stopping a Trump nominee from getting confirmed - than on the things that could divide them, like expanding the court.

"What's important is to stay focused on the fight ahead," she said. "Our focus is that this seat under no circumstances should be filled until after Inauguration Day."

In a CNN poll in August, 39 per cent of registered voters said nominations to the Supreme Court were extremely important to their vote, on par with race relations (40 per cent), gun policy (40 per cent) and healthcare (41 per cent). The economy and healthcare were the top issues in the poll at 47 per cent apiece, while climate change was lowest at 24 per cent.

In a national survey conducted earlier this month by the Marquette Law School, a narrow majority of respondents opposed expanding the Supreme Court, with 46 per cent favouring it and 53 per cent against.

Mr Biden made his comments on Monday in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, on a trip meant to appeal to Obama voters who fled to Mr Trump in 2016. It was his second trip to Wisconsin, a state that Mr Trump won by about 27,000 votes four years ago to become the first Republican presidential candidate to carry the state since 1984.

Striking a populist tone, Mr Biden argued that Mr Trump poses as a man of the people but is in fact an elitist who cares only about the wealthy and Wall Street. He reiterated that if he wins, he would be the first president in decades who had not attended an Ivy League school.

"I think it's about time that a state school president sat in the Oval Office," Mr Biden said. who received a bachelor's degree from the University of Delaware and a law degree from Syracuse University. "Because you know what? If I'm sitting there, you're going to be sitting there, too."

Mr Biden, who was wearing a mask in accordance with Wisconsin health protocols, also remarked on Mr Trump's rallies, saying the president endangers his supporters and has contempt for them.

"He loves his rallies. The next time he holds one, look closely," Mr Biden said. "Trump keeps his distance from anyone at the rally. The folks who come are packed in tight as they can be - risking disease, mostly without masks. But not Trump. He safely keeps his distance."

The Washington Post
Is everybody ready for the fall? I mean autumn, silly  did you think I was talking about the collapse of Western civilization? Thats not on my calendar until early November. Meanwhile, did someone forward you this email? Sign up to receive this newsletter weekly at inquirer.com/bunch  and enjoy the 1st Amendment while its still in effect.

Trumps $5 billion slush fund idea borrows from a Chinese dictator and a South Philly felon

Say this about President Trump  hes a man who doesnt even know the meaning of the word extortion. I mean, what else can you say about an alleged-billionaire-turned-highest-federal-official-in-the-land who fails to see any kind of ethical problem in the president and his regulators deciding whether to give government approval on a lucrative business deal while demanding a gigantic payment to the U.S. Treasury?

I want a big chunk of that money to go to the United States government because we made it possible, Trump said last week in talking about a scheme to allow the controversial Chinese-based phone app TikTok to keep operating in the U.S. by partnering with an American company, a deal now being sought by Oracle and Walmart. And the lawyers come back to me and they say there is no way of doing that because nobody has ever heard of that before.

Why not? I mean, you could probably wipe out taxes on the middle class if the FDA demanded a large check every time Pfizer or Johnson & Johnson wanted a potentially dangerous new drug approved, or when government safety experts need to OK Boeings new jet. And presumably those decisions would be made in the interest of public safety, not to boost a president running for re-election, right? Anyway, those pesky lawyers forced The Donald to come up with Plan B.

On Sunday, as negotiations between Oracle and TikToks parent company ByteDance neared a climax, the president claimed the participants would also be contributing $5 billion (yes, with a b!) to form a non-profit that would support Trumps brand-new pet cause  patriotic education that would teach Americas schoolchildren only about the nations greatness and skip the messy parts about slavery or worker exploitation.

The governments beleaguered lawyers probably never heard of this one, either. But if you live or work in Philadelphia, as I do, this particular scheme might sound familiar. Not so long ago, the then-most powerful figure in the citys Democratic machine, a state senator named Vince Fumo, had pretty much the same brilliant idea.

Fumo and his closest political allies were closely tied to a non-profit charity in his native South Philadelphia called the Citizens Alliance for Better Neighborhoods. Now, Philadelphias neighborhoods could always be bettered, right? One of the groups biggest donors was the electric utility PECO, which wrote a whopping $17 million check right around the time it wanted Fumo to change his stand on deregulation. Four years later, as part of an 137-count federal indictment, federal prosecutors charged and later convicted the senator on allegations that (among other things) he misused $1 million of the non-profits cash. Fumo ultimately spent four years in a federal prison in Kentucky for fraud.

Just imagine the kind of perks that Trump  who, with his closest family members, has already seen his own charitable foundation shut down by New York State officials for widespread abuses  and his cronies could reap from this new $5 billion slush fund, which presumably would exist even if the president loses the November election. It almost makes you forget that Trumps idea isnt just potentially corrupt, but also another dictator move.

How so? As Ishaan Tharoor pointed out Monday in a Washington Post column, Trumps patriotic education idea  which includes a 1776 Commission that would create a pro-American curriculum for the nations classrooms to counteract efforts like the Pulitzer Prize-winning 1619 Project that illuminate our slave-owning past  borrows heavily from the worlds worst dictators, especially Chinese President Xi Jinping. Xi is now shoving patriotic education down the throats of Hong Kong as part of the clampdown on its pro-democracy movement.

As the election draws closer and polls continue to show Trump in danger of losing, the president seems to be embracing what one might call fast-casual fascism, whether its bizarrely declaring U.S. cities like New York and Seattle anarchist jurisdictions or crushing science from the CDC. But a $5 billion scam that borrows equally from Xi Jinping and Vince Fumo may be his worst idea yet, which is saying something. Hopefully, this newest con from the people who gave us Trump University and Trump Vodka will never get off the ground.

History lesson

Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler (yes, of insider trading fame) is a multi-millionaire investment banker  married to the owner of the New York Stock Exchange  who gave a lot of money to politicians and got appointed to her seat on Capitol Hill. Now, shes in a special-election dogfight to keep her new job and desperate to prove her right-wing bona fides against a Trumpist candidate on her right flank. That explains her bizarre new TV ad claiming shes more conservative than Attila the Hun, as the barbarian is portrayed by an actor who barks an order to eliminate liberal scribes.

Hilarious, right? When I saw the Loeffler ad on Monday, I couldnt help but think about the late Ralph McGill, who was editor of her adopted home states Atlanta Constitution from 1945 until his death in 1969. McGill wasnt a flaming liberal, but he was a voice of reason in the Deep South when segregation, which he opposed, was still seen by whites as our way of life. For holding temperate views on civil rights for Black Southerners, white people frequently threatened to, well, eliminate this particular scribe. They burned crosses on his front lawn, and fired shots into his home.

In 1958, when political rhetoric was at a fever pitch, McGill learned of a bombing at Atlantas largest synagogue and went into his office to write an editorial. The anti-Semitic attack, he wrote, is a harvest. It is the crop of things sown. It is not possible to preach lawlessness and restrict itMcGill added, let it be understood that when leadership in high places in any degree fails to support constituted authority, it opens the gates to all those who wish to take law into their hands' He won a Pulitzer Prize for that editorial, then later won the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and his moderation arguably played a role in helping Atlanta become the leading metropolis of the South  a place where reckless, ignorant ingrates like Kelly Loeffler could make their fortune. As long as demagogues like her can continue, if I may be allowed to borrow McGills timeless words, to preach lawlessness, to open the gates to all those who wish to take the law into their hands, the South  and America  will remain haunted by ancient demons. Instead of issuing fatwas against liberal scribes, maybe Senator Loeffler should stop and read the one who tried to save the soul of Atlanta.
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Linkedin Glenn Chapman (Agence France-Presse) San Francisco, United States  Tue, September 22, 2020 16:31 487 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c466f0cb 2 Environment Tim-Cook,climate-change,Apple Free

Apple chief Tim Cook said Monday he views the recent increase in fires, hurricanes and floods as strong proof that climate change is real.

The disasters should sway those denying science that shows greenhouse gases are dangerously changing weather patterns, Cook said in a talk streamed during an online event by The Atlantic magazine.

Cook reasoned that wildfires raging on the US West Coast, hurricanes slamming the South, and flooding in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions make a compelling case for climate change.

"All of these together, I do believe will convince the people that are not currently convinced about climate change," Cook said.

His remote interview with Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg was recorded last week, when smoke from wildfires turned day to night in California and ash fell like snow in some places.

"It's horrendous," Cook said.

"It's a reminder of how serious climate change is and what's at stake."

Cook declined to answer whether he had any luck convincing US President Donald Trump that climate change is real during any of their conversations, saying those exchanges were private.

"I don't want to talk about it in detail, but if you sort of back up from it, my whole philosophy is engagement," Cook said.

"I think it's even more important to engage when you disagree on something."

Trump suggested global warming will reverse itself and dismissed climate change as a cause of ferocious fires engulfing swathes of the West Coast during a briefing with local officials in California last week.

The president, who flew into Sacramento in central California during a reelection campaign swing, pushed back against state leaders who said that climate change underlies the ever-stronger blazes.

On arrival in McClellan Park, near Sacramento, Trump repeated his argument that the wildfires are due instead to insufficient maintenance of forest areas to make them less combustible.

But at the briefing, California governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, countered that the fires are driven mostly by global warming.

"It will start getting cooler. You just watch," Trump insisted to Wade Crowfoot, the head of the California Natural Resources Agency.

The official responded: "I wish science agreed with you."

"I don't think science knows, actually," Trump said.

It was Trump's first visit to California since the devastating blazes began there and in the states of Washington and Oregon.

Democratic challenger Joe Biden has branded Trump a "climate arsonist" whose policies contribute to natural disasters.

Read also: Dalai Lama calls for unified global action on climate change

Microscope merited

The Apple chief also said he hoped his testimony in July to a House of Representatives panel investigating market dominance put to rest worries that the iPhone maker wields monopoly power of any sort.

Big Tech executives faced an onslaught of criticism from US lawmakers at the high-stakes antitrust hearing, which could lay the groundwork for tougher regulation of the major internet platforms.

CEOs Cook, Jeff Bezos of Amazon, Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook and Sundar Pichai of Google were grilled for more than five hours in the unprecedented joint appearance -- by video.

"I have no issue at all in Apple being put underneath the microscope," Cook said.

"My hope is that as people heard our story and as they continue to hear our story, that it will become as apparent to them as it is to us that we have no monopoly."

Cook diplomatically responded when asked his thoughts on the response to Covid-19, saying the virus "took the world by surprise" and recounting Apple efforts to help with masks and more.

He said that some 85 percent of Apple employees are working remotely due to the pandemic, and it remained unclear when they would be able to return to company headquarters in Cupertino, California.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 22

Trend:

On 23 September, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev will take part in the highest level general political debates at the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly, the Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan in the Republic of Azerbaijan told Trend.

In his address to the upcoming session, President Mirziyoyev is expected to present the international community with his vision of the important issues and initiatives of national, regional and global agendas.

President will also present important initiatives on peace and security, sustainable development, human rights, climate change, food security, poverty reduction.

Shavkat Mirziyoyev in his speech at the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly in September 2017 in New York, proposed Five Initiatives, which have been implementing. Those initiatives have been as followings: The First, setting up a consultative meeting of Central Asian leaders; The Second, the adoption of a resolution on enlightenment and religious tolerance; The Third, raising the Aral Sea issue; The Fourth, to solve the Afghan problem, and The Fifth, to ensure the employment of women.

The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev will deliver a speech at 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly on 23 September, 2020, at 17:00 by Baku time.
Business leaders last night pleaded with Boris Johnson for more support as fears of more lockdowns wiped 52billion off the value of Britain's biggest firms.

Shares in housebuilders, pub groups and travel firms all fell sharply as the UK's chief medical adviser Chris Whitty hinted that further restrictions are crucial to combat a surge in Covid19 infections.

With the Prime Minister expected to today announce a 10pm closing time for pubs across England as part of the Government's latest plans to stop the spread of the virus, Whitty said: 'If we do too little, this virus will go out of control.

Fear: Chris Whitty (pictured) hinted that further restrictions are crucial to combat a surge in Covid-19 infections

'But if we go too far the other way, then we can cause damage to the economy which can feed through to unemployment, to poverty deprivation, all of which have long-term health effects.'

The stark warning came as a report by Capital Economics warned that even a two-week national lockdown at any point would hold back the UK's economic recovery by a year and reduce GDP by 5 per cent.

The threat of tough new restrictions spooked global stockmarkets, with governments struggling to tackle a second wave of the virus without crippling their economies.

The FTSE 100 index endured its worst day in three months, falling 3.4 per cent  or 52billion  to a two week low of 5,804.29.

Shares in British Airways owner IAG plunged 12.1 per cent, as investors feared fresh travel bans could be imposed.

Rail operator FirstGroup and ticket retailer Trainline fell more than 12 per cent and nearly 11pc respectively, while pub group Mitchells & Butlers slid more than 15 per cent, and Wetherspoons fell 9 per cent.

But stockmarkets across Europe were also hit, with the German Dax down 4.6 per cent, and the French Cac 40 dropping 3.9 per cent.

And shares fell on Wall Steet, with the S&P shedding 2.4 per cent in early trading.

Pressure is growing on Boris Johnson to get a grip on the pandemic, as cases are rising rapidly across the UK.

But business owners and bosses are terrified that a tightening of lockdown measures could cripple firms that are only just getting back on their feet.

Yesterday they appealed to the Government to make sure any restrictions are targeted, and come with more support for firms that are affected.

Kate Nicholls, chief executive of trade association UK Hospitality, said her sector 'remains on a knife-edge', with the near-1m people employed in the industry still furloughed at risk of losing their jobs.

She added: 'Any restrictions that impact a sector which is already on its knees and that has shown itself to be the home of responsible and safe socialising must be targeted carefully, and come with full Government support, to minimise seismic and inevitable damage to business.'

Claire Walker, co-executive director of the British Chambers of Commerce, said: 'Any new restrictions must be accompanied by a comprehensive support package for the hardest hit firms forced to close or reduce capacity through no fault of their own.'

It is thought that new restrictions could involve curfews on pubs and restaurants.

More radical options which have been discussed include a two-week 'circuit breaker' lockdown during schools' half-term holidays where the public is told to stay at home as much as possible, and a return to working from home where possible.
Help.org, a trusted online resource for individuals who struggle with addiction and their loved ones, has announced the Best Rehab Facilities in Jacksonville, North Carolina for 2020. The informational guide recognizes the top 6 rehab facilities based on cost, treatment options, location, accompanying services and more.

According to recent studies, drug overdose is the leading cause of death among people under age 50. In Jacksonville, deaths related to opioid abuse increased significantly from 2011 to 2015. Substance abuse among adolescents is also escalating in Jacksonville with 55 percent of high school students reported using alcohol, 38 percent reported using marijuana, 8 percent reported using prescription drugs without a valid prescription, and 2 percent reported using heroin. With the growing need for accessible and high-quality rehab programs, Help.org has developed a unique ranking process to help connect individuals with treatment providers that meet their needs.

The Help.org research team analyzed thousands of facilities across the country and then identified the most cost-effective and highest rated programs in larger cities like Jacksonville. Each facility was evaluated based on rehabilitation services, treatment approaches, cost, special programs for unique demographics and ancillary services. The website also provides information about drug use and side effects as well as educational articles. For a detailed listing of the Best Rehab Facilities in Jacksonville, North Carolina please visit https://www.help.org/drug-and-alcohol-rehab-centers-in-jacksonville-nc

2020 Best Rehab Facilities in Jacksonville, North Carolina (in alphabetical order)

Anew River Counseling Services

99 Village Drive, Suite 17

Jacksonville, NC 28546

910.333.8107

Jacksonville Treatment Center

806 Bell Fork Road

Jacksonville, NC 28540

910-347-2205

New Insights Programs

1007 Hargett Street, Suite 3

Jacksonville, NC 28540

(910) 324-4887

Oxford Houses of North Carolina

107 Winthrope Way

Jacksonville, NC 28546

PORT Health

231 Memorial Drive

Jacksonville, NC 28546

252-830-7540

Wilmington Treatment Center

2520 Troy Drive

Wilmington, NC 28401

888-606-2057

ABOUT HELP.ORG

Help.org is an online resource for individuals who struggle with addiction and their loved ones. The website provides the latest research through scientifically proven methods, community recovery resources as well as information about local financial assistance. Help.orgs team of researchers, activists and writers work together with addiction counselors and other professionals to offer useful and accurate resources to help individuals seeking recovery. To learn more, visit https://www.help.org/.
Children in Erie County who need a safe and healthy environment while they are engaged in virtual learning soon will be able to go to 71 centers throughout the county.

Some of the virtual learning support centers are expected to open by Oct. 5.

The $14 million investment in the centers at all 28 school districts in the county is part of approximately $25 million in federal CARES Act funding Erie County is using to support schools, child care providers and caregivers.

This investment in children, education, and childcare is unprecedented in our countys history and underscores the gravity of the Covid-19 pandemic and its effects on the lives of children," County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz said in announcing the grants.

About $4 million will be used to support child care providers and about $7 million will be used to replenish and expand the child care subsidy to include families earning up to 85% of the state median income.

The centers are primarily for students between 5 and 12 years old and will be free to attend for parents earning less than 85% of the state median income.
Update: 25-year-old man shot by police outside Kingston mall threatened officers, acted erratically before he was shot, DA says

A police officer shot and wounded a suspect outside a Massachusetts mall early Tuesday morning, news outlets reported.

The person was shot shortly before 3 a.m. on the property of the Kingston Collection off Route 3 in Kingston, WCVB reported.

The suspect was taken to a nearby hospital and then flown to a Boston hospital by MedFlight helicopter, according to WCVB.

Kingston Police Lieutenant Thomas Kelley told Boston 25 that he could not comment on the extent of the suspects injuries.

As a precaution, the officer was taken to an area hospital as well, Boston 25 reported.

Both WCVB and Boston 25 reported that a knife, a bottle of alcohol and a backpack were lying on the ground near the scene of the shooting.

Authorities have yet to release information about the circumstances leading up to the shooting, but a morning press conference is expected to be held Tuesday, Boston 25 reported.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
The aged care royal commission will consider recommending the introduction of an independent pricing authority that would revolutionise aged care funding by setting subsidies and caps on prices.

Senior counsel assisting the commission Peter Gray, QC, said there was a pressing need for reform in a system that was "stretched beyond its limit", not fit for purpose and struggling to provide care in the face of real cuts in Commonwealth funding.

Senior counsel assisting the commission Peter Gray, QC, said there was a pressing need for reform in the system.

His comments came as a senior executive of a large aged care provider said the system resembled a "$30 billion house of cards".

Mr Gray said there had been strong support for the means testing of both the care and accommodation components of residential funding. More work needed to be done, he said, to consider the value of the family home to a greater extent in means testing.
For the third consecutive year, National Caretaker Appreciation Day (NCAD) events were held across the country this past weekend (September 18 - 20) as 11 racetracks, along with numerous farms, stables and training centres recognized and rewarded caretakers in partnership with Standardbred Canada.

The Canadian harness racing community really stepped up to continue to support this initiative, despite the challenges and restrictions from COVID. We sincerely appreciate the participation and support of everyone involved, said Kathy Wade Vlaar, SCs Manager of Member & Stakeholder Relations.

Participating tracks this past weekend included: Century Downs Racetrack & Casino, Flamboro Downs, Grand River Raceway, Hippodrome 3R, Leamington Raceway, Kawartha Downs, Northside Downs, Red Shores  Charlottetown Driving Park & Summerside locations, Truro Raceway and Woodbine Mohawk Park. Clinton Raceway hosted a Caretaker Appreciation event a few weeks earlier on August 30. Several tracks that werent racing this past weekend are already in the planning stages for events later in the fall.

Some of the ways that tracks recognized caretakers with the help of their local horsepersons association and / or sponsors, included: announcing names in post parades and the winners circle, having gifts for winning caretakers and last place caretakers, having prize draws, providing complimentary refreshments and providing complimentary win photos.

Caretaker Appreciation Day was a huge success at Leamington Raceway, according to track announcer Nathan Bain. We were so happy to honour these hard-working individuals. Leamington gave each winning caretaker and last place caretaker a gift card, and COSA provided one HPI card for each race. We announced the caretakers' names in the post parades, and one of our regular caretakers, Tammy Durbridge, was interviewed for our live stream to talk about her experience as a caretaker.

Robin MacKay, the coordinator of the Woodbine Mohawk Park event said, It was a fantastic night and the caretakers really appreciated everything that was done. Many thanks to all of the people in the industry who generously donated to the event and thanks to everyone who made this event possible. We look forward to taking part again next year.

The Central Ontario Standardbred Association (COSA), the Woodbine Mohawk Park driving community, Richard Moreau Stable, SSG Gloves, Ontario Racing, and Greenhawk all supported the Mohawk event.

Many of the tracks and associations promoted the event with videos, Facebook profiles and some featured interviews with caretakers on their race day broadcasts.

Truro Raceway featured profiles on many of their regular caretakers on their Facebook page.

Red Shores Racetrack and Casinos Marketing Coordinator, Stephanie Mitchell, produced this video in recognition of their caretakers at Charlottetown Driving Park and Summerside properties.

For the second consecutive year, TheStable.ca ran a GoFundMe campaign for its owners. Our amazing clients from around the world contributed $4,000 to this year's tip pool for our caretakers and riders. Our staff are awesome, and our clients aren't too shabby either, quipped Anthony MacDonald. TheStable.ca was one of many stables and farms across the country that hosted complimentary lunches, and provided some type of gift for their staff.

Standardbred Canada would like to thank the caretakers across the country who put the horses first, keeping them healthy & happy, and for everything they do to keep the races going, especially during the challenging circumstances this year.

Later this week, SC will be posting a video, featuring photos from events across the country.

(Photos in first collage courtesy, clockwise from top left: Travis Forbes, Lynette Bain, Racehorsephoto.com, Sylvain Gagnon)
Migrants escorted by unscrupulous people traffickers today set sail from Dunkirk at dawn - with an estimated 400 landing in England.

Photos showed dozens of migrants embarking from Gravelines beach in the twilight and their smugglers scurrying back up the dunes after seeing them off.

At least 27 boats were brought into the marina in Dover later on Tuesday after a few days of relative quiet due to high seas in the world's busiest shipping lane.

It comes amid fears that record numbers of migrants are making the 20 mile dash across the waves before the winter brings rougher seas.

A group of migrants embark from Gravelines beach close to Dunkirk on Tuesday morning as a colossal Danish ferry makes its way through the Channel

Smugglers walk back after embarking migrants on boat on the beach of Gravelines, near Dunkirk, on Tuesday morning

French police officers patrol the beach of Gravelines, near Dunkirk, on Monday morning

Small children (pictured today) were among hundreds of migrants rescued by packed Border Force vessels today as they attempted to cross the Channel to the UK

At least 27 boats were brought into the marina in Dover, Kent after migrants attempted the treacherous crossing following days of high winds in the Channel. Pictured: Arrivals today

More than 6,500 migrants have successfully landed so far this year, with September already the busiest month so far, despite there being eight more days to go.

The current single-day record for migrant crossings is 416, set on September 2.

Border Force deployed extra resources as crossings resumed in earnest on Tuesday, with boats containing as many as 30 people spotted in the busy shipping route.

Authorities were forced to make use of lifeboats at 8am to collect those making the illegal crossing as Border Force vessels were already full to capacity.

Photographs from Dover captured dozens of people thought to be migrants wrapped in blankets and wearing life jackets as they arrived on British shores.

Young children were among those rescued by authorities on what an insider described as a 'very, very busy morning' for Border Force.

Retired Coastguard officer Andy Roberts said: 'It's been very busy because the weather has been perfect for crossing. They look at the forecast and off they go when they see it's nice and there's very little wind.

'But the forecast is pretty awful for the next few days so we'll probably have a quiet patch and wait for the next calm day or two.

A smuggler walks back up the beach after seeing off a group of migrants in their boat

Smugglers walk back after embarking migrants on boat on the beach of Gravelines, near Dunkirk

Smugglers embark migrants on boat on the beach of Gravelines, near Dunkirk, on Tuesday morning

Smugglers walk back after embarking migrants on boat on the beach of Gravelines, near Dunkirk, northern France on September 22

'The windows of opportunity are reducing heading into Autumn and Winter for these days of calm weather but as we saw in January and February this year, the dangerous crossing is still made.

'Temperatures are dropping and as the winds get up you get squalls which make it even more dangerous. You can tell most people coming over are completely inadequately clothed.

'With the weather getting worse and the nights getting longer, ferries can't see them or pick them up on radar so it's only a matter of time before something goes horribly wrong.

'They are crossing the busiest shipping lanes. It is a tragedy waiting to happen.'

Migrants embarking on a boat on the beach of Gravelines, near Dunkirk, on Tuesday morning

Migrants with children prepare to embark into the English Channel from a beach in Dunkirk on Tuesday

Migrants haul a vessel towards the waves at dawn in Dunkirk on Tuesday morning

Migrants are thought to have taken advantage of favourable conditions in the Channel, with wind speeds as low as 6mph early this morning.

Today has been described as 'the last day of opportunity' before the weather turns on Wednesday, making conditions too difficult to attempt crossings.

There were no crossings over the weekend or on Monday as French authorities warned of strong northerly winds and strong currents.

But dozens of people were today spotted having to queue up and wait to be allowed ashore due to the volume of new arrivals.

Arrivals wearing face masks were also seen lining up along the side of Border Force cutter Seeker.

Border Force deployed extra resources as crossings resumed in earnest today, with boats containing as many as 30 people spotted in the busy shipping route

One of a group of people, thought to be migrants, makes a victory gesture on the deck of HMC Seeker, at Dover marina in Kent today

Photographs from Dover captured dozens of people thought to be migrants wrapped in blankets and wearing lifejackets as they arrived on British shores

Seeker, which made a rare visit to the inner harbour to drop off the migrants, is part of a scaled-up contingent of Border Force vessels that have been busy in the Channel today.

In total, the agency has had at least five boats in operation: cutters Seeker and Searcher and patrol boats Hunter, Speedwell and Eagle.

A police boat has also been operating in the Channel along with the coastguard helicopter and the RNLI.

On Monday evening the first of up to 400 people were seen arriving at a military barracks that is being used to house Channel migrants.

Napier Barracks in Folkestone, Kent, has been selected by the Home Office to house migrants while their asylum claims are processed.

Arrivals wearing face masks were seen lining up along the side of Border Force cutter Seeker

Seeker, which made a rare visit to the inner harbour to drop off the migrants, is part of a scaled-up contingent of Border Force vessels that have been busy in the Channel today

In total, the agency has had at least five boats in operation: cutters Seeker and Searcher and patrol boats Hunter, Speedwell and Eagle

More than 6,500 migrants have successfully travelled to the UK aboard small boats in 2020, analysis shows. Pictured: Arrivals today

September is the busiest month on record, despite there being over a week to go. Pictured: Migrants on a Border Force rib at Dover marina in Kent today

Today has been described as 'the last day of opportunity' before the weather turns on Wednesday, making conditions too difficult to attempt crossings

Staff in Folkestone were seen yesterday walking around the disused military base surveying the large open facility and its multiple accommodation buildings.

A member of staff wearing a Hi Vis jacket was seen pointing out where a shower block is going to be installed in the outside space between the housing blocks.

In the evening, around 30 people were rushed inside after arriving at the barracks in two black Mercedes and one grey Volkswagen.
ZION OIL & GAS DRILLING RIG

Zion's drilling rig crew is mobilizing in preparation for an estimated nine (9) days of overland transport in Romania to its departure port. Once at the port, Zion has a confirmed vessel date for sea transport to be October 21, 2020, from Romania and arriving at Haifa port in Israel by October 27, 2020.

Zion's local logistics group in Israel is currently finalizing the rig importation customs paperwork. The first group of rig personnel visas are approved. Once in Israel, the rig-up crew and spudding crew will be required to quarantine in Israel for fourteen (14) days. Both crews are estimated to arrive in Israel by mid-October, 2020.

OPERATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

In preparation for the rig arrival, setup, acceptance testing, and spudding the Megiddo-Jezreel #2 well, the conductor pipe has been set to a depth of 110 feet, the cellar has been completed (dug and cemented), and other finalizations of the pad are ongoing.

Zion has finalized arrangements for such essential services as directional drilling services, mudlogging services, wireline/logging services, and cementing services. Much of the necessary additional equipment needed such as drill pipe, casing, mud, chemicals, wellhead, a blowout preventer (BOP) and drill bits, has also been contractually secured by Zion.

Zion's drilling crew will complete a water well monitoring program in compliance with the Megiddo-Jezreel lease agreement and Water Authority mandate before spudding the Megiddo-Jezreel #2 well. The estimated completion time for the water monitoring program is fourteen (14) days. Upon completing the well monitoring program, the Megiddo-Jezreel #2 drilling campaign will begin, and Zion will spud the well.

WARRANT EXPIRATION DATES EXTENDED

On September 15, 2020, Zion executed an Amendment to certain Warrant Agent Agreements between Zion and AST Financial to extend the expiration date of all outstanding warrants by two (2) years.

"We will do all that we can to support the Zion shareholders who have invested with faith," expressed John Brown, Zion's founder and board chairman.

Details on Zion's warrant extension can be found within the 8-K filing with the SEC filed on September 21, 2020, and Zion's website (www.zionoil.com/dspp/exercise-warrants).

Zion Oil & Gas, a public company, traded on OTCQX Best Market, explores for oil and gas onshore in Israel on their 99,000-acre Megiddo-Jezreel license area.

"The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."

Deuteronomy 31:8

"Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world. Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you."

Isaiah 12:5-6

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: Statements in this communication that are not historical fact, including, but not limited to, statements regarding Zion's operations; Zion's ability to continue as a going concern; operational risks in ongoing exploration efforts; importing the rig it purchased into Israel in a timely manner; the timing and completion of the processing, interpretation of the results and plans contingent thereon off the 3-D seismic survey; regulatory approvals needed for the rig's erection and startup; the effect, if any, of the coronavirus pandemic on the timing of the delivery and start-up of the well, and liquidity for shareholders on OTCQX are forward-looking statements as defined in the "Safe Harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions that are subject to significant known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other unpredictable factors, many of which are described in Zion's periodic reports filed with the SEC and are beyond Zion's control. These risks could cause Zion's actual performance to differ materially from the results predicted by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those described in Item 1A in Zion's Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is expressly incorporated herein by reference, and other factors as may periodically be described in Zion's filings with the SEC. Zion can give no assurance that the expectations reflected in these statements will prove to be correct and assumes no responsibility to update these statements.

Contact Info:

Andrew Summey

VP, Marketing and Investor Relations

Zion Oil & Gas, Inc. (OTCQX: ZNOG)

12655 North Central Expressway, Suite 1000, Dallas, TX 75243

Telephone: 888-891-9466

Email: [email protected]

www.zionoil.com

SOURCE Zion Oil & Gas, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.zionoil.com


Twenty people, including a father and son, were jailed Tuesday for the bombing of a police station in Ho Chi Minh City that injured three people, state media said.

Authorities said the June 2018 attack was orchestrated by "terrorists" connected to Trieu Dai Viet, a Canada-based Vietnamese group seeking to overthrow the communist state.

Nguyen Khanh, the architect of the attack, was sentenced to 24 years in prison for "terrorism against the people's administration" and "illegally fabricating, storing and trading explosives", according to state media

His son Nguyen Tan Thanh was sentenced to three years in jail, while 18 accomplices will serve from two to 18 years.

The trial lasted a day and a half.

Khanh was charged with giving explosives to two accomplices, who detonated them in a bomb on a motorcycle in front of the police station on the outskirts of the city.

The blast shattered the glass facade of the building near the site of violent protests against a proposed economic law days earlier.

It injured two police officers and a cook.

The attack came after huge -- and rare -- rallies erupted in several cities across Vietnam against a draft law on special economic zones that would grant investors 99-year leases.

It sparked fears that China would take over investment zones, igniting popular and deep-seated resentment against Vietnam's powerhouse neighbour.

Weapons and explosives are not widely available in Vietnam, and violent politically linked attacks are rare.

Some 15 people were convicted in 2017 on terrorism charges over a failed bomb plot at Vietnam's largest airport in Ho Chi Minh City.

Last year, a Vietnamese man was sentenced to six years in jail for terrorism and weapons possession, after he was convicted for smuggling a cache of guns into the country from Cambodia.

lqb/aph/fox
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 22

By Klavdiya Romakayeva - Trend:

The Government of Uzbekistan will soon approve the strategy for the management of spent nuclear fuel, radioactive waste, and decommissioning of nuclear installations, Trend reports with reference to the press-service of Ministry of Energy in Uzbekistan.

At the 64th Annual International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Conference, the Minister of Energy for Uzbekistan, Alisher Sultanov, updated attendees on the continued development of nuclear energy in Uzbekistan.

The Minister acknowledged the global impact of Covid-19 but noted nuclear science and technologys contribution to fighting it and thanked the IAEA for its significant role in mobilizing joint efforts to combat the virus by providing countries with diagnostic kits and detection equipment. In particular, he thanked the IAEA for diagnostic test systems supplied to three medical centers in Uzbekistan.

The Minister reiterated Uzbekistans support for nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and the countrys continued fulfillment of Treaty obligations in this regard.

Uzbekistan is making great strides in developing its nuclear and regulatory infrastructure. We are doing this in a strong partnership with the IAEA, so it is a great honor to provide an update on our progress, said Sultanov.

Uzbekistan stands shoulder to shoulder with the IAEA and fully supports its aims of promoting the use of nuclear science and technology to ensure peace, stability, cooperation, and development. I would also like to thank the IAEA for its continued support of our initiatives and the training of Uzbek citizens through the ongoing Technical Cooperation Program, the minister added.

As part of the preparation for the construction of Uzbekistans first nuclear power plant, and to create the necessary regulatory infrastructure, the Minister announced that the Government of Uzbekistan will soon approve the strategy for the management of spent nuclear fuel, radioactive waste, and decommissioning of nuclear installations and establish procedures for licensing, and obtaining regulatory permits for activity in atomic energy.

This follows recent procedural progress for safety examinations of nuclear facilities by Uzbek regulatory bodies.

Draft decisions on Uzbekistans accession to four international conventions have also been prepared, for which adoption is expected by the end of 2020.

The conventions are:

Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage;

Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident;

Convention on Nuclear Safety;

Convention on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency.

As part of Uzbekistans commitment to transparent communications about its nuclear power program, Sultanov confirmed a mission of international experts will review the countrys progress towards the infrastructure required for a safe and sustainable nuclear power program. The review is scheduled to take place by the end of 2020.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @romakayeva
A Springfield man accused of injuring two coworkers in a shooting in Connecticut was apprehended Tuesday morning on Interstate-91, just as he crossed into Massachusetts.

Alan Rosario, 33, of Springfield, was arrested by Enfield Police and Massachusetts State Police around 9 a.m. and charged with being a fugitive from justice, said David Procopio, State Police spokesman.

The shooting occurred at about 8:45 a.m. in the parking lot of an industrial building at 105 Edwin Road which has multiple tenants. South Windsor Police Sgt. Mark Cleverdon, who serves as the public information officer, said Rosario and the two victims worked at a logistical company that does outsourcing work but did not know the name of the company.

The person who was shot was the likely target, Cleverdon said in a press conference. It was an isolated incident between the two employees.

The shooting began as an argument between the two employees and Rosario is accused of pulling out a gun during the fight and striking his coworker in the arm and the leg. A third employee was hit just under his eye with shrapnel or fragments.

Both victims were treated at Hartford Hospital and have been released, he said.

After the shooting police received a description of the vehicle the suspect was driving and was told he has heading northbound, likely to Springfield. Connecticut State Police notified Massachusetts State Police they were looking for a 2017 GMC Acadia and troopers responded to assist with the search, Procopio said.

Enfield Police, who were also notified of the incident, located the vehicle on Interstate 91 and began following the driver from a distance. They pulled over the suspect shortly after he crossed into Massachusetts, Cleverdon said.

Almost simultaneously (Massachusetts State Police) Sgt. Christopher Sanchezobserved the stop and arrived at the scene, along with two additional Enfield cruisers. Several other (state police) troopers quickly arrived on scene as well, Procopio said.

Rosario was arrested without incident. Police later found the gun that is believed to have been fired in the shooting in the car, Procopio said.

Cleverdon said he was unsure if Rosario had a permit for the weapon.

He is being held at the State Police barracks in Springfield while South Windsor police seek a warrant for his arrest. Cleverdon said charges will be released after he is extradited and taken into custody in Connecticut.

Related content:
Rajya Sabha resumed proceedings today after it was adjourned five times as the suspended members of the Opposition refused to leave the House despite repeated requests on Monday.

The suspended MPs spent the night near the Mahatma Gandhi statue on the Parliament campus to register their protest singing songs while holding up placards with a vow to continue their fight for the farmers"

An hour before the scheduled time to begin the session, Rajya Sabha deputy chairman Harivansh brought tea for the protesting MPs on Tuesday morning, according to news agency ANI. The suspended members, however, refused to have tea with him as he is anti-farmer, sources said.

Follow our LIVE Parliament coverage here.

Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha came to meet us this morning. We told him that all norms were flouted when farm bills were passed without voting on Sunday. He was also responsible, said AAPs Sanjay Singh, one of the eight member suspended on Monday.

While the suspended MPs cannot attend the House proceedings as per the law, there is no prohibition on entering the Parliament building.

Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu had on Monday announced the suspension of the eight members for one week from the House for misconduct with the deputy chairman during discussions on farm bills on Sunday.

Listen | Setting Sail: The question is not if, but when will India become a $10 trillion economy

Apart from Sanjay Singh, the suspended members are Rajeev Satav, Syed Naseer Hussain and Ripun Bora of the Congress, KK Ragesh and Elamaram Kareem of the CPI (M), Derek O'Brien and Dola Sen of AITC.

"Suspension won't silence us. We will stand with farmers in their fight. The (Rajya Sabha) deputy chairman throttled parliamentary procedures yesterday," said CPIs (M)Elamaram Kareem, one of the suspended MPs.

The Upper House witnessed unruly scenes on Sunday evening after Opposition members alleged that the due process of allowing a detailed discussion on the farm bills was not followed in the House. A ruckus erupted soon after the deputy chairman put the bills to vote amid a demand of detailed discussion form the Opposition members who also wanted the bills to be scrutinised by a select committee of the Parliament.

The two bills were eventually passed through a voice vote even as some Opposition members rushed into the well, shouting slogans against the government accusing it of being anti-farmer.

The Opposition parties and farmers organisations have criticised the government for rushing through the process of passing the bills without a proper debate, scrutiny and consultation. Farmers are protesting over the bills in Punjab and Haryana. BJPs oldest ally in Punjab, Shriomani Akali Dal registered its protest against the farm bills with its leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal quitting as cabinet minister in Modi government.

The two bills --- the Farmer's Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 -- passed by both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha will now go to the President for his assent before they are notified as laws. The third farm bill-- Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020 has not come up in Rajya Sabha yet.

Meanwhile, fifteen Opposition parties including Akali Dal have writtem to President Ram Nath Kovind and urged to withhold his assent to the two farm bills.

Meanwhile, the Congress is expected to raise the issue of "mishandling" with Rajya Sabha MPs in the Lok Sabha, that meets later in the day, as well.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that the farm bills were "the need of the 21st century" and reassured that the Minimum Support Price (MSP) provision is not going anywhere. The Centre also hiked the minimum price for buying six rabi crops, including wheat, by up to six per cent.

"After these historical changes in the agricultural sector, some people are losing their control of it. So now these people are trying to mislead farmers on MSP (minimum support price). They are the same people who sat for years on the recommendations of the Swaminathan committee on MSP," Modi said on September 21.
When the government fears the people, it is liberty, when the people fear the government, it is tyranny. Anonymous

An opinion article "Unorthodox Governance; The APC Way" by this author appeared on some national dailies in the month of April, 2018. This was precisely few days after the former Nigeria President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo forwarded a personal letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, where he (Obasanjo) complained about the lice of poor performance in government and thereafter adviced him not to contest the 2019 election as he has performed below expectation.

Beside providing Nigerians with what is to come upon the republic-economically, socially and politically as a result of present policies without human face, and what will go off if urgent action is not taken by the federal Government to change some of its policies, the piece more than anything else queried what is in the acronym APC that throws any nation the party assumes mantle of leadership into confusion; not just In Nigeria but in Africa as a continent.

To drive its analysis home, the author backed the above assertion with the verifiable account below.

In 1985, the All Peoples Congress (APC) took over the mantle of leadership in Sierra Leone (pre- war days) with Joseph Momoh at the helm of affairs, just immediately, the nation came to a halt; the civil servants salaries stopped, the road fell to pieces, the schools disintegrated, the National Television stopped in 1987 when the transmitter was sold by the minister of information. And in 1989, a radio tower that relayed radio signals outside Free Town fell down, ending transmission outside the capital, with weapons pouring over the border as government disappeared.

The economy finally collapsed and Sierra Leone kissed calamity. And the piece posed the question; looking at this account in relation to what is currently happening on our shores, it will necessitate the question as to whether Nigeria is headed for Sierra Leone?

Today, the Nigerias National Television may not have stopped working or its antenna sold, yet, Nigeria is in a worse situation described above about Sierra Leone. As its currently plagued by poverty, insecurity, poor economic management, nepotism, gross dereliction of duty, condonation of misdeed-if not outright encouragement of it, lack of progress, lack of national cohesion and poor management of internal political dynamics and widening inequality.

Considering this fact, there is nothing out-of-ordinary to warrant the ripple reactions that characterized former president Olusegun Obasanjos recent declaration during a closed-door Consultative Dialogue of Nigerias Socio-Cultural Political Organisations on the State of the Nation in Abuja,where he stated that; Today, Nigeria is fast drifting to a failed and badly divided state; economically our country is becoming a basket case and poverty capital of the world, and socially, we are firming up as an unwholesome and insecure country. The groups at the meeting were: Afenifere, Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Ohaneze Ndigbo, Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) and Middle Belt Forum (MBF).

What is in someways troubling is the inconsiderate and uncalculated response from the Presidency through its media assistant, Garba Shehu who failed to, or delibrately ignored the need to analyze the former Presidents statement before stating that former President Olusegun Obasanjo attempts to divide the nation while President Muhammadu Buhari continues to promote nation-building and the unity of Nigeria; concluding that: From the lofty heights of Commander-in-Chief, General Obasanjo has descended to the lowly level of Divider-in-Chief. Its easy to vilify Obasanjo, but the reality on the ground is that virtually everyone else in the country is saying the same thing.

From the above response by Garba Shehu, the question may be asked; is it not the same Chief Olusegun Obasanjo that President Buhari according to reports had in March 2015, described as a courageous patriot and statesman who tells the truth to the power when he is convinced that leaders are going wrong.?

Instead of this verbal attack on the former President, as a responsible and responsive government, what this administration should have done is to introspectively find out if; the comment contained the truth? Fair to all concerned, and has the capacity to build goodwill and better friendship?

In the opinion of this piece, Chief Obasanjo may not be a saint, but he is not alone in this believes that the nation has never been this polarized.

Take for instance, the torrent of reaction and backlashblames and counter blames of President Muhammadu Buhari of ethnic and religious bias that trailed his recent appointments into top management positions in the nations cash cow, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). It is another event that did more than anything ordinary to convince Nigerians that is truly not well in the country. The uproar followed news of a major shake-up in the NNPC. Out of 15 appointees made, 10 were from the North, mostly Hausa/Fulani. There were Yoruba, two from the south-east. It drew the ire of ohanaeze Ndigbo, Yoruba social-political group, Afenifere; the pan-Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, and other opinion molders in the south, who described it as a threat to national unity.

Specifically, while Afenifere going by media reports described it as an act of impunity, Ohaneze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo socio-cultural group fumed that President Buhari was not walking his talk on the plea for national unity and cohesion and therefore urged President Buhari to immediately review the appoints; the posture of Ohanaeze was endorsed by the south-east senate caucus. Also, two rival Niger Delta groups, PANDEF, Pan Niger Delta peoples congress, PNDPC, in an unusual harmony, railed against the federal government, describing the appointments as insensitive and further marginalisation of the oil producing region.

What about the Professor Ango Abdullahi led Northern Elders Forum (NEF), recent declaration that President Muhammadu Buhari has lost the capacity to end insecurity?

Chief Obasanjo, as an elder statesman, apart from enjoying the constitutional backing as enshrined in the nations 1999 constitution (as amended), to express his opinion, his present comment remains the most dynamic and cohesive action expected of a past leader of his class to earn a higher height of respect, the latest comment to my understanding is not only a strategy to assist a leader gain significant ground and tackle the job of leadership, but a conventional approach aimed at making the leader recognize that it takes a prolonged effort to administer a country well and change the backward habits of the people.

Its target was to remind the president that public order, personal and national security, economic and social programmes, and prosperity is not the natural order of things but depends on the ceaseless efforts and attentions from an honest and effective government that the people elect.

Instead of responding to Obasanjos personal comments, it will be more rewarding to Nigerians if the present administration picks a lesson from concerns expressed by the former president and redirect this quality time finding solution to the challenges posed by youth unemployment which data from NBS reveals that Nigerias second-quarter unemployment rate among young people (15-34 years old) is 34.9%, up from 29.7%, while the rate of underemployment for the same age group rose to 28.2% from 25.7% in Q3, 2018. If Mr. President is unawares, these rates were the highest when compared to other age groupings. Nigerias youth population eligible to work is about 40 million out of which only 14.7 million are fully employed and another 11.2 million are unemployed.

To guarantee the future of our republic, President Muhammadu Buhari must defocus on Obasanjo and pay attention on provision of security and pursuit of economic welfare of citizens.

Jerome-Mario Utomi is a Lagos-Based Media Consultant.
BOSTON, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- 21st century agriculture is facing some major challenges. The global population is projected to increase to 10 billion by 2050. Feeding this many people will require a 70% increase from today's global food production. However, available agricultural land is in short supply, with climate change and growing urbanization causing available arable land to decrease. The search for more land for agriculture is leading to deforestation, greenhouse gas emissions and a loss of biodiversity.

Feeding a growing population without being able to expand agricultural land will require increases in agricultural productivity. However, major crop yields have been plateauing over the last few decades and concerns over the use of synthetic pesticides and artificial fertilizers is leading to more and more tools being stripped away from farmers looking to boost their crop yields.

A potential solution to these challenges is through genetics. By manipulating the genomes of crops, it is possible to make crops larger, improve resilience to environmental stresses and give plants an innate resistance to certain diseases. In a sense, humans have been manipulating the DNA of crops for thousands of years through selective breeding, although the pace has increased significantly as new genetic engineering technologies have emerged. The recent IDTechEx report, "Genetic Technologies in Agriculture 2020-2030: Forecasts, Markets, Technologies", explores the use of genetic technologies within agriculture and the impact that they are having on global farming.

Genetic engineering as a tool for agriculture first emerged in the 1990s, with the creation of "genetically modified organisms" (GMOs). Creating a GMO involves a technique called transgenesis, where a segment of DNA is taken from one organism and spliced into genetic code of another. An example of this is the development of Bt corn, where the gene for producing an insecticidal protein was taken from a soil bacterium and placed into corn plants, creating a corn crop that can protect itself from insects.

GMOs have been very successful in certain areas, for example over 95% of corn grown in the US is currently genetically modified. However, there are challenges. Creating a GMO is incredibly expensive, costing hundreds of millions of dollars, with regulatory approval taking decades, if the crop is even approved at all - getting a GMO approved in the EU is almost impossible, for example. Additionally, GMOs have faced a hostile public backlash, which has limited their uptake in much of the world and led to harsh regulatory regimes in many places, particularly in the EU.

An emerging technology that could be set to revolutionize the use of genetic engineering in agriculture is the field of genome editing. Unlike transgenics, which involves the insertion of whole DNA sequences into a genome, genome editing involves making precise changes to an organism's native DNA, effectively making small corrections to the DNA that was already there.

Modern genome editing technique involve using enzymes to cut DNA strands at a precise point in the sequence, creating a "double stranded break" that is then repaired by the cell, leading to a change in the genome. There are currently three main genome editing techniques, zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs), transcription-activator like effector nucleases (TALENs) and the clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPR) system, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.

Genome editing could be tremendously useful in agriculture. It can be used to silence undesirable genes in crops, such as the genes responsible for browning in mushrooms, and to alter the behavior of other genes, e.g. causing an increase in fruit size or yield, or stimulating the production of useful natural products. Unlike transgenics, genome editing is much quicker and cheaper to perform and the technique itself is much more precise, increasing the success rate of new engineered crops. Because it relies on changing the organism's native genome rather than inserting foreign DNA, gene editing companies are hoping that genome edited crops avoid the "Frankenfoods" label and consumer backlash associated with GMOs.





For the same reason, gene editing may avoid many of the regulatory hurdles facing GMOs. For example, in 2016, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) decided that a mushroom edited using CRISPR to resist browning fell outside its regulatory oversight. Similarly, plants modified with ZFNs and TALENs are also escaping USDA GMO scrutiny. However, given how young the field is, the regulations can be expected to change rapidly over the coming years.

In 2019, American biotech company Calyxt announced the first commercial launch of a product derived from a gene edited crop, its Calyno brand high oleic soybean oil. This oil is designed to be a heart healthy product with increased heat stability, 80% oleic acid, 20% lower saturated fat and zero grams of trans fat per serving. The soybeans were edited using TALEN gene editing licensed from its parent company Cellectis.

Calyxt believes that TALEN technology has several key advantages over other forms of gene editing, including the strong IP position of its parent company. TALEN is both specific and precise and can cleave any selected region in any gene. For example, there are multiple FAD genes in the soybean gene yet the company's TALENs can edit only the two FAD genes that produce fatty acids in the seed. The company introduced a single variety of its high oleic soybeans in the US in 2017. By 2019, Calyxt had contracted over with over 100 Midwestern soybean growers to produce 36,000 acres of its high oleic soybeans, with the company passing 100,000 acres in March 2020. Through its agricultural partners, Calyxt is expecting to have over 25% market share of H0 soybean acres by the end of 2020.

In recent years, there has been particular excitement around CRISPR technology. Although CRISPR is less precise than TALEN, it is quicker, cheaper and doesn't need specific expertise. Unlike ZFN and TALEN, CRISPR uses sgRNAs to identify DNA sequences, rather than engineered proteins, which are far easier to produce. Although no CRISPR-edited crops have yet been brought to market, this is expected to soon change, with Corteva Agriscience developing a CRISPR-edited waxy corn hybrid that is set to see commercial release in the US within the next year.

"Genetic Technologies in Agriculture 2020-2030: Forecasts, Markets, Technologies" is a recent report by IDTechEx that explores the technology and market factors involved in shaping the industries around genetic engineering in agriculture. The report also discusses the impacts of regulations on the industry and provides a 10 forecast for the growth of the industry.



For more information on this report, please visit www.IDTechEx.com/CropBio or for the full portfolio of Food & AgTech research available from IDTechEx please visit www.IDTechEx.com/research/AgTech.

IDTechEx guides your strategic business decisions through its Research, Consultancy and Event products, helping you profit from emerging technologies. For more information on IDTechEx Research and Consultancy, contact research@IDTechEx.com or visit www.IDTechEx.com.

Media Contact:

Natalie Moreton

Digital Marketing Manager

press@IDTechEx.com

+44(0)1223 812300

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1279246/IDTechEx_Report_GMOs.jpg
The United States is building a coalition aimed at preventing the completion of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline that will substantially increase the flow of Russian gas into Europe, the U.S. Secretary of State told German daily Bild in an interview.

From the US point of view, Nord Stream 2 endangers Europe because it makes it dependent on Russian gas and endangers Ukraine - which in my opinion worries many Germans, Pompeo said. We hope Nord Stream 2 will not be completed and we are working on a coalition to prevent this from happening. We hope that the German government will also come to this assessment, be it because of what happened to Mr. Navalny or because of the security implications that dependence on Russian gas brings."

The interview comes days after another report in German media said the German government had tried to appease Washington about Nord Stream by offering to build two liquefied natural gas import terminals worth $1.2 billion if the U.S. stopped opposing the pipeline.

Germany will be the receiver of most of the gas that will flow through the expanded Nord Stream pipeline amid an expected surge in demand for natural gas as it closes coal and nuclear power plants. The U.S., however, is against it, claiming it will only increase Russias influence in the energy supply of the EU, which would be unwise. Of course, there are also the U.S. gas interests as a major LNG exporter.

The alleged poisoning of Putin critic Alexey Navalny recently raised the temperature of the issue, with critics of the Nord Stream project calling for the German government to punish Moscow by withdrawing its support for the infrastructure.

On the other hand, a group of local primer minister from eastern German regions declared their support for Nord Stream 2, saying in a joint document that it was important for the energy future of both Germany and Europe and its completion would be right and justified.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Photo credit: Car and Driver

From Car and Driver

Amazon's Alexa voice-powered assistant can now help pay for gas at more than 11,500 Exxon and Mobil gas stations across the U.S.

Say "Alexa, pay for gas," and she'll use location services to find the gas station you're at. Tell her which pump number, and you won't have to swipe your card or use the PIN pad.

Amazon hasn't said whether or not it plans to roll out the service at any additional stations in the U.S.

Amazon Alexa can now help you pay for gas at more than 11,500 Exxon and Mobil gas stations across the United States. Use an Alexa-enabled mobile device or car equipped with Alexa Auto, so you don't have to use the card reader or keypad to pay for gas. Amazon Pay is a more secure way to pay, and there's an added benefit: it takes away that additional step where you could come into contact with germs or your card could meet up with a card-skimming device. We tried Alexa's new feature to fill up our long-term Ram 1500 to show you how it works.

When you arrive at any cooperating Exxon or Mobil gas station, pull up to any pump and use your Alexa-enabled device or Alexa Auto to say, "Hey Alexa, pay for gas." Then, she'll ask you which pump you're at. For instance, say "I'm at pump number one," and then if you have a credit card attached to the Amazon account (you'll need to do this) payment will be processed safely and securely. After that, just grab the pump, select your fuel, and fill up. It's as easy as that. Well, for us, it actually wasn't that easy the first time.

When we arrived at the closest Mobil station to our Ann Arbor, Michigan, headquarters, we pulled up to a pump and used the Amazon Alexa iPhone app to try and pay for gas. We said, "Hey Alexa, pay for gas," and everything worked smoothly, except Alexa warned us that since it was our first time getting gas at ExxonMobil, Amazon Pay would have to share our name, email, and station location, but then gas wouldn't pump. However, after a second attempt, it worked flawlessly.

Story continues

An Amazon spokesperson would not reveal any plans to roll out this service to other gas stations in the future, but it wouldn't be surprising.

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IBTM Events has announced the first details of IBTM World Virtual which will take place online from December 8 to 10 featuring one-to-one business meetings, a comprehensive programme of content and many of the key features of the live event.



As with all IBTMs events, exhibitors and Hosted Buyers will benefit from IBTMs bespoke appointment system, matching buyers business needs with suppliers services to ensure they meet with people with whom there is a strong chance of doing business.



Trade visitors will be able to register for the online event and, as well as accessing education sessions and event features, they will be able to request walk-up meetings with exhibitors via a chat function, with the option to convert directly into a video call if required.



David Thompson, Event Director, IBTM World, said: While wed all hoped we would be able to meet face-to-face in Barcelona, were very excited about what we have created with IBTM World Virtual. The online event will deliver not only the high quality business opportunities for which IBTM is renowned, but also a programme of content that will provide attendees with tangible learnings that they can apply to their business as we evolve and rebuild our industry.



As well as business meetings, we are adapting many of our regular event features to take place online, including exhibitor destination presentations, live online pitches and the graduation ceremony for our mentoring programme Event Business Accelerator, the Tech Watch Awards and targeted content streams for event planners. Were looking forward to sharing more detail in due course.



A selection of gated and live content will be available on all three days of the event. The third and final day of the event will include a full schedule of live and pre-recorded education sessions taking place on IBTM TV, available to all registered attendees.



Speakers will include: keynote Pancho Campo, who will speak about The future of events: Lessons learned from working with Barack Obama; Isabel Bardinet, CEO, European Society of Cardiology, who will deliver her thoughts on going digital: lessons learnt and going forward; Mikael Ek, Managing Director EMEA, BCD M&E whose session will cover state of the industry: unexpected trends for the future of meetings and events and Patrick Rush, Senior Regional Director, Head of Asia Pacific, American Express Meetings & Events who will run a session on 2021 Global Meetings & Events Trends.



IBTM World Virtual replaces the live edition which, it was announced last week, will not take place in 2020 because of the incredibly unpredictable travel restrictions that continue to be in place across the globe.  TradeArabia News Service


There's a new twist in the Tata-Mistry dispute. Shapoorji Pallonji (SP) Group has offered to sell its 18.37 per cent stake in Tata Sons back to Tatas. The stake is estimated to be valued at Rs 1.3 lakh crore. SP Group said in a 'departing note' that the relationship spanning over 70 years, was forged on mutual trust, good faith, and friendship. "Today, it is with a heavy heart that the Mistry family believes that a separation of interests would best serve all stakeholder groups," it said.

The lawyer of Tata Sons had informed the Supreme Court on Tuesday that the 150 year-old conglomerate is willing to buy the 18.37 per cent stake owned by the Shapoorji Pallonji Group. It is for the second time, Tatas evinced interest in acquiring Mistrys' stake. Tata Sons, which is the holding company for around 100 companies, has an enterprise valuation of $100 billion, said banking experts. But SP Group sources claimed that the 18.37 per cent is valued Rs 1.75 lakh crore.

Mistrys have agreed to sell their stake and Tata Sons' laywer has informed the apex court of his client's intent to buy. But the question is whether Tatas can buy the share at such a high valuation? The legal eagles say that it's a trap.

ALSO READ: Tata Sons offers to purchase Shapoorji Pallonji Group's stake in shares dispute

Tata Sons' major revenue is the dividend and other incomes from Tata Consultancy Services (TCS). The privately held company saw its profit more than double in FY20, driven by higher dividend contribution from its software services subsidiary TCS. Profit soared 130 per cent to Rs 2,680 crore from Rs 1,145 crore in fiscal 2019.

Tatas lost huge money - to the tune of Rs 60,000 crore - in telecom business in the recent years. At present, when the whole world is in financial crisis, it will be hugely difficult for Tatas to raise Rs 1 lakh crore to pay Mistrys. Besides, major firms - Tata Steel, Tata Motors and Tata Power - are under heavy debts and needs capital infusion from the parent to move ahead. COVID-19 has shattered the businesses of Indian Hotels, Tata Chemicals and Tata Realty, among others.

Earlier, in 2018, the counsel for Tata Trusts had told National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) that it would be in the best interests of Tata Sons to buy out the Shapoorji Pallonji Group's stake in the holding firm. Mistrys had in the past ruled out any possibility of selling the stake.

ALSO READ: SC restrains SP Group, Cyrus Mistry from raising capital on Tata Sons' shares

Tata's dispute with Mistry family began with the ouster of Cyrus Mistry from the top post of Tata group in 2016.

It was believed that SP Group got the Tata Sons shares when they bought into the financing firm FE Dinshaw and Co in the 1930s. But Tata counsel argued in the court that Mistrys didn't hold any shares until 1965 and they bought it later from the siblings of JRD Tata. Whatsoever, Mistrys are the largest individual shareholders in the holding company of Tata Group. The charitable trusts of the Tata family control 66 per cent stake.

Tata group lawyer said on Tuesday that the buyout will help end the years-long legal dispute between the two parties. The SP Group wanted to raise Rs 11,000 crore by pledging a part of the shares that they hold. According to the Article of Association of Tata Sons, the private firm has the first right of refusal in the stake of Mistrys, if they sell it. Tatas fear that pledging will allow the lender to takeover the shares in case of loan default. Tata considers it as potentially risky because the securities may end up falling in the hands of unfriendly investors. After hearing the matter, the Supreme Court has restrained SP Group from pledging Tata Sons shares till October 28.

ALSO READ: Pallonji Shapoorji Mistry's daughter duped in cyber fraud
2 People Armed With Shovels, Gun, Arrested at Ohio Airport Near Trump Rally: Report

A man and a woman from Virginia were arrested Monday near an Ohio airport after authorities said they were spotted walking on railroad tracks with shovels, a pitchfork and a backpack containing a gun and ammunition.

Virginia Beach residents John Davison, 38, and Vicki Davison, 33, were found by authorities behind the Toledo Executive Airport in Lake Township.

The Secret Service and FBI were involved in their arrests, as President Donald Trump was nearby for a rally, The Sentinel-Tribune in Bowling Green reported. The president held a rally Monday night at the main Toledo airport in Swanton. There was no indication that the two events were linked.

The pair were each charged with making terrorist threats; carrying a concealed weapon; inducing panic and criminal trespassing. An investigation into the incident is ongoing, but further details have not yet been disclosed.

Police officers initially responded to reports that the Davisons had exited a vehicle and were walking along the railroad tracks carrying shovels and a backpack.

When authorities apprehended the pair, they found a Glock pistol with extended magazine, 200 rounds of ammunition and four tourniquets in their backpack.

Lake Township Police Chief Mark Hummer told The Sentinel-Tribune that the pairs vehicle, a Toyota Camry, had been rented, and that it contained a number of odd items suspicious in nature, but nothing illegal.

They were not resisting, but not cooperating, Hummer said of their arrest.

The police chief said the 38-year-old had been cited a day earlier by Walbridge Police for criminal trespass at their street department, noting that a rail yard runs right along the building.

The Lake Local Schools buildings were locked down for roughly two and a half hours as an investigation was carried out.

We dont take it lightly. We do it for a reason, Hummer said of the decision to lockdown the school buildings, which was made jointly with the school superintendent. If nothing else, were going to err on the side of caution when our kids are involved.

We did not believe that the school was in imminent danger, however out of an abundance of caution, and the strange circumstances we wanted to make sure, the department said in a statement on Facebook

This investigation continues, the statement concluded. There is no threat to the students, school or facilities that we can determine.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
UIC mental health research center gets $4 million

A University of Illinois Chicago team has been awarded over $4 million to establish a research center focusing on the health and function of people with serious mental illness.

The center's research will identify the needs of adults and youth during the COVID-19 pandemic and test interventions to help patients access medical care, learn illness self-management strategies and rebuild their lives. A comprehensive training program will complement these studies, including a project across the University of Illinois' three medical campuses to prepare new physicians to best meet the medical needs of people with mental illnesses in the COVID-19 era.

Dr. Judith Cook, professor of psychiatry in the College of Medicine will lead the research center and its team. Cook also is the director of the Center on Mental Health Services Research and Policy, which is dedicated to advancing knowledge and utilization of innovative models to promote health, recovery and employment for people with mental health conditions.

People with serious mental illness are struggling during COVID-19 and its prevention protocols.

"People with mental health issues are facing the same issues we are all having, except magnified. Isolation is not great for anyone, but it's especially difficult for those with serious mental illness. The impact on them is stronger and there is a danger of their health getting far worse," Cook said.

People with mental illness already were dealing with high rates of co-occurring conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, heart and kidney disease, and lung diseases such as asthma and COPD. The pandemic makes getting health services, in general, more challenging and the goal is to make sure those with mental health issues do not lose ground as society transitions back from COVID-19, Cook said.

One of the new center's key projects is to develop a model of services and supports that can help people with serious mental illness manage their health as well as restart their lives after COVID-19. This model will be appropriate for anyone who needs to rebuild their life post-COVID.

"People with mental illness will be doing things similar to other people -- restarting their lives," Cook said. "Everyone is faced with doing this. Many have lost jobs. Many are living in circumstances they'd like to change. Many are going to need to further education or get vocational training."

The National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research awarded the five-year grant. The funds will be used to support several initiatives:

--to conduct a nationwide survey on how those with mental illness are coping and what they need to successfully re-engage in society;

--to develop new interventions that help them access health care and manage their co-occurring medical conditions;

--to educate medical students to effectively treat serious mental health issues.

Several of the new center's projects involve peer mentoring, commonly used in other health fields but relatively new to mental health, Cook said. The Certified Peer Specialist, or CPS, credential can be earned by someone who is successfully managing their own mental illness after receiving state-sponsored training and education. In one new project, a group of 500 newly certified peer specialists will be followed to determine the impact of the pandemic on their health and career paths. In another new project, peer specialists will be trained to act as health navigators to help individuals determine what medical services they need, and help them get those services.

"Certified peer specialists can help a person move past the stigma of their illness and give them hope that they can put their lives back together," Cook said.

The center will adopt a health navigation model that can be delivered by peer specialists through both online and face-to-face meetings, with a focus on helping those with mental illness have successful visits with primary care physicians, specifically telehealth visits.

The new program also will provide medical students at all three of the University of Illinois' medical school campuses enhanced training in working with patients who have chronic health conditions co-occurring with serious mental illness. Cook said all emerging doctors need this kind of education since these patients are also dealing with poverty, unemployment, racial and gender discrimination, food insecurity and inadequate housing.

"We need to do a better job in all medical schools in helping emerging physicians work with the social determinants of health," Cook said.

###

This study is supported by the National Institute of Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (90RTHF0004-01-00).

This story has been published on: 2020-09-22. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Laura Ladd Bierman is executive director of the League of Women Voters of New York State. The league started a century ago as it became clear the 19th Amendment would be ratified and guarantee women the right to vote.

Among the Leagues goals now, Bierman said, is encouraging participation by all people in all levels of their government and to be knowledgeable about issues when they vote.
One of the areas most respected cardiothoracic surgeons will start seeing patients at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital.

Moritz C. Wyler von Ballmoos, M.D., Ph.D., director of robotic cardiac and vascular surgery for the Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center, is joining Marvin D. Atkins Jr., M.D., Charlie Cheng, M.D., and Tony Lu, M.D. with Houston Methodist Cardiovascular Surgery Associates at Sugar Land where he will focus on advanced, specialized cardiovascular surgery.

Wyler von Ballmoos has a distinguished background as a surgeon and clinical investigator. He earned his medical degree and Ph.D. in cardiovascular physiology from the University of Bern in Switzerland and completed his surgical training at the Medical College of Wisconsin and Duke University Medical Center. Wyler von Ballmoos completed the AATS Graham Foundation Robotics Fellowship, as well as an advanced fellowship in minimally invasive cardiac surgery and transcatheter procedures for structural heart and valve disease. He has been recognized for his groundbreaking work as the recipient of the AATS Graham Foundation Robotics Grant, the Michael J. Davidson Award (for minimally invasive cardiac surgery), and the Thoracic Surgery Foundation Advanced Cardiac Robotic Fellowship Award.

Wyler von Ballmoos is an internationally recognized expert in the minimally invasive treatment of heart disease and is the principal investigator or co-investigator for 12 clinical device trials to treat valvular heart disease. He has extensive knowledge and expertise in valve repair surgery and minimally invasive cardiac surgery, including robotic-assisted surgery and related technologies.

Wyler von Ballmoos says Houston Methodist Sugar Lands excellent reputation as a cardiovascular center of excellence and the opportunity to offer minimally invasive valve and bypass surgery outside the Texas Medical Center were major factors in his decision to join the staff.

Through its investment in the areas leading Heart & Vascular Center, Houston Methodist Sugar Land has proven that regional hospitals can deliver the same level of expertise in cardiovascular diagnosis and treatment as large medical center institutions, he explained. The cardiovascular programs growth is an important benefit for patients, as having access to outstanding care close to home can make a real difference in treatment and recovery. Houston Methodist Sugar Land has invested in people and technology to build an impressive cardiovascular service line that benefits the community, and I am excited to join the team and continue the hospitals mission of bringing the best possible care to Fort Bend County and the surrounding area.

The addition of Dr. Wyler von Ballmoos to the hospitals medical staff strengthens an already first-class cardiovascular service, Atkins said. All of us at Houston Methodist Sugar Land are thrilled to have him on board and we look forward to working with him to continue to advance our cardiovascular program.

Houston Methodist Cardiovascular Surgery Associates at Sugar Land is located in Medical Office Building 3 on the Houston Methodist Sugar Land campus, 16605 Southwest Freeway, Suite 560. To make an appointment with Wyler von Ballmoos, call 713-352-1820.

To learn more about Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital, visit houstonmethodist.org/sugarland or on Facebook at fb.com/methodistsugarland.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 23:51:37|Editor: huaxia

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SANAA, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- At least 16 civilians were wounded in shelling in the Yemeni besieged city of Taiz, the international aid agency Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said on Twitter on Tuesday.

"As a result of yesterday's shelling of predominately civilian areas in Taiz city and its surrounding, MSF-supported Al Thawra Hospital has received 16 casualties so far, including women, elderly and children," said the aid agency.

It reiterated its call to all armed groups to abide by International Humanitarian Law and take all necessary precautions to avoid civilian causalities.

Meanwhile, residents in Taiz told Xinhua that a woman was also killed in the artillery shelling on Monday night.

Taiz city, in the southwest of the war-torn country, has been under tightening siege by the Houthi rebels since 2015.

Yemen has been mired in civil war since late 2014, when the Iran-backed Houthi group seized control of much of the country's north and forced the internationally-recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of the capital Sanaa. Enditem
From Westminster John Knox Press - Bart Ehrman, an agnostic New Testament scholar, debates Craig Evans, an evangelical New Testament scholar, about the historical Jesus and what constitutes history. Their exchange includes such compelling questions as: What are sound methods of historical investigation? What are reliable criteria for determining the authenticity of an ancient text? What roles do reason and inference play? And, of course, interpretation? Readers of this debateregardless of their interpretive inclinations and biasesare sure to find some confirmation of their existing beliefs, but they will also find an honest and well-informed challenge to the way they think about the historical Jesus.

The result? A more open, informed, and questioning mind, which is better prepared for discovering both truth and contrivance. The debate between Ehrman and Evans, along with Stewarts introductory framework, make Can We Trust the Bible on the Historical Jesus? (Westminster John Knox Press) an excellent primer to historical Jesus studies. Readers will come away with a deeper appreciation for the ongoing quest for the historical Jesus.

Bart D. Ehrman is the James A. Gray Distinguished Professor of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is the author of five New York Times bestsellers, including How Jesus Became God.

Craig A. Evans is John Bisagno Distinguished Professor of Christian Origins at Houston Theological Seminary. An internationally distinguished authority on the historical Jesus, Evans is the author or editor of more than fifty books, including Jesus and His World.

Robert B. Stewart is Professor of Philosophy and Theology and the Greer-Heard Chair of Faith and Culture at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Stewart has edited thirteen books of debates and dialogues.

Advanced Praise for Can We Trust the Bible on the Historical Jesus?

In this book, two eminent scholars of early Christianity, Bart Ehrman and Craig Evans, come head to head in an epic debate about whether the New Testament provides a historically reliable account of Jesus. Much is at stake on this, for history, for religion, and neither holds back in setting forth the case for or against the Jesus of the Gospels. Informative, riveting, and truly eye-opening. History buffs and the religiously minded will enjoy this book. Rev. Dr. Michael F. Bird, Academic Dean and Lecturer in Theology at Ridley College in Melbourne, Australia

In this highly readable presentation of a discussion between two well-respected biblical scholars, readers encounter two different approaches to the reliability of the Bible for historical veracity. Ehrman is more skeptical, Evans more trusting of how much actual historical fact is presented in the New Testament about, for instance, the death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. Their two positions are well-presented and clearly argued, with assurances of mutual respect. Their discussion is framed by an introduction and conclusion by the moderator, Robert Stewart, who introduces attention to theory and philosophy of historiography, as well as more recent developments in historical Jesus studies. The book is a short but fair illustration of a long-running and still lively modern disagreement. Dale B. Martin, Woolsey Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies, Yale University

What happens when two seasoned, informed, and confident scholars weigh in from different angles about the historical Jesus and the reliability of the Gospels? In this splendid volume you will not find acrimony but reasoned, balanced, and charitable argumentsfrom both sidesleading in this book to a demonstration of what we need most: civil discourse! Bravo.Rev. Canon Dr. Scot McKnight, Professor of New Testament, Northern Seminary

Bart Ehrman and Craig Evans are two of the most highly respected scholars working in the field of historical Jesus studies today. They agree on a great deal but render strikingly different verdicts on the reliability of historical information reported in the New Testament Gospels. This book allows us to listen in on their lively discussionmore dialogue than debateand to decide not only what we think but also why it matters. Many Christian believers will want to engage these questions, and Robert Stewart has provided us with a helpful guide for doing so. Mark Allan Powell, Professor Emeritus of New Testament, Trinity Lutheran Seminary

Can We Trust the Bible on the Historical Jesus?

Bart D. Ehrman, Craig A. Evans, Robert B. Stewart

Paperback  $25.00  9780664265854  120 pages  5.5" x 8.5"
OTTAWA - The federal Liberals' throne speech Wednesday is to lay out plans for child care, health care, affordable housing and navigating the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 22/9/2020 (486 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Governor General Julie Payette delivers the Throne Speech in the Senate chamber, Thursday December 5, 2019 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

OTTAWA - The federal Liberals' throne speech Wednesday is to lay out plans for child care, health care, affordable housing and navigating the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The speech, crafted by the governing party but delivered by Gov. Gen. Julie Payette, will be given in the shadow of rising COVID-19 cases across the country, prompting Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to deliver an unusual televised address of his own a few hours later.

Trudeau's own speech will deliver a message to Canadians on the "urgency of fighting COVID-19" as the country faces a second wave of the pandemic, according to his office.

Trudeau will also speak about how the Liberals plan to combat COVID-19 with government action and to build the economic recovery from pandemic-related shutdowns earlier this year, repeating elements of the throne speech.

Payette is expected to add her own commentary to the throne speech about the pandemic, which will broadly be a message of hope for Canadians in these trying times, according to a source with knowledge of the additions who wasn't authorized to speak publicly about them.

What the Liberals have told various stakeholders is to expect a two-step approach: promises of short-term help, mixed with references to a longer-term vision for the country.

For instance, sources who have knowledge of the government's thinking on child care, and spoke on the condition of anonymity to detail private conversations, said there is a much broader policy discussion behind the scenes about reforming the sector that the speech may allude to, while pledging more immediate help.

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce has asked the Liberals to establish a long-promised child care secretariat that would guide policy decisions, suggesting tax incentives for parents, guardians and daycare owners.

Martha Friendly, executive director of the Childcare Resource and Research Unit, a Toronto think-tank, says the pandemic has created a "eureka'" moment for policy-makers about the necessity of child care to the country's economic and social recovery.

"I hope there has also been the equally crucial 'aha' that the reliable, safe, high-quality child care families can count on in good times and bad depends on a transformation of government policy, not just money alone  a bold, ambitious strategy," she said.

Small businesses are hoping for a lifeline for companies that are barely hanging on. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business is hoping to see a rejigging of a commercial rent-assistance program that has fallen short of expectations, which the Liberals have hinted at doing.

"There are still hundreds of thousands of businesses that have received no government support at all," said CFIB president Dan Kelly, noting it could be years before business revenues return to pre-pandemic levels, even as costs remain steady.

"They're starting to fail and we've got to make sure that we can help bridge more of them to the finish line."

There's the possibility of a bold statement on homelessness and housing, which would disappoint people who want specifics.

"If its too broad of a statement then thats frankly too much wiggle room," said Jeff Morrison, executive director of the Canadian Housing and Renewal Association.

Based on the signals going out, the speech will put promises into one of three buckets, said Elliot Hughes, who was an adviser to former finance minister Bill Morneau.

The first bucket will be about navigating the health crisis. Bucket 2 will be about holding up those who have had the financial floor fall from under them. Bucket 3 will be big-picture vision statements, such as national child care, pharmacare and possibly creating a guaranteed minimum income, Hughes said.

"This is the Liberals' plan for the time between now and election day," said Hughes, now with consulting firm Summa Strategies.

"The speech is really the opening salvo in what is going to be the governments pitch to Canadians."

What will follow in October or November will be an economic update or a full-fledged budget in which Canadians will find out how big each bucket will be  and how much more public debt the Liberals will pile on.

Still, the throne speech can't be dismissed as politics and fluff, said Kathy Brock, an expert on Canada's parliamentary system from Queen's University in Kingston, Ont. The speech also tells the bureaucracy what areas will receive resources, allows opposition parties to set up their alternatives and lays the groundwork for an election.

All of which raises questions about why Trudeau wants to give a presidential-style television address shortly after instead of speaking in the House of Commons, Brock said.

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"This undercuts one of the basics of our democratic system," she said.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh hinted again on Tuesday his party will support the speech, which would allow the minority Liberals to survive a confidence vote.

He said he wants an immediate extension of the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, and legislation for paid sick leave for all workers.

"I don't want them to signal they're doing something, I want them to actually do it," Singh said.

Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet said in a statement that he wants a pledge to immediately provide billions more to provinces in health transfers. He warned his party won't give the Liberals a blank cheque and wants its demands addressed.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 22, 2020.
Cruise bookings for 2021 are down, CEO of Norwegian Cruise Lines Frank Del Rio told CNBC on Tuesday, acknowledging the sustained impact the coronavirus pandemic is having on global travel and the industry.

Cruise executives have previously painted a rosier picture of future bookings, touting pent-up demand as the pandemic has left ships stationed in ports and brought the industry to a trickle for most of 2020. Del Rio said future bookings are "truly remarkable," considering what's happened to the industry this year, but he added that the company doesn't expect 2021 bookings to be in line with past years.

"We're behind last year. There's no question, but not as far behind as you would think given what's been going on," he told CNBC's Seema Mody on "Power Lunch." "Pricing has held up well. No one is discounting the product, rightfully so. And so we're hopeful that 2021 can be an OK year. It won't be a record year by any means, but it certainly won't be the disaster that 2020 has been."

The three major cruise companies that are traded in the U.S., Norwegian, Royal Caribbean and Carnival Corp., have been hammered by the coronavirus pandemic as health officials asked people not to book trips over fears of spreading the virus.

Shares of the three companies are down at least 50% from Jan. 1. However, all three have outpaced broader market gains since their lows in mid-March. Shares of Norwegian are down over 73% since Jan. 1, but have clawed back some gains since hitting a 52-week low on March 18. The stock is up over 100% since then.

Shares of Royal are down over 53% from Jan.1. But the stock has climbed more than 200% from its March low of $19.25 per share. It finished trading Tuesday up nearly 3% for the day, at $62.37 per share.

On March 13, the Cruise Lines International Association, a trade group representing all three companies as well as other major cruise lines, said they were temporarily halting operations. The companies, for the most part, have not resumed operations since then while continuing to bleed cash.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a no-sail order for cruise ships in U.S. waters on March 14, saying "that cruise ship travel exacerbates the global spread of Covid-19." The order is currently due to expire on Sept. 30.

On Monday, a panel of public health specialists hired by Royal Caribbean and Norwegian submitted a 60-plus-page report of recommendations to the CDC for the industry to safely resume sailing, including entry testing for all passengers and crew, daily temperature checks, mask recommendations and more. The panel is made up of 11 public health specialists, including former top U.S. health officials.

"A key part of it is to create a bubble, where we test every single person going on board, the guests and the crew and protect them so that their likelihood of entering with coronavirus is very low. And then we have processes on boards, so that if somehow somebody slips through, there's still protection so it doesn't spread," Royal CEO Richard Fain told CNBC of the panel's recommendations. "We look forward to working with the CDC."

Fain echoed Del Rio's sentiment that 2021 bookings are higher than expected, but he did not compare them to a typical year's bookings at this point in the ticket cycle. He added that cruising has already resumed in some parts of Europe, including Germany, Italy and Greece, where the company is using safety protocols to keep the virus off ships.

"Bookings in general have been much better than I think anybody expected, particularly as we get into the year, and people feel more and more confident that we'll be able to be putting the coronavirus more and more into the rear-view mirror," he said. "The key thing to remember is how much more we know about the disease and how much better our technology is for dealing with it."

CNBC's Seema Mody contributed to this report.
A new bout of enforced Working From Home strikes an awful blow to the heart of London.

Just as employers have spent fortunes getting staff back to the office safely, the Government is veering back to the blunt instrument of WFH.

Such draconian measures may partly stem the escalation of the pandemic, but at what cost in jobs, poverty and the cultural lifeblood of our cities?

Whitbread provides an answer: 6000 job losses across its pubs and hotels as people stay in and curb business trips.

Retailers give another: plunging footfall from the lack of office workers is forcing them to lay off staff in droves.

The restaurants, hotels and theatres that make London an exciting place to be, which will eventually help bring the tourists back, are being strangled.

The suburbs may be faring better but your average big-spending American tourist doesnt come to the UK to visit Barnes.

At Boris Johnsons press conference tonight, the ligature will be tightened to choking point. After weeks of ordering us back to the office, it will be work from home if you can.

Rishi Sunak knows more lockdowns will be disastrous for the economy. He has urged the PM to hold back. But, while the Chancellor won a compromise on shutting pubs and restaurants, it seems that he has lost the argument on WFH.

Perhaps this move will prevent some of the spread of the virus, but for how long can we put up with it? Surely we dont want to freeze our capital until a vaccine (possibly) emerges next spring.
Hugh Jackman made an adorable video for one of his youngest fans on Tuesday.

The Hollywood star shared a clip to Instagram in which he wishes a young girl called Julia a happy birthday.

The 51-year-old said in the video: 'Hi Julia! I am so proud of you for concentrating, you're doing so well. I am going to practice hard today, too.'

Sweet! Hugh Jackman (pictured) made an adorable video for one of his young fans on Tuesday

The actor then went on to quote P. T. Barnum, who Hugh played in the 2017 film, The Greatest Showman.

'Like P. T. Barnum said, no one made a difference by being like anyone else. Happy birthday,' Hugh said.

He then shared a second clip, which showed gorgeous little Julia saying the word 'concentrate' and pointing to her chin.

Cute: The Hollywood star shared a clip to Instagram in which he wishes a young girl called Julia a happy birthday

The 51-year-old said in the video: 'Hi Julia! I am so proud of you for concentrating, you're doing so well. I am going to practice hard today too'

Good idea: 'Like P. T. Barnum said, no one made a difference by being like anyone else. Happy birthday,' Hugh added. He pointed to his chin to show she was 'concentrating'

In the video, Julia explains that she learned that word 'from Hugh Jackman' as well as Sesame Street character, Elmo.

Hugh wrote in his caption for both clips: 'Hi Julia. I'm so proud of you. Keep concentrating! I love Elmo too. Happy birthday! Love Hugh.'

It comes after a successful week for the Australian star, who is celebrating the Emmy win for his latest film, Bad Education.

Just like her hero! He then shared a second clip, which showed gorgeous little Julia saying the word 'concentrate' and pointing to her chin like Hugh did

Lessons: In the video, Julia explained that she learned that word 'from Hugh Jackman' as well as Sesame Street character, Elmo

The lauded television drama won a Creative Arts Emmy for Outstanding Television Movie on Saturday.

Hugh shared the film's poster to Instagram, captioning it: 'Congratulations to the entire cast and crew of Bad Education!'

'Proud to have been part of it. Outstanding TV Movie,' the Wolverine star added.
BEIJING - The former chairman of a state-owned real estate company who publicly criticized President Xi Jinpings handling of the coronavirus pandemic was sentenced to 18 years in prison on Tuesday on corruption charges, a court announced.

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This article was published 21/9/2020 (487 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

FILE - In this Nov. 12, 2010, file photo, Chinese real estate mogul Ren Zhiqiang speaks at a press reception for his book on China's property market in Shanghai. Ren, who publicly criticized President Xi Jinpings handling of the coronavirus pandemic was sentenced to 18 years in prison on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020, in a corruption case, the government announced. (Chinatopix via AP, File)

BEIJING - The former chairman of a state-owned real estate company who publicly criticized President Xi Jinpings handling of the coronavirus pandemic was sentenced to 18 years in prison on Tuesday on corruption charges, a court announced.

Ren Zhiqiang, who became known for speaking up about censorship and other sensitive topics, disappeared from public view in March after publishing an essay online that accused Xi of mishandling the outbreak that began in December in the central city of Wuhan.

FILE - In this Nov. 12, 2010, file photo, Chinese real estate mogul Ren Zhiqiang speaks near the Chinese character for "Real Estate" at a press reception for his book on China's property market in Shanghai. Ren, the former chairman of a Chinese state-owned real estate company who publicly criticized President Xi Jinping's handling of the coronavirus pandemic was sentenced to 18 years in prison on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020 in a corruption case, the government announced. (Chinatopix via AP, File)

Xi, party leader since 2012, has suppressed criticism, tightened censorship and cracked down on unofficial organizations. Dozens of journalists, labour and human rights activists and others have been imprisoned.

Ren, 69, was convicted of corruption, bribery, embezzlement of public funds and abuse of power, the Beijing No. 2 Intermediate Peoples Court announced on its social media account. It cited Ren as saying he wouldnt appeal.

The former chairman and deputy party secretary of Huayuan Group was expelled from the ruling party in July.

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In a commentary that circulated on social media, Ren criticized a Feb. 23 video conference with 170,000 officials held early in the pandemic at which Xi announced orders for responding to the disease.

Ren didnt mention Xis name but said, standing there was not an emperor showing off his new clothes but a clown who had stripped off his clothes and insisted on being an emperor.

Ren criticized propaganda that portrayed Xi and other leaders as rescuing China from the disease without mentioning where it began and possible mistakes including suppressing information at the start of the outbreak.

People did not see any criticism at the conference. It didnt investigate and disclose the truth, Ren wrote, according to a copy published by China Digital Times, a website in California. No one reviewed or took responsibility. But they are trying to cover up the truth with all kinds of great achievements.

Ren had an early military career and his parents were both former high officials in the Communist party. Some called him a princeling, a term for offspring of the founders of the communist government, a group that includes Xi.

He appeared to have crossed a political line by criticizing Xis personal leadership.
New Delhi:

A top JNU official who was leading the inquiry into missing student Najeeb Ahmads case besides other disciplinary issues on campus, resigned from the post allegedly over some differences with administration prompting the varsity to appoint his replacement.

The Vice Chancellor met Chief Proctor AP Dimri on Tuesday following his resignation and decided to appoint Vibha Tandon, a professor in varsitys Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, as his replacement.

This is the second time that a chief proctor has resigned since the new vice-chancellor took over last January.

Dimri had taken over as Chief Proctor, when his predecessor had resigned citing personal reasons following the controversy on campus in February last year over an event during which anti-national slogans were allegedly raised.

Dimri, when contacted, refused to share any details on the reasons behind his resignation. University officials also refused to comment further, saying his resignation letter doesnt mention any reason.

According to sources, Dimri had differences with the administration over handling of a few disciplinary issues on campus, including the recent altercation between two groups following which Najeeb went missing.

He was leading an inquiry into the case. Then the disruption of the Academic Council meeting happened where nine students were suspended. The administration also banned any sort of protests or demonstration near its building. Dimri had certain differences with the authorities over handling of these issues, a source close to Dimri said.

The Proctors office is responsible for handling all the disciplinary issues on campus, including ordering of inquiry, probing the issues and recommending punishment for the students.

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U.S. Sen. Tim Scott won't say if he supports immediately filling the Supreme Court vacancy that opened following the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg last week.

He avoided the question Monday during a campaign event for GOP congressional candidate Nancy Mace in North Charleston, though his office later issued a statement denoting that Republicans are in control of the Senate.

"In March 2016, Sen. Scott stated The last time a majority of the American people went to the polls, they elected conservatives and a Republican Senate to be a check and balance to President (Barack) Obama and his agenda, " it read.

"As you know, in 2018 the American people chose to keep a Republican Senate in support of a Republican president, which was not the case in 2016, his spokesman stated.

Scott, R-S.C., is one of about 30 GOP senators listed by The Washington Post who have not vocalized their support for President Donald Trump's decision to fast-track filling the spot in a matter of weeks.

Trump is expected to announce his endorsed successor to the liberal Ginsburg as soon as Friday. The speed of the move has drawn attacks from Democrats who say the pick should be put on hold until after the results of the Nov. 3 election.

Scott's silence on the matter Monday comes four years after he was among the Republican voices who condoned halting the Democrats' push to add Obama pick Merrick Garland to the high court in the last year of his presidency.

"I will not consider any Supreme Court nominee until after the country has elected our next president in November and they have taken office in January 2017," Scott said at the time.

"This is about the principle that the American people must have a voice in who the next Supreme Court nominee will be and I intend to honor that principle," he added.

The lone African American Republican in the Senate, Scott is seen as a staunch Trump ally who is often praised by the president, though he has previously criticized the commander in chief for his offensive comments.

Last month, Scott gave one of the closing speeches at the Republican National Convention, throwing strong support to Trump over Democrat Joe Biden.

Meanwhile, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., chairman of the Judiciary Committee who was also at the Mace event Monday, repeated his support for Trump and the GOP majority moving quickly.

"I will be leading the charge to make sure that President Trumps nominee has a hearing, goes to the United States Senate for a vote," Graham said. "Because that is my job and I believe I am doing what the people of South Carolina want me to do in this regard."

Afterward, Graham issued a media release detailing a letter he sent to committee Democrats putting responsibility on them for the GOP push. He cited the treatment Brett Kavanaugh received during his confirmation versus that given to previous members of the court.

"Its clear that there already is one set of rules for a Republican president and one set of rules for a Democrat president," Graham said in the letter.

I therefore think it is important that we proceed expeditiously to process any nomination made by President Trump to fill this vacancy," he added. "I am certain if the shoe were on the other foot, you would do the same.

Scott wasn't totally silent on the issue. When he introduced Graham at the Mace event he made a quip about how he is OK with being the junior senator from South Carolina.

Scott's office said the senator would next be in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday "to discuss the path forward."

So far only two Republicans, Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine, have spoken out against fast-tracking the nomination and voting process before the election.
By Henry Hsiao

This November 3  Election Day  millions of Americans will, in quadrennial fashion, assert their political voices. I wont, however, cast a ballot. Im only 17.

Instead, Ill serve as a poll worker, and assist those exercising their constitutional right to vote. Poll workers ensure smooth elections by overseeing voting procedures, explaining them, interpreter-like, to community members. Therefore, theyre vital facilitators for elections  the critical link tethering government to constituent accountability.

Prospective poll workers need relatively few qualifications. Applicants should be registered voters/high schoolers, county residents, English fluent (bilingual proficiency is welcomed, too), and available for extended hours. Additionally, worker positions, incentive-wise, are compensated.

Now, you might assume that Americans enthusiastically partake in such civic-engagement. But the converse is reality, and statistics paint a bleak picture. Poll worker shortages vex most municipalities. The nonpartisan Pew Research Center noted in 2018 that two-thirds of [U.S.] jurisdictions (68%) said it was difficult to find enough poll workers. An ongoing crisis  the COVID-19 pandemic  only exacerbates this predicament. Altogether, recruiting woes result in an alarming outcome: a dearth of workers, which affects everything from polling sites to voter demographics.

Age further complicates matters. Poll workers are generally older, as the U.S. Election Administration and Voting Survey recently observed: In the 2018 [midterms], around six-in-ten U.S. poll workers (58%) were ages 61 and [above]. Consequently, a worker-majority faces an elevated risk for COVID-19 transmission. Asked to remain indoors, occasionally with poor ventilation and interact with presumable virus-carriers, health-conscious senior workers inevitably wont materialize  come November.

Election officials, in reaction, scrambled to enact measures to safeguard workers. Mercer County, where I live, for example, mandated the following precautions: supplied personal protective equipment, tabletop/poll machine sanitization, disposable pen use, social-distancing and room-capacity thresholds. Even so, these comprehensive measures wont persuade all veteran workers to return. Yet, their absence ultimately influences polling location.

Roughly 3,400 polling stations are scattered throughout New Jersey; approximately 25,000 poll workers operate them. Averaged, eight workers staff one station. Nevertheless, this minimum regularly goes unfulfilled  a tallied deficit representing thousands of workers. Because fundamental worker quorums arent consistently mustered, certain polling precincts shutter each election cycle, precipitating longer lines.

Widespread poll closures, moreover, have insidious repercussions. They foster disenfranchisement, limiting voting access for those lacking vehicles or who are mass transportation-reliant, a group that disproportionately includes minorities and the socioeconomically disadvantaged. Texass large-scale poll closures since 2012, to illustrate, struck heavily at its Black and Latinx residents. Poll worker insufficiencies compound inequities by targeting marginalized Americans.

Although the 2020 election will be conducted primarily through the mail in many states, with ballots processed by the U.S. Postal Service, many Americans are still expected to vote provisionally  in-person.

Mail delays and unfounded allegations of rampant absentee ballot fraud may also inflate in-person figures. And given this elections high-profile nature, overall turnout is projected to exceed previous years, ascending probably from 2016  New Jerseys second-lowest for a recorded presidential year. To compare, the 2020 N.J. primary yielded the states second historically highest primary turnout, with nearly 1.5 million ballots cast.

Unfortunately, poll workers  reduced in aggregate  can not cope with a severe voter spike. Past 2020 primaries offer sobering case studies, demonstrating precisely the ramifications of depleted worker populations. In Wisconsin, circumstances grew so dire in April that Milwaukee opened just five of its usual 180 polling places. Voting  an ordinarily empowering experience  quickly devolved into an awful spectacle as crowds, waiting hours, jeopardized their physical-wellbeing.

Wisconsins strained ordeal, ominously, wasnt unique. Nationally, poll worker shortfalls will remain an enduring post-COVID issue, frequently threatening imminent voting catastrophe. Clearly, much is at stake.

So, besides learning from failure, how will we prevent our November elections from culminating in an equivalent debacle? The solution: mobilize dedicated, active Americans. Flourishing republics demand vigilant citizen-advocates who span the political spectrum. Similarly, our elections require poll workers, wholl act as democracys indispensable frontline force.

Of course, worker influxes wont remedy all election ills  namely, pervasive voter suppression  but they symbolize a start, simultaneously encouraging transparency and universal participation at the ballot box.

Im confident that global pandemics wont halt prepared citizen-advocates, or the countless Americans standing ready to help. If anything, pressing exigencies energize them. Lets harness this people-power. Consider becoming a poll worker  and work a day for your country. After all, electoral chaos is the frightful scenario that we  and New Jersey  can not afford.

Henry Hsiao, a junior at West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North, focuses on politics and music. He won the New York Times poetry (2019) and review-writing (2020) contests.

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NEW YORK, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- IAB today announced the full lineup for its IAB Reach Conference (September 29 to October 1). Taking place over three-days and part of IAB's Audience Week event series, the Reach Conference has a curated high-profile lineup of speakers and sessions to address the most important part of media planning, the audience.

Media buyers and brand marketers will have the opportunity to unpack key issues across measurement, video, and audio, and learn about new technologies and solutions, to gain valuable insights for building media plans that lead to the best return on ad spend (ROAS) for the remainder of the year and into 2021.

"2020 has dramatically accelerated the shift in media consumption which has forced us to re-imagine how we engage with audiences. The presentations at the Reach Conference are a direct response to these shifting audience behaviors and seek to provide a clear roadmap for strategists, planners, and buyers to maximize their investments for the coming year," said David Cohen, CEO, IAB.

The Reach Conference will address media planning, programmatic buying, brand safety, privacy, attribution, measurement, and scale for buyers to find and engage new audiences as they navigate this evolving digital ecosystem.

Day One will feature presentations from Roku, NBCUniversal, Quantcast, iHeartMedia, and Pubmatic and end with the release of ground-breaking research dubbed, "News Saves Lives," which brings together publishers including ABC News, American Public Media, CBS News, CNN, Fox News, NBC News, Reuters, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post to discuss the role news plays in the lives of consumers.

"We are incredibly proud to bring together media partners with complementary points of view to discuss some of the most pressing issues facing the digital industry, all while putting consumer needs at the center," said Cohen.

Kicking off Day Two, Hulu will open with a pre-conference training course "Introduction to Streaming TV," followed by presentations from DoubleVerify, NPR, Pandora, Samsung Ads, TikTok, and Nielsen. Day Two will round out with a panel of prominent brand marketers that will discuss buying trends, brand safety, and accountability, as well as the insights driving strategy for 2021.

The Reach Conference will conclude with a focus on audio trends and strategy. As a companion to the IAB 2020 Podcast Upfront , these sessions from Pandora, Megaphone, Triton Digital, NPR, Tru Optik, and iHeartPodcast Network will help buyers understand how to execute digital audio campaigns that are effective and efficient, the marketplace trends creating opportunities for advertisers, as well as the importance of compliance, standards, and brand safety.

All times are in EST; Speakers and timing are subject to change, refer to https://www.iab.com/events/2020-iab-reach-conference/ for up to date information.

Tuesday, September 29 Wednesday, September 30 Thursday, October 1 12:00pm - 12:05pm Welcome Remarks 10:45am - 11:45am Pre-Conference Training: IAB Introduction to Streaming TV Course by Hulu 12:00pm - 12:05pm Welcome Remarks 12:05pm - 12:30pm How to Define the Future: A Conversation With ViacomCBS' Bob Bakish and Pluto TV's Tom Ryan on Effectively Reaching Audiences in 2021 and Beyond 12:00pm - 12:05pm Welcome Remarks 12:05pm - 12:25pm Keynote by Edison Research 12:30pm - 1:00pm The Streaming-First Future is Now by Roku 12:05pm - 12:25pm Driving Brand Responsibility Throughout the Media Planning Process 12:25pm - 12:55pm Presentation by Pandora 1:00pm - 1:30pm The Paradox of Digital Video by NBC Universal 12:25pm - 12:45pm Measuring Quality and Performance in CTV: How to Make the Most of This Burgeoning Channel by DoubleVerify 12:55pm - 1:05pm Podcasting 2021: The Intersection of Creativity + Innovation by Megaphone 1:40pm - 2:10pm US Holiday Charity Insights by Quantcast 12:55pm - 1:05pm Spoken Word Audio Report by NPR 1:05pm - 1:15pm The Barriers Brands Face When Advertising in Podcasts and How to Overcome Them by Triton Digital 2:10pm - 2:40pm Reaching and Connecting with Multicultural Audiences in Relevant Ways in Today's Climate by iHeartMedia 1:05pm - 1:25pm So you want to reach "GEN STREAM"? by Pandora 1:25pm - 1:55pm Beyond The Download: Measuring Audio & It's Effectiveness by NPR 2:40pm - 3:10pm Presentation by Pubmatic 1:45pm - 2:05pm Presentation by Samsung Ads 1:55pm - 2:25pm Presentation by Tru Optik 3:15pm - 4:00pm The Value of News: How News Builds Brands in Uncertain Times 2:15pm - 2:35pm TikTok: Marketing Starts with Community 2:25pm - 2:35pm The 3 Cs of Podcasting: Consumers, Creators & Clients by iHeartPodcast Network 4:00pm - 4:05pm Closing Remarks 2:35pm - 2:50pm Presentation by Nielsen 2:35pm - 3:05pm Reach Conference Wrap Party

2:50pm - 3:20pm Audiences Now: What Matters Most to Marketers



3:20pm - 3:25pm Closing Remarks



For more information and updates regarding the 2020 Reach Conference, please visit https://www.iab.com/events/2020-iab-reach-conference/ .

About IAB

The Interactive Advertising Bureau empowers the media and marketing industries to thrive in the digital economy. Its membership is comprised of more than 650 leading media companies, brands, and the technology firms responsible for selling, delivering and optimizing digital ad marketing campaigns. The trade group fields critical research on interactive advertising, while also educating brands, agencies, and the wider business community on the importance of digital marketing. In affiliation with the IAB Tech Lab, IAB develops technical standards and solutions. IAB is committed to professional development and elevating the knowledge, skills, expertise, and diversity of the workforce across the industry. Through the work of its public policy office in Washington, D.C., the trade association advocates for its members and promotes the value of the interactive advertising industry to legislators and policymakers. Founded in 1996, IAB is headquartered in New York City.

SOURCE Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB)

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www.iab.net


DORADO, Puerto Rico, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Following its inaugural list of the Best Mortgage Lenders of 2020, Money - the digital destination for personal finance and news - announces its annual ranking of the Best Places to Live featuring 50 towns and cities where the economy, job growth, and housing market remained strong despite COVID-19 disruptions. This year, Money looked at towns and cities with a population of at least 25,000 and ranked the Best Places to Live putting the greatest emphasis on economic factors, like employment opportunities, as well as supply and demand for homes, cost of living, quality of schools, racial and economic diversity, and health and safety.

Money's No. 1 pick for Best Places to Live this year is Evans, Georgia, which is brimming with good-paying jobs thanks to its proximity to Augusta as well as affordable homes, top schools, access to arts and culture, and a diverse population, which some residents attribute to its military presence. In June, Evans residents saw a low unemployment rate of 5.2%, which was well below the 11.1% national average. Evans also had the lowest cost of living of any place with similarly high-income levels. Parker, Colorado and Meridian, Idaho landed in second and third place, respectively. Both cities topped the list because of access to high paying jobs in the booming tech sector, a healthy economy, and remarkable proximity to nature and outdoor activities.

"This year, given the general uncertainty around where and how we'll live, our list looks a little different," said Prachi Bhardwaj, lead reporter of Money's Best Places to Live. "We shifted our priorities to pay more attention to cities that aren't just doing well now, but that show great promise and stability for the next five to ten years. We also included suburban towns situated further away from major metros and have more industry diversity than you've seen from our list in years past."

Money's Top 20 Best Places to Live include:

Evans, GA Parker, CO Meridian, Idaho Rockwall, Texas Columbia, Maryland Westfield, Indiana Syracuse, Utah Franklin, Tennessee Woodbury, Minnesota Morrisville, North Carolina Ashburn , Virginia South Windsor, Connecticut St Peters, Missouri Chelmsford, Massachusetts Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin Mount Laurel, New Jersey Woodstock, Georgia Broomfield, Colorado Abington, Pennsylvania Midlothian, Virginia

For Money's complete list of the Best Places to Live, click here. To learn more on the methodology of the ranking, click here.

As part of the Best Places to Live feature, the Money team continues reporting on how the pandemic has prompted more people to make the change from city living to suburban dwelling. Whether it's because of a need for more indoor or outdoor space or a desire to invest and build wealth, Money offers readers a guide on everything you need to know about moving to the suburbs, buying a starter home, and capitalizing on record low mortgage rates. Highlights include:

The Ultimate Guide to Leaving the City : Scores of urbanites are now leaving big cities for the suburbs. Be that as it may, the allure of a big home and a green lawn comes with extra homeowner responsibilities. What will home buyers need to know about property taxes, home maintenance, neighborhood association fees, and more?





Scores of urbanites are now leaving big cities for the suburbs. Be that as it may, the allure of a big home and a green lawn comes with extra homeowner responsibilities. What will home buyers need to know about property taxes, home maintenance, neighborhood association fees, and more? Moving to a New State? Mortgage Rates Might Be HigherHow to Get the Best Deal : Though mortgage rates have hovered near records lows all summer, the truth is there's no national real estate market. Mortgage rates, like home prices, vary from one place to the nextand that could mean much higher homebuying costs for some movers this fall. Money experts share insight on how to get the best deal on mortgage rates.





Though mortgage rates have hovered near records lows all summer, the truth is there's no national real estate market. rates, like home prices, vary from one place to the nextand that could mean much higher homebuying costs for some movers this fall. Money experts share insight on how to get the best deal on mortgage rates. The Hassle-Free Guide to Refinancing Your Mortgage : Mortgage rates keep falling. Freddie Mac's widely quoted Primary Mortgage Market Survey put rates at 2.86%, the lowest rate since the company began tracking mortgage rates in 1971. Yet, some experts say refinancing right now doesn't make sense for every homeowner. What are the questions every homeowner needs to ask to determine whether now is the right time to refinance ?

Plus, Money's continuing coverage around the day's best mortgage rates gives readers up-to-date information about home-buying with exclusive data to help consumers make informed choices.

ABOUT MONEY:

Money has a nearly 50-year legacy of guiding people to financial victories with up-to-date information, education, and tools. Money, a digital destination, helps create richer lives for everyonein every sense of the word. Signature franchises include a bevy of Best-In categories such as Best Mortgage Lenders , Best Homeowner Insurance , Best Life Insurance , Best Auto Insurance , Best VA Loans , Best High-Yield Savings Accounts , Best Credit Cards , Best Colleges , and Best Places to Live, with an aim to improve your finances and promote your well-being. For more information, visit Money.com .

SOURCE Money

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In the latest twist in the Sushant Singh Rajput case, Deepika Padukone's name has come up in the drugs probe. Shraddha Kapoor, Sara Ali Khan and Rakul Preet Singh were also named earlier. The Narcotics Control Bureau may summon these actresses for interrogation soon.

The name of the Bajirao Mastani actress cropped up in a WhatsApp chat discovered during the investigation. The NCB has also acquired the actress' WhatsApp chats with a Kwan talent management agency employee, Karishma.

Here's the transcript of the conversation between Deepika Padukone (D) and Karishma (K):

10:03 am: D writes: K, you have Maal?

10:05 am: K replies: Yes, but at home. I am at Bandra.

10:05 am: K writes: I can ask Amit if you want.

10:07 am: D writes: Yes!! Pllleeeeasssee

10:08 am: K writes: Amit has. He's carrying it.

10:12 am: D writes: Hash na?

10:12 am: D writes: Not weed.

10:14 am: K writes: What time are you coming to Koko?

10:15 am: D writes: 1130/12ish

10:15 am: D writes: Till what time is Shal there?

K writes: I think she said 11:30 because she needs to at the other place at 12

Karishma works with Jaya Saha, with whom Rhea Chakraborty was chatting about CBD oil, as a manager in the talent management agency. Kwan talent management agency has signed contracts with several A-list actors and actresses and Deepika Padukone is one of them. Jaya Saha was questioned for four hours on Monday. According to an India Today report, the central agency has also acquired chats between Saha and Karishma wherein they can be seen discussing drugs.

Meanwhile, Kangana Ranaut fired a salvo at Padukone for her name cropping up in the NCB investigation. The Manikarnika actress tweeted, "Repeat after me, depression is a consequence of drug abuse. So called high society rich star children who claim to be classy and have a good upbringing ask their manager, MAAL HAI KYA?"





Repeat after me, depression is a consequence of drug abuse. So called high society rich star children who claim to be classy and have a good upbringing ask their manager , MAAL HAI KYA? #boycottBollywoodDruggies#DeepikaPadukonehttps://t.co/o9OZ7dUsfG  Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) September 21, 2020

The Sushant Singh Rajput case is currently being investigated by three agencies- CBI, NCB and the ED. While the CBI is probing the circumstances that led to the Kai Po Che actor's death, the NCB and the ED are probing the drugs and money laundering angles respectively.

Also read: Majinder Singh Sirsa files complaint against Karan Johar, Deepika Padukone, others for organising 'drug party'

Also read: Anurag Kashyap responds to sexual misconduct allegations; Kangana Ranaut comes to Payal Ghosh's support
22.09.2020 LISTEN

Seriously any Ghanaian desirous of a prosperous and inclusive Ghana will not dream of handing over Ghana again to a 76-year-old Prez whose "sakawa boys" collapsed the businesses and investments of people from central, Ashanti and Eastern Regions and turned around to call customers greedy. For the first time in almost 40years Ghana's economy has contracted (-3.4%) not due to COVID 19 alone but mismanagement and DECEIT of the real issues. No, not a generational youth will do that. They have contracted loans for the next 50 , 60, and many years that these national loan contractors will not be around to pay for. This year's election is not about NDC. We all must join forces to rescue Ghana. Yes, H. E. John Mahama and Prof Naana Jane and their team have demonstrated beyond doubt that they respect us. They came to us and asked 'what kind of a Ghana do we want?' we told them inclusivity and a Ghana that we can all have that sense of belonging. A Ghana that is ready to listen to the needs and aspirations of its people. A Ghana that allows every one's business to flourish irrespective of political persuasion. A Ghana that will take care of all irrespective of tribe or region one comes from

A Ghana that will take care of our investments irrespective of which group reigns. And a Ghana that will not have a premeditated agenda to collapse business of other perceived competitors. Yes, we have seen our inputs, our dreams are well captured in the People's Manifesto. We can see a political party's program that contains the needs and aspirations of its citizens. The ordinary man can relate to this social contract. The PEOPLE's MANIFESTO is poised to help us chart a new path where we all can be made part of the decision making process through a participatory democracy. It cannot be that there is no solution to the Menzgold issues which has caused over 67 lives, leaving many bed- ridden.

Join hands and let's rescue Ghana

I wish my kids to enjoy my sweats but not to pay for my shame... Let's rescue Ghana and the time is now?

Fred Forson

Accra

Best regards.
China has admitted a slump in the birth rate in the province of Xinjiang where Uighur Muslim women are allegedly sterilised in detention camps.

Beijing has previously insisted that Xinjiang's population is growing in order to rebut claims of genocide against the Uighurs.

But Uighurs say they are rounded up for having too many children and that women are forced to have abortions and contraceptive implants in what critics say is a drive to reduce the Muslim population.

Now, the Communist Party government in Xinjiang has admitted to CNN that the birth rate dropped by a third from 2017 to 2018.

At least a million Uighur Muslims have allegedly been detained in China with prisoners accusing Beijing of carrying out forced sterilisations and abortions. This camp is officially a 'vocational skills education centre'

How China has tightened its grip on Xinjiang and its Uighur Muslims Xinjiang is a vast province covering a sixth of China's land area and is home to around 11million Uighurs, a mostly Muslim ethnic group. The Uighurs share linguistic and cultural bonds with Central Asia, but China's Communist rulers have been encouraging the Han majority to settle in Xinjiang since they came to power in 1949. Even before the recent crackdown, many Uighurs resented the growing Han dominance and government controls on religion and culture. Along with Tibet, Xinjiang is one of the most politically sensitive regions in China - with abundant oil reserves and strategically valuable borders with Russia, India and Pakistan. The region has previously been hit by violence which the Communists blame on independence-seeking Uighur militants, whom Beijing has previously accused of working with al-Qaeda. Human rights groups say China used the al-Qaeda claim as cover to crack down on Uighurs under the guise of assisting the US-led 'war on terror'. Previous efforts to restrict the Uighur birth rate have been met with resistance, and the group was long exempt from China's famous one-child policy. But since Xi Jinping came to power in Beijing, Uighurs say that they been rounded up for having large families and that women have been forced into abortions and sterilisations at detention camps. Critics say China is trying to stamp out Uighur identity and culture and accuse Communist officials of using the prisoners as forced labour. The detention centres have been compared to Nazi concentration camps while some have described the push to reduce the Uighur population as genocide. A Communist-backed paper in 2017 described the large Muslim population as a breeding ground for poverty and extremism which could 'heighten political risk'. But while China touts the success of the re-education camps, it denies forced labour or sterilisation and its ambassador to Britain claimed earlier in 2020 that Xinjiang's population had increased over the last 40 years. Advertisement

The birth rate in Xinjiang dropped from 15.88 per 1,000 people in 2017 to 10.69 per 1,000 a year later, according to the newly-revealed figures.

Communist officials said the falling birth rate was caused by 'the comprehensive implementation of the family planning policy'.

They said births in Xinjiang had fallen by 120,000 in the space of a year but claimed that people had complied with the family planning rules voluntarily.

For decades, minority groups such as the Uighurs were allowed to have more than one child despite China's famous birth control policy.

But while the rules have been relaxed for the Han majority, critics say China has taken draconian measures to cut the Uighur birth rate and stamp out Uighur identity and culture.

According to CNN, Xinjiang accounted for 80 per cent of all the IUD implants that were administered in China in 2018.

Reports have found evidence of armed police knocking on doors to check for pregnant women and rewarding people who report illegal births in Xinjiang.

Human rights groups say Uighurs face 'grave persecution' in the re-education camps where a million people are thought to be detained.

Amnesty International says the camps are used for 'torture and brainwashing of anyone suspected of disloyalty' and that those who put up resistance are punished by the Communist Party.

Uighur Muslims are rounded up for alleged 'extremism' on spurious grounds such as regular prayer or refusing to drink alcohol, Amnesty says.

'The area is awash with facial-recognition surveillance cameras, backed by the use of artificial intelligence and mass DNA collection,' the human rights group says.

'Security checks are a routine part of life and even people's phones aren't off limits... a natural, and perhaps desired, result is a pervasive climate of fear'.

The detention centres have been compared to Nazi concentration camps while some have described the push to reduce the Uighur population as genocide.

However, China denies it is carrying out forced sterilisation and rejects claims that the camps are used for forced labour.

'Everyone, regardless of whether they're an ethnic minority or Han Chinese, must follow and act in accordance with the law,' a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said earlier this year.

Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show in July, after footage emerged of blindfolded Uighurs allegedly being rounded up on trains, Chinese ambassador Liu Xiaoming claimed that the population of Xinjiang had increased in the last 40 years.

Challenged on the claims of 'genocide', the ambassador claimed that 'people in Xinjiang enjoy a happy life'.

A Uighur woman shuttles school children on an electric scooter as they ride past a poster showing Chinese leader Xi Jinping meeting Uighur elders in Xinjiang

US customs officials said last week they would ban a raft of Chinese products from Xinjiang over fears of forced labour in the province.

Homeland security official Ken Cuccinelli told reporters: 'This is not a vocational centre, it is a concentration camp.'

Meanwhile Swedish clothing giant H&M said it was ending its relationship with a Chinese yarn producer over similar accusations.

Nonetheless, China lauded the success of its policies in Xinjiang last week in a white paper which staunchly defended Beijing's policies in the region.

The report claims that Xinjiang has 'vigorously implemented employment projects, enhanced vocational training, and expanded employment channels and capacity'.

It says vocational training for millions has improved the quality of the workforce.

'Xinjiang has built a large knowledge-based, skilled and innovative workforce that meets the requirements of the new era,' the report reads.

Training includes teaching written and spoken Mandarin, labour skills and giving knowledge of urban life, according to the report.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  A New Brighton mans third prison stint will be his longest.

Noel Steidell, 36, has been sentenced to five years behind bars for illegally possessing a handgun last year.

Steidell was busted last Nov. 13 during a raid of his York Avenue apartment, according to police and a criminal complaint.

Officers with Narcotics Borough Staten Island allegedly spotted the defendant leaving his home and entering a car.

Inside the apartment, cops seized a loaded Glock gun, an undisclosed quantity of crack cocaine and the painkiller buprenorphine, cash and multiple cell phones, the complaint said.

They also found items typically used to package drugs -- including a scale and plastic bags, said the complaint.

Steidell was indicted on charges of criminal weapon possession, criminal firearm possession, criminal possession of a controlled substance and criminally using drug paraphernalia.

Last month, he pleaded guilty in state Supreme Court, St. George, to second-degree criminal weapon possession to resolve the case.

Besides five years in prison, he was sentenced Friday to five years' post-release supervision.

Defense lawyer Maria Guastella has declined comment on the case.

Assistant District Attorney Matthew Gamberg is prosecuting it.

Steidell knows prison well.

In 2007, he was sentenced to two years behind bars for attempted criminal drug possession, show online records of the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.

Five years later, in 2012, he was sentenced to 30 months for criminal drug possession and attempted criminal drug sale.
Hannibal, N.Y.  Kelley and John OHora awoke early Saturday morning after a loud crash that sounded almost like a gunshot. A boy was screaming.

The couple rushed outside to find a horrific scene in their front yard on state Route 176, a two-lane rural road in Oswego County.

They saw a girls body at the end of the driveway. Several feet away, they found a badly injured boy.

Hang on, man, Kelley OHora remembers her husband telling the boy.

Another boy was crying and screaming that someone had just hit his friends.

That was the scene at 12:30 a.m. Saturday after, state police say, a drunken driver, Christopher J. Rogers II, drove onto the shoulder of the road where three teens were walking.

Rogers' white Dodge Ram pickup truck struck and killed Kaydence Nichols, 16, and critically injured Riley Trumble, 17, police said.

Rogers never stopped, police said.

Rogers was spotted miles away in Cayuga County, then he drove back by the scene 45 minutes later, police said. People there recognized his damaged, bloodied truck driving by and police chased after him, catching him a few miles down the road, police said.

Rogers, 29, of Granby, was charged with second-degree vehicular manslaughter and other crimes.

Rogers also was charged in August 2019 with DWI after being stopped on Oswego Road in Clay. He pleaded guilty to the reduced charge of DWAI, was sent to a program for drunken drivers and was ordered to pay a fine, court records show.

Christopher Rogers II, 29, of GranbyProvided photo

On Friday night, the two Hannibal High School students were hanging out with a small group of friends. Kaydence and Riley decided to go for a walk and Dakota Roehm, 17, joined them.

The three teens were facing traffic when the pickup swerved toward them onto the shoulder of the road, hitting two of the three teens, police said.

Pieces of the pickup truck and cell phones were later found in a ditch about 100 yards from the driveway where the teens were found.

Outside, John OHora ran over to Riley and tried to comfort him. He ran inside and grabbed a blanket, which he wrapped around Riley. Another couple who lives nearby came over to help.

There was nothing they could do for Kaydence, Kelley OHora said.

Dakota had called 911 but he was so distraught that a neighbor, a former EMT, took over the 911 call, Kelley OHora said.

We brought Dakota inside, she said. He was crying.

Kaydence Nichols (left) and Riley Trumble were struck by an alleged drunk driver while walking along State Route 176 in Hannibal on Sept. 19, 2020. Nichols died. Trumble was hospitalized with intensive injuries. Provided PhotosProvided Photo

Riley was taken to Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse with extensive injuries, including a severed aorta, broken pelvis, ruptured spleen, two broken legs, and injuries to his lung, kidney and bladder, according to a family friend. He has undergone a couple of surgeries already and more are planned.

As state police interviewed witnesses and gathered evidence, a 911 call came in to report a possibly drunk man in a damaged white pickup at the Cato MX Park, an off-road race track.

We heard a vehicle coming down the road. ... All of a sudden he blew past the gate to get in, said Jackie Turner, 32, of Palmyra, who was camping at the track. We expected him to back up but he ran right through a chicken wire fence between a camper and tents.

The driver, later identified by police as Rogers, traveled up the grass to the driveway in the park.

He was going really fast through the pits up and down the roadways, Turner said.

Turner said her husband and a friend stopped the driver and asked him what he was doing. He sped off again, but then suddenly stopped by their campers in the grass.

The man appeared to be passed out in the truck but then he started yelling, shouting a name and flailing his arms, she said. He yelled he wasnt f-ing sleepin', she said.

I then went up to his window and talked in my mom voice asking if we could please have the keys. We would keep him there safe till he could drive again, she said.

The man suddenly drove off so fast that he fish-tailed, Turner said. I dont know how he made it, but he did, she said.

Kaydence Nichols, 16, was killed on Sept. 19, 2020 after she and another teen were struck by a pickup truck driven by an alleged drunk driver.Provided Photo

Rogers headed back toward the crash scene on state Route 176, police said.

He went right back through the same scene, said Trooper Jack Keller, a spokesman for the state police. Someone said, Hey, thats the truck. The truck, he said, was bloodied and damaged.

State police chased Rogers pickup for about two miles. He finally stopped when he turned onto the street where he lives, Germandale Drive, in Granby, Keller said.

Troopers could see the pickup trucks windshield was broken, a headlight was missing and there was blood on the side of the white truck, Keller said.

Rogerss nose also was bleeding, but he refused treatment, Keller said. He also refused a Breathalyzer test.

Troopers charged Rogers with second-degree vehicular manslaughter, second-degree vehicular assault and leaving the scene of a fatal motor vehicle accident, all felonies, and driving while intoxicated, a misdemeanor.

Rogers, who had been held at the Oswego County jail after his arrest, was released Monday by a court order, records show.

After they had him in custody Saturday, troopers showed up at the motocross park. Turner said her friend had called 911 to describe the drunken, bloodied man.

Turner said she got the South Carolina license plate number and gave it to police.

Investigators are still hoping to talk with anyone who saw Rogers out Friday night or early Saturday.

State police believe Rogers may have visited several bars before he hit the teens, Keller said.

State police also want to talk with the driver of a car caught on camera, driving past the fatal crash scene 14 seconds after Rogers hit the teens, Keller said. That driver is not in trouble but could still help police.

"The driver may not have even known (an accident had just happened), Keller said.

Troopers have asked anyone with information to call (315) 366-6000.

A memorial of flowers, photos and other items has been put up in the front yard of Kelley and John OHora's home on State Route 176 in Hannibal. Early Saturday, a pickup truck struck two pedestrians, killing Kaydence Nichols, 16, and critically injuring Riley Trumble, 17, police said.Provided photograph

Have a tip or a story idea? Contact Catie OToole: cotoole@syracuse.com | text/call 315-470-2134 | Twitter | Facebook
A legendary ally: Robert Graetz, white pastor who helped organize Montgomery bus boycott, dies

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Robert Graetz, a white Lutheran pastor active in the civil rights movement who helped to organize the Montgomery, Alabama, bus boycott, passed away at age 92.

Graetz died Sunday at his home in Montgomery following a battle with Parkinsons Disease, according to his wife, Jeannie Ellis Graetz, as reported by The Washington Post.

A native of Clarksburg, West Virginia, Graetz moved to Montgomery in 1955 to become lead pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, a predominantly African-American congregation.

Graetz supported the bus boycott, aimed at pressuring the city to integrate their public transportation system, by spending hours each day driving blacks to work or school.

His involvement in the boycott was met with resistance, which at times was violent, explained the Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute at Stanford University.

After articles about his involvement appeared in local newspapers, sugar was poured in his cars gasoline tank, and he received many threatening phone calls, noted the Institute.

On 25 August 1956, while he and his family were at Highlander Folk School for a workshop with Rosa Parks, his house was bombed  After Graetzs home was bombed again in January 1957, he left Montgomery to become pastor of St. Philip Lutheran Church in Columbus, Ohio.

In an interview with PBS Religion & Ethics Newsweekly in 2011, Graetz recalled the concerns he and his wife had for their children during his time in Montgomery.

People would call us up and say, I see your children out in the yard there. Are you sure theyre OK out there? he recalled at the time.

It was OK for Jeannie and me to put our lives in danger, but did we have the right to put our children through that? And we finally decided that we couldnt control that  that God had brought us here, the children were in Gods hands, and if God wanted them to be protected, that would be His job.

In the 1990s, Graetz became involved in the gay rights movement at the encouragement of one of his children, Robert S. Graetz III, who later died after being diagnosed with AIDS in 1991.

Graetz is survived by his wife of over 65 years, Jean Ellis Graetz, a sister, six children, 26 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandson.

Many paid their respects to the late pastor online, including the official Facebook page of the Southeastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

The Reverend Robert Graetz entered the church triumphant today. He was a life long fighter for justice. May he Rest In Peace and rise in glory. Peace be to his memory, they stated.

Alan Cross, an outspoken Southern Baptist pastor and writer, took to Twitter to pay respects to Graetz, labeling him an American and Christian hero.

I knew him, visited with him, and he spoke in my church, tweeted Cross on Sunday. Graetz was only white minister to stand with Rosa Parks and Montgomery Bus Boycotters. His house was bombed twice and he and his wife, Jeannie, were constantly harassed.

We have no idea what persecution looks like. This was mid-50s Montgomery and this was state-sponsored terrorism.

Florida lawyer Ben Crump, known for his civil rights litigation, posted a statement to Facebook on Monday, labeling Graetz a legendary ally to the African-American community.

He responded to harassment and threats by standing firm against hate. The change we have today would not have been possible without him. You will be missed, Rev. Graetz, stated Crump.
ABC/Image Group LADolly Parton fans can now relive many of the star's storied career moments with the new DVD set, Dolly: The Ultimate Collection -- Deluxe Edition.

Dolly's performances, interviews and shows spanning more than 60 years are captured across 19 DVDs and 35 hours of footage.

Included in the collection are more than 20 episodes of Dolly's variety show that aired for two seasons in 1976 and 1987, featuring guests like Kenny Rogers, Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris and more, in addition to rare appearances on such talk shows as The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and The Oprah Winfrey Show.

Music is also a central theme. You'll have the opportunity to re-watch Dolly's performances at the CMA Awards throughout the 1970s, along with access to the Song by Song: Dolly Parton series that tells the story behind such beloved hits as "I Will Always Love You," "Jolene" and "Coat of Many Colors."

Live concerts "Live and Well," filmed in 2002, and Dolly's 2009 "Live from London" show, in addition to her 2009 commencement address at the University of Tennessee, are also featured in the expansive set.

Dolly: The Ultimate Collection is available now through Time Life.

By Cillea Houghton

Copyright  2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
In my time in corporate finance and valuation, I have seen many "new and revolutionary" ideas emerge, each one marketed as the solution to all of the problems that businesses face. Most of the time, these ideas start by repackaging an existing concept or measure and adding a couple of proprietary tweaks that are less improvement and more noise, then get acronyms, before being sold relentlessly. With each one, the magic fades once the limitations come to the surface, as they inevitably do, but not before consultants and bankers have been enriched. So, forgive me for being a cynic when it comes to the latest entrant in this game, where ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance), a measure of the environment and social impact of companies, has become one of the fastest growing movements in business and investing, and this time, the sales pitch is wider and deeper.

Companies that improve their social goodness standing will not only become more profitable and valuable over time, we are told, but they will also advance society's best interests, thus resolving one of the fundamental conflicts of private enterprise, while also enriching investors. This week, the ESG debate has come back to take main stage, for three reasons.

- It is the fiftieth anniversary of one of the most influential opinion pieces in media history , where Milton Friedman argued that the focus of a company should be profitability, not social good. There have been many retrospectives published in the last week, with the primary intent of showing how far the business world has moved away from Friedman's views. - There were multiple news stories about how "good" companies, with goodness measured on the social scale, have done better during the COVID crisis, and how much money was flowing into ESG funds, with some suggesting that the crisis could be a tipping point for companies and investors, who were on the fence about the added benefits of being socially conscious. - In a more long standing story line, the establishment seems to have bought into ESG consciousness, with business leaders in the Conference Board signing on to a "stakeholder interest" statement last year and institutional investors shifting more money into ESG funds.

Story continues

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In the interests of openness, I took issue with the Conference Board last year on stakeholder interests, and I start from a position of skepticism, when presented with "new" ways of business thinking. If the debate about ESG had been about facts, data and common sense, and ESG had won, I would gladly incorporate that thinking into my views on corporate finance, investing and valuation. But that has not been the case, at least so far, simply because ESG has been posited by its advocates as good, and any dissent from the party line on ESG (that it is good for companies, investors and society) is viewed as a sign of moral deficiency. At the risk of sounding being labeled a troglodyte (I kind of like that label), I will argue that many fundamental questions about ESG have remained unanswered or have been answered sloppily, and that it is in its proponents' best interests to stop overplaying the morality card, and to have an honest discussion about whether ESG is a net good for companies, investors and society.

Measures of Goodness

We have spent decades measuring financial performance and output at companies, either at the operating level, as revenues, profits or capital invested, or at the investor level, as market cap and returns. Any attempts to measure environment and social goodness face two challenges.

- The first is that much of social impact is qualitative, and developing a numerical value for that impact is difficult to do. - The second is even trickier, which is that there is little consensus on what social impacts to measure, and the weights to assign to them.

If your counter is that there are multiple services now that measure ESG at companies, you are right, but the lack of clarity and consensus results in the companies being ranked very differently by different services. This shows up in low correlations across the ESG services on ESG scores, as indicated by this study:

This low correlation often occurs even on high profile companies, as shown in a comprehensive analysis of ESG investing by Dimson, Marsh and Staunton, as part of their global investment returns update:

Note the divergence in both the overall ratings and on the individual metrics (E, S and G) across the services, even for widely tracked companies like Facebook and Walmart. There are some who believe that this reflects a measurement process that is still evolving, and that as companies provide more disclosure on ESG data and ESG measurement services mature, there will be consensus. I don't believe it! After all, what I find to be good or bad in a company will reflect my personal values and morality scales, and the choices I make will be different from your choices, and any notion that there will be consensus on these measures is a pipe dream.

Even if you overlook disagreements on ESG as growing pains, there is one more component that adds noise to the mix and that is the direction of causality: Do companies perform better because they are socially conscious (good) companies, or do companies that are doing well find it easier to do good? Put simply, if ESG metrics are based upon actions/measures that companies that are doing better, either operationally and/or in markets, can perform/deliver more easily than companies that are doing badly, researchers will find that ESG and performance move together, but it is not ESG that is causing good performance, but good performance which is allowing companies to be socially good.

The ESG Sales Pitch - Promises and Contradictions

The power of the ESG sales pitch has always been that it offers something good to everyone involved, from companies adopting its practices, to investors in those companies, and more broadly, to all of society.

- For companies, the promise is that being "good" will generate higher profits for the company, at least in the long term , with lower risk, and thus make them more valuable businesses. - For investors in these companies, the promise is that investing in "good" companies will generate higher returns than investing in "bad" or middling companies. - For society, the promise is that not only will good companies help fight problems directly related to ESG , like climate change and low wages, but also counter more general problems like income inequality and uneven healthcare.

Given that ESG has been marketed as all things good, to all people, it is no surprise that its usage has soared, with companies signing on in droves to social compacts, and investors pouring hundreds of billions of dollars into ESG funds and investments. In the process, though, its advocates have either glossed over, or mixed up, three separate questions that need to be answered, on ESG:

The reason it is useful to separate the three questions is that it opens up possibilities that are often missed in both debate and research. For instance, it is possible that ESG does nothing for value, but that it offers a sheen to companies that allows them to be priced more highly than their less socially conscious counterparts and enriches investors, who trade on its basis. Alternatively, it is also possible that ESG does increase value, but that markets adjust quickly to this and that investors do not benefit from investing in ESG stocks. It also illustrates the danger of overreach from ESG research. Much of the research on ESG is compartmentalized, where only one of these questions is addressed, but the researchers seem to use the results to draw conclusions about answers the other two. Thus, a research study that finds that investors make higher returns on companies that rank high on ESG often will go on to posit that this must mean that ESG increases value, a leap that is neither justified nor warranted.

ESG and Value

The framework for answering the question of whether ESG affects value is no different from the framework for assessing whether acquisitions or financing or any other action affects value. It is both simple and universal, and I have captured the drivers of value for any business in the picture below:

Figure 1: The Drivers of Value

In fact, my favorite propositions in value is the "It Proposition", which posits that for "it" (investing, financing, dividends, ESG) to affect value, "it" has to affect either the cash flows (through revenue growth, operating margins and investment efficiency) or the risk in those cash flows (which plays out in the cost of equity and capital).

Goodness will be rewarded

Applying this proposition to ESG, the most direct way to induce companies to behave in a socially responsible manner is to make it in their financial best interests to do so. There is a plausible scenario, where being good creates a cycle of positive outcomes, which makes the company more valuable. Figure 2 describes this virtuous cycle:

In this story, being good benefits the company on multiple dimensions. Customers, attracted by the company's social mission, are more likely to buy its products and pay higher prices, increasing both growth and margins. The company is able to attract more loyal employees and suppliers, and build a model for investing that leads to more payoff from investments, i.e., more efficient growth. On the risk front, the company benefits from investors who are willing to pay premium prices for their shares (thus lowering cost of equity), and lending that comes with lower rates and fewer covenants. Finally, by operating as a good corporate citizen, the company minimizes the chance of a scandal or a catastrophic event that could put its business model at risk. In the language of ESG, it creates a more sustainable business. For proponents of corporate social responsibility, this is the best-case setting for their cause, because being good and doing well financially converge. This scenario holds, though, only because customers, employees, investors, and lenders all put their money where their convictions lie, and are willing to make sacrifices along the way, and it is more likely in some companies/businesses than others:

Smaller, rather than larger : While it is not impossible for a large company to hit all the high notes in the virtuous cycle, it is far easier for a small company than a large one, because even a small subset of all investors (consumers) can provide the capital (revenues) at the favorable terms needed for this scenario to unfold. Niche business, with a more socially conscious customer base : Adding to the smallness theme, it is easier for a company that serves a small customer base to attract customers with its good company mantle than a company that seeks to reach a mass market. A company like Patagonia, with revenues of $750 million, can more easily make the compromises to stay socially responsible than a company like Nike, with revenues of $34 billion, which will be forced to make compromises that will undercut its goodness. A privately held company or a public company with an investor base that values corporate goodness and prices it in : Being a private company can help, especially if the payoff to corporate goodness is long term, another point working in Patagonias favor. A public company that is closely held or controlled by its founders can also make choices that may not be feasible for a widely held company with a vocal stockholder base.

It is worth noting that the companies that tend to be most vociferous about their social consciences tend to meet these criteria, at least early in their corporate lives. However, they will face a challenge, if they are successful and want to grow, because growth will bring in customers and investors not so committed to ESG. The acid test of social consciousness occurs when a company scales up and must decide whether to continue to grow or accept a lower ceiling on growth, and perhaps lower value, in order to preserve it good company status.

Badness will be punished

There is an alternate story that can be used to argue that companies should try to be socially responsible, but it is a more punitive one , where it is not good companies that get rewarded, but bad ones that get punished. This less upbeat scenario is described below:

Here, the punishment for bad companies is meted out from every direction, with customers refusing to buy their products, even if they are lower priced. These companies face higher operating expenses (and lower margins) in the long term, as they have trouble holding on to employees and finding suppliers. Equity investors avoid buying their shares, leading to higher costs of equity, and lenders are leery about lending money to these companies, leading to higher costs of debt. Finally, these companies risk exposure to grievous, or even catastrophic events, arising from operating with too little consideration of societal costs. It is often these events, such as the Union Carbide gas leak in Bhopal, Vales dam bursting in Bhopal and BPs oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, that highlight shortcomings and create long term problems for the company.

The Bad Guys win!

With regard to promoting social responsibility, the "bad behavior gets punished" scenario is not as good as the virtuous cycle, because it will tend to scare companies away from being bad, rather than induce them to be good", but it is still better than a third and potentially devastating scenario for ESG advocates, where bad companies are rewarded for being bad, and become more valuable than good ones:

In this scenario, bad companies mouth platitudes about social responsibility and environmental consciousness without taking any real action, but customers buy their products and services, either because they are cheaper or because of convenience, employees continue to work for them because they can earn more at these companies or have no options, and investors buy their shares because they deliver higher profits. As a result, bad companies may score low on corporate responsibility scales, but they will score high on profitability and stock price performance.

The Evidence

The question of which of these three scenarios is the right one is not one that can be settled by logic or with anecdotal evidence, but with data. For more than two decades now, researchers have examined the link, with the following conclusions:

A Weak Link to Profitability : There are meta studies (summaries of all other studies) that summarize hundreds of ESG research papers, and find a small positive link between ESG and profitability, but one that is very sensitive to how profits are measured and over what period, leading one of these studies to conclude that citizens looking for solutions from any quarter to cure societys pressing ills ought not appeal to financial returns alone to mobilize corporate involvement. Breaking down ESG into its component parts, some studies find that environment (E) offered the strongest positive link to performance and social (S) the weakest, with governance (G) falling in the middle. A Stronger Link to Funding Costs : Studies of sin stocks, i.e., companies involved in businesses such as producing alcohol, tobacco, and gaming, find that these stocks are less commonly held by institutions, and that they face higher costs for funding, from equity and debt). The evidence for this is strongest in sectors like tobacco (starting in the 1990s) and fossil fuels (especially in the last decade), but these findings come with a troubling catch. While these companies face higher costs, and have lower value, investors in these companies will generate higher returns from holding these stocks. And a link to Failure/Disaster Risk : An alternate reason why companies would want to be good is that bad companies are exposed to disaster risks, where a combination of missteps by the company, luck, and a failure to build in enough protective controls (because they cost too much) can cause a disaster, either in human or financial terms. That disaster can not only cause substantial losses for the company, but the collateral reputation damage created can have long term consequences. One study created a value-weighted portfolio of controversial firms that had a history of violating ESG rules, and reported negative excess returns of 3.5% on this portfolio, even after controlling for risk, industry, and company characteristics. The conclusion in this study was that these lower excess returns are evidence that being socially irresponsible is costly for firms, and that markets do not fully incorporate the consequences of bad corporate behavior. The push back from skeptics is that not all firms that behave badly get embroiled in controversy, and it is possible that looking at just firms that are controversial creates a selection bias that explains the negative returns.

In summary, based upon the studies so far, the strongest evidence in support of ESG seems to be that "bad" companies face higher funding costs (from debt and equity), whereas the evidence on ESG paying off as higher profits and growth is elusive. There is some evidence supporting the proposition that being socially responsible (or at least not being socially irresponsible) can protect companies from damaging disasters, but selection bias is a problem.

ESG and Returns

To begin with, the notion that adding an ESG constraint to investing increases expected returns is counter intuitive. After all, a constrained optimum can, at best, match an unconstrained one, and most of the time, the constraint will create a cost. In one of the few cases where honesty seems to have prevailed over platitudes, the TIAA-CREF Social Choice Equity Fund explicitly acknowledges this cost and uses it to explain its underperformance, stating that The CREF Social Choice Account returned 13.88 percent for the year [2017] compared with the 14.34 percent return of its composite benchmark  Because of its ESG criteria, the Account did not invest in a number of stocks and bonds ... the net effect was that the Account underperformed its benchmark. In fact, there is an inherent contradiction, at least on the surface, between the argument that ESG leads to higher value and stock prices, made to CEOs and CFOs of companies, and a simultaneous argument that investors in ESG stocks will earn higher (positive excess) returns, by investing in these companies.

Value, Price and Returns: The Interplay

Whatever your beliefs may be on whether ESG increases or decreases value, you have to start with a fresh slate, and incorporate market behavior, to make judgments on whether investors will benefit from ESG investing, as can be seen in the table below:

Consider the first outcome, where ESG increases the value of a company, but markets overreact to the goodness of the company, pushing up the price too much: investors in good companies will earn lower returns (negative excess) returns over the long term. Flipped around, this table also yields the counter intuitive result that studies that conclude that ESG investing earns positive (or negative) returns tell us nothing or very little about the underlying benefits of ESG, since the market acts as the intervening variable.

The Evidence on ESG and Returns

It should come as no surprise then, that the research on the link between ESG and investor returns comes to split results:

- Invest in bad companies : There are the studies that we referenced earlier as backing for good firms having lower discount rates, including the ones that showed that sin stocks deliver higher returns than socially conscious companies. A comparison of two Vanguard Index funds, the Vice fund (invested in tobacco, gambling, and defense companies) and the FTSE Social Index fund (invested in companies screened for good corporate behavior on multiple dimensions) and note that a dollar invested in the former in August 2002 would have been worth almost 20% more by 2015 than a dollar invested in the latter. - Invest in good companies : At the other end of the spectrum, there are studies that seem to indicate that there are positive excess returns to investing in good companies. A study showed that stocks in the Anno Domini Index (of socially conscious companies) outperformed the market, but that the outperformance was more due to factor and industry tilts than to social responsiveness. In a different study, researchers looked at the payoff to socially responsible investing by comparing the returns on two portfolios, created based upon eco-efficiency scores, and concluded that companies that are more eco-efficient generate higher returns. Some of the strongest links between returns and ESG come from the governance portion, which, as we noted earlier, is ironic, because the essence of governance, at least as measured in most of these studies, is fealty to shareholder rights, which is at odds with the current ESG framework that pushes for a stakeholder perspective. - ESG has no effect : Splitting the difference, there are other studies that find little or no differences in returns between good and bad companies. A Morningstar Quantitative study of ESG stocks in 2020 found that companies that scored high on ESG generated mildly lower returns than companies that scored poorly, though the difference was statistically insignificant. In fact, studies that more broadly look at factors that have driven stock returns for the last few decades find that much of the positive payoff attributed to ESG comes from its correlation with momentum and growth.

In steady state, it is internally inconsistent to argue that good companies will benefit from lower funding costs (lower costs of equity) and that investors can also earn higher returns at the same time.

Glimmers of Hope for ESG Investing

There are two possible scenarios where being good may benefit both the company (by increasing its value) and investors in the company (by delivering higher returns).

Transition Period Payoff : The first scenario requires an adjustment period, where being good increases value, but investors are slow to price in this reality. During the adjustment period the highly rated ESG stocks will outperform the low ESG stocks, as markets slowly incorporate ESG effects, but that is a one-time adjustment. Once prices reach equilibrium, highly rated ESG stocks will have greater values, but investors will have to be satisfied with lower expected returns. The presence of a transition period, where markets learn about ESG and price them in can also explain why there may be a payoff to more disclosure and transparency on social and environmental issues, by speeding the adjustment. It is perhaps this hope of transition period excess returns that that has driven some institutional investors to become more activist on ESG issues and can explain why some have been able to show excess returns from increasing (reducing) their holdings in good (bad) companies. It is not just the large players like Blackrock and Vanguard that have jumped on this bandwagon, but also pure return-focused investors like Elliott Management and Third Point which recently targeted utility companies about their excessive carbon footprints. Their activism goes well beyond jawboning management and includes efforts that range from stopping mergers to proxy fights to altering boards of directors. This study examined 613 public firms that were targeted by an activist institutional investor focused on improving ESG practices and found positive excess returns in the 18% of engagements where the activism succeeded. Limit Downside : The other scenario where incorporating ESG into investing may yield a payoff is when investors are concerned about limiting downside risk. To the extent that socially responsible companies are less likely to be caught up in controversy and to court disaster, the argument is that they will also have less downside risk than their counterparts who are less careful. There is some evidence of this in this paper that finds that companies that adopt better ESG practices are less likely to see large drops in value.

If there is an investing lesson embedded here, it is the unsurprising one that investors who hope to benefit from ESG cannot do so by investing mechanically in companies that already identified as good (or bad), but have to adopt a more dynamic strategy built around either aspects of corporate social responsibility that are not easily measured and captured in scores, or from getting ahead of the market in recognizing aspects of corporate behavior that will hurt the company in the long term.

The COVID effect

The last few months have been a test of ESG investing, and while the consensus view seems to be that ESG has passed the test, it is worth separating the facts from what is debatable.

- Fund Flows (not debatable) : It is not debatable that investors, whatever their reasons, have been investing more in ESG funds, both passively (through index funds) and actively (through ESG funds that contend that they can do better than the market). By early September 2020, impact investing index funds had risen to $250 billion in the US and more than a trillion dollars globally, with both numbers rising over the course of the COVID months.

- Performance (debatable) : The question of whether ESG funds have outperformed during the COVID crisis is more debatable. Early in the crisis, Blackrock asserted that sustainable investing had shown its value added, pointing to the fact that ESG indices were outperforming their market counterparts during the crisis months. The problem, though, is that Blackrock is not a neutral commenter on this issue, partly because Larry Fink has been a vocal salesman for ESG and partly because Blackrock has ESG products to sell. It is true that Morningstar seems to provide backing for this proposition, when they presented the results on ESG funds during the first half of 2020:

- Morningstar noted that ESG funds in all 26 categories that they track outperformed their conventional index fund counterparts. The consensus view that ESG investing outperformed the market is now getting push back, with this paper arguing that once you control for the sector tilt of ESG funds (they tend to be more heavily invested in tech companies), ESG, by itself, provided no added payoff during the down period of the crisis (February and March 2020) and pushed returns down during the recovery phase.

If success in active investing is defined as attracting investor money, ESG has had a successful run during COVID, but if it is defined as delivering returns, it is far too early to be doing victory dances in the end zone.

The Bottom Line

In many circles, ESG is being marketed as not only good for society, but good for companies and for investors. In my view, the hype regarding ESG has vastly outrun the reality of both what it is, and what it can deliver, and the buzzwords are not helpful. That is the reason I have tried to under use words like sustainability and resilience, two standouts in the ESG advocates lexicon, in writing this post. I believe that the potential to make money on ESG for consultants, bankers and investment managers has made at least some of them cheerleaders for the concept, with claims of the payoffs based on research that is ambiguous and inconclusive, if not outright inconsistent. The evidence as I see it is nuanced, and can be summarized as follows:

- There is a weak link between ESG and operating performance (growth and profitability), and while some firms benefit from being good, many do not. Telling firms that being socially responsible will deliver higher growth, profits and value is false advertising. The evidence is stronger that bad firms get punished, either with higher funding costs or with a greater incidence of disasters and shocks. ESG advocates are on much stronger ground telling companies not to be bad, than telling companies to be good. In short, expensive gestures by publicly traded companies to make themselves look good are futile, both in terms of improving performance and delivering returns. - The evidence that investors can generate positive excess returns with ESG-focused investing is weak, and there is no evidence that active ESG investing does any better than passive ESG investing, echoing a finding in much of active investing literature. Even the most favorable evidence on ESG investing fails to solve the causation problem. Based on the evidence, it appears to me that just as likely that successful firms adopt the ESG mantle, as it is that adopting the ESG mantle makes firms successful. - If there is a hopeful note for ESG investing, it is in the payoff to being early to the ESG game. Investors who are ahead of markets in assessing how corporate behavior, good or bad, will play out in performance or priced, will be able to earn excess returns, and if they can affect the change, by being activist, can benefit even more.

Much of the ESG literature starts with an almost perfunctory dismissal of Milton Friedmans thesis that companies should focus on delivering profits and value to their shareholders, rather than play the role of social policy makers. The more that I examine the arguments that advocates for ESG make for why companies should expand mission statements, and the evidence that they offer for the proposition, the more I am inclined to side with Friedman. After all, if ESG proponents are right, and being good makes companies more profitable and valuable, they are on the same page as Friedman. If, on the other hand, adopting ESG practices makes companies less valuable, the onus is on ESGs proponents to show that societal benefits exceed that lost value.

The ESG bandwagon may be gathering speed and getting companies and investors on board, but when all is said and done, a lot of money will have been spent, a few people (consultants, ESG experts, ESG measurers) will have benefitted, but companies will not be any more socially responsible than they were before ESG entered the business lexicon. What is needed is an open, frank, and detailed dialogue concerning ESG-related corporate policies, with an acceptance that being good can add value at some companies and may destroy value at others, and that in the long term, investing in good companies can pay off during transition periods but will often translate into lower returns in the long term, rather than higher returns.

YouTube Video

[embed]https://youtu.be/Vs1g7Epp11w[/embed]

Paper on ESG (with Brad Cornell)

My blog posts on stakeholder wealth maximization

Disclosure: None.
Donald Trump celebrated his administrations response to the coronavirus pandemic and blamed China for the plague the country unleashed on to the world in a speech delivered to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York that was quickly decried by critics as a virtual, campaign-like address.

The president attacked Beijing and demanded that the world hold the nation accountable for their actions, suggesting China responded inadequately at the beginning of the outbreak of the coronavirus in Wuhan.

As we pursue this bright future, we must hold accountable the nation which unleashed this plague on to the world: China, Mr Trump said in the pre-recorded remarks. The Chinese government and the World Health Organisation, which is virtually controlled by China, falsely declared that there was no evidence of human-to-human transmission.

He added: The United Nations must hold China accountable for their actions.

The statements appeared to echo prior claims made by the president over Chinas effort to curb the pandemic. Mr Trump has previously said he has seen evidence suggesting that the virus came from a laboratory in China, a theory that has been largely debunked by the international scientific community and refuted by his own intelligence agencies.

Susi Dennison, from the European Council on Foreign Relations, said in a statement sent to The Independent that she viewed the speech as Mr Trump being desperate for ammunition while vying for re-election.

Trump has continued his policy of angry unilateralism by taking aim at China in his speech, Ms Dennison said, adding that the president has broken European citizens trust in the US.

Mr Trump initially announced a ban on travellers from China entering the US and subsequently declared the pandemic a national emergency in mid-March, though experts have now said those efforts were not enough to prevent the virus from taking hold across the country. As the president spoke to the United Nations, the number of Americans who have died from Covid-19 was expected to continue rising beyond the toll of 200,000.

The president referred to Covid-19 as the China virus during his remarks at the UNGA, a term he has repeatedly used when blaming Beijing for the pandemic.

Almost 1 million people around the world have died because of complications resulting from the virus. In the US, the total number of infections passed 7 million this week. There have been over 31 million total cases reported worldwide.

Mr Trump promoted his America First agenda at the UNGA in his remarks while saying he was confident the world would defeat the coronavirus pandemic. The president recorded the remarks in Washington rather than delivering the speech in New York as is traditional.

While speeches at the UNGA are typically apolitical in nature, the US president has consistently celebrated his agenda and touted his accomplishments when speaking there. In 2018, Mr Trump received unexpected laughter from the audience of world leaders after he claimed that his administration had accomplished more than almost any in history.

For Trump, the priority is re-election. The damage to institutions and relationships, such as the UN and the Transatlantic Alliance, do not even register, Ms Dennison said. Its little wonder, then, that after four years of verbal assault, fewer than one in ten Europeans believe the US can be trusted to provide leadership on global issues such as Covid-19.
Monday 05 September, 2016 Reliable information reaching Biafra writers desk has it that the life of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indi...
New York congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) has hit back at GOP candidate Marjorie Taylor Greene after the former QAnon supporter made an apparent jibe at the New Yorker's intellect.

Ms Greene, who has bleached blonde hair, first criticised AOC with a Twitter message on Sunday, thanking her for putting an end to all "dumb blonde" jokes. "As a blonde woman, I would like to take a moment to thank Congresswoman AOC," she wrote.

"She has single handily [sic] put an end to all 'dumb blonde' jokes. Blondes everywhere appreciate your service and your sacrifice!"

It was not immediately clear what Ms Greene, a 46-year-old Georgia Republican, had been referring to, but AOC has made several media appareances in recent days to give remarks following the death of the Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who passed away on Friday aged 87.

AOC, 30, replied to Ms Greene on Monday with a scathing tweet of her own, pointing out that she had misspelt single-handedly.

Dont worry Ms Greene, I completely understand why you need to swing + miss at my intellect to make yourself feel better, AOC wrote, in a tweet that has since recieved almost 300,000 likes.

"You seem to have some trouble spelling your own insults correctly. Next time try single-handedly, itll work better. Good luck writing legislation!"

Ms Greene won the Republican nomination for Georgias 14th Congressional District in August by beating John Cowan, a neurosurgeon, securing 57 per cent of the vote.

The businesswoman has been filmed making racist remarks that were later shared online.

Responding to criticism of the videos, she tweeted; The Fake News Media, the DC Swamp, and their radical leftist allies see me as a very serious threat. I will not let them whip me into submission,

She also previously voiced support for the baseless far-right QAnon conspiracy theory, whose followers believe Donald Trump and his allies are working together to expose and arrest an underground cabal of the global elite who control the government and run child sex trafficking rings.

Just days after winning the Republican nomiation, Ms Greene distanced herself from the conspiracy theory, leading some critics to accuse her of promoting it for political gain.

"No, it doesn't represent me," Ms Greene told Fox News on 17 August - three days after her Georgia victory.

"I was just one of those people, just like millions of other Americans, that just started looking at other information," she added.

"And so, yeah, there was a time there for a while that I had read about Q, posted about it, talked about it, which is some of these videos you've seen come out. But once I started finding misinformation, I decided that I would choose another path."

In the same interview, Ms Greene accused "left-leaning" journalists of trying to "creative a narrative about me that's not true".
China's postal sector pledges to provide the country's rural population with wider service accessibility and contribute to the country's poverty alleviation, the country's postal service regulator said on Monday.

Ma Junsheng, head of the State Post Bureau, said at a news conference held by the State Council Information Office that the country launched a three-year project in January, aiming to offer express delivery services to all qualified administrative villages by 2022.

The project is designed to promote sales of local farm produce, and specialties will be further developed via rural e-commerce channels and the postal network, which will also provide rural residents with services such as online purchasing, he added.

The bureau will push the project forward in villages in developed areas with better conditions and provide delivery services to 60 percent of administrative villages by the end of this year, he said, adding that 45 percent of villages so far have such services.

Ma also noted that China's postal and delivery enterprises have facilitated the country's anti-poverty efforts by creating jobs and promoting farm produce sales in recent years.

"The postal and express industry has become an important force to support agricultural development, improve rural connectivity and serve the farmers and a new distribution channel to boost the delivery of industrial products to the countryside and the agricultural products to the cities, as well as a vital source to help the poor increase their incomes," he said.

Ma said that major delivery companies have created more than 1.5 million jobs for impoverished areas since 2014.

During the first eight months of this year, the postal and express industry has created more than 150,000 jobs in rural areas and helped 100,000 financially-strapped households in 504 national-level poverty-stricken counties increase incomes by over 100 million yuan ($14 million), he added.

The country's delivery companies nurtured 163 projects designed to promote sales of local farm produce and specialties by the end of last year, with each handling more than 1 million parcels annually, he said, adding that 37 of them boasted over 10 million deliveries each year.

Ma also noted that 15 billion parcels were delivered in rural areas last year, and that figure rose to 20 billion in the first eight months of this year.

China has achieved its goal of covering all administrative villages with direct postal services, and express delivery outlets have been set up in 97 percent of the townships across the country, according to the bureau.
LEASING

Wetherill Park

Singaporean Mapletree Logistics Trust has leased a 3,830 sq m site at 407 Victoria Street to a local manufacturing group. The property was leased for $115 per sq m net on a 10 year lease plus a ten year option. Marcel Elias of LJ Hooker Commercial negotiated the lease.

Sydney

Capstone Realty has inked a new lease for a 135 sq m office at 227 Elizabeth Street from Far East Organisation. The annual rental income is $860 per sq m on a lease term of three years. Jock Gilchrist and Tom Buxton, Colliers International negotiated the lease.
(Photo : Why No Business Can Survive without SEO in 2020) (Photo : Hubspot)

The internet is the biggest market in the world. As of 2020, over 4.5 billion people are estimated to use the internet every day. A good market is an opportunity for a businessman. That's why no business could wait to build its presence here and stand out from the competition. Today, you will find multinational corporates to bakeries in your town on the internet. You need SEO services in order to build and keep your place in the online world.

SEO is short for Search Engine Optimization, which is a process of increasing online presence and website traffic. Its professionals follow all guidelines of search engines and use many tactics to make sure all potential customers can easily reach the website.

It's also the most important branch of digital marketing that is never left out in any campaign. Your business can never build its online presence and survive the fierce competition if it doesn't acquire SEO Services. This article has briefly discussed why you must learn about SEO and use it to your benefit before your competitors do.

Google is the Most Visited Site

Google is a technology company that proudly owns YouTube, Chrome, and, the biggest search engine in the world, Google. It's also the most visited website in the world that has over 2.5 billion users and processes 5.6 billion searches per day. This makes it a perfect platform where businesses would want to rank.

People search all kinds of queries on Google from personal to professional issues. They even use it for shopping. This makes it crucial for every business to index with Google and try to rank on the first page of all relevant result pages.

It Pushes You to Improve

Google wants to show the best to its users. If it doesn't provide the best of service, its users will switch to another search engine. Even the giant Google has to make sure that all its users are happy or there are competitors that are waiting to replace it. This is the reason why it has some thorough and detailed guidelines for all webmasters about how their website should be if they want to do with the help of Google.

Some of the basic requirements include a user-friendly website with a great design. It wants you to provide the best content that delivers value to visitors. It judges the content and website of all people who index with it, chooses the best among them, and gives it the top position in search engine result pages. This position can be lost any time someone else provides better quality.

This competition pushes all online businesses to keep improving. Google forces you to improve for its users that are also your potential customers. By delivering better value, you can become a priority for those customers.

Local SEO for Better Conversion

There is a misconception among non-technical people that the internet is only useful when you are trying to reach people that you can't physically access. It may be something new to many people, but the internet and SEO have already conquered all local markets. You no longer have to physically reach out to each potential customer with your advertisements. Now you can do that with the help of SEO and get better results.

Google always performs a location check when you search for something. It shows results that are most appropriate according to your location. For example, if you are looking to purchase a chair, you will be shown results from sites that are near your area. You can set your website to target your local audience with local SEO practices. This is especially important for small businesses that rely on their local markets such as hair salons, HVAC contractors, coffee shops, and similar.

Helps You Control Buyer's Journey

Most businesses only target the audience that is all ready to purchase something. However, a smart business first educates people and then turns them into customers.

This starts by first making them realize that there is a need for your product or services.

The second phase focuses on helping them learn about the solution.

The third phase tells them the best solution for that problem, which is the product or service you offer.

This three-step process is called The Buyer's journey.

With the help of SEO, your business can efficiently control the buyer's journey based on the queries they search. A plan is created to target the right keywords and then redirect the internet user to the right pages. Your target audience will stay limited to only a limited number of people if you don't control the buyer's journey and create new customers for your business.

Cheap and Effective

Despite all the benefits it has to offer, SEO is still one of the cheapest tactics of marketing. It's not just that it doesn't require you to spend a portion of your business budget on marketing; it also brings results. Search Engine Optimization is an effective method for attracting customers.

Even in the worst-case scenario, you at least get to increase awareness about your brand. These qualities make SEO one of the most important part of any marketing campaign in 2020.

Brings Long Term Results

Unlike most other modes of marketing like paid advertisements, SEO brings you long term results. It takes some time before you start to get any return, but you can expect it to keep working for a long time, even when you are no longer investing in it.

Once you have built a good domain authority, backlinks, and ranked a few pages, people will keep coming to your website and converting. You can keep increasing your online traffic and sales by continuing to invest in SEO.

Track and Quantify Everything

SEO experts record all the data of your target audience. For example, you would know how many people visit your site every day, where they live, what pages they visited, when they left, and if they ever returned. This allows you to better understand your products, services, and audience. If you see that people keep leaving your site after reaching the "checkout" section, you would know they were interested but something on that page repelled them.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Technavio has been monitoring the automotive rear seat infotainment market and it is poised to grow by 9.19 million units during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of almost 9% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200922005401/en/

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Automotive Rear Seat Infotainment Market 2020-2024 (Graphic: Business Wire)

Although the COVID-19 pandemic continues to transform the growth of various industries, the immediate impact of the outbreak is varied. While a few industries will register a drop in demand, numerous others will continue to remain unscathed and show promising growth opportunities. Technavio's in-depth research has all your needs covered as our research reports include all foreseeable market scenarios, including pre- post-COVID-19 analysis. Download a Free Sample Report on COVID-19 Impacts

Frequently Asked Questions-

Based on segmentation by end-user, which is the leading segment in the market?

The aftermarket segment is expected to be the leading segment in the global market during the forecast period.

What are the major trends in the market?

Integration of mobile devices with in-car infotainment is one of the major trends in the market.

At what rate is the market projected to grow?

Growing at a CAGR of almost 9%, the incremental growth of the market is anticipated to be 9.19 million units.

Who are the top players in the market?

ALPS ALPINE Co. Ltd., Faurecia SA, Garmin Ltd., LG Electronics Inc., Mitsubishi Electric Corp., Panasonic Corp., Pioneer Corp., Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Visteon Corp., and VOXX International Corp. are some of the major market participants.

What are the key market drivers and challenges?

Increasing advertising and marketing opportunities is one of the major factors driving the market. However, the data security breach issues restraints the market growth.

How big is the Europe market?

The Europe region will contribute 33% of market growth.

The market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate during the forecast period. ALPS ALPINE Co. Ltd., Faurecia SA, Garmin Ltd., LG Electronics Inc., Mitsubishi Electric Corp., Panasonic Corp., Pioneer Corp., Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Visteon Corp., and VOXX International Corp. are some of the major market participants. Increasing advertising and marketing opportunities will offer immense growth opportunities. To make most of the opportunities, market vendors should focus more on the growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments.

Buy 1 Technavio report and get the second for 50% off. Buy 2 Technavio reports and get the third for free.

View market snapshot before purchasing

Technavio's custom research reports offer detailed insights on the impact of COVID-19 at an industry level, a regional level, and subsequent supply chain operations. This customized report will also help clients keep up with new product launches in direct indirect COVID-19 related markets, upcoming vaccines and pipeline analysis, and significant developments in vendor operations and government regulations.

Automotive Rear Seat Infotainment Market 2020-2024: Segmentation

Automotive Rear Seat Infotainment Market is segmented as below:

End-user Aftermarket OEM

Geography Europe APAC North America South America MEA



To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download a free sample: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR43815

Automotive Rear Seat Infotainment Market 2020-2024: Scope

Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. The automotive rear seat infotainment market report covers the following areas:

Automotive Rear Seat Infotainment Market Size

Automotive Rear Seat Infotainment Market Trends

Automotive Rear Seat Infotainment Market Analysis

This study identifies integration of mobile devices with in-car infotainment as one of the prime reasons driving the automotive rear seat infotainment market growth during the next few years.

Technavio suggests three forecast scenarios (optimistic, probable, and pessimistic) considering the impact of COVID-19. Technavio's in-depth research has direct and indirect COVID-19 impacted market research reports.

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Automotive Rear Seat Infotainment Market 2020-2024: Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2020-2024

Detailed information on factors that will assist automotive rear seat infotainment market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the automotive rear seat infotainment market size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the automotive rear seat infotainment market

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of automotive rear seat infotainment market vendors

Table of Contents:

Executive Summary

Market Landscape

Market ecosystem

Market characteristics

Value chain analysis

Market Sizing

Market definition

Market segment analysis

Market size 2019

Market outlook: Forecast for 2019-2024

Five Forces Analysis

Five forces summary

Bargaining power of buyers

Bargaining power of suppliers

Threat of new entrants

Threat of substitutes

Threat of rivalry

Market condition

Market Segmentation by End user

Market segments

Comparison by End user

Aftermarket Market size and forecast 2019-2024

OEM Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Market opportunity by End user

Customer landscape

Geographic Landscape

Geographic segmentation

Geographic comparison

Europe Market size and forecast 2019-2024

APAC Market size and forecast 2019-2024

North America Market size and forecast 2019-2024

South America Market size and forecast 2019-2024

MEA Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Key leading countries

Market opportunity by geography

Volume drivers Demand led growth

Market challenges

Market trends

Vendor Landscape

Overview

Vendor landscape

Landscape disruption

Vendor Analysis

Vendors covered

Market positioning of vendors

ALPS ALPINE Co. Ltd.

Faurecia SA

Garmin Ltd.

LG Electronics Inc.

Mitsubishi Electric Corp.

Panasonic Corp.

Pioneer Corp.

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.

Visteon Corp.

VOXX International Corp.

Appendix

Scope of the report

Currency conversion rates for US$

Research methodology

List of abbreviations

About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

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Ali Fazal has defended his girlfriend Richa Chadha after her name was dragged in Payal Ghoshs allegations of sexual misconduct against Anurag Kashyap. Ali took to Instagram to repost the official statement shared by Richas lawyer on Monday and said that Richa has always championed justice for women.

Payal had alleged that Anurag was sexually inappropriate towards her in 2014-2015, an allegation which he called baseless. Payal also claimed that Anurag said that there were other female artistes who he got intimate with, including Richa. Richas lawyer issued a statement on Monday, saying that the actor has initiated appropriate legal action against Payal for falsely dragging her into the controversy.

Ali reshared the statement on Instagram and wrote a long note about Richa and all that she has done for the society. My love, you, who has stood up for women time and time again, today had to go through this ordeal. And yet, you come out strong as ever. My partner , your resilience, your kindness, and empathy have touched many people, and i have had the fortune of being witness to that over the time ive known you . The battles youve fought to create an equal society which isnt fractured by hate . And within that to be able to champion women all along ... and keep your art at par with the best, takes courage and nerves of steel. I am so proud of you because i know you wont stop standing up for those in need, specially women whove lost their voices within the many patriarchal set ups we face today the world over, he wrote.

I believe every voice must be heard. I believe in dissent. But I also believe in the power of truth and justice. They indeed prevail. I believe in using our right to speak up but with utmost responsibility. I believe that we as a society need to empower our women so that their fearless voices echo in all its glory and yet with care and gentleness, he added.

I say this today, not because youre my partner but because people like you make the world a better place and we need you. . Love you . With you. Always, he wrote. Replying to his post, Richa wrote, Grateful for you! Today and always. Choreographer Lauren Gottileb also commented, Richass name being taken like that was terrible. But THIS, what you have spoken about her in support this is a relationship we can all look up to! God bless you both.

Also read | Payal Ghosh slams those doubting her claims against Anurag Kashyap: People blame women for everything

Anurag, too, shared a statement from his lawyer, Priyanka Khimani, that said the 48-year-old director has been fully advised of his rights and remedies in law and intends to pursue them to the fullest extent. Dismissing the allegations on Sunday, Anurag called Payals claim an attempt to silence him for his outspoken views.

The director found support in his industry friends, including Hansal Mehta, Taapse Pannu, Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub as well as former wives, film editor Aarti Bajaj and actor Kalki Koechlin who credited him for creating safe work space for women.

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The strongest prices for a decade are being reported for store lambs off the hills, with producers netting a 20-25/hd premium this year on the back of phenomenal farmer demand.

A combination of local and international factors is fuelling the boom in sheep prices. A significant reduction in New Zealand lamb imports into Europe, and a sense that store lambs offer a safer haven for drystock farmers money, have pushed the trade this autumn.

Hill farmers report that store lambs from hill flocks are freely making 2.10-2.20/kg this year, with up to 2.30-2.35/kg being paid for quality lots  and even to 2.50/kg in exceptional cases.

This is the first time in nine or 10 years that we had a trade like this, said Connemara farmer Brendan Joyce, an INHFA representative.

The trade is offering farmers a real alternative this year. Lads need every ounce of the price, because there were years there when we were just getting 1.50/kg.

He said the trade was clearly being driven by stronger demand for store lambs from traditional sheep finishers, and an increasing number of beef men who are buying fewer store cattle this year because of the high prices.

Well-known Roscommon sheep farmer John Brooks said the lively demand for hill stores has been mirrored by an exceptional trade for lowland stores.

Although prices have come back a touch over the last 10 days, they are holding at very high levels, with 2.60-2.80/kg fairly freely available.

As they say, when youre hot youre hot, and when youre not youre not, and the store lamb trade is certainly hot this year, Mr Brooks said.

He feels the trade has been helped by demand from Northern Ireland, where Covid-19 supports to farmers and small businesses are providing cheap loans of up to 50,000.

Stronger lamb prices this autumn are being attributed to a significant fall-off in New Zealand exports into Europe.

Exports of New Zealand lamb to China have increased by 24pc for the year to date, as the Far East giant attempts to make up its protein shortfall due to the African Swine Fever (ASF) epidemic, which has resulted in the culling of around half of Chinas 30m sow herd, with a consequent collapse in pork production.

The AHDB estimates that Kiwi lamb exports to Britain are back 3pc this year.
She was recently hailed an 'inspiration' by her colleague Susanna Reid for how she has handled her husband Derek Draper's COVID-19 battle.

And Kate Garraway was seen leaving Global studios after hosting her Smooth Radio show in London on Tuesday as she continued to put on a brave face.

The Good Morning Britain presenter, 53, wore a contemplative expression as she walked through the capital while holding two carrier bags.

Stylish: Kate Garraway was seen leaving the Global radio studios in London on Tuesday after GMB co-host Susanna Reid hailed her as an 'inspiration' amid husband Derek's COVID-19 battle

As she got on the back of a taxi bike, Kate seemed to be pensive mood as she held her hands together while waiting for the driver to leave.

Kate looked lovely in a pink floral top that had bow tie detailing, and which she paired with denim jeans.

She added a glamorous flair to her look by wearing a white blazer to offset her colourful top, and she matched the outerwear with a pair of white trainers.

Her blonde locks were brushed into a sleek, straight style, and she used a light palette of make-up for the occasion.

Reflective mood: The Good Morning Britain presenter, 53, wore a contemplative expression as she walked through the capital while holding two carrier bags

Journey: Kate was driven back home on the back of a motorbike taxi

Kate's outing comes after fellow Good Morning Britain star Susanna Reid praised her for how she has handled her husband Derek's ongoing battle with coronavirus.

Her husband remains in hospital where he has spent the last six months fighting for his life, including three months in a coma.

Speaking to The Sunday Telegraph's Stella magazine on Sunday, Susanna said: 'It has been a nightmare that has knocked all of us for six, but Kate is living through it every day.

'To watch her put on a brave face and carry on has been an utter inspiration for all of us who work on the show, and I also know she's an inspiration to everyone who watches it.

Thoughtful: As she got on the back of a taxi bike, Kate seemed to be pensive mood as she held her hands together while waiting for the driver to leave

Heading out: Kate was seen talking amicably to the person who took her home

'I don't want to speak on her behalf, but we are a very tight team and this has been the foremost of our thoughts.'

Earlier this month, Kate confirmed she would be returning to work on Smooth Radio so Derek 'can hear my voice as well as many of the songs we both love.'

The presenter had taken time off work to spend time with her children and Derek who remains in intensive care.

As she announced her return to the airwaves, Kate acknowledged the frightening circumstances she currently faces, but hopes work will provide a welcome distraction for both herself and her husband.

Relationship: The presenter had taken time off work to spend time with her children and husband Derek Draper who remains in intensive care amid his battle with COVID-19

She said to The Sun: 'Im delighted to be returning to my morning show on Smooth and to my Global family who have been a big support to me.

'Things are still hugely challenging and a long way from being normal, but Id like to think that this will give Derek yet another opportunity to hear my voice as well as many of the songs we both love.

'My heartfelt thanks go to Myleene Klass who has been brilliantly care taking the show for me and to all my regular listeners for their messages of support.'

She admitted there couldn't be a more relaxing job to ease her back into a stable work routine.

Friend: Kate was recently hailed as an 'inspiration' by her GMB colleague Susanna Reid for how she has handled her husband Derek's diagnosis

In the midst of Derek's health battle, Kate has focused on looking after their children, Billy, 11, and Darcy, 14.

She announced her temporary departure from Good Morning Britain in August so she could help her children prepare for their return to school, after returning for a few weeks earlier in the summer.

She told viewers: 'Im actually not here next week. Im taking a bit of time off, to help Billy get ready for secondary school, and my other children.

'And also Derek, look after that. I just want to say thank you to all of you for absolutely being brilliant since Ive come back through troubling times.'

She revealed her partner has lost a whopping eight stone over the past six months and was placed in a medically-induced coma to aid his recovery.

He is now out of his coma but still remains in intensive care.

In a moving interview in Saturday's You magazine, Kate said: 'We hope and believe he will come out of it but we just don't know.

'The heart of the family has been ripped out and we don't know if we will ever get it back.'
Lafayette, LA  Community Foundation of Acadiana (CFA) celebrated its inaugural Leaders in Law Enforcement Awards Luncheon on Thurs., Sept. 10, 2020, at City Club in River Ranch. The 2020 honorees are the Ouachita Parish Sheriffs Department and the 40th Judicial District Attorneys Office of St. John the Baptist Parish.

The intent of this new award is to bolster morale, increase respect for public service, acknowledge improvements in operations and encourage extraordinary performance among Louisianas sheriffs departments and district attorneys offices. These awards are designed to honor those departments who are making the most impact in their communities with the resources they have been allocated. Each department received a $25,000 award to be used at their discretion to improve operations and continue to encourage extraordinary performance and implement meaningful programs. This years awards were underwritten by the Joe W. and Dorothy Dorsett Brown Foundation.

The Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Department was recognized for its Deputies Making a Change (DMAC) Program, initiated to address the incarceration and school dropout rate among vulnerable male youth in Ouachita Parish. DMAC services male students ages 9-18 by offering support in academics, future planning, hygiene, money management, healthy lifestyle regimens, life skills, college and career readiness and problem solving. DMAC addresses the need for strong mentors in a positive environment, educational support and improving behavior. Over the last 12 years, DMAC has directly impacted more than 5,000 students and has a 98 percent graduation success rate. The 40th Judicial District Attorneys Office of St. John the Baptist Parish was recognized for implementing impactful opportunities for those most at risk. Opportunity Now, a collaboration with the Louisiana Workforce Commission, XP Synergy and LA Rehabilitation Services, has provided more than 100 low-risk, nonviolent, first-time offenders the opportunity to receive life skills and work readiness training to divert them out of the criminal justice system. Since the programs inception in May 2015, only three graduates have re-offended. St. John P.R.O.U.D., a proactive crime prevention program, focuses on providing young adults with life-changing employment opportunities to deter them from embarking on a life of crime. District Attorney Bridget A. Dinvaut recognizes the positive impact that education, combined with meaningful opportunities, can have on a persons life. According to Dinvaut, in many instances, criminal activity becomes an economic opportunity for young adults that are not employed or in school. She wholeheartedly believes that crime prevention, restorative justice and rehabilitation programs are vital to public safety and investing in the future of St. John the Baptist Parish.

Community Foundation of Acadiana is honored to present these law enforcement awards to such deserving programs. We are looking forward to making this an annual event. The 2021 application process will begin in March. All sheriffs departments and district attorneys offices from around the state are invited and encouraged to apply.

Photo Credits:

1. Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Department, from left to right: Cpl. Marvin McFarland, Lt. Eric McElroy, CFA CEO Raymond Hebert, Sheriff Jay Russell, Dep. Kenneth Tramble, Capt. Buddy Aulds and Molly Hill.

2. 40th Judicial District Attorneys Office of St. John the Baptist Parish, from left to right: President of the Joe W. & Dorothy Dorsett Brown Foundation Edwin F. Hunter, District Attorney Bridget A. Dinvaut and CFA CEO Raymond Hebert.
WASHINGTON  President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia is most likely continuing to approve and direct interference operations aimed at raising President Trumps re-election chances, a recent C.I.A. analysis concluded, a signal that intelligence agencies continue to back their assessment of Russian activities despite the presidents attacks.

The assessment was disseminated in support of sanctions imposed this month on Andriy Derkach, a pro-Russian Ukrainian lawmaker who has spread information critical of Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. It is consistent with intelligence officials warning to lawmakers in January that Russia was interfering on Mr. Trumps behalf, a briefing that outraged Republicans and eventually helped oust Joseph Maguire from his post as acting director of national intelligence.

The C.I.A. has moderate confidence in its analysis, a lower degree of certainty than its 2016 assessment of Mr. Putins preferences, in part because the intelligence community appears to lack intercepted communications or other direct evidence confirming his direction of Mr. Derkachs efforts. Mr. Putin, a former intelligence agent, is careful not to use electronic devices.

According to people familiar with the matter, the new analysis was published ahead of the sanctions in the C.I.A. Worldwide Intelligence Review, a classified document that circulates to members of Congress and the Trump administration. The Washington Post earlier reported the assessment.
South Sudan has invited Egypt to attend the final signing ceremony of a long-awaited peace accord between Sudans transitional government and key rebel groups in October, a statement by the Egyptian presidency read on Tuesday.

Juba has been mediating between the government of neighbouring Sudan and a number of rebel groups in the country. The final peace deal is set to be signed on October 2 in the South Sudanese capital.

President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi received South Sudanese Presidential Advisor on Security Affairs Tut Gatluak in Cairo on Tuesday, and the latter extended an invitation from South Sudanese President Silva Kiir for the signing ceremony.

El-Sisi expressed appreciation for the invite to the major milestone, describing it as an extension of efforts exerted by Egypt to support the stability of Sudan.

He also stressed Egypts keenness to bolster cooperation with South Sudan and provide support in all fields, most notably development.

Gatluak presented the latest political developments in his country, praising Egypts role and efforts to back stability in the region and in South Sudan.

The meeting also saw an exchange of viewpoints over several regional issues, including issues related to Nile water and developments on the disputed Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

The peace deal, which is between Sudans transitional government and the Sudan Revolutionary Front, along with many of the rebel groups in Darfur and elsewhere, is set to end violence that has lasted for almost two decades and caused hundreds of thousands of deaths, mainly in western Darfur.

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A locked gate is seen after the Hong Kong Disneyland theme park has been closed, following the coronavirus outbreak in Hong Kong, China January 26, 2020.

Disney's Hong Kong-based theme park will finally be permitted to reopen this Friday, two months after it was forced to shut down for a second time due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Hong Kong relaxed a number of Covid-19 restrictions last week after testing of nearly 2 million people in the region, and finding only 42 cases of the virus.

Walt Disney only holds a minority stake in the park, while Hong Kong holds the majority stake. Guests will be required to wear face masks and all indoor live performances will be canceled. Additionally, the park will be closed initially on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

While the reopening of Hong Kong Disneyland is a positive development for Disney, it underscores how difficult it has been for the company to reopen other parks, particularly in the U.S.

Florida allowed Disney World to reopen its theme parks in July, but the company's two parks in California have been closed for more than six months. There were plans for the Anaheim-based locations to open in July as well, but a spike in Covid-19 cases led California to retract guidelines.
China has more than doubled its airbases, air defence positions and heliports at the LAC after the 2017 standoff with India at Doklam. The Chinese side has started constructing 13 new military positions including three airbases, five permanent air defence positions and four new heliports, a report authored by senior analyst Sim Tack for the geopolitical intelligence platform StratFor said.

Tack used satellite imagery to zoom into the exact scale of the build-up. The construction of three new heliports began in the middle of the current crisis, giving a clear indication of Chinese intent not just in Ladakh but all across the LAC.

Four defence positions within existing airbases and facilities such as additional runways and shelters to help obscure combat aircraft from observation are under construction. The report further states that the Chinese military has also been deploying more air defence systems and fighter aircraft to existing facilities.

Chinas intensified development of military infrastructure on the Indian border suggests a shift in Beijings approach to territorial disputes, forcing New Delhi to rethink its national security posture, the Stratfor report said.

According to the report, Chinas new developments across Indias entire border are likely to drive future expansions of Indian military infrastructure near disputed borders at Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.

Warning of potential escalation of conflict, the report said, By forcing India to respond in kind, Chinas aggressive strategy is leading to a greater concentration of military assets in heavily disputed areas along the border that could raise the risk of potential escalations and sustained conflict.

Meanwhile, talks between the corps commanders of India and China failed to yield a breakthrough. Both sides are adamant on their respective positions and are refusing to budge as the standoff in eastern Ladakh enters its fifth month.

China wants India to step back from the strategic heights in the Chushul subsector. India has made it clear there will be no movement anywhere till the Chinese agree to a time-bound roadmap on complete de-escalation. But both sides have agreed to meet again, possibly as early as next week.
Kristina: What is Supply Path Optimization?

Alex Perrin, VP of Programmatic Strategy, Adelphic: The advertising supply chain comprises countless publishers that supply digital impression opportunities. The sheer number and complexity of these transactions makes it difficult for brands to keep track of where they are purchasing ad impressions. For example, a green-conscious brand could unknowingly purchase an impression on an oil industry news site. While this is a simplistic example of SPO, it sets the stage for more complex and serious issues if the supply chain is left unmanaged.

With the above in mind, SPO is an emerging category of tools, systems, and policies, allowing programmatic buyers to 1) gain more transparency into the supply chain, 2) identify optimal supply paths based on media efficiency goals, and 3) build robust toolsets for brand safety and impression efficacy.

Kristina: What are the potential consequences if brands do not utilize SPO?

Alex: Brands that do not utilize SPO expose themselves to non-transparent publishers that could be antithetical to their brand mission, as exemplified by the green-conscious brand purchasing impressions on an oil website. This lack of transparency can even translate into indirect funding of questionable intermediaries, as malicious supply entities can transfer a brands ad dollars into these activities without their knowledge. Another consequence of not utilizing SPO is higher advertising costs, or a higher cost per CPM. When an ad buyer purchases a set of impressions, that request travels through inefficient or unnecessary intermediaries. Each intermediary hop captures a fee during the process of delivering ad impressions, and these fees can add up quickly when multiple intermediaries are used. This so-called supply tech tax is estimated at about 50% of total media spend. This is a massive value-drain for brands, and the costs from this are often overlooked.

Kristina: What technologies are enabling brands to pursue SPO?

Alex: While there are many variations and mechanisms of SPO, none is more popular than Ads.txt. Ads.txt is a mechanism for publishers to authorize specific supply paths when transacting impressions. Ads.txt is the publishers way of signaling to buyers that they are the real authorized source. The derivative, app-ads.txt initiative provides equivalent transparency and spoofing protection for mobile app inventory. For DSPs that work with Ads.txt solutions, the DSP will reject bids from supply sources that are not authorized by the original publisher. These rejections protect buyers from purchasing the wrong impressions and arguably retains revenue for the intending publisher source. If Ads.txt allows the buyer and the original seller to signal to each other indirectly, sellers.json serves as the connective tissue for that signal in the supply chain, often via an exchange. The sellers.json file discloses each seller ID and specifies whether that company is the publisher or an intermediary. Generally, this file acts as the key when working with supply sources in multi-path inventory environments.

Kristina: What are some practices of effective supply path optimization, and how do they protect the budgets and reputations of brands?

Alex: SPO is all about data collection, observation, and taking small actions to decrease the distance between supply sources and the buyers. There are many practices and emerging technologies that are supporting these goals. Implementation and use of Ads.txt (and its derivatives) ensure brands are buying from authorized sources. In the supply object, sellers.json ensures the authorized source is being transacted against in the supply path. Ultimately, brands should curate the right deals for their business by learning over time which publishers and supply platforms offer the most value, efficiency, and transparency for their programmatic needs. It is always best to maximize single path inventories whenever possible (and sensible). Brands can make their jobs easier by utilizing a reporting system built on curiosity, learning, and iteration. If their current SPO practices are working today, that doesnt mean they cant improve tomorrow. When possible, brands should consider reserving a test budget for new supply entities and emerging SPO technologies to ensure an iterative process.

Kristina: How can one effectively balance supply-side transparency with the need for abundant and unique impression opportunities?

Alex: Savvy advertisers who utilize SPOs many mechanisms can identify the most trustworthy partners in a programmatic market by focusing on unique opportunities at the lowest cost. This process requires advertisers to keep their foot on the gas at all times and to continue the pursuit of transparency, scale, and unique omnichannel access.

Balancing supply efficacy, and scale/performance outcomes in programmatic can be very similar to the story of Goldilocks. Brands have to try both extremes to identifyA their perfect fit based on their unique brand outcomes. Advertisers must start broad, and, over time, hone in on supply sources that generate the most value and transparency. SPO is not a silver-bullet solution. Its a hodgepodge of tools, theories, and emerging protocols that allow brands to take more control over the supply chain. Thus, performance and value are very subjective from advertiser to advertiser.

Kristina: How does Viant implement these best practices into its DSP, Adelphic?

Alex: Viant/Adelphic has been maintaining rigorous SPO practices before the popularity of modern mechanisms like ads.txt and sellers.json. With Viants extensive history in programmatic, weve been focused on working with specific publishers, supply-side platforms, and exchanges to find the fewest number of hops to the end publisher and maximize value for our brands. Viants extensive history with traffic-shaping and supply path curation has carried over when working with self-service brands that utilize the Adelphic DSP. The Adelphic DSP aims to connect brands with all supply sources possible, but as mentioned, targeting the whole universe is not practical or economical. With that in mind, we recommend advertisers ask about resold inventory and non-essential intermediaries that can be redundant in the supply chain. Adelphic has an astute team of programmatic strategists and a media strategy investment team that help advertisers rethink their approach with value and transparency in mind.

Kristina: What does the future hold for SPO? Do you see it becoming more or less necessary?

Alex: The future is bright for SPO, and that is not necessarily a good thing. In a space thats riddled with complexity and high degrees of fragmentation, there will always be malicious or non-economical entities that await an unsuspecting brand. To carry on our comment from earlier, SPO is not a silver bullet, but rather a muscle that has to be continuously exercised over time to be effective. In many ways, SPO is comparable to how weve built safer cars, better road hazard warnings, and provided better drivers training  the dangers remain, but rates of accidents have decreased with each innovation. In this vein, there will be more technologies, more required features of DSPs (like ads.txt), and more training for programmatic professionals so that we can reduce the impacts from inefficient sources and bring the most value back to the advertisers we work with or for.
Clashes in Syria between pro-regime forces and Islamic State group jihadists, along with air strikes, have killed at least 28 fighters in the northern province of Raqa, a war monitor said Tuesday.

"IS has since Monday carried out several attacks on Syrian army and allied positions and checkpoints in the Badia (desert) of Raqa, killing 13 members of regime forces," the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Britain-based monitoring group, told AFP the regime has retaliated with waves of air raids, killing 15 jihadists either in the strikes or fighting on the ground.

Since its defeat in Syria in March 2019, IS has carried out regular deadly attacks on the army and Kurdish forces.

In August, the jihadists claimed an attack near the city of Deir Ezzor that killed a general and two other soldiers of the Russian army forces allied to the Damascus government.

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KABUL, Afghanistan  He was a young Afghan police officer working alongside American forces in one of the hot spots of the war, with Taliban ambushes all around. Then he turned his weapon on two U.S. Marines, killing them both.

Now, he is out of prison.

His attack, in Helmand Province in 2011, was a serious eruption in a phenomenon that within a year would redefine the American war in Afghanistan: insider killings, often by members of the Afghan security forces who, like the police officer, were not at the time part of the Taliban.

But just this month, that officer, Mohammad Dawood, 31, reached the top of the Talibans list of prisoners they wanted released as they negotiated the opening of peace talks with the Afghan government. And along with just five other men detained after killing Westerners, his fate became a sticking point that nearly derailed the whole process, officials say.

While the Taliban made the mens release an ultimatum before they would go to the table, officials for the United States, France and Australia were quietly urging the Afghan government not to let them go  even as they told the Afghan government to free thousands of other Taliban prisoners with Afghan blood on their hands in order to open the way for the talks.
BATON ROUGE, La.  Today marks the official start of fall, which is also the time of year when flu cases begin to appear. Given that this year the annual flu season will overlap with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana urges everyone to take steps to prevent the spread of illnesses.

Get in touch with your healthcare provider now to ask about getting the flu shot if you have not already done so, said Blue Cross Senior Medical Director Dr. Dee Barfield. The flu shot is safe and effective, and more people getting vaccinated can prevent overwhelming our healthcare system as we are still treating COVID-19 cases.

Although there is currently no available vaccine for COVID-19, the same preventive steps people have taken over the past several months can effectively lower the risk of spreading the novel coronavirus, influenza virus and other respiratory illnesses, Barfield added.

Whenever you leave home, wear a face mask that covers your nose and mouth, keep at least six feet between you and others, and wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer, Barfield said. We are getting to the point in the year where seasonal illnesses peak, so its very important to be mindful of keeping ourselves healthy and avoiding making others sick.

See health tips for what to do when you leave home in this video (1:01).

Comply with COVID-19 Prevention Mandates

In July, Gov. John Bel Edwards issued a statewide mandate that requires Louisiana residents to wear face masks in public places and restricts gatherings. The state has seen improvements in COVID-19 case rates since the order went into effect, and Gov. Edwards moved the state into Phase 3 of reopening on Sept. 11. But, the virus is still active in the state, and the statewide mandate remains in place to help slow the spread.

Blue Cross has created interactive graphics for its social media that encourage people to wear masks now so we can slow the spread of COVID-19 and safely resume activities like tailgating, going to festivals and having crawfish boils. Anyone can share or post these graphics to their personal social media and are asked to use the hashtag #MaskUp when doing so. Find and download the graphics at www.bcbsla.com/covid19. Blue Cross has also produced Spanish versions of the social graphics, which are available to download and share.

For Louisiana employers, Blue Cross has created an online, multimedia toolkit to address common questions and share information from medical directors as more business reopen and employees return to the workplace in Phase 3.

Get A Flu Shot

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) recommends everyone six months of age and older get a flu shot each year. Its especially important for young children, pregnant women, adults 60+ years old and anyone who has chronic medical conditions like diabetes, heart disease or asthma, as these groups are at a higher risk for severe complications from the flu.

While getting a flu shot is an important part of preventive wellness every year, it will be especially important this year, given the added threat of COVID-19 overlapping with flu season. Flu season typically begins in October and lasts until April or May, with cases peaking in late winter.

Most health plans and Medicare plans cover the annual flu shot for $0 or very low cost. Make an appointment with your primary care provider so you can get your flu shot as soon as possible.

Blue Cross Medical Directors Dr. Emily Vincent and Dr. Tracy Lemelle hosted a Direct from the Doctors Facebook Live event earlier this month to explain why its so important to get a flu shot this year. See a video of that event (25:31).

You can visit the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana YouTube page to see short videos with the clinical team and others discussing various health topics. Subscribe to know when new videos are added. You can also connect with Blue Cross on social media for regular updates.

For information on what Blue Cross is doing for members during COVID-19, visit www.bcbsla.com/covid19.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  In preparation for the first 2020 presidential debate next Tuesday the city will close several streets around the Cleveland Clinic as a security perimeter is established for the event, Mayor Frank Jacksons administration said.

The Cleveland Clinic and Case Western Reserve University are hosting the debate. The closures will affect several streets around the Clinics Health Education Campus.

The first of the closures began Tuesday. East 89th Street between Chester and Euclid avenues, the north curb lane on Euclid and the west curb lane on East 100th Street are closed.

Below are traffic closures and detours that are scheduled to begin as soon as 7 a.m. Friday. There may be intermittent closures, too, while security fencing and barriers are put in place.

Beginning Friday at 7 a.m. these roads will be closed:

Chester Avenue between East 89th Street to East 101st Street.

Carrie Court between East 90th Street to East 93rd Street north of Chester.

East 97th Street from Chester north to Logan Court.

After 6 p.m. Friday, these road closures with limited access will be in effect:

Euclid between East 89th and East 105th streets.

East 90th between Chester and Euclid.

East 90th Street, East 96th Street, East 100th Street and 102nd Street north of Carnegie Avenue.

Several roads around the site of the presidential debate Sept. 29 in Cleveland will be closed to create a secure perimeter around the Cleveland Clinic's Health Education Campus. Roads marked in red will be closed. Roads marked in green will have restrictions.

The following restrictions will begin at 7 a.m. Friday.

Signs will be posted on eastbound Chester and Euclid notifying motorists that the only local access will be permitted between East 55th and East 89th streets. Motorists will be rerouted to Carnegie.

Westbound traffic on Chester will encounter a local access only closure at East 105th and be detoured at East 101st. Westbound traffic on Euclid will be detoured at East 105th Street. Through traffic westbound will be detoured to Carnegie.

East 90th and East 93rd streets between Hough Avenue and Chester will be local access only. The road will be closed approximately 100 feet north of Chester.

East 97th Street south of Lamont Avenue will be local access only. The road will be closed at Logan Court north of Chester.

Southbound traffic on East 101st will be permitted only tobusinesses and establishments in the area. The road will be closed before reaching Euclid.

East 90th, East 96th and East 100th streets northbound from Carnegie will be open only for patients at the Clinic. All will be closed before reaching Euclid.

East 102nd Street northbound from Carnegie Ave. will be closed.

The drive onto the Cleveland Clinic Campus from E. 105th between Euclid and Carnegie will be closed.

The closures will remain in effect until 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1, the mayors office said.

More Cleveland presidential debate coverage

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Effort to bring first 2020 presidential debate to Cleveland excluded city from planning process

First 2020 presidential debate will be in Cleveland
Austin's park and recreations department attend to vandalised headstones at Evergreen Cemetery (@MariSalazarTV / Twitter)

Fifteen headstones have been vandalised at an Austin cemetery historically associated with the areas Black community, local media reported.

Vandals were said to have targeted the Evergreen Cemetery in Austin, Texas, at the weekend.

Austins Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) said the damage was found on Monday morning, in what was believed to have been a random act, John Nixon, PARDs communications spokesperson, was reported to have said.

Blue spray paint was used to deface the headstones, with derogatory phrases such as AIDS, reported CBS Austin.

Another headstone was scrawled with the word Kirk, and another had a sideways 8 on its headstone, according to reports.

"This is not just a random act of vandalism, there is a purpose, there is a purpose behind this," said Natalie Marshall, whose family members have been buried there, to CBS.

"My mother is here, I have uncles here," said another Austin resident, Roy Jones, who was among those who checked over family headstones on Monday.

"You wouldn't want nobody to do that to your family," he added.

Austins police department was said to have launched an investigation into the incident, after city authorities reported the incident on Monday.

Austins Evergreen Cemetery was established in 1926 for Austins black community, where prominent local figures are buried.

The vandalism comes after months of unrest across the United States following the police killing of an unarmed black man, George Floyd, in Minneapolis in May.

Read more

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Bull rider killed in Texas rodeo

Presidential race narrows to two points in Texas and Florida

Man accused of killing Black Lives Matter protester dies by suicide
LIBERTYVILLE, IL  Evan Williamson has watched as his first-grade son has struggled with not being around fellow students while learning remotely this fall. While things may have changed when students were forced to learn from home in the spring at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, Williamson's son's difficulties come at a time when parents have repeatedly told District 70 officials of their desire to have students return to the classroom for in-person classes.

Although Williamson says he has no complaints about the instruction his son has received from his teacher this fall, the fact students are not even being given the option to return to school doesnt sit well with a large number of parents.

Months after an estimated 70 percent of district parents and more than 90 percent of teachers voiced support for a return to the classroom, parents have become frustrated by the lack of transparency school officials have shown since that time.

So as the Board of Education met Monday night and was presented with a recommendation that the district gradually move toward a hybrid model beginning in late October, hundreds of parents and students held a rally outside asking for answers.

Williamson said Monday that school officials have pointed to a lack of staffing and to the number of continued confirmed coronavirus cases as reasons why won't reopen classrooms. However, parents cite the relatively flat nature the virus has taken in Lake County in recent months and question data that comes from health officials citing why it is not yet prudent for schools to re-open, Williamson said.

As school officials continue to push back against in-person learning, however, Williamson said they have not communicated what barriers actual stand between them and in-person learning, which led to Monday nights rally.

Hundreds of students and parents rallied for a return to in-person learning on Monday night, (Photo courtesy of Kristen Williamson)





We want to definitely demonstrate that parents are still overwhelmingly supportive of sending children back (to the classroom) in person, Williamson told Patch said Monday.   We know e-school is not an acceptable long-term solution. Its barely an acceptable short-term solution.

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Under the hybrid plan, kindergarten and first graders would be allowed to return to school in morning and afternoon cohorts for two hours and 15 minutes per day before the plan would extend to students through fifth grade.

The hybrid plan doesnt go far enough, parents said, which leads them to push for the return to in-person classes that other suburban Chicago districts have returned to on a full-time basis.

Lauren Marks, the mother of two District 70 students who also works as a language and speech pathologist in schools, characterizes the situation as devastating. While she understands the challenge teachers face trying to educate students in the current environment, she says that the impact is even greater for the students themselves.

Marks said that remote learning is entirely too limiting" and is not effective and says it is unwise for the district to continue a substitute for in-person learning. Because students are multi-dimensional learners who learn through their senses, Marks said that remote learning does not allow for that in the ways that the in-person model does.

Now, as part of the group that is attempting to impact change in Libertyville, Marks hopes there is indeed strength in numbers after parents, she said, have grown tired of receiving messages from school officials that promise that the district is listening, but that has not gotten school doors to open, she said.

Its inspiring what collaboration and teamwork can do especially when there is so much divide, Marks told Patch on Monday. Its just a heartwarming message that we can all, regardless of religious affiliations or political affiliations, can come together and do whats truly in the best interest of our students.

She added: Im hoping (the board) truly starts to reflect on what the community is asking for because that has not been taken into consideration.

This article originally appeared on the Libertyville Patch
When the flooding gets bad enough, Jessica Flowers is forced to walk. She trudges through water-filled streets in pants and shoes to catch a bus that will take her close to the grocery store where she works.

Sometimes her clothes get so soaked she has to buy new ones and throws the others away.

Flowers lives on the western edge of the Charleston peninsula in a neighborhood dominated by the sprawling Gadsden Green public housing complex. President Street, where she normally waits for the bus, can look like a river during heavy rains.

She told The Post and Courier in June that she cant begin to calculate how much shes spent on losses related to water damage. There was the money at the laundromat to try to salvage clothes she ended up throwing away. There was the time she had to stay in a hotel room because floodwaters prevented her from getting back to her home.

Then there was a storm earlier this year when flash flooding shut down bus routes and a ride-sharing service wouldnt pick her up due to the risk of getting stuck.

I was stranded, Flowers said. I couldnt get to work.

As the pace of sea level rise accelerates, flooding is more than just a nuisance. It's an intensifier of inequality. While it affects both rich and poor, those with less wealth are more vulnerable to its impacts.

Flooding can cause transportation hardships that lead to lost workdays and health risks for those who have to slog through water teeming with E. coli and toxic chemicals. That may mean less money in a paycheck and more going out for medical expenses, further deepening financial insecurity.

Tuesday afternoon was another day of disruption. An unusually high tide just after 1 p.m. put parts of the peninsula under water: the streets around the medical district, The Battery  and especially Gadsden Green, where saltwater covered the aptly named intersection of Line and Flood streets.

In the Charleston region, one of the most flood-prone areas on the East Coast, Black people face great risks from climate change due to racial discrimination that limited generational wealth and displacement caused by gentrification.

The Gadsden Green apartments were built as segregated housing for Black residents on low-lying land previously occupied by African American homeowners. The nearly half-square-mile neighborhood it sits in now is just one pocket of poverty in Charleston primarily occupied by Black people.

There is also the city's East Side, where flooding and pooling water around public housing are common occurrences, even when it's not raining.

Residents in Rosemont, a community in the industrialized upper peninsula, blame the building of a new highway interchange nearby for their recent issues with water. One, who has lived there for 20 years, said she now must bring sandbags to help fortify her elderly neighbor's house ahead of approaching storms.

Those areas were put on the back burner years ago," said Arthur Lawrence, a former president of the neighborhood association for the Westside, which covers much of the peninsula's flood-prone western edge. Its a shame that every time you have a storm or have a hard rain, those people are bearing the brunt of it.

All three communities are in areas with poverty rates double that of Charleston as a whole, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates. At least one in three residents in those areas are below the federal poverty level, which is currently an income of $26,200 for a family of four.

Half of the 2,800 people in the area that includes the Gadsden Green homes live in poverty, the census estimates. Nearly all of the residents in the public housing complex are Black, according to the head of the city's housing authority.

Flooding around the complex happens rain or shine. Contractor John Jamison found that out Monday as he ran from the home he was working on to rescue his truck before it was swamped by rising creek waters, driven by 8-foot-plus high tide on a sunny day.

Look at how fast its coming in, he said, gesturing to the public housing apartments behind him. "I wonder who thought to build this here."

To understand that story and the vulnerability these residents face today, one must revisit the past, beginning with the tornadoes that led to the creation of the Gadsden Green housing project 82 years ago.

Born out of destruction

Editor's Note This special report is part of an ongoing series examining the dire threat flooding presents to our region, which faces a climate crisis driven by rising seas, record-breaking rainfall and swamping tides. With a mix of breaking news and deep investigative reporting, this series aims to document the crippling effects of flooding on peoples lives and the greater Charleston economy as this creeping threat unfolds in real time. Look for more from this series in the coming months, including stories that will be part of the Pulitzer Center's Connected Coastlines reporting initiative.

On the morning of Sept. 29, 1938, whirling winds moved onto the peninsula, flattening homes on what is now the area around the Gadsden Green apartments.

Another tornado damaged buildings downtown. In all, five tornadoes hit the region that day, killing 32 people.

After the storm, Black residents along the low-lying western edge of the peninsula picked through the ruins for whatever clothing and possessions they could salvage as workers in tractors and trucks broke up and hauled away pieces of the damaged and demolished houses.

The homes of all these people proved to represent their life savings, and in many instances the home had been left them by relatives or parents, a survey of more than 200 Black families after the tornadoes found. Across Charleston, Black residents historically lived in low-lying and flood-prone areas because those spots were considered less desirable and cheaper.

The destruction only worsened a housing shortage for Black people in Charleston. To address it, Mayor Burnet Maybank sought federal money to build segregated public housing.

That meant clearing the homes of Black residents who still lived in the neighborhood to make way for the new apartments.

In March 1940, John Harris wrote a letter to Maybank's successor. Harris, and the 37 other residents who signed the document, asked the new mayor to reconsider the plan.

The area had the largest group of Black property owners of any place in the city, Harris wrote, and included mechanics, artisans and schoolteachers. The majority of people either owned or were in the process of buying their homes, the letter said.

"There is not another single area in Charleston available to Colored people where so large a group can purchase or build homes, and the few places that are available to our group, are prohibitive in the purchase price, Harris wrote.

Mayor Henry Lockwood told Harris he would discuss the matter with the head of the citys housing authority but he wasnt optimistic.

Construction on the first batch of public housing apartments there began the following year.

The collection of brick homes was named Gadsden Green, likely after Thomas Norman Gadsden, a White developer from the 1800s who subdivided the land. Residents who lived around the apartments called the area Back-da-Green.

'Waterfront property'

Barbara Gathers grew up with her grandparents in a two-story home across the street from the apartments. The neighborhood had a mix of homeowners, renters and businesses. A few White families lived there.

Things took a turn for the worse in 1954 when the city opened a landfill nearby on marshland next to the Ashley River. Gathers, who was 10, watched trucks deposit old appliances and tires on the heap.

They used the Black community as a city dump, she said.

Maurice Washington was around 7 when he and his family moved to a Gadsden Green apartment in the late 1960s.

Washington compared the stench from the landfill to cologne. The people around it all day got used to it, but it could be overbearing for someone smelling it for the first time.

Washington said hed go to the second level of the apartment he shared with his parents and nine other siblings to overlook the trash piles. There, he could see the sun set over the sparkling Ashley River. He learned to crab on the bank of the river and nearby Gadsden Creek, which flowed in front of their apartment. Residents used to drive boats in areas now covered in pavement. The creek was used for baptisms.

We had waterfront property, Washington said.

The apartment was along what is now Hagood Avenue, a notorious flood spot in present day.

This week, salty water has covered the road during high tides, splashing the undersides of trucks that sped through it and forcing walkers to change course.

Back when Washington was growing up, he remembered high tides bringing water through the shower drains into his, and other, apartments. He would see people sweeping water out of their front and back doors.

Even so, he recalled, there were natural filtrations in place  wetlands, grass and other vegetation  that helped soak up water.

It wasnt the kind of flooding that you see now," Washington said.

Equal attention

Similar concerns echo up the peninsula in North Charleston's Union Heights neighborhood, where a major storm can submerge streets such as Irving Avenue. The road  less than one-third-of-a-mile long  has a dead end. A former highway ramp, that cut through the community, runs next to it.

Residents on Irving live in homes passed down through generations. One senior citizen who lives there has to use her back door to get inside her house when the rain hits. Her neighbor, another senior, doesn't have that option. He has to walk through ankle-deep water, or sometimes higher, to reach his front door.

The Union Heights neighborhood sits on former plantation land that became the site of an African American community after the Civil War. The neighborhood later bustled with barbershops, a fish market, movie theater and other businesses as the area thrived from the 1930s to the 1960s. It has since declined, with its narrow streets now populated with abandoned homes.

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Black people make up the vast majority of residents who live on a stretch of land sandwiched between the Ashley and Cooper rivers, where Union Heights is located. In some sections, one in three residents live in poverty, which is double the statewide rate, according to census estimates.

Some residents see racial discrimination as the reason why their low-lying area has waited for flooding relief  something North Charleston officials deny. A city spokesman said earlier this year that 18 ongoing stormwater projects were aimed at upgrading pipes to address excess water in areas including Union Heights and Chicora-Cherokee, another predominately Black community.

To Omar Muhammad, it is class, not race, that is the issue. Muhammad is executive director of the Lowcountry Alliance for Model Communities. The group advocates for environmental justice and community development for Union Heights, Chicora-Cherokee and other neighborhoods in the area.

"Affluent people have a great influence on the political system, he said. "When you cant get the attention of your political system, your needs go unanswered and not addressed.

Down the peninsula, residents of Gadsden Green learned that lesson long ago. Many rejoiced after the city finally shut down the landfill near their homes due to federal concerns that it was harming the marshland and the Ashley River. But the city just built on top of the dump. In 1974, the Charleston Police Department opened their new headquarters there. More paving and building followed, giving water fewer places to go as flooding worsened.

Washington, who is the chairman of the Charleston County Republican Party, said hes watched the development around the Gadsden Green apartments and noticed how the land gradually elevates as you head away from it. That means when it rains the water runoff flows down toward the public housing complex. He questioned whether that would have been allowed in a wealthier neighborhood.

Others have also pointed to flood mitigation projects in the city's more affluent, and tourist-centered, areas and wondered if residents in Gadsden Green are being left behind. There's the raising of the Low Battery seawall, drainage work on Market Street and the proposed 8-mile perimeter seawall around the citys core peninsula.

The ongoing drainage project along the Septima P. Clark Parkway is expected to reduce flooding for people living in and around the eastern half of the Gadsden Green homes. The job is adding tunnels below the parkway, also known as the Crosstown, and a new pump station on the Ashley River. It is set to be completed in three years.

Matthew Fountain, Charleston's director of stormwater management, agreed that there was not equal investment in drainage and flood-reduction projects across the city in the past. His department, which was created as a separate entity in 2018, is working to change that, he said.

We want to make sure were not leaving behind vulnerable populations," Fountain, who joined the city last year, said.

His department is using a new ranking system for stormwater projects that will factor in social and equity impacts, he said, which will give City Council members more information before deciding what work gets funded and in what order.

'Long time coming'

Teddy Foster hopes changes will happen soon.

For generations, his family has run Teddy Foster Grocery, which sits near Flood Street  a fitting name that likely comes from a misspelling of the Fludd family that was involved in laying out the neighborhood, not the area's water problems.

Foster's father ran the store after taking it over from his father.

Gathers said the grocery was a community staple, where people talked about what was happening in the world. It was only a few doors down from her home. She would stock up on Popsicles and candy there. Washingtons first job was at the store, which he started working at in sixth grade.

On a day in June, potatoes and onions filled crates near Teddy Foster's cash register. Cans of sweet corn and peas were stacked on shelves.

Foster said that flooding on Allway Street, which runs right by the store, has worsened in the past 10 years.

During high tides and heavy rains, people have to walk through water to access his store and two others in the neighborhood that carry food and household items. That's if the stores are able to stay open due to the high water.

He also watches children and teenagers wade through dirty floodwater to get to nearby schools.

The Post and Courier in May sampled floodwater in the area and found levels of E. coli at least seven times what health officials consider safe.

Has the city ever listened to the people over here? Foster said.

Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg said he is listening, and that the new stormwater prioritization system and ongoing drainage projects will help with the flooding.

Some of this is a long time coming, but I feel like weve refocused our priorities and progress is on the way," he said.

The Gadsden Green apartments are especially vulnerable to water damage, as they were built before the federal government set height requirements for properties in flood prone areas.

Stevenson Johnson said in June that he had lived in a Gadsden Green apartment for the past seven years.

During the historic 2015 flooding that damaged homes across the city and state, he said water got inside his apartment.

Johnson, a landscape worker, said it cost him around $1,200 to have water vacuumed up in his home and for mold to be removed.

The housing authority pays for maintenance work when water damages the inside of its homes, but it does not pay for harm to personal property. The authority encourages residents to get renters' insurance, something few can afford.

Johnson said he didn't have insurance and paid for the work himself.

It doesn't take a monumental storm like 2015 to shut down life for residents in the neighborhood, he said. Sometimes a high tide can do the trick.

If we get flooded, were stuck, Johnson said from his front porch. We cant go anywhere.

A couple of used sandbags sat nearby.

Wary from the past

The fate of another formerly segregated public housing project worries people connected to Gadsden Green.

City officials closed the Ansonborough Homes, located on the peninsula's eastern edge, after Hurricane Hugo in 1989 damaged many of its 162 units. They also pointed to testing that found a cancer-causing contaminant in the soil the homes sat on. Black residents who lived there protested the decision.

The land was later sold and the complex demolished.

But building occurred there again. Not in the form of more public housing, but as high-end condominiums and office buildings.

The problem is when they built it back, they didnt build it back for the people who lived there before," Charleston City Councilman William Dudley Gregorie said. Thats the big fear of many of the African Americans in the city of Charleston, 'Whats going to happen in our existing public housing community?' 

The city eventually added more affordable housing for senior citizens in the area.

Bernard Powers, a historian and the interim CEO of the International African American Museum in Charleston, said climate change and flooding could continue to exacerbate disparities caused by racial discrimination, leading more Black residents to be displaced from the peninsula.

"The differential in income and savings based on race, makes Black residents less able to apply the fixes to their homes that might allow them to stay where they are," he said.

In Rosemont, the upper peninsula community, residents there are frightened about their future as many receive repeated phone calls and letters to buy their homes from people looking for affordable places to live.

That fear extends down to Gadsden Green. Gathers, the former neighborhood resident, said she is concerned the public housing complex will be cleared to make way for a "resort area for the rich and well-to-do."

A nonprofit formed by the city of Charleston and the Medical University of South Carolina's foundation has already helped spur new high-end projects nearby, including a Publix grocery store, apartments and office space.

A one-bedroom apartment was recently listed for $1,580 a month at Caroline, one of the new buildings, which is featured as a "private oasis with all-encompassing water views." The maximum a Gadsden Green public housing resident pays to rent a one bedroom apartment is currently $765, Donald Cameron, the city's housing authority director, said. Residents can also choose to pay a rental amount based on their income.

Tecklenburg said the city and housing authority have no intention of having the site of the Gadsden Green apartments be available for anything other than affordable housing.

Michael Maher is the CEO of the WestEdge Foundation, the nonprofit behind the recent additions to the area. He said that the foundation's proposal to build on Gadsden Creek, and the former landfill, will reduce flooding for the public housing residents who live across the street.

We think this is a situation that has to be resolved, thats why were taking on a very significant investment, Maher said.

The state Department of Health and Environmental Control and the Army Corps of Engineers are reviewing the proposal.

Gathers, for her part, doesn't think the new buildings will last long.

"I dont wish harm on anybody," she said. "I just feel Gadsden Creek, like its inhabitants, will rise again.

Tony Bartelme and Chloe Johnson contributed to this report.
The way Australians pay for things has undergone radical change during the COVID-19 pandemic, with one in three businesses reporting they no longer take cash.

Square, a payments technology company, also found that 55 per cent of customers polled did not have any cash in their wallets and had not visited an ATM for at least two months.

Cash is here to stay, says Tim Wildash, the chief executive of Next Payments, Australia and New Zealands biggest independent ATM network. Others are not so sure. Credit:Tanya Lake

Square crunched the numbers from millions of transactions around Australia to come up with the one-in-three figure, where "cashless" is defined as accepting 95 per cent or more of transactions through credit or debit cards.

"As the COVID-19 pandemic began to sweep across Australia, so too did health and safety concerns among business owners," says Colin Birney, head of business development at Square Australia.
Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.), then chairman of the Judiciary Committee, escorts Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg during her Supreme Court confirmation hearing in 1993. (Marcy Nighswander / Associated Press)

The start of the confirmation hearings to put Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the U.S. Supreme Court was nowhere to be found on the New York Times' front page. Joe Biden couldn't have been more thrilled.

"My heart sang," said Biden, then chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. He declared the muted media coverage  an indication of the dearth of controversy surrounding the liberal jurist  was the "most wonderful thing that had happened" since he became head of the powerful panel.

He was right to predict smooth sailing; Ginsburg ultimately won the approval of 96 senators, and Biden, in helping shepherd her confirmation, had made yet another imprint on the nation's courts.

The 1993 ascent of the second woman to the Supreme Court was hardly the only impact Biden made on the courts, though not all came so smoothly. As his tongue-in-cheek remark implied, his work on confirming judges was marked just as much by rancorous controversy as bipartisan comity.

His decades-long tenure on the Senate Judiciary Committee yielded some of the most significant liberal victories of his career and missteps that continue to dog him as the Democratic presidential nominee. In all, Biden has been involved with at least 15 Supreme Court nominations during his tenure as senator and vice president. If elected, he would enter the Oval Office with more experience in confirming judges than any president in the modern era.

The judiciary has leapfrogged to the forefront of the 2020 race with Ginsburg's death Friday.For most of the campaign, Biden had been largely quiet on the matter of judges, even as his rival, President Trump, touts his success in judicial confirmations, including two Supreme Court justices. While Trump has put out a list of potential court nominees, Biden's public commitments have focused less on names and more on diversity and broad liberal principles.

"As president, he will nominate the first Black woman to the Supreme Court and appoint judges who share his commitment to the rule of law, uphold individual civil rights and civil liberties, and respect foundational precedents like Brown v. Board of Education and Roe v. Wade," said Jamal Brown, national spokesman for the Biden campaign.

Story continues

The campaign declined to make Biden available for an interview. But a review of his vast experience, including 17 years as the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, as well as interviews with nearly two dozen former colleagues, ex-staffers and outside legal experts offer hints to how he would approach judicial nominations in the White House.

"The battle about to engulf the country is an ongoing war to control the courts," said Michael Gerhardt, a University of North Carolina law professor who has worked extensively with the Senate Judiciary committee. "Joe Biden is as steeped in that and understands that as well as anyone."

::

Biden, a lawyer by training, had his eye on the Judiciary Committee from the moment he was elected to the Senate at age 29. Five years later, he landed a spot on the panel, joining legislative stalwarts such as Massachusetts Democrat Edward M.

Teddy

Kennedy, a liberal lion, and South Carolina Republican Strom Thurmond, a conservative segregationist.

His rise in influence on the committee coincided with President Reagan's administration. Some of his clashes over the president's nominees centered on civil rights. In 1986, for instance, he helped block Jeff Sessions from a federal judgeship because of the future attorney general's racially insensitive comments and allegations he improperly prosecuted civil rights leaders in Alabama.

But a broader fight was brewing over judicial philosophy. Reagan's attorney general, Edwin Meese III, laid down the marker in 1985 that the administration would advance the theory of "original intent," in which judges would narrowly interpret the Constitution based on the understanding of the framers. The philosophy left little room for rights not expressly articulated in the Constitution, such as a right to privacy, and liberals feared it would threaten much of the civil rights gains of the preceding decades.

When Antonin Scalia  one of the most prominent advocates of the theory  was up for confirmation to the Supreme Court in 1986, Biden and fellow Democrats put up little fight, aiming their efforts instead on stopping William H. Rehnquist from ascending to chief justice. They failed to do so.

Biden and his staff knew the ideological battle was just getting started when he became committee chairman in 1987. Being in the majority posed its own challenges: Biden had to corral Democrats who ranged from progressives such as Kennedy to conservative Southern Democrats, in addition to moderate Republicans who could be coaxed to cross party lines.

"That was no easy feat," said Nan Aron, president of Alliance for Justice, a progressive judicial advocacy group.

The high-profile post provided a springboard for Biden's first presidential run, and his two roles  candidate and chairman  collided in the summer of 1987, when Reagan nominated Robert Bork, a conservative judge and a godfather of originalism, to replace Lewis Powell, a moderate Supreme Court justice. Adding Bork to the bench would yank the court far to the right, and Biden had warned the White House that the nomination would meet fierce pushback.

Years earlier, Biden had said he was open to supporting Bork, just as he did Scalia. But now he said a deeper dive into Bork's writing pushed him to oppose the nominations on ideological grounds. It was a departure from how judicial confirmations were largely handled in the past, which centered on the nominee's legal competence and character. Biden and his allies made the argument that if the president was openly trying to shift the political tilt of the court, it was fair game for the Senate to focus on ideology as well.

Kennedy famously launched an attack from the left, warning that "Robert Bork's America" would mean a return to back-alley abortions and segregated lunch counters. Biden, meanwhile, tacked more to the center, arguing that Bork's legal theory could lead to overturning precedent that upheld a married couple's right to buy contraception.

Bork was ultimately rejected by 58 senators, including six Republicans. For Biden, the lengthy committee hearings offered a badly needed win after he abruptly dropped out of the presidential race amid a plagiarism scandal.

"It was an extraordinary seminar for those 12 days on constitutional history and constitutional interpretation," said Ralph Neas, a civil rights leader who worked closely with Biden. "It was phenomenal in terms of substance."

Conservatives saw the attack as a smear campaign and few future nominees were as expansive in sharing their political views for fear of "getting Borked."

"It was an orchestrated attack  an innovation, an escalation and most people consider it to be the start of the modern judicial wars," said Ilya Shapiro, director of the Robert A. Levy Center for Constitutional Studies at the Cato Institute, a Libertarian think tank.

Biden's allies point to the domino effect of the Bork debacle as one of his great achievements. Instead of an archconservative, Reagan ultimately nominated Anthony M. Kennedy, a moderate swing vote on the Supreme Court. Three years later, George H.W. Bush, hoping to avoid a similar battle, nominated David H. Souter, a centrist who ultimately became a reliable liberal vote.

In defeating Bork and getting Anthony Kennedy in, we preserved a moderating force on the court for 30 years, which preserved Roe v. Wade and led to the gay marriage decision, said Mark Gitenstein, chief counsel for the Judiciary Committee during that era.

Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, gestures while questioning Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas on Capitol Hill on Sept. 12, 1991. Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-S.C.) is at left. (Marcy Nighswander / Associated Press )

Biden hoped to repeat that winning formula when Bush nominated Clarence Thomas in 1991. But civil rights groups were divided on going after a Black nominee, and Thomas did not have nearly the extensive record to pick apart as Bork did.

Anita Hill's allegations against Thomas of sexual harassment threw those proceedings in further disarray. Biden infuriated Republicans by reopening the hearings to Hill's testimony, and angered liberals by not fully investigating her allegations.

Shapiro said the episode was one of total political miscalculation.

"He tried to please everybody during the Thomas hearing and ended up not pleasing anyone," he said.

Hoping to make up for the optics of an all-male panel grilling Hill on harassment, Biden recruited two newly elected female senators in 1992 to join the committee  Sens. Dianne Feinstein of California and Carol Moseley Braun of Illinois. The latter, the first Black woman elected to the Senate, was wary of the assignment at first.

"I told this joke that he did not like at all: 'You just want Anita Hill on the other side of table,'" Moseley Braun said. "He didnt think it was so funny. I thought it was hilarious."

::

The acrimony of the Bork and Thomas hearings clearly weighed on Biden; in June 1992, he gave a 90-minute speech lamenting the state of judicial nominations and portraying himself as battered by criticism from both sides of the political spectrum.

"The confirmation process has been infected by the general meanness and nastiness that pervades our political process today," he said. He also said that if a Supreme Court vacancy occurred before the upcoming presidential election, no nominee should be named until after the election, a pronouncement the GOP threw back at him when they refused to consider President Obama's nominee, Judge Merrick Garland, in 2016.

Yet for all the attention on high-profile ideological battles, the vast majority of confirmations under Biden were straightforward and short on drama.

"It's easy to look back and think the Bork nomination and then Thomas characterized that whole period, but those were the rare exceptions," said Thomas Jipping, a longtime Judiciary staffer for Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah) who now works at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank.

When Gregory Sleet was nominated in 1998 to the federal district court in Delaware by President Clinton on Biden's recommendation, he braced for a combative hearing because the GOP was in the majority. Instead, the proceedings, led by Hatch, were "anything but contentious" and he was easily confirmed as the first Black judge on that court  thanks in part, he said, to Biden's warm working relationship with the Utah senator.

"These relationships that Biden had seemed to enable him to move fairly seamlessly from one side to the other in the interest of compromise and getting things done," said Sleet, who retired from the bench in 2018. "I think that probably helped him get judges confirmed."

Allies say Biden was not particularly dogmatic in assessing judges, relying largely on a nominee's legal qualifications and background checks, and prioritizing diversity and life experience.

"He was looking for intellect and character," said Moseley Braun. "The way it was expressed was a good head and a good heart. He wasnt somebody that had an ideological litmus test."

At times, that meant siding with the GOP over members of his party. As chairman, Biden went ahead with the confirmation hearings in 1989 for Vaughn Walker, a San Francisco attorney who had been nominated by Bush to the U.S. court for the Northern District of California and supported by Pete Wilson, then the state's GOP senator.

The state's other senator, Democrat Alan Cranston, opposed the choice, but Biden allowed the confirmation vote because the White House had consulted with the two home state senators before naming Walker.

"It was a very statesman-like approach," said Walker, who later made history by ruling against Proposition 8, California's ban on same-sex marriage.

Then-U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker ruled against Proposition 8, California's ban on gay marriage. (Karl Mondon / MCT)

The notion of compromise feels like a bygone relic in this hyper-politicized era of judicial nominations. The Republican-controlled Senate confirmed the lowest percentage of federal judges in decades during the last year of the Obama-Biden administration, leaving Trump with more than 100 vacancies to fill, which he has done so at a rapid clip. Democrats have voted against those nominees at historically high rates.

That dynamic became even more combustible after Ginsburg's death. Biden, if elected, is certain to face enormous pressure from progressive groups to confirm judges and pursue more aggressive tacks, such as "court packing"  adding new justices to the high court to offset conservatives' power.

"They understand, better than any time in history, what the stakes are for the country," said Aron, the progressive judicial advocate.

Biden had said he opposed court packing; on Monday, he called it a "legitimate question" but did not take a position. In a recent speech on the Supreme Court vacancy, he made a direct appeal to Senate Republicans  some of whom he had worked with on courts decades ago  to not confirm a nominee before the election.

The current political crosswinds may test Biden's faith in interpersonal relationships and consensus-building. But those closest to him say his goals remain the same as they were decades ago: to shape a center-left judiciary, or, as Gitenstein, his former counsel, succinctly put it, "rebalance the court."

"There's nobody better equipped to do that," Gitenstein said. "He knows more about it than anybody who has ever held the presidency."
In the backyard, police found six dogs in cages that were malnourished and emaciated as well as one dog that was dead in its cage, the department said.
Attendees of Trumps Ohio campaign rally were, again, mostly not wearing masks amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Forty-three days before the November election, President Donald Trump spoke at a campaign rally just outside of Toledo, Ohio, where a crowd encouraged him to fill that seat!

The chant broke out as Trump talked off the cuff to his supporters about filling the U.S. Supreme Court seat vacated by the passing of longtime Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died last Friday.

President Donald Trump charges up the crowd Monday during a campaign rally at the Toledo Express Airport in Swanton, Ohio. (Photo by Matthew Hatcher/Getty Images)

As our nation mourns the loss of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, I will soon announce a nominee for the United States Supreme Court, he said, adding, They say its the most important thing a president can do.

We will fill that seat probably announce the person I dont want to make the men too angry, it will be a woman, he said. Its somebody that youre going to have great respect for.

Read More: Biden, Dems forewarn Obamacare overturn amid Supreme Court vacancy

CBS News White House correspondent Mark Knoller tweeted that the campaign passed out fill that seat signs to the crowd.

Trump told them that hes considering five incredible people. Reports are that federal judge Amy Coney Barrett is a frontrunner, and earlier Monday, the president indicated that Michigan federal appeals judge Joan Larsen is also on the shortlist.

Barbara Logoa, a Cuban-American Florida judge, is also said to be a potential candidate.

Read More: Pelosi says she wont rule out impeaching Trump to halt Supreme Court pick

Trump supporters at the Ohio rally were, yet again, mostly not wearing masks amid the coronavirus pandemic. This is a free country. This isnt China, one supporter told the Detroit News.

Democrats maintain that a new Supreme Court justice should not be nominated this close to a national election, especially since then-President Barack Obamas nomination of federal appeals court judge Merrick Garland in 2016, to fill the vacancy left when conservative Justice Antonin Scalia died, was not considered by the GOP-controlled Senate for that very reason.

Story continues

Read More: Florida governor proposes felony charges for violent protesters

Trump and his supporters now maintain that if the Democrats were in power, they would make the same decision.

This is why we elected him, one supporter said outside of the rally Monday afternoon. So, yeah, we absolutely want it done.

Have you subscribed to theGrios Dear Culture podcast? Download our newest episodes now!

The post Crowd chants fill that seat at Ohio rally as Trump reaffirms court plans appeared first on TheGrio.
In a paper published Friday by the Journal of the American Medical Association, Virginia Commonwealth University researchers released data showing an alarming surge in opioid-related overdoses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nonfatal opioid overdose visits to the VCU Medical Center emergency department in Richmond increased from 102 between March and June 2019 to 227 between March and June 2020. That's an increase of 123%.

The overdose increase occurred during a time when the emergency room was experiencing a lower-than-average number of visits overall. March through June visits in 2020 were down 29% from the same time last year.

The study's lead author, Taylor Ochalek, Ph.D., a postdoctoral research fellow at the VCU C. Kenneth and Dianne Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research, analyzed the 2019 and 2020 data from VCU Medical Center's emergency department.

"Social isolation, job loss, the inaccessibility of community resources -- these could all contribute to the overdoses we're observing," said Ochalek, who works in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the VCU School of Medicine.

Ochalek also examined demographic information for the opioid overdose patients. For both years, the patients mostly were male (70% in 2019 and 73% in 2020), and nearly half were uninsured (40% in 2019 and 44% in 2020). But the percentage of Black patients increased: from 63% in 2019 to 80% in 2020.

Health disparities have been magnified during the pandemic. I hope this study provides a baseline of data for future research into reasons for the increase, mitigation efforts, longitudinal outcomes for patients and further overdose data." Taylor Ochalek, PhD, Study Lead Author and Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, VCU School of Medicine

"This data is from the Richmond area, but it confirms what we're hearing anecdotally from across the U.S.," said F. Gerard Moeller, M.D., director of the Wright Center and director of the VCU Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies. "The pandemic is more than a crisis of one disease. Its ripple effects will be felt for some time in the form of secondary health impacts like addiction."

Collaborators on Ochalek's study are Kirk Cumpston, D.O., a professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine; Brandon Wills, D.O., an associate professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine; Tamas Gal, Ph.D., director of research informatics at the Wright Center; and Moeller.

"The numbers in this study are alarming, and it's important that health providers and community partners know what we're facing," said Peter Buckley, M.D., interim CEO of VCU Health System, interim senior vice president of VCU Health Sciences and dean of the School of Medicine. "Studies like these will guide us in providing the best possible care to the Richmond community."

VCU Health provides referrals to treatment resources, such as clinics, rehabilitation centers and clinical trials, that direct overdose patients into individualized care. A majority receive prescriptions for naloxone, an overdose-reversal drug.
The future of the Affordable Care Act -- under which hundreds of thousands of Illinois residents gained health insurance -- has become more uncertain with the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a case challenging the law, also known as Obamacare, Nov. 10. In the past, the court has upheld the law by a narrow margin, with Ginsburg voting to support it. Her death increases the chance that the court could rule in a way that would invalidate or weaken the law.

This really, in some ways, puts a bulls-eye on the Affordable Care Act, said Audra Wilson, president and CEO of the Shriver Center on Poverty Law in Chicago. The timing could not be worse because theres so much at risk for the average American.

Many Illinois residents rely on programs created under the law, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic, as many people have lost their jobs and their accompanying health insurance.

Under the Affordable Care Act, Illinois expanded Medicaid to low-income, able-bodied adults. Previously, only low-income people with disabilities, children or certain circumstances qualified for Medicaid coverage. Now, its available to people without children or disabilities, with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty level.

As of last year, 570,000 Illinois adults had coverage because of the Medicaid expansion.

The health care law also led to the creation of healthcare.gov, a marketplace where people can buy health insurance plans that must cover items including maternity care, prescription drugs, hospital stays and mental health services. Most people who buy plans on the marketplace qualify for tax credits, based on their incomes, to help offset the often high costs of those plans.

About 288,000 people in Illinois bought health insurance through the marketplace last year.

The wide-ranging law led to changes for people with employer-based health insurance, such as allowing children to stay on their parents' plans until the age of 26 and prohibiting insurers from capping the amounts theyll pay to cover medical expenses. The law also made preventive care, such as health screenings, flu shots, breastfeeding supplies and contraception, free to those with insurance.

And it prohibited plans offered under the Affordable Care Act from refusing coverage based on preexisting conditions.

Illinois has its own law prohibiting health insurers from denying coverage because of preexisting conditions, but that law doesnt apply to many plans offered by large employers.

I think its really important to understand its not just the marketplaces, its the entire health care system, said Timothy Jost, a professor emeritus at Washington and Lee University in Virginia and an expert on the Affordable Care Act, of whats at stake in the case. There isnt a single part of the health care system, I dont believe, that hasnt been affected by the Affordable Care Act.

The case going before the Supreme Court in November looks at the questions of whether the requirement that everyone buy insurance or pay a penalty is now unconstitutional, and, if it is unconstitutional, whether the rest of the law is invalid.. In 2017, Congress erased that penalty, and a group of states and two individuals argue the entire law is invalid without it.

The Trump administration has declined to defend the law after spending years trying to get rid of it. Instead, the U.S. House of Representatives and a different group of 20 states and the District of Columbia, including Illinois, are defending the Affordable Care Act before the Supreme Court. They argue that the law should stand, even without the penalty in place.

Before the matter arrived at the Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit said the mandate to buy insurance is unconstitutional and sent the case back to a district court to decide which parts of the Affordable Care Act cant stand without the penalty in place.

Ginsburgs death makes it more likely that the Supreme Court might side with the states who want to see the entire law struck down, Jost said. Its also possible, if a new justice is not in place by Nov. 10, that the eight remaining justices might reach a tie vote. If theres a tie, the 5th Circuits decision to send the case back to the district court would stand.

Its also possible that the Supreme Court might uphold the law, he said. Or, if Joe Biden wins the presidency and Democrats take the Senate, they could make changes to the law that would render the case moot, he said.

Regardless of any court decision, people need not worry about losing their coverage immediately, experts say.

By contract, insurance companies must continue to cover people who signed up for coverage through healthcare.gov for certain amounts of time, said Michael Cannon, director of health policy studies at the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank. Medicaid expansion also wouldnt disappear immediately as states would have to take action to decide what to do if the Affordable Care Act were invalidated, he said.

Illinois law requires that the states Medicaid expansion end within three months of federal funding dropping below a certain level.

ACA supporters are also going overboard by acting like its going to be immediate chaos if the court strikes down the ACA, Cannon said. Cannon is a longtime opponent of the Affordable Care Act, but he believes the case going before the Supreme Court is meritless.

People who need coverage for 2021 should still sign up for plans at healthcare.gov, said Stephani Becker, associate director for health care justice at the Shriver Center.

When people enroll for 2021 insurance, they will still have that insurance regardless of the law because what theyre buying is a contract for a year, Becker said.

Open enrollment on healthcare.gov usually begins Nov. 1 and runs through mid-December.

PHOTOS: Have you seen these missing Illinois children?

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Sanjay Gupta has spent the majority of his professional life in the public eye. From working as an adviser to the White House to his work as a correspondent on CNN, Gupta has become a familiar face in many circles. The pandemic has only served to heighten his presence in the media, as outlets look for experts to explain what is happening.

But behind the scenes, Gupta shares his life with an extraordinary woman. His wife is a very important source of support to him  and shes pretty impressive in her own right.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta | Noam Galai/Getty Images

Sanjay Guptas busy career

According to Britannica, Gupta was born in Michigan in 1969, and by the time he was 20, he was writing articles about health care issues. These caught the attention of the then-governor of Arkansas, Bill Clinton. When Clinton became president, he gave Gupta a fellowship to come work as a special adviser to Hillary, helping her write speeches on health care.

He later returned to the University of Michigan to complete his degree in neurosurgery. As a doctor, he held a faculty position in the neurosurgery department at Emory University and worked as a neurosurgeon at Grady Memorial Hospital.

In 2001, Gupta joined CNNs medical news team. In that position, he has covered such issues as the September 11 terror attacks, the Iraq war (where he performed brain surgery on wounded soldiers), the AIDS epidemic, and Hurricane Katrina.

His work focused on public health

RELATED: Is Alec Baldwin Related to CNN Anchor Brooke Baldwin?

Its fair to say that much of Guptas professional life has focused on public health issues. Through his work with CNN, many scientific publications, and a number of books hes written, Gupta has learned and taught a great deal on the subject, from obesity to the Bird Flu.

Given his lifelong passion for public health, its probably no surprise that he has a lot to say about the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Last month he wrote on the CNN website that he didnt think that it was safe to send students back to school in person. Based on the infection rates where he lives and his understanding of the disease, he and his wife decided they would have their kids do distance learning. And that was not a popular decision at home.

Guptas wife supports him

Earn the Necklace reports that in 2004, Gupta married his wife, Rebecca. The two attended the same high school and college, and the happy couple went on to have three daughters. The girls are 15, 13, and 11, and according to WTOP, they are not thrilled with their dads work these days.

I think theres a sense of, Gosh, if Dad didnt talk about it so much, maybe it wouldnt be so bad,' Gupta says. But even if his daughters are frustrated with him, Rebecca has his back. She says that she worries about how hard hes pushing himself during this crisis, but she also understands that his focus is typical of his dedication.

Although shes a supportive wife to a very successful person, dont assume that Rebecca isnt accomplished in her own right. As Gupta made his way through medical school, Rebecca was conquering law school. Today she is an attorney, specializing in family law.

Medical professionals like Gupta are on the front lines in many ways during this unprecedented health crisis. Hopefully, all those who are working so hard have such capable spouses supporting them. And with Gupta and Rebecca working as a team, their daughters will almost certainly accept what he has to say about the virus someday.
A woman arrested by US authorities on suspicion of mailing ricin-filled envelopes to President Donald Trump and to six individuals in Texas was due to appear before a federal judge in Buffalo, New York, on Tuesday.

The suspect, identified in court documents as Pascale Cecile Veronique Ferrier, 53, a resident of Canada's Quebec province, was charged with making threats against the president of the United States.

The envelope addressed to Trump was intercepted on Friday at the White House mail sorting facility in Washington, D.C., where US Postal Service personnel flagged it as suspicious and contacted the FBI, according to an FBI affidavit filed with the charging documents.

Government laboratory analysis of a white powdery substance contained in the envelope found it tested positive for the highly toxic poison ricin, the affidavit said.

The affidavit also said that the letter contained a message to Trump that read, in part: "I found a new name for you: 'The Ugly Tyrant Clown.' I hope you like it. You ruin USA and lead them to disaster."

The message referred to the poison in the envelope as a "special gift," adding that if it didn't work, the sender might find a "better recipe for another poison" or resort to using a gun, according to the affidavit.

The affidavit accuses Ferrier of mailing six similar letters from Canada to Texas addressed to individuals working at prisons or detention centres where she had been incarcerated in 2019. It was not clear from the court documents whether any of those envelopes reached their intended destination. Ferrier was not charged in connection with them.

U.S. authorities arrested Ferrier on the Canada-U.S. border on Sunday, at the so-called Peace Bridge that runs between Fort Erie, Ontario, and Buffalo. According to the FBI affidavit, she told US Customs and Border Protection officers that she was "wanted by the FBI for the ricin letters," and was found to be carrying a loaded firearm in her waistband, as well as a knife.

Canadian police on Monday searched an apartment in a Montreal suburb linked to the suspect. She has joint Canadian and French citizenship, two sources said.

She was due to make her initial court appearance before US Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder Jr. at 4 p.m.

So far no evidence that she is linked to political, or extremist groups have been uncovered, law enforcement sources said. Ricin is found naturally in castor beans, and turning it into a biological weapon would take a deliberate act. Ricin can cause death within 36 to 72 hours from exposure to an amount as small as a pinhead. No known antidote exists to reverse its toxic effects.
Kate McCann, whose daughter Madeleine went missing during a family holiday to Portugal in 2007, attends a news conference at the launch of her book in London, UK, on May 12, 2011. (Chris Helgren/Reuters)

Material Evidence Exists That Missing Madeleine McCann Died, German Official Says

German prosecutors claimed that there is material evidence that Madeleine McCann, the missing UK girl who disappeared in 2007, is dead.

Speaking to broadcaster RTP on Tuesday, Braunschweig public prosecutor, Hans Christian Wolters, said investigators had evidence the girl who went missing in Portugal more than 13 years ago had died.

When Wolters was asked whether there is any material evidence that Madeleine died, he replied, Yes.

The RTP presenter then asked him: What evidence do you have for her death? Do you have a tape? He did not elaborate on what evidence was acquired in the case.

Wolters refused to give any more details and said, I cant say anything about what we have.

Madeleine McCann in a file photo. (AP Photo)

Earlier this year, Wolters told media outlets that he believed the girl was dead and identified convicted sex offender Christian Brueckner as the prime suspect in the case. Brueckner is currently serving a sentence on an unrelated charge of drug trafficking.

All I can say is this [is] like a puzzle and there are many pieces that lead us to believe Christian B is responsible, Wolters said.

His lawyer, Friedrich Fulscher, told The Sun tabloid on Monday that he has evidence Brueckner is innocent.

Wolters, meanwhile, said this week that Brueckner is being investigated for allegedly raping an Irish woman in Algarve, Portugal, in 2004.

A police mug shot of Christian Bruckner (also Brueckner), a suspect in the disappearance of three-year-old Madeleine McCann, in 2018 in Milan where Brueckner was arrested and extradited to Germany for the rape he is currently imprisoned for. (Carabinieri Milano via Getty Images)

Police broadcasted a televised appeal for information in June in the hope that members of the public might turn up evidence needed to bring charges in the McCann case. Since then, police in Britain and Germany have received hundreds of tips, Wolters said at the time.

Our investigation has turned up some evidence that was reason enough for us to go to the public, but it is an open secret that our suspicions are not firm enough to issue an arrest warrant, he said.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Netherlands Cancels Corporate Tax Rate Cut

by Ulrika Lomas, Tax-News.com, Brussels

22 September 2020

The Dutch Government has decided to cancel a planned decrease in the corporate tax rate in its 2021 Tax Plan.

The Tax Plan, announced on September 15, 2020, maintains the headline corporate tax rate at 25 percent. This reverses a previous proposal, announced in November 2019, to reduce corporate tax to 21.7 percent in 2021. However, corporate tax for small companies will be cut from 16.5 to 15 percent as previously planned. This will apply from 2021 on profits up to EUR245,000 (USD290,000), up from EUR200,000 currently. This threshold will increase further, to EUR395,000, in 2022.

The Tax Plan will reduce the scope for companies to offset losses from 2021, while the rules surrounding hybrid mismatch arrangements will be tightened. The Government also intends to explore changes that will make the tax treatment of debt and equity more equal, which could entail a strengthening of the limitation on the deduction of interest expenses.

The Tax Plan also includes plans for a carbon tax from January 1, 2021, at an initial rate of EUR30 per tonne. This will apply to industrial production and waste incineration and will increase at a rate of EUR10.56 per year until 2030, when the tax will reach EUR125 per tonne of carbon dioxide emitted.

A key personal income tax measure in the Tax Plan is a proposal to increase the tax rate on savings and investment income ("box 3" income) from 30 to 31 percent from 2021. However, a tax exemption will be provided for savers with assets of up to EUR50,000. Further, the basic income tax rate will fall from 37.35 to 37.10 percent in 2021.

Finally, the tax allowance for self-employed taxpayers will be reduced at a faster rate than originally planned so that it reaches EUR3,240 in 2036, instead of EUR5,000 by 2028. However, the Government says that the effect of this measure will be offset by improvements to the employment tax credit and changes to the income tax rate.
By Online Desk

India's COVID-19 case crossed the 55-lakh mark with a spike of 75,083 new cases and 1,053 deaths in last 24 hours, according to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Monday.

The total case tally now stands at 55, 62,664 including 9,75,861 active cases, 44,97,868 cured/discharged/migrated and 88,935 deaths, Health Ministry's latest update informed.

Meanwhile, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan earlier assured the Lok Sabha that the Central government is not waiting for an "act of God" in fight against the virus but instead working round-the-clock to ensure that a vaccine is made available by the beginning of 2021.

The Minister's assurance came on Monday when he was speaking in the Lok Sabha in a late night discussion of the passage of the Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Bill, 2020 which promises protection to frontline workers, including healthcare professionals.
Donald Trump has outsourced his Middle East policy to his son-in-law, Jared Kushner. At best, it would be a waste of time, as Kushner had no experience in foreign policy. At worst, he will use this opportunity to line his own pockets.

That was one of the many lines of attacks waged by the mainstream media on President Trump. Why is amateur Kushner in the White House at all? they asked indignantly.

Then something unexpected happened: the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain announced peace deals with Israel. This good news for the world was bad news for the media. The news was reported  well, kind of  but no one acknowledged that miserable failure of the media's gloomy predictions.

Here is how John Kerry, a seasoned professional, lectured his audience in a professorial tone of voice in 2016:

"There will be no separate peace between Israel and the Arab world," Kerry began at a speaking engagement. "I want to make that very clear with all of you. I've heard several prominent politicians in Israel sometimes saying, 'Well, the Arab world is in a different place now. We just have to reach out to them. We can work some things with the Arab world and we'll deal with the Palestinians.' No. No, no, and no." He continued, "I can tell you that, reaffirmed within the last week because I've talked to the leaders of the Arab community, there will be no advanced and separate peace with the Arab world without the Palestinian process and Palestinian peace. Everybody needs to understand that. That is a hard reality."

Apparently, Kushner did not receive Kerry's memo, and borrowing from Star Trek, he boldly went where no man has gone before. Those who "have not gone there before" included other experienced secretaries of state, such as Colin Powell and Hillary Clinton. It took amateur Kushner to succeed, and that was a bitter pill for CNN and the Washington Post to swallow.

Actually, it was not quite correct that John Kerry totally failed to make peace between Israel and Arab countries. Kerry was instrumental in making a nuclear deal between the West and Iran. That deal was so bad that it put the Arab Gulf States and Israel into the same camp, which eventually led to peace between them. Therefore, it was a success (alas, inadvertently) achieved by Kerry.

Faced with the reality of this new peace deal, the establishment politicians took to belittling it. Nancy Pelosi called it a distraction from the pandemic. Interestingly enough, there was a time when the pandemic was called a distraction from the impeachment. In math, if X is less than Y and Y is less than Z, then X is less than Z. This fact is called the transitive property of inequalities. Applying this property to our situation, if the peace deal is a distraction from the pandemic and the pandemic is a distraction from the impeachment, then the peace deal is a distraction from the impeachment. The mysteries of the world are fascinating.

Image credit: U.S. Embassy Jerusalem via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0.
If you walk around the South Loop, youll likely run into some of Shermans artwork. She wrapped a bike rack outside the White Palace Grill in a red and white striped scarf and attached little knitted fried eggs and strips of knitted bacon. She yarn bombed another bike rack on South Wabash Avenue in a black and red and gray scarf and attached BLM (Black Lives Matter) to the top. She covers those old pet waste bag dispensers that hang on light posts in jaunty little hats with violets springing from their tops. She wraps tree trunks and branches.
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday said in the United Nations General Assembly that China would never seek expansion and does not have the intention to fight a cold or hot war with any country.

Xi said, China is the largest developing country in the world and committed to peaceful, open, cooperative and common development. We will never seek hegemony, expansion or sphere of influence. Weve no intention to fight either cold war or a hot one with any country." Xi Jinping was speaking in a pre-recorded speech at the 75th UNGA debate.

He added that China will continue to narrow differences and resolve disputes with others through dialogue and negotiations.

On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro also spoke in the UNGA.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told on Monday said that the pandemic has exposed the worlds fragilities. He plans to tell world leaders on Monday that they need to work together at a time when there is a surplus of multilateral challenges and deficit of solutions.

The 15-member Security Council took months to back a call by Guterres for a global ceasefire  to allow countries to focus on fighting Covid-19  due to bickering between the worlds biggest powers: China and the United States.

The 193-member General Assembly only adopted an omnibus resolution on a comprehensive and coordinated response to the pandemic earlier this month and it was not by consensus. The United States and Israel voted no.

A $10.3 billion UN appeal to fund fighting the pandemic in vulnerable and low-income countries is only a quarter funded. Guterres now has taken a lead in pushing to make sure any vaccine for the coronavirus is made available to everyone globally.

(With Reuters inputs)
BROOKFIELD  School days are already different due to the COVID-19 pandemic  but for Huckleberry Hill Elementary School students and staff, Monday morning was particularly unusual.

Around 11:30 a.m., the school building on Candlewood Lake Road was cleared out after a fire broke out inside an outdoor dumpster.
Irish pubs reopened after a six-month shutdown on Monday but many in the capital Dublin remained under heightened coronavirus restrictions because of a surge of infections.

In the Boomerang Bar in Bray, County Wicklow, south of Dublin, customers returned in droves by lunchtime to end a half-year dry spell.

"Some people have actually taken the day off work," said Sandie Stanley, who owns and runs the pub with husband Derek.

"They've planned to be here to celebrate with us on our first day reopening, which is really, really lovely," she told AFP.

Inside, around 30 customers sipped pints at tables topped with bottles of hand sanitiser.

Staff served in face visors and blue polo shirts backed with the motto "physically distancing, socially connecting".

Bray is an upmarket coastal commuter town on the County Dublin boundary and Stanley said eager Dubliners have been in contact, willing to commute for a round of drinks.

"We're fully booked this evening," she added.

- Dry spell -

All of Ireland's 7,000 pubs were shut by government order on March 16 -- the eve of the national St Patrick's Day celebrations -- as the country was locked down.

On June 29, those serving food were permitted to reopen but so-called "wet pubs" providing drinks only stayed shut.

Last week, the government confirmed that while all pubs nationwide were permitted to open on Monday, Dublin's drinking-only establishments would remain shuttered.

On the streets of Dublin's Temple Bar area -- a popular haunt packed with pubs -- cleaning crews found little evidence of weekend revelry to sanitise.

Some bars have been boarded up for months, their plyboard coverings now marked with graffiti.

Others bear social distancing signage, indicating they managed to open for business before the latest tightening of restrictions.

Dublin is facing tougher controls than the rest of Ireland because of an increase in new infections.

Story continues

Prime minister Micheal Martin ordered Dubliners not to cross county lines, except for "work, education and other essential purposes".

Indoor gatherings were also banned and household visits limited.

"Despite people's best efforts over recent weeks, we are in a very dangerous place," he said in a national televised address last week.

"There's a very real threat that Dublin could return to the worst days of this crisis."

- Ripple effect -

Under the new measures, which are in place for three weeks, only pubs hosting outdoor diners or selling takeaway food are permitted to serve the 1.3 million residents of Dublin city and county.

Willie Aherne, the owner and manager of The Palace Bar, will try to scrape by on the new government terms by having up to 15 customers on his terrace.

Three other publicans he knows are not so lucky and are "pulling out their hair" after being shut down, he said.

"It's the ripple effect of this," he explained. "It's the butcher that delivers the meat, the fruit and veg man, it's the knock-on effect."

A total of 1,792 people have died in Ireland's coronavirus outbreak, according to latest department of health figures.

Daily deaths peaked at 77 in mid-April and have remained in single digits in recent weeks however the nation is witnessing a resurgence in new infections.

Health service data on Saturday showed Dublin's 14-day incidence rate per 100,000 people at roughly double the nationwide figure.

jts/phz/bp
ORLANDO, Fla. - With the number of U.S. households counted topping 95%, there is no reason for a judge to order the U.S. Census Bureau to extend by a month the head count of every U.S. resident, government attorneys said Tuesday.

Plaintiffs claims of harm in this matter are rapidly evaporating, the government attorneys said in court papers ahead of a virtual court hearing in San Jose, California, over whether the 2020 census should stop Sept. 30 or continue through Oct. 31.

Census Bureau officials say they are on target to meet their goal of reaching at least 99% of U.S. households by the end of the month. But a coalition of cities, counties and civil rights groups have sued the statistical agency and the Department of Commerce in an effort to extend the 2020 census for another month, saying the shortened schedule will miss minority communities.

Attorneys for the coalition said in court papers Tuesday that the decision to shorten the schedule was forced on the bureau. Bureau officials knew the shortened scheduled would risk accuracy in the count and was impossible to do right.

In an internal email sent to other top Census Bureau officials in late July, Tim Olson, associate director for field operations, said the bureau was having trouble deploying census takers because people are afraid to work for us.

And this means it is ludicrous to think we can complete 100% of the nations data collection earlier than 10/31 ... Olson said in the email that was released into the court record Tuesday.

Anyone who thinks that the Census Bureau can turn in numbers used for figuring out how many congressional seats each state gets by the end of the year has either a mental deficiency or a political motivation, Olson said.

The judge in the San Jose case earlier this month issued a temporary restraining order prohibiting the Census Bureau from winding down 2020 census operations until she could issue a ruling. Plaintiffs in the San Jose case allege the decision to shorten the schedule was made to accommodate a directive from President Donald Trump. Trumps order tried to exclude people in the country illegally from being included in the numbers used for deciding how many congressional seats each state gets in a process known as apportionment.

There is a complete lineup in timing between the presidential memo and the decision to cut short the census, said Melissa Sherry, an attorney for the coalition, during Tuesdays hearing.

Blaming the presidential memorandum for the shortened census schedule was improper, said government attorney Alexander Sverdlov.

A three-judge panel in New York blocked Trumps directive earlier this month, saying it was unlawful. The Trump administration on Tuesday asked the Supreme Court for fast action on its appeal.

U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh said during Tuesdays hearing that it was clear that Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, whose agency oversees the Census Bureau, played a critical role in the decision to shorten the schedule.

Before the coronavirus pandemic hit in March, the bureau had planned to complete the 2020 census by the end of July. In response to the pandemic, it extended the deadline to the end of October. That changed to the end of September after the Republican-controlled Senate failed to take up a request from the Census Bureau to extend the deadline for turning over the numbers used for apportionment. As a result, government attorneys say the Census Bureau has no choice but to finish the count by Sept. 30.

The census helps determine how $1.5 trillion in federal spending is distributed annually and how many congressional seats each state gets.

In their court papers Tuesday, the government attorneys said the census operations were being harmed by the temporary restraining order. If Koh agrees with the plaintiffs to issue an order mandating the extra month for the census, it should be suspended while the Census Bureau appeals, the government attorneys said.

At the end of Tuesdays hearing, Koh said she would issue a decision in two days and blamed any delays in a ruling on the governments failure to produce requested documents in a timely manner. When Sverdlov asked the judge to make a decision from the bench so the government could start the appeal process, Koh cut him off. Moments earlier, Koh noted that only four states had reached the 99% goal so far. Those states are Idaho, West Virginia, Hawaii and Maine.

Four out of 50 states have reached the threshold, Koh said. Why is the bureau insisting on ending data collection in eight days?

___

Follow Mike Schneider on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MikeSchneiderAP
Ahmedabad: India and Israel on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to initiate a bilateral program in a bid to accelerate innovation and technology cooperation between start-ups and corporates from both countries. The aim of this program is to bring together Israeli and Indian entrepreneurs and startups to collaborate on innovative projects.

The MoU was signed between Israels Start-Up Nation Central and Indias International Centre for Entrepreneurship and Technology (iCreate). iCreate was established in 2012 to create a hi-tech start-up ecosystem. It has been working with Israeli universities and accelerators from the year of its foundation. The new campus of iCreate was inaugurated by Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 17, 2018.

iCreate and Start-Up Nation Central will initiate a unique Online Acceleration Program for market penetration to work with relevant technologies that match up with requirements originating from Indian corporations.

"The program will begin by defining a set of challenges that will then be shortlisted to the most relevant solutions and technology providers. This will be followed by a matchmaking mechanism that will be developed by leveraging both countries' networks to support the process of adaptation and piloting these solutions in India," read a statement by the Embassy of Israel.

The Israel-India growing partnership has developed into a strategic partnership in recent years, and since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the two countries have collaborated on a number of joint ventures such as Operation Open Skies and the integration of Israeli medical equipment and technologies in Indian hospitals.

Ambassador of Israel to India, Dr Ron Malka said, Today we close a circle. A circle that started in 2018 when PM Modi and PM Netanyahu inaugurated this important incubator, iCreate, and now, two years later, we are signing, on the very spot where they stood, an MoU on innovation between Israels Start-Up Nation Central and Indias iCreate."

"This agreement is an important milestone in the growing innovation collaboration between Israel and India and stands in line with the visions of the Prime Ministers. Israel has the most startups per capita worldwide, and India is the top innovation destination in Asia. Together, both countries continue to form partnerships and collaborations in technology and innovation to solve a range of global issues like COVID 19, renewable energy, and more, implementing high-end technologies like AI, big data analysis, and more, Malka added.

This MOU is an important step in realizing the potential of the India-Israel relations in the field of innovative technologies, said Proffesor Eugene Kandel, CEO of Start-Up Nation Central. Im confident this partnership will pave the way for more Israeli startups to collaborate with Indian organizations and firms to develop and implement cutting-edge Israeli technologies that address India's and the world's most pressing needs. We look forward to collaborating with i-Create, identifying Israeli partners to jointly develop solutions to the current challenges in India.

The MoU was signed by Prof. Eugene Kandel, CEO of Start-Up Nation Central from Jerusalem, and Anupam Jalote, CEO of iCreate from Ahmedabad. Professor Vijay Raghavan, Principal Scientific Advisor to Government of India was present in the event through video-conferencing, while Dr. Ron Malka, Israels Ambassador to India and Yaakov Finkelstein, Israels Consul General in Mumbai were physically present. Others who were present virtually were Sanjeev Kumar Singla, Indias Ambassador to Israel. Chief Minister of Gujarat, Vijay Rupani sent his best wishes through a video message.

Start-Up Nation Central is an independent non-profit organization that builds bridges to Israeli innovation. Start-Up Nation Central connects business, government, and NGO leaders from around the world to Israeli innovation that can help them answer their most pressing needs.The organization allows free access to Finder, Start-Up Nation Centrals online discovery platform that maps more than 6,600 Israeli start-Ups and Hi-tech companies, including in-depth insights about Israels innovation sector.

The partnership between the two entities was established with the encouragement and support of the Embassy of Israel to New Delhi and the Governments of India and Gujarat, in the hope of achieving the full adaptation of technologies and collaborative business models that will form the basis of long term, a sustainable collaboration between the innovation and startup ecosystems of both nations.
A top Russian official said today his government will pursue military cooperation with Iran once the United Nations arms embargo on the Middle Eastern country expires in October.

New opportunities will emerge in our cooperation with Iran after the special regime imposed by UN Security Council Resolution 2231 expires on Oct. 18, said Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, according to Russias Interfax news agency. Ryabkov did not elaborate on the nature of the cooperation.

Why it matters: The move is a poke in the eye to the United States, which proved unable last month to convince even its closest allies in the UN Security Council to renew the international arms embargo on Iran, despite Tehrans expanded conventional ballistic missile program and support for militias in regional conflicts.

The United States says it has triggered a snapback of UN sanctions in response to the failure to renew the arms embargo. On Sunday, however, France, Germany and the United Kingdom said the unilateral re-imposition had no legal validity.

Russia has argued that because the United States pulled out of the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran in 2018, Washington is not eligible to reimpose sanctions on Tehran.

The Trump administration insists the move is binding because the United States remains a signatory of UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which put the nuclear deal into force.

Whats next: Irans Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif is headed to Moscow on Thursday to meet with Sergey Lavrov, the Kremlins foreign minister.

On Monday, top US officials including Secretary State Mike Pompeo and Defense Secretary Mark Esper unveiled a slew of new measures designed to dissuade international businesses and foreign governments from cooperating with Tehran on future military endeavors.

Zarif said on Monday the US efforts would prove futile.

Know more: Ben Caspit writes that Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz visit to Washington today is aimed at solidifying Washingtons resolve amid fears that Iranian leaders may prove willing to meet a future Joe Biden administration at the negotiating table.
But Afghanistan is not widely accepting of this mystical interpretation, and Sufism as well as dancing and singing were both rejected by the Taliban. Many Afghan women are wary of the Taliban returning to power in some form as part of a future peace deal, recalling the years of oppression under a strict form of Islamic law. But even in todays Afghanistan, women and men dancing together in public is mostly rejected as being against the countrys culture, traditions and religious beliefs.
A Colombian student who died when a car allegedly hit her motorcycle has been remembered as 'playful and happy'.

Maria Alejandra Landazabal Contreras was waiting at a red light in Moorebank, south-west Sydney, when a Honda HR-V allegedly struck her from behind about 11.35pm on Saturday.

The 27-year-old was rushed to Liverpool Hospital with severe head and internal injuries but died the next morning.

Maria Alejandra Landazabal Contreras (pictured) died on Sunday after a Saturday night crash

The Honda HR-V (pictured) allegedly hit Ms Contreras's motorcycle (right) about 11.35pm on Saturday

Ms Contreras moved from Colombia to Sydney earlier this year and was staying with host Rosa Rutte in Engadine, where she helped care for Ms Rutte's twin daughters.

'She made an instant connection with my daughters and reminded me of myself when I came to Australia as a student,' Ms Rutte told The Daily Telegraph.

'She had a kid's soul, she will play with my daughter hide and seek, she do their nails and their hairs (sic), she prepared delicious desserts.'

Ms Rutte said Ms Contreras's death was 'still very surreal for all of us' saying she had her whole life ahead of her.

'She had so many dreams to fulfil. She loved travelling, she was planning to travel through Asia while she was studying in Australia.'

Ms Contreras moved from Colombia to Sydney earlier this year and was staying with host Rosa Rutte and her family in Engadine

Ms Contreras has been remembered as 'playful and happy' following her tragic death

Police allege Wilbert Gabrielle Guevara, 32, from Doonside, was behind the wheel of the SUV which hit Ms Contreras.

He has been charged with dangerous driving occasioning death  drive in a manner dangerous, negligent driving occasioning death, not stop at red light and drive whilst disqualified.

Guevara was due to appear in Liverpool Local Court on Tuesday but is still in hospital being treated for his injuries.

The matter will return to court on September 28 as a report is prepared for the coroner.
Bamako, Mali (PANA) - Celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of Mali's independence was marked on Tuesday by a parade at the Place d'Armes du genie militaire in Bamako, under the chairmanship of the president of the National Committee for the Salvation of the People (CNSP), the junta that seized power on 18 August, Colonel Assimi Goita
National

India & China stick to demands; talks end in stalemate

New Delhi, Sep 22 ( AGENCIES) | Publish Date: 9/22/2020 12:03:27 PM IST

The first-ever military-diplomatic talks between India and China Monday ended in a stalemate with both sides sticking to their stances, Reports ThePrint.

According to sources in the defence and security establishment, while the Indian delegation refused to comply with the Chinese armys demand to pull out from the southern banks of the Pangong Tso, the Chinese declined Indias emphasis on disengagement at all friction points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh.

During the 14-hour talks Monday, sources said, China refused to budge from its demand that Indian troops pull back from areas that the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) considers their own.

Both sides presented their demands. China wanted us to withdraw from the southern banks. Our demand has been the same from day one  disengagement has to happen on all friction areas simultaneously, a source said.

China has been peeved by Indias move on the intervening night of 29-30 August, when specialised units along with regular soldiers outflanked the Chinese and occupied crucial heights along the southern bank of the Pangong Tso.

The continued stalemate indicates that tensions between the two Asian giants, which began in April, are likely to continue through the winter. There are also fears that current positions could be the new status quo for quite some time.

Forward deployment through the regions freezing winter will be a first for India and China, which have posted a large numbers of troops near the LAC in Ladakh backed by artillery, tanks and other equipment.

However, sources added, both sides have agreed to continue with the talks at a later stage.

Diplomatic sources said, like the dialogue Monday, all future meetings between India and China on the matter will include officials from the military as well as the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). This, they said, is to ensure that the Chinese do not get an opportunity to say that Indian diplomats and Army officials speak in different voices.
Syracuse, N.Y.  Filling out a New York absentee ballot isnt complicated  yet a written message on the ballot or signing in the wrong place can disqualify your votes, elections commissioners said.

The mailing of the absentee ballots for the Nov. 3 elections began last weekend.

The first wave of those ballots should land in mailboxes this week. (Theres still time to request an absentee ballot. See below.)

When you open your absentee ballot mailer in New York state, youll find three things:

The ballot

A ballot or affirmation envelope

A return envelope

The two most common mistakes? Forgetting to sign in the correct spot and forgetting to seal the ballot inside the ballot envelope, Elections Commissioner Dustin Czarny said.

Want to ensure your vote is counted? Avoid these missteps  and follow the instructions below  as you cast your absentee vote:

The instructions are on the front of the ballot envelope.Teri Weaver | tweaver@syracuse.com

Dont skip the instructions

Read the short instructions found on the front of your ballot envelope, the one that will hold your ballot.

Dont use red or other light-colored ink

Fill in the circles with blue or black pens.

It is ok if a voter uses a combo of blue and black ink on a single ballot to fill in the circles next to candidates' names, Onondaga County Election Commissioner Michele Sardo said.

Dont use any other colors, they said. The scanner might not pick it up.

Dont make any extra marks on your ballot

Any extra mark on the ballot that is deemed intentional will invalidate the ballot, Czarny said. That includes a signature, writing a message or circling the name of the candidate  instead of filling in the circle next to his or her name.

These extra marks can be used later to challenge the validity of the ballot, Czarny said.

Dont sign your ballot

Your signature is needed, but not on the ballot itself.

Instead, after voting, put your ballot inside the ballot envelope. Thats the one with the instructions on front and a box for your signature on back. This is where you sign  on the outside of this envelope that will hold your ballot.

This signature is your oath, an affirmation that you are indeed the registered voter who filled out this specific ballot. Elections workers will compare that signature on the envelope to the one on record at the Board of Elections.

This is where you sign -- on the back of the ballot envelope.Teri Weaver | tweaver@syracuse.com

Dont forget to seal the ballot envelope

Again, thats the one that contains your ballot. After sealing and signing, place this envelope inside the return envelope. Thats the one addressed to your local county Board of Elections.

Dont forget the stamp

You must provide your own postage stamp on this outer, return envelope. Only one stamp is needed, Czarny said.

Dont delay getting your ballot out the door

Why the rush? Because the coronavirus pandemic has some voters worried about voting in person while at the same time some are worried about the post offices ability to handle an onslaught of extra mail.

So get your ballot into the mail as quickly as possible, Sardo and Czarny said.

Or, they said, you can drop it off at your countys Board of Elections or during in-person voting.

Starting Monday, Sept. 21, Onondaga Countys Board of Elections office will have a secure, inside drop point for absentee ballots. You can bring your absentee ballot  or any others that are fully sealed  to the county office at 1000 Erie Blvd. W., Syracuse, at any time during work hours.

You can also drop off your ballot at any polling place during early voting, which runs Oct. 24 to Nov. 1.

You can also drop off absentee ballot at any polling place on Election Day, Nov. 3, thats within your county of residence.

The deadline to apply online, postmark, email or fax a completed application for an absentee ballot is Oct. 27. If you miss that deadline, you can still apply in person at your county Board of Elections up until Monday, Nov. 2, the day before the election.

Got a story idea or news tip youd like to share? Please contact me through email, Twitter, Facebook or at 315-470-2274.
Turkey and Greece are ready to resume talks in a bid to overcome a dispute over maritime boundaries and rights to exploit oil and gas resources, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans office said Tuesday.

The statement followed his video conference meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and European Council President Charles Michel

During the meeting, Erdogan called for a regional conference that would gather all sides involved in the dispute  including Turkish Cypriots  and said the momentum for dialogue should be protected, according to the statement.

The two neighboring NATO members have been locked in a tense standoff over energy exploitation rights in an area between Turkeys southern coast, several Greek islands and the war-divided island of Cyprus. Turkey sent a research vessel into the disputed waters this summer.

Following mediation efforts by Germany and others, Turkey pulled back the research vessel to port and both countries eased their naval presence and halted military exercises, paving the way for a dialogue.

It was not clear when and how the talks would begin. Erdogan told Merkel and Michel that steps to be taken by Greece would determine the course of the talks.

Greek-Turkish talks to resolve disputes were last held in 2016.

The Turkish leader also said he hoped that the next European Union summit would breathe new life into Turkish-EU ties, including allowing Turkish citizens visa-free travel rights to Europe and sealing a new agreement on migration.

EU members Greece and Cyprus had been pushing for EU sanctions against Turkey at the Sept. 24-25 summit meeting to due Turkey's search for energy inside Cyprus' economic zone. But the summit has been postponed for a week because Michel has gone into quarantine after a close collaborator was diagnosed with COVID-19.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, September 22, 2020 15:11 487 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c466b8cf 1 Science & Tech Google-Doodle,benyamin-sueb,Google,Betawi-culture,betawi Free

Google Indonesia has celebrated the inauguration of Benyamin Sueb Park in East Jakarta with a doodle.

Established in 2018, the park was dedicated to the late legendary, multi-talented Betawi artist Benyamin Sueb.

Born on March 5, 1939, Benyamin was known for writing more than 300 songs, including hits like Hujan Gerimis (Drizzle), Nonton Bioskop (Watching Movies) and Ondel-Ondel (Giant Effigies).

He was also famous as an actor in the 1970s, starring in over 50 films, including Intan Berduri (Thorny Diamond) and Si Doel Anak Modern (Doel the Modern Man), both of which performances earned him the Best Actor award at the Indonesian Film Festival.

The doodle, created by Indonesian artist Isa Indra Permana, features the man himself, wearing a plain white T-shirt with a sarong on his shoulders, and several elements that are closely related to him, such as ondel-ondel, film rolls and a musical instrument.

I was inspired by some of Benyamin's phenomenal sitcoms, such as Si Doel Anak Sekolahan [Doel the College Boy], as well as his unique Betawi style of dressing and hit song 'Kompor Mleduk' [Blown Stove], which immediately crosses your mind when someone mentions his name, said Isa on the Google Doodle page.

Isa hoped his doodle would remind people of Benyamins wit and legacy. His art was his medium to express himself. He was and continues to be an inspirational figure." (wir/kes)
Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh's Noida will be developed as the biggest hub in north India, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday said.

Stating that the state has secured the second position in the country in 'Ease of Doing Business' , he said it has been an outcome of the sustained efforts of the state government during the last three years.

He said the state has strived to develop infrastructure in terms of power, road, communication, transport, beside strong law and order to achieve the dream of one trillion economy status in India while contributing to the country's 5 trillion economy target set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

According to a statement issued, Adityanath while presiding over a meeting of high level Empowered Committee of 'Invest UP', said Noida will be developed as the biggest hub in north India.

He said out of the memorandums of understanding (MoUs) worth Rs 4.28 lakh crore,signed during the UP Investors Summit 2018, the MoUs worth 2 lakh crore have already come on ground.

In addition to this, the UP government has received over 50 investment proposals worth over 7,000 crore from the investors of about 10 countries, including Japan, the US, the UK, Canada, Germany and South Korea who want to shift their units from there to Uttar Pradesh.

He said Nivesh Mitra portal, which provides 146 services, has been quite successful with a track record of 98 per cent redressal of the problems of the investors and entrepreneurs.

The chief minister said that UP has a ready land bank of 20,000 acre on which industries can be set up. He said the government is coming out with a comprehensive land policy, besides formulating new Pharma Policy and Data Policy.

"Defence and aerospace, warehousing, data centres, electrical vehicles and pharma sector are some of the emerging investment centres in the state. The government's ambitious project of Defence Corridor has promised an investment of 50,000 crore in the next two years and offers a good investment opportunity," he said, adding that the revised MSME policy and start up policy has already given impetus to the growth potential of the state.

He said the traditional areas like electronics, IT, food processing, dairy, textiles, tourism and films are still the fancied investment destination while solar power, bio-fuel and civil aviation are joining these as potential investment hubs.

The chief minister pointed out that UP, which contributes 8 per cent of the country's Gross Domestic Product, with a population of 24 crore is a big market in itself.

Talking about infrastructure development, he said the state is going to have a huge network of expressways, which will criss-cross the entire country.

A 340-km-long Purvanchal Expressway from Lucknow to Ghazipur, 290-kms long Bundelkhand Expressway linking Chitrakoot to Lucknow-Agra Expressway, 90-km Gorakhpur link Expressway and 170-km Prayagraj link Expressway will be there in the state soon, the chief minister said.

"Not only this, the state government has also decided to construct a 600-km-long Ganga Expressway from Prayagraj to National Capital Region through Hardoi, Shahjahanpur, Kannauj and Meerut. This is going to be the longest Expressway of the country," he added.

As another landmark in the infrastructure, the proposed Jewar international airport in Noida will be the biggest in north India.

Besides, the Kushinagar airport is also coming up which will cater to eastern Uttar Pradesh a great deal, Adityanath said.

Besides ministers and senior officers, the representatives of the industry who took part in the meeting included Sangita Reddy, President, FICCI, Nikhil Sawhney, Chairman, CII, Northern Region, D K Agarwal, President, PHDCCI, Pankaj Kumar, President, IIA, Sharad Kumar Sarraf, Trade Promotion Council of India, Shri Mohit Singh, Chairman, Trade Promotion Council of India and Baldev Bhai Prajapati, President, Laghu Udyog Bharti.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.

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One of Britain's top Covid-19 experts has stood by his prediction that half a million people could have died without a lockdown.

Professor Neil Ferguson, a former adviser to the Government before he resigned after breaking lockdown rules to meet his married lover, said his early model was actually an 'underestimate'.

Work he produced alongside colleagues at Imperial College London suggested that if no action was taken to slow down coronavirus, at least 510,000 people could have died.

The report chilled Britain to its core and is credited for pressing Boris Johnson into ordering the nation to stay at home in March, earning Ferguson the name 'Professor Lockdown'  which he admitted today he doesn't like.

Now, as the UK's death toll stands at about 10 per cent of what it could have been  between 40,000 and 50,000  Professor Ferguson has stood by the work. He said that if anything the model was an 'underestimate' and it didn't take into account people who might have died as a result of hospitals being overwhelmed.

He was not a fan of the idea of lockdown off the bat, he admitted to BBC Radio 4's The Life Scientific podcast, and had to be talked round to accepting that it was necessary.

And the Professor also expressed regret about his own lockdown break that led to his resignation but said that the press had singled him out over the incident.

Professor Neil Ferguson, an epidemiologist at Imperial College London, was part of the Government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) until he resigned after breaking lockdown rules to meet with his girlfriend

A report published by the Imperial College Covid-19 Response Team, led by Professor Ferguson, predicted on March 16 that 510,000 people could die in the UK if no measures were taken to slow down the coronavirus. Britain might end up with a higher per-person death rate than the US, the report warned

The doomsday report published on March 16 by Imperial's Covid-19 Response Team predicted that death rates could soar if coronavirus wasn't controlled in the UK.

It said: 'In the (unlikely) absence of any control measures or spontaneous changes in individual behaviour, we would expect a peak in mortality (daily deaths) to occur after approximately three months...

'The higher peak in mortality in Great Britain is due to the smaller size of the country and its older population compared with the US.

'In total, in an unmitigated epidemic, we would predict approximately 510,000 deaths in GB and 2.2million in the US, not accounting for the potential negative effects of health systems being overwhelmed on mortality.'

The report was published just one week before Britain's total lockdown started, and Professor Ferguson's work was credited with pressuring politicians.

Defending the team's notorious original predictions, Professor Ferguson told The Life Scientific that it was a worst case scenario that they never expected to happen.

But he said: 'I completely stand by [it].

'If anything, it might have been an underestimate because we didn't take account of the fact of what actually happened to mortality rates if the health system collapsed, the mortality rates could have been even higher.'

He admitted that encouraging lockdown was not their original intention, and he doesn't like the nickname 'Professor Lockdown'.

'It may seem like I was the kind of creator of this policy,' he said. 'It took me quite a while to be persuaded that that was what we had to do.

'And I was always very conscious of what impact it would have on society and the economy.

'So I've never been a complete enthusiast for the idea of locking down society. It was a last resort.'

Data from the Imperial College team suggested that no individual measure short of a total lockdown would have been able to stop the coronavirus overwhelming NHS intensive care units

The Imperial model predicted that closing schools and universities would not necessarily relieve pressure on the NHS, but simply delay it  the spike in critical care bed occupancy is the same size as it would be if nothing was done, but it happens six months later

Professor Ferguson resigned from his role as a Government adviser on SAGE after he was caught breaking lockdown rules to meet his girlfriend.

The Telegraph revealed at the time that his lover Antonia Staats, who was married, had visited the home of Professor Ferguson, also married, in breach of social distancing.

Asked about the incident which led him to quit his SAGE role, Professor Ferguson said: 'I mean, that was a stupid thing for me to do.

'I made a judgment of risk, which I think probably was a valid judgment, [which was] because I'd had Covid that I would be immune, and therefore that contact would not pose a risk.

'That is exactly the wrong thing to do  telling people that you have to maintain social distancing and not doing it myself.

'I think I was also targeted by certain section of the press and so they couldn't believe their luck in that sense, and I regret it most because of the impact on my family and those close to me, and it has been a sobering and humbling experience.'
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Irish software company Bundledocs has raised 600,000 in funding from Enterprise Ireland and private investors.

Bundledocs provides a cloud-based document bundling service.

The funds raised will be used to accelerate its growth globally through investment in product development and sales and marketing.

Headquartered in Cork, and with an office in Sydney, the company plans to double its team in the next three months.

Bundledocs chief executive Brian Kenneally said: Todays announcement marks a real step change for us as a company. We started out with a small team and I am very proud of the tremendous amount we have achieved to date.

The last two years has seen Bundledocs scale rapidly. Our client base has grown to include many of the worlds Top 200 law firms, as well as in-house Government departments in the UK, Australia, Ireland and the US.

With the help of Enterprise Ireland the company also plans to expand its presence across Asia-Pacific.

Bundledocs currently has over 700 clients across 34 countries.

It works mainly with businesses in the legal sector.

The company said paperless solutions has increased by over 40pc in recent months as professionals in the legal space moved to remote working.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, many sectors, including the legal sector, have had to adapt very quickly to a new way of working, Mr Kenneally said.

Bundledocs is perfectly positioned to support traditionally paper-heavy sectors such as the legal profession as they increasingly rely on digital methods of communication, he added.
European energy companies like BP, Royal Dutch Shell and others have lately been selling off oil fields and investing billions in renewable energy, a response to plunging oil prices and growing concerns about climate changes.

But the American oil giants Chevron and Exxon Mobil are going in a far different direction. They are doubling down on oil and natural gas and investing what amounts to pocket change in innovative climate-oriented efforts like small nuclear power plants and devices that suck carbon out of the air.

The disparity reflects the vast differences in how Europe and the United States are approaching climate change, a global threat that many scientists say is increasing the frequency and severity of disasters like wildfires and hurricanes. European leaders have made tackling climate change a top priority while President Trump has called it a hoax and has dismantled environmental regulations to encourage the exploitation of fossil fuels.

The big American and European oil and gas companies publicly agree that climate change is a threat and that they must play a role in the kind of energy transition the world last saw during the industrial revolution. But the urgency with which the companies are planning to transform their businesses could not be more different.
In a lengthy and personal Facebook tribute to Ginsburg last weekend, Bansal detailed her long-term interactions and bond with the justice, whom she called a "mentor and friend, always available, for the past 25+ years.

On Sunday, Law College Dean Richard Moberly tweeted a photo of a lunch he attended with Ginsburg and students in 2006, adding: I look forward to celebrating Justice Ginsburg's amazing life with our students tonight. She will be missed by all who support equality before the law, to quote (Nebraska's) state motto.

Ginsburg spoke to Anna W. Shavers' Gender Issues and the Law class during her visit to Lincoln.

Having once been a law professor, the justice was in her element, said Shavers, professor of citizenship law and associate dean for diversity and inclusion.

We talked about her cases, primarily involving sex discrimination, and she really helped us understand what it was like to be a litigator at the time she practiced law.

In the years since her visit, former students still bring up the impression she made.

I think they realized I was just as excited to have her in class as they were, Shavers said.
LISBON, Portugal - Illicit drugs are increasingly available in the European Union, where there is now an abundant supply, the blocs drug monitoring agency said in a report published Tuesday.

The agency highlighted cocaine as a growing problem. Its purity in Europe is increasing and more people are going into treatment, though cocaine seizures by authorities reached a record 181 metric tons in 2018, the agency said.

Last year witnessed an increase in synthetic drug production on the continent, the appearance of new synthetic opioids and ecstasy tablets containing high levels of MDMA, the Lisbon, Portugal-based European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction said in its annual report.

The COVID-19 pandemic doesnt appear to have had any significant impact on EU drug production, the agency said, though restrictions on movement have made drug delivery methods to consumers more unpredictable.

The agency noted that some drug-taking behaviour, such as sharing cannabis joints or crack pipes, carries a high risk of infection.
Photo for illustration. (Source: baodautu.vn)

The Government leader also assigned the Ministry of Transport to direct increasing the frequency of international commercial flights to welcome experts, investors, highly skilled workers and relatives immigrating to the country and receive Vietnamese citizens.



The ministry will report to Deputy PM Pham Binh Minh and Deputy PM Vu Duc Dam to decide specific flight schedules.

Each flight must have a plan to prevent the pandemic from spreading to the community, and take initiative in prevention and control measures, the PM asked.

The Ministry of Public Security was asked to coordinate with the Ministry of Transport to be responsible for directing the rapid release of immigrants at airport border gates, and preventing crowds from gathering for a long time when picking up people entering the country.

The Ministry of Health is responsible for providing Realtime PCR testing to localities and directing testing at quarantine sites.

He urged the quick settlement of procedures to welcome experts, investors, and highly skilled workers to enter Vietnam, reporting to Deputy PM Pham Binh Minh for consideration and decision.

The Prime Minister asked to continue to prepare and well manage centralized isolation, accommodation establishments, and fully implement epidemic prevention; preventing cross-contamination and spread of diseases to the community./.
Smoothed time series and identified turning points for Georgia and Ohio. Through the identification of "true" turning points, Georgia is determined to be in its first wave, while Ohio is determined to be in its second wave. Both states exhibit their greatest case counts (up to smoothing) on the final day of analysis. Exact daily counts vary depending on source and the date the data was accessed. Credit: Nick James and Max Menzies

Mathematicians have developed a framework to determine when regions enter and exit COVID-19 infection surge periods, providing a useful tool for public health policymakers to help manage the coronavirus pandemic.

The first published paper on second-surge COVID-19 infections from US states suggests that policymakers should look for demonstrable turning points in data rather than stable or insufficiently declining infection rates before lifting restrictions.

Mathematicians Nick James and Max Menzies have published what they believe is the first analysis of COVID-19 infection rates in US states to identify turning points in data that indicate when surges have started or ended.

The new study by the Australian mathematicians is published today in the journal Chaos, published by the American Institute of Physics.

"In some of the worst performing states, it seems that policymakers have looked for plateauing or slightly declining infection rates. Instead, health officials should look for identifiable local maxima and minima, showing when surges reach their peak and when they are demonstrably over," said Nick James a Ph.D. student in the School of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Sydney.

In the study, the two mathematicians report a method to analyse COVID-19 case numbers for evidence of a first or second wave. The authors studied data from all 50 US states plus the District of Columbia for the seven-month period from 21 January to 31 July 2020. They found 31 states and the District of Columbia were experiencing a second wave as of the end of July.

The two mathematicians have also applied the method to analyse infection rates in eight Australian states and territories using data from COVIDlive.com.au. While the Australian analysis has not been peer-reviewed, it does apply the peer-reviewed methodology. The analysis clearly identified Victoria as an outlier, as expected.

This figure groups states according to similarity in their turning points in new case trajectories. Five primary (sub)clusters of time series are identified with the following behaviors: the top 31 states plus D.C. are beyond their first wave and are now experiencing a second wave. The 13 states at the bottom are still in their first wave. The final six states in the middle of the diagram have either flattened the curve after one wave (New York and New Jersey), are coming off the first wave (Utah and Arizona) or have fully completed their second wave (Vermont and Maine). Credit: Nick James and Max Menzies

"What the Victorian data shows is that cases are still coming down and the turning pointthe local minimumhas not occurred yet," Dr. Menzies said. He said from a mathematical perspective at least, Victoria should "stay the course".

Dr. Menzies, from the Yau Mathematical Sciences Center at Tsinghua University in Beijing, said: "Our approach allows for careful identification of the most and least successful US states at managing COVID-19."

The results show New York and New Jersey completely flattened their infection curves by the end of July with just a single surge. Thirteen states, including Georgia, California and Texas, have a continuing and rising single infection surge. Thirty-one states had an initial surge followed by declining infection to be followed by a second surge. These states include Florida and Ohio.

Mr James said: "This is not a predictive model. It is an analytical tool that should assist policymakers determining demonstrable turning points in COVID infections."

Methodology

The method smoothes raw daily case count data to eliminate artificial low counts over weekends and even some negative numbers that occur when localities correct errors. After smoothing the data, a numerical technique is used to find peaks and troughs. From this, turning points can be identified.

Dr. Menzies said their analysis shows governments should try not to allow new cases to increase, nor reduce restrictions when case numbers have merely flattened.

Smoothed time series and identified turning points for various states: (a) Mississippi (b) Georgia (c) California (d) Texas and (e) North Carolina are assigned sequence trough-peak and determined to be in their first surge. (f) Florida (g) Pennsylvania and (h) Ohio are determined to be in their second surges, with sequence trough-peak-trough-peak. (i) New York and (j) New Jersey are assigned sequence trough-peak-trough and determined to have concluded their first surge and flattened the curve. (k) Arizona and (l) Maine are assigned trough-peak trough and trough-peak-trough-peak-trough with final trough at the end of the period and determined to be declining from their first and second surges, respectively. Credit: Max Menzies and Nick James

"A true turning point, where new cases are legitimately in downturn and not just exhibiting stable fluctuations, should be observed before relaxing any restrictions."

He said that the analysis wasn't just nice mathematics, using a new measure between sets of turning points, the study also deals with a very topical problem: looking at state-by-state data.

Mr James said that aggressively pushing infection rates down to a minimum seemed the best way to defeat a second surge.

Peaks and troughs

To determine the peaks and troughs, the algorithm developed by the mathematicians determines that a turning point occurs when a falling curve surges upward or a rising curve turns downward. Only those sequences where the peak and trough amplitudes differ by a definite minimum amount are counted. Fluctuations can occur when a curve flattens for a while but continues to increase without going through a true downturn, so the method eliminates these false counts.

Both from Australia, the two mathematicians have been best friends for 25 years. "But this year is the first time we have worked on problems together," Mr James said.

Mr James has a background in statistics and has worked for start-ups and hedge funds in Texas, Sydney, San Francisco and New York City. Dr. Menzies is a pure mathematician, completing his Ph.D. at Harvard in 2019 and his undergraduate mathematics at the University of Cambridge.

More information: "COVID-19 in the United States: Trajectories and second surge behavior," Chaos, aip.scitation.org/doi/10.1063/5.0024204 Journal information: Chaos "COVID-19 in the United States: Trajectories and second surge behavior,"
Carole Baskin broke down in tears as she discussed the impact of Netflix's hit documentary Tiger King on her life.

The Big Cat Rescue CEO, who made her debut on Dancing With The Stars last weekend, admitted she tries to ignore the fallout from the show, which saw her accused of murdering her ex-husband.

The documentary focused on Carole's feud with former G.W. Zoo owner Joe Exotic, who is currently serving 22 years in jail on two counts of hiring someone to murder Carole and multiple violations of animal welfare laws.

Heartache: Carole Baskin broke down in tears as she discussed the impact of Netflix's hit documentary Tiger King on her life

Speaking to her dance partner Pasha Pashkov on Tuesday's episode of the competition, she said: 'I keep it inside. That is the absolute worst of this.'

Despite Joe's criminal actions, Tiger King viewers considered him an anti-hero, whilst Carole was branded a villain due to Joe losing his animal park as well as his freedom.

The rumours surrounding Carole were given screen time by the filmmakers about the mysterious disappearance of her second husband Don Lewis.

Carole recently insisted she is 'not at all the person' she was portrayed to be in the documentary, as she is simply desperate to see animals free from harm.

Shocking: The documentary focused on Carole's feud with former G.W. Zoo owner Joe Exotic, who is currently serving 22 years in jail on two counts of hiring someone to murder Carole and multiple violations of animal welfare laws

She said: 'I am not at all the person I was portrayed in 'Tiger King'. I am not the money grabbing, gold-digging, murderous person that they portrayed.

'I am the type of person who will come after any person who is abusing animals. I am relentless. I just won't stop until I find some legal way to make it stop. From that perspective, I think they got me right.

'Me as a person, that was a total assassination of my character for nothing other than whatever money they could get for selling that to Netflix.'

Pained: Speaking to her dance partner Pasha Pashkov on Tuesday's episode of the competition, she said: 'I keep it inside. That is the absolute worst of this'

Following the documentary, Carole is looking to clear her name on 'Dancing with the Stars', where she hopes to prove she 'needed' the documentary in order to further her activism.

She explained: 'I believe that everything happens for a reason and everything happens exactly as it should.

'No matter how horrible something may seem, there is something that I may not see that is right on the other side that is going to prove that this is what I needed in order to get to this next place.'
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Even as India has banned over 200 Chinese apps in the past few months, it has no plans to ban imports of electronic equipment from the neighbouring nation.

The government has not proposed to ban the import of electronic equipment and parts thereof from China, said Sanjay Dhotre, MoS, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) while replying to a query in the Lok Sabha on Monday.

He added that steps are being taken to broad base the sources of electronic components / raw material imports in India while promoting domestic electronics production at the same time in order to reduce dependency on a single market so that any sudden / abrupt / unforeseen event such as the Covid-19 outbreak does not cause large-scale shortage of inventory in the domestic market.

The relation between India and China continue to remain tensed over the border issues in Ladakh. In recent times, India has taken multiple steps to reduce presence of China in its business ecosystem.

Dhotre had previously also clarified that the Indian government has no plans to exclude Chinese companies Huawei and ZTE from 5G network infrastructure contracts.
One of the world's leading guidebooks is giving Northern Ireland a special nod in time for the province's centenary next year.

Fodors Guide is attempting to persuade reluctant holidaymakers kept at home by Covid-19 to give here a try.

The new edition of the Ireland tome, to be published early in November, includes an expanded section on the north.

And the title of the book is to be 'Fodor's Essential Ireland 2021 with Belfast and Northern Ireland'.

For the first time, the capital city is also to have a separate chapter all to itself.

And the company has not ruled out a separate edition just for Northern Ireland, perhaps in the not too distant future.

Senior editor Jacinta O'Halloran said: "Our coverage in this coming edition reflects the fact that there is a lot going on in Northern Ireland and that there is increased interest in exploring it.

"We've long wanted to do a standalone Northern Ireland guide so I wanted to get a start on building out our coverage to make sure we are addressing, and maybe even a little ahead of, demand and interest."

Covid-19 and ever-changing travel restrictions has led to Fodor beefing up its coverage of at-home destinations in the United States.

"It is hard to say right now how that will affect new European titles which are on the wish list for the next year or two," Ms O'Halloran added.

"It's also impossible to project how our Ireland guide sales and US travel to Ireland and Northern Ireland will be affected for the next year. But we are optimistic that as vaccines are introduced and restrictions, and fears, are eased we can all get back to exploring.

"In the meantime our Essential Ireland guide, which is one of our top sellers, will be on the shelves in early November, with expanded Northern Ireland coverage, ready to help travellers plan their 2021 trips."

The online Booklist recently named the Fodor Essential books as the 'Best Travel Guide Series of 2019'.
The Heteroptera are a large group of insects. However, not all of its representatives are widely known as true bugs. For example, it includes a pond water strider (Gerris lacustris), which is very common in Russia. 'Most often, when it comes to these insects, people imagine blood-sucking bed bugs. They bring the rest of the bugs into disrepute, but most of these insects do not bite. The bug we discovered belongs to the plant bugs (Miridae) and it also does not feed on human blood,' says Veronica Tyts, the first author of the research, a first-year master's student in the biology programme at St Petersburg University.

Borneo, also known as Kalimantan, is the third-largest island in the world. About 1% of the island's territory is occupied by the state of Brunei Darussalam where Ulu Temburong National Park is located. Its tropical forests remain practically intact and preserve an amazing variety of flora and fauna. Here Claas Damken, a research participant from Jalan Universiti, Brunei Darussalam, Brunei, collected the Heteroptera, which were later sent to Anna Namyatova, the second author, for identification.

'This collection included very important samples for us. Within the large family of the Miridae, there is a subfamily that I specialise in. Most of its representatives are extremely rare in different collections. The fact is that in nature they live in the forest floor and have a cryptic lifestyle. At the same time, the sample from Brunei turned out to be relatively large: nine specimens are representing the monotypic new genus Tatupa. Monotypic means that only one species belongs to it - Tatupa grafei. It is highly probable that the bug is endemic, that is, it does not live anywhere except the island of Borneo,' says Veronica Tyts.

Tatupa grafei belongs to the relatively small Rhinocylapus-complex, currently comprising 24 species. Its representatives vary in colour and have huge antennae, often twice longer than a body. The Tatupa grafei bug is golden and spotted. It is noteworthy that in the Rhinocylapus-complex, sexual dimorphism is very common: the male can be half the size of the female. Before copulation, the males sit on the back of the female and 'ride' it for some time.

'At the same time, the males and females of Tatupa grafei are the same size. Their body length, without antennae, is approximately five millimetres. Of course, there is a compelling question: why one part of the group is characterised by sexual dimorphism, while the other does not. In the future, we would like to find an answer to it as well,' notes Veronika Tyts.

Most aspects of the behaviour of the Tatupa grafei bugs are unknown due to the extremely small number of its representatives. These insects are often found on fungi growing on rotten wood. Because of this, it has been suggested that these bugs feed on fungi, but whether this is true remains to be explored. It is also possible that Tatupa grafei eats smaller insects, which feed on fungi. The third version is that the bug menu can be mixed and consist of both fungi and insects. The answers to these questions can be given by observing Tatupa grafei bugs in a natural environment, but it is pretty tricky to carry it out.

The genus name Tatupa is a random combination of letters. The scientists could not come up with a suitable name for it for a long time. It was important that no animal has the same name. Additionally, the scientists needed to find out if the word Tatupa exists in any languages and what it means. It turned out that there was only one hit on the Internet - in an episode of a Polish television game where its participants are busy coining new words. The species is named after the Brunei professor Ulmar Grafe, who had provided significant support to the scientists.

'The planet's biodiversity is a great treasure that we, unfortunately, are constantly losing. It is important to find and describe new types of living organisms to preserve them - if not in their natural habitat, then at least in the vast knowledge database created by mankind. Moreover, each of these creatures has a specific role in the global ecosystem. And the more ramified the connections in it, the higher its stability. Therefore, the small bug we discovered may play a significant role in the ecosystem of the island of Borneo,' says Veronica Tyts.

Alongside Veronica Tyts, Fedor Konstantinov, Candidate of Biology and Associate Professor of the Department of Entomology at St Petersburg University, took part in the discovery and description of Tatupa grafei. Other authors of the research were: the already mentioned Claas Damken; Anna Namyatova, a senior research associate at the All-Russian Research Institute of Plant Protection; and Rodzay A. Wahab, a lecturer at Jalan Universiti, Brunei Darussalam, Brunei.

Colour photographs of Tatupa grafei were taken at the Department of Entomology of St Petersburg University using a camera attached to a stereo microscope. The rest of the images were created using a scanning electron microscope of the resource centres of the Research Park of St Petersburg University 'The Centre for Molecular and Cell Technologies' and 'The Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis'. Aleksei Miroliubov, a centre engineer, rendered significant assistance to the scientists.

The authors of the publication are currently continuing the research, which will result in a long paper on the phylogeny of rare bugs from the Rhinocylapus-complex. The researchers plan to build a phylogenetic tree that will reflect the probable evolutionary relationships of organisms. To achieve this, a morphological analysis of insects and an analysis of their DNA markers have been carried out. As for the specimens, seven of the nine provided specimens will return to their homeland in Brunei, while the other two will remain in the large collection of the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

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Analysis Amending Myanmars Constitution: an Issue That Will Not Go Away

Amending the 2008 charter will be difficult but is a must if Myanmars transition to democracy and national reconciliation is to succeed.

CHIANG MAIAfter a heated debate in Parliament earlier this year on potential amendments to the 2008 Constitution, talk about changing the charter grew silent as politicians focused on the November election. But the silence was just temporary, and the issue has now slowly resurfaced.

The key political parties vying to win the election, including the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD), are highlighting proposed charter reforms among their policies, having kicked off their campaigns early this month.

Because changing the undemocratic Constitution is essential to Myanmars transition to democracy and national reconciliation, efforts at changing the charter must certainly be continued.

But what would potential charter change look like in the post-election period?

In its election manifesto, published on Sept. 1, the NLD says it aims to establish a Constitution that guarantees a genuine democratic federal union, in addition to achieving peace in the realm of ethnic affairs and establishing sustainable development and security.

The push for constitutional change has been the NLDs longstanding, yet unattainable, goal.

Any amendment to the 2008 Constitution needs the support of more than 75 percent of lawmakers in the Parliament. And 25 percent of the seats are controlled by the military.

In March the legislators approved only four of the NLDs 114 proposed constitutional amendments. Those merely changed Burmese-language references in three provisions and in one passage, during nine days of parliamentary votes.

Key amendments that would have reduced the special powers and privileges granted by the Constitution to the military and its chief in all branches of government were rejected by the military-appointed parliamentarians and their allied Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) lawmakers. Those two groups combined account for 31 percent of the seats in Parliament.

Citing the constitutional barrier, State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who is also NLD chairperson, urged voters to support the NLD in her Thursday campaign address. She noted the party needs 67 percent out of the 75 percent of the seats that nearly 7,000 civilian candidates are contending for in November.

Last Tuesday, USDP chairman U Than Htay addressed the possibility of making changes to some laws and specific clauses in the Constitution in his televised campaign speech on behalf of the party.

The USDP pledged that constitutional amendment is their higher priority and said the partys efforts will immediately reflect the essences of federalism, the Union, and democracy.

The military-proxy USDP raised the possibility of changing the constitutional clause related to appointing chief ministers of regions and states. Its proposal to allow the party that has a majority in a regional or state parliament to appoint the chief minister of the regional/state government generally catches the attention of minority ethnic groups or regional/state-based smaller political parties. Hoping to win control of regional/state-based politics, the USDP has appropriated the issue.

Whether it is just for show or a sincere intention, one can look to recent history for a guide.

The USDP won a majority of seats in the Shan State parliament in 2015, but the NLDbecause it won a majority in nationwide votinghad the right under the Constitution to decide the appointments of all state and regional chief ministers. The USDP enjoyed the same right during the time it ruled the country from 2010-2015 under then-President U Thein Sein.

Whether the former generals-cum-USDP leaders really care about an amendment to the Constitution that would reduce the militarys political privilegesone-fourth of legislative seats and control of the Defense, Home Affairs, and Border Affairs ministriesis an open question.

Setting aside the differences between Myanmars two key parties, one could ask whether amendments could be successful under any new government.

If the NLD wins a majority in the November election but still has no prospect of reducing the power of the military, the existing proposed amendments of the clauses in the 2008 Constitution, when brought up again, could end up with the same unsatisfactory results that we saw in March.

One possible way to avoid such an impasse could be focusing on charter reforms by implementing the Union Accord, which was signed by the government, military and the ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) that are signatories of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA).

State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi also highlighted the ongoing effort to amend the charter during her closing address to the last session of the Union Peace Conference on Aug. 19. She said the peace negotiators laid the foundation for a step-by-step process and implementation of the peace process beyond 2020 focusing on five processes: national reconciliation, peace, democratic transition, building a federal union and amending the 2008 Constitution.

The Union Accord is an agreement spelling out a plan for a future democratic federal union. It calls for drafting a Constitution that guarantees federal principles adopted by the peace negotiators, including the EAOs, the military and political parties.

The 10 EAOs that have signed the NCA are the Karen National Union, Restoration Council of Shan State, Arakan Liberation Party, New Mon State Party, Chin National Front, PaO National Liberation Organization, All Burma Students Democratic Front, Democratic Karen Benevolent Army, Karen National Liberation Army-Peace Council and Lahu Democratic Organization.

Ethnic armed groups that are currently in peace and political negotiations with the government have insisted that amending the Constitution could be done in two different ways. One is the parliamentary approach and the other is via the NCA path.

Looking back at the timeline, in fact, the NLD initially intended to try and amend the Constitution through the peace process and political dialogue based on the NCA.

But postponement of the peace negotiations following an impasse over the package dealin which the Tatmadaw demanded that EAOs pledge to renounce the right to secession from the Union if negotiators wanted the right to draft state constitutionscaused discussions to derail in 2017.

In 2019, the NLD initiated its yearlong charter amendment bid in Parliament, but its efforts were rejected by the opposition USDP and the military representatives.

One of the key challenges negotiators face in discussing federal principles is the matter of state constitutions. Negotiation partners were unable to agree on that point this year.

We have a lot of work to do, as discussions on drafting state constitutions are only beginning, reflected Padoh Saw Taw Nee, a member of the KNU Standing Committee who has been a participant in the peace negotiations.

He reiterated the call by ethnic armed revolutionary groups that the amendment process needs to prioritize having a federally based constitution, which ensures equality and self-determination. And because of that, he said, it should start with allowing the groups to write their own ethnic state constitutions.

Charter changes would come about faster once the military representatives join hands with the EAOs and the new government to attain common federal principles that assure self-determination and equality as spelled out in the Union Accord.

You may also like these stories:

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MEADVILLE, Pa., Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Allegheny College, one of the nation's oldest and most innovative four-year colleges where multidisciplinary learning breaks the conventional mold, has taken extensive and creative steps to maximize learning during the current pandemic. Aiming to keep students, faculty, staff and its local Pennsylvania community as safe as possible from the spread of COVID-19, the college welcomed more than 1,400 students and implemented mandatory COVID-19 testing through a staggered return-to-campus. The fall semester began Aug. 31.

With swift protocols implemented for testing, face coverings and physical isolation during its first four weeks, the college has been holding the COVID-19 infection rate to less than 1 percent at any given time, with an average of less than 0.5 percent of the campus population testing positive most days.

The physical and emotional health and safety of both the campus and local Meadville communities has been the top priority of Allegheny College President Hilary Link, Ph.D., and the 12 campus-wide implementation groups of administrators, staff, faculty and students she led during months of research and planning.

President Link's first order of business was revamping the semester schedule to include an integrated slate of on-campus classes, remote learning and a hybrid of the two. The centerpiece of the academic calendar is a new intensive winter module that allows students to blend multiple academic interests and do a deep dive into a subject they might not otherwise have a chance to study; this three-week personalized module has the same number of credit hours and credits as a regular full-semester course.

Key to the opening has been a comprehensive clean-and-prevention agenda along with the formation of the on-campus Allegheny College Health Agency (ACHA), which President Link established during her first year as the college's president, to fill the gap in clinical and public health services in Crawford County.

"As a campus in a small rural setting with limited exposure to COVID-19, it had always been our goal to fully reopen for on-campus living and learning accompanied by and subject to ongoing guidance from our own Allegheny College Health Agency, the Pennsylvania Department of Health and other state and national resources, which have helped us establish best-in-class protocols for safety and wellness," said President Link.

A Unique Semester Schedule

"Our planning was driven by my requirement that we not just 'adapt' to COVID-19 protocols but use this moment as an opportunity to be creative," explained President Link. "Our new academic schedule introduces fresh multidisciplinary learning and teaching opportunities while at the same time reducing risk, to the extent possible, during the peak cold and flu season [mid-November through early February]."

To minimize travel on and off campus, Allegheny College's fall semester consists of 12 weeks of on-campus instruction, without a fall break, ending Nov. 20. Most students will then leave campus. The semester will resume for everyone on Nov. 23 with strategically planned remote instruction through Dec. 4, followed by final exams ending Dec. 11. Thanksgiving Break will be Nov. 2529. A shortened 12-week on-campus component from Feb. 22 to May 17 is preceded by the winter intensive module in Jan. 2021.

For those students who cannot or choose not to be in the classroom, Allegheny College implemented flexible course delivery to facilitate rotating between in-the-classroom and synchronous-remote attendance. In many cases sessions also are recorded for asynchronous use, allowing students to attend at their convenience.

Prevention and Precaution

The ACHA is overseeing a comprehensive healthcare system on campus that includes testing, contact tracing and mitigation strategies. Students who test positive for COVID-19 are isolated off campus and provided with extensive health checks, mental health checks, and academic and social support.

"While we recognize that COVID creates challenges and anxiety for many students and their families, as well as for our employees, we're very proud that our students are adjusting and committed to taking responsibility for their own health to help keep the Allegheny College campus and surrounding community as safe as possible," said President Link.

As recommendations related to disease mitigation are ever-changing, the college's policies and plans for reopening and keeping the campus community safe will be updated as new information becomes available.

About Allegheny College

Allegheny College, founded in 1815, is one of the nation's oldest and most innovative four-year colleges where multidisciplinary learning breaks the conventional mold. It is one of the few colleges in the United States with a unique requirement to choose both a major and minor for graduation, to provide students with a cross-disciplinary path in the sciences and humanities for educational depth and intellectual growth. Located in Meadville, Pennsylvania, Allegheny College is one of 40 colleges featured in Loren Pope's "Colleges That Change Lives." In its 2021 rankings, U.S. News & World Report recognized Allegheny College in its Top 20 Best in Undergraduate Teaching and Top 30 Most Innovative National Liberal Arts Colleges.

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The Philippine president made a strident statement Tuesday on the South China Sea to the United Nations General Assembly, describing a 2016 arbitral tribunal award that struck down virtually all of Chinas claims in the disputed waters as beyond compromise.

Like other world leaders addressing the pandemic-restricted event, President Rodrigo Duterte delivered the remarks, his first at the world bodys annual meeting of member-state leaders, in a pre-recorded video speech. His address came after years of his rebuffing the meeting and criticizing the U.N. over concerns it has raised about his administrations controversial war on illegal drugs.

Duterte's remarks aired shortly after Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered his address at the opening of the 75th session of the General Assembly.

The award is now part of international law, beyond compromise and beyond the reach of passing governments to dilute, diminish, or abandon, Duterte said, in reference to the outcome of the case the previous Philippine administration brought to The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration.

We firmly reject attempts to undermine it, he added.

The 2016 award refuted the legal basis for nearly all of Chinas expansive maritime and territorial claims in the South China Sea. It called Beijings insistence on holding historic rights to the waters there inconsistent with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, or UNCLOS.

China has never recognized the 2016 arbitration or its outcome.

Other countries  the United States, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and most recently the United Kingdom, Germany, and France  have brought up the 2016 arbitration award in their own complaints about Chinas behavior in the South China Sea, or have called China to come into compliance with the award as it now constitutes a precedent under international law.

We welcome the increasing number of states that have come in support of the award and what it stands for  the triumph of reason over rashness, of law over disorder, of amity over ambition, Duterte went on to say. This, as it should, is the majesty of the law.

Dutertes comments suggested a hardening in tone from the Philippines, which put its territorial disputes with China on the backburner after he took office four years ago. Duterte has sought closer economic ties with China and has toyed with a reduction in ties with its long-standing treaty ally, the United States.

On other topics, Duterte spoke about the climate crisis, the effects of the pandemic on migrants and stranded seafarers, and the need for a COVID-19 vaccine to be available as a global public good.

Duterte, who has faced international criticism over allegations of widespread extrajudicial killings in a bloody war on drugs, also delivered a lengthy diatribe against human rights advocates. He accused them of having weaponized human rights and of preying on the most vulnerable humans.

The opening day of the General Assembly was dominated by the tensions between the U.S. and China, with President Donald Trump blaming China for the spread of COVID-19. He demanded that China be held accountable.

Xi pushed back, saying China had no intention of entering a Cold War.

We will never seek hegemony, expansion, or sphere of influence, Xi said. We have no intention to fight either a Cold War or a hot war with any country. We will continue to narrow differences and resolve disputes with others through dialogue and negotiation. We do not seek to develop only ourselves or engage in a zero-sum game.

Xi made no mention of the South China Sea.

China currently considers itself to have a maritime dispute with six other Asian governments concerning the South China Sea. They are the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Taiwan, and Indonesia.

The United States recently updated its official stance on the dispute, calling Chinas maritime claims and claims to some submerged features in the South China Sea unlawful and illegal, slowly aligning the U.S. stance with the 2016 arbitration award. It has also recently changed its policies on Marine Scientific Research to reflect UNCLOS, despite the U.S. Senate never having ratified the Convention.
The Duke of Cambridge during a visit to the CRS at Cave Hill Country Park as part of his tour of Belfast (Brian LAwless/PA)

The Duke of Cambridge says that fatherhood has increased his desire to protect nature for future generations.

William was joined by a film crew two years ago, who recorded his search for ways to protect the natural world for the ITV documentary Prince William: A Planet For Us All  to be aired next month.

William said he has always loved nature, but fatherhood has given him a new sense of purpose.

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William meets people in the UK and abroad who are playing their part in protecting and restoring the environment during the programme, according to Kensington Palace.

It also charts his journey from being passionate about conservation to wanting to play a greater global leadership role on the environment, they added.

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William also says that his children  George, seven, Charlotte, five, and two year-old Louis  have had an impact on his views.

He said: Now I have got George, Charlotte and now Louis in my life  your outlook does change. You want to hand over to the next generation, the wildlife in a much better condition.

William adds: I always believe it is possible to give young people hope and belief that things can get fixed.

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I have the belief that if we all work together, we can make a difference.

Naturalist Sir David Attenborough, who makes an appearance in the programme, said: Kids know an awful lot about what is happening to the world.
Mumbai, Sep 22 : Veteran actress Ashalata Wabgaonkar, who was reportedly suffering from Covid-19, died in the early hours of Tuesday after a four-day battle with her illness at a private hospital in Satara.

She was 79 and had been hospitalised in a critical condition last weekend. The end came at the hospital.

Former Chief Minister of Goa, Digambar Kamat, confirmed the news in a tweet, paying tribute to the Goa-born actress.

"Deeply pained by the passing away of acclaimed Goan Artist Ashalata Wabgaonkar. Her splendid performances in theatre & films will keep inspiring the generations to come. My condolences to her family & fans. May her soul rest in peace," Kamat tweeted.

Ashalata worked in over 100 Hindi and Marathi films. Her notable Hindi films include "Apne Paraye", "Ankush", "Woh 7 Din", "Ahista Ahista", "Shaukeen", and "Namak Halal". Her Marathi films include "Umbartha", "Sutradhar", and "Vahinichi Maya".

Ashalata had acted in theatre too, notably the Marathi plays "Chinna", "Gunata Hridhya He", and "Varyavarchi Varaat".

She also authored a book, "Gard Sabhowati".

Ashalata reportedly contracted Covid-19 a week ago while shooting for a mythological show.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
Overview of news from Tuesday, September 22, 2020.

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This is your overview of news from Slovakia that happened on Tuesday, September 22, 2020.

If you like Today in Slovakia digests, consider supporting our work by purchasing an online subscription that will give you access to the entire content. Thank you for being our reader.

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Speaker of parliament met with Penta co-owner

Journalists of the Dennik N daily filmed Boris Kollar, Speaker of Parliament, and Jaroslav Hascak, co-owner of Penta financial group, after a meeting on September 18.

Each one had a different explanation for the meeting that took about an hour in a hotel in the centre of Bratislava. While Kollar claimed that he had wanted to ask Hascak why the Penta-owned media attack him in the press, Hascak noted that he is writing a book about politics and that was his reason to meet with Kollar.

Hascak is a well-known figure from the Gorilla corruption case.

Speaker of parliament met with Penta partner, each offered a different explanation Read more

Commentator Havran free of charges

The charges against commentator and theologist Michal Havran for an opinion piece where he criticised Catholic priest Marian Kuffa have been revoked, after the intervention of the General Prosecutors Office.

It deemed the action taken by Special Prosecutors Office incorrect, and revoked the charges and a disapproving statement on a complaint submitted by Havran. Although the prosecution in the matter continues, Havran is not charged anymore.

Related article

Related article Police revoke charges against prominent commentator Read more

Yellow trains leave a track to Komarno

Yellow trains will not operate on the busy track between Bratislava and Komarno (Nitra Region). The current valid contract of the private carrier RegioJet will expire on December 12, 2020.

The route will be taken by the state-run railway passenger carrier ZSSK and Austrian national carrier OBB. This solution is cheaper for the state and offers more quality service for passengers, Transport Minister Andrej Dolezal (Sme Rodina) explained.

Yellow trains will no longer run between Bratislava and Komarno Read more

Coronavirus-related news:

Two more people died in Slovakia of COVID-19, increasing the total number of victims to 41. A 69-year-old man hospitalised in Presov hospital died on September 8, and a 78-year-old man died in the Trencin hospital on September 19.

The September 21 testing revealed 175 new coronavirus cases , the total number thus increasing to 6,931 . See more detailed statistics here.

, the total number thus increasing to . See more detailed statistics here. The regional Public Health Authority office in Martin closed the dormitory and a canteen of the Jessenius Faculty of Medicine of the Comenius University in Martin, after four positive cases had been identified at the faculty last week, and five more students proved positive in the subsequent testing.

Foreign students were tested upon arrival in Martin. (Source: TASR)

The operation of the emergency line of the Regional Operational Centre of the Rescue Service in Trnava was suspended until further notice after 18 of its operators tested positive for the coronavirus.

of the Regional Operational Centre of the Rescue Service in after for the coronavirus. President Zuzana Caputova signed an amendment about social insurance that adjusts pandemic care for a family member (OCR in Slovak) into law. Parents who will not send their child toschool due to the fear of the coronavirus (and not because school attendance will be limited) will not be entitled to this benefit.

Picture of the day:

The picking of grapevine in Mala Trna in the Tokaj wine region has started on September 22. (Source: TASR)

In other news:

Tax returns will have to be submitted by November 2 at the latest, and people will be required to pay taxes by this date as well.

Related article

Related article Pandemic has changed the tax calendar in Slovakia. Here is what you need to know Read more

The Judicial Council will submit a proposal to President Zuzana Caputova for the removal of 82 judges, who turned 65 years of age .

. The disciplinary committee will deal with the case involving former general prosecutor Dobroslav Trnka, who may face prosecution for a recording with Marian Kocner, on October 19 .

. Slovakia borrowed 61.4 million in a September 22 government bonds auction. The country has borrowed altogether 612.4 million on the financial market this week.

in a September 22 government bonds auction. The country has borrowed altogether this week. The number of visitors to hotels in Slovakia tripled in July 2020 in month-on-month comparison, but fell by 20 percent year-on-year. The drop in the number of foreign visitors was partly replaced by the growth in the number of domestic guests, according to the Statistics Office.

in month-on-month comparison, The drop in the number of foreign visitors was partly replaced by the growth in the number of domestic guests, according to the Statistics Office. The Bratislava Tourist Board on September 23-27 is celebrating 55 years since the establishment of its first information centre in the capital, with free guided tours around the city centre, focused on special themes. Check out for example this one in English.

Disclaimer: The Penta financial group has a minority share in Petit Press, the publisher of the Sme daily and the co-owner of The Slovak Spectator.

Also on Spectator.sk:

Bratislava to renew its greenery Read more

Komarno: A city on the edge (from our archive) Read more
HOUSTON, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- EOG Resources, Inc. (EOG) will host a conference call and webcast to discuss third quarter 2020 results on Friday, November 6, 2020, at 9 a.m. Central time (10 a.m. Eastern time). Please visit the Investors/Events & Presentations page on the EOG website to access a live webcast of the conference call. If you are unable to listen to the live webcast, a replay will be available for one year.

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STAMFORD  The attorney representing Michelle Troconis has asked the state Appellate Court to intervene again after a Superior Court judge failed to issue a ruling on the motion to remove her GPS unit in two weeks.

Attorney Jon Schoenhorn has argued that his client, charged with conspiracy to commit murder and other offenses in the death and disappearance of Jennifer Dulos, should not be required to wear a GPS unit.

Schoenhorn claims it has hampered Troconis ability to participate in her own defense and the court restrictions have caused his client to give up custody of her daughter, who is now living in Argentina with her father.

Her adolescent daughter who lived with her but was away at boarding school was forced to leave last winter and move to Argentina with the childs father, because she was on house arrest in a small apartment, and could not attend to the childs needs, Schoenhorn said.

The only reason her daughter moved was because of the non-financial court conditions, Schoenhorn said.

Because the court did not issue its written ruling by Sept. 11, the defendant remains unaware of any reason why the $2.1 million in combined surety bonds guaranteed by property of her parents, is insufficient to ensure future (court) appearances, Schoenhorn said.

READ MORE: Investigators: Dulos may have shaved head to frame colleague, new evidence could lead to Jennifers remains

READ MORE: Jennifer Dulos case: There are people out there that have information

Chief States Attorney Richard Colangelo Jr., who is prosecuting the case, opposes modifying the restrictions, Schoenhorn noted in his motion to the Appellate Court.

Schoenhorn contends that Stamford Superior Court Judge John Blawie, who ordered Troconis to be on 24-hour monitoring, said he would issue a ruling on the GPS unit by Sept. 11. But Blawie has not yet issued a decision.

Schoenhorn filed a motion with the Appellate Court Monday, asking the jurists to intervene by either reviewing Blawies decision to keep his client on electronic monitoring during the Aug. 28 proceedings or exercising its own authority to grant relief.

Troconis has been released on $2.1 million bond, but under restrictions since her first arrest in June 2019 on tampering with evidence and hindering prosecution charges. She is accused of helping Fotis Dulos dispose of bloody items that contained the DNA of his estranged wife who vanished May 24, 2019.

Attorney Kent Mawhinney, a longtime friend of Fotis Dulos, has also been charged with conspiracy to commit murder in the case. He is being held on $2 million bond.

Troconis and Mawhinney have each pleaded not guilty.

Fotis Dulos died from an apparent suicide in January as he faced murder and other charges in the case.

Troconis hired Schoenhorn a few days after her former boyfriends death. Schoenhorn has since filed a series of motions, many of which have not been heard due to the coronavirus pandemic slowing court operations.

A review of the court transcription of the Aug. 28 proceedings, which Schoenhorn attached to his motion, shows Blawie did not indicate a specific date for his ruling on the GPS device.

The first time its mentioned, Blawie said he would issue a written decision shortly, given the importance of these issues to the parties.

Blawie later said hed issue the ruling in the next couple of weeks, Im not going to take 120 days, he said. During a third reference, Blawie told the court hed issue the ruling by mid-September.

This is the third time Schoenhorn has sought intervention from the Appellate Court  with mixed results. The first time he asked the Appellate Court to rule on several motions he had filed in Superior Court, asking for a change of venue for his clients cases and to have the GPS unit removed.

The Appellate Court declined to issue a decision, citing it had no jurisdiction since the lower had not yet heard oral arguments. Like thousands of defendants around the state, Troconis court proceedings have been stalled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Schoenhorn filed a second appeal with the Appellate Court in late July after being notified his clients cases had been continued to Oct. 1. The Appellate Court responded that time by instructing the Judicial Branch to move Troconis cases to August.

It was during the August court date that Blawie loosened some of the restrictions placed on Troconis, but declined to rule on the GPS until he issued a written decision.

Troconis is scheduled to appear remotely for a court appearance on Oct. 1.
The biomedical park will specialize in high-risk medical device sector involving medical implants and extracorporeal devices

Kerala will soon house one of the first medical device parks in the country, focusing on the high-risk medical device sector to provide full range of services for the medical devices industry like R&D support, testing, and evaluation.

MedSpark, the medical devices park envisaged as a joint initiative of Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences & Technology (SCTIMST), an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Govt. of India, and the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation Ltd (KSIDC), the industrial and investment promotion agency of the Government of Kerala is going to be established in the Life Science Park, Thonnakkal, Thiruvananthapuram.

This medical device park will stand out with its emphasis on the high-risk medical device sector involving medical implants and extracorporeal devices, in which SCTIMST scores with its knowledge.

Currently, Kerala has a number of medical device companies with an annual turnover in excess of Rs. 750 crores, most of them operating with technologies transferred from SCTIMST.

When completed, the MedSpark will have:
Following the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a handful of writers proposed a grand bargain on the Supreme Court.

The deal would look something like this: In the Senate, which Republicans control 53-47, at least four GOP senators would refuse to confirm a new Supreme Court justice before the election, and if Joe Biden wins on November 3 theyd hold the seat open so Biden could fill it after his inauguration in January. In exchange, Senate Democrats and Biden agree not to pack the Supreme Court if they take power.

In a piece in USA Today, lawyer Chris Truax writes:

Once upon a time, senators of both parties understood the necessity of taking the long view. In 2005, when Republicans controlled Congress and the presidency, a bipartisan group of senators known as the Gang of 14 united to save the filibuster. They knew there was no such thing as a permanent majority and what went around would eventually come around. But that was 15 years ago. And the vast majority of current Republican senators dont want to appear to act sensibly. Regardless of what they might think in private, people like Ted Cruz are convinced that being seen as bellicose and unreasonable will endear them to the Trump fan base. The only two remaining members of the Gang of 14 are Susan Collins and Lindsey Graham.

Although the author is making a case in favor of a grand bargain, its hard to think of a better case against one. He fails to mention that the bipartisan Gang of 14 deal preserving the judicial filibuster for appellate-court nominees in 2005 was nuked by Harry Reid and Senate Democrats in 2013. So, if Republicans give up now on filling Ginsburgs seat with a justice who would faithfully interpret the Constitution, they get a temporary promise from Democrats not to pack the Court?

How is a deal  a hypothetical deal that Democrats arent actually offering right now  tempting if the threat of court-packing isnt permanently removed?

The threat of court-packing carries its own enormous risks for Democrats, of course. As Joe Biden has acknowledged, it guarantees that Republicans would respond in kind when they take back power. That would guarantee Roe v. Wade would be overturned. Filling the current vacancy merely presents the possibility that Roe might be pared back or overturned.

Story continues

To be clear, the real source of the strife over the Supreme Court is Roe, not process. Yes, it is true that in 2016, when the GOP Senate majority blocked President Obamas Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland, Lindsey Graham and several other Senate Republicans said they would hold a vacant Supreme Court seat open even if a Republican were president. (Some Republican senators such as Lamar Alexander and Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made a more nuanced argument about divided government and what Senate Democrat leaders have said they would do in similar circumstances with a Republican president). It is also true that Joe Biden and Senate Democrats argued that the Constitution requires a Senate vote on a Supreme Court nominee. So partisans on both sides have now flip-flopped on standards they made up in 2016.

The primary reason progressives are apoplectic is not inconsistent interpretations of the Biden rule or the McConnell rule on confirming justices in a presidential-election year. Whether its the 2018 Brett Kavanaugh hearings, the 1991 Clarence Thomas hearings, or the 1987 character assassination of Robert Bork  all ferocious fights that did not occur in presidential-election years  the true source of enmity is Democratic fear that Roe might be substantially pared back. And that makes perfect sense. The 1973 case establishing a nearly unlimited right to abortion in all 50 states was an exercise in raw judicial power, as Justice Byron White wrote in a dissent. Power unjustly taken for unjust purposes is not easily restored under its proper authority.

The constitutional rule on Supreme Court vacancies does not tell senators what they should do, only what they may do: The president nominates; the Senate confirms or blocks. But filling the Ginsburg seat with a constitutionalist justice is not  as some critics of Senate Republicans have put it  all about power politics or the view that might makes right. It is also about replacing a Supreme Court justice who believed there is a constitutional right to dismember a partially delivered baby with a Supreme Court justice who acknowledges that right plainly does not exist in the text of the Constitution. Its about the Senates duty to support and defend the Constitution by confirming a justice who will support and defend the Constitution.

More from National Review
A former Myer model allegedly caught with cannabis in Bali was 'stockpiling' the drug to support his addiction during the coronavirus lockdown, a court has heard.

Jed Texas, 30, could face up to 20 years in the notorious Kerokoban prison if he is convicted of drug trafficking, which he denies.

Police claim they found 85.15g of marijuana and a scale in his luxury Bali villa after a raid in April.

Former Myer model Jed Texas, 30, (pictured) was 'stockpiling' cannabis to support his addiction during the coronavirus lockdown, a court has heard

The British-born model rose to fame after gracing the cover of Men's Health and shooting for companies like Toni & Guy.

He was dropped by Sydney modelling agency Chic Management on Friday when news broke of his arrest in Indonesia.

Texas faced Indonesian prosecutor Nyoman Dewa Wira Adiputra via videolink this week as part of his trial for drug trafficking and possession, the Daily Telegraph reported.

The court heard the model fled into the bathroom when officers stormed the room after receiving a tip-off.

Police officer Anak Agung Ketut Sugawirawan told the court they discovered marijuana in the toilet, as well as a scale and resealable plastic bags on his bed.

The London born model who has also graced the cover of Men's Health Magazine and partied with Kate Moss, was represented by Sydney agents Chic Management until Friday

An image of nine bags of what appears to be cannabis were presented to the court as part of the prosecution's evidence.

While the model told the court that the drugs belonged to him after buying them for $60, he said the scales were nothing to do with the cannabis.

Texas' lawyer Deny Sedana claimed his client had been stockpiling the drug out of fear he would run out during the coronavirus pandemic.

'Jed Texas uses marijuana every day. If he doesn't use it, he can't think. He can use up to three times compared to addicts who only use it once per day,' Mr Sedana said.

'He first used it while still in England because of the trauma (caused when) his friend was murdered. He bought the marijuana for stock due to the pandemic situation.

So, it's not just for fun, but (Texas) is in a heavy addiction category.'

The 30-year-old has been awaiting his trial in Kerokoban prison since his arrest in April.

The trial will continue next week.

Texas worked for Tom Ford and Burberry in their campaigns and appeared in Vogue and GQ magazines

Indonesia's strict drug laws carry a maximum sentence of 12 years for possession and 20 years for trafficking.

Texas, who changed his surname from Higgins, relocated to Australia from London in 2015 after working for top fashion label Vivienne Westwood in London.

The 30-year-old's modelling career took off after appearing as a teenager in gay magazine 'Attitude' which led to him being signed by Elite Management.

He completed a number of international assignments in the fashion capitals of Paris, Milan and New York.

He also worked for Tom Ford and Burberry in their campaigns and appeared in Vogue and GQ magazines.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Concerned at the persisting COVID-19 situation in many parts of the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday will hold a meeting with the Chief Ministers and health ministers of seven states reporting the highest burden of coronavirus cases.

These states include Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Punjab.

At present, over 63% of the active cases of the country are concentrated in these seven states and they also account for 65.5% of the total confirmed cases and 77% of the total deaths.

Along with the other five states, Punjab and Delhi have reported an increase in the number of cases being reported recently, said a statement by the health ministry.

Also, Maharashtra, Punjab and Delhi are reporting high mortality with case fatality rate of over 2% which is higher than the national average CFR of 1.6%.

The ministry also underlined that positivity rates in these states, excluding Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, are above the national average of 8.52%.

The government maintained that it has been supporting the states in ramping up the healthcare and medical infrastructure and the clinical management capacities of the doctors manning the ICUs have been substantially upgraded through an initiative led by AIIMS, Delhi.

High level review with the states has ensured adequate availability of medical oxygen in the hospitals and COVID healthcare facilities, said the ministry. The Centre is also regularly deputing multi-disciplinary teams to states to support and handhold them in matters of containment, surveillance, testing and efficient clinical management of the positive cases.
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Linkedin Tri Indah Oktavianti (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, September 22, 2020 08:32 487 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c464b022 1 Politics COVID-19,COVID-19-in-Indonesia,2020-regional-elections,Pilkada-2020,pilkada,Jokowi,State-Palace,KPU Free

The State Palace has maintained that Indonesia will hold the 2020 regional elections on Dec. 9, amid mounting calls from various parties for the race to be postponed as the coronavirus pandemic shows no signs of letting up.

Presidential spokesperson Fadjroel Rachman said the elections must be held in order to "guarantee the constitutional rights of the people, the right to vote and to be elected."

President Joko Widodo has asserted that the regional elections cannot wait until the pandemic is over because no country can predict the end of the pandemic, he said in a statement on Monday.

Thus, regional elections must be held under strict health protocols to ensure that they are safe and democratic."

Fadjroel cited some foreign countries, including Singapore, Germany, France and South Korea, as examples of those that had decided to go forward with their elections amid the COVID-19 pandemic and managed to hold them successfully.

Elections during the pandemic are not impossible, Fadjroel added.

He also ensured that all ministerial and related offices had prepared the regional elections thoroughly with adherence to the health protocols and law enforcement.

His statement came amid calls from prominent figures asking for the government to postpone the regional elections -- set to take place in 270 regions, covering nine provinces, 224 regencies and 37 cities -- due to concerns over public health and coronavirus transmission.

Read also: NU, Muhammadiyah call for postponement of regional elections over COVID-19 concerns

Jusuf Kalla, former vice president and chairman of the Indonesian Red Cross, expressed his disagreement with the Dec. 9 election plan in an opinion piece written in Kompas daily, calling it a "fatal" decision.

Forcing something that clearly endangers the lives of citizens is not only reckless, but also fatal. All political processes are supposed to be for the good of the people, not to harm them, Kalla writes in the piece.

He also voiced concerns over the high potential for widespread virus transmission during the election, as candidates would try to gain as many votes as possible through various ways, including gathering crowds.

"Besides, crowds are inevitable on voting day as voters will have to stand in line for their turn, Kalla argued.

Indonesias two largest Islamic organizations, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah, have also called for the postponement of the 2020 simultaneous regional races, joining numerous election watchdogs, activists and health experts who have cited risks to public health and a possible low voter turnout if the elections were to be held on Dec. 9.

Concerns heightened as the Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) reported 243 violations of health protocols during the registration phase for the elections from Sept. 4 to 6, with many candidates taking along crowds and entourages.

Three General Elections Commission (KPU) commissioners, including KPU chairman Arief Budiman, also tested positive for COVID-19 in the middle of election preparations.
The Department of Agriculture expressed serious misgivings regarding plans to develop a new beef slaughter plant in Banagher, Co Offaly.

In documents seen by the Farming Independent, relating to the Departments assessment of the proposal, it questions the requirement for another beef processing plant given current industry capacity and stated that significant investment would be needed at the site to bring it up to the standards needed to get EU approval.

The development plan, which has been thrown into doubt after the Chinese backers of the project were denied access to the Governments Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP), has the support of farm organisations and local politicians.

The proposed plant aims to process up to 140 cattle per day, primarily for export to China.

However, information obtained by the Farming Independent under the Freedom of Information Act, shows that the Department questioned whether the proposed plant would get approval for beef exports to China.

The Department maintained that approval for the plant from its own perspective was not a foregone conclusion in its submission last December.

The proposed plant operators have only made preliminary contact with DAFM, with a cursory site visit in February earlier this year and no further contact since then. The site itself would require very significant investment to bring it to the standard necessary for EU approval, the Department stated.

Onerous

The Department also said approval for the Chinese market was a lengthy and onerous process and said there is no guarantee that plants which apply for Chinese approval will be successful.

Further, it said the proposed plant is not meeting an identified strategic requirement for additional processing capacity, and there are no guarantees at this stage that it would meet the high standards required for EU and Chinese approvals.

The Department provided observations on the economic viability of this project and whether it is in line with Government strategy in December 2019.

In its submission, it highlighted that there are already 33 Department-approved beef slaughter plants in Ireland and 161 local authority approved plants authorised to slaughter bovines, some of which it said operate on a part-time basis only.

Enterprise Ireland confirmed to the Farming Independent that it does not currently grant aid investment in additional slaughtering capacity in the meat processing industry, on the basis that there is no established deficit in slaughtering capacity.

The state bodys policy was referenced by the Department in its submission.

Plans for the plant were recently dealt another blow after Banagher man Desmond Kampff and others lodged an appeal to An Bord Pleanala against the decision by Offaly County Council to give the green light to Chinese-backed Banagher Chilling Ltd last month.

Farm organisations hailed the project, with ICSA beef chairman Edmund Graham describing it as of huge strategic benefit to the long-suffering beef farming sector.

Bord Bia also backed the planned factory development, and in correspondence seen by this paper it describes the project as particularly opportune given that Ireland became the first European country to gain access to China earlier in 2018.

It also highlighted that having the commitment of well-connected and successful Chinese business interests would be of major benefit.
President Trumps politicized campaign to label New York City an anarchist jurisdiction broadened on Tuesday, with the head of the Environmental Protection Agency threatening to move its regional headquarters out of Lower Manhattan.

The E.P.A. administrator, Andrew R. Wheeler, suggested that local agency officials had become so fearful of New York streets that they are now considering moving offices.

The root of those fears? Mr. Wheeler cited three-month old protests against police brutality, and a small, recent protest against another federal agency, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, at a nearby building. That demonstration was quickly shut down by the police.

Few in New York have taken the presidents rhetoric seriously, and the threat from the E.P.A. administrator was also being dismissed as political theater to be deployed in Mr. Trumps re-election campaign.
HOW LOW WILL JOE GO?

I agree with Love Your Country. Dont trash Trump until you hear all the facts. Biden will not run the country. Harris, Sanders, AOC will be in charge and they will turn our wonderful country into a socialist country. This is not how we want our children and grandchildren to grow up. Biden wants to take your guns, does not support the police, will raise taxes and is a Catholic but supports abortion. Think before you vote.

COPS DELIVERED IN RIDLEY

It was encouraging that the recent BLM rally in Ridley Township turned out to be a peaceful event. I was happy to read that the group did acknowledge the positive effect of police presence at the event. Following the first Ridley BLM rally, which was not too peaceful, the protesters were complaining that there the lack of police presence caused the problems at that event. So it is good to hear them show appreciation for these dedicated and brave police, who protect everyone in the community.

WORTH WATCHING

Just returned a DVD to the Middletown Library entitled The Last Full Measure. I ask you to rent and watch this true story of an Air Force Rescue Team member enter into a Vietnam battle to help the mud soldiers. It will remind us all of where this country is now and where it could be and where it should be. Tissues recommended.

DELCOSEER

GO BACK TO SLEEP

Fall is almost here. Isnt Sleepy Joe back into hibernation his cave? Im tired of listening to his dumb comments.

TRUMP 2020

NO RESPECT

We used to love the Eagles. What in the world is going on America? America is paying the Eagles millions of dollars to play. No other country is paying them. They should stand up for the National Anthem and our flag because theyre the breadwinners of the Eagles. Theyre the ones that are paying them. No one else. Therefore they should respect who the heck is paying them.

DISGRACEFUL

EASY DECISION

Yes, Trump will take away Social Security. The payroll tax that he stopped temporarily is what funds Social Security (as well as Medicare). He said that if he wins, that he will eliminate that tax. So, that means Social Security will no longer be funded. Biden said that he will save Social Security. Not a hard choice there!

JTK

SORRY MARIE

Hi, since many of the political post are peoples opinions and not necessarily true facts, I would like to recommend that Sound Off not publish any political posts the month before the election. Thank you.

MARIE

Aint gonna happen, Marie.  Ed.

TWO OF A KIND

I saw a commercial for Trump with Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, talking about what a great guy Benjamin Netanyahu is for Israel. So we have two criminals standing there in a commercial for Donald Trump, asking the American people to re-elect a criminal. It doesnt get any more bizarre than that. And of course Trump supporters obviously dont care that Benjamin Netanyahu is a criminal, because they dont care that Donald Trump is a criminal.

UNBELIVABLE

GET SCARED

Hey Joe by being such a devout Catholic, you quote John Paul, I guess you forgot Gods own words, Thou shall not kill. Youve supported Planned Parenthood and abortion clinics your entire career over your faith. Be afraid, Joe, be very afraid.

JOHNNY FROM BOOTHWYN

DON HIS DUTY

This is For Love Our Country and all the other Trump flunkies out there. Are you somehow under the impression that Trump gave anybody a stimulus check? Those checks came from the taxpayers of this country. We gave our check to charity, something Draft Dodger Don would never do. Now Donnie wants to end Social Security by 2023. I doubt if he cares that people really need their Social Security. After all, hes still living off his dads estate.

REALLY?
The Foundation for Security and Development in Africa (FOSDA), has urged the government and all stakeholders to adopt a zero tolerance for electoral violence before, during and after the upcoming December 7 general election.



Mrs Theodora W. Anti, Programmes Manager, FOSDA, in a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency, said the Foundation's call was in connection with the commemoration of this Years International Peace Day being celebrated on the theme "Shaping Peace Together".



"We call on the Government, the security agencies, the National Peace Council, political parties, the Media, citizens and all stakeholders to adopt a zero tolerance to electoral violence stance towards the upcoming election to ensure peaceful elections come December 2020," she said.



"It is important that all stakeholders led by the Government adopt measures that would send strong signal to all, that violence acts and conducts will not be tolerated in the upcoming elections."



Mrs Anti said FOSDA acknowledges that most of the drivers of electoral violence are structural and need long term measures to address them, such as unemployment.



"However, it is crucial that the government put in place measures to ensure peace in the upcoming elections."



She said the Foundation also called on all political parties especially the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to disband their vigilante groups and discourage groups that were playing such roles.



"We encourage the parties to adopt peaceful means of addressing issues of conflict that may arise," she said.

"We urge the Security agencies to provide fair protection and services to all political parties as well as enforce all relevant laws without fear or favour."



She noted that FOSDA was also calling on the Media to be vigilant and not allow political parties or any group of persons to use their platforms to foment violent situations.



She said the Electoral Commission (EC) must provide a fair play ground for all political parties and actors to ensure peaceful resolutions of all issues.



She said the EC must be proactive in identifying and addressing challenges that are likely to increase tensions and engender violence.



Mrs Anti said urged the citizens to conduct themselves peacefully and work with the security agencies to promote peace before, during and after the up-coming elections.



"We all have a responsibility to safeguard the peace of Ghana. Let us shape it together. Let us adopt a zero tolerance for electoral 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.

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Mr Wall said that William loved exercise and was a "decent sized kid who is very energetic, very athletic". He believes his son could run 25 to 30 kilometres. "He's high-functioning so on the outside he seems normal ... with him, with the exercise regime, once the body sugars start dropping, that's when it becomes more irrational." Locals have been leaving food on the trails and Mr Wall said his son wasn't a fan of junk food. "Lollies and that  he doesn't like the junk food, he prefers protein bars, fruit, that type of thing. He would go straight for that."

Anyone who approaches William should be calm, Mr Wall said. "Just be calm, just probably say that his mum wants to talk to him. He responds a bit better than coming to me ... just in a calm voice, 'We have some health food bars for you mate, come and get them, they're yours." William, who wants to be in the police or the army, has a younger sister and two older brothers. His father said William loves dogs and will likely approach people if they have their dogs with them on a lead. Waterways are also being searched. Credit:Eddie Jim Similar search just months ago

The search comes three months after the rescue of another autistic teenager, Will Callaghan, who spent two nights in near-freezing bush on Mount Disappointment, about 100 kilometres from Warburton. His stepfather Nathan Ezard said they were holding out hope that William Wall would be found quickly, and passed on their support to the family as the search continued into the afternoon. Mr Ezard said the memories of Mount Disappointment and the search for their William dont really go away. Mounted officers have been searching for William. Credit:Justin McManus His message to the family of William Wall was to remain hopeful.

Hope is always there. Even when things seem too hopeless, there is hope, now matter how desperate it seems, he said. Search volunteers turned away Volunteers who gathered outside Warburton police station on Wednesday morning were told by police they would not be needed in the hunt. That decision was met with disappointment, with one man saying, "there is a kid out there, the more people looking the better". A police helicopter has joined the search Credit:Eddie Jim

Another woman agreed, saying: "Some of us have grown up in this area our whole lives". But Inspector Goddard said more than 100 people were involved in the search, using helicopters, horses, motorbikes and 4WDs. "We are professionals at dealing with searches. This is not an uncommon occurrence for us to search for people. And in this area here, we do often have people go missing. We are comfortable with the resourcing that we do have in place at the moment." 'He could be anywhere' Local Barry Hodge said he had been out searching for William Wall for several hours on Wednesday morning, mainly along the Aqueduct Trail.

He said they were searching the water tanks and other structures like sheds. He said they would continue searching throughout the day and stressed how important local knowledge was in a search like this. He could be anywhere, he said. Its insane, some parts [of the bush] you cant even see 10metres into the bush. Other parts you can see 50 metres in. He said the weather was a worry. Hopefully he is found today, he said. Locals were left puzzled after police told them they weren't needed in the search. Credit:Justin McManus Locals turned away from search

Late on Tuesday night, local police took to Facebook to inform locals they weren't needed in the search because of coronavirus restrictions. Inspector Goddard clarified the police position on Wednesday. "This is not to do with COVID," he said. "We don't want to bring this into a COVID conversation. What we are doing is focusing our search on Will. Karen Duke was one of the people who wanted to help. Credit:Justin McManus "If the resourcing we have on the ground here and deployed today is not adequate we will ask for more resources and I have no doubt we will get what we need in order to conduct this search."

At a heated briefing for would-be searchers in Warburton early on Wednesday morning, police asked residents to keep an eye out for William and to share the word on social media but said that members of the public were not needed as part of the co-ordinated search. One officer said the bush was "quite treacherous" and the wet and slippery conditions could lead to injuries. "We aren't going to let the public down or the family," he said. Police on motorbikes have joined the search. Credit:Eddie Jim Police said they understood people wanted to help but reassured them that they had many trained professionals searching.

After the briefing, local Peta McMillan Kelly said she was "dumbfounded" by the decision which was disheartening for locals, some of whom had waited for instructions in the rain for more than an hour. She said she would continue to search anyway, using her two hours of exercise to check the tracks and paths in the area that she knows well. Her daughter Lila, 13, said she would join her mother. "Im very worried for him," she said. "If it was me Id be terrified." Karen Duke, from Warburton, who also came to offer her help in the search, said she understood the decision but it was still frustrating. "We feel a bit useless, we want to help," she said. "We want to get out there and help this family.

'People around here are fantastic' William is described as 177 centimetres tall, with a lean build and mousy brown hair. He has a lazy right eye. William Wall's father Shane on Wednesday morning. Credit:Justin McManus His family said he was last seen wearing a dark hooded jumper, dark-coloured track pants, black runners and had a hydration pack across his chest. He left his mobile phone at home. This if the first time he has gone missing and it's "so much out of character", said his father, who thanked the police, the SES and all the locals for their support.
Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno has condoled with the Nigerian Army over the demise of Dahiru Bako, a colonel killed in an ambush by Boko Haram insurgents.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Bako was ambushed on September 20 while leading his troops on a clearance at Sabon Gari-Wajiroko axis in Damboa Local Government Area of the state.

Mr Zulum, whose condolence message was in a statement released by his Special Adviser Media and Strategies, Isa Gusau in Maiduguri on Monday, said the sacrifices of the senior officer and other slain soldiers would not be in vain.

He said: It was public knowledge that I liked late Col. Bako and so did many people.

Bako was a true soldier who inspired his troops and led them to frontlines with exceptional courage that was clearly out of pure patriotism.

He fought very hard and very well. He defeated many enemies of peace and protected many sons and daughters of Borno State to the extent that he gave his life defending the people.

By the grace of God, the supreme sacrifices made by Col. Bako and many other heroes like him in the armed forces and volunteers shall not be in vain.

The deaths of our heroes, sad as they are, only reinforce our confidence in the strong will exhibited by our gallant troops and volunteers, that defending our country comes ahead of everything.

The people of Borno will forever be grateful to late Col. Bako and everyone like him. We pray that Allah forgives his shortcomings and those of all our fallen heroes.

The governor pledged his administrations continued support to the Nigerian Army to enable its personnel to execute the counter terrorism campaign and restore total normalcy in the state.

(NAN)
- Britam Uganda gifted Uganda Airlines a cake when it celebrated its first anniversary in August but the pastry's design received scathing backlash

- The cake looked like a crashed plane and the insurance firm agreed that "it did not do justice to the young airline"

- Britam announced a baking challenge that sought to identify the best designer and baker who got a chance to gift the airline the cake

- The insurance firm announced the baking challenge, which attracted over 130 participants, will now become an annual contest

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Uganda Airlines has finally received another cake to celebrate its first anniversary from insurance firm Britam.

In a separate story, TUKO.co.ke reported the airline marked its anniversary on August 28 but the cake gift it received from the insurer literally crashed the celebratory mood as the airline turned one.

READ ALSO: Musalia Mudavadi celebrates 60th birthday with intimate party surrounded by wife and kids

The new cake presented to Uganda Airlines by Britam Uganda. Photo: Britam Uganda.

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: Jaji Mkuu amshauri Uhuru kuvunja bunge kisa kukataa kutekeleza sheria ya usawa wa jinsia

Photos of the cake that were shared online landed the baker scathing backlash with a section of netizens claiming the pastry looked like a crashed aircraft.

Britam had intended to gift Uganda Airlines a cake resembling one of its airplanes but the baking attempt crashlanded.

READ ALSO: Mike Sonko's ally eyeing Mswabweni National Assembly seat resigns from ODM

The first cake Britam gifted the young airline. Photo: Britam Uganda.

Source: Facebook

After the botched take off in helping Uganda Airlines celebrate its first birthday, Britam decided to make a second attempt using a creative approach.

On September 7, the firm announced a baking challenge that sought to identify the best baker with the most appealing cake design, not only stylish but mouthwatering one for Uganda airlines.

READ ALSO: Bungoma: Handshake supporter beats up local musician for supporting William Ruto

The new cake design reflected the topography of an airport. Photo: Britam Uganda.

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: Raia wa Ghana afurushwa Uingereza baada ya kumuoa Sugar Mummy

In a statement on Friday, September 18, Britam announced that it had identified the most appealing design and the top patissier was also been given a chance to present the cake to the one-year-old 'baby'.

The new design resembled the topography of Entebbe Airport meticulously representing details like the control tower, roads, the runway, the adjacent lush green field, trees and planes.

What, however, stood out on the cake was an aircraft that was already in full throttle and had just lifted off from the runway ready to climb to its cruising altitude.

READ ALSO: Chris Kirubi shows off his massive house, lake and expensive car collection

Uganda Airlines and Britam staff take part in cutting the new cake. Photo: Britam Uganda.

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: Uhuru's adopted son Daniel Owira says he nearly left school after becoming rich

Those who saw the cake conceded to the fact that it was not only artistically designed but terrific at stimulating taste buds.

According to Britam, the cake was baked by Cakealbumug bakers.

"We are excited and thankful to Uganda Airlines for giving us a second opportunity to celebrate their first anniversary, we also thank the Ugandans who challenged us to do better.

We have now decided to make the BritamBakeOff an annual challenge," said Allan Mafabi, CEO of Britam Uganda.

The baking challenge attracted up to 132 participants.

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Keep abusing me, you will get tired eventually - Kenya's youngest Reverend Victor Githu | Tuko TV.

Source: TUKO.co.ke
Nova Systems and the International Society of Automation (ISA) are pleased to announce a partnership to deliver ISA/IEC 62443 cybersecurity training and certification in Singapore, Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia.

The ISA/IEC 62443 series of standards, endorsed by the United Nations, is the world's only consensus-based series of industrial cybersecurity standards. Developed by the ISA99 committee and adopted by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), these standards draw on the input and knowledge of industrial automation and control systems (IACS) security experts from across the globe to develop consensus standards that are applicable to all industry sectors and critical infrastructure.

The ISA/IEC 62443 series of standards provides a flexible framework for regulators, asset owners, operators, system integrators and component manufacturers to use in the lifecycle of IACS. It addresses specificities in the operational technology (OT) environment, which is different from the IT environment in some fundamental ways. The standards have been well adopted in North America and Western Europe. As a founding member of the ISA Global Cybersecurity Alliance (ISAGCA), Nova Systems is pleased to work with ISA to train and certify a critical mass of IACS security practitioners to strengthen the protection of critical infrastructure and assets in the Southeast Asia and Oceania region, said Ryan Lee, Managing Director Asia of Nova Systems.

Due to COVID-19 travel limitations, we will initially deliver the ISA/IEC 62443 Certificate 1 (Cybersecurity Fundamentals Specialist) and Certificate 2 (Cybersecurity Risk Assessment Specialist) online courses. This will allow candidates to undergo training and certification regardless of where they are located. When travel restrictions are eased, we will work with ISA to deliver classroom and on-demand modular courses in addition to the more advanced Certificate 3 (IACS Cybersecurity Design & Implementation) and Certificate 4 (IACS Cybersecurity Operations & Maintenance) training as needed, added Mr Lee.

Details of the ISA 62443 courses are available here: https://novasystems.com/operational-technology-cyber-security-training/

ABOUT INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF AUTOMATION

The International Society of Automation (isa.org) is a non-profit professional association founded in 1945 to create a better world through automation. ISA advances technical competence by connecting the automation community to achieve operational excellence. The organization develops widely used global standards; certifies industry professionals; provides education and training; publishes books and technical articles; hosts conferences and exhibits; and provides networking and career development programs for its 40,000 members and 400,000 customers around the world.

ISA created the ISA Global Cybersecurity Alliance (isa.org/ISAGCA) to advance cybersecurity readiness and awareness in manufacturing and critical infrastructure facilities and processes. The Alliance brings end-user companies, automation and control systems providers, IT infrastructure providers, services providers, system integrators, and other cybersecurity stakeholder organizations together to proactively address growing threats.

ISA owns Automation.com, a leading online publisher of automation-related content, and is the founding sponsor of The Automation Federation (automationfederation.org), an association of non-profit organizations serving as The Voice of Automation. Through a wholly owned subsidiary, ISA bridges the gap between standards and their implementation with the ISA Security Compliance Institute (isasecure.org) and the ISA Wireless Compliance Institute (isa100wci.org).

ABOUT NOVA SYSTEMS

Nova Systems (Nova) is an Australian-headquartered global technical consultancy and professional services firm, using systems engineering as the core discipline to deliver services and solutions to our clients. Our niche is in providing Defence, Government and Industry clients with world-class independent expertise in operational- and safety-critical fields.

Nova operates as the predominant consulting business unit of the Nova Group, which include several companies specialising in aerospace design & certification, geographical information systems, software engineering and internet-of-things solutions. Nova Systems has offices throughout Australia and international offices in United Kingdom, Singapore, Norway and New Zealand. We leverage off our 800-strong global workforce with diverse skillsets and experience to provide the best solutions and advice to our clients.

Novas capabilities extend from complex project management through most specialist engineering disciplines, including cyber security. We are highly versed at combining our specialist engineering expertise with domain knowledge to develop and recommend industry leading solutions for our clients. Our mission is to satisfy customer requirements through a best for capability fully integrated product team approach and has successfully applied this methodology across a range of significant programs.

As a leading Critical Information Infrastructure (CII) trusted partner to clients in Government, Defence and Commercial sectors, Nova Systems is well placed to advise, consult, and educate on cybersecurity specific initiatives. With an Information Technology & Operational Technology qualified team, Nova Systems provides a suite of security services guided as a CREST member company as well as a Founding Member to the International Society of Automation Global Cybersecurity Alliance.


Christian teaching assistant fired for opposing LGBT sex-ed curriculum sues school

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A Christian teaching assistant, who was fired last year for speaking out against pro-LGBT influences in her sons education, is suing her former employer for the equivalent of about $70,000.

Forty-four-year-old Kristie Higgs was let go for alleged gross misconduct from her job at Farmors School in Fairford, a Church of England school in Gloucestershire, last April.

The former pastoral assistant was let go after an anonymous complaint was submitted about her posting on Facebook her objection to the use of two LGBT books in her sons primary school. She had also urged friends on Facebook to sign a petition opposing a new policy of compulsory sex education in primary schools.

She was dismissed after a disciplinary hearing in which she was allegedly told to keep your religion out of it. According to her legal team, Higgs was formally accused by the schools governors of illegal discrimination, "serious inappropriate use of social media, and "online comments that could bring the school into disrepute and damage the reputation of the school.

Supported by the Christian Legal Centre, Higgs filed a complaint with the Bristol Employment Tribunal, claiming her former employer discriminated against and harassed her on the grounds of her Christian beliefs.

Two hearings will take place this week.

Nothing could have prepared me for what happened. I was told that the reasons behind my sacking were nothing to do with my Christian beliefs  it had everything to do with my Christian beliefs, Higgs argued in a statement. The whole experience broke my heart.

Higgs claimed that she was punished for sharing concerns about Relationships and Sex Education  concerns she holds because of her Christian beliefs that are shared by hundreds of thousands of parents across the UK.

My number one concern has always been the effect that learning about sex and gender in school will have on children at such a young age, she added. I have not discriminated against anyone. Through my case I want there to be renewed freedom for others, especially Christians, to express their beliefs and opinions without fear of losing their jobs.



Andrew Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, argued in a statement that Higgs case is about freedom to hold Christian views about what it means to be human.

Many Christians have faced pressure for expressing these views in the workplace before, but in this case, Kristie has been dismissed for sharing her views among friends on Facebook, Williams noted. What Kristie shared on Facebook simply reflects the genuine and justified concerns of a parent about the sexual ideology currently being imposed on her own children and thousands of children across the UK.

Williams explained that Higgs is at the risk of losing her ability to ever work with children again because she has been deemed a danger to vulnerable children. 

In a statement submitted to the tribunal, Higgs argued that she believes it is morally necessary as a Christian to speak out in defense of the Bible truth when false and harmful doctrines are being promoted.

In her defense, the Christian Legal Centre points out that Higgs was dismissed based on one anonymous complaint even though she has an exemplary record at the school and in her work with youth in the wider community.

A spokesperson for Farmors School told the Daily Mail that it would be inappropriate for the school to comment on Higgs case while it is before a tribunal.

Education Secretary Damian Hinds announced that schools in England will broaden sex and relationship education to include same-sex relationships and transgenderism, among other things.

Under the policy, parents can opt their children out of sex and relationships education in primary school. They can also withdraw their children from sex and education lessons until their students are 15 years old and can choose to participate in lessons.
A Chinese property mogul and arch critic of President Xi Jinping jailed for corruption after calling the president a clown.

Ren Zhiqiang, the former chairman of state-owned real estate group Huayuan, received a sentence of 18 years for corruption, bribery and embezzlement of public funds.

He was also handed a 4.2million yuan (484,485) fine, according to Beijing No. 2 Intermediate Court.

The court verdict, released earlier today, said the 69-year-old 'voluntarily and truthfully confessed all his crimes' and would not appeal the court's decision.

Rights campaigners accuse President Xi Jinping and the Communist Party of using corruption charges to silence dissent.

Ren Zhiqiang (pictured), the former chairman of state-owned real estate group Huayuan, received a sentence of 18 years for corruption, bribery and embezzlement of public funds

Ren, who was once among the ruling Communist Party's inner circle, disappeared from the public eye in March shortly after penning an essay that lambasted Xi's response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The piece has since been scrubbed from China's internet, which regularly censors content that challenges the authorities, but was shared widely elsewhere online.

'This epidemic has revealed the fact that the Party and government officials only care about protecting their own interests, and the monarch only cares about protecting their interests and core position,' Ren wrote, without naming Xi.

He added: 'Standing there was not an emperor showing off his new clothes, but a clown stripped of clothes who insisted on being an emperor.'

Rights campaigners accuse President Xi Jinping (pictured) and the Communist Party of using corruption charges to silence dissent

An escorted police van, believed to be carrying Huayuan Real Estate Group former chairman Ren Zhiqiang, leaving Beijing No. 2 Intermediate People's Court earlier today

Ren's influential blog on the Twitter-like Weibo platform attracted millions of followers before his account was closed by authorities in 2016 after he repeatedly called for greater freedom of the press.

Beijing has stepped up its crackdown on civil society since Xi took power in 2012, tightening restrictions on freedom of speech and detaining hundreds of activists and lawyers.

The Communist Party's disciplinary watchdog launched an investigation into Ren in April before the trial opened at a Beijing court on September 11.

A heavy police presence guarded the courtroom with a handful of supporters gathering outside.

One supporter told AFP they backed Ren because he 'dares to speak the truth'.

A heavy police presence (pictured) guarded the courtroom as a handful of supporters gathering outside - with one saying they backed Ren because he 'dares to speak the truth'

Ren was jailed for 18 years on Tuesday for corruption, bribery and embezzlement of public funds.

The verdict claimed he had embezzled almost 50 million yuan (5.8million) of public funds and accepted bribes worth 1.25 million yuan (143,774), according to a statement from the Beijing No. 2 Intermediate People's Court.

He was also fined 4.2 million yuan (484,485).

It also stated that Ren 'abused his power' in his role at Huayuan Group, which caused more than 116 million yuan of losses to the state-owned holding company and more than 53 million yuan worth of property losses for the group.

Online reaction to Ren's sentencing was also being rapidly scrubbed on Tuesday.

'The only real-estate tycoon who dares to tell the truth in China has been censored,' read one comment on Weibo.

'He was born in 1951 and is 69 years old this year.... maybe he won't live to see the day he gets out of jail,' said another.

Ren, who was the son of a former vice-commerce minister and a Communist Party member for decades before he was expelled in July, was well connected with party elites.

He wrote in his memoir that he had been friends with vice-president and former anti-corruption chief Wang Qishan since they were teenagers, when Wang was assigned by their school to mentor the younger Ren.

He is also a controversial figure, particularly over his defence of China's soaring house prices - once telling Chinese media that people who had been unwilling to invest in real estate before the boom 'now deserve to be poor'.
The government data also revealed that at 19.5 percent, India has highest share in global Covid-19 recoveries.

India reported over 1 lakh coronavirus recoveries in a single-day for the first time while fresh cases also dropped below 76,000 after two weeks, according to the Health Ministry data updated on Tuesday.

The data updated at 8 am showed that during the past 24 hours, 1,01,468 COVID-19 patients recuperated, while 75,809 new cases were recorded, pushing the overall figures to 55,62,663 infections and 44,97,867 recoveries. India's recovery rate thus improved to 80.86 percent

Also, 1,053 patients died during the period, taking the cumulative death figures to 88,935, the data showed, reporting a COVID-19 case fatality rate of 1.60 percent. There are 9,75,861 active coronavirus cases in the country, which make 17.54 percent of the total caseload, the data stated.

Furthermore, the government data also revealed that at 19.5 percent, India has highest share in global COVID-19 recoveries.

PM to chair review meeting with CMs

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair a high-level virtual meeting with chief ministers and health ministers of seven high-burden states on Wednesday to review the COVID-19 situation.

These states are Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Punjab, an official statement said, noting that more than 63 percent of the active cases in the country are concentrated in these seven states.

They also account for 65.5 percent of the total confirmed cases and 77 percent of the total deaths.

"Along with the other five states, Punjab and Delhi have reported an increase in the number of cases being reported recently. Maharashtra, Punjab and Delhi are reporting high mortality with more than 2 percent Case Fatality Rate (CFR). Other than Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, their positivity rate is observed to be above the national average of 8.52 percent," the statement said.

The Centre, it added, has been leading the fight against COVID-19 in effective collaboration and close coordination with the state and union territory governments.

Delhi's COVID-19 tally croses 2.53 lakh

The National Capital's COVID-19 case count mounted to over 2.53 lakh on Tuesday with 3,816 more people contracting the viral disease, while 37 fresh fatalities pushed the death toll to 5,051, according to the Delhi health department bulletin.

In total, 59,013 samples were tested on Monday, and results of 3,816 came positive today, it said.

The number of active cases on Tuesday rose to 31,263 from 30,941 on the previous day. The death toll from COVID-19 in Delhi stood at 5,014 on Monday.

The Tuesday bulletin said that the death toll due to the coronavirus infection has risen to 5,051 and the total number of cases has climbed to 2,53,075.

Maharashtra reports 18,390 new cases

Maharashtra, the state contributing the biggest share to India's case load, reported 18,390 new cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of cases in the state to 12,42,770.

According to the state's public health department, Maharashtra reported 18,390 new COVID-19 cases, 20,206 recovered cases and 392 deaths in the last 24 hours, taking total cases to 12,42,770 till date, including 2,72,410 active cases, 9,36,554 discharged cases, and 33,407 deaths. The recovery rate in the state is 75.36 percent, while the case fatality rate is 2.69 percent.

United States passes 200,000 deaths

The United States registered its 200,000th death from the pandemic on Tuesday, the latest grim milestone for the country just weeks before voters decide if President Donald Trump will stay in office.

According to a rolling tally by Johns Hopkins University, 200,005 Americans have died and 6.86 million have been confirmed infected by the novel coronavirus

"COVID will be the third leading cause of death this year in the US," tweeted Tom Frieden, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) under former president Barack Obama. "The staggering death toll from the virus is a reflection of a failed national response, but it's not too late to turn it around."

Only the number of people who died from heart disease and cancer will be higher. It's likely that the US actually crossed 200,000 deaths in July, said Eric Topol, director of the Scripps Research Institute, citing the excess overall mortality rate. The initial lack of tests led to an undercount of the virus' toll.

"We are the outlier to have been caught totally flat-footed with no testing, and just not learning from mistakes," Topol said. "We never got adequate suppression, and yet we're opening everything and trying to make believe that everything is just great."

50% efficacy needed for COVID-19 vaccine approval: DCGI

A COVID-19 vaccine candidate should show at least 50 percent efficacy during Phase III of clinical trials for it to be widely deployed, according to a draft guidance document for vaccine developers issued by the central drug authority.

However, adequate data informing about the potential risk of vaccine-associated Enhanced Respiratory Disease (ERD) will need to be generated, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) said in its draft ''Regulatory Guidelines for Development of Vaccines with Special Consideration for COVID-19 Vaccine''.

It said people with a history or laboratory evidence of prior novel coronavirus infection should be allowed to participate in trials if they did not have acute COVID-19 or other acute infectious illness.

The draft guidelines have been uploaded on the CDSCO''s website. It is seeking comments and feedback from the public till 12 October.

Considering the urgent need for a safe and effective vaccine for the prevention of COVID-19, clinical development programs of COVID-19 vaccine may proceed through an adaptive and seamless approach.

"However, as applicable for any vaccine, regardless of whether clinical development programs proceed in discrete phases with separate studies or via a more seamless approach, an adequate data, including data to inform the potential risk of vaccine-associated Enhanced Respiratory Disease (ERD) will be needed," they said.

Consideration may be needed for conducting more than one vaccine efficacy trial in case different subtypes of a pathogen are involved, the guidelines underlined.

In such cases, the efficacy trials may be required to be conducted in different regions where certain subtypes are known to predominate.

It is anticipated that adequately powered efficacy trials for COVID-19 vaccines will be of sufficient size to provide an acceptable safety database for younger adult and elderly populations, provided that no significant safety concerns arise during clinical development that would warrant further pre-licensure evaluation.

India's single-day coronavirus cases had dipped below 76,000 on 8 September also, when 75,809 cases were reported.

India's COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on 7 August, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and it went past 50 lakh on September 16.

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research, a cumulative 6,53,25,779 samples have been tested up to September 21 --9,33,185 of them on Monday.

The 1,053 new deaths include 344 from Maharashtra, 122 from Karnataka, 88 from Uttar Pradesh, 62 from West Bengal, 60 from Tamil Nadu, 51 from Andhra Pradesh, 47 from Punjab, 37 from Madhya Pradesh and 32 from Delhi.

A total of 88,935 deaths reported so far includes 33,015 from Maharashtra, followed by 8,871 from Tamil Nadu, 8,145 from Karnataka, 5,410 from Andhra Pradesh, 5,135 from Uttar Pradesh, 5,014 from Delhi, 4,421 from West Bengal, 3,336 from Gujarat, 2,860 from Punjab and 2,007 from Madhya Pradesh.

The health ministry stressed that more than 70 per cent of the deaths occurred due to comorbidities.

"Our figures are being reconciled with the Indian Council of Medical Research," the ministry said on its website, adding that state-wise distribution of figures is subject to further verification and reconciliation.

With inputs from agencies
Partnership is the first joint product launch between an Israeli health-tech company and UAE firm following signing of the historic peace deal

DUBAI, UAE and TEL AVIV, Israel, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- SURE Universal Ltd, a pioneering developer of IoT (Internet of Things) software for home healthcare, announced today it has partnered with HBK Department of Projects (HBK DOP) to launch a white label smart IoT healthcare solution, HBKiCare, for both the UAE and Middle East regional markets. The partnership is the first joint product launch in the UAE between an Israeli technology company and an Emirati company after the normalization of relationships between Israel and the UAE.

This announcement completes a significant milestone for the promotion of healthcare technology and innovation between the two countries. With COVID-19 driving a huge demand globally for remote healthcare, today's need has never been greater. In 2020 alone, the world has witnessed a spike in hospitalization and deaths in 65 and older adults, along with a 64% rise in telehealth demand driven by patient-doctor social distancing needs (Frost & Sullivan), as well as predicted growth of the global telehealth market from US$ 61 billion today to US$ 560 billion by 2027 (Fortune Business Insights).

HBKiCare is a Universal Remote Healthcare IOT platform and home care kit enabling continuous patient monitoring with maximum flexibility and affordability. The post-COVID-19 patient monitoring solution includes remote measurements of ECG, temperature, pulse, blood oxygen and pressure. The Elderly Care at home solution includes fall detection, activities of daily living (ADL's) and personal location monitoring, which is supported by AI-based insights along with easy voice activated interaction using Google Home, Amazon Alexa and Baidu.

His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Nahyan Chairman of HBK DoP said: "In line with the vision of the UAE and it's leaders we realized the importance of adopting technology innovations in key sectors such as health, agriculture, mining, energy, water and telecom, duly supported by our own blockchain technology platforms under HBK GoChain that specializes in the supply chain, e-government, Central Bank Digital Currencies, payments and financial services. HBKiCare is a universal remote healthcare solution made easy that is comprehensive, flexible and secure."

Mr. Ray Stata, Co-founder and Chairman of Sure Universal Ltd said: "We are honored to be part of this historic partnership and the product launch. Remote patient monitoring and home health care are critical imperatives during this time of the global health crisis, and we are proud to contribute our innovative technology to this urgently needed solution." Mr. Stata is also the Co-founder and Chairman of Analog Devices Inc, a world-leading semiconductor company.

About HBK DOP

Departments of Project Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Mohammed Al Nahyan (Department of Projects) was founded by His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Mohammed Al Nahyan a member of the ruling family and Chairman to handle project investments and enter into JV partnership with partners presenting viable and interesting projects with sustainability and job creation. His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Mohammed Al Nahyan is a seasoned business leader with a proven track record of success over the past two decades, across regions and including most segments of business. His leadership style is often described as visionary, innovative and inspirational.

For more information visit www.hbkdop.org

About Sure Universal

SURE Universal Ltd is a pioneering developer of IoT software for remote healthcare, addressing the critical and growing need for accessible healthcare services worldwide. SURE Universal Care is a complete solution for remote healthcare, including remote medical diagnostics and monitoring. SURE Universal Care platform is based on international standards for IoT and medical care to guarantee device interoperability, data security, and user privacy. SURE Universal works closely with international partners in the US, China, UAE, Hong Kong, Singapore and other regions. The company was co-founded by seasoned technology entrepreneurs, Mr. Ray Stata and Dr. Viktor Ariel, and is headquartered in Ramat Gan, Israel. For more information visit www.sureuniversal.com

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Contacts:

Anwar Hussein

Group CEO,

HBK Department of Projects

Tel: +971-55-2169739

anwar@hbkdop.org

Viktor Ariel

CEO,

SURE Universal

Tel: +972-544-348-362

viktor.ariel@sureuniversal.com
Albany, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/22/2020 -- Transparency Market Research has published a new report titled, "Global Tire Market for Automotive (Rim Size: 12''-17'', 18''-21'', and ?22''; Aspect Ratio: 35-55, 60-70, and 75-85; Material: Natural Rubber and Synthetic Rubber; Ply: Radial and Bias; Tube: Tubed Tire and Tubeless Tire; Season: All Season Tire and Winter Tire; Vehicle Type: Passenger Vehicle, Light Commercial Vehicle, and Heavy Commercial Vehicle; Sales Channel: OEM and Aftermarket) - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast, 20192027." According to the report, the global tire market for automotive is projected to surpass US$ 190 Bn by 2027, expanding at a CAGR of above 3% during the forecast period.



Global Tire Market for Automotive:



According to the report, the global tire market for automotive is expected to expand steadily at a CAGR of 3%, owing to rising vehicle sales globally

Rise in sales of vehicles in developing countries in Asia Pacific and Latin America is also anticipated to drive the global tire market for automotive



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https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=4979



Expansion of Global Tire Market for Automotive



Rise in sales of SUVs and crossover vehicles, due to change in consumer preference for high clearance and vehicles with sporty appearance, is fueling the demand for automotive tires. SUVs and crossover vehicles accounted for 34% of total vehicle sales in China and 42% of total global vehicle sales in 2017.

Increase in competition among automakers is compelling them to increase the number of models and offer numerous tire options based on rim size and aspect ratio. Rise in consumer demand for SUVs and higher rim size vehicles is shifting the demand from low rim sizes to high rim sizes. Increase in disposable income of consumers is boosting the sales of luxury and premium vehicles, which in turn is fueling the demand for low profile or tires with aspect ratio 35-55.

Based on ply, the radial segment held a dominant share of the global automotive tire market in 2018. Its share is estimated to rise during the forecast period. In developing regions, such Asia Pacific & Latin America, commercial vehicles are undergoing a radialization, i.e., shift of preference toward deployment of radial ply tires. Commercial vehicles in these regions are dominantly bias ply; however, they are shifting to radial ply. Therefore, demand for radial ply tires in commercial vehicles is estimated to rise significantly.

In terms of sales channel, the aftermarket segment held a prominent share of the automotive tire market due to the wear and tear nature of tires and requirement of periodic replacement. Rise in average age of vehicles and increasing number of vehicles on road are boosting the aftermarket segment.

Regional Analysis of Global Tire Market for Automotive



In terms of region, the global tire market for automotive has been segregated into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and Latin America.

Asia Pacific dominated the global tire market for automotive in 2018 due to high volume sales of vehicles in the region and presence of large number of vehicles on road. North America and Europe are lucrative markets for winter tires, as winter tires are mandatory in several countries in Europe such as Norway, Russia, and Latvia. Moreover, North America, Japan, and China have also witnessed significant increase in winter tire sales and hence, these tires are anticipated to witness a steady demand.

Automotive tires in Europe, Japan, Brazil, and South Korea are required to be labeled according to noise, fuel efficiency, and rolling resistance. A similar labelling is likely to be adopted by other regions and therefore, boost the tire market for automotive.

Prominent players operating in the global tire market for automotive include Bridgestone Corporation, Continental AG, Michelin, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, Pirelli & C.S.p.A., Apollo Tyres Ltd., CEAT Ltd., China National Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd., Cooper Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd., and Giti Tire



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The global tire market for automotive has been segmented as follows:



Global Tire Market for Automotive, by Rim Size

12''-17''

18''-21''

>22''

Global Tire Market for Automotive , by Aspect Ratio

35-55

60-70

75-85

Global Tire Market for Automotive, by Material

Natural Rubber

Synthetic Rubber

Global Tire Market for Automotive, by Ply

Radial

Bias

Global Tire Market for Automotive, by Tube

Tubed Tire

Tubeless Tire

Global Tire Market for Automotive, by Season

All Season Tire

Winter Tire

Global Tire Market for Automotive, by Vehicle Type

Passenger Vehicle

Light Commercial Vehicle

Heavy Commercial Vehicle

Global Tire Market for Automotive, by Sales Channel

OEM

Aftermarket

Global Tire Market for Automotive, by Region

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Middle East & Africa

Latin America



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Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.



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SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- STORAGE DEVELOPER CONFERENCE -- The SODA Foundation, which hosts the open source, unified and autonomous data management framework for data mobility from edge to core to cloud, today announced the Greenland release of its open data framework and that Japan Data Storage Forum (JDSF) and Seagate are joining the Foundation. The Greenland release simplifies data storage in heterogeneous environments, while the new members will further accelerate data mobility and autonomy across the industry. The Greenland release will be available at the end of September.

"The demand for and complexity of data mobility between cloud, on premise and the edge is resulting in rapid collaboration and development on the SODA Foundation's open data framework," said Steven Tan, chairman, SODA Foundation and VP & CTO of Cloud Solution at Futurewei. "The Greenland release represents this rapid collaboration and important advances in data storage. We are also welcoming some of the world's most significant leaders in the data storage space. We're looking forward to contributions from JDSF and Seagate Technology."

JDSF is the first and leading storage-related organization in Japan and is a source for the latest information for manufacturers, systems integrators and users who require storage network system verification and data backup operations standards.

"The SODA Foundation represents a global collaboration on the future of data mobility in every environment," said Takatsuna Chikaraishi, Chairman at JDSF. "It's a natural move for us to join the Foundation and help advance an open data framework for everyone."

Seagate Technology is a world leader in data storage and management solutions and helps to maximize humanity's potential by innovating world-class, precision-engineered data management solutions with a focus on sustainable partnerships.

"We see the SODA Foundation's open source approach to data movement and management API's enabling hybrid cloud storage architecture management as key to datasphere growth," said Ken Claffey, Vice President, Enterprise Data Solutions, Seagate Technology."

Also announced today is the release of Greenland, the 2.0 version of SODA Foundation's open data framework. It includes Storage Performance Monitoring (SPM), SODA CSI plug-and-play, multi-cloud file services, KubeEdge integration and file support for NetApp ONTAP, among others. Details include:

SPM offers a unified view in heterogeneous storage environments and integrates with tools such as Prometheus and Kafka to provide deep visibility and insights into cloud native environments.

SODA CSI plug-and-play enables multi-vendor CSI storage to be managed by the SODA Open Data Framework, simplifying storage management for Kubernetes.

Multi-cloud file services offer support for Google Cloud Platform in addition to AWS and Azure

KubeEdge integration experimental feature provides a first glimpse into edge data

management with SODA.

File Support for NetApp ONTAP and more South Bound Drivers enables more on-premise Data Center use cases.

Greenland builds on the previous Faroe release, which included support for block, file, and object storage, multi cloud data control, telemetry, resource management across heterogeneous storage, Container Storage Interface (CSI) storage plug-and-play as an experimental feature that simplifies Kubernetes storage management by abstracting CSI storage with SODA.

As data moves between the cloud, on premise and, increasingly, the Edge, data management is becoming more complex. And the increasing number of technologies supporting data management has created even more difficulty, including unintentional silos for data storage. During a time when data mobility and autonomy is more important than ever, it's critical to simplify management, unify storage pools and provide a vendor neutral forum and platform that can accelerate innovation for end users. SODA Foundation seeks to reduce silos by integrating efforts across platforms for overall data mobility and autonomy.

Additional Member Comments

NTT Communications

"The SODA v2.0 Greenland release has extremely useful features for unified data management across multi cloud and on premise and new file support for NetApp ONTAP. We are happy to be integrating VMWare support for heterogeneous storages for our on-premise data center use cases. SODA engineering team and community welcomes priorities from end users like us," said Kei Kusunoki, Storage Manager, Innovation Center, NTT Communications.

Yahoo! JAPAN

"We are happy to see the Greenland release with its features for heterogeneous storage . The SODA community is actively providing very good support for this integration and always open for improvements and new features," said Yusuke Sato, Storage Architect, Yahoo! JAPAN.

About the SODA Foundation

Previously OpenSDS, the SODA Foundation is part of the Linux Foundation and includes both open source software and standards to support the increasing need for data autonomy. SODA Foundation Premiere members include China Unicom, Fujitsu, Huawei, NTT Communications and Toyota Motor Corporation. Other members include China Construction Bank Fintech, Click2Cloud, GMO Pepabo, IIJ, MayaData, LinBit, Scality, Sony, Wipro and Yahoo Japan.

The Linux Foundation has registered trademarks and uses trademarks. For a list of trademarks of The Linux Foundation, please see its trademark usage page: www.linuxfoundation.org/trademark-usage . Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds.

Media Contact

Jennifer Cloer

[email protected]

503-867-2304

SOURCE The Linux Foundation

Related Links

www.linuxfoundation.org


The Great British Bake Off made a political statement as it returned for its 11th season on Tuesday night.

Making his show debut, co-host Matt Lucas impersonated a bumbling Boris Johnson as he recreated a spoof press conference with the slogan 'Stay Alert, Protect Cake, Save Loaves'.

The comedian, 46, who has replaced Sandi Toksvig as host, was a spitting image of the Prime Minister in the show opener, which was postponed by 15 minutes, after Boris addressed the nation with the new lockdown measures in the fight against coronavirus.

Uncanny: Matt Lucas left viewers in stitches as he impersonated a bumbling Boris Johnson (right) in his Great British Bake Off debut on Tuesday night

In the skit Matt, who donned a platinum blond wig and stood in front of a Union Jack flag, said: 'I've talked about this, you know, the printer is upside down again. And oh no.. well how? Ah, yes well that works actually, I can read that fine.

'Um, right, let's err yeah. Good evening, let's get straight to it. We are now approaching Phase 46.

'Which means that from Tuesday morning, or Wednesday evening depending on your height. We are, we are, we are saying with regards to baking if you must bake in a tent, bake in a tent.

'Stay Alert, Protect Cake, Save Loaves': The comedian, 46, who has replaced Sandi Toksvig as host, was a spitting image for the Prime Minister as he recreated a spoof press conference

'But please don't bake in a tent. And we are asking people to use common sense with regards to the distribution of hundreds and thousands.'

Matt then said he was going to take a question from 'the lady in the funky dress, Noelle'.

The Little Britain's star's co-host Noel Fielding then said: 'Hello Prime Minister. Just one question: 'Is it sc-oh-ne or sc-on?'.

Bumbling Boris: In the skit Matt, who donned a platinum blond wig and stood in front of a Union Jack flag, and mumbled to himself in the uncanny impersonation of the Prime Minister

Matt said he was going to hand over the query to the 'experts'- a spoof of Professor Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Valance- Prue Whitty (Prue Leith) and Professor Paul Hollywood.

After Prue and Paul gave alternate answers, Matt said: Right well I hope that clears things up for you,' before he ripped off his wig to say: 'All that remains is for me to say. Welcome to The Great British Bake Off'.

Viewers soon flooded Twitter to laud Matt on the ingenious spoof.

Spoof: In reference to the work from home message he said, ''We are, we are, we are saying with regards to baking if you must bake in a tent, bake in a tent. But please don't bake in a tent'

One fan of the show wrote: 'I'm loving Matt Lucas on Bake Off already', while another added: 'Sensational. #mattlucas #boris #BakeOff'.

A third chimed: 'Matt Lucas is already a fabulous addition to #GBBO'.

A fourth viewer gushed: 'Matt Lucas makes a better Boris Johnson than Boris Johnson does.'

'Matt Lucas being Boris is just what I needed #smile', typed a different fan.

Another said: 'no context bake off back with a bang'.

Funny: Matt then said he was going to take a question from 'the lady in the funky dress, Noelle', aka his co-host Noel Fielding

Pressing matters: The Little Britain's star's co-host said: 'Hello Prime Minister. Just one question: 'Is it sc-oh-ne or sc-on?'

Experts: Matt said he was going to hand over the query to the 'experts'- a spoof of Professor Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Valance- Prue Whitty (Prue Leith) and Professor Paul Hollywood

This isn't the first time Matt has taken aim at Boris with a bumbling impersonation.

Back in May, he summed up the confusion over the Prime Minister's speech in a mocking 20-second video.

Baffled members of the public had poked fun at Boris and his Government after he ditched the 'stay at home, protect the NHS, save lives' slogan, instead urging people to 'stay alert, control the virus, and save lives'.

He also unveiled a three stage exit plan and a five stage alert system to describe the country's outbreak condition.

But the new measures, and tweaks to the draconian lockdown rules - which includef being able to leave the house for exercise as often as you want - left people feeling decidedly confused.

'Sensational': Viewers soon flooded Twitter to laud Matt on the ingenious spoof

Little Britain star Matt summed up the mood of the nation with a hilarious impersonation of the Prime Minister.

In a YouTube video he said: 'So we are saying don't go to work, go to work, don't take public transport, don't go to work. Stay indoors, if you can work from home go to work, don't go to work.

'Go outside, don't go outside. And then we will or won't something or other.'

Piers Morgan played the clip on Good Morning Britain this morning and said it was 'very, very funny' but that the confusion from Mr Johnson's speech would lead to more deaths.
Rantoul, IL (61866)

Today

Cloudy skies this morning will become partly cloudy this afternoon. High 34F. Winds WSW at 15 to 25 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy. Snow showers developing late. Low 23F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 50%. Snow accumulations less than one inch.
A section of Route 30 that closed in both directions after a Tuesday morning crash has partially reopened.

A lane restriction remains in place in Salisbury Township between exits to the Newport Pike and Simmontown Road, according to 511PA. This section of Route 30 was previously shut down in both directions.

PennDOT spokesman Michael Crochunis said the highway is not expected to fully reopen until about 12:15 p.m.

Crochunis said a tractor-trailer hauling corn, another commercial vehicle and three civilian vehicles were involved in the crash.

4 vehicle crash in Lancaster County... ROUTE 30 CLOSED from Newport Pike to Simmontown Rd. Avoid area. Minor injuries.

Photo credit: Gap Fire Rescue pic.twitter.com/oXvZ8ppGDl  Corinne Lillis (@CorinneWGAL) September 22, 2020

READ MORE:

Avoid traditional trick-or-treating, the CDC says in Halloween 2020 guidelines

Attempted traffic stop in Dauphin County leads to high-speed crash: state police

Gucci criticized on social media for $1,200 grass-stained jeans
The PDP says it may take to streets to secure party chief Mehbooba Muftis release - who has been in detention under the Public Safety Act since August last year - if all other means do not yield results. In an interview to HTs Mir Ehsan, Youth PDP president Waheed ur Rehman Parra conceded that the party definitely took a hit by the desertions, but asserted that it will bounce back with its core philosophy. Reflecting on the new Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, the leader said he is making efforts. The PDP recently resumed political activity after they were allowed to hold two big meetings in Srinagar.

Q. The PDP organised its first meeting after August 5 last year, what was discussed in the meeting?

It was much more than a meeting. It was an attempt to free oneself from unofficial house arrest. We discussed August 5, 2019, and the post-scenario, insecurities and challenges confronting people. We strongly reject unconstitutional, undemocratic treatment meted out to Kashmir.

Q. Are all the PDP leaders free?

Yes, except Party President Mehbooba Mufti.

Q. Do you think, government is trying to stop the PDP from resuming its activities?

This sense of unfreedom, absence of democracy and absence of politics is self-created by the BJP. Not just the PDP, the entire Kashmir is being treated similarly. The only difference is that the PDP continues to be on their target and they continue to attack it by using tactics for limiting our space. They want a BJP narrative here and help them gain ground at the cost of local parties, especially the PDP. At a time when we as a population desperately need 4G communication for education and healthcare sectors, the BJP is busy politicising 4G for the sake of their personal agendas of letting no dissenting voices escape this space. Is this what integration looks like? Rest of India studies and heals but Kashmiris are deprived everyday for every little opportunity.

Q. After August 5, many leaders, especially former ministers and legislators, left the PDP, do you think it has weakened the party?

Yes, many have left, such exits disclose a pattern which reveals that this episode was engineered by the politically macho to thwart PDP efforts and subvert its strength. Those who have exited, have been responsible for eroding party space by all means and when nothing worked finally created factions. The party is definitely affected but it will bounce back with its core philosophy, not by losing individuals.

Q. Why is PDP president Mehbooba Mufti still under detention while all other leaders released?

Mehbooba Mufti cannot be threatened or coerced into serfdom. They treat her stance and voice as a challenge to their politics. The attempt to install puppets is not what democracy is. The BJP should be ready to accept real political challenges. Just to exercise their own power they are keeping her silenced using extreme laws. If one wants to really see what Kashmiri politics will look like, they cant understand even the mood of the people until shes free and hits the ground. It is difficult to control Mehbooba Mufti and BJP knows it very well. They failed to control her while in alliance and that must be their concern and fear.

Q. Is the PDP trying to launch an agitation to press the government to release the party president?

Yes, we have approached the Supreme Court. If it doesnt work, we will raise our voice democratically. And if need arises, we will be forced to hit streets to seek her release.

Q. Do you have hope from the new Lt Governor?

He is definitely making efforts at his level but it is too small an institution to address our anxiety, anger or our problems. People want the PM to respond to Kashmir and his silence is definitely not acceptable here. This is a negative and controlled peace.

Q. Being a youth leader what is the feeling of youth in J&K and what should New Delhi do?

There is a huge sense of resentment among young people, but they are scared and suffocated. Silence in itself is a statement.It is the level of disappointment among youngsters towards Delhi. The Centre should come out of denial and address the issues, talk politically, initiate dialogue with all stakeholders.

Q. Is it true security and government accommodation of many PDP leaders have been withdrawn?

All of our leaders are out of government accommodation and without security cover. One or two PSOs have been assigned to protect a few leaders but that is negligible cover. Given the present circumstances or as per SOP followed earlier. Security is not a privilege here but a survival of means to ensure democratic space. It is for the first time, we see the state using security as a tool to undermine us and empower a select group of people at the cost of our life.
September 22 : Actress Huma Qureshi just took to her social media profile and issued a statement in regards to her name being dragged in #MeToo allegations against Anurag Kashyap by actress Payal Ghosh.

Actress Payal Ghosh has accused and filed a case against Anurag Kashyap of sexually harassing her.

Earlier in a video reveal, Payal alleged that actress like Richa Chadha and Huma Qureshi have to make physical relationship whenever Anurag call them. After Payal's allegations, Richa Chadha said that she will sue Payal and now Huma is angry.

Huma made her Bollywood debut with Kashyap's Gangs of Wasseypur, has released a statement on her Twitter profile.

The statement reads, "Anurag and I last worked together in 2012-13 and he is a dear friend and an extremely talented director. In my personal experience and to my knowledge he has neither misbehaved with me or anyone else. However, anyone who claims to be abused must report it to the authorities, the police and the judiciary.

"I chose not to comment till now because I don't believe in social media fights and media trials. I feel really angry at being dragged into this mess. I feel angry not just for myself but also every woman whose years of hard work and struggle gets reduced to such baseless conjecture and allegations in their workplace. Please let's refrain from this narrative."

Huma added that it is the responsibility of both men and women to carefully protect the sanctity of #MeToo movement.

Huma is currently shooting Bell Bottom with Akshay Kumar and Lara Dutta in Scotland.
Now that D-Day has arrived, heres what to expect from the event that will take place following the annual shareholder meeting in Palo Alto, California.

The company has been working on battery technology for quite some time now and nothing concrete is known yet. Musks tweets hinted that some major revelations could happen, but he made it clear it will all take time to touch high-volume production.

Tesla Battery Day is one of the most anticipated events in the EV world, and this year, the automaker has decided to hold it in conjunction with the annual shareholder meeting. This year was going to be all about the tech-related advancements from Tesla and not any new products per se, so there are a lot of hopes pinned on this event.

Tesla Jumping In To Help With The Battery Demand

Musk himself hyped the Battery Day a couple of weeks back when he mentioned that, Many exciting things will be unveiled on Battery Day 9/22.

The biggest announcement will, of course, have to do with the battery technology that Tesla has been working on.

It was speculated that once Tesla develops its own batteries, it will stop purchasing from its current vendors.

However, Musk tweeted that Tesla will increase the battery cell purchase from Panasonic, LG & CATL (possibly other partners too).

The growing demand from Tesla for batteries has led to production woes and constraints with all its vendors, and the company thinks it needed to step in to take matters into its own hands. Musks tweet also said, we still foresee significant shortages in 2022 & beyond unless we also take action ourselves.

Roadster, SEMI Not Coming Until 2022?

620 miles of range per charge

Although Tesla builds its Gigafactories at an astonishing pace, it hasnt been able to replicate the same with its products. Its been quite some time since the Roadster and the SEMI were revealed. The former was supposed to debut this year, but Musk may have hinted that folks shouldnt expect anything until 2022.

One of the tweets read, Important note about Tesla Battery Day unveil tomorrow. This affects long-term production, especially Semi, Cybertruck & Roadster, but what we announce will not reach serious high-volume production until 2022. It sure seems like an indirect announcement that these vehicles arent hitting the assembly line until 2022.

500-mile range towing 80,000 pounds

Teslas Million-Mile Battery

Tesla cars are built to last 1,000,000 miles, but the batteries dont last that long.

Musk had previously said that battery modules last between 300,000 and 500,000 miles. However, Tesla offers a warranty of eight-year/150,000 miles on the Model S and Model X. In the past, there has been a lot of buzz about Tesla developing a new battery pack that lasts almost one million miles.

Jeff Dahn, the battery researcher for Tesla, said that the new unit is a Li-Ion battery cell with a next-generation single crystal NMC cathode and a new advanced electrolyte. After testing these cells extensively, they think that the battery could power an electric car for over 1.6 million kilometers or 1 million miles.

In other terms, a battery can currently handle about 1,000 recharges, but with the million-mile battery, it could handle more than 4,000 recharges. For a cargo hauler like SEMI, this will prove to be a major selling point.

Cheaper Batteries?

Tesla filed several patents over the past months based on Jeff Dahns research. One of them was for dioxazolones and nitrile sulfites as electrolyte additives for lithium-ion batteries.

The automaker noted in its application that the substance could enable a better, longer-lasting, and cheaper battery for electric cars and home storage products. Logically, the million-mile battery would bring the per kWh rate down, but this could also be the one.

Currently, the per kWh battery cost is around $150. But, Tesla would be aiming to get it around $100, thus bringing down the sticker price of electric cars as well. Experts have noted that a price of around $100 per kWh would be necessary to bring it on par with the purchase cost of fuel-powered cars.

Monetize Your Tesla Cars By Selling Electricity From Your Batteries

Tesla unveiled a product called Autobidder that allows its customers running home storage projects to sell energy back to the grid when not needed. One of the slides from Jeff Dahns presentation, said, With the smart grid, the driver should be able to make their vehicle available to be charged or discharged when parked at home or at work up to set maximum and minimum charge points so that the next needed drive is possible. Vehicle owners should be paid for this by utilities. The future is very exciting.

Apart from the future Robotaxi option, this could be another way to earn revenue from your Tesla car ownership. How about calling it Powerbank-on-Wheels?

Terafactories To Replace Gigafactories

Teslas production centers could be called Terafactories from now on. Like The Verge mentioned, if Giga refers to a billion, Tera equals a trillion. Tesla used to call them Gigafactories because they would produce Giga-Watt hours of battery capacity. The new moniker could suggest Tera-Watt hours of battery capacity, which is 20 times the current capacity of Panasonics production at Gigafactory Nevada.

This most likely has to do with the company Tesla acquired in 2018 called Maxwell Technologies in an all-stock deal for $218 million. Companies generally use wet electrode technology, but Maxwells breakthrough was to use dry electrode technology. In simple words, this eliminates the solvents in a battery cell through which electric current flows, helps boost performance, and is cost-effective. It also takes up less space, thus leading to more cell production, which in turn would make Gigafactory into a Terafactory.

Tesla Batteries For Flying Taxis?

This is highly unlikely since Tesla has other important things on its plate at the moment, but knowing Musk, you cant rule out this possibility. Earlier in August, Teslas battery research group in Canada released a paper that spoke about the next-gen battery cell with a breakthrough energy density. Led by Jeff Dahn of the Dalhousie University, the paper mentioned how anode-free lithium-metal battery cell offers a massive improvement over the present technology in terms of energy density. One comment in the paper read, Such high energy density can increase the range of electric vehicles by approximately 280 km or even enable electrified urban aviation.

Urban Aviation is a vague terminology and doesnt necessarily mean electric aircraft. It could even mean electric flying taxis or eVOTL aircraft. eVOTL refers to electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft that will be used for air taxi services. Although eVOTL isnt a very familiar term yet, there are many companies in the race to become the first air taxi carrier that could change the way urban commutes take place.

Final Thoughts

There is a lot more to expect, like cobalt-free batteries, faster charging facilities and tech to counter Lucids assault, and so on. The Tesla Battery Day event will commence after the Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which will start at 1:30 pm Pacific Time. It can be streamed live on Teslas website.
News

St. Louis, Missouri - The Department of Justice announced Friday that it is requiring Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (ABI), its wholly-owned subsidiary Anheuser-Busch Companies LLC (AB Companies), and Craft Brew Alliance Inc. (CBA) to divest CBAs entire Kona brand business in the state of Hawaii and to license to the acquirer the Kona brand in Hawaii in order for AB Companies, a minority shareholder in CBA, to proceed with its proposed acquisition of the remaining shares of CBA.

The department has approved PV Brewing Partners, LLC as the acquirer. The proposed settlement will maintain competition in the beer industry in Hawaii benefitting consumers.

The Justice Departments Antitrust Division filed a civil antitrust lawsuit today in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri to block the $220 million proposed transaction. At the same time, the department filed a proposed settlement that, if approved by the court, would resolve the competitive harm alleged in the lawsuit.

According to the departments complaint, AB Companies acquisition of CBA likely would substantially lessen head-to-head competition in Hawaii between ABI brands, such as Stella Artois and Michelob Ultra, and CBAs Kona brand. If the transaction was allowed to proceed, ABI and CBA would have a combined share of approximately 41 percent in the moderately concentrated Hawaii beer market. The merger would also likely harm future competition between ABI and CBA as, absent the merger, the companies would continue to invest and compete against each other for premium beer sales in the state. By eliminating CBAs Kona brand as a competitive restraint, ABI would also likely have greater ability to facilitate price coordination, resulting in higher prices for beer sold in Hawaii, amplifying competitive concerns.

This merger, as originally structured, would have significantly increased market concentration in Hawaii and eliminated the growing competition between ABI and CBA brands, said Assistant Attorney General Makan Delrahim of the Justice Departments Antitrust Division. Todays settlement with its divestitures will ensure that consumers continue to benefit from this competition today and into the future.

Under the terms of the proposed settlement, ABI and CBA must divest CBAs entire Kona Hawaii business  Kona Brewery LLC  to PV Brewing Partners or to an alternative purchaser approved by the United States. Specifically, the settlement requires the sale of the Kona brewing facilities in Hawaii, including a new 100,000-barrel capacity brewery currently under construction; the granting of a perpetual, exclusive license of the Kona brand for the brewing, distribution, and sale of Kona beer in Hawaii as well as other assets, rights, and interests necessary to ensure that PV Brewing Partners, LLC, is able to compete in the Hawaii beer market using the Kona brand.

ABI is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of Belgium, with its headquarters in Leuven, Belgium. ABI is already a minority shareholder in CBA. ABI proposes to acquire 100 percent ownership of CBA through AB Companies, a Delaware limited liability company that currently holds a minority ownership stake in CBA. ABI owns numerous major beer brands sold in the United States, including in Hawaii. These brands include Bud Light, Budweiser, Busch Light, Natural Light, Michelob Ultra, Stella Artois, and Golden Road.

CBA is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of Washington, with its headquarters in Portland, Oregon. CBA owns several beer brands sold in the United States, including Widmer Brothers, Omission, Redhook, and Kona, a brand that originated in Hawaii and is especially popular in that state.

PV Brewing Partners LLC, is a Delaware limited liability company with its headquarters in Overland Park, Kansas. The entity was formed by VantEdge Partners LP, a private equity company based in metropolitan Kansas City.

As required by the Tunney Act, the proposed settlement, along with a competitive impact statement, will be published in the Federal Register. Any person may submit written comments concerning the proposed settlement during a 60-day comment period to Robert A. Lepore, Chief, Transportation, Energy, and Agriculture Section, Antitrust Division, U.S. Department of Justice, 450 Fifth Street N.W., Suite 8000, Washington, D.C., 20530. At the conclusion of the 60-day comment period, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri may enter the final judgment upon finding it is in the public interest.
A man has been convicted by a jury after he used edited footage to falsely bolster his claim that a farmer had assaulted him on the farmer's land.

David Graham - a hunt saboteur - was found guilty of perverting the course of justice by using video evidence which misrepresented what had happened.

The video was edited on a loop sequence incorrectly showing the farmer repeatedly kicking out on the Newton Burgoland farm, in Leicestershire.

The 35-year-old was given a 12 month jail sentence, suspended for two years, with 100 hours of unpaid work.

He was ordered to pay 1,000 costs and placed on a seven year restraining order, banning any contact with the farmer or going to his farm.

Reacting to the news, the Countryside Alliance raised concerns that edited or tampered footage may have been used 'throughout the years'.

Tim Bonner, chief executive of the rural group, said: "This footage is often uploaded online, with no regulation, in a bid to raise money for funding further disruption of legal trail hunting activity

"This conviction serves to strengthen those concerns and prove that producing dodgy footage, even in a bid to fool police, is very much at the heart of hunt sab tactics"
BOGOTA, Colombia, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Avianca Holdings S.A. (OTCMKTS: AVHOQ, BVC: PFAVH) (the "Company" or "Avianca") today announced that it has secured commitments for debtor-in-possession ("DIP") financing totaling just over US$ 2.0 billion and has filed a motion to approve the financing in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York (the "U.S. Court").

Anko van der Werff, President and Chief Executive Officer of Avianca, said, "We are extremely pleased with the support received from a large number of third-party institutional investors and our existing lenders. We believe this demonstrates the market's confidence in Avianca's future as a strong, competitive and profitable airline. Securing these financing commitments is another concrete step forward in our Chapter 11 reorganization process and we look forward to the U.S. Court approval of our proposed DIP financing package. We have resumed operations in most domestic markets and plan to add more domestic and international destinations in the coming weeks, while we remain focused on refining our reorganization plan to fully address the current industry landscape and the effects of COVID-19, enabling our team to continue driving efficiency and margin expansion and positioning Avianca to successfully serve Latin America's air travel needs for many years to come."

The DIP financing  inclusive of rollups of existing debt and purchase loan consideration  is expected to be approximately US$ 2.0 billion, consisting of a US$ 1.27 billion Tranche A senior loan and a US$ 722 million Tranche B subordinated loan. The DIP financing includes approximately US$ 1.217 billion of new funds consisting of US$ 881 million in Tranche A and US$ 336 million in Tranche B.

On August 28, 2020, as part of syndicating the Tranche A DIP loan, the Company entered into a Restructuring Support Agreement ("RSA") with an ad hoc group of holders representing a majority of Avianca's 2023 senior secured notes who will provide US$ 290 million in new funds (inclusive of US$ 63 million of backstop) and roll up US$ 220 million of their existing notes into Tranche A.

US$ 240 million of the Tranche A financing has been structured as a backstop commitment, to allow for the eventual participation of one or more governments.

The US$ 722 million Tranche B DIP loan includes US$ 336 million of new money financing, as well as a rollup of approximately US$ 386 million of secured convertible debt issued in December 2019 and January 2020 (the "Existing Convertible Debt"). The new money financing was provided by certain of the Existing Convertible Debt lenders, including Kingsland Holdings S.A, as well as third-party investors; certain other Existing Convertible Debt lenders, including United Airlines, participated solely in the Tranche B loan rollup by refinancing their Existing Convertible Debt.

The DIP loans are secured by Avianca's key assets (including the Company's ownership stakes in its LifeMiles and cargo subsidiaries, as well as by its key brands and cash accounts). Both tranches are secured by a lien on all available collateral, with Tranche B subordinated in right of repayment to Tranche A. The collateral pool for these DIP financings was recently substantially increased via a series of agreements previously announced by Avianca.

The financing is subject to U.S. Court approval, with a hearing scheduled for October 5, 2020, and other customary conditions.

Seabury Securities LLC is serving as Avianca's investment bank and financial advisor. Goldman Sachs Lending Partners LLC and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. are serving as co-lead arrangers and joint bookrunners of the Tranche A DIP Loans. Milbank LLP is serving as Avianca's legal advisor.

Additional information about the DIP financing is available on Avianca's website (www.aviancaholdings.com).

About Avianca Holdings S.A. (OTCMKTS: AVHOQ) (BVC: PFAVH)

Avianca is the trademark for the group of passenger airlines and cargo airlines under the holding company Avianca Holdings S.A. Avianca has been flying continuously for 100 years. As of December 2019, the Company had over 21,000 employees, operated a fleet of 158 aircraft and served 76 destinations in 27 countries within the Americas and Europe. In 2019, the Company carried 30.5 million passengers, generating revenues of approximately US$ 4.6 billion.

Forward-Looking Statements

Avianca has included statements in this press release that constitute "forward-looking statements". As a general matter, forward-looking statements are those focused on future or anticipated events or trends, expectations, and beliefs including, among other things, the Company's expectations with respect to its Chapter 11 proceedings, the airline industry and the impacts of COVID-19. Such statements are intended to be identified by words such as "believe," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "will," "project," "plan" and similar expressions in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial performance. Any forward-looking statements are and will be based upon the Company's then-current expectations, estimates and assumptions regarding future events and are applicable only as of the dates of such statements. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on such forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements in this press release are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, including with respect to the Chapter 11 process, related negotiations and hearings before the Bankruptcy Court, as well as the COVID-19 crisis. Actual results may differ materially from those projected in this press release for numerous reasons, including factors outside of the Company's control. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update or revise this press release, including any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contacts

Investor Contact

Avianca:

Luca Pfeifer, Head of Investor Relations

[email protected]

(571) (5877700)

U.S. and Europe Media Contact

Avianca:

Viviana Escobar, Corporate Communications

[email protected]

Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher:

Leigh Parrish

[email protected]

+1 212 355 4449

Central America Media Contacts

Avianca:

Viviana Escobar, Corporate Communications

[email protected]

LLYC:

Alejandra Aljure, Director

[email protected]

Colombia and South America Media Contact

Avianca:

Viviana Escobar, Corporate Communications

[email protected]

SOURCE Avianca Holdings S.A.
WASHINGTON  Votes in hand, Senate Republicans are charging ahead with plans to confirm President Donald Trumps pick to fill the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburgs Supreme Court seat before the Nov. 3 election, launching a divisive fight over Democratic objections before a nominee is even announced.

Trump said Tuesday he will name his choice Saturday, confident of support. Democrats say its too close to the election, and the winner of the presidency should name the new justice. But under GOP planning, the Senate could vote Oct. 29.

I guess we have all the votes were going to need, Trump told WJBX FOX 2 in Detroit. I think its going to happen.

Republicans believe the court fight will energize voters for Trump, boosting the party and potentially deflating Democrats who cannot stop the lifetime appointment for a conservative justice . The Senate is controlled by Republicans, 53-47, with a simple majority needed for confirmation. The one remaining possible Republican holdout, Mitt Romney of Utah, said Tuesday he supports taking a vote.

Still, with early presidential voting already underway in several states, all sides are girding for a wrenching Senate battle over health care, abortion access and other big cases before the court and sure to further split the torn nation.

It is one of the quickest confirmation efforts in recent times. No court nominee in U.S. history has been considered so close to a presidential election. And it all comes as the nation is marking the grave milestone of 200,000 deaths from the coronavirus pandemic.

During a private lunch meeting Tuesday at Senate GOP campaign headquarters, several Republican senators spoke up in favor of voting before the election. None advocated a delay.

Elsewhere, as tributes poured in for Ginsburg with vigils and flowers at the courts steps, Democrats led by presidential nominee Joe Biden vowed a tough fight. The Senate Democratic leader, Chuck Schumer, said we should honor her dying wish, which was that her seat not be filled until the man who wins the presidential election is installed, in January.

But that seemed no longer an option. So far, two Republicans have said they oppose taking up a nomination at this time, but no others are in sight. Under Senate rules, Vice President Mike Pence could break a tie vote.

While not all Republican senators have said they will support the eventual pick, few appear willing to stand in the way of a top party priority.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made no scheduling announcements. But hearings could start as soon as Oct. 12 by the Senate Judiciary Committee, with a vote in the full Senate by Oct. 29, according to a GOP aide granted anonymity to discuss deliberations.

After Trump met with conservative Judge Amy Coney Barrett at the White House on Monday he told reporters he would interview other candidates and might meet with Judge Barbara Lagoa when he travels to Florida later this week. Conversations in the White House and McConnells office have been increasingly focused on Barrett and Lagoa, according to a person granted anonymity to discuss the private deliberations.

Barrett, 48, a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit, has long been favored by conservatives. Those familiar with the process said interest inside the White House seemed to be waning for Lagoa amid concerns she did not have a proven record as a conservative jurist. Lagoa has been pushed by Floridas governor, and aides tout her political advantages of being Hispanic and hailing from the key political battleground state.

Democrats point to hypocrisy in Republicans trying to rush through a pick so close to the election after McConnell led the GOP in refusing to vote on a nominee of President Barack Obama in February 2016, long before that years election.

Romney, the GOPs 2012 presidential nominee, dismissed that argument, saying it was not unfair for Republicans to refuse to consider Obamas choice of Merrick Garland.

The Utah Republican backed up his decision by saying its not written in the stars that the court should have a liberal bent. He said Trumps pick will tip the court to become more conservative, and he said that is appropriate for a nation which is, if you will, center right, to have a court which reflects a center right point of view.

At the private lunch, Sen. Mike Braun of Indiana said, senators advocating swift voting warned of too many complications if its delayed until after the election  presumably if Biden wins the White House or Republicans lose the Senate.

Conservative groups pushing for swift approval also argue the election result could be disputed with legal battles dragging on for weeks.

Democrats say voters should speak first, on Election Day. Biden appealed to GOP senators to uphold your constitutional duty, your conscience and wait until the president is chosen.

But few Republicans are willing to cross Trump. The president has criticized Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska for opposing a Senate vote before elections. Trump warned they would be very badly hurt by voters in November.

Collins went further Tuesday saying she would vote against Trumps pick, not because I might not support that nominee under normal circumstances but were simply too close to the election.

The parties braced for the fight ahead.

At an evening rally in Pittsburgh, Trump marveled at how important the Supreme Court is to some voters, and at his own opportunity to pick a third justice. Can you imagine? he asked.

These sorts of fights bring Republicans together, said Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., the partys Senate campaign chairman.

At a memorial on the National Mall marking the 200,000 COVID deaths, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi paid tribute to Ginsburg and warned against Trumps coming court challenge to the Affordable Care Act. Its a time for us to vote health, she said.

The mounting clash over the vacant seat injects new turbulence in the presidential campaign with the nation still reeling from the coronavirus pandemic and shattered economy, with millions unemployed and heightened partisan tensions and anger.

Ginsburg, 87, died Friday of metastatic pancreatic cancer. She will lie in state at the U.S. Capitol this week, the first woman accorded that honor. Her casket will be on view Wednesday and Thursday on the steps of the high court.

No nominee has won confirmation so quickly since Sandra Day OConnor  with no opposition from either party  became the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court in 1981.

___

Associated Press writers Mark Sherman, Andrew Taylor, Matthew Daly, Kevin Freking and Mike Balsamo in Washington, Alex Jaffe in Philadelphia, Bill Barrow in Atlanta and Steve Peoples and Jonathan Lemire in New York contributed to this report.
The CNN host called this a crucial moment for this country. But what this president wants is to distract you, he said.

On his eponymous program, Don Lemon Tonight, the CNN host told colleague Chris Cuomo that Democrats may move to eliminate the Electoral College in reaction to Republicans moving to fill a Supreme Court seat less than two months before the election.

Were going to have to blow up the entire system, Lemon said.

Cuomo responded: I dont know about that.

CNN host Don Lemon called this a crucial moment for this country. But what this president wants is to distract you.

(Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights)

Yes. What are we going to have to do? Lemon asked. Honestly, from what your closing argument is, youre going to have to get rid of the Electoral College because the people  The minority in this country decides who the judges are, and they decide who the president is. Is that fair?

Cuomo explained that a constitutional amendment would be necessary to eliminate the Electoral College.

At least two-thirds of both the House of Representatives and the Senate would have to vote to abolish the Electoral College and move to a direct popular-vote process.

Read More: Crowd chants fill that seat at Ohio rally as Trump reaffirms court plans

In 2016, Donald Trump became president of the United States despite receiving 3 million fewer votes than Hillary Clinton. Studies have shown that Republicans are far more likely to benefit from the Electoral College than Democrats.

The Electoral College gives a structural advantage to small states. Each state receives a number of electoral votes equal to the number of representatives they have in the U.S. House, plus two.

Read More: Single plane passenger gave COVID-19 to 15 others: CDC

This advantage skews in favor of smaller states, which skew Republican, while it is negligible for larger states, which have large urban centers, which are likely to skew Democratic.

At the beginning of the program, Lemon called this a crucial moment for this country. But what this president wants is to distract you, is to gaslight you, to make you forget all about the deaths of the nearly 200,000 people  200,000 of our friends, our neighbors, our coworkers. Dont fall for it, everyone.

Have you subscribed to theGrios Dear Culture podcast? Download our newest episodes now!

The post Don Lemon suggests eliminating electoral college amid Supreme Court battle appeared first on TheGrio.
It set a record at Sunday night's Emmys with wins across the board in the comedy categories.

And now Netflix's hit Schitt's Creek will start airing repeats on Comedy Central.

The Canadian show first aired in the US on ViacomCBS' Pop TV before heading to Netflix and since ViacomCBS also owns Comedy Central, it's a natural fit that cable channel would get the reruns.

More chances to watch: After making history at the Emmys Sunday night, it's announced that Comedy Central will air all seasons of the show on Friday nights staring October 2 and the sixth and final season will premiere on Netflix on October 7

Comedy Central will air all six seasons of Schitt's Creek beginning October 2, with five episodes airing back-to-back each Friday.

The sixth and final season, which was shown on Pop TV earlier this year, will premiere on Netflix on October 7.

The comedy dominated the annual Emmy Awards winning nine trophies from 15 nominations.

It made history by sweeping all the major comedy categories, including the award for outstanding comedy series and acting awards for lead and supporting roles.

Funny: Creator Daniel Levy stars in the show alongside his father Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara and Annie Murphy. Its plot centers around an affluent family forced to live in a small-town motel after losing everything they own, except their designer clothes

Historic: The comedy dominated the annual Emmy Awards winning nine trophies from 15 nominations and sweeping all the major comedy categories. Daniel Levy cheered as his famous father won his first acting Emmy for his role

Big night: Catherine O'Hara won the Emmy for lead actress in a comedy while Annie Murphy took home the Emmy in the supporting actress category

Creator Daniel Levy stars in the show alongside his father Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara and Annie Murphy.

Its plot centers around an affluent family forced to live in a small-town motel after losing everything they own, except their designer clothes.

Eugene Levy and O'Hara both took home their first-ever acting Emmys, having previously won in writing categories.

Daniel Levy and Murphy took home the supporting actor and actress awards with Daniel also winning for writing and co-directing.
The Government has warned that Kildare  along with a number of other counties  was showing concerning trends on Covid-19.

The warning was given by Elizabeth Canavan, Assistant Secretary General, Department of the Taoiseach.

Figures released on Monday evening showed 16 new cases in Co Kildare out of a total of 188 reported nationwide.

Ms Canavan said: While there has been significant focus on Dublin, the counties of Louth, Waterford, Limerick, Kildare, Leitrim, Donegal and Offaly are now all showing concerning trends.

She added: Outside of these counties, there are worrying trends in most areas. We are currently at Level 2 of the Framework nationally and we would like to either stay there or improve to Level 1, as opposed to going backwards.

Meanwhile it has emerged that parts of County Kildare have an incident rate per 100,000 population of more than three times the national average.

The Celbridge Local Electoral Area (LEA) had 171.1 cases per 100,000 people for the two-week period up to September 14  compared to the Republic of Ireland rate of 52.8.

The Celbridge incidence rate is also the third worst in the country after Blanchardstown and Mulhuddart (189.8) and Tallaght Central (175.9).

Elsewhere in Co Kildare, the equivalent figures for the Kildare Town LEA are 62.3 and there were 16 cases during the two-week period.

Newbridge LEA had a 19.7 incident rate per 100,000 people over the past 14 days up to September 14.

Naas had a 33.2 per 100,000 rate and 13 cases during that period.

Strongest defence

Dr Ronan Glynn, Acting Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said on Monday: Every one of us doing our bit in our daily lives  halving our social contacts, working from home, keeping our distance, wearing a face covering, washing our hands - matters a great deal.

These small, positive steps taken together amount to our best and strongest defence against the virus.
SOLON, Ohio  Mayor Ed Kraus offered a heartfelt tribute to Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg at the City Council meeting Monday (Sept. 21).

Ginsburg, a renowned womens rights litigator who served 27 years as a United States Supreme Court Justice, died Friday (Sept. 18) from complications of pancreatic cancer. She was 87.

I want to recognize the life and legacy of Justice Ginsburg, Kraus said. "She had always had an impact on me as a lawyer.

I noticed for many years that it wasnt so easy as a woman in the practice of law. In many of the (law) firms even to this day, overwhelmingly, the ranks of partnership are all male, and so its not easy.

Kraus said Ginsburgs passing made him think about his grandmother and the struggles she went through as a woman, trying to teach and doing the things she tried to do.

I think back to my late mother, who went to college in middle age while she was raising us, and she ended up getting a degree at John Carroll (University), he said.

But what I didnt recognize with Justice Ginsburg is the impact that an 87-year-old, very petite lady had on a generation much younger than (her). I saw the impact she had on my daughters and what they saw and how she was able to achieve things  not with a lot of bombast, but just doing it quietly and making decisions.

Ginsburgs legacy will live on for many years, Kraus said, for promoting womens rights and making sure those pay equity issues are not just talk, but actually law.

I look at our city of Solon, and Im very proud of so many women that we have in our workforce and how weve been able to promote them, he said. "Now we have several women who are directors. We have an assistant director in our service department, which is a wonderful thing.

So I just wanted to mention the life and the legacy of Justice Ginsburg, and I think there are a lot of young ladies throughout the country who have a new hero in her.

Police officer promoted

At the start of the meeting, Kraus administered the oath of office to Police Sgt. Timothy Barr, a member of the Solon Police Department since 2000.

After being sworn in to his new position, Barr introduced members of his family in attendance and thanked members of the police department who were there  all wearing face masks. The meeting was held at council chambers at City Hall and live-streamed on the citys website.

Police Chief Richard Tonelli said when Barr was hired 20 years ago, everybody knew immediately that he was going to be a great asset for the department.

Hes one of those hard-working, dedicated individuals who took it upon himself to try to improve the operations of the department, Tonelli said, noting he was an instructor in training new hires. Hes always been there for us, and were very excited.

Kraus and many members of council offered their congratulations to Barr.

Deer culling to continue

In other action, council approved a cooperative service agreement between the city and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to continue the implementation of a deer management plan.

The contract runs from Oct. 1 through July 31 and is for $54,121. The plan will maintain the deer population at a level which is acceptable from a safety and nuisance perspective, the ordinance stated.

Councils Safety and Public Properties Committee recommended continuation of the plan.

Video system to be upgraded

Council also authorized Matt Rubino, the citys director of finance, to advertise for bids for an upgrade to the video broadcast system in Council Chambers.

Jim Gibbs, the citys director of information technology, made the request for bids. In a memo to councils Finance Committee, Gibbs noted the system in place is decades old and has only been upgraded in small pieces throughout the years.

There is an extreme excess of equipment and complication in the existing setup that will be streamlined or removed as part of this process, Gibbs said in his memo.

Goals of this project, Gibbs said, include providing better viewing screens for council members on the dais in council chambers; a more reliable video conferencing integration with Zoom; and a simplified user interface in the control room that should allow the information technology department to require only one operator per meeting.

The department videotapes all council meetings, as well as committee meetings and various other city programs and functions.

Estimated cost of the project is $125,000, Gibbs said. Funding will come from the citys cable franchise fee fund.

The Finance Committee recommended that Rubino be authorized to advertise for the bids during its meeting that preceded the council meeting.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: A BJP member in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday demanded a probe by central agencies such as CBI and NIA into the Palghar lynching case, alleging a conspiracy behind the killing of two 'sadhus' and their driver by a mob in April this year.

Pragya Singh Thakur, while raising the issue during Zero Hour, said it should be ascertained why there was a mob during the coronavirus-induced lockdown and why innocent victims were killed.

She alleged that the CPI(M) has influence in the area where the incident took place and similar cases have come to light in the past.

The incident took place at Gadchinchle village on April 16 when two seers were heading towards Surat from Mumbai in a car with a driver to attend a funeral.

A mob of villagers stopped them and beat them to death on the suspicion that they were child-lifters, even after a few police personnel had reached the spot.
Daniel Andrews has been accused of deliberately moving his daily press conference an hour earlier to distract from an inquiry into the state's hotel quarantine debacle.

On Monday and Tuesday this week the premier held his briefing at 10am, an hour before the usual time of 11am.

The inquiry into the quarantine scheme, which failed to contain the virus and sparked the state's deadly second wave, begins at 10am each day with key witnesses being questioned.

Daniel Andrews (pictured) has been accused of deliberately moving his daily press conference an hour earlier to distract from an inquiry into the state's hotel quarantine debacle

Opposition MP Matthew Guy also said Mr Andrews deliberately changed the timing of his briefing to take attention away from the inquiry

The Australian's workplace editor Ewin Hannan described Mr Andrews' change of timing of as a 'crass attempt at media management to minimise attention' on the inquiry.

Opposition MP Matthew Guy also claimed Mr Andrews deliberately changed the timing of his briefing to take attention away.

'For Andrews and Labor, media spin always comes first - always. It's all about the PR. And for Andrews, it's all about him,' he wrote.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted the premier's office for comment.

Chris Eccles, the premier's right-hand man

Victoria's second wave began in late May when hotel security guards and staff failed to adhere to social distancing requirements, caught the virus and spread it around Melbourne.

The Andrews government has been criticised for using private security guards instead of soldiers and police to run the quarantine scheme.

On Monday the inquiry heard from the man who runs the premier's office, Chris Eccles, who said he did not know who made the decision to use private security instead of ADF troops to enforce the quarantine.

The inquiry heard that Mr Eccles was offered ADF support from Canberra but he could not remember if he told the premier, or anyone else, about the offer.

Daniel Andrews has denied that hundreds of troops were offered.

On Tuesday the inquiry heard from the head of the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions and the boss of the Department of Health and Human Services.

At his press briefing on Tuesday Mr Andrews refused to answer questions over who made the decision to use private security guards to man quarantine.

He is due to appear before the inquiry on Friday afternoon.

'I can confirm to you that I'll be truthful, absolutely honest and direct,' he said.

Victoria has had three coronavirus deaths, while new cases jumped on Tuesday to 28.

The latest fatalities take the state toll to 766 and the national figure to 854.

The news cases are a significant spike on Monday's 11, the lowest Victorian figure since June 16.

But the crucial 14-day rolling average of new cases for Melbourne continues to fall to 32.8, while it is holding at 1.6 for regional areas.

Cases with an unknown source from September 6-19 are 45 for Melbourne and none for regional Victoria.

Mr Andrews encouraged anyone with a scratchy throat, runny nose or headache to get tested for the virus. Pictured: Melbourne residents on Saturday

There was some good news for Premier Daniel Andrews on Tuesday, with a Newspoll showing a majority of Victorian voters back his handling of the state's second wave.

Some 62 per cent said they were satisfied with his performance even though the virus escaped from hotel quarantine in late May and caused a deadly second wave.

The Newspoll also found that 61 per cent of Victorians thought the state's lockdown restrictions were 'about right'.

A quarter of people said they were too strict and 10 per cent said they were too lenient.

Asked how Mr Andrews was handling his job, 62 per cent of voters were satisfied and 35 per cent were dissatisfied for a net satisfaction score of 27 per cent.

The September net score was up from 20 per cent in July when the state's second wave of infections began to emerge. In April, it was 58 per cent.

Mr Andrews has been under constant criticism since he plunged Victoria back into lockdown on 8 July. The state's second wave has caused more than 700 deaths, mostly in aged care homes.

It began when hotel security guards and staff failed to adhere to social distancing requirements, caught the virus and spread it around Melbourne.
The Social-Democratic leader, Marcel Ciolacu, declared on Monday that the Social Democratic Party (PSD) will go alone to the parliamentary elections, with the party's logo, following the example of Gabriela Firea running at the Capital City Hall.

"In the general elections, because it was a term stipulated by law, that term has expired, we will go alone at the general elections. I took the example of Mrs. Gabriela Firea, who wants to prove that alone on the logo of the Social Democratic Party, without backstairs deals with ones or the others, under the counter or in plain sight, she is fighting to win and I am convinced that Mrs. Gabriela Firea will win," Ciolacu told public broadcaster TVR 1.

He specified that he signed an agreement with the leader of Pro Romania, Victor Ponta, for the formation of the majorities in the county councils, and will sign such an agreement with the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (ALDE) leader, Calin Popescu-Tariceanu.
AHMEDABAD : INS Viraat, the world's longest serving warship that was decommissioned by the Indian Navy three years ago, has arrived off the Alang coast in Gujarat for dismantling, an official said on Tuesday.

The aircraft carrier began its final journey from the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai on Saturday and reached the waters at Alang in Bhavnagar district on Monday evening.

It will be dismantled at the ship breaking yard in Alang and then sold as scrap.

The warship, which was inducted into the Indian Navy in 1987, was purchased by Shree Ram Group for a sum of 38.54 crore at an auction in July this year.

Government officials are on board the ship to carry out formalities as per the ship breaking code, Shree Ram Group Chairman Mukesh Patel said.

"After all the formalities are completed, subject to weather conditions and tide, we are scheduling its beaching at our yard for dismantling during high tide at 1 pm on September 28," he said.

INS Viraat holds the record for being the world's longest serving warship.

It was the second centaur-class aircraft carrier which was in service with the Indian Navy for 29 years before being decommissioned in March 2017.

There were proposals in the past to preserve it as a maritime museum.

In July 2019, the central government said in Parliament that the decision to scrap INS Viraat was taken in due consultation with the Indian Navy.

It is the second aircraft carrier to be broken down in India. In 2014, INS Vikrant was dismantled in Mumbai.

The aircraft carrier, in its earlier avatar, had won the Falklands War against Argentina in 1982 for the Royal British Navy.

It weighs about 27,800 tonnes and served in the British Navy as HMS Hermes from November 1959 to April 1984 and after refurbishment, was commissioned into the Indian Navy.

In late 80s, the Indian Navy purchased it at a cost of $65 million and it was re-commissioned on May 12, 1987.

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New labeling rule mandates goods exported to the U.S. from Hong Kong must be designated as Made in China. Photo: Liu Yanfei/Caixin

Washingtons decision to begin labeling Hong Kong goods exported to the U.S. as Made in China in November could deal a blow to the citys brands, and have raised concern among businesses. But the move may have little impact on overall trade, given how few goods Hong Kong actually makes and ships to the U.S.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on Aug. 11 published a notice that Hong Kong imported goods will no longer be allowed to indicate Hong Kong as their origin and must be marked to indicate China, as part of President Donald Trumps executive order suspending the special treatment Hong Kong enjoyed under the United States-Hong Kong Policy Act of 1992.

Nonetheless, the CBP pointed out the new labeling will not affect country of origin determinations for purposes of assessing ordinary duties under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, and that goods that are products of Hong Kong should continue to report HK as the country of origin when required.

The labeling rule was set to take effect on Sept. 25 but was later postponed to Nov. 9, which falls six days after the U.S. presidential election.

The move quickly stirred controversy in Hong Kong as the city often takes pride in its long history of Made-in-Hong Kong brands. The Hong Kong special administrative region government has repeatedly stated that it opposed the rule.

Hong Kongs Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Edward Yau Tang-Wah, said at an August briefing that the labeling of Made in China is a distortion of facts and is not in line with the World Trade Organizations instructions, undermining Hong Kongs status as a separate customs territory.

Concerns have also emerged among businesses in Hong Kong surrounding the branding image of made-in-Hong Kong products, which some locals worry could become limp and worn as time passes and eventually be forgotten.

Simon Wong, chairman of food and beverage group Kampery Development Ltd. and chair of the Hong Kong Brand Development Council, said that Kampery has many food plants outside Hong Kong and only about 10% of its products are produced in Hong Kong. Its U.S. sales only account for about 5% of its total sales value, he said.

Were still keeping some production in Hong Kong because some clients from other countries dont want products made on the Chinese mainland, Wong said, adding that food safety was once an issue on the mainland and that overseas importers tend to have more confidence in products made in Hong Kong.

Billy Mak, an associate professor of the department of finance and decision sciences at Hong Kong Baptist University, said that consumers tend to be more willing to accept higher pricing for products made in Hong Kong as opposed to those made on the mainland, and that it remains a question if consumers would be willing to respond the same for products that are not labeled as such.





In 2019, the U.S. was the second-largest destination for Hong Kong exported goods, accounting for about 7.7% of Hong Kongs total exports, while the Chinese mainland was the largest destination for Hong Kong goods, taking up about 43.3%, according to data from the citys Census and Statistics Department.

In July, the largest value of exported goods shipped to the U.S. fell under the categories of telecommunications, sound recording, office machines and automatic data processing machines, according to official data.





Michael McCool, Hong Kong-based managing director of U.S. consulting firm AlixPartners, told Caixin in an email that the new labeling rule will in the overall scheme of things have a barely noticeable impact.

McCool said that while the figures for exports from Hong Kong to the U.S. look, on first inspection, to be large, this obscures the fact they are almost all re-exports. In 2019, Hong Kongs total clothing exports were $12.3 billion, of which $10.4 billion were re-exports of products made on the Chinese mainland and $3.4 billion were being exported to the U.S., he said, citing data from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council.

Other sectors where Hong Kong has material exports are mainly business to business sectors such as electro-mechanical systems where the country of origin is a less emotional factor in the purchase decision than it is in consumer products, so there will most likely be no noticeable impact there either, McCool said.

However, small enterprises that do manufacture and export to the U.S. might see their sales reduce due to the loss of the Made in Hong Kong designation, McCool said. The owners and staff of these businesses could find it tough going. But it would not make a noticeable difference to the Hong Kong-U.S. trade figures, he said.

Mak, Hong Kong Baptist Universitys professor, said the rule will take effect after the U.S. presidential election so there is still some uncertainty about it. He said that businesses that will feel the pain could either rearrange their U.S. business to other markets or shift their production from Hong Kong to other places to prevent risks that the new rule might bring about.

Our future U.S. market strategy will be to promote the brand of Hong Kong with products that arent necessarily made in Hong Kong, Wong said.

Yang Ge contributed to this report.

Contact reporter Timmy Shen (hongmingshen@caixin.com)

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America is now under siege by climate change in ways that scientists have warned about for years. But there is a second part to their admonition: Decades of growing crisis are already locked into the global ecosystem and cannot be reversed.

This means the kinds of cascading disasters occurring today  drought in the West fueling historic wildfires that send smoke all the way to the East Coast, or parades of tropical storms lining up across the Atlantic to march destructively toward North America  are no longer features of some dystopian future. They are the here and now, worsening for the next generation and perhaps longer, depending on humanitys willingness to take action.

Ive been labeled an alarmist, said Peter Kalmus, a climate scientist in Los Angeles, where he and millions of others have inhaled dangerously high levels of smoke for weeks. And I think its a lot harder for people to say that Im being alarmist now.

Last month, before the skies over San Francisco turned a surreal orange, Death Valley reached 130 degrees Fahrenheit, the highest temperature ever measured on the planet. Dozens of people have perished from the heat in Phoenix, which in July suffered its hottest month on record, only to surpass that milestone in August.

Conversations about climate change have broken into everyday life, to the top of the headlines and to center stage in the presidential campaign. The questions are profound and urgent. Can this be reversed? What can be done to minimize the looming dangers for the decades ahead? Will the destruction of recent weeks become a moment of reckoning or just a blip in the news cycle?

The Times spoke with two dozen climate experts, including scientists, economists, sociologists and policymakers, and their answers were by turns alarming, cynical and hopeful.

Its as if weve been smoking a pack of cigarettes a day for decades, and the world is now feeling the effects, said Katherine Hayhoe, a climate scientist at Texas Tech University. But, she said, were not dead yet.

Their most sobering message was that the world still hasnt seen the worst of it. Gone is the climate of yesteryear, and theres no going back.

MediaNews Group/East Bay Times v/MediaNews Group via Getty Images

The effects of climate change evident today are the results of choices that countries made decades ago to keep pumping heat-trapping greenhouse gases into the atmosphere at ever-increasing rates despite warnings from scientists about the price to be paid.

That price  more vicious heat waves, longer wildfire seasons, rising sea levels  is now irretrievably baked in. Nations, including the United States, have dithered so long in cutting emissions that progressively more global warming is assured for decades to come, even if efforts to shift away from fossil fuels were accelerated tomorrow.

Twice as Bad

What were seeing today, this year, is just a small harbinger of what we are likely to get, said Jonathan Overpeck, a climate scientist at the University of Michigan. Things are on track to get twice as bad as they are now, he said, if not worse.

Earth has already warmed roughly 1 degree Celsius, or 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit, since the 19th century. The most optimistic proposals made by world governments to zero out emissions envision holding warming to below 2 degrees Celsius. Nations remain far from achieving those goals.

Usually, each passing years records are framed by the past  the hottest temperatures ever observed, the biggest wildfires in decades. However, as Cristian Proistosescu, an assistant professor at the University of Illinois, noted on Twitter, it may be time to flip that chronological framing and consider today the new starting point.

Dont think of it as the warmest month of August in California in the last century, he wrote. Think of it as one of the coolest months of August in California in the next century.

Climate change is more a slope than a cliff, experts agreed. Were still far from any sort of game over moment where its too late to act. There remains much that can be done to limit the damage to come, to brace against the coming megafires and superstorms and save lives and hold onto a thriving civilization.

We can certainly move in a direction that serves us a lot better, said Stephen Pyne, an environmental historian and professor emeritus at Arizona State University. Its not that its out of our control. The whole thing is in our control.

It wont be easy, particularly if past is prologue.

Managing climate change, experts said, will require rethinking virtually every aspect of daily life: how and where homes are built, how power grids are designed, how people plan for the future with the collective good in mind. It will require an epochal shift in politics in a country that has, on the whole, ignored climate change.

One hope raised by some experts is that the current onslaught of fires and storms  the death, the destruction, the apocalyptic skies  might motivate people to unite behind calls for action. Those orange skies  I mean, that was scary, said Kris May, a climate scientist and coastal engineer in San Francisco, referring to the midday tangerine glow over Northern California this month, a consequence of smoke from wildfires.

Yet she wondered if they would have been even more powerful had they had struck places like Washington, D.C. Perhaps there, she said, theyd bring about more change.

When Lightning Strikes

The issue of climate change might have been back of mind for most Americans when a dramatic, rain-free lightning storm swept across Northern California in August. In a region that gets little rain in summer or early fall, the most destructive fires, like those that swept through wine country in 2017 and the town of Paradise in 2018, have come in October and November.

But one August nights spectacular lightning show became the next days emerging disaster, as hundreds of fires were sparked, mostly in hard-to-reach terrain. Three of those blazes now rank among the four biggest California fires since record-keeping began in 1932  part of the 3.6 million acres that have burned in the state so far.

And the traditional fire season is just beginning.

The fires, along with others in places including Colorado, Oregon and Washington, destroyed entire towns and sent smoke tens of thousands of feet high. San Francisco, Portland, Oregon, and Seattle have suffered some of the unhealthiest air quality on the planet, beating cities such as Beijing and New Delhi for the title. Smoke spread all the way across the continent, with particles coloring sunsets on the East Coast.

There was no place to escape. Evidence of global warming  which, scientists said, helps drive a rise in wildfire activity by creating hotter and drier conditions  was hanging visibly in the air.

For a long time, there was so much focus on how climate change would affect the most vulnerable, like low-lying island nations or coral reefs  things that dont dramatically affect the economic powerhouses of the world, said Katharine Mach, an associate professor at the University of Miamis Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. Theres often been this arrogant assumption that wealth provides protection.

Recent events, she said, are a vivid reminder that were all in this together.

That notion raises a counterintuitive bit of hope: The more people who are affected, particularly the affluent and influential, the more seriously the issue gets addressed.

First, experts broadly agreed, if we want to stop the planet from relentlessly heating up forever, humanity will quickly need to eliminate its emissions of planet-warming greenhouse gases. That means cleaning up every coal plant in China, every steel mill in Europe, every car and truck in the United States.

Its a staggering task. It means reorienting a global economy that depends on fossil fuels. So far, the world has made only halting progress.

But experts also made a point they say is often underappreciated: Even if we start radically slashing emissions today, it could be decades before those changes start to appreciably slow the rate at which Earth is warming. In the meantime, well have to deal with effects that continue to worsen.

In terms of being reversible, I can only think of things in sci-fi films  Superman trying to spin the Earth in the other direction so Lois Lane doesnt die, said Juan Declet-Barreto, a social scientist at the Union of Concerned Scientists. Seriously, it is not reversible.

Again and again, climate scientists have shown that our choices now range from merely awful to incomprehensibly horrible.

If we cut emissions rapidly, about one-seventh of the worlds population will suffer severe heat waves every few years. Failure to do so doubles or triples that number. If we act now, sea levels could rise another 1 to 2 feet this century. If we dont, Antarcticas ice sheets could destabilize irreversibly, and ocean levels could keep rising at an inexorable pace for centuries, making coastal civilization all but unmanageable.

The best hope is to slow the pace of warming enough to maintain some control for humanity.

In our research, weve found that most systems can cope with a 1.5-degree or 2-degree world, although it will be very costly and extremely difficult to adapt, said Hayhoe of Texas Tech University. But in a 4-degree world, in many cases, the system just doesnt work anymore.

So, even as nations cut emissions, they will need to accelerate efforts to adapt to the climate change they can no longer avoid. We need to figure out how to put ourselves less in harms way, said Gernot Wagner, a climate economist at New York University.

Humans are remarkably resilient. Civilizations thrive in climates as different as Saudi Arabia and Alaska.

When disaster strikes, weve demonstrated an ability to unite and respond. In 1970 and 1991, two major tropical cyclones hit Bangladesh, killing a half-million people. The country then built an extensive network of early-warning systems and shelters, and strengthened building codes. When another major cyclone struck in 2019, just five people died.

The human capacity for adaptation is extraordinary  not unlimited, but extraordinary, said Greg Garrard, professor of environmental humanities at the University of British Columbia. He added, Im much more concerned for the future of the nonhuman than I am for the future of humans, precisely because were just very, very good at adaptation.

But as the case in Bangladesh illustrates, adaptation is usually a reactive measure, not a preventive one. Adapting to climate change means envisioning bigger disasters to come  again, flipping the framing away from history and into the future.

If You Cant See It, Is It Real?

Humans have difficulty imagining things that we havent experienced yet, said Alice Hill, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations who oversaw resilience planning on the National Security Council during the Obama administration.

After every major catastrophe, whether its Pearl Harbor or 9/11, people always look back and say it was a failure of imagination. That also applies to climate change, she said. Its hard to visualize the entire West Coast aflame until you actually see it. And if we cant see it, we tend to discount the risk.

There are concrete steps that can be taken today. Consider wildfires. After a deadly spate of Western blazes in 1910, the U.S. government scaled up its firefighting force, committing to extinguish wildfires wherever they occurred. For decades, that worked, giving Americans confidence that they could move into forested areas and remain safe.

But that policy led to a buildup of dense vegetation in the nations forests, which, when combined with a warmer and drier climate, means that those forests are increasingly primed to burn bigger and hotter, overwhelming the nations firefighting capacity.

Going forward, experts said, the country will have to shift its mentality and learn to live with fire. States and communities will need to impose tougher regulations on homes built in fire-prone areas. Federal agencies will have to focus on managing forests better, selectively thinning some areas and even preventively setting controlled fires in others to burn off excess vegetation that can fuel runaway blazes.

Theres a lot we can do, said Jennifer Balch, a wildfire expert at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Weve just been stuck in an emergency response rather than thinking and looking ahead.

Whether Americans can adopt that mentality remains an open question.

Weve often heard the argument that it will be too expensive to cut emissions, and it will just be easier to adapt, said Noah Diffenbaugh, a climate scientist at Stanford University. But weve now had decades of warnings, he said, and were not even adapted to the present climate.

Cascading Disasters

Adaptation can quickly become bogged down in a tangle of competing motivations and unintended consequences. Proposals for stricter building codes or higher insurance premiums face opposition from builders and voters alike.

And theres the moral hazard problem, which is when people are shielded from the costs of their decisions and thus make bad ones. For instance, local communities reap increased property taxes from allowing buildings to rise in disaster-prone areas, but they dont pick up most of the tab for disaster recovery  the federal government does.

Another challenge to adaptation is that, as climate change intensifies, it increases the risk of compound hazards, when numerous disasters strike simultaneously, as well as the risk that one disaster cascades into another.

In late 2017, large wildfires scorched Santa Barbara, California, burning away vegetation that stabilized hillside soils. Heavy rainfall followed a month later. The result: devastating mudflows that killed 23 and injured 163.

In Houston in 2017, Hurricane Harvey shut down gasoline refineries, strained hospitals, and spread toxic substances and pathogens as floodwaters swamped the city. And when the Camp Fire destroyed Paradise, California, in 2018, nearly 20,000 displaced people arrived in nearby Chico, which suddenly found its sewage system pushed to the limits.

Its really challenging to predict exactly where and how all of those cascading risks will unfold, said Amir Aghakouchak, a climate scientist at the University of California, Irvine, who studies compound hazards.

Experts also noted that climate change is an accelerant of inequality. Those most affected, globally and in the United States, tend to be the most vulnerable populations. Many are also among the people at highest risk for COVID-19.

As thousands have fled fires in recent weeks, farmworkers have continued to pick ripe crops, sometimes in evacuation zones. They already live in a state of crisis that has been magnified, compounded by the pandemic, said Declet-Barreto of the Union of Concerned Scientists.

One concern is that adaptability will not be a collective effort. Wealthier people may find ways to protect themselves, while others are left fending for themselves. Even after American disasters, for example, relief is often off-limits to residents in the country illegally, experts said.

Here in South Florida, people are building these amazing homes that float on the water. They can withstand Category 4 hurricanes, but they cost $6 million, said Mach of the University of Miami. So how do we manage these risks so that its not just people with resources who stay safe?

A Lifetime of Clues

For well over a century, science has provided us with powerful clues that this was coming.

As early as the 1850s, researchers realized that greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide could trap heat on Earth. This came at the dawn of the Industrial Age, which brought fossil-fuel-burning factories that ultimately not only filled peoples lives with modern conveniences, but also filled the sky with the carbon dioxide now warming the world.

By the 1990s, scientists had a deep understanding of the future risks of a warming world. By the 2010s, researchers could show how the extreme heat waves, droughts and floods now unfolding were influenced by climate change.

Technology offered solutions as well, whether solar power or electric cars. Yet governments have been slow to rein in reliance on fossil fuels.

I feel like the climate scientists have kind of done our job, said Kalmus, the Los Angeles-based scientist. Weve laid it out pretty clearly, but nobodys doing anything. So now its kind of up to the social scientists.

Will the recent spate of disasters be enough to shock voters and politicians into action?

We have a lot of evidence that that doesnt happen, said Garrard of the University of British Columbia.

One 2017 study found that people who experience extreme weather are more likely to support climate adaptation measures than before. But the effect diminished over time. It may be that people mentally adjust to unusual weather patterns, updating their perception of what they consider normal.

All of it can feel overwhelming, particularly for people wanting to make a difference. Susan Cutter, who directs the Hazards and Vulnerability Research Institute at the University of South Carolina, noted that climate changes biggest problem may be the sense that it is beyond our control. The planet is burning, so does it really matter if I turn off the light?

Theres too much complexity and, frankly, too much that needs to be changed, that were flitting from one concern to another, she said.

Even so, some important steps are being taken. Cities like Montecito, California, and Austin, Texas, have pursued difficult measures to protect against future wildfires. Britain, the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, now goes coal-free for months at a time, having rapidly shifted to cleaner forms of electricity.

And if optimism springs from knowledge, the good news is that scientific research lays out what to do. Its not a mystery nor is it beyond the bounds of human ability.

Whats beautiful about the human species is that we have the free will to decide our own fate, said Ilona Otto, a climate scientist at the Wegener Center for Climate and Global Change. We have the agency to take courageous decisions and do whats needed, she said. If we choose.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
Journalist Bob Woodward suggested historians would react to the Trump era of American politics with bewilderment and four-letter words.

'The historians I know are going to be writing about this for decades and they're going to say, "What the F happened to America in 2016, 2019 and 2020?"' Woodward told CNN's Jeff Zucker Tuesday as part of the network's Citizen by CNN conference.

Woodward, the famed Watergate journalist who's covered nine administrations, said he had 'never seen anything like' Trump bungling's of the coronavirus pandemic, with 200,000-plus Americans dead as of Tuesday.

Journalist Bob Woodward said Tuesday that historians are going to look at the Trump era and ask, 'What the F happened to America in 2016, 2019 and 2020?'

Bob Woodward (right) sat down with CNN's Jeff Zucker (left) as part of the Citizen by CNN conference on Tuesday. He spoke of President Donald Trump's mishandling of the pandemic

'The visitation of the medical nightmare on the American population is staggering, stunning,' Woodward said.

He also said Trump should be blamed.

'It's on his head, and he did not do enough. He just didn't,' Woodward said.

The best-selling author made it a lot more difficult for Trump to plead ignorance, as Trump is on-the-record with Woodward in early February talking about how dangerous COVID-19 is.

In their recorded talks, Trump tells Woodward that Chinese President Xi Jinping told him that the virus is airborne, highly contagious and much deadlier than the common flu.

A month later when talking to Woodward, Trump admits he purposely downplayed it, explaining he didn't want to cause 'panic.'

Democrats have interpreted that as Trump not wanting to panic the stock market, which has become his barometer for the country's economic health.

Woodward turned to Watergate, describing Republican President Richard Nixon as a 'criminal' who was driven out by his own party. 'His people used to say no one died in Watergate and there's a certain truth to that,' Woodward said.

Meanwhile, Woodward pointed out '200,000 people have died at this' and Trump couldn't even take 'remedial action by being honest with the American people.'

And Woodward's tapes spell that out.

'As a reporter for The New York Times said, it's almost, in the case of Trump, as if Nixon had packaged up all his secret tape recordings showing his criminality and FedEx'ed them to me,' Woodward said.

The longtime journalist also commented on the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and how it impacts the American people's reaction to Trump's handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

'We see now with the Supreme Court issue he's shifted the spotlight,' Woodward said, according to The Hill. 'He's absolutely delighted - this is an issue that's very important to his base, to Evangelicals. So the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburgh is one of these events in history that has changed the entire dynamic.'
The goal of the practice guidelines is to create a unified, consistent set of guidelines that medical aesthetic practices can follow in order to ensure they are operating in a compliant manner."

The American Med Spa Association (AmSpa) has released its Guidelines for Non-surgical Medical Practices (Medical Spas), which are designed to help medical aesthetic practicesand the medical aesthetic industry at largeestablish and maintain a culture of safety and compliance. In conjunction with the release of these guidelines, AmSpa will host a remote informational meeting on Wednesday, September 23, 2020, at 6 p.m. CDT, during which Alex Thiersch, JD, CEO and founder of AmSpa, and others involved in drafting the guidelines will answer questions attendees have about them.

The Guidelines for Non-surgical Medical Practices (Medical Spas) can be read and downloaded at http://www.americanmedspa.org/medspaguidelines. They cover a wide variety of topics, including:



The provision of medical treatment;

Medical directors, protocols and training;

Initial examination, diagnosis and treatment plan;

Provision of medical services, delegation and supervision;

Restrictions of certain medical treatments and providers;

Ownership and compensation; and

Advertising, marketing and social media.

In addition, each article includes commentary from the authors in order to further clarify their intentions.

These guidelines were developed in conjunction with medical spa owners, physicians, attorneys and a variety of practitioners, including plastic surgeons, dermatologists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, registered nurses, aestheticians you name it, says Thiersch. The goal of the practice guidelines is to create a unified, consistent set of guidelines that medical aesthetic practices can follow in order to ensure they are operating in a compliant manner. AmSpa is very excited about these guidelines, and I truly believe they will go a long way toward unifying the industry.

In order to further explain and clarify the Guidelines for Non-surgical Medical Practices (Medical Spas), AmSpa will present an informational meeting on Wednesday, September 23, 2020, at 6 p.m. CDT; you can register to attend this meeting at bit.ly/GuideMtg. It is open to anyone who wishes to attend. If you have questions or concerns about the guidelines, send them to info@americanmedspa.org by 12 p.m. (noon) CDT on Wednesday, September 23, so they can be addressed during the meeting.

The guidelines are essentially a summary of the existing law in the overwhelming majority of states, says Thiersch. AmSpa has not tried to change anything drastically, nor are we trying to favor one group over any other. Our main goals are safety and compliance; to that end, these guidelines are intended to set out the basic rules that AmSpa has been espousing for years. Most of these rules are in place already, but they are difficult to find. AmSpas goal in creating these guidelines is to gather, summarize and clarify the rules that are already in place so that folks are able to easily follow them.

These standards have been built from best practices and rules frequently used throughout the country, adds AmSpa legal coordinator, Patrick Armstrong OBrien, JD. For most medical aesthetic practices, many parts of these standards will feel familiar, and they may find that the standards already reflect how they are currently practicing.

About the American Med Spa Association (AmSpa)

The American Med Spa Association (AmSpa) provides business and legal resources to medical spas and aesthetic practices across the country. AmSpas eventsincluding Medical Spa & Aesthetic Boot Camps and Medical Spa Showprovide business and legal best-practices to anyone entering the medical spa space or looking to improve their existing practice. AmSpa members receive access to legal summaries of laws governing medical spas in their state, discounts, a robust and growing webinar library, and many other benefits. For more information visit http://www.americanmedspa.org, call 312-981-0993, or email info@americanmedspa.org.
Greater Accra Regional Police Commander, DCOP Afful Boakye Yiadom, has advised police personnel to be professional in the discharge of their duties and avoid loose talk before, during, and after the general elections.



You are public servants and not politicians, you are not supposed to engage in political activities because it is against the Police regulation which calls for stiffer punishment, he said.



The Police Commander tasked the officers to be guided the tenets of the regulations and not involve themselves in political controversies to affect the image of the service.



DCOP Yiadom gave the advice on Monday when interacting with the officers at the Police headquarters after a route march in some principal streets of Accra as part of preparation towards the upcoming December elections.



He said any officer caught involving in political activities would be dealt with according to its laws to serve as a deterrent to others.



DCOP Yiadom said the exercise was to keep the officers ahead of the polls since they would need a lot of energy to withstand the hours of standing during the election day.



As a result, DCOP advised them to reduce their sexual escapades to get enough energy for the electioneering work ahead to avoid any untoward situation.



DCOP Kwaku Boadu-Pepra, the Director-General in charge of Operations said the Police were well prepared to ensure peace and stability ahead of the elections.



He said the police has so far trained 1,968 special police officers and noted the IGP had given approval for another 2000 to be trained purposely for the elections.



He said the Police strength should have been 50,000 but were in the region of 35,000 to 40,000, to handle the 33,367 polling stations in the country, but had to rely on assistance from other sister security services to ensure peace during elections.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Charles Morton, a Big Bear Interagency Hotshot Squad Boss, died while engaged in fire suppression operations on the El Dorado fire on Sept. 17. (Forest Service)

The firefighter killed while battling the El Dorado fire in San Bernardino County was identified Monday as Charles Morton, a 14-year veteran with the U.S. Forest Service who led the Big Bear Interagency Hotshot Squad.

Morton died Sept. 17. He was 39.

Morton served for 14 years with the U.S. Forest Service, beginning with the Truckee Interagency Hotshots in the Tahoe National Forest, then the Mill Creek Interagency Hotshots, Engine 31, Engine 19 and the Big Bear Interagency Hotshots in the San Bernardino National Forest.

Charlie was a well-respected leader who was always there for his squad and his crew at the toughest times, Vicki Christiansen, U.S. Forest Service chief, said in a statement. Our hearts go out to Charlies loved ones, co-workers, friends and the Big Bear Hotshots. We will keep them in our thoughts and prayers.

Morton is survived by his wife, daughter, parents and two brothers.

The El Dorado fire erupted 12 days before Morton's death, when a family threw a gender-reveal party in a park near Yucaipa, igniting a pyrotechnic device that emitted colored smoke. Southern California was in the throes of a record-setting heat wave that weekend, and the flames raced across dry, grass-covered hillsides and into the San Bernardino National Forest.

The El Dorado fire has burned 22,500 acres in San Bernardino and Riverside counties and was 60% contained as of Monday evening. Ten structures have been destroyed and another six damaged.
For the Rev. Dr. James Jackson, the November election is as much a referendum on racial and economic injustices as it is on a president, he feels, has misused Christian teachings.

It is time for us as God fearing people, one nation under God, no matter what God you serve, to change social norms. We need to change so we treat each other with decency and respect, said Jackson, pastor at Goodwin Memorial Baptist Church in Harrisburg.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 14:08:05|Editor: huaxia

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MUMBAI, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- The death toll rose to 20 in the residential building collapse at Bhiwandi, 38 km from Mumbai, India as the rescue operation continues for second day on Tuesday.

Almost 30 hours after the building collapsed on Monday morning, civic officials said that 20 to 25 more people are still feared trapped.

So far, 25 injured persons have been admitted to hospitals while around 20 people were rescued by locals immediately after the building collapsed.

"There was a power loom at the ground floor of the building where some workers are believed to be asleep when the building caved in. As per details given by local people, 20 to 25 people are still trapped inside the debris," said Milind Palsule, public relation officer of the local civic body.

Bhiwandi, a textile hub with the largest power looms in India, has off-late turned into a logistics hub with several e-commerce companies having their warehouses there to cater to Mumbai's consumer demand.

The 43-year-old building had 40 apartments and nearly 150 persons were residing there, according to civic officials.

National Disaster Response Force, which is undertaking rescue and relief operations along with local administration, is now working in shifts.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah had expressed their condolence on the unfortunate incident.

Building collapses in India happen more often in the monsoon season during the June-September period with torrential rains. Last month, over a dozen people died after a building collapsed in the industrial town of Mahad, 165 km south of Mumbai. Enditem


PARIS (dpa-AFX) - U.S. Court grants Tiffany's motion to expedite lawsuit against LVMH Moet Hennessy-Louis Vuitton. However, the court has not agreed to Tiffany request for trial before November 24.



The court has agreed to a date between the timeline requested by the two companies.



Tiffany had urged the court to hold the trial on a timetable that would enable a decision before the November 24 termination date in the merger agreement. LVMH had reportedly requested to hold the trial in March or April of next year.



But the court set a four-day trial beginning only on January 5, 2021.



Tiffany sued LVMH earlier this month after the French luxury goods conglomerate said it could not proceed with its $16.2 billion takeover of the U.S. jeweler.



Tiffany said Monday that it welcomed the court's ruling to expedite the process. Despite LVMH's ongoing efforts to avoid paying the agreed-upon price for Tiffany, a trial on January 5 will hopefully lead to a ruling prior to the expiration of U.S. antitrust clearance on February 3, 2021.



Tiffany stated that it will demonstrate to the court that LVMH is in clear breach of its obligations under a valid and binding agreement and that their claim of a material adverse effect is completely baseless.



Tiffany has acted in good faith in full compliance with the merger agreement and will continue to do so.



Meanwhile, LVMH said in a statement that it is fully confident that it will be able to defeat Tiffany's accusations and convince the court that the conditions necessary for the acquisition of Tiffany are no longer met.



LVMH also said it will demonstrate to the American justice system that the mismanagement of Tiffany during the COVID-19 crisis constitutes a material adverse effect.



It was in November last year that LVMH agreed to buy Tiffany for $135 per share in cash. The transaction had an equity value of about 14.7 billion euros or $16.2 billion. Tiffany shareholders approved its proposed acquisition by LVMH in February.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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Japan's new Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga expressed hope for "forward-looking" relations with South Korea as "important neighbors" in his recent letter to President Moon Jae-in, Cheong Wa Dae said Monday.







Suga sent a reply to Moon on Saturday for his congratulatory message, as he was sworn in as the successor of Shinzo Abe, according to Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kang Min-seok.







Suga said he hopes that the two sides will establish forward-looking ties by overcoming "difficult issues," Kang added without elaborating.







Suga was apparently referring to longstanding disputes over shared history, especially compensating victims of forced labor and sexual enslavement of women during Japan's colonial rule of Korea.







Moon earlier sent a letter to Suga, in which he proposed joint efforts to improve Seoul-Tokyo relations, shortly after his inauguration.







On Sunday, Suga reportedly had a phone conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump.







Cheong Wa Dae officials have not announced when Moon will also talk with Suga on the phone. (Yonhap)


Mumbai, Sep 22 : Actor Arjun Rampal is all set to come up with a courtroom drama, Nail Polish.

"The script is as intriguing as the title. It is extremely promising and allows everyone to push one's limits to a level that hopefully shall transform itself into something very special," Arjun said about the project, helmed by Bugs Bhargava Krishna.

"Nail Polish" also features versatile actors Manav Kaul, Rajit Kapur and Anand Tiwari.

According to Manav, it's been one of the most challenging roles he played so far in his career.

"Veer Singh, my character in 'Nail Polish' plays a major role in the narrative and it is one of the most difficult and thrilling roles I have played to date. The script and my part were really intriguing and instantly got me hooked," Manav shared.

"Nail Polish" will premiere soon on Zee5.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
"It was fundamental to regulate remote working to protect the rights of workers," deputy prime minister Pablo Iglesias told state-owned TV channel TVE on Tuesday.

"This new rule will boost productivity and the competitiveness of the Spanish economy", as well as the working conditions of the Spaniards who partly worked from home in 2020, labour minister Yolanda Diaz told a news conference later.

Official data show more than 3.5 million people were working remotely in the second quarter.

Under the government's draft proposal, companies would have to bankroll all expenses employees may have when working from home, including computer equipment and furniture, while employees can ask for flexible working hours.

The benefits would only apply to employees who stay home for at least 30% of their work schedule, and employers will have the right to monitor workers' online presence while respecting dignity and privacy.

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All home-working arrangements have to be voluntary, both for employers and employees.

The new rules, if approved by parliament, would not apply to home-working schedules that were put in place specifically to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.

Three months after the end of Spain's lockdown, many Spaniards are still working remotely, as social distancing rules limit office capacity.

The labour ministry is also seeking an extension of a furlough scheme that is due to expire on September 30th.

The lockdown marked a big change for Spaniards mainly unaccustomed to clock in from home. Only 3.5% of Spanish workers partly worked from home in 2019, compared with a 9% average in the European Union, according to Eurostat.

With 671,468 cumulative infections, Spain has the highest number of coronavirus cases in western Europe. More than 30,663 people have died since the start of the pandemic.  Reuters
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept.22

By Rufiz Hafizoglu  Trend:

Exports of electrical goods from Turkey to Ukraine surged by 80.48 percent in the past eight months of 2020, compared to the same period of 2019, making up $98.6 million, the Turkish Trade Ministry told Trend on Sept.22.

In August 2020, Turkey exported electrical goods worth slightly over $7.5 million to Ukraine, which is 3.36 percent less than in August of last year.

The export of electrical goods from Turkey to international markets declined by 8.7 percent in the past eight months of 2020, compared to the same period of 2019, amounting to slightly over $6.5 billion.

The ministry said that Turkeys export of electrical products amounted to 6.4 percent of the country's total export over the reporting period.

In August 2020, Turkey exported the electrical goods worth $852.9 million to foreign markets, which is 0.6 percent more compared to the same month of 2019, noted the ministry.

Meanwhile, Turkeys export of electrical products made up 6.8 percent of the country's total export.

Over the past 12 months (from August 2019 through August 2020, Turkey exported the electrical goods in the amount of over $10.6 billion abroad.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
He's had an exciting summer after announcing his engagement to Nicola Peltz in July.

And Brooklyn Beckham, 21, appeared to be in good spirits as he went shopping with a pal in New York on Monday.

The photographer's outing comes as the rest of his family gathered together in the UK to support his mum Victoria, 46, at her virtual London Fashion Week show.

Casual: Brooklyn Beckham opted for a laid-back look as he enjoyed some shopping with a pal in New York on Monday as the rest of his family gathered to support his mum in the UK

Brooklyn kept things low-key in his relaxed ensemble, donning some black jeans and white trainers as he strolled along the street.

He completed his look with a black hoodie with the name 'Marlon Brando' written on the chest within a white and red box, imitating the Marlboro cigarettes design.

Making sure to stay safe, both Brooklyn and his pal ensured to wear face masks with the two men opting for simple black ones.

Brooklyn's outing came on the same day his mother Victoria presented her latest fashion collection during London Fashion Week.

Chilled: Brooklyn wore jeans and a black hoodie as well as a dark blue cap turned around

Happy: Victoria was supported by husband David and their three other children on Monday as she prepared to unveil her digital presentation for London Fashion Week

And although they weren't able to be there to celebrate in person, Brooklyn did take to Instagram to tell Victoria he was 'proud' of her and while Nicola arranged for flowers to be sent to her future mother-in-law.

Sharing a clip showing a section of the former Spice Girl's designs on the runway, the doting son wrote: 'So proud of you mum  love you so much'

Earlier on Monday Victoria shared Instagram snaps of husband David, 45, alongside sons Romeo, 18, Cruz, 15, and daughter Harper, nine, in face masks as they prepared for the presentation.

Chatting: Brooklyn and his pal paused to talk during their lunch and shopping trip

Checking in: Although he couldn't be with his family in person, Brooklyn wrote that he was 'so proud' of Victoria on Instagram

Doting son: Brooklyn shared a short clip of Victoria's catwalk show and wrote 'love you so much'

Victoria, like most designers, has opted for a digital presentation to showcase her latest collection during London Fashion Week as the coronavirus pandemic uproots fashion weeks around the globe.

She captioned her snaps: 'My favourite (and only) guests this season! love you all so much @davidbeckham @romeobeckham @cruzbeckham #HarperSeven xx we missed you @brooklynbeckham @nicolannepeltz.'

The Beckhams ensured they all had their own masks, with Harper opting to wear a purple floral one to match her dress.

Hours earlier Victoria had shared a snap of daughter Harper donning a mini version of one of her designs ahead of the digital showcase.

Looking good: The family matched in monochrome ensembles - with Cruz even sporting a cream Dior saddlebag - whilst Harper stood out in purple

The designer showed off her latest collection with the help of four models, while there was just a handful of fashion editors in attendance for a preview at Victoria Miro art gallery in East London on Sunday.

Guests at Sunday's preview all wore monogrammed face masks that were provided at the entrance of the gallery and social distancing was enforced.

The presentation was streamed on Victoria's website on Monday afternoon, meaning one of LFW's most anticipated shows was accessible to all.

Victoria also shared photos of the beautiful bouquets of flowers sent by her husband David and their sons as well as eldest son Brooklyn's fiancee Nicola Peltz.
A former Chinese property executive who openly criticized Beijings handling of the coronavirus pandemic was sentenced to 18 years in prison on corruption charges Tuesday, a court announced.

Ren Zhiqiang, former chairman of a state-owned real estate group, disappeared from public view in March, after publishing an essay online that appeared to refer to President Xi Jinping as a clown. The essay came after Xi announced orders for combating the coronavirus crisis via video conference.

The pandemic is believed to have originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan, causing the city to go into a strict lockdown for 11 weeks in late January to slow the spread of the virus.

Image: Police van believed to be carrying Ren Zhiqiang (Carlos Garcia Rawlins / Reuters)

Xi has suppressed criticism, tightened censorship and cracked down on unofficial organizations. Dozens of journalists, labor and human rights activists and others have been imprisoned.

The Beijing No. 2 Intermediate Court found Ren, 69, guilty of embezzlement, bribery, misuse of public funds and abuse of power at a state-owned business, according to a notice on the judgment released by the court Tuesday.

Ren was a real estate tycoon for much of his business career and was widely known as big cannon for his outspoken remarks and was sometimes called Chinas Donalds Trump.

Download the NBC News app for breaking news and politics

The court accused Ren of embezzling more than $7.3 million of public funds, accepting bribes of more than $180,000, misusing around $9 million and abusing his power to cause a loss of more than $17 million at a state-owned enterprise.

This caused the state-owned Huayuan Group to suffer losses of more than $7.9 million, while Ren personally profited by $2.8 million, according to the court.

The court had sentenced Ren to 18 years in prison and handed him a fine of more than $618,000. Ren voluntarily and truthfully confessed to all his crimes, admitted all of the criminal allegations against him and said he would not appeal the courts judgement, according to the notice.

Story continues

Ren, who became known for speaking up about censorship and other sensitive topics, didnt mention Xis name in the essay but said: Standing there was not an emperor showing off his new clothes but a clown who had stripped off his clothes and insisted on being an emperor.

Ren had 37 million followers on Weibo, a top Chinese social networking site. But in February 2016 his account was shut down by the Cyberspace Administration of China after he openly criticized the party and government on his social media.

The day before his account was shut down the Chinese state newspaper, People's Daily, published an opinion article criticizing him.

He has lost the quality of a Communist Party member, it read.

Since the pandemic broke out, Ren has criticized propaganda that portrayed Xi and other leaders as rescuing China from Covid-19 without mentioning where it began and possible mistakes including suppressing information at the start of the outbreak.

Reuters contributed to this report.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Black Knight, Inc. (NYSE: BKI) announced today that Fidelity Bank, N.A., a family-owned financial institution based in Wichita, Kansas, has successfully completed its implementation of Black Knight's suite of servicing solutions  including the industry-leading MSP loan servicing system. These solutions are now helping Fidelity Bank service its growing mortgage portfolio by improving efficiency, risk management and the customer experience.

"Black Knight was a true and reliable partner throughout this project, despite the COVID-19 pandemic requiring our mutual teams to transition to a virtual implementation," said Shane Stuhlsatz, senior vice president and director of technology innovation at Fidelity Bank. "We were very pleased with how smoothly the implementation went, and Fidelity Bank is ready to begin leveraging the advantages of the industry's premier servicing platform, as well as Black Knight's integrated suite of innovative servicing solutions."

MSP is a single, comprehensive system used by financial institutions to service approximately 36 million active loans  more than any other in the mortgage industry. The scalable system, which helps clients manage all servicing processes  from payment processing to escrow administration, customer service, default management and more  can accommodate virtually any size portfolio. Additionally, MSP can support first mortgages and home equity loans and lines of credit on the same platform.

Servicing Digital, an interactive, user-friendly web and mobile solution that provides personalized, timely information to customers about their mortgage loans and homes, is integrated with the MSP system. Customers can use the solution to review their home and loan information; make mortgage payments online; and explore opportunities for refinancing, taking out a home equity loan or purchasing another home. Servicing Digital will help Fidelity Bank deepen customer relationships, enhance service and increase satisfaction. While Fidelity Bank will use the responsive web design version of Servicing Digital, the solution is also available as a native mobile app.

To further support its servicing operation, Fidelity Bank is now using Black Knight's Default suite, which includes automated, workflow capabilities to enhance the bankruptcy, foreclosure and invoicing processes. For enhanced operational efficiency, Fidelity Bank is also now using Black Knight's Actionable Intelligence Platform. The solution helps clients proactively monitor and manage servicing portfolios through the use of targeted, strategic analytics.

"By leveraging Black Knight's trusted, proven and innovative products, Fidelity Bank is demonstrating its unrelenting pursuit to be the best financial institution in the heartland," said Black Knight President Joe Nackashi. "We are ready to show how the power of these integrated, transformative solutions across the enterprise can help Fidelity Bank find growth opportunities, improve operational efficiencies, reduce risk and increase customer engagement and satisfaction."

About Fidelity Bank

Fidelity Bank is a fourth-generation, family-owned financial institution based in Wichita, Kansas. The forerunner of Fidelity Bank  The Fidelity Investment Company  opened its doors for business in in 1905 as a mortgage lender and has since grown to become a $2.7 billion full-service bank employing 500 people across 21 offices across Kansas and Oklahoma. Visit fidelitybank.com for more information.

About Black Knight

Black Knight (NYSE:BKI) is a leading provider of integrated software, data and analytics solutions that facilitate and automate many of the business processes across the homeownership life cycle.

As a leading fintech, Black Knight is committed to being a premier business partner that clients rely on to achieve their strategic goals, realize greater success and better serve their customers by delivering best-in-class software, services and insights with a relentless commitment to excellence, innovation, integrity and leadership. For more information on Black Knight, please visit www.blackknightinc.com.

For more information:

Michelle Kersch

Black Knight, Inc.

904.854.5043

[email protected]



Mitch Cohen

Black Knight, Inc.

704.890.8158

[email protected]

SOURCE Black Knight, Inc.

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Linkedin Made Anthony Iswara (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, September 22, 2020

Indonesia has joined the global peace movement, calling for a ceasefire in all conflict areas around the world in light of the International Day of Peace on Sept. 21, while experts urge more initiatives to bolster peacekeeping efforts.

The Foreign Ministrys multilateral affairs director general, Febrian Alphyanto Ruddyard, said that the government supported the United Nations call to halt all conflicts and impose a ceasefire so nations can focus on their COVID-19 responses.

Indonesia wants to ensure that the peacekeeping efforts we have made together with various countries will not erode as a result of the pandemic, [since this] could potentially spark new conflicts or exacerbate existing ones, Febrian said on Monday.

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Half the vulnerable women seeking legal assistance are getting turned away with services saying they need 123 more lawyers and a $25 million funding boost to cope.

Women's legal groups told the Senate's COVID-19 committee on Tuesday they were struggling to meet demand during the pandemic and were expecting a further spike in family violence matters as coronavirus restrictions ease and more women are able to flee abusive relationships.

Calls to women's legal services have soared during the pandemic. Credit:Shutterstock

"We are under quite incredible pressure and, although welcome, half a lawyer is not going to be sufficient to be able to really have a big impact on that huge increase in demand," the chief executive Angela Lynch of Women's Legal Services, Angela Lynch, told the committee hearing.

The federal government gave $20 million in May to frontline legal services dealing with domestic violence matters, out of a $63.3 million boost to legal aid.
Transgender people will not be allowed to legally change gender without a medical diagnosis, the British government said on Tuesday, scrapping a proposed reform that sparked furious debate between LGBT+ and women's rights campaigners.

The government launched a consultation two years ago on overhauling the 2004 Gender Recognition Act (GRA) to allow "self-ID" in England and Wales - a reform opponents said could allow predatory men access to women-only spaces such as toilets.

While the "self-ID" proposal was scrapped, the cost for trans people to change birth certificates will be cut from 140 pounds ($180) to a "nominal amount" and the process will be moved online.

Trans rights advocates expressed disappointment at Tuesday's announcement on the outcome of the consultation.

"It's a shocking failure in leadership," Nancy Kelley, the chief executive of Stonewall, Britain's largest LGBT+ advocacy group, said in an emailed statement.

"While these moves will make the current process less costly and bureaucratic, they don't go anywhere near far enough toward meaningfully reforming the Act to make it easier for all trans people to go about their daily life."

Countries including Ireland, Portugal, Norway and Argentina have "self-ID", allowing trans people to legally change gender via a legal declaration and without doctors' involvement.

Almost two-thirds of the 102,818 respondents to the British consultation said they backed removing the requirement for a diagnosis of gender dysphoria, a government report showed.

More than three quarters said they supported scrapping the need for trans people to show they had lived in their gender for a specific time period - currently two years.

But women's rights activists who had opposed the introduction of "self-ID", welcomed the news.

"It's really good news and it acknowledges a fair balance between trans people and women's rights," Nicola Williams of Fair Play for Women, which campaigned against the reform, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

She said the group's priorities would now be looking at how to ensure "privacy, safety and fairness" when it came to trans people accessing women-only areas such as hospital wards, prisons and changing rooms.

In the United States, women's rights groups said in 2016 that 200 municipalities that allowed trans people to use rape crisis facilities and domestic violence shelters saw no rise in sexual violence or public safety issues as a result.

Some British trans rights campaigners expressed relief that the sometimes-toxic debate over the issue may now cool down.

Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling weighed into the issue earlier this year, saying she did not support "self-ID" as it would be "offering cover to predators", a view she said was informed by her experience of domestic violence.

"Hopefully it means that so much negative attention that has been sent our way as communities can be quietened," said Cara English of advocacy group Gendered Intelligence.

She said that their focus would now be "things that affect us in a much more material way", including healthcare and hate crime.
The reticence around Roe has essentially institutionalized hypocrisy as part of the confirmation process. As Northup points out, during his confirmation hearing in 1991, Clarence Thomas simply described Roe v. Wade without taking a clear position on it. Less than a year later, he joined a dissent in a pivotal abortion case that said Roe was wrongly decided, and that it can and should be overruled.

Because nominees typically refuse to speak about Roe in depth, the debate about abortion during confirmation hearings seems to take place in code. Everyone talks about precedent, said Murray. Nobody really talks about Roe v. Wade.

This makes the conversation about the future of legal abortion abstract and hard to follow. Traditionally, the right has liked it that way. For years, Hawley said in his Senate speech, religious conservatives have been told: Dont mess up the Supreme Court nomination process by raising Roe. Its imprudent. Its in poor taste. It will divide our coalition. Instead, he said, conservatives were urged to talk about process, about methods, maybe throw in some talk about umpires.

Theres a reason for this: Roe is popular. While many Americans support abortion restrictions, a Pew poll last year found that seven in 10 oppose seeing Roe overturned. As David Wasserman wrote on Monday, more than a fifth of Trumps 2016 voters in battleground states leaned pro-choice.

Still, Hawley is in a position to extract concessions. The two remaining pro-choice Republican senators, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, have already said theyre opposed to the Senate voting on a Trump nomination before the election. If Trump loses two more senators, his pick will be defeated. So this time, Trumps nominee might not get away with doing what Brett Kavanaugh reportedly did, telling Collins that Roe is settled law.
The final table was short and, for "jedimaster82" at least, sweet in WCOOP-73-H: $10,300 PLO [6-Max, Main Event]. The Sweden-based player took down the 135-entry field for a $283,368 first-place prize following about three hours of Day 3 play.

A long-time high-stakes cash player who has specialized in PLO since 2005, jedimaster82 has managed to remain anonymous over the years.

Here, he triumphed over a final table that included Andras "probirs" Nemeth, Laszlo "omaha4rollz" Bujtas and Ola "Odd_Oddsen" Amundsgard, whom he defeated heads up.

Final Table Results

Place Player Country Prize 1 "jedimaster82" Sweden $283,368 2 Ola "Odd_Oddsen" Amundsgard Norway $217,808 3 "d.apollo777" UK 167,416 4 Laszlo "omaha4rollz" Bujtas Hungary $128,683 5 Andras "probirs" Nemeth Hungary $98,911 6 "rObetOblancO" Austria $76,027 7 "Sintoras" Germany $59,486

Nemeth came in seeking his third title of the series and second in PLO off the back of winning the $5K event. He secured the chip lead early but everything went south in the third level of the day for him, as he started with more than 80 blinds and ended it with zero.

First, Nemeth had his aces cracked by Bujtas' 17-out wrap. Then, Bujtas finished him with single-suited aces over single-suited kings.

Bujtas was unable to maintain his momentum though, losing a huge chunk to jedimaster82 when he called down in position on a monotone board then potted river when it paired the board and jedimaster82 checked. jedimaster82 came back with a shove that Bujtas laid down to, and suddenly, the Swedish player had almost half of the chips four-handed.

It would be veteran Norwegian pro Amundsgard who made it heads up with jedimaster82 after mostly just maintaining his stack throughout the day. He took a brief lead in the match but jedimaster82 completely took over after that, winning a few big pots to open up a fairly wide lead.

Finally, Amundsgard rolled with a strong ace-high hand containing a pair of queens, only to see jedimaster82 show up with single-suited aces. The board didn't bring much sweat and jedimaster82 had wrapped things up for $283K and the title in less time than it takes your average televised movie to run.
Ralph Lauren is taking steps to accelerate its Next Great Chapter plan to deliver long-term growth and value creation. Among them is a 15 percent reduction in its 24,000-member workforce in an effort to establish a simpler global organizational structure and the rolling out of enhanced technology platforms.

As reported last month, the $6.2 billion company began a strategic review to support future growth and profitability and create a sustainable cost structure. The review included three initiatives: The evaluation of team structures and ways of working; real estate footprint and related costs across distribution centers, corporate offices, and direct-to-consumer retail and wholesale doors, and the groups brand portfolio.

More from WWD

As part of the review of its headcount, Ralph Lauren plans to cut its global workforce by about 3,600 employees by the end of fiscal 2021, which is expected to result in a gross annualized pre-tax expense swing of about $180 million to $200 million, with savings realization primarily beginning in fiscal year 2022.

The company has had furloughs during the pandemic, but this is the first time it is having layoffs.

As a result of the workforce reduction, Ralph Lauren expects to incur total estimated pre-tax charges of about $120 million to $160 million. In addition to the actions revealed today, the company expects to take additional steps to implement its fiscal 2021 strategic realignment plan.

Over the past two fiscal years Ralph Lauren has moved to elevate its brands, which the company said has seen marked progress. As part of its Next Great Chapter plan, the company aims to attract a new generation of consumers; energize core products while accelerating high potential, underdeveloped categories; drive targeted expansion; lead with digital, and operate with discipline to fuel growth.

The changes happening in the world around us have accelerated the shifts we saw pre-COVID, and we are fast-tracking some of our plans to match these  including advancing our digital transformation and simplifying our team structures, said Patrice Louvet, president and chief executive officer. These steps will enable us to progress our brand elevation journey and deliver Ralphs vision in todays dynamic environment  inspiring our consumers around the world and creating value for all of our stakeholders.

Story continues

As far as the organizational structure, the company plans to consolidate its global marketing and branding functions under David Lauren, who has been vice chairman and chief innovation officer. He will take on marketing responsibilities as well. His new title will be vice chairman, chief branding and innovation officer. Jonathan Bottomley, chief brand officer at Ralph Lauren, will be leaving the company.

The company declined to say which specific departments would be streamlined, except to say that it is simplifying team structures across the organization.

The company will also establish a new Consumer Intelligence and Experience organization, focused on leveraging consumer insights and predictive analytics to drive personalized consumer experiences at scale. In addition, it will reorganize the companys corporate merchandising teams to combine core brand propositions, enabling greater connectivity and productivity. Ralph Lauren also continues to integrate Global Citizenship & Sustainability into all aspects of its business, making it a key responsibility for all leaders.

In the area of digital transformation, the company is changing how it operates by implementing new technology platforms across several key areas. This includes rolling out a cloud-based human resources and planning system globally, and elevating how it delivers for consumers through its Digitizing the Value Chain project. This is a company-wide initiative to simplify ways of working, better connect teams and digitize the product journey. The goal is to enable faster and more connected decision-making from product design to market. The company is also investing in technologies to help deliver a better consumer experience, with new digital capabilities that support areas such as omni-channel shopping, personalization, social commerce and augmented reality.

According to the company, these steps are expected to streamline the organization and simplify reporting lines, empower teams to make faster decisions and collaborate more easily, as well as support the delivery of one elevated Ralph Lauren vision and voice globally, while maintaining strong local capabilities and expertise.

Ralph Lauren, chairman and chief creative officer, said, Over 52 years ago, this company started with a single tie and a dream that made it into a way of life. The timeless values we were founded on have propelled us on an incredible journey  one that has seen great challenges and amazing opportunities along the way. Through it all, our commitment to stay true to who we are, while evolving with the world around us, has helped to secure our future and our place as one of the worlds most beloved and inspiring brands.

Like most fashion companies, Ralph Lauren got hit hard by COVID-19 and has decided to take more of its destiny in its own hands. As reported, for the quarter ended June 27, Laurens revenues fell 65.9 percent to $487.5 million from $1.4 billion a year earlier. Net losses totaled $127.7 million, or $1.75 a diluted share, down from earnings of $117.1 million, or $1.47, a year earlier. The company achieved digital commerce comparable growth of 13 percent, with digital operating margin expanding more than 1,000 basis points compared with a year earlier.

In the most recent quarter, the company had $2.71 billion in cash and investments and total debt of $1.9 billion.

Ralph Lauren has made several moves to strengthen the brand, pulling it out of 200 wholesale doors, cutting inventories, raising prices and putting more of an emphasis on direct to consumer On the earnings call last month, Louvet said, The focus for us going forward is [direct-to-consumer] first. After this comes digital commerce, through the firms own site and others.

At this time, no stores will be closing, but the company is reviewing all leases to make sure it has the right fleet in the right areas The companys store strategy is to expand in top cities in areas where it is understored, relative to its peers, particularly in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and the Asia Pacific region, and in neighborhoods where it sees consumers who are repeat customers and use the full omni-channel experience. The company opened new stores in Athens and Madrid in the past few weeks.

In April, when the pandemic first got underway in the U.S., Lauren himself said he would forego his entire salary for fiscal year 2021, in addition to his full fiscal year 2020 bonus. (Laurens salary and bonus last year were around $11 million.) Louvets salary was reduced by 50 percent during the crisis, and all the other 140 members of the executive and global leadership team reduced their salaries by 20 percent for the first quarter of fiscal 2021. In addition, the companys board forewent their quarterly cash compensation for the first quarter of fiscal 2021.

While Laurens retail stores were closed in the spring, the company furloughed the majority of its store workers. As reported, Laurens store employees in North America were compensated when the stores were closed from mid-March and were paid in full through April 11. International store employees in regions where retail operations were required to remain closed received similar compensation. Following that period, all of its store employees where retail operations were suspended, as well as employees whose job were not conducive to continued remote working, were placed on unpaid temporary furlough through June. This included the majority of its store employees and a portion of its corporate employees in North America, Europe and select other parts of the world. These employees continued to receive regular employee benefits, including health benefits and any government assistance for those eligible.

Back in 2016, when Ralph Lauren introduced its Way Forward Plan under then ceo-Stefan Larsson, the company closed 50 stores and eliminated around 8 percent of the workforce, streamlining multiple layers of management. That was on top of a five percent reduction of the workforce the previous year.

FOR MORE STORIES:

Ralph Lauren Reinventing in COVID-19 Crisis

Ralph Lauren Gives Furloughs, Pay Cuts to Navigate COVID-19 Impacts

Ralph Lauren Revenues Fall 65.9 Percent
Mahindra Group's owned French subsidiary, Peugeot Motocycles' three-wheeled scooter - Metropolis, has joined the France's Presidential fleet. The new three-wheeled scooter was launched in France earlier this month, and has become a part of the vehicle fleet at the Elysee Palace, the official residence of the President of the French Republic. Metropolis joins E-Ludix in the Presidential fleet. 

Anand Mahindra, Chairman of the Mahindra Group, shared the news of Metropolis' induction on Twitter. He said, "We're clearly moving in good company... 'Peugeot Motocycles'- A MahindraRise company..."

Mahindra bought Peugeot Motocycles in October 2019. It was recently inducted to the Guangdong Police SWAT teams fleet in China. Mahindra had retweeted a video of the three-wheeled scooter demonstrating its versatility in a combat situation. He went on to type a question for Prakash Wakankar, Mahindra executive for Groups international operations, on whether a cost-effective variant could be launched in India.

Have always loved this monster-The Metropolis-by Peugeot Motorcycles (a @MahindraRise Company) An awesome chariot for SWAT teams. Now we need its home team, the French Govt, to deploy it! @EmmanuelMacron? And Prakash, what about a cost-effective variant for India?"





Have always loved this monster-The Metropolis-by Peugeot Motorcycles (a @MahindraRise Company)An awesome chariot for SWAT teams. Now we need its home team, the French Govt, to deploy it! @EmmanuelMacron ?And Prakash, what about a cost-effective variant for India? https://t.co/LoW5fhepEP  anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) May 31, 2020

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Queensland taxpayers have been handed a $75 million bill to fund the state's public health response during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Auditor-General Brendan Worrall tabled an independent report into the state's pandemic spending and recession stimulus, which reveals the costs of patrolling the borders and hotel quarantine.

Police check cars for permits at a checkpoint in Coolangatta. Credit:Paul Harris

The money spent on keeping the virus at bay works out to be about $15 each for 5.2 million people who call Queensland home.

More than $22 million has come out of the Queensland Police Service's budget to patrol the state's borders and Queensland Health spent $17.5 million on hotel rooms so health workers on the frontline could isolate away from their families.
The modest Brooklyn home where Ruth Bader Ginsburg grew up has nothing like the stature of the pioneering U.S. Supreme Court justice who became popularly known as Notorious RBG.

The unassuming two-story, attached home, covered in beige siding, would be easy to miss if not for the small, makeshift memorial under a tree out front. Fans of Ginsburg have left bouquets of flowers wrapped in plastic, candles, and other items to commemorate the feminist icon.

Ginsburg died on Friday at the age of 87 due to complications from pancreatic cancer. She died in her Washington, DC, home surrounded by her family.

Fans of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, aka Notorious RBG, created a makeshift memorial outside her childhood home. Photo by Clare Trapasso

The girl who would grow up to be the nation's second female Supreme Court justice lived on the first floor of this home in the predominantly Jewish neighborhood of Midwood in the 1930s and '40s. The home was built in 1920 on a nearly 2,800-square-foot lot, according to realtor.com data. The median home list price in the neighborhood is $600,000a drop in the bucket for New York City real estate.

Although Brooklyn has become a hipster hotbed, even today Midwood is far from any trendy bars and designer boutiques. Instead, it's made up of middle-class, single-family homes punctuated by newer McMansions gobbling up almost every inch of their corner lots. The neighborhood is quiet but for the chatter of children, revving of electric saws, and cars driving by.

Homeowners Diana and William Brenneisen have lived in Ginsburg's childhood home on East Ninth Street for nearly half a century. Today, a faded miniature U.S. flag is planted in a white cement flower box on the stoop. Roses, droopy hydrangeas, and some bushes are also planted out front.

As a child, Ginsburg lived on the first floor of this Brooklyn home. Photo by Clare Trapasso

The couple, like many in the community, are proud of the home's history.

"I found out through people that were here prior to us. 'You know, that's Ruth Ginsburg's house,'" Diana told Gothamist. "Finding out that she formerly lived here, it was a beautiful experience, knowing that we were raising our family here, and that she came from here."

When she lived in the neighborhood, Ginsburg attended the East Midwood Jewish Center. She graduated from local James Madison High School in 1950, where she was a cheerleader.

"It's a point of great pride for everyone in the neighborhood," says the center's Rabbi Sam Levine of one of Midwood's most famous residents. (Director Woody Allen and actress Marisa Tomei are also neighborhood alums.)

"She came from a modest background, [and] she wanted the same opportunities that men had," he says. "She went and spent her life fighting for equality for all people, women especially."

The Brenneisens told TV news station NY1 that Ginsburg never returned to the home where she was raised, but that fans of hers have come by over the years.

"She's a wonderful woman, she'll be truly missed by everyone, the community, even the country itself, because she was a strong powerful woman in her judgment on various matters," Diana said to Gothamist.

Ginsburg grew up in this modest home in Midwood in Brooklyn. Photo by Clare Trapasso

Local leaders also paid tribute to Ginsburg.

Im crushed that we lost an incomparable icon. A daughter of Brooklyn. A tenacious spirit who moved this country forward in fairness, equality and morality. She was Ruth Bader Ginsburg. She never backed down from a fight," New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio tweeted on Friday.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that a statue will go up in her honor in Brooklyn.

"This statue will serve as a physical reminder of Justice Ginsburg's monumental contributions to the America we know today and as an inspiration for all," Cuomo tweeted on Saturday.

The post The Not So Notorious Home Where Ruth Bader Ginsburg Grew Up appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com.
Late on Tuesday evening, a full day after the conclusion of the 6th round of talks between Indian and Chinese military commanders, the two sides issued a joint statement that agreed to earnestly implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, strengthen communication on the ground, avoid misunderstandings, stop sending more troops to the frontline, refrain from unilaterally changing the situation on the ground and avoid taking any action that might complicate the situation. Notably, the statement made no mention of any of Indias core ...

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Authorities from Botswana said that the death of a hundred elephant deaths in the country earlier this year is due to cyanobacteria toxins from water holes.

Testing the waterholes for algal bloom next rainy season to reduce the risk of another mass die-off is in order, Mmadi Reuben, the principal veterinary officer at the Botswana department of wildlife national parks, assured.



The Mysterious Elephant Deaths

In May and June of this year, around 350 elephants in the Okavango delta mysteriously dies, puzzling conservationists.

The elephants were dropping on their faces, while some are walking around in a circle, suggesting that something may be attacking their neurological systems, Dr. Naill McCann of the Elephants Without Borders said. Several of the elephants were also noted to appear passive and emancipated while others had difficulty in walking.

Poaching as a cause of death was ruled out as the tusks were not removed.

Although farmers see elephants as a nuisance at it eat their crops and destroys their properties, authorities doubt if the elephants were poisoned with cyanide as no other animal death was reported.

Some theories suggest that the elephants were killed by EMC (encephalomyocarditis), a rodent virus, or toxins from algal blooms.

READ: Botswana Is Investigating the Deaths of Hundreds of Elephants Since May



Cyanobacteria

On a news conference last Monday, Reuben said that their tests indicate the cyanobacterial neurotoxins were the cause of the elephant's demise.

However, Reuben admits that several questions are still unanswered, such that it is only the elephants that died in a specific area.

Seventy (70) percent of the elephants were found dead near water holes that contained algal blooms, producing cyanobacteria, the toxic microscopic organisms. Scientists initially ruled out toxins because except for one horse, only other reported death other than the elephants.

However, since elephants spend a lot of time bathing and drinking large amounts of water, authorities believe that this made elephants more susceptible.

Reuben disclosed that their investigation involved examining how the deaths affected the elephant population, injuries on carcasses, testing of water samples, and sending it to Botswana, South Africa, and the US for further analysis.

He said that the cause of the elephant's deaths was a "combination of neurotoxins." However, he declined to give further details on where the tests were conducted.

Reuben said that they would be monitoring the waterholes for blooms next rainy season to prevent the incident from happening again.

READ ALSO: 150 Elephants Mysteriously Die in Botswana

Increased intensity and severity of harmful algal blooms are triggered by climate change. This incident will likely happen again, McCann said, and added that he would be working with officials to set up regional early warning systems.

McCann deems that cyanobacteria in the water do not prove the animals died from exposure to these toxins. Dead elephants had to be examined, and testing tissue samples requires keeping it in specific conditions and must be quickly transported to a specialized laboratory. McCann said that this was not done in Botswana.



More Elephant Deaths in Zimbabwe

Meanwhile, more than 20 elephant deaths were also reported in Zimbabwe between Hwange National Park and Victoria Falls in August, prompting concerns that the two incidences may be linked. Authorities believe that the die-off is due to a bacterial infection.

Zimbabwe's government is collaborating with the UK government to export the animal samples so that further analysis will be done in the UK.

READ NEXT: Police Arrest One of the Men Who Fed the Pregnant Elephant a Firecracker-Stuffed Pineapple

Check out more news and information on Elephants on Nature World News.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Donald Trump has met with Amy Coney Barrett at the White House as he evaluates prospective nominees to succeed the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the Supreme Court.

A person familiar with the vetting process but not authorized to discuss it confirmed the Monday meeting to The Associated Press.

Later, Trump told reporters at the White House that he has been speaking with potential nominees over the last two days and held out the possibility of also meeting with Barbara Lagoa when he travels to Florida this week.

Some aides have touted the political advantages of Lagoa being Hispanic and hailing from Florida.

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Barrett, a devout Roman Catholic, is hailed by religious conservatives and others on the right as an ideological heir to conservative Antonin Scalia, the late Supreme Court justice for whom she clerked.

Trump says five women are under consideration.

Barrett is emerging as an early favorite. Interest in Lagoa inside the White House seemed to be waning Monday amid some conservatives' concerns that she did not have a proven record as a conservative jurist, according to the person familiar with the vetting process.

 Associated Press writer Zeke Miller
New York, Sept. 21, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Seed Treatment Market Research Report by Crop, by Function, by Type, by Formulation, by Application Technique - Global Forecast to 2025 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05941901/?utm_source=GNW



The Global Seed Treatment Market is expected to grow from USD 7,542.38 Million in 2019 to USD 14,974.35 Million by the end of 2025 at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 12.10%.



Market Segmentation & Coverage:

This research report categorizes the Seed Treatment to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets:



"The Cereals & Grains is projected to witness the highest growth during the forecast period"



Based on Crop, the Seed Treatment Market studied across Cereals & Grains and Oilseeds & Pulses. The Cereals & Grains further studied across Barley, Corn, Rice, Sorghum, and Wheat. The Oilseeds & Pulses further studied across Canola, Cotton, Soybean, and Sunflower. The Cereals & Grains commanded the largest size in the Seed Treatment Market in 2019, and it is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period.



"The Seed Enhancement is projected to witness the highest growth during the forecast period"



Based on Function, the Seed Treatment Market studied across Seed Enhancement and Seed Protection. The Seed Protection commanded the largest size in the Seed Treatment Market in 2019. On the other hand, the Seed Enhancement is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period.



"The Nonchemical is projected to witness the highest growth during the forecast period"



Based on Type, the Seed Treatment Market studied across Chemical and Nonchemical. The Chemical further studied across Fungicides and Insecticides. The Nonchemical further studied across Biological Seed Treatment and Physical Seed Treatment. The Chemical commanded the largest size in the Seed Treatment Market in 2019. On the other hand, the Nonchemical is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period.



"The Liquid Formulation is projected to witness the highest growth during the forecast period"



Based on Formulation, the Seed Treatment Market studied across Dry Formulation and Liquid Formulation. The Liquid Formulation commanded the largest size in the Seed Treatment Market in 2019, and it is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period.



"The Seed Coating is projected to witness the highest growth during the forecast period"



Based on Application Technique, the Seed Treatment Market studied across Seed Coating, Seed Dressing, and Seed Pelleting. The Seed Coating commanded the largest size in the Seed Treatment Market in 2019, and it is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period.



Based on Geography, the Seed Treatment Market studied across Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The Americas region surveyed across Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and United States. The Asia-Pacific region surveyed across Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, South Korea, and Thailand. The Europe, Middle East & Africa region surveyed across France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom.



Company Usability Profiles:

The report deeply explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Seed Treatment Market including ADAMA Agricultural Solutions Ltd., BASF SE, Bayer CropScience AG, Croda International PLC, Dow AgroSciences LLC, DuPont de Nemours, Inc., FMC Corporation, Germains Seed Technology, Monsanto, Nufarm Limited, Precision Laboratories, LLC, Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd., Syngenta International AG, Tagros Chemicals India Ltd., UPL Limited, and Verdesian Life Sciences, LLC.



FPNV Positioning Matrix:

The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Seed Treatment Market on the basis of Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape.



Competitive Strategic Window:

The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies. The Competitive Strategic Window helps the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. During a forecast period, it defines the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth.



Cumulative Impact of COVID-19:

COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, so for and, the long-term effects projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. Our ongoing research amplifies our research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlaying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report is delivering insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecast, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market.



The report provides insights on the following pointers:

1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on the market offered by the key players

2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyzes the markets

3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments

4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players

5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and new product developments



The report answers questions such as:

1. What is the market size and forecast of the Global Seed Treatment Market?

2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Seed Treatment Market during the forecast period?

3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Seed Treatment Market?

4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Seed Treatment Market?

5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Seed Treatment Market?

6. What are the modes and strategic moves considered suitable for entering the Global Seed Treatment Market?

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05941901/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



__________________________
(Natural News) A manhunt is currently underway for two suspects who fired shots into the home of two police officers in Camden County, New Jersey shortly before midnight on September 15.

The officers were inside their home with their 10-day-old infant when six rounds of bullets hit their home. Although six of the bullets penetrated the exterior  two of which went right through the front door  the family was upstairs, and no one was injured by the gunfire.

Officials say the couple were targeted because they are police officers, although a specific motive has not been identified. The man and woman, who are married, have been working for the police department for four and two years, respectively, and were born and raised in Camden. They were both part of the departments community policing unit.

Camden County Police Chief Joseph Wysocki said: I do know that this was a targeted attack against this residence and the officers inside. He said it is very common knowledge that the officers live there.

The FBI and other law enforcement agencies have joined in the investigation of the frightening incident. Police have already located the vehicle they believe the shooters were driving, a 1998 Honda Odyssey, and have appealed to the public to come forward with information about it.

The reward for information that leads to the arrest of the suspects has risen to $75,000. Officers believe there were three people in the car during the shooting, including two gunmen and a driver.

Camden County Freeholder Louis Cappelli said he told the police chief to do whatever is necessary to stop any more violence against our officers immediately.

He also had harsh words for the perpetrators, saying: This mindless evil conduct will not be tolerated.

I want to share a very clear message to the scumbag thugs behind this senseless act. Were coming to get you and you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. If you think you can get away with these crimes under the cover of some unfortunate acts taking place in other parts of the nation, or under cover of some national movement, you are wrong, he added.

In another recent attack against police, two sheriffs deputies in Los Angeles were shot earlier his week in an ambush attack as they sat in the front seat of their patrol SUV at a metro station. The suspect can be seen in surveillance video approaching the vehicle from behind, walking over to the passenger side and firing a handgun through the window before running away.

One of the officers involved has been released from the hospital but has a long road ahead as he recovers from wounds to his arm and forehead. The other deputy, a 31-year-old woman who has a young child, is still in the hospital and was shot in the jaw. The suspect is believed to be a black male aged 28 to 30 who has yet to be apprehended; the reward has climbed to $675,000. More than $800,000 has already been donated toward the officers medical care.

Anti-police sentiment being stoked by media and celebrities

As brazen as these attacks are, it is not terribly surprising to see a spike in violence against the police given how much the left-wing media and liberal celebrities have been demonizing all police and even encouraging violence against them while turning criminals into heroes. They are calling for defunding the police, but who do they plan to call when something bad happens to them?

The mainstream media is quick to report on cases involving white officers using physical restraint on black suspects despite this representing only a small fraction of incidents and celebrities are all too happy to tweet about it on the rare occasion that it does happen, but the silence when a white officer does something heroic is deafening.

Sources for this article include:

TheEpochTimes.com

6ABC.com

NJ.com
When Gov. Gretchen Whitmers team started taking a look at state buildings that might be named after controversial figures, one stood out: the Lewis Cass Building, named after a former governor who supported slavery and Native American removal.

She changed it to the Elliott-Larsen Building, named after former lawmakers Daisy Elliott and Mel Larsen, who co-authored the states Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act. Elliott, who is deceased, is the first Black woman to have her name on a state building.

A string of Lansing dignitaries, Larsen and members of Elliotts family marked the occasion on Monday by unveiling the buildings new sign, a glisten of gold letters emblazoned across the buildings entrance.

We are a state that realizes and respects that it is our differences that give us our strength, said Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II.

Related: Lewis Cass supported slavery and Native American removal. Michigan lawmakers want him out of the U.S. Capitol.

The Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act protects peoples right to pursue things like careers and housing without being discriminated against based on religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, height, weight, familial status, or marital status.

Larsen recalled agreeing to co-sponsor it after Elliott had sought a Republican cosponsor for six years.

One of the proudest moments of my life was solving that problem, Larsen said.

Decades later, hes proud to have his name next to hers on a building.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said she was grateful for the work Elliott and Larsen did, and Im really grateful to be in a position where we can do something to honor them for it.

Rep. Sarah Anthony, D-Lansing, represents Lansing, where the building is located, in the current state legislature. She is the first Black woman to hold the seat. She said the experience of a Black woman in the capitol could be very, very different and shes glad to have this building as a source of inspiration just down the street.

I will be inspired by the fact that there have been black women before me who laid the foundation... and decided to do things courageously to impact the lives of a million Michiganders, Anthony said.

Those present said there was a need to expand the Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights Act to include protections from discrimination based on somebodys sexual orientation or gender identify. A group called Fair and Equal Michigan is leading an effort to do so via ballot initiative after legislative efforts have stalled in recent years.

There are not other state buildings up for renaming, Whitmer said.

One of the things that we are proud of is that we were a part of the Union during the Civil War, so we dont have lots of buildings that were named after confederate leaders like weve seen in other states, Whitmer said.

But this particular building was one that it made sense... and it became very clear that these were the two people we wanted to honor, Whitmer said.

Related stories:

Lewis Cass supported slavery and Native American removal. Michigan lawmakers want him out of the U.S. Capitol.

Whitmer renames state building, swapping in civil rights leaders for former slave owner
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 02:27:34|Editor: huaxia

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MOSCOW, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday called for the removal of barriers to cooperation between countries in the field of medicine.

"As to healthcare, just like in economy, we now need to remove, as many as possible, obstacles to partner relations," Putin said at the general debate of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Russia has been actively contributing to global and regional efforts to counter COVID-19, providing assistance to most affected states both bilaterally and within multilateral formats, the president said, according to a Kremlin transcript of his speech.

"In doing so, we first of all take into account the central coordinating role of the World Health Organization (WHO), which is part of the UN system. We believe it essential to qualitatively strengthen the capability of WHO," Putin said.

"This work has already begun, and Russia is genuinely motivated to engage in it," he added.

Putin recalled that during the pandemic, doctors, volunteers and citizens of various countries have been showing examples of mutual assistance and support, and such solidarity defies borders.

Many countries have also been helping each other selflessly and open-heartedly, he said.

"However, there have been cases showing the deficit of humanity and, if you will, kindness in the relations at the official inter-State level," he added.

"We believe that the UN prestige could strengthen and enhance the role of the humanitarian or human component in multilateral and bilateral relations, namely in people-to-people and youth exchanges, cultural ties, social and educational programs, as well as cooperation in sports, science, technology, environment and health protection," Putin said.

The president reiterated that Russia is completely open to partner relations and willing to cooperate.

"In this context, we are proposing to hold an online high-level conference shortly for countries interested in cooperation in the development of anti-coronavirus vaccines," he said. Enditem
A new modelling study presented at this year's Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD), held online this year, suggests that the average person with type 1 diabetes (T1DM) in the UK today will live almost eight years less than the average person in the general population without diabetes, while those with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) will live almost 2 years less. The study is by modelling expert Mike Stedman, Res Consortium, Andover, UK, and Dr Adrian Heald, University of Manchester, UK, and colleagues.

For their analysis, the authors used various data. The UK National Diabetes Audit (NDA) published, for 2015-16, the all-cause standardised mortality ratio for people with T1DM and T2DM, along with information on their age and sex. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) published for 2015-17 actual mortality rates of the general population for each age year and sex.

In their model, the authors applied relative NDA mortality rates to population rates for each age/sex, and then calculated the future life expectancy for T1DM/T2DM/non-DM populations. The difference between total life expectancy for the total reported populations by age and gender of T1DM and T2DM and an equivalent population with non-DM gave the total 'lost life years' (LLY).

The researchers took data from 6,165 general practices supporting 41.3m people of whom 217,000 were on T1DM register and 2.50 million on T2DM register. In the model the 'average' person with T1DM (age 42.8 years) has a life expectancy of 32.6 years (living to 75.4 years), compared to 40.2 years (living to 83.0 years) in the equivalent age non-diabetic population, corresponding to a mean LLY of 7.6 for the average person with T1DM.

The model showed the 'average' person with T2DM (age 65.4 years) has a life expectancy of 18.6 years (living to 84.0 years) compared to the 20.3 years (living to 85.7 years) for the equivalent non-diabetic population, corresponding to LLY of 1.7 years/average person with T2DM.

Compared with the average LLY for men, the average LLY/person were 21% higher for women with T1DM and 45% higher for women with T2DM.

The authors also add that the NDA reports that 70% of patients with T1DM and 33% of patients with T2DM had a glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) (a measure of blood sugar control) higher than 58mmol/mol, so were at higher risk of poor outcomes. By allocating total LLY to the future life expectancy of both T1DM and T2DM at-risk group, the model shows that each year that a person with either type of diabetes spends with HbA1c>58mmol/mol could shorten their life by 100 days. The authors say: "Knowledge of this may act as an incentive for clinicians to ensure that all people are on the best therapy to keep their blood sugar in the target range, and for those people to engage more strongly with their therapy and lifestyle recommendations."

The authors mention some limitations to their study, namely that is used national-level mortality data and not general practitioner practice-level data. Also, it is likely that other factors contribute such as smoking, inactivity, overweight, hypertension and taking of statins. These will be the subject of a future full analysis with general practice-level data. However, the authors say it is likely that the HbA1c level will remain a strong independent determinant of mortality.

They conclude: "Linking poor glycaemic control to expected mortality in such a quantitative way may incentivise clinicians and people with diabetes and poor blood sugar control to increase their efforts to achieve targets. Communication of life years lost from now to patients at the time of consultation with healthcare professionals and through messages publicised by advocacy groups such as Diabetes UK and other national/international patient facing organisations will be of great help in terms of dissemination of the conclusions of this study. More work is required to understand why women are losing more life years than men."

###
Washington, Sep 22 : US President Donald Trump said on Monday that he is considering five women for the Supreme Court seat vacated by the death of liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Speaking to reporters at the White House before leaving for state of Ohio to campaign, Trump said they are being "vetted very carefully" and that he has spoken to some of the candidates and will also have some in-person meetings, Xinhua news agency reported.

The president said the announcement of his pick will be on "probably Saturday, but Friday or Saturday." He added that he would rather see a full Senate vote on his nominee before Election Day, which falls on November 3 this year, a move intended to cement a 6-3 conservative majority on the court.

Judges Amy Coney Barrett, Barbara Lagoa, and Allison Jones Rushing are said to be on Trump's shortlist.

Barrett and Lagoa, both confirmed in bipartisan votes by the Senate, are reportedly top contenders.

Ginsburg died last week due to complications of metastatic pancreas cancer at age 87.

A renowned champion of women's rights and liberal icon, Ginsburg was appointed to the US high court by then-President Bill Clinton in 1993. She was the second woman appointed to the bench and served more than 27 years.

As the country continues to be saddened by her death, a partisan debate is raging over whether and how swiftly the Senate, which is responsible for confirming or rejecting nominations by the president, should move to fill the empty seat.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican and Trump ally, told committee Democrats in a letter on Monday that he intends to "proceed expeditiously to process any nomination made by President Trump to fill this vacancy." Democrats are accusing Republicans of hypocrisy because they argued in 2016 that voters should weigh in before then-President Barack Obama tried to fill a Supreme Court vacancy in that election year.

Republicans hold a 53-47 advantage in the Senate, but two of them have said they believe the chamber should not move forward with a Trump nominee, whose confirmation requires a simple majority.

Ginsburg will lie in state at the US Capitol on Friday, becoming the first woman in history so honoured.

A separate ceremony will be held Wednesday morning at the Supreme Court for Ginsburg's family, close friends and members of the court. The public then will have the chance to pay their respects under the portico at the top of the courthouse steps.

Ginsburg will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery, which is across the Potomac River from Washington, DC, according to the Supreme Court.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Many teachers have expressed their disagreement with the new regulation on allowing students to use phones during lessons, saying that it would be difficult to control students.

The Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) has released Circular 32, setting changes in regulations for secondary, high and multi-level schools.

MOET said it decided to allow students to use smartphones with the consent of teachers if they need to look up information and school materials to better serve their studies.

Sai Cong Hong from MOET said on Tuoi Tre that the change aims to be aligned with the application of information technology in teaching.

Before the circular was released, general school students must not use mobile phones and music players during the lessons. Meanwhile, schools wavered between allowing or prohibiting mobile phones

V.N, a teacher at Tran Dai Nghia High School in HCM City, said it was not a good idea to allow students to use cellphones during the lessons for any purpose.

How can students concentrate on lessons if they are busy using phones? she said, adding that it would be more difficult to control students, especially those who are addicted to mobile phones.

In principle, students can only use smartphones to serve their study, but teachers cannot be sure that students are using phones for the right purpose. It is impossible for teachers to examine every student because each teaching period lasts 45 minutes only.

Sharing the same view, Tran Trung Hieu, a teacher at Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted, said it would be chaotic if teachers cannot control students during the lessons.

Hoang Cong Vieng, a teacher at Ha Tinh High School for the Gifted, also warned that many students would use mobile phones for their private business. Therefore, it would be better to allow students to use phones when discussing certain issues, or during online tests, not during lesson hours.

Meanwhile, other teachers said there was no need to worry about the students use of smartphones at school.

Nguyen Quang Tung, headmaster of Lomonosov School in Hanoi, said his students have been allowed to use phones for many years, and things have been going smoothly.

We have one locker for every class, where students put their phones there during the lessons. Teachers allow students to use phones during the lessons of foreign languages, literature and social sciences, he explained.

Previously, parents only bought smartphones for their children when they entered high school. But now, primary school students also have smartphones.

Le Huyen

Da Nang students return to schools under strict regulations Students in the central city of Da Nang has returned to school as the Covid-19 outbreak has been brought under control.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi returned from abroad early on Tuesday, sources said. Gandhi, 73, had gone to the United States for her routine medical check up on September 12, two days ahead of the Monsoon session of Parliament. Rahul Gandhi had accompanied her during the visit.

Sources had said her medical check-up was overdue and was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Gandhi had cleared the Congress' organisational restructuring before leaving for the US.
Three Oregon businesses have threatened a class action lawsuit against the state over restrictions implemented by Gov. Kate Brown to slow the coronavirus pandemic.

An attorney representing the businesses argued that Oregon officials should draft a plan to compensate small business owners for financial hardship caused by those restrictions.

The demand letter was filed on behalf of a Linn County salon, a Coos County bowling alley and the Wilsonville Family Fun Center, better known as Bullwinkles.

As a result of your orders, my clients and many other businesses like theirs closed as ordered and thousands of workers found themselves without employment, attorney John DiLorenzo wrote in a tort claim letter to the state Friday.

Browns office said Monday it doesnt comment on pending or potential litigation.

DiLorenzo is one of the states most high-profile attorneys, having successfully battled the city of Portland over improper expenditures by the water and sewer bureaus and, most recently, scoring a $1 billion jury verdict against the state for failing to maximize timber harvests. The state has appealed.

DiLorenzo is staking his latest cause on one of many state laws Brown cited in March when she ordered the closure of a long list of businesses to slow coronavirus. The closures included amusement parks, gyms, spas, malls, theaters, tattoo parlors and yoga studios.

DiLorenzo isnt challenging Browns authority. Instead, he argued that a related provision in state law calls for reasonable compensation when the government takes real or personal property during a declared emergency.

DiLorenzo argued thats exactly whats happened. He claimed the states closures deprived businesses of goodwill, or the intangible assets that come along with a business when its sold  such as a customer base or brand recognition.

Here, the governor closed, shuttered the business and destroyed the goodwill, DiLorenzo said in an interview. The goodwill is personal property. The goodwill was destroyed for a public purpose, the public purpose being to limit the spread of coronavirus and COVID-19. So no question it was a taking.

Brown lifted many of her business restrictions beginning in May. Bullwinkles, for instance, had been partially open for businesses this summer but later closed, according to its website. The company cited unspecified changes in occupancy regulations.

DiLorenzo in his letter invited the state to share any compensation plans for impacted businesses if you are of a mind to attempt to address this issue without resort to litigation.

-- Brad Schmidt; bschmidt@oregonian.com; 503-294-7628; @_brad_schmidt
Two sisters who waived their right to anonymity after their stepfather was jailed for sexually abusing them when they were children have said they fear he will reoffend after he walked free from prison yesterday.

John Joe Patterson (60) was sentenced to eight years in November 2015, with the final 18 months suspended.

He was released yesterday from the Midlands Prison in Portlaoise after serving less than five years.

Yesterday, Emma and Vanessa Witherow, now aged 33 and 29, said he showed no signs of remorse and fear he could be a threat to others.

Mammy

Patterson was found guilty by unanimous verdict at Nenagh Circuit Court in 2015 of 39 counts of sexual assault on Emma, which began when she was aged nine.

Expand Close Sisters Emma and Vanessa Witherow at court in 2015 / Facebook

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Whatsapp Sisters Emma and Vanessa Witherow at court in 2015

The court heard Patterson would abuse her, then give her 50 and tell her: "Good girl. Don't tell mammy."

He pleaded guilty to one of three counts of sexually abusing Vanessa, who was also nine when the abuse began.

"I'm sick to the stomach that he's back out and could be in the area where we still live," Emma said.

"He showed no remorse and I fear he'll reoffend.

"Five years was a stupid amount of time to be sentenced, considering how he destroyed our lives for ever."

Patterson tried to conceal his identity as he left the Midlands Prison just before 11am yesterday.

Wearing a dark fleece, face mask and flat cap and carrying a plastic bag of belongings, he tried to shield his face from photographers with a file that had his name written across the front of it.

He was driven away from the jail in a silver-coloured car driven by a man who had arrived early in the morning and waited in an adjacent car park.

Despite his crimes, Patterson's wife Frances - the girls' mother - has stood by the paedophile and insisted he is innocent.

Patterson is originally from Cashel, Co Tipperary, but has an address in Kilclooney, Thurles.

He and Frances used to run a Christmas hamper delivery service.

"We don't have a relationship with our mother," Emma told the Herald.

"She has seven grandchildren and will never have contact with any of them. That has been the situation for 13 or 14 years now. We will never speak to her again."

At the time Patterson was sentenced, Emma said her mother "totally denied everything she heard and said I was only attention seeking".

In a desperate attempt to get away from Patterson, Emma left the family home when she was 18, taking Vanessa (13) with her.

Ignored

"I went to my mother for help, as a child should be able to do, but she gave me no help and ignored my plea," she said.

Frances Patterson held her husband's hand throughout the 2015 sentencing hearing, which lasted more than three hours.

The couple have two young sons together who do not see their sisters.

Patterson told gardai his only defence was his wife was ill and he was "under pressure".

Judge John Hannan said he represented "the dark underbelly of Irish family life".

He had "destroyed" the sisters' childhood and their relationship with their brothers and mother.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 10:44:31|Editor: huaxia

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CARACAS, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Monday called for the construction of a multipolar world and a renewed United Nations (UN) system that protects peoples around the world.

"Venezuela, our Bolivarian Republic, advocates for a multipolar world, for a renewed United Nations system, for a United Nations system that enforces international law, that protects the people of the world," he said at a high-level meeting to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the UN.

The president also said that global cooperation is needed to overcome the social and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"This pandemic needs the greatest union of humanity," said Maduro, who reaffirmed his support for the World Health Organization (WHO) and condemned attacks against the agency.

"It is not the time to insult or offend the WHO, it is time to unite to support it," he said.

He referred to upcoming parliamentary elections on Dec. 6 to renew Venezuela's National Assembly, saying the UN was invited to "accompany the election process for a new parliament."

More than 20 million Venezuelans are eligible to vote for 277 deputies of the unicameral national assembly. Enditem
Bengaluru: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday (September 22, 2020) said that it has taken over the investigation of the two cases of arson and violence that took place at Bengaluru's DJ Halli and KG Halli areas on the night of August 11, 2020.

As per the official statement, an NIA team headed by an IG-rank officer is camping at Bengaluru in connection with the investigation of these cases.

The large scale violence occurred when over 1000 people gathered in front of the house of Congress MLA Naveen Srinivas Murthy (Pulakeshi Nagar constituency) in Kavalbyrasandra wherein the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act had been invoked by the State Police after the incident.

In pics: Bengaluru violence that killed at least 3, injured over 50

The mob was protesting against the derogatory social media (Facebook) post about Prophet Mohammed made on August 11, 2020, around 4 pm by the nephew of the MLA allegedly insulting the religious sentiments of the Muslims.

The State Secretary of SDPI, Muzamil Pasha had earlier called a meeting and directed the members of PFI/SDPI to instigate the mob and incite violence.

Live TV

The mob went on a rampage in DJ Halli, KG Halli and Pulakeshi Nagar area under Bengaluru City and also attacked two police stations namely DJ Halli PS and KG Halli PS and vandalized the property of these PS' including Government and private vehicles parked in the premises.

The mob had also attacked Murthy's house who said in an FIR that over Rs 20 lakh gold stolen and property worth Rs 50 lakh were damaged. He said that the mob ransacked the building, burnt it and looted the valuables and jewels.

Also read | Stringent action initiated against Bengaluru violence culprits under UAPA Act: Karnataka CM Yediyurappa
JOS, Nigeria, September 21, 2020 (Morning Star News)  Fulani herdsmen on Thursday (September 17) shot a Christian who was riding on a motorcycle with a policeman in north-central Nigeria, sources said.

Sati Bulus, a member of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) in Malul village in Bokkos County, Plateau state, was ambushed and shot to death by Fulani herdsmen at about 8:30 p.m. as he made his way home from Bokkos town, said area resident Christopher Luka. The Fulani are predominantly Muslims.

The Rev. Samuel Matawal, a COCIN pastor in Bokkos town, confirmed the killing in Daffo District in a short text message to Morning Star News.

A member of our local congregation at Malul village was ambushed and shot dead by some Fulani herdsmen on Thursday, Sept. 17, Pastor Matawal said.

The assailants reportedly killed the policeman riding with Bulus. Nigerian news outlet MK-Reporters added that Fulani herdsmen leaders had met on Sept. 14 in Fass, Barkin Ladi County, to plan resumption of hostilities in Daffo District and three other areas in Plateau state before December.

Donations of 1.3 million naira (US$3,378) for the purchase of weapons were raised at the meeting, the outlet reported.

Prior Attack

Herdsmen had attacked predominantly Christian Malul village in February, killing one Christian and injuring another, Luka said.

At about 9:30 a.m. on Feb. 14, a group of seven armed Fulani herdsmen attacked two Christians from our village, Malul village, who were on their farm, and one of them, Danjuma Machen, was killed, Luka told Morning Star News. The second Christian victim, Dauda Maren, was cut with machetes.

The night of Jan. 26, herdsmen killed 30 Christians in Kwatas, another predominantly Christian community in Bokkos County, he said.

Houses and church worship buildings were destroyed in the attacks by the herdsmen in the area, Luka said.

Attacks on Christian communities in the area began in 2018, Christian residents said.

These herdsmen attacks have led to the destruction of more than 21 Christian villages within Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau state, Pastor Matawal said. This is apart from the killings of hundreds of Christians and the displacement of about 5,000 Christians from their villages.

Another area resident, John Makut, said Fulani herdsmen attacked Ruku village on June 8, 2018, killing 40 Christians and displacing 1,463 others, mostly women and children. Another attack on March 8, 2018, killed 30 Christians, he said.

In this community too, more than 400 Christians were displaced, and theyve never been able to return to their community as it has been occupied by herdsmen, Makut told Morning Star News.

Area Christians said the killing of Bulus was a continuation of attacks on Christians.

Whole Christian communities have been destroyed, and worship church buildings have also been destroyed in these villages by the herdsmen, Pastor Matawal said.

Islamist Ideology

Numbering in the millions across Nigeria and the Sahel, predominantly Muslim Fulani comprise hundreds of clans of many different lineages who do not hold extremist views, but some Fulani do adhere to radical Islamist ideology, the United Kingdoms All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom or Belief (APPG) noted in a recent report.

They adopt a comparable strategy to Boko Haram and ISWAP [Islamic State West Africa Province] and demonstrate a clear intent to target Christians and potent symbols of Christian identity, the APPG report states.

Fulani herdsmen have increasingly adopted ideology and methods similar to Islamic extremist groups like Boko Haram, and some come from outside Nigeria, This Days Akin Osuntokun wrote in an Aug. 14 column for the Nigerian news outlet.

Today, a new breed of herdsman has emerged: an aggressive and murderous terrorist bearing sophisticated firearms such as AK-47s and even rocket launchers, Osuntokun wrote. And they become the mobile avant-garde army of political Islam in Nigeria. Given the countrys porous borders, many of them are recent immigrants from neighboring countries. Herdsmen from Niger, Chad and Mali can walk across the border and immediately lay claim to all the sacrosanct rights appertaining to bona fide Nigerian nationals.

Christian leaders in Nigeria have said they believe herdsmen attacks on Christian communities in Nigerias Middle Belt are inspired by their desire to forcefully take over Christians lands and impose Islam as desertification has made it difficult for them to sustain their herds.

The APPG report noted that tribal loyalties cannot be overlooked.

In 2015, Muhammadu Buhari, a Fulani, was elected president of Nigeria, the group reported. He has done virtually nothing to address the behavior of his fellow tribesmen in the Middle Belt and in the south of the country.

On Jan. 30 Christian Solidarity International (CSI) issued a genocide warning for Nigeria, calling on the Permanent Member of the United Nations Security Council to take action. CSI issued the call in response to a rising tide of violence directed against Nigerian Christians and others classified as infidels by Islamist militants in the countrys north and middle belt regions.

Nigeria ranked 12th on Open Doors 2020 World Watch List of countries where Christians suffer the most persecution but second in the number of Christians killed for their faith, behind Pakistan.

If you would like to help persecuted Christians, visit http://morningstarnews.org/resources/aid-agencies/ for a list of organizations that can orient you on how to get involved.

If you or your organization would like to help enable Morning Star News to continue raising awareness of persecuted Christians worldwide with original-content reporting, please consider collaborating at https://morningstarnews.org/donate/?

Article originally published by Morning Star News. Used with permission.

Photo courtesy: Getty Images/omersukrugoksu
ABC NewsBy MAX GOLEMBO, EMILY SHAPIRO and MELISSA GRIFFIN, ABC News



(NEW YORK) -- Tropical depression Beta, which made landfall in Texas Monday night as a tropical storm, is pounding Houston with torrential rain and flash flooding -- and more rain is still expected for the city and surrounding areas.



The latest



Houston is buried under 1 foot of rain as rainfall rates reach up to 2 inches per hour on Tuesday.



Authorities have conducted nearly 100 water evacuations, said the Houston fire chief.



Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and the local authorities are urging people to stay home and off the roads.



The forecast



Beta is crawling northeast at an incredibly slow 2 mph.



Beta will continue to weaken over the next 24 hours, but the rain will continue. Flash flood watches are in effect from Victoria, Texas, to Houston to Lake Charles, Louisiana, to New Orleans.



The Weather Prediction Center has issued a high risk warning for flash flooding for Houston and Galveston through Wednesday morning.



By Wednesday morning, the rain will start to lighten up in Houston as the storm moves east -- Beta will finally pick up speed, bringing heavy rain to Louisiana on Wednesday and Thursday and then Mississippi on Thursday and Friday.



The heaviest rain will hit New Orleans Tuesday night through Wednesday.

Copyright  2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
Four Zaria princes are believed to be the leading candidates to succeed Shehu Idris, the longstanding Emir of Zazzau, who died on Sunday. But in reality, insiders say, the race is between two princes with the most influence and personal fortune.

The late Mr Idris spent 45 years on the throne having ascended the position in 1975 after the death of Emir Muhammadu Aminu.

By tradition, a new emir is expected to emerge from any one of the four ruling houses of the emirate. The ruling houses are Katsinawa, Mallawa, Bare-bari and Sullubawa. Mr Idris was from the Katsinawa ruling house.

Those being mentioned as frontline contenders to the throne are the Iyan Zazzau, Bashir Aminu; Yeriman Zazzau, Munir Jaafaru; Magajin Garin Zazzau, Ahmed Bamalli and Turakin Zazzau, Aminu Idris.

Five kingmakers are expected to submit a shortlist to the Kaduna State Government from where Governor Nasir El-Rufai is expected to make a choice.

The kingmakers are Wazirin Zazzau, Ibrahim Aminu; Makama Karami, Muhammad Abbas; Fagachin Zazzau, Umar Muhammad; Limamin Jumaa, Dalhatu Kasim and Limamin Kona Muhammad Aliyu.

The shortlist has not been sent to the Kaduna government, PREMIUM TIMES learnt.

The Permutations

Of the four touted as likely successors of the late Mr Idris, the Iyan Zazzau, Bashir Aminu, is considered the most entrenched in the affairs of the palace. Late Emir Idris succeeded Mr Aminus father, who died in 1975.

A chartered accountant and businessman, Mr Aminu has stayed the longest among the princes as a titleholder and district head in the emirate.

Until the reforms two years ago to resize Kaduna traditional institutions, Mr Aminu was the district head of Sabon Gari, a position he was first appointed to in 1979. This, coupled with the position of Iyan he holds, makes him an heir apparent of sorts.

Mr Aminu is, however, being discounted in the race because of his deficiency in political support. His chances would have been brighter, according to persons familiar with the politicking, if the throne had become vacant during the last administration in the state.

As for Aminu Idris, eldest son of the late Emir Shehu Idris, a major factor counting against him is his age.

Born in 1974, the holder of the traditional title of Turakin Zazzau is the youngest of the contenders, with attendant lesser experience and connections needed to pull the needed strings.

It is unlikely also that he would be given a chance considering the rotation among ruling houses and his fathers long reign.

With those two out of the way, the race is now narrowed to the Yeriman Zazzau, Munir Jaafaru and the Magajin Gari, Ahmed Bamalli. The two are from Barebari and Mallawa ruling houses, respectively.

A two-way tight race

Palace and government sources say considerations are neck to neck between the 66-year-old Mr Jaafaru and 54-year-old Mr Bamalli, with each presenting ample credentials.

Mr Jaafaru, a lawyer, administrator and businessman is a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Maritime Authority, the precursor of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA). His extensive network and goodwill among the political and business elite are said to be his main assets for the race.

While Mr Jaafaru is considered close to President Muhammadu Buhari and well connected among political and business elite, Mr Bamalli is a close associate of Governor El-Rufai and a distant relative. Mr El-Rufai has distant blood relations with the Mallawa clan.

An immediate past Nigerian ambassador to Thailand and Myanmar, Mr Bamalli, a descendent of the late Emir Aliyu Dan-Sidi, is the closest Zazzau prince to the powers-that-be in Kaduna. He was appointed ambassador in 2017 at the instance of Mr El-rufai who had earlier appointed him commissioner in the Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission.

Mr Bamallis Achilles heel, however, is his distant connection to the throne as his family line has not occupied the position for a long time. He is the only one among the major contestants whose father did not occupy the emirs stool.

Mr Jaafaru has a long-standing relationship with Mr Buhari and a horde of other elites from the region. PREMIUM TIMES gathered that a number of influential persons are reaching out to lobby for him.

While traditional institutions in the north are said to be backing Mr Jaafaru for the position, Mr Bamallis strongest support from the cycle is from his long-time friend, the deposed Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II.

Mr Sanusi, a close ally of Mr El-Rufai, flew into Nigeria from the UK immediately after Mr Idriss death in what some watchers believed was a move to closely put pressure on the governor to pick Mr Bamalli for the position.

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Government yet to receive nominations

Mr Elrufais spokesperson, Muyiwa Adekeye did not respond to request for comments for this story. He did not answer repeated calls to his phone and a text message sent to his known telephone line.

However, a senior official of the Kaduna State Government, who spoke on the condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to speak on the issue, told PREMIUM TIMES that the state government is yet to get nominations from the Zazzau kingmakers.

He, however, explained that the governor will do the right thing by ensuring due process is followed in all respects.

I think we have a lot to learn from what happened in Kano. I believe the governor will do the right thing to avoid that kind of situation, he said in reference to the controversial tenure of the deposed Kano emir, Mr Sanusi.

The source said there are so many contenders already, adding that there is a possibility that a dark horse may emerge.

You know even the late emir was a dark horse. There were many people who were more powerful than him at the time but he was picked by then military governor Abba Kyari, he said.
By a fraudulent use of the Constitution which has made judges irremovable, he added, they have multiplied useless judges merely to strengthen their phalanx.

Rather than let the Federalist Partys rear-guard action stand, Jefferson and his allies reversed it following a bitter debate in Congress. They destroyed the newly created circuit courts, revoked tenure from the relevant federal judges and restored the sixth seat to the Supreme Court. Crucially, Jefferson refused to recognize judicial commissions delivered after Adams left office. This led to Marshalls famous decision in Marbury v. Madison, where he reserved for the judicial department the right to say what the law is, which Jefferson later condemned as that which would make the judiciary a despotic branch.

Fifty years later, at midcentury, the Republican Party of Abraham Lincoln and William Seward fought a similar battle against a Supreme Court beholden to the slave power that was dominated by Democratic appointees, including Chief Justice Roger Taney, who wrote the Courts infamous majority opinion in the 1857 case Dred Scott v. Sandford.

In Dred Scott, the Court ruled that Black Americans had no rights which the white man was bound to respect. It held that Congress could not ban slavery in federal territories, and it struck down the 1820 Missouri Compromise as an unconstitutional limitation on the rights of slaveholders. Backed by much of the Democratic Party, including President James Buchanan, the court effectively outlawed the Republican Partys antislavery platform.

The response, as the historian Matt Karp details in a recent essay for Jacobin magazine, was political war on the idea of an all-powerful judiciary. From 1857 through the 1860 election, Republicans attacked the court for, in their view, overstepping its constitutional bounds. They condemned justices as mere political appointees and challenged the courts claim to judicial supremacy, distinguishing its right to decide individual cases from any greater authority to decide the meaning of the Constitution. Lincoln himself made this point to the country at large in his first inaugural address:

The candid citizen must confess that if the policy of the Government upon vital questions affecting the whole people is to be irrevocably fixed by decisions of the Supreme Court, the instant they are made in ordinary litigation between parties in personal actions the people will have ceased to be their own rulers, having to that extent practically resigned their Government into the hands of that eminent tribunal.

Speaking to the assertion by Southern slaveholders that their interests ought to dictate the fate of an entire nation, Lincoln also said that

a majority held in restraint by constitutional checks and limitations, and always changing easily with deliberate changes of popular opinions and sentiments, is the only true sovereign of a free people.

Whoever rejects it, he continued, does of necessity fly to anarchy or to despotism.

President Trump will make a nomination to the Supreme Court and Senate Republicans are very likely to confirm her, whoever she turns out to be. Irrespective of norms or promises, the rules of American politics say that Republicans can take this step, even if it throws the legitimacy of Republican rule  which rests on control of an interlocking set of counter-majoritarian institutions  into sharp relief. But that standard also frees Democrats to act, should they have the opportunity.

Democrats are not yet united on court reform  far from it. But the skeptical should know that if they do not act, they will not govern. At no point in the last 20 years have the majority of Americans voted to give conservative jurists unchecked power to interpret the Constitution. But those jurists have it, and that gives them the power to unravel the federal government as Americans have known it since Franklin Roosevelt took aim at the Depression.

If Democrats win in 2020 and want to deliver on their promises, they will have to do something about the courts. There is no choice other than impotence in the face of a conservative judicial redoubt. The United States may not be a pure democracy, but its not a judgeocracy either, and if protecting the right of the people to govern for themselves means curbing judicial power and the Supreme Courts claim to judicial supremacy, then Democrats should act without hesitation. If anything, theyll be in good historical company.

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 here's our email: letters@nytimes.com.

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Two leading epidemiologists say other states can safely reopen their borders with regional Victoria while Melbourne remains locked down to prevent coronavirus spreading beyond the city.

The rolling 14-day case average has dropped to 1.1 in regional Victoria, with no new cases since a single infection was reported on September 17.

Deakin University epidemiology chair Catherine Bennett said the risk of a major outbreak was now "incredibly low" in regional Victoria.

Professor Catherine Bennett, the chair of epidemiology at Deakin University. Credit:Jason South

"I think there is no epidemiological argument now to keep those restrictions [with NSW]," she said.

Professor Bennett said the many weeks of lockdown and the fact there had been no cases recently in Geelong, despite its proximity to Melbourne, showed regional Victoria had done well in minimising the spread of the virus.

"It's unlikely there is now underlying community transmission in regional Victoria because of the length of the lockdown," she said.

Professor Bennett said strong infection-prevention habits in Victoria and improved outbreak responses should give authorities confidence about planning to open up.

In total, regional Victoria has just 14 active cases, including five in the Colac Otway Shire and two each in Greater Geelong and Macedon Ranges.

There were six new cases in NSW in the 24 hours to 8pm on Tuesday night  all of them returned travellers in hotel quarantine.
Thousands of paddy growers in Haryana heaved a sigh of relief as commission agents ended their four-day strike, resuming procurement in mandis (grain markets) on Tuesday.

Haryana Mandi Arhtiya Association Ashok Gupta said, We have ended the strike as the government agreed to accept most of our demands. Procurement resumed on Tuesday morning.

A delegation of commission agents met chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar and his deputy Dushyant Chautala on Monday evening after which the government announced that the market fee and rural development fee on cotton and barik dhan, a paddy variety, will be reduced from 2% each to 0.5%.

An official spokesperson said the dues for lustre loss and other outstanding payments will be made to the commission agents soon.

Gupta said the decision to reduce the market fee and rural development fee has come as a relief to commission agents, traders and the farmers as this will ensure that most of the produce is procured inside mandis.

He said this will help private traders procure basmati varieties from farmers in the mandis with the help of arhtiyas who will get the commission and will also be able to get payment from buyers according to the traditional system.

AGENTS AWAIT WRITTEN WORD

However, procurement did not resume in several grain markets as commission agents insisted on a written communication from the government to end the confusion.

Procurement could not be resumed at some places as the traders did not come to buy basmati till Tuesday evening, It will take a day or two to resume operations in all mandis of the state, said Naresh Kumar, a commission agent in the Kurukshetra grain market.

State agriculture marketing officials said they have released payments of deductions made from the commission of the arhtiyas for lustre loss in the wheat procurement season. The meeting (with arhtiyas and rice mill owners) ended on a positive note and all issues were resolved. Both have agreed to end their protest but the written notification will be issued by Tuesday evening, said a senior officer of the Haryana State Agriculture Marketing Board.

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A global group of parliamentarians on Tuesday asked the United Nations to install a special rapporteur to investigate reports of ethnic persecution by China after evidence emerged of forced labour in Tibet.

Releasing a report on Xinjiang-style forced labour in Tibet by academic Adrian Zenz, the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China said governments should impose targeted sanctions on those responsible.

The report from the Jamestown Foundation said Tibet has since last year introduced policies promoting the systematic, centralised, and large-scale training and transfer of rural surplus labourers to other parts of Tibet and other regions. More than half a million labourers went through the programme in the first seven months of this year, according to the report.

The 58 MPs from 16 parliaments said in a statement that governments should urgently revise their risk advice to their companies currently sourcing from areas affected by Tibetan and other Chinese forced labour schemes to keep goods and services purchased in our respective jurisdictions from being tainted by Tibetan forced labour.

The 17 British MPs among signatories include former leader of the Conservative party, Iain Duncan-Smith, and senior leader David Davis. Other signatories include those from the US, Australia, Canada, European Union, Italy, Germany, France, New Zealand and Switzerland.

Zenzs report raises concerns about a large-scale mandatory vocational training programme, enlisting over 500,000 labourers in the region, together with accounts of enforced indoctrination, intrusive surveillance, military-style enforcement, and harsh punishments for those who fail to meet labour transfer quotas, the MPs noted.

The programme appears disturbingly reminiscent of coercive vocational training and mass labour transfers imposed by the Chinese authorities in the Uighur region, they said.

We stand united in unequivocal condemnation of these practices and call upon the Chinese government to halt these atrocities immediately, the statement added.

They said the report is the latest in a mounting body of evidence documenting egregious human rights abuses in Tibet where the situation surrounding religious freedoms, political persecution and cultural assimilation of the indigenous Tibetan people has been deteriorating for decades.

Following on from the global outcry in the wake of revelations of vocational training programmes in the Uighur region, this report shows that the current leadership of the Peoples Republic of China remains undeterred in its refusal to respect basic human rights standards, and unswayed by criticism from the international community, including from the United Nations, in which China claims a leading role, the statement said.

(With inputs from Agencies)

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A vendor stands behind stacks of face masks in boxes for sale in Singapore. (PHOTO: Roslan Rahman/AFP via Getty Images)

SINGAPORE  The Ministry of Health (MOH) confirmed 21 new cases in Singapore as of Tuesday (22 September), bringing the countrys total to 57,627.

All 21 new cases are asymptomatic, and were proactively detected, said the MOH.

There are no community cases for the second day in a row.

The lone imported case is a work permit holder currently employed here. She had arrived from India on 10 September, was placed on the 14-day stay-home Notice upon her arrival, and tested while serving the notice at a dedicated facility, said the MOH.

Overall, five per cent of the new cases have no established links.

The MOH noted that the number of new cases in the community has remained stable at an average of one case per day in the past two weeks.

Similarly, it added that the number of unlinked cases in the community has also remained stable at an average of fewer than one case per day in the past two weeks.

14 cases in dorms detected via surveillance testing

Amongst the 20 cases residing in dorms, six had been identified earlier as contacts of previous cases and were tested during quarantine, said the MOH.

The remaining 14 cases were detected via the bi-weekly rostered routine testing of workers living in dorms.

Besides the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, or swabbing, serological tests have also been conducted to determine if some of the cases are current or past infections.

The serological test results for two cases have come back positive so far, which indicate likely past infection, said the MOH.

As of last Friday, about 5,700 workers who are required to undergo the routine testing have yet to do so, said the Ministry of Manpower, Economic Development Board, Building and Construction Authority, and Health Promotion Board in a joint statement on the same day.

This is a significant reduction from the 13,000 workers from last week, and we would like to thank employers for their cooperation, the authorities had said.

Of Singapores COVID-19 tally, 54,353  or 94.3 per cent  are foreign workers living in dorms.

Story continues

99% of total cases have recovered

With 21 more patients discharged from hospitals or community isolation facilities on Tuesday, 57,262 cases  or 99.4 per cent of the total  have fully recovered from the infection.

Most of the 37 hospitalised cases are stable or improving, while none is in critical condition in the intensive care unit.

A total of 301 patients with mild symptoms or are clinically well but still test positive are isolated and cared for at community facilities.

Apart from 27 patients who have died from COVID-19 complications, 15 others who tested positive for the virus were determined to have died from unrelated causes, including three whose deaths were attributed to a heart attack and another four, whose deaths were attributed to coronary heart disease.

Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore

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LOS ANGELES, Sept. 21, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, GAF Energy was presented with the prestigious "Renewable Energy Leaders Award" by the Los Angeles Business Council (LABC) for the company's contributions towards innovative financing solutions and progressive support for rooftop PV solar projects in the Los Angeles region. The LABC also recognized the GAF Energy team for bringing financing opportunities within the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power's (LADWP) Feed-in Tariff , a renewable energy program that allows property owners and developers to generate and sell clean energy to help achieve the city's renewable energy goals.

"We are honored to receive this award from one of California's most influential economic and environmental leaders," said Jason Barrett, Vice President of Residential & Commercial Sales for GAF Energy. "LABC has been a critical partner for GAF Energy in the Los Angeles area, helping advocate for innovative public-private partnerships that lead to greater clean energy deployment across the state."

"The LABC applauds GAF Energy for their ongoing commitment to deliver renewable energy projects to California," said Mary Leslie, President of the Los Angeles Business Council. "Thanks to GAF Energy's contributions to innovative financing solutions, the Los Angeles area is now experiencing greater solar adoption that supports a healthy economy and a cleaner environment."

The award was presented to GAF Energy at the 2020 LABC Sustainability Summit , an annual convening of business, government and nonprofit leaders. The summit seeks to address critical topics like international climate policy, regionalization of the energy grid, and California's resilience strategy in the face of growing natural disasters.

About GAF Energy

GAF Energy is transforming the rooftop solar industry to generate "Energy from every roof". As a Standard Industries company, GAF Energy works in partnership with North America's largest roofing and waterproofing manufacturer, GAF, offering homeowners elegant, roof-integrated solar options. The company also facilitates commercial tax equity financing for large scale rooftop solar projects. For more information, visit www.gaf.energy .

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China is ready to do more to tackle climate change, the countrys chief climate advisor said, as quoted by Reuters, and plans to deliver this message to the UN before this years end.

China is definitely going to launch a very powerful low-carbon development target, the official, Xie Zhenhua said during a conversation with former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. He added that Chinas commitment will span the period until 2050.

China is the biggest emitter of carbon dioxide but it is also the biggest investor in renewable energy projects. However, the countrys emissions are still on the rise and they will only peak in 2030, under current decarbonization plans. Europe has asked China to try and accelerate the decarbonization push, moving peak emissions to 2025.

Recently, even the countrys state oil companies joined the push, declaring their climate change goals for the long term.

Petrochina said it planned to bring its carbon dioxide emissions down to near zero by 2050, with investments of $1.5 billion annually until 2025 on a mix of natural gas and renewable energy projects.

Sinopec, on the other hand, said it would bet on hydrogen, Reuters reported in early September, with the companys ambition focusing on it becoming the leader on the Chinese hydrogen market. Sinopec already has 14 percent of Chinas hydrogen capacity, or some 3 million tons.

CNOOC, the state major that focuses on offshore oil and gas, unsurprisingly will focus on offshore wind. It has plans to invest between 3 and 5 percent of its budget on wind projects but also double its natural gas output by 2025 aiming for it to account for 30 percent of total production from 19 percent now.

Meanwhile, China will also be reducing its dependence on coal, Xie also said during his conversation with Rudd. Despite concern that China was approving new coal-fired power plants, the top climate advisor to Beijing said Chinas coal consumption had plateaued in 2013 and was not rising from those levels.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
An anti-terrorism court in Pakistan's largest city, Karachi, has sentenced two men to death after convicting them of setting an industrial fire in 2012 that killed more than 260 garment factory workers.

The court found that the men set the building ablaze on September 11, 2012, because of the nonpayment of extortion money by the factory's owners.

Four other people, including Rauf Siddiqui, the then-provincial minister for commerce and industries, were acquitted in the case.

Survivors told stories of people trapped in the Ali Enterprise factory in Baldia Town, near Karachi, because the building's doors were locked.

The incident is considered the deadliest industrial fire in Pakistan's history.

With reporting by Reuters and dawn.com
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has accused press watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) of working to "destabilise" the country with its campaign against the jailing of its Algiers correspondent Khaled Drareni.

Rights groups have "targeted" Algeria "to sap the stability of the country", he said in a meeting with local media representatives late Sunday.

"States do not attack us head-on but put non-governmental organisations in charge of the task," said the president, who singled out the France-based RSF for criticism.

Drareni, Casbah Tribune news website editor and correspondent for French-language TV5 Monde as well as RSF, was on September 15 handed a two-year jail sentence.

The 40-year-old was convicted over his coverage of the mass protest movement that toppled Algeria's longtime president Abdelaziz Bouteflika last year.

He was found guilty of "inciting an unarmed gathering" and "endangering national unity", a ruling that drew condemnation at home and abroad.

Tebboune insisted that "nobody is incarcerated (in Algeria) for an article they have written".

"We forbid insults and attacks on issues related to state security," the successor to Bouteflika said, without elaborating.

Tebboune said Drareni, whose name he avoided using in the encounter, had been sentenced for his "involvement in an affair that has nothing to do with the press".

The journalist, according to Communications Minister Ammar Belhimer, had been working without a professional press card and was allegedly in the pay of "foreign embassies".

'Absurd, unfair and violent'

After the verdict, RSF head Christophe Deloire said: "We are outraged by the blind stubbornness of the Algerian judges who have just condemned (Drareni).

"Khaled's detention proves the regime locks itself into a logic of absurd, unfair and violent repression," he tweeted.

On Monday, around 150 people, including lawyers, opposition politicians and journalists, held their fifth weekly protest outside the Maison de la Presse, headquarters of most of the country's newspapers, to demand Drareni's release.

Some held pictures of other political detainees, including journalist Abdelkrim Zeghileche.

"The ruling against Khaled Drareni is a condemnation of the press," said his lawyer Mustapha Bouchachi.

Algeria ranked 146 out of 180 countries in RSF's 2020 World Press Freedom Index.

Deloire, contacted by AFP on Monday, dismissed the president's charges against his organisation as "lies".

They "aim to cover up his difficulty in defending violations of press freedom that are absolutely obvious to millions of Algerians", he said.

"We operate in Algeria like we operate elsewhere, on the basis of principles that we defend everywhere, including France."

Algeria's President Abdelmajid Tebboune lays a wreath during a ceremony to lay to rest the remains of 24 resistance fighters, after their skulls were returned by Paris. By - (Algerian Presidency Press Office/AFP)

Tebboune had on Sunday welcomed a "positive" sign from Emmanuel Macron, president of Algeria's former colonial power France, despite the "complex" outstanding issues between their countries.

Macron and some of his advisers had shown "readiness and good faith" toward resolving issues dating back to the colonial period and Algeria's war of independence.

Algeria on July 5 buried the remains of 24 resistance fighters returned by Paris. The North African state has also called for the handover of colonial archives.
Based on current data measured in the energy, industry, and mobility sectors, restrictions of social life during the corona pandemic can be predicted to lead to a reduction of worldwide carbon dioxide emissions by up to eight percent in 2020.

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), cumulative reductions of about this magnitude would be required every year to reach the goals of the Paris Agreement by 2030.

Recent measurements by researchers of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) revealed that concentration of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) in the atmosphere has not yet changed due to the estimated emission reductions. The results are reported in Remote Sensing (DOI: 10.3390/rs12152387).

The corona pandemic has changed both our working and our private lives. People increasingly work from home, have video conferences instead of business trips, and spend their holidays in their home country.

The lower traffic volume also reduces CO 2 emissions. Reductions of up to eight percent are estimated for 2020.

In spite of the reduced emissions, our measurements show that CO 2 concentration in the atmosphere has not yet decreased. To reduce CO2 concentration in the atmosphere in the long run, restrictions imposed during the corona pandemic would have to be continued for decades. But even this would be far from being sufficient." Ralf Sussmann, Atmospheric Environmental Research Division, KIT's Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research (IMK-IFU), KIT's Campus Alpine, in Garmisch-Partenkirchen

To prove this, researchers additionally studied a long-term scenario that can be controlled well with atmospheric measurements: The goal of the Paris Climate Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius can only be reached by an immediate significant reduction of CO 2 emissions and a further decrease down to zero by 2055.

"The restrictions imposed during the corona crisis, however, are far from being sufficient. They have just resulted in a one-time reduction by eight percent. To reach zero emissions in the coming decades, cumulative reductions of the same magnitude would be required every year, i.e. 16 percent in 2021, 24 percent in 2022, and so on. For this, political measures have to be taken to directly initiate fundamental technological changes in the energy and transport sectors," Sussmann says.

For the study, the team used data from the Total Carbon Column Observing Network (TCCON). It measured the concentrations in different layers of the atmosphere above Garmisch-Partenkirchen and at other places around the globe. "High-tech infrared spectrometers are applied, which use the sun as a light source. The measurement method is highly precise, uncertainties are in the range of a few thousandths," Sussmann adds.

Long life of CO 2 prevents early detection

According to the researchers, the long life of CO 2 and the high background concentrations that have accumulated since the start of industrialization prevent the changes in the atmosphere from being detected.

"But also natural impacts make early detection difficult: Anthropogenic emissions, the main cause of the long-term increase in atmospheric CO 2 , are superposed by annual fluctuations of the growth rate due to natural climate variabilities of ocean sinks and land vegetation," Sussmann says. Successful emission reduction, hence, is hard to detect by atmosphere measurements.

For their study, the researchers compared the TCCON measurements with the prognoses of the atmospheric growth rate for 2020 - with and without corona restrictions.

"Precision analysis of atmosphere measurements revealed that the impacts of COVID-19 measures on the atmosphere might be measured after little more than six months, if the reference state without COVID-19 would be predicted precisely," the climate researcher explains. "In any case, we would be able to find out within presumably two and half years, whether global political and social measures will help us find viable alternatives of fossil fuels and reach the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement."
President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden will be questioned on topics including the coronavirus pandemic and the Supreme Court when they face off next week in the first of three debates before the 2020 election.

The Commission on Presidential Debates announced Tuesday that the Sept. 29 debate in Cleveland, Ohio, will center around six topics, each of which will receive a 15-minute time slot. The moderator, Fox News' Chris Wallace, selected the categories, the commission said.

The first debate will be held at Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland Clinic. It is scheduled to start at 9 p.m. ET and is expected to run about 90 minutes.

The topics are:

The Trump and Biden records

The Supreme Court

Covid-19

The economy

Race and violence in our cities

The integrity of the election

The debate commission said it revealed the topics in advance "in order to encourage deep discussion of the leading issues facing the country."

But its announcement notes that the issues to be discussed are "subject to possible changes because of news developments."

The Supreme Court, for instance, morphed from a perennial election issue into a central focus of the 2020 race following the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, 87, on Friday evening.
Cybera, the leader in SD-WAN application network and security services for the network edge, today announced that it has been named to the Nashville Business Journals Largest Technology Services Firms in Nashville, coming in at #6. The annual list ranks the top 25 Nashville-area technology services firms by number of local area tech employees.

In a recent interview with the Nashville Business Journal, Cliff Duffey, Cybera President and Founder, addressed the question: What is the #1 key to bridging the talent gap in Nashville? Duffey stated, From our view, there is not necessarily a talent gap in Nashville, but the supply of tech talent is tight. Since our primary business is providing network and information security services, we need skills that are in very high demand. Fortunately, we have been able to find the talent we need for most roles, but have to be more aggressive while recruiting than we might experience in other markets with a richer supply of experienced technology talent.

In addition to the highly competitive salaries and benefits it offers, a critical aspect of Cyberas ability to attract and retain top talent across various disciplines is its focus on company culture, starting with a long-standing dedication to diversity hiring. Cyberas Human Resources (HR) leadership team has created a supportive and compassionate work environment, with open lines of communication and built-in flexibility to respond to evolving employee needs.

Community building is also a key aspect of the Cybera culture. There have been many challenges to sustaining a strong employee community in 2020, with the COVID-19 pandemic. The Cybera leadership team took an early, proactive approach in transitioning all non-essential staff to work from home (WFH) environments. In turn, HR leaders have created ways for employees near and far to stay connected with events such as the weekly Good Morning, Cybera virtual staff chat.

Each chat is preceded by a question, challenge, or contest to spark interest and participation. Prizes are often awarded for participation, such as a Be A Hero, Support A Hero t-shirt. With every t-shirt the company purchases, five face masks are donated to healthcare and other essential workers. This serves to advance another Cybera goal: Supporting and giving back to both the local and global community.

To learn more about careers at Cybera, please visit http://www.cybera.com/company-about-cybera/careers/.

To view the Nashville Business Journals Largest Technology Services Firms in Nashville list in its entirety, please visit http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/subscriber-only/2020/09/11/largest-technology-services-firms-in.html (subscription required).

Tweet this: @CyberaInc Named to #Nashville Business Journals Largest Technology Services Firms in Nashville list https://www.cybera.com/news/ #Diversity #CompanyCulture #TechnologyInnovation #CareerOpportunity

About Cybera

Cybera cloud networks and service edge solutions empower businesses to accelerate the deployment of new technologies, services, and digital transformation strategies. As a leading provider of SD-WAN Edge solutions for the petro C-store and retail markets, Cybera solves the networking and security needs of highly distributed enterprises. Headquartered in Franklin, Tennessee, the company operates in 23 countries worldwide, serving more than 90,000 customer locations. For more information, visit cybera.com.

###

 2020 Cybera, Inc. All rights reserved. Cybera is a registered trademark of Cybera, Inc., in the United States and in other countries. Other brands, product names, or trademarks may belong to third parties. All rights reserved.
Taiwan has demanded that China 'back off' and accused it of threatening peace, after a Beijing official rejected a largely respected marine boundary amid growing military tensions.

The island's foreign minister Joseph Wu urged Beijing to 'return to the civilised international standards' after a Chinese spokesman said there was no so-called median line in the Taiwan Strait 'as Taiwan is an inseparable part of Chinese territory'.

It came after China's People's Liberation Army flew 18 warplanes over the mid-line of the Strait on Friday, followed by another 19 on Saturday, while US envoy Keith Krach was visiting the self-ruled island.

Taiwan has demanded that China 'back off' and accused it of threatening peace after Chinese military flew nearly 40 warplanes over the Taiwan Strait last week. A Taiwanese jet during military drills in July, aimed to test how the armed forces would repel a Chinese invasion

A handout photo shows US Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Keith Krach (left) gesturing before his departure from Taipei, Taiwan, on September 19

Beijing also ramped up its rhetoric yesterday by warning the US against helping Taiwan and saying that support for its independence was 'doomed to fail'.

Taiwan's foreign ministry told reporters today: 'The median line has been a symbol of preventing military conflicts and maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait for many years. The Chinese foreign ministry's comment is equivalent of destroying the status quo.'

'I call on the international community to condemn the CCP for its dangerous and provocative words and deeds threatening peace... China must back off,' he added in a tweet.

The statement comes as Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen has visited a military base on one of Taiwan's outlying islands Tuesday in a display of resolve following a recent show of force by rival China.

Taiwan's Indigenous Defense Fighter (IDF) jets are displayed with their weapons payload during a visit by Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen at the Penghu Magong military air base in outlying Penghu Island, Taiwan, on Tuesday, September 22

Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen (pictured centre left) visited a military base on one of Taiwan's outlying islands Tuesday in a display of resolve following a recent show of force by rival China

Tsai spoke to roughly a hundred air force pilots and crew members at the Penghu Magong Air Force base, where two pilots took off in Taiwan-produced Ching-kuo Indigenous Defense Fighters to greet her arrival.

Taiwan has the 'ability' and 'resolve' to safeguard its territory, she said, while praising the soldiers as being able to get up in the air within five minutes.

'I know that having to face the provocations of the People's Liberation Army surrounding Taiwan, and their actions in disturbing the areas peace, in the situation, everyones duty at the frontline air defense at Penghu has become heavier,' Tsai said.

'But I have faith in every individual, that every one of our well-trained air force brothers and sisters is able to lift this heavy responsibility,' she said.

China considers Taiwan part of its territory, to be absorbed into the mainland, by force if necessary, even though it has been self-ruled for more than seven decades.

Beijing has ratcheted up pressure on the democratic island since the 2016 election of President Tsai Ing-wen, who rejects its view that Taiwan is part of 'one China'.

Last year, Taiwan accused China of violating a long-held tacit agreement after its fighter jets - for the first time in years - crossed the median line of the waters that separate the two sides.

Washington's increased outreach to Taiwan under President Donald Trump has become yet another flashpoint with Beijing, as the US and China clash over a range of trade and security issues, as well as the coronavirus pandemic.

In recent months Taiwan has reported a sharp rise in incursions by Chinese warplanes into its air defence identification zone (ADIZ).
Dozens of discriminatory gender laws should be repealed or revised in The Gambia to guarantee equal rights for women and girls within the legal framework.

A report  produced jointly by the Government of The Gambia, Commonwealth Secretariat and UN Women  reveals several discriminatory laws and loopholes which allow discrimination.

Aiming to end discrimination in legislation, the report recommends amending 19 laws and repealing 10 in whole or in part. It also proposes enacting two new laws to ensure The Gambia's legislative framework meets its international obligations on gender equality.

Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland said: Laws, which undermine one over the other, are a fundamental barrier to gender equality, an obstacle to sustainable development and threaten decades of progress already made for women.

I commend the Government of The Gambia for the bold step in undertaking a comprehensive review of its laws to ascertain the extent to which they are compliant with international and regional norms and standards.

The implementation of the report's recommendations will make Gambian women and girls even more empowered and will support the government's efforts to build back better after the COVID-19 pandemic.

The report stresses that complying with gender equality standards should be a priority in implementing national laws. For this reason, it proposes 14 policy measures to ensure laws fully deliver on women's rights, which include investing in post-natal care, providing accessible legal aid, and ratifying and complying with international labour laws.

The Gambia's Justice Minister Abubacarr Ba Tambadou said: Taking stock of laws from a gender perspective is critical to the health and progress of The Gambia.

I endorse this report and its recommendations as my government's step towards the implementation of equality in law for women and girls by 2030.

It serves as the framework for achieving full de jure equality, which in turn, is the foundation for de facto and substantive equality.

The report maps and analyses the national laws of The Gambia. The mapping informs a roadmap for thorough legislative reforms through a review of national laws and verdicts to determine their impacts on women's rights.

The analysis, guided by the country's international commitments and obligations, reviews the 1997 Constitution, statutes and corresponding legislative and legal instruments through regulations, orders, guidelines, directives as well as case law.

The report is the knowledge product of the technical assistance provided to The Gambia under an initiative to help implement the 'Equality in Law for Women and Girls by 2030' strategy, developed by UN Women, Commonwealth Secretariat and other development partners.

The global strategy aims to boost full legal protection for 50 million women and girls in 100 countries from 2019 to 2023 under the law.

The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 54 independent and equal sovereign states. Our combined population is 2.4 billion, of which more than 60 per cent is aged 29 or under.

The Commonwealth spans the globe and includes both advanced economies and developing countries. Thirty-two of our members are small states, many of which are island nations.

The Commonwealth Secretariat supports member countries to build democratic and inclusive institutions, strengthen governance and promote justice and human rights. Our work helps to grow economies and boost trade, deliver national resilience, empower young people, and address threats such as climate change, debt and inequality.

Member countries are supported by a network of more than 80 intergovernmental, civil society, cultural and professional organisations.
Mayoral candidate Tim Kelly told members of the Pachyderm Club on Monday that he is a moderate candidate who is only focused on Chattanooga.

I grew up a moderate Republican, the founder and owner of Kelly Subaru said. Im an economist at heart, and Ive voted overwhelmingly Republican because markets solve problems better than government can, as long as theyre regulated well.

Mr. Kelly also told the Pachyderm Club he has no interest in using a possible term as mayor as a stepping stone to a place in the state or even a federal post. Because of this, the candidate spoke solely about issues pertaining to Chattanooga. One of those issues is the Business Improvement District, which has recently been rebranded as the Downtown Chattanooga Alliance.

In concept, the BID is a great idea, Mr. Kelly said. Its almost like a homeowners association -everyone pitches in a few bucks and we all decide what we want to do with it. But the way it was executed here, it was poorly packaged, sold and executed. Well see if it survives.

One of the reasons he believes the BID was poorly thought out was because of his belief that the DCA did not prioritize parking. He told the Pachyderm Club that when he was on the River City board during the BIDs formation, he believed that parking should be at the top of their concerns.

I wouldve set parking way higher (on the list of priorities), Mr. Kelly said. Im a small business guy, and my biggest frustration while I was on the River City board was that we werent paying enough attention to our small businesses downtown. They would tell you that parking was an issue. One of my priorities is to have a way to have locals come downtown and park and walk.

The topic of investing or divesting, funding or defunding from law enforcement in general has been a prominent talking point in Chattanoogas mayoral race, and Kelly shared his views on CPD. He said he has a good relationship with Police Chief David Roddy, and advocated for finding a way to give officers raises, citing how Chattanooga lags behind in officer pay compared to other places.

They havent gotten a raise in years, and they have to compete with places like Florida, where cops are making 55 to 60 grand, Mr. Kelly said. Theyve got morale issues. We dont have to do a ton, but we can do more with CPD. We can publicly support them from the mayors office, which hasnt been happening recently.

There is a time when a police force has to act in two modalities, Mr. Kelly said, the first being in an enforcement role. The other modality is the police just being embedded in the community. People shouldnt be afraid of their police force, and those two are not antithetical. Its just a matter of which is the appropriate stance at the appropriate time. The CPD is a lot more progressive and forward-thinking than people realize, and I just think the city needs to do a better job of letting them tell that story.

However, Mr. Kelly also said that one of his goals if elected mayor is to find ways to utilize social workers and other services to help the community, rather than asking law enforcement to be in charge of every task.

He also told the Pachyderm Club that CARTA is another service that needs to be revamped. After the presentation, he went into detail about how a budget could accommodate all of those things.

What you find many times is that its not a question of the money not being there. Its a question of the money not being managed well. CARTA and public transportation is important and the nature of it is changing, so its a question of what works best.

We dont derive much revenue from fares, but if we could find a way to expand sponsorship of CARTA, we may be able to find a way to make it free for folks to ride. We will go and establish our budgetary priorities based on what is important for the area. Then well look at the money.

Mr. Kelly also said that creating ways for minorities and other communities of color to improve their quality of life would be a priority if he wins the mayoral race. He said Chattanooga is still in many ways a segregated city, and he said much of that is due to inequality when it comes to education.

If Chattanooga is going to make progress, it has to be as one city. So we have to be intentional about providing opportunities to everybody, Mr. Kelly said. Its not about handouts, its about being intentional with providing opportunities. When you look at the worst-performing schools, its in places that were red lined. You couldnt invest in those areas, and the situation snowballed. So now we have two cities.

As a businessman running for an executive position, Mr. Kelly may remind some of the president. However, the man who declared himself a moderate Republican said any similarities the two may share are strictly superficial.

I have about as much in common with Donald Trump as a guy who throws darts and a guy who drives Formula One for a living, Mr. Kelly said. Theyre very different forms of business, and being a real estate developer is very different from running a retail enterprise with a lot of employees and direct management contact.

I get the concern, but if you go just beneath the surface, youll see I dont have a lot in common with the president. What we do have in common is a common-sense approach to government. But I place a high premium on integrity and quality leadership, and I would not lead in the way he leads. I am not a fan of his leadership style in any way, shape or form.

The Chattanooga mayoral election will be held March 2021.
Tropical Storm Beta is flooding Houston as it slows to a crawl along the Gulf Coast, forcing highways to shut and threatening to boost water levels even more before meandering toward Louisiana.

Beta will likely stall for most of Tuesday, wringing out rain across the region, the National Hurricane Center said. Forecasts are calling for as much as 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30 centimeters) of rain in the middle and upper Texas coast, with some areas getting as much as 20 inches.

While Betas flooding wont come close to unleashing the devastation wrought by Hurricane Harvey in 2017, waterways throughout the fourth-largest U.S. city are swelling. Buffalo Bayou in Houston has risen by more than 15 feet since Monday, the National Weather Service said, while nearby Brays Bayou rose more than 21 feet. Highway cameras around the city are showing roads underwater, and several suburban school districts closed campuses. Houston asked all city employees not designated as essential workers to stay home

Isolated bands of heavy rain have formed across parts of Houston and to the southwest, said Ryan Truchelut, president of commercial forecaster WeatherTiger LLC in Tallahassee. Outside of those areas, rainfall totals have been close to 1 or 2 inches.

It is a relatively small area getting downpours, Truchelut said. For those areas under the worst of it, rain is falling at a rate of an inch per hour.

Beta is the Atlantics 23rd storm for this year, the second-most active season in records going back to 1851. So many storms have formed that the hurricane center has used up all the names on its official list and has begun designating new storms with Greek letters. Beta is the ninth storm to hit the U.S. this year, tying a record set in 1916, said Phil Klotzbach, lead author of the Colorado State University seasonal forecast

Across the Gulf, 8.4% of offshore oil production and 6% of natural gas remains shut in following Hurricane Sally, which struck Alabama last week, according to the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement. More than 3.6% of offshore platforms remain evacuated.

In addition to Beta, Hurricane Teddy is churning in the central Atlantic. Teddy is headed for Atlantic Canada and is expected to move over eastern Nova Scotia on Wednesday, according to an advisory at 8 a.m. New York time.

Teddy is also forecast to bring very large swells to parts of Bermuda, the Lesser and Greater Antilles, the Bahamas, the U.S. East Coast and Atlantic Canada.

With assistance from Serene Cheong and Joe Carroll.

About the photo: A portable toilet is surrounded by flood water ahead of Hurricane Laura in Sabine, Texas, U.S., on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020. Photographer: Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg
A right-wing meme circulating on Facebook that attributes a quote about gun confiscation to Senator Kamala Harris is actually quoting Donald Trump.

The Facebook post is a black and white photo of the vice presidential candidate with a quote next to her image that alleged she wants to "take the guns first."

"Take the guns first. Go through due process second, I like taking the guns early," the quote reads.

Though the words are attributed to Ms Harris, they were actually spoken by the president.

Mr Trump said the words during a meeting on gun violence on 28 February, just two weeks after the mass shooting in Parkland, Florida in 2018.

During the meeting, Vice President Mike Pence explained a legislative action to Mr Trump that would essentially authorise the confiscation of weapons by way of court order from people deemed a danger to themselves or others.

Mr Trump said he wanted to go further.

"Or, Mike, take the firearms first and then go to court. Because that's another system, because a lot of times, by the time you go to court, it takes so long to go to court, to get the due process procedures. I like taking the guns early," Mr Trump said. "Like in this crazy man's case that just took place in Florida, he had a lot of firearms - they saw everything - to go to court would have taken a long time, so you could do exactly what you're saying, but take the guns first, go through due process second."

Mr Trump's words have also been incorrectly attributed to Representative Alexandria-Ocasio Cortez.

Right-wing social media has a history of lying about Ms Harris' words and stances on gun control.

Shortly after she was selected as Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden's running mate, right-wing social media posts were claiming that she intended to use executive orders to begin gun confiscations in the US.

"If elected and you don't surrender your guns, I will sign an executive order and the police will show up at your door," the post claims Ms Harris said.

Vice Presidents can't issue executive orders, and Ms Harris never made the claim.

USA Today confronted the owners of the page who initially shared the post and asked why they were lying about Ms Harris. The page administrators said the post was a "hypothetical," despite it clearly attributing the quote to Ms Harris.

"Anyone with an understanding of how government works (which should be anyone of high school age and older) understands VP's can't do executive orders," the page owner said. "This is a hypothetical. Her public history of gun confiscation comments shows that if she assumes the role of president, which a lot of people see as a real possibility given wrestles with senility, this isn't that much of a stretch."

What Ms Harris actually said during the primary was that she would give Congress 100 days to make progress on sensible gun reforms if she were elected president.

"Upon being elected [president], I will give the United States Congress 100 days to get their act together and have the courage to pass reasonable gun safety laws. And if they fail to do it, then I will take executive action," Ms Harris said. "I will require that for any gun dealer that breaks the law, the ATF take their license."
Oil recovered from the steepest one-day loss in almost two weeks as equities advanced, though further gains may be limited by a resurgence in coronavirus cases and new lockdown measures.

Crude futures rose 0.7% in both London and New York as stocks staged a modest comeback from Mondays broad selloff. Although the global oil market will move into deficit in the fourth quarter on the back of OPEC+ supply cuts, prices will likely remain range-bound until theres a recovery in distillate demand, including jet fuel, according to Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

West Texas Intermediate crude advanced 0.7% to $39.60 a barrel.

Global demand looks pretty soft, it looks like were going to get another wave of the virus, and were in a seasonally weak time of the year, said Bill OGrady, executive vice president at Confluence Investment Management in St. Louis.

The market is assessing fresh risk from the prospect of a second wave of Covid-19, as governments mull tightening restrictions that have crippled demand. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said the recovery in the American economy remains highly uncertain and will need further support. While some expect the supply picture to improve heading into the end of the year, the persistent demand slump is keeping a lid on any substantial rally.

The challenge facing oil producers is that winter gasoline is simply too easy to make and global distillate inventories remain completely dislocated, analysts at Bank of America Merrill Lynch said in a report. The obvious choice for refiners now is to cut crude runs and wait out the pandemic.

FUEL FIX: Now more than ever, you need our energy news in your inbox

The so-called crack for combined gasoline and diesel against West Texas Intermediate futures -- a rough profit gauge for processing a barrel of crude -- fell 8.8% to $8.35 a barrel, the lowest since August. Refineries typically need the spread to be more that $10 a barrel to make a profit processing crude oil.

Meanwhile, Libya is signaling that it will return some supply back to the market. Libya has lifted force majeure restrictions at its Zueitina export terminal, according to the state National Oil Corp. The company is in the process of evaluating the security situation at the nations other oil ports.

On the U.S. Gulf Coast, Tropical Depression Beta has flooded Houston, but is weakening as it heads toward Louisiana. The storm isnt expected to cause many issues for onshore refineries, and interruptions to offshore rigs arent likely to be long-lasting either. Meanwhile, some Texas ports are starting to reopen, with the U.S. Coast Guard allowing traffic to resume at Corpus Christi and reopening the Houston and Galveston ports with restrictions.

U.S. crude stockpiles fell by 3.3 million barrels last week, according to a Bloomberg survey before official government figures due on Wednesday. That would be the second straight weekly decline. The industry-funded American Petroleum Institute will release its figures later on Tuesday.

The American shale industry continues to face a troubling outlook, with the number of bankruptcies expected to grow to 68 in 2021, according to Rystad Energy. Leslie Wei, Rystads vice president of upstream research, said WTI needs to climb to around $60 a barrel in order to jumpstart shales recovery.

2020 Bloomberg L.P.
The granddaughter of the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has revealed more about the trailblazing judges most fervent final wish, as President Donald Trump and his allies spread misinformation about the reported comments.

Clara Spera, a lawyer and granddaughter to the 87-year-old justice, told BBC she spent a lot of time with her grandmother before she passed away on Friday due to complications resulting from metastatic pancreatic cancer. The two discussed, among other things, whether justice Ginsburg had any last words she wanted to share that were not already made public.

She dictated the following sentence to me: My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed, Ms Spera told the news outlet. I read it back to her, she was very happy with that, and when I asked her, Is that it? Is there anything else youd like to say? She said, The rest of my work is a matter of public record. So that was all she wanted to add.

The interview comes just days after the Supreme Court justices death, as Republicans on Capitol Hill have immediately launched an effort to nominate and confirm a replacement within six weeks of the presidential election. That effort has notably contradicted the GOPs refusal to hold a confirmation process for Judge Merrick Garland, nominated to the Supreme Court by former President Barack Obama in 2016.

Mr Trump seemingly undermined the late justices reported final wish after teasing that he would soon announce the name of his nominee as early as this week in an interview on Monday morning with Fox News, falsely suggesting the statement may have been fabricated by Democratic leaders in Washington.

I dont know that she said that, or was that written out by Adam Schiff and [Chuck] Schumer and Pelosi? the president said on the conservative networks morning show, Fox & Friends, adding: I would be more inclined to the second.

By Monday night, one of the networks most popular hosts appeared to echo Mr Trumps comments while slamming the late justices last reported wish.

Tucker Carlson began his show by discussing the comments, describing her wish as a pathetic sentiment if it were actually true.

Keep in mind, we don't know actually what Ruth Bader Ginsburg's final words were," Mr Carlson said. "Did she really leave this world fretting about a presidential election?

We dont believe that for a second, the host added. If it were true, it would be pathetic because life is bigger than politics, even this year.

In her interview with BBC, Ms Spera said her grandmother fundamentally was someone who believed in the institutions that she served who felt that keeping politics out of the Supreme Court was a very important thing.

She was confirmed by the senate 96 to three, and one of her biggest boosters at the time was a very Republican senator, Orrin Hatch. She never imagined until it was far too late that the Supreme Court nomination and confirmation process would have become as fraught as it had under President Trump, Ms Spera said. She didnt step down, I believe, in part, because of her faith in these institutions.
Regulatory News:

Academy Award nominee French animation studio Xilam Animation (Paris:XIL) today announced that Xilam's new CGI kids' non-verbal slapstick comedy series Trico (78 x 7') will be launched as a Netflix Branded Original for its service globally. Created by Xilam's Hugo Gittard (Zig Sharko,Magoo), the series is slated for delivery in early 2022.

Xilam retains second window global linear television distribution and merchandising rights to Trico.

Marc du Pontavice, CEO of Xilam Animation and Executive Producer, said: "We're thrilled to be undertaking this new collaboration with Netflix and feel honoured by the trust they have placed in Xilam's talents. Hugo has created a fantastic series which is brimming with endearing characters and original comedy we're sure Trico's mishaps will charm and entertain audiences across the globe."

In this new Series, mountain pasture life is a little too peaceful for former globetrotter Trico. Luckily for him, he always has tons of ideas, and objects from his travels, to share with his fellow sheep to shake things up! All this new ruckus is at Biscotte's expense, a tough ewe whose job is to keep the flock safe. An especially hard task with the Wolf lurking around, waiting to make the most of this newfound chaos by catching a few sheep here and there. Fortunately, we can count on Trico and Biscotte's friendship to overcome these challenges and keep the Wolf from snacking on their wooly companions!

Xilam Animation is also in production on Netflix's first French animated Original Series, Oggy Oggy (156x7') which is targeted at a preschool audience and set to be delivered in 2021. Oggy Oggy is based on Xilam's global hit franchise Oggy and the Cockroaches and sees young Oggy freed from the ceaseless tyranny of the cockroaches and living in a fantasy world inhabited by a vibrant community of cats.

About Xilam

A major player in animation, Xilam is an integrated studio founded in 1999 that creates, produces and distributes original programmes in more than 190 countries for both children and adult audiences. Xilam content is broadcast on television, and is also available on SVoD platforms including Netflix, Disney+, Amazon and NBC Universal, and ADVoD streaming platforms including YouTube and Facebook.

With its creativity and capacity for innovation recognised worldwide, and editorial and commercial expertise at the cutting edge of its industry, Xilam is positioned as a key player in a fast-growing market. Each year, Xilam builds real successes and capitalises on its powerful historical brands including Oggy and the Cockroaches and Zig Sharko, as well as new properties such as Oggy Oggy for a preschool audience, Moka, Mr. Magoo, and Academy Award nominated adult feature film I Lost My Body. Xilam's expanding and strong catalogue now consists of over 2,200 episodes and three feature films.

In 2019, Xilam acquired Cube Creative, a studio providing the company with unique expertise in 3D and computer generated images. Xilam employs more than 500 individuals, including 400 artists, across its studios in Paris, Lyon, Angouleme and Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200922005750/en/

Contacts:

Marc du Pontavice Chairman and CEO

Tel.: +33 (0)1 40 18 72 00

SHAN Agency Alexandre Daudin (Media Relations) Florent Alba (Investor Relations)

Tel.: +33 (0)1 44 50 51 76 +33 (0)1 44 50 51 71
KYODO NEWS - Sep 22, 2020 - 16:27 | World, All, Japan

One of Manila's main mass transit rail systems increased its number of operational trains to 22, transportation authorities said Tuesday, breaking previous records owing to the maintenance and repair work by two Japanese firms.

Michael Capati, director for operations, said the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 is now fielding more trains while recording zero breakdowns and passenger offloads -- incidents that were common in recent years with the decades-old train system.

"This is the fruit of good maintenance of the train and rail rehabilitation," Capati said during a press conference in Manila, citing that travel and passenger wait times have also been improved.

Japanese firms Sumitomo Corp. and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. are doing rehabilitation work on the MRT-3 line, a popular choice for affordable and fast transportation among commuters in a country suffering from severe traffic congestion daily.

The 16.9-kilometer elevated rail system that runs along one of the busiest avenues in the country's urban metropolis can now serve up to 67,000 people daily, according to Capati.

Before its rehabilitation, the MRT-3 suffered from deteriorating tracks and trains, with frequent operational troubles, including train doors that do not close and busted air conditioning equipment resulting from poor maintenance.

The Philippines and Japan signed a 38 billion yen ($336 million) contract in November 2018 to rehabilitate the railway.

The scope of work covers the train tracks, power supply, signaling systems, depot equipment, CCTV, public address system, and station elevators and escalators.

Maintenance work is expected to be completed by July 2021, according to Philippine Transportation Assistant Secretary Goddes Libiran.

Related coverage:

Japan firms shift focus to S.E. Asia due to U.S.-China rows: JETRO

Asian leaders affirm urgent need to develop coronavirus treatment
The school is holding its biennial art exhibition this Wednesday and Thursday to celebrate the visual arts.

At least one piece of art from each of the schools 580 students will be on show alongside that of well-known local artists like Linda Munn, Susan Tustain, Sasha Groufsky, Nick Eggleston, Elliot Mason, Joyce Van del Lely, and Mandy Williams.

Principal Matt Simeon said it was about promoting the arts as being as important as every other curriculum area.

Every student right up to Year 6 has produced at least one piece of art and some have created several, he says.

In prior years artists have donated works for parents to bid on and the money raised was donated to the school. This year, because of the financial impact Covid-19 has had on many people, including artists, the school has decided to do things differently.

This year we want to give back to the local artists so their art is on display and yes its for sale and that money will be for them, Deputy Principal Sarah Stock says.

This is our way of connecting with our community and celebrating the arts, celebrating our local artists.

A lot of these people have been into our school, theyve helped in the classrooms and given talks about their art. Its been a whole community effort.

The students have been hugely inspired by meeting the artists in person, hearing their stories, and realising that this is a career pathway if they choose to go down there, Sarah says.

Matt says when the students see their own art on show alongside that of professional artists it makes it really come to life for them.

Moving to Level One is perfect timing. We dont have to go through all the systems and processes, its just come in and enjoy he says.

The exhibition will be held in the school hall from Wednesday to Thursday this week and members of the public are welcome.
NEW DELHI: The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has reportedly fined more than 2,000 commuters in nine days for not wearing masks inside station premises and violating the Centres important coronavirus disease (COVID-19)-necessitated protocols.

According to reports, the DMRC also further counselled more than 5,000 people about the importance of following the COVID-19-related protocols for cutting down the spread of the coronavirus, especially considering the fact that the pandemic outbreak continues to spread like wildfire.

According to a report, the DMRC is only issuing fines in the most extreme of cases when the passenger in question is not adhering to the necessary guidelines or creating nuisance even after being called out for not wearing masks or abiding by the protocol.

Live TV

Days after resuming operations on the Yellow Line after remaining suspended for over five months, the DMRC resumed services on the Red Line, Green Line and Violet Line last week on Thursday as part of Unlock 4. Earlier, metro services were resumed on DMRC's longest line Blue Line that that connects Dwarka Sector 21 to Vaishali/Noida Electronic City.

The Yellow Line connecting Samaypur Badli to Huda City Centre and Rapid Metro in Gurugram was resumed on September 7 as part of Unlock 4.

The entire Metro network was made operational for passengers throughout the day from September 12 as it was before March 22, 2020, with all social distancing norms and guidelines in place during the travel due to ongoing pandemic.
HOUSTON - As Tropical Storm Beta neared the Texas coast Monday, the biggest unknown was how much rainfall it could produce in areas that have already seen their share of damaging weather during a busy hurricane season.

Betas winds were weakening as it got closer to making landfall sometime Monday night and the storm was not expected to strengthen into a hurricane. But its path along the Texas coast over the next couple of days once it gets inland could produce bands of showers with heavy rainfall, forecasters said. Rain from Beta was already coming down Monday in the Houston area.

This still is probably the most uncertain part of the forecast, Dan Reilly, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in the Houston-Galveston office, said about rainfall from Beta.

Earlier predictions of up to 20 inches (51 centimetres) in some areas were downgraded Monday to up to 15 inches (38 centimetres). Texas coastal counties were most likely to see 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 centimetres) with 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 centimetres) farther inland, Reilly said.

Forecasters and officials reassured residents Beta was not expected to be another Hurricane Harvey or Tropical Storm Imelda. Harvey in 2017 dumped more than 50 inches (127 centimetres) of rain on Houston, causing $125 billion in damage in Texas. Imelda, which hit Southeast Texas last year, was one of the wettest cyclones on record.

Betas maximum sustained winds were 45 mph (72 kph) as of Monday night. The storm was moving northwest at 3 mph (5 kph) at about 10 p.m., forecasters said. It was about 5 miles (8 kilometres) east of Port OConnor, Texas.

Storm surge up to 4 feet (1.2 metres) was forecast from Port Aransas to Sabine Pass in Texas.

After Beta makes landfall, it is expected to move northeast along the coast and head into Louisiana sometime mid-week, forecasters said. Flash flooding was possible in Arkansas and Mississippi as the system moves farther inland.

In Galveston, an island city southeast of Houston, there was already some street flooding from rising tides and part of a popular fishing pier collapsed due to strong waves. Streets were also flooded in Rockport, located northeast of Corpus Christi.

Farther south on the Texas coast, Maria Serrano Culpepper along with her two daughters and dogs left their home in Magnolia Beach on Sunday night as Beta was predicted to make landfall in nearby Matagorda Bay.

Culpepper said she didnt want to be trapped in her home, three blocks from the beach, with wind, rain and possibly no electricity. She and her family evacuated to a friends home in nearby Victoria.

Culpepper said her home should be fine as its on stilts 13 feet (4 metres) off the ground and was built to withstand strong storms.

Im feeling OK now. I had two nights without sleeping because I was worried about (Beta) being a Category 1 hurricane. I calmed down when the storm lost power, said Culpepper, who works as an engineer at a nearby chemical plant.

On Monday, Gov. Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration for 29 Texas counties ahead of Betas arrival.

Forecasters ran out of traditional storm names on Friday, forcing the use of the Greek alphabet for only the second time since the 1950s.

Beta is forecast to dump heavy rain on the southwestern corner of Louisiana three weeks after the same area got pounded by Hurricane Laura. The rainfall and storm surge prompted Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards to declare a state of emergency.

In Lake Charles, Mayor Nic Hunter worried that Betas rainfall could set back efforts in his community to recover after Laura, which damaged about 95% of the citys 30,000 structures. Hunter said the worry of another storm was an emotional and mental toll for a lot of our citizens.

Beta would be the ninth named storm to make landfall in the continental U.S. this year. That would tie a record set in 1916, according to Colorado State University hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach.

Parts of the Alabama coast and Florida Panhandle were still reeling from Hurricane Sally, which roared ashore Wednesday, causing at least two deaths. Two Boston-based disaster modeling firms figured Sally caused about $2 billion in privately insured losses from wind and storm surge. Karen Clark & Company estimated losses at $2 billion, while AIR Worldwide said they were between $1 and $3 billion. The estimates dont include uninsured losses, the National Flood Insurance Program claims or damage to offshore property, like oil rigs.

Hurricane Teddy was about 295 miles (475 kilometres) northeast of Bermuda Monday night as it heads toward Nova Scotia. It had maximum sustained winds of 100 mph (160 kph) and was moving north at 25 mph (40 kph) and away from the wealthy British territory, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami. It was expected to weaken and become a strong post-tropical cyclone before reaching Nova Scotia on Wednesday.

The Bermuda government closed all air and sea ports, schools and government offices for the second time in a week. Hurricane Paulette made landfall in Bermuda on Sept. 14, knocking down trees and leaving thousands without power.

___

Associated Press reporters Seth Borenstein in Kensington, Maryland, and Janet McConnaughey and Rebecca Santana in New Orleans contributed to this report.

___

Follow Juan A. Lozano on Twitter: https://twitter.com/juanlozano70
UNCEDED TERRITORIES OF MUSQUEAM, SQUAMISH AND TSLEIL-WAUTUTH NATIONS and VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Sept. 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Most Canadians think the economy is not working the way it should and many say its needs to be changed to better address climate change and the problem of inequality, according to new research released today by Environics Institute and Vancity.



A Better Canada: Values and Priorities after COVID-19 is a comprehensive study of public opinion on Canadians expectations from governments, from corporations and from each other. The survey of more than 3000 Canadians was conducted at the end of August 2020, roughly five months after the COVID-19 pandemic took hold.

Key findings of the report include:

A plurality (44%) of Canadians think the way that our economy works needs to be changed fundamentally. Only five per cent think that the way our economy works is fine the way it is.

works needs to be changed fundamentally. Only five per cent think that the way our economy works is fine the way it is. Three in four (73%) agreeing that the government should reduce the gap between the rich and the poor.

One in three Canadians (32%) say theyve experienced more depression , anxiety or panic attacks as a result of COVID-19, and almost three in ten say theyve had difficulty sleeping.

, anxiety or panic attacks as a result of COVID-19, and almost three in ten say theyve had difficulty sleeping. One in four Canadians (23%) say that they owe a lot more (10%) or a little (13%) more than they can afford in terms of their credit cards and loans (excluding mortgages).

(excluding mortgages). Almost two in three (64%) Canadians say they think of taxes as mostly a positive thing because theyre how we pay for the important things that make our quality of life good, such as health care, education and roads  down 11 points since the question was last asked in 2011.

thing because theyre how we pay for the important things that make our quality of life good, such as health care, education and roads  down 11 points since the question was last asked in 2011. Four in five Canadians (82%) favour the idea that corporations have to be responsible to their employees and communities, and that this is as important as profits.

have to be responsible to their employees and communities, and that this is as important as profits. Four in five (81%)  including 93 per cent of parents with young children  agree that Canada should be a country where affordable and high-quality daycare for young children is available to all parents who need it.

for young children is available to all parents who need it. Four in five (82%) Canadians also agree that Canada should be a country with a social safety net that helps everyone facing difficult economic circumstances.

that helps everyone facing difficult economic circumstances. 69 per cent of Canadians agree that people who are addicted to drugs should be provided with treatment by the public health care system and not treated like criminals.

should be provided with treatment by the public health care system and not treated like criminals. Canadians remain supportive of the countrys universal, publicly-funded health care system, with almost nine in ten (87%) agreeing  including 57 per cent who strongly agree  that Canada should be a country with a public health system that covers everyone, that is fully supported through taxes

with almost nine in ten (87%) agreeing  including 57 per cent who strongly agree  that Canada should be a country with a public health system that covers everyone, that is fully supported through taxes A majority of Canadians think that investing more in clean energy technologies and environmentally friendly businesses can make it possible to combine a faster economic recovery with action on climate change.

businesses can make it possible to combine a faster economic recovery with Albertans are more likely to mention both the environment and the need to diversify the economy as reasons why fundamental change to the economy is needed.

Quote from Christine Bergeron, Interim President and CEO, Vancity:

Rising inequality was a pre-existing condition of the Canadian economy before the pandemic hit but the problem has been laid bare by COVID-19. Our research shows that Canadians want change, and they want action on climate and inequality. Were at a clutch moment in our history as our governments consider how best to recover from the impact of the COVID crisis. We have the opportunity to build the kind of society Canadians want, one that is greener and more just.

Quote from Michael Adams, founder and president, Environics Institute for Survey Research:

This survey finds that Canadians are feeling anxious but also resilient and want to see policies that would better protect those who have borne the brunt of the pandemics impact. And rather than fiscal retrenchment, citizens continue to want public spending that promotes social and environmental justice.

A Better Canada: Values and Priorities after COVID-19 can be found online here.

About Vancity

Vancity is a values-based financial co-operative serving the needs of its more than 543,000 member-owners and their communities, with offices and 60 branches located in Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, Victoria, Squamish and Alert Bay, within the unceded territories of the Coast Salish and Kwakwakawakw people. With $28.2 billion in assets plus assets under administration, Vancity is Canadas largest community credit union. Vancity uses its assets to help improve the financial well-being of its members while at the same time helping to develop healthy communities that are socially, economically and environmentally sustainable.

Tweet us @vancity and connect with us on facebook.com/vancity.

Environics Institute

The Environics Institute for Survey Research was established by Michael Adams in 2006 to promote relevant and original public opinion and social research on important issues of public policy and social change. It is through such research that organizations and individuals can better understand Canada today, how it has been changing, and where it may be heading.

Tweet us at @Environics_Inst and visit us online at www.environicsinstitute.org.

For more information:

Media Relations | Vancity

Nora Eastwood

mediarelations@vancity.com

T: 778-837-0394
Dublin, Sept. 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "AR/VR based Healthcare Digital Marketing Service Providers Market, 2020-2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The AR/VR based Healthcare Digital Marketing Service Providers, 2020-2030' report features an extensive study of the current market landscape and future opportunities associated with the AR/VR based digital marketing industry in the healthcare domain.



The advent of smartphones coupled with the easy accessibility of information on the internet has rendered it crucial for companies to establish a digital presence. As opposed to traditional strategies, digital marketing is not only cost-effective but offers several ancillary benefits, such as targeted outreach and data-driven output.



In fact, a recent study stated that digital advertising is expected to account for around 50% of the overall global advertisement spend by 2021. However, the adoption of digital marketing solutions in the pharmaceutical industry has been stymied owing to various regulatory restrictions; presently, the healthcare industry accounts for only 2% of the US digital ad spend.



Despite this, it is encouraging to note that over 85% of the patients in the US have access to digital and online resources to assist them in making informed healthcare decisions. Further, most of the individuals claim to use healthcare apps to track their diagnosed condition; therefore, a large amount of data is available for studying the trends associated with a particular indication.



In addition, a recent study concluded that physicians are actively using different digital and social media platforms in order to make healthcare-related decisions, such as prescription of a particular drug. The aforementioned factors indicate that there is a growing need for pharma companies to increase their digital presence, through activity on social media and participation in online forums, in order to widen their reach to target the relevant customer segments.



Amongst other elements, the report features:

A review of the current market landscape of companies offering AR/VR based digital marketing services, featuring type of technology (AR, VR, and MR), AR/VR specific services (video/content generation, website development, mobile application development and game development), additional digital marketing services (consulting, content marketing, customer relationship management, data analytics, marketing automation, product branding, quality assurance, SEO, SEM, social media marketing and training), information on the year of establishment, company size and location of headquarters.

An insightful 2X2 representation, highlighting the competitiveness analysis of digital marketing companies, taking into consideration supplier power (based on company size) and service strength (based on strength of service portfolio) of the companies.

Elaborate profiles of prominent digital marketing companies, featuring a brief overview of the company, its financial information (if available), recent developments, and an informed future outlook.

An analysis highlighting the potential strategic partners segregated on the basis of their likelihood of entering into a collaboration with digital marketing companies. The analysis takes into consideration multiple relevant parameters, such as number of trials, therapeutic area, geographical footprint, and company size.

An analysis of various AR/VR based digital marketing initiatives of big pharma players (shortlisted based on the extent of activity in this domain), based on multiple parameters, such as the year of initiative, type of initiative, type of application area and type of solution. In addition, leading players and leading partners have been highlighted based on the number of initiatives.

A case study on recent use cases, wherein various digital marketing strategies have been adopted by pharmaceutical/healthcare players, highlighting different business needs of such players and key takeaways of the solutions provided by the digital marketing companies.

One of the key objectives of the report was to understand the primary growth drivers and estimate the future opportunity within the market. Based on several parameters, such as digital marketing spend within the pharma industry, the extent of adoption of AR/VR technologies and expected annual growth rate, we have provided an informed estimate of the likely evolution of the market, in the mid to long term, for the period 2020-2030.

Key Topics Covered:



1. PREFACE

1.1. Scope of the Report

1.2. Research Methodology

1.3. Chapter Outlines



2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY



3. INTRODUCTION

3.1. Chapter Overview

3.2. Key Challenges in Pharmaceutical Marketing

3.2.1. Need for Product Differentiation

3.2.2. Growing Demand for Patient Centric Healthcare

3.2.3. Lack of Standard Performance Metrics

3.2.4. Need for Scientific Communication

3.3. Importance of Digital Marketing

3.4. Popular Digital Marketing Strategies

3.4.1. Social Media Marketing

3.4.2. Content Marketing Strategy

3.4.3. Marketing Automation

3.4.4. Search Engine Optimization and Marketing

3.4.5. Artificial Intelligence based Marketing

3.5. Use of Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality (AR/VR) in Pharmaceutical Digital Marketing

3.6. Growth Constraints in AR/VR Industry

3.7. Future Perspectives



4. AR/VR BASED HEALTHCARE DIGITAL MARKETING COMPANIES: CURRENT MARKET LANDSCAPE

4.1. Chapter Overview

4.2. Digital Marketing in Pharmaceutical Industry: Overall Market

4.2.1. Analysis by Type of Technology

4.2.2. Analysis by AR/VR based Services Offered

4.2.3. Analysis by Type of Digital Marketing Services Offered

4.2.4. Analysis by Secondary Marketing Services Offered

4.2.5. Analysis by Year of Establishment

4.2.6. Analysis by Company Size

4.2.7. Analysis by Geographical Location



5. COMPANY COMPETITIVENESS ANALYSIS

5.1. Chapter Overview

5.2. Methodology and Key Parameters

5.2.1. Competitiveness Analysis: AR/VR based Digital Marketing Service Providers based in North America

5.2.2. Competitiveness Analysis: AR/VR based Digital Marketing Service Providers based in Europe

5.2.3. Competitiveness Analysis: AR/VR based Digital Marketing Service Providers based in Asia-Pacific



6. COMPANY PROFILES

6.1. Chapter Overview

6.2. ARworks

6.2.1. Company Overview

6.2.2. Recent Developments and Future Outlook

6.3. CG Life

6.4. CubeZoo

6. 5. Impact XM

6.6. INVIVO Communications

6.7. Mindgrub

6.8. Mirum

6.9. PIXACORE

6.10. Quast Media

6.11. Random42

6.12. Tipping Point Media

6.13. vStream



7. POTENTIAL STRATEGIC PARTNERS

7.1. Chapter Overview

7.2. Scope and Methodology

7.3. Potential Strategic Partners for Digital Marketing Companies

7.3.1. Most Likely Partners

7.3.2. Likely Partners

7.3.3. Less Likely Partners

7.3.4. Least Likely Partners



8. DIGITAL MARKETING RELATED INITIATIVES OF BIG PHARMA PLAYERS

8.1. Chapter Overview

8.1.1. Analysis by Year

8.1.2. Analysis by Type of Initiative

8.1.3. Analysis by Type of Application Area

8.1.4. Analysis by Type of Solution

8.1.5. Leading Players: Analysis by Number of Initiatives

8.1.6. Leading Partners: Analysis by Number of Initiatives



9. CASE STUDY

9.1. Chapter Overview

9.2. Narola Infotech for Zocular

9.2.1. Narola Infotech

9.2.2. Zocular

9.2.3. Business Needs

9.2.4. Objectives Achieved and Solutions Provided

9.3. Viscira for Actelion

9.4. SoftCover VR for LifeLabs

9.5. Virtual Reality Ireland for MISA

9.6. ViitorCloud for vCura

9.7. Kwebmaker for Lilavati Hospital

9.8. Intermind for My Health Meter

9.9. VR Vision for Providence Healthcare

9.10. CitrusBits for Zoetis



10. MARKET FORECAST

10.1. Chapter Overview

10.2. Forecast Methodology and Key Assumptions

10.3. Overall AR/VR based Digital Marketing Opportunity in Healthcare Industry, 2020-2030

10.4. AR/VR based Digital Marketing Opportunity in Healthcare Industry: Distribution by Type of Technology, 2020 and 2030

10.5. AR/VR based Digital Marketing Opportunity in Healthcare Industry: Distribution by Product, 2020 and 2030

10.6. AR/VR based Digital Marketing Opportunity in Healthcare Industry: Distribution by End-User, 2020 and 2030

10.7. AR/VR based Digital Marketing Opportunity in Healthcare Industry: Distribution by Key Geographical Regions, 2020 and 2030



11. EXECUTIVE INSIGHTS

11.1. Chapter Overview

11.2. Unanimity Information & Technology

11.2.1. Interview Transcript: Pritam Sahu, Director, Unanimity Information & Technology

11.3. Kwebmaker

11.3.1. Interview Transcript: Dhananjay Arora, Founder, and CEO, Kwebmaker



12. CONCLUSION



13. APPENDIX 1: TABULATED DATA

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/4pibz8

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





By Ayya Lmahamad

President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva familiarized themselves with the new ambulances delivered to the country by the State Agency for Compulsory Medical Insurance, Azertag reported on September 11.

This was the second batch of ambulances delivered to the country. The first part of ambulances was delivered in July.

The ambulances are equipped with both ordinary and intensive care facilities. The level of ambulance equipment allows patients to get all necessary first, emergency and resuscitation medical aid.

Moreover, the ambulances have a number of unique features. In particular, those ambulances built on the basis of Mercedes Sprinter 416 differ from other ambulances in terms of equipment and the range of medical care provided. The vans have several stretchers  the main stretcher, multifunctional stretcher (without steps), scoop stretcher, spinal stretcher, vacuum stretcher and pump, tent, inflatable, traction and vacuum tire sets, defibrillator, portable ventilator, inhaler, electrocardiogram, intensive care set, etc.

Likewise, the ambulances are equipped with a stretcher and a mattress, suction equipment, oxygen cylinders, etc.

It should be noted that Azerbaijan is one of the most effective countries in the fight over COVID-19. Currently, 46 hospitals serve patients with coronavirus in the country. During the pandemic, the number of laboratories was increased from 6 to 45. There are 11 modular hospitals and two infirmaries. In addition, the number of tests conducted in the country has exceeded one million.








Billed as New Voices New Rooms, the massive, combined regional fall conference of the New Atlantic Booksellers Association and Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance kicked off on September 21 with an emphasis on childrens books that promised to carry well into the week of workshops, readings, and panels.

Setting the Tone

Author Tami Charles and four-time Caldecott Honoree Bryan Collier set the tone at an opening event in which they discussed Charless forthcoming picture book All Because You Matter (Orchard, Oct.), which was illustrated by Collier. Charles described the book as a love letter to her son Christopher, and it follows a character modeled after him throughout history, showing the powerful heritage of Black and brown people throughout history.

Speaking directly to booksellers about the books release in the time of Black Lives Matter, Charles said, I ask that you take the time to really think about the theme of the book, the legacy, and the people from which our children come from. Will you normalize conversations about these important topics and truly for those who need it most?

Now more than ever, she said, we need to remind our children of all the ways in which they matter.

Collier offered unreserved praise for Charles, with whom he collaborated closely on the book, breaking with a publishing tradition that frequently keeps authors and illustrators apart in order to respect their independent contributions.

When I got the book All Because You Matter, I tasted the words, Collier said, describing the manuscript as an awakening. Collier invited Charles and her son, Christopher, to New York and took photos at a local library, which he then used to create the watercolor and collage drawings that reflect the influence of his grandmothers quiltwork.

Im so honored and so proud to be telling this story because that boy is me, Collier said. He began working on the book with Charles two years ago, before the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement. This showed up at the right time, he said. This is prophetic. You couldnt have timed this if you tried.

I thought it was outstanding, said NAIBA board president Bill Reilly, co-owner of A Rivers End Bookstore in Oswego, N.Y. It was so incredibly personal and powerful, and very much in line with our tradition. That tradition at NAIBA's conferences is one of celebrating childrens and YA authors with social messages, including honors for Elizabeth Acevedo at the outset of her career and Jewell Parker Rhodes for her lifetime achievements.

Editors Abuzz

The childrens editors buzz panel made it plain the importance publishers are placing on showcasing books by Black and BIPOC authors. Five editors were given the opportunity to talk about a handful of titles.

Denene Millner spoke about her new, eponymous imprint at Simon & Schuster, which she said was established to celebrate the everyday humanity of black children. To illustrate her point she highlighted the book Me & Mama by Cozbi A. Cabrera (Aug.), a picture book about a child comparing her life to that of her mother. In one vignette the child breaks her mothers teacup, but instead of disciplining her, the mother reacts mildly. The stereotype is that Black moms are stern disciplinarians. This book acknowledges that sometimes things break,  said Millner. She also gave time to discussing If Dominican Were a Color by Sili Recio, illustrated by Brianna McCarthy (Sept.), which celebrates the variety of races from the Dominican Republic; and Wings of Ebony by J. Elle (February), about a girl from Houston who discovers her Godly ancestry.

Phoebe Yeh, v-p and co-publisher of Crown Books for Young Readers, gave a strong pitch for Chlorine Sky by Mahogany L. Brown (Jan. 2021), a novel-in-verse about a girl coming of age. Yeh enthused about working with the debut novelist and said she was amazed when, after receiving an edit, Brown picked up a pencil and rewrote a passage on the spot. It is the first time in my 30 years in publishing that I saw that happen, said Yeh.

Another novel-in-verse, Simon B. Rhymin by Dwayne Reed (Mar.) was the pick of Little, Brown Books for Young Readers editor Samantha Gentry, who offered a rhyming riff on Reeds appeal. His video Welcome to the 4th Grade on YouTube has been viewed almost two million times and he has collaborated with celebrities like Chance the Rapper, been on Good Morning America, and is a highly sought after public speaker, said Gentry. Laekan Zea Kemps Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet (Apr.) is about a young woman navigating the expectations of her Chicanx family, and My Last Summer with Cass by Mark Crilley (Mar.), the graphic novelists first work for young adults, tackles the relationship between two artists and friends as they spend a fateful summer in New York.

Among the titles promoted by Kristin Rens, executive editor of Balzer + Bray, were a pair of nonfiction books: Maryams Magic: The Story of Mathematician Maryam Mirzakhani by Megan Reid and illustrated by Aaliya Jaleel (Dec.), an illustrated biography of the Fields Medal-winning Iranian mathematician who died young of cancer, and In the Shadow of the Moon: America, Russia, and the Hidden History of the Space Race (Feb. 2021) by Amy Cherrix, who is the childrens book buyer at Malaprops Bookstore in Asheville, N.C.. But Rens reserved her greatest enthusiasm for Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston (Dec.), a book that she described as having prompted a fierce bidding war and has been sold to 24 territories around the world, plus has already been optioned for film. It is not only a pitch-perfect middle grade fantasy, but utterly now, said Rens of the book.

Time for Stories

Philipp Goedicke, a bookseller at Brooklyns Community Bookstore, hosted a storytime with picture book authors Matt Phelan (Turtle Walk, Harper, Oct.), Micol Ostow (Sullivan, Who Is Always Too Loud, Roaring Brook, Oct.), Yesenia Moises (Stellas Stellar Hair, Macmillan/Imprint, Jan.), and Susan Verde (I Am One: A Book of Action, Abrams, Sept.), illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds.

In conversation with Goedicke, Verde summed up the theme of her book in terms that were resonant for the conference as a whole: We are capable of making change of doing beautiful things in the world even with the smallest gesture.
Bernice Hines Corbit works with volunteers for the Berks County Democratic Committee, going door-to-door to register voters last week in Reading. Read more

READING  Ninety minutes northwest of Philadelphia on a Saturday this month, Democrats and Republicans in Berks County were fishing for support in distinctly different ways.

The countys Democratic Party went old-school in Reading, calling a group of about 40 volunteers to Centre Park and then sending them out with campaign literature in support of Joe Bidens presidential campaign. Each knock on a door was a single line in the electoral waters.

Ten miles to the west in Sinking Spring that same day, the countys Republican Party was using a big-net approach. Volunteers stood along Route 422 holding signs luring drivers into a parking lot with the promise of a free yard sign in support of President Donald Trump. The party gave away 175 signs in two hours while collecting contact information for future voter outreach.

Clay Breece, the local Republican chair, said Trump creates a political energy completely different from previous presidential nominees like Mitt Romney, John McCain, or Bob Dole. The party is tapping into that.

We basically latch on to the Trump fever phenomenon," Breece said. We stay connected with them. Theyre potential volunteers, potential donors and potential candidates.

Trump won the county by 10 percentage points in 2016, four years after President Barack Obama lost the county by 1 point while winning a second term. Obama won Berks County by 9 points in 2008.

Breece called Berks County a harbinger for the state.

State Sen. Judy Schwank, a Democrat who represents Reading and eastern Berks County, called it a microcosm of the state  deeply liberal urban areas like Reading grow more conservative in waves out in the suburbs, exurbs, and rural areas like Maxatawny, Oley and Rockland Townships.

Its also the reddest county covered by the Philadelphia media market, having so far defied the blue wave that turned onetime Republican strongholds in Philadelphias four collar counties into mostly safe Democratic territory.

 READ MORE: Disgusted voters in the Philly suburbs could help Biden offset Trumps gains in Pennsylvania

Kevin Boughter, the Berks Democratic chairman, is considering the lessons of 2016 in hope of changing course this year. Boughter recalled laughing four years ago when he heard that Trump had won the Republican primary straw poll at the Oley Valley Community Fair.

The things he was saying were, in my opinion, out there," Boughter said. "It was crazy stuff. But sure enough, there were enough people in Berks County who bought into it.

Hillary Clintons campaign, Boughter added, didnt pay enough attention to Berks County. The Democratic nominee didnt visit during that campaign.

The Obama campaign put together a heck of a campaign, he recalled. The enthusiasm and excitement for him in Berks County was off the charts.

Democrats outnumber Republicans in Berks County, 44% to 40%, with 16% registered as independents or with other parties. But Democrats have lost almost 4,700 net voters since 2016, while Republicans have picked up almost 4,000  a registration swing that matches whats been happening in urban and suburban areas vs. exurban and rural areas across the state.

Reading remains a Democratic stronghold, though some party officials are wary of potentially soft support for Biden among Latino voters, as seen in some other states and in some public opinion polls. Almost 67% of Readings population is Latino.

But Republicans control the county government. Boughter said thats because we have a hard time getting the community in Reading to vote.

A lot of that has to do with the Latino community feeling left out, he said. And thats kind of what were trying to focus on this year.

Eddie Moran, Readings first Latino mayor, spent last weekend talking to business owners on behalf of the Biden campaign. Moran said volunteers on Saturday knocked on more than 1,000 doors, in a dense population that has not normally come out to vote. He noted that Reading has the highest concentration of Latino residents of any municipality in the state.

"The numbers will show Latinos are becoming more and more politically involved, Moran said. At the same time, the numbers in the past havent always shown or reflected that in the electoral vote.

Moran cast the growing interest as a response to Trumps actions in office.

People realize things cannot keep going on this way, he said. We have been adversely affected by the current presidents politically and racially divisive policies and comments."

The local Democratic Party has hired two Latino contractors for community outreach  talking to voters in Spanish and encouraging local bodegas to put Biden signs in their windows. Boughter thinks Black and Latina women are behind Biden, but he worries Latino men will skip the election.

Donna Reed, a Democrat, has served five terms on Reading City Council, representing the north side of the city, where about 70% of the population is Latino. She agreed that Bidens support appears soft there. Women generally get more involved in the political process than men do, said Reed, a former reporter for the Reading Eagle.

 READ MORE: How naked ballots in Pennsylvania could cost Joe Biden the election

Schwank, who is seeking another Senate term in November, greeted volunteers at Centre Park. She said she sees many Trump signs in her district, but is now starting to see Biden signs, too. Shes still not sure which candidate will win the county.

Theres a lot more motivation among Democrats this year, she said. Back when Obama was running, it was all about hope and energy. This time the energy is on desperation. Weve got to make this happen."

Breece is eager to poach Democratic voters, even if they dont leave the party.

Trump fever is the phenomenon happening right now that is producing a political reality that no ones ever seen before, Breece said. Youve got Democrats that are switching parties. We know that. But for every one Democrat who switches parties, youve got six or 10 others who will vote for Trump but wont switch parties.

Several Republicans joined the sign giveaway, courting voters as they left. Annette Baker, the Republican challenging Schwank, doesnt agree with her opponent on much. But she used the same word  microcosm  to describe Berks Countys political geography as a mini-Pennsylvania.

When we listened to Donald Trump, we felt like we were being heard for the first time in a really long time, Baker said. And thats what appeals to a lot of folks, particularly in Berks County.

The Republican sign giveaway events offer a chance to register to vote or change parties. Breece said just 10% of the people who show up are not already registered. Asked if he encounters undecided voters who need persuasion, Breece said, Not many.

He found one in Kelly Meck, who stopped for a yard sign for her father but wasnt sure about voting in November.

My dad is a huge Trump supporter and he was just recently in the hospital so I figured Id do him a favor, said Meck, who voted for Trump in 2016 but doesnt agree with some of the things the president says or does. Ill probably make up my mind [on Election Day.] Im definitely not voting for Biden, I can tell you that. Its either Ill vote for Trump or not at all.

T.J. Flowers and his girlfriend, Stephanie Affeldt, stopped for signs on their way to a nearby grocery store. Flowers said he supports Trump because of his policies on gun rights and small businesses. The couple said they see more Trump signs than Biden signs in their Wyomissing neighborhood.

I like how he handles stuff, Affeldt said. Hes for the Americans.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 12:08:29|Editor: huaxia

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Workers clean Ciliwung river after floods in Jakarta, Indonesia, Sept. 22, 2020. Floods and landslides have struck Indonesia's capital of Jakarta and its surrounding areas, leaving two people dead, one missing and 20 others injured, officials said on Tuesday. (Photo by Arya Manggala/Xinhua)

JAKARTA, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Floods and landslides have struck Indonesia's capital of Jakarta and its surrounding areas, leaving two people dead, one missing and 20 others injured, officials said on Tuesday.

A river overflowed its banks due to torrential rains since Monday, and submerged surrounding areas in the capital which has recently been under partial COVID-19 lockdown again, spokesman of National Disaster Management Agency Raditya Jati said.

In West Java province's Sukabumi district, flash floods killed two people with one remaining missing, and the search mission is underway, said Ramli Prasetio, press officer of the Jakarta Search and Rescue Office.

"Today (Tuesday) two corpses were retrieved. So that the rescuers only search for one missing person," Prasetio told Xinhua via phone.

Hundreds of rescuers have been taking part in the search and rescue operation, including soldiers, police and those from the Jakarta search and rescue office, among others, he said.

The weather conditions have been favorable for the operation, according to him.

Many residents have taken shelter to their relatives under their own initiatives, he said.

In Jakarta, Prasetio said that the floods did not cause any casualty.

Jati said that the floods in the capital forced 15 persons to flee home and take shelter in safer grounds, but in Sukabumi district 210 families took shelter after flash floods and landslides hit the area.

The disaster left 20 people injured and seriously damaged nine houses, 10 bridges in the district, the spokesman told Xinhua in a text message.

A warning has been put in place by the meteorology and geophysics agency over the possibility of extreme weather on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Residents are cautioned to be alert on the possibility of further floods, flash floods and landslides as well as whirlwinds, the agency said. Enditem
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A manager in San Franciscos human resources department resigned this month after admitting to forging a fake settlement agreement for a city employee who had complained of discrimination, city officials said.

The city is now investigating Rebecca Sherman, a manager who oversaw complaints about workplace discrimination.

Officials are auditing all cases she has handled or overseen, San Franciscos human resources director Micki Callahan wrote in an email to the citys Black Employee Alliance and Coalition Against Anti-Blackness that was reviewed by The Chronicle.

Callahan said Sherman admitted lying to the employee who filed the discrimination complaint. The employee, who was not named in Callahans email, worked for the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency.

Callahan claims Sherman told the employee that her closed case had been reopened, and told the employee that the city would pay out a financial settlement and promote her, none of which was true.

Sherman also admitted to deleting records of the case in the human resources departments database, forging three names on a fake settlement agreement. Callahan said Sherman also admitted to forging emails and text messages sent to the employee, purportedly from the departmental payroll director, promising a settlement would soon be on the way.

Sherman worked at the citys human resources department since May 2015, and was promoted to manager in April 2018. She did not respond to requests for comment.

Ms. Shermans lies are unethical, unacceptable, and hurtful to the employee caught in the middle of them, Callahan wrote. Her actions have also shaken the trust that employees and members of the public put in their government.

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.

All settlements of pending litigation involving the SFMTA must be approved by the SFMTAs board of directors.

Shermans promises caused the employee to dismiss pending litigation she had filed over the complaint, Callahan said.

While the City Attorneys Office will work with the employee to reinstate the lawsuit, that cannot undo the impact of this deceit on the employee who filed a claim in good faith and had every reason to believe that complaint was being resolved, Callahan wrote.

Michael Williams is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: michael.Williams@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @michaeldamianw
Climate campaigners unveiled a huge countdown clock on Saturday, showing how little time is left before global temperatures hit a critical high, to kick off a week of climate action in New York.

The digital installation shows seven years and 102 days remain before average global temperatures, at current emission rates, reach 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

Theres good news. That number isnt zero, said Gan Golan, an artist and activist who co-created the display.

We can meet this challenge, but we dont have any time to lose, he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

The United Nations has warned of huge global changes, such as the loss of coral reefs and Arctic sea ice, if the 1.5 degree threshold is crossed.

Countries in the 2015 Paris Agreement agreed on measures to limit emissions to stay below the critical temperature mark.

The clocks installation will take over what is known as the Metronome, where 15 spinning LED digits tell the time of day and the time remaining in a day, down to a hundredth of a second.

It is set in the side of a glass building overlooking Union Square.

The Climate Clock will run for the length of Climate Week, an international summit run by the non-profit Climate Group, with the city of New York and the United Nations, with panel discussions, film showings and performances on global warming, many of them virtual due to the coronavirus pandemic.

A monumental challenge needs a monument, and the Climate Clock could serve as this constant, public reminder in the media and cultural capital of the globe of that shared deadline, said Daniel Zarrilli, New York Citys chief climate policy advisor.

The unveiling comes as the United States has faced unprecedented wildfires and hurricanes, events of particularly ferocious and destructive weather that scientists say are linked to global warming.

Dozens of wildfires have raged across the Pacific Northwest, scorching more than 4.5 million acres (1.8 million hectares) and killing several dozen people.

Hurricane Sally hit the U.S. Gulf Coast on Wednesday, the eighth storm of tropical or hurricane strength so far this year.

The extreme weather underscores the need to focus attention on climate change immediately, said Andrew Boyd, also a co-creator of the Climate Clock.

This clock is not saying Hey in seven years we get to wake up and start to do something, said Boyd.

Its about taking action right now. Climate change is already here.

The artists said they were in talks with officials in Berlin and in Geneva about similar clock installations.

Last year, Golan and Boyd said they created a handheld version of the clock for teen climate-change activist Greta Thunberg before she made a speech to world leaders at the U.N.
New Delhi: Media reports that a woman in Uttar Pradesh received Rs 10 crore in her bank account fell flat after Zee News probed it. The reports doing rounds on social media stated that a woman named Saroj in Ballia district of Uttar Pradesh had received Rs 10 crore in her Allahabad Bank account, after which she had lodged a complaint with the Police.

Zee News didn't jump the gun and found out that it was actually a fraudulent transaction of Rs 17 lakh that was reflected in Saroj's bank account.

Saroj had then gone to the bank officials to know about her bank balance after which the bank employees had informed her that the account has been restricted to a maximum transaction of Rs 10 crore, which she misheard and thought she has Rs 10 crore in her account.

She then filed a complaint with the police and the probe in the case began. Saroj who hails from the Rukunpura village in Bansdih said that she had been told by the bank employees that she has Rs 10 crore in her account and that she has no information about that money.

In the complaint, Saroj said that she had given her bank account details and ATM card to a man named Neelesh Kumar from Kanpur in 2018, who had told her that he will credit some amount of money in her account.

Further investigation by police revealed that the transaction that reflected in Saroj's bank account was an illegal transaction.

The incident goes back to February 2020, when the Faridabad Police had received a complaint about an illegal transaction. The investigation later revealed that the fraudulent money was credited to Saroj's account.

Subsequently, the Faridabad Police had directed Allahabad Bank to hold her account, after which the bank had restricted her account's maximum transaction to Rs 10 crore.

The bank told Zee News that her account was opened in 2018 which currently has Rs 5,000 and so far there has been a total transaction of Rs 17 lakh. The bank further said that it had restricted her account to Rs 10 crore, and she might have misheard that she has Rs 10 crore in her account.

So, the media reports claiming that the woman received Rs 10 crore in her account is completely false.
Courts in Peel Region are tackling a COVID-induced backlog of cases by housing trials and jury selection offsite and by allowing prosecutors some discretion on easing detention for people facing charges.

The Ministry of the Attorney General says its now up to prosecutors to determine on a case-by-case basis when charges can be stayed or jail time reduced, something criminal lawyers have seen prosecutors making a concerted effort to do since the outbreak.

COVID-19 is no get out-of-jail-free card for accused seeking to have their charges stayed on the grounds that there as been an unreasonable delay, said Daniel Brown, vice-president of the Criminal Lawyers Association (CLA).

The idea that cases are being dismissed because of concerns over delays, thats not happening in any jurisdiction, Brown said.

I dont get the feeling that any lawyer is going to bring a delay application solely on the basis that their case was delayed during COVID, Brown said.

He said those kinds of exceptional circumstances are woven into the language around a persons right to a fair trial within a reasonable amount of time.

Everyone accepts that the pandemic is one of these acts of nature that becomes a factor in the delay analysis, he said.

That does not excuse the judiciary from being challenged for situations where it did not take all steps to adapt, such as offering virtual trials and establishing alternative venues. For example, Peel has been looking at options like conference halls and convention centres to ensure trials are dealt with and the backlog doesnt become unwieldy, he said.

He said the prosecution has taken a more relaxed approach to easing the detention of the accused in some circumstances where time already served exceeds potential penalties for that offence.

Maher Abdurahman, a spokesperson for the attorney generals ministy, said the system has scrambled to find ways of delivering justice remotely and online.

Prosecutors were also given a manual of COVID-19 recovery directives aimed at minimizing delays caused by the pandemic, Abdurahman said. Those include screening of certain charges and guidance around being sympathetic to the impact of the outbreak on accused persons, victims and witnesses.

Abdurahman said the manual is another tool used to provide support and guidance to Crowns on the exercise of their discretion.

He said the ministry cannot speculate or provide a definitive number on how many cases or charges have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Brown said hes more concerned about how kicking some cases farther down the road could create a pileup of delays a year or two from now.

Barriers to services such as legal aid for low-income people increase the risk of them falling through the cracks because of roadblocks to an already diminished legal aid safety net.

In the last six months, the duty counsel (lawyer provided for people without one) has essentially vanished, Brown said.

Without duty counsel being available in-person to advise unrepresented accused about routine daily court matters, a lot of people are just completely lost now, Brown said.

Jason Miller is a Toronto-based reporter for the Star covering crime and justice in the Peel Region. His reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative. Reach him on email: jasonmiller@thestar.ca or follow him on Twitter: @millermotionpic

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I mean Im embarrassed. When I think about what my grandparents would think of what were doing, he said. We were a nation of fighters. What do we become? Are we just going to give up? We can go back to school. Everyone else is.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) speaks to reporters after the Senate Republican luncheon on Capitol Hill in Washington on Sept. 9 2020. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

McConnell Expects Harsh Supreme Court Fight to Replace Ginsburg

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Tuesday that even though the GOP appears to have the votes to confirm a new Supreme Court justice, the fight is far from over.

McConnell (R-Ky.) spoke after obtaining the support of Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) to hold a pre-election vote.

Two years ago, a radical movement tried to use unproven accusations to ruin a mans life because they could not win a vote fair and square, McConnell said on the Senate floor, referring to the contested confirmation process for former Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Now they appear to be readying an even more appalling sequel. This time, the target will not just be the presumption of innocence for one American, but our very governing institutions themselves.

Kavanaugh was confronted with allegations during his confirmation proceedings that he sexually harassed women decades ago when he was in high school and college, which he denied. Republicans, including President Donald Trump, said the accusations lacked evidence and were suspiciously timed.

Trump on Monday said he is considering a woman judge to replace liberal icon Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died on Sept. 18 of complications from cancer. The president will announce his choice on Saturday at the White House, he wrote on Twitter Tuesday.

After Trump and McConnell signaled their intention to nominate a new justice, some Democratic officials said they would try to increase the number of Supreme Court justices if they reclaim the White House and Senate. Meanwhile, some leftist activists and celebrities suggested there would be violence if there are attempts to nominate a new justice.

Senate Minority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, on Sept. 10, 2020. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

The American people are about to witness an astonishing parade of misrepresentations about the past, misstatements about the present, and more threats against our institutions from the same people, the same people who have already been saying for monthswell before thisalready been saying for months they want to pack the court, McConnell said on the Senate floor.

McConnell also noted that his Democrat rival in the Senate, Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), made a speech earlier this year on the steps of the Supreme Court and appeared to threaten Justice Kavanaugh and Justice Neil Gorsuch, another Trump nominee, saying they will pay the price and you wont know what hit you if you go forward with these awful decisions with regard to an abortion rights case.

There will be time to discuss why senators who appear on the steps of the Supreme Court and personally threaten associate judges if they did not rule a certain way are ill-equipped to give lectures on civics, McConnell said.

On Monday, Schumer said Republicans have no right to name a new justice just weeks ahead of the elections in November.

By all rights, by every modicum of decency and honor, Leader McConnell and the Republican Senate majority have no right to fill it, no right, Schumer said, adding that GOP senators should adhere to Ginsburgs alleged dying wish to her granddaughter that her most fervent wish was that she shouldnt be replaced until a new president is installed.

Schumer then warned that Republicans move to nominate a judge will push the upper chamber down a dangerous path.

I worry for the future of this chamber if the Republican majority proceeds down this dangerous path. If a Senate majority over the course of six years steals two Supreme Court seats using completely contradictory rationales, how could we expect to trust the other side again? he asked.

If, when push comes to shove, when the stakes are the highest, the other side will double-cross their own standards when its politically advantageous, tell me how this would not spell the end of this supposedly great deliberative body, because I dont see how, Schumer continued.

The Democrats have contended that in 2016, the Republican-held Senate blocked President Barack Obamas nomination of Merrick Garland to replace Justice Antonin Scalia, who died that year.

But on Monday, McConnell repeated his own comments from February 2016: The Senate has not filled a vacancy arising in an election year when there was a divided government since 1888, almost 130 years ago, meaning a Senate controlled by the party opposite to that of the president has not replaced a Supreme Court seat in a presidential election year for nearly 130 years.
GATINEAU, QC, Sept. 21, 2020 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada is committed to ensuring Canadians stay safe and healthy during the pandemic. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) has been working with suppliers in Canada and internationally to aggressively purchase much-needed personal protective equipment and medical supplies to meet Canada's urgent needs as quickly as possible.

The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Public Services and Procurement, today announced that the Government of Canada signed contracts with 7 Indigenous companies that participated in a process limited to businesses led or owned by Indigenous individuals. These contracts, worth approximately $2.5 million in total, will provide 15 million disposable masks for the Essential Services Contingency Reserve (ESCR).

As the country gradually restarts the economy, essential services organizations that experience short-term gaps in their personal protective equipment and supplies can apply for the ESCR to avoid disruptions in services to citizens.

While Indigenous businesses have been part of the response from the outset of the pandemic, PSPC is encouraging a greater presence of Indigenous businesses and individuals in its supplier base.

Quotes

"Together with my department, we have been working to increase access to procurement opportunities for Indigenous businesses. These contracts will not only help protect Canadians by providing them with disposable masks, but also increase Indigenous participation in federal procurement."

The Honourable Anita Anand

Minister of Public Services and Procurement

Quick facts

As part of Canada's plan to ensure a safe restart of the economy, PSPC launched a Request for Proposals to solicit interest strictly from Indigenous businesses to provide disposable masks.





plan to ensure a safe restart of the economy, PSPC launched a Request for Proposals to solicit interest strictly from Indigenous businesses to provide disposable masks. The department received 233 proposals and awarded 7 contracts to the following companies:

Kingaunmiut Services Ltd., from Kelowna, British Columbia



Akkada Professional Services Inc. & Zernam Enterprise Inc. in joint venture, from Ottawa, Ontario



Animal Marketing Inc., from Vancouver, British Columbia



Integral Containment Systems, from Edmonton, Alberta



Guardian Safety Training, from Trenton, Ontario



Dreamline Canada, from Fort McMurray, Alberta



MiNi TiPi, from Gatineau, Quebec





Additional contracts resulting from this Request for Proposals may be awarded in the near future. Winning bids were selected first on lowest price, followed by technical evaluation. This was deemed the fairest and most transparent approach given the volume of the bids.





Approximately $68.5 million in contracts have been awarded to Indigenous businesses to date for requirements related to COVID-19.





in contracts have been awarded to Indigenous businesses to date for requirements related to COVID-19. In line with the Government of Canada's socio-economic objectives and its COVID-19 long-term procurement strategy, PSPC will continue to foster the participation of Indigenous businesses in its procurement processes.

Associated links

Supplying Canada's response to COVID-19

Essential Services Contingency Reserve

Supplying goods and services in support of Canada's response to COVID-19

Indigenous-owned company delivering essential goods to help all Canadians

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SOURCE Public Services and Procurement Canada

For further information: Cecely Roy, Press Secretary, Office of the Honourable Anita Anand, 343-549-7293, [email protected]; Media Relations, Public Services and Procurement Canada, 819-420-5501, [email protected]

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Eva Longoria Baston opened the virtual Democratic National Convention back in August as she has repeatedly been an outspoken political activist for years.

On Monday the Desperate Housewives actress, 45, proved that she takes no days off, as she continued her activism with a gym selfie.

The Latina beauty showed off her killer abs in a matching blue spandex set as she prepared for her week of work ahead and urged her 8M Instagram followers to vote.

Ripped and ready: Actress and Latina activist, Eva Longoria, 45, was back to the gym as she showed off her killer abs in a blue spandex set. The beauty got in a sweat session before telling her Instagram followers to register to vote

In the selfie Eva smiled in her mirror as she wore a two toned blue workout set with grey mesh detailing on the sides.

The Texas born actress popped her toned leg with her hand on her hip, showing off every inch of her muscle tone as she flashed a fresh pair of matching blue sneakers.

She wore her hair up in a loose ponytail and flashed a makeupless face as she looked ready to take on the world.

Eva captioned the photo 'Heres to a great week ahead! Dont forget to register to VOTE!'

Vote: Eva co-founded a digital lifestyle community for the 'modern Latina' with fellow hispanic actress America Ferrera

Eva made sure to get in a good workout after a day of continued activism, as the 'She Se Puede' founder appeared on a live instagram with Oprah magazine earlier in the day.

The digital lifestyle community was founded in part by actress America Ferrera, 36, as the two women wanted to create a platform for the 'modern Latina'.

The movement aims to engage Latino voters ahead of the 2020 election by empowering them to have consistent civil discourse about the world and the future.

Hours later Baston continued to hit the message home, posting another snap of her in a 'vote' mask as she flashed a peace sign for the camera.

She se puede: Latina actresses Eva and America founded the digital initiative 'She Se Puede' to create a space for modern Latina women to empower themselves and others around them

The mother of one has been hugely vocal about the importance of the Latinx vote in the upcoming election, hosting a series of live conversations on social media and urging her followers to get involved and make their voices heard.

Speaking to her followers, the timeless beauty said 'Im voting for my son, for my Latino Community, for women everywhere, and for our planet!!'

When Eva is not busy being a supermom and an outspoken activist, the multi-talented star dotes on her adorable two-year-old son, Santiago, who she shares with husband of four years, Jose Baston, 52.

Santiago: Eva is the mother to two-year-old son Santiago. He is the first and only son for Eva and the fifth for her husband Jose Baston

The Mexican businessman met his A-list bride in 2013 after they were set up by mutual friends though it did not immediately click.

'I was getting out of a bad relationship, and he was getting out of a relationship, so there wasnt a connection' she told People.

Eva had previously broken it off after dating on-again-off-again beau Eduardo Cruz, brother of actress Penelope Cruz.

The same friend must have had a good feeling because she re-introduced the pair about six months later and sparks flew.

Family: Eva and Jose were first introduced in 2013, though the initial conversation did not go anywhere as they were both getting out of relationships; pictured with son Santiago in Cannes May, 2019

'It was like the cliche angels singing and there was a glow around him and it was immediate chemistry' the actress gushed.

He eventually proposed in December 2015 while on a romantic trip to Dubai and the pair wed the following year in Mexico.

The pair gave birth to their son Santiago in 2017 and have been in parental bliss every since.

Before the pandemic Eva was greenlit to develop a Latina-centered television drama with Universal called Tias.
LONDON, ENGLANDLawyers for a British newspaper publisher thats being sued for invasion of privacy by the Duchess of Sussex argued Monday that she made personal information public by co-operating with the authors of a book about her relationship with Prince Harry. Her lawyers deny the claim.

The former Meghan Markle is suing the publisher of the Mail on Sunday and the MailOnline website over five February 2019 articles that published portions of a handwritten letter she wrote to her estranged father, Thomas Markle, after her marriage to Harry in 2018.

Meghan, 39, is seeking damages from publisher Associated Newspapers Ltd. for alleged misuse of private information, copyright infringement and data protection breaches.

The publisher is contesting the claim. It argues that Meghan must have known the letter to her father would likely become public.

Alexandra Marzec, a lawyer for Associated Newspapers, said Monday that Meghan had a media strategy that involved using her friends as, effectively, PR agents to influence the media in the months before she sent the letter to her father.

At a hearing Monday at the High Court in London, the publisher sought to amend its defence in light of a book about Meghan and Harry that was published last month.

It said the book  Finding Freedom  contains a great deal of detailed information about (Meghans) personal life, including a number of passages referring to her relationship and communications with her father, and a section referring to the letter which is at the heart of this case.

Antony White, the senior lawyer for Associated Newspapers, said in written submissions that the book appeared to have been written with Meghan and Harrys extensive co-operation.

But Meghans lawyers denied that she co-operated with the authors of the book, Carolyn Durand and Omid Scobie.

The claimant and her husband did not collaborate with the authors on the book, nor were they interviewed for it, nor did they provide photographs to the authors for the book, Meghans lawyer Justin Sherbrooke said in a written submission.

American actor Meghan Markle, star of TV legal drama Suits, married Harry, one of the grandsons of the Queen, in a lavish ceremony at Windsor Castle in May 2018. Their son, Archie, was born the following year.

Early this year the couple announced they were quitting royal duties and moving to North America, citing what they said was the unbearable intrusions and racist attitudes of the British media. They recently bought a house in Santa Barbara, Calif.

Mondays court session was the latest preliminary hearing in the high-profile case. A full trial is scheduled to begin in January.

Following an earlier hearing in May, a judge dismissed parts of Meghans claim, including allegations that Associated Newspapers acted dishonestly by leaving out certain parts of her letter to her father. The judge also struck out allegations that the publisher deliberately stirred up issues between Meghan and her father and that it had an agenda in publishing intrusive articles about her.

Last month a judge ruled that the duchess can keep secret the names of five close friends who defended her anonymously in People magazine against alleged U.K. media bullying.

High Court judge Mark Warby agreed, for the time being at least, to grant Meghans request to protect the anonymity of friends who spoke to the magazine in order to spare them a frenzy of publicity before the case comes to a full trial.

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Radio hams help reunite missing person with family The Millennium Post describes how radio amateurs were involved in helping to reunite someone with their family after 15 years



The newspaper says:



A person from Madhya Pradesh who had gone missing on his way to Kashmir 15 years back reunited with his family on Saturday with the help of Ham radio enthusiasts from West Bengal.



Badri Prasad, 43-year-old, was going on a family tour in Kashmir in a train from Madhya Pardesh. He got down at a station near Delhi to buy snacks and did not get into the train. His family members informed the RFP but couldn't trace him.



On Thursday, Chanchal Paul, a teacher, found Prasad roaming like a vagrant on a road in Bongaon. Paul asked his address and came to know that he is a resident of Anuppur town in Madhya Pradesh. He then passed on the information to social activist Rudra Ghosh, who immediately contacted the Ham radio enthusiasts.



"After getting the information about Prasad, we contacted the district magistrate of Anuppur and traced his family members. We showed his picture to his sons, wife and parents and learnt that he was estranged from his family for more than 15 years," Ambarish Nag Biswas VU2JFA, custodian and secretary of West Bengal Radio Club (WBRC), an organization of ham radio enthusiasts in the state said. He reiterated that the Anuppur district administration arranged a car on which Prasad's family came to Bangoan and took him to his home on Saturday.



Source Millennium Post

http://www.millenniumpost.in/kolkata/ham-radio-operators-help-man-reunite-with-family-after-15-years-418874



West Bengal Radio Club

http://www.wbrc.in/

https://twitter.com/wbradioclub

https://www.facebook.com/Wbradioclub/
The Assad regime has committed horrific crimes time after time. The evidence is overwhelming. There must be consequences, said minister of Foreign Affairs Stef Blok. He announced Friday September 18 that The Hague had given Syria notice that it was holding it responsible under international law for torture, invoking the United Nations torture convention. Such a diplomatic note is the first step toward eventually filing an official claim against Syria at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), U.N.s highest court seated in the grand neo-renaissance style Peace Palace in The Hague.

This is a bold move from the Netherlands which  although host to courts such as the ICJ, the International Criminal Court (ICC), giving The Hague in particular, a worldwide notoriety as the international law capital  has always seemed more of a backroom operator, relying on multilateral fora and initiatives to lobby for adherence to the rule of law, as laid out in the Dutch constitution. It raises the question of how the Dutch have become the latest activist state, following a road recently opened by Gambia when it attacked Myanmar before the ICJ under the Genocide Convention over the crackdown on the Rohingya Muslim minority.

The UN routes

When the Netherlands lobbied for a seat at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) five years ago, the central plank of their (partially) successful multi-million Euro campaign was justice and accountability. Seven years into the Syria conflict, during his first speech as the chair of the UNSC in 2018 minister Blok showed a portrait of Noor, a seven-year-old Syrian girl living in a Jordanian refugee camp and urged the council that perpetrators of international crimes must be held accountable. On Friday, the minister told Dutch television the picture of Noor was still in his office. It confronts you daily with a war that is in danger of being forgotten, he explained.

As a UN Security Council member, the Netherlands supported the diplomatic attempt to get Syria referred to the ICC, but those efforts were met with a Russian veto. This road being blocked, the Dutch lobbied for support in the UN General Assembly to a Lichtenstein/Qatar initiative for the establishment of what was loosely called then a bewijzenbank (collection of evidence, in Dutch). At a meeting of experts held in The Hague in March 2017, then foreign minister Bert Koenders spoke to the gathered set of disparate activist groups busy collecting gigabytes of evidence via YouTube fragments of atrocities. Achieving justice may take longer than we would like, but we must be patient. Patience, however, is not the same thing as inaction, Koenders stressed. The result was the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism for Syria, or IIIM, now based in Geneva. The Netherlands is the IIIMs biggest donor.

Looking for a legal procedure to use IIIM

We have the IIIM with testimonies and recording of tortured people. We have the evidence and we started looking for a legal procedure where that evidence could be used, Blok said. The Netherlands will be assisted by the Guernica 37 international justice chambers, who say they have already compiled a body of evidence that demonstrates systematic torture in Syria, in breach of the UN convention against torture. It is very, very important that Syrian civil society and victims organisations are properly represented in this process, Toby Cadman of Guernica 37 told Justice Info.

In another context, where there is a direct and clear interest, the Dutch have been single-minded about their pursuit of justice. Since the 2014 crash of Malaysia Airlines fight MH17 which was shot down over Eastern Ukraine by a missile fired from territory held by pro-Russian rebels, the Dutch have continued to press for accountability for the victims. The flight was en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur and the crash killed everyone on board, the vast majority Dutch nationals.

Last year the Netherlands gave notice that it held Russia accountable under international law for their alleged involvement in the downing of MH17. A tribunal is holding hearings in absentia of individuals investigated by a Dutch-led international investigative team. And this year, Blok announced he was taking Moscow to the European Court of Human Rights over the crash.

In that sense the move to take Syria to the ICJ fits with a pattern of bold moves says Benjamin Duerr, an international law and international relations expert who has worked with the Dutch ministry of Justice told Justice Info.

An UnDutch move?

Consensus-finding is a prized attribute in country of coalition governments. This independent move to take the lead in holding Syria accountable could therefore be seen as unDutch. But foreign minister Blok, although usually described by the Dutch press as boring and uncharismatic, fits well within the usual national stereotypes in his abruptness  as one informed source put it he is not a diplomat at heart, and his lack of fear in potentially annoying other countries.

On Dutch television Blok admitted to having limited international law experience but having a a whole team of people looking at different legal routes. The only thing they ask me is are you willing to take it this far? he said. The question is do you want to put the Netherlands in the spotlight because Syria will be angry  we dont mind as much  but Russia too, which is more complicated, but my role is to take responsibility, he added.

Sources tell Justice Info that this particular zeal for accountability for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad could also come from individuals within the Dutch diplomatic corps with a strong passion on Syrian accountability and a genuine dissatisfaction that nothing is happening with the IIIM that Netherlands has invested so much in. Its about moral high ground and individuals, our sources say, with a target that fit with Dutch foreign policy.

Get Assad behind bars

Amid debates in the European Union about future relations with the Assad regime, the Dutch have laid down a clear marker. The Netherlands and other Nordic countries want the regime out while others in central and eastern Europe have been moving towards normalization. Greece and Cyprus already re-established diplomatic relations with Damascus and Hungary, Poland and Austria are considering doing the same. The ICJ move is a clear sign the Netherlands does not see a role for Assad, Duerr said. This is also a signal to other European countries.

Blok himself did not mince words to point out his goal was to eventually get Assad in the dock. This is a signal to Assad that countries like the Netherlands will do whatever they can to get you behind bars, the minister said.

Spark of hope for victims

Blok said the move should also be seen as a way to provide a spark of hope for victims. The procedures will be long, but we should not despair, one in a while we do manage to achieve accountability, he said, pointing out that former Yugoslav strongman Slobodan Milosevic had also ended up behind bars in The Hague at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.

It will take years before any case would eventually be heard by the ICJ on its merits. For now, the Netherlands has started the process by informing Syria of its intentions and if after six months no efforts have been made in arbitration, will likely see a claim at the Peace Palace. The last time the Netherlands appeared as one of the principal states in an ICJ case was in the 1960s.
Australian police stop vehicles at a checkpoint set up at border on March 26, 2020. (Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

South Australia to Lift Borders to New South Wales

South Australia (SA) is lifting its COVID-19 border restrictions with New South Wales (NSW) from midnight on Sept 23.

SA Premier Steven Marshall announced that arrivals into the state would no longer be required to isolate for 14 days.

This is going to be a relief that will be felt across our state, from an economic perspective and from a family perspective, Marshall said.

Initial considerations of opening borders were reevaluated after a confirmed positive COVID-19 test from a Sydney taxi driver.

Health officials have since examined the case and were satisfied that the risk could be managed.

Chief Public Health Officer Nicola Spurrier said the decision to ease the border measures came after 14 days of no community transmission in NSW involving cases with an unknown origin.

I know people will be concerned about the taxi driver. But Im very confident that person is not representative of community transmission, Spurrier said.

He did spend some time in the community while infectious. But many people have been asked to quarantine because of those exposures.

NSW Health is urgently attempting to contact customers of the Silver Service taxi driver who tested positive on Sept 19 and worked in western and southwestern Sydney.

Customers who caught a Silver Service taxi in western and southwestern regions of the city between Sept. 8 and 18 have been directed to monitor for symptoms, isolate for 14 days, and get tested for COVID-19.

Officials have used credit card transactions, trip data, and booking information to identify a large number of people who rode with the driver. Names of nine passengers are still unknown and officials believe it is likely they hailed the cab on the street.

Spurrier has urged those considering travel from SA to NSW to pay attention to latest COVID-19 updates from Sydney and to wear masks on planes.

But we cant just wrap ourselves in cotton wool forever, she said.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Inauguration 2021 Academic Seminar (January 11-15) is a unique opportunity for university students and faculty around the world to interact with distinguished speakers, political leaders and seasoned journalists, in discussions about the U.S. political process, crucial issues shaping the political landscape, and what it means to call for political accountability.

This virtual event, to be held in the days leading up to the inauguration of the President of the United States, will be an unparalleled learning experience for students, faculty and professionals around the globe.

The Inauguration Academic Seminar has been hosted by the Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars (TWC) in Washington, D.C., every four years since 1985. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the seminar will be 100% virtual, which opens participation to a global audience.

Presenters and panelists will tackle current, substantive issues, such as the politics of COVID-19 and public health, race and racism, the environment and climate change, the future of political parties, and political psychology. The sessions will also dive into the U.S. democratic process, election reform and the politics of presidential transitions. Participants can expect to hear a wide variety of perspectives, explore complex issues and get a deeper understanding of the democratic process and political accountability.

"Political accountability is relevant around the world," says Faculty Director Julia Azari, associate professor of political science at Marquette University. "People around the world are asking questions about their democracies and how leaders embrace accountability or push it off on others."

All participants  students, faculty and professionals  will hear a wide variety of different perspectives, and walk away with a historical perspective of the issues, a deeper understanding of the U.S. democracy, and how citizens and noncitizens can participate in the act of governance to hold leaders accountable.

TWC's academic seminars are designed for universities to grant academic credit as part of students' coursework. Faculty leaders from universities receive complimentary access and a stipend per student in their small groups. With the virtual format, TWC will accept sessions-only registrations  those participants who are not attending as part of an academic group.

Learn more about how to apply or register here: https://inauguration.twc.edu/

Contact:

Carmenchu Mendiola

Chief Marketing Officer

[email protected]

SOURCE The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars

Related Links

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The Guardian, September 1, 2020

By Stefanie Glinski

Khoja Zada found his son around noon; his body was under layers of rubble and mud. The rain had stopped and the sun was shining again when the 70-year-old dug him out. At midnight, he buried him again.

Less than a week after flash floods killed at least 116 people  including Zadas 35-year-old son  and injured 120 more in Charikar, the capital of Afghanistans Parwan province, Zadas house lies destroyed, each room filled almost to the ceiling with what is now dry mud. Like dozens of others, the family has lost everything and is homeless; caught between tiredness and sadness.

Many people are still missing, so we have to keep going, the vegetable vendor tells the Guardian. We dont have enough tools and shovels, but we work as hard as we can.

After heavy rains on Tuesday, flash floods hit the outskirts of Charikar city in the early hours of Wednesday morning, washing away houses and cars before the sun had risen.

Rescue teams are still in the area and searching for the missing bodies, Wahida Shahkar, Parwans governors spokeswoman says.

Zada explains that most houses in the area  once a cluster of colourful buildings with tree-lined roads and a mosque in the middle  had been built between 15 and 30 years ago. Much of the neighbourhood had developing informally, meaning that houses were not immediately registered with the municipality and residents did not necessarily consider the risk of building near the steep barren mountainside. The area was later connected to the power grid and a school and clinic were built, but nothing was done to stop potential flooding.

Flash floods are common in Afghanistan, with the mountainous, arid terrain meaning that millions of people are exposed to hazards such as floods, droughts, avalanches and landslides, a Climate Security Expert Network report found.

Afghanistan ranks as one of the most vulnerable countries in the 2019 Climate Risk Index, the report said. In the 19th century, the country was covered by a mix of open woodlands and closed forests that stabilised slopes and slowed the flow of water on mountainsides. Large-scale deforestation has reduced forest cover to just 1.5% in todays Afghanistan, increasing the risk of flash floods throughout the country.

In Parwan, about an hours drive north of Kabul, about 15,000 people have been displaced by disasters including floods since 2012, according to the International Organization for Migration.

Barren mountainsides like the ones in Parwan lead to rainwater flowing rapidly, resulting in the destruction of soil and causing floods, says Jalaludin Naseri, director of national heritage protection at Afghanistans National Environmental Protection Agency.

In Charikar, residents are worried more flooding might occur in coming months as more rain is expected.

Diana Raufi, 25, says she always felt safe in her neighbourhood until last week. I woke up to what sounded like an earthquake, she says, sitting in a room with several other women and Fatana, 4, one of her two daughters. When I heard the water rushing, I screamed. I took my Quran and started praying. I still dont know how we survived, but Im afraid more floods will come.

Raufi has since been staying with friends in a house that was spared from the waters, sleeping on a mat on the floor with her daughters, her own house reduced to a pile of rubble. Her husband, an opium addict, roams the streets and doesnt work and has not found a new home for the family.

Raufi says she would have liked to help, but few women are seen outside the neighbourhood, with mostly men taking on the post-flood labour.

Women and children have left to stay with extended family in nearby villages, while men who usually work in the capital, Kabul, returned to Charikar.

Abdul Wakil is one of them. The 30-year-old lost his mother, a sister, a brother and two nephews to the floods. His wife and five children survived.

They called me immediately after it happened, he says. I took a taxi right away, crying throughout the entire journey.

A week on, he sits with Ebrahim, his six-year-old son, who has barely spoken since the floods destroyed the family home. He is still afraid, Wakil says. He was with us when we buried our family, including his two best friends  cousins who were about his age.

Frustrated, he says little help had arrived. Today we received two new kettles for cooking, but how does it help us? We need help digging out our houses and we need flood protection walls installed further up the hill, he says. If nothing changes, I will take my family to Kabul with me.
Maybe 2020 will end on a positive note. Spring has sprung, Victorian coronavirus case numbers are falling and superannuation funds are clawing back investment losses following a major sharemarket meltdown in April.

The fastest bear market on record emerged in March when the pandemic stopped feeling like only a China problem and cities were sent into lockdown around the globe.

The fastest bear market in history emerged in March when the pandemic sent cities around the globe into lockdown. Credit:Craig Abraham

The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index promptly fell more than 30 per cent.

Many investors predicted further losses, arguing that tech giants were massively overvalued and the market was arrogantly out of touch with the impending economic doom.
New Parliament building cost likely to go up by Rs 200 cr, CPWD expected to get approval

Parliament passes IIIT amendment bill, giving national importance tag to five new institutes

India

pti-Madhuri Adnal

New Delhi, Sep 22: Parliament on Tuesday passed a bill to declare five newly established Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs) as institutions of national importance.

The five new IIITs set up under the Public Private Partnership mode are in -- Surat, Bhopal, Bhagalpur, Agartala, and Raichur. The Indian Institutes of Information Technology Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2020 has alreaby been passed by Lok Sabha in the previous session on March 20, 2020. The bill was introduced in the upper house on Monday by Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank.

Tripura IIIT to start functioning this year

The education minister said that there are 25 IIITs in the country out of which 5 are purely run by the central government and 15 operate under public private partnership (PPP) mode.

"We have brought the proposal before this House to bring five new operational institute which are located and have started operations in Surat (Gujarat), Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh), Bhagalpur (Bihar), Agartala (Tripura) and Raichur (Karnataka) to bring under this act," Nishank said.

He said bringing the five new institutes under IIITs Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2020 will make them institute of national importance and they will have legal right to issue diploma, degree, PhD etc.

These 5 IIITs along with 15 other IIITs, which are also built on public private partnership (PPP) mode will now be able to use the nomenclature of Bachelor of Technology (BTech) or Master of Technology (MTech) or PhD degree. It will also enable the institutes to attract enough students required to develop a strong research base in the country in the field of information technology. BJP MP Kamakhya Prasad Tasa thanked the prime minister and the education minister for including the institute in Agartala in the bill.

#Tesla 'secretly planning' R&D Centre in #Bengaluru? | Oneindia News

BJD MP Dr Sasmit Patra supported the bill. "I support his bill on behalf of my pary Biju Janta Dal," Patra said. The bill amends the Indian Institutes of Information Technology Act, 2014 and the Indian Institutes of Information Technology (Public-Private Partnership) Act, 2017.

Currently, these institutes are registered as Societies under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 and do not have the power to grant degrees or diplomas. On being declared institutions of national importance, the five institutes will be granted the power to grant degrees.
Bangkok city officials on Monday removed and handed to police "as evidence" a plaque that pro-democracy activists had placed on royal ceremonial grounds on the weekend stating that the country belongs to its people and not its king.

In placing the plaque at dawn Sunday as part of a massive, two-day anti-government demonstration, activists had said they were symbolically replacing another plaque, which went missing in April 2017 and commemorated the countrys transition from an absolute to a constitutional monarchy after the Siamese Revolution of 1932. That plaque was regarded as marking the birth of Thai democracy.

Officials from the Fine Arts Department filed a complaint with the police at the Chanasongkram station in Bangkok, accusing the protest leaders  mostly university students  of tampering with the Royal Grounds, a site reserved for royal rites after the cremation of King Bhumibol, the father of current King Maha Vajiralongkorn, in 2017.

Weve filed a complaint in accordance with Article 10 of the Archeological Act, which prevents tampering at the site, Staporn Tiengtham, a Fine Arts official, told reporters. The charge calls for up to a three-year jail term, and/or a fine of up to 300,000 baht (U.S. $9,574).

The department, which comes under the Ministry of Culture, is tasked with managing the countrys cultural heritage.

Col. Worasak Pisitbanakorn, the chief of the Chanasongkram police station, said investigators had received the report and police observed the removal of the plaque before dawn on Monday. The Bangkok Metropolitan Police Bureau said it was being kept as evidence.

On Saturday and Sunday, tens of thousands of protesters braved intermittent rain as they took part in the pro-democracy rally at the Royal Grounds, or Sanam Luang in Thai, in the biggest anti-government demonstration since 2014. They gathered to voice their support to demands by the United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration calling for Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha to resign, to have the constitution rewritten and to reform the monarchy.

The protest leaders placed the plaque in cement on the Royal Grounds early Sunday after spending the night there.

Here the people express their views that this country belongs to the people, not to the king, it read.

Parit Chiwarak, a Thammasat University student, was a leader of the group responsible for the installation.

It doesnt matter, I expected it to be removed, Parit told reporters. The plaque was not only installed at the Royal Grounds but in the hearts of people. We will give people the mold [to make replicas] as well.

Police consider Lese-Majeste, other charges

In a separate press briefing on Monday, national police spokesman Lt. Gen. Piya Uthayo said the protest leaders likely could be charged with violating Lese-Majeste, the strict anti-royal defamation law. The Thai monarchy is considered semi divine and is protected by Lese-Majeste, which subjects violators to up to 15 years in prison.

Nearly 100 people have been charged under the law since 2014, according to iLaw, an online legal advocacy group. Recently, law enforcers have instead chosen to file charges of sedition, according to experts.

Since the protests kicked off on July 18, police have arrested 14 activists, including Parit, on a series of charges including sedition, organizing gatherings of 10 or more people to incite unrest, and leading mass gatherings that could spread COVID-19. In addition, 15 others turned themselves in to law enforcers.

The most important thing is there were inappropriate wordings against the institutions: Nation, Religion and the Monarchy, Piya told reporters. We as law enforcement officers will duly act against that.

Royalist complains

Meanwhile, a former leader of a royalist movement said he had filed a Lese-Majeste complaint against the protest groups three leaders, namely Parit, Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul and Arnon Nampa. Arnon has been arrested three times over comments at previous rallies.

Ive filed a complaint with Chanasongkram police against those students who are deemed to have violated Article 112 of the Penal Code (Lese-Majeste).  Panusaya, Arnon and Parit, Tul Sithisomwong told reporters. They mentioned the monarchy, the king accusing him of behaving inappropriately, ignoring peoples hardship while suppressing them, which is defamation.

Police said 16 protest leaders were under investigation and charges would be filed against them if substantial evidence was established. Besides tampering, police are considering charging them with trespassing and violating a law on public gatherings, among others.

Organizers and police said more than 100,000 gathered at the Royal Grounds on Saturday, making it one of the largest anti-government protests since street demonstrations rocked the Thai capital in the lead-up to a military coup six years ago.

After thousands spent the night camping at the Royal Grounds, the organizers set the plaque in cement before moving on to a rally at the Privy Council building on Sunday morning.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday Harivansh, the deputy chairperson of the Rajya Sabha, is blessed with a humble mind and a big heart after he went to meet the protesting MPs from the opposition parties and offered them tea.

Harivansh met the protesting member of the Rajya Sabha from the opposition parties, who spent the night on the lawns of Parliament to protest the passage of two contentious farm bills without a division of votes on Sunday in the Upper House. He was seen sitting and drinking tea with the MPs on the ground.

To personally serve tea to those who attacked and insulted him a few days ago as well as those sitting on Dharna shows that Shri Harivansh Ji has been blessed with a humble mind and a big heart. It shows his greatness. I join the people of India in congratulating Harivansh Ji, he tweeted.

To personally serve tea to those who attacked and insulted him a few days ago as well as those sitting on Dharna shows that Shri Harivansh Ji has been blessed with a humble mind and a big heart. It shows his greatness. I join the people of India in congratulating Harivansh Ji.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 22, 2020

For centuries, the great land of Bihar has been teaching us the values of democracy. In line with that wonderful ethos, MP from Bihar and Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson Shri Harivansh Jis inspiring and statesman like conduct this morning will make every democracy lover proud, he added.

Trinamool Congress (TMC) Derek OBrien and Dola Sen, the Aam Aadmi Partys (AAPs) Sanjay Singh, Congress leaders Rajeev Satav, Ripun Bora and Syed Nasir Hussain, KK Ragesh and Elamaram Karim of the CPI(M) were suspended for a week by Rajya Sabha chairman M Venkaiah Naidu for unruly behaviour with Harivansh.

They had refused to leave the House after their suspension, which was adjourned several times amid opposition protest.

Harivansh ji said he came to meet us as a colleague and not as the deputy chairman of the Rajya Sabha. He also brought some tea and snacks for us. We started this sit-in demonstration yesterday as a protest against our suspension. We have been here all night, Bora said, according to news agency ANI.

No one from the government has come to enquire about us. Many opposition leaders came to enquire about us and to show solidarity with us. We are going to continue this demonstration, Bora added.

The sit-in protest by eight suspended MPs on Parliament premises continued for the second day on Tuesday after they spent the night in the lawns near Mahatma Gandhis statue.
A Brisbane man, wanted in Samoa over an alleged conspiracy to murder that country's Prime Minister, is facing an extradition hearing.

Talalelei Pauga, 43, was taken into custody by Australian police on August 20 when Samoa made an extradition request to the federal Attorney-General's department.

It has been alleged the Brisbane man was involved in a plot to kill Samoa Prime Minister Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi. Credit:AP

He has been remanded at Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre for almost five weeks since then, with his lawyers calling for his immediate release on human rights grounds as he was not brought before a magistrate when first arrested.

A spokesperson for the Attorney-General's office confirmed Mr Pauga was wanted "to face prosecution in Samoa for the offence of conspiracy to murder".
Foreigner tests positive for Covid-19 after leaving Vietnam

A Sri Lankan man has tested positive for Covid-19 after he returned home from Vietnam.







illustrative image





The information was given by Bui Thi Ngoc Hieu, vice chairwoman of HCM Citys District 7 Peoples Committee at the citys meeting on Covid-19 prevention and control on Monday.



Right after the 32-year-old man had the positive test result, Sri Lankas authorities informed Vietnam of the problem.



The HCM City Centre for Disease Control has cooperated with District 7 to sterilise the area where the patient had been living for over the past 28 days. Local authorities have defined 15 people who had close contact with the man and all have tested negative for the virus.



Among these people, 11 were those who came into contact with him at the New Hotel in District 7. They are being quarantined at the hotel, while the others are isolating themselves at their home.



At the meeting, director of the municipal Department of Health Nguyen Tan Binh, said that the city has arranged 25 paid hotels which can serve a total of 2,529 people.



Le Thanh Liem, vice chairman of the HCM City Peoples Committee said that the city has seen no new Covid-19 infections over the past 52 days. However, people should not ignore virus prevention as the pandemic remains complicated in many countries.
(Newser)  Body camera footage shows a Salt Lake City police officer firing 11 shots at a 13-year-old boy suffering a mental health episode, who responds, "I don't feel good. Tell my mom I love her." The footage released Monday shows the Sept. 4 shooting of Linden Cameron, who suffered numerous gunshot wounds, and the events preceding it, per the Salt Lake Tribune. Officers are heard discussing how to respond to a call by Linden's mother, Golda Barton, who'd asked for a crisis intervention officer. One female officer questions why they are doing an "approach" into a home for a "psych problem." "We could call sergeant and tell him the situation," she says. "Because I'm not about to get in a shooting because he's upset." "Yeah," responds the officer who would later shoot Linden, per the Tribune. "Especially when he hates cops, it's going to end in a shooting."

story continues below

Barton had told the dispatcher that police were a "trigger" for her son. She said he'd previously been in "a shootout" with police in Nevada and might be carrying a BB or pellet gun, which he'd used to threaten someone, per the Guardian. "I just don't want him to die," she said. When officers arrived, Barton told them she needed her son to go to a hospital. Linden then ran from police. The officer opened fire after a 90-second foot chase, in which Linden was directed to get on the ground and show his hands. A weapon was never found. Wesley Barton, 17, tells the Tribune that his brotherreportedly the youngest person to be shot by Utah policeremains in the hospital, has lost feeling in an arm, has trouble speaking, and may never walk normally again. Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill will determine if the shooting was justified. (Read more police shooting stories.)
If you really want to honour him, implement his inclusive ideology: SC Bose's grandnephew

At DMs meets, PM calls for direct, emotional connect between administration and public for good governance

NEP will play key role in creating 'Atmanirbhar Bharat': Modi

India

pti-Madhuri Adnal

Guwahati, Sep 22: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday the New Education Policy (NEP) announced by his government will play a key role in creating a self-reliant India and open up the education sector for facilitating greater global exposure for Indian students.

Modi said holistic knowledge blended with the understanding of science is answer to all problems.

"I firmly believe the future of the nation is what you think today. Your dreams will shape the future of India. We need to be future-ready, future-fit," he said addressing the 22nd convocation of IIT (Guwahati) through a video conference from the national capital.

NEP will make our education flexibile, says President Ram Nath Kovind

Modi spoke about the importance of education as a key component for creating an "Atmanirbhar Bharat" (self-reliant India). The NEP, which is designed to ease the burden of classroom teaching and examination on students, will play an important role in the country's march forward, he said.

#Tesla 'secretly planning' R&D Centre in #Bengaluru? | Oneindia News

"The NEP will open up the education sector. It will facilitate setting up campuses of foreign universities in India and enable Indian students to get global exposure," the prime minister said.
3 1 of 3 San Antonio Police Department Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Google Show More Show Less 3 of 3





A 17-year-old boy has been arrested in connection with a body found inside a burned car on the West Side, according to San Antonio police.

Police are not identifying the suspect because he is a juvenile. He turned himself in Thursday and has been charged with murder.
(CNN)One of the things that's getting in the way of clear and consistent messaging when it c
Gandhinagar, Sep 22 : The Assembly on Tuesday passed the Gujarat Prevention of Anti Social Activities (PASA) (Amendment) Bill, 2020 on the second day of its Monsoon Session.

The Gujarat government had earlier issued an ordinance to bring changes to the PASA Act, proposed by Chief Minister Vijay Rupani in a Cabinet meeting.

The present law covers drug offences, bootlegging, gambling, cow slaughter, prostitution, and other crimes under the Arms Act and the Indian Penal Code. Under the Act, offenders can be held in preventive detention on the order of a District Magistrate for up to one year.

The amendments aim to expand the scope of the existing provisions of the PASA Act, 1985. The Bill provides for detention of persons involved in Information Technology and other cybercrimes too, apart from moneylending and sexual offences.

Leader of the Opposition Paresh Dhanani said: "The Congress fully supports the objectives of the proposed amendments, but we disagree with the provision that allows for the detention of a person for up to a year." Speaker Rajendra Trivedi proposed voting on the Bill after Congress MLA from Khadia, Imran Khedawala, proposed rejection of the ordinance. The Bill was later passed by majority vote.
By Lambert Strether of Corrente.

Bird Song of the Day

Reader response to the introduction of this feature was mostly positive, so Ill keep on with it. A nightingale is possibly more musical than a loon

#COVID19

At reader request, Ive added this daily chart from 91-DIVOC. The data is the Johns Hopkins CSSE data. Here is the site.

Here are the United States regions:

=

If current trends continue, we could be where we were August 1 in 30 days  the election now being 42 days out.

Here are the Swing States as I conceive them (see below):

Sorry for all the states jammed together at the bottom of the chart, but if one of those states is yours, thats good news, right? (I tried the log version, but it just doesnt convey the spikiness visually, and the spikiness is the point. I also did not include a separate positivity chart, because it was unreadable.)

Politics

But what is government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? James Madison, Federalist 51

They had one weapon left and both knew it: treachery. Frank Herbert, Dune

They had learned nothing, and forgotten nothing. Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Perigord

The electoral map. July 17: Georgia, Ohio, ME-2 move from Leans Republican to Toss-up. Continued yikes. On July 7, the tossup were 86. Only July 17, they were 56. Now they are 91. This puts Biden at 278, i.e. over 270. August 18: Still no changes. August 31: Indiana moves from Likely to Safe Republican. September 9: No changes. September 14: No changes. September 21: No changes. September 22: Ohio moves from Toss-up to Leans Republican. Biden still at 278, Trump increases to 187, 73 are tossups. 187 + 73 = 260, so. MI, WI, MN looking pretty tempting! For all the sturm and drang, and the polls, the consensus on the electoral college remains remarkably static: Biden ahead, Trump within striking distance. Of course, if Trump is still in striking distance on Election Day, that will count as a loss. Maybe.



Click the map to create your own at 270toWin.com

The election countdown:

Here is an early voting calendar. Maybe well have a whole series of October surprises, since election day is gradually being devalued as an event.

And here are mail-in voting ruies, which naturally differ state by state.

UPDATE Here are is an enormous spreadsheet on voting equipment, so you can check your own jurisdiction (hat tip, UserFriendly. I should really aggregate these onto a map).

* * *

2020

Here is my list of Swing States, with votes in the Electoral College in parentheticals): Arizona (11)

Colorado (9)

Florida (29)

Georgia (16)

Iowa (6)

Maine-02 (1)

Michigan (16)

Minnesota (19)

Nebraska-02 (1)

Nevada (6)

New Hampshire (4)

North Carolina (15)

Ohio (18)

Pennsylvania (20)

Texas (38)

Wisconsin (10) So for the rest of the election, I will try to focus on those states, and not on national moral panics, etc. (You may also help me by sending in links and tips, since this is a big change of direction, and nobody else seems to be doing it.) In keeping AZ: Trump sets eyes on Arizona, now a crucial battleground state for 2020 election [FOX10]. Four years later, Arizona is no longer an ironclad GOP stalwart but a central battleground in the fight for the presidency. A fast-growing Latino population  politically activated over the past decade by anti-immigrant legislation and politicians like Sheriff Joe Arpaio  and explosive growth among Trump-skeptical suburbanites has lulled Republicans from complacency and energized Democrats. Trumps re-election campaign pulled out all the stops this week in hopes of keeping Arizonas 11 electoral votes. Nearly every day, someone with the last name Trump or Pence stumped for votes in Arizona beginning with Donald Trump himself on Sept. 14 and finishing with Vice President Mike Pence on Sept. 18. The presidents daughter, Ivanka Trump, and the vice presidents wife, Karen Pence, also made appearances, and presidential son Donald Trump Jr., is expected in Chandler on Tuesday. UPDATE FL: Bloomberg raises $16.1M to help Florida felons regain voting rights [Axios]. Billionaire Michael Bloomberg has raised over $16 million to help felons pay outstanding fines and fees to regain their voting rights in Florida A 2018 state constitutional amendment in Florida allows for felons who have completed their sentences to regain their right to vote  so long as theyve also paid back any outstanding fines, fees or restitution. Bloombergs fundraising, in addition to $5 million from the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, has now paid off monetary obligations for 32,000 felons in Florida just before Election Day. NC: North Carolina National Guard cyber team on election duty [National Guard]. From March, still germane: The militia at the founding of the republic was ready in a minute to defend their homeland, but for this modern, hand-picked team of North Carolina National Guard (NCNG) cyber experts, that reaction time is way too slow. Eighteen NCNG cyber specialists reported for state active duty in Raleigh to defend the integrity of the North Carolina electoral system from cyberattack before and during Super Tuesday elections March 3. This critical mission is just one of the threats the NCNG is prepared to respond to with its Cyber Security Response Force (CSRF), a team of 10 full-time cyber professionals with a bench of over 400 drilling Army and Air Guard cyber specialists. OH: Ohio, by consensus of nine pundits aggregated at 270toWin, moves from Toss-up to Lean Republican; see the map above. TX: Whole Paycheck: In case you're wondering, the 11 "Whole Foods counties" are: Bexar

Collin

Dallas

Denton

El Paso

Fort Bend

Harris

Montgomery

Tarrant

Travis

Williamson  Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) September 22, 2020 WI: Judge extends Wisconsin absentee cutoff 6 days post election [Associated Press]. A federal judge ruled Monday that absentee ballots in battleground Wisconsin can be counted up to six days after the Nov. 3 presidential election as long as they are postmarked by Election Day. The highly anticipated ruling, unless overturned, means that the outcome of the presidential race in Wisconsin might not be known for days after polls close. Under current law, the deadline for returning an absentee ballot to have it counted is 8 p.m. on Election Day. Democrats and their allies sued to extend the deadline in the key swing state after the April presidential primary saw long lines, fewer polling places, a shortage of workers and thousands of ballots mailed days after the election. U.S. District Judge William Conley granted a large portion of their requests, issuing a preliminary injunction that was expected to be appealed all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. * * * UPDATE Sanders (D)(1): I am so tired of this blame game. We all, especially Faiz, Jeff & Bernie, did our best. Lets concentrate on defeating this dangerous administration. Peoples lives & whats left of our democracy depends on it. Then, well continue to fight, hopefully, together. #BidenHarris2020  Jane O'Meara Sanders (@janeosanders) September 21, 2020 Im willing to cut Sanders some slack til we see how electoralism plays out in terms of tangible outcomes. But this is really unfortunate framing by Jane Sanders. The issue is not who did their best. The issue is that the Sanders campaign, uniquely among 2020 campaigns, and in fact among every election I can think of, took $200 million in working class money (Walmat workers and nurses, not lawyers). Was the best use made of it? Its fine with me if squillionaire bucks are p*ssed away on sending Democrat strategist kids to college. Walmart worker bucks? Not so much. Trump (R)(1): Richard Nixon on Lagoa v. Barrett as Supreme Court nominee: Lagoa, at best, mutes the energy on the left. She boxes the Senate in, as they just confirmed her. Most important the story becomes this nice young woman from Florida, and that's that. But given the choice between the big thing and the smart one, you know what he'll take.  Richard M. Nixon (@dick_nixon) September 22, 2020 Well see! (This is a great account that somehow manages to capture the timbre of Nixons voice perfectly.) * * * Liberal Democrats just l-o-o-o-o-v-e them thei complexity, dont they? Be like @HillaryClinton, @MayaRudolph, and Amy Poehler: make your plan to vote today. Visit https://t.co/MykJL0FtRT to register or confirm your registration. Then, your work isn't over: remind your friends, family, coworkers, neighborseveryoneto make a plan, too. pic.twitter.com/TEVijNjYXO  Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) September 17, 2020 A plan to vote I mean, who doesnt love plans?! Elizabeth Warren loves plans! The difficulty, as Mike the Mad Biologist points out: If youve taught  from preschool to grad school  you know that no matter how many times or how clearly you give instructions, some students wont follow them. One of the issues  not problems, but an issue to be aware of  with mail-in ballots is that the instructions create opportunities to reject ballots. To use the example of the recent Kentucky primary, ballots were rejected for failure to sign, failure to sign in the correct place, failure to enclose the ballot in an inner envelope before putting it in the outer envelopeon and on. Petty stuff, but stuff that is going to get your ballot tossed if you dont read and follow directions correctly. In an election in which a lot of ballots are going to be cast by mail and it is patently obvious that Trump will use every possible mechanism to try to question the legitimacy of the ballots cast, I worry about the potential for these minor, insignificant instructions will toss otherwise valid votes. Of course, with hand-marked paper ballots, hand-counted in public  with the ability to scale out locations for social distancing as needed, which systems dependend on machines cannot do  you dont have these issues, especially if Election Day were to become a national holiday. You shouldnt have to plan to vote  thats another way of putting barriers in the way of the working class! UPDATE Oh, and make sure your plan includes a sample ballot, in jurisdictions that use ballot marking devices: Many early voting locations use touchscreen voting machines, but I recommend asking to mark your ballot with a pen by hand. If you must use a touchscreen, compare the printout (if any) to your completed sample ballot to verify the machine didnt delete or flip ur choices. TY. 1/ pic.twitter.com/bGno1CBceA  Jennifer Cohn  (@jennycohn1) September 21, 2020 AOCs chirpy Whats your voting plan? really frosts me. You shouldnt need to have a plan to vote! (And the decisions that brought us to this pass were thoroughly bipartisan, so dont @ me.) Poorly Protected Postal Workers Are Catching COVID-19 by the Thousands. Its One More Threat to Voting by Mail. [Pro Publica]. The total number of postal workers testing positive has more than tripled from about 3,100 cases in June to 9,600 in September, and at least 83 postal workers have died from complications of COVID-19, according to USPS. Moreover, internal USPS data shows that about 52,700 of the agencys 630,000 employees, or more than 8%, have taken time off at some point during the pandemic because they were sick, or had to quarantine or care for family members. High rates of absence could slow ballot delivery in key states, especially if theres a second wave of the coronavirus, as some epidemiologists predict. Twenty-eight states, including Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Florida , require mail-in ballots to arrive by Election Day to be counted.

2016 Post Mortem

From Hillary Rodham Clinton: Some Girls Are Born to Lead, by Michelle Markel: I love how "dangerous blocks" is filled with people who appear to be black and/ Latino. https://t.co/qPC92M684A pic.twitter.com/uvtL3TCa2b  Esha (@eshaLegal) September 21, 2020 I remembered the union-busting page, but not this one.

Realignment and Legitimacy

The Onions Guide To QAnon [The Onion]. Q: What is QAnon? A: A conspiracy theory that posits world leaders are secretly evil rather than openly so.

Stats Watch

At reader request, I added some business stats back in. Please give Econintersect click-throughs; theyre a good, old-school blog that covers more than stats. If anybody knows of other aggregators, please contact me at the email address below.

There are no statistics of note today.

* * *

Regulation: Exclusive: U.S. regulator to relax proposed whistleblower caps, tighter tip deadlines  sources [Reuters]. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Wednesday will finalize changes to its whistleblower program, but will water down these proposed measures after whistleblower advocates, lawyers and lawmakers said the changes could deter insiders from flagging corporate fraud and misconduct.  Hmm.

Mr. Market: Short Sellers Are Rushing Back Into Stocks as Volatility Returns [Bloomberg]. The spike of short sales coincided with an equity rout that, at Mondays worst point, took the S&P 500 to within points of entering a 10% correction. While contrarians may view the rise of skepticism as something healthy in a market that until now had defied any bad news  from plunging corporate profits to a lack of fiscal stimulus  JPMorgan strategists led by Nikolaos Panigirtzoglou warned it may mark the start of an ominous trend for equities. The recent rise in the short base at individual stock levels is a worrying development, especially for U.S. stocks where the short base still stands at rather low levels, [JPMorgan strategist Nikolaos Panigirtzoglou] wrote in a note to clients.

The Fed: Feds Evans sees risks of recessionary dynamics without more fiscal stimulus [MarketWatch]. Every week and every month we go without renewing additional fiscal supportwe risk a longer period of slower growth if not recessionary dynamics, [Chicago Fed President Charles Evans] said during a discussion sponsored by OMFIF, an international forum for economic policy. Evans said he was surprised to see how strong the economy has rebounded from the lockdown in April and May. The economy is back about 90% even though the toll of deaths has been horrific, Evans said. Manufacturing has come way back led by the auto sector, he said. Evans said he expects the unemployment rate to end the year in a range of 7%-7.5%, and to improve to a 5.5% rate by the end of 2021. The jobless rate was 8.4% in August. The labor market has really come back a lot better, he said. The Chicago Fed president, who has been in his post since 2007, said his forecast assumes more fiscal stimulus and a vaccine becoming available sometime in the middle of next year. If those things dont happen, it is going to be an obstacle, he said.  So if Democrats are sure theyre gonna have another Blue Wave in November, why not do any kind of deal now, and then expand it when they take power? They have Hitler a whole new space force, so why not a decent stimulus package?

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Todays Fear & Greed Index: 50 Neutral (previous close: 51 Neutral) [CNN]. One week ago: 59 (Greed). (0 is Extreme Fear; 100 is Extreme Greed). Last updated Sep 22 at 12:13pm. Mr. Market is having a lie-down.

The Biosphere

An objective Bayesian analysis of lifes early start and our late arrival [Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences]. For intelligence evolution, it is found that a rare-intelligence scenario is slightly favored at 3:2 betting odds. [I]f we reran Earths clock, one should statistically favor life to frequently reemerge, but intelligence may not be as inevitable.  Yeah, so which scenario are we in now?

Health Care

Vaccines  lessons from three centuries of protest [Nature]. The need to control outbreaks and pandemics has long created tensions between liberty and interdependence, similar to those playing out worldwide today. Anti-vaxxers is a book that reminds us of the historical precedents to the odd alliances  anti-vaccine, anti-mask, anti-5G, for instance  that are getting in the way of public health right now. Vaccination has always been a lightning rod for storms brewing over other problems, as physiologist and science writer Jonathan Berman shows. The people who protested against mandatory smallpox vaccination in nineteenth-century England had previously led opposition to the 1834 Poor Law Amendment Act, which proposed that unemployed people must labour in workhouses for food, often under conditions of exploitation, child labour and family separation. The protesters saw mandatory vaccination as a similar assault on poor peoples autonomy.

Lessons learned from the 200,000-death milestone (Were #1! Were #1!). Thread:

We're about to pass the deeply tragic milestone of 200,000 deaths from COVID in the US. What have we learned about COVID and our response to it over the last 7 months? So much. Here is a start: 1/x  Tom Inglesby (@T_Inglesby) September 19, 2020

Especially:

No more reliance on international supply chains. No more laissez faire approach to letting market handle it because it won't 5/x  Tom Inglesby (@T_Inglesby) September 19, 2020

Single payer #MedicareForAll would be useful in that regard; the largest possible market under autarchy.

This thread on FDA Emergency Use Authorizations (EUA) will probably be useful to somebody who understands vaccine testing better than I do:

We have the protocols. Now we know how there will very likely be an Emergency Use Approval (EUA) for a vaccine prior to November 3. The company and political motivations are fully aligned.

1. The criteria for an EUA is that it "may be effective"https://t.co/Q7LXeRzInZ pic.twitter.com/FhLbb79M7s  Eric Topol (@EricTopol) September 19, 2020

Hygiene theater: Disinfecting sprays and sanitizing robots alone wont keep you safe from COVID-19 [ABC News]. [Dr. John Brownstein, an epidemiologist at Boston Childrens Hospital] said that one of his biggest concerns with hygiene theater is that its just not sustainable. Were asking the population and industry to do a lot and at some point there is going to be pandemic fatigue, he added. He noted that the more experts attempt to enforce these sorts of efforts around a theoretical risk, the more chance people are just going to, basically, not want to implement them. We know that things like mask-wearing is so critical, lets focus on the handful of issues that we know are driving those transmissions, he added.  Speaking as a narrative constructor, and not from science  Ive seen no studies on this  my view is that the aerosols ultimately have to land somewhere; for example, in the first hospital study (too lazy to find the link) that showed transmission of functioning viral material through the air, some of the virus ended up on the hospital windowsill. So if I put my hand on that windowsill I dont think fomites are the primary mode of transmission  except perhaps when children, themselves fomites, are involved  but I think its too soon to count them out entirely. So, Im still washing my hands, taking a shower when I come back from the store, cleaning my computer, etc.

Coronavirus: constantly surprising virus found to be heat tolerant, self-healing and very resilient in lab tests [South China Morning Post]. [The Hungarian teams] experimental data suggested Sars-Cov-2 could be the most physically elastic virus ever known to humans so far, and repeated deformation did not seem to affect the overall structure and the content inside the virus, either. How it managed to survive environmental disturbances remained unclear.

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I Only Need To Stick Around 4 Or 5 More Years: Doctor Shows How Horrific The US Healthcare System Is [Bored Panda].  The entire post is worth reading, but heres where the headline comes from:

Because the medication is too expensive. Were governed by Harkonnens.

Sports Desk

Eagles QB booed during home game by fake crowd noise in Philadelphia [The Hill].  Therell always be a Philly

Our Famously Free Press

NYT First Reinforces, Then Silently Debunks Its False Claims About Russias Covid-19 Vaccine [Moon of Alabama]. The Times author reinforces his own lie that Russia had declared its vaccine ready for population wide application. It had never done that. The official registration of the vaccine by the relevant authorities was only a necessary precondition to start the large scale phase-3 testing of the vaccine. There never was a Russian intent to distribute the vaccine to a large population without phase-3 testing.  The moral I draw, which is different from the moral MoA drew, is that the Times is rooting for the Russian vaccine to fail. Will they have the same rooting interest for the vaccines being produced under Project Warp Speed?

Groves of Academe

Ig Nobel Prizes reward research on helium-huffing alligators and knives made of feces [Science]. Winners received a fake $10 trillion Zimbabwean bill, and were emailed a six-page PDF to print and assemble into a cube-shaped trophy.

Class Warfare

UPDATE U.S. Household Net Worth Soars to Surpass Pre-Pandemic Peak [Bloomberg]. Household net worth increased by $7.6 trillion, or 6.8%, to $119 trillion, while the level of federal government borrowing soared as lawmakers responded with massive fiscal relief, according to a Federal Reserve report out Monday. The gain was the largest in quarterly records back to 1952. The value of equities advanced $5.7 trillion from the prior quarter while real estate increased about $458 billion.  The future is already here  its just not very evenly distributed.

U.S. Is Falling Further Behind Rivals in Meat-Worker Safety [Bloomberg]. In Germany, the government is ready to upend a labor contracting system that left poorly paid immigrant workers vulnerable. Australias second-most populous state, Victoria, slashed slaughterhouse staffing capacity to enforce strict spacing requirements. In Brazil, the federal government has set safety rules, though unions have said theyre not strong enough. Meanwhile, the U.S. has yet to impose any mandatory safety measures on meatpackers to contain infections, issuing just voluntary guidelines. And the only federal citations against major meat processors resulted in fines of less than $16,000, decried as paltry by worker advocates. At the same time, an executive order from Donald Trump has kept plants running at full tilt since late April.

We Need a Radically Different Approach to the Pandemic and Our Economy as a Whole [Jacobin]. [Katherine Yih] Locking down society is a blunt instrument whose goal has been to keep the overall numbers down at all costs. Lockdowns have been vastly unfair in their impact and have exacerbated disparities in wealth and power. Millions of working-class people have lost their jobs and find it impossible to find new ones in the current shuttered economy. (It is remarkable that the media pay so little attention to the extreme economic hardship being endured by millions of people who were already struggling to make ends meet before the pandemic.) Millions of others must continue working in high-risk jobs. Many white-collar workers, on the other hand, have been able to work safely from home. Thus, workers on the front lines, like health care workers, mass transit drivers, grocery workers, meatpackers, and many, many other occupational groups, are contributing disproportionately to the herd immunity that will ultimately protect everyone. [Martin Kulldorff] Yes, I think the lockdown is the worst assault on the working class in half a century, and especially on the urban working class. In effect, we are protecting low-risk college students and young professionals who can work from home at the expense of older, high-risk, working-class people that have no choice but to work, leading to more deaths overall. There have been studies, for example in Toronto, that show that lockdowns have primarily protected high-income, low-minority neighborhoods, but not low-income or high-minority neighborhoods.  Worth reading, agree or disagree.

News of the Wired

Winter is coming:

Gorgeous, gorgeous photos. I work from the position that beautiful photographs can be taken anywhere  i.e., are not site-dependent  but Vasilyev certainly makes a powerful counter-argument.

You Can Now Explore 103 Lost Hokusai Drawings Online [Smithsonian]. :Hokusai was an incredibly prolific artist, producing an estimated 30,000 images over his 70-year career. With the addition of these 103 drawings, the British Museum now houses a collection of more than 1,000 of his works. As [Frank Feltens, an assistant curator at the Smithsonians National Museum of Asian Art] told Smithsonian magazines Roger Catlin last year, Hokusai was most prolific in the last decade of his life. In the artists own words, it was only at age 73 that he finally understood the structure of animals, birds, insects and fishes, and the life of grasses and plants.'  So even old codgers like me have more than a few years to go!

New emojis are coming in 2021, including a heart on fire, a woman with a beard and over 200 mixed-skin-tone options for couples [CNN]. The Unicode Consortium, a non-profit that oversees emoji standards and is responsible for new releases, announced the release of more than 200 emojis that will hit cell phones throughout next year in a limited Emoji 13.1 release  which means even more ways to convey the pain of this year.

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Readers, feel free to contact me at lambert [UNDERSCORE] strether [DOT] corrente [AT] yahoo [DOT] com, with (a) links, and even better (b) sources I should curate regularly, (c) how to send me a check if you are allergic to PayPal, and (d) to find out how to send me images of plants. Vegetables are fine! Fungi and coral are deemed to be honorary plants! If you want your handle to appear as a credit, please place it at the start of your mail in parentheses: (thus). Otherwise, I will anonymize by using your initials. See the previous Water Cooler (with plant) here. Todays plant (WB):

WB writes: Not sure what plant classification covers pond scum, but this is a colorful example. Colorful it is. I should wander through the biosphere to pond and their scums one of these days. As if following the election wasnt enough.

* * *

Readers: Water Cooler is a standalone entity not covered by the annual NC fundraiser. So if you see a link you especially like, or an item you wouldnt see anywhere else, please do not hesitate to express your appreciation in tangible form. Remember, a tip jar is for tipping! Regular positive feedback both makes me feel good and lets me know Im on the right track with coverage. When I get no donations for five or ten days I get worried. More tangibly, a constant trickle of donations helps me with expenses, and I factor in that trickle when setting fundraising goals:









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If you hate PayPal, you can email me at lambert [UNDERSCORE] strether [DOT] corrente [AT] yahoo [DOT] com, and I will give you directions on how to send a check. Thank you!
A vegan activist has been filmed being restrained in what appears to be a chokehold by a police officer after he was arrested while protesting against supposed animal cruelty.

Direct Action Everywhere and Meat The Victims animal rights activist Arkadiusz Swiebodzinski was one of two men charged after they allegedly trespassed on a piggery near Toowoomba in southern Queensland.

He and Shaun Figueiredo were among about 30 protesters who attended the property on Monday.

The two men Facebook live-streamed their efforts to enter the site, running through fields until they find a fence to climb under.

Animal rights activist Arkadiusz Swiebodzinski filmed inside the piggery moments before they were surrounded by police officers

'Animals are suffering, this is an emergency,' Swiebodzinski explains on camera.

'There is no time to muck around. We're going in.'

They make their way to a shed, where dozens of sows and piglets are being housed in farrowing crates and stalls.

The finals moments of the 35-minute clip are scenes of chaos as police officers storm the shed.

An officer is filmed approaching Swiebodzinski from behind and grabbing him around the neck as he's dragged away.

Another officer tells Figueiredo, who's filming: 'If you resist arrest you'll be further charged.'

Swiebodzinski claims the officer threw his arms around his neck.

Swiebodzinski was filmed being approached from behind and grabbed around the neck in a chokehold before being dragged away.

'He screamed at me, ... told me that I'm arrested. He was screaming 'I told you not to go in here,' he told news.com.au.

'As soon as he took me out of the shed, put both knees on my body, handcuffed me behind my back and searched me.'

Swiebodzinski added they were surrounded by at least 15 officers who appeared to be anticipating them.

Queensland Police confirmed two men were charged with trespass and issued with fines for allegedly breaching a biosecurity order.

While a spokesman was unable to comment on the footage, he referred Daily Mail Australia to officers' use of force options, which are listed online.

The neck restraint hold is an open hand tactics officers may be permitted to use when control of a policing situation cannot be achieved otherwise.

He and Shaun Figueiredo illegally gained access to the site by climbing under a fence

'Open hand tactics equip officers with a range of operational skills and tactics which assist officers in performing their functions safely, efficiently and effectively. Application of these tactics may allow officers to achieve and maintain control of a subject or policing situation,' Queensland Police guidelines states.

Swiebodzinski says the pair politely asked for permission to enter the site and insists they respected biohazard security rules when they entered the property.

'We were prepared with biohazard suits, gloves, disinfectant, masks, we know the biohazard security rules inside of those facilities and we always adhere to them,' he said.

Swiebodzinski claims the sow stalls and farrowing crates seen in the footage is standard practice.

'The pigs are all around me and in front of me- the stench is unbearable,' he says.

'Is this ethical in any way?'

Arkadiusz Swiebodzinski (left) was charged with trespass and issued with fines for allegedly breaching a biosecurity order

The RSPCA also has grave concerns about their use, citing welfare issues.

'Pigs that are housed in sow stalls and farrowing crates have no opportunity to engage in natural behaviour or interact socially with other pigs,' the organisation states on its website.

'Sow stalls and farrowing crates can also cause physical problems for the sows. Because they are unable to exercise, their muscles and bones deteriorate and they may have great difficulty in standing up or lying down.'

The two men charged have been inundated with support from fellow animal activists

'So lucky to have such friends and colleagues. With people like I had around me yesterday, anything is possible,' Swiebodzinski posted on Facebook on Tuesday night.

Earlier this year, Swiebodzinski was fined $5000 for his role in theft of a $1500 calf from a farm in Western Australia in 2018.
People pay their respects to Ruth Bader Ginsburg outside of the New York State Civil Supreme Court building in New York on Sept. 19, 2020. (Kena Betancur/AFP via Getty Images)

Threats Over Appointing Ginsburg Replacement Latest Acts of Long-Running Insurrection

Commentary

Since the student riots of the late 1960s, the left has been waging war on America and her political, educational, and cultural institutions. They fought against American foreign policy and the law-and-order domestic policies of Richard Nixon in the bloody streets of Chicago in 1968, and continued the fight via the insurgent presidential campaign of George McGovern in 1972, which announced the Baby Boomers seizure of the Democrat Party.

Leveraging the Watergate burglary via trial by media, they forced Nixon and his landslide 49-state, 520-17 Electoral College win into exile over, what in retrospect, was merely standard dirty tricks, tame both by historical and contemporary standards.

When voters ejected Jimmy Carter from the White House in 1980, after one failed term, the Democrats swore revenge on Ronald Reagan, but were crushed in 1984 by an even more devastating 525-13 wipeout; they also had to suffer the indignity of watching George H.W. Bush run for and win Reagans third term in 1988.

By the time Bill Clinton challenged and defeated the hapless Bush in 1992, they were desperate for a win. More important, they were desperate for the policy prescriptionsanti-war, anti-capitalist, anti-Western, anti-American; in short, Critical Theorythat had been animating them for a quarter of a century and more. The Democrats and the GOP ping-ponged the presidency for 12 years, pushing the boundaries of acceptable discourse steadily leftward

And then came 2016. No one could believe it, least of all the Democrat-Media Complex, which hadnt seen 12 to 16 years of uninterrupted power since Franklin D. Roosevelt. After eight years of Barack Obama, the prospect of a term or two of Hillary Clinton might have cemented the lefts utter dominance, and the long march through the institutions would have come to a triumphant conclusion.

Existential Battle

The dictionary defines insurrection as A rising or rebellion of citizens against their government, usually manifested by acts of violence. Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution enumerates congressional powers, among them: To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions.

Further, 18 U.S. Code  2383 reads: Whoever incites, sets on foot, assists, or engages in any rebellion or insurrection against the authority of the United States or the laws thereof, or gives aid or comfort thereto, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both; and shall be incapable of holding any office under the United States.

If that doesnt describe what has been going on since the resistance was declared against Donald Trump the night he won the election, its hard to imagine what might. From its first plaintive cries, the resistance has gradually morphed from legislative obstructionism to FBI and intelligence community malfeasance, to a sham impeachment, to the wilding street violence of the neo-Marxist Black Lives Matter and Antifa movements.

In retrospect, this was inevitable. Monumentally frustrated by its so-near-yet-so-far loss in 2016, the left has been driven literally out of its mind by its unexpected defeat and string of subsequent policy losses at the hands of the hated Trump. The recent death of Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg seems to have pushed the few remaining sane souls over the edge, with Twitter now rife with videos of young women screaming with rage into their cell phone cameras.

Writer and CNN legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin also took to the internet to advocate a full-frontal assault on the GOP and, worse, the Constitution: Dems arent powerless. They can: 1. Abolish filibuster. 2. Statehood for DC, PR. 3. Increase # of federal judges. 4. Add 3 Justices to #SCOTUS. In his column in the New Yorker, Toobin quoted a Democrat strategist: No one thinks that another four years of Trump is survivable. The campaign believes this is an existential battle.

Dont think hes joking about D.C. statehood. Even though D.C. was explicitly established as an independent federal district politically outside the USA proper, Democrats have been pushing for D.C. self-governance for decades:

Though a capital city, it is ironic that residents of Washington lack full self-governance. Representation in Congress is limited to a non-voting delegate to the House of Representatives and a shadow senator, reads the Districts website. In 1964, Washingtonians were first allowed to vote in Presidential elections; the city was allowed to elect its own mayor only in 1973.

As for the filibuster, former senate majority leader Harry Reid essentially abolished that in 2013 when the Democrats employed the so-called nuclear option to eliminate the two-third super-majority rule on executive branch nominations and federal judicial nominations. Taking advantage of this loophole, current majority leader Mitch McConnell extended the option to include Supreme Court nominees.

Youll regret this, McConnell warned his friends across the aisle in 2013. A lot sooner than you think.

Ruthless

In any case, existential threats require force by any means necessary to repel them. Chuck Schumer of New York, the Senate minority leader, and firebrand House back-bencher Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have both called on Republicans to delay any action on Ginsburgs replacement.

We need to make sure we mobilize on an unprecedented scale to ensure this vacancy is reserved for the next president, said AOC.

Added Schumer: to try to and decide this at this late moment is despicable and wrong and against democracy.

This is unconstitutional balderdash. As even the sainted RBG herself noted in a 2016 interview with the Times, Theres nothing in the Constitution that says the president stops being the president in his last year.

Power politics is not only kosher, its mandatory in an existential fight. We must now be RUTHLESS, read a banner in Manhattans Washington Square Park in a vigil for Justice Ginsburg. Reza Aslan, a Tehran-born Sufi Muslim turned American television personality, was even harsher: If they even TRY to replace RBG we burn the entire [expletive] thing down.

Can anyone imagine the Democrats forbearing to delay a Court nomination because the Republicans rolled over on their belly and begged pretty please? It is to laugh.

Attack on the Constitution

Connecticuts mountebank Senator Richard Sgt. Toys for Tots Blumenthal, a lawyer and former state attorney general who lied about his Marine Corps Reserve military record by implying he had served in Vietnam, issued this ominous threat: If Republicans recklessly & reprehensibly force a SCOTUS vote before the electionnothing is off the table.

Now, what did Blumenthal mean by that?

Noted the New York Times in debunking Blumenthals claim of stolen valor in Vietnam: He obtained at least five military deferments from 1965 to 1970 and took repeated steps that enabled him to avoid going to war, according to records In 1970, with his last deferment in jeopardy, he landed a coveted spot in the Marine Reserve, which virtually guaranteed that he would not be sent to Vietnam.

Until recently, no one in either party would have suggested that the president not immediately fill a Supreme Court vacancyindeed, both the late Justice Ginsburg and Hillary Clinton herself said so during the GOPs hesitation to confirm Obamas nomination of Merrick Garland after the death of Justice Antonin Scalia just months before a 2016 election in which a) the White House and the Senate were controlled by different parties and, b) no incumbent was running. Things are different today.

For one thing, the Democrats have threatened to pack the court a la FDR should Mitch McConnell bring Trumps nomination to a floor vote.

As congressman, Jerry Nadler, tweeted: If Sen. McConnell and @SenateGOP were to force through a nominee during the lame duck sessionbefore a new Senate and President can take officethen the incoming Senate should immediately move to expand the Supreme Court. So what? A nominee put to a floor vote before Jan. 3, when the newly elected Congress is seated, is fully legitimate. Elections, as the saying goes, have consequences.

But, as the legendary Tammany Hall fixer, George Washington Plunkitt, once famously opined, Whats the Constitution among friends?

As part of its multi-pronged attack on American republican democracy, the Left is now mounting major offensives against the Electoral College, with the blatantly unconstitutional National Popular Vote Interstate CompactNo State shall, without the Consent of Congress shall enter into any Agreement or Compact with another State reads Article I of the Constitution. Yet this compact would allow the residents of California, Illinois, and New York to elect the president in perpetuity.

Its also called into question the legitimacy of the Senate itself (50 states, two senators apiece, no matter how large or small) as undemocratic. And so the insurrection continues.

Consequences

Finally, however, there are consequences:

After a string of riots and arson attacks in Seattle, Portland, Ore., and New York City, the Justice Department has classified the cities as anarchist jurisdictions and moved to cut off federal funding to the municipalities. At least six people have been arrested for arson in Oregon.

Princeton president Christopher Eisgruber signaled his impeccable virtue by declaring earlier this month that the Ivy League university had engaged in systemic racism. We must ask how Princeton can address systemic racism in the world, and we must also ask how to address it within our own community. Racism and the damage it does to people of color nevertheless persist at Princeton. The federal Department of Education promptly launched an investigation to see whether Princeton has violated Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

Perhaps in reaction, the BLM website apparently has scrubbed at least one aspect of its neo-Marxist platform: We disrupt the Western-prescribed nuclear family structure requirement by supporting each other as extended families and villages that collectively care for one another, especially our children

And the New York Times, the publisher of the Pulitzer Prize-winning but fundamentally bogus 1619 Project, which sought to reframe the arrival in Virginia of some sub-Saharan African slaves (actually, indentured servants, much like the Irish and others at the time in the Western Hemisphere) aboard a Portuguese ship as the very center of [the U.S.] national narrative, has now memory-holed any such ahistorical claims. The 1619 project aims to reframe the countrys history, understanding 1619 as our true founding , and placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of black Americans at the very center of our national narrative, wrote the Times at the time.

, and placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of black Americans at the very center of our national narrative, wrote the Times at the time. Now, its lead writer, Nikole Hannah-Jones, has backed away in the face of withering historical criticism: When I first pitched this project, my editor asked me what was my ultimate goal. I told her I wanted Americans to know the date 1619, to force that foundational date into the national lexicon. The extent to which the project continues to be attacked shows the success of the goal. Right. She has now taken a break from Twitter.

Still, the danger to the republic persists. Because if theres one thing weve learned over the past four years, its that the radical Democrats never stop, never sleep, and never quit. From simply calling into question the results of the 2016 election, theyve moved smartly to attacking the Constitution itself, especially the Electoral College and the philosophy behind the Senate, and unleashing their violent thugs for emphasis. This is the very definition of insurrection.

The old saying on the left used to be, the highest form of patriotism is dissent. Indeed, there is even such a magazine of the same name, Dissent, a love child of the 1950s and 60s, currently edited by Michael Kazin and Timothy Shenk.

Today, the highest form of patriotism is treason. And it needs to be dealt with, by any means necessary, as the left likes to say.

These are tough words. For almost all our history, with the exception of the Civil War, Americans have believed that, beneath our political differences, were all real Americans, devoted to the primacy of our Constitution and of our Bill of Rights, which guarantees freedom of speech and the press, freedom of faith and the free exercise thereforeregardless of the CCP virus or Chinese Community Party virusand of peaceable assembly to redress grievances.

But as the insurrection rageson the streets, in the media, in the halls of Congressis that still true? And if notwhat do we do about it? In less than two months, the choice is ours.

Michael Walsh is the editor of The-Pipeline.org and the author of The Devils Pleasure Palace and The Fiery Angel, both published by Encounter Books. His latest book, Last Stands, a cultural study of military history from the Greeks to the Korean War, will be published in December by St. Martins Press.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
By AFP

Authorities in the UAE capital Abu Dhabi have abolished the requirement for permits to purchase and consume alcohol, according to an official circular, after neighbouring Dubai also moved to relax rules.

The changes come as both the emirates, among seven in the United Arab Emirates federation, seek to rebuild their tourism industries after the coronavirus shutdown, and also prepare for visitors from Israel after a landmark deal to normalise relations.

"We are announcing the cancellation of permits for alcohol, and residents and tourists will have the right to buy it in authorised stores," said the circular from the Department of Culture and Tourism dated September 15 and seen by AFP on Tuesday.

The directive said buyers must be at least 21 years of age, that the alcohol must not be re-sold, and that it should be consumed in a private home or an authorised place such as a club.

But it did not specify whether Muslims are forbidden to buy alcohol or not. Formerly Muslims were not permitted to acquire an alcohol licence.

The circular ends a legal grey area in the emirate. Although liquor stores in Abu Dhabi do not usually ask for permits to sell alcohol, sales were technically still subject to those rules.

In Dubai, stores are required to ask residents or tourists to show a permit before selling alcohol, but bars and restaurants do not require patrons to produce the document.

This year, Dubai also relaxed the permit system, making it easier for residents to acquire one by removing the requirement to obtain a "certificate of no objection" from their employer.

Residents need only to fill out a basic form, present their identity card, and pay 270 dirhams ($74) to obtain the permit. Tourists can get a temporary licence by showing their passport and visas at the store.

However, Muslims still cannot apply for an alcohol permit in Dubai.

The sale of alcohol is permitted in six of the seven emirates in the UAE, but is prohibited in conservative Sharjah which remains "dry" with no pubs or bars. Public intoxication and drink-driving are strictly banned across the country.
In February 2020, an idea was conceived to solve a problem that had been identified at the Kotoka International Airport.



The idea was how to facilitate the speedy body temperature check of passengers in real time. This is to do away with the temperature gun that normally delays departure and arrival formalities as a result of the long queues usually associated with such processes.



Another idea was to also introduce an electronic Health Declaration Form to replace the hard copy form used to obtain passengers travel history and detect signs and symptoms of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).



The architect of these two master pieces of innovation is Millennium Promise Alliance (MPA), a non-profit, non-governmental organization that uses cutting-edge digital tools to provide top-notch solutions to enhance the living standards of the people.



However, little did MPA know that their innovative ideas could soon become a reality than they had anticipated and play a major role in the re-opening of the countrys premier airport.



To make things happen, MPA first contacted the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), to share with them a study they had conducted into the two critical items on their radar.



Having bought into the idea, funding was then a major challenge for the Ghana Health Service (GHS).



Now, with the unexpected outbreak of the novel coronavirus, Ghana was left with no option than to close its borders and ports, to prevent the further spread of the virus.



With the coronavirus having a heavy toll on the economy, and data on affected persons now showing a downturn trend, there was pressure on the government to ease restrictions on air travel.



But before the Government could ease the restrictions on air travel, these two master pieces of innovation; the MPA Thermocheck and the electronic version of the Health Declaration Forms must be in place to limit the face-to-face contact of air travelers.



MPA, having made a commitment to help Ghana come out of the woods, contacted some of its donor partners to help fund the project. Just some few weeks into making their request, help finally came. GSK and Sergey Brin Foundation had both come onboard to assist in funding the two master pieces of innovation with Prof. Jeffrey Sachs, co-founder and board chair of Millennium Promise Alliance, also providing inspiration for the project to be rolled out.



With little time at their disposal, MPA quickly assembled all its technical experts as well as local materials for the task at hand. In less than two months, the two master pieces of innovative ideas have been turned into reality with test runs of the devices taking center stage.



Having gone through the numerous test runs, it was now time for certification from the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA). With a robust system coupled with the quality of materials used, the GSA had no difficulty certifying the devices after also subjecting them to vigorous test runs.



The biggest hurdle has now been crossed over. The task now at hand was for the Ghana Health Service, Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) and the Ghana Airport Company (GAC) to give clearance for the MPA Thermocheck to be mounted at the Kotoka International Airport and also roll out the electronic health declaration forms at same venue and this came without hesitation.



With the MPA Thermocheck and the electronic Health Declaration Form now in place, the expectation was for government to announce the re-opening of the countrys airports. The much awaited announcement came almost a month later with air travelers lauding the robust system that was put together by the collaborative efforts of MPA, GHS, GIS, GSA, GAC as well the sponsors of the novelty devices; GSK, Sergey Brin Foundation and Prof. Jeffrey Sachs.



Functions of the MPA Thermocheck



Having been fixed at both departure and arrival halls, the MPA Thermocheck has now come to replace the thermometer guns. The MPA Thermocheck screens passengers before they leave the country. It also checks the temperature of air travelers on arrival and before departure and pitch them against their travel history so that it will provide information as to whether you must be admitted or not.



The MPA Thermocheck detects real-time temperature of persons walking towards it. It checks the temperature of 15 persons at a goal. The results is then transmitted electronically for the passenger to access or know his or her status. If ones temperature is red, it beeps and prompts the health experts at the airport about your condition. It also takes your picture automatically and keeps your data in the system for easy reference.



It is considered the fastest decision making support on fever detection.



The Health Declaration App



Mobile and Web Applications were developed to replace the paper-based Health Declaration Forms that was used prior to the closure of the countrys borders. The App has been installed on tablet devices mounted at vantage points at the airport to enable passengers to conveniently fill up the Form, whilst the in-built decision support algorithms and analytics help the health experts stationed at the port to speed up decision-making and follow-up.



Travelers can access the Health Declaration App on their mobile phones, tablets, or computers through the Ghana Health Service website.

The Executive Director of MPA, Chief Nathaniel Ebo Nsarko, commenting on this novelty said COVID-19 has ushered in a lot of homegrown ideas and domesticated technological advancements of which Im grateful to God to have been useful in such a competitive era together with my MPA team. The project has added a boost to Ghanas preparedness to open its airports for international flights. I am very proud to leverage on our long-standing partnership with the Ghana Health Service to bring this project to life.



He added that due to COVID-19, technology is being deployed at such a dizzying pace in recent months that it has transformed our world in ways that we least imagined. Coming up with this innovative idea started with out to be difficult, if not impossible, and almost certainly up for fierce debate as we have always believed in foreigners than ourselves. Nevertheless, we gave it a shot and here we are, purely Ghanaian but of international standard; proudly Ghanaian.



MPA is currently in talks with the Ghana Immigration Services (GIS) to see how best same devices could be deplored at the various entry points of the country.



MPA mobilizes science and technology towards the Sustainable Development Goals across Africa and beyond. It has over the years demonstrated its credibility by putting funds to good use. It developed a data base for COVID-19 contact-tracing in the Ashanti Region. It was done by providing tablets with a custom-built Application to the contact-tracers for the task at hand. This enabled the contact-tracers, whilst on the field, to send reports to a centralized location for a team of health experts to analyze the situation and advice accordingly.



It also assisted the Ridge Hospital to set up its Telemedicine center. Its innovative drive led to the introduction of Rural Lab Services, TeleAgric and Telemedicine Services which have so far helped to put Ghana on a high pedestal for recognition as a country on track to achieving the SDGs.



Millennium Promise Alliance has presence in over 20 countries, and is also the architect of the Millennium Villages Project which was implemented in 10 African countries.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Even as the government has announced a range of relief measures amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, a majority of businesses say that enough has not been done and more support is expected for revival. According to a survey conducted by CARE Ratings, 72 per cent of the respondents said the government should do more for revival of their industry and are pinning hopes on sops such as deferment of statutory dues, credit enhancements or guarantees and even tax subsidies. Only 28 per cent of the participants feel the government has done enough.

On expectations of further support from the government, 84 per cent of the participants said that they expect further support while only 16 per cent don't expect any further assistance.

The multi-sector survey by the ratings agency said that the business activity may not touch pre-COVID-19 levels before March 2021, and there is a need for the government to step in and give a "push" to the economy as it has not done enough till now.

The smaller businesses have reported more stress than the larger ones in the survey of over 600 companies including construction, BFSI, real estate, power, among others.

There has been a pick-up in activity lately but there is a need for standardisation in the unlock process without having the localised lockdowns, the survey participants, which included chief executives, chiefs of finance at companies and investors, said.

Companies in the construction, real estate, manufacturing and power sectors said they are facing problems because of the return of migrant labourers back to their villages, it said.

The small business segment reported more pain because of the migrant labour issue than the larger enterprises, it said with over a third of the former saying the migrant labourers have not returned back to work.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in May, had announced a mega Rs 20 lakh crore stimulus package which included previous measures to save the lockdown-battered economy, and tax breaks for small businesses as well as incentives for domestic manufacturing. The Finance Ministry followed up with various other relief measures over the months.

Also read: New challenges for auto industry in restart phase amid COVID-19 crisis: Tata Motors MD
NEW YORK, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- An industry leader from Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S. will give a keynote address at the Hispanic National Bar Association's 2020 Corporate Counsel Conference and Annual Meeting (CCC-AC2020), which will be held virtually. Ken Crutchfield, Vice President and General Manager of Legal Markets at Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S., will discuss how law firms can best prepare for the future as the legal industry continues to evolve.

Earlier this year, Wolters Kluwer conducted the 2020 Wolters Kluwer Future Ready Lawyer Survey: Performance Drivers to assess future readiness and resilience in the legal sector. The survey includes insights from 700 legal professionals across the U.S. and nine European countries and examines ongoing trends in the legal sector and how well-prepared organizations are to drive higher performance. At CCC-AC2020, Crutchfield will discuss findings from the study, including key observations on COVID-19's impacts on law firms, and provide insights into how firms can evolve their practice to meet the changing needs of their clients.

"I'm very pleased to participate in this year's annual meeting and share results from the 2020 Wolters Kluwer Future Ready Lawyer Survey," said Crutchfield. "Our industry is experiencing significant transformation, and it is increasingly important for legal professionals to understand the drivers behind that transformation in order to prepare for the future."

"The HNBA has always strived to stay on the cutting edge of the legal profession, and our members are excited this year to hear about the insights and lessons that law firms and attorneys can apply from the 2020 Wolters Kluwer survey," said HNBA National President Irene Oria. "We want to thank Ken and the whole Wolters Kluwer team for agreeing to kick off this very important discussion about the future of law firm innovation and performance. We look forward to continued collaborations for years to come."

Ken Crutchfield will speak at the Law Firm of the Future event taking place at 9:30 AM EDT on Wednesday, September 23. To learn more and register, visit: https://hnba.com/2020-ccc-ac/

About the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA)

The Hispanic National Bar Association is nonprofit, nonpartisan, national membership organization that represents the interests of Hispanic legal professionals in the United States and its territories. The HNBA is committed to advocacy on issues of importance to the 60 million people of Hispanic heritage living in the U.S.

About Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S.

Wolters Kluwer (WKL) is a global leader in professional information, software solutions, and services for the healthcare; tax and accounting; governance, risk and compliance; and legal and regulatory sectors. We help our customers make critical decisions every day by providing expert solutions that combine deep domain knowledge with advanced technology and services.

Wolters Kluwer reported 2019 annual revenues of 4.6 billion. The group serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries, and employs approximately 19,000 people worldwide. The company is headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands.

For more information about Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S., visit www.WoltersKluwerLR.com, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

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A cyber fraudster stole 90,000 between June and July from the bank account of 62-year-old Laila Rustom Jehangir, one of the two daughters of billionaire Pallonji Shapoorji Mistry, who owns one of the biggest business conglomerates Shapoorji Pallonji group. An FIR has been registered at Colaba police station.

According to Colaba police station, Laila, who resides in Dubai, had authorised her father Pallonji Shapoorji Mistry to manage the account on her behalf.

In 2018, Mistry authorised his company director Firoz Bhatena to look after all financial activities of Lailas account. Bhatena, in turn, had entrusted the account to companys deputy general manager (accounts) 60-year-old Jayesh Merchant.

Merchants mobile number was registered with the bank for SMS alerts on every transaction of Lailas account, said Colaba police officials.

ALSO WATCH | After Chinese app ban, NSA Ajit Doval on new Cyber Security Strategy soon

Since the account was quite old, transactions were done only through cheques, and no debit or credit card was issued by the bank for Lailas bank account in question, added Colaba police official.

A police officer from Colaba police station said, Jayesh Merchant, who registered the complaint, said that on July 1 and 2 he received SMS alerts of withdrawal of money from the account of Laila. When he checked with the bank he was informed that around 90,000 were spent or withdrawn in multiple transactions using a debit card in June/July months. A copy of Merchants complaint is with Hindustan Times.

Merchant, who told the bank manager that there was no debit card issued on this account, was in for a shock when he was informed that a debit card was issued in the name of company director Bhatena in 2018, and the card was couriered to the companys Colaba office. The same debit card was used to withdraw money. Merchant told Bhatena about the development who told him that he was not aware of any debit card being issued, following which a complaint was given, added the officer.

The police in its preliminary investigation have found that the card was used multiple times, once at one Lucky Restaurant, and once at a cake shop New Arife Lamoulde. Police would be checking the CCTV at these places and also make inquiries to trace the card user, said the police officer.

An FIR has been registered under section 420 (cheating) of Indian Penal Code and 66C (identity theft) and 66D (cheating by personation by using computer resource) of Information Technology Act against an unidentified suspect.
Vencomatic UK has highlighted the various and exciting roles that the poultry industry has to offer and the women who are doing them.

Celebrating women across the British agricultural industry has had a successful response since July, when the initiative took off.

Consequently, Vencomatic UK, one of the leading poultry equipment suppliers, have showcased the roles that women play in their company.

Rebecca Wilson: Customer Service Coordinator

Rebecca was no stranger to the world of agriculture when she joined Vencomatic UK.

Having lived on the family farm her whole life, she has always been hands on with arable and livestock and early memories from nursing lambs influenced her decision to pursue a career in farming.

Therefore, after completing a bachelors degree in Human, Social and Political Sciences and Masters in Rural Estate Management, she returned to Yorkshire to join Vencomatic UK as a graduate trainee working towards a senior management.

In this role her day to day can vary from assisting customers, breakdowns and servicing and recently branching into project management.

She expresses what she loves about her position: The poultry sector offered me a new challenge and the opportunity to get to grips with some of the more complex elements involved in the production of chicken and eggs.

Rebecca Wilson

"For example, environmental impacts and welfare concerns are at the forefront of what Vencomatic does.

Reflecting on the initiative to highlight women across the industry, Rebecca draws on her own experiences stating that its not unusual for people to be shocked and surprised by the fact that the females on the farm can know what theyre talking about when it comes to agriculture.

At a time when British agriculture is very much subject to the public eye, having motivated, knowledgeable and enthusiastic females who are encouraged to either stay or join the industry can only strengthen it.

When encouraging women both in and out of the industry to consider the various roles within farming, her advice would be to Aim high, always and be confident that you can achieve what you set out to do, even if you face hurdles or criticism along the way.

"If you are wanting to get into agriculture (or any industry which is new to you), take advice from as many people as possible, and be willing to give up a bit of your time for free to begin with if this means you can learn something new.

And... it's here! We've been working with some of the amazing women in our office to share with you their roles and celebrate what they do.

Thank you to @AmyVenco ,@RebeccaVenco, @EmmaVenco and Lizzie.

Watch the full video and read their stories here:https://t.co/307MAr5fQS pic.twitter.com/yKZxgNjL0Q  Vencomatic UK (@VencomaticUK) September 21, 2020

Emma Barber: Administrative Assistant

In contrast to Rebecca, Emma joined the industry with no prior experience in farming, initially beginning her career with her own beauty business.

However, since joining Vencomatic UK, her role has opened her eyes to the amazing work that everyone does and how much happens behind the scenes."

From contacting customers, working with engineers, and keeping on top of paperwork and diary schedules, she has been able to adapt to various demands whilst leaning about the industry.

Explaining her view on the industry before Vencomatic, she states that her opinion has 'drastically changed'.

Emma Barber

"I cannot believe the amount of work, effort and hours that goes in to faming and poultry alone and I had no idea about the amazing sheds that we build and the welfare enhanced equipment that we use.

Consequently, highlighting the amazing work of females in farming, Emma thinks that it will help open people eyes to see the great work that women do and the big part they play in the industry.

She finishes: I am proud to be a woman and I am proud to be in the poultry industry and I cant wait to see what the future brings for us.

Amy Sharpe: Poultry Manager

Amys experience within the industry is vast and exciting. Starting with her BSc in Agriculture, and completing a placement year where through the British Poultry Council, she secured a scholarship with Moy Park.

She states: I thoroughly enjoyed my yearlong placement in all aspects of broiler production I considered an industry I otherwise wouldnt have.

After later completing a placement with at LJ Fairburn and Son, she found a love for the laying side of poultry and soon returned after graduating to be their Agricultural Manager.

Early this year, she joined Vencomatic UK as their Poultry Manager, where her role involves monitoring red mite and ammonia, supporting farmers across the country and researching the welfare benefits of cutting-edge R & D.

Amy Sharpe

She comments that: It is great to work for a senior team of blue sky thinkers, driven to leave a positive stamp on the poultry sector.

She speaks about the recent work in promoting women in agriculture: I think women are a lot more prevalent in the industry than they were 20 years ago as both the industry and the home-work life balance has changed.

Overall, Amy welcomes females from all sectors and industries to consider a career in agriculture saying: Focus on your goals, but remember there is more than one way from A to B. Dont fret if you dont go the way you planned- just keep going.

Lizzie McLaughlin: Graphic Designer and Marketing Executive

One of the more creative roles in the Vencomatic team is Lizzies work as a Designer and Marketing Exec.

After studying her BA in English and finishing her MA in Design, she started her journey with Vencomatic UK, working on a range of campaigns from strategy planning, advertising, events management, web and promotional material design, to editorials and press releases.

She states: I love how diverse my role is and that I can contribute to making a difference; highlighting the excellent work we do from welfare, renewable energy to the women in Ag initiative.

Before joining the poultry industry, Lizzie had a different view of agriculture: Not coming from a farming background, I was detached from my food and did not consider the hard work and intricacies of agriculture.

Lizzie McLaughlin

"Sadly, I envisioned that farming was a predominantly male industry, strictly confined to labour roles. However, after almost 3 years at Vencomatic, I now fully appreciate what the industry has to offer, the amazing work our farmers do (both male and female) and that the roles in agriculture are vast; from business, to design roles, to project management.

As a result, she has found that having a main role in promoting women in agriculture and showcasing the diverse roles that the industry has to offer has been extremely rewarding.

She talks about her involvement: It has been interesting to interview so many talented women and see a wide range of stories. From those who have been in farming all their life to the women who havent, the passion and optimism from the women in the industry is both uplifting and empowering.

Reflecting on the various roles of the team, Vencomatic UK hope to not only celebrate some of the amazing women in the industry but inspire those who may not have considered a career in agriculture, to start doing so.
The nonprofit Central New York Diaper Bank will distribute free diapers to more than 500 families today at its location near Liverpool. The event will be 1 to 3 p.m. at 4645 Crossroads Park Drive in the town of Clay.

Pre-registration is required for those seeking diapers, but there is still time. People can sign up online anytime before the event.

The CNY Diaper Bank works with 36 partner agencies in the area to distribute diapers to babies and toddlers. The organization has distributed more than 3 million diapers since its inception.

The diaper bank also is holding The Diaper Run this week, a virtual fundraising event. Runners and walkers can participate in a 5K or shorter distance event on their own time during the week. All registration fees will go toward diaper purchases. More information can be found at cnydiaperbank.org/events/run.
Gasoline drips off a nozzle during refueling at a gas station in Altadena

By Stephanie Kelly and Laura Sanicola

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. gasoline prices tumbled in Monday's energy market selloff, as worries about weak demand for fuel returned as the threat of Tropical Storm Beta waned, market analysts said.

RBOB gasoline futures on the New York Mercantile Exchange <RBc1> fell more than 5% to a session low of $1.161 per gallon, ending a five-day streak of gains. Prices followed crude and equities markets lower, reversing last week's gains built on the active storm season in the U.S. Gulf Coast.

Nationally, gasoline prices at the pump averaged $2.18 a gallon on Monday, 18% lower than the same time last year, American Automobile Association data showed.

Beta is the third named storm in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico in less than a month, following Hurricanes Laura and Sally which affected crude and fuel production and roiled the markets.

But with the storm threat subsiding, traders were more focused on weakening demand because of the coronavirus pandemic as the summer driving season fades in the rearview mirror.

Gasoline product supplied, a proxy for demand, reached a five-month high in August at 9.2 million barrels per day, but has since decreased to 8.5 million bpd, U.S. Energy Information Administration data shows, still roughly 9% below year-ago levels.

"We've got a number of different factors at play  remote work, schools closed  which should in theory weigh further," said Matthew Smith, director of commodity research at ClipperData.

The autumn months were already expected to be re-shaped by the pandemic. In an effort to save cash, fewer refiners are due to shut during the autumn maintenance season.

That will not help refining margins weighed down by an oversupplied distillate market. Margins are hovering just above $9 a barrel <CL321-1=R>.

U.S. heating oil futures <HOc1> were down nearly 5% on Monday.

Analysts are not optimistic about a swift recovery for the products market. GasBuddy, a company that advises on gasoline and driving trends, just turned to a permanent work-from-home structure in Chicago.

"Even after a vaccine, it will take a long time to distance ourselves from this pandemic period," said Patrick De Haan with GasBuddy.

(Reporting by Stephanie Kelly; Editing by Marguerita Choy)
Senator Ben Sasse (R., Neb.) on Tuesday hit back at criticism of Judge Amy Coney Barrett, one of two potential nominees to the Supreme Court, connected to her Catholic faith.

Barrett is reportedly a member of People of Praise, an interdenominational Christian community organization. A Tuesday article from Reuters questioned whether the group was similar to a totalitarian cult from the novel The Handmaids Tale, while a story from Newsweek initially asserted that Margaret Atwood, the author of the novel, used People of Praise as inspiration for books fictional cult.

Newsweek subsequently added a correction stating that People of Praise was not in fact Atwoods source of inspiration.

These ugly smears against Judge Barrett are a combination of anti-Catholic bigotry and QAnon-level stupidity, Sasse commented in a statement. People of Praise is basically a Bible study and just like billions of Christians around the world, Judge Barrett reads the Bible, prays, and tries to serve her community. Senators should condemn this wacky McCarthyism.

Barrett is reportedly the frontrunner of the two nominees under consideration for the Supreme Court. President Trump hosted Barrett at the White House on Tuesday for the second day in a row, CNN reported. Also under consideration is Judge Barbara Lagoa, with whom Trump is meeting on Friday.

Trump will announce his nominee at 5 p.m. this coming Saturday. Senate Republicans are planning to hold a confirmation vote on the nominee by the end of October, according to the Associated Press. Of the 53 Republican senators, only Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine have indicated they would not vote to confirm a justice before the November elections.

More from National Review
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

In May, the Navajo Nation had the worst COVID-19 infection rate in the country, surpassing even New York City.

Now, the reservation is reporting fewer than 20 new cases each day.

That progress drew praise on Monday from Dr. Anthony Fauci, who said the Navajo Nation can serve as a model for the rest of the country in addressing the pandemic.

You have proven that when you do these public health measures you can turn around a serious surge of infection, said Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force. His remarks came during a Navajo Nation video update.

The reservation first mandated masks in April, along with a stay-at-home order and weekend curfews.

Navajo community health representatives have helped test and isolate virus patients. Local governments and nonprofits have provided food and supplies so residents dont travel to border towns.

The reservation reported zero cases Sept. 8. Daily case numbers have risen since then. But numbers recently have been much smaller than in May, which had several days of more than 150 new cases.

Fauci also echoed concerns about Navajo children returning to school.

Bureau of Indian Education schools on the Navajo Nation will implement remote learning until November. But many Navajo children attend public schools off the reservation.

The Navajo Nation covers parts of New Mexico, Arizona and Utah. New Mexico is the only one of those states to mandate masks. Utah is experiencing a record spike in cases, largely attributed to students returning to campuses.

If you have children going out into an area that isnt as stringently trying to control infection as you are doing within the confines of the Navajo Nation, then theres the danger of bringing infection back despite your attempts, Fauci said.

The Navajo Nation Human Research Review Board has approved participation in the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial.

Healthy adults who have not had a COVID-19 infection may volunteer for the study. Participants will receive two doses of either the study vaccine or a placebo.

Including Navajo residents will help scientists understand if the vaccines that are licensed for all Americans will work to protect the first Americans, said Dr. Laura Hammitt, director of Infectious Disease Programs for the Johns Hopkins Center for American Indian Health.

Almost all of the (other) study sites are in large urban areas that have not done effective outreach to Native Americans, Hammitt said. Several companies have opted not to include sites in Indian Country because of the time it takes for cultural adaptation of materials and the tribal approval process.

Johns Hopkins has worked with the Navajo Nation and the Indian Health Service on previous vaccine clinical trials.
William helping feed an elephant in China in 2015. (Getty Images)

Prince William has said fatherhood helped spur him on in his wildlife conservation work, as he wants to protect nature for future generations.

William, 38, was joined by a film crew two years ago for a documentary called Prince William: A Planet For Us All, which will be aired on ITV next month.

The father-of-three said he had always loved nature but that having children had given a new sense of purpose to his conservation work.

He said: Now I have got George, Charlotte and now Louis in my life  your outlook does change. You want to hand over to the next generation, the wildlife in a much better condition.

Watch: How the Royal Family tackles parenting

He added: I always believe it is possible to give young people hope and belief that things can get fixed.

I have the belief that if we all work together, we can make a difference.

The documentary will follow William as he meets people in the UK and abroad who are helping to protect and restore the environment.

Kensington Palace said the film will show how William moved from being passionate about conservation to wanting to play a greater leadership role on the environment.

Read more: William and Kate have relatable problem as they try to have a conversation through their masks on royal visit

In a very special documentary, join Prince William on an extraordinary journey to champion global action on conservation and climate change.



Prince William: A Planet For Us All, this October on ITV and @ITVHub.@KensingtonRoyal #APlanetForUsAll pic.twitter.com/vDnAiB33oV  ITV (@ITV) September 21, 2020

In a clip from the documentary that has been shared online, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge meet Sir David Attenborough, and Kate reveals: The children were very upset that we were coming to see you and they werent coming.

Story continues

Theyre massive fans of yours.

William appears to be following in his fathers footsteps in his passion for the environment.

Prince Charles, 71, has been a long-time campaigner on similar issues, and this week called for global commitments to tackling carbon emissions to be brought forward by two decades.

Read more: How the royals tackle parenting

William and Kate told Sir David their children were big fans of his in the documentary. (AFP)

In a keynote speech delivered to launch Climate Week, the heir to the throne called for a war-like footing to combat this most grave and urgent challenge.

He also said: Without swift and immediate action, at an unprecedented pace and scale, we will miss the window of opportunity to reset for a more sustainable and inclusive future.

In other words, the global pandemic is a wake-up call we cannot ignore

[the environmental] crisis has been with us for far too many years  decried, denigrated and denied.

It is now rapidly becoming a comprehensive catastrophe that will dwarf the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Prince William: A Planet For Us All will air in October.

Watch: How the line of succession to the throne works
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Cocaine seizures are at an all-time high in Europe and heroin intercepts have doubled on the continent in the last year.

The purity of drugs such as cocaine, MDMA and heroin has increased vastly in recent years, as has the strength of psychoactive compounds in cannabis and hash.

As the product on offer has improved, so has the sophistication in overseas shipping which the EU attributes to an infiltration of major ports by organised crime syndicates.

The EU's annual European Drug Report also notes a scaling up of synthetic drug production, fears over high-potency skunk cannabis, new synthetic opioids flooding the market and party pills containing lethal levels of MDMA.

An overview of the major illicit drug usage in Europe, cannabis remains the most popular, while opioids account for the bulk of all fatal overdoses

Police questioned more than 50 people after they raided a cannabis cafe allegedly selling illegal drugs from its premises in Limehouse, east London last year

While the report is restricted to data through to the end of 2019, it does say that coronavirus has had a direct short-term impact on drug trafficking and consumer behaviour.

Preliminary findings for the first three months of the outbreak suggest that drug taking across Europe declined as a result of lockdown restrictions.

Transportation of drugs has been made more difficult and clubs and bars have been closed, reducing the appetite for party drugs such as cocaine and MDMA.

However, online searches for cannabis have increased and the EU notes increases in alcohol and benzodiazepine consumption because people are self-medicating for anxiety during lockdown.

Cocaine

Cocaine seizures in the EU and in the EU +2 which refers to the EU member states, as well as Turkey and Norway

It comes as the prevalence of cocaine use is at an all-time high according to the report, with more than 181 tonnes of the drug seized in 2018.

Belgium, Spain and the Netherlands are the nexus for importation, accounting for nearly 80 percent of all seizures of the compound which is harvested from the coca plants of South America.

The drug's purity has increased each year for the last decade and peaked in 2018 with an average purity of between 53 percent and 69 percent.

London is Europe's third biggest consumer of cocaine, based on traces found in wastewater, Amsterdam is the capital for the drug and Barcelona follows.

Crack cocaine, which is generally uncommon in Europe, was most prevalent in the United Kingdom.

Of the countries reporting the prevalence of last year use of cocaine among young adults (15 to 34), the UK led with a rate of 5.3 percent. In addition, Britain recorded an upward trend among young adults since 2015.

Upward trends have also been reported by France (2000 to 2017), reaching 3.2 percent, and by Finland (2010 to 2018), reaching 1.5 percent.

The average price for a gram across the continent is between 50 and 76.

Cocaine use is far more common among men than it is among women and the average age for first time use is 23-years-old

London is Europe's third biggest consumer of cocaine, based on traces found in wastewater, Amsterdam is the capital for the drug and Barcelona follows

Cannabis

Cannabis is the most commonly used drug in Europe with three quarters of all drug possession offences being for the plant and its derivatives, such as hash, resin and oil.

Chief among the public health concerns is the soaring THC content  the psychoactive ingredient  which has been linked with anxiety, paranoia and schizophrenia.

Online cannabis sales rocket during lockdown A preliminary analysis by the EU for the first three months of the pandemic found that darknet sales activity for cannabis increased by 27 percent. The EU theorises that cannabis smokers were stockpiling and traditional dealers chose to move online for the first time to mitigate against potential difficulties in the physical supply chain. Meanwhile a study by the Trimbos Institute in the Netherlands found that 40 percent of cannabis smokers said that they were lighting up more since social-distancing measures were imposed. Advertisement

Not only have refinements in growing techniques and hydroponics made the herbal form more powerful, but new forms of the drug such as oils, resins and edibles have boosted its effects to unprecedented levels.

The latest data suggest that the THC content of resin sold in Europe is now on average almost twice that of herbal cannabis, with half the countries reporting a mean potency of 9 to 12 percent for herbal cannabis, compared with 13 to 24 percent for resin.

Spain, due to its proximity to Morocco, accounts for the majority of cannabis seizures in Europe. It is followed by the United Kingdom and France.

The United Kingdom, as with much of the continent, has recorded an upward trend in cannabis use since 2010, including a 13 percent uptick in 2018.

It is estimated that 90.2 million adults in the EU aged 15 to 64, or 27.2 percent of this age group, have used cannabis at least once in their lifetime.

Around 15 percent, or 18 million, young adults aged 15 to 34, report using cannabis in the last year, with males being typically twice as likely to report use than females.

Among the 27 countries that undertook surveys between 2014 and 2018, considerable variation exists, with last year use rates among young adults ranging from 3.5 percent in Hungary to 21.8 percent in France.

When only 15- to 24-year-olds are considered, the prevalence of cannabis use is higher, with 19 percent, or 10.4 million, having used the drug in the last year.

The average price for a gram is between 6.50 and 11.

The potency of cannabis entering the continent has increased steadily over the last decade, raising fears of the impact the high levels of THC have on mental health

Men are much more likely to use cannabis than women, while the average age for first time use is just 17

Prevalence of cannabis use across Europe in young adults. Among 15 to 34-year-olds the drug is most common in France, followed by Spain, Germany, Finland, Belgium and the UK

Seizures of cannabis resin in Spain account for 65 percent of the total European haul, meanwhile increasing quantities of cannabis herb are captured in Turkey

MDMA/Ecstasy

Twenty-three MDMA labs were shut down and dismantled in the EU in 2018, with 20 detected in the Netherlands.

However, the detection of another two factories in Spain and another in Sweden suggest that the production lines for the drug, also known as ecstasy, are robust.

In addition, the discovery of darknet websites touting European-made MDMA show that such is the quantity produced on the continent, Europe is a global exporter.

Analysis of darknet data shows that high value wholesale buyers are in the online marketplace for MDMA, whereas the online marketplace for cannabis and cocaine is dominated by retail-level quantities.

It is estimated that 13.6 million adults in the EU aged between 15 to 64, or 4.1 percent of this age bracket, have used MDMA or ecstasy at least once in their lifetime.

Figures from the 27 countries that conducted surveys between 2014 and 2018 suggest that 2.3 million young adults, aged 15 to 34, used MDMA in the last year, with national averages ranging from 0.2 percent in Portugal and Romania to 6.9 percent in the Netherlands.

Prevalence estimates for those aged 15 to 24 are higher, with 2.4 percent (1.3 million) estimated to have used MDMA in the last year.

Most health concerns for MDMA surround its potential for toxicity and there is a raft of anecdotal evidence for teenagers overdosing after taking the drug at parties and festivals.

Meanwhile, the number of people entering specialised treatment for MDMA is correspondingly low.

Twenty-three MDMA labs were shut down and dismantled in the EU in 2018, with 20 detected in the Netherlands

Figures from the 27 countries that conducted surveys between 2014 and 2018 suggest that 2.3 million young adults, aged 15 to 34, used MDMA in the last year, with national averages ranging from 0.2 percent in Portugal and Romania to 6.9 percent in the Netherlands

European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson said: 'The European Drug Report 2020 underlines the dangers posed by the production and trafficking of illicit drugs to the health and security of EU citizens.

'The operation of lucrative drug markets by organised crime groups, and the record levels of cocaine and high volumes of heroin seized, highlights the persistent threat presented by criminals seeking to exploit supply chains, shipping routes and large ports to traffic drugs.

'The increased availability of all types of illicit drugs exacerbates the health risks. The EU's new Agenda and Action Plan on Drugs 202125 provides the political and strategic framework to effectively and comprehensively address drug-related security and public health challenges through the deployment of all relevant instruments at local, national, EU and international level.'

EMCDDA Director Alexis Goosdeel said: 'The COVID-19 pandemic has had an immediate, disruptive impact on drug use, retail supply and services and has highlighted the special needs of people who use drugs.

'While the long-term impact of the pandemic remains to be assessed, in the short-term we are already noting changes, such as greater interest in the use of digital technologies in the drug market and innovation in drug treatment through e- and m-health solutions.

'We must be concerned, however, that, as the economic repercussions of the crisis take effect, some in our communities may become more vulnerable to drug problemsand drug market involvement, putting greater pressure on our already stretched services. It is essential therefore that we act rapidly to identify and address new threats that may emerge from this fast-evolving situation.'

Chair of the EMCDDA Management Board Laura d'Arrigo concludes: 'As we launch this year's European Drug Report and mark the EMCDDA's 25 years of monitoring, we are faced with a challenging drugs problem, exacerbated by the effects of COVID-19.

'The European balanced approach to the drug phenomenon is key to responding to the complex health and security threats posed by illicit drugs.

'Today's report reminds us that, more than ever, an objective assessment of the drugs situation in Europe is crucial for identifying effective responses and charting the way forward together'.
The Canadian group gunning to buy G4S for 3billion has asked to meet ministers in an effort to win their support for the deal.

GardaWorld has written to Business Secretary Alok Sharma requesting a meeting to discuss the hostile takeover and underlining it has a 'long-term' commitment to doing business in the UK.

The company's talks with the Government would likely include the possibility of making binding pledges to protect British jobs at G4S, which is one of the biggest private sector employers and a major public contractor. G4S's work during Covid has included running security at NHS Nightingale hospitals.

Driving force: GardaWorld's talks with the Government would likely include the possibility of making binding pledges to protect British jobs at G4S

GardaWorld launched its 190p-per-share bid last week. It was immediately rebuffed by G4S, which insists it is not enough. Several of G4S's biggest shareholders have also said the price is too low, though they have left the door open to a higher offer.

G4S released the latest in a string of updates about its finances yesterday. It said revenues had fallen by around 2 per cent in the first eight months of the year compared with 2019 and that the drop had been 'more than offset' by controlling costs.

By one measure of profits, it is now ahead of where it was last year, the company added.

But shares fell by more than 3.9 per cent despite the update and were last night sitting at 186p, below GardaWorld's offer price.

GardaWorld said: 'This is a management team that has simply run out of ideas. Covid has generally been positive for businesses like this and yet they use it as a fig leaf to disguise their own failings.'
Former Tahidi High actor Dennis Mugo, alias OJ, has a bone to pick with his former bosses at Citizen TV for rerunning the popular high school dramedy.

While airing his grievances on his YouTube channel, Mugo argued that it is unfair for TV stations to continue using his content yet he is no longer working for them.

After I left Tahidi High, someone told me they saw me on TV and I was like, I am no longer there. Only for me to realise they were repeating the show without telling me, he said, adding that they raised the issue with the bosses.

They explained to me that the contract we signed said they can do anything with that content. That thing still hurts me to date. It is where I get my daily bread.

According to OJ, their contracts did not stipulate how long Citizen TV should use actors content.

When we started acting, we were told to sign a contract that said, We as the company are allowed to use your image, but it does not tell you for how long. That means they will be making a coin from you even when you are dead, said OJ.

He cited the case of the late veteran actor, Derrick Amunga alias Master Sugu, who died six years ago.

Derrick Amunga is not alive. Can you imagine the kind of pain his family feels when they see him on screen yet they are not getting anything? posed Mugo.

OJ said actors contracts in Kenya need to be revised to reward thespians and protect upcoming ones from exploitation.

If they continue using our content, they should award us, especially during this corona pandemic, he said.

They should make us proud. I met a friend called Jane and she was like I see myself on the screen but in our area, I am broke and people keep asking me, what happened?

Mugo noted that some filmmakers fall into depression from seeing their content on TV but having nothing to show for it because they signed unfair contracts.
Lieutenant Governor, on Monday inaugurated a Conference on the Implementation of National Policy (NEP-2020) at Zorawar Singh Auditorium of Jammu University.

The conference was jointly organised by the Jammu University and the Department of Higher

On the occasion, LG said through New Policy, the Union Territory Administration's dedicated efforts would empower the youth of for bringing landmark changes in the region.

He said that the administration will emphasise on the in so that it can be implemented soon. "This is a land of mystic, artists, scientists, intellectuals, philosophers and poets. How can we forget the words of Laleshwari -My Guru gave a single perspective, turn your gaze from outside to inside. Fix it on the hidden self. When I look at this beautiful Union Territory of I do not only see the valleys, rivers and mountains. I see the bright minds, I see the beauty of the beautiful souls with such a high peak of awareness and that's why it is my strong belief that the impact of change is a which will be far greater in Jammu and Kashmir," he added.

He said that the (NEP) 2020 would empower the youth for nation-building.

"Education is the key to success and development. We want to make Jammu and Kashmir, the centre of knowledge, enterprise, innovation and skill development. NEP 2020 would empower the youth for nation-building," LG said.

He called for devising an institutional mechanism for sustained handholding of students for bringing improvements in the Education sector.

Sinha called for a focus on community development and tie-up with corporates, philanthropists and top education experts to ensure that students from disadvantaged backgrounds get an equal opportunity through scholarships.

"There is a need is to reap the benefits of a rich heritage of Jammu and Kashmir by imparting a holistic education, which should be deeper and far more modern," he added.

He also said that soon a new industrial policy will be announced which will boost the industrial sector.

(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.)
EV

AWD

Of course, this is not the first time we see the Lotus Evija on video , though seeing the model that embodies the future of the brand out on the historic Hethel racing circuit is always something worth celebrating. That, alongside the fact that Kershaw, the companys boss in terms of what they call vehicle attributes, is also enjoying the day out.He doesnt forget that he is out there with a specific job, though. So, the epic shots with the Lotus Driving Academy track and thehypercar are cleverly interspersed with a few explanations.Namely, the British brand wanted to give us more details on specific features... though we have to admit that we rolled past them the first time watching the video, captured by the eerie point of view presented by the on-board cameras.For example, we recommend checking up the engineering development vehicles battery pack sitting just behind the driver, which has been nicknamed Omega Pack 003. British automotive humor at its finest, it seems.Only during the second (or possibly third) viewing we start focusing on the things Kershaw explains, namely the Evijas five driving modes. These are designed to enable everyday usability and feature particular settings.For example, Range focuses on intelligently achieving the highest efficiency possible, while power is limited to 1,000 ps and just 800 Nm (590 lb. ft.). City is self-explanatory, and Tour enables automatic switching between RWD andwhile also upping power to 1,400 ps. Sport and Track are reserved for the performance sessions, switching to 1,700 and 2,000 ps, respectively - with full use of the maximum 1,700 Nm (1,254 lb. ft.) and the highest level of torque vectoring.
The US Army announced Friday it was stepping up its military deployment -- both troops and equipment -- in northeastern Syria despite a push to limit its presence there, a move that follows tensions with Russia in the region.

US Central Command (Centcom) "has deployed Sentinel radar, increased the frequency of US fighter patrols over US forces, and deployed Bradley Fighting Vehicles to augment US forces" in the area, which is controlled by the US and its Kurdish allies, spokesman Captain Bill Urban said in a statement.

The number of armored vehicles sent as reinforcement did not exceed half a dozen, and "less than 100 people" were sent to maneuver them, a US official who spoke on condition of anonymity said.

Without mentioning Russia, Urban said the moves were meant "to help ensure the safety and security of Coalition forces," and that the US "does not seek conflict with any other nation in Syria, but will defend Coalition forces if necessary."

The US official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said however that the actions "are a clear signal to Russia to adhere to mutual de-confliction processes and for Russia and other parties to avoid unprofessional, unsafe and provocative actions in northeast Syria."

US Bradley Fighting Vehicles were pulled out of the region last October by President Donald Trump, who tried in early 2019 to recall all US troops from Syria, before agreeing to leave a few hundred to protect oil wells.

Several incidents in recent weeks have pitted the US military against Russian forces now deployed along the Turkish border under an agreement with Ankara.

At the end of August, seven American soldiers were injured in a collision with a Russian vehicle.

Videos posted on Twitter, apparently filmed by witnesses and the Russians themselves, showed Russian armor and helicopters attempting to block American vehicles and then force them out of the area.

Story continues

The tanks were flown in from a base in Kuwait, anti-jihadist coalition spokesman Colonel Wayne Marotto said in another statement.

US and Russian troops frequently interact in Syria, but confrontations have been rare.

sl/mdl/bfm/st
President Donald Trump raced on Monday to cement a conservative majority on the US Supreme Court before the Nov. 3 election, telling reporters he planned by Saturday to reveal his pick to succeed liberal icon Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Democrats hope of keeping the seat empty faded when two Republican senators, Chuck Grassley and Cory Gardner, signaled their support for moving forward quickly.

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said he was zeroing in on one or two candidates among five who are under consideration. He called on the Senate, controlled by his fellow Republicans, to vote on confirmation before the election in which he is seeking a second term.

Id much rather have a vote before the election, he said. We have plenty of time to do it.

Two federal appeals court judges appointed by Trump are clear front-runners: Amy Coney Barrett of the Chicago-based 7th US Circuit Court of Appeals and Barbara Lagoa of the Atlanta-based 11th US Circuit Court of Appeals. Trump met with Barrett at the White House on Monday, according to a source familiar with the situation.

Ginsburg died on Friday of complications from pancreatic cancer at age 87.

Trumps announcement would come before Ginsburg is due to be buried privately at Arlington National Cemetery next week.

Officials have arranged for a public viewing of her body outside the Supreme Court on Wednesday and Thursday and inside the US Capitol on Friday.

Ginsburgs death gives Trump and his party an opportunity to establish a 6-3 conservative majority on a court whose decisions influence many spheres of American life including abortion, healthcare, gun rights, voting access, presidential powers and the death penalty.

With Republicans holding a 53-47 majority in the Senate, it would require at least four of them to break ranks to stop the nomination from going through. Two Republican senators - Maines Susan Collins and Alaskas Lisa Murkowski - said over the weekend that the chamber should not move forward with a Trump nominee before the election.

Democrats had hoped to get similar support from Gardner, who faces a tough re-election race in Colorado, and Grassley. But both men said on Monday they would vote to confirm a qualified Trump pick.

Republican Senator Mitt Romney, who has clashed with Trump and is seen by Democrats as a potential holdout, avoided questions about the Supreme Court seat on Monday.

Before I have any comment, Im going to meet with my colleagues, which Ill be doing tomorrow, Romney, the partys 2012 presidential nominee, told reporters.

Democrats have accused Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of hypocrisy for being eager to bring a Trump nominee to a confirmation vote. In 2016, he refused even to consider Democratic President Barack Obamas nominee to fill a vacancy on the court left by the death of conservative Justice Antonin Scalia, saying it would be inappropriate to do so during an election year.

McConnell, who has prioritized confirming Trumps judicial appointments, said he would usher through a vote this year, although he did not say exactly when.

The Senate has more than sufficient time to process a nomination. History and precedent make that perfectly clear, McConnell said on the Senate floor.

A new Congress will not be sworn in until Jan. 3. Democrats are hoping to win control of the Senate in the election.

Trump has already named two conservative justices to the high court, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh.

Ginsburgs dying wish

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said any vote should take place next year.

That was Justice Ginsburgs dying wish. And it may be the Senates only, last hope, Schumer said.

Trump said without evidence that he did not believe the National Public Radio report that Ginsburg had told her granddaughter she did not want the Senate to consider a successor until next year, when either Trump will begin a second term or Democratic rival Joe Biden, who leads in opinion polls, will take office.

It was just too convenient, Trump said.

Speaking of the possible candidates, Trump said: Theyre all outstanding but I have one or two that I have in mind. He called Barrett very respected.

He said he might meet with Lagoa in Miami later this week, adding: I dont know her but I hear shes outstanding.

Obstacles loom for either candidate in the bitterly divided Senate.

Barrett could face opposition from Collins and Murkowski over concerns that she would roll back abortion rights, said a source familiar with the confirmation process who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Lagoa, a Cuban American from the battleground state of Florida, is not as well known, which could slow down the confirmation process.

White House Counsel Pat Cipollone, Vice President Mike Pence, Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and Trumps son-in-law and adviser, Jared Kushner, are leading the selection process, the source said. Outside of White House officials, Leonard Leo, the former executive vice president of the Federalist Society, a conservative legal group, is playing a central advisory role.
A sculpture of brother and sister is pictured with protective masks on as people stroll in a park amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Seoul, Sept. 21, 2020. Reuters



South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases stayed below 100 for the third consecutive day Tuesday as the country's virus fight is at a critical juncture ahead of the Chuseok holiday, the Korean version of Thanksgiving. Millions are set to travel across the nation next week to celebrate the five-day holiday.



The country added 61 more COVID-19 cases, including 51 local infections, raising the total caseload to 23,106, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).



Tuesday's daily tally marks the lowest number since Aug. 13 when the comparable figure was 56.



The new virus cases also mark a further drop from the 82 and 70 cases reported Sunday and Monday, respectively.



The country's new daily infections had been in the triple digits since Aug. 14 due to cases tied to a church in Seoul and an anti-government rally, until falling below 100 over the weekend.



On Sunday, the government decided to extend nationwide virus curbs for another week on concerns that the spread of the virus may worsen again during the upcoming Chuseok holiday, which runs from Sept. 30 to Oct. 4.



South Korea also celebrates a three-day break from Oct. 9 to 11 to celebrate the Korean alphabet.



Under the decision, the country will maintain the Level 2 social distancing scheme, which has been under way since late August, until Sunday. After that, the government will implement a two-week special virus infection preventive scheme.



South Korea operates a three-tier social distancing system. Under the second level, all indoor gatherings of 50 or more people are banned, while the ceiling is 100 for outdoor meetings.



The country also restricts operations of high-risk facilities, such as bars, clubs and karaoke establishments, under the Level 2 social distancing scheme as well. Public facilities, such as museums and libraries, are also closed.



Health authorities warned that a massive migration of people during the upcoming holiday will "surely" cause another wave of the nationwide pandemic, urging people to stay home over the autumn harvest holiday.



Normally, millions of South Koreans travel across the nation to meet their families and relatives.



South Korea already has been announcing preventive measures for Chuseok, including banning people from eating at highway gas stations. Train operators will sell tickets for window seats only.



Of the additional locally transmitted cases, 20 came from Seoul, and 14 were reported from the surrounding Gyeonggi Province. Incheon, located west of Seoul, added two more patients.



Infections tied to last month's anti-government rallies came to 619 as of Monday.



An online retailer based in southern Seoul reported 13 COVID-19 patients. Ten more patients were also traced to a residential building in the area, raising the total to 24 as of Monday.



In Busan, three more patients were reported from Dong-A University, raising the total number of related cases to 12.



The number of patients in serious or critical condition came to 164, up three from the previous day.



The number of imported cases came to 10.



The death toll rose by three to 388.



A total of 20,441 people have been released from quarantine after making full recoveries, up 193 from the previous day. (Yonhap)


Screenworks has launched its 2021 Career Pathway Programs and is now calling for applications from early-career screenwriters, directors and producers who are living in regional NSW.

The three programs  Inside the Writers Room, Director Pathways Program and Regional Producer Elevator Program will provide opportunities for early-career practitioners to observe, connect with and learn from industry professionals.

We have been running these programs for close to six years now and the feedback as well as the outcomes that we see from participants is inspiring, explained Screenworks CEO Ken Crouch.

Our industry partners help ensure this is a unique, practical and valuable experience enabling the participants to connect with opportunities in the screen industry and to advance their careers.

Northern Rivers based Director and Writer Clare Sladden who attended the Joan Scheckel Action Lab in Los Angeles said, The action lab was intense, emotional, practical and creatively stimulating. I came away from the lab with new skills and a deeper understanding of my creative vision. I am currently in post-production on From Her Rib, the project I took through the lab, which will be released as an Audible Original podcast.

Screenworks Career Pathway Programs are made possible with support from Screen NSW and Fremantle, as well as some of Australias leading production companies and industry guilds who partner with Screenworks on relevant programs.

Screenworks Director Pathways Program is delivered in partnership with the Australian Directors Guild. The program will support the bespoke career plans of two regional NSW screen directors by investing $3,500 toward their professional development and providing relevant screen industry introductions and opportunities.

Screenworks Regional Producer Elevator Program is delivered with support from Screen Producers Australia, Fremantle and Screen ABC. The two selected participants will each receive $3,500 toward their career plan as well as project, skills and career advice from an experienced producer, attendance at relevant industry conferences and events being delivered by Screen Producers Australia and attendance at Screenworks annual producing seminar held in Ballina in March 2021.

Screenworks Inside the Writers Room will provide three regional NSW screenwriters with the opportunity to sit with professional writers in a writers room environment working on the story for a television script. The production partners the 2021 program include: Every Cloud Productions (SeaChange, Miss Fishers Murder Mysteries), Fremantle (Wentworth, Neighbours), and See-Saw Films (The Kings Speech, Top of the Lake)

Each of these programs are designed to support regional practitioners who have some industry experience and are looking to further their careers.

Deadline: Monday November 2nd.
Actor and comedian Mike Epps treated his fans on Instagram with a super adorable snapshot of his 6-month-old baby girl, Indiana Rose, and fans cannot help but fall in love.

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Mike Epps's daughter Indiana Rose is growing up too fast! Seems like yesterday the baby girl came into the world but she is 6 months old already and looks so much like her famous father.

Epps recently shared a sweet new photo of the baby girl on Instagram and his fans were delighted. In the snap, Indiana donned a blue outfit with text that read, "Sweetest Colts Baby."

Mike Epps and Kyra Robinson attend the LA premiere of Netflix's "Dolemite Is My Name" on September 28, 2019. | Source: Getty Images

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LITTLE CUTIE

Looks like the baby girl's cute curly hair is growing as well. She also has her ears pierced and wore studs in the photo. In the comment section, fans gushed about Indiana's cuteness.

While it is clear that Indiana shares a resemblance with her famous father, many fans opined that the little one looks like her grandma, Mary Reed. Good genes definitely run in the Epps family.

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Back in March, Epps and his wife, Kyra Robinson, introduced the world to their bundle of joy. The comedian shared an adorable video of his daughter on Instagram and quipped that she is rolling her eyes already.

Not much is known about Epps' daughter Makayla who is said to be the biological sister of Bria.

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MIKE IS A GIRL DAD

Indiana is the first biological child of Epps and Robinson. She was born on March 12, 2020. Besides Indiana, Epps has four daughters, Maddie, Makayla, Bria, and Mariah, from his previous relationships.

Epps shares his daughter, Madison, and Mariah, with his ex-wife, Mechelle McCain. The two met on the set of the movie "The Fighting Temptations" in 2003 and were married from 2006 to 2017.

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After divorcing McCain in 2016, Epps walked down the aisle with Robinson on June 23, 2019. They exchanged vows in an intimate ceremony at the Resort at Pelican Hill in the presence of 200 of closest family and friends.

Before he became a married man, the actor fathered his eldest daughter, Bria, with his former partner. He became a grandfather for the first time when she welcomed an adorable daughter, Skylar, in 2012.

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HE LONGED FOR A SON

Not much is known about Epps' daughter Makayla who is said to be the biological sister of Bria. She does not make appearances on her dad's social media very often and her life is pretty private.

Epps adores his daughters, but he always wished he had a son. He once joked how his mother, who had eight sons and one daughter, wanted daughters and now he has all the girls she wanted.
Madrid residents were told to limit their movements to 'what is essential' today as police checkpoints returned and the army prepared to fight the coronavirus outbreak at the epicentre of Europe's second wave.

Health minister Salvador Illa urged people to avoid non-essential contact across the city - not just in the poorer areas where new restrictions took effect on Monday.

Madrid recorded nearly 12,000 new cases over the weekend and 144 people have died in the capital in the last week, a third of Spain's total.

Excess mortality in the city - seen by epidemiologists as the best way of comparing death statistics - reached 29 per cent in the first two weeks of September, compared to nine per cent in Spain as a whole and 63 per cent nationwide at the height of the pandemic.

Madrid has called in the army to help it fight the outbreak while police were manning checkpoints today in the hard-hit capital - with Britain's top health officials warning that the UK could be heading in the same direction.

French hospitals are also coming under strain in the hotspots of Marseille and Bordeaux while Russia today saw its highest infection count for more than two months as the rebound continues across the continent.

Checkpoint: A Spanish police officer speaks to a motorist in Fuenlabrada in the Madrid region today after 850,000 people were put back into partial lockdown

Spain's coronavirus cases have climbed to beyond the levels seen in the spring, with the country suffering the most severe second wave in Western Europe

The death toll has started to tick up again as well although it is well below the levels at the height of the pandemic

While Spain as a whole has not seen hospitals overwhelmed as they were in the spring, Madrid's intensive care wards are starting to fill up with virus patients.

Operating rooms in the Madrid region, which has a population of 6.6 million, are already being turned into ICUs while some surgeries have been postponed.

Madrid has more than 400 people currently in intensive care, by far the largest share out of 1,400 ICU patients across Spain.

Covid-19 patients are filling up 25 per cent of Madrid's hospital beds, compared to a national rate of less than ten per cent.

'Right now it is primary care that is treating most of the mild cases but we are starting to notice the pressure in hospitals,' said Fernando Simon, the head of Spain's health emergency center.

The capital is carrying out around 20,000 tests a day at one of the highest screening rates in Spain, according to official figures.

The crisis could herald a return of the makeshift hospitals which became a symbol of the height of the pandemic in Europe.

Regional premier Isabel Diaz Ayuso wants new hospital capacity but has faced protests from residents over lockdown measures affecting poorer areas of the city.

The Madrid mini-lockdown affects 26 areas spread across six districts in the Spanish capital and another 11 in municipalities which are in the larger Madrid region.

More than 855,000 people are registered as living in the densely-populated, low-income lockdown zones, accounting for around 13 per cent of the Madrid regions population but 24 per cent of its virus infections.

Bars and restaurants are having to close at 10pm and the maximum number of customers has been slashed by half. Childrens parks have also had to shut.

Cinemas, libraries and theatres remain open but the number of people able to use them has also been reduced, with police carrying out checks at traffic checkpoints today.

Spain - and Madrid in particular - are the worst-affected places in Europe's second wave, as shown on this map from the European Centre for Disease Control

A driver wearing a mask shows items to a local police officer in the town of Fuenlabrada which is affected by the new lockdown rules

Police officers signal for a car to stop at a traffic checkpoint in the Madrid region on Tuesday

Madrid authorities said they had chosen those areas because transmission levels exceeded a threshold 1,000 cases per 100,000 people.

But residents blamed their overcrowded transport system where commuters are 'packed like sardines' and said the new lockdown was 'discrimination'.

Ayuso has requested help from the military in another echo of the spring, when thousands of Spanish troops were deployed to help fight the pandemic.

'We need help from the army for disinfection ... and to strengthen local police and law enforcement,' Ayuso said after meeting Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez.

Sanchez warned of 'very tough weeks ahead' and said Madrid needs a 'special plan' amid signs of lockdown measures being extended across the city.

'I recommend to Madrilenians that these next few days they restrict their mobility to the maximum, to what is essential,' health minister Illa said, according to RTVE.

Illa said the situation in the capital was 'worrying and complex', but rejected calls for a full state of emergency like the one imposed in the spring.

Madrid mayor Jose Luis Martinez Almeida added: 'We cannot allow the measures taken in 37 health areas not to work.

'Movement should be limited to that which is essential.'

Meanwhile, Catalan government today recommended its citizens should avoid travelling to Madrid unless it was 'strictly necessary.'

Catalan president Quim Torra also said temperature checks would take place at train stations and airports in the region on travellers arriving from Madrid.

MADRID CASES: Infections in the capital have soared above the rates in the spring, although deaths have not

Britain's own rebound in cases has sparked fears that the UK is heading in a similar direction to Spain, with ministers being warned that Britain may be around six weeks behind

Spain's death rate is currently the worst in Western Europe, prompting fears that the UK's could also increase if there is a similar rise in cases

Spain ordered one of the world's toughest lockdowns at the height of the crisis, with exercise not treated as a valid excuse for leaving the house.

The country as a whole recorded 168 new deaths over the weekend of which 24 were in Madrid, bringing the capital's overall death toll past 9,000.

Figures from Spanish registry offices show that Madrid saw 29 per cent more deaths than expected in the first two weeks of September, according to El Pais.

Some experts see excess mortality as the most accurate measure of the pandemic's impact, because it includes deaths where the patient was never tested for Covid-19.

Excess deaths could also reflect cases where people died because medical treatment was limited or missing because of the pressures of the pandemic.

In Spain as a whole, the death rate was as high as 63 per cent above the norm during the worst period of the pandemic.

According to European database MoMo, it has moved outside the normal range again in the last few weeks amid a mountain of new infections.

Neighbouring France has also seen its death toll edge up with 53 new deaths announced on Monday, bringing the total to 31,338.

Marseille is at the epicentre of France's new outbreak and intensive care wards in the Mediterranean city's hospitals are full of virus patients.

Private hospitals such as the Clinique Bouchard-Elsan are helping to handle the spillover after nearly emptying their Covid wards over the summer.

'It's not doing our job that is tiring. What's tiring is a second wave because people do not respect social distancing,' said managing director David Fleyrat.

MADRID: Protesters wearing masks walk the streets during a demonstration on Sunday against lockdown measures coming into effect in some neighbourhoods this week

MARSEILLE: Medical staff prepare to enter a room to treat a coronavirus patient at an intensive care unit of a military hospital in the French city

Staff feel reassured that the hospital is better equipped with masks and gloves compared to the spring, says nurse Nathalie Roche.

'But of course, psychologically, it's still an extra weight,' Roche said as more and more patients are brought in for life-saving treatment.

French president Emmanuel Macron is determined avoid a second nationwide lockdown and says the country must learn to live with the virus.

But with no clarity on when a vaccine will be found, his government is struggling to find the balance between containing the virus and opening the economy.

'During the first wave, staff were quite willing to venture into the unknown,' intensive care doctor Jean-Gabriel Castagnedoli said.

'This time, the atmosphere is not the same. The staff are less willing, they don't want to relive it all.'

Britain's chief medical adviser Chris Whitty yesterday warned that the UK's rates of infection were following in the footsteps of France and Spain.

Germany and Italy have also seen alarming rises in cases, bringing them close to the threshold at which Britain will consider re-imposing quarantine rules.

Ministers say they will consider action when a country reaches 20 cases per 100,000 people in a week, with Italy currently on 17.8 and Germany on 14.8.

Spain and France have already had their 'travel corridors' scrapped along with other countries such as Belgium and Austria.

Elsewhere, Russia today saw its highest daily infection count for more than two months as 6,215 more people tested positive.

Cases had been slowly but surely coming down for months in Russia, which has the fourth-largest outbreak in the world with 1.1million cases.

But a recent uptick has led to more than 40,000 cases in a week for the first time since mid-July.

Russia registered a vaccine in August despite it having not completed late-stage trials, causing consternation among scientists.

The so-called Sputnik V jab was developed by Moscow's Gamaleya Institute with Russia's government turning the vaccine race into a matter of national prestige.
By Renee Maltezou and Tuvan Gumrukcu ATHENS/ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey and Greece have agreed to resume talks over their contested maritime claims in the eastern Mediterranean after a four year hiatus following weeks of tensions that culminated in a collision between their warships.

By Renee Maltezou and Tuvan Gumrukcu

ATHENS/ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey and Greece have agreed to resume talks over their contested maritime claims in the eastern Mediterranean after a four year hiatus following weeks of tensions that culminated in a collision between their warships.

The talks, which broke off in 2016 after 60 rounds that made little progress over 14 years, will resume in "the near future" in Istanbul, the Greek Foreign Ministry said in a statement, without elaborating.

Turkey also gave no timing for a resumption of the talks but a senior official said they could begin by the end of the month. "There are positive developments," the official said.

Tensions flared last month after Ankara sent its Oruc Reis seismic survey ship into disputed waters, escorted by gunboats, to map out sea territory for possible oil and gas drilling.

A Turkish and a Greek warship collided during the standoff.

Since then, Turkey has recalled the Oruc Reis, saying the move would allow for diplomacy ahead of an EU summit where members Greece, Cyprus and France are pushing for tough action against Turkey. The meeting was postponed on Tuesday to Oct. 1-2.

On Tuesday, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan held a video summit with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose country has mediated in the dispute, and EU Council President Charles Michel.

"At the summit, where developments in the eastern Mediterranean were ... discussed, it was stated that Turkey and Greece are ready to start exploratory talks," Turkey's presidency said in a statement.

Omer Celik, spokesman for Erdogan's ruling AK Party, said preparations for the resumption of talks were under way and that the two sides were working on the parameters.

Erdogan said he hoped the EU summit would bring new impetus to Turkey-EU ties, adding steps on updating a customs union between the two sides, visa-free travel and migration would help put ties on a positive basis.

In a video address to the U.N. General Assembly, Erdogan also called for a regional conference of Mediterranean coastal states, which he said should include the breakaway Turkish Cypriots, to address maritime disputes.

Turkey has two oil and gas exploration ships in waters off the coast of the divided island of Cyprus, angering authorities in Nicosia. Ankara does not recognise the southern Greek Cypriot government on the divided island, and is the only country to recognise the Turkish Cypriot state to the north.

Turkey has also signed a maritime demarcation deal with Libya which conflicts with a rival deal between Greece and Egypt.

Erdogan said Turkey preferred to solve disagreements "justly and in an appropriate way" through talks, but added that "futile" attempts to exclude Turkey from plans in the eastern Mediterranean could not succeed.

(Additional reporting by Orhan Coskun and Ali Kucukgocmen; Writing by Dominic Evans; Editing by William Maclean and Alison Williams)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Members of the Iran-backed Hezbollah group cordoned off the area around the blast site in the village of Ayn Qana, according to a source linked to the armed group. They spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue. A Lebanese security source, speaking on the condition of anonymity for the same reason, and Lebanons al-Jadeed television channel, reported that the blast had resulted in a small number of injuries.




Taiwan on Tuesday demanded that China "back off" and accused it of threatening peace, after a Beijing official rejected a largely respected marine boundary following recent incursions.







Foreign minister Joseph Wu urged Beijing to "return to the civilised international standards" after a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said there was no so-called median line in the Taiwan Strait "as Taiwan is an inseparable part of Chinese territory".







Wu told reporters: "The median line has been a symbol of preventing military conflicts and maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait for many years. The Chinese foreign ministry's comment is equivalent of destroying the status quo."







"I call on the international community to condemn the CCP for its dangerous and provocative words and deeds threatening peace... China must back off," he added in a tweet.







China considers Taiwan part of its territory, to be absorbed into the mainland, by force if necessary, even though it has been self-ruled for more than seven decades.







Beijing has ratcheted up pressure on the democratic island since the 2016 election of President Tsai Ing-wen, who rejects its view that Taiwan is part of "one China".







Last year, Taiwan accused China of violating a long-held tacit agreement after its fighter jets  for the first time in years  crossed the median line of the waters that separate the two sides.







Washington's increased outreach to Taiwan under President Donald Trump has become yet another flashpoint with Beijing, as the US and China clash over a range of trade and security issues, as well as the coronavirus pandemic.







In recent months Taiwan has reported a sharp rise in incursions by Chinese warplanes into its air defence identification zone (ADIZ). (AFP)


Paulo Costa fights like hes an NFL linebacker on a blitz who has to get to the quarterback before he can hit the open receiver streaking down the field.

The unbeaten Brazilian is always going as fast as he can with as much evil intent as he can deliver, whenever hes in the cage, whether its in a title match or a bout on the preliminary card.

Hell face Israel Adesanya on Saturday (10 p.m. ET, ESPN+ PPV) in Abu Dhabi in the main event of UFC 253 for the middleweight title and hell do it his way.

Im going out there to finish him, Costa told Yahoo Sports. Im coming to show who I am. What I came here to do is to finish this guy and become the face of [the UFC].

Not surprisingly, the early days of his style were formed by watching tapes of one of his countrymen, Wanderlei Silva.

Costa, 29, got into MMA by watching DVDs of PRIDE and UFC fights. He was motivated by several fighters, but none moreso than Silva. "The Axe Murderer" is one of the most entertaining fighters in the sports history and he went as hard as he could for as long as he could each time out.

Costa is 13-0 going into his title shot, and the only fight he didnt finish was his last one, a decision over Yoel Romero at UFC 241 on Aug. 17, 2019. In his other 12 fights, he scored 11 knockouts and 1 submission, and ended his first nine pro bouts in the first round.

He said he was inspired as a young man by the exploits of his countrymen such as Silva, Mauricio Shogun Rua, Anderson Silva and twin brothers Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.

But he owes much of his approach to Wanderlei Silva.

Those guys pushed into me, into my mind, my sense of style as a fighter, Costa said. When I saw those guys fight, it made me so excited and it inspired me to try to do that, to bring back the old-school Vale Tudo fighting. I like the way they did it in the old days.

Paulo Costa (13-0) will get his first UFC title shot Saturday in the main event of UFC 253 at the Flash Forum in Abu Dhabi. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

He cant, though, just attack wildly with no strategy, because Adesanya is a brilliant strategist and expert counter-striker. Costas plan is to apply pressure, but what he calls smart pressure.

Story continues

Hes not interested in wading into Adesanyas zone and have the champion land a few then dance out of the way. And hes not going to fight Adesanya the way Yoel Romero did at UFC 248.

If I just went there and stood in front of Adesanya the way Romero did, it would be the exact same fight and who would want to see that? he said. Im a guy who you know is going to bring the fight, but Im not going to do it like a dumb man and just go run at him. No, thats not going to happen.

Im an educated fighter and I know I have to use my mind as well as my [physical] skills. I am a very good and smart striker. People will see that Im not just a strong man. I am a very smart guy and I know how to set up a plan and execute it.

Costa said the 30-foot cage that will be used in Abu Dhabi, as opposed to the 25-foot cage that is used in Las Vegas at Apex, will give Adesanya more room to move and create angles.

But Costa said its a misnomer to believe that hell just allow Adesanya to stick and move.

Hes going to try to run away a lot, we know this, Costa said. He wants to avoid the collision, but he cannot do that forever. Whether its the first round or the second round, Im going to get him into position where he cant avoid the fight and that will be the opportunity for me to show who is the best in this game.

More from Yahoo Sports:
GRAND RAPIDS, MI  Gerber plans to spend up to $36 million to expand production of freeze-dried snacks at its Fremont plant, a move thats expected to create 50 jobs over two years.

The baby food manufacturer says it will add freeze dryers and other machinery used to make the freeze-dried snacks, known as melts, which Gerber says is its fastest growing product.

We are thrilled to see the number of Gerber Fremont employees grow with the advancement of our Snack portfolio with melts, Andrew Willis, Factory Manager at Gerber, said in a statement. We take great pride being the home of Gerber, and we are looking forward to many more years of growth and commitment within the Fremont community.

As part of its expansion, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation board on Tuesday approved Gerbers request for a 10-year Renaissance Zone designation. The designation means Gerber would not have to pay taxes on its equipment or property. The MEDC estimates the designation will cut Gerbers tax bill by $6.5 million over a decade.

Gerber must create 50 jobs over the 10-year span as part of the renaissance zone agreement. The company told the MEDC the new jobs will be for full-time line workers with an estimated salary of $21 per hour.

A representative of Gerber could not immediately be reached to say when the expansion will begin.

Fremont is located about 45 northwest of Grand Rapids.

Andria Romkema, a spokesperson for The Right Place, a Grand Rapids-based economic development group that helped facilitate the expansion, said the project will begin immediately.

Gerbers parent company, Nestle, was considering making the expansion at either Gerbers Fremont facility or a Gerber location in Fort Smith, Arkansas, according to an MEDC memo. The Renaissance Zone incentive was needed to compete with Arkansass retention tools and to secure any future investment and job creation in Michigan.

If Nestle had decided to expand the freeze dry line in Arkansas, the company would have cut 100 jobs at its Fremont plant and phase-out, over time, the plants aseptic line. Phasing out the aseptic line would have resulted in the loss of about 300 jobs and ensure that consideration for future investment and job creation would go to Fort Smith.

We are pleased Gerber has chosen to continue investing in Newaygo County, Newaygo County Administrator Christopher Wren said in a statement. They provide quality jobs for local residents and we look forward to seeing their continued growth in our community.

Gerber was founded in Fremont in 1928 by Dan Gerber. The company was sold Nestle in 2007.

Read more:

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More than 2.39 million Michigan voters have requested absentee ballots so far, according to the Secretary of States office.

Thats more than 31% of the 7.7 million people registered to vote in Michigan and 35% of the states 6.7 million active voters.

Jake Rollow, spokesperson for the Secretary of States office, announced the number at a Tuesday press briefing. The record-breaking number dwarfs the 587,618 absentee ballot requests made ahead of the 2016 general election, before Proposal 3 passed and expanded voting rights in 2018.

Related: Michigan approves Proposal 3s election reforms

More than 2.5 million people voted in the August primary election and 1.6 million of them cast absentee ballots.

Ballots for the Nov. 3 presidential election are expected to be mailed to voters this week.

The Secretary of State encourages voters to fill out their absentee ballots and mail them back to their clerks office by Oct. 19 at the latest.

Request your ballots early, fill them out and send them back early to avoid the possibility of postal delays, Rollow said.

The influx of absentee ballots has pushed clerks across the state to hire more election workers for their offices and absentee ballot counting boards. The Secretary of State has recruited more than 20,000 people to be deployed to work the election, Rollow said.

Rollow said clerks' offices now have the equipment, high-speed ballot tabulators and staffing to handle the election, but they still need more time to preprocess absentee ballots. Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson has spoken to clerks more a dozen times in the past few weeks and theyre frustrated with the short amount of time theyre given to process absentee ballots, according to Rollow.

Currently, clerks arent allowed to open or process absentee ballots until 7 a.m. on Election Day. On Sept. 15, the Michigan Senate voted 34-2 to approve a bill that would allow clerks to open ballots between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Nov. 2, one day before the election.

If the bill is passed by the House and signed by the governor, clerks in cities with more than 25,000 residents will be able to open the outer envelope of an absentee ballot. The ballots wouldnt be removed from the secrecy sleeve, which would be placed in a secured box and examined by a county canvasser. Ballots could not legally be processed or counted until Election Day.

Related: Michigan clerks begin mailing absentee ballots this week

Some Michigan clerks dont think thats enough time. Seventeen clerks from around Michigan signed a letter urging the legislature to allow seven days to preprocess absentee ballots before an election.

Rollow said the bill only covers the basics and legislation that enables clerks to preprocess absentee ballots so they can be counted quickly on election day must be passed.

Clerks need more time and more ability to preprocess absentee ballots, Rollow said.

Rollow said the lag time between when the election ends and when results are finalized gives people or countries without the best interest of our democracy an opportunity to scrutinize the voting process.

Certainly, the president has expressed skepticism in the process, Rollow said. We have a lag in results because clerks are taking their time and being diligent.

More than 270,000 absentee ballots have already been sent out to voters. The remaining requested absentee ballots will be sent beginning Thursday, Sept. 24. Those can be returned by mail or in person at a clerks office or drop boxes.

Clerks started sending ballots to military and overseas voters Sept. 19 via mail, email and fax. Those ballots must be returned by mail.

Read more on MLive:

Appeals court rules sending absentee ballot applications to all registered voters was legal

Michigan Senate passes bill to allow absentee ballot processing to begin one day early

Michigan extends special appointments, extended hours for license renewals through October
CAIRO  Members of the Egyptian Committee on Libya, which is made up of current diplomats and intelligence officers, visited Sept. 14 the commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA), Khalifa Hifter, in Libyas eastern city of Benghazi. The visit has raised questions about the reasons behind this surprise move.

It was the second time in a month that a high-level Egyptian delegation meets with Hifter. On Aug. 18, Hifter had met with a delegation headed by the head of Egypts military intelligence agency, Maj-Gen. Khaled Megawer.

Observers have linked the Sept. 14 visit to the latest Egyptian moves in the Libyan file after Cairo hosted talks with a delegation from western Libya on Sept. 7. Analysts believe that the meeting may point to a marginalization of Hifter in favor of his ally Aguila Saleh, head of the Tobruk-based parliament.

According to the Egyptian Middle East News Agency (MENA), the Sept. 14 meeting focused on common issues between the two countries and the latest developments on the regional and international levels. The Egyptian delegation has, according to MENA, stressed the need to resume the political process and enforce a cease-fire in Libya.

On the same day, the Egyptian delegation met with Saleh to discuss the need to reach an urgent political solution to the Libyan crisis, parliamentary spokesman Abdallah Abaihig said in a press statement Sept. 14. He added, The two sides also tackled the situation in Libya and ways to end the conflict. The Egyptian delegation stressed the need to return to the political track and enforce a cease-fire in Libya.

In this context, Egyptian member of parliament Mustafa Bakri told Al-Monitor that the Egyptian visit to Libya aimed to find out about the Libyan positions on the latest round of negotiations held in Cairo. The delegation included Egyptian experts and researchers and members of the [Egyptian] Committee on Libya tasked with collecting data on the latest political developments and the recent demonstrations, he said, in reference to the protests that erupted in Tripoli and Benghazi.

On Sept. 7, Cairo hosted a delegation from western Libya, made up of members of the parliament and the High Council of State, for the first time since relations between Egypt and the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) deteriorated after head of the GNA Fayez al-Sarraj signed two agreements on security cooperation and maritime jurisdiction areas with Turkey in November 2019. During the talks, the two sides agreed on the need to announce a road map to end the transitional phase in Libya, set a date for elections no later than October 2021, in addition to resuming flights between Cairo and Tripoli.

Bakri said, The Egyptian Foreign Ministry and the Egyptian intelligence agency have received instructions from the political leadership to find common grounds between Libyas [rival] parties that would pave the way for a political solution based on the Cairo initiative.

LNA spokesman Maj. Gen. Ahmed al-Mismari refused to comment to Al-Monitor on Hifters position on the negotiations taking place in Cairo and Morocco. However, during a press conference Sept. 16, Mismari said, We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. The two parties [LNA and pro-government forces] are committed to a cease-fire in order to give a chance to the political solution that Libyans seek.  We will continue to fight to achieve sovereignty for our land.

The Egyptian efforts have coincided with talks held in Morocco between representatives from the Tripoli-based High Council of State and from the Tobruk-based parliament, with the aim to reach a comprehensive agreement on the mechanisms needed to assign sovereign positions and unify them.

Bakri, the Egyptian member of parliament who is close to the authorities, said that Morocco aims to create a new agreement dubbed Skhirat 2 in reference to the Skhirat Agreement that Morocco brokered in December 2015. These Moroccan efforts are in contrast with the Egyptian-sponsored talks that seek to build on the Cairo initiative aimed to reach a Libyan-Libyan solution.

Rokha Hassan, a member of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs, believes the Egyptian delegations visit to Libya comes as part of the latest efforts to unify Libyas rival parties.

Hassan told Al-Monitor that the Libyan rounds of talks in Morocco and Egypt may be an attempt to pave the way for a larger political dialogue in Geneva to form a presidential council made up of three figures representing the three Libyan provinces in the west, east and southwest.

Meanwhile, Sarraj announced Sept. 16 that he will step down by the end of October. The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) described Sarrajs decision as a courageous step, saying in a Sept. 17 statement, Building on the statements issued by [Sarraj] and Speaker of the House of Representatives [Aguila] Saleh on 21 August 2020, and recent meetings between key Libyan parties in Montreux in Switzerland, Morocco and Egypt, we have an opportunity to restart the fully inclusive intra-Libyan political dialogue, which the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) intends to move forward with at the earliest opportunity."

But, Hassan added, Theoretically, these [Moroccan and Egyptian] steps are aimed at peace, but their implementation on the ground may prove difficult, referring to the complicated situation that has resulted from Hifters offensive launched against Tripoli in April 2019. According to Hassan, the offensive has proved to be a major mistake that later led to Turkeys intervention in the Libyan crisis by sending Syrian mercenaries to Libya, further complicating the situation.

After Hifter suffered a series of setbacks in his offensive against Tripoli, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi announced in June, in the presence of Hifter himself and Saleh, the Cairo initiative, which calls for UN-supervised elections for the three provinces within 90 days. The initiative was widely welcomed by the international community, while observers saw it as an Egyptian plan to reduce Hifters influence in Libya in favor of Saleh.

On Hifters role and future in the ongoing negotiations, Hassan believes there is a will to include new faces different from the figures that are currently leading the Libyan scene. Egypts interests lie in the need to achieve stability and reach a peaceful solution in Libya, and it [Egypt] does not depend on figures or specific people, Hassan added, explaining that if need be, Egypt is ready to witch its alliances with another figure.

Claudia Gazzini, a senior analyst for Libyan affairs at the International Crisis Group, told Al-Monitor, Hifter does not support the leadership role that Saleh is seeking to fill [in eastern Libya], and he has not backed the Moroccan-led talks. He also refuses to support any diplomatic solution that aims to isolate him.

Gazzini added, Cairo has indeed shown signs to isolate Hifter while at the same time improving Salehs image. This has led to a dispute between the Egyptian authorities and Hifter.

She added, I dont think anyone is ready to abandon Hifter officially  at least as a military leader  as long as there is tension and the threat of war in Libya. But what is certain is that there is no room for Hifter to play a pioneering political role in Libya, and he is not part of the [plans] of his closest allies, like Russia and the United Arab Emirates.

However, Bakri believes the LNA is needed to dismantle the militias and play an important role in achieving stability on the border with Egypt. This is why Cairo will not let go of its leader [Hifter].
The image on the left shows the force activity of a cell at a resolution of about 250 nanometers. The image on the right shows how much clearer and crisper the image becomes with the resolution of 25 nanometers that is now possible with the new technique. Credit:

Scientists have developed a new technique using tools made of luminescent DNA, lit up like fireflies, to visualize the mechanical forces of cells at the molecular level. Nature Methods published the work, led by chemists at Emory University, who demonstrated their technique on human blood platelets in laboratory experiments.

"Normally, an optical microscope cannot produce images that resolve objects smaller than the length of a light wave, which is about 500 nanometers," says Khalid Salaita, Emory professor of chemistry and senior author of the study. "We found a way to leverage recent advances in optical imaging along with our molecular DNA sensors to capture forces at 25 nanometers. That resolution is akin to being on the moon and seeing the ripples caused by raindrops hitting the surface of a lake on the Earth."

Almost every biological process involves a mechanical component, from cell division to blood clotting to mounting an immune response. "Understanding how cells apply forces and sense forces may help in the development of new therapies for many different disorders," says Salaita, whose lab is a leader in devising ways to image and map bio-mechanical forces.

The first authors of the paper, Joshua Brockman and Hanquan Su, did the work as Emory graduate students in the Salaita lab. Both recently received their Ph.D.s.

The researchers turned strands of synthetic DNA into molecular tension probes that contain hidden pockets. The probes are attached to receptors on a cell's surface. Free-floating pieces of DNA tagged with fluorescence serve as imagers. As the unanchored pieces of DNA whizz about they create streaks of light in microscopy videos.

When the cell applies force at a particular receptor site, the attached probes stretch out causing their hidden pockets to open and release tendrils of DNA that are stored inside. The free-floating pieces of DNA are engineered to dock onto these DNA tendrils. When the florescent DNA pieces dock, they are briefly demobilized, showing up as still points of light in the microscopy videos.

Different colors are used to show the effect of capturing over time the still points of light that signal the force activity of a cell. Credit: Microscopy photos by Alisina Bazrafshan

Hours of microscopy video are taken of the process, then speeded up to show how the points of light change over time, providing the molecular-level view of the mechanical forces of the cell.

The researchers use a firefly analogy to describe the process.

"Imagine you're in a field on a moonless night and there is a tree that you can't see because it's pitch black out," says Brockman, who graduated from the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, a joint program of Georgia Tech and Emory, and is now a post-doctoral fellow at Harvard. "For some reason, fireflies really like that tree. As they land on all the branches and along the trunk of the tree, you could slowly build up an image of the outline of the tree. And if you were really patient, you could even detect the branches of the tree waving in the wind by recording how the fireflies change their landing spots over time."

The synthetic DNA probes (light brown) are anchored to a cell surface (in teal). The free-floating DNA imagers are represented in fluorescent green. Credit: Pushkar Shinde

"It's extremely challenging to image the forces of a living cell at a high resolution," says Su, who graduated from Emory's Department of Chemistry and is now a post-doctoral fellow in the Salaita lab. "A big advantage of our technique is that it doesn't interfere with the normal behavior or health of a cell."

Another advantage, he adds, is that DNA bases of A, G, T and C, which naturally bind to one another in particular ways, can be engineered within the probe-and-imaging system to control specificity and map multiple forces at one time within a cell.

"Ultimately, we may be able to link various mechanical activities of a cell to specific proteins or to other parts of cellular machinery," Brockman says. "That may allow us to determine how to alter the cell to change and control its forces."

By using the technique to image and map the mechanical forces of platelets, the cells that control blood clotting at the site of a wound, the researchers discovered that platelets have a concentrated core of mechanical tension and a thin rim that continuously contracts. "We couldn't see this pattern before but now we have a crisp image of it," Salaita says. "How do these mechanical forces control thrombosis and coagulation? We'd like to study them more to see if they could serve as a way to predict a clotting disorder."

Just as increasingly high-powered telescopes allow us to discover planets, stars and the forces of the universe, higher-powered microscopy allows us to make discoveries about our own biology.

"I hope this new technique leads to better ways to visualize not just the activity of single cells in a laboratory dish, but to learn about cell-to-cell interactions in actual physiological conditions," Su says. "It's like opening a new door onto a largely unexplored realmthe forces inside of us."

Explore further New methods reveal the biomechanics of blood clotting

More information: Joshua M. Brockman et al. Live-cell super-resolved PAINT imaging of piconewton cellular traction forces, Nature Methods (2020). Journal information: Nature Methods Joshua M. Brockman et al. Live-cell super-resolved PAINT imaging of piconewton cellular traction forces,(2020). DOI: 10.1038/s41592-020-0929-2
Ameya Dalvi

Price: Rs 29,990

Rating: 4.3/5

I have been reviewing a bunch of in-ear true wireless earphones lately, so a pair of good old over-the-ear headphones was a refreshing change. The fact that they were the latest from Sonys revered XM series was more than just icing on the cake. Sonys WH-1000XM3 has won many accolades the world over for its excellent audio quality and battery life. Time to see if the Sony WH-1000XM4 can build on that success.

Sony WH-1000XM4: Build, design and features (8.5/10)

The Sony WH-1000XM4s design is quite similar to its predecessor and is made of high-quality plastic with a smooth black matte finish. The construction is sturdy and the headphones look elegant. The copper accents on the Sony logo and microphone vents add to their style quotient. Despite their solid build, they dont feel heavy and weigh just a shade over 250gm. This, on a set that includes active noise cancellation (ANC) circuitry, multiple sensors and microphones and a battery that lasts close to 30 hours on a single charge. Thats quite impressive.

The ear-cups are nicely cushioned and hold a pair of 40 mm drivers along with touch controls on the right ear-cup. The left ear-cup hosts the power button that doubles up as a Bluetooth pairing button, and you also have a toggle for ANC. You get a wear detection sensor on the inside of the left earcup that automatically pauses the content when you take the headphones off, and resumes as soon as you put them back on; a welcome addition. Theres also a 3.5 mm jack to plug in an aux cable in case the headphones run out of battery, or if you wish to use them with a non-Bluetooth device.

The right ear-cup hosts a USB type-C connector for charging the headphones. Interestingly, I noticed something that seemed like an additional USB type-C connector with a copper edge at the top of each of the ear-cups. On close inspection, they turned out to be mics for active noise cancellation. A standard USB to type-C cable and an aux cable are bundled in the package along with an airplane adapter and a cool looking carry pouch; the headphones can be folded and tucked away nicely in there. The Sony WH-1000XM4 let you summon the virtual assistant on your smartphone or tablet and issue voice commands. They are compatible with Siri, Google Assistant and Alexa.

Supported Bluetooth codecs include SBC, AAC and LDAC. For some reason, Sony has done away with support for Qualcomms aptX and aptX HD codecs. Yes, LDAC does have a higher bandwidth compared to aptX HD, but not every device is compliant with it. Ironically, Sonys WH-XB900N wireless headphones that sell for half the price of the XM4 are compliant with aptX HD and LDAC both. Another major absentee is any kind of sweat or water resistance. These are not ideal to wear during a workout or in a light drizzle.

Sony WH-1000XM4: Comfort: (8.5/10)

The Sony WH-1000XM4 sits nicely on your ears without any discomfort. The ear-cups arent large enough to entirely clear the ears, but the padding is excellent and lends a great degree of comfort. The soft cushions put just the right amount of pressure on the earlobes, while maintaining a strong grip. They also provide decent passive noise isolation even if you do not turn on ANC.

They do not cause ear fatigue for a couple of hours of continuous listening, but beyond that my ears started getting a tad warm, and needed a breather. In fact, its always a good practice to give your ears a break every hour or two irrespective of how comfortable the headphones are.

Sony WH-1000XM4: Performance: (9/10)

As I mentioned earlier, the Sony WH-1000XM4 supports SBC, AAC and Sonys LDAC codecs on Android. However, if you choose to pair them with Apple devices, you only get AAC. These headphones can be paired with two devices simultaneously, but if you choose to do so, you cannot use LDAC codecs. I was hoping they would let you use LDAC on at least one device, but no! These Bluetooth 5.0 headphones are easy to pair and retain a solid connection up to 10 metres with a clear line of sight, and a little over 6 metres with a concrete wall in between. They are NFC-enabled too for quick pairing.

These headphones support active noise cancellation and you get a toggle for switching ambient sounds on and off. To fine-tune the amount of ambient noise that you want them to let in, you will need to install the Sony Headphones Connect app. The app gives you access to several other audio settings too, including equalisers in case you want to tweak the sound further. ANC here is one of the best I have experienced, and it drastically cuts down on the surrounding noise, giving you great isolation. Once you play any audio, you are simply cut off from the outside world. The QN1 processor does its job well in conjunction with the two microphones that capture ambient noise and feed data to the noise-cancelling processor constantly, which then calculates and applies ANC in real-time. It also factors in atmospheric pressure at your altitude and the shape of your ears to make noise cancellation more effective.

As in case of several Sony wireless noise cancelling headphones, you can momentarily disable ANC and reduce the volume of the audio thats playing by simply placing your palm on the right ear cup. This is quite convenient when someone wants to speak with you or you wish to listen to an announcement. The moment you take your palm off the ear-cup, ANC gets reactivated and the loudness goes back to the original level. Theres also another option too to achieve the same effect.

If you enable the Speak-to-Chat option in the app (or by a long touch on the right can with two fingers), the audio pauses as soon as you say anything and resumes 30 seconds after you stop talking. You can also manually restart the audio prior to that. While this sounds cool, in reality it only works if you truly keep your mouth shut while listening to the audio. If you even as much as hum along, the audio/video pauses and can be a cause for irritation. I opted to keep it off after trying it out for some time.

The touch controls on the right ear-cup are simple and effective. Double-tap can play/pause a track, sliding your finger horizontally lets you go to the next or previous track, sliding it up increases the volume, while sliding it down lowers it. Single tap doesnt do anything and saves you a lot of headache that accidental touches could have caused, especially during travel. Double-tap is also used to answer or end calls, and a long touch brings up the virtual assistant.

Moving on to the audio quality, it is simply top-notch when it comes to general purpose headphones. I tried different genres of music and pretty much everything sounded good on it. The sound signature isnt perfectly neutral, and has a hint of additional warmth to it; just the way I like it, to be honest. The bass isnt remotely as excessive as in case of Sonys XB (Extra Bass) series of headphones, and doesnt hamper other frequencies. But worry not, theres enough there to make those beats sound punchy.

The mids are reproduced brilliantly with clear vocals and ample instrument separation. The highs are sharp too without being harsh, and the overall detail in the sound is excellent. The sound stage is as broad as it gets with closed back headphones. I also indulged in some movies; The Dark Knight was thoroughly enjoyable on this pair with all the subtle sounds clearly audible, as was the dialogue.

Long story short, the overall sound quality of the Sony WH-1000XM4 is excellent, and I dont expect to see too many complaints. If a hint of extra bass isnt good enough for you and prefer it in heaps instead, better opt for one of the XB series cans like the Sony WH-XB900N, and save a good amount of money too. The design is similar and the rest of the features like touch controls and ANC are available there as well, though the noise cancellation isnt as good as on the XM4.

Sony WH-1000XM4: Call quality: (8/10)

While the audio quality of the XM4 is excellent, the call quality is not at the same level. I know it may not be a high priority for its potential buyers, but it needs to be checked. The microphone quality is quite good on this headset and you are heard clearly by the person on the line, but noise cancellation isnt perfect during calls. It does pick some ambient noise when outdoors, and even when indoors, the TV in the adjacent room can be heard ever so slightly by the other person, though it doesnt distract one from the conversation.

It may seem like nitpicking but it is what it is. Also, the person on the line sounds a tad soft, which can be fixed in the next firmware update. The overall call quality isnt bad by any means, but for a product with a near 30K price tag, I expect better.

Sony WH-1000XM4: Battery life: (9/10)

Sony claims that the WH-1000XM4 can last for about 30 hours on a full charge with ANC on, and it's not far from the truth. I managed to get something very close to that with LDAC and ANC on all the time. At around four hours of daily listening, I didnt have to bother charging these earphones for a full week. Thats 28 hours right there with just a little bit of fuel left in the tank. With ANC off, it can go on for another 8 hours as per the spec sheet, but why bother switching it off? These are excellent figures anyway.

Whats even better is that if they run out of battery, charging them for 10 minutes can give you about 5 hours of play time. It takes approximately 3 hours to charge them fully, and probably a bit less with a fast charger. And if you tend to use them for 3 to 4 hours daily like yours truly, you will need to charge them just once every week or 10 days.

Sony WH-1000XM4: Price and verdict

The Sony WH-1000XM4 is priced at Rs 29,990 with a one year warranty, but can be purchased for an introductory price of Rs 28,490 online or in stores. Yes, they are a bit expensive, but they are currently the best around. And given their excellent, detailed sound output, top of the line noise cancellation and solid battery life, it is hard not to recommend them to anyone looking for premium wireless headphones with ANC. You cant go wrong with this pair, unless you are a basshead.
Its been more than three months since teams of volunteers started delivering essential supplies to people living in encampments in downtown Toronto.

Every day, members of the Encampment Support Network visit those living rough in and near Moss Park, Scadding Court, Trinity Bellwoods Park, Parkdale, Cherry Beach and Little Norway Park.

Among other things, they offer ice, bottled water, snacks, toiletries, baby wipes, socks, tents, sleeping bags, naloxone and harm reduction kits, not to mention a friendly face and some consistency to those experiencing homelessness.

Over the last 14 weeks, the community network has distributed $83,000 in humanitarian aid, which was either donated or purchased with funds from several anonymous donors.

Were just literally trying to take care of people  and were ensuring compassion is paramount, said volunteer Jeff Bierk, who is affectionately known as IceMan to those who call Moss Park home as he often arrives with big bags of ice that he lugs over to their tents.

Were meeting people, making connections, sharing resources and advocating for them, added Bierk, a west-end resident who works as an artist and photographer but, due to the pandemic, had some free time and decided to give back.

The Encampment Support Network, which isnt defined as an organization but rather people who have organized, came into being in early June after a few friends showed up to lend their support to outreach workers and help advocate for folks being evicted from an encampment under the Gardiner Expressway.

However, they soon learned there were a lot of gaps, a lot of people experiencing homelessness who desperately needed help.

In a matter of weeks, a network of more than 100 vetted volunteers from the community was up and running to assist those living in encampments in six downtown Toronto neighbourhoods.

Our role is to be a witness to how (Torontos) homeless people are dealt with and to hold the city accountable, especially during the pandemic  Its really been interesting to see all the gaps in these systems, Bierk said.

Annex resident Charlotte Smith, who volunteers at the Scadding Court encampment, said nothing (the network does) is complex or complicated.

Its filling those basic needs, said Smith, who uses they pronouns, adding ESN is simply people from the community helping their neighbours.

Smith, a grad student and musician, said theyve seen workers from the City of Toronto-funded Streets to Home program  which was created to help people with a history of homelessness transition from the street to permanent housing  only a handful of times in the last two and a half months at Scadding Court.

When they come in for a clearing there isnt that relationship (like we have), Smith said.

I love (helping out), but I also believe we shouldnt have to. What were seeing is a ton of systemic neglect, people who arent being cared for. Were doing this because the city wont.

Smith said the only way to solve the homelessness crisis is through permanent housing with the right kind of supports, adding Torontos interim shelter hotel model isnt working.

On Wednesday, Sept. 23, the Encampment Support Network is hosting a Meal and March for Housing to call on the government to take concrete action to help those living in encampments and to provide permanent homes. The physically distanced gathering will get underway at 5 p.m. at Moss Park, 150 Sherbourne St. All are welcome.

The ESN has also organized a clothing drive this weekend at 1157 Davenport Rd. The event will run Saturday, Sept. 25 and Sunday, Sept. 26 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. Donations of gently used warm, clean clothing, including jackets, sweaters, pants, toques, mittens, warm socks and blankets, are especially needed.

In an Aug. 21 statement provided to toronto.com, the city said it is aware of the increase in the number and size of encampments as well as the concerns about the safety and well-being of people living outdoors, and the impact on the local community, and is taking a comprehensive approach to providing outreach to those living outdoors and in encampments through the Streets to Homes program.

A city spokesperson said theyre also taking a human rights approach to homeless encampments and occupations of city space for those encamped and the wider community, and are making use of the skill sets, tools, relationships and authorities of multiple city divisions and community partners to respond to the complex health and safety risks in and around encampments, facilitate access to safer inside spaces, clearing encampments of waste and debris, and ensuring City of Toronto shared use spaces are accessible to all.

Further, city staff attend encampment sites as required and Streets to Homes workers, along with funded outreach agencies, are actively engaging the individuals in them to provide support and assistance on a daily basis.

They conduct wellness checks and work with the individuals to help them access shelter or other supports such as help with accessing income, access to health care and developing a case plan to move into housing, the spokesperson said, noting this includes handing out water to individuals in encampments, providing information about where they can access food and providing health and harm reduction supplies.

However, encampments are not permitted in Torontos parks, and tents and other structures are not allowed on city property, the spokesperson said.

As of Aug. 20, Toronto has moved 775 people from encampments into safe indoor spaces in shelters and hotels, and said it would be provide more options to move inside as spaces open.

CLARIFICATION  SEPT. 23, 2020: This story has been edited to add Cherry Beach to the list of locations visited by the Encampment Support Network.

Joanna Lavoie is a reporter with toronto.com. Reach her via email: jlavoie@toronto.com
Every Monday at 1 p.m., Slate is hosting In the Know, an Election Talk Show, on YouTube Live and Facebook Live. This week, Slate staff writer Mark Joseph Stern talked to Dale Ho, director of the ACLU Voting Rights Project. The two discussed Ruth Bader Ginsburgs voting rights legacy and some of the most restrictive voter suppression laws. Part of their conversation, edited and condensed for clarity, has been excerpted below. Next week, Julia Craven will interview LaTosha Brown, co-founder of the Black Voters Matter Fund. We hope to see you there.

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Mark Joseph Stern: This is a show about voting rights. We will be talking about voting rights, but I thought it would be fitting before we dive into the details to chat with you about what you consider to be Justice Ginsburgs voting rights legacy.

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Dale Ho: Justice Ginsburg was a champion for voting rights, as she was for so many other causes and civil rights issues. I think she will always be remembered for, among other things, her famous and prescient dissent in Shelby County v. Holder, where she famously wrote that throwing away this critical part of the Voting Rights Actthe federal pre-clearance requirement that required states and counties with the worst histories of discrimination to obtain federal approval before making changes to their voting lawsthat throwing it away was like tossing your umbrella in a rainstorm because you arent getting wet.

And sure enough, after she wrote that, the deluge came. We have been fighting a wave of voter suppression laws ever since, including one that passed just a few days after the Shelby County decision in North Carolina, which was later struck down by a unanimous panel in the 4th Circuit as having targeted Black voters in North Carolina with surgical precision. Justice Ginsburg was right about a lot of things. The effect of that decision and the onslaught on voting rights that we would see in its wake (and are still seeing today) was one of them.

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You mentioned North Carolinas immediate action in the wake of that decision to restrict the right to vote. Could you talk about some of the other measures that states passed shortly after the Shelby County ruling that did suppress votes, particularly the votes of racial minorities and low-income people, that are still in effect today?

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Once Shelby County was decided, the floodgates opened.

We have seen a wave of laws that make it harder for people to register to vote or to cast a ballot. That includes things like Texas voter ID law, the law that infamously permitted people to vote with a concealed weapons permit, but not a University of Texas student ID card. That was a law that had been blocked under the Voting Rights Act before the Shelby County decision and then was revived literally the day that the Supreme Court announced its decision in Shelby County. A law in Arizona which prohibited assistance with absentee ballots, something absolutely critical on American Indian reservations to help voters there who dont get regular postal service, to make sure that those folks can vote by mail, a law that was later struck down by the 9th Circuit sitting en banc and which the Supreme Court is currently considering whether or not it will take. A similar law that we are litigating right now in Montana and took to trial just a week ago.

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We saw a range of laws all around the country, both in states that were formerly covered by the Voting Rights Act and other states as well, because it seemed like once Shelby County was decided, the floodgates opened and what happened in those states with the worst histories of discrimination just spread around the country from there.

There was one success story a few years after Shelby County, in 2018, when Florida passed Amendment 4, which eradicated the constitutional prohibition on former felons casting a ballot. This was a Jim Crowera law designed to prevent Black people from voting in Florida. It had succeeded. One in five Black men of voting age in Florida could not vote because of this law.

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Sixty-five percent of Floridians said, Were getting rid of this, and voted on a ballot initiative that restored the right to vote for these former felons. But Florida was still controlled by Republicans, and Republicans then turned around and said, We dont like this kind of progress. Were going to institute a poll tax by forcing these formerly incarcerated people to pay off all of the fines and fees that they were saddled with when going through the criminal process, because thats how Florida funds its criminal justice system. I wonder if you could talk a little bit about the fallout from the Florida Legislatures move there. Whats been happening in the courts recently, and what happened at the 11th Circuit?

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Just to back up for a moment, there are 6 million people in this country who are disenfranchised because of a criminal conviction. Thats larger than the population of, I think, about half the states. Its a huge number of people, and one-quarter of them reside in a single state, Florida, because Florida had one of the strictest rules in the country about voting with a criminal conviction. A single felony offense would bar you from voting for life. And because of the overcriminalization and mass incarceration that we have experienced as a country over the past few decades, that rule swept in a huge chunk of Floridas electorate. One out of 10 adult citizens in the statedisenfranchised. As you pointed out, for Black men, its over 20 percent.

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Its really hard when you think about those numbers, which are staggering, to really think about Florida as a true, functioning democracy.  Our analysis when we litigated this was that about 80 percent of people who are no longer in custody in any way or under supervision still owed some money associated with their sentences. Thats hundreds of thousands of people, perhaps over a million people in the state of Florida, disproportionately people of color.

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We sued the minute that the governor signed this into law. What we learned in litigation was not just that a huge number of Floridians are affected by this, and not just that many of them cant afford to repay these debts, but that many of them cant even figure out how much money they owe because Florida doesnt have a single, centralized database that keeps track of this information. Its kept on a county-by-county basis. Its not updated to reflect the payments that people have already made, and then the records only go back so far. So we have clients who have convictions from the early 1990s or even earlier, and there simply are no records that exist anymore for many convictions that are that old.

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So we have this Kafkaesque system where people have to pay an amount before they can be eligible to vote. They cant figure out how much they owe, but if they want to register, they must swear an oath under penalty of perjury that they are in fact eligible to vote in Florida. Its a crazy system. We got a great preliminary injunction ruling blocking it. It was affirmed by a panel of the 11th Circuit. We took it to trial earlier this year. Again, the court ruled in our favor, but then it went up to the 11th Circuit, which heard the case en banc, and we fell one vote short. It was decided 64 against us and overturned not just the trial judgment, but the preliminary injunction ruling in the case as well.

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How can it possibly be that a state can condition your right to vote on paying off certain fines and fees and then refuse to tell you what those fines and fees are and how much you owe?

Well, the states positionand unfortunately theres a Supreme Court decision that essentially says this from 1974, Richardson v. Ramirezis that when you are convicted of a felony, you forfeit your fundamental right to vote. And any voting rights that people with criminal convictions have are not fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution, but just gratuities offered by the state. Which means that even though the Supreme Court has ruled that a poll tax, a financial cost to voting, is plainly unconstitutional, that is not, the state argues, the case for someone if they have a criminal conviction.

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Obviously I disagree with the substance of that requirement. But even if the states right about that, I would think that everyone ought to agree that the state ought to provide people with the basic information they need to satisfy it. Even if its OK for a state to say you owe $500 or $1,000 or $5,000 before you can vote again, which I think is abhorrent, but lets just say the state can do that. The state ought to tell you what that number is before you have to place yourself in criminal jeopardy by signing a voter registration form.

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It almost seems in some ways worse than an outright traditional poll tax, because at least for those, you could pay the money.  It was abhorrent and unconstitutional, but this feels more to me like the old Jim Crow tactics of forcing voters to count how many jelly beans there are in a jar, to guess how many there are, and youll only get to cast a ballot if you guess correctly. Thats really easy for a state to manipulate and to use to try to choose its electorate and continue this sort of Jim Crow method of disenfranchising people through rather underhanded means.

I think the criminal sanctions that attach if you guess wrong here really do take this to a different level and mean that its quite possible that many people who are in fact eligible to vote, or can afford the amount that they owe and could become eligible, could be deterred. Their willingness to sign a voter registration form in these circumstances, where there isnt certainty about the amount of money that they owe, and its difficult to get that information from the statethats likely to chill participation. Its a really nefarious system.
Oil prices are holding their losses on Tuesday. Photo: Getty

Oil prices are holding their losses on Tuesday after a steep decline for the past two weeks amid fears COVID-19 will lead to further lockdowns.

Crude (CL=F) has hit around $39 (30.80) a barrel on Tuesday at 8:45am in London, with Brent (BZ=F) at around $41. Thats after a 4.4% drop on Monday in prices amid a broader market sell-off.

Crude oil prices remaining low amid a dampened outlook due to COVID-19.

People staying at home due to the coronavirus has meant less need for cars and gasoline.

The UK has already started accelerating its response to a growth in cases, with Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove on Tuesday encouraging Brits to work from home if possible to curb the spread of the virus.

Watch: Michael Gove says people should now work from home if they can

Fears that the US could also experience another major wave of COVID-19 has damped sentiment and weighed heavily on the commodity. Prospects for more fiscal stimulus in the US amid the pandemic and the partisan battle over who will replace the late Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg are adding to concerns.

The anticipated reopening of Libyas battered oil industry is fuelling further concerns for oils uncertain future.

READ MORE: UK economy shuffles into new rules on working from home and pub times

Environmental factors have weighed on prices with Tropical Storm Beta bringing flooding to Texas. The storm is expected to hit Louisiana but interruptions to offshore rigs are generally not expected to last over the long term.

Prices shot up 10% last week after Saudi Arabia said it would defend the market, but the renewed confidence hasnt shaken the impact of COVID-19 on consumption levels, especially as many nations are doubling down on their lockdown plans.

Watch: Second wave jitters fuel 52bn sell-off for FTSE 100

With the oil outlook weak, the industry is making major investments in renewables to keep pace with consumer demand.

Last week, BP (BP.L) said the relentless growth of oil demand has come to an end, marking the first oil giant to call the end of an era.
The legendary actress life story is heading to bookstores next year

Cicely Tyson has done a whole lot of living and soon, well finally get to hear more of her story.

Read More: Meghan Markle and Gloria Steinem team up to encourage people to vote

According to Essence, in 2021 the living legend will be releasing her memoir, published by Harper Collins, which will reportedly share the ins and outs of her life as she built a prolific career first as a dancer, then in film and on television.

At 95, Im only beginning to fully understand my identity, Tyson said in a statement. The accolades, the lights, the glamour and glittertheyre all just ornaments on a tree. It is only a trees roots, its origins beneath the soil, that can reveal its entire story.

Cicely Tyson accepts her award onstage during the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences 10th annual Governors Awards at The Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood

Every one of my experiences on the public stage has been rooted in my upbringing, those years spent at my mothers elbow and in the pews of my church. That was my world. And that foundation, that core, led me to a lifetime of growtha wondrous journey that has made me who I am, she continued.

The book, titled Just As I Am, wont just cover her life but also give us a glimpse into her interactions with other iconic entertainers such as Sidney Poitier, Harry Belafonte, Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee, Richard Pryor, and James Earl Jones.

Well also be blessed with anecdotes featuring the likes of Maya Angelou, Nelson and Winnie Mandela, Aretha Franklin, and Quincy Jones, and read her own account of her time with jazz great Miles Davis, who she was married to for eight years.

Cicely Tyson and Tyler Perry attend the Netflix Premiere for Tyler Perrys A Fall From Grace at Metrograph on January 13, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for Netflix)

READ MORE: First volume of Barack Obamas memoir coming Nov. 17

After almost a millennia on this earth, Tyson has become a queen of reinvention, endearing herself to new audiences across several generations. So her friendships with Whoopi Goldberg, Kerry Washington, Oprah Winfrey, Tyler Perry, Shonda Rhimes, Ava DuVernay, and Viola Davis will be covered as well.

Co-written by O Magazine founding editor Michelle Burford, Just As I Am is scheduled for release on January 26.

Have you subscribed to theGrios podcast Dear Culture? Download our newest episodes now!

The post Cicely Tyson to publish memoir in 2021 appeared first on TheGrio.
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Linkedin Dzulfiqar Fathur Rahman (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, September 23 2020

The government will hold a three-week bootcamp for 30 selected startups that can provide services like supply chain and finance management for small and medium enterprises (SME) as it aims to increase digitalization among the small businesses.

The course, called Pahlawan Digital (Digital Heroes), will begin on Wednesday. The Cooperatives and SME Ministry also partners with influencer-cum-businesswoman Putri Tanjung, e-commerce company Shopee Indonesia and ride-hailing firm Grab Indonesia to select the 10 best startups out of the 30 participants as strategic partners for the ministry.

They [the startups] will provide not only market access [for SMEs] but also support efficient business processes and supply chains, access to financing and entrepreneurship development, Cooperatives and SME Minister Teten Masduki said in a virtual press conference on Monday.

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FILE PHOTO: A logo of Brazil's state-run Petrobras oil company is seen at their headquarters in Rio de Janeiro

By Sabrina Valle

SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Brazilian oil company Petrobras <PETR4.SA> said on Monday it will open another round of bidding for its Repar refinery in the state of Parana after receiving binding offers that were too similar in value.

The new round starts as Brazil's Supreme Court considers blocking Petrobras' sale of Repar and other refineries, with justices set to rule on the matter by Friday.

Petroleo Brasileiro SA, as the state-controlled company is formally known, must follow specific legislation aimed at keeping asset sales competitive, including that bids be different. Sales also fall under scrutiny of governmental entities.

The company considered the offers low and is asking bidders to raise their prices for the Parana state refinery, according to two people involved in the negotiations who declined to be named as information is private.

Even if the Supreme Court approves the sales, Petrobras doesn't rule out keeping the asset if prices don't meet the minimum range set by its internal technical team, the people said.

Petrobras said in a statement on Monday that three separate groups led by Ultrapar <UGPA3.SA>, Raizen and China's Sinopec are part of this phase of the competition. The producer did not give any details about the companies' bids. The prices are highly secret in this phase of the competition.

Repar is Brazil's fifth largest refinery, able to process 208,000 barrels per day, or 9% of the country's capacity.

Petrobras has been trying to sell refineries since at least 2012 with no success, and still produces more than 98% of fuels in Brazil.

Lack of buyers for fear of fuel price interference, restrictions by an audit court and anti-privatization movements have prevented sales in the past. More recently, Congress and the Supreme Court have also raised impediments.

The winner of this phase of the Repar competition would be able to exclusively negotiate the contract terms with Petrobras, a process which can take months.

According to Petrobras' internal rules, if the contract terms substantially change after the negotiation, which often happens, the oil company would need to call back competitors for a third round of bids, based on price only.

(Reporting by Sabrina Valle; additional reporting by Gabriel Araujo; editing by Sonya Hepinstall and Leslie Adler)
If you really want to honour him, implement his inclusive ideology: SC Bose's grandnephew

At DMs meets, PM calls for direct, emotional connect between administration and public for good governance

Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hold discussions with Sri Lankan counterpart on September 26

International

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

New Delhi, Sep 22: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to hold discussions with his Sri Lankan counterpart Mahinda Rajapaksa on September 26 via video conference. However, so far, no official announcement has been made.

Earlier, Sri Lankan Prime Minister had telephoned Prime Minister Narendra Modi and expressed strong desire and commitment to further strengthen the relationship between the two neighbouring countries.

Stalemate continues as India-China talk hard to avoid kinetic operations

"The President of Sri Lanka, Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapaksa called Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi earlier today to convey warm wishes on the occasion of the Prime Minister's birthday," Prime Minister's office had said in a statement.

PM Modi had thanked both the leaders for their warm wishes and conveyed that he is looking forward to work with them to further expand cooperation between the two countries in line with India's Neighbourhood First policy.

#Tesla 'secretly planning' R&D Centre in #Bengaluru? | Oneindia News

"Both Sri Lankan leaders expressed their strong desire and commitment to further strengthen the relationship between the neighbouring countries. They expressed appreciation for the continued bilateral cooperation including in the joint fight against Covid pandemic," the statement added.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and US business man David McCourt who leads The Irish Broadband consortium sign the National Broadband plan.

DUBLIN  Ireland's 3 billion euro ($3.5 billion) plan to connect rural areas to high-speed broadband is on track to be delivered in under 10 years, according to the firm leading the rollout.

David McCourt is the chairman of National Broadband Ireland (NBI), the vehicle created by U.S. media and telecoms investment firm Granahan McCourt, which won the National Broadband Plan contract.

He told CNBC that despite some hurdles in the early days of the coronavirus lockdown, the project could be completed in around seven years, under the originally slated 10 years.

The 25-year contract, which will see NBI manage the network after completion, was signed in November 2019. It brings together several firms and contractors to build the infrastructure to connect 540,000 premises (roughly 1.1 million people in a country of nearly 5 million) with high-speed broadband.

First proposed in 2012, the National Broadband Plan has been a protracted and at times controversial process.

Siro, a joint venture between Vodafone and electricity utility ESB, pulled out of the bidding in 2017. Eir, Ireland's largest telco, exited in early 2018 citing "uncertainty on a range of regulatory and pricing issues."

In October 2018, Communications Minister Denis Naughten resigned over meetings with McCourt that had not been documented. An independent inquiry found that the meetings did not unduly influence the bidding process.

Ultimately the contract was awarded to National Broadband Ireland with surveying and work commencing in early 2020  but the coronavirus lockdown disrupted that process.

"Obviously Covid is disrupting the whole world so it would be a lie to tell you it hasn't been a pain in the neck in more ways than one," McCourt told CNBC.

Travel restrictions and social distancing made it difficult for surveyors to travel the country and work together.

"For the first 30 days that was disruptive but I think we've worked our way through that," he said.

Other companies and subcontractors involved include network operator Enet, Nokia, and telecom and construction firms Actavo, KN Group and the Kelly Group.
BALI, Indonesia and BANGKOK, Thailand, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Indonesian island of Bali is hurting. The island was heavily dependent on tourism, which ended abruptly with COVID travel restrictions. Hotels and restaurants now closed for months keeps furloughed and laid-off workers in a constant state of waiting with no income, and a growing fear for the future. Staff is waiting for tourism to return to feed their families again, but even with Bali's fairly low COVID numbers, this will take longer with hunger and malnutrition sadly spreading.

Scholars Of Sustenance (SOS)  a food rescue charity in Asia, was formed to optimize food supplies by saving edible foods from ending up in landfills emitting methane gasses. Rescuing food from 100+ partners such as hotels and retailers, SOS was hugely successful until suddenly the entire hospitality industry had to temporarily shut down due to COVID. SOS has since 2017 daily rescued tons of excess foods from hotels, retailers, and restaurants  however, in March this year SOS saw its surplus food donations disappear overnight. Including rescue food and other sources of nutrition, SOS has already served over 7 million meals.

The SOS Rescue kitchen facilitated by Rumah Sanur cooks over 2,500 meals daily. The SOS Millions Of Meals activity has launched the "Feeding2020 campaign" for individuals to donate towards food from the SOS Rescue kitchen. In addition, generous donations from Nestle, Classroom of Hope, McDonalds, and many others have helped generate more meals. Hundreds of volunteers and staff have cooked every day, resulting in over a quarter million nutritious meals distributed with SOS cooling trucks under police escorts to villages, slums, and many selected areas of utter despair across Thailand and Indonesia.

Realizing hunger is growing, SOS focused on nutritious ingredients to help boost immune systems. SOS cooling trucks go all over the island, even to inaccessible mountain villages as well as deep inside the capital of Denpasar, with different types of nutrition suited to the recipients, from cooked meals to care packages. These portions of food are now being doubled to last 10 days for the lucky recipients. SOS is expanding the program and constantly need donations towards more food and transport logistics. Please donate to Bali!

FEEDING2020: please donate https://www.scholarsofsustenance.org/support-sos

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(Natural News) On the 19th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, USA Today published a fake news article claiming that Anthony Fauci, Bill Gates, Jeffrey Epstein and George Soros all have zero ties to Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine manufacturer Moderna  a flat-out lie.

As it turns out, both Fauci and Gates have definitive ties to Moderna, though a circulating video about their ties does contain false information. Fauci was never a CEO at Moderna, and Fauci and Gates were never college roommates. But both villains have financial ties to Moderna, a fact that USA Today intentionally ignored.

Interestingly, USA Today contradicted its own headline  Fact check: Fauci, Gates, Epstein and Soros have no ties to drug company Moderna  by admitting in the body of its article that the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is listed as one of Modernas collaborators.

Fauci, who heads up the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), is likewise connected to Moderna as a co-reviewer of a vaccine platform that the company is working to improve. We also confirmed this.

The 2019 Shareholder Letter that admitted this also revealed  USA Today conveniently ignored this part, too  in its Partnerships section that Bill and Melinda Gates contributed to the $187 million in funding that was granted to Moderna to develop new drugs, which now includes new vaccines for the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19).

That both Fauci and Gates have close ties to Moderna is no secret, writes Jeremy R. Hammond on his blog. Having encountered the headline in a news feed, I knew it was false and so did a quick Google search to document its falsity. It took about ten seconds to fact check USA Todays Fact Check.'

Hammond goes on to explain that he was easily able to pull up information on Google showing that Faucis NIAID, which is overseen by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is funding the trial of Modernas Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine, which is slated to be part of President Trumps Operation Warp Speed mass vaccination program.

Fauci behind funding and development of Modernas COVID-19 vaccine

Not only are Fauci and his agency funding the development of Modernas Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine, but they are also behind its development.

NIAID scientists and their collaborators, it turns out, are directly responsible for the creation of the Moderna jab, its current clinical trials being an important step in the eventual release of a safe and effective vaccine to prevent infection with SARS-CoV-2, according to Fauci.

Similarly, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has long been a strategic collaborator with the project, as it entered a global health project framework agreement with Fauci and the NIAID back in 2016.

The stated purpose of this partnership, which was formed a full four years before the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) came into existence, was to advance mRNA-based development projects for various infectious diseases  mRNA being the precise technology that Moderna is using to develop its Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine.

In other words, the whole thing was planned well in advance, hence why we routinely refer to it as a plandemic rather than a pandemic.

As to be expected, USA Todays Chelsey Cox, who authored the aforementioned fake news article attempting to vindicate Fauci and Gates of all ties to Moderna, is doubling down on her articles lies. She reportedly told Hammond that her headline reflects the analysis of the claim subject to fact-checking, meaning it will not be changed or retracted.

The spread of misinformation is a serious problem in our society today, Hammond concludes. The reality is that the greatest purveyors of misinformation are the government and mainstream media.

You can find more news stories like this by checking out Pandemic.news.

Sources for this article include:

JeremyRHammond.com

NaturalNews.com

NaturalNews.com
Bindi Irwin has revealed the gender of her first baby and said it is the same size as a hatchling Aldabra tortoise.

The TV star and daughter of the late Australian star Steve Irwin, known as The Crocodile Hunter, shared the news that she and husband Chandler Powell are having a girl on Instagram.

Alongside a picture of herself and Powell kneeling next to a large tortoise, she told her nearly four million Instagram followers: Baby girl, you are our world.

Our beautiful daughter is now about the same size as a hatchling Aldabra tortoise and is as healthy as can be. We cant wait for her arrival next year.

Powell shared the same photograph, captioning it: Our little girl and my beautiful wife are my entire world. Im so excited to meet our daughter when shes born next year and to see the incredible person she will grow up to be.

Irwin and Powell got married in March this year at Queenlands Australia Zoo, where Irwin and her family live, hours before the country banned weddings attended by more than five people.

During the ceremony, they lit a candle in memory of her late father Steve, who was killed by a stingray in September 2006, when she was eight.

The couple announced news of their baby earlier in August on Instagram, posting a picture of them holding up a tiny Australia Zoo uniform writing: Baby Wildlife Warrior due 2021.

Video of the Day

According to the official Australia Zoo website, Aldabra tortoises are native to the islands of the Aldabra Atoll and Seychelles, off the coast of Africa.

They estimate that the adult species can weigh in at around 660 pounds (300 kilograms).
Filmmaker Anubhav Sinha and Manoj Bajpayee have joined hands for the song, Bambai main ka ba. The filmmaker says it takes strength and courage to approach certain actors with a project, and Manoj is one of them.

"There are some actors, you need strength to take something to them. You should feel that this work cannot be done without this person and you need this particular person. Manoj is one of those rare actors," Anubhav told IANS.

Manoj is back in the spotlight rapping the number "Bambai main ka ba", which highlights the plight of migrant workers.

The filmmaker has attempted to collaborate with the National Award-winning actor before, but things didn't materialise.

"I have tried once or twice before this but it did not work out because of various reasons. I gathered all my courage and went to him for this song and he said yes!" he added.

--IANS

dc/vnc/
In its latest stumble, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Monday removed a guideline  posted days earlier  that had originally confirmed the coronavirus can spread through the air and is contagious beyond 6 feet.

The abrupt retraction caused concern among local health and infectious disease experts who have long contended that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, can be transmitted via aerosols. The agencys surprising move further fueled worry that the CDC is operating under the influence of the federal government.

It doesn't inspire the greatest confidence, said Michael Lin, associate professor of neurobiology and bioengineering at Stanford. At the very least, it means they are a bit disorganized. At worst, it raises the possibility of political pressure altering what is on their website.

On Monday afternoon, the CDC responded to the blowback and said it is updating its recommendations regarding airborne transmission, and once this process has been completed, the update language will be posted. (The revised guidelines were not published as of Monday afternoon.)

The turnabout was the latest example of the CDC wavering in its coronavirus guidance, following the agencys reversals on mask recommendations, reopening guidelines and testing for asymptomatic individuals.

There's a disturbing pattern here thats going to cause an erosion of public trust," said Peter Chin-Hong, a professor of medicine and infectious diseases at UCSF.

Douglas Zimmerman / SFGATE

A poll from the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation published in September found that the number of adults who trust the CDC to provide reliable information has decreased by 16 percentage points since April.

The role aerosols play in the transmission of the virus that causes COVID-19 in indoor spaces was formally acknowledged by the World Health Organization in July, backed by evidence put forward by 239 researchers in 32 countries.

The CDC quietly added wording to its website on Friday that recognized that the coronavirus is transmitted mainly through the air.

There is growing evidence that droplets and airborne particles can remain suspended in the air and be breathed in by others, and travel distance beyond 6 feet (for example, during choir practice, in restaurants, or in fitness classes), it said. In general, indoor environments without good circulation increase this risk.

That guidance was removed on Monday, followed by a message on the agencys website that stated, A draft version of proposed changes to these recommendations was posted in error.

The preferable outcome is if they are going to recognize the role of aerosols and they are just temporarily pulling the guidance to make it more consistent, said Lin, who pointed out issues with the non-scientific wording of the original post. The fear is theyre never going to bring it back.

Andrew Harnik / Associated Press

The CDC maintains that the virus is spread primarily by large respiratory droplets, released when an infected person coughs or sneezes, that fall to the ground. But there is scientific evidence that microscopic particles are released during exhalation that remain aloft in the air and travel farther than the established 6-foot physical distancing guidelines set for indoor spaces such as offices, markets, restaurants, stores and other businesses.

What they put out on Friday is not news to anyone, said Chin-Hong. It's an acknowledgment. It meant a lot symbolically, but the science is old.

The recommendations from the scientific community remain the same: Outdoors is better than indoors. Air exchanges and ventilation are key in indoor settings. And masks are essential to slow the spread.

But there is concern that the redacted guidance could have a detrimental impact on school administrators, businesses and civic leaders who depend on the CDC to provide clear direction during the pandemic.

Last week, President Trump publicly clashed with CDC Director Robert Redfield, claiming that under no circumstance was the agency chief right to say general public distribution of a vaccine would not be until summer 2021. Trump also claimed Redfield made a mistake when he told a congressional panel that wearing face masks was the most powerful tool against the coronavirus spread.

It seems like its becoming a speaker for some political agenda rather than being the bastion of science that has led the world through many pandemics, said Chin-Hong of the CDC.

Aidin Vaziri is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: avaziri@sfchronicle.com
Republicans want the US Supreme Court to review a state court ruling in Pennsylvania that extends the period for polling locations to receive and count mail-in ballots, potentially positioning the high court to deliver its first ruling since the death last Friday of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Last week, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled in favour of Democrats on three separate rulings related to the states election processes this year. Those rulings:

removed the Green Party candidate from Pennsylvanias presidential election ballot;

allowed the state to deploy more mail-in ballot drop boxes; and

has allowed election officials to count mail-in ballots that arrive within three days after Election Day, as long as the envelopes are post-marked on Election Day.

Republicans revealed their legal strategy to ask the US Supreme Court to review the state courts ruling on the appropriate period for counting mail-in ballots in Pennsylvania through court filings from late Monday night and early Tuesday morning, filings that were first reported by The Hill.

The GOP has argued that the state courts ruling could lead to election officials counting ballots that were not sent in by Election Day.

"The court's judgment ... creates a serious likelihood that Pennsylvania's imminent general election will be tainted by votes that were illegally cast or mailed after Election Day," the Republicans wrote in their Monday filing.

The GOP has asked for a stay of judgment from the state court while it asks the federal high court to review the case.

The decision facing the Supreme Court is crucial.

In 2016, Donald Trump beat Hillary Clinton in the Keystone State by just 44,292 votes out of more than 6m cast, a margin of just 0.72 per cent.

The race appears to be close again in 2020.

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has led in virtually every survey in the state throughout the summer, but Mr Trumps support has largely stayed within most polls margin of error.

As for the Supreme Court, it now tilts even more conservative than it already did.

Republican presidents have appointed five of the eight current justices, all of whom are generally considered conservative, although Chief Justice John Roberts, a George W Bush appointee, has voted with the liberal bloc on several key occasions in recent years.

With the death of Justice Ginsburg, whom Mr Trump has called an amazing lady, only three Democratic president-appointed justices remain: Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor (Obama) and Stephen Breyer (Bill Clinton).

Mr Trump has said he will nominate Justice Ginsburgs replacement on Saturday and that it will be a woman.

Senate Republicans have vowed to vote on Mr Trumps nominee by the end of the year.
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Scientists have questioned whether the UK really could see 50,000 new Covid-19 infections a day by next month as projected by the Governments chief scientific adviser, who presented the worst-case scenario in a terrifying graph.

Sir Patrick Vallance yesterday said he believed Britain's epidemic was doubling every seven days, and claimed new cases could rise exponentially within a month if 'nothing is done'. In his televised address to the nation, he warned it could lead to 200 deaths a day by mid-November, but stressed that there were a lot of unknowns behind those startling projections.

But experts have slammed the 'implausible' claim, insisting that neither France nor Spain  whose outbreaks the UK is feared to be on par with  have yet to see anywhere near that level of infection, despite witnessing a clear resurgence in the disease. Critics accused Number 10 of trying to 'scare' people ahead of Boris Johnson's grand unveiling of tougher Covid-controlling policies this evening.

Other academics claimed Sir Patrick and Professor Chris Whitty, who appeared alongside him, had 'misused' data, said it was 'almost certain' cases would not continue to double every seven days for long, and claimed projections will look 'gloomy' in comparison to the truth by the time mid-October comes around.

Professor David Paton, an industrial economist at the University of Nottingham, suggested the figures may warrant investigation from the Office for Statistics Regulation, which regulates the accuracy of data given to the public.

If the UK were to follow the trends in these two countries, then cases would be at 10,000 a day by next month. But if cases were to jump to 50,000 a day by next month, as suggested, then they would be off the scale compared with France and Spain  six and three times higher, respectively.

Only three countries in the world  India, the US and Brazil  have ever reported more than 50,000 new cases per day. Scientists predict that more than 100,000 Britons were getting newly infected each day during the peak of the crisis, which has not been proven due to a lack of testing. But this was when coronavirus was left to spread uncontrollably. The situation is vastly different now compared to March and April.

Sir Patrick himself admitted 'there are already things in place' which are expected to slow the rate of growth, with the Rule of Six introduced last week yet to have a measurable effect. The Prime Minister will today set out a raft of measures designed to clampdown on the disease, including imposing a 10pm curfew on pubs from Thursday.

Sir Vallance said: 'If, and thats quite a big if, but if that continues unabated, and this grows, doubling every seven days... if that continued you would end up with something like 50,000 cases in the middle of October per day.'

Sir Patrick Vallance yesterday said he believed the epidemic was doubling every seven days, which would lead to 200 deaths a day by mid-November. But figures throw into doubt some of his calculations

Professor Whitty (right, with Vallance on the left) appealed to the publics selflessness in adhering to the rules and not just assuming they could take their own risks

Professor David Paton, an industrial economist at the University of Nottingham, hit out at the 50,000 per day prediction.

He wrote on Twitter last night: 'Hard to be shocked any more, but finding it hard to believe that @CMO_England [Professor Whitty] and @uksciencechief [Sir Patrick] presented data like this. Given the serious policy implications, I wonder if there is a case for @StatsRegulation [the Office for Statistics Regulation] to intervene.'

He pointed out that France and Spain, to which the UK was compared, are seeing cases double every three weeks, not every one week.

If the UK is following the same trajectory as France and Spain, it would put Britain at more like 7,000 to 8,000 per day by mid-October, rather than an astonishing 50,000.

WHAT CLAIMS WERE MADE BY PROFESSOR CHRIS WHITTY AND SIR PATRICK VALLANCE? By BEN SPENCER FOR THE DAILY MAIL WHAT THEY SAID: Deaths could reach 200 a day by mid-November WHAT IT MEANS: This suggestion is an illustration, rather than a prediction. But even if such rates do come to pass, how would that death toll compare? It would be far lower than deaths back in April, which frequently soared past 1,100 a day. Flu and pneumonia combined accounted for an average of 430 deaths a day in mid-winter over the last five years. Cancer kills 450 a day, dementia 214, heart disease 174. That is not to say 200 lives lost to Covid-19 are not each a tragedy, but given the measures required to prevent them  which themselves will cost lives  it is worth putting them in perspective. WHAT THEY SAID: Failure to act could lead to 50,000 cases a day by mid-October WHAT IT MEANS: This terrifying figure  ten times the figures recorded at the peak of the first wave in April  dominated the broadcast headlines last night. Sir Patrick Vallance presented a chart showing cases doubling every seven days. Use of the chart, however, was criticised last night. Although it was merely presented as a theoretical example, rather than a definitive model of what will happen, it was the only scenario offered. Critics pointed out if we are to follow the trajectory of France and Spain, daily cases in three weeks are likely to be closer to 10,000. WHAT THEY SAID: It is a six-month problem WHAT IT MEANS: Professor Chris Whitty said the seasons are against us  and we need to deal with this collectively until the spring. He added: We have to break unnecessary links between households because that is the way in which this virus is transmitted. He also called for restraint, stressing that if people break the rules, they are taking a risk on behalf of everybody else. In other words, get ready for a long, tough winter, follow the rules  and forget about Christmas with family. WHAT THEY SAID: A balance must be struck between protecting the NHS and protecting the economy WHAT IT MEANS: Professor Whitty admitted new restrictions will come at a terrible cost. There is a very difficult balance to be struck, he said, between preventing the NHS from being overwhelmed and a lockdown that would cause unemployment, poverty and deprivation. Such economic devastation would bring its own long-term health effects. WHAT THEY SAID: Science will eventually ride to the rescue WHAT IT MEANS: Sir Patrick said a few doses of an effective Covid vaccine may be available for use before the end of the year, and mass vaccination is likely to start next spring. He said whichever approach to a vaccine succeeds  and there are four main strategies being used around the world  the Government will be able to access one that works. WHAT THEY SAID: Doctors have learned to treat this more effectively WHAT IT MEANS: A bright light amidst the gloom. Official figures show death rates among Covid patients in intensive care wards dropped by a fifth between March and June  primarily because doctors got better at treating the virus. Add to this the discovery that cheap steroids such as dexamethasone improve survival rates, and suddenly the outcomes for patients look much better. However, it is still the case that one in three patients who enter intensive care with coronavirus will die  meaning this is still a very serious disease. Advertisement

He said the 50,000 per day would be a rate at least three times higher than currently being seen in Spain or France.

Professor Paton told MailOnline: 'It seems a very strange scenario to present, its not, as far as I can tell, based on any particular modelling.

'If you look at the past few days, cases have been going down rather than going up, doesnt seem to be any basis to select this doubling "every seven days".

'It [also] seems odd, to me, to choose to compare against France and Spain. There are other countries they could have looked at, where cases have been doubling every three weeks. Nobody knows what will happen to cases in the UK.

'Do they really think well have five to six times more cases than France?'

Sir Patrick made the warning based on the current epidemic doubling time of eight days, as revealed in Imperial College London's official REACT study this month, which looked at mass testing results up to September 7.

And the Office for National Statistics (ONS), which tracks the spread of the disease through random swab tests, says the number of cases almost doubled in England between September 3 and 10, jumping from 3,200 new infections a day to 6,000.

However, official numbers of cases found in positive tests have taken two weeks to double  from a daily average of 1,812 on Sunday, September 6, to 3,679 yesterday, September 20.

Joshua Moon, a research fellow at the Science Policy Research Unit at University of Sussex, reiterated that the UK was taking action to avoid this if nothing else was done projection.

He told MailOnline: 'Spain and France actually did things to bring the rate of transmission down. The UK is doing more again to bring transmission down.

'The trend is based on a standard epidemic curve which is exponential rather than linear so the calculation is based on the current doubling-rate rather than projecting it based on the current rate of case increase.

'This is a more accurate depiction of how epidemics spread and the exponential growth of epidemics if they are left to their own devices.

'In a no change scenario 50,000 cases per day is a somewhat realistic estimate. Do I think we will actually get to that? No. But there is a value in knowing the worst-case scenario.'

Another point of contention concerns the viruss growth rate, the rate at which cases are increasing. The UKs current growth rate is somewhere between 2 and 7 per cent, according to Government figures last Friday.

But if the virus cases were doubling every day, the growth rate would be just over 10 per cent. It could be that officials expect the growth rate to increase  as it has been over the past few weeks  but this was not explained at yesterdays briefing.

Steve Brown, a self-employed consultant with 20 years experience specialising in the validation of models, based in East Anglia, wrote on Twitter it was 'worth considering the motivations behind this graph', referring to the one which showed cases soaring to 50,000 a day by mid-October.

He added: 'It's a model. All models are wrong, but some are useful. Whether this one is useful depends on the purpose for which it was intended; if the purpose was to scare everyone, then it seems to have worked quite well, but if the purpose was to make an accurate prediction then less so.'

Sir Patrick's stressed yesterday that his sobering scenario of 500,000 cases a day was based on a lot of unknowns. And it was not by any means a 'prediction'.

However the slides he presented - which have since been circulated widely - did not make that explicitly clear.

Mr Brown told MailOnline there is a chance advisors are deliberately playing up the worst case.

We know that SAGE is deliberately using personal fear to drive behaviour, that is documented in the minutes and is their policy, he said.

'Although the graph presented by the Government advisors may not have been intended as a prediction, many people will understandably see it as such.'

He also claimed the R rate  which represents the number of people an infected person will pass the virus to would need to be 1.5 for cases to grow at the speed presented by Sir Vallance and Whitty. But publically available data suggests the R rate is around 1, which suggests current interventions are sufficient.

According to Sage - the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies advising the Government during the pandemic - the UK R number has risen to between 1.1 and 1.4. This compares to the 1.0 to 1.2 prediction two weeks ago.

However, the current R rate reflects transmission up to three weeks ago. Over the past few months, R and growth rate estimates have been less useful in determining the state of the epidemic as the number of coronavirus cases was low.

Mr Brown said: 'To achieve 50,000 cases in four weeks time would require an R rate of around 1.5. Analysis of almost all current public and transparent data sets, including cases by specimen date or by reporting date, case positivity rate, hospital admission data and deaths suggests that R is much closer to 1 than to 1.5, even after correcting for the reporting lag.

'There is a vast difference between the policy response that would be required to an R rate of 1.5, doubling every week, and an R rate of 1, in which case everything is pretty much under control.

'Excessive policy responses could cause huge collateral damage, costing tens of thousands of lives and millions of livelihoods, for years to come.

'If they are to gain the trust of the public, the Government and its advisors must immediately publish their daily estimates of the R rate, including underlying calculations, as do other countries such as Germany. Policy must not be based on fear, dubious data and unvalidated models.'

In its report on Friday, the Government said: 'Doubling times estimates can be estimated from positive growth rates; these suggest that the numbers of new infections have been doubling between every 10 to 20 days.

'However, as with estimates of R and growth rates, this reflects transmission up to three weeks ago and SAGE is concerned that the current doubling time could be as quick as every seven days nationally, and potentially even faster in some areas of the country.'

But nevertheless, scientists are not convinced this would translate to 50,000 cases a day within a month.

Mark Woolhouse, a professor of infectious disease epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, said: 'The suggestion of a potential 50,000 new cases per day mentioned in todays press briefing will inevitably cause consternation as it would put the UK right at the top of the list of worlds countries affected by Covid-19.

'Only three countries in the world  India, USA and Brazil  have ever reported more than 50,000 new cases per day (though in the early stages of the pandemic there will have been substantial under-reporting). Only India is currently reporting more than 50,000 cases per day.

'That number of cases in the UK corresponds to 75 per 100,000 population per day. At present, the worst affected country in the world (other than Aruba) is Israel with 51 cases per 100,000 population per day.

'Many observers may consider this an implausible scenario. Presumably the UK government intends it to illustrate the consequences of sustained exponential growth.'

Professor Paul Hunter, a professor in medicine at Norwich Medical School at the University of East Anglia, said: What they presented is the very worst possible case, given the state of the epidemic at the moment.

I think it is pretty implausible we will be seeing 50,000 cases a day by the middle of October. Its important to bear in mind that they were not making a prediction, they were presenting an illustration of what would happen if cases continued to double, which they almost certainly will not.

He said the growth of an outbreak tends to decline as it moves towards the peak, adding: It would not surprise me if we end up following the trajectory of France and Spain over the next few weeks  its entirely plausible we would be seeing 10,000 cases a day by the middle of October.

Professor Karol Sikora, a cancer doctor and former World Health Organization director, told MailOnline it 'seems unlikely to me we will have 50,000 infections by mid-October'.

'The other possibility is there will be only 5,000 cases a day. Do we really need a two week lockdown to prevent that? I dont think we do.'

He added: 'Theyre so negative. The graph for the worst case scenario, for 50,000 cases a day by next month, its just scaring people.'

Dr Michael Head, a senior research fellow in global health at the University of Southampton, said the 50,000-a-day figure was a worst case scenario.

He added: Modelling has to calculate best, worst, and likely scenarios to allow different plans to be put in place. We are very unlikely to see cases at that level because interventions will be rolled out that restrict the spread of the virus, such as regional lockdowns.

Scientists pointed out that restrictions imposed in recent weeks, including the rule of six and local lockdowns, are dampening the growth of the outbreak and would bring down the infection rate.

Dr Flavio Toxvaerd, a university Lecturer at the Faculty of Economics, University of Cambridge, who specialises in the economics of infectious diseases and economic epidemiology, said: 'These projections often rely on behavioural assumptions that are unlikely to be borne out in practice and so the projections often look too gloomy in retrospect.

'Most epidemiologists are not trained to analyse human behaviour, a key to understanding the spread of diseases like COVID-19. They therefore model disease dynamics by essentially guessing how people will respond to different policy measures.

'The worst-case scenarios that are depicted in the graphs assume that people do nothing at all to protect themselves, something most epidemiologists agree is highly unlikely to be the case. In practice, the expectation is that people will self-protect and thereby curb the epidemic somewhat.'

Robert Dingwall, Professor in the School of Social Sciences at Nottingham Trent University, pointed out that models of disease progression - which have guided ministers during the pandemic - are 'only as good as the data at the time and assumptions made'.

He told MailOnline: 'Im not a modeller but I do know there is concern among the modelling community to the extent the Government is being influenced by these "worse case scenarios".'

All models are a simplification of reality because they make various assumptions. For example, a model may assume, based on current knowledge, that the majority of people carrying the coronavirus show symptoms. But in truth, it is still not clear exactly how many show symptoms of the disease, and how many are 'silent carriers'.

One of the earliest and arguably most influential models in the pandemic was that of Imperial College London's, which warned in March 500,000 Britons could die from coronavirus if no action was taken.

The workings, led by Professor Neil Ferguson, are understood to have single-handedly prompted the national lockdown a week later and triggered a dramatic change in the Government's handling of the outbreak, as they moved away from herd immunity to a lockdown.

However, since then Professor Ferguson's work has been described as 'totally unreliable' by other experts.

David Richards, co-founder of British data technology company WANdisco said the model was a 'buggy mess that looks more like a bowl of angel hair pasta than a finely tuned piece of programming', The Telegraph reported.

Mr Brown told MailOnline that in his professional opinion, the models used by Government so far have low levels of demonstrated validity.

A validated model would be developed based on certain assumptions and parameters and is then compared with real life data to show that it matches with reality, he said.

But none used by the Government so far  such as Professor Fergusons  have been proven to have accurately predicted what would or could have happened during the crisis.

Sir Patrick 's stressed yesterday that his sobering scenario of 500,000 cases a day was based on a lot of unknowns. And it was not by any means a 'prediction'. However the slides he presented - which have since been circulated widely - did not make that explicitly clear

Professor David Paton, an industrial economist at the University of Nottingham, hit out at the 50,000 per day prediction which suggests cases will be five to six times higher than France

Professor Whitty, presenting a heat map of the UK, warned that coronavirus cases are now rising all over the UK and not just in a handful of areas.

'This is not someone else's problem, this is all of our problem,' the chief medical officer warned.

He explained: 'What we've seen is a progression where... first we saw very small outbreaks, maybe associated with a workplace or another environment, then we've seen more localised outbreaks which have got larger over time, particularity in the cities.

'And now what we're seeing is a rate of increase across the great majority of the country. It is going at different rates but it is now increasing.'

Nigel Marriott, an independent statistician, claimed that although the cases were doubling in parts of the North they were actually falling in some regions in the South.

He added: This regional disparity makes the national picture hard to interpret and it suggests that the goal should be to halt the northern wave as fast as possible before it has a chance to spread to the South.

Public Health England's data from Friday also shows that infections were actually falling or stagnant in 43 out of 149 areas  29 per cent.

Meanwhile, the UKs Covid-19 alert level was raised from three to four last night as Government advisers warned that virus cases are probably rising exponentially.

The decision was taken by the nations four chief medical officers, who urged the public to follow basic hygiene and social distancing practices to avoid significant excess deaths.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: This country now faces a tipping point in its response and it is vital everybody plays their part now to stop the spread of the virus and protect lives. It followed a rare televised address by Sir Patrick and Professor Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer for England.

Professor Whitty appealed to the publics selflessness in adhering to the rules and not just assuming they could take their own risks.

He said: The problem with a pandemic or an infection such as this is that if I as an individual increase my risk, I increase the risk to everyone around me and everyone whos a contact of theirs.

Sooner or later the chain will lead to people who are vulnerable or elderly or have a long-term problem with Covid. Despite the gloomy tone of the briefing, Sir Patrick said there was a chance a vaccine could be available by the end of the year.

Boris Johnson hits reverse: PM will order pubs and restaurants to close at 10pm, tell workers 'stay HOME if you can' and demand police crack down hard on rule breakers in TV speech TODAY

By Jason Groves, Political Editor for the Daily Mail and Jack Wright for MailOnline

Boris Johnson will unveil a major crackdown on normal life today in a bid to halt a second wave of coronavirus.

He will drop his 'back to work' drive, announce restrictions on socialising and impose a 10pm curfew on bars and restaurants from Thursday.

Pubs and other venues will be allowed to serve seated customers only and drinkers will be banned from gathering in crowds. Chief medical officer Chris Whitty said yesterday it was crucial to break 'unnecessary links between households'.

Northern Ireland last night announced a ban on families visiting other households and there was speculation England could follow suit.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock warned Covid transmission 'tends to be in social settings, people coming around to your house, or you going out and socialising'.

In July, Mr Johnson urged staff to 'go back to work if you can' in a bid to prevent city centres becoming ghost towns. But a source told the Mail that employees will be advised to 'work from home if you can' during the coming weeks (pictured, commuters getting into work in Manchester's main tram stop at St Peter's Square)

The limit on guests at weddings may also be slashed from the current limit of 30. A senior Government source last night acknowledged the Prime Minister's 'back to work' drive would be paused after scientific advisers warned that workplace transmission was a concern.

In July, Mr Johnson urged staff to 'go back to work if you can' in a bid to prevent city centres becoming ghost towns.

But a source told the Mail that employees will be advised to 'work from home if you can' during the coming weeks.

The Prime Minister was reportedly set to shut down the entire hospitality sector after the Health Secretary and the Government's scientists began pushing hard for more draconian measures, according to The Times. It is understood that the Cabinet's economic hawks pulled him back from the brink.

The restrictions have divided the Cabinet, with Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Business Secretary Alok Sharma both warning about the potential impact on the economy. But a senior Government source insisted all ministers accepted the move was needed to bring the R-rate, which measures how fast the disease is spreading, back under control.

'The aim is to cause maximum damage to the R and minimal damage to the economy,' the source said. 'Unless we act now, there will be greater economic damage later on.'

Businesses and schools will be allowed to stay open, with Government sources insisting the measures do not amount to a second lockdown. In other developments:

The Covid-19 alert level was raised from three to four, meaning virus cases are either high or rising 'exponentially';

The number of confirmed cases rose by 4,368, up from 3,899 the previous day. There were 11 more deaths;

More than 430,000 residents in South Wales were placed under local lockdowns following an increase in cases;

Taxpayers face paying billions more to keep trains running after financial support for rail firms was extended by 18 months;

Rules for areas in local lockdown are being relaxed so grandparents can look after their grandchildren;

More than 30 leading doctors and academics criticised 'harmful' plans to impose blanket lockdown measures in an open letter to the Prime Minister.

Boris Johnson will unveil a major crackdown on normal life today in a bid to halt a second wave of coronavirus. He will drop his 'back to work' drive, announce restrictions on socialising and impose a 10pm curfew on bars and restaurants from Thursday

A No 10 spokesman said: 'No one underestimates the challenges the new measures will pose to many individuals and businesses. We know this won't be easy, but we must take further action to control the resurgence in cases of the virus and protect the NHS.'

The measures announced today will be accompanied by a new push on enforcement, including more fines for individuals and on-the-spot closures for venues that fail to follow the rules.

The final package will be signed off by the Cabinet this morning and coordinated with leaders from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland at a meeting of the Government's emergency committee Cobra.

The Prime Minister will unveil details of the restrictions to parliament at lunchtime before making an address to the nation at 8pm this evening.

He will urge the public to follow the 'rule of six', and carry on with basic measures like hand washing  or risk an even tougher lockdown in the coming weeks. Mr Hancock last night said the UK was at a 'tipping point' where failure to follow the rules could lead to the virus running out of control.

In a gloomy televised briefing yesterday, Mr Whitty said restrictions may have to last for six months to help the NHS cope through the winter.

The Government's chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, told the briefing without action, Covid cases could hit 50,000 a day by the middle of next month, with deaths hitting 200 a day by November.

Neither of the leading scientists took media questions about their presentation, which critics said was misleading. Mr Johnson will also duck media scrutiny when he makes his televised address tonight.

The warning came amid Tory unease about the prospect of further restrictions and 'authoritarianism'. Sir Edward Leigh warned the Government was becoming 'increasingly incompetent'.

Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers, accused Mr Johnson of 'ruling by decree' and treating the public 'like children'. One Cabinet minister told the Mail that the Prime Minister also has grave reservations about imposing new restrictions on an economy struggling to recover from lockdown.

The source said: 'My impression is that the last thing Boris wants to do is get sucked back into another lockdown, but he is finding it very hard to resist the message from the scientists.'

The Prime Minister is understood to have found it hard to resist the demands of the Health Secretary and the Government's scientists as panic about rising cases of coronavirus set in within official circles.

Mr Johnson was reportedly talked out of shutting the entire hospitality sector down by Chancellor Sunak and Business Secretary Sharma, who feared that drifting into a second national lockdown would devastate UK plc, according to The Times.
Seven people have been indicted in connection with a New Haven-area narcotics trafficking and related offenses, according to federal authorities.

According to a release from the office of Connecticut U.S. Attorney John H. Durham, a federal grand jury seated in New Haven returned an indictment charging these individuals with conspiring to distribute heroin and crack cocaine:

Michael Smith, also known as Head, 34; Keilah Boria, 39; Jonathan Duarte, 35; Chawn Battle, 47; Alex Reyes, 33; and Alexis Viera, 32, all of New Haven; and Ernest Holcomb, also known as Ern, 32, of North Branford.

The DEA New Haven Task Force began an investigation into a New Haven-based drug trafficking network headed by Michael Smith in 2019, according to federal authorities, who attributed the information to court documents and statements made in court.

The investigation revealed that Smith, Duarte, Reyes and Holcomb were distributing heroin and crack cocaine throughout the New Haven area. During the investigation, Viera was identified as a supplier of crack to Smiths organization, and Battle was identified as customer who bought heroin from the organization and sold the drug to his own customers, federal authorities said in a release.

The investigation also revealed that Boria maintained bank accounts that Smith used to launder the cash proceeds of his drug trafficking activity, and that Smith spent some of the drug proceeds to pay for rental cars that he used to transport narcotics, and to travel to meet his drug customers, the release said.

If convicted of conspiring to distribute heroin and crack, based on the type and quantity of drug attributable to each defendant, Smith, Boria and Duarte face a mandatory minimum term of 5 years and a maximum of 40 year in prison; and Holcomb, Battle, Reyes and Viera face a maximum of 20 year in prison, federal authorities said in the release.

The indictment also charges Smith with one count of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of heroin, an offense that carries a maximum term of 20 years in prison, and one count of use of a firearm during and in relation to, and in furtherance of, a drug trafficking crime, an offense that carries a mandatory term of at least 10 years in prison, federal authorities said in the release.

The indictment also charges Smith and Boria with one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, an offense that carries a maximum of 20 years in prison.

Smith has been detained since his arrest on state charges on Dec. 23, 2019. The other six defendants were arrested on Sept.16, 2020, after the indictment was returned.

Smith, Duarte, Battle and Viera are detained, and Boria, Holcomb and Reyes are released pending trial.

The investigation is being conducted by the DEA New Haven Task Force, the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation Division, and the New Haven, West Haven, Hamden, East Haven, North Haven, Ansonia, Meriden and Derby Police Departments, the release noted.

Read the indictment:

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys H. Gordon Hall and John T. Pierpont, Jr.
By Azernews





By Akbar Mammadov

Azerbaijan has launched a criminal case against Armenia over the killing of Azerbaijani soldier and the wounding of another one in the border Tovuz region in yet another cease-fire violation by Armenian armed forces, The Prosecutor-Generals Office reported on September 21.

The Prosecutor-Generals Office said that Armenian armed forces opened fire on Azerbaijans combat post in Tovuz regions Aghdam village at 17:00 on September 20, as a result of which Azerbaijani soldier Gurbanov Gurban received a shrapnel wound in the right shoulder."

The Shamkir Military Prosecutor's Office launched a criminal case under Articles 100.2 (waging an aggressive war) and 29, 120.2.12 (attempted murder with intent to incite national, racial, religious hatred or enmity) of the Azerbaijans Criminal Code over the incident.

Another criminal case have been launched under Articles 100.2 (waging an aggressive war) and 120.2.12 (intentional homicide with national, racial, religious hatred or hostility) of the Azerbaijani Criminal Code over the killing of Azerbaijani Armys servicemen Mammadov Elshan in an attack on September 21, at around 09:00 in the direction of Tovuz region.

The Prosecutor Generals Office also emphasized that by developing new provocative plans, Armenia is demonstrating that its real intention is not to resolve the conflict peacefully but to continue the illegal occupation of Azerbaijani lands.

The provocations and crimes committed by Armenia on the frontline indicate the intention of the occupying country even not to negotiate, on the contrary, to create an escalation.

The Prosecutor Generals Office stressed that the provocative attacks by the armed forces of the occupying country, the violation of the ceasefire regime and crimes committed by this country against the Azerbaijani Armed Forces military personnel are a clear disrespect for the norms and principles of international law, as well as UN Security Council resolutions.

Earlier, on September 20 night, Azerbaijan's Air Defense Units destroyed a tactical unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) of the units of the Armenian armed forces. This was the ninth UAV belonging to Armenian army units that have been downed in the Azerbaijani territories after attempting to carry out a reconnaissance flight over the positions of the Azerbaijani Army's units since July 16.

It should be noted that Armenia has stepped up its military provocation recently, staging sabotage both on the border and on the line of contact.

On July 12, Armenian forces shelled Azerbaijan's positions in Tovuz, Azerbaijan's strategically-important district. The attack killed 12 Azerbaijani servicemen, including an army general, as well as a 76-year-old civilian. Armenian forces retreated after suffering losses in Azerbaijan's retaliation.

Another provocation was staged on August 23 at around 6:00 am when Azerbaijan thwarted a provocation attempt by the sabotage-reconnaissance group of the Armenian armed forces in the direction of Goranboy region of Azerbaijan. As a result of measures taken by the Azerbaijani army, the commander of the sabotage-reconnaissance group of the Armenian Armed Forces, senior lieutenant Gurgen Alaverdyan was taken as prisoner.

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.
A German prosecutor trying to build a case against a suspect in the 2007 disappearance of three-year-old Madeleine McCann in Portugal said on Tuesday he had opened an investigation into a reported rape of a young woman in the same area in 2004.

The investigation into the girl's disappearance 13 years ago is now focused on a 43-year-old German identified as Christian B., named by the prosecutor in June.

Madeleine vanished from her bedroom on May 3, 2007 during a family holiday in the Algarve while her parents dined with friends in the resort of Praia da Luz.

Read More

In June, prosecutors in the German city of Braunschweig made a public appeal for clues to help them find concrete evidence against Christian B., who had been living in the Algarve at the time and had a string of prior convictions.

On Tuesday, the prosecutor said he had started his own investigation at the end of June into the case of a young Irish woman after the victim spoke to media about being raped at knifepoint nearby.

"(The investigations) are ongoing," said Hans Christian Wolters, adding the case was not as extensive as Madeleine's and not all the files from Portugal had been submitted.

According to Portuguese court documents seen by Reuters, Irish babysitter Hazel Behan, 20, reported to Portuguese police that she had been raped in June, 2004.

The victim woke up with a man she did not know wearing black gloves and a hood standing next to her with a knife to her neck, say the documents. He raped her on a table and tied her up with rope. He took photographs of her and cut her clothes with scissors.

The victim gave a physical description of the attacker and said he spoke English but sounded German, Belgian or Dutch.

Christian B. is in a prison in Kiel serving a sentence for drug dealing but has been seeking parole.
HDFC Bank has put out on its website eligibility rules for loan restructuring, explaining what the scheme is and how to use it. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in March allowed a moratorium of three months on payment of instalments of loans and later extended it by three months till August 31.

When the moratorium period is over, banks had to offer restructuring options for these loans to borrowers. The RBI has permitted the banks to set their own terms and conditions for restructuring of loans. Here are key details about HDFCs loan restructuring offer as published on its ...
She became one of Australia's most eligible bachelorettes after splitting from her husband Lee in 2018.

And on Tuesday, Jackie 'O' Henderson revealed her bizarre sexual preference, which also seemingly confirmed why she hasn't been able to find her Mr. Right.

Speaking on her KIIS 106.5 breakfast radio show, the 45-year-old admitted that she has noticed her wandering eye for criminals.

Acquired taste: Jackie 'O' Henderson revealed on The Kyle and Jackie O Show on Tuesday that she's only attracted to criminals

'When I look at news stories and see pictures of people who the articles are about, I would say 98% of the time the hot guy always turns out to be the felon,' she said.

'I see the picture and say ''he's hot, what's he about?,'' Oh, hes another criminal,' she laughed off.

The mother-of-one went on to explain that she is concerned about her growing attraction to criminals, and doesn't want to end up with a bad boy.

Guilty! Speaking on her KIIS 106.5 radio show, the 45-year-old admitted that she has noticed her wandering eye for criminals. Pictured Kyle and Jackie O' participants

'It's really worrying Kyle, I don't want to end up with someone like that,' she said.

In an attempt to expose Jackie's wild side, her co-host Kyle Sandilands arranged for a group of males to appear in the studio for her to pick out the best looking men.

Each line up contained two males who didn't have a criminal past, and one that did.

'It's really worrying Kyle, I don't want to end up with someone like that' she said

But luck wasn't on Jackie's side, each time choosing the man with a 'criminal' past.

Kyle, 49, didn't appear shocked by her results, instead telling Jackie: 'Just fall into it... You know what its like...'

'A lot of my friends wanna bang you too even the ones in jail,' he continued.
In addition to being the last horizon for adventurers and spiritual seekers, the Himalaya region is a prime location for understanding geological processes. It hosts world-class mineral deposits of copper, lead, zinc, gold and silver, as well as rarer elements like lithium, antimony and chrome, that are essential to modern technology. The uplift of the Tibetan plateau even affects global climate by influencing atmospheric circulation and the development of seasonal monsoons.

Yet despite its importance, scientists still don't fully understand the geological processes contributing to the region's formation. "The physical and political inaccessibility of Tibet has limited scientific study, so most field experiments have either been too localized to understand the big picture or they've lacked sufficient resolution at depths to properly understand the processes," said Simon Klemperer, a geophysics professor at Stanford's School of Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences (Stanford Earth).

Now, new seismic data gathered by Klemperer and his colleagues provides the first west-to-east view of the subsurface where India and Asia collide. The research contributes to an ongoing debate over the structure of the Himalaya collision zone, the only place on Earth where continental plates continue crashing today - and the source of catastrophes like the 2015 Gorkha earthquake that killed about 9,000 people and injured thousands more.

The new seismic images suggest that two competing processes are simultaneously operating beneath the collision zone: movement of one tectonic plate under another, as well as thinning and collapse of the crust. The research, conducted by scientists at Stanford University and the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Sept. 21.

The study marks the first time that scientists have collected truly credible images of what's called an along-strike, or longitudinal, variation in the Himalaya collision zone, co-author Klemperer said.

As the Indian plate collides with Asia it forms Tibet, the highest and largest mountain plateau on the planet. This process started very recently in geological history, about 57 million years ago. Researchers have proposed various explanations for its formation, such as a thickening of the Earth's crust caused by the Indian plate forcing its way beneath the Tibetan Plateau.

To test these hypotheses, researchers began the major logistical effort of installing new seismic recorders in 2011 in order to resolve details that might have been previously overlooked. Importantly, the new recorders were installed from east to west across Tibet; traditionally, they had only been deployed from north to south because that is the direction the country's valleys are oriented and thus the direction that roads have historically been built.

The final images, pieced together from recordings by 159 new seismometers closely spaced along two 620-mile long profiles, reveal where the Indian crust has deep tears associated with the curvature of the Himalayan arc.

"We're seeing at a much finer scale what we never saw before," Klemperer said. "It took a heroic effort to install closely spaced seismometers across the mountains, instead of along the valleys, to collect data in the west-east direction and make this research possible."

Building and breaking

As the Indian tectonic plate moves from the south, the mantle, the thickest and strongest part of the plate, is dipping beneath the Tibetan plateau. The new analyses reveal that this process is causing small parts of the Indian plate to break off beneath two of the surface rifts, likely creating tears in the plate - similar to how a truck barreling through a narrow gap between two trees might chip off pieces of tree trunk. The location of such tears can be critical for understanding how far a major earthquake like Gorkha will spread.

"These transitions, these jumps between the faults, are so important and they're at a scale that we don't normally notice until after an earthquake has happened," Klemperer said.

An unusual aspect of Tibet involves the occurrence of very deep earthquakes, more than 40 miles below the surface. Using their seismic data, the researchers found associations between the plate tears and the occurrence of those deep quakes.

The research also explains why the strength of gravity varies in different parts of the collision zone. The co-authors hypothesized that after the small pieces dropped off of the Indian plate, softer material from underneath bubbled up, creating mass imbalances in the India-Tibet collision zone.

A natural laboratory

The India-Tibet region also provides insight into how parts of the eastern U.S. could have been formed through continental collisions about a billion years ago.

"The only way to understand what might have happened in eastern North America today is to come to Tibet," Klemperer said. "For geologists, this is the one big continental collision that is taking place on Earth today - it's this natural laboratory where we can study these processes."

###

Klemperer is also a professor of geological sciences, by courtesy.

The research was supported by the China National Natural Science Foundation, the Chinese Geological Survey and the U.S. National Science Foundation.
Parliament on Tuesday passed amendments to the Banking Regulation Act to bring cooperative banks under the supervision of the RBI, a move aimed at protecting the interest of depositors.

The Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2020, which replaces an ordinance that was promulgated on June 26, was passed by a voice vote in Rajya Sabha. The amendment had got approval from Lok Sabha on September 16.

The bill, which comes in the backdrop of the PMC Bank scam, seeks to strengthen cooperative banks by increasing their professionalism, enabling access to capital, improving governance and ensuring sound banking through the RBI.

Replying to a short debate on the bill in Rajya Sabha, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the amendments have been brought to completely protect the interest of depositors.

She clarifies this amendment is only for cooperative societies engaged in banking activities.

"During the COVID period many cooperative banks have come under stress. Their finances are being closely monitored by the regulator RBI," Sitharaman said.

Justifying the need for the amendments, the minister said the government was able to quickly resolve the troubled Yes Bank as it was governed by commercial bank rules, but the resolution to the PMC Bank crisis is yet to be found.

The upper house debated the bill amid several members boycotting proceedings till the suspension of eight MPs is revoked.

As many as eight members of the Rajya Sabha were suspended on Monday after the government brought a motion in this regard which was passed by the House by voice vote.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday came out in support of Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh, who made a peace offering to the protesting suspended MPs by offering tea after their overnight sit-in, saying his gesture showed he was blessed with a humble mind and a big heart.

On Tuesday morning, Harivansh visited the MPs who were suspended a day before during the chaos over the farm bills and offered them tea. While the MPs rebuffed his advances, Prime Minister Narendra Modi came out strongly in support of Harivansh. To personally serve tea to those who attacked and insulted him a few days ago as well as those sitting on Dharna shows that Shri Harivansh Ji has been blessed with a humble mind and a big heart. It shows his greatness. I join the people of India in congratulating Harivansh Ji," PM Modi tweeted.

He added, For centuries, the great land of Bihar has been teaching us the values of democracy. In line with that wonderful ethos, MP from Bihar and Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson Shri Harivansh Jis inspiring and statesman like conduct this morning will make every democracy lover proud.

A motion for the suspension of the eight leaders  Rajeev Satav, Syed Nasir Hussain and Ripun Bora (all Congress), Dola Sen and OBrien (TMC), KK Ragesh and Elamaram Kareen (both CPM), and Sanjay Singh, was moved by the government and approved by a voice vote in the House.

This came after Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu rejected a notice for a no-confidence motion against Deputy Chairman Harivansh as it was not in proper format and did not give a 14-day notice period. Opposition members, objecting to the manner in which the two farm bills were being passed, had on Sunday stormed the well of the House and when their demand for voting wasnt met, they tore papers, climbed on tables, shouted slogans, and allegedly threw the rule book at Harivansh, who was presiding at that time.

Condemning their behaviour, Naidu said Harivansh had later informed him that he was abused with objectionable words" and would have been harmed also". Opposition parties hit out at the government over the suspension of the eight Rajya Sabha MPs and sat in for an indefinite" protest on Parliament premises against the move.

Carrying pillows and blankets at the protest site, the eight MPs shouted slogans and even broke into songs as they protested in front of Mahatma Gandhis statue in Parliament complex. We will not budge," they asserted. Suspension wont silence us. We will stand with farmers in their fight. The (Rajya Sabha) deputy chairman throttled parliamentary procedures yesterday," said CPI(M) MP Elamaram Kareem, who is among those suspended.

Sources told News18 that an ambulance has been arranged as standby for the protesting members, while drinking water has also been arranged as the leaders plan to stay at the site overnight.
Former Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett has accused Daniel Andrews and his government of failing to take responsibility for the state's second wave of COVID-19.

Victoria's hotel quarantine inquiry revealed the current premier's right-hand man Chris Eccles 'can't recall' who ordered security guards to stand at the entrance to hotels for returned travellers.

Mr Kennett exploded during an appearance on Tuesday's Today Show where he described the revelations as 'extraordinary'.

'We are in this strange position here in Victoria where no-one knows anything,' he said.

'No politician will accept responsibility. It is the most extraordinary situation and bear in mind, the failure at those quarantine hotels led to the second wave here which to date has taken over 750 lives.'

Two woman wearing facemasks carry their shopping during lockdown in Melbourne

Nearly two thirds of Victorians believe Premier Daniel Andrews (pictured) has handled the coronavirus crisis well

Mr Andrews is due to give evidence during the inquiry on Friday but Mr Kennett assumed he will also claim to 'not know anything'.

'No-one knows. This has just happened. I'm surprised anyone knows we have got coronavirus down here,' Mr Kennett said.

'No politician has accepted any responsibility for any act that has occurred.'

Despite the negative criticism nearly two thirds of Victorians believe Premier Andrews has handled the coronavirus crisis well.

Some 62 per cent said they were satisfied with his performance even though the virus escaped from hotel quarantine in late May and caused a deadly second wave.

Mr Kennett said he wasn't surprised by the results, saying people under stress will 'look to their leaders to actually be able to guide them to a safe place'.

He said: 'We are being guided because the government has failed and I've always said that the aftermath of the coronavirus is going to be a lot more serious than, in fact, the coronavirus itself.'

Former Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett has attacked Daniel Andrews and the Victorian government for failing to take responsibility for the state's deadly second wave of COVID-19

Mr Kennett exploded during an appearance on Tuesday's Today Show where he described the revelations as 'extraordinary'

The Newspoll for The Australian also found that 61 per cent of Victorians thought the state's lockdown restrictions were 'about right'.

A quarter of people said they were too strict and 10 per cent said they were too lenient.

Asked how Mr Andrews was handling his job, 62 per cent of voters were satisfied and 35 per cent were dissatisfied for a net satisfaction score of 27 per cent.

Poll Should Melbourne end lockdown sooner than October 26? Yes No Undecided Should Melbourne end lockdown sooner than October 26? Yes 650 votes

No 118 votes

Undecided 24 votes Now share your opinion





The September net score was up from 20 per cent in July when the state's second wave of infections began to emerge. In April, it was 58 per cent.

Mr Andrews has been under constant criticism since he plunged Victoria back into lockdown on 8 July. The state's second wave has caused 750 deaths, mostly in aged care homes.

It began when hotel security guards and staff failed to adhere to social distancing requirements, caught the virus and spread it around Melbourne.

The Andrews government has been criticised for using private security guards instead of soldiers and police to run the quarantine scheme.

The Newspoll also found Queenslanders back Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk's handling of Covid-19, with 68 per cent saying she is doing a good job, although this was drop from 81 per cent in July.

Voters in both states endorsed Prime Minister Scott Morrison's handling of the pandemic, with 77 per cent in Queensland and 71 per cent in Victoria saying he did 'well'.

Mr Andrews encouraged anyone with a scratchy throat, runny nose or headache to get tested for the virus. Pictured: Melbourne residents on Saturday

On restrictions, 39 per cent of voters around the country are now more concerned about harm to the economy and mental wellbeing than the risk of higher infection, compared to 20 per cent who held that view in July.

But 56 per cent remain concerned that moves to ease restrictions were too quick, risking the virus spreading further.

On Queensland's hard border closures, 53 per cent of voters across the country say the level of restrictions is about right while 37 per cent say they should be relaxed.

The Newspoll of 2,068 voters nationally was conducted between September 16 and 19.

Victoria recorded 28 new cases on Tuesday, a jump from 11 on Monday - the lowest figure in three months.

Opposition Leader Michael O'Brien said Melburnians can't afford to wait until October 26 when more onerous rules such as the 9pm-5am curfew are due to be repealed.

'These numbers dictate a faster, safer reopening,' Mr O'Brien said.

'The epidemiologists back it, the modelling backs it. Daniel Andrews needs to start listening to the experts and stop being a one-man show.'
(Natural News) Just when we thought we had seen peak boredom from Americas misinformed Marxists disguised as some kind of anti-fascist freedom fighters, three new videos out of Philadelphia have surfaced showing that now, more than ever, theres too many art students and unemployed millennials that need to find hobbies.

(Article by Tyler Durden republished from ZeroHedge.com)

The first video shows a group of several people chasing a man through a park.

Holy shit you made a bad mistake, one protester says before another, cloaked in a hood of what appears to be a $500 REI jacket, tries to kick the man theyre chasing and then falls over.

The man then jogs in the other direction and appears to get away from his bad mistake, whatever it was, scot-free.

A second video out of Philadelphia shows a man that a mob reportedly chased to his car. And by mob, we naturally mean a group of what appears to be kids in their early 20s, replete with the full Antifa halloween costume of black hoods and masks.

Fuck off Nazi scum, the supposed protesters can be heard saying.

Protesters chased a man to his vehicle, then threw rocks, smashed windows and dented the doors as he drove away from Clark Park #PhillyProtest #Philly #Antifa pic.twitter.com/CHvLEG8fH8  Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) September 19, 2020

Get the fuck out of here! someone yells while other mob members kick and dent the persons car repeatedly. When the car drives off, after being dented and damaged, someone throws a rock at its back window.

A third video shows a different angle of the assault, showing there was a dog in the back of the SUV at the time.

F*ck you and your dog! Philadelphia: Antifa attacks a targeted individual, destroys his vehicle, and puts his dogs (in the car) life in danger. Reminds me of a scene from Wizard of Oz. pic.twitter.com/qOOkn8e4k2  Kalen From Scriberr (@FromKalen) September 19, 2020

The group can then be heard whooping and congratulating each other after the person drives away.

One more Nazi taken care of, right?

Keep fighting the good fight, Antifa.

Read more at: ZeroHedge.com
Chinese officials have officially acknowledged birth rates in Xinjiang dropped by almost a third in 2018, compared to the previous year, in a letter to CNN in which they also denied reports of forced sterilization and genocide by authorities in the far western region.

The Xinjiang government sent CNN the six-page fax in response to questions for an article published in July that documented a campaign of abuse and control by Beijing targeting women from the Uyghur minority, a Muslim ethnic group numbering more than 10 million people. The fax didnt arrive until September 1, a month after the story was published.

These arent the first accusations of widespread human rights abuses by the Chinese government in Xinjiang. Up to 2 million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities are believed to have been placed in mass detention centers in the region, according to the US State Department, where they have allegedly been subject to indoctrination and abuse.

Beijing claims that these centers are voluntary and provide vocational training as part of a de-radicalization program in Xinjiang, which saw a spate of violent attacks in recent years.

But CNNs reporting found that some Uyghur women were being forced to use birth control and undergo sterilization as part of a deliberate attempt to push down birth rates among minorities in Xinjiang.

The article was based on a report by Adrian Zenz, a senior fellow at the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation known for his research on Xinjiang, who quoted official Chinese documents showing a surge in the number of sterilizations performed in the region  from fewer than 50 per 100,000 people in 2016 to almost 250 per 100,000 people in 2018.

Zenz said that these actions fell under the United Nations definition of genocide" specifically imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group."

In its response, the Xinjiang government strongly denied the claims of genocide, arguing instead that the Uyghur population has been growing continuously" during the past decade and that Zenzs report was not in line with the real situation in Xinjiang."

According to the government, the population of Xinjiang rose by more than 3 million people, or almost 14%, between 2010 and 2018, with the Uyghur population growing faster than the regions average rate.

The rights and interests of Uyghur and other ethnic minorities have been fully protected," the response said. The so-called genocide is pure nonsense."

Birth rate plunges

But the government didnt dispute the rise in sterilizations or the gap in the ratio of new intrauterine devices (IUDs) between Xinjiang and the rest of mainland China. While IUD implants have plunged in China overall, falling to just 21 per 100,000 people in 2018, in Xinjiang they are becoming increasingly common.

According to local government statistics, there were almost 1,000 new IUD implants per 100,000 people in Xinjiang in 2018, or 80% of Chinas total for that year.

The Xinjiang government said in its response that the birth rate in the region had dropped from 15.88 per 1,000 people in 2017 to 10.69 per 1,000 people in 2018. The fax said that the drop was due to the comprehensive implementation of the family planning policy."

Up until 2015, the Chinese government enforced a one-child" family planning policy countrywide, which allowed most urban couples no more than one baby. Ethnic minorities, such as the Uyghur people, were typically allowed to have up to three but Xinjiang expert Zenz said that families from these groups often had many more children.

When China officially began the two-child policy in January 2016, Uyghur citizens living in cities were limited to two children for the first time as well  their rural counterparts could still have up to three.

The Xinjiang government attributed the sudden drop in population to Beijings family planning policies finally being properly implemented in the region after 2017.

In 2018, the number of newborns decreased by approximately 120,000 compared with 2017, of which about 80,000 were because of better implementation of family planning policy in accordance with law, according to estimates by the health and statistics department," the response to CNN said. The government insisted that those who complied with the family planning policies did so voluntarily.

The government attributed the remaining 40,000 fewer babies to increased education and economic development, resulting in fewer children in the region. The Xinjiang government did not include the 2019 birth figures for the region.

As a part of China, Xinjiang implements family planning policies in accordance with national laws and regulations, and has never formulated and implemented family planning policies for a single ethnic minority," the response said.

But Zenz pointed out that changes to the natural birth rate should take place over several years or even a decade, not in the space of 12 to 36 months.

In reference to the governments claims that compliance with the family planning policies were voluntary, Zenz questioned how likely it was that 17 times more women spontaneously wanted to be sterilized."

Han Chinese academics from Xinjiang have themselves written that the Uyghurs resist any type of contraceptive (and especially sterilization)," he said in a statement to CNN.

In their fax, the Xinjiang government also attacked Zenz personally, saying that he was deliberately fabricating lies" and accused him of being a religious fanatic who believed he was led by God" to oppose China.

Zenz dismissed the Chinese governments allegations, saying they were resorting to personal attacks" because they couldnt disprove his research. Far more egregious than these personal attacks on me are Beijings smears against the Uyghur witnesses," he said in a statement.

Attacks on women

The Xinjiang government also zeroed in on claims made by two female Uyghurs quoted in CNNs article  Zumrat Dawut and Gulbakhar Jalilova.

Dawut said she had been forced into sterilization by the local government in Xinjiang when she went to a government office to pay a fine for having one too many children. Dawut also said she had been in a detention center in Xinjiang for about three months from March 2018.

In their response, the government said that Dawut had never been inside a voluntary education and training center," the name used by the Chinese government for the alleged detention centers, and that she had signed a form agreeing to the procedure known as tubal ligation.

In CNNs article, Jalilova, who is a citizen of Kazakhstan and an ethnic Uyghur, said she was held in a detention center for 15 months after being arrested suddenly and without explanation during a business trip to Xinjiang in May 2017.

Jalilova claimed she suffered humiliation and torture while inside the camps and said she was raped by one of the guards.

Uyghur exile Gulbakhar Jalilova who says she suffered sexual abuse while she was held in detention centers in Xinjiang.

Uyghur exile Gulbakhar Jalilova who says she suffered sexual abuse while she was held in detention centers in Xinjiang.

The Xinjiang government confirmed Jalilovas claims that she had been detained for 15 months from May 2017, alleging she was arrested on suspicion of aiding terrorist activities." In August 2018 she was released on bail, after which she returned to Kazakhstan.

In their statement, the government denied that Jalilova had been raped or tortured, saying that all of her rights were fully guaranteed" and the staff who were in her cell could prove it.

When asked to respond to the Chinese governments statement, Jalilova stood by her claims and demanded the Xinjiang authorities provide their proof. Why dont they show a video? Why dont they show a photo during my time in prison showing that I was well fed and not beaten. The cameras were working 24 hours," she said.

I am a citizen of Kazakhstan, what right did they have to detain me for a year and a half?"
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Labor candidate Peter Beattie and local member Margaret Keech (R) pose for a photo with a worker at the Yatala Pie shop at Beenleigh in Brisbane, Australia, on Aug. 14, 2013. (AAP Image/Bradley Kanaris)

Former Queensland Labor Minister Quits Party to Run Against MP

A former long-serving Labor cabinet minister has come out of retirement to challenge the incumbent Labor MP that she helped get elected in the upcoming Queensland elections.

Margaret Keech, the former womens and tourism minister in the Peter Beattie and Anna Bligh governments between 2001 and 2012, says the Labor Party now only listens to factional powerbrokers and inner-city Green voters and not the working class.

Labors really lost its way. Its not the party that focussed on working families, she told Seven News on Tuesday. Its more focussed on inner Brisbane, chasing those Greens preferences, and they really have lost touch.

She has quit the Labor Party to take on Melissa McMahon as an independent for the seat of Macalister, centred on Beenleigh and Eagleby south of Brisbane, the states capital.

Keech wrote on Facebook on Tuesday that she felt the urge to stand again for Queensland Parliament because of an urgent need to change the way her community is represented.

As an Independent, I will be free to fight for the things which matter to you. My focus will solely be on serving our community, not on a political party, she wrote.

Labor in past years, for example with [Former Premier] Peter Beattie, was about listening to the people first, rather than listening to the factions, Keech said.

Incumbent MP McMahon, who once thanked Keech for election campaign guidance in her maiden speech to Queensland Parliamant in 2018, said she was surprised by Keechs move.

A lot of people are upset because she was elected as a Labor MP, she was given a Labor ministry, she said.

McMahon pointed out that Keech, who is spruiking a self-funded campaign, is living off a substantial ministerial retirement pension.

Self-funded or publicly-funded? McMahon rhetorically questioned, before going on to say that Keech receives fairly nice retirement entitlements.

As a retired member, I believe I can still contribute to my community, said Keech.

Macalister is a reasonably safe seat with Labor enjoying a margin of 7.4 percent.

The Queensland state election will be held on Oct. 31.
The country may have spent the last few days basking in the warm rays of an Indian summer's sunshine, but seldom has the national mood been so dark and bleak.

While certain so-called 'wet' pubs around the country are allowed to reopen this week, Dublin has been thrust back into Lockdown Level 3.

Or is it Level 4? Or is it, just to really confuse the natives, actually Level 3.5?

That decision, while not surprising, was still devastating for the capital. To paraphrase Michael Corleone - just when we thought we were out, they drag us back in again.

Pubs which had used the last of their dwindling cash reserves to restock have now wasted what precious little money they had left.

The amount of food and stock that will be simply binned is enormous. It is, without a shadow of a doubt, yet another body blow to an industry which has been on the ropes since March.

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Will it be the final knockout punch? For many of them, sadly, the answer is a resounding yes.

Many of us naively thought we would have learnt how to live with this villainous virus by now.

But any hopes of an early recovery were utterly dashed the other day when Taoiseach Micheal Martin admitted we should all prepare to live under restrictions for at least a year.

There is hope, he said, that a vaccine may be found by April or May of next year. He tried to stay upbeat and insisted that "science and research will get on top of this, as they have with other viruses". But that claim is not entirely true.

There are numerous viral illnesses which have remained immune to vaccines so all we can do is hope the boffins finally come up with a magic bullet - but, as Martin implicitly acknowledged, even then we still have to take into account the length of time it would take to produce enough vaccines for everyone.

Frankly, when he admitted that "the full impact of the virus will be with us for the full year, I think - that's my view and that's a sobering thought", my blood chilled.

Most of us have barely kept it together since Covid hit like a wrecking ball back in March.

While the vast majority went along with the new restrictions out of a desire to be a good neighbour - and to our credit, most Irish people were more concerned about spreading the disease than catching it themselves - public patience is not an infinite resource.

As we have seen in recent weeks, house parties, pub parties and even large raves have begun to spring up as people decide that enough is enough and they want to live a little.

It's easy to blame that impulse, but it should also be easy to understand it as well.

While it's fashionable to condemn young people for being selfish and indifferent to the health requirements of others, I don't think anyone would want to be a 20-year-old at the moment.

But if, as now seems increasingly likely, we have to spend the whole of 2021 bouncing around the different levels of lockdown according to ever-changing infection rates, people will lose their marbles.

It's easy to blame the Government for everything.

But when we see the chaos that has engulfed both the UK and the USA, one could argue our lot haven't done as badly as some other governments.

However, that's not to say they are given a gold star on their report cards - far from it.

The mixed messages, the open contradictions between ministers and TDs, and the general sense that they have essentially handed power over to the public health officials have all conspired to create a situation where they're damned if they do and damned if they don't.

If we face the prospect of having to write off another year in the same fashion that we've had to pretend that 2020 simply never happened, we will be facing into a period of genuine social unrest.

The anti-mask conspiracy brigade in this country is, thankfully, an insignificant number - at the moment.

But, as we saw with violence in London over the weekend in running battles between the police and the anti-mask protesters, there is always the possibility of a large-scale movement developing in this country.

The claims we saw in London by the new figurehead of the anti-mask movement, former nurse Kate Shemirani - who believes the whole thing is a hoax to turn us into "transhumans" who are being prepared for a new Holocaust - would normally be enough to have rational people laughing at her.

That she could muster 3,000 people to a rally to listen to such demonstrably arrant nonsense is a worrying indicator of how unstable Western society is becoming.

We would be fools to assume we're too smart to fall for the myths and fantasies of the conspiracy theorists.

That's because people are scared - and scared people make bad choices.

There is an undeniable sense the rather inspiring social solidarity we witnessed at the start of the pandemic has begun to fray around the edges.

Reports of people refusing to wear a mask when they enter a shop are becoming increasingly common, for instance, and many of these encounters have ended aggressively.

We all know that we're facing into a winter of extreme discontent.

This country is already on its knees because of Covid-19 but Mr Martin's assertion that we could face another 12 months of restrictions even after that would put us flat on our backs.

Actually, forget about the Michael Corleone quote - maybe it's Johnny Logan we should be invoking: 'What's Another Year?'

We have some dark days ahead of us.
b.) Address: 2369 Westfield Drive, Billings, MT 59106

c.) Phone number: 406-698-2727

1. I think we are taxed enough. I would not support a tax increase. The Montana constitution mandates a balanced budget. Cuts in spending may be necessary. Government agencies may need to make reductions to balance the budget. The government needs to look at means of improving efficiency. Businesses improved efficiency by going online and retailers and restaurants survived by providing take-out and delivery. These changes required fewer staff to deliver the products or services. Government can do more online and improve efficiency, reduce cost and reach more remote areas.

2. If the Federal government withdraws support of Medicaid expansion, Montana alone cannot support the entire cost for the 90,000 new enrollees. Montana would have to look at setting new criteria for eligibility and reduce the number of enrollees and reduce the cost to a level the state can afford. I would work to see that need and merit were used as criteria, rather than just absolute numerical reduction in number of enrollees. (Example, a single parent with two small children would have more need than three single able-bodied adults without children.)
DETROIT  The Michigan Department of Corrections announced Tuesday that it will close its Detroit Reentry Center amid a declining offender population.

Set to close in January 2021, the facility opened in 2012 employs 220 people.

The decision to close a facility is always hard, and I realize this will be a difficult time for the staff at DRC, MDOC Director Heidi Washington said. We understand and value the hard work and dedication the staff have shown, and it is our hope to find places for them within the department to continue that effort.

According to the MDOC, the states prison population is under 35,000 for the first time in 30 years. Michigans prison population peaked in March 2007 when it stood at 51,554, however Michigans recidivism rate has dropped from nearly 45% to just 26.7% over the last 20 years.

The offender population at DRC now stands at 70, a site which over the past three years has averaged about 500 offenders annually, according to the MDOC.

The DRC is located at the former Ryan Correctional Facility, which closed in 2012, The facility is used for multiple purposes including housing a small number of prisoners needing dialysis treatment, housing parolees who were transferred there directly from prison to complete additional MDOC programming before entering the community, and housing certain parole violators for additional programming or sanctions.

The population has been declining at the facility for several years as the MDOC discontinued the practice of sending prisoners directly to DRC. The dialysis operation and the prisoners needing the treatment will be moved to the Woodland Center Correctional Facility in Whitmore Lake.

The DRC closure will result in a partial year savings of $12.3 million in the upcoming fiscal years budget. Since 2005, the department has closed and consolidated 28 facilities and camps, which has resulted in more than $400 million in budget reductions.

The MDOC will work with employees and their union representatives to determine bumping and transfer options for impacted employees, according to a news release. The department will attempt to absorb as many staff as possible into the vacancies the MDOC currently has throughout the system.
BISMARCK, N.D. - North Dakotas top health official has lifted the states 14-day quarantine order for people returning from international travel.

The quarantine order was issued in April and amended twice, most recently in July. Interim

State Health Officer Dr. Paul Mariani said his decision follows the recommendation of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Its important for North Dakotans to remember that individual countries may have their own restrictions that impact travel, he said in a statement. Check with your destinations Ministry of Health for the most up-to-date information.

The U.S.-Canada border remains closed to nonessential travel due to the pandemic.

North Dakota continued to build on record highs for active cases of the coronavirus and number of hospitalizations, according to state Department of Health figures released Monday.

The update shows that the number of active cases grew by two in the last day, to a total of 3,210. The number of people currently receiving care in medical facilities rose by six, to 87.

Officials reported one new death, a man in his 80s from Rolette County with underlying health conditions. The death toll stands at 193 since the pandemic began.
Houses of worship may be busier than usual come Election Day as Americans head to the polls rather than the pews.

A 2010 census of religious congregations identified nearly 350,000 churches, mosques, temples and other religious establishments attended by more than 150 million Americans, primarily for spiritual needs and social relationships.

But during elections, such places double as centers of civic life  serving as community polling places. In some electoral districts, houses of worship make up a significant number of all voting places, raising important issues about whether voting in a place of worship influences how people cast their ballots.

Church and state

Voting in religious spaces is nothing new.

Americans have long been casting their ballots in the same place where they or their neighbors worship. In early America, the town meeting house often served both religious and secular functions  with the same space housing prayer meetings, schooling and town business.

Although the separation of church and state has largely moved the practice of religious and secular life into separate spheres, churches have continued to house voting booths.

As urban population densities have grown  more than 500% from 1910 to 2010  election boards have been asked to identify polling sites that are large and empty enough to accommodate voters. They also need to be accessible and rent-free. Since government buildings can rarely accommodate these needs  indeed, less than 1% of polling sites in 2018 were specifically election offices  religious leaders have often offered their buildings as polling sites as a public service.

Although no national data on religious spaces as polling places exists, this arrangement appears to be very common.

For example, 22% of polling sites for the 2020 general election in Minneapolis are houses of worship. In St. Louis, 27% of precincts vote in religious spaces and, in one ward, all eight of the polling places are churches.

Story continues

Priming voters

As a scholar who studies how social situations can influence attitudes, I believe where someone votes can subtly but significantly affect how they vote.

Social scientists have long understood that physical and social context shapes the way people think, feel and behave. Without even realizing it, most of us are likely to speak more quietly when talking about the possibility of visiting a library than when discussing plans to dine at an exclusive restaurant.

Each physical setting offers cues that, at least temporarily, prompt people to think and behave in ways consistent with stereotypes about that space. Scholars call this a priming effect.

Sometimes this happens consciously as people realize that they are influenced by the situation. For example, you might feel serious and reverent while visiting a war memorial. Much of the time, however, people arent aware of the subtle priming influences of everyday spaces.

These unconscious influences can be powerful.

For example, people in a business-themed room with briefcases and boardroom tables tended to act more competitive and self-interested in decisions than those making the same decisions in a classroom, researchers found.

Similarly, on average, people who could see a sports drink rather than a bottle of water ran longer on a treadmill. And those hearing French music over supermarket loudspeakers were more likely to buy French wine than when German music was playing.

[Expertise in your inbox. Sign up for The Conversations newsletter and get expert takes on todays news, every day.]

Ballot bias

These effects extend to the polling booth.

In Arizonas 2000 general election, citizens voting in schools were more likely to support a state sales tax increase to fund education than citizens with similar social and political characteristics who cast ballots elsewhere.

In a related laboratory study, voters shown images of a school encouraged support for education-oriented taxation, whereas images of a church reduced support for stem-cell research.

In 2012, my colleagues and I asked approximately 100 participants from more than 20 different countries to answer questions about their political attitudes and feelings toward various minority groups while standing in front of a cathedral or City Hall in Maastricht, the Netherlands.

Regardless of their own religious identity or beliefs, respondents who could see the church supported more conservative approaches to issues such as immigration, taxes, drug policies, warfare and abortion than those who could see City Hall. They were also more prejudiced toward minorities such as gay men and immigrants  especially those of Arab descent.

Our recent analysis of 2016 election data from Virginia reveals similar tendencies. Controlling for population, county-level religiosity and other factors, citizens casting their ballots in churches were significantly more likely to vote for Republican candidates than their nearly identical neighbors who were voting in secular venues.

This effect was strongest for counties with the highest proportion of religious people. That is, when Christians vote in churches, they seem to be even more likely to vote for conservative candidates than when they vote outside of churches.

Further, which houses of worship are selected may invite more bias into the polling booth. When a single mosque was included as a polling site among more than 50 churches in Palm Beach County, Florida, in 2016, the countys election board received complaints and threats of violence until they removed the mosque as a polling site.

Meanwhile, Christian churches are common polling sites even in communities that are not themselves predominantly Christian.

As a result, some citizens who may feel stigmatized and threatened by religious institutions are expected to visit them to vote.

Small influence but tight margins

Although some non-Christian citizens have complained that voting in churches violates their rights, courts have consistently ruled that the availability of alternatives such as absentee voting means that having places of religion serve as polling stations does not represent a violation of the First Amendment of the Constitution, which guarantees the freedom of religion.

In other words, where you are can influence who you are, even when you dont notice it. Although the influences of physical spaces are small and people are more likely to be influenced by these kinds of peripheral cues when they dont already have strong opinions on a topic, elections can be decided by fractions of a percent  especially in consequential local races where people may enter the polling booth undecided, and thus be more susceptible to the influences of the space theyre in.

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts.

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Jordan LaBouff does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
WASHINGTON  Liberal activists have opened a new front in their battle to push Joseph R. Biden Jr. to the left on climate change: a campaign to pressure the Democratic presidential nominee to reject advisers with any ties to fossil fuel companies.

The targets include former Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz, former Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and others who served in the Obama administration.

Last week more than 60 deep-pocketed donors asked Mr. Biden to commit to a moratorium on all new coal, oil and natural gas development  and to select advisers who are free from fossil fuel influence. The group, which includes Kathy Washienko, a clean-energy investor in Seattle; Robin Chase, a co-founder and former chief executive of Zipcar; and Adelaide Park Gomer, the president of the Park Foundation philanthropic group and a longtime anti-fracking activist, implored Mr. Biden to choose new, bolder leadership than those with whom he worked under President Barack Obama.

This incumbency of old ideas (like all of the above energy policy) must end, the donors wrote.

The effort comes just days after Mr. Biden denounced President Trump as a climate arsonist and made the case that Americans suffering from wildfires, floods and hurricanes could not afford four more years of a climate-change denier in the White House. Even many of Mr. Bidens persistent critics on the left described it as the most aggressive and detailed policy speech on climate change ever given by a presidential candidate.
This was not Lockdown II: The Sequel. In some ways it was worse. The measures announced all felt so wretchedly authoritarian, like a call to arms for petty officialdom. So un-Boris.

Yet here he was, sounding as bossy as a bed and breakfast-owning old biddy in Birkenstocks.

No one took any cheer from Boris Johnsons address to the nation last night.

The Prime Minister sat at a well-polished desk, a single Union Jack flag drooping reassuringly behind him.

Physically he looks in good nick. That jawline is sharper than it has been in decades. Still not quite capable of slicing ripe camembert, but give the guy a break.

Sombre: Boris Johnson addresses the British people

Covid, Boris began ominously, is the single biggest crisis the world has faced in my lifetime

We heard how he was calling time on pubs. Chucking-out time would now be 10pm. Wedding numbers would be slashed, the use of face masks expanded.

We were warned of tougher fines, stricter controls, tighter policing.

There was even a mention of the army being mobilised to take some of the burden off the plod. Nice.

Nothing says UK open for business better than platoons of camouflaged commandos on the streets brandishing automatic weapons.

It was good day for giant turkeys at least. With numbers limited to six, no need for mum to go ordering any gargantuan- sized gobblers this Christmas. Tiny tiddlers all round.

Covid, Boris began ominously, is the single biggest crisis the world has faced in my lifetime

For those thinking of flouting the rules, Johnson offered food for thought. Your mild cough can be someone elses death knell, he warned, his arms jabbing at the camera like a pair of jousting lances.

It is to the PMs credit that he avoided coming over like an epaulette-laden Latin American dictator.

Absence of pomposity spares him of that. He spoke of being deeply, spiritually reluctant to make any of these impositions.

In the same situation, Tony Blair or even David Cameron might have come across a l i t t le too comfor table snatching away our basic freedoms. He ended with a Churchillian flourish which briefly soared.

Never in our history has our collective destiny and our collective health depended so completely on our individual behaviour, he said.

A throaty whisper promised us great days ahead. But language-wise, this was a speech free of frills. The seriousness of it all was striking.

The Prime Minister had already announced most of these measures earlier to Parliament.

That will have earned him a brief reprieve with Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle, whos become increasingly ratty about these announcements being made on the telly.

Earlier in the day, Boriss language was blood-and-thunder, his demeanour oddly chipper. We have reached a perilous turning point, he informed the House. This is the moment when we must act

To think it was less than two months ago that he stood on that same spot to announce that our long period of hibernation was at an end. What a joyous day that was. Not so yesterday.

Sir Keir Starmer announced he was supporting the measures. I think he half-expected the chamber to erupt into applause. His main concern was that the furlough scheme was ending next month.

To think it was less than two months ago that he stood on that same spot to announce that our long period of hibernation was at an end

Scrapping it in one fell swoop would be a disaster, he said.

Other opposition parties jumped on the same issue. The SNPs Ian Blackford urged the Government not to throw workers on the scrapheap.

Green queen Caroline Lucas issued a plea on behalf of freelance workers.

Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey made a spectacle of himself, as ever, by trying to get Boris to issue the public an apology.

Last night felt eerily like a teetering point in the Boris Johnson premiership. By imposing such draconian new measures on a freedom-loving public  not to mention adopting such larynx-tightening forceful language  suggests no one realises this more than Boris himself.

Should his leadership begin to crumble over these next months, this will likely be the location on the map his critics mark with an X to signify where it all went drastically wrong.

He has asked the country for another six months of sacrifice. After that, I fear

that famous well of good will toward him will have run awfully dry...
WESTPORT  The Kings Highway administrative team, some staff members and a small number of students have been asked to quarantine after being in the presence of a staffer who tested positive for COVID-19, according to Superintendent Thomas Scarice.

To be clear, siblings and other family members of these children and staff do not need to quarantine, Scarice said in an email to parents.

Ann Leffert will step in as interim principal with Ali Moran serving as interim assistant principal, he said. They will both serve as the schools acting on-site administration until Oct. 6.

The news comes after Scarice outlined the districts largely positive progress in reopening at a Board of Education meeting on Monday. Some early challenges were also discussed at the time, including the closure of Coleytown Elementary School after there was a confirmed case of the coronavirus.

But overall it was a great start to the year, Scarice said Monday.

Even with mitigating measures  such as masks and social distancing  having students be able to learn in-person was still critical, he said. Teachers have also begun taking their work home each day in case there has to be another transition to full remote learning.

We anticipate we will be able to pivot much more quickly next time, Scarice said.

Other challenges the district faced early on was technology issues and transportation during the transition between a.m. classes and p.m. classes, he said.

Suzanne Levasseur, district supervisor of health services, said the schools supply of personal protective equipment remains sufficient and kids have responded well to wearing masks.

There was so much made about masks, but the kids are wearing the masks. They almost like to wear the masks, she said. We havent had any times where we had to discipline students or really had a problem with that.

Board members questioned what the process and timeline would be for transitioning to a full in-person learning for at the least the elementary school level. Some nearby districts such as New Canaan have taken a phased-in approach to returning to in-person learning full time.

Many, many parents are asking where are we in terms of a plan for a potential re-entry starting with the elementary level, BOE Vice Chair Jeannie Smith said.

Scarice said while his original recommendation in July was to return to full in-person learning, the decision to open up incrementally was modeled on what other districts around the state did.

I want to reiterate this continues to be a health and safety decision, he said. I dont want this ever to be interpreted on my part or anyone on the administration or board that it is a demand, that its where the loudest voice is.

Scarice said once four full weeks are complete, a recommendation may be made. But a decision for the middle schools will be held off until Coleytown Middle Schools building reopens, he said.

Our four week mark will be right around October, he said, adding it was important to look at the trends as schools reopen.

Despite the largely positive progress, the closure of a school three days after reopening also still weighed on the community, he said.

The day three positive case at CES had a cultural effect that wont be captured here, Scarice said. We need to have the confidence of our faculty that what were doing is going to keep everybody safe, and the confidence of our parents and our kids.

BOE member Lee Goldstein said she supported the current model and making sure it works instead of rushing a full reopening.

So if were two weeks later  all the better, she said.

dj.simmons@hearstmediact.com
The coronavirus, which was first confirmed in the United States about eight months ago, has killed more than 200,000 people across the country as of Tuesday as U.S. officials rush to approve and manufacture a vaccine. The U.S. had reported at least 200,005 confirmed Covid-19 deaths as of mid-day Tuesday, more than any other country in the world, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. The U.S., which accounts for roughly 21% of all confirmed Covid-19 deaths around the world despite having only 4% of the world's population, is battling one of the deadliest outbreaks in the world. Fatalities in the U.S. have doubled over the last four months, after the virus took 100,000 lives in the first four months of the outbreak. Coronavirus deaths have now outpaced the number of American soldiers lost during World War I and the Vietnam War combined, according to the Census Bureau. The U.S. has reported about 61.09 deaths per 100,000 residents, making it the country with the 11th most deaths per capita, according to data from Hopkins. Brazil, Chile, Spain, Bolivia, Peru and the United Kingdom among others have all reported more deaths per capita than the U.S., according to Hopkins data. The virus has disproportionately killed people with underlying health conditions, such as obesity and asthma, and people who are older, according to data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The virus has also disproportionately infected and killed Black and Hispanic people, as well as Native Americans, the CDC says. The U.S. continues to report worryingly high numbers of new confirmed cases and deaths every day. Over the past seven days, the country has reported an average of more than 43,300 new cases per day, up over 19% compared with a week ago, according to a CNBC analysis of Hopkins data. And the country continues to report more than 750 Covid-19 deaths every day. While doctors have new medications and treatment strategies to save the lives of Covid-19 patients, epidemiologists worry deaths could accelerate if the virus surges in the winter as expected. "The worst is yet to come. I don't think perhaps that's a surprise, although I think there's a natural tendency as we're a little bit in the Northern hemisphere summer, to think maybe the epidemic is going away," Dr. Christopher Murray, director of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington, said earlier this month.

IHME previously forecast that the U.S. would report more than 410,000 Covid-19 deaths by Jan. 1 due to the prospect of a "deadly December." The modeling group has since revised down its estimate, driven by "steeper than expected declines seen in deaths" in several states. The group now projects that the U.S. will reach 378,000 deaths by the new year. "Not only are these real people, but these are families that are suffering because they've lost loved ones, or they're dealing with a loved one that has long-term health issues because of Covid-19," said Dr. Syra Madad, senior director of the systemwide special pathogens program at New York City Health + Hospitals. "We're only seeing the tip of the iceberg. We're only nine months into this pandemic."

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Looking at deaths alone, though, provides an incomplete picture of the true toll of the pandemic, Madad said, because researchers are only just beginning to learn about the long-term health complications that Covid-19 causes. She added that the death toll of 200,000 likely underestimates the total number of deaths caused either directly or indirectly by Covid-19. Excess deaths studies, which compare projections based on historical death statistics with the number of actual deaths, seek to capture a more encompassing picture of the Covid-19 fatality count. The CDC currently estimates more than 200,000 excess deaths in the U.S. since Feb. 1. "I do believe that the true number of deaths associated with Covid-19 is much, much higher," Madad said, adding that New York City is testing the bodies of people who have died over the past few months to best capture the Covid-19 death toll. She said this data will help researchers understand the virus.

Madad acknowledges that policymakers in New York state, which accounts for more than 16% of total deaths in the U.S., made mistakes when the region was hit hard in mid-March by the virus. "New York City sort of set the example for the rest of the nation of what to avoid and lessons learned," she said. The U.S. has implemented a patchwork response to the pandemic and while some states have improved upon New York's initial response, others haven't, she added. The U.S., she said, is playing a game of "whack-a-mole" when it comes to stopping outbreaks.

"Pandemics are inevitable. They're going to happen. But does it have to get this bad? No," Madad said. "That was avoidable, and we've made significant mistakes as a nation. We have been behind the eight ball from the very beginning." As New York began to bring its outbreak under control, the virus surged elsewhere. This summer, the virus tore through much of America's Sun Belt, including some of the country's most populous states such as Florida, Texas, Arizona and California. At one point earlier this summer, those four states accounted for more than half of all new cases confirmed in the U.S. As of Friday, they accounted collectively for 24.5% of all new cases, according to Hopkins data.

'Could have done better'

"We are seeing the number of cases and hospitalizations come down," said Catherine Troisi, an infectious disease epidemiologist at UTHealth School of Public Health in Houston, adding that the decline has been slow. "It's been coming down, but we're certainly not at the levels we were back in April." The Texas Department of State Health Services has reported more than 698,300 cases of the virus and over 14,900 Covid-19 deaths. With new cases off the state's peak, the governor is moving forward with reopening more businesses, including retail stores, gyms and restaurants. Troisi said she's concerned about the reopening plans, especially as she continues to examine the data for signs of a post-Labor Day surge. She added that the reopening might send the wrong message, suggesting to the public that the virus is no longer a threat. She said if the public fails to continue to adhere to public health protocol and if state policymakers don't prioritize the pandemic response, the virus is a looming threat that could again overwhelm hospitals in the state. "We absolutely, positively could have done better. There have been mistakes all along the way, and we're still making some mistakes," she said, adding that there is mixed messaging at the national and state level. "Could we have prevented all of those deaths? No, especially in the early stages, and even now, I'm sure, there are some deaths that can't be prevented. But we could have prevented a great deal of them had the government acted quicker and if we had a national strategy, if we had not disinvested in public health."

Midwest surge
A court in China on Tuesday sentenced a former real estate tycoon and vocal critic of President Xi Jinping to 18 years in prison for corruption.

Former property mogul Ren Zhiqiang was sentenced to 18 years and fined 4.2 million yuan ($620,000) for corruption, bribery, embezzlement of public funds, and abuse of power as state-owned company personnel, state media quoted a Beijing court as ruling on Tuesday.

Ren, 69, reportedly confessed voluntarily to all charges and will not appeal against the decision.

The former chairperson of Huayuan Properties, a real estate development company, was detained in March after writing an essay criticising Chinas handling of the coronavirus outbreak.

Ren did not name Xi in the essay but it was widely believed the critique was about the powerful Chinese leader; Ren even used the word clown in his essay.

In July, Ren was expelled from the Communist Party of China for seriously violating the partys political, organisational, integrity, work and life disciplines.

Ren had a massive following on Chinas social media and was known as cannon for his outspoken and controversial views.

In early 2016, Ren was banned from Chinese social media after he criticised a much-publicised Xi speech on how the media should serve the CPC.

According to Chinese state media, Ren also suggested controversial ideas like the poor young migrant workers who cannot afford apartments in cities should return to the countryside.

According to report and translation of his March essay, Ren is said to have written: He did not directly refer to Mr Xi in his essay, but according to a report in the China Digital Times, said: I too am curiously and conscientiously studying [Xis teleconferenced February 23] speech, but what I saw in it was the complete opposite of the importance reported by all types of media and online.

I saw not an emperor standing there exhibiting his new clothes, but a clown who stripped naked and insisted on continuing being emperor.

I was unable to cheer for the February 23 speech, because in it I saw a bigger crisis, one that ferments even faster in [the context of] that speech and the cheers it won. When shameless and ignorant people attempt to resign themselves to the stupidity of the great leader, society becomes a mob that is hard to develop and sustain.
Manpreet Badal

Chandigarh: The Punjab Government team led by Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal, held strategic discussions with industry captains and academic leaders during a virtual stakeholder consultation session for upcoming Bulk Drug Park in Bathinda in Punjab.

The webinar saw participation from more than 50 eminent pharma industries from across India (including Punjab) and USA. These included Dr. Reddys, Divis Labs, IOL Chemicals, Sun Pharma, Nectar Lifesciences, Anupam Rasayan, Sequent Scientific, Ami Lifesciences, Saurav Chemicals etc.

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Manpreet Badal

The session was also attended by other stakeholders such as UNIDO, NCL, CSIR, Pharma EXCIL amongst others.

The session started with an introduction of Government of Indias Promotion of Bulk Drug Parks Scheme by Joint Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals, Government of India, Navdeep Rinwa.

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The high-level interaction included engagement with senior officers of Invest Punjab and Housing & Urban Development. Apart from sharing a brief overview of the advantages of Punjab as a preferred investment destination especially for incoming pharma units, the main emphasis was on apprising the participants on the upcoming Bulk Drugs Park at Bathinda spread over an area of approx. 1300 acres.

Manpreet Badal

The webinar served as a platform for Punjab Government to understand the requirements of the pharma units in India and to take industry feedback on the State Governments bulk drugs park proposal.

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The progressive reforms and initiatives taken by the Punjab Government for creating an investor-friendly ecosystem in the State and for taking an innovative approach towards the conceptualization of a Pharma Park was appreciated by the participants.

Meanwhile, the State Chief Secretary Vini Mahajan outlined the close relationship that industries within Punjab share with the Government which in turn promotes collaboration and excellence.

Punjab governmentThe Finance Minister assured the participating leaders from industry and other organizations of the serious intent of the State Government to encourage the growth of the emerging pharma sector in Punjab through offering plug and play infrastructure at competitive rates and facilitating collaborations for strengthening backward and forward integration for the industry.

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This was a unique engagement between Punjab and leaders of pharma industry to showcase Punjabs position as the preferred pharma destination within India.
Trump admin. proposes changing asylum requirements to weed out frivolous claims

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The Trump administration on Wednesday announced proposed policy changes that it says would increase the efficiency of the asylum system and make it easier for judges to toss out "frivolous claims to focus on authentic claims of persecution.

The Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice introduced a 161-page draft rule that they plan to publish in the Federal Register next week, starting a 30-day public comment period.

Some critics, however, contend that the proposed policies would change the definitions of terminology and could make it more difficult for some  especially those facing gang violence and gender-based violence in Central America  to qualify to seek asylum in the U.S.

The new proposal seeks to expand and clarify what circumstances would require an immigration judge to find an asylum application to be knowingly frivolous. The proposal comes as the Trump administration has held the position that some migrants are taking advantage of the U.S. asylum system.

Accordingly, the Departments propose to amend the definition of frivolous to ensure that manifestly unfounded or otherwise abusive claims are rooted out and to ensure that meritorious claims are adjudicated more efficiently so that deserving applicants receive benefits in a timely fashion, the rule reads.

The draft states that frivolousness encompasses claims that are without substance or merit.

The draft contends that since migrants receive notice of consequence of filing frivolous applications, an immigration judge would not need to provide an additional opportunity to an alien to account for issues of frivolousness with the claim before determining that the application is frivolous, as long as the required notice was provided.

The draft states that the only procedural requirement for finding a frivolous asylum application is that the Attorney General determines that an alien has knowingly made a frivolous application for asylum and the alien has received the notice under paragraph (4)(A) [the consequence of filing frivolous applications].

[T]he alien shall be permanently ineligible for any benefits under this chapter, the draft explains.

Immigration advocates who oppose the draft rule argue that it would make it more difficult for foreigners to seek asylum in the U.S. if they are fleeing from gender-based violence, gangs or other less severe forms of persecution.

The International Refugee Assistance Project, a legal nonprofit that frequently speaks out against the Trump administrations refugee policies, listed several concerns it has with the proposal.

In a statement, the group contends that the credible fear screening process will be modified to more easily and quickly deport people seeking protection from persecution and torture through heightened evidentiary burdens and streamlined proceedings.

IRAP further argued that the proposal would allow judges to deny asylum without a hearing based on restrictive new policy definitions of the terms persecution, torture, nexus, particular social group, political opinion and internal relocation that are contrary to decades of existing statutes, case law, the Refugee Convention, and international obligations.

Under federal law, foreigners are eligible to apply for asylum if they are able to prove that they have a well-founded fear of persecution in their home countries based on race, political opinion, religion, nationality or membership in a particular social group.

The draft defines persecution as a threat to the life or freedom of, or the infliction of suffering or harm upon, those who differ in a way regarded as offensive.

[P]ersecution requires an intent to target a belief, characteristic or group, a severe level of harm, and the infliction of a severe level of harm by the government of a country or by persons or an organization that the government is unable or unwilling to control, the draft defines. For purposes of evaluating the severity of the level of harm, persecution connotes an extreme level of harm and does not encompass all possible forms of mistreatment.

It is thus well-established that not all treatment that the United States regards as unfair, offensive, unjust, or even unlawful or unconstitutional constitutes persecution under the INA [Immigration and Nationality Act], the draft adds.

The proposal does not define persecution to include harm from criminal activity, military strife, repeated threats with no actions taken to carry out the threats, property damage, economic harm, brief detentions, intermittent harassment or government laws or policies that are infrequently enforced unless there is credible evidence that those laws or policies have been applied directly to the applicant.

IRAP says if the new policy is enacted, U.S. immigration judges would be able to deny asylum cases if the person did not pay taxes, has been in the United States unlawfully for more than one year, or traveled through another country on the way to the United States.

The proposed regulation fundamentally and restrictively alters the refugee definition for asylum seekers in immigration court and at the border in contravention of decades of established statutes, case law, and international obligations, IRAP Policy Director Sunil Varghese said in a statement. Few people, if any, will be able to receive the refugee protection they qualify for under this proposal, and the effects will be catastrophic.

Galen Carey, vice president for government relations with the National Association of Evangelicals, said in a statement Friday, "we must not abandon" people who have suffered abuses elsewhere at a time in which "the world is closely watching our response to domestic human rights violations."

"Decades of humanitarian and civil rights precedents are being ignored or overturned, and our proud tradition as a beacon of hope for those fleeing persecution is at grave risk," Carey said.

Gabriel Salguero, president of the National Latino Evangelical Coalition, said in a statement that the country's "lament" in the wake of the death of George Floyd and the loss of life due to COVID-19 is "compounded by policy changes that impact asylum seekers and unaccompanied immigrant children."

"We ought not forget that our nations nobility is, in large part, measured by how we treat the most vulnerable," Salguero said.

The new proposal comes as the Trump administration has tried to enact policies to limit the number of migrants entering the U.S. under fraudulent asylum claims.

For example, the administration enacted a policy to ban migrants from applying for asylum in the U.S. if they did not first apply for asylum in other countries before reaching the southern border. That policy was struck down by the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Federal law allows immigrants who crossed the border illegally to apply for asylum as a way to block their deportation.

In recent years, asylum seekers have been told to go to ports of entry to seek asylum. Many asylum seekers who have gone to ports of entry at the U.S.-Mexico border have been denied entry into the U.S. until their case can be processed through a policy known as metering.

Over 1 million people sought asylum in the U.S. last year, and these cases are decided by fewer than 500 immigration judges nationwide. The administration says this new policy, if enacted, would speed up the process, which typically takes two to- to-five-years.
Chinese scientists have discovered that people who wear glasses seem to have less risk of contracting COVID-19. It is the first study to explore the possibility. This poses the question: Is it legitimate coronavirus protection?

People with Eyeglasses Less Tested Positive for COVID-19

The authors of the study published in "JAMA Ophthalmology" observed that since the novel coronavirus pandemic in Wuhan in December last year, few patients with eyeglasses were hospitalized diagnosed with COVID-19.

Needing glasses to go through your daily routine can be a minor hassle but the frames could have an extra bonus during this pandemic.

In the study published on September 16, Chinese researchers observed 276 COVID-19 patients admitted to the hospital. They found that less than 6% regularly wore eyeglasses. Those who wore them had myopia or nearsightedness, reported Business Insider. The hospital was in the Suizhou Zengdu Hospital in Suizhou, China.

Only One Study Supporting the Claim

The researchers found that the proportion of short-sighted COVID-19 hospitalizations was more than 5 times lower than might be expected from the population of people in myopia in the Hubei province.

This is merely one study with very small sample size and only displayed an association and not a direct cause and effect between donning eyeglasses and rates of COVID-19 cases, reported Aljareeza.

Taking into account the rate of nearsightedness appearing to be much higher in the general population than in the COVID-19 patient ward, the scientists' curiosity was piqued if wearing glasses can protect a person from COVID-19.

According to the study authors regarding glasses as coronavirus protection, "Wearing of eyeglasses is common among Chinese individuals of all ages. However, since the outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan in December 2019, we observed that few patients with eyeglasses were admitted in the hospital ward," reported New York Times.

Also Read: AstraZeneca Vaccine Deemed Unsafe, Trials Paused After Illness

Snopes noted that this was a remarkable observation, but as with all single studies the results must be treated with vigilance. The website added that while eye protection has consistently been a vital component of personal protective equipment (PPE), the magnitude of difference indicated by this study raises dubiousness.

The study researchers suggested that individuals who wear glasses for at least eight hours every day may be less possible to be diagnosed COVID-19.

The scientists wrote, "These findings suggest that the eye may be an important infection route for Covid-19, and more attention should be paid to preventive measures such as frequent handwashing and avoiding touching the eyes."

Aljareeza also noted that to draw any assertive conclusions from the single study would be premature.

However, according to the Medical Journal of Virology, one's eyes could be a crucial route of entry to the body for COVID-19.

The authors speculated that their study "could be preliminary evidence that daily wearers of eyeglasses are less susceptible to COVID-19."

Experts indicate that it is too soon to draw conclusions from the study or to advise the public to wear glasses as coronavirus protection in addition to masks in order to flatten the curve of the infection.

Related Article: WHO Says COVID-19 "Not Going Away," Experts Believe Vaccine Not the Ultimate Solution

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 22)  The chairman of the Senate Committee on Education called for the swift release of implementing rules of the 300-million aid for teachers and non-teaching staff who lost jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Ang amin pong itinutulak ay bilisan yung implementing rules dahil nga meron tayong 2.3 million students na hindi nag-enroll. Sa private school po yan ay kulang-kulang nasa 50,000 na estudyante ang hindi nag-enroll, at close to about 4,000 teachers and non-teaching staff sa private schools na nawalan ng trabaho," Senator Sherwin "Win" Gatchalian said Tuesday during a televised briefing.

[Translation: We are pushing for the quick release of the implementing rules. because there are 2.3 million students did not enroll. In private schools, that its about 50,000 students, and close to about 4,000 teacfhers and non teaching staff in private schools lost their jobs]

The senator said those who became jobless must be given help, including jobs that are available at the DepEd.

Of the 300 million, Gatchalian said they see a 50-50 split of the funds between the Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education.

"Ang nakikita naming formula ay 50-50...ngunit mas marami sa CHED ang mga guro. Pero marami po ring SUCs at LUCs na merong senior high school na nabawasan rin po yung kanilang enrollment ho doon. Kaya ang naririnig naming formula sa DepEd at sa CHED ay gagawing 50-50 yung pagbibigay ng tulong. Fifty percent sa basic education, 50 percent sa higher education," he said.

[Translation: The formula we see is 50-50...but there are more teachers in the CHED. However, there are a lot of SUCs and LUCs who have senior high school students who have not enrolled. So the formula we hear coming from the DepEd and CHED is 50 percent for basic education and 50 percent for higher education.]

Earlier this month, the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges estimated that 3,207 SUC employees will lose their jobs amid school closures and the shift to a new kind of schooling. Affected are those without security of tenure.

"Data from 70 SUCs show that there are 1,099 contractual or part-time staff faculty who will be displaced, and there 2,108 non-teaching employees who will no longer be engaged in our SUCs," PASUC President Tirso Ronquillo said in a Sept. 10 at the House of Representatives.

Gatachalian is also pushing for the creation of a nationwide database of those needing help so the distribution of aid would be easier and more streamlined.

In the same briefing, the senator said he was backing the alternative learning system under the DepEd to give students who had to leave school a second chance.

Last month, the House of Representatives approved on third and final reading the proposed Alternative Learning System (ALS) Act, seeking to institutionalize alternative learning in every city and municipality nationwide.

The Senate passed the proposed ALS Act on third reading last May.

Gatchalian said the passage of the bill was in "perfect timing" as there were over 2 million students who were unable to enroll this year, probably due to the lack of funds.

"Dito po papasok ang alternative learning system dahil ang alternative learning system ay isang paraan para makuha ng isang bata ang kanyang equivalency test at accreditation na...katumbas ng isang high school diploma na pwede gamitin sa patuloy na pag-aaral sa kolehiyo, o kung gusto niyang magtrabaho ang tingin sa kanya ay at least high school graduate at mas mataas ang kanyang sweldo," he said.

[Translation: The alternative learning system comes into play here because it is a way for the youth to get their equivalency test and accreditation which is equivalent to a high school diploma that can be used for college, or if they want to work, they are seen as at least high school diplomas and they can have a better wage.]
The opposition will boycott the proceedings of the House till the suspension of eight members is revoked, announced Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad on Tuesday. The Centre agreed to the demand but with a condition.

Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi said the government is ready to revoke the suspension if the lawmakers express regret for their conduct. The Centre is also ready to have discussions on the farm Bills and also division of votes on them if the condition is met.

Samajwadi Partys Ram Gopal Yadav also urged for the revocation of the suspensions, saying he was ready to offer an apology on behalf of the Opposition.

Speaking after the Zero Hour on Tuesday, Azad also demanded that the government brings a bill which should ensure private players dont procure food grains below the minimum support price (MSP) fixed by the government. He also asked the government that the MSP should be fixed from time to time as per the C2 Swaminathan formula.

Eight opposition members of the Rajya Sabha were suspended on Monday for the rest of the session over the unruly behaviour" in the House during Sundays passing of the farm bills.

The members, including Trinamool Congresss Derek OBrien, Aam Aadmi Partys Sanjay Singh, Congresss Rajeev Satav and CPMs KK Ragesh, refused to leave over the suspension. The MPs spent the night on the lawns of Parliament complex before joining other opposition leaders to walk to President Ram Nath Kovinds official residence to bring his attention to the issue.

With the opposition deciding to boycott the remaining session of the Rajya Sabha, the eight suspended MPs ended their overnight sit-in inside the Parliament House complex and said they would take their fight against the farm bills to the street. The suspended Rajya Sabha parliamentarians got a surprise visitor in the morning - Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh who came with tea and snacks.

Till late night, the protesting MPs raised slogans and sang songs while a host of Opposition leaders such as National Conferences Farooq Abdullah, Samajwadi Partys Jaya Bachchan and Congress Ahmed Patel, Digvijaya Singh and Shashi Tharoor visited them to express their support. But their morning visitor did not receive the same enthusiastic response, said some of the protesting MPs.
A worker inspects disposable gloves at the Top Glove factory outside Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Vincent Thian / Associated Press)

They work 12-hour shifts, six days a week, on factory floors where temperatures can surpass 100 degrees. Lunch breaks are brief, sick days highly discouraged. Take too long coming back from the bathroom and itll be docked from the next paycheck.

When the shift ends, they collapse onto bunk beds in crowded dormitories far from home, staring up at ceiling fans, knowing that the next day they'll do it again  all for less than $1.50 an hour.

Such is life for tens of thousands of laborers from Nepal, Bangladesh and other countries toiling in Malaysia to produce one of the pandemics essential items: rubber gloves.

COVID-19 has created a windfall for the Malaysian companies that supply nearly two-thirds of the disposable latex and synthetic gloves used to fight contamination in hospitals, labs, pharmacies and kitchens worldwide. But record-breaking sales have been accompanied by fresh scrutiny over labor practices  especially treatment of the low-paid migrant workers who run the assembly lines.

The reckoning is fueled by an unlikely source: U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which has resurrected a century-old trade law to block imports from glove companies it suspects of using forced labor.

After years of complaints from labor rights groups, the agency in July banned products from Top Glove, maker of one-quarter of the worlds gloves, citing reasonable evidence that the company was subjecting workers to abusive living and working conditions, excessive overtime and what the International Labor Organization calls debt bondage.

The last allegation stems from the practice of charging recruitment fees  from several hundred dollars to nearly $5,000 that often take months or years to work off, in effect trapping migrants in jobs until the debts are cleared.

A gloved nurse prepares to test a volunteer for COVID-19 in Miami. (Taimy Alvarez / Associated Press)

An earlier ban against a smaller glove maker called WRP was lifted in March, just as COVID-19 began to race across the U.S. As part of the deal, WRP announced that it would repay up to $5 million in recruitment fees, ranging from $1,100 to $3,800 per worker, over the next 30 months.

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The pressure has prompted at least four other companies, including Top Glove, to launch their own repayment plans and renew pledges to eliminate recruitment fees. Top Glove has also said it is upgrading workers housing in response to U.S. demands.

Activists regard the steps as important but insufficient against systemic violations. They argue that agents in the migrants home countries continue to charge fees and that the industry and its global customers have failed to take action against other abuses.

These workers have been victims of forced labor for years and years, said Andy Hall, a migrant-rights advocate based in Nepal. Its not enough to give them a small amount of money and think everything is going to be OK.

Top Gloves promise to repay $12.8 million in recruitment fees to 10,000 foreign workers over the next year left many activists unimpressed  especially in light of the $321 million profit the company reported last quarter, its most lucrative ever.

Hall said that unless the company committed to a larger payout, it could face lawsuits from workers complaining they have been subjected to a form of modern slavery.

A figure of closer to $50 million may be more accurate and appropriate, Hall said.

The company also conducted an investigation into sexual abuse after Nepali workers accused a Malaysian supervisor of rape, employees said. According to an employee circular posted last week and seen by The Times, the company acknowledged sexual harassment at one of its factories and said it would establish hotlines and legal support for victims.

The notice did not indicate whether any employees had been disciplined.

Top Glove representatives declined to answer questions but said the company remains wholly committed to worker welfare and addressing U.S. concerns.

Despite the ban, Top Glove sits at the apex of a Malaysian industry that expects to sell 112 billion gloves worldwide this year, 48% more than in 2019. The companys stock price has surged more than 400% since January, propelling founding chairman Lim Wee Chai into the ranks of Asias richest men.

Orders have doubled; the wait time for new shipments is a year or longer. The company is rapidly building new facilities to raise output to 100 billion gloves in 2021.

A Top Glove worker inspects gloves at a factory in Shah Alam, Malaysia. (Vincent Thian / Associated Press)

At a sprawling zone of factories outside the capital, Kuala Lumpur, production lines fitted with hand-shaped molds, latex-melting ovens and chemical baths churn around the clock. Workers say they have been under pressure to meet higher quotas with fewer staff, since hiring has slowed during the pandemic.

The jobs are difficult. You have to meet targets, and you have to work continuously, said Bahadur, a Nepali who has worked at Top Glove for six years. Like others interviewed for this article, he asked that his full name be withheld to protect his job.

Workers earn a minimum-wage salary of $290 per month that rises to more than $400 with incentives and overtime. All log close to the monthly legal limit of 104 overtime hours, but this year Top Glove asked them to work up to four more hours on their days off, for about $2 an hour.

The company dubbed the program Heroes for COVID-19; rights groups denounced it as illegal and unethical.

Workers are getting one day of rest after six days, and they are exhausted, Bahadur said. The payment was not enough. So most of us refused.

An employee named Ashok said colleagues suffer from chest pains, allergies and itching they blame on factory chemicals and powder used to coat the gloves. He once fainted from the high temperatures, but said supervisors are generally unsympathetic.

If Im even a minute late to work, for any reason, the company deducts one hour from my salary, he said. When were sick, if we get a [doctors note] from an outside clinic the company doesnt accept it, but if we go to one of the companys clinics, its very difficult to get medical leave.

More than 30,000 migrants  including from Myanmar, Indonesia and Vietnam  work in Malaysias glove industry, which sprung up in the 1980s to meet demand from the U.S. and Europe during the AIDS epidemic. Companies began manufacturing in latex, the product of rubber trees planted during British colonial times, but now work more often with synthetic materials.

The U.S. is the No. 1 customer, importing $1.6 billion worth of rubber gloves from Malaysia in 2019, according to federal data.

Customs and Border Protection said its action against two units of Top Glove signaled that modern-day slavery will not be tolerated in U.S. supply chains. The agency insisted it would not affect overall U.S. imports of the gloves. Other Top Glove subsidiaries, including factories in Thailand and China, remain eligible to sell to the U.S.

For an agency that stopped nearly 1 million people crossing into the U.S. from Mexico last year, its focus on the rights of migrants half a world away is relatively new.

A 1930 federal law prohibits imports of goods produced by forced or prison labor, but it wasnt until a legislative change four years ago that the agency was free to target foreign companies. In the last 12 months the agency has issued 17 bans, known as Withhold Release Orders, against exporters of tobacco from Malawi, charcoal powder from Brazil and cotton from the Chinese province of Xinjiang, among other products.

The law was created to protect U.S. industry from foreign competition, but we are now seeing it as a tool that can be leveraged for worker-focused human rights, said Allie Brudney, a legal fellow at the Corporate Accountability Lab, a labor advocacy group. She added, however, that import bans are blunt instruments that in some cases could harm workers.

The U.S. action against WRP last September came months after Nepali and Bangladeshi workers went on strike over unpaid wages. The ban worsened the companys already parlous financial state, freezing tens of millions of dollars in orders and threatening to put thousands out of work.

Top Glove is the second Malaysian rubber glove supplier to be sanctioned by U.S. Customs and Border Protection in the last year. (Vincent Thian / Associated Press)

By rights, every glove company in Malaysia should be on WRO right now, said one industry executive who requested anonymity to discuss the U.S. policy. But that of course would create a huge problem for the U.S. glove supply.

At Malaysias second-biggest glove manufacturer, Hartalega, workers sleep 40 to a room in stifling dormitories, bunk beds placed just a few feet apart even during the pandemic. Last year the company said it would cover new employees recruitment fees, but workers say they continue to be charged.

Santosh, a Nepali hired earlier this year, said that when he visited a Hartalega recruitment agency in Katmandu, he was told that there were no positions available  only to find an agent waiting outside the office who said he could get him a job. Santosh ended up paying the agent about $420, borrowing money from relatives to cover the sum.

Under company policy, he is not eligible for a reimbursement.

Still, poverty and a lack of jobs at home continue to drive young migrants to Malaysia.

Ashok, the Top Glove worker, borrowed $2,400 to pay recruiters in Nepal and worked for more than a year to pay it off, including 36% interest. Each month he saves about $240 to send home, much of it going toward repaying an even bigger loan he took out to build a house for his wife, two children and parents.

So far, he said, the company has reimbursed him about $80 in recruitment fees. But he isnt waiting for the full payout; once his home loan is paid off, he plans to return to Nepal.

I went to Malaysia for a better future and had expectations that I could earn more, he said. Unfortunately, it is too difficult to stay here.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept.22

By Rufiz Hafizoglu  Trend:

Export of grain and legumes from Turkey to Uzbekistan grew by 26.63 percent in the past 8 months of 2020 compared to the same period of 2019, having made up $8.5 million, the Turkish Trade Ministry told Trend on Sept.22.

According to the ministry, in August 2020, Turkey exported grain and legumes worth $434,000 to Uzbekistan, which is deacrease of 49.11 percent compared to August 2019.

Turkey's exports of grain and legumes to world markets made up $4.6 billion from January through August 2020, up by 7.8 percent compared to the same period of last year.

The ministry noted that the export of grain and legumes amounted to 4.9 percent of the country's total exports during the reporting period.

In August of the current year, Turkey exported the grain and legumes to international markets in the amount of over $545 million, which is 13.4 percent more compared to August 2019, the ministry said.

Meanwhile, Turkeys export of grain and legumes accounted for 4.8 percent of the country's total exports.

Over the past 12 months (from August 2019 through August 2020), Turkey exported the grain and legumes worth over $7.1 billion.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
NSW is two weeks away from an open border with Queensland if no mystery cases are left untraced by October 6 as airlines announce they will add more flights to their schedules.

But Premier Gladys Berejiklian has urged her Queensland counterpart to bring down the border now after NSW recorded zero new locally acquired cases on Tuesday.

There were also just two cases among returned travellers in hotel quarantine detected in the 24 hours to 8pm on Monday.

The good news kept coming as South Australia announced it would reopen to NSW from Thursday and Queensland would extend its border community bubble to include five more areas in northern NSW.
The spread of coronavirus in Oregon appears to be on a distressing trajectory upward, with daily cases, active hospitalizations and test positivity rates reaching their highest levels in at least a month.

The Oregon Health Authority on Tuesday reported the highest daily case count since Aug. 15, announcing 328 confirmed or suspected infections, and officials also announced three more deaths.

After a long summer decline, Oregons average daily case count has jumped by more than 30% since bottoming out Sept. 11.

Tuesdays tally included typically large numbers in population hubs such as Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas and Marion counties. But the state is also seeing atypical surges in Lane County, where some University of Oregon students are returning, as well as rural Wasco County.

The trajectory of the pandemic in Oregon has been unclear in recent weeks, amid historic wildfires and a sharp drop in coronavirus testing. State officials released highly caveated modeling last week suggesting Oregon could see fewer cases moving forward.

But officials also acknowledged the modeling seemed to be skewing low and could be an early indicator of a slight increase in transmission.

State officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday about whether coronavirus is on an upswing.

Where the new cases are by county: The new cases are in the following counties: Benton (6), Clackamas (31), Clatsop (2), Columbia (3), Coos (3), Crook (1), Curry (1), Deschutes (11), Douglas (10), Hood River (1), Jackson (12), Jefferson (1), Josephine (4), Klamath (2), Lane (32), Lincoln (1), Linn (10), Malheur (14), Marion (38), Multnomah (60), Polk (9), Umatilla (3), Wasco (25), Washington (42) and Yamhill (6).

New fatalities: Oregons 530th death linked to coronavirus is a 73-year-old Marion County man with underlying health conditions. He tested positive Sept. 10 and died Sept. 20 at his residence.

The 531st fatality is a 41-year-old Malheur County man with underlying medical conditions. He tested positive Sept. 15 and died Sept. 20. State officials are confirming his location of death.

Oregons 532nd death is a 64-year-old Malheur County woman who did not have underlying health conditions. She tested positive Sept. 1 and died Sept. 20 at St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Idaho.

Not yet included in the death count released by the Oregon Health Authority is an inmate at Snake River Correctional Institution in Malheur County. The Department of Corrections announced that a man between the age of 80 to 85 tested positive for coronavirus and died at a local hospital Monday. Hes the seventh prisoner to die after testing positive for coronavirus.

The prevalence of infections: State officials reported 299 new confirmed infections out of 3,764 people tested, equaling a 7.9% positivity rate.

Who got infected: New confirmed or presumed infections grew among the following age groups: 0-9 (12); 10-19 (34); 20-29 (57); 30-39 (56); 40-49 (43); 50-59 (35); 60-69 (30); 70-79 (27); 80 and older (21).

Whos in the hospital: The state Tuesday reported 131 Oregonians with confirmed coronavirus infections are currently in the hospital, up 19 from Monday. Oregon remains well below its capacity, with hundreds of hospital beds and ventilators available.

Since it began: Oregon has reported 31,313 confirmed or presumed infections and 532 deaths, among the lowest totals in the nation. To date, 641,048 Oregonians have been tested.

-- Brad Schmidt; bschmidt@oregonian.com; 503-294-7628; @_brad_schmidt
Food is one of the main reasons I travel. Wherever I go in the world, I look forward to sampling new ingredients, tasting the local specialties, trying my hand at cooking a local dish and, of course, eating everything in sight.

Both trips I had to cancel this past spring were food-centered. Instead of sheltering in place in March, I was supposed to be munching my way across Mexico City and environs. In May, when coronavirus was starting to rage in the U.S. and Italy was closed, I was supposed to be on a dream trip that included Paris, a weeklong food tour of Sardinia and a week of cooking classes in Sicily. Sigh.

Im still in mourning for those lost (or at least postponed) opportunities. But having worked my way through the various stages of grief and arrived at acceptance of this bizarre new normal where I am mostly stuck in the house for days on end eating my own cooking, I have been trying to figure out how to get some aspects of travel back into my life.

At first, I tried watching food travel shows, but they only made me sad and restless without satisfying my hunger to taste, not just watch. I turned them off and went back to binge-watching detective series, where the inspectors seem to drink more than they eat and, when the victims partake, the food is likely poisoned. I now have great familiarity with the seamy underside of various cities in England, Australia, Iceland, Ireland and several other countries (and know many ways to poison people), but it didnt begin to scratch my travel itch.

Once I had worked my way through pretty much everything on Prime and Acorn, I stuck my head up to see what else was happening that could help me go abroad, at least in my mind. Thats when I noticed that schools and businesses forced to shut down by COVID-19 had been moving online and coming up with all sorts of clever ways of going virtual, including tastings and classes.

I resisted because I thought a virtual class would be lame and would only serve to remind me of what Im missing. But a few weeks ago, I finally gave in and signed up for an online cooking class offered by one of my food groups, mostly because I knew the teacher, liked the cuisine (Turkish) and wanted to support our organization.

We got the recipes and a shopping list beforehand, so I was able to prepare in advance and cook along with the chef. And with my fellow students chiming in on Zoom, it turned out to be really fun  almost as chaotic and energizing as the classes I have taken in person during my travels and have been missing so much.

It got me hooked. Online cooking classes are my new substitute for travel. Now that I am tuned into it, its amazing what is out there to sample. I am heading to Vietnam this week and to Lebanon the week after, and hunting for more. Its almost as good as traveling (and lots cheaper).

But, alas, Im finding it isnt a vacation.

The downside of virtual cooking classes is that I cant just waltz in, cook and leave, like I did in classes in Morocco, Vietnam, Chile and Moscow, among others. I now have to do my own shopping and prep work. There are no helpful assistants in my kitchen peeling the onions, measuring out the ingredients and making sure nothing boils over.

And even worse, when the class is over and Ive enjoyed the meal I cooked, the person standing at the sink scrubbing the pots and cleaning up the mess isnt a minimum wage culinary student, its me.

Other than being my own scullery maid, though, I have to say the class experience is pretty great.

Because of my beautiful new kitchen, the facilities are absolutely state of the art.

And whats more (and unlike every other cooking class I have ever taken), the knives are really sharp.

Thai Eggplant with Basil

Adapted from Kasma Loha-Unchit

I have taken international cooking classes all over the world, but some of the best have been close to home. Among my favorites was a series of 16 classes I took about 15 years ago with Kasma Loha-Unchit, a great Thai cooking teacher in Oakland. (She has since retired, though I keep checking to see if her myriad fans have lured her out of retirement to teach online. Sign me up for that.). My file of marked-up, food-spattered paper recipes from her classes is one of my most precious possessions.

This dish is a very simple stir fry, but it has always stuck with me because it taught me something very important. If you have ever fried eggplant, you know that it is a natural sponge that will soak up any amount of oil  and will then likely be greasy. But from Kasma and this recipe I learned that if you steam it first, it hardly absorbs any. Try it  youll be amazed.

4-5 young Asian eggplants (the long, skinny kind)

4 cloves garlic, minced

2 jalapeno or serrano chiles, cut into thin slivers

2-3 Tbsp. peanut oil

2 Tbsp. oyster sauce (preferably Thai)

1 tsp. sugar

1 Tbsp. Thai fish sauce, or to taste

1/2 tsp. white vinegar

1/2 cup or more whole basil leaves

Cut the eggplants crosswise in about 2-inch segments, the cut each segment lengthwise into 2 or 3 strips. Arrange the pieces in a steamer (I have an insert that fits in one of my pots, or you can use an Asian bamboo steamer). Steam for about 4 or 5 minutes until the pieces are partially softened. Dont cook them completely, or they will be mushy and hard to handle. Set aside.

Place a wok or skillet over high heat. Once the pan is hot, swirl in the oil to heat it. Stir in the chopped garlic, followed by the slivered chiles. Cook for a few seconds (dont let the garlic burn), then add in the eggplant. Toss well and cook for about 30 seconds.

Stir in the oyster sauce, then sprinkle in the sugar and fish sauce. If the eggplant needs to cook more, add a couple tablespoons of water to help it steam. One it is cooked, add the vinegar and basil leaves and stir until the basil is wilted.

Serve immediately.







Watch now: Youre likely eating this food thats aging you.

Betty Teller is planning to eat her way around the globe this year from the comfort of home. Tell her what youre cooking or recommend online classes to her at amuse-bouche@sbcglobal.net.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has told the UN General Assembly that despite the lack of understanding and sometimes even distrust by some colleagues Russia will insist on a world free of chemical and biological weapons. In a prerecorded address from Moscow on September 22, Putin said Russia was ready to refrain from deployment of ballistic weapons in Europe as long as the U.S. follows suit -- and accused Washington of ignoring the offer.
- The nearly 5,000 KNH workers said they will down their tools on Monday, September 28, over delayed increased salaries

- After the hospital was upgraded to a parastatal in 2012, the workers' salaries were also supposed to be re-categorised but it has not happened eight years down the line

- The aggrieved workers faulted the SRC for the crisis that now threatens to deal a blow to the health sector at a time when the country is fighting COVID-19

Health workers in the Kenyatta National Hospital have given a one-week notice of a strike on Monday, September 28.

The team of medics comprising of doctors, nurses and other workers faulted the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) for failure to re-categorise their salaries after the hospital was upgraded to a parastatal eight years ago.

READ ALSO: Uhuru extends COVID-19 containment measures until next address

KNH premises. The hospital's workers are protests delay in higher salaries. Photo: KNH.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: We want William Ruto's wheelbarrows, you can keep your money, Nyanza youth tell Raila Odinga

The Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacist and Dentist Union (KMPDU), the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) and the Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions and Hospital Workers (Kudheiha) gave a joint statement at KNH premises and said they will down their tools on the mentioned date unless the proposed salary review is implemented.

After the re-categorisation of the facility to a parastatal in 2012, all workers were supposed to get a salary increase which has never happened since then.

A letter dated February 12, 2013, to then-finance principal secretary detailed the exact amount employees from all job groups would earn with the lowest basic salary for the hospital CEO set at Sh400, 000 and highest being KSh 560,000.

The least earning worker was set to get KSh 17, 535.

READ ALSO: Man breaks the internet after recreating 24-year-old picture with his mom

Late 2019, some workers from the KNH went on strike to protest the delay of the higher salaries but the management managed to work a return-to-work formula with them.

This came a month after doctors in Nairobi resumed work after their officials in the KMPDU brokered a deal with the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS).

READ ALSO: Woman tearfully professes love for Diamond, says beautiful girls are playing with musician's heart

The deal between KMPDU and NMS ended a strike that kicked off on Friday, August 21.

The medics were protesting a lack of comprehensive medical insurance cover.

Other grievances the doctors raised included arrears owed to locum doctors, unimplemented promotions and re-designations.

The medics started benefiting from their insurance cover from September 4 after the NMS heeded to their demands.

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Kids eating lunch in the hallway. Dedicated music rooms used to fit more students at desks. Students bused far from home to go to school outside their neighbourhood because their local school has long been full.

These are the ongoing challenges faced by students, parents, teachers and administrators at the Toronto District School Board at a time when health and safety in schools are top of mind and development in the city continues at an unprecedented pace.

A new report from the Broadbent Institute and advocacy groups Progress Toronto and Fix Our Schools says that, amid a pandemic, the time is now for the province to allow the TDSB to collect fees from developers to help build and repair packed and ageing schools  money thats now needed to make necessary adjustments for social distancing, fresh air and more.

For over two decades, the TDSB has exempt from collecting education development charges (EDCs) under provincial rules despite ongoing pleas and a recent court challenge by the TDSB. Meanwhile, the Toronto Catholic District School Board collects fees to pay for its growth.

The current provincial regulation governing whether or not a school board can charge education development charges means that developers in Toronto get away without paying one cent to TDSB schools, says the report set to be released Tuesday, a copy of which was viewed by the Star.

Despite the simple solution, governments since 1998 have failed to do it, and instead have chosen to give developers a break, while allowing families and communities to pay the price.

The report also calls for the province to amend the rules so that the money for all boards can be spent on more than just land costs and allow them to use the funds for construction and other capital costs, as was allowed before 1998.

The report says the current situation in Toronto has only made the needed change more vital.

The COVID 19 pandemic has also shown how inadequate infrastructure can make it hard to keep kids safe: cramped classrooms, lack of proper ventilation (such as windows that open), and the absence of hand-washing sinks in classrooms all make preventing the spread of infections extremely difficult, the report says.

Saman Tabasinejad, project Manager for Progress Toronto, lives in Willowdale, where she says parents are worried about sending their kids to overcrowded schools where the windows dont open and there isnt functioning HVAC.

Now more than ever we see that not only fixing crumbling schools is important for good learning environments but fixing them is actually necessary to make sure we have healthy schools, she said.

In 1998, when the city amalgamated, the province introduced new rules that restricted boards from collecting education development charges if their net capacity exceeded their enrolment numbers, the report outlines. Those rules exclude the TDSB from collecting the development charges because the system isnt at capacity across the board.

But TDSB schools in areas like Willowdale, Yonge-Eglinton and parts of downtown have long been at or over capacity and the board is required to provide space for all students, who have a right to attend school within their jurisdiction.

The city overall is expected to grow by a million people by 2041, the provinces own projections show, as cited by the report.

With the current regulatory restrictions, the TDSB  the largest board in the country  could generate an additional estimated $400 million over the next 15 years, the report says.

Meanwhile, the TCDSB can charge more than $2,000 per unit of any development across the city, according to current fees posted on the citys website.

Jennifer Story, the TDSB trustee for Ward 15 (Toronto-Danforth) said when she was first elected to the role six years ago, schools like Morse Street Junior Public School at Queen and Carlaw Streets was only at 30 to 35 per cent capacity. As the neighbourhood grew and the school filled up, she said, parents began asking what could be done.

Under the current rules, she said the board is forced to go to the provincial government over just 10 projects annually  the same allotment as much smaller boards  and essentially beg for capital funds to create new school space. That doesnt include the funds the board will need to find to buy the land  what the education charges are supposed to pay for.

She told the parents not to expect any progress in her lifetime, saying there is no sign their school will win the lottery for funding.

Its illogical to me that the province would not let the TDSB access capital dollars, Story said in an interview, adding the province could easily change the rules to draw different boundaries around populated areas downtown and those like Yonge-Eglinton to allow for education charges for those neighbourhoods and let the board to properly plan expansions as communities grow.

To apply the same set of rules for communities that are depopulating to areas of the province that are rapidly growing is bad planning.

She said the lack of school space on the ground looks like kids eating their lunch on the floor in hallways because the cafeteria is being used as a learning space and all other spaces are full. It means there arent dedicated areas for music, art and other programs that are meaningful to students and their parents.

These arent frivolous things, Story said.

Council has long sided with the school board. In 2017, council unanimously voted in favour of a motion from Coun. Mike Layton to request the province amend the rules to allow the TDSB to collect education development charges.

Layton, who represents Ward 11 (University-Rosedale) said he isnt holding his breath that Premier Doug Fords government to be the one to make the necessary changes.

We asked years ago and still our schools are crumbling, he told the Star in the interview. It has been years. It should come as no surprise that all of this development in our city hasnt resulted in really any new money to the schools that are supposed to accommodate new density.

The TDSB has quietly taken their ongoing fight with the province to court in a case that is still ongoing.

In records filed with the court in June 2019, the TDSB argues that excluding the board from collecting the charges is contrary to the intent of the scheme  that growth should pay for growth.

The current rules, the written arguments say, require boards like the TDSB to accommodate new development by busing students to distant schools, or by engaging in divisive and unpopular school closures to obtain access to the ability to charge EDCs ... This is the opposite of what the scheme intended, and is contrary to the fundamental principles that make the scheme valid.

The province, in their arguments, says the current system is designed to ensure that education funds are well spent and assets are managed as efficiently as possible, noting there is excess space in the TDSB for 65,000 students.

It says boards need to address other neighbourhoods which are facing declining enrolment and thus have schools which are underutilized. The current eligibility criteria balance these two goals.

The argument the board can sell schools that are under capacity now to pay for schools in areas that are over capacity doesnt make sense, Story said.

Especially in a city like Toronto, where we are constantly growing and changing, should we be selling off schools and amalgamating schools when 10, 15, 20 years down the road we may find ourselves in a situation where schools are over capacity and were slapping portables onto the yard? she said.

The report says there are two problems with the provinces argument: First that it asks the public to subsidize the cost of growth and second that the province has put a moratorium on school closures.

In a response to the Star, the Minister of Educations office said: All school boards that do not have access to EDC revenues may apply to the ministry for Land Priorities funding to purchase land. Additionally, the provinces capital funding framework provides grants to eligible school boards to cover the costs to construct and furnish new schools.

The problem outlined in the report is apparent in places like Yonge-Eglinton, a rapidly growing vertical community that is expected to grow from 19,000 people to 40,000 by 2031, according to the report.

Eglinton Junior Public School has already maxed out its available land with four portables. The 24 other public elementary schools within a three-kilometre radius are at capacity too, the report says.

And the new Davisville Junior Public School currently under development is expected to be near capacity when it opens.

Its the reason why the board continues to put signs outside of new condo developments warning prospective buyers their children wont be accommodated at the nearest school.

Ontarios flawed education funding formula has left Torontos public school board without the resources needed to build new schools in high growth areas, address their capital repair backlog, and have the flexibility to make timely upgrades including improved ventilation and additional class spaces, Coun. Josh Matlow, who represents Ward 12 (Toronto-St. Pauls), said in a statement to the Star. Premier Ford should put our kids health and safety before the financial interests of developers and provide the TDSB an Education Development Charge.

Thats true for other parts of the city, like Willowdale, where residents have for years looked down from their windows on McKee Public School, which is at 110 per cent capacity, and not been able to send their kids there. Families instead bus their children more than three kilometres to Lillian Street Public School, the report says.

Jennifer Pagliaro is a Toronto-based reporter covering city hall and municipal politics for the Star. Follow her on Twitter: @jpags
Victorian government, Department of Premier and Cabinet Secretary Chirs Eccles on Sept. 21, 2020. (COVID-19 Hotel Quarantine Inquiry [CC by 4.0])

Victoria Public Service Boss Diverts Blame at Quarantine Inquiry

The Victorian governments public service chief executive has told the Hotel Quarantine Inquiry he was unaware how private security firms became responsible for quarantine enforcement.

Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPC) secretary Chris Eccles, who also sits on the states COVID-19 response forum, told the inquiry that even at his senior-level he was unable to recollect who decided that private security firms would guard overseas returnees.

When asked critical questions about his office informing then-Police Commissioner Graham Ashton that the DPC had arranged a deal to set up private security before the crucial meeting on March 27, Eccles responded, Im not aware.

The lead adviser also had no recollection of how Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews was informed ahead of a scheduled press conference on March 27, that private security guards will be involved.

When pressed further on the decision, Eccles implied the major decision was made collectively rather than down to one person.

There are a number of core contributors in the emergency management in the issue of securing the hotels that being, an emergency management, Commissioner as the coordinator, DHHS (Department of Human and Health Services) as the controller and Victoria Police as the security experts, he said.

Eccles explained that neither of those departments has access to all the information for COVID-19 emergency response; they collectively form the state control centre.

I have a strong view that the concept of collective governance where youre bringing together the special skills of different actors to deal with complex problems is an important part of how we operate, he said.

If theres been a failure of an acknowledgement jointly and severally around the decision of the collective and I think thats a fault or a flaw in the design, Eccles said while concluding he was not talking specifically to the states CCP virus response.

The Hotel Quarantine Inquiry, headed by former judge Jennifer Coate, was initiated in early July and is charged with investigating Victorias second wave of the COVID-19 virus.

Through genomic sequencing data, over 99 percent of Victorias virus cases since June can be traced back to strains found at the returnees hotels.

Since June 1, Victoria has recorded over 18,400 virus cases, and 744 COVID-19 related deaths. This accounts for more than 90 percent of Australias CCP virus casualties.

State Premier Daniel Andrews, who has been heavily scrutinised for his strict virus restrictions, fronts the inquiry on Sept. 25 a day after Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday Andrews said: When Ill appear before the inquiry Ill answer the questions as honestly, frankly, clearly, directly as possible.
The United States Department of the Treasury is seen in Washington, D.C.

(Reuters) - Several global banks moved large sums of allegedly illicit funds over a period of nearly two decades, despite red flags about the origins of the money, BuzzFeed and other media reported on Sunday, citing confidential documents submitted by banks to the U.S. government.

The media reports were based on leaked suspicious activity reports (SARs) filed by banks and other financial firms with the U.S. Department of Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCen).

The SARs, which the reports said numbered more than 2,100, were obtained by BuzzFeed News and shared with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) and other media organizations.

In all, the ICIJ reported that the files contained information about more than $2 trillion worth of transactions between 1999 and 2017, which were flagged by internal compliance departments of financial institutions as suspicious. The SARs are in themselves not necessarily proof of wrongdoing, and the ICIJ reported the leaked documents were a tiny fraction of the reports filed with FinCEN.

Five global banks appeared most often in the documents  HSBC Holdings Plc, JPMorgan Chase & Co, Deutsche Bank AG, Standard Chartered Plc and Bank of New York Mellon Corp, the ICIJ reported.

The SARs provide key intelligence in global efforts to stop money laundering and other crimes. The media reports on Sunday painted a picture of a system that is both under-resourced and overwhelmed, allowing vast amounts of illicit funds to move through the banking system.

A bank has a maximum of 60 days to file SARs after the date of initial detection of a reportable transaction, according to the Treasury Department's Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. The ICIJ report said in some cases the banks failed to report suspect transactions until years after they had processed them.

The SARs also showed that banks often moved funds for companies that were registered in offshore havens, such as the British Virgin Islands, and did not know the ultimate owner of the account, the report said. Staff at major banks often used Google searches to learn who was behind large transactions, it said.

Story continues

Among the types of transactions highlighted by the report: funds processed by JPMorgan for potentially corrupt individuals and companies in Venezuela, Ukraine and Malaysia; money from a Ponzi scheme moving through HSBC; and money linked to a Ukrainian billionaire processed by Deutsche Bank.

"I hope these findings spur urgent action from policymakers to enact needed reforms," said Tim Adams, chief executive of the trade group Institute of International Finance, in a statement. "As noted in today's reports, the impacts of financial crime are felt beyond just the financial sector  it poses grave threats to society as a whole."

In a statement to Reuters, HSBC said "all of the information provided by the ICIJ is historical." The bank said as of 2012, "HSBC embarked on a multi-year journey to overhaul its ability to combat financial crime across more than 60 jurisdictions."

Standard Chartered said in a statement to Reuters, "We take our responsibility to fight financial crime extremely seriously and have invested substantially in our compliance programmes."

BNY Mellon told Reuters it could not comment on specific SARs. "We fully comply with all applicable laws and regulations, and assist authorities in the important work they do," the bank said.

JPMorgan said it has "thousands of people and hundreds of millions of dollars dedicated to this important work." "We have played a leadership role in anti-money laundering reform," the bank said in a statement.

In a statement on Sunday, Deutsche Bank said the ICIJ had "reported on a number of historic issues." "We have devoted significant resources to strengthening our controls and we are very focused on meeting our responsibilities and obligations," the bank said.

FinCen said in a statement on its website on Sept. 1 that it was aware that various media outlets intended to publish a series of articles based on unlawfully disclosed SARs, as well as other documents, and said that the "unauthorized disclosure of SARs is a crime that can impact the national security of the United States."

Representatives for the U.S. Treasury declined comment beyond the FinCen statement.

(Reporting by Megan Davies and Paritosh Bansal; Additional reporting by Huw Jones; Editing by Steve Orlofsky and Daniel Wallis)
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SEATTLE  A Greenwood corner at 9757 Greenwood Ave. N. sold for just under $2.8 million, according to King County records.

The sellers were two LLCs related to small local investors. They had separately acquired the neighboring parcels for $850,000 in 2004 and 2001.





. . .
New Delhi, Sep 22 : The Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed the Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Bill, 2020 with voice vote, allowing Kashmiri, Dogri and Hindi, apart from the existing Urdu and English, to be official languages in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

Speaking on the Bill, Union Minister of State for Home G. Kishan Reddy said that it was a demand of the people of Jammu and Kashmir that the languages they speak should be official languages of the UT.

Since 53.26 per cent of people in Jammu and Kashmir speak Kashmiri, there was a need to include it as the official language of the state, he said.

The minister added that people in Jammu and Kashmir speak as well as write Kashmiri, so there is no problem in including it as an official language.

As per the Bill, Kashmiri will be the official language along with four other languages -- Dogri, Hindi, Urdi and English.

Reddy said that 26.64 per cent of the people in the UT speak Dogri, while Urdu, which is currently an official language, is spoken only by 0.16 per cent the population.

The minister said while the government is not against any regional language, the Bill gives importance to those 70 per cent people who speak Kashmiri and Dogri in the UT.

For the last 70 years, Urdu has been the official language of Jammu and Kashmir, he said, adding that 2.36 per cent of the population in the UT speaks Hindi.

Opposing the Bill, Hasnain Masoodi of National Conference said the Central government did not have the legislative competence to frame a Bill in this regard.

He said it is not a fact that only 0.16 per cent of the population in J&K speaks Urdu which is a link language between the Jammu region and the Kashmir Valley.

Masoodi asked that if only 0.16 per cent people in the UT speak Urdu, why would the government include it as an official language. No other state has five official languages, he added.

Participating in the discussion, Union minister Jitendra Singh said that he was surprised as the National Conference is opposing the inclusion of Kashmiri as an official language because his party ruled in the region for almost 60 years on the name of "Kashmiriat".

"You have exposed yourself in front of Kashmiris by going against the language," he said.

The Bill was later passed by a voice vote with Masoodi as the only Opposition member who objected to the draft legislation.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah later said in a tweet that it was a momentous day for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. "With this historic Bill...Long-awaited dream of the people of J&K comes true! Kahmiri, Dogri, Urdu, Hindi and English will now be the official languages of J&K." Under the Bill, Shah said that special efforts will be made for the development of major regional languages like Gojri, Pahari and Punjabi.

Along with this, the Bill will also strengthen the existing institutional structure for the promotion and development of regional languages.

Lauding the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his commitment towards restoring the culture of Jammu and Kashmir through this Bill, Shah said that he wants to assure his sisters and brothers in Jammu and Kashmir that the Modi government will leave no stone unturned to bring back the glory of the erstwhile state.
On September 18, United States Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed away, and now the public is waiting who will fill her vacant seat.

President Donald Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have vowed to nominate and confirm a replacement for the women's rights icon.

Replacing Supreme Court Justice Ginsburg

The 2020 presidential election is just a few weeks away, and the public is wondering if President Trump has enough time to replace Supreme Court Justice Ginsburg.

Another thing that the public is waiting for is the effect of the president's nomination. The Supreme Court has been split when it comes to important cases such as voting rights, gay marriage, the Affordable Care Act, affirmative action, gerrymandering, and gun rights.

If a conservative replaces Justice Ginsburg who was a liberal, there will be a 6-3 tilt towards the right for years.

According to Fox News, there is bound to be opposition from the Democrats. However the politics play out, there is a process for Supreme Court nominations and confirmations.

Also Read: Death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg Opens Debate on Possible Nominees, Poses Huge Impact on Presidential Race

The steps

The first step is the president nominating the next Supreme Court Justice. Article II, section 2 of the Constitution of the United States gives the president that power.

So long as the president is in the White House, President Trump can nominate whomever he wants to replace Justice Ginsburg. The appointment is a three-step process: the nomination by the president, the confirmation by the Senate, and the appointment by the president again.

The second step involves the United States Senate. The nomination will first be considered by a smaller group within the Senate called the Senate Judiciary Committee.

That has been the process since the 19th century. The only exception was in 2016 when the Judiciary Committee refused to consider President Obama's nomination of Judge Garland.

The Judiciary Committee currently has 22 members; 12 Republicans and 10 Democrats. They will conduct an investigation into the nominee's background. The process could take 30 to 45 days.

The committee holds a public hearing, in which the nominee is questioned and may give testimony about everything from judicial philosophy to their stand on important cases such as abortion. The committee will then report its recommendation to the full Senate as either favorable, negative or no recommendation.

The third step involves the full Senate. The Senate is majority Republican, with 53 Republicans, 45 Democrats, and two independents, who both caucus with the Democrats.

If the motion that the nomination be considered is made during a special session of the Senate, then the motion itself is debatable and can be blocked by filibuster.

However, closing debate on the motion so that the Senate could move on to a vote no longer requires 60 votes, just 51-Senator majority so filibustering is not as effective anymore.

The last step is the vote to confirm, which requires a simple majority of the senators present and voting. If the nominee is confirmed, the secretary of the Senate will transmit the confirmation vote to the president. The president will sign a commission appointing the person to the Supreme Court.

The timing

The Senate has never filled a Supreme Court vacancy so close to a presidential election. There is no enough time as the process takes months before a new Justice can be assigned.

Related Article: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Death: Trump to Possibly Choose a 'Very Talented Woman' to Replace RBG

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Xiaomi has launched Mi Smart LED Bulb (B22), the companys latest Smart Bulb in India. It is a 9W bulb with 900 Lumens of brightness, comes with support for Amazon Alexa as well as Google Assistant, and doesnt require a separate bridge. It comes with B22 socket, so that you dont need a separate E27 to B22 converter that was required for its first generation bulb that was launched in India last year.

Highlights of Mi LED Smart Bulb (B22)

16 million colors, 1700k to 6500k color temperature, up to 900 lumens, scheduling, power on or off through the app

Sunrise mode imitates the sunrise to gently ease you awake. Sunset mode creates snug atmosphere before bed.

Turn the light on or off, adjust the brightness, color or color temperature through Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant

Doesnt require a bridge, and can be connected to Wi-Fi via Mi Home App

The luminous polycarbonate surface has a high refractive index and high transparency casting a gentle yet bright light

The bulb operates at an ambient temperature and the lightweight material provides even heat dissipation

Over 11 years or 25,000 hours of long life span (with about 6 hours of use per day)

The Mi LED Smart Bulb (B22) is priced at Rs. 799 and is available from Mi.com.
This originally appeared as part of our daily coronavirus newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox.

Very, very high risk. Thats how former CDC Director Tom Frieden described signing in a choir.

Because you're indoors, he said back in June. You have lots of people, many of them are older, and singing aerosolizes viral particles, so singing specifically takes a virus that usually spreads a little bit and allows it to spread a lot.

Now a study has attempted to quantify just how much singing in a choir may actually spread COVID-19.

Since restrictions have eased globally, a rise in outbreaks related to singing has been reported, said the study, published in late July. A large proportion of these documented outbreaks associated with singing (approx. 69 percent), were reported from the United States resulting in over 544 cases.

Its not just the bare fact that singing can spread disease  the study goes into some detail about which syllables spread the coronaviruses the best (like if, in The Sound of Music, do, ti and fa were killing people, but re, me and sol werent as much).

The above paragraph is somewhat accurate, if a bit glib. The results of detailed particle tracking reveals that the maximum velocity of droplets expelled, specifically for certain syllables such as Do, Fa and Ti, is approximately 6 millimeters per second, which is similar to the velocities reported for speaking, the study says.

The sound Fa when sung was found to spread particles much faster and farther than the sound Sol, (it makes sense that more plosive sounds are better at spreading particles) but its not just the sound that you make. Its also the duration of the note and how loud you sing.

It is also worth noting that some degree of variability is expected in the number of droplets expelled between different individuals, and due to other parameters, such as loudness, notes, consonants and duration of each note sung, the study says. Nevertheless, the droplets observed do not appear to be settling down rapidly and without adequate ventilation, these droplets can potentially saturate the indoor environment which can likely explain the very high attack rates of COVID-19 seen in choirs in the U.S. and Europe.
The Money Management Institute (MMI) and the University of Virginia Darden School Foundation today announced the launch of Executive IQ(TM), an executive-level professional accelerator for investment leaders looking to advance their careers and their organizations. An exclusive 18-month certification, Executive IQ combines university-backed curricula with real-world case studies from the industrys most prestigious organizations.

The Executive IQ flagship program is unique in that it makes the industry the actual classroom, putting the focus on the innovation experience of each participant, said Craig Pfeiffer, President and CEO of MMI. Were proud to work with Darden Executive Education and Lifelong Learning to foster an extraordinary community of collaboration and networking to help educate todays leaders for tomorrows opportunities.

This rigorous education course is designed for U.S. market professionals with 10-15 years of experience in the workforce. MMI has collaborated with prominent Fortune 500 companies, including Microsoft and PricewaterhouseCoopers, which will present seminars for the program, alongside top faculty from the Darden School of Business. Tailored to fit into a full-time work schedule, Executive IQ will require 10 hours per month of virtual classroom time, where participants are split into groups to both learn and engage in purposeful networking with peers. There are also planned in-person events for students, tentatively scheduled for June 2021 and January 2022, depending on updated health guidelines at the time.

As markets, distribution channels and customer needs evolve, so must the skill sets of leaders in every industry, including financial services. We are excited to be the academic partner to MMI in this new program. Our world-class teaching faculty are eager to leverage their experience and insights to deliver a transformational learning journey for participants leading their financial services organizations into the future, even as those organizations go through their own transformations said Ashley Williams, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Learning Officer of Darden Executive Education and Lifelong Learning.

This innovative program arose from a market need to learn skills mid-career that can turn executives into transformational leaders, allowing them to reach the next level in their careers. Participants benefit from the resources and networking capability of the entire financial services ecosystem in order to bring intelligence and best practices back to their firms. Upon course completion, students will receive a digital badge that they can use to further highlight their credentials through their business communications.

Executive IQ is supported by an advisory board comprised of key executives from firms such as Goldman Sachs, Bank of America and Northern Trust. The program is accepting applications from now through December 2020, after which it will announce the names in the first cohort, slated to begin in early 2021. For more information, visit https://www.mminst.org/executiveiq.

About the Money Management Institute (MMI):

Established in 1997, the Money Management Institute (MMI) is the industry association representing financial services firms that provide financial advice and investment advisory solutions to investors. Through conferences, educational resources, and thought leadership, MMI facilitates peer-to-peer connections, fosters industry knowledge and professionalism, and supports the development of the next generation of industry leadership. MMI member firms are dedicated to helping individual and institutional investors, at every level of assets, plan for and fulfill their financial goals. For more information, visit http://www.MMInst.org.

About the University of Virginia Darden Executive Education and Lifelong Learning:

Darden Executive Education and Lifelong Learning (DEELL) is a top-ranked, global provider of executive development. Under the auspices of the University of Virginias Darden School Foundation and taught by the Darden School of Business highly acclaimed faculty, DELL prepares and inspires leaders to succeed through transformation and disruption in a global marketplace. Offering more than 30 open programs and partnering with leading organizations worldwide to develop custom business solutions, we provide personalized, transformational learning experiences at our locations in Charlottesville, Virginia, and the Washington, D.C. Metro area, as well as online. Darden shapes the way the world does business through our research and draws upon our collective knowledge and experience to cultivate responsible, innovative leaders. For more information, visit https://www.darden.virginia.edu/executive-education.
Hryvnia weakens to U.S. dollar on Sept 22

10:35, 22.09.20 8566

The official forex rate against the euro for Tuesday is fixed at UAH 33.19 per euro.
The woman accused of mailing envelopes containing ricin to President Donald Trump and to law enforcement in Texas has been identified as a 53-year-old French-born resident of Quebec, who also allegedly mailed threatening letters to the recipients.

Court records first obtained by CBC named the suspect as Pascale Ferrier, who was arrested on Sunday by the US Customs and Border Protection on the US-Canada border near Buffalo, New York. She was caught carrying a gun.

According to court documents, Ferrier penned a note to Trump, telling him to 'give up and remove your application for this election.'

'So I made a "special gift" for you to make a decision. This gift is in this letter,' she wrote, according to the affidavit. 'If it doesn't work, I'll find better recipe for another poison, or I might use my gun when I'll be able to come.'

Named: Pascale Ferrier, 53, a French-born resident of Quebec, has been identified as the woman suspected of mailing ricin letters to President Trump at the White House

Less than two weeks before Ferrier's arrest, a Twitter user by the name Pascale Ferrier, from Laval, Quebec, tweeted this threatening message

Two minutes later, the same Twitter user sent out this message mocking Trump

Authorities believe Ferrier sent a total of six letters; one to Trump and the others to people in Texas.

Those letters 'contained similar language' to the letter that was sent to President Trump and were sent to people affiliated with facilities where Ferrier had been jailed in 2019. All the notes were signed 'FREE REBEL SPIRIT.'

In Facebook and Twitter posts in September, Ferrier wrote '#killTrump' and used similar wording as she did in the letter, calling him an 'Ugly Clown Tyrant,' according to the document.

Investigators also matched Ferriers fingerprints from four of the letters, the complaint said.

One of the letters containing a white powdery substance was addressed to Hidalgo County Sheriff J.E. 'Eddie' Guerra, according to a press release from the agency. The letter was sent on September 9 from Canada.

This letter containing white powdery substance was sent from Canada to Hidalgo County Sheriff Effie Guerra

'In the letter, the author clearly stated a desire to harm Sheriff Guerra and three female detention officers as they too were sent letters. The letters were intercepted at the Hidalgo County Detention Center, without incident,' the release stated.

When she was arrested, Ferrier told Customs and Border Patrol agents that she was 'wanted by the FBI for the ricin letters,' the complaint said.

Officers found a loaded gun in her waistband and said she was also carrying a knife.

Ferrier, a native of France, became a Canadian citizen in November 2015 after living in the country for seven years. According to sources speaking to CTV News, she works as a computer programmer.

Ferrier had been living in the US last year and was arrested in Mission, Texas, in March 2019 on a charge of tampering with a government record for using a fake drivers license.

Ferrier, a native of France living in Canada, had spent 20 days in a Texas jail last year after being charged with using a fake driver's license

Ferrier pleaded not guilty and spent 20 days in jail pending trial before prosecutors dropped the charge because it was her first offense.

Just weeks after regaining her freedom in May, Ferrier was deported back to Canada for overstaying her six-month visa and committing a crime on US soil, the New York Times reported. She was said to have moved to Laval, Quebec.

A Twitter account associated with a Pascale Ferrier, born in 1967, from Laval, Quebec, reportedly sent out an anti-Trump tweet with the hashtag '#killtrump' on September 9.

Ferrier is a computer programmer who became a citizen of Canada in November 2015

Another tweet sent from that account two minutes later dubbed the president 'the ugly tyrant clown.'

The user of the Twitter page described herself as a 'techno-creative Nomad.'

A Facebook page in the name of Pascale Ferrier features a post from 2015 about becoming a Canadian citizen.

A related Facebook business page titled 'Le Techno-Creative Nomade' posted in French about being in Texas in June 2019 and being disappointed that merchandise sold in local stores was from countries like China and Mexico.

The first poison-tainted letter allegedly sent by Ferrier was intercepted earlier this week at the final offsite processing facility where mail is screened before it reaches the White House. A preliminary investigation confirmed the presence of ricin from Canada.

The letter addressed to the White House appeared to have originated in Canada, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police have said.

And envelopes containing ricin were also mailed to law enforcement agencies in the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas, according to another law enforcement official.

An envelope containing ricin was mailed and addressed to President Trump (pictured) earlier this week from an address in Canada

The official did not say which agencies were sent the envelopes but said they are believed to have been mailed by the same person who sent one to the White House.

The officials were not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

One of the envelopes was sent to the police in Mission, Texas, said Investigator Art Flores, a spokesman for the border communitys police department. He said no one was hurt.

Although Flores did not specify which agency, Sheriff Eddie Guerra of the Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office revealed he had been a recipient.

Sheriff Eddie Guerra (pictured) of the Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office announced that he had received a envelope of ricin

Guerra revealed that he and three of his detention employees received the toxic mail

It was not immediately clear when the envelopes reached Hidalgo County, which contains Mission and the city of McAllen.

In a tweet, Guerra said they he and three staffers had received the dangerous envelopes in the mail.

'I can confirm that envelopes, containing the deadly toxin ricin, was mailed to me and three of my detention staff.' he wrote.

'At this time due to a active federal investigation I cannot make any further comments but a media release will be sent out tomorrow. No injuries were sustained.'

Royal Canadian Mounted Police arrive at the home of the woman suspected of mailing Trump a letter that contained ricin

The woman has not been named but she is also suspected of sending similar letters to law enforcement officials in Texas

The woman remains in custody in the US. She is thought to have been arrested by the FBI

Canadian police on Monday swooped on an apartment complex in Montreal in connection with the ricin-laced letter that was sent to Trump.

While there, police roped off a modern beige and brown apartment building and evacuated its inhabitants.

On Saturday, the RCMP confirmed that the letter had apparently been sent from Canada and said that the FBI had requested assistance.

A Royal Canadian Mounted Policeman at the scene of the raid on Monday afternoon

It's unclear how the woman became connected to the ricin plot. She was arrested on Sunday trying to enter the US

The RCMP said the search is being led by chemical and explosives teams. They do not think there is a threat to the public

Teams entering a van on Monday during the search. Police in Canada say the woman sent six letters in total

Ricin is found naturally in castor beans but it takes a deliberate act to convert it into a biological weapon.

Ricin can cause death within 36 to 72 hours from exposure to an amount as small as a pinhead. No known antidote exists.
MARYLAND  The Hogan administration has awarded $10 million in grants to Maryland's community colleges for workforce development programs and additional education opportunities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Thanks to our state's world-class academic community, Maryland continues to be home to one of the most highly educated workforces in America," Gov. Larry Hogan said Tuesday. "Now more than ever, it is critical that we offer all Marylanders every opportunity to get the tools they need to stay competitive in the job market, both during and after the COVID-19 pandemic."

The money, awarded under the the Governor's Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund, is designed to help community colleges expand workforce development courses and continue professional education.

"Countless Marylanders will have the opportunity to benefit from these courses and professional training, which would not have been available to them without this critical funding," said Secretary of Higher Education Dr. James D. Fielder.

Here's how much each community college got:

Courtesy of the Hogan Administration

Each college may use the funds to support any of the following activities/services:

Direct aid to students

Materials, supplies, and equipment

Curriculum

Salaries and wages

Professional development and technical training

Student recruitment, marketing, and advertising

Technology training, certification, examination and licensure fees/vouchers for programs

This article originally appeared on the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Patch
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 22:52:21|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping made proposals on battling COVID-19 at the general debate of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly on Tuesday.

Facing the virus, countries should put people and life first, said Xi, adding that "no case should be missed and no patient should be left untreated."

He called on countries to enhance solidarity and get through the pandemic together, emphasizing the leading role of the World Health Organization in the global response.

"We should follow the guidance of science, give full play to the leading role of the World Health Organization, and launch a joint international response to beat this pandemic," Xi said.

"Any attempt of politicizing the issue or stigmatization must be rejected," he added.

The Chinese president also called for comprehensive and long-term control measures in response to the pandemic.

"The major economies need to step up macro policy coordination," he said. "We should not only restart our own economies, but also contribute to global recovery."

Moreover, Xi emphasized that the world should show concern for and accommodate the need of developing countries, especially those in Africa.

"The international community needs to take timely and robust measures in such fields as debt relief and international assistance, ensure the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and help these countries overcome their difficulties," Xi said. Enditem
A day after the Centre managed to secure Parliaments approval on two controversial farm bills despite vehement Opposition protests, it announced a hike in the minimum support price (MSP) of six rabi crops and said neither MSP nor procurement of crops would end.

This was seen as an attempt to win over agitating farmers across Punjab and Haryana, who have been lathi-charged and blocked from entering Delhi over the farm bills. This has also led to a rift among NDA allies.

The MSP decision was taken at a Union Cabinet meeting earlier Monday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted: Higher MSP will empower farmers and contribute to doubling of their income. Increased MSP, along with the series of agriculture reforms passed by Parliament, will ensure the dignity and prosperity of farmers. Jai Kisan!

Agriculture minister Narendra Tomar announced this in the Lok Sabha on Monday evening and said the Centre has not only hiked MSP but also raised procurement to ensure remunerative prices for farmers.

The highest increase in MSP has been announced for lentil (Rs 300 per quintal), followed by gram, rapeseed and mustard (Rs 225 per quintal each) and safflower (Rs 112 per quintal). For barley and wheat, a hike of Rs 75 per quintal and Rs 50 per quintal respectively was announced. The differential remuneration is aimed at encouraging crop diversification.
Trump carried Michigan that November and after becoming president quickly sought to elevate Larsen to the federal bench, tapping her in May 2017 to fill a vacant seat on the Cincinnati-based 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. Michigans two Democratic U.S. senators initially held up her appointment since the White House hadnt consulted them on the nomination, as is customary. But after meeting with the senators, Larsen was confirmed by the Senate by a 60-38 vote the following November.
A Brisbane doctor has been charged over allegations he supplied steroids and other drugs to outlaw motorcycle gang members.

Queensland police issued a statement on Tuesday afternoon saying detectives from the Organised Crime Gangs Group charged a medical doctor as part of a drug-trafficking investigation.

Police executed several search warrants across the city on Tuesday, including two medical practices in Chermside and Fortitude Valley.

Police officers searching premises seized steroids, prescription drugs and cash, and will allege that dangerous drugs were provided without prescription by a doctor directly to outlaw motorcycle gang members to sell.
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany speaks during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, on Sept. 9, 2020. (Evan Vucci/AP Photo)

McEnany: Democrats Impeachment Suggestions a Blatant Disregard for the Constitution

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany responded to suggestions that some Democrats in Congress will attempt to impeach President Donald Trump in a bid to stop him from nominating a new justice to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg following her death last week.

Apparently, it is now a high crime and misdemeanor worthy of impeachment for a lawfully elected president of the United States to exercise his constitutional duty, she said. Article Two, Section Two of the Constitution clearly states that the president shall nominate justices of the Supreme Court when a vacancy occurs.

She added that the Constitution does not offer a different interpretation of how the president should act.

Theres nothing in the constitution that says the president stops being the president in an election year. The president has already appointed two strong conservative justices to the Supreme Court, justices who will interpret the constitution as written. Now he will nominate a third, said McEnany, adding that suggesting an impeachment shows a blatant disregard for the U.S. Constitution.

McEnany noted that were one vote away from seeing our religious liberty votes stripped away from our free speech stripped away, from our Second Amendment being stripped away  just one vote.

Over the weekend, after Ginsburgs death was confirmed, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said that Trumps nominee for the high court will receive a vote on the Senate. Trump said on Tuesday that he will name a judge on Saturday at the White House.

Following the statements, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) was asked on ABC News about the possibility of using impeachment as an option to stall the confirmation of Trumps nominee.

We have our options. We have arrows in our quiver that Im not about to discuss right now, but the fact is we have a big challenge in our country, Pelosi said in response, without elaborating. This president has threatened to not even accept the results of the election.

When she was asked again about impeachment, Pelosi said that Democrats will use every arrow in our quiver.

Pelosi will not rule out impeaching this president for doing his job, McEnany said Tuesday. [Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez] said impeachment is an option on the table while Schumer stood by approvingly, she said, referring to Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).

Ocasio-Cortez, a Democrat from New York, was asked in a news conference Sunday about whether the House should use impeachment against Trump and Attorney General William Barr.

There has been an enormous amount of law-breaking in the Trump administration, and the attorney general is unfit for office and has pursued potentially law-breaking behavior, the freshman congresswoman said in response.

However, Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), a former vice presidential nominee, said in an interview that it would be foolish to impeach. I cant see virtually any Senate Democrats agreeing with it, he added.
Dan OBrien has been the CEO of Flexible Solutions International Inc. (NYSEMKT:FSI) since 1998, and this article will examine the executive's compensation with respect to the overall performance of the company. This analysis will also look to assess whether the CEO is appropriately paid, considering recent earnings growth and investor returns for Flexible Solutions International.

Check out our latest analysis for Flexible Solutions International

How Does Total Compensation For Dan OBrien Compare With Other Companies In The Industry?

Our data indicates that Flexible Solutions International Inc. has a market capitalization of US$27m, and total annual CEO compensation was reported as US$750k for the year to December 2019. Notably, that's a decrease of 16% over the year before. It is worth noting that the CEO compensation consists entirely of the salary, worth US$750k.

In comparison with other companies in the industry with market capitalizations under US$200m, the reported median total CEO compensation was US$389k. Hence, we can conclude that Dan OBrien is remunerated higher than the industry median. Furthermore, Dan OBrien directly owns US$10m worth of shares in the company, implying that they are deeply invested in the company's success.

Component 2019 2018 Proportion (2019) Salary US$750k US$898k 100% Other - - - Total Compensation US$750k US$898k 100%

On an industry level, around 19% of total compensation represents salary and 81% is other remuneration. At the company level, Flexible Solutions International pays Dan OBrien solely through a salary, preferring to go down a conventional route. 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.

Flexible Solutions International Inc.'s Growth

Over the last three years, Flexible Solutions International Inc. has shrunk its earnings per share by 8.0% per year. In the last year, its revenue is up 14%.

Story continues

The decline in EPS is a bit concerning. There's no doubt that the silver lining is that revenue is up. But it isn't sufficiently fast growth to overlook the fact that EPS has gone backwards over three years. So given this relatively weak performance, shareholders would probably not want to see high compensation for the CEO. Looking ahead, you might want to check this free visual report on analyst forecasts for the company's future earnings..

Has Flexible Solutions International Inc. Been A Good Investment?

Most shareholders would probably be pleased with Flexible Solutions International Inc. for providing a total return of 42% over three years. This strong performance might mean some shareholders don't mind if the CEO were to be paid more than is normal for a company of its size.

In Summary...

Flexible Solutions International rewards its CEO solely through a salary, ignoring non-salary benefits completely. As we touched on above, Flexible Solutions International Inc. is currently paying its CEO higher than the median pay for CEOs of companies belonging to the same industry and with similar market capitalizations. We feel that EPS have been a bit disappointing, but it's nice to see positive shareholder returns over the last three years. Considering positive investor returns, it would be bold of us to criticize CEO compensation, but shareholders might want to see healthier EPS growth before a raise is given out.

CEO compensation is a crucial aspect to keep your eyes on but investors also need to keep their eyes open for other issues related to business performance. We've identified 2 warning signs for Flexible Solutions International that investors should be aware of in a dynamic business environment.

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 Accra Regional Commander of the Ghana Police Service, DCOP Afful Boakye-Yiadom, has urged police personnel across the country to reduce their sex drive ahead of this years general elections in December.



He explained that this will give officers the needed energy to undertake their policing activities in the electioneering period.



Addressing a group of police officers after a route march organised by the police service on Monday, 21 September 2020, DCOP Boakye-Yiadom said: Control yourself.



We all need the energy to work during the election.



I, therefore, advise all of you to eat well, reduce your sexual rounds for you to get the energy to work well before, during and after 2020 elections.



The route march was aimed at assuring the public of the polices readiness ahead of the elections.



The police marched through some principal streets of Accra.



The Director-General in charge of Operations of the Ghana Police Service, DCOP Kwaku Boadu-Peprah, also warned police personnel against engaging in partisan political activities ahead of the elections.



As a policeman, you are not supposed to involve yourself in any political activity.



You can only do that when you enter the polling booth, there you can exercise your power.



When it is time for the election, we are just going out there to discharge our duty and at the end of it whoever comes to power it is none of our business, we support the government of the day, he noted.



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
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam charge sheeted in the case related to larger conspiracy in north east Delhi riots in February had decided to use social media "for large scale indoctrination and mobilisation of youths for Chakka Jaam as a protest against the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB)", police has alleged.

Delhi Police in the charge sheet alleged that the protests against CAA and the state were never peaceful since its inception and ultimate object of these protest was large scale pre-planned violence against the state.

It also made mention in the charge sheet about Swaraj Abhiyan leader Yogender Yadav with whom Khalid and Imam met at Jantar Mantar in December 2019 during an agitation against CAA.

The police in the charge sheet alleged that Khalid, Yadav and Imam have decided to use social media "for large scale indoctrination and mobilisation of youths for Chakka Jaam as a protest against CAB."

It further alleged that Imam was the mastermind of Shaheen Bagh blockade, the first protest site.

The 17,000-page charge sheet filed on September 16 in a court here gave the sequence of events leading to largescale violence in which former JNU student Khalid and his junior in the university Imam were part of the alleged conspiracy along with their associates to incite communal feelings of a particular community and instigate students of a particular community against the CAA and the state.

ALSO READ | Buses, manpower were arranged to execute Delhi riots: Police chargesheet names 15 'conspirators'

The police report stated that on December 7,2019, an agitation against the Citizenship Amendment Act was called at Jantar Mantar by United Against Hate, citizen's campaign, which was attended by Imam along with members o a WhatsApp group "Muslim Students of JNU".

It said that at Jantar Mantar Imam was introduced to Yogender Yadav by Khalid, his senior and mentor from JNU.

"Sharjeel Imam was on an earlier occasion instructed by Umar Khalid to form a group of like minded groups of JNU, Jamia Millia, AMU and DU. Yogender Yadav and Umar Khalid also instructed him to mobilise the students of Jamia Millia, AMU and DU," the charge sheet stated.

"The police have stated that as per the pre-planned conspiracy accused Sharjeel Imam along with other associates started distributing pamphlets which contained such contents meant to incite communal feelings of a particular community and instigate students of a particular community against the CAA and the state,"the charge sheet alleged.

"It also reflects during the course of investigation that the protests against CAA and the state were never peaceful since its inception and ultimate object of these protest was large scale preplanned violence against the state. It also reveals their modus operandi of completely blocking the traffic that is 'Chakka Jaam' which is already cursor to inciting large scale violence," the police alleged.

It claimed that "In pursuance and furtherance of the common conspiracy the first protest site that is Shaheen Bagh based on Chakka Jaam model was started on December 15. The WhatsApp chat between Imam and his brother Muzammil established that Imam was the mastermind of Shaheen Bagh blockade."

Police alleged that the creation of Jamia Coordination Committee (JCC) was the brain child of Umar Khalid and Nadeem Khan to rope in different student organisation of Jamia university.

Asif Iqbal Tanha and Saiful Islam were the key persons behind the constitution of JCC.

The charge sheet further alleged that accused Shifa Ur Rehman (Jamia Coordination Committee member and President of Alumni Association of Jamia Millia Islamia) and others collected funds predominantly in cash and also in bank accounts and funded the sustenance of various sit-in protest sites by providing logistics and providing daily wages to lady protestors.

"Alumni Association of Jamia Millia Islamia (AAJMI) also provided mike, poster, banners, ropes etc items at gate number 7 of Jamia Millia protest site. AAJMI also paid for the buses hired for the protests. The daily expenditure of AAJMI had ranged between Rs 5000- Rs 10,000 at protest site of Jamia gate number 7 alone," it alleged.

The police have established this with the statements of witnesses and WhatsApp chats, the charge sheet stated.

"Meeting of the JCC was conducted regularly in the evening in the JCC office and active and prominent members regularly attended the meeting to formulate strategy, schemes and plans in furtherance of common conspiracy for the sustenance of the protest sites."

"As per the statement of witnesses, after the general meeting a secret meeting was also used to be held at JCC office by Safoora Zargar, Meeran Haider, Saif-Ul Islam, Asif Iqbal Tanha and AAJMI office bearers. In the JCC meetings, Tanha and Saiful Islam used to execute and implement the directions conveyed to them by Umar Khalid and Nadeem Khan," it alleged.

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.
UP to 20 jobs are at risk following the shock decision of whiskey company William Grant to close the Tullamore DEW visitor centre in the town.

Staff were told of the impending closure on Tuesday and it is understood that there may be some possibilities for redeployment elsewhere in the company.

Local sources say William Grant intend to open a new tourist facility in the distillery on the Tullamore bypass.

While confirmation of the decision is not expected from William Grant until Wednesday, local politicians have said work must begin immediately on finding an alternative use for the building on Bury Quay.

It was leased by Offaly County Council to William Grant and the whiskey company then invested significantly by converting it to a visitor centre which attracted 40,000 people each year.

Offaly Fianna Fail TD Barry Cowen said the closure was coming as a huge disappointment and his first thoughts were with the staff.

He said he was aware that some might be redeployed. We will see where that goes but I would hope that every opportunity will be given to them to do that, said Deputy Cowen.

He said the detail of the lease now needed to be addressed and options explored, including the possibility of holding a competition to offer the building for some other commercial use and he hoped Tullamore DEW would not be in the way of that.

I've spoken to some of our own councillors and they will pursue that as soon as possible, he said.

Deputy Cowen also said given the news from Tullamore DEW, it was timely that an application is now being made to develop the former Texas site nearby.

That's a disused site which has been derelict for some time and I'm particularly glad to see a good application going in there which has the potential, no more than the other one [on Church Road] to bring people back into the town, get them into the town centre and revitalise it.

His party colleague in Tullamore, Cllr Tony McCormack, described the closure as a huge shock but said he could understand the economic rationale behind it at a time when there were few tourists coming to Ireland and if the company believed a move to the distillery would benefit Tullamore DEW in the longer run.

They're still going to be bringing people into Tullamore. I'd hope a lot of the jobs will be retained with the new visitor experience they are going to have in the distillery, said Cllr McCormack.

We'd be hoping they get the new visitor experience done quickly and have it up and running for the summer of 2021 when tourists start coming into the area.

The commercial viability of the whole brand is important and it's something we're very proud of in Tullamore.

He said he hoped William Grant would return the building, which was originally a bonded warehouse, to the council and the community.

It has many potential uses, he said, including a gastropub, accommodation, meeting centre and tourist office.

It was a fantastic venue for coffee, lunch or something in the afternoon. It was a lovely venue in the centre of the town where you could bring visitors to or businesspeople to because you knew you were going to be well looked after and taken care of.
After almost six months of closure due to the Covid-19 triggered lockdown, at 5.39 am on Monday morning, the Taj Mahal got its first visitor- a Chinese national named Liang Chiacheng.

Despite strict regulations to contain the spread of novel coronavirus, several tourists came to visit the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort. As per protocol, the district authorities had decided to allow only 5,000 visitors a day, in two batches  sunrise to noon, and 12.30 pm to sunset. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) said, 1,235 people visited the Taj, including 20 foreigners, Indian Express reported.

Though the Taj and this entire stretch of Tajganj were swinging back into action after a hiatus of over 180 days, the local businessmen and traders know it will be a while before they can get back to business as usual.

Keeping in mind the rapid spread of the virus, physical tickets have been discontinued and most visitors had e-tickets on their mobile phones. Visitors are let in after the mandatory thermal scanning and sanitising of hands and feet by staff in PPE gear. However, after every entry, the staff has a hard time sanitising the manual turnstile gates.

Among the visitors at the Taj are a couple from Delhi who are here to see the Taj for the first time and a Russian national who has been stranded in India since March this year.

I was in Jaipur when international flights were discontinued, and I was stuck. I will hopefully return in a fortnight as the situation back home has improved. I thought I might as well see the Taj while I am here, the tourist told IE.
By Ayya Lmahamad

Azerbaijans and South Caucasus only satellite operator Azercosmos OJSC has signed a cooperation agreement with ViewMedia company.

Under the agreement, ViewMedia will provide digital satellite services to its customers in the Middle East, Europe and Africa through Azerspace-1 satellite resources.

It should be noted that ViewMedia, operates on the global broadcasting services market and broadcasts over 150 TV and radio channels from any land-based platform worldwide and easily distributes video content to service providers through its high quality infrastructure.

ViewMedias Commercial Director Safia Rana noted that this partnership will allow the company to provide uninterrupted channels to million of viewers, especially in the African region.

Earlier Azercosmos OJSC signed an agreement with Globecast company, under which the company will serve its customers in African region using C-band of Azerspace-1 satellite.

It also signed a cooperation agreement with Space Engineering, a provider of telecommunications and Internet services in the African region. As part of this partnership, Mwangaza TV and radio channels will be broadcast via Azerspace-1 satellite by means of Space Engineering provider. Azercosmos OJSC also signed a cooperation agreement with TheAngle, a company providing satellite network service in the United Arab Emirates. According to the agreement, the parties will jointly provide reliable communication services in the regions of the Middle East and Europe.

According 2019 results, Azercosmos ranks first among state and non-state exporters in terms of exports in the service sector.

Established in 2010, Azercosmos OJSC is the first and only satellite operator in the South Caucasus, which provides high-quality satellite services for telecommunications and geographic intelligence.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 22

By Tamilla Mammadova  Trend:

All three major world religions are harmoniously combined in Azerbaijan: Islam and Judaism and Christianity, a well-known Georgian expert on national security issues, Doctor of Political and Military Sciences, Professor Vakhtang Maisaya told Trend.

The expert noted that Azerbaijan plays an important role in the development of the entire process of international politics, and the UN General Assembly has absolutely precisely defined the role of Azerbaijan in this vein.

According to him, from a geopolitical point of view, Azerbaijan is at the junction of two global components - the West and the East.

"In this context, Azerbaijan is a connecting intercivilizational bridge in the Eurasian geopolitical space. The country harmoniously combines all three world religions: Islam, Judaism and Christianity," he stressed.

The expert noted that Azerbaijan is a brilliant example of such an intercultural and intercivilizational dialogue.

"There is such a school in Georgia - "Caucasian Geostrata", a space where intercivilizational projects based on universal human values, including cultural ones, are implemented. I think that in the context of the "Caucasian Geostrata"Azerbaijan will play a very important role. Here, three aspects inherent in Azerbaijan - geoeconomic, civilizational and geopolitical," Maisaya said.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @Mila61979356
While theres been a lot of talk about the quarantine 15, otherwise known as the extra pounds easily packed on while stuck at home, Wendy Williams just opened up about the 25-pound impact the pandemic has had on her  as in 25 pounds lost.

On Monday, the 56-year-old kicked off season 12 of her eponymous talk show and revealed that, even though she didnt plan on it, lockdown left her with a new, leaner look.

Watch TODAY All Day! Get the best news, information and inspiration from TODAY, all day long.

Ive lost 25 pounds  look! she told her audience. And I didnt do it on purpose. Its just that food became disgusting to me.

According to Williams, she started cutting back and dropping pounds after a period of overindulgence.

I was cooking at first and it was all good, I was shoveling stuff in my mouth, she said. Everything from hot dogs to lobster, you know, king crab legs  all that stuff.

Fans who follow her on Instagram got a glimpse of many of those meals, but Williams got tired of seeing her own fully loaded plates.

Then it became, Im done with food, she recalled.

Or at least she was done with the frequent hot dogs and lobster dinners for a while  and she doesnt even miss them, since losing weight led her to gain a new appreciation for her waistline.

Ive lost 25 pounds  look! talk show host Wendy Williams told her audience on Monday's show. (The Wendy Williams Show)

The radio talent-turned-TV talker said that she wasnt even aware she was shedding pounds at all until she had to step on a scale before a recent routine colonoscopy.

(The doctor) told me the weight, and I was like, I havent weighed this little since high school! she raved. Uh-huh!

Williams, who in January confirmed her divorce from her second husband, Kevin Hunter, was finalized, said that she feels really good now, except for one thing.

Im just alone in my romance, she explained to sympathetic groans from the audience. Then, with a look of resilience she added, Oh, well. Dont you worry, because (Mr. Right) might be watching right now.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has called for calm in the wake of allegations an Indigenous woman who died in a Brisbane watchhouse may not have been subject to hourly checks, as required.

Despite ongoing investigations, police moved in response on Monday to take "immediate" steps into the circumstances of 49-year-old Aunty Sherry Tilberoo's death from a suspected brain aneurysm almost two weeks ago.

Protesters have marched on the site and held a number of vigils outside the watchhouse since Ms Tilberoo's death, demanding an end to Indigenous deaths in custody, after global Black Lives Matter protests this year turned their focus within Australia's borders. Plans for further demonstrations are yet to emerge.

Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll expressed concern about the incident on Sunday, while responding to criticism by saying the police force was "in no way racist".
Four handwritten posters bearing the name of Communist Party of India (Maoist) were found on Monday at Sarenga in West Bengals Bankura district where the Maoists had a stronghold till the Trinamool Congress (TMC) came into power in 2011. This is the third time since August that such posters have been spotted in the western districts of the state.

Two of these posters were found inside a compound where an office of the state land and land reforms department is located.

Incidentally, Monday was the foundation day of the CPI (Maoist). On September 21, 2004, the Communist Party of India (MarxistLeninist), Peoples War and the Maoist Communist Centre of India (MCCI) merged into one organisation.

A significant part of the local population in these areas comprises tribals.

On the eve of Independence Day last month, around a dozen posters were recovered from three villages in the Bhulabheda area of Jhargram district, another erstwhile hotbed of Maoist activity.

The posters urged the public to observe Independence Day as kala divas, or a black day. On September 4, some handwritten posters were found in Belpahari, which is also in Jhargram district.

There is no evidence to prove that Maoists had put up the posters on Monday because they have no presence whatsoever in the region. All Maoists surrendered in or after 2011. They have been rehabilitated by the government. Most of them have got government jobs. The rest are waiting for their turn, Surya Shankar Mondal, officer-in-charge, Sarenga police station, told HT.

To establish a base, the Maoists need the support of local villagers. That is not possible anymore because perception of the local people has changed, added Mondal.

A senior state intelligence branch (IB) officer said on condition of anonymity that the government is not sitting idle because West Midnapore, Purulia, Bankura and Jhargram had virtually become a liberated zone of the Maoists between 2009 and 2011.

The problem was tackled efficiently but we still cannot take chances, the IB officer said.

Last month, chief minister Mamata Banerjee directed the police top brass to reactivate the counter intelligence force (CIF) that was created a decade ago to combat Maoists.

On September 7, Virendra, the director general of state police, visited Jhargram and West Midnapore districts and reviewed security arrangements.
An unidentified militant was killed on Tuesday in an overnight encounter with security forces in Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said.

The encounter began on Monday evening in the Nawad area of Charar-e-Sharief in central Kashmir's Budgam after the security forces launched a cordon and search operation there following information about the presence of militants, a police official said.

He said the security forces maintained a tight cordon of the area throughout the night and the gun fight resumed this morning.

In the exchange of fire, a militant was killed, the official said.

He said the identity and group affiliation of the slain militant were being ascertained.

The operation is going on, the official added.

On Monday, when the cordon was being established, a CRPF trooper was injured in firing.

(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 congregation burst into applause, King recalled in his memoir. Soon they were shouting and cheering and waving their handkerchiefs, as if to say that they knew they had come of age, had won new dignity. After a second outburst occurred at the end of Rev. Graetzs reading, King realized that something had changed: I knew then that nonviolence, for all its difficulties, had won its way into our hearts.
"Sasaki has been working in the West since the 1960s  from creating the University of Colorado at Boulder Campus Master Plan to the Denver Game Plan for Parks and Recreation to projects for the University of Wyoming and the NineRails Creative District in Utah," said Sasaki CEO and Principal James Miner. "This work has served to reinforce our commitment to growing our presence in the West, and we look forward to putting down roots in Denver."

Sasaki's new Denver office, located at 3120 Blake St., will be led by directors Anna Cawrse, ASLA, PLA, and Joshua Brooks, ASLA, PLA. Sasaki will add team members locally and from its national and international offices in line with project work in the region. In addition to fulfilling lead design and project management roles for existing and anticipated projects, Cawrse and Brooks will also oversee all regional business development efforts.

"Over the last few years, our work in this region has intensified with several high-impact projects such as the Strategic Development Plan for the Denver International Airport, projects for the River North Art District, public realm design for the future Denargo Market riverfront district, as well as a campus master plan for CU Boulder," said Brooks. "We're optimistic that our new regional foothold will accelerate Sasaki's ability to collaborate with clients across the public and private sectors to create authentic, equitable and inspiring places throughout the West."

As an urban designer, planner and landscape architect, Brooks brings a passion for projects that have lasting, positive impact. He holds a master's degree in city design and development from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His multidisciplinary expertise includes district scale master planning, urban redevelopment, infrastructural and environmental urban systems, and the public realm, allowing him to bring human-centric urbanism to the mainstream.

With expertise that spans urban corridors and districts, public plazas, and parks and open space, Cawrse is internationally recognized for her ability to transition master planning of the public realm into realized space. A graduate of Colorado State University and Harvard University's Graduate School of Design, Cawrse has committed her practice to bringing nature into cities based on context-sensitive solutions.

Cawrse champions the firm's research into the impact of climate change on parks in the Intermountain West and is currently working on a collaboration with the National Recreation and Park Association. This research, entitled Climate.Park.Change, will result in a toolkit for park agencies to begin adapting and building their parks for a changing environment.

"At Sasaki, we are constantly cultivating the tools, technical excellence, and in-house research to take our clients to new levels of insight and engagement," said Cawrse. "These resources, combined with a truly integrated planning and design approach, allow us to reach more informed, more impactful and more sustainable solutions for our clients and our communities. We believe this will be a significant differentiator for us in the region."

Prior to joining Sasaki, Cawrse spent five years as a landscape architect in Denver. Her experience in Denver includes projects in the River North Art District, Sun Valley and along Interstate 70.

To learn more about Sasaki's ongoing work in Colorado, please visit: www.sasaki.com/voices/sasaki-in-colorado-then-and-now/.

About Sasaki

For more than 65 years, Sasaki has pioneered interdisciplinary design through the integration of architecture, interior design, planning and urban design, space planning, landscape architecture, and civil engineering. We bring together diverse perspectives, open exchange and deep engagement with the clients and communities we serve.

Sasaki's global experience spans scales, disciplines, geographies and industries. This breadth of experience enables us to attack problems multi-dimensionally and develop full-spectrum solutions that have a lasting positive impact on humanity. Our work has been recognized with over 800 local, regional, national and international design awards. For more information, visit sasaki.com.

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Last Friday, on the night that Ruth Bader Ginsburg died, Donald Trump made a campaign appearance in Bemidji, a small city in northern Minnesota. Trump played to the base instincts of an adoring crowd at the airport, where MAGA hats outnumbered face masks by an extraordinary margin  before he slipped into a terrifying embrace of eugenics, the racehorse theory of human breeding, and the superiority of Minnesota genes.

Related: Trump Hates You, Even If You Love Him

Out of the gate at the evening rally, Trump stoked nativism in a state that has resettled large numbers of refugees from Somalia. One of the most vital issues in this election is the subject of refugees, said Trump, who has fought to block humanitarian resettlement of displaced people in the United States. You know it perhaps better than almost anybody. Lotsa luck! Are you having a good time with your refugees? The president then spewed bile at Ilhan Omar  herself a Somali refugee who serves Minnesota in Congress  spouting a baseless theory that shed once married her brother (Omar calls that accusation absurd and offensive). Shifting topics, but not gears, Trump then addressed the racial unrest in Minneapolis that followed the homicide of George Floyd at the hands of police. Trump recounted his push to have the National Guard sent in, insisting, You wouldnt have Minneapolis, if he hadnt. He then recounted, with a sadists delight, how an NBC correspondent of color, Ali Veshi, got injured with a non-lethal round and was shunted aside as a phalanx of law enforcement marched through the city. Wasnt it a beautiful sight? Trump asked. Its called law and order!

With this racist warmup complete, Trump then veered into an open endorsement of eugenics  the discredited theory that the human race can be improved with selective breeding for superior traits. The theory has an ugly history in America. And Hitlers embrace of eugenics in Nazi Germany gave rise to the program of race hygiene that culminated in the extermination of millions of Jewish people and others at death camps. You have good genes, you know that right? Trump said to the nearly all-white crowd. A lot of it is about the genes, isnt it? Dont you believe? The racehorse theory, Trump said. You think were so different? You have good genes in Minnesota.

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Watch the troubling segment below:

As a historian who has written about the Holocaust, I'll say bluntly: This is indistinguishable from the Nazi rhetoric that led to Jews, disabled people, LGBTQ, Romani and others being exterminated. This is America 2020. This is where the GOP has taken us. https://t.co/CHMLg804mp  Steve Silberman (@stevesilberman) September 20, 2020

The Trumps belief in eugenics has long been whispered about, but the president has perhaps never announced it so publicly. In a Frontline film that aired in advance of the 2016 election, a Trump biographer revealed the familys very deep attraction to eugenics, beginning with Trumps father, Fred, who introduced Donald to the racehorse theory.

NARRATOR: Fred had theories. He shared them with his kids. Donald especially liked one of them.

MICHAEL DANTONIO, Author, The Truth About Trump: This is a very deep part of the Trump story. The family subscribes to a racehorse theory of human development, that they believe that there are superior people, and that if you put together the genes of a superior woman and a superior man, you get superior offspring.

It doesnt take a secret decoder ring to understand what Trump was aiming at in Bemidji. The idea that white Minnesotans, like racehorses, have superior, inheritable genes is white supremacy  embraced not as a cultural construct, but as if it were based in hard science. In another moment, Trumps remarks would have made for a front-page scandal. But on Friday, as America reeled from the death of a feminist icon whose departure threatens to accelerate a generation-long right-wing takeover of Americas highest court, as well as from a death toll in the coronavirus pandemic that has surpassed 200,000, the presidents open embrace of eugenics hardly sparked notice.

But it is time to wake up to the threat before us: We have an aspiring authoritarian president who romanticizes martial law and dreams of locking up his political opponents. Trump does not recoil from the most dangerous ideology of the 20th century, but instead celebrates it on the campaign trail in increasingly explicit terms. These may be dark times in America. But if Trump is not stopped at the ballot box in November, our democracy is in plain danger of fading to black.

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(Natural News) The following editorial is written by a retired police officer and current staff writer for Law Enforcement Today

(Article by Patrick Henry republished from LawEnforcementToday.com)

PORTLAND, OR- With a break in the action in Portland as wildfires in the state have seemed to calm riots at least temporarily, the Department of Justice has been considering bringing charges against Portland city officials for dereliction of their oath to protect citizens of Portland, the New York Post reported.

DOJ spokesperson Kerri Kupec told Fox News this Thursday that both criminal, as well as civil charges against city officials have been explored, and had looked into how city leaders were handling, or not handling the destructive rioting that racked the city.

Kupec declined to confirm or deny whether any charges could be levied against any city officials. At Law Enforcement Today, we think the idea deserves some consideration.

The DOJ researched whether it could pursue charges against Portland city officials for allowing riots. Portland police were instructed to not protect the federal courthouse & the city is fining federal government for putting up the protective fence. https://t.co/rdAPDlbG85  Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) September 17, 2020

While it isnt known exactly which officials the department was looking at, clearly useless mayor Ted Wheeler would have to be included in that list, as well as far-left radical city commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty, who has been a vocal participant in the riots and who has inserted herself into the middle of the chaos.

What could people such as Wheeler and Hardesty be charged with? One area falls under 18 U.S.C.  2339A, Providing Material Support to Terrorists.

It is clear that Antifa and factions of Black Lives Matter have, in fact been committing terrorism against certain cities, with Portland being a perfect example of that. Neither Wheeler, nor city commissioners have taken any action to put down the violent protests, and in fact have encouraged them.

Hardesty in particular has been on the forefront of city officials encouraging the violent protests to continue.

Probably a better federal statute to charge officials under would be 18 U.S.C.  1114 which covers Assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers or employees.

Wheeler and Hardesty took no action whatsoever to discourage assaults against law enforcement officers, both those from the Portland Police Bureau, as well as federal law enforcement officers protecting the federal courthouse. Once again, they in fact encouraged the assaults, not only by words but by inaction.

As far as Wheeler goes, he was famously hit with tear gas during one of the so-called peaceful protests in July after the George Floyd protests in the city.

In particular, President Trump said that Wheeler had made a fool of himself when he joined in on the Black Lives Matter protests, which he called a pathetic attempt to seek favor with the rioters who time and again tried to attack a federal courthouse.

Wheeler also tied the hands of his police department in trying to respond to the violent riots, banning the use of tear gas for crowd control, which caused the Portland Police Bureau to issue a scathing statement against Wheeler while noting that the organized rioters had attempted to kill police officers.

A couple months back, President Trump sent federal troops and law enforcement assets to Portland as violent rioters made repeated attempts to attack the federal courthouse in the city. Trump only agreed to withdraw the federal assets after Oregon Gov. Kate Brown (D) agreed to put members of the Oregon State Police in Portland.

Breitbart said that President Trump, who has slammed Democrats for refusing to acknowledge the violent rioting, and singled out Wheeler in particular, called him a wacky Radical Left Do Nothing Democrat Mayor, and noted that the city of Portland will never recover with a fool for a Mayor

Numerous officers in Portland have been injured by rioters, including being hit by bricks, having lasers pointed at their eyes, and being attacked with commercial-grade fireworks.

Over 100 people have been arrested, and now the Department of Justice has also been bringing federal charges against some of the rioters. This was in response to District Attorney Michael Schmidt refusing to prosecute many of those arrested.

Read more at: LawEnforcementToday.com
Genia Hope, 52, moves into her new room at a hotel on July 7 as part of Project Roomkey, an L.A. County program that repurposed hotels and motels emptied by the coronavirus as safe havens for homeless people. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

One hotel emptied its rooms in late August. Another did so last week. A third is winding down this week.

It's the beginning of the end for L.A. County's Project Roomkey, the $100 million-plus program to repurpose hotels and motels emptied by the coronavirus as safe havens for homeless people.

After peaking at just over 4,300 guests  about 30% of its ambitious goal  the project will shed several hundred beds monthly until it closes down early next year, said Heidi Marston, executive director of the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority.

The program is being squeezed by uncertain funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which pays about 75% of its cost, raising the possibility of a sudden cutoff that would force the county to abruptly shut down hotels, Marston said in an interview.

Marston said LAHSA intends to transition the 4,000 people still living in hotels into other housing so they will not be forced to return to the street.

"Our first priority is those who are in the hotels," Marston said. "We don't want them exiting back to the street."

The program, part of a statewide effort launched by Gov. Gavin Newsom, began in March with a goal of providing temporary housing for all of the 15,000 people in LAHSA's records who were 65 or older or had chronic health conditions such as heart or respiratory illness  the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's benchmarks for those most vulnerable to hospitalization or death from COVID-19.

Its legacy will be mixed. By moving thousands of people off the street in record time, it was a stunning demonstration of what can be done, officials say. In some ways the county's program outshone the state, quickly filling more than 90% of available rooms while statewide occupancy was slow reaching 50%.

But it also highlighted limitations of both funding and human capital to solve the county's homeless crisis. As an initial surge of leases with hotel owners tapered off, it quickly became clear the program would fall well short of its goal and make no more than a small dent in the roughly 48,000 people estimated to be living on the county's streets. It still faces a high bar in providing shelter or housing for all those considered highly vulnerable.

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"There were aspects that I think were a huge success," said Sarah Dusseault, who chaired LASHA's governing commission through its early stages. "Housing that many people in a short period of time, I think that is extremely successful. Nothing on that scale has ever been attempted before."

"There's no example like it," Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas said. "We have to be smart about the use of our resources, and so I say to you that this shows progress, and we need to replicate it. We need to build on it."

Phil Ansell, head of the county's Homeless Initiative, said the limiting factor was the number of hotel and motel owners willing to participate. Although the owners of more than 20,000 properties expressed interest, differences over price, qualms by insurance carriers and lenders, and concerns about branding turned out to be obstacles.

"Project Roomkey was an unprecedented undertaking in an unprecedented situation," Ansell said. "We didn't know how it would play out and that included not knowing how hotel and motel owners would respond to the opportunity."

LAHSA and the county added their own impediment early in the program when they decided for efficiency to target only hotels of 100 or more rooms, eliminating some of the most eager participants.

Early concerns that providers of nursing, security and case management services would be unable to keep pace proved unfounded, Ansell said.

Though Project Roomkey imposed major demands on service providers, "we never turned away from a willing owner who had an acceptable price based on any concerns about capacity" to staff the hotels, Ansell said.

But the inherent difficulty of working with unsheltered homeless individuals  who make up 73% of Los Angeles' homeless population  was also evident. The rest live in different forms of interim housing, such as shelters.

Data on Project Roomkey provided to The Times show that just over a third of the roughly 6,600 people who checked into the 38 hotels and motels have moved out. Of those, 10% went to permanent housing and 3% went to another shelter. At least 20% went back to the street. Just over half of those who left were unaccounted for.

Marston characterized those numbers as similar to what occurs in interim housing generally, partly because of rules and schedules.

"For me, it was about the curfew," Marston said. "You have to be in by 7 p.m. They get bored and lonely."

Despite the difficulties, LAHSA has never abandoned its goal of getting 15,000 people indoors, a goal Marston said was based on the need, not an assessment of what was possible. It still faces a sobering financing hurdle. In June, the agency asked Los Angeles County for an additional $800 million it said would be needed to provide permanent placements for the most vulnerable people over three years.

The last point-in-time count, which was conducted in January, found that Los Angeles County had about 66,000 homeless people. With the leases now winding down, it will focus on ensuring that those living in hotels don't get forced back on the street.

Marston said the agency has commitments of $50 million from the city and county, which will be enough to house about 4,900 people. The money, which comes from the federal CARES Act, must be spent by Dec. 31.

Guest services associate Mia Rogers, 23, left, delivers lunches to guests with licensed vocational nurse Ricard F. and case manager Thomas Young, right, at a Los Angeles hotel participating in Project Roomkey on July 22. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Marston said her agency is going to make an aggressive effort to recruit landlords to take homeless individuals on as tenants.

In addition, several hundred units of new homeless housing is expected across Los Angeles County through Newsom's Project Homekey, which provides funds to purchase or master-lease hotels and motels. Los Angeles County has been awarded nearly $54 million to buy five motels, and funds for three more motels are expected to be approved by the state.

If they are, it would add a little over 600 new units to the county's housing stock. As part of the requirements to use this money, the state said homeless people must be living in the motels within 90 days. Some of these motels are participating in Project Roomkey. Over the next year, several will be renovated and converted into permanent housing.

The city of Los Angeles and its Housing Authority have commitments for 11 properties and are negotiating for five more that would provide 842 units in total, the city administrative officer reported.

Still, Marston doesn't anticipate there will be enough housing available to move everyone directly into permanent placements.

Already, some of the guests in the two Roomkey sites that closed had to be shifted to other locations.

The long-term housing plan depends on the completion of several thousand units of new permanent supportive housing that is either under construction or moving forward with funding from Proposition HHH, the city's $1.2-billion homeless housing bond program.

Dusseault, the LASHA commissioner, said she has been encouraged by a new openness to innovative housing models, including shared housing and "pallet home" villages featuring tiny prefab houses.

"Our goal is to tap into the private sector and into the capacity we know exists," Dusseault said. "That's going to require new and creative partnerships to access a much greater range of landlords than we have in the past. I'm talking to private sector innovators all the time. I think there is only going to be more innovation to cut cost and time of construction."

The schedule of Project Roomkey closings is still tentative, Marston said. The city and county, which have both negotiated leases, are working with LAHSA to make the withdrawal orderly.

The goal, she said, is to stop accepting new clients six to eight weeks before the close date and start intensive casework to have 50% of the guests out a month in advance. Anyone still in the hotel by the close date will be moved to interim housing.

"It does not shock me at all to learn that very few people are moving from Project Roomkey into permanent housing," said



Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles attorney Shayla Myers.

"All that does is illustrate the fact that we do not have nearly enough permanent housing available for people."




The 'key conspirators' in a case related to the communal violence in north east Delhi in February, had worked towards the creation of a WhatsApp group to mask the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act with a 'secular facade' providing mass based and more acceptable civil society participation, police have alleged in the charge sheet.

The chargesheet in which 15 persons have been named as being part of a 'premeditated conspiracy' in the north east Delhi riots, said the tone and nature of the communication of the members of Jamia Co-ordination Committee (JCC) changed from the evening of February 24 and they started talking about relief, rehabilitation and care of the victims while 'simultaneously unleashing concerted disinformation campaign blaming the state, police and the ruling political party for the loss of lives and property caused by their terrorist and unlawful act'.

'The conspirators, by their ingenuity and criminality of thoughts, presented an entirely new dimension to the meaning of 'hate speech'- theirs was covered in the sugar coat of nationalism which hid the sour and sordid truth that it was in fact a well thought out attempt at igniting and reinforcing a pan Islamic identity' alleged the charge sheet filed in a court here on September 16.

'By keeping the target audience confused at times against CAA, at times against so called fascism, at times in solidarity with Dalits and marginalised sections, the conspirators had something for everyone who was looking up to their intellectual corpus in the belief that they represented a bona fide political alternative in the vibrant Indian democratic palette,' it further alleged.

'Therefore, in pursuance and furtherance of common conspiracy and with a clear mind to mask these protests with the secular facade, providing mass based and more acceptable civil society participation and also to exploit women and children as a shield while facing the police, the key conspirators worked towards the creation of a group which eventually came to be known as Delhi Protest Support Group (DPSG),' it alleged.

It stated that to begin action on the lessons learnt from the December 2019 protests and violence, the first tangible step that was taken by the conspirators was the formation of Jamia Awareness Campaign Team (JACT), which was constituted on the directions given by former JNU student leader Umar Khalid and Nadeem Khan to Jamia Millia Islamia student Asif Iqbal Tanha and Saif-Ul Islam.

'Side by side, the contours of the umbrella body to synergise the efforts of conspiratorial constituents also emerged which later came to be known as Delhi Protest Support Group (DPSG),' it alleged.

Police further alleged that the purpose of JACT was to spread disinformation and instigate the Muslims of Muslim majority areas about CAA and NRC and to induce their women folk and children besides men too join the protests on road against CAA and National Register of Citizens (NRC).

'It was basically meant to lay ground work for creating 24x7 sit-in protest sites in those very Muslim majority areas where earlier riots between December 13-20, 2019 had failed,' the chargesheet claimed.

The experience of the key conspirators from half baked success and failures over the past two weeks made the conspirators realise that in order to achieve their true objectives, there was need for a secular cover, gender cover and media cover.

The precursor riots spread between December 13 and December 21 in the areas of Shahdara, north east, south east and central Delhi could not generate nationwide traction primarily because public faces of the protest were identified with a community and the police had little difficulty in controlling the situation.

Police further claimed that a dissent was reflected in the conduct of the members of DPSG and JCC and an important member of the DPSG had openly threatened to expose the alleged terrorist acts.

The charge sheet alleged that 'disenchanted and disconcerted with the scale and magnitude of the violence unleashed by the key conspirators, a few members of the DPSG WhatsApp group threatened to expose each and every culprits of DPSG group who were responsible for these riots'.

'Alarmed and panicked by these whistle blowing posts, the last of which was posted on February 24 at 4.19 pm, a chain reaction followed,' the chargesheet claimed.

It also said that the 'key conspirators' had decided to deploy the ultimate 'guerrilla strategy' of blaming the law enforcement for the carnage.

'The cumulative effect of the conversations (between members of DPSG) was that the conspirators, panicked by the behaviour of few of their group members, decided to deploy the ultimate guerrilla strategy of blaming the law enforcement for the carnage that had resulted in the pursuance of their conspiracy,' the charge sheet alleged.

The charge sheet stated that the members were directed to delete incriminating chats and migrate to Signal app to disappear evidence.

'Facebook posts and WhatsApp chats establish the facts that JNU student Sharjeel Imam had never separated himself from the protest and the exit strategy from Shaheen Bagh was also an act in pursuance and furtherance of common conspiracy.

'In so much so that he continued propagating the model of disruptive 'Chakka Jaam' which was tutored to him by his mentor Umar Khalid until before his arrest,' it claimed.

It further said that Jamia Co-ordination Committee (JCC), the first WhatsApp group created by Jamia student Safoora Zargar, was left dormant on January 24 and operational communication shifted to fresh chat groups as two of the members (Tanha and Chandan Kumar) were called by the investigating agencies in connection with violence on December 15 last year.

'Safoora Zargar removed Tanha and Chandan from WhatsApp group Jamia Millia Islamia Co-ordination Committee to mask the traces, since they were summoned by the police,' it alleged.

Police have also attached a screenshot of a WhatsApp chat of Imam with one Afreen Fatima on Jan 9, which showed that Imam called for blockade of roads and create 'Chakka Jaam' by replicating the Hong Kong model.



In 2019, violent pro-democracy, anti-government protests rocked Hong Kong and the protests had begun as peaceful mass marches which later became violent.

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.
NEW DELHI : As the Covid-19 cases in India neared the 56 lakh-mark and deaths touched 90,000 on Tuesday, the Prime Minister Office (PMO) said that Narendra Modi will chair a high-level virtual meeting on Wednesday with the chief ministers and health ministers of seven States/UTs to review the status and preparedness of virus response and management.

These States/UT are Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Punjab. More than 63% of the active cases of the country are concentrated in these seven States/ UT.

They also account for 65.5% of the total confirmed cases and 77% of the total deaths, the government said. Along with the other five States, Punjab and Delhi have reported an increase in the number of cases being reported recently.

Maharashtra, Punjab and Delhi are reporting high mortality with more than 2.0% Case Fatality Rate (CFR). Other than Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, their positivity rate is observed to be above the national average of 8.52%.

Maharashtra continues to remain worst, Andhra next

Maharashtra has the maximum number of daily cases which has been around 21,000 in the week between September 16-22. The top 7 states in terms of daily cases are Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Delhi and West Bengal," Rajesh Bhushan, Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said in a press briefing.

Bhushan said that most of the districts in Maharashtra have adequate facilities. There is frequent and rapid exchange of technical assistance between Centre and the Maharashtra Government. Centre is also providing PPEs, N-95 masks, HCQ, ventilators and other assistance to the Maharashtra government.

In context of Punjab, the health secretary said that the information of augmented hospital facilities must be pro-actively put in public domain. The state governments have a big role to play in this matter, he added.

Indias recovery rate crosses 80% mark

Meanwhile, Indias recovery rate on Tuesday crossed the milestone of 80%. India recorded its highest-ever single-day recovery of 1 lakh cases in the last 24 hours. At the same time, more than 6.5 crore tests have been conducted around the country, 12 lakh tests conducted on a single day, said BHushan. He said that India shares the highest - 19.5% of the recoveries from the infection that happened around the world.

Bhushan said that new recoveries have exceeded new cases in the country over the last four days. The Health Secretary ruled out certain apprehensions raised about having less testing in some states. He said that more than 8 lakh tests were done every day in between September 19-22. India still figures amongst the countries having lowest cases and also deaths per million population. This apart, less than one-fifth of total cases are active in the country," said Bhushan.

About 79% of the new recovered cases are being reported from 10 States/UTs, viz. Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Delhi, Kerala, West Bengal and Punjab. Maharashtra continues to lead with more than 32,000 (31.5%) new recovered patients. Andhra Pradesh contributed more than 10,000 to the single day recoveries, the government said.

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Boris Johnson and his fiancee Carrie Symonds had their son Wilfred christened a Catholic, the largest Catholic cathedral in England and Wales has confirmed.

Westminster Cathedral said the couple had their four-month-old son baptised there in a ceremony on September 12 by Father Daniel Humphreys.

It is understood the christening was a small ceremony held in the cathedral's Lady Chapel, according to The Daily Telegraph.

The Prime Minister and Ms Symonds, who has previously talked about her Catholic faith on social media, were reportedly holding Wilfred as he was baptised.

Crucially, it gives Mr Johnson an airtight alibi after he was accused of flying into Italy that weekend for a jaunt despite the twin crises of Brexit and coronavirus.

A spokesman for Westminster Cathedral told the newspaper: 'I can confirm that he was baptised at Westminster Cathedral on September 12. It was a private event.'

The Prime Minister had been accused of leaving the UK for Italy after newspaper La Repubblica published an article carrying a statement from Perugia Airport which claimed that Mr Johnson had passed through 'in the last few days'.

Boris Johnson and his fiancee Carrie Symonds had their baby son Wilfred christened a Catholic, the largest Catholic cathedral in England and Wales has confirmed

It was accompanied by a quote from an airport source, saying that he landed on Friday, September 11 at around 2pm.

The airport was forced to retract its claim when No10 said the allegations were 'completely untrue' - and revealed that staff had him muddled with Tony Blair.

An airport worker mistook a 'private citizen' arriving from Farnborough in Hampshire as the Prime Minister, the president of the airport said yesterday.

However after checking their registry and liaising with police, the airport found that the one passenger who had landed at the airport on September 12 was 'a private citizen and not Boris Johnson'.

Perugia Airport's president has now told the Daily Telegraph that Mr Johnson was 'definitely' not at the airport and staff mistook him for ex-Labour PM Mr Blair.

Perugia Airport has retracted its claim Boris Johnson flew into Italy earlier this month - and said staff had him muddled with Tony Blair

The president of the airport (pictured) set the record straight this afternoon hours after Downing Street first issued a robust denial of the story.

The withdrawal draws a line under a mystery that had Westminster puzzled.

On the Friday he was claimed to be in Italy, Mr Johnson was faced with MPs preparing to rebel on his international law-breaking Brexit legislation and rising numbers of coronavirus infections across the UK.

Mr Johnson has reportedly travelled to the airport before to visit his friend Evgeny Lebedev, owner of the Evening Standard, at his medieval castle.

Russian-born Mr Lebedev, whose father is a former KGB operative, is known for hosting lavish parties for celebrity guests at the Castello di Santa Eurasia.

According to one report Mr Johnson worked from Downing Street on the day in question and took part in a Zoom call with 256 Tory MPs on Brexit.

Mr Johnson had tried to give a patriotic rallying cry to encourage his colleagues to back his controversial plans for the UK's withdrawal from the EU.

One source said that Mr Johnson's connection had cut out during the call and when he came back on he joked that he should probably invest in super-fast internet, Politics Home reported.

Lebedev, 41, who owns the Evening Standard newspaper and is frequently seen mixing in the upper echelons of the celebrity social scene, owns the breathtaking Castello di Santa Eurasia

Russian-born Mr Lebedev, whose father is a former KGB operative, is known for hosting lavish parties for his celebrity friends at the Castello di Santa Eurasia

Last year it was reported that Mr Johnson, during his time as Foreign Secretary, had been spotted at Perugia's airport looking dishevelled 'in last night's clothes.'

A fellow passenger told The Guardian that Mr Johnson appeared to be stumbling around and at one point looked as if he might vomit.

There was silence from Mr Johnson's communications staff when those reports emerged last year.

Last month, Mr Johnson nominated Mr Lebedev for a life peerage for his services to the media industry and his philanthropic work.

A Downing Street spokesman had said: 'This story is completely untrue. The Prime Minister has not travelled to Italy in recent months. Anyone who publishes these claims is repeating a falsehood.'
France is concerned about the health of jailed Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh, who is in hospital after going on a hunger strike for more than 40 days, Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Tuesday.

The fast is aimed at supporting calls for the release of political prisoners, and help direct attention towards their condition during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the lawyer's husband.

"We are very worried about Nasrin Sotoudeh's health," Le Drian told parliament, adding that she had been sentenced simply "for doing her job as a lawyer".

President Emmanuel Macron has urged Iranian authorities to release her at every opportunity, Le Drian said, adding that he was doing the same.

Sotoudeh has been sentenced to a total of 33 years in prison over a case with seven charges, but she is to serve only the longest sentence of 12 years imposed for "encouraging corruption and debauchery." She has also been convicted of espionage.

Sotoudeh was transferred to a cardiac care unit shortly after being taken to the emergency ward of Tehran's Taleghani hospital last week.

Meanwhile, two French lawmakers met Iran's ambassador to France to lodge their protest, Le Parisien newspaper reported Tuesday.

Sotoudeh won the European Parliament's Sakharov Prize in 2012 for her work on high-profile cases including those of convicts on death row for offences committed as minors.

She spent three years in prison after representing dissidents arrested during mass protests in 2009 against the disputed re-election of the ultra-conservative president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Activists say Iranian authorities have been directly targeting Sotoudeh's family with a string of measures.
After decades of worry that Australias rapid population growth was putting too much pressure on our already crowded cities, the COVID-19 pandemic has produced a stunning change and raised the prospect that the population will grow too slowly.

Border closures have brought overseas migration to a sudden halt and, faced with economic uncertainty and lockdowns, couples are deciding not to have children or are delaying the decision.

As The Age reported on Tuesday about 56,000 fewer babies will be born in each of the next five years than was predicted in last years federal budget.

The lifetime fertility rate, which had been predicted to rise to 1.9 babies per woman over the next five years from 1.8 in 2018, is now likely to fall to about 1.6 babies.
Srinagar, Sep 22 : One terrorist has been killed in an ongoing encounter between militants and security forces at Chrar-i-Sharief in central Kashmir's Budgam district, officials said on Tuesday.

The firefight started on Monday after security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search operation after receiving specific information.

As the security forces zeroed in on the terrorists' hideout, they came under a heavy firing from the ultras that triggered the encounter.

"One unidentified terrorist killed in the Budgam encounter. Operation going on," police said.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A 42-year-old man from New Brighton faces a charge of attempted murder for allegedly shooting a gun last Tuesday on the street in Stapleton.

Andrew Lawrence of Prospect Avenue discharged a firearm multiple times on Sept. 15 at about 6:05 p.m. on Pleasant Valley Avenue, according to the criminal complaint and police.

Surveillance video was reviewed as part of the investigation into the gunplay, which occurred on a residential street where Lawrence attempted to cause the death of another person, the complaint states.

Authorities did not provide any information about the intended victim of the incident.

The next day, on Sept. 16, police say they spotted Lawrence operating an electric scooter northbound in the southbound lanes on Jersey Street near Richmond Terrace at about 3:55 p.m.

Cops recovered 29 bags of crack cocaine, authorities allege.

The suspect, who also is identified by the first name of Anthony in court records, faces additional charges of criminal possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, criminal possession of a weapon, attempted assault, reckless endangerment and criminal possession of a firearm.

Lawrence was convicted of assault in the first degree in May 2006 in Brooklyn state Supreme Court, according to the criminal complaint.

Bond has been set at $500,000/$200,000 cash for Lawrence, who is due back in Criminal Court on Tuesday.

Attorney Michael Cirigliano, who represents the defendant, declined to comment.
Morgan Beller, one of the founders of Facebook's libra digital currency, is leaving the social media company to join NFX, a seed-stage venture capital firm.

One of the co-founders of Facebook's libra digital currency and Novi payments wallet has left the company before the release of either technology.

Morgan Beller, 27, is leaving her post as Novi's head of strategy to become a partner at NFX, a venture capital firm focused on seed investments with offices in San Francisco and Herzliya, Israel.

"When I knew there was an opportunity to go [to NFX] and get to work with these people, that was an opportunity I couldn't really pass up," Beller told CNBC.

Beller rose to prominence in 2019 as one of the founders behind libra, developing the idea for the Facebook-backed digital currency alongside David Marcus, a former PayPal president and Facebook vice president.

After joining Facebook's corporate development team in 2017, Beller quickly turned her attention to the potential of what Facebook and its more than 2 billion users at the time could do with blockchain technology.

Beller was credited by those in the blockchain community as the original driving force behind Facebook's push into cryptocurrency.

Facebook expected to launch libra and Calibra, now called Novi, in the first half of 2020. Both technologies have been stonewalled by concerned regulators and lawmakers around the globe and neither has launched.

Beller's departure from Facebook puts the future of libra and Novi further in doubt, though she told CNBC she'll remain an advisor for both products to help make sure they come to market.

"I love libra, I'm a fan girl of libra," Beller said. "I'm not going away. I'll continue to be a friend, follow very closely and be involved at some capacity. It was just that when the NFX folks came knocking  this was obvious."

Beller said she will continue to keep an interest in blockchain technology at NFX, but that she's open to investing in a variety of technologies.

"The crazy, weird, creative folks who are contrarians and see the world as broken or see the world differently than other people, those are the people I want to speak to," she said.

Since its founding in 2015, NFX has kept its focus on companies that have the potential for network effects, meaning their value and capabilities increase as more and more users join. The firm focuses its investments in U.S. and Israeli companies, said James Currier, NFX general partner.

Beller "is the kind of person who comes into venture once every 10 or 15 years," Currier said. "The maturity, intellect, curiosity, the network, the connections, the understanding of new markets  it's very rare for a person to have all that."
F1 will have clamped down on drivers making overtly political statements on the podium, according to former driver Vitaly Petrov.

The Russian was referring to Mugello, where Lewis Hamilton wore a t-shirt calling on American police accused of shooting a woman during a raid to be arrested.

Six-time world champion Hamilton has been wearing a 'Black Lives Matter' t-shirt on the grid all season to date, but that may be interpreted as a statement rather than an endorsement of the controversial political movement.

Mugello was the first time he took an overtly political statement onto the podium and post-race interviews.

"For me, this t-shirt, on top of calling for everyone to kneel, was too much," Petrov told Championat.

"It is a personal matter for every adult. You have the right to speak out on social media or give interviews, but I think the US government is well aware of these problems already.

"But to call on that in Formula 1 itself ... I think half of the spectators didn't even know what the shirt was about until it was explained to them," he added.

"And let's say a driver admits to being gay - will they come out with a rainbow flag and urge everyone to become gay as well? I think the FIA will no longer allow such behaviours," said Petrov.

Petrov also said Russians - including Daniil Kvyat - do not kneel for any reason except "before God and to propose to your future wife".

"In Russia we have a different mentality, and we do not have the problems that Hamilton is talking about. There should be respect for everyone," he said.

(GMM)
South Africa: Police sharpen GBVF response, as hotspots identified

In an effort to narrow down to community and district level the response to gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), government has identified 30 GBVF hotspots.

Police Minister Bheki Cele on Tuesday said the list of hotspots was compiled based on nine key variables, including the number of cases reported to the South African Police Service (SAPS) during the 2019/20 financial year.

The cases include rape, human trafficking for sexual offences, kidnapping for sexual offence, domestic violence and human trafficking.

Figures of reported domestic violence related cases of murder, rape attempted murder with the intention to cause grievous bodily harm were also considered when compiling this list.

The hotspots list also includes eight other variables such as calls received related to domestic violence and gender-based violence.

Data were also included from victim support services such as Thuthuzela centres, health facilities and data from other departments, which paints the picture of GBVF in a particular area, Cele said.

The top 30 GBVF hotspots are Delft, Mamelodi, Tembisa, Umlazi, Empangeni, Nyanga, Inanda, Temba, Khayelitsha, Kwazakhele, Alexandra, Moroka, Mthatha, Mfuleni, Plessislaer, Dobsonville, Bloemspruit, Diepsloot, Mitchells Plain, Ikageng, Osizweni, KwaMashu, Ntuzuma, Kopanong, Honeydew, Kraaifontein, Gugulethu, Orange Farm, Butterworth and Bellville.

Prevention measures



Briefing media on law enforcement during the national lockdown alert level 1 on Tuesday, Cele said the work of the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on GBVF continues.

As part of the SAPSs Integrated Sexual Offences and GBV action plan, Cele said there are proactive measures with short, medium to long-term timeframes.

As a prevention measure, the SAPS will also continue to have sustained public awareness and community-based campaigns at the identified areas on GBVF.

All police stations in those identified areas are expected to have a permanent desk dedicated to GBVF. This will go a long way in ensuring victims of gender crimes are responded to by trained officers in a professional way.

The dedicated desk will reduce the risk of ill-treatment at the hands of officers, as we have seen in some instances. These permanent desks should not be limited to the hot spots areas only, but should be a norm at all stations, Cele said.

Victim-centric approach

Police are forging ahead with their plans of ensuring that victim friendly rooms meet all requirements and are available at all police stations.

Police stations should have access to DNA collection kits at all times in the identified areas and beyond.

A medium to long-term goal is addressing the GBVF case backlog, as well as relooking at cold cases.

The capacitating of the FCS [Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences] specialised units, which handle all GBVF cases is ongoing, and so is the training of members, said Cele.

While police action alone will not rid the country of GBVF, the Minister said SAPS will continue to strengthen its response.

The approach must promote accountability, and ensure that all victims and survivors of GBVF have access to justice.

He acknowledged that the identification of these hotspots does not mean that GBVF is limited only to these areas.

This is why provinces are strongly encouraged to look at their own localised hotspots and ensure victim-centred service delivery in all corners of the country.

The Minister reiterated that GBVF is a societal evil that must be contained at all costs.

If we all play our part, the country will certainly combat the Coronavirus pandemic. Sadly, the same cannot be said for the second pandemic, which is at crisis levels in this country.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2020-09-22. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Within days of announcement about the Film City in Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday unveiled an ambitious plan and rolled out an open offer to film fraternity to come to the state. He also announced that 1,000 acre of land has been identified in Gautam Buddh Nagar by Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) where the Dedicated Infotainment Zone will be set up with all world-class civil, public and technological facilities, a statement from the chief ministers office stated.

The chief minister said the proposed site is just an hour away from New Delhi and very close to the proposed international airport at Jewar, which is going to be the biggest greenfield airport of Asia," it stated. The statement said it is also close to Agra, the city of Taj Mahal, Mathura, the birthplace of Lord Krishna, and near the proposed logistic hub in Noida, the proposed dry port and freight corridor, thus providing all facilities of transport and movement".

The YEIDA had on Sunday sent a proposal to the state government after it identified the land in its Sector 21 along the expressway. The state government today approved the proposal for setting up a film city in Sector 21 along the Yamuna Expressway in Gautam Buddh Nagar," YEIDAs Officer on Special Duty Shailendra Bhatia told PTI.
Celebrity chef Jock Zonfrillo has launched Federal Court defamation proceedings against The Australian over an article and Facebook post he says accuse him of pretending to support an Indigenous community in order to win an award.

In a statement of claim filed on Friday, lawyers for Mr Zonfrillo, a host on Network Ten's MasterChef, allege the masthead defamed him in August by suggesting he "dishonestly claimed" he would support a prawn farm run by an Indigenous corporation "in an effort" to win the prestigious Basque Culinary World Prize.

Chef and MasterChef judge Jock Zonfrillo. Credit:Renee Nowytarger

The Scottish-born chef's lawyers say he made no such claim, and The Australian aggravated the harm suffered by him by failing to remove the online article and a related Facebook post.

Mr Zonfrillo won the Basque Culinary World Prize in July 2018. The award recognises chefs who seek to use their skills to effect positive change in a range of areas, including social and economic development.
The political friction between the U.S. and China over TikTok raises strategic questions for Japanese businesses that use the popular video-sharing app in advertising to young consumers.

High user engagement is among the platform's greatest strengths. Posts under a popular hashtag may draw over one hundred million views, and brands have seen success with "hashtag challenges" encouraging viewers to upload videos of themselves performing a particular task, tagged with a certain phrase.

But data security fears tied to Beijing plague the app in the U.S., with Washington threatening a ban. Chinese operator ByteDance recently agreed to hive off its international operations under a new subsidiary partly owned by Oracle and Walmart. Similar worries have arisen in Japan, and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party has discussed restrictions on Chinese apps, apparently with platforms like TikTok in mind.

Companies are responding in different ways. Coca-Cola (Japan), which had used the platform for marketing, stopped posting new content there in July after its American parent halted social media activity.

But Kao, a household goods manufacturer, said it continues to use TikTok after receiving assurances from the Japanese arm of ByteDance that it does not collect users' personal information.

Beverage maker Suntory Holdings will keep using the platform "for the time being while paying attention to various circumstances," a company representative said.

Cosmetics producer Shiseido, when asked about the potential for leaks of user information on TikTok, replied that it is "not in a position to comment." Sony, whose group companies post music and ads for anime on the platform, said it "cannot respond at this time."
Tradesmen who have been forced out of work amid the coronavirus pandemic are turning to a clever new app to secure some extra cash.

WorkApp was originally created to make life easier for tradesmen looking to hire casual workers in their area.

But since the coronavirus pandemic hit Australia's shore, the app has taken off, with thousands of workers downloading it every day, hoping to use the free platform to find a job, or connect with buyers or sellers nearby.

Clare Horder, 24, was among the thousands of workers who saw their hours diminish as a result of the uncertainty of crisis.

The construction landscaper turned to WorkApp as a way of find new clients and managed to pick up extra odd jobs to help her out too.

'When this coronavirus thing came up we sort of had to look for an alternative,' she said.

Before COVID hit, Ms Horder relied on word of mouth to find work, but as that dried up she discovered the app which connected to a bigger pool of possible clients.

Clare Horder, 24, was among the thousands of workers who saw their hours diminish as a result of the uncertainty of crisis

The construction landscaper turned to WorkApp as a way of find new clients and managed to pick up extra odd jobs to help her out too

'It covers more area or more people, it's a lot quicker to get the word out, being an online community, it does make it a lot easier.

'We wake up with a notification letting us know someone wants a job or someone looking for a job and then connect with them.

She said she has been 'very busy' since discovering the app and has been working about six days a week.

Nathan Chamings, who owns building company NB Homes, was forced to turn to the app when Victoria's second wave struck.

Mr Chamings is based in AlburyWodonga, on the New South Wales and Victoria border.

The border closure on July 8 put a lot of pressure on his business.

'That sent a bit of a shock-wave through the industry in this area.

'It hit us generally pretty hard in regards that people didn't want to spend money. people weren't sure how it was going to affect us,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

Nathan Chamings, who owns building company NB Homes, was forced to turn to the app when Victoria's second wave struck

Construction workers build a new park in the central business district in Melbourne on August 6, before strict limits were imposed by the state government

'It had everyone on standby, it was particularly tough being on a border town.'

Mr Chamings found himself in a tough spot, with his livelihood hanging on the line.

'You're trying to keep employees in business as well.'

How WorkApp works? WorkApp is a free platform that allows users to buy/sell/rent almost anything. Workers or companies can post free ads, classifieds and promotions. The app uses a special 'refresh' technology which allows users to boost their listing to the top of search results with the press of a button. There is no commission, no cost for listings and no limit on the number of times listings can be refreshed. Advertisement

He turned to WorkApp which helped him secure casual laborers to help with jobs outside the border.

'Trying to find trades when you don't know the area is a bit more difficult.

Looking forward he was cautiously optimistic about what the future holds.

'I think November/December next year could be slower...it is an unknown, we just take it day by day. What is in the future we don't know.'

WorkApp founder Shane Wallace said the company has been helping the industry by providing financial relief to businesses that simply can't afford to absorb the costs of job ads or commissions on sales as well as helping individuals keen to earn some extra cash.

'The digital landscape continues to change the way we do almost everything, and it's these platforms people turn to in turbulent times.

'WorkApp takes buying, selling, connecting and communicating to a level playing field by removing the power to influence a 'search' from leading corporations and giving it to the people, at no cost.

'It acknowledges that the best worker for your job could be just around the corner. There's no expensive middle man. We connect people directly and then leave them to get on with business.'

The app uses a special 'refresh' technology which allows users to boost their listing to the top of search results with the press of a button.

There is no commission, no cost for listings and no limit on the number of times listings can be refreshed.

New figures show the construction industry plunged by almost seven per cent during the second wave. Pictured: construction workers in Melbourne in August

Initial restrictions only allowed workers to visit one construction site per week during lockdowns. Pictured: A construction worker wearing a face mask on July 22 in Melbourne

For example, if someone is looking for some casual work or jobs, they can refresh their profile each morning and go to the top of the list for anyone looking to hire in their area.

A report released by consulting firm Taylor Fry revealed that employment levels across all industries in Victoria had fallen by 7.7 per cent since March when the pandemic began in Australia.

Construction held up comparatively well during the initial lockdown, with employment dropping by 4.5 per cent.

But new figures show the industry plunged by almost seven per cent during the second wave, with Victoria now under draconian restrictions that have severely cut activity on building sites.

Taylor Fry principal Alan Greenfield told the Australian Financial Review the nosedive was due to tougher restrictions.

'Pre-pandemic, construction jobs accounted for about nine per cent of all jobs in Victoria, making it the state's fourth-largest employer,' Mr Greenfield said.

'The closure of hardware stores and restriction on the number of workers allowed on work sites is taking its toll.'

The capacity restrictions were imposed in early August, leaving tradesmen across the state fearful about their mortgages and providing for their families.

'I've got no job on Monday, we'll see how it goes... I've got a mortgage, kids, the whole lot' one tradie told A Current Affair.

'The big dog upstairs [Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews] just letting us down once again, he's useless.'
Yves here. This post makes a critically important point that the UK press has largely ignored, by instead treating the Governments claim that Brexit is all about the UK achieving national sovereignity. As Chris Grey has often pointed out on his Brexit Blog, the UK is too small to go it alone and will have to be affiliated with a major trade bloc. And that is the result of Dani Rodriks trade trilemma which we highlighted in 2007. From Rodriks website:

Sometimes simple and bold ideas help us see more clearly a complex reality that requires nuanced approaches. I have an impossibility theorem for the global economy that is like that. It says that democracy, national sovereignty and global economic integration are mutually incompatible: we can combine any two of the three, but never have all three simultaneously and in full. Here is what the theorem looks like in a picture:



To see why this makes sense, note that deep economic integration requires that we eliminate all transaction costs traders and financiers face in their cross-border dealings. Nation-states are a fundamental source of such transaction costs. They generate sovereign risk, create regulatory discontinuities at the border, prevent global regulation and supervision of financial intermediaries, and render a global lender of last resort a hopeless dream. The malfunctioning of the global financial system is intimately linked with these specific transaction costs.. So I maintain that any reform of the international economic system must face up to this trilemma. If we want more globalization, we must either give up some democracy or some national sovereignty. Pretending that we can have all three simultaneously leaves us in an unstable no-mans land.

As this post stresses, the Government theatrics about tossing aside its trade ties to the EU and depicting doing a series of deals with other countries, above all the US, as some sort of liberation is a con. The Tories instead are seeking to move toward a more neoliberal, less regulated economic model. Author Nick Dearden argues that this realignment will result in a greater loss of national sovereignity than remaining in the EU.

By Nick Dearden, director of Global Justice Now. Originally published at openDemocracy

The Johnson government is sabre-rattling once again over what it will accept in a trade deal with the EU. The details of the arguments appear technical and arcane, while the media like to portray it as a bitter dispute between a divorcing couple. Sadly, this obscures the real nature of whats at stake, which is no less than the future of Britain  what sort of country we become after Brexit, and what role we play in the world.

Thats because modern trade deals set so many of the rules by which we live our lives. They have huge implications for our society and economy. Britain has a choice about the standards and rules it wants to live by. But it cant have both European and American standards. Drawing closer to one bloc pushes us further from the other. For many on the right of the Tory Party there is no contest  tilting towards the US will embed a big business, low regulation model. Signing any sort of significant deal with the EU makes this harder to achieve.

In this piece, I look at what is at stake and how we can stop Johnsons government using these parallel talks to change Britain for the worst. The article is taken from my new book, Trade Secrets: the truth about the US trade deal and how we stop it, which also includes full referencing and is available for free here.

There is a part of Britains establishment which has always looked to the United States for leadership. For these Atlanticists, Britains special relationship with the USA is about much more than a shared history or culture. Rather, they look longingly at the US as a model economy in which big business can behave as it sees fit and rich individuals are free from irritating burdens like public healthcare and redistributive taxes.

For such people, the referendum to leave the EU presented an opportunity to unleash a longcherished dream. One important vehicle to achieve this would be a trade deal with the USA. Thats because trade deals today go well beyond negotiations around duties on imports. They affect how we regulate food production, how we provide public services, how were allowed to regulate big business and foreign investment, and how much we are charged for our medicines. Particularly since the high point of corporate globalisation in the mid-1990s, trade deals have increasingly shaped what sort of society we live in, promoting a model of free market economics, together with tools to discipline governments that step away from this model.

The US trade deal is not really about importing more American products. Its about importing the American economic and regulatory model. It is not about whether we trade with the US or not but whether we capitulate to a set of policies that enshrine the power of the market and big business.

In many ways there is nothing special about the US-UK trade deal. Rather, the deal is likely to reflect all that is wrong with our global trading system, a system which has played a key role in the creation of an unsustainable, antisocial economy which has handed the major decisions over our lives to a superrich elite. The political crisis we are now living through is an inevitable product of this system.

It is possible to build something better. Trade does not have to be a problem, the important thing is the rules that govern trade and, relatedly, international business and capital flows. But that requires a significantly different set of trade rules to the ones we have today. How do we create a different trade system? For us, in Britain, the defeat of a US trade deal is an essential first step, throwing a major obstacle in the path of our governments Atlanticist vision, and opening up a long-overdue debate on what sort of society we want, and the role we play in the world. From here, we can join with campaigners across the world who are fighting against similar trade rules, and begin to rebuild a movement capable of overcoming the market knows best global economy.

Chlorine Chickens

Trade deals today are less about reducing tariffs, already at very low levels, and more about ridding the world economy of regulations that supposedly interfere with trade. The argument runs like this: I make lightbulbs and I want to export them into another country. The lightbulbs are safe, but they dont meet the safety standards of the country I want to export to, so that country blocks imports of my lightbulbs. As an exporter, this higher safety standard looks like a trade barrier.

Modern trade deals spend a lot of effort trying to level (or harmonise) such standards. They do this by judging different regulations that achieve the same goal as equivalent. You can trade such goods because theyre produced in a way which achieve the same goals, even if the means by which they do this is different.

The problem with this approach is that goods are very often not equivalent at all, and by treating them as such, we risk undermining what are often hardfoughtfor environmental, animal welfare and consumer protections.

Take food. US food standards are radically different to Britains. US agriculture is dominated by massive corporations, farming on an industrial scale, with intensive use of antibiotics, hormones and steroids to promote rapid growth of animals and prevent illness in what are often extremely unpleasant and unhealthy conditions, along with an excess of chemicals, and allowances for stomachchurning things to end up in the food we eat.

The US uses what it call a sciencebased approach, and demands it aggressively in trade talks. Science-based is a shorthand for a system which allows business to develop and market products as it wants, and only when harm is proven can action be taken against that produce  an incredibly difficult task when big business is so well resourced. Boris Johnson and his lead trade negotiator to the EU have both endorsed the sciencebased approach, which means throwing caution to the wind when it comes to embracing technologies like genetic modification.

Britain currently embraces the precautionary principle, a different approach which puts the emphasis on ensuring no harm. Perhaps ironically this approach tries to build genuine scientific certainty before allowing businesses to produce and market products. In farming it translates into a method of food production where risks to health, welfare and sustainability, at least in theory, are minimised from farmtofork. The final product might or might not taste similar, and might or might not be as safe (US food poisoning rates are much higher than European rates), but the products are certainly not equivalent.

The US is forceful in its demand that US food made to different standards should be allowed onto British supermarket shelves. This would certainly mean more genetically modified foods. It would mean chlorine-washed chicken, the nowfamous symbol of a US trade deal. The problem is less the chlorine than what the chlorine is hiding. The washes essentially remove bacteria which has accumulated over a lifetime in which chickens can barely move, cluck or eat, never see sunlight, regularly suffer heart attacks because of their unnatural size, and are covered in sores.

Much other US meat is also produced using hormones, steroids and antibiotics to make animals grow bigger faster and to prevent them getting ill in the unnaturally close conditions in which they live. Some never see sunlight, or eat grass.

The use of many of these chemicals is bad for humans too  antibiotic overuse is threatening to make these drugs useless as bacteria develop resistance to them, which would take away one of the most crucial tools of modern medicine. US pigs regularly contain ractopamine, which makes pigs collapse, tremble, suffer liver and kidney dysfunction, and even die. No wonder over 160 countries, including Russia and China, have banned it.

Proponents of allowing these types of food into our markets often argue that its consumer choice: If you dont like it, dont buy it! But the argument is disingenuous, not least because the same big business lobbies pushing to cut food standards are also arguing against our labelling standards. But theres a deeper problem too. By forcing producers into competition with those practising lower standards, they make higher standards unsustainable. Farmers would have little choice but to push for lower standards here too. Its a classic example of how modern trade rules push down standards and regulations around the world.

Food is newsworthy, but the issue is much wider. The regulatory harmonisation agenda stretches across the economy and encompasses other disciplines on governments too, like forcing governments to prove their regulations are no more burdensome than necessary on business. This is a path already well-trodden by decision-makers in recent years, a trade deal would lock it into place. Its a subjective criteria which leaves governments at constant threat of being challenged. And its at the heart of talks around the US trade deal.

Taxing Big Tech

In the late nineteenth century, a small group of businessmen captured the American economy, using new technologies like railways to build monopolies which brought them unprecedented levels of wealth and power. They were labelled the robber barons and became synonymous with obscene levels of inequality and the capture of politics by private interests.

Today, a new group of corporations has risen, monopolising technologies which have become central to our society, using their power to amass unimaginable fortunes. Big Tech titans like Amazon, Google and Facebook have become more powerful and wealthy than most governments, and in coming decades their power will grow, as more of our economy becomes digital.

In order to cement their power on the global stage, these corporations are pushing for the development of new rules in trade deals. The US and Britain are among the countries pushing these rules the hardest, meaning there is certain to be a farreaching digital trade chapter in a US trade deal. And while its true that countries need to find ways to regulate the power of Big Tech, these trade rules are not intended to do that  in fact they achieve the very opposite.

A digital trade chapter in a US trade deal could severely constrain the ability of governments to make these technologies work in the public interest. For instance, the British government has introduced a digital services tax to help ensure effective taxation of these corporations. The US has made clear that such a tax would be incompatible with the any trade deal, and Big Tech lobbying groups for Amazon, Google and Facebook have demanded such a tax be made impossible under the deal.

It could also lower privacy standards. Britain is currently signed up to the EUs General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), regarded as a gold standard agreement for online privacy. The US dislikes these regulations. Moreover, the many issues posed by the expansion of the online world into every area of our lives are complex. There is a need for public debate and exploration of ideas by policymakers. Trade rules must not be used to shut that debate down. For instance, politicians are now looking at ways of holding corporations to account for failing to tackle fake news online. But Trump has been clear that he wants to make such action impossible under a US deal.

Theres a wider issue with these more intangible aspects of the economy which have become so much more profitable in recent decades, and one which could fundamentally threaten the NHS. Today, many big corporations see their intellectual property as one of their most important assets. They use it to build monopoly power and to shift (and thereby minimise) their tax responsibilities around the world.

Copyright, trademarks and patents became a part of trade rules in 1995 with the passing at the WTO of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). During the 1990s, at the height of the HIV epidemic, countries were prevented from rolling out HIV medication because it was covered by these rules, which kept prices of key medicines very high. Campaigners fought for exemptions, which allowed countries to override the rules in certain circumstances. However, Big Pharma has fought back, persuading western governments, especially the US, to close these exemptions in new trade deals.

In a US-UK deal, the focus on Big Pharmas wrath will be NICE  the regulator that sets guidelines for which medicines are cost effective for the NHS to provide. Given the NHSs size, this has a powerful influence how much US pharmaceutical firms can get away with charging not just the UK, but other countries that take the UK as their source of reference pricing. Donald Trump has vowed to make pharmaceutical pricing a top priority in trade. US drug prices are eyewatering, averaging more than four times the price paid in the UK. Such large increases in prices under a US trade deal would pose an existential threat to the NHS  driving costs for new drugs well beyond the health systems ability to afford them.

Corporate Courts

In the days leading up to Christmas 2001, Argentina was engulfed by one of the worst crises in its history. A decade of economic liberalisation had seen poverty soar. Large parts of Argentinas public sector had been privatised on terms which were great for international corporations, but terrible for the people relying on the services. As a debt crisis grew, protests toppled the government. In less than two weeks Argentina went through five presidents, defaulted on its debt and then devalued its currency to put the country on a long path to recovery.

Part of this recovery involved protecting Argentinians access to basic services. The government froze the price of water and energy. But big business howled in protest that this broke their privatisation contracts. They claimed theyd been treated unfairly, and sued Argentina in a corporate court made possible under the terms of investment treaties the country had signed.

Over fifty cases were lodged, claiming an astronomical $80 billion from the government. British company Anglian Water was a party to one of the claims. Having been part of a consortium that took over the Buenos Aires water system  and despite claims of atrocious service, lack of investment and a rise in waterborne diseases  Anglian and partners claimed the price freeze breached their rights. Argentina countered that the rights of its citizens should surely be the paramount concern, but the tribunal decided human rights should not override investor rights and found in favour of Anglian.

What does this have to do with a US trade deal? Well, the same mechanism that saw Argentina hauled over the coals by big business is likely to be included in the deal, leaving governments exposed to cases brought by USbased multinationals in secret courts.

InvestorState Dispute Settlement (ISDS)  the formal name for these corporate courts  was invented back in the 1950s, when it started to be inserted in investment deals, reflecting western countries suspicion of how their corporations would be treated in newly independent countries in the global south. But its really in the last 20 years that they have become a major problem.

Corporate courts allow foreign investors to sue governments in special tribunals when they believe their rights have been infringed. The basis for such cases has been expanded to an almost ludicrous degree by City law firms. A foreign investor today might claim pretty much any government action that damages their future profits is unfair or expropriation, even though the rest of us might regard the measure as a reasonable response to the harm a corporation is causing. Putting cigarettes in plain packaging, forcing toxic mines to put better environmental standards in place, or the controlling of water prices might well damage corporate profits, but the idea that they have infringed some fundamental right directly threatens a governments ability to enact regulation. Yet these are all real ISDS cases.

Britain already has many ISDS agreements with countries around the world, but while these have been a huge problem for those countries, for the most part Britain is the more powerful partner. Establishing an ISDS agreement with the US would put the boot on the other foot: it would open Britain up to challenge by tens of thousands of USbased multinationals.

Action on climate change would be particularly difficult. Currently the Dutch government is facing an ISDS case by energy company Uniper, which runs power plants in the country. Uniper is unhappy at the policy of banning coalbased power generation by 2030. Whats interesting is that Unipers plant is fairly new, so the company can hardly claim it wasnt aware of the growing movement to phase out coal power. In fact, Unipers strategy appears to be to carry on as usual and claim compensation from governments when the inevitable phaseouts happen. ISDS is becoming a business model in itself  removing pressure for corporations to take environmental measures.

Democracy and Resistance

How do we defeat this frightening deal? Despite a heroic fight to secure greater power over trade deals on the part of many MPs, the government has failed to transfer the powers of democratic oversight developed within the EU to Britain. MPs do not have a right to vote or debate the governments trade objectives, they dont have a right to effectively scrutinise the government, and they are not guaranteed a debate or vote once the trade bill is complete. Even if they are granted a vote, they cannot stop the trade deal coming into effect.

But we shouldnt despair. Most trade deals which have been defeated  and there are plenty  have been defeated on the streets, by campaigners undaunted by the odds they were up against. From the defeat of TTIP, and its forerunner the Multilateral Agreement on Investment, to the victory over the Free Trade Area of the Americas and removal of water sector liberalisation from WTO rules, there is much to draw lessons from.

A wide coalition has already been formed to oppose the US deal. TTIP activists have been joined by new allies. On the day he was made secretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs, George Eustice was booed by farmers when he mentioned the US trade deal. Even progovernment newspapers like the Mail on Sunday are running regular columns on the problems of a US trade deal.

This can reach beyond the Brexit divide. True, the politicians who led the Leave campaign want to use Brexit to deregulate and liberalise the British economy, but many of their voters want something entirely different. A recent survey shows high levels of support among young Leave voters in the north of England for environmental and animal welfare regulation.

There is every reason to hope that the US deal can be defeated if we build a sufficiently large and diverse movement. By doing so, we will not only prevent the government signing a terrible deal, but will throw a spanner into the works of their attempts to push Britain down the path of further deregulation and liberalisation.
LONDON, GENEVA and ST HELIER, Jersey, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Medicxi, the leading European life sciences investment firm, announces the closing of Medicxi Secondary 1 (MS1) in connection with the completion of an "Exit & Reinvest" type of structured secondary transaction, which is unprecedented in the biotechnology industry.

The interests in six clinical and preclinical stage companies held by Index Ventures Life VI, a dedicated life sciences fund advised by Medicxi, were acquired by a newly formed fund managed by Medicxi, called MS1. The new fund has been anchored by leading secondary investor, Pantheon (London), with LGT Capital Partners (Pfaeffikon, Switzerland) as co-lead investor. The portfolio was acquired by MS1 at a premium to its net asset value. MS1 has committed to invest in each of the six portfolio companies the funding required to accelerate their clinical development plans through to the next stages of value creation. The investors in Index Ventures Life VI received proceeds from the sale of the portfolio to MS1 and were also offered the opportunity to re-invest their proceeds into MS1. Medicxi is excited by the potential of the acquired portfolio as well as the high level of conviction shown by both the reinvesting Index Ventures Life VI investors and the investors that are new to the portfolio.

Francesco De Rubertis, co-founder and Partner at Medicxi, commented: "We are happy with the strong interest that these world leading investors have shown towards both the portfolio and the transaction model, which has been used in the private equity industry, but unprecedented in clinical stage biotechnology. We believe this Exit and Reinvest type of transaction ("E&R") can be the blueprint for future investments by investors interested in obtaining exposure to biotechnology, but who are concerned by the long cycles of value creation in the asset class. In the future, this E&R approach will enable monetization of the value created in the first steps of drug development, while simultaneously creating the optionality of retaining the future upside of late stage drug development."

Matt Jones, MD Pantheon, commented: "Given the reputation and track record of the Medicxi team, we were delighted to lead this innovative transaction. At Pantheon, our focus is on backing top tier managers globally and this transaction will enable us to benefit from the tremendous potential the biotechnology industry offers."

Campbell Luytens acted as financial advisor and Travers Smith acted as principal legal advisor to Medicxi on the secondary transaction.

For further information, please contact:

Medicxi

Giovanni Pericolini

[email protected]

Optimum Strategic Communications

Mary Clark/ Shabnam Bashir

+44 (0) 20 8148 3040

[email protected]

Pantheon

Amanda McCrystal

+44 (0)20 3356 1718

[email protected]

LGT Capital Partners

Franziska Raff

+41 55 415 9391

[email protected]

About Medicxi

Medicxi is a European venture capital firm with the mission to create and invest in companies along the full drug development continuum. Medicxi was established by the former Index Ventures life sciences team, which has been active for over 20 years, and invests in both early and late-stage assets with a product vision that can fulfil a clear unmet need. GSK, Johnson & Johnson Innovation  JJDC, Inc., Novartis and Verily (an Alphabet company) have invested in Medicxi funds.

For more information, please visit us at www.medicxi.com and follow us on Twitter (@medicxi).

About Pantheon

Pantheon Group* ("Pantheon") is a leading global private equity, infrastructure, real assets and debt fund investor that currently invests on behalf of over 650 investors, including public and private pension plans, insurance companies, endowments and foundations. Founded in 1982, Pantheon has developed an established reputation in primary, co-investment and secondary private asset solutions across all stages and geographies. Our investment solutions include customized separate account programs, regional primary fund programs, secondaries, co-investment, infrastructure and real assets programs. Pantheon has four decades' experience of investing in private markets.

As at 31st March 2020 Pantheon had $50.7 billion assets under management[1] and the firm currently has around 340 employees located across its offices in London, San Francisco, New York, Hong Kong, Seoul[2], Bogota[3], Tokyo and Dublin. Its global workforce includes 100 investment professionals[4].

Pantheon is majority-owned by Affiliated Managers Group Inc. ("AMG"), alongside senior members of the Pantheon team. AMG is a NYSE-listed global asset management company with equity investments in leading boutique investment management firms. The ownership structure, with Pantheon management owning a meaningful share of the equity in the business, provides a framework for long-term succession and enables Pantheon management to continue to direct the firm's day-to-day operations.

About LGT Capital Partners LGT Capital Partners is a leading alternative investment specialist with USD 60 billion in assets under management and more than 550 institutional clients in 39 countries. An international team of over 500 professionals is responsible for managing a wide range of investment programs focusing on private markets, liquid alternatives and multi-asset class solutions. Headquartered in Pfaeffikon (SZ), Switzerland, the firm has offices in New York, Dublin, Frankfurt, London, Paris, Vaduz, Dubai, Beijing, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Sydney.

[1] This figure includes assets subject to discretionary or non-discretionary management, advice or those limited to a reporting function. Data is unaudited.

[2] A Korean subsidiary of Pantheon Ventures (US) LP ("PV US") has opened the office in Seoul.

[3] The Bogota office is a representative office of Pantheon Ventures (US) LP ("PV US")

[4] This includes members of our Investment Structuring and Strategy Team.

SOURCE Medicxi
22.09.2020 LISTEN

The leadership of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) has debunked claims by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) that its members are being inconsiderate following their decision to embark on strike.

According to the association, all efforts to get the government to address their concerns have proven futile contrary to what the FWSC has made to the public.

GRNMA members on Monday, September 21, withdrew their services to demand improved conditions of service.

The National Labour Commission (NLC) however secured an interim injunction to restrain members of the Association from laying down their tools, but the nurses defied the directive saying they were not served.

Meanwhile, the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) has asked the nurses to back down on their strike and return to the negotiation table to have their grievances resolved.

According to the Commission, the government has shown enough commitment to have the concerns of the health staff resolved, hence the labour action is in serious breach of the rules of engagement between the two sides.

But a statement issued by the association indicated that the strike continues unabated.

The employer invited us to a meeting on Friday, 18th September 2020 per an invitation letter dated the same day to continue with the negotiation of the conditions of service. In the said meeting, the employer only sought to understand why the GRNMA team had declared a strike from 21st September 2020 and therefore it was not a meeting to continue the negotiation contrary to the agenda.

The said meeting turned into an informal discussion as the GRNMA labour consultant sought to mediate for the parties to find a common ground. However, the employer was not willing to make any compromise. In this regard, we urge all nurses, midwives, physician assistants and certified registered anaesthetists to join in the struggle for better conditions of service.

Meanwhile, the Africa Center for Health Policy Research and Analysis wants the government to immediately address the demand of the striking nurses and midwives.

---citinewsroom
(Photo : (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)) BARCELONA, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 22: A logo sits illuminated outside the Microsoft pavilion on the opening day of the World Mobile Congress at the Fira Gran Via Complex on February 22, 2016 in Barcelona, Spain. The annual Mobile World Congress hosts some of the world's largest communications companies, with many unveiling their latest phones and wearables gadgets. (Photo : (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)) WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 24: Microsoft principle founder Bill Gates participates in a discussion during a luncheon of the Economic Club of Washington June 24, 2019 in Washington, DC. Gates discussed various topics including climate change. (Photo : Unsplash) (Photo : Unsplash)

The world's second-biggest multinational technology company and software developer, Microsoft, is committing itself into a sustainable lifestyle not just at home practices, but also in their offices across the globe and among its employees and staff. Microsoft Corporation's 'Water Positive' move will make its way ten years from now and return water consumed by 2030.

Microsoft is known to be vocal about its environmental actions that aim to answer several problems that the world face. One example is its founder, Bill Gates, which leads the charge and is very vocal about the massive threat brought by the Climate Change which is described to be deadlier than the current pandemic, the novel coronavirus.

Now, Microsoft Corporation, led by Brad Smith, famous attorney and current President of Microsoft, shows the charge and commitment of the company in answering the water crisis the world faces today. 'Water is essential to life,' a mantra which people of the earlier times and even scientists of the modern-day embody. Microsoft argues that water is freshwater faces endangerment, and soon, it would be depleted.

Microsoft's 'Water Positve 2030' Campaign

Microsoft recently posted a blog that asserts its efforts and devotion to helping the planet on the crisis it faces on water, significantly the fresh and drinking quality water, that is slowly lowering in quantity. Microsoft considers water as an element that would bring new opportunities and even life.

Microsoft argues that despite the massive 70 percent of Earth being covered in water, 97 percent of this is saline and cannot be used for drinking and even farming. Most freshwater is put on locations where nobody lives; hence, the world lacks equal distribution of water.

The company's direct operations would observe the 'Water Positive 2030' campaign that was launched by the tech giant. Microsoft characterizes this as an 'ambitious commitment' that will entail to two actions that will be observed by the entirety of Microsoft and its affiliates.

Water Cutbacks by Microsoft for Consumption

Microsoft will deal with its water consumption rates in two ways: Reducing Water Use Intensity and Replenishing Water. This bold move by Microsoft is a feat that no other technology companies have ever attempted. Microsoft's dedication to being the first company to pave the way for water conservation may open the possibilities and invite others to join in.

The first way is through the company's effort to lessen its water usage per megawatt of energy used for its operations. This action means that Microsoft itself would cease its operations to try and conserve the energy used. The second action set by the Redmond-based giant will be to replenish water in areas that see a lack of water supply.

Water Positive 2030-Water Replenishing Action by Microsoft

Microsoft's ambitious feat would not only conserve water as observed and known to many but also replenish or return the water used, even promising to exceed its consumption to replenishment ratio. Microsoft would compute its consumption among its company and return it to targeted areas that lack water supply.

Microsoft will return water more than the amount it has consumed starting now and will continue up until 2030. The Water Positive campaign by Microsoft will help in giving the world more water supply despite using it. Certain areas would be targeted by Microsoft, especially those bodies of water or basins that have extremely low pools of the Earth's liquid.

Microsoft's rainwater collection facilities, particularly the one that will soon open in Silicon Valley, will treat and return water to the basins that need it most.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Rare Cannabinoid Company offers a pure 500mg THCV oil tincture and a one-to-one THCV+CBD oil blend. People can now experience this energizing, appetite suppressing cannabinoid in a clear, measured way,

Rare Cannabinoid Company has launched the worlds first pure THCV (tetrahydrocannabivarin) product and a one-to-one THCV plus full spectrum Hawaiian CBD oil tincture.

THCV  not to be confused with THC (tetrahydrocannabinol: the psychoactive component in cannabis and hemp)  is an extremely rare cannabinoid that is believed to act as a stimulant and appetite suppressant. It is also being studied for use as an antipsychotic and in the treatment of Alzheimers, type 2 diabetes and for bone growth.

Often referred to as the sports car of cannabinoids and lauded for its possible potential to help people lose weight, THCV has been widely sought after for decades.

Like CBD and THC, rare or minor cannabinoids each offer health and wellness benefits and are found in hemp and cannabis plants. However, they naturally occur in much smaller quantities than CBD or THC. THCV has been especially difficult to find and isolate. In fact, just a few years ago, strain hunters traversed the Democratic Republic of Congo by dug-out canoe in search of African landrace cannabis plants high in THCV. However, even those plants only contained 1% THCV. (Learn more about the hunt for THCV here.)

Now, thanks to genetic, scientific and technological advances, Rare Cannabinoid Company is able to make pure THCV tinctures for the first time.

Rare Cannabinoid Company is extremely excited to be the first to offer THCV on its own, said Jared Dalgamouni, founder of the brand and its sister company Hawaiian Choice.

People can now experience this energizing, appetite suppressing cannabinoid in a clear, measured way, he said.

The announcement comes as Rare Cannabinoid Company was featured in an article on Leafly, the world's largest cannabis website.

There are two types of tinctures: a pure THCV single extract and a one-to-one THCV plus CBD blend.

The single extract contains 500mg THCV in organic MCT coconut oil. The blend contains 250mg THCV and 250mg CBD from hemp organically grown on Kauai, nourished by the islands mineral rich red dirt and tropical rain. The blend also has organic MCT coconut oil and is lightly flavored with organic, food-grade Italian lemon and wild orange oils.

Cannabinoids tend to work best when taken together. There is something called the entourage effect, which means that when consumed in unison, cannabinoids amplify each other and become more than the sum of their individual parts. For this reason, the single extract is flavorless for seamless blending with other full or broad spectrum CBD or THC oils. Meanwhile, the blend is a great option for people who want a complete cannabinoid supplement straight off the shelf.

Third party lab reports can be found on the companys web site for full peace of mind that each tincture contains what it is supposed to and nothing else.

Rare Cannabinoid Company also offers CBN (cannabinol), CBG (cannabigerol), CBC (cannabichromene) and a full spectrum CBD (cannabidiol) base oil from rare Hawaiian hemp.

Research into rare cannabinoids is ongoing, but they are believed to offer the following benefits:

CBN: may act as a sedative assisting with relaxation and sleep and may also be taken for pain.

CBG: has anti-bacterial properties and at least one study showed effectiveness against superbug MRSA. It may also assist with reducing inflammation and studies on CBG show promise in fighting cancer.

CBC: may regulate or elevate mood and improve skin conditions including acne. Studies on CBC also show promise in fighting cancer.

Research into rare cannabinoids is growing rapidly and more and more are being isolated and made available to the public. In fact, Rare Cannabinoid Company was started by Hawaiis most popular CBD brand, Hawaiian Choice, in response to customers desire to try these promising compounds.

Each of these rare cannabinoids is believed to offer a different physical or mental benefit. So, people can mix and match them according to their needs, said Dalgamouni.

Rare Cannabinoid Company is currently offering free shipping on all orders and is sold in locations in Hawaii and across the mainland United States.

Hawaiian Choice's broad spectrum (zero THC) CBD oil tinctures, topicals and edibles can be found in more than 150 locations from New York to Tokyo including at luxury hotel spas, including the Four Seasons Maui and Grand Hyatt Kauai.

Stores interested in stocking either brand can find wholesale application forms on both web sites.
Rajesh Kumar Thakur By

Express News Service

PATNA: In India, left wing extremism has found its place in up to 90 districts in eleven states including Bihar and Jharkhand, where 54 extremists were neutralised during anti-naxal operations carried out by the national security forces between January and mid-August this year.

So far, 68 civilians have been killed by extremists in affected districts of the states while 34 security personnel lost their lives during anti-naxal operations during the eight-month-period.

G Kishan Reddy, Minister of State for Home Affairs responding to a query of Rakesh Sinha, a Rajya Sabha MP from Bihar, on Monday, said, "the highest number of left-wing extremist-affected districts are in Jharkhand, 19, followed by 16 in Bihar, 15 in Odisha, 14 in Chhattisgarh and rest in the other districts."

According to official information provided to Rakesh Sinha, 963 civilians have been killed in naxal violence since 2015 in the country.

A total number of 352 security personnel have lost lives during anti naxal operations in all the 11 states during the same period.

Whereas, 871 naxalites were killed between 2015 and mid-August this year while 4,022 of them have surrendered before the security personnel during the same period.

The Ministry of Home Affairs have supported the state governments extensively in their endeavour in controlling the spread of the extremism by deploying CAPF battalions, providing choppers and UAVs, and other support systems.

Official information stated that the construction of roads, installation of mobile towers, skill development, improving networks of banks and post offices, health and education facilities in addition to other measures are being taken to eliminate the spread of the left-wing extremist network.

Prof Rakesh Sinha took to Twitter to share that many left wing of extremists are giving up violence since 2015.

"The government of India's consistent efforts have declined the LWE," Sinha tweeted.
An Australian chemical weapons expert who was tragically killed in a bomb blast in the Solomon Islands has been remembered by heartbroken friends as a 'modern day MacGyver' who risked his life to save others.

Australian Trent Lee, 40, and Briton Luke Atkinson, 57, died when an explosion ripped through a residential street in Honiara, the nation's capital, between 7.30pm and 8pm on Sunday.

Mr Lee was working as a bomb specialist for non-government organisation Norwegian People's Aid.

The organisation employed people to help remove undetonated explosives that had been littered across the Solomon Islands during World War II.

A close friend of the 40-year-old, Tony Bartlett, said he and his wife were now getting tattoos to remember their selfless mate.

Trent Lee, 40, from Newcastle was killed on Sunday night while removing World War II explosives from the Solomon Islands

Mr Lee had moved to the Solomon Islands 18 months ago with his partner and has been remembered as an extremely smart and selfless man

'He has got to be one of the smartest people in this world,' Mr Bartlett told the Sydney Morning Herald.

'This guy, he built his own cellular tower, his own generator. It's amazing what he could do for his community over there. He was a modern day MacGyver, there's nothing this man couldn't do.'

Mr Bartlett said his friend even legally changed his middle name to 'danger' while getting his drivers licence in the Solomon Islands.

He said in the weeks before his death Mr Lee had removed up to 90 explosives.

'He would have saved thousands of lives. That was Trent,' Mr Bartlett said.

Mr Lee, who was originally from Newcastle, moved to the Islands 18 months ago with his wife Kathryn to build an eco-lodge.

During his time there he also worked as a chief chemist for a gold mine and taught locals how to build water supply systems.

In his younger years Mr Lee had been a champion mountain bike rider and his skills in cave diving scored him a spot on an Australian $1 stamp in 2017.

On the night of the explosion, residents rushed to the scene to see both men seriously injured.

Mr Lee had been a champion mountain bike rider and cave diver before starting his work in the Solomon Islands

Investigators are seen at the crime scene on Sunday night after the two men were killed

Just a month before the fatal explosion, Mr Lee took to Facebook to talk about how dangerous his line of work was.

'Pretty much the most dangerous WW2 ammunition we find...it's cocked and ready to fire...one bump and it's all over,' he wrote on August 13.

Sunday evening's bomb blast could be heard up to five kilometres away.

Local police sealed off the blast area and launched an investigation.

A police statement said officers of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal team and Forensics Department were at the scene.

The two men were conducting a non-technical survey on the contamination of unexploded ordnances in the Solomons, the police media statement said.

The pair had been working to remove an explosive in Honiara when they were killed in the 'tragic accident'

Inspector Clifford Tunuki said police spent the night clearing the explosion site.

'Explosives ordinance disposal officers will have to render the scene safe before forensics and other investigators access the scene to find out what happened,' Inspector Tunuki told media.

NPA deputy secretary-general Per Nergaard confirmed in a statement that Mr Lee and Mr Atkinson had died in the blast.

Trent Lee posted about the dangers of working with live bombs just a month before the fatal explosion (pictured, images from his Facebook page)

The Solomon Islands (pictured) are littered with unexploded material from World War II, according to NPA

'This is a tragic accident. So far, we know that there has been an explosion with fatal consequences,' he said.

'Our main priority now is to offer assistance to relatives and colleagues and to clarify what has happened.

'The safety and security of our staff is our highest priority.'

NPA secretary-general Henriette Killi Westhrin said the organisation was devastated by the loss of two good colleagues.

'Our thoughts and deepest condolences go out to their families, relatives and staff.'

The NPA has 1850 deminers working in 19 countries worldwide.

The organisation has since put all work removing explosives on hold while the deaths are investigated.

Thousands of unexploded devices remain on the Solomon Islands.
Group of Parents Stop Man Accused of Looking Under Bathroom Stall: Officials

A South Carolina man was arrested for allegedly looking under a bathroom stall at a South Carolina Cracker Barrel on Sunday.

A 15-year-old girl returned from the womens restroom, telling her father that a man was looking at her from under a bathroom stall, according to police.

The Duncan Police Department told WYFF that 53-year-old Douglas Lane, of Charlotte, was arrested.

Duncan police Chief Carl Long.said parents who where therefor a girls softball tournament stopped Lane until officers arrived.

He was charged with voyeurism, simple possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia, Long said.

A witness told the station that he was inside the restaurant when he heard what sounded like a fight. Get him, hes getting away is what he recalled hearing.

The witness and his son were close to the door and saw a man with a bloody nose running. He then saw someone tackle the man in the parking lot, according to the station.

Long told WSPA-TV that other fathers aware of the incident helped tackle Lane and restrained him.

Officials said that Lanes phone was also found on the bathroom floor.

A court official said Lane told authorities that he didnt realize that he was in the womens bathroom until he sat down, according to WYFF.

But the official said that the victim told authorities that when she sat down, she saw a mans head under the stall.

The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations says that Lane is a registered sex offender in the state. The South Carolina sex offender registry also lists him.

Other details were not provided by officials.
Several parts of Mumbai received heavy rainfall on Tuesday evening, leading to waterlogging in some areas. The affected areas included Sion-Matunga road and Lower Parel, among others.

The India Meteorological Departmemt (IMD) has predicted generally cloudy sky with heavy rain" for Mumbai on Wednesday.

The IMD last week had predicted heavy rainfall as the southwest monsoon started withdrawing. Several parts of central and south India are likely to receive heavy rainfall. The IMD earlier had also issued an orange warning for Kerala, Goa and parts of Karnataka and Maharashtra.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 22

By Elnur Baghishov  Trend:

Armenia is a threat to international peace and law, Iranian lawyer Nima Dastghoshade told Trend.

According to Dastghoshade, Armenia continued its aggression against Azerbaijan after declaring independence.

"Armenia has occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory, which is a gross violation of international law and legal norms," he said.

The lawyer added that Armenia's aggression is contrary to Article 39 of the UN Charter.

"Armenia continues to violate both international law and international peace with its occupation. However, the UN Security Council has approved four resolutions against Armenia and Armenia is recognized as an aggressor, a human rights violator in these resolutions," Dastghoshade said.

Along with the occupation, the violence and crimes committed by Armenia in Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding territories of Azerbaijan, are already recognized worldwide, he said.

He went on to add that judging by Armenia's actions, it doesn't seem to be stopping from its aggressive occupant policy towards Azerbaijan.

He also urged on the international law enforcement agencies to put pressure on Armenia, reminding about the 1992 Khodjaly genocide, when innocent Azerbaijans were massacred.

Reminding about the four UN resolutions on Armenia's aggression, he pointed out that this should be a signal to other countries who support Armenia's aggressive policy.

"Support provided to Armenia means the weakening of international law," Dastghoshade said.

The lawyer noted that Armenia's provocation in the direction of Azerbaijan's Tovuz district in July 2020, once again reflects that Armenia is a threat to international law and peace.

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.
(In China) there are so many manufacturers, that are doing all sorts of different things with all sorts of different materials, that a lot of times these buyers just dont know what theyre getting ..., Patterson said. Theyre looking around and theyre talking to companies like us and theyre saying, 'When do you get your certification? Because we want to place an order immediately.
Teacher and parents of students in the Toronto District School Board were left wondering Monday night what class on Tuesday would look like, and how they'd connect. (Getty)

Less than a day before the first day of virtual school is supposed to begin at the Toronto District School Board (TDSB), teachers and families are concerned about the lack of communication, information, and guidance from the board.

Given the months to prepare for virtual school, parents and teachers are questioning the lack of preparation and whether virtual school is evening starting tomorrow.

Karen Jutzi, a TDSB teacher who requested half-day virtual teaching due to family considerations, received a Grade 2 home room for the first time ever in her twenty-year teaching career.

Jutzi is confused about the mix ups. She says she would be more confident teaching a French class considering she has more experience in that.

Its definitely been very stressful, Jutzi said. On Saturday, all of a sudden, I just felt paralyzed with fear and I felt like I couldnt do any work because I just dont have enough information to do my job.

Jutzi says she is not ready for tomorrow. She does not know the kids in the class, or whether it is even a full-time or part-time position.

Im not confident about anything, Jutzi said. I have a lot of questions that need to get answered before I actually plan.

Kim Fry, another TDSB teacher, who will be virtually teaching a Grade 3 class was initially supposed to teach in-person, but decided to switch to virtual after her healthcare practitioner urged her to since she could not teach outdoors like she wanted.

I dont think inside is safe, Fry said. No teacher I have seen or talked to has seen a nurse. No ones seen extra caretaking, all the things that they promised, nobodys actually seen any evidence of those.

Fry called herself one of the luckier teachers who knows her grade assignment and has a class list. She found out what grade shell be teaching yesterday morning and got access to Brightspace, the platform where shell be connecting with her students, just last night.

But, navigating Brightspace has not been easy for Fry either.

Story continues

This has all been poorly managed, Fry said. Im supposed to call the parents, and its not clear to me how to do that. I cant actually figure out how to find the phone numbers.

Both Jutzi and Fry were hoping to get more information from the board staff meeting that took place via a livestream at 2:00 p.m. today.

Jutzi says the meeting was a one-way conversation that ended within five minutes, whereas Fry could not even get in.

Parents of students feeling stressed too

Ryan Hollinrake, whose nine-year-old son Evan Hollinrake will be doing virtual school, has been refreshing and navigating the TDSB website throughout the day to check for any updates.

Hollinrake says he is comfortable with using online platforms such as Brightspace, but he needs information to login, access the curriculum, know the layout, and know who his sons teachers are.

To actually go and set your child up on Brightspace, you need to log in. But we still dont know how we are going to log in, Hollinrake said. I still dont have confidence that its [school] going to start tomorrow.

Hollinrake says he is tired of hearing that these are unprecedented times and is not getting any new information.

This is something that shouldnt have been a surprise to anybody, Hollinrake said. Ive reached out directly to TDSB through their general help desk and all I get is the same information.

Hollinrake runs a charity and says his team was able to go virtual within a few days.

All my staff [were] working at home efficiently, we were able to do that within a two-day period. So, how is it that schools cant do that? It just blows my mind, Hollinrake said.

TDSB posted a new announcement this evening stating that not everyone will be starting virtual school Tuesday morning.

We have determined that this [synchronous start] will not be possible for some students due to ongoing efforts to hire staff for virtual classrooms. However, in order to ensure that all students can begin learning on Tuesday morning, we will be implementing a rolling start, TDSB stated on their website.
General views of the Agincourt Avenue area of the Holyland in south Belfast on September 17th 2020 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph)

A number of students have been suspended from Queen's University following disorder in the Holyland area of south Belfast in recent days.

The university received notifications of coronavirus regulation breaches from the PSNI, which led to the suspension of the students for two weeks.

A spokesperson for the university said: "[QUB] investigates every complaint it receives and applies disciplinary measures as appropriate in accordance with our student code of conduct regulations.

"In addition, if the University receives notification of a COVID breach from the PSNI, students will be suspended with immediate effect for 14 days. Ulster University have introduced a similar policy. A number of these suspensions have been issued over recent days.

Queens University and Ulster University work in partnership with Belfast City Council and the PSNI as well as other colleges and statutory agencies to tackle incidents of anti-social behaviour or breaches of public health guidelines," they said.

The Ulster University and Belfast Met were also asked if sanctions were made against any of their students. They did not respond.

On Monday night, police said they issued 37 Covid notices, 10 prohibition notices, and one Community Resolution notice in the hours leading into Tuesday morning as part of the ongoing operation to address antisocial and criminal activity in the Holyland and Stranmillis area of south Belfast.

It brings to 197 the number of Covid notices issued in the past week, along with 30 prohibition notices and 11 Community Resolution notices in total.

Speaking on Tuesday, Chief Inspector Gavin Kirkpatrick said: In addition to attending and stopping a number of parties last night, we also had to contend with large numbers of young people congregating in the Agincourt Avenue area.

"While police, council officers and university representatives engaged with many of the young people to give them advice and guidance, it is critical that young people who have moved to the area take personal responsibility for their behaviour.

"To date, our preliminary enquiries have indicated that the majority of people weve issued Covid notices to in the area are not students," he said.

Chief Inspector Kirkpatrick made a further appeal to the public not to visit or attend parties in the area.

"I again appeal to parents and guardians to speak with their young people, to ensure they know where they are, who they are with and what they are doing. Parents and guardians who allow young people to visit friends or attend parties in this residential area are not helping this situation.



If you have moved to the Holyland area, you must adhere to the Health Protection Regulations to protect yourselves and others from Covid19. You must also be good neighbours as the residents of this area who are fed up dealing with anti-social and criminal behaviour on their doorsteps.



Our robust policing operation will continue over the coming days with our partner agencies, including representatives from Belfast City Council and both universities."

Meanwhile, Health Minister Robin Swann on Monday insisted that any move to clamp down on house parties in Belfasts Holylands student area must not punish others living in similar accommodation in Northern Ireland.

Robin Swann said he was concerned about a potential inadvertent consequence of targeting coronavirus rules on houses of multiple occupancy (HMOs).

"There does need to be a care and a caution that any regulation that was brought forward in regards solely based on houses of multiple occupancy was also equitable across the entirety of Northern Ireland, he said.

Or anybody who was resident in a house of multiple occupancy, should that be not just students in the Holylands, but also those out of social need or lack of housing in certain areas, that they werent penalised adversely by any regulation or guidance that was brought in specifically to deal with what is anti-social behaviour in the Holylands.
Deadly ricin mailed to Pres. Trump at White House, authorities in Texas

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Officials have detected ricin, a deadly poison found in castor beans, in an envelope that was sent, apparently from Canada, to President Donald Trump.

Quoting an anonymous official, The Wall Street Journal reports that the packet intercepted carried a letter and a substance that tested positive for ricin.

The report says that the envelope appeared to come from Canada, and that law enforcement is investigating possibly similar envelopes addressed to authorities in Texas.

No suspect had been identified as of early Sunday. No other details are known about similar packets sent to officials in Texas.

The Journal quotes a spokeswoman for the Federal Bureau of Investigations Washington field office as saying that the investigation is underway and that the Secret Service and the Postal Inspection Service were also part of the probe. At this time, there is no known threat to public safety, the spokeswoman said.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ricin can be in the form of a powder, a mist, or a pellet, or it can be dissolved in water or weak acid.

CDC adds, It would take a deliberate act to make ricin and use it to poison people Ricin is very toxic. It works by getting inside the cells of a persons body and preventing the cells from making the proteins they need. Without the proteins, cells die. Eventually this is harmful to the whole body, and may cause death.

Theres no antidote for ricin, which can kill a person within 36 to 72 hours of exposure.

Ricin was declared an illegal substance in July 2019, and the FBI has charged people for attempting to obtain the toxin, according to USA Today.

In 2014, a Mississippi man admitted to sending ricin-laced, threatening letters to then-President Barack Obama and Republican Sen. Roger Wicker as well as a county judge.

Ricin is an incredibly dangerous biological toxin  just a few tiny grains can kill a human, U.S. Attorney Nick Hanna said in a 2019 case, in which a California man pleaded guilty to attempting to buy ricin. Because it can be used as a weapon of mass destruction and there is no antidote for ricin poisoning, any attempt to acquire this deadly chemical agent is an extremely serious matter that will prompt a vigorous response.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 18:26:44|Editor: huaxia

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GAZA, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Leaders of Hamas and Fatah, the two major Palestinian rival factions, are meeting in Turkey to end their internal division and achieve reconciliation, officials said Tuesday.

"The meetings in Turkey are an extension of the previous meetings and dialogues held between" the two Palestinian movements "to implement what has been agreed upon," said Khalil al-Hayya, a member of Hamas' politburo, said in a press statement.

On Sept. 3, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas chaired an online video meeting with leaders of 14 Palestinian factions including Hamas and Fatah, where all agreed on a plan of unity to face the current political challenges.

"Hamas is keen to achieve unity to reach a comprehensive national strategy to confront the challenges, deals, and plans that target the Palestinian cause," al-Hayya noted.

For the dialogue in Turkey's capital Ankara, the Fatah delegation is headed by Jibril Rajoub, secretary-general of Fatah's Central Committee, while Saleh Arouri, deputy chief of Hamas, is leading the Hamas team, a well-informed Palestinian source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

During a phone call with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday night, Abbas discussed with Erdogan the current dialogue among Fatah, Hamas and other Palestinian factions in Ankara, and asked the Turkish president to help Palestinians hold elections, reach unity and end their internal split, according to the Palestinian news agency WAFA. Enditem
During the 45th Session of the Human Rights Council at the United Nations, India accused Pakistan of spreading imposturous political propaganda which is full of disinformation and gratuitous references about New Delhi's internal matters. India asked Imran Khan's 'Naya' Pakistan to "set its own house in order before it speaks about others."

"Yet again, though we are not surprised, Pakistan has twice chosen to divert the attention of the Council with its imposturous political propaganda full of disinformation and gratuitous references about Indias internal matters today," said the First Secretary, Permanent Mission of India, Geneva Senthil Kumar at the 45th Session of the Human Rights Council.

'So-called military-run democratic system'

Kumar further informed the assembly about the numerous instances of incitement to violence against journalists and human rights defenders in the country adding that it is especially worrying that the accusations of blasphemy which could put individuals at risk for violence.

"Just twelve days ago the OHCHR in its press briefing expressed serious concern about the numerous instances of incitement to violence  online and offline  against journalists and human rights defenders in Pakistan, in particular against women and minorities. Especially worrying are accusations of blasphemy  which can put accused individuals at imminent risk of violence," he added.

He further pointed out that human rights defenders in Pakistan are "being silenced every day" through intimidation, secret detention, torture, and enforced disappearances with the direct involvement of the Pakistani Government. "Targeting of journalists through threats, assaults, arrests instilling extreme fear and self-censorship exposes the fallacy of Pakistans so-called military-run democratic system," the first secretary said.

'You may not return home'

Kumar said that law enforcement agencies, in Baluchistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh, have been given a free hand and are authorized to arbitrarily detain any person, including those below the age of 18 years.

READ | Indian citizenship granted to 2,120 Pakistanis, 188 Afghans, 99 Bangladeshis in last 4 yrs

"Cries of Baloch sister Haseeba Qambrani for her brothers Hasaan and Hizbullah Qambrani, who have been forcibly taken away by the Pakistan military go unheard. Security forces in Pakistan have gained proficiency in unlawful killings and kidnapping of people in so-called counter-terrorism operations. This has been compounded by a weak judiciary in Pakistan which has consistently failed to protect even the basic human rights of the people in Pakistan."

READ | Pakistan's Opposition unites to demand Imran Khan's resignation; goes to war with Pak Army

Kumar said further. "This, Mr Vice-President, is the plight of daughters, sisters, and mothers in Pakistan. They say in Imran Khans Naya Pakistan (new Pakistan)  you may not return home," he added. With regard to the cases of enforced disappearances in Pakistan occupied parts of Kashmir, he said that it has become "a common standard of practice" adopted to silence anti-government voices.

READ | India summons Pakistan High Commission official over 'forced conversion' of Sikh minor

READ | BSF foils Pakistan's drug push into India; seizes shocking 'narcotics chain', arms & ammo
New Delhi:

Akhilesh Yadav is set to kick off Samajwadi Partys campaign for the upcoming Uttar Pradesh assembly elections from Sultanpur on Tuesday. But what is the reason of SP chief to choose a constituency which will go to polls in Phase 5 instead of the ones which go to polls on February 11?



According to sources, celestial planets hold the answer to the poll conundrum of Samajwadi Party campaign.



Here are the top 5 possible reason why Akhilesh chose Sultanpur to start his poll trail:



Centre of the auspicious triangle: Akhilesh Yadav is a believer in astrology. His astrologer has reportedly told him that Sultanpur is at the centre of the geopolitically and religiously crucial triangle. It is at equidistance from Ayodhya, Allahabad and Varanasi. Thus, he ought to start the campaign from here.

Direction of the inauguration: The direction of the city is auspicious to start a new campaign.



Political relevance: Sultanpur is also politically crucial, as it has five constituencies, traditionally held by Samajwadi Party. Additionally, the MLA from Sadar Bazar Arun Verma is a close-aide of CM Akhilesh.



Purvanchal angle: Starting a campaign from Sultanpur affords Akhilesh leverage to focus on Purvanchal or western UP.



Lucky constituency: Sadar assembly seat of Sultanpur is crucial for its track record of being held by winning party.

Read | UP Polls 2017: Akhilesh Yadav to kick off SP election campaign from Sultanpur

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Facebook might not be able to provide its platforms in Europe under new regulatory changes, it has threatened.

The company said it would not be able operate on the continent if it cannot move user data between Europe and the United States.

The Irish Data Protection Commissioner had suggested that it would enforce a European Court of Justice ruling that would mean such data transfers would breach General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

It is not clear to [Facebook] how, in those circumstances, it could continue to provide the Facebook and Instagram services in the EU, wrote Yvonne Cunnane, Facebook Irelands head of data protection and associate general counsel.

The above views, if adopted, are likely to have significant diverse effects on [Facebook] and on the many millions of individuals and businesses who use its services, it also says.

The company claims 410 million monthly active users in Europe, including charities, organisations, politicians, and other public figures.

Around 25 million businesses apparently use its business in Europe as of January 2020.

Cunnane accused the regulators of bias against Facebook, and said that the three week time period during which the company could make submissions against the ruling will give little weight to those submissions and that they will not dislodge, or be capable of lodging, the view which has already been arrived at by the commission.

She also says that the implications of the judgement are wide-ranging, and that a one-size-fits-all apparently cannot be taken.

I believe and am advised that it is neither fair nor appropriate that [Facebook] should be the only entity subject to investigation and to face the possible suspension of data transfers to the US it continues.

Facebook is not threatening to withdraw from Europe. Legal documents filed with the Irish High Court set out the simple reality that Facebook, and many other businesses, organisations and services, rely on data transfers between the EU and the US in order to operate their services, the company said in a statement.

A lack of safe, secure and legal international data transfers would damage the economy and hamper the growth of data-driven businesses in the EU, just as we seek a recovery from COVID-19.

The Independent has reached out to the Irish DPC for comment.

Whether or not Facebook will indeed disable its services in Europe remains to be seen, but privacy experts have alleged that it would not.

The idea that Facebook would withdraw from the European market is absurd brinksmanship that I dont think anyone truly believes, Michael Veale, a technology policy researcher at University College London, told Vice.

Facebook is not the only company with concerns over moving users data.

Following Brexit, Google users in Britain are no longer protected by GDPR and therefore user data will be moved to the United States.

Google claims that the change would not see any difference in data protection standards, something that is rebuked by privacy activists.

Moving people's personal information to the USA makes it easier for mass surveillance programmes to access it," said Jim Killock, executive director of Open Rights Group, to The Independent.

"There is nearly no privacy protection for non-US citizens.
The Xbox Series X and S have opened for pre-orders  with demand far outstripping supply.

The rush to buy the new console has led shops to immediately sell out. That is, if they were able to stay online: a variety of online stores broke and refused to load for people looking for the new Xbox over Tuesday, in the hours after the pre-orders began.

The console does not actually arrive until 10 November, but its likely that pre-ordering in the coming days will be the only reliable way to ensure that you can get one on that release date.

That has left most shops out of stock in the UK, US and elsewhere. Those that are available both in the US and UK often also require some extra work: they might be available only when bundled with more expensive subscriptions, for instance, or only to specific people.

While the release has without doubt proven less chaotic than that of the PlayStation 5  Microsoft announced in advanced when exactly the pre-orders would open, meaning there was no last-minute scramble to work out what was going on  it has turned out to be just as frustrating for some, who found themselves unable buy the new console all the same.

But in the coming days, shops are likely to get more stock, and pre-orders could open again  albeit briefly. The rush when they do is likely to be just the same as the first time, meaning that customers will have to be both lucky and smart if they want to get hold of an Xbox Series X.

Checking the websites of any retailers that might be offering the console is likely only to bring up frustration, since they will probably be sold out. But it is still worth doing because many are offering the option to register for emails when stock comes back in, and that may be the quickest way of getting onto a website when orders open again.

For a more co-ordinated view, its worth using one of the tools that track availability in a variety of shops. Stock Informer offers that service: you can quickly see all the stock available for the Xbox Series X and Series S in the UK, or the same in the US.

It is also worth staying up to date on sites such as Twitter, where numerous people will send out alerts when the console comes back in stock. The @Wario64 account on Twitter, for instance, has been especially good at sending out notifications of any stores that have stock of the Xbox, as well as other gaming deals including the PS5.

Numerous people are claiming to offer the console for sale on online shopping sites such as eBay. But it is worth avoiding those deals, not least because there is no guarantee that the people actually have the console  it also helps to discourage people from rushing in to take up the pre-orders with no intention of keeping the console for themselves.

Likewise, it is best to be sceptical about anyone who seems to be making the Xbox available too readily, especially if they are not linked to established sites. Any popular product can be used by scammers to lure people in, especially if supply is short and so people are likely to jump at the chance to buy, so be careful about anything that is offering easy access to the new consoles.
The armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine indicates that humankind has not yet learned the tragic lesson of World War II, and some countries are still trying to return to the division of spheres of influence in the world.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said this in a video address to the participants of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly, his press service reported.

75 years ago the founding of UN became a symbol of the fact that the humankind should have learnt the tragic lesson of World War II. However, the occupation of Crimea and Russias military aggression in Donbas prove that this lesson has not been learnt, the President of Ukraine noted.

Zelensky stressed that it is not just a war in Ukraine. "It is a war in Europe," he said.

According to the President, "it is not just an encroachment on the sovereignty of an independent state; it is an attempt to return to the division of spheres of influence in the world." In this context, Zelensky called on all countries to join efforts to achieve basic values - peace and world prosperity.

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As an investor its worth striving to ensure your overall portfolio beats the market average. But its virtually certain that sometimes you will buy stocks that fall short of the market average returns. Unfortunately, that's been the case for longer term Canadian Natural Resources Limited (TSE:CNQ) shareholders, since the share price is down 47% in the last three years, falling well short of the market decline of around 9.1%. And the ride hasn't got any smoother in recent times over the last year, with the price 39% lower in that time. More recently, the share price has dropped a further 14% in a month.

See our latest analysis for Canadian Natural Resources

There is no denying that markets are sometimes efficient, but prices do not always reflect underlying business performance. One flawed but reasonable way to assess how sentiment around a company has changed is to compare the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price.

Canadian Natural Resources saw its EPS decline at a compound rate of 73% per year, over the last three years. In comparison the 19% compound annual share price decline isn't as bad as the EPS drop-off. So the market may not be too worried about the EPS figure, at the moment -- or it may have previously priced some of the drop in. With a P/E ratio of 816.97, it's fair to say the market sees a brighter future for the business.

The company's earnings per share (over time) is 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. Having said that, most people consider earnings and revenue growth trends to be a more meaningful guide to the business. Dive deeper into the earnings by checking this interactive graph of Canadian Natural Resources' earnings, revenue and cash flow.

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 incorporates the value of any spin-offs or discounted capital raisings, along with any dividends, based on the assumption that the dividends are reinvested. It's fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. As it happens, Canadian Natural Resources' TSR for the last 3 years was -39%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. The dividends paid by the company have thusly boosted the total shareholder return.

Story continues

A Different Perspective

While the broader market lost about 4.4% in the twelve months, Canadian Natural Resources shareholders did even worse, losing 33% (even including dividends). Having said that, it's inevitable that some stocks will be oversold in a falling market. The key is to keep your eyes on the fundamental developments. On the bright side, long term shareholders have made money, with a gain of 1.0% per year over half a decade. It could be that the recent sell-off is an opportunity, so it may be worth checking the fundamental data for signs of a long term growth trend. 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. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 4 warning signs with Canadian Natural Resources (at least 2 which are potentially serious) , and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

Canadian Natural Resources is not the only stock that insiders are buying. For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on CA 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.
His separation from wife Christina Anstead was announced on Instagram just three days ago.

But that didn't stop Ant Anstead, 41, from wishing a happy tenth birthday to his estranged wife's daughter from her previous marriage on Tuesday.

'Happy birthday TayTay! 10!' began the TV presenter's sweet comment to his stepdaughter.

A new start: Christina Anstead, 37, recently shocked fans when she revealed her second marriage, to Ant Anstead, 41, was coming to an end after being wed for less than two years

'A beautiful, funny and loving soul! Love you [HEART EMOJIS]' he concluded his comment on Christina's post of mother and daughter celebrating the occasion.

The 37-year-old real estate investor captioned the post, 'Happy 10th Birthday to my sweet , smart, beautiful girl. Taylor you light up my life and challenge me in all the best ways.'

'Not a day goes by where you dont tell me how much you love me and hug me tight,' she continued. 'I [PRAYER HANDS EMOJI] we always have this tight bond.'

'I LOVE being your mama. You are so fun to be around and I love how you always keep me on my toes. 10 years with you has been everything to me. I love you!!!'

Love: But that didn't stop Ant from wishing a happy tenth birthday to his estranged wife's daughter from her previous marriage on Tuesday

Doting stepdad: 'Happy birthday TayTay! 10!' began the TV presenter's sweet comment to his stepdaughter

The Flip or Flop host then explained, 'Taylor was supposed to go to Paris with Tareks mom and step dad - but because of circumstances we brought Paris to us.'

The accompanying series of photos showed a Paris-themed party setup, the centerpiece of which was a bakery named after the birthday girl.

And there was no shortage of French baked goods on display, including biscuits, Eiffel Tower designed cakes and pink Macaroons.

Happier times: Christina and the For The Love Of Cars presenter wed on December 22nd, 2018, and share son Hudson London, whose first birthday they celebrated earlier this month. Seen here in 2019

Tribute: The 37-year-old real estate investor captioned the birthday post, 'Happy 10th Birthday to my sweet , smart, beautiful girl. Taylor you light up my life and challenge me in all the best ways'

Christina recently shocked fans when she revealed her second marriage was coming to an end after being wed for less than two years.

Christina shared a contemplative shot for her 1.4 million followers over the weekend, showing her and Ant silhouetted against the sunset, walking on a beach.

She captioned the photo with: 'Ant and I have made the difficult decision to separate. We are grateful for each other and as always, our children will remain our priority.

'We appreciate your support and ask for privacy for us and our family as we navigate the future,' Christina concluded.

Bake off! The accompanying series of photos showed a Paris-themed party setup, the centerpiece of which was a bakery named after the birthday girl

Yum: And there was no shortage of French baked goods on display, including biscuits, Eiffel Tower designed cakes and pink Macaroons

She and the For The Love Of Cars presenter, 41, wed on December 22nd, 2018, and share son Hudson London, whose first birthday they celebrated earlier this month.

Christina recently unveiled the ninth season of her HGTV real estate show Flip Or Flop with ex Tarek El Moussa, to whom she was married from 2009 until 2018.

She and Tarek share daughter Taylor, nine, and son Brayden, five.

Ant, for his part, also has children from a previous marriage, to Louise Anstead - daughter Amelie, 19, and son Archie, 14.

The news of Ant and Christina's split comes after the British born Ant was recently able to fly home to be with his older children after a months-long delay due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Gasp: Christina recently shocked fans when she revealed her second marriage was coming to an end after being wed for less than two years

Food lover's dream: Anstead shared numerous snaps of the mouth-watering treats on display

Earlier in lockdown, Ant had explained that due to flight cancellations he was unable to be with his two older children.

The doting dad was grateful for 'modern communications' and relied on daily FaceTime calls to bridge the gap between himself and his kids.

However, the separation wasn't easy and he lamented not being able to get his blended family all together. 'I am so over 2020 now!!!! This last week has been particularly TOUGH,' he wrote in June.

Clearly, the stresses of this year also took their toll on his relationship with his second wife, in spite of a cheery post in August celebrating their dating anniversary.

It remains to be seen whether Ant will stay across the pond, or return to co-parent his young son in Orange County, California with Christina.
You are here: China

Central China's Hubei Province, once hard-hit by COVID-19, on Monday commended more than 1,000 people and over 500 groups and organizations for their contribution to the battle against the virus.

At a meeting held in Wuhan, the provincial capital, 1,164 individuals, 436 groups, 160 CPC members, and 130 primary-level Party organizations were commended for their efforts.

Earlier this month, China held a meeting in Beijing to commend role models in the anti-epidemic battle.
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The legal director at Project South, Azadeh Shahshahani, said by email Tuesday: We have already heard from multiple attorneys representing numerous women who have suffered abuses reflected by Ms. Wootens whistleblowing disclosures. Some of these women are considering speaking up because Ms. Wooten courageously stepped forward. There has been a troubling pattern of misreporting on the health and welfare of detained immigrants held inside ICE facilities, and we look forward to Congress, the Inspector General, and all other relevant offices conducting a full investigation and applying immediate, necessary, corrective actions.
The National Research Council laboratories on Sussex Drive in Ottawa. NRC president Iain Stewart has been tapped by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to be the new head of the Public Health Agency of Canada. (JustSomePics/CC BY-SA 4.0)

Trudeau Picks National Research Council President to Head Public Health Agency of Canada

Prime Minister Trudeau has picked Iain Stewart, president of the National Research Council, to be head of the Public Health Agency of Canada after PHACs president suddenly resigned last week.

Tina Namiesniowski said in an email to staff on Sept. 18 that she was stepping down in order to step aside so someone else can step up. I am now at the point where I need to take a break, she wrote, having headed PHAC through the pandemic thus far.

Namiesniowski will take on the position of senior official in the Privy Council Office, which assists government operations.

Stewart, who had served two years of his five-year term as head of the National Research Council (NRC), will take over on Sept. 28 just as the second wave of the pandemic may be beginning, with the reported numbers of positive test cases rising in some parts of the country.

PHAC was created after the SARS outbreak to better coordinate Canadas public health response to such potential outbreaks, but the agency has been criticized in recent months for not disseminating alerts as widely as they had been during previous health crises.

Some scientists at the Global Public Health Intelligence Network (GPHIN) have claimed that their early warnings about the virus outbreak were ignored or not addressed adequately by senior staff at PHAC, according to news reports.

In response to the claims, Health Minister Patty Hajdu has ordered an independent review of GPHIN.

When Stewart was head of the NRC, he oversaw the decision for Canada to partner with the Chinese military in the development of a vaccine for the COVID-19 virus.

The vaccine candidate known as Ad5-nCoV (Ad5) had been developed by Cansino Biologics (CansinoBIO) in China. An agreement was made to have the vaccine tested in clinical trials at Dalhousie University, but the shipment of Ad5 to Canada was held up by Chinas customs agency and the partnership was cancelled.

Stewart has been in public service for about 20 years, with a yearlong stint at Dalhousie, where Ad5 was to be tested.
New Delhi, Sep 22 : Amid the uproar over the controversial Agriculture Bills, Indian Youth Congress (IYC) workers on Tuesday staged a protest outside Parliament House.

The IYC workers were detained by the Delhi police. Hundreds of IYC activists led by its National President Srinivas B.V. staged the protest outside Parliament House against rising unemployment among the youth and the "anti-farmer" Agriculture Bills.

Lashing out at the government while leading the protest march, Srinivas said,"The Central government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is anti-youth and anti-farmer." He accused Modi of suppressing the voice of the countrymen to benefit a few of his industrialist friends.

"I want to say that the anti-farmer black law has been passed at the whims of Prime Minister Modi and if these anti-people laws are not withdrawn, there will be a fierce protest and satyagraha on the streets," Srinivas added.

He said the IYC workers surrounded Parliament to awaken the "deaf and dumb" government to listen to the voice of the common people of India. During the protest, the IYC workers also burnt effigies of Modi.

The Congress has also planned nationwide protests from September 24 to November 14 over the passing of the Farm Bills. It has planned to submit two crore signatures of farmers opposing the the Bills. The IYC is already running a 'Rozgar Do' (give employment) campaign to awaken the Central government to the rising unemployment among the youth.
Ohio's GOP Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted has been booed at a Trump rally after he tried to encourage the President's supporters to wear face masks amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Republican politician took to the stage in front of 1,200 Trump supporters in Dayton on Monday evening, where he urged the crowd to cover their noses and mouths when out in public.

'I'm trying to make masks in America great again,' Husted enthusiastically told the unimpressed crowd after whipping out a red face mask with the words 'Trump 2020' emblazoned across it.

The audience instantly made their disapproval known, with loud jeers breaking out.

'Get off the stage,' one Trump supporter could be heard yelling in video shared on social media by The Recount.

Ohio's GOP Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted has been booed at a Trump rally after he tried to encourage the President's supporters to wear face masks amid the COVID-19 pandemic

Husted then pulled out a second mask, with the acronym 'MAGA' printed on it, as he forged ahead with his ill-fated sales pitch.

'Hang on, I get it! You don't like it. But when you go in a grocery store where you have to wear one ... just listen up! All right, I get it...' Husted conceded as the booing continued.

He then stated: 'But if somebody tells you to take it off, you can at least say you're trying to save the country by wearing one of President Donald Trump's masks!'

The booing came despite the fact many people in the audiences were actually wearing face masks.

However, some of President Trump's supporters have been reluctant to don face coverings in public, despite doctors saying they are effective in reducing the spread of the COVID-19.

Studies have shown that wearing a mask can cut the risk transmitting the virus, as it blocks droplets of water from being spread while breathing, coughing and talking.

One peer-reviewed study in the Lancet showed wearing a mask cut the risk of transmission from 17 percent to 3 percent.

On April 3, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention put out an updated advisory on coronavirus transmission recommending that Americans wear masks.

Trump famously refused to wear a face mask during the first few months of the coronavirus pandemic, insisting he was frequently tested for the contagious virus and did not need to cover his nose and mouth.

Some supporters see executive orders to wear face coverings - which have been issued across several states - as impinging on their personal freedoms.

It comes as the United States reaches 200,000 COVID-19 deaths and 6.8million cases.

Ohio's GOP Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted recently shared this snap to Twitter, which showed him sporting a face mask

Following Husted's appearance at the rally, Trump took to the stage and spoke to the crowd for more than a hour.

During his address he mentioned the coronavirus crisis, claiming the virus 'affects virtually nobody' except for older Americans and those with preexisting conditions.

'Now we know it affects elderly people. Elderly people with heart problems and other problems. If they have other problems, thats what it really affects. Thats it,' said Trump.

'In some states nobody young. They have a strong immune system - who knows. Take your hat off to the young because they have a hell of an immune system. It affects virtually no one,' he said, before adding 'open your schools.'
A farmers leaves walnut to dry in the sun during harvesting season in Anantnag, Kashmir.  PTI photo

Hyderabad: IT and Industries Minister KT Rama Rao on Monday questioned If the Agriculture Bills 2020 is truly a watershed moment, why is no farmer celebrating and why are NDA allies resigning?

He was responding to the tweet A watershed moment in the history of Indian agriculture! Congratulations to our hardworking farmers on the passage of key bills in Parliament, which will ensure a complete transformation of the agriculture sector as well as empower crores of farmers, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

KTR on his twitter handle pointed out when Telangana legislature passed the farmer friendly Revenue Bill last week, there was wide spread jubilation & cheer among farming community across the state If the #AgricultureBills2020 is truly a watershed moment, why is no farmer celebrating & why are NDA allies resigning?

In another tweet, KTR slammed BJP MPs from Telangana for claiming that the Union government released Rs 7,000 crore to Telangana in the fight against COVID-19.

The NDA government in response to a question answered that all they had released to Telangana was Rs 290 crores "What an absolute shameful distortion and misleading propaganda," KTR tweeted.
Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan meets suspended MPs staging a protest over their suspension from the remaining Monsoon Session of Parliament over the ruckus created in Rajya Sabha, at Parliament House in New Delhi.  PTI photo

New Delhi: A day after Rajya Sabha witnessed unruly scenes with some members tearing papers, climbing on tables, shouting slogans and throwing the rule book at the Chair, eight members of Opposition parties were on Monday suspended for their unruly behaviuor for the remainder of the monsoon session.

Commenting on their suspension, Rajya Sabha chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu said that some members grossly crossed all barriers of all parliamentary decorum and etiquettes thereby bringing down the prestige of the House.

Opposition members say that the chaos ensued when the Chair did not allow division of votes on the farm Bills, which was passed by voice vote.

Those suspended from the Upper House include TMCs Derek O Brien and Dola Sen, AAPs Sanjay Singh, Congress Rajiv Satav, Ripun Bora and Syed Nazir Hussain, CPI(M)s K.K. Ragesh and Elamaram Kareem.

Opposition parties hit out at the government over the suspension of eight Rajya Sabha MPs.

After the House adjourned for the day, suspended members sat on indefinite dharna in front of Mahatma Gandhis statue in Parliament premises.

Carrying pillows and blankets at the protest site, the MPs said "we will not budge".

"Suspension won't silence us. We will stand with farmers in their fight. The (Rajya Sabha) deputy chairman throttled parliamentary procedures yesterday, Mr Kareem said.

AAPs Sanjay Singh said, "Wake up crores of farmers of the country! The BJP government has mortgaged your life to Adani-Ambani, wake up and oppose this black law. We are on an agitation in Parliament, you should agitate outside. The BJP government has passed a black law against farmers. We were terminated for opposing the Bill.

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee tweeted in their support. "Suspension of the 8 MPs who fought to protect farmers' interests is unfortunate and reflective of this autocratic Govt's mindset that doesn't respect democratic norms & principles. We won't bow down & we'll fight this fascist Govt in Parliament & on the streets," she said.

The eight members were suspended after minister of state for parliamentary affairs, V. Murleedharan, read out a motion seeking their suspension on Monday. It was put to vote and was carried by voice vote.

Soon after the Zero Hour, Mr Naidu said that he was pained at the happenings during the passage of the Farmer's Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020, on Sunday. The chairman said that some members came to the well of the House and hurled papers, the rule book at the deputy chairman and abused him.

Mr Naidu also rejected the no-confidence motion moved by 47 members from the Opposition benches against deputy chairman Harivansh, who was presiding when the ruckus over farm Bills took place on Sunday, citing Rajya Sabha rules and precedents.

Mr Naidu said that he had gone through the entire proceedings of the House on Sunday in the light of the allegations made against the deputy chairman.

Mr Naidu said the deputy chairman was physically threatened and if marshals had not been called on time what would have happened to the deputy chairman Such behaviour was very unfortunate, unacceptable and condemnable and one that tarnished the image of Parliament, particularly of the House of Elders.

According to reports, amidst the chaos on Sunday, when the Opposition was protesting the Bills, the telecast was muted, cutting off viewers from what members of Parliament were saying. After a short adjournment, deputy chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh decided to put the Bills to a voice vote instead of calling for a division.

A voice vote involves the chairman putting a question to the House and then asking members to put forward their opinion in the form of ayes (yes) or noes. Based on a rough measure of which side is louder, the Speaker decides if the motion has passed or not. The other method involves actual voting by MPs, electronically.

Voice vote is not precise, and can be inaccurate, given that the Chair decides what the opinion of the House is based on which side he feels is louder.
A rate increase could be on the horizon for CPS Energy customers as the utility tries to strike a balance between using more renewable energy and managing the COVID-19-related hit to the city-owned utilitys finances.

We do know that we have multiple plants that need to be retired. Quite a few of them ... are old steam units that are approaching over 50 years old, and at this time, theyre not as efficient. CPS Energy President and CEO Paula Gold-Williams said Monday during the utility board of trustees monthly meeting.

And just like a used car, you eventually have to bite the bullet and get a better car, she said. Were going to have to think about replacing that technology.

Gold-Williams described CPS Energys two coal-fired power plants  its Spruce units  as highly functioning units that are very effective to San Antonio. But she acknowledged that ultimately were going to have think about a new paradigm for them.

The utility is pushing forward with its FlexPower Bundle plan. The aim is to increase CPSs capacity to produce solar and other renewable energy while maintaining reliable electricity at relatively low rates for customers.

In a separate discussion with reporters, Gold-Williams said CPS has managed to reduce its costs and upgrade its technology to prevent a rate increase in recent years. Its last rate hike hit in early 2014.

But it costs more to use renewable energy compared with electricity generated from coal and natural gas. Gold-Williams said CPS would gradually pass additional expenses from using more clean energy to customers.

Everything ultimately costs money, and so we will have to explain to the community the impact, Gold-Williams said. We have the ability to put (in a rate increase) in a way that will make it more affordable over time. But again, the community is going to be critical to deciding. In the middle of COVID, its a pretty tough thing to do. But at the same time, the plants are getting older.

On ExpressNews.com: Report: 22 percent of S.A. households struggle to pay the power bill

CPS Energy is projecting at least a $21.6 million loss for its current budget year, which runs through Jan. 31, 2021. Originally, the utility projected a $3.9 million surplus for the year.

The projected loss has been driven largely by reduced electricity sales to schools, churches and hotels, officials reported. An increase in sales to residential customers prevented CPS from sustaining heavier losses.

Amid the financial woes and calls for more green energy, CPS is also looking at whether to establish a rate advisory committee.

The proposed committee would allow a group of appointees to provide input to CPS regarding potential rate changes and the kind of fuel the utility uses to generate power.

Mayor Ron Nirenberg proposed the committee in January to enhance transparency and accountability as CPS moves forward in setting its rate structure and fees.

Similarly, the San Antonio Water System utility also has a rate advisory group that provides input to SAWS board and management.

The proposed CPS rate advisory committee would consist of 21 members  11 appointed by CPS Energys five-member board of trustees, and 10 appointed by City Council. A technical advisory committee made up of CPS Energy staff and a consulting firm would explain the technical aspects of utility rate-setting to appointees.

CPS officials said the rate advisory committee proposal isnt a certainty. If board members chose to move forward, the utility would hire a consulting firm later this year and get the committee off the ground likely sometime next year.

CPS estimated the committee would cost about $1 million this year and next.

Environmental activists have called for a rate advisory committee to give local residents more say in how their electricity rates are set. Currently, commercial customers of CPS pay a declining rate, meaning the amount they pay for electricity is cut roughly in half after using a certain amount of power.

On ExpressNews.com: Activists launch petition seeking to disband CPS Energys board

Activists have said that gives large business operations little reason to reduce their power consumption.

On the other hand, cheap electricity rates have long been a selling point in attracting employers to San Antonio.

I served as chairman of the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation when we were recruiting Toyota to San Antonio, Trustee Ed Kelley said. You know what our biggest advantage was? CPS Energy and its reliability.

Kelley and Trustee Janie Gonzalez expressed doubts about the proposed committee. Kelley described it as a political quagmire.

This company is an excellent, excellent company, and were trying to turn it into a political hogwash, Kelley said. We are delivering what our citizens want, and there is no reason for us to set up another stupid committee 

diego.mendoza-moyers@

express-news.net
David Platt calls for prayers as pastors struggle more than ever during pandemic

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Megachurch pastor and popular author David Platt will hold a special night of prayer for pastors this week as some church leaders hes spoken with during the COVID-19 pandemic have told him they are struggling more than ever.

Most every pastor I talk to is struggling. Including some who dont want to go on, Platt, the lead pastor of McLean Bible Church in Vienna, Virginia, wrote on Twitter last Thursday.

If youre a pastor, I want to pray for and encourage you specifically.

In a short video message included with his tweet, Platt says that pastors are struggling in a variety of ways.

Some say [they are] struggling more than theyve ever struggled in life and ministry, he stressed.

Some of them have even served for decades, the Radical author pointed out.

Most every pastor I talk to is struggling. Including some who don't want to go on. If you're a pastor, I want to pray for and encourage you specifically. Join me and other pastors for prayer & encouragement next week, Wednesday September 23rd at 12pm ET... https://t.co/YmiOPCUJFgpic.twitter.com/LpQMQF0srW  David Platt (@plattdavid) September 17, 2020

Im just burdened to pray for each other as pastors right now. ... You are not alone, Platt, the former head of the Southern Baptist International Mission Board, said.

He urged pastors who are struggling to join him for a time of prayer at 12 p.m. ET on Wednesday.

Platt, the founder of Radical.net, will host what is described as a time of Encouragement and Prayer for Pastors, a virtual event that can be accessed through Facebook Live and YouTube.

Platts prayer event comes as other Christian leaders have voiced concerns about the status of fellow pastors.

In a recent op-ed published by The Christian Post, Thom S. Rainer, the founder and CEO of Church Answers, an online community and resource for church leaders, wrote that the vast majority of pastors with whom our team communicates are saying they are considering quitting their churches.

Its a trend I have not seen in my lifetime, Rainer, the former CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources, explained. Some are just weeks away from making an announcement. They are looking for work in the secular world. Some will move to bi-vocational ministry. Some will move to marketplace ministry.

Among the struggles that pastors are facing, Rainer said, is that they are weary from the pandemic, discouraged by fights between church members and facing declining membership, financial uncertainties, increased workload and increased criticism.

In July, a LifeWay Research survey found that 5% of Protestant pastors have dealt with an attendee dying from the coronavirus.

In the previous three months, pastors said church attendees had also dealt with reduced hours at work (74%) and losing a job (48%). According to the survey, only 29% were holding in-person Bible studies.

Barna Groups 2017 report, "The State of Pastors," revealed that the median age of pastors had risen from 44 to 54 over the last 25 years.

Pastors play a vital role in the health and well-being of society, Barna president David Kinnaman said in that report. We explore how pastors are faring in a culture where attitudes are growing increasingly skeptical to Christianity. Our goal is for pastors to feel affirmed, challenged and informed to continue the transformative work they do in their churches and communities.

The report further revealed that pastors are not immune to mental health struggles as almost half have faced depression and one in five have struggled with addiction  most commonly, to porn.

A 2015 LifeWay survey found that eight out of 10 pastors agreed they would need to confront conflict in their existing church in the future. More than one in five pastors agreed that their church had unrealistic expectations of them. Also, 24% of pastors agreed they frequently got irritated with people at the church.
The standardised per-day charges for Covid-19 treatment in private hospitals (Rs 8000-18,000) fixed by the state government in June will now be applicable only to Haryana residents, an order issued by the state health department on September 18 stated. The decision comes at a time when hospitalisation of Covid-19 patients from Haryana, as well as those from other parts of the country, has been witnessing a steady spike in Gurugram.

Gurugram is perceived to have a robust private healthcare infrastructure in place, a primary reason for many outstation patients opting to undergo treatment for Covid-19 in the city rather than their own hometowns. Presently, 225 patients from Gurugram and 156 patients from other parts of Haryana are hospitalised in the district. Apart from this another 255 outstation patients 55 from Delhi, 97 from Uttar Pradesh and 103 from other parts of the country  are also admitted in the private and government hospitals in Gurugram, which have over 2000 beds reserved for Covid-19 patients.

The new order issued by the director general health services on September 18 says that an earlier order capping treatment charges will now be applicable only to Haryana residents. On June 25, the state government had fixed per day rates in hospitals accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare providers (NABH) at Rs 10,000 for isolation bed, including supportive care and oxygen; Rs 15,000 for Intensive Care Unit (ICU) bed without ventilator and Rs 18,000 for ICU bed with ventilator. Likewise, the rates in non-NABH accredited hospitals are Rs 8000, Rs 13,000 and Rs 15,000, respectively for the same services.

About the treatment cost for patients from outside Haryana, Dr Virender Yadav, chief medical officer, said, Private hospitals may have to decide their treatment charges on their own.

A city-based senior doctor, privy to the matter, said, It is probably one of the ways by which the state government is trying to reserve Covid-19 beds for residents of Haryana as number of cases and hospitalisation has seen an upward trajectory.

When HT contacted senior management officials of two private hospitals, where maximum outstation patients are getting treated, they did not comment on the issue.

In June, officials said, the purpose behind the standardization of rates was to eliminate disparity in charges across various private hospitals. The treatment cost in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) was going up to Rs 50,000 or more, while for general ward it was Rs 20,000 a day. Therefore, under the fixed charges the state included all laboratory investigation, radiology diagnostic, drugs, consumables, including Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and masks, doctors consultation among others. It did not include experimental drugs like Remdesivir. Also, pregnant women, who have normal or Cesarean delivery and for the care of the infant, the hospitals were allowed to charge extra.

K Sujatha Rao, former secretary, Union ministry of health and family welfare, said that there is no merit in introducing price differentiation for Covid-19 patients undergoing treatment in hospitals.

Asking a patient coming from Bihar to pay more, while a resident of the state who is having the same illness pays less for the same treatment, is totally discriminatory. The decision might have been taken under the pressure of private hospitals, who want to earn profit from outstation patients, while obliging the state government by giving treatment to its residents at a lower cost, Rao said.

Rajeev Arora, additional chief secretary, health department, was unavailable for a comment on the issue.
Chinese Ambassador to France Lu Shaye on Tuesday highlighted three priority areas for Sino-French cooperation -- strengthening anti-epidemic cooperation, promoting economic and trade ties and upholding multilateralism.

"The relations between China and France are among the most stable relations between major countries in the world," said Lu at a press conference, noting that the two countries have demonstrated a high level of strategic coordination in the fight against COVID-19.

Personnel exchanges between China and France are resuming quickly -- nearly 1,000 French nationals have arrived in China through the "fast track", and six civil flights have been resumed each week linking the two countries, he added.

The ambassador made these remarks when meeting Chinese and French press ahead of the 71st anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, to be celebrated on Oct. 1. Due to the epidemic, the embassy will not host a reception this year.

China has achieved a major victory in the national fight against the epidemic but the the pandemic is not yet completely under control around the world, Lu noted.

"Vaccines are an important weapon in beating the epidemic. Nine vaccines developed by China have entered the clinical trial phase, and four of them have been approved for phase III clinical trials abroad. China will make its vaccines a global public good when they are finally developed, and thereby do its part in ensuring the accessibility and affordability of vaccines," he said.

Apart from strengthening anti-epidemic cooperation, said the ambassador, China and France need to accelerate cooperation on major projects in nuclear energy, aeronautics and aerospace, actively foster new growth areas for cooperation in smart cities, electric vehicles, organic agrifood and more, implement the Beijing Call for Biodiversity Conservation and Climate Change, and ensure the success of the COP15 of the Convention on Biological Diversity in Kunming and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress in Marseille.

On the challenges posed by Cold War mentality, anti-globalization, protectionism and "digital iron curtain", Lu stressed that multilateralism is the only option.

"This year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. China will take this opportunity to uphold and promote multilateralism, work with the rest of the world to advance global governance in the post-epidemic era, and build a community with a shared future for mankind," he said.

Noting that this year also marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the European Union (EU), the ambassador reiterated that China and Europe need each other.

"China and the EU have different social systems and development paths, but this has never been an obstacle to our cooperation," he noted.

Despite the impact of COVID-19, China and the EU have maintained close communication and coordination this year. Last week, the leaders of China, Germany and the EU held a video conference, which charted the way forward for China-EU relations and defined key areas for cooperation.

The two sides formally signed an agreement on geographical indications and agreed to speed up negotiations on a China-EU investment agreement with a view to concluding it by the end of this year, and to build together a green partnership and a digital cooperative partnership.

"As long as China and the EU adhere to peaceful coexistence, openness and cooperation, multilateralism, and dialogue and consultation, China-EU relations will surely grow to a higher level in the next 45 years," said the ambassador.
A 25-year-old suspect shot by police outside a Massachusetts mall Tuesday morning is suspected of having threatened officers and acted erratically before he was shot, authorities said.

Police got a 911 call around 3 a.m. from a security guard patrolling the Kingston Collection, who reported that a man was acting threateningly and erratically, Plymouth District Attorney Timothy J. Cruzs office said in a statement.

Officers responded to the call and located the 25-year-old man, who is accused of threatening officers before shots were fired, according to the statement.

Authorities did not say whether the suspect was carrying a weapon.

The man was taken to Boston Medical Center, the statement said. Officials did not disclose the extent of the suspects injuries.

A Kingston police officer was treated by EMS out of an abundance of caution, according to the district attorney.

Interviews were being conducted by law enforcement around 7 a.m. as part of the investigation into the shooting, Cruzs office said.

Both WCVB and Boston 25 reported that a knife, a bottle of alcohol and a backpack were lying on the ground near the scene of the shooting.

This is a very active and ongoing investigation, the district attorneys office said.
The closures will result in a one-time charge of about $5.9 million, but Byline said it expects to save about $4.3 million beginning next year from the branch closures. A portion of those funds will be used to increase Bylines digital banking platform, as well as to renovate and upgrade existing branches, the bank said.
T he UK government is to look into the sale of chip designer ARM to US giant Nvidia.

Digital minister Caroline Dinenage said the government would access the impact of the deal, including commitments to keep its head office and staff in Cambridge.

She said: "We are currently working very hard to understand the full impact of this move and what potential impact it may have on the future, and from there we are able to consider what steps we may wish to take."

Nvidia, the biggest US chip company in the world, has agreed to buy ARM from Japan's SoftBank for 31 billion.

Dinenage added that ministers would consider commitments made by SoftBank and Nvidia to maintain ARM as a successful British business incredibly carefully, and the government had already had discussions with the parties involved.

A decision about whether to intervene in the deal would then be taken by the secretary of state for digital, culture, media and sport after considering the relevant information.

ARM is one of the UKs few world-class tech companies and its technology is at the heart of most smartphones.

But there are mounting fears the firms headquarters could be axed when ARM becomes a Nvidia subsidiary.

Nvidia promised that ARM, which has 2500 UK workers, will remain a British firm and plans to build a artificial intelligence research centre in Cambridge.

SoftBanks takeover of the firm in 2016 for $32 billion was one of the largest deals to take place after the Brexit referendum. The then Prime Minister Theresa May received assurances that ARM would remain in Cambridge but these stipulations run out next year.
Pennsylvania's Supreme Court ordered state officials last week to throw out mail-in ballots submitted without a required inner "secrecy" envelope in November's election, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

The state of play: The decision went under the radar alongside the simultaneous decision to extend the time that mail-in ballots could be counted, but Philadelphia's top elections official warned state legislators this week that throwing out so-called "naked ballots" could bring "electoral chaos" to the state and cause "tens of thousands of votes" to be thrown out  potentially tipping the presidential election.

Pennsylvania requires voters to place their ballots in an unmarked "secrecy" envelope before placing that inside another mailing envelope.

Historically, only about 5% of Pennsylvanians have voted by mail as the state had required an excuse to vote absentee. This year marks the first time that the state has adopted no-excuse absentee voting, so many will be voting by mail amid the coronavirus pandemic  and using the double-envelope system  for the first time.

The decision to reject "naked ballots" didn't apply during the primary earlier this year, which was the first use of expanded mail-in voting, so it's unclear how widespread the mistake may be. However, 6.4% of ballots were "naked" during last November's municipal election in Philadelphia, which was conducted under the more restrictive absentee system.

Why it matters: Polls have found that more Democrats than Republicans plan to vote by mail, so thrown-out "naked ballots" are more likely to be cast for Joe Biden. President Trump carried Pennsylvania by just 44,000 votes in 2016.

"Pennsylvania is so important that our model gives Trump an 84 percent chance of winning the presidency if he carries the state  and it gives Biden a 96 percent chance of winning if Pennsylvania goes blue," FiveThirtyEight's Nathaniel Rakich noted in a recent analysis.

If tens of thousands of "naked ballots" are rejected by election officials, it could be enough to swing the result in a tipping-point state.

Driving the news: The issue has taken on such importance that the Democratic National Committee released an ad on Thursday to take Pennsylvania voters through the step-by-step process for completing their mail-in ballot.

The big picture: The Trump campaign, the Republican National Committee and other Pennsylvania Republicans filed the lawsuit against some state election rules, including the "naked" ballots.

What they're saying: "[R]ecent actions by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court have set Pennsylvania up to be the subject of significant post-election controversy, the likes of which we have not seen since Florida in 2000," Lisa Deeley, the chair of Philadelphia's city commissioners, wrote to state legislators.

"I hope you consider this letter as me being a canary in the coal mine."

The bottom line: Cook Political Report's Dave Wasserman called the situation "a foreseeable train wreck."

Read Deeley's letter.
First Minister addresses the nation  Think carefully about making journeys: only travel when you need to do so

This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Sep 22nd, 2020

The First Minister and the Prime Minister have both made rare televised addresses this evening to talk about measures being introduced due to the pandemic.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke at 8PM followed at 8:05PM by First Minister Mark Drakeford.

Hospitality businesses in Wales will have to close at 10pm, as new measures are introduced in Wales to prevent a fresh coronavirus crisis.

Hospitality businesses will have to provide table service only from Thursday and all off-licences, including supermarkets, will have to stop selling alcohol at 10pm.

The new measures are part of a package of co-ordinated actions to control the spread of coronavirus, which are being introduced across the UK. They will come into force in Wales at 6pm on Thursday (24 September).

To help further prevent the spread of coronavirus, the First Minister also announced:

A new 500 payment to support people on low incomes who are asked to self-isolate if they have coronavirus;

Strengthened regulations to ensure employers support people who need to self-isolate.

The changes follow a four-nation COBR meeting, chaired by the Prime Minister, which discussed a series of proposals for further action  many of which are already in place in Wales  to respond to rising rates of coronavirus transmission throughout the UK.

Announcing the new measures, First Minister Mark Drakeford said: Once again, we are facing rising cases of coronavirus infections in different parts of Wales and once again we are seeing people being admitted to our hospitals with serious illnesses because of this virus.

In the weeks and months ahead of us, there is a very real possibility we could see coronavirus regain a foothold in our local communities, towns and cities. None of us wants to see that happen again.

In some parts of South Wales, where we have seen the sharpest rises in cases, there are already even stricter local restrictions in place to protect peoples health. We now need to make that difference across Wales.

It was with the help of people across Wales that we got through the first wave in the spring  you followed all the rules and helped reduce cases of coronavirus, protecting the NHS and saving lives.

We need everyone to follow the rules and guidance and to take the steps to protect them and their loved ones. Together, we can keep Wales safe.

And think carefully about making journeys: only travel when you need to do so. The fewer people we meet and the fewer journeys we make, the safer we all are.

The changes come as new local restrictions have come into force for people living in Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Merthyr Tydfil and Newport.

A series of measures announced by the Prime Minister for England are already in force in Wales:

In Wales, the Welsh Government asks all those who can to work from home wherever possible. This has been in force since late March;

Face coverings are required in all indoor public places, for both customers and staff working in those indoor public areas;

People in Wales can only meet socially indoors with people they live with (your household) and members of an exclusive extended household (known as a bubble). Meetings or gatherings indoors are limited to six people from the same extended household, not including any children under 11.

Prime Minister Johnsons full speech tonight is copied below:

Good evening, the struggle against covid is the single biggest crisis the world has faced in my lifetime. In less than a year this disease has killed almost a million people, and caused havoc to economies everywhere. Here in the UK we mourn every person we have lost, and we grieve with their families. And yet I am more certain than ever that this is a struggle that humanity will win, and we in this country will win  and to achieve what we must I want to talk to you directly tonight about the choices that we face  none of them easy  and why we must take action now. I know that we can succeed because we have succeeded before. When the sickness took hold in this country in March, we pulled together in a spirit of national sacrifice and community. We followed the guidance to the letter. We stayed at home, protected the NHS, and saved thousands of lives. And for months with those disciplines of social distancing we have kept that virus at bay. But we have to acknowledge this this is a great and freedom-loving country; and while the vast majority have complied with the rules there have been too many breaches  too many opportunities for our invisible enemy to slip through undetected. The virus has started to spread again in an exponential way. Infections are up, hospital admissions are climbing. We can see what is happening in France and Spain, and we know, alas, that this virus is no less fatal than it was in the spring, and that the vast majority of our people are no less susceptible, and the iron laws of geometrical progression are shouting at us from the graphs that we risk many more deaths, many more families losing loved ones before their time; and I know that faced with that risk the British people will want their government to continue to fight to protect them, you, and that is what we are doing, night and day. And yet the single greatest weapon we bring to this fight is the common sense of the people themselves  the joint resolve of this country to work together to suppress covid now. So today I set out a package of tougher measures in England  early closing for pubs, bars; table service only; closing businesses that are not covid secure; expanding the use of face coverings, and new fines for those that fail to comply; and once again asking office workers to work from home if they can while enforcing the rule of six indoors and outdoors  a tougher package of national measures combined with the potential for tougher local restrictions for areas already in lockdown. I know that this approach  robust but proportionate  already carries the support of all the main parties in parliament. After discussion with colleagues in the Devolved Administrations, I believe this broad approach is shared across the whole UK. And to those who say we dont need this stuff, and we should leave people to take their own risks, I say these risks are not our own. The tragic reality of having covid is that your mild cough can be someone elses death knell. And as for the suggestion that we should simply lock up the elderly and the vulnerable  with all the suffering that would entail  I must tell you that this is just not realistic, because if you let the virus rip through the rest of the population it would inevitably find its way through to the elderly as well, and in much greater numbers. Thats why we need to suppress the virus now, and as for that minority who may continue to flout the rules, we will enforce those rules with tougher penalties and fines of up to 10,000. We will put more police out on the streets and use the army to backfill if necessary. And of course I am deeply, spiritually reluctant to make any of these impositions, or infringe anyones freedom, but unless we take action the risk is that we will have to go for tougher measures later, when the deaths have already mounted and we have a huge caseload of infection such as we had in the spring. If we let this virus get out of control now, it would mean that our NHS had no space  once again  to deal with cancer patients and millions of other non-covid medical needs. And if we were forced into a new national lockdown, that would threaten not just jobs and livelihoods but the loving human contact on which we all depend. It would mean renewed loneliness and confinement for the elderly and vulnerable, and ultimately it would threaten once again the education of our children. We must do all we can to avoid going down that road again. But if people dont follow the rules we have set out, then we must reserve the right to go further. We must take action now because a stitch in time saves nine; and this way we can keep people in work, we can keep our shops and our schools open, and we can keep our country moving forward while we work together to suppress the virus. That is our strategy, and if we can follow this package together, then I know we can succeed because in so many ways we are better prepared than before. We have the PPE, we have the beds, we have the Nightingales, we have new medicines  pioneered in this country  that can help save lives. And though our doctors and our medical advisers are rightly worried about the data now, and the risks over winter, they are unanimous that things will be far better by the spring, when we have not only the hope of a vaccine, but one day soon  and I must stress that we are not there yet  of mass testing so efficient that people will be able to be tested in minutes so they can do more of the things they love. Thats the hope; thats the dream. Its hard, but its attainable, and we are working as hard as we can to get there. But until we do, we must rely on our willingness to look out for each other, to protect each other. Never in our history has our collective destiny and our collective health depended so completely on our individual behaviour. If we follow these simple rules together, we will get through this winter together. There are unquestionably difficult months to come. And the fight against covid is by no means over. I have no doubt, however, that there are great days ahead. But now is the time for us all to summon the discipline, and the resolve, and the spirit of togetherness that will carry us through.

Update 9:40pm The transcript of the First Ministers statement has been released:
(Natural News) According to Che Guevara protege and Democratic socialist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the U.S. Supreme Court seat just vacated with the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg belongs to her and her fellow left-wing revolutionaries.

It doesnt belong to the American people and is not subject to the processes proscribed by the Constitution for the replacement of high court justices.

No.

That seat and, presumably any other Supreme Court seat that is vacated while President Donald Trump is in the White House and the Senate is controlled by Republicans, belongs to the revolution. The movement. The radical left.

And if they dont get it then, by golly, Americans should riot. Or something like that.

In a video to her 6.6 million Instagram followers, AOC told them to radicalize and fight following Ginsburgs death on Friday, which now presents Trump with his third high court pick following the appointments of Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh.

@AoC told her followers 20 minutes ago that they must radicalize and fight. Its on folks pic.twitter.com/HsM1Ya1idm  Pete (@peterordinary) September 19, 2020

Let this moment radicalize you, she said. Let this moment really put everything into stark focus. Because this election has always been about the fight of and for our lives.

I need you to be ready, she added.

Wow, what a little Hugo Chavez wannabe this woman is; ready for what, exactly?

And who, exactly, is being deprived of justice?

Oh, we know who she means; its the same song-and-dance on the left. Minorities, persons of color, the poor, the deprived, etc.  all the people Democrat leftists like her have turned into victimsfor decades.

Only, there are really tens of millions of Americans who have yet to get justice after Barack Obama and the deep state he aligned with tried to steal the 2016 election from Donald Trump and then attempted to depose him time and again after he won.

Also, we dont yet have any justice for Hillary Clinton who is, perhaps, the most prolific unindicted criminal conspirator in the history of our nation.

It is heartbreaking that in her final moments she was, as are many others, preoccupied with what would happen after her passing  before telling her followers hours later to radicalize and fight, she would go on to tweet.

No president is the answer, the New York lawmaker continued. You are the answer. Mass movements are the answer.

Voting for Joe Biden is not about whether you agree with him. Its a vote to let our democracy live another day, AOC further claimed. Our first, no 1 priority is to do everything possible to secure electoral college victory in Nov. (Related: Leftists explode following Ginsburgs death, threaten to burn down country and leave bodies in the street if Trump and GOP try to replace her.)

Fox News added:

Ocasio-Cortez said she jumped on the live video to address those grieving the loss of Ginsburg and who were scared about the future. She spoke for about 40 minutes about the gravity of the vacancy and how important it was to keep up the fight for Democrats to win in November.

She alluded to Joe Bidens unpopularity among progressives who preferred that Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., be the partys nominee, but said November is about survival.

We need to focus on voting for Joe Biden. I dont care if you like him or not, Ocasio-Cortez told her supporters.

Translated, that means a) Biden isnt Trump, the orange fascist; and b) Biden is the vassal she and her radical leftists will use to continue Obamas fundamental transformation of our country into one giant Cuba or Venezuela.

But theres more, and you can take those to the bank: If Biden does not deliver the revolution (defund the police; pack the Supreme Court with left-wing judicial activists; abolish punishment for most crimes; teach revolution in all schools, etc.), AOC and her Bernie Bros will turn on the former VP like Antifa anarchists have turned on far-left mayors in cities all over the country.

She is saying this: We are not Democrats, we are Marxist revolutionaries who will use the Democratic Party to our advantage, until it is no longer useful.

Sedition, anyone?

Sources include:

FoxNews.com

ZeroHedge.com

NaturalNews.com
An 81-year-old man, who Palmer Township police charge killed his 66-year-old wife early on July 4, 2019 before fleeing in her car to Colorado, has died, Northampton County Director of Corrections James C. Kostura confirmed Monday morning.

Edgar T. Himel died about 3:30 p.m. Sunday in St. Lukes Hospital in Bethlehem Township after a few days of medical treatment, a county spokeswoman added.

The cause and manner of Himels death were not immediately available, but District Attorney Terry Houck said it is not a criminal matter.

Himel was charged with shooting Penny VanTassel-Himel, who was a longtime board member of Northampton County Meals on Wheels, a member of the advisory board for the Northampton County Division of Children and Youth and such a consistent presence at Greater Shiloh Church that when on July 7, 2019, she didnt pick up those she normally drove to to the church on Eastons South Side, a pastor began a search for her.

She was just a wonderful woman, neighbor Doris Grau said that day, speaking of VanTassel-Himels many good deeds.  She was a saint.

VanTassel-Himel was found dead in the master bedroom of the home she owned in the 100 block of Old Orchard Drive.

A Palmer Township detective testified during Himels preliminary hearing in September 2019 that Himel shot his wife of 10 years during an argument early July 4 in the bedroom, then went into the dining room to get a drink.2

When he heard her moaning, he shot her again, the detective said, before stealing her car and driving two-thirds of the way across the country. Himel headed west on Interstate 80 and was arrested on July 13 of that year in a hotel in Sterling, Colorado, authorities said.

When asked by a reporter after his arraignment in July 26, 2019, in Central Booking at Northampton County Prison if he killed his wife, Himel tersely said, I aint talking to you. Addressing another reporter, he said he had nothing to say to the public because they had already made up their minds about the case. But when asked by a third reporter if he apologizes to his wifes family, he softened for a moment, said, Yes, and added, Only them.

Himel was being held in the county prison as his court case winded its way through the system.

Himels case has had a number of pretrial conferences since he was formally arraigned Dec. 5 in Northampton County Court on charges of homicide and theft, records show.

The homicide trial process often can be slow and intricate, but a trial date was set for January during such a conference early in September, county Assistant District Attorney Rebecca J. Kulik confirmed.

Jury trials were shut down during the early months of the coronavirus pandemic, but Kulik said this case may have been slowed by another related issue. With the courthouse in Easton closed in the early months of the pandemic, it wasnt possible for witnesses to be brought in for a suppression hearing, she said. That court action didnt happen until July and the prosecution was still awaiting results when Himel died.

Kulik said the prosecutions case was solid because Himel confessed to police in Colorado and in Palmer Township. This was not a death penalty case, she said.

Tony Rhodin can be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com.
BANGALORE, India, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the Latest Market Research Report "Online Grocery Market by Type (Packaged Foods, Fresh Foods) by Application (Personal Shoppers, Business Customers) and Region  Global Forecast to 2025", published on Valuates Reports .

In 2018, the global Online Grocery market size was 27.500 Billion USD, and it is expected to reach 129.540 Billion USD by the end of 2025, with a CAGR of 24.8% during 2019-2025.

With the rapid increase in speed and availability of same-day delivery, the smartphone app service offered by online grocery companies has made the consumer experience better than ever.

Several estimates indicate that the U.S. Online Grocery market alone could expand five-fold over the next decade, with customers projected to spend more than USD 100 billion. This is an optimistic prediction, and the same is predicted to be observed all over the world.

The COVID-19 outbreak has led to a rise in the number of consumers purchasing food online as customers stopped going to department stores and reducing their social interactions. The effect of coronavirus has only recently prompted a spike in online grocery shopping worldwide. It is expected to change consumers' purchasing behavior and have a significant long-term impact on the industry.

Get Detailed Analysis of COVID-19 Impact on Online Grocery Market :

https://reports.valuates.com/request/sample/QYRE-Auto-352/Global_Online_Grocery_Market

TRENDS INFLUENCING THE ONLINE GROCERY MARKET SIZE

The major factor expected to drive the Online Grocery Market size is conveniently delivered to the consumer's doorstep, a variety of product options, and quick delivery. Furthermore, customers can keep track of their expenses as well.

The increase in smartphone users' number is expected to drive the Online Grocery Market size during the forecast period. Due to their ease of operation, smartphones are widely used for online shopping as they allow users to purchase products through mobile applications.

With the advancement of technology and the growing penetration of Internet services, customer understanding of the numerous shopping patterns trends rising. This, in turn, is expected to increase the growth of the Online Grocery Market size during the forecast period. The most desirable consumer groups in the industry are the Millennials and Generation Z.

View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-352/global-online-grocery

ONLINE GROCERY MARKET SHARE ANALYSIS

North America held the largest Online Grocery Market share in 2019. This high share is due to the presence of many influential players and the rise in U.S. e-commerce sales.

The Asia Pacific is projected to be the fastest-growing region during the forecast period. This upsurge is attributable to measures taken in their respective countries by India and China's governments to encourage digitalization and e-commerce. In 2015, to empower the country digitally, the Indian government initiated a Digital India drive.

Based on end uses, the market is segmented into Personal Shoppers and Business Customers. In 2018, Personal Shoppers occupied the largest market share, 70.05%, which is also expected to grow at a higher rate as compared to the Business Customers segment during the forecast period.

Inquire for Regional Data : https://reports.valuates.com/request/regional/QYRE-Auto-352/Global_Online_Grocery_Market

THE KEY PLAYERS COVERED IN THIS STUDY

Carrefour

Kroger

Tesco

Walmart

Amazon

Target

ALDI

Coles Online

BigBasket

Longo

Schwan Food

FreshDirect

Honestbee

Alibaba.

ONLINE GROCERY MARKET SEGMENTATION

ONLINE GROCERY MARKET SEGMENT BY TYPE, THE PRODUCT CAN BE SPLIT INTO

Packaged Foods

Fresh Foods.

ONLINE GROCERY MARKET SEGMENT BY APPLICATION, SPLIT INTO

Personal Shoppers

Business Customers.

ONLINE GROCERY MARKET SEGMENT BY REGIONS/COUNTRIES, THIS REPORT COVERS

United States

Europe

China

Japan

Southeast Asia

India

Central & South America .

Buy Now for Single User: https://reports.valuates.com/api/directpaytoken?rcode=QYRE-Auto-352&lic=single-user

Buy Now for Enterprise User: https://reports.valuates.com/api/directpaytoken?rcode=QYRE-Auto-352&lic=enterprise-user

SIMILAR REPORTS :

Online Grocery Sales Market

A very small part of the overall grocery retail market is grocery sales through online platforms, but they are one of the fastest-growing segments. Many people do not enjoy the hassle of traditional grocery shopping, especially standing in a queue before check-out.

Suppose customers use the convenience of an online grocery service. In that case, they can choose their regular items on the distributor's website and have the selected products delivered right to their doorstep, which saves time.

View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Othe-3S323/online-grocery-sales

Online Grocery Services Market

View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Othe-1X355/online-grocery-services

E-grocery Market

View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-21M2199/global-e-grocery

Grocery Delivery Software Market

View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-2Q2899/covid-19-impact-on-global-grocery-delivery-software

Digital Grocery Market

View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Othe-4E310/digital-grocery

ABOUT US:

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Greg Caporaso, director of the Center for Applied Microbiome Science, part of the Pathogen and Microbiome Institute (PMI) at Northern Arizona University, has been awarded a $3.75 million grant by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to build software capable of analyzing and archiving data focused on the interplay between the human microbiome (the trillions of microorganisms living in and on the human body) and diverse types of cancer.

"The development of certain types of cancer - gastric cancer and cervical cancer, for example - have well-established microbial links," said Caporaso. "Our technologies for studying the human microbiome have rapidly advanced over the past two decades and continue to advance daily. As a result, we now have many new techniques to generate data on the composition and activities of the human microbiome, and many cancer researchers are working to use this information to understand new microbial links.

"However, since the analytic methods are so new, the software needed to turn this data into new knowledge is currently lacking. With this funding, we'll fill that software gap with the development of new open source software for relating the human microbiome to cancer. We expect that that will ultimately allow us to better understand cancer development, to detect cancer earlier and to improve cancer treatment and recovery."

The NCI-funded project will enable Caporaso and his team to enhance QIIME 2, the bioinformatics software platform that they first released in late 2016, to improve access to cancer microbiome bioinformatics methods and data. Caporaso's team at NAU includes graduate and undergraduate students and full-time software engineers.

Matthew Dillon and Evan Bolyen, two research software engineers in Caporaso's lab and co-first authors on the QIIME 2 paper, will be centrally involved in all of the design and development aspects of this project. The team plans to develop QIIME 2 into a microbiome multi-omics bioinformatics platform, supporting analysis and integration of genomic, metagenomic, metabolomics and other "omics" data, driven by the needs of the cancer research community.

"Many important cancer microbiome projects have made advances by integrating different data types, yet considerable technical hurdles remain to making microbiome multi-omics bioinformatics accessible by all researchers whose projects would benefit from these methods," Caporaso said.

With a background in software engineering, Caporaso's previous project, QIIME 1, was started 12 years ago in collaboration with his post-doctorate advisor Rob Knight, now the director of the Center for Microbiome Innovation at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). QIIME 1 was designed to facilitate their own studies into microbiomes - such as those found in humans or in soil - but also to make these methods accessible to all microbiome researchers.

Caporaso joined the faculty of NAU in 2011, where he continued his work on QIIME 1. Through his work with the Partnership for Native American Cancer Prevention, and subsequently during a sabbatical at the NCI, Caporaso realized the potential importance of the human microbiome to cancer. His primary papers on QIIME 1 and 2 have now been cited nearly 25,000 times in the primary research literature, making him one of the most highly cited researchers at NAU, according to Google Scholar, and Caporaso notes that nearly 20 percent of those citations are from studies about cancer. This led him to begin focusing efforts on better supporting the cancer research community with QIIME, and ultimately to this five-year award from the NCI.

"This is exciting for cancer researchers because it's going to enable a new type of study in microbiome research," he said. "QIIME has typically been used to generate a taxonomic understanding of the microbiome--which microbes are present in this environment, and how communities of microbiomes compare to each other based on their taxonomic composition. New technologies are beginning to be applied to help us consider other factors, such as what biological activities the microbes are engaged in, and the metabolic products of those activities. Integrating these data, along with data about the host such as their genome, is sure to lead us to new mechanistic understandings of the role of the microbiome in cancer."

QIIME 2 will support analysis of new types of data, such as metagenomics and metabolomics, to answer questions regarding the activity of microbes. This will include information on the functional genes encoded in microbial genomes and the metabolites present in the environment - small molecules like caffeine or ethanol and products produced by microbes - and how they might be impacting the host.

"With microbiome profiling, we're getting an idea of the biology; with metabolite profiling, we're a getting a picture of the chemistry. That helps us understand the bigger, more holistic view of what's going on in this infinitely complex environment of the gut microbiome where you've got trillions of cells interacting with each other and their environments, all creating and consuming metabolites, which impact their behavior and the behavior of our cells. We'll be able to know not only who is there in terms of microorganisms, but what they are doing, where they are living and how they are interacting."

As with QIIME 1, QIIME 2 is an open-source software platform, free and available for use by anyone. QIIME 2 was designed to expand automated methods of tracking and reporting to improve research reproducibility, and with this funding the team will create new tools to assist with long-term data archiving. Updates to QIIME 2 are released quarterly by Caporaso's team, and they have already begun working toward some of the aims of this grant.

"This is an incredibly exciting project for the cancer microbiome research community," said Melissa Herbst-Kralovetz, associate professor at the University of Arizona Cancer Center and director of the Women's Health Research Program at The UA College of Medicine-Phoenix. "My lab investigates the role of microbiota in gynecologic cancer, sexually transmitted infections and women's health. At present, we're leveraging 3D in vitro human models to better understand the role of microbiota in cancer development and progression, which relies on integrating diverse data types from clinical samples and our lab-based 3D models. The new functionality being developed for QIIME 2 will help us to assess the accuracy of these models, and ultimately translate information we gain from these 3D models back to the clinic to fight cancer."

"When we're able to start connecting the host biology, the microbiology and the chemistry, that's when we're really going to be able to figure out some of the missing links between the microbiome and cancer development or cancer treatment," Caporaso said.

###

About Northern Arizona University

Northern Arizona University is a higher-research institution providing exceptional educational opportunities in Arizona and beyond. NAU delivers a student-centered experience to its 31,000 students in Flagstaff, statewide and online through rigorous academic programs in a supportive, inclusive and diverse environment. Dedicated, world-renowned faculty help ensure students achieve academic excellence, experience personal growth, have meaningful research opportunities and are positioned for personal and professional success.
Check back the first week of October for our full 2020 Voter Guide, complete with a breakdown of races, candidates and ballot measures.

Worried about voting in the age of coronavirus? Click here for even more details about voting by mail and to learn about Election Day pandemic protocols.

KEY DATES

October 5, 2020 | Last day to register to vote in person

October 5, 2020 | Last day for registering by mail to vote

October 13-23, 2020 | Early voting period

October 23, 2020 | Last day to request a ballot by mail

Nov. 3, 2020 | General Election Day

VOTING FAQ

How do I check if I'm registered to vote?

Check your registration status on VoteTexas.gov or by contacting your county voter registrar's office. If you're not registered, the website will give you instructions for how to do so.

Can I register to vote online in Texas?

No, Texas is one of nine states that do not allow this.

I'm in the armed forces or otherwise overseas. How do I register to vote?

Contact the Federal Voting Assistance Program. They'll be able to help, as the rules are different for you than for people living in the U.S.

I'm a student -- where do I register to vote, at school or at home?

It's up to you. Just remember you must pick one location where you'll register and vote.

Can I vote early by mail?

You can vote by mail if you will be away from your county on Election Day and during the hours that early voting is conducted; are sick or disabled; are 65 years of age or older on Election Day; or you are in jail.

Does lack of immunity to COVID-19 qualify me for a mail-in ballot?

The Texas Supreme Court has ruled that voters can take their lack of immunity into consideration when determing whether, considered along with other health factors, they qualify as having a disability, and thus, qualifying them for a mail-in ballot. Voters do not have to define their disability on their mail-in ballot application. The Supreme Court also said county election officials have no responsibility to question or investigate a mail-in ballot application that is valid on its face. It's unclear, but appears unlikely, that individual voters would face charges. Keith Ingram, the state's director of elections, has told the courts that he does not know whether anyone had been prosecuted for fraudulent use of an application for ballot by mail in the last 20 years. He also acknowledged that for the state to prosecute, it would have to prove that a voter acted "intentionally or with knowledge of his or her fraudulent conduct."

How do I request a mail-in ballot? When's my deadline?

Fill out an application for ballot by mail and hand it in to your county elections office. There are several ways of turning it in: Either drop it off in person before the start of early voting, which begins Oct. 13, or mail it. Local election officials have to have received your applications by Oct. 23. The application can also be submitted by fax or email, but you'll still have to send it again by mail within four business days. Military or overseas voters can get more information on requesting a ballot here.

Do mail-in or provisional ballots only get counted if a race is close?

Nope, that's a common misconception. All valid mail-in applications and approved provisional ballots wil be counted  they just may not make it into the unofficial count that in years past has come out on Election Night. This year, however, with increased mail-in voting expected, there may not be enough votes collected on Election Night to even produce a reliable unofficial count.

I registered to vote. What do I need to do with the postcard I received in the mail?

That's your voter registration certificate. Read the information on the back of the certificate and make sure it's right, sign by the X on the front of the card (the yellow area). If you need to make changes, make them, sign the card, then mail it back to the registrar. If no changes are necessary, no need to do anything. You do not need to bring the card to vote in person (just acceptable forms of identification), but it can't hurt to bring it just in case you need it as back-up.

What do I need to bring with me to vote?

You'll need one of seven acceptable forms of photo ID: Texas Driver License issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety; Texas Election Identification Certificate; Texas Personal Identification Card; Texas Handgun License; United States Military Identification Card containing the persons photograph; U.S. Citizenship Certificate containing your photograph; or U.S. Passport. If you can't reasonably obtain one of these, you can still cast a ballot by presenting a supporting form of ID (such as a voter registration certificate, utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or birth certificate) and signing what's called a Reasonable Impediment Declaration.

Can I use expired ID as my photo identification?

For voters under 70, yes, as long as it's not more than four years expired by the date you're trying to use it to vote. For voters 70 or older, expiration does not matter as long as the identification is otherwise valid.

I waited in a long line to vote, only to realize I left my ID at home. Can I still vote?

Yes, but the process is a bit more complicated. Of course you can always get your ID and return to the polling place. If you'd prefer to stay, you can cast what's called a provisional ballot. Think of it as a conditional ballot. It will only count on the condition that you bring the ID to the county voter registrars office by the sixth calendar day after Election Day (Nov. 9).

Does the address on my ID have to match my address on the official list of registered voters?

No.

Where do I go to vote in-person?

If you're a Bexar County resident, check here. For other counties, check your voter registrar's website listed by county here.
Father Camille Bulcke, a Belgium-born Jesuit, and a pre-eminent Hindi scholar, was honored by Professor Raaj Sah, who gifted a plaque to Father Bulcke's birthplace of Ramskapelle, a village in Knokke-Heist.

After arriving in India as a young Jesuit, Father Bulcke spent most of his life at St Xavier's College, Ranchi, until he passed away in 1982. Transcending cultures, he became an architect of modern Hindi literature. His contributions include those on the epics of Lord Rama, and on the peerlessness of Goswami Tulsidas.

Sah gifted the plaque as a symbol of his gratitude for Father Bulcke's mentorship. "It is important for us Belgians to appreciate, and to pass on to our future generations, the magisterial heritage that Father Bulcke created in India. We are grateful to Professor Sah for memorializing the virtuous legacy of his mentor at his birthplace," said Count Leopold Lippens, Mayor of Knokke-Heist at the plaque's unveiling in September 2020.

Sah is a Professor of Public Policy and Economics at the University of Chicago. The Government of Japan has conferred on him the Imperial honor "The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon."

This honor was for his contributions to the Japanese government's economic and financial policies. Sah is a Distinguished Fellow at the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.

He previously held faculty positions at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Princeton University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Yale University.

"Father Bulcke strived to integrate intellectual work with wisdom and virtue. The teacher-student bond between him and Dr Sah was phenomenal. The present commemoration reflects that tangible and intangible bond. It inspires us and warms our hearts," observed Father Nicholas Tete, former Principal of St Xavier's College Ranchi.

"In the Indian preceptor-pupil relationship, the pupil's gratitude is lifelong, and its expression is unaffected by the passage of time, or by the preceptor having passed away years ago," remarked Dr Ralph Nicholas, Professor Emeritus of Anthropology at the University of Chicago.

Father Camille Bulcke, a Belgium-born Jesuit, transcended cultures and languages and became an architect of modern Hindi literature. His contributions include those on the epics of Lord Rama, and on the peerlessness of Goswami Tulsidas.

A plaque honoring Father Bulcke was unveiled in September 2020 at his birthplace in Belgium. Raaj Sah, Professor at the University of Chicago, gifted this plaque in gratitude for Father Bulcke's mentorship.

This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article.

DISCLAIMER

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The night I submitted my college applications, I lay in bed and stared out my window for hours. I prayed to the moon that I would die soon. On paper, I looked perfect (at least to the adults who told me so): a perfect SAT score in one try, three perfect SAT II subject tests, 10 perfect AP tests, recipient of national awards, president of various clubs, avid volunteer, and founder of an education nonprofit. But I would rather have died than learn that perfect was still not enough to get into the colleges Id set my sights on.

I didnt know there were illnesses called depression and anxiety, and the adults around me never suspected, because I looked like I was on top of my life. When I would burst into tears, my father would shout at me to stop crying because, No one is dead  save your tears for when I die. And when I told my mom of my suicidal thoughts her first response was, How can you be so selfish? I felt unworthy of their love until I was perfect beyond reproach.

I attended Yale as a first-generation student supported through financial aid, worked at McKinsey in New York and London, and received two masters degrees from Stanford. My fears of not being good enough for college seem unfounded now, but perhaps understandable given my upbringing.

Contrary to the stereotype of Asian Ivy League students, I did not have wealthy tiger nor snowplow parents. My extended family in Taiwan barely received an education, so in high school I was already among the most educated in my family.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - September 21, 2020) - Red Light Holland Corp. (CSE: TRIP) (FSE: 4YX) ("Red Light Holland" or the "Company"), an Ontario-based corporation positioning itself to engage in the production, growth and sale of its brand of magic truffles to the legal, recreational market within the Netherlands, is pleased to announce that it has granted a prominent Canadian production company and film crew exclusive access to provide video coverage of the activities of the Company and its Chief Executive Officer, Todd Shapiro, within the Netherlands, leading up to the Company's previously announced iMicrodose product launch party (the "iMicrodose Launch Party"), scheduled on September 25, 2020, in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Filming commenced on September 20, 2020 in Horst, the Netherlands (the location of the Company's production and distribution facility) and will continue through to the iMicrodose Launch Party, covering, among other things, the iMicrodose brand, and the production and distribution facility.

"I'm so grateful for this production company reaching out and offering to document our journey. There's a ton of hard work that is going on behind the scenes and if all goes according to plan - this will be another piece of earned Media, which hasn't cost Red Light Holland a dime, to potentially highlight our Company, our tireless efforts and our iMicrodose brand to a much bigger widespread audience," said Chief Executive Officer and Director of the Company, Todd Shapiro. "Out of respect to the production company's intellectual property rights, which play a huge role in stimulating innovation and creativity - in this case focusing on Red Light Holland's early magic truffles production facility, our iMicrodose product launch in the Netherlands, and our expected iMicrodose Launch Party - we've mutually agreed to hold off on providing more information for now. However, we look forward to sharing more details in early 2021 about this great exposure opportunity Now let's just hope my mug doesn't get left on the cutting room floor!"

Story continues

About Red Light Holland Corp.

The Company is an Ontario-based corporation positioning itself to engage in the production, growth and sale (through existing Smart Shops operators and an advanced e-commerce platform) of a premium brand of magic truffles to the legal, recreational market within the Netherlands, in accordance with the highest standards, in compliance with all applicable laws.

For additional information on the Company:

Todd Shapiro

Chief Executive Officer & Director

Tel: 647-204-7129

Email: todd@redlighttruffles.com

Website: https://redlighttruffles.com/

Forward-Looking Statements

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE") nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Certain information in this news release constitutes forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws. Any statements that are contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements are often identified by terms such as "may", "should", "anticipate", "expect", "potential", "believe", "intend" or the negative of these terms and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Readers are further cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such forward-looking statements (including, but not limited to, the assumption that (i) the Company will be able to execute on its business plan, and will receive one or multiple licenses, permits, and authorizations from time to time necessary to execute on its business plan, (ii) the Company's financial condition and development plans do not change as a result of unforeseen events, (iii) there will continue to be a demand, and market opportunity, for the Company's product offerings, (iv) the Company will be able to establish, preserve and develop its brand, and attract and retain required personnel, (v) the Company will be successful in offering for sale the iMicrodosing packs as contemplated, on the terms and within the timelines anticipated by the Company, (vi) current and future economic conditions will neither affect the business and operations of the Company nor the Company's ability to capitalize on anticipated business opportunities, (vii) the magic truffles currently being grown by the Company will be ready for harvest and distribution within the timelines anticipated by the Company, and (viii) the production company will commence and complete video coverage of the Company as contemplated, on the terms and within the timelines anticipated by the Company), although considered reasonable by management of the Company at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and result in actual results differing materially from those anticipated, and as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements included in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company does not undertake an obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect new information, subsequent events or otherwise unless required by applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements, forward-looking financial information and other metrics presented herein are not intended as guidance or projections for the periods referenced herein or any future periods, and in particular, past performance is not an indicator of future results and the results of the Company in this news release may not be indicative of, and are not an estimate, forecast or projection of the Company's future results. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/64217
This is where transparency and trust come into play. Governments should be clear about their strategy, which sometimes seems to veer between letting the virus circulate (such as restoring nightlife and tourism too hastily) and suppressing it outright. They should avoid flip-flopping on public-health messages, taking a page out of Swedens book, which has kept its rules broadly stable since the beginning of the pandemic. And they should take comfort from Italys current success in keeping the virus in check, as well as the effectiveness of local lockdowns seen in several countries. Second waves can still be stopped, or at least slowed down.
New York  The Manhattan district attorneys office told a federal appeals court Monday that its quest to gain access to President Donald Trumps tax returns is supported by a mountainous record of public allegations of misconduct.

The president and Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. have been battling for more than a year over a subpoena sent to Trumps accounting firm, Mazars USA, seeking eight years worth of his tax documents. The New York Times reports Vances latest court filing suggested for the first time that Trump and his businesses could be investigated for tax fraud, along with possible bank and insurance fraud.

Attorneys for Trump have argued that Vance, a Democrat, is just trying to smear the president with an overly broad investigation that has no legal basis.

In a filing with the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, lawyers for Vance again declined to reveal exactly why Trump is under investigation, citing grand jury secrecy rules.

But they cited multiple news reports in which Trump or his companies have been accused of overstating the value of his assets when dealing with potential business partners and lenders while minimizing the value of those same assets for tax purposes.

Any investigation into the types of potential financial improprieties described above would of necessity require a review, not only of tax returns, but source documents, working papers, and communications of the sort identified in the Mazars Subpoena, to evaluate the accuracy and good faith of the positions taken in the filings, as well as the roles of various employees and other potential witnesses, they wrote.

Trump has called Vances investigation a fishing expedition and a continuation of the witch hunt  the greatest witch hunt in history.

The U.S. Supreme Court has already ruled against Trump once in the case, dismissing his argument that presidents are immune from state criminal inquiries as long as they are in office.

Trumps legal team then tried a different approach, saying the subpoena seeking his returns was issued in bad faith.

That argument was also rejected by a federal judge last month. Trump appealed.

Even if the appeals court decides in Vances favor, it is unlikely that Trumps returns will then become public before the election. Any material produced as a result of the subpoena will also be protected by grand jury secrecy rules.
(Newser)  Sen. Cory Gardner of Colorado, one of the Republicans who had been seen as a possible flip in the party's push to get a new Supreme Court justice confirmed, won't flip. "When a president exercises constitutional authority to name a judge for the Supreme Court vacancy, the Senate must decide how to best fulfill its constitutional duty of advice and consent," he said in a statement. "I have and will continue to support judicial nominees who will protect our Constitution, not legislate from the bench, and uphold the law. Should a qualified nominee who fits this criteria be put forward, I will vote to confirm." Axios says it now looks like Republicans will indeed have enough votes to approve whomever President Trump nominates.

story continues below

As for who that will be, Trump has pledged to nominate a woman to succeed Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the AP reports. He met on Monday with one of his top contenders, Amy Coney Barrett, and said he will announce his pick by the end of the week, before Ginsburg is laid to rest. He said he may also meet with Barbara Lagoa; sources say those two judges are at the top of the short list. So far, just two GOP senators, Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins, have spoken out against rushing a nominee through before the election. Another possible flip, Mitt Romney, has kept quiet on his position, per Fox News. Politico warns Democrats not to assume he will go against the grain, as he did during Trump's impeachment trial, and it also points out that even if he does, VP Mike Pence could break the ensuing 50-50 tie. (Read more US Supreme Court stories.)
Tensions ran high Monday outside an apartment building in East Yorks Crescent Town as dozens of tenants and supporters came together to stop the eviction of one of their neighbours.

Since last Monday, members of the Goodwood Tenants Union (GTU) have been taking turns patrolling outside 108 Goodwood Ave. in case the sheriff shows up to change the locks on a unit occupied by an Indigenous woman with severe health issues.

The GTU said this tenant, along with a number of others in the building, was informed by landlord Ranee Management that if they do not vacate their unit by Sept. 14 the sheriff would come to forcibly remove them.

Late this morning, the GTU saw the sheriff arriving at the building to enforce the eviction order. Within about 15 minutes dozens of tenants and supporters arrived at the scene to successfully prevent them from entering the building. Several police officers also showed up.

Its a lot. Its intense, said Carly Tisdall of the Goodwood Tenants Association shortly after sheriffs left the property.

When neighbours heard about this woman (getting evicted) we were outraged because shes older, shes Indigenous, and shes unwell.

Tisdall, who has lived in the multi-building complex for about a year and a half, said the tenant in question is being kicked out because their rent is overdue.

It could be anyone here, or anyone in Toronto, she said, adding since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic the Goodwood Tenants Union has been organizing to support those living in the complex who are dealing with myriad challenges, including the threat of eviction.

We successfully stopped this eviction and were just going to keep going. Were going to continue organizing and building tenant power, she said.

Beaches-East York MPP Rima Berns-McGown, who serves as the Ontario NDPs critic for poverty and homelessness, has stopped by the Goodwood Avenue apartment building a few times in the last week to lend her support. She was also on-hand today when the sheriff arrived.

Berns-McGown said it is simply wrong to kick renters out of their homes in the middle of homelessness crisis, let alone a global pandemic.

This is an Indigenous woman who has lost income because of COVID-19. This is what colonial violence looks like, she said, adding tenants need to be offered solutions so they can pay the rent they owe and stay in their homes.

This shouldnt happen to anyone, thats the problem. There needs to be no COVID-19-related evictions.

In an email sent to toronto.com at 6:30 p.m. Monday, David Frankel, a property manager with Ranee Management, said this mornings case at 108 Goodwood Park Court predates COVID and has nothing to do with nonpayment of rent.

We cannot disclose detailed information regarding the situation. However, it should be noted that the tenancy termination order was issued on consent between the Landlord and Tenant (with guidance from legal counsel), he wrote.

While this case has nothing to do with nonpayment, Ranee Managements policy is to work with tenants on reasonable payment plans during COVID and we will continue to do so.

In a Sept. 17 release, the Goodwood Tenants Union said it has reached out to Ranee Management several times to try to negotiate fair repayment plans on behalf of tenants, many of whom lost employment due to COVID-19. However, Ranee has refused to agree to any rent relief.

Most of us live paycheque to paycheque and when COVID hit we didnt have enough savings to keep up with all our bills and CERB wasnt enough either, said renter Ousman Senghore in a release.

We know this is going to be the first of many evictions, and were not going to let anyone be homeless. The landlord needs to understand there are more humane options than kicking someone out.

Back on March 12, Bill 184  the Protecting Tenants and Strengthening Community Housing Act  was introduced to address the backlog in eviction cases at the Landlord Tenant Board (LTB).

However, due to the pandemic the Ontario government decided to put residential evictions temporarily on hold.

On July 6, the Standing Committee on Social Policy revisited and amended Bill 184, which some have dubbed the mass eviction bill, to permit disputes between landlords and tenants over rent arrears to be once again heard by the LTB. Essentially, this bill permits landlords to circumvent the LTB, which during the pandemic received more than 6,000 eviction applications, by offering tenants rent repayment plans. If they refuse or accept and fall behind, they could be evicted.

Aug. 18 was the first day evictions were enforced since the ban was lifted. That day, tenants across Toronto blocked sheriffs from leaving the courthouse preventing an estimated 40 evictions.

There will be no evictions in our neighbourhoods. Period, said Goodwood Avenue tenant Calvin Alexander in a release.

Landlords dont control our communities. Sheriffs dont control our communities. We control our communities.
A man charged with capital murder for the alleged slaying of his ex-wife two days after their divorce visited the scene of the crime Monday, a bakery building that police say he last entered with a gun on Nov. 14, 2015.

Roger Stevens, 68, had no gun Monday. He was handcuffed, wore leg shackles and was dressed in striped prison overalls as he entered the former Corner Bakery and Eatery once co-owned by the victim.

After arriving in a Sheriffs Office van, he entered through the Eighth Street Southeast doorway with his lawyers, was inside for about 10 minutes, and briefly exited the store at the Somerville Road doorway where police say Kay Letson Stevens, 62, was shot multiple times. After speaking with his lawyers and a private investigator, he then reentered the store and left through the side door.

We just did a walk-through, said Huntsville lawyer Ron Smith, who represents Stevens along with Nick Heatherly. Even if he wasnt in jail wed do this. We just wanted a look at the crime scene.

Stevens has been in the Morgan County Jail without bond since he was arrested after a standoff the day of the shooting.

The visit to the crime scene took place the same day opening arguments had been scheduled to start in Stevens' trial, but Circuit Judge Jennifer Howell delayed both jury selection and the trial after the defense attorneys on Sept. 11 filed a motion citing a family medical emergency.

Jury selection in the case is now set to begin Nov. 9, with the trial to begin Nov. 16.

Stevens' lawyers filed the motion a year ago asking Howell to allow the defense team to be able to inspect and examine the crime scene where the offense allegedly occurred. Howell in February granted the motion, while noting that the property was not in the district attorneys control. She offered to issue additional orders if necessary to facilitate the entrance of the defense team.

According to police, Roger Stevens and Kay Stevens had been married 42 years before their divorce.

Corner Bakery, across Somerville Road from Decatur Morgan Hospital and now home to Cheesecakes & More, had been co-owned by Kay Letson Stevens and her sister, Brenda Suggs, for the eight years before Kay Stevens' death.

Suggs told police, according to a police affidavit filed soon after the incident, that she spoke with Roger Stevens moments before the shooting.

Suggs stated that she saw Roger drive up to the bakery in his silver Toyota Camry, according to the November 2015 affidavit. "He drove up next to Suggs and displayed a black-with-wooden-grips handgun, telling Suggs that Kay was getting everything in the divorce, and he was going to kill her.

Roger then saw Kay Stevens inside the bakery. He went into the bakery after her and chased her to the front of the business, where he shot her with the handgun multiple times.

A later affidavit also said he beat her head against a curb before fleeing the scene.

According to a police affidavit, Kay Stevens spoke briefly to paramedics when they arrived at the scene and identified her former husband as the shooter.

Shortly after the slaying, Decatur police executed a search warrant on Roger Stevens' car. They found no gun, but they did find a gun case, three .22 magnum cartridges and the top seal to a liquor bottle, according to a police affidavit.

About two hours before her death, Kay Stevens texted a friend.

Roger called me last night, the text said. He described me with his unflattering adjectives and said he was going to kill me.

2020 The Decatur Daily (Decatur, Ala.)

Visit The Decatur Daily (Decatur, Ala.) at www.decaturdaily.com

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Last month, Boston College sophomore Gordon Wayne arrived at his schools campus worn down and badly blistered, with a duct-taped walking stick in his hand.

He had walked roughly 550 miles over the course of 16 days, crossing bridges and traversing highways, from his rural hometown of Ruther Glen, Virginia to his college town in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts.

Despite carrying a 35-to-40-pound backpack day after day and suffering numerous injuries to his feet, he did not stop.

Wayne would have quit his trek, he said, only for three reasons: if he was jailed, if he was hospitalized or if he was struck by a car and killed.

I wasnt going to stop walking no matter what, Wayne told MassLive in an interview in early September. I knew the amount of time I had to walk every day. I had to walk an average of 13 to 14 hours, and I would just do it.

For nearly the entire journey, a sign remained taped to Waynes backpack that read, End homelessness.

Combatting homelessness is the main reason why Wayne trekked across seven states and Washington, D.C. and tracked his journey extensively over social media.

For the young man, the issue hits close to home. He was legally declared homeless for 14 months and has been fighting for a stable place to live since he left high school.

The college student has couch surfed, lived out of his car and slept on the street for more than a year. He was one of more than half a million people in the U.S. who go to bed homeless every night.

Last year in June, I became homeless, and it was a really dehumanizing experience. I felt kind of thrown away, Wayne said. I was put into a position where I was either going to do something and get out of it or- honestly, I think if I didnt do anything, I would have ended up in jail or dead.

Being homeless is a dangerous and demeaning position to be in, according to Wayne, who noted that not having stable housing made achieving some of his longer-term goals, like going to college, all the more difficult.

Yet, homelessness is a preventable situation and even a solvable one, he added.

Its an issue weve ignored for too long. It affects all ages, all sexes, all races. We have veterans who are homeless. We have families who are homeless, Wayne said. I think if we work together as a collective to help our fellow man out, we can end it pretty easily."

Gordon Wayne, a sophomore at Boston College, was legally declared homeless for over a year. In August 2020, he finished a 500-plus-mile journey from his hometown in central Virginia to his college in Newton to raise funds and awareness about homelessness. In this picture, he arrived in Massachusetts. (Courtesy Gordon Wayne)

Wayne set up a GoFundMe page at the beginning of his multi-hundred-mile walk with the aim of raising $100,000 for the National Alliance to End Homelessness, a nonprofit organization that seeks to prevent homelessness in the United States.

As of Monday, Waynes efforts had raised more than $36,000. The young man himself donated what little money he had to the fundraiser as well.

The National Alliance to End Homelessness is the best national organization against homelessness, so I was hoping me doing something that is pretty abnormal, I would say, would show how passionate I am about the issue and raise awareness, the college student said. Im so grateful for all the support it has received. It means a lot.

When he was homeless, Wayne said, he was working 60 hours a week to stay afloat. However, the young man was still not able to afford stable housing, nor was he able to complete regular daily tasks, like showering, eating balanced meals and staying hydrated.

He felt trapped.

I had to work my way out of it," Wayne said. Luckily, I was able to."

Gordon Wayne, a sophomore at Boston College, was legally declared homeless for over a year. In August 2020, he finished a 500-plus-mile journey from his hometown in central Virginia to his college in Newton to raise funds and awareness about homelessness. In this picture, he fist-bumps a child on BC's campus. (Courtesy Gordon Wayne)

Getting accepted into Boston College was a blessing, Wayne said.

When he arrived on campus after his long trek from the South to the Northeast, Wayne was met with fist bumps from children clad in face coverings, adults cheering him on and a procession of cars behind him.

The college student could not help but smile, he said. The whole scene felt like a miracle.

Last year, when I was living out of my car and I wasnt really talking to anyone, its a really big difference, Wayne said about living at Boston College now, and its a very welcome difference. Its just incredible.

Wayne is now living comfortably in his dorm and in his fourth week of classes at BC, where undergraduate students have been allowed to return to campus amid the coronavirus pandemic for in-person learning.

After all the challenges he has had to endure in the past year, he still considers himself privileged and in a far better position than the majority of homeless individuals in the U.S.

I feel privileged right now. Im at one of the greatest universities in the country. Not everyone has the ability to be concerned about how hot their coffee is or its too cold outside, because they have more pressing issues," Wayne said.

I dont feel proud of what Ive done, because I feel like its just the right thing to do," he added.

Gordon Wayne, a sophomore at Boston College, was legally declared homeless for over a year. In August 2020, he finished a 500-plus-mile journey from his hometown in central Virginia to his college in Newton to raise funds and awareness about homelessness. (Courtesy Gordon Wayne)

When asked about what his goals are now that he has arrived at BC, Wayne answered that he wants to make Boston the first city to end homelessness in the U.S.

While the college student recognizes the task is lofty and complicated, he does not think it is impossible. Preventing homelessness in the capital of Massachusetts will take some time, Wayne said, but he is willing to put in the work.

Here in Boston, homelessness is a very big issue. Many people are homeless, and they dont really have an escape, Wayne said. Bostons No. 1 at so many things. ... Its a wonderful city, and I think we can make it even better by getting rid of homelessness here.

Along with joining BCs Habitat for Humanity chapter, Wayne wants to form a coalition of Boston-area colleges and universities that work as a collective to ease the burdens of homeless individuals and help them out of their positions.

Having been in the same situation as such marginalized individuals, Wayne has lived through many of the struggles they face.

The general mission that I have is I want people to try to treat each other with more compassion. We dont know all the circumstances that go on in peoples lives," Wayne said. "If you see people on the side of the street with a cardboard sign, most of the time theres a very negative attachment to that, and I kind of want to change that stigma.

Instead of wondering why they dont have a job or just ignoring them, maybe just have a conversation with them and try to help them out, because no one deserves to be homeless. We have so many amenities in life," he added. I think thats the least we can do as people.

Related Content: Homeless Boston College student Gordon Wayne to soon finish 500-mile walk to Massachusetts in efforts to raise funds for National Alliance to End Homelessness
BATH/GLATTBRUGG/LONDONAfter months of negotiation, Lovehoney has acquired a majority stake in Swiss online retailer Amorana, which specializes in sexual wellness/happiness products. Financial details of the acquisition have not been disclosed.

Amorana, which was founded in 2014 by Lukas Speiser and Alan Frei, takes as its mission to help customers enjoy their sex lives. The store features a curated selection of love toys and lingerie, combined with educational information intended to spark inspiration and discovery. With a local Swiss warehouse and support operation, Amorana offers quick delivery, customer service and expert advice.

At Amorana, we always focus on the needs of our customers and work tirelessly to provide them with the perfect shopping experience," Speiser said after the Lovehoney acquisition had been completed. "In just six years, Amorana has grown from a small start-up to the leading Swiss online supplier of lifestyle and sexual wellness products. We're excited to be partnering with Lovehoney as we continue to grow and innovate the online retail space in Switzerland and abroad.

We started in 2014 with the vision to change the market for sexual wellness products in Switzerland," Frei added. "Looking back, we prepared the ground for a whole industry, bringing it out of secrecy and into the bedrooms of the Swiss customers. It has been a phenomenal journey for Lukas and myself and we're beyond excited about our future plans for Amorana as part of the Lovehoney Group.

Headquartered in Bath, U.K., Lovehoney is a global direct-to-consumer brand and e-commerce business. Lovehoney has achieved strong growth internationally and holds leading market positions on three continents.

Richard Longhurst and Neal Slateford founded Lovehoney in 2002 and remain significant shareholders. Since 2018, Lovehoney has been majority-owned by Telemos Capital, a private investment firm based in London with investments across Europe in consumer, business and healthcare services companies.

We are delighted to add Amorana to the Lovehoney Group," Lovehoney co-founder Neal Slateford said. "Lukas and Alan have done a great job growing Amorana to the strong position it is in today and we are confident that Lovehoney can help on the next leg of this exciting journey.

Amorana and its founders share our ambitious vision for growth and global category leadership," Philippe Jacobs, chairman of Telemos Capital, added. "We have seen tremendous growth at Lovehoney since our investment a couple of years ago and are proud to add Switzerlands leading player to our expanded Lovehoney Group.

With the backing of Lovehoney, Amorana will further cement its position as a top player in Switzerland. Amorana also sees opportunities for expansion into other European countries where it can use its expertise to grow the market for sexual wellness.

Following the investment, Amorana founders Speiser and Frei will remain in their roles as CEO and CMO respectively and will continue as shareholders of Amorana.
LOWELL  Police say freed bank robber Ralph Goodridge attacked a woman and a 14-year-old girl with a hatchet as they slept last week, months after he was released from serving two life sentences.

Shortly before 2 a.m., as the victims were asleep, Goodridge allegedly struck both of them in the head with the hatchet, a Lowell police official told The Sun. "The victims escaped the assault by fleeing the residence and screaming for help.

The alleged assault occurred Thursday morning, after the victims allowed Goodridge to stay with them upon his release from prison.

Goodridge, 66, walked away from U.S. District Court in Springfield on Feb. 24, a free man after the U.S. Supreme Court in 2015 redefined what it means to be a career criminal.

He was sentenced in the 1990s under that eras tough-on-crime three strikes law after he robbed a bank in West Springfield  threatening tellers and other customers with a sawed-off shotgun. It was not Goodridges first armed bank robbery either, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Desroches.

Goodridge petitioned for a new sentence after the high courts ruling and the penalty was recalculated to a decade in prison. U.S. District Judge Mark G. Mastroianni ruled Goodridge serve six months in a halfway house in Boston to reacclimate to life outside prison walls.

Youve had an awful long time to consider the decisions youve made in the past. Youve had enough time in the system to have been rehabilitated, and I certainly hope it has worked, Mastroianni said on the date he set Goodridge free.

Goodridge amassed a string of violent attacks on prison guards over two decades in prison, becoming more docile only when he realized he could have a chance at freedom, according to court records.

He reconnected with his family after discovering there was a possibility of release. Goodridges daughter ushered him out of the Springfield courthouse, promising him a place to stay.

Police did not release the identities of the alleged victims of the attacks in Lowell.

Investigators told The Sun Goodridge was held without the right to bail after a hearing Monday and will likely appear back in U.S. District Court in Springfield. A hearing has not yet been scheduled, according to the court docket.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 22)  Some 5,300 Filipinos in Sabah sought government assistance for their repatriation because of the rising COVID-19 cases in Malaysia, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said on Monday.

Lorenzana said majority of these Filipinos live in the Bangsamoro Region, with about 70 to 80 percent of them from Tawi-Tawi province.

"They are not being evicted by our neighbors, but they are volunteering to come home," the defense chief said in his report to President Rodrigo Duterte during the meeting of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases in Davao City.

Lorenzana also reported that 1,570 Filipinos have returned home from Sabah, while about 400 are expected to arrive on Wednesday.

The United Nations High Commission for Refugees estimates that there are over 80,000 Filipino refugees in Sabah as of 2016. It said only around 60 percent have proper documentation.

Malaysia now has a total of 10,276 confirmed COVID-19 cases, along with 130 deaths and 9,395 recoveries. A total of 57 new infections were added to its tally on Monday.

Meanwhile, Lorenzana said a total of 200,223 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) have been repatriated as of Sunday.

Around 80,000 OFWs are still awaiting repatriation based on the report of Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III.

Also, 261 remains of Filipinos in Saudi Arabia were brought home. Of this number, 164 died due to COVID-19 and the remaining 97 died of other causes.
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NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Following Hurricane Laura making landfall near Cameron, Louisiana in the early morning of Aug. 27, Entergy Corporation (NYSE: ETR) announced today its utilities have restored power to approximately 910,000 customers who can accept power, or approximately 99% of customers affected by the storm. Crews have restored power to all customers in Texas and are making significant progress in the remaining hardest hit areas of Southwest Louisiana. Hurricane Laura was the strongest storm to make landfall in Louisiana in 164 years and is tied for the fifth strongest to make landfall in the continental United States.

In response to the widespread devastation caused by the storm, Entergy deployed the largest restoration effort ever mobilized in company history with more than 25,000 workers from 31 states. In addition to Entergy employees, the workers came from more than 230 companies, including 24 other electric utilities. These workers included scouts, field workers, vegetation workers and support staff.

"We are proud of the thousands of men and women who are working tirelessly to safely restore power for our customers," said Rod West, Entergy Utility Group President. "Hurricane Laura inflicted catastrophic damage on Entergy's transmission and distribution systems that resulted in approximately 600,000 outages at its peak and impacted more than 900,000 customers in total. Despite the extent of the damage, the teams have made significant progress and expect to restore power to all customers who can take power by Sept. 30."

With the company operating in a high state of readiness and a significant storm workforce in place ready to respond as soon as the storm passed, Entergy's swift restoration and rebuilding efforts have received strong and vocal support from federal, state and local public officials.

Damage Assessment

Hurricane Laura's historic intensity caused severe damage to the Entergy distribution and transmission systems across Louisiana and Texas. The storm's damage to Entergy's system included:

more than 14,000 distribution poles,

approximately 4,800 transformers,

approximately 30,000 spans of distribution wire,

more than 30,000 crossarms,

approximately 1,900 transmission structures damaged or destroyed,

more than 300 substations, and

approximately 225 transmission lines.

As a result of the storm's extensive damage to the grid infrastructure serving the impacted area, large portions of the underlying transmission system required nearly a complete rebuild. However, despite the damage, recent investments in modern transmission structures paid off as those assets withstood the storm's impact and remained intact. The transmission system is the backbone of the electric grid and helps Entergy move power from power plants to the lines serving customers. Given the extent of damage and rebuilding required, power restoration has been as difficult and challenging as Entergy has ever faced.

As previously noted, most of the damage has been repaired, and a clear design and engineering path exists for the remaining work. Restoration workers continue to repair and rebuild damaged high-voltage transmission lines that will bring power into Calcasieu and Cameron parishes, including the Lake Charles area. Completion of this work is expected to allow for power to be restored to the remaining customers who are able to take power by Sept. 30. Work will continue through most of November to complete the transmission system rebuild.

In response to the storm, Entergy's shareholders have provided financial support to the affected communities. With support from Entergy and other community partners, the American Red Cross deployed 1,800 employees and volunteers to provide shelter, meals, counseling and supplies to those in need. Entergy shareholders also match dollar-for-dollar employee contributions to the American Red Cross. In addition, Entergy's shareholders have committed $660,000 in charitable contributions to support communities impacted by Hurricane Laura. Company shareholders are also matching employee contributions to the Entergy Employee Assistance Fund, helping our own employees affected by the disaster.

For additional information on the company's restoration efforts following Hurricane Laura, visit entergy.com/HurricaneLaura.

Financial Implications

Total restoration costs for the repair and/or replacement of the electrical facilities damaged by Hurricane Laura are estimated to be in the range of $1.5 billion to $1.7 billion. The majority of the costs were incurred by Entergy Louisiana and Entergy Texas. The preliminary estimate for Entergy Louisiana is $1.25 billion to $1.4 billion and the preliminary estimate for Texas is $0.23 billion to $0.26 billion. Hurricane Laura restoration was the first large-scale disaster response that required Entergy to implement COVID-19 safety protocols. Increased costs associated with those safety measures, including lodging and personal protection equipment, are included in our preliminary estimate.

Entergy also expects utility revenues in 2020 to be adversely affected, primarily due to power outages resulting from the hurricane. The company's initial estimate of lost revenue is approximately $35 million to $40 million, with the majority of this impact occurring in Louisiana. The financial impact of the lost revenue will be partly offset by lower operation and maintenance expenses resulting from redeployment of resources to storm work.

Entergy affirms its 2020 adjusted earnings guidance range of $5.45 to $5.75 per share.

Entergy believes its liquidity is sufficient to meet its current obligations. As of Aug. 31, 2020, net liquidity was $4.0 billion including storm escrows of $0.4 billion.

Storms are an unfortunate but not unexpected part of living on the Gulf Coast, and Entergy has a long history of working collaboratively with its regulators to recover storm costs. Entergy Louisiana and Entergy Texas are considering all available avenues to recover storm-related costs from Hurricane Laura in a way that will minimize the effects on customers, including accessing funded storm escrows and securitization. There are well-established mechanisms and precedent for addressing these catastrophic events and providing for recovery of prudently incurred storm costs in accordance with applicable regulatory and legal principles. Due to the national importance of the refineries, petrochemical and other essential industries that the utility companies serve on the Gulf Coast, Entergy also is exploring opportunities for federal assistance in the restoration and potential hardening of the infrastructure in this area.

Forward-Looking Statements

In this news release, and from time to time, Entergy Corporation makes certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements regarding Entergy's 2020 earnings guidance; expectations around restoration timing, costs and recovery; and other statements of Entergy's plans, beliefs, or expectations included in this presentation. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this news release. Except to the extent required by the federal securities laws, Entergy undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements, including (a) those factors discussed elsewhere in this presentation and in Entergy's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Entergy's other reports and filings made under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; (b) uncertainties associated with rate proceedings, formula rate plans, and other cost recovery mechanisms, including the risk that costs may not be recoverable to the extent anticipated by the utilities; (c) uncertainties associated with efforts to remediate the effects of major storms and recover related restoration costs; (d) legislative and regulatory actions and risks and uncertainties associated with claims or litigation by or against Entergy and its subsidiaries; (e) effects of changes in federal, state, or local laws and regulations and other governmental actions or policies, including changes in monetary, fiscal, tax, environmental, or energy policies; and (f) the direct and indirect impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Entergy and its customers.

About Entergy Corporation

Entergy Corporation is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, including 8,000 megawatts of nuclear power. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.9 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy has annual revenues of $11 billion and approximately 13,600 employees.

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The Toronto International Film Festival ended its largely virtual edition on Saturday, and the largely virtual New York Film Festival is in progress, through Oct. 11. We asked our critics what its like to attend events like these from your living room.

MANOHLA DARGIS If this were a normal year (I hate typing those words), you would have already filed your critics notebook on the Telluride Film Festival, I would have filed mine on Toronto, and wed be starting our coverage of New York. We would have seen dozens of movies, caught up with festival friends and have had a considered grasp on the rest of the film year  its aesthetic highlights, awards-hungry atrocities and our top 10 (20!) candidates.

Instead, we have streamed and paused and shut off a whole lot of movies in our homes. Im very grateful to see so much new work. But no matter how organizers frame this years events, and however enthusiastically they roll out their virtual red carpets, none of this remotely approaches the experiences of an in-person festival like Toronto  which I greatly missed attending. You?
Uttar Pradesh's Noida will be developed as the biggest hub in north India, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday said. Stating that the state has secured the second position in the country in 'Ease of Doing Business', he said it has been an outcome of the sustained efforts of the state government during the last three years.

He said the state has strived to develop infrastructure in terms of power, road, communication, transport, beside strong law and order to achieve the dream of one trillion economy status in India while contributing to the country's 5 trillion economy target set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

According to a statement issued here, Adityanath while presiding over a meeting of high level Empowered Committee of 'Invest UP', said Noida will be developed as the biggest hub in north India. He said out of the memorandums of understanding (MoUs) worth Rs 4.28 lakh crore,signed during the UP Investors Summit 2018, the MoUs worth Rs 2 lakh crore have already come on ground.

In addition to this, the UP government has received over 50 investment proposals worth over Rs 7,000 crore from the investors of about 10 countries, including Japan, the US, the UK, Canada, Germany and South Korea who want to shift their units from there to Uttar Pradesh.

He said Nivesh Mitra portal, which provides 146 services, has been quite successful with a track record of 98 per cent redressal of the problems of the investors and entrepreneurs. The chief minister said that UP has a ready land bank of 20,000 acre on which industries can be set up. He said the government is coming out with a comprehensive land policy, besides formulating new Pharma Policy and Data Policy.

"Defence and aerospace, warehousing, data centres, electrical vehicles and pharma sector are some of the emerging investment centres in the state. The government's ambitious project of Defence Corridor has promised an investment of Rs 50,000 crore in the next two years and offers a good investment opportunity," he said, adding that the revised MSME policy and start up policy has already given impetus to the growth potential of the state.

He said the traditional areas like electronics, IT, food processing, dairy, textiles, tourism and films are still the fancied investment destination while solar power, bio-fuel and civil aviation are joining these as potential investment hubs.

The chief minister pointed out that UP, which contributes 8 per cent of the country's Gross Domestic Product, with a population of 24 crore is a big market in itself. Talking about infrastructure development, he said the state is going to have a huge network of expressways, which will criss-cross the entire country. A 340-km-long Purvanchal Expressway from Lucknow to Ghazipur, 290-kms long Bundelkhand Expressway linking Chitrakoot to Lucknow-Agra Expressway, 90-km Gorakhpur link Expressway and 170-km Prayagraj link Expressway will be there in the state soon, the chief minister said.

"Not only this, the state government has also decided to construct a 600-km-long Ganga Expressway from Prayagraj to National Capital Region through Hardoi, Shahjahanpur, Kannauj and Meerut. This is going to be the longest Expressway of the country," he added.

As another landmark in the infrastructure, the proposed Jewar international airport in Noida will be the biggest in north India. Besides, the Kushinagar airport is also coming up which will cater to eastern Uttar Pradesh a great deal, Adityanath said. Besides ministers and senior officers, the representatives of the industry who took part in the meeting included Sangita Reddy, President, FICCI, Nikhil Sawhney, Chairman, CII, Northern Region,D K Agarwal, President, PHDCCI, Pankaj Kumar, President, IIA, Sharad Kumar Sarraf, Trade Promotion Council of India, Shri Mohit Singh, Chairman, Trade Promotion Council of India and Baldev Bhai Prajapati, President, Laghu Udyog Bharti.

Also read: India's biggest film city will come up in Uttar Pradesh: CM Adityanath

Also read: Only 1% Indians pay income tax, govt tells Lok Sabha
By Ayya Lmahamad

President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva familiarized themselves with the new ambulances delivered to the country by the State Agency for Compulsory Medical Insurance, Azertag reported on September 11.

This was the second batch of ambulances delivered to the country. The first part of ambulances was delivered in July.

The ambulances are equipped with both ordinary and intensive care facilities. The level of ambulance equipment allows patients to get all necessary first, emergency and resuscitation medical aid.

Moreover, the ambulances have a number of unique features. In particular, those ambulances built on the basis of Mercedes Sprinter 416 differ from other ambulances in terms of equipment and the range of medical care provided. The vans have several stretchers  the main stretcher, multifunctional stretcher (without steps), scoop stretcher, spinal stretcher, vacuum stretcher and pump, tent, inflatable, traction and vacuum tire sets, defibrillator, portable ventilator, inhaler, electrocardiogram, intensive care set, etc.

Likewise, the ambulances are equipped with a stretcher and a mattress, suction equipment, oxygen cylinders, etc.

It should be noted that Azerbaijan is one of the most effective countries in the fight over COVID-19. Currently, 46 hospitals serve patients with coronavirus in the country. During the pandemic, the number of laboratories was increased from 6 to 45. There are 11 modular hospitals and two infirmaries. In addition, the number of tests conducted in the country has exceeded one million.

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September 22, 2020 / 10:52 PM IST

from 9 am till 1 pm, and Lok Sabha in evening from 3 pm to 7 pm. The session will continue till October 1. For this session, the government has listed 38 new legislations for consideration and passage including 11 bills replacing ordinances. There are also 20 other bills pending in either Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha. The issues of ongoing standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), government's handling of the novel coronavirus pandemic and economic slowdown are likely to dominate the discussion with the opposition demanding a discussion on them. Catch the latest updates here:

Today is the ninth day of the 18-day Monsoon Session of Parliament that began on September 14, under the shadow of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The session is being held amid many firsts, including sitting of the two Houses in shifts without any off day, entry only to those having a negative COVID-19 report and compulsory wearing of masks during the session. The Rajya Sabha will convene in the morning
Debris has been found during the search for a missing fisherman who disappeared again just two weeks after sparking a statewide four-day rescue mission.

Tony Higgins, 57, sent out a distress call to police about 5am on Tuesday when he was moored near Granite Island off Victor Harbor, south of Adelaide.

Mr Higgins said his wooden fishing boat Margrel was 'taking on water' and police have now launched another search operation with a rescue helicopter and Sea Rescue volunteers.

Rough conditions on Tuesday forced rescue boats to return to shore about 10.30am.

Debris was found washed up near the Murray Mouth on Wednesday morning consistent with items from Mr Higgin's boat, and police confirm they are investigating.

Tony Higgins, 57, sent out a distress call to police about 5am on Tuesday when he was moored near Granite Island off Victor Harbor, south of Adelaide

Debris was found washed up near the Murray Mouth on Wednesday morning consistent with items from Mr Higgin's boat

Mr Higgins said his wooden fishing boat Margrel was 'taking on water' and police have now launched another search operation with a rescue helicopter and Sea Rescue volunteers

Authorities continued searching until nightfall with the Polair and SA Police airplane flying over the area all day as a Bombardier Challenger 604 rescue jets also searched.

The search resumed at first light on Wednesday morning, Adelaide Now reported.

This is the second time emergency services have launched a rescue mission for Mr Higgins and his 33ft vessel.

The fisherman and his friend Derek Robinson, 48, sparked South Australia's largest maritime search in history when they went missing while travelling from South Australia's Coffin Bay near Port Lincoln to Goolwa on September 3.

The duo were one day into their trip on the 10-metre wooden-hulled fishing boat when they started to experience engine trouble.

They were eventually found on September 10, just hours after the search operation was called off.

Despite missing for nearly a week, Mr Higgins claimed he had no idea about the rescue mission.

'We didn't even know anyone was looking for us,' Mr Higgins earlier told Seven News.

'I didn't ask to come get rescued. I knew exactly where we were.'

Derek Robinson pictured after reuniting with family on September 10 after a massive four-day search for the two fishermen was called off

He believes the trouble was sparked when one of the propeller's three blades broke off after hitting a turtle or submerged log.

The massive search operation - covering more than 120,000 square kilometres - involved police, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority and members of the Royal Australian Air Force.

It also involved Kangaroo Island and Volunteer Marine Rescue members.

Crews spent days searching an area larger than Tasmania covered in an attempt to find the men.

Fears were raised when the men were not located after several weather warnings and days of treacherous conditions.

Mr Higgins was fined $1,000 for having an out-of-date Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB), as well as old flares on board and not having an appropriate recreational boat licence.

Fears were raised over the two men when they went missing on September 3 due to the rough conditions at sea (pictured Derek Robinson returns to shore)

The men were headed to Goolwa when they went missing earlier this month, from Coffin Bay near Port Lincoln, they told a friend they would try make it to Kangaroo Island after their engine failed but ended up in Salt Creek

Freelance video journalist Gary Juleff told the ABC when police arrived on Tuesday morning following the distress call, the boat had vanished.

'When I got down here, nobody could see the boat,' Mr Juleff said.

'(Police) tried to phone him back - no answer - so the answer to this question is 'nobody knows'.

'They said there's nothing out there and we don't know where he is.'

Over the weekend, Mr Higgins found himself in trouble again when the Margrel ran aground on a sandbar in Victor Harbor.

The rescue mission is ongoing.

Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said a second search party for the vessel was 'frustrating' for authorities.

'I think it's fair to say there's an element of frustration that the state's resources are being dedicated to this for a second time,' he said.

'The first event cost us in the order of about $650,000.'
TORONTO - The Toronto Christmas Market, an annual event that typically draws large crowds to a historic part of the city's downtown, has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 21/9/2020 (487 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

TORONTO - The Toronto Christmas Market, an annual event that typically draws large crowds to a historic part of the city's downtown, has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Toronto Mayor John Tory says the decision to call off the weeks-long event was made by organizers in light of the ongoing health crisis.

Tory says it's one of a number of events initially planned for "around that time" that will not take place.

The mayor says he hopes people will abide by health measures meant to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus so that the city can get back to "something more normal" next year.

The Christmas market generally spans from mid-November to late December.

It takes over much of the Distillery District, a pedestrian-only neighbourhood that has been designated a national historic site.

Tory said the event's cancellation this year is unfortunate.

"It's regrettable, extremely regrettable, because these are things that bring people joy and get them outside even in the colder weather but a lot of things have changed this year," he said.

The city has seen a surge in new COVID-19 cases in recent weeks, with 175 reported on Monday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on Sept. 21, 2020.
There is a popular idiom, if you want to kill a dog, you start by giving it a bad name. The application of this strategy by belligerent parties, especially the power being exerted to contain their opponents, have been seen over the years.

A teacher (1st L) instructs a trainee at a reading room of the vocational education and training center in Hotan county of Hotan Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Oct. 7, 2018. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)

Following this strategy, politicians have first given a bad name to their targets, with the media following with uncritical coverage, taking the stance of the politicians to create a ground for attacks on the targets. The same strategy has been applied to former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, just to name a few.

Now the global superpower has replaced its target with China. Considering the rise of China as a threat to their illegitimate dominance, the US-leaning media have adopted the strategy of giving bad names to China, sparing no efforts to tarnish the image of the socialist nation. Launching a widespread propaganda war against the second-largest economy of the world, certain media and journalists are leaving no stone unturned to stigmatize China.

The US politicians and selective media, enticed by the geo-strategic location, natural resources, and Muslim population of the region, have chosen Xinjiang as an easy and convenient target.

As a result, Xinjiang often hits the headlines with the partial media reporting false and fictitious news. They have already disseminated several fake stories like forced labor and birth control, concentration camps, destruction of mosques, and they refrain from reporting any positive news about this region to their audiences.

They have long been portraying the vocational education and training centers of Xinjiang as so-called concentration camps. However, the media have failed to report that through vocational training, Xinjiang has built a large knowledge-based, skilled and innovative workforce that meets the requirements of the new era. Every year from 2014 to 2019, Xinjiang provided training sessions to an average of 1.29 million urban and rural workers.

The media have suppressed the news that trainees have mastered at least one skill with employment potential, and the vast majority of them have obtained vocational qualifications, skill level certificates or specialized skill certificates, allowing them to go on to find stable employment. The vocational training has contributed to a steady increase in the income of residents and workers.

The per capita disposable income of urban residents in Xinjiang increased from 23,200 yuan (3,314 U.S. dollars) in 2014 to 34,700 yuan in 2019, with an average annual nominal growth of 8.6 percent, while that of rural residents rose from 8,724 yuan to 13,100 yuan, with an average annual nominal growth of 8.9 percent.

The media have never reported that from 2014 to 2019, the total number of people employed in Xinjiang rose from 11.35 million to 13.3 million, an increase of 17.2 percent.

The average annual increase in urban employment was more than 471,200 people.

The untold truth of the region is that based on the market demand for labor, Xinjiang focuses on improving the employability of workers and promoting a stable employment. It has developed a complete system of vocational education and training, including colleges for higher vocational and technical education, secondary technical schools, technical institutes, job placement training centers, employee training centers, and vocational education and training centers, with the goal of raising the basic quality of trainees and organizing training oriented to specific demands, jobs and employers.

The anti-China media outlets generally seek stories of what they refer to as a violation of labor rights in Xinjiang, but they never see China's commitment to the people-centered philosophy of development, great importance to job security, high priority to employment, and pursuance of a proactive set of policies on employment.

The one-eyed media always overlook the fact that Xinjiang takes the facilitation of employment as the most fundamental project for ensuring and improving people's wellbeing.

The media never shares that through its proactive labor and employment policies, Xinjiang has continuously improved the people's material and cultural lives, guaranteeing and developing their human rights in every field.

The media outlets that favor the US fail to report that workers' job preferences have always served as an important reference for the local government of Xinjiang, which ensures that people can make their own choices about work and enjoy a happy life. While the Chinese government is committed to respecting citizens' right to work, safeguarding their legitimate labor rights and interests, and ensuring them a decent job, the media reports quite the reverse.

However, the State Council Information Office of China has disclosed the truth about Xinjiang the mainstream media have never told the world. No matter what the biased media reports, Xinjiang is a successful example of practicing international labor and human rights standards in underdeveloped areas with large populations of ethnic minorities.

The author is the China Correspondent of the Bangladesh Post
Amid rise cases in Jammu, a top government official on Monday directed heads of departments to adopt proactive approach in dealing with COVID-19, besides monitoring the situation round-the-clock.

Financial Commissioner, Health and Medical Education, Atal Dulloo, called upon the medical fraternity to work in close coordination to ensure best treatment to COVID-19 in Jammu division.

He asked the heads of institutions to adopt proactive approach towards dealing with COVID-19 cases.

Dulloo said the government was committed to ensure best possible facilities in all health institutions, particularly in dealing with COVID-19 cases for which special arrangements have been made in the designated health institutions.

To deal with any emergent situation and to facilitate cases, the government has recently established a control room in the Government Medical College, Jammu, which is functioning round-the-clock, he added.

During his visit to Government Medical College, Jammu, Dullo received a detailed feedback on the arrangements and facilities being extended to COVID-19 patients.

He stressed on close coordination between various functionaries engaged in managing COVID-19 patients.

Meanwhile, he interacted with doctors on duty in the control room and enquired about the services being provided to patients there.

He directed them to help every needy and provide timely support to COVID-19 patients so that the objective for establishing the control room is achieved in letter and spirit.

He asked the principal of GMC hospital to ensure necessary logistics to the control room for its smooth functioning.

To boost the morale of doctors and paramedical staff who are COVID-19 positive and undergoing treatment, Dulloo interacted with every individual telephonically and enquired about their health and treatment.

Appreciating the hard work of medicos and their staff in effectively dealing with the present situation, Dulloo said that every health warrior is working dedicatedly to serve the society for which the government and the entire society is behind them.

(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.)
Federal officers block a downtown street on September 19, 2020 in Portland, Oregon. Protests against police brutality and racial injustice resumed this weekend after activists called for a pause in response to hazardous air quality from nearby wildfire smoke. Nathan Howard/Getty Images

Protesters in Portland, Oregon, reported facing tear gas on protests on Friday and Saturday, just about one week after the city's mayor announced local police were banned from using it.

In a statement to Newsweek, the local police department said it did not use tear gas, and in a tweet, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler said local police didn't use the gas, also known as CS gas.

Reports by local journalists suggested that tear gas was used against protesters by federal authorities with the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, who did not return Insider's request for comment Sunday.

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Protesters and local media in Portland, Oregon, reported that authorities in the city used tear gas against demonstrators on Friday and Saturday, just over a week after the city's mayor banned the local police force from using the gas, also known as CS gas.

According to the local NBC News affiliate KGW, demonstrators in the city arrived outside of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in the city on Friday at approximately 9 p.m. As the outlet reported, independent journalists at the protests reported through social media the use of tear gas by authorities.

Independent Portland-based journalist Garrison Davis tweeted that the tear gas has been utilized by agents with the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The Portland Police Bureau and Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler denied on Saturday that local authorities utilized tear gas against protesters just over a week after the mayor banned its use. A spokesperson for the Portland Police Bureau told Newsweek that the agency did not employ the use of tear gas and advised the outlet to contact federal authorities.

"Their operations are completely separate from ours," the department spokesperson told Newsweek.

Story continues

The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately return Insider's request for comment on Sunday.

And in a tweet on Saturday, Wheeler also said that Portland police had complied with his order and did not use tear gas.

"I'm confirming today that Portland Police abided by my order banning the use of tear gas for crowd control during a protest Friday night in the South Waterfront neighborhood," he said. "I call on everyone in our community to step up and end the violence and to focus on advancing racial justice."

Mayor Ted Wheeler (@tedwheeler) September 19, 2020

The PPB announced in a press release that 11 people had been arrested Friday into Saturday due to their failure to disperse.

Following Wheeler's September 10 decision to prohibit the use of CS gas, the Portland Police Bureau released its own statement that criticized the mayor's decision, as The Oregonian reported. According to the Friday report, Wheeler's decision and the police agency's subsequent public statement caused a spat between the mayor's office and the police organization he oversees.

As KGW reported, ongoing protests in the city that began in May with the police killing of 46-year-old George Floyd in Minneapolis had been paused due to the wildfires on the west coast. Activists once again took to the streets beginning on Friday as the air quality in the city began to improve.

Read the original article on Insider
Guwahati, Sep 22 : Poaching of rhinos in Assam for the animal's precious horns has reduced by more than 86 per cent in the past three years, Environment and Forest Minister Parimal Suklabaidya said as the World Rhino Day was celebrated on Tuesday.

With an estimated Rhinoceros population of 2,640, Assam has the largest number of Indian one-horn rhinos in the world. Talking to IANS, Suklabaidya said one of the biggest challenges faced by the species in Assam is poaching for its valuable horns.

Image Source: IANS News

"Due to constant anti-poaching efforts of the state government and forest officials, the trend of poaching started coming down from 2016 as the number of rhinos poached in a year came down from 22 in 2016 to only three in 2019," he said.

"Of the five species of rhinos found in the world today, Assam hosts the largest population of great Indian One-horned Rhino. The population trend shows a continuous increase in the number of GOHR (Greater One-Horned Rhinos) in Assam. During the latest census exercise conducted in 2018, a total of 2650 rhinos were found across the protected areas of Assam," added Suklabaidya.

Image Source: IANS News

However, every year, almost a hundred Rhinos die due to natural causes such as old age, diseases, in-fightings besides floods.

Suklabaidya said that incidents of poaching often eliminate young animals otherwise that could have helped the population dynamics in favour of the species survival. "By bringing down poaching, the Assam government has done the greatest service to Greater One Horned Rhinoceros and to our mother earth."

Image Source: IANS News

According to Sailendra Pandey, Public Relations Officer of Assam's Environment and Forest Department, of the 2,650 Rhino in Assam, an estimated 2401 are at the world-famous Kaziranga National Park (KNP) alone.

The World Rhino Day, first announced by WWF-South Africa in 2010, is observed every year on September 22 to celebrate the world's five rhinoceros species and to reflect on the challenges faced by them.

"The World Rhino Day was observed to create a massive awareness to protect all five species of rhinos from extinction," Pandey told IANS.

The floods in Assam have also badly hit wild animals in various sanctuaries and national parks including the world-famous Kaziranga National Park, where 18 rhinos and 135 wild animals died due to the deluge this year.

Image Source: IANS News

KNP Director Karmashree P. Sivakumar said that 172 wild animals have been rescued from the flood waters, even though over 95 per cent of the 884 sq km park remained inundated until July 23. "Last year, 263 animals, including many endangered rhinos, were killed in floods while 169 animals were rescued...all-out efforts are being made to take care of the animals in the entire Kaziranga National Park," Sivakumar told IANS over phone.

The animals that perished this year in the park include 18 rhinos, 107 hog deer, 12 wild boars, six wild buffaloes, four porcupines and three swamp deer. The 172 rescued animals include three rhinos, 120 hog deer, 31 pythons and four cobras.

Meanwhile, Britain's Prince William and his wife Kate, who had visited the Kaziranga National Park in April 2016 to learn about conservation and anti-poaching efforts, have expressed deep concern over the devastation by floods in Assam.

The British royals, known formally as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, in a letter to Sivakumar, expressed distress over the enormous damage to the world-famous park and its precious wildlife.

Image Source: IANS News

"The deaths of so many animals, including one-horned rhinos, are deeply upsetting," the couple said in their letter.

Besides the Kaziranga National Park, Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary near Guwahati, Manas National Park and Orang National Park are other three habitats of the Rhinos where around 240 Rhinoceros are expected to be inhabited.

(Sujit Chakraborty can be contacted at sujit.c@ians.in)

-- Syndicated from IANS
Brain Surgeons: Between Life And Death

Rating:

Ghosts

Rating:

First, do no harm, warned the fore- father of all doctors, the Greek physician Hippocrates. It was all very well to say that in 400BC, but he had no idea about 21st-century brain surgery.

'Virtually everything we do in neurosurgery carries a high risk,' remarked Mr Aabir Chakraborty in Brain Surgeons: Between Life And Death (C4). One slip of a stiletto-thin scalpel, deep inside the head, can sever an artery and cause a fatal stroke.

Before donning his scrubs for surgery at Southampton's Neurological Centre, the doc revealed that he meditated for an hour each morning.

It helped him to develop empathy with his patients, he said.

Matthew, 12, who had a rare tumour at the top of his brainstem, was featured on Brain Surgeons: Between Life And Death

Personally, if a surgeon is going to be mucking around inside my cranium, I don't need him to be working on his emotions before breakfast. He can be as hard-boiled as Humphrey Bogart for all I care, so long as he's got a steady hand. Surgery, not sympathy, should be the watchword.

But it was impossible not to feel deep sympathy for the parents of 12-year-old Matthew, who had a rare tumour at the top of his brainstem. 'I wish it was me rather than him,' said his father fervently.

Channel 4's wide-ranging medical documentaries work best when we develop a strong emotional desire to see the patient get better  as in the story, a couple of weeks ago, of robotics scientist Peter Scott-Morgan, who had pioneering implants to help him overcome the paralysis of motor neurone disease.

From the moment we met Matthew, I was fighting the urge to fast-forward to the end of the episode, to reassure myself that the boy recovered from both his tumour and the surgery.

However, the operation took two days and it felt as though we watched every moment of it. Although it was  thankfully  benign, Matthew's tumour was ingrown at the centre of the brain, and the surgeons had to cut a tunnel to it without damaging any of his faculties.

Tax return of the week: The earliest written records, said Dr Irving Finkel in The Secret History Of Writing (BBC4), were little drawings that enabled farmers to show their accounts to the taxman. Death and taxes have always been inevitable... Advertisement

When they reached the mass, which was the size of a plum, an artery started to bleed heavily. By this point, I had both arms wrapped around my head as though I could stem the flow by contorting myself.

Just as nerve-racking were the first days of recuperation, when Matthew had no sensation in his left side. The final sequence, after the boy had returned home to his family, came as a blessed relief: he seemed fully recovered and was riding his bike.

'The future looks a lot better than it could have been,' said his mother cautiously, as though she hardly dared admit they were past the worst.

Who can blame her? After an experience like that, you're afraid to breathe for fear the gods will overhear.

It's not the gods who are listening in Ghosts (BBC1), but assorted lesser spirits, former inhabitants of Button Hall who have stayed on to haunt the place.

Alison (Charlotte Ritchie) can't get a moment's peace  one of them, played by Lolly Adefope, even snuggles in bed with her.

This unfailingly entertaining sitcom from the Horrible Histories team has not moved on much from the first series.

All the characters are the same, and we know that every week the ghosts will thwart the moneymaking schemes of Alison and her hen-pecked husband.

Martha Howe-Douglas is the imperious Victorian spectre, Fanny, and naturally, there are lots of Fanny jokes.

Simon Farnaby plays Julian, a caddish MP who died without his trousers on. It's laugh-out-loud funny, but they might as well have called it Are You Being Haunted?
Like many parents who have children with disabilities, I worried this would happen  that children with Down syndrome might get pushed out of the education system under the guise of thinly veiled excuses.

I wrote about it in a blog post: it is my expressed wish that not one student with a disability will experience barriers to receiving an inclusive and full educational experience this year. Still, my wish didnt make a difference, because it happened anyway.

The parents of a five-year old boy with Down syndrome in Toronto are told if their son cannot keep his mask on, he cant come to school. The parents believe in the importance of mask-wearing and desperately seek advice from other parents. An exemption note is received from a doctor; all the while their son is missing out on school.

The first day jitters, making friends, learning new routines: these things arent just important to typical kids. The school has reservations about the boy not being toilet trained, and suggests the parents wait three weeks until the right supports are in place. They knew he was coming since June. In the meantime, the principal informs them, their son should participate in virtual learning, which the parents made clear does not work for their family or meet the educational needs of their son.

Do you think this would happen to a family of a typically developing child? He still hasnt started school yet.

Another kindergarten student in Halton, a young girl with Down syndrome, goes to school and is unable to open her lunch containers. I remember when my 7-year-old daughter Elyse had the same issue, despite my shopping around for easy-open containers.

We practiced opening containers together; I can see her tiny fingers wrapped around the lid, tugging with all her might. I wanted her to be able to eat at school  could there be a more basic expectation? Kids with Down syndrome, who often have difficulty with fine motor control, struggle with this skill of opening lids, but so do many kids. Thank goodness for the educators who look out for these little ones. It goes without saying that children need nourishment to learn.

The little girl in Halton comes home from school at the end of the day. I think of the mom glimpsing the lunch bag, her heart landing with a thud in her gut at seeing it still full of food. Of knowing there was not one caring adult to be found. The schools response was that they werent allowed to touch the food or open any containers. And so her daughter with Down syndrome ate absolutely nothing at school that day.

I feel the disgrace and the hot shame of the young not being protected. I see my own little girl in her place, and I am angry, but that isnt the answer. A global pandemic is not an excuse. Do not give me one excuse that gets in the way of a child with Down syndromes education, of their human rights. Instead, please give me dignity, common sense, inclusion, kindness and love.
T he "Romeo and Juliet" of the coronavirus lockdown who fell in love from the balconies of their homes in Verona are set to get married.

Michele D'Alpaos, 38, and Paola Agnelli, 40, met during Italy's ten-week lockdown in March.

Unable to leave their neighbouring apartments, their relationship blossomed through phone calls and conversations on their balconies.

After finally meeting in a local park in May, Mr DAlpaos, an IT worker, told the Times: "We are absolutely getting married and all we have to do is set the date.

"We are considering a ceremony on the large roof terrace of my building, which would make sense since we met on our balconies."

Ms Agnelli, a lawyer, was stood on the balcony of her sixth-floor when she spotted Mr D'Alpaos on the balcony of his seventh-floor flat.

The pair had both come out to listen to music played at 6pm every day to lift people's spirits during the lockdown.

They struck up a relationship and exchanged numbers.

As their relationship progressed, Mr DAlpaos hung a large banner on the roof of the building with "Paola" written on it - which drew the attention of local newspapers.

By July, the couple were spending time with each other's parents at the beach and in the Alps.

"This relationship is real and something to protect - meeting like that was our destiny and it is wonderful that we could fall in love in the midst of such a tragic event," Ms Agnelli told the Times.
For more than 25 years, the Eddie & Ozzie Awards have recognized excellence in engaging content and gorgeous design across all sectors of the publishing industry. The competition honored other top-notch magazines such as Food & Wine, Variety, Southern Living, Wine Enthusiast and more, plus features, websites, online communities, blogs, podcasts, videos and investigative journalism.

"The Eddie & Ozzie Awards recognize some of the nation's most trusted consumer publications and we are honored to be in their company and accept this award on behalf of Wisconsin's dairy farm families," said Chad Vincent, Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin / Wisconsin Cheese CEO. "While the COVID-19 pandemic has put an enormous strain on the dairy industry and entire food chain, our marketing team never slowed down. This award is even more special as the issue was put together during the earliest, most uncertain weeks of the pandemic while the entire editorial team was working from home, which is a tremendous feat on its own."

Grate.Pair.Share. readers love cheese of all types, but especially specialty cheese. The digital magazine connects premium customers with Wisconsin cheese brands in an approachable, usable way, while creating awareness and affinity for the 600 types, styles and varieties of cheese made in Wisconsin, the State of Cheese. The magazine launched an in-store edition in 2018, which is available at some of the nation's biggest retailers to inspire shoppers and provide easy meal solutions while grocery shopping.

"Sharing insider cheese education tips and information engages our audience by filling their quest for foodie-cheese knowledge," says Suzanne Fanning, Chief Marketing Officer for Wisconsin Cheese and Grate.Pair.Share. Editor in Chief. "Now more than ever, people are looking for new recipes to cook and entertain from home. Our readers can learn how cheese is a part of every occasion  and everything that we do in our state."

"In addition to highlighting award-winning cheeses in delicious dishes, the magazine has evolved over recent years to include more travel and lifestyle content so customers can see themselves visiting or creating their own destination, all the while tasting world-class cheese throughout the journey," says Amy Thieding, Culinary Manager at Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin and Managing Editor of Grate.Pair.Share. "We inspire by sharing user-generated content, including photos and favorite cheese brands from passionate Wisconsin Cheese lovers across the country called Cheeselandians. We use these elements within the magazine to share our brand story  and wrap each issue into a charming, delectable Wisconsin package.

Grate.Pair.Share. is published five times each year, including Harvest, Holiday, Winter, Spring and Summer issues  reaching a total of 25-30 million viewers annually and averaging a read time of 2-3 minutes. All recipes including seasonal fall recipes from the new Harvest issue can be found on WisconsinCheese.com.

Editorial partners on this project were Stephen & Brady, Inc and Radlund Photography.

About Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin: Funded by Wisconsin dairy farmers, Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin is a non-profit organization that focuses on marketing and promoting Wisconsin's world-class dairy products. For more information, visit our website at wisconsindairy.org .

About Wisconsin Cheese: The tradition of cheesemaking excellence began more than 175 years ago, before Wisconsin was recognized as a state. Wisconsin's 1,200 cheesemakers, many of whom are third- and fourth-generation, continue to pass on old-world traditions while adopting modern innovations in cheesemaking craftsmanship. For more information, visit WisconsinCheese.com or connect on Facebook.

SOURCE Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin

Related Links

http://www.wmmb.com


By Associated Press

WASHONGTON: The US death toll from the coronavirus topped 200,000 on Tuesday, a figure unimaginable eight months ago when the scourge first reached the world's richest nation with its sparkling laboratories, top-flight scientists and stockpiles of medicines and emergency supplies.

"It is completely unfathomable that we've reached this point," said Jennifer Nuzzo, a Johns Hopkins University public health researcher.

The bleak milestone, by far the highest confirmed death toll from the virus in the world, was reported by Johns Hopkins, based on figures supplied by state health authorities.

But the real toll is thought to be much higher, in part because many COVID-19 deaths were probably ascribed to other causes, especially early on, before widespread testing.

The number of dead in the US is equivalent to a 9/11 attack every day for 67 days. It is roughly equal to the population of Salt Lake City or Huntsville, Alabama. And it is still climbing.

Deaths are running at close to 770 a day on average, and a widely cited model from the University of Washington predicts the overall US toll will double to 400,000 by the end of the year as schools and colleges reopen and cold weather sets in.

CLICK HERE FOR COVID-19 LIVE UPDATES

A vaccine is unlikely to become widely unavailable until 2021.

"The idea of 200,000 deaths is really very sobering, in some respects stunning," Dr Anthony Fauci, the government's top infectious-disease expert, said on CNN.

The figure reflects America's unenviable spot, which it has held for five months, as the world's leader by far in sheer numbers of confirmed infections and deaths.

The US has less than 5% of the globe's population but more than 20% of the reported deaths.

Only five countries -Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Spain and Brazil- rank higher in COVID-19 deaths per capita."



All the world's leaders took the same test, and some have succeeded and some have failed, said Dr Cedric Dark, an emergency physician at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston who has seen death firsthand.

"In the case of our country, we failed miserably."

Blacks, Hispanics and American Indians have accounted for a disproportionate share of the deaths, underscoring the economic and health care disparities in the US.

Worldwide, the virus has infected more than 31 million people and is closing in fast on 1 million deaths, with over 965,000 lives lost, by Johns Hopkins' count, though the real numbers are believed to be higher because of gaps in testing and reporting.

For the US, it wasn't supposed to go this way.

When the year began, the US had recently garnered recognition for its readiness for a pandemic.

Health officials seemed confident as they converged on Seattle in January to deal with the country's first known case of coronavirus, in a 35-year-old Washington state resident who had returned from visiting his family in Wuhan, China.

On February 26, President Donald Trump held up pages from the Global Health Security Index, a measure of readiness for health crises, and declared: "The United States is rated No.1 most prepared."

It was true. The US outranked the 194 other countries in the index. Besides its labs, experts and strategic stockpiles, the U.S. could boast of its disease trackers and plans for rapidly communicating lifesaving information during a crisis.

The leadership of the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention was respected for sending help to fight infectious diseases around the globe.

But the stealthy coronavirus slipped into the US and spread undetected. Monitoring at airports was loose. Travel bans came too late. Only later did health officials realise the virus could spread before symptoms show up, rendering screening imperfect.

The virus swept into nursing homes, which suffered from poor infection control, where it began claiming lives, now numbering more than 78,000.

It also exploited inequalities in the United States: Nearly 30 million people in the country are uninsured, and there are stark health differences among racial and ethnic groups.

At the same time, gaps in federal leadership led to shortages of testing supplies.

ALSO WATCH:

Internal warnings to ramp up production of masks were ignored, leaving states to compete for protective gear.

Governors led their states in different directions, adding to public confusion.

Trump downplayed the threat early on, advanced unfounded notions about the behavior of the virus, promoted unproven or dangerous treatments, complained that too much testing was making the US look bad, and disdained masks, turning face coverings into a political issue.

On April 10, the president predicted the US wouldn't see 100,000 deaths. That milestone was reached May 27.

Nowhere was the lack of leadership seen as more crucial than in testing, a key to breaking the chain of contagion.

"We have from the very beginning lacked a national testing strategy," Nuzzo said. "For reasons I can't truly fathom we've refused to develop one." Such coordination "should be led out of the White House," not by each state independently, she said.

"We aren't going to restore our economy until every state has this virus under control."

The real number of dead from the crisis could be significantly higher: As many as 215,000 more people than usual died in the US from all causes during the first seven months of 2020, according to CDC figures.

The death toll from COVID-19 during the same period was put at about 150,000 by Johns Hopkins.
Bahrain's crown prince, Sheikh Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held talks on the telephone Tuesday, a week after their countries signed a normalisation accord.

They "reviewed potential areas of bilateral cooperation and relevant regional and international developments", the Gulf state's BNA news agency said.

The prince said the September 15 deal, signed in Washington at the same time as an Israel-UAE normalisation agreement, would "strengthen regional security, stability and prosperity", BNA reported.

Netanyahu travelled to the US capital for a ceremony to sign the deals along with the foreign affairs chiefs of the two Arab monarchies of the Gulf.

In Israel, the prime minister's office said in a statement that Netanyahu and the crown prince had "a very friendly discussion".

"We talked of the means to rapidly boost the contents of the accord between our two countries, to transform this peace into an economic, technological, touristic peace, peace in each of these sectors," Netanyahu said, according to the statement.

Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates became the third and fourth Arab countries to normalise ties with Israel, following Jordan's 1994 peace treaty with Israel and Egypt's peace deal in 1979.

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Large country houses in UK built with money looted or fortunes earned in colonial India are the focus of a new report by the National Trust, which owns and manages hundreds of historic houses, forts, castles and sylvan public spaces.

At least 50 such properties in England and Wales are linked to the East India Company, whose employees earned fortunes in India and returned home to build large houses and live in splendour. Such returning wealthy individuals were called nabobs, who also wielded political power in Westminster in the 18th and 19th centuries.

The trust has identified 93 properties linked to slavery and colonialism during the British Empire. The research is part of historical reviews initiated by several government departments and organisations in the wake of the Black Lives Matter campaign.

The National Trusts properties are a popular tourist attraction, with tens of thousands of domestic and international visitors flocking its castles, forts, archaeological and industrial monuments and parks, but this is the first time it has acknowledged their links to slavery and colonialism.

Among the India-linked properties are two associated with Robert Clive, the first governor of Bengal presidency: his house in Claremont, Sussex, purchased from wealth he made in India and the Powis Castle in Wales, which has a large collection of Indian items.

Writes Lucy Porten of the National Trust: At Claremont, purchased with the wealth he (Clive) had made in India, he built a new house, intended to be his main residence and to display the treasures he had amassed. In the early 1770s, Clive had begun acquiring Old Master pictures, which were intended for the Great Room at Claremont.

At the time of his death, the house, unfinished and unfurnished, was a repository for his various collections, including that of Indian Curiosities (still unpacked at that point). Roberts son, Edward (17541839), would become 1st Earl of Powis, following his marriage to Lady Henrietta Herbert (17581830) in 1784, and Governor of Madras in 1798.

Their amalgamated collections, containing some 1,000 objects from about 1600 to the 1830s, are now displayed at Powis Castle and include ivories, textiles, statues of Hindu gods, ornamental silver and gold, weapons and ceremonial armour from India and East Asia.

Other India-linked properties include Lord Curzons Kedleston Hall in Derbyshire; former governor of Madras Ronald dArcy Fifes Nunnington Hall in Yorkshire; the home of Francis Syke (one of the nabobs), Basildon Park, Berkshire; and Rudyard Kiplings home Batemans in east Sussex.

The trust said the research is part of its commitment to ensuring links to colonialism and historic slavery are properly represented, shared and interpreted as part of a broader narrative at relevant places it owns and manages.

Tarnya Cooper, the trusts curatorial and collections director, said: The buildings in the care of the National Trust reflect many different periods and a range of British and global histories- social, industrial, political and cultural.

A significant number of those in our care have links to the colonisation of different parts of the world, and some to historic slavery. Colonialism and slavery were central to the national economy from the 17th to the 19th centuries.

One of the largest landowners in Britain, the National Trust was founded in 1895. It acquired its holdings by various means, including gifts from former owners. Engaged in heritage conservation, its work is underpinned by the National Trust Act of 1907.

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The US is on track to hit 200,000 coronavirus deaths this week, and the pandemic is far from over: More than half of states are reporting a rise in cases, and five statesWisconsin, Idaho, South Dakota, Iowa and Kansashave a coronavirus positivity rate above 15% (the percentage of all tests given that come back positive for coronavirus). Here's what's behind the numbers in the nation's latest COVID-19 hotspots. Read on, and to ensure your health and the health of others, don't miss these Sure Signs You've Already Had Coronavirus.

1 Wisconsin

Aerial Drone Milwaukee Marina Wisconsin

Positivity rate: 17%

Wisconsin surpassed 100,000 coronavirus cases overall, and reported cases have surged 88% in just two weeks. Dane County Executive Joe Parisi urged the University of Wisconsin-Madison to move its classes online, saying the decision to hold in-person classes is responsible for the growth of positive cases in the state.

2 Idaho

boise idaho

Positivity rate: 16.7%

Idaho's seven-day average of coronavirus cases was 283.3 as of Saturday, compared to 242.9 a week earlier, the Idaho Statesman reported. That's a day after Boise State University said 76 students and one staff member had tested positive for the virus in the last week.

RELATED: COVID Mistakes You Should Never Make

3 South Dakota

A storm rolls in at dawn at the South Dakota State Capitol building in Pierre, South Dakota

Positivity rate: 16.6%

Coronavirus cases in South Dakota are rising among all age groups, but fastest in older people, the Sioux Falls Argus Leader reported on Friday. That's one month after the infamous Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, a "super-spreader" event held in the state that has been linked to 260,000 coronavirus cases nationwide.

4 Kansas

Kansas State Capitol Building on a Sunny Day

Positivity rate: 15.1%

The seven-day rolling average of new infections in Kansas City was 307 as of Sunday, according to the Kansas City Star. That compares to 262 a week ago. State health officials say the median age of people newly diagnosed with COVID-19 is 35, while the median age of deaths is 79.

RELATED: I'm an Infectious Disease Doctor and Would Never Touch This

Story continues

5 Iowa

pappajohn sculpture park iowa

Positivity rate: 14.9%

Coronavirus cases in Iowa are rising among young people and education workers, the Gazette reported Monday. Nearly 20 percent of overall coronavirus test results in the previous 24 hours came back positive. Gov. Kim Reynolds extended an order to close bars in two university communities, where disease spikes occurred after students returned to school and socializing.

6 How to Stay Healthy

As for yourself, do everything you can to prevent gettingand spreadingCOVID-19: Wear a face mask, avoid crowds (and bars, and house parties), practice social distancing, wash your hands regularly, disinfect frequently touched surfaces, and to get through this pandemic at your healthiest, don't miss these 35 Places You're Most Likely to Catch COVID.
When running for a seat in the New York City Council, it pays to be close to the speaker. In fact, two of Council Speaker Corey Johnsons staffers are among the top fundraisers of all the council candidates running in 2021  with some of the influx coming from donors with business before the legislative body.

Erik Bottcher, Johnsons chief of staff, has raised more money than any other City Council candidate who isnt an incumbent, bringing in $114,356 as of the most recent filing deadline in July. And Lynn Schulman, a senior liaison in Johnsons office, has raised $71,067. Schulmans total is more than any other non-incumbent except Bottcher and Eric Dinowitz, a teacher and the son of Assembly Member Jeff Dinowitz, who had raised $73,550 through July.

Amassing that amount of campaign cash is remarkable. With the expected June 2021 Democratic primaries still nine months away, few of the more than 200 candidates have even broken the $50,000 mark  if they have started raising money at all.

More than $4,000 of Schulmans haul came from registered lobbyists, including some donors that have reported lobbying Schulman directly. Schulman is running in the 29th Council District, which is centered on Forest Hills, Queens, and is currently represented by the term-limited City Council Member Karen Koslowitz. But Schulman is currently the senior community and emergency services liaison in the speakers office, a role in which she meets with lobbyists pushing their clients interests.

Schulmans campaign donors include James Capalino, who gave her $250 in November 2018. Capalinos firm reported lobbying Schulman between July and November of 2019 on behalf of Birch Family Services, Inc., which provides services for those with developmental disabilities and received $85,000 in City Council discretionary funding in the fiscal year 2021 budget. Capalino employees Mark Thompson and Travis Terry also donated to Schulman in December 2018 and January 2019, respectively. Terry told City & State that he and his colleagues had known Schulman for more than 15 years, and that shes an exceptional public servant. The lobbying the firm reported on behalf of Birch Family Services was simply to get a clarification on the process for funding these much-needed services.

Schulman also received campaign donations from Lisa Constantinople and Tena Vallone on the same day, June 24, 2019. Their husbands are partners of Constantinople & Vallone Consulting, a firm which reported lobbying Lynn Schulman directly soon after the donations came in, between July and December 2019. The client was You Gotta Believe, an agency that finds permanent homes for young adults in foster care. Constantinople & Vallone did not respond to a request for comment.

Schulman has also taken money from many other City Council lobbyists that havent reported lobbying her directly, including Chris Coffey of Tusk Strategies and George Arzt. At least six different lobbyists at Bolton-St. Johns have given to Schulmans campaign.

Schulman isnt breaking any rules, however. None of the lobbyists who donated exceeded the $250 limit for people doing business with the city, and Schulmans campaign is hardly being fueled exclusively by lobbyists. According to the New York City Campaign Finance Board, she received a total of $7,145 from people doing business with the city so far, or about 10% of her total haul. Schulman brushed off any concerns that campaign donations might be used to open doors at the City Council, with either her or with Johnson, her boss.

Im proud of the grassroots support our progressive agenda continues to receive. I am honored to have the broadest coalition, with the most in-district support, of any insurgent candidate in Queens, Schulman told City & State in an email. Although, as a council staffer who is running for an open seat with the support of the incumbent and other elected officials, calling herself an insurgent is a stretch.

Running for office while working in government always creates a potential conflict, said Blair Horner, executive director of the New York Public Interest Research Group. In any case, people in government jobs who are running for office must ensure that the work of the office is conducted impartially. High-level city government employees are even required to take leave of absence when theyre running for office. For example, Kathryn Garcia just resigned from her post as sanitation commissioner in order to explore a run for mayor. Yet most City Council employees are allowed to launch campaigns while keeping their jobs.

To avoid such conflicts  and to align himself with the latest progressive orthodoxy  Johnson pledged to decline donations from any lobbyists as he considers running for mayor. Hes also rejecting money from real estate developers or any corporate political action committees and limiting all donations to $250, well below the legal limit for citywide candidates. Schulman has not agreed to do the same, though she said she would not accept donations from law enforcement unions.

Bottcher, however, has pledged to decline the same kinds of donations as Johnson, saying no to lobbyist, real estate developer or corporate PAC money. In fact, when City & State pointed out a $200 donation from William Gilbane of real estate developer Gilbane Inc., Bottcher campaign treasurer Mark Robinson said he would send it back. Each of our over 700 individual contributors was vetted, but one slipped through, and a refund was immediately issued, he wrote in an email.

Bottcher is running for the 3rd District, which covers much of the West Side of Manhattan. Johnson currently holds the seat, but will be term-limited out at the end of 2021. A number of Bottchers donors work for organizations that receive city funding. That includes Luis Freddy Molano, a vice president at the Community Healthcare Network, which got more than $500,000 in City Council discretionary funding in this years budget, and Robert Hammond, co-founder and executive director of Friends of the High Line, which got $110,000 in the budget. But like Schulman, only a small percentage of Bottchers donations come from those with business before the city. According to the NYCCFB, those donors have given him $6,880 so far, or about 6% of his total haul.

Still, some of those contributions may raise eyebrows. Bottcher got $1,000 from the United Federation of Teachers, and the union named him as one of its three 2021 City Council endorsements so far. The other two are Eric Dinowitz, a teacher and UFT member, and Briget Rein, who has worked at the UFT for more than a decade. Bottcher has never worked in education, but he does work for Johnson, whose office the union frequently lobbies. Bottcher earned the UFT endorsement himself, a spokesperson told City & State, and the union was impressed with his understanding of the issues and commitment to equity for students.

Another high-level Johnson staffer, City Council Director of Administrative Services Jenny Low, is also running for City Council, seeking a seat in Lower Manhattan. Low started fundraising after Bottcher and Schulman, and has not yet filed with the NYCCFB, but a spokesperson for her campaign said she isnt accepting donations from lobbyists, real estate developers or corporate PACs.

Bottcher and Schulman have worked in and around city politics for a long time, and their long lists of donors reflect the personal and professional connections theyve cultivated. Some of those individuals have business before the city that might be helped along if the candidates win office  or potentially even sooner, since they already have some pull in government. Of course, taking money from people they might also meet with in a professional capacity for their government job is something that elected officials running for re-election do without blinking an eye. Bottcher and Schulmans jobs at City Hall may simply be giving them some of the benefits of incumbency without having ever held office before.

Johnsons campaign told City & State that contributions to employees didnt have any impact on policy.

The Speaker makes decisions based on the merits and whats best for the city, Johnson spokesperson Jen Fermino wrote in an email. Any implication otherwise is false.
New Delhi, Sep 22 : A Delhi court on Tuesday sent six suspected Al-Qaeda terrorists to four-day custody of the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

On September 19, the NIA had busted an inter-state terror module sponsored by the Al-Qaeda from Pakistan. Six alleged terrorists were arrested from West Bengal's Murshidabad district, and three from Kerala's Ernakulum district.

Six out of nine accused were produced before Additional Sessions Judge Parveen Singh, who sent them to NIA custody after the agency sought the same.

According to the agency, they were planning attacks on several vital installations in Delhi-NCR and other parts of the country to spread terror in the minds of the people.

During the raids, the NIA recovered a huge cache of firecrackers which they had bought to procure of huge amount of potassium required to make IEDs.

The alleged terrorists have been identified as Murshid Hassan, Yakoob Bishwas and Morshraf Hussien, residents of Ernakulam, and Najmus Sakib, Abu Sufiyan, Mainul Mondal, Leu Yean Ahmed, Al Mamun Kamal and Atitur Rehman, residents of Murshidabad. Hassan is the alleged leader of the terror module.

The agency officials said that the potassium present in the firecrackers were taken out and used to make IEDs. The NIA also recovered crude IEDs along with switches, batteries etc. from Sufiyan's residential premises in Murshidabad.

During the raids, large quantity of incriminating materials, including digital devices, documents, jihadi literature, sharp weapons, country-made firearms, a locally fabricated body armour, articles and literature used for making home-made explosive devices were seized from their possession.

"As per preliminary investigation, these individuals were radicalised by the Pakistan-based Al-Qaeda on social media and were motivated to undertake attacks at multiple places, including the National Capital Region (NCR)," an NIA spokesperson had earlier said.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
The number of hospitalizations in Lancaster County related to COVID-19 has climbed to the highest level since June.

As of Monday afternoon, there were 43 people hospitalized locally, including 15 from Lancaster County. That's an increase from 31 patients who were hospitalized Friday.

The Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department also reported one additional death Monday, that of an inmate at the Nebraska State Penitentiary who died last week after being hospitalized for an extended period. The man, in his 50s, is the first known Nebraska inmate to have died of COVID-19.

With his death, Lancaster County has 24 confirmed coronavirus deaths. The case total  with the addition of 76 cases reported Monday  has reached 5,774, with 2,216 documented recoveries.

Lincoln Public Schools reported 10 positive COVID-19 cases Monday and 15 positives over the weekend, the district's largest one-day total and the first time it reported numbers over a weekend period.

LPS officials report cases to schools when they get confirmation from the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department and try to send letters home to parents within 24 hours of getting the notices.
A: But they unfortunately went a little overboard, you know? I actually know people who voted for Trump, but were Bernie supporters. People are trying to upend the system, but you dont need to upend it like that. Structurally, I dont blame the politicians. Our system just needs to be changed a little bit, where people can actually do things and function. You know, my friend who used to work for Democratic places back in the 60s  or his family did  his uncle used to say, one thing about the fact that were not corrupt now: You cant do anything. Nobody can give anyone jobs. Nothing gets done. So he said corruption had its positive side, which is you could function. But now were taking checks and balances to this weird place where its all checks and balances, and nothing is done. I mean, obviously talking to people from Chicago about this, youre like, Hey, listen, we still have our system in place 
The February riots in north-east Delhi coincided with US President Donald Trumps visit when the national capital was on a high alert. The deployment data related to the violence-hit areas cited in one of the charge sheets filed in connection shows how police were unprepared or had not anticipated the scale of the clashes. The Delhi police have been criticised for not anticipating the scale of the riots despite multiple intelligence warnings of a major communal flare-up. At least 53 people died while 400 others were injured in the riots.

On February 23, when the first incidents of violence were reported from Jafrabad, there were only 1,393 police personnel deployed.

The data on the police deployment is mentioned in the charge sheet that police filed last week in connection with the conspiracy behind the riots.

Also Read: Delhi riots charge sheet details money trail, accused deny allegations

On February 24, when large scale violence broke out in parts of northeast Delhi, there were only 1,361 police personnel on the ground. On February 25, the third day of the violence, only 1,399 police personnel were posted. Most cases of rioting, murders, and violence were reported between February 23 and 25. On the night of February 25, national security advisor Ajit Doval visited the riot-hit areas along with current police commissioner SN Shrivastava, who was transferred back to the Delhi police on the evening of February 25 to control the riots.

Records show that following Dovals visit, the strength of the police personnel on the ground increased almost four times. With additional reinforcements from the Centre, there were 4,291 personnel from police and paramilitary forces, which increased to 4,756 on February 28.

Between February 24 and 27, the charge sheet shows that the fire department received at least 242 calls of arson from the police and residents. Records show that the most--95--fire calls were received on February 25. During the clashes, a tyre market in Gokalpuri, a parking lot with over 150 cars in Shiv Vihar, and houses of residents were burnt. The lone woman, who died in the riots, Akbari Begum, 85, died when rioters set her house afire in Bhajanpura on February 25.

Also Read: Delhi Assembly panel issues fresh notice of appearance to Facebook India VP

In the charge sheet, the police have also submitted a report from the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) about the cancellation of services because of the violence. The DMRC, in the report, said it incurred unspecified huge revenue loss due to closure of Metro Stations and disruption in services.

The Delhi Transport Corporation, which runs a fleet of government buses, suffered losses of over Rs 5 lakh as its five buses were damaged.

The charge sheet says at least 1,130 commercial and residential properties were damaged in the revenue departments sub-divisional areas of Karawal Nagar and Yamuna Vihar. The police said they are awaiting the survey report from other subdivisions such as Seelampur and Shahdara.

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Despite the meetings and steps undertaken by Hamas and Fatahs leaders to present a united front following Israel's normalization agreements with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain, Hamas middle leadership level and popular organizational bases do not place great trust in what they called false unity, arguing that Fatah and the Palestinian Authority (PA) have shown a lack of credibility when it comes to reconciliation with Hamas in the past.

For them, Fatah and the PA efforts are not patriotic but rather tactical, strategic, temporary and stem from their own interests. They claim the PA and Fatah did not change their security services approach toward Hamas in the West Bank, as they continue to arrest and summon Hamas cadres despite the positive meetings in front of the cameras and under the pretext that they fear Hamas will take control of the West Bank as it did in the Gaza Strip in 2007.

The Committee of Families of Political Prisoners in the West Bank, a nongovernmental institution concerned with the affairs of Hamas members imprisoned by the PA, said in its monthly report issued Sept. 10 that the PA continues its violations, arresting 30 political activists, summoning 33 people, and raiding nine homes and workplaces. The violations, according to the report, targeted 24 former prisoners, 24 released political prisoners, university students, journalists, teachers and university lecturers, most of whom are Hamas cadres. The most violations were recorded in the West Bank city of Hebron, followed by Jenin and Nablus.

Nayef Rajoub, former minister of endowments in the Hamas-run government and a Hamas leader in the West Bank, told Al-Monitor, The movement welcomes any step to end the division and bless any effort in this direction. Yet our experience with the PA has been bitter. Numerous agreements were signed with the PA in the presence of regional and international witnesses. Every time, the PA would circumvent what was agreed upon. Based on that, we need to see how it is going to act on the ground in order for the Palestinian street to be reassured and see that it is being serious in overcoming differences and divide.

"Based on that," Rajoub added, "the PA needs to implement what is being said on the ground without contenting itself with media remarks and meetings. This is because it is a shame that the arrests, summons and harassment of Hamas in the West Bank continue.

I fear that the [rapprochement] steps taken toward Hamas may be tactical and stemming from the PAs own interests after it reached a dead end, and that it wants to use [the Hamas] card in front of Israel and the Americans, Rajoub continued.

Since the outbreak of the coronavirus in the West Bank in February, the PA has summoned and arrested Hamas activists across the territory and investigated with some into their social media posts. That has prompted Shaker Amara, a prominent Hamas leader in the West Bank, to describe such a policy as an act of sabotage of national efforts and a consolidation of the divide.

However, Ehud Hamo, a correspondent for Israeli Channel 12 in the West Bank, revealed in a Sept. 16 report that the PA leadership issued instructions to its security forces in the past days following the signing of the Arab normalization deals with Israel in Washington not to arrest any Hamas member unless it is an extreme, sensitive case.

Yahya Moussa, a Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip who also chairs the Human Rights and Oversight Committee at the Palestinian Legislative Council, told Al-Monitor, Since its inception, the PA has taken the path of negotiations with Israel. It is unwilling to change this course because its interests are correlated with Israel, despite the rupture today. We are in a position that will neither lead us to a national reconciliation nor to resist the occupation. I am not optimistic about any upcoming steps, because the PA is not serious about that and it does not want to have a competitor or any other program in the political arena. It even views the green Hamas flag as an existential threat. Abu Mazen (Mahmoud Abbas) no longer has a political presence; no one raises the phone to speak to him and everyone is waiting for the end [of his term]. It is strange how all of a sudden Hamas steps in to save him with the courteous remarks.

Although pessimism prevails over Hamas middle leadership about the rapprochement with Fatah, Hossam Badran, a member of Hamas political bureau who is in charge of the national relations file, said in a televised statement on Sept. 15, Hamas seeks to stand by Fatah and all Palestinians in the liberation battle if there is an agreement on the popular resistance and there are contacts to solve the internal Palestinian situation.

Meanwhile, some PA circles believe that Jibril Rajoub, secretary-general of the movements Central Committee who is leading the efforts to communicate with Hamas, is not backed by all of Fatah. They believe he is seeking rapprochement with Hamas for his own personal gains among Palestinians and not to achieve Palestinian reconciliation.

Sari Arabi, an expert on Islamic movements and an author for Arabi21, told Al-Monitor, Hamas believes that a rapprochement with the PA is better than a rupture, even though it does not lead to a serious reconciliation, a real unity or a shift in the PA policy.

He said, Hamas cannot refuse to communicate with the PA, even in the media, in order to counter the annexation and normalization plans, although the PA benefits from Hamas propaganda among the Palestinians. Yet the problem resides in some of the Hamas leaders exaggeration when it comes to unity with Fatah. That is why they need to listen more to the middle leadership level whose vision is realistic when it comes to the PA. The true reconciliation and serious popular resistance implies a confrontation with the Israeli occupation, which the PAs ruling class rejects.

Commenting on rapprochement, skeptics within Hamas believe the PA has not given leeway for any serious popular resistance and has not led any effective resistance since the United States declared Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and announced the Mideast peace plan.
A 'neglected' historic building in the Culmore area of Derry has been given a new lease of life.

Following months of work, Culmore Community Partnership (CCP) last week finally opened the doors of the newly renovated Culmore Community Hub at Victoria Hall.

To mark the occasion, the local community group held a cultural showcase event as part of Good Relations Week 2020.

The Mayor of Derry and Strabane, Councillor Brian Tierney, joined community representatives and local residents at the socially distanced opening and heard more about the ambitious plans for the hub over the coming months.

CCP's Chairperson Neil Doherty said they delighted to be able to show off the newly-refurbished building.

"We are delighted to open our doors to the Culmore community during Good Relations Week.

Culmore Community Hub at Victoria Hall is open to everyone in Culmore and further afield.

We're looking forward to working with the local community to establish a vibrant, inclusive and safe place for everyone to enjoy.

We were joined on Thursday by some local groups for our first official event, an evening of multicultural conversation, music, dance and food.

"Victoria Hall has a long history in our community but in recent years it had become very run down and neglected.

The CCP Board has worked tirelessly to provide a Hub for community activities for the people of Culmore.

We have had lots of help and support along the way and would like to thank The Honourable The Irish Society for leasing us the premises and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs and Derry City & Strabane District Council for providing the funding to carry out the extensive renovations."

Speaking after the event, Councillor Tierney said: "It was a real pleasure to attend the opening this evening and to see for myself the fantastic improvements that have been made to enhance and restore this historic centre. I want to congratulate Culmore Community Partnership for the extensive work that has gone into the project.

"I had the opportunity to hear more about the Four Corners Initiative which will provide local people with opportunities to address priority issues, learn new skills, avail of essential services, and contribute to the creation of a dynamic and cohesive community over the next four years.

"It's fitting that the centre opened during Good Relations Week given the pivotal role the hub will play in promoting community relations and the ambitious plans to improve the lives of everyone in the Culmore area, regardless of age, culture or background."
Users of Zoom and other video conference tools should be aware of the growing risk of impersonation attacks. Even the use of other video platforms to keep in touch with friends on a social level now poses higher security risks.

A report released this month by Eli Sanders, chief data scientist at INKY, attempted to raise awareness of this growing vulnerability. INKY is a cloud-based email security platform that uses artificial intelligence to spot signs of fraud, along with spam and malware.

INKY researchers identified attacks stemming from Australia, Germany, the U.S. and elsewhere. Cybercriminals are capitalizing on the exponential increase of users turning to Zoom and Teams to collaborate across work and friend networks.

Phishing Frenzy

Zoom has seen an unprecedented rise in new users this year, primarily driven by COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns. This web-based video conferencing giant jumped from 10 million daily meeting participants last December to 300 million this April.

This meteoric rise in users caused a veritable phishing frenzy where cybercriminals around the globe are trying to capitalize on opportunities for scam and fraud. These include an explosion of fake meeting invitations that impersonate Zoom and Teams in phishing forays that attempt to steal users confidential details.

Some users might not be aware of precautions or [be] familiar with how Zoom works. The goal of this phishing campaign is to steal Microsoft credentials, but you dont actually need to log into a Microsoft account to attend a Zoom conference, Sanders told TechNewsWorld.

A related issue called Zoom bombing is also prevalent. Trolls and hackers disrupt non-password protected public conferences by uploading offensive graphic content, malicious links, and malware, he added.

Other platforms are risky, too. Bad actors also send similar phishing emails that impersonate Microsoft Teams, Skype, RingCentral, and Cisco Webex.

Why the Fuss?

When someones login credentials are stolen, the thieves sell the information on the Dark Web to multiple bad actors. The phisher also has immediate access to the victims Microsoft account, so they can view all emails, access sensitive uploads on OneDrive, or send phishing emails from that compromised account, Sanders explained.

INKY claimed its technology stopped approximately 5,000 of these phishing attacks. The company highlighted the origin and attack mechanism of 13 unique phishing templates, all designed to lure Zoom users into giving up the kinds of confidential credentials that allow cybercriminals to steal billions of dollars each year.

Average losses per company totaled nearly US$75,000 per incident in 2019. These types of phishing attacks can doom small-to-mid-sized businesses. Not surprisingly, that Zoom & Doom expression is part of the INKY report title.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Zooms newcomer status and the rush to adjust to working from home contributed to making the video platform a prevalent target for attack. Zoom has lots of new users since students and workers now rely on it to replace in-person meetings, agreed Sanders.

Always Be On Guard

Knowing that these phishing scams are on the rise  big time  is one thing. Being able to prevent falling victim to them is something else.

Common phishing lures are fake notifications delivered in voicemail, new document alerts and account updates. The attackers goal is usually credential harvesting or installing malware with an email attachment, according to Sanders.

A basic step that organizations can provide to their staff is user awareness training to help those who normally interact with these phishing attacks learn to be suspicious of their email.

One tactic is for the user to manually check for clues which can be rather obvious. For instance, look for unknown senders, hover over a link (without clicking) to reveal the URL embedded behind it, and be suspicious of attachments, Sanders suggested.

Many companies also have a previous investment in security email gateways (SEGs) to attempt to spot these malicious emails. But bad actors are creative and fool the user and these legacy systems all the time, he noted.

These platforms can be easily accessed by both work computers and mobile devices. On phones and tablets, smaller screens hide a lot of the red flags employees have been trained to spot, according to Hank Schless, senior manager for security solutions at Lookout.

The devices will also shorten the name of the file or URL being delivered by the threat actor. This makes it difficult to spot a suspicious document or website name, he told TechNewsWorld.

If the user clicks on the malicious link and goes to the phishing page, it may be close to impossible to spot the differences between the real and fake page. If employees are not familiar with the platforms interface, it is unlikely that they will be able to spot any giveaways of the phishing page or even question why theyre being asked to login in the first place, explained Schless.

Dangers Lurk

Even before COVID-19 and global remote work, bad actors routinely used fake Google G-Suite and Microsoft Office 365 links to try to phish a companys employees. The number of people using Zoom and Teams has increased dramatically with everyone forced to work from home.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Malicious actors know new users are unfamiliar with the apps. So the cybercriminals exploit with both malicious URLs and fake message attachments to bring targets to phishing pages, Schless noted.

Mobile phishing rates are 200 percent higher for users of Office 365 and G-Suite than those without them, according to Lookout data. Employees are much more likely to engage with a link or document if it looks like its part of the app ecosystem you already use.

When your employees are outside the office and on the go, there is high likelihood they are going to be reviewing documents on mobile devices, he added.

Matters like this will likely be an issue on every type of platform, forever. This is just a 2020 version of phishing or spear phishing (sending targeted fake emails), according to Bryan Becker, product manager at WhiteHat Security.

Even video game platforms have this issue with criminals using these techniques to steal virtual currencies, he told TechNewsWorld.

All one has to do is look at one of the most recent major phishing campaigns carried out against Twitter users, observed Becker.

The recent happenings at Twitter are a perfect example of the potential dangers that lurk beneath the attacks, he said.

He was referring to the July 30 announcement Twitter officials made about the unprecedented July 15 phone spear phishing attack targeting 130 people including CEOs, celebrities, and politicians. The attackers took control of 45 of those accounts and used them send tweets promoting a basic bitcoin scam.

Ruses Revealed

INKYs report pointed out multiple techniques attackers used in the Zoom and Teams campaigns. Sanders highlighted a few of those techniques:

Malicious links to fake O365 or Outlook login pages, where a simple copy/paste of actual HTML/source code from Microsoft makes it look very convincing to the user;

HTML attachments that build the fake login page as localhost on the users computer. Including an attachment prevents SEGs from finding the link on an industry blocklist/reputation checkers. Also, the attachments are encoded so they are not readable by humans or the typical SEG;

The attacker personalizes the phishing email with information from the users email address. Attackers add the users or companys name as part of the From Display Name, email content, malicious link (created dynamically), zoom meeting name;

Fake logos that are actually just text and CSS tricks to make it appear as a logo in order to get by the SEG.

Sanders detailed other tricks that attackers used to pull off the phishing assaults. For instance, they used hijacked accounts to get past any SPF or DKIM checks or created new domains with realistic-sounding names to trick users, such as Zoom Communications.com or Zoom VideoConfrence.com.

Did you notice the spelling error? Spelling and grammar mistakes are typical clues to an attack. But many users simply do not notice such things.

While some hijacked accounts are well known and can be found on industry blocklists, the new accounts are attempting to implement a zero-day attack to bypass the SEG, Sanders explained. Eventually, they get discovered and blocked. But in the meantime, they can get through the SEGs.
Sweden has beaten coronavirus by refusing to shut the country down and achieving herd immunity, according to an expert.

The Scandinavian nation was the only country in Europe not to introduce strict lockdown measures at the start of the pandemic.

But scientists believe that this may have helped it avoid a second wave of Covid-19 as it continues to record its lowest number of cases since March - with just 28 infections per 100,000 people.

This figure is less than half of the UK's own infection rate of 69 per 100,000 people.

Professor Kim Sneppen, an expert in the spread of coronavirus at the Niels Bohr Institute in Copenhagen, said that Sweden might have beaten the pandemic.

He told Denmark's Politiken newspaper: 'There is some evidence that the Swedes have built up a degree of immunity to the virus which, along with what else they are doing to stop the spread, is enough to control the disease.

Professor Kim Sneppen, (pictured) an expert in the spread of coronavirus at the Niels Bohr Institute in Copenhagen, said that Sweden might have beaten the pandemic

'Perhaps, the epidemic is over there.'

He said that the virus may now have run out of steam.

He added: 'That is what they have said.

'On the positive side, they may now be finished with the epidemic.'

Sweden was initially criticised at the start of the outbreak after recording a spike in its mortality rates which was five times that of Denmark and ten times that of Norway and Finland.

Number of deaths per 24 hours peaked in April at 115 with more than half in care homes.

But its seven-day average for coronavirus-related deaths is now zero.

Sweden's state epidemiologist Anders Tegnell, who has become the face of the no-lockdown strategy, said in a recent interview that voluntary hygiene measures had been 'just as effective' as complete shutdowns.

Sweden kept open schools for children under 16, banned gatherings of more than 50 people and told over-70s and vulnerable groups to self-isolate.

Shops, bars and restaurants stayed open throughout the pandemic and the wearing of masks has not been advised by the government.

'The rapidly declining cases we see in Sweden right now is another indication that you can get the number of cases down quite a lot in a country without having a complete lockdown,' he previously told Unherd.

The Scandinavian nation was the only country in Europe not to introduce strict lockdown measures at the start of the pandemic. Pictured: Crowds walking in Stockholm earlier this week

Tegnell added that 'deaths are not so closely connected to the amount of cases you have in a country', saying the death rate was more closely linked to whether older people are being infected and how well the health system can cope.

'Those things will influence mortality a lot more, I think, than the actual spread of the disease,' he said.

Swedish economic activity has also started to pick up with the effects of the downturn looking less severe than previously feared.

The economy had shrunk by nine per cent but this too was less than the 20 per cent dip seen in the UK.

It is thought that because many younger people have already had coronavirus in Sweden it now has less chance to spread through the population.

Recent studies suggested that an infection rate of 43 per cent may be enough to achieve herd immunity - a figure much lower than the 60 per cent previously cited.
Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has questioned the credibility of the international community as it stands by, unable to take any effective action to confront Israeli intransigence and its continued occupation of Palestinian and Arab land.

In his video speech at the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly, the emir questioned the role of countries and organisations for failing to uphold the resolutions against the continued Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories and its expansion of settlement building.

He accused Israel of carrying out flagrant violation of international resolutions and the two-state solution as agreed upon by the international community.

The international community stands by, unable to take any effective action to confront Israeli intransigence, its continued occupation of Palestinian and Arab land, the imposition of a stifling siege on the Gaza Strip, [and] the expanding settlement policy, among others, he said.

Peace can only be achieved when Israel fully commits to the international terms of reference and resolutions that are accepted by the Arab countries and upon which the Arab Peace Initiative is based.

The Arab Peace Initiative was a plan put forth by Saudi Arabia in 2002 that called for normalising relations with Israel in exchange for an end to its occupation of Palestinian territories, the establishment of a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital, as well as a just solution for Palestinian refugees.

Qatars ruler said Israel is trying to circumvent these parameters and any arrangements that do not take these factors into account will not achieve peace.

Failure to find a just solution to the Palestinian cause, Israels continued settlements, and forcing a reality on the ground without being deterred, this is what raises the biggest question about the credibility of the international community and its institutions, the emir added.

He called upon the international community, particularly the UN Security Council, to assume its legal responsibilities and compel Israel to lift the siege on the Gaza Strip, and to put the peace process back on track through credible negotiations based on international resolutions and not on force.

Speaking from outside the UN headquarters in New York, Al Jazeeras James Bays said it was interesting to see many Arab states within the Arab League remain consistent in their views on Israel and Palestine  which revolves around the international consensus that there should be a two-state solution.

On September 15, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain signed agreements to normalise relations with Israel in a strategic realignment of Middle Eastern countries against Iran.

The ceremony was hosted by US President Donald Trump at the White House, capping a dramatic month when the countries agreed to normalise ties without a resolution of Israels decades-old conflict with the Palestinians, who have condemned the agreements.
A court in southern Vietnams Ho Chi Minh City on Tuesday sentenced 20 people to prison terms ranging from two to 24 years on terrorism charges for their role in the bombing two years ago of a police station in the city, according to media sources.



Seventeen of the group were found guilty of acts of terrorism, and three of illegally using explosives, in the two-day trial in which all 20 had pleaded guilty, the Reuters news service said in a Sept. 22 report, adding that the defendants will be held under house arrest on the completion of their terms.



The trial comes amid a spate of arrests in Vietnam of independent journalists, bloggers, and other dissident voices as authorities already intolerant of dissent seek to stifle critics in the run-up to the ruling Communist Party congress in January.



The June 20, 2018 bomb attack wrecked the police station of Ward 12 in the citys Tan Binh district, leaving one officer injured, and was blamed by authorities on a Canada-based exile group called Trieu Dai Viet Nguyen, or the Viet Nguyen Dynasty.



A second attack was planned for the police station at the Tam Hiep ward of Dong Nai provinces Bien Hoa City but was never carried out, state media sources said.



Nguyen Tuan Thanh and his father, Nguyen Khanh, 56, residents of the Ho Nai 3 commune in Dong Nais Trang Bom district, were arrested and charged with directing others to carry out the first attack and for plotting the second, police sources said in advance of the trial.



State media said that both men had confessed to close ties with the exiled Ngo Hung, commander-in-chief of the Viet Nguyen Dynasty, with Ngo naming Nguyen Khanh as head of a proposed Dong Nai Autonomous Area and sending him VND 120 million (U.S. $5,300) to finance the bombings.



Prosecutors said during the trial that additional attacks carried out by the group included a bombing earlier that same year in Hau Giang province, with no casualties reported, and a bombing in Kien Giang province in which the bomber himself was killed.



In an interview with RFA in 2018, Ngo Hung confirmed the explosion in Ho Chi Minh City was directed by his group and demanded that Vietnam free the arrested men. He is now being sought by Vietnamese police.



Attempts by RFA to reach defendants lawyers and family members for comment on Tuesday were unsuccessful.



Other recent attacks



Vietnamese activists opposed to Vietnams one-party communist government have been implicated in several bomb attacks in recent years, with a court in Binh Duong province in April sentencing one man to more than a decade in prison for setting off a bomb at the provincial tax office last year, according to state media.



According to the Ministry of Public Security, Truong Duong, a 40-year-old truck driver, had received payment from the U.S.-based Provisional Government of Vietnam exile group under the leadership of Dao Minh Quan, which Vietnam declared a terrorist organization in 2018.



The Provisional Government of Vietnam is also accused of masterminding a petrol bomb attack that destroyed hundreds of motorbikes at a police warehouse in Dong Nai in April 2017 and an attempted attack on Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City later that same month.



Vietnam has issued international arrest warrants for Quan and six other members of the organization, all of whom are living either in the U.S. or in Canada.



Reported by RFAs Vietnamese Service. Translated by Huy Le. Written in English by Richard Finney.
That Saturday night in May, Scurlock and some friends were marching through the popular Old Market area when they got into an argument with Gardner after one allegedly pushed his father, David, Kleine has said. When Scurlock and a friend moved close to Gardner, he backed up and lifted his T-shirt to reveal a gun in his waistband and told them to stay away, according to cellphone footage.
The recent spate of wildfires across Northern California has caused a new concern for expectant parents already dealing with worries over the COVID-19 pandemic: Could exposure to toxic smoke and ash have a lasting impact on babies and mothers prenatal and postnatal health?

Its a scary time to be pregnant, said Samantha Brancato, a San Francisco mother of two who is expecting her third child this year. We went for a walk around the block last week, and right away, I could feel it in my lungs. Being pregnant, I know I am super vulnerable, and right now, there are so many unknowns.

Researchers at UC Davis are hoping to provide some clarity for expectant parents like Brancato on the long-term health effects of wildfire smoke exposure. As part of an ongoing research project called the Bio-Specimen Assessment of Fire Effects, or B-SAFE, the group launched an initiative this week to survey and study women who were pregnant during the most recent blazes that tore across the state and their babies.

The project, funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, was started in 2018 but temporarily put on hold earlier this year due to the pandemic.

What we learned gave us enough evidence that this is something worth looking at, said Rebecca Schmidt, a UC Davis molecular epidemiologist who is leading the study. So far, there are a lot more questions than answers.

Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle

Several major studies have shown a correlation between prolonged smoke exposure and an increased risk of pregnancy complications such as high blood pressure, gestational diabetes and premature birth. To get the full picture, the investigators want to nail down many more variables  from the duration of exposure to the length of symptoms.

We dont want moms to be panicked about being pregnant during these unavoidable exposures, said Schmidt. We know its not good for anybody to be breathing dirty air. It gives us reason to start doing something to mitigate wildfire exposure.

Most of the women in the initial study delivered healthy babies, she said.

The topic will get a further review in a forthcoming UCSF paper about the effects of wildfire smoke exposure on preterm birth co-authored by John Balmes, a professor of environmental health sciences at UC Berkeley, and Amy Padula, an OB/GYN and reproductive sciences professor.

Wildfire smoke is similar to tobacco smoke, except theres no nicotine. We know a lot about cigarette smoke and birth outcomes. We also know about other types of adverse birth outcomes most associated with PM2.5, Balmes said, referring to the inhalable particle pollution small enough to penetrate our lungs and bloodstream.

A 2012 paper by researchers at UC Berkeley found that pregnant women exposed to smoke during the 2003 wildfires in Southern California delivered babies with measurably lower birth weights.

Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle

Researchers at the University of Adelaide in Australia, who observed patients following the bush fires last year, also drew similar correlations, as did a 2019 study in Colorado that analyzed 500,000 birth records.

We found wildfire smoke PM2.5 exposure in the second trimester was positively associated with pre-term birth, the Colorado study said. Weaker evidence suggested a negative association between first-trimester exposure and birth weight.

What we want to know is, even if these are short-term outcomes, could they have a long-term impact? said Schmidt. When you have year after year of wildfires, its hard to keep ignoring that moms and babies may be more susceptible.

Her team started its study with specimen samples and survey responses from about 200 women who were affected by the 2017 fires in Napa and Sonoma counties. They considered the steps pregnant women took to limit their exposure to smoke, such as wearing masks. They also looked at indirect health effects, such as prolonged stress from being displaced or losing family members or friends.

Theres some evidence that even a mom being stressed during pregnancy can affect the outcome in pregnancy, said Schmidt. But how bad is it? We still dont have that answer.

Complicating the matter is a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday that found pregnant women are at increased risk for severe COVID-19 outcomes when hospitalized, including the need for admission into intensive care units and mechanical ventilation.

Dealing with natural disasters in our usual ways isnt going to be effective now that we have a pandemic to deal with, said Schmidt. When you put together the health concerns of each one together, the impact is going to be worse.

While the pandemic has made it difficult to acquire N95 masks or to hop on a plane to an area with clean air, there are some measures pregnant women can take when smoke fills the air.

Stay indoors. Stay hydrated. Stay away from smoke, said Dr. Mary Prunicki, director of air pollution and health research at Stanford University.

She also recommends that everyone, especially pregnant women who breathe at an increased rate, seal up their homes, and run the air conditioner  or a HEPA air purifier or simple DIY air purifier using a box fan and filter.

We know from regular air pollution research that not only the mother can be impacted, she said. What you breathe, your baby breathes.

Aidin Vaziri is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: avaziri@sfchronicle.com
The Taoiseach has defended cuts to Covid-19 unemployment payments, insisting the Government may need to fund pandemic financial support measures through the whole of 2021.

Micheal Martin was responding to calls in the Dail to reverse the reduction in the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP).

The 350 euro a week payments have dropped to between 200 to 300 euro. More than 150,000 people are still in receipt of the benefit.

During leaders questions, Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald urged Mr Martin to reinstate the original payments.

'Taoiseach, that you would cut the PUP payment for workers at a time when tens of thousands are out of work & more were laid off on Friday is extraordinary. I daresay your Junior Ministers' 10 new special advisors will be on an awful lot more than 350 a week'  @MaryLouMcDonald pic.twitter.com/uPBvDq5Jvu  Sinn Fein (@sinnfeinireland) September 22, 2020

She contrasted it with a Government move to appoint 10 special advisers to junior ministers.

Mrs McDonald said it was extraordinary that last weeks move to cut the PUP came just 24 hours before tighter coronavirus restrictions were announced for Dublin.

Mr Martin said the PUP was originally planned as a 12-week intervention. He said while the rates had now be reduced, the scheme had been extended until next April.

The Taoiseach also raised the prospect of the Government requiring to fund similar measures through to the end of next year.

Were now looking at a much longer horizon for the Pandemic Unemployment Payments, he said.

And one of the decisions we took in July was to extend it out to April of next year.

This government has already put 3.5 billion (euro) into the Pandemic Unemployment Payment  thats what it has cost. This year alone government will spend 28 billion (euro) on social protection  that is an unprecedented intervention by the state and by government in supporting incomes and, yes, rates have come down in line with the decision in July, but are still very closely approximated to what people would have been earning prior to coming onto the Covid payment.

We also now have to look beyond April and we have to realise that the impact of Covid, particularly economically and financially, could be right through the entirety of 2021, and therefore the planning, the fiscal planning, the planning around social protection budgets, has to take that into consideration and will.

Mrs McDonald also called on Mr Martin to reinstate a full ban on evictions, claiming changes to the emergency coronavirus measure had left tenants more vulnerable.

She also urged him to act to press banks to extend mortgage holidays for citizens and businesses.

The real danger that we face now is this that people become more terrified of losing their job, of losing their home, of not being able to provide for their family than they are of the virus, said the Sinn Fein leader.

That would be the worst possible situation we could walk in to.

Mrs McDonald said she was astounded and gobsmacked at news of the special adviser appointments.

The Taoiseach defended the move and accused Sinn Fein of hypocrisy, given its use of special advisers in the Northern Ireland executive.

Youve been a long term advocate for special advisers in politics, he told Mrs McDonald.

Youve never shown any disdain for that to date and your party hasnt either, so stop the hypocrisy in relation to that issue.
The UAEs adoption of drones in agriculture has made it one of the firsts in the world to integrate technology in food security and environmental protection, said Falcon Eye Drones Services (FEDS), a top Drone-As-A-Service (DaaS) firm.



FEDS CEO Rabih Bou Rashid emphasised how drones are revolutionising the agricultural sector in response to rapidly evolving needs of our time and how technology-driven projects in the country have proven that drones are a more cost-effective and faster alternative to traditional farming methods being practised for millennia.



In partnership with the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, FEDS had undertaken a massive drone seeding initiative in 2019 that saw the planting of 250,000 Ghaf seeds and six million Samar seeds in 150 sq km of land in a few daysa process that used to take decades to complete through traditional farming methods. This feat has made the UAE one of the very first countries in the world to conduct a drone-planting project on such an expansive scale.



With the changing calls of our time, such as the repercussions of COVID-19 ringing in amongst nations to produce more of what they eat, countries see the need to explore newer solutions to boost their agricultural sector. If we look at the future of farming in the UAE, drone systems would be as common as tractors, unleashing the benefits of precision agriculture to ramp up farming, Bou Rashid said.



He added that drones ability to conduct seeding, land surveying initiatives will propel the UAEs goal of environmental protection and National Food Security Strategy 2051.



The UAE ranks 21st globally in the latest Global Food Security Index 2019 report, achieving a 10-place leap from 2018, and besting other nations in the West and in the Middle East.



With the existence of drones in examining vast array of farmlands in a matter of days, farmers can boost mobilisation in agriculture in a much shorter span of time, thereby increasing local food production at a stauncher pace, according to Bou Rashid.



From capturing aerial imagery to assess plant health, weeds and assets, to determining the optimum areas for crop growth, drones become an eye in the sky for agriculture. As we speak, drones flying across acres of land optimise the use of inputs such as seeds, fertilisers and water in an efficient and speedy manner. Not only do they save time and scarce resources, they also secure high-yield and quality crops, he explained.



Citing Market Study Report, Bou Rashid pointed out that the agriculture drones market is estimated to reach $8 billion by 2026, which clearly indicates that drones will be highly employed in the agricultural sector, especially in countries such as the UAE, where AgTech is seen as a catalyst for increased food production.



Through decades, the resources available to the agriculture sector across the UAE have grown significantly. From only having 634 agriculture holdings in 1971, it had grown 38-fold to 24,018. Over the same period, available arable land had increased from 22,377 to 749,868 dunums (a dunum is roughly 0.1 hectare), due to the countrys relentless efforts to support local farmers in the adoption of new farming technologies that now see the inclusion of drone systems.



Moreover, FEDS underscored that with Dubais new drone law that eliminates a major barrier in utilising the full potential of drones in various sectors including agriculture, it will become much easier for this technology to further propel the countrys food security goals.



The new drone law mirrors the UAEs tenacious drive to thrust science and technology, reaching greater heights that will bring in vast opportunities across various sectorsmost especially agriculture. There is no doubt that the governments interest in drones will bring about tremendous advancement in its food security initiatives, Bou Rashid said.  TradeArabia News Service
Two weeks before its 13th annual Celebration of Life and Hope virtual event on Saturday, Oct. 10, the Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer will also host an in-person Pre-Party with limited admittance on Sept. 25 from 6-8 p.m.The evenings events include a socially distanced cocktail party and special guided tours of the foundations new Education Advancement Center. Austin Hope wine, Five Wits beer and hors doeuvres from Chili Pepper Ranch and Swiss Am Catering will be provided.The evening will conclude with presentations from co-founders Dr. Jim Osborn and Amy Jo Osborn and the 2020 Celebration of Life & Hope co-chairs Mike and Traci Otterman, whose daughter Simone is this years honoree.A limited number of tickets are on sale for the Pre-Party at celebrationlh.com. This events capacity will be limited to 50 guests in the foundations Gallery of Hope event space that normally holds 400 guests. The attire is business casual.We want to offer our supporters who havent been able to see the new Education Advancement Center in person with the chance to see the impact their contributions have made, said Austin Hatcher Foundation President Amy Jo Osborn. We have the ability to offer a way to gather responsibly and with social distancing, and were looking forward to being able to provide our supporters with a firsthand look at the amazing no-cost services we offer to our patients and families.The Celebration of Life and Hope annually serves to showcase the foundations efforts to fight pediatric cancer, both in the Chattanooga area and nationwide. This year, it will be held virtually on Oct. 10 at 8 p.m. as a testament to the outstanding growth of the foundation as it continues to provide no-cost services during COVID-19.
Congress leader Shashi Tharoor attacked the Centre on Tuesday, claiming that the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government has only one answer to questions raised in Parliament: No Data Available. He used the phrase to give a new definition to National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which is led by the BJP.

No #data on migrant workers, no data on farmer suicides, wrong data on fiscal stimulus, dubious data on #Covid deaths, cloudy data on GDP growth - this Government gives a whole new meaning to the term #NDA!, Tharoor wrote on Twitter.

Lawmakers returned to Parliament after a gap of over five months due to restrictions imposed across the country due to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.

No #data on migrant workers, no data on farmer suicides, wrong data on fiscal stimulus, dubious data on #Covid deaths, cloudy data on GDP growth  this Government gives a whole new meaning to the term #NDA! pic.twitter.com/SDl0z4Hima  Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) September 22, 2020

But the resumption of the session has been marred by ruckus and protests over the governments move to get two farm bills passed in Parliament. Eight lawmakers were suspended for the ruckus during the passage of the bills on Sunday.

These lawmakers have been sitting on protest since their suspension, and the Opposition parties have boycotted the session demanding that their suspension should be revoked.

The suspended Rajya Sabha parliamentarians spent the night on the lawns near Mahatma Gandhis statue in Parliament premises. Many political experts said this was the first overnight protest in Parliament complex.

Tharoor and many other leaders such as National Conferences Farooq Abdullah, Samajwadi Partys Jaya Bachchan and Congress Ahmed Patel and Digvijaya Singh visited these MPs to express their support.

The Congress, whose three MPs are among those suspended, has vowed to launch nationwide protest against the bills. The party aims to gather two crore signatures.
A woman who survived being kidnapped by a serial killer when she was 15 years old is sharing her story on TikTok while offering advice about managing trauma and how to escape a captor.

Kara Robinson Chamberlain, 34, from Columbia, South Carolina, was watering flowers by herself in her friend's front yard on June 24, 2002, when a man she didn't know pulled into the driveway and asked her if he could give her some brochures.

The stranger, whom she would later learn was serial killer Richard Evonitz, put a gun to her neck and forced her into a plastic container in the back of his car. He later restrained her wrists and ankles and gagged her before taking her to his apartment.

Scroll down for video

Fighter: Kara Robinson Chamberlain, 34, from Columbia, South Carolina, was kidnapped by serial killer Richard Evonitz on June 24, 2002

Monster: Evonitz (right) restrained 15-year-old Chamberlain (left) before taking him to his apartment, where he held her captive for 18 hours and repeatedly sexually assaulted her

According to the FBI, Evonitz imprisoned Chamberlain for 18 hours and repeatedly sexually assaulted her before she could escape from handcuffs and flee his apartment.

During her appearance on Crime Watch Daily in 2018, she told fellow kidnapping survivor Elizabeth Smart that she studied her abductor and his belongings while planning her escape.

She was able to free herself from her restraints the next morning while her abductor slept beside her in his bed. When she ran out the door, she flagged down a car and had the two men take her to Richland County Sheriff's Department.

Chamberlain was able to help identify her attacker, who fled to Sarasota, Florida, when he realized she had escaped. He killed himself after a police chase.

Terrifying moment: Chamberlain, who has been sharing her story on TikTok, was watering flowers by herself in her friend's front yard (pictured) when she was abducted

Kidnapped: Evonitz pulled into the driveway and asked if he could give her some brochures. He then put a gun to her neck and forced her into a plastic container in the back of his car

Nightmare: The serial killer took her to his apartment, where he held her captive for 18 hours. The police listed her as a runaway when her parents filed a missing persons report

She later learned Evonitz was a serial killer after an investigation revealed that he had abducted and murdered Sofia Silva, 16, in 1996 and Kristen Lisk, 15, and her sister Kati, 12, in 1997, while living in Spotsylvania County, Virginia.

Evonitz has been suspected of other murders, and before killing himself, he confessed a number of crimes to his sister, according to the Washington Post.

Chamberlain's experience inspired her to pursue a career in law enforcement. The summer after her abduction, she started working with the Richland County Sheriff's Department.

She did administrative work in victim services and in the DNA lab for the rest of high school and college, which she paid for using the reward money she received for helping solve the murders of Evonitz's victims in Virginia.

Inspiration: Chamberlain opened up about her escape during her appearance on Crime Watch Daily in 2018

Hero: Chamberlain was able to free herself from her restraints, run outside, and flag down a car to take her to Richland County Sheriff's Department, where she helped identify Evonitz

Chamberlain later joined the police academy and spent a few years working as a school resource officer.

She then went into investigations, taking on sexual assault and child abuse cases, before finally returning to victim services.

The mom left law enforcement after having her two sons, but she is using her traumatic experience and work as a police officer to educate others as a motivational speaker.

Following her interview on Crime Watch Daily, she appeared on the Lifetime special Smart Justice with five other kidnapping and sexual abuse survivors, including Smart.

Online star: Chamberlain, who helped connect Evonitz to other murders, started sharing her story on TikTok in late May and now has nearly 160,000 followers

Say what? In one viral video, she recounted how her case was studied in one of her classes at the criminal justice academy before anyone knew her story

End of story: Chamberlain ended up being nominated for an award for outstanding bravery at graduation

'That helped me realize how much power we as women can have when we speak our truths, and we share and we empower people,' she told BuzzFeed News.

Chamberlain, who is in the process of developing her own documentary, started sharing her story on TikTok in late May and now has nearly 160,000 followers.

In one of her most popular videos, she put her own personal spin on the TikTok's viral 'put a finger down' challenge by sharing her kidnapping story.

'Put a finger down if you were kidnapped from your best friend's front yard when you were 15 from a guy who didn't look creepy or scary, but he put a gun to the side of your neck and told you to get into a plastic container in the backseat of his car,' she said at the start of the clip, which has been viewed more than 2.8 million times.

Using her voice: Chamberlain also offers advice about dealing with trauma and answers questions, including one about how to get out of restraints

Goal: Chamberlain left her job in law enforcement after having her two sons, but she is using her experience and work as a police officer to educate others as a motivational speaker

In another viral video, she recounted how her case was studied in one of her classes at the criminal justice academy before anyone knew her story. She ended up being nominated for an award for outstanding bravery at graduation.

Chamberlain also offers advice about dealing with trauma and answers questions, including one about how to get out of restraints.

She said she doesn't have any tips on how to get out of a normal pair of handcuffs, but she noted that there are tons of TikTok tutorials on how to free yourself from zip ties.

'I was personally in handcuffs, but they had a fuzzy ring around them,' she explained. 'So that provided enough slack that one of them was not that tight, and so I could kind of manipulate my hand and slide it out.

'The best advice for escape, though, is really that you have to be cognizant of what's going on and at some point your captor will probably let their guard down, and that's your opportunity to seize.'
We Will Replicate Edo Election Victory In Lagos  PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party has expressed determination to replicate the victory recorded in the Edo State Governorship election in Lagos State.

This was contained in a press statement by PDPs spokesperson in Lagos, Taofik Gani.

In the statement titled, Edo victory, we are fired up, Gani said Godwin Obasekis victory has strengthened PDPs determination to win the 2023 governorship election in Lagos State.

The Independent National Electoral Commission had on Sunday declared Obaseki winner of Saturdays governorship election in Edo.

Obaseki polled 307,955 votes to defeat the All Progressives Congress Candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, who scored 223,619.

Gani said, The PDP, Lagos state chapter, has congratulated Governor Godwin Obaseki, on his re-election as Edo State Governor.



The Lagos state chapter particularly hailed the Governor for his ability to garner the needed vote to be declared at the first ballot, in the face of rumored federal might.

To us in Lagos state PDP we have grasped from the well-deserved victory, the renewed commitment, and resoluteness to also win Lagos state to end godfatherism & imposition in Lagos politics.

As a matter of fact, we are now more ever than before fired up to win Lagos State. We shall manifest this ability in the coming bye-elections in the state and eventually the 2023 general elections.
In 2014, Warner faced a challenge from former Republican National Committee chairman Ed Gillespie, whom Warner defeated by less than 18,000 votes, or 0.8%.

Im confident I can close the gap, Gade said in an interview. He is pitching himself as a supporter of President Donald Trump who is nevertheless willing to part with his party, and who has overcome difficulty after losing a leg due to an explosion in Iraq.

The actual only challenge in this race is introducing me to the people of the commonwealth. When they get to know me, it will be me in the Senate and Warner in retirement, Gade said.

Warner and Gade are scheduled to participate in the first of three planned debates on Wednesday at 7 p.m. The debate will be hosted by the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce and will be broadcast by NBC affiliates in Virginia.

The debate will be among the few aspects of the Senate race that will feel normal in a campaign season reshaped by the constraints of the coronavirus pandemic.

Warner

Warner, 65, has leaned on digital ways to reach voters, and to some degree, his extensive travels through the state.
BEIJING: Chinese tycoon Ren Zhiqiang, who called President Xi Jinping a 'clown', has been jailed for 18 years over corruption, bribery and embezzlement of public funds.

Ren had criticised China's response to the coronavirus pandemic under President Xi in an essay. He then mysteriously disappeared in March.

Ren, 69, was the former chairman of state-owned Huayuan and considered to be in China's Communist Party's inner circle. He was charged with embezzling USD 7.4 million in public funds and accepting bribes. He was fined USD 620,000.

According to Chinese government statement Ren 'voluntarily and truthfully confessed all his crimes". The verdict also accused him of abusing power at Huayuan.

"This epidemic has revealed the fact that the Party and government officials only care about protecting their own interests, and the monarch only cares about protecting their interests and core position," Ren had said, adding,"standing there was not an emperor showing off his new clothes, but a clown stripped of clothes who insisted on being an emperor."

Ren had earlier called for greater freedom of the press, however, authorities closed his Weibo account.
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Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Beijing  Tue, September 22, 2020 16:02 487 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c466eecd 2 Entertainment China,TV-drama,sexism Free

A Chinese primetime TV drama about the coronavirus pandemic has been slammed by social media users, who accused it of sexism for downplaying the role of women in battling the deadly outbreak at ground-zero.

China has largely brought the virus under control since it first emerged late last year, though Beijing has rushed to reshape the official narrative following criticism that it mishandled its initial response and punished whistleblowers.

But the new show, "Heroes in Harm's Way" -- first aired by state broadcaster CCTV on Thursday -- has triggered a fierce online backlash for its depiction of women in the virus battle.

One controversial scene set in the virus ground-zero city of Wuhan showed female bus drivers being reluctant to volunteer for a delivery team due to family commitments -- while their male colleagues did not hesitate.

Users on the Twitter-like platform Weibo re-posted state media news reports praising real-life female bus drivers and volunteers, and argued women had been vital in transporting supplies and medical staff around the locked-down city.

"Women have made such a huge contribution to (fight) the epidemic... The pandemic is still not over, but they rushed to smear (women)," read one comment with over 15,000 likes.

Read also: British watchdog bans ads over sexist stereotypes

"This TV series really ignores female bus drivers' contributions to fighting the epidemic. The implicit gender discrimination in these kinds of film and TV works should be redressed," wrote another user.

The Weibo hashtag "Boycott 'Heroes in Harm's Way'" was removed from social media over the weekend, but another hashtag consisting of the program's title had been viewed over 2.2 billion times by Monday afternoon.

In reality, the majority of frontline medical workers during the outbreak in Wuhan were women, according to official data and media reports.

Over 90 percent of the 28,600 nurses dispatched to Hubei province -- of which Wuhan is the capital -- were women, a health ministry official said in April.

And in March, a People's Daily report said that of the more than 40,000 medical workers deployed to Hubei, two-thirds were women.

State broadcaster CGTN also ran a feature in April profiling a female chef and driver delivering meals to medics.

The show's rating on Douban -- China's equivalent of IMDb -- was hidden by Monday, with the entire comments section censored.

Those responsible for the show have brushed off criticisms.

"Interpretation is a very personal matter," artistic director Bai Yicong was quoted as saying in local media on Friday.

It is not the first time that state propaganda's depiction of women during the pandemic caused a stir.

In February, a viral video of female frontline nurses having their heads shaved -- reportedly to prevent virus cross-infection -- provoked an online backlash with users denouncing it as exploitative.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 22, ARMENPRESS. Japan considers necessary to reform the UN Security Council and is ready to become its permanent member, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said in a statement delivered at the High-level meeting to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, reports TASS.

For a stronger UN, Security Council reform cannot wait any longer. I regret to say that, today, the system designed seventy-five years ago does not fully deliver on the purposes of the Charter. Im convinced that Member States having the capacity and willingness to take on major responsibilities should hold seats on an expanded Security Council. Only then will the Council be revived as an effective and representative organ. Japan is fully prepared to fulfill such responsibilities as a permanent member of the Security Council and contribute to ensuring peace and stability of the world. In the Declaration of this High-Level Meeting, we commit ourselves to instilling new life in the discussions on the Council reform. To fulfill that commitment and take a step forward, I call on all Member States to launch text-based negotiations, the Japanese FM said.

Currently the UN Security Council has 15 member states, of which 5 are permanent and the 10 non-permanent which are elected for a two-year term. The permanent members are Russia, China, UK, US and France.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
Joe Biden either believes the premises of his campaign for the presidency, or he does not. Either way, the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Friday gives him an opportunity, as surely as it gives America occasion to mourn a legal giant.

Most people know the stakes: Ginsburgs death gives President Donald Trump one last chance to name a Justice before an election hes likely to lose. It gives Republicans one last chance to cement a majority on the court. Which they want desperately, having lost the popular vote in six of the last seven presidential elections. With an electorate now too diverse, educated and liberal on social issues to put many Republicans in the White House, they likely wont choose another soon.

So, Trump will nominate someone before the election, and the GOP-controlled Senate will try to confirm them before giving way to a newly-elected  likely Democrat-controlled  Senate in January. Biden can seize the initiative from Trump by announcing his own shadow nominee so voters can choose. And that nominee should be former Georgia legislator and gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams.

Why?

The premises of Bidens campaign boil down to two. The policy premise is that laws should serve everyone, not just the privileged. That matches Ginsburgs legacy of equal protection precedents, which enshrined in American life the once-radical notion that women are people. The political premise is that demographic change during Bidens career  America is browner, more equal between races, and women are twice as likely to have college degrees as in 1980  has made America more open to the court as Biden would shape it.

Nominating Abrams lets Biden highlight the biggest constitutional mistake the Court has made under Chief Justice John Roberts  the narrowing of voting rights, which Republican legislators across America have seized upon to try to stop blacks from voting.

Few things in this election would serve Biden better than putting the right to vote  for everyone  front and center. Oddly, for a democracy, voting rights are popular. Abrams, after her narrow loss in a 2018 gubernatorial race she blames on the GOPs purging 500,000 voters from the rolls, is a walking symbol of the fight against ballot-access shenanigans Trump and other Republicans have embraced. She now runs a non-profit to fight the voter suppression tactics Roberts Court blessed in 2013  which Ginsburgs dissent said was like throwing away your umbrella in a rainstorm because youre not getting wet.

The threshold act of being human in a democracy is having the unquestioned right to vote. One party wants a one-person, one-vote system, period. The other sells pettifogging that somehow always ends in one side trying to keep the voting pool small and white.

Thats a fight Biden wins. So he should provoke it. Nothing provokes it better than Justice Abrams, who would fulfill Bidens promise to name a Black woman to his first Court vacancy. The shadow nomination also would put abortion rights even more squarely on the ballot  in the view of proponents, reproductive rights also affirm the basic humanity of women.

Recent Democratic presidents have usually made their Supreme Court nominations as cautious and vanilla as possible, avoiding culture-war fights they feared losing. Even Ginsburg was seen as a moderate when appointed in 1993. But the cultures different now.

So, Mr Biden, be bold. Bidens promise to pick a Black woman all but precludes the usual path of tapping a federal appellate judge for the Court, so he has to be unconventional. No Black woman US Circuit Court judge is younger than 67. The 46-year-old Abrams background as a state legislator and Yale Law graduate is little different than that of former Justice Sandra Day OConnor  a Stanford-trained lawyer and former state legislator who was a state-court judge when Ronald Reagan nominated her.

Sometimes the best Justices are precisely those who arent experienced judges. Name one who changed the world more than Chief Justice Earl Warren, a ex-Governor of California.

For Biden, whose whole argument is that he understands real peoples lives better than the trust-fund-cosseted Trump, theres no more tangible way to prove it than disclosing his own real-world Supreme Court pick right after Trump.

The president will pick from potential nominees vetted largely by the Federalist Society, which preaches judicial restraint but practices right-wing judicial activism. His choice will surely pleases either or both of the GOPs corporate-donor wing and evangelical base. Neither represents America.

Biden can pick from America, and for American values like democracy and equal protection. Voters will see the difference  and like it. And tying Bidens likely victory to the Court pick is the best way to stop an anti-democratic GOPs drive to ignore the people and stack the court.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Weve been playing the blame game about coronavirus for months now here in the United States.

Its President Donald Trumps fault that the pandemic got out of hand. Or Gov. Andrew Cuomos. Or Mayor Bill de Blasios.

Weve leveled blame at people who refuse to wear masks. Or those who continue to gather in large groups.

Its gotten political. Its turned Americans against each other. Everybodys got some blood on their hands.

But we have to remember where this pandemic started: China. And we have to remember that that countrys Communist rulers lied about the virus from day one.

Thats why the United States and the rest of the world suffered.

According to a report from Republicans on the Democratic-led House Foreign Affairs Committee, leaked to the New York Post, the Communist Chinese under President Xi Jinping destroyed evidence, hid health care data and suppressed doctors and journalists who sought to ring the alarm bell about the developing pandemic.

In January, scientists at the Wuhan Institute of Virology had information that the virus was highly contagious but did not share that information with the World Health Organization.

Had the Communist Chinese been more forthcoming when COVID-19 first reared its head in Wuhan province at the end of 2019, the pandemic could have been largely contained and countless lives could have been saved. It would have been simple.

The WHO also comes in for blame in the GOP report.

The WHO took Chinas word for it when it came to the virus, the report says. They parroted the lies that the Communist Chinese told. The report goes so far as to say that the WHO was complicit in spreading Communist Chinese propaganda and disinformation about the virus. The organization even praised the Chinese for how theyd handled the outbreak.

In hewing to the official Communist Chinese Communist line, the WHO also dismissed independent information from whistleblowers in Hong Kong and Taiwan that the virus could be passed from human to human. The WHO said that the Communist Chinese had found no evidence of human-to-human transmission, even though Chinese authorities already knew it was happening.

It was one grievous lie after another. How many lives would have been saved if the Communist Chinese had only told the truth about COVID-19 from the beginning? How many fewer people would have gotten ill? How much less economic displacement would the world have seen?

And how would things have changed if the WHO had done its due diligence and hadnt merely parroted the Chinese Communist take on the virus?

Heading off pandemics and ensuring that bad health situations dont get worse is part of the WHOs job. If the organization bungled something major like the COVID-19 pandemic, how can we have any faith in them at all? No wonder Trump wants the U.S. to withdraw from the group.

All of the Communist lies and obfuscation happened long before the virus migrated to Europe and then to the United States. The course of the virus could have been altered.

And, sure, there were missteps here as well. Nobody, not Trump, not Cuomo nor de Blasio, walks away clean from all this. Theyve all got things to answer for when it comes to COVID-19. All their legacies will be sullied to some degree by the pandemic.

But before we get to that, we have to start with the Communist Chinese. They put this whole thing in motion.

Well be living with the fallout from those initial decisions by the Chinese and the WHO for a long time to come. People have lost loved ones. Businesses have gone bust. Unemployment has jumped. School years have been disrupted.

If theres a high court where health care crimes could be tried, the Communist Chinese rulers should be first in the dock.
P Thiruselvam By

Express News Service

ARIYALUR: The senior branch manager of a nationalised bank in Gangaikondacholapuram in Ariyalur district was transferred to the banks regional office in Tiruchy on Tuesday after a retired government doctor alleged the manager had refused him a loan for not knowing Hindi.

The doctor had issued a legal notice to the manager seeking a compensation of Rs 1 lakh.

The manager, Vishal Narayan Kamble, and the bank faced a serious backlash with political parties, including the DMK and PMK, condemning Kambles alleged actions.

Following this, on Tuesday, the Trichy branch chief manager of the nationalised bank ordered that senior manager Vishal Narayan Kamble be transferred to the Trichy regional office.

ALSO READ | Retired govt doctor in Ariyalur claims nationalised bank refused to give loan as he didn't know Hindi

Sources at the bank said that Kamble would not have to communicate directly with customers in his new position in Tiruchy and, therefore, would not need to know Tamil.

The doctor, 76-year-old C Balasubramanian from Jayankondam in Ariyalur, who raised the complaint said he had met Kamble seeking a loan to build a commercial complex on his land in Jayankondam.

Balasubramanian has had an account at the bank since 2002. According to the doctor, the manager and he argued after Kamble, a Maharashtrian, asked if he knew Hindi and the doctor said he didnt.

The doctor alleged that the manager refused him a loan because he did not know Hindi and sent a legal notice to Kamble through an advocate.

In the notice, the doctor sought compensation of Rs 1 lakh for the alleged mental distress caused and claimed the refusal of a loan on the basis of not knowing Hindi could be considered deficiency of service.
BEIJING, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi had a phone conversation with his Timor-Leste's counterpart Adaljiza Magno on Monday, agreeing that the two countries will strengthen cooperation within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and jointly uphold multilateralism.

Wang congratulated Magno on her appointment as the new Timor-Leste's foreign minister, and noted that since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease, China and Timor-Leste have offered each other mutual help and support.

While the Timor-Leste's government, national parliament and all sectors of society have actively voiced support for China's anti-epidemic fight, China is also the first country to lend a helping hand to Timor-Leste, sending charter flights to deliver much-needed supplies, Wang said.

He said the Chinese side is pleased to see that Timor-Leste has effectively brought the epidemic situation under control by taking a comprehensive approach in line with its own national conditions.

China is willing to continue to offer assistance in such areas as supplies and vaccines according to the needs of the Timor-Leste's side, and to support Timor-Leste in enhancing its public health capacity, he said.

Wang said China is willing to inject impetus to the post-pandemic recovery of Timor-Leste through jointly building the Belt and Road, expressing hope that a fast passage for personnel exchanges between the two countries will be set up as soon as possible to ensure the smooth advancement of major cooperation projects and the resumption of work and production.

He also expressed his belief that Timor-Leste will continue to uphold the one-China principle and consolidate the political foundation of bilateral relations.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations (UN), Wang stressed, adding China is willing to join hands with the international community, including Timor-Leste, to safeguard the authority of the UN, support its central role in international affairs, uphold multilateralism, safeguard the basic norms of international relations, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

For her part, Magno congratulated China on its 71st founding anniversary, thanking China for providing strong support and help for Timor-Leste's fight against the COVID-19 pandemic as well as its economic and social development.

Timor-Leste is willing to work together with China to promote cooperation within the framework of the BRI, and contribute to post-pandemic economic recovery, Magno said, adding Timor-Leste is willing to establish a fast passage for personnel exchange with China, so as to provide convenience for Chinese technical personnel to reach Timor-Leste.

Timor-Leste firmly adheres to the one-China principle, which is a consensus reached by all political parties within the country, she said.

Noting that the world is at a critical moment of combating the COVID-19 pandemic, she said that Timor-Leste unwaveringly upholds multilateralism, regarding multilateralism as effective.

On the 75th anniversary of the founding of the UN, various countries should strengthen solidarity and cooperation under the framework of multilateralism until the pandemic is completely defeated, Magno said.
Jakarta, Sep 22 : At least two people were killed, 20 others injured and one person reported as missing after flash floods and landslides lashed the Indonesian capital of Jakarta and its surrounding areas, disaster agency officials said on Tuesday.

Due to torrential rains since Monday, a river has overflowed and submerged surrounding areas in the capital which was recently put under a partial Covid-19 lockdown, spokesman of National Disaster Management Agency Raditya Jati said.

In West Java province's Sukabumi district, flash floods killed two people with one remaining missing, and the search mission is underway, Ramli Prasetio, press officer of the Jakarta Search and Rescue Office, told Xinhua news agency.

Hundreds of rescuers have been taking part in the search and rescue operation, including soldiers, police and those from the Jakarta search and rescue office, among others, he said.

Jati said that the floods in the capital forced 15 persons to evacuate from their homes and take shelter in safer grounds, but in Sukabumi district, 210 families took shelter after flash floods and landslides hit the area.

The disaster lalso seriously damaged nine houses, 10 bridges in the district.

A warning has been put in place by the meteorology and geophysics agency over the possibility of extreme weather on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Residents are cautioned to be alert on the possibility of further floods, flash floods and landslides as well as whirlwinds, the agency said.
Published on 2020/09/21 | Source

New stills added for the upcoming Korean animated movie "Miniforce: Hamburger Monster's Attack" (2020)

Advertisement

Directed by Lee Yeong-joon

Synopsis

Bolt, who was accidentally photographed eating hamburgers at Mr.J Burger, the best restaurant in Blue City, was selected as an advertising model for Mr.J Burger. Thanks to the video that received huge views on social media. Bolt who became a superstar overnight, quarrels with his friends on a busy schedule and eventually leaves Miniforce.

In the meantime, Breaker J and an army of hamburger monsters appear to create a world that only eats hamburgers, endangering the peaceful Blue City, and the helpless Miniforce without their leader, Bolt.

The mighty hamburger monster army that ruled the world!

The newly upgraded Miniforce counterattack begins!

Release date in Korea : 2020/09/30
BERLIN - A suspicious package that arrived Tuesday morning in the mail room of Germanys parliament building turned out to be harmless, authorities said.

The package was an advertisement that was flagged by Bundestag security after they spotted a wire in it while scanning the mail, the dpa news agency reported.

Read more about:
By Giles T. Cooper Partner, Duane Morris LLP

Whilst the new law provides a much-needed legislative framework for the facilitation of public-private partnership (PPP) investment, it also covers several drafting uncertainties. A recently-published draft decree serves to clarify such uncertainty, providing further guidance in several key regulatory areas.

Eligible sectors and investment size

The law introduced several general eligible sectors for PPP investment (for example, transport, power, water, waste, healthcare, education and training, and IT) but needs to provide further guidance on the specific sub-sectors or investment amounts pertaining to each. The draft decree confirms the following:

- Transportation projects require a total minimum investment amount of VND1.5 billion ($65,220) for projects in road, rail, inland waterway, maritime, and aviation;

- Power plant and grid projects require a total minimum investment amount of VND2.3 trillion ($100 million);

- Clean water supply projects require a total minimum investment amount of VND1.5 trillion ($65.2 million) in urban areas, VND200 billion ($8.7 million) in rural areas, or VND100 billion ($4.35 million) in difficult or especially difficult socioeconomic areas;

- Wastewater drainage and treatment projects require a total minimum investment amount of VND1.5 trillion in urban areas, VND200 billion in rural areas, or VND100 billion in difficult or especially difficult socio-economic areas;

- Health, education, and training requires minimum total investment amount of VND100 billion; and

- IT requires minimum total investment amount of VND800 billion ($34.8 million) for concentrated IT park developments and VND200 billion for technical IT projects (that is, national information systems, government e-platforms and databases, information security, and technical infrastructure, amongst others).

Introduction and role of project evaluation councils

For each proposed PPP project, a state evaluation council (for National Assembly-level investment) or inter-sector evaluation council (prime ministerial-level investment), or grassroots evaluation council (peoples council-level investment) will be established.

Such councils are tasked with arranging an evaluation and official opinion on the submitted pre-feasibility and feasibility study reports. Councils will comprise of official representatives from the Ministry of Planning and Investment and other relevant agencies as decided by the prime minister.

The draft decree introduces the potential for domestic or foreign organisations to be formally hired as consultants to assist with such evaluation, as approved by the prime minister or relevant peoples council.

The ability of investors to self-propose projects

Importantly, the draft decree seems to confirm that investors will be able to self-propose PPP projects. Specifically, investors are required to submit formal proposals to the local department of planning and investment (DPI). The proposal must satisfy several criteria as detailed under Article 27.1 of the Law on Public-Private Partnership Investment. Following this, investors will be required to prepare a pre-feasibility report for submission.

Where two or more investors submit proposals for the same project, the DPI will select the most feasible project based on several factors, including investor capacity and expertise, financial considerations, and potential socioeconomic impacts, amongst others.

New law pours clearer water into glass of PPP investment

Project conversion: public to private

Projects currently funded by way of public capital may seek to formally convert to a PPP form under the new law. Conversion will require the current authorised agency to withdraw their public capital portion, with the investor undertaking the relevant re-capitalisation.

It is unclear at this point if any limitations will apply to potential conversions. For example, a restriction on the conversion of projects which are already at a particular development phase (such as the construction phase).

Whilst the opportunity to invest in underperforming pre-existing public projects is attractive and potentially lucrative, corporate restructuring under Vietnamese law is highly complex and requires careful further legal consideration.

Project contract  takeover rights

The new draft decree provides that where an investor commits a serious breach of their contractual responsibilities and is unable to remedy such breach within a reasonable time, the procuring agency is granted a statutory right to temporarily takeover the management and operation of the project facility.

Such rights apply broadly, arising when the project is in the pre-construction, construction, and operational phases.

Termination rights  procuring agency

The draft decree details broad circumstances leading to the rights of a procuring agency to terminate for serious contractual breach by the project enterprise:

- Pre-construction: Failure to procure essential financing options; failure to execute the PPP project contract or to incorporate a project enterprise prior to the specific contractual deadline; failure to obtain the necessary licenses or approvals; failure to commence basic construction works or lodge formal project design documentation;

- Construction: Failure to comply with building regulations or design criteria; failure to complete works within the agreed schedule; failure to comply with labour regulations and other public laws; and

- Operation: Failure to supply services pursuant to quality standards prescribed by law and under contract; failure to comply with price controls, temporary interruption to the supply of services without consent; failure to maintain the facility in accordance with agreed quality standards; failure to comply with any imposed administrative sanctions or penalties.

Such termination rights are broad and potentially uncertain, greatly favouring the procuring agency, and will thus likely be an unwanted contractual risk for any prospective investor.

Termination rights  project enterprise

Conversely, a project enterprise is provided with very limited grounds for termination should the procuring agency commit a serious contractual breach:

- Acts of corruption or bribery;

- Failure to make the required payments to the project enterprise;

- Failure to obtain the necessary licenses to operate the facility where such failure is not the fault of the project enterprise; and

- Failure by the procuring agency to provide necessary support for the performance of the project contract.

Compensation for contractual termination

The draft decree confirms that compensation for termination should be included in the projects contractual agreement as specifically negotiated between the procuring agency and the project enterprise.

The draft decree also contemplates that a compensation clause should include reference to the fair value of work already performed up to the point of termination, as well as any further expense or loss, including loss of profit.

Conclusion

The passing of Vietnams first Law on Public-Private Partnership Investment provides an exciting development in the evolution of Vietnams PPP market. Whilst the new law serves to protect investors via the codification of key legal rights, the drafting of the law is not without concern and numerous uncertainties exist as to statutory application.

It is anticipated that several guiding circulars and decrees will be issued to assist in the implementation of the new law. The first such decree, albeit currently in draft form, provides important further clarification on eligible PPP sectors, investment size, and the role of project evaluation councils, contractual termination rights, and compensation terms.
To support organizations working on the front lines against the COVID-19 pandemic, state Sen. Rachelle Crowe, D-Glen Carbon, has donated 5,000 disposable masks to nursing homes and assisted living facilities throughout the Metro East.

The safety of older residents and their caretakers is one of the utmost concerns nationally amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Crowe said. As I considered how best to distribute masks, it was important for me to give priority to individuals at the highest risk for infection.
As every parent knows, if you don't instantly penalize bad behavior, the child will continue the behavior. The same holds true for criminals. That's why, in Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis held a press conference on Monday announcing that he's proposing a new law that will impose instant, mandatory, and severe penalties for the destructive and dangerous behaviors we've seen across America as BLM and Antifa have taken to the streets. His goal is to prevent Florida communities from suffering as Minneapolis and Kenosha have.

DeSantis was backed by a phalanx of sheriffs and police officers as he told a small number of socially distanced journalists about the proposed law:

Florida leaders plan to crack down on protesters involved in what Gov. Ron DeSantis called "disorderly assemblies," including making it a felony to block a road, topple monuments or gather in a small group where violence breaks out. DeSantis on Monday proposed a tough new law, which opponents swiftly labeled unconstitutional, in response to demonstrations that erupted nationwide after the death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer. The legislation will be filed for the next session that convenes in March. The law would include minimum six-month jail terms for anyone found guilty of throwing an object at law enforcement officers. It would also define as felonies blocking roadways, taking down monuments, or harassing people in public, among other things. Seven or more people "involved in an assembly [that causes] damage to property or injury to other persons" would be committing a felony, and city and counties that try to defund the police would lose their state funding. Another provision would shield drivers from liability "for injury and death caused if fleeing for safety from a mob."

One of the most impressive parts of the proposed law is that it would penalize communities that do nothing to protect citizens and their property from the violence. In that case, he says, the cities and their officials would lose their government immunity. They would also lose any funding that they normally receive from the state.

The proposed law also ensures that Florida's criminal justice system doesn't engage in "catch and release" with violent protesters. Anyone arrested would be able to post bail only after the initial court hearing.

As noted in the quoted language, above, the usual suspects instantly claimed that the law violates Floridians' First Amendment rights. This is nonsense. The First Amendment recognizes "the right of the people peaceably to assemble." The law targets those who have forgotten the "peaceable" part and, instead, are assaulting bystanders, hurling projectiles at police, destroying property, and otherwise using the cover of the mob to engage in criminal activities.

To the extent all those activities are already illegal, the law is redundant. It is a sign of the times that DeSantis needs to impose increased penalties for these actions, and that individuals, municipalities, and leftist prosecutors must be reminded that violence does not play a part in constitutional free speech.

Image: Ron DeSantis press conference. Facebook screen grab.
Strategic Thinkers Network-Africa (STRANEK-Africa) has petitioned the office of the Special Prosecutor to probe the Agyapa Royalties Deal after noting that the deal is shrouded in illegality.

Last year, the Minerals Income Investment Fund Act, 2018 (Act 978) was passed which created a Minerals Income Investment Fund. A percentage of the annual revenues of the mining companies will be paid to the Government as royalties.

The Government subsequently amended Act 978 to ensure that Special Purpose Vehicles established by the Fund get unrestricted independence. On August 14, 2020, President Akufo-Addo caused seven (7) agreements relating to the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) to be laid before Parliament for approval.

The Agreements sought to mortgage Ghanas future mineral royalties using a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) called Agyapa Royalties Ltd. in exchange for an upfront amount of US$500 million to US$750 million.

Future resources from gold royalties will go to Agyapa Royalties Ltd. instead of Government, and the deal is structured such that it can run into perpetuity.

Several questions have been raised on the deal with the Minority in parliament and many Civil Society Organizations asking the ruling government to suspend the deal.

Today, STRANEK-Africa has sent a petition to the Special Prosecutor asking him to use his independent office to dive into the deal.

We are by this letter petitioning your high office pursuant to the Special Prosecutors Act (Act 959), 2017, to invoke the jurisdiction of the Special Prosecutor to open investigations into alleged cases of corruption, nepotism, conflict of interest, and a general lack of openness and transparency that has characterized the Agyapa Royalties deal of the ruling Government, a part of the petition reads.

Not only does STRANEK-Africa believe the deal raises serious concerns, but it also insist that the deal is shrouded in illegality, secrecy, has issues of conflict of interest, and is inimical to the interest of the good people of Ghana.

Below is the full petition:
A growing number of counties are again becoming Covid-19 hotspots.

The rising incidence rate is more pressing in some of these counties and the fear is that they will follow Dublin into semi-lockdown.

Much will depend on the analysis by the National Public Health Emergency Team which meets on Thursday.

It will look at various barometers including the 14-day incidence of the disease in each county and the pattern of transmission, indicating if the infection can be traced to a source or not.

Dublin

Dublins 14-day incidence rate on Sunday was 138.0 per 100,000. This is up from 70.8 per 100,000 in the previous fortnight. Public-health doctors expect that it will be next week before there is a realistic hope of stabilisation as the impact of the Level 3 restrictions take effect.

The end of next week will be crucial in signalling if even more restrictive measures will be introduced. The spread of the virus has be slow and stealthy and the aim now is to break the chains of transmission and reduce the outbreaks in private homes.

Another factor to be examined will be the extent of the pressure on Dublins main hospitals due to the rise in Covid-19 admissions. All hospitals are coping, but it means more wards are out of bounds to non-Covid patients.

Read More

Donegal

The 14-day incidence rate on Sunday for Donegal was 96.7 per 100,000. This is a huge jump from the previous fortnight when it was at 20.7 per 100,000. It has seen 154 new cases in the past fortnight compared to 31 for the previous two weeks.

Donegal was a staycation favourite and managed to survive the summer without getting into trouble.

Public health doctors say they are very concerned at the high number of household transmissions reported in Lifford, Finn Valley and Letterkenny.

Waterford

The 14-day incidence of the virus in Waterford up to Sunday was 93.8 per 100,000. This compares to 27.5 per 100,000 in the previous two weeks. It sparked a call to arms from local leaders.

A statement was issued by Mayor Damien Geoghegan, Chief Executive of Waterford Council Michael Walsh, Chief Superintendent Padraig Dunne and Chief Officer of South East Community Healthcare Kate Killeen White. They asked people to remember to adhere to the basics of social distancing and hygiene.

We are now at a critical juncture for this disease. We have a window of opportunity to bring this disease under control and to keep Waterford at Level 2 restrictions, they said.

Kildare

Expand Close Barry McKnight proprietor of the J-One Cafe in Athy which reopened, after a local lockdown in Co Kildare was lifted. Photo: Niall Carson/PA Wire / Facebook

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Whatsapp Barry McKnight proprietor of the J-One Cafe in Athy which reopened, after a local lockdown in Co Kildare was lifted. Photo: Niall Carson/PA Wire

The two-week incidence in Kildare was 66.5 per 100,000 on Sunday, slightly down from 69.2 per 100,000 in the previous two weeks. It is not long out of its August lockdown, sparked by factory outbreaks.

There were 11 new cases on Sunday and 16 on Monday. It is unclear how many cases are linked to workplace outbreaks or are due to community transmission. It would be a heavy blow for the county to have to go into any sort of lockdown again. Maynooth University has sacrificed a return to campus, except for practical work and small-group teaching.

Louth

The two-week incidence on Sunday was 101.6 per 100,000, up from 30.3 per 100,000 over the previous two weeks. Last Tuesday it recorded 13 cases and 10 on Friday.

Wicklow

The two-week incidence per 100,000 in Wicklow was at 70.9 per 100,000 on Sunday, up from 24.6 per 100,000 the previous fortnight. It probably has not helped Wicklow to be so near to Dublin, with easy connections such as the Dart to Bray. This could increase the risk of infection spilling over the border quite easily - particularly as there are reports of Dubliners commuting to Wicklow to avail of wet pub openings and indoor dining.

Limerick

The 14-day incidence per 100,000 in Limerick on Sunday was 45.7.

Two weeks earlier it was 66.2 per 100,000. There were 10 new cases on Friday and six on Saturday. In his letter to Government the week before last, acting chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn said that while the incidence rate in Limerick is high compared with other counties, it appears to be stabilising. Cases are confined to a number of areas within the county and there does not appear to be widespread community transmission of the virus. This will be kept under review.

Leitrim

The two-week incidence per 100,000 in Leitrim on Sunday was 34.3 per 100,000. It is down from 49.9 over the previous two weeks. The county has had the lowest number of cases so far.

Offaly

Expand Close A Covid-19 testing facility in Tullamore, Co Offaly (Niall Carson/PA) / Facebook

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Whatsapp A Covid-19 testing facility in Tullamore, Co Offaly (Niall Carson/PA)

The 14-day incidence in Offaly last Sunday was 60.3 per 100,000, up from 39.8 in the previous fortnight. It was also among the trio of midlands counties which suffered the August lockdown. It was recently at the centre of concern after 20 members of a golf society who visited Tullamore tested positive.

Source: HPSC Epidemiology of Covid-19 14-day reports. August 25-Sept 7 / Sept 7-September 20
Twelve Hong Kong activists detained by the mainland Chinese authorities as they tried to escape to the democratic island of Taiwan by speedboat have been allocated officially approved lawyers, sparking concerns that they may have accepted the arrangement under duress.



Hong Kongs secretary for security John Lee told local media over the weekend that lawyers had been selected for them from a list provided by authorities in the southern port city of Shenzhen, just across the border in mainland China.



The 12 detainees, aged 16 to 33, are being held on suspicion of "illegal immigration" at the Yantian Detention Center. They were intercepted by the China Coast Guard after they tried to escape by speedboat to the democratic island of Taiwan last month.



All 12 also face criminal charges in Hong Kong, with 10 of them wanted for manufacturing or possessing explosives, arson, rioting, assaulting police officers, or possession of offensive weapons, the citys government has said.



Lee told local media that the Hong Kong authorities arent accorded visitation rights, as would normally be granted to overseas diplomats.



Pro-democracy lawmaker Eddie Chu said it was worrying that the detainees have effectively been allocated lawyers approved by the ruling Chinese Communist Party.



Sichuan-based rights lawyer Lu Siwei, who has repeatedly been refused permission to visit one of the detainees after being hired by their family to represent them, said he wasnt alone.



He said none of the lawyers hired by the Hong Kong detainees families had managed to meet with their clients, as of Monday.



I havent had a meeting, Lu said. None of us has. We really dont know whats happening now but we are going to keep trying.



We wont keep going to the detention center because they wont let us in, so theres not much point, but we will lodge a formal complaint in an attempt to get the police and prosecutors office to give us an explanation, he said.



Government-approved lawyers



A second lawyer for one of the 12, who asked to remain anonymous, said he had been told that lawyers had been appointed on behalf of the detainees when he showed up at the Yantian Detention Center in a bid to meet with his client.



The way things are going, it seems as if they are [appointing government-approved lawyers], the lawyer said. They are doing this behind closed doors, and they dont offer any explanations or information.



Beijing-based rights activist Hu Jia said the 12 Hongkongers are being subjected to the full treatment usually meted out to political cases in mainland China.



We have also experienced this and we all know what its like, Hu said. This sort of thing can destroy your mental and physical health.



He said the 12 detainees are likely to be made an example of by the Chinese authorities, as they have come to symbolize the entire protest movement that began last year as widespread public opposition to plans to allow extraditions to mainland China.



These detentions are being made to show tens of thousands of young people in Hong Kong [the consequences of activism], Hu said. They are creating an atmosphere of terror that will make everyone think twice.



Pressure not to defend



Hu said the detainees are likely under huge psychological pressure from police not to try to defend themselves in court.



The Chinese police are sure to be telling them that if they make trouble [by hiring a good lawyer], there wont be a good outcome, Hu said. They will have to pay a higher price, or their relatives be punished, if they do.



He said there is some hope that international diplomatic pressure could affect the outcome for the Yantian detainees.



In Hong Kong, the detainees families have hit out at the Hong Kong authorities for failing to support them or to negotiate with the Chinese police for their return.



Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam and her senior officials have said they wont interfere with law enforcement in another jurisdiction.



The families have also raised concerns over the lack of assistance for those who need medical treatment, as well as the lack of visits by lawyers or relatives.



Incommunicado detention is a known risk factor for torture and other forms of mistreatment in detention, and has been linked to several high-profile torture cases in mainland China in recent years.



Reported by Lau Siu-fung for RFAs Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
Wheres the demand? Follow the jobs

With densification being the order of the day in most space-starved metropolitan areas and smaller buildings being economically unfeasible for most developers, McTait says much of the future demand will be for mid- to high rises, even outside major urban areas.

But he is less convinced by the concept of the urban exodus many market hounds have been touting since the beginning of COVID-19. He says most people will still want to live within an hour or so of their employers in case they need to commute part-time or access their offices.

The suggestion that people will go to rural locations is a nice idea at this point in time  certainly its more affordable  but I dont think its necessarily a solution nor practical in the long-term, he says. Employment opportunities will continue to dictate where people live and how they live, and that will continue despite the fact that we have this new potential to work from home.

It's little surprise, then, that McTait identifies areas like the GTA, Greater Vancouver, and Greater Montreal as markets poised for strong growth in the multi-family sector. But surging secondary markets like Hamilton, Quebec City, and Kitchener-Waterloo will also attract attention thanks to their affordability, strong employment environments and continued population growth.

Even multi-family markets in Canadas more problematic economies, like Calgary and Edmonton, have pleasantly surprised McTait. There may not be a slew of demand for new properties in these cities, but current demand levels are strong enough to support the existing inventory.
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YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 21, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau has issued a congratulatory statement on September 21 on the Armenian Independence Day.

Today, we join Armenian communities in Canada and around the world to celebrate the 29th anniversary of Armenias independence, Trudeau said in the statement published by his office.

Canada was one of the first Western countries to recognize Armenias independence, establishing diplomatic relations in 1992. Since then, the relationship between our two countries, built upon shared values and strong people-to-people ties, has only grown stronger. More than 60,000 Canadians of Armenian descent make important contributions to our communities and our country every day.

Armenia and Canada work closely together in international organizations, including the United Nations and La Francophonie. In 2018, I was able to visit Armenia and discuss, with Prime Minister Pashinyan, ways to further strengthen our bilateral relationship. We look forward to deepening our partnership in important areas like gender equality and womens empowerment, trade and investment, and climate change for the benefit of the people in both our countries.

On behalf of the Government of Canada, Sophie and I wish everyone celebrating a happy Independence Day.

Editing by Stepan Kocharyan
At least 20 opposition MPs on Monday wrote to President Ram Nath Kovind, urging him not to grant assent to the controversial Bills, alleging that the way they were passed without any debate was a "murder of democracy".

"We, belonging to diverse political parties cutting across India's political and geographical spectrum, bring this representation to you to respectfully draw your urgent attention to the absolute and total murder of democracy, ironically in the most hallowed temple of democracy, parliament," read the letter signed by leaders of the Congress, the Left, the NCP, the DMK, the Samajwadi Party, the Shiv Sena, the Janat Dal-Secular, the Trinamool Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal, among others.

The Opposition MPs said that the issue raised is, however, of much wider importance.

"We are concerned with something which affects the very backbone of the Indian Republic viz its 'annadata', the community of farmers," they said.

It said that on issue like this, "majoritarian, insensitive and uncaring" governance has no role and all stakeholders have to listen, absorb, imbibe and thereafter act with humility. There is no place for the politics of 'zid' (stubbornness) and arrogance. Instead the voice of those speaking for the farmers was sought to be stifled.

"Most unfortunately, the latter was in full force in government instructions to all, given with the brazen object of ramming legislation down the throat of disagreeing Parliamentarians without allowing it to be tested freely and fairly by vote by division," it said.

It further said that the Bills were purportedly treated as passed though were never voted upon.

"Division, asked not by one but innumerable Members, was denied," it alleged, adding that motions and statutory resolutions, including for amendments were not even looked at, much less considered.

"No attempt was made to even try for a sense of the House or a consensus as to whether the House should sit beyond the strictly prescribed 1 p.m. or continue the next day. September 20, most inexplicably and mysteriously, was treated as if it was the last day of the Session and as if heavens would fall if voting with division was heald on September 21," it said.

It further said that massive show of force was exerted by security personnel invited inside the House in numbers exceeding those of the MPs present.

"Almost half the was seated in the LOk Sabha chamber and the chair neither looked towards them; large parts of the proceedings in the RS chamber were not even audible to those of the RS in the LS chamber. It further said that the egregious and brazen acts of the government, in clear collusion with the legislative organ of our Republic, is also proof positive of the lack of numbers and lack of support with the government qua passage of these Bills.

"It is clear that the government was fully aware that the Bills could not and would not be passed due to wide opposition, cutting across political lines, including strong opposition from several NDA allies and supporters and consequently tactics were adopted to supposedly pass the Bills in a tyrannical manner unknown to our Constitution," it alleged.

"We pray that you return the bills and do not append your signature," it said.

In the morning, Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu suspended eight MPs, minutes after the House reconvened. These lawmakers from the Trinamool Congress, the Congress, the Communist Party of India-Marxist and the Aam Aadmi Party were accused of creating ruckus in on Sunday.

The motion was moved by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs V. Muraleedharan, following which the House suspended Derek O'Brien and Dola Sen of the Trinamool, Rajeev Satav, Ripun Bora, and Syed Naseer Hussain of the Congress, Sanjay Singh of the AAP and K.K. Ragesh and E Kareem of the CPI-M.

The opposition members indulged in sloganeering after the resolution was moved by voice vote.

Earlier, Naidu said that it was a "sad day for democracy" and "unfortunate" and "condemnable", as he rejected a no-confidence motion against Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh.

The witnessed bedlam on Sunday as the government sought to get cleared two of the three contentious farm Bills amid unrelenting opposition protests. O'Brien allegedly tore a rule book while Satav and Sanjay Singh climbed on a table in the House to protest.

--IANS

aks/vd

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
External Article

22 September 2020

The travel industry must use the crisis to take steps to address carbon emissions

It can look to precedents like 9/11 and other virus outbreaks to equip itself for change and resilience

Travellers should consider the impact on the planet and the potentially positive economic impact on the communities they visit

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The future of travel used to be flying cars and faster-than-sound jets but Covid-19 has changed all that. Today the travel industry would simply settle for a resumption of some normality.

The pandemic has been devastating for the travel industry, which Tony Wheeler (MBA1972) is extremely familiar with. He is the co-founder, alongside his wife Maureen, of the Lonely Planet publishing house, and they are donors to London Business School's Wheeler Institute for Business and Development.

Rajesh Chandy, Academic Director of the Wheeler Institute for Business and Development was joined in conversation with Tony Wheeler, founder of the Lonely Planet, and George Looker (MBA2020) Project Officer at the Wheeler Institute, to discuss how the pandemic is impacting the travel sector and consider some of the long term implications.

Lonely Planet's explosive growth in the 1980s and 1990s coincided with a new phase of cheaper travel. Few intrepid treks across Indonesia or interrailing journeys of self-discovery across Europe were conducted without one of the distinctive Lonely Planet guides sticking out of the top of a pocket. It had never been easier to see the world.

For Tony Wheeler, an appetite for diverse experiences will not be easily forgotten. In a fireside chat with George Looker (MBA2020), he remained cautiously optimistic about the future but sees large and small changes to the travel experience of the future. Some, he suggests, will come from consumers; others from innovation in the industry.

It is his hope that responsible travel, like the Wheeler Institute itself, will play an important role in bringing the world together and solving some of its toughest developmental challenges.

"The travel industry has an enormous challenge ahead of it but equally it shouldn't waste the opportunities the pandemic has created," said Tony Wheeler. "We should be looking at making some improvements.

"There's no question that we did, to some extent, over-travel.

"Travel is going to be local at first. If you're in London, that's going to mean travel in Britain, or travel with Britain and Ireland, or traveling around Europe. You're not going to be thinking about going to South America or North America, certainly not to Asia and Australia.

"I think when it comes back, it's not going to just jump back to suddenly we're going everywhere and EasyJet are in full operation and Emirates are flying you all over the world. That's not going to happen, it is going to be different."
A sign at a Sizzler restaurant shows support for the victims of a shooting at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Ore., on Oct. 3, 2015. (Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images)

OC-Based Sizzler Restaurant Chain Files for Bankruptcy

MISSION VIEJO, Calif. (CNS)Orange County-based restaurant chain Sizzler, known for its moderately priced steaks and expansive salad bar, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Sept. 21, blaming falling sales on the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the publication Restaurant Business, the Mission Viejo-based chain, which operates 107 locations, reported between $1 million and $10 million in liabilities and the same amount in assets.

The company stated it anticipates emerging from the Chapter 11 bankruptcy process within 120 days.

The filing is a direct result of the financial impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the casual dining sector, particularly long-term indoor dining closures and landlords refusal to provide necessary rent abatement, Chris Perkins, the president and chief services officer of Sizzler USA, said in a prepared statement.

The chain plans to keep all of its locations open for business throughout the process of renegotiating leases, and franchisees will not be affected during the Chapter 11 process, according to the company.

Todays filing represents a new chapter for Sizzler, and its an option weve undertaken based on the underlying strength of our 62-year-old legacy brand, Perkins said.

Many restaurant brands across the country have suffered because of COVID-19 and Sizzler USA is no exception.

According to the company, the filing will allow Sizzler to do everything we can to support our employees and franchisees and build a stronger future.

Sales at Sizzler were already declining before the pandemic, according to Eater Los Angeles. It remains unclear how many locations will return, if any, following the bankruptcy filing.

The company owns 14 restaurant locations outright, while the remaining 93 are franchises, and it will be looking to renegotiate lease terms with landlords at those locations, at least, Eater reported.
Syracuse, N.Y.  Syracuse and Cornell universities for the first time this fall are making students get flu shots as part of a growing national effort to avoid a simultaneous outbreak, or twindemic, of flu and coronavirus this winter.

Dr. Howard Zucker, New York states health commissioner, recently said in a conference call the state is considering mandating student flu shots.

Massachusetts became the first state to mandate student flu shots in August. The Massachusetts requirement includes all children 6 months or older attending child care, pre-school, kindergarten, K-12 and college. It applies to college students up to age 30. Students must get vaccinated by Dec. 31. Vermont and New Jersey also are considering following suit.

SU and Cornell students must submit proof they got vaccinated against the flu unless they have a medical or religious waiver. SUNY Upstate Medical University has required student flu vaccinations since 2017. LeMoyne College does not mandate flu shots, but is strongly encouraging students and staff to get vaccinated, said spokesman Joe Della Posta.

Cornell says on its website it is mandating flu shots this year  to limit the occurrences and spread of influenza among our campus population so medical services and other support resources can be fully available to serve students who may be exposed to Covid-19.

New York state already requires students to be immunized against diseases such as measles, mumps and rubella. Vaccination mandates are opposed by some parents who question the safety of vaccines and object to the government telling them what to do.

In Boston, hundreds of parents hoisting signs that said, My Child My Choice, and Parents call the shots, rallied outside the State House on Aug. 30. Similar protests occurred in Albany last year when New York state outlawed school vaccination religious exemptions following a measles outbreak.

The New York Alliance for Vaccine Rights, a nonprofit group, is urging members on its Facebook page to contact Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Zucker and state legislators to express their opposition to a student flu vaccine mandate.

Medical experts, however, say it is more important than ever for students to get vaccinated against the flu. That could help prevent hospitals from getting overwhelmed with flu and coronavirus patients at the same time. Both diseases have similar symptoms, which means patients with those symptoms will have to be tested for both illnesses.

Until test results come back, people with those symptoms must be treated like they have coronavirus. That means they will have to be quarantined and kept out of school.

The last thing we need this year is people getting fevers, body aches and coughs for any reason, said Dr. Helen Jacoby, an epidemiologist at St. Josephs Health. It will make everything more confused.

Dr. Steven Thomas, chief of infectious disease at Upstate Medical University, agreed.

If you can prevent those scenarios from occurring, that will reduce the burden on the health care system, he said.

Getting vaccinated also is important because the flu is more dangerous and potentially deadly than many people realize, Thomas said.

The flu killed 188 children in the U.S. during the 2019-2020 flu season, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Coronavirus killed 103 kids in the U.S. as of Sept. 10, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Only 21% of children nationwide were fully vaccinated against the flu in 2019-2020, according to the CDC.

Overall, the flu killed more than 24,000 people of all ages and caused more than 410,000 hospitalizations last season.

The flu vaccine is reformulated every year to target flu strains that may circulate. The reformulation process occurs long before the start of the flu season and is based on educated guesswork. Some years the vaccine is very effective, other years not. Its effectiveness in previous seasons has ranged from 40% to 60%.

Even if its effectiveness is only in the 50 percent range, its still protecting half of the people, Thomas said.

The same precautions that ward off the coronavirus  wearing masks, social distancing and frequent hand washing  also prevent the flu. If the public diligently follows those practices, the coming flu season could be milder than usual, Jacoby said.

That apparently happened in South Africa, Australia, Argentina and other countries in the Southern Hemisphere that saw hardly any flu during the winter that just ended. Experts say thats a byproduct of coronavirus vigilance.

While Jacoby would like to see more kids vaccinated, shes not sure mandating student flu shots is the best approach. She would like to see schools make it easier for students to get flu shots and provide the vaccine for free. Shes concerned some childrens education might suffer if they are banned from school because their parents refuse to get them vaccinated.

I just wonder if it just opens a can of worms to make it mandatory, she said. It might just create more conflict rather than bringing us all together to fight infection and keep everybody healthy.

James T. Mulder covers health and higher education. Have a news tip? Contact him at (315) 470-2245 or jmulder@syracuse.com
(Natural News) The first people in North America arrived more than a thousand years earlier than previously thought, experts have recently discovered.

Proof of this, according to archaeologists, are the stone tools and other artifacts they unearthed at the Coopers Ferry site in Idaho.

These artifacts are considered to be among the earliest evidence of people in North America and add weight to the theory that human migration to the continent followed a Pacific coastal route rather than through the opening of an inland ice-free corridor.

The Coopers Ferry site is located along the Salmon River, which is a tributary of the larger Columbia River basin. Early peoples moving south along the Pacific coast would have encountered the Columbia River as the first place below the glaciers where they could easily walk and paddle into North America, said Loren Davis, an anthropology professor at Oregon State University and the studys lead author, noting that the Columbia River corridor essentially functioned as the first off-ramp of a Pacific coast migration route.

According to Davis, among the artifacts they found at the site were stone tools, fossilized charcoal, fire-cracked rock and bone fragments from medium- to large-bodied animals. Aside from those items, the research team also found evidence of a fire hearth, as well as a food processing station and pits created as part of domestic activities at the site.

The bone fragments were subjected to radiocarbon dating by a team of researchers from Oxford University.

As noted by Davis, many of the artifacts they found were between 15,000 to 16,000 years old, making them far older than the items from previous digs, most of which were in the 13,000-year range.

When I first saw that the lower archaeological layer contained radiocarbon ages older than 14,000 years, I was stunned but skeptical and needed to see those numbers repeated over and over just to be sure theyre right. So we ran more radiocarbon dates, and the lower layer consistently dated between 14,000-16,000 years old, Davis stated.

Their findings, which focus on the artifacts gathered from Area A of the site, and were published in the academic journal Science, challenge the long-held Clovis First theory of early migration, which suggested that people crossed from Siberia into North America and traveled down through an opening in the ice sheet near the present-day Dakotas.

This ice-free corridor is hypothesized to have opened as early as 14,800 years ago, which is well after the date of the oldest artifacts found at Coopers Ferry. (Related: Fresh finds from a cave in Mexico suggest humans populated North America earlier than currently known, rewriting the prehistoric first settlers.)

Now we have good evidence that people were in Idaho before that corridor opened, he said.

Davis, in a statement, also noted that the oldest artifacts uncovered at Coopers Ferry are very similar in form to older artifacts found in Japan, as well as other sites in northeastern Asia.

This, Davis said, has pushed him to collaborate with Japanese researchers in order to conduct further comparisons of the artifacts from Japan, Russia and Coopers Ferry.

We have 10 years worth of excavated artifacts and samples to analyze, Davis said. We anticipate well make other exciting discoveries as we continue to study the artifacts and samples from our excavations.

According to Davis, he and the rest of the team are still waiting for the carbon-dating information on the artifacts they gathered from a second location at the Coopers Ferry site.

For more stories about discoveries and other scientific advances and archaeological finds, visit Artifacts.news.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

Phys.org

Science.ScienceMag.com

SmithsonianMag.com
COLUMBIA  South Carolina's election agency and Republican legislative leaders are appealing a federal ruling from late last week that struck down the witness signature requirement for absentee ballots in the 2020 general election.

The initial ruling issued late Friday night by U.S. District Court Judge Michelle Childs determined that the requirement for voters to get a witness to sign their absentee ballots would jeopardize South Carolinians' fundamental right to vote due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

But in a notice filed Monday, attorneys for the state Election Commission, S.C. House Speaker Jay Lucas, S.C. Senate President Harvey Peeler and the S.C. Republican Party expressed their intention to appeal to the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.

The decision to appeal means it remains up in the air for now whether voters will need to get a witness signature on those absentee ballots, which are expected to be submitted in record numbers given the high-profile nature of the election and many voters' preference to vote absentee during the pandemic.

South Carolina lawmakers voted almost unanimously this month to let all of the state's registered voters cast absentee ballots without an excuse this year due to the pandemic  a change from the typical process that requires voters to cite one of 17 reasons normally needed for casting an absentee ballot.

But Republican leaders opposed Democratic efforts to remove the witness signature requirement, arguing it helps guard against voter fraud. Childs disagreed in her ruling, noting that cases of voter fraud are few and far between, and questioning whether the witness signature requirement does much to prevent it.
Texas has once again shattered vote registration records, adding more than 1.5 million voters since the last presidential election.

Texas now has surpassed 16.6 million voters, according to the latest numbers announced Tuesday by Texas Secretary of State Ruth R. Hughs. And there are still almost two weeks to add more.

Ahead of the November election, I encourage all eligible Texans who have not already done so to register to vote by Oct. 5 so that they can help shape the future of the Lone Star State, Hughs said.

In the four previous presidential election cycles, Texas added about 700,000 new voters on average  less than half as many as have been added this cycle.

IN-DEPTH: Texas voter registration hits 16.4M, despite pandemic

That fast growth in voters adds another wrinkle to Texas politics that already have been shifted by the pandemic. Campaigns dont know how those voters are going to break or even if they are going to show up to vote at all, said Brandon Rottinghaus, a University of Houston political science professor.

It brings a lot of uncertainty, Rottinghaus said.

That includes guessing whether theyll show up by Election Day. Its much harder to mobilize first-time voters and get them to the polls, Rottinghaus said.

Ted Cruz: Texas is a battleground

The surge of voters comes as political experts begin to question if Democrats can break a decades-long slump in Texas. No Democratic presidential candidate has won Texas since 1976, but recent polls suggest President Donald Trump is in a tight race to keep Texas from former Vice President Joe Biden. The last two public polls of Texas voters show Trump holding a 2 percentage point lead over Biden with early voting getting underway in three weeks.

Nobody doubts that the Democrats have gained ground in the last four years. Republicans acknowledge that while the GOP was counting on a more organic growth of voters, Democrats and their allies were aggressively adding voters at a faster clip. The result was Democrats flipping 12 seats in the Texas House in the 2018 midterm elections, along with two congressional seats. U.S. Senate candidate Beto ORourke came within 220,000 votes of becoming the first Democrat to win statewide office since 1994.

THE BLUE SPINE: Voter registration grows at faster clip along Interstate 35

Over the last two years, the GOP has responded by being more aggressive in its own voter registration programs, upgrading its candidate recruitment efforts and improving its fundraising.

Still, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz has told Republicans in Texas they need to brace for another tough battle like nothing theyve seen before. He said the Democrats who showed up in Texas in 2018 are fired up again and even more determined to take out Trump.

Texas is a battleground, Cruz told supporters on a conference call last week.

A third of growth occurred in three deep-blue counties

Texas does not require voters to pick a party to register. But voter registration growth in various regions has given both Democrats and Republicans cause to be optimistic going into November.

About one-third of the new voters since November 2018 come from three counties: Harris, Travis and Bexar  all deeply blue since 2016. That has Democrats convinced that they are adding to their base of support.

But for Republicans, voter registration has been surging in places such as Bell, Williamson, Denton, Collin and Montgomery counties  suburban communities that Trump carried in 2016.

The surge in voter registration over the last four years is even eclipsing the states population growth. While Texas has seen its population grow an estimated 5 percent in four years, voter registration has increased by over 10 percent.
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney was back on the national political scene last week, urging the federal government to rescue his province from a revenue collapse. Mr. Kenney wants Ottawa to change, for Albertas benefit, the terms of its Fiscal Stabilization Program, which helps provinces that suffer a sudden large drop in revenue.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 21/9/2020 (487 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney was back on the national political scene last week, urging the federal government to rescue his province from a revenue collapse. Mr. Kenney wants Ottawa to change, for Albertas benefit, the terms of its Fiscal Stabilization Program, which helps provinces that suffer a sudden large drop in revenue.

Mr. Kenney goes into this campaign with one hand tied behind him. Alberta depends heavily on oil and gas revenues to pay for public services, and these revenues are inherently unstable. A drop in either prices or production reduces the provincial revenues. And as long as Alberta refuses to impose a retail sales tax  all other provinces have one  it is going to remain vulnerable to the ups and downs of the oil and gas market.

Alberta did not choose to reduce oil prices in the world market to their present low level. It did, however, choose to rely on high oil and gas prices and increasing production to finance its government. It makes that choice again every day it delays the introduction of a retail sales tax. This sets a ceiling on the level of sympathy other Canadians can feel when Alberta runs up against the predictable consequences of its own independent choices.

TODD KOROL / CANADIAN PRESS FILES Jason Kenney has earned a reputation for blaming others for his problems.

Mr. Kenney has earned a reputation for blaming others for his problems. He blames Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Liberal government for failing to compel provinces and Indigenous communities to allow pipelines to be built across their territory. He blames environmental campaigners for publicizing the damage that oil sands miners inflict on the air, land and water around their mines. Now he seems to be at it again, blaming a federal program for the sudden shrinkage of his oil and gas revenue.

Introduction of a retail sales tax will be difficult, because Alberta governments have been telling the people for years that they dont need one. Brian Mulroneys Conservative government introduced the Goods and Services Tax in 1991 and was destroyed in the general election two years later. Manitoba premier Greg Selinger increased the Manitoba retail sales tax in 2013 after promising not to, and was kicked out in the 2016 general election.

The government that introduces a retail sales tax in Alberta will risk a similar fate. Careful preparation would be needed to win consent from the Alberta public.

Albertas years of oilbased prosperity may already be over.

The Alberta provincial government deficit ballooned to $24.2 billion this year. The governments plan has been to reduce expenses, seek help from the federal government and wait for oil and gas revenues to recover.

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, however, lately reduced its forecast for oil demand over the next two years. BP, an oil and gas producer and refiner, recently published a forecast suggesting that demand for oil will drop steadily for the foreseeable future. If these authorities are correct, Albertas years of oil-based prosperity may already be over.

Federal government assistance might help Alberta struggle through this transition period, but the grim fiscal reality is that the province needs relatively stable revenues like every other province.

Mr. Kenney will win a much better hearing from Canadians if they can see he is facing facts and making responsible choices. His demand for extra federal government subsidies should be accompanied by steps toward a retail sales tax. It is not too much to ask Albertans to pay for their own government services in the same way all other Canadians do.
Spain has requested its armys help in enforcing coronavirus lockdown restrictions that were imposed in some parts of Madrid on Monday.

The restrictions apply to poorer districts in the capital, sparking protests over the weekend against what residents described as discrimination against the poor.

The Spanish army was deployed at the height of the first wave of infections between March and April to help civilian authorities contain the outbreak.

Isabel Diaz Ayuso, the regional governor for the capital, announced the deployment after a meeting with Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez.

We need help from the army for disinfection and to strengthen local police and law enforcement, she told a news briefing on Monday.

She also requested that makeshift hospitals be set up again, three months after they were decommissioned as Spain lifted its strict lockdown.

850,000 people living in 37 districts in Madrid have been barred from leaving their neighbourhoods as of yesterday, except for work, family care of legal obligations, as the number of infections surge in the capital.

Madrid accounts for a third of new cases in Spain. The city reported 144 of the countrys 432 deaths linked to coronavirus, and some of Madrids intensive care wards have surpassed capacity.

Demonstrators protested against the restrictions on Sunday night, claiming the lockdown affected some of the poorest neighbourhoods in the capital and accusing the Spanish government of treating them like second class citizens.

Madrids mayor, Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida, denied the accusations, tweeting on Monday: There are no first-class residents and second-class residents. We have to be together at this moment.

Additional reporting by agencies
PALO ALTO, Calif., Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Leadfeeder, a Finnish-based leader in B2B lead generation software that gathers buyer intent data, today announced the launch of Web Visitors , a native feature within Pipedrive , the leading CRM for sales teams. The new feature analyzes website traffic to pinpoint the best potential customers to target during the early stages of lead generation. For the last 60 days, Web Visitors was tested by 12,000 existing Pipedrive users, and is now available to all Pipedrive users at an additional fee.

According to Sergei Anikin, Pipedrive's CTO, a number of studies have shown that prospecting and finding good quality leads is the biggest pain point that sales professionals struggle with every day. "Web Visitors is a powerful lead generation tool born from more than a year of collaboration between top engineers in two companies. This advanced feature provides sales teams with valuable information, allowing them to approach prospects with targeted messages at the time when the lead is the hottest," said Anikin.

Leadfeeder's technology identifies the companies visiting the company's website and analyses behavior, qualifying the lead and helping salespeople shorten the time between research to valid business opportunities. "We're excited to add the Web Visitors feature to Pipedrive as we continue identifying and developing the best tools for lead generation and management," Anikin added.

Pekka Koskinen, CEO of Leadfeeder, added, "Having worked with Pipedrive as an integration partner for many years, we are proud to be a native feature within their lead management tool set. Web Visitors comes after close to ten years of development of the Leadfeeder product, offering users an easy-to-use way of identifying, qualifying, and connecting with the companies visiting their website. Our number one priority has always been to equip sales with intelligence that is easily visualized in the tools they use daily. Having a platform that meets the traditional CRM plus lead generation needs means that there will be no time lost in implementing new tech or making changes to existing sales processes. This is truly game-changing. This partnership enables sales teams to increase their effectiveness, with no time spared."

How Web Visitors Works

Analyzing your website's traffic is essential when learning about visitor behavior. But, finding your ideal customer to target during the early lead generation stages can be difficult. Not all of your website visitors will turn into customers, so it's important for your sales team to know early on where to focus their time and energy.

The Web Visitors feature allows you to track visitor activity on your website to identify the companies who are most engaged with your website, and as a result, most likely to turn into customers.

The setup involves implementing a tracking script to the header of your website. This takes no more than two minutes to complete, and once implemented, companies and their behavior will start to appear within your Pipedrive Web Visitors overview.

Pipedrive Web Visitors is now available to their entire customer base, with prices starting from $49 per month.

About Leadfeeder

Leadfeeder is a B2B lead generation software that identifies buyer intent data through your anonymous web traffic. Leadfeeder identifies the companies visiting your site, how they got there, their behavior, and their intent to purchase. With over 40,000 users globally, Leadfeeder is the sales & marketing tool of choice for enhancing lead generation efforts. For more information, visit Leadfeeder.com.

About Pipedrive

Founded in 2010, Pipedrive is the first CRM platform developed from the salesperson's point-of-view. Today, Pipedrive is used by sales teams at more than 90,000 companies worldwide. Pipedrive is the top-rated CRM and has offices in Lisbon; London; New York; Prague, and Tallinn and Tartu, Estonia. Learn more at Pipedrive.com.

SOURCE Leadfeeder
Tel Aviv, Sep 22 : The Israeli Health Ministry has declared a state of emergency in all hospitals after the recent abnormal rise in Covid-19 morbidity and overcrowding of the wards.

In a letter to hospital chiefs sent on Monday, Hezi Levi, Director-General of the Ministry, warned that the Israeli health system is expected to hit capacity limit within weeks or even days, reports Xinhua news agency.

Within 10 days there will be additional 200 to 300 Covid-19 patients in serious condition, including ventilated ones, Levi noted.

On Monday, the number of Covid-19 patients in serious condition in Israel reached a record 651, out of 1,348 patients currently hospitalized.

"As in emergency, I expect hospital managements to take part in the national effort to deal with the expected morbidity load," Levi wrote in the letter.

He also announced the setting up of a national operation headquarters, which will operate around the clock, supervise all hospitals' Covid-19 activity and provide solutions to problems arising in the hospitals.

As of Tuesday, the overall number of coronavirus cases in Israel has increased to more than 191,000 with 1,273 deaths.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
The latest developments in the Libyan crisis, from the outcome of the meeting between Libyan stakeholders in Montreux on 7-9 September to Government of National Accord (GNA) leader Fayez Al-Sarrajs sudden decision to step down at the end of October, raise many questions. Not least among them is what will happen to the military agreements Al-Sarraj signed with Ankara.



In practical terms, the Turkish project in Libya has run up against a wall in several respects. Ankara has lost its wager on the GNA, and its plans, based on its belief that Al-Sarrajs government would last longer, now look redundant. Turkish reactions to Al-Sarrajs resignation testify to this.



A development like this, hearing such news, has been upsetting for us, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said.

He had hoped Al-Sarraj would stay in office for another six months to a year, and be able to hand power over directly to a newly elected government instead of having to pass through another interim phase.

This would have facilitated Ankaras plans, in accordance with existing agreements, to establish a permanent military presence in Libya and put into effect economic agreements that had already been signed or were in the process of being finalised with the GNA.

The fate of such plans is now up in the air and the pro-Turkish camp in Tripoli, Khaled Al-Mishri who heads the High Council of State (HCS), and GNA Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha, will have their hands tied without the third member of the Tripoli triangle, Al-Sarraj, who served as both chairman of the Presidency Council and prime minister.



There are other dynamics in the Libyan crisis that Ankara failed to factor into its calculations. It failed to foresee the resolute stance Cairo has taken on the Libyan question and the red line President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi declared as a means to end military hostilities in Libya.

In its precipitous effort to acquire a foothold in Libya Ankara attempted to form a coalition with Libyas neighbours, Tunisia and Algeria, but this, too, has failed to pan out.

Its Tunisian partner, the Muslim Brotherhood affiliated Ennahda Party, was encumbered by domestic problems while Algiers showed that though it could work with Ankara on the Libyan question it would not do everything Ankara asked it to do.

Nor had Turkey reckoned on the fissuring of the GNA as a result of internal rivalries, or the ability of the Libyan National Army (LNA) to halt oil production and exports, the revenues from which had been funnelled to Turkey to pay for Ankaras military adventurism via the National Oil Company and the GNA controlled Central Bank.



Direct Turkish military intervention in Libya, according to the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), began immediately after the Berlin Conference in January 2020. Ankara flagrantly violated the commitments it had just made at the Berlin Conference which explicitly rejected a military solution and called on all stakeholders to support the resumption of the political process.



As efforts to pursue the three tracks of the Berlin process ground to a halt, largely due to Western governments preoccupation with the COVID-19 pandemic, Ankara took advantage of the situation to expand its military involvement in Libya, with nothing to deter it until it ran up against the red line set by Cairo this summer.

In June 2020, Egypt proposed an initiative, based on the Berlin outputs, to promote Libyan national reconciliation and set the contours for a comprehensive political roadmap. Declaring support for Cairos proposals, international powers moved with renewed resolve to promote a ceasefire.

Europe was galvanised into launching operation IRINI to enforce the UN arms embargo against Libya, and for the first time obstacles were placed in the way of the flow of Turkish arms and Turkish-paid mercenaries into Egypts western neighbour.



Turkey then encountered another red line as European powers acted to counter Ankaras provocative behaviour in the Eastern Mediterranean, particularly against Greece.

As Europe threw its support behind Greece, the countries that rallied to Athens defence denounced the maritime border agreement signed between Ankara and the GNA in November 2019.

The MoU on maritime boundaries was a crucial component of the architecture of Turkish-Tripoli military cooperation via which, according to US sources, Turkey intended to establish a string of bases on the Libyan coast in order to bolster its naval presence in the Mediterranean.



Although the international drive to resuscitate Libyan dialogue has yet to overtly address the military dimension of the conflict, the very revival of a political process narrows the main avenue for Turkish penetration into Libya. Turkeys expansionist drive, after all, depends in large measure on perpetuating the conflict.



So how will Ankara reconcile itself to recent developments, and the shrinkage in Turkish leverage in Libya that they have brought?



The question is best answered by considering the nature of the military links between Ankara and the GNA. The connection always had more in common with a defence contractor-client relationship than with a contractual relation between sovereign governments. It enabled Ankara to alter the military balance of power on the ground in favour of the GNA, to seize control of Matiga and Al-Watiya military bases, and to capture the strategically located town of Tarhouna.

This military momentum was brought to halt with the Egyptian declaration of the Sirte-Jufra red line, but this did not stop the continued influx of Turkish arms and Syrian and other foreign mercenaries. Since January Turkey has transferred more than 18,000 Syrian and other mercenaries into Libya, on the basis of limited contracts paid for by the GNA. The bills for the hundreds of tanks, armoured vehicles, drones and other Turkish arms have also been footed by the GNA using oil revenues.



Questions of legitimacy and duration hover over the military cooperation agreements. That the deals for training, arms and use of military bases were made in the form of MoUs that were not ratified by the House of Representatives places a large question mark over their future. None of which should obscure the fact that Turkey has built up a large military infrastructure in western Libya.

Although this presence is temporarily limited by the terms of the contracts Turkey has imposed a de facto reality that problematises the military/security dimension of the Libyan conflict. AFRICOM has denied that Turkey has deployed S-300 and S-400 defence systems in Libya but this does not refute the existence of other formidable defence and offence capacities.



Turkish-Russian relations pose an additional challenge. While Ankara has been busy backing the GNA, Moscow has been supporting the LNA with, according to Turkish claims, Wagner Group militias.



Russian and Turkish officials met in Ankara on 15 and 16 September and, according to news reports, discussed the ceasefire and the political settlement process. For the time being the two sides appear to have reached an understanding of some sort, but it is clear that both Ankara and Moscow were blindsided by the ceasefire decision taken by the Libyan parties. Indeed, reports from Libya confirmed that Al-Sarraj only notified Ankara of his decision to agree to a ceasefire at the last minute.



In short, Russian and Turkish officials seem to have met in Ankara to discuss how to accommodate events that had outpaced them. It has become increasingly clear that, contrary to the common impression, Turkey and Russia were never really on a collision course in Libya, despite the fact each has a lot at stake on the ground in terms of military structures and other interests.

That presence, of course, now begs the question of whether Turkish-Russian collusion will cast a shadow over the anticipated transitional process in Libya.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 24 September, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the title: Ankaras losing hand

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Official White House Photo by D. Myles CullenBy WILL STEAKIN, TERRANCE SMITH and JUSTIN GOMEZ, ABC News



(WASHINGTON) -- With the vice presidential debate fast approaching, pro-Democrat Super PAC American Bridge 21st Century has released its entire opposition research book on Vice President Mike Pence for free online.



The group, which handed over similar extensive documents to the Hillary Clinton campaign for a price in 2016, told ABC News that instead of charging campaigns or allies for the opposition research book this cycle they're hoping it will be a bigger benefit to the public and allies to post a fully searchable version online as the campaign heads into its final stretch.



"American Bridge 21st Century has compiled the most extensive and exhaustive public file on the President and Vice President. We have weaved together narratives that paint Pence as a man unfit for power, and we believe the American people should know the truth," research director for the Trump War Room at American Bridge 21st Century Pat Dennis said in a statement.



Included in the opposition material is a damaging portrait of Pence as leader of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, specifically his optimistic outlooks, such as his prediction that the pandemic would be "behind us" by Memorial Day, and a Wall Street Journal op-ed proclaiming there is no "second wave," despite the reality of increasing cases across the country during that time.



The group, founded by controversial liberal political consultant David Brock, said in the document that the vice president is "a right-wing ideologue with a long history of trying to destroy programs important to middle-class Americans," and points to his record on health care, entitlement programs, like Social Security and Medicare, and voting against programs that aided American families with food insecurities.



In the wake of the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor by police and the racial reckoning unfolding in the United States, Pence's record on issues for the Black community is also laid out. They include his opposition to the 1992 Civil Rights Act, which Pence called "objectionable" and his repeated refusal to say "Black Lives Matter." Instead, Pence has said he believes that "all lives matter."



The research even includes Pence's run for a U.S. congressional seat in 1990, which was billed by an Indiana newspaper as "one of the most negative and unethical" campaigns in state history and led Pence to publish an essay a year later, "Confessions of a Negative Campaigner," in which he apologized and expressed regret for his tactics.



"Mike Pence likes to masquerade as an anti-establishment Republican but his decades of failed leadership, attacks on the middle class, and corruption expose him for the swamp monster he truly is," according to the document, which attempts to paint a contrast between Pence and President Donald Trump. The pro-Democratic Super PAC also says that Pence uses his leadership of the coronavirus task force to push a right-wing radical agenda.



When asked for comment, a Trump campaign official told ABC News that they have "roughly four times as many pages of opposition research on (former Vice President Joe) Biden and (Sen. Kamala) Harris combined between us and the RNC." The campaign suggested that even though American Bridge is posting its research online for everyone to see "doesn't mean it will move the needle or help anyone." The official also said the campaign used a document by the group this weekend to help build out Biden's past statements on vacant Supreme Court seats this weekend.



Last month the group posted its opposition research book on President Donald Trump online for the first time for free, posting over 1,000 pages of research on the president on a website previously reserved for internal use only.



Opposition research is typically highly guarded and released over time at critical points in an election to cause damage to a political opponent -- but dropping easily searchable information on candidates publicly has become more common in recent years as an effort to help political campaigns access them without violating campaign finance rules.



Some research can be used to point out an opponent's inconsistencies throughout their political career in an attempt to diminish their credibility among the general public.



In 2019, when asked by ABC News Chief Anchor George Stephanopoulos at the White House during an ABC News exclusive interview whether his campaign would accept such information about a political opponent from foreigners -- such as China or Russia -- or hand it over the FBI, Trump said, "I think maybe you do both."



Trump called that information from foreign advisories "oppo research." Trump told Stephanopoulos that "I think I'd take it," and that it isn't interference in the United States political process.



The comment came on the heels of the investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 campaign and ahead of impeachment proceedings, when the president was accused of pressuring Ukraine to dig up damaging information on Biden.



"It's not an interference, they have information -- I think I'd take it," Trump said. "If I thought there was something wrong, I'd go maybe to the FBI -- if I thought there was something wrong. But when somebody comes up with oppo research, right, they come up with oppo research, 'oh let's call the FBI.' The FBI doesn't have enough agents to take care of it. When you go and talk, honestly, to congressman, they all do it, they always have, and that's the way it is. It's called oppo research."



Copyright  2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
As the United States surpasses 7 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 200,000 deaths, the population is only just beginning to feel the effects of the pandemic.

With the pandemic triggering an economic crisis not seen since the Great Depression, the American ruling class has taken advantage of workers economic anxieties to push for a deadly return to school, and the reckless return to work that will endanger millions of people regardless of ethnicity or age. Every day, millions of essential workers are put at risk, most of them young people.

Universities have prioritized their finances over student safety by allowing millions of students to resume on-campus instruction and take up residence in dormitories. This has led to hundreds of outbreaks across the US, and will prove to have countless tragic and deadly consequences.

In Southern California, for example, San Diego State Universitys president decided to counter criticisms by claiming a plague of parties continues to cause the universitys rising daily case count, with 802 positive students as of September 19.

Instead of shouldering any responsibility for putting students in harms way, administrators and politicians across the country echo these sentiments, blaming students for rising cases, and making ineffective cosmetic adjustments to their policies, attempting to tame negative headlines and relieve them of liability.

This week, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, released an insulting public relations video starring certified young person Paul Rudd via Twitter.

Resembling a Saturday Night Live skit, Rudd paints the picture that youth are indifferent to wearing masks, using hip and funny slang in a rap music style sequence. The supposedly comedic video breaks down to Rudd yelling at the supposed audience of young people to just wear a mask, its not that hard; people are dying. Its preventable. I shouldnt have to make it fun.

Cuomo shared this video, now with almost 8 million views on Twitter, in order to blame young people for the pandemic, and draw attention away from his own disastrous handling of the COVID-19 crisis. New York state has the highest death count in the US and Cuomo has received pushback from teachers and students over his drive to reopen schools in New York City and across the state.

It is the hope of Governor Cuomo, and politicians and bureaucrats like him, that by blaming students and young people for the worsening pandemic, that they can avoid accountability. Similarly, in July, President Donald Trump, incorrectly blamed protests and young people for a spike in casesconveniently ignoring his own reckless rhetoric regarding masks and ignoring many states premature reopening at the start of the summer.

The ruling class would like Americans to think that the virus is being spread due to students immaturity blaming their  not yet developed prefrontal cortex and their penchant to have irresponsible parties and gatherings.

The fact of the matter is, however, that the ruling class and US policymakers are at fault for the deaths of more than 200,000 Americans and tens of millions losing their jobs. Students who have contracted COVID-19 are not to blame, and neither is their supposed party-going. Students and young people are, in fact, vulnerable to the disease because they are forced to work due to arbitrarily being categorized as essential workers.

Those under 30 are the most likely to be low-paid essential workersincluding health care workers, those in retail and food service, agriculture workers and your local barista. Essential workers are almost guaranteed to be exposed to the virus either from the public, or their coworkers.

Many of these workers report unsafe conditions and fear for their own health and safety, and for their loved ones that they could unknowingly expose to the virus. They report their employers not providing PPE, allowing social distancing, or proper cleaning supplies and protection from the public. Many workers confront customers who can effectively ignore mask-wearing requirements and employers that do not give hazard pay and health care benefits. The majority fear loss of pay or retribution of some kind if they request time off or cannot return to work due to health reasons, leading many to continue working while unknowingly ill.

The WSWS spoke to Mazee, a 25-year-old worker in Kansas City. Mazee works two different bartending jobs and was recently let go from her third job as a waitress. Mazee has an autoimmune disease but is compelled to work as she is the only source of income for her family, including her immunocompromised mother. She is constantly battling anxiety and depression, and her savings have been wiped out health care costsas she has no health insurance and has been forced to shoulder those costs.

On her jobs, Mazee says she wishes the public knew what essential workers are going through. Echoing many fearful and struggling workers, Mazee explained, Its hard to find people who care, were called essential, but were replaceable. Theres always someone else forced to sacrifice their health to their job. Exhausted and at risk, Mazee is nonetheless forced to work in unsafe conditions to survive.

Lynda, a 29-year-old worker from San Diego, told the WSWS that she was working two jobs at the start of the year, at a bar and at a coffee shop. Because of the pandemic she lost her main source of income as the bar shut down permanently, and she was forced to pick up more hours at a local coffee chain.

Like many workers, Lynda feels she is not provided adequate protection from her employer and is scared to take time off or call out sick or fears looming costs like her car breaking down, or potential eviction from her apartment.

In a sentiment close to many working people, Lynda expressed frustration with the impossible tasks she has faced under the capitalist system and since joining the workforce after the 2008 financial crisis: Theres no way to get up. Its endless crises since I started work when I was 17. I dont know how to fix this.  They tell me just work hard, but I work for $13 an hour. I cant make more than that. Even with so much time, working for 12 years at all kinds of jobs, and I cant get out.

Inequality, wage stagnation and economic hardship of all kinds plague every worker; however, young workers and students are the most vulnerable to the economic challenges of the pandemic. For most workers in the United States, an unexpected expense of $500 would be catastrophic.

Workers have not recovered since the 2008 recession, and will now face an even greater challenge in the coming years with the COVID-19 depression. Many young people are burdened with astronomical student debt, and endure low wages and high expenses, like health care, that keep them in constant financial distress.

While Millennials became the largest working generation, with every member being of working age, the number employed fell by 16 percent this spring as the US economic output collapsed.

Gen Z, largely those just coming of age, have yet to even attempt to grow their savings or establish themselves in the workforce. This youngest generation will bear the brunt of the historic economic struggles to come, and will largely become trapped in low-paying, easily exploitable work as they face fewer job opportunities and greater debt than their elders.

The COVID-19 crisis presents an unprecedented challenge to all people, but especially those who are on the front lines. The younger generations already experienced the highest levels of stress, clinical anxiety and depression, in recent memory.

The ruling class is targeting victims of the pandemic in order to distract workers and the public from the fact that the self-interest of the financial elite has already cost the world nearly 1 million lives and the livelihoods of millions more. At every level, officials are attempting to find a scapegoat, and a distraction, from their homicidal negligence. The ruling class would like younger workers and students to be assaulted by the effects of the crisis for years to come, while also taking the blame. Workers everywhere are being sacrificed in order to build up the wealth of the ruling class and maintain their power.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the crises facing young people and workers are not an unpredictable act of the universe, but a foreseeable consequence of the capitalist system that is based on the exploitation of the working class, creating a society based on historic levels of inequality. Hundreds of thousands of deaths could have been avoided had the ruling elite warned the public back in January when they were made aware of the COVID-19 threat, but the crisis has been profitable for the financial oligarchy who sees a silver lining payday from mass deaths of the elderly and pensioners.

Masses of youth and workers are becoming politically aware, and a revolutionary struggle is appearing as the only path forward to guarantee that lives will be placed before profits. Workers and youth alike must unite together in the United States and internationally in the fight against the homicidal policies of the ruling class and join in the revolutionary struggle against the capitalist system.

To this end, students and young people should join the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) to fight against the deadly return to school and oppose the continual threats to their safety by organizing independent rank-and-file safety committees in their workplaces to demand better conditions and enter the fight for their health and safety.
While cases are going down in some parts of the world, the coronavirus is still lurking around. No country or industry can escape its reach, South Korea and the automotive sector included.

The latest automaker to get struck by the virus is Kia. They announced that they suspended operations at the Sohari factory near Seoul. They had to pause production after ten workers got infected by COVID-19. The Sohari factory is the assembly line for the Rio, Carnival, the K900 flagship sedan, the first-ever Stonic, and the recently facelifted Stinger.

The factory, which employs 5,800 workers, officially halted work last Thursday for thorough disinfection. The company plans to resume operations at a later date. However, Kia has yet to say when production will resume.
Turkey, Greece 'ready for explorative talks' Announcement by Ankara after meeting Erdogan-Merkel-Michel

(ANSAmed) - ISTANBUL, SEPTEMBER 22 - Turkey and Greece are ready for ''explorative talks'' on the crisis in the eastern Mediterranean, the Turkish presidency has announced after a videoconference Tuesday between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the president of the European Council Charles Michel.



''The drive to lower tensions and use channels of dialogue needs to be supported byreciprocal measures'', Erdogan said during the talks. The Turkish president last Friday said he was ready to meet Greek Premier Kyriakos Mitsotakis, provided he showed ''good intentions'' and for talks ''without preconditions''.



''The initiatives taken by Greece will be key for progress in relaunching channels of dialogue'', added today Erdogan, talking with Merkel and Michel. The latest negotiations of this type were held in 2016. Two years later, Turkey started energy explorations in maritime areas which Greece and Cyprus consider illegal because carried out in their Exclusive Economic Zones.



(ANSAmed).




(CNN)  Taiwan's President has accused Beijing of purposefully inflaming tensions in East Asia, after Chinese warplanes crossed the sensitive median line across the narrow strait that separates the mainland and the self-governing island almost 40 times on Friday and Saturday.

Taken together, the repeated incursions, which came from multiple directions and involved a combination of sophisticated fighter jets and heavy bombers, is without modern precedent and marks a significant escalation in cross-strait tensions.

"What we are seeing now is not just a situation across the Taiwan Strait, but a regional situation. China's recent military activities, especially in the past few days, clearly constitute a threat of force, which is part of their verbal attacks and military threats (against Taiwan)," President Tsai Ing-wen told reporters Sunday.

The uptick in Chinese military activity came as Keith Krach, the United States under secretary of state for economic, energy and environmental affairs, held meetings in the island's capital Taipei, ahead of a memorial service on Saturday for former Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui.

The three-day visit to the island was denounced by Beijing, with a spokesman for the country's Foreign Ministry demanding the two sides "immediately stop" official exchanges.

China has reacted with increasing anger at warming ties between Taipei and Washington, and has ramped up military drills in the waters around the island which Beijing continues to view as an inseparable part of its territory despite the two sides have been governed separately for over seven decades.

The Taiwan Strait median line has been an informal but largely respected border of control for Beijing and Taipei. According to Taiwan and United States government reports, prior to the weekend, Beijing's warplanes had only crossed it intentionally three times since 1999 -- once in March 2019, once in February of this year, and again during a visit by US Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar in August this year.

On Friday and Saturday, a total of 37 Chinese aircraft, a mixture of H-6 bombers, J-10, J-11 and J-16 fighters, and an Y-8 antisubmarine warfare plane crossed the median line, according to Taiwan's Defense Ministry press releases.

The ministry said in a statement that it "issued radio warnings, scrambled fighters and deployed air defense missile systems to monitor the activities." In her remarks, Tsai said that such actions would make other countries in the region "more aware of the threat posed by China."

On Monday, Beijing said its forces are operating legally. "Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory, and there is no so-called median line," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said.

'A threat of force'

The US has maintained close ties with Taiwan since the island split from mainland China in 1949 after the end of a bloody civil war. But since Washington and Beijing established formal diplomatic ties in 1979, the US had largely refrained from sending high-level officials to Taipei so as to not antagonize the Chinese government.

China's leader, President Xi Jinping, has been clear in his ambitions to "reunify" the island with the mainland, and has refused to rule out the use of force, even though the ruling Chinese Communist Party has never exerted direct control over Taiwan.

The Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) said in a statement on Friday said that the recent exercises were made necessary owing to the "current situation across the Taiwan Strait."

A spokesman added that Chinese troops had the "confidence and determination to thwart any attempt by any person or force to carry out 'Taiwan independence' separatist activities in any form."

A detailed report on the aerial drills in the Global Times, a state-run nationalist tabloid based in Beijing, accused the US of "playing the Taiwan card" and escalating "provocations on military and diplomacy."

The report, citing Chinese mainland military analysts pointed out that the warplane combination the PLA deployed was similar to a real combat situation and covered a variety of different scenarios.

The "PLA drills this time are not a warning, but a rehearsal for a Taiwan takeover," said the report, citing analysts.

In apparent response to Beijing's repeated threats, Washington has increased cooperation with Taipei, approving new arms sales, including for F-16 fighter jets and M1A1 main battle tanks, as well as sending Azar, a cabinet secretary, to visit last month, making him the highest-ranking US official to visit the island in decades.

Just last week, a congressional aide told CNN that the US is preparing to sell seven packages of weapons systems to Taiwan, including MQ-9B Reaper drones.

The US military has been making its presence known too, sending warships through the Taiwan Strait with increasing frequency.

In a statement Friday, the Pentagon said it was Beijing that was ramping up tensions in the region.

"The PLA's aggressive and destabilizing reactions reflect a continued attempt to alter the status quo and rewrite history. This is another example of the PRC (People's Republic of China) increasingly using its military as a tool of coercion with Taiwan and other neighbors," said Pentagon spokesman John Supple.

US military in live-fire drills

As PLA forces conducted drills near Taiwan, US forces engaged in a series of live-fire exercises off Guam, 1,700 miles (2,750 kilometers) to the southeast.

On Saturday, US warships, submarines and warplanes involved in the Valiant Shield 2020 exercises participated in live fire missile drills, during which a retired US Navy frigate was sunk.

"This exercise demonstrates our ability to bring overwhelming firepower from the sea whether that comes from under the surface, on the surface, or from the air," US Navy Capt. Steven DeMoss, commodore of Destroyer Squadron 15, said in a statement. "We have this capability in every theater across the globe and can employ these weapons at the place and time of our choosing."

On Sunday, the guided missile cruiser USS Antietam simulated an attack on island targets with a Tomahawk cruise missile. "This exercise demonstrates the Antietam's ability to track, target, and engage threats to protect peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific," a US Navy statement said.

China, meanwhile, will resume live-fire exercises this week, according to Global Times, with those drills continuing until October 1.
New rules on face coverings were announced by the prime minister on Tuesday 22 September, increasing the number of places in England where it is mandatory to wear a covering or face a penalty fine of 200 for a first-time offence.

People were already required to wear a face covering in shops and supermarkets, as well as on public transport.

On 22 September, Boris Johnson told the House of Commons, this will now be extended to taxis, private hire vehicles, as well as to hospitality venues when youre not eating or drinking - for example walking to your table or the toilet during a meal - previously it only applied if you were getting a takeaway.

Mr Johnson said the country had reached a perilous turning point and the government was now acting on the principle that a stitch in time saves nine.

Recommended The most stylish reusable face masks to buy now

So, where exactly should you be wearing a face mask? Here is everything you need to know.

Coffee shops and takeaways

People still need to wear a face covering in coffee shops in England under regulations, which came into effect on 24 July.

The Department of Health and Social Care confirmed face coverings will be needed in shops such as Pret a Manger if people intend to take their food and coffee away.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: From Friday 24 July, it will be mandatory to wear a face covering in shops and supermarkets, as is currently the case on public transport.

If a shop or supermarket has a cafe or a seating area to eat and drink, you can remove your face covering in that area.

Cabinet minister Brandon Lewis clarified the statement during an appearance on the BBCs Breakfast programme, saying people will have to wear masks in a takeaway outlet, depending on why youre going.

The differences that people may not have been aware of, and will be outlined in the regulations today, is if you are going into a takeaway and you are eating in somewhere thats got a takeaway, then that is like hospitality  you are eating, its not practical to wear a face mask, we recognise that, he said.

Pubs and restaurants

Previously you only had to wear a face covering if you were using hospitality as a takeaway - with ministers saying it was impractical to wear them in restaurants and pubs.

On 22 September, Mr Johnson said now customers should be wearing masks when moving around hospitality businesses, such as walking to their table or visiting the toilet.

The masks should only be removed when eating or drinking and sat at your table (table service is now mandatory in all establishments too). This will happen from Monday 28 September.

This update also applies to staff who now should be wearing masks when working in hospitality or retail services, he said.

Supermarkets

Supermarkets have long been a destination where customers have to wear face masks, unless they are exempt.

In a statement shared on Twitter, Waitrose said: We're asking customers in our English and Scottish stores to wear a face covering while shopping. All customers  apart from children under 11 and those with disabilities or breathing difficulties - should wear a face mask, scarf or other covering.

Tesco has also confirmed that its customers will be required to wear face masks, writing on Twitter: To help keep you and our colleagues safe in-store and reflect the latest government guidance, customers will be required to wear face coverings while shopping from Friday, 24 July. Face coverings will be available to purchase in-store and online (while stocks last).

Retail outlets and shopping centres

Face masks are also compulsory in all retail shops and enclosed shopping centres.

During a speech in the House of Commons, Mr Hancock said the new rules were being introduced to give people more confidence to shop safely, and enhance protections for those who work in shops.

The British Retail Consortium has said that together with other social distancing measures, face coverings can make shoppers feel even more confident about returning to the high street, he said.

From Monday 28 September, Mr Johnson said staff and workers in retail will also have to work masks, previously this was optional.

Banks and post offices

Banks and post offices are also included in the governments guidelines.

When asked if people should cover their faces if they are going into a bank, Mr Lewis said: Yes... its all retail outlets and retail banks on our high streets are retail outlets effectively as well.

And what youre doing when you are in a bank, if youre going in there to pay money in or withdraw money, youre going in there in the same way as youre going into a shop to buy a sandwich, or a book or some clothes.

Therefore it is appropriate that you should be wearing a face mask.

Public transport

Since 15 June, anyone travelling by bus, train, ferry or plane in England has been required to wear a face covering.

Recommended The ultimate guide to buying and wearing face masks

People can be refused travel if they dont follow the rules, and can be fined as a last resort.

It is also compulsory to wear face coverings on all public transport in Scotland, Wales and northern Ireland.

On 22 September this was amended to also include private hire vehicles and taxis in England - many firms, like Uber, had already been encouraging customers to do so. This rule comes into action on 24 September.

Cinemas, galleries, museums and places of worship

From 8 August, it is enforceable by law for people to wear face masks in indoor spaces where they are likely to come into contact with people they do not usually meet.

This includes cinemas, galleries, museums and places of worship, in addition to visitor attractions such as aquariums and amusement arcades, the government outlines on its website.

Who is exempt from wearing a face mask?

The same exemptions as for public transport will apply under the updated guidelines, with children under 11 and people with breathing problems not required to wear a covering.

Anyone who cannot put on, wear or remove a face covering because of a physical or mental illness or impairment or disability is also exempt.

Under the new rules, the below groups are not required to wear a mask:

A child under the age of 11

An employee of the transport operator, when they are acting in the course of their employment

A constable or police community support officer acting in the course of their duty

An emergency response member of staff, such as a paramedic or fire officer acting in the course of their duty

An official such as a border force officer, acting in the course of their duty

If you are onboard public transport but remain in your own vehicle, such as a car ferry

Other exemptions listed include those with a disability or a physical or mental illness, and anyone travelling with a deaf person who relies on lip-reading to communicate.

Customers in shops will also be allowed to remove them if they are required to present identification for purchasing alcohol and other age-restricted products.

What happens if you dont wear a mask?

Those who refuse to comply can be hit with an increased fine of up to 200 for a first-time offence (previously it was 100), Mr Johnson confirmed on 22 September.

This also now applies to businesses where staff are not complying, he added.

The rules will be enforced by the police, not shop workers who should instead encourage compliance, officials have said.

Metropolitan Police chief Dame Cressida Dick previously said officers will only enforce the wearing of masks in shops as a last resort, adding that she hopes people will be shamed into using face coverings rather than having to be fined.
PEDRA Technology, a Singapore-based developer of innovative deep-tissue perfusion monitors, raised $4.7M in Series A financing.

Backers included SEEDS Capital, the investment arm of Enterprise Singapore, M&L Healthcare Investments and two strategic manufacturers of peripheral vascular devices.

The company intends to use the funds for the development of a first-generation system to assess perfusion non-invasively, and drive a clinical program to establish perfusion monitoring as a new standard of care in the treatment of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and critical limb ischemia (CLI). The technology will also enable to improve detection of compromised tissue perfusion in diabetic feet, which will allow for better triage towards appropriate treatment pathways.

Led by Kareen Looi, CEO, PEDRA Technology is a medical device company that focuses on the use of tissue perfusion monitoring in the field of peripheral artery disease (PAD) and critical limb ischemia (CLI). Its perfusion monitoring system is in advanced development and is not currently approved for sale in the U.S.

FinSMEs

23/09/2020
Decades-old sexual trauma is being unearthed in a society that rarely speaks about it but can change come to fruition?

Tehran, Iran  Countless Iranians have taken to social media in recent weeks to recount their experiences of sexual abuse, bringing to the fore a topic that remained taboo for years.

Irans version of the #MeToo movement has seen candid accounts of sexual trauma  some dating back decades  being shared, and has already led to at least one arrest.

Tehran Police Chief Hossein Rahimi announced in late August that a suspect had been arrested based on these disclosures. The man, a former student at Tehran University, was apprehended after numerous young women, many of them university students, described how he drugged and raped them in his house.

Allegations have also been levelled against several prominent Iranians, two of whom have released statements denying the accusations and threatening legal action against their accusers.

Sexual harassment at work

Several revelations are related to sexual abuse in the workplace, including in at least one major company.





A female former employee of the company detailed how a male executive, who was married with children, would take every opportunity to proposition employees, who would have no way of stopping the abuse.

After all, you couldnt tell the boss, I dont want to sleep with you, because a bitter fate would await you, she wrote in a Twitter thread.

She and several other former and current employees explained how some colleagues had taken the matter up with the human resources department, led by a woman, only to be dismissed and fired. The former head of HR, who has since left the company, found herself hounded by public social media comments denouncing her as an accomplice after the issue came to light.

The companys CEO reacted quickly to the viral story, accepting responsibility and apologising. He also announced that the firm had launched an anonymous whistle-blowing platform to increase accountability.

Iranian law does not specifically recognise sexual abuse in the workplace and provides no support for victims of workplace abuse from being fired.

Last year, a subsidiary of Irans Ministry of Information and Communications Technology became the first government agency to publish in-house guidelines aimed at combating sexual harassment. The guidelines have been adopted by a number of major tech companies. It is unclear whether the company linked with sexual abuse allegations is one of them.





Vice President for Women and Family Affairs Masoumeh Ebtekar on August 28 became the first senior official to respond to the online movement, praising victims for speaking up.

There is a lack of access to the right information and correct education and this creates the grounds for sexual violence and abuse, the most senior woman in the government said in an interview, adding that she is working with the Ministry of Education to amend the situation before the end of President Hassan Rouhanis tenure in less than a year.

Ebtekar also pointed out that the government has held more than two dozen review sessions for a pending bill to combat violence against women, legislation she hoped would soon make its way to the parliament.

Victim-shaming and stigma

But the challenges that prevent victims of sexual abuse from coming forward go beyond the deficiencies of the education system, to the lack of a wider support system that leaves them feeling vulnerable and unwilling to tell anyone they had had a forced sexual encounter.

Women who report sexual abuse often find themselves on the receiving end of questions about how they were dressed or insinuations that they may have somehow provoked the attack.

In response to that, a Twitter user by the name of Fatemah shared a photo of herself clad in a full niqab that showed only her eyes accompanied with the comment: I wish you would show me one of the people who insist that harassment and abuse and rape happen because of the victims way of dressing so I could ask them if its about the way you dress then how is it that even I face harassment?

In addition to victim-shaming and the social stigma tied to sexual harassment, the legal process of holding sexual offenders to account can be daunting.

In Irans Islamic laws, rape has not been defined as a standalone concept. Types of sexual abuse, including rape, have been recognised under the umbrella of zina, an Islamic legal term referring to a range of unlawful sexual activity, most prominent among which are extramarital affairs.

This means a woman accusing someone of sexual abuse would have to prove it in court or potentially face charges of engaging in sexual activity outside marriage.

If the charge of rape is proven, it could carry the death penalty for the offender.

The law also does not recognise marital sexual abuse or rape. Coupled with some of the other tenets of Islamic law that give much of the power in a marriage to the husband, this means an untold number of married women suffer in silence.

I wouldnt sleep with him in the last year of [married] life, until I told him at the height of our differences that my applications to move to Germany are coming through, one woman wrote on Twitter. It was two months of rape every night so he wouldnt prevent me from leaving the country.

In Iran, an adult woman requires the written consent of her husband, or father if she is unmarried, to leave the country.

Iranian women walk through the Grand Bazaar in the capital Tehran [Nazanin Tabatabaee/West Asia News Agency via Reuters]

According to lawyer Marzieh Mohebi, Iran needs to introduce new legislation that would explicitly criminalise sexual assault and focus on providing mental and physical health support to victims.

Penal policy based on severe suppression, elimination and ostracisation, without obligating offenders to compensate victims and without providing social support for victims, can neither prove effective nor claim to exact justice, she told Al Jazeera.

In a tweet

that went viral, Mohebi announced she will represent victims of sexual violence free of charge as her share in fighting sexual abuse of women.

Since then, she said, many women who had suffered different abuse in silence for a long time contacted her for consultations or to pursue legal action.





A wake-up call

Mohebi sees the Iranian #MeToo movement as a serious wake-up call.

A wake-up call to a discourse that views victims as accomplices, culprits and provocateurs and at times, considers victims deserving of penalty. To a culture in which, at times, families eliminate the helpless and marginalised victims with the excuse of maintaining honour.

She believes the movement is crucial in that it breaks taboos in a patriarchal society and lets offenders know they cannot escape consequences easily.

Even as a part of society is still prone to blaming the victims, there has been an outpouring of support on social media.

Many users are posting messages including: If Im following your abuser, DM me and I will unfollow them, and Your story matters.
Throughout the Democratic primary process, former vice president Joe Biden resisted the idea of adding more Supreme Court seats to block a conservative judicial majority if Democrats wrestle back control of the White House and both chambers of Congress.

It would just become a vicious cycle, Mr Biden has said, with each party swelling the ranks of the court to suit its partisan interests each time it takes power in Washington.

We add three justices  next time around, we lose control, they add three justices, he said at a debate last year when asked about his views on court-packing, the colloquial term for diluting the ideological makeup of the Supreme Court by expanding the bench.

But with Donald Trump and the Senate Republican majority poised to seat a third justice in less than four years after the death last week of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, several Democrats have issued calls for Mr Biden to reconsider the manoeuvre.

The US has expanded  and shrunk  the Supreme Court before, and its time to do it again, they argue.

Heres how court-packing works, a nuts-and-bolts history on the makeup of the Supreme Court, and why it has been such a hot topic this election cycle.

What is court-packing and how do you do it?

Court-packing is the process of adding more judges to an existing court, whether that be the US Supreme Court, which seats nine justices, one of the 13 federal appeals court circuits, which vary in size, or any other court.

The US Constitution does not specify how many federal judges there must be, including on the Supreme Court. Congress and the president can adjust the number by passing and signing a simple bill, just like any other federal law.

While the Constitution only requires simple majorities in both chambers to pass a bill, Senate norms for debating legislation over the last several decades have made that a much more difficult endeavor in practice.

Since 1975, Senate rules have required 60 senators to vote to invoke cloture  that is, end debate  on any piece of legislation and bring it up for a vote. That, in effect, has meant a bill needs 60 senators to support it for it to pass  not the simple 51-vote majority outlined in the US Constitution.

Unless the Senate scraps the 60-vote rule to terminate debate on legislation, which Mr Biden has indicated he could potentially support, a simple Democratic majority in both chambers after the 2020 elections could not pass a court-packing bill.

How are judges appointed and confirmed?

To fill a seat on the federal judiciary, including the Supreme Court, the president first selects a nominee.

Technically, any US citizen can be nominated for the federal bench, regardless of their legal background, age or where they were born. The Constitution does not specify any requirements.

Informally, however, a nominee undergoes intense vetting by both the White House and the Senate Judiciary Committee, which then holds a public hearing  or a series of hearings, in the case of most Supreme Court justices  to question the nominee.

The Judiciary Committee then votes on whether to advance the nominee out of committee for official action on the Senate floor.

Once on the Senate floor, the majority leader sets time for official debate on the nomination. For decades, until 2013, Senate rules required 60 votes to end debate on all judicial nominations.

But that year, Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid ditched the 60-vote rule in favour of the Constitutions simple majority clause for all federal judicial appointments except Supreme Court justices.

Four years later, during the 2017 confirmation process for Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch, Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell scrapped the 60-vote rule for nominees for the high court.

Once the chamber has voted to end debate, senators move onto the final confirmation vote, which requires a simple majority.

Have there always been nine Supreme Court justice?

No. The First Congress in 1989 established a Supreme Court with six justices: one chief justice and five associate justices.

It expanded to seven justices in 1807; nine in 1837; and 10 in 1863.

In 1869, the Circuit Judges Act returned the Supreme Court to nine seats.

While the number of Supreme Court justices has remained fixed at nine since 1869, the government has added hundreds of seats to the federal bench since 1950, more than doubling the number of appellate court judges and tripling the number of district court judges in that time to keep up with population growth and more criminal and civil cases.

What has Joe Biden said recently about court-packing?

Since Justice Ginsburg died last Thursday, Mr Biden has been more circumspect about his feelings on court-packing.

Its a legitimate question, but let me tell you why Im not going to answer that question, he told a reporter when asked point-blank whether he would seek to add more Supreme Court justices.

It will shift the focus. Thats what [Trump] wants. He never wants to talk about the issue at hand, and he always tries to change the subject. Lets say I answer that question, then the whole debates gonna be about what Biden said or didnt say.  The discussion shoul dbe about why he is moving in a direction thats totally inconsistent with what the founders wanted, Mr Biden said, indicating his belief that the Senate should not seat a Supreme Court justice so close to an election in which thousands of Americans have already cast early ballots.

What has Donald Trump said about court-packing?

Hes against it.

The Supreme Court already has five justices who are generally considered conservative, although Chief Justice John Roberts, a George W Bush appointee, has voted with the liberal bloc on several key occasions in recent years.

With the death of Justice Ginsburg, whom Mr Trump has called an amazing lady, only three Democratic president-appointed justices remain: Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor (Obama) and Stephen Breyer (Bill Clinton).

Mr Trump has warned that if Mr Biden becomes president he will pack the Supreme Court with far left radicals who will unilaterally transform American society far beyond recognition.

Democrats will mutilate the law, disfigure the Constitution and impose a socialist vision from the bench that could never pass at the ballot box, Mr Trump has said.
The woman accused of mailing an envelope containing ricin to President Trump is also suspected of sending additional poisoned envelopes to law enforcement in Texas.

The first letter was intercepted earlier this week at the final offsite processing facility where mail is screened before it reaches the White House. A preliminary investigation confirmed the presence of ricin from Canada.

An unidentified woman was arrested on Sunday by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the Peace Bridge crossing near Buffalo, New York.

The woman is expected to face federal charges, three law enforcement officials told The Associated Press, and is set to appear in federal court in Buffalo on Tuesday.

Authorities believe she sent a total of six letters; one to Trump and the others to people in Texas.

An envelope containing ricin was mailed and addressed to President Trump (pictured) earlier this week from an address in Canada

The letter addressed to the White House appeared to have originated in Canada, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police have said.

And envelopes containing ricin were also mailed to law enforcement agencies in the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas, according to another law enforcement official.

The official did not say which agencies were sent the envelopes but said they are believed to have been mailed by the same person who sent one to the White House.

The officials were not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

One of the envelopes was sent to the police in Mission, Texas, said Investigator Art Flores, a spokesman for the border communitys police department. He said no one was hurt.

Although Flores did not specify which agency, Sheriff Eddie Guerra of the Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office revealed he had been a recipient.

Sheriff Eddie Guerra (pictured) of the Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office announced that he had received a envelope of ricin

Guerra revealed that he and three of his detention employees received the toxic mail

It was not immediately clear when the envelopes reached Hidalgo County, which contains Mission and the city of McAllen.

In a tweet, Guerra said they he and three staffers had received the dangerous envelopes in the mail.

'I can confirm that envelopes, containing the deadly toxin ricin, was mailed to me and three of my detention staff.' he wrote.

'At this time due to a active federal investigation I cannot make any further comments but a media release will be sent out tomorrow. No injuries were sustained.'

Royal Canadian Mounted Police arrive at the home of the woman suspected of mailing Trump a letter that contained ricin

The woman has not been named but she is also suspected of sending similar letters to law enforcement officials in Texas

The woman remains in custody in the US. She is thought to have been arrested by the FBI

Canadian police on Monday swooped on an apartment complex in Montreal in connection with a ricin-laced letter that was sent to Trump.

While there, police roped off a modern beige and brown apartment building and evacuated its inhabitants.

On Saturday, the RCMP confirmed that the letter had apparently been sent from Canada and said that the FBI had requested assistance.

A Royal Canadian Mounted Policeman at the scene of the raid on Monday afternoon

It's unclear how the woman became connected to the ricin plot. She was arrested on Sunday trying to enter the US

The RCMP said the search is being led by chemical and explosives teams. They do not think there is a threat to the public

Teams entering a van on Monday during the search. Police in Canada say the woman sent six letters in total

Ricin is found naturally in castor beans but it takes a deliberate act to convert it into a biological weapon.

Ricin can cause death within 36 to 72 hours from exposure to an amount as small as a pinhead. No known antidote exists.

The FBI declined to comment on Monday.
CHICAGO  Its not uncommon to see odd things on Chicago expressways.

But what occurred on Monday was a horse of a different color. Seriously, there was literally a horse.

Adam Hollingsworth, 33, also known as Chicagos Dreadhead Cowboy was arrested after he took a horse for a joyride down the Dan Ryan Expressway. He was charged with reckless conduct, disobeying a police officer and criminal trespass to state supported property.

The incident began when Illinois State Police received numerous calls of a subject riding a horse southbound on the highway at 35th Street surrounded by multiple motorcycles and vehicles.

Officers eventually safely escorted the subjects and horse off the Interstate at 95th Street where Hollingsworth was ordered off the horse. The ride appears to have been done as some sort of protest.

Kids lives matter. Until kids lives matter, until we understand kids lives matter nothing else matter, Hollingsworth said on Facebook Live.

At this time, another subject, 55-year-old Darron Luster of Chicago, attempted to forcefully gain control of the horse. Police ordered him to stop and when he refused multiple times, he was charged with obstructing and resisting arrest.

Troopers noticed several injuries on the horse while attempting to safely secure the animal. It was bleeding from the left hoof, the right hoof was injured, and the right side of the horses body had sores from the saddle.

Hollingsworth is known to the department, according to a news release. On Sept. 9, 2020, ISP and members of the Chicago Police Department met with him to discuss a planned protest he intended on having on the Dan Ryan Expressway.

Hollingsworths request was denied because it is dangerous and illegal for pedestrians to access the expressway in that manner, police said.

At this time, the horse is temporarily quartered with Animal Care and Control, which is performing an intake and assessment of the horse and documenting injuries.

Additional charges are pending due to the ongoing investigation.
 Flash

The United States on Monday announced fresh sanctions and measures against entities and individuals related to Iranian nuclear and conventional weapons programs, a move to support its self-claimed UN snapback sanctions widely ignored by the international community.

President Donald Trump said that he had issued an executive order to impose sanctions and export controls on more than two dozen entities and individuals "that support Iran's nuclear, missile, and conventional arms-related activities."

"The Executive Order I am issuing today blocks the property, and interests in property, in the United States of those who contribute to the supply, sale, or transfer of conventional arms to or from Iran, as well as those who provide technical training, financial support and services, and other assistance related to these arms," Trump said in a White House statement.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, standing with other senior U.S. officials in a press conference, said that the United States had also designated Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro for his alleged ties with Tehran on conventional arms-related activities.

Iran's Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics, Iran's Defense Industries Organization and its director, as well as individuals and entities associated with the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, are also on the sanction list.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif Monday dismissed U.S. sanctions as "nothing new," U.S. media reported.

"The United States has exerted all the pressure it could on Iran. It had hoped that these sanctions will bring our population to their knees. It didn't," Zarif said during a think tank event.

This latest move came shortly after the Trump administration's Saturday claim that all pre-2015 UN sanctions against Iran had been restored according to the "snapback" mechanism under UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which endorsed the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.

The United States unilaterally invoked the "snapback" on Aug. 20 after its failed and isolated attempt in the UN Security Council to extend the arms embargo against Tehran that expires next month.

The overwhelming majority of Security Council members, however, asserted that the United States has no right to invoke the "snapback" mechanism as the country is no longer a participant following its withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal in May 2018.

Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, on Sunday wrote a letter to the president of the Security Council and UN secretary-general, expressing opposition to the U.S. unilateral announcement on the return of the UN sanctions on Iran on Saturday.

In his letter, Zhang said that the United States unilaterally withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in May 2018, and is no longer a JCPOA participant. Therefore, it is illegitimate for the United States to demand the Security Council invoke the snapback mechanism.

High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell denied on Sunday the unilateral announcement made by the United States to resume UN sanctions on Iran.

Borrell said the United States unilaterally withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018 and therefore "cannot initiate the process of reinstating UN sanctions under the UN Security Council resolution 2231."

The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement Sunday that to claim that UN sanctions against Iran have been restored is "wishful thinking," urging the U.S. side to "have the courage to finally face the truth and stop speaking on behalf of the UN Security Council."
BRIDGEPORT  A city man found guilty of selling heroin in the citys East End was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison on Tuesday, authorities announced.

A judge ordered 36-year-old Dewayne Weezy Joyner to serve 180 months of prison, followed by five years of supervised release.

Evidence presented during trial earlier this year revealed that during the summer of 2017, law enforcement investigating narcotics trafficking in the citys East End neighborhood learned that Joyner was selling heroin, authorities said.

Investigators bought heroin from Joyner in September 2017, and learned he was staying at a hotel in Bridgeport and storing drugs there, authorities said.

Law enforcement also discovered that Joyner and others stole a large quantity of heroin during an armed home-invasion robbery on Sept. 2, 2017, according to a news release from the office of U.S. Attorney for Connecticut John Durham.

During that robbery, the news release said, Joyner fired two rounds from a gun. He was arrested Sept. 12, 2017.

At the time of his arrest, authorities said, Joyner was found with an undisclosed amount of heroin, $1,326 in cash, four cellphones and his hotel room key. When they searched his room, investigators said they found more than 250 grams of heroin and items used to process and package drugs for street sale.

A grand jury found Joyner guilty on Jan. 31 of Investigators bought heroin from Joyner in September 2017, and learned he was staying at a hotel in Bridgeport, storing drugs in his room there.

He has been detained since his arrest.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Parents, educators, librarians, storytellers, authors and illustrators are invited to Broward County Library's 33rd Annual Conference on Children's Literature, held online from 9AM to 5PM on Friday, September 25, 2020.

The 33rd Annual Conference on Children's Literature: "Sharing Voices" is a free, daylong professional development opportunity open to anyone interested in literacy for youth. This year's special guests are award-winning authors Meg Medina and Ronald L. Smith.

The 18th Annual Ashley Bryan Art Series, the focus of which is books written and/or illustrated by persons of African descent, is presented in collaboration with the conference. This year's featured Ashley Bryan illustrator is Laura Freeman.

Conference highlights include:

Keynote Presentation - Apples and Oranges: A Writer and Her Place. New York and South Florida as Shaping Forces in Works, with Meg Medina

and as Shaping Forces in Works, with Learn about the 2020 Jumpstart Read for the Record featured book Evelyn Del Rey Is Moving Away, with by Meg Medina

with by Why I Write for Kids, with Ronald L. Smith

Using Picture Books to Teach Writing Skills to Older Readers, with Meg Medina

The Ashley Bryan Art Series featuring Illustrator Laura Freeman: Making Connections Through Illustration

Miami Book Fair presents Book Chat with Raj Haldar, author of the upcoming No Reading Allowed: The WORST Read-Aloud Book Ever

Closing thoughts with Gene Luen Yang



There is no charge for attending The Conference on Children's Literature; preregistration is requested . For additional information, contact the Community Engagement Youth Services Administration at [email protected] or 954-357-7470.

The joint Conference on Children's Literature and Ashley Bryan Art Series is sponsored by Broward County Library, Broward Public Library Foundation , Friends of the African American Research Library and Cultural Center (AARLC), the Broward Reads Coalition and the Miami Book Fair.

About Broward County Libraries Division

Broward County Libraries Division, named 2020 and 2015 Library of the Year by the Florida Library Association, was founded in 1974 and is the largest library system in Florida by square footage and one of the busiest, with more than 7.5 million walk-in customers visiting its 38 locations annually. Broward County Libraries Division provides convenient access to a full range of innovative and cost-effective services that satisfy the changing needs of the people of Broward County for information, education and recreation. Visit our website, Broward.org/Library, or follow Libraries on Facebook and Twitter.

SOURCE Broward County Libraries

Related Links

https://www.broward.org/library


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Alabamas public colleges and universities are seeing fewer undergraduate students than last year, according to preliminary enrollment data posted to the Alabama Commission on Higher Education website Tuesday.

The coronavirus pandemic that disrupted spring classes continues to have an impact on higher education, said Jim Purcell, executive director at ACHE. Although faced with challenges, our institutions have quickly adapted to hybrid methods of course delivery.

Undergraduate enrollment is down by 6%, and that means 12,829 fewer students are enrolled than were enrolled in fall of 2019, with two-year colleges bearing the brunt of that decline.

The loss of 2,729 students in Alabamas four-year institutions was offset by an increase of 3,290 graduate students, resulting in a net increase of 561 students for the four-year institutions, an overall increase of 0.3% from last fall to this fall.

The rise in graduate enrollment represents an 8.6% increase from last years 38,384 graduate students to this falls 41,674 graduate students.

Purcell said that could be due to a tougher job market for 2020s college graduates. Recent graduates may have decided to go on to graduate school while they await an improvement in the job market, Purcell said.

Community colleges took the biggest hit

The increase in graduate enrollment from one year to the next wasnt enough to offset the loss of 10,100 students at the two-year colleges, resulting in an overall 3.8% decline in enrollment of all students in Alabamas public higher education institutions.

Alabama community college system enrollment alone declined by 12.6%, depicting a drop from 79,914 students last fall to 69,814 students this fall. That continues a decline in two-year college enrollment over the past decade. Ten years ago, in the fall of 2011, community colleges had 93,720 students enrolled.

Most of Alabamas 24 two-year colleges saw double-digit percentage point declines, with Reid State Technical College, located in Evergreen, losing nearly half of its students, a 44% drop, from 493 students last fall to 278 students this fall. That drop makes it the smallest community college in Alabama.

Bishop State Community College in Mobile saw the second-largest decline in enrollment, dropping by 28.2%, from 2,284 students in fall 2019 to 1,641 students this fall.

Drake State Community and Technical College in Huntsville increased enrollment by 14%, making it the big winner among two-year colleges.

Only two other community colleges, Enterprise State and Lawson State, have more students enrolled this year than last year, with each campus seeing a 2.6% increase.

Four-year universities see fewer undergraduates, more graduate students

In Alabamas four-year universities, there was a 2% decline in undergraduate enrollment, dropping from 135,088 in fall 2019 to 132,359 this fall.

Undergraduate enrollment was down in 11 of 14 public four-year universities, with the University of South Alabama in Mobile seeing the largest percentage point drop of 5.7% from 9,601 students last fall to 9,050 students this fall.

Graduate enrollment is up in 11 universities, with the University of North Alabama showing the highest percentage point gain in graduate student enrollment, rising by 35.8%, from 1,538 to 2,088 graduate students from last fall to this fall.

Both Auburn University at Montgomery and Jacksonville State University saw gains in graduate student enrollment of more than 23% compared to last year.

Only three campuses, Alabama A&M University, the University of Alabama in Huntsville and the University of West Alabama saw declines in graduate enrollment, but that drop was fewer than 30 students on each of those campuses.

The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, the states largest four-year public university, had the largest decline in sheer number of undergraduate students, down 1,123 students compared to last fall. An increase of 861 graduate students meant an overall decline in enrollment of 262 students.

Auburn University saw a slight decline in undergraduate enrollment from last fall to this fall, with a drop of 89 students, from 24,594 to 24,505 undergraduatesrepresenting a less than one-half of one percentage point decline. A corresponding increase of 366 graduate students meant Auburn is up 277 students, just under one percentage point, from last falls enrollment numbers.

And the news isnt all bad. According to a press release from ACHE, the University of Alabama in Huntsville reported the largest fall enrollment in their history, rising from 7,989 students last fall to 8,027 students this year.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham had the largest increase in 2020 fall student enrollment in the state since fall 2019, adding 472 students overall42 undergraduate students and 430 graduate studentsa 2% increase.

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey has pushed for an additional 500,000 skilled workers by 2025, which requires education and training beyond high school. The dedication of our institutions in continuing to provide a quality educational experience for all students will be a major factor in moving Alabama ahead on the economic spectrum, said Purcell.

Here are the enrollment numbers for fall 2019 and fall 2020.
Britain's prime minister Boris Johnson walking to Downing Street on Tuesday, ahead of his announcement on tougher restrictions in parliament and televised speech later in the day. Photo: Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images

UK prime minister Boris Johnson has announced a string of new curbs on everyday life in England, warning they could last six months as the country struggles to contain rising coronavirus cases.

Johnson told MPs in parliament on Tuesday: We always knew that while we might have driven the virus into retreat, the prospect of a second wave was real and Im sorry to say that, as in Spain and France and many other countries, weve reached a perilous turning point.

He said no government wanted to stifle our freedoms, but the UK had to act now to avoid still graver consequences later on with infection, hospitalisation and death rates again rising across Britain.

Watch: What are the new COVID-19 measures announced by the PM?

The prime minister detailed a string of new restrictions in England, with similar measures expected to be announced soon by devolved administrations in the rest of the UK:

Retail staff, taxi and private hire users, and hospitality customers not seated will have to wear face masks.

COVID-secure guidelines for retail, tourism, leisure and other sectors will become legal obligations. Businesses who break COVID-19 rules will risk fines, Johnson added.

Hospitality firms will have to close altogether at 10pm, not merely ceasing trading as some in the industry had hoped, and offer table service only.

Attendance numbers for wedding ceremonies and receptions will be slashed from 30 to 15 from Monday, and a six-person limit applied to adult indoor sports, though the cap on funeral numbers remains at 30.

Penalties for not wearing masks or breaking the rule of six will double to 200.

Plans to reopen conferences and large sporting events have been put on hold.

Office workers are now being urged to work from home where possible.

READ MORE: UK economy shuffles into new rules on home working and pub closure times

Johnson warned if the actions failed to bring the R rate below 1, the government reserved the right to deploy greater firepower with tighter restrictions.

Story continues

Unless we palpably make progress, we should assume that the restrictions I have announced will remain in place for perhaps six months, he added. He apologised to firms getting back on their feet, but said action was needed to stop transmission in bars and restaurants.

But he said the rules were by no means a return to the full lockdown of March. There was no general order to stay at home, and the prime minister said the measures allowed the continued operation of the vast majority of the UK economy.

The prime minister will also give a televised speech to the country later in the day, in a bid to raise awareness of the governments latest change of stance just a week after it introduced the rule of six.

Watch: Michael Gove says people should now work from home if they can

Cabinet minister Michael Gove had told broadcasters earlier on Tuesday there would be a shift in emphasis on workplaces, with the public told to work from home where possible. It marks a radical shift in policy, with millions of workers previously encouraged to return to workplaces in a bid to revive ailing town and city centres.

The curfew proposals have knocked leisure stocks this week, and have already sparked a backlash from leading hospitality figures. They mark a stark reversal of the support given to firms and diners through last months Eat Out to Help Out scheme.

Kate Nicholls, chief executive of the UKHospitality trade body, warned the curfew could have a significant economic impact, hitting as much as 50% of revenues if firms had to shut their doors by 10pm.

Consumer organisation Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has warned communities could lose their local forever without more support for firms. CAMRA is calling for the government to reintroduce the furlough scheme for hospitality venues, extend the business rates holiday for another year, take steps to resolve the rent crisis facing the sector and drastically cut draught beer duty.

CAMRA chief executive Tom Stainer said: Pub-goers and publicans alike want to stop the spread of COVID-19, but this curfew is an arbitrary restriction that unfairly targets the hospitality sector and will have a devastating impact on pubs, jobs and local communities.

On Tuesday, the CEO of pub chain JD Wetherspoon (JDW.L) also confirmed that up to 450 jobs are at risk at a number of airports across the UK.

In a statement sent to Yahoo Finance UK, JD Wetherspoon CEO John Hutson said the company had written to 1,000 people employed in its pubs at six airports (Gatwick, Heathrow, Stansted, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Glasgow) to inform them that a possible 400 to 450 positions are at risk of redundancy.

Earlier this month, the pub chains chairman Tim Martin claimed fears of COVID-19 spreading in pubs were overblown, pleading with the government not to impose any further restrictions on the hospitality industry. Martin said 66 members of staff at the pub chain had tested positive for COVID-19 since its 861 sites reopened on 4 July. The pub chain employs more than 41,000 people across the UK.

But with current measures  from social distancing rules to test-and-trace services to sick pay levels  failing to curb a new surge in infection rates, the government had faced mounting pressure for tougher restrictions.

Watch: These are some of the most important moments from the COVID-19 briefing

READ MORE: Englands chief medical officer fuels fears of second UK lockdown

The UK governments chief scientific adviser Patrick Vallance and Englands chief medical officer Chris Whitty had been sent out to lay the ground for new restrictions in a press conference on Monday.

Vallance said an initial rise in cases among younger people had now spread to all age groups including older people, and had already begun to cause a fresh rise in hospitalisations and deaths. He said an estimated 6,000 new cases were occurring every day, and warned Britain needed speed and more action to curb cases.

Whitty also warned too little action risked the virus becoming out of control and increased deaths. But he acknowledged tighter rules could cause damage to the economy, which can feed through to unemployment, to poverty, to deprivation.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 22

Trend:

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to Royal Highness Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King of Saudi Arabia.

Your Highness, dear Brother, it is on the occasion of the national holiday of the Saudi Arabia  Announcement of the Kingdom that on my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan I wish to cordially congratulate you and through you, your people, the Azerbaijani president said.

It is gratifying that development of relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, based on friendship, mutual trust, and support, follows an ascending trajectory, President Aliyev said. I am confident that these ties, underpinned by strong Islamic solidarity, will continue to successfully expand and strengthen, both bilaterally and across international organizations, in line with the interests of our peoples.

On the occasion of this holiday, I wish strong health and happiness to you, and everlasting peace and prosperity to the brotherly people of Saudi Arabia, President Aliyev said.
In recent years, Russia and China have been facing off to spread their nuclear power dominion to a new, huge, and vastly untapped market: Africa. The two nuclear power giants have been in competition to corner the market, with Russia aiming to grow its position in a sector that China has historically dominated. Earlier this summer, German media company DW News reported on a new Russian-funded and -controlled nuclear center being developed in Kigali: The Center of Nuclear Science and Technologies, planned for completion by 2024, will include nuclear research labs as well as a small research reactor with up to 10 MW capacity. And the Rwandan plant is just the beginning. Ethiopia, Nigeria and Zambia have signed similar deals with Rosatom, while countries such as Ghana, Uganda, Sudan, and DRC have less expansive cooperation agreements.

Now, there is a new forum for nuclear takeover in Africa: Egypt. As reported by AllAfrica this week, Egypt's venture into nuclear power has been planned from the top-down, with environmental groups and rights organizations expressing reservations, energy analysts questioning the need for the country's first nuclear plant, and many details of agreements with Russia remaining murky.

While COVID-19 has, not surprisingly, caused delays to the development of nuclear projects in Egypt, local officials recently announced that the construction of the nations first nuclear power plant is still set to proceed as planned. The plant will be built at Dabaa. The professed objective of the power plant is to achieve self-sufficiency in energy amid increasing demand from a growing population (estimated at 100 million people), reports AllAfrica. Egypt's nuclear project has been awarded strategic importance by the government, resulting in it being conceptualized and implemented in a top-down manner. This approach largely excludes the people of Egypt from being stakeholders in their country's nuclear dream.

Related: The Tipping Point For Mass EV Adoption



This project, as is the case of so many others on the continent, is being spearheaded by Russia in conjunction with local Egyptian officials. The deal to develop the inaugural Dabaa nuclear power plant was signed back in 2015, but is finally becoming a reality, and will be the first of many more. In addition to building four reactors at Dabaa, the Russian state atomic energy corporation (ROSATOM) will supply nuclear fuel for the plant throughout its entire lifetime.

Russian ROSATOM will be intimately involved in the project long-term, giving Russia the ability to maintain soft power in the area for years to come. ROSATOM will also be involved in the operation and maintenance of the plant, as well as training of Egyptian personnel during the first 10 years of operation.

The corporation will also assist Egypt to dispose of spent nuclear fuel, writes Heba Taha for AllAfrica. Around 85 percent of the cost of the Dabaa power plant will be financed by a U.S. $25 billion Russian loan. Egypt will begin repaying the loan in October 2029 on a biannual basis over 22 years, with 3 percent interest. The remaining 15 percent of the cost of the power plant will be raised by the Egyptian government, but it is not clear whether this will come from the public or private sector.

While the construction of the plant is scheduled to proceed as planned, the project has been and remains highly divisive in Egypt. While the country lacks an organized, large-scale anti-nuclear lobby, there is no shortage of smaller groups, such as environmentalist organizations and rights groups, that have expressed reservations if not outright condemnation of the project.

These reservations, however, are not the typical complaints about nuclear energy production. These local groups are not primarily complaining about radioactive waste or the potential of a nuclear meltdown. The main issue at play here is water. In Egypt, most areas receive less than eighty millimeters of precipitation per year. Water, therefore, is an especially precious commodity. The top complaint, therefore, is about the massive quantities of water needed to keep nuclear reactors cool to avoid meltdown. Any concerns about public health due to radiation and high costs of construction are secondary to the issue of water usage.

Another common complaint is that nuclear is not really needed in Egypt, where considerable deposits of natural gas have been discovered off the coast - enough to account for an energy surplus. This raises questions about the purpose of the project - is it really to create more and greener energy, or is it ultimately about power relations and geopolitical attachments between the infamously opaque Egyptian Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Authority and the infamously power-hungry Russian government?

By Haley Zaremba for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Patna, Sep 22 : The announcement by the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) Chief Asaduddin Owaisi to form the United Democratic Secular Alliance (UDSA) with former MP and Samajwadi Janata Dal (Democratic) Chief Devendra Prasad Yadav for the upcoming Bihar assembly elections has given an interesting turn to the battle at the hustings.

With Owaisi and the SJD (D) entering the poll arena in Bihar together, the political fight won't be easy for any of the parties in the Seemanchal region of the state.

Forging an alliance with Devendra Yadav's party, Owaisi has made a political move to play a spoiler of votes for the Yadav and Muslim voters of Bihar who are considered the traditional pocket boroughs of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).

Though the UDSA has not yet decided on the number of seats it will contest in the Assembly elections, it is believed that the alliance will field their candidates in Kosi and Purnia regions.

The Muslim vote will supposedly be decisive in 15 to 17 seats in Seemanchal but there are many other constituencies where Muslim voters could influence the poll results.

In the 2015 elections, Owaisi's party had fielded candidates for six seats and all of them suffered resounding defeats. On five seats, his party candidates lost their deposits. However, in 2019 the AIMIM's Qamrul Hoda won the Kishanganj seat in the Bihar bypolls.

Political expert and senior journalist from Kishanganj Ratneshwar Jha opines that in the wake of the alliance by Owaisi and Yadav, it is certain that there will be a split in the Yadav and Muslim votes to the disadvantage of the RJD.

Jha says, "The voters who will be targeted by the UDSA have been considered to be the vote banks of the Opposition grand alliance (Mahagathbandhan) so the number of votes that UDSA gets will only harm the Mahagathbandhan." Owaisi's poll campaign has always been aggressive and polarising so it would not be surprising if he swings voters in his favour from other areas of Bihar as well.

RJD spokesman Mrityunjay Tiwari denies any political threat from the AIMIM-SJD (D) alliance, saying, "There is a direct political fight between two ideologies in Bihar. Apart from this, whichever party is contesting this election and at whose behest they do so, the people of Bihar know it well. Whichever party tries to weaken the political fight against the BJP, the people of the state will give them a befitting reply." The RJD may reject the UDSA but it will surely make a dent in the Muslim and Yadav vote banks. In the Muslim-dominated areas, Owaisi could field his party candidates which might pay the BJP political dividends. It is certain that not all Muslims will vote for Owaisi and there will be a split in the community's votes.

On the AIMIM-SJD alliance giving the BJP a political advantage, party spokesperson Dr Nikhil Anand said, "Leaders like Owaisi are always trying to garner Muslim votes through the politics of appeasement by invoking the sentiments of the community. The people of Bihar clearly understand the ideology of such leaders." He said the National Democratic Alliance will defeat those parties who play politics on the basis of religion and caste. This election will be fought on the plank of development in Bihar, he added.
The European travel sector as a whole could face further headwinds. Photo: PA

UK travel stocks are extending their losses for a second day as COVID-19 concerns continue to mount.

While the FTSE 100 (^FTSE) has been gaining momentum overall, some players are still in the doldrums.

British Airways and Iberia parent IAG (IAG.L) has been steadily declining all week, down 2.3% at around 1:30pm on Tuesday.

Shares in IAG have been down all week as travel concerns persist. Chart: Yahoo Finance UK

Similarly, engine maker Rolls-Royce has taken a further hit on Tuesday, with shares down 2.2%, reaching their lowest price for the month.

Rolls-Royce shares continue their losing streak. Chart: Yahoo Finance UK

For the investors, it is a case of deja vu, with supermarkets and food delivery stocks on the rise at the expense of travel stocks, said Joshua Mahony, senior market analyst at IG. While the UK has been quick to impose quarantine restrictions on visitors from nations with rising COVID cases, the fear is that international travel will grind to a half in the event that nations begin to restrict travel for UK visitors.

The European travel sector as a whole could face further headwinds.

Anyone leading a business in the travel sector needs to be an optimist to motivate staff and encourage customers that they should still book holidays, said Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell in a note about wider travel and leisure industry trends.

Although, government restrictions might make booking holidays more difficult.

UK prime minister Boris Johnson announced on Tuesday a string of new curbs on everyday life in England, warning they could last six months as the country struggles to contain rising coronavirus cases. These include guidelines for retail, tourism, leisure and other sectors that will become legal obligations.

Businesses who break COVID-19 rules will also risk fines, Johnson added.

READ MORE: Boris Johnson unveils new rules to combat coronavirus second wave

The sun was shining on TUI and its travel peers in recent months as lockdown conditions eased, but now the clouds are gathering, and its party looks like it will be rained off, said Mould.

TUI (TUI.L) said in a trading update on Tuesday that it plans to permanently reduce its overhead cost base by 30% amid its battle to survive during the pandemic.
A CHAIN of hair salons is set to receive an insurance payment of tens of thousands of pounds following a legal battle.

Marc Antoni, which has branches in Henley and Caversham, is one of more than 400 businesses to benefit from a High Court ruling that they must be paid for loss of trade due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Insurance company Hiscox had refused to pay their insurance claims, saying that its policy did not cover a pandemic.

The Financial Conduct Authority, the industry regulator, took the case on behalf of the claimants to the High Court, which ruled in its favour.

The businesses will now have to make fresh claims.

Marc Antoni, a family business which has been going for more than 50 years, made a 100,000 claim for each of its five salons after being unable to trade for more than three months.

It also took out bank loans for 250,000 in order to avoid closing its salons, which are also in Woodley, Bracknell and Fleet.

It furloughed about 60 staff and the six company directors did not receive any money as they are paid by dividend.

Julie Giamattei, one of the directors, said she suspected the business wouldnt receive the full amount it had claimed but called the ruling a step in the right direction after a tough year.

She said: It has been dreadful and has caused us a huge amount of stress. I have gone through so much to fight this and had lots of long nights and early mornings.

Even though this is good news, we will still have to pay off our bank loans. The business grants that we received got swallowed up very quickly.

Thank God for the FCA  a lot of people just gave up and I said No, we should fight and this proves we were right. I doubt we will get the full amount but something is better than nothing.

The salons re-opened in July and had to spend thousands of pounds on personal protective equipment as well as introducing covid security measures, which have meant they have fewer customers than normal.

Mrs Giamattei said: Its not fun because weve had to work twice as hard, with twice as much stress, for less money. None of us has had any holidays.

The wording in the Hiscox business interruption policy said it offered protection against any human infectious or human contagion disease.

But the company argued this only applied to a local occurrence of a notifiable disease and would not extend to a pandemic such as covid-19.

The FCA disputed this and the court agreed, saying that the wording did not expressly state that the disease should only occur within the relevant policy area.

Christopher Woolard, interim chief executive of the FCA, said the judgement was a significant step in resolving the uncertainty faced by the policyholders.

He said: We are grateful to the court for delivering the judgment quickly and the speed with which it was reached reflects well on all parties.

Coronavirus is causing substantial loss and distress to businesses and many are under immense financial strain to stay afloat.

Insurers should reflect on the clarity provided here and, irrespective of any possible appeals, consider the steps they can take now to progress claims of the type that the judgment says should be paid.

Hiscox has not indicated whether it intends to appeal the judgement.

A spokesman added: Hiscox recognises these are extremely difficult times for businesses and regrets any contract dispute with customers, which is why it is committed to seeking an expedited resolution through this industry test case.

In line with FCA guidance, Hiscox will communicate an update on the industry test case to relevant policyholders through the appropriate channels.
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a rally at Dayton International Airport in Dayton, Ohio Sept. 21, 2020. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

Trump Suggests Faster Investigations: Im so Angry at Republicans

President Donald Trump said during a rally in Ohio that he wants to see some investigations into alleged wrongdoing surrounding surveillance programs into his 2016 campaign.

Does anything happen? Nothing happens, Trump said at an event in Dayton on Monday evening. Im so angry at Republicans. I am. Im so angry. I am so angry, but a lot of things are happening.

The White House for months has been trying to push for an investigation into former Obama officials over the FBIs surveillance efforts into his campaign, which was dubbed Operation Crossfire Hurricane. Michael Horowitz, the inspector general for the Justice Department, said in December that the FBIs attempts to obtain a FISA warrant on a Trump aide had numerous errors and omissions, among other problems.

They spied on my campaign, and we caught em, Trump said at the event. Lets now see what happens.

Trump noted that he is trying to stay out of the Senate investigations. I dont have to actually, but its better if I do, I think, he also said of investigations. Im trying to stay out of it, but its a disgrace that its taken this long.

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), the head of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, has said there will be a forthcoming report detailing allegations about Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, a former two-term vice president, and his son, Hunter. He has been investigating Hunter Bidens work for Ukrainian gas company, Burisma Holdings, when his father was the vice president.

Chairman Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) speaks at the start of a Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing on the governments response to the CCP virus outbreak in Washington on March 5, 2020. (Samuel Corum/Getty Images)

Democrats and Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) have panned Johnsons investigation as politically motivated, namely in an election season, and is trying to damage Bidens presidential bid.

Johnsons panel recently voted to authorize more than three-dozen depositions and compel testimony from ex-FBI chief James Comey, former CIA Director John Brennan, and others.

A former FBI attorney pleaded guilty in September to altering an email during the probe as part of an investigation led by the U.S. Attorney leading the criminal investigation into Crossfire Hurricane, John Durham. More charges are possible, said Attorney General William Barr.

On Sept. 17, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senate Finance Committee ranking member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) presented a resolution that claims that Johnson and Sen. Chuck Grassleys (R-Iowa) probe into Hunter and Joe Biden is based on disinformation from Russia.

My colleagues and I have drafted a simple resolution. It calls for the cessation of any Senate investigation or activity that allows Congressthe United States Congressto act as a conduit for Russian disinformation, Schumer said on the Senate floor last week. Johnson ultimately blocked it.

If this is not violations of the Senates rules, its coming pretty darn close, Johnson opined after blocking the resolution.

Trump also offered sympathy to former national security adviser Michael Flynn, who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI. He later said he was coerced into pleading guilty, and the Department of Justice took steps to end the prosecution of Flynn.

What theyve done to General Flynn and others is a disgrace, Trump said in Ohio.

Masooma Haq contributed to this report.
No Oregon wildfires grew more than 300 acres from Monday to Tuesday, authorities say, and several of the states most prominent blazes did not grow at all.

Meanwhile, air quality throughout most of the state is good or moderate, though the air in some parts of southern Oregon is unhealthy for sensitive groups.

Here are updates on Oregons biggest wildfires, including how much theyve grown from Monday to Tuesday:

Lionshead

Location: West of Warm Springs

Size: 198,916 acres

Growth: 269 acres

Containment: 13%

Cause: Lightning

Evacuation resources: Marion County; Warm Springs Police Department

Latest information: InciWeb

Fire officials said Monday that as light fuels dry over the next couple days, fire activity may increase. There may be more smoke, particularly as green islands inside the fires perimeter burn out, according to fire officials. However, little growth is expected.

***

Thielsen

Location: Diamond Lake area

Size: 9,916 acres

Growth: 227 acres

Containment: 26%

Cause: Unknown

Evacuation resources: Douglas County

Latest information: InciWeb

The Oregon Department of Transportation was set to reopen Oregon 138E at noon Tuesday.

Authorities on Tuesday also reduced the evacuation level for Diamond Lake from Level 3 (go) to Level 2 (be set.)

***

Riverside

Location: Near Estacada

Size: 138,020 acres

Growth: 140 acres

Containment: 26%

Cause: Human

Evacuation resources: Clackamas County

Latest information: InciWeb

Authorities on Monday reduced the city of Estacadas evacuation notice to Level 1 (be ready.) Other changes were also announced.

Also on Monday, the sheriffs office lifted a curfew for areas under Level 2 evacuation notices. The curfew, which spans from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., is now in effect only for areas under Level 3 evacuation orders.

Fire line is now in place along the blazes entire western perimeter, fire officials said Monday. Firefighters continue to work their way around the fire, constructing fire line where possible, and are working to protect various places of significance.

Fire officials said people should expect to see smoke inside the blazes perimeter as conditions warm and dry out.

***

Slater

Location: Northern California; Josephine County

Size: 148,677 acres

Growth: 94 acres

Containment: 22%

Cause: Under investigation

Evacuation resources: Josephine County

Latest information: InciWeb

Authorities on Tuesday reduced the evacuation level for the OBrien area from Level 2 to Level 1.

Authorities on Monday also downgraded the evacuation level for the Cave Junction area from Level 2 to Level 1. The evacuation level for residents of the Dick George Road area has been downgraded from a Level 3 to a Level 2. Greenview Drive remains at Level 3.

***

Brattain

Location: Lake County

Size: 50,510 acres

Growth: 63 acres

Containment: 55%

Cause: Human

Evacuation resources: InciWeb

Latest information: InciWeb

Fire officials on Monday noted only moderate fire behavior the day before. They said firefighters are moving into more repair and rehabilitation operations.

No Level 3 evacuations remain in effect. All of Paisley is under a Level 1 evacuation notice.

***

Beachie Creek

Location: Santiam Canyon east of Salem; southern Clackamas County

Size: 192,775 acres

Growth: 39 acres

Containment: 38%

Cause: Unknown

Evacuation resources: Marion County

Latest information: InciWeb

Authorities on Monday moved multiple areas  including a several-mile section of Oregon 22  from Level 3 to Level 2 evacuation notices.

The stretch of Oregon 22 spans from North Fork Road to Mill City, according to the Marion County Sheriffs Office.

Other areas, including those immediately north of the city limits of Mill City and Gates, remain under Level 3 evacuations.

Detroit, Idanha and Breitenbush are among the other areas remaining under Level 3 orders.

Also on Monday, fire crews, including a team from Canada, attacked hot spots on the fires southern edge along Oregon 22 between Stayton and Detroit, according to the fires command center.

Authorities now estimate it could take them until Halloween to contain the blaze.

View all currently active wildfires in the U.S. on The Oregonian/OregonLives interactive wildfire map.

Fires that did not grow Monday to Tuesday

Archie Creek

Location: Northeast of Roseburg

Size: 131,598 acres

Growth: 0 acres

Containment: 44%

Cause: Under investigation

Evacuation resources: Douglas County

Latest information: InciWeb

Firefighters flying over the blaze noticed a new fire Sunday about two miles north of the Archie Creek fires northeast flank, officials said. A lightning strike from a recent thunderstorm probably caused the blaze, which flared up when conditions became warmer and drier, according to fire officials.

Crews continue to work on the blaze Tuesday.

Minimal fire behavior is expected again Tuesday, and firefighters plan to construct fire lines as close to the fires edge as possible in preparation for gusty winds forecasted for Wednesday, fire officials said.

At least a half-inch of rain is expected to fall on the blaze Wednesday evening through Friday, according to fire officials.

***

Holiday Farm

Location: East of the Eugene-Springfield area

Size: 173,025 acres

Growth: 0 acres

Containment: 17%

Cause: Unknown

Evacuation resources: Lane County; Linn County

Latest information: InciWeb

Lane County authorities on Monday publicly identified the person killed by the Holiday Farm fire as David Perry.

Perry, a 59-year-old Vida resident, is one of nine people killed by wildfires throughout Oregon this year.

Two other people remain missing and unaccounted for in the Holiday Farm fire, a Lane County Sheriffs Office spokeswoman said Monday.

***

S. Obenchain

Location: Jackson County

Size: 32,671 acres

Growth: 0 acres

Containment: 70%

Cause: Under investigation

Evacuation resources: Jackson County

Latest information: InciWeb

Fire officials said Monday that flames and smoke will persist inside the perimeter of the blaze until a season-ending rain or snow event. They urged people to call 911 only if flames are spreading and life or property are threatened.

The immediate burn area remains under Level 3 evacuation orders, and areas outside that zone have been downgraded to Level 2.

***

Two Four Two

Location: Chiloquin area

Size: 14,473 acres

Growth: 0 acres

Containment: 89%

Cause: Unknown

Evacuation resources: InciWeb

Latest information: InciWeb

Firefighters are almost done mopping up 100 feet into the interior of the fire, around its perimeter, officials said Monday. Crews planned to focus on some remaining heat on the west side of Oregon 62.

***

Echo Mountain Complex

Location: Lincoln County

Size: 2,552 acres

Growth: 0 acres

Containment: 90%

Cause: Unknown

Evacuation resources: Lincoln County

Latest information: InciWeb

-- Jim Ryan

jryan@oregonian.com; 503-221-8005; @Jimryan015
As part of our latest series on PR Conversation, we at Adgully are speaking to some of the industry leaders from both PR agencies and the corporate communications world about how PR as a business and communication tool has evolved and grown over the years. In the last 10 years, PR has taken a different dimension, especially after the entry of social media in a big way. While the PR business has grown, some of the challenges that the industry is facing have also multiplied as clients are becoming more demanding and are expecting their consultants to be on their toes to manage their brand reputation, as news today travels fast and clients are expecting quick response and action in case of a crisis situation.

Also read: I see more consolidation in the agency ecosystem: Ameer Ismail

In conversation with Adgully, Ashish Jalan, Managing Director, Concept PR, speaks about the peculiar evolution of PR, the growing impact of social media and questions on its credibility, the new normal of interpersonal communication and more.

How has PR evolved in the last 10 years? Going forward how will the Industry shape up as the dynamics of the PR is changing with the acceleration of digital?

Before we talk about the future, it would be pertinent for me to give you a bit of historic perspective. Till about a decade and a half ago, traditional communication had two building blocks  Advertising and Public Relations. With the advent of the web, social media has progressively changed the communication landscape. From an Indian context, the last 10 years have been a mixed bag. At the start of the last decade, advertising as an effective medium of communication was losing steam, however, despite this perceptible shift not too many organisations understood the relevance of PR and its efficacy. There were a few established organisations and brands that used PR effectively. For the rest, it was a hard task convincing them of the value-add that PR brought to the table. Over the next 5 years, PR grew in prominence and corporates began to understand that PR brought a whole lot of credibility through third party endorsements that advertising could never hope to achieve.

Of course, it goes without saying that PR is a slow, long drawn process comparatively. However, even before PR could reach the pinnacle, in India, the influence of social media grew by leaps and bounds. I must say that the evolution of PR is very peculiar. If I may paraphrase Darwin, evolution of PR, to me, is the survival of the persistent.

Credibility was the main reason for the growth of PR when compared to advertising, but social media communication, which often is miles from being credible, has succeeded beyond imagination. There is no doubt that the power wielded by social media is way beyond PR and advertising combined, but authenticity is a question mark.

Therefore, going forward, the amalgamation of these 3 arms of communication will be imperative for the success of any communication campaign. A holistic approach, a cross pollinated strategy and an in sync execution will become the norm.

For a PR professional, thinking beyond getting an article published, will become imperative. Already clients are demanding that PR should have a positive impact on their businesses or brands.

Extensive hands-on knowledge of the omnipresent digital medium and the various facets of the same, be it wires, knowledge portals, news based apps or social media, will be indispensable. The doors to true innovation and out of the box ideation are already being opened, the potential and possibilities in this digital space is endless.

The Pandemic has disrupted everyone. In these times how have you managed the client expectations and how did you manage to keep engaged with your clients?

I sincerely believe in the old adage that A problem is a chance for you to do your best and to add to this, I also believe that ones creative juices flow greatly, when faced with a problem. In these unprecedented times, every company has taken steps to manage clients and employees alike.

We, as an agency, are service-oriented and our people are the most valuable assets. In order to keep clients happy and manage their expectations, we had to make sure that our people were motivated and would give their 100% even while working from home. Our senior management spoke to each client assuring them of the teams commitment to deliver without any compromises and we turned Work From Home into a positive step and not an excuse. The ardent use of technology like cloud storage, video meets, internal software for time sheet management, proprietary software for press release dissemination, WIP reports, etc. has gone a long way to maintain and to a certain extent improve the quality of service. I am humbled to say that we have received encouraging mails from clients for being as efficient now as we were in the pre lockdown era.

How different are you as an agency and what are some of the interesting tools that you deploy to give the best in terms of result to your clients?

While we are not radically different from other agencies in our structure, we do have certain USPs, including a certain way of dealing with a client that we strictly adhere to.

First and foremost, we, as a group, are driven by a certain ethos which is native to us and we make sure that this is not compromised across the entire ecosystem. Next comes the attitude of serving by example. Our senior most colleagues are hands-on and a client is never left to be serviced by only junior or mid-level staff. This actually has a dual effect, not only does the client get the best in the industry, but it also helps the junior and mid-level staff to learn from the rich experiences of the senior. Third is our focus on strategy and ideation, we believe in going beyond regular PR. We believe that a good relevant idea gets better mileage, both in terms of image and visibility for the client. Finally, we are a very delivery focussed agency, in fact, our contracts have an annexure of agreed upon list of expected deliveries. This brings a lot of clarity in the clients mind and also sets his expectations correctly. In terms of tools, we have our internal software to manage time sheets, WIP reports, campaign management, etc. But our proprietary tool of media monitoring and analysis is what sets us apart from most of the other agencies. This tool helps us analyse our performance and give the client a transparent account of the efficiency of the agency.

Today, artificial intelligence and data analytics are becoming very important in marketing and communication. How is your agency making use of this to help you clients on overall messaging and achieving the desired ROI?

As I said earlier, we have a proprietary tool which does a detailed analysis for the client vis-a-vis their competition basket. The analysis is done under several parameters, like tonality, mainline publications & regional publications, region wise coverage, journalist wise coverage, segmentation of coverage, etc. The analysis brings forth trends, which help in future messaging, it also helps us identify affinities of media, thus enabling us to pitch the right story to the right media. The tool also helps in analysing the coverage benchmarked against competition, which helps us in developing strategies to counter them.

PR measurement and effectiveness of PR has always been a subject of debate. As a PR professional, what steps the PR industry should take to bring in uniformity so that everyone speaks one language when it comes to PR measurement?

This debate of universally accepted valuation has existed from the time PR has come into being. Globally, Barcelona Principles 3.0 is providing a clear benchmark for agencies to follow. But I believe, with the advent of social media and the blurring of lines between the earned and paid media formats, it has become very difficult to have a measurement tool that will give accurate results. The measurement is also compromised due to the nature of requirement of PR of a client, since no two clients would have the same communication goal. The medium, the geographies, the target audience and the way to deal with each of them is very different and the permutations canrun into millions. And since PR is not a science, the client will have to, at regular intervals, gauge whether the agency is delivering to his expectations and the set objectives. AMEC, which is a globally recognised association involved in measurement and evaluation of communication is doing a great job of educating agencies and clients. Recently, Concept BIU won three AMEC awards.

Getting the right skillset and training has always been a challenge in the PR profession. What is your view on the same and what would be the valuable tips that you would like to give to the budding young PR professionals?

Earlier, there werent many institutes offering courses for PR, but times have changed. There are enough and more programs available, full time, part time, distance learning, online courses, etc. But to me, its no longer about traditional PR. My advice to the younger generation is that they will need to have a holistic approach towards understanding communication of which PR forms a part. Going forward, the successful professional will be one who can advise a client on all aspects of communication, since advertising, PR and digital go hand-in-hand for overall effectiveness of a campaign. The other important aspect will be that they need to read regularly and be updated of the ever evolving nature of communication. Just like doctors and chartered accountants, communication professionals will have to be in a constant learning mode to keep themselves abreast of the times, else they might find themselves redundant very soon.

Do you feel the traditional role of interpersonal communication which was so critical to the profession has somehow been put to the back burner because of too much virtual engagement? How are you experiencing that, is it bringing down the efficiency of the agency?

Video conferencing has become the New Norm. Whatsapp groups have become indispensable. They have actually brought in efficiencies and have made every person more productive. Travel within cities and to different cities has reduced substantially and we have realised that work continues. I am not undermining the role of interpersonal communication and the same will continue to exist, but I am sure that the frequency of the same will be replaced with this virtual engagement.
Californias cannabis industry may soon have legally recognized geographic areas as highly regarded as those of the wine industry. Just as Sonomas Russian River Valley is known for Pinot Noir and Napas Oakville for Cabernet Sauvignon, Northern California sub-regions like Salmon Creek, Comptche and Ukiah Valley could each become world-renowned for their signature strains of cannabis.

If cannabis industry leaders and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) follow through on a mutually accepted agenda, the appellation of origin application process will be in place by Jan. 1. It would be the worlds first program of its kind for commercial cannabis farmers.

Carneros, which encompasses parts of Napa and Sonoma and is prized for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, was the first AVA (American Viticultural Area) based on climate rather than political boundaries.

Californias cultivators of sun-grown cannabis believe that their crops, like grapes, take on distinctive qualities from the specific areas where they are grown, whether its a foggy hillside on the North Coast or an arid plain in the Central Valley. Many growers want to make those distinctions a defining characteristic of Californias cannabis industry. The plan would borrow from the structure and standards of wines American Viticultural Areas to establish a similar system designed for cannabis.

Lacy Atkins/Special to The Chronicle

In February, the CDFA released proposed regulations for appellations of origin for cannabis, stating that an appellation of origin is a protected designation that identifies the geographical origin of a product and how that product was produced. The CDFAs Cannabis Appellations Program is designed to promote and support consumer confidence in a cannabis products origin and characteristics.

The French term appellation dorigine controlee (AOC) means controlled designation of origin. The government-regulated system is used around the world for identifying the geographic origins of particular agricultural products. Comte cheese, Prosciutto di Parma and Tequila are all AOC-designated products.

The designation ensures a standard of quality for a particular product in a region, preserving traditions (certain AOCs require that products be made in a certain way; the Barolo appellation mandates that the wine be aged a minimum of 38 months, for example) and streamlining a regions marketing message. Crucially, AOC-designated products tend to command higher prices. For the cannabis industry, an appellation system would be a major validation of its legitimacy and a huge boost to its prestige.

What is really important is to take advantage of this opportunity of developing a terroir-based appellation, said Hollie Hall, a watershed resources specialist living in Northern California. To maintain standards that the plant has roots, some element of contact with the native soil, that the plant is watered with water that came from the site, and the plant has exposure to sunlight and is not manipulated by artificial lighting.

Hall has designed a baseline appellation study for Humboldt County and has a grant to install small data-collecting weather stations around the county to help define the specific districts and their attributes that will ensure an appellations legitimacy. Hall said, Whether its Napa Cabernet or Kentucky Bourbon, appellation recognition stimulates the local economy, brings a higher price for the product and helps to create sustainable business.

Halls research will articulate the geological characteristics of the county relating to cannabis cultivation, incorporating growing season, soils and elevation.

Even though her research is county specific, the implications extend beyond government-drawn district lines. In cannabis, as with wine, the appellation would be defined by exact locations proved to be geographically distinct from their immediate surroundings. What is grown there will be defined by the composition of the soil the plants are grown in, the amount and timing of sun exposure, temperatures and humidity during the day and at night, and the water sources. These factors show that this particular place is unique and has meaningful cultivation differences from the areas that border it.

These geographical factors play a large role in determining the taste of a wine. Warmer weather allows grapes to ripen faster and develop higher sugar levels (resulting in higher alcohol content), lower acidity and darker color. Similarly, humidity, light and soil conditions can influence the taste and potency of cannabis strains.

Officially designated appellations of origin have commercial branding applications, but they also help with biological and ecological preservation efforts, says Eleanor Kuntz, CEO of Leafworks, a Sebastopol cannabis DNA testing company. Appellations add value to craft cannabis cultivators by calling out the special nature of cannabis grown and processed in historical cannabis growing regions.

An organization called the Mendocino Appellations Project (MAP) has called for a Cannabis Cultivar Library, which would archive plant specimens, common names of cultivars, breeding practices and lineage. To that end, Kuntz has created the nonprofit herbarium Canndor, which focuses on documenting and preserving cannabis diversity.

We can show uniqueness of plant growth by region and document the characteristics and special features of the products coming out of these regions as compared to other regions, Kuntz said.

California alone has 139 wine American Viticultural Areas. These are chiefly defined by climate, geology and elevation and have been given official appellation status by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. MAP has defined 11 cannabis appellation districts in Mendocino.

The difference with the cannabis proposal is that it would regulate production standards and practices. The CDFA proposal includes the establishment of standards, practices, and varietals for cannabis. Those standards could include in-ground, sun-grown plants irrigated exclusively by rain catchment or on-site wells. The appellation designation would not apply to cannabis grown indoors.

Since January 2018, county of origin standards have been in place that allow licensed cultivators to designate a county of origin for cannabis  Mendocino Grown or Humboldt Grown are common identifiers. Those standards apply to all cannabis products regardless of cultivation method. To use the designation, 100% of the cannabis must be produced in the designated county as defined by the political boundaries.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

The new appellations of origin guidelines allow licensed cultivators to recognize cannabis-growing areas that dont necessarily correspond with county boundaries. They also create requirements for how cannabis is grown in those appellations, although the new system is not intended to replace or override county-of-origin standards.

Primary beneficiaries of appellation designations will be smaller independent farmers whose uniquely terroir-specific cannabis flower could gain the same kind of acclaim as a Pinot Noir grape from the Russian River Valley. In much the same way mass-marketed wine comes from non-appellated grapes developed for broad appeal, cannabis profiles could be flattened by large agriculture companies looking for common denominators rather distinctive characteristics. Creating the appellation system could be a way to fend off such homogenization.

Tiffany Devitt, chief wellness officer for Cannacraft, a seed-to-shelf California cannabis producer and distributor in Santa Rosa, sees untapped depth and potential in plant variations. As cannabis cultivation has turned toward more commercially popular THC-heavy variations, for instance, CBD was nearly lost in the shuffle.

Those minor cannabinoids and terpenes ... we dont want to lose them before we figure out what theyre good for, right? Devitt said.

Devitt knows that with hundreds of farmers at work in the Emerald Triangle (Humboldt, Mendocino and Trinity counties), there are also hundreds of cannabis variations occurring. Theyll all have different proportions of CBD and THC and minor cannabinoids, whether thats CBG or CBN, and theyll have different proportions of terpenes, Devitt said. The therapeutic benefit of a lot of those cannabis compounds were just beginning to understand. Since were just beginning to understand, it is imperative that we maintain a strain diversity.

Tina Gordon, co-founder of Moon Made Farms in southern Humboldt County, hopes the appellation of origin designation will bring wider recognition to the idea of living systems that the farms are naturally a part of.

I want to help people connect cannabis to the source, Gordon said. Recognize that cannabis is a living plant and when its grown in a living system, its going to express in a unique way thats a reflection of that place. Gordons farm is in an area known as Palo Verde (which would be an appellation district) that cuts across all three Emerald Triangle counties.

Locals here define areas by which volunteer fire department serves them. Were in the southeast corner of Humboldt and it captures the corner of Mendocino and it captures a corner of Trinity. Theres no way for the Trinity and the Mendocino folks to access their homesteads, where they live and where they farm, without going through Humboldt, Gordon said. Its a community cultural identification that reaches beyond the government definition.

It has to do with the people, the relationship that the people have to the land, the relationship that the plants have to the land, Gordon said.

Marcus Crowder is a freelance writer.
The Rajya Sabha on Tuesday passed the Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2020, to bring co-operative banks under the supervision of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

During the discussion on the bill, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman told the House that several co-operative banks came under stress during the Covid-19 pandemic and their finances are being closely monitored by banking sector regulator Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

The amendment is to protect the interests of depositors and the legislation will help a quick recovery in cases of stressed co-operative banks without any moratorium, she said.

Also Watch | Dont move towards one nation, one party: Opposition boycotts Rajya Sabha

Sitharaman assured the House that the legislation empowers the central bank to regulate only the banking activities of co-operatives and it is not applicable to a primary agricultural credit society or a co-operative society providing finance for agricultural development.

The bill has already been passed by the Lok Sabha on September 16.

Also read: Overnight protests, work beyond midnight for two consecutive evenings

India has different types of co-operative banks -- urban co-operative banks (UCBs) and rural co-operative banks (RCBs). RCBs are classified into state co-operative banks (StCBs) and district central co-operative banks (DCCBs). According to the RBI, as on March 31, 2019, there were 1,544 UCBs, 34 StCBs and 352 DCCBs. Total amount of deposits of all UCBs as on March 31, 2019 was Rs 484,315.85 crore and RCBs was Rs 505,859.16 crore.

The amendments do not affect existing powers of the state registrars of co-operative societies under state co-operative laws.

The legislation also enables making of a scheme of reconstruction or amalgamation of a banking entity for protecting the interest of depositors without resorting to moratorium that freeze withdrawals by depositors. The bill replaces an ordinance that was promulgated in pursuance of the commitment to ensure safety of depositors across banks by the President on June 26.
In my almost six years at the College, RockATOP is one of the best  if not the best  programs weve put in place working with partners across the region, said RCC President Dr. Mark Kinlaw. This is a great partnership and a wonderful opportunity for our students to earn a degree, to work, and apprentice, and after that, to have full employment. I congratulate our apprentices on a job well done, I wish you the very best, (and) I thank our partners.

Our kids are getting real-world experience, RCS Superintendent Dr. Rodney Shotwell, adding his own gratitude to the businesses involved in the program.

Nancy Tulloch-Moore, chair of the RockATOP Consortium, said, We attribute out success to the dedication of many smart and forward-thinking people, and our ability to manage the delicate balance between business talent needs and qualified interested students.

Jaime Trogdon of Machine Specialties Inc. introduced his companys apprenticeships and signed their paperwork.

He said Slaughter has shown great potential by staying engaged and asking questions, and Vaden is a dedicated, hard worker.

Slaughter said the RockATOP program targets students who enjoy hands-on learning.
Sonoma County remains in the most restrictive purple tier of the state's reopening criteria. (Los Angeles Times)

A child-care facility is at the heart of a recent uptick in Sonoma Countys coronavirus case counts, giving some county officials pause as elementary schools prepare to reopen.

County health officials have traced an outbreak of at least 30 cases to one student at a child-care center in Sonoma's north county. The facility closed for a two-week quarantine after at least 16 students, 11 relatives and three staff members tested positive for the coronavirus, county health officer Dr. Sundari Mase said.

I dont think its surprising, but it is something that gives us a little pause when we think about going back to reopening schools, Mase said at a virtual briefing last week.

Sonoma County remains in the most restrictive purple tier of the states reopening criteria, meaning most in-person services are prohibited, including K-12 schools. But the state has allowed child care and day camps to stay open. And because of a small drop in coronavirus cases last week, elementary schools in Sonoma County are now eligible to apply for waivers that would allow in-person classes.

Schools Supt. Steven Herrington cautioned schools to go slowly when seeking to reopen. Not all tools for contact tracing and testing are in place yet, he said.

We are both empathetic and supportive of parents and the stress that theyre under. We know that distance learning is challenging for both child and parent, Herrington said.

Compound that with the fires and smoke, its been hard on everyone. So I want to acknowledge that. We're not taking a position of recommending anything other than safety, first and foremost.

Including the outbreak at the north county facility, Sonoma County health officials have counted 62 COVID-19 cases at 13 child-care facilities or schools that provide day care. In total, Sonoma County child-care facilities have accounted for positive tests in 27 family members, 25 students and 10 staff, according to Mase, and 381 cases of children younger than 17 are still under investigation.

The spread of the virus among young people is to be expected, Mase said.

It may be harder to implement mitigation measures such as facial coverings and social distancing, especially among younger kids in these settings, Mase said.
Dr. Hafsa Siddiqui is treating COVID-19 patients in Huntsville with convalescent blood plasma, a controversial method that has stirred pushback from scientists for its fast-track approval.

In these extraordinary circumstances, you dont have time to do randomized trials (on all treatments). You have a patient on hand and you just want to save them somehow, said Siddiqui, a physician at Huntsville Hospital.

In hospitals across the state, doctors are relying on emergency use authorizations from the FDA for COVID-19 treatments that have not been fully vetted through clinical trials.

There have been notable mistakes with federal emergency authorizations, such as the approval of hydroxychloroquine, which ultimately proved harmful.

The emergency authorization for blood plasma was temporarily paused in August after Dr. Anthony Fauci and other top administration scientists cautioned against it. President Trump publicly pushed the plasma treatment, and the FDA reinstated the emergency authorization. Blood plasma is now being widely used on COVID-19 patients.

Dr. Siddiqui says shes seen a positive impact treating COVID-19 patients with plasma.

If you dont wait for (patients) to progress and become critically ill, you have a very good chance you will prevent them from getting into a critical stage and recovering faster, she said.

The plasma, donated by COVID-19 survivors and transfused into sick patients, is intended to transfer antibodies from patients who have fought off the disease. This may lower viral loads in sick people.

Convalescent blood plasma is relatively harmless, based on use in treatment of past diseases, says Dr. Michael Saag, associate dean for global health at UAB. Early studies conducted by the Mayo Clinic showed it to be potentially effective.

Dr. Saag believes using even mostly benign treatments, without full knowledge of how or whether they will help, is a violation of the hippocratic oath.

You dont want to give someone something that has little likelihood of working, he said, adding that specifics about how to best administer the plasma remain unknown.

He says the purpose of the FDA is to approve treatments that are known to be effective.

The politicization of this is adding a new dimension that is not helpful and not necessary, he said.

Dr. Saag, who contracted COVID-19 himself, tried hydroxychloroquine this spring and later regretted it.

A lot of scientists said I dont think this is quite ready for prime time, he said of the use of blood plasma.

Nationally, some scientists worry the use of emergency authorizations for COVID-19 have harmed the FDAs credibility and that the push for a speedy vaccine may feed into the publics distrust of any vaccine approved by the agency.

Polls from earlier this summer showed just 50 percent of Americans say they are willing to get a vaccine.

Meanwhile, scientists continue the search for clear data on blood plasma. Dr. Sonya Heath, professor of medicine and infectious diseases at UAB is leading an ongoing study.

I think the question at this point really is efficacy, she said. When in the course of the disease is the treatment most beneficial? What concentration of antibodies in plasma are needed to achieve results?

Some (donors) make a small amount of antibody, some higher. We need to know what amount of antibody is important for being an effective treatment, she said.

Dr. Heath is hopeful about convalescent blood plasma and says she would use it today if she were treating COVID-19 patients.

If we can decrease the severity of this illness to a more mild illness that allows people to be fine at home with it, that will be beneficial, she said.

Since the FDA approved emergency use of plasma, many clinical trials have ended nationwide. Shifting resources away from clinical trials creates an obstacle to fully vetting treatments, experts like Vanderbilt University scientist Dr. Todd Rice say.

Dr. Rice is leading an ongoing, national study of convalescent blood plasma. He told AL.com no Alabama hospitals are fully participating in his study.

In some instances, hospitals in other states have foregone using plasma under the emergency authorization to continue participation in clinical studies.

Dr. Joe Adkins, director of Pharmacy at Springhill Medical Center in Mobile says his hospital was part of a convalescent plasma trial before the emergency authorization was approved.

Now the hospital is using the treatment on COVID-19 patients widely. He says the risk is low, and theres a modest benefit.

Currently there is not (a) magic cure all that can be given, he said of COVID-19. That leaves us with several different options that are all seemingly somewhat effective given data published so far.

At Infirmary Health in Mobile, Dr. Furhan Yunus led the hospitals clinical trial of convalescent blood plasma before the facility shifted to using the treatment under the new federal authorization.

COVID-19 is a dramatic disease, he says, and the patients who get sick decline quickly. Doctors have felt an intense internal and external pressure to use any cure they can find during this pandemic.

If you have a patient dying in front of you, the natural action of healthcare providers is to do something about it, he said. Hence we have used drugs with no proven benefit.

He says patients do see a benefit from the blood plasma treatment, and it is worth continuing. Dr. Yunus says scientists are getting better at understanding COVID-19 and are taking a more prudent approach.

We are doing less and less of throwing the kitchen sink at the patient and using things more rationally, said Yunus. Hopefully this process will continue.
When you build a home from the ground up, theres one thing thats more important than the concrete, the lumber, the steel or nearly anything else: patience.

For Jack and Araxi Evrensel, that became abundantly clear when they began start-and-stop work on a house that clings to a steep slope of granite at the edge of Burrard Inlet, in West Vancouver, Canada. By the time the house was completed, they had spent eight years working on it, with three different architects.

The couple tried to take each delay in stride. We took our time, because we werent in any rush, said Mr. Evrensel, a former restaurateur who sold his five upscale British Columbia restaurants in 2014. Although they were eager to see their dream house built, they were fortunate enough to be able to stay in their old home as long as they needed to, and were focused on getting things right.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 18:06:55|Editor: huaxia

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CAPE TOWN, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) on Tuesday called on governments, parents, and teachers across Eastern and Southern Africa to urgently and safely re-open schools, as the costs of continued school closures escalate across the region.

Across this region, of the nearly 65 million children remaining out of school, around one in two are not reached by any form of learning, while millions of children continue to miss what was their one nutritious meal of the day, according to UNICEF.

"Seven months into the pandemic, we must be very clear about the gravity of this crisis: we are at risk of losing a generation," said Mohamed Malick Fall, Regional Director for UNICEF in Eastern and Southern Africa. "We see lost learning, rising violence, rising child labor, forced child marriages, teen pregnancies, and diminished nutrition."

A generation of children is at risk, and at the most critical time in the continent's history, Fall lamented.

As the region is experiencing unprecedented population growth, it's important that this expanded workforce can receive quality learning at school so as to ensure that the potential for increased production could sustain an economic boom to drastically reduce poverty in Africa - where currently 70 percent of sub-Saharan Africa's people live on less than two U.S. dollars a day, Fall said.

Safely re-opening schools by the beginning of October this year will give scholars a full term and vastly reduce learning losses, said Fall.

A third term for learners presents the last chance to recoup learning losses for 2020 and avert the dangers of permanent school drop-outs, he said.

Re-opening will also reduce losses incurred by both parents and governments, Fall added.

UNICEF's call to safely re-open schools follows scientific evidence which shows children are not super-spreaders of COVID-19, and are the least affected by the virus in the region, with a mere 2.5 percent of COVID-19 cases attributed to children of school-going ages between five to 18 years.

Critically, there is growing regional and global practice showing that safe school re-opening can be done with political will and community commitment, said Fall.

Most countries in Eastern and Southern Africa have seen the rationale of a phased return to schools, starting with exam classes in countries such as Botswana, Eritrea, Eswatini, Madagascar, Somalia, Zambia, and recently Malawi and Zimbabwe.

Bigger countries with larger COVID-19 caseloads and higher student populations - such as South Africa - have re-opened schools for all grades since the end of August.

Fall pledged that UNICEF will support countries in the region, and share working practices on safely re-opening schools. Enditem
People from other states including migrant workers who are coming to the national capital after relaxation of the lockdown have shown a lower COVID-19 positivity rate in comparison to the city's population, officials said.

As per the government's health bulletin issued on Tuesday, a total of 3,816 people were found to be COVID-19 positive among the 59,013 tested for the virus in the past 24 hours.

The positivity rate was 6.47 percent for the day. The cumulative positivity rate of was 9.59 percent, figures showed.

The data of tests conducted on outsiders including mostly migrant workers coming to the city shows a positivity rate of over 2 percent, the officials said.

The government has set up testing facilities at major entry points of the city, including the inter-state bus terminals and railway stations, where people arriving from other states including UP, Bihar, Jharkhand and MP are tested for COVID-19 through rapid antigen tests.

"The COVID-19 positivity among those arriving in Delhi from other states through the nine entry points is just over 2 percent. As per data around 550 such people among23,565 people tested for the virus were found infected," said a senior government official.

The positivity rate among arriving outsiders fluctuated from as low as around 1 percent at the New Delhi railway station to a maximum of over 8 percent at the Shahdara bus terminal, he said.

At the Anand Vihar interstate bus terminal, maximum 16,570 people have been tested out of which 337 or just over 2 percent were COVID-19 positive, he added.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi dismissed a petition by Chief Justice David Maraga calling on President Uhuru Kenyatta to dissolve Parliament for failing to enact the Two-Thirds gender rule.

In a letter to the Head of State, CJ Maraga said Parliament has refused to comply with the High Court order to enact legislation required to implement the two-thirds gender rule for over nine years.

If Parliament fails to enact legislation in accordance with an order under clause (6)(b), the Chief Justice shall advise the President to dissolve Parliament and the President shall dissolve Parliament, says the CJ.

It is my constitutional duty to advise you, the President of the Republic of Kenya, which I hereby do, to dissolve Parliament.

But in a rejoinder, Speaker Muturi said the petition to dissolve parliament is an unwarranted attack on the August House.

We must not lose sight of the real challenges in implementing this matter and turn Parliament into a punching bag on account of gender parity. The clamour for dissolution of the current Parliament on account of failure to enact the two-third gender legislation is at the very least, unrealistic, he said in a statement.

The Speaker also proposed that the issue of two-thirds gender rule should be subjected to a referendum over the cost of implementing it.

Given the current efforts and initiatives to amend the Constitution that are currently underway such as the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI), the issue on two-thirds gender rule can be subjected to a referendum in the event the same happens, he said.

Owing to the cost implications of implementing the two-thirds gender rule through other mechanisms such as nomination and topping up, it is prudent if the matter were to be subjected to the people once more for a reevaluation or to propose ways of achieving two-thirds gender rule.

Muturi further argued that leaving the issue of gender parity to Parliament would not be the direct expression of the will of the people and would also mean a higher number of legislators.

At present, if we were to nominate women legislators to comply with the two-thirds gender principle in Parliament, we would have to nominate up to 100 women legislators, said Mr. Muturi.

Given that legislators decide through voting in Parliament, this would in essence mean that there are an additional 100 votes of nominated women legislators, yet these legislators are not a direct expression of the will of the people.

The Speaker further pointed out that the by-elections to be held if Parliament was dissolved would also not guarantee gender parity.

In fact, dissolution of Parliament will necessitate a by-election in all constituencies, nearly akin to a General Election Even more fundamentally, there is no particular guarantee that were by-elections to be conducted throughout the country under the extant First Past the Post electoral system, the obtaining electoral results would be gender compliant, he said.
The Indian World Forum is seeking immediate intervention of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on the heinous crimes inflicted on minorities in Pakistan citing that the atrocities endanger international peace. The Delhi-based organisation that works to promote the art, culture and commerce among the diaspora of the nation, IWF, has asserted that Pakistan with the contribution of its several agencies at multiple instances has not only supported terrorism but has also funded such activities that wreck Indias peace and stability, including the so-called Khalistan movement.

IWF's Secretary-General Puneet Singh Chandhok on Monday wrote a letter addressing Abdou Abarry, and President of the Security Council, and noted the case of the Sikh girl who is alleged to be kidnapped around her residence more than two weeks ago. According to reports, she was then forced to convert to Islam and married off to local youth. Chandhok highlighted the atrocities that range from abduction to forceful conversion of religion that according to him showcase the lack of compliance of Pakistan to the UN Charter.

"The minorities living in Pakistan are victims of heinous crimes which are threatening international peace. Atrocities ranging from abduction to forceful conversion into Islam of young girls is a matter of great concern and decrease in demographics of minorities portray lack of compliance of Pakistan to UN Charter," he wrote.

Read - 4 Members Back India For UNSC Permanent Seat, Unspecific On China's Support: MEA

Read - US Special Representative Khalilzad Reaffirms UNSC's Commitment to Peace In Afghanistan

Chandok talked about the missing girls

In the same letter cited by ANI, the IWF Secretary-General also talked about several missing girls from Pakistani provinces who have allegedly kidnapped or were subjected to sexual abuse and exploitation. Chandok also said that such extremists are being sheltered by the Pakistan government and are thus, free to commit such acts of crimes adding that the international community is deeply concerned about the minorities living in the country. Therefore, he requested the UNSC to urgently look into the ongoing atrocities in Pakistan.

"Many young girls residing in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Sindh provinces have been missing or abducted and are subjected to sexual exploitation and abuse," he said.

"I request your presidency to immediately investigate the ongoing atrocities on minorities living in Pakistan and also to direct the government to ensure safety and well being of Hindus and Sikhs and other faiths living there, and ensure foolproof sanctity of historical shrines and estates located there. You may take any appropriate action as deemed fit including enforcing an international ban on Khalistan terrorists and their agents," he further said.

Read - US, UNSC Members Struggle Over 'snapback' As Iran's Arms Embargo Deadline Nears

Read - India Is Collaborating With Pro-reform Countries To Become Permanent UNSC Member: MEA

(Inputs: ANI/Image: AP)
Interpol chief Meng Hongwei was sentenced to more than 13 years in prison for bribery in a case that shook the international police organisation

The former head of Interpol, an ex-spy chief and a Xinjiang governor accused of "trading power for sex" are just some of the high-profile officials to suffer spectacular falls from grace in President Xi Jinping's purge of the Chinese Communist Party's upper echelons.

Ostensibly a crackdown on corruption, critics say the wide-ranging campaign has also served as a way to remove those voicing criticism of the all-powerful leader.

Here are some of the political heavyweights currently languishing in jail after being caught in Xi's anti-graft net.

High-flyer Bo Xilai

Son of a high-ranking revolutionary general and a political high-flyer tipped for the top job, Bo Xilai was sentenced to life in jail for bribery in 2013, amid a murder scandal involving his wife and the death of a British businessman.

Charismatic Bo, aged 71, had exposed deep splits in the party before Xi took power in 2012.

He was party chief of the southwestern metropolis of Chongqing when murder allegations against his wife Gu Kailai burst into the open.

Bo was stripped of his position and convicted of bribery, embezzlement and abuse of power, and his wife was handed a death sentence for murder -- later commuted to life imprisonment.

Security chief Zhou Yongkang

Former spy chief Zhou Yongkang was convicted of a series of corruption charges -- including bribery, abuse of power and leaking state secrets -- and jailed for life in 2015.

Until his fall from grace, Zhou, 78 -- who started off as an oil field technician -- was one of the nine most senior politicians in China.

Interpol chief Meng Hongwei

Then Interpol chief Meng Hongwei was sentenced to more than 13 years in prison for bribery in January, in a case that shook the international police organisation.

He vanished during a 2018 visit to China from France, where he was based as the body's first Chinese president, and later pleaded guilty to accepting $2.1 million in bribes.

Story continues

During his tenure as deputy chief of the public security bureau, the agency arrested and interrogated a number of prominent Chinese dissidents -- including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo, who later died of cancer while in police custody.

Xinjiang chief Nur Bekri

One of China's highest-ranking Uighur officials and the former head of the troubled northwest Xinjiang region, Nur Bekri was jailed for life last December.

He pleaded guilty to accepting 79 million yuan ($11.6 million) in bribes over the course of two decades and "trading power for sex", according to a court in northeast China.

Bekri's tenure in the region was marred by violence, including bloody anti-Chinese riots in 2009 that left nearly 200 dead.

'Big Cannon' Ren Zhiqiang

Property tycoon Ren Zhiqiang -- once among the Communist Party's inner circle -- disappeared from the public eye in March, shortly after penning an essay that lambasted Xi's response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The son of a former commerce minister, Ren was known for his outspokenness, which earned him the nickname "Big Cannon" -- in his essay criticising Xi, he called the president a "clown".

Jailing him this week for 18 years for corruption, bribery and stealing public funds, a Beijing court said Ren embezzled money and accepted bribes while chairman of a state-owned property developer.

prw/rox/rma/leg
India Inc on Tuesday made a case for announcing a fiscal future road map with medium term goals and recapitalising of during their representatives' meeting with Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant-led empowered group.

During the meeting with the empowered group -- which was constituted on March 29 to suggest measures to ramp up healthcare as well as put the economy back on track -- the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) called for better coordination between the centre, states and city authorities on lockdown and opening up.

"CII asked the government to announce a fiscal future road map with medium term goals, (and) recapitalise PSBs (Public Sector Banks)," the industry body said in a statement.

The industry body also asked the government to extend the unutilised funds under ECGLS to stressed sectors.

"The Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECGLS) with an allocation of Rs 3 lakh crores liquidity guarantee was provided to the MSME sector.

"CII suggests that the ambit of coverage under ECGLS may be extended to the extent of any unutilised amounts for revival of the stressed sectors, including civil aviation, hospitality and tourism, construction sectors," the industry body said.

Representatives of Ficci, Federation of Indian Micro and Small & Medium Enterprises (FISME), and the department for promotion of industry and internal trade were also present at the meeting.

According to Niti Aayog's tweet, representatives of the department for promotion of industry and internal trade discussed the need for boosting consumer confidence and freeing up supply chains.

CII also suggested that the government should extend the Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS) benefits up to December 31 in its present form with a rider that the balance funds would be disbursed later with in a fixed agreeable time-period as and when government's finances improve.

"This will help address the accounting problem of exporters as they can book the receivables under MEIS in the current financial year," it added.

The industry body said a survey of 120 CEOs with operations spread across 20 states and three union territories showed that 77 per cent of them reported adverse impact on revenue as well as profit due to adhoc lockdowns.

The survey was conducted by CII.

"About 61 per cent of the reported that adhoc lockdown would impact their revenues up to 50 per cent and 48 per cent of them also reported that their profits would be impacted up to 50 per cent due to the adhoc lockdowns," it 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.)
"Addie was always right there, very cheerful and eager to help," said Dr. Holmes. "She and her sister loved to joke around and kind of tease each other, and it was just a lot of fun times and great memories."

Dr. Fagan clearly "really cared about people, cared about the world, and definitely wanted to continue serving in underserved areas, both in the U.S. and overseas," said Dr. Holmes. "She was such a happy, caring person and physician, and very competent in what she did. She really knew her stuff. Some people know their stuff, but they're not very compassionate or personable, and she was everything."

Dr. Fagan was also praised by Dr. Vanessa M. Barnabei, professor of obstetrics and gynecology and associate dean for faculty affairs. For a Jacobs School article about Dr. Fagan, Dr. Barnabei wrote, "Addie decided on a career in obstetrics and gynecology fairly late in medical school, but once she made up her mind she was willing to do whatever it took to pursue her goal. She had an amazingly positive attitude and infectious smile and her passing will deprive thousands of women of her empathy and commitment to their health."
High-stakes regular "RaulGonzalez" showed off his mixed game talents in WCOOP-69-H: $10,300 8-Game [High Roller]. winning $235,531 after defeating a 67-player field. The event began back on Saturday and cut to the final day after the money was reached with seven players remaining.

The German, notable for some epic high stakes cash game clashes against Viktor "Isildur1" Blom" with 2-7 Triple Draw and 8-Game stakes going up as high as $1,000/$2,000, defeated GPI's #3 Stephen "stevie444".Chidwick heads-up, with the latter claiming $156,001 out of the $670,000 total prize pool.

Joao "Naza114" Vieira completed the podium and added $103,325 to his bankroll. Mike "goleafsgoeh" Leah finished fifth, while start-of-the-day chip leader Andrew "ClockWyze" Pantling departed in sixth place despite being in the lead until shortly before his elimination.

WCOOP-69-H: $10,300 8-Game [High Roller] Final Table Results

Place Player Country Prize 1 RaulGonzalez Germany $235,531 2 Stephen "stevie444" Chidwick United Kingdom $156,001 3 Joao "Naza114" Vieira Portugal $103,325 4 hotmark777 Lebanon $68,436 5 Mike "goleafsgoeh" Leah Canada $45,328 6 Andrew "ClockWyze" Pantling Canada $33,290 7 No Shock Canada $28,088

Action of the Day

The day kicked off with just seven players after the bubble had burst on Day 1 with Dzmitry Urbanovich being the final player to miss out on the money. With $28,088 guaranteed for each player, it would be Canada's "No Shock" to depart first in Razz. Against Vieira, "No Shock" had a made seven-six-five on fifth street, only for Vieira to pip him with a seven-six-four to leave the field with six.

Pantling was pacing the field before and after the bustout, extending his lead with aggression by picking up quite a few uncontested pots. However, after doubling up Chidwick by losing a set versus flush and straight draws in NLHE, he then barreled it off versus Vieira's nut flush to suddenly be relegated to one of the shortest stacks. Pantling tried to gain it back by three-bet shoving ace-deuce over a Vieira raise, but the latter picked him off with ace-nine and held to send Pantling to the rail.

Short stack Leah busted next against Chidwick in a kings-versus-aces hand in PLO before "hotmark777" was ousted after forty minutes of four-handed play. "RaulGonzalez" knocked him out with the nut flush in Limit Hold'em to set up an interesting three-handed clash with fellow high-stakes regulars Chidwick and Vieira.

Stephen 'stevie444' Chidwick finished in 2nd place.

Chips were flying back and forth until "RaulGonzalez" was able to distance himself at the expense of Vieira, first making a boat in Stud before rivering three tens in Stud Hi-Lo to take most of Vieira's stack. Moving to NLHE, Vieira called off a Chidwick shove with jack-ten suited, but the Brit had king-jack and turned a straight to enter the heads-up phase.

Both 8-Game specialists tangled back and forth, exchanging the lead throughout. With the blinds and limits high, especially with 2-7 Triple Draw rotating into the mix, tons of pots were on the bigger side with "RaulGonzalez" taking the majority of it. Once the dust on the swingy draw game had settled, Chidwick was facing a 5:1 chip deficit and made his stand in Limit Hold'em. Moving all in on the turn holding flush and straight draws, Chidwick bricked the river to leave the WCOOP title to an ultra high-stakes 8-Game player.
Former President John Dramani Mahama has cut short his campaign tour of the Bono Region.

The former President seeking re-election explained that the move was to enable him and the leaders of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) to travel back to Accra "because of the increasing reports of challenges with the voter register and the exhibition process."

In a Facebook post, Mr Mahama said the NDC will be addressing a major press conference on the issues in due course.

"I am cutting short my tour of the Bono Region to return to Accra because of the increasing reports of challenges with the voter register and the exhibition process. Well address a major press conference on the issues in due course."

However, John Mahama also said one of the problems President Akufo-Addo has is that he raises expectations too high.

Mahama who rounded up his tour of the Bono Region said Akufo-Addo always chooses the populist approach and raises the hopes of many which comes back to haunt him.

The NDC flagbearer says he has spoken with some traditional rulers in the Bono Region and has taken a lot of advice from them concerning leadership.

"These are traditional rulers who have acquired years of experience of leadership so when they give advice I listen carefully and take it in good faith. They were talking about leadership and not being populist and managing expectations of people and I think that is one of the problems Akufo-Addo faces, he raises expectations so high but very low on delivery"

Mahama also said Ghanaians are aware that he is more credible than President Akufo-Addo.

According to him, President Akufo-Addo is heavy on giving promises but low on delivery.

Mahama also promised to address all their concerns if he is voted into power come December 2020.

Many have already tipped the upcoming 2020 polls to be a two-horse race between President Akufo-Addo of the NPP and former President John Mahama of the NDC.

The two will be squaring off for the 3rd time after both won one contest each.
Katie Holmes is certainly not letting a global pandemic get in the way of a good PDA session.

The 41-year-old actress was seen exchanging multiple kisses with younger boyfriend Emilio Vitolo, 33, as they dined al fresco during a romantic date in New York City on Tuesday.

The two were not shy about lip locking in public as they put their face masks away to smooch at the dinner table.

Packing it on: Katie Holmes was seen exchanging mulitple kisses with younger boyfriend Emilio Vitolo, 33, as they dined al fresco during a romantic date in New York City on Monday

Loved up: Katie and her new man seem to be inseparable as they have been seen on numerous outings together in the Big Apple over the past few weeks

Katie and her new man seem to be inseparable as they have been seen on numerous outings together in the Big Apple over the past few weeks.

She looked chic as always as she wore a navy blue coat featuring gold buttons over a black top.

The former star of Dawson's Creek also sported blue relaxed fit boyfriend jeans along with black leather loafers.

Not shy: The two were not shy about lip locking in public as they put their face masks away to smooch at the dinner table

Casual cool: She looked chic as always as she wore a navy blue coat featuring gold buttons over a black top

She accessorized with a pair of black cat eye shades and a blue facemask.

Her brunette tresses were put up in a messy bun as she showed off her natural looks by wearing minimal make-up on her face.

Emilio looked dapper in a long charcoal grey coat over a dark grey polo, black jeans and black leather boots.

Good times: The two shared a laugh at the dinner table

Looking good: Her brunette tresses were put up in a messy bun as she showed off her natural looks by wearing minimal make-up on her face

Handsome: Emilio looked dapper in a long charcoal grey coat over a dark grey polo, black jeans and black leather boots

Protected: The duo wore face masks as they exited the establishment

To go: Emilio collected a bad of leftovers to take home following the daytime meal

Romantic: The chef and the Dawson's Creek star walked hand-in-hand

So happy together: The pair gazed at one another as they stepped forward in the Big Apple

He kept the dark grey look going with a checked baker boy cap and white facemask as he strolled arm in arm with his new ladylove.

Just the day before the happy couple once again strolled with their hands interlocked as they made their way through Downtown's famous Wall Street area.

Holmes cut a stylish figure in a plaid FRAME blazer that she layered over a plain white tee.

She tucked her tee into a pair of marled drawstring sweatpants and she slipped her feet into her favorite white sneakers.

Relaxed: The pair looked like they were having a wonderful time at the end of the meal

Happy: The Batman Begins beauty looked to be having a laugh at the table

Love in bloom: Just the day before the happy couple once again strolled with their hands interlocked as they made their way through Downtown's famous Wall Street area

Hand-in-hand: At one point, the 41-year-old actress and the 33-year-old chef strolled with their hands interlocked as they made their way through Downtown's famous Wall Street area

The Dawson's Creek star looked noticeably fresh faced, although she kept her mouth and nose concealed behind a medical grade face mask.

She let her lengthy brunette hair rock its natural wave, which created an overall voluminous look for the actress.

Vitolo, whose family runs and owns the famous restaurant Emilio's Ballato in NYC, looked undeniably suave with his perfectly slicked hair and stylish peacoat.

He also had on blue v-neck t-shirt and some dark wash denim jeans, which created a stylish, yet casual silhouette.

Stylish: Holmes cut a stylish figure a plaid FRAME blazer that she layered over a plain white tee

Natural beauty: The Dawson's Creek star looked noticeably fresh faced, although she kept her mouth and nose concealed behind a medical grade face mask

Following in Katie's footsteps, Emilio made sure to wear a face mask for their romantic outing.

His mask often slipped off his nose as he spoke to Katie and during one pit stop, Vitolo completely removed his mask from his face.

He graciously carted Holmes around the city in his bright red Pontiac, even briefly swinging by her Soho apartment.

Suave: Vitolo, whose family runs and owns the restaurant Emilio's Ballato in NYC, looked undeniably suave with his perfectly slicked hair and stylish peacoat

Smiley: Katie, with a black tote bag slung over her shoulder, retrieved a package from her apartment and then returned to Emilio and his parked vehicle

Katie, with a black Sharkchaser bag slung over her shoulder, retrieved a package from her apartment and then returned to Emilio and his parked vehicle.

Before sitting back down in the passenger's seat, the Batman Begins actress could be seen laughing at Emilio through the car's windshield.

The pair appeared to be having a ball taking on the city and made frequent stops along the way.

Having a ball: The pair appeared to be having a ball taking on the city and made frequent stops along the way

Masking it up: Following in Katie's footsteps, Emilio made sure to wear a face mask for their romantic outing

Katie and Emilio were first linked on Tuesday, September 1, while on an apparent date at Mediterranean restaurant Antique Garage in Soho.

But the romantic nature of their relationship was unveiled on Sunday, September 6, as they indulged in a hot and heavy make out session at Peasant Restaurant in Manhattan

The actress joyously sat on the chef's lap as they locked lips and erupted in frequent fits of laughter.

Chauffeur: Vitolo graciously carted Holmes around the city in his bright red Pontiac, even briefly swinging by her Soho apartment

Katie has been uncharacteristically public regarding her budding relationship with Emilio Jr. as she often seen hanging out with him at his father's popular restaurant Emilio's Ballato in Manhattan.

A source close to the situation recently dished to People that Katie is beyond 'smitten' with her toyboy and that she 'keeps texting him all day long and he loves it.'

The source added: 'He can't get enough of her attention.'

DailyMail.com confirmed exclusively on September 10 that Vitolo broke up with his live-in fiancee Rachel Emmons, 24, via text message when the photos of him locking lips with Katie went public.

Smitten: A source close to the situation recently dished to People that Katie is beyond 'smitten' with her toyboy and that she 'keeps texting him all day long and he loves it'; Emilio and Katie pictured on September 18

The bombshell break up forced the 24-year-old handbag designer to grapple with the end of an engagement amid COVID-19 and move back to her parents' home.

It was also uncovered that Katie and Emilio's friendship has been growing since October 2019, and that the actress appears unbothered by the chef's engagement drama.

Katie and Emilio first met when a mutual friend introduced them, and their passions have only intensified since she returned home to New York City following time quarantining with her family in Ohio.

An insider close to the Logan Lucky star said she's now behaving 'like a teenage girl in love' because Vitolo is 'openly affectionate with her, left his fiancee to be with her and gives her something [her ex-boyfriend] Jamie [Foxx] couldn't,' the source added.

Recovering: An insider close to the Logan Lucky star said she's now behaving 'like a teenage girl in love' because Vitolo is 'openly affectionate with her, left his fiancee to be with her and gives her something [her ex-boyfriend] Jamie [Foxx] couldn't,' the source added; Jamie and Katie pictured in 2019

The insider said Holmes had been devastated by her breakup last year with the playboy actor, who never seemed to give up his roving eye and was still too close for comfort with his baby mama.

The acting couple were first linked in 2013 hand-in-hand through Malibu, but they kept their relationship private throughout the years, but split after going public last year at the Met Gala.

Holmes was famously married to Tom Cruise, 58, from 2006 until their dramatic divorce in 2012, and they share daughter Suri, 14, born in 2006.

You can watch Dawson's Creek on Stan in Australia.
Brock University will stay the course when it comes to in-person classes during the winter term.

Brocks provost and vice-president, academic, Lynn Wells said the university will continue to provide most classes virtually.

The university has chosen to continue with primarily online instruction in the winter term due to continued uncertainty posed by the pandemic, said Wells. Many universities in Ontario have already begun to announce that they plan to continue instruction primarily online in the winter, and ... Brock is joining that group.

The decision to continue with virtual classes as the primary method of learning was determined by the university senate.

Brock classes will extend the current academic model through the winter term that runs from January to April.

In a media release on the Brocks website, the university indicated that, While courses will continue to be delivered primarily online in the winter term, a limited number of courses for which no online alternative exists will be offered on campus, as was the case in the Fall Term.

For the fall term, there are only a few hundred students taking courses on campus at any given time. Brocks total full- and part-time enrolment levels are around 19,000.

With a reduced student presence on campus, fewer staff are required on site to support the wide range of normal campus activities, from food services and library operations to administration of parking and residences. Many staff are working primarily or entirely from home during the fall term.
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The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has proposed specific procedures for passengers of regular international air routes to strictly follow in order to buy tickets and board their flights to the Southeast Asian country.

Each country and territory has different policies that allow the entry of different groups of people, the CAAV stated.

It is thus impossible for two countries or territories to agree on the exact groups of passengers allowed on their regular international routes.

Local airlines are also unable to determine if a passenger belongs to a specific group in order to sell tickets and perform aviation procedures.

Therefore, the CAAV suggested that the prime minister assigns the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to grant visas to passengers on the countrys regular international routes.

Airlines will only perform aviation procedures for passengers who have been granted a visa by Vietnamese authorities.

Competent authorities in Vietnam previously proposed that airlines can only sell tickets to people with a visa and specific accommodation facilities in Vietnam.

Local carriers were also put in charge of verifying if a passenger officially tests negative for the novel coronavirus within three days prior to their departure.

However, the CAAV believed that this approach was not feasible as airlines would only able to sell their tickets directly to each passenger within three days of each flight, which would negatively impact the number of passengers and cause difficulties for flyers.

If travelers fail to buy tickets when the flight is full or canceled, they would have to prepare their documents all over again and possibly lose money already deposited for reservations at local accommodation facilities.

To solve these issues, the CAAV suggested that the process go as follows:

Airlines only make reservations and sell tickets to passengers who provide sufficient information, including their name, phone number while in Vietnam, the address and telephone number of their quarantine facility in Vietnam, and the phone number of the organization in charge of picking them up at the airport.

During check-in, airlines will require passengers to present their passports, visas, and equivalent documents; certification of negative COVID-19 test results within three days before boarding, which must be certified by Vietnam's diplomatic representatives in their home countries; documents confirming that they will be allowed to stay at a quarantine facility in Vietnam; and information of the organization that will welcome them at the airport.

Quarantine facilities can be official offices of diplomatic missions, factories, corporate headquarters or hotels, accommodation establishments, and quarantine centers managed by the military.

Passengers must wear face masks on the plane, install the Vietnam Health Declaration and Bluezone apps on their smartphones, and fill out electronic health declarations.

They will not be allowed to get on the plane if their body temperature exceeds 37.5 degrees Celsius.

The Vietnamese government officially reopened international air routes to Japan, China, South Korea, and Taiwan on September 15, after having suspended all commercial flights since March 25 to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Flights to Laos and Cambodia were scheduled to resume on Tuesday.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
By Alun John, Sumeet Chatterjee and Lawrence White HONG KONG/LONDON (Reuters) - Global banks faced a fresh scandal about dirty money on Monday as they sought to limit the fallout from a cache of leaked documents showing they transferred more than $2 trillion in suspect funds over nearly two decades.

By Alun John, Sumeet Chatterjee and Lawrence White

HONG KONG/LONDON (Reuters) - Global banks faced a fresh scandal about dirty money on Monday as they sought to limit the fallout from a cache of leaked documents showing they transferred more than $2 trillion in suspect funds over nearly two decades.

Britain-based HSBC Holdings Plc , Standard Chartered Plc and Barclays Plc , Germany's Deutsche Bank AG and Commerzbank AG , and U.S.-headquartered JPMorgan Chase & Co and Bank of New York Mellon Corp were among the lenders named in the report by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists and based on leaked documents obtained by BuzzFeed News.

The report was based on 2,100 leaked suspicious activity reports (SARs), covering transactions between 1999 and 2017, filed by banks and other financial firms with the U.S. Department of Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCen). Banks are required to file an SAR whenever handling funds that cause grounds for suspicion of criminal activity.

While some banks said many of the transactions happened a long time ago, and they had since put robust checks in place, the reports revealed broader problems with the monitoring system at the heart of global policing of money laundering and other criminal activity.

The reports drew calls from some industry groups and activists for reforms. Investors worried about the potential fallout for global banks, many of which have faced hefty fines in the past for lapses in controls and spent billions of dollars to bolster compliance.

"It confirms what we already knew: that there are huge amounts of SARs being filed with relatively low numbers of cases brought through to prosecution, said Etelka Bogardi, a Hong Kong-based financial services partner at Norton Rose Fulbright.

"It also brings out the point that managing financial crime risk goes beyond making SARs," Bogardi said.

The Institute of International Finance, an industry group, called for reforms. "There is a balance to be struck between managing financial crime risk and ensuring access to the financial system for legitimate customers," the IIF said.

HSBC and StanChart shares touched their lowest level in as much as 25 years, although they fared little worse than their peers amid a wider sell-off in global stocks.

JPMorgan and Bank of New York Mellon, which were also in the top five banks mentioned most frequently in the SARs, fell more than 4% each during midday trading in New York.

Shares of Deutsche Bank, which was involved in the largest number of SARs in BuzzFeed's dossier, were down more than 8% at one point on Monday morning following the reports.

Several analysts, however, played down the scale of problems.

"Unless there are more substantive allegations of fact, we expect that this article will not have lasting impacts on the industry or stock prices," Chris Kotowski, analyst at Oppenheimer, wrote in a note.

Bank shares were also pressured on Monday by other news, including worries about the resurgence of the coronavirus in Europe.

IMPORTANT WORK

Deutsche Bank said the issues raised in the media reports were "historic," while the German Finance Ministry said on Monday that the cases linked to Germany in the reports had already been dealt with.

HSBC also said the information in the reports was historic, while Standard Chartered pointed to recent investments to improve its control procedures.

BNY Mellon said it fully complied with all "all applicable laws and regulations." JPMorgan said it has "thousands of people and hundreds of millions of dollars dedicated to this important work."

Many of the suspicious transactions were linked to companies incorporated in Britain or offshore British territories, prompting calls from action groups for tougher rules.

"If the government cares at all about the UK's reputation globally, it must stop rolling out the red carpet to the criminal and corrupt, and refuse to legitimize their money through our companies and banks, Global Witness said.

The UK government said it was working on reforms to its corporate registry system that will require more checks on company directors.

MAJOR WEALTH HUBS

Global banks in recent years have boosted investments in technology and staff to deal with tighter anti-money laundering and sanctions regulatory requirements across the world.

Thousands of clients were booted out of bank accounts in major wealth hubs including Hong Kong and Singapore after a money laundering scandal in Malaysia, the "Panama Papers" expose, and a global push for tax transparency.

Compliance experts said that part of the problem now was banks were struggling to distinguish between transactions that were and were not suspicious, so were simply filing millions of SARs that enforcement agencies lack the capacity to deal with.

"Lots of banks are struggling with high false positive rates and the backlog (of existing cases). That's why you see that sometimes SARs were raised over 100 days after the transaction," said Cliff Lam, a director at AlixPartners in Hong Kong.

(Reporting by Alun John, Sumeet Chatterjee and Donny Kwok in Hong Kong and Lawrence White, Ritvik Carvalho, Sujata Rao and Karin Strohecker in London, Pete Schroeder in Washington and Paritosh Bansal in New York; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan, Louise Heavens, Pravin Char and Jonathan Oatis)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
BRIDGEPORT  A veteran city police officer was ordered Monday to stay away from an 11-year-old girl who claims the officer repeatedly raped her.

Police Sgt. Ivan Delgado, wearing a face mask, stood behind a plexiglass screen as he was arraigned on three counts of first-degree sexual assault and three counts of risk of injury to a minor.

During the brief hearing, Superior Court Judge Tracy Lee Dayton issued a protective order barring the 52-year-old Delgado from having any further contact with the victim and her family.

Delgados lawyer, John R. Gulash, told the judge that Delgado had already surrendered his firearms as required by the order.

The judge continued the case for a plea on Oct. 6.

Gulash and Delgado declined comment as they left the Golden Hill Street courthouse. Delgado is free on $250,000 bond.

Delgado, a 13-year member of the Bridgeport Police Department, has been placed on administrative leave without pay.

On Aug. 29, Bridgeport police received notice from the state Department of Children and Families that the mother of an 11-year-old girl was reporting her daughter had been raped by Delgado, according to the arrest warrant affidavit.

During a forensic interview, the girl told them Delgado, who is acquainted with the girls family, touched her inappropriately a number of times and the severity of the assaults had increased recently, the affidavit said.

A few days before the assaults were reported, the affidavit said, the girl told investigators that she had been at Delgados home when he pulled her into his bedroom. She said he told her he found her so sexy and then raped her as she begged him to stop, the affidavit said.

According to the affidavit, the girl demonstrated for investigators what Delgado  who she described as a very nice person who is sick in the head  did to her on an anatomically accurate doll.

When his fellow officers confronted him with the allegations, the affidavit states that Delgado denied sexually assaulting the girl and told police he had never been alone with her.
Keeley Harrison, left, pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving. (Wales News Service/Getty)

A woman who didnt know she was pregnant suffered a miscarriage after she fell from the bonnet of her car while her friend was driving in a practical joke gone wrong.

Megan Meredith, 22, broke her ankle and her knee when she was flung off her own blue Ford Ka in Bargoed, Wales, on 22 March last year.

Her friend, Keeley Harrison, 20, had jumped behind the wheel as part of a practical joke, and kept driving even when Meredith jumped on the bonnet in an attempt to stop her.

She fell from the car after it travelled along Upper High Street for a number of yards at a speed of between 16 mph and 19 mph, Cardiff Crown Court heard on Monday.

Harrison, a support worker from Brithdir, Caerphilly, initially claimed both parties were responsible but later pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

She was sentenced to 18 months detention in a young offenders institution, suspended for 18 months.

Harrison got into the drivers seat of the car while Meredith went to put rubbish in a bin, leaving the key in the ignition.

Read more: Tory MPs and ministers 'losing confidence' in Boris Johnson

She locked the doors while two other friends were in the back seat.

Harrison said she intended to play a practical joke by driving the car around the corner, but Meredith jumped on the bonnet.

With her friend on the front of the car, Harrison kept driving before braking abruptly, causing Meredith to fall to the ground.

She sustained a broken right ankle and broken right tibia which required surgery at Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil, where it was discovered she was pregnant.

Keeley Harrison, pictured, got into the driver's seat of her friend's car as a 'practical joke'. (Wales News)

However, as a result of her treatment, including five hours of surgery, she suffered a miscarriage.

Meredith spent two weeks in hospital and was forced to take six months off work. Doctors have told her that her leg may never fully recover.

In a victim personal statement read out in court, Meredith said the incident came as a "complete shock" and left her "devastated, having considered Harrison to be a friend.

Story continues

She said: "This incident has ruined my life and I am worried about the future, my leg function and employment.

"I'm not the person I was before and I don't think I'll ever be the same person again. I now have to live with these injuries for the rest of my life."

The sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court heard Meredith picked up Harrison and two other friends and parked in Upper High Street while the group bought some cakes.

Meredith left the keys in the ignition while taking rubbish to a nearby bin, but when she looked back she saw Harrison in the drivers seat and found the doors were locked from the inside.

Keeley Harrison was sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court. (Getty)

Prosecutor Nigel Fryer said: "The car started to roll backwards and Ms Meredith leant on the bonnet, shouting at her not to drive the car, and there was laughing and joking in the vehicle. She also believed they were filming her on a phone.

"She felt the car move forward and was gripping on to the car to try and stop herself from falling. The defendant pulled out of the parking space while she was still on the bonnet and she accelerated up Upper High Street with Ms Meredith's legs dangling down.

Read more: Mystery of 300 dead elephants in Botswana solved

"She felt the car was being driven fast and she tried to grab hold of the windscreen wipers but she fell off the front of the car on to her right-hand side.

"She felt confused initially and didn't know if she had passed out but when she tried to get up she described feeling horrific pain in her right leg."

Meredith said the defendant and her friends didn't believe she had broken her ankle and told her to get up. The court heard the pair are no longer friends.

Defence barrister Jenny Yeo said: "This is a tragic case for all concerned. My client takes full responsibility for her stupidity and her actions."

Sentencing, Judge Jeremy Jenkins said: "Causing injury to your friend was the last thing on your mind, I have no doubt, but you have acknowledged how dangerous and foolish your actions were."

As well as the suspended sentence, Harrison was also banned from driving for two years and was ordered to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work and to pay 600 in costs.
The coronavirus pandemic has had a more negative impact on women in Nigeria, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Pauline Tallen, said on Monday.

Mrs Tallen, while speaking at the Women in Governance and Politics Conference (WIGPC) live-streamed on Arise TV, said the impact of the COVID-19 restrictions is greater for women who dominate the informal business sector.

Women are the worst hit by the pandemic because more women are in the informal sector business and they are the ones that most of their businesses are sold on daily basis to earn their living but with the lockdown, it was a battle.

Most women are the care givers in every home. In the health sector, we have more females as the health givers so you cannot succeed or do anything without putting women in the center, she said.

The conference was organised by Dinidari Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) advocating for the inclusion of women in decision-making processes and to ensure women live a better life.

Women inclusion

Mrs Tallen said the ongoing process by the National Assembly to review the 1999 constitution must include womens views for the constitution to be representative of the citizenry.

She said women have been marginalised and not consulted in the processes of drafting the Constitution.

Women have been marginalised and have not been consulted in the processes of the constitution. Womens views must be included in the Constitution for it to be representative of the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, she said.

She noted that there are factors within the countrys laws that need to be rectified for the sake of equity.

The current constitutional amendment process creates yet another opportunity for Nigeria to do the right thing for Nigerian women. Their demands are simple; equal rights and equal opportunities. An equal society is a better society, she said.

Meanwhile, the Executive Director of Dinidari Foundation, Ndi Kato, said the call for equal rights and opportunities is not a competition with the male gender.

She noted that Nigeria is a complex nation in need of everyones contribution including women, to achieve sustainable development.

Everybody in Nigeria should be empowered to bring equal contributions to the table for a better nation. The more you continue to keep women down, the more it costs Nigeria because already, the role we are having is not a healthy one and if we must save this ship from sinking, one of the major things we need to look at is equal rights and opportunities for women, she said.

Less than 5 per cent of representation in politics, women are not in the table of decision making, women are primary targets of terrorism, womens ownership of properties is at 11 per cent, the number of girls going to school is very low, we are still dealing with issues of child marriage.

This is not sustainable, equal rights and opportunities for women means a better life for all of us, she said.

In his remarks, Enyinnaya Abaribe, a senator representing Abia South Senatorial District, said the 9th Assembly is committed towards ensuring women were given an equal opportunity to contribute their quota towards national development.

He noted that more awareness and sensitisation of the people and lawmakers is needed.
Hyderabad: The GMR-led Hyderabad International Airport was re-connected with Qatar in the Gulf region after Qatar Airways resumed its services under the air transport bubble arrangements .

The airlines resumed the services from September 13, connecting Hyderabad with Doha, Qatar twice a week i.e., Saturday and Sunday.

Karthik Viswanathan, Area Sales Manager-South Asia Sub Continent, Qatar Airways, said, "We are extremely pleased to resume flights to Hyderabad, especially in this distinct case of an air bubble between the two countries. This clearly shows our airline's resilience during this crisis and unwavering commitment to our passengers to reunite them with their loved ones."

In addition, Hyderabad International Airport has resumed services to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with the resumption of Etihad Airways between Hyderabad and Abu Dhabi. The connectivity recommenced from September 20 and is available thrice a week -- every Thursday, Friday and Sunday.

Passengers can book their tickets for these services through the airline websites, as per the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, adhering to the COVID-19 safety guidelines.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.

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FORT ANAHUAC PARK  Henry Mayes, 73, got out of his silver Nissan truck to survey the water coming over the road. He and his wife were sightseeing, so to speak, as Tropical Storm Beta neared the coastline.

They knew the power the Gulf could wield: their home in Hankamer flooded during Hurricane Harvey, and they were still working month by month to get it back together again. It destroyed his wifes beloved 40-year-old piano.

Mayes  like everyone across the region  hoped Beta wouldnt be too bad. But anticipation here was building. Yesterday and today, he had watched the water along the Chambers County coastline rise.

And he felt that, when it comes to storms, you just never know, he said.

Both Harvey and, in 2019, Tropical Storm Imelda, drenched this area east of Houston, flooding home after home. Residents here were on high-alert for Hurricane Laura too, evacuating from low-lying areas.

Now Playing: As bands from Tropical Storm Beta rolled in Monday, the Houston Chronicle staff shot footage in Galveston, Surfside Beach and Kemah. In Galveston, a part of the 61st Street Pier washed onto the beach. In Brazoria County, Beta brought rising tides and some property damage to Surfside Beach. (Videos: Brett Coomer, Godofredo Vasquez, Steve Gonzales) Video: Houston Chronicle

But even as a handful of roads were beginning to flood as the water level rose, those such as Mayes were holding out hope. Beta was just a tropical storm, not a hurricane, Mayes and his wife, Alma, figured.

And hadnt they been through enough? His wife, 70, a retired Postal service employee, also had her face mask with her in the car to protect against the coronavirus.

2020s been bad, Mayes said.

Earlier that morning, the county emergency operations crew  whittled down so as not to crowd people because of coronavirus  had returned to the emergency operations center.

They worked for four months there because of COVID-19 and they spent the night there as Laura hit. It was possible theyd be sleeping there Monday night too.

Weve been through it a couple times this year, said Samantha Humphrey, county spokesperson, who arrived to the EOC at 7:30 am with her pillow and extra blankets packed. The concern would be if the storm parks on top of us and doesnt move.

Officials so far were only expecting 15 inches of rain at most in isolated areas. (Imelda, by comparison, dumped nearly 40.) In lieu of a shelter, school buses and drivers were on call in case people needed to be evacuated.

Humphreys own home was in a low-lying area where she grew up. Her husband and young kids had plans to evacuate if needed.

Past experience has taught me never to think everything is going to be OK, she said, adding, Theres also the sense of this is the new normal I guess to always have some kind of disaster looming.

Around midday back at the park, Jim Wilkerson, 68, and Paul Fontenot, 64, both retired, settled down under a pavilion for their regular takeout lunch surrounded by the marshy view.

Wilkerson tucked his mask in his shirt pocket. Fontenot put his hand over his fries to protect them against the gusts of wind.

They, too, were glad Beta wasnt any stronger than it was.

You got a pocket? Fontenot asked, now picking up the hand sanitizer before it blew away and handed it back over.
NEW DELHI: The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) released the IBPS PO Prelims Admit Card 2020 on Tuesday (September 22). Students who have applied for the preliminary examination can now download the admit card by visiting the official website of IBPC - ibps.in.

This is the first exam held to select candidates for the post of a Probationary Officer in nationalised banks.

The admit card will be available to candidates on the website from September 22 to October 11, 2020. The IBPS PO Prelims Admit Card would be conducted on October 3, 10, and 11, 2020 across various centers in the country.

Guidelines for IBPS PO Prelims exams:

Candidates will have to bring a print out of the e-call letter along with a photo identity proof such as PAN card, passport or driving license and a passport-sized photograph to the exam hall.

Here's how to download the IBPS PO Prelims Admit Card 2020 online:

Step 1: Visit the official site of IBPS at ibps.in.

Step 2: Click on IBPS PO Prelims Admit Card 2020 link available on the home page.

Step 3: A new page will open where candidates will have to enter the login credentials.

Step 4: Click on login and your admit card would be displayed on the screen.

Step 5: Check the admit card and download it.

Step 6: Keep a hard copy of the same for further need.

Time duration of IBPS Prelims exams:

The IBPS preliminary will an online exam for one hours for 100 marks consisting of 3 sections - English Language, Quantitative Aptitude and reasoning Ability.

The candidates shall be required to qualify in each test as per cut-off marks determined in each test.

Negative marking in Prelims exam:

For every wrong answer, one fourth or 0.25 of the marks assigned to that question will be deducted. The 100 marks exam will include 30 questions from English and 35 each from quantitative aptitude and reasoning ability.

The result of the exam is likely to be declared by October-end or November. Candidates need to qualify the prelims exam to be eligible to appear for the IBPS PO Main examination that is scheduled for November 28.
David Usher is sitting on $1.7 million hes scared to spend.

The money lent from the federal government is meant to help hospitals and other health care providers weather the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet some hospital administrators have called it a payday loan program that is now, brutally, due for repayment at a time when they still need help.

Coronavirus cases have picked up recently and its quite worrying, said Usher, chief financial officer at the 12-bed Edwards County Medical Center in rural western Kansas. Usher said he would like to use the money to build a negative-pressure room, a common strategy to keep contagious patients apart from those in the rest of the hospital.

But hes not sure its safe to spend that cash. Officially, the total repayment of the loan is due this month. Otherwise, according to the loans terms, federal regulators will stop reimbursing the hospitals for Medicare patients treatments until the loan is repaid in full.

The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has not yet begun trying to recoup its investment, with the coronavirus still affecting communities nationwide, but hospital leaders fear it may come calling for repayment any day now.

Hospital leaders across the country said there has been no communication from CMS on whether or when they will adjust the repayment deadline. A CMS spokesperson had not responded to questions by press time.

Its great having the money, Usher said. But if I dont know how much I get to keep, I dont get to spend the money wisely and effectively on the facility.

Usher took out the loan from Medicares Accelerated and Advance Payments program. The program, which existed long before the pandemic, was generally used sparingly by hospitals faced with emergencies such as hurricanes or tornadoes. It was expanded for use during the coronavirus pandemic  part of billions approved in federal relief funds for health care providers this spring.

A full repayment of a hospitals loan is technically due 120 days after it was received. If it is not paid, Medicare will stop reimbursing claims until it recoups the money it is owed  a point spelled out in the programs rules. Medicare reimburses nearly $60 billion in payments to health care providers nationwide under Medicares Part A program, which makes payments to hospitals.

More than 65% of the nations small, rural hospitals  many of which were operating at a deficit before the pandemic  jumped at the Medicare loans when the pandemic hit because they were the first funds available, said Maggie Elehwany, former vice president of government affairs for the National Rural Health Association.

CMS halted new loan applications to the program at the end of April.

The pandemic has simply gone on longer than anyone anticipated back in March, said Joanna Hiatt Kim, vice president of payment policy and analysis for the American Hospital Association. The trade association sent a letter to CMS in late July asking for a delay in the recoupment.

On Monday, the House Appropriations Committee included partial relief for all hospitals in a new government funding plan. The committees proposal would extend the start of the repayment period for hospitals and the amount of time they are allowed to take to repay.

The continuing resolution that includes this language about relief for hospitals (among many, many other things) is still being hammered out, though it does face its own deadline: It must be approved by the House and the Senate within the next nine days or the federal government faces a shutdown.

Tom Nickels, executive vice president at the AHA, said his organization appreciates the House committees effort to address the loans in the new bill, but full forgiveness of the loans is still needed.

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-New Hampshire, has called for changes to the loan repayment period for months and said Monday our work is far from over.

We are still in the middle of this crisis  from both health and economic standpoints, Shaheen said.

Meanwhile, hospital administrators like Peter Wright are holding their breath, waiting to see if, in order to settle the debt, Medicare will stop making payments to hospitals, even as facilities continue to grapple with coronavirus in their communities.

The feds, if you owe them money, they just take it, said Wright, who oversees two small hospitals for Central Maine Healthcare in Bridgton, Maine. He said his health care system took the money because we had no other choice; it was a cash flow issue.

For many hospitals, Medicare payments make up 40% or more of their revenue. Not being reimbursed by Medicare would be crippling  akin to a household losing nearly half its income.

We have no idea what were going to do if we have to pay it back as quickly as they say, Wright said.

In rural Kentucky, hospital executive Sheila Currans said she vacillated for about a week or so trying to decide whether to tap the loan program for her hospital  she knew it would have to be repaid and worried that could prove difficult.

It was a desperate time, said Currans, chief executive of Harrison Memorial Hospital in Cynthiana, Kentucky. Harrison Memorial was the first hospital in Kentucky to treat a COVID-19 patient in early March, she said.

The hospital immediately quarantined dozens of staff members and shut down elective procedures. And with COVID confirmed in the community, there was a horrible fear, Currans said, of getting infected that kept people from seeking outpatient care as well.

Through March and April and most of May, I was in a complete spiral, Currans said. By the end of April, Currans said, her hospital was losing millions of dollars. To cope with the pandemic, she furloughed staff and turned one wing of the hospital into a cough clinic to be used exclusively by patients whose symptoms suggested they might be infected with the coronavirus.

Currans said the hospital is still seeing COVID cases, but patients are beginning to return for other services, such as outpatient clinics.

In terms of the hospitals finances, its still not a wonderful time, Currans said. The Medicare loan as well as all the other support from the federal government helped us at least  for now  survive it.

Shes hoping the repayment demand will be pushed back to 2021 or, perhaps the loan will be forgiven.

I know its a pipe dream, Currans said. But this has been a historic event.
EGLE, US Ecology - Detroit South enter consent agreement to address facility odor violations

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 22, 2020

EGLE Media Office, EGLE-Assist@Michigan.gov, 517-284-9278

Jill A. Greenberg, EGLE spokesperson, GreenbergJ@Michigan.gov, 517-897-4965

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), Materials Management Division and EQ Detroit Inc. (doing business as US Ecology  Detroit South [USE]) on Sept. 11, 2020, entered a Consent Order to address on-going odor violations at the facility. USE operates an 11.5-acre waste treatment plant located at 1923 Frederick Street in Detroit.

USE is licensed under state laws for solid waste and hazardous waste management. The facility treats and solidifies industrial waste prior to off-site disposal. Between August 2019 and August 2020, staff from EGLEs Air Quality Division (AQD), verified five instances of unreasonable nuisance odors coming from the facility and issued Violation Notices to USE for those instances.

The Consent Order requires USE to submit an Odor Control Plan to MMD for review and approval within 90 days of the date it was entered.

This order requires US Ecology  Detroit South to control odors from its waste processing operations in accordance with Michigans regulations, said Liz Browne, interim director for MMD. Our goal is to ensure USE is not a nuisance to neighbors and that the facility is operated safely.

Primary tenets of the Consent Order also include the following:

USE must provide detailed methods for conducting odor surveys, determining when odors may be in violation of the Consent Order, and completing additional corrective actions, as necessary.

The Odor Control Plan must be amended at the direction of MMD if the control measures detailed in the plan are not effective in preventing violations of the Michigans solid waste regulations.

USE must submit quarterly reports to the MMD that document compliance with the provisions of the approved Odor Control Plan and the Consent Order; summarize odor evaluation and control methods in use; evaluate the effectiveness of currently in-place odor controls; and state any corrective actions or new odor control measures implemented pursuant to the approved Odor Control Plan.

Failure of USE to comply with the Consent Order will subject USE to payment of penalties. Beginning 120 days after the Consent Order was entered, USE also will be subjected to penalties for each instance MMD determines USE has failed to reasonably control odors from the facility.

For more information about the Consent Order, contact Tracy Kecskemeti at 248-200-6469 or KecskemetiT@Michigan.gov.

###
NEW DELHI : Chinese smartphone company Realme is targeting 20-25% share of smartphone sales in India during the festive season with its expansive lineup of products, a top company official said.

The company, which competes aggressively against players like Xiaomi and Samsung in the Indian market, said India will continue to be a critical growth driver for Realme and will be a "top priority" globally.

"Smartphones have become the focal point to stay connected in the era of social distancing and remote working. Many consumers make their purchases towards the festive season as you get good deals on electronics... the market has started to warm up for the upcoming festive season," Realme India Chief Executive Officer Madhav Sheth told PTI.

He added that versatile products with best-in-segment features across different price points - from entry to mid-range - will stimulate purchasing among different sections of the consumers.

"We are eagerly looking forward to the festive season and are quite optimistic about it with many new launches across AIOT (Artificial Intelligence of Things) and smartphones. We plan to be the No 1 online brand in India and are aiming at 20-25% of overall market share (online and offline smartphone sales) during the festive season," Sheth said.

He noted that the company will introduce its 55-inch smart TV in the premium range as well as smartwatches and smart home gadgets.

"We expect to sell 8 million AIOT products by the end of 2020, and the festive season will be a major volume driver for it, contributing to around 50% (sale) of the whole year," Sheth said.

Realme's AIOT products include smart TVs, smart watches and fitness bands and earbuds.

According to Counterpoint Research, Realme had 11% share of the smartphone shipment in India in the June 2020 quarter, behind Xiaomi (29%), Samsung (26 %) and Vivo (17%).

Asked whether manufacturing capacity has been ramped up to meet the high demand, Sheth said the company's manufacturing facility at Greater Noida is currently operating at 80% capacity.

"... We are trying our best to meet the surge in demand during the festive season. Safety is our topmost priority and we cannot risk the health of our workforce to rapidly expand production. We have prepared some stocks in advance and are confident to meet the demand for both our AIOT and smartphone products," he added.

The company has been aggressively expanding into other markets like Europe that are also being headed by Sheth.

"For Realme, India is one of the most important markets. Unlike other smartphone brands, we started our operations here in India and gradually expanded our footprint to other markets and across five continents. So, India will continue to be a critical growth driver and be a top priority for Realme globally always," he said.

Sheth added that the company is focussing on growth in European and Indian markets.

"We debuted Narzo series with Narzo 10 and 10A in May and received a massive response, reaching one million users eventually. The success of Narzo 10 series gave us confidence and motivation to step further to cover the wider price segment... Narzo 20 series will offer the young players performance-oriented smartphones with powerful gaming processors, fast charge and a massive battery," he said.

Sheth added that the company aims to reach 5 million Narzo users with the new 20 series launch.

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Former Liberal MP for Wagga Wagga Daryl Maguire allegedly turned his Parliament House office into an office for his own business, including hosting an event for a Chinese delegation, which was briefly attended by then-premier Barry O'Farrell in November 2012.

A corruption inquiry has heard a lunch was planned to celebrate the signing of an agreement between Wagga Wagga City Council and a Chinese delegation to build a $400 million trade centre.

Secretary of the Liaoning province Wang Min with then-premier of NSW Barry O'Farrell at the signing ceremony in 2012.

As a trade house for China and Australia, Mr O'Farrell said the project would create "opportunities for all of us".

Mr Maguire spent an unsuccessful decade trying to get the project off the ground, making multiple self-funded trips to China and driving the council task force.
NEW BEDFORD, MA / ACCESSWIRE / September 22, 2020 / Blue Harvest Fisheries is pleased to announce that it has been granted a $4,425,480 purchase award to supply local, sustainably harvested haddock, ocean perch, and Atlantic pollock to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The purchase, part of the Department's Commodity Procurement Program, will be used to distribute Blue Harvest's all-natural, IQF groundfish to schools, food banks, and households across the United States.

According to the USDA, the Commodity Procurement Program is "a vital component of our nation's food safety net" that provides "wholesome, high-quality products" to communities across the country.

Deliveries will start on October 1 and run through December 31. All of the fish utilized for this program will be harvested by American-flagged vessels from MSC-certified fisheries in the Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank. They'll be processed at Blue Harvest's dock-side facility in New Bedford, Massachusetts, before being distributed to recipients nationwide.

"We are delighted that the USDA has selected Blue Harvest to bring high-quality seafood to deserving Americans across the country," said Keith Decker, CEO of Blue Harvest. "Given the uncertainties surrounding the seafood market during the ongoing pandemic, this order will help ensure that the groundfish industry at the New Bedford waterfront can continue working while providing food security for those who need it most."

Blue Harvest thanks Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, USDA staff, and the Trump Administration for expanding the Commodity Procurement Program to include East Coast seafood for the first time in decades.

The company is deeply grateful to Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Congressmen William Keating (D-MA-09) and Seth Moulton (D-MA-06), who first took the initiative on this issue. In May, they wrote to Secretary Perdue to ask that the USDA include East Coast seafood in purchasing agreements funded by the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) and the Section 32 program.

"I am pleased that the USDA is supporting fishermen by purchasing seafood from the Port of New Bedford, the nation's top commercial fishing port, during a pandemic that has affected every sector of the economy," said New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell. "I am grateful to Secretary Perdue for his support of the seafood industry, and to our congressional delegation for their advocacy on behalf of our port and our state's commercial fishermen."

The USDA Commodity Procurement Program has long been vital in supporting U.S. agriculture, as well as seafood producers in other parts of the country. We hope that the program's expansion to include East Coast seafood is the start of a productive, long-term relationship with the USDA.

About Blue Harvest Fisheries

Blue Harvest Fisheries is a leading supplier of premium quality seafood sustainably harvested from MSC certified fisheries in the U.S. The company operates its own fleet of 15 scallops and 9 groundfish vessels as well as offload facilities in Newport News, VA and Fairhaven, MA, and an SQF certified waterfront manufacturing facility in New Bedford, MA. The Blue Harvest Fisheries product line features sea scallops, Pacific cod, haddock, ocean perch (Acadian redfish), and Atlantic pollock (saithe). The company also offers swordfish and tuna from approved third-party vessels. Blue Harvest Fisheries products are sold fresh and frozen under the Blue Harvest brand to leading restaurants, wholesalers, and distributors across the U.S. and abroad. The company also offers custom processing and is a supplier of private label products to retailers and foodservice distributors. For more information, visit www.blueharvestfisheries.com.



CONTACT:

Robert Vanasse

Stove Boat Communications

(202) 333-2628

bob@stoveboat.com

SOURCE: Blue Harvest Fisheries

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/607328/USDA-Will-Purchase-44-Million-of-Blue-Harvests-Sustainable-New-Bedford-Groundfish
Reunion de Alto Nivel de la Asamblea General para Conmemorar el 75 Aniversario de las Naciones Unidas pic.twitter.com/sTmHgwQ4BM
A British man questioned over the alleged hacking of an iCloud account belonging to the Duchess of Cambridges sister has been sentenced to five years in jail in the US in an unrelated case.

Nathan Francis Wyatt, who was part of a hacking collective called The Dark Overlord, was sentenced for helping the group steal information from several companies in the US, including in Missouri, Illinois and Georgia.

The 39-year-old pleaded guilty in federal court in St Louis to conspiring to commit aggravated identity theft and computer fraud. He was also ordered to pay some 1.5 million dollars (1.17m) in restitution.

In 2016, Wyatt was arrested by UK police investigating the hacking of Pippa Matthews iCloud account, amid reports pictures of Kate and her children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, were among thousands of images taken.

Expand Close Police investigated the alleged hacking of Pippa Matthews iCloud account (Adam Davy/PA) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Police investigated the alleged hacking of Pippa Matthews iCloud account (Adam Davy/PA)

The father-of-three was released with no further action in relation to that case in September, 2017.

In St Louis, federal prosecutors said The Dark Overlord stole medical records, client files and personal information from the companies, then demanded between 75,000 and 300,000 dollars (58,000-234,000) worth of Bitcoin to return the information.

None of the companies paid the ransom but the conspiracy did cost them because of the intrusion and release of data, federal prosecutor Laura Kathleen Bernstein said.

Wyatt set up a phone account and accounts on Twitter and PayPal that were used to communicate and receive money, she said.

I dont want to see another computer for the rest of my life Nathan Wyatt

Wyatt apologised during the hearing, held via Zoom, saying he was on medication for mental problems that led him to make bad decisions, The St Louis Post-Dispatch reported.

I can promise you that Im out of that world, he said, voice breaking. I dont want to see another computer for the rest of my life.

His lawyer, Brocca Morrison, noted Wyatt did not orchestrate the hacks and is the only hacker who has been identified.

Ms Bernstein said Wyatts actions helped the other hackers remain anonymous and that his phone account was used to send threatening text messages to relatives of victims.

Wyatt was indicted in 2017, but he was not extradited to the US until last year after British lawyers fought to keep him in that country.

He had served 14 months in a British prison after pleading guilty to 22 charges after he was accused of demanding money from the owner of a hacked computer and using stolen credit cards.
Murthy said moral weakness and incompetence of the chairman of the board are the main reasons behind corporate scams.

Whistle-blowing should not be an act of vengeance by 'disgruntled' employees and the whistle-blower should have data and proof to substantiate his/her claims against a company, Infosys co-founder and former chairman N R Narayana Murthy said at a convention organised by the All India Management Association on Monday.

Murthy said he was not in favour of companies conducting an internal probe into whistle-blower allegations through external law firms.

That is like the accused investigating the case and sitting in judgment, he said.

He said the best way to deal with whistle-blower complaints is to get them probed by an external committee or by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), and have the details of the enquiry published on company websites.

If a company is found guilty, he said, The markets regulator must blacklist the board members and officials, and the shareholders must vote them out.

Oddly enough, Infosys, the company Murthy co-founded with six others in 1981, has seen several whistle-blower complaints in the past years, including allegations of wrongdoing by the then chief executive officer (CEO) and management in two of the acquisitions, decision to sell the acquired entities, and even allegations of breach of corporate governance standards and ethics against the current management led by CEO Salil Parekh.

Murthy has been highly critical of the way the Bengaluru-based company has been dealing with cases of governance deficit.

He had also demanded the report of the external law firm appointed to look into the alleged breach of corporate governance standards by the then CEO.

The Infosys co-founder also condoned offering legal protection to whistle-blowers, who, he said, continue to face harassment and social stigma.

Murthy, who is also a former chairman of a Sebi-appointed committee on corporate governance, said moral weakness and incompetence of the chairman of the board are the main reasons behind corporate scams.

When the CEO becomes more powerful than the board and the chairman operates at the behest of the CEO, such things happen, he said.

According to Murthy, the biggest challenge in corporate governance is the agency cost or the cost incurred by the management to meet the shareholders objectives.

In professionally managed companies, he said the management can push weak boards to extract unjustifiable compensation for themselves and use the companys resources for personal benefits.

Besides, the payment of large severance packages to buy silence of outgoing executives has to be prevented by the board.

Interestingly, Murthy in the past was also critical of high severance package doled out to former executives, including ex-chief financial officer Rajiv Bansal.

Photograph: Bobby Yip/Reuters
Freelance investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni says President Akufo-Addo has not been firm enough in dealing with illegal mining aka galamsey in the country.



He said the President, at the beginning of his tenure, promised to end galamsey in the country even if it meant putting his presidency on the line.



However, after nearly the end of his first term in office, the canker still persists.



I dont think there has been any fight beyond the antics. Many of his promises have turned out to be a scam because once you decide to put your presidency on the line if you mean it, there are other things that you have to do, he said.



Mr Awuni was speaking on Joy FM where he described the presidents fight as a scam.



He said prior to Nana Akufo-Addo assuming office, he [Manasseh] was very happy with the then NPP flagbearers promise to end galamsey in the country.



However, the progress of the fight, he noted has been hampered because of the involvement of party people in the fight.



And this is not only in the area of galamsey but quite the number of issues including the fight against corruption which he also was very instrumentally championing, he said.



President Akufo-Addo, before assuming office in 2017, promised to end galamsey in the country.



He introduced Operation Vanguard [a taskforce set up by government to combat galamsey in the country], as well as the Community Mining Program which is to ensure safe and responsible mining as part of measures to combat illegal mining in the country.



In his 2020 State Of the Nations Address to Parliament, the President lauded his government for achievements in the fight, though he admitted that there are still some challenges that need to be addressed.



However, he has been challenged by Mr Awuni who believes the fight has not been effective enough.



It is very unfortunate that in 2020 we are still having this issue. I dont think that beyond the words, the actions really spoke to the fact that this was somebody who wanted to put his presidency on the line, he said.



I expected that, when issues of corruption started, the involvement of party people which was a big mistake was going to be dealt with.



Because, once you allowed the party people to take charge of certain critical areas of the fight, then its going to be difficult for the security agencies to deal with them, he said.

Source: myjoyonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The number of new active COVID-19 cases in publicly funded schools across the province has jumped by 51 to a total of 141.

In its latest data released Tuesday morning, the province reported 26 more students were infected for a total of 59. There were seven more staff members infected for a total of 33 and 18 more individuals who werent identified for a total of 49.

There are 116 schools with a current case, which the province notes is 2.4 per cent of the 4,828 publicly funded schools.

Two schools are closed  Monsignor Paul Baxter elementary school in Ottawa and Fellowes High School in Pembroke.

There is a lag between the provincial data and news reports about infections in schools. The provincial data is current as of 2 p.m. the previous work day, and doesnt indicate where the place of transmission occurred.

So the data released Tuesday morning are current as of Monday at 2 p.m., and includes all the reports from the weekend.

Any confirmed cases with staff/students and/or school closures determined on Saturday or Sunday would be reported officially by school boards to the ministry on Monday, and reported on Ontario.ca on Tuesday, a ministrys spokesperson told the Stars Cheyenne Bholla in an email.

For instance, the Toronto District School Board reported late Monday afternoon that a student at Allenby Junior Public School has tested positive, but its not reflected in the latest provincial data.

Epidemiologists told the Star last week that the numbers in the schools arent a surprise, and that the cases will be proportionate to the amount of COVID thats in the community.

The province reported 478 new cases of COVID-19 and three new deaths Tuesday. Locally, there were 153 new cases in Toronto with 95 in Peel and 90 in Ottawa.

The TDSB updates its information throughout the day on its website.

Please note that all schools where there is a confirmed case of COVID-19 who was contagious while at school will receive a letter from Toronto Public Health to inform them about the possible exposure, the website says.

Listen to Ed Tubb discuss what COVID-19 data tells us

A closer look at the numbers provided Tuesday morning by the province shows the following 70 GTA schools (an increase of 25 from Mondays report) have confirmed infections:

Toronto (16 schools)

St. Alberts Catholic Elementary (1 student)

St. Basil-the-Great College School (1 staff)

St. Gerald Catholic Elementary (1 student)

St. John Paul II Catholic Secondary (1 student)

Bloordale Middle School (1 staff)

Brookhaven Public School (1 staff)

Burnhamthorpe Collegiate Institute (1 student)

Charles G. Fraser Junior Public School (1 staff)

Don Mills Middle School (1 staff)

Earl Haig Secondary School (1 staff)

Emery Collegiate Institute (1 student)

Humewood Collegiate Institute (1 staff)

Richview Collegiate Institute (1 student)

School for Experiential Education (1 staff)

York Memorial Collegiate Institute (1 student)

York Mills Collegiate Institute (1 staff)

Peel (31 schools)

Loyola Catholic Secondary School (1 unidentified)

Robert F. Hall Catholic Secondary School (1 unidentified)

St. Cecilia Elementary School (1 unidentified)

St. Joseph Secondary School (1 student)

St. Raphael Elementary School (2 unidentified)

Briarwood Public School (1 staff)

Castlemore Public School (1 unidentified)

Edenrose Public School (1 unidentified)

Folkstone Public School (1 unidentified)

Goldcrest Public School (2 unidentified)

Gordon Graydon Senior Public School (1 unidentified)

Heart Lake Secondary School (1 unidentified)

Ingleborough Public School (1 unidentified)

John Fraser Secondary School (1 student)

Kingswood Drive Public School (1 unidentified)

Lougheed Middle School (1 unidentified)

Louise Arbour Secondary School (1 student)

Mayfield Secondary School (1 unidentified)

Mountain Ash Public School (1 unidentified)

North Field Office (1 staff)

Plum Tree Park Public School (1 unidentified)

Port Credit Secondary School (1 unidentified)

Ray Lawson Public School (1 unidentified)

Robert J. Lee Public School (1 unidentified)

Ross Drive Public School (1 staff)

Ruth Thompson Middle School (1 unidentified)

The Valleys Senior Public School (1 unidentified)

Treeline Public School (1 unidentified)

Tribune Drive Public School (1 unidentified)

Walnut Grove Public School (1 unidentified)

William Parkway Public School (1 unidentified)

Halton (Seven schools)

St. Francis Xavier Catholic Elementary School (1 unidentified)

St. Marguerite dYouville Catholic Elementary School (1 staff)

St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Secondary School (1 unidentified)

Emily Carr Public School (1 unidentified)

Maple Grove Public School (1 unidentified)

Oodenawi Public School (1 staff)

Sunningdale Public School (2 unidentified)

Durham (eight schools)

lEcole secondaire catholique Saint-Charles-Garnier (1 student)

Ecole elementaire Antonine-Maillet (1 student)

Ecole Ronald Marion (1 staff)

Donald A. Wilson Secondary School (1 student)

Maple Ridge Public School (3 students) (latest local report says there was a lab error meaning only two students have tested positive)

Nottingham Public School (1 student)

Pine Ridge Secondary School (2 students)

Williamsburg Public School (1 student)

York (Eight schools)

St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Elementary School (1 unidentified)

Blue Willow Public School (1 unidentified)

Carrville Mills Public School (1 unidentified)

Dr. Roberta Bondar Public School (1 unidentified)

Little Rouge Public School (1 student)

Maple High School (1 unidentified)

Sir Wilfrid Laurier Public School (1 unidentified)

Tommy Douglas Secondary School (1 unidentified)
It's widely recognized among San Francisco healthcare professionals that S.F. has had the lowest COVID-19 death rate among all major U.S. cities throughout most of the pandemic.

A chart created in September by Dr. Jim Marks, a physician at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, was shared on social media in recent weeks and shows S.F.'s percent of deaths per cases was 0.87% as of Sept. 4, significantly lower than 10 other major cities.

The city with the second-lowest rate was Miami at 1.63%, according to the chart. New York City had the highest rate at 10.26%, Philadelphia the second-highest at 5.12% and Boston third-highest at 4.83%. (See the full list here.)

While many other cities such as New York experienced terrifying periods with skyrocketing cases that filled hospital beds beyond capacity, San Francisco has kept its number of cases relatively low, with some ups and downs, yet not a major surge that overwhelmed the city's healthcare system and impacted its ability to provide optimal care. The city of nearly 900,000 residents has reported 10,807 cases and 99 deaths as of Sept. 21.

"The low case rate is a result of people acting well, and acting well is everything from city health leaders doing the right thing to the people doing the right thing," said Dr. Bob Wachter, chair of the Department of Medicine at UCSF. "We have very high rates of mask-wearing, probably the highest in the country. I think from the beginning people have trusted the science, trusted the guidance. You dont hear in S.F. that COVID is a hoax. People have generally taken this very seriously and I think the leadership from the mayor and the regional health directors has been terrific."

With cases kept relatively under control, the number of patients landing in hospitals has been lower than other major cities, and those infected patients in S.F. requiring hospitalization have received focused, personal care, according to Wachter.

In April, Wachter sent a team of UCSF doctors to New York to help during the height of the East Coast city's pandemic and his colleagues told "horror stories about what they saw in good hospitals."

"At UCSF, youll have one nurse taking care of you," he said. "In Queens, at the height of things, it was one nurse to seven or eight patients. That cant be done safely. Youll have a world-class team of intensive-care doctors taking care of you in San Francisco. In New York, the team might have included an eye specialist or dermatologist. They may be great doctors but their speciality isnt COVID. Everyone was called to help. They were overwhelmed. Weve never had that in SF."

UCSF epidemiologist Dr. George Rutherford added that San Francisco saw its rise in cases later than New York and this gave the city time to prepare.

"We had a little lead time and could plan for additional space," said Rutherford. "The hospitals got together and opened a ward at St. Francis Memorial Hospital."

He added, "Theres nothing inherently better about our ICUs than those in New York. Its just a question of not having the capacity completely overwhelmed."

While the moderate number of cases has prevented hospitals from filling up, Wachter adds the city's hospitals are excellent to begin with.

"I think its hard to say that the great hospitals in San Francisco like UCSF are better than one of the great hospitals in New York or Boston, but we have some terrific hospitals in San Francisco," he said. "We have a flagship academic health system doing cutting-edge research, I think there are advantages there."

Case in point: The sickest COVID patients are cared for in intensive care units on ventilators, and in S.F. your chance of surviving the most severe case of the infection is likely higher than some other places. Wachter said the survival rate on a ventilator at UCSF and SF General has averaged around 80% while the national average "is more in the order of 60% or 70%."

At a press conference on Sept. 15, Dr. Grant Colfax, the city's public health director, echoed Wachter's sentiment, saying the city's "world-class medical facilities" are a key reason for the low death rate.

"State-of-the-art care is being done here," Colfax said. "We have excellent care facilities, including Zuckerberg [San Francisco General Hospital]."

What's more, Wachter said the S.F. Department of Public Health and hospitals learned how to work together in a crisis during the AIDS epidemic, and now in the coronavirus pandemic, they are drawing from lessons learned.

"We sort of worked this out 30 years ago," said Wachter.

Wachter cited a coronavirus testing study conducted by USCF and the city looking at health disparities in the Mission District as an example of productive collaboration.

The contact-tracing program run by UCSF and the health department is another example of success. UCSF doctors have trained city workers in how to identify and alert people who came into contact with an infected person. He said in San Francisco, the city is reaching up to 80% of COVID patients' contacts, while in other cities the number can be as low as 20%.

"Some of that is how good the system is here," he said. "[People who live here] trust the health department. They trust the science. Its just not true in other parts of the country."

Another contributing factor to the city's low death rate is its healthy population of residents who are less susceptible to complications with the virus, Wachter said.

"If you think about the risk factors for people having bad outcomes, its not only advanced age. It's also obesity and history of smoking," he said. "San Francisco has a relatively low rate of obesity and a very low rate of smoking."

Of those who are higher risk, the city said in a statement that it has prioritized the care of its most vulnerable population, especially people over age 60.

SFDPH spokesperson Karaline Bridgeford said early health orders required surveillance testing in skilled nursing facilities, supported cleaning and other preventive measures in Single Room Occupancies (SROs) and limited visitors to facilities where vulnerable populations live and receive care, such as long-term care facilities.

While San Francisco has made a lot of smart moves throughout the pandemic to deter deaths, Wachter said the low rate will only continue if city officials and residences continue to act with vigilance.

"In the beginning, there was an element of luck, we never had a huge super-spreader event, that was more luck than skill," Wachter said. "I think for the last six months, we've done a lot of things right. We need to keep doing that."

Amy Graff is the News Editor for SFGATE. Email her: agraff@sfgate.com.
New Delhi:

Gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari is set to join Bahujan Samaj Party or BSP in Uttar Pradesh on Thursday after CM Akhilesh Yadav rejected him.

BSP supremo Mayawati is expected to announce entry of Ansari into the party on Thursday, sources said.

Ansari is the sitting legislator from Mau. He approached the BSP after Akhilesh Yadav ignored him completely while deciding Samajwadi Party candidates for the upcoming UP elections. Mukhtar Ansari has been in the BSP before also.

The upcoming UP polls are very crucial as the seven-phase polling will decide the fate of the future party when electorate will exercise their right to vote in the state.

READ FULL COVERAGE OF ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS

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Carpentaria-1 Drilling Commences

Sydney, Sep 23, 2020 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Empire Energy Group Limited ( ASX:EEG ) ( OTCMKTS:EEGUF ) is pleased to announce that it will commence drilling the Carpentaria-1 well in Empire's 100% owned Northern Territory permit EP187 today.The well will be drilled to a planned depth of ~2,900 metres to allow Empire's technical team to fully evaluate the two unconventional shale targets, the Velkerri and Kyalla Shales. As previously announced, Netherland, Sewell and Associates, Inc. has independently assessed these targets to have a best estimate prospective resource of 2.4 trillion cubic feet of gas equivalent in Empire's EP187 permit.The drilling and formation evaluation campaign is expected to take approximately 40 days. The well design allows for suspension and future re-entry, fracture stimulation and flow testing, which Empire presently expects to commence in Q2 2021.The drilling program has the following key technical objectives:- To assess and prove the depth and thickness of the productive target shales (the Velkerri and Kyalla) in Empire's EP187 permit;- To understand rock properties, hydrocarbon content, formation permeability and reservoir pressure as they relate to the ability of the shales to produce;- To gather data to be used for hydraulic stimulation planning and execution;- To 'high-grade' the target shales for vertical and / or horizontal hydraulic stimulation and flow testing planning and execution; and- To refine the seismic interpretation and further determine prospective hydrocarbon resource estimates within EP187.To achieve these objectives, a full formation evaluation program will be executed including:- Mudlogging;- Measurement While Drilling ("MWD");- Cuttings sampling and continuous gas analysis;- Isotube and isojar sampling program;- Wireline logging;- Large diameter rotary side wall coring; and- Diagnostic Fracture Injection Testing ("DFIT").Following completion of the drilling and formation evaluation program, the well will be cased and suspended while Empire's technical team analyses the results and plans the fracture stimulation and flow testing program.About Empire Energy Group Ltd

Empire Energy (ASX:EEG) (OTCMKTS:EEGUF) holds over 14.5 million acres of highly prospective exploration tenements in the McArthur and Beetaloo Basins, Northern Territory. Work undertaken by the Company since 2010 demonstrates that the Eastern depositional Trough of the McArthur Basin, of which the Company holds 80% has very considerable conventional and unconventional hydrocarbon potential. The Beetaloo sub-Basin, in which Empire holds a substantial position, has independently assessed world class hydrocarbon volumes in place with a major ramp up in industry activity underway to appraise substantial discoveries already made by major Australian oil and gas operators.

Empire Energy is an experienced conventional oil and gas producer with operations in the Appalachia region (New York and Pennsylvania). Empire has been successfully developing and producing oil and gas since 2006.
New Delhi/Srinagar: Tightening its noose in the suspended Deputy Superintendent (DSP) Davinder Singh and Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Naveed Babu case, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday carried out searches at several locations in Jammu and Kashmir`s Baramulla district.

"NIA is conducting raids in different parts of Baramulla in HM commander Naveed Babu-Davinder Singh DSP Case," an NIA official said. The NIA sources in Srinagar said that the anti-terror probe agency teams along with J&K Police raided the house of Rasool Waza in Waza Mohalla Raypora Phalhalan.

According to the source, Waza is a retired government employee of the state Health Department.

Live TV

The source said that his one son, namely Farooq Ahmad, presently a government employee in the health department, and another son, namely Mushtaq Ahmad Waza, crossed the LoC for illegal arms/ammunition training in 1993 and have not returned till date.

The development comes almost three months after the NIA filed a chargesheet against six persons, including suspended Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Superintendent of Police, in a special NIA court in Jammu.The NIA has named Naveed Mushtaq alias Naveed Babu, Irfan Shafi Mir, Rafi Rather, Tanveer Ahmad Wani, and Syed Irfan in its chargesheet, besides Davinder Singh.

The suspended police officer is lodged in the Kathua jail at Hiranagar in the Jammu division. He was arrested by the police on January 11 on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway while transporting two HM terrorists -- Naveed Babu and Rafi Ahmad Rather -- and a law school dropout Irfan Shafi Mir to Jammu.

Naveed`s brother Irfan was arrested on January 23 for his `role` in the conspiracy while Wani came under the scanner for allegedly giving money to Naveed, a former Special Police Officer of J&K who had joined the terrorist ranks.

After the arrest of Singh, initial investigations were done by the J&K Police before the case was handed over to the NIA. Police had said that the two terrorists and the lawyer had planned to travel to Pakistan.

The NIA had earlier claimed that its probe revealed that the accused were part of a deep-rooted conspiracy hatched by the Hizbul and Pakistani state to commit violent acts and to wage war against India.

"The investigation has revealed that Pakistan-based leadership of the Hizbul, namely Syed Salahuddin, Amir Khan, Khursheed Alam, Nazar Mehmood, and others, along with the Pakistani establishment is extending support to the cadres and commanders of the terror outfit based in Jammu and Kashmir.

"The probe also revealed that accused Irfan Shafi Mir aka `Advocate` not only met Hizbul leadership in Pakistan but also met Umar Cheema, Ahshan Chaudhary, Sohail Abbas, and others of the Inter-Services Intelligence of Pakistan. He was tasked to identify and activate the new `hawala` channels for the transfer of money to sustain terror activities in the Kashmir Valley," a NIA spokesperson had earlier said.

The NIA had also claimed that its investigation revealed that certain officials of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi were in constant touch with Mir alias Advocate, who was provided with funds to organise seminars in J&K to mobilise the masses against the government of India.

Mir allegedly used to receive instructions and money from the Pakistan High Commission, and he facilitated the visa applications of a number of Kashmiris for their Pakistan visits. Even Davinder Singh was said to be in touch with certain High Commission officials through secure social media platforms.

Investigation revealed that he was "being groomed by the Pakistani officials for obtaining sensitive information". Singh was posted with the anti-hijacking wing of the Jammu and Kashmir Police in Srinagar and was part of the security staff that had received a group of foreign diplomats who visited Kashmir.

On June 19, a Delhi court had granted bail to Davinder Singh in a terror case after the Delhi Police failed to file a chargesheet against him and co-accused within the stipulated time.
Police have released harrowing footage of the moment a 13-year-old boy was chased by cops and then shot multiple times.

Bodycam video shows officers pursuing Linden Cameron down an alley and yelling at him to get on the ground after his mother, Golda Barton, called cops to help 'de-escalate' the teenager's mental breakdown.

Linden, from Salt Lake City in Utah, collapsed after a series of shots were fired, moaning, 'I don't feel good. I don't feel good.'

He survived but suffered broken bones and pierced organs, the family's attorney has said. He will likely be injured for life, the attorney added.

Linden Cameron, who remains in hospital, suffered injuries to his shoulders, both ankles, intestines and bladder after he was shot by police in Salt Lake City

But bodycam footage shows the officers chasing him down an alley after they arrive at his home, then yelling at him to get on the ground

Linden's mother, Golda Barton, called the police to help him to hospital to receive mental health treatment

Police also released a 911 call that mother Golda Barton placed before the shooting, when she warned that he had previously been in a chase and shootout with police.

Asked whether he has access to a firearm currently, she answered: 'I don't believe he does, but I just found out that... he showed one of my workers a prop gun, or a BB gun or a pellet gun. It wasn't a big weapon.'

She can also be heard warning the dispatcher that her son 'does not like cops' because they shot and killed her father within the last year.

'He sees the badge and he automatically thinks you are going to kill him or he has to defend himself in some way,' she said. 'He freaks out.'

She adds: 'We need a mental health worker, it's super important.'

Officers said they would have to proceed as though the boy did have access to a real gun, the videos show. Barton told officers the boy was 'triggered' by seeing police.

The video was made public under a Salt Lake City ordinance requiring the release of video from police shootings within 10 business days.

Officers said they would have to proceed as though the boy did have access to a real gun, the videos show

Footage shows the officers start to run after the boy - yelling at him to stop and get on the ground

The shooting has raised new questions about how police deal with people with mental health issues amid nationwide calls for police reform

The shooting has raised new questions about how police deal with people with mental health issues amid nationwide calls for police reform.

It came hours before new deescalation tactics were due to take effect for Salt Lake City police, which is also cooperating with an independent investigation of the shooting.

In one video, two officers can be heard discussing whether or not to approach the boy because they were concerned that the incident would result in a shooting.

'Especially when he hates cops, it's probably gonna end in a shooting,' one officer said.

Barton has said she told dispatchers her son (pictured in hospital) was having a breakdown and she needed help from a crisis-intervention officer

His mother Golda (pictured) said through tears that her son was 'scared' when authorities arrived to their home

The videos don't seem to show the boy holding any weapon and police don't mention any in a report also released Monday

As officers approach the house, one says he can see movement in the backyard. The officers start to run after the boy - yelling at him to stop and get on the ground. When they catch up to the boy, they ask him to get on the ground again.

The boy ignores their commands and continues walking before a series of shots ring out.

The videos don't seem to show the boy holding any weapon and police don't mention any in a report also released Monday.

Barton has said she told dispatchers her son was having a breakdown and she needed help from a crisis-intervention officer.

On the 911 call recording, she said she has called the cops before on her son and that he has previously run away from officers.

'My biggest fear is that, I don't know I just don't want him to die,' Barton said. 'But the times theyve came he has been gone like hell take off and go running. That's why I don't want to go there...I just don't want to alarm him.'

She added: 'That's why we need a mental health worker,' she said. 'It's super important.'

The Salt Lake City officers who arrived had some mental-health training but were not specialists in crisis intervention.

Linden 'was lucky to be alive,' his attorney Zach Weyher said.

The Salt Lake City officers who arrived had some mental-health training but were not specialists in crisis intervention

Linden's brother, Wesley (pictured), also spoke out about his sibling's injuries. 'He said he can't feel any feeling in his left hand,' Wesley said. 'So now we'll never be able to do the things we used to do, like longboard and play video games together'

Two weeks later, he remains hospitalized.

'Whatever happened, it was a 13-year-old boy who was unarmed. The police were called for a mental-health call, not a criminal act,' Weyher said. 'A child is laying in a hospital bed ... there has to be a better response.'

The mayor of Salt Lake City, Erin Mendenhall, said at a news conference Monday that as a mother of a 14-year-old boy she was profoundly upset by the shooting. She called for a quick but thorough investigation about what happened.

'I am profoundly heartbroken and frustrated,' she said. 'Its a tragedy for this young boy, for his mother and for families and individuals who have acute mental health needs.'

Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall (pictured) said at a news conference Monday that as a mother of a 14-year-old boy she was profoundly upset by the shooting

The shooting comes amid nationwide calls for police reform in the wake of the death of George Floyd, who was killed during an arrest in Minneapolis.

A demand of some protest groups has been 'defunding' police departments.

Advocates argue that police forces should focus on preventing an solving violent crimes instead of being asked to take on roles that officers are often not suited for.

Money that is currently used to fund police programs not aimed at violence offences should be moved to community support and mental health services, they argue.

The policy has caught some traction, with Minneapolis - the city where Floyd was killed - in the process of disbanding its police force and building a replacement.
startAD, the Abu Dhabi-based global accelerator powered by its partner Tamkeen, VentureSouq, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa) and Hub71 have partnered to launch the regions first Conscious Investor Fellowship (CIF).



The six-week virtual Fellowship will welcome 25 investors who will be mentored and trained by key global and local industry experts on investing in impact-driven technology startups from October 7 to November 25. The Fellowship invites GCC-based venture capitalists, family office funds, angel investors, and institutional investors to register before Wednesday, September 30.



The Fellowship will cover conscious investment strategies, startup diligence, valuations, impact measurement, portfolio management, and global trends in the impact space. Elective thematic masterclasses will also be offered, with a specific focus on HealthTech, EdTech, Environmental Tech, and AgriTech.



The CIF will coincide with the annual public Angel Rising Investor Education Symposium, which will be held virtually between November 24-25. Open to those interested in learning about investing in technology startups, this years Symposium will include pitches from global startups who will be presenting investment opportunities for investors who are a part of CIF, and for investors registered with Angel Rising.



Research Professor of Engineering, Vice Provost for Entrepreneurship at NYUAD, and Managing Director of startAD Ramesh Jagannathan said: Conscious investment is a growing global force, accelerated by the ongoing impact of the global pandemic. While startup-focused initiatives have been growing in the region, we see a gap in the resources and support available for new investors.



Furthermore, given the regions intrinsic drive to influence the world for the better, startAD is confident that the Conscious Investor Fellowship will instigate this mission through demonstrable impact. Aligned with the UAEs goals, it will forge a path to a tech-enabled business ecosystem and a society that is inclusive, thriving, and sustainable in the long term.



Founding Partner at VentureSouq Sonia Weymuller, said: We recently launched the VentureSouq Conscious Collective earlier this year, a regional investment platform focused on supporting entrepreneurs and ventures that are harnessing the power of technology to address todays very tangible societal, economic, and environmental challenges.



Weve seen how technology can act as a multiplier for good; its high time for the VC space now to act as a magnifier for good. This Fellowship is one step in the right direction to dispel some of the preconceptions regional investors may have about conscious investing and financial returns and to educate the next generation of mission-driven investors from the GCC.



Head of KAUST Entrepreneurship Center Hattan Ahmed said: KAUST is driven by a mission to advance research and create new technologies that address our greatest global challenge in food, water, energy, and the environment. We are starting to see more deep tech startups emerging from the ecosystem, disrupting existing industries, and creating new solutions to these challenges.



The Conscious Investment fellowship is a key step to advancing this ecosystem and educating regional investors about the potential of emerging technologies and their long-term value. For Saudi Arabia in particular, there is a unique opportunity to nurture this deep tech ecosystem for real economic transformation.



CEO of Sheraa Najla Al Midfa commented: Sheraa is proud to support the Conscious Investor Fellowship and help develop a new generation of impact investors. Access to capital, while improving, remains a challenge for most young startups. Parallel to this, there has long been an untapped community of high net-worth individuals who want to support entrepreneurs but are unsure of where to start.



This Fellowship helps bridge the gap, and aligns with Sheraas efforts to engage investors on the positive socio-economic impacts of investing in local tech startups. We look forward to working with these Fellows and welcoming them to Sharjahs entrepreneurship ecosystem.  TradeArabia News Service
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...
Even as coronavirus figures continue to soar in India and Europe faces the prospect of a second wave, we get the bad news that SARS-CoV-2 reinfections are real. The official caseload in India has now surpassed the 5.5 million mark, and a vaccine is several months away and, by all estimates, will take longer to reach citizens.

But the economy must be reopened at all costs. It will take a minimum of two months to restore it to its pre-Covid state, the C. Rangarajan committee advising the Tamil Nadu government has suggested. The Centre is implementing what it has cheesily dubbed Unlock 4.0: as part of this, older students are returning to school in some parts of the country; international flights are beginning to operate in air bubble arrangements; and the Taj Mahal is receiving visitors. The ongoing monsoon session of Parliament, however, had to be curtailed by several days, jeopardising important legislative decisions.

Autumns lower temperatures plus the reopening will undoubtedly bring on a second wave of the coronavirus in India. The crisis unfolding is worse than we imagined with the virus reaching rural India. Experts suggest that the Covid-19 pandemic will peak at different times in different parts of the country. Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh currently have the highest number infections; of these the last three states have experienced late surges.

A renewed urgency for health infrastructure, doctors, drugs, ventilators and a prompter and more localised administrative response coordinated by state governments and effectively bolstered by central funds and support is the absolute need of the hour. Of these, drug manufacture is our area of strength and we have done some good work on expanding laboratory and testing infrastructure.

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday stayed the Delhi governments September 13 order making it mandatory for 33 private hospitals to reserve 80 per cent of their intensive care unit (ICU) beds as prima facie violative of fundamental rights. It is a welcome ruling. Most coronavirus patients improve with administration of palliatives and home isolation is sufficient to contain the disease. That is indeed a silver lining. India has topped the world both in the daily infection rate as well as number of recoveries. Health workers have put their shoulder to the wheel and are working heroically against odds.

If only these odds were fewer in number. The governments  state and central  have no choice but to perform or face electoral ire.
A return to full lockdown for two weeks could cost the Northern Ireland economy an estimated 700m, an expert has predicted.

Dr Esmond Birnie, senior economist at Ulster University, revealed that Northern Ireland is already on course to witness a drop of around 4.5bn this year.

His stark warning came as a major think-tank warned the UK economy faces a hit of 250m a day from the impact of partial lockdowns.

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The Centre for Economics said that GDP (Gross Domestic Product) could fall by between 3% and 5% in the last three months of 2020, compared to the third quarter.

Dr Birnie said that Northern Ireland is estimated to see a drop of 10% in GDP - equating to 4.5bn - due to the spring lockdown.

The Executive extended its household mixing ban from local areas to all of Northern Ireland on Monday. The rule will come into force at 6pm on Tuesday.

In recent weeks the Executive has introduced localised restrictions on households in several areas and postcodes.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has suggested a two-week strict lockdown, dubbed a "circuit-breaker", as a way of tackling coronavirus.

Expand Close Proposal: Prime Minister Boris Johnson has suggested a two-week strict lockdown Getty Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp Proposal: Prime Minister Boris Johnson has suggested a two-week strict lockdown

First Minister Arlene Foster, however, appeared to rule out a second full lockdown, saying it was "not an option".

Retail NI chief Glyn Roberts said a return to a lockdown like the one we had in the spring would be "disastrous" for the economy here.

Dr Birnie said a full lockdown would result in a drop of around 1.5% in GDP but said measures like partial lockdowns will still have a "considerable" impact on our economy.

"The reintroduced restrictions have been very much focused on social interactions, so they haven't been about telling people that they shouldn't be going into the office, the building site or factory," he said.

"Schools have been open in those postcodes so you're not getting that consequential impact on parents."

Dr Birnie said it would be difficult to estimate the impact of these measures but predicted it would be "much less" than the consequences of a two-week full lockdown.

"I'm not privy to their inner thinking but I think the Executive were concerned not to have the tremendous hit to the GDP in Northern Ireland that happened in the first lockdown, which is why they put the emphasis on households," he said. "If we went back into general lockdown in the autumn the output of Northern Ireland would be worse than 10% GDP - around 4.6bn."

Meanwhile Mr Roberts welcomed assurances from Mrs Foster that there would be no return to a full lockdown.

"It would be a disaster for the economy - for retail, hospitality, manufacturing. There's absolutely no doubt that it would be a disaster," he explained.

"We have to recognise that this is a medical emergency and we have to put people's lives and their health before anything else. It is a balancing act."

He added: "If we have a real, strong economic depression, the impact that will have in that people will lose their jobs, and the impact that will have. It is a balancing act."
GENEVA/LONDON: Some 156 nations have joined a global scheme for fair distribution of future vaccines against COVID-19, an alliance led by the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday, but superpowers China and the United States did not sign up.

U.S. President Donald Trump's government has already secured future supplies through bilateral deals, prompting accusations of selfish behaviour to the detriment of poor countries.

China, where the coronavirus began, was also missing on the list of 64 rich nations who joined the so-called COVAX plan to deliver 2 billion vaccine doses round the world by the end of 2021, prioritising healthcare workers and the vulnerable.

But alliance officials said dialogue continued with Beijing.

The scheme would account for about two-thirds of the world population, according to the WHO and GAVI vaccine alliance, which published the list of signatories after a deadline for binding commitments expired on Friday.

Dozens of vaccines are in testing for the coronavirus which has infected about 31 million people globally and killed nearly 1 million, a fifth of those in the United States.

'THIS IS NOT CHARITY'

"COVAX will give the world the largest and most diverse portfolio of vaccine candidates," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a virtual briefing.

"This is not charity, it's in every country's best interest. We sink or we swim together ... This is not just the right thing to do, it's the smart thing to do."

With some wealthier nations reticent over COVAX, the plan has highlighted the challenge of distributing vaccines equitably around a world of haves and have-nots.

The vaccine alliance said it expected another 38 wealthy countries to join the initiative in coming days.

It said it had received commitments for $1.4 billion towards vaccine research and development, but a further $700 million-$800 million was urgently needed.

The alliance did not say which countries were providing funding while not planning to take supply of vaccines from the scheme. France and Germany have said they will only source potential shots via the European joint procurement scheme.

More than 150 potential vaccines are being developed and tested globally, with 38 in human trials.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.

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The global sugar syrup market has been on an upward growth trajectory over the recent past and is expected to surpass its previous revenues over the forecast period of 2017-2023, reveals Market Research Future (MRFR) in a recently published research report. The market has observed continual growth owing to the diverse application potential of sugar syrups which fetches persistent demand for the market. The global Sugar Syrups Industry derives much of its growth from the burgeoning demand for sugar syrups from the Food & Beverage industry as they find widespread application in food toppings, beverages, and other purposes. The consumption of soft drinks and other alcoholic beverages has grown considerably on a global scale which boosts the growth of the global sugar syrups market.

Furthermore, there has been an escalation in demand for natural sugar syrups such as honey, maple syrup, and coconut palm sugar owing to rising health consciousness among consumers which is likely to augment the demand for sugar syrups in the forthcoming years. The pharmaceutical industry too contributes to the growth of the market as sugar syrups are used in syrups and medicines to make them edible and appetizing. The rise in demand for convenience food and the overall growth of the Food & Beverage industry has been a plus for the global sugar syrups market. However, health issues related to the use of sugar and the growing popularity of alternative sweeteners are expected to hamper the growth of the market over the forecast period.

Segmentation

The global sugar syrup market has been segmented based on type, application, and distribution channel. By type, the market has been segmented into Glucose, Maple, Corn, and others. By application, the market has been segmented into Beverages, Bakery & Confectionary, Dairy & Frozen Desserts and others. By distribution channel, the market has been segmented into Store, and Non-Store Based.

Get a FREE Sample Copy of Report: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/4549

Regional Analysis

The global sugar syrups market spans across the regions of North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Rest of the World (RoW). North America is at the forefront of the global sugar syrups market followed by Europe. The US and Canada account for the major share of the North America market owing to high demand for food additives in the region. In addition, rigorous R&D activities in the region coupled with technological advancement in the production process favor the growth of the market in North America. The Europe market is strong and is expected to showcase a positive growth trend over the forecast period due to the presence of a well-developed food & beverage industry and increased consumption of convenience food in the region. Asia Pacific is expected to exhibit relatively steady growth over the forecast period. The region is experiencing high demand for sugar syrups on account of growing consumer awareness regarding the use of natural sugar syrups. Moreover, the availability of raw materials and favorable regulatory frameworks support the growth of the market in Asia Pacific. The developing Food & Beverage industry in Asia Pacific region is expected to help the market emerge as the fastest growing market over the forecast period.

Competitive Landscape

The eminent players operating in the global sugar syrup market include Coca-Cola Company (the U.S.), Sonoma Syrup (Canada), PepsiCo (the U.S.), Tereos (France), Archer Daniels Midland (the U.S.), Cedarvale Maple Syrup (New York), and Illovo Sugar Ltd. (South Africa).

Industry Updates

In September 2018, Australian listed honey company reportedly accused of selling fake honey. A leading international scientific lab which specializes in honey fraud detection found the samples from Capilano adulterated.

Access Full Report Details and Order this Premium Report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/sugar-syrups-market-4549

Note : Our team of researchers are studying Covid-19 and its impact on various industry verticals and wherever required will be considering covid19 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 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.

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Japan, India, Australia and US foreign ministers to meet in Tokyo in October: Report

Japanese foreign affairs chief Toshimitsu Motegi, US State Secretary Mike Pompeo, Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar, and Australian foreign minister Marise Payne are set to meet in Tokyo in October to hold a QUAD security dialogue, reports stated. It will be the first cabinet-level meeting since March after the coronavirus outbreak.

Indian External affairs minister S Jaishankar said last week India and Japan were looking at cooperating on projects in Bangladesh and Myanmar. Photo courtesy: Twitter/@DrSJaishankar

The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, also known as QUAD, is an informal strategic forum between India, US, Japan, and Australia. The strategic alliance was formed to ensure peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific and check Chinas expansionist efforts in the region, which has become a major cause of concern for a rules-based order.

The final schedule for the dialogue, which was delayed due to change in leadership after Shinzo Abes resignation, has not been announced yet. According to Japanese media reports, a face-to-face meeting between the foreign ministers of the visiting nations and the newly-elected Japans Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga are also being arranged.

The meet will be held at a time when all four members of the Quad have serious differences with China  India is engaged in a border standoff in Ladakh, the Australian government has pledged to halt projects under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Japan is worried about Chinese intrusions near the Senkaku Islands, and the US is engaged in a trade war.

The members of the Quad, especially India, Japan and Australia, have also stepped up work on forging partnerships with like-minded countries in the region, or those with interests in the Indian Ocean, with an eye on Chinas increasing assertiveness and aggressiveness.

Indian External affairs minister S Jaishankar said last week India and Japan were looking at cooperating on projects in Bangladesh and Myanmar as part of their efforts to work together in third-party countries.
BENGALURU : Venture capital firm, Sequoia Capital India on Tuesday announced the launch of its new community programme for growth-stage startups, The Guild.

In a blogpost on LinkedIn, Managing Director of Sequoia Capital, Shailendra Singh said that The Guild plans to bring founders together on a regular basis to share their experiences, learn from each other, and hear from other world-class speakers.

We are fortunate to have partnered with many incredible startups over the last 14 years. The Sequoia India and Southeast Asia portfolio currently has 43 companies that each have between $50 million to $1 billion+ in annualized revenues - and many of these startups are growing rapidly [] The Guild is our new startup, co-created with some of the most innovative and dynamic founders in India and SEA," said Singh in his blogpost.

New community programme to run over a six-month period

The programme, which will run over a six-month period, will have growth stage Sequoia portfolio companies from India and South-east Asia, with each group comprising 12 to 16 founders.

Its [The Guild] one more step in the pursuit of our mission to help the daring build legendary companies, from idea to IPO and beyond. We hope this community will play an important role in shaping the journey of many iconic startups in the years to come," added Singh.

According to Sequoia India, a significant percent of the first cohort of founders will be from the consumer internet and mobile sector, while future cohorts will include founders from SaaS, fintech, B2B, consumer and other categories.

The Guild will meet twice a month; sessions will include global perspectives on company building, candid founder to founder conversations, and AMAs with best business leaders and company builders from all over the world.

At Sequoia Capital India, we are deeply committed to doing everything possible to help our founders build enduring companies. Last year, we launched Surge for seed-stage founders. We relentlessly ask ourselves how can we help founders succeed", challenging ourselves to break the mould and try new things," added Singh.

Recently the blue-chip investor also received commitments totaling $1.35 billion from limited partners for two new India and South-east Asia (SEA) focused fundsa $525-million venture fund, and a $825-million growth fund.

According to Sequoia, the capital from the newly raised funds will be leveraged to double down on investments in both early-and growth-stage firms in the technology, consumer and healthcare space.

Just last week, even Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm Lightspeed Venture Partners launched its operations in the Southeast Asian market, choosing Singapore as its regional office, to invest in early and growth stage startups in the region.r

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Times are scary for everyone right now, but especially for sea turtles.

The Kemp's Ridley turtle in particular is the most critically endangered sea turtle in the world, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Commonly found in Texas and Mexico, they only reach about two feet in length and 80 to 100 pounds max, making them the smallest of the sea turtles.
Police have arrested a man and a woman who were allegedly found carrying shovels and a gun near where President Trump was holding a rally in Ohio.

The two Virginia residents were arrested Monday after authorities said they were found walking on railroad tracks behind an Ohio airport with shovels, a pitchfork and a backpack containing a gun and ammunition.

John Davison, 38, and Vicki Davison, 33, both of Virginia Beach, were each charged with making terrorist threats; carrying a concealed weapon; inducing panic and criminal trespassing after their arrests that involved the Secret Service because the president was nearby for a rally, The Sentinel-Tribune in Bowling Green reported.

Air Force One pulls up the runway to where a campaign rally for President Donald Trump is being held at the Toledo Express Airport on September 21

It wasn't immediately known if either one had retained an attorney or if they were related.

The two were captured behind the Toledo Executive Airport in Lake Township, which is a designated reliever airport for the Toledo Express Airport. President Donald Trump was holding a rally Monday night at the main Toledo airport in Swanton, but there was no immediate indication the two events were linked.

FBI and Secret Service agents were involved in the ongoing investigation, authorities said, but further details were not disclosed.

The Secret Service were reportedly involved in the arrest due to the duo's proximity to last night's Trump rally in Ohio, pictured above

Police responded to the area after a witness reported that two people had gotten out of a vehicle and were walking on the tracks. The caller said the two had shovels and a backpack, which authorities said contained a Glock pistol with extended magazine, 200 rounds of ammunition and four tourniquets.

The rented vehicle the pair had been in had several items 'suspicious in nature,' Lake Township Police Chief Mark Hummer told the newspaper. He described them as 'odd items, but nothing illegal.'

Hummer said John Davison had been cited Sunday night by police in nearby Walbridge for criminal trespass at their street department. Hummer noted rail yard 'runs right along their street department.'
GUANGZHOU, China, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In order to determine the state of business in South China in the first half of 2020 and to assess the impact of many challenges facing business going forward, the American Chamber of Commerce in South China conducted a comprehensive study involving 172 companies from August 28th to September 8th. The study includes companies from Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Spain, UK, Serbia, France, Nepal, Japan and the United States. The majority are U.S.-invested enterprises (50%), followed by of China-invested enterprises (33%) and enterprises originating from other countries and regions (17%).

The complete study, the 2020 Mid-Year Special Report on the State of Business in South China, released today can be downloaded here:

http://www.amcham-southchina.org/amcham/static/publications/publications.jsp

Main takeaways of the study are:

100% of the companies studied are currently operational, while 22% report that they had to temporarily shut down part of their operation. No company has had to permanently shut down.

Over 78% no longer face difficulties with the supply chain, an increase of 46% since March 12, 2020 when we released our Special Report on the Impact of COVID-19 on the Supply Chain .

when we released our . Despite increasing political tensions between China and US and challenges posed by COVID-19, 90% of the studied companies, regardless of origin, hold a positive outlook for the second half of 2020. These companies display a strong will to continue to grow and expand amid the continued current difficulties.

and US and challenges posed by COVID-19, 90% of the studied companies, regardless of origin, hold a positive outlook for the second half of 2020. These companies display a strong will to continue to grow and expand amid the continued current difficulties. 48% of companies expect their year-on-year revenue to increase in the second half of 2020. Meanwhile, nearly 18% of participating companies expect no change in revenue.

71% of the companies studied maintained or increased employee headcounts, while 29% saw a decrease.

For the second half of 2020 45% of the companies expect to maintain reinvestment at previously budgeted levels, while 26% expect to increase their reinvestment (8% by up to 5%, 9% by between 5%-10%, and 9% by more than 10%). At the same time 29% expect to decrease their planned reinvestments.

While the study shows surprising similarities in responses from companies of various origin, in this report we have decided to show the combined responses, as well as, by region (U.S., China, and Other) and in many cases also by industry.

AmCham South China President, Dr. Harley Seyedin said "We look forward to a future without COVID-19 and one of good health, growth and prosperity. After all, we all have a common goal of giving our children a better life than we have had. Working together towards that goal will guarantee peace and prosperity and a better future for everyone in the world."

About the American Chamber of Commerce in South China

The American Chamber of Commerce in South China (AmCham South China) is a non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to facilitating bilateral trade between the United States and the People's Republic of China. Certified in 1995 by the US Chamber of Commerce in Washington DC, AmCham South China represents more than 2,300 corporate and individual members, is governed by a fully-independent Board of Governors elected from its membership, and provides dynamic, on-the-ground support for American and International companies doing business in South China. In 2019, AmCham South China hosted more than 10,000 business executives and government leaders from around the world at its briefings, seminars, committee meetings and social gatherings. The American Chamber of Commerce in South China is a fully-independent organization accredited by the US Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C. All AmChams in China are independently governed and represent member companies in their respective regions.

SOURCE The American Chamber of Commerce in South China
A 56-year-old New Jersey man driving a pickup truck was drunk when he struck and killed a woman out for a run Friday in Raritan Borough, authorities said.

Kevin D. Betyeman was arrested after hitting the 60-year-old San Manuel, Arizona, woman about 3:30 p.m. at the intersection of Old York Road and Woodmere Street, the Somerset County Prosecutors Office said.

Betyeman, of Bridgewater, was cited for driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, careless driving and failure to yield to a pedestrian. Criminal charges are pending following the death of Celeste Andresen.

An avid runner visiting New Jersey, Andresen was stopped at a designated cross-walk while she waited to cross Old York Road, officials said. While a westbound vehicle on Old York Road and a southbound vehicle on Woodmere Street stopped to allow her to cross, the pickup truck hit her when she was about three-fourths of the way across the eastbound lane of Old York Road.

She was brought to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Somerset County Prosecutors Office Major Crimes Unit at 908-231-7100 or Raritan Borough police at 908-725-6700.

Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Summer 2020 is officially gone, and as it leaves, in a normal year, the shirtless young men of Grove 13 would leave with it, driven indoors by the chill of autumn. Grove 13 is the Chicago Park Districts official name for the patch of Lincoln Park at Wellington and inner Lake Shore Drive, just north of the Diversity Driving Range. Here, beneath the watchful glare of nearby apartment buildings and senior living facilities, there is a small workout space. Its nothing exciting to look at. Its smaller than a typical playground and the equipment is so spartan  parallel bars, gymnast rings, some stairs  you might say it looks more like a playground that someone lost interest in midway through designing.
Acting Energy Minister of Ukraine Olha Buslavets and Executive Director of the state institution Ukraine Investment Promotion Office (UkraineInvest) Serhiy Tsivkach have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation in the energy sector, according to the Energy Ministrys press service.

"As part of reforming the energy sector and transforming it into a clean, green, decarbonized sector of the economy, given the development of renewable energy sources, one of the main challenges today is the need for attracting significant investment," said Buslavets.

She noted that Ukraine's energy system needs new generating capacities.

Buslavets outlined possible key areas for further cooperation that include attraction of investments in a segment of technologies of highly maneuverable generation and energy accumulation systems, in particular, implementing energy storage projects; developing the hydrogen energy in Ukraine; restructuring of non-profit coal mines and transformation of coal regions across Ukraine, including with the participation of foreign partners.

During the meeting, the parties agreed that cooperation on attracting investment will create new opportunities in the energy sector of Ukraine.

iy
During their meeting on Wednesday morning, Peterborough County council will discuss an alternative option to declaring a climate emergency.

While Peterborough city council declared a climate emergency a year ago, county council rejected a request to consider doing the same in June.

Instead of following in the citys footsteps, county council will consider a report at Wednesdays meeting from county staff suggesting the county enter into a pilot partnership agreement with Peterborough GreenUp to support achieving targets as part of a collaborative of climate change action plans in the county, county townships, Hiawatha First Nation and Curve Lake First Nation.

The report further suggests that a community advisory group be created to support the county and Peterborough GreenUp in implementing and executing actions, strategies and deliverables that will meet their action plan objectives.

While several counties and regions across the province have declared a state of climate emergency  including Prince Edward County, Chatham-Kent, Waterloo Region, Halton Region, Essex County, Brant County and Peel Region, all in 2019, and Durham Region in 2020  the report states the effect of declaring a climate emergency on a municipality varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.

Generally, the declaration does not in itself open the municipality to new sources of funding or emergency resources, but the idea is to take this step in order to have a benchmark to take further actions, it states.

One of the risks of declaring a state of emergency can include not having the necessary budget or capacity to implement the project, resulting in no change, the report states. Another risk noted is that as a result of COVID-19 exhausting many municipal budgets, an abundance of partners will not be in a financial position to help fund a plan or help to execute one.

We see great value and efficiency in working with Peterborough GreenUp as they are already well positioned within our community and have the knowledge and expertise to impact our goals. GreenUp has been delivering environmental education and climate action programs in the Peterborough region for nearly three decades, the report states.

GreenUp offers comprehensive community-based programming for businesses, schools and residents, according to the report.

Their goal is not only to increase environmental literacy, but also to help people of all ages and abilities to be part of the solution and take meaningful, measurable and sustained action.

County councils meeting can be viewed online starting Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. at youtube.com/channel/UCugKZVQW80pfVSvB2V25QAg.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 21, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures Suren Papikyan has expressed his concerns to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Director Rafael Grossi over the recent Azerbaijani threat to strike the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant.

Papikyan and Grossi held a meeting during the IAEA 64th General Conference.

The Armenian minister congratulated Grossi on assuming office and wished productive work, attaching importance to the further development of cooperation between Armenia and the IAEA, as well as ensuring the continuity of the IAEA projects in Armenia.

Addressing the directions and prospects of developing atomic energy in Armenia, the minister emphasized that ensuring energy security  as a strategic priority  is stipulated in the countrys security strategy by the Armenian government.

The operational extension project of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant is under the strict attention of the Armenian government and is implemented under strict adherence to IAEA requirements and regulations, Papikyan said, underscoring that Armenia attaches exclusive significance to the IAEA.

Papikyan was pleased to note the cooperation with the IAEA in the direction of peaceful use of atomic energy and expressed hope that cooperation with the agency will be enhanced further as part of the works on increasing safety.

At the same time, minister Papikyan expressed concern regarding the Azerbaijani threat made by the countrys defense ministry in July to strike the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant, noting that Armenia considers it to be a credible threat.

Papikyan and Grossi also talked about the IAEA ZODIAC project - an initiative towards the early detection and prevention of the next zoonotic outbreaks in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

IAEAs support in the COVID-19 response through the provision of the PT-PCR device and additional equipment was also highly appreciated.

At the conclusion of the visit, Papikyan invited Grossi to visit Armenia.

Within the framework of the conference, Papikyan also met with ROSATOM Russian state corporation head Alexey Likhachev to discuss different issues, such as the details of modernization of the NPP using budgetary loan from the state budget, the ongoing works as part of the framework agreement with ROSATOM. They also expressed willingness to outline potential directions of cooperation with ROSATOM.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
Children ride scooters across the plaza at the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington on March 17, 2020. (Tom Brenner/Reuters)

How Ginsburgs Absence Will Affect Key Cases

The absence of the recently deceased Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the Supreme Court may give the high courts conservative bloc the upper hand in cases to be heard in the coming term.

President Donald Trump vowed over the weekend to replace the long-serving liberal Ginsburg, a feminist and cultural icon, who died Sept. 18 at 87, with a conservative female justice. If Trumps nominee is confirmed, there would in theory be six ideological conservatives on the nine-member court, instead of the current five.

There are now 12 women on Trumps list of possible nominees, which is topped by two Trump lower court nominees, Judge Amy Coney Barrett of the Chicago-based 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, and Judge Barbara Lagoa of the Atlanta-based 11th Circuit.

Democrats say Republicans are being hypocritical by moving forward with a nominee so close to the Nov. 3 election, especially after Senate Republicans blocked then-President Barack Obamas Supreme Court nominee, Merrick Garland, after conservative Justice Antonin Scalia died suddenly in 2016.

But Republicans have enough votes to confirm Trumps next Supreme Court nominee before the Nov. 3 election, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said Sept. 21 on Fox News Channels Hannity.

Were going to move forward in the committee, were going to report the nomination out of the committee to the floor of the United States Senate so we can vote before the election, Graham said. Thats the constitutional process.

Meanwhile, the courts new term begins Oct. 5, with eight justices in place to hear cases.

The most pressing concern, legal experts told The Epoch Times, is what happens if litigation directly related to the presidential election comes before a court thats hamstrung 44 along ideological lines.

If its a close election, youre going to have a lot of legal battles and the Supreme Court is probably going to have to intervene, said Curt Levey, president of the Committee for Justice.

Having a 44 split on the high court could lead to chaos, he said, arguing that Senate Republicans should confirm Trumps yet-to-be-named nominee.

Normally, cases involving similar issues come up to the court through the several appeal circuits but if the split is 44, then the decision cant be harmonized, he said.

Just think about Bush v. Gore, multiplied by multiple states with the Supreme Court not being able to step in and answer a question and different issues decided differently in different circuits. That could make Bush v. Gore look like a party.

In Bush v. Gore (2000), the Supreme Court halted the counting of ballots in Florida, in effect handing the presidency to Republican George W. Bush 36 days after Election Day. The court voted 72 that the vote-counting procedures in places violated the Constitution and by 54 ordered the counting to stop.

If you just step back and say, Would the country be better off having nine justices on Supreme Court instead of an even number when this election is fought out in the courts, I dont think anyoneif you phrased the question that waywould say the country is better off having eight justices on the court who cant intervene even if we face a constitutional and political crisis, Levey said.

Kelly Shackelford, president of the First Liberty Institute, agreed with Levey.

Theres a lot of talk already right now before we even get to the election about election lawsuits  so the idea of a huge election lawsuit going to the Supreme Court and ending up in a 44 tie would be a disaster for our country, he said.

You need the full court there and I think its also really important because there are these battles going on all over the country right now about religious freedom and the church, where services are being restricted under pandemic-related regulations, he said.

Having eight justices instead of the usual nine reduces the power of Chief Justice John Roberts, a nominal conservative who has a history of voting with the liberal bloc in high-profile cases, Levey said in an interview with The Epoch Times.

When Ginsburg was on the court, Roberts was the decider, whereas with eight people on the court, Roberts is the decider only if he joins the conservatives, and if he joins the three remaining liberals, then you have a tie.

Roberts could vote to save Obamacare, and he did a few years ago, Levey said. California v. Texas is a case scheduled for argument in November.

A federal judge in Texas struck down the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, reasoning that with the individual mandate effectively removed by Congress, the statute was unconstitutional.

Shackelford said Ginsburgs absence is helpful to the cause of religious freedom in the upcoming case of Fulton v. City of Philadelphia.

Philadelphia cant be allowed to continue discriminating against would-be adoptees based on their religious views, he said in an interview. Ginsburg seems likely to have ruled in the case against the adoption agency, which has a policy of not dealing with LGBTQ parents, he said.

A case challenging abortion laws could arise. If one does, Roe v. Wade (1973), the Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion across the country, could be on less solid legal ground in the absence of Ginsburg, an abortion rights stalwart.

Known as a civil libertarian, Ginsburgs absence on the court also could affect Tanzin v. Tanvir, to be heard in November. The Trump administration argues that several Muslim men who claim they were wrongfully placed on the U.S. no-fly list for refusing to act as government informants shouldnt be able to seek damages from federal officials.

Without Ginsburg, the court seems more likely to rule against the men even though the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 (RFRA) permits suits for damages against individual federal officials, in this case, members of the FBI.

The Ginsburg vacancy could make it less likely that Jones v. Mississippi, a challenge to be heard in November to the practice of sentencing juveniles to life imprisonment without parole, will succeed.

House Democrats request to access secret grand jury materials referenced in former special counsel Robert Muellers report about his investigation into potential Russian interference in the 2016 election will likely be on weaker ground without Ginsburg on the high court bench in Department of Justice v. House Committee on the Judiciary, scheduled to be heard in December.
Betty Ewen, 87, of Chesapeake Beach, MD passed away on September 17, 2020. Born on January 21, 1933 in Chelmsford, England, she was the daughter of the late Frederick Percy Pennock and Clara Eva (Bowsell) Pennock.



Betty married her husband, Wendell Paul Ewen, on September 12, 1953 at St. Nicholas Church in Witham, England. They celebrated 49 years of marriage before his passing in April of 2003. Betty became a military wife and moved with her family to numerous Air Force bases until moving to Maryland after Paul's retirement. She enjoyed many years working as a sales associate at J. C. Penney and later at the U. S. Naval Academy Midshipmen Store before her own retirement.



Betty is survived by her children, Tim Ewen (Joyce) of Prince Frederick and Amanda Ewen of Chesapeake Beach, her granddaughter, Amy Ewen of Alberta, Canada, and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her siblings Eva Joan Turp, John Pennock, Albert Pennock, Douglas Pennock, Donald Pennock, and Margaret May.



The family will receive friends at Lee Funeral Home Calvert, 8200 Jennifer Lane, Owings, MD 20736 on Sunday, October 4th, 2020 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. A funeral service will be held on Monday, October 5th, 2020 at 11:30 a.m. in the funeral home chapel. Interment will be private.



In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made in Betty's memory to Calvert Hospice, P. O. Box 838, Prince Frederick, MD 20678 (calverthospice.org).



NEW GUIDELINES FOR ATTENDING VISITATION / SERVICES.

- 50 to 75 people max at any given time in Funeral Home.

- Limit visitation to 15 minutes in visitation room to allow for others to express their condolences.

- Funeral Services in Chapel limited to 70 people with four (4) people per pew.

- Masks and six-foot social distancing still applies.
United Nations, Sep 22 : In an under-4 minute video message, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi showed United Nations the mirror and urged it to take a long, hard look at its "crisis of confidence" while ratcheting up the call for a new template of multilateralism that "reflects today's realities" on Day One of the United Nations high level week being live streamed to the world from the UN headquarters in New York City.

Modi's remarks came at a "high-level meeting" to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the United Nations General Assembly.

"We cannot fight today's challenges with outdated structures without comprehensive reforms. The UN faces a crisis of confidence," Modi said in a pre-recorded message that went live at 5:30 pm EST (3 a.m. IST).

"For today's interconnected world, we need a reformed multilateralism that reflects today's realities, gives voice to all stakeholders, addresses contemporary challenges and focuses on human welfare," Modi said.

The introspective mood isn't novel to the United Nations, it actually reflects the zeitgeist, even from within. On Monday, the United Nations General Assembly committed itself to put "new life" into the stalled reform of the Security Council.

Dressed in his trademark kurta and a leaf green vest with dark micro checks, Modi stood beside the Indian tricolour as he delivered his recorded remarks.

Modi came in at number 104 in a line of more than 180 other country leaders who are turning up in set-piece frames to deliver more than 700 minutes of content on a single video loop for an ambient global audience.

The Indian PM's speech was prefaced by a welcome note from TS Tirumurti, India's permanent representative to the United Nations.

The UN marked its 75th anniversary in June this year at a scaled down event, because the coronavirus was already raging by then. About 50 countries signed on to the U.N. Charter in San Francisco on June 26, 1945.

The heady combination of telecom connectivity, teleprompters and social platforms ensured that the virtual version of the UNGA got off to a smooth start, free of the unscripted moments that neither exposed conflicts not gave leaders the chance to offer the counter-view.

Framed against carefully curated backdrops mostly highlighting country flags and sometimes a light touch of ornate interiors or soft focus, world leaders re-purposed their pet UNGA pitch while embracing the new format. Xi Jinping appeared in front of a painting of the Great Wall of China in the backdrop while Australia went with a live shot of the Sydney Opera House.

The UNGA high-level week kicked off less than 24 hours after a new flashpoint erupted between the US and the UN over Iran sanctions.

US President Donald Trump was first on the speaker list for Monday but stayed away, in a snub to the United Nations which stands as a metaphor for multilateralism in the heart of Trump's home ground New York City.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said the United Nations will not support sanctions on Iran based on the United States' demands until he gets a green light from the Security Council.

The Trump administration has declared repeatedly since Saturday that all UN sanctions against Iran have been restored, a move that will undoubtedly stir controversy during the UN's annual high-level meetings this week.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
Kdan Mobile Software, Ltd., a global software as a service (SaaS) company, announced that its e-signature service DottedSign includes a digital identity certificate from Chunghwa Telecommunications Company (CHT) A+Sign, a certified member of Adobe Approved Trust List (AATL) in Taiwan.

AATL is the worlds largest trust service for electronic documents. The AATL certification ensures identity authentication and signature validation to all documents electronically signed with DottedSign. This adds a layer of security and further protects DottedSign users. They can execute the signing process under a safe and trusted environment. CHT A+Sign, as a CA (Certificate Authority), issues a high-level identity authentication to all signed documents via DottedSign and ensures no changes are made to the documents once all parties have completed signing. The signatures will appear as trusted when the document is opened in Acrobat and Acrobat Reader.

Were observing this mass migration of workers from traditional office environments to remote locations and the collaboration is part of the companies response to concerns raised by client organizations regarding privacy, data protection, security and compliance, explains Kenny Su, the CEO of Kdan Mobile. In order to maintain social distance while remaining productive, these companies need to be able to trust that contracts theyre getting signed are safe, secure and enforceable. DottedSign provides this peace of mind.

DottedSign was listed in 10 Best Free and Open Source Digital Signature Software'' by GoodFirms in 2020. DottedSign's user base has increased 300% in the first half-year in 2020 compared to the same period as demand for remote signing increases during COVID-19. This is part of Kdan Mobiles effort to help workers around the world stay safe without compromising their output.

Any business or individual interested in learning more about DottedSign is encouraged to visit the company website at https://dottedsign.com.
Best friends are some of lifes most precious gifts, and making them happy is a total joy. No doubt your dog cherishes your relationship at least as much as you do, so why not treat them by adding a few extra bells and whistles to their daily lives? Besides, better doggie distractions mean more peace of mind for you knowing that they know you care even when you cant be with them.

Bissell BarkBath

Pet owner grooms his dog using the gentle Bissell BarkBath.

A clean dog isnt just a happy dog  theyre also welcome in almost anyones home. This compact cleaning system lets you bathe your dog on the go and doubles as a portable carpet and upholstered furniture cleaner. Its one-of-a-kind spray nozzle gently reaches deep down to the dogs skin and deposits the dirty water into a separate tank. For $200, you can easily keep your dog and home clean without bulky equipment or frequent trips to the groomers.

Fi Smart Dog Collar

Fi Smart Dog Collar

No more fretting over where your dog is when they decide to explore the world explore outside your yard. The lustrous Fi Smart Dog Collar tracks their location with a real-time GPS and reports the data back to you on your smartphone. It also tracks how many steps they take and their total exercise time to monitor their fitness. The collar is $149, and the additional $99 annual subscription fee is a small price to pay for the serenity of knowing your poochs whereabouts.

Mighty Paw Smart Bell 2.0

Dog uses his nose to trigger the Mighty Paw Smart Bell 2.0.

With a minimal amount of training, the Mighty Paw Smart Bell 2.0 lets your dog alert you to their need to go outside and take care of business. Priced between $30 and $40, the system is wireless and needs no batteries, with a customizable ringtone thats activated by the simple touch of your pets paw.

PetChatz Interactive Pet Camera

Adorable dog talks to his owner long-distance using the PetChatz Interactive Pet Camera.

You dont have to be Dr. Dolittle to talk to your pet. Thanks to this nifty invention, you can now have two-way calls anytime youre away from home, and even toss them treats or calm them with light bursts and therapeutic scents. The basic system costs around $350, but for a bit more, you can add on PawCall buttons that let your pet reach out to you from afar.

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Petcube Bites 2 Smart Pet Camera

Doggie waits for his next meal beneath Petcube Bites 2 Smart Pet Camera

If you just want to keep tabs on your pets secret life when youre not home, Petcube Bites 2 Smart Pet Camera is the perfect gadget for you. You can reward good behavior with a virtual treat or talk to them with the two-way audio feature. Even better, this system is a little cheaper than others at just $249.

PetSafe Smart Feeder

Dog eats from he automated PetSafe Smart Feeder.

With the PetSafe Smart Feeder, youll never have to feel guilty about not being home to feed your dog on time. Instead, a simple phone app lets you set up an automatic feeding schedule. Set it to dispense an eighth to four full cups of food, or use the Slow Feed option to dispense a preset amount of chow over a 15-minute span.

SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder

Small kitten approaches the SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder

No more food pilfering between your dog and cat thanks to the SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder. Using microchips, the food inside is only accessible to the right pet when they approach their respective dish. No worries if your pet isnt microchipped, either: you can also use ID tags on their collars to activate access. At a price of around $150, you can make sure each and every pet gets the proper nutrition every day of the week.

SureFlap Microchip Pet Door

Dog peers into his house from outsie the SureFlap Microchip Pet Door.

Instead of making repeated trips to the door to let your pet in an out, simplify life for a meager investment of $85. The SureFlap Microchip Pet Door reads a microchip or programmable collar to let the pet in and out without concerns about strays or wildlife getting inside. You can also set up pre-selected times for the doggy door to automatically be locked or unlocked from the outside.

VARRAM Pet Fitness Robot

Owner holds a VARRAM Pet Fitness Robot up to his dog.

No more lazy pets that sleep all day while youre away. The VARRAM Pet Fitness Robot plays with your pet using 16 preset frolicking moves that carefully avoid obstacles throughout your home. The $100 price tag includes a program that monitors your pups activity and advises on changes you can make to further improve their health.

Whistle FIT Pet Health Tracker

Whistle FIT Pet Health Tracker

Finally, this Fitbit-like gadget tells you if your dog is getting the proper amount of exercise based on its breed, weight, and age. Set incremental goals and adjust food amounts to match their activity patterns and keep them at the peak of good health. The tracker costs $80, plus an annual subscription fee of $35.
A group of researchers at the University of Bristol, UK claim that the spike protein of the COVID-19 causing virus has a druggable site that, if successfully targeted, can keep the virus from infecting host cells.

In the past nine months, researchers have found various drugs that can help manage COVID-19. These include nucleoside analogues like remdesivir that can stop viral replication, the much-debated hydroxychloroquine that prevents inflammation and mpro inhibitors that bind to and inhibit the function of an enzyme in the SARS-CoV-2 virus to keep it from making copies of itself inside the host cell.

Now, a group of researchers at the University of Bristol, UK claim that the spike protein of the COVID-19 causing virus has a druggable site that, if successfully targeted, can keep the virus from infecting host cells.

As per a news release by the University of Bristol, this site could be a potential game-changer for defeating the pandemic.

The findings of the study are published in the peer-reviewed journal Science.

The study

SARS-CoV-2 virus uses a trimeric spike protein to bind to ACE2 receptors on host cells and enter into target cells. This spike protein could be in closed (inaccessible) or open (accessible) conformation; the latter being able to bind ACE2.

To better study the virus, the research team at the University of Bristol isolated copies of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in lab culture and then made a 3D structure of this protein. The researchers found both closed and open confirmation spike proteins in the isolated sample, with about 70% being closed structures. A small molecule called linoleic acid (LA) was found buried inside the spike protein in the ones with closed conformation.

Linoleic acid is a fatty acid that our body needs for various metabolic functions. It makes an important part of cell membranes and provides fluidity to the water barrier in the epidermis. In the outer membrane of lung cells, LA helps us breathe properly. On the flip side, LA is also associated with conditions like inflammation and cancer.

Excessive inflammation and cytokine storms are suggested to be one of the causes of mortality in COVID-19 patients.

We were truly puzzled by our discovery and its implications. So here we have LA, a molecule which is at the centre of those functions that go haywire in COVID-19 patients, with terrible consequences. And the virus that is causing all this chaos, according to our data, grabs and holds on to exactly this molecule - basically disarming much of the bodys defences, said Dr Imre Berger, a professor of biochemistry at the University of Bristol and a co-author of the study in a news release.

A drug target site

In the study, the authors mentioned that previously, open S protein structures have been more common. This brings in the possibility that LA somehow stabilised the closed S configuration and may hence be used to target SARS-CoV-2.

It was also found that the LA binding site is separate from the receptor-binding motif (the main motif on spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 that binds with ACE2) and LA binds tightly to the pocket, making stable interactions. It also causes changes in the receptor binding trimer and may be used to prevent the SARS-CoV-2 binding with ACE-2 and, in turn, the infection.

To study the effects of the site the researchers added 50-100 M LA along with various doses of remdesivir to the virus-infected cells in a lab culture. It was found that LA supplementation reduces the levels of remdesivir needed to fight the virus.

Our discovery provides the first direct link between LA, COVID-19 pathological manifestations and the virus itself. The question now is how to turn this new knowledge against the virus itself and defeat the pandemic said Dr Berger.

The authors also said in the news release that similar small molecular drugs have previously been used against rhinovirus (a common cold causing virus) and have shown potent anti-viral effects in clinical trials. Similarly, antiviral drugs can be made against COVID-19 using the findings of this study.

For more information, read our article on How coronavirus affects the lungs.

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.
A chemical industry expert tells Current Time that fertilizer stored in the open at a major Ukrainian port this summer posed a dangerous fire risk. Authorities in Yuzhne, 50 kilometers from Odesa, say the ammonium nitrate, which has been blamed for the recent catastrophic explosion in the Lebanese port of Beirut, was stored in accordance with local regulations and posed no risk. It has since been removed.
Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah says he supports a Senate floor vote on President Donald Trumps nominee to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the U.S. Supreme Court.

The decision by Romney, a frequent foil to Trump and the lone Republican to vote to convict the president on an impeachment charge earlier this year, all but clears Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnells path to hold a vote on Trumps nominee, whom the president plans to announce Friday or Saturday.

I intend to follow the Constitution and precedent in considering the presidents nominee," the former Massachusetts governor said. If the nominee reaches the Senate floor, I intend to vote based upon their qualifications.

Ginsburg died on Friday evening at the age of 87. Her dying wish, according to Politico and NPR, was that the next president after Trump names the nominee to replace her.

But the president has said its his obligation to name a potential replacement without delay, noting a nominee could come later this week.

Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine said they believed the winner of the Nov. 3 election, either Trump or former Vice President Joe Biden, should pick the person to fill Ginsburgs seat. McConnell could afford to lose only three GOP senators to move forward with Trumps nominee, and he has been shoring up votes in recent days.

Ginsburg was the second woman confirmed to the court. Trump said all of his five remaining candidates are women.

Related Content:
Some 450 jobs are at risk at Wetherspoon pubs. Photo: Robert Stevens/AP

The CEO of pub chain JD Wetherspoon (JDW.L) has announced that up to 450 jobs are at risk at a number of airports across the UK.

In a statement sent to Yahoo Finance UK, JD Wetherspoon CEO John Hutson said:

The company has written to 1,000 people employed in its pubs at six airports (Gatwick, Heathrow, Stansted, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Glasgow) to inform them that a possible 400 to 450 positions are at risk of redundancy.

The decision is mainly a result of a downturn in trade in these pubs, linked with the large reduction in passenger numbers using the airports.

Watch: Why have job losses risen despite the economy reopening?

READ MORE: JD Wetherspoon's Tim Martin: Pubs are safer than staying home for COVID-19

We should emphasise that no firm decisions have been made at this stage. The company will listen to suggestions from staff to help avoid or reduce the number of compulsory redundancies which are required.

Wetherspoon is proposing to collectively consult with employees through an employment representative committee, which will be established for this purpose.

Britains pub industry has been suffering since the spread of the coronavirus pandemic has led to lockdowns and severe restrictions on health and safety as well as operating terms.

Adnams brewery CEO Andy Wood told the BBC on Tuesday that the pub industry was still on life support with about 900,000 jobs at risk.

READ MORE: UK economy shuffles into new rules on working from home and pub times

However, the government's chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance and chief medical officer Chris Witty warned on Monday that there could be 50,000 new coronavirus cases a day by mid-October without further restrictions on every day life.

On Tuesday, government minister Michael Gove has encouraged the public to work from home where possible, in a shift of emphasis as the UK looks to curb rising coronavirus cases.

Watch: These are some of the most important moments from the COVID-19 briefing

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The government is also preparing to set a new curfew for the hospitality sector, ordering pubs, restaurants, and cafes to close at 10pm local time.

Job losses are increasing as 2020 rolls on.

Office for National Statistics (ONS) data shows that employers have axed 695,000 staff since March, and Britains unemployment rate ticked higher to 4.1% between May and July.

The claimant count, which includes unemployed and low-paid workers receiving work-related benefits, stood at 2.7 million last month, up 120.8% since March.

According to a new survey, some 27% of UK employers are expected to make job cuts over the next 12 months while 13% say they will ask staff to take a pay cut.
Khloe Sudol of Woodbine will be the cover artist for 2021 AKF calendar

ROCKVILLE, MD / ACCESSWIRE / September 22, 2020 / ?A young dialysis patient from Woodbine, New Jersey, has won the American Kidney Fund's (AKF) annual national Calendar Kids Art Contest. Ten-year-old Khloe Sudol's artwork will appear on the cover of AKF's 2021 calendar, and she will be a special guest at AKF's national gala taking place virtually later this year.

Khloe was one of 13 pediatric kidney patient finalists vying to have their artwork appear on the calendar's cover. Each child's artwork was posted to AKF's website to be voted on by the public, and thousands of people across the country cast their votes to help AKF choose the winner. Khloe's creative artwork, "Kidneys & Flowers," includes a poignant message alluding to the shortage of donor organs: "If only kidneys could grow like flowers."

Khloe learned about the art contest through her dialysis nurses and completed the painting while quarantining at home for COVID-19. "I'm excited that my painting got chosen," Khloe said. "I hope that my painting will bring hope to other kids who are going through the same thing as me."

"We are thrilled to be part of this contest and extremely grateful that Khloe's artwork received the most votes," said Heather Sudol, Khloe's mother. "Khloe is very creative and was excited to brainstorm ideas for the painting with her dialysis nurse."

Khloe says she admires the beauty found in nature, especially flowers because while they're all different, they are each beautiful in their own way. Her painting symbolizes the differences in her and other kids with chronic kidney disease that make them beautiful.

AKF's 2021 calendar featuring Khloe's winning artwork on the cover will be published in October and available for purchase on AKF's website, KidneyFund.org . Khloe will be recognized during AKF's virtual annual gala, The Hope Affair, on Wednesday, Oct. 7.

"Khloe's painting is inspiring to us all, and serves as an important reminder that more than 90,000 people in this country are on the waiting list for a kidney transplant," said LaVarne A. Burton, president and CEO of the American Kidney Fund. "We are so grateful to all who submitted their artwork, especially during this difficult time navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, and we congratulate Khloe on winning the Calendar Kids Art Contest."

Thirty-five children and teens with kidney disease from across the United States submitted their artwork for this popular annual contest, now in its 25th year. Each of the finalists will receive a canvas-wrapped print of their artwork, along with a gift card.

Other young kidney patients whose artwork will appear in AKF's 2021 calendar include:

Celeste Arredondo from Martindale, Texas - "My Kidney"

Kiera Boomer from Franklin Lakes, New Jersey - "My Life and Dream"

Lisbeth Hidaigo Cruz from Philadelphia - "Skies a Kidney Beat"

Addyson Gilliland from Thorsby, Alabama - "Floral Bloom Cow"

Kelsey Luna from Redondo Beach, California - "Paw-sitive Vibes"

Braylin McMullen from Wheatland, California - "Kidney Buddies for Life"

Isabel Molina from New York City - "I Am Strong"

Jesus Ramirez from Dallas - "Future Travels"

Terence Rascher from Potomac, Maryland - "Mother's Day Love"

Darrianne Richardson from Renton, Washington - "The Power of Friendship"

Brianna Williams from Pflugerville, Texas - "Deep Sea Kidney"

Jahmere Womack from Philadelphia - "The Function"

AKF's Calendar Kids Art Contest provides an opportunity for pediatric kidney patients to express themselves through artwork and to receive national recognition while increasing awareness of kidney disease throughout the United States.

About Us

The American Kidney Fund (AKF) fights kidney disease on all fronts as the nation's leading kidney nonprofit. AKF works on behalf of the 37 million Americans living with kidney disease, and the millions more at risk, with an unmatched scope of programs that support people wherever they are in their fight against kidney disease-from prevention through transplant. With programs that address early detection, disease management, financial assistance, clinical research, innovation and advocacy, no kidney organization impacts more lives than AKF. AKF is one of the nation's top-rated nonprofits, investing 97 cents of every donated dollar in programs, and holds the highest 4-Star rating from Charity Navigator and the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar.

For more information, please visit KidneyFund.org, or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Contact:

Alice Andors

11921 Rockville Pike, Suite 300

Rockville, MD 20852

Senior Director of Communications

Work: 240-292-7053

Mobile: 703-609-6085

aandors@kidneyfund.org

KidneyFund.org

SOURCE: American Kidney Fund

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/607235/10-Year-Old-New-Jersey-Girl-Wins-American-Kidney-Fund-National-Calendar-Kids-Art-Contest-for-Pediatric-Kidney-Patients
Piping hot water and a $5 dishwashing liquid is the secret to a sparkling shower screen, a mother has revealed.

The woman posted in an Australian cleaning group on Facebook, detailing how she filled a spray-top bottle with warm water, then squirted in Fairy 'Ultra Concentrate' which is available from leading supermarkets like Coles and Woolworths.

Taking care not to shake the solution, she spritzed it over the glass and left it to soak for 20 minutes before wiping the surface with a soft, non-scratch sponge.

She was amazed to watch soap scum 'disappear' before her eyes, leaving the screen crystal clear without any trace of residue or hard water marks.

Scroll down for video

Crystal clear: A mother scrubbed her shower screen (pictured) sparkling clean with hot water and $5 Fairy dishwashing liquid

'Absolutely outstanding result on my bathroom this morning,' she wrote in the caption, before hailing Fairy liquid 'hands down the best cleaning product ever'.

The post, which has gone viral since it was shared on Sunday, has drawn hundreds of amazed responses with comments including 'fantastic job' , 'outstanding' and 'I want your shower'.

'I have severe shower screen envy,' one woman replied.

'Right, off to buy Fairy dishwashing liquid,' said a second, while a third added: 'This is magic.'

The woman was amazed to watch soap scum 'disappear' before her eyes, leaving the screen (pictured) gleaming without any trace of residue or hard water marks

The impressive result (left) which has been called 'magic' by many on social media can be achieved with generic dishwashing liquid (right) available in Coles and Woolworths

The technique even received the seal of approval from a professional cleaner, who said she only uses dishwashing liquid diluted with rinse aid and hot water on clients' home surfaces.

Others suggested adding white vinegar to the detergent and water solution for an even brighter, streak-free finish.

It's the latest home cleaning hack involving a Fairy product to sweep social media, following a mother's 'miracle' trick for turning her oven door from grimy to gleaming with a $7.50 dish spray.

An Australian mother used $7.50 Fairy 'Easy Spray' to transform the glass of her oven door from grimy (left) to gleaming (right), without breathing in toxic fumes emitted from chemical cleaners

The woman posted in popular Facebook group 'Mums Who Clean', detailing how she coated her grease-riddled glass with Fairy 'Easy Spray' while the oven was still warm, left it to soak for 10 minutes then wiped it with a soft non-scratch sponge.

Photos prove the stains lifted off easily, leaving the door crystal clear with just a few spritzes of the product that's available in leading supermarkets like Coles and Woolworths.

She said the results left her 'lost for words' and vowed never to waste money on heavy-duty cleaning products again.

The woman said the results of the $7.50 spray (pictured) left her 'lost for words' and vowed never to waste money on other oven cleaning products again

The photos have drawn delighted responses since they were shared on Friday, with comments including 'that's awesome', 'looks amazing' and 'I'm hunting this down tomorrow'.

One woman revealed how she gets more than her money's worth from the spray.

'It's quite expensive, so when my bottle is nearly empty I put in a squirt of dish detergent and a squirt of rinse aid, top it up with water and it seems to work just the same. Cheap refill,' she said.
Lender Price, a provider of mortgage loan pricing and origination technology, announced today that REMN WHOLESALE has joined the Lender Price Marketplace. REMN WHOLESALE (REMN), headquartered in Iselin, New Jersey, is a national lender licensed in 50 states and District of Columbia. The Lender Price Marketplace pricing engine user base has grown dramatically over the past 12 months, and the Marketplace has become the go-to resource for mortgage brokers to search prevailing pricing from multiple wholesale lenders.

For decades, REMN WHOLESALE has been 100% committed to the mortgage broker community and to the wholesale loan origination channel, said Carl Markman, Director of National Sales for REMN WHOLESALE. Were engaged and ready for this partnership with Lender Price and the opportunity to showcase our competitive acumen on a daily basis.

Were extremely pleased to partner with REMN, who is one of the leading wholesale lenders, said Dawar Alimi, CEO and founder of Lender Price. We are 100% invested in supporting brokers and wholesale lenders with our new service offerings and have worked hard to position Lender Price as the leading Wholesale PPE platform.

More information about Lender Price and Marketplace can be found at http://www.lenderprice.com and https://lenderprice.com/marketplace/.

About Lender Price

Lender Price is a California-based big data technology innovator and developer of digital mortgage lending technology, including the Digital Lending point-of-sale (POS) tool and an advanced product pricing & eligibility (PPE) engine. Lender Price provides all types of mortgage lending institutions  wholesale and correspondent lenders, banks, credit unions and mortgage brokers  with advanced technology designed to eliminate friction, increase transparency, and effectively engage with borrowers. For more information, visit https://lenderprice.com and https://digitallending.com.

About REMN WHOLESALE

REMN WHOLESALE (REMN) is a nationally recognized wholesale lender with licenses held in 50 states and the District of Columbia. For decades, REMN has offered a vast array of residential loan products that are comprised of government, conventional, and renovation lending programs. REMN prides itself as a premier wholesale loan origination platform that is fully dedicated to the mortgage broker and emerging banker community. Providing valued clients with exceptional tools, services, and support, which are the herculean pillars supporting REMN's decades of success.

REMN WHOLESALE, a division of Homebridge Financial Services, Inc. DBA Real Estate Mortgage Network. Corporate NMLS ID #6521. Corporate Headquarters: 194 Wood Avenue South, 9th Floor, Iselin, New Jersey 08830. For more information call toll free: (866) 933-6342 or visit http://www.remnwholesale.com.

Media Contacts

REMN WHOLESALE

Richard S. Donine, Marketing Director

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626-486-1704
Russian president Vladimir Putin is believed by America's intelligence agencies to be personally pulling the strings behind a disinformation campaign to denigrate Joe Biden and influence the US election, according to reports.

A top-secret Central Intelligence Agency assessment, reported in the opinion section of The Washington Post, claims Mr Putin is likely directing Ukrainian lawmaker Andriy Derkach in disseminating disparaging information about Mr Biden through lobbyists, Congress, the media and contacts close to Donald Trump.

We assess that President Vladimir Putin and the senior-most Russian officials are aware of and probably directing Russias influence operations aimed at denigrating the former US vice president, supporting the US president and fueling public discord ahead of the U.S. election in November, the document says, according to two sources with knowledge of the report quoted by the Posts global opinions section columnist Josh Rogin.

Mr Derkach was sanctioned by the Treasury Department on 10 September for allegedly being an "active Russian agent for over a decade", with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin saying in a statement that he was attempting to influence US elections, including through the release of leaked audiotapes to media.

Mr Derkash, who denies the allegations, was indirectly referenced by Federal Bureau of Investigations director Christopher Wray in last week's testimony to Congress, in which he said the agency was tracing active efforts to "sow divisiveness and discord" against what it sees as the anti-Russian establishment.

"And I think the intelligence community has assessed this publicly, primarily to denigrate Vice President Biden, Mr Wray said.

That public assessment was a 7 August statement from Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) that named Mr Derkach for spreading claims about corruption through tapes of leaked phone calls.

The tapes are reported to show Mr Biden to link loan guarantees to the removal of the former Ukrainian prosecutor general in an attempt to protect his son.

Senate Republicans are preparing to soon release the findings of their investigation into Hunter Biden's work for Ukrainian gas company Burisma.

"Some Kremlin-linked actors are also seeking to boost president Trump's candidacy on social media and Russian television," ODNI's National Counterintelligence and Security Centre director William Evania said in the statement.

Mr Evania also said that China and Iran were also working to undermine the election against Mr Trump through similar methods of on-line influence and disinformation on social media, a fact that Mr Trump seized on following the FBI director's testimony.

When asked if he was considering replacing Mr Wray, the president said he's "looking at a lot of different things".

I did not like his answers yesterday and Im not sure he liked them either. Im sure that he probably would agree with me, Mr Trump said.

Obviously China is at the top of the list and I think Russia and North Korea and many other countries can be talked about, but China would be at the top of that list, so I dont know why thats not mentioned."
Eight Rajya Sabha MPs were suspended from the House on Monday for their

Tuesday turned out to be a day of symbolic fasting as two Rajya Sabha MPs, NCP chief Sharad Pawar and Rajya Sabha deputy chairman Harivansh, decided to go on an one-day fast for diametrically opposite reasons. While Pawar announced his fast in response to the suspension of eight Opposition MPs who were protesting against the two controversial farm bills, the Rajya Sabha deputy chairman hoped his fast may inspire a feeling of "self-purification" within the parliamentarians who "humiliated" him.

Eight Rajya Sabha MPs were suspended from the House on Monday for their "misconduct" during the passage of two farm bills on Sunday. Some of them threw rule book, tore its page and climbed the secretary general's table as they attacked Harivansh for going ahead with the process of the bills' passage.

Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, Pawar bemoaned the conduct of Deputy Chairman Harivansh and the Modi government''s decision of "bulldozing" the Opposition in the House. The eight MPs were expelled for expressing their opinion, Pawar said, adding the depty chairman did not give priority to (House) rules.

The whole fasting drama began in the morning after Harivansh offered tea to Opposition MPs sitting on dharna in Parliament complex, and also wrote a letter to Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu and President Ram Nath Kovind.

In the letter, he recalled his journey from a humble background and expressed his deep anguish at the "humiliating" conduct of several Opposition members towards him during the passage of farm bills on Sunday.

          ,      -                              ,      pic.twitter.com/K9uLy53xIB  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 22, 2020

Meanwhile, PM Modi hailed Harivansh's offer of tea to the suspended MPs and said the "inspiring" and "statesmanlike" conduct of Harivansh will make every democracy lover proud.

On the Rajya Sabha deputy chairman's letter to the president and the vice-president, Modi said, "I read the letter respected Harivansh ji wrote to the respected President. Every word of the letter has infused new confidence in our faith in democracy. This letter is inspirational and laudable too. There is truth in it and sensitivity too. I request every countryman to read it."

Praising the Rajya Sabha deputy chairman's gesture to the MPs on dharna, Modi said, "To personally serve tea to those who attacked and insulted him a few days ago as well as those sitting on dharna shows that Harivansh Ji has been blessed with a humble mind and a big heart. It shows his greatness. I join the people of India in congratulating Harivansh Ji."

The prime minister added, "For centuries, the great land of Bihar has been teaching us the values of democracy."
A bizarre war of words has broken out between mainland Chinese and Taiwanese media over a video of Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) recruits being sent to the Sino-India border, with some of them appearing to be in tears.

The video, published online last week by a local network in the eastern Chinese province of Anhui, showed the young soldiers inside a bus and singing a well-known Chinese military song Green Flowers in the Army. Nearly all of them seemed emotional, with some crying.

WATCH | Chinese soldiers cry on way to India border; Taiwan media mocks

Taiwanese media such as Liberty Times and Taiwan News, known for their pro-independence, anti-China stand, seemed to mock the soldiers for crying, interpreting it as a sign of fear against deployment at the border with India amid the ongoing tension in eastern Ladakh.

Also read: India-China military commanders to meet at least twice more before disengagement commences

China considers Taiwan as a breakaway region to be reunified by force if necessary and currently  much like with India  military tension between the two is rapidly escalating.

The recruits in the video are from the Yingzhou district of Fuyang city in Anhui.

The video was shared across online platforms in China as well as on Twitter and on Facebook, interestingly by a Pakistani comedian Zaid Hamid.

As tensions continue to simmer on the Sino-Indian border, a video surfaced on Sunday (September 20) showing PLA soldiers crying as they are allegedly deployed to the border, the Taiwan News reported on Tuesday.

Also read: Chinese airforce uses Hollywood film clips in propaganda video

The new troops were reportedly college students, and five of them had proactively volunteered to serve in Tibet, which borders the Ladakh region where the bloody Galwan Valley skirmish took place in June of this year, it said.

In the video, the soldiers can be seen sobbing hysterically as they struggle to sing the words to the PLA song Green Flowers in the Army, the report added.

It said Hamid, the Pakistani comedian, seemed to be poking fun at the recruits despite him saying: We Pakistani support you China. Stay Brave.

The Chinese state-controlled media reacted strongly against its Taiwanese counterparts, saying they deliberately misinterpreted the emotional video involving the PLA soldiers.

Also read: How Chinese propaganda is using the 1962 war to shape public opinion

At that time, they were bidding farewell to their parents and sang the famous military song Green Flowers in the Army, and they sang Go home when you celebrate your work, completely contrary to the mood created by Taiwanese media, the nationalist tabloid Global Times said in a report on Tuesday.

The report added that though the Taiwanese media report tried to use all kinds of explicit hints to shape the image of the PLA fighters being afraid of war, when describing all the key information, the author used vague terms such as reported and probable, which seemed very guilty.

The Global Times report added that many who re-posted the content mocking the PLA were Twitter users from India.
PORTLAND, Ore., Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Liquid Packaging Market by Material (Paperboard, Plastics, Glass, Metal, and Others), Technology (Aseptic Liquid Packaging, Blow Molding, and Form Fill Seal), Packaging Format (Flexible and Rigid), and End-user (Food & Beverage, Personal Care, Pharmaceutical, Household Care, Industrial, and Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20202027." According to the report, the global liquid packaging industry generated $331.8 billion in 2019, and is expected to generate $463.2 billion by 2027, witnessing a CAGR of 4.5% from 2020 to 2027.

Prime determinants of growth

Rise in demand for fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), increase in online food delivery services, and adoption of lightweight & sustainable packaging drive the growth of the global liquid packaging market. However, increase in concerns related to recyclability & disposability of plastic packaging products and strict government regulations hinder the market growth. On the other hand, emergence of nano-food packaging and inclination toward renewable and innovative packaging solutions present new opportunities in the coming years.

Request PDF Brochure: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/2029

COVID-19 scenario

The demand for liquid packaging has been decreased from hotels, restaurants, and supermarkets as footfall reduced drastically due to lockdown.

Moreover, the number of tourists reduced due to ban on local and international travel. This also impacted demand.

As the demand for hand sanitizers, liquid soaps, and disinfectants increased during the pandemic, the demand for plastic containers and bottles for storage increased, which in turn, raised the demand for liquid packaging.

Manufacturing activities and supply chain have been impacted due to lockdown imposed by governments. So, it created a supply-demand gap in some regions.

The plastic segment to maintain its lead position during the forecast period

Based on material type, the plastic segment accounted for the highest market share in 2019, contributing to more than one-third of the global liquid packaging market, and is expected to maintain its lead position during the forecast period. This is attributed to its utilization in almost all end-user industries in bottles and cans. However, the paperboard segment is estimated to witness the highest CAGR of 5.6% from 2020 to 2027.

Get Detailed COVID-19 Impact Analysis on the Liquid Packaging Market @ https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-for-customization/2029?reqfor=covid

The rigid segment to maintain its dominance in terms of revenue by 2027

Based on packaging type, the rigid segment accounted for nearly two-thirds of the global liquid packaging market in 2019, and will maintain its dominance in terms of revenue by 2027. This is due to optimum in of bottles and containers manufactured from glass and plastic. However, the flexible segment is expected to portray the highest CAGR of 5.8% from 2020 to 2027. This is attributed to emergence of trend of replacement of rigid liquid packaging with flexible liquid packaging.

North America to register the highest growth rate

Based on region, North America is projected to register the highest CAGR of 5.4% during the forecast period. This is due to surge in food & beverage consumption and increase in adoption of flexible packaging. However, Asia-Pacific contributed to the largest market share in 2019, accounting for nearly two-fifths of the total share of the global liquid packaging market, and will maintain its dominant share by 2027. This is attributed to presence of leading food & beverage market players and the pharmaceutical industry.

Market players grabbing the largest pie

Amcor Limited

Berry Global

Constantia Flexibles

Gerresheimer AG

Goglio S.p.A.

MONDI Plc

ProAmpac

Reynolds Group Holdings Ltd.

Sealed Air Corporation

SIG Combibloc Group Ltd.

Smurfit Kappa

Sonoco Products Company

Tetra Laval



Interested in Procuring this Report? Visit Here: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/liquid-packaging-market/purchase-options



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Months after holding online matriculation for fresh students, the Osun State University (UNIOSUN) on Monday held a virtual convocation for 1946 graduates.

At the Osun State-owned universitys 9th convocation ceremony held via zoom, the first online convocation by a Nigerian public tertiary institution, 35 students graduated with a First Class.

The university set a new record by holding the first virtual convocation in public institutions in Nigeria, the Vice-Chancellor, Labode Popoola, said.

Also, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman Governing Council of the university, Yusuf Ali, urged the government to adequately fund Information and Communication Technology (ICT) development in schools.

For us as a university, it was as if we saw this current pandemic in a crystal ball. Serious effort in the last two years had gone into the development of our ICT infrastructure on all the campuses and this act of foresightedness had made it possible for the University to conduct the first ever virtual Uniosun 9th Convocation, the first of its kind among all the higher institutions in Nigeria.

In his speech, the visitor to the school, Governor Gboyega Oyetola, challenged universities in the country to lead the society out of the challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic ravaging the entire world.

The accompanying new normal presented by Covid-19 is an invitation to the graduands to look inward and put to use the entrepreneurial skills and competencies which the University has imbued in them to be job creators and employers of labour.

The graduands are products and ambassadors of innovation and entrepreneurship which the university stands for in a world in need of thinkers as a solution to its myriad problems. I challenge the graduands to take up the challenge with courage and be solutions to the unemployment quagmire the nation and the world are grappling with.

At this critical time when the whole world is moving from physical to virtual engagement, the university must continue to bear the creativity and innovation torch for the industry and the society, the governor said.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 22, ARMENPRESS. Governor of Aragatsotn province Davit Gevorgyan has tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), he said in a Facebook post.

The Governor informed that he passed a COVID-19 test on September 17 after showing some symptoms, and the result was positive. The day after he passed a double test, and the result again was positive.

After examinations I was diagnosed with double pneumonia with some complications in my health condition, and doctors stated that my treatment should continue in hospital. I am hospitalized since September 18. I want to thank our heroes  the doctors, all healthcare workers, the hospital staff who do the utmost for the quick recovery of all patients, the Governor said, urging everyone to keep all the anti-coronavirus rules.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
State-run telecom firm BSNL raised more than 8,500 crore through sovereign guarantee bonds with government funds and PSU banks participating in the issue, a top official of the company said on Monday.

BSNL Chairman and Managing Director P K Purwar said the company is also planning to monetise assets worth 18,000 crore within a year and expects the loss-making company to become operationally profitable in the financial year 2021.

"We opened the bond issue at 10.30 am and closed at 12 pm. The bond was subscribed over two times. We were able to get bids of over 17,170 crore but we accepted only 8,500 crore as per the approved bond size," Purwar told reporters.

BSNL received a total 229 bids valued at 17,183 crore. The bonds have been issued at a coupon rate of 6.79 per cent per annum for a 10-year period. BSE stock exchange in a statement said that BSNL made its first-ever bond issue successfully and raised 8,500 crore by issuing bonds on private placement basis using BSE BOND platform.

BSNL saw participation of ICICI Prudential Bond, National Pension Scheme, Postal Life Insurance Rural Postal Life Insurance, State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank etc. "SBI has participated in a big way. State Bank of India has directly contributed 1,500 crore," Purwar said.

The provision of sovereign bonds was part of a revival package of debt-ridden public sector telecom firm. Purwar said that the company has applied for 5G trials but the company will review the partner for the trials based on government guidelines.

BSNL applied for 5G trials with China's ZTE

BSNL applied for 5G trials with Chinese telecom gear maker ZTE. The Chinese firm has supplied around 44 per cent of mobile network equipment to the company.

Meanwhile, the company expects the government will soon approve a proposal for floating 4G tender which will focus on including "Made in India" telecom gears in the network. Purwar said that the fund raised through bonds will be used to partially pay off dues of its vendors.

"The dues of the vendors have significantly reduced in 3-4 months. Part of the money raised through bonds will also be used to clear dues of vendors," Purwar said. The government had also approved a sovereign bond issue worth 6,500 crore for MTNL which will be raised separately. Talking about asset monetisation plan, Purwar said that it has identified 14 assets which will be monetised and out of which 11 assets have been given in-principle approval by an inter-ministerial group.

"The value of those assets is around 18,000 crore. Those assets are proposed to be monetised in the current 12 months period. This is a very big challenge and task. This is the period where economic activities have been impacted due to COVID-19 and business sentiments are a little bit impacted because of COVID. Despite all challenges, we all know BSNL has a very good quality of assets," Purwar said.

He said that the company is also working on resolving all voluntary retirement scheme related issues within 30 days. The VRS was offered by BSNL to its employees on October 4, 2019. The scheme was closed on December 3, 2019. As many as 78,569 employees have opted for the VRS.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.

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The plenary session of the Parliament passed, on Tuesday, the budget revision for 2020 with the Social Democratic Party's (PSD) amendment regarding the increase in the pension point by 40%.

There were 242 votes in favor, 147 against and 11 abstentions.The parliamentarians decided, at the proposal of PSD, to repeal the article according to which the pension point was increased by 14%, thus keeping in force the law of the public pension system which provides for a 40% increase.
WASHINGTON - The House overwhelmingly approved a bipartisan bill late Tuesday to keep the government funded through early December and avoid a shutdown just before the November election.

The 359-to-57 vote sends the legislation to the Senate, which could take it up later this week and send it to President Donald Trump. White House officials say they don't want a shutdown, and Trump is expected to sign the bill, though he's wavered at the last minute in such scenarios in the past.

The deal was negotiated by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin in a chaotic series of events over the past several days. Talks abruptly collapsed late Friday just as a deal appeared within reach, and Pelosi released a partisan bill on Monday that was swiftly rejected by Republicans. But on Tuesday morning, Pelosi and Mnuchin resumed negotiations, and Pelosi announced late Tuesday that they had reached a deal.

The sticking point was demands from the Trump administration and Republicans - along with a handful of largely farm-state House Democrats - for an infusion of money into a farm bailout program that Trump has used to repay farmers hurt by his trade policies. In exchange for agreeing to the bailout money, Pelosi secured about $8 billion for a variety of nutrition programs, including for schoolchildren affected by the coronavirus pandemic - a significantly larger sum than had been on the table Friday.

The short-term spending legislation - known as a "continuing resolution," or CR - would keep the federal government funded through Dec. 11.

"We have reached an agreement with Republicans on the CR to add nearly $8 billion in desperately needed nutrition assistance for hungry schoolchildren and families," Pelosi said. "Democrats secured urgently needed assistance for schoolchildren to receive meals despite the coronavirus's disruption of their usual schedules."

There was no immediate comment from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., but in light of the strong vote in the House, the Senate looked likely to approve the legislation.

Congress needs to pass a spending bill by Sept. 30, the last day in the 2020 fiscal year, or large portions of the government would begin to shut down. The bill also must be signed by Trump ahead of the shutdown deadline.

Republicans secured provisions in the stopgap spending bill to replenish a $30 billion borrowing fund called the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), a New Deal-era program that Trump has used to reimburse farmers harmed by his trade policies and tariffs. Democratic leaders opposed the additional money, partly because they say Trump could use it for political purposes.

But there are also several endangered House Democrats who support the program, including Cindy Axne and Abby Finkenauer of Iowa, freshman members who flipped GOP-held seats in 2018 and now face tough reelection races. Axne and Finkenauer both signed a letter along with Iowa's two Republican senators, Charles Grassley and Joni Ernst, blasting exclusion of the CCC money from the bill Pelosi had released on Monday and declaring, "Our farmers should not be used as a bargaining chip for negotiations."

The new deal includes new guardrails on CCC funding, to protect against the possibility it could somehow go to oil producers.

In recent years, Congress has frequently failed to complete the 12 annual spending bills that fund government agencies on time, instead resorting to short-term bills or even allowing the government to shut down. There are often fights about what policy provisions will be attached to these stopgap bills because in some cases, they are the only legislative vehicle pending that is guaranteed to pass into law.

That seems to be the case now because talks on a larger coronavirus relief bill appear moribund, despite pressure on Pelosi from moderate lawmakers to take new action on economic relief.

Mnuchin reiterated in congressional testimony Tuesday that the administration supports a new stimulus package, including another round of $1,200 checks to individuals. But there is little sign that will be happening anytime soon.

And despite some speculation that broader coronavirus relief measures could be attached to the stopgap spending bill, that did not materialize.
(TNS)  Ever since Rep. Dave Loebsack, D-Iowa, was first elected to the House in 2006, he has sought to ensure that Iowans and other rural Americans can access the internet.But Loebsack, who is set to retire at the end of the 116th Congress, remains frustrated that the federal government still lacks accurate data showing where Americans can get a signal  and where they cant.For years, it has been evident and clear to this committee, the stakeholders, and indeed, the Federal Communications Commission, that the maps have been bad, Loebsack said at a House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on Sept. 17.All of you recognize that, all of you admit that, Loebsack told the quintet of FCC commissioners testifying before the House panel. And yet we still havent fixed the maps. Its kind of like when they say, Just wear the damn mask. Lets just fix the damn maps, right? But how to best go about correcting the maps is disputed. And despite cooperation between Democrats and Republicans designed to force the FCC to fix them, sniping over who bears the responsibility for the persisting inaccuracies is a matter of partisan debate.At the hearing, Republican FCC Chairman Ajit Pai blamed Congress, which he claimed has hamstrung the agencys ability to fix the maps by withholding the necessary funding even though the agency approved a plan to fix the maps last year.But Democratic Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel blamed Pai.We just havent made enough progress, said Rosenworcel, who is viewed as occupying pole position for Pais job if former Vice President Joe Biden, the Democratic nominee for president, wins the November election. Weve put it off for another day. We keep on claiming that we need additional funds, that we need additional time. Its just not good enough.Brendan Carr and Michael ORielly, Pais fellow Republican commissioners, acknowledged issues with the maps but defended efforts to correct them. Pai has relied on the maps to assert that his efforts to reduce regulations on internet service providers has helped reduce the number of unconnected Americans, even when that data has proven inaccurate because providers submitted faulty data.Earlier this month, the FCC fined the New York-based service provider Barrier Communications Corp. nearly $164,000 for submitting erroneous data that claimed the company offered coverage to the entire populations of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, Connecticut, Rhode Island and the District of Columbia  roughly 20 percent of the U.S. population.The erroneous data was included in a draft of the FCCs 2019 broadband deployment report, which claimed that the number of unconnected Americans dropped about 25 percent from 26.1 million in 2016 to 19.4 million in 2017. After a nonprofit organization, Free Press, pointed out the error, Pai issued a revised estimate that showed the tally dropping 18 percent, to 21.3 million.The agencys plan to use the current maps to begin auctioning off $20 billion in rural broadband funding starting in late October has concerned lawmakers who want to ensure the money is spent wisely.Without proper maps, much of the money may be wasted, and consumers left unserved, said Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone Jr., D-N.J. I just think we have to do better than this.In March, President Donald Trump signed bipartisan legislation that gave the FCC six months to change how it collects and verifies broadband data, including giving the public a way to challenge information submitted by service providers. But the six-month deadline passed on Monday.We are careening towards a disaster with waste, fraud and abuse here, Rosenworcel said. Were giving out billions and billions of dollars a week before the election when we know our data is wrong.Carr and ORielly disputed Rosenworcels assessment. They said the maps set to be used in the Oct. 29 auction, which will sell off $16 billion of the $20.4 billion Rural Digital Opportunity Fund, are accurate. Carr said different maps, which will be used to auction off the remaining $4.4 billion later on, are flawed.Pai said that delaying the October auction to correct maps that will not be used until a subsequent auction would be a disservice to Americans without internet access.Essentially, what thats saying is unless we know every part of the country, we shouldnt move ahead with broadband in places like Marietta, Georgia, unless we know that the suburbs in Murrysville, Pennsylvania, or McLean, Virgina, are partially served, Pai said. To me, people who we know are on the wrong side of the digital divide have waited long enough.Rosenworcel, pressed for a yes-or-no answer by Rep. Bill Johnson, R-Ohio, conceded that delaying the initial auction because of the flawed second-phase maps would not be in the public interest. But she maintained that fixing the maps should be a higher priority at the FCC.When Congress gave the agency (funding to fight the COVID-19 pandemic), we cleared the decks, she said. We had dozens of staff work to get out $200 million dollars in record time for telehealth. We need to treat this mapping task with the same speed and efficiency; were just not doing that right now.
In this photo, shot at JPL on April 27, 2020, the transmitter undergoes random vibration testing to ensure the instrument can survive the shaking that comes with launch. Credit: JPL/NASA

Engineers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory met a significant milestone recently by delivering key elements of an ice-penetrating radar instrument for an ESA (European Space Agency) mission to explore Jupiter and its three large icy moons.

While following the laboratory's stringent COVID-19 Safe-at-Work precautions, JPL teams managed to build and ship the receiver, transmitter, and electronics necessary to complete the radar instrument for the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) mission.

Set to launch in 2022, JUICE will orbit Jupiter for three years, perform multiple flybys of moons Callisto and Europa, then orbit Ganymede. The spacecraft will observe Jupiter's atmosphere up close as well as analyze the surfaces and interiors of the three moons, which are believed to harbor liquid water under their icy crusts.

One of 10 instruments, the radar is key to exploring those moons. Called Radar for Icy Moon Exploration, or RIME, it sends out radio waves that can penetrate the surface up to 6 or 7 miles (10 kilometers) and collects data on how the waves bounce back. Some of the waves penetrate the crust and reflect off subsurface featuresand the watery interiorsenabling scientists to "see" underneath.

In the case of Europa, which is believed to have a global ocean beneath its crust, the radar data will help gauge the thickness of the ice. NASA's Europa Clipper mission, set to launch in the mid-2020s, will arrive around the same time as JUICE and collect complementary science as it performs multiple flybys of Europa.

Building RIME During a Pandemic

A collaboration between JPL in Southern California and the Italian Space Agency (ASI), JUICE's RIME is led by Principal Investigator Lorenzo Bruzzone of the University of Trento in Italy. JPL's responsibility was to make and deliver the transmitter and receiverthe pieces that send out and pull in radio signalsas well as the electronics that help those pieces communicate with RIME's antenna. Now that the components have been delivered to ASI in Rome, the next steps are to test and integrate them before assembling the instrument.

NASA JPL engineers and technicians follow COVID-19 Safe-at-Work guidelines on Aug. 19, 2020, as they ship hardware for a radar instrument that will fly aboard JUICE, ESA's (European Space Agency's) mission to Jupiter. From front: Jeremy Steinert, Jordan Tanabe, Glenn Jeffery and Robert Johnson. Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

"I'm really impressed that the engineers working on this project were able to pull this off," said JPL's Jeffrey Plaut, co-principal investigator of RIME. "We are so proud of them, because it was incredibly challenging. We had a commitment to our partners overseas, and we met thatwhich is very gratifying."

In mid-March, engineers had just finished building the transmitter and its corresponding set of electronics. They were about to run an exhaustive regimen of tests to ensure the equipment would survive deep spaceincluding vibration, shock, and thermal vacuum testing, which simulates the vacuum and extreme temperatures of space.

Then the coronavirus pandemic forced most JPL's employees to work remotely. The tests would have to wait.

About a month later, RIME engineers and technicians came back on-site after JPL put in place its Safe-at-Work protocols, includingamong other measuressocial distancing, mask-wearing, and frequent hand-washing. Now the team had a schedule crunch, plus other new challenges. As one of the first teams to re-enter JPL (most employees continue to work remotely), they needed to figure out new ways to do things that used to be easy. Just finding screws and other fasteners, when the usual supply shop wasn't open, became a puzzle to solve.

Project Manager Don Heyer had new human challenges as well.

"We needed to keep people not just safebut comfortable being there," Heyer said. "That was important, because otherwise they wouldn't be able to do the job successfully."

The key to moving forward was clearly defining next steps, he said. At the same time, they needed to make safety requirements thorough, but not too much of an additional burden for the staff. It was a learning experience, he said.

"But we got there pretty quickly."

Explore further Image: Testing the radar antenna for Juice spacecraft

More information: For more information about the JUICE mission, visit: For more information about the JUICE mission, visit: sci.esa.int/juice For information about NASA's Europa Clipper mission, visit: europa.nasa.gov/
Rajya Sabha deputy chairman Harivansh on Tuesday said he will observe a 24-hour fast as a mark of protest against unruly behaviour with him by Members of Parliament from opposition parties on Sunday during the passage of two of the three contentious farm bills.

In a letter to vice president Venkaiah Naidu, who is also the chairperson of the Upper House, he said he was unable to sleep for two nights due to Sundays unprecedented chaos in the House. In the name of democracy, honourable members of the House indulged in physical violence, he wrote.

Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh to observe one-day fast against the unruly behaviour with him in the House by Opposition MPs during the passing of agriculture Bills on 20th September pic.twitter.com/cphCDVHrqM  ANI (@ANI) September 22, 2020

Describing the events that transpired on the day and talking about his humble background, Harivansh wrote he is inspired by Lord Buddha and, as such, will observe a one-day fast hoping that this might inspire self-purification among those who mistreated him.

Also mentioning that September 23 is the birth anniversary of legendary poet Ramdhari Singh Dinkar, who was a two-term Rajya Sabha MP, he further said he will observe a 24-hour fast from September 22 to September 23. He, however, added he will participate in the Rajya Sabha proceedings for the day.

Harivansh even met the suspended MPs, who are staging a sit-in protest in Parliament premises, and offered them tea, which they refused.
Around 1,000 villagers from three Cambodian provinces blocked the road leading to the Land Ministry in Phnom Penh on Monday to demand government help in resolving disputes over land taken by private companies and politically connected businesspeople, sources in the country said.



Protesters from Koh Kong, Svay Rieng, and Tbong Khmum provinces held up photos of Prime Minister Hun Sen and his wife, and Cambodian King Sihamoni and the Queen Mother, as they launched their appeal, but were refused assistance by Ministry officials and left at the end of the day with no promises of help.



Yee Kunthea, a representative of dispossessed villagers in coastal Cambodias Koh Kong, said her group had never received compensation for farmland that over 1,000 families in three districts had lost to a sugarcane company owned by Ly Yong Phat, a senator belonging to the ruling Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP), to another company owned by businessman Heng Huy, and to Chinese company the Union Development Group (UDG).



The group had traveled to the capital hoping to appeal in person at the Ministry, but had been violently pushed away from the building by security forces, Yee Kunthea said, adding, We wanted to meet with His Excellency Chea Sophara, the Minister of Land, but no one came down from the Ministry except for the police.



The Ministry workers opened their windows to watch us blocking the road. And then they promised they would let me enter the Ministry at 2:00 p.m., she continued, adding that the Ministry then released a press statement later that afternoon saying there were no legal grounds for the department to intervene in the dispute.



Khieu Sarun, a representative of villagers from Svay Rieng, said that she and her group had come to protest at the capital because local authorities had failed for nearly 20 years to resolve a land dispute in her province between almost 450 farm families and an Indian company called NK Venture.



Authorities had also threatened dispossessed families, telling them they would be arrested if they tried to return to their former homes and land, she said.



Were appealing for justice for our farmers, Khieu Sarun said.



The authorities have protected this foreign company and allowed them to do to us whatever they want to do, while wethe landownershave no rights at all to our land. We are constantly faced with threats and arrests, she said.



I understand that everybody wants so-called development [in Cambodia], but please also look at the peoples situation too. If development only causes misery, we dont need it.



Tricked into signing away their land



Another group of protesters, from the Trapeang Pring commune in Tbong Khmum, urged the Ministry to come to their commune to solve their years-long dispute with the Chinese Hamenient Investment Company and help free two of their jailed commune members.



Tha Lida, a representative of 42 families in the commune, said their villagers had never wanted to sell their land to the Chinese company, but that local authorities had tricked them into signing with their thumb-prints faked documents allowing the company to buy the land needed by residents for their survival.



The Ministry of Land should now investigate the case to see if the Chinese company used proper documents when it bought the land from the people, as the local authorities claimed, he said, adding, I request the government to encourage the subnational authorities to reinvestigate this land dispute in order to discover the truth.



Attempts to reach Land Ministry spokesperson Seng Loth for comment were unsuccessful on Monday



Am Sam Ath, deputy chief of the Cambodian rights group Licadho, said however that the Land Ministry has already solved many cases of land disputes, and should use the same mechanisms to solve the countrys remaining problems in transparent and nonviolent ways.



I think the Ministry should find out the root causes of these problems, and then the solution to these chronic problems should be found. If we do not handle these problems properly, there will be even more complications resulting from this crisis, he said.



A key source of social tension in Cambodia and other Southeast Asian countries is the widespread practice of land grabs in which authorities seize land from people for development projects or foreign invested enterprises without paying them fair compensation for lost crops, property, and livelihoods.



Reported by RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Sok Ry Sum. Written in English by Richard Finney.
Najeeb Moussa Michaeel is one of the candidates for the coveted recognition by the EU Parliament. During the rise of the Islamic State, he saved hundreds of centuries-old manuscripts and documents. For the prelate, citizenship is the basis on which to build coexistence in a nation threatened by foreign forces worse than the Islamic State. Education is the best weapon against obscurantism.

Mosul (AsiaNews)  Najeeb Moussa Michaeel, a Dominican, has been the archbishop of Mosul in northern Iraq since January 2019. A few days ago, he was nominated for the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought awarded by the European Parliament. Last year, the prize went to a Ilham Tothi, a Uyghur scholar.

For Archbishop Moussa, this is not a " personal recognition, but one for Iraq as whole;" above all for those who "suffer or have suffered" in the past few years of war and jihadist violence, as well as for working to protect a heritage in danger of extinction.

He notes that it is important to remember the great threat posed by the Islamic State (IS) group against the country and the world because a people without a heritage is a dead people.

Born in Mosul, Najeeb Moussa Michaeel was forced to flee the city first to the Nineveh Plain, then to Iraqi Kurdistan, when IS forces occupied it.

Over the years, he has worked on the preservation and digitisation of more than 800 ancient manuscripts in Aramaic, Arabic and other languages, as well as thousands of books and centuries-old letters.

His tenacity in saving this cultural heritage from jihadist madness earned him the nomination for the EU prize, together with the democratic opposition in Belarus, Polish LGBTI activists and the environmental movement Guapinol.

As the official statement of the European Parliament explains, the prelate ensured the evacuation of Christians, Syriacs and Chaldeans to Iraqi Kurdistan and safeguarded more than 800 historic manuscripts dating from the 13th to the 19th century.

It goes on to say: These manuscripts were later digitised and exhibited in France and Italy. Since 1990 he has contributed to safeguarding 8,000 more manuscripts and 35,000 documents from the Eastern Church.

The archbishop describes his action as a "rescue operation" of an invaluable asset "from the jihadi clutches. This nomination represents an honour, which he ideally shares with the peoples of Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen who are going through tough times because it is a duty to save not only the heritage but also and above all people.

Archbishop Moussa still remembers the bullets flying over our heads, as we sought shelter with our hands carrying precious volumes during the sudden flight.

He considers the nomination to the Sakharov Prize as a signature on every page of these manuscripts"; it is also a way to remember the innocent victims, especially the Yazidis, a peaceful people who had to face a real tragedy and to whom I feel particularly connected.

This also represents "an encouragement to all Iraqis" who suffer but want to continue living.

"To save the manuscripts and people during the advance of Islamic State forces, many feet and many hands were needed. At that time, I called on God to have ten feet and ten hands to save books and people, and he replied by sending me many young people who helped me in this mission.

Faced with a shared tragedy, we have seen a shared response from everyone, including Muslims who have done an extraordinary job to help Christian families and save their cultural heritage.

Now more than ever, "we need true peace in order to continue living as a community based on the principle of citizenship, overcoming barriers of race, religion, ethnicity . . . This is the only viable solution for the future.

To rebuild Mosul and all of Iraq, "it is necessary to rebuild homes, churches, work activities, offering young people jobs to avoid the desire to flee," the archbishop added.

"Iraq could be subjugated by neighbouring countries and external forces. This is inadmissible; we cannot allow Deash (IS) to be replaced by forces that are equally, if not more dangerous.

Human dignity must be accompanied by the "ultimate value of education in schools, churches, mosques, where it is necessary to fight hatred by every means, encourage positive statements, about brotherhood. Education remains the best weapon against obscurantism and the evil of our time.
Back in February, I wrote about how the classic Czech piano company Klaviry Petrof, founded in 1864, could face losses after China threatened retaliation on Czech companies after a Czech politician planned to visit Taiwan, which the Chinese government views as part of its territory.

After a second Czech official visited Taiwan in August, China made good on that threat  a Chinese company suspended a $23.8 million order of the Czech-made pianos.

But Karel Komarek, a Czech entrepreneur and billionaire, stepped in and bought the 11 pianos originally intended for China.

What he's saying: "My wife and I agreed that our foundation would immediately dedicate them to Czech schools. We would like the 11 instruments to become a symbol of Czech pride and cohesion," said Komarek.
He says the project creates risk for Europe.

United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says his country is working to build a coalition to prevent the completion of Russia's Nord Stream 2 project.

"And then as for Nord Stream 2, we've been unambiguous there as well. The United States believes that the Nord Stream 2 pipeline underwrites Russia, creates risk for Europe by allowing it to become dependent upon gas that's coming out of Russia, and also threatens Ukraine, something I know many German people care deeply about. So we hope that the Nord Stream 2 pipeline won't be completed," he said in an interview via teleconference with Julian Reichelt of BILD-TV on September 21.

Read alsoEuropean Parliament demands halt to Nord Stream 2 project over Navalny's poisoning

"We're working to make sure we build out a coalition that prevents that from happening. We hope the German Government will come to see it this way, whether it's because of what took place to Mr. [Russian opposition leader Alexei] Navalny or because of the real security implications that come from becoming dependent on Russian gas," he said.

Nord Stream 2: Background
Help.org, a trusted online resource for individuals who struggle with addiction and their loved ones, has announced the Best Rehab Facilities in Memphis, Tennessee for 2020. The informational guide recognizes the top 11 rehab facilities based on cost, treatment options, location, accompanying services and more.

According to recent studies, drug overdose is the leading cause of death among people under age 50. In Memphis, deaths related to opioid abuse increased significantly from 2011 to 2015. Substance abuse among adolescents is also escalating in Memphis with 55 percent of high school students reported using alcohol, 38 percent reported using marijuana, 8 percent reported using prescription drugs without a valid prescription, and 2 percent reported using heroin. With the growing need for accessible and high-quality rehab programs, Help.org has developed a unique ranking process to help connect individuals with treatment providers that meet their needs.

The Help.org research team analyzed thousands of facilities across the country and then identified the most cost-effective and highest rated programs in larger cities like Memphis. Each facility was evaluated based on rehabilitation services, treatment approaches, cost, special programs for unique demographics and ancillary services. The website also provides information about drug use and side effects as well as educational articles. For a detailed listing of the Best Rehab Facilities in Memphis, Tennessee please visit https://www.help.org/drug-and-alcohol-rehab-centers-in-memphis-tn

2020 Best Rehab Facilities in Memphis, Tennessee (in alphabetical order)

Alliance Healthcare Services

2220 Union Avenue

Memphis, TN 38104

901-369-1400

Aspell Recovery Center

110 McCowat

Jackson, TN 38305

731-427-7238

Crestwyn Behavioral Health Hospital

9485 Crestwyn Hills Cove

Memphis, TN 38125

855-484-9068

Grace House of Memphis

329 North Bellevue

Memphis, TN 38105

901-722-8460

Lakeside Behavioral Health System

2911 Brunswick Road

Memphis, TN 38133

901-377-4733

Memphis Recovery Centers

219 North Montgomery Street

Memphis, TN 38104

866-304-8254

PAX Memphis

4918 William Arnold Road

Memphis, TN 38117

901-401-6563

Serenity Recovery Centers

1094 Poplar Avenue

Memphis, TN 38105

901-521-1131

The HART Center

1384 Madison Avenue

Memphis, TN 38104

901-726-4213

The Salvation Army: Adult Rehabilitation Center Memphis

2649 Kirby Whitten Road

Memphis, TN 38133

901-531-1750

Urban Family Ministries

2174 Lamar Avenue

Memphis, TN 38114

901-323-8400

ABOUT HELP.ORG

Help.org is an online resource for individuals who struggle with addiction and their loved ones. The website provides the latest research through scientifically proven methods, community recovery resources as well as information about local financial assistance. Help.orgs team of researchers, activists and writers work together with addiction counselors and other professionals to offer useful and accurate resources to help individuals seeking recovery. To learn more, visit https://www.help.org/.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has detained two men from the international airport in Keralas Thiruvananthapuram after a three-hour interrogation on Monday night, days after three al Qaeda operatives were arrested from the state, a report said on Tuesday.

HTs sister publication, Hindustan, cited sources saying that NIA detained the two men after they arrived Thiruvananthapuram from Saudi Arabia. Hindustan reported one of these two men is associated with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and the other belongs to Indian Mujahideen. One of them is Gul Nawaz from Uttar Pradesh and the other Shuhaib belongs to Kannur in Kerala, it reported. Both of the men have been detained in connection with the serial blasts in Bengaluru in 2008 and a lookout notice was also issued against them in connection with the case.

They were interrogated for nearly three hours by several investigative agencies, including intelligence agency RAW, after they returned from Riyadh, it added. They will first be taken to Kochi, Hindustan reported citing sources, after which Shuhaib will be taken to Bengaluru while Gul Nawaz will be taken to Delhi.

On September 19, NIA had said it had busted an al Qaeda module and arrested three terrorists from Ernakulam in Kerala and six from Murshidabad in West Bengal, who were allegedly planning to carry out major terror strikes in India at the direction of their Pakistan-based handler.

The suspects were planning attacks at several locations, including Delhi-NCR, Kochi and Mumbai, and they were about to leave for Kashmir to receive a consignment of weapons, which was likely to arrive from Pakistan, the officials added.

Under the scanner for some time, the nine men were arrested after the agency learnt that they acquired large quantities of weapons, country-made firearms, locally fabricated body armour, jihadi literature, and literature used for making explosives.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and local lawmakers introduced a legislation on Monday that targets participants in "violent or disorderly" protests.

It is a move that may help rally law-and-order Republicans ahead of the presidential election in November. DeSantis called the plan the "boldest and most comprehensive" bill on violent protests. He said it would be the highlight of the Florida legislative session next year.

The legislation is called the Combatting Violence, Disorder and Looting and Law Enforcement Protection Act. DeSantis said the proposal would make disorderly assemblies a third-degree felony.

Incapacitating a road would also be a felony, according to the bill. Organizers could be held accountable for protests that turn violent. The legislation also "prohibits state grants or aid to any local government that slashes the budget for law enforcement services."

Meanwhile, drivers would be exempted if they hurt or kill a demonstrator with their vehicles while fleeing from the scene.

Micah Kubic, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, said the proposal was an attack on protesters.

Kubic said that DeSantis has chosen to respond to this moment by unveiling an undemocratic and unconstitutional bill that would freeze free speech. Kubic noted that this would instill fear into people who have been advocating against injustice.

She added that the plan to strip protesters of the right to bail until their first court appearance would remove "fundamental due process." DeSantis is a close ally of President Donald Trump.

Florida's protests have not reached the size of many others happening across the country.

In Portland, protests resumed once again on Friday night after pausing for roughly a week due to wildfires. One local civil rights leader said demonstrations were not going to stop because of the fires.

Rev. E.D. Mondaine, president of Portland's chapter of the NAACP, said that fire would not smoke them out. Until Friday, Portland streets had remained quiet due to the smoke-filled air.

"The fires started last week, and the air started getting so bad, it made street protests impossible," Olivia Katbi Smith, co-chair of the Democratic Socialists of America Portland chapter, said in a report.

Meanwhile, videos that recently spread online showed some federal agents in Portland without clearly visible identification rounded up protesters and loaded them into unmarked cars.

Congress was prompted to demand the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to disclose information about the operation. However, the DHS never opened up to the public about the full extent of its intelligence operations in Portland.

Its operations reportedly consisted of clandestine activities such as interceptions of protesters' phone calls done by a task force that included federal agencies aside from the DHS.

Previous reports said that the DHS's intelligence division generated intelligence reports on several prominent journalists covering the protests.

Shortly after the Congress' probed, DHS shocked the national security by removing its high-ranking undersecretary as chief of I&A, Brian Murphy.

Murphy had served as a member of the rarefied Intelligence Community and is authorized to handle highly classified information about security threats to the country.

"He did not get reassigned over some unclassified program. That is a convenient story, but that isn't what's going on," a former senior DHS I&A intelligence officer, who has served under Murphy, said in a report.

Want to read more? Check these out!
India on Tuesday rejected Pakistans contention that the Kashmir issue is one of the most longstanding disputes at the United Nations, saying Islamabad should instead focus on the unfinished task of tackling terrorism.

In a video message on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi lauded the world bodys achievements but also referred to failings and deficiencies.

The organisation is only as good as its member states wish it to be. The Jammu & Kashmir and Palestine disputes are the organisations most glaring and long-standing disputes. The people of occupied Jammu and Kashmir still await fulfilment of the commitment made to them by the UN to grant them their right to self-determination, he said. Today, the UN is derided as a talk shop. Its resolutions and decisions are flouted. International cooperation, especially in the Security Council, is at its lowest, he added.

Exercising its right of reply, the Indian delegation at the UN responded soon after, with first secretary Vidisha Maitra saying India had hoped the General Assembly would be spared another repetition of the baseless falsehoods that have now become a trademark of Pakistans interventions of such platforms during the commemoration of a shared global milestone.

However, for a nation that is bereft of milestones, one can only expect a stonewalled and stymied approach to reason, diplomacy and dialogue, she said.

Turning to the specific reference to the Kashmir issue, Maitra said Pakistan was interfering in Indias internal matters.

What we heard today is the never-ending fabricated narrative presented by the Pakistani representative about the internal affairs of India. We reject the malicious reference made to the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, which is an integral part of India, she said.

If there is an item that is unfinished on the agenda of the UN it is that of tackling the scourge of terrorism. Pakistan is a country which is globally recognised as the epicentre of terrorism, which by its own admission harbours and trains terrorists and hails them as martyrs and consistently persecutes its ethnic and religious minorities, she added.

Maitra said Pakistan would do well to turn its attention inwards to immediately addressing these pressing concerns instead of diverting attention from them by misusing the UN platform.


Bollywood has become a hotbed of controversy since the past few months. After the demise of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, several things about the film industry are being said by millions of people. However, most of it is also stoked by misinformation. The latest one to be hit by this is actress Dia Mirza. Currently, the Narcotics Control Bureau is trying their level best to nab people associated with the drug angle in Sushant Singh Rajput's case and not just that the NCB is taking a look at any information about the use of drugs in Bollywood. A report suggested that Dia Mirza has also been summoned by the NCB for the same. However, the actress has come out in the open and negated all such reports saying that it's all fake news.



Her social media post read, "I would like to strongly refute and categorically deny this news as being false, baseless and with mala fide intentions. I have never procured or consumed any narcotic or contraband substance of any form in my life. Such frivolous reporting has a direct impact on my reputation being besmirched and is causing damage to my career, which I have painstakingly built with years of hard work, I intend to pursue the full extent of legal remedies available to me as a law-abiding citizen of India."
Prime Minister Boris Johnson set to urge people to work from home

Prime Minister Boris Johnson will tell people to work from home "if you can" in an address to the nation tonight (Tuesday).

Michael Gove told Sky News this morning that the advice marks a "shift in emphasis", as he added that plans for 80 per cent of Whitehall to return by the end of month have been scrapped.

The Prime Minister is expected to announce the new advice this evening, as part of a raft of new restrictions to help tackle a rapid rise in Covid-19 cases .

He is also expected to reveal that pubs, bars and restaurants will close by 10pm every night from Thursday, while people will also be banned from ordering at the bar.

Hospitality leaders have condemned this anticipated move, describing it as a crushing blow for the sector.

Mr Johnson will also emphasise the need for people to follow social-distancing guidance, wear face coverings and wash their hands regularly.

It comes after the Governments chief scientific and medical advisers painted a grim picture of how 200 or more people in the UK could die each day by mid-November if the current rate of infection is not halted.

Sir Patrick Vallance, speaking alongside Professor Chris Whitty yesterday, aid the vast majority of the population remain susceptible to catching coronavirus and the current situation required swift action to bring the case numbers down.

The UKs four chief medical officers then recommended raising the Covid alert level from three to four  the second highest  indicating the epidemic is in general circulation; transmission is high or rising exponentially.

Mr Johnson will chair meetings of Cabinet and the Cobra emergency committee  including the leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland  today, before a televised address at 8pm.

A Number 10 spokesperson said: No-one underestimates the challenges the new measures will pose to many individuals and businesses.

We know this wont be easy, but we must take further action to control the resurgence in cases of the virus and protect the NHS.

But the fresh restrictions sparked anger from the hospitality sector, with Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality, describing them as another crushing blow for many businesses.

A hard close time is bad for business and bad for controlling the virus  we need to allow time for people to disperse over a longer period, she said.

Table service has been widely adopted in some parts of the sector since reopening but it is not necessary across all businesses, such as coffee shops.

It is hard to understand how these measures are the solution to fighting the disease when Government data shows that just five per cent of infections out of the home are related to hospitality.
Actor denies

rape charges

That 70s Show actor Danny Masterson, charged with raping three women, made his first appearance in a Los Angeles courtroom, where his attorney declared his innocence and denounced the charges against him as politicized.

Masterson, 44, who has been free on bail since his June arrest, stood in court in a blue suit and face mask next to attorneys Tom Mesereau and Sharon Appelbaum, as the three women sat in the gallery.

Masterson did not enter a plea, but Mesereau said the charges, based on events nearly 20 years old, were the result of unfair hype from media outlets and pressure to prosecute his client as Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey faces an election.

Masterson is charged with three counts of rape by force or fear. Prosecutors allege that he raped a 23-year-old woman sometime in 2001, a 28-year-old woman in April of 2003, and a 23-year-old woman between October and December of 2003. Prosecutors said all of the alleged attacks happened in his home.

He could face up to 45 years in prison if convicted.

Melrose actor

back to prison

A former Melrose Place actress who has already served a prison sentence for a fatal 2010 drunken driving crash in New Jersey is headed back behind bars after a judge agreed with prosecutors that her initial sentence was too lenient.

Saying Amy Locane still refuses to fully acknowledge her culpability in the crash that killed 60-year-old Helene Seeman and severely injured Seemans husband, state Superior Court Judge Angela Borkowski sentenced her to eight years in state prison. Factoring in the more than two years shes already served, she will be in prison for more than four years before shes eligible for parole, her attorney, James Wronko, said.

Locane apologized to the Seeman family in a brief statement. She was placed in handcuffs and taken into custody by court deputies after the proceeding in state court in Somerville.

It was a startling development in a case that has bounced around the New Jersey court system for nearly a decade and has now featured four sentencings in front of three judges, plus numerous appeals.

 Associated Press
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- As New York City school buildings reopen in phases beginning this week, all students will be required to complete a daily health screening when attending in-person instruction.

In a letter to families, Chancellor Richard A. Carranza explained that the health and safety of students, families and school staff is the top priority.

We all have a part to play in keeping our school communities safe. We are asking you to do your part by making sure your children have completed their health screenings (including temperature checks) before they enter school buildings," Carranza stated in the letter.

The city Department of Education (DOE) is encouraging families to use an online health screening tool each day a child is scheduled to attend in-person learning.

Heres how to complete the health screening.

If you use the online tool

When you do the screening at home, you or your child need to provide the results of the screening either by showing the email on a smartphone or a printout of the results before entering the school building. All students will receive an oral thermometer in their first week of in-person instruction in case they need one to check their temperature.

If you dont use the online tool

If you or your child isnt able to pre-screen using the online tool, you can use the paper Health Screening Questionnaire and have your child bring the completed form to school and show it upon entry.

Your school will provide you with printed copies you can complete the questionnaire at home.

If you forget, or are unable, to pre-screen

If you or your child forgets or is unable to pre-screen, someone will be available at your schools entrance to assist your child in completing the form and checking your childs temperature.

What to look at for during pre-screening

If your child is sick, please keep him or her home from school or child care.

Students wont be able to attend in-person classes if they have:

Experienced any symptoms of COVID-19, including a fever of 100.0 degrees F or greater, a new cough, new loss of taste or smell, or shortness of breath within the past 10 days.

Received a positive result from a COVID-19 test that tested saliva or used a nose or throat swab (not a blood test) in the past 10 days.

Been in close contact (within 6 feet for at least 10 minutes) with anyone who tested positive for COVID-19 or who has or had symptoms of COVID-19 in the past 14 days.

Traveled internationally or from a state with widespread community transmission of COVID-19 per the New York State Travel Advisory in the past 14 days.

Students and staff will not be allowed to remain at 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.

If new coronavirus cases surpass the 3% threshold using a seven-day rolling average, all schools in New York City will need to close.

If there are two or more confirmed cases within the same school, and not in the same classroom, the two classes quarantine for 14 days and the school is closed for a minimum of 24 hours while a city Department of Health (DOH) investigation is underway.

When a school building closes or a classroom quarantines, students and teachers will move to remote learning.

Should a student exhibit coronavirus symptoms during the school day -- 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.

The family of any student showing coronavirus symptoms will be advised to get tested for COVID-19 and share the result with the school.

PHASED REOPENING IN NYC

While Monday marked the first day of school for NYC public school students for both in-person and remote learners, not all kids returned to campus this week.

Mayor Bill de Blasio announced last week that the city would phase-in the start of the school year for blended learners, with 3-K, pre-K and District 75 students reporting in-person beginning Monday.

Students in K to five and K to eight schools will begin reporting on Tuesday, Sept. 29, and middle and high school students will begin returning on Thursday, Oct. 1.

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NYC schools reopening amid coronavirus: How to care for your childs mask

NYC schools reopening: Heres what you need to know

Safety protocols in NYC schools: What you need to know

NYC to bring in 2,000 more educators for the start of school as de Blasio pushes forward with Sept. 21 reopening

Coronavirus: How to find ventilation inspection results for your childs school

NYC school year delayed; in-person learning to start Sept. 21

Reopening of NYC schools delayed: What you need to know

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 22

By Rufiz Hafizoghlu - Trend:

The international community, including the Islamic world, must stop the terror carried out by Armenia at the state level against Azerbaijan, a famous Lebanese Lawyer, an expert on foreign policy, and international law, Tarek Chindeb told Trend.

Chindeb noted that the settlement of the occupied Azerbaijani lands by Armenians from Lebanon and Syria to change the demographic situation in the region is a crime against humanity, a gross violation of international law.

This is one of four crimes that fall under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court, whose functioning is governed by the provisions of the Rome Statute, Chindeb said.

The lawyer said that the recruitment of mercenaries by Armenia for committing crimes against the indigenous population of the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan in exchange for the promise of citizenship and financial benefits is also an international criminal offense.

To achieve a concrete result, Azerbaijan should raise this issue not only within the country itself but also at the international level to prosecute these criminals, Chindeb noted.

The Lebanese judicial system is also obliged to take measures and bring to justice those of its citizens who participate in the illegal armed groups in occupied Karabakh, he said.

The Lebanese expert also stressed that it is necessary to pay great attention to all the facts of participation of Armenians in illegal bandit formations.

Several days ago, there were several reports in the media confirming that extremist Armenian Christian groups, under the auspices of the French government, created support groups for "militias" who had been involved in committing crimes against the Syrian people since 2013, said the lawyer.

France must investigate this and bring the criminals to justice. It must remember that while these actions are an international crime, they are also punishable by the laws of France itself, Chindeb added.
MILAN (Reuters) - Vodafone <VOD.L>, Comcast unit SKY <CMCSA.O> and WindTre on Monday urged Italy to create a single broadband communications network that can guarantee neutrality and independence for all players.

In August, Rome signed off on a plan to create a national unified fast broadband network designed in part to head off concern that Telecom Italia (TIM) <TLIT.MI>, Italy's biggest phone group, could end up with too much sway over it.

Leaders of the three companies met on Monday with the chief executives of state lender CDP and TIM.

"The three CEOs hope the network plan can be developed in line with its premises, giving rise to a non-vertically integrated operator," they said in a joint statement.

TIM, with a large retail client division, has repeatedly said it wants to control any single grid while European regulations favour the adoption of a non-vertically integrated model outside TIMs control.

Under the government's plan, TIM could have a majority of shares but would not have control of the board, while the grid would have to be open to all operators and acceptable to regulators.

Last week EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager declined to comment on the plan to create a single network through the merger of TIM's grid assets and those of smaller wholesale-only rival Open Fiber.

"One can imagine that you have a nationwide wholesaler. That is definitely imaginable ... The question of course is (whether) that is an independent wholesaler or the wholesaler also has ties vertically to retailers," Vestager said.

"That would be a competition assessment and that would be our approach no matter what country it would be concerned with, she said.

(Reporting by Stephen Jewkes and Elvira Pollina; Editing by Dan Grebler)
Any COVID-19 patient, under home isolation, will be moved to institutional quarantine if found violating protocols, the Delhi government said on Monday.

Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain's office said a field team has been in touch with the neighbours of COVID-19 patients under home isolation in order to monitor if coronavirus patients and their families are flouting any protocols or not.

According to a report in the Hindustan Times, field teams visit nearly 2,000 homes each day to check on people under home quarantine. Until last week, 10 to 20 patients were moved to COVID Care Centres for violating quarantine protocols.

As per the Centre, a coronavirus positive patient under home isolation can be discharged after 10 days of the onset of the symptoms if no fever occurs for three consecutive days. Thereafter, the patient is advised to isolate at home and self-monitor for seven more days. In-home isolation, testing is not mandatory but every discharged person must receive a fitness certificate from district officials.

Since mid-August, number of active cases increased by over 190 per cent in the city. There were 11,068 active COVID-19 cases on August 18 which increased to 32,097 on Sunday. Of the total 15,621 hospital beds for COVID-19 patients, 7,040 are occupied and around 19,000 patients are under home isolation, according to government data.

There has been over 235 per cent increase in the number of containment zones in the city in a month -- from 557 on August 18 to 1,872 on Sunday.

Also read: Coronavirus impact: What is the Epidemic Diseases Amendment Bill passed by Parliament?

Also read: Coronavirus lockdown crushes gold smuggling; annual illegal shipments to fall from 120 tonnes to 25 tonnes
ATHENS, Greece - Judicial authorities in Greece received instructions Tuesday to pursue the prosecution of anti-mask activists with fast-tracked trials and penalties for convictions of up to a year in prison.

The instructions issued by a Supreme Court prosecutor described activists who oppose government orders to wear masks to curb the coronavirus as a threat to public health and public order.

While Greeces COVID-19 infection rate remains lower than in most other European Union member nations, the country has seen a sharp increase in confirmed cases since early August. The total number of confirmed cases approached 16,000 as of Tuesday.

Anti-mask groups have recently stepped up activity online and staged small street protests. Since schools reopened last week, they have focused their criticism on the requirement for students to wear masks in class.

Supreme Court prosecutor Vassilis Pliotas said the actions of anti-mask campaigners had caused understandable concern among law-abiding citizens. He described the groups as minor but persistent.

Pliotas said online posts and other actions merit prosecution for the crime of agitating to break the law, an offence that normally results in a fine and has rarely led to imprisonment.

Health authorities announced 346 new confirmed infections Tuesday  mostly in the greater Athens area, where stronger restrictions were imposed Monday  and another eight deaths, which brought Greeces overall death toll in the pandemic to 352. Anti-mask groups argue that medical advice on the effectiveness of masks has been inconsistent and that public health measures introduced by the government are broadly undemocratic.

The government says it is relying on the advice of leading Greek and international experts and that lawmakers approved its framework of virus-related restrictions.

___

Follow APs pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak

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LONDON, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Biotech start-up COVIMRO Ltd demonstrated the effectiveness of its compound, Covimro against Coronavirus. EM images taken with a Titan Krios scanning/transmission electron microscope from the University of Leeds show Covimro's action in disrupting the viral membrane and dislodging the S Spike Proteins.

The structural stability and integrity of a virus are important in order for it to infect a target cell. If the structural integrity is compromised, the virus loses infectivity quickly.

Untreated Coronavirus Coronavirus Treated with Covimro

"The use of electron microscopy (EM) is highly complementary to the ongoing pharmacological studies. The current lab assays allow us to test the potency and pharmacokinetic properties of Covimro. Our current pilot studies have suggested changes in virus integrity in the presence of Covimro with degradation of the viral spikes. This is significant as the infectivity of the virus will be lost if we can degrade the spike structure," said Dr. Stephen Muench, School of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Leeds.

The global unavailability of a vaccine for coronavirus, uncertainty around its route of administration, doubts about its efficacy, the possible requirement of booster doses and the duration of immunity remain challenges.

Covimro has a virus agnostic, 3 stage design architecture; It structurally degrade the virus upon contact, prevents it from attaching to the cell and reduce its ability to multiply once inside the cell. As an orthomolecular compound Covimro has an exceptional safety profile built in, by default.

Being virus agnostic brings two key advantages; immunity against both antigenic drift and antigenic shift. In a pandemic situation these 2 facets are of critical importance to keep up with a mutating virus.

An EC50/CC50 cell culture study conducted at Hvivo labs in London showed a 20% reduction in coronavirus infectivity at just 0.39% concentration, as measured by cytopathic effects, CPE.

This promising pilot data paves the way towards creating preventative treatment models that may help reduce the viral load. This can give the immune system a helping hand so it stands a better chance of fighting the virus, which may result in improved patient outcomes.

About COVIMRO

UK-based start-up COVIMRO is a biotech research company specialising in agnostic antiviral solutions. The multidisciplinary team draws from the latest advances in virology, oncology and RNA genetics.

Contact

For more information visit www.covimro.com

General enquiries:

James Lindberg

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +44 739 241 3386

SOURCE Covimro Ltd

Related Links

http://www.covimro.com


In the three months since Norman, Oklahoma, City Council member Kate Bierman voted to redirect money meant for the police department, she has been accused of participating in a leftist conspiracy.

Shes been screamed at from a car passing by her home. Opponents have tried to force her and her fellow council members from office. The police union has filed a lawsuit accusing the council of abusing its power. There have been protests, counterprotests, and protests against those counterprotests.

Sometimes, it feels as if the town has been split in two.

This has brought quite the divide to our city, Bierman, 33, said.

Council Member Kate Bierman outside City Hall, in Norman, Okla. (Christopher Creese / for NBC News)

Since the Memorial Day killing of George Floyd while in Minneapolis police custody triggered a wave of street protests across the country, cities have responded with proposals to curb police use of force, confront systemic racism and rethink law enforcements role in society. Many local governments have moved to cut police budgets or shift money from police to social service programs.

But as the reform movement spreads, so has the resistance, with the rhetoric largely falling along partisan lines: progressives clamoring for change and conservatives accusing them of undermining public safety. President Donald Trump has sought to capitalize on that disunity in the Nov. 3 election, warning of chaos if those he calls radical reformers have their way.

In June, that battle came to Norman, a largely white college town of 121,000 with a history of racial oppression. Norman, which is less than 5 percent Black, now harbors a streak of liberalism that contrasts with most of Oklahoma, which voted overwhelmingly for Trump and his law-and-order message in 2016.

Under pressure from racial justice activists, the all-white Norman City Council held two heated public hearings and then voted to divert $865,000  or nearly 4 percent of the police departments proposed $23 million budget  to create new community outreach programs and to hire an auditor. The move set in motion a cascade of events that has left some residents wondering if the city has lost sight of the problem  police abuse of Black people  that Floyds death represented.

Story continues

I dont know that this would have started in Norman without that powder keg, said James Chappel, 59, a retired utility company engineer who recently served for a year as the citys first Black councilman. The budget vote and the backlash that followed generated more negativity than it did positivity. As for the issue of Black men and women getting killed, I dont know much much it did toward that.

Image: (Christopher Creese / for NBC News)

The narrative got lost

On June 9, the Norman City Council, whose members do not run under political parties, met for what was supposed to be a vote on the citys budget, including a proposed $1.1 million increase for the police department. But the council ditched those plans after hundreds of residents and activists, most of them white, flooded the municipal building and asked that the police budget be cut.

We would like to see the city invest in social programs and things that dont rely on violence and coercion to get people where they need, Sarah Warmker, 35, who is white, said later. Shes a Spanish instructor at the University of Oklahoma and a member of Norman Citizens for Racial Justice, which formed in 2017 to oppose gas pipelines and expanded into other local issues.

Their calls echoed those of protesters across America galvanized by Floyds death May 25, who took to the streets to demand that communities rein in police by scaling back their responsibilities and shifting some functions elsewhere. The movement had a catchphrase, defund the police, which activists deployed to advocate a range of remedies, from disbanding police departments to moving some of their funding to social services.

Many Norman protesters used defund the police in their demands to the City Council, but they also made their case in more personal terms, sharing stories of negative encounters with local law enforcement officers and facing racism in Norman, a former sundown town where until 1967 Black people were not allowed to live or visit past dark.

Protesters arrive at a Norman City Council meeting on June 9, 2020, to present a list of demands to the council which included defunding the police. (Sue Ogrocki / AP file)

The Norman Police Department had adopted some reform measures already, prioritizing community-oriented policing and trying to curb implicit bias. But protesters said those measures had not addressed their concerns about excessive force and racial profiling. In the 343 times police used force  defined as physical techniques, a gun, Taser or other control device  on people in the last five years, 14 percent of the targets were Black, according to department data.

Some protesters complained about the presence of police officers in public schools. Some cited the death of Marconia Kessee, 34, a homeless and mentally ill Black man who in January 2018 refused to leave a local hospital after being treated for a headache. The hospital called Norman police, who dragged him away and charged him with trespassing; a few hours later, Kessee died in jail from what medical examiners said was a toxic combination of antidepressants, medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and methamphetamine. An internal investigation concluded officers did not contribute to Kessees death.

Some protesters were also upset about a leaked May email from a Norman police officer to colleagues that critiqued the departments policy on wearing masks to protect against the Covid-19 pandemic with a meme that included an image of a hooded lynch mob taken from the film Django Unchained. (The officer was disciplined, according to the police department.)

The council agreed to take the protesters pleas under consideration and postponed its budget vote.

When you are faced with so much heartache and anger and frustration from people largely disconnected from whats happening in the city, its hard not to feel compelled to act, Bierman said in an interview.

In the days that followed, the police budget became a political flashpoint. The budget-cutting campaign gathered momentum, and with it an opposition effort that included residents already angry at the council that had prohibited large gatherings and closed businesses to stem the spread of Covid-19.

For more of NBC News' in-depth reporting, download the NBC News app

The two sides faced off at the councils June 16 follow-up budget session, denouncing each other and shouting each other down, according to interviews. One council member, Alex Scott, said shed recently called police after being stalked and officers blatantly disbelieved me. (The Norman Citizens Advisory Board, a police oversight agency, later said the officers behaved appropriately.) Scott, who is white, proposed cutting the polices $23 million budget by $4.5 million. The rest of the council rejected that as too extreme.

In the crowd that night, Samuel Woodfork was in shock watching his fellow residents treat one another poorly. Woodfork, 56, who is Black and has lived in Norman for 34 years, had served on a committee that persuaded the city to hire a diversity officer and formally apologize in January for once being a sundown town.

He believes in holding police accountable, in part because of his own experience with officers in town. About four years ago, Woodfork recalled recently, he and his adult son stopped to help an elderly white woman having car troubles and were followed home by police who said an off-duty officer had said they were accosting the woman. The officers eventually realized it had been a misunderstanding, and his son filed a complaint, but nothing came of it, Woodfork said.

Woodfork agreed that Normans police department needed to make changes. But the fight in the council chambers in June made it impossible to hold a meaningful debate, he said.

The narrative got lost behind defund the police, he recalled. It was just built up to be something it should have never got up to be.

In the end, the nine-member council voted after 11 hours to reduce a $1.1 million budget increase earmarked for the police department by $865,000 to create a community program that would respond, instead of police, to public-health emergencies such as homelessness and mental illness, and hire an internal auditor to monitor the citys spending, including police overtime.

The police department said reducing its budget increase would leave it unable to fill seven open positions and another two left available by recent resignations. Police Chief Kevin Foster declined requests for an interview, but told reporters in August that the reduction would not hurt the departments ability to respond to calls.

Many protesters wanted deeper cuts to the police budget, but conservative-leaning residents condemned the vote as a dead-of-night sabotage. Some formed a group called Unite Norman and began collecting signatures  with help from Norman police officers and Republican political strategists  to recall Mayor Breea Clark, Bierman and three other council members whom they saw as ringleaders in advocating for the cuts.

The group blamed the council for caving to a loud mob aligned with a movement that had nothing to do with Norman.

What happened in Minnesota, we all agree that was a horrible event. But that doesnt mean we have to jump and have the reason to do that in Norman, Oklahoma, said Sassan Moghadam, a Unite Norman co-founder and a commercial real estate developer.

Image: Unite Norman co-founders Russell Smith and Sassan Moghadam. (Christopher Creese / for NBC News)

The local officers union, meanwhile, filed a lawsuit seeking to restore the reductions, accusing the council of failing to provide proper public notice of the vote and violating provisions of a voter-approved sales tax program that partially funds the police department.

We would have welcomed the opportunity to sit down and discuss changes, ideas, anything to make our job easier or make our service better, but they went straight for our throat and took money away from us, Robert Wasoski, the unions president, said.

Wasoski, who retired from the department in July to take a job elsewhere but remains the union president, said the issue wasnt about politics. Its about sane versus insane. Are we going to have law and order in our community or are we going to have chaos?

The fight escalates

Not long after the vote, Bierman was watering her front yard when a car slowed down and a woman inside asked if she was the council member. Bierman said yes, and she said the woman hollered at her, Ha, ha, f--- you, Unite Norman.

Bierman said she also began receiving angry messages on social media calling her a libtard and a communist and accusing her of being on the payroll of George Soros, the billionaire philanthropist who has been falsely accused of secretly bankrolling protests against police brutality.

It was all the crazy right-wing talking points you hear about national elected officials, Bierman said. You just dont hear that about local elected officials here. It was stunning and concerning.

Scott, 26, whose council term expired in July, says she was also targeted by people who disagreed with her. She accused police officers of sharing her personal information on Facebook, including documents related to her stalking complaint and her June 20 arrest while protesting a Trump rally in Tulsa.

On June 27, while Scott was staying overnight in Oklahoma City, the woman who lives next to her in a two-apartment house was allegedly raped by a stranger. Scott, who is now running as a Democrat for the Oklahoma state Senate, said she believes that the release of her personal information and her role in the debate over police funding led the rapist to target her  but instead resulted in the assault on her neighbor.

My sentiment is that they intended to attack me and mistakenly attacked her, Scott said.

The assault remains under investigation by state authorities. Norman police said an internal investigation into the release of Scotts personal information found no evidence of misconduct by officers  the information was originally posted by a person whod obtained it legally through open records requests, and it did not include her home address. The citizens advisory board agreed.

Activists who pressed for a cut to the police budget said they have received online threats, as well. Some expressed fear of being quoted in this article by name.

One of them was Ashley, a Black woman and member of Norman Citizens for Racial Justice, who asked that her last name not be used. She said the defund the police debate brought into the open rifts that already existed.

Its always been racially divided, but theres been a certain level of quiet and propriety that people are used to, Ashley said. Airing the grievances in public is a newer experience for Norman. We just shined a big-ass flashlight on it.

In mid-July, a Facebook group called the Norman Police Accountability Project popped up, with its initial post suggesting it was formed in response to the release of information about Scott. Since then, the group has posted pictures of officers and links to their addresses.

Unite Norman members, in turn, have accused protesters of harassing and threatening them, both online and in person, and stealing the groups campaign signs.

Ultimately, Unite Norman produced enough signatures to force a recall election for one council member who voted for the budget cut, Alison Petrone.

Petrones lawyer, Joel Wohlgemuth, called the recall petition a farce and Unite Norman an extreme right-wing organization that is totally abusing the recall process to achieve their political objectives.

The council, meanwhile, hasn't yet launched the program that would respond, rather than police, to emergencies involving homelessness and mental illness.

And the debate now includes a proposal to expand the number of police officers in city schools next year, when presumably school will return to normal following the Covid-19 pandemic. On Tuesday, the council is expected to vote on whether to accept a matching grant from the Department of Justice to hire more of the officers. Critics of the police say the offer should be rejected. Proponents, including Unite Norman, say the officers are necessary  and that reformers are opposing the grant as another way to defund the police.

Clark, Normans mayor, declined requests for an interview, but said in a statement that the city has never been afraid to lead the way in implementing changes that build a better future for our community.

A lingering divide

The policing debate in Norman has also illuminated the isolation of Black people there.

Partly because of the citys past, many Black residents dont feel comfortable speaking up or taking part in civic functions, Black activists and public officials say. That also means that many white residents dont understand Black residents concerns about the police.

Black Lives Matter demonstrators chant outside the Norman Police Department on June 2. (Sue Ogrocki / AP)

Our community of color has been historically marginalized, and without actively encouraging their participation so that they feel it isnt going to have a negative consequence, you cant solve the problem, said Merleyn Bell, a Democrat who represents parts of Norman in the Oklahoma state House of Representatives  the first Black woman to do so.

At the heart of the recent divide, she sees confusion over the phrase defund the police.

I had a lot of constituents saying, What does it mean when people say defund the police? Bell said.

Chappel, the Black former council member, said he didnt see cutting police budgets as a solution. In his experience, he said, many Black people dont want to see less policing. He believes the police ought to be doing more to interact with Black residents, including expanding the existing community policing efforts.

I think we have to figure out how to get the relationship between the police and the community to a place where if I as a Black person get pulled over, Im not nervous  and the officer isnt nervous, Chappel said. I dont know if defund the police is going to solve it. I dont think it will be that easy.
Rome: The Vatican reiterated the Roman Catholic Church's opposition to assisted suicide and euthanasia, which it called "intrinsically evil" acts, "in every situation or circumstance."

The Vatican's condemnation on Tuesday, local time, did not break new ground, but came as legislation in favour of allowing the ending of lives to relieve suffering has been in discussion or been adopted by a growing number of governments around the world, including in traditionally Catholic countries.

"Euthanasia is a crime," stated the document, written by the Vatican's doctrinal watchdog, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, with Pope Francis' explicit endorsement. The document accuses lawmakers who approve legislation allowing euthanasia or assisted suicide of being "accomplices of a grave sin that others will execute."

Victoria has legalised voluntary assisted dying. Credit:ninevms

In Europe, euthanasia is legal in the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg, and is being debated in Spain and Portugal. Switzerland allows physician-assisted suicide in some cases, and Italy and France allow terminally ill patients to stop treatment in some cases.
A second person has been taken into custody in connection with the weekend shooting at an Alabaster party that left one man dead and a woman critically injured.

Vontarious Dameko Brown, 24, of Wilton, is charged with attempted murder, Alabaster police announced Tuesday. He was booked into the Shelby County Jail Monday and is being held on $300,000 bond.

Authorities on Monday announced the arrest of 25-year-old Anfernee Jordan Brown, of Calera. He also is charged with attempted murder with bond set at $300,000.

Killed in the shooting was 27-year-old Rakeem Shields. A woman, whose name has not been publicly released, was critically wounded with a gunshot wound to the head, according to court recorts.

The shooting happened early Sunday on Old Highway 31 near 10th Avenue S.E. about 1:30 a.m. When police and medics arrived, they found Shields dead and the woman wounded.

Shields was a graduate of Thompson High School. He leaves behind two sons.

This is the second arrest in the ongoing investigation into a shooting that took place early Sunday morning that resulted in a young woman being seriously wounded and a young man losing his life said Alabaster police Chief Curtis Rigney. This investigation will take time to fully complete and will need the cooperation and support of the citizens of Alabaster to bring justice for these victims and their families.

More charges are expected. Anyone with information is asked to call Alabaster police at 205-663-7401 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.
Charter Communications has announced that it is relaunching its Remote Education Offer, which provides free Spectrum internet and WiFi services for 60 days to new customers in households with educators or students from kindergarten to college.

The promotion is for customers who live in a Spectrum market and do not currently have Spectrum internet services, according to a news release from Charter. New customers can call 844-310-1198 to get a free self-installation kit.

Students in Massachusetts and across the country are continuing to learn online during the coronavirus pandemic. In Boston, Worcester and Springfield, students have started this school year with remote learning.

The pandemic has prompted new focus on the technology divide and Charter is committed to being part of the comprehensive solution needed to close these gaps, said Tom Rutledge, Charter Chairman and CEO. This offer is the latest example of Charters ongoing commitment to improving access to broadband and helping to ease the strain of the pandemic in the communities we serve. From extending our network to rural areas to making high-speed broadband more accessible for low-income students and seniors through Spectrum Internet Assist, Charter provides a range of options that deliver critical connectivity to our customers.

In Worcester, remote learning during the pandemic has highlighted existing trouble residents have had accessing the internet. Charter is the citys provider.

When classes went remote in the spring, some students were unable to get a strong enough internet connection to access classes. Businesses with employees working from home have also reported trouble getting online. This summer, city officials were working with the company to try and identify better services for residents.

A Worcester Regional Research Bureau report on broadband in the city indicated that 18% of Worcester households had no internet access of any kind.

Charter said its Remote Education Offer can give new customers internet speeds of up to 200 Mbps in most markets. In Worcester, residents have not been able to get speeds that high.

Charter Communications, through its Spectrum service, advertises 100 Mbps download speeds and 5 Mbps upload speeds, although speed tests run by customers may show lower speeds than this maximum, especially on wifi as opposed to a wired connection, the report reads.

The company first promoted the Remote Education Offer in March, the news release said, which led to free internet for 448,000 new households through the end of June. Charter serves more than 30 million customers in 41 states through its Spectrum brand.

Additionally, Charter said it is making broadband more accessible through Spectrum Internet Assist, a high-speed, low cost broadband program available to eligible low-income households and seniors. Spectrum Internet Assist includes a free internet modem, data at 30 Mbps, no data caps or contracts and optional in-home WiFi service for an additional $5 per month, the company said. It is available to households where one or more members is a recipient of assistance through the National School Lunch Program, the Community Eligibility Provision of the National School Lunch Program, or Supplemental Security Income for applicants age 65 and older.

Charter said it will offer two free months of Spectrum Internet Assist to eligible low-income households with students or an educator not already a Spectrum customer.

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Connecticut School District Prepares Classrooms For Hybrid Learning

Desks sit socially distanced in a kindergarten classroom ahead of the fall semester at Rogers International School on Sept. 3, in Stamford, Conn. Credit - John MooreGetty Images

It didnt take more than one day of virtual kindergarten for Ryan Greenbergs 5-year-old daughter, Samantha, to break down in tears, begging to go back to regular school where she could see other kids face-to-face.

Ill wear two masks, she told him.

But for Samantha, in Montclair, N.J., and for hundreds of thousands of other children across the country, school will continue to be remote for at least the first weeks of school due to the coronavirus pandemic.

And while this school year has posed new challenges for students of all ages, its proving especially challenging for children as young as 4 or 5 years old to sit in front of computer screens for hours each day, learning how to navigate websites and how to mute and unmute their microphones during virtual lessons. Viral videos have captured the patience and energy required of teachers to keep young students engaged.

Such obstacles could help explain why kindergarten enrollment has declined in many districts across the country this year. That may translate to less money for school districts, which often receive funding based on enrollment, and to long-term losses for children who miss out on a critical year of early education.

In 2018, 84% of 5-year-olds in the U.S. were enrolled in preschool or kindergarten, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. But most states dont require kindergarten attendance, making it possible for parents to opt out if theyre unable to help their child with remote learning this year or if they think the virtual offering is not as valuable as traditional kindergarten.

There are no national kindergarten enrollment numbers available for this school year yet, but several districts reporting sharp declines of kindergarteners are not seeing the same enrollment drops in other grades. The Los Angeles Unified School District, the second largest school system in the country, which began the school year with online-only instruction, has nearly 6,000 fewer kindergarteners enrolled this year, a decline of 14% compared to last year. The biggest drops in kindergarten enrollment are generally in neighborhoods with the lowest household incomes, Superintendent Austin Beutner said in a briefing on Aug. 31. We suspect some of this is because families may lack the ability to provide full-time support at home for online learning, which is necessary for very young learners.

Story continues

Read more: As the School Year Approaches, Education May Become the Pandemics Latest Casualty

Eric Mackey, the state superintendent of education in Alabama, mentioned the same trend during a state Board of Education meeting on Sept. 10. Anecdotal information were getting is that kindergarten numbers are way down because parents are just saying, Rather than do whatever we have to do this year, well just hold our kids back one year,' he said. Which causes us two concerns: One is when they bring those children in next year, do they want to bring them into kindergarten or do they want to skip kindergarten and just start first grade?

Though official enrollment numbers have not yet been finalized in many places, other districts are reporting similar early figures. In Montgomery County Public Schools, the largest school district in Maryland, which will remain remote through January, kindergarten enrollment is down by 1,011 students, about 9% compared to last year. In Florida, kindergarten enrollment decreased by 12% in Miami-Dade County Public Schools and by almost 14%, or 1,976 students, in Broward County Public Schools, the largest enrollment decline of all grade levels. A spokesperson for Broward schools said the district is working to attract kindergarten students and is hopeful more families will enroll their children once our District returns to in-person instruction.

The San Diego Unified School District, which also started the school year virtually, reported on Friday that kindergarteners represent two-thirds of its enrollment decline this year, and it encouraged families to enroll their 5-year-olds now. Those early grade-levels are critical times in the life of a student, Superintendent Cindy Marten said in a statement. They set a child up for success in later grades, not just academically, but socially and emotionally as well.

"Anecdotal information we're getting is that kindergarten numbers are way down because parents are saying, 'Rather than do whatever we have to do this year, we'll just hold our kids back one year.'"

Jenna Conway, the chief school readiness officer for Virginia, is anticipating a 15% to 25% drop in kindergarten enrollment across the state this year, based on numbers reported by districts thus far, though official enrollment numbers wont be available until the end of the month.

Everybodys asking, where are the kids? she says. And the answer is not yet clear. Some families might be holding their child back a year, a practice known as redshirting. Some might be enrolling their children in private school. Some might be homeschooling. And others have placed their child in daycare. Conway says about half of the Virginia child care providers that reopened have reported taking in some school-aged children, with a mix of daycares expanding to offer a kindergarten program or supervising children who are enrolled remotely in a public kindergarten.

Nearly half of school districts across the country have reopened for fully in-person instruction, according to an analysis in late August by the Center on Reinventing Public Education. But 26% of districts, including many of the countrys largest school systems, have started the year fully remote. In recognition of the challenges facing the youngest learners, some districts have prioritized bringing kindergarteners and elementary schoolers back face-to-face first, before phasing in other grades.

One of the biggest challenges is going to be the variability of experiences, Conway says, noting that students in some districts will receive in-person instruction, while others remain fully remote, and that kids in affluent families will have the opportunity to learn just as much as they would in a typical school year, while many other children will fall further behind. She says policymakers and education leaders will have to rethink early education and kindergarten and provide additional support to students who dont have the full-time help of a caregiver, a quiet place to learn or consistent Internet access.

The hardest part about virtual kindergarten and pre-K is that the kids cannot do it on their own. They just cant. Ive both been able to observe classrooms and, downstairs in my house, observe my own child, and you know, theres a lot of parents and caregivers in the frame, Conway says. Where are the places where parents arent able to support that? Where are the places where kids kind of go missing, either theyre absent or dont log in?

A lifetime of trying to catch up

Traneisha Sanford, a kindergarten teacher at Sims Elementary School in Conyers, Ga., which is continuing with virtual learning through the first semester, says she has 13 students in her class this year, down from about 23 in a typical year. She turned her guest bedroom into a remote classroom, decorating it with bookshelves, posters and a colorful bulletin board that says, Our kinder class is virtually the best, in neon letters.

Traneisha Sanford, a kindergarten teacher in Georgia, sits at her desk in her home on the first day of school. Courtesy of Traneisha Sanford

She starts each day by asking students to give her a thumbs-up or thumbs-down based on how theyre feeling. They sing alphabet songs, count to 100, decorate letters cut from construction paper and take brain breaks in between lessons.

Its not easy, but Im very dedicated to my craft and my career. I am doing the best I can and making it work, but this is not an easy task at all for us teachers as well as the kids, she says. My fingers are crossed that we are able to go back inside our buildings, if we can, in January.

Vatesha Bouler, a kindergarten teacher at Barack Obama Elementary School in Upper Marlboro, Md., who just began her 21st year as an educator, says she spent the first week of virtual school teaching students how to mute and unmute their microphones and turn their videos on and off, in between lessons about letter sounds, shapes and cooperation. Behind her desk at home, she hung up a list of distance learning rules, reminding students to stay in one place and keep your sound on mute until you are asked to speak.

It takes a lot more work, a lot more patience, a lot more planning to teach not only kindergarten, but in my opinion, any grade level with distance learning versus being in the classroom, she says. I tell parents this is a learning experience for all of us. We are all holding each others hand during this.

Vatesha Bouler, a kindergarten teacher in Maryland, logs on to teach her students from home. Courtesy of Vatesha Bouler

But some parents have found it overwhelming to juggle working and supervising virtual kindergarten. Jacquelyn Allsopp, who has three children, is considering unenrolling her 5-year-old from kindergarten in the South Orange-Maplewood School District in New Jersey after two weeks of remote learning, during which her daughter has grown restless and bored by hours in front of the computer each day.

Shes running away all the time, and its like, Can you please come back and look at the screen? Shes like, Mommy, I dont want to learn like this,' Allsopp says. And I cant force her to sit there. Shes 5.

Allsopp wrote to district leaders, raising concerns about whether four to six hours of screen time was age-appropriate for 5-year-olds. In a letter to families on Friday, the school district announced some changes for the youngest grades, shifting to three hours of live virtual instruction each morning, and offering art, music and physical education classes asynchronously instead, allowing families to choose when to participate in them.

If she decides to unenroll her daughter, Allsopp says she would homeschool her this year and send her to first grade next year. I feel sad that this is not really school for her. Children at this age should be learning through play, and so much of kindergarten is learning through play, socialization, learning how to get in line, how to do the morning meeting, how to do all these things in a classroom setting, Allsopp says. If youre not learning that, how is this productive?

Nevaeh Allsopp, 5, participates in a virtual kindergarten lesson at her home in South Orange, N.J. Courtesy of Jacquelyn Allsopp

The benefits of traditional kindergarten have been well-documented. We have a lot of evidence that these early learning experiences matter a lot for kids, both in the short and the very long run, into adulthood really, says Chloe Gibbs, an assistant economics professor at the University of Notre Dame who has researched the impact of kindergarten, noting that quality kindergarten and pre-K can affect a childs future educational attainment and earnings.

And the stakes of missing or delaying kindergarten are higher for children who would most benefit from an early-education boost, including children from low-income households or children who are learning English. That delay could be really costly for them because it could mean a lifetime of trying to catch up on developing those skills, she says. We worry that just further disadvantages the kids who would most benefit from having these early learning investments in school.

Education experts agree that, while kindergarten provides an important academic foundation, it is also key to helping children develop social-emotional and behavior skills  how to interact with classmates, how to listen to a teacher, how to follow classroom rules  which is harder to replicate over a computer screen.

And while remote learning continues, some parents are trying to make up for that.

Greenberg, the father in Montclair, N.J., says a few parents from his daughters kindergarten class recently organized a small outing to a park, so their kids could play. He asked Samantha if she wanted to go meet some of her classmates. On the computer? she said. In a park, he told her, and she lit up instantly.

Wearing masks, the kids ran around in the park for two hours, he said: It was probably the highlight of the week.
UNITED NATIONS: Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte defended his drug crackdown, dismissed criticism from human rights advocates and underscored his countrys claims in the South China Sea as the sometimes aggressive critic of the United Nations addressed its annual gathering of world leaders for the first time Tuesday.

But with the coronavirus taking a human and economic toll on the Philippines, the often brash Duterte also struck a somewhat conciliatory tone about the organization he has often criticized and at times threatened to leave.

The Philippines values the role that the United Nations plays in its fight against the pandemic, Duterte said in a prerecorded video, the meetings format this year because of the pandemic.

He welcomed the U.N.s launch of a relief fund and called on the international community to make sure potential vaccines are accessible to all. At the same time, Duterte spotlighted Filipino health care workers contribution to the virus fight at home and around the globe.

Duterte, who took office in 2016, often lashes out at what he decries as international meddling in Philippine domestic affairs. Western governments and human rights groups see it as expressing justifiable alarm about an anti-drug crusade that has left more than 5,700 mostly poor suspects dead.

U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said in June that the Philippines campaign against illegal drugs 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. Her office called on the government to end all violence targeting suspected drug offenders.

Duterte has denied authorizing extrajudicial killings but has repeatedly and openly threatened drug dealers with death. Just this month, he publicly ordered the countrys top customs official to shoot and kill drug smugglers. The International Criminal Court opened a preliminary probe in February 2018 into complaints about the killings; Dutertes government responded by withdrawing from the court.

The Philippines will continue to protect the human rights of its people, especially from the scourge of illegal drugs, criminality and terrorism, Duterte told the assembly Tuesday, complaining that interest groups have weaponized human rights to discredit his government.

He expressed openness Tuesday to constructive engagement" with the U.N., but only if there is objectivity, noninterference, nonselectivity and genuine dialogue.

Duterte also pointed to the South China Sea, where Beijings sweeping territorial claims have set off disputes with several neighboring countries and the United States.

We firmly reject attempts to undermine a 2016 arbitration ruling that invalidated most of Chinas claims, Duterte said. China refused to participate in the arbitration by a U.N.-backed tribunal, dismissed the ruling as a sham and continues to defy it.

On a larger scale, Duterte lamented that tensions among major powers are intensifying.

When elephants fight, it is the grass that gets trampled flat, he said, imploring countries with interests in the South China Sea and other global flashpoints: If we cannot be friends as yet, then in Gods name, let us not hate each other too much.

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
Facebook's vice president Nick Clegg said the social network has some "break-glass" options to deal with potential civic unrest after the US elections

Facebook has contingency plans to block some content on its platform if civil unrest breaks out after the November US election, a top executive said.

Nick Clegg, a former deputy British prime minister who is Facebook's head of global affairs, said the top social platform could take exceptional steps to "restrict the circulation of content" in case of turmoil.

"We have acted aggressively in other parts of the world where we think that there is real civic instability and we obviously have the tools to do that," Clegg said in an interview published Tuesday in the Financial Times, in comments confirmed by AFP.

The comments are line with prior reports that Facebook could deploy a "kill switch" to thwart the spread of misinformation in case of a dispute on US election results.

Clegg said: "There are some break-glass options available to us if there really is an extremely chaotic and, worse still, violent set of circumstances."

Facebook and other social networks including Twitter have been gearing up for post-election scenarios including efforts by President Donald Trump to wrongly claim victory or contend the outcome is not legitimate.

Both platforms have faced pressured to curb political misinformation, both from foreign actors and from groups within the United States.

Some activists have called on Facebook to take a more aggressive stand on false statements from Trump himself, even as the platform has said it would steer clear of blocking political speech.

Clegg offered few specifics on Facebook's plans but he told the FT that during previous periods of unrest in Sri Lanka and Myanmar, the company took action including reducing the reach of content shared by repeated rule-breakers.

The newspaper said Facebook has been exploring how to handle about 70 different potential scenarios, and has consulted military scenario planners, among others.

rl/ch
Tik Tok has been denounced of sending information about American citizens to China. However, it continues to deny the allegations.

As Tik Tok takes the knock, YouTube and Facebook are attempting to gobble up the piece of cake Tik Tok will leave in large markets such as India and the US. But what about Vietnams technology firms?

After refusing Microsoft, ByteDance, the holding company of Tik Tok, decided to negotiate with Oracle in an effort to avoid being thrown out of the US.

Technology giants such as YouTube and Facebook have quickly reacted to Tik Toks fall. Facebook put Instagram Reels into trial in the US last month, while YouTube introduced Shorts some days ago in India, and both Reels and Shorts have features similar to Tik Tok.

In Vietnam, VNG Corporation quickly reacted by claiming damages against Tik Tok, asking it to pay VND221 billion for Tik Toks music copyright infringement. The lawsuit was filed with the HCM City People's Court in mid-August.

In Vietnam, VNG Corporation quickly reacted by claiming damages against Tik Tok, asking it to pay VND221 billion for Tik Toks music copyright infringement.

The lawsuit was filed with the HCM City People's Court in mid-August.

Vietnamese technology firms, however, have not launched products to compete with Tik Tok, mostly because Tik Tok has 10 million users in Vietnam. However, the major reason is that Vietnams startups have been inferior to Tik Tok in the home market for a long time.

Umbala and Muvik are two examples. One of the two Vietnamese platforms successfully called for capital at Shark Tank Vietnam 2018, and the other, though obtaining millions of users, was still crushed by the Chinese Tik Tok platform with its powerful finance resources.

In theory, there are opportunities for Vietnams apps to make a jump in the market in the context of the Tik Tok fall. However, if looking at what YouTube and Facebook are doing, it appears difficult.

The ecosystems created by Vietnams technology firms are insufficient. Therefore the appearance of Vietnams apps wont create a boom needed to become a long-term movement.

Gapo (G-Group) and Lotus (VC Corp) are two social networks that attracted high attention at the moment of launching. Gapo announced it had 4 million users as of July 2020, while Lotus has not revealed figures about the number of users.

A startup needs to live long enough on a digital platform before considering commercialization.

Even Mocha (Viettel) and 360Live (VNG), backed by powerful holding companies, have fumbled for an answer to the question, let alone startups, which have to struggle to call for capital.

Trong Dat

New national strategy sought to root out data pitfalls How to protect personal data has been raised by local experts as one of the biggest issues to tackle as digital transformation becomes an increasing priority in Vietnam.
The recent deal between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Israel, cleverly marketed as the Abraham Accords, aims to normalize relations between the two countries  from business and tourism to official diplomatic ties and regional security. After decades of secretive relations between Israel and the UAE, the deal is being applauded by Canadian politicians. Foreign Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne welcomed it, taking to Twitter to show his support. Yet there is little to celebrate or support.

The deal has its vocal supporters, notably President Donald Trump, who touted a Deal of the Century earlier in the year  one that ostensibly gave Israel security guarantees while offering Palestinians the state they needed and deserved. On closer inspection, the deal left Palestinians without proper sovereignty, surrounded by Israel, and haphazardly threaded between illegal Israeli settlements which would gain formal recognition.

With the failure of that deal, the U.S. leveraged its influence in the Gulf to push for Israels interests. Arab nations such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE have always had behind-the-scene relations with Israel; however, none ever ignored the plight of the Palestinians, their sufferings, right to self-determination, and basic freedoms.

The goal for Canadian foreign policy in the Middle East should indeed be peace and stability. But not peace at any cost, and certainly not peace by condoning violations of international law and sanctioning occupation.

That is essentially what the Israel-UAE treaty does. While it was sold as a historic deal that suspends Israels plans to annex the West Bank, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that is still on the table, posing a threat to a two-state solution.

The treaty is clearly a continuation of Trumps deal where Israels interests are foregrounded, Palestinians voices are muted and the Israeli occupation of their land is upheld. The real drivers of the treaty are American and Israeli interests, rather than Palestinian interests. Former Canadian Ambassador to Israel Jon Allen described it as a deal of winners and losers and highlighted the gains the U.S. and Israel stand to make in sales of weapons and security services to the UAE, notably American-made F-35 jets and Israeli-made anti-surveillance and anti-missile technology.

Stability in the Middle East is not a zero-sum equation. In the absence of a comprehensive peace agreement that resolves Palestinian grievances while meeting Israels needs for security, other policy options are possible. Qatars relationship with Israel, for instance, has pushed for stability in the broader region, while amplifying Palestinian rights at the geopolitical table.

Despite the ongoing embargo on Qatar due to its divergent regional policies, Qatar has facilitated assistance to Gaza during the siege imposed on it by Israel. The Qatari government has also provided humanitarian aid, including building the Hamad Bin Khalifa hospital there  all with tacit Israeli approval, proof that relations with Israel need not impede upon ones ethical obligations to Palestinians. Qatar has used its ties with Israel to improve the conditions of the Palestinians and push forward the Palestinian humanitarian needs in such conversations.

While Canadas policy has been ostensibly based on a two-state solution (including opposition to the settlements, occupation and annexations of the Golan Heights and Jerusalem), for too long Canada has not been as outspoken on Israels encroachment on Palestinian lands and their rights as we should be. Instead, our political leadership has tacitly supported Israels annexations and contradicted our past record on both Palestine and human rights issues more broadly on a global scale.

Canada has voted against UN resolutions that document Israeli violations, even while calling for peace and intervention in other nations with similar track records. Canada has even campaigned against the International Criminal Courts investigation of war crimes by Israel. This is not a foreign policy in line with international law, human rights for all, and fairness.

We need a foreign policy that is principle-based and clear-eyed, not one that responds to hype and marketing stunts. Ottawa should condition our relationship with Israel on the latter meeting its obligations under International law. We should support international treaties and policies that can advance true and comprehensive peace between Israel and Palestinians, but in the meantime support Palestinians basic human rights and humanitarian needs.

Yasser M. Dhouib is a political and human rights activist. He is president of the CCRG (Canadian Centre of Research and Arab-Persian Gulf Studies) and is a volunteer VP of the Canadian Qatari Friendship Association.

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MUMBAI : The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) on Tuesday barred promoters of Dewan Housing Finance Corp. Ltd ( DHFL ) from the securities market, accusing them of indulging in fraudulent transactions and misleading investors by releasing false financial statements for over a decade.

Kapil Wadhawan, Dheeraj Wadhawan, Rakesh Kumar Wadhawan, Sarang Wadhawan, Aruna Wadhawan, Malti Wadhawan, Anu S. Wadhawan, Pooja Wadhawan, and four Wadhawan Group companies cannot deal in any kind of transaction in any type of securities until further orders, the regulator said in an interim ex-parte order.

Sebi said violations by the 12 entities are very grave in nature, and the amount involved in the fraudulent transactions is of a very high magnitude. The regulator said it is imposing the ban to minimize the damage to the interests of the investors and to protect market integrity.

Citing their alleged involvement in fraudulent transactions during 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2019, the order also barred the promoters from associating with any listed public company, and any public firm as directors or promoters which intends to raise money from the public.

The financial impact of the fraudulent transactions is 14,046 crore, which is the outstanding loans in the books of DHFL as on 30 June 2019, Sebi said. It also said an amount of 3,348 crore is due towards notional loss to DHFL on account of fraudulently charging lower rate of interest to certain entities called the Bandra Book Entities".

DHFL had shown in its accounts that 23,815 crore was disbursed to Bandra Book" entities. But, out of this, only 11,755.79 crore was actually disbursed, said the Sebi order.

The order is based on an initial report prepared by Grant Thornton India Llp, the transaction auditor which scrutinized the authenticity of transactions done by the Wadhawans.

This amount ( 11,755.79 crore), the report notes, was disbursed to 91 entities, but was shown in the books of the company as comprising 260,315 home loan accounts. The closing balance outstanding in the books of the company towards such accounts as of 30 June 2019 was 14,046 crore," said Sebi.

The transaction auditor verified the financial statements of 50 of the said 91 entities, which accounted for 70% of the disbursals, and noted that 34 entities had invested a portion of the loan amount received from the lender in companies which were linked to the promoters of DHFL.

The Grant Thornton report also said these entities had weak financial strength and their repayment capacity was doubtful. These loans were unsecured and given without taking any collateral.

By indulging in such fraudulent transactions, which were shown as bonafide transactions in the published financial statements and by issuing corporate announcements in the public domain, the promoters of the company have, prima-facie, defrauded the investors in securities of DHFL," said Sebi.

The initial report compiled by Grant Thornton raises serious concerns over authenticity and reliability of DHFLs financial statements from FY07 to FY19.

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Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told President Trump last weekend that he thinks Judge Amy Coney Barrett is the strongest choice among several to replace the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, but that he would support any of the presidents top few choices.

McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky, relayed this advice in a phone call, a GOP consultant familiar with the conversation told Yahoo News.

Trump met with Barrett at the White House on Monday, and has said he will announce his nomination on Saturday. That will commence the process of the Senate beginning its consideration of the nominee.

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit Judge Amy Coney Barrett, a law professor at Notre Dame University, poses in an undated photograph obtained from Notre Dame University on September 19, 2020. (Matt Cashore/Notre Dame University/Handout via Reurters)

Republicans appear poised to barrel ahead with a rushed confirmation process as they almost certainly have enough votes to confirm a replacement before the Nov. 3 presidential election. The announcement Tuesday by Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, that he supports a vote before the election dashed any slim hopes for Democrats that they could delay a vote until after the election.

The only suspense remaining now lies in who Trump will pick and whether any salient concerns could emerge about the person that the president puts forward.

Barrett is an appealing choice for Republicans for a few reasons. She is clearly conservative, and a devout Catholic.

In fact, her faith background will be a large factor in the public debate if she is Trumps choice. Barrett, who is a mother of seven and is married to a former federal prosecutor, has been deeply influenced by the People of Praise faith community in South Bend, Ind., which is known for its spiritual intensity and intellectual rigor.

But People of Praise has taught that women must obey their husbands, according to a former member of the group. Its elements like these in Barretts faith background that have already attracted criticism and scrutiny. In 2017, when Barrett was appointed to the U.S. Court of Appeals Seventh Circuit, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., made the now-famous remark to Barrett that when you read your speeches, the conclusion one draws is that the dogma lives loudly within you, and thats of concern when you come to big issues that large numbers of people have fought for years in this country.

Story continues

Barretts fairly contentious confirmation process in 2017 is part of the appeal for her to be picked for the Supreme Court because she has been pressure-tested in a high-profile setting, unlike the other potential choices.

And Democratic criticisms and questions about Barretts faith background could be framed as attacks on religion by Republicans and used to energize their voters in the fall election.

US Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) speaks at a press conference at the US Capitol on September 22, 2020 in Washington, DC, as McConnell said in a statement that the Senate would take up President Donald Trumps nominee for the Supreme Court following the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. (Nicholas Kamm/AFP via Getty Images)

The smart play for Democrats, the Republican consultant said, would be to keep raising massive amounts of money with which to overwhelm Republican candidates in the home stretch of the 2020 campaign, make measured and principled criticisms of McConnell and Trump, and dont treat Amy Barrett like some villain from a Dan Brown novel.

As the initial shock of Ginsburgs death has worn off, Democrats have become less alarmed than they were initially about the electoral impact of Ginsburgs vacancy. People are so deeply engaged it may not have the impact we thought at first, said one senior adviser to a Democratic senator.

In addition, the notion of restraint has become more attractive, whether thats in response to the Republicans plans to jam a nominee through six weeks before an election after blocking a nominee nine months before the last, or whether its in how they approach Trumps nominee.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., over the weekend made comments that nodded to the more confrontational elements inside the Democratic Party, saying on a Saturday phone call with Democratic senators that if Republicans held a vote this year, then nothing is off the table for next year.

That was a clear reference to calls for Democrats to threaten Republicans with escalatory actions of their own when it comes to judges and the Supreme Court. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., tweeted the night that news broke of Ginsburgs death that if McConnell tried to confirm a replacement before the election then when Democrats control the Senate in the next Congress, we must abolish the filibuster and expand the Supreme Court.

Democratic presidential nominee and former Vice President Joe Biden speaks after touring Jerry Alander Carpenter Training Center on September 18, 2020 in Hermantown, Minnesota. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

But since Saturday, Schumer has said nothing more about this type of retaliation, following the lead of Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, who has pointedly avoided such rhetoric.

The Democratic adviser pointed out one obvious reason to avoid public promises of revenge. We dont want to be talking about the court and retribution before we even win [control of the Senate and the presidency, the Democrat said. So if we lose, we just handed Mitch McConnell two more seats on the Supreme Court. Why wouldnt they pack the court at that point?

In addition, the politics of getting moderate Democrats to go along with breaking Senate norms are more difficult than the average activist grasps. Those would be very difficult votes to take for Democrats in conservative or swing states, and it would severely limit the ability of those lawmakers to cast tough votes on other issues that would be high priorities in a Biden administration, such as climate change, restoring the Voting Rights Act or expanding health care coverage.

Health care, in fact, is where the Biden campaign wants the nation to focus during the confirmation fight. They have said they are regularly coordinating with Democrats in Congress to message that the court fight underscores the stakes of the election more than ever.

_____

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Catoosa County residents are invited to share their feedback on services and quality of life issues by completing the 2021 Community Vision Survey. The results of this survey will help Catoosa County and the cities of Ringgold and Fort Oglethorpe work together with the Northwest Georgia Regional Commission to update their Joint Comprehensive Plan.

We share a great community thats rich in history, natural resources and vision for a bright future, said Catoosa County Manager Alicia Vaughn. As we work together toward shaping our future, we want to hear from our neighbors about what they value and see as opportunities for smart growth.

Catoosa County and its cities are dedicated toward putting resources and tax dollars to their best and most efficient use. That includes developing a ten-year Joint Comprehensive Plan that seeks to solve common challenges with solutions that enhance quality of life for all citizens.

The northwest Georgia region will continue to grow, so we want to know what residents expect in terms of managing growth, historic preservation, transportation, natural resources, economic development, housing choices and public services, said Northwest Georgia Regional Commission Senior Planner Gretchen Lugthart.

Catoosa County residents can share their feedback by completing the online 2021 Community Vision Survey here: http://sgiz.mobi/s3/Catoosa-County-Community-Survey-2021.

For more information, contact Catoosa County Public Information Officer John Pless at john.pless@catoosa.com or 423 779-4069.
SINGAPORE, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Based on its recent analysis of the Asia-Pacific crowd analytics market for buildings, Frost & Sullivan recognizes Japan-based Flow Solutions, Inc. with the 2020 Asia-Pacific Crowd Analytics for Buildings Entrepreneurial Company of the Year award. Flow Solutions empowers its clients with a competitive edge by integrating retail data analytics, simple-to-use platforms, and exemplary customer ownership experience tools. Flow, the company's proprietary platform, has disrupted brick-and-mortar businesses' operational decision-making models, in particular, those pertinent to retail environments such as malls and mixed-use buildings. The AI and machine learning-powered platform collects data on customer behavior and analyzes the information to propose actionable recommendations to retail management.

The company stands out for enabling change management that addresses marketing gaps. After carefully assessing a retail owner's needs, the analytics system visualizes the cause of a store's low sales among specific products and proposes the best action to attract consumers. Flow has supported sales improvements for over 800 stores in the form of efficient store operation and performance by predicting scenario-based outcomes, recommending a more effective store layout, and measuring the effects of clients' marketing initiatives.

"Leading the retail and buildings application sectors, Flow Solutions has expanded its portfolio to address clients' occupancy and congestion as well as energy efficiency trends," said Melvin Leong, director of Industrial Practice at Frost & Sullivan. "Flow helps optimize a building's occupancy traffic and uphold safety amid the current COVID-19 pandemic. Its advanced crowd analytics is embedded with AI and is IoT-enabled, making the company a leader in technology best practices, industry convergence, and entrepreneurship in the competitive analytics and buildings industry."

Although an emerging company, Flow Solutions has proven its brand reliability through partnerships with major IoT players such as Fortinet, Cisco, and Aruba Networks. Currently, the company is expanding its reach into Australia and entering non-retail segments; impressively, IBM is one of its earliest customers. Beyond enriching its strong portfolio of retail solutions, these growth initiatives will provide crowd and visitor management tools for corporate office buildings.

"Flow Solutions integrates customer training tools, such as eLearning modules, into the platform. It supports clients' continual learning and data use via e-mail reports, online seminars, and follow-up meetings," noted Leong. "Moreover, Flow Solutions customizes its solution by working closely with clients' marketing teams on site and continually monitoring the entire crowd tracking and analysis process. As part of its superior ownership experience, the company has established a reputation for providing stable and highly usable data, logical solutions, and a simple end-user interface."

Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents this award to the company that has demonstrated excellence in devising and implementing a robust growth strategy. The recipient has shown strength in product and technology innovation, customer value leadership, and rapid response to market needs. Frost & Sullivan analysts compare the emerging players in the industry and recognize the best practices that are position them for future growth excellence.

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis, and extensive secondary research to identify best practices in the industry.

About Frost & Sullivan

For over five decades, Frost & Sullivan has become world-renowned for its role in helping investors, corporate leaders, and governments navigate economic changes and identify disruptive technologies, Mega Trends, new business models, and companies to action, resulting in a continuous flow of growth opportunities to drive future success. Contact us: Start the discussion .

Contact:

Kala Mani.S.

P: +607-5603656

E: [email protected]

About Flow Solutions

Flow was founded with the mission of making buildings smarter and better for the people who use them. From offices and universities, malls and retail shops, Flow is focused on delivering disruptive technologies to build safer, more productive and profitable spaces. Contact us: Get Started

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Yoko Suzuki

P: +81-045-306-8276

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The body of 44-year-old Michael Williams was found near Kellogg, Iowa burning in a ditch. Law enforcement is treating the man's death as a homocide. A nearby college cancelled classes to honor the man's death. (AP)

A town is in mourning after the body of a black man was found burning in a ditch in rural Iowa.

Police found the body of 44-year-old Michael Williams, of Grinnell, Iowa, when they arrived at the scene to deal with an active fire that had been reported just off a road near Kellogg, Iowa.

According to CNN, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation is treating the death as a homicide.

Janalee Boldt, Mr Williams' ex-wife and the mother of his children, told local broadcaster KCCI that her ex-husband was "a family person" and that "his kids were always important".

Ms Boldt and Mr Williams had five children together. She said she was trying to stay strong for her children.

"My daughter will not let me outside in the dark by myself because she's afraid of losing another parent," Ms Boldt said.

The family decided to make purple shirts  purple was Mr Williams' favorite colour  with the phrase "Justice For Michael" on them to commemorate their father.

On Monday, Grinnell College cancelled its classes in response to the death of one of its neighbors.

The college said its staff and students were given the day off to "recommit ourselves to equity and inclusion and to recognise the violent loss of one of our community".

The college tied the incident into the broader societal reckoning regarding violence toward black people in the wake of George Floyd's death, and claimed that "national context has become local experience."

"This stark and brutal murder in the national context of racial injustice has struck intense fear for safety of our Black Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) colleagues, friends and families," Grinnell College President Anne Harris wrote in a statement.

"We live in a predominantly white community and work in a predominantly white college. The murder of Mr. Williams is an incident that is rare in the experience of most Iowans. But for many people of color, this incident is the most recent in an accumulated history of prejudice, mistreatment, and murder," the statement said.

Story continues

Friends of Mr Williams' family began a GoFundMe campaign to help pay for any expenses the family will incur during the investigation. The fundraiser's initial goal of $10,000 was met in less than a day, and has since been increased to $35,000.

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Black cemetery vandalised in Texas

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Consumer durable firms have witnessed a spike in online sales of a range of products during the ongoing pandemic as buyers avoid venturing out. At the Mint CMO Dialogues webinar held on Tuesday, senior executive said that they have witnessed a jump in online sales ranging from 12%-50% in the last six months for a wide range of products including air conditioners, washing machines, food processors, microwave, refrigerators and television sets.

This is in line with the industry forecast by consulting firm Boston Consulting Group in collaboration with search giant Google India which stated that by 2023, $10.4 billion or 28% of sales for durables will be online.

The sales are led by strong replacement and pent up demand due to restricted supply owing to nationwide as well as state lockdowns.

At retailer Croma, online sales have surged significantly in the last six months, even as its stores have seen people walk in to buy goods they need. While footfalls at stores are still low, conversions are high. Ritesh Ghosal, chief marketing officer, Croma, Infiniti Retail Limited said that though for the category touch and feel" remains important, the pandemic has accelerated consumer adoption to digital.

We have seen our online sales (contribution) go up from being less than 2-2.5 % of our total sales, to today touch 12%so that is the extent of shift that has happened. That said, the moment the lockdown has been relaxed people are back in stores. It is not that the time for brick and mortar is over," he said.

Shirish Agarwal, head of marketing and brand, Panasonic India said that overall industry will see a spike in terms of sales and we are highly optimistic. Online is driving incremental sales as pandemic has made people well versed with online platforms. As compared to last year, the online contribution has gone up by 40-50%. We will see brands will be aggressive with festive offers, you will see schemes and offers being rolled out by brands. How well you package and you stand out of the clutter will be key. I think we will overachieve last years numbers," Agarwal said.

Last month, local arm of Korean electronics company LG opened its own online store for shoppers in select cities India as brands look to build direct sales links to shoppers. "It is going to be high growth in the online sales channel as well in this festive season. This festive season we are looking at a 40-50% increase over the previous year in terms of the online sales," Tahir Hakeem, head, brand and retail marketing, LG Electronics India said.

Overall, LG is expecting business to be up 30% this festive season compared to a year ago period, said Hakeem.

From a consumer and marketing perspective, this will be digital festival said Amit Tiwari, Vice President, Marketing, Havells India who admitted that online sales have gone up in various markets. There is an online demand coming from towns where penetration of certain products has been low owing to better digital infrastructure. Therefore, apart from urban and semi-urban, online demand is also coming from rural markets," he added.

Noting that sales is a function of how well searched a brand is online, Deba Ghoshal, Vice President, Marketing and Key Accounts, Voltas said that they invest heavily on search. We have the largest market share in online also in certain product categories. All online marketplace will collaborate with most searched brands online. Online is definitely important as our air conditioning and air cooler category has seen a lot of online traction. Our B2B commercial freezer and coolers category have been seen a similar response on digital. This festive season would be a combination of both online and offline sales for us," he added.

However, panellist cautioned that consumers will only buy need-based goods while postponing discretionary purchases. Cautious spending is definitely what we are observing, it isnt about the way it used to be that people are waiting for big sales and we were ready, the question is about what they (shoppers) can afford and what is authentic for them," said Havells Tiwari.

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Washington, DC - After the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader on Friday, United States President Donald Trump shared that the one who will succeed the late Justice will also be a woman.

According to The Voice of America, the president also urged Republicans to process the confirmation of the upcoming justice without any delay, and Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.), the Senate Majority Leader has mentioned that he will seek to confirm whoever US President Donald Trump will push and nominate.

On the other hand, Democrats are currently pushing for the vacancy of the spot and to be filled with the next president this coming November.

In 2016 and 2017 Trump released a list of 21 potential Supreme Court nominees, but the president rounded off the list to 20 just last month and unveiled his new list of nominees, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Allison Rushing

The 38-year-old Judge Allison Rushing is one of the youngest in the list of nominees and currently sits on the Fourth United States Circuit Court of Appeals. The current president nominated her to the court in August of 2018 and just seven months after, she was confirmed by the Senate in March of the following year. The North Carolina native judge was the youngest federal judge in the US at the time when she was confirmed. Rushing is holding a B.A. degree from Wake Forest University and studied at Duke School of Law to get her law degree.

In 2018 the White House called Judge Rushing as one of the best young appellate lawyers in the country after serving as a clerk for three conservative judges, Justice Gorsuch, Justice Clarence Thomas, and U.S. Circuit Judge David Sentelle.

Barbara Lagoa

The 52-year-old Trump appointee, Judge Barbara Lagoa has served on the Atlanta-based 11th United States Circuit Court of Appeals since December, after she was confirmed by the Senate in a mostly bipartisan vote of 80-15.

Judge Lagoa, who is a Cuban-American and a Miami native served briefly on the Florida Supreme Court as the first Hispanic woman on the high court of the state.

The Miami native judge earned her bachelor's degree from Florida International University and got her degree in law from Columbia University.

Read also: Fact Check: Can President Trump Assign a New Supreme Court Justice in Just 6 Weeks?

Joan Larsen

Nominated also by President Donald Trump, Joan Larsen, 51 served to the US Circuit Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit in late 2017. The 51-year-old Judge was confirmed by the US Senate with votes of 60-38. Larsen was also considered to replace the retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy in 2018.

Kate Comerford Todd

One of the most senior lawyers at the White House, Kate Comerford Todd is also the deputy counsel to the president. Before serving in the White House, she previously served as the chief counsel of the litigation arm of the United States Chamber of Commerce.

She is a graduate of Harvard Law School and also served as the executive editor of Harvard's Law review.

Amy Coney Barrett

The Notre Dame Law School graduate, Judge Amy Coney Barrett was also nominated by US President Donald Trump to the Seventh US Circuit Court of Appeals in May of 2017 after being confirmed by the Senate in October of the same year with 55-43 vote.



Related article: Death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg Opens Debate on Possible Nominees, Poses Huge Impact on Presidential Race

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Mumbai: After widening its probe into the drugs case related to Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Tuesday quizzed Kwan Talent Management agency CEO Dhruv Chitgopekar and Bollywood talent manager Jaya Saha for over six hours, while Karishma Prakash, the manager of actor Deepika Padukone, skipped the summon.

According to NCB sources, Prakash, who works with the Kwan Talent Management agency, and Sushant's ex-manager Shruti Modi skipped the NCB summon on Tuesday.

The source said that the NCB questioned Saha for over six hours for the second consecutive day while Chitgopekar was questioned for the first time.

Saha has been asked to join the probe on Wednesday.

The NCB had summoned Prakash and Chitgopekar for the first time on Monday for questioning in the case. The name of Prakash came to the fore after the agency accessed alleged WhatsApp chats between her and Deepika discussing drugs.

According to the NCB sources, Saha's name cropped up in chats related to Sushant's case where she reportedly recommended Rhea Chakraborty to give CBD oil to the late actor.

The development comes a day after the NCB officials said that they will be issuing summons to Bollywood actors Sara Ali Khan, Shraddha Kapoor, Rakul Preet Singh and fashion designer Simone Kambhatta this week for questioning in connection with its probe into the drugs nexus in Bollywood.

The NCB had also questioned Shruti Modi for over six hours on Monday.

The NCB has already arrested Rhea Chakraborty, her brother Showik, Sushant's house manager Samuel Miranda, personal staff Dipesh Sawant and over 15 others in connection with case related to Sushant's death.

Earlier in the day, a Mumbai court rejected Rhea and Showik's bail plea and sent them to judicial custody till October 6.

"Rhea Chakraborty in her bail application made a statement that she is innocent and was falsely implicated in the case. On the contrary, she has allegedly named 15 Bollywood celebrities, including those procuring and consuming drugs. She made self-incriminatory confessions before the NCB and in her application on September 8, she has formally retracted all such incriminatory confessions.

"I strongly believe that she is going to stay in Byculla jail much longer than anticipated as the investigation is still at an early stage. If she is released, she might tamper with the prosecution evidence," said criminal lawyer Jaikush Hoon.

The NCB has registered the case on the request of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) after alleged drug chats of Showik, Miranda and several others came to the fore.

Sushant was found hanging in his Bandra apartment on June 14.
Jammu and Kashmir: Pakistan using drones to drop weapons across LOC for terrorists

India

oi-Deepika S

Srinagar, Sep 22: The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Tuesday accused Pakistan of using drones to drop weapons across the Line of Control at night, NDTV reported.

Pakistan flies drones across LoC at night to drop AK-47s for terrorists | Oneindia News

An arms consignment believed to have been dropped by a drone from Pakistan-based terrorists was seized in Akhnoor sector here in the early hours of Tuesday, a senior police officer said.

Senior Superintendent of Police (Jammu) Shridhar Patil said two packets containing two AK assault rifles, three magazines with 90 rounds and a pistol with two magazines and 14 rounds were seized in a joint operation by police and special forces of the Army from Sohal Khad, located at an aerial distance of 13 km from the border.

"We have successfully scuttled the attempt to send weapons to the terrorists active in Jammu and Kashmir... Dropping weapons from drones is a new technique being used by terrorist organizations," he told reporters here.

He said investigation is on to identify the terrorist group which is behind the dropping of the weapons.

Pakistan drops weapons, cash in J&K via drone; 3 terrorists arrested: Police

"A case has been registered in connection with the recovery of the weapons and further investigation is on," Patil said.

He said security agencies are aware of the threat posed by the use of drones to drop weapons in India from across the border and "we are tackling it by the use of technology and human intelligence. Human intelligence played a key role in today's recovery".

The arms and ammunition were packed in blue thermacol with wooden fittings, wrapped by adhesive tape, the officer said, adding that two rolls of parachute thread about 300 metre in length was also seized.

The SSP said a joint operation was launched after credible information was received about a planned attempt by anti-national elements to smuggle arms into India.

"The search operation was started at various places in Jammu, including Sohal Khad, Shamshan Ghat, Punnu Chowk, Sohal Market in Akhnoor sector. While recovering a packet containing arms, the sound of a drone was heard but it was not visible due to darkness," he said.

Patil said continuous search led to the recovery of another packet of arms and ammunition.
The Smith County Board of Education in Tennessee has been accused and sued over Promoting Christianity in a "religiously hostile" setting. After admitting to incorporating prayer into official activities and morning announcements, as well as proselytizing students through distribution of Bibles and religious iconography, the School District has agreed to stop these practices.

The district was sued last year by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) on behalf of the two plaintiff families. One of the students of the families released this statement explaining her experiences with her school's religious promotions, "Overall, it's really uncomfortable. You feel like you don't fit in at all. I feel like it's almost like it's coercing everybody to be the same. I feel uncomfortable because I feel like I'm the only one sitting there not participating."

The senior staff attorney for ACLU, Heather Weaver, also stated that "the court's order comes in the form of a consent decree, meaning the school district-to its credit-recognized that these practices are legally indefensible and agreed to an injunction. Religious equality for all students in America's public schools remains elusive. Victories like today's mark an important milestone in this fight, but there is still much more work to be done. Every student, regardless of their faith, should be able to access public education without discrimination and religious influence by school officials."

As of Monday, a decree filed in the Nashville Federal Court declared Smith County's actions as a violation of the First Amendment. Kelly Butler, a parent whose students attend Smith County schools had this to say about the decree release, "I'm relieved the school district recognized that its widespread promotion of religion was unconstitutional. My children, and all children, deserve an education that is free from the type of religious coercion that our family has suffered."
Darcey and Stacey Silva finally have their very own 90 Day Fiance spinoff called Darcey & Stacey. A big part of the show so far has been about Stacey and her fiance, Florian Sukaj. Florian is a model from Albania, and hes come on the K-1 visa to marry Stacey.

However, theres been a lot of drama from the start of his arrival, considering some pictures surfaced of Florian and another woman. This week, a video pops up on Instagram taken by that same woman, and Florian is the center of it.

Stacey Silva is dealing with some major drama

Darcey Silva and Stacey Silva | Brad Barket/Getty Images for Discovery, Inc.

Florian is finally living in America after arriving to start a life with Stacey. He met her on social media, and after only six months of dating and 10 days into their first trip, Florian proposed. The couple has now been together for a few years, but theres trouble in paradise.

Darcey finds some images of Florian on social media with another woman. Theres these pictures online of Florian and some girl. He said, Oh, it was nothing. But it looked a little sketchy to me, Darcey tells her father, Mike. In one of the images, Florian appears to have his shirt off as he lays next to a woman wearing a lacy thing as Darcey describes it.

Stacey confronted Florian about it, and theyve agreed to move on from things. However, this week, Stacey finds a video of Florian that the same woman hes pictured with posted.

My sweet, a woman says while filming. Florian is seen laying on a bed, and when he notices that hes being filmed, he reacts. What f****** are you doing there? he asks. The video then cuts off, and its kind of a strange thing for Stacey to find of her fiance.

Yet again, Stacey talks to Florian about what shes seen, and says he should never have met up with the woman. Why the f*** were you in her bed? Stacey asks him. However, he doesnt answer her.

I never sleep with her, Florian tells his fiance. Stacey asks if she tried to kiss him, and he admits that she did. Florian says he hasnt spoken to her. The couple appears to have moved on from things, considering theyre attempting to get married in next weeks episode.

Stacey and Florian try to get married, but they run into a problem

RELATED: Darcey & Stacey: Darcey and Stacey Silvas Father Convinces Them to Cancel Their Plans to Visit Los Angeles

In a sneak peek of the upcoming episode, Stacey and Florian are trying to get officially married while many people are in quarantine during the coronavirus (COVID-19).

Its not how I dreamed it to be. Its just Im ready to do it, Stacey tells Florian.

Were in a pandemic in lockdown, and the courthouses are closing. So Florian and I decided that were going to get married tomorrow, Stacey tells the cameras. Stacey says they should keep it to themselves. She says that its nobodys business but our own.

In the next scene, Stacey is walking into a room wearing her gorgeous wedding dress. Florian is there in a suit, and they kiss each other. They say Yes to their vows, and are pronounced husband and wife, but theres one problem.

Suddenly, theyre asked for their marriage license. If you have your license, I will sign it, someone tells them. Its then revealed that the license was done in Middletown, Connecticut.

Then the wedding has to be in Middletown, they are told by the man who officiated. It sounds like the couple has run into a bit of a snag, and wont be able to go through with their plans to marry right there.

We need to get to Middletown before midnight, Stacey says. They rush out the door, and its unclear if theyre going to be able to get officially married the same day. We dont want to take the risk of not being able to get another marriage license, Stacey explains.

It looks like the first attempt at a wedding doesnt go as planned. Well have to see if Stacey and Florian manage to get married.
Shares of Air Canada (TSX:AC) tanked more than 13% in recent trading. The drop takes Air Canada stock back to its lowest point in the past month and has contrarian investors wondering if the shares are a good buy now.

Air Canada stock plunge

The steep drop in Air Canadas share price in recent days is a reminder that ongoing volatility should be expected for the sector.

Air Canada stock might appear cheap given the massive declines. The shares traded for more than $50 before the arrival of the pandemic and hit a closing low near $12.

Air Canada stock

Since then, investors have been on a wild ride. Optimism for a quick end to the pandemic travel restrictions saw Air Canada stock rally as high as $23 in early June. Seasoned investors suggest the big spring move in the stock price might have occurred due to demand by new investors in the market who showed enthusiasm for airline stocks.

A renewed surge of COVID-19 cases in the United States through the summer put a lid on the rally in Air Canada and other airlines. The pullback in the share price in recent days is partly connected to fears that many developed countries are now entering a second wave of the pandemic and could be forced to extend, or tighten, travel restrictions.

Uncertain outlook for Air Canada stock

Airlines in the United States face a daunting situation and are pleading to the government to provide more financial aid. In May, the CEO of Boeing said he thought one major U.S. airline would likely go out of business.

Airbus, another plane manufacturer, just warned it might cut more jobs than anticipated. The CEO said the airline industry is in worse shape than expected after the key summer travel season.

Canada remains closed to international visitors. This includes travellers from the United States. Key destinations for Canadian vacationers face rising COVID-19 case numbers. U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson told everyone the country is at a perilous turning point and asked people to start working from home again to fight the emergence of a second wave. France, Spain, and other European countries saw coronavirus cases spike to their highest levels in months in recent days.

Story continues

In Canada, Quebec just declared it is in a second pandemic wave. Several other provinces are seeing cases rise.

Overall, the near-term outlook for Air Canada stock isnt great.

Positive news for Air Canada stock?

Air Canada took advantage of strong demand for airline stocks and corporate debt this spring to raise capital. As a result, the company finished Q2 2020 with roughly $9 billion in liquidity.

The elimination of about 20,000 jobs and the retirement of 79 planes will help reduce expenses, but the firm still anticipates net daily cash burn of $15-17 million for Q3, based on the outlook provided in the Q2 report. Thats $1.35-1.6 billion for the quarter.

As a result, Air Canada has sufficient access to liquidity to get it through the coming months.

Should you buy Air Canada stock now?

Investors could see the cash burn number come in higher than anticipated for Q3. Government restrictions didnt ease as anticipated and indications suggest travel demand remained very weak in July and August. In addition, a recent report indicated Air Canada and WestJet have cancelled hundreds of flights so far in September due to weak seat sales.

Nimble traders might be able to make some money on the short-term moves in the share price. Investors with a buy-and-hold strategy, however, should probably stay on the sidelines today.

It wouldnt be a surprise to see Air Canada stock take another run at the March low in the coming months, especially if the broader stock market extends the recent correction. I would at least wait until the Q3 numbers come out before buying the stock.

The post Air Canada Stock Crash: Time to Buy or Sell? appeared first on The Motley Fool Canada.

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The Director-General of Operations of the Ghana Police Service, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Kweku Pepra-Boadu has admonished police personnel to desist from indulging in active partisan politics as the December 7, 2020 general elections draw closer.



DCOP Pepra-Boadu stated that the Ghana Police Service is apolitical and urged personnel not to involve themselves in politics.



The Director-General gave the advice on behalf of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), James Oppong-Boanuh, during a route march by personnel of the Service to keep fit and in readiness to lead in the provision of adequate security before, during and after the December 7, general elections.



The route march started from the National Police Headquarters through Ako Adjei Interchange, 37 Military Hospital, Obansanjo Highway to Kawukudi Roundabout, Pig Farm, La, Teshie, Danquah Circle and back to the Police Headquarters.



They displayed some of their resources such as ambulance, trained dogs, and armoured vehicles, among others.



DCOP Pepra-Boadu said personnel of the Service should be professional in the discharge of their duties during and after this years elections.



Any officer who is found culpable would be dealt with according to the Service Regulations, he added



He assured the public of the Police Services readiness for this years elections in terms of resources and personnel.



The Director-General said the IGP had given approval for training of personnel for the upcoming elections, adding that, so far, 1,968 police personnel had been trained for the elections.



He said approval had also been given for the training of another 2,000 personnel.



The Police Service was committed and ready to maintain law and order during and after this years elections, he added.



He urged personnel to always work as a team during the discharge of their duties.



DCOP Pepra-Boadu said the Service was also collaborating with other sister security agencies to assist during the elections.



The Accra Regional Police urged police personnel not to indulge in politics, explaining that Police Service Regulations (2012) CI 76 Regulations, 82 Sub section 1CI talks about police officers in political controversy.



The Regional Commander said any officer found culpable would be dealt with according to law.



He advised them to always be guided by the Police Service Regulations and not engage in politics during the discharge of their duties.



With few months to elections, as personnel you have to maintain your energy and must not engage in unnecessary activities, DCOP Yiadom added.

Source: The Ghanaian Times









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 22:26:02|Editor: huaxia

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TIRANA, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Albania's Special Court of First Instance for Corruption and Organized Crime has ordered the confiscation of 40 percent of assets of Kelmend Balili, the country's most-wanted drug trafficker who was arrested in January 2019, local media reported on Tuesday.

The court ruling followed a request of the Special Prosecution against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK).

The SPAK announced on Monday that the Special Prosecution for Confiscation has conducted a financial investigation on the assets of Balili, his brother Bashkim Balili and the company "Balili & Co".

The confiscated properties include 17 apartments owned by Balili, a number of buildings and over 28,000 square meters of land in several areas in the city of Saranda in south Albania.

The Agency for the Administration of Sequestered and Confiscated Assets in Tirana has been put in charge of the administration and use of confiscated properties, the court said.

Balili, also known as the "Escobar of the Balkans", was arrested last year by the Albanian police in cooperation with the country's intelligence service and international partners.

In May 2019 the Court of Serious Crimes sentenced Balili to 10 years in prison for international drug trafficking.

Balili is a former senior official at the local administration in Saranda. Prior to his arrest, he was hiding following an international arrest warrant for drug trafficking issued against him. Enditem
Representational picture

On September 25, Union Health Minister, Harsh Vardhan told Parliament that the government did not have complete data on the number of healthcare staff, including doctors, nurses, support staff and government-accredited social health activists or ASHA workers, who had passed away due to the raging pandemic, now into its seventh month.

His deputy Ashwini Choubey cited health being a state subject and outside the ambit of the central government, for non-availability of this crucial piece of data.

The IMA list

In response, an angry Indian Medical Association (IMA) issued a list of 382 doctors who have perished due to COVID-19. It slammed the Centre, saying its admission amounts to abdication of duty and abandonment of the national heroes who have stood up for our people.

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

COVID-19 has claimed the lives of more doctors and health workers in India than anywhere else in the world. Sadly, despite paying lip service and singing hosanas for the countrys COVID warriors, the government has no numbers of the medics who have laid down their lives in the line of duty.

There is barely an acknowledgement for the yeoman services rendered by an embattled health services fraternity during the biggest pandemic of the last 100 years.

In its list, 63 doctors come from Tamil Nadu alone, the IMA said. No nation has lost as many doctors and healthcare workers like India. Doctors suffer four times the mortality of ordinary citizens and private practitioners suffer eight times mortality on the same scale, the IMA said, adding that To feign that this information doesnt merit the attention of the nation is abominable.

Preliminary investigations, however, reveal that even this IMA figure is vastly underrated. This list of 382 includes only those medics who have perished in designated COVID hospitals. There is no inventory of casualties of doctors, health volunteers, nurses and ASHA workers in other medical facilities throughout the length and breadth of the land.

Consider this snapshot:

**This IMA list does not include the six Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) doctors who have died in Delhi alone.

** A government report in August-end said that more than 87,000 healthcare workers have been infected with Covid-19, with just six states  Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, West Bengal and Gujarat, accounting for 86 percent of the 573 deaths due to COVID infection.

**The central government has admitted in Parliament that the kin of 155 healthcare staff, including 64 doctors, had sought relief under the PM Garib Kalyan Insurance Package, which provides help in case of death of healthcare providers.

**Kin of 32 nurses, 14 ASHA workers and 45 others, presumably drivers and cremation staff, also applied for insurance, the Health Minister admitted.

** UP accounts for maximum deaths of eight doctors. In addition, there were six nurses in Gujarat and three ASHA workers in Telangana on this casualty list, while Maharashtra accounted for half of the 45 dead in the `others category, Harsh Vardhan said.

Points out Ramanan Laxminarayan, economist and epidemiologist, who is founder and director of the Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics & Policy in Washington D.C: ``Given that Indias system for recording deaths is weak and that many people who have likely died of Covid-19, but without a COVID test are not counted as such, there is likely to be an undercount regardless of profession. In other countries, the proportion of deaths in medical personnel has been in the order of 2 percent, which is high. By that metric, one would expect more than 1,000 deaths in medical providers. This includes doctors, but also nurses and other medical staff.

Root of the problem

He is right. A significant part of this apathy towards health workers, including doctors, stems from the fact that Indias investment in public health is one of the lowest in the world. The total per capita government spending on healthcare has nearly doubled from Rs 1,008 per person in FY15 to Rs 1,944 in FY20. The total expenditure by the Centre and states for FY20 was Rs 2.6 lakh crore, or 1.29 percent of GDP, including establishment expenditure comprising salaries, gross budgetary support to various institutions and hospitals and transfers to states under centrally sponsored schemes such as Ayushman Bharat. Of the total public expenditure, the Centres share is 25 percent. Over the last five years, the total public expenditure on health has risen at 15 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR), much of this due to pay hikes.

Indias total healthcare spending (out-of-pocket and public), at 3.6 percent of GDP, as per the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), is a study in contrast, not a comparison, with some of the developed and developing countries. The average for OECD countries in 2018 was 8.8 percent of GDP. Developed nationsthe US (16.9 percent), Germany (11.2 percent), France (11.2 percent) and Japan (10.9 percent)spend even more.

India spends the least among BRICS countries: Brazil spends the most (9.2 percent), followed by South Africa (8.1 percent), Russia (5.3 percent), China (5 percent).

Healthcare professionals say this lack of funding has led to shortages in personal protective equipment (PPE) and other anti-COVID gear, leaving health volunteers, including doctors, vulnerable to infection, which in turn has led to so many deaths.

Pre-COVID-19, there was already a shortage of 600,000 doctors and two million nurses in India, and healthcare professionals have been working for several months without a break. An insurance scheme set up for the families of the deceased has been hit by bureaucratic red tape, while healthcare professionals across India have held regular strikes over unpaid wages.

Far from being compensated, doctors and nurses in many parts of the country  like some working to fight Corona in Mumbais civic body run-hospitals ----- have taken 30-50 percent pay cuts, while the government adjusts expenditure against failing revenue. Jarmansingh Padvi, president of Maharashtra Association of Gazetted Medical Officers has lodged an official protest against this policy. In Kolkata, 500 nurses from Manipur walked out of their hospitals when they were forced to work without salaries.

Shocking state of affairs

The case of ASHA volunteers reveals how deep the rot runs. Among the million-strong army of women health workers on COVID-19 frontline duties, their jobs scarcely get a mention. Despite no formal training to spot signs of the infection, no provision of safety gear, including masks and hand sanitisers, and a stipend of Rs 1,000 for conducting surveys to be used by the Union health ministry to gauge the pandemic situation, the band of volunteers carry on stoically.

Between April and June, at least five ASHA community health workers died in Bihar along with two auxiliary mid-wives workers, according to a report by the states health department.

In March this year, more than 15 ASHA workers passed away without their families receiving any ex-gratia allowance from the government, AR Sindhu, general secretary of the All India Federation of the Aanganwadi workers (nutrition providers) and helpers, told journalists in an interview this month.

Unsurprisingly, ASHA workers are demanding higher remuneration and compensation for the backbreaking work they do. Sadly, all of it has fallen on deaf ears. In March, the government introduced a welfare scheme, which provided COVID-19-related death insurance to health care workers. However, the scheme did not include ASHA members because they are termed peace-rated workers, said Sindhu. ASHA workers in many states recently staged a protest demanding safety and health for all.

Clearly, all the drum beating about health services is just another gig. Little surprise then that of the health ministers statement laid on the floor of Parliament this week, the reference to the `good work by doctors occurs only on its 19th paragraph.
A Harvard University study published earlier this month found there are persistent racial disparities in the Massachusetts criminal justice system and that people of color are drastically overrepresented in state prisons.

The 103-page study, released by the Criminal Justice Policy Program at Harvard Law School on Sept. 9, is the culmination of work undertaken by researchers at the request of the late Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Ralph Gants.

Gants died at age 65 only days after the study was published following surgery from a heart attack. The late SJC chief was a criminal justice advocate, who worked with the Massachusetts State Legislature to pass the criminal justice reform bill of 2018 and eliminate mandatory minimum sentences.

In his October 2016 state of the judiciary address, Gants cited data gathered by the Massachusetts Sentencing Commission showing alarming racial disparities in the rates of imprisonment. The judge expressed the need to take a hard look" at how to better "provide equal justice for every litigant and announced a collaborative study with Harvard Law School to examine such inequities.

Using data collected from the Massachusetts Trial Court, the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services, the Department of Correction, the Probation Service and other state agencies, the researchers looked at more than 500,000 criminal cases and analyzed every stage of the criminal process.

Those who authored the study found the commonwealth significantly outpaced the nation in its race and ethnicity disparity rates of imprisonment. The disparate incarceration rates are not unique to Massachusetts, though, the researchers noted.

Numerous federal, state and local level studies have examined disparities in various points in the criminal system in an attempt to explain disparities in incarceration rates. These studies have largely found that Black and Latinx people tend to be over-represented throughout the process, Harvards study said. This report should be read in the context of the ongoing exploration of the institutionalized racism that pervades every aspect of the criminal system.

In a statement from Sept. 9, Massachusetts Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) Chief Counsel Anthony Benedetti thanked both Harvard for putting together the study and Gants for launching the initiative.

A big question now remains, however, he said. What are we going to do to make sure the criminal legal system is, in fact, just?

To be clear, there is no one villain to be blamed for this situation, Benedetti said. "All of us working in connection with this system share responsibility for making it fair, equitable and effective. CPCS is committed to doing our part, to provide ever better and more holistic representation and to work with the community and the other institutional stakeholders to assure true access to justice for all.

According to 2014 data from the Massachusetts Sentencing Commission, the state imprisons Black people at a rate 7.9 times the incarceration rate of white individuals. Latinx defendants are imprisoned at a rate 4.9 times that of white people, the researchers said.

Black and Latinx defendants are also less likely than white people to have their cases resolved through less severe avenues like pretrial probation, and they tend to face more serious initial charges than their white counterparts, according to the study.

Those charges are more likely to carry a mandatory or statutory minimum sentence, the researchers added.

The overarching finding of the study was that Black and Latinx people are overrepresented in the criminal caseload compared to their population in the state.

When public defenders talk about the criminal justice system, we dont use the word justice. We call it the criminal legal system because far too often, the outcomes are so disparate, that justice doesnt seem like the right word to describe the process, Benedetti said.

The Harvard Law School researchers pointed out that white people make up roughly 74% of the state population but only account for 58.7% of criminal cases.

On the flip side, Black people make up only 6.5% of the state population but account for 17.1% of criminal cases. Latinx people are similarly overrepresented, the study noted, making up only 8.7% of the Massachusetts population but 18.3% of cases.

Nonwhite defendants who are sentenced to prison are also more likely get harsher punishments than white defendants, with Black individuals receiving sentences that are an average of 168 days longer than white people. Latinx people receiving sentences an average of 148 days longer, according to the study.

To put that time in perspective, that is nearly the length of the shutdown caused by the coronavirus, Benedetti said. Those are days away from families, friends, jobs and opportunities. These are days spent in prisons with virtually no rehabilitative services.

Harvard Law Schools report also explores the factors that lead to the racial disparities seen in the Massachusetts criminal justice system, including the defendants' criminal history and demographics, initial charge severity, court jurisdiction and neighborhood characteristics.

Even after accounting for such factors, though, Black and Latinx people are still sentenced on average 31 and 25 days longer than their similarly situated white counterparts, respectively, suggesting that racial disparities in sentence length cannot solely be explained by contextual factors, the university noted.

This report shows more of what we have known for years - that Black and Latinx men and women unfairly experience significantly worse outcomes than do their white peers. They are pushed into the criminal legal system earlier, are sucked in deeper and they are held within its clutches longer, Benedetti said.
The residential aged care sector is sitting on a $30 billion house of cards confronting a great deal of risk that could potentially result in a cash flow crisis.

Chris Mamarelis, the chief executive of the Whitton Group, said the sector faced a "lot of risk" from falling occupancy rates and the loss of refundable accommodation deposits that are paid by some residents.

The aged care sector is sitting on a $30 billion house of cards.

Mr Mamarelis told the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety on Monday he was surprised the commission "wasn't knocking on providers' doors" and asking to see indications of "how your liquidity is."

His comments follow warnings about a continued fall in occupancy as people shied away from aged care because of fears of COVID-19, a drop in refundable deposits and a shift to daily fees that could also limit the ability of banks to lend to the sector.
DALLAS, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- OutMatch, a leading SaaS talent intelligence platform, today announced its acquisition of LaunchPad, an end-to-end recruitment automation platform. This acquisition creates a first-of-its-kind candidate-driven talent selection platform that marries automation and AI bringing efficiency and data to the hiring process.

"Combining LaunchPad's state-of-the-art automation and AI technology with OutMatch's data-driven assessment offerings will create a market-leading solution with global scale and enable companies to maximize the lifetime value of their employee base," says OutMatch CEO, Greg Moran. "The OutMatch platform will allow candidates the opportunity to move at speed through the selection process with full transparency, while talent acquisitions teams can drive unprecedented 25x or greater ROI."

As part of the acquisition, OutMatch is launching a new talent selection platform that ties candidate screening, assessments, video interview, and AI-driven predictive analytics into a single integrated, automated workflow platform. This will result in faster, more accurate hiring results that provide organizations with the clarity, insight, and speed needed to match the right candidate with the right job.

The new platform leverages the combined capabilities of OutMatch and LaunchPad to provide:

Better hiring decisions informed by data-backed insights

Enhanced candidate experience and satisfaction

Reduced talent acquisition time on administrative tasks and increased time spent hiring great people

Reduced hiring bias

"The talent acquisition process is traditionally time-consuming, inefficient, and inconsistent, issues only compounded by COVID-19," says Will Hamilton, LaunchPad CEO. "Technology must adapt and be able to support a more diverse and ever-changing array of hiring needs while still driving improved efficiency. We believe OutMatch will completely transform the nature of hiring, driving recruiter productivity while enhancing transparency for candidates."

OutMatch is a portfolio company of Rubicon Technology Partners (headquartered in Boulder, Colorado) and Camden Partners (headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland). Goldenhill International acted as financial advisor to LaunchPad. Lightning Partners acted as the buy side financial advisor to Outmatch on the transaction.

About OutMatch

The OutMatch Talent Intelligence Platform brings clarity to talent decisions by gathering the right data and putting the insights companies need at their fingertips. We help the world's biggest brands to select and develop great people, maximizing the employee life cycle. Nearly 100 million candidates and employees have used OutMatch technology, with over 10 million flowing through per year. This volume of data gives OutMatch unique insight into the workforce and prepares OutMatch clients for the future of work. OutMatch was recently named to the 2020 Inc 5000 list as well as Inc magazine's annual list of the Best Workplaces for 2020.

About LaunchPad

LaunchPad's recruitment technology platform brings together the latest in video interviewing technology, best of breed assessments, automation, reviewer insights and predictive analytics to optimize your hiring process - allowing you to create a seamless candidate experience, improve the reliability of your hiring decisions and hire the best candidates, faster, all from one platform. LaunchPad has served 350+ clients and processed over 3 million interviews worldwide for some of the world's leading brands.

SOURCE OutMatch

Related Links

outmatch.com


An Italian newspaper claimed that UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson enjoyed a secret jaunt to Perugia last weekend despite Brexit and coronavirus gripping the UK. Downing Street has since denied the claim.

Vacation during the pandemic

La Repubblica cites an official statement from the Umbrian airport dated September 17. According to the statement, Johnson traveled through in the last few days.

An alleged source from San Francesco d'Assisi airport told the newspaper that the Prime Minister landed on September 11 at around 2 pm.

Meanwhile, Downing Street told the Italian daily that the claim is wrong before releasing a statement regarding the story and saying that it is completely untrue.

On September 11, Johnson was faced with MPs preparing to rebel on his international law-breaking Brexit legislation and rising numbers of coronavirus infections across the United Kingdom. The PM and fiancee Carrie Symonds also reportedly baptized their son Wilfred that weekend.

Also Read: Prime Minister Boris Johnson Warned That Shutting Down the UK Again Will Cripple the Country

The Prime Minister has reportedly traveled to the airport before to visit his friend Evgeny Lebedev, the owner of the Evening Standard, at his medieval castle.

Lebedev is Russian-born, and his father is a former KGB operative. He is known for hosting lavish parties for celebrity guests at the Castello di Santa Eurasia.

According to one report, Johnson worked from Downing Street on the day in question, and he took part in a Zoom call with 256 Tory MPs on Brexit.

Johnson had tried to give a patriotic rallying cry to encourage his colleagues to back his controversial plans for the UK's withdrawal from the EU.

A source claimed that Johnson's connection had cut out during the Zoom call, and when he came back on he joked that he should probably invest in super-fast internet, according to Politics Home.

In 2019, it was reported that Johnson, during his time as Foreign Secretary, had been spotted at Perugia's airport looking disheveled in the clothes that he wore the night before.

A fellow passenger told The Guardian that Johnson appeared to be stumbling around and, at one point, looked as if he might vomit, inciting that he was drunk at that time.

There was no comment from Johnson's communications staff when the reports emerged last year about his behavior at the airport.

In August, Johnson nominated Lebedev for a life peerage for his services to the media industry and his philanthropic work. A spokesperson of Downing Street said that the story is completely untrue, adding that Johnson has not traveled to Italy in recent months.

Rule of six

The alleged "vacation" of the Prime Minister is a touchy subject since the UK has implemented the "rule of six" in which gatherings of more than six people are prohibited.

The rule limits the socializing and traveling of the people, and this is done due to the sudden increase of COVID-19 cases in the country.

Experts warned the government that putting the UK on lockdown again will hurt the economy, and it will take long before they can recover.

There are now almost 400,000 COVID-19 cases in the UK, with 41,788 recorded deaths.

Related Article: Boris Johnson Announces "Rule of Six" COVID-19 Restrictions Set to Start this Week

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Former Heritage Bank of Commerce SVP, Relationship Manager Michael McComish has been named Senior Vice President, Relationship Manager for River City Banks San Francisco-based team. To aid in our continued expansion throughout the Bay Area, we are pleased to welcome Michael to our team, where he will play a crucial role in solidifying new relationships with businesses and leaders in a variety of industries.

River City Bank continues to add new talent to its San Francisco-based team and announces the addition of Michael McComish as Senior Vice President, Relationship Manager. McComish will be responsible for developing new business within the San Francisco Bay Area, with a focus commercial on real estate, professional service firms, non-profit organizations and private banking. He brings more than 27 years of experience in private and commercial banking, having most recently managed accounts as Senior Vice President, Relationship Manager at Heritage Bank of Commerce.

The San Francisco business community is dynamic, robust and constantly evolving, said Steve Fleming, President and CEO of River City Bank. To aid in our continued expansion throughout the Bay Area, we are pleased to welcome Michael to our team, where he will play a crucial role in solidifying new relationships with businesses and leaders in a variety of industries.

TWEET THIS: People on the Move: @RiverCityBank expands its San Francisco-based team with the announcement of Michael McComish as SVP, Relationship Manager. He will oversee new business development for the banks growing portfolio of Bay Area clients. #commercialbanking

Bay Area business leaders are eager to find a banking partner that brings a healthy combination of ambition, agility and sheer capacity to the table, said Michael McComish, Senior Vice President and Relationship Manager at River City Bank. Im excited to introduce them to River City Bank, which brings all of that and more to each relationship and opportunity.

As SVP, Relationship Manager with Heritage Bank of Commerce, McComish managed a loan portfolio of more than $120 million and a deposit portfolio of more than $100 million. He came into his role at Heritage Bank of Commerce while aiding its acquisition of Presidio Bank, where he had spent more than a decade working with executives and all departments within the bank to develop its deposit and loan portfolios. Since joining Heritage Bank in October 2019, McComish has overseen the growth of its loan portfolio by more than $18 million. Heritage Banks acquisition of Presidio Bank was finalized in 2019.

McComish graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Science from California Polytechnic State University. He currently serves as President of the Society of California Pioneers, where he has also served as a board member since early 2005.

For more information about River City Bank, visit RiverCityBank.com.

About River City Bank

Named one of Sacramento Business Journals 50 Fastest Growing Companies for each of the past four years, River City Bank is the Sacramento regions premier business bank with assets of nearly $3.2 billion. River City Bank offers a comprehensive suite of banking services, including loans, deposits and cash management tools to the business, consumer and commercial real estate sectors. With tailored, executive-level service and a Superior financial rating from the nations leading independent bank-rating firm, Bauer Financial, River City Bank redefines the banking experience and every touch point that surrounds it. River City Bank is the largest, independent, locally-owned bank in the Sacramento region with offices in the San Francisco Bay Area and a presence in Southern California. For additional information, please visit RiverCityBank.com or call (916) 567-2600. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.
December 14, 1920  September 5, 2020

The world bid farewell to one of the truly great members of the Greatest Generation when, on the afternoon of Saturday, September 5, 2020, Patricia "Patti" Marie Cook Bird Kirkdoffer passed away, just three months shy of her 100th birthday.

Born on Tuesday, December 14, 1920 at 9 p.m. in Everett, Washington, Patti was the beloved daughter of Ralph Charles Cook and Grace Marie Smathers Cook. As she described it, I was an only child  loved in every way. Both parents hailed from large families, so Patti grew up in the constant company of uncles, aunts and close-knit cousins, all of whom she befriended and ultimately survived.

Patti attended Lincoln High School in Seattle, graduating in 1938, and honed her impressive secretarial skills at Seattle's Metropolitan Business College. She met her future husband, Joe Bird, on a cruise on Lake Washington arranged by her parents to celebrate her 16th birthday. Though Joe attended as the date of a close friend, he and Patti were immediately drawn to one another, an attachment that lasted until Joe's untimely death at the age of 47. After they married, Patti and Joe raised their two children, Susan Susie, and Tom, born on Mercer Island in Washington State. (Sadly, Susie died of cancer in December of 2018, a loss that Patti described as almost unbearable.) A founding member of the Mercer Island Presbyterian Church, Patti's faith was grounded in her devotion to the concept of agape love: a universal, unconditional love that transcends and persists regardless of circumstances. To know Patti was not only to love her, but also to know you were loved by her. She shared her love for family and friends freely and often, and she never ended a phone call without reminding the person on the line just how special they were to her.

Widowed in 1966 with two teenaged children, Patti went to work as a secretary for the Evered Lincoln Mercury car dealership in Bellevue, Washington where she was quickly recognized for her ability to make everyone who crossed the threshold feel unique and valued. It was Patti's distinctively warm voice in the firm's radio ads that told listeners to have a great day!

After leaving Evered Lincoln Mercury, Patti went to work as a secretary for the Boeing Company. One day her young boss, Chuck Kirkdoffer, asked her if she'd be willing to join him, his wife, Sharon, and his widowed father, Noah  visiting from Chicago  for dinner and the symphony. Patti agreed and, once again, a chance encounter led to a love match and marriage. Patti and Noah were married and enjoyed an extended honeymoon that ended a year later, when Noah died suddenly of a stroke, the same affliction that took Joe. Once again a widow, Patti gratefully accepted her son Tom and daughter-in-law Barbee's gracious invitation to join them on their land in beautiful Lobster Valley, Oregon, where they built Patti a charming chalet a few hundred feet from their doorstep. Patti immediately made lifelong friends there and was visited regularly by family and acquaintances who found her home in Lobster Valley to be a haven of good fun, deep conversation and warm hospitality.

In 2013, Tom, Barbee and Patti relocated to Corvallis, Oregon, where once again Patti was blessed to live in her own delightful apartment in Tom and Barbee's home. She was so very fortunate to be able to remain autonomous all of her days. At the end of her life, Patti expressed no fear at the thought of death. As she put it, I get great peace knowing, through my faith, that I will once again see all those I so dearly love and miss.

Patti's parting leaves a legion of loved ones who miss her each and every day.

A service is not being planned at this time.

McHenry Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. Please share your condolences with the family at www.mchenryfuneralhome.com.
Emotions swept the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Mausoleum in Accra on Monday, when the leadership of the Convention Peoples Party (CPP), tearfully prayed for absolution on tomb of their ancestor on his 111th anniversary.



Mr Ivor Kobina Greenstreet, Presidential Candidate of the CPP, CPP Chair Leader Nana Akosua Sarpong Kumankumah, First Vice and Son of Nkrumah, Onzy Nkrumah, and General Secretary Nana Yaa Jantuah, Elders and party faithful gathered around the tombstone at the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park in Accra to pay homage.



After the Chair and Leader had led the procession to the tomb, she led the celebrants in to place the flowers she distributed, and invoked the spirit of selflessness and dedication the founding President of Ghana exhibited, urging all to go by that commitment to bring victory to the party at the next general elections.



She said a vote for the two major parties- the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC)- is a wasted vote as the two had put up a poor show in the 28 years of Ghanas Fourth Republic.



It is only when one votes for the CPP that one has voted for ones self to ensure that the CPP brings the needed accelerated development to Ghanaians, she said.



CPP Flagbearer Ivor Greenstreet sent a caution to the two major parties that the CPP would give them an epileptic shock at the next elections.



The celebrants then sang Happy Birthday to the First President and Prime Minister of Ghana, and later sang party songs a  Theres Victory for Us in the Name of CPP, Forward Ever, Backwards Never



Nana Jantuahs prayer acknowledged the ills committed against Nkrumah, and declared that whatever we did, we did not know. So forgive us.



She then admitted that to the CPP, September 21, still was Founders Day, a change of the title of the day from Founders to that of Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day, by the current political Administration that Kwame Nkrumah was not the only Founder of Ghana.



This was followed by a warm embrace between the CPP Chair and the General Secretary.



Earlier, a ceremony was held at the park which was addressed by leading members of the party, including the Flagbearer, at which they urged the Ghanaian electorate to give the mandate to the CPP to better the lot of Ghanaians.



A vote for NDC r NPP is a wasted voted, the speakers said, and added, but a vote for CPP is a vote for yourself. "



Government declared Monday, September 21, 2020 as a public holiday to mark Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day in Ghana.



This holiday commemorates the birthday of Ghanas main independence leader, first Prime Minister, and first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Syracuse, N.Y.  Syracuse Hancock International Airport will get a new bar next summer featuring beers from Central New York breweries and wines from the Finger Lakes region.

The bar, which has not yet been named, will be built in Terminal A, near American Airlines' gates.

I believe that airports should represent the community that it serves, said Jason Terreri, the airports executive director. Its going to be a food and beverage concept that features local wines from the Finger Lakes region and rotating local beer taps.

Delaware North, the company that operates the airports food and beverage concessions, will have the bar built by July of 2021 under its contract with the airport, he said.

It will not be the only change in the airports food and beverage offerings. Delaware North is planning a refresh of many of the concessions, including turning the Dunkin' coffee stand near the TSA security checkpoint into a full-service Dunkin' that offers hot breakfast sandwiches, among other things, Terreri said.

One of the biggest complaints from a food and beverage standpoint that we used to get is that you could not get a hot breakfast sandwich at this airport, he said. You couldnt get one anywhere at this airport. So that will change. The Dunkin' Donuts will become a full-service Dunkin' Donuts with a full menu.

Planned bar Rendering shows a planned bar at Syracuse Hancock International Airport that will feature wines from the Finger Lakes region and beers from Central New York breweries. Delaware North and Silhouette Design Architecture

Rick Moriarty covers business news and consumer issues. Have a question or news tip? Contact him anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-470-3148
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 20:18:30|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- China's latest group of personnel from central Party and state institutions and enterprises arrived in Urumqi on Monday to start their three-year work term in an assistance program for the development of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

The 10th group consists of 579 cadres and professionals from over 110 central Party and state institutions and centrally-administered state-owned enterprises, according to the Organization Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.

The group will work in key sectors, including education, finance, tourism, health, and agricultural technology, or hold positions in areas of urgent need.

China has been implementing the assistance program for Xinjiang's development since 1997, channeling financial support to Xinjiang from other regions of the country and sending more than 20,000 cadres and professionals to the region. Enditem
Its also been an opportunity, she said, to help clear up misconceptions about voting. When she recently asked one patient if he was registered to vote, he said he wasnt because he had been previously incarcerated. She told him that he could still register to vote and helped him do so.
When restaurateur Erik Joyal got a call from his insurance broker, he couldnt quite believe his ears.

He said Ive got some bad news. Your policy wasnt renewed. And the best I could find was three times what youve been paying, said Joyal, managing partner at Ascari Hospitality Group, which owns several restaurants and bars in Toronto.

The price tag for insuring Ascaris Hi-Lo Bar had suddenly risen from $9,000 per year to almost $30,000 with a different insurer, at a time when restaurants and bars are already struggling because of restrictions and closures thanks to the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Weve never had any claims at all. Weve never missed a payment, even during COVID when weve basically had no revenue. I couldnt believe it. I havent gotten a clear explanation why, said Joyal. Honestly, if I had to close this place down, it would be disappointing, but not a disaster. But the other places we have are much bigger spaces, and it would be real trouble.

Ascari is far from alone. Across the Greater Toronto Area, restaurants, bars, retailers and landscapers are seeing their insurance premiums skyrocket, during the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic, if they can find any coverage at all. Insurance industry representatives point to weather calamities caused by climate change as the biggest cause of the price rise, and say fewer companies are issuing commercial policies. Theres also potential liability if a customer catches COVID, and  some experts say  the potential for payouts for business-interruption insurance.

Theres been a big increase in weather-related claims because of climate change. There are hailstorms, theres an increase in wildfires, theres an increase in flooding, said Pete Karageorgos, director of consumer and industry relations at the Insurance Bureau of Canada. In the last ten years, the annual amount of weather-related insurance payouts in Canada has jumped from $400 million to roughly $1 billion, Karageorgos said.

Weve already had one storm alone this year in Alberta that cost $2 billion in claims, Karageorgos said.

Some existing policies could mean insurers would need to pay out if a COVID-stricken customer proves they were infected at a given business, Karageorgos said. And so premiums go up, even for businesses which havent made any claims or missed any payments, he said.

If the risk goes up, the price goes up, Karageorgos said. Its a much harder market. Youre seeing companies pulling back because of that increased risk.

Business-interruption insurance  which typically covers closures due to physical damage such as a fire or flood  hasnt typically paid off for businesses temporarily closed because of COVID. That, however, could be changing thanks to an early-September U.K. court ruling in favour of policy holders. Bond rating executive Marcos Alvarez wrote recently that the ruling could set a precedent for lawsuits in other countries.

In DBRS Morningstars view, the implication of the High Court decision could extend beyond the British insurance industry given the level of integration between insurers and reinsurers on a global scale, the relevance of the London Market, and the common-law precedent that could be used in other jurisdictions, wrote Alvarez, DBRS Morningstar senior vice president.

Some business owners are already getting timid about putting in claims on existing policies, for fear of not getting renewed. Arron Barberian, owner of Toronto meat and wine-lovers institution Barberians Steak House, says his restaurant was broken into recently. He decided not to make a claim.

There was probably about $30,000 worth of booze missing and damage. I thought to myself Arron, dont you dare claim this, because youll get non-renewed. To not claim money that the insurance company owes you, after years of paying in? Its unbelievably frustrating, said Barberian, who admits his outlook was coloured by what he went through earlier this year when his Etobicoke-based sister restaurant Harrys Steak House suddenly found itself not getting coverage renewed.

After getting two and a half weeks notice before Harrys insurance lapsed, Barberian managed to press his insurance broker to get coverage from another company. While it was admittedly cheaper than the previous policy ($7,500 per year compared to the previous $15,000), it was for just a fraction of the coverage Harrys previously had, Barberian said.

Im still not completely sure Ive got alcohol liability coverage at Harrys right now, to be honest. And not everyone can lean on their broker like that. Im fortunate, because weve got other businesses and properties, said Barberian.

At Canadas biggest small business association, the phones have practically been ringing off the hook with owners worried about finding insurance. Its been going on since before COVID, but the concerns have become more pronounced lately, said Ryan Mallough, Ontario regional director for the Canadian Federation of Independent Business.

Normally, the biggest frustrations CFIB members deal with are red tape, taxes or utility prices. But a recent survey of members vaulted insurance costs to the top of the list, Mallough said, with 54 per cent citing it as their top concern.

The jump in costs  if any coverage can be found  is especially painful for small businesses struggling to deal with a lack of revenue during the pandemic, he said.

Its difficult at the best of times to be a small-business owner. And now is not the best of times. Insurance is not really something you cant have, said Mallough.

For Joyal, the rising cost of insurance is just another bit of trouble in a struggling hospitality industry.

Come October and November, were going to see a lot of places closing down, and this will be the last straw for a lot of them, said Joyal.

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NEW DELHI: The ongoing ruckus in the Rajya Sabha over contentious farm bills continued on Tuesday after Opposition members refused to relent and staged a walkout while threatening to boycott the remaining monsoon session and asked the Centre to immediately revoke the suspension of 8 lawmakers.

The Opposition MPs after staging a walk-out from Rajya Sabha, protested before the Gandhi statue in Parliament premises and demanded revocation of suspended MPs.

Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad demanded immediate revocation of the suspension of eight MPs, failing which he said that the Opposition will boycott the remaining monsoon session.

"Till our demands are met which include revocation of suspension of the eight MPs and the government bringing in another bill under which no private player can purchase below MSP, the Opposition will boycott the session," the Leader of the Opposition said.

"No one is happy with the incidents that have taken place in this House. The public wants that their leaders should be heard. No one can put across their views in just 2-3 minutes. There will be de-escalation if MPs are not constrained by time to speak," added Azad

Live TV

Samajwadi Party`s Ram Gopal Yadav apologised on behalf of the suspended members for their conduct and demanded immediate revocation of the suspension but added that there have been fault from both sides.

Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkiah Naidu said this was not the first time that a suspension has taken place "but I was convinced with the motion of the Minister". He also said that there was certain procedure to remove the Deputy Chairman which was not in proper format.

He also defended the Deputy Chairman and said that the chair should not be blamed.

On Sunday there was pandemonium in the House as unruly scenes were witnessed when Trinamool MP Derek O`Brien approached the Chair and tried to snatch a mike while citing from the rule book.

When his objections were overruled, O`Brien tore the rule book called the Bills "Kala Kanoon" or black laws. As the aides of the Deputy Chair, tried to shield Harivansh many opposition members reached the Well of the House to register their protests against the Farm Bills.

The moment the House met on Monday, Naidi suspended eight lawmakers -- Derek O`Brien and Dola Sen of Trinamool Congress, Rajeev Satav, Ripun Bora, and Syed Naseer Hussain of Congress, Sanjay Singh of Aam Aadmi Party and KK Ragesh and E. Kareem of Communist Party of India-Marxist.
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.
A British spy working in Poland during the height of the Cold War was a 36-year-old man from Devon called James Bond.

Not only did the debonair agent share his name with Ian Fleming's famous creation, but he was also 'interested in women' like his namesake, researchers have discovered.

Documents uncovered by investigators at Poland's Institute of National Remembrance show that the man, whose full name was James Albert Bond, arrived in Warsaw on February 18, 1964.

A British spy working in Poland during the height of the Cold War was a 36-year-old man from Devon called James Bond (pictured)

He used the cover of secretary-archivist at the British Embassy during his time in the country.

But his real mission, according to the documents from Poland's communist counter-intelligence agency, was to 'penetrate military facilities'.

Researchers at the Institute of National Remembrance said: 'James Bond came to Poland on February 18, 1964.

Documents uncovered by investigators at Poland's Institute of National Remembrance show that the man, whose full name was James Albert Bond, arrived in Warsaw on February 18, 1964

Not only did the debonair agent share his name with Ian Fleming's famous creation (portrayed by Sean Connery in Goldfinger in 1964) but he was also 'interested in women' like his namesake

'His official position was secretary-archivist of the British Embassy's military attache.

'The arrival of such a famous agent did not go unnoticed by the officers of Department II (counterintelligence) of the Ministry of the Interior.

'An operational surveillance case code-named "Samek" was established and he was placed under strict surveillance.

'Bond was found to be talkative but very cautious and was interested in women.

The spy used the cover of secretary-archivist at the British Embassy during his time in the country

But his real mission, according to the documents from Poland's communist counter-intelligence agency, was to 'penetrate military facilities'

'Contacts with Polish citizens - not found. In October and November 1964, he went with two attache employees to the Bialystok and Olsztyn provinces to "penetrate military facilities".'

They added: 'The observation of agent 007's actions did not go unnoticed, he probably said that there was no chance of gaining valuable information.

'Therefore, on January 21, 1965, James Bond left the territory of the Polish People's Republic.

The first Bond film, Dr No, was released two years before the Devon-based spy was sent on his mission to Warsaw

'After his stay, there were still records and fragmentary documents concerning the observation.'

The first Bond novel Casino Royale was published in 1953 and a further 12 novels and two short story collections released.

The first film, Dr No, was released two years before the Devon-based Bond was sent on his mission to Warsaw.
NBC News -Oscar Sanchez never imagined when he first arrived in Boston from his native Dominican Republic in 2004 as an international student to learn English that he would end up years later in one of the country's largest and most prestigious hospitals  on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic.

Sanchez, 37, has been a critical care nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston since last year, having come to the facility with several years of experience under his belt. As with so many other health care professionals nationwide, nothing prepared him to confront the COVID-19 pandemic, despite his experience, Sanchez said.

"It's been a challenge. We were dealing with something we didn't know. The virus would change, it would change how it was transmitted, and we'd change how we were going to take care of patients," Sanchez said, "and how we are were going take care of ourselves."



Full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak



At the height of the pandemic in late spring and early summer, Massachusetts mirrored many other states with high-density populations and troubling surges of cases. As in many communities of color nationwide, the Latino population in Massachusetts has had a disproportionate number of cases compared to non-Hispanic whites.

Latinos are 67 percent of the population in the Boston suburb of Chelsea  the city with the highest number of total cases per capita in the state. While the overall number of cases statewide has gone down, COVID-19 continues to hit communities of color hard. The high number of cases among Latinos is something that is very present for Sanchez.

"Being Hispanic and seeing Hispanic patients at the hospital, that was a wake-up call on many levels. I would be like 'that could be me; that could be my family,'" he said. "In some cases, we were taking care of people where the whole family was in the hospital, and when you see that, it hits close to home."

Sanchez considers being bilingual to be especially helpful. "Being able to speak with the families in their language has been a relief to them. Sometimes they would save their questions and wait until I came on [his shift] to ask me," he said. "Some knew their relative couldn't speak any other language besides Spanish, and I'm there to help them."

One of the precautions Sanchez, working day after day with coronavirus patients, took early on was to move out of his house and stay in a hotel close to the hospital, which he did for more than a month. "I had been changing clothes at the hospital, using different shoes at home, but as I saw the cases go up, I felt I needed to do something else," he said.

The Critical Care Nurses Association partnered with the Hilton Hotels chain and American Express to sponsor free hotel rooms for essential workers like Sanchez. Sanchez said that while he was away, it was particularly hard on his children, ages 10, 5 and 1.

"They were expecting to see me every day and come close. They would ask me where I was and what was I doing and why," Sanchez said. "I tried to do my best to explain at least to the two oldest ones what I was doing so that they could get a good idea."

He and his family would do "drive by" greetings, and Sanchez said the whole experience at the height of the pandemic felt almost surreal.

"It felt like every day you were going to war. It was like if you were in the Army. That's how we felt. You do this not just for the paycheck, but also with the desire to help others," he said, "but you know that you are also risking your life by doing so."

Sanchez has a bachelor's degree in nursing from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, as well as a bachelor's degree in health science from Merrimack College.

Sanchez stressed that he and his colleagues have been taking precautions to stay healthy, and he said he wants the public to understand that the coronavirus is a real health issue and to make the necessary measures to tamp it down.

"It really bothers me when I see people wear their mask as a chin guard," he said, referring to people whose masks don't cover both their noses and their mouths.

"I have to wear a mask when I work in the hospital, 12 hours a day," he said. "You can wear a mask for a couple of hours going into a store. People want to exercise their rights as much as they can, and they think wearing a mask is an option. The general public should wear a mask. I'd like to see more of a mandate on a national level to wear a mask."

Sanchez said that at one point he questioned whether he could continue to do his job.

"When I started seeing the numbers go up and I started seeing a lot of Hispanics affected and a lot of people were dying, I had my doubts. Maybe this wasn't the right time. Maybe I should take a leave of absence or something," he said.

He called his mother in the Dominican Republic, and she quoted him the biblical verse from Luke about "putting the hand to the plow," and about not looking back.

"She was basically telling me this is my job and I have to do it, to stick to it and not give up," Sanchez said.

That, he said, is what keeps him going every day.
RABAT, Morocco - A Moroccan journalist and human rights activist held by authorities for weeks on charges of undermining state security, receiving foreign funding and rape, appeared before an investigating judge in Casablanca on Tuesday.

Omar Radis hearing focused on the charges of indecent assault with violence and rape based on a complaint filed by a woman, according to his lawyer, Miloud Kandil.

Radi has denied the allegation of rape and maintained his innocence throughout the hearing, Kandil told The Associated Press.

Radi, who was arrested in late July and jailed in Casablanca, has become something of a cause celebre for journalists in Morocco. The 34-year-old gained prominence last year after his arrest for a tweet that criticized a judge for upholding heavy prison sentences against anti-government protestors.

He was tried in March, given a four-month suspended sentence and fined 500 Moroccan Dirhams ($52).

Human rights organizations staged a protest Tuesday at the Casablanca courthouse along with Radis parents. Bearing banners and placards, they asked authorities to drop all charges and allow him to work again. Journalism is not a crime, read one sign.

Omars father, Driss Radi said that he does not understand why his son is detained.

All the charges against my son are fabricated and no one believes them, he said.

In June, Amnesty International claimed the Moroccan government had unlawfully spied on Radi through his phone using sophisticated surveillance software. The government dismissed the claims as baseless.
Former Attorney General Eric Holder during an interview at the Washington Post in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 27, 2018. (Toya Sarno Jordan/Getty Images)

New Document Dump Highlights Holders Link to Flynns Ex-Lawyers

New Analysis

Current lawyers for Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, a former Trump adviser, have long been suspicious of the fact that Flynns former lawyers, who convinced him to plead guilty to lying to the FBI, came from the same law firm that employs Eric Holder, former attorney general to President Barack Obama.

This connection has now gained prominence with newly released documents that show Obamas Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates had lunch with Holders former chief of staff, Gary Grindler, on Jan. 25, 2017the day after the FBIs interview of Flynn at the White House where he allegedly lied. The documents, Yatess work calendars, were released due to a Freedom of Information request and posted online on Sept. 21 by Twitter user Techno Fog.

Grindler held a position of utmost trust in Holders circle. He was briefed on the infamous operation Fast and Furious in 2010 when he served as acting deputy attorney general and was later criticized for his handling of the matter by the Justice Departments inspector general (pdf). But Grindler never laid any blame on Holder and denied having told him about the operation. Holder told the IG that he probably only learned about Fast and Furious in February 2011, after Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) sent him two letters about it. Grindler didnt dispute it and quietly resigned the following year.

In 2015, after leaving office, Holder became a partner at the sprawling law firm Covington and Burlingthe same firm Flynn hired shortly after the DOJ started to prod him in December 2016 about a lobbying job his then-defunct consultancy did for a Turkish businessman.

Documents released this year show that Obama and his vice president, Joe Biden, discussed the Flynn case with Yates and then-FBI Director James Comey in early 2017.

Handwritten notes by Peter Strzok, who at the time headed FBI counterintelligence operations, indicate that Biden brought up during the meeting the Logan Act. The obscure 18th century law has never been successfully prosecuted and is possibly unconstitutional, but the FBI still used it as a reason for expanding its investigation, which was already in the process of being closed before FBI leadership intervened, Strzoks text messages from the time indicate.

Strzok was the one who opened the probe of Flynn and others associated with the Trump campaign for alleged collusion with Russia to sway the 2016 election. The Flynn probe went nowhere, however, and Comey acknowledged to Congress he was about to close it in late 2016.

In May of this year, the DOJ moved to drop the case against Flynn, saying documents revealed during an internal review indicated the FBI leaders used the Logan Act to keep the case alive and sent Strzok and another agent to interview Flynn solely to try to elicit a false statement from him.

Yates was briefed on the interview on Jan. 25, most likely during the 9 a.m. FBI briefing noted in the calendar. She then posed for a photo and went to the famed downtown Washington restaurant Centrolina for lunch with Grindler.

Its not clear what was discussed during the lunch. Attempts to reach Grindler for comment were unsuccessful and Yates didnt respond to a request for comment.

In January, Flynn asked the court to allow him to withdraw his plea, saying he only signed it because he was misled by the Covington lawyers, who withheld crucial information from him, and because the prosecutors threatened to indict his son.

Covington stated that Holder wasnt involved in the Flynn case, but Flynns new lawyers, led by former federal prosecutor Sidney Powell, were unconvinced, demanding internal communications with Holder. They never received the documents.

Covington has withheld from us a substantial number of relevant documents, Powell commented in an email to The Epoch Times.

Flynns case dismissal is scheduled for a hearing on Sept. 29 before District Judge Emmet Sullivan. Flynns bid to have a higher court force Sullivan to accept the dismissal without further proceedings failed last month.

Correction: A previous version of the article attributed to Sally Yates an action performed by another person, former national security advisor to President Barack Obama Susan Rice. The Epoch Times regrets the error.
London: Prime Minister Boris Johnson of Britain plans to impose new restrictions on nightlife, including the forced early closure of pubs and restaurants in England, as he ramps up the country's efforts to curb a rising tide of coronavirus infections.

Pubs and restaurants will be restricted by law to offering table service only and must close at 10pm, beginning on Thursday, Downing Street said late on Monday; ordinarily, there is no mandatory closing time, though many close at 11 pm. The new rules are the most stringent since restaurants, pubs and many other businesses were allowed to emerge from full lockdown in July.

Newcastle upon Tyne, England. Almost two million people in north-east England are banned from mixing with other households and pubs are closing early as coronavirus cases rise. Credit:Getty

Johnson was scheduled to officially announce his latest move in Parliament on Tuesday, local time, before making a broadcast address in the evening. The intervention comes after days of speculation that Britons could face tougher enforcement of existing rules, new curbs on different households meeting up with each other and shorter opening hours for pubs and restaurants.

Tighter restrictions are already in place in some parts of the country, and the virus alert rating was raised on Monday to level four, signifying that it is in general circulation, with transmission high or rising exponentially.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  Mayor Frank Jackson envisions his top-down restructuring of the citys Department of Public Health accomplishing more than just addressing complaints about unfair treatment workers.

In an interview with cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer, Jackson said he aims to refocus the department to address underlying health issues that are caused by racism and can lead to crime.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday announced that the 'biggest' Film City in India will be built near Hastinapur area on the Yamuna Expressway. In a virtual meeting with several leading members of the film industry, the UP CM discussed his proposal for the new film city.

Addressing the members, he added that the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority has already given a presentation on it and asserted that the film city "will become the symbol of India's identity".

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The CM said that the place where this film city is being proposed, it will become a symbol of India's identity. "This is the area between the Ganges and Yamuna. Yamuna ji's parallel Yamuna Expressway has been constructed to connect Delhi to Agra and this entire area falls amidst that," he stated.

In series of tweets in Hindi the CM said that Bharata, the son of Shakuntala, after whom the country was named India, "it is the area around Hastinapur, where we have proposed Filmcity. Yamuna Authority has also presented a presentation for it".

        ,         -           -            ,       :   @myogiadityanath  pic.twitter.com/KVpuFwhwX7  CM Office, GoUP (@CMOfficeUP) September 22, 2020

He further said, "Uttar Pradesh is a focal point of Indian culture. From the ancient mythological period to the early period, the state has contributed in the freedom struggle of the country. Here is the birthplace of Lord Rama to Shri Krishna. Prayagraj, the confluence of Ganga-Yamuna is also here."

He added, "Uttar Pradesh is the largest state in the country in terms of population. A population of 24 crores resides here. It borders Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttarakhand and Delhi. Apart from this, the border of Nepal also meets the state."

           ,    -   ,                    :   @myogiadityanath   CM Office, GoUP (@CMOfficeUP) September 22, 2020

Speaking to the members he said, "Hearing your words, I got to see the excitement and enthusiasm inside all of you. It is a cheerful moment for my conscience that any declaration of governance is being accepted by people associated with that field."

                                      -      : CM  @myogiadityanath   CM Office, GoUP (@CMOfficeUP) September 22, 2020

"Director and film producer associated with the film industry of the country, you all have a long experience in this field, you all have come to Uttar Pradesh on short notice, for this, I heartily congratulate you on behalf of my entire team," the CM added.

As per reports, there is a plan to establish the film city in Sector-21 of Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development's area, for which, around 1000 acre land has been made available and 780 acres of Industrial area has been proposed.

   ,                                    :   @myogiadityanath   CM Office, GoUP (@CMOfficeUP) September 22, 2020

The location has been chosen as it's situated along the Yamuna expressway and is around 6 km from to be constructed Noida International Airport in Jewar and is well connected with the rail. It is also close to the Eastern Peripheral Expressway and is nearby India's only Formula One track, the Gautam Buddha International Circuit.

         ,         ,         ,                 :   @myogiadityanath   CM Office, GoUP (@CMOfficeUP) September 22, 2020

Earlier on September 20, CM Yogi Adityanath met renowned film director Madhur Bhandarkar. Both reportedly discussed various aspects of cinema and also talked about the proposed Film City at the meeting that took place at the residence of CM Yogi.
WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham and U.S. Rep. Tom Rice of South Carolina have signed on to a letter urging a testing waiver for the 2020-2021 school year.

Graham, Rice and Congressmen Joe Wilson, Jeff Duncan, Ralph Norman and William Timmons sent the letter Monday to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos.

The letter begins by providing background on the AcceleratED task force created by the South Carolina Department of Education and noting that one of the recommendations of the task force was for a federal testing requirements waiver. The letter then explains that South Carolina Superintendent of Schools Molly Spearman requested a waiver in July.

To date, required public feedback on the waiver request has been 93% in favor of the waiver.

These results are consistent with the desire of South Carolinas educators and families to maximize instructional time during the current school year, the legislators said in the letter.

"We already know that COVID-19 has caused a disruption in student learning, and instead of using valuable time to reaffirm that fact with a test, we should be using that time to address student needs through instruction," they said in the letter.
The Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu, has said that the federal government is set to mechanise agricultural production, so as to make it attractive to Nigerian youth.

Mr Onu disclosed this when he received the Director-General and National Coordinator of Nigerian Young Farmers Network in his office on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said the involvement of youth in Agriculture will ensure food security, create jobs and increase foreign exchange earnings for the country considering their population, a press statement by the Director (Press And PR), Abdulganiyu Aminu, which was made available to PREMIUM TIMES on Tuesday, highlighted.

Mr Onu reiterated that the present administration placed a high premium on agriculture, adding that this was demonstrated by the massive attention given to rice production by the President, Muhammadu Buhari.

He said that the deployment of Science, Technology and Innovation is vital to the development of agriculture in Nigeria. In his words: Many aspects of farming are dependent on Science and Technology: from the selection of seeds that are high yielding to drought and pest-resistant seeds.

Mr Onu bemoaned the misfortune of post-harvest losses in the countrys agricultural sector, adding that the ministry will support the sector by deploying relevant technology to ensure a significant reduction in post-harvest losses and achieve food security.

He further said that agricultural products are essential to the development of pharmaceuticals, as products such as cassava provide starch which is a major ingredient for the production of medicinal drugs.

Mr Onu advised the Nigerian Young Farmers Network to continue working as a team so as to achieve the objectives of their association.

Earlier, the Director-General and National Coordinator of Nigeria Young Farmers Network, Promise Amahah, said the network was seeking a working relationship with the Ministry to positively reposition agriculture in the country.

He said the network is a melting pot for key stakeholders and investors in the agricultural sector.

Mr further said that the network, which is represented all over the country, is striving to develop a reliable and dependable data platform for agriculture in the country.

He said the network, which has over two million members spread across the country, is focused on driving and accelerating agricultural development in the country. He emphasised that Nigerian youths could be gainfully employed by pursuing agricultural enterprises.
Wearing a white dress shirt, black dress pants and his hair pulled back in a ponytail, Robert McGregor sat quietly beside his lawyers in an Oshawa courtroom on Monday where a 12-panel jury will determine his innocence or guilt after hearing an anticipated six weeks of evidence.

The 34-year-old is charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping in connection to the 2011 disappearance and death of Joanne MacKenzie.

The presiding judge is Justice Laura Bird while Peterborough assistant Crown attorneys Lisa Wannamaker and Andrew Midwood are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Peterborough County OPP Det.-Const. Tracy Katz and Det.-Const. Trevor McLaughlin.

McGregor is represented by Joanne Griffiths and Christopher Hicks of Hicks Adams LLP in Toronto.

MacKenzie went missing July 2, 2011. She was last seen walking from Rubidge Street to the area of Wolfe and Aylmer streets in Peterborough.

Peterborough County OPP along with the Peterborough-Lakefield Police teamed up in a joint investigation to find the 23-year-old mother of one.

Four days after her disappearance, police conducted investigations at two different scenes in Selwyn Township, including one in the area of Preston Road and Miller Road, the other in the area of Preston Road and Old Youngs Point Road.

On July 8, 2011, OPP confirmed they had found the remains of MacKenzie and that she died from sharp force trauma.

McGregor, 25 at the time, was arrested and charged in connection to the killing of his ex-common law partner.

Jury selection continues on Tuesday.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 22

By Jeila Aliyeva - Trend:

Turkmenistan and MEDEF International are considering the country's priorities in the field of infrastructure development, Trend reports with reference to MEDEF (Movement of the Enterprises of France).

The Council of enterprises of France and Turkmenistan of MEDEF, organized in the form of a webinar, is being held on September 22, 2020.

The webinar is attended by Regional Director of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) for Central Asia Neil McCain, co-chairman of the French-Turkmen commission for economic cooperation and Minister of trade and foreign economic relations of Turkmenistan Orazmyrat Gurbannazarov.

The webinar's program includes reviewing economic activities of Turkmenistan and its priorities in the field of infrastructure development, also includes an exchange of information on the terms of partnership and financing of priority projects of the country, in particular, the scope and mechanisms of the EBRD's activities.

Turkmenistan is an oil-and commodity-rich state that must continue to open up and diversify its economy, despite the decline in oil prices caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the report says.

The growing economic integration in Central Asia, the reform process in the region and the active participation of international financial institutions may also increase the interest of the foreign private sector in Turkmenistan, notes the report.

As earlier said Geraldine Lemble, the Deputy CEO at French MEDEF International, French companies are interested in expanding cooperation with Turkmenistan.

The parties considered the possibility of holding a joint Turkmen-French business forum via videoconference with the participation of public and private structures of the two countries and expressed confidence in the successful promotion of mutually beneficial cooperation.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @JeilaAliyeva
Opdivo (nivolumab) Demonstrated Superior Disease-Free Survival in Patients with Resected Esophageal or Gastroesophageal Junction Cancer Compared to Placebo in the Adjuvant Setting

Details Category: Antibodies Published on Tuesday, 22 September 2020 10:41 Hits: 2311

Adjuvant Opdivo doubled disease-free survival; is the first therapeutic option to show statistically significant and clinically meaningful disease-free survival benefit in these patients, regardless of tumor histology, following chemoradiation therapy and resection

Results from Phase 3 CheckMate -577 trial selected for presentation during a Presidential Symposium at the European Society for Medical Oncology Virtual Congress 2020

PRINCETON, NJ, USA I September 21, 2020 I Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) today announced first results from the Phase 3 CheckMate -577 trial in which adjuvant treatment with Opdivo (nivolumab) showed a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in disease-free survival (DFS), the trials primary endpoint, compared to placebo in patients with esophageal or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancer following neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy (CRT) and tumor resection. The current standard of care for patients with esophageal or GEJ cancer following neoadjuvant CRT and tumor resection is surveillance. These results signify the first time an adjuvant therapeutic option has significantly prolonged DFS for patients in this setting.

Median DFS was doubled in patients receiving Opdivo [22.4 months; (95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 16.6 to 34.0)] compared to those receiving placebo after surgery [11.0 months; (95% CI: 8.3 to 14.3)] (Hazard Ratio [HR] 0.69; 96.4% CI: 0.56 to 0.86; p=0.0003). The median duration of treatment for patients in the Opdivo arm was just over 10 months [10.1 months (<0.1 to 14.2)] versus nine months for patients in the placebo arm [9.0 months (<0.1 to 15)]. The safety profile of Opdivo in CheckMate -577 was consistent with previously reported studies of Opdivo monotherapy.

While about 25% to 30% of patients with esophageal or gastroesophageal junction cancer achieve a complete response following chemoradiation therapy and surgery, the remaining 70% to 75% do not, and there is currently no adjuvant treatment option available for these patients with the potential to improve their outcomes, said Ronan J. Kelly M.D., MBA, Director, Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center at Baylor University Medical Center. Adjuvant treatment with nivolumab in the CheckMate -577 trial doubled patients time without disease recurrence, representing the first adjuvant treatment advancement for these patients with esophageal or gastroesophageal junction cancer.

Opdivo was well tolerated with an acceptable safety profile relative to placebo. The majority of patients in the Opdivo arm (89%) were able to receive a relative dose intensity of  90%. The incidence of any treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs), including any grade and Grade 3-4, was 71% and 13% among patients treated with Opdivo compared to 46% and 6% among patients receiving placebo. Serious TRAEs of any grade and Grade 3-4 occurred in less than 10% of patients treated with Opdivo (any grade in 8%, Grade 3-4 in 5%) compared to 3% and 1% of patients receiving placebo, with a low rate of any grade treatment-related discontinuations in both arms (9% for Opdivo vs. 3% in placebo).

These results make esophageal and gastroesophageal junction cancer the second cancer type  following melanoma  where Opdivo has demonstrated a benefit in the adjuvant setting, indicating the potential for Opdivo to become a new standard of care for these patients, said Ian M. Waxman, M.D., development lead, Gastrointestinal Cancers, Bristol Myers Squibb. This advancement showcases our commitment to evaluating our therapies in earlier stages of disease where we may be able to have a greater impact on preventing disease recurrence and improving patient outcomes. We look forward to discussing these encouraging results from CheckMate -577 with global health authorities in the coming months.

These data (Presentation #LBA9) will be featured in a Presidential Symposium at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Virtual Congress 2020 on September 21 from 19:31-19:43 CEST.

About CheckMate -577

CheckMate -577 is a Phase 3 randomized, multi-center, double-blind study evaluating Opdivo as an adjuvant therapy in patients with resected esophageal or GEJ cancer who have received neoadjuvant CRT therapy and have not achieved a pathological complete response. The primary endpoint of the trial is DFS and the secondary endpoint is overall survival (OS). Following neoadjuvant CRT therapy and complete tumor surgical resection (also known as trimodality therapy), a total of 794 patients were randomized to receive placebo (n=262) or Opdivo (n=532) 240 mg by intravenous infusion every two weeks for 16 weeks followed by Opdivo 480 mg every four weeks until disease recurrence, unacceptable toxicity or withdrawal of consent, with a maximum of one year total treatment duration.

About Esophageal Cancer

Esophageal cancer is the seventh most common cancer and the sixth leading cause of death from cancer worldwide, with approximately 572,000 new cases and over 508,000 deaths in 2018. The two most common types of esophageal cancer are squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma, which account for approximately 85% and 15% of all esophageal cancers, respectively, though esophageal tumor histology can vary by region with the highest rate of esophageal adenocarcinoma occurring in North America (65%). The majority of cases are diagnosed in the advanced setting and impact a patients daily life, including their ability to eat and drink.

About Gastric Cancer

Gastric cancer, also known as stomach cancer, is the fifth most common cancer and the third leading cause of cancer death worldwide, with over 1,000,000 new cases and approximately 783,000 deaths in 2018. There are several cancers that can be classified as gastric cancer, including certain types of cancers that form in the GEJ, the area of the digestive tract where the esophagus and stomach connect. While GEJ cancer has a lower prevalence than gastric cancer, it continues to rise.

Bristol Myers Squibb: Advancing Cancer Research

At Bristol Myers Squibb, patients are at the center of everything we do. The goal of our cancer research is to increase patients quality of life, long-term survival and make cure a possibility. We harness our deep scientific experience, cutting-edge technologies and discovery platforms to discover, develop and deliver novel treatments for patients.

Building upon our transformative work and legacy in hematology and Immuno-Oncology that has changed survival expectations for many cancers, our researchers are advancing a deep and diverse pipeline across multiple modalities. In the field of immune cell therapy, this includes registrational CAR T cell agents for numerous diseases, and a growing early-stage pipeline that expands cell and gene therapy targets, and technologies. We are developing cancer treatments directed at key biological pathways using our protein homeostasis platform, a research capability that has been the basis of our approved therapies for multiple myeloma and several promising compounds in early- to mid-stage development. Our scientists are targeting different immune system pathways to address interactions between tumors, the microenvironment and the immune system to further expand upon the progress we have made and help more patients respond to treatment. Combining these approaches is key to delivering potential new options for the treatment of cancer and addressing the growing issue of resistance to immunotherapy. We source innovation internally, and in collaboration with academia, government, advocacy groups and biotechnology companies, to help make the promise of transformational medicines a reality for patients.

About Opdivo

Opdivo is a programmed death-1 (PD-1) immune checkpoint inhibitor that is designed to uniquely harness the bodys own immune system to help restore anti-tumor immune response. By harnessing the bodys own immune system to fight cancer, Opdivo has become an important treatment option across multiple cancers.

Opdivos leading global development program is based on Bristol Myers Squibbs scientific expertise in the field of Immuno-Oncology, and includes a broad range of clinical trials across all phases, including Phase 3, in a variety of tumor types. To date, the Opdivo clinical development program has treated more than 35,000 patients. The Opdivo trials have contributed to gaining a deeper understanding of the potential role of biomarkers in patient care, particularly regarding how patients may benefit from Opdivo across the continuum of PD-L1 expression.

In July 2014, Opdivo was the first PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitor to receive regulatory approval anywhere in the world. Opdivo is currently approved in more than 65 countries, including the United States, the European Union, Japan and China. In October 2015, the Companys Opdivo and Yervoy combination regimen was the first Immuno-Oncology combination to receive regulatory approval for the treatment of metastatic melanoma and is currently approved in more than 50 countries, including the United States and the European Union.

INDICATIONS

OPDIVO (nivolumab), as a single agent, is indicated for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma.

OPDIVO (nivolumab), in combination with YERVOY (ipilimumab), is indicated for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma.

OPDIVO (nivolumab), in combination with YERVOY (ipilimumab), is indicated for the first-line treatment of adult patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumors express PD-L1 (1%) as determined by an FDA-approved test, with no EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations.

OPDIVO (nivolumab), in combination with YERVOY (ipilimumab) and 2 cycles of platinum-doublet chemotherapy, is indicated for the first-line treatment of adult patients with metastatic or recurrent non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), with no EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations.

OPDIVO (nivolumab) is indicated for the treatment of patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with progression on or after platinum-based chemotherapy. Patients with EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations should have disease progression on FDA-approved therapy for these aberrations prior to receiving OPDIVO.

OPDIVO (nivolumab) is indicated for the treatment of patients with metastatic small cell lung cancer (SCLC) with progression after platinum-based chemotherapy and at least one other line of therapy. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on overall response rate and duration of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials.

OPDIVO (nivolumab) is indicated for the treatment of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) who have received prior anti-angiogenic therapy.

OPDIVO (nivolumab), in combination with YERVOY (ipilimumab), is indicated for the treatment of patients with intermediate or poor risk, previously untreated advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

OPDIVO (nivolumab) is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) that has relapsed or progressed after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and brentuximab vedotin or after 3 or more lines of systemic therapy that includes autologous HSCT. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on overall response rate. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials.

OPDIVO (nivolumab) is indicated for the treatment of patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) with disease progression on or after platinum-based therapy.

OPDIVO (nivolumab) is indicated for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma who have disease progression during or following platinum-containing chemotherapy or have disease progression within 12 months of neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatment with platinum-containing chemotherapy. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and duration of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials.

OPDIVO (nivolumab), as a single agent, is indicated for the treatment of adult and pediatric (12 years and older) patients with microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) or mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) that has progressed following treatment with a fluoropyrimidine, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on overall response rate and duration of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials.

OPDIVO (nivolumab), in combination with YERVOY (ipilimumab), is indicated for the treatment of adults and pediatric patients 12 years and older with microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) or mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) that has progressed following treatment with a fluoropyrimidine, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on overall response rate and duration of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials.

OPDIVO (nivolumab) is indicated for the treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who have been previously treated with sorafenib. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on overall response rate and duration of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials.

OPDIVO (nivolumab), in combination with YERVOY (ipilimumab), is indicated for the treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who have been previously treated with sorafenib. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on overall response rate and duration of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials.

OPDIVO (nivolumab) is indicated for the adjuvant treatment of patients with melanoma with involvement of lymph nodes or metastatic disease who have undergone complete resection.

OPDIVO (nivolumab) is indicated for the treatment of patients with unresectable advanced, recurrent or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) after prior fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-based chemotherapy.

CheckMate Trials and Patient Populations

Checkmate 037previously treated metastatic melanoma; Checkmate 066previously untreated metastatic melanoma; Checkmate 067previously untreated metastatic melanoma, as a single agent or in combination with YERVOY; Checkmate 227previously untreated metastatic non-small cell lung cancer, in combination with YERVOY; Checkmate 9LApreviously untreated recurrent or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer in combination with YERVOY and 2 cycles of platinum-doublet chemotherapy by histology; Checkmate 017second-line treatment of metastatic squamous non-small cell lung cancer; Checkmate 057second-line treatment of metastatic non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer; Checkmate 032small cell lung cancer; Checkmate 025previously treated renal cell carcinoma; Checkmate 214previously untreated renal cell carcinoma, in combination with YERVOY; Checkmate 205/039classical Hodgkin lymphoma; Checkmate 141recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck; Checkmate 275urothelial carcinoma; Checkmate 142MSI-H or dMMR metastatic colorectal cancer, as a single agent or in combination with YERVOY; Checkmate 040hepatocellular carcinoma, as a single agent or in combination with YERVOY; Checkmate 238adjuvant treatment of melanoma; Attraction-3esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

About the Bristol Myers Squibb and Ono Pharmaceutical Collaboration

In 2011, through a collaboration agreement with Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Bristol Myers Squibb expanded its territorial rights to develop and commercialize Opdivo globally, except in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, where Ono had retained all rights to the compound at the time. On July 23, 2014, Ono and Bristol Myers Squibb further expanded the companies strategic collaboration agreement to jointly develop and commercialize multiple immunotherapies  as single agents and combination regimens  for patients with cancer in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.

About Bristol Myers Squibb

Bristol Myers Squibb is a global biopharmaceutical company whose mission is to discover, develop and deliver innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases. For more information about Bristol Myers Squibb, visit us at BMS.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and Instagram.

Celgene and Juno Therapeutics are wholly owned subsidiaries of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. In certain countries outside the U.S., due to local laws, Celgene and Juno Therapeutics are referred to as, Celgene, a Bristol Myers Squibb company and Juno Therapeutics, a Bristol Myers Squibb company.

SOURCE: Bristol-Myers Squibb
Why do we need to take immediate action to protect our planet?
I am a Muslim and I understand how we want the dead bodies of our relatives to be treated.

I lost my elder brother in 2010 at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. I got the ward and I was told his remains have been sent to the mortuary. I went and met my brother on a bare floor, naked. That is where I cried my eyes out.

Aside from that, the frustration my family and I went through before the body was released to us is something I would not wish for even my worse enemy.

No true Muslim will ever want the dead body of his/her relative to be handled and treated in such manner.

I, therefore, welcome the promise of H.E John Dramani Mahama, to establish morgues in accordance with Islamic customs and practice in our Zongo Community.

With that, the dead bodies of our relatives will be handled with the respect it deserves.

My mother, wife, sister etc will not be handled by a male(stranger) attendant at the mortuary.

You are a Muslim, you can choose to mock this great idea because of politics, that is none of my business.

Sirr Abdullah

#TheVoiceOfTheVoiceless
Jeffrey Epstein's former housekeeper Juan Alessi claims that Ghislaine Maxwell opened up to him when he asked her why she was so close to the pedophile

'I hate him but I can't leave,' Maxwell reportedly said to Alessi

Alessi spoke out in a podcast interview with Epstein survivor Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who claims she was forced to have sex with Prince Andrew

In Broken: Seeking Justice, Alessi reveals that the Duke of York visited Epstein's mansion in Palm Beach, Florida two or three times while he was there

Alessi claims Prince Andrew was memorable because he was so polite, and the only one of Epstein's guests to leave him a tip

Alessi and Giuffre last saw one another in 2002 when Giuffre left for Thailand to train as a masseuse and never returned to Epstein

Alessi, 70, worked for Epstein from 1991 to 2006 first as a maintenance guy on his homes and then the housekeeper and driver in Palm Beach

Ghislaine Maxwell once told Jeffrey Epstein's former housekeeper: 'I hate him but I can't leave'.

Juan Alessi claimed that Maxwell opened her heart to him when he asked why she was so close to the pedophile.

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Alessi said he still did not understand her reply and said: 'Why? You have money, why are you not leaving?'

Alessi spoke out in a podcast interview with Virginia Roberts Giuffre, the Epstein survivor who claims she was forced to have sex with Prince Andrew, allegations he denies.

Jeffrey Epstein's former housekeeper Juan Alessi claims that Ghislaine Maxwell opened up to him when he asked her why she was so close to the pedophile

'I hate him but I can't leave,' Maxwell reportedly said to Alessi (pictured). Alessi, 70, worked for Epstein from 1991 to 2006 first as a maintenance guy on his homes and then the housekeeper and driver in Palm Beach

In Broken: Seeking Justice, Alessi reveals that the Duke of York visited Epstein's mansion in Palm Beach, Florida two or three times while he was there.

Andrew was memorable because he was so polite - and was the only one of Epstein's guests to leave him a tip.

The extraordinary interview with Alessi happens at his home in Florida when Giuffre turns up unannounced at his door and he lets her in.

They last saw each other in 2002 when Giuffre left for Thailand to train as a masseuse and never returned to Epstein, who had asked her to carry a baby for him and Maxwell before she left.

Their conversation turns to Maxwell and as former Epstein employees they used to bond over stories of mistreatment by their boss - Maxwell.

Epstein met Maxwell in the early 1990s around the time that her father, the late newspaper tycoon Robert Maxwell, fell off his yacht and died in mysterious circumstances.

They two dated for some time but broke up and after that remained very close with Maxwell allegedly managing his properties.

Prince Andrew's cousin Christina Oxenberg has told DailyMail.com that she got to know the couple in 1993 and thought that Maxwell wanted to marry Epstein but he wasn't interested.

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In the podcast Alessi says: 'That relationship between Epstein and her I never understood.'

Giuffre says: 'Me neither, I asked Maxwell, so'

Alessi cuts in and says: 'I told her many times. I said: ''Ghislaine, why are you doing this? Why are you staying with this guy?'' (She said) ''I hate him, I hate him but I can't leave''. I said: ''Why? You have money, why are you not leaving?'''

Giuffre says: 'That relationship was confusing'.

Alessi spoke out in a podcast interview with Epstein survivor Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who claims she was forced to have sex with Prince Andrew

Alessi reveals that the Duke of York visited Epstein's mansion in Palm Beach, Florida two or three times while he was there. He's pictured with Virginia Roberts and Ghislaine Maxwell in 2001

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The exact nature of Epstein and Maxwell's relationship will likely be central to the criminal case against her.

She is accused of helping him recruit girls as young as 14 between 1994 and 1997, allegations she denies, and is due to go on trial next year.

Alessi, 70, worked for Epstein from 1991 to 2006 first as a maintenance guy on his homes and then the housekeeper and driver in Palm Beach.

The episode of Broken: Seeking Justice is available on Wednesday

He says that Epstein 'liked massages from the day I met him' and talks of a regime of secrecy inside the house.

He says: 'I was not supposed to talk to the guests, I was not supposed to talk to Virginia. Nothing, no talking. I was not allowed to interrupt conversations'.

Alessi claims that he saw the lawyer Alan Dershowitz at Epstein's house 'many times' but never with underage girls - Dershowitz denies any wrongdoing.

Alessi says: 'Prince Andrew was at the house two or three times when I was there.

'He was always polite and a very nice guy. He was the only guy who left us a tip'.

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In the episode Alessis says it is 'sickening' to think about Giuffre being abused and claims he never saw anything suspicious.

But as Broken host Tara Palmeri points out, Alessi's story is highly problematic because he has changed his story so often.

In an interview with Palm Beach police in 2005, Alessi admitted he would wash off vibrators and a long rubber penis after a young girl visited Epstein for a massage.

The bed would have to be made up after each massage as well, strongly suggesting some kind of sexual activity.

Alessi worked at Epstein's waterfront estate (pictured) in Palm Beach, Florida. In an interview with Palm Beach police in 2005, Alessi admitted he would wash off vibrators and a long rubber penis after a young girl visited Epstein for a massage

Even in the podcast Alessi says that Epstein would 'come to me and say call this girl, it was hundreds of girls that I have a list, call Joanne, call Judy, call Nicole, so many girls'.

Giuffre has mixed feelings about her encounter with Alessi but having spoken to him makes her feel validated.

She says: 'The sheer fact he puts Dershowitz there, the sheer fact he puts Andrew there, even though he says he didn't see Andrew do something wrong, he's had to set up all these massage tables upstairs.

'What were these massages about? We know they weren't just about shiatsu'.

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Broken is available on Wednesday wherever you download your podcasts
A societal shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy could force the largest oil companies to sell $111 billion worth of oil and gas assets in the coming years, according to a new report.

Rystad, a Norwegian energy research firm, on Tuesday said oil companies will need to streamline their oil and gas portfolios significantly to address low oil prices and falling demand for fossil fuels, particularly in advanced countries concerned about climate change.

As a result, Rystad predicts eight oil giants -- Exxon Mobil, BP, Shell, Total, Eni, Chevron, ConocoPhillips and Equinor -- could sell 68 billion barrels of oil and gas assets and reduce their exploration and production spending by $20 billion to stay competitive in a world with lower demand for fossil fuels. The number of countries where companies have oil and gas operations could fall to 90, down from 293, according to Rystad.

Companies will look to expand in the prioritized countries through exploration, acquisitions or asset swaps with other (oil majors), Tore Guldbrandsoy, Rystads senior vice president, said in the report.

TRANSITION: In oil capital Houston, leaders are pushing for a renewable future. What will it look like?

Even American oil majors, which have been more sluggish in shifting business to renewables, would reduce oil and gas holdings, Rystad said. Exxon could reduce its oil and gas interests in 45 countries to just 10. Chevrons oil and gas reach could fall to 6 countries from 25 while ConocoPhillips' ould fall to 9 countries from 17.

Based on our criteria, we see that the (oil majors) altogether need to exit 203 country positions in 60 countries, Rystad said in the report. The remaining countries after the screening vary from six to 16 countries per company.

Rystad expects that all the oil majors will keep a presence in the U.S., and most would remain in Australia and Canada. On the other hand, consolidation and divestitures could reduce competition in South America, Africa and Southeast Asia.

Although the market for oil and gas deals has become difficult since the pandemic, oil majors could swap assets with each other. Rystad said it also expects that oil majors will divest oil and gas assets with high carbon emissions to meet long-term climate targets.
Ongoing development works at Croom Orthopaedic Hospital have been given a further boost, with confirmation that additional funding of 10m has been secured for the development of a new theatre suite that will emphatically underscore the hospitals status as a regional centre of excellence in orthopaedics, rheumatology, pain management and scheduled surgery.

The new theatre suite will be established on the first floor of the new 24-bed block which is currently being equipped.

The works will include four new theatres, a first stage recovery room and reception area, in addition to a new Sterile Services Department and other ancillary support spaces.

With an overall floor area of approximately 1,700 square metres, the works are expected to be substantially complete by the end of this year and fully equipped by March 2021.

The development of the new 24-bed block on the site was initiated in Spring as part of the national response to Covid-19. The new beds, and the new theatre suite and Sterile Services Department, grew out of plans already in place to establish Croom Orthopaedic Hospital as the Mid-Western centre of excellence.

Margaret Gleeson, Chief Director of Nursing & Midwifery at UL Hospital Group, said the works will modernise and double the current theatre capacity at the Hospital.

This is a high quality development of four state-of-the-art theatres and a modern Sterile Services Department, that is going to allow for a major advancement in orthopaedic services, she said.

The developments will lead to improved waiting times for patients, and facilitate ongoing advancements in surgical procedures. And of course, the 24 single room en-suite rooms on the ground floor of the development will provide more appropriate and comfortable accommodation for patients, she added.

Lorraine Rafter, director of Human Resources at the UL Hospitals Group, said the new developments would create exciting employment opportunities in the region, particularly for specialist orthopaedic and theatre nurses.

There will also be opportunities for educational development, for all staff grades, as a result of the developments here in Croom, and we welcome any queries about employment opportunities in the hospital in light of this development.

Professor Brian Lenehan, Chief Clinical Director with UL Hospitals, says the new developments have ushered in a very exciting time for the hospital, which, he said, will remain a centre of excellence for elective surgery in the Mid-West for this and future generations.

The development is progressing well. Its an exceptionally high quality build, and I salute all of the main contractors, architects, consultants and sub-contractors involved in it, said Prof Lenehan who has been a consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Croom Orthopaedic Hospital since 2009.

Croom Orthopaedic Hospital is one of the longest established hospitals in the Mid-West. Opening as the County Hospital in 1924, it has been an orthopaedic hospital since 1956, save for a two month period in the early Summer of 2020, when it cared for its first medical patients in almost 70 years as part of UL Hospitals Groups strategy for managing a significant surge in non-Covid admissions.

Katie Sheehan, Assistant Director of Nursing at Croom Orthopaedic Hospital, welcomed the development as a substantial boost for the community in Croom, as well as for the hospital and UL Hospitals Group.

The UL Hospitals Group strategy is to progress future developments for Croom Orthpaedic Hospital, to include a new Day Ward, second stage recovery, a Pre-Operative Assessment and Admissions Unit and a purpose-built outpatients department, including a new radiology suite.

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China on Monday urged Canada to immediately release Huawei's chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou and let her return to China safely to bring bilateral relations back to the right track, according to a Foreign Ministry spokesperson.

According to media reports, about 100 former Canadian diplomats recently sent a joint letter to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, in which they called for the swap of Meng for two detained Canadians, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor. They claimed that the dispute had not only harmed bilateral ties but also hurt Canada's ability to handle international affairs.

Spokesperson Wang Wenbin told a daily news briefing that China's position on the Meng Wanzhou case is clear and firm. "Under the pretext of 'at the request of the United States,' Canada arbitrarily took compulsory measures on a Chinese citizen, which severely violated her legitimate rights and interests."

The nature of the Meng Wanzhou case is entirely different from that of the cases of the two Canadians, Wang said, noting that the Meng case is a serious political incident, while Kovrig and Spavor were suspected of conducting activities endangering China's national security.

"The Chinese judicial organs handle cases independently and the lawful rights of the two Canadians are guaranteed," he said.

Wang pointed out that it was precisely what Canada has done on the Meng case that caused the current difficulties in China-Canada relations. "We urge Canada to earnestly respect China's solemn position and concerns, release Meng at once and ensure her safe return to China, so as to create conditions for the bilateral relationship to get back on the right track."
Strides Pharma Science announced that its step-down wholly owned subsidiary, Strides Pharma Global, Singapore has received approval for Butalbital, Acetaminophen, and Caffeine Tablets USP, 50 mg/325 mg/40 mg from the United States Food & Drug Administration (USFDA).

The product is bioequivalent and therapeutically equivalent to the Reference Listed Drug (RLD), Butalbital, Acetaminophen, and Caffeine Tablets USP, 50 mg/325 mg/40 mg, of Actavis Laboratories FL, Inc.

According to IQVIA MAT July 2020 data, the US market for Butalbital, Acetaminophen, and Caffeine Tablets USP, 50 mg/325 mg/40 mg is approximately US$ 40 Mn. The product will be marketed by Strides Pharma Inc. in the US market.

The company has 126 cumulative ANDA filings with USFDA of which 91 ANDAs have been approved and 35 are pending approval.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) speaks at a press conference on Capitol Hll in Washington on July 15, 2019. (Holly Kellum/NTD)

Teen Arrested for Shooting Campaign Aides of Ilhan Omars Challenger

A Minneapolis teenager shot two campaign aides working for Lacy Johnson, a Republican who is challenging Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), prosecutors said.

The 17-year-old, Jomoy Lee, appeared in court on Monday and remains detained at the Hennepin County Juvenile Detention Center as prosecutors seek to have him tried as an adult.

Lee was charged with second-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, felony possession of a firearm, and fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle.

Police officers responded to reports of gunfire at a gas station on Fremont Avenue North and Dowling Avenue North in Minneapolis on Sept. 14 and found two teens shot, a 17-year-old later identified as Andre Conley and a 19-year-old.

Conley later died from his wounds.

Lee was spotted on Thursday driving a vehicle. When police tried stopping him, he sped away and hurled items, including a gun, out of his car.

Lacy Johnson hopes to unseat Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) for the Minnesota Congressional District 5 seat. (Courtesy of Lacy Lee Johnson Campaign)

Ballistics testing showed the gun was used in the murder.

Lee was eventually captured.

Another gun was found in his car.

Both Conley and the other teen who was shot worked as aides to Johnson, his campaign said.

Today we are shocked and saddened to learn of this senseless act of violence. It is shocking and unnecessary acts of violence like this that prove why change is more needed than ever in our community. The shootings did not occur during a campaign event or outreach and we do not believe it has any connection to their work for the campaign, it said.

Johnson told KARE 11 that both youth came to me and told me that they want to do positive things with their lives.
Elgin wouldnt help: Ive been living in Elgin for 41 years. I moved to a nice quiet neighborhood and lived there for 11 years. All of a sudden, the people next door died. A family moved in there and they just disrupted the whole neighborhood. Loud parties that started at noon and went on until 9 p.m. It was almost every weekend. I wrote to the city council. I called the last police chief. I had the police come by. They were called all the time. Nothing was done about this. My last resort was I had to sell my house for a lot less than it was worth and move. It was my only option.
MIAMI, FL / ACCESSWIRE / September 22, 2020 / AllStar Health Brands Inc. (OTC Markets:ALST) a specialty pharmaceutical and nutritional supplements company is pleased to announce entering into a Partnership Agreement for Sales and Marketing with an eCommerce Group with its own Merchant Processing, Fulfillment Center (Distribution) and Digital Marketing infrastructure.

Dr. Daniel Bagi, President of AllStar observed," This is a key strategic milestone for AllStar as we can now combine our unique, high-value product portfolio with our partner's existing online infrastructure including merchant accounts, digital marketing and fulfillment enabling us to reach customers all across the US and Canada. We are starting the process of integrating the first wave of AllStar's products into the existing infrastructure. Once integrated we expect both companies to add to their revenue base with novel high-margin health care products in Women's Health and other under-served health segments. Many companies involved in e-commerce market their own brand (white-labelled) of common health supplements and compete with similar products from other companies. By adding our novel products to the existing legacy products we expect to grow revenues and increase profit margins."

About AllStar Health Brands Inc.:

AllStar Health Brands Inc. is a Nevada Corporation established in 2017, and headquartered in Miami, Florida. AllStar is a specialty Health Care Products Company dedicated to improving health and quality of life by offering select products, including medical devices, nutritional supplements, over the counter remedies and medicines all across the Americas and Europe. AllStar's goal is to bring additional products to the market and provide new, innovative options for better health and wellbeing.

For more information, please contact Investor Relations at (305) 423 7028.

Safe Harbor Statement

Statements about the Company's future expectations and all other statements in this press release other than historical facts, are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company intends that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbors created thereby.

The above information contains information relating to the Company that is based on the beliefs of the Company and/or its management, as well as assumptions made by any information currently available to the Company or its management. When used in this document, the words "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "plans," "projects," and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company or its management, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the current view of the Company regarding future events and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including the risks and uncertainties noted. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as anticipated, believed, estimated, expected, intended or projected. In each instance, forward-looking information should be considered in light of the accompanying meaningful cautionary statements herein. Factors that could cause results to differ include, but are not limited to, successful performance of internal plans, the impact of competitive services and pricing and general economic risks and uncertainties.

SOURCE: Allstar Health Brands, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/607250/AllStar-Health-Brands-Inc-ALST-Announces-Signing-Partnership-Agreement-with-Profitable-eCommerce-Traffic-Group-for-Sales-Marketing-of-Novel-Health-Beauty-Products
For the past three weeks, the going has been quite tough in the virtual world for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the champion of digital media in India. The party which had been the pioneer in the use of social media for carrying out the most articulate and impactful political campaigns and building a massive support base has now been confronted by a series of social media drives, including the dislike campaign on Prime Minister Narendra Modis Mann ki Baat episode that aired on August 31.

What catches the eye and should be a cause for worry for the saffron party and its leaders is that none of these popular campaigns including the ones with hashtags like #5baje5minute, #9baje9minute, #Nationalunemploymentday, etc, had been planned or executed by the opposition political parties. All of these trends were driven by students and youths from across the country.

The question is are these apparently autonomous, self-built campaigns indications of a new wave on social media. One that is reflecting some sort of changing political mood and larger demographic change in the digital world. The question also arises as to what it means politically and how much hope can opposition parties draw from these new trends. The BJPs rivals, particularly the Congress and Samajwadi party in Uttar Pradesh, have tried to tap into these campaigns and build a new hold among certain sections of the populace.

THE NEW WAVE

The number of internet users in India has seen a significant rise in the past few years, and so has the number of those who have taken to social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. According to data available online, the number of internet users in India stands at around 70 crore. In 2019, this figure was about 63.6 crore. Way back in 2015, when the BJP had left opponents far behind in digital campaigning, the number of Indians using the internet was just 30 crore.

Clearly, in the past five years, the number of internet users has more than doubled in the country. Data suggests that by the time India goes to the next general elections in 2024, this figure would be touching around 93 crore. Another interesting data shows that Indians have also been warming up to the use of social networking and microblogging sites.

In comparison to 2015, the number of social networking site users has more than doubled in 2020. In 2015, only 14.22 crore Indians had a presence on networking and microblogging sites like Facebook and Twitter. In 2020, this number stands at 37.6 crore and is expected to grow by another 10 crore till 2024.

Research data online shows that as of now Indians are the biggest users of Facebook. While 29 crore Indians use the social networking behemoth, in the United States of America, where it was born, the number of users stands at 19 crore. When it comes to Twitter, around 1.7 crore Indians are using it, the number being the third highest after the US and Japan.

WHAT IT CAN MEAN POLITICALLY

In a country of such stark demographic differences, often strongly defined by caste, religious and linguistic lines, urban-rural and rich and poor divide, democratisation of internet usage and ever increasing easy access to data services can clearly make a lot of difference. Sociologists feel it means a greater voice for the people at large. Deprived and discriminated sections of society are quickly understanding the importance of the internet and social media platforms.

Dr Pradeep Sharma, a Lucknow-based prominent sociologist who is also studying the expansion and changing demographic profile of internet users, says, From 2018 to this day, a series of events and protests spiralled through use of social media, which reflects a radical change. In 2018, the first big instance of collective use of internet and social communication tools like WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter was seen in the massive mobilisation for changes in the SC/ST Act. The Bharat Bandh call was not given by mainstream political parties or Dalit groups. The protest was largely mobilised by unrecognised faces and lesser-known groups through social media. Now in 2020, amid a big impact on the economy following the lockdown, increasing joblessness, campaigns and protests are again being increasingly built through social media. Clearly, there is a new class of Indian citizens that has arrived on the digital platforms and is increasingly getting used to promulgating its issues and politics.

It will become more and more difficult for the mainstream political and social forces to continue with their dominance in structuring and defining regional or national political discourse. Attempts to superimpose or unilaterally steer an agenda or policy will be met with resistance at least on social media. Maybe this democratisation of social media is the reason why parties, when in power, seem eager to control it and are increasingly becoming uncomfortable with platforms like Twitter and Facebook.

CONCERNS FOR BJP, HOPE FOR OTHERS?

Top sources within the BJP and RSS indicate concern towards the changing demography of social media. To even a normal observer it is clear beyond doubt that the BJPs defining edge over digital platforms has taken a hit over the past few years.

There are two reasons for it. Firstly, the internet usage has fast moved beyond just the urban middle class, which had largely been seen as sympathetic to Hindutva-driven nationalistic ideology of the BJP. And secondly, the opposition parties, especially the Congress, the Left and various regional players, have picked up on social media presence and its use over the past few years, especially since 2017.

This intervention is not just in terms of individual tweets and posts by the leaders but in the form of creating an online support base by strengthening their social media wings and trying to tap into the mammoth presence of individual users by joining ranks with their cause.

Pankhuri Pathak, the vice-chairman of Uttar Pradesh Congresss social wing, accepts this intervention. Apart from our own issue-based campaigns, we clearly try to assist the independent campaigns," she said. The recent campaigns of students opposing the JEE Exam, demanding jobs or opposing governments move of ad-hoc employment, were supported by us, because we stand against the government policies."

Juhi Singh, spokesperson of the Samajwadi Party, says, During the lockdown period, several successful online protest campaigns launched by students and youths should be seen as a barometer of discontent and anger prevailing among the people. As an opposition party, it is therefore our duty to support such calls. Support doesnt mean we wish to hijack these campaigns.

Dr Chandramohan, UP state secretary of the BJP, feels the recent anti-government social media campaigns, including the most recent one on the Prime Ministers birthday or the present campaigns against the farm bills, are being orchestrated by certain vested interests, who in turn are being supported by political parties.

He says, The BJP is not against the expansion of social media and its democratisation, but unlike the opposition, the BJP is not just limited to social media. We are there, as well as also among the people on the ground. We have seen how these forces had used social media to incite violence during last years anti-CAA protests. Like then, now again and in future, such misleading campaigns will be successfully countered both on social media as well as among the masses on the ground."

But, amid the claims and counterclaims, a fact remains that as access to internet data becomes increasingly easier and the demographic profile of users continues to expand, social media will witness more and more political colours and increasing diversity in the country.
'This is nuts. I am wearing Louis Vuitton on my stairs for the Emmys!" So wrote Paul Mescal on Instagram ahead of the Television Academy's annual ceremony on Sunday. Dubbed the Pandemmys by host Jimmy Kimmel, the socially-distant event was unlike any awards show we've seen, featuring over 100 live feeds from nominees' homes around the world.

There was Ted Danson in his kitchen, a chandelier and a KitchenAid mixer visible over his shoulders; there was Paul Mescal, relocated next to a glowing yucca plant; there were Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox and Lisa Kudrow, huddled together for a mini Friends reunion.

Before Aniston Zoomed in, she joined Kimmel to present the first award of the night. The two began by dousing the envelope in disinfectant and setting it alight, a bit that went slightly awry as Aniston struggled to extinguish the flames.

For some viewers, that "dumpster fire" was a metaphor for the whole ceremony, setting the tone for a chaotic evening. But as we continue to grapple with the Covid-19 crisis, with a second wave predicted by some for winter, the Pandemmys might be the industry blueprint for the rest of awards season, from the Grammys to the Golden Globes to perhaps even April's Oscars. What worked, and what didn't? Here, we break down the highs and lows from television's biggest night in.

"You can't have a virus without a host"

Kimmel's monologue started out like any other awards show monologue, with all the laughter, applause and audience reaction shots we have come to expect. It soon became clear, however, that those star-studded crowds were from past Emmys, and Kimmel was actually speaking to a room filled with cardboard cutouts - with the exception of one real actor, Jason Bateman.

The bit was funny, and surreal, as the laughs we are used to were replaced with conspicuous silence, lacking the energy of a live audience. Kimmel leaned in to the strangeness of the proceedings, joking of the unprecedented set-up, "What could possibly go right?"

He did a good job of making the awkward affair a little less awkward, though it was hard to escape the feeling that we were watching what amounted to one giant Zoom call.

The stars didn't phone in their fashion

But it was one extremely glamorous Zoom call. The show's producers sent a letter to nominees advising that they'd be ditching the black-tie dress code for a more informal theme of "come as you are, but make an effort".

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Some seized the opportunity to dress down, including Jameela Jamil, who wrote on Instagram: "No bra? No heels? No problem." Kitted out in pyjamas on her couch, her nod to ceremony came in the form of a sequinned dressing gown. After legging it home from the auditorium, Jennifer Aniston changed out of her vintage Dior LBD and into a pink patterned robe - though she kept the diamond necklace.

Regina King similarly embraced the high-low approach, posing ahead of the event in a gorgeous sapphire blue gown embellished with crystal embroidery by Schiaparelli couture, which she later swapped for a pink suit and T-shirt paying tribute to Breonna Taylor, the young woman shot to death by police officers in March.

There were further political statements elsewhere: Uzo Aduba also wore a Breonna Taylor T-shirt, while Sandra Oh's purple bomber jacket was embroidered with the phrase "Black Lives Are Precious" in Korean, and Yvonne Orji paired her scarlet Azzi & Osta gown with a raised fist shaved into her hair, in honour of the Black Lives Matter movement.

It was reassuring to see that even when dialling in for the ceremony, the nominees didn't dial down their wardrobes completely. From Reese Witherspoon in navy Louis Vuitton to Unorthodox star Shira Haas in Chanel haute couture, not to mention the cast of Schitt's Creek in Valentino and Thom Browne, there was plenty of capital-F fashion - Tracee Ellis Ross even set up her own red carpet to model her gold lame Alexandre Vauthier gown.

Several nominees served up multiple looks. As Kerry Washington put it, "Haven't dressed up in a while so had to make the most of it", and she did, in a strapless floral Oscar de la Renta dress followed by a bedazzled and beaded leopard print number by Dolce & Gabbana.

Zendaya became the youngest ever Best Actress winner in a polka dot Armani Prive skirt and bejewelled bandeau top, after stepping out in a gorgeous violet and black colour-blocked tulip gown by Christopher John Rogers earlier on.

Hopefully by the next awards show, producers will have figured out a way to showcase these looks to audiences outside of Instagram.

The winners gave us Zoom with a view

Producers still haven't figured out how to recapture the tension and surprise of a live ceremony virtually, and it didn't help that the presentations were accompanied by the subdued applause of the handful of losing nominees on Zoom. The best moments came when the winner was surrounded by others - Zendaya's surprise win was a joy to watch, with her ecstatic friends and family cheering her on, as were the Schitt's Creek team's seven awards, an Emmys first.

The gang had assembled for a viewing party in their native Canada, seated at socially distant tables and wearing masks. Though it may not be practical for every cast and crew, it made for a more lively, communal experience for nominees and viewers alike.

Frontline workers were front and centre

The show was determined to incorporate elements of the new normal, to varying degrees of success. Jason Sudeikis received a Covid test while presenting the award for Outstanding Comedy Series, and a number of the presentations featured essential staff, putting nurses, teachers and postal service workers in the spotlight. The pre-taped segments left some viewers asking if there was a more meaningful way to honour their work than allowing them to hand prizes to ultra-wealthy celebrities at their homes.

The actual protocol for handing over the awards, though, was a highlight. Some nominees were sent mystery boxes that exploded with gold confetti, which winner, while the losing nominees found champagne inside. For others, presenters were dispatched to their homes, dressed in hazmat suits designed to look like tuxedos. Nominee Ramy Youssef shared a video showing what happens to the losing Emmys, as the presenter lingering outside waved through the window before walking away with the golden statue.

It was a fittingly weird moment, and one of the few that really captured the absurd humour and everyday uncertainty of life in a pandemic.
Tropical Storm Beta is expected to remain a fickle storm, as it did much of Monday while forecasters tried to gather more confident information about its path, but there have already been signs of its impact on coastal regions.

Jefferson County was still predicted to get the brunt of rain and storm surge in Southeast Texas, followed by Orange County, with rain from 4 to 6 inches and surge reaching up to 4 feet along the coast and rivers.

But, with rain bands and a predicted slow-moving storm, there was still much left up in the air about what could happen between Betas predicted Monday night landfall and when it was expected to roll into the region as a tropical depression on Wednesday evening.

Donald Jones, a forecaster with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles, said the storm was expected to make landfall with winds around 45 mph and then loaf somewhere southwest of Houston for almost a day before moving on.

It is expected to only get about 20 or 40 miles inland once it makes landfall, he said. Eventually, it is going to trek up the Texas coastline and into our area before speeding up and being absorbed into the thermal boundary.

Some computer models predicted a slim chance of the storm going back into the Gulf before it heads up the coast, but Jones said there wasnt much evidence that it could strengthen beyond tropical depression status if that move happened.

Once in Southeast Texas, rainfall predictions remain manageable for the region, despite flash flood warnings from the coast to as far north as Jasper County, but there is still a chance of isolated rain fall between 6 and 10 inches in some areas.

Dry air from wildfires in the western United States has helped keep the storm from strengthening as it nears the coast, according to the NWS, but it could also help make Betas strongest showers more sporadic if pockets of dry air get in between the bands.

Local governments and emergency management offices prepared for potential flooding at problem spots such as Sabine Pass, Taylors Bayou and the Sabine and Neches Rivers, but Jones said the potential for isolated rainfall will still take several more days to predict.

Its very difficult to predict specific rainfall totals, and not everyone will get the same amount, he said. Once rain starts to band, you cant really make good predictions until those bands start to set up.

Even before making the expected landfall on Monday night, Beta caused storm surge and flooding in coastal Texas communities from north of Corpus Christi to Sabine Pass.

As tropical storm force winds whipped water against the coast, the high tide brought Gulf Coast waters into Sabine Pass and covered portions of Texas 87 south of Port Arthur.

Mic Cowart, director of the Port of Sabine Pass, said port staff had to be ferried in to the office Monday morning and power was out for the first few hours of the work day, but the port was reopened by around noon as low tide set in.

Cowart said he expected water to top the roads again by around nightfall, but he would have to wait until a report for conditions in the morning to determine if the port would close again. Most of the recreational ships that rent slips at the port have already left, he said, but several shrimp boats rode out the high water at the port.

Many of the ports crews have been working on restoring parts of access roads that were washed away and repairing moorings for the boat docks that were damaged just weeks ago by Hurricane Laura.

Cowart said a mild impact from Tropical Storm Beta could still mean some added issues for the area if it exacerbated the damage still left from the last tidal event.

Even though Laura was centered east of us, we lost quite a bit of road due to the tidal surge and the wind damage, he said. More rainfall and tidal push will cause more damage.

Water rose back to 3.5 feet by around 4:30 p.m. Monday and was expected to ebb back again by the morning, according to NWS predictions.

In Orange County, the emergency management office had already prepared high water vehicles and boats for potential flood events.

Orange County Emergency Management Coordinator Joel Ardoin said the flash flooding warnings and storm surge predictions are a still a cause for concern, but the weather situation has gradually looked better for his county.

Unless there was a distinct change in the forecast, he said one of the most pressing issues for emergency management was the existing damage and debris clogging drainage ditches after Laura strafed the eastern part of the county.

Drainage ditches could have debris, even after our crews have been working 14 to 15 hour days to clear them, he said. Weve had 45 big trucks through the area, but Laura left a lot to do.

The river gauge on the Sabine River at Orange was at 3.6 feet at 6 p.m. Monday, just a few inches sort of flood level. Some low-lying areas around the river and other bodies of water connected to it could flood over the next couple of days as Betas storm surge persists.

jacob.dick@beaumontenterprise.com

twitter.com/jd_journalism
A longtime Winnipeg lawyer with a history of disciplinary infractions has agreed to no longer practice criminal law.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 21/9/2020 (487 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A longtime Winnipeg lawyer with a history of disciplinary infractions has agreed to no longer practice criminal law.

According to a notice of undertaking posted to the Law Society of Manitobas webpage, Gisele Champagne has agreed to discontinue practicing criminal defence law and not accept any new clients, effective Sept. 11.

No reason for the undertaking is included in the notice.

Leah Kosokowsky, director of regulations for the law society, said details of any matter that falls short of formal discipline remain confidential. Kosokowsky would not say if the undertaking was prompted by a client complaint.

"We receive information all the time from (law society) members, clients, the court," she said Monday. "Our goal always is to protect the public."

Champagne, who, according to the law society, was called to the bar in 1992, declined to comment Monday, saying only: "I cant, because it is an outstanding matter."

Under terms of the undertaking, she is allowed to finish providing services to clients with cases still before the courts.

Champagne has faced disciplinary action by the law society five times since 1999. Most recently, in 2018, she pleaded guilty to one count of professional misconduct, after taking instructions from a developmentally delayed youth to plead guilty to a robbery, with no input from the boys guardian.

Champagne agreed to no longer represent youth clients, and was ordered to pay $4,000 in fines and court costs.

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In a similar case from 2012, Champagne pleaded guilty to failing to serve her client in a diligent and efficient manner, after taking a cognitively delayed youths instructions to agree to an adult sentence without ensuring he knew the consequences of his decision or his options. She was reprimanded and ordered to practice under supervision for 18 months.

In 2001, Champagne pleaded guilty to failing to act with integrity after admitting to providing false information on her application as a student in the bar admission program. She was fined and ordered to pay court costs totalling $2,000.

That same year, she pleaded guilty to failing to serve her client after tendering a witness at trial knowing the witness would provide testimony damaging to her clients case. The law society reprimanded Champagne and ordered her to practice under supervision for one year.

Champagnes current undertaking "will remain in effect unless and until it is varied or (Champagne) is relieved of it by the chief executive officer of the Law Society of Manitoba," says the notice of undertaking.

Champagne has not been disbarred, and can continue to practice in other areas of law.

dean.pritchard@freepress.mb.ca
New York, Sep 22 : Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi turned the mirror towards the United Nations and urged it to take a hard look at its "crisis of confidence", ratcheted up the call for a new template of multilateralism that "reflects today's reality" and wrapped up a lightning-quick speech on Day One at the United Nations high-level week being live-streamed to the world from the UN headquarters in New York City.

"The UN faces a crisis of confidence. For today's interconnected world, we need a reformed multilateralism that reflects today's reality, gives voice to all stakeholders, addresses contemporary challenges, and focuses on human welfare", Modi said.

Modi's recorded speech was played at around 5.30 pm EST (3 a.m. IST). The Indian PM's speech was prefaced by a welcome note from TS Tirumurti, India's permanent representative to the United Nations.

Modi's remarks came on a day when the United Nations General Assembly committed itself to put "new life" into the stalled reform of the Security Council in its Declaration for the 75th Anniversary of the United Nations on Monday.

The United Nations marked its 75th anniversary in June this year at a scaled-down event because the coronavirus was already raging by then. About 50 countries signed on to the U.N. Charter in San Francisco on June 26, 1945.

Dressed in his trademark kurta and a leaf green vest with tiny checks, Modi stood beside the Indian tricolour and delivered his recorded remarks.

Modi came in at number 104 in a line of more than 180 other country leaders who are turning up in set-piece frames and set to deliver more than 700 minutes of content on a single video loop for an ambient global audience.

The combination of telecom connectivity and teleprompters ensured that the virtual version of the UNGA got off to a smooth start, free of the unscripted moments that neither exposed conflicts nor gave leaders the chance to offer the counter view.

Framed against set-piece backdrops mostly highlighting country flags and sometimes a light touch of ornate interiors or soft focus, world leaders re-purposed their pet UNGA pitch while embracing the new format. Xi Jinping appeared in front of the Great Wall of China in the backdrop.

With the symbolism of the UNGA all but gone, leaders attempted to capture some of it in their visual framing.

The UNGA high-level week kicked off less than 24 hours after a new flashpoint erupted between the United States and the UN over Iran sanctions.

US President Donald Trump was first on the speaker list for Monday but stayed away, in a snub to the United Nations which stands as a metaphor for multilateralism in the heart of Trump's home ground New York City.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said the United Nations will not support sanctions on Iran based on United States' demands until he gets green light from the Security Council.

The Trump administration has declared repeatedly since Saturday that all UN sanctions against Iran have been restored, a move that will undoubtedly stir controversy during the UN's annual high-level meetings this week.
The Latest from the UN General Assembly (all times EST):

10 a.m.

WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump says the United Nations must hold China accountable for failing to contain the coronavirus, which has killed about 200,000 Americans and nearly 1 million around the world.

Trump is accusing China of not sharing timely information with the world on the new disease in a taped address to the virtually gathered United Nations General Assembly.

Trump says: The United Nations must hold China accountable for their actions.

Trump is also using his address to tout a pair of recent international accords he helped to broker one between Kosovo and Serbia and the other between the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Israel  as the United States fulfilling our destiny as peacemaker.

Trump has repeatedly used his appearances at the international gathering to oppose globalization and promote his America First foreign policy. His 2020 address is not different, as he admonished other nations that only when you take care of your own citizens, will you find a true basis for cooperation."

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9 a.m.

UNITED NATIONS  The U.N.s first virtual meeting of world leaders started Tuesday with pre-recorded speeches from some of the planets biggest powers.

Theyve been kept at home by the coronavirus pandemic that will likely be a dominant theme at their video gathering this year. The pandemic has killed over 960,000 people worldwide.

In the opening speech, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that the world is facing an epochal health crisis. He also noted the biggest economic calamity and job losses since the Great Depression, dangerous threats to human rights -- and the threat of a new Cold War between the U.S. and China.

Those who spoke Tuesday included U.S. President Donald Trump and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, whose countries have reported the highest and second-highest coronavirus death tolls, respectively. China, where the virus was first reported, also was set to speak.

Also on deck are China, where the virus originated, and Russia, which has raised international eyebrows with its rapid vaccine development.
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

New Mexicos new teacher evaluation system will get a trial run this school year.

State Public Education Deputy Secretary Gwen Perea Warniment told lawmakers during a Legislative Education Study Committee hearing late last month that Elevate New Mexico, the new system created under the Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham administration, will be softly rolled out this year.

The department will garner feedback but educators and districts wont get an official evaluation report with a ranking from the PED.

Formal rollout is slated for 2021-22.

Elevate NM will use professional development plans created by teachers, multiple observations from fellow teachers and administrators and surveys of families and students to gauge teacher performance.

She said each will provide data on different aspects of teaching performance, rather than adding up to a final score.

Theres no weight to each of them. Theyre all equally important, because there is no single, big score that they all add up to; theres no summative score, the deputy secretary said. Theyre all just going to be their own components.

Notably absent are focuses on student test scores and teacher attendance, which were controversial components of previous teacher evaluations.

Perea Warniment said students academic progression can be used to map out professional development plans, and therefore, could direct observations from principals, but student achievement data will not be directly tied to how teachers perform on the evaluation.

Based on formal and informal observations, teachers are ranked from not demonstrating to innovating.

A brief by the LESC says the system doesnt outline how evaluations will be used to make personnel decisions.

Perea Warniment had said the PED is also working on creating evaluation processes for other licensed educators.
GENESEE COUNTY, MI -- This fall, the Genesee County Health Department (GCHD) is launching the Be A Health Hero campaign to raise awareness on immunizations for families with children, as announced in a Sept. 21 news release.

Children are encouraged to Be A Hero by showing responsibility, being brave, courageous and strong.

We want to educate our children and help them to understand how important it is to not only protect themselves, but their family and friends as well, said Tina Hanson, public health nurse supervisor in Genesee County Health Department.

In an effort to protect children from preventable diseases that spread easily, scheduled immunizations are recommended from birth to age 18.

In Michigan, children who attend childcare facilities and public and non-public schools through grade 12 should receive scheduled recommended immunizations prior to the start of each school year, including those who will be attending school virtually.

As a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, many children may not be up to date on their vaccinations. GCHD is encouraging families to schedule their appointments now to beat the back-to-school rush.

We are launching this campaign ... to assure that all kids and families are protected, we encourage you to make your immunization appointments now," Hanson continued.

Due to restrictions because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the health department clinical services for immunizations are currently by appointment only. To make an appointment, call 810-237-4569 or 810-237-4540.

Appointments are available Monday through Friday at the Burton Branch, at G-3373 S Saginaw St. in Burton.

We want to make sure that our residents know how important and imperative it is for their children to come in for their immunizations, stated Hanson. Lets let our children be the heroes they so greatly strive to be, by protecting themselves and those around them.

More on MLive:

Liquor licenses suspended at 3 West Michigan businesses for executive order violations

Kamala Harris visiting Flint and Detroit for voter registration push

Tuesday, Sept. 22, coronavirus data by Michigan county: Western U.P. has 6 counties at red or orange
The British government announced fresh steps on Tuesday to try to stop a coronavirus surge in England, as the World Health Organization warned that new cases worldwide soared to record levels last week.

The tally of 1,998,897 infections was "the highest number of reported cases in a single week since the beginning of the epidemic", the WHO said, adding that the number of deaths fell compared with the previous week.

The death toll in the United States passed another dismal milestone on Tuesday, soaring beyond 200,000 as cases approached seven million in the world's worst-affected country.

The ramped-up response in Britain followed warnings that the country could see an explosion of cases and deaths if it failed to take decisive action.

From Thursday, English pubs, bars and other venues will be required to close at 10:00 pm. Food and drink outlets will also be restricted to table service.

Some businesses have criticised the move, saying it will inflict more suffering on an already beleaguered industry.

But customers outside cafes in central London were broadly supportive of the new rules if it meant avoiding another lockdown.

"It isn't all about the money," Francesca Galluzzo, an operations manager, told AFP. "It should be about people's lives."

Britain has also shelved plans to allow fans to return to sporting venues in England next month and boosted fines for rule-breakers in broad tightening of restrictions.

- Nobel ceremony cancelled -

Many nations in Europe were easing restrictions after largely overcoming initial outbreaks, but the resurgence of the virus has forced them to tighten curbs again.

Spain's health minister on Tuesday called on Madrid residents to limit their movements and social contacts to the essential.

Across Europe, hundreds of major events have been scaled back or cancelled and on Tuesday the most august of all gatherings, the Nobel prize ceremony, announced it had also succumbed to the pandemic.

The famous event in the Swedish capital Stockholm recognising excellence in subjects from economics to physics has been cancelled for the first time since 1944, set to be replaced by a televised event.

Rather than receiving their medals and diplomas from the king of Sweden in person, the winners will be honoured in their own countries.

The Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Norway in December will also be scaled back.

A European Union leaders' summit due to start on Thursday was meanwhile postponed after a security guard tested positive for coronavirus, forcing EU chief Charles Michel to quarantine.

- Trump under pressure -

But the US still tops the charts for the numbers of infections and deaths in a single country.

President Donald Trump has faced intense criticism of his handling of the crisis, and the prospect of an election in November has sharpened the focus.

Trump insisted on Monday that the country was "rounding the corner with or without a vaccine".

But US Federal Reserve boss Jerome Powell will warn on Tuesday that a full recovery in the world's biggest economy "is likely to come only when people are confident that it is safe to reengage in a broad range of activities," according to prepared remarks.

The pandemic has wiped out hundreds of thousands of jobs around the world, with millions living rough.

Hundreds of restaurant, bar and nightclub workers demonstrated in the southern Spanish city of Malaga on Tuesday to seek government help to tide over the crisis.

They held banners saying "We are not the problem" and "rescue now".

"Many of my colleagues can't make ends meet. We have to save this sector by whatever means because there are many families that depend on this," Borja Ramos, a 37-year-old kitchen worker told AFP.

Until a vaccine is developed, the options for treatment available to the less privileged are limited.

In Mexico, where more than 73,000 people have died, many are choosing to stay at home when they fall ill instead of seeking treatment at creaking public hospitals.

Jessica Castillo in Hidalgo state said she suffered for a week at home, and even had suicidal thoughts.

"I felt that the air I was breathing wasn't entering my lungs," said 43-year-old pastry chef, whose coronavirus recovery took more than a month.

"But I said: 'If I go to hospital, I'll never return'."

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The Dublin Lord Mayors Awards will take place monthly this year to honour tireless frontline workers in the Covid-19 pandemic, the Lord Mayor of Dublin Hazel Chu has announced.

The prestigious award is usually bestowed on recipients annually, but the Lord Mayor has decided to give an award each month for the remainder of 2020 to reward and acknowledge some of the countys unsung heroes.

Since 1989, the Lord Mayors Awards have honoured individuals and groups who have made a special contribution to Dublin and its citizens - either at a local or city wide level. These Awards are Dublin city's way of acknowledging and congratulating the extraordinary work they do.

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Previous recipients have included Jim Gavin, Ronnie Delaney, Dave Fanning, Maeve Binchy, Marty Whelan, Brian ODriscoll, Philly McMahon, Damien Dempsey and Jimmy Magee.

Each month, members of the public will be invited to nominate either a frontline person or organisation that they think has gone above and beyond during Covid-19.

There will be a different category each month, beginning in October with frontline workers in nursing homes.

At the end of each month, the Lord Mayor will decide the winner and present them with the award, a piece of specially-commissioned sculpture and a gift voucher worth 1,000.

Since March we have witnessed the Trojan effort frontline workers have given to keep our communities going. This is a chance for the people of Dublin to thank someone who has made a real difference in their life during Covid, said the Lord Mayor.

Depending on where things are at, hopefully before summer 2021 we will be able to bring all the monthly winners together for a reception in the Mansion House to thank them on behalf of the city.

Nominations for October will begin on October 1st and remain open until October 16th.
Russia's Cabinet Approves Maltese DTA Amendments

by Lorys Charalambous, Tax-News.com, Cyprus

22 September 2020

Russia's Government has approved wording for a draft Protocol that it will seek to conclude with Malta, to revise their double tax agreement to increase withholding tax rates at source for cross-border dividends and interest income.

The terms are set out in Russian in Order No. 2291 of September 9, 2020, which has been approved by Russia's Cabinet.

In line with the Protocol signed with Cyprus on September 8, 2020, Russia will seek to increase the withholding tax rate on dividends and interest income to 15 percent. A reduced five percent rate will apply in exceptional circumstances, the Russian Government said.

Russia is reviewing its network of double tax agreements to identify those agreements that do not permit taxation at source of dividends and interest income at at least a 15 percent rate. Malta and Luxembourg have already agreed to amend their pact with Russia and negotiations are said to be ongoing with the Netherlands. The Russian Government has said it intends to launch similar negotiations with Switzerland and Hong Kong.
As the Woolworths Disney+ Ooshies promotion comes to a close, Big W has launched a huge sale on the popular collectable toys.

After an eagle-eyed shopper in Western Australia shared the news on social media, customers are now rushing to get their hands on the discounted plastic toys.

The prices start from as little as $3 for a packet of three and up to $10 for a packet of six.

The Big W sale is offered nationally, but stock numbers may vary across stores.

As the Woolworths Disney+ Ooshies promotion comes to a close at the end of the week, Big W has also launched a huge sale on the popular collectable toys (Big W store pictured)

Customers are spoiled for choice as a variety of Ooshies are available, including Marvel and Toy Story characters.

But the Big W figurines are different compared to the Woolworths Disney+ Ooshies available.

Regardless, shoppers on Facebook shared their excitement about wanting to continue growing their collection.

'$10 for 6! How cheap is that? You have to spend $180 to get 6 in Woolies and aren't guaranteed to get the ones you want!' one shopper said.

'I didn't know [Big W] sold them,' another said.

Others said they will need to avoid taking their children to Big W in an effort to save money on buying more Ooshies.

Customers are spoilt for choice as a variety of Ooshies are available, including Marvel and Toy Story characters

Those wanting to complete their Woolworths Disney+ Ooshies collection will need to get in supermarket stores quick as the promotion is set to end at the end of the week.

Availability of the collectables varies from store-to-store around Australia but online redemption of Ooshies will cease everywhere other than Victoria on Monday.

'It's apparent customers of all ages have loved collecting these Ooshies and their popularity completely exceeded our expectations. Because of this, we expect the last of our stock to be collected by the end of this weekend,' Woolworths' chief marketing officer Andrew Hicks said.

Woolworths has announced shoppers will have just days to collect the Disney+ Ooshies collectables as the campaign is expected to end this weekend

Customers living in Victoria will still have time to collect the figurines over the coming weeks after the launch was delayed across the state due to Stage Four lockdown restrictions.

Mr Hicks reassured Victorian shoppers there will be plenty of Ooshies around to collect in the weeks ahead while supplies last.

'I want to reassure our Victorian customers these lower stock levels do not apply to them. We created a separate allotment from when we delayed the launch of the program,' he said.

Availability of the collectables varies from store-to-store around Australia but online redemption of Ooshies will cease everywhere other than Victoria on Monday

He added: 'We're thrilled to see how many customers have enjoyed collecting the Disney+ Ooshies since its launch... particularly during a very challenging year.

'We'd like to thank our team for their support in executing the program in stores and online and our customers for helping us create such a memorable program.'

Shoppers can collect one of the 36 iconic characters from Marvel, Star Wars, Disney and Pixar with every $30 spent at checkout.

Pre-loved or unwanted Ooshies can be recycled in any Woolworths store until January 31, 2021.
Donald Trump continued to amplify unfounded claims about widespread voter fraud during a campaign stop in Ohio after critical court rulings in three states have denied the presidents attempts to challenge mail-in ballot procedures.

This is a real affront to to our democracy, he told supporters in Dayton on Monday.

A federal court on Monday rejected the campaigns push to reverse changes to the states election laws, a blow to the presidents attempts to stop efforts to expand vote-by-mail efforts by mail ballots to active registered voters in the critical battleground state.

At his campaign rally in Dayton, Ohio, the president also falsely claimed that the measure removed signature-matching requirements, but his campaigns attorneys acknowledged in court filings that those requirements will continue under the rule changes.

Following a a lawsuit from several candidates running for public office who argued that the president and the US Postal Service had crippled election mail, US District Judge Victor Marrero in New York ordered that the agency must prioritise election-related mail.

With his ruling on Monday, the parties must settle to reach an agreement by Friday or he will order postal workers to make extra trips or work overtime duties through early November to keep up with election mail demands.

And in Wisconsin, US District Judge William Conley ruled that election officials can extend a deadline for mail-in ballot registration and can provide an extra week to receive absentee ballots, as long as theyre post-marked by Election Day  meaning a final mail-in ballot count wont arrive until several days after voters head to the polls.

They want it to be a mess," the president claimed of his Democratic rivals. They know its no good  People steal the ballots, people dont get the ballots, they dont send them to a Republican area, or maybe a Democratic area, whatever, its still wrong.

He also accused Democrats of ballot harvesting and sending out millions of ballots across the US without any oversight or direction.

Where the hell are they going? he said. They know its a fraud waiting to happen  They want a mess.

He also claimed that Democrats are hoping to fight out the election results in the courts, though he has also signalled that his campaign is preparing to do the same.

During a campaign rally in North Carolina, the president said: We're counting on the federal court system to make it so that we can actually have an evening where we know who wins.

Not where the votes are going to be counted a week later or two weeks later," he said.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in (on the screens) addresses the general debate of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly via video at the U.N. headquarters in New York, on Sept. 22. Xinhua-Yonhap



By Do Je-hae



President Moon Jae-in underlined the importance of support and cooperation from the international community for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the establishment of a permanent peace here during a video speech to the United Nations General Assembly, early Wednesday morning, according to Cheong Wa Dae.



During the speech, Moon reiterated his push for a declaration to end the Korean War, which was one of the items discussed during the first of his three summits with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, April 27, 2018, in the truce village of Panmunjeom. The 1950-53 war ended in a ceasefire, not a peace treaty.



"This year marks the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War. The time has come to end the tragedy lingering on the Korean Peninsula. The war must end, completely and for good," Moon said during the 75th U.N. Assembly, which was held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.



"Peace on the Korean Peninsula will guarantee peace in Northeast Asia as a whole, and, going one step further, bring positive changes to the world order as well. I believe it begins with declaring an end to the war, an act that can affirm mutual commitments to peace. I hope that the U.N. and the international community will provide support so that we can advance into an era of reconciliation and prosperity through the end-of-war declaration."



More than two years after the Panmunjeom Declaration, the two Koreas have not made any progress on the declaration due to a deadlock in inter-Korean relations and the U.S.-North Korea denuclearization talks. Also, relevant parties such as the U.S. and China have not shown much interest in a declaration to officially end the war.



But Moon underscored the need for the declaration as a key element to realize complete denuclearization on the peninsula, and international peace in the long run. "The end-of-war declaration will, indeed, open the door to complete denuclearization and a permanent peace regimen on the Korean Peninsula," Moon said.



The President also suggested the establishment of a new cooperative framework in Northeast Asia for disaster response and healthcare as a way to resuscitate inter-Korean exchanges.



"Inter-Korean cooperation on disease prevention and control, and public health will also trigger dialogue and cooperation for the process of building a peaceful Korean Peninsula," Moon said.



"Hoping that the international community views the issues surrounding the Korean Peninsula through the lens of more inclusive international cooperation, I propose today launching a Northeast Asia Cooperation Initiative for Infectious Disease Control and Public Health, in which North Korea participates as a member along with China, Japan, Mongolia and South Korea."



Moon's remarks come amid rising concerns that it is too late for him to make much progress on any of the declarations he signed with the North Korean leader. Pyongyang has even demolished an inter-Korean liaison office in the border city of Gaeseong, one of the main outcomes of the Panmunjeom Declaration. However, Moon has reiterated his unwavering commitment for inter-Korean cooperation, with the belief that it could also facilitate the advancement of U.S.-North Korea relations.



"The Republic of Korea will continue the dialogue. What all of us need to do is to take one more step forward. My belief remains unchanged that we can achieve denuclearization and bring lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula with the international community's continued support and cooperation," Moon said.


" " Parents of newborns often turn into polyphasic sleepers right alongside their babies, although this little one doesn't seem too interested in dozing. iStockphoto/ Thinkstock

At midnight, I woke to the sound of my baby crying, his wails blaring out of the monitor on my nightstand. As I stumbled to his room, the buzzer rang, which meant someone was downstairs trying to be let in. Wondering who in his or her right mind would want to visit parents of a newborn at midnight, I looked out the window but couldn't see anyone, figured it was a prank and ignored it.

At 3 a.m., I woke with a start, again to the sound of his cries. In the hallway, I ran into one of my two dogs, Monkey, who was crying and pacing, her nails click-click-clicking on the hardwood floors. As I wondered why, I heard a knock on my door, looked through the peephole and saw a police officer.

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"So someone is home," he said as I opened the door, squinting in the fluorescent hallway lights. "Do you know where your dog is?"

"My dogs are in here," I replied defensively.

"Are you sure about that?"

I wasn't sure about anything. I wasn't even sure I had clothes on when I opened the door, though thankfully I did. Since the birth of my son six months prior, I'd made the rough transition from a monophasic sleep schedule, sleeping in one large block overnight, to a polyphasic one, or dozing in small bouts multiple times in a 24-hour period. I was tired and fuzzy-headed all the time.

While the police officer radioed downstairs, my sleep-deprived brain struggled through a slow rewind of the evening: I remembered coming home from the vet, hauling a very tired baby, diaper bag, car seat and two 75-pound dogs up three flights of stairs and, I thought, into the apartment. I remembered getting the baby to bed, then collapsing on the couch with my husband and a frozen pizza, which I had no recollection of eating before I fell asleep. My husband woke me up to go to bed and then ...

"Hey lady? I've got your dog restrained downstairs. It was loose in the hallway. Your downstairs neighbors came home and it started barking at them through the front door. They tried to buzz and call you but you never answered, so they called us," he paused, then said with a smirk, "I've got to know: How do you not know if your own dog is in your apartment?"

Good question, but I wasn't about to explain polyphasic sleep deprivation to him while my bewildered dog waited downstairs. Rest assured, the answers can be found in the pages that follow.






Speakers:

Yang Xiaowei, vice minister of the Cyberspace Administration of China;

Zhao Long, member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee, vice governor of Fujian province;

You Mengjun, deputy secretary of the CPC Fuzhou Municipal Committee, mayor of Fuzhou Municipal People's Government;

Shen Zhulin, deputy director general of the Department of High-Tech Industry of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC);

Xie Shaofeng, spokesperson for the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), director of MIIT's Department of Information Technology Development.

Chairperson:

Shou Xiaoli, an official of the State Council Information Office.

Date:

Sept. 17, 2020

Shou Xiaoli:

Ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon. Welcome to this press conference held by the State Council Information Office (SCIO). The 3rd Digital China Summit will take place in October in Fuzhou, the capital of east China's Fujian province. Today, we are delighted to be joined by Mr. Yang Xiaowei, vice minister of the Cyberspace Administration of China; Mr. Zhao Long, member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee and vice governor of Fujian province; Mr. You Mengjun, deputy secretary of the CPC Fuzhou Municipal Committee and mayor of Fuzhou Municipal People's Government; Mr. Shen Zhulin, deputy director general of the Department of High-Tech Industry of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC); and Mr. Xie Shaofeng, spokesperson for the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and director of MIIT's Department of Information Technology Development. They will brief you on issues regarding this year's summit and answer your questions.

Yang Xiaowei:

Ladies and gentlemen, friends from the media, good afternoon. First, I would like to thank you for your interest in the 3rd Digital China Summit. The previous two summits have played a significant leading role in promoting both the application of information technology in China and the development of a "digital Fujian."

The sudden outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic at the beginning of 2020 has brought unprecedented disruption to economic and social development. Due to its impact, the 3rd Digital China Summit, which was originally slated to open in April, was unable to be held as scheduled.

At present, under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core and with the joint efforts of people across the nation, China has taken a major step forward in its nationwide virus control efforts. The economy is developing in a steady manner, and the normal order in work and daily life has been fully restored. With the approval of the CPC Central Committee, the 3rd Digital China Summit will be held in the city of Fuzhou from Oct. 12 to 14. This year's summit is co-organized by the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), NDRC, MIIT, and People's Government of Fujian Province; and will be hosted by the Fuzhou Municipal People's Government and relevant institutions. General Secretary Xi Jinping made important instructions on developing a "digital Fujian" back on Oct. 12, 2000 when he worked in the province. This October marks the 20th anniversary of the province's digital agenda, and the summit's opening ceremony will take place on Oct. 12, the same day the instruction was made 20 years ago.

General Secretary Xi Jinping recently chaired a symposium on economic and social work, and made the significant assessment that China's development is entering a new stage. He stressed establishing a new development pattern which takes the domestic market as the mainstay, while allowing domestic and foreign markets to boost each other. Currently, China has taken a major step forward in its nationwide virus control efforts, and has made significant progress in coordinating prevention measures with economic and social development. The year 2020 marks the successful conclusion of both the 13th Five-Year Plan and the dawn of the 14th Five-Year Plan. This year's Digital China Summit will thus further boost all sectors' creativity and their active participation in building a "digital China," and is of crucial importance in unleashing the potential of the nation's digital development.

The theme of the 3rd Digital China Summit is "digital transformation driven by innovation; high-quality development led via intelligence." The summit aims to act as a platform which releases national policies on information technology; showcases the latest achievements of "digital China"; boosts communication regarding theories, experiences and practices of e-government and digital economy; and promotes global cooperation to build a "digital China" and "digital Silk Road." The summit, to be held both online and offline, will consist of seven sessions: opening ceremony, main forum, sub-forums, exhibition, innovation contest, launch event for application scenarios, and closing ceremony. In the meantime, a series of events commemorating 20 years of digital development in Fujian will also be held to review the digital progress in the province and look ahead to the country's digital agenda.

The 3rd Digital China Summit will commence in less than a month, with preparations for the event progressing steadily. The organizing committee will strictly observe the central Party leadership's eight-point decision on improving work conduct, implement regular prevention and control measures, and ensure the summit is economic, efficient and safe. People from all sectors are very much welcome to participate. Let's look forward to the successful convening of the 3rd Digital China Summit. Thank you.
Connecticut Magazine released this year's "Best of Connecticut" list debuting a new, souped-up reader survey to create the list. Here are the winners - and the finalists from which they were chosen - in over 125 categories of food, fun and shopping.

Click here to see the full list by Connecticut Magazine.
Tropical Storm Beta made landfall on the Texas coast around 10 p.m. (CDT) Monday, as said by the National Hurricane Center (NHC).

Beta made landfall near the southern end of the Matagorda Peninsula in the southeastern coast of Texas, reported CNN. It sits between Corpus Christi and Galveston and is along the Gulf of Mexico.

The Associated Press said in a report that Beta's maximum sustained winds were at 45 mph. The storm's winds also weakened after landfall.

The NHC said that storm surge was up to five feet from San Luis Pass to Sabine Pass in Texas. The Texas Department of Transportation said in a tweet late Monday that parts of State Highway 87 were not passable due to flooding.

Storm Warnings Remain

"There is the danger of life-threatening storm surge near times of high tide through Tuesday along portions of the Texas and Louisiana coasts," the NHC said. The NHC also added that up to 15 inches of rain could fall in some areas.

"This rainfall can lead to significant flooding, which may last for several days," AccuWeather senior meteorologist Rob Miller said.

Tropical storm warnings are still in place in some parts of Texas and Louisiana coastlines. But the main threats posed by Beta are still possibilities of storm surge and heavy rainfall.

A storm surge warning is in place at the Port Aransas to Sabine Pass area. This includes Copano Bay, Aransas Bay, San Antonio Bay, Matagorda Bay and Galveston Bay.

There were also flash flood watches placed in all of the Texas and Louisiana Coasts. This covers nearly 11 million people under the warning.

Amount of Rain Still Uncertain

Forecasts are still uncertain about the amount of rainfall that the tropical storm can produce. Some areas have already seen some damage during the busy hurricane season and are weary about the threats of Beta.

Its slow-moving approach could lead to long periods of rain, causing flash, urban and river flooding, said the NHC.

Dan Reilly, a meteorologist with National Weather Service Houston-Galveston said the rainfall is the "probably most uncertain part."

Earlier forecasts on Beta showed up to 20 inches of rain in some areas. But the number was pulled down to 15 in some locations.

The coastal counties were found to get about four to six inches. It is possible for rainfall to go down to two to four inches as the storm moves further inland, Reilly said.

Rain has already fallen in Houston and other southern parts of the Texas coast on Monday, even Beta made landfall.

With the warnings of heavy rainfall also comes assurance from officials and forecasters. They said Beta is not expected to be another Hurricane Harvey that dumped more than 50 inches of rain on Houston in 2017.

It is also unlikely to be another Tropical Storm Imelda that hit Southeast Texas last year. It was said to be one of the wettest cyclones on record.

As Tropical Storm Beta moves inland, it is expected to move slower and take a sharp turn to the north-northeast on Tuesday.

It will still stay close to the coast of southeastern Texas until Wednesday. After this, it is believed to drench Arkansas, Texas and Louisiana area and move into Lower Mississippi Valley. Later into the week, it will also move to the southeast.

Check these out!

Tropical Storm Beta to Drench Texas Coastline Next Week

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Hurricane Sally Slams into Florida and Alabama; Rescues Underway for Widespread Flooding
Sea ice breaks apart as the Finnish icebreaker MSV Nordica traverses the Northwest Passage through the Victoria Strait in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago in July 2017. Arctic ice continues to thin. Read more

Despite a growth spurt during quite a cold winter in the far north, Arctic sea ice has fallen to its second-lowest extent in 42 years of satellite observations, the National Snow and Ice Data Center reported Monday.

The year 2020 will stand as an exclamation point on the downward trend in Arctic sea ice extent, said Mark Serreze, the centers director.

I thought the sea ice would do well this summer because it had such a favorable winter, said Judah Cohen, scientist and polar weather specialist with Atmospheric and Environmental Research. In winter sea ice had reached its highest extent since 2013.

 READ MORE: Snowless Philly winter evidently good for Arctic ice

The polar vortex swirled persistently up that way, confining the cold air and keeping it from spilling into Philadelphia and other parts of the nation.

But then came extreme summer warmth. That June heat wave over Siberia moved into the central Arctic in July and just was a very efficient ice melter, said Cohen. He said the melting also might have received a boost from a strong storm at the end of July.

The center, and the University of Colorado Boulder, said that the sea ice evidently had reached its minimum annual extent, 1.44 million square miles, on Sept. 15. The record minimum of 1.31 million square miles was set in 2012.

Meanwhile, at the other end of the world where winter ends on Tuesday, the Antarctic is experiencing one of its top 10 sea-ice extents, the center said.




September 22, 2020 - release at 7:30 am

Sophia Antipolis, France







Nicox SA (Euronext Paris: FR0013018124, COX), an international ophthalmology company, today announced that its partner, Ocumension Therapeutics, has received approval from China's Center for Drug Evaluation of the National Medical Products Administration to carry out Phase 3 clinical trials on ZERVIATETM (cetirizine ophthalmic solution), 0.24% for the treatment of ocular itching associated with allergic conjunctivitis. ZERVIATE, the first topical ocular form of cetirizine, is licensed exclusively to Ocumension Therapeutics in the Chinese and in the majority of South East Asian markets. The Phase 3 trial is expected to start in Q4 2020.







Dr. Jose Boyer, Vice President and Head, Clinical Development at Nicox, said: "The submission of the IND in China was the result of an effective collaboration between the development teams at Ocumension and Nicox. This approval allows Ocumension to accelerate the Phase 3 program for the approval of ZERVIATE in China, and we look forward to continuing to support them in the next steps of bringing ZERVIATE to commercialisation there."







The Press Release by Ocumension can be found here:

https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2020/0922/2020092200013.pdf (https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2020/0922/2020092200013.pdf)



About ZERVIATE



ZERVIATETM (cetirizine ophthalmic solution), 0.24% is a novel formulation of cetirizine developed and approved for the first time for topical application in the eye for the treatment of ocular itching associated with allergic conjunctivitis. Cetirizine, the active ingredient in ZYRTEC, is a second-generation antihistamine (H1 receptor antagonist) that binds competitively to histamine receptor sites. Cetirizine, in approved oral formulations, has a well-characterized systemic efficacy and safety profile with worldwide exposure resulting from 20 years of oral use. ZERVIATE was developed by Nicox as the first and only formulation of cetirizine for topical application in the eye.



ZERVIATE was launched in the United States in March 2020 by Eyevance Pharmaceuticals, Nicox's exclusive U.S. licensee, and is also licensed exclusively to Samil Pharmaceutical in South Korea and to ITROM Pharmaceutical Group in the Gulf and Arab markets.



About Allergic Conjunctivitis



Allergic conjunctivitis occurs when an allergic reaction causes conjunctivitis. Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the thin layer of tissue that lines the outside of the white surface of the eye and the inner surface of the eyelids. It may affect one or both eyes. The signs and symptoms may include eye redness, excessive watering, itchy burning eyes, discharge, blurred vision and increased sensitivity to light.
Largest Funding Round to Date for World's First Cloud-based Collateral Management Solution Provider

LONDON, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- CloudMargin, creator of the world's first and only collateral and margin management solution native to the cloud, today announced that it has closed on its largest funding round to date, bringing in $15 million in a Series B capital raise. Primary investors were Deutsche Borse, one of the largest exchange organisations worldwide, along with Tier-1 global investment banks and current CloudMargin clients Deutsche Bank and Citi.

CloudMargin CEO Stuart Connolly said: "We're delighted to enjoy the confidence of these premier global institutions and to give them an important voice on our Board of Directors as we continue on our exciting growth trajectory. During this unprecedented period of global turmoil and market volatility, it speaks volumes for the CloudMargin business model, achievements and strategy that we were able to successfully close this meaningful investment round with such high calibre partners as Deutsche Bank, Deutsche Borse and Citi. For financial services institutions, the impact of COVID-19 has further reinforced our value proposition by highlighting many challenges the industry has faced for a prolonged period and acting as a catalyst to drive transformational change; firms are placing a strategic priority on adopting modern, Software-as-a-Service based cloud technologies that provide agility as well as operational and cost efficiencies."

Connolly said the funds will be used to further innovate the platform and technological capability to deliver an enhanced product and service for clients and partners. In addition, the firm intends to expand its sales and client service capabilities in the U.S. and Asia to meet greater demand.

Tilman Fechter, Head of Banking, Funding & Financing at Clearstream, part of Deutsche Borse Group, said: "CloudMargin is a perfect investment opportunity for Deutsche Borse and its post-trading services provider Clearstream. Its innovative and agile technology brings crucial momentum to all players in the collateral management industry, from the largest investment banks to small and medium-sized buy-side institutions. Joining forces between established trusted players and a flexible start-up like CloudMargin is essential to future-proof the business for all market participants."

Joseph Macdonald, Director, Fixed Income and Currencies Trading for Deutsche Bank, said: "CloudMargin is a key partner for Deutsche Bank's collateral management division, and we have been working closely together since we established our partnership in 2018. Our investment reflects our confidence in CloudMargin's world-class platform and its future within the industry."

"We appreciated CloudMargin's commitment to delivering a collateral and margin management solution in such an agile manner," said Sanjiv Sawhney, Head of Custody and Fund Services at Citi. "Having adopted the CloudMargin platform in 2018 to support the provision of efficient outsourcing services for our clients, we have been impressed by the technology and chose to invest in the company."

Jefferies LLC served as CloudMargin's financial advisor on the transaction. Since the company's inception in 2014, CloudMargin has raised $35 million through equity issuance, with investors including IHS Markit, Jefferies and Illuminate Financial.

About CloudMargin

Headquartered in London, CloudMargin created the world's first cloud-based collateral management workflow tool, which has earned 20 industry awards and honours since 2015 for innovation and best-in-class technology. The firm's Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) model is helping many of the leading sell-side and buy-side financial institutions globally - including brokerage firms, banks, asset management firms, pension funds and insurance companies - as well as outsourcers and other technology firms meet time-critical regulatory deadlines and reduce costs associated with collateral requirements that are growing dramatically. CloudMargin bypasses many of the shortfalls of legacy, on-premise software, enabling clients to experience rapid implementation and access to robust and secure collateral management workflow software. With more than 20 integration partnerships, CloudMargin was the first collateral management solution provider to be a member of the SWIFT network, facilitating straight-through processing through settlement. For more information, visit www.cloudmargin.com.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/464866/CloudMargin_Logo.jpg
Washington, D.C. sisters Shreyaa Venkat, 17, and Esha Venkat, 14, started the nonprofit NEST4US

Their programs include tutoring, providing school supplies for underprivileged kids, and giving food and necessities to the homeless

They also rescue excess food from chains like Panera and Starbucks to reduce food waste and feed the hungry

The 'Blessing Bags' they assemble and hand out include food, toiletries, and encouraging notes with messages like 'you are not alone'

On Saturday, they'll receive The George H.W. Bush Points of Light Award for 'their selfless commitment to driving sustained change in their communities'

Jenna Bush Hager and Barbara Bush will host, and Honorary Chairs are former Presidents Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama

A pair of exceedingly charitable teenage sisters will be among the guests of honor at a virtual celebration featuring former Presidents Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama this weekend.

Shreyaa and Esha Venkat are just 17 and 14, respectively, but the two young women have been volunteering for years  and together, they launched the nonprofit organization NEST4US, which provides food and necessities to the homeless, tutoring, school supplies for underprivileged kids, and more services for their community in Washington, D.C.

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Now the Venkat sisters are set to receive The George H.W. Bush Points of Light Award from the late president's nonprofit, honoring them for 'their selfless commitment to driving sustained change in their communities.'

Do-gooders: Shreyaa and Esha Venkat are just 17 and 14, respectively, but the two young women have launched their own nonprofit organization called NEST4US

Giving back: NEST4US provides food and necessities to the homeless, tutoring, school supplies for underprivileged kids, and more services for their community in Washington, D.C.

NEST4US is a pretty ambitious nonprofit: Among its initiatives are NEST Tutors, NEST Buddies  which provides birthday boxes for underprivileged kids and NEST Kares, which provides free school supply kits for low-income families and care packages for the homeless.

Family values: The sisters told DailyMail.com they have been volunteering from a young age, learning from the example their parents set

Those care packages, called Blessing Bags, are one of the organization's signature initiatives, and the teens now have quite a large community of volunteers helping to put them together and hand them out.

'Hundreds of volunteers of all different ages come together to assemble care packages filled with toiletries (toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, shampoo, female hygiene products, etc.), small clothing items (socks, hats, mittens, etc.), water bottles, and non-perishable food items for the homeless community,' the teens told DailyMail.com.

The bags also contain a note of encouragement 'to brighten the recipients day,' with messages like 'Know you are loved and appreciated!' 'Stay strong!' 'You are not alone, we are with you!' and 'We love you!'

The Venkat sisters say that handing these bags out, person to person, means they get to see the real impact they make, not just meeting people's immediate physical needs by also their emotional ones.

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Something to eat: One of their signature programs involves handing out food to the hungry. Groups of volunteers package the bags and give them out

Much-needed: They once handed a bag to a man who told them that he'd been praying for help, because he hadn't eaten in days and had no money for food

Feels good: Working to give back and help the community has a positive impact on the volunteers, too

'One day,' they said, 'we saw a man sitting on top of an old crate holding a sign that said HUNGRY NEED FOOD. On instinct, we reached down and took out a few sandwich bags we had made a few hours before in our Sandwich Assembly Project.

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'We saw his eyes glow in happiness. He ran over to the car and gasped in joy as we dropped the bags into his rugged hands. We could tell that he had been through a lot in his life and probably hadnt eaten in several days.

'As if reading our thoughts he said, Today I was praying that someone would be generous to give me some food because I dont have enough money to buy food and havent eaten anything in several days. Thank you for making my day, God bless you.'

Another time, the girls learned that someone whom they had given several Blessing Bags to in the past had held onto the notes of encouragement.

'Once, when the'd finished up volunteering in Franklin Square Park in D.C., a man approached with a stack of the notes,' the sisters said.

'With a huge smile on his face, he told us how he had kept all the notes from when we handed them out throughout the years.

Sweet: The bags also contain a note of encouragement 'to brighten the recipients day,' with messages like, 'Stay strong!' 'You are not alone, we are with you!' and 'We love you!'

Talismans: One man once showed them that he'd held onto several notes he'd received in his Blessing Bags and looked at them when he was having a bad day

'He went on to say that whenever he is having a bad day, he takes out the notes, which always lift his spirits when hes feeling sad. We were speechless when hearing this, but extremely proud and happy to see that our work was making a difference in the world, one person at a time.'

Working to give back and help the community has a positive impact on the volunteers, too.

'[It] provides an altruistic identity for our volunteers, which gives them more social awareness on how they can help those in need,' the sisters said. 'Many of our volunteers may not have known about the various issues we strive to solve before participating in our programs, but once they get involved, theyre able to truly see what a difference they make in the lives they touch.'

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The Venkats are still quite young  Esha is in high school, and Shreyaa is a Georgetown University freshman majoring in Global Health studies  but they started volunteering at a very young age, learning by example from their parents.

'Our mom would bring us along to volunteer at school and community events even back in elementary school. That was when we were first introduced to the world of community service,' they said.

Taken care of: Their Blessing Bags include food, hygiene products like toothpaste, and small clothing items like socks and gloves

Fixing problems: The inspiration to start their own nonprofit came from noticing several issues in their own community that they wished they could help with, including food insecurity

'[Our parents] have raised us to be positive people and have been extraordinary influences in our lives and always will be. We think thats what was key: we were so passionate about volunteering right from the beginning.'

The inspiration to start their own nonprofit came from noticing several issues in their own community that they wished they could help with: food insecurity, the lack of volunteering with a passion, and diversity and inclusion.

'When we started volunteering, we noticed so many homeless people who didnt have access to food,' they said. 'We also noticed that so much food goes to waste daily in our community. So, homeless people and food waste. We put two and two together and decided that our first program, NEST Nurtures, should focus on reducing food waste and feeding the hungry.'

That involves corporate partnerships with Panera Bread and Starbucks, which both donate their excess food at the end of the day to NEST4US, which can distribute it to the hungry.

The girls soon launched other types of volunteer programs to appeal to a broader array of interests, and over the past four years, they've grown their organization from just the two of them to over 1,000 volunteers.

'Seeing the grateful faces of those we serve inspires us to continue giving back and we want people in our community to feel the same inspiration,' they said

'Round the world! They've expanded globally, too, with partnerships with organizations in Zambia, India, and Vietnam

'Seeing the grateful faces of those we serve inspires us to continue giving back and we want people in our community to feel the same inspiration,' they said.

They've expanded globally, too, with partnerships with organizations in Zambia, India, and Vietnam.

It's no surprise that the Venkat's work has caught the attention of some very important people. To date, they've won countless honors including the 2020 United Nations Ambassador Award, a 2020 Virginia House Joint Bill No 460 Commending NEST4US, and the 2017/2018 President's Environmental Youth Award Recognition

And this Saturday at 8 p.m., they are set to receive an award from George H.W. Bush's Points of Light nonprofit, which 'identif[ies] and uplift[s] outstanding examples of individuals advancing solutions to societal problems around the globe while exemplifying the Presidents legacy of integrity, empathy, respect, optimism, conviction in the face of opposition and belief in the power of the human spirit.'

They'll be recognized in an hour-long livestream event co-hosted by Barbara Bush, Jenna Bush Hager and Wendy Stapleton. Honorary Chairs of the event are former Presidents Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama, who will deliver pre-recorded remarks.

Presidential: This Saturday, they will receive an award from George H.W. Bush's Points of Light nonprofit. Honorary Chairs of the event are former Presidents Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama

Huge! Over the past four years, they've grown their organization from just the two of them to over 1,000 volunteers

'When we first heard about it, we really couldnt believe it. It was the BEST call we've ever gotten and we're literally shaking in excitement! Being recognized in front of such renowned presidents is truly a huge honor,' the sisters said.

'Were so humbled to receive the George H.W. Bush Award on behalf of our volunteer family, who have been such a great pillar of support. To us, the key to building a better future is believing in the power of youth and were so grateful to Points of Light for believing in us.

'To honor the legacy of President George H.W. Bush through selfless service is something we are so proud of.

'We will take this award as a motivation to continue making a difference in our community and in our world!'

As for what's next, Shreyaa said she hopes to one day 'lead the fight for the Sustainable Development Goals like zero waste, quality education, climate action, reduced inequalities, and responsible consumption and production, by working with global organizations like the United Nations to manipulate food distribution methods and ensure that no one lives hungry!'

'Were so humbled to receive the George H.W. Bush Award on behalf of our volunteer family, who have been such a great pillar of support,' the sisters said

'To honor the legacy of President George H.W. Bush through selfless service is something we are so proud of,' they added

The teens also want to expand their partnerships and continue spreading their message, especially through such difficult times in the US.

'Regardless of how bad the situation may seem, we believe that positivity and kindness towards others shouldnt waver,' they said. 'Something good will come out of our current uncertain situation.

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'However, now is a good time for people to reflect on their priorities and values and appreciate all that life has given them. Spending time with family, calling old friends and elderly folks, and learning a new skill or hobby are all great ways to occupy time in a productive and worthwhile manner.'
San Francisco, Sep 22 : Facebook is bracing for tough measures to restrict content in case the November elections in the US descend into chaos or violent protests, according to a report in the Financial Times on Tuesday.

The plans were revealed by Facebook's head of global affairs, Nick Clegg, in an interview to the newspaper.

"There are some break-glass options available to us if there really is an extremely chaotic and, worse still, violent set of circumstances," Clegg was quoted as saying.

Facebook is under pressure to help maintain the integrity of the elections as it has faced criticism for failing to contain the spread of disinformation and hate speech on the platform.

It was even accused of failing to prevent attempts to create divisions in American society through disinformation campaigns by foreign players during the 2016 presidential election.

The stakes appear to be even higher this time with reports of similar attempts to influence the US presidential elections by groups operating from Russia, China and Iran.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg earlier this month announced additional steps it is taking to help secure the integrity of the US elections by encouraging voting, connecting people to authoritative information, and reducing the risks of post-election confusion.

These include measures to attach an informational label to content that seeks to delegitimise the outcome of the election or discuss the legitimacy of voting methods, for example, by claiming that lawful methods of voting will lead to fraud.
The Moscow-based Dossier Center, which is financed by exiled former Russian oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky, listed Tsarukian last week among possible Russian agents of influence who it said are overseen by a senior Kremlin official.

The official, Vladimir Chernov, is a retired intelligence general who heads a department on interregional and cultural ties with foreign countries in Russian President Vladimir Putins administration.

In an article posted on its website at the weekend, the Dossier Center revealed what it described as details of the departments shadowy operations in Armenia. In particular, it claimed that Chernovs office promotes Russian propaganda and sponsors local pro-Russian opposition figures and pundits hostile to Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian.

The website published relevant documents allegedly leaked to the opposition group. They include purported confidential correspondence between Chernovs subordinates and their Armenian contacts striving for regime change in Armenia. Dossier also posted a photocopy of Tsarukians passport which it claimed to have obtained from the Kremlin division.

The copy fuelled media speculation in Yerevan about Tsarukians unpublicized ties to Russia.

Hrachya Hakobian, a pro-government lawmaker and Pashinians brother-in-law, bluntly suggested on Tuesday that the BHK leader might be a Russian agent.

In terms of his activities, I wouldnt say that I noticed any fishy things, said Hakobian. But the very fact that [a copy of] his passport ended up, according to the Dossier Center, in a Kremlin drawer is quite suspicious and nothing should be ruled out.

Tsarukians spokeswoman, Iveta Tonoyan, categorically ruled out such a possibility. I would urge Mr. Hakobian to keep his internal fears and concerns to himself, she told RFE/RLs Armenian service.

Tonoyan insisted that she does not know how the Kremlin could have gotten hold of the copy of Tsarukians passport. Armenias National Security Service (NSS) should find that out instead of looking for enemies inside the country, she said, referring to controversial criminal proceedings launched against the BHK leader in June.

NSS Director Argishti Kyaramian told reporters on Monday that his agency is already looking into the Dossier article. He said vaguely that the inquiry might expose Armenian names and surnames along with their passports and signatures.

Tsarukian is known as a strong supporter of Armenias close ties with Russia. The BHK, which is Armenias largest parliamentary opposition force, signed a memorandum of cooperation with the ruling United Russia party last year.
U.S. Border Patrol agents rescued several people who were trapped inside a grain hopper train car east of Bruni, authorities said.

Hebbronville Station agents found 13 people inside a locked train car and an additional six people who tried to hide elsewhere in the train early Sunday during a routine freight train check.
The foreign ministry has resumed a mediation process to resolve a sexual abuse case involving a South Korean diplomat once stationed in New Zealand, officials said Tuesday.







The decision came as the ministry accepted the New Zealander victim's request for mediation by a third party, a dispute settlement process that exists under New Zealand's labor law.







"We have informed the victim's side of our stance and are awaiting a response," a ministry official said.







The male local employee at the South Korean Embassy in Wellington has accused the Korean diplomat of groping him more than once when he was stationed there in 2017. The case made headlines in both countries after New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern raised the issue during phone talks with President Moon Jae-in in July.







The foreign ministry said earlier that it was considering resuming the mediation process after receiving a second request from the victim in early August. Their first mediation early this year was unsuccessful due to differences over compensation.







The ministry's decision also came after South Korea's human rights watchdog found in its own report on the case that the ministry had shortcomings in the handling of the case and recommended the diplomat compensate the victim.







The diplomat in question was assigned to a new post in the Philippines in 2018 and was later disciplined with a salary reduction. He recently returned home at the ministry's order after the case resurfaced.







New Zealand has not requested the extradition of the diplomat. (Yonhap)


A special court here on Tuesday



extended till October 6 the judicial custody of actress Rhea Chakraborty, who was arrested by the (NCB) probing the drug angle in connection with actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death case.

Chakraborty was produced before special judge G B Gurao who extended herjudicial custody, said special public prosecutor Atul Sarpande.

Other accused arrested in the case will be produced in court on Wednesday, he said.

The special court on September 11 rejected bail pleas of Chakraborty, her brother Showik, and others in the case, noting that there was no "reasonable ground" at present for not connecting the accused with the crime.

Rajput was found hanging in his residence in suburban Bandra on June 14.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is separately probing a case against Chakraborty and others for allegedly abetting the 34-year-old actors suicide.

(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.)
President [Donald] Trump ordered the assassination of a national hero for Iran and a hero for the region, said Irans Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif of the killing of powerful Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani in a US drone strike back in January. The attack on Soleimanis convoy outside Baghdads International Airport also left several others dead, including pro-Iran Shiite commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.

Addressing a virtual meeting of the US-based think tank Council on Foreign Relations, Zarif called the killing a great mistake by the United States, adding that the book on Irans retaliatory measures is not closed. However, he noted, Im not in the business of making threats, suggesting that any decisions about retaliation lie with Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who is constitutionally the commander-in-chief and holds the ultimate authority over all sensitive foreign policy matters.

Five days after Soleimani's killing, Iran targeted Al-Asad Airbase housing US troops in Iraq with a barrage of missiles, leaving behind a trail of destruction but no confirmed deaths. Those were not all the missiles Iran fired during that night: In a state of high alert anticipating US retaliation, Iranian forces mistakenly downed a passenger plane outside the capital Tehran, killing all 176 people on board, most of them Iranian nationals.

To the Iranian supreme leader, the attack on the American base was just a slap in the face. He stressed that revenge will not be complete until all US troops are withdrawn from the region. His warning prompted speculation that the Islamic Republic will take aim at American troops stationed in its vicinity through a web of regional proxies it has been nurturing and arming during the past two decades.

Only last week, Maj. Gen. Hossein Salami, who commands the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, spoke of decisive and real revenge for the Soleimani slaying.

Mr. Trump! Are you under the impression that to avenge the death of our martyred brother, we will go after a female ambassador in South Africa?" he said. "We will hit those who played direct and indirect roles  and this is a serious message. Salami appeared to be denying recent US intelligence reports that pointed to Iranian plots to assassinate the US ambassador in Pretoria, Lana Marks, in retaliation for Soleimanis death.

The Iranian generals warning received praise from the hard-line media outlets at home, including Kayhan, which is run by the supreme leaders office: No matter if he is in office or not, Trump must feel confident that up until the end of his disgraceful life, he will remain within the target range of the Revolutionary Guard.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 02:11:16|Editor: huaxia

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RAMALLAH, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- French Development Agency (AFD), a french public financial institution headquartered in Paris, on Tuesday donated nearly 28 million U.S. dollars to support water and agriculture projects in the Gaza Strip.

The agreement on the donation was signed by Catherine Bonnaud, director of the AFD branch in Jerusalem, and Palestinian Minister of Finance Shukri Bishara, Palestinian Minister of Agriculture Riyad al-Atari and Head of the Palestinian Water Authority Mazen Ghoneim, in the presence of Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Ishtaye.

The donation aims to reduce the effects of high temperatures, low rainfall and a severe drought due to the climate change, and benefit from additional quantities of alternative water sources that can be used for sustainable agriculture in the Palestinian coastal enclave. Enditem
Massachusetts has the right of first refusal in the potential sale of Pan Am Railways that could be a major boost for our regional economy and invaluable to the state and the environment, according to a letter to Department of Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack by legislators on Tuesday.

The potential sale of Pan Ams assets and freight rights in particular along the Route 2 Rail Corridor, presents a significant opportunity for the Commonwealth to make a critical investment in our transportation infrastructure by retaining the use of an important rail corridor and securing Massachusetts' northern tier rail for future passenger service, the letter states.

The legislators -- five senators and five representatives -- are asking the state to indicate strong interest in securing passenger rights between North Adams and Fitchburg as well as to consider purchasing all or part of the rail corridor, at minimum, from Fitchburg to Greenfield.

Massachusetts law provides the state with a right of first refusal for the sale of any railroad within the state.

That law states, all railroad property offered for sale must first be submitted to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation."

We firmly believe the Commonwealth should act now to help close this considerable gap by seizing the unique opportunity embodied in the Pan Am sale and investing in existing infrastructure, states the letter.

The intention of the Northern Tier Rail, also known as the Route 2 Rail Corridor, is to provide a passenger rail service that would allow people to travel by rail from Boston to North Adams and beyond. The line would travel through Berkshire, Franklin, Worcester, Middlesex and Suffolk counties within Massachusetts.

Legislation requiring the DOT to conduct a study of the Northern Tier Rail was filed by State Sen. Jo Comerford and passed as part of the states 2020 budget.

The commonwealth must invest in publicly-financed passenger rail in all parts of the state, not just in Boston. So-called Route 2 Rail or Northern Tier Rail would be a major boost for our regional economy and invaluable toward meeting the commonwealths climate goals, Comerford said in a statement to MassLive.

On June 29, Trains Magazine reported that Pan Am Railways, the main freight carrier in northern New England, was for sale. Pan Am is known to the Bay State public because it shares track with MBTA commuter rail trains on the Fitchburg and Haverhill lines as well as Amtraks Downeaster service between Boston and Maine.

In addition to Secretary Pollack, the letter was sent to Gov. Charlie Baker and members of the Massachusetts congressional delegation, as well as the chairpersons of the Joint Committee on Transportation.

Action now will help ensure accessible, green transportation, states the letter adding that it would boost greater regional development. And the ability to meet our states climate emissions goals for generations to come.

The letter was signed by State Sens. Jo Comerford, Anne Gobi, Adam Hinds, Jamie Eldridge and Dean Tran and State Reps. Natalie Blais, John Barrett, Stephan Hay, Natalie Higgins and Susannah Whipps.

Got a news tip or want to contact MassLive about this story? Email newstips@masslive.com or message us on Facebook orTwitter. You can also call our news tips line at 413-776-1364.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 00:26:36|Editor: huaxia

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Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Representative in Botswana Rene Czudek (L) and Botswana's Minister of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism Philda Kereng (R) pose for a photo during the launch of a land degradation assessment project in Gaborone, Botswana on Sept. 22, 2020. (Photo by Tshekiso Tebalo/Xinhua)

GABORONE. Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Botswana's Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism (MENT) through the Department of Forestry and Range Resources (DFRR) in partnership with Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) launched Land Degradation Assessment, Monitoring and Restoration project on Tuesday in Botswana's capital city Gaborone.

Philda Kereng, Minister of MENT said Botswana government has committed about 1 million U.S. dollars towards the implementation of the project for a period of three years.

"Considering the magnitude and complexity of the project, the government identified and engaged the FAO to capacitate the DFRR by providing expertise and technical know-how, as well as to administer the funds", she said.

Rene Czudek, FAO Representative in Botswana, said the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) donated about 40,000 U.S. dollars towards supporting Botswana's efforts in achieving Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN).

The project comprises a number of components, which include land degradation assessment and mapping, land degradation monitoring system establishment, land restoration strategy Development and setting of LDN.
U.S. Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) speaks to reporters at the U.S. Capitol on September 21, 2020 in Washington, DC. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is planning to hold a vote to fill Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburgs Supreme Court seat, with U.S. President Donald Trump expected to unveil his nominee as early as Friday or Saturday.

"The Constitution gives the President the power to nominate and the Senate the authority to provide advice and consent on Supreme Court nominees," the Utah Republican said in a statement. "Accordingly, I intend to follow the Constitution and precedent in considering the President's nominee. If the nominee reaches the Senate floor, I intend to vote based upon their qualifications."

Sen. Mitt Romney said Tuesday he will support holding a vote on President Donald Trump 's Supreme Court nominee this year, all but assuring Republicans can push forward with filling the vacancy left by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death.

Republicans aim to quickly confirm the next justice on the top U.S. court even with a presidential election only six weeks away. As the Senate has 53 GOP senators and Vice President Mike Pence can break a tie, four Republicans would have needed to buck their party to block consideration of a nominee before the election.

While Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska have opposed filling the seat before the election, it is unclear who other than Romney  the only senator to break from his party in voting to remove Trump from office this year  would join them. Despite his support for considering a nominee, Romney did not commit to voting to confirm the president's eventual court pick.

"What I intend to do is to proceed with the consideration process, and if a nominee actually reaches the floor, then I will vote based upon the qualifications of that nominee," he told reporters Tuesday after issuing the statement.

Trump plans to announce his choice for the lifetime Supreme Court appointment on Saturday.

The court vacancy has supercharged tensions in an already fraught election. While the GOP hopes the prospect of securing a 6-3 conservative majority on the court will excite voters, Democrats have denounced the push to fill the seat before the end of Trump's term as they try to gain Senate control from Republicans in November.

The party has decried the effort to confirm a justice before the election after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell refused to consider former President Barack Obama's court nominee Merrick Garland during the 2016 campaign. McConnell has argued moving forward with a confirmation holds to precedent, because the same party controls the White House and Senate now but did not in 2016.
Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer declared a state of emergency Tuesday "due to the potential for civil unrest" ahead of Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron's expected announcement on the Breonna Taylor case.

Of note: Louisville has witnessed more than 115 days of protests over the police killing of Taylor, an unarmed Black woman, with calls for all the officers involved to be charged.

"Our goal is ensuring space and opportunity for potential protesters to gather and express their First Amendment rights after the announcement. At the same time, we are preparing for any eventuality to keep everyone safe. ... we do not know when the announcement will come, but we must prepare for it."

What's happening: Cameron is expected to announce a decision on charges as early as this week. The Louisville police chief declared a state of emergency for the department on Monday.

"The public may also see barriers being staged around downtown, which is another part of our preparations," Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) spokesperson Lamont Washington said in a statement to the Courier Journal announcing that department was cancelling all pending vacation request and days off. "It is important to note that the AG has said there is no timetable for the announcement."

Two federal buildings, including the federal courthouse, in downtown Louisville have also been closed and boarded up in preparation of an announcement, local media reported.

The big picture: Taylor was shot dead by police on March 13 when LMPD officers conducting a narcotics investigation barged into the 26-year-old's home in plain-clothes to serve a "no-knock" warrant.

Police exchanged fire with Taylor's boyfriend, who said he fired believing the home was being broken into.

Protests over Taylor's death erupted in Louisville in May following the police killing of George Floyd in Minnesota.

The Louisville Metro Council has since banned no-knock warrants.

Last week, Louisville announced a $12 million settlement package with Taylor's family. The settlement also includes a series of police reforms. Taylor's family has continued to call for the officers involved in her death to be charged.

Go deeper: What you need to know about the Breonna Taylor shooting

Editor's note: This article has been updated with Fischer's announcement on the state of emergency.
Wetherspoon pubs founder Tim Martin has claimed the Governments 10pm curfew is a public relations exercise amid reports some venues will ignore the rules.

Mr Martin said pubs were not behind the rise in infections and the Government was imposing the 10pm shutdown on pubs and restaurants to be seen to be doing something.

Sacha Lord, the night time economy adviser for Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), said some venues may rebel and ignore the curfew as they were facing bankruptcy otherwise while he expected an explosion in house parties.

Mr Martin, who founded the Wetherspoon pub chain, told PA: I think the Government is out of touch and out of control.

Most people think of a pub, a vision from their youth, people dancing, loud music and raucous behaviour.

Most pubs are not like that and no pub when operating social distancing is like that.

Why have they done it?

The only thing I can think of is they must have the stats for pubs, very low figures for transmissions, so the reason they have done is its for PR reasons.

They want to be seen to be doing something.

A curfew is a bad idea because at the moment theres relatively low level of transmissions in pubs.

Boris Johnson and Tim Martin in happier times (Henry Nicholls/PA)

He said, of the 861 Wetherspoons pubs, as of last week, 810 had no infections reported and all were operating track and trace with 40 pubs having only one infection reported.

Mr Martin said only handwashing and social distancing was proven to work against virus transmissions and called on Parliament to take charge to debate the way forward, suggesting MPs look at how Sweden is tackling the pandemic.

He added: Other things like moonshots, circuit breaks and rule of six, and now a curfew, are not scientifically proven to work.

(PA Graphics)

Mr Lord, co-founder of some of the biggest music events in Europe, including The Warehouse Project and Parklife festival in Manchester, said staggered egress will end when pubs and bars all close at the same time.

Story continues

Im expecting its going to be back to your traditional ring of the bell at quarter to 10 and doors close at 10.

From what Im hearing, I have spoken to a couple of operators, looking at rebelling on it, either go bust or take a chance and not sticking to the curfew.

These operators are facing bankruptcy.

Two people have said, we are going to go bust, they might try to squeeze another half hour or an hour out of the curfew, which I dont condone.

Festival goers on day two of the 2015 Parklife festival (Katja Ogrin/PA)

We have got the biggest student population in Europe (in Manchester).

This is obviously going to create an upsurge in house parties.

Students are not going to leave pubs and bars and tuck themselves up in bed at 10pm.

Come kicking-out time at 10pm, I dont think you will see crime and disorder but an explosion of house parties.

Mr Lord, appointed in 2018 by Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham as an adviser on the regions night-time economy, said there are 900,00 people still furloughed in the hospitality industry, the UKs fifth biggest industry, which employs more than three million nationwide and supports 420,000 jobs in Greater Manchester alone.

Many are fearing for their jobs this morning, he said.

It feels today like the sector is on its knees.

I understand completely safety has to come first, but I dont think its very well thought out.

Mr Lord said the Government had done some great things to help the hospitality sector but with the furlough scheme due to end next month more support is needed citing extended government support for hospitality in France and Spain.

He added: Bear in mind Chancellor Rishi Sunak said he would stand with business, it feels now, and its not just me saying this, it feels hes turning his back on it.
Oman's Ministry of Health has laid the foundation stone for the new Sultan Qaboos Hospital in Salalah which is being set up at an investment of RO129 million ($334 million).

To be built over an area of 94,400 sq m, the main building consists of a ground floor and six floors. The 700-bed project will have speciality wings for both men and women besides 25 labour rooms, two operation theatres and an integrated accident and emergency unit, reported the Oman Observer.

Designed to meet future demands, the hospital contains a pharmacy, medical laboratories, a daycare unit, a room for minor operations, physiotherapy and chemotherapy units, it stated.

The project includes offices for an administration, services building, medical warehouses, auxiliary electric generators, and potable desalination devices, the report added.
Press Release

September 22, 2020 Is P76-billion coco levy funds intact? -- Pangilinan WHAT is the status of the estimated P76-billion coco levy funds? Is it still intact? These are the questions Sen. Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan want answered by the government as the Senate continues its deliberation on the bill actualizing the Supreme Court decision on the funds collected from coconut farmers during the Marcos regime. During the Senate amendment period of the proposed law Monday, the 48th anniversary of Marcos's declaration of martial law, Pangilinan asked Sen. Cynthia Villar, sponsor of the bill, about the status of the coco levy funds held by the Bureau of Treasury (BTr). "What we're now seeing is that because it is an income, na-co-mingle na yung funds? And na-co-mingle na po sa general fund yung coco levy fund?" Pangilinan asked after Villar presented the BTr's proposed amendment to stagger the release of the P76 billion thus: - 1st year: P10 billion - 2nd year: P10 billion - 3rd year: P15 billion - 4th Year: P15 billion - 5th year, P25 billion, "and any amount accruing, including interest, to the special account in the general fund". Villar explained that the coco levy funds were entered into the government accounting records as "income" when they were turned over to the BTr under the previous administration, and once transferred to the proposed coco levy trust fund will be considered "expense". "Ibig sabihin, kasama na yan sa lahat ng pondo. At dahil wala na nga po yung revenue sa ngayon, bagsak ang revenue natin, wala na yung pondo o wala na yung malaking pondo kaya ngayon ilalabas nang unti-unti. Tama po ba yon?" Pangilinan asked. Villar answered in the affirmative and said that the coco levy fund was not given to a "definite fund." "It was considered an income kaya nag-co-mingle," said Villar. The amendment was approved, however, Pangilinan manifested to introduce amendments to the amendments of Villar. In August 2018, the Sandiganbayan issued a resolution ordering the transfer of coco levy funds and assets to the government. The resolution directed the PCGG, the BTr, the Governance Commission for Government Owned and Controlled Corporations and the Office of the Solicitor General to "immediately and without further delay cede, transfer, convey and/or reconvey title to the plaintiff Republic of the Philippines of the shares of stock in the 6 CIIF companies and 14 CIIF holding companies, as well as deposit money and funds constituting the coconut levy or accruing from the coconut levy assets in the Special Account in the General Fund for Coco Levies with the Bureau of Treasury with respect to the 753,848,312 Converted SMC Series 1 Preferred Shares." The said SMC shares were estimated to be worth over P76 billion. The coconut levy was a tax imposed by the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos between the 1970s and 1980s purportedly for the benefit of the coconut farmers and the development of the coconut industry. The taxes collected were allegedly used to fund businesses owned by Marcos cronies. After Marcos was deposed in 1986, coconut farmers, with the help of the Presidential Commission on Good Government, filed court cases to recover their investment. For over 40 years, the money was trapped in court disputes. In 2012, the Supreme Court ruled that the coco levy fund is a public fund and awarded to the government solely for the benefit of the coconut farmers and the development of the coconut industry.
Prince William will reveal that fatherhood gave him a 'new sense of purpose' and helped spur him to protect the natural world in his new conservation documentary set to air next month.

The Duke of Cambridge will share his passion for the planet and search for ways to restore the environment for the next generation in his new ITV documentary Prince William: A Planet For Us All.

The arrival of the new documentary, which was filmed by a production team two years ago, comes as Prince William gears up to join a star-studded line-up to give a virtual TED talk about climate change in October.

Prince William will reveal that fatherhood gave him a 'new sense of purpose' in his new ITV documentary Prince William: A Planet For Us All

The documentary, which is set to air on ITV next month, will see the Duke of Cambridge share his passion for the environmental issues

In his documentary, the prince will say: 'I have always loved nature and fatherhood has given me a new sense of purpose.'

The royal, who shares children George, seven, Charlotte, five, and two year-old Louis, with wife Kate Middleton, will also describe how becoming a father helped change his outlook on the world.

He continued: 'Now I have got George, Charlotte and now Louis in my life - your outlook does change. You want to hand over to the next generation, the wildlife in a much better condition.

'Two years ago a film crew joined me on my search for ways to protect the natural world.

'I've always believed it's possible to give the young people hope and belief that things can get fixed. I have the belief that if we all work together we can make a difference.'

During the show, the prince meets people in the UK and abroad who are playing their part in protecting and restoring the environment, according to Kensington Palace.

The documentary also charts his journey from being passionate about conservation to wanting to play a greater global leadership role on the environment, the palace added.

Naturalist Sir David Attenborough, who also makes an appearance in the programme, said: 'Kids know an awful lot about what is happening to the world.'

Prince William will search for ways to restore the environment for the next generation in his new show

The documentary shows the prince meeting with people in the UK and abroad who are playing their part in protecting the environment

The show, which will air next month on ITV, will also see the prince meet naturalist Sir David Attenborough

The arrival of the new documentary comes as Prince William gears up to join a star-studded line-up to give a virtual TED talk about climate change.

The royal will appear alongside a panel of keen environmentalist and celebrities at TED's Countdown Global Launch on October 10 to discuss how the world can tackle global warming and ensure a better, healthier future for the planet.

The Duke will be joined by impassioned activists at the online conference including Al Gore, and Hollywood stars Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo and Jaden Smith.

Earlier this year, Prince William launched the Earthshot Prize initiative, declaring the Earth was at a 'tipping point' and humans had just ten years to save the world.

The Duke will take part in the fourth and final session of the conference, appearing alongside climate change activists, engineers and pop stars.

The session, which is titled 'Breakthroughs' is described online as 'exploring the nexus of protection, regeneration and transformation using powerful examples.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 01:19:34|Editor: huaxia

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CHICAGO, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- A Northwestern University (NU) research team has developed a new theory that can predict the movement of an animal's sensory organs while searching for something vital to its life.

The study focuses on South American gymnotid electric fish, using data from experiments performed in lab, but also analyzes previously published datasets on the blind eastern American mole, the American cockroach and the hummingbird hawkmoth. The three senses were electrosense, vision and smell.

The researchers applied the theory to four different species which involved three different senses, and found the theory predicted the observed sensing behavior of each animal.

The theory, called energy-constrained proportional betting, provides a unified solution to the problem of not spending too much time and energy moving around to sample information, while getting enough information to guide movement during tracking and related exploratory behaviors, as the algorithm following the theory generates simulated sensory organ movements that show good agreement to actual sensory organ movements from fish, mammals and insects.

"When you look at a cat's ears, you'll often see them swiveling to sample different locations of space," said Malcolm MacIver, a professor of biomedical and mechanical engineering in NU's McCormick School of Engineering who led the research. "This is an example of how animals are constantly positioning their sensory organs to help them absorb information from the environment. It turns out there is a lot going on below the surface in the movement of sense organs like ears and eyes and noses."

The research provides a bridge between the literature on animal movement and energetics and information theory-based approaches to sensing. The theory could be used to improve the performance of robots collecting information and possibly apply to the development of autonomous vehicles where response to uncertainty is a major challenge.

The study was published Tuesday by the journal eLife. Enditem
Sanjay Tickoo, the president of the Kashmiri Pandit Sangharsh Samiti (KPSS), is on the third day of his fast-unto-death at the 200-year-old Ganpatyar Temple in Srinagar. Protesting against the J&K administration for punishing the community, he has one question for the ruling party: If the BJP calls itself a party for the Kashmiri Pandits then why has it left us high and dry for the past four years?

They keep taking our name, claiming that they are working for us. If thats the case then why since 2016 till now have they not been able to help us? Why is it that we dont even have money to buy medicines in the Union Territory of J&K which comes directly under the central government which reports to Prime Minister Modi? Tickoo asks.

KPSS is the organisation representing 808 Kashmiri Pandit families who chose to stay on after insurgency broke out in the valley, forcing an exodus of the Kashmiri Hindu community. They allege they faced harassment at the hands of the J&K government after the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5 last year.

Since the abrogation of articles 370 and 35-A, after which many businesses wound up due to the law and order situation, curfew and communication blockade, many Kashmiri Pandits lost their jobs. The epidemic pushed many more Pandit families, which were already living under mounting debts and increasingly difficult situations, to the brink.

Tickoo says KPSS has, since June, written hundreds of letters to the Prime Ministers Office, to the Ministry of Home Affairs, to the office of Lieutenant Governor and to Jammu and Kashmirs Chief Secretary, reminding them about the recommendations made by the home ministry and the J&K High Court, to provide jobs and financial assistance to the non-migrant Pandit families.

There are over 500 people here among the 808 families who dont have any jobs right now. Over 350 families that depended on private jobs are penniless right now since Article 370 was abrogated and Covid-19 pandemic broke out, Tickoo, talking to News18 over the phone, said.

Blaming the government departments for not moving the necessary files on time, he adds there are 4-5 families which have one or more members suffering from cancer. How will they afford expensive chemotherapy sessions without any source of income, he asks.

In a letter released to the press on Sunday, Tickoo wrote, Since abrogation of Article 370 and 35A, we the Non-Migrant Kashmiri Pandits  Kashmiri Hindus living in Kashmir Valley are facing harassment and isolation at the hands of the Relief Department. Despite multiple directions from Honble High Court and recommendations from the Central Government through the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Relief Department is playing with the life and security of the Non-Migrant Kashmiri Pandits  Kashmiri Hindus living in Kashmir Valley.

The Kashmiri Pandits living in the valley, he says, are not demanding charity from the government. All we are asking the government is to give jobs to people of our community based on their qualifications and provide financial assistance to us. This is not a favour. The Union Home Affairs ministry and Honourable High Court have already recommended these measures more than once. People here are already cutting down on their rations. I dont know how long we will be able to survive with such a complete apathy by the government towards us, Tickoo added.
NEW MILFORD - A Reform rabbi who was suspended from Temple Sholom over a misconduct allegation in May has become the head of a Danbury-based social justice nonprofit while he prepares his appeal.

Ari Rosenberg, the executive director of the Association of Religious Communities, and the rabbi at Temple Sholom for five years until his suspension, hopes to be vindicated when he appeals to the Central Conference of American Rabbis in October, his lawyer said Monday.

We believe Rabbi Rosenberg did nothing wrong, said Rosenbergs Manhattan attorney, Milton Williams. And we are very hopeful that the appeals process will vindicate him.

Williams declined to elaborate.

Scott Mullin / For Hearst Connecticut Media

Rosenberg, reached on Monday, declined to comment, saying it could jeopardize his appeal on Oct. 5.

Details about the misconduct allegation against Rosenberg were not available on Monday - except a statement posted on the CCAR website indicating sections of CCARs ethics code Rosenberg was accused of violating, including financial, rabbinic relationships and sexual boundaries.

The notice of his suspension, which appears on a list of expelled and suspended rabbis, notes Rosenberg is currently prohibited from providing any rabbinic services to individuals or communities.

As rabbis, we expect one another to abide by the highest moral values of our Jewish tradition and as members of CCAR, reads a statement atop the list of expelled and suspended rabbis. We hold each other accountable.

ARC President Joe Walkovich said Rosenberg was hired earlier this summer to the $75,000 executive director position on the strength of the relationship the ARC board had with the rabbi before his suspension, and on the strength of interviews the ARC board conducted with Temple Sholom congregants.

I cant get into what is pending because this is a personnel matter, but we had very intensive interviews with Ari and multiple interviews with the congregation in New Milford, who had a petition drive to have this case overturned, Walkovich said. We felt comfortable moving forward with Ari, and in the two months since we chose Ari we have been able to see what a good pick he was for us.

Temple Sholoms top administrator said the congregation prefers not to discuss the story in public - but instead to focus on the High Holy Days, which began on Friday with the Jewish New Year Rosh Hashana and ends on Sunday with the Day of Atonement known as Yom Kippur.

However, the congregation knows about Rosenbergs suspension and appeal, said Tamara Potter, executive director of the Temple.

CCAR was very straightforward at the beginning that Rabbi Ari did nothing illegal and nothing criminal, but they are obliged to completely hear out the process and his appeal, Potter said. We are hoping that everything turns out just fine for Rabbi Ari.

Temple Sholom, which describes itself as a small congregation, is getting through the holidays with its Cantor Laura Breznick as its spiritual leader, conducting services online because of the ongoing coronavirus threat.

Rosenberg for his part has been raising money for ARC, which has seen a surge of need among immigrants, children, domestic abuse victims and the homeless because of COVID-19.

Our mission is to provide services to the most vulnerable with food pantries, homeless advocacy programs, and emergency economic aid for people to pay electric bills, Walkovich said. Because of the pandemic we have seen our caseload more than double over the last six months, but thankfully our fundraising has been keeping up with that.

Rosenberg, a past occasional contributor to the News-Times Forum on Faith guest column, grew up the son of a rabbi in Waterford and completed his first year of rabbinical studies in Jerusalem in 2003. He was ordained at Hebrew Union College in 2008. He served at congregations in Great Barrington, Mass., and Springfield, N.J., until the summer of 2015, when he came to New Milford.

rryser@newstimes.com 203-731-3342
The Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu has described as opportunistic and populist a petition filed by a Civil Society Organization, STRANEK, urging his office to dive into the controversial Agyapa Royalties deal.

In a response to the group, the Special Prosecutor said his office has already independently commenced investigations into the matter and therefore cannot commit resources to follow up on STRANEKs petition.

Your letter under reference, therefore, appears to this Office as an opportunistic and populist enterprise on your part to take credit for processes already independently commenced by this Office. In any case, your letter containing mere speculations does not present any reasonable basis for this Office to commit further resources to your request from the public purse, the letter from the Special Prosecutor said.

STRANEK in its petition to Office of the Special Prosecutor earlier this month said it wanted the office to investigate how the value of the royalties being ceded to Agyapa Royalties was calculated by the government and which entity did the evaluation.

Agyapa deal is shrouded in illegality, secrecy and issues of conflict of interest, and is inimical to the interest of the good people of Ghana. The deal raises serious concerns which demand your urgent attention, excerpts of the petition read.

But that request has been rejected.

While admitting that the Agyapa mineral royalties issue was of national interest, the Martin Amidu said it was surprising that the CSO petitioned his office to look into the deal when evidence abound to the effect that his office had already started work on it.

He said the CSOs petition smacks of an attempt to take credit for work his office is already doing.

Read excerpts of Martin Amidus response below:

The Agyapa Royalties Agreements and related issues have been matters of national interest since they were approved by Parliament on 14th August 2020.

It is also a notorious matter of public knowledge and notice that this Office on 10th September 2020 invoked its mandate pursuant to Sections 2(1), 29, and 73 of Act 959 and Regulation 31 (1) and (2) of L. I. 2374 to examine any issues arising therefrom.

(See Special Prosecutor demands information on Agyapa deal from Parliament, September 11, 2020 and  Parliament to furnish Special Prosecutor with documents on Agyapa deal today, September 14, 2020  citifmonline.com and radio; Modern Ghana; Ghana Web; and other media houses also carried the same news with different headlines) It is further in the public domain that Parliament and other public institutions have already responded to this Offices request for information and documents.

Your letter under reference, therefore, appears to this Office as an opportunistic and populist enterprise on your part to take credit for processes already independently commenced by this Office. In any case your letter containing mere speculations without more, does not present any reasonable basis for this Office to commit further resources to your request from the public purse.

Kindly accept the assurances of the Special Prosecutor of the highest consideration.

---citinewsroom
The Kashmir Press Club and the Kashmir Editors guild have denounced the summoning of a journalist to a police station and slapping him for alleged misreporting.

While condemning the incident, the Kashmir Press Club, in a statement, said the behaviour of the police towards a young journalist Aquib Javeed is unacceptable. Javeed is also an executive member of the Kashmir Press Club.

He was summoned to the cyber police station on Saturday in connection with a story he had written recently for a news portal. As per his account which has been published today he was slapped by a masked policeman. Aquib also mentions that he was abused during this time, said the body.

Hitting/slapping or abusing a Journalist in connection with a story he or she has written cannot be accepted in any society and goes against the freedom of the press.

The KPC also sought intervention of Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and senior officers of the department.

We urge the L-G of J&K to look into these issues of difficulties faced by the journalists while performing their professional duties in Kashmir valley, said the Kashmir Press Club.

The KPC said summons to reporters by the police for their stories has become a routine practice in Kashmir now.

The club demands an end to this practice. The administration should work out a mechanism so that a conducive atmosphere is available for journalists to deliver their duties without fear and reprisals, said the body.

Kashmir Editors Guild (KEG) also condemned the police for abusing the journalist.

Police spokesman said It was reliably learnt that one story captioned The Real Cyber Bully: Police in Kashmir Question Kashmir Twitter was published on Article-14 an online news portal. In the story, the writer depicted a misleading picture with incorrect detail, said the police spokesman.

The headline and the picture with some of the content were factually incorrect hence misleading. The writer published a picture of a building showing it as Cyber Police Station Kashmir Zone, Srinagar, which is incorrect. The fact of the matter is that the Cyber Police Station was notified as a Police Station in October 2019 and was established in the upper storey of the Police Station Shergari building. The said writer has misled the general public about the functioning of Cyber Police Station and its establishment.

The spokesman said writer was called in the Cyber Police Station Kashmir in connection with clarification of facts mentioned in the article.

The writer admitted that the picture published in the article is incorrect and has also admitted that he has no knowledge about the functioning and establishment of Cyber Police Station in Kashmir. Further, the writer also admitted that he has never visited Cyber Police Station and has no knowledge regarding establishment of Cyber Police Station Kashmir at Shergari Complex. The writer and other accompanying (senior journalists) regretted the incorrect detail and assured that the story will be tweaked accordingly, said the officer.

The writer accompanying other senior journalists, said the spokesman, met the SP in-charge of the cyber police station and showed the tweaked story and regretted publishing incorrect/ misleading content. The allegation of excesses by Police officials/officers, published subsequently by Article-14 and other Social Media handle is misleading and factually incorrect, hence refuted, said the spokesman.
Pharmaceutical giants GlaxoSmithKline and Sanofi have agreed to provide with up to 72 million doses of their potential COVID-19 vaccine as governments buy up supplies of unproven treatments in hopes of ensuring supplies of whatever works.

On Tuesday, the companies reiterated their commitment to make the vaccine affordable and available globally.

Both companies have significant R&D and manufacturing capability worldwide and are already working hard to scale up production, Roger Conner, president of GSK's vaccine unit, said in a statement.

This announcement from the Government of supports our ongoing efforts.

The agreement with follows earlier deals with the US, European Union and UK governments.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
As we transition into becoming a much larger technology company, we are committed to making the long-term investments in Customer and Technical support services required to meet our continued growth." -Noel Gouldin, President of CellGate

CellGate has just announced the hiring of Monte Lewis as its new Director of Support Services. This is a newly created position for CellGate that was predicated by the explosive growth the company has experienced in the last 24 months.

CellGate is a manufacturer and service provider of cellular-based and internet access control devices. Their products allow streaming video of visitors from access points like vehicle and pedestrian gates, and allow product users to grant entry to these access points from a smart phone app. All of CellGates products are managed through the companys web-based TrueCloud portal hosted by Microsoft Azure.

CellGates hiring of Lewis is considered to be essential to the companys future success due to his extensive experience in customer call center environments, redesigning call center processes to improve response times and efficiency, and in employee development.

Lewis is a U.S. Army veteran who brings almost 25 years of experience in contact center managerial roles with Hilton Worldwide and TruGreen. Lewis first mandates will be: to oversee CellGates Gold Key Customer Service and Tech Support teams, and help them operate as a cohesive support services resource; enhance current procedures and technology systems support; and implement new strategies to address customer needs more efficiently. His hiring coincides with an array of additional investments CellGate is making in its Customer and Technical Support departments to accommodate its recent success.

We are so excited that Monte Lewis is joining the CellGate team, said Noel Gouldin, President of CellGate. As we transition into becoming a much larger technology company, we are committed to making the long-term investments in Customer and Technical support services required to meet our continued growth. This means revamping our internal processes to be able to provide better customer support on a broader scale. Montes extensive experience with large call center operations means he has both developed and implemented processes and structure at the highest levels, and that is exactly the kind of talent CellGate needs to ensure future company success.

In addition to Lewis hiring, CellGate is: increasing staff in its Technical Support department, by 60%, including 2 positions responsible for answering all incoming technical support calls live for better accessibility and call prioritization. They have also upgraded their telephony system in order to improve call management efficiency.

Lewis will be responsible for Customer Satisfaction delivered through their Gold Key Customer Service and Tech Support teams. Gold Key Customer Service provides customer support for all TrueCloud portal administration functions, and CellGate App functionality. Technical Support works with both dealers and end users who are experiencing technical issues ranging from installation support to post installation trouble shooting.

We expect that Montes hiring, combined with the additional investments we are making in head count and telephony infrastructure will have an immediate impact on all customer support functions, said Gouldin. We are steadfast in our dedication to build the support systems our customers need, and expect to see results from these investments quickly.

###

CellGate has been providing access control and security monitoring products utilizing cellular network technology since 2006. They are the only technology company with a complete suite of cellular-based security productsencompassing streaming video, smart keypad entry, voice and camera solutions. With their easy-to-use smart phone applications and proprietary TrueCloud web-based portal built on Microsoft Azures cloud service, CellGate offers flexibility found in no other access control or monitoring solution.


John Turners death this past weekend also marked the passing of a political era. Very few Canadians have risen to the heights of becoming prime minister, and all that do deserve our gratitude, whatever our political allegiance.

To reach the highest office in the land requires a dedication to the country, an understanding of its history, an appreciation of the values of its citizenry and a commitment to its political institutions. John Turners political career reflected these qualities, particularly as a reformist justice minister under Pierre Trudeau. Others have talked about his many accomplishments, but few have talked about his reverence for parliamentary democracy and his trying days when he returned as leader.

We first met in 1969 when I was a Toronto organizer for the Liberal Party, and he campaigned for me in York East during the 1974 federal election. He was engaging, charismatic and intellectually curious, but above all John was a shrewd, street-smart political operator who knew how to resonate with people. He loved being on the election stump.

When I arrived in Ottawa after the election, I noticed how effortlessly he glided through the halls of Parliament where he truly felt at home, whether engaging in the cut and thrust of Question Period, speaking in debates, or chatting with colleagues in the lobbies.

John believed that to serve in Parliament was the highest of callings and that a bond existed between parliamentarians irrespective of political affiliation. It was a common cause to support the efficacy of the parliamentary system and good governance. He valued his friendships with all MPs. Political battles were mainly forgotten when he left the chamber to enjoy drinks with opposition colleagues and the press corps. Many lasting relationships were formed.

He truly believed that parliamentarians must not slavishly adhere to the party whip, and upon occasion, should not be afraid of taking an independent position based on principle for the good of the country or ones constituency.

This led him to resign as minister of finance in 1975, when the Trudeau government was about to reverse its commitment against wage and price controls. At the time, Ontario was in the middle of a provincial election, so the timing caused some considerable consternation. In John Turners mind he justified his decision to leave as a matter of principle. While he was criticized by many, he was firm that his commitment to principle came before politics.

After nine years working in the Toronto business community, he returned to Ottawa as leader in 1984. It was a very trying time. Gone were the days of intra-party camaraderie and settling differences in a social setting. The Trudeau government, despite many accomplishments, had tired with the electorate after an almost unbroken run of 16 years in power.

John wanted to put a new face on government but had little time to do it before an election had to be called. The election result was calamitous, as many of us went down in defeat. However, to Johns credit, he believed he had a duty to soldier on and oversee the rebuilding of the party.

He initiated many reforms aiming to modernize and, in his words, democratize the party. As national director following the election, I valued his belief, commitment and support in meeting these goals. Over 50 years we had a lot of ups and downs in our relationship, but mutual respect was never in question. He was unfailingly courteous and accommodating whenever we met.

There was some success as constituency organizations were rebuilt and new candidates recruited, but there were challenges from a politically savvy Conservative government  and battles of the past kept simmering.

The Liberal Party is an institution, but it is also a family. As with all families, there is human bonding and fellowship but there are also are fights and slights. Despite being reaffirmed as leader in 1986, internal party troubles continued. Johns principled stand on free trade in the 1988 election won back much support, providing a foundation when we returned to office under Jean Chretien in 1993.

Politics is an unforgiving game, as we are now seeing south of the border. Win or lose, it takes incredible determination and strength to be a political leader. John Turner had those qualities and made a significant contribution to Canadian political life.
More than 276,900 Western New Yorkers have contracted Covid-19 since March 2020 and 3,457 have died of it.

The five-county region  Erie, Niagara, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Allegany counties  had reported declining case counts, hospitalizations and deaths since its second-wave peak in January, as vaccinations ramped up across the region and more people acquire immunity. Cases and hospitalizations rose in early spring, peaked in mid-April and declined sharply before beginning an uptick in July that continued into the fall. The number of new cases dropped in early December but then shot back up around the holiday, reaching the highest levels since the start of the pandemic. The number of daily reported cases topped 2,000 three times in the last week of the 2021.

Hundreds of thousands of Western New Yorkers are now fully vaccinated, causing the daily pace of new vaccinations to slow.

But disparities in vaccination rates remain. Since the beginning of the rollout, white Western New Yorkers have made up a greater share of the vaccinated than they do of the overall population. Many Western New Yorkers of color have received vaccines at a disproportionately low rate, by comparison.

The share of Western New Yorkers who are fully vaccinated also lags behind the figure for New York State as a whole.

Public health experts and officials, both locally and at the federal level, say the effect of the vaccines can be seen across a range of pandemic-tracking metrics, including the positive test rate," or the share of Covid-19 tests that come back positive.

The number of Western New Yorkers hospitalized with Covid-19 has has risen sharply in November to levels not seen since the spring. Many of the region's most at-risk people, such as nursing home residents, were vaccinated in the early months of the rollout.

More than 4.6 million New Yorkers have contracted Covid-19 and more than 51,300 have died in the past 23 months. Across the U.S., 68.5 million cases  and 857,644 deaths  have now been reported.

This page will be updated daily with the latest statistics from the state and county departments of health, as well as new data from The New York Times' national Covid-19 tracking project. You can get the latest updates by bookmarking this page or subscribing to The Buffalo News' daily Covid-19 newsletter.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 22

By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend:

The Youth Union of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party (NAP) has issued an appeal regarding the Armenian provocation, Trend reports.

Recently, the provocations of Armenia directed against Azerbaijan in the political, military, informational, and other areas have become more intense. The appeals of Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, completely disrupting the negotiation process, are accompanied by military provocations committed on the front line of Armenia with Azerbaijan, and by aimed fire at peaceful Azerbaijani citizens and settlements in the border districts, the appeal said.

In July 2020, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces resolutely suppressed the offensive of the Armenian armed forces in the direction of Azerbaijan Tovuz district, by dealing a crushing blow, said the NAPs appeal.

The Azerbaijani army prevented the latest provocations of Armenia, as well as the operation of the reconnaissance and sabotage group, revealed the plans of Armenia on committing provocations in the border districts. Nevertheless, the Armenian state, continuing its dirty actions, has been holding under occupation the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts of Azerbaijan for about 30 years, using them as a place for the deployment of illegal military units and terrorist organizations, said the appeal.

For this purpose, the massive settlement of the occupied Azerbaijani territories by mercenaries from Syria, Lebanon, members of ASALA, and other terrorist organizations is carried out. After the explosion in Beirut, Armenia launched a new campaign in Nagorno-Karabakh, resettling Armenian families from Lebanon, turning the Lebanese Armenians into a weapon for its occupation policy, the NAPs appeal noted.

Not a single provocation can force the Azerbaijani state to abandon a consistent, decisive, and a just struggle to restore the territorial integrity of the country. The youth of the NAP is always ready to realize any order of the President of Azerbaijan, said the appeal.

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.
Uttar Pradesh govt to release rules for resuming film shoots 'very soon'

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

Lucknow, Sep 22: Uttar Pradesh government is going to issue "very soon" a set of guidelines that filmmakers wishing to resume work in the state would have to adhere to. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's government is in talks with prominent filmmakers.

Several films, including big budget productions, had come to an standstill due to the novel coronavirus pandemic and are waiting for the government's approval to resume shooting.

Stalemate continues as India-China talk hard to avoid kinetic operations

"Very soon," said sources in the chief minister's office (CMO) on the issue of commencement of shooting.

In August, the Centre had issued guidelines, allowing film shooting to resume with some preconditions which include most crew members, other than actors emoting in front of the camera, wearing kits to protect themselves. Uttar Pradesh Film Development Council (UPFDC) chief Raju Srivastava had in written to the government to allow shooting to resume and sought guidelines for the same.

However, it is not clear as to why there has been a delay in formulating and releasing guidelines for film shooting, but it is expected that they can now be released any moment.

The officials said that the government is in contact with several filmmakers like Subhash Ghai, David Dhawan and Boney Kapoor, whose suggestions it plans to incorporate in the revised film policy that is in the works.

#Tesla 'secretly planning' R&D Centre in #Bengaluru? | Oneindia News

It is learnt that chief minister Yogi Adityanath, who met filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar in Lucknow on Sunday, will be meeting several top filmmakers to give a boost to his plans to develop the country's biggest film city in Uttar Pradesh.

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Story first published: Tuesday, September 22, 2020, 13:21 [IST]
Sen. Mitt Romney was one of the last Senate Republicans to say whether he'd consider voting for a Ginsburg replacement so close to the election. (Scott Applewhite / Associated Press)

Senate Republicans have enough votes to consider and likely confirm President Trump's Supreme Court nominee after Utah Sen. Mitt Romney said on Tuesday the president has the right to replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg even as the presidential election is underway in some states.

Romney was one of the last Republican holdouts to announce whether he would consider voting for a Trump nominee, despite Senate Republicans' refusal nine months before the 2016 election to consider President Obama's nomination of Merrick Garland after the death of Antonin Scalia.

Trump said he would announce his selection  he said it would be a woman  on Saturday.

Republicans said they would decide whether to vote 'yes' based on her qualifications. But with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell holding 51 votes from Republicans eager to put another conservative on the high court, regardless of the election, confirmation is viewed as most likely barring a disqualifying surprise.

Only two Republicans  Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine  have said they will not consider supporting a nominee before election day, Nov. 3. Two more Republicans would have had to defect for Democrats to have a realistic chance of blocking Trump's nominee.

Republican leaders have not yet announced if the vote would be held before or after the election and suggested that decision would be made once a confirmation hearing is held.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said Monday on Fox News that he expected a preelection vote. "We've got the votes to confirm the judge, the justice, on the floor of the Senate before the election," he said, "and that's what's coming."

On Tuesday, he said he expected to hold a confirmation hearing. Earlier, Trump had retweeted a report that conservative broadcaster Rush Limbaugh called for the Senate to skip a hearing to hasten a vote.

Story continues

A hearing would all but certainly command wall-to-wall television coverage in the weeks before November. Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), the Democrats' vice presidential nominee, is a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Her prosecutorial questioning of witnesses in prior hearings, including that of Supreme Court Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh, made her a favorite of progressives.

Rank-and-file Republicans are conflicted on the timing of the vote, according to Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, the No. 2 Senate Republican. A preelection vote has advantages for Republicans: Senate leaders typically want to hold a vote as quickly as possible once it is clear that they have enough support. And few issues excite their party's voters as much as filling court seats with conservatives. This year, however, in an unusual twist, polls have shown that more Democrats than Republicans view the court's makeup as important to their vote.

Democrats on Tuesday confronted the fact that there is little they can do to block the nomination.

Ive been around here a few years. You can slow things down but you cant stop them," said Sen. Richard J. Durbin of Illinois, the No. 2 Senate Democrat. "There comes a point  we use whatever tools we have available, but ultimately there will be a vote.

Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) has warned that "nothing" would be off the table in 2021 if Republicans move ahead and Democrats win a majority in November; party activists are calling for expanding the court if Joe Biden is elected. He added that McConnell would "destroy" the Senate if the GOP moved ahead.

"Leader McConnell has defiled the Senate like no one in this generation," Schumer said. "Leader McConnell may very well destroy it. If Leader McConnell presses forward, the Republican majority will have stolen two Supreme Court seats four years apart, using completely contradictory rash analyses," he added  a reference to Republicans blocking Garland's nomination throughout a presidential election year.

In a sign of the deeply partisan nature of the debate, Republicans prevented Democrats from passing a nonbinding Senate resolution to honor Ginsburg. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) blocked the resolution, blaming Democrats for adding language citing Ginsburg's dying wish that her seat not be filled until a new president is in place.

Republicans view the vacancy as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to cement a conservative majority on the court, a point Romney made to reporters in the Capitol on Tuesday. They are moving with remarkable speed to confirm a sixth Republican-appointed justice for the nine-member high court, even before Trump has named his choice.

"My liberal friends have over many decades gotten very used to the idea of having a liberal court. And that's not written in the stars," he said. "I know a lot of people are saying, 'Gosh, we don't want that change.' I understand the energy associated with that perspective. But it's also appropriate for a nation which is, if you will, center-right, to have a court which reflects a center-right points of view."

Like other Republicans, Romney said in a statement Tuesday that he thought it was fair to consider a nominee now because the White House and Senate are controlled by the same political party, which was not the case in 2016.

"The historical precedent of election year nominations is that the Senate generally does not confirm an opposing partys nominee but does confirm a nominee of its own," Romney said. Accordingly, I intend to follow the Constitution and precedent in considering the presidents nominee. If the nominee reaches the Senate floor, I intend to vote based upon their qualifications.

Trump said five women were being vetted for the nomination to replace Ginsburg, who died Friday, but I have one or two that I have in mind.

According to Republicans familiar with the selection process, two conservative federal appeals court judges, Amy Coney Barrett and Barbara Lagoa, are the only candidates in real contention.
US President Donald Trump and Democratic rival Joe Biden will spar for 90 minutes over the Supreme Court, the coronavirus, voting integrity and "race and violence in our cities," organizers of the first head-to-head election debate said on Tuesday. Trump and Biden will address each of those four topics on Sept. 29, as well as discuss the economy and their track records in six segments scheduled to last 15 minutes apiece, the Commission on Presidential Debates said in a statement.

This will be the first debate in a presidential campaign season upended by a pandemic that has complicated plans to hold in-person voting, killed more than 200,000 Americans and thrown millions out of work. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court vacancy created by the death on Friday of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has rapidly become a major campaign focus, with the prospect of a 6-3 conservative majority galvanizing voters in both parties.

Topics were selected by the debate`s moderator, Fox News anchor Chris Wallace. The matchup will be the candidates` first in-person debate. Early voting is already under way in several states ahead of the Nov. 3 election.

The format is intended "to encourage deep discussion of the leading issues facing the country," the debate organizers said, adding that subjects could change as news develops. Trump and Biden will have a limited audience in person due to the pandemic but are expected to draw millions of viewers to watch commercial-free on television.

Case Western Reserve University and the Cleveland Clinic are hosting the debate on their shared campus in Cleveland. Trump and Biden are due to debate twice more, on Oct. 15 and 22.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 00:24:24|Editor: huaxia

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European Council President Charles Michel attends a video meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, Sept. 22, 2020. European Council President Charles Michel has decided to put off a summit of the European Union (EU) leaders after he has gone into quarantine on Tuesday, his spokesman said on Twitter. (European Union/Handout via Xinhua)

BRUSSELS, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- European Council President Charles Michel has decided to put off a summit of the European Union (EU) leaders after he has gone into quarantine on Tuesday, his spokesman said on Twitter.

The EU chief learned on Tuesday that a security officer with whom he was in close contact early last week, tested positive for COVID-19, said spokesman Barend Leyts.

Michel himself "is tested regularly and tested negative yesterday (Monday)," but decided to go into quarantine in line with Belgian rules, Leyts tweeted.

The in-person summit, originally scheduled for Sept. 24-25, is postponed to Oct. 1-2, when EU leaders will meet here to discuss the single market, industrial policy and digital transformation, as well as external relations. The summit will also be an opportunity to take stock of the situation of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the week from Sept. 10 to Sept. 16, a total of 7,749 COVID-19 infections were reported in Belgium, whose capital plays host to the EU headquarters, an average of 1,107 new cases per day.

As the world is in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, countries across the globe -- including UK, Germany, China, Russia, France and the U.S. -- are racing to find a vaccine. According to the website of the World Health Organization (WHO), as of Sept. 17, 182 COVID-19 candidate vaccines had been in development worldwide, with 36 already in clinical trials.
The EU summit has been postponed for a week because European Council President Charles Michel has gone into quarantine.

Spokesman Barend Leyts said on Tuesday that Michel 'today learned that a security officer, with whom he was in close contact early last week, tested positive for COVID'.

Leyts said that the European Council chief is 'respecting Belgian rules' and 'he has gone into quarantine as of today'.

The EU summit has been postponed for a week because Council President Charles Michel (pictured) has gone into quarantine

The summit set for Thursday and Friday was to address a number of issues, including the important next stages of the Brexit negotiations.

Climate change and the tensions between Greece and Turkey over energy rights were also on the agenda for the summit.

Preparations for the meeting were already in full swing when Michel made the sudden announcement.

He postponed the summit by one week, to October 1-2.

Preparations for the meeting were already in full swing (pictured) when Michel made the sudden announcement

Michel made headlines earlier this month when he criticised Boris Johnson's plans to override the Brexit divorce deal.

He said in a tweet: 'The Withdrawal agreement was concluded and ratified by both sides, it has to be applied in full.

'Breaking international law is not acceptable and does not create the confidence we need to build our future relationship.'

He made headlines earlier this month when he insisted breaking international law was 'not acceptable' in relation to the withdrawal agreement

Live summits with the leaders of EU nations coming to Brussels only resumed over the summer.

Throughout the spring, they met through video conferences while staying in their own capitals.

The postponement is a setback to the EU leaders' hope for a return to normalcy.
The Cuban-American community admired her work on Elians case, taking issue with the federal governments position that the boys father, Juan Miguel Gonzalez, was his sole legal guardian and had the right to make the decision to have him returned to Cuba. Also playing a role was a young lawyer named Brett M. Kavanaugh, now a Supreme Court justice himself, who represented the boys Miami relatives when they needed someone to work on a federal appeal.

Almost all of Judge Lagoas judicial service has been on a midlevel state appeals court in Miami, where she heard mostly routine cases from 2006 to 2019. Asked to list her most significant opinions, she noted ones on employment discrimination, blood alcohol tests, car insurance, personal jurisdiction, statutes of limitations and arbitration.

In her next two judicial jobs, though, she participated in consequential cases on whether hundreds of thousands of people with felony convictions in Florida were eligible to vote. Lawyers for the former felons have argued that Judge Lagoa should have recused herself the second time around.

The 11th Circuit decision this month to uphold a law enacted by the Florida Legislature that requires former felons to pay court fines and fees before they can register silenced hundreds of thousands of voters, Desmond Meade, the executive director of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, said in a statement.

That decision demonstrated why we are fighting so hard for peoples lives to be placed over politics, he added, and the desire to put people over politics should be the attitude of anyone who aspires to serve on the highest court in the land.

It is precisely a political calculation about how the president might secure his re-election by ensuring that he carries Florida that could bolster Judge Lagoas chances. Democrats have been struggling to match Hillary Clintons popularity among Hispanics in Miami-Dade County, where the election could be won or lost. The optics of Senate Democrats pressing hard against a Latina on national television would seem unlikely to help.

And while Mr. Trumps standing with conservative Cuban-Americans is solid, nominating Judge Lagoa could still appeal emotionally to some voters, said Jose Felix Diaz, a former state representative and consultant with Ballard Partners, a lobbying firm.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell took to the Senate floor on Monday to explain why hell hold a vote on Donald Trumps pending nomination to fill the Supreme Court vacancy left by the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, even though he opposed voting on Barack Obamas nomination to the court in similar circumstances in 2016.

Mr McConnell differentiated Mr Obamas 2016 selection of DC Circuit Court Judge Merrick Garland to replace Justice Antonin Scalia from Mr Trumps 2020 pick by saying there was divided government in 2016, whereas Republicans control both the Senate and the White House now.

Mr Obama was asking for "an unusual favor" for an opposite party-controlled Senate to confirm his Supreme Court pick in an election year, Mr McConnell said on Monday.

The Kentucky Republican, who is also up for re-election this November, vowed to hold a vote on Mr Trumps nomination before the end of the year.

President Trump's nominee for the vacancy will receive a vote on the floor of the Senate, he said.

"The Senate has more than sufficient time to process the nomination" before the 3 November elections, Mr McConnell said, although he did not commit to holding a vote before then.

The Senate could also vote on Mr Trumps nominee in the lame-duck session after the election.

Mr McConnell and other Senate Republicans frequently cited comments from 1992 from then-Democratic Senator Joe Biden of Delaware arguing that election years were no time for filling Supreme Court vacancies.

Once the political season is under way  action on a Supreme Court nomination must be put off until after the election campaign is over, Mr Biden said at the time, a remark that Republicans in 2016 came to call the Biden rule.

There was no vacancy at the time Mr Biden, who is now the Democratic presidential nominee for 2020, delivered those remarks.

After eulogising Justice Ginsburgs progressive legacy, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer harangued Mr McConnell for the Senate GOPs hypocrisy moving forward with a vote on Mr Trumps imminent Supreme Court nomination.

The New York Democrat highlighted news reports that it was Justice Ginsburgs dying wish, most fervent wish that president and Senate wait to fill her seat until after the new Congress  and potentially a new president  is seated next January.

The Senate Republican majority should have no problem adhering to Justice Ginsburg's dying wish. Leader McConnell held the seat Supreme Court vacancy open for nearly a year in order to, quote, give the people a voice in selecting a Supreme Court justice, Mr Schumer said, referencing Mr McConnells own words about waiting for a mandate on which party should fill the Supreme Court vacancy left by Mr Scalia in 2016.

Justice Ginsburgs body will lie in repose at the US Supreme Court building on Wednesday and Thursday following her death on 18 September after a prolonged battle with pancreatic cancer. Justice Ginsburg's body will also lie in state in National Statuary Hall at the US Capitol on Friday.

A private interment at Arlington National Cemetery is scheduled for next week.

Black drapes are hanging above the court doors to mark the court's mourning, a tradition in place since 1873.

Justice Ginsburg took her judicial oath as an associate justice at the Supreme Court in 1993, following her nomination to the court by then-president Bill Clinton. She was the second woman, after Sandra Day O'Connor, and among only four women to serve as a justice on the high court.

She was first diagnosed with colon cancer in 1999 and survived several bouts with cancer over the decades that followed. She began receiving another round of cancer treatments in May 2020. She died on Friday at age 87.

Alex Woodward contributed to this report.
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey has created the Alabama Prison Repurposing Commission to make recommendations on what to do with the states 13 mens prisons after new ones are built.

Neal Wade, former director of what is now the Alabama Department of Commerce, will chair the 15-member panel, which includes four state legislators, two from each party.

The Ivey administration is in negotiations with two developer teams to build three new mens prisons. Proposed sites are in Bibb, Elmore, and Escambia counties.

The state plans to close some prisons but those have not been named. The administration has said it is not feasible to renovate and repair some of the aging, overcrowded prisons. Alabama closed Draper prison in 2018 and the main housing unit at Holman prison this year.

In a press release, Ivey said the commission would analyze state and local impacts and financial ramifications about what to do with the prisons.

As our Alabama Prison Program moves forward in building three new prisons to provide additional safety for correctional staff and inmates, we will simultaneously need to smartly and safely repurpose or decommission these outdated, aging prisons, many of which were never designed or constructed to be correctional facilities for their current use or capacity, Ivey said.

Related: Alabama lawmakers concerned about risk, cost of private prisons

The governor created the commission through an executive order and directed it to report its findings by September 2023 or within 90 days of the three prisons being completed.

The members:

Neal Wade, chair: Former director of the Alabama Development Office, the precursor to the Alabama Department of Commerce, and now the managing partner of Advanced Economic Development Leadership for the National Economic Development Education Program.

Sen. Greg Albritton, R-Atmore: Chair of the Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund Committee.

Ben Baxley: Chief of the Opinions Division in the Alabama Attorney Generals Office.

Ted Clem: Director of Business Development for the Alabama Department of Commerce.

Sen. Linda Coleman-Madison, D-Birmingham: Recently retired from the City of Birmingham as the Americans with Disabilities Compliance Administrator.

Harold Crouch: Mayor of Chatom for 24 years.

Darius Foster: CEO & Co-Founder of H2T Digital.

Annette Funderburk: President of Ingram State Technical College which serves a 100 percent incarcerated adult population that delivers career technical, GED and job skills training at six locations across Alabama.

Rep. Kelvin Lawrence, D-Hayneville: Former mayor of Hayneville and worked as a home builder as well as owning several Subway sandwich shop franchises.

Merceria Ludgood: Mobile County Commissioner, District One, attorney and civic leader.

Walter Givhan: Retired Air Force major general and senior vice chancellor for Advancement and Economic Development at Troy University. He is also the Commander of the Curtis E. LeMay Center for Doctrine Development and Education and Vice Commander of Air University at Maxwell Air Force Base.

Allen G. Peck: Retired Air Force lieutenant general and assistant professor in the Department of Airpower and General George Kenney Chair at the United States Air Forces Air Command and Staff College.

Rep. Connie Rowe, R-Jasper: Former Jasper police chief and former criminal investigator for the Walker County District Attorneys Office.

Kyes Stevens: Founder and director of the Alabama Prison Arts + Education Project at Auburn University.

Willie Williams: Retired Marine lieutenant general and owner of Williams Consulting, LLC based in Huntsville. Former chief of the Marine Corps Staff in Washington.

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[September 22, 2020] Gigamon Partners with Nokia to Deliver Breakthrough Network Visibility and Customer Experience Solution to Accelerate 5G Adoption With the number of 5G connections expected to grow from roughly 10 million in 2019 to over 1 billion in 2023, the need to optimize performance is vital to delivering a compelling, scalable customer experience across the network. The mobile service provider investments in the infrastructure needed to support this growth and ensure the 5G experience lives up to the hype are staggering as they will invest USD$1 trillion worldwide between 2018 and 2025. The business need at the intersection of market demands and performance requirements lies at the heart of today's launch of the joint Gigamon (News - Alert) and Nokia 5G solution. An industry-first, Gigamon delivers real-time analytics for its global customers, providing the network traffic visibility required by 5G providers for seamless performance. Consistent Quality of Experience (QoE) scores in high-profile 5G use cases, such as video streaming and cloud gaming, are critical to ensuring the strong customer satisfaction needed to accelerate widespread adoption. Today, video accounts for more than 80 percent of traffic across mobile networks, and Nokia (News - Alert) Bell Labs Consulting research forecasts the cloud gaming market to reach USD$3 billion by 2024. Gamers and movie lovers typically have limited tolerance for network delays and interruptions that degrade QoE, so maintaining continuous video quality is crucial. Real-time analytics provide an end-to-end view on quality, with AI generating automated recommendations that help mobile service providers maintain the expected QoE. As an example, the Gigamon Visibility and Analytics Fabric is currently in place to enhance Nokia's Predictive Video Analytics service, which can lead to a reduction in buffering in video streaming services by up to 60 percent. "Gigamon's subscriber-aware processing of 5G user plane traffic helps enhance our Nokia AVA AI as a Service. The ability to coherently filter, sample, balance and deliver the user sessions, coupled with video data records generation, when combined with Nokia machine-learning algorithms and domain expertise, enables mobile subscribers to enjoy the full benefits of the 5G experience," commented Dennis Lorenzin, Head of Network Cognitive Service Unit at Nokia. "Next generation communications must deliver an unparalleled user experience and we are excited to partner with Nokia to deliver flawless 5G streaming and gaming quality," stated Shane Buckley, President and Chief Operating Officer at Gigamon. "Our purpose-built product set delivers the cost-effective, scalable and pervasive network traffic visibility required to access the real-time, actionable insights into mobile over-the-top (OTT) video traffic needed to maintain a world-class user experience." With the latest breakthrough capabilities from Gigamon, mobile service providers are able to dramatically lower costs by utilizing traffic optimization intelligence to significantly reduce traffic volume with packet deduplication, subscriber-aware sampling, subscriber-aware whitelisting, application-aware filtering, advanced flow slicing and TLS 1.3 decryption. This unique combination of capabilities allows mobile service providers to manage prohibitive tool and probe costs by maximizing existing investments and increasing resource agility. Check out the latest Gigamon blog on how innovations in cellular have shaped our lives as well as the latest 5G solutions. To learn more about Nokia's Predictive Video Analytics, go here. About Gigamon Gigamon is the first company to deliver unified network visibility and analytics on all information-in-transit, from raw packets to apps, across physical, virtual and cloud infrastructure. We aggregate, transform and analyze network traffic to solve for critical performance and security needs, including rapid threat detection and response, freeing your organization to drive digital innovation. Gigamon has been awarded over 75 technology patents and enjoys industry-leading customer satisfaction with more than 3,000 organizations, including over 80 percent of the Fortune 100 and hundreds of government and educational organizations worldwide. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, Gigamon operates globally. For the full story on how Gigamon can help you to run fast, stay secure and optimize, please visit www.gigamon.com and follow us on Twitter (News - Alert) @gigamon. 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 (News - Alert) , 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. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200922005117/en/

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An institute of innovative technologies will be set up in Cluj-Napoca, to be one of the beneficiaries of the funds allocated through the Intelligent Europe project, on Tuesday said Prime minister Ludovic Orban, after a meeting with the Babes-Bolyai University (UBB) leadership.

"UBB, according to the benchmarks, is the highest-ranked university, not in Cluj, but in Romania. I think that's a strong enough reason, that doesn't mean we don't pay attention to other universities. In addition to the topics addressed, which require a systemic approach and a permanent dialogue to identify solutions for increasing the quality of education in Romania, we addressed important topics. One of the topics is related to the establishment in Cluj of one of the institutes that will become the main beneficiaries of the financial resources available for Romania within the Intelligent Europe priority. It is clear that following this discussion, I can tell you that in Cluj and in collaboration with UBB and other universities (...) there will be an institute of innovative technologies. This is all the more so since Cluj-Napoca entered the final for the establishment of the Capital of Innovation," the prime minister said.

For his part, UBB rector Daniel David drew attention to the problems in Romanian education, problems that must be solved by the political parties.

"This meeting played a fundamental role, because we addressed two topics that interest us. Namely, the first fear - the beginning of the academic year, and it was absolutely normal to have this discussion, however UBB being the largest academic community in the country, almost 50,000 people, and it's not the same how we start the new academic year. The second fear, very important for us, especially since it is about an election campaign, we too want to send a message to all political parties, namely which is the role of education in the project of modernization of the country. In the sense that, we believe that before we make strategies that are smarter and more interesting in various fields, if we do not repair the educational component - and I mean pre-university: school drop-out, functional illiteracy, scientific illiteracy, the problem of the curriculum, etc., and in the environment the problem of fragmentation, sub-financing, unequal distribution in the country of research institutes and academic forces-, we believe that we have no chance to change Romania for the better," said Daniel David.
A television reporter has been mocked and copped a barrage of online abuse after a heated exchange with Daniel Andrews over his handling of the coronavirus crisis.

Channel Seven journalist Denham Hitchcock's hard-hitting approach tested the patience of the Victorian premier at his daily COVID-19 press briefing on Tuesday by demanding an answer to the same question three times.

The grilling of the under-pressure premier didn't win over many fans, with critics advising the Sydney-based journalist to head home and stick to surfing.

The hostile exchange happened almost an hour into the press conference after Hitchcock asked Mr Andrews whether he would wreck his state's economy to save lives.

'Well, that's a choice that we have made as a National Cabinet from day one,' the premier replied.

Denham Hitchcock, pictured with wife Mari, clashed with the Victorian premier on Tuesday

Hitchcock responded, 'That doesn't answer the question.'

The premier repeated his earlier answer before being interrupted.

'If you would answer the question, yes or no,' Hitchcock persisted.

Mr Andrews fired back: 'How I choose to answer your questions is, with respect, a matter for me.'

And the National Cabinet has made a decision that instead of allowing this virus to spread throughout the entire Australian community, much like it is in Europe, killing many tens of thousands of people, we would fix the health problem first, and then we would all in a unified way, set about repairing the economic damage this pandemic has done.

'You can do very little for livelihoods until you prioritise saving lives and defeating this virus. That's the path we're on.

'Six weeks ago, there were 725 cases. 725 cases. Today we are at a much lower number. We can be pleased that this strategy is working and the only steps to take, the only steps to take, are safe and steady ones.'

Hitchcock was the latest reporter to test Daniel Andrews' (pictured) patience on Tuesday

Mr Andrews acknowledged the significant economic impact Melbourne's stage four lockdown has had on the state but said the health challenge had to be addressed first.

Victoria recorded 28 new cases and three more deaths on Tuesday.

'This is a public health emergency. It's called that for a reason. And that's what is driving all of our response,' Mr Andrews said.

'There is an economic crisis out there as well, of course. But you have got to deal with the health one first.'

The heated exchange between the reporter and the Premier sparked a divided reaction

Hitchcock faced a barrage of online abuse.

'You should have stayed in Sydney,' one critic tweeted.

Another mocked: 'No one needs your hot Northern Beaches takes on a pandemic bud. Stick to surfing.'

It also sparked the hashtag #ThisisNotJournalism to trend on Twitter.

'Victorians don't need journos from Sydney blasting into Dan's pressers and making false, sweeping statements on our behalf,' one woman wrote.

But some came to Hitchcock's defence.

'Everyone who is choosing to support this dictator of a premier obviously haven't had their lives affected by the actions of this incompetent Victorian government but wait until they do, their tune will change quick smart. Thumbs up for real journalism,' one woman commented

Denham Hitchock (right) sparked the heated exchange when he asked Premier Andrews whether he would wreck his state's economy to save lives

Another added: 'About time someone stopped up and asked someone real questions of #DictatorDan, we had the premiers boys club in there for the last how many crap press conferences! Keep up the good work plenty of questions to ask this week of their utter incompetence!'

Sydney-based Hitchcock has been in Melbourne covering Victoria's coronavirus crisis since September 14 after recent time off following the birth of baby daughter Kaia in August.

'Will we look back on these days of closed borders and heavy restrictions and feel proud we did our part to try and save lives ? Or embarrassed over the damage we caused to the economy and ourselves? Now is the time for the debate,' Hitchcock captioned an Instagram post about his Melbourne trip.

He's the son of former award-winning journalist and news director Kevin Hitchcock, who broke his neck in a freak accident diving in Hawkesbury River in 1991.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 20:30:28|Editor: huaxia

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KIEV, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- The "Joint Effort 2020" command and staff exercise has started in Ukraine, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said on its official Facebook page on Tuesday.

"The active phase of the 'Joint Effort 2020' strategic command and staff exercise began with the support of Ukraine's partners," said Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Col. Gen. Ruslan Khomchak during a hone conversation with Chairman of the NATO Military Committee Stuart Peach.

Khomchak said "Joint Effort 2020" is unique in terms of its scope, composition of forces and means and the involvement of partner countries.

Earlier, it was reported that 12,000 units of weapons and up to 700 units of military equipment will take part in the military exercise between Sept. 22 and 25. More than 100 military units and special forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine will be involved.

The U.S. and British military units will also participate in the exercise, and up to 200 foreign instructors, military advisers, and observers will oversee it. Enditem


Exceptional High-Grade Drilling Results Continue at Wiluna

Perth, Sep 22, 2020 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Wiluna Mining Corporation Limited ( ASX:WMX ) ( FRA:NZ3 ) ( OTCMKTS:WMXCF ) is pleased to report high-grade results from a further 41 holes and 9,925m of resource development infill drilling at the Wiluna Mining Centre (Figure 1*). These latest results span each of the high-priority development targets of Calvert, Essex, East Lode and Bulletin. The Company continues to drill with 4 rigs currently on site, while Mineral Resource estimates are in progress and due for release in late September. The Company intends to release its Ore Reserves update in December 2020.HIGHLIGHTS- Further high-grade results grow and add geological confidence in the very large high-grade sulphide resource at the Wiluna Mining Centre.- Encouraging bulk drilling intercepts (118m @ 1.46 g/t; 40m @ 3.09 g/t; 44m @ 2.92g/t; 64m @ 1.61g/t; 49.6m @ 1.87g/t) demonstrate potential for a very large, lower grade mineralised system that could be bulk mined.- Drilling supports Stage 1 & Stage 2 expansion plans. Stage 1 is a low cost pathway to 100-120kozpa which will commence in September 2021 and Stage 2 +250kozpa is proposed to commence late 2023/early 2024.- The Company's Mineral Resource update is due in late September 2020; Reserves update in December 2020.Milan Jerkovic, Wiluna Mining's Executive Chair commented:"More outstanding results from drilling 'under the headframe' means that our confidence level for delivering our Stage 1 sulphide strategy is now extremely high. The drilling continues to define Wiluna as one of the largest under-developed gold systems in Australia"."The outstanding results provide confidence in our Mineral Resource and Reserve estimates as we release them on a rolling basis from September 2020 through to December 2020 and into next year. The sheer volume of data we now must evaluate is significant and the potential for the scale of the gold system at the Wiluna Mining Centre is extremely exciting. We do believe the drilling results show that now we have awoken the sleeping giant, the giant is starting to stir!"Mr Jerkovic continued, "One of the really exciting elements of the more recent drilling is that high grade results increase our confidence that the grade for Stage 1 will be higher than the current resource grade of 4.7 g/t. We have also seen several results through the entire shear zone returning encouraging bulk intercepts such as 118 metres @ 1.46 g/t. Without distracting from our high-grade sulphide mining strategy for Stages 1 and 2, these results point to an extremely large gold system at Wiluna that could potentially support large, lower grade and lower cost bulk mining.""I continue to stress, even more strongly now armed with these continued outstanding results, that Wiluna Mining is a development and growth Company currently focussed on Stage 1 sulphide development commencing by September 2021, while expanding our high-grade Mineral Resources and making new discoveries. This is the strategy and focus of the Company. It is important that we emphasise our current operation, until the commencement of Stage 1 concentrate production in September 2021, is purely to provide valuable operating cashflow to assist in funding this transition to Stage 1 and producing gold concentrates to achieve our goal to become a Tier 1 gold mine in a Tier 1 jurisdiction".This drilling programme was designed with the following aims, in alignment with the Company's Stage 1 expansion plan:1. Significantly increase the confidence in sulphide resources from Inferred to Indicated category which will underpin the Stage 1 Reserve estimation.2. Add Reserve ounces in high-grade, shallow zones, close to existing mine development that can be rapidly brought into production at low cost.3. Find new, high grade shoots that will enhance ounces per vertical metre and, more importantly, increase the grade. This will help consolidate Stage 1 and enhance the transition into Stage 2 which is planned to increase production to +250kozpa of gold and gold in concentrate over a long mine life.Along with the high-grade results released in March, May, June, July and September 2020, these additional results are extremely encouraging and support the Company's target of mining approximately 750,000 tonnes of underground sulphide ore per annum, to produce approximately 100,000 - 120,000oz per annum in gold dore and gold in concentrate in Stage 1 of the sulphide expansion from September 2021.Further drilling is planned to build upon these outstanding results and the Company will provide an update on its accelerated Resource and Reserve development programme for the remainder of FY 2021 in November. With the large amount of data being generated through the current drilling programme, it is expected there will be further updates to our Mineral Resource and Reserves in the first half of 2021.The ongoing drilling programme from August/September onwards has five new objectives that differ somewhat from those of the drilling to date. They are to:1. Increase sulphide reserves at Wiluna for the Stage 1 expansion;2. Increase sulphide reserves for Stage 2 expansion;3. Make a new discovery in the wider Wiluna Mining Operations;4. Reveal the true scale of Wiluna sulphide resource; and5. Extend the free milling Mineral Resources and Reserves.Importantly, the results from bulk intercepts like WURC0907 (118m @ 1.46 g/t), WURC0899 (40m @ 3.09 g/t), BUUD0124 (44m @ 2.92g/t) and BUUD0103 (49.6m @ 1.87g/t), as well as ongoing assaying of previously unassayed core across the extent of the shear zone at Wiluna, will start to define objective 4 above which is to define the true scale of the Wiluna sulphide resource. The wide zones of mineralisation are extremely encouraging and support a belief that the gold system at Wiluna may be of a far larger scale than the "lode style" structures previously interpreted.Stage 1 Sulphide Resource DevelopmentThe current drilling programme is designed to increase the geological confidence in sulphide resources that underpin Stage 1 production. This drilling has focussed on high-grade sulphide zones located close to surface and close to existing infrastructure, which allows for rapid and low-cost development.The Company is also undertaking a feasibility study into Stage 2 sulphides production which will consider bulk mining scenarios, including underground bulk stoping methods and large-scale open pit mining, with the potential to significantly reduce mining costs leading to lower economic cut-off grades. Consequently, broad halo intercepts are included here, where the high grade +5g/t intercepts occur within a broad zone of low or moderate tenor mineralisation that may be amenable to bulk mining methods. These halo intercepts demonstrate the very large scale of the Wiluna mineralisation.*To view tables and figures, please visit:About Wiluna Mining Corporation Ltd

Wiluna Mining Corporation (ASX:WMC) (OTCMKTS:WMXCF) is a Perth based, ASX listed gold mining company that controls over 1,600 square kilometres of the Yilgarn Craton in the Northern Goldfields of WA. The Yilgarn Craton has a historic and current gold endowment of over 380 million ounces, making it one of most prolific gold regions in the world. The Company owns 100% of the Wiluna Gold Operation which has a defined resource of 8.04M oz at 1.67 g/t au. In May 2019, a new highly skilled management team took control of the Company with a clear plan to leverage the Wiluna Gold Operation's multi-million-ounce potential.
By Byron Kaye

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Rescuers set free around 25 whales on Tuesday that were marooned on a sandbar off the remote west coast of Tasmania in one of Australia's worst beaching events, and hope to save more in coming days.

Government scientists said about 90 of the 270-strong pod of pilot whales have died since they were spotted from the air in shallow water off the rugged coastline on Monday.

Footage showed large numbers of the animals prone on a wide sandbar at Macquarie Harbour, about 200 kms (120 miles) northwest of the state capital Hobart, while others floundered in slightly deeper water.

Rescuers had to get in the icy water to attach the whales, a species of oceanic dolphin that grow to 7 metres (23 ft) long and can weigh up to 3 tonnes, to slings and then guide the animals as boats dragged them out to deeper water.

"We settled on a method where we get a sling placed under the whale, that's attached to a boat (and) we also have crew in the water," said Nic Deka, a regional manager of Tasmania's Parks and Wildlife Service, at a news conference.

More than 60 people are involved in the rescue effort, including local fishermen and volunteers. They wore wetsuits and were working in shifts to prevent hypothermia.

Scientists do not know why whales, which travel together in pods, sometimes beach themselves but they are known to follow a leader, as well as gather around an injured or distressed whale.

Kris Carlyon, a wildlife biologist with the state government conservation agency, said rescuers would give a new estimate of how many whales had died on Wednesday, but expected to free the remaining animals at a higher rate.

"We're dealing with large, distressed animals, for several days at a time, and it does take an emotional toll sometimes," Carlyon said. "This is a natural event so we can accept that we're going to lose some animals. We're focusing on having as many survivors as we can."

(Reporting by Byron Kaye; editing by Jane Wardell)
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Market Research Future (MRFR) predicts that the global baby diapers market could achieve a CAGR of 6.2% during the forecast period (2017-2023). It could expect to touch the valuation of USD 66.18 Bn by 2023, crossing the value of USD 47.32 Bn it had reached in 2017.

Growth Boosters and Key Restraints

The Baby Diapers Market Analysis could witness strong demand over the coming years as a result of the mounting awareness about child health. Increasing population in the developing nations of Asia Pacific is another important factor elevating the market position. In addition, constant product developments due to advancing manufacturing technologies work in favor of the global market.

Developing countries like India and China are projected to be some of the dominating markets in subsequent years. This could be due to expanding population and rising disposable income levels. But the market could receive a setback from the increasing awareness regarding the side effects of the chemicals used in such products. On the bright side, emergence of high-quality and biodegradable products would ensure the smooth run of the market in the forthcoming years.

Research and development (R&D) activities for developing innovative products are also perceived to have a positive impact on the market. With a hike in the number of Internet users and the subsequent growth of e-commerce sector, the baby diapers market will be inundated with a number of growth opportunities in the near future.

Get a FREE Sample Copy of Report: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/6667

Market Segmentation

The global market for baby diapers has been segmented on the basis of product type, size, and distribution channel.

Depending on the product type, the baby diapers market is considered for disposable and non-disposable. The disposable product type segments dominance in the global baby diapers market is the result of robust demand for disposable products with increasing environmental awareness.

Size-wise, the baby diapers market covers small & extra small, medium, large, and extra-large. The medium size segments coverage is the largest in the market, meanwhile also exhibiting the fastest growth.

Distribution channels in the worldwide baby diapers market are store-based and non-store based. The types of store-based distribution channels are supermarkets & hypermarkets, convenience stores, and others.

Regional Aspect

The key markets for baby diapers are Asia Pacific, Europe, North America and the rest of the world.

North America is the most profitable market for baby diapers market. High disposable income and rising awareness with regard to the side effects of traditional clothes result in regional dominance. Growing preference for hygienic products coupled with the availability of different types of baby diapers benefits the market.

Europe projects considerable expansion in response to robust high demand for disposable baby diapers and the rise in research and development activities to develop highly absorbent materials for manufacturing baby diapers. Mounting awareness pertaining to hygiene among the regional population also helps stimulate market growth.

The Asia Pacific baby diapers market notes the fastest expansion supported by the burgeoning population and elevating awareness about personal and infant hygiene. With the surge in working women population and gradually increasing disposable income, the market size is bound to expand in the near future. Rising demand for convenient practices instead of traditional ones in the developing economies could lead the market to further success during the conjectured time frame. Apart from this, in China, a large number of manufacturers depend on the local distributors as well as suppliers because of complex distribution channels within the country. Government is now focusing on improvement of the manufacturing sector with initiatives like One Belt, One Road, Make in India, tax cuts and subsidies.

Prominent Vendors

Prominent vendors listed in the MRFR report are Essity Aktiebolag, First Quality Enterprises Inc., Unicharm Corporation, Procter & Gamble, Bumkins, KAO Corporation, Hengan International Group Company Limited, Domtar Corporation, Kimberly-Clark, and Ontex Group NV, among others.

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Recent Updates

July 2019 Huggies new Special Delivery baby diapers which feature fathers with babies, a first for the company. The company has come up with a variety of seven box designs, where three of them are with men along with babies, and the remaining ones are with women along with babies. It is a premium diaper line containing plant-based ingredients and has properties like leak protection and high softness level.

Note : Our team of researchers are studying Covid-19 and its impact on various industry verticals and wherever required will be considering covid19 footprints for a better analysis of markets and industries. Cordially get in touch for more details.

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A man accused of the murder of Roy Hopkins in Rathangan has been further remanded in custody for four weeks.

Robert Broughan, 25, whose address was given in court documents as 670 St Patricks Park, Rathangan, appeared via video link at Naas District Court on Thursday last.

Charged

He is charged with the murder of Roy Hopkins at Glenaree, Rathangan, on July 31 last.

It was Mr Broughans fourth court appearance since the alleged incident.

Sgt Brian Jacob sought a four week adjournment until October 15 and said that he was confident that a book of evidence would be served on the defendant on that date.

Judge Desmond Zaidan informed Mr Broughan that if a book of evidence is served on October 15, he would then be sent forward to be tried before a jury at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin.

When the judge asked Mr Broughan if he was fully aware of the proceedings, the defendant replied: Yes.

Book of Evidence

When asked by the judge about the status of the book of evidence, Sgt Jacob said: Im confident I will have it in four weeks.

Defence solicitor Conal Boyce told Judge Zaidan that he would be objecting to any further adjournment beyond October 15.

Judge Zaidan then further remanded Mr Broughan in custody until October 15.

He ordered that arrangements be made for the defendant to appear in person at Naas District Court on that date.
RTHK: Macron calls for return to multilateralism

World leaders must not let themselves be dominated by a power struggle between the US and China, French President Emmanuel Macron told the UN on Tuesday, calling for a "modern new consensus" on tackling global challenges.

"The world today cannot be reduced to the rivalry between China and the United States, irrespective of the global weight of these great powers," Macron told the UN General Assembly by video.

Borrowing a term that describes a duet in ballet, he said: "We do not have to settle for a 'pas de deux' that would make us only the rueful spectators of a collective powerlessness."

Macron has already warned that Washington's retreat from the global stage will require Europe to forge its own common defense strategy, and reduce its alliance on key technologies currently supplied by US or Chinese giants.

"The complete dependence on certain powers, with regards to technologies, food or industry, creates vulnerabilities that no longer allow the balances that go hand in hand with global stability," Macron told the UN.

The coronavirus crisis, he warned, has further undermined support for multilateralism and encouraged the willingness of some nations to ignore UN injunctions or international law.

"There will surely be a cure one day for this pandemic. But there will not be a miracle cure for this destruction of the contemporary order," he said.

"This pandemic must be an electric shock for our organization," he said, urging leaders to seize a chance to "clearly lay out our choices and build new alliances."

France will work on deepening its cooperation with UN partners to ensure "that the foundations of our organization are not swept away by the pandemic."

"Multilateralism is not simply an act of faith -- it's an operational necessity," he said. "No country will get out of this ordeal on its own." (AFP)

This story has been published on: 2020-09-22. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 22, ARMENPRESS. Armenias Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures Suren Papikyan is taking part in the 64th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna from September 21 to 25, the ministry told Armenpress.

In his remarks the Armenian minister highly valued the IAEA help in terms of supporting its main activity fields and providing assistance to countries in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

In this sense I would like to highlight the support provided to the member states aimed at ensuring the constant and safe operation of nuclear power plants. We are also grateful to the Director General and the IAEA secretariat for the technical support in the form of disinfectants and diagnosing devices provided to more than 120 countries, including Armenia, which strengthened the COVID-19 response capacities in these countries, the minister said.

The minister also expressed his concern over Azerbaijans threat to strike Armenias Nuclear Power Plant, stating that Armenia views this statement as a real threat, drawing the attention of the Conference participants to the fact that for the first time the real threat directed to the security of the NPP comes not from a terrorist organization, but from a state, through its official representative. The threat on blowing the Metsamor NPP voiced by the official representative of the Azerbaijani defense ministry during the armed clashes on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border is nothing else but a crime against humanity and should receive a respective reaction by the international community. Armenia will continue making all possible efforts to prevent similar threats in the future, minister Suren Papikyan said.

The minister also touched upon the operation of the 2nd energy unit of the Armenian NPP, stating that nuclear energy has a special place in Armenias energy development program.



Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
A 42-year-old Catechist who defrauded a queen under the pretext of finding a Mallam to dig some gold deposits for her, has been remanded into police custody by the Nkawie circuit court.



Samuel Marfo was said to have told the complainant, who is the queen of Amakye-Bare in the Atwima-Nwabiagya North District that he knew a Mallam who could help dig and retrieve some gold deposits in her farm.



He, together with the Mallam, succeeded in collecting about GH6,000.00 from the queen and bolted.



His plea was not taken and would reappear before the court presided by Mr Johnson Abbey on September 29, this year.



Police Inspector Ruth Gborson told the court that the complainant resided at Asuofia-Asaamang, while the accused was a farmer and a Catechist at Abuakwa in the Atwima-Nwabiagya South Municipality.



She said somewhere in February this year, the accused claimed to have detected some gold deposits in the complainants farm and knew a Mallam who could dig and retrieve it for the complainant.



The complainant agreed and the accused demanded GH1,200.00 for the arrangements.



The complainant added GH100.00 to the accused as his transportation to bring the Mallam.



The prosecution said when the accused brought the Mallam, he also demanded GH4,000.00 from the complainant and told her that would prepare and come back.



Inspector Gborson said after collecting the money, the two went into hiding.



A report was made to the Asuofua police who arrested the accused from his hideout.



Inspector Gborson said the police were still investigating the case.

Source: GNA









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~ Begonia investigation to take another stage, Case postponed to October 6th.~

PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament Christopher Emmanuel is due to appear in court on Tuesday as the Prosecutors Office seeks permission from the appeals court to prosecute the re-elected Member of Parliament.

Emmanuel is a suspect in the Begonia investigation. The former Minister of VROMI was arrested on October 22nd, 2019 when his name was submitted for screening since he was a candidate Minister for the Jacobs 1 interim government. Due to the arrest, Emmanuel could not be appointed Minister. On the same day, Emmanuels former chief of cabinet Marissa Richardson was also arrested, both Emmanuel and his former chief of the cabinet were released on October 25th, 2019.

Since then, Emmanuel ran on the National Alliance slate as their number 2 candidate who secured the second-highest amount of votes but fell out with his party during the National Alliance and United Peoples Party government formation.

Even though Emmanuel does not support the current coalition government he did not resign from the National Alliance.

Also slated to appear in court next week Tuesday is Member of Parliament Claudius Buncamper who is a suspect in the Landfill investigation that is undertaken by the TBO. MP Buncamper is accused of taking bribes as he was in charge of managing the Landfill while being the head of the Maintenance department in the Ministry of VROMI.

UPDATED: The case regarding MP Emmanuel was removed from the role for this morning. The spokesman for the Prosecutor's Office has confirmed that the case will be heard on October 6th 2020. No details as to why the case has been postponed for the 3rd time.
GE, a global leader in power technology, has announced that it has connected two GT13E2 gas turbines at the Zubair Permanent Power Generation Plant to the grid.

The Zubair plant is owned by the Basra Oil Company and located at the Zubair oil field, about 20 km from the city of Basra. Together, these two units can generate more than 300 megawatts (MW) of electricity to power homes, offices, streets and hospitals.

Adding new power capacity to Iraqs national grid is critical to ease the electricity shortages citizens and businesses face every day, said a statement from GE.

The facility will be equipped with four units of GEs GT13E2 gas turbines and is expected to generate up to 700 MW once complete in 2021.

Joseph Anis, President & CEO of GE Gas Power (Mena and South Asia) said: "We are honoured to support the development of Iraqs power sector for over 50 years. Since December 2019, we have added up to 1,675 MW of new capacity in Iraq and executed upgrades, repairs and maintenance services at various facilities to sustain the reliable delivery of up to 4,325 MW from existing power plants."

"Our teams have been deployed in some of the toughest locations across the country, including conflict-affected areas such as Mosul and Diyala, delivering results every day because we are committed to powering growth and prosperity for everyone in Iraq," he added.

ENI Iraq is responsible for developing the oil field and had awarded a contract to GE for the engineering, procurement, installation and commissioning of the power plant.-TradeArabia News Service
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 22

Trend:

Countries that have proven their hypocrisy and unscrupulousness about the ongoing humanitarian crises in Syria, Libya, and Yemen cannot bring justice to the world, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said.

Erdogan made the statement during his appeal after the Turkish government's regular meeting chaired by him, Trend reports.

The president noted that one of the real examples of this is connivance towards the attacks of Armenia on the Azerbaijani lands.

Turkey does not lay claim to anyone's land, and will defend its rights to the end, he added.
Talks have taken place in Derry over student parties in the Rosemount area of the city.

There has been a lot of focus on the Holyland area of Belfast in recent weeks following the return of students to universities.

However, it has now emerged that some residents in Derry have also been experiencing issues with student parties.

The issue is focused on streets around Academy Road.

Local Sinn Fein councillor Mickey Cooper said he had been liasing with police, community safety wardens and Ulster University on the issue of student parties in the area.

He said the discussions would hopefully see residents having a 'quiet night' tonight.

New restrictions came into force tonight which bans people from visiting other households.

The restrictions follow a sharp rise in the number of positive COVID-19 cases in Northern Ireland in recent weeks.

The Derry City and Strabane District Council has seen the biggest increase in cases.

Figures released by the Department of Health have revealed that there have been 125 positive cases of the disease identified in the local council area from September 15 to September 21.

This is in comparison with 56 positive cases in the seven days beforehand from September 8 to September 14.
CALIFORNIA  Former Vice President and Presidential Nominee Joe Biden has chosen staff in California. Biden's campaign has selected a state director in Los Angeles and an organizing director in San Francisco, the campaign announced Monday.

Mark Gonzalaz, who has been the The Chair of the Los Angeles County Democratic Party since 2017, will act as Biden's state director. Gonzalaz has long been in service as a local leader within the Democratic Party, beginning in 2004 when he worked on the presidential campaign.

As the son of immigrants who has spent years fighting along side and for my fellow Angelenos, Im proud and honored to be joining Team Biden/Harris as California State Director to continue that fight all across our state and our nation to make sure Democrats win up and down the ballot here in California," Gonzalaz said in an email Monday. "This election is the most important, and a must win, and Im ready to work with leaders all across California to make sure we send Joe Biden and Kamala Harris to the White House



Gonzalaz currently serves as District Director to Assemblymember Miguel Santiago and was previously a Senior Field Representative to former Speaker John Perez.

Gonzalaz also worked for the 2005 City of Los Angeles mayoral race, the 2006 gubernatorial race, and the 2008 presidential campaign for Former President Barack Obama.

California has always been the leader in ensuring necessary progress throughout our country. As we look towards the next 43 days until Election Day, were reminded how our world and our communities have changed throughout this pandemic, and these past four years," Gonzalaz said. "From healthcare, to workers rights, to Black lives, down to protecting immigrant rights and especially our right to vote, California will continue to lead on the issues because the future of our nation requires it."



Joining the campaign on the northern end of the Golden State is Lizzie Heyboer, who will serve as organizing director. Heyboer recently worked on Elizabeth Warren's campaign on the National Training Desk.

Story continues

The democratic campaigner lives in San Franciscos Mission District.



Earlier this year, President Donald Trump's campaign hired Krista Pittman to act as California's state director, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.



Biden's campaign has spent $100 million on "on-the-ground" organizing so far, but the presidential nominee did not invest as heavily as other candidates during the primary.

While the campaign has mostly moved online amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Biden and Vice Presidential Nominee Sen. Kamala Harris are working on swaying those in "battleground" states.

Virtual events targeting California votes are however, on the horizon, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Harris returned to the Golden State last week to meet with Gov. Gavin Newsom at Pine Ridge School in Auberry, California to view the damage wrought by the Creek Fire. It was her first visit since becoming Bidens running mate.























This article originally appeared on the Across California Patch
LANSDOWNE  Police and Delaware County detectives are investigating a midday shooting on the 200 block of West Marshall Road on the Lansdowne side after a man was found shot Tuesday.

The victim was rushed to Penn-Presbyterian Trauma Center in serious condition with reported multiple shots to the chest.

Police from Lansdowne, Upper Darby, Yeadon and East Lansdowne descended on the scene of the crime between Shadeland and Riverview avenues.

One male approached a second, words were exchanged and shots were fired, said Ken Rutherford, interim chief in Lansdowne.

A jacket, a wallet and a mobile phone could be seen lying in the grass between the sidewalk and street as detectives from the Delaware County Criminal Investgation Division investigated.

Two orange cones covered the casings of bullets.

Rutherford said no suspect had been identified; however, police are examining surveillance footage.

Its early on, detectives are following a number of leads, Rutherford said.

Marshall Road was closed through much of the afternoon as police investigated.

One resident, who did not want to be named, said at first she thought it was an accident when the ambulance because there have been a number of serious accidents there recently but was horrified to learn of the shooting.

Thats terrible, I hope they are OK, she said.
(Photo : MrNigelNg / YouTube) Uncle Roger Calls for a Collab with Gordon Ramsey who Cooked Indonesian Fried Rice Perfectly (Photo : MrNigelNg / YouTube) Uncle Roger Calls for a Collab with Gordon Ramsey who Cooked Indonesian Fried Rice Perfectly (Photo : MrNigelNg / YouTube) Uncle Roger Calls for a Collab with Gordon Ramsey who Cooked Indonesian Fried Rice Perfectly (Photo : MrNigelNg / YouTube) When Gordon started tossing the rice, Ng just exclaimed: Fuiyoh!

After getting dismayed of egg fried rice cooking by British chefs Hersha Patel and Jamie Oliver, Malaysian comedian Nigel Ng gave two thumbs up for Hell's Kitchen star Gordon Ramsay's Indonesian fried rice recipe.

Ng rose to fame with his brash Chinese persona Uncle Roger who reviewed British chefs' fried rice cooking and condemned them for not knowing the simple Asian cuisine. In July, his video went viral as he criticized BBC chef Hersha Patel for draining cooked rice and washing it with tap water.

On September 20, Uncle Roger reviewed Ramsay Around the World video that was posted on YouTube on September 6. The video shows the recent trip to Indonesia of the Michelin-starred chef earlier this year where he learned to cook Nasi Goreng, a common take-out food in this Asian country. For the video, he took the spicy fried rice to the next level using quick and easy cooking and it currently had over 1.1 million views.

Initially, Ng had low expectations for Ramsay's cooking, but he was surprised to see Ramsay using traditional methods, local ingredients, a wok to whip up the dish, and using leftover rice for the recipe.

The 29-year-old comedian was also impressed at how Ramsay was cooking outdoors in the video as it seems the chef is "in the middle of nowhere." He also noted how Asian households usually have two kitchens at home.

"I like that Gordon is cooking outside. Many Asian people have two kitchens, outside kitchen and indoor kitchen," Ng said adding indoor kitchens are only used to impress guests and chop mango.

"But if we use outside kitchen, that's when you know real food is coming," said Ng adding that if Asian people only cooked food from the inside kitchen, "they don't like you."

The stand-up comic also praised Ramsay for using authentic Indonesian spices like galangal, sambal, and rendang into his fried rice. "Oh, he knows about galangal. Not many white people know about galangal," Ng said adding that a bad chef would just use ginger or chilli jam, then he showed a snip of Jamie Oliver's fried rice video he previously reviewed.

In the middle of the video, Ng who appeared very pleased by Ramsey's way of cooking just noticed about the chef's skin, noting that he may need a little moisturizer. Then he joked about putting Oliver's fried rice on the face to get instant moisturizing.

Meanwhile, Ng praised Ramsey for using wok and clay stove for cooking, but he was more astounded to see the chef changed the wok after cooking the egg. "Gordon has two woks!" he exclaimed adding that even him only has one wok back at home.

Aside from using fork for his rice, Ng said Ramsay earned his respect and will call him Uncle Gordon from then on. "Good job, I really like this guy," Ng added. Also, he liked that Ramsay's yelling of customers and his "hate" for vegetarians.

Ng concluded his review urging his fans to comment on Ramsay's social media as he wants to collaborate with him. As of this writing, the review now has 3.5 million views and 325,000 likes.

Uncle Roger vocabulary: Haiyaa versus Fuiyoh

When Ramsay suggested the fries would go well with fish, chicken, or left-over beef, Ng was happy to know the chef is not vegan. And when Gordon started tossing the rice, Ng just exclaimed: "Fuiyoh!" It is another slang he uses when he is impressed.

According to Ng, Fuiyoh is direct opposite of his more popular slang "haiyaah," which he used more in his last reviews when he was dismayed.

Ng also shared some of his fans who asked him whether they can use haiyaah when communicating, even if they are not Asians, in which he answered it is fine to use it and it is not racist. Instead, he encouraged everybody to use the word when they are angry, disappointed, or sad. "Haiyah is the MSG of words," he added.

This is owned by Tech Times

Written by CJ Robles

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg (may she rest in peace) has sent shockwaves not just through Washington, but across the country since late Friday. Even the markets appeared unnerved yesterday, with the Dow off nearly 1,000 points at the lows.

The market jitters you could largely chalk up to Covid; most D.C. types are saying you can throw the chances for the political compromise needed to pass the next relief bill out the window now that the parties will be at each others' throats over filling Ginsburg's seat. Indeed, the "reopening" stocks were the worst performers yesterday, including cruise lines, airlines, casinos, and banks.

In the absence of more relief coming, the incoming economic data now take on extra significance for the market. And it puts the onus even more on the Fed--which has been trying to put the onus back on Congress--to do more as needed to support the recovery. We'll be hearing a lot from Fed Chair Jay Powell this week with no less than three appearances on Capitol Hill; today he and the Treasury Secretary are testifying about precisely this issue, their Covid response efforts.

But as big a challenge as the pandemic is for this country, Ginsburg's death has implications even bigger than that. It's "a contender for the most impactful political event of the first half of the 21st century, based on what it's likely to do to the future of the American political system," said FiscalNote's Stefanie Miller, who was on our show yesterday.

How impactful? If the Democrats win the White House and Senate, owing in part to GOP efforts to fill Ginsburg's seat, their changes to the political system could include abolishing the filibuster; meaning just 51 votes needed in the Senate to pass any major legislation, "a pathway for massive, material policy swings as frequently as every 2-4 years," as Miller notes. Think of it as Obamacare one cycle, repealing Obamacare the next, over and over again. There's a reason the filibuster exists; as Sen. Cruz has observed, "gridlock in Washington is a feature of our political system, not a flaw." (It's why the old saying on Wall Street also goes that 'markets love gridlock.' Put differently, it means 'markets want broad consensus.')

But that's not all; Democrats have also floated adding seats to the Supreme Court to offset the conservative majority, and granting statehood to D.C. and Puerto Rico, adding to their party's heft in Congress.

Republicans are gambling that voters don't want this and would prefer Ginsburg's seat to be filled, as is the tradition when the Senate is of the same party as the president in an election year vacancy. This is not a rare occurrence; it's happened 19 times before, according to Dan McLaughlin, including when John Adams appointed Chief Justice John Marshall even after he had lost his reelection bid to Jefferson. In 2016, when Merrick Garland's appointment was not advanced, the presidency and Senate were controlled by different parties.

It's also worth noting that Republicans kept control of the Senate after supporting Brett Kavanaugh throughout his difficult nomination process in 2018, and even credited the "Kavanaugh Effect" as a reason for their win in especially tough states. Little wonder we've seen both Corey Gardner and Chuck Grassley say in the past 24 hours that they will support a vote on Ginsburg's replacement, effectively locking in the GOP's ability to move forward.

Wouldn't it be nice to live in a world where the SCOTUS replacement is relatively uneventful; Congress compromises to pass a Covid relief bill before the election; and we actually know the election results the night of November 3rd. Instead, we face potentially cataclysmic changes to our political system, sinister warnings about election-outcome riots and five million new gun-owning Americans this year braced for whatever, exactly, is coming.

See you at 1 p.m...

Kelly

Twitter: @KellyCNBC

Instagram: @realkellyevans
Authorities have identified the Canadian woman accused of sending president Donald Trump a letter containing the poison ricin.

Pascale Ferrier of Quebec was taken into custody by US Customs and Border Protection agents on Sunday at the Peace Bridge border crossing near Buffalo, New York.

In the letter she sent to the White House Ferrier told the president to give up and remove your application for this election, according to court papers filed on Tuesday.

CBC reported that a search was being carried out at an apartment near Montreal and that officials believed six letters were sent by Ms Ferrier  one to the White House, and five to addresses in Texas.

Sheriff Eddie Guerra of Hidalgo County, Texas, said on Monday that he and three of his staff received mail tainted with ricin, but were unharmed.

The fifth letter is believed to have been sent to the police department in Mission, Texas.

Ferrier previously lived in the US, and was arrested in Mission in March 2019. She was found to be using a fake drivers licence and carrying an unlicenced weapon.

After being jailed for 20 days the charge was eventually dismissed. However, officials later learned that she had overstayed a six month visa and she was deported back to Canada.

The computer programmer has been living in the Saint-Hubert district of Montreal for approximately a year. CNN reported that she was carrying a gun when arrested by CBP agents.

Social media accounts appearing to belong to Ferrier document some of her movements in the US in 2019 before her return to Canada and the start of a job hunt.

On 9 September, a post from a Twitter account bearing her name agrees with another user about how they have been waiting years for someone to shoot trump in the face.

The response reads: I just read this tweet. I agree Nobody did anything Its time to change! #killtrump. The original tweet has since been deleted.

The account follows just 11 other users including the US CBP, the Secret Service, FBI, Homeland Security, various Canadian law enforcement agencies, and the Sheriff of Hidalgo County.

Heavy.com has found common themes across several social media accounts bearing the name Pascale Ferrier, including a Facebook page La Techno-Creative Nomade, and a LinkedIn profile of a woman employed by Pratt & Whitney Canada as a software configuration manager.

The FBI is continuing to investigate with the assistance of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

A court hearing is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.
Mr Affail Monney, the President of the Ghana Journalist Association has cautioned the youth not to mortgage their lives nor sacrifice their promising future on the altar of violence.



He said all people, who beat the drumbeat of violence should dance to their own tune.



Mr Monney was speaking at a commemorative event to celebrate the International Day of Peace on the theme: Shaping Peace Together-The Role of the Youth in Peace Building in Accra.



The event was organized by the Ghana Journalist Association (GJA) in collaboration with the National Peace Council (NPC) and Women is the Centre a Non-Governmental Organaisation.



The International Day of Peace was established in 1981 by the United Nations General Assembly and is observed around the world on September 21.



He said the countrys youthful age profile also explained the persky strategy of politicians, who were on the prowl to mass votes for the December 7 elections to target the youth with their mouthwatering promises or heaven on earth messages.



He said the point could hardly be articulated that the existence of violence anywhere impedes the existence of peace everywhere.



The GJA President said it was sad to note that in every election year Ghanaians were shackled by fear and afflicted with doubt-fear of electoral violence and doubt of peaceful aftermath of the polls.

He said in 2008, 2012, and 2016 for instance, Ghana was teetering on the brink of catastrophes of unthinkable proportions due to threats of political violence.



It took the redemptive benevolence of God to keep our nation in peace and not in pieces, he added.



He appealed to the media community and offending journalists in particular not to take Ghana on the trajectory of self-destruction, rather they must do more to promote the virtue and minimize the threat of violence.



He said the media must sharpen their gate-keeping instincts and deny persons of all-partisan hues, who spew violence or heap insults on their opponents access to airtime or print space.



Mr Monney said the electronic media must design more programmes, shape their discussions and tilt their peaceful, non-violent ways.



The Media must name and shame politicians and their followers, who tend to rock the boat by their ugly words and toxic deeds, he added.



He commended the NPC and other stakeholders for their collaboration to continue to promote and create awareness on peace.

Source: GNA









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The Sri Lankan government's proposed 20th Constitution Amendment Bill that aims to bolster the powers of the President was tabled in Parliament on Tuesday, ending speculation that its presentation would be delayed amidst internal resistance from within the ruling party led by the powerful Rajapaksa family.

The government on September 2 gazetted 20A, the new proposed legislation that would replace the 19th Amendment introduced in 2015 that curtailed the powers of the President and strengthened the role of Parliament.

The 19A was seen as the most progressive pro-democracy reformist move since Sri Lanka came to be governed under the all-powerful executive presidency in 1978.

It depoliticised the government administration by ensuring the independence of key pillars such as the judiciary, public service and elections.

The 20th Amendment proposes to restore full legal immunity to the President, removing the provisions made in the 19A to take legal action against the President.

Amidst an uproar by the Opposition in Parliament on Tuesday, Justice Minister Ali Sabri tabled the bill which was the original gazette issued by the government on September 3.

After the bill is presented in Parliament, anyone wanting to drag the matter to the court can approach the apex judicial body against it.

The 20A has been tabled in Parliament and it is up to the Opposition to approach the court if they want to go against it, the government said.

GL Peiris, the Education Minister, on Monday had said: "After it is presented in Parliament for what is known as the first reading tomorrow, any interested party can approach the Supreme Court against it. Then the court will have further 3 weeks to inform its legality to the President and Parliament".

Peiris headed a 9-member ministerial committee to review the 20A's original provisions after it faced internal resistance from within a faction of the ruling Sri Lanka People's Party (SLPP) parliamentary group itself.

Yet Peiris' committee report was not considered for any changes based on the objections.

"Any changes which the parties want could be discussed at the committee stage of the debate", Peiris said adding that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had received two clear mandates both in November last year and at the parliamentary election held in August to abolish the 19A.

The 19A Amendment adopted in 2015 by the then reformist government was subject to much criticism by the powerful Rajapaksa clan as it prevented dual citizens from contesting elections.

At the time, two of the Rajapaksa family members, including the current president, were dual citizens of the US and Sri Lanka.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa had to renounce his US citizenship to contest the presidential election in November last.

His younger brother and SLPP founder and its National Organiser, Basil Rajapaksa, is a dual citizen of the US and Sri Lanka. There are five from the Rajapaksa family already in the government.

During the August 5 general election, the SLPP sought two thirds parliamentary mandate or 150 seats in the 225-member assembly to effect constitutional changes, the foremost of them was the move to abolish the 19A.

The SLPP and allies won 150 seats and have a two-thirds majority to affect the constitutional change they desire.

While Gotabaya Rajapaksa was elected as the Sri Lankan President in November last year, his eldest brother Mahinda Rajapaksa won the general election and assumed charge as Prime Minister on August 9.
Manitoba announced Tuesday the start of a task force aimed at curbing retail theft, partnering with local law enforcement agencies and retailers to tackle what Justice Minister Cliff Cullen called a concerning issue in the province.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 22/9/2020 (486 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Manitoba announced Tuesday the start of a task force aimed at curbing retail theft, partnering with local law enforcement agencies and retailers to tackle what Justice Minister Cliff Cullen called a concerning issue in the province.

"I think we all know that retail crime is a problem here in Manitoba," Cullen said from a podium at the Grant Park Shopping Centre, outside the busy exits of a Liquor Mart and Co-op grocery store.

The task force, which met for the first time Tuesday afternoon in downtown Winnipeg, would be focused on prevention and suppression of retail theft and designing intervention strategies businesses can implement, Cullen said. It will be funded with $25,000 allocated from the province's proceeds of crime fund, and a report should be expected by the end of the year, he said.

The task force is comprised of law enforcement, government personnel and retailers. Members include Scott Kolody, associate deputy minister of justice; Michele Jules, executive director of Manitoba Prosecution Service; RCMP Chief Supt. Rob Hill; Winnipeg Police Service deputy chief Jeff Szyszkowski; Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries director of corporate security and surveillance Shawn McGurk; Garda World security regional vice-president Scott Young; and Damien Smith, district loss prevention officer for Rexall Pharmacy Group Ltd.

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The project was borne out of a January meeting between local chambers of commerce, business organizations and government, which recommended a task force to develop and implement a retail strategy, while distributing information to retailers to support theft-prevention needs, Cullen said.

Chairing the group will be Tory MLA Shannon Martin (McPhillips) and John Graham, director of government relations for the Retail Council of Canada.

COVID-19 pandemic restrictions put a pause on retail crime in the spring but the province continues to face a recent surge, Graham said.

"The bad guys are getting innovative... but I think we can say, watch out criminals, because here we come," he said.

Asked about the lack of social service organizations participating in the task force's inaugural meeting, Cullen said if those groups are interested in engaging with the group, it is on the table.

ben.waldman@freepress.mb.ca
HOUSTON, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Quanta Services, Inc. (NYSE:PWR) announced today the closing of its offering of $1.0 billion aggregate principal amount of 2.9% senior notes due 2030 for net proceeds of approximately $986.7 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and estimated offering expenses. Quanta used the net proceeds from the offering, together with cash on hand, to repay the term loans under its credit agreement. Additionally, Quanta amended its credit agreement to, among other things, increase the aggregate revolving commitments of the lenders from $2.135 billion to $2.510 billion and extend the maturity date for the revolving commitments under the credit agreement from October 31, 2022 to September 22, 2025.

"Quanta is proud to have received an investment grade credit rating associated with our recent debt offering and to have expanded the capacity and extended the term of our credit facility, which we believe points to our strong financial profile, the resiliency and sustainability of our business model and a positive multi-year outlook," said Duke Austin, President and Chief Executive Officer of Quanta Services.

Derrick Jensen, Quanta Services' Chief Financial Officer commented, "This offering and amendment to our credit facility provides long-term debt capital at attractive rates, extends our debt maturities and diversifies our capital structure into the investment grade credit market, which we believe is beneficial for Quanta's long-term capital needs. We would like to thank our lenders for their ongoing relationship with and confidence in Quanta and welcome our new bond investors."

BofA Securities, Inc., PNC Capital Markets LLC, Truist Securities, Inc. and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, acted as arrangers for the amendment to Quanta's credit agreement.

About Quanta Services

Quanta Services is a leading specialized contracting services company, delivering comprehensive infrastructure solutions for the utility, pipeline, energy and communications industries. Quanta's comprehensive services include designing, installing, repairing and maintaining energy and communications infrastructure. With operations throughout the United States, Canada, Australia and select other international markets, Quanta has the manpower, resources and expertise to safely complete projects that are local, regional, national or international in scope. For more information, visit www.quantaservices.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release (and any oral statements regarding the subject matter of this press release) contains forward-looking statements intended to qualify for the "safe harbor" from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to projected operating or financial results and expectations regarding Quanta's business or financial outlook;, as well as statements reflecting expectations, intentions, assumptions or beliefs about future events and other statements that do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. Although Quanta's management believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. These statements can be affected by inaccurate assumptions and by a variety of known and unknown risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict or beyond Quanta's control, including, among others, those described in the prospectus supplement and accompanying base prospectus relating to the offering; market conditions; the effects of industry, economic, financial or political conditions outside of the control of Quanta, including weakness in capital markets or the ongoing and potential impact to financial markets and worldwide economic activity resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, and related governmental actions; quarterly variations in operating results, liquidity, financial condition, cash flows, capital requirements, reinvestment opportunities or other financial results, including the ongoing and potential impact to Quanta's business, operations and supply chain of the COVID-19 pandemic and related governmental actions; the severity, magnitude and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, and other risks and uncertainties detailed in Quanta's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2019, Quanta's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended Mar. 31, 2020 and Jun. 30, 2020 and any other documents that Quanta files with the SEC. For a discussion of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, investors are urged to refer to Quanta's documents filed with the SEC that are available through Quanta's website at www.quantaservices.com or through EDGAR at www.sec.gov. Should one or more of these risks materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are current only as of this date. Quanta does not undertake and expressly disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Quanta further expressly disclaims any written or oral statements made by any third party regarding the subject matter of this press release.

Contact: Derrick Jensen, CFO Media  Jenna Jackson

Kip Rupp, CFA - Investors Quanta Services, Inc.

Quanta Services, Inc. (713) 341-6741

(713) 629-7600



SOURCE Quanta Services, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.quantaservices.com


Detectives have dealt a serious blow to an eastern European gang suspected of running a lucrative drugs patch in the capital after seizing 300,000 worth of cocaine.

Gardai also recovered a semi-automatic handgun and ammunition during a series of raids in west Dublin.

A 29-year-old Lithuanian national was arrested during the operation carried out by the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (DOCB).

Network

The man was arrested in the Clonee area and is being held at Blanchardstown Garda Station. He can be detained for up to seven days.

Detectives believe he is linked to a major drugs outfit in the capital who control a distribution network in Tyrellstown and the surrounding areas.

The gang is one of a number of eastern European-based groups who have expanded their networks here in recent years.

Assistant Garda Commissioner John O'Driscoll, who oversees operations into organised crime, said the latest seizure shows the force "continues to target those who are suspected to be involved in organised and serious crime and to attempt to locate and seize the drugs they intend to sell within our communities and fire- arms they possess for the purpose of inflicting harm on others".

A series of raids was carried out in west Dublin on Satur- day and Sunday by the DOCB with the assistance of members of the local drugs unit based at Blanchardstown garda station

"During the course of these searches, a quantity of a substance now confirmed to be cocaine with an estimated street sale value of 300,000 was located and seized," a garda spokesperson said.

Trafficking

"A semi-automatic firearm and ammunition was also seized."

The garda's anti-organised crime unit conducted searches last month in Dublin, Cork, Waterford and Kerry as part of a operation targeting a separate Lithuanian gang.

The operation, carried out with Lithuanian authorities and the PSNI, helped dismantle a mob involved in human-trafficking and drug dealing on an international scale.
September 22 : Arjun Kapoor, who had tested positive for coronavirus, has decided to donate his plasma to help save the lives of people who are in critical condition and require it for their treatment.

The Panipat actor, who is recovering at home, had revealed on September 6 via his social media handles that he is COVID-19 positive. By donating his plasma after his recovery, the actor wants to set an example and motivate other recovered coronavirus patients to donate plasma to save lives of other COVID-19 patients. Plasma therapy is crucial to save the lives of people whose conditions have become critical after catching the virus.

It is reported that Arjun will donate his plasma on the 45th day after he tested positive. The actor will have to go to a city hospital to donate his plasma. A medical team is currently working with him closely and would finalise the date when Arjun can visit a hospital and donate his plasma. The team is currently working on the procedure and will follow all procedures.

On the work front, Arjun was shooting with Rakul Preet Singh for an untitled romantic film when the actor was diagnosed with coronavirus. Mid-way, the shoot got halted.

Arjun has also replaced Aditya Roy Kapur in director Mohit Suris Ek Villain sequel and will start shoot this year end. After Suri fell apart with Aditya due to creative differences over the script, his producers Bhushan Kumar and Ekta Kapoor had approached Arjun Kapoor to replace Aditya.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Amid the race to develop a potential vaccine against novel coronavirus in India, Reddy's Laboratories Ltd, which has recently been roped in for Covid-19 vaccine manufacturing , said that it could begin late-stage clinical trials of Russia's potential coronavirus vaccine in the next few weeks, an executive said.

"Indian trials of the Sputnik-V vaccine candidate, being developed by Russia's sovereign wealth fund, will enroll 1,000-2,000 participants and be conducted at multiple government and private hospitals across the country," Deepak Sapra, CEO for API and pharmaceutical services at Dr. Reddy's, told Reuters.

"We want to get to the first step - which is the commencement of the clinical trials by getting the necessary approvals from the Indian regulators - within the next few weeks," Sapra said to Reuters.

The trials are part of a deal between the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and Dr Reddy's, in which the Indian firm will conduct Phase III studies in the country.

Sputnik-V doses supplied in India will likely be a combination of Indian- and Russian-made doses, Sapra said, adding that RDIF and Dr Reddy's would soon identify potential manufacturers in India.

The RDIF has said vaccine deliveries to India could begin in late 2020, but Sapra suggested it could take longer. "I think it's going to be several months before we accomplish all the steps in the process," he added.

Earlier, RDIF confirmed reaching an agreement to supply 100 million doses of Russian COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V to India's Dr. Reddy's Laboratories.

"The RDIF, Russia's sovereign wealth fund, and Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd. (Dr. Reddy's), a global pharmaceutical company headquartered out of India, have agreed to cooperate on clinical trials and distribution of Sputnik V vaccine in India. Upon regulatory approval in India, RDIF shall supply to Dr. Reddy's 100 million doses of the vaccine," Sputnik quoted the RDIF's press release.

Deliveries could start in late 2020, the release added.

The RDIF is pleased to reach the agreement with the Indian company, the RDIF CEO Kirill Dmitriev said.

"Dr. Reddy's has had a very well established and respected presence in Russia for over 25 years and is one of the leading pharmaceutical companies in India," he said

"India is amongst most severely impacted countries from the novel coronavirus and we believe our human adenovirus dual vector platform will provide a safe and scientifically validated option to India in the battle against COVID 19. RDIF partners will receive an effective and safe drug to fight the coronavirus," he added.

Last week, the Russian Health Ministry announced that the first batch of Sputnik V vaccine against COVID-19 has been released into civil circulation.

Sputnik V, a vaccine against coronavirus, has been developed by the Gamaleya National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology and RDIF.

With inputs from agencies

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WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Key Republican senators Roger Wicker and Susan Collins on Monday introduced a Bill that would give U.S. airlines and ground contractors another $28.4 billion in payroll assistance as the industry braces for thousands of job cuts by next month.



The Wicker-Collins bill proposes $11.2 billion in new funds and $17.4 billion from other unspent funds already announced for coronavirus relief measures.



The new legislation earmarks $25.5 billion for new passenger airlines and makes smaller airlines eligible for 15 percent additional funds.



Under the CARES Act, U.S. airlines received billions of dollars in aid on condition that they will not cut their staffing until October 1.



As tens of thousands of airline workers face the threat of layoff from October, the bill proposes to protect them until the end of March 2021.



It is not sure if the Bill will pass before the CARES Act deadline expires on October 1, as the government is deadlocked over a second stimulus package.



The Bill's sponsor Senator Wicker said the CARES Act successfully saved thousands of jobs that support the airline industry and provided these businesses with some breathing space after the drastic drop in air travel caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.



'However, the market has not turned around as much as we had hoped, and additional relief is needed,' he said in a statement.



COVID-19 has forced several airlines across the world to restructure or cease operations. The steep decline of demand, especially among the Business Travel class, has pummeled airline revenues.



From March to July, U.S. passenger airline employment fell by 45,000, according to Airlines for America, a trade group representing major American air carriers.



Airlines that became bankrupt or forced to shut down following deep fall in passenger travel due to the pandemic include Compass Airlines, Express Jet, Miami Air International, RavnAir Group and Trans States Airlines.



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Playa del Carmen police arrest man for attempted murder

Playa del Carmen, Q.R.  The General Prosecutors Office says an arrest warrant has lead to the arrest of Jose M for attempted murder. The arrest warrant was granted after prosecutors were successful in providing evidence that Jose M was likely involved in the September 15 shooting against a man in Playa del Carmen.

The General Prosecutors Office detailed that on September 15, the now accused, in the company of another person, probably fired a firearm at the victim in the Villas del Sol subdivision. The injured man of reserved identity managed to escape by his own means and request help.

Jose M was arrested and charged with attempted homicide since he is deemed a probable participant in these events.
(ST. JOSEPH, Mo.) Tuesday is National Voter Registration Day, a nationwide, nonpartisan effort to get more people to cast their vote.

Political experts said this upcoming presidential election is going to be unprecedented.

Theres a lot going on in terms of political conflict. Theres a lot going on in terms of battles over issues of racial justice, racial equity. There are climate catastrophes, people fleeing from fire and did I mention the pandemic? said Dr. Melinda Kovacs, Missouri Western State University Political Science Associate Professor.

Dr. Kovacs said because of the election's high stakes, voting could be too overwhelming for some or force others to the polls or mailbox.

But the situation is going to divide peoples responses either into the I just want to huddle and cocoon inside my house, or Oh my goodness, I have to use my voice as a voter to participate in the democratic process because otherwise who knows whats going to come next? said Dr. Kovacs.

Political science professors anticipate a higher voter turnout.

But before anyone can vote, they need to register.

The Buchanan County Clerk said there's been more registrations this year than the previous election, four years ago. Online registrations were probably averaging 150 a day. Its crazy now. A lot of them arent all new. Some of them are address changes and maybe a duplicate voter, but at least theyre making the effort to make sure theyre registering or changing their address. Im proud of us, said Mary Baack-Garvey, Buchanan County Clerk.

For those who haven't registered to vote, deadlines are looming.

If you want to physically come in and get registered, you have until 5 oclock on October 7th, said Baack-Garvey.

So, who needs to register? Anyone who has moved since the latest election, had a name change or will be a first time voter.

Missouri residents have until October 7th to register for the November election.

Buchanan County residents can walk into the county clerk's office to register or register online.

As of Tuesday morning, 2,000 absentee ballots were sent out in Buchanan County. Baack-Garvey said, Weve already had two people here at the counter at 7:55 a.m. this morning to vote absentee, so its going to be busy.
Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz warned Tuesday against any attempt to force EU countries to take in asylum-seekers as the European Commission prepared to unveil a new strategy for handling migration to the bloc.

Speaking to AFP in an exclusive interview, Kurz alluded to previous efforts by the European Commission to introduce mandatory quotas for refugees for all EU members, which were rejected by many eastern and central European countries.

"We find that the distribution in Europe (of asylum seekers) has failed and many states reject this. It won't work like this," he said.

On Wednesday, Brussels will launch its latest proposal for EU asylum policy.

Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson wants the 27 member states to share the burden of handling asylum claims from migrants who arrive mostly on the bloc's southern shores in Greece, Italy and Spain.

She has again raised the idea of mandatory sharing.

Kurz said he welcomed that the European Commission was addressing the topic of asylum and migration.

"We can only solve this topic all together... Better protection of the (EU's) outer borders, a joined fight against smugglers, but also joined aid where it is needed (in countries where refugees come from), that is the path that is needed," the 34-year-old conservative leader said.

Austria and other smaller countries, such as Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia, have all spoken out in the past against any mandatory asylum-seeker distribution.

Kurz became the world's youngest chancellor when his conservative People's Party formed a coalition government with the far-right Freedom Party in 2017.

The coalition fell apart in 2019 after a corruption scandal engulfed the far-right leader, leading to fresh elections, where Kurz's party again gathered the most votes.

Kurz then formed a new coalition with the Greens, govering the small Alpine country of nearly nine million people since January.

bg-jza/adp
Tropical Depression Beta, which officially made landfall late Monday night, continues to dump rain over parts of Houston, prompting more watches and warnings for flash flooding Tuesday morning.

Much of our area is under a flood warning until further notice as Betas rain bands pummel areas south of the city. Some parts of Greater Houston have received upwards of 10 inches of rain in the last 24 hours, according to the Harris County Flood Control District.
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and her husband, Prince Harry, announced their decision to step down as senior royals earlier this year. A few months later, the couple moved to Southern California, where Meghan is originally from.

While many people believe Meghans main motive for moving back to the U.S. involves her fraught relationship with the British press and her desire to be close to Hollywood, feminist leader Gloria Steinem has revealed the upcoming election has something to do with it as well.

Meghan Markle | Samir Hussein/WireImage

Meghan Markle has spoken about politics more than ever since she left the royal family

Royals are typically barred from being involved in politics. They neither share opinions about political issues nor vote in elections.

Before joining the royal family, Meghan was vocal about politics, though she remained quiet after marrying Harry. After the Sussexes distanced themselves from the royal family, Meghan dipped her toes into American politics again, mostly by encouraging people to vote.

In August, Meghan attended an online event called When All Women Vote #CouchParty, and she talked about the importance of voting. Although Meghan did not express support for any political party, her involvement in the event stirred up criticism because many folks still expected her to remain out of politics as much as possible.

Gloria Steinem says Meghan Markle moved back to the U.S. partly because of the upcoming election

RELATED: What Could Meghan Markles Life Look Like Had She Not Left the Royal Family? This Swedish Princess Offers a Clue

In her mission to get more Americans to vote, Meghan has also teamed up with Steinem. In August, the two of them met for a backyard chat, where they talked more voting.

Now Steinem is opening up about her experience working with Meghan. She revealed to Access Hollywood that Meghan came home to vote and that the two of them cold-called voters together.

The first thing we did, and why she came to see me, was we sat at the dining room table where I am right now and we cold-called voters, Steineim shared. She said, Hello Im Meg, and Hello Im Gloria, and Are you going to vote? That was her initiative.

Meghan Markle reportedly has political ambitions

Meghan spoke about the upcoming US election during the @WhenWeAllVote #CouchParty tonight  We all know whats at stake this year. I know itand if youre here on this event with us then you are just as mobilised and energised to see the change that we all need and deserve. pic.twitter.com/Vijod8oqJ6  Lizzie Robinson (@LizzieITV) August 20, 2020

RELATED: Fans Think Meghan Markle Could Have Been More Patient With the Royal Family

After Meghan moved back to the U.S., some onlookers have also questioned whether she has intentions of working in politics.

This wouldnt be a far-fetched idea. After all, Meghan studied international relations at Northwestern University and even took on an internship at the U.S. embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

In 2013three years before meeting Harryshe told Marie Claire, I had always loved politics, so I ended up changing my major completely, and double-majoring in theater and international relations. I thought for sure I would still have a career in politics.

Meanwhile, royal author Lady Colin Campbell alleged that Meghan could even consider running for president.

I know the Duchess of Sussex has political ambitions and Ive been told that one day she wants to run for President, Campbell shared with the Daily Mail. I think everything she is doing, leaving the royal family and moving back to California is part of her plan and she has taken Harry along with her.
Southeast Asias leading exhibitions and conferences on analytical laboratory technologies, life sciences, and biotechnology innovations

VNU Asia Pacific, the organizer of Thailand LAB INTERNATIONAL, together with the Science and Technology Trade Association (STTA) and the Thailand Center of Excellence for Life Sciences (TCELS), are thrilled to celebrate its 10th Anniversary from October 28-30, 2020 at BITEC. Thailand LAB INTERNATIONAL strives to be one of Southeast Asias leading exhibitions and conferences on analytical laboratory technologies, life sciences, and biotechnology innovations. This also comes in response to the rising need for knowledge exchange on the latest innovations for COVID-19 detection and ramping up of lab infrastructures to accommodate increases in clinical testing, biotech developments, and vaccine discoveries.

For the first time, Thailand LAB INTERNATIONAL will launch a Hybrid Edition to improve the accessibility of the trade fair for participants across the globe. The show will expand its capabilities by creating more business matching opportunities and access to conferences through a user-friendly online platform. Furthermore, the Thailand Center of Excellence for Life Sciences, or TCELS, will be the main co-host for Bio Asia Pacific 2020: Virtual & Live, a virtual conference on Preparedness & Readiness for the Next Pandemic for this year. It will broadcast through an online platform and live at Thailand LAB INTERNATIONAL. There will be an open center stage at the exhibition hall called "Bio Square," where the Opening Ceremony, leadership sessions, networking functions, start-up pitching, fireside chats, and lucky drawings will be conducted to deliver a holistic experience for all trade participants.

Mr. Anucha Parnpichate, Project Manager of Thailand LAB INTERNATIONAL says, The show will provide an avenue to gather lab professionals, researchers, manufacturers, the academic community and various government representatives to share their knowledge on the production of a human vaccine and better management of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases in the future. For the ten years that we have organized Thailand LAB INTERNATIONAL, we have successfully stimulated the growth of the analytical laboratory market in Asia. Through the conferences and knowledge seminars organized by associations, government institutions and universities at the show, we can equip trade participants with the latest knowledge on life sciences and healthcare, with a focus on the global efforts towards detecting and combating COVID-19. Among the confirmed government and association partners are The Association of Medical Technologists of Thailand (AMTT), National Food Institute (NFI), Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research (TISTR), Biotech Industry Club under the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) among others. A plethora of knowledge exchange, business matching opportunities and exciting activities await visitors at Thailand LAB INTERNATIONAL 2020."

Exhibition Highlights

- Celebrates the 10th anniversary of Thailand LAB INTERNATIONAL as a New Normal in LAB Exhibition

- First Hybrid show that will combine a live portion and online platform

- Presents the latest technology and equipment used in laboratories by top brands around the world

- Offers a variety of conferences within the exhibition as well as a virtual platform, with COVID-19 vaccine updates as the highlight

- An open center stage located at the exhibition hall called Bio Square, which will feature various activities throughout the show

- Bio Asia Pacific 2020: Virtual & Live under the theme Preparedness & Readiness for the Next Pandemic by TCELS

- Facilitates all key buyers through the Business Matching Services and fosters a forum of new business ideas for future investment through the Business Pitching Session

- Easier access to information on the show through the Thailand LAB Event App, downloadable for IPhone and Android users. Stay tuned!

Conference Highlights

Medical Laboratories on the Front Lines: Fighting COVID-19 The Association of Medical Technologists of Thailand (AMTT) Using microorganisms for the production of bio-fertilizers, plant diseases control and stimulating the growth of plants for sustainable agriculture. Thailand Society of Biotechnology (TSB) National Program in New Normal Lifestyle for COVID-19 Thai Society of Toxicology (TST) Cannabis Product : Quality & Safety Control Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research (TISTR) Revolutionizing Animal Healthcare through Nanotechnology The Thai Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (TAVLD) Update: COVID- 19 vaccine Biotech Industry Club - The Federation of Thai Industries Essential Knowledge of SARS-CoV-2 for Laboratory People The Virology Association (Thailand) Laboratory Biosafety Guidance related to the COVID-19: New Normal in Thailand The Biosafety Association (Thailand) ASEAN Food Safety Forum #8 Healthier and Safer: Food Security in Post COVID-19 Era KU-FIRST, Kasetsart University Food Microbiology Contest #4 Review of ISO 17025:2017 and Case Studies INNOLAB Magazine

COVID-19 Guidelines at LAB Exhibition

The safety of all of our trade participants is our top priority. In close cooperation with BITEC, strict hygiene and security procedures will be implemented throughout the entire show. Measures will include mandatory mask usage at all time, scanning of the Thai Chana QR code, the government mobile application, to Check In/Out, and regular cleaning and sanitation of common areas. For security reason, the capacity of participants per square meter of the exhibition hall will be set at 1:4 and will be monitored by heat maps installed throughout different areas.

Pre-registration : https://thailandlab2020.com/Registration/RegisForm.aspx?codeInv=LAB38

For more information: thailandlab@vnuasiapacific.com | Tel.+6621116611
A majority of teaching assistants feel unsafe in London schools and dont believe adults are socially distancing from one another, according to an internal survey of GMB members.

Just two weeks after schools fully reopened in England for the first time since the coronavirus lockdown, the union said the results, combined with problems accessing Covid-19 tests, showed staff were rightly scared.

According to the survey of over 600 members, 55 per cent of teaching assistants surveyed said they did not feel safe at work while 44 per cent said they did feel safe.

The results, seen by The Independent, were similar when respondents were asked whether adults within the school were socially distancing from one another: a majority (58 per cent) said no while 41 per cent said staff were socially distanced.

The Department for Education (DfE) urges adults in schools to minimise contact between individuals and maintain social distancing wherever possible in order to prevent the ability of the virus to spread.

On additional Covid-19 cleaning regimes, such as wiping frequently touched contact points, including door handles and bannisters, 79 per cent of members reported the extra cleaning being carried out while one in five said they were not.

Lisa Bangs, a GMB London organiser, said: Our members cant get a test despite the cases of Covid-19 in our schools rising. On top of this, theres clearly a struggle to meet even the basic virus protections of social distancing. Our school support staff are rightly scared.

The testing fiasco this week shows that theres an absence of support for the staff educating our children. It appears everyone apart from this government knew that when schools re-opened in September, wed need more Covid-19 tests. It is a total failure of a system that should guarantee a safe return to schools for all our key workers.

There is a complete disconnect between what our members are facing today and what this government is telling the public. Its only right that our teaching assistants, care takers and catering staff, deserve to go to work knowing theyre safe to do the vital role of supporting our children at school.

The DfE states, on current evidence, schools are not currently considered high-risk settings when compared to other workplace environments, but the GMB union survey points to high levels of anxiety among members at current safeguards.

One teaching assistant added: Im extremely annoyed and upset with this current situation, we have all returned to school in good faith despite all the unanswered questions and we are being let down by a government that is clueless, reactive and couldnt care less.

A spokesperson for DfE said: Teachers and all school staff have gone to extraordinary lengths to get children back into school, and schools have been implementing protective measures which are designed to reduce risks of transmission. The decisions we have taken during this unprecedented time have been guided by the best scientific and medical advice.

Testing capacity is the highest it has ever been, but we are seeing a significant demand for tests. It is vital that children and school staff only get a test if they develop coronavirus symptoms. If a positive case is confirmed in a school, swift action is being taken to ask those who have been in close contact to self-isolate, and a dedicated helpline has been established to support and advise schools in this situation. We will continue to work with schools to ensure all appropriate steps are taken to keep pupils and staff safe.
The Bombay high court (HC) on Tuesday directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) authorities to seal an unauthorised temple at Wadala and stayed its demolition until further order.

The court while hearing a contempt petition was informed that though a May 19 order of the HC had ordered the demolition of the temple and restricted any religious activity, recent Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations were still organised there.

The court refused to grant permission to the BMC authorities to demolish the temple on Wednesday.

A two-member HC division bench, comprising Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice GS Kulkarni, while hearing the contempt petition filed by Fletcher Patel through advocate BG Tangsali was informed that in May the BMC had assured the court that the temple would be demolished after the coronavirus disease (Covid-19)-induced lockdown restrictions were relaxed.

In light of the assurance, the court had directed the civic body to ensure that there was no access to the temple.

However, the order was violated as religious activities were held, including the recent Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations.

Tangsali submitted that this was a blatant violation of the court order and, as a result, the contempt petition was valid.

The advocate, who represented the BMC, admitted that religious activities were performed in the temple. He apologised on behalf of the civic authorities for their failure to comply with the court order and assured that the demolition of the temple would be carried out on Wednesday.

The court heard the submissions and observed that prima facie there was contempt of its May 19 order.

It directed the petitioner and the BMC to ensure that the contemnors -- those responsible for the rebuilding of the temple  appear before the court on September 29 when the plea would be heard next.

The bench also directed the BMC to file an affidavit along with an apology before September 29.
(TNS)  City council is seeking to install a dual charging station for electric cars at the Community Arts Center, but not all support the idea.Council voted 5-1 to seek a state grant to fund two single-port chargers that would be installed at the arts centers parking lot in the northeast corner.Councilman Terry Senger, who supports the citys push for environmental sustainability, voted against the grant request because of the location. Councilman Dale Paullus was absent from the meeting.My opposition to this particular project is locating the charging stations in the parking lot of the CAC. Its the only reason," he said. I just think we need to find a better location for it than that.Fairfield City Manager Mark Wendling said the CAC was chosen because it meets the criteria for which the application will be scored.The goal of the program is to provide publicly accessible charging stations within a quarter-mile of a major route thats within a business district, he said. Such proximity has dual purpose of being attractive to consumers while also providing extra foot traffic to local businesses and venues.The CAC is a well-lit and safe location thats near the heavily traveled Pleasant Avenue, or U.S. 127, he said. The draw on the CACs electrical panel is minimal, he said.The funding would come from an Ohio Department of Transportation grant funded through the multi-billion-dollar Volkswagen settlement.Ohio received $75 million of the nearly $15 billion settlement after the automaker was accused by the U.S. Justice Department of cheating federal emission standards. Of that, $11.25 million is designated for electric vehicle charging stations.There are a few electric vehicle charging stations around Butler and Warren counties, including at Cincinnati Premium Outlets in Monroe and IKEA in West Chester Twp. California leads the nation with more than 4,000 stations, according to a Pew Research Center report When the idea was first presented, City Councilman Tim Abbott said he had reservations with the proposed location, but he is now comfortable.The technologys coming if we like it or not, he said.Abbott, who is the director of government and community relations at Duke Energy, said charging stations will soon populate the landscape and his company alone is planning to install up to 500 charging stations around the state.(Duke Energy is) going to convert 10,000 of our light-duty trucks over the next five years to electric technology, and the public needs to get out in front of it like we are to promote the technology, he said.Dill said last month the proposed $115,000 grant doesnt require a local match, Fairfield will pay for site preparation and running electric to the proposed site.
Georgia senator Kelly Loeffler has provoked ridicule with a campaign ad comparing herself to Attila the Hun  and featuring a bizarre depiction of the legendary ruler issuing Republican talking points from a throne.

Released yesterday, the ad begins with a white middle-aged woman on a couch remarking that Ms Loeffler has been ranked the most conservative senator in America, although no source for this is given. The man next to her, reclining against a cow print throw, agrees: Yup, shes more conservative than Attila the Hun.

The ad then cuts to a scene in a mocked-up medieval chamber, with Attila himself grunting unintelligibly at an obedient underling who translates his orders: Fight China, attack big government, and eliminate the liberal scribes.

Reverting to a more conventional style, the video switches to a photo of Ms Loeffler sitting with Donald Trump. More conservative than Attila the Hun, reads a voiceover. Kelly Loeffler: 100 per cent Trump voting record.

Ms Loefflers commercial has been roundly derided by election observers. This is a Geico commercial, wrote FiveThirtyEights Nathaniel Rakich. Leaving the off-base style aside, journalist Helen Kennedy pointed out another problem: Dumbass Kelly Loeffler mistakes Attila the Hun for Genghis Khan. Attila marched on Rome, not China. Its too bad Republicans keep cutting education funding.

Not all were so amused. Will Bunch of the Philadelphia Inquirer sounded the alarm at the eliminate the liberal scribes line, calling it an intemperate and potentially violent dog whistle reminiscent of the most dangerous days of the struggle to desegregate Georgia.

Also condemning Ms Loeffler, albeit for different reasons, was her Republican opponent, incumbent congressman Doug Collins.

@KLoeffler is so uncomfortable discussing conservative values that she hired an actor to make grunting noises rather than do it herself, he tweeted. FYI Attila the Hun was an open-borders globalist who killed christians and practiced postnatal abortion.

Other Republicans have weighed in too. Florida congressman Matt Gaetz, a devoted Trump ally, was retweeted by Mr Collins: Imagine being so inauthentic in your own performance that youd pay money to create and distribute this ad. Woof.

While she is considered reasonably likely to place top of the field on 3 November, Ms Loeffler needs to win 50% of the vote to avoid a runoff in the new year. With Georgia increasingly looking competitive for Democrats at all levels after years as a GOP stronghold, Mr Collins is fighting to make the runoff a two-Republican race by outpolling Democratic challenger Raphael Warnock.

Ms Loeffler, who was appointed to the seat less than a year ago by governor Brian Kemp, was investigated earlier this for allegedly selling off millions of dollars in stock after receiving a briefing on the likely economic impact of the coronavirus  but before she or her party warned the public how serious the pandemic might be.

Since then, she has tried to shore up her conservative credentials in what has been a consistently tight race. This weekend, she visited a gun rights rally also attended by far-right GOP candidate Marjorie Taylor Greene, a longtime supporter of the QAnon movement who is now standing essentially unopposed for the US House of Representatives.

Ms Loeffler tweeted several pictures of herself at the event with Ms Taylor Greene, including one featuring two members of the Georgia III% Martyrs  a small right-wing militia affiliating itself with the well-known three percenters anti-government movement.

In a discussion on a militia forum earlier this year, a member of the group called for new signups: The GA III% Martyrs are now recruiting dedicated and active members. If you're able bodied and looking for a brotherhood with strong values and big plans, please pm me or follow the steps on the banner.

Not sure martyrs is the best word to name a militia, replied another user, it basically sounds like the goal is to die early to rally everyone else ... just saying.
A man has been charged after being caught on a mobile phone detection camera allegedly snorting a mystery substance while driving.

The driver, 21, of a Hyundai i30 sedan and his female passenger were caught on a detection camera on the M4 motorway in Western Sydney at 11.55pm on August 14.

Police released the image taken by the mobile phone detection camera.

A 21-year-old driver has been charged after being caught on a mobile phone detection camera allegedly snorting a mystery substance

Strike Force Puma and the Traffic and Highway Patrol Command launched an inquiry into the incident, leading investigators to issue a court notice to a 21-year-old man.

The man has been charged with driving without proper control of vehicle, using a mobile phone when not permitted and negligent driving.

NSW Police Acting superintendent Bill Darnell told 2GB investigators did not know what the substance was.

'However, those three traffic offences we are confident we can establish,' he said.

'Combined there are 11 points and over $1200 worth of fines just in those traffic offences alone.

'I've been doing this for a few years now and to be frank I've not seen what the photo depicted before in my service.'

Police will allege in court that the man was sniffing a substance off his mobile phone while driving and did not have his hands on the steering wheel while the vehicle was in motion.

Acting Supt Darnell said police plan to use the image in court as evidence.

'What concerns me is that these people take such extraordinary risks doing this kind of thing and it's not just their lives that are in peril, but it's those innocent people around them,' he said.

'The risk around them is significantly escalated because of this dope's behaviour.'

The man will appear in Blacktown Local Court on October 14.
Also during the first 30 days, the clerk should hire three new officers to oversee Freedom of Information Act requests, accessibility and public service, respectively, according to the report. The need for orderly and transparent data is crucial, the report says, so within the first 180 days there needs to be a new office of data management. Over the next year, according to the report, Browns replacement should work with Springfield to remove the FOIA exemption for the clerks office.
By Wu Zhenglong

A few days ago, in an online interview on the sidelines of the annual U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum, the No. 2 man in the U.S. State Department, Stephen Biegun, proposed to formalize the quadrilateral security dialogue and establish a closer relationship modeled on the lines of NATO.It is a reality that the Indo-Pacific region is actually lacking in strong multilateral structures, Biegun said.

The strategy of the United States for the Indo-Pacific region is to pick a fight on virtually every front and in every area of interest of the People's Republic of China. The purpose of the quadrilateral security dialogue is to build a critical group around shared values and interests that will attract more Indo-Pacific countries, even countries from around the world, to work together in common cause and eventually forge more structured alliances.

Biegun added: I'd just be very careful to not define it solely as an initiative to contain or to defend against China. I don't think that's enough.He cited NATO as an example, though he cautioned about being too ambitious with a compact of only four nations  the United States, Japan, Australia and India. But it is now clear that the U.S. intends to set up a NATO-style network in the Indo-Pacific region.

The quadrilateral security dialogue of the four nations, was launched in 2017, when working-level meetings were held to explore security cooperation in the region. Then, during last year's United Nations General Assembly, the quadrilateral security dialogue expanded to embrace its first ministerial meeting, and less than three months later it held a high-level meeting in Bangkok during the East Asia summits.Not long ago, India invited Australia to participate for the first time in the Malabar naval exercises involving the United States, Japan and India. These countries also agreed to hold a ministerial-level meeting in New Delhi this fall. It seems that the preparatory work for establishing an Indo-Pacific NATO is accelerating.

However, like a big house built on unstable ground, the scheme lacks realistic roots and common interests and therefore cannot come true.

The idea is that an Indo-Pacific NATO would respond to the so-called China threat, which does not exist. China is committed to peaceful development and does not pose a threat to any country. Yes, China has been developing rapidly since it introduced its reform and opening-up policy more than 40 years ago, but its development has relied on mutually beneficial cooperation and the hard work of its people. China does not engage in forced buying and selling, nor does it engage in colonial practices or gunboat policies or zero-sum games.China does have territorial and maritime disputes with India, Japan and other countries in the South China Sea, but these are all historical legacies. China's approach has been clear and consistent: to resolve disputes peacefully through dialogue.China has not made any territorial claims against the United States in the Gulf of Mexico, so there is something of a disconnect when it comes to U.S. claims of excessive expansion by China. Some self-reflection by the U.S. seems warranted.The United States has described China's development and self-defense actions as expansion and aggression, to allege a basis for the establishment of an Indo-Pacific NATO. This tactic, which confuses right and wrong, will not work.

U.S. President Donald Trump's America first slogan means that the United States will not succeed in building up a new power center. Since Trump won the 2016 election, his administration has taken America first as its guiding principle while abandoning America's international obligations. It has withdrawn from numerous groups and treaties and left other countries, especially its own allies, confused.In addition, the United States is trying to force its NATO allies to raise their defense spending quickly, threatening that the U.S. might withdraw from NATO. The United States announced the withdrawal of troops from Germany and is pressuring the Republic of Korea and Japan to significantly increase their contributions toward the maintenance of U.S. troops in South Korea and Japan.The current U.S. administration has thrown its friends into tizzies, taking relations between the U.S. and its allies to the most difficult place they've been in the postwar era. The Indo-Pacific NATO will also fail in the same way as other anti-China international alliances have.

Japan will not easily discard the repair of China-Japan relations and getting them back on track. Although maintaining the Japan-U.S. alliance remains a cornerstone of Japanese diplomacy, Japan has seen clearly from the U.S. pursuit of various unilateralist and bullying practices an untrustworthy and unreliable affiliate. U.S. actions have only bolstered Japan's sense of autonomy.In addition, as China's economy continues to develop, Japan recognizes that to develop its own economy, it needs the Chinese economy and market, as well as good relations. It is against this backdrop that Japan's goodwill toward China has helped bilateral relations get back on track and make new progress.Therefore, on the Indo-Pacific NATO issue, Japan will be cautious in deciding whether to follow the U.S. lead at the expense of its hard-won improvements in Sino-Japanese relations.

Although Australia is an ironclad ally of the United States and follows its lead, it is quite dependent on China  the so-called dual structure of relying on the United States for security and relying on China economically. Australia will also think twice about the Indo-Pacific NATO and will not rashly fall into the trap of labeling China as its enemy. As Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said, The relationship that we have with China is important. And we have no intention of injuring it.

As a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS, and also a part of the quadrilateral security dialogue, India has become the world's largest swing country  that is, it's somewhere between an emerging economy and a developed one. In the new international climate of great power competition, this is the latest application of India's strategic autonomy principle, which is meant to reap maximum benefits from all parties in that competition.Recently, the U.S. administrations has been drawing India closer to facilitate a strategic eastward shift, or Indo-Pacific strategy, while India has returned the favor by trying to accommodate the intentions of the United States. India enjoys the treatment of a de facto United States quasi-ally in terms of arms procurement, intelligence exchange and logistical resource sharing. It is also attempting to counterbalance China with a closer relationship with the U.S. The current structure is probably in India's best interest. If it opts for an alliance, how will it continue to maintain its independence and avoid the constraints and dependencies that come with an alliance? Such a step would not only subvert the principle of strategic autonomy, the cornerstone of India's diplomacy, but would also undermine its fundamental interests.

Not surprisingly, U.S. State Department's Biegun said in his speech, We've got to make sure everybody's moving at the same speed and that the U.S. will keep the Indo-Pacific NATO idea alive for the time being. He added that such a formal alliance only will happen if the other countries are as committed as the United States.This shows that the members of the quadrilateral security dialogue are divided on this issue. Without consensus, how can an Indo-Pacific NATO work?

(The author Wu Zhenglong is a senior research fellow with the China Foundation for Int'l Studies)

Disclaimer: This article is originally published on chinausfocus.com. The information, ideas or opinions appearing in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn.
Love in the time of Coronavirus - the modern day Romeo and Juliet, who met from their balcony, have announced that they are getting married.

The pair have been dubbed Romeo and Juliet as they met during Italy's strict lockdown on their balconies in Verona and started a type of long-distance relationship - similarly to Shakespeare's tragic heroes.

The pair have confirmed their happy ending and said they have already started planning their wedding.

Paola Agnelli and Michele D'Alpaos met from their balconies during lockdown in Verona, Italy

Paola Agnelli, 40, a lawyer, first spotted Michele D'Alpaos, 38, when they were both on their balconies at 6pm for the community balcony concert designed to keep spirits lifted.

Mr D'Alpaos said to The Times: 'We are absolutely getting married and all we have to do is set the date.

'We are considering a ceremony on the large roof terrace of my building, which would make sense since we met on our balconies.'

They met during a community balcony concert, when Paola's violinist sister, Lisa Agnelli, was playing Queen's 'We Are The Champions' and Paola was helping with the sound.

The couple became viral after Mr D'Alpaos erected a huge banner on the top floor of the building with 'Paola' written on it

The modern day Romeo and Juliet, have announced that they are getting married

Paola was helping her violinist sister, Lisa Agnelli, (pictured), who was playing Queen's 'We Are The Champions' that day

Mr D'Alpaos tracked down Paola's Instagram account and the pair started messaging until 3am.

And as they couldn't meet due to coronavirus restrictions, their relationship was based on talking on the phone.

The couple became viral after Mr D'Alpaos erected a huge banner on the top floor of the building with 'Paola' written on it, in a bid to express his emotions.

The pair were able to actually meet for a date in a local park in May.

The couple, who are both unmarried, have lived opposite each other for most of their lives but have never met properly apart from a chance meeting a year ago.
Jane Harvey has delivered food a few times to a woman in Roseburg who is at a higher risk for contracting COVID-19, but she hopes to start delivering to more people soon through PDX Concierge.

PDX Concierge is an Oregon initiative where teens will deliver groceries to elderly, disabled or immunocompromised people or first responders in the community without delivery fees.

I hope to be able to help anybody who needs it and that nobody is embarrassed to ask for help, Harvey said.

The initiative, as the name suggests, was started in Portland by Neel Jain, a teenager who started helping his grandmother with grocery deliveries and saw a need.

People who are interested in ordering groceries through PDX Concierge get sent a shopping list through the website at www.pdxdeliver.com. Once the teen is done shopping, they will send a message with the amount and what time theyll deliver.

Reimbursement for the groceries can be made by cash, check or online payment. The groceries will be left on the doorstep.

Running and growing this organization has been an amazing experience for me and I have definitely learned a lot, Jain said. I have learned how to interact with others, the aspects of entrepreneurship involving hard-work and determination, and many other skills. I am grateful to have had this experience and after all of the hard work, it is very satisfying to see it pay off and be able to help others in the community.

PDX Concierge is available in Roseburg, Eugene, Salem and most of the Portland metro area and has more than 30 volunteers and 155 deliveries made.

I hope to possibly start operations in other areas of Oregon like Medford, Corvallis, and more so we can help everyone in need, Jain said. We have some chapters in Vancouver, Washington, as well as Salem that are a bit smaller so I also hope to grow those.

Harvey heard about PDX Concierge while visiting family.

I was in Eugene visiting my grandparents and I read an article in their newspaper about the program and it said if any high school student is interested to contact and well talk, Harvey said. I had been delivering for Meals on Wheels and I always look for ways to help, and then I saw this super cool article and before it even asked for volunteers I knew I wanted to do this.

Harvey is one of three volunteers in Roseburg, but because its relatively new and unknown, there havent been many deliveries yet.

Harvey said shes willing to buy groceries for anybody who needs them during the pandemic.

The service is organized in a flexible way, and Harvey and Jain dont think the start of the school year will impact their ability to deliver groceries to those in need.

I think the start of school will force PDX Concierge to run mostly on the weekends and evenings of weekdays, but it shouldnt be too great of an impact, Jain said. It is still fun to get out of the house and deliver to those in need even while we are busy with school.

Harvey, who is a senior at Roseburg High School, said the service is flexible and gives volunteers about 48 hours to deliver the groceries on their own schedule, leaving her plenty of time for school and extra-curricular activities.

High school students who would like to get involved can also visit pdxdeliver.com to get more information.
Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), along with others, have discovered an earth-sized "Pi Planet" that revolves around its star every 3.14 days.

The orbit of the planet, which the scientists suspect is likely not hospitable as its tight orbit brings the planet close enough to its star to heat its probably terrestrial surface up to 450 Kelvins, or around 350 degrees Fahrenheit, is reminiscent of the universal mathematics constant.

The researchers discovered signals of the planet in data taken in 2017 by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Kepler Space Telescope's K2 mission. By zeroing in on the system earlier this year with SPECULOOS, a network of ground-based telescopes, theteam confirmed that the signals were of a planet orbiting its star.

According to Prajwal Niraula, a graduate student in MIT's Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences (EAPS), "The planet moves like clockwork."

Niraula, is the lead author of a paper published in the Astronomical Journal, titled: "p Earth: a 3.14-day Earth-sized Planet from K2's Kitchen Served Warm by the SPECULOOS Team" along with co-author Julien de Wit.

The co-authors of the paper include Benjamin Rackham and Artem Burdanov, along with a team of international collaborators.

The new planet is labeled K2-315b; it is the 315th planetary system discovered within K2 data. According to the researcher's estimate, K2-315b has a radius of 0.95 that of Earth's, making it just about Earth-sized. It orbits a cool, low-mass star that is about one-fifth the size of the sun. The planet circles its star every 3.14 days, at 81 kilometers per second, or about 181,000 miles per hour.

The scientists suspect that K2-315b is terrestrial, like the Earth, although its proximity to its star would make it too hot for life to exist.

"This would be too hot to be habitable in the common understanding of the phrase," says Niraula.

"We now know we can mine and extract planets from archival data, and hopefully there will be no planets left behind, especially these really important ones that have a high impact," de Wit added.

The researchers are members of SPECULOOS (The Search for habitable Planets EClipsing ULtra-cOOl Stars), named for a network of four 1-meter telescopes in Chile's Atacama Desert, which can scan the sky in the Southern hemisphere.

The network had recently added a fifth telescope, the first in the Northern hemisphere, named Artemis.

The SPECULOOS telescopes are designed to search for Earth-like planets around nearby, ultracool dwarfs -- small, dim stars that offer astronomers a better chance of spotting an orbiting planet and characterizing its atmosphere, as these stars lack the glare of larger, brighter stars.

Earlier this year, Niraula came upon a cool dwarf, slightly warmer than the commonly accepted threshold for an ultracool dwarf, in data collected by the K2 campaign -- the Kepler Space Telescope's second observing mission, which monitored slivers of the sky as the spacecraft orbited around the sun.

Over several months in 2017, the Kepler telescope observed a part of the sky that included the cool dwarf, labeled in the K2 data as EPIC 249631677. Niraula combed through this period and found around 20 dips in the light of this star, that seemed to repeat every 3.14 days.

The team analyzed the signals, testing different potential astrophysical scenarios for their origin, and confirmed that the signals were likely of a transiting planet, and not a product of some other phenomena such as a binary system of two spiraling stars.

The researchers then planned to get a closer look at the star and its orbiting planet with SPECULOOS. But first, they had to identify a window of time when they would be sure to catch a transit.

"Nailing down the best night to follow up from the ground is a little bit tricky," says Rackham, who developed a forecasting algorithm to predict when a transit might next occur. "Even when you see this 3.14 day signal in the K2 data, there's an uncertainty to that, which adds up with every orbit."

With Rackham's forecasting algorithm, the group narrowed in on several nights in February 2020 during which they were likely to see the planet crossing in front of its star. They then pointed SPECULOOS' telescopes in the direction of the star and were able to see three clear transits: two with the network's Southern Hemisphere telescopes, and the third from Artemis, in the Northern Hemisphere.

According to the researches, the new pi planet may be good candidate to follow up with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), to see details of the planet's atmosphere. The team is now looking through other datasets, such as from NASA's Tess mission.

"There will be more interesting planets in the future, just in time for JWST, a telescope designed to probe the atmosphere of these alien worlds," Niraula said.

"With better algorithms, hopefully, one day, we can look for smaller planets, even as small as Mars," he added.

This research was supported in part by the Heising-Simons Foundation, and the European Research Council.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.

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Some of Houstons largest school districts made a last-minute decision early Tuesday to cancel classes or have all students learn remotely after heavy rains associated with Tropical Storm Beta continued to drench the region.

Houston, Aldine, Spring Branch, Spring, Humble, Tomball, Sheldon, Channelview and Galena Park ISDs, as well as Stafford MSD, told parents early Tuesday that their campuses and remote learning centers would be closed, but that all students and staff would continue to work remotely. Houston ISD said learning would continue as long as internet connectivity and power remain intact.

Cypress-Fairbanks, Pasadena, Alief, Alvin, Pearland ISD officials announced they had canceled both remote and in-person classes.

In a tweet, Cypress-Fairbanks ISD Superintendent Mark Henry said superintendents had a 5:30 a.m. Zoom meeting with Harris County Meteorologist Jeff Lindner, who said flooding could occur throughout the area.

I know the notice was late he wrote. We notified our community ASAP after the meeting. Stay safe!

Only a handful of districts announced closures on Monday, including Clear Creek, Dickinson, Friendswood, Santa Fe, Hitchcock, High Island and Galveston ISDs. Goose Creek CISD announced Monday evening in-person classes would be canceled but that all students would learn remotely online on Tuesday, with teachers leading instruction from their homes.

Katy ISD continued to operate on a normal schedule, but told families that pick up times and bus routes may need to be adjusted due to weather.

The decision on whether to close school buildings is a difficult one. During Tropical Storm Imelda in September of 2019, officials in many districts decided to stay open after forecasts and local emergency officials underestimated the amount of rainfall the storm would bring the day. Ultimately, many were caught by surprise when roads began to flood. Water inched into several school buildings during the storm, and some parents drowned their cars trying to pick up their children.

Making that decision may be more difficult now after students across greater Houston lost out on valuable instructional time after campuses closed to slow the spread of COVID-19 in mid-March.

shelby.webb@chron.com
09/21/2020

Contacts for media: UMass Lowell: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Christine Gillette, 978-758-4664 or Christine_Gillette@uml.edu ; Analog Devices: Linda Kincaid, Linda.Kincaid@analog.com





LOWELL, Mass.  A new collaboration between UMass Lowell and Analog Devices Inc. enables employees of the global semiconductor manufacturer to advance their education through tuition assistance offered by the company.





The Analog Devices/UMass Lowell Masters Fellowship Program provides a fully funded, accelerated path for employees in the companys Aerospace and Defense Business Unit to pursue masters degrees in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering or computer science. The aerospace and defense industry continues to grow at a rapid rate and the scholarship program is designed to help Analog Devices meet its need for skilled engineers to design innovative technologies for this market.





Analog Devices employees in the new program enroll at UMass Lowell through its Division of Graduate, Online and Professional Studies and attend classes online as full-time students for four semesters. While pursuing their education, the students work part time for 20 hours a week at Analog Devices and continue to receive their full-time salary and benefits.





In their last semester, the employees work with UMass Lowell faculty and their Analog Devices supervisor to complete a project relevant to their work, according to Sandhya Balasubramanian, UMass Lowell assistant dean of academic and corporate program development. She designed the new program with leaders from UMass Lowells Francis College of Engineering and Kennedy College of Sciences, along with executives from Analog Devices to meet the companys needs to cultivate talented professionals for the aerospace and defense industry.





Created through UMass Lowells Corporate Education Program, this new academic partnership with Analog Devices illustrates UMass Lowells ability to identify the needs of our corporate partners and create innovative solutions that best fit their learning and development goals, she said. The university offers a broad range of open-enrollment courses and custom-designed programs, both for credit and non-credit, in varied delivery modes. In addition, we offer an array of benefits for our pre-approved partners such as tuition deferment, group tuition discount and registration, as well as dedicated assistance from our enrollment specialists. We are ready to partner with any employer who is keen to advance learning and development opportunities for their workforce as a complement to their hiring package for new graduates or other employees.





The new program expands on the universitys longstanding collaboration with Analog Devices, which includes a robust research alliance with the company and work with the universitys Career and Co-op Center to provide full-time jobs, co-op experience and internships to students, Balasubramanian added.





This new collaboration provides a funded pathway for Analog Devices employees, increasing their engagement with the university while providing state-of-art engineering training for them. These types of collaborations help set UMass Lowell apart from other research universities, as we strive to not only educate students but engage with the greater community, said UMass Lowells Steven Tello, vice provost of graduate, online and professional studies.





The program responds to changes in the aerospace industry.





Over the last several years, Analog Devices has experienced significant growth in its aerospace and defense business, said Bryan Goldstein, vice president of the Aerospace and Defense Business Unit. To meet our customers needs and further differentiate Analog Devices from our peers, we have created this fellowship program to foster engineers who possess a breadth of skillsets, many of which require advanced degrees. UMass Lowell is the ideal collaborator, given its broad-ranging engineering curriculum with special focus on RF/microwave, digital/software/firmware and mechanical engineering, as well as the proximity of the universitys campus to our Massachusetts facilities.





Analog Devices employees Justin Reiter of Dedham and Karl Dwenson Tabiling of Dorchester are already benefitting from the educational program, as both are pursuing UMass Lowell masters degrees in electrical engineering with a concentration in microwave engineering.





Reiter, who is a mechanical engineer in the Aerospace and Defense Module Group, joined Analog Devices in June 2015, when he first worked in mechanical and thermal design. Tabiling is a test development engineer in Analog Devices Aerospace and Defense Product Test Group. He joined the company as an intern in 2007 at Analog Devices facility in Cavite City, Philippines, and transferred to the U.S. in 2015.





To learn more about Analog Devices and its offerings for the aerospace and defense industry, please visit www.analog.com/ADEF




Page Content

Student Support Services Division (SSSD) of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport is continuing to equip students, who want to continue their studies abroad, with the proper information despite the global pandemic.





On Thursday, September 24, 2020 a free online workshop entitled Applying to Schools in the Netherlands will be held for students who want to continue their studies in the Netherlands. This is part of the Thursdays Online with SSSD series.





According to SSSD, with technology at our fingertips, for some students applying to schools in the Netherlands can be just a few clicks away and then waiting for an answer from the school. For others, however, the task of applying to schools can be daunting and they may not know where to start. Students also have to know the educational system in the Netherlands.





This workshop is geared at students in the last two years of secondary school or recent graduates and will be held online from 5:00 P.M. to 6:30 P.M. SSSD officials indicated that because of the online workshop, students can register in advance and provide their email addresses so that they can receive a digital invitation. Students can also click on the workshop link on SSSDs Facebook page to attend.





The Applying to Schools in the Netherlands workshop is aimed at students from all the sections of the diverse education system on St. Maarten. Vocational as well as academic tracts and schools with Dutch or English language instruction in the Netherlands will be covered. Educational changes occur frequently in the Netherlands and it is important for students to know of such, say SSSD officials.





Requirements for admissions may vary from school to school and admission may not be granted with a diploma or good grades. For example, some schools have interviews, language tests and other requirements and students should know this, SSSD officials indicated.





Parents are urged to encourage their children to participate in this workshop. Students are encouraged to register, in advance, for the workshop so an invitation can be emailed to them. Students may also click on the link on the Student Support Services Division Facebook page to participate in the workshop. If parents or students have any questions on these workshops, they can contact the Student Support Services Division at telephone 543-1235 or studentsupportservices@sintmaartengov.org for more information.




Russia is claiming planet Venus after discovery of the evidence of life that is microbial. Often called the Earth's twin planet, it should be explored as part of Moscow's scientific initiatives.

According to Roscosmos chief Dmitry Rogozin, a former deputy prime minister, Russia must not lag behind in the exploration of Venus. Russia is in the stage of planning to send a space probe to earth's twin planet. Adding that they may push for a Venusian race to beat other countries in sending their own robotic envoy, Rogozin said in a statement at the HeliRussia 2020 exhibition in Moscow, reported Meaww.

He said that the then Soviet Union had the only space probe to land on Venus, but the intense Venusian heart cause systems to shut down. On the surface of the second planet from the sun is approximately 465-degrees Celsius, which is hotter than an oven.

It landed in December 1970, presently U.S. and Russian are developing the Venera D probe that will be sent to that destination. Engineers and scientists are working to construct a lander probe that can survive about one-hour like the first lander in 1970. This was stated from the RussianSpaceWeb.com.

Both Venus and Earth are regarded by twins without any accident, both share similar traits that characterize them. Despite its position as the second planet in the solar system, it is intensely hotter than Mercury. The planet possesses heat created by greenhouse gases, which is experienced on Earth too.

One of the starkest differences despite the similarities ends at the inherent conditions that support life on the planet. If the earth is watery and cool, then Venus is dry, arid, and hot with no water, but earth scientists are willing to learn how it became that way.

Also read: Cave Sealed Off for 5 Million Years Contains 33 Blind Creatures, Surviving Without Oxygen

This is the sentiment Bob Grim, who works with the Venus Exploration Analysis Group, noted the Atlantic. He added that planetary scientists are concerned over the conditions of Earth and willing to spend resources. Grim is also the director of the Department of Space Studies at the Southwest Research Institute which another institution concerned with different climatic factors too.

Missions sent to Venus

A probe/lander made a soft landing on one mission to Venus. In the period from 1967-1984, Russia leads in the exploration of Venus with a keen interest. Sending probes has made Russia a leader for this specific space mission.

But NASA had its share of missions to the 2nd planet from the sun. One of these was in the 1990s called the Magellan Probe which conducted a survey in Venus orbit. It discovered a planetary surface dotted by lava flows, about 85% of the fiery orb.

It technically probes in the upper part over the planet that are far safer, as it get down and stay there without the destruction of the rover. Factors like heat and intensive pressure will wreck robots that are not built to survive. But, the discovery of phosphine gas which is a biological residue may spur more hardy rovers in the future.

As Russia claims planet Venus, might be a fallacy and microbial life might not be there.

Related article: Venus Might Have Alien Life After Discovery of Phosphine, Scientists Say

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
the Congress, by a joint resolution approved August 2, 1956, has requested the President to set aside the week beginning September 17 of each year as Constitution Week, a time for the contemplation and commemoration of the historic acts which resulted in the formation of our Constitution

Eisenhower went on to urge the people of the United States to observe that week with appropriate ceremonies and activities in their schools and churches and in other suitable places, and to give solemn and grateful thought to that eventful week in September 1787 when our Constitution was signed, delivered to the Continental Congress and made known to the people of the country, thus laying the foundation for the birth of a new nation.

The Nebraska Legislature during the 2019 session enacted LB399 to update sections 79-724 and 79-727 of our statutes concerning the duties of our schools in the instruction of American civics; directing them to conduct activities, choose textbooks and arrange curriculum in such a way that the youth of our state have the opportunity to become competent, responsible, patriotic and civil American citizens in the areas of our nations history, government, geography and economic system.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 21)  Vice President Leni Robredo, who defeated the former strongman's son Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr during the 2016 vice presidential elections, on the 48th anniversary of the declaration of martial law on Monday said it is important to look back at history so Filipinos are not fooled by the historical revisionism perpetrated by several groups.

The Marcos clan has been facing accusations of historical revisionism after Bongbong previously called for a revision of educational textbooks that depict "political propaganda" against his father's over 20-year regime.

The Vice President said that regardless of political color, there is no argument on the scores of human rights atrocities and economic turmoil during the military rule of former strongman Ferdinand Marcos, who was in power for over 20 years.

Marcos, who first took office in December 30, 1965, signed Proclamation No. 1081, placing the Philippines under martial law on September 21, 1972. He made the public announcement two days later. He lifted martial law in 1981 but his one-man rule is said to have effectively continued for 14 years until the "people power" revolt forced him to flee into exile in Hawaii on February 25, 1986, shortly before mobs stormed Malacanang.

"Maraming pinahirapan, naglaho, at pinatay noong Martial Law; lumobo ang utang ng bayan na binabayaran natin hanggang sa ngayon; lumalim at lumawak ang kahirapan. Dinurog ang mga institusyong haligi ng lipunan. Naging bahagi ng diwa ng pamamahala ang korupsyon at pang-aabuso," she said in a statement.

[Translation: Many were tortured, many disappeared, and many were killed during martial law. Our country's debts ballooned during this time and we are still paying for it. It bred abuse and corruption in the government.]

"Those who attempt to tell us otherwise are not only merely telling a supposed version of the story: They are lying to our faces, stealing our truths from us, stealing our stories... Our task is to push back against these lies at every instant. To tell the stories of Martial Law and dictatorship over and over," she added.

Around 70,000 people were imprisoned, 30,000 tortured, more than 3,000 killed, and hundreds disappeared during the martial law era, according to international human rights group Amnesty International.

The national government released funds until December 2019 from the recovered Marcos ill-gotten wealth to human rights victims during Martial Law. Aside from this, the family is accused of plundering billions of dollars from government coffers, including through dummy foundations in Swiss bank accounts.
Andhra Pradesh: Ranks first in fish, prawn production

September 22,2020 | Source: The Hans India

Andhra Pradesh stood in first place in production of fish and prawns with 71 per cent of share in aqua production, announced Minister for Fisheries S Appala Raju. Accompanied by Collector R Muthyala Raju and MLA M Prasad Raju, he visited lands suitable for setting up of Aqua University at a cost of Rs 500 crore at Biyyaputippa of Narsapuram mandal. Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said that the state has achieved the distinction of being on the top of the aqua production in the country because of coordinated efforts of the farmers of aqua industry. Aqua farmers need not worry about permissions and the same would be given in two weeks. The state government has extended a subsidy of Rs 750 crore to aqua farmers towards power supply, he said.



The Minister said the government is taking all steps for setting up eight fishing harbours, three ports and three fishing landing centres in the state as it is keen to develop fishers' families educationally and financially. The foundation stone for aqua university will be laid after a Bangalore-based team submits its detailed project report.
Corruption, generally defined as the abuse of public office for a private gain against the public good, is becoming so widespread in authoritarian regimes or young democracies compared to well-established democracies.

Forms of corruption vary. They include but are not confined to bribery, extortion, cronyism, nepotism, parochialism, patronage, influence peddling, graft, embezzlement, kickbacks, unholy alliance, involvement in organised crime, etc. Democracies may experience corruption when they lack transparency in political and campaign financing, have outdated laws on freedom of information, provide insufficient protection to whistleblowers or have unreliable media or if they have recently transitioned to democratic governance.

Different democratic systems could experience different forms and levels of corruption. While there are many factors at play when it comes to threats to democratic culture, corruption is a major factor. The Corruption Perceptions Index 2019 reveals that the continued failure of most countries to significantly control corruption is contributing to a crisis in democracy around the world. Various studies have shown that high levels of corruption undermine democracy.

Eight of the reasons why corruption grievously damages a democratic system and proves itself as the biggest threat to democracy are discussed in this essay.

1. Rule of elites: No power in the hand of people

Wikimedia Commons

As the matter of fact, the common form of corruption state capture comes into existence in any system of governance when the state institutions, legislatures and even governing parties are owned by a political faction, small elites, a small number of companies or businessmen and women. These entities systemically channel national public resources for their own self-enrichment. They manipulate policies, laws and rules to their own advantage. Democratic institutions, laws and policies are manipulated in such a way that although corruption is taking place, it appears on the surface that outcomes were reached through normal rules, procedures and processes. Hence, this kind of corruption undermines the power of ordinary citizens to influence decision and policy-making as decisions and policies have been bought by small elites. It undermines the legitimacy of governments and democratic values such as trust and tolerance.

2. State capture: Destruction of check and balance system

Pixy.org

When corruption takes its roots into the democratic system, corrupt leaders may seek to prevent democratic checks and balances so that they can continue to remain in power unpunished. They often bypass formal institutions which are meant to enable transparency in government spending and other decisions, while oversight agencies and the judiciary may be politicised or left weak. For example, when the population of Venezuela started to demand reforms after years of economic decline and rising corruption, the response of the elites was the imprisonment of opponents, physical threats, and isolation to the world.

Political corruption leads to the repression of political opponents and the general police brutality upon the public and other political groups; justice is denied, and freedom is curtailed. It can even lead to the rise of dictatorship. As per Transparency International, such attacks against the courts and judiciary enable corruption and impunity and damage a fundamental pillar of democratic governance. When judicial bodies, watchdog institutions as well as neutralising bodies are captured, the rule of law turns into rule by law. As a result, the fabric of democracy is unwoven gradually.

3. Unfair election: Lack of representation of real sentiments of the public

A woman casts her vote during parliamentary elections on December 7, 2017.

In order to stay in power, corrupt leaders may seek to weaken democratic checks on their power, for example by constraining political competitions through electoral fraud, luring or threatening voters as well as purging the civil service and weakening regulatory agencies. The election procedure is tampered with; real sentiments of the public are curbed. Corruption breaks the link between collective decision making and peoples power to influence decisions normally through votes and participation, which is the very characteristic that defines democracy. These actions undermine democratic consolidation processes, preventing further democratisation of the system.

4. Loss of trust upon the government

Corrupt leaders are not really concerned with the rest of the population, or even their country. The increased corruption leads to declining trust in a system and the state. In a country with high corruption levels, the general public has no confidence in their politicians and civil servants. The public becomes cynical to the speech and deeds of all the political leaders and public officials, whether or not they are corrupt. With suspicion and even fears, the population cannot invest itself in voting, being involved in the civil society or participating in public debates. As a result, the culture of democracy begins to crumble.

5. Hindrance to development and lack of peoples interests in politics

Corruption makes the public reluctant to get involved in public issues. Corruption undermines the delivery of public services, slows economic growth and stunts development. The situation is so bad in the most corrupt countries that their populations endure insecurity, resource shortage, a weak and even absent state, poor infrastructures, declining health and low-quality education, retarded economic growth, lower foreign investments, etc. Corruption also lowers compliance with construction, environmental, or other regulations, reduces the quality of government services and infrastructure, and increases budgetary pressures on government. For a country to be a democracy, a minimum of public services is necessary. Without a good education, health and a measure of security, peoples participation in political debates is minimal.

6. Opportunism and authoritarianism

Transparency International argues corruption and social exclusion lead to popular disenchantment with traditional institutions. Citizens feel that the system is useless and think that the state is unable to address their main socio-economic concerns. The corrupted environment can create space for populist politicians. According to leading populism scholar, Jan-Werner Mueller, populist governance contains three main features: attempts to hijack established institutions, corruption and mass clientelism, and efforts to systematically suppress civil society. By claiming to derive authority directly from the people, they attempt to subvert democratic institutions that limit their power. Populists often taint their political competitors as a part of immoral corrupt elites. However, once in power, they often turn out to be more corrupt than the elites that they displaced. Some populist leaders who have come to power by capitalising on public disgust with corruption, ironically, now seek to undermine anti-corruption mechanisms and democratic institutions.

7. Risk of backsliding from democracy

Picpedia

Corruption undermines the popular belief in democracy as a credible governance system to regulate societal behaviours, conflicts and moral values. In the past two decades, we have witnessed democratic backsliding across the world, including in what were promising new democracies such as Turkey, Hungary and Poland. Of more than 60 countries which transitioned from an authoritarian rule to some form of democracy in the last quarter of the 20th century, half of them have seen their levels of democracy declined or even weakened; 21 of them have not made significant progress in their quality of democracy; five have declined from a classification of free to partly free while a further five have slid back to the authoritarian rule and are now rated as not free, according to Freedom House. Hence, corruption can lead to the failure of the democratic system and the takeover by the authoritarian rule or military coup.

8. Conflicts and social disorders

Pixy.org

Corruption breeds instability, violence and extremism. As the systemic corruption erodes the credibility and legitimacy of, trust in and support for democratic constitutions, institutions and laws, it leads to citizens looking towards alternative governance systems to regulate their lives, whether religious and traditional fundamentalism, gangsterism and populism. Those marginalised because of corruption seek answers in violence, religious, ethnic and political extremism. We have enough evidence of systems overthrown by citizens outraged by extravagant levels of corruption. For instance, some years ago, almost half of Brazilians were in favour of restoring a military junta if corrupt politicians were not punished by the judiciary. Later, less than half of the countrys population believed that democracy to be preferable to any other form of government. This declining trust in institutions led Brazilians to consider their alternatives and they turned, in vast numbers, to Jair Bolsonaro, who had praised military rule.

Corruption is the biggest threat to the democratic system and culture. Therefore, necessary precautions and actions should be taken before the corrupt culture becomes normalised and institutionalised in our country. The most effective measure would be the development of the sense of integrity towards the nation and the public. Likewise, the creation of strong watchdogs such as the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority, Transparency International, and the National Human Rights Commission is crucial. Another measure that plays a vital role to check corruption would be security and awards to whistleblowers. Last but not the least, the appointment of the competent and honest candidates for public offices, and strict punishment to the corrupted leaders, officials, firms as well as institutions is the most for creating a corruption-free society.
Children over the age of 3 will need to wear a mask while attending day care, camp or school starting Monday, according to Connecticut officials.

The requirement will continue throughout the COVID-19 state of emergency, the states Office of Early Childhood said in a Sept. 14 memo, unless the agencys commissioner modifies the order before then.

Children with documented special needs or medical conditions that prevent them from wearing a mask are exempt under the order, according to the memo.

Some exceptions are also made for special education needs, such as kids undergoing speech therapy. In that instance, speech or language specialists might remove their masks intermittently to work on lip reading.

Kids who just turned 3 or recently enrolled in day care also have a few months to work toward mask-wearing, according to the memo.

Programs can also allow for mask breaks indoors, but with room for social distancing. Kids wont have to wear their masks while playing outside.

Gov. Ned Lamonts Sept. 4 executive order gave the Early Childhood and Education commissioners latitude to issue operational rules during the pandemic, including requiring masks or face coverings.

While the mask rule for kids older than 3 officially goes into effect Monday, programs have until Oct. 19 to fully implement it, in order to give families time to adjust, the agency said.

Child care facilities will need to adopt a written policy thats shared with both staff and parents, the agency said.

The Centers for Disease Control and the American Academy of Pediatrics both recommend mask wearing  with the latter arguing kids as young as 2 can be taught to wear masks.
MIMICO

Location: 56 Annie Craig Dr., Unit 4202,

Lake Shore Blvd. W. and Silver Moon Dr.

Asking price: $1,399,999

Selling price: $1,425,000

Previous selling price: $1,310,000 (2018)

Size: about 1,430 sq. ft.

Parking: two owned underground spaces; one owned locker

Maintenance fees: $927.43 per month

Taxes: $5,523 (2020)

Bedrooms: 2 plus 1

Bathrooms: 3

Sold: July 07/20. Closing: September 30/20.

This condo suite took only 10 days to sell for 102 per cent of the listing price.

This southwest corner unit has panoramic view of the both the city and Lake Ontario. It features many upgrades, including high-end kitchen appliances, granite counters, closet organizers and custom shades, says listing agent Fiorella Cribari.

The building is close to Lake Ontario, a park, shopping, restaurants, the Waterfront Trail and the Gardiner Expressway.

Amenities in the building include a concierge, an exercise room, guest suites, a gym, an indoor pool, and a party/meeting room.

Unit has: hardwood floors, living room with walkout to balcony; dining room with walkout to balcony; kitchen with stainless steel appliances and granite counters; master bedroom with walkout to balcony and four-piece ensuite; second bedroom with walkout to balcony, closet organizers and four-piece ensuite; two-piece bathroom.

Listing agent: Fiorella Cribari, sales representative, Sutton Realty Systems Inc., Brokerage, 416-762-4200; www.TorontoRealEstateConnection.com

MISSISSAUGA

Location: 4011 Brickstone Mews, Unit 706,

Burnhamthorpe Rd. W. and Confederation Pkwy.

Asking price: $540,000

Selling price: $530,000

Previous selling price: $398,000 (2017)

Size: about 655 sq. ft.

Parking: one owned underground space, one owned locker

Maintenance fees: $393.44 per month

Taxes: $2,112 (2020)

Bedrooms: 1 plus 1

Bathrooms: 1

Sold: July 15/20. Closed: August 01/20.

Complete with a balcony and a den, this condo unit sold for 98 per cent of the listing price in eight days on the market.

The condo suite offers a functional layout and a bright, open-concept living and dining room area. The kitchen has been renovated with granite counters, and the unit has upgraded lighting throughout, says listing agent Michael Kelly.

The building is close to Square One Shopping Centre, Mississauga Celebration Square, parks, shopping, restaurants, schools, public transit, and access to Hwy. 403.

Building amenities include a concierge, an exercise room, an indoor pool, a media room, guest suites, and visitor parking.

Unit has: hardwood floors; living room with walkout to balcony; dining room with ceiling fan; kitchen with granite counters and stainless steel appliances; master bedroom with broadloom, large window and large closet; den with Murphy bed; four-piece bathroom.

Listing agent: Michael Kelly, sales representative, Sutton Realty Systems Inc., Brokerage, 905-896-3333; www.MichaelKellyHomes.com
MBABANE  The Minister of Education and Training Lady Mabuza has directed head teachers to recall all pupils who have not returned to school, including girls who have fallen pregnant.

Mabuza said the ministry acknowledged that the closing of schools due to COVID-19 resulted in what she labelled as unprecedented challenges to the education sector among which were early and unintended pregnancy, early child marriage and child labour.

She said they were concerned as a ministry about the unfortunate scenario as they had a mandate to promote and protect inclusive education as articulated in the National Education Sector Policy of 2018.

The policy promotes gender equality and strictly prohibits any discrimination, exclusion or restriction of any person from enjoying or exercising educational rights and fundamental freedoms of gender equality.

While the closure of schools is meant to control the spread of the virus, it remains true that the country risks realising negative repercussions in terms of social and economic development. It is for this reason that government has started a phased reopening of schools, said the minister during a press conference held yesterday at the ministrys offices.

Mabuza went on to state that the current scenario of a high number of girls who had fallen pregnant stood to derail the country from realising the demographic dividend.

Development

She said the country needed women in the rebuilding of the economy and in leadership positions to positively contribute towards national development.

I humbly appeal to communities to support pregnant pupils as they pass though this phase in their lives. In particular, I would like to request their peers within the school setting to accept them and make them feel at home, remarked the minister.

She went on to appeal to the pregnant child, as she called them, to integrate herself within her school and to always keep their dreams alive.

Mabuza was of the view that it required all parties to take their rightful positions to harden the demographic dividend.

She said government, teachers, pupils, including those who were pregnant and the community at large, had a role to play.

When a girl-child progresses through the school system and is able to complete her education, she can seek and keep better jobs, contribute more to her family, her nation and to global prosperity, she said.






Christian groups slam DHS rule threatening deportation of students during COVID-19

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InterVarsity Christian Fellowship has led a broad coalition of Christian organizations in opposing a rule announced by the Trump administration this week that requires international students to exit the U.S. or transfer if their classes are entirely online this fall.

In a letter sent to Acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf, the heads of 12 Christian student ministry organizations voiced concern with a temporary final Immigration and Customs Enforcement rule announced Monday.

The rule requires international students attending colleges and universities that are planning to meet entirely online in the fall semester to leave the country or transfer to another school.

The organizations called the rule unnecessary and one that lacks compassion.

While health and security concerns rightly factor into visa decisions, there are no new health or security reasons to justify this proposed student visa rule, the ministry heads argue, adding that many of these students arrived in the U.S. even before the pandemic began. These students were vetted and legally admitted to the United States to continue their studies, many of who have been here for years at college.

The rule in question states that students attending schools that operate entirely online may not take a full online course load and remain in the United States. The State Department will not issue visas to students who enroll with full online course loads nor will such students be permitted to enter the country.

For students already in the U.S., they must either depart the country or transfer to a school where there will be in-person instruction to maintain their lawful status. Students who do not obey the order may face consequences such as the initiation of removal proceedings.

The Christian organizations that are signatories to the letter identify themselves as a broad coalition of higher education institutions, churches and other ministries that seek to welcome, serve, and love international students and scholars.

We believe that the proposed student visa rule violates tenets of our faith to not mistreat the foreigner, but to love those neighbors as ourselves, the letter reads, citing Leviticus 19:33-34 and Matthew 22:39.

The modification to the temporary exemptions breaks an implicit promise made to these students. The United States issued them student visas, which traditionally allow students to complete their degree programs.

The students at risk of being forced back to their home countries made financial and relational sacrifices to come to the United States to study, the letter notes. Although the groups recognize that student visas are not traditionally given for online-only degree programs, the proposed rule could expose the students to significant costs and risks.

The Christian groups contend that if students try to stay in the U.S. by transferring to another school, they risk disrupting their education and may be forced to move into another community where they could face further financial and relational disruption.

While here, they have paid their tuition, secured housing, progressed in their studies, and contributed positively to their campuss experience. Through no fault of their own, their universities and colleges have moved exclusively to on-line courses this Fall to restrain the spread of COVID-19.

The letter was spearheaded by Tom Lin, president of InterVarsity, an inter-denominational, evangelical Christian campus ministry with chapters at schools across the nation.

Lin was joined by Russell Moore, president of the Southern Baptist Conventions Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission; Shirley Hoogstra, president of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities; as well as Walter Kim, president of the National Association of Evangelicals.

Other signatories include leaders of groups such as the countrys largest Christian social fraternity, Beta Epsilon Chi; The Navigators; Bridges International; the National Latino Evangelical Coalition; World Relief; International Friendships; and Bethany Christian Services.

The Christian group leaders believe that international students should not be expelled from the U.S. just because their schools made changes driven by public health needs.

The new ICE rule has also drawn pushback from universities and other educational organizations.

Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology filed a lawsuit in an attempt to halt the rule this week.

The Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities also issued a statement condemning the rule as heartless on Wednesday.

Allowing all students, regardless of country of origin, to be given equal access to online learning is the fair, sensible and moral thing to do, the association said. We can keep students safe and keep these young people on track.
BENNINGTON, Vt.  State Police said they are investigating a homicide after human remains found last year in a Searsburg gravel pit were determined to be those of a 43-year-old Capital Region woman who was last heard from by family in July 2019.

Troopers used DNA analysis and investigative work to determine the remains belong to Jessica Hildenbrandt, 43. Police indicated she was from Ballston Spa. Two of her social media accounts said she lived in Niskayuna, and one of her last known addresses was on the border of Colonie and Niskayuna.

Though the Vermont Chief Medical Examiners Office ruled the death a homicide, investigators said the cause of her death is undetermined.

Hildenbrandt, who troopers said was known by the nickname "Red," spent significant time in the Bennington area. Her two Facebook pages indicate an ex-boyfriend lived there.

On April 1, 2019 she posted an apology on Facebook to people she "hurt through my insane toxic relationship." Her final Facebook post was on July 7, 2019.

Police say July 2019 was when she was last in touch with her family.

A relative in Ballston Spa posted on Facebook that the family "needs answers and justice."

"Nobody deserves this," she wrote. "Processing this was hard for many reasons and hopefully this helps bring things to light."

The investigation of the woman's killing began when a person called the State Police on Sept. 17, 2019, saying he believed he'd found a human jawbone. Troopers said they found other remains on the site of the gravel pit on Somerset Road.

It is unclear if New York State Police were investigating Hildenbrandt's disapperance. Saratoga County Sheriff Michael Zurlo said his deputies were not, and there was no apparent media coverage noting she was missing.

Searsburg is east of Bennington on Route 9.

Anyone with information about this case can contact the Vermont State Polices Shaftsbury Barracks at 802-442-5421.
Irelands classes are the largest in EU and well above the European average of 20 pupils per class. Our average class size is 25 pupils, but the reality is that one in five children in Ireland is taught in a class of 30 or more.

Keeping an adequate distance between children, or even groups of children, in the average Irish classroom, when you have more than 30 children in that room, is a near impossible task. Our supersized classes hindered our ability to reopen schools and may well challenge Micheal Martins great intentions to keep them open.

In Offaly, 17% of pupils learn in classes of more than 30 children.



As we approach this years budget, it seems we may have to live with this pandemic in our communities well into the future. If we want to keep our schools open, we simply have to lower our class sizes and that needs to happen in the budget.

The INTO is asking the government to commit to reducing the class sizes by one pupil per class per year over the lifetime of the government, starting in the forthcoming budget. The government must, now more than ever, deliver on its commitment to tackle supersized classes. Great effort has gone into getting our schools opened safely. Lets now ensure that we can keep them open.
New evidence that a pocket-size gun which could have killed Jamie Gao was delivered to former police officer Glen McNamara prior to Gao's murder could have impacted on the jury's verdict if it had been raised at trial, the NSW Supreme Court has been told.

An associate of corrupt former detectives Roger Rogerson and McNamara told the Court of Criminal Appeal on Monday he delivered a gun he suspects killed Jamie Gao to McNamara after obtaining it from a woman who was afraid to hand in her husband's weapon to police.

A suppression order on the man's evidence was lifted on Tuesday afternoon, but remains in place on his identity. The man is being referred to in court as "Witness A".

Roger Rogerson (left) and Glen McNamara during their trial for the murder of Jamie Gao during an "inept" drug rip-off. Credit:SMH

On Monday, Witness A told the court the woman who gave him the gun, Annabelle Ballard, left it wrapped in a towel on his doorstep. He said he never looked inside the towel, but took it in his car to McNamara, who told him not to tell Rogerson.
Open letter comes after UN named Canada as one of the countries perpetuating the conflict in Yemen with arms sales.

Toronto, Canada  Dozens of civil society organisations have sent an open letter urging Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to end to arms shipments to Saudi Arabia.

The Canadian Labour Congress, the largest labour organisation in Canada and some of Canadas largest unions have added their signatures to an open letter (PDF) addressed to the prime minister to raise concern about the serious ethical, legal, human rights and humanitarian implications of Canadas ongoing exports to Saudi Arabia.

Open letters by the coalition of civil society organisations were previously sent to Trudeau in March and August 2019 and in April 2020, but no response has been received to date, the letter noted.

Academics and activists have long pressured Ottawa to cancel the exports of Canadian-made LAVs (light armoured vehicles) to Saudi Arabia, citing Saudi Arabias involvement in the Yemen war and the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Campaigners have cited mounting credible evidence that Canadian arms are being used by the Saudi-UAE led coalition in the long-running conflict in Yemen.

The 14 billion Canadian dollar ($10bn) deal to export LAVs made by the Ontario-based General Dynamics Land Systems to Saudi Arabia was brokered in 2014 by the previous Conservative government and then given final approval by Trudeaus Liberal Party government following the 2015 election.

In November 2018 the Liberal government suspended approvals of new arms export permits for Saudi Arabia pending an indefinite review.

But in April, Canada decided to lift the suspension as significant improvements have been made to the controversial multibillion-dollar contract that would secure jobs for thousands of Canadians, according to government ministers.





Exports more than doubled

The letter to Trudeau published on Thursday comes as Canada marks one year since it acceded to the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), an international agreement that requires state parties to assess whether their arms exports could violate international law.

Under the ATT, arms exports are prohibited wherever there is a substantial risk that they could undermine peace and security.

Yet in the same year that Canada acceded to the ATT, its arms exports to Saudi Arabia more than doubled, increasing from almost $1.3bn in 2018 to almost $2.9bn in 2019, according to the civil society coalition.

Stunningly, arms exports to Saudi Arabia now account for over 75 percent of Canadas non-US military exports, the letter said. In comparison, Canadas pledged humanitarian aid for Yemen is at $40m.

Earlier this month, the UN Group of Eminent International and Regional Experts on Yemen named Canada  for the first time  as one of the countries perpetuating the conflict in Yemen with its arms sales to Saudi Arabia.

Cesar Jaramillo, executive director of Canadian peace research institute Project Ploughshares, told Al Jazeera that the discussion around Canadian arms exports to Saudi Arabia is no longer one of possible risk, but of gross negligence, if not complicity.

What can be inferred about the purported strength of Canadas export controls if Saudi Arabia is deemed an eligible recipient? Who would Canada not export to? Because Saudi Arabia sets the bar exceptionally low, Jaramillo said.

Canada joined the ATT with promises of increased rigour and transparency around arms exports, but its determination to continue arming Saudi Arabia is turning those promises to empty rhetoric.

Converting arms industries

The coalition of 39 civil society organisations have also demanded that the Trudeau government work with trade unions representing workers in the arms industry to develop a plan that secures the livelihoods of those who would be impacted by the cancellation of arms exports.

Simon Black, professor at Brock University and lead organiser with Labour Against the Arms Trade, told Al Jazeera that Ottawa has argued that scrapping the deal would lead to significant job loss, but this does not need to be the case.

The conversion of arms manufacturing to socially useful production provides possibilities for innovative solutions to the climate crisis, Black said.

In April 2020, the government announced plans to create an advisory panel of experts and to spearhead an international effort on establishing an inspections regime.

But no further information has been provided and civil society organisations have remained outside of the process, according to the coalition.
In a bid to attract farmers, CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced Rs 10,000 per annum for farmers in Madhya Pradesh under Kisan Samman Nidhi ahead of bypolls in the state.

Earlier, the farmers used to receive Rs 6000 in three instalments per annum under PM Samman Nidhi announced by the central government in the past.

Today I have decided to tag two more instalments of Rs two thousand each in PM Kisan Samman Nidhi from CM Kisan Kalyan Yojana and farmers will now get Rs 10,000 per year, CM Chouhan announced at a function in Bhopal on Tuesday.

In the last assembly elections in the state, the Congress party made the government in the state after it announced farm loan waiver and the party is again campaigning for farm loan endeavours accusing BJP of not letting it implement the scheme.

Farmers across Punjab and Haryana are protesting against the three agriculture-related bills that have been passed by the parliament. The farmer bodies and opposition are also united with the farmers in the opposition of the bill that they allege will remove the MSP from produce. Farmers in MP are also outraged over the farm bills.

CM Chouhans announcement is also being seen as a move to placate farmers ahead of by-polls to 27 seats in the state.

The Chouhan government has recently dispensed crop insurance compensation among farmers in the state. Chouhan was speaking at an event organised on kisan credit card distribution and transfer of funds to banks for crop loans.
Paris, September 22, 2020, at 6:00 pm

First-half performance affected by the Covid-19 crisis, but gradual improvement across all businesses

Available cash and cash equivalents of 21.6 million at June 30, 2020

Prodways Group (Euronext Paris: PWG), specialized in digital manufacturing, today reports its first-half 2020 results.

( million) H1 2020 H1 2019 Change Revenue 26.8 35.3 -23.9% EBITDA[1] 1.4 2.6 -1.1 M EBIT[2] (2.9) (1.0) -1.9 M Operating income (10.0) (2.4) -7.5 M Financial result (0.2) (0.1) -0.1 M Net income (8.7) (2.8) -5.9 M

The consolidated financial statements for the first half of 2020 were approved by the Board of Directors which met on September 22, 2020. The financial statements have been subject to a limited review by the Statutory Auditors and their reports are in the process of being issued.

The Group's first-half 2020 revenue was 26.8 million, down 23.9%. The Group, and in particular the Products division, was adversely affected by the Covid-19 health crisis in second quarter 2020 with situation improving month by month across all businesses.

The Group's EBITDA1 remained positive at 1.4 million in first-half 2020, although it was affected by the drop in revenue caused by Covid-19. The Systems division showed strong resilience, up 5.6% in first-half 2020. The Group's continuation of structuring and cost savings initiatives, supplemented by the implementation of government initiatives measures, contributed to this performance. At the same time, investments in products and technologies dedicated to industrial-scale production applications continued (albeit reduced) to stimulate future growth. The Group's EBITDA margin was down slightly at 5.3% in the first half of 2020, compared with 7.3% in the first half of 2019.

As a result of the foregoing and the increase in depreciation and amortization expenses and provisions, EBIT was -2.9 million in first half 2020, compared with -1.0 million in first half 2019.

Other items of operating income totaled -7.0 million in first half 2020, versus -1.5 million in first half 2019, with no effect on cash. Due to the unusual context of the health crisis, the Group performed in-depth reviews of the value of all its assets this summer. Impairment losses of 6.0 million were recorded with respect to inventory, R&D projects and intangible assets recognized at fair value at the time of acquisition.

Operating income thus stood at -10.0 million, compared with -2.4 million in the first half of 2019.

Net income (Group share) was -8.7 million in the first half of 2020, compared with -2.8 million in the first half of 2019.

Performance by division

( million) H1 2020 H1 2019 Change Systems Revenue 16.8 21.3 -20.9% EBITDA 1.4 1.3 +5.6% EBITDA margin (%) 8.1% 6.1% +205 bp EBIT (1.4) (0.8) -0.6 M Products Revenue 9.9 14.2 -30.4% EBITDA 0.6 1.8 -64.9% EBITDA margin (%) 6.3% 12.5% -621 bp EBIT (1.0) 0.3 -1.3 M

The Systems division - which includes 3D software, 3D printers and the related materials and services - recorded revenue of 16.8 million in the first half of 2020, down 20.9%, with second-quarter 2020 down 35.1%. Despite the challenging environment, the division maintained strong business momentum: the Software distribution activity won its largest contract ever during the second quarter, and Solidscape signed two contracts to equip its customers in the jewelry sector with several dozen machines.

Despite the drop in revenue, the division's EBITDA continued to grow to 1.4 million, up 5.6% compared with first half 2019. It benefited from the division's structuring, cost reduction, and implementation of government initiatives measures in France, Germany and the United States. The EBITDA margin was 8.1% in first half 2020, compared with 6.1% in first half 2019.

The Products division - which comprises the design and manufacturing of parts on demand and medical applications - recorded revenue of 9.9 million in first half 2020, down 30.4% compared with first half 2019. In medical activities (audiology, chiropody and dental), the shutdown of our customers' activity, with the total closure of practitioners' offices (dentists, chiropodists and hearing care professionals) during the lockdown, led to the complete stoppage of all these activities with very short backlogs. The Group has nevertheless recorded a recovery in these activities in June.

This drop in businesses adversely affected the division's EBITDA, which stood at 0.6 million in the first half of 2020. The EBITDA margin was 6.3% in the first half of 2020, compared with 12.5% in the first half of 2019.

Financial position

Cash flow from operating activities became negative (-1 million), but the working capital requirement saw a positive change. Operating cash flow was thus positive, at 0.7 million in the first half of 2020.

The Group was granted State Guaranteed Loans totalling 1.2 million and drew 5 million from a confirmed line of credit. At June 30, 2020, available cash thus amounted to 21.6 million. Net cash and cash equivalents[3] was 6.5 million, versus net cash and cash equivalents of 9.6 million at December 31, 2019. State Guaranteed Loans receivable by the Group before the end of September, totaling 7.2 million, will further improve the Group's strong liquidity.

2020 outlook

The current world-wide crisis has had consequences in many aspects. Besides its social and economic impact, we see an acceleration of the trends that support the development of 3D printing. Manufacturers are rethinking their production models and the Covid-19 crisis has highlighted the need to relocate and have agile production tools that can adapt quickly to demand.

Our performance has improved since June and, while macro uncertainty remains in the near term, we expect the second half of the year to gradually continue on this recovery trend. In the longer term, the Group remains confident in its model and in the opportunities in its markets. Moreover, Prodways Group has a solid financial position with available cash allowing it to seize consolidation opportunities in its markets.

***

Conference call on Wednesday September 23, 2020 at 8:30 am CET

On Wednesday, September 23, 2020, Raphael Gorge, Executive Chairman, Olivier Strebelle, Chief Executive Officer, and Laurent Cardin, Chief Financial Officer, will comment to the financial community on the Prodways Group half-year results and will answer questions from analysts during a conference call in English starting at 8:30 am (Paris time). The presentation will be available on Prodways Group website: www.prodways-group.com, Financial Information.

To participate in the conference call, you may call any of the following telephone numbers approximately 5 - 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time:

France: +33 (0)1 72 72 74 03

United Kingdom: +44 (0)2 07 19 43 759

Germany: +49 (0)6 92 22 22 54 29

Access code: 10062727#

A replay will be available as soon as possible on the Prodways Group investors' website, under "Financial information".

Financial calendar

Q3 2020 revenue: October 28, 2020 (after stock market closing)

About Prodways Group

Prodways Group is a specialist in industrial and professional 3D printing with a unique positioning as an integrated European player. The Group has developed right across the 3D printing value chain (software, machines, materials, parts & services) with a high value added technological industrial solution. Prodways Group offers a wide range of 3D printing systems and premium composite, hybrid and powder materials (SYSTEMS division). The company also manufactures and markets parts on demand, prototypes and small production run 3D printed items in plastic and metal (PRODUCTS division). The Group targets a significant number of sectors, from aeronautics to healthcare.

Listed on Euronext Paris, the Group generated revenue of 71.3 million in 2019.

Prodways Group is a Groupe Gorge company.

For further information: www.prodways-group.com

Follow us and and keep up with Prodways Group's latest news on Twitter!

@Prodways

CONTACTS

INVESTOR CONTACTS PRESS CONTACTS

Actus Finance - Anne-Pauline PetureauxActus Finance - Manon Clairet

Investor relations Financial press relations

Tel: +33 (0)1 53 67 36 72/apetureaux@actus.fr Tel: +33 (0)1 53 67 36 73/mclairet@actus.fr

DISCLAIMER

Releases from the Prodways Group may contain forward-looking declarations with statements of objectives. These forward-looking statements reflect the current expectations of Prodways Group. Their realization, however, depends on known or unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or events to differ significantly from those previously anticipated. The risks and uncertainties that might affect the Group's future ability to achieve its targets are reiterated and presented in detail in our Annual financial report on Prodways Group's website (www.prodways-group.com). This list of risks, uncertainties and other factors is not exhaustive. Other unanticipated, unknown or unpredictable factors may also have significant negative effects on the achievement of our objectives. The current release and the information contained therein do not constitute an offer to sell or to subscribe, nor a solicitation for an order to purchase or subscribe to shares in Prodways Group or in any subsidiaries thereof listed in whatsoever country.

[1] Operating income before "depreciation, amortization and provisions", "other items of operating income" and "Group share of the earnings of affiliated companies".

[2] Operating income before "other items of operating income" and "Group share of the earnings of affiliated companies".

[3] Net cash and cash equivalents excluding lease liabilities resulting from the application of IFRS 16 and including the value of treasury stock.

------------------------

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(Newser)  A Massachusetts high school is in remote-learning mode for its first two weeks all thanks to a party. And now the parents and teen who played host are facing criminal charges. The charges aren't COVID-related; rather, NBC News reports the Sudbury family is accused of supplying underage drinkers with alcohol. Under state law, they can be fined up to $2,000 or sentenced to up to a year. Police say as many as 60 Lincoln-Sudbury Regional School High School students attended the Sept. 11 bash in the Boston suburb, and when police broke it up, many of them ran into the woods; 13 supplied false names, reports NBC Boston. They also weren't wearing masks or social distancing, per police, and that led the board of health to take a big step.

story continues below

The board said that because they don't actually know who attended the party, it was impossible for them to verify there were no positive cases among partygoers. As such, "the risk to the school community cannot be adequately assessed." And so instead of beginning the school year with a hybrid of in-person and remote learning on Sept. 15, it began 14 days of all-remote learning. Lincoln-Sudbury Superintendent Bella Wong expressed that she was "profoundly disappointed at this sudden change of plans." CBS Boston quotes Wong as saying the "crowded indoor and outdoor party" featured a "complete lack of safety precautions to protect against the spread of COVID." Turns out this wasn't an isolated event: MassLive reports Dover-Sherborn Regional High School, located just 16 miles to the north of Lincoln-Sudbury High, also went remote after an even bigger student-attended party. (Read more coronavirus stories.)
The US has significantly escalated its military presence in northeastern Syria in response to growing friction with Russian forces deployed in the same area and in apparent preparation for carving out a US-backed autonomous zone controlling Syrias major oil fields.

On Friday, the US Central Command (Centcom), which oversees American military operations throughout the Middle East, announced the deployment of half a dozen Bradley fighting vehicles along with roughly 100 troops to operate them. The Pentagon is also beefing up radar installations in the area and increasing patrols by fighter jets and attack helicopters in a bid for control of the regions airspace.

While the US militarys announcement made no mention of Russia, the purpose of the deployment is clear. The actions were designed to ensure the safety and security of Coalition forces, Centcom spokesman Captain Bill Urban said in a statement, adding that Washington does not seek conflict with any other nation in Syria, but will defend Coalition forces if necessary.

The deployment is ostensibly a response to an incident at the end of last month in which four US troops were injured in a collision between US and Russian armored vehicles near Syrias northeastern triple border with Turkey and Iraq. Washington accused the Russian military of unprofessional conduct and a violation of de-confliction protocols, while Moscow charged that the US forces provoked the incident, attempting to block a previously announced Russian patrol.

On the same day that the Pentagon announced the escalation of the illegal US military occupation in Syria, Trump repeated his semi-coherent explanation of US policy in the country, telling a White House press conference: We are out of Syria other than we kept the oil. I kept the oil. We have troops guarding the oil. Other than that, we are out of Syria.

US military forces have been concentrated in Syrias northeastern governorates of Deir ez-Zor and Al-Hasakah, the center of Syrias oil production. While the official rationale for the occupation is the continuation of the 2014 intervention launched against ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria), the reality is that US troops are there to deny the Syrian government access to energy resources that are desperately needed for the countrys reconstruction after nearly a decade of armed conflict.

Washington is continuing a regime change policy it initiated in Syria in 2011 with the CIAs arming and funding of Al Qaeda-linked militias in an attempt to overthrow the government of President Bashar al-Assad. Since then, hundreds of thousands of Syrians have lost their lives and millions have been displaced by fighting. The US is maintaining a regime of sanctions against Damascus that is tantamount to a state of war, condemning the Syrian population to poverty and hindering the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a blatant violation of the Geneva Conventions, the Trump administration has handed exploitation of the oil fieldsvia a deal signed with the Pentagons Kurdish proxy ground forces and overseen by Centcomover to a hastily formed US oil company, Delta Crescent Energy, whose principal partners are a right-wing Republican former ambassador and an ex-Delta Force officer and Fox News contributor.

In an apparent bid to formalize US control of the oil-producing area by means of a colonial-style carve-up, Washingtons special envoy on Syria James Jeffrey arrived on September 20 at a US military base in Hasaka to oversee unity talks between two rival Syrian Kurdish factions, the Kurdish National Council in Syria (ENKS) and the Kurdish national unity parties (the largest of which is the PYD, the political arm of the YPG militia, the main component of the Syrian Democratic Forces, the Pentagons proxy military force).

The aim of the talks is the formation of a Kurdish autonomous authority to serve as a political facade for a permanent US military occupation of the Syrian oil-producing region. This initiative also has the backing of the Macron government in France.

The move has heightened tensions with both Russia, which backs the Assad government, and Turkey, which has repeatedly intervened in Syria to prevent the formation of an autonomous Kurdish entity. It regards the US proxies in the YPG militia as a branch of the PKK Kurdish separatist movement in Turkey, labeled by both Ankara and Washington as a terrorist organization.

Trump green-lighted the Turkish military intervention in October of last year, which pushed Kurdish forces back from the Syrian-Turkish border. At the time, Trump demagogically claimed he was bringing all of the US troops in Syria home, only to reverse himself after a firestorm of criticism from within the US military and intelligence apparatus, declaring troops would remain behind to take the oil.

There are also mounting tensions between Russia and Turkey over the Turkish military occupation of Idlib province in northwestern Syria and its backing of anti-government Islamist militias there. Russian jets reportedly carried out multiple airstrikes in Idlib on Sunday, targeting camps of the Islamist militia Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), whose dominant faction is the former Syrian affiliate of Al Qaeda.

Talks between Ankara and Moscow broke down recently over Russias demand that Turkey reduce its presence in Idlib, estimated at some 10,000 troops, and cede control of the strategic M4 highway to the Syrian government. Instead, Turkey has dispatched even more armored vehicles to the area.

The conflicting interests and objectives of the US, Russia and Turkey, which all have significant military assets deployed in close proximity to each other in Syrias north, are a powder keg that can be set off by any miscalculation or provocation.

US military aggression in Syria is joined with the relentless US campaign against Iran, the closest ally of Damascus, which has taken its latest form in Washingtons invoking of the snapback of United Nations sanctions that were suspended with the 2015 nuclear accord between Tehran and the worlds major powers. All of the other signatories to the agreement, including Washingtons erstwhile European allies, the UK, France and Germany, have rejected this attack, insisting that the US has no standing to invoke the sanctions, having unilaterally abrogated the agreement in 2018. Nonetheless, Washington has announced a set of new unilateral anti-Iranian sanctions and is threatening secondary sanctions against countries trading with Iran.

The threat of an eruption of US militarism in Syria, against Iran or in Eastern Europe or the South China Sea has only been intensified by the global coronavirus pandemic and the social, economic and political crisis gripping American capitalism.

The Trump administrations embarking upon a new war as an October Surprise designed to shock the electorate in advance of the presidential electionor create the pretext for martial lawis a real and present danger. If it were to do so, it would be able to count on the complicity and support of the Democratic Party, which has repeatedly criticized the administration from the right as being too soft on Russia and China, in particular over the recent armored car sideswiping incident in Syria.

The threat of a new war, with the potential of triggering a global nuclear conflagration, cannot be answered within the framework of the electoral contest between Trump and Biden. It requires an independent strategy of the working class, based upon the class struggle, and guided by a revolutionary socialist and internationalist program.
Advertisement

Protests, war, illness and violence across the world have left indelible imprints in our memories in 2020.

And they are among a series of powerful images which have been immortalised in a new photo competition highlighting the divisions which have cleaved many societies apart.

The PX3 State of the World 2020 photo competition in Paris has selected a number of powerful images, including the Hong Kong protests, the US-Mexico border issue, police brutality and the Uyghur crisis in China, as this year's winners.

The PX3 State of the World 2020 competition has highlighted many of the divisions in society today with a new photography awards ceremony. Pictured: Stefano Stranges' photo The End of the Exodus - Inferno Moria, taken in a refugee camp in Greece

Aiming to highlight ongoing conflict in Syria, Yusuke Suzuki's image Jin! Jiyan! Azadi! features the Kurdish Women's Defence Unit. The title reflects their slogan 'Women! Life! Freedom!'

Hong Kong Protest photographer Wei Fu captured a protestor rallying against the proposed extradition bill as they were taken down by the Chinese riot police

The competition celebrates the authentic experiences of many across the world, with photographers challenged to provide 'uncensored' insight into stories which 'may otherwise fail to reach us'.

In one winning entry, Hong Kong Protest photographer Wei Fu captured a protestor rallying against the proposed extradition bill as they were taken down by the Chinese riot police.

Another powerful image titled Power by Demayne Murphy featured Chicago's masked police as they stood in a line holding their truncheons ready to respond to the Black Lives Matter protests.

Hossein Farmani, State of the World 2020 curator, said: 'This year, like many previous years, has been an eventful year. Viewing nearly five-hundred submissions - happy, sad, joyful, hopeful - brought tears to my eyes.

Power by Demayne Murphy featured Chicago's masked police as they stood in a line holding their truncheons ready to respond to the Black Lives Matter protests

Joseph Patronite's My Americana Today shows an armed officer in riot gear standing next to a photo of George Floyd, who became a symbol of protests against police brutality across the world

In Ni Rei Ni Por, Gian Marco Benedetto depicts a masked youth as a symbol of the protests in Barcelona urging the government to free political prisoners in response to the failed Catalan separatist movement

Fabio Marcato's A Meal For Everyone shows a number of expecting children holding out bowls as they await food. This brand new competition celebrates the authentic experiences of many across the world

'There were stories of suffering and struggle, whether this was in the lives of powerless people or immigrants looking for a better future, or people standing up to the government and fighting a pandemic that has crippled the world.

'This selection is only a glimpse into the truth of what is really happening around us told through the raw, unadulterated lens of the brave photographers who have shared their stories.'

Photographer Ada Trillo captured her image, If Walls Could Speak, showing the Mexican-US border.

The photo which features a young woman staring towards a tall fence analyses the social impacts of President Trump's border enforcement.

Photographer Ada Trillo captured her image, If Walls Could Speak, showing the Mexican-US border. The photo which features a young woman staring towards a tall fence analyses the social impacts of President Trump's border enforcement

Photographer Amy Siqveland tackled China's handling of the country's Uyghur population in her image, A Cultural Genocide: Persecution of the Largest Minority Group in China

Alain Schroeder, a Belgian photographer, submitted Charcoal Black, an image of a Polish coal miner at the Pniowek mine, 40 km south-west of Katowice, the capital of Silesia

Sylvia de Swaan's The Year of the Coronavirus shows a woman's face behind a gauze sheet as the competition celebrates many of the significant global events of the year

She said: 'The photo is a glimpse into the besieged hopes, harsh uncertainties, and blunt realities - but also the enduring dignity - of Central American asylum seekers forced into a cruel and dangerous waiting game.

'I hope that people who view my photo can begin to understand the odysseys many have undertaken to provide a brighter future for themselves and their children - only to be mistreated and sent back across the border.'

In Ni Rei Ni Por, Gian Marco Benedetto shines a light on the youths that took to Barcelona's streets urging the government to free political prisoners in response to the failed Catalan separatist movement.

Photographer Amy Siqveland tackled China's handling of the country's Uyghur population in her image, A Cultural Genocide: Persecution of the Largest Minority Group in China.

Basim Ghomorlou's The Children of Iran's Gypsies: A Lost Childhood shows three young children in Bardaskan, Iran, as they grow up in a nomadic lifestyle

Guligo Jia's Empty Chair shows a family in Nepal who have lost a daughter in the 1996-2006 Civil War, whose portrait looms large on the wall behind

'Two million Uyghur people have been sent to concentration camps in Xinjiang,' Amy said.

'I went to visit eight towns in the Xinjiang region and witnessed the cultural liquidation. Houses and businesses that once made up the ancient Silk Road cities had been destroyed and replaced.'

Joseph Patronite's image My Americana Today, features a heavily armed soldier standing next to a poster of George Floyd, and a young African-American man walking past saluting to the sky.

Floyd's death sparked a resurgence in the Black Lives Matter movement earlier this year.

Giles Clarke's photo, Cameroon: The Anglophone War, shows a destroyed police car at the entrance of a former government-owned banana plantation

Alain Schroeder's Upper East Side Story shows a woman posing in New York's most affluent neighbourhood surrounded by a number of colonial artworks

'This image deals with race, political upheaval, social separation, and hopelessness in the USA today,' Joseph said.

Aiming to highlight ongoing conflict in Syria, Yusuke Suzuki's image Jin! Jiyan! Azadi! features the Kurdish Women's Defence Unit.

The image's title, which reflects their slogan, translates to 'Women! Life! Freedom!'

'Amongst the Kurdish fighters in Rojava, there are female warriors full of love and passion for the land that they were raised on,' Yusuke said.

'They fight for their beliefs and ideals with AK47s in their hands. They are dreaming and fighting for the liberation of all oppressed people.'
Hong Kong: Supermarket subsidies approved

The Government today said applications for the second tranche of the Employment Support Scheme (ESS) from the two supermarket chains, Wellcome and PARKnSHOP, have been approved.

The two chains will receive wage subsidies of $184.5 million and $161.96 million to maintain a paid headcount of 10,149 and 8,215.

Having considered the first tranche of the scheme and public views, the Government introduced new requirements under the second tranche whereby it would first consider the give-back proposals from the two chains' parent groups before approving their applications for the second tranche.

The give-back proposals submitted to the Policy Innovation & Co-ordination Office and the relevant ESS applications have been approved.

The proposals from the two supermarket chains must meet three principles laid down by the Government:

(a) the rebate should not be less than 50% of the ESS subsidies approved under the second tranche;

(b) the initiatives in the give-back proposals should be quantifiable and transparent. The initiatives should also be on top of what the two supermarket chains have been doing without the ESS subsidies;

(c) the types of beneficiaries of the rebate may include, in order of priority, the underprivileged groups, customers and their frontline staff. The amount attributable to the underprivileged groups should be no less than 50% of the minimum rebate amount while that for staff should not be more than 10% of the minimum rebate amount.

According to the above principles, Wellcome and PARKnSHOP will return about $100 million and $81 million to the community through their give-back proposals.

The rebate amounts represent 54% and 50% of the wage subsidies the two supermarket chains will receive under the second tranche.

Rebates to be given to underprivileged groups also represent 50% of the minimum rebate amount set for the two supermarket chains.

Both chains will hand out cash coupons and/or meal vouchers to people in need. They will also launch initiatives for the general public/customers and reward their staff. Details shall be separately announced by the two parent groups.

Wellcome and PARKnSHOP commit to execute the give-back proposals before the end of December. The Government has requested that they publish at an appropriate time the list of partner non-governmental organisations, the number of beneficiaries and the amount involved.

The Government is appreciative of the two supermarkets' commitment to meet the additional undertaking of the scheme's second tranche. Their commitment will benefit the community and help people tide over these trying times.

This story has been published on: 2020-09-22. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Simon Overland, the former Victoria Police chief at the centre of the Lawyer X royal commission, will move to Tasmania to run a local council nine months after he was sacked as Whittlesea Council chief executive.

Mr Overland will take up the role as general manager of Burnie City Council, in north-west Tasmania, in November.

Former police commissioner Simon Overland arrives at the royal commission in December. Credit:Jason South

Burnie mayor Steve Kons said the council was "extremely fortunate to have secured the services of a very senior and well-qualified administrator".

"As a council we are excited by this appointment and believe our city will really benefit from a fresh approach and a new set of eyes, together with the skills and experience of a person of this calibre."
'Disaster Response' TV Brings Virtual School to Beirut Blast Kids

As Lebanon reels from huge explosion that destroyed 120 schools, SAT-7 ramps up free kids educational programs





SATELLITE TV BRINGS SCHOOL TO BEIRUT BLAST KIDS: As Lebanon's capital reels from a catastrophic explosion last month that destroyed 120 schools, Christian satellite television network SAT-7 (www.sat7usa.org) is broadcasting free lessons every day to tens of thousands of children whose lives have been thrown into chaos by the blast and COVID-19.



NEWS PROVIDED BY

SAT-7

Sept. 22, 2020



EASTON, Md., Sept. 22, 2020 /Standard Newswire/ -- As Lebanon's capital Beirut reels from a catastrophic explosion that destroyed more than 100 schools, a faith-based satellite television network in the Middle East is broadcasting free lessons every day to thousands of children unable to go back to school.



Some 120 public and private schools in Beirut were partially or completely destroyed in the deadly explosion Aug. 4 at the city's port, leaving 55,000 children cut off from lessons and hundreds of thousands homeless.



With children and their parents in Lebanon facing overwhelming challenges right now -- including a spike in COVID-19 cases -- Christian network SAT-7 (www.sat7usa.org) is boosting its educational children's shows in Beirut, a city saturated with satellite television dishes.



"Kids in Beirut have literally seen their lives fall apart," said Juliana Sfeir of SAT-7 Academy, the network's educational channel that provides children of all religious backgrounds with a positive window to the world and uplifting content. "The Lebanese people desperately need hope," she said. "Our programs are bringing healing and hope to the wounded right where they are."



Through its My School program, the network is bringing daily lessons and a degree of normalcy to children whose lives have been turned upside down -- including Syrian refugee children in Beirut who've already suffered through war. With people of different faiths and cultural backgrounds living side by side, Lebanon stands out as a rare example of tolerance in the volatile region.



'Critical Moment'

Amid Lebanon's current political upheaval, soaring unemployment and widespread hunger, "there's never been a more critical moment to invest in the lives of this new generation," said Sfeir.



"As a trusted media ministry, we're in a unique position to make sure children in Lebanon and across the Middle East and North Africa don't miss out on education because of this disaster and the pandemic that has shut so many schools," she said.



Run entirely by local producers and presenters broadcasting in their local languages, the network is proving to be a lifeline across the region. It's currently experiencing a huge surge in viewers, callers, and social media users seeking counseling and prayer at a time when many have nowhere else to turn.



SAT-7 Academy's social media channels receive about 3,000 new messages every day -- a staggering response that reflects the upswing in virtual, remote learning across the Middle East and North Africa during the pandemic.



"It's part of our values as Christians to support people beyond their spiritual needs," said George Makeen, the network's Arabic program chief. "Through the power of satellite television and social media, our programs help children realize their right to an education and a better future."



About SAT-7

Launched in 1996, SAT-7 (www.sat7usa.org) -- with its international headquarters in Cyprus -- broadcasts Christian and educational satellite television programs to more than 30 million people in the Middle East and North Africa. Its mission is to make the gospel available to everyone, and support the church in its life, work and witness for Jesus Christ. SAT-7 broadcasts 24/7 in Arabic, Farsi (Persian) and Turkish, using multiple satellite channels and online services.



SOURCE SAT-7



CONTACT: Matti Stevenson, 719-360-0586, mstevenson@inchristcommunications.com


A steady decline in new coronavirus cases over nine weeks at the Department of Veterans Affairs came to an end last weekend, with the department seeing a 7% spike in new diagnoses across its health system, according to data released Monday.

Active cases of COVID-19 at the VA remain at less than half they were at their peak July 20. But the upturn -- 189 new cases over the weekend -- is similar to increases seen nationwide, which health experts say may be related to relaxed standards and social events over Labor Day.

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As of Monday, the VA had 2,844 active cases, up from 2,655 Friday. The number of active cases is roughly the same as the department saw in mid-June but remains well below the 6,424 receiving treatment at the VA on July 20 -- the department's single busiest day since the pandemic began.

To date, 57,968 veterans, employees and other patients under VA care have tested positive for the virus and 3,263 have died, including 67 deaths recorded between Sept. 18 and Monday, according to the department.

Across the U.S., the weekly number of new COVID-19 cases also rose last week for the first time in eight weeks, with new cases increasing by 17% and deaths rising by nearly 6%, according to calculations made by Reuters.

The U.S. has recorded 6.83 million cases -- just over a fifth of the world's known total -- and 199,690 deaths, or nearly 21% of COVID-19 deaths worldwide. The U.S. is averaging slightly more than 40,000 cases per day.

"Why are we going back up? I think there are a few reasons," Jeanne Marrazzo, director of the division of infectious diseases at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, told CNN. "One is that there is general fatigue. People are really tired of this. And then the second thing is ... the completely contradictory messages that we're getting -- not just the misinformation, but also the confusion about how things are spread."

The Defense Department does not release its number of active cases, instead revealing cumulative totals, which surged past 60,000 last week, including active duty, family members, civilians and contractors.

As of Monday, 43,419 military personnel; 5,725 dependents; 9,647 civilian employees; and 4,080 contractors had been diagnosed with the coronavirus; seven service members, seven dependents, 21 contractors and 58 employees have died.

Infections among military personnel remain high, with roughly 800 new cases diagnosed every two to three days, according to Pentagon data. The Army has had the most cases, 15,831, as of Monday; the Navy, 9,880; the Air Force, 6,807; the Marine Corps, 5,404; and the National Guard, 5,152. An additional 345 service members across DoD agencies also have tested positive.

The most recent death within the DoD community was Pamela Harris, 60, a school counselor at Fort Knox Middle/High School in Tennessee, who died Sept. 15.

Fort Knox is among the 25 Department of Defense Education Activity school systems in the U.S. and Puerto Rico that reopened for in-person learning in August or September. The school switched to remote learning Sept. 4 after six staff members developed symptoms of COVID-19.

-- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Monster.com. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime.

Related: Heres How the Military Is Supporting the Historic Race for the COVID-19 Vaccine
The CEO of America's biggest bank employer has angered staff after saying the bank has trouble reaching diversity goals because there is not enough qualified minority talent.

Wells Fargo Chief Executive Charles Scharf defended the company's record on diversity in a Zoom call over the summer and shifted the blame to a lack of black talent in the industry, according to two employees who were on the call.

Scharf also made the claims in a company-wide memo on June 18 that announced the bank's diversity initiatives.

His comments come as companies face mounting calls to improve the diversity of their organizational make-up amid nationwide protests demanding an end to systemic racism following the killings of multiple black men and women by cops across America.

Wells Fargo Chief Executive Charles Scharf has angered staff after saying the bank has trouble reaching diversity goals because there is not enough qualified minority talent

The two staff members said attendees on the call were offended by Scharf's comments and dismissed his claims of a lack of black talent.

'I can get them 10 to 15 resumes today,' one of the employees said.

Scharf spent more time listening than speaking during the 90-minute Zoom call which he initiated, they told Reuters on the condition of anonymity because they feared repercussions.

The memo, seen by Reuters, also reinforced the stance of the top boss.

'While it might sound like an excuse, the unfortunate reality is that there is a very limited pool of black talent to recruit from,' Scharf said in the memo.

Black senior executives across corporate America hit back at Scharf's comments saying the excuse is a major reason why companies have struggled to add enough racial and ethnic diversity to their leadership ranks.

'There is an amazing amount of Black talent out there,' said Ken Bacon, a former mortgage industry executive who is on the boards of Comcast Corp, Ally Financial Inc and Welltower Inc.

'If people say they can't find the talent, they either aren't looking hard enough or don't want to find it.'

Bacon said he was 'shocked and puzzled' by Scharf's comments.

Lauren Holland, who chairs a word-of-mouth professional network called Wall Street Friends, said she has 8,000 members in minority communities, and sent out more job posts to them in the last two months than in the last five years.

'I literally get emails every single day from people asking to be added to our list,' she said.

'The talent is there. It's just a matter of the firm accessing it and connecting with it.'

Wells Fargo defended the CEO and pointed to the diversity efforts that have happened under his watch.

The bank has pledged to double the number of black leaders at the firm over five years and has tied executive compensation to reaching diversity goals.

Wells Fargo Chief Executive Charles Scharf defended the company's record on diversity in a Zoom call over the summer and shifted the blame to a lack of black talent in the industry, according to two employees who were on the call

Scharf is also requiring hiring managers to consider diverse candidates for high-paying roles that are vacant and ensure diversity on interview teams.

Wells Fargo's latest proxy disclosed more diversity data than those of many other companies, with two of 12 directors black and one Latino or Hispanic.

Scharf 'is committed to deep and systemic change to increase diversity and has held several forums where there has been candid conversation and unfiltered feedback,' Wells Fargo spokeswoman Beth Richek said in a statement.

Scharf was not available for an interview, she said.

One attendee on the Zoom call said they weren't offended by Scharf's comments and praised their boss as 'genuine and sincere'.

Scharf also made the claims in a company-wide memo on June 18 that announced the bank's diversity initiatives

'The meeting was incredibly constructive... I walked away being incredibly surprised at how genuine and sincere he is,' said Alex David, president of the Black/African American Connection Team Member Network.

The lack of diversity and equal opportunities across corporate America has been put under the spotlight in recent months, in the wake of the Memorial Day 'murder' of unarmed black man George Floyd.

Stark data from executive recruiting firm Heidrick & Struggles reveals African-Americans made up just 10 percent of new director appointments in the Fortune 500 last year despite making up 13 percent of the US population.

New Hispanic directors were even more scarce, the study found.

Only 7.3 percent of the five highest-paid executives at financial companies in the Russell 3000 were racial or ethnic minorities, ISS ESG data shows.

That number has risen in recent years, yet remains far below the percentage of minority groups in the general US population.

Some black directors and executives said they were not happy with the lack of progress in improving diversity.

'Unless I practically get on a soapbox about it and ask about it every meeting, it gets pushed out,' said Mary Winston, director at companies including Chipotle, about some of her past work on boards.

'It's just not as robust a conversation as it should be, and no progress has been made.'

His comments come as companies face mounting calls to improve the diversity of their organizational make-up amid nationwide protests demanding an end to systemic racism following the killings of multiple black men and women by cops across America. Pictured a protest in LA after the death of Dijon Kizzee

Demonstrators raise their fist in the air at protests in Kenosha Wisconsin over the shooting of Jacob Blake

Winston, adding that she is often the only person of color in board rooms, disagreed with the notion of a talent shortage.

Senior executives said the notion of a shallow minority talent pool is frequently cited as a hurdle to improving diversity but probably reflects insular professional and social networks.

Experts said one reason board rooms and C-suites lack diversity is that such jobs are often filled by people who have managed businesses, while many people of color have tended to be stuck in roles that lack a direct connection to profits.

'As women and minorities started to gain traction in corporate America, they were trapped in certain jobs companies felt comfortable placing them in, like human resources, administrative-support type functions,' said Teri McClure, former general counsel and chief human resources officer at UPS, who now sits on several boards, including JetBlue Airways Corp.

McClure said she frequently hears comments like Scharf's when companies have not tried hard enough to find diverse candidates or give them the experience to qualify for senior roles.
Less than two weeks after signing a $US2 billion ($2.8 billion) deal with General Motors, the founder of electric truck startup Nikola stepped down amid a claim that he had repeatedly lied about the company's technology.

The resignation of Trevor Milton as executive chairman came after investment fund Hindenburg Research published a report accusing him of making numerous false assertions about Nikola's technology, including once producing a video in which a truck was rolled down an incline to make it look as if the company had developed a working prototype.

Trevor Milton founded Nikola in 2014 with a plan to produce zero-emission trucks that run on hydrogen fuel cells and batteries.

Hindenburg, a short-selling firm that said it was aiming to profit by betting Nikola's share price would go down, called Nikola "an intricate fraud." Its report appeared only days after the company and GM agreed to cooperate on production of battery-powered pickup trucks and hydrogen-powered heavy trucks.

Nikola, based in Phoenix, called the accusations by Hindenburg "false and defamatory" and said it would complain to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Nikola shares, which had jumped after the deal with GM, fell sharply after the Hindenburg report. On Monday, the shares were down 17 per cent in afternoon trading, to barely half their value after the GM deal was announced.
An award-winning film maker and television presenter has candidly revealed the dark family secret he discovered as a child by hiding a recording device under the couch when he went to bed.

Todd Sampson appeared on Anh Do's latest episode of Brush With Fame on Tuesday night and revealed that the girl he believed was his cousin for most of his childhood was in fact his older sister.

As Do painted his portrait, Sampson revealed his mother grew up in a small town in Nova Scotia, Canada, in an extremely religious family.

Before he was born, she moved out of home, got a job behind the till at KFC and was pregnant by the time she was 15 years old.

Todd Sampson appeared on Ahn Do's latest episode of Brush With Fame on Tuesday night and revealed that he believed his older sister was his cousin for much of his childhood. His mother (left) gave her away after she gave birth to her

'At the time and in the area, it was quite religious. She was basically told she had to give up the child. She gave up the child to her sister  and she was raised as my cousin,' he revealed.

Sampson went on to say the decision haunted his mother in the years to follow.

'[It was] the biggest regret of my mother's life,' he said, before adding that he had no idea his cousin, Wendy, could have actually been his sister.

Do was completely flawed by the admission, and stopped painting as he asked how Sampson eventually came to learn the truth.

'I was such an investigative kid  also known as a little sh*t,' he confessed.

'I used to record my parents' conversations when I would go to bed. I got a recorder for Christmas, and just before I'd go to bed, I would hit record under the sofa where my parents were, then go off to sleep.'

As Do painted his portrait, Sampson revealed his mother grew up in a small town in Nova Scotia, Canada, in an extremely religious family

Sampson now has two daughters of his own and said he could never imagine giving them up

The following day, Sampson would quietly retrieve the recorder and listen back to what his parents discussed after he was asleep.

'That day, I'm listening to the recording and I'm like, ''Wait now, did they just say that Wendy's my sister?'',' he said.

During the conversation that he had recorded, Sampson's parents were debating whether or not they should share the secret with he and his biological sister.

'They were debating at night whether they should tell us, and whether we were old enough to comprehend what had happened. But Wendy had been in and out of our lives as our cousin,' he said.

Rather than sit around and wait to see if his parents ever told him, Sampson simply decided to confront them himself.

'I remember her face  it was just shock and relief,' he recalled.

Sampson appeared in Anh Do's Brush With Fame documentary on Tuesday night

Sampson, himself a father-of-two, said he personally couldn't ever fathom giving a child away

'She said, "yes, she is".' Then, it was only as an adult, many many years later, that I reconnected with her as my older sister. Now I'm super-proud that she's my sister, and all that she's done in her life.'

Sampson, himself a father-of-two, said he personally couldn't ever fathom giving a child away.

'But I'm not 15,' he added. 'She had Wendy in a room all by herself.'

In spite of the enormous family secret and the incredible way in which he learned the truth, Sampson said he had a great childhood.

'It was filled with fun, adventure, danger, stress... I remember my mum worked at KFC,' he said.

'I'd wait for her to come home, but I couldn't do it because I was so tired... I was just a kid. She wasn't getting home until like 11, 12pm.'

Sampson moved to Australia in the 1990s and became a familiar face on programs such as Gruen and The Project.
While opening a summit at the 75th anniversary of the United Nations General Assembly, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, despised the lack of multilateral solutions to the various challenges faced by the world. According to the reports by AP, the UN Chief made an appeal for the revival of multilateralism. The UNGA has commenced with leaders meeting virtually for the first time since its inception. The landmark session also marks one of the busiest years for the organisation with a virus outbreak, multiple elections and peace treaties happening across the world.

Read: Fireworks Likely At UNGA As Trump & Xi Jinping To Address Assembly Just Minutes Apart

The 75th UN General Assembly begins

As per reports by AP, Guterres said, Today, we have a surplus of multilateral challenges and a deficit of multilateral solutions. Talking about the novel coronavirus he said, COVID-19 has laid bare the worlds fragilities, which can only be addressed together. He added, Climate calamity looms, biodiversity is collapsing, poverty is rising, hatred is spreading, geopolitical tensions are escalating, nuclear weapons remain on hair-trigger alert. Emphasizing on the need for a new multilateral society, Guterres said that no one wants a world government  but we must work together to improve world governance.

Read: Hungary PM Viktor Orban Endorses Trump For His Re-election Bid In November

The UN General Assembly is currently in session and US President Donald Trump and Chinas President Xi Jinping are scheduled to address the assembly on the morning of September 22. Russian President Vladimir Putin will also address the member states. The US has recently started the procedure for a snapback mechanism at the UN Security Council in an effort to reimpose sanctions on Iran. But many world leaders including Germany, France and the United Kingdom have refused to follow the sanctions leaving the US alone in its demands. China, meanwhile, is at its weakest global standing of the modern era, being finally called out from far and wide for a long list of transgressions, ranging from expansionism, military aggression, spreading Covid worldwide, dumping of low quality products, rampant IP violations, theft, espionage, and much more.

Read: Russia Hopes No Visa Issues Trouble Diplomats Headed To United States For 75th UNGA Meet

Also Read: PM Modi's Participation In Two Debates To Be 'highlight' Of Upcoming UNGA Session

(Image Credits: AP)
H.R. McMaster He will bring to FPRI an extraordinary perspective on international affairs and a unique understanding of our nations defense and national security challenges

The Foreign Policy Research Institute is very pleased to announce that Lieutenant General (Ret.) H.R. McMaster has been named to the FPRI Board of Trustees. General McMaster is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Bernard and Susan Liautaud Visiting Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, and Lecturer in Management at the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University. He was the 26th Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs from 2017 to 2018. He was awarded FPRIs Benjamin Franklin Public Service Award in 2019, was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time Magazine in 2014, and one of the worlds 50 greatest leaders by Fortune Magazine in 2017.

McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for 34 years and held senior positions including the Deputy Commanding General, Futures, of the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC). His extensive wartime experience includes Commander of the Combined Joint Interagency Task ForceShafafiyat in Kabul, Afghanistan from 2010 to 2012; Commander of the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment in Iraq from 2005 to 2006; and Commander of Eagle Troop, 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment in Operation Desert Storm from 1990 to 1991.

H.R. was an Assistant Professor of History at the United States Military Academy from 1994 to 1996 where he taught undergraduate courses in military history and history of the Korean and Vietnam Wars.

A native of the Roxborough neighborhood of Philadelphia, he attended Norwood Academy and Valley Forge Military Academy before receiving an appointment to the United States Military Academy. He was commissioned as an officer in the United States Army upon graduation from West Point in 1984. He holds a PhD in military history from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is author of the forthcoming book, Battlegrounds: The Fight to Defend the Free World. Following its release, FPRI will be hosting a book talk with General McMaster, moderated by Robert D. Kaplan on October 16, 2020. He also authored the award-winning New York Times bestseller, Dereliction of Duty: Lyndon Johnson, Robert McNamara, the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Lies that Led to Vietnam.

We are very excited and deeply honored to have General McMaster join our Board of Trustees. He is one of his generations most preeminent soldier-scholars, and he will bring to FPRI an extraordinary perspective on international affairs and a unique understanding of our nations defense and national security challenges, commented Rollie Flynn, President of FPRI. Chairman of the FPRI Board of Trustees Robert Freedman also added, H.R. McMaster combines extensive high level practical experience with a scholarly mindset - a perfect fit with FPRI.

About the Foreign Policy Research Institute

The Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI) is an independent nonpartisan 501(c)(3) non-profit think tank based in Philadelphia, PA. FPRI was founded in 1955 by Robert Strausz-Hupe, a former U.S. ambassador. Today, FPRIs work continues to support Strausz-Hupes belief that a nation must think before it acts through our five regional and topical research programs, education initiatives, and public engagement both locally and nationally. FPRI is dedicated to producing the highest quality scholarship and nonpartisan policy analysis focused on crucial foreign policy and national security challenges facing the United States.

Find out more at http://www.fpri.org.
A perception exists among much of White America that young Black men would rather loot a store than work a job. This perception serves a lot of wealthy people well, deflecting attention away from their own failures to support the needs of society. But its a dangerously twisted perception. People want jobs. They want meaningful work. Given the opportunity, heads of households use their money to support their families, to provide for the essential needs of life. Numerous studies back this up.

About 90% of America has been largely unheard since 1975.So what has kept this from happening? A decades-long wealth grab by the richest Americans has left millions of Americans on the brink of povertyand poverty begets violence, as numerous reputable sources suggest. And the lack of living-wage jobs has contributed to violence, as suggested by numerous other sources.

Martin Luther King said: I think that weve got to see that a riot is the language of the unheard. About 90% of America has been largely unheard since 1975.

Whos Responsible for the Poverty that Has Led to Rioting in the Streets?

The redistribution of wealth to the richest 1% over the past 45 years is hard to comprehend. In a Time report on a study by the Rand Corporation, it is estimated that the $50 trillion shift from the bottom 90% to the top 1% would pay every working American an additional $1,144 a month, every single month, year after year. If wealth distribution since 1975 had continued in the same manner as between 1945 and 1975, todays $35,000 salary would be over $60,000. Its little wonder that so many Americans are lashing out at the broken system.

Hypocrisy kicked in during the 1970s and through the Reagan years, when the infamous Laffer curve and a trickle-down philosophy gave Congress the justification to cut tax rates for corporations and the super-rich, and to deregulate the financial industry. Trickle-down never worked, but the delusion persists among its beneficiaries.

Trickle-down never worked, but the delusion persists among its beneficiaries.More recent hypocrisy. With the 2017 corporate tax cuts came the lofty assurances that money would be freed up for new investment in jobs and R&D. So what happened? In the following year S&P 500 companies set a new record for buying back their stock to artificially boost stock prices for management and investorsa practice that was illegal until the Reagan years. While about a third of S&P companies are now curtailing stock buybacks in response to the pandemic, others have depleted so much of their funds that they have turned to the pandemic-inspired CARES Act for relief to distressed industries.

Yet more hypocrisy. Last year nearly 200 CEOs of major U.S. corporations signed an agreement to affirm their commitment to employees, customers, and community. In 2020 signees were almost 20 percent more likely to announce employee layoffs, while paying out 20 percent MORE in dividends and stock buybacks.

The four-decade losses in wealth and job income have contributed to the poverty numbers, and to violent reactions. Martin Luther King explained, We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed. Those demands are being expressed through violence.

What America Needs: A Job Guarantee

The Republicans have argued for work requirements for Medicaid and food stamps and other forms of social programs. But when asked what he would do to bring jobs to Kentucky, Mitch McConnell responded, That is not my job. It is the primary responsibility of the state Commerce Cabinet.

But it IS his job. Its OUR job as a nation. Liberals realize change is needed to provide opportunities to less fortunate people. Conservatives blame less fortunate people for not working hard enough. A job guarantee satisfies both sides. More and more experts and national leaders are starting to realize this. Especially with the pandemic, which has thrust us into the throes of an unprecedented jobs crisis.

There is plenty of potential work out there: infrastructure projects for roads, bridges, transit systems, and wastewater treatment; disaster preparation for hurricanes and fires; the construction of barriers to protect against sea-level rise; the planting of trees and development of parkland; postal service upgrades. And more work indoors: home care workers to aid the aged and disabled; child care; special needs programs; and not the least a resurgence in science and arts initiatives. The work chosen by recipients may be entrepreneurial, as newfound incomes unleash talents that were previously suppressed by personal financial concerns, and it could potentially take highly creative forms, as in the 1930s, when the Works Progress Administration hired thousands of artists and actors and musicians to help sustain the cultural needs of the nation. A recent Gallup poll found that nearly 70% of workers dont feel engaged (enthusiastic and committed) in their jobs. A guaranteed income will help provide the freedom to choose appealing work.

There is evidence for the success of guaranteed job programs, starting with the Depression-era Works Progress Administration, which put 8.5 million Americans to work building new roads, bridges, and parks around the country. More recently, according to the Georgetown Law Center on Poverty and Inequality, subsidized employment programs have reduced family public benefit receipt, raised school outcomes among the children of workers, boosted workers school completion, lowered criminal justice system involvement among both workers and their children, improved psychological well-being, and reduced longer-term poverty. The jobs program RecycleForce, which hires formerly incarcerated individuals with government money, has cut the recidivism rate while saving the taxpayer $1.20 for every dollar invested.

As Cory Booker noted, If youre willing to work, you should have a shot at economic stability and the American dream. We do not believe we should leave people behind to the ravages of unemployment and poverty.

Talk Is Not Enough

Many celebrities and sports stars are saying we have to do something. But it will take more than just talk to make this happen. It will demand that those of us in the well-positioned older generations accept the higher taxes that weve been avoiding for over forty years.

In the end, if the young people in the streets are given the opportunity to support themselves and their families with living-wage jobs, but then they still turn around and riot, we progressives will have to admit we were wrong. But if the conservatives who say get a job wont support the creation of those jobs, then theyre being hypocritical to the highest degree.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 01:03:12|Editor: huaxia

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NAIROBI, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- The UN Environment Program (UNEP) on Tuesday called for regional transboundary collaboration in Africa in the fight against plastic waste.

Juliette Biao Koudenoukpo, director and Africa regional representative at UNEP said that the joint approach is capable of reducing the ever-increasing plastic pollution in the continent.

"There is a need for action plans that engage the private sector, consumers, industry and governments in the fight against plastic pollution," Koudenoukpo said in Nairobi during the launch of Flipflopi, a boat made entirely from plastic waste, for its expedition to Lake Victoria.

She said that plastic waste is a transboundary concern requiring collaborative actions and not simply from governments but from industry and consumers.

"Regional cooperation and action plans are recommended to prevent further pollution at all levels," said Koudenoukpo.

The official noted that it is unfortunate that only nine percent of the nine billion tons of plastics globally has been recycled.

She urged the private sector in Africa to use plastic wastes in developing alternative items for sale to boost the countries' economies.

"The ban on single-use plastics and non-essential plastics has created a thriving alternative business where discarded items are recycled in making handicrafts and other items for sale," Koudenoukpo said.

The official noted that out of the 54 African countries, 20 are in different stages of banning single-use plastic from use in their countries.

Koudenoukpo commended African countries including Kenya and Rwanda for leading in banning the usage of single-use plastics.

"UNEP is fully committed to supporting the government and the people of Kenya, as well as neighboring countries in the fight against marine plastic pollution," she said.

The official reiterated that UNEP is supporting the Flipflopi expedition to galvanize change among governments, the public, the private sector and civil society to beat plastic pollution.

"The recycled boat (Flipflopi), aims to raise awareness, inspire and engage, local and regional and global communities in the fight against marine plastic pollution," she added. Enditem
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New Delhi, Sep 22 : Amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, private libraries across the national capital have lost their prime audience -- children who used to throng there in huge numbers.

One such instance of a private library without any takers for its books can be observed in New Delhi's Sultanpuri where Nand Kishore, owner of 'Talk a lot Library,' says he suffered huge losses in the last six months owing to Covid-19 even to the extent of being unable to repay the loan for his private library. "Our source of employment was taken away due to which I was upset. Our library rent is not waived off and the library is still closed," he added.

The private libraries in Delhi wear an empty look during the corona pandemic due to lack of students visiting them. In Unlock 4.0, the children have now started coming slowly but the lively atmosphere that used to be there with the presence of children inside the library is now a bleak shadow of the past.

However, hundreds of private libraries have been opened at places like Mukherjee Nagar, Laxmi Nagar, Karol Bagh, Gandhi Vihar, Old Rajinder Nagar and South Delhi in the national capital.

Students avail of the facility to study in these libraries by paying a fee. They also prepare for their upcoming exams. However, ever since the spread of the coronavirus infection, there has been a lull in these libraries.

Nand Kishore told IANS, "Only those students who are going to appear for their upcoming exams are visiting the libraries and we are charging them 50 per cent fee." According to Kishore's estimate, "Delhi may have nearly 2,500 private libraries. Through these libraries, students get a place to study and we get employment. Nothing can be done unless the government gives permission." Apart from these libraries, there were nearly 150 libraries in Delhi considered to be premier, including some in the government sector.

Mahesh Kumar Arora, assistant information officer, Delhi Public Library which comes under under the Ministry of Culture, told IANS, "Our library is government-owned and all government guidelines were duly followed. We have started 'limited services' in the library from June 1." Arora said, "Children are not allowed to come inside the library nor are they able to sit and study so we have made books available for them online. We have also waived the children's fines in the past. However, right now some children are visiting the library who leave the premises with books." There are nearly 150 libraries in Delhi which can actually be called libraries. Otherwise so-called libraries are opened in homes where money is charged from children in exchange for service, Arora added.

Veer Pradeep Chaudhary, owner of 'Veer Library', Laxmi Nagar, told IANS, "Children get an atmosphere of learning in the library. Students come here and prepare for government jobs and other examinations. At present, my library is visited by a few children who are going to appear for exams soon." He said, "We make children sit away from each other in our library because right now students were less so they themselves sit away from each other and study. After Unlock 3 we started the library while the children were called in shifts so that we could sanitize the library." "We did not get any support from the government. Students future is in jeopardy right now," Chaudhary added.
Australia is facing a deficit of 280,000 babies by 2024 due to the recession and unrealistic pre-coronavirus forecasts of a birth surge that threatens to leave a permanent hole in the federal budget.

In a fresh challenge for Treasurer Josh Frydenberg ahead of the October 6 budget, which is expected to show a deficit in excess of $200 billion, new analysis of Australia's fertility rate suggests the nation could welcome 56,000 fewer babies a year.

Laura Mehew with her nine-month-old daughter Tessa. She's "highly" unlikely to have a baby sibling any time soon. Credit:Rhett Wyman

Australia has relied on strong population growth to help support the economy since the nation's last recession in 1990-91. That population growth was already expected to slump to its lowest level since World War I due to a collapse in net overseas migration driven by closure of the border and a sharp fall in international students.

But the fertility rate  the number of children born to each woman  is also expected to fall, exacerbating a structural problem already evident in the budget.
Why this Seven Springs clip grabbed the attention of 1 million people

The tweet has been seen by more than 1 million people so far. Many commenters asked if the clip was planned or fake.
The Berlin-founded company continues its momentum as an industry leader and top employer with a strong hiring plan and new Berlin office

BERLIN, Sept. 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Contentful today announced that it is honored to be included in LinkedIn's 2020 Top Startups Germany list, which ranks the most sought-after employers in Germany. This news comes on the heels of raising 67.5 million in Series E funding and expansion of its Berlin hub into a newly built office early next year.



Companies on LinkedIn's list are recognized for "growing rapidly, revolutionizing entire industries, influencing personnel flows worldwide and often changing the way we work and live." LinkedIn's editors and data analysts measured startups on four pillars: employment growth, interest in job offers, user interactions with the company and its employees as well as the recruitment of talent from companies on the list of LinkedIn Top Companies.

Contentful was founded in Berlin in 2013 by Sascha Koneitzke, Contentful's first CEO and now Chief Strategy Officer, and Paolo Negri, Chief Technology Officer of Contentful.

"With the explosion of apps in the early 2010s, the digital world became a lot more than websites, but legacy content management systems were still web-centric, making it really hard to share content across channels," said Konietzke. "We knew there was a better way to deliver content to digital experiences." He connected with Negri at a founders' event with a shared mission to revolutionize content management with a decoupled API-first, cloud-native architecture.



Contentful, a pioneer and global leader in headless content management systems (CMS), now leads the industry with its next-generation content platform. The company grew from its German headquarters to expand to the US in 2017, and it now operates across every time zone. Contentful's customer base has always been a global list of top international brands and fast-growing market disruptors. Contentful enables builders - developers, designers and content creators - to create and deliver digital experiences for any channel or device.

"We are thrilled to be recognized among the top startups in Germany," said Steve Sloan, CEO of Contentful. "Our team has grown rapidly to more than 400 people worldwide, and we've welcomed eight new senior executives who bring a wealth of talent and experience. Our rapid growth has been accelerated by customer demand, as brands adopt next-generation platforms to better compete in this digital-first era."

Contentful has roughly doubled revenue each year for the past four years, and powers digital experiences for a growing roster of customers that includes 28% of the Fortune 500 and 2,200 paying customers worldwide. It is one of the enterprise SaaS companies on track to become the next unicorn as projected by research firm CB Insights and reported by The New York Times.

New office space in Berlin set to open in early 2021

In early 2021, Contentful will move its Berlin office from a historic lamp factory in Kreuzberg to a 6,350-square-meter modern office building developed by Townscape in Berlin's Wedding district. The office features flexible spaces across several floors and event space. The new building offers Contentful the ability to continue its rapid growth.

Fueled by its Series E investment in June, led by Sapphire Ventures, Salesforce Ventures and General Catalyst, Contentful is hiring more than 100 new roles in the next year across its Berlin, San Francisco and recently announced Denver hubs, as well as in distributed locations worldwide. Contentful will continue to hire and onboard remotely until it is safe to return to in-person work. See all currently open roles at contentful.com/careers .

Contentful is rated 4.2 out of 5 on Glassdoor and cultivates a positive workplace culture that empowers people to do their best work. Contentful's workforce currently includes people of more than 70 nationalities and it places a special emphasis on inclusion and diversity in hiring.

About Contentful

Contentful, the global leader in omnichannel content platforms, powers digital experiences for 28% of the Fortune 500 and thousands of leading global brands. It enables enterprises to deliver omnichannel digital experiences with greater speed and scale than with a traditional CMS. Contentful unifies content in a single hub, structures it for use in any digital channel, and integrates seamlessly with hundreds of other tools through open APIs. Companies such as Spotify, Aldo, The British Museum, Bang & Olufsen, Lenovo, Alpro, Chanel and many others rely on Contentful's content platform. For more information, visit https://www.contentful.com/ .



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Senator Josh Hawley on Monday doubled down on his call for the Senate to confirm a Supreme Court justice who believes that Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court case that legalized abortion nationwide, was wrongly decided.

For years Republican senators have promised that they would confirm pro-Constitution, pro-life justices to that bench. Now its time to do it, Hawley said Monday on Fox News. No more stealth nominees. No more secret moderates. We need a strong, tough conservative, someone who understands that Roe, for instance, was wrongly decided.

The Missouri Republican is a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which is expected to hold confirmation hearings in the coming weeks on President Trumps upcoming pick to replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, who died on Friday.

In July, Hawley promised that he would only vote for judges who have previously indicated that they believe the 1973 ruling as a legal matter, is wrongly decided.

I will vote only for those Supreme Court nominees who have explicitly acknowledged that Roe vs. Wade is wrongly decided, Hawley said. By explicitly acknowledged, I mean on the record and before they were nominated.

Planned Parenthood Action Fund remarked on Hawleys stance, saying his comments demonstrate just how out of touch anti-abortion politicians are.

Abortion has figured prominently in several previous Supreme Court confirmation battles, including the Senate hearings to consider Trumps two other nominees, Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh. Neither justice committed to opposing Roe during their confirmation hearings: Gorsuch called the decision the law of the land and Kavanaugh noted that the case has been reaffirmed many times.

Democrats have threatened to pack the court by adding more justices if the Republican-held Senate confirms a third Trump nominee to the Supreme Court.

When Democrats control the Senate in the next Congress, we must abolish the filibuster and expand the Supreme Court, said Senator Ed Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat.

Story continues

Trump announced this week that he plans to reveal his nominee to fill Ginsburgs seat by the end of the week. On Monday, he met at the White House with appeals court Judge Amy Coney Barrett, who is reportedly considered the front runner.

More from National Review
New Delhi, Sep 22 : The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020, which has provisions to remove items like cereals, pulses, oilseeds, edible oil, onions and potatoes from the list of essential commodities was passed by the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.

The Lok Sabha has already passed the Bill which will replace the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020 promulgated on June 5, 2020.

Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Danve Raosaheb Dadarao proposed the Bill in the upper House for discussion and passage. The Bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha after a short debate.

Replying to the discussion on the Bill before it was passed by the Rajya Sabha, the minister said that this amendment is required to prevent wastage of agri-produce due to lack of storage facilities.

He said this amendment will create a positive environment not only for the farmers but also for the consumers as well as investors and will definitely make the country self-reliant.

This amendment will strengthen the overall supply chain mechanism of the agriculture sector and will also help to achieve the government's promise to double the farmers' income by promoting investment in this sector and promote ease of doing business, he added.

The Bill aims to remove the fear of excessive regulatory interference in the business of private investors while providing freedom to produce, hold, move, distribute and supply so as to attract private sector/foreign direct investment into the agriculture sector.

It will also help drive up investment in cold storages and modernisation of the food supply chain.

The government, while liberalizing the regulatory environment, has also ensured that the interests of consumers are safeguarded. It has been provided in the Amendment, that in situations such as war, famine, extraordinary price rise and natural calamity, such agricultural foodstuff can be regulated.

However, the installed capacity of a value chain participant and the export demand of an exporter will remain exempted from such stock limit imposition so as to ensure that investments in agriculture are not discouraged.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Manhunt: Deadly Games on CBS When you put FBI and ATF together, it doesn't spell "teamwork." Watch the broadcast premiere of Manhunt: Deadly Games TOMORROW at 10/9c on CBS and CBS All Access. Posted by CBS on Sunday, September 20, 2020

Manhunt: Deadly Games, a 10-episode drama chronicling the bombing at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta and the epic manhunt that followed, begins tonight at 10 p.m. ET/PT on CBS and CBS All Access. You can also stream the new series on FuboTV.

Manhunt: Deadly Games is a true-crime drama that explores the gripping story of the largest search for a fugitive in the history of the FBI. The story starts with the terrorist attack at the Olympics, when security guard Richard Jewell went from national hero to prime suspect after a reporter accused him of having planted the bomb he discovered. As Jewell fought to prove his innocence, the real culprit, Eric Rudolph, continued his bombing campaign.

To catch the killer, the ATF and the FBI had to put their animosity aside and work together, chasing the elusive Rudolph into the mountainous wilderness of North Carolina, where he launched a counterattack with the help of local militia groups.

What channel is CBS on?

You can find which channel CBS is on by using the channel finders here: Verizon Fios, AT&T U-verse, Comcast Xfinity, Spectrum/Charter, Optimum/Altice, DIRECTV and Dish.

Where can I watch Manhunt: Deadly Games if I dont have cable?

You can livestream it on FuboTV (7-day free trial, then $59.99/month). FuboTV is a streaming service that offers access to your favorite TV shows, live sports events and much more.
Days after proscribing 224 mobile apps over China links and security concerns, the government has trained its guns on several fintech applications with Chinese links. The Centre is going to check these (fintech) firms for data and privacy violations and may add many app-based lenders to a list of barred entities being collated by it.

The government has already banned a slew of Chinese content, apps and messaging, comprising PUBG Mobile and TikTok from the Indian market.

"The potential implications of a data compromise from fintechs, such as lending apps, are quite grave, since it involves sharing sensitive financial data of the user to the lender," a source told Livemint, adding that the kind of data one gives out to fintech firms is "riskier" than what one would share on social media networks.

Also Read: China lays out new rules to tighten control over financial holding firms

These app-based lenders take a user's confidential details such as his/her Aaadhaar card number, income tax details among others.

The ban on Chinese apps, scrutiny on fintech firms is all a part of the government's plan to dissociate the economy from China following violent border clashes at the LAC (line of actual control) in Ladakh in June that claimed the lives of 20 Indian soldiers.

Meanwhile, the Centre is also trying to inhibit Chinese companies from accessing data not only to safeguard citizen's privacy but also to tackle potential security risks.

Also Read: 'Disgusting': Traders' body slams Sachin Tendulkar for endorsing 'Chinese-funded' Paytm

Another source told the publication that what "set the alarm bells ringing" for the government is the "presence of Chinese nationals as directors in several of these lending apps" adding that it is trying to determine the reasons behind it.

Although the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) doesn't regulate such firms as there are no public deposits involved, it can alert the Centre and respective state governments if it finds something dubious, a source told the publication.
Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death has roiled the US presidential race, with the battle over her replacement looming large in swing states likely to determine the course of an election just six weeks from Tuesday.

Many Republicans see her passing as a golden if controversial opportunity for President Donald Trump to pick another conservative -- his third -- for a lifelong spot on the nine-member bench.

Michelle Burns, a stay-at-home mother of six in the small city of Monroe, in southern Michigan, said "it's God's will" that Trump fill the court vacancy before the vote.

"My own belief is that this was a divine intervention," the 46-year-old told AFP Monday outside her home that features over-the-top Halloween decorations complete with an inflatable Trump.

"What's the coincidence of it happening seven weeks before the election?"

Trump's battle with Democrat Joe Biden is on a razor's edge, with the Ginsburg replacement the latest in a series of bitterly divisive election issues: Trump's handling of the coronavirus pandemic, the resulting economic downturn, and tensions over racial injustice.

Whether the explosive Ginsburg issue fundamentally alters the race is not yet known.

But grassroots Democrats hope Trump nominating a replacement would be met with a backlash that tilts the presidential contest their way in critical Industrial Belt states like Michigan and Ohio.

"It's really life or death at this point," said 21-year-old college student Alexa Cooley, as she and her sister left a Democratic Party office in Monroe with campaign yard signs under their arms.

While she acknowledges the court seat battle is a rallying point for pro-life voters like Burns, Cooley sees a five-alarm fire that will "motivate Democrats" to vote for Biden on November 3.

"Especially with Ruth Bader Ginsburg, we could go to Gilead," Cooley said, refering to the patriarchal theocracy in the dystopian novel "The Handmaid's Tale."

Story continues

"A lot of my friends are talking about, 'our lives are going to be the Handmaid's Tale, all our rights are going to be taken away'" if a conservative majority court strikes down landmark cases protecting women's rights, she said.

"That's what women my age are concerned about."

Monroe County was one of several in Michigan that voted twice for Barack Obama but flipped to Trump, helping him narrowly carry the state and propel him to a 2016 shock win.

Monroe resident James Pocock believes Biden will have to fight hard to win back the county, and said the Supreme Court battle will only intensify the drama.

"I feel like it's going to cause a lot of conflict," the 21-year-old said.

Pocock is Republican and comes from a pro-life family, so there is pressure to fall in line and back the president.

But he believes Trump has done "questionable things in office" and has badly mishandled the coronavirus, and so Pocock's vote, he said, is going to Biden, despite Pocock's own opposition to abortion.

- 'Fill that seat!' -

Trump has announced he will nominate a new justice soon and the Senate's Republican leader said to expect a confirmation vote.

The move so close to an election has infuriated Democrats. But in neighboring northwestern Ohio, a closely watched bellwether state won by Trump in 2016, supporters streamed into Trump's Monday open-air rally eager for the president to fulfill his duty.

"It's really important for President Trump to push through another nominee for the Supreme Court (who) believes in life, who believes in the constitution, believes in liberty," said realtor Holly Orman of Toledo as she entered the rally in nearby Swanton.

Orman, 44 and wearing a T-shirt that read "Jesus is my savior, Trump is my president," said the economy was paramount in 2020 but that the court vacancy was vital too, and that Democrats "should back off and let (Trump) do his job."

Most rally attendees appeared unconcerned about the Supreme Court showdown having a damaging effect on Trump's re-election effort.

"He's rushing it, and I think he should," Paula Nowicki, wearing a pink "Women for Trump" hat, said of the president's planned nomination.

Her 30-year-old daughter Becky Nowicki, an insurance producer, is a fervent Trump supporter but broke with her mother when asked if she felt the issue could turn the election against him.

"Honestly I feel like we could see anything in 2020 so I think it could -- which is terrifying," she said.

Trump appeared to relish the opportunity to discuss the vacancy with his pumped-up fans.

"We're going to put up our nominee who's going to be outstanding," he said to loud cheers.

"They say it's the most important thing a president can do," Trump added, as his faithful chanted in agreement: "Fill that seat! Fill that seat!"

mlm/mtp
As Election Day nears, some Republicans are beginning to worry that a Biden-Harris administration would disrupt the rare bipartisanship cooperation that has emerged on Capitol Hill around regulating Big Tech.

Senator Josh Hawley (R., Mo.) and Congressman Ken Buck (R., Colo.), who have taken on leading roles in challenging Silicon Valleys influence in Washington, said in recent interviews that they were happy with the progress they have seen on the issue of late but remain concerned that the momentum, especially among Democrats, could evaporate come November if Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are elected.

The Democrats talk a lot about this and in Congress, and Im not discounting that  I appreciate that they are concerned about concentration  but when the Democrats were last in power in the White House, it was a Big-Tech love fest, morning, noon, and night, Hawley told National Review.

There are a lot of Democrats who are very ideologically opposed to monopolies of this nature, Buck added. But the one thing I respect about the Democrats is they always fall in line. You dont see a lot of dissension, so when the decision is made by the administration, Speaker Pelosi and others will follow suit.

Both men have participated in two hearings with their respective antitrust subcommittees in just as many months that showcased points of bipartisan unity around the threat posed by the size and scope of the nations tech giants.

Lawmakers from both parties sharply criticized Google over its dominance in advertising, read the lede from the Wall Street Journals coverage of the Senate hearing that occurred this week. They came for blood, the Washington Post noted of the Houses July antitrust hearing with the four biggest tech CEOs.

And while Democrats such as David Cicilline of Rhode Island and Hank Johnson of Georgia have been fundraising off their hawkish displays, none of the eight House Democrats on the antitrust subcommittee returned multiple requests for comment on whether a Biden-Harris administration would support their efforts.

Story continues

Since Biden selected Harris as his running mate in August, articles such as Silicon Valley Sees Kamala Harris as One of Its Own (the Journal), How Kamala Harris Forged Close Ties With Big Tech (the New York Times), and Kamala Harris is the choice Joe Biden needed to win over Silicon Valley (Vox) have detailed the California senators deep ties to the industry.

Harriss second-largest donor over the past five years is Alphabet Inc., the parent company of Google, and a number of her former staffers have gone on to work at Amazon, Google, and Twitter. The Silicon Valley ties also extend to the former San Francisco district attorneys family: Her brother-in-law is chief legal counsel at Uber.

While both Biden and Harris have paid lip service to big-tech regulation  even questioning the merits of the Section 230 protections the tech giants enjoy  their platform does not directly address the issue.

I just think that for them right now its an occasional talking point while they hold their hand out to get as much cash as they can from Big Tech with a sort of, you know, nod-wink, tech knowing that the good days will be here again if Biden and Harris got elected, Hawley said.

Since significant legislation is still a ways off, Hawley and Buck have placed their faith in anti-trust litigation brought recently by the DOJ and the FTC against Google and Facebook, respectively. The congressmen believe the litigation serves as proof that the current administration is committed to breaking up platforms such as Google, which combines a massive search operation with a dominant advertising service. But if Democrats regain the White House, they fear those probes will go nowhere.

They can easily drag their feet investigating this for four or eight years if they decided they didnt want to intervene and make the marketplace more competitive, Buck explained.

The duo have also pointed to the revolving door between Democratic politics and big tech firms as evidence that platforms such as Twitter  whose director of public policy Carlos Monje recently decamped for the Biden campaign  systematically disadvantage conservatives.

Under a Biden-Harris administration, I think censorship now becomes the order of the day, Hawley continued. Tech, they want to do it already, because it aligns with their political views. Tech is the capital of woke. . . . Google, for heavens sake, published a document internally last year called The Good Censor, but this is how they see themselves. And I think theyll become more brazen if Joe Biden wins.

But a question remains for Republicans about whether bias and antitrust can be addressed using the same policy levers.

If were going to have a conversation about conservative bias, lets have that conversation, Carl Szabo, vice president and general counsel of the lobbying firm NetChoice  which counts Google, Facebook, and Twitter among its backers  told National Review. It is not an antitrust conversation. So if their competitors have conservative bias, then lets talk about ways that we can address it. And at the same time, as a conservative, I believe we need to address it in a way that doesnt call upon government as the solution.

Though many of their Republican colleagues highlight bias, rather than the monopolistic practices targeted through anti-trust legislation, as their primary concern when it comes to Big Tech  House minority leader Kevin McCarthys 2020 blueprint mentions bias but not scale  Buck and Hawley think the two issues are inextricably linked.

Buck pointed to Googles Internet search dominance  it took up 92 percent of Augusts global market share  to argue that its size alone makes its alleged bias against conservatives near impossible to combat because there are no meaningful alternatives.

A 2019 data study by the Economist found no evidence of ideological bias in the search engines news tab, but conservatives have criticized the platform for attaching fact-checks from left-leaning outlets such as Snopes to conservative opinion pieces while leaving similar left-leaning articles untouched. Skeptics have also pointed to the firing of engineer James Damore, who wrote a memo citing inherent preference differences between genders as a partial explanation for male overrepresentation in tech, as evidence of the companys bias. And according to a recent report from RealClear Politics, Google search data for conservative websites like Breitbart and the Daily Caller shows a steep fall in visibility.

We cant go to a search engine that would be more fair to conservative viewpoints and so the dominance and the bias are related, Buck stated. And if we deal with the dominance, ultimately, the impact of the bias will be lessened.

If President Trump is reelected in November, both men feel there is further progress to be made  Hawley told National Review that in his frequent conversations with Trump, Big Tech overreach is very much on his mind.

Theres hardly a conversation I have with the president in which he does not raise these issues, he revealed.

More from National Review
Italy votes in regional elections and backs referendum to reduce seats in parliament.

Voters in Italy approved a reduction in the number of parliamentarians in a referendum held on 20-21 September, while a round of regional elections saw the centre-left and the opposition centre-right winning three regions each.

The centre-right coalition - comprising Matteo Salvini's Lega, Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia, and Giorgia Meloni's Fratelli d'Italia - won in the right's usual strongholds of Liguria and Veneto, as well as ousting the left leadership of Le Marche.

However the right failed to take the symbolic region of Tuscany, which has been ruled by the left since world war two, in what is seen as a significant boost for the fragile national governing coalition of the centre-left Partito Democratico (PD) and the populist Movimento 5 Stelle (M5S).

In addition to holding on to Tuscany, the centre-left won in the southern regions of Puglia and Campania.

In the northern Valle d'Aosta region the results are still being counted, with the centre-right reportedly in the lead and results expected later today.

Referendum

In the referendum, voters were asked whether or not to approve a law amending the Italian constitution to reduce the number of MPs in parliament, from 630 to 400 in the chamber of deputies, and from 315 to 200 in the senate.

The yes vote prevailed with 69.64 per cent, compared to 30.36 per cent for the no vote, reports Italian news agency ANSA.

Italy's foreign minister Luigi Di Maio, whose M5S was the driving force behind the calls for reform, hailed the outcome as a "historic result."

There was more than 54 per cent turnout in the referendum, reports ANSA, including 108-year-old Luisa Zappitelli who has not missed an election since she cast her vote on whether Italy should be a republic or a monarchy on 2 June 1946.

Photo: MikeDotta / Shutterstock.com.
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump urged world leaders to hold China accountable for the spread of the coronavirus, in a video address to a scaled-down U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday as Americas death toll topped 200,000.

Beyond criticizing China, Trump took aim at the very foundation of the United Nations by urging other leaders to put their own countries first, a message that echoed his America First campaign mantra.

Only when you take care of your own citizens, will you find a true basis for co-operation, Trump said. As president, I have rejected the failed approaches of the past  and I am proudly putting America first, just as you should be putting your countries first. Thats OK. Thats what you should be doing.

But it was the coronavirus that was both the core and the backdrop of Trumps address. Speeches by U.S. presidents are normally a highlight of the annual General Assembly, a premier event on the global diplomatic calendar. But this years gathering is being held remotely because of the pandemic. Trump, denied an auditorium packed with global leaders, gave a speech lasting just under eight minutes, the shortest General Assembly speech by a U.S. president in more than two decades.

Under fire for his own handling of the coronavirus, Trump cast blame on China, noting the virus began there and accusing the Chinese government of acting irresponsibly in failing to contain it.

The United Nations must hold China accountable for their actions, Trump said, without elaborating on what punishment he thought was warranted.

Trumps handling of the virus is a top issue in the presidential campaign. His Democratic opponent, Joe Biden, says Trump bungled the response to COVID-19 and is responsible for the U.S. having more deaths than any other nation. Trump minimized the danger of virus, encouraged the reopening of U.S. society even as the virus was spreading rapidly and continues to hold campaign rallies where few wear face masks or practice social distancing.

Trump also attacked Chinas environmental record, even though his administration has rolled back or eliminated scores of existing or pending public health and environmental protections.

Chinas U.N. ambassador rejected criticism of China on its handling of COVID-19 as totally baseless.

At this moment, the world needs more solidarity and co-operation, and not a confrontation, Ambassador Zhang Jun said before introducing President Xi Jinpings prerecorded speech.

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that the world faces the risk of a new Cold War between the U.S. and China.

Our world cannot afford a future where the two largest economies split the globe in a Great Fracture  each with its own trade and financial rules and internet and artificial intelligence capacities, Guterres said. A technological and economic divide risks inevitably turning into a geo-strategic and military divide. We must avoid this at all costs.

Trumps U.N. address came as he faces an expected fight over a Supreme Court nomination and a heated reelection campaign in an America bitterly divided in Democratic and Republican camps.

The Republican president is running behind Biden in many polls, yet told the U.N. General Assembly that hed be back next year.

I am supremely confident that next year, when we gather in person, we will be in the midst of one of the greatest years in our history, Trump said.

Trumps address comes at a time when U.N. members are pushing back against Washington. On Monday, Trump declared that all U.N. sanctions against Iran have been reimposed, a move that most of the rest of the world rejects as illegal.

Trumps statement came shortly after he signed an executive order spelling out how the U.S. will enforce the snapback of sanctions. My actions today send a clear message to the Iranian regime and those in the international community who refuse to stand up to Iran, he said.

The U.S. said it was reimposing sanctions on Iran for being in noncompliance with the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and global powers. But Trump in 2018 pulled out of the deal in which Iran agreed to curb its nuclear program in exchange for billions of dollars in sanctions relief.

Few U.N. member states believe the U.S. has the legal standing to restore the sanctions because Trump withdrew from the agreement. The U.S. argues it retains the right to do so as an original participant in the deal and a member of the council.

Trump also briefly highlighted agreements the U.S. brokered between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. The historic agreements come as relations between the Jewish state and Arab nations are thawing as a pushback against Iran.

The president also mentioned the U.S. brokering of economic co-operation between Serbia and Kosovo.

He didnt mention the threat from North Koreas nuclear weapons. In his speech in 2017, Trump told the U.N. he was bringing a message of peace, but then said that if the U.S. was forced to defend itself against Kim Jong Un, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea.

Trump called Kim rocket man, but later embraced him as a friend, met with him three times and proclaimed North Korea no longer posed a nuclear threat to the U.S. So far, the Trump administrations diplomatic efforts to get Kim to give up his nuclear weapons have not succeeded.

___

Associated Press writers Hope Yen in Washington and Edith Lederer in New York contributed to this report.

___

This story has been corrected to show that Trumps speech was nearly eight minutes, not less than seven minutes.
Google's in-house incubator Area 120 is today introducing a new work-tracking tool, Tables, which aims to make tracking projects more efficient by investing in automation. Instead of simply tracking notes and tasks associated with a project in various documents that have to be manually updated by team members, Tables' bots help do things like scheduling recurring email reminders when tasks are overdue, messaging a chat room when new form submissions are received, moving tasks to other people's work queues or updating tasks when statuses are changed.

The solution is designed to be useful across a number of use cases, including project management, IT operations, customer tracking and CRM, recruiting, product development and more.

"I've been in the technology industry for a long time, including 10 years at Google," explains Tables' GM Tim Gleason, in an announcement about the new service. "And during my years in the workforce, Ive always had a difficult time tracking projects. Our teams stored notes and related tasks in different documents. Those documents always got out of date. Wed have to manually sync data between them. And Id spend a lot of time coordinating between team members to prioritize and update statuses. I spent more time keeping track of work than actually working," he says.

Image Credits: Google

Tables, instead, aims to take on some of those extra manual processes -- like collecting data from different sources, collating it together, pasting into another document, then handing it off, for example. The tool, however, is made to work with existing Google technology. That makes it a better choice for those who are already invested in using Google's ecosystem, like Google's online documents, contacts and more.

To get started with Tables, you can import data from Google Sheets (or a .CSV), share data with your Google Groups, and assign tasks to people found in your Google Contacts. You can also get started with one of the included templates, if you prefer.

Story continues

The bots handle automated actions, while the data itself can be presented in different ways, like grid views, record lists, kanban boards and maps. Forms allow you to collect data on the fly, without having to give people access to your tables directly.

Ahead of its public debut, Tables has been in testing with thousands of active users who are tracking work and collaborating with team members, Google says.

Image Credits: Google

Tables is also one of a handful of Area 120 projects to launch with a paid business model. Today, other Area 120 projects like ticket seller Fundo, conversational ads platform AdLingo and Google's recently launched Orion WiFi also have paid models. In Tables' case, an individual can use Tables for free, with support for up to 100 tables and 1,000 rows. The paid plan, meanwhile, costs $10 per user per month, and supports up to 1,000 tables and 10,000 rows. This plan also includes support for larger attachments, more actions and advanced history, sharing, forms, automation and views.

The project is clearly meant to tap into the growing interest in no-code, spreadsheet-powered database platforms. A leader in this space, Airtable, recently closed on $185 million in Series D funding, valuing its business at $2.585 billion, post-money. Google's advantage is that it's not a standalone solution that has to work to integrate with other data sources and communications tools. It has the ability to tie into other tools the team is already using to manage their work, like Google Sheets, for example. However, the Tables' website does indicate the product can work with Slack.

Tables is available now in the U.S., with both free and paid plans.
Half of Catholics want to attend mass more often than they did before pandemic: poll

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A new poll conducted by the Catholic Eternal Word Television Network and RealClear Opinion Research has found that about half of Catholics would like to attend mass more frequently than they have in the past once the coronavirus pandemic is over.

The survey, which was conducted from Aug. 27 to Sept. 1, asked 1,500 self-identified Catholics for their thoughts on various national issues, the coronavirus pandemic and the 2020 presidential election. The sample contains a margin of error of plus or minus 2.81 percentage points.

The study also contains a sample of 1,212 respondents who self-identified as Catholic likely voters. This was the third survey conducted by EWTN and RealClear Opinion since November 2019.

Coronavirus, which nearly nine out of 10 Catholic likely voters found concerning, has caused many to rethink how they feel about attending church and their faith in general.

About 61% of Catholic likely voters said that the pandemic made them feel differently about their faith. Meanwhile, 71% said they were distressed about their inability to attend mass during the coronavirus pandemic.

When asked if they would attend mass more or less frequently after the pandemic restrictions are lifted, 50% of all Catholic respondents (52% of likely Catholic voters) said they would attend more mass frequently while 17% of respondents (13% of Catholic likely voters) said they would go less frequently.

Right now, 58% of Catholic likely voters believe that it is safe to attend mass, compared to 42% who do not.

According to the data, Catholics who attended mass weekly or more before the pandemic were 30 percentage points more likely to believe it is safe to return to mass.

About 91% of Catholic likely voters cited the economy as a cause of concern, followed by health care (89%), coronavirus (88%), national security (85%) and civil unrest (84%).

Criminal justice, taxes, race relations, immigration and foreign policy rounded out the top 10 concerns for Catholics.

Even before the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg created a vacancy on the U.S. Supreme Court last week, about 68% of Catholic likely voters saw the Supreme Court as a cause for concern.

Meanwhile, 60% said they were concerned about religious liberty and 59% said they were concerned about abortion.

Respondents were also asked to weigh in on the anti-Catholic violence that has taken place in the United States in recent months. The overwhelming majority of those surveyed said that they were concerned.

Eight out of 10 (83%) of Catholic likely voters were concerned about vandalism and attacks on churches, 74% expressed concern about the attacks on statues of Catholic heroes, the burning of Bibles in Portland, Oregon and calls to tear down statues depicting Jesus as a white European.

A majority (51%) said that Catholics should be doing more to heal the divisions we have in America on race.

At the same time, an overwhelming majority of likely voters surveyed (81%) trusted their local police department. More than half (57%) of respondents disapproved of the push to defund the police.

Respondents were asked to agree with one of six positions on abortion.

A plurality of those surveyed (30%) believes that abortion should be allowed only in cases of rape or incest or to save the life of the woman.

Only 15% of respondents believe that abortion should be available to a woman any time she wants one during her entire pregnancy, and 15% believe that abortion should never be permitted under any circumstance.

About 10% believe that abortion should be allowed only during the first six months of a pregnancy and 9% think that abortion should be allowed only to save the life of the woman.

The survey asked respondents if a political candidates support for abortion made them more likely or less likely to support that candidate.

While 22% of Catholics surveyed said that support for abortion made them more likely to support a candidate, 30% claimed that support for abortion made them less likely to support a candidate.

A plurality of those surveyed (33%) said that a candidates position on abortion did not make a significant difference in their support for the candidate and 14% stated that it depends.

Less than half (44%) of respondents approved of President Donald Trumps job performance while 56% disapproved.

Approval of Trump was highest among Catholics who attend church at least weekly (51%) and lowest among those who seldom and never attend mass (39%).

In the 2020 presidential election, 53% of Catholic likely voters planned to vote for Democrat Joe Biden while 41% planned to vote for Trump.

Half (50%) of Catholics supported Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election compared to 45% who supported Trump.

Nationwide, exit polling from the 2016 election demonstrated that 50% of Catholics supported Trump while 46% voted for Clinton.

Mirroring national trends, the survey found that more frequent church attendance correlated with higher support for Trump.

More than half (58%) of Catholic likely voters who attend mass daily support Trump. Support for Trump over Biden stood at 61% among Catholics who attend mass more than once a week.

The most observant Roman Catholics still tend to support Donald Trump and the Republican Party as do large majorities of white evangelical Protestants  and are among the most highly motivated voters, concluded Carl Cannon, RealClear Politics Washington Bureau chief. But the question for the GOP is whether there are enough of these voters to make up the difference.
In view of rising coronavirus cases in Delhi, Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal on Tuesday asked a six-member expert panel to come up with suggestions to deal with the current Covid-19 situation and ramp up health facilities in the national capital, sources said.

Baijal held a meeting with the members of the panel among who are Indian Council of Medical Research Director-General Balram Bhargava, AIIMS Director Randeep Guleria and National Centre for Disease Control Director Sujeet Kumar Singh.

The expert panel will hold another meeting in the next few days to discuss the strategy to arrest the spread of the coronavirus in the national capital and it is likely to submit its report by September 30, the sources said.

The LG has asked the six-member expert panel to come up with suggestions on how to tackle the current Covid-19 situation in Delhi. Also, it will suggest measures to ramp up heath facilities, including beds, a source said.

Before September 20, the national capital recorded over 4,000 Covid-19 cases a day for five consecutive days.

The city recorded 4,071 cases on September 19; 4,127 on September 18; 4,432 on September 17; 4,473 on September 16 and 4,263 on September 15.

On Monday, 2,548 new cases were reported as only 33,733 tests were conduct on Sunday.

Earlier in the day, the Delhi High Court stayed the AAP governments order directing 33 big private hospitals to reserve 80 per cent of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds for Covid-19 patients.

However, the Delhi government said it would challenge the high court order on Wednesday.

A Delhi government functionary said that it is extremely important to reserve ICU beds in private hospitals to deal with rising coronavirus cases in the city.
WastedLocker definition

WastedLocker is a ransomware program that started hitting businesses and other organizations in May 2020 and is known for its high ransom demands reaching millions of dollars per victim. It is the creation of a group of highly skilled cybercriminals that have been operating for over a decade despite being criminally indicted in the US.

Evil Corp and the Dridex botnet

The group behind WastedLocker calls itself as Evil Corp and some of the individuals associated with it have a long history in the cybercrime world. The group is best known for operating the Dridex malware and botnet since 2011 but has also been responsible for creating and distributing ransomware programs over the years.

Dridex, also known as Cridex or Bugat, started out as a Trojan program designed to steal online banking credentials from victims by injecting fake login pages into their browsers. In December 2019, the US Department of Justice indicted two Russian nationals named Maksim Yakubets and Igor Turashev for creating and operating the Dridex malware together with other individuals.

Yakubets has also been named in separate complaints in connection with older money heists that date back to 2009 and involved the infamous Zeus banking trojan. The source code of the Zeus trojan was leaked online in 2010 and served as a basis and inspiration for many other banking Trojans, including Dridex. Both Yakubets and Turashev are on the FBI's Cybers Most Wanted list and US authorities are offering up to $5 million for information leading to Yakubets' arrest. The Department of Treasury has also imposed sanctions against the Evil Corp group.

Over the years, Dridex evolved from a banking Trojan into a malware distribution platform and its creators collaborated with other infamous cybercriminal groups including Carbanak/FIN7 and TA505. According to a report from security firm NCC Group, in late 2017 Dridex operations were scaled back and the group almost exclusively focused on the distribution of ransomware starting with BitPaymer. The gang even had a partnership with the group behind the TrickBot Trojan, which was used to deploy BitPaymer for a short period before starting pushing Ryuk, one of the most successful targeted ransomware programs to date.

BitPaymer targeted primarily companies from the US and a few in Western Europe, but in 2019 a fork dubbed DoppelPaymer appeared. According to NCC, DoppelPaymer followed a ransomware-as-a-service model that's different from BitPaymer's. While there's been some overlap in activity with Evil Corp, the group's links to this threat are not very clear.

"After the unsealing of indictments by the US Department of Justice and actions against Evil Corp as a group by the US Treasury Department, we detected a short period of inactivity from Evil Corp until January 2020," NCC said in its report. "However, since January 2020 activity has resumed as usual, with victims appearing in the same regions as before. It is possible, however, that this was primarily a strategic move to suggest to the public that Evil Corp was still active as, from around the middle of March 2020, we failed to observe much activity from them in terms of BitPaymer deployments. Of course, this period coincided with the lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic."

WastedLocker replaces BitPaymer

WastedLocker is an entirely new ransomware program from Evil Corp that started infecting organizations in May. It does not share code with BitPaymer but exhibits other similarities in the ransom note and per-victim customization. The lack of Evil Corp activity between March and May might be explained by the group working on developing this new threat as well as other components that make up its toolset.

Researchers have recently seen the group deploying a variant of the Gozi malware, which might replace Dridex at some point in the future as the persistent backdoor inside victim networks, along with a customized Cobalt Strike loader, which could be a potential replacement for the Empire PowerShell framework the group was known to use. Both CobaltStrike and PowerShell Empire are post-exploitation frameworks designed for penetration testers that have also become popular with hacker groups and cybercriminals over the years. The main developers of PowerShell Empire decided to abandon the project a few months ago.

Evil Corp "has access to highly skilled exploit and software developers capable of bypassing network defenses on all different levels," NCC warns. "The group seems to put a lot of effort into bypassing endpoint protection products; this observation is based on the fact that when a certain version of their malware is detected on victim networks the group is back with an undetected version and able to continue after just a short time. This shows the importance of victims fully understanding each incident that happens. That is, detection or blocking of a single element from the more advanced criminal actors does not mean they have been defeated."

One of the more prominent victims of WastedLocker to date was Garmin, a US tech company that manufactures consumer wearables and GPS navigation products used in aviation, maritime, fitness and other markets. The company was hit with WastedLocker in July and had many of its services disrupted worldwide as a result, including some used by pilots. The ransom demand was reportedly $10 million and the company eventually obtained a decryption key from the attackers, although it's not clear how much they paid for it.

Like other gangs behind targeted and manually operated ransomware attacks, Evil Corp customizes its malicious program and ransoms for each victim depending on their size and business profile. The WastedLocker ransom demands seen so far have ranged between $500,000 and $10 million, making them some of the largest in the threat landscape.

Like with BitPaymer, the vast majority of WastedLocker victims have been U.S. organizations. The gang puts a lot of effort into locating and destroying its victims' backups, but so far it has not adopted fail-over techniques like stealing data and extorting victims under the threat of releasing it online or putting it up for auction, like some other ransomware gangs have done recently.

"In general, we can state that if this gang has found an entrance into your network it will be impossible to stop them from encrypting at least part of your files," researchers from Malwarebytes said in an analysis. "The only thing that can help you salvage your files in such a case is if you have either roll-back technology or a form of off-line backups. With online, or otherwise connected backups you run the chance of your backup files being encrypted as well, which makes the whole point of having them moot."

How does WastedLocker work?

According to reports from Symantec, Malwarebytes and other security firms, the infection chain for WastedLocker starts with a JavaScript-based attack framework called SocGholish that is distributed as a fake browser update by alerts displayed on legitimate but compromised websites. Hacked news websites are a common vector. The SocGholish framework is delivered as a ZIP file and, if opened and run, it starts an attack chain that involves downloading and executing PowerShell scripts and the Cobalt Strike backdoor. Evil Corp used this same distribution technique and framework in the past to deploy the Dridex Trojan, so it's been part of its arsenal for a long time.

Once the hackers gain access to a computer on the network of an organization they perform reconnaissance and start deploying various living-off-the-land tools to steal credentials, escalate privileges and move laterally to other machines. The attackers' goal is to identify and gain access to high-value systems such as file servers, database servers and even virtual machines running in the cloud before deploying a victim-tailored WastedLocker binary on them.

The use of manual hacking and system administration or open-source penetration testing tools are part of a trend observed over the past few years where cybercriminals, including ransomware gangs, are increasingly adopting attack techniques that in the past used to be associated with cyberespionage activity by state-sponsored groups. This trend poses a serious problem for smaller organizations who do not have the IT budgets and resources to deploy defenses against advanced persistent threats but are a frequent target for ransomware gangs and other financially motivated cybercriminals.

WastedLocker uses a combination of AES and RSA cryptography in its file encryption routine that is similar to other targeted ransomware programs. Every file is encrypted with a unique 256-bit AES key that's generated on the fly. Those AES keys together with other information about the encrypted files are then encrypted with a 4096-bit public RSA key that is hardcoded in the WastedLocker binary. The attackers retain the private part of the RSA key pair which is needed to recover the AES keys and decrypt individual files.

According to an analysis by Kaspersky Lab, the encryption routine is strong and properly implemented, so victims cannot recover their files without the attackers' private RSA key. Since this is a manually deployed ransomware threat that's customized for every target, the attackers generate unique RSA key pairs for each victim. This means a private key received by one organization after paying the ransom won't work to decrypt files from another impacted organization.

Some aspects of WastedLocker make it stand apart. The ransomware has a mechanism that allows attackers to prioritize certain directories during the encryption routine. This is likely used to ensure that the most important and valuable files are encrypted first in case the encryption process, which can take some time, is detected by system administrators and is halted while in progress.

The malware attaches a file extension made from the victim's name and the word "wasted" to every encrypted file, for example, original_file_name.garminwasted for the Garmin attack. It also generates a text file with the ransom note for every file, meaning every directory will contain hundreds or thousands of copies of the ransom note.

WastedLocker is designed to delete shadow copies  the default backups made by the Windows OS  and tries to encrypt files over the network, including remote backups. It uses privilege escalation techniques such as DLL hijacking to obtain system privileges and installs a service that performs the encryption routing. This service is stopped when the encryption process is complete.

"The attackers behind this threat appear to be skilled and experienced, capable of penetrating some of the most well protected corporations, stealing credentials, and moving with ease across their networks," the Symantec researchers said. "As such, WastedLocker is a highly dangerous piece of ransomware. A successful attack could cripple the victims network, leading to significant disruption to their operations and a costly clean-up operation."
Chef Larry Schepici offering second pop-up

Larry Schepici, who left Jacks Oyster House in Albany last month after nine years, is offering his second pop-up farm dinner under his new venture, Culinary Enterprises. This one is scheduled for 5 p.m. Saturday Engels Acres Farm, 445 Brunswick Road, Brunswick.

The price is $65 per person for five courses, plus tax and tip, with wine available a la carte.

Reservations are required; call 518-376-7722 or email lschef1@yahoo.com.

Food bank offering NYS products bag

The Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York, which was forced by the coronavirus pandemic to change its annual fundraising Chefs & Vintners Harvest Dinner to a takeout format for this year, has sold out all 400 available dinners for the event, scheduled for Thursday.

Patrons interested in supporting the food bank in other ways may buy a bag of New York-produced items from suppliers including Death Wish Coffee, Cookie Therapy ALB, Galway Rock Vineyard & Winery, Casa Visco, Sfoglini, Gatherers Granola, Sloop Brewing Co., Remarkable Liquids/Nine Pin Cider, Sticker Mule, Barkeater Chocolates, Patroon Land Farm, Flavor Maker Spices, The Bread Butler, Bee & Ewe, Dinosaur Bar-B-Que and more.

The bags, valued at $200, cost $100 apiece. Details and purchase link are at regionalfoodbank.net/annualdinner.

Mangino's abandons Schenectady for Ballston Spa

Manginos Gourmet Market, which owner Bonnie Goodwin and her chef-partner, Rick Mangino, opened in April 2019 in a building they renovated on Schenectadys Eastern Avenue, is relocating to the Ballston Spa Country Club, where it will reopen under the name Manginos Fairway Grill. Sept. 12 was the last day for the business at 754 Eastern Ave.

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In a strongly worded Facebook post, the owners blasted the city of Schenectady and its Code Enforcement Department for issuing repeated citations that eventually led to Manginos being unable to get its permanent certificate of occupancy and thus its liquor license. It says, in part: "if you dont want to lose small investors like us who fix buildings and employ (even a small number of people) help them, dont be the brick wall they hit. ... Put check and balance system in place over Code Enforcement  who admittedly has a very difficult job  but has sadly allowed certain officers to use their Power and Authority in vindictive, punitive ways."

The citys chief building inspector defended his departments actions to The Daily Gazette, saying that less than optimal construction led to numerous stop-work orders being issued. Also in dispute was a handicapped ramp, which the city said was too steep to meet state regulations.

Manginos Fairway Grill should open in the new location by the end of the month, a representative said.

As for the future of the Eastern Avenue corner row house, Goodwin and Mangino said in another Facebook note that an amazing family  will be operating a wonderful Latin concept restaurant in the building. They did not explain why a new eatery would not face the same issues Manginos did.

Compiled by Steve Barnes. Items to be submitted for publication should be emailed to sbarnes@timesunion.com. Visit his blog, blog.timesunion.com/tablehopping.
By Azernews





By Aisha Jabbarova

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has said that Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan deliberately undermines the format and substance of negotiations over the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Aliyev made the remarks addressing a high-level meeting to mark the 75th anniversary of the United Nations held on the sidelines of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly on September 21.

Aliyev described Pashinyan's statement that Karabakh is Armenia as a serious blow to negotiations.

"He [Pashinyan] puts groundless conditions to the negotiation process. His unacceptable so-called seven conditions to Azerbaijan have been rejected by us. We have only one condition to achieve the peace. The armed forces of Armenia must withdraw from all occupied territories of Azerbaijan. The entire world recognizes Nagorno-Karabakh as integral part of Azerbaijanm, Aliyev said.

The president also reminded that the Armenian PM recently announced the establishment of civilian militia consisting of tens of thousands of civilians who will be forced to undertake military actions against Azerbaijan.

This clearly demonstrates new aggressive intention of the Armenian leadership. The Armenian defense minister threatens Azerbaijan with so-called new war for new territories the president said.

It should be noted that earlier, on September 19, President Aliyev said that the negotiations between the two countries are non-existent and that Armenia was preparing for a new large-scale war with Azerbaijan.

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 U.S., Russia and France hase been mediating the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia since the signing of the cease-fire agreement.
Shinhan Financial Group Chairman Cho Yong-byoung and a logo of AXA / Korea Times file



By Park Jae-hyuk



After Shinhan Financial Group decided not to bid for AXA General Insurance, industry officials are wondering what other plans the country's leading banking group could have in mind.



On Tuesday, Shinhan confirmed that it had not joined in preliminary bidding to acquire the French multinational insurance group's Korean unit.



"We acknowledge AXA as a good company, but we eventually decided not to take part in the bid because its strategic orientation differs from ours," a Shinhan spokesman said, declining to elaborate on the meaning of "strategic orientation."



The decision came as a surprise to many who believed that Shinhan had hired Deloitte Anjin as a financial adviser to participate in a virtual due diligence of AXA General Insurance.



According to sources familiar with the matter, Shinhan made its final decision just before the deadline for the bidding, as its executives had been arguing over the acquisition. However, even before the preliminary bidding started, Shinhan had indicated it would maintain a cautious stance toward additional M&As.



"We decided recently not to acquire Truston Asset Management after conducting due diligence," a high-ranking official on Shinhan's investor relations team said. "Any deal can fail at the last moment, even after a seller selects a preferred bidder."



Shinhan has repeatedly expressed its hope to launch a general insurance subsidiary to fill out its business portfolio.



However, there is skepticism over the profitability of AXA General Insurance.



The mid-size insurer has specialized in car insurance which has been suffering from a deteriorating loss ratio. According to the Korea Insurance Development Institute, loss ratios for car insurance in 2019 rose 5.5 percentage points to 91.4 percent. This led to AXA General Insurance reporting an annual loss of 36.9 billion won ($31 million).



Furthermore, AXA has reportedly priced its Korean unit at 400 billion won, double the estimated market value.



Despite the departure, Shinhan Financial is still drawing attention from market observers as they wonder about the group's approach toward growing its non-life business. They see Hanwha General Insurance as an alternative to AXA as it is less dependent on car insurance.



Earlier this month, Hanwha General Insurance sold its entire stake in Carrot General Insurance to Hanwha Asset Management, citing a need to improve its financial soundness.



Although Hanwha has dismissed rumors about the sale of the non-life insurance unit, the latter's worsening profitability has seen observers consider the latest decision as a move to prepare for the sale of the insurer.



No synergy?



S&P Global Ratings, however, has warned that Shinhan's capitalization could weaken if it pursues additional M&As in the near future.



Emily Yi said in a recent report that Shinhan would not likely pursue large M&As in the foreseeable future, although it has used this route in the past to expand into non-banking businesses, such as life insurance and credit cards.



"We expect Shinhan to continue to have adequate capitalization over the next few years," Yi said. "The company intends to maintain higher regulatory capital ratios after the increase in capital."



There is also the possibility of Shinhan launching a digital insurance unit after taking over with a separate non-life insurer.



The financial group may also consider investing in BNP Paribas Cardif General Insurance, a joint venture between BNP Paribas Cardif and Shinhan Life Insurance, so as to include the non-life insurer in its subsidiaries.



Some observers say Shinhan may seek to buy a non-life insurer at a lower price in a few years, when more are put on the market after the implementation of the new IFRS 17 accounting standards which will require larger equity payments from insurers.


OTTAWA  Premier Brian Pallister arrived in Ottawa last week, in an effort to solidify more generous health-care funding for Manitobans and to meet face-to-face with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to make his case.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 21/9/2020 (487 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA  Premier Brian Pallister arrived in Ottawa last week, in an effort to solidify more generous health-care funding for Manitobans and to meet face-to-face with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to make his case.

Six days into a trip with no set departure, the Manitoba premier has yet to accomplish either of those goals, with Trudeaus staff switching to a video chat Monday, as COVID-19 spreads on Parliament Hill.

THE CANADIAN PRESS/SEAN KILPATRICK Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister arrived in Ottawa Sept. 15, and hasnt booked a return flight to Winnipeg yet.

The premier insists his visit will bear fruit for the province.

"Discussions are helpful, even when we disagree," Pallister told the Free Press in a sit-down interview, moments after his teleconference with Trudeau.

"Im not sure we're going to agree on health-care funding."

The premier arrived in the capital Sept. 15, and hasnt yet booked a return flight to Winnipeg. Pallister and his team spent a day in isolation after meeting Sept. 18 with Quebec Premier Francois Legault, who himself had met four days prior with Conservative Leader Erin OToole, who tested positive for COVID-19 at the end of last week.

With the City of Ottawa declaring an official second wave of the novel coronavirus, Trudeaus staff switched a Monday sitdown with Pallister to a teleconference call a few hours in advance.

"We were planning on meeting in person but agreed not to, out of caution," the premier said in an interview at a downtown Ottawa office building.

This is not a patchwork solution that we're after; premiers are unanimous. We're not going to solve this with attention-seeking investments.  Brian Pallister

On Sept. 18, Pallister joined Legault, Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Alberta Premier Jason Kenney in-person, to demand on behalf of all 13 premiers a more generous health-care transfer.

They want the federal government to pay $70 billion for health care annually, or 35 per cent of the cost. Ottawa currently pays $42 billion, which is about 22 per cent. The provinces spend $188 billion a year on health care.

Pallister has pushed for more health dollars since 2016, when the Liberals chose to maintain a Harper-era cap on rising health expenditures.

The premier said Monday he plans to seek unanimous support in the Manitoba legislature from all parties to formally ask for more health funding  a move he'd like other provinces to replicate.

Although the current health accord is locked into place until 2022, Pallister feels the provinces have leverage to demand more money, because more of his fellow premiers now lean conservative during a minority Liberal mandate.

THE CANADIAN PRESS/SEAN KILPATRICK Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister, right, speaks as Quebec Premier Francois Legault looks on during a press conference in Ottawa last Friday. Legault met with Conservative Leader Erin OToole four days earlier, who later tested positive for COVID-19.

The Trudeau government won over reluctant provinces in 2016, by cutting side deals with sympathetic Liberal premiers, throwing in funding for mental health and home care.

"This is not a patchwork solution that we're after; premiers are unanimous," Pallister said. "We're not going to solve this with attention-seeking investments."

He also defended the provinces own spending on health care, after Manitoba NDP Leader Wab Kinew released a document showing the PCs ordered health authorities to restrict their expenditures to a cap half of Ottawas restriction on health-care funds.

The document, obtained by a freedom of information request, shows health authorities were ordered to only spend 3.1 per cent more in the 2018-19 fiscal year than what theyd spent two years prior.

The cap Ottawa set is a three per cent rise per year, not 3.1 per cent for two years.

Pallister said the province is still spending more health care, and outcomes such as wait times matter more than budget lines. "Throwing additional money at a problem is a simplistic and silly gauge, frankly, for how you get results," he said.

Throwing additional money at a problem is a simplistic and silly gauge, frankly, for how you get results."  Brian Pallister

On Wednesday, the Trudeau government will outline its new priorities in a throne speech, which is expected to include costly pledges such as a pharmacare or child-care plan.

Thats why the premiers are pushing to instead boost transfers for general health expenses and infrastructure.

Pallister also asked Trudeau to include the reduction of interprovincial trade barriers among his key policy planks, given a mix of regulations between provinces is still driving up consumer prices.

"It's gotta be in the throne speech. Because Manitoba's been leading the fight on this, and I just think the time has come for us to just support each other in this country," Pallister said.

The premier said he had a productive chat Monday with Infrastructure Minister Catherine McKenna on issues of transit funding and flood-prevention channel construction. That chat also occurred through a video conference.

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Meanwhile, premiers were tentatively scheduled to meet at the end of this week in Quebec City, but the plans are now to proceed virtually.

On Monday, Kinew questioned why the premier didnt just stay home. Though elected officials are exempt from orders to self-isolate when returning to Manitoba from other provinces, Kinew said the premier ought to do so anyway.

"I think Mr. Pallister should hold himself to the same standard, and model the kind of behaviour that it's going to take to beat the pandemic," he said.

Pallister argued the serious need for health-care funding merited the flight, and he listens to Manitoba's chief provincial public health officer.

 with files from Larry Kusch

dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca
Poco is bringing its new mid-range champion, the Poco X3, to India today. The company launched the handset earlier this month in the European market as the POCO X3 NFC and the smartphone comes as an upgrade to the Poco X2. The Indian version of the Poco X3 should be very similar to the European version with minor tweaks here and there. There has been a rumour that it would arrive with a bigger battery.

The company is hosting a live event to give further details about the Poco X3 at 12PM today and you can follow all the updates on the companys official social media channels as well as YouTube. Poco India will continue its partnership with Flipkart and will most likely sell the smartphone on the e-commerce platform along with its own website.

Considering the specifications of the Poco X3 NFC, the Indian version of the handset could arrive with almost the same features and design. The Poco X3 is the first phone to run on Qualcomms new Snapdragon 732G chipset. It features a 6.67-inch IPS LCD display with a hole-punch design a Full-HD+ resolution, a 20:9 aspect ratio as well as 120Hz refresh rate, and HDR10. If you remember, the Poco X2 also offered a 120Hz refresh rate IPS display. The European variant comes with a maximum of 6GB of LPDDR4x RAM, coupled with up to 128GB of UFS 2.1 storage. It is expected that the Indian variant might come with 8GB of RAM. The Poco X3 also comes with a quad-camera setup at the back, which includes a 64-megapixel Sony IMX682 shooter, a 13-megapixel ultrawide camera, a 2-megapixel macro lens, and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. Upfront, the Poco X3 features a 20-megapixel selfie shooter.

As for the battery, the handset was launched in Europe with a 5,160mAh unit along with 33W fast charging. There is a word that Poco might make use of a larger battery for the Indian variant. Apart from that, the smartphone comes with a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, IP53 dust and water resistance rating, and the usual set of connectivity option.

The Poco X3 NFC, which was launched in Europe last week has been priced at EUR 269 (roughly Rs 19,850) for the 64GB variant, and EUR 269 (roughly Rs 23,320) for the 128GB storage option.
Stewart et al./Science Advances

A set of 120,000-year-old footprints recently found near a dry lake may be the earliest evidence of human ancestors in the Arabian Peninsula.

In a study published in Science Advances this month, researchers announced the discovery of hundreds of fossilized footprints at Alathar lake in Saudi Arabia's Nefud Desert. Among the markings were depressions made by horses, camels and elephants, but scientists also uncovered footprints that appeared to be made by Homo sapiens.

As National Geographic notes, it is believed the imprints were made more than 100,000 years ago, and if confirmed, would make them the earliest sign of human activity in the area.

"We immediately realized the potential of these findings," Mathew Stewart, a lead author on the study, said in a statement regarding the discovery.

"Footprints are a unique form of fossil evidence in that they provide snapshots in time, typically representing a few hours or days, a resolution we tend not [to] get from other records," Stewart, of the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, continued.

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Stewart et al./Science Advances Pictures of the footprints

The researchers believe animals and humans were congregating near the lake for water and foraging, especially as conditions became dry.

"We know people visited the lake, but the lack of stone tools or evidence of the use of animal carcasses suggests that their visit to the lake was only brief," Stewart explained.

The humans who likely left the prints lived during the last interglacial period, which caused humid conditions across the region, the Max Planck Institute said. The period represented a time of migration for early humans and animals since the added humidity allowed easier access through desert regions.

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Story continues

Stewart et al./Science Advances Pictures of the footprints

"At certain times in the past, the deserts that dominate the interior of the peninsula transformed into expansive grasslands with permanent freshwater lakes and rivers, Richard Clark-Wilson of Royal Holloway, one of the lead authors of the study, said in the statement.

It was during these periods of climatic upturn that human and animal populations dispersed into the interior, as shown by the archaeological and fossil record," he continued.

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Added Stewart: "It is only after the last interglacial [period] with the return of cooler conditions that we have definitive evidence for Neanderthals moving into the region. ... The footprints, therefore, most likely represent humans, or Homo sapiens."

According to the institute, the discovery will now put emphasis on the Arabian Peninsula's role in human prehistory, which has largely focused on Africa and Eurasia.
Billionaire Mike Bloomberg has paid off $20million in debt for more than 31,000 felons in Florida so that they can vote in the state where just 537 votes decided the presidential election in 2000.

The former Democratic presidential candidate stepped in to help felons who have completed their prison sentences so they can vote on November 3.

Bloomberg, who is worth more than $50billion, raised more than $20million to assist in his endeavor while also pledging $100million to help Joe Biden win Florida.

'We know to win Florida we will need to persuade, motivate and add new votes to the Biden column. This means we need to explore all avenues for finding the needed votes when so many votes are already determined,' Bloomberg said in a written statement.

Billionaire Mike Bloomberg (pictured) has paid off $20million in debt for more than 31,000 felons in Florida so that they can vote in the state where just 537 votes decided the presidential election in 2000

The former Democratic presidential candidate stepped in to help felons who have completed their prison sentences so they can vote on November 3. Two convicted felons are seen registering to vote

'The right to vote is fundamental to our democracy and no American should be denied that right. Working together with the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, we are determined to end disenfranchisement and the discrimination that has always driven it,' the statement added.

A Bloomberg adviser told the Washington Post: 'Mike wanted to get this done for two reasons. One, because its the right thing to do for the democracy. And two, because it immediately activates tens of thousands of voters who are predisposed to vote for Joe Biden.'

The move comes just days after Florida Gov Ron DeSantis won a court victory to keep felons from voting until they've paid off fines, restitution and court fees.

A federal appellate court ruled on September 11 that in addition to serving their sentences, Florida felons must pay all fines, restitution and legal fees before they can regain their right to vote.

The case could have broad implications for the November elections. Florida has 29 electoral college votes that are crucial to President Donald Trump's hopes of staying in the White House.

Under Amendment 4, which Florida voters passed overwhelmingly in 2018, felons who have completed their sentences would have voting rights restored. Republican lawmakers then moved to define what it means to complete a sentence.

Convicted felon Yraida Guanipa reacts after she registered to vote at the Miami-Dade County Elections Department office in Miami, Florida on January 8, 2019

Clarence Singleton, who has a felony on his record, registered to vote at the Lee County Supervisor of Elections office on January 8, 2019, in Fort Myers, Florida

In addition to prison time served, lawmakers directed that all legal financial obligations, including unpaid fines and restitution, would also have to be settled before a felon could be eligible to vote.

The Florida Rights Restitution Coalition had raised about $5million before Bloomberg made calls to raise almost $17million more, according to Bloomberg staffers.

The money is targeted for felons who registered to vote while the law was in question and who owe $1,500 or less.

That accounts for about 31,100 people, the staffers said. In a state that decided the 2000 presidential election by 537 votes, that could be critical in a year when polls show Trump and Biden in a dead heat.

Organizers for the group say they aren't targeting people registered with a particular political party.

'To hell with politics, to hell with any other implications or inuations, at the end of the day it's about real people, real lives, American citizens who want to be a part of this,' said Desmond Meade, the group's executive director.

'People with felony convictions have had their voices silenced for so long,' Meade added.

The group said other donors include John Legend, LeBron James, Michael Jordan, MTV, Comedy Central, VH1, Ben & Jerry's, Levi Strauss & Co, the Miami Dolphins, the Orlando Magic, the Miami Heat and Stephen Spielberg.
- The active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) market is estimated to grow at a promising CAGR of 5.4% during the tenure of 2019-2027.The market will gain the advantage of growth in abbreviated new drug applications (ANDA).

- Presence of considerable number of key players is projected to help in the Asia Pacific market expansion.

ALBANY, N.Y., Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) refer to vital chemicals that are responsible for making the drug work. Depending on type, biotech/biological API, synthetic chemical API, high-potency API, plant extracts API, and classical fermentation API are some of the products available in the active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) market.

Analysts at TMR emphasize that the global active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) market will show promising growth on the back of increase in number of abbreviated new drug applications (ANDA. This aside, the market will gain advantage of growing focus on government bodies toward biomedical innovation.

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Key Findings of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) Market Report

The global active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) market was pegged at approximately US$ 169.1 Bn in 2018.

in 2018. Analysts at TMR highlight that the market will develop at a promising CAGR of 5.4% during 2019-2027.

On regional front, Asia Pacific is one of the prominent regions for the market growth due to presence of major important players.

is one of the prominent regions for the market growth due to presence of major important players. The nature of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) market is highly fragmented.

Explore 190 pages of top-notch research, incisive insights, and detailed country-level projections on Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) Market (Manufacturer - In house API Manufacturing, API Contract Manufacturing; APIs - Synthetic Chemical API, Biotech or Biological API, Plant Extracts API, High-potency API, Classical Fermentation API; Drug - Branded or Innovative Prescription Drugs, Generic Prescription Drugs, OTC (Over-the-counter) Drugs; Therapeutic - Anti-infective Drugs, Metabolic Disorders Drugs, Cardiovascular Drugs, Respiratory Diseases Drugs) - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2019 - 2027 at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/report-toc/1690

Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) Market: Key Driving Factors and Promising Avenues

The global active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) market is estimated to experience prominent expansion opportunities during the forecast period of 2019 to 2027.This growth is attributed to growth in abbreviated new drug applications (ANDA) in the recent few years.

Similarly, the market for active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) will gain promising avenues for development on the back of rising focus of government authorities toward biomedical innovation.

The rising number of patients living with various critical health conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and diabetes is stimulating noteworthy demand avenues in the global the active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) market.

This aside, the market for active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) is expected to gain prominent sales opportunities in all worldwide location on the back of increasing older population and sedentary lifestyles of major populace all across the globe.

In recent years, the active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) market is experiencing remarkable growth in demand for cost-effective drug substitutes. Several vendors engaged in the pharmaceutical drug manufacturing do not have adequate in-house capacity to fulfill this stupendous growth in demand. This situation has resulted in increased number of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) producers. This scenario shows that the active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) market will grow at rapid pace in the upcoming years.

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Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) Market: Competitive Assessment

The global active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) market experiences presence of many important players. As a result, the competitive landscape of the market is highly intense. Enterprises in the market for active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) are focused on the development of technologically advanced products. At the same time, they are growing efforts toward achieving regulatory approvals.

Purchase the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients Market Report https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/checkout.php

Several enterprises in the active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) market are concentrated on strengthening their market position. To achieve this motive, they are executing strategies such as mergers and acquisitions, partnerships, and collaborations. Owing to all these activities, the active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) market is projected to show prodigious growth in the forecast period of 2019 to 2027.

The list of important companies working in the active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) market includes Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH., Aurobindo Pharma, Pfizer, Inc., Novartis AG, Merck & Co., Inc., Bayer AG, and F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.

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The active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) market is segmented as follows:

Method of Manufacturing

In-house API Manufacturing

API Contract Manufacturing

Type of API

Synthetic Chemical API

Biotech/Biological API

Plant Extracts API

High-potency API

Classical Fermentation API

Type of Drug

Branded or Innovative Prescription Drugs

Generic Prescription Drugs

Over-the-counter (OTC) Drugs

Others

Therapeutic

Anti-infective Drugs

Metabolic Disorders Drugs

Cardiovascular Drugs

Oncology Drugs

Central Nervous System Drugs

Respiratory Diseases Drugs

Others

Region

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Latin America

Middle East & Africa

Explore Transparency Market Research's award-winning coverage of the global Healthcare Industry:

Pharmaceutical Continuous Manufacturing Market: TMR anticipated the global revenue of the pharmaceutical continuous manufacturing market to expand with a CAGR of 8.8% over the forecast period from 2017 to 2025. With this pace, the market is expected to attain value of US$3.693 bn by the end of 2025 from the registered value of US$1.74 bn in 2016.

Drug Discovery Outsourcing Market: Major developments that are likely to gain considerable traction over the next few years across the drug discovery outsourcing market include a decline in time utilized for drug development, improving the conversion rate of hits to leads, and expanding the number of high-quality compounds. At the back of these factors and evolving economic landscape, the global drug discovery outsourcing market is expected to reach ~US$ 12.7 Bn by the end of 2030

Drug Delivery Systems Market: The global drug delivery systems market was valued approximately US$ 510 Bn in 2016 and is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of over 6.9% from 2017 to 2025 to reach approximately US$ 900 Bn by 2025. Increase in demand for self-administration and home health care devices are likely to fuel expansion of the global drug delivery systems market from 2017 to 2025

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The Spanish government, unions and business associations reached a preliminary agreement on Monday on a new decree that regulates remote working, which until a few months ago was an uncommon practice in Spain. That situation changed with the start of the coronavirus pandemic in March, with teleworking prioritized in a bid to reduce contagion. In response to this shift, the government, unions and business associations have been looking for a legal framework to manage the change in work practices. Now, after months of negotiations, new regulations on the rights of remote workers are expected to be approved this Tuesday by Spains lower house of parliament, the Congress of Deputies.

Although the final details are not yet known  the preliminary agreement still needs to be ratified by unions and industry chiefs  the last draft of the text outlined under what circumstances the new law will be applied, who will cover expenses and how work schedules will be organized.

Here are the main points covered by the new regulations.

What is considered remote work?

Working part time from home or even the occasional entire day will not be considered as teleworking, but rather a flexible working condition. For the new rules to apply, an employee must work at least 30% of their total hours remotely within a period of three months, which is the equivalent to one-andahalf days a week.

This was the point of greatest conflict between the CEOE-Cepyme business association and Spanish unions UGT and CCOO. Initially, the percentage was set at 20%, but industry representatives pushed for it to be increased to 30%.

Who will cover expenses?

This was another hotly contested issue during the negotiations. In the end, the decree states that it is up to the company to cover the cost of the provision and maintenance of all resources, equipment and tools needed by a worker to carry out their job remotely, according to the terms established in a collective negotiation or in an agreement with the business.

The text also states that the company must pay for or compensate a worker for the running costs of this equipment, given that the employee cannot be responsible for covering the expenses for the resources they need to carry out their job. How the company will assume these costs or compensate the worker will be established by a collective contract or via an agreement between the business and the legal representatives of the workers, according to the decree.

Will companies and workers need to sign an agreement?

Yes. The decree states that a written agreement must be drawn up between the worker and the company. The employee has 10 days to deliver this text to their representatives, who then need to submit it to the employment office.

Although the details of the agreement will be established in the collective negotiation, the decree says that a mandatory minimum of content regarding a workers personal needs must appear in the document. The latest draft of the decree lists 11 points on this subject, such as an inventory of the equipment needed to work remotely; what expenses a worker may incur and how they will be compensated; the work schedule and, if applicable, how hours will be divided between the office and teleworking; the site chosen for teleworking; the measures available to the company to monitor the worker remotely; the length of the agreement and work instructions. The draft also states that the agreement must set out how much notice must be given if the situation is reversed.

Does the decree guarantee a flexible working schedule?

Yes, but the text states that a company may set out time periods when the worker must be available. In other words, the schedule is flexible  in accordance with what is established in the teleworking agreement and the collective negotiation, and as long as the regulations on working hours and breaks are respected  but a company and a worker can negotiate whether the employee must be available during set time periods.

Is it voluntary?

Yes. The decree states that teleworking is voluntary for both the worker and the employer. Both parties can also reverse the decision, a right that must be exercised according to the terms of the collective negotiation or the agreement between staff and the company.

The decree outlines that within these agreements, the company and worker will also be able to modify the percentage of hours that must be worked on-site, and set criteria and terms to move from working on-site to remotely, and vice versa.

Can the company monitor remote workers?

Yes, but the last draft of the decree does not clarify how. The test that is set to be approved on Tuesday simply says that a business will be able to adopt measures that it considers more opportune for surveillance and control to ensure that teleworkers are doing their job. This may even include remote monitoring methods, as long as they respect the dignity of the worker.

When will the new regulations take effect?

Although the government decided to approve the regulation via decree, a faster mechanism than the draft bill initially considered, this does not mean that it will take effect immediately after it is published in the Official State Gazette (BOE). Business associations have insisted on the inclusion of a transitional provision, which by de facto, will delay the introduction of the new rules. This provision was another source of disagreement during the negotiations.

The decree states that in situations where teleworking has arisen due to the coronavirus pandemic and the declaration of the state of alarm in March  in other words for exceptional circumstances  it will not be mandatory for workers and companies to sign an agreement. This means that the formal obligations established in the decree are suspended, although the company will have to provide the employee with the resources they need to work remotely.

The text also outlines that if the employer and staff already have internal regulations on teleworking, the new framework will only apply once this document has expired. If there is no set period for the internal rules, the new decree will come into effect one year after its publication in the BOE, although both parties can agree to wait up to three years before applying the new rules.

Are remote workers guaranteed the same rights?

The decree states that remote workers will have the same rights that they would if they were working on-site. For this reason, the text states that teleworkers can not be disadvantaged in terms of financial retribution, post occupancy, working hours, training or professional promotions. The decree recognizes that a teleworker has the same rights regarding work-life balance and joint responsibility, and also guarantees the right to disconnect.

English version by Melissa Kitson.
Leaked documents allege that some of the worlds largest banks have allowed $2 trillion worth of suspicious or fraudulent activity to take place, including money laundering for criminal gangs and terrorists.



The so-called FinCEN Files consist of more than 2,000 Suspicious Activity Reports, or SARs, sent by banks to the U.S. Treasury, alerting the authorities to possible criminal activity, from 1999 and 2017. The files were leaked to Buzzfeed and shared with a global network of investigative journalists.



The documents allege that British giant HSBC transferred $80 million of fraudulent money via the United States to Hong Kong as part of an illegal Ponzi scheme, despite earlier warnings from U.S. authorities.



The documents also say U.S. bank JP Morgan Chase moved $1 billion through a London account that it later discovered may have belonged to Semion Mogilevich, a Russian mafia boss still on the FBIs Most Wanted list.



German firm Deutsche Bank is accused of transferring dirty cash from money launderers with links to organized criminal gangs and terrorists. A bank spokesperson, Joerg Eigendorf, said Monday that the transactions were all historic.



What's being reported now is not new, not to us and not to our supervisory authority. Everything has been processed and we had a very close look at everything. But most importantly, we have made huge investments in this [compliance] sector since 2015, Eigendorf told reporters.



Standard Chartered and Bank of New York Mellon also appear several times in the leaks. All the banks involved say they fully comply with laws and regulations and that the cases are historic.

HSBC said in a statement: Starting in 2012, HSBC embarked on a multiyear journey to overhaul its ability to combat financial crime across more than 60 jurisdictions. HSBC is a much safer institution than it was in 2012. HSBC share prices fell more than 5% around the world Monday following the publication of the story, with other bank stocks also recording losses.



Standard Chartered said it took its responsibility to fight financial crime extremely seriously.



JP Morgan said, Today, thousands of employees and hundreds of millions of dollars are devoted to helping support law enforcement and national security efforts.



Bank of New York Mellon said the following: As a trusted member of the international banking community, we fully comply with all applicable laws and regulations, and assist authorities in the important work they do.



British politics also is under the spotlight. Lubov Chernukhin, a British citizen of Russian origin, has donated $2.2 million to the Conservative Party since 2012. The FinCEN leaks reveal her husband was secretly funded by Suleyman Kerimov, a Russian oligarch currently under U.S. sanctions, with close ties to President Vladimir Putin. Chernukhins donations were legal, according to her lawyers, who say the money has no links to the Kremlin.



So, why werent the transactions stopped? Tom Keatinge, who heads the Center for Financial Crime and Security Studies at Britains Royal United Services Institute, told VOA that its very difficult for banks to spot criminal activity.



The way I like to visualize this is imagine youre standing on a street corner on Oxford Street in London, a major shopping thoroughfare. And someone says, Right, you need to identify who either has just been shoplifting or who is about to go shoplifting. How easy would you find that?



Keatinge says the global system for reporting suspicious financial activity is not fit for its purpose.



Half a million in the U.K., several million every year in the United States of Suspicious Activity Reports are filed by banks and other like accountants and so on. And what do those authorities do with all that data? They obviously cant look at every single one of those filings.



I think the one thing the United States can be congratulated for is its willingness to go after bad actors, particularly bad actors outside the United States, it must be said. Thats rare around the world, Keatinge added.



Britain stands accused of failing to do enough to tackle financial crime. The anti-corruption group Transparency International estimates $100 billion of dirty money passes through London every year.



If you want to launder dirty money, then the U.K. has all the tools you need, says Keatinge. It has the law firms, it has the global banks, it has the offshore financial centers, its got the real estate to invest your money in, its got the private schools to spend your money on. And so, the sooner the U.K. staffs its response to financial crime as if it is playing an international role, the better. We have to move faster on fixing the system. Because right now, the criminals have the upper hand.



Keatinge says despite the banks claims, criminal financial activity is still happening on a vast scale  and governments and financial institutions must do far more to crack down.
Some businesses have criticised the restrictions on pubs in the UK, saying it will inflict more suffering on an already beleaguered industry

The British government announced fresh steps on Tuesday to try to stop a coronavirus surge in England, as the World Health Organization warned that new cases worldwide soared to record levels last week.

The tally of 1,998,897 infections was "the highest number of reported cases in a single week since the beginning of the epidemic", the WHO said, adding that the number of deaths fell compared with the previous week.

The death toll in the United States passed another dismal milestone on Tuesday, soaring beyond 200,000 as cases approached seven million in the world's worst-affected country.

The ramped-up response in Britain followed warnings that the country could see an explosion of cases and deaths if it failed to take decisive action.

From Thursday, English pubs, bars and other venues will be required to close at 10:00 pm. Food and drink outlets will also be restricted to table service.

Some businesses have criticised the move, saying it will inflict more suffering on an already beleaguered industry.

But customers outside cafes in central London were broadly supportive of the new rules if it meant avoiding another lockdown.

"It isn't all about the money," Francesca Galluzzo, an operations manager, told AFP. "It should be about people's lives."

Britain has also shelved plans to allow fans to return to sporting venues in England next month and boosted fines for rule-breakers in broad tightening of restrictions.

New restrictions imposed after Covid-19 rebound in Europe, for selected countries.

Nobel ceremony cancelled

Many nations in Europe were easing restrictions after largely overcoming initial outbreaks, but the resurgence of the virus has forced them to tighten curbs again.

Spain's health minister on Tuesday called on Madrid residents to limit their movements and social contacts to the essential.

Across Europe, hundreds of major events have been scaled back or cancelled and on Tuesday the most august of all gatherings, the Nobel prize ceremony, announced it had also succumbed to the pandemic.

The famous event in the Swedish capital Stockholm recognising excellence in subjects from economics to physics has been cancelled for the first time since 1944, set to be replaced by a televised event.

Rather than receiving their medals and diplomas from the king of Sweden in person, the winners will be honoured in their own countries.

The US still tops the charts for the numbers of infections and deaths in a single country

The Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Norway in December will also be scaled back.

A European Union leaders' summit due to start on Thursday was meanwhile postponed after a security guard tested positive for coronavirus, forcing EU chief Charles Michel to quarantine.

Trump under pressure

But the US still tops the charts for the numbers of infections and deaths in a single country.

President Donald Trump has faced intense criticism of his handling of the crisis, and the prospect of an election in November has sharpened the focus.

Trump insisted on Monday that the country was "rounding the corner with or without a vaccine".

But US Federal Reserve boss Jerome Powell will warn on Tuesday that a full recovery in the world's biggest economy "is likely to come only when people are confident that it is safe to reengage in a broad range of activities," according to prepared remarks.

Until a vaccine is developed, the options for treatment available to the less privileged are limited

The pandemic has wiped out hundreds of thousands of jobs around the world, with millions living rough.

Hundreds of restaurant, bar and nightclub workers demonstrated in the southern Spanish city of Malaga on Tuesday to seek government help to tide over the crisis.

They held banners saying "We are not the problem" and "rescue now".

"Many of my colleagues can't make ends meet. We have to save this sector by whatever means because there are many families that depend on this," Borja Ramos, a 37-year-old kitchen worker told AFP.

Until a vaccine is developed, the options for treatment available to the less privileged are limited.

In Mexico, where more than 73,000 people have died, many are choosing to stay at home when they fall ill instead of seeking treatment at creaking public hospitals.

Jessica Castillo in Hidalgo state said she suffered for a week at home, and even had suicidal thoughts.

As restriction Spain tighten, many are taking to the streets to protest, often requesting more help from the government

"I felt that the air I was breathing wasn't entering my lungs," said 43-year-old pastry chef, whose coronavirus recovery took more than a month.

"But I said: 'If I go to hospital, I'll never return'."

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

 2020 AFP
Some 64 higher income economies have joined the Covax Facility, a global initiative that brings together governments and manufacturers to ensure eventual Covid-19 vaccines reach those in greatest need.

These 64 economies include commitments from 35 economies as well as the European Commission which will procure doses on behalf of 27 EU member states plus Norway and Iceland.

By pooling financial and scientific resources, these participating economies will be able to insure themselves against the failure of any individual vaccine candidate and secure successful vaccines in a cost-effective, targeted way.

The 64 members of the facility will be joined by 92 low- and middle-income economies eligible for support for the procurement of vaccines through the Gavi Covax Advance Market Commitment (AMC), a financing instrument aimed at supporting the procurement of vaccines for these countries.

This means that 156 economies, representing roughly 64% of the global population in total, are now either committed to or eligible for the Covax Facility, with more to follow.

With the Commitment Agreements secured, the Covax Facility will now start signing formal agreements with vaccine manufacturers and developers, which are partners in the Covax effort, to secure the doses needed to end the acute phase of the pandemic by the end of 2021. This is in addition to an ongoing effort to raise funding for both R&D and for the procurement of vaccines for lower-income countries via the Gavi Covax AMC.

Covax is now in business: governments from every continent have chosen to work together, not only to secure vaccines for their own populations, but also to help ensure that vaccines are available to the most vulnerable everywhere, said Dr Seth Berkley, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which is coordinating the Covax Facility. With the commitments were announcing today for the Covax Facility, as well as the historic partnership we are forging with industry, we now stand a far better chance of ending the acute phase of this pandemic once safe, effective vaccines become available.

The Covax Facility is part of Covax, the vaccines pillar of the Access to Covid-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator, which is co-led by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and the World Health Organisation (Who)  working in partnership with developed and developing country vaccine manufacturers, Unicef, the World Bank, Civil Society Organisations and others.

The allocation of vaccines, once licensed and approved, will be guided by an Allocation Framework released today by Who following the principle of fair and equitable access, ensuring no participating economy will be left behind. Policies determining the prioritisation of vaccine rollout within economies will be guided by recommendations from the Who Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunisation (SAGE), which has recently released a Values Framework laying the groundwork for subsequent guidance on target populations and policies on vaccine use.

Covid-19 is an unprecedented global crisis that demands an unprecedented global response, said Who Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Vaccine nationalism will only perpetuate the disease and prolong the global recovery. Working together through the Covax Facility is not charity, its in every countrys own best interests to control the pandemic and accelerate the global economic recovery.

The commitment of fully self-financing economies will now unlock vital funding and the security of demand needed to scale up manufacturing and secure the doses needed for the Facility. CEPI is leading Covax vaccine research and development work, which aims to develop at least three safe and effective vaccines which can be made available to economies participating in the Covax Facility. Nine candidate vaccines are currently being supported by CEPI; eight of which are currently in clinical trials.

This is a landmark moment in the history of public health with the international community coming together to tackle this pandemic. The global spread of Covid-19 means that it is only through equitable and simultaneous access to new lifesaving Covid-19 vaccines that we can hope to end this pandemic, said Dr Richard Hatchett, CEO of CEPI. Countries coming together in this way shows a unity of purpose and resolve to end the acute phase of this pandemic, and we must now work closely with vaccine manufacturerswho play an integral part in the global responseto put in place the agreements needed to fulfil Covaxs core aim: to have two billion vaccine doses available by the end of 2021. Today, we have taken a great leap towards that goal, for the benefit of all.

The success of Covax hinges not only on economies signing up to the Covax Facility and commitments from vaccine manufacturers, but also filling key funding gaps for both Covax research and development (R&D) work and the Gavi Covax AMC to support participation of lower income economies in the Covax Facility.

Governments, vaccine manufacturers (in addition to their own R&D), organisations and individuals have committed $1.4 billion towards vaccine R&D so far, but a further $700-800 million is urgently needed to continue to move the portfolio forward in addition to $300 million to fund Whos SOLIDARITY trial.

The Gavi Covax AMC has raised around $700 million from sovereign donors as well as philanthropy and the private sector, against an initial target of $2 billion in seed funding needed by the end of 2020. Funding the Gavi Covax AMC will be critical to ensuring ability to pay is not a barrier to accessing Covid-19 vaccines, a situation which would leave the majority of the world unprotected, with the pandemic and its impact continuing unabated.

The Commitment Agreements also commit higher income governments to provide an upfront payment to reserve doses by October 9, 2020. These funds will be used to accelerate the scale-up of vaccine manufacturing to secure two billion doses of vaccine, enough to vaccinate one billion people assuming the vaccine requires a two-dose regimen. Further details on these upfront payments are available in Gavis Covax Facility Explainer.

As well as procuring doses for participating economies, the Covax Facility will also maintain a buffer of doses for emergency and humanitarian use.

COMMENTS

Covid-19 poses serious health concerns to people everywhere, and thats why Canada is committed to working with partners around the world to end the pandemic, said the Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada. Equitable, timely, and affordable access to a safe and effective Covid vaccine will be critical to help protect peoples health. Canada supports the objectives and principles of the Covax Facility as the only global pooled procurement mechanism for countries to collaborate on this monumental undertaking. Our country is a part of this important global response.

New Zealands commitment to the Covax Facility supports access to vaccines against Covid-19 for other countries too, said Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister of New Zealand.

Covax and the idea of equal access to a Covid-19 vaccine, regardless of ability to pay, is not just a moral imperative, it is the only practical solution to this pandemic. Protecting everyone is the only way we can return our world  our trade, tourism, travel, business  to normal, said Dr Edwin G. Dikoloti, Minister of Health and Wellness for Botswana. We urge those countries who have not yet signed up to do so. Let us work together to protect each other.

Immunisation saves lives. Investing in immunisation infrastructure helps strengthen health systems. We have seen this time and again through our work with Gavi and Alliance partners, said Dr Lia Tadesse, Minister of Health for Ethiopia. By being a part of the Covax Facility and the AMC we can continue this work and protect our citizens - and the world - against the impact of Covid-19.

With Covax, the world is joining forces and proving that together, we are stronger  and together, we can defeat this pandemic, said Ekaterine Tikaradze, Minister of Health for Georgia. Georgia will be joining the Covax Facility to give our citizens the best chance at having access to safe vaccines. By doing this, we also make sure health care workers and other high risk persons all over the world have access to these life-saving tools, helping to bring the pandemic under control  and we can all recover and rebuild.

Joining the Covax Facility was not a difficult decision  not only will this give Kuwaiti citizens access to Covid-19 vaccines as they become available, it will also mean our friends and partners outside our borders also get access, said Sheikh Dr Basel Humoud Al-Sabah, Minister of Health of the State of Kuwait. We need a global solution to this global pandemic: we believe Covax is that solution.

We believe international cooperation  a global effort  is key, said Dag-Inge Ulstein, Minister of International Development for Norway. We must continue to work for equitable access to vaccines, tests and treatments. To defeat the coronavirus pandemic, well-off countries need to act swiftly and boldly to make vaccines and treatments available to those who cannot afford to pay themselves. With the commitments to the Covax facility we are heading in the right direction.

This is a hugely important initiative, which could offer us a path out of the acute phase of this pandemic and a return to normality, said Dr Ahmed Mohammed Obaid Al Saidi, Minister of Health of the Sultanate of Oman. I would urge every country that has not yet done so to sign up, for all our sakes. It is far better for us to work together than apart. -- Tradearabia News Service
The (WEF), which has decided to reschedule its next annual meeting to early summer of 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will move the high-profile event out of the ski resort town of Davos for the year to another place within Switzerland due to logistical reasons.

While a new venue is yet to be decided, WEF's Managing Director (Public Engagement) Adrian Monck said it will take place within Switzerland itself.

"As we said in August, the Annual Meeting 2021 is rescheduled to early summer. It will be happening in Switzerland in 2021...But not in Davos," he tweeted.

The tweet followed Swiss media reports about a likelihood of the event being moved out of Davos due to logistical issues.

Traditionally, the WEF holds its annual summit in the Swiss ski resort town of Davos in January and the high-profile event is attended by thousands of global leaders from fields of business, governance, politics, art and culture, civil society and academia, among others.

On August 26, the Geneva-based organisation had said it has decided to reschedule its next annual meeting to early summer of 2021 due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.

"Details concerning the dates and location of the rescheduled Annual Meeting 2021 will be shared as soon as the Forum is assured that all conditions are fulfilled to guarantee the health and safety of our participants and the hosting community," it had said.

"The decision was not taken easily, since the need for global leaders to come together to design a common recovery path and shape the 'Great Reset' in the post-COVID-19 era is so urgent. However, the advice from experts is that the Forum cannot do so safely in January," it added.

During the week of January 25, 2021, when the annual meeting was originally scheduled to take place, the WEF will digitally convene high-level 'Davos Dialogues' where key global leaders will share their views on the state of the world in the year.

Besides, the WEF is also hosting a four-day Sustainable Development Impact Summit, which began on Monday and aims to bring the core principles of the Great Reset into focus, asking how everyone can contribute to a more sustainable and inclusive future.

Earlier in June, the WEF had said it will adopt a new twin-summit format for its next annual Davos meeting by bringing together leaders from across the globe for in-person as well as virtual dialogues with a theme of the 'Great Reset'.

While the digital dialogues will take place as planned in January 2021, the famed annual meeting has now been postponed till early summer.

The 50th WEF Annual Meeting, which was held from January 21-24, 2020, was one of the last high-profile gatherings this year before the coronavirus pandemic brought almost the entire world to a halt.

(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.)
Bengaluru, Sep 22 : In the wake of the resource crunch caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Karnataka Assembly on Monday passed a bill to cut the salaries of its legislators, including the Speaker, Deputy Speaker and ministers, by 30 per cent.

Most of the legislators from the ruling and Opposition parties gave their consent with an oblique resistance.

Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister J.C. Madhuswamy proposed the Karnataka Salaries and Allowances of Members, Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly (Amendment Bill), 2020 on Tuesday, the second day of the six-day Monsoon Session.

According to the provisions of the bill, there will be a salary cut of 30 per cent of all the legislators for a period of one year starting April 1. The objective of the bill is to utilise the savings to fight the Covid-19 pandemic in the state.

The amendment bill proposed a salary cut by 30 per cent of the state Assembly members, including the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, ministers, and the Leader of Opposition.

While extending his support for the bill, senior Congress leader H.K. Patil said that it could have been more comprehensive had the state government included high court judges, bureaucrats and other stakeholders too.

He quickly added that the Congress has been supporting the bill right from the start, but "we also suggest and recommend the state government to practice austerity measures in other quarters also".

"We suggest the government should curb their extravagant splurging of public money in celebrations and events," he said.

The six-day monsoon session of the Karanataka Assembly began on Monday. Due to the pandemic, the House has been allowed to function without any public spectators. Around 32 bills will be tabled in the House during the session.
Jammu and Kashmir Police on Tuesday said a Pakistani drone had dropped two consignments of arms in a village in Akhnoor region.

Two consignments of arms and ammunition have been recovered in Akhnoor sector, around 12 km away from the border. The weapons were meant to hand over to terrorists in Kashmir valley. Initial probe suggests Jaish-e-Mohammed is behind this," said Jammu SSP Shridhar Patil.

The arms and ammunition were airdropped by a Pakistani drone in the village.

Further details are awaited.
President Trump and Chinas Xi Jinping will address the UN General Assembly just minutes apart on Tuesday morning  with Russias Vladimir Putin following soon thereafter.

The big picture: Trump has promised a strong message on China. Xi, meanwhile, is expected to laud global cooperation  with the clear implication that it can be led from Beijing.

Setting the scene: The 75th annual General Assembly will be unrecognizable, with more world leaders (173) than ever addressing the forum, but all of them doing so via pre-recorded videos.

The great power rivals are joined on Tuesday mornings agenda by several other powerful men, including Emmanuel Macron of France and Turkeys Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

And yes, they will all be men. A provisional schedule showed the first female speaker  President Zuzana Caputova of Slovakia  53rd on the agenda.

The speeches will continue through next Tuesday, but there will be no motorcades clogging Manhattan streets, world leaders conferring in hallways, or frenzied shuffling between side-summits.

But there will nonetheless be a diplomatic crisis rumbling on in the background.

The backstory: The U.S. initiated a snapback mechanism at the UN Security Council last month to reimpose sanctions on Iran lifted under the 2015 nuclear deal.

Trump says those sanctions came back into force yesterday and are needed to prevent Iran from buying weapons. He also added new unilateral sanctions on Iran today via executive order.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo insisted today that every member state in the United Nations has a responsibility to enforce these sanctions.

But all of the deal's other signatories have rejected the move, and the U.K., France and Germany have vowed to ignore it.

Between the lines: They're desperate to keep the nuclear deal afloat in spite of Trump's efforts.

Zoom out: Many diplomats at the UN view their jobs in much the same way.

One one hand: The Trump administration dismisses multilateralism and has announced America's withdrawal from several UN agencies, including the World Health Organization.

The Trump administration dismisses multilateralism and has announced America's withdrawal from several UN agencies, including the World Health Organization. On the other: A rising China is hardly likely to promote many of the values the UN has attempted to stand for. Of its primary missions, the UN wins the most respect for its work on human rights, according to new Pew data from 14 countries.

What theyre saying: UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres believes the global order going through a "rather chaotic" transition period.
MURFREESBORO, Tenn., Sept. 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tennessee-based Volunteer Botanicals , which provides manufacturers with consistent, versatile hemp-based ingredients for use in a wide variety of consumer products, recently broke ground on a new research and development headquarters to help meet the growing demand for its miscible and flowable cannabinoid ingredients.



A 2019 market research study conducted by BDS Analytics and Arcview Market Research projects the market for CBD sales to surpass $20 billion by 2024 in the United States alone. This anticipated growth will not just be fueled by CBD products from hemp producers, but by traditional manufacturers as they recognize the value of adding cannabinoids to more mainstream products. According to the BDS/Arcview report, general retail stores will soon take over the majority of CBD product sales from cannabis dispensaries, where they currently occur.

The day is rapidly approaching when CBD and other cannabinoids become ingredients, not just products, said Derek Odette, CEO and Co-founder of Volunteer Botanicals. The potential for cannabinoid ingredients in nutritional supplements, nutraceuticals and over-the-counter medications is tremendous. Our new headquarters will provide us with the room to accommodate these and other developing opportunities.

The current challenge for the industry is developing products that fit modern consumer preferences, according to Odette. As the market moves from dispensaries to mainstream retailers, customers will be seeking familiar delivery methods they feel comfortable using. The ability to provide cannabinoids in enjoyable form factors will set brands apart.

Oil-based tinctures are a vestige of this market's cottage industry origins, said Dave Neundorfer, CEO of Open Book Extracts . To accelerate broad scale adoption of cannabinoids, we need to arm the market with products that not only work but also meet the preferences and behavior of mainstream consumers.

According to Neundorfer, the company is currently partnering with Volunteer Botanicals on two new products to address these consumer needs: A 50 mg broad spectrum CBD instant release tablet with an immunity blend of terpenes, and a 1:1 oral dissolving tablet with 5 mg of CBD and 5 mg of CBN. Each unique in their own ways, these products are geared directly at this newly emerging, mainstream consumer.

The ability of Volunteer Botanicals to meet the potency requirements we desire with consistency and precision is what drew us to work with them, he said. They are one of the few labs that is putting the pieces together on how cannabinoids can work for manufacturers and consumers.

Construction of the new facility is partially funded through a $25,000 grant awarded to Volunteer Botanicals earlier this year from the Tennessee Department of Agricultures Ag Enterprise Fund (AEF). The Ag Enterprise Fund is designed to enable agriculture-related companies to grow and positively impact rural economies in Tennessee.

About Volunteer Botanicals

Volunteer Botanicals develops precise cannabinoid formulations, providing manufacturers with consistent, versatile hemp-based ingredients for use in a wide variety of products that meet specific demands of product creators inside and outside the hemp industry. The companys products provide the building blocks of miscible and flowable powders suited for food, beverage, supplements, nutraceutical and pharmaceutical products. Through innovation and technology, Volunteer Botanicals is taking cannabinoids mainstream. For more information, visit https://volunteerbotanicals.com .

About Open Book Extracts

Headquartered in Roxboro, N.C., Open Book Extracts is a cGMP-certified manufacturer of premium plant-based cannabinoid products, aiming to be the industrys true north by delivering premium products, exceptional service, and industry-leading transparency. With control of the entire supply chain, a state-of-the-art extraction campus near North Carolinas Research Triangle, proprietary refinement and conversion methods backed by a growing IP portfolio, and a team of PhD chemists and seasoned business leaders, OBX is positioned to be the trusted partner for global brands seeking to enter the marketplace. OBX Asia, with its headquarters in Hong Kong, provides strategic guidance and on-the-ground support for our Asia customers. For more information, visit www.openbookextracts.com .
A three-member arbitration panel under the auspices of the National Labour Commission (NLC) has ruled in favour of about 150 staff of Ghana Community Network Services Limited (GCNET) over a redundancy dispute with GCNET.



Consequently, the arbitration panel has ruled that GCNET is under obligation to pay each of the staff a redundancy package in accordance with the companys policy without any adjustment or variation



The effective date for the redundancy is August 31, 2020 and this shall be the last day of employment of the affected staff with GCNET, the panel held in a ruling dated September 4, 2020.



The arbitrators appointed by the NLC and the two parties were Mr Charles D Antwi, Mrs Anita Wiafe Asinor and Mr Paul Osei Mensah.



Termination



GCNET was an information technology firm which used to facilitate trade services at the countrys ports and had a contract government until 2023.



In April this year, the government terminated the contract, leading to a shutdown of its operations in May, this year.



The government cancelled the contract to allow the full rollout of a new customs clearing system, Uni-Pass, which according to the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), would centralise the processing and handling of all import and export documentations, a system known as a single window clearing system.



As a result of the termination of the contract, GCNET decided to lay off some of its staff and accordingly notified Chief Labour Officer of its intended redundancy.



HR policy



Documents filed at the arbitration hearing showed that GCNET had an HR Manual that obliges it to use a certain formula to pay its staff during a redundancy exercise.



In view of the redundancy exercise, management of GCNET and the Staff Association signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to implement the redundancy in conformity with the HR Manual.



As a result of the MoU, management of GCNET issued termination letters to the affected staff with the redundancy set to take effect on August 31, this year, but payment to be done on or before June 30, this year.



Dispute



According to the ruling, two days before the deadline for the payment of the redundancy package, the management of GCNET wrote to the Staff Association that it could not pay the package and asked for a renegotiation of the redundancy pay as stipulated in the HR Manual.



This led to a dispute which ended up at the NLC, with the two parties agreeing to a voluntary package.



Case of GCNET



It was the case of GCNET that the HR was a collective agreement, but the Staff Association was not a registered labour union and hence per the Labour Act, 2003, it could not entered into a collective agreement with the company.



In view of that, GCNET argued that the MOU it signed with the staff association was null and void and, therefore, not binding.



Also, GCNET contended that it did not have the funds to pay the redundancy package as contained in the HR Manual on the basis that the government of Ghana was yet to pay the compensation for abrogating the contract, while there was no guarantee that the government would even pay the compensation.



Case of the Staff



The staff association, on the other hand, presented a case that the HR policy or manual was the conditions of employment developed by GCNET for its entire staff, which it had been implementing since it commenced operations and, therefore, it was binding on the company.



Also, it argued that per Article 21(1) (e) and Article 24 (3) of the 1992 Constitution, freedom of association was guaranteed and there is no law that states that every association must be registered.



It further contended that the government of Ghana had agreed to pay GCNET compensation for abrogating the contract and, that compensation would include the redundancy package for staff.



Ruling



The arbitration panel agreed with the staff and held that GCNET must pay the redundancy package as contained in the HR Manual because the redundancy package was already predetermined.



It held that the MOU between the Staff Association and GCNET was for the implementation of the redundancy exercise and not a negotiation of the redundancy package because that was already contained in the HR Manual.



In fact, we find that there has been no negotiation of redundancy pay during this redundancy exercise, the panel held.



The panel also rejected the claim by GCNET that it had no capacity to pay the redundancy package.



We find that GCNET is entitled to compensation is entitled to claim compensation from the government of Ghana and such claim will include redundancy payment that will be made to staff, the panel added.

Source: graphiconline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
Solar flares are violent explosions on the sun that fling out high-energy charged particles, sometimes toward Earth, where they disrupt communications and endanger satellites and astronauts.

But as scientists discovered in 1996, flares can also create seismic activity -- sunquakes -- releasing impulsive acoustic waves that penetrate deep into the sun's interior.

While the relationship between solar flares and sunquakes is still a mystery, new findings suggest that these "acoustic transients" -- and the surface ripples they generate -- can tell us a lot about flares and may someday help us forecast their size and severity.

A team of physicists from the United States, Colombia and Australia has found that part of the acoustic energy released from a flare in 2011 emanated from about 1,000 kilometers beneath the solar surface -- the photosphere -- and, thus, far beneath the solar flare that triggered the quake.

The results, published Sept. 21 in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, come from a diagnostic technique called helioseismic holography, introduced in the late 1900s by French scientist Francoise Roddier and extensively developed by U.S. scientists Charles Lindsey and Douglas Braun, now at NorthWest Research Associates in Boulder, Colorado, and co-authors of the paper.

Helioseismic holography allows scientists to analyze acoustic waves triggered by flares to probe their sources, much as seismic waves from megaquakes on Earth allow seismologists to locate their epicenters. The technique was first applied to acoustic transients released from flares by a graduate student in Romania, Alina-Catalina Donea, under the supervision of Lindsey and Braun. Donea is now at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia.

"It's the first helioseismic diagnostic specifically designed to directly discriminate the depths of the sources it reconstructs, as well as their horizontal locations," Braun said.

"We can't see the sun's inside directly. It is opaque to the photons that show us the sun's outer atmosphere, from where they can escape to reach our telescopes," said co-author Juan Camilo Buitrago-Casas, a University of California, Berkeley, doctoral student in physics from Colombia. "The way we can know what happens inside of the sun is via seismic waves that make ripples on the solar surface similar to those caused by earthquakes on our planet. A big explosion, such as a flare, can inject a powerful acoustic pulse into the sun, whose subsequent signature we can use to map its source in some detail. The big message of this paper is that the source of at least some of this noise is deeply submerged. We are reporting the deepest source of acoustic waves so far known in the sun."

How sunquakes produce ripples on the sun's surface

The acoustic explosions that cause sunquakes in some flares radiate acoustic waves in all directions, primarily downward. As the downward-traveling waves move through regions of ever-increasing temperature, their paths are bent by refraction, ultimately heading back up to the surface, where they create ripples like those seen after throwing a pebble in a pond. The time between the explosion and the arrival of the ripples is about 20 minutes.

"The ripples, then, are not just a surface phenomenon, but the surface signature of waves that have gone deep beneath the active region and then back up to the outlying surface in the succeeding hour," Lindsey said. Analyzing the surface ripples can pinpoint the source of the explosion.

"It has been widely supposed that the waves released by acoustically active flares are injected into the solar interior from above. What we are finding is the strong indication that some of the source is far beneath the photosphere," said Juan Carlos Martinez Oliveros, a solar physics researcher at UC Berkeley's Space Sciences Laboratory and a native of Colombia. "It seems like the flares are the precursor, or trigger, of the acoustic transient released. There is something else happening inside the sun that is generating at least some part of the seismic waves."

"Using an analogy from medicine, what we (solar physicists) were doing before is like using X-rays to look at one snapshot of the interior of the sun. Now, we are trying to do a CAT scan, to view the solar interior in three dimensions," added Martinez Oliveros.

The Colombians, including students Angel Martinez and Valeria Quintero Ortega at Universidad Nacional de Colombia, in Bogota, are co-authors of the ApJ Letters paper with their supervisor, Benjamin Calvo-Mozo, associate professor of astronomy.

"We have known about acoustic waves from flares for a little over 20 years now, and we have been imaging their sources horizontally since that time. But we have only recently discovered that some of those sources are submerged below the solar surface," said Lindsey. "This may help explain a great mystery: Some of these acoustic waves have emanated from locations that are devoid of local surface disturbances that we can directly see in electromagnetic radiation. We have wondered for a long time how this can happen."

A seismically active sun

For more than 50 years, astronomers have known that the sun reverberates with seismic waves, much like the Earth and its steady hum of seismic activity. This activity, which can be detected by the Doppler shift of light emanating from the surface, is understood to be driven by convective storms that form a patchwork of granules about the size of Texas, covering the sun's surface and continually rumbling.

Amid this background noise, magnetic regions can set off violent explosions releasing waves that make the spectacular ripples that then appear on the sun's surface in the succeeding hour, as discovered 24 years ago by astronomers Valentina Zharkova and Alexander Kosovichev.

As more sunquakes have been discovered, flare seismology has blossomed, as have the techniques to explore their mechanics and their possible relationship to the architecture of magnetic flux underlying active regions.

Among the open questions: Which flares do and don't produce sunquakes? Can sunquakes occur without a flare? Why do sunquakes emanate primarily from the edges of sunspots, or penumbrae? Do the weakest flares produce quakes? What is the lower limit?

Until now, most solar flares have been studied as one-offs, since strong flares, even during times of maximum solar activity, may occur only a few times a year. The initial focus was on the largest, or X-class, flares, classified by the intensity of the soft X-rays they emit. Buitrago-Casas, who obtained his bachelor's and master's degrees from Universidad Nacional de Colombia, teamed up with Lindsey and Martinez Oliveros to conduct a systematic survey of relatively weak solar flares to increase their database, for a better understanding of the mechanics of sunquakes.

Of the 75 flares captured between 2010 and 2015 by the RHESSI satellite -- a NASA X-ray satellite designed, built and operated by the Space Sciences Laboratory and retired in 2018 -- 18 produced sunquakes. One of Buitrago-Casas's acoustic transients, the one released by the flare of July 30, 2011, caught the eyes of undergraduate students Martinez, now a graduate student, and Quintero Ortega.

"We gave our student collaborators at the National University the list of flares from our survey. They were the first ones who said, 'Look at this one. It's different! What happened here?'" Buitrago-Casas said. "And so, we found out. It was super exciting!"

Martinez and Quintero Ortega are the first authors on a paper describing the extreme impulsivity of the waves released by that flare of July 30, 2011, that appeared in the May 20, 2020, issue of The Astrophysical Journal Letters. These waves had spectral components that gave the researchers unprecedented spatial resolution of their source distributions.

Thanks to superb data from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory satellite, the team was able to pinpoint the source of the explosion that generated the seismic waves 1,000 kilometers below the photosphere. This is shallow, relative to the sun's radius of nearly 700,000 kilometers, but deeper than any previously known acoustic source in the sun.

A source submerged below the sun's photosphere with its own morphology and no conspicuous directly overlying disturbance in the outer atmosphere suggests that the mechanism that drives the acoustic transient is itself submerged.

"It may work by triggering a compact explosion with its own energy source, like a remotely triggered earthquake," Lindsey said. "The flare above shakes something beneath the surface, and then a very compact unit of submerged energy gets released as acoustic sound," he said. "There is no doubt that the flare is involved, it's just that the existence of this deep compact source suggests the possibility of a separate, distinctive, compact, submerged energy source driving the emission."

About half of the medium-sized solar flares that Buitrago-Casas and Martinez Oliveros have catalogued have been associated with sunquakes, showing that they commonly occur together. The team has since found other submerged sources associated with even weaker flares.

The discovery of submerged acoustic sources opens the question of whether there are instances of acoustic transients being released spontaneously, with no surface disturbance, or no flare, at all.

"If sunquakes can be generated spontaneously in the sun, this might lead us to a forecasting tool, if the transient can come from magnetic flux that has yet to break the sun's surface," Martinez Oliveros said. "We could then anticipate the inevitable subsequent emergence of that magnetic flux. We may even forecast some details about how large an active region is about to appear and what type -- even, possibly, what kinds of flares -- it might produce. This is a long shot, but well worth looking into."

###
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Sept. 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Euro Manganese Inc. (TSX-V/ASX: EMN) (the "Company") today announced that, pursuant to ASX Listing Rule 3.10A, the following restricted securities will be released from escrow:



Security Description Number Date of Release Common Shares 25,770,569 02 October 2020 Options to purchase Common Shares 7,175,000 02 October 2020 Warrants to purchase Common Shares 5,756,750 02 October 2020

A portion of the Common Shares includes 2,816,111 CHESS depositary interests ("CDIs", with each CDI representing one Common Share) which will be quoted on the ASX following release from escrow. The remaining Common Shares, Options and Warrants will not be quoted on the ASX. The Company confirms that some or all of these securities may be quoted on TSX-V in accordance with its rules.

About Euro Manganese Inc.

Euro Manganese Inc. is a Canadian mineral resource company, whose principal focus is advancing the evaluation and development of the Chvaletice Manganese Project, in which it holds a 100% interest. The proposed Project entails re-processing a significant manganese deposit hosted in historic mine tailings, strategically located in the Czech Republic. EMN's goal is to become a leading, competitive and environmentally superior primary producer of Ultra-High-Purity Manganese Products in the heart of Europe, serving both the lithium-ion battery industry, as well as producers of specialty steel and aluminum alloys.

Authorized for release by the CEO of Euro Manganese Inc.

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: Marco A. Romero

President & CEO

+604-681-1010 ext. 101

Fausto Taddei

Vice President Corp. Development & Corp. Secretary

+604-681-1010 ext. 105

E-mail: info@mn25.caWebsite:www.mn25.ca



Company address:

1500 - 1040 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6E 4H8
A Brisbane man who killed his abusive and volatile father during a bitter argument over 'using less water' will walk free from jail after being granted immediate parole.

Timothy Howard McCaffrey, 45, pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court on Tuesday to the manslaughter of his father, David McCaffrey, 69, at Clontarf northeast of Brisbane.

The court was told the father and son had a long history of animosity which boiled over when Mr McCaffrey Snr stormed into the front yard where his son was watering, berating him for using too much water in April, 2018.

The court was told Mr McCaffrey Snr yelled at his son, fuming over the cost and amount of water he was using before going inside and slamming the door to the two-storey home.

Brisbane man Timothy Howard McCaffrey, 45, walked free from the Supreme Court after pleading guilty to manslaughter after pushing his dad down the stairs during an argument (stock image)

The argument continued as Timothy McCaffrey followed his father inside, confronting him on the stairs - yelling 'you deranged bastard' before grabbing his father by the throat.

He then shoved his father causing the older man to stumble, losing his balance and falling backward down the stairs.

Timothy McCaffrey was twice the size of his father who weighed just 54 kilos at the time of the accident.

There was a loud crack when the 69-year-old's head slammed into the concrete at the foot of the stairs, and he 'twitched and squirmed' and stopped breathing.

Timothy McCaffrey performed CPR to revive his father before he was taken to hospital with critical head injuries where he admitted to police 'if he's dead, I'll be happy'.

Mr McCaffrey Snr never regained consciousness and died when his life support was switched off just over 12 hours after the accident.

A psychologist's report found a history of domestic violence within the family, with Timothy, his mother and sister all physically and verbally abused over a 'harrowing' period of more than 40 years.

During a previous assault, Timothy McCaffrey broke several of his father's ribs to stop him physically abusing his mother who was in court to support her son.

The Supreme Court (pictured) heard Mr McCaffrey Snr's head hit the concrete at the base of the stairs and he never regained consciousness before dying in hospital 12 hours later

After his father's death, Timothy McCaffrey said he never intended to kill him.

'I did not mean to kill him, I didn't mean it to happen, it was an accident,' he told police.

He wrote a letter to his father saying 'I forgive you Dad, I hope you can forgive me'.

Justice Thomas Bradley described Mr McCaffrey's death was a 'terrible tragedy', accepting his son could not 'intend or foresee' it would lead to his father's death.

'You had had many decades of living with the knowledge and the consequences of your father's wholly inappropriate acts of violence and intimidation toward your mother, yourself and your sister,' Justice Bradley said.

He imposed a sentence of five years' imprisonment to be immediately suspended with his two-and-a-half years in custody as time served.

His mother wept quietly during the sentence and smiled as the Justice Bradley ordered her son's immediate, telling AAP outside court she was 'thrilled' with the result.
Harpreet Bajwa By

Express News Service

CHANDIGARH: The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) and the Delhi unit of the Shiromani Akali Dal staged a protest near the Pakistan High Commission on Monday over the alleged abduction of a Sikh girl in the neighbouring country. They also submitted a memorandum to the high commission. DSGMC chairman Manjinder Singh Sirsa said that daughter of the head Granthi of Gurdwara Panja Sahib--one of the most sacred sites in Sikhism--was abducted recently in Attock district of Pakistans Punjab province. According to media reports, police have registered a case against unknown abductors after the girls father filed a complaint.

We gave a memorandum to the Pakistan High Commission to get the girl released from her abductors and reunited with her family. The Pakistani authorities have registered a case but that is just a sham as nothing happens afterward. My appeal to all religious bodies is that we should get united and demand the Pakistan government to get the girl reunited with her family as they have been claiming that they protect their minorities. We are not against any religion including Islam but against these kinds of people who abduct girls, Sirsa said.He alleged that about 15 days back, the daughter of Granthi of Gurdwara Panja Sahib was abducted and there is no news of her yet despite her familys repetitive pleas to the authorities in Pakistan.

A DSGMC delegation met an official of the Ministry of External Affairs, demanding that the central government raised the issue of the alleged abduction of Sikh girls in Pakistan. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandak Committee (SGPC) president Gobind Singh Longowal has also sought the intervention of the Ministry of External Affairs to bring justice to the girl and her family.

According to Delhi Police, around 40 to 50 people staged a protest near the Chanakyapuri police station.

According to the sources, Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee officials and the girls family members met the Pakistan Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Noorul Haq Qadri, Minister for Minority Affairs Ijaz Alam Augustine, and chairman of the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) Dr Aamir

Ahmad and apprised them of the situation.
A new process for judging the quality of professional development has made its debut, with the aim of answering a notoriously difficult question: Which PD is high-quality and which isnt?

The Professional Learning Partner Guide got started with little fanfare earlier this month. Its first round of reviews evaluates 16 providers who offer PD in math, English/language arts, and science. Some are curriculum publishers, such as Zearn and Great Minds. Others, such as TNTP, offer PD on other organizations curricula.

Organizations that want to be evaluated had to submit packages of evidence, which typically ranged from 200 to 400 pages, according to PLPG officials. Teams of three evaluators examined each submission, using a 49-page scoring guide to determine if there was sufficient evidence on a range of questions, from the clarity of the programs learning goals to whether the provider is adequately staffed, and has sufficient expertise, to offer the professional learning it specified.

No organization that publishes curricula is included on the new website unless its materials have been green-lighted"met all expectationsfor high-quality curriculum across all grade levels in a given grade band (K-5, 6-8 or 9-12) by the rating program Edreports.org . And no PD provider is included for support on curriculum that has not been similarly green-lighted.

Unlike EdReports.org, which selects publishers to review, the PLPG depends on submissions for reviews. Companies choose to submit materials and services for evaluation.



Jennifer K. Rice, the dean of the University of Marylands College of Education, and an expert on teacher professional development, said an evaluation system like the PLPG has the potential to provide important clarity in a notoriously opaque field.

There are so many providers out there. Its become a cottage industry, she said. Some of it is good, and some of it isnt good. So having the tools to help filter the kind of PD that adheres to best practice could be very important.

A Natural Partner for High-Quality Curriculum

The Professional Learning Partner Guide emerged from a renewed focus in K-12 circles in recent years on the importance of high-quality instructional materials. Many organizations, including the Council of Chief State School Officers and Curriculum Matters , a network of district leaders committed to high-quality curricula, have worked to define and publicize that idea. EdReports.org grew out of that movement, and has become a widely used way to judge curriculum quality.

But there wasnt a similar, national system for evaluating the quality of professional learning, said Annie Morrison, the co-founder of Rivet Education , the K-12 consulting organization that designed the Professional Learning Partner Guide. Morrison and Rivets other co-founder, Litsy Witkowski, both worked at the Louisiana Department of Education, which developed its own criteria for judging PD vendors .

(EdReports.org has come in for its share of criticism. Early on, after it found that most major math curricula didnt align well to the common core, math groups attacked EdReports methodology , saying it produced inaccurate and misleading reviews. EdReports later revised its review process.)

The Professional Learning Partner Guide encourages district leaders to think of PD in four phases. Users of the site can check boxes to find lists of providers whove been approved to offer PD on adopting a new curriculum (eight so far), launching a new curriculum (13), ongoing support for teachers (13), or ongoing support for building or district leaders (13).

Janise Lane, the executive director of teaching and learning in the Baltimore city schools, and a member of the advisory panel for the PLPG, thinks that the phase division is one of the great strengths of the new system.

Most district leaders live from moment to moment, just getting the materials [in a new curriculum] out of the box and making sure everyone knows whats what, she said.

But thinking about how a districts PD needs will change in years two and threeand how teachers, principals, and central-office staffers will each need different things from PDis important and useful, and the marketplace [of PD] doesnt illuminate that for you, she said.

The Role of Curriculum Publishers

Organizers of the new website consider it highly unlikely that curriculum publishers would be approved to provide PD in the first of the four stages: adopting a curriculum, Morrison said.

It would be a hard argument to make that publishers could be objective about adoption advice, she said. But theyve been approved to offer PD for the subsequent stages: curriculum implementation and support.

Some providers werent approved for all phases they applied for, based on the evaluators review of the evidence they submitted, Morrison said. In other cases, curriculum publishers are listed as approved to provide PD only on some of their products because not all have been reviewed by EdReports.org, or perhaps because they received green lights only in specific grades, Morrison said.

The first round of applications for review on the PLPG came from informal outreach, Morrison said. Rivet Education invited publishers it knew would be eligible, based on the EdReports.org ratings of their products, and asked district leaders and K-12 education groups about providers that offer good, curriculum-aligned PD, she said.

The site doesnt currently give providers a numeric or color-coded rating, as its curriculum-evaluation role model, EdReports.org, does. But Morrison said it will add the ratings of its expert evaluators next year, along with user reviews.



The PLPG recruited evaluators nationally, ultimately choosing nine chief academic officers, principals and charter school leaders through an evaluation process that included interviews and performance tasks designed to elicit their experience leading curriculum-aligned PD, Morrison said.

The PLPG will conduct its second review cycle this winter. It remains to be seen how many big-name publishers will submit their materials. EdWeek asked the Association of American Publishers for thoughts on the new venture, but the organization declined to comment.

Photo: An educator reflects on her groups ideas during a professional development day held in Long Beach, Calif., in 2019.
By harnessing diverse current and historical data with space and time dimensions, scientists will be able to better predict and help rural communities respond to the impact of climate change on biodiversity.

In response to a changing climate, populations of plants and animals move to more hospitable locations. Predicting where species will end up, and how New England farmers and rural communities need to plan and adapt accordingly is the focus of a new interdisciplinary research initiative led by the University of Maine.

The National Science Foundation awarded $4 million over four years to the EPSCoR Research Infrastructure project to develop novel approaches and software for modeling, visualizing and forecasting spatial and temporal data. The team -- researchers from UMaine, University of Vermont, University of Maine at Augusta and Champlain College -- will build some of the first mechanistic models of shifts in species ranges in response to climate change.

By harnessing diverse current and historical data with space and time dimensions, scientists will be able to better predict and help rural communities respond to the impact of climate change on biodiversity.

The goal is to better understand how plant and animal species -- from forest plants and wildlife to diseases and their carriers, and agricultural crops -- will respond to a changing climate in the next century. Data science and modeling will help inform farmers' adaptation strategies, according to the research team.

The four-year initiative has multifaceted economic implications for Maine and Vermont, which are both EPSCoR (Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research) states. It will help create a trained workforce and strengthen research in the high-growth field of data science, provide insights to help conserve natural resources critical to livelihoods and cultural identity, and help farmers and other community stakeholders better prepare and manage their crops.

"Climate change is no longer an abstraction for farmers, foresters and others making their living off the land in Maine and Vermont. People are living the change. Scientists urgently need to move from warning about climate change to predicting the detailed nature of the changes we can expect and communicating this effectively to the people who need the information," according to principal investigator Brian McGill, UMaine professor of biological sciences, who has a joint appointment in the Sen. George J. Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions.

Co-principal investigators on the project are Nicholas Gotelli, the George H. Perkins Professor of Zoology, and Meredith Niles, assistant professor of food systems, both at the University of Vermont; Timothy Waring, UMaine associate professor of social-ecological systems modeling, who also is affiliated with the Mitchell Center; and Matthew Dube, assistant professor in computer information systems at the University of Maine at Augusta.

Other members of the research team are Laurent Hebert-Dufresne, UVM assistant professor of computer science; Laura Corlew, UMA associate professor of psychology; and Narine Hall, assistant professor and program director in data science at Champlain College.

Using historical data, Gotelli and McGill will lead development of a new model of how hundreds of species across geographic ranges in the United States will respond to climate change over time. The model seeks to better predict the transient dynamics of species' range shifts, including the effects of human modification of landscapes, for each decade (2030-2120).

Hebert-Dufresne will extend these models to explore the effects of climate change on diseases. This will be the first Eastern U.S. analysis of species of animals, plants, crops and zoonotic diseases, such as Lyme, West Nile and Equine Encephalitis.

"This research brings together experts in biodiversity, disease dynamics, cultural evolution, agriculture and computer science. With this diversity of perspectives, we are excited to begin working together," says Gotelli, who, like McGill, has collaborated extensively in the last 15 years on research related to community ecology and biodiversity response to global change.

Waring will lead development of cultural evolution models of rural community adaptation to climate change. He and his team will explore what social and economic conditions determine how a natural resources-based community adapts to climate-induced change over time, and whether cultural adaptation models coupled with data on species changes can better inform farming practices in the future.

Niles will develop a large-scale spatiotemporal dataset that will focus on and inform farmer adaptation behaviors. The data will include projected range shifts in crops, models of key crop weeds and pathogens, and socioeconomic and demographic information on the rural resource users.

Together, the work of Waring and Niles will be the first to leverage significant ecological and social datasets to study climate adaptation in a spatiotemporal context.

Dube, McGill and Hall aim to increase research capacity, by creating new software tools to make it easy for scientists to work with and analyze the high volumes of spatiotemporal data being generated.

The project also seeks to go beyond producing new research and tools for scientists by developing the communication systems and workforce development needed to effectively create, implement and advance them in the next 100 years.

Led by Corlew, the researchers will work closely with New England farmers to understand what data they need to plan and manage climate change-related shifts in crops that are potentially most viable on their land. The resulting complex data related to climate adaptation ultimately must be communicated effectively to stakeholders and the community. Led by Hall, outreach will include the creation of "tools that make it easy for nonprogrammer scientists to work with and merge diverse formats of spatiotemporal data," note the researchers in their proposal.

The project has significant implications for workforce development in data science, an expanding job market in New England. In addition to building research capacity and expertise at the four higher education institutions, the project will provide curriculum and training in data science at the high school, undergraduate, graduate and faculty levels.

"This project will help to train the future data science workforce in Maine and Vermont, and will build capacity to utilize spatiotemporal data within the existing workforce," according to the research team. "Our workforce development plans extend from high school students to senior faculty members. In addition, our outreach to the agricultural sector will help farmers make more informed decisions that impact their livelihoods, the character of rural communities and the quality of food that is available in Northern New England."

###
Earnhardt Hyundai dealership offers a lineup of like-new certified pre-owned Hyundai vehicles.

Shoppers in the Phoenix and Avondale areas looking to get behind the wheel of an affordable and like-new vehicle may find the certified pre-owned vehicles at Earnhardt Hyundai fit the bill. Earnhardt Hyundai offers local shoppers a variety of new and used vehicles to choose from as well as certified pre-owned options.

The certified pre-owned Hyundai vehicles at Earnhardt Hyundai are in like-new condition and come with a manufacturer-backed warranty. These high-quality used vehicles offer everything shoppers love about Hyundai vehicles at a price that satisfies.

In order to qualify for certified status at Earnhardt Hyundai, used Hyundai vehicles must be no more than five model years old, have a clean and non-branded title and pass a comprehensive 173-point inspection. Vehicle inspections are performed by a member of the certified service staff at Earnhardt Hyundai. These quality assurance inspections check to ensure that all areas of the vehicle are in proper working order and meet the standards set in place.

Earnhardt Hyundai currently has over a dozen certified pre-owned Hyundai vehicles in stock, with options such as the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, Elantra, Tucson, Santa Fe and more.

The Avondale dealership offers No Bull Express online services to make buying a car from home easier than ever. Shoppers can now complete the entire buying process from start to finish online without having to step foot in the dealership or they can begin the process online and finish it in the Earnhardt Hyundai showroom.

Anyone can view the lineup of certified pre-owned Hyundai vehicles at Earnhardt Hyundai by visiting the dealerships website, https://www.earnhardthyundai.com/. Earnhardt Hyundai is located at 10401 W Papago Fwy, Avondale, AZ 85323 and is open seven days a week. Dealership staff can be contacted by phone, 833-331-0148, with any questions.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 22

By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend:

The Azerbaijani army is capable of giving a worthy response to the military provocations of Armenia, Azerbaijans MP, member of the Political Council of the New Azerbaijan Party (NAP), Aydin Huseynov, told Trend.

The MP noted that imitating the negotiations, the Armenian leadership is hindering the peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem, trying to maintain the status quo.

The military provocation committed in July 2020, acts of terror against civilians, the dispatch of a sabotage group in August of this year are a logical continuation of the policy pursued by the Armenian authorities. The goal is to disrupt negotiations, and then blame Azerbaijan and keep the status quo unchanged. But Azerbaijan isnt going to participate in the negotiations for the sake of the process itself, said Huseynov.

For a long time, the Armenian leadership continues its aggressive policy, and, repeatedly committing provocations, disrupting the negotiation process. According to the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev, in the current conditions, absurd statements, provocative steps of the leadership of the occupying state negate the meaning of the negotiations. With his inadequate judgments, Pashinyan makes the negotiation process meaningless," the MP said.

Huseynov added that Azerbaijan will never agree to change the format of the negotiations.

The UN Security Council witnesses that the resolutions adopted by it arent being implemented, that Armenia doesnt recognize the documents on its aggression adopted by the EU, the European Parliament, the Council of Europe, and other international organizations, while the OSCE MG is well aware that the peaceful negotiations arent yielding any results, Huseynov said.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on the withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno Karabakh and the surrounding districts.
A second police officer who was shot while on duty in the Compton area of Los Angeles earlier this month has been released from hospital less than two weeks after the brutal and unprovoked shooting.

Claudia Apolinar, 31, was shot multiple times at close range during a drive-by attack which was caught on video on September 12.

The deputies had been sitting in their patrol car outside a transit center in Compton when a gunman walked up to their vehicle and opened fire.

Claudia Apolinar, 31, before being released from hospital on Monday is pictured writing out answers to President Trump because she cannot speak. She was shot in the head, as was her 24-year-old partner. LA Sheriff's Department shared these photos over the weekend, obscuring her face

The LA County Sherriffs tweeted the great news that both deputies had been released

The LA County deputy was discharged just four days after her 24-year-old male partner was released from St. Francis Medical Center.

Both deputies had only joined the department some 14 months ago.

'Great news,' the LA County Sheriffs Department tweeted.

'Both of our Deputies from the #ComptonAmbush have been discharged from the hospital and are resting. They both have a long road to recover and #LASD appreciates your continued prayers and all the support. #LASDStrong.'

Apolinar was shot multiple times in the torso and in the head. The sheriff's department said she was grateful to hear from Trump. She was discharged from hospital on Monday

Apolinar, a mother to a six-year-old boy, was shot in the jaw in the attack but incredibly was able to make a tourniquet for her partner and radio for help.

Her partner, who was shot in the head during the attack, has not been identified.

In a Facebook post on Saturday, the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department shared photos of Apolinar in her hospital bed as one of her co-workers held up the phone to her so that President Trump could wish her a speedy recovery.

Apolinar with her husband and Sergeant Frederickson (left) and in bed, writing out replies for Frederickson to relay to President Trump because she cannot speak

She is unable to speak so responded by writing down replies for him to relay to the president.

A post by the LA Sheriff's Department said: 'A week ago today, a callous and heartless criminal attempted to murder two of the heroes that work hard everyday to keep you safe.

'The outpouring of love and support from our Department, L.A. County Sheriff, the community, and indeed from around the world, has been overwhelming, but also very much appreciated!

'This week #potus45 @realdonaldtrump called both of our deputies to check on their spirits, wish them a speedy recovery and remind them that the #american people are behind them and that the coward that harmed them will be brought to #justice!!

'Here, you can see @lasdtransit Sergeant Frederickson with our #heroine and her husband when the President called her in the ICU. Due to her injuries, Sergeant Frederickson relayed her written responses to #presidenttrump.

The pair were shot when a gunman (left opening fire and right fleeing the scene) opened fire into a patrol car in Compton on Saturday night. Both deputies were struck in the head by gunshots, but miraculously they are expected to survive

Along with the male deputy, 31-year-old deputy Claudia Apolinar was injured in the ambush. Despite taking multiple bullets  one to the face and several to her upper torso  Apolinar managed to get her partner to safety, apply a tourniquet and radio for help

Authorities said that the deputies, who both graduated from the police academy 14 months ago, each sustained multiple gunshot wounds. Apolinar is pictured during her graduation

'Both of the deputies and their families were very appreciative of the call!'

Trump previously said the shooter should face a 'fast trial death penalty' if either of the deputies died.

It's unclear what the gunman's motive for attacking the pair was beyond the fact that they are police. The shooter has been described as a black male aged between 28 and 30.

Police have not yet identified a suspect in the case however a reward that leads to the capture of the person responsible that had initially been set at $100,000 has now risen to $500,000 thanks to contributions from a number of sources.

The Compton shooting sparked nationwide controversy as bystanders were filmed mocking the bloodied officers at the scene and protesting outside the hospital where they were taken for treatment.

The videos of protesters enraged many critics who said the shooting was the result of anti-police sentiment fueled by a turbulent summer of demonstrations against police brutality.

Trump has taken a firm law and order stance.
DUBLIN, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Loyalty Management Market Research Report by Type, by Function, by Vertical, by Deployment - Global Forecast to 2025 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The Global Loyalty Management Market is expected to grow from USD 5,611.76 Million in 2019 to USD 9,268.50 Million by the end of 2025 at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 8.72%.

This report forecasts revenues and analyzes trends in each of the following sub-markets:

On the basis of Type, the Loyalty Management Market is examined across Managed and Standalone.

On the basis of Solution, the Loyalty Management Market is examined across B2B, B2C, and Corporate.

On the basis of Function, the Loyalty Management Market is examined across Channel Loyalty, Customer Loyalty, and Customer Retention.

On the basis of Vertical, the Loyalty Management Market is examined across Automotive & Transport, Business & Finance, Chemicals & Materials, Consumer Goods & Services, Energy & Natural Resources, Food & Beverage, Government & Public Sector, Healthcare, Manufacturing & Construction, Military Aerospace & Defense, Pharmaceuticals, and Telecommunications & Computing.

On the basis of Deployment, the Loyalty Management Market is examined across On-Cloud and On-Premise.

On the basis of Geography, the Loyalty Management Market is examined across Americas, Asia-Pacific , and Europe , Middle East & Africa . The Americas region is examined across Argentina , Brazil , Canada , Mexico , and United States . The Asia-Pacific region is examined across Australia , China , India , Indonesia , Japan , Malaysia , Philippines , South Korea , and Thailand . The Europe , Middle East & Africa region is examined across France , Germany , Italy , Netherlands , Qatar , Russia , Saudi Arabia , South Africa , Spain , United Arab Emirates , and United Kingdom .

The report explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Loyalty Management Market including Aimia Inc., Antavo, Blueocean, Bond Brand Loyalty, Capillary, Epsilon Data Management LLC, Fidelity Information Services Inc., Fidelity Information Services Inc., ICF Next, International Business Machine Corporation, Kobie Marketing, Inc., Martiz Holdings Inc., Oracle Corporation, SAP SE, and TIBCO Software.



The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Loyalty Management Market on the basis of Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape.



The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies. It helps the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. During a forecast period, it defines the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth.



COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, so for and, the long-term effects projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. Ongoing research amplifies the research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlaying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report is delivering insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecast, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market.



The report provides insights on the following:



1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information offered by the key players

2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyzes the markets

3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments

4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players

5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and new product developments



Key Topics Covered:



1. Preface



2. Research Methodology



3. Executive Summary



4. Market Overview



5. Market Dynamics



6. Market Insights



7. Global Loyalty Management Market, By Type



8. Global Loyalty Management Market, By Solution



9. Global Loyalty Management Market, By Function



10. Global Loyalty Management Market, By Vertical



11. Global Loyalty Management Market, By Deployment



12. Americas Loyalty Management Market



13. Asia-Pacific Loyalty Management Market



14. Europe, Middle East & Africa Loyalty Management Market



15. Competitive Landscape



16. Company Usability Profiles



Companies Mentioned

Aimia Inc.

Antavo

Blueocean

Bond Brand Loyalty

Capillary

Epsilon Data Management LLC

Fidelity Information Services Inc.

Fidelity Information Services Inc.

ICF Next

International Business Machine Corporation

Kobie Marketing, Inc.

Martiz Holdings Inc.

Oracle Corporation

SAP SE

TIBCO Software

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/drgew7

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.

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Just because the Native Americans live in more desolate areas, have less resources available ... does not justify having it be harder for them to vote based on their geography, he said.

He said the shorter time they have to return their ballots isnt their fault.

They have done nothing to impact their opportunity other than to live on the lands that have been their tribal lands forever, essentially, he said. And that should not be some reason they lose the opportunity to have their votes counted.

Secretary of State Katie Hobbs is asking Snow to dismiss the lawsuit.

Hobbs attorneys did not dispute that mailings from many reservation addresses take longer. But Marty Harper, one of her lawyers, said this has nothing to do with actions by the state  or the requirement for ballots to be in the hands of county officials by 7 p.m. on Election Day to be counted.
Mumbai, Sep 22: The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), probing the alleged Bollywood-drug nexus, might summon actress Deepika Padukone if needed, while it again questioned actor Sushant Singh Rajputs talent manager Jaya Saha on Tuesday, officials said. NCB sources said some WhatsApp conversations purportedly discussing drugs are on the radar of the agency.

Some of these chats were purportedly between Padukones manager Karishma Prakash and one D", they said. An official said the NCB might also summon actors Rakul Preet Singh and Sara Ali Khan, and designer Simone Khambatta this week.

The central anti-drugs agency has already summoned Karishma Prakash and KWAN talent management agencys CEO Dhurv Chitgopekar, but the former could not appear before the agency on Tuesday due to ill-health. The NCB will first question Karishma Prakash and might summon actor Deepika Padukone if needed," the official said.

During the NCBs investigation into the drugs angle in Rajputs death case, a wider drugs nexus in Bollywood surfaced. Meanwhile, Rajputs talent manager Jaya Saha was questioned by the NCB for the second consecutive day on Tuesday and has been called again on Wednesday, another official said.

She was quizzed by the NCB in connection with alleged Bollywood-drugs nexus and later allowed to go home, he said. Padukones manager Prakash, who was summoned to join the investigation, did not appear before the NCB on Tuesday due to ill-health, the official said.

Prakash has been exempted from appearance before the anti-drug agency till Friday, he said. Rajputs former manager Shruti Modi will be called for questioning on Thursday, the official said.

The drug law enforcement agency has so far arrested more than 12 people, including Rajputs girlfriend and actress Rhea Chakraborty and her brother Showik, in connection with its probe linked to the case of the actors death. Rajput (34) was found hanging at his home in suburban Bandra on June 14.
Here's another glimpse at the ongoing devastation of local small biz and a sign that the economic impact of the plague is very real whilst pundits and amateur Internets doctors debate the epidemiological implications. Checkit:



Independent Restaurants In Kansas City Are Closing Because Of The Coronavirus Pandemic The list of restaurants closing will get longer as patio dining becomes less of an option in the fall and winter, predicts restaurant critic Liz Cook.
California has forgotten the lessons of the pandemics brief history all too quickly.

Improving coronavirus case counts could allow Riverside County to reopen some businesses as soon as Tuesday under Gov. Gavin Newsoms second, more cautious attempt at resuming economic activity. But thats not enough for at least one county supervisor, who is calling for a swifter reopening on the grounds that the region must take responsibility for our own well-being.

San Diego County, meanwhile, is considering suing the governor, one flash point being local officials nonsensical contention that coronavirus cases at San Diego State University shouldnt count toward the countys total. The argument echoes efforts in Marin, Tulare and other counties to separate outbreaks in prisons, nursing homes and other institutions from local statistics as if California and its subdivisions were a collection of warring city-states.

But local officials who truly care about their constituents well-being should be able to find better uses of their time than engaging in creative epidemiological accounting or casting Newsom as a one-man barrier to an economic revival that is unlikely under the circumstances.

The governors reopening plan is relatively cautious partly because he has already tried the alternative, a rapid spring reopening that touched off a surge of infections. It nevertheless allows counties to phase in most business activity provided they can improve on just two crucial metrics: the number of confirmed coronavirus cases per capita and the share of tests yielding positive results. Testing and contact tracing benchmarks, albeit crucial to containing outbreaks, no longer need to be met.

Counties eager to return to more of a semblance of normalcy, as we all are, should nevertheless bolster testing and tracing, as well as education on and enforcement of mask-wearing and social distancing. That is the only way to ramp up commerce without bringing on a wave of illness that will close businesses again regardless of the will of the governor or any other politician.

Local officials arent alone in targeting the governor instead of the virus. Churches, hotels, salons, gun shops, gyms, vintners, yogis and even a frustrated bride-to-be have sued Newsom and other state officials for shutting them down. And yet nearly 15,000 Californians and 200,000 Americans have perished of coronavirus-related causes amid this chafing at supposedly draconian antiviral measures.

The pandemic and the associated downturn have caused too much economic, social and personal pain, and the governors reversals of course have caused plenty of confusion. But no one should mistake one for the other.

Containing an insidious, infectious and all too often deadly virus, especially while abandoning the measures that slowed its spread, is no easy task. But it is the task before our governments, national, state and local alike, whether or not they choose to undertake it or turn on each other.

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.
Syracuse, N.Y.  City and county leaders today will urge local residents to get counted before census takers finish up their work, which could happen as soon as Sept. 30.

A squadron of elected officials led by Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh and Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon will make the pitch at a news conference at 4 p.m. today on the southwest side of Syracuse. After the event, Walsh and city officials will walk the neighborhood accompanied by census takers.

The once-a-decade head count of every U.S. resident helps determine how $1.5 trillion in federal funding is distributed annually to states, local governments, nonprofits and even households, according to a recent report from George Washington University.

Census numbers determine how much money Central New York gets for schools, Medicaid, road repairs, business loans, Head Start and dozens of other purposes, said Tory Russo, Syracuses census coordinator. The census also determines how many congressional seats each state gets.

"If were under-counted, that means were under-funded and under-represented for the next decade,'' Russo said.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the counting in New York state is 96.3% complete. But participation rates have varied by neighborhood, and local officials want to make sure everyone gets counted.

Census takers are going door to door to contact people who have not yet responded to the census on their own. There are 1,627 census takers currently working in the 14-county region that includes Syracuse, said Jeff Behler, the northeast regional director for the Census Bureau. They are focusing on areas with the most households that have yet to be contacted, he said.

"We will knock on every door ... multiple times,'' Behler said.

There also is still time for people to fill out the census online or over the phone (call 844-330-2020), or to mail back a census form received by mail.

City and county officials will hold the news conference today at the corner of Bradley and Elliott streets. City councilors, county legislators and Behler, the census regional director, also will attend.

As of today, the deadline to complete the census is still up in the air. Census officials had planned to wrap up the work Sept. 30, and local officials assume that is the likely deadline. But a federal judge in California is considering arguments today on whether to extend the deadline until Oct. 31.

News tips? Contact reporter Tim Knauss of syracuse.com/The Post-Standard: email | Twitter | | 315-470-3023
Palestine was meant to chair Arab League meetings for next six months, but FM Riyad al-Maliki has declined the position.

Palestine has quit its current chairmanship of Arab League meetings, the Palestinian foreign minister said on Tuesday, condemning as dishonourable any Arab agreement to establish formal ties with Israel.

Palestinians see the deals that the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain signed with Israel in Washington a week ago as a betrayal of their cause and a blow to their quest for an independent state in Israeli-occupied territory.

Earlier this month, the Palestinians failed to persuade the Arab League to condemn nations breaking ranks and normalising relations with Israel.

Palestine was supposed to chair Arab League meetings for the next six months, but Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki told a news conference in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah that it no longer wanted the position.

Palestine has decided to concede its right to chair the Leagues council [of foreign ministers] at its current session. There is no honour in seeing Arabs rush towards normalisation during its presidency, Maliki said.

In his remarks, he did not specifically name the UAE and Bahrain, Gulf Arab countries that share with Israel concern over Iran. He said Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit had been informed of the Palestinian decision.





The Palestinian leadership wants an independent state based on the de facto borders before the 1967 war, in which Israel occupied the West Bank and the Gaza Strip and annexed East Jerusalem.

Arab countries have long called for Israels withdrawal from illegally occupied land, a just solution for Palestinian refugees and a settlement that leads to the establishment of a viable, independent Palestinian state, in exchange for establishing ties with it.

In a new move addressing internal Palestinian divisions, officials from West Bank-based President Mahmoud Abbass Fatah faction and the Gaza-based Hamas movement were due to hold reconciliation talks in Turkey on Tuesday.

Hamas seized the Gaza Strip in 2007 from Fatah forces during a brief round of fighting. Differences over power-sharing have delayed implementation of unity deals agreed since then.
LONDON, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Prime Land Real Estate is a real estate Development Company based in Doha, Qatar. The company and its CEO, Eng. Fadi Kreiker, have both been honoured in the Business Worldwide Magazine 2020 Awards, winning a GCC Business Excellence Award and CEO Award respectively.

The 2020 GCC Business Excellence Awards honour organisations behind innovations and inspirations driving increased growth and development to their sector in this dynamic region. Prime was the outright winner in the category 'Best Real Estate Developer - GCC'.

The CEO Awards focus on those at the heads of organisations; using their achievements and exceptional leadership skills to inspire and motivate others. Fadi Kreiker was named 'Best Group CEO in the Real Estate Industry - Global'.

This follows a number of other accolades for Prime Land Real Estate, which focuses on building a portfolio of architecture to benefit the Prime Lands and their communities. Launched in 2006 as part of the Prime Lands Group, the company has enjoyed unrivalled success and continues to go from strength to strength. Not only it established itself as a dynamic, progressive enterprise, it's now one of the leading privately-owned groups within the alliance participatory countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Fadi and his team were inspired by the Qatar National Vision 2030, which set out a set of strategic goals specifically created to improve the quality of life in Qatar. He explained to Business Worldwide Magazine, "The Real Estate branch of our group has from its inception been committed to significantly contribute to the enrichment of our community and the general quality of life for the population of our country. We achieve this through developing urban projects that are modern, innovative and accessible, and that speak of the traditions and customs that not only make our country so unique, but are particularly close to our hearts."

To read more about the company's story so far and plans for the future, visit www.primelands.qa

For more details about the Business Worldwide Magazine Awards, visit https://www.bwmonline.com/awards

For more information visit: http://www.bwmonline.com

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Indeed, an analysis from the Washington D.C.-based American Association for the Advancement of Science confirms that federal research and development (R&D) spending as a percent of GDP is 0.7% in the government's fiscal year 2020, and has been trending lower since the 1970s.

"There's a problem. Science funding in the United States is at a low point. In fact, it's the lowest it's been since 1957. Only 0.7% of our [gross domestic product] is spent on federal research and development," Schmidt continued. "For context, science funding hasn't been that low since before Sputnik." (Sputnik was the "world's first artificial satellite," launched by the Soviet Union on October 4, 1957.)

"Let's imagine a future pandemic  I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but there will certainly be one. And let's imagine that a global competitor, such as China, not only invents the solution, but keeps it to themselves," former Google CEO Eric Schmidt wrote in a Medium blog post on September 14 , published alongside his new podcast, Reimagine with Eric Schmidt . "How would we feel?"

What the U.S. needs is for the federal government to spend more money on science, according to several billionaire tech leaders.

This is a crisis that even the titans of technology and innovation say they're not able to fix on their own.

The American Association for the Advancement of Science Research and Development Budget and Policy Program

(Chart: The American Association for the Advancement of Science Research and Development Budget and Policy Program)

"While some corporations are trying to make up the gap, there's no alternative for long-term, stable, federal and state funding for our universities  Science needs our support for society to thrive," Schmidt wrote.

As to where the federal funding ought to come from, Schmidt says that's a job for lawmakers. "Federal R&D funding (as a percentage of GDP) has declined since the 1960s, so the U.S. should be focused on restoring our commitment to R&D  a minor increase in the context of our total federal budget," Schmidt tells CNBC Make It, via a spokesperson. "Developing that budget is the job of the President, the [Office of Management and Budget] Director, and the Congress."

Schmidt did say, however, that "one possible model that has had bipartisan support is the 21st Century Cures Act." In that instance, "we saw both Democrats and Republicans identify offsets to pay for a 10-year increase in the [National Institutes of Health] budget." (When the government identifies areas it wants to increase spending in, it must also find places in the federal budget to cut the budget, and that reduction in funding from one place to pay for the spending elsewhere is called an "offset" on Capitol Hill among lawmakers.)

On Sept. 15, Breakthrough Energy Ventures published a report also touching on the importance of investing federal money into R&D to avoid further climate change disasters. Breakthrough Energy Ventures, which invests in energy innovation, is backed by the world's top business leaders, including Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, Michael Bloomberg, Richard Branson, Ray Dalio, Reid Hoffman and Jack Ma.

"If we want to avoid a climate disaster, we need a technological transformation on a scale and at a speed we haven't yet seen," Gates said in a statement in the report. "That's going to take governments, researchers, public and private institutions working together and investing in the innovations we need to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions."

"When it comes to R&D," the Microsoft co-founder noted, "it's hard to overstate the importance of public investment."

"Government funding is especially important to ensure scientists have the space and the freedom they need to test out bold new ideas and keep working on the ones that have the most promise for the future," he continued. "That kind of risk-tolerant commitment is how we developed lifesaving vaccines and disease treatments, made revolutionary breakthroughs like the information technology that led to the Internet, and what put people on the moon more than 50 years ago."

Meanwhile, government investment in science spurs economic activity, according to an analysis by PricewaterhouseCoopers (commissioned by Breakthrough Energy Ventures).

"In 2018, federal funding of $131 billion for R&D investment directly provided 445,800 jobs for American workers, paid $50.9 billion in wages, salaries and fringe benefits and proprietors' income, and generated $70.6 billion in GDP and $13.0 billion in tax payments to federal, state, and local governments," the analysis showed.

Further, a small increase in R&D spending would have a tremendous impact on the economy, PricewaterhouseCoopers found: "Estimating economic impacts under a scenario in which federal funding for R&D investment grows from 0.6% of GDP in 2018 to 1.0% of GDP in 2030, we find federal R&D investment would directly and indirectly support 2.7 million annual jobs on average over the period 2021 to 2030, and cumulatively support $2.3 trillion of labor income, $3.7 trillion in value added, and $622.9 billion in tax payments."

To the idea that the federal government should be investing more heavily in R&D, a White House spokesperson did not comment by the time this story was published.

On Sept. 14., however, President Donald Trump challenged the idea of climate change during a meeting with Wade Crowfoot, California's secretary for natural resource.

"It'll start getting cooler. You just watch," Trump said. Crowfoot responded, "I wish science agreed with you."

To this, Trump challenged the validity of science: "OK, well, I don't think science knows, actually."

See also:
When we are cooped up at home, the walls begin to close in. Suddenly, that creaky stair becomes really annoying. That window, always cranky, is sticking even more. Blinds close only halfway, and the patio door jumps its track. Outside, the soffit on one side is hanging loose.

Then theres the kitchen -- instead of dealing with a recalcitrant oven, weve been ordering meals to be delivered. And the bath -- the walls are losing tiles, and the hot water comes in a puny dribble. Repairs and renovations in both the bathroom and the kitchen are overdue.

Its time to tackle problems. Before winter sets in, hire some experts. They have the tools and the experience to fix and change all those months of neglect. Procrastination be gone. Get it done.



Since the establishment of the business, the guiding principle has always been complete customer satisfaction, says Gary Shiman. All three generations of owners have lived, worked, and raised families in New Jersey. This is our home too!

Gary is one of the owners of Bellari, one of New Jerseys premier remodelers of homes and other structures. The company is based in Branchburg and it serves communities from the Hudson River to the Delaware River.

Bellari offers a wide variety of design and craftsmanship. This company offers windows, doors, siding, roofing, decking, sunrooms, awnings, basements and additions -- just about anything your home might need. Experts can help you plan and remodel kitchens and baths, including electrical and plumbing needs. And they handle all the permits required.

We specialize in sourcing products that have years of life, adds Gary. Many of their customers are homeowners whose parents contracted with the original company.

Bellari is a third generation business that traces its beginning back to 1950. That was when Max Gropper began selling aluminum storm windows in downtown Somerville. He called the company Somerville Aluminum.

The operation has grown substantially over the intervening years. In 2013, the company moved into a larger 15,000-square-foot showroom and design center in Branchburg.

Branchburg-based Bellari is ranked among the top 100 remodeling firms in the nation by Qualified Remodeler.Courtesy Belari

Our organization is extremely appreciative to all those hometown heroes who have always worked hard to help our community and keep us all safe, especially during the pandemic, explains Gary. People are working on the front lines to take care of us, and we are honored to help with needed repairs at their homes to help take care of them.

The company has pledged to help one deserving local hero every month with a project at home. The initiative kicked off in April when Bellari replaced the back steps for Jennifer and David Smith, a Branchburg couple. The two of them work in healthcare and law enforcement, and both of them experienced increased intensity in their professions during the pandemic, according to Gary.

Bellari also proudly supports Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, in its Healing Homes initiative, explains Gary. The Healing Homes initiative offers housing for up to 24 months for an individual or family in Somerset County who has a chronic or acute health condition that causes financial hardship and leaves them unable to afford housing and/or the basic cost of living.

Windows and doors are our roots and will always be the backbone of our business, Gary continues. And we have grown our breadth of offerings to provide everything a homeowner could possibly need. And we continue to take pride in providing the exceptional service and premium products, across the board, that our customers have come to expect.

Bellari is celebrating 70 years in business. For more information, call 908-300-3670 and visit the website at BellariNJ.com. Also, see Facebook, Instagram and other social media. Company headquarters and showrooms are located at 20 County Line Road, Branchburg. Hours are Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Saturdays by appointment.



Before embarking on a major renovation, it can be useful to see how a contractor performs on a smaller job. A worker repairing the soffit hanging loose under the eave can give you the confidence to hire the firm for that larger renovation you have in mind.

Mark Schneider has many years experience helping homeowners with jobs both small and large. He operates Handyman On Call.

I specialize in small jobs, and Ive found that these can lead to larger jobs, Mark says.

He will repair doors, replace moldings, clean gutters, repair decks, touch up painting and repair the treads and risers on those squeaky stairs. If you like, he will even hang pictures and change out light bulbs. How about adding shelving in the basement or garage?

For these smaller jobs, hell travel about 7 miles from his base in Annandale. Estimates are free and flexible--according to materials and scheduling.

Hes been in the business for some 35 years, he explains. So theres not much he hasnt seen, repaired, replaced, or otherwise put back in shape--or renovated. He will also work with homeowners to remodel kitchens, baths, and basements.

Mark posts some free Do-It-Yourself Tips on his website, HandymanOnCallNJ.com. Or, call him at 908-437-8856.

Al Warr may be reached at 610-253-0432 or AlWarr16@gmail.com.
A vacant property at 12 Clarice Road sold for $1,625,000. Gorman Commercials Dean Alexander said the deal showed the strength of the market despite COVID-19 restrictions as it sold at a building rate of $2625 per sq m. Dandenong South Two brothers who run a plumbing and electrical business have swooped on a 276 sq m warehouse at 3/1 Bungaleen Court, paying $1576 per sq m. Crabtrees Real Estates Megan Miles and Andrew Loudon negotiated the deal for the property, which is leased at $3000 per month on a short-term tenancy. Brighton A developer has paid $1.5 million during lockdown for a retail/office property that was on the market for nearly two years via six different agents. Teska Carsons George Takis, who brokered the deal with Michael Ludski, said 415 Bay Street ultimately sold with vacant possession to a buyer who viewed it via a video walk-through.

Cheltenham An office/warehouse at 3/132 Keys Road has transacted on a tight 5.1 per cent yield. The property, returning rent of $70,922.64 per annum net, sold through CVAs Daniel Philip and John Nockles for $1,385,000. Richmond Two owner-occupiers purchased two strata office suites off the plan in MABs development at 43-57 Blazey Street for a combined price of $1,211,500 plus GST. The development is attracting inquiry from CBD-based professionals, Knight Franks Matthew Romanin and Nick Bisset said. It sold in conjunction with Colliers' Ted Dwyer and Chris Ling. Colac

It might be occupied by Cheap as Chips, but a large 1868 sq m showroom at 173-183 Murray Street sold for $3.72 million on a yield of 7.4 per cent. Occupied by the national retailer, the 2460 sq m site in the heart of Colac sold through Savills Australias Rick Silberman and Steven Lerche. Elwood An office/shop at 3/201 Ormond Road sold to an owner-occupier for $405,000, Philip Prowse from Prowse Burns Commercial said. LEASES Hawthorn

Foodies are taking smaller retail spaces as demand for takeaway and home delivery booms. Fitzroys Tom Fisher has leased a 35 sq m space in the Lido Cinemas complex at 679 Glenferrie Road to the Cookie Box in a 3+3-year deal at rent around $1300 per sq m. A short distance away, at 642 Glenferrie Road, 99 Pancakes signed a 4+4-year lease at $42,000 per annum for a fitted 50 sq m corner space. Box Hill Poly Global has leased a 284 sq m Box Hill office from South Haven, paying $380 per sq under a three-year lease. Just minutes from Box Hill Central, Poly will use the office as a display suite for its new nearby mixed-use project, Colliers Internationals Ash Dean, John Howell and Damien Adkins said. Kew East Aged care services provider Promptcare has taken a three-year lease in a 427 sq m ground floor office at 722 High Street. Gorman Commercials Richard Height said Promptcare was searching for larger ground floor space close to its current office.

South Yarra A fitted 150 sq m property at 151 Commercial Road has been leased to a Mediterranean eatery at $55,000 per annum plus outgoings and GST, on a 4+4-year term, said Lewis Waddell from Fitzroys. Hawthorn An MP has taken a five-year lease over a ground floor office at 197 Riversdale Road. Gorman Commercials Richard Height transacted the deal. Malvern
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention abruptly removed new guidance saying that the coronavirus spreads via aerosols from its website yesterday, drawing a fresh barrage of criticism.

The big picture: Concerns about the CDC's competence and politicization have only grown as the pandemic rages on.

Driving the news: The agency posted in a note on its website saying the guidance that acknowledged airborne transmission was only a draft, and had been published in error.

The update came months after scientists pushed for the agency to acknowledge the disease can spread through the air.

"CDC is currently updating its recommendations regarding airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19). Once this process has been completed, the update language will be posted," the website now states.

Between the lines: The agency only last week reversed controversial guidance that said asymptomatic people don't need to be tested for the virus, after the New York Times reported that the guidance wasn't written by CDC scientists and was posted over their objections.

And on Friday, the NYT reported that two former top Health and Human Services officials "tried to browbeat career officials at the C.D.C. at the height of the pandemic, challenging the science behind their public statements and trying to silence agency staff."

Criticism of the agency began right at the onset of the pandemic, when it produced a faulty diagnostic test that ultimately prevented the U.S. from catching the spread of the virus early on.

My thought bubble: The CDC is one of many institutions on the receiving end of scathing criticism for its handling of the pandemic. But it's a jarring about-face for an agency once globally admired and generally considered immune from political interference.

What they're saying: The consistent inconsistency in this administrations guidance on COVID-19 has severely compromised the nations trust in our public health agencies," said Howard Koh, a top health official in the Obama administration, in a statement.

"During the greatest public health emergency in a century, trust in public health is essential  without it, this pandemic could go on indefinitely."

The other side: As with any HHS agency, we expect the CDC to lead with science and data and communicate transparently and accurately with the American people," said an HHS spokesperson.
'Today, I am taking new actions to restrict Iran's nuclear, ballistic missile, and conventional weapons pursuits. My Administration will never allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon, nor will we allow Iran to endanger the rest of the world with a fresh supply of ballistic missiles and conventional arms,' Trump said in a statement.

New York : United States President Donald Trump on Monday restored the United Nations arms embargo on Iran and imposed sweeping new sanctions against Tehran, targeting Iran-related conventional arms transfers, several high-profile individuals and government bodies.

Trump said he has issued a new Executive Order, restoring United Nations sanctions on Iran, and imposing new sanctions and export controls on more than two dozen entities and individuals that support Iran's nuclear, missile, and conventional arms-related activities.

The executive order blocks the property, and interests in property, in the US of those who contribute to the supply, sale, or transfer of conventional arms to or from Iran, as well as those who provide technical training, financial support and services, and other assistance related to these arms.

Noting that this executive order is critical to enforcing the UN arms embargo on Iran, Trump said that this order will greatly diminish the Iranian regime's capacity to export arms to terrorists and dangerous actors throughout the region, as well as its ability to acquire weapons to build up its own forces.

Trump said that his administration is also imposing new sanctions and export control measures on 27 entities and individuals connected to Iran's proliferation networks.

These actions target the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran for its role in Iran's nuclear escalation, the Iranian missile organisation Shahid Hemmat Industrial Group for facilitating ballistic missile development, and two Iranian entities for their involvement in the transfer and acquisition of conventional arms, he said.

Trump said that the Iranian regime has repeatedly lied about its secret nuclear weapons archive and denied access to international inspectors, further exposing the deep flaws of the last administration's failed nuclear deal from which he withdrew the United States.

'The world cannot afford to sit idly by as Iran builds a nuclear weapon. My Administration is restoring these sanctions as part of our efforts to ensure that never happens,' he said, asserting that his actions send a clear message to the Iranian regime and those in the international community who refuse to stand up to Iran.

'The United States will not allow the Iranian regime to further advance capabilities to directly threaten and terrorise the rest of the world,' he said.

Trump said the Iranian 'regime must change its behaviour if it hopes to provide what the Iranian people so desperately want and deserve: a thriving and prosperous Iran'.

At a press conference, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that he has sanctioned the Iranian Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics, an Iran's defense industries organization and its director.

'We (are) also sanctioning the previous President Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro. For nearly 2 years corrupt officials in Tehran have worked with the illegitimate regime in Venezuela to flout the UN arms embargo. Our actions today are a warning they should be heard worldwide.

'No matter who you are if you violate the UN arms embargo on Iran you risk sanctions,' he said.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said that his department has designated entities that support Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs and senior officials overseeing Iran's nuclear power ballistic missile development.

'A number of our targets today are affiliated with the atomic energy organisation of Iran, which has operational and regulatory control over the nuclear program and bears responsibility for nuclear research and development,' he said.

Defence Secretary Mark Esper told reporters that over the past two years, Tehran has carried out attacks on international shipping, regional infrastructure, and on US and partner nation forces.

Moreover, Iran has violated UN Security Council resolutions for years by proliferating advanced conventional weapons to nonstate actors such as Hezbollah and the Houthis, who use them to threaten civilian population centers, he alleged.

'We stand ready to respond to future Iranian aggression, and we remain committed to doing our part in the administration's maximum pressure campaign,' he said.

Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross announced that his department is adding five Iranian scientists to the entity list for enabling or assisting Iran's nuclear development program.

These five individuals played a critical role in Iran's nuclear weapons development program and continue to work for the Iranian regime, he said.

US National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien said that the president has taken decisive action to restrict Iran's access to nuclear technology, ballistic missile technology, and conventional weapons because UN Security Council has sadly failed in its mission to promote international peace and security by not extending the conventional arms embargo on Iran.

'Iran should join its neighbours who are embracing a better future based on progress, shared interest, and shared goals. The president has made it clear that if Iran is willing to choose the path of peace, America will walk beside it,' he said, referring to the Abraham accord - a peace agreement inked between Israel and two Arab states, Bahrain and the UAE.
Famous for its most breathtaking rice terraces, Mu Cang Chai in the northern mountainous province of Yen Bai is a reputable name repeated among travel lovers and photographers,

especially at the end of September and early October - the best time for capturing the most beautiful landscapes of stepped rice fields in the mountainous district.

End of September and early October is the best time for capturing the most beautiful landscapes of stepped rice fields in Mu Cang Chai. Photos: VNA Visitors find it fascinating to take an exhilarating ride on paragliders to enjoy the stunning views of Mu Cang Chai District, Yen Bai Province.

Lim Mong and Lim Thai Villages of Cao Pha Commune attract tourists by impressive landsacpes. Trips to Mu Cang Chai are great journeys not only to admire the impressive landscapes of Mu Cang Chais terraced rice fields  the most beautiful ones in the world, but also to get great insights of local ethnics' cultures.

Everywhere in Mu Cang Chai are rice terraces of multi-layers that create picturesque Mu Cang Chai landscapes. Mu Cang Chai terraced fields have long been well-known and considered a must-visit place for tourists to the northwestern region of Vietnam. These are the terraced fields on mountain slopes, which cover an area of about 2,200 hectares in the three communes of La Pan Tan, Che Cu Nha and De Xu Phinh in Mu Cang Chai District.

Most recently, this famous scenic spot has been recognised by the Prime Minister as a special national relic together with some other reputable heritages. Local people in harvesting season.

In the ripe rice season, terraced fields look like golden waves winding on the middle of high hills. Local people in harvesting season. Photos: VNA

VNA

Ripening rice fields in Vietnam's northwestern region Ripening rice terraced fields are one of Vietnams northwestern region most special attractions at this time of the year as autumn nears.
Navies of and will carry out a two-day mega exercise in the Region beginning Wednesday that will involve a range of complex naval manoeuvres, anti-aircraft drills and helicopter operations, officials said.

The exercise comes in the midst of India's tense border row with China and in the backdrop of growing activities by the Chinese navy in the Region.

"The exercise is aimed at enhancing interoperability, improving understanding and imbibing best practices from each other. It would involve advanced surface and anti-air exercises including weapon firings, seamanship exercises, naval manoeuvres and cross deck flying operations," a Navy spokesperson said.

It will be the fourth major military drill by the Indian Navy since June. It has already carried out similar exercises with the navies of the US, Japan and Russia.

HMAS Hobart, the lead ship of the Hobart-class air warfare destroyers, will be among the assets to be deployed in the exercise by the Royal Australian Navy, officials said, adding Indian Navy ships Sahyadri and Karmuk will be part of Indian platforms.

"The exercise, which is in keeping with the strong bond shared by the two navies, would be another step towards strengthening Indo- defence relations and the continued efforts of both governments to work closely to enhance safety and security of the global commons," the Navy spokesperson said.

He said the two navies have built a robust relationship through regular exercises.

Earlier this month, navies of and Russia carried out an exercise in the Bay of Bengal.

In July, the Indian Navy carried out a military exercise with a US Navy carrier strike group led by the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz off the coast of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The USS Nimitz is the world's largest warship.

In the exercise with the US Navy, four frontline warships of the Indian Navy participated. The US carrier strike group was transiting through the Region on its way from the South China Sea.

The US Navy carrier strike group comprises USS Nimitz, Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Sterett and USS Ralph Johnson.

The Indian Navy carried out a similar exercise with the Japanese navy in June.

has significantly expanded its deployment in the Indian Ocean Region with a plethora of warships and submarines following the border row to send across a message to Beijing.

The maritime space around the Malacca Strait is very critical for China's supply chain through sea routes.

(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.)
Meera Bhardwaj By

Express News Service

BENGALURU: Even as Bangalore University has consolidated and developed almost 650 acres as biodiversity parks on its campus, greens are concerned over the state government giving some 15 acres in the initially developed 100-acre biopark for a CBSE south centre and Inter-University Yogic Sciences Centre. In fact, the entire campus was declared a biodiversity park in 2017.The Central Public Works Department had cleared five acres in the biopark and many trees were felled for building these educational centres. Vice Chancellor K R Venugopal told TNIE the State and Centre plan to develop an educational hub on the campus and it was an honour for the university. Regarding the protection of the bio-park and retaining of the tree species, the authorities will take all measures, he said.

In 1974, Bangalore University was allocated 1,112 acres of land by the state government for its sprawling campus. However, only 850 acres remain with them after leasing land to other institutions. In 2001, a biodiversity park was developed over 100 acres which is now a big carbon sink in this part of the city. This biopark (phase-1) was created through collection of public funds and under the guidance of Dr A N Yellappa Reddy, well-known environmentalist.

Now home to 500-600 native and rare trees, the park has become a habitat for 150 bird species. Added to this, another 14 patches of land were developed from 2014 and a bio-hydro structure was added to make the park self-sufficient in water.Prof. T J Renuka Prasad (now retired), who coordinated for the development of these patches as bioparks, said, Presently, the entire campus is a biodiversity park hosting rare and native tree species, birds, butterflies and other wildlife.

Five water bodies were developed, two borewells installed and lakhs of saplings of more than 130 species planted in the last six years. One can see the result -- the increase in subsurface water on the campus. The Vrishabhavathi tributary that flows from Peenya and cuts through the campus is being recharged due to the biopark.The university campus is one of the citys carbon sinks with significant biodiversity and one has to protect it, said Yellappa Reddy.Bengaluru (Urban) honorary Wildlife Warden Prasanna Kumar said, The CBSE office and yoga centre can shift to an alternative site as there are many kharab lands. It is only due to this biopark that the groundwater gets recharged in these areas.
WASHINGTON - A Canadian woman accused of mailing a package containing ricin to the White House included a threatening letter in which she told President Donald Trump to give up and remove your application for this election, according to court papers filed Tuesday.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 22/9/2020 (486 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

An American flag flies at half-staff over the White House in Washington, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020. Federal officials have intercepted an envelope addressed to the White House that contained the poison ricin. That's according to a law enforcement official who spoke to The Associated Press on Saturday. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

WASHINGTON - A Canadian woman accused of mailing a package containing ricin to the White House included a threatening letter in which she told President Donald Trump to give up and remove your application for this election, according to court papers filed Tuesday.

Pascale Ferrier, of Quebec, was arrested Sunday at the U.S.-Canada border and made her first court appearance Tuesday afternoon in federal court in Buffalo, New York. She faces a charge of threatening the president.

The envelope containing the toxic substance and the threatening letter was addressed to the White House but intercepted at a mail sorting facility on Friday. The package, postmarked from Canada, included a letter in which she referred to Trump as The Ugly Tyrant Clown and directed him to give up and remove your application for this election," according to an FBI affidavit filed in the case.

This photo shows a general view of the Peace Bridge, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020, in Buffalo N.Y. Pascale Ferrier, a Canadian woman accused of mailing a package containing the poison ricin to the White House, was taken into custody Sunday, Sept. 20 by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Peace Bridge border crossing near Buffalo and is expected to face federal charges Tuesday in Buffalo, New York. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

So I made a special gift for you to make a decision. This gift is in this letter," she wrote, according to the affidavit. If it doesn't work, I'll find better recipe for another poison, or I might use my gun when I'll be able to come. Enjoy! FREE REBEL SPIRIT."

Ferrier appeared in court briefly Tuesday and U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder Jr. entered a not-guilty plea on her behalf. Ferrier, who wore a tan jail jumpsuit, had her hands in cuffs and a chain around her waist. A blue mask covered much of her face as she spoke only briefly to answer the judges questions.

Through an interpreter and her attorney, she also asked for an identity hearing  which would compel the government to prove that she is indeed the person for whom the arrest warrant was issued  and a probable cause hearing for the government to prove there is sufficient cause to proceed in the case. The judge ordered her held without bail.

Her attorney, Fonda Kubiak, said Ferrier was exercising her rights to those hearings, which were scheduled for Monday.

This photo provided by the Hidalgo County (Texas) Sheriff's Office, showing the booking photo of Pascale Ferrier. Ferrier, accused of mailing a package containing ricin to the White House, included a threatening letter in which she told President Donald Trump to give up and remove your application for this election." That's according to court papers filed Sept. 22. Pascale Ferrier was arrested on Sept. 20 at the New York-Canada border (Hidalgo County (Texas) Sheriff's Office, via AP)

She has a presumption of innocence and thatll be pursued further after today, Kubiak said outside the courthouse.

During the investigation, the FBI discovered that six additional similar letters appeared to have been received in Texas in September and also had stamps indicating that they'd been mailed from Canada, according to court papers.

Those letters contained similar language to the letter that was sent to Trump and were sent to people affiliated with facilities where Ferrier had been jailed in 2019.

Investigators also matched Ferriers fingerprints from four of the letters, the complaint said.

In Facebook and Twitter posts in September, Ferrier, 53, also wrote #killTrump and used similar wording as she did in the letter, calling him an Ugly Clown Tyrant, according to the document.

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When she was arrested Sunday while trying to enter a border crossing in Buffalo, Ferrier told Customs and Border Patrol agents that she was wanted by the FBI for the ricin letters, the complaint said. Officers found a loaded gun in her waistband and said she was also carrying a knife.

Ferrier was booked into the Hidalgo County jail in March of 2019 on two charges of unlawfully carrying a weapon and one charge of tampering with government records, according to online jail records. Pascale is listed as living in Quebec, and was released in May of last year. The records state the charges against her were ordered dismissed.

Ferrier immigrated to Canada from France and became a Canadian citizen in 2015, according to her Facebook profile.

Justin Taylor, a cousin in Texas, confirmed she was originally from France. He said she has extended family in Texas and was looking at possibly moving there after driving to Texas in her RV. Her called her arrest very surprising. A very nice lady, very warm and kind, Taylor said.

____

Associated Press writers John Wawrow in Buffalo, Jake Bleiberg in Dallas and Rob Gillies in Toronto contributed to this report.
(Newser)  Egyptian archaeologists have unearthed more than two dozen ancient coffins in a vast necropolis south of Cairo, an official said Monday. The sarcophagi have remained unopened since they were buried more than 2,500 years ago near the famed Step Pyramid of Djoser in Saqqara, says Neveine el-Arif, a spokeswoman for the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. She said 13 coffins were found earlier this month in a newly discovered, 36-foot-deep well, and that 14 more were found last week in another well, per the AP. Footage shared by the ministry showed colorful sarcophagi decorated with ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics, as well as other artifacts the ministry said were found. The Saqqara plateau hosted at least 11 pyramids, including the Step Pyramid, along with hundreds of tombs of ancient officials, ranging from the First Dynasty (2920BC to 2770BC) to the Coptic period (AD395 to AD642).

story continues below

Archaeologists were still working to determine the origins of the coffins, el-Arif says, adding that more details and "secrets" would likely be announced next month. El-Arif notes further excavations are underway in the necropolis, and more coffins are expected to be found. Last year, archaeologists found a cache at Saqqara that included hundreds of mummified animals, birds, and crocodiles, as well as two mummified lion cubs. The Saqqara plateau is part of the necropolis of Egypt's ancient city of Memphis, the ruins of which were designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the 1970s. In October 2019, archaeologists unearthed 30 ancient wooden coffins with inscriptions and paintings in the southern city of Luxor. The Luxor coffins were moved to be showcased at the Grand Egyptian Museum, which Egypt is building near the Pyramids of Giza.

(Read more discoveries stories.)
An Action Hero: Ayushmann Khurrana is now joined by Jaideep Ahlawat as they kickstart shoot in London
The massive and powerful Hurricane Teddy churning in the Atlantic Ocean has been causing beach erosion along parts of the Jersey Shore the past few days.

The Category 4 hurricane, expected to turn into a post-tropical cyclone later Tuesday, has been generating higher-than-usual tides and strong surf in Atlantic and Cape May counties, leading to some erosion.

Its churning up the seas... Thats likely been the main reason weve been seeing beach erosion, said National Weather Service meteorologist Paul Fitzsimmons.

The storm, which is moving north toward Canada, is about 500 miles off the coast of New Jersey, he said.

In North Wildwood, Mayor Patrick Rosenello says he has been seeing major erosion since about mid-August due to a number of back-to-back hurricanes that swirled in the Atlantic. It has been an active hurricane season on the East Coast, with 23 named storms through Sept. 21, according to the Weather Channel.

North Wildwood suffers some beach erosion as Hurricane Teddy churns up high surf along the Jersey Shore, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020.Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

The city has lost about 300,000 cubic yards of sand since the beginning of August, Rosenello estimates, which he said could cost between $3 and $5 million to replace. He said the beaches are marked by scarping, when high winds and waves scrape out chunks of beaches, mostly by dunes, to form what resembles miniature cliffs.

North Wildwood officials have been placing sand from the expansive Wildwood beaches onto North Wildwood and also built more than 2,000 feet of bulkheads as part of emergency beach replenishment, he said. In November, a $6.5 million beach replenishment project in North Wildwood and two other towns was given federal permission to move forward, but has not begun.

There has been a proliferation of these coastal storms, he said. We havent taken a direct hit yet, but you really dont need to take a direct hit to get significant beach erosion. You get sustained days of very large swells, and that starts to chew into the beach.

In Ocean City, dozens of people gathered on the beaches at 5th to 7th street to watch surfers take advantage of the huge waves. Small, about one-foot scarps were near the shore line.

Hurricane Teddy churns up high surf in Ventnor, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020. Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

North, in Ventnor, the citys beaches south of the Ventnor pier have also been experiencing erosion due to hurricane season, said commissioner Lance Landgraf.

On Sunday, when he visited the southern portion of the beach, Landgraf said the ocean water was hitting the dunes. Walking on the sand was not possible during high tide and scarps were forming there, though the northern end of the citys beaches are in better shape.

The Army Corps began setting up equipment for a dredging and beach fill operation on Absecon Island on Tuesday, he said. The $23.8 million project, which will continue through November, calls for placing roughly two million cubic yards of sand onto the beach in Atlantic City, Longport, Margate and Ventnor.

Landgraf said the recent storms highlight the importance of such projects in protecting the beaches.

If we didnt have the dunes, that water would be hitting our boardwalk, hitting the homes behind the boardwalk, and we would not have any protection against these storms, Landgraf said.

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Avalon Zoppo may be reached at azoppo2@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AvalonZoppo.
What the burglars lacked in panache, they made up for in their ability to stymie the London police after stealing a valuable collection of handguns brandished by James Bond himself in three movies.

On Monday, the Metropolitan Police appealed to the public for help in finding the thieves, six months after the burglary. They released security camera footage of a decidedly un-Bondlike vehicle  a stubby four-door Vauxhall hatchback  that they believe the burglars were using to case the home of the collector they robbed on March 23.

Three thieves broke into the home in Enfield, north London, escaped through a window and fled in the getaway car, the police said, making off with five guns that had been used in various James Bond films.
Moscow: Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny demanded on Monday, local time, that Russia return the clothes he was wearing on the day he fell into a coma in Siberia, calling it a crucial piece of evidence in the nerve agent poisoning he is being treated for at a German hospital.

In a blog post Monday, Navalny said the Novichok nerve agent was found in and on his body, and said the clothes taken off him when he was hospitalised in Siberia a month ago after collapsing on a Russian flight are very important material evidence.

Alexei Navalny, pictured last year, has been brought out of a medically induced coma. Credit:AP

I demand that my clothes be carefully packed in a plastic bag and returned to me, the 44-year-old politician and corruption investigator wrote.

Navalny, Russian President Vladimir Putin's fiercest critic, fell ill on a domestic flight to Moscow on August 20, was brought to a hospital in the Siberian city of Omsk and was transferred to Germany for treatment two days later. A German military lab later determined that the Russian politician was poisoned with Novichok, the same class of Soviet-era nerve agent that Britain said was used in 2018 on a former Russian spy and his daughter in England.
The Donald Trump administration said it was imposing sanctions on 27 individuals and entities, including Iran's defence ministry, under a UN resolution

Washington: President Donald Trump said Monday that he was imposing sanctions on Iranians for violating a UN arms embargo and demanded enforcement by US allies, who roundly dispute that he has any such authority.

Trump's defiant move came on the very day that the United Nations was celebrating its 75th anniversary with a virtual summit full of calls for greater international cooperation.

The Trump administration said it was imposing sanctions on 27 individuals and entities under a UN resolution including Iran's defense ministry, its Atomic Energy Organization and Venezuela's leftist leader Nicolas Maduro, whom Washington has been trying without success to topple.

"The United States has now restored UN sanctions on Iran," Trump said in a statement.

"My actions today send a clear message to the Iranian regime and those in the international community who refuse to stand up to Iran."

The Trump administration argues that it is enforcing a UN arms embargo that Iran has violated, including through an attack on Saudi oil facilities.

The embargo on conventional arms shipments to Iran is set to expire next month after the United States failed to win support for a new UN resolution.

The Trump administration said it was "snapping back" virtually all UN sanctions on Iran lifted under a 2015 nuclear accord with Tehran negotiated by former president Barack Obama.

Trump pulled out of the deal with fanfare in 2018 and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo again on Monday called it an "abject failure."

But Pompeo argues that the United States is still a "participant" in the deal - with the right to impose sanctions for violations - as it was listed in the resolution that blessed Obama's diplomatic effort.

Iran says no renegotiating

The legal argument has been rejected by almost the entire UN Security Council, with European allies of the United States saying the priority is to salvage a peaceful solution on Iran's nuclear program.

"We have made it very clear that every member state in the United Nations has a responsibility to enforce the sanctions," Pompeo told reporters when asked about European opposition.

"That certainly includes the United Kingdom, France and Germany."

A news conference to announce the move was scheduled at the very time that Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif was speaking before a leading US think tank, in an appearance denounced by the Trump administration.

Zarif told the Council on Foreign Relations that the latest effort would have no "significant impact" on his country.

"The United States has exerted all the pressure it could on Iran, it has. It had hoped that these sanctions will bring our population to the knees. It didn't," Zarif said.

The United States already slapped sweeping unilateral sanctions on Iran when Trump withdrew from the nuclear accord, at a time that UN inspectors said Tehran was in compliance with the deal that was meant to offer it economic relief.

Some observers believe Trump's real goal is to definitively kill the nuclear deal, which was staunchly supported by Joe Biden, his Democratic rival in 3 November elections.

Zarif said that Iran was not willing to renegotiate the original accord even if Biden wins.

"The United States must first prove that it's worthy of the trust that is required for its re-entry into the deal before it sets conditions," Zarif said.

Snub at UN

The Trump administration has been seeking to reduce Iran's regional clout and boost its rivals Saudi Arabia and Israel.

It achieved a significant win earlier this month when the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain recognized Israel.

Pompeo addressed the media alongside cabinet colleagues and the US ambassador to the United Nations, Kelly Craft, who traveled to Washington rather than stay in New York for the world body's 75th anniversary summit.

As world leaders sent recorded messages, the United States was represented by its acting deputy envoy, although Trump is expected to speak virtually to the annual General Assembly on Tuesday.

French President Emmanuel Macron, addressing the anniversary summit by video, urged a new focus on the United Nations to combat the world's "disorder."

"At a time when the pandemic is feeding fear of decline and a narrative of collective powerlessness, I want to say very clearly - faced with this health emergency, the climate challenge and the retreat on rights, it is here and now that we must act."
China and U.S. flags are seen near a TikTok logo in this illustration picture taken July 16, 2020. Florence Lo | Reuters

Chinese state media has accused the U.S. of "hooligan logic" in its push for certain conditions in the TikTok deal and cast doubt over whether Beijing will approve the terms. State-backed Global Times appears to have changed its stance toward the deal after more confusion over the terms of the agreement in which a new U.S.-based company, called TikTok Global, will be set up with U.S. giants Walmart and Oracle taking minority stakes. The publication, often seen as being close to Beijing's thinking, called the deal "unfair" on Monday and accused Washington of "bullying" and "hooligan logic" because of the specific terms of the deal. The Chinese tabloid completely changed its tune just one day after saying it expects Beijing to approve the "reasonable" deal. Confusion currently reigns and things are getting messier. On Saturday, President Donald Trump gave an in-principle approval to the deal which would see Oracle become TikTok's cloud provider, hosting and processing U.S. user data. TikTok would avoid being shutdown in the U.S.

On Sunday, Global Times published an opinion piece in which it called the deal "reasonable," saying ByteDance had avoided the worst-case scenario of a TikTok shutdown or full sale. The tabloid added that the Chinese government was likely to approve the deal. On Monday morning China time, TikTok's parent company ByteDance released a statement in Chinese in which it said it was clearing up rumors around the deal. ByteDance said it would own an 80% stake in TikTok Global and would not transfer any algorithms or technology to Oracle. Instead, Oracle could inspect the source code to ensure it addresses Washington's national security concerns. Then on Monday morning in the U.S., Trump said on Fox News that the Chinese wouldn't have anything to do with TikTok after the deal was sealed, and that Oracle and Walmart would have "total control" over the app, which is actually not the case. Oracle's Executive Vice President Ken Glueck released a statement to CNBC shortly after Trump's remarks that said Americans will have a "majority" of control over TikTok Global. He also said ByteDance will "have no ownership" over the new entity.

From 'reasonable' to 'robbery': Global Times changes its view

The latest comments from Trump and Oracle appear to have changed the Global Times's view on things. In an opinion piece published late Monday, the state-backed tabloid ran the headline: "Say 'No!' to US robbery of TikTok." "It caters to the unreasonable demands of Washington. It's hard for us to believe that Beijing will approve such an agreement," the Monday op-ed read. In the article, they took issue with a few of the terms of the deal. One was that Americans would make up four out of five of the board seats of TiKTok Global, while ByteDance's CEO and founder Zhang Yiming will take the remaining one. Another issue was the fact that Oracle would be able to inspect TikTok's source code. The Chinese tabloid claimed that "TikTok and Douyin should have the same source code, this means the US can get to know the operations of Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok."
If you are a mutual fund (MF) investor, you will now have to wait for a little longer to get your allotted units.

Last week, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) said that MF investors would get units at the net asset value (NAV) of the day on which your amount gets credited to the MF schemes bank account. Earlier, this rule was only applicable for investments of over Rs 2 lakh. At the same time, any investment below this threshold could get the same days NAV as long as the transaction is initiated before the cut-off time. Presently, the cut-off 1 pm due to the COVID-19 crisis; the usual time was 3 pm earlier.

Even though SEBIs move is aimed at bringing uniformity in the way NAVs are assigned, it would impact investors in differing ways depending upon their route of investment. Unless MF platforms and intermediaries are able to re-align their systems, investors would only be able to get same-day NAVs in very few cases. For now, if markets fall on a particular day and you wish to take advantage of the decline and invest some amount on the same day, it would only be possible in some scenarios from January 1, 2021: the day on which this rule comes into force.

I make online payments. So, I should get the same days NAV, right?

A typical internet transaction of buying or selling mutual funds takes place through a payment gateway. Even such transactions take a day for the funds to get credited to your mutual fund schemes bank account. But many fund houses tie up with banks to help investors deposit money on the same day. If you have an account with any of these banks and if you invest through your mutual funds website, only then will your funds reach your MFs account on the same day. You will then get the same days NAV.

If I invest through online platforms and their apps, will I still not get the same days NAV?

No, you will not. Such apps and platforms also use payment gateways for accepting transactions. So, the funds will be credited to the schemes account on a t+1 or t+2 days basis. Investors coming through either of these channels will not get the same days NAV. In these routes, the investors funds would first hit the platform providers bank account before getting credited to the scheme.

Experts say payment gateway providers have the technical capability to conclude the transaction on the same day, but this may entail higher transaction fees. There is still uncertainty on whether payment gateways and the MF industry would be able to find a solution.

If I give a cheque today, will I get todays NAV?

This mode would work slower than an internet transfer. If you give a cheque, you could face a lag of at least two days. As things stand, such investors would not be able to get the same days NAV. While most investors have gone digital during lockdown, there are still segments of investors using cheques for their MF investments.

I invest through systematic investment plans (SIPs) and have already given a bank mandate to my mutual fund. So would the money not get credited into my mutual fund account on the same day?

Lets say your bank has to be debited on the 7th of every month towards your SIP. This money is meant to be automatically transferred to your fund house on the 7th and the fund house is supposed to allot you units. But it might actually take a day for your money to reach your fund house, via the payment gateway. Till now, your fund house used to allot units on 7th because that was the SIP day registered, provided of course that your SIP instalment was less than Rs 2 lakh. In reality, money doesnt always reach your fund house on the same day.

Henceforth, your fund house will only give you units the day your money reaches the schemes bank account.

Alright, what about systematic transaction plans (STPs), from debt to equity schemes then? If both the schemes are from the same fund house, would I get the same-day NAV in this case at least?

Not quite. Your STP may happen within the same fund house, but that doesnt mean your money is lying in the same bank account. Your liquid fund and equity scheme are two different categories. An STP is, in reality, a redemption from your liquid fund and a fresh purchase in your equity scheme. So, despite a specific day being marked as the STP date, you would get the days NAV in your liquid fund (at redemption time), but the NAV of your equity scheme is usually that of a day later when your money actually gets credited.

Will SEBIs new NAV rule impact redemptions?

The new ruling will not have any bearing on redemptions. As long as the investor initiates the transaction before the cut-off time, he or she will get the same days NAV.
House Democrats released a proposal Monday that would fund the federal government through Dec. 11, a measure that would avoid a partial government shutdown if it is passed by the House and Senate by Oct. 1.

The proposed legislation would extend fiscal 2020 spending for most government departments as their annual budget bills have not yet been approved by Congress.

Read Next: Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg to Be Buried at Arlington National Cemetery

For the Departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security, the bill places limits on some activities and bolsters funding for others. The DoD, for example, will not be allowed to launch any new multi-year contracts or activities for the duration of the legislation, with one notable exception -- the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine.

The legislation would allow the Navy to award a contract for the first two boats in the class and allocates $1.6 billion to support the program. The service has been in discussions with defense contractor General Dynamics for those vessels; the contract is estimated to be worth up to $21 billion.

Several bill provisions aim to help secure the livelihoods of federal and contract employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds usually used to pay some civilian Coast Guard employees have dried up during the pandemic; the legislation allows the service to use operations and support funding to pay their salaries. And the proposal would provide COVID-19 relief funding to the Veterans Canteen Service to ensure that the stores can continue operating.

The bill also increases funding for the VA's electronic health record modernization program, helping to keep it on track for its planned introduction in the Pacific Northwest this fall.

Last month, the VA introduced the centralized scheduling component of the program at the VA Central Ohio Health Care System, and it plans to stand up the new electronic health record system at the Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center in Spokane, Washington, this fall after a seven-month delay related to the pandemic.

Story continues

Earlier this year, the House passed its versions of the fiscal 2021 Defense and Veterans Affairs funding bills, which included $695 billion for the DoD and $241 billion for the VA. But the Senate Appropriations Committee has not yet moved any of its bills, putting Congress in the position of needing a continuing resolution to ensure that the government remains operational past the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30.

House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita Lowey, D-N.Y., said Monday that the Senate has acted irresponsibly in not marking up any of its appropriations bills.

"While the House did its job and passed bills funding nearly every government agency, Senate Republicans did not even begin the appropriations process," she said. "This clean continuing resolution keeps the government open while giving Congress additional time to negotiate annual appropriations bills that will invest for the people."

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has said he backs a short-term continuing resolution, although he expressed his dismay Monday on Twitter over the current House proposal, which he said does not adequately support American farmers.

The House is expected to vote on the continuing resolution this week. The Senate has not said when it will take up the measure.

In addition to funding the federal government, the House proposal bolsters funding for activities related to the presidential transition, should there be one after the Nov. 3 election, and for the District of Columbia to support presidential inauguration activities.

Under a continuing resolution, the departments must operate at the funding levels set in their fiscal 2020 approved budgets.

-- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Monster.com. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime.

Related: Senate Passes $740 Billion Defense Policy Bill With Troop Pay Raise
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 00:45:01|Editor: huaxia

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By Ronald Ssekandi

KANUNGU, Uganda, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, host to more than half of the world's mountain gorillas, is experiencing an unprecedented baby boom, never recorded before, according to experts.

High up the ridges of what is known as one of Africa's oldest rainforest, the population of mountain gorillas is growing.

Joseph Arinaitwe, Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) warden tourism in-charge of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park told Xinhua in a recent trip to the park that since July 22 this year, Uganda has registered the birth of eight mountain gorillas, seven in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and another in Mugahinga National Park, along the common border with Rwanda and eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Arinaitwe attributes the baby boom to largely the conservation efforts that Uganda has undertaken over the years to protect the endangered giants.

He argued that several factors, like high stress levels can lead gorillas not to procreate. He said the stress is caused by poaching, fights among family members or different groups and uncontrolled tourism.

"It is a message that conservation is paying off, gorillas are getting stable. If there was no effort of creating an environment of comfort, there would be no boom. When there is crisis in a family, a man has no time for sexual intercourse. The assumptions here is that there is no pressure and therefore the baby boom," Arinaitwe.

The conservationists argued that Uganda has over the years been able to fight poaching in the park. There is also controlled tracking of the gorillas to avoid stressing them.

COVID THREAT

When the COVID-19 pandemic broke out in the country in March, all tourism activities were closed in a bid to stop the spread of the deadly disease. The country's Entebbe International Airport and the borders were closed to all incoming and outgoing travelers.

This lockdown had a major impact on the country's tourism revenues, which are largely used to conserve the wildlife. According to ministry of finance figures, the country could lose up to 1.6 billion U.S. dollars it annually earns as revenue from the sector. More than half of the tourism revenue is contributed by gorilla tourism, according to UWA.

Arinaitwe said that because of the lockdown and the closure of tourism activities, many people whose livelihood depended on tourism to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park were affected.

Those living close to the park resorted to poaching, setting up snares to hunt antelopes. These snares at times end up trapping the gorillas.

According to UWA figures, poaching in the park has gone up from about 7 suspects arrested in a year to 8 suspects arrested in a few months.

A vivid case happened in June this year when a poacher named Felix Byamukama and three accomplices killed a popular silverback gorilla named Rakifi. Byamukama, pleaded guilty to counts of trespassing in a protected area, killing a gorilla, a duiker and a bush pig, and illegally possessing meat from the bush pig and duiker. He was sentenced 11 years in jail in July.

Arinaitwe said despite the challenges of reduced funding, they have increased foot patrols in the park. Despite the lockdown which started in March, the rangers continued to monitor the gorillas and other wildlife in the park. Some poachers have been arrested.

EASE OF LIFE

Uganda continues to ease the lockdown restrictions as it attempts to resuscitate economic growth. The country's president Yoweri Museveni on Sunday announced that the airport was reopened to tourist arrivals.

UWA on Sept. 5 reopened all its primate parks after instituting strict standard operating procedures to stop the possible spread of COVID-19 from humans to the primates.

At Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, tourists are sanitized four times at different stages before the get to meet the mountain gorillas. Those with abnormal body temperatures are asked to step aside and if the situation worsens, they is a nearby health facility.

The distance between the visitors and the gorillas has also been adjusted to 10 meters from seven. Social distancing is emphasized throughout tracking the gorillas.

Buhoma town, neighboring the park, has also come alive again after a government directive that tourism reopens.

Denis Rubalema, co-director of Ride 4 A Woman, a community-based organization told Xinhua that they have been carrying out renovations at their accommodation facility and also encouraging the rural women, some of whom make hand crafts, to prepared for an anticipated tourism boom. Enditem
(CNN)  What happened today seemed impossible to many Americans six months ago.

When Dr. Anthony Fauci predicted in March that Covid-19 could kill 200,000 people in the US, skeptics lambasted him and accused him of fearmongering.

But Fauci was right. And the US reached that bleak milestone much earlier than some experts predicted.

Since the first known US Covid-19 death on February 6, an average of more than 858 people have died from the disease every day.

Many of those victims died without loved ones in hospital rooms. Countless others never had a proper funeral, with mourners grieving remotely online.

Covid-19 is now the second-leading cause of death in the US, just after heart disease, according to the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME).

What happens next with the pandemic largely depends on personal responsibility and how much Americans are willing to fight this battle together.

Already, Covid-19 has killed more people in the US than Americans killed in battle during the five most recent wars combined: the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Iraq War, the War in Afghanistan and the Persian Gulf War.

The loss of life is like suffering the effects of 109 Hurricane Katrinas. Or enduring the 9/11 attacks every day for 66 days.

And researchers project almost 180,000 additional Covid-19 deaths by January 1.

But it doesn't have to be that way.

"Increasing mask use to 95% can save nearly 115,000 lives, reducing that expected number of deaths by 62.7%," the IHME said.

And the same mask wearing, physical distancing and hand washing that protect against Covid-19 can also help avert a flu-and-coronavirus "twin-demic" that could overwhelm the health care system.

"We have to stay strong and do the things that could decrease the spread," said pediatrician Dr. Brett Giroir, the White House coronavirus task force's testing czar.

"Number 1: Wearing a mask when we can't physically distance. Number 2: Avoiding crowds. Number 3: Hygiene. And with smart testing, we can flatten the curve and slow the spread," Giroir said.

"We do have a formula to reduce the deaths, reduce the cases. But we all have to be disciplined and diligent to make sure we obey that every single day."

This story was first published on CNN.com, "200,000 people have died from Covid-19 in the US. That's more than the US battle deaths from 5 wars combined"
ATLANTA, GA / ACCESSWIRE / September 22, 2020 / Aureus, Inc. (OTC PINK:ARSN) ("Aureus" or the "Company") (www.AureusNOW.com) an emerging leader in the food brand development industry, which owns the Yuengling's Ice Cream brand ("Yuengling's Ice Cream" or "Yuengling's") (www.yuenglingsicecream.com), including all intellectual property, will diversify its interests in to food sector by developing Micro Markets throughout the metro Atlanta area.

Everett Dickson, CEO of Aureus says, "Today marks the culmination of months of work and planning. We are thrilled to announce that ARSN has reached an agreement to purchase a multi-unit tranche of Micro Markets with Healthy SmartMarts. Given the growth being experienced in this area, it is clear to us, at Aureus, that this is the new model for on-site convenience stores and in situ break/lunchrooms. These locations require a relatively low capital expenditure and can be deployed very quickly. We project we will have in excess of 30 locations before the year end."

Micro Markets provide more flexibility in the products offered together with the addition of fresh, healthy products. Lines are eliminated with the Healthy SmartMart, app-based payment systems which further increases sales. Net ROI is dramatically higher due to the much lower capital investment costs.

At present, there are approximately 23,600 locations in the US, growing over 6% from the previous year. In 2017, this segment of vending generated close to $1 billion in sales. By 2022, it is projected there will be more than 39,000 micro market locations in the US. Our initial focus will be on locations with under 300 employees!

The layout of a micro market can be customized to suit different workplaces and therefore no space is wasted. They can be installed in a corner or take up an entire room.

About Aureus, Inc. The company focus is on acquiring specific assets in and related to the food industry. Aureus owns the assets and trademarks of the Yuengling's Ice Cream brand, and the exclusive right to market and sell the products of the brand. The goal of Aureus in the operation to consolidate all factors that are positive for the Yuengling brand into a synergistic success for Aureus shareholders as well as the next generation of Yuengling consumers.

Story continues

About Yuengling's Ice Cream

Developed by American businessman Frank D. Yuengling, as a dairy business to help support the Yuengling family brewery during the 1920s Prohibition period, Yuengling's Ice Cream has a strong tradition of making exceptional gourmet ice cream products in central Pennsylvania. The fan-favorite brand continues advancing its legacy and its renowned dairy quality, by using locally sourced dairy ingredients that contain no added hormones. Yuengling's Ice Cream is a super-premium ice cream, which means it has a butterfat content of 14% or greater. In addition to having high butterfat, Yuengling's also has low overrun (or a lower amount of air). This makes the ice cream less whipped and much more dense. Yuengling's also is constantly working to keep its product as "clean" as possible, by using as few ingredients as necessary, and those that are used are of an extremely high quality. The brands Yuengling's is most similar to are Haagen-Dazs and Ben & Jerry's.

David Yuengling and Rob Bohorad revived the brand in 2014 and an American classic was re-born. In 2018, positioned for the brands next stage of development, Yuengling's Ice Cream forged a partnership with YIC - Online Distributors, to distribute the iconic ice cream brand online, now via Aureus. Today, Yuengling's Ice Cream is delivered directly to the doorsteps of its consumers across the nation.

The Yuengling's Ice Cream Corporation, as it has been since 1935, is a separately owned and run company from D. G. Yuengling and Sons, Inc Brewery.



About Healthy SmartMarts

Live Free LLC was founded by Bill Way, CEO, and owner, in October 2009. The Healthy Smart Mart brand was created in 2018 although the company has been assisting clients in setting up profitable vending machine operations since 1988 under its former name, Freedom Technology. The company was originally founded by Bill Way in March 1972 under the name Way & Associates Inc.

Bill Way is the best-selling author of Vending Success Secrets - How anyone can grow rich in America's Best Cash Business! in print since 1988 and now in its 3rd edition. His next book release coming in October 2020 is titled Micro Markets - New Opportunities with Vending Gone Wild!

Safe Harbor Statement

This communication contains statements that may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Those statements include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of US Highland, Inc, and members of its management as well as the assumptions on which such statements are based.

Prospective investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties and that actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements. Important factors currently known to management that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-statements include fluctuation of operating results, the ability to compete successfully, and the ability to complete before-mentioned transactions.

The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events or changes to future operating results.

For More Information

Contact & Media Inquiries:

Aureus.now@gmail.com

404.885.6045

www.AureusNow.com

Twitter: www.twitter.com/Aureus_corp

SOURCE: Aureus Incorporated





View source version on accesswire.com:

https://www.accesswire.com/607164/Aureus-Inc-Today-Announced-Its-Expansion-into-a-Fast-Growing-Segment-of-the-Food-Sector




ATHENS, Ga., Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --

Cities with lower population density are seeing huge increases in relocation interest compared to last year. Austin, Nashville, Portland, and Denver are among the cities experiencing the greatest increases according to search data from moving company booking website moveBuddha.com.

moveBuddha.com, a moving company booking website, just released new data suggesting cities with lower population densities are becoming significantly more popular because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Ryan Carrigan, co-founder and CEO of moveBuddha.com, said, "Since mid-March, Austin has seen a 211% increase in people looking to move there compared to last year. Austin also ranks 178th in the country in population density. Nashville, Portland, and Denver, also relatively low-density cities, all saw relocation interest increase by over 100%."

Carrigan continued, "With shelter-in-place orders and social distancing, it's not surprising less-crowded cities are becoming more popular. Anecdotally, we're hearing from customers that cities like New York and San Francisco aren't worth the hassle anymore."

The analysis looked at origin and destination requests for over 300,000 move searches performed on the company's moving cost calculator web page. Data from March 15-Aug. 15, 2020, (the COVID period) was compared to the same period in 2019 for each city.

A full writeup including data on the most popular cities can be found at this link: https://www.movebuddha.com/blog/popular-moving-less-dense-cities/.

About moveBuddha.com:

moveBuddha.com is one of the largest moving company booking websites in the United States. The company was founded in 2015 and is best known for its Moving Cost Calculator online instant quoting tool and its Should I Move For Work? decision tool.

For any and all questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to Ryan Carrigan (full contact info below).

Media Contact:

Ryan Carrigan

Co-founder/CEO

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Latin America

Mexican professors strike for overdue benefits

Members of the State of Zacatecas Teachers and Administrative Personnel Syndicate (Supdacobaez) began a strike at the states 43 Bachelors College campuses on September 17. The union called the walkout due to the nonpayment of four bonuses that were not deposited on September 15, their due date.

The unpaid bonuses, owed to 1,500 administrative and education workers, were for school equipment, academic achievement, retroactive food allowance and teaching material. Together they add up to over 11 million pesos (US$520,300).

Union Secretary General Gerardo Garcia Murillo told reporters that the college director acknowledged the debts but claimed that the college lacked the resources to pay them. She promised to pay some of the bonuses at the end of September and others on October 15. Supdacobaez rejected the offer.

Health care workers in Argentina protest, announce three-day strike over wage demands

Public health workers in southern Argentinas Chubut province held a vigil in front of the Health Ministry in the city of Rawson. The demonstrators, members of the SiSaP public health workers union, announced that health care workers will strike for 72 hours beginning Wednesday, September 23. The strike will include a protest gathering in front of the Government Building.

The workers held a three-day strike in August over the same issues, primarily overdue wages. According to one doctor at that protest, there are workers who do not have sufficient money to pay for transportation and theyre in a critical situation. The economics minister, according to workers, has chatted with them but done nothing to alleviate their plight.

Workers have not received their pay, as well as bonuses, since July. The workers demand that the minister immediately meet with them and explain how he is going to arrange the payment of overdue wages and benefits.

Argentine public transport workers strike for 24 hours to demand unpaid wages

Public transport workers in the city of La Plata, capital of Argentinas Buenos Aires province, struck for one day on September 16 to demand the payment of salaries and bonuses for some 50 workers. The UTA transportation workers union called the strike against several lines run by Union Platense S.A.

The company has not paid wages for August and September to the workers, who operate long-distance microbuses. Shortly after the coronavirus pandemic struck the region, the micros were taken out of operation, but in the last few months following relaxation of restrictions, public transportation has experienced a strong rise. Nonetheless, the workers and their families suffered greatly from the loss of income, and they are demanding at least partial payment for the period of inactivity.

The walkout had been planned for the week before, but the Transport Ministry intervened to order dialogue negotiations, which were fruitless. Transportation companies receive subsidies from the government, as well as funds from an emergency assistance program called ATP, that was established following the COVID-19 outbreak. Workers have found it difficult to get relief through the ATP.

UTA has denounced Union Platense and threatened more militant action, but at the same time, dissident elements have criticized the union for its abandonment of them during the pandemic. On September 4, some dissident workers held a wildcat strike in Mar del Plata over the UTAs opposition.

Ecuadorian police attack workers, students, indigenous people protesting governments economic policies

Protesters marched to Ecuadors Social Security Fund office in the capital Quito on the afternoon of September 16. The action, called by the Workers Unitary Front (FUT), included members of labor, student and indigenous organizations.

Protesters marched through pouring rain to gather in front of the Fund building, where speakers denounced the policies of right-wing President Lenin Moreno, which have brought on firings, cuts to education and other programs and attacks on workers rights and living standards. They also denounced the indolent government for its poor response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has devastated the working class and led to bodies piling up in hospitals, homes and even on the streets.

As protesters marched toward the Government Palace, units of the police arrived and used water cannons and tear gas to disperse them.

Ecuadorian medical postgraduates protest for pay

About 250 postgraduate doctors, carrying picket signs and blowing whistles, held a protest outside the University of Guyaquil, in Ecuadors Guayas province, on September 15 to demand payment for their labors. The protesters cited the recently passed Humanitarian Law, which established the pay of postgraduates as equal to that of general practitioners, US$1,600 monthly.

El Universo cited one protester who said that there are currently 1,200 postgraduates working in five hospitals in Guayaquil, 70 percent of whom finance their own college careers, but they have not received a cent for their labors, despite having worked during the emergency.

However, by the next day Garcia Murillo, stating that the college had agreed to deliver the overdue bonuses over the next three 15-day pay periods, called off the strike.

Haitian hospital workers strike to demand improved working conditions, equipment, pay

Workers at the State University of Haiti Hospital (HUEH) in Port-au-Prince went on indefinite strike September 15. Surgeries have been halted and a skeleton crew handles emergencies.

The striking workers demands include: repair of two autoclaves (used to sterilize surgical instruments) as well as the provision of a new high-capacity one; provision of a 150-kilowatt generator; an ambulance and a service vehicle in good condition; plumbing repairs; proper protective equipment; and a pay increase for all employees in the hospital system.

The striking workers say that they will not lift the strike until these demands are met.

Sickout by Bahamian teachers to protest inadequate health measures

Citing teachers concerned about the rise in COVID-19 cases and the unpreparedness of Bahamas school system, the 4,000-member Bahamas Union of Teachers (BUT) called on its members to stage a sickout on September 14. The Ministry of Education (MOE) urged teachers not to be swayed by the antagonistic pronouncements of BUT President Belinda Wilson.

Claiming that the schools were safe and all protocols had been followed, the ministry accused the BUT of trying to deprive children of education and create public panic among teachers, students and parents in pursuit of the BUT presidents selfish goal of derailing the national examinations  to be held from Monday, 14th SeptemberFriday, 2nd October, due to her personal opposition to them. The MOE further intoned that the sickout call was regrettable when we should all be pulling together as a country to advance national development in the midst of the worldwide COVID crisis. The national exams had been scheduled to begin September 7, but were delayed for a week due to concerns about the pandemic.

Wilson responded with a number of assertions: teachers crammed together in classrooms with five sharing one computer without social distancing protocols; suspected positive cases in several schools among peers who were unaware; lack of testing for teachers and students; classrooms not cleaned; janitorial staff without PPE or proper training.

The MOE and BUT disagreed widely over the number of sickouts. While education director Marcellus Taylor told tribune242.com that the numbers were not huge and that the examinations went well, Wilson claimed that about 1,000 teachers stayed home. Classes are set to resume on October 5.

United States

Nursing home workers in New York state carry out two-day strike

Health care workers at the Highland Park Rehabilitation & Nursing Center in Wellsville, New York went on a two-day strike September 17 after months of fruitless bargaining failed to produce a contract. Members of the Service Employees International Union Local 1199 first unionized in 2018 in an effort to obtain safe staffing, higher wages, benefits and hazard pay as a result of the pandemic.

Maggie Phillps, a certified nursing assistant, told the Spectator, In 2018 we voted to join the union because we felt we were being mistreated and believed that if we could have a voice at work they wouldnt be able to keep treating us like garbage. But after 25 months of bargaining we are still dealing with daily threats, harassment and our coworkers getting suspended. What we want is simplemore money to take care of our families and affordable health insurance so that we can take care of ourselves and our residents. With all that is going on, refusing good health care to nursing workers is absolutely inhumane!

Another nurse, Cindy Costello, said the facility has been understaffed for the last two years with five nurses per shift being compelled to attend to 75 to 80 residents. Its never been this bad before. People are sick of working shorthanded. People cant afford to work here, and weve had several people quit. The owners dont seem to care.

Highland Park Rehabilitation & Nursing Center is part of a chain of facilities owned by Excelsior Care Group, LLC.

Coffeehouse workers in Minnesota hold one-day strike to protest unsafe working conditions

Nearly 40 workers at five Spyhouse Coffee locations in Minneapolis, Minnesota held a one-day unfair labor practices strike September 19 to broadcast their disenchantment over safety conditions in coffeehouses in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. Back in August, workers announced their intent to organize under Unite Here Local 17.

Maev Collins told the media at a press conference, Working at Spyhouse during COVID has not only been taxing but confusing. Weve had little communication on safety protocol, how to enforce it, and what happens when there is a positive case.

Workers complained of extended hours and an unclear policy toward customers who dont wear masks. In addition, they cited a lack of enforced social distancing, a lack of cleaning supplies and tables that arent socially distanced.

Canada

10,000 Quebec daycare workers begin unlimited strike

After three weeks of rotating strikes across the province, 10,000 Quebec home daycare workers began an all-out unlimited strike Monday against a miserable compensation package offered by the right-wing government of Premier Francois Legault. Negotiations broke down Sunday after the provinces Family Ministry presented an insulting pay offer to the workers, members of the Federation des intervenantes en petite enfance du Quebec.

The workers, who provide childcare services out of their own homes, are paid a stipend by the provincial government in addition to fees collected from parents using their services. Their union has estimated that overall payment works out to only $12.42 (CDN) per hour. Workers are demanding a payment increase that would equate to $16.75 per hour. In Quebecs home daycare system, parents pay $8.35 per child per day, with providers receiving $7 with the remainder of compensation paid through a government top-up.

The home sector of the daycare industry in Quebec services about 60,000 families. Since March 2019, 40 negotiation sessions with the government have not produced an agreement. Hundreds of workers have already left the industry due to the abysmal compensation and fears about coronavirus infection.

In addition to their compensation demands, workers are concerned with the once-again spiking COVID-19 cases in the province. The Legault government is spearheading a premature back-to-work drive that has flown in the face of public health best practices in order to boost the flagging profits of Quebec corporations. Schools opened in late August and remain open, despite school boards in every region of the province reporting unrelenting outbreaks that began immediately after the reopenings.

One hundred fifty doctors and scientists have released an open letter pointing out that schools are not properly prepared and warning of dire consequences. In addition, Legault has given assurances to big business that should COVID cases continue to spike, he has no intention of ordering the daycare sector to close once again.
Bugatti's next hypercar is coming soon. This follows some news which broke last week. Bugatti's future is looking bright. However, it's not yet a done deal. The Volkswagen Group and Rimac Automobili are negotiating a deal. This will see VW sell the Bugatti brand to Rimac Automobili. Rimac is an all-electric vehicle company. However, both companies have refused to comment on the deal. Volkswagen Group wants to advance its electrification focus. Maybe that's why the companies are negotiating a deal.

It is rumored that VW and Porsche want to trade Bugatti for a 49% stake at Rimac. Porsche is a VW Group Brand. It owns a 15.5% stake at Rimac.Bugatti's next hypercar is likely to come from Rimac. Some sources such as The Supercar Blog have made some hints. They claim that Bugatti's next hypercar will be all-electric and track-only. The car is set to be unveiled next month. Bugatti's next hypercar is set to showcase the future. However, it's still unconfirmed and unnamed.

Production of the Vision Le Mans concept

The Bugatti-Rimac report also provided details on the Vision Le Mans concept. It mentioned that Bugatti CEO could approve the production version in October. Le Mans concept will also be a track-only hypercar. Bugatti's next hypercar will be all-electric. It'll also be track-only. This reminds me of the Lotus Evija electric hypercar. The hypercar does 0-186mph in less than 9 seconds. Bugatti's next hypercar will have a mind-blowing design. Also, the releases will be limited. The build quality will also be high-end.

READ MORE: 2021 Lincoln Corsair: A Perfect Combination of Luxury and Serenity





Will Bugatti's next hypercar beat the Lotus Evija? Only time will tell. Let's wait and see what Bugatti has in store.These reports are likely accurate. Bugatti's next hypercar might feature Rimac battery technology. Maybe it will also feature other components from Rimac. Bugatti's next hypercar might be a one-off creation. Else, it'll be produced in limited numbers. Such was the case with and Chiron Super Sport 300+ and La Voiture Noire.This marks a big leap for Bugatti.

Will Bugatti Switch to All-electric?

The brand is finding ways to join the electric segment. However, there's a lot of competition. Future rivals are already dominating the niche. Tesla is one of such rivals for Bugatti. The Tesla Roadster does 0-60 mph in 1.9 seconds. The Chiron Super Sport 300+ does 0-60 mph in 2.4 seconds. This is why VW Group wants to trade Bugatti for some stakes at Rimac. This will create room for Bugatti in the future.Next month's event will reveal the truth. However, Bugatti's future is bright. Especially if the brand comes under Rimac's control.

READ MORE: New Electric Ford F-150 Breaks Through Cost of Operation





This will create room for diversification. However, there's no doubt that something great will happen. Rimac specializes in EV powertrains. This might present engineering challenges for the company. It might find it hard to cope with Bugatti's complex engine. However, the Croatian company has a great opportunity at hand.This move will persuade supercar buyers to leave combustion. It also shows Bugatti's willingness to produce EVs. This is a price worth paying. The timing is also right for an all-electric hypercar.

READ MORE: 2021 Toyota GR Supra 2.0: Plenty Swift, Sexy and Sharp
Snow leopards, one of the rarest wild animals, have been spotted multiple times in Gangotri National Park here since last month, animal scientist Shambhu Prasad Nautiyal informed on Monday.

Snow leopards have been seen in Gangotri National Park, multiple times since last month, Nautiyal said.

Notably, since Indias first snow leopard conservation centre was formed in Uttarkashi district, other endangered wildlife animals like Woolly flying squirrel, Eurasian lynx (wild cats), and wild dogs have been spotted several times in the state.
Republicans argued that the ruling allows ballots to be counted even if they are cast after Election Day. The Elections Clause of the United States Constitution vests the authority to regulate the times, places, and manner, of federal elections to Pennsylvanias General Assembly, subject only to alteration by Congress, not this Court, the Republicans wrote to the state court on Tuesday. The Hill first reported the filing. Democrats said they will oppose the GOPs efforts to delay implementation of the new ballot deadline.
European Commission names conditions for Ukraine to get EUR 1.2 bln in aid

20:15, 22.09.20 5286

Kyiv must fulfill all the requirements toward strengthening the rule of law.
DUBAI (Reuters) - Iranian President Hassan Rouhani told the U.N.

DUBAI (Reuters) - Iranian President Hassan Rouhani told the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday that the United States can impose "neither negotiations, nor war" on the Islamic Republic amid heightened tensions between the longtime foes over Tehran's 2015 nuclear deal with major powers.

"Iran is not a bargaining chip in U.S. elections and domestic policy. ... Any U.S. administration after the upcoming (U.S.) elections will have no choice but to surrender to the resilience of the Iranian nation," Rouhani told the United Nations General Assembly in a video message.

(Writing by Parisa Hafezi; editing by Jonathan Oatis)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Jude Law's 'creepy' psychological thriller The Third Day has won praise from viewers who say it's the modern equivalent to classic horror film The Wicker Man.

The TV drama, which premiered this week on HBO in the US and Sky Atlantic in the UK, tells the story of Sam (Law), who finds himself on a mysterious island off the British coast that is cut off from civilization and inhabited by religious fanatics.

After trying to help a young girl in trouble, Sam arrives unplanned on the island  filmed on the real, privately owned Osea Island off the Essex coast, where stars such as Cara Delevingne have partied and pop star Rihanna has recorded music  and finds the locals are preparing for an oyster festival.

But things soon turn weird as the secretive rituals of its inhabitants force Sam to grapple with a past trauma, and the line between fantasy and reality fragments.

Scroll down for trailer

Jude Law's 'creepy' psychological thriller The Third Day has won praise from viewers who say it's the modern equivalent to classic horror film The Wicker Man. Pictured, law in the show

The eerie qualities have led viewers to compare the show to 1973's The Wicker Man and horror-drama Midsommar, which is also set at a rural festival

The eerie qualities have led viewers to compare the show to 1973's The Wicker Man and horror-drama Midsommar, which is also set at a rural festival.

In The Wicker Man Sergeant Howie (Edward Woodward) is forced to confront strange pagan rituals and practices after arriving on a small Scottish island in search of a missing child who the locals claim never existed.

Gushing about the show, one viewer tweeted: 'The first episode of new miniseries The Third Day with Jude Law came out and it's excellent. Good surreal folk-horror that genuinely made me feel unsettled with its sound design. Just a really cool slice of bizarre cinema.'

A second added: 'Had a chance to watch The Third Day with Jude Law last night and I can report that it's convincingly creepy, very much along the line of The Wicker Man.'

The TV drama, airing on HBO in the US and Sky Atlantic in the UK, tells the story of Sam (Law), who finds himself on a mysterious island off the British coast that is cut off from civilization and inhabited by religious fanatics. Pictured, Law in the programme

A stream of social media users admitted they're hooked on The Third Day series and likened it to a combination of The Wicker Man and Midsommar

A third wrote: 'Really digging The Third Day with Jude Law. Gimmie a few weeks of Wicker Man vibes and I'm happy.'

The series will include an ambitious 12-hour performance screened live as an extra element halfway through the series.

The project is the brainchild of Dennis Kelly, the writer of C4s black comedy Utopia, and Punchdrunk, a performance company that specialises in immersive, semi-improvised theatrical experiences.

The live episode, which will air after episode three with just a single camera following the actors and work in real time over the course of a day, covers the festival itself when the celebrations become more unhinged.

The Third Day is centered around seasonally-themed episodes and a live broadcast event set to air on Sky Arts on Saturday 3rd October. Pictured: Jude Law as Sam and Katherine Waterson as Jess in The Third Day

Emily Watson plays pub landlady Mrs Martin, one of the few on the island who welcome Judes character Sam and invites him to stay.

The people believe in a religion which is basically Christianity, but shot through with some disturbing pagan elements, Emily told Weekend Magazine.

Its a cult really. So Sam arrives on the island then cant get off, which is partly his choice but partly him being manipulated and partly just bad luck.

'The island has this allure. People want to stay, its feral and extreme. In episode two theres a rehearsal for the festival, which was great fun to film. There were explosions and bonfires and people in weird masks.

Theres a bit where Sam takes acid thats given to him by a girl, and hes looking at me, adds Emily.
SHREVEPORT, La.Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that Brien Keith Powell, 51, of Shreveport, was sentenced September 22, 2020 by U.S. District Judge Donald E. Walter. Powell was sentenced to 168 months for Possession of Crack Cocaine, and 60 months for Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking Crime, for a total of 228 months in prison (19 years), followed by 5 years of supervised release. Powell pleaded guilty to the charges on January 10, 2020. On March 28, 2018, officers with the Caddo/Shreveport Narcotics Task Force obtained a search warrant of Brien Keith Powells residence and property. Upon execution of the search warrant, officers found drug paraphernalia and a revolver in the residence. Officers also found powder and crack cocaine, ecstasy, a digital scale, another handgun and ammunition in Powells vehicle. Powell had over $1,500 in cash in his pocket.

After Powell was arrested by officers, he admitted that all of the narcotics and firearms belonged to him and that he was selling the narcotics to make a living. Further investigation by law enforcement revealed that the firearms had both been reported stolen.

The North Louisiana Criminalistics Laboratory analyzed the narcotics and determined the drugs to be 38.34 grams of cocaine base, crack cocaine. Powell has a lengthy criminal history, having been convicted of aggravated battery with a dangerous weapon (1986 and 1990), possession of narcotics (1990), Second Degree Kidnapping (1994), Armed Robbery (1995), Felon in Possession of Firearm (2000),

Possession of a Controlled Substance (2007) and Possession of Counterfeit (2014). The ATF and Caddo/Shreveport Narcotics Task Force

conducted the investigation and Assistant United States Attorney Tennille Gilreath prosecuted the case.
Rogers Corporation (NYSE:ROG) shareholders might be concerned after seeing the share price drop 14% in the last quarter. On the bright side the share price is up over the last half decade. However we are not very impressed because the share price is only up 89%, less than the market return of 93%. While the long term returns are impressive, we do have some sympathy for those who bought more recently, given the 27% drop, in the last year.

See our latest analysis for Rogers

In his essay The Superinvestors of Graham-and-Doddsville Warren Buffett described how share prices do not always rationally reflect the value of a business. By comparing earnings per share (EPS) and share price changes over time, we can get a feel for how investor attitudes to a company have morphed over time.

Rogers' earnings per share are down 17% per year, despite strong share price performance over five years.

Essentially, it doesn't seem likely that investors are focused on EPS. Because earnings per share don't seem to match up with the share price, we'll take a look at other metrics instead.

On the other hand, Rogers' revenue is growing nicely, at a compound rate of 8.4% over the last five years. In that case, the company may be sacrificing current earnings per share to drive growth.

You can see how earnings and revenue have changed over time in the image below (click on the chart to see the exact values).

Take a more thorough look at Rogers' financial health with this free report on its balance sheet.

A Different Perspective

Investors in Rogers had a tough year, with a total loss of 27%, against a market gain of about 15%. However, keep in mind that even the best stocks will sometimes underperform the market over a twelve month period. On the bright side, long term shareholders have made money, with a gain of 14% per year over half a decade. It could be that the recent sell-off is an opportunity, so it may be worth checking the fundamental data for signs of a long term growth trend. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. Consider risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 3 warning signs for Rogers you should know about.

Story continues

If you like to buy stocks alongside management, then you might just love this free list of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them).

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.
A Nigerian, Felix Osilama Okpoh, who is wanted by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) for his alleged involvement in a Business Email Compromise (BEC) scheme that defrauded over 70 different businesses in the United States, has turned himself in to Nigerias anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Mr Okpoh, 31, who allegedly conspired with five others to defraud their American victims of over $6million, was led to the Lagos office of the EFCC by his father, retired Colonel Garuba Okpoh and his mother Justina Okpoh.

A spokesperson for the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, said the suspect surrendered on September 18 and that investigations into his case had since commenced.

Mr Uwujaren quoted Mr Okpoh as saying, during interrogation, that he decided to surrender himself to the Commission out of respect for his parents and his resolve to be morally upright.

The FBI accused the suspect of allegedly providing hundreds of bank accounts to Richard Izuchukwu Uzuh and other co-conspirators, Alex Afolabi Ogunshakin, Abiola Ayorinde Kayode, and Nnamdi Orson Benson, that were used to receive fraudulent wire transfers.

Bank accounts that Mr Okpoh allegedly provided to Mr Uzuh allegedly received fraudulent wire transfers from victim businesses totalling over $1million

On August 21, 2019, Mr Okpoh was indicted in the United States District Court, District of Nebraska, Omaha, Nebraska, on charges of Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud. On August 22, 2019, a federal warrant was issued for his arrest.

On June 16, 2020, United States Attorney Joe Kelly and Kristi K. Johnson, Special Agent in Charge of the Omaha field office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, announced the unsealing of indictments charging the six Nigerians for their involvement in the fraud schemes.

The schemes included individual victims and victim businesses both in Nebraska and other states, the U.S.

Department of Justice said in a statement announcing the indictment. BECs are sophisticated cybercrimes involving electronic transfer payments or automated clearinghouse transfers.

The indictments charge the defendants with one or more of the following violations of federal law: 1) Conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud, punishable by up to 20 years of imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000; 2) Identity theft and access device fraud, each punishable by up to 10 years of imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000.

The Nigerian nationals charged and still at large are Richard Uzuh; Micheal Olorunyomi; Alex Ogunshakin; Felix Okpoh; Abiola Kayode and Nnamdi Benson. An indictment is a formal accusation returned by a grand jury upon establishing probable cause. The indictment is not evidence of guilt and defendants are entitled to a presumption of innocence. Two related defendants have entered pleas of guilty. Adewale Aniyeloye was sentenced in the District of Nebraska to 96 months imprisonment for wire fraud. Onome Ijomone received a 60-month sentence for conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Amid the opposition boycott of Rajya Sabha proceedings on the issue of suspension of six opposition lawmakers, the central government on Tuesday rushed through the passage of at least 6 Bills after extending the sitting of the Upper House.

The passed Bills included the contentious Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020.

The government first got passed The Indian Institutes of Information Technology Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2020, which aims to give them a tag of national importance.

Two bills proposed by the Ministry of Home Affairs to set up a National Forensic Sciences University and a Rashtriya Raksha University were also passed by a voice vote.

"After the passage of the Taxation (Amendment) Bill in an empty Rajya Sabha today, the contributions to non-transparent, non-auditable (by CAG) PM-CARES Fund will be 100 per cent exempt from tax. Chinese companies have given merrily to this Fund," senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh tweeted.

The Rajya Sabha also passed The Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2020, earlier passed in the Lok Sabha, as well as the Banking Regulation Bill.

Earlier in the day, the opposition decided to boycott the remaining period of the Rajya Sabha's Monsoon Session till their demands were met.

Eight suspended members of the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday ended their day-long protest after a request from opposition leaders, who also urged them to join the boycott of the ongoing Monsoon Session.

"We have ended our protest but will join in the boycott of the session," Syed Nasser Hussain, one of the suspended Congress MPs, said.

His party colleague Rajeev Satav, who too was suspended, said that their protests will move from Parliament to the streets.

The opposition has jointly decided to boycott the session till their three demands on the new agri Bills are met by the Union government.

"Till our three demands are not met, the opposition will boycott the session. We seek revocation of the suspension of the eight MPs, another Bill under which no private player can purchase farm produce below MSP, and implementation of the Swaminathan Commission recommendations."

"No one is happy with the incidents that have taken place in the Upper House. The public wants that their leaders should be heard. No one can put across their views in just a few minutes. There will be de-escalation if MPs are not constrained by time to speak," said Gulam Nabi Azad, who is Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha.

While Azad said that the root cause of the dispute is "lack of coordination and time constraint", Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav said that he had apologised for the conduct of the members, and hence the suspension of lawmakers must be revoked.

However, as there was no response from the Chair, the party "decided to boycott the session".

Jairam Ramesh, Chief Whip of the Congress in the House, gave seven reasons for the boycott of the session and alleged that the government is "bulldozing" the Bills.

Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu meanwhile "appealed to the opposition to reconsider their decision".




Major South Korean lender Nonghyup Bank has applied for China's approval to open a branch in Beijing as part of its Asian push, industry sources said Tuesday.







Nonghyup Bank, which lodged the application with the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission late last month, is expected to receive preliminary approval by February at the latest.







It usually takes six months to receive preliminary approval from the Chinese financial authorities to open a branch in the world's second-largest economy.







In light of the process for winning final approval, there is a high possibility of Nonghyup Bank opening its first Beijing branch around the end of next year, according to the sources.







It would mark Nonghup Bank's first establishment of an overseas business operation after setting up a wholly owned subsidiary in Cambodia in 2018.







Among South Korea's five major banks, Nonghyup Bank is the only one that has no business operations in China. In 2013, Nonghyup Bank opened a representative office in Beijing.







The latest move is part of Nonghyup Bank's push to expand its presence in Asia. The lender is seeking to upgrade its representative offices in New Delhi and Ho Chi Minh City into branches by next year.







Nonghyup Bank is also pushing for a plan to open investment bank desks in New York, Hong Kong and Sydney. The lender currently operates a branch in New York. (Yonhap)


In a sweeping bipartisan vote that takes a government shutdown off the table, the House passed a temporary government-wide funding bill Tuesday night, shortly after President Donald Trump prevailed in a behind-the-scenes fight over his farm bailout.

The stopgap measure will keep federal agencies fully up and running into December, giving lame-duck lawmakers time to digest the election and decide whether to pass the annual government funding bills by then or kick them to the next administration. The United States government budget year ends September 30.

The 359-57 vote came after an agreement was reached giving the Trump administration continued authority to dole out Agriculture Department subsidies in the run-up to Election Day. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi retreated from an initial draft that sparked a furor with Republicans and farm-state Democrats.

Instead, in talks Tuesday, Pelosi restored the farm aid funding sought by the administration, which has sparked the ire of Democrats who say Trump plays political favorites with the bailout money for farmers and ranchers.

In return, Pelosi won COVID-related food aid for the poor, including a higher food benefit for families whose children are unable to receive free or reduced lunches because schools are closed. Another add-on would permit states to remove hurdles to food stamps and nutrition aid to low-income mothers.

The measure sped through the House after a swift debate that should ensure smooth sailing in the Republican-held Senate before next weeks deadline.

US farmers have been suffering from low commodity prices and the effects of higher trade tariffs imposed by President Trump. The president announced a new $13bn allotment of bailout funding at a political rally in Wisconsin last week. The provision Republicans seek would keep the door open for additional election-eve pronouncements.

Democrats complain that the Trump administration has favoured larger farm producers and Southern states such as Georgia  a key swing state and home of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue  in distributing bailout funds.

The Trump administration has proven they cannot be trusted to distribute payments fairly, said Senator Debbie Stabenow of Michigan, a top Democrat on the Senate Agriculture Committee.

The Republican chairman of the Agriculture panel, Senator Pat Roberts of Kansas was angry about the Democrats omission of the farm aid.

I understand there are people upset with the secretary and what he has done or will do or whatever with regards to [farm] funding, Roberts said.

But this is desperately needed and theres 45 to 50 programmes that would be in danger, right in the middle of the COVID thing, the farm crisis, and the whole business, he said.

The stopgap funding bill came as negotiations on a huge COVID-19 relief bill have collapsed and as the Senate has been thrust into an election-season Supreme Court confirmation fight after the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican, had told reporters that Speaker Pelosi and House Democrats appeared to be hung up on the issue of whether to include farm aid in the stopgap spending bill [Al Drago/Reuters]

Congressional aides close to the talks had depicted the farm provision as a bargaining chip to seek comparable wins for Democrats, but House Speaker Nancy Pelosis initial requests for provisions related to the census and funding for states to help them carry out elections were denied by Republican negotiators.

At stake in the bills passage is nearly one-third of the federal governments day-to-day budget that goes to cabinet agency operations funded by Congress.

The annual appropriations process broke down in the Senate earlier this year and it is unclear but probably unlikely that the $1.3 trillion in agency spending bills will be enacted this year, even in a post-election lame-duck session, especially if Joe Biden is elected to replace Trump.

In the past, both Democrats and Republicans have sought to use government funding deadlines and must-past temporary funding bills as leverage to try to win concessions elsewhere on Washingtons agenda. Such efforts invariably have failed.

Republicans in 2013 used it in an unsuccessful attempt to prevent implementation of the so-called Obamacare healthcare law and Senate Democrats returned the favour in 2018 in a futile effort to force debate on permitting immigrants brought into the country illegally as children  Dreamers  to remain in the US.

Pelosi had said she would not attempt any such confrontation this year.

Were not about shutting down government, Pelosi said Monday on MSNBC. And its not a lever.

The legislation, called a continuing resolution, would keep every federal agency running at present funding levels through December 11, which will keep the government afloat past the election.

The measure extends many programmes whose funding or authorisations would lapse on September 30, including the federal flood insurance programme, highway and transit programmes, and a long set of extensions of various health programmes  such as a provision to prevent Medicaid cuts to hospitals that serve many poor people.

It finances the possible transition to a new administration if Joe Biden wins the White House and would stave-off an unwelcome COVID-caused increase in health insurance costs for older Americans under Medicare.
A Queensland snake catcher has issued a warning to the public after capturing a huge red belly after it slithered through a school.

Stuart McKenzie from Sunshine Coast Snake Catchers said his last few weeks have been 'ridiculous' after catching several enormous reptiles in snake breeding season.

The experienced catcher told Daily Mail Australia he had seen a number of large adult snakes on the move through the region.

'It's been hectic,' Mr McKenzie said. 'It's that time of year. All the big adult snakes are out and about and mating and all the boys are fighting each other.'

Mr McKenzie was called to relocate an enormous red belly black snake on Friday after it snuck its way through the playground to the back of a school.

Stuart McKenzie (pictured) caught this huge red belly black snake from the back of a school on the Sunshine Coast on Friday

'It was very big for a red belly,' he said. 'A good four-and-a-half to five foot and fat and chunky.

'The teachers did a great job of keeping the kids away.'

Mr McKenzie estimated the snake was around eight-years-old and among a wealth of elder snakes travelling about on the Sunshine Coast lately.

'Everyone's coming out to play,' he said.

He posted a video on his Facebook page on Monday after discovering a whopping carpet python underneath a garbage bin in Nambour.

'The snakes just keep getting bigger,' Mr McKenzie captioned the video.

Mr McKenzie and his team also relocated an enormous carpet python (pictured) underneath a garbage bin in Nambour

'It is pretty crazy how this big snake somehow fit under the small wheelie bin. This is one of the biggest carpet pythons I've caught in years!'

Mr McKenzie warned Queenslanders to keep an eye out for any more big snakes during breeding season.

'If you find a snake, first thing you should do is get all people, kids and pets away from the snake,' he said.

'If you want to relocate it, keep an eye on it from a safe distance and give your local snake catcher a call.'
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Linkedin Apriadi Gunawan (The Jakarta Post) Medan  Tue, September 22, 2020 13:37 487 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46621e9 1 Politics regional-elections,Pilkada-2020,Bobby-Nasution,Jokowi,Medan,North-Sumatra,PDI-P,Sandiaga-Uno Free

Entrepreneur and former Jakarta deputy governor Sandiaga Uno has joined the campaign team for President Joko Jokowi Widodos son-in-law Bobby Afif Nasution and running mate Aulia Rachman ahead of the mayoral race in Medan, North Sumatra later this year.

Sandiaga  who ran as a vice presidential candidate alongside Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto against Jokowi and current Vice President Maruf Amin in last years presidential election  is set to serve as a member of the teams supervisory board alongside Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) members Maruarar Sirait and Sukur Nababan.

PDI-P chairperson in Medan, Hasyim, said Bobby had personally suggested that Sandiaga be involved in his campaign. Bobby had already confirmed Sandiagas position on the team, he said.

Bobby has contacted [Sandiaga], Hasyim told The Jakarta Post on Monday. Its all clear.

Hasyim, who leads the campaign for the Bobby-Aulia ticket, said the team was enthusiastic about Sandiagas support, claiming that many voters in Medan were already partial to the prominent businessman during last years presidential race.

Sandiaga Uno has a tremendous following in Medan, so we believe his involvement on the team will benefit the Bobby-Aulia ticket, he said, adding that Sandiagas past opposition to the Jokowi camp was unlikely to deter the mayoral candidates supporters in the region.

Read also: PDI-P fires members who refuse to back Jokowi's son-in-law for Medan mayor

However, whether Sandiagas endorsement of the Bobby-Aulia ticket could actually help put the campaign team at an advantage remains to be seen, as a number of his supporters in Medan have voiced their disappointment at his involvement in the campaign.

Harun Al Rasyid, a local Sandiaga supporter, for instance, said he was dismayed by the latest turn of events, claiming that the former vice presidential candidates involvement in the Bobby-Aulia campaign team could upset his following.

Its upsetting [] because Bobby is part of the political dynasty that [Sandiaga and Prabowo] opposed in the 2019 election, Harun told the Post.

According to Harun, Sandiagas endorsement of the Bobby-Aulia ticket did not necessarily mean that his supporters would vote for the pair.

Instead, Sandiagas following in Medan was more likely to vote for Medan acting mayor Akhyar Nasution and deputy mayor Salman Alfarisi in the upcoming election on Dec. 9, he said.

The Bobby-Aulia ticket has had the backing of eight parties, including the PDI-P, Gerindra, Golkar and NasDem. Meanwhile, the Akhyar-Salman ticket has been endorsed by the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and the Democratic Party. (rfa)
LAS VEGAS, NV / ACCESSWIRE / September 22, 2020 / Talisman Casualty Insurance Company LLC, a Las Vegas, Nevada based insurance company, would like to offer their surety programs to interested parties. A surety bond is a promise by a surety or guarantor to pay one party a certain amount if the second party fails to meet an obligation, such as fulfilling the terms of a contract. The bond protects the obligee against all losses that may result from the principal's failure to meet the obligation.

There are many different kinds of surety bonds, and Talisman Casualty Insurance has a wide range of options to choose from. Payment and performance bonds are one type of bond offered by the insurance provider. They are often used in the construction industry as a form of protection for an owner; ensuring that their contractor will complete the job, according to the contract, and that they will pay all of their subs and suppliers.

Talisman Casualty also offers compliance and licensing bonds, which are often used to maintain professional licenses or to obtain permits. There are usually statutory requirements for these types of bonds. The third type of surety bond offered by Talisman Casualty are court and legal bonds. These bonds can cover a wide range of court actions including bail, release of lien, adverse cost judgment, and more.

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If there is any profession in Ghana that has taken government and by extension people of Ghana to ransom without impunity then one cannot go beyond medical profession especially nurses.

Im have not been enthused at all by the actions of Ghanaian nurses since they became loud on their bargaining rights to ensure their demands are met by government at all cost, therefore, their current strike do not attract my sympathy.

I have also decided not to waste my time anytime they press home any financial matters with government especially when they resort to laying down their tools.

Though their constant pressure on government at this times, politically is to be expected but legally and ethical cant be accepted in any humane society.

I think its about time government take a bold step to consolidate some of their incessant demands for allowance and make sure those employed into that profession know that they are not above any profession that requires any special treatment.

In fact, getting to know that nurses are at it again, this time pressurizing government to demand their allowance hence embarking on strike made me feel that as citizens it will be ideal we also embarked on a similar exercise to make them aware that we are not happy about how they treat us whose taxes are used to pay them.

How on earth could nurses of a country like Ghana abandoned the hospital facilities simultaneously base on demand of allowance from government not salary arrears? Not even the directive by national labour commissions the umbrella body of workers directive to them to rescind their decision of strike is yielding any results.

Maybe the timing for this strike is not good for the government in power else I do not see why it should devote time to respond to them once they have failed to respect the people of Ghana.

Is it not this same nurses that are fighting government on PPES to fight covid-19 but was able to had tet-a-tet with it on definition of who a front like health workers is to enable them share the allowances that came from government own volition as quickly as possible? Though they are still enjoying that government allowance with no difficulty for a work they are paid for they are now in arms against government with no regards to citizens of Ghana who they are to serve.

They have left the hospitals on a similar allowance they claim are due them without considering the legislative processes it has to go through. This is not good for the image of Ghanaians nurses therefore they must change their approach for their demand to exclude denial of Ghanaians right to health.

Surprisingly these same nurses in Ghana would have loved Ghanaians show them similar hourner as their colleagues elsewhere who work extra hours without compulsory allowances from their government. No I wont recommend any Ghanaian to do so because their strike actions without recourse to our health cant induce same from us.

I would rather ask somebody whose words carry some weight to tell Ghanaian nurses that what they are doing is not good as human lives are involved. They must also be told in plain words that they are not the only profession in Ghana that are entitled to allowance. They should go back to the hospitals as all workers are in their respective offices working to move Ghana on.

When they go back to attend to the sick poor who are the most affected we can also support any worthy course of theirs

David Fianko-Okyere

Upper East Bolgatanga

[email protected]
OTTAWA, ON (Tuesday, September 22, 2020, 8 a.m. ET) - BioCanRx, Canada's Immunotherapy Network, today announced funding of $10M for 14 cancer immunotherapy research projects and eight core and biomanufacturing facilities. In addition to BioCanRx's investment, matching partner contributions of $16.5M increase the total investment in Canadian translational cancer immunotherapy research and manufacturing facilities to $26.5M.

Cancer is one of the biggest health challenges facing Canadians. Nearly 1 in 2 Canadians is expected to develop cancer in their lifetime. BioCanRx is working to turn the tide and improve outcomes for patients by accelerating the development of promising immunotherapy treatments which could be more effective, affordable and safe than conventional cancer therapies.

"We're collaborating and building teams across Canada to find new ways for the body's immune system to outsmart and kill cancer. This new funding is helping to bridge the research gap between lab discoveries and clinical trials to ultimately benefit patients," said Dr. John Bell, BioCanRx's Scientific Director and a senior cancer research scientist at The Ottawa Hospital and the University of Ottawa.

BioCanRx's investments in the development of novel therapies continue to be guided and benchmarked by its Research Management Committee composed of internationally renowned academics and industry leaders in the field of cancer immunotherapy. The focus of the newly funded projects includes highly innovative and novel approaches to cancer treatment, targeting difficult to treat cancers where current options are limited. The project investment portfolio includes cross-disciplinary teams from across the country working on new, rational combination approaches and unique cell, vaccine/virus-based and antibody immunotherapies. Investments in Canada's biomanufacturing capacity also feature prominently and additional sites across the country will be added to our point-of-care cell manufacturing network to enhance access to life-saving therapies to patients across the country.

Full list of BioCanRx research projects.

BioCanRx, a Government of Canada Network of Centres of Excellence, has been renewed for a 3-year cycle. In its first cycle of five years, BioCanRx invested $18.5M in Canadian immunotherapy research including eight "first-in-human" clinical trials. BioCanRx leveraged $62M in partnered funds and established core and biomanufacturing facilities to accelerate the pace of moving science discoveries out of the lab and into the clinic. A key investment enabled the building of Canadian capacity for point-of-care CAR T cell manufacturing. BioCanRx also formed the Cancer Stakeholder Alliance, made up of 51 cancer charities and non-government organizations, to help integrate the "patient voice" into all aspects of its clinical and science program and provide guidance with respect to health policy investments.

Additional Quotes:

Ken Newport, Chair, Board of Directors, BioCanRx:

"BioCanRx is investing in the best Canadian innovations in the field, always looking for a clear path to the clinic for the benefit of patients. It's also key to invest in the next generation of researchers. That's why we're committed to training and helping to build capacity in Canada for a thriving health biotechnology sector."

Dr. Stephanie Michaud, President & CEO, BioCanRx:

"Working with our partners in industry, patient groups, not for profits and government organizations, BioCanRx is translating immune-based technologies from the lab into early phase clinical trials. We're also committed to working in parallel to address the socio-economic factors necessary for their adoption in the Canadian healthcare system."

Dr. Duncan Stewart, Executive Vice-President, Research, The Ottawa Hospital, CEO and Scientific Director, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute and Professor, University of Ottawa

"The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute is proud to host the BioCanRx network. Working together, we are providing crucial support for groundbreaking cancer immunotherapy research that could save and transform lives."

Additional material including video and photos

###

About BioCanRx

BioCanRx, Canada's Immunotherapy Network, is a network of scientists, clinicians, cancer stakeholders, academic institutions, NGOs and industry partners working together to accelerate the development of leading-edge immune oncology therapies for the benefit of patients. Our vision is to cure patients and enhance the quality of life of those living with cancer. BioCanRx invests in leading edge immune oncology research translating world-class technologies from the lab into early phase clinical trials. BioCanRx provides researchers with access to funding, expertise, training and manufacturing facilities and is a leader in the translation, manufacture and adoption of cancer immunotherapies. The network is committed to training and developing the talent needed for a thriving health biotechnology sector in Canada. BioCanRx receives funding from the federal government's Networks of Centres of Excellence, and support from industry, the provinces and charities. The network is hosted by the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute. https://biocanrx.com/

Media contacts for further details or interview requests:

Nancy Boyle, Director, Communications, Marketing & Engagement, BioCanRx

613-402-5680 / nboyle@biocanrx.com

April Henry, Specialist, Operations and Communications, BioCanRx

ahenry@biocanrx.com
The estimated cost of construction of the new Parliament building is 971 crore, union housing and urban affairs minister Hardeep Puri informed Parliament on Tuesday. It is an increase of 82 crore from the Centres initial estimate.

The tender for construction of the new Parliament building is under scrutiny, while architectural plans for other buildings are under planning stage, Puri said in response to a question raised by All India Trinamool Congress(AITC) MP Mala Roy in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

The estimated cost for Construction of new Parliament Building is 971 crore. Estimated cost of other buildings and development/ redevelopment of Central Vista Avenue shall be worked out after finalization of plans, Puri said.

Last week, Tata Projects Limited emerged as the lowest of the two bidders for the tender to construct the new Parliament complex by quoting a bid of 861.90 crore. According to the Central Public Works Departments (CPWD) tender, the estimated cost of construction for the new building is 889 crore.

In response to a question from Trinamool MP, seeking the rationale behind the project in light of the fact that economy is in doldrums, Puri said that the facilities and amenities of the 93-year-old existing Parliament building are highly inadequate to meet the current demand of the Parliament.

The Central Vista redevelopment project has come under criticism from different quarters. While the Opposition has called for suspending around 20,000 crore project due to the pandemic, some conservationists have argued that it would change the historic nature of Lutyens Delhi.

The existing Parliament House Building was started in 1921 and commissioned in 1927; this building is already 93 years old and has since been declared heritage grade-I building. Its facilities and amenities are highly inadequate to meet the current demand of the Parliament. There is an acute shortage of office space and there are no individual chambers for Members of Parliament. This building was not meant for bicameral Parliament and has been over-stressed through large scale retrofitting done over the years, Puri said.

The other buildings on the Central Vista were built after Independence, i.e. Krishi Bhawan, Udyog Bhawan, etc. These buildings are more than 50 years old and there is a shortage of working space, parking, amenities and services in these buildings for an efficient office atmosphere The Central Vista, which is the main boulevard of New Delhi extending from Rashtrapati Bhawan to India Gate, is one of the most visited tourist places in Delhi. However, it lacks basic public facilities, amenities and parking, etc. The unorganized vending and haphazard parking leads to congestion and gives a poor public perception. Therefore, there is a need for its upgradation of the central vista, Puri added.

Puri said that in the current economic scenario, the project will generate a large number of direct and indirect employment.

The new Parliament building with a built-up area of approximately 60,000 metre square, is set to come up on plot number 118 of the Parliament House Estate, which currently houses a reception, boundary walls and other temporary structures. Work on the new Parliament, a ground plus two-storey triangular-shaped building, is expected to begin after the ongoing monsoon session.

According to the tender for its construction, the new building is required to be completed strictly within the prescribed time limit of 21 months.
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US Congressmen this week waded into the controversy over the British Museum's ownership of the Elgin Marbles, urging Boris Johnson to hand them back to Greece by 2021.

'The Marbles have been the source of controversy among western allies for many decades. Greece has long wanted these Parthenon Marbles back,' the 18 US lawmakers said in their letter to the Prime Minister.

The emphatic statement prompted derision from Blake Herzinger, an Indo-Pacific security analyst who has worked for the US Navy.

'For a country that only just returned some bells stolen in connection with an extraordinarily brutal occupation, we have strong opinions on the Elgin Marbles, apparently.' Herzinger tweeted, a reference to the Balangiga Bells seized from the Philippines in 1901.

America's own track record on antiquities is not exemplary, from the invasion of Iraq to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, plenty of comparisons can be made to Britain's acquisition of the Parthenon sculptures.

Indeed, at the beginning of the 19th century when Thomas Bruce, the 7th Earl of Elgin's Greek sculptures were arriving in London, American forces were massacring the indigenous population of their newly liberated country and destroying their culture.

Iraq's priceless antiquities plundered during the Iraq War

In April 2003, staff at the National Museum of Iraq evacuated the building ahead of the advance on Baghdad by US forces.

In the space of 36 hours, 15,000 cultural artefacts were ransacked, many of them priceless antiquities from Mesopotamia and Sumeria.

Much of the theft was perpetrated by locals but US Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had to repatriate more than 1,200 items from 2008 to 2015.

A US tank takes up position in the Iraqi museum in Baghdad, April 16, 2003. When asked about the looting at the time, Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said that 'stuff happens.'

'It is worth noting that there were no follow-up congressional hearings or independent investigations to pinpoint the parties responsible for the negligence connected to the museum debacle.' Archaeology Magazine reported in 2013.

Iraqi Col. Ali Sabah, commander of the Basra Emergency Battalion, displays ancient artefacts Iraqi Security Forces discovered Dec. 16, 2008, during two raids in northern Basra

Furthermore, as was reported by the Chicago Tribune in 2015, 'American military members, contractors, and others caught with culturally significant artifacts they brought home from the war there largely aren't prosecuted.'

It is not clear how many US soldiers returned home with looted goods, but the National Museum has had 8,000 items returned since the invasion, while another 7,000 remain unaccounted for.

Whether or not the US Army actively participated in the looting or not, it is incumbent on the invading force to protect such cultural artefacts as part of the Geneva Convention.

As many as 300 locals marauded through the museum taking artefacts at will before officials were able to take back control.

When asked about the looting at the time, Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said that 'stuff happens.'

Rumsfeld expressed sympathy for the looted antiquities but he denied that the war plan for Iraq had not adequately prepared for such a threat.

Some of the items would later be discovered in the hands of ISIS militants crushed by the US army in Syria.

Gold and lapis bowl from Ur, Iraq Museum IM8272. Current statue is unknown. Oriental Institute Lost Treasures from Iraq database

Duck-shaped weight from Ur, and formerly exhibited at the National Museum of Iraq. Current status unknown

The Metropolitan Museum of Art's controversial antiquities

A vase from the Karun Treasure, a collection of 363 Lydian objects which were handed back to Turkey by the Met in 1993

In recent decades New York's famous Metropolitan Museum of Art (the Met) has come under pressure over various items, some of them Greek items leading to comparisons to the infamous Elgin Marbles of the British Museum.

The most notorious example of all is the Euphronios Krater, a Greek terra cotta wine bowl dating from 515BC and the only complete example surviving by the renowned sculptor Euphronios.

The Met acquired the bowl in 1972 but handed it back to Italian authorities in 2008 after it was proven that the piece was stolen by Giacomo Medici, a prolific antiquities smuggler who was convicted in 2004.

Forensic archaeologist Christos Tsirogiannis claimed in 2017 that he had made the Met aware of another wine krater in its collection which had also come from Medici.

Speaking to National Geographic, Tsirogiannis said of museums such as the Met, 'They hang on to illicit objects as long as they can, until someone finds out  It's all about money, fame, and ownership.'

The Met told the magazine at the time: 'The Museum has been in touch with the Italian Ministry of Culture regarding the Terracotta Bell Krater.'

The Karun Treasure, a collection of 363 Lydian objects dating from the 7th century BC, was also handed back to Turkey by the Met.

The Karun Treasure was the subject of a legal battle between the Turkish government and the Met between 1987 and 1993.

The Met settled out of court and eventually returned the antiquities, admitting that 'some museum staff during the 1960s were likely aware, even as they acquired these objects, that their provenance was controversial.'

The Morgantina treasure is a set of 16 pieces of Greek silverware with gold details dating from the third century BC, which the Met also recently returned to their homeland

Pieces from the Morgentina treasure set which were returned to the Italian authorities by the Met in 2010

The Morgantina treasures are a set of 16 pieces of Greek silverware with gold details dating from the third century BC, which the Met also recently returned to their homeland.

They include two large bowls, a cup with two handles, plates and several drinking cups which would have been used in lavish feasts by the aristocracy.

They were illegally excavated from Sicily in the late 1970s and bought by the Met in 1980 and 1981.

After years of sustained pressure by Italian authorities, the Met finally agreed to hand them back to the Italians in a deal which also included the Euphronios Krater.

America's overseas territories  no taxation without representation?

Most of the former European colonial superpowers - including America's old British overlords - were forced to relinquish their overseas territories after the Second World War.

But the United States curiously managed to hang onto islands in the Pacific and the Caribbean  even governing over the people and taxing them without providing democratic representation.

These include the inhabitants of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Marian Islands and American Somoa.

The residents of these enclaves - except from American Somoans  are granted US citizenship but barred from voting in presidential elections, have no Senate representation and can only elect non-voting members of the House of Representatives.

The American Somoans live in a similar political limbo land but without the benefit of automatically earning US citizenship at birth.

The inhabitants of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Marian Islands and American Somoa have a peculiar democratic status

David Vine, an associate professor of anthropology at American University, wrote in the Washington Post that the concerns of the residents of the colonies was trumped by America's military strategy.

'The desires and power of the United States military have overwhelmed the desires and rights of colonized peoples.' Vine wrote in 2017.

Guam was ceded by Spain to the US in 1898 following Washington's victory in the Spanish-American War.

The Americans quickly set about turning the island into a naval base and it is still an important strategic asset today.

Indeed, one of the great benefits to the Americans of these overseas territories is that most States on the US mainland have their own laws about the numbers of military personnel they will accept in their borders.

By contrast, the same restrictions do not apply to the remote islands.

As Maj. Gen. Dennis Larsen told a journalist in 2004: 'Guam is a U.S. territory. We can do what we want here, and make huge investments without fear of being thrown out.'

The massacre of Indians and desecration of their ancestral homelands

Although it is fair to say that a large number of the native population were slaughtered by European settlers, following American Independence in 1776, the US government authorised a systematic removal of the Indian population which has been compared to genocide.

By the end of the Indian Wars in the late 19th century less than 238,000 native Americans remained, compared with an estimated 5 to 15 million which lived on the continent prior to the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492.

Following the War of Independence and the War of 1812, the racial antipathy towards the natives had been exacerbated by their allegiance with the British.

In 1830, the Indian Removal Act was signed by President Andrew Jackson which permitted the removal of southern tribes from their homelands to reservations west of the Mississippi.

December 1890: Bodies of Sioux Indians being unceremoniously piled into a mass grave hacked into the frozen Dakota soil after the massacre at Wounded Knee

The policy was aggressively enforced to make way for white farmers and settlers. Any who refused to leave their ancestral homes were dealt with violently.

The ensuing march of the tribes West became known as the Trail of Tears as thousands moved on by Jackson's armies died on the way.

As white expansion continued, the lands designated for the Indians were gradually stripped away.

The most tragic and infamous example in the litany of atrocities visited on the native population, came at Wounded Knee in 1890.

The Ghost Dance spiritual movement arose during the 1880s, a religion which spread among dozens of tribes in 16 states.

It taught that the Indians had been defeated and confined to reservations as a punishment by the gods and demanded that its followers reject the white man's culture.

On December 29, 1890, US cavalry troops arrived at Wounded Knee to disarm the Lakota people, followers of the Ghost Dance movement.

A memorial for the site of the Wounded Knee massacre

A deaf tribesman called Black Coyote is said to have been reluctant to give up his rifle, saying it had cost him a lot of money.

At the time one of the elder's was performing the Ghost Dance, when the rifle went off and the US Army swiftly set about firing indiscriminately at the populace.

More than 250 men, women and children were killed in the carnage.

The Lakota warriors tried to fight back but many had already given up their rifles.

Following the massacre, President Benjamin Harrison awarded around 20 soldiers the Medal of Honor.

The Balangiga Bells seized by American troops as trophies in a brutal operation during the PhilippineAmerican War in 1901

In 1901, American forces took three bells from the Catholic church of Balangiga on the eastern island of Samar as war booty in what historians said was a particularly brutal military operation in the new US colony.

In 2018, the US agreed to return the bells to the Philippines, following a demand by strongman President Rodrigo Duterte.

In a State of the Nation address in 2017, Duterte said: 'Give us back those Balangiga bells. They are not yours. They are ours. They belong to the Philippines. They are part of our national heritage.'

The Philippines, a Spanish colony for centuries, was ceded to the United States in 1898 at the end of the Spanish-American War.

Two of the bells were installed at a memorial in the state of Wyoming

The country gained independence from the US in 1946.

The brutal Samar campaign was launched about a month after Filipino rebels killed 34 US troops in Balangiga on September 28, 1901.

Seven other American soldiers perished during the escape from Balangiga, and US reinforcements razed the town the day after, it added.

Then-Philippine president Fidel Ramos first sought but failed to recover the bells during a 1998 Washington trip.

Two of the bells were installed at a memorial in the state of Wyoming, while the third was with US forces in South Korea.

The issue had sparked an emotional response from some of the descendants of American soldiers who served in the Philippines campaign and some US lawmakers opposed handing them back.

Looting by Union Army 'Bummers' during the Civil War

Some of the most wanton looting in US history occurred during the Civil War, when the Union army took advantage of its dominance over the Confederates in the latter stages of the brutal conflict.

Bummers was a term given to the marauding hordes of Maj. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman's Union army during its March to the Sea, a campaign waged through Georgia from November to December, 1864; and his conquests north through South Carolina and North Carolina in the American Civil War.

His forces followed a 'scorched earth' policy and this was characterised by poor discipline which allowed for bands of his men  some senior officers  to visit upon the population vicious foraging of food and looting.

North Carolina resident and Civil War diarist Jane Evans Elliot wrote of how her family's farm near Fayetteville was ransacked in March 1865.

Shermans bummers 'foraging' on a Georgia plantation from this 19th century illustration

'They pillaged and plundered the whole day and quartered upon that night and staid until 5 o'clock Monday evening. Some part of the time there were at least three different parties. The house was rifled from garret to cellar. Took all our blankets and all [my husband's] clothes, all our silver and knives and forks, all our luxuries, leaving nothing but a little meat and corn.'

Sherman himself admitted after the war that 'many acts of pillage, robbery, and violence were committed.'

However, some historians argue that the plundering ensured that the South would not have the resources to sustain its war effort. The war ended in April, 1865.
Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Bihar government had constituted the Bihar state university service commission in February 2019, with Dr Rajvardhan Azad, former chief and professor of ophthalmology at the All India Institute of Medical sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, as the chairman, to carry out appointments faster.

Around 19 months later, just before the notification of assembly election, Bihar is set to announce 4638 vacancies of assistant professors in 52 subjects for various subjects in States seriously understaffed universities and colleges. Many colleges and departments in the state continue to run without any teacher or just one or two.

Azad said the advertisement for vacancies would be given in a day or two. We wanted to advertise the vacancies earlier, but it got a bit delayed due to its late arrival in the prescribed format as per reservation roster applicable in Bihar. We received it on Sunday only from the education department and we are busy giving it final shape, he added.

The chairman said that unlike earlier, he would like the appointment process to be completed in a time bound manner. With more half of his term gone, he would like the process to get underway in December, as around 40 days would be given to the candidates for applying.

Everything will be online  right from advertising the posts to applying. There are six members in the commission and so we will have six boards for conducting interviews in two shifts - 15 candidates in each shift. If the need be, I will also chip in. The objective is to complete the process and give Bihar universities the teachers they need, said Azad.

The education department has sent the subject-wise vacancies after rationalization, which explains the lesser number compared to nearly 8000 vacancies estimated a couple of years ago. Earlier, the department had sent university-wise vacancy status, which the commission did not approve. LN Mithila University (Darbhanga) and Babasaheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar Bihar University (Muzaffarpur) have the highest number of vacancies of 856 and 826 respectively. Patna University, which has been left with less than 280 teachers, has got 273 vacancies, which means that even after appointments it will short of the its sanctioned strength.

The Raj Bhawan had last month passed the statute for the appointment of assistant professors and following uproar and subsequent intervention of chief minister Nitish Kumar, a revised notification was also issued earlier this month by relaxing norms for doctorates from the state universities, which were late to implement 2009 notification of the University Grants Commission (UGC).

In 2017, Bihar legislature had passed the Bihar state university service commission Act. Before Nitish governments advent in 2005, all appointments were through the commission, but it was dissolved in 2007 to vest the power of appointment in selection committees at the university level. However, the committees could not carry out any appointment following legal tangle between the state government and the Raj Bhawan and later the responsibility was given to the Bihar Public Service Commission.

BPSC had advertised 3364 vacancies in 2014 nearly 17 years after the last advertisement in 1997 and the interview process got underway in 2015 stretched up to 2020. During the period, growing vacancies due to retirement virtually diluted fresh intake.

Subjects --- Vacancies

English ---253

Hindi--- 292

History---- 316

Pol Sci ---- 280

Eco - --266

Psychology---- 424

Physics -- - -300

Chemistry ----332

Math ----261

Zoology ----285

Botany ---333

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Audi connect is quickly changing the way in which drivers interact with their vehicle on a daily basis, by offering a host of benefits and features.

While some features of Audi connect focus on navigation and infotainment, others focus on safety, security and convenience.

Sit back and relax

Audi connect simplifies vehicle ownership by offering numerous features that alleviate time-consuming tasks, like effectively assisting owners with vehicle service bookings.

This is done by activating the appointment request function on the myAudi app, which then ensures that all relevant information is sent directly from the vehicle to the preferred Audi Dealership.

Other benefits include automatic service reminders as well as the ability to stay informed of any upcoming service requirements.

Knowing your Audi better

Audi connect allows you to monitor key aspects of your vehicle in real-time, no matter where your physical location is.

Through the myAudi app, the system gives insight into important vehicle information such as the distance travelled or the fuel range.

The functionality can also inform you on pending warnings like an oil level assessment. This ensures that you are better informed about the status of your Audi, while you are on the move.

Location is the key

Finding your car has never been easier thanks to the Audi connect system. Simply select the car finder function on the myAudi app and receive walking directions along the most convenient route, straight to your Audi.

Not sure if the vehicles doors are locked or if the windows are closed? With the myAudi app, your smartphone can configure into remote control functionality thereby allowing you to activate the horn or the headlights and even set the air conditioner in your car, from wherever you are.

The system also offers a Geofencing alert service which enables you to set up prohibited locations.

If the vehicle enters or leaves one of these defined areas, you will immediately receive an alert. You can also set parameters according to time of day or date.

Speed Alert is another safety benefit that not only lets you monitor the speed of your Audi in real-time but will also notify you when a speed limit has been exceeded.

Safety first no matter where you are

Audi connect gives you peace of mind when it comes to safety and security. If someone is tampering with your Audi, you will be the first to know via the Theft Alarm Notification. Audi connect will notify you via email and push notifications on the myAudi app in order to keep you informed about the safety and security of your Audi.

In the event of an emergency or if you are in need of roadside assistance, a press of a button will alert the Audi Assist support centre to provide you with help and care. You can even use this feature to call for assistance if another road user has been in an accident.

The system sends accurate vehicle and location data to the emergency call centre which means that you are assured of a quick response at the site of the incident. In the event of a more serious accident where you might not be able to call for help, your car will automatically connect to the Audi emergency call centre.

The GPS position, driving direction, and how many passengers are in the vehicle is transmitted to the relevant local authorities as well.

While the spectrum of Audi connect services is model dependent, this latest technology ensures that you will have a far safer, more comfortable and efficient drive with Audi.

Audi connect is due to roll out in a few models across the Audi product range in South Africa this year and beyond, starting with the new Audi A4 model in October.

To read more about Audi connect, click here.
Erick Wandique said his stepfather treated him like a real son.

The 26-year-old Allentown man admitted he repaid his stepfathers kindness by siphoning $87,000 out of his retirement account.

He used the money to buy dogs, clothes and drugs for his friends and to pay for the animals' vet bills, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Diviny. Wandique bought himself a truck and used some of the money to fly himself and a friend from the Lehigh Valley to California for a vacation, Diviny said.

When his family found out, Wandique fled to Honduras, where he hid out from 2015 to 2019.

I know what I did is wrong, Wandique said in federal court in Easton on Tuesday.

U.S. District Judge Edward G. Smith sentenced Wandique to three years in federal prison and ordered him to pay back the money.

Wandique blamed the crime on anxiety, depression and the need to fit in. His mothers divorce from his stepfather and his addiction to heroin also contributed to the crimes, he said.

I hurt someone who raised me as his own, Wandique said. The way I paid him back was unfair and ungrateful.

He stole his stepfathers identity to obtain a debit card to withdraw funds from the account and wired funds from the stepfathers account. Wandique pleaded guilty to eight counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.

Smith said the crimes are alarming because they shake citizens' faith in the banking system. Everyone banks online and everyone fears they could lose their savings with one thiefs click of a mouse, Smith said. Also, Wandique preyed on a relative and didnt even need the money, Smith said.

It wasnt for need. It was for greed, the judge said.

Wandique said he lived with his biological father while in Honduras. He was addicted to heroin when he left the United States but beat the addiction within a year of arriving in Honduras, he said. He got a job as an English teacher but lost it due to trouble with alcohol, he said.

Defense attorney James J. McHugh Jr. said Wandiques crimes resulted from his mental health issues and his self-medicating with drugs and alcohol.

His stepfather wrote to the judge that the crime caused a terrible amount of anguish for Wandiques mother and didnt affect (the stepfather) in the way one would expect. He asked for leniency.

Diviny said the sophistication of the scheme shows Wandique was not out of control due to drugs when he committed the crimes.

When someone is a drug addict and thats the driving force behind the crime, you might see crimes of impulse, crimes of grabbing money. Why? To feed the drug habit. What you dont see is highly organized criminal behavior over the course of four months. Thats what this is, Diviny said.

Smith said he was skeptical of the stepfathers claim that he wasnt seriously affected by the crime.

But he also believes Wandique is remorseful and can be rehabilitated.

Wandique said he came back to the United States voluntarily and wants desperately to pay back his stepfather. He was arrested after his flight from Honduras landed in New Orleans. He said he told the U.S. Marshals he came back to pay off his debts.

I wake up every day in that cell and I think about everything Ive done. Sometimes I feel like I dont deserve anything but I know I have to keep going because of my family, he said.

His aunt and mother testified on his behalf.

Hes a good young man. He made a mistake, his aunt said.

Smiths sentence was within federal guidelines. McHugh asked for a sentence below the guidelines. Smith said his sentence takes Wandiques potential into consideration while balancing the needs of the community and needs for justice.

Its important that punishment be imposed and that the punishment reflect the crime, Smith said.

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Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. If theres anything about this story that needs attention, please email him. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook.
Prime Minister Ludovic Orban, National Liberal Party (PNL) chairman, said on Tuesday, in a press conference held in Cluj, that it is regrettable that Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania (UDMR) voted with Social Democratic Party (PSD) in Parliament to increase pensions by 40% and child allowances.

"It is regrettable that after they joined us in the Budget-Finance Committee and did not participate in this decision, they changed their position and somehow had a contribution to this decision of the PSD," said Ludovic Orban, asked to comment on the UDMR vote and the fact that the respective party wants to come to power after the parliamentary elections.Ludovic Orban added that his party aims to win the elections so as not to need alliances that complicate governance.Parliament passed on Tuesday the budget revision for 2020, with the PSD amendment on increasing the pension point by 40%.On Tuesday, Prime Minister Ludovic Orban, accompanied by Transport Minister Lucian Bode and Health Minister Nelu Tataru paid a visit to Cluj County.
Harivansh offers tea

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi showered praise on Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh on Tuesday after he offered tea to opposition MPs sitting on dharna in Parliament complex.

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To personally serve tea to those who "attacked and insulted" him a few days ago as well as those sitting on dharna, Modi tweeted, shows that Harivansh has been blessed with a humble mind and a big heart.

It shows his greatness, the prime minister said and added that he joins the people of India in congratulating Harivansh.

Narendra Modi tweet"For centuries, the great land of Bihar has been teaching us the values of democracy. In line with that wonderful ethos, MP from Bihar and Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson Shri Harivansh Jis inspiring and statesmanlike conduct this morning will make every democracy lover proud," he said.

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Eight Rajya Sabha MPs were suspended from the House on Monday for their "misconduct" during the passage of two farm bills on Sunday.
Project RELeaf builds on the pioneering Kinabatangan Rileaf Project, established by Nestle in 2011, which helped plant one million trees in Sabah. By widening its reach in Sabah and expanding for the first time to Peninsular Malaysia, Project RELeaf aims to scale up Nestle's efforts to restoring riparian forests in locations where palm oil is grown. For Project RELeaf, Nestle will plant three million trees across the Kinabatangan Wetlands and Merisuli Forest Restoration in Sabah, as well as in forest reserves along the Central Forest Spine in Peninsular Malaysia.

Nestle's global ambition is to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The company's strategy includes: transforming our portfolio to introduce more products that are better for you, better for the planet; sourcing 100% renewable electricity and scaling up nature-based solutions that remove carbon within our supply chain.

At Nestle, we are hard at work across all aspects of our business to achieve net zero by 2050, and we will release more detail on our roadmap later this year. Our efforts to restore forests is just one way we can unlock the power of food to enhance quality of life for everyone, today and for generations to come.

Read the full story here: www.nestleusa.com/media/pressreleases/allpressreleases/nestle-highlights-nature-based-solutions-nyc-climate-week-2020

1 CHF 4 million

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ANN ARBOR, MI -- A web application to check symptoms of the novel coronavirus that is used across the state was built at the University of Michigan.

MI Symptoms is allowing more than 2,500 employers across Michigan meet state guidelines to screen employees before entering the workplace, according to a news release. The application was built by students, staff and alumni from the College of Engineering and the Public Health school to also help provide data for the state, industry decision-makers and the public during the pandemic.

More than 50,000 Michiganders built profiles on the MI Symptoms app, which was was released in May, according to a news release. The program also provides real-time results through the employer dashboard online.

This update makes it easier for employers to meet the current state requirements that staff showing up for work in person must be screened for COVID-19 symptoms every day, said Dan Maletta, director of information technology at UM Engineering who helped lead the program development. It offers employers a live feed of data as employees report their symptoms.

The idea is to help public health officials and employers identify new outbreaks. Results can take several days to appear after testing but the program shows when and where new symptoms arise as the information is collected, according to a news release. But it does not track any movements or provide contact tracing.

They can identify places with a higher frequency of symptoms and reach out to businesses and organizations in that area to suggest getting tested. In this pandemic, getting ahead of the spread is one way to stop big outbreaks," said Sharon Kardia, professor of epidemiology and associate dean for education at the UM School of Public Health.

Program developers also aim to protect users' privacy.

The team is very much aware that we need to put the highest priorities on safeguarding users' and employers' data privacy, said Sugih Jamin, associate professor of computer science and engineering. We have worked very hard to ensure that our systems align with the states guidance on data protection. Collected data is not even shared with the states labor and occupational safety departments.

Reimagined Detroit auto show moves to September, October 2021

23 students at 10 University of Michigan buildings test positive for COVID-19, public health notices say

Eastern Michigan University to test wastewater for early detection of coronavirus on campus
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has clarified that a decision would be taken in the next two to three days to visit Bihar, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sunil Arora said on Monday.

Addressing an international webinar on "Issues, challenges and protocols for conducting elections during COVID-19: sharing country experiences", the CEC said the Commission would take a decision within the "next two to three days on visiting Bihar".

The EC clarified that "the Commission`s schedule of visit to Bihar has no corelation with the announcement of dates of State Assembly polls". According to an official release of the ECI, while commenting upon the scale of the upcoming elections to the Legislative Assembly of Bihar, Arora mentioned that the total number of electors is 72.9 million.

He highlighted how COVID-19 exigencies and social distancing measures necessitated a revisit of the ECI`s extant instructions. "The maximum number of electors at a polling station was reduced from 1,500 to 1,000, and consequently, the number of polling stations jumped by 40 per cent, from 65,000 to 100,000. These changes have huge logistics and manpower implications," Arora said.

Live TV

The CEC also observed that the ECI has placed a "lot of emphasis on extending facilitation to senior citizens, women, persons with disabilities and in current circumstances, ensuring franchise to COVID-19 positive voters and those in quarantine".

In this context, the CEC mentioned how, beginning with the elections to the Legislative Assembly of Jharkhand in November-December 2019, and elections to the Legislative Assembly of Delhi in February 2020, the postal ballot facility was extended to voters who are aged more than 80 years, persons with disability and those who engaged in specified essential services.

"This facility of the postal ballot has been extended to COVID-19 positive electors who are in quarantine or are hospitalized," he said.

Arora mentioned the specific and detailed guidelines that have been drawn up for conducting election during the time of COVID-19.He also mentioned the successful conduct of elections to 18 seats of the Rajya Sabha in the month of June, 2020. He noted that elections are due in the States of West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Puducherry and Tamil Nadu in the first half of the year 2021.

Arora stressed on the commitment of Election Management Bodies (EMBs) across the world for the conduct of free, fair, timely and participatory polls to strengthen the democratic system."CEC Sunil Arora underscored the commitment of Election Management Bodies (EMBs) across the world, for the conduct of timely, free, fair and participatory elections to foster democracy in the world.

He recalled former US President Abraham Lincoln`s allusion to democracies as -- governments of the people, by the people, and for the people," ECI said in a statement.Speaking at the event, Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra said, "In the shadow of COVID-19, elections have not only to be free and fair but also ensure safety for the electors as well as polling officials and security personnel on duty. Presentations from various countries show comprehensive preparedness required before, during and after elections. The ultimate concern is to ensure that voters feel safe while voting in COVID-19 times."

Over 120 delegates from 45 countries across the world participated in the Webinar. The Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB) is the largest association of Election Management Bodies (EMBs) worldwide. At present A-WEB has 115 EMBs as Members and 16 Regional Associations/Organisations as Associate Members. ECI has been very closely associated with the process of formation of A-WEB since 2011-12.
It appears that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will win again. As of Monday, he almost certainly has the votes that he needs to go back on the precedent he set in 2016 about refusing to seat Supreme Court justices in an election year and build upon the Supreme Court hes been intent on creating ever since he stole Merrick Garlands seat four years ago.

President Donald Trump is planning to name his nominee to be Ginsburgs replacement at the end of this week. The power grab, coming six weeks before an election that will decide the next president, contradicts McConnell and Trumps position four years ago that the voters needed to decide Justice Antonin Scalias replacement at the ballot box. Scalias seat sat open for more than a year after McConnell blockaded D.C. Circuit Court Chief Judge Merrick Garland from receiving a hearing. With a 63 conservative majority once the new nominee is confirmed, Scalias replacement Neil Gorsuch will likely soon be the middle justice in a hard-right bench.

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It took just three days after Ginsburgs death on Friday for McConnell to appear to secure the votes he needs to go forward with the shameless maneuver. Republicans control 53 seats in the Senate and a tie is broken by Vice President Mike Pence, so McConnell could lose three seats and still have enough votes to push through the nomination. Over the weekend, Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine said that it was only fair to hold to the 2016 precedent and allow the winner of Novembers election to fill the seat, while Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah has been coy about what he will do. Which meant that McConnell likely needs to keep the rest of his conference together.

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Earlier on Monday, the New York Times put the focus on a trio of senators in a piece headlined All Eyes on Romney, Grassley and Gardner as Supreme Court Confirmation Fight Looms Over the Senate. By Monday evening, though, two of those senators had confirmed they would support moving forward with Trumps nomination when Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Cory Gardner of Colorado announced theyd take up the presidents pick. Grassley was chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee when it spent 11 months refusing to even hold a hearing on Garlands nomination by President Barack Obama, and at the time he pledged he would do the same should the same situation arise in 2020. (As recently as July, Grassley said he would advise against holding a hearing for a nomination made before Nov. 3.) Current Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who repeatedly made the same pledge after backing McConnells blockade four years ago, over the weekend announced he was breaking that promise and supporting the nomination to go forward.

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Graham is currently locked in a fight for his political life with Democrat Jaime Harrison, who was tied with Graham in a recent Quinnipiac poll and whose fundraising has surged in recent days. Gardner is also facing a very tough reelection fight in Colorado, as is Montana Sen. Steve Daines who also announced his support for moving forward with the nomination. Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa, also facing a highly competitive Senate challenge, said she would proceed with the nomination process, as did Sen. Thom Tillis, who trails in most polls in his North Carolina race. Ernst and Tillis were both vocal proponents of blocking Garland. Indeed, four years ago, Tillis said: It is essential to the institution of the Senate and to the very health of our republic to not launch our nation into a partisan, divisive confirmation battle during the very same time the American people are casting their ballots to elect our next president.

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Sen. Martha McSally, who has trailed badly in most polls of her race in Arizona, also quickly came out in favor of moving a nominee forward. Georgia Sens. Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue, both facing election this year, also supported the move, as did Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith who is facing a surprisingly strong challenge in deep-red Mississippi.

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As for potentially vulnerable Republican incumbents who would be up for reelection in 2022, Sens. Rob Portman of Ohio, Marco Rubio of Florida, and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin have closed ranks to support the nomination moving forward.

Of the 16 senators who have yet to declare their support one way or the other, according to a tracker by the Washington Post, many are very vocal conservatives in extremely red states who seem exceedingly likely to support the nomination. The two possible exceptions are Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania and Richard Burr of North Carolina, the latter of whom is retiring and the former of whom is up for reelection in a purple state in 2022 but has been a steady vote for McConnell in the past. They have repeatedly backed McConnell in other tight votes in the past and should both be expected to come around.

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In the past four years, these sorts of battles over hugely consequential Senate voteswhether the failed votes over repealing the Affordable Care Act or the successful votes to seat Brett Kavanaugh after he was accused of sexual assault and to block witnesses at Trumps impeachment trialhave had some built-in drama around them.

With so much at stake this timesuch as the ability to repeal protections for patients with preexisting conditions, kill Roe v. Wade and criminalize abortion in Georgia and elsewhere, and possibly throw out key ballots in Novembers electionit appears very much this time to be a foregone conclusion.
PHILIPSBURG:--- On Friday, September 25th, 2020, the Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunset will be hosting its third annual Reading Slumber Fun Event. The event will kick off at 7:00 pm sharp until 8:30 pm on the virtual platform, Zoom. This years Reading Slumber Fun promises to be one for the record books as the club takes their popular and most talked about slumber party online. The theme of this years event is Dr. Seuss and children of all ages are asked to get their pajamas, pillows, and blankets ready for a fun-filled evening of live storytelling, puppet shows, and giveaways.

The month of September is recognized by Rotary clubs worldwide as Basic Education, Literacy, and New Generations month, where Rotary clubs focus on advocating the importance of Basic education and Literacy through various projects and literacy programs. The Reading Slumber Fun event is a slumber party themed event geared at promoting the importance of reading through dramatic storytelling, puppet shows, and educational and interactive games.

The third annual Reading Slumber Fun event will feature local readers and storytellers as well as a surprise international guest reader. Members of the Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunset will also have the opportunity to showcase their artistic talents with a live puppet show. All participants are asked to log in to the Zoom meeting using ID # 992 348 5801 (no password required). In order to keep the virtual event interactive and engaging, all participants will be required to have their cameras turned on, any participant with their camera off will be removed. The cost of this event is absolutely FREE of charge, children are asked to bring their happy smiles and enthusiasm to make this event a success.

The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places youll go.  Dr. Seuss. The Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunset is asking children of all ages to join them for a fun-filled evening where they can journey across the world with their vivid imaginations.

For more information, persons can email the club via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit the Facebook page at the Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunset.
Six of the country's leading international aid charities are joining forces to respond to the worsening global Covid-19 pandemic in some of the world's poorest countries.

The new Irish Emergency Alliance is made up of ActionAid, Christian Aid, Plan International, Self Help Africa, Tearfund, and World Vision, which between have programmes in 85 countries.

They hope to jointly raise money from the Irish public and respond in countries facing rising coronavirus cases, which, in many instances, is exacerbating existing problems linked to poverty, hunger, conflict, and displacement.

The coronavirus appeal will focus on communities in Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, and South Sudan, as well as Ethiopia, Kenya, Lebanon, and the Rohingya refugee camps of Coxs Bazar in Bangladesh.

Helen Keogh, chairwoman of the Irish Emergency Alliance, said the unprecedented scale of the pandemic had prompted the coming together of the aid agencies.

We have all seen the devastating impact of the coronavirus crisis in Ireland, so you can imagine how much harder it is for people living in countries without enough doctors or nurses let alone enough ICU beds or ventilators," she said.

A lack of widespread testing in many developing countries suggests that we may only be seeing the tip of the iceberg of the true scale of the global coronavirus crisis.

Minister of State for Overseas Development Aid and Diaspora Colm Brophy said his department has already provided the member agencies of the Irish Emergency Alliance with over 16m in 2020 to provide humanitarian and development assistance.

As part of its fundraising efforts, the alliance is asking for donations at irishemergencyalliance.org or by calling 1800 939979 or by texting IEA to 50300 to give 4.
There are various creatures on earth that have still not been discovered. Possibly in places that have still not been visited by humans or deep underwater. Some creatures even hide in plane sight.

However, one giant rat found in Mexico City could not really hide anywhere.

Facebook/Enrique Serna

As crews cleaned 22 tons of trash from Mexico Citys drainage system, they came across what is being described as a giant rat.

The pictures and the video are enough to give any God-fearing person a nightmare but do not worry, rats have not evolved so much that they could grow this big, not yet anyway.

The rat turned out to be a Halloween prop from a warehouse which is believed to have been washed away during storms, somehow disappearing into a labyrinth of drains underground. One has got to admit, those are some huge drains in Mexico City to have this giant a rat prop just sitting or floating around there.

Reportedly, people who saw the giant freaky rat prop could not figure out how it even squeezed through a drain in the first place but everyone seemed impressed with how much it looked like a real rodent.

Yeah real and scary.

Also read: Gigantic Deep Sea Creature Looks Like An Alien UFO And People Are Loosing Their Minds



According to Kron4, a woman named Evelin Lopez admitted it was hers, part of materials she had collected for Halloween, but that it washed away years ago during storms.

Reportedly, she asked for assistance to search the drain but received no help. There is no surety as to whether she plans to keep the prop or not.

Talking of creatures...

Martyn Green was on vacation with his family when they came across some bizarre sea creatures that none of them had ever laid eyes on before. The family was holidaying on the shores of Caernarfon in North Wales and that is where they saw the unusual creatures.

Facebook/Enrique Serna

At first, they thought it was just an unusual-looking piece of driftwood. However, once they went closer, they realised that the 'driftwood' was actually covered with thousands of tentacled sea creatures, reported The Scottish Sun.

Mr Green and his son Googled to find out what kind of sea creature it is and came across Goosenecked Barnacles. Turns out, these rare specimens are delicacies in Portugal and Spain - they are known as percebes and are sold for "as much as 25 pounds a go."

In order to keep the rare sea creatures safe from people who might try to take advantage of the situation, Mr Green did not reveal the location of his findings so that nobody can ambush the place and destroy the 'percebes'.

Also read: Scientists Discover Never-Before-Seen 'Translucent' Sea Creature Off Australia's Northwest Coast
FAIRFIELD  A student enrolled at Fairfield Ludlowe High School has tested positive for coronavirus, according to Superintendent Mike Cummings.

In a message to families and staff on Tuesday afternoon, Cummings said the individual had not been in the building in the past 72 hours and has not been in close contact with anyone in the school community for two days prior to testing.

Therefore, theres no need for anyone at FLHS to self-quarantine and school will remain open, he said.

If there was a need for anyone to self-quarantine, Cummings said, they would be contacted directly by a member of the Fairfield Health Department Contact Tracing Team.

CDC and Connecticut Department of Public Health protocols require that anyone testing positive remain in isolation for at least 10 days, he said. Information related to case investigations is confidential and private health information will not be disclosed by FPS or Fairfield Health Department.

Cummings said health and safety protocols were followed in consultation with Health Department Director Sands Cleary and Nursing Supervisor Jill Mitchell.

The safety of our community is our priority, he said. We are monitoring this situation closely and will continue to keep you informed of any changes or additional information.

The announcement comes on the day the Board of Education is scheduled have a discussion about a full reopening of Fairfield Public Schools. The meeting is set for 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, and will be streamed via FairTV.
In October 2019, PM Modi said, When our neighbour could not succeed in its nefarious designs by sending terrorists and weapons, it hatched a conspiracy to smuggle drugs into our country to destroy our youth. In 2018, Punjab CM Amrinder Singh, while talking about the drug problem in Punjab, said, Pakistan has a long-term plan of destroying our youth. They are trying to demolish the youth along the border. He was referring to seizures of hundreds of kilograms of drugs in Gujarat, and Jammu & Kashmir that was, according to him, were intended for Punjab.

Neither the drug problem in India nor Pakistans role in pushing drugs in India is new. Drug usage in border areas, especially Punjab, has increased exponentially in recent years. However, in the last few years, the instances and quantity of drugs being seized have increased exponentially. In the recent case of drug connection with Sushant Singh Rajputs death, Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Director Rakesh Asthana said that they had found connections to international drug racket linked to Dubai and terror organizations. He stated, Drugs were procured for rave parties, and the funds were used for narco-terrorism.

What is narco-terrorism?

Narco-terrorism as a word was first used in the 1980s in the US when the drug smugglers in Bolivia, Colombia, Peru, Nicaragua, and other Central American started using the illegal trade as a profession. Their impact on the economy in the region was so deep that they virtually ran the parallel government. The US became the largest consumer of the produced drugs, and the country is still struggling with the problem.

According to Kshitij Prabha, Principal at Russell Square International College, Narco-terrorism can be defined as the nexus between narcotics and terrorism. Prabha published a paper Narco-Terrorism and Indias Security during her tenure as Associated Fellow, IDSA, in which she discussed the role of neighbouring countries, specifically Pakistan, in pushing drugs in India. In her paper, she referred to the Golden Crescent, which is a slice of the opium-producing area that cuts across Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan (Sanker Sen, Heroin Trafficking in the Golden Crescent).

In 1999, Pakistan and Afghanistan produced around 6000 metric tons of drugs. It is a major security concern for India as it acts as a major source of funding for Pak-sponsored terrorism in India. It is much easier for the terror organizations to raise funds for terror activities in Indian territories using drug money as the price tag is almost a hundred times more compared to the production cost. Also, the price differs exponentially in international markets. For example, one kilogram of heroin from the Golden Crescent that costs around one lakh to produce may sell for anywhere between Rs 30 lakh to one crore depending on the market.

One of the most notable uses of drug money and drug trafficking routes in terror operations in India was the 1993 terrorist attacks in Mumbai in which the Dawood Ibrahim gang was involved. It was found that the explosives used in the terror attack were brought to India using the same routes that the Dawood gang used to smuggle people, arms, and contraband. According to a report in Times of India, a US Congressional report described D-company as a criminal syndicate operation comprised of over 5,000 members active mainly in Pakistan, India, and the United Arab Emirates. The report suggested that it has a strategic alliance with ISI and has relationships with Islamists, including Lashkar-e-Taiba and al-Qaida.

Importance of tracking the drug-routes

India has been a victim of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism for decades. There have been several instances where drugs originated from Pakistan have been seized in India. Pakistans government in collaboration with the ISI is using narcotics to fund terrorism in India. In 1994, during an interview, Pakistans former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said that Pakistans army chief and the head of its intelligence agency (ISI) proposed a detailed plan to use the heroin trade to fund military operations in 1991. Sharif added that though he disapproved of the plan, he had no source to verify if the ISI obeyed his orders or not. The neighboring country is also exploiting the religious sentiments of the Muslims in the bordering states of Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, and Gujarat. ISI often lures the economically backward Muslim population of these states for easy movement of drugs into different states of India that further helps in funding terrorism.

Siegfried O. Wolf in Pakistans bigger plans of narco-terrorism said that in the last years, it had established smuggling networks across India, especially in the Kashmir Valley. The network helps in a steady supply of weapons and narcotics. After the major terrorist attacks in Uri and Pulwama, India increased security measures that resulted in the suspension of traditional smuggling routes. Pakistan shifted its concentration to other land-based trafficking routes via Punjab and Gujarat. Border Security forces have seized several consignments on the India-Pakistan border that contained both weapons and narcotics.

According to the World Drug Report of 2010, India had 871,000 heroin users and 674,000 opium users in 2009. By 2018, according to a survey conducted by Atul Ambekar et al. under the Ministry Of Social Justice And Empowerment, about 2.1% of the countrys population (2.26 crore individuals) used opioids. It is impossible to prevent drug usage without understanding the routes smugglers use to traffic drugs in the country. The easy availability of the drugs in these areas increases the drug usage exponentially. By understanding the routes, border security forces can significantly reduce the transport of drugs from Pakistan and other neighbouring countries to India.

Drug problem in Punjab and its connection to Khalistani Movement

N.S. Jamwal in Management of land borders mentioned that during the peak of the Khalistan movement in Punjab, Sikh terrorists in Punjab made an unholy alliance with the drug traffickers. They used to get weapons from Pakistan with the help of drug traffickers. The traffickers arrested by the security forces confessed on many instances that the security forces on the other side allowed them to cross the border on the condition that they will deliver weapons to the terrorist organizations in India. Even after terrorism in Punjab was nabbed by the security forces, the use of drug traffickers to deliver weapons and funds to terror organizations is still in use.

Dr. Pushpita Das, Associate Fellow at the IDSA, in a report on Drug Trafficking in India, said that during the 1980s, the Lahore-Fazilka-Bhatinda-Delhi route became the most favoured route to send drugs in India, followed by the Attari-Wagah route. It has been alleged that the Samjhauta Express has been frequently used to transport illicit drugs from across the border.

Though the connection between Khalistan and drug trafficking via Pakistan can be traced back to more than four decades, there has been an increase in such cases in recent times. Here are some notable cases that help in exploring the connection between Pakistans ISI and Khalistan Movement.

532 KG heroin was seized on Attari Border, Amritsar in June 2019. It was being brought via trade route hidden in hundreds of rock salt bags. The main accused, Ranjeet Singh Rana, was arrested in May 2020 in Haryana. His location was revealed during interrogation Bikram Singh and Maninder Singh, who were accomplices of Hilal Ahmed Wagay, a close associate of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Riyaz Naikoo. When Bikram was arrested, he was en route to deliver 29 lakh of drug money to Wagay.

In July 2019, there were reports that Pakistan based Khalistani terrorists are smuggling drugs in India to fuel terror-activities in Punjab. The report mentioned three instances linked to Paramjit Singh Panjwar, chief of Khalistan Commando Force, a terrorist organisation, based in Lahore since 1994. In May 2019, six Pakistani fishermen were arrested for smuggling 218 KG narcotics on Gujarat border. On 26th May the Maldivian police intercepted an Iranian boat with a Pakistani national and seized large quantity of drugs that were supposed to be delivered in India. On 10th July, based on Indian Intelligences inputs, Sri Lankan coast guard seized 50 KG heroin from a Pakistani boat.

According to a report of February 2020, the Khalistan Liberation Force leader Harmeet Singh PHD was killed in Pakistan over a rivalry between two groups as they wanted to have control over drug money. Singh was wanted in 17 cases by Indian security forces. The Hindu quoted an anonymous source who stated the recent increase in drug trafficking has resulted in the generation of huge money for the syndicates that they are using to push weapons for terror activities in India.

In July 2020, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) designated nine individuals associated with Khalistani Movement as terrorists. Out of those ten individuals, Lakhbir Singh Rode and Paramjit Singh Panjwar were designated as terrorists for their involvement in drug trafficking and anti-India activities.

Is Khalistan Movement rising again in Punjab?

Though Punjab has not experienced surge in terror activities in the recent years, there is no doubt that from time to time Khalistani Movement shows its presence in the state. Since Referendum 2020 was launched by Khalistani supporters that is supposed to happen in November 2020, there has been an increase in Khalistan-related activities in Punjab. In June 2020, on the 36th anniversary of operation Blue Star, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh said every Sikh wants Khalistan. Ahead on Independence day 2020, journalists across states received malicious calls demanding the creation of Urdustan and Khalistan. On 15th August, pro-Khalistani elements were arrested for hoisting Khalistani flags on government buildings. On 23rd August, a Khalistani sympathizer was arrested for praying in support of the Referendum 2020.

These activities need the money and the nexus between Khalistani groups, ISI and smugglers are raising easy drug money to support militancy in Punjab while destroying the youth with drug addiction.

Source : OpIndia
Eli Lilly CEO Dave Ricks told CNBC on Monday the pharmaceutical industry's pursuit of treatments and vaccines for the coronavirus pandemic has been defined by two qualities: speed and cooperation.

Appearing on "Mad Money," Ricks referred specifically to the early data released last week for drug maker's potential coronavirus treatment using neutralizing antibodies.

"Speed is a hallmark to the industry's response to Covid-19, and I don't think most everyday listeners understand. We developed this antibody and got to proof of concept in six months," Ricks said in an interview with CNBC's Jim Cramer. "Usually, that's more than six years."

The global health crisis also brought together industry rivals in hopes of accelerating the development  and the production  of drugs that may help limit the impact of Covid-19, Ricks said. More than 31.1 million people worldwide have been infected and at least 962,343 have died since the novel coronavirus emerged late last year in China, according to data compiled to Johns Hopkins University.

"One of the reasons we published this data last week was so our competitors who also are developing neutralizing antibodies can learn from that study and adapt their own efforts so we all get more of these things sooner," said Ricks, who has been Eli Lilly's CEO and chairman since 2017.

A spirit of cooperation also explains why Eli Lilly teamed up with Amgen in a deal announced Thursday, according to Ricks, who described manufacturing as a "huge problem." He added, "One drawback of neutralizing antibodies is while they may be pretty safe and they have good effects, they're very hard to make."

However, Ricks said the partnership with Amgen will allow Eli Lilly  should its antibodies prove effective in trials and receive approval from regulators  to "bring more volume to the fight, so that more people around the world can benefit from the therapy like the one we have preliminary data on."

In August, Eli Lilly began a study looking at whether one of its antibody drugs can prevent coronavirus spread in nursing homes, using an innovative network of mobile labs to facilitate the research. The antibody being studied was developed alongside AbCellera Biologics, a privately held Canadian biotech firm.

Shares of Eli Lilly closed Monday's session at $151.18, falling almost 2%. The stock is up almost 15% year to date.
(Natural News) Last week, a sweep by the U.S. Marshals Service led to the recovery of five missing children and the arrest of 262 suspects.

The arrests came after a two-month anti-gang operation known as Operation Triple Beam OKC, which took aim at violent crime in the Oklahoma City area. Their goal was to make communities safer while getting violent fugitives and their weapons and narcotics off the streets.

Among the 262 arrested, 141 were confirmed to be gang members. Police recovered 72 firearms, $17,000 in cash and 9 kilograms of narcotics. Six of those arrested had been wanted for homicide, while there were 21 burglary suspects, 21 assault suspects, 57 drug offense suspects and 88 weapons offense suspects.

One of the individuals rounded up was Pablo Robledo, who had escaped from the Oklahoma County Detention Center. The Surenos gang member was up on murder charges. Another suspect, Dkwon Littlejohn, is a Rollin 60s Crip gang member who is suspected of burglarizing a special agent for the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations vehicle and stealing his duty rifle. Meanwhile, a pair of Dungee Crip gang members, Charles and Chasady Hall, are accused of kidnapping their children from an Oklahoma City daycare center while they were in the custody of the Department of Human Services.

Law enforcement saves children regularly, but people still want to defund police

The move comes not long after 39 endangered children were recovered in Georgia. At that time, the Chief of the U.S. Marshals Service Missing Child Unit, Darby Kirby, commented that apprehending criminals is a good feeling but it pales in comparison to finding missing children.

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.

Known as Operation Not Forgotten, the two-week effort was carried out in the Atlanta and Macon areas. Twenty-six children were rescued in the operation and 13 were safely located. Nine criminal associates were arrested on charges such as registered sex offender violence, parental kidnapping, sex trafficking and custodial interference.

The Marshals reported that the children involved were among the most at-risk and difficult recovery cases in the area.

A similar mission led to the discovery of around two dozen children aged 13 to 18 in Ohio, some of whom had been neglected, abused and trafficked.

Since the U.S. Marshals first started working with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in 2005, they have recovered more than 1,800 missing children. Last year, the Marshals recovered 295 missing children on requests for assistance from law enforcement agencies and contributed to recovering a missing child in 75 percent of the cases they received. Of those recovered, the recovery of 66 percent of them took place within seven days of the Marshals stepping in, according to a press release.

According to the FBI, a child goes missing in the United States every 40 seconds, with 765,000 children going missing per year. The Marshals have been doing some great work in recovering children and apprehending criminals, and their efforts should be applauded. Anyone who thinks that law enforcement agencies should be defunded needs to think very carefully about the help they provide to societys most vulnerable people and ask themselves who they would turn to if their own child went missing and there werent any police to help.

Sources for this article include:

TheEpochTimes.com

KFOR.com

WFAA.com

USMarshals.gov
HARRISBURG  President Donald Trumps homestretch push to repeat his razor thin victory in Pennsylvania four years ago wont happen without white evangelicals, and there are signs that critical component of his coalition hasnt lost the faith.

Its a group that has often made the difference for Republicans on the Pennsylvania ballot. And while some born-again voters had misgivings about Trump in 2016, they helped him eke out a 44,000-vote margin of victory in the state. This time around, they sound eager to repay him for supporting their agenda.

Trumps policies have helped keep in the fold evangelicals who otherwise might have been discomforted by his style. Their opinions on a range of political issues make them among the least likely voters to jump to former Vice President Joe Biden, the Democrat.

A recent NBC News/Marist poll in Pennsylvania found 79% of white evangelicals saying they will vote for Trump in this years presidential election.

Many of us who support the president wish sometimes he didnt say the things he did, wish he had a character more in line with scriptural teachings, said Laszlo Pasztor, a retired military officer from Carlisle who organizes evangelicals politically. Many of us say hes a work in progress. However, his policies, nevertheless, have probably been more Christian than the policies of any president in my lifetime.

The Biden campaign frames the real religious issue at stake as systemic racism, while evangelical Trump voters point to his support for anti-abortion efforts, school choice, religious freedom and the movement of the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.

Like-minded judicial appointees are key to the evangelical political agenda. Trump has had a transformative impact on the courts system: Last year, the number of federal judicial appointees approved by the U.S. Senate was more than twice the annual average over the past three decades. And conservatives have now set their sights on what would be the Trump administrations third U.S. Supreme Court seat, following the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Friday.

The vacancy is an opportunity, albeit its going to be quite turbulent and challenging because of the timing, Pasztor said, adding that participants in an online video conference for evangelical campaign efforts on Saturday morning prayed for the comfort of Ginsburgs family.

Evangelicals, Christians who generally have had a born again personal religious conversion or awakening, form a significant slice of the electorate. They believe in the Bible as Gods literal word and embrace an activist aspect to their faith. Trump was raised as a Presbyterian, a mainline Protestant denomination, and Biden is a practicing Roman Catholic.

White evangelical voters made up 17% of the 2018 midterm electorate in Pennsylvania, according to an AP VoteCast survey. And a Pew Research Center analysis found 20% of voters nationwide in the 2016 election were white evangelicals; 77% of them backed Trump. Black Protestant voters often share religious views with white evangelicals, but they largely vote Democratic.

While evangelical voters are scattered across Pennsylvania, they are most concentrated in the T-shaped swath of farm and forest land outside the greater Philadelphia and Pittsburgh regions.

Its a strong, quiet undercurrent that will sweep the T again in huge numbers, said state Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati, a Republican who represents a sparsely populated district along the New York border.

Larry Denver, who helped found the Faith and Freedom Coalition state chapter, said his enthusiasm for Trump has grown since 2016. Like many other evangelicals, Trump was not his first choice four years ago  he favored U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas in the Republican primary.

Throughout the scriptures, God has done most of his work through the most unlikely people, said Denver, a retired veteran from the Philadelphia suburbs. The people he picks are not normally the ones youd think would be involved.

Trump is using white evangelicals, hes playing on their anti-intellectualism, said John Fea, an American history professor at Messiah University outside Harrisburg and an evangelical churchgoer who has written extensively about evangelicals in politics and public life.

I feel that most white evangelicals who support Trump are often sacrificing the integrity of the office of the president, Fea said. Theyre supporting a person  the list goes on  a liar, someone who has constantly played with racist language.

Bidens campaign hopes to make some inroads, with plans to launch an evangelicals for Biden effort next week, according to Josh Dickson, the campaigns national faith engagement director.

In this moment, there is a stark moral contrast between the common good values of the Biden-Harris agenda, which deeply aligns with the values of people of faith, and the agenda of the current administration, which is based in divisiveness and fear, Dickson said in a statement.

Fea said Biden may be able to reach enough evangelicals to make a difference in a close race, particularly around Philadelphia, but he sees in evangelicals devotion to a political effort that has been entrenched for decades.

Is the political playbook going to hold up even with a corrupt guy who doesnt hold our values? The answer is yes, the political playbook is the most important thing, Fea said.

Evangelicals often cite Trumps vice presidential selection of Mike Pence, who championed evangelical issues while an Indiana congressman and governor, as a turning point in getting behind Trump. Theyve noticed when Trump and Pence have brought up faith and made other religious references in public remarks.

We have a vice president that not only speaks our language but has shown day in and day out that he is a man of God, said Justin Behrens, an evangelical Christian who chairs the Republican Party in Luzerne County, which Trump flipped in 2016 with a 25-point swing from President Barack Obamas reelection.

Trump needs his appeal to evangelicals to pay off ahead of the Nov. 3 election with campaign help, donations and the type of energy that makes someone persuade fence-sitting friends and neighbors.

Pasztor has been volunteering with the Trump Victory Faith Coalitions local organization and organizing voter registration drives, poll workers and neighborhood networks within the evangelical community, to reach those who did not turn out for Trump in 2016.

What remains to be seen is how the evangelical vote will play out at a time when the coronavirus pandemic is limiting the informal Sunday political talk at churches. Trump needs to energize that evangelical, churchgoing part of his base to claim Pennsylvanias 20 electoral votes.

Evangelical voters tend to be competitive, they tend to be out front, they tend to be more involved, they go to rallies, said veteran Pennsylvania pollster Terry Madonna, a political science professor at Franklin & Marshall College. They are critical.

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KALAMAZOO, MI  Kalamazoo commissioners approved a controversial tax break for a paper mill thats causing a rotten smell around the city, but they put the company on a short leash by making continuance of the financial arrangement dependent on odor reduction.

The commission approved an abatement for the $600 million Graphic Packaging International expansion at 1500 N. Pitcher Street after deliberating for several hours on the longstanding industrial odor problem during the Sept. 21 regular meeting.

Graphic Packaging had requested a 12-year tax break worth about $1.6 million, but commissioners only approved a six-year arrangement contingent on the companys odor reduction performance at reviews in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2026.

Clawback provisions were also added to retrieve the lost tax revenue should the company fail to meet odor mitigation goals outlined at the meeting.

Commissioner Eric Cunningham pushed for the stringent reviews, casting the issue as one of generational accountability to Kalamazoo residents thats been long forsaken.

In the 90s, I didnt have a voice to communicate that I was tired of smelling this, Cunningham said; adding that his father, whos lived in the area of town thats plagued by industrial emissions his whole life, was diagnosed with COPD lung disease despite never smoking.

Cunningham wants to see the health of local people studied with an eye to air quality.

Im not saying theres a direct correlation, but what if there was? he asked. Im sure there are people across this community that have this concern.

More than a dozen people called into the online meeting to oppose the tax break, mostly citing environmental justice concerns. The Graphic Packaging factory is located adjacent to the majority Black Northside neighborhood. Residents there are suing the company, saying the odors and dust are reducing their property values and harming their health.

Opponents who spoke included former mayoral candidate David Benac, a Western Michigan University history professor who accused Graphic Packaging of failing to address the odors despite a years-long history of violation notices from state environmental officials.

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) has cited Graphic Packaging eight times in the past decade for odors and twice for fallout dusting.

The violations were revealed by an MLive investigation in August, which found that a Graphic Packaging open-air industrial wastewater clarifier along the Kalamazoo River near Paterson Street was releasing odorous hydrogen sulfide (H2S) gas with peaks well above the odor threshold, according to a June report by the Jones & Henry engineering firm.

If it was something that was important to the company, it would have been addressed at this point, Benac said. We should not be spending public money on this.

Two people, including Dave Maurer, Humphrey Products president, called into support the tax request. Maurer warned commissioners that denying it to Graphic Packaging this late in the process would have a chilling effect on business investment in the city.

Kalamazoo has long dealt with noxious industrial odors that most people had previously associated with the city wastewater treatment plant on Harrison Street along the river.

The treatment plant is in the final stages of installing expensive odor control measures like carbon scrubbers and wants to reconfigure underground industrial wastewater piping in order to push odors through a new bio-filter system thats undergoing early design.

James Baker, city public services director, said an underground piping junction chamber between Graphic Packaging and the wastewater plant is acting like a chimney for odors.

Baker said a new Envirosuite odor tracking system is recording hydrogen sulfide levels along Riverview Drive consistently above the odor threshold but below federal acute exposure levels. The city plans to install more sensors in the Northside and Eastside neighborhoods.

Pending upgrades to that system would allow citizens to make odor complaints online and allow operators to model odor trajectories to aid follow-up action.

Baker said the data has corroborated citizen complaints and could be useful for regulators and academic researchers interested in further study of the odor problem.

Aaron Wright, chair of the citys environmental concerns committee, said odors have been a committee agenda item for years an up until recently, Graphic Packaging had not really taken any action toward mitigating any odor issues.

The committee formally recommended approval of the tax request contingent on continued efforts to resolve this long-standing problem.

Wright said he was encouraged by Graphic Packagings recent effort to study the stink with new odor-sensing equipment, but the devil is in the details.

Ive lived in Kalamazoo my whole life, he said. The smell has got to go.

During the meeting, Graphic Packaging vice president Andy Johnson said the company is spending $4 million on wastewater effluent reduction in conjunction with its expansion and part of those plans include new odor control measures that should be running by 2022.

Graphic Packaging installed its own Envirosuite odor tracking system this month with 10 new sensors and has plans to add another six, said mill manager Rich Townley.

The company is attempting to strengthen its position in the recycled paperboard market with its expansion and the changes will require new high voltage power lines that Consumers Energy says will mean the loss of about 700 trees along the river this fall.

State regulators are holding a public hearing in October on Graphic Packagings request to modify an emissions permit. The request is separate from odor issues, which EGLE says are not coming from permitted stacks. Graphic Packaging is seeking approval for an increase in greenhouse gas emissions in conjunction with its expansion.

The emissions increase was cited by callers and commissioners as a concern during the meeting due to carbon pollutions role in driving global climate change. Johnson said the mill expansion would reduce the companys overall carbon footprint nationwide by 4 percent becasue it consolidates certain operations.

Graphic Packaging released a statement following the meeting thanking commissioners for the tax abatement approval.

We are committed to being a good community partner  and will continue to work closely with the city to identify and address odor issues, the company said.

Brandi Johnson-Crawford, a Northside neighborhood resident who has been critical of local and state governments handling of the air quality issue, and who is suing the company, said she has listed her home for sale and is planning to move away from Kalamazoo.

She is upset about the tax break approval.

The pandemic has been very scary for my family but this is so much worse, she said. This is a public health crisis and should be treated as so by Graphic Packaging, the city of Kalamazoo, EGLE and the EPA.

Related stories:

Paper mill wants to boost greenhouse gas emissions

Experts: Kalamazoo climate action plan worth challenges

Major tax break approved for Graphic Packaging

Odor violations mount at Graphic Packaging mill

Lawsuit targets paper mill over pervasive stink

Anti-odor efforts part of wastewater plant upgrade

Mystery odor is back in Kalamazoo

Locals dont know source of stink, but want it gone
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Telecom operators shall pay 10 per cent of the adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues demanded by the DoT by March 31 as directed by the Supreme Court, Parliament was informed on Tuesday.

Minister of State for Communications Sanjay Dhotre, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, also said the estimated revenue likely to be generated will depend on the payments made by the

"Revenue expected from Spectrum auction during 2020-21 had initially been projected in the 2020-2021 Budget," the minister said.

The government in the Receipt Budget has pegged over two-fold increase in revenue collection to Rs 1,33,027.2 crore for financial year 2020-21 under the communications head.

Regarding AGR dues, the minister said the Supreme Court in its judgement dated September 1, 2020 has determined the dues owed by the and the methodology of payment.

"The Hon'ble Supreme Court has directed that at the first instance, the respective Telecom Operators shall make the payment of 10 per cent of the total dues as demanded by DoT by March 31, 2021," Dhotre said.

According to government calculations, total AGR liability of is Rs 43,980 crore, (VIL) Rs 58,254 crore, Tata group Rs 16,798 crore, BSNL Rs 5,835.85 crore and MTNL Rs 4,352.09 crore.

has paid the government Rs 18,004 crore, VIL Rs 7,854 crore, Tatas Rs 4,197 crore and Reliance Jio has cleared its entire dues with payment of Rs 194.79 crore.

Anil Ambani-owned Reliance Communications owes Rs 25,194.58 crore, Aircel Rs 12,389 crore and Videocon Telecommunications Rs 1,376 crore but these are under liquidation process.

Companies like Loop Telecom, Etisalat DBand S Tel, which jointly owe the government Rs 604 crore, have shut down their India operations.
High Representative of the European Union for Foreign and Security Policy, Vice-President of the European Commission Josep Borrell during his working visit to Ukraine, met with Defense Minister of Ukraine Andriy Taran.

"The purpose of the visit of the EU delegation to the defense department is to discuss the situation in the area of the Joint Force Operation and the current state of cooperation between the Defense Ministry of Ukraine and the EU in military and political, military and technical and military areas," the press service of the Defense Ministry of Ukraine said.

Borrell and members of the EU delegation headed by him took part in the daily ceremony of commemoration of the dead Ukrainian servicemen.
San Francisco Catholics march in protest of coronavirus restrictions: 'God has to be respected'

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Six months into the coronavirus pandemic that prompted widespread economic shutdowns and disruptions to everyday life, Catholics in San Francisco marched in protest, decrying the worship restrictions that have prevented them from holding in-person masses as usual.

Three eucharistic processions originating at Catholic parishes throughout the city converged at city hall as protesters participated in the Free the Mass event Sunday. From there, attendees marched to the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption, where outdoor mass was led by Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone. Were very tired of being discriminated against because weve proven scientifically we can worship safely inside the church, he said.

Cordileones discrimination claim reflects the fact that coronavirus restrictions limit indoor worship services to 50 people while not placing similar limits on secular businesses such as grocery and retail stores. Cordileone and others accused local officials of violating their First Amendment rights by enacting such restrictions.

Theres no reason to keep us shut out of church. Its a natural right protected by the First Amendment, Cordileone added.

My rights as an American citizen have been trampled upon, said Guillermo Collado, a member of St. Peters Parish who attended the protest. Were equal under the law. And theyre not treating us that way. Theyre treating us as non-essential, something that can be dispensed with.

Participants in the march disagreed with the notion that church was a non-essential activity. Members of the crowd repeatedly chanted, We are essential, free the mass.

Cordileone maintained that an inability to attend church has had an impact on the people of his faith community.

People are hurting, he asserted. Our people are hurting because they cannot come to church, they cannot receive the sacraments, they cannot exercise their natural right protected by the First Amendment to worship without suffering punishment from our city.

The city continues to place unrealistic and suffocating restrictions on our  natural and constitutional right to worship, he proclaimed. God has to be respected in this society.

If theres no proper ordering with respecting God, which means the practice of religion has to be a part of the public life and we can do that with respect for all peoples religious beliefs, then we can put our society back together. But as long as we keep rejecting God, were going to keep suffering all of the  problems and the torments that weve been going through.

The discontent surrounding the worship restrictions in San Francisco and California as a whole are not unique to Catholicism. Pastors of multiple Protestant churches in the jurisdictions subject to the strictest restrictions have held indoor church services in spite of the restrictions.

Even as he faced threats of fines and arrest, California Pastor John MacArthur refused to stop holding in-person church services. We will obey God rather than men, he said.

As coronavirus restrictions prevent worshipers living in multiple California counties from gathering indoors, outdoor worship services have taken place at beaches across the state. Sean Feucht, a worship artist who has led several outdoor beach services, declared that what were seeing now is a return back to a gritty, raw Gospel, Jesus people movement caused by the fact that we cant be in our churches.

Earlier this month, the Chino Hills-based Calvary Chapel held an outdoor baptism at a southern California beach that attracted nearly 1,000 people. While Calvary Chapel has held outdoor baptisms in the past, the turnout this year was unprecedented.

California may be experiencing a spiritual revival, Calvary Chapel Church Director Gina Gleason explained.

According to Becket, a religious liberty law firm, California is one of six states where religious services are prohibited or subject to unequal treatment as compared to the coronavirus restrictions placed on other businesses. The other states are Nevada, Virginia, New Jersey, Connecticut and Maine. Beckets tracker of worship restrictions across the 50 states was last updated on Aug. 17.
Prasanta Mazumdar By

Express News Service

GUWAHATI: Political parties in Assam are livid with the states BJP-led government over the continued uncertainty surrounding the election to the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC).

They insisted on the holding of the polls by maintaining social distancing and other Covid-19 protocols.

The BTC is an autonomous body and it partially administers Kokrajhar, Udalguri, Baksa, and Chirang districts. The BTC comes under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution and the Governor is its constitutional head.

The election to the council, initially scheduled for April 4, was deferred indefinitely due to the pandemic. Subsequently, the Governor assumed to himself the charge of the BTC for six months. BJP ally Bodoland Peoples Front (BPF), which has ruled the BTC all throughout ever since its creation in 2003, had moved the Gauhati High Court challenging Governors rule but it dismissed the petition.

There was a perception that the election will be held after the expiry of the Governors rule on October 27 but the state government has advised the state election commission to consider its postponement given the spike in Covid-19 cases. The opposition parties argued that the election could be held by adhering to the protocols.

We feel the election should be held as it is not good if a democratic process remains collapsed for a long time. The election can be held by maintaining the Covid-19 protocols, regional United Peoples Party Liberal (UPPL) president Promod Bodo said.

Kokrajhar MP Naba Sarania, who is the chief of Gana Suraksha, categorically stated that the Governors rule must not be extended.

I feel the election should be held after the expiry of Governors rule. If Bihar can go to an election, we can also go. We want the election so that the new council can be formed, Sarania said.

Senior BPF leader Khampa Borgoyari echoed Sarania. Yes there is this pandemic but the world hasnt come to a stop. Local and village council elections were held in Mizoram recently. Rajasthan will also hold Panchayat elections soon. Even, America is preparing for the Presidential election, he pointed out.

The minority-based political party All India United Democratic Front said the BJP was not keen on holding the polls for the fear of defeat. It urged the government to save democracy by holding the election. The Congress accused the saffron party of doing politics over the BTC election.

There is a perception that BJP and its alleged ally UPPL will gain if the BPF could be kept outside power for a long time.
As Donald Trump touts his plan to build a patriotic curriculum for American schoolchildren, authorities in California have announced a new plan to fight discrimination and bigotry in schools.

Under the umbrella title of Education to End Hate, the initiative is designed both to improve the way schools teach children about discrimination and to help educate school staff themselves to combat it.

Announcing the initiative on Monday, the states superintendent of public instruction, Tony Thurmond, specifically called out the president.

We do not need any more evidence that our country is facing two pandemics: coronavirus and hate, he said in a department press release. It feels like every day we are seeing heartbreaking examples: more anti-Semitic behaviour, bullying of Asian American students because of our presidents rhetoric, Islamophobia, discrimination of our LGBTQ neighbours, and violence directed at people of colour.

Its time to double down on our efforts to combat all forms of hate, bias, and bigotry. By digging deeper into the complexities of our diverse and difficult histories  not denying or ignoring them  I believe education can provide the pathway to healing, understanding, and racial and social justice.

The announcement of the plan, which includes grants for anti-bias training and virtual classroom sessions on discrimination, comes as Mr Trump and his allies increasingly focus on the school curriculum as a front in the culture war.

In recent weeks, the president has declared that schools should teach a patriotic curriculum to fight back against forces that supposedly instruct children to hate America  specifically the 1619 Project, a history of slavery that has been adapted from its original presentation in the New York Times into a set of classroom tools.

Mr Trump has harnessed conservative umbrage at the 1619 Project by announcing what he calls the 1776 Commission to promote patriotic education.

The plan is being derisively referred to by critics as the Trump youth, many pointing out that banning a teaching tool that focuses on slavery and replacing it with something supposedly patriotic carries an unedifying whiff of the education strategies used by nationalist governments.

However, many on the right reject the criticism. The mainstream conservative magazine National Review, many of whose writers have furiously opposed the president, has come out in favour of the administrations nascent plan, writing in an editorial that children must be protected from fact-challenged efforts to supplant the story of America, its ideals, and its exceptional history with critical-race and gender theory and leftist agitprop.

Americas proud history is worth defending, the magazine insists.

To the extent it has been detailed, the 1776 Commission has been received rapturously by Mr Trumps supporters. At an event in Dayton, Ohio yesterday, Mr Trump claimed that the left indoctrinate your children with poisonous anti-American lies. Theyre doing that, were stopping them.

To combat the toxic left-wing propaganda in our schools, I announced last week that we are launching a pro-American lesson plan for students called the 1776 Commission. We will teach our children the truth about America, that we are the most exceptional nation on the face of the Earth, and we are getting better and better all the time.

No party can lead America that will not teach our children to love America.
Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) said he would not block action on President Trump's next Supreme Court nomination. (Charles Dharapak / Associated Press)

It would be a bit much to call Sen. Mitt Romney a paragon of political virtue. But the Utah senator and 2012 Republican presidential nominee did strike a profile in courage in casting the only Republican vote to convict President Trump and remove him from office.

On Tuesday, Romney did a solid for Trump in announcing that he would consider Trumps nominee to replace the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. If the nomination reaches the Senate floor, he added, I intend to vote based upon their qualifications.

In his statement, Romney embraced one of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnells rationalizations for considering Trumps nominee during this election year but blocking President Obamas attempt to appoint Judge Merrick Garland in 2016.

The historical precedent of election year nominations is that the Senate generally does not confirm an opposing partys nominee but does confirm a nominee of its own, Romney said. This plays into the destructive notion that Supreme Court nominees are partisan figures.

Romney's disappointing decision chips off a good chunk of the pedestal on which he was installed after his impeachment vote.

You can argue that theres no contradiction between voting to remove Trump from office and deciding  after your colleagues have acquitted the president  to consider and potentially confirm the president's appointees, including a Supreme Court nominee.

But there is a larger context to which Romney seems oblivious. As the Los Angeles Times pointed out in an editorial: The country is more sharply divided than in 2016, thanks in large part to the demagoguery of the incumbent president, who has fanned the flames of bigotry at a time of a reckoning over Americas legacy of racism. That reality, along with the damage a rammed-through nomination would cause to the courts image, argues for caution. Romney's failure to recognize that reality is inexcusable.

With Romneys decision, it seems improbable that there will be a critical mass of Republican opposition to speedy hearings and a quick confirmation vote for Trumps nominee, who is expected to be announced at the end of the week. Nor is it likely that Trump and the Senate will agree to one of the compromises floated by some commentators  that the president would install his choice temporarily through a recess appointment, or that the Senate hold off voting on Trump's nominee in exchange for the Democrats promising not to pack the court with additional nominees by a Democratic president.

In announcing that he would vote to convict Trump of an abuse of power for asking Ukraine to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden, Trumps political rival, Romney said that the results of the impeachment trial would be appealed to a higher court: the judgment of the American people.

With the nation facing what could be a constitutional crisis, Romney should have recognized that the voters also should make the final decision on whether Trump will have a third lifetime appointment to the court.
During a virtual community town hall presented from Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital on Thursday, Sept. 10, the hospitals CEO and two of its physicians discussed the COVID-19 pandemic.

Related: Katy ISD school nurse dies from COVID-19

Chris Siebenaler, regional senior vice president and CEO; Dr. Sarfraz Aly, infectious diseases physician; and Kabir Rezvankhoo, critical care and emergency medicine physician, each offered insight into how the pandemic has played out across the nation, Texas, Fort Bend County and Houston Methodist hospitals.

Siebenaler said he had worked closely with Aly and Rezvankhoo to manage the pandemics impact at the hospital and keep the community healthy. He said Texas has experienced high case volumes, but the death rates have been less than expected. Nationally, he said of around 330 million people in the United States, there have been around 189,000 deaths from COVID-19.

I highlight that because while there are things that were doing, washing our hands, potentially wearing a mask, just being very mindful what we should do and during flu season as well, perhaps not the social distancing you might see, but we should probably take more precautions during flu season than we historically have, Siebenaler said. And certainly COVID has shown us that if we wear masks and we social distance and we wash our hands, then we have an opportunity to keep things at bay.

In Texas, he said there have been nearly 650,000 cases and roughly 14,000 deaths due to COVID-19, with most of the cases in larger cities like Houston, Dallas and San Antonio. He said Harris County had seen 112,000 cases and around 1,500 deaths, and Fort Bend County had seen 170 deaths. Siebenaler cautioned against saying there have only been 170 deaths because the numbers show there have been around 15,000 cases and that many of them were asymptomatic, spreading the virus and not knowing it.

Sweet treat: Sweet Paris Creperie & Cafe set to open Sugar Land Town Square store

Thats the kind of a red flag I would throw out there that the numbers are ultimately understated because we dont know whos had it and who might have passed it on, Siebenaler said.

He mentioned a discussion he had with Houston Methodists chief data scientist, who said the near future of COVID-19 in the Houston area rides on what happens as some students have started in-person learning and as people gathered for Labor Day weekend. So far, he said the emergency room visits have not really gone up over the past week, but that may increase over the next two weeks. Whether people wear masks, socially distance and wash their hands will also be key factors, Siebenaler said.

He said people gathering for post-graduation and summer events, marches and protests in late May and June led to a spike in cases at the Sugar Land hospital during July, followed by a greater push toward wearing masks and social distancing that drove the numbers back down. Siebenaler said when he goes out around the community now, more people are passing what he calls the H-E-B test, wearing their face coverings and keeping their distance at grocery stores.

The Methodist Hospital system is now treating about 200 COVID-19 patients across the Houston area, whereas there were between 700 to 750 COVID-19 patients during the peak in July, Siebenaler said. On Sept. 10, he said there were 24 COVID-19 patients being treated at the Sugar Land hospital.

Another important number Siebenaler mentioned is the Rt value, which at the time of the meeting for Fort Bend County was at .74, a positive sign because anything lower than 1 means that the virus is not as currently contagious.

Job fair: Fort Bend County Virtual Job Fair looking for employers, candidates

Aly said people with COVID-19 can range from asymptomatic to having severe respiratory failure that can end in death. Fever, cough, shortness of breath, body aches and fatigue can all be symptoms. Aly said people that are older tend to be hospitalized more. He pointed out that access to health care affects how well people fare with COVID-19.

There are signs that people who have generalized accessibility to health care, have insurance, have many services and are able to get to the doctors, they do better. They see better outcomes, Aly said.

He added that underlying conditions like heart disease, diabetes or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can play a major role in how patients do.

Rezvankhoo said currently the best sources of treatment options are from randomized controlled trials. He said supportive care is a dependable method. A 10-day course of steroids has given a 28-day decrease in deaths for the hospitals patients, he said. The medication remdesivir is also being used.

Rezvankhoo brought up some myths about COVID-19. Some people believe that it is not any worse than the flu, but he said COVID-19 spreads easier.

It becomes a super spreader, he said. So if you do become infected, you may go on up to a week of having no symptoms. And in that time period, you can potentially spread it to numerous people.

Aly addressed the myth that wearing masks does not help. He said that by wearing them, people can greatly reduce the chances of transmitting the virus. Rezvankhoo said contrary to what some people are saying, wearing a mask will not elevate ones carbon dioxide levels or make a person sick.

Related: COVID-19 testing facility opens to help keep Katy ISD employees healthy

Siebenaler said over the past six months, Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital has treated patients with COVID-19 and adapted well to the situation through initiatives like taking temperatures of anyone who enters the building using an iPad and creating in-car curbside check-in for routine care patients.

Weve been able to manage that at the same time of managing COVID patients. Thats something that I think our whole team should feel proud of that we were able to figure this out real time, Siebenaler said.

tracy.maness@hcnonline.com
DUBLIN, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Proteomics Market Global Report 2020-30" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Rising government funds for research on proteomics drives the growth of the proteomics market. Government funds help researchers in drug discovery, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases. For instance, in 2018, in Australia, according to the Australian Cancer Research Foundation, the NSW and Commonwealth Governments jointly gave funds of $41 million to support the world-first proteomics project, ProCan. ProCan is an ACRF seed-funded cancer research project at the Westmead Children's Medical Research Institute (CMRI) and the joint investment enhances research to outsmart cancer. Therefore, rising government funds positively impacts the proteomics market.

The high cost of instruments is expected to limit the growth of the proteomics market. The broad implementation of new technologies expands the use of proteomics research from the discovery of new drugs, vaccines and diagnostic targets, and due to its high cost process, developments in different instruments have resulted in high prices compared to the traditional ones. For instance, the price of mass spectrometers can range from $20,000 to $300,000, which will be extremely expensive for small-scale pharmaceutical companies and academic institutions. Therefore, the high prices associated with proteomics instruments makes it difficult for developing countries to enter the proteomics sector, affecting the market's growth.

The report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, competitive landscape, market shares, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market's historic and forecast market growth by geography. It places the market within the context of the wider proteomics market, and compares it with other markets.

The market characteristics section of the report defines and explains the market.

The market size section gives the market size ($b) covering both the historic growth of the market and forecasting the future. Drivers and restraints looks at the external factors supporting and controlling the growth of the market.

Market segmentations break down market into sub markets.

The regional and country breakdowns section gives an analysis of the market in each geography and the size of the market by geography and compares their historic and forecast growth. It covers all the regions, key developed countries and major emerging markets. It draws comparisons with country populations and economies to understand the importance of the market by country and how this is changing.

Competitive landscape gives a description of the competitive nature of the market, market shares, and a description of the leading companies. Key financial deals which have shaped the market in recent years are identified.

The trends and strategies section highlights the likely future developments in the market and suggests approaches companies can take to exploit this.

The proteomics market section of the report gives context. It compares the proteomics market with other segments of the proteomics market by size and growth, historic and forecast. It analyses GDP proportion, expenditure per capita, proteomics indicators comparison. Key Topics Covered:



1. Executive Summary



2. Proteomics Market Characteristics



3. Proteomics Market Size And Growth



4. Proteomics Market Segmentation



5. Proteomics Market Regional And Country Analysis



6. Asia-Pacific Proteomics Market



7. China Proteomics Market



8. India Proteomics Market



9. Japan Proteomics Market



10. Australia Proteomics Market



11. Indonesia Proteomics Market



12. South Korea Proteomics Market



13. Western Europe Proteomics Market



14. UK Proteomics Market



15. Germany Proteomics Market



16. France Proteomics Market



17. Eastern Europe Proteomics Market



18. Russia Proteomics Market



19. North America Proteomics Market



20. USA Proteomics Market



21. South America Proteomics Market



22. Brazil Proteomics Market



23. Middle East Proteomics Market



24. Africa Proteomics Market



25. Proteomics Market Competitive Landscape And Company Profiles



26. Key Mergers And Acquisitions In The Proteomics Market



27. Proteomics Market Trends And Strategies



28. Proteomics Market Future Outlook and Potential Analysis



Companies Mentioned



1. Executive Summary 2. Proteomics Market Characteristics 3. Proteomics Market Size And Growth 4. Proteomics Market Segmentation 5. Proteomics Market Regional And Country Analysis 6. Asia-Pacific Proteomics Market 7. China Proteomics Market 8. India Proteomics Market 9. Japan Proteomics Market 10. Australia Proteomics Market 11. Indonesia Proteomics Market 12. South Korea Proteomics Market 13. Western Europe Proteomics Market 14. UK Proteomics Market 15. Germany Proteomics Market 16. France Proteomics Market 17. Eastern Europe Proteomics Market 18. Russia Proteomics Market 19. North America Proteomics Market 20. Proteomics Market 21. South America Proteomics Market 22. Brazil Proteomics Market 23. Middle East Proteomics Market 24. Africa Proteomics Market 25. Proteomics Market Competitive Landscape And Company Profiles 26. Key Mergers And Acquisitions In The Proteomics Market 27. Proteomics Market Trends And Strategies 28. Proteomics Market Future Outlook and Potential Analysis Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.

Agilent Technologies, Inc.

Danaher Corporation

Merck KGaA

Waters Corporation

Perkinelmer, Inc.

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.

Bruker Corporation

GE Healthcare

Caprion Biosciences

Luminex Corporation

LI-COR, Inc.

Becton, Dickinson and Company

Siemens Ltd

Genzyme Corporation

Creative Proteomics

Promega Corporation

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/1ehz2o

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.

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There is currently no threat of suspension of EUs visa-free regime for Ukraine as all the necessary criteria are currently being met.

"As regards the suspension of the visa-free regime, the EU has a corresponding mechanism within which regular reports on compliance with all requirements are being prepared. The last such report was dated 20 July and it confirmed that Ukraine met all benchmarks related to visa-free regime. It is still true," Vice President of the European Commission, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said at a joint briefing with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba in Kyiv, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

At the same time, Borrell added, the report also underscored the importance of further effective independent work of anti-corruption bodies and avoiding politicization of law enforcement agencies.

In turn, Foreign Minister Kuleba assured Borrell that Ukraine "remains committed to the reform agenda."

"We are interested in the functioning of independent anti-corruption infrastructure in Ukraine," Kuleba stressed.

As reported, Viola Von Cramon, a member of the European Parliaments Committee on Foreign Affairs, said that Ukraine might lose its visa-free regime and financial assistance from the EU due to the situation around the appointment of a new head of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutors Office.

On September 17, the Verkhovna Rada approved representatives to the competition commission for the election of a head of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutors Office.

The EU Delegation to Ukraine and the US Embassy in Ukraine stated that they had taken note of the Ukrainian Parliaments decision on the competition commission and stated that further support would depend on its work.

ol
In this Dec. 3, 2012, file photo, Chinese real estate mogul Ren Zhiqiang poses for photos in his office in Beijing. Ren, the former chairman of a Chinese state-owned real estate company who publicly criticized President Xi Jinping's handling of the coronavirus pandemic was sentenced to 18 years in prison on Sept. 22, 2020, in a corruption case, the government announced. AP



A Chinese real estate tycoon and outspoken critic of President Xi Jinping was jailed for 18 years on Tuesday for corruption, bribery and embezzlement of public funds, a court statement said.



Ren Zhiqiang  once among the ruling Communist Party's inner circle  disappeared from the public eye in March, shortly after penning an essay that lambasted Xi's response to the coronavirus outbreak.



His outspokenness had earned the former chairman of state-owned property developer the Huayuan Group the nickname "Big Cannon".



Tuesday's verdict said Ren embezzled almost 50 million yuan ($7.4 million) of public funds and accepted bribes worth 1.25 million yuan, according to a statement from the Beijing No. 2 Intermediate People's Court.



It said the 69-year-old "voluntarily and truthfully confessed all his crimes", and would not appeal the court's decision.



He was also fined 4.2 million yuan ($620,000).



Rights campaigners accuse Xi and the Communist Party of using corruption charges to silence dissent.



Beijing has stepped up its crackdown on civil society since Xi took power in 2012, tightening restrictions on freedom of speech and detaining hundreds of activists and lawyers.



Tuesday's verdict claimed that Ren also "abused his power" in his role at Huayuan Group, which caused more than 116 million yuan of losses to the state-owned holding company and more than 53 million yuan worth of property losses for the group.



- Outspoken -



The Communist Party's disciplinary watchdog launched an investigation into Ren in April, and the trial opened at a Beijing court on September 11 with a handful of supporters outside and a heavy police presence.



One supporter told AFP they backed Ren because he "dares to speak the truth".



Ren's essay from earlier this year, which criticised Xi, has been scrubbed from China's internet  which regularly censors content that challenges the authorities  but was shared online outside China.



"This epidemic has revealed the fact that the Party and government officials only care about protecting their own interests, and the monarch only cares about protecting their interests and core position," Ren wrote, without naming Xi.



His influential blog on the Twitter-like Weibo platform attracted millions of followers before his account was closed by authorities in 2016 after he repeatedly called for greater freedom of the press.



The son of a former vice-commerce minister and a Communist Party member for decades before he was expelled in July, Ren was well connected with party elites.



He wrote in his memoir that he had been friends with vice-president and former anti-corruption chief Wang Qishan since they were teenagers, when Wang was assigned by their school to mentor the younger Ren.



He is also a controversial figure, particularly over his defence of China's soaring house prices  once telling Chinese media that people who had been unwilling to invest in real estate before the boom "now deserve to be poor". (AFP)


NEW YORK, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Alongside the 75th session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, the Barilla Center for Food and Nutrition Foundation (BCFN), an independent foundation that works on proposing concrete actions to solve issues around global food systems, will host its second "Fixing the Business of Food" event  a joint initiative in partnership with the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), the Santa Chiara Lab  University of Siena (SCL) and the Columbia Center for Sustainable Investment (CCSI).

The eventmoderated by Barbara Buchner, Global Managing Director of the Climate Policy Initiativeand featuring a keynote speech from European Commission's Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans, will bring together representatives from business, finance, government, international institutions and academia for a discussion on the actions urgently needed to transform the current food system in order to align with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Climate Agreement.

Notable speakers include:

Guido Barilla  Chairman, Barilla Group and Barilla Center for Food & Nutrition Foundation

 Chairman, Barilla Group and Barilla Center for Food & Nutrition Foundation Frans Timmermans  Executive Vice President, European Commission

 Executive Vice President, European Commission Jeffrey Sachs  Director, Center for Sustainable Development, Columbia University

 Director, Center for Sustainable Development, Alzbeta Klein  Director and Global Head of Climate Business, International Finance Corporation

 Director and Global Head of Climate Business, International Finance Corporation Alexandra Liftman  Global Environmental Executive, Bank of America

 Global Environmental Executive, Bank of America Wai-Chan Chan  Managing Director, The Consumer Goods Forum

 Managing Director, The Consumer Goods Forum Rachel Kyte CMG  Dean, The Fletcher School, Tufts University

 Dean, The Mariangela Zappia  Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Italy to the United Nations in New York

 Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of to the United Nations in New York Pedro Moura Costa  Co-Founder and President, BVRio Environmental Exchange

 Co-Founder and President, BVRio Environmental Exchange Angelo Riccaboni  Santa Chiara Lab, University of Siena & Chair, PRIMA Foundation



 Santa Chiara Lab, University of Siena & Chair, PRIMA Foundation Guido Schmidt-Traub  Executive Director, SDSN

 Executive Director, SDSN Justine Leigh-Bell  Deputy CEO & Director of Market Development

The current food systems, even more broken by the Covid-19 pandemic, are not sustainable and do not provide adequate nutrition to a growing global population. Today, almost 690 million people are hungry, up to two billion overweight and obese. Despite a steady increase in investments in sustainable development and climate action, only 8% of public climate finance is directed to the agri-food sector and current Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG) metrics do not establish the principles of value-chain responsibility nor set clear guidance for how responsible companies can and should support sustainability.

"The next five years are the most important by far because we have to take along with us as many producers, as many suppliers and as many distributors as we canThere is one big risk: that a lot of our colleagues, a lot of other actors in the world of business feel the danger, but they do not have the courage to really take actions within their company to make these very difficult decisions," said Guido Barilla, Chairman of Barilla Group and the Barilla Center for Food and Nutrition Foundation. "We are late in the 2030 Agenda, we are losing time in completing the sustainability goals and to really rationalize the dangers and lower the dangers on climate change and on sustainability issues. It's unaffordable. We need to make a call to action."

At the same time, changes in climate threaten the future of the agriculture sectorwhose operations can, in turn, have major environmental and social impacts on several growing concerns such as greenhouse gas and carbon emissions, water and land usage, pollution, human and labor rights, among others. To support the private sector in the transition towards sustainable agri-food systems, the development of a robust framework will provide a guide with SDG-based operating principles and metrics in mind for agri-food business alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals.

"Businesses can contribute to more sustainable and healthier food systems. The question is not anymore why they should do it but how they can do it. Fixing the Business of Food is an open partnership supporting them in the transition through better measurements, assessment tools and a digital smart platform. Managers, entrepreneurs, experts, farmers, policy makers, regulators, researchers, consumers, students are welcome in a collective effort for better societies and a more sustainable planet," said Angelo Riccaboni, Professor of Business Administration at Santa Chiara Lab, University of Siena.

Sparked by action from last year's event, Santa Chiara Lab at University of Siena's Angelo Riccaboni and Executive Director of SDSN Guido Schmidt-Traub will present the findings of the "Fixing the Business of Food - How to align the agri-food sector with the SDGs" report, which will introduce a new proposal for measuring greenhouse gas emissionsa starting point of a broader proposal of indicators to be released in 2021. The report will provide companies with a reference framework to measure corporate performance in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and addresses current gaps within the metrics system. Click here to learn more: fixing-food.com.

"The good news is the rapid rise of interest by food industry leaders in the SDGs and the Paris Climate Agreement. Our study suggests a holistic framework for aligning the food sector with the SDGs and Paris Climate Agreement, one which can help to guide the activities of industry leaders, reporting frameworks, investors, and policy makers," said Jeffrey Sachs, Director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University.

Many companies are aligning their practices toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and Paris Climate Agreement in order to promote their environmental, social, and economic sustainability. Much more work is needed, particularly in business actions and transparency of actions, with more detailed reporting systems and metrics, making this alignment systemic for the whole agri-food sector.

"The food we eat has an enormous impact on our health and our environment. The Farm to Fork and the Biodiversity Strategies are Europe's blueprint for improving our health and for bringing our relationship with nature back into balance  the COVID-19 pandemic underscores the urgency of this effort. With legislation, soft measures, and commitments from business, we will work to turn European food into the global standard of sustainability," said Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice President of the European Commission.

About the Barilla Center for Food and Nutrition Foundation (BCFN)

The Barilla Center for Food and Nutrition Foundation (BCFN) is a multi-disciplinary research Center which studies the causes and effects on food created by economies, science, society and environment. It produces science-based content that can be used to inform people and help them make responsible choices on food, nutrition, health and sustainability inspired by an independent Advisory Board. For further information: www.barillacfn.com

For the full text of the "Fixing the Business of Food - How to align the agri-food sector with the SDGs" report, please visit: https://www.barillacfn.com.

SOURCE The Barilla Center for Food & Nutrition
Press accreditation by media associations will no longer be enough. The policy targets young freelance reporters who cover anti-government protests. Eight media unions demand the withdrawal of the new policy and accuse the police of using violence against their members.

Hong Kong (AsiaNews)  Hong Kong police will only recognise press accreditations for journalists who work for government-registered outlets and internationally known foreign media.

The Police Public Relations Branch said that the police would no longer recognise journalists accredited with press associations such as the Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA) and so would not allow them into restricted areas for security reasons.

This would stop, the police press office claims, fake journalists from obstructing police work. It would also restrict the work of freelance journalists and student media who have been covering pro-democracy protests over the past year.

In a joint statement, eight Hong Kong media unions  including the HKJA  slammed the new policy, demanding that it be scrapped. If not, they would respond with necessary measures.

Journalists' associations have long accused police of preventing the media from doing their job and of using excessive force against their members.

Hong Kong Police Chief Chris Tang admitted in fact that the press had experienced undesirable treatment during a demonstration in May.

The crackdown against local media has increased after Chinas new security law for Hong Kong came into effect.

The most notable case involves Jimmy Lai, owner of Apple Daily, who was arrested in August under Hong Kongs new draconian legislation and later released on bail.
Gandhinagar, Sep 23 : The Gujarat State Assembly on Tuesday gave its nod to the Amendment Bill on the earlier passed Industrial Disputes Amendment Ordinance in July, which allowed industrial units having up to 300 employees to lay off its employees without getting prior approval of the government.

According to the 1947 law, prior government consent was required for industrial units above 100 employees, to lay them off.

The Assembly on Tuesday formally legalised and legislated the ordinance brought in by the Gujarat government on July 1, which was an amendment to the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947.

According to the provisions of the current law, the factories and industrial units of up to 100 employees does not require government approval for carrying out layoffs or retrenchments.

The new bill proposed by Minister of labour and employment, Dilip Thakor, on the second day of monsoon session of 14th Gujarat state assembly relaxes this provision and raises it up to 300 employees.

Hence, a factory having less than 300 employees would not require government's permission to lay off its employees.

According to the government, this amendment will allow the factory and industrial units to increase its production and encourage fresh investment in the state.

"I don't understand how this amendment, which allows factories up to 300 employees to lay off its workers without getting approval of the government, will help in increasing its production. This is just to aid the industrial owners and in direct violation of workers' interests. I strongly oppose this Amendment Bill and also suggest the government to bring in laws which are in the interests of workers, their health, their issues," said Jignesh Mevani, the lone Independent MLA from Vadgam constituency.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
It's fair to say Northern Ireland has been a happy hunting ground for Shane Lowry considering the last time he played there competitively, he walked away with the Claret Jug in the Open.

He returns to Northern Irish soil this week and will tee off at Galgorm Castle as the bookies' favourite to win the Irish Open for the second time in his career.

He previously took the title as an amateur back in 2009 at a wet and windy Baltray in Co Louth. He'll be hoping for better conditions but a similar result in Ballymena this week.

The tournament has been moved from Mount Juliet to Galgorm Castle and the Offaly man flies in off the back of making the cut at last week's US Open at Winged Foot, although he did finish well down the field in New York.

BoyleSports have cut Lowry into the 8/1 favourite from 10/1 for the event beginning on Thursday, giving him a comfortable lead ahead of South African George Coetzee (11/1) at the top of the market.

The likelihood of an Irish winner this year has also been trimmed into 9/2 from 5/1. Another former home winner Padraig Harrington is a 66/1 shot.

The Ryder Cup captain is attracting some early each-way interest with BoyleSports paying each-way backers down to eight places.

Lawrence Lyons, spokesperson for BoyleSports said: Shane Lowry is coming off a tough week in New York but theres plenty of confidence out there that hell be a bit more at home this week. He may go off an even stronger favourite if trends continue after already being clipped into 8/1 from 10/1."
CHICAGO, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the new market research report "Life Science Analytics Market by Type (Predictive, Descriptive, Prescriptive), Application (Marketing, Compliance, Clinical trial, R&D, Pharmacovigilance, SCM), Component (Software, Service), Delivery, End User, & Region - Global Forecast To 2025", published by MarketsandMarkets, the global Life Science Analytics Market size is expected to reach 42.0 billion by 2025 from USD 22.1 billion in 2020, at a CAGR of 13.7% during the forecast period of 2020 to 2025.

Browse and in-depth TOC on "Life Science Analytics Market"

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The Growth in this market is mainly driven by technological advancements, big data in the life science industry, growing adoption of analytics solutions in clinical trials, increasing adoption of analytics for sales and marketing applications, need for improved data standardization, increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, growing pressure to curb healthcare spending, and the need for improved patient outcomes. On the other hand, high implementation costs are expected to restrain the growth of this market to a certain extent.

The on-demand model segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period.

Based on the delivery mode, the Life Science Analytics Market is segmented into the on-demand model and the on-premise model. The on-demand model segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period, owing to advantages such as increasing demand for self-driven analytics, lack of upfront capital investments for hardware, extreme capacity flexibility, and pay-as-you-go pricing of this model.

The descriptive analytics segment accounted for the largest market share in 2019.

Based on type, the market is segmented into descriptive analytics, predictive analytics, and prescriptive analytics. The descriptive analytics segment accounted for the largest share of the Life Science Analytics Market in 2019. The large share of this segment is attributed to the significant usage of descriptive analytics by stakeholders to gain a better understanding of the past trends and events occurring in real-time.

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In 2019, North America accounted for the largest share of the market.

In 2019, North America accounted for the largest market share, followed by Europe. The large share of this market can primarily be attributed to the strong economies in the US and Canada, which have allowed for significant investments in technology in this region. Growth in the North American market is supported by the growing adoption of IT in the life science industry, rising pressure to reduce healthcare costs, stringent regulations for the pharma-biotech and medical device industries, and the greater product and service availability in this region.

The prominent players operating in the Life Science Analytics Market are Oracle Corporation (US), Accenture (Ireland), SAS Institute Inc. (US), IBM Corporation (US), Wipro (India), Cognizant (US), SCIO Health Analytics (US), Allscripts Healthcare Solutions (US), Cerner Corporation (US), IQVIA (US), Microsoft (US), Infosys Limited (US), MaxisIT (US), Optum (US), and Cotiviti (US).

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Healthcare Analytics Market by Type (Predictive, Prescriptive, Cognitive) Application (Clinical, RCM, Claim, Fraud, Waste, Supply Chain, PHM) Component (Service, Software) Delivery (On-demand, Cloud) End User (Payer, Hospital) - Global Forecast to 2024

https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/healthcare-data-analytics-market-905.html

Healthcare IT Market by Product (EHR, RIS, PACS, VNA, CPOE, HIE, Telehealth, Healthcare Analytics, Population Health Management, Supply Chain Management, CRM, Fraud Management, Claims Management) End User (Provider, Payer) - Global Forecast to 2024

https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/healthcare-it-252.html

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MIAMI, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Brain wellness and addiction expert Professor Dr. Bankole Johnson will release the first of his trilogy of books, entitled "Six Rings," on September 22, 2020. The series is interested in analyzing the complexities of the brain, and how to maintain it in optimum health through compelling narratives that are as engaging as they are educational.

Six Rings Cover Professor Dr. Bankole Johnson

The books are made up of short allegorical stories that are composites of Johnson's past experiences, fictionalized characters, and coincidences; as well as a blend of individualized approaches and patient-orientated, personalized treatment. Drawing on his extensive knowledge in psychiatry, molecular genetics, forensics, addiction and computational mathematics, Johnson provides insights that aid in the understanding of how psychological and physiological factors affect its health and optimum performance.

In the first book, the reader meets Bastian Jackson, a whip-smart, deeply intuitive doctor with an incisive mind that questions the different mental ailments that assail humans. Bastian wrestles with his own perspectives, working out how this impacts others, and uses it for the benefit of his clients. It's a foothold into the process of brain recovery following the excessive use of substances, which unfolds in the second book. Throughout "Six Rings," illustrations, paintings, and music are used to set the tone for each chapter, and to inject mood and atmosphere into the allegorical stories.

As a whole, "Six Rings" portrays Johnson's PREPARE method, an integrated treatment approach to optimizing brain function and treating addiction. The PREPARE method is powerfully organized yet individualized and intimately intertwined to maximize the treatment benefit of each patient.

"Six Rings" is an attempt to bridge the gap between an educated lay and professional audience in the understanding of brain wellness, how to maintain it, the perturbations that can occur with excessive alcohol and substance use, and a more wholesome and integrated approach to its treatment. Through engaging storytelling, the books invite the reader, ever deeper, into an understanding of neuroscience, brain wellness, and addictive behaviors. Johnson hopes that readers will enjoy the stories and that they evoke a curiosity to learn more, and above all, understand the rich complexity of optimizing the brain and treating diseases that can afflict it.

The first book of the "Six Rings" series will be published by Privee clinics and PEPCO LLC, and will be available on Amazon in Kindle and paperback forms, as well as in English and Spanish audiobooks.

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(Newser)  Internet trolls, beware: A conspiracy theorist who claimed a politician was involved in a pedophile ring has been ordered to pay more than half a million dollars. Last month, Anne Webster, a first-term Australian MP, and her husband sued Karen Brewer over a series of Facebook posts that claimed Webster was "a member of a secretive pedophile network" who arrived in Parliament "to protect a past generation of pedophiles," per the Guardian. The posts, which smack of wild QAnon claims, were shared hundreds of times, including on accounts linked to a city within the district Webster represents. On Tuesday, Judge Jacqueline Gleeson ruled the Websters were "entitled to substantial awards of damage" to illustrate the "baselessness" of the "vile" claims, which also targeted the couple's nonprofit. She then ordered Brewer to pay the equivalent of $625,000.

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Webster and her husband, Phillip, had launched not a pedophile ring, but an organization that supports 150 young mothers, per the Guardian and ABC Australia. "While I consider that rational people would regard Ms. Brewer's publications as delusional, I accept that some people may find them persuasive," Gleeson wrote in her decision. Brewer was ordered to pay $250,000 to Webster, $160,000 to her husband, and $215,000 to the nonprofit, Zoe Support. Brewer didn't take part in the proceedings and instead has mocked the judge in videos online, per the Guardian. Following the verdict, Webster expressed interest in holding Facebook accountable. "It is a bit of a scary world where people can share whatever they like and it's only by going through legal cases that things can change," she said, per ABC. (Read more defamation stories.)
TOPSHOT-US-POLITICS-vote

At the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Sept. 20, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden discussed the vacancy on the Supreme Court left by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death. Credit - Roberto SchmidtAFP/Getty Images

Even as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi promised that Democrats were willing to use every arrow in our quiver to prevent the Senate from confirming a replacement for the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, many mainstream Democrats were privately conceding that they have very little real procedural power.

The smarter strategy for blocking a nomination, they argue, is to win back the White House and Senate by reframing the battle over filling the vacant Supreme Court seat as a question of access to health care. Ginsburgs absence, after all, makes health care issuesincluding the future of the Affordable Care Act and access to abortionsuddenly salient to tens of millions of voters.

A lot of the campaigns were already debating healthcare. But the risks of peoples healthcare just went from a policy concern in a think tank to a clear and present danger for families across the country, says Democratic strategist Jesse Ferguson. Its no longer theoretical. Its now an actual threat.

Progressive Democrats, meanwhile, are forcing a different conversation. They say that if Republicans confirm a new justice between now and Januaryand Democrats win the Senate and White House in Novemberthen Democrats must use their new power to add more justices to the Supreme Court, a strategy known as court packing. Their argument is that even threatening to pack the court may give pause to centrist Republicans who might otherwise push to confirm a new justice, while simultaneously motivating the Democratic base.

When Democrats control the Senate in the next Congress, Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey tweeted shortly after Ginsburgs death, we must abolish the filibuster and expand the Supreme Court.

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But theres the rub. Mainstream Democrats see the court-packing rhetoric as electoral suicide: it will, they argue, dissuade moderate and independent voters from voting blue in November. That kind of language benefits Republicans, says Republican donor Dan Eberhart. Its a gift, he says. Ideas like that are toxic to the very persuadable centrist voters both sides need.

While both mainstream and progressive Democrats share the broader goalto win in a landslide in November, in part by highlighting health care issuesthe two camps strategies appear fundamentally at odds.

The majority of Democrats, including Presidential candidate Joe Biden, are squarely in the mainstream camp, arguing that Democrats electoral success lies in leveraging Americans anxiety over the current make-up of the Supreme Court by pointing at ways that a conservative bench might pass down rulings that negatively affect voters access to care.

A week after Election Day, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a case brought by a group of Republican Attorneys General, and backed by the Department of Justice, arguing the Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional. Democrats say that in Ginsburgs absence, the chances of the court siding with the Republicans increases significantly, and that millions of Americans could lose health insurance in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic that has infected over six million.

In the middle of the worst global health crisis in living memory, Donald Trump is at the Supreme Court trying to strip health coverage away from tens of millions of families and to strip away the peace of mind from more than 100 million people with pre-existing conditions, Biden said in Philadelphia on Sunday in his first remarks on the vacancy. If he succeeds, insurers could once again discriminate or drop coverage completely for people living with preexisting conditions like asthma, diabetes, and cancer. And perhaps, most cruelly of all, if Donald Trump has his way, complications from COVID-19, like lung scarring and heart damage, could become the next deniable pre-existing condition.

In an Instagram live interview on CNN on Monday, Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harriswho, as a sitting Senator, could theoretically cast a vote for Ginsburgs replacement, depending on when it occurshad a similar message. This is just not about ideology, she told CNN political analyst April Ryan, noting the upcoming legal challenges for the Affordable Care Act. There are going to be real, significant, very tangible differences in terms of the life and well being of the American people based on who gets elected in November.

Biden, who has previously said he opposed the idea of court-packing, didnt touch the subject in his remarks on Sunday. On Monday, both Biden and Harris declined to answer questions about it. Its a legitimate question, but let me tell you why Im not going to answer that question  because it will shift the focus, Biden said in a local television interview on Tuesday in Wisconsin when asked about the prospect. Thats what [Trump] wants, he never talks about the issue at hand and he always tries to change the subject. Lets say I answer that question, then the whole debates going to be about what Biden said or didnt say  the question should be about why he about why he is moving in a direction thats totally inconsistent with what [the] founders wanted.

Campaigning on health care, Democratic strategists argue, is a tried-and-true strategy. In 2018, Democrats regained control of the House of Representatives largely by campaigning on protecting the Affordable Care Act, and 2020 has so far been similar. House Democratic incumbents and candidates have already spent a collective $30 million on television ads focused on health care this cycle.

Heath care issues tend to appeal not only to the Democratic base, but to independent voters and more moderate Republicans, particularly those who may have voted for Trump four years ago but subsequently soured on him. Internal polling from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee conducted this July and August in 57 congressional districts41 of which voted for Trump in 2016found messages on protecting people with preexisting conditions and cracking down on insurance companies to be most convincing.

Democratic strategists working on the most competitive Senate races, where Democratic candidates are running to unseat Republican incumbents, also argue that health care is a winning issue. For Joni Ernst, Martha McSally, Steve Daines, the Affordable Care Act lawsuit is the last thing they want to talk about, says one Democratic strategist working on Senate campaigns, referring to the incumbents in Iowa, Arizona and Montana. If [Ginsburgs replacement] is the deciding vote on repealing protections for preexisting conditions and Democrats can spend the next six weeks talking about it, then these folks are in a really big jam.

Progressive Democrats, meanwhile, have been beating the court-packing drum. Massachusetts Rep. Joe Kennedy, who recently unsuccessfully challenged Markey in a Senate primary as a centrist alternative, echoed his former competitors call to expand the Supreme Court. If [Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell] holds a vote in 2020, we pack the court in 2021, Kennedy tweeted Saturday. Its that simple. Other Democrats, like Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm and House Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler, have come out with similar declarations.

Progressive activists, who have long called for sweeping judicial reform, welcomed these endorsements. These are things professors and others have talked about for years in terms of fixing our democracy, ranging from ending the filibuster to expanding the court to abolishing the electoral college, says Rebecca Katz, a Democratic progressive strategist. These are not academic issues anymore.

Senate Democrats have so far refused to take the issue of court-packing off the table. On a Sept. 19 phone call, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told his colleagues that if McConnell moved forward with a nomination and Democrats regain control of the White House and Senate, nothing was off the table, according to a source on the call.

Meanwhile, most mainstream Democrats appear to be quietly wishing that the court-packing discussion, which they see as potentially damaging, would just go away. Youre never going to win having a process argument, says the Democratic strategist working on Senate races. Everyone knows someone living with a pre-existing condition. No one wants to sit down and have a process argument about the Supreme Court.

A senior Democratic senate staffer, who requested anonymity to speak candidly, said focusing on court packing is simply galvanizing Republican voters. It looks and sounds like exactly what [Republicans] are able to exercise their base aboutrampant Democratic overreach on everything, the staffer says. Their base loves it and will eat it up.

With reporting by Lissandra Villa
Race for lieutenant governor will make history either way

RALEIGH  I dont consider myself to be a black leader. I consider myself to be a leader in N.C. who just happens to be black.



Thats how Republican candidate for lieutenant governor Mark Robinson introduced himself at a debate hosted by the N.C. Institute of Political Leadership and Spectrum News.



The two candidates running to become North Carolinas first African-American lieutenant governor have dramatically different views on race, law enforcement, education, economic policy, and the role of government.



The election pits Rep. Yvonne Lewis Holley, D-Wake, a liberal, against conservative gun-rights activist Robinson. Both stand to make history. Both are unapologetic about their views. Both highlight contrasting visions of race in America and what it means to be an American.



If Robinson wins in November, he will become the first black Republican elected to any major statewide office since the 1800s. He describes himself as a successful businessman who grew up as the ninth of 10 children in a poor family.



Robinson says he doesnt believe in systemic racism. For him, many problems afflicting black communities result from lawlessness, and police are part of the solution. Defunding the police, he said, is a ridiculous idea.



Systemic racism is not the problem, Robinson said. We have far too many communities that are ruled by lawlessness. We need to take a good long look at that, stop putting the police under the microscope, and start putting the criminals under the microscope.



Holley disagreed.



We need to start protecting people, as opposed to policing them, Holley said. We have other ways we can do things that are less restrictive and less bullying than going in all the time with a gun and the only resource is to arrest and physically restrain and harm people.



But the two clashed at a more fundamental level. Holley sees a world riddled with rampant systemic racism. Robinson doesnt. He eschews so-called race relations. Where Holley decries differences, he promotes similarities.



Every day, someone reminds me that Im black, Holley said. Weve come a long way. But what is happening now is systemic racism that has kept us from economic development, kept black and brown people from safety on the streets. Were in fear of our lives from just getting a traffic stop.



But Robinson harks back to the idea of America as a melting pot  ditching the more modern metaphor of the American salad bowl, where distinct cultural and racial identities co-exist. When identified as a black leader, he bristled.



The best thing we can do for racial relations in this nation is stop calling ourselves by different races, Robinson said. Were all one race, the human race, and one nation, America. We start calling ourselves human, American, and I think well see a lot of those issues go away.



Robinson flipped the normal dynamic of these debates.



While conservatives often find themselves defending the past, Robinson stood for the future. He aggressively reframed questions into optimistic quips. Fear became courage, the minimum wage became maximum talent  always with a heavy emphasis on progress.



North Carolinians arent afraid. Theyre courageous, and theyre ready to move on in this state under some real progress, Robinson said. Theyre ready to get past these issues, ready to work through this [corona]virus, and ready to see violence in the street ended.



Holley found herself holding up the burden of history. She was a child of the civil rights era, one of the first African-American students to desegregate Raleighs Enloe High School. She argues that she has the experience of the past and the will to create a better future.



That vision of a better future differs dramatically from Robinsons.



Holley supports stricter gun-control laws, including red-flag laws tagging people thought to be possible threats, higher taxes on corporations, more taxpayer subsidies to the poor, and Medicaid expansion. She opposes the Opportunity Scholarship Program, though she praised charter schools as an alternative for parents. And she rejects any voter ID requirements.



This is our rainy day. This is the time when we need to put our money behind the people of North Carolina and help them out, Holley said.



Robinson blames Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper for the economic devastation caused by COVID-19. He thinks Democrats have no solutions for small-business owners.



Quite frankly, small business[es] are suffering right now because Gov. Roy Cooper shut them down and took the control out of their hands, Robinson said.



The Holley-Robinson debate was the first of this elections IOPL Hometown Debate Series. It took place Sept. 20 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. The series continues Thursday, Sept. 27, in Raleigh with state superintendent candidates Jennifer Mangrum, a Democrat, and Catherine Truitt, a Republican. On Oct. 4, a labor commissioner debate will feature Democrat Jessica Holmes and Republican state Rep. Josh Dobson. The final debate is scheduled Oct. 11, with incumbent State Treasurer Dale Folwell, a Republican, facing his Democratic opponent Ronnie Chatterji.



None will have studio audiences, because of COVID-19 restrictions.



Portions of all the debates are being aired the Sunday after they take place on the Spectrum News program In Focus With Loretta Boniti. The series sponsors are AARP-North Carolina, the State Employees Association of North Carolina, Humana, the North Carolina Sheriffs Association, and the Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina.



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Cutline: Candidates for lieutenant governor  Democratic state Rep. Yvonne Lewis Holley, left, and Republican Mark Robinson, right  debate at the Charlotte Motor Speedway as part of the N.C. Institute of Political Leaderships Hometown Debate series. At center is Spectrum News NC moderator Loretta Boniti (screen shot from Spectrum News).



holley-robinson-debate.jpg
BRIDGEPORT  A local top prosecutor has been chosen as a finalist for the states new inspector general position in charge of police accountability.

C. Robert Satti Jr., supervisory assistant states attorney for the Judicial District of Bridgeport Judicial District, was selected as a finalist along with Brian Preleski, states attorney for the Judicial District of New Britain.

The two men will be interviewed by the Criminal Justice Commission for the position on Thursday.

The position of inspector general was created by the new police accountability law to independently investigate the use of deadly force by police. It will investigate all incidents involving the deadly use of force by police and in-custody deaths.

This is an important position to get back the trust of the community and hold officers accountable for their actions, Chief States Attorney Richard M. Colangelo Jr. said in an earlier interview.

The unit falls under the Division of Criminal Justice, which Colangelo heads, but will be considered independent to ensure the integrity of the investigations.

The state Office of Fiscal Analysis estimated the cost of running the unit in 2021 at $1.1 million including $167,183 for the salary for the inspector general.

There will also need to be inspectors and prosecutors within the unit and office space where the unit will work, Colangelo said.

Satti currently serves as second in command of the Bridgeport Judicial District and is the most experienced prosecutor in the state with 40 years in the states Division of Criminal Justice. During that time, he has prosecuted more than 150 serious felony cases, including Richard Roszkowski, who was sentenced to death by a jury for the 2006 murders of a mother, her young daughter and a Milford landscaper in Bridgeport. Roszkowski was later re-sentenced to life in prison after the death penalty was eliminated by the state legislature.

In 2017, Satti was selected to serve on a hearing at Guantanamo Bay Navy base in Cuba for an al-Qaida commander in Afghanistan, Abd al Hadi al-Iraqi, who allegedly led insurgents who set roadside bombs and carried out suicide attacks and ambushes that killed American troops and CIA contractors, and targeted other U.S.-allied troops and civilians.

Satti, who also serves on the Milford zoning board, is the son of legendary New London prosecutor C. Robert Satti Sr., who successfully prosecuted serial killer Michael Ross, the last man to get the death penalty in Connecticut.

Preleski, New Britains top prosecutor since 2011, was born in New Britain and raised in Bristol, where he attended public school and his father worked as a Bristol police officer.

As a prosecutor for more than 30 years, Preleski successfully prosecuted Connecticuts first cold case murder, tried the case establishing the constitutionality of sobriety checkpoints under Connecticut law, and has tried more than 50 major felony cases to verdict. In 2013, Preleski was selected by the National District Attorneys Association to serve as an official observer to the war crimes trial of Abd al Rahim al Nashiri in Guantanamo Bay.
City police have made an arrest in a case of porch piracy.

Someone went to the front porch of a Bethune Street home between 10:50 and 11 a.m. Sept. 3 and looked through a recently delivered box of fresh and frozen food before taking some items from the box.

Police were called and an investigation led to a suspect.

Alice Bergeron, 22, of Peterborough was arrested on Monday and charged with theft under $5,000. She is to appear in court Oct. 13.
American Airlines has stated that a mask policy is the reason why the mom and her son were removed from the flight

A mother was left frustrated and disappointed after American Airlines kicked her and her baby off of a flight when the 2-year-old refused to wear a mask.

Read More: Trump White House blocked effort to mail every US household face masks

Rachel Starr Davis took to Instagram last week to post a photo of herself and the sleeping toddler that detailed her experience.

(Credit: Rachel Starr Davis)

Im at a complete loss of words. The eyes of a mama-bear who just bawled her eyes out as she was forced off an airplane because her 2 year old wouldnt keep his mask on. I tried repeatedly, begged him, bribed him, pleaded with him, did everything I could while he was screaming and crying as I tried to hold him and put the mask on, feeling my absolute lowest of lows as a mother. Before I even sat in my seat, flight attendant Terry on American Airlines flight 5595 from Charlotte, NC to Manchester, NH on September 17th, approached me and asked how old my son is, and demanded according to their policy he wear a mask, she wrote.

She continued, I told her this is our fourth American Airlines flight this week, and he has never been asked to wear a mask. She informed me he (my overtired two year old son) would need to comply with their company policy or we would be asked to leave the aircraft. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CFQG1fMnwUw/?igshid=1hzvfljw8p0jn

A spokesperson for American Airlines released a statement to the Portsmouth Herald.

Policies are enforced and approved face coverings are made available at key points throughout the customer journey, said American Airlines spokeswoman Gianna Urgo. Weve reached out to the family to learn more about their recent travel experience and to address their concerns.

American Airlines did reach out to Davis who wants a formal apology, the Portsmouth Herald reported.

Major airlines do require children two and up to wear face coverings but parents are fighting back and say its an unreasonable request from a child so young. In August, a mother of six asked to de-board a plane because her 2-year-old refused to comply and wear a mask. Just a few days ago a Chicago mom was kicked off her Southwest flight because her 2-year-old wouldnt wear a mask.

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Read More: Sesame Place worker allegedly punched in the face over mask recommendation

But parents are now fighting back. Moms are creating Change.org petitions asking that the Center for Disease Control change its regulations for kids and face coverings. A mother with two twins who have autism created a petition asking that children with developmental disabilities also be exempt from wearing masks. Her petition has close to 14,000 signatures.

But when passengers on Davis flight rallied to show solidarity for her, they were reprimanded. All of the passengers were ordered to deplane do to Davis child refusing to wear a mask. Taylor Cournoyer told ABC News the actions of the airline was wrong.

It was very cold and cruel, said Cournoyer. This wasnt an issue of a grown adult not complying out of spite because they dont agree with masks  this was a child. And it was not a bad, irresponsible mom either  she was crying and trying to keep the mask on and asking the flight attendants for help and advice on what to do.

Once Davis and her children were off, passengers re-boarded the plane and expressed to the staff they were being unreasonable.

I hate to talk like this but once we get going if there are any problems, if you guys give them any problems at all about the decisions that I have made we will turn the flight around and we will come back, the pilot is alleged to have said.

Davis was able to board another flight on Thursday. She also created a Change.org petition according to ABC News and is hoping for a policy change.

She told the outlet, I dont want any other mother to feel this way.

Have you subscribed to theGrios podcast Dear Culture? Download our newest episodes now!

The post Mom and son, 2, removed from flight when toddler refuses to wear mask appeared first on TheGrio.
Dean Buscher/The CW Supergirl

Supergirl is coming to an end.

A spokesperson for The CW confirms to PEOPLE that the series will end afters its upcoming sixth season.

Following news of the series finale, the show's protagonist Melissa Benoist paid tribute to her "iconic character" on Instagram.

"To say it has been an honor portraying this iconic character would be a massive understatement," Benoist, 31, wrote Tuesday alongside a photo of herself as Kara Zor-El.

The star shared that she has been left "humbled" and "speechless" by the "incredible impact the show has had on young girls around the world."

Benoist said that the show has also had an impact on her personally.

"She's taught me strength I didn't know I had, to find hope in the darkest places, and that we are stronger when we're united," Benoist wrote of her role. "What she stands for pushes all of us to be better. She has changed my life for the better, and I'm forever grateful."

RELATED: Watch Supergirl Star Melissa Benoist Give a Group of Young Girls the Surprise of Their Lives

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Benoist added that she's "so excited" to "plan our conclusion to this amazing journey, and I cannot wait for you to see what we have in store. I promise we're going to make it one helluva final season  el mayarah  @supergirlcw."

Phillip Chin/Getty Supergirl cast

The series follows Benoist's Kara Zor-El, who at 12 years old escaped doom on planet Krypton to find protection on Earth with the Danver family. Throughout her childhood, Kara, the cousin of Superman, hid her superpowers until she became an adult. Supergirl explores Kara's life in New York City as she is enlisted to help protect the city's residents from danger.

The show, which first premiered in 2015, also stars Chyler Leigh, David Harewood, Mehcad Brooks, Katie McGrath, Jesse Rath and Jeremy Jordan.

As youve probably heard, The 6th season of @supergirlcw will officially be our last. Getting to work on this show and play this character has been nothing short of a dream come true. Thank you to all our fans for your love and support. We all live on in the big brainsupergirl pic.twitter.com/umG0VnCiuD  Jesse Rath (@jesserath) September 22, 2020

RELATED: TV Shows' Final Seasons We Can't Wait to See

Season 6 of Supergirl is set to premiere in 2021, according to Deadline. Production is expected to begin in Vancouver on Sept. 28 after being delayed due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the outlet reported.

Rath, who stars as Querl Dox/ Brainiac-5, also paid tribute to show.

"As you've probably heard, The 6th season of @SupergirlCW will officially be our last. Getting to work on this show and play this character has been nothing short of a dram come true. Thank you to all our fans for your love and support," he tweeted.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 06:03:28|Editor: huaxia

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KIEV, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Eighteen civilians were killed and 89 wounded in conflict in Donbas in the first seven months of this year, which are 10 percent less year on year, the head of UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine Matilda Bogner said on Tuesday.

According to Bogner, 3,367 civilians had been killed and 7,000 injured since the beginning of the conflict in Donbas in 2014.

Bogner noted that the mission has not registered a single civilian death and not a single destruction of civilian objects since Aug. 1.

Bogner called on the participants in the armed conflict in Donbass to continue adhering to the cease-fire regime and fully comply with international humanitarian law.

The representatives of Ukraine, Russia and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe agreed on establishing a complete and comprehensive cease-fire in East Ukraine on July 27 during a Trilateral Contact Group video conference on July 22.

The agreement called for a ban on offensive and reconnaissance actions, the use of firearms, as well as the use of disciplinary measures for violations of the cease-fire.

The ongoing conflict in East Ukraine, which has claimed the lives of some 13,000 people and left as many as 30,000 wounded, began in April 2014. Enditem
The second storefront in Fort Myers marks the company's 59th Florida location

FORT MYERS, Fla., Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Trulieve Cannabis Corp. (CSE: TRUL) (OTCQX: TCNNF) ("Trulieve" or "the Company"), a leading and top-performing cannabis company based in the United States, announced today the opening of its latest Florida dispensary. Fort Myers will be home to the Company's 61st dispensary nationwide and 59th in Florida. The nearly 5,000 square foot dispensary will be the Company's second in Fort Myers and will directly support patients across Southwest Florida.

Situated in the southern end of Fort Myers, the dispensary supports Trulieve's goal of expanding and ensuring direct, reliable patient access to medical cannabis across its home state of Florida. It also joins the Company's 58 other dispensaries statewide, including a location in North Fort Myers, as well as others across Englewood, Cape Coral, and Port Charlotte.

"Access plays a huge role at Trulieve; whether that's expanding our catalog of products to guarantee every patient has options and products that work for them, or opening new stores. We're driven by ensuring patients have direct access to the medications they've come to rely on," said Trulieve CEO Kim Rivers. "Opening our second Fort Myers location allows us to not only expand access to patients' treatment options, but allows us to connect and develop authentic relationships so we can continue creating groundbreaking products and bringing natural, effective relief to people across Florida."

In honor of the Company's brand-new dispensary, all patients  from those new to Trulieve to the dedicated Truliever community  will be eligible for a 25% in-store discount at both the North Fort Myers location and the new Fort Myers store on opening day. In line with policies that have been adopted statewide, all visitors will be required to wear masks inside the dispensary. Additionally, only patients and their state-approved caregivers will be allowed inside the waiting room and dispensary at this time.

ANNOUNCING: Trulieve Fort Myers Opening

WHERE: 12575 S. Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers, Florida 33907

WHEN: Wednesday, September 23, 2020, at 9:00 AM

In stores and online, patients will find Florida's largest selection of THC and CBD products, available in a variety of delivery methods, including edibles, smokable cannabis, concentrates, tinctures, topical creams, vaporizers, and more. Trulieve also offers home delivery statewide for patients, and convenient in-store pick-up at its 59 dispensaries in locations across the state from Pensacola to Key West.

To assist patients with ordering, Trulieve has made our entire catalog of products available for online ordering, with in-store pickup, curbside pickup (at select locations), or statewide home delivery options available. Furthermore, to assist with CDC recommendations for social distancing and in compliance with additional company-enforced safety guidelines, several measures have been taken to ensure the health and well-being of employees and patients, including modifying the store layout, installation of plexiglass partitions and HEPA air filtration scrubbers in the dispensaries, increasing access to masks and sanitizer throughout the store for staff and visitors, utilizing visual aids to direct traffic throughout the store, and increasing the frequency of deep cleanings for all dispensaries.

Trulieve is closely monitoring the coronavirus situation and will update store policies as needed to ensure the safety of patients and staff; all updates will be shared directly on Trulieve's website as they are enacted.

As the state's leading medical cannabis provider, Trulieve's employees are experienced, knowledgeable, and eager to help patients. Trulieve encourages potential patients, as well as patients who are new to cannabis and to our wide array of products, to connect with the staff in-store or through the online chat feature to learn more.

The Office of Medical Marijuana Use recently announced the registry was quickly approaching 425,000 registered medical marijuana patients with an active ID card, with Trulieve consistently selling approximately half of the state's overall volume, per the Florida Department of Health. To support the state's rapidly growing patient base, there are over 2,600 registered ordering physicians in the State of Florida.

For more information, please visit www.Trulieve.com.

About Trulieve

Trulieve is a vertically integrated "seed-to-sale" company and is the first and largest fully licensed medical cannabis company in the State of Florida. Trulieve cultivates and produces all of its products in-house and distributes those products to Trulieve-branded stores (dispensaries) throughout the State of Florida, as well as directly to patients via home delivery. Trulieve also operates in California, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. Trulieve is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol TRUL and trades on the OTCQX market under the symbol TCNNF.

To learn more about Trulieve, visit www.Trulieve.com.

SOURCE Trulieve Cannabis Corp.

Related Links

https://www.trulieve.com/


Belarus opposition leader makes a shocking presentation but EU foreign ministers still unable to agree on sanctions.

European Union foreign ministers have been confronted with images of what are said to be the crimes of Belarus government.

Opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya made another plea for sanctions against President Alexander Lukashenko, who is accused of rigging elections and violently suppressing protests.

But diplomats failed to agree on punishments.

Al Jazeeras Nadim Baba reports.
Andhra Pradesh High Court on 15 September directed no print and electronic media including the social media platforms to publish the contents and context of the FIR involving a former Advocate General of the state and relatives of a sitting judge of the Supreme Court. Senior editors, scribes, and former members of PCI appealed to CJI S A Bobde to intervene and facilitate the publications.

Several veteran editors, senior journalists, and former members of Press Council of India (PCI) appealed to Chief Justice of India (CJI) S A Bobde to intervene and facilitate the publication of the contents of the First Information Report (FIR) and developments related to it regarding the alleged corruption in the purchase of land in Amaravati Capital Region in Andhra Pradesh in the print and electronic media.

The Andhra Pradesh High Court on 15 September directed the print and electronic media including the social media platforms not to publish the contents and context of the FIR registered by the Andhra Pradesh Anti-corruption Bureau (ACB) involving a former Advocate General of the state and relatives of a sitting judge of the Supreme Court.

They said that Freedom to report such crimes from the stage of filing FIR is well within the frame of the Constitution-based-Rule of Law, in the interests of the public, democracy, and criminal justice. They pointed out that the Supreme Court disfavoured prior restraint and made it clear in several judgments that it should be resorted to only when such publication of news interfered in the due process of the court.

Also Read: India-China border tensions: Both countries to hold sixth Corps Commander talks

Also read: Opposition misleading farmers, MSP intact, PM assures nation on Farms Bill

The signatories to the statement among others included veteran editors A B K Prasad, K Ramachandra Murthy, Editor of United News of India (UNI) and former Press Council of India (PCI) member Vinay Kumar, former PCI members K Amarnath and S N Sinha, Press Club Hyderabad President Vijay Kumar Reddy, Press Club of India Vice-president and senior journalist Shahid Abbas, veteran journalist and former President of Press Club of India Gautam Lahiri and Columnist and Professor of Media Laws at Bennett University, Madabhushi Sridhar.

They concluded, We make a humble representation requesting your good self to facilitate the ordinary publication of news about the FIR and further developments, in the public interest, to protect rule of law and equality.

Also Read: Bihar election decision in a day or two: CEC Sunil Arora


By Jun Ji-hye





Ministries, government organizations and municipal administrations are rushing to draw up countermeasures against a possible spike in the number of COVID-19 infections during the five-day Chuseok holiday that starts Sept. 30.



Chuseok is one of Korea's biggest annual celebrations, during which millions of people travel to their hometowns nationwide to perform ancestral commemoration ceremonies and spend time with their family members.



The health authorities are concerned ahead of this Chuseok holiday as the country has already experienced a surge in the number of new daily coronavirus cases during the so-called "golden holiday" between April 30 and May 5, and during the three-day holiday from Aug. 15 Liberation Day to the one-off national holiday, Aug. 17.



Specifically, the country's daily tally of new cases has been in triple digits since Aug. 13 amid a second wave of infections, although for the last three days the total has stayed below 100.



Based on these experiences, the government is asking people to refrain from visiting their hometowns or places where many traditionally gather during the holiday, designating the two weeks starting Sept. 28 as a "special period" for strong nationwide anti-virus efforts.



The government has already implemented some measures aimed at stemming the spread of COVID-19.



The Korea Railroad Corp. has sold only window seats on trains to keep a distance between passengers, while highway toll fees that are usually waived during Chuseok will be collected this year.



"Highway toll fees have been waived since 2017, but those fees will be collected this year in order to prevent highways from getting congested," Vice Minister of Health and Welfare Kim Gang-lip said. "We hope residents will understand the government's decision."



Kim noted highway toll fees collected during Chuseok will be used to support the disinfection of service areas.



The Ministry of Environment is bracing for a rapid increase in waste during the annual celebration as the public health crisis is expected to lead to an increase in gift deliveries and the use of disposable products.



The ministry is planning to carry out inspections in cooperation with local governments and other relevant organizations into companies suspected of illegal waste disposal.



"We will make every effort to curbing illegal trash dumping," a ministry official said. "And we will increase support for companies that have been complying with waste disposal guidelines."



For its part, the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission has asked government offices to be fully ready for a possible surge in complaints during Chuseok amid growing fears over more outbreaks during the holiday.



The commission said many people have already made a lot of inquiries about travel or gathering restrictions, social distaining guidelines and school schedules during the holiday.



Local governments are also working hard to draw up their own countermeasures against the spread of the disease.



Yesan County in South Chungcheong Province has decided to shut down a cemetery there from Sept. 30 to Oct. 4 to prevent infection clusters that could occur with many people visiting.



The decision came as several people there who recently tested positive for COVID-19 were found to have had contact with infected persons living in the other parts of the country.



The county office asked people who were planning to visit the cemetery to honor the memory of deceased family members during Chuseok to consider alternatives.



"The decision was made to protect the people's safety and stop the spread of the virus. We ask people to fully cooperate," a county office official said.



Vice Minister Kim said the government is working to draw up detailed guidelines for Chuseok, adding that an announcement will be made soon.



"All of us should not lower our guard against the coronavirus as large-scale population movements are expected during Chuseok," he said. "We should make efforts to prevent the holiday from becoming another source of the COVID-19 outbreak."



Kim Woo-joo, a professor at Korea University Guro Hospital, stressed the need to wear face masks when visiting family.



"There have been many cases where people were infected with the virus from family members," he said. "The government will need to announce measures that will help people spend time with their families in a safer manner."


The federal government has announced an award for the best teacher in each of Nigerias 774 local government areas during the 2020 World Teachers Day event slated for October 5.

The government also said the instrument for the nomination of potential awardees has been sent to all state ministries of education and the Federal Capital Territory, but only 24 states have responded with submissions for the award categories.

The minister of state for education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, said this during a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday. The press briefing was organised to inform journalists of the governments preparedness for the celebration of World Teachers Day.

Most Nigerian schools have not reopened since March after the coronavirus outbreak, except for a few states who have allowed schools to reopen from Monday, meaning that most teachers except for those working for private schools have been at home.

When asked for the criteria for selection, despite the long holiday caused by the coronavirus, the minister said there is an existing template for assessment of teachers performance. The minister did not disclose either the criteria for selection or the list of states that did not submit the nominations for the award

He also said that the awards would be in five categories; best public school, best approved private school, best public school teacher, best approved private school teacher, and best school administrator. He, however, did not mention what shape or form the awards themselves would take.

According to the minister, the award is organised to appreciate and recognise teachers motivation of productivity and quality service delivery.

He said each category has three levels that accumulates to a total of 24 awards,

774 best teachers; one from each of the 774 local government Areas from which the best teachers were chosen would also be rewarded to ensure that the process originates from each local government.

COVID-19 guidelines

Also speaking, the national president of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Nasir Idris, appealed to state governments and non-state providers of education to comply strictly with the COVID-19 protocols and guidelines developed for the safe reopening of schools by the federal government.

Mr Idris, who was represented by the national publicity secretary of the union, Idris Amba, said obeying the protocols and guidelines would help safeguard the health and safety of the learners, the teachers and the school community as a whole.

He also said that teachers need to be provided with opportunities for regular training and continuing professional development, be provided with conducive environments, be adequately equipped and be empowered and supported to be able to meet the new trends, challenges and demands of the 21st century and to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education for all.

Demands

The union appealed to the federal government for an upward review of the retirement age of teachers and education officers, and the approval and implementation of the 27.5 per cent professional allowance for teachers of unity schools.

The union also asked for the establishment of teachers salary structure and other incentives for teachers to address the peculiarities of the teaching career and to uphold the true identity and status of the profession.

They also asked the government to establish a national secondary education commission for proper coordination and effective management of secondary education in the country.

Other rewards

The Vanguard newspaper reported that the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, pledged 20 cars to deserving outstanding teachers across the six education districts in the state.

This years celebration has Teachers: leading in crises, reimagining the future as its theme.
Iran has criticised the United States by comparing George Floyds death to the feet of arrogance on the neck of independent nations.

Iranian president Hassan Rouhani used the metaphor during a speech at the United Nations on Tuesday, saying Mr Floyds death is reminiscent of our own experience with the US.

We instantly recognise the feet kneeling on the neck as the feet of arrogance on the neck of independent nations, Mr Rouhani said in pre-recorded remarks.

The footage broadcast to the world concerning the treatment of an African American by the US police is reminiscent of our own experience.

He added: For decades, the valiant Iranian nation has paid a similar high price for its quest for freedom and liberation from domination and despotism.

The comments come days after Irans currency fell to its lowest ever levels as a result of sanctions imposed by Donald Trump, which effectively prevent the country from selling oil globally.

The United States can impose neither negotiations, nor war on us. Life is hard under sanctions. However, harder is life without independence," Mr Rouhani said, according to AP.

The Trump administration imposed sanctions on Iran after withdrawing from the nuclear deal struck under the Obama administration.

Mr Rouhani described the US as a terrorist and interventionist outsider and that Iran does not deserve sanctions, which came after the White House issued an executive order on Monday enforcing a slate of punitive measures on Tehran.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced on Saturday, 19 September that it reimposed previously terminated UN sanctions on Iran under the snapback provision of the 2015 nuclear deal that Trump withdrew from in 2018.

He said at a news conference on Monday that the presidents executive order had given the US a new and powerful tool to enforce the UN arms embargo and hold those who seek to evade UN sanctions accountable.

Our actions today are a warning that should be heard worldwide. No matter who you are, if you violate the U.N. arms embargo on Iran, you risk sanctions, Mr Pompeo said.

In his speech to the UN, Mr Rouhani mentioned Iranian Revolutionary Guard general Qassem Soleimani, who was killed by a US airstrike in Baghdad, as assassinated hero" and said his country was not a bargaining chip in US elections and domestic policy.
China began building at least 13 new military positions, including airbases and air defence units, near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with India after the 2017 standoff at Doklam, with work on four heliports beginning after the current tensions in Ladakh.

Details of these military positions are outlined in a report released on Tuesday by Stratfor, a leading security and intelligence consultancy. The new positions include three airbases, five permanent air defence positions and five heliports.

Construction on four of those new heliports started only after the onset of the current Ladakh crisis in May, said the report authored by Sim Tack, a Belgium-based security and a military analyst with Stratfor.

The 2017 Doklam crisis appears to have shifted Chinas strategic objectives, with China more than doubling its total number of airbases, air defence positions, and heliports near the Indian border over the past three years, it added.

The Chinese military is building four air defence positions within existing airbases, and other facilities such as additional runways and shelters that will help obscure combat aircraft from observation. It has also been deploying more air defence systems and fighter aircraft to existing facilities, the report said.

Amid the current standoff in Ladakh that became public in early May, there have been numerous reports of China deploying additional troops, special forces, armoured units and air defence units on the Tibetan plateau.

Analysis of open source satellite imagery has shown that China has created a surface-to-air missile site on the banks of Mansarovar Lake in Tibet, and is developing similar facilities to cover sensitive stretches of the disputed border in the Doklam and Sikkim sectors.

A graphic included in the Stratfor report showed that China had only one heliport and one air defence site on the Tibetan plateau in 2016, and there was a substantial expansion and upgrade of its military infrastructure in the area since 2019.

Last year, China developed four airbases, four air defence sites, one heliport and one electronic warfare station.

China has developed four airbases, four heliports and one air defence site on the Tibetan plateau this year. Work on heliports and one airbase began after the tensions in Ladakh.

The rapid expansion of permanent Chinese military infrastructure points to intentions that span a wider timeframe than current and recent border standoffs, the report said.

Also Read: India-China military commanders to meet at least twice more before disengagement commences

A significant portion of Chinas recent infrastructure developments is aimed at strengthening its ability to project air power along the entire Indian border and exploiting potential gaps in Indias capabilities.

The report surmised that such long-term developments rise above the more immediate deployments that China conducted in its previous border standoffs with India, and indicates future intent to ramp up Chinese assertive military posturing in border disputes with India.

Chinas strategy aims to confront India with an insurmountable challenge in territorial disputes by leaning on broad support capabilities that provide Beijing with a tremendous ability to mobilise forces into disputed border areas, it said, adding that such an approach is similar to Beijings strategy in the South China Sea, where a build-up of permanent defence facilities supports Chinese localised military superiority and significantly raises the potential cost of military opposition to Beijings maritime claims in the region.

By applying the same strategy on the LAC, China aims to discourage Indian resistance or military action during future border disputes by ostentatiously demonstrating its ability and intent to engage in military confrontations.

Following a string of smaller skirmishes that culminated in the June 15 clash, which killed 20 Indian soldiers and also caused unspecified Chinese casualties, the two sides have deployed around 50,000 additional troops each along the LAC. After several rounds of military and diplomatic talks failed to take forward the disengagement process, China resorted to provocative military manoeuvres on August 29 and 30 that were thwarted by the Indian side.

Also Read: Indias imports from China dip 27.63 per cent during April-August: Piyush Goyal

This was followed by a string of incidents in which guns were fired for the first time along the LAC since 1975, though there were no casualties.

Chinas intensified development of military infrastructure on the Indian border suggests a shift in Beijings approach to territorial disputes, forcing New Delhi to rethink its national security posture, the Stratfor report said.

While Chinas new developments are geographically focused on Ladakh, its activity across Indias entire border will likely drive future expansions of Indian military infrastructure near disputed borders at Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, it said.

The report warned: By forcing India to respond in kind, Chinas aggressive strategy is leading to a greater concentration of military assets in heavily disputed areas along the border that could raise the risk of potential escalations and sustained conflict.

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GRAND RAPIDS, MI  Grand Rapids Public Schools parents were stunned after receiving a district letter Monday, giving families seven days to commit to a new hybrid learning option or continue online-only classes  without any details about the return to in-person learning.

The district has conducted classes virtually since the start of the school year Aug. 25, with plans to consider an in-person option after nine weeks. But GRPS has not yet released any formal plans on how hybrid learning would be conducted and the safety precautions for face-to-face learning.




Luckin Coffee and 43 other companies involved in its fraud were together fined $9 million by Chinas market regulator. Genscript Biotech says its offices were raided by anti-smuggling officials. Hotelier Huazhu accused by short seller of inflating profit. Meanwhile, a Swedish space company says it is no longer renewing contracts that give Beijing access to its antennas in Sweden, Chile and Australia.

 By Lu Yutong (yutonglu@caixin.com) and Han Wei (weihan@caixin.com)

** TOP STORIES OF THE DAY

Courier ZTO Express prices Hong Kong listing at HK$218 a share

Chinese delivery company ZTO Express priced its shares at HK$218 ($28.13) each as it aims to raise as much as $1.27 billion in a secondary listing in Hong Kong. The price represents 1.92% discount to ZTOs closing price Monday in New York of $28.68. ZTO said earlier that it would sell 45 million shares at a maximum price of HK$268 each. Trading is set to start Sept. 29.

Genscript Biotech probed for alleged import and export violations

Hong Kong-listed biotech company Genscript Biotech said its offices in Nanjing and Shenjiang were raided by anti-smuggling officials last week on allegations of violating Chinas import and export rules. Zhang Fangliang, chairman and controlling shareholder of Genscript, was placed under house arrest, while four other employees were also detained, the company said.

Hotelier Huazhu targeted by short sellers before Hong Kong offering

Chinese hotel chain Huazhu Group Ltd. was accused by short seller Bonitas Research of concealing operating expenses and inflating profits, right before the company debuted in Hong Kong Tuesday following a HK$5.9 billion ($761 million) secondary listing. Despite the news, Huazhus shares in Hong Kong rose by 4.71% Tuesday, pushing up its market value to HK$100 billion.

Swedish space company severs China satellite operation tie-up

A state-owned Swedish space company providing ground stations that help fly Chinese spacecraft and transmit data, said on Monday it would no longer renew contracts with China or accept new Chinese business, because of changes in geopolitics. (Reuters)

The Sweden Space Corp. has had contracts allowing Beijing access to its antennas in Sweden, Chile and Australia since at least 2011.

U.S. weighs in on spiking cargo rates, following Chinas move

The Federal Maritime Commission recently sent out a warning over spiking cargo rates, saying it may seek an injunction for a collusion breach of the Shipping Act. It took the action after Chinas Ministry of Transport tightened rules on shipping routes with the U.S. to control spiking costs.

Rio Tinto to develop bonded area operations to blend iron ore at Dalian port

Anglo-Australian miner Rio Tinto has signed a pact to jointly develop its first bonded area operations to blend iron ore in Chinas port city of Dalian, the company said on Tuesday, as it moves to widen offerings for customers across Asia. (Reuters)

The agreement with Dalian Port Co. Ltd. allows Rio Tinto to also use the Chinese port as a transshipment hub and could help it better serve steel mills in North China.

HSBCs share price slumps to 25-year low on report

London-based HSBC Holdings PLCs shares slumped (link in Chinese) to their lowest level since 1995 on Monday after a report from the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network suggested that it kept profiting from powerful and dangerous players in the past two decades even after the U.S. imposed penalties on it and other institutions. The banks shares may have also suffered as it faced the threat of being added to Chinas unreliable entity list.

Former Huayuan Property chairman gets 18 years for bribery

Ren Zhiqiang, 69, former chairman of state-owned developer Huayuan Property Co., has been sentenced by the Beijing No. 2 Intermediate Peoples Court to 18 years in prison and fined 4.2 million yuan ($619,000) for embezzling public funds, taking bribes and abuse of power as a member of state-owned enterprise, according to a court statement (link in Chinese) released on Tuesday. Ren said he accepted the sentence and will not appeal.





** OTHER STORIES MAKING THE HEADLINES

Finance & Economy

 China is tackling unbridled borrowing in the real estate development sector anew with caps for debt ratios. But sources at developers say a rush to get around the rules by moving more debt off balance sheets is on. (Reuters)

 Beijing has sped up development of a blacklist that could be used to punish American technology firms, but officials say leaders are hesitating to pull the trigger, with some arguing a decision on the list should wait until after the U.S. election. (Wall Street Journal)

Business & Tech

 Chinas market regulator has fined (link in Chinese) scandal-plagued Luckin Coffee Inc., along with 43 other third parties involved in the fraud, a total of 61 million yuan for fabricating financial records and misleading the public.

 Hong Kong-headquartered plant-based food company Green Monday Holdings has raised $70 million in a new funding round led by U.S. investment firm TPGs The Rise Fund and Hong Kong-based conglomerate Swire Pacific, in a sign that investors are betting on a future in which plant-based protein alternatives will grow in popularity.

 Hong Kong-listed Genscript Biotech Corp. said in a statement on Monday its offices in East Chinas Jiangsu province were raided by customs for suspected violation of imports and exports regulations. The news sent its share price down by 17.29% on Tuesday.

 Shanghai-based new-energy vehicle startup Weltmeister said on Monday it has closed the pre-IPO funding round led by state-backed SAIC Motor, taking its total fundraising to 33 billion yuan.

 A China Eastern Airlines Co. Ltd. route from the Philippines became the latest to fall afoul of strict rules from Chinas civil aviation regulator that penalize airlines found to have flown in people with Covid-19.

** ON THE CORONAVIRUS

 An $18 billion initiative to deploy a vaccine around the world is moving into the next phase, with 156 countries and regions joining the program. China and the U.S. remain on the sidelines. (Bloomberg)

 The Chinese mainland reported (link in Chinese) six new coronavirus cases for Monday, down from 12 infections a day earlier. All the cases were imported, with three arriving in southern Guangdong province.

Read more

Caixins coverage of the new coronavirus

 As of Tuesday afternoon Beijing time, the number of global Covid-19 infections reached 31.3 million, with more than 965,000 deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

** LOOKING AHEAD

Sept. 30: Release of Caixin China manufacturing PMI

Oct. 9: Release of Caixin China services PMI

** AND FINALLY

The eastern city of Hangzhous Qiantang River, famous for its tidal bore that rose as high as 26 meters and clashed with bridges in August, is attracting tourists from across the country to share the experience.

Tourists photograph the surging tidal bore along the famous Qiantang River in the eastern city of Hangzhou on Monday.









Contact reporter Lu Yutong (yutonglu@caixin.com) and editor Yang Ge (geyang@caixin.com)

Read more

China Business Digest: Oracle-TikTok Deal Still in Doubt; STAR Market Warns Against IPO Pricing Collusion
PROVIDENCE, RI  Rhode Island is back on the travel advisory list in three states, requiring quarantine. New York, New Jersey and Connecticut all announced Tuesday that Rhode Islanders must quarantine after entering the state.

Rhode Island was first added to the travel advisory list in all three states in early August, and removed shortly after. Massachusetts followed suit, and has yet to give the state the all-clear since then.

As of Tuesday, the state's percent positive rate was at 1.7 percent, up slightly from a few weeks ago, when it dropped below 1 percent.

More information about each state's is available from each Department of Health: New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

Governor Cuomo Announces Five States Added to Travel Advisory and 10 Million COVID-19 Diagnostic Tests Conducted https://t.co/XfCSjK0htM via @nygovcuomo

 NYS DHSES (@NYSDHSES) September 22, 2020

UPDATE: If you're traveling to NJ from the following states & territories, you should self-quarantine for 14 days:AL, AK, AZ, AR, DE, FL, GA, GU, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NC, ND, OK, PR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WV, WI, WYhttps://t.co/Z3gW60WVSi pic.twitter.com/ubB7pZIW3T

 Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) September 22, 2020





This article originally appeared on the Cranston Patch
MOSCOW: The Kremlin on Tuesday said that Russian efforts to look into the case of opposition politician Alexei Navalny, who Germany says was poisoned, were encountering problems because his allies had removed evidence from the country.

Navalny, a prominent critic of President Vladimir Putin, was airlifted to Germany last month after collapsing on a flight from the Siberian city of Tomsk to Moscow.

Germany has concluded he was poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent. Russia says it has seen no evidence of poisoning.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia was still facing difficulties in obtaining information from Germany.

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
Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation (BBTC) announced that its board of directors will meet on 24 September 2020 to consider fund raising through issuance of Non-Convertible Debentures (NCDs) of up to Rs 75 crore on private placement basis.

The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 21 September 2020.

Shares of BBTC snapped its three-day losing streak and are currently trading 1.05% higher at Rs 1,367 on BSE. BBTC lost 6.59% in prior three trading sessions from its previous closing high of Rs 1,448.35 on 16 September 2020.

The stock is up 154% from its 52-week low of Rs 538 touched on 24 March 2020.

Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation has diversified its interests into tea, coffee, other plantation products, biscuit and dairy products.

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Mary McAleese said she curled up into a foetal ball, sobbing on the first night of her honeymoon after two of her and husband Martins best friends were murdered in a loyalist sectarian attack.

The former president has told how the double murder took place on the morning of her wedding to husband, Martin in 1976.

Guests had kept the devastating news from the couple for as long as possible, as they marked their wedding day.

But Ms McAleese has told The Telegraph how she broke down completely on what should have been the happiest time of her life, when she began to grieve the loss.

When I found out what had happened, I spent the first night of my honeymoon curled up in a foetal ball, sobbing, sobbing, sobbing, Ms McAleese said.

The couples friends had been murdered by loyalists, shot and then set on fire.

Despite living through this horror, growing up in Belfast during the Troubles and now watching a new strain on Anglo-Irish relations, the 69-year-old is clearly still a figure who believes in the spirit of friendship between the two neighbouring nations.

For Ms McAleese, the Queens first visit to Ireland in 2011 was a moment of genuine trust and a sense of neighbourliness between Ireland and England.

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The former president told how she was no monarchist but was hugely impressed by Queen Elizabeths knowledge of Irish history and politics.

As pro-vice chancellor of Queens University in Belfast, Ms McAleese had first met the Queen and found herself to be bowled over by the monarchs affection for Ireland.

She told me that the greatest sadness of her life was never having visited the Republic of Ireland, and we agreed that together we would try and make it happen, Ms McAleese said.

In 1997, Ms McAleese succeeded Mary Robinson as president and she became the first Northern Irish person to hold the role. By April 1998, the Good Friday Agreement had been signed.

She had retired her presidency by November 2011 - just six months after the Queen enjoyed her first visit to the Republic and history had been made.

Her visit was a long time in the planning but it was genuinely cathartic, she said.

With great subtlety and symbolism she healed old wounds and brought about reconciliation.

The grandmother-of-two still remains positive about the future between Britain and Ireland, it appears, despite the British governments controversial Internal Market Bill - seen to be at risk of breaking international law.

The lawyer in me says this is just what happens in the closing phase of any negotiations, when both sides muscle up and try to see who blinks first, she said.

At that stage you just have to put your faith in common sense and hope that a decent settlement will be the outcome.

But if it isnt just braggadocio and bluster then it begs the question: how can the British government be trusted to keep their word on anything else?

The peace process is a dynamic thing that needs to be nurtured and nourished. The embers of hateful sectarianism that we strove so hard to douse have not disappeared. I worry they will be fanned into flames again and that could lead to an unravelling of what we have created.

Ms McAleese compared her upbringing in Ardoyne, Belfast to the popular Channel 4 show Derry Girls, where incendiary devices and army patrols caused inconvenience and exasperation.

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She now lives in Co Roscommon with her husband and it appears she has no plans to retire from Irish life.

Ms McAleeses book Heres the Story: A Memoir, published by Penguin, will be released on Thursday in all good bookshops and is available in ebook format.
When theyre sipping champagne and spitballing new ideas, do Gucci execs just laugh out loud?

How about a mohair crop sweater with a chick hatching and the words Mon Petit? And well charge $2,100. HAHAHA! Lets get an androgynous model who has Tilda Swintons bone structure and Carrot Tops hair to pose in a tartan cotton long smock shirt. And well charge $3,200. HAHAHA!

Id love to have a midlife reinvention and ditch this newspaper racket for haute couture. Granted, Id be an instant pariah when I show up on Day 1 in my off-the-rack blazer and Jack & Jones jeans. Still, it would be thrilling to work in an industry where every bonkers idea is hailed as genius.

Velour trousers in which the left leg is cut off at the knee? Brilliant!

A retro whalebone corset with metal grommets thats only available in Size 0? Incredible!

It was Monday evening and I was watching the Jays pound the Yankees when a friend sent me a link to a People story: Gucci Debuts $1,200 Jeans Designed with Grass Stains Around the Knees.

Even before clicking, I could hear the laughter in Florence.

After reading the story, I went to the Gucci website and it was my turn to double over.

In addition to these new jeans, the company is also hawking an eco washed organic denim overall with the same fake grass stains for $1,750. As they inform customers in the product description: Gucci explores new takes on the cult fabric, reinterpreting it with different designs and washing techniques that blur the line between vintage and contemporary.

Translation: Here you go, suckers. Cult is probably the key word. Also blurred is the line between jackass and bonehead. Are we really in a global pandemic and are there snooty fashionistas still willing to splurge their jewelry money on overalls that simulate an illusion you were just dragged on your stomach across a dewy meadow by a Clydesdale bedecked in an alpaca wool-blend frock?

Im no sartorial expert. A few years ago, editors asked me to cover Toronto Fashion Week  they thought it would be amusing to have a doddering neophyte try to make sense of the fabulous proceedings  and I honestly felt like I had been helicoptered into a Scientology boot camp.

Nothing made a lick of sense. I was getting air-kisses from random strangers and having weird chats with perky scenesters whod casually reference a Versace this or Burberry that. I was watching ethereal models strut across a catwalk in getups that looked to be designed by drunk space aliens.

I remember one show in which the models wore carpets. Im not kidding. The crowd was oohing and aahing and all I could think was, why are these leggy and malnourished young women pouting around in heavy textiles? It was very unsettling.

People, she clearly hasnt had a hot meal since Tuesday!

Remove that throw rug from her lithe shoulders and give her a granola bar!

My takeaway that week, right or wrong, was that high fashion is all about the low expectations too many brands assume of their global clientele. You couldnt get away with this stuff in any other industry. You cant get someone to pay an exorbitant sum for a three-legged chair or electric car that only goes backwards. But slap a designer label on $700 toeless socks and there will be a stampede.

This is most obvious when you track denim trends in recent years. Gucci may think its breaking ground with these new dirty jeans. Its not. Three years ago, Nordstroms Barracuda Straight Leg Jeans, which retailed for about 600 bucks, arrived coated with  wait for it  fake mud.

I still dont get why anyone who has never done a minute of manual labour would want to get bottle service at the club looking like he had just swapped out the spark plugs in his tractor. But the fake mud jeans were a huge hit. Around the same time, Vetements charged customers upwards of $2,000 for jeans that could be unzipped at the butt crack for full-backside nudity. Is mooning a thing for the nouveau riche? Not to be outdone by the merchants of conspicuous consumption, low-end Topshop released a line of MOTO Clear Plastic Straight Leg Jeans that also quickly sold out. I can only imagine how my wife and kids would react if I sashayed into the dining room in my INVISIBLE JEANS.

I was hoping this pandemic would help society reprioritize and focus on what matters. You know? Maybe get serious about climate change. Maybe try to really understand inequality. Maybe help us realize the importance of community and sensible and sustainable consumerism.

In this context, jeans with fake grass stains are not just a luxury oddity.

They are more proof the world is coming apart at the seams.
By: Zoe Fruchter

fruchter@grinnell.edu

Law enforcement officials announced today that four individuals have been accused in a criminal complaint in connection with the alleged murder of 44-year-old Michael Williams, a Black Grinnell resident whose burned body was found in a ditch near Kellogg, Iowa. All four currently remain in police custody and charges will be filed in the coming days.

31-year-old Steven Vogel was already in custody in Marshall County when he was accused of first degree murder and abuse of a corpse. 55-year-old Julia Cox, 57-year-old Roy Garner and 29-year-old Cody Johnson were also accused of abuse of a corpse and accessory after the fact. Cox and Garner face further accusations of destruction of evidence. All four are residents of Grinnell.

Iowa Department of Public Safety Special Agent Adam DeCamp, the lead investigator in the case, said at a press conference today in Grinnell that Williams had been killed in Grinnell on or around Sept. 12. His body was then kept at a house in town for four days before it was transferred to rural Kellogg on the afternoon of Sept. 16, where it was subsequently set ablaze. DeCamp identified the cause of death as strangulation.

DeCamp said that there was no evidence to suggest the acts against Williams were racially motivated. He confirmed that Williams was a known acquaintance of Johnson and Vogel, and that they often socialized within the same circles. DeCamp declined to identify a motive at this time.

Betty Andrews, President of the Iowa-Nebraska National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) also spoke at the press conference, flanked by Kevin Sanders, president of the Iowa City chapter of the NAACP, and Arnold Woods Jr., his counterpart in Des Moines. Andrews said that the Iowa-Nebraska NAACP had received numerous calls., including many from out of state, asking whether Williams killing was racially motivated.

It is understandable that having the body of an African American found burning in a small town in Iowa would raise several red flags and concerns, Andrews said.

Andrews and her colleagues met with both Special Agent in Charge DeCamp and Grinnell Police Chief Dennis Reilly on Monday night. They answered our questions. We questioned their answers. They answered more questions, said Andrews. She and her colleagues asked the officials specifically about the dynamics of race within the well established relationships between the victim and suspects, and reviewed witness testimony, the medical examination and the circumstances of the crime.

At this time, the NAACP sees no indication that Mr. Williams was targeted because of his race, Andrews said.

But Andrews also noted that the NAACP would be open to revising this statement if presented with new information. Andrews said that she had spoken with Williams family, his mother Powell Mejias in Syracuse, NY and the mother of his children in Grinnell, Janalee Boldt.

Justice still is needed in this case and we join the family, law enforcement officials and the community in seeking that justice, she said.

In an interview with The S&B after the press conference, Andrews said that she understands the fears and concerns of Grinnell College students of color, especially Black students. This is of my people, she said. It is appropriate for us to be vigilantthats why were here. She invited Grinnell College students to contact her at iowanebraskanaacp@gmail.com with further concerns.

Andrews remarked on the high level of support for Williams family in the community. Two GoFundMe campaigns, one set up by Mejias for funeral expenses and one to benefit Boldt and Williams children, have raised $12,143 and $41,671 respectively as of Sept. 22. Boldt also created a Facebook group, Justice for Mike, for those who knew him to share facts of the case as well as memories of Williams. The group currently has 243 members.

Im grateful for that [community support]. Quite frankly, a few years back it may not have looked the same, Andrews said, in reference to the newly heightened awareness many Americans have towards racism and racial violence following highly publicized killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor this summer, as well as others.

It is important that this man didnt go invisible, that he is seen and his death is acknowledged, she said.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 01:45:35|Editor: huaxia

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BERLIN, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Police and customs officers have checked around 3,290 people in more than 340 locations across Germany in a campaign targeting perpetrators of human trafficking and illegally employed people, the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) said on Tuesday.

The BKA said that in at least 36 cases they found proof of human trafficking or exploitation, and the authorities are now considering the initiation of preliminary proceedings.

Last week, inspections were conducted across Europe to combat human trafficking and exploitation. According to the BKA, 19 European countries took part in the operation.

According to a study published in 2019 by the German Economic Institute (IW), illegal employment had caused 300 billion euros (352 billion U.S. dollars) in lost revenues to German companies. The study highlighted the "comparatively widespread" use of undeclared workers in the construction sector.

This year, the investigators in Germany focused on beauty salons, the gastronomy sector, service stations, the transport industry as well as construction sites, according to the BKA.

Also on Tuesday, around 300 officers of the State Office of Criminal Investigation (LKA) as well as tax investigators searched residential and business premises in German capital Berlin and the surrounding federal state of Brandenburg.

Investigations in suspected money laundering, fraud and tax evasion were directed against four suspects, some of them were ascribed to organized crime, the General Prosecutor's Office Berlin said via Twitter. Enditem
President George W. Bush was among a group of people on Monday that dedicated a new monument in honor of the passengers and crew of United Airlines Flight 93 that crashed in Pennsylvania during the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

The monument, sculpted by Chas Fagan, is named Non Sibi, which is Latin for not for self, according to a news release.

It is located at the entrance of the Freedom Place building at Old Parkland office campus in Dallas, Texas.

"Non Sibi depicts an extraordinary act of sacrifice and courage by everyday U.S. citizens, carrying forward Freedom Places theme of altruism.

The monument features five larger-than-life bronze statues inspired by the words and actions of Todd Beamer, Jeremy Glick, Mark Bingham and Tom Burnett, who stormed the cockpit of United Airlines Flight 93 on the fateful day, and all passengers and crew aboard the plane.

Rather than exact likenesses, the statues convey the complex emotions experienced - as captured in phone calls from the plane - varying from confusion, disbelief and terror to clarity and resolve. Struggling through that maze of emotions, the passengers and crew collectively developed a heroic, selfless plan of action, an amazing rationale for personal sacrifice.

Ultimately, the memorial invites the viewer to experience and share the passengers' mindset as they decide to take fate into their own hands, ultimately saving the lives of their fellow Americans on the ground. The memorial underscores the depth of gratitude owed to those whose courageous purpose was sealed with the words Lets Roll.

A nearby plaque lists the names of all 40 passengers and crew."

The monument was commissioned by Harlan Crow, chairman of Crow Holdings, and the owner of the Old Parkland campus that was formerly the site of Parkland Hospital.

Artist Fagan grew up in Belgium and rural Pennsylvania, according to the news release. Fagan said, The sculpture is an allegorical depiction of the emotions and the personal human experience that led to the passengers' united decision to take action against the terrorists.

It was inspired by the actual passengers that morning, their stories and perspectives, enhanced by their own words in phone calls to loved ones and people on the ground."

Flight 93 was one of four airplanes hijacked and then purposely crashed on Sept. 11, 2001, in New York City, Shanksville, Pa., and the Pentagon. Passengers of Flight 93 revolted and attempted to regain control of the aircraft before hijackers could crash it into their target, which may have been the White House. The plane crashed in a field near Shanksville in Somerset County, which is now the site of the Flight 93 National Memorial.

A new monument honoring the heroes of Flight 93 that crashed in Somerset County, Pa., on Sept. 11, 2001, was dedicated yesterday in Dallas, Texas. The monument is named Non Sibi, Latin for not for self, and is located at the entrance of the Freedom Place building at Old Parkland. Former President George W. Bush spoke. (Photo by Grant Miller Photography)Grant Miller Photography

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Unthinkable: The terrorist attack on Sept. 11, 2001.
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death Friday has created an opportunity for President Donald Trump to appoint his third Supreme Court justice prior to the November election.

While Trump has said he is determined to fill Ginsburgs vacancy as quickly as possible, Democrats are diametrically opposed to doing so with the election roughly six weeks away.

What Happened? On Saturday, Trump addressed the Supreme Court vacancy via Twitter.

We were put in this position of power and importance to make decisions for the people who so proudly elected us, the most important of which has long been considered to be the selection of United States Supreme Court Justices. We have this obligation, without delay! Trump wrote.

In a Fox interview Monday morning, Trump said he anticipates announcing a nominee on Friday or Saturday of this week.

More than one week before Ginsburgs death, Trump unveiled a list of potential Supreme Court nominees that included men such as Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, former U.S. Solicitor General Paul Clement and Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas

On Saturday, Trump said that Ginsburgs replacement will be a woman.

According to PredictIt, Seventh Circuit Judge Amy Coney Barrett is the leading candidate for the position. Eleventh Circuit Court Judge Barbara Lagoa is the second top choice.

The PredictIt market says there is a 94% chance Trump chooses either Barrett or Lagoa as his nominee.

Whats Next: Republicans need a simple majority vote in the Senate to confirm a nominee.

Given that Vice President Mike Pence is the tie-breaking vote, that means Trumps nominee will need 50 Senate votes to be confirmed. There are 53 Republican senators, but Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Maine Sen. Susan Collins have both publicly stated their opposition to the idea of filling Ginsburgs seat prior to the election.

The Republican-controlled Senate refused to vote on President Barack Obamas Supreme Court nominee in 2016 given that the presidential election was eight months away.

Story continues

In a statement, Murkowski said it would now be hypocritical for Republicans to rush a confirmation in 2020 with the election less than two months away.

House Democrats also have extreme measures they can potentially take to fight the appointment.

On Sunday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi did not rule out a possible second impeachment of Trump during the lame duck session to delay the confirmation process should Joe Biden win the election.

Benzingas Take: The SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE: SPY) traded lower by 1.2% on Monday, which isnt surprising given how averse investors are to uncertainty in Washington, D.C.

Attention will now shift to moderate Utah Sen. Mitt Romney, who was the only Republican senator to vote in favor of Trumps impeachment earlier this year.

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Uber Analyst Expects California's Prop 22 To Pass Based On Latest Polling

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With the start of the school year, we are now facing near-exponential spread of COVID-19. This is driven in part by the unprecedented number of infections among 18-24 year-olds, which have a case rate five times higher than any other age group, Evers tweeted. Today I declared a new public health emergency and face covering order effective immediately to address the recent surge in cases among young people. We have to get this virus under control, and we need everyone to do their part, especially students across our state.
https://www.aish.com/jw/s/Rambans-Newly-Discovered-Prayer.html

Nachmanides was a tireless Jewish leader 800 years ago - his newly discovered prayer can inspire us today.

In the ways of repentance instruct me This beautiful line is from a prayer written nearly a millennium ago by one of the greatest sages in Jewish history, Rabbi Moshe ben Nachman. Its only recently been discovered for the first time in generations, and translated into English. Coming to light just before Yom Kippur, this heartfelt prayer can help Jews around the world put their yearning into words once again.

Rabbi Moshe ben Nachman had an incredibly eventful life, and his work still influences Jews around the world today. He was born in the town of Girona, in Spain  very close to todays border with France  in 1194. At the time, Girona had a flourishing Jewish quarter. The Jewish district, known as El Cali, still stands today; its one of the best-preserved Jewish quarters in all of Europe and a major attraction of Girona. The narrow, twisting Medieval streets that Rabbi Moshe ben Nachman once walked still stand, though the Jewish community that once filled the area with bustling life is long gone.

The Jewish Quarter, El Cali

Young Moshe was born into a famous rabbinic family, and he studied with some of the most renown rabbis of France and Spain. It soon became obvious that Moshe was no ordinary student: he was one of the most brilliant minds of his age, and soon mastered enormous bodies of Jewish and secular knowledge. He wrote two major works on Jewish practice when he was only 15 years old, Hilchos Nedarim and Hilchos Bechoros. He earned rabbinic ordination, and became known as Ramban, an acronym of his initials: Rabbi Moshe Ben (son of) Nachman.

Ramban soon was known as one of the most acomplished rabbis in all of Spain; Jews from across the country and abroad wrote him letters inquiring about his views and opinions and asking advice about matters of Jewish law. He also studied medicine, and worked as a doctor. He gained prominence not only in Jewish circles but also in non-Jewish circles, even gaining the trust and admiration of King James of Aragon, the Medieval ruler who expanded the kingdom of Aragon in todays Catalan region of Spain.

The Disputation

In 1263, King James ordered Ramban to take part in a disputation. These were horrible events in Medieval Europe, and pitted learned Jews against non-Jews to publicly debate their faiths. Disputations could be deadly: Jews were ordered to defend Jewish beliefs but were forbidden from insulting Christian doctrine. Any Jew who was accused of denying principles of Christian faith could be tortured and killed.

Ramban was ordered to debate a Jew whod converted to Christianity. King James and his entire royal court attended the disputation, enjoying every twist and turn of the arguments. When it was finished, the king declared Ramban the winner, having defeated his Christian opponent, and awarded the rabbi three hundred coins.

Soon, however, some Dominican Catholics began spreading the rumor that Ramban had, in fact, lost the disputation and that his Christian opponent had proved the illegitimacy of the Jewish faith. Ramban responded by writing down an exact account of the disputation. With his brilliant mind, he managed to recall in perfect detail every question he and his opponent had been asked and record their exact responses. His resulting book, Sefer HaVichuach, provided a blow by blow account of the wide-ranging debate.

Dominican authorities seized on the book as corroboration of the charge that Ramban had insulted Christianity. They presented highly edited versions of the work to King James, who was outraged. Ramban pointed out that everything in his book hed already said publicly in the presence of the king and been rewarded for his words. King James acknowledged this, and spared Rambans life. Sefer HaVichuach would be banned and burned, but the great rabbi himself was allowed to leave Aragon and become an exile, instead of being burned at the stake.

From France to Israel

Ramban settled in present-day France where he continued to study Jewish teachings, including mysticism. He wrote a commentary on the Torah which is still read widely today, and provides penetrating insights into the Torahs texts and ideas.

All his life, Ramban had longed to see Jerusalem and the rest of the Jewish land of Israel. Three times a day, he prayed facing East towards Jerusalem. Every time he prayed, like all Jews he prayed for the privilege of returning to the Jewish homeland. In 1266, at the age of 72, he decided to leave France and move to the land of Israel. It wasnt easy, and his journey was full of hardship and hazards, but in 1267, he landed in the port of Acre, a port city the north of present-day Israel.

Ramban arrived in the Holy Land a little before the High Holidays, and he travelled to Jerusalem to spend Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. When he got there, a scene of horrible devastation met him. For years, Jerusalem had been fought over and seen horrific battles. The Crusaders had sacked Jerusalem in 1099, massacring its inhabitants, both Muslim and Jewish. In 1187, the Muslim ruler Saladin wrested control of Jerusalem away from the Crusaders, and allowed the Jewish community to continue living in Jerusalem. In 1229, European Crusaders once again sacked the city and massacred many of the inhabitants. In 1244, Jerusalem was invaded by Tartar forces. In 1259 Mongol raiders sacked the city and killed Jews indiscriminately. Many Jews fled. In 1260 Mamluks  a tribe of former slaves from Egypt  conquered Jerusalem. They allowed Jews to live in Jerusalem in relative peace, though by then the Jewish community was traumatized and decimated.

When Ramban arrived in Jerusalem, he was welcomed by the small Jewish community. With so many synagogues destroyed, Jerusalems Jews prayed in a private house. The Jews he encountered were impoverished and afraid. Ramban wrote a letter to his son, who was still living in Aragon, describing the Land of Israel. Many are its forsaken places, he described, and great is the desecration. The more sacred the place, the greater the devastation it has suffered. Jerusalem is the most desolate place of all.

Ramban Synagogue in the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem

Ramban decided to reestablish an official synagogue in Jerusalem. He chose a lovely house that had been ruined by invaders, but still had beautiful marble pillars, for his synagogue. During the Mongol invasion many of Jerusalems Torah scrolls had been brought to the nearby city of Shechem (also known in the present day as Nablus) for safekeeping. Ramban brought them back to Jerusalem for use in the synagogue he was setting up. Within three weeks, Rambans synagogue was ready. Jews heard about Rambans leadership and flocked back to the city. On Rosh Hashana, Ramban delivered a speech during services to his new community urging Jews to remain in Jerusalem from now on.

Ramban stayed in Jerusalem to set up a yeshiva, which also drew Jews back to Jerusalem to study. (His synagogue flourished until the year 1589, when Jerusalems Arab Governor, Abu Sufrin, ordered it turned into a warehouse to satisfy Muslim calls to shut down the Jewish house of worship. It was further ruined when Jordanian forces captured Jerusalem in 1948, but was restored after Israel recaptured the Old City of Jerusalem in 1967. Today, the Ramban synagogue in Jerusalems Old City continues to welcome worshippers. A second synagogue also named after Ramban flourishes a few miles away, too, in Jerusalems new city.)

Ramban later moved to Acre, which was a center of Torah study at the time. There, he completed his Torah commentary, and built a school with many disciples. He died in 1270 in the Land of Israel.

Discovered Prayer

For hundreds of years, Jews all over the world have studied and gained inspiration from Rambans many books and letters. Now, Dr. Idan Perez, the head of the Rare Books Department at the National Library of Israel, has pieced together a previously unknown prayer written by Ramban. Dr. Perez has spent years working on his book Sidur Catalunya, a volume that brings together prayers from the vibrant Medieval Jewish community of Catalonia  which included Aragon, where Ramban lived.

The Spanish Inquisition brought a bloody end to centuries of Jewish life in Spain in the year 1492, when all Jews were expelled from Spain on pain of death. Before that, many Jews prayed using prayers called bakashot, or supplications. Spanish Jews would often recite these supplementary prayers either before or after formal services. Dr. Perez combed libraries across Europe and across the world to find and piece together these beautiful bakashot.

In Romes Casanatense Library, Dr. Perez made an incredible discovery: a bakasha prayer written by Ramban himself. It seems he wrote it soon after being forced to leave Aragon, and that his beautiful prayer was recited by the Jews in his new home in France. The texts content and style, along with the fact that the manuscripts author prefaced it with the words A Bakasha of Rabbi Moshe ben Nachman, all seem to indicate that this bakasha was, in fact, written by the Ramban himself, explained Dr. Perez.

The prayer is eloquent and poetic. The words of God are pure words, it begins, and continues: Please with your unseen, refined and pure power, establish my thoughts in your service, in awe, in trembling and in reverence. You have brought to light every mystery. Make me wise to know your commandments, as a hawk soars over its prey, allow me to understand and guide me in the path of your commandments...

Today, as Jews around the world turn to God in this period of the Ten Days of Repentance between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, this beautiful new prayer can give voice to all our longings and hopes. Just as Rabbi Moshe ben Nachman inspired a generation of Jews over 800 years ago to overcome their fear and inertia and work to build a beautiful new community, so too can his words inspire us today.

Ramban lived an eventful, energetic life that was completely devoted to strengthening Jewish identity, helping Jews learn Torah and connect with God. May his tireless example  and his newly rediscovered prayer  continue to motivate us now.

Rambans entire newly discovered prayer can be viewed at the National Library of Israel website here: https://blog.nli.org.il/en/lbh-rambans-prayer/.
A man (35) from Delhi, who claimed to be an officer from the National Investigation Agency (NIA), was arrested by Mumbai Police on Monday on charges of raping a woman and duping her of Rs 3 lakh.

The accused, identified as Mayank Kapoor, has been remanded to police custody until Friday (September 25).

The victim filed a complaint at Mulund police station on September 19 after she found out that Kapoor was an imposter.

The victim, who works for a private company, in her statement told the police that she had got in touch with the accused through a matrimonial website in February.

Soon, they decided to get married.

Kapoor claimed to the victim that he was an undercover officer with the NIA and he had also worked for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), said an officer from Mulund police station.

The accused told the victim that he wanted to meet her before their marriage. He arrived in Mumbai in July claiming that he was on an official trip on some secret operation. He told the victim that his agency (NIA) has booked a hotel for his stay in Mumbai but due to the prevailing coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, it was not safe to stay there and instead stayed in her apartment, he said.

Kapoor stayed for over two months with the victim. He had a physical relationship with her after promising that he would marry her, he added.

He borrowed Rs 3 lakh from the victim in three instalments on the pretext of his ongoing secret operation. He promised to repay her the borrowed sum. However, the victim started doubting him after two months when he refused to show his identity (NIA) card and also did not return to Delhi, said Pradeep Vani, an inspector of Mulund police station.

The accuseds cover was blown after the victim demanded the money from him. She filed a case against the accused at Mulund police station on September 19. Though the victim had alleged that the accused was carrying a revolver on him, a police team recovered a gun-shaped lighter from him following his arrest, Vani added.
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Linkedin Marchio Irfan Gorbiano and Ardila Syakriah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, September 22, 2020 08:31 487 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c464a7f5 1 Politics regional-elections,postponement,NU,Muhammadiyah,jusuf-kalla,Tito-Karnavian Free

The government is facing mounting pressure to postpone the regional elections this December amid concerns about greater COVID-19 transmission across the country, as officials prepare even stricter curbs.

Indonesia saw another daily high for new COVID-19 infections on Monday, with the 4,176 new cases recorded adding urgency to calls to postpone the elections to prevent the virus from spreading further among the population.

The two largest grassroots Islamic organizations in the country, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah, are among the latest civil society groups to call for a delay to the simultaneous elections, in order to minimize the risk of coronavirus transmission.

The two groups expressed concerns that the election process, particularly campaigning, would inevitably involve a large number of people and would therefore pose a greater risk of COVID-19 transmission around the country.

At every stage of organizing the election, even with stricter health protocols, it is difficult to prevent concentrations of people in large numbers, said NU chairman Said Aqil Siradj and secretary general Helmy Faishal Zaini in a statement.

They also asked the government to divert funds allocated for the elections to be used instead to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Muhammadiyah, meanwhile, urged the General Elections Commission (KPU) to hold talks with the Home Ministry and the House of Representatives to review their decision to hold the December elections.

The KPU will do well to carefully deliberate whether to delay the 2020 elections until it's possible [to hold the poll]. The safety of the people takes precedence compared with organizing the elections, which could potentially act as [a means of] COVID-19 transmission, Muhammadiyah chairman Haedar Nashir and secretary general Abdul Muti said in a statement.

The postponement of an election during a health crisis, which is regarded as a non-natural disaster, is justifiable, according to the Regional Elections Law, if the government, the KPU and the House agree to do so.

At the moment, all three sides still insist on going through with the December polls.

In addition to NU and Muhammadiyah, former vice president Jusuf Kalla has also called for a postponement of the elections, pointing out that at least 71 countries have already taken similar actions.

In an op-ed published by Kompas daily on Monday, Kalla said that countries like Australia, France and Iran, which eventually allowed their citizens to cast their ballots, had invariably recorded low voter turnout.

The best way, in the interest of the people, is to postpone the regional elections until next year after vaccines have been discovered and proven effective in containing the spread of COVID-19. We could hold [the regional elections] in 2021, Kalla wrote.

The government has already once postponed the regional elections, but is intent on holding them on Dec. 9, during which 270 regional leadership posts will be contested, comprising nine governorships, 224 regencies and 37 mayorships.

Officials have argued that the electoral process could be used as an opportunity to spur administrations into acting on the COVID-19 outbreak in their respective regions.

This is the moment, if we can set it right, to encourage the regional administrations to seriously tackle COVID-19, said Home Minister Tito Karnavian in a virtual discussion on Sunday. The next regional elections, if the regulation is not amended, will be in 2024, which means that they [regional leaders] will have less than four years [in office]. If [the pandemic] still lasts into 2021 and 2022, they will eventually face the same issues [as at present].

The wider public, on the other hand, appears to be in support of a postponement.

A July survey held by Jakarta-based pollster Indikator Politik Indonesia found that 63.1 percent of respondents preferred to have the elections postponed. A similar poll by Charta Politika revealed that 54.2 percent of the respondents disagreed with the decision to hold the December elections.

Riris Andono Ahmad, an epidemiologist at Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta, one of the regions holding an election this year, recommended that simultaneous elections be postponed until the government could take control of the outbreak. Otherwise, the number of COVID-19 cases would only soar higher, putting the healthcare system at risk of collapse.

Expecting candidates and voters to follow health protocols to reduce transmission risks was almost impossible as had been observed so far, he said, especially after the relaxation of restrictions saw people's mobility increase and cases spike.

"When there are crowds, transmission risks will increase. It's not only about the number of people there; there are also ventilation, duration and distance factors that need to be taken into account," Riris said.

The latest KPU regulation allows candidates to host physical campaign events that could attract crowds, including general meetings, concerts, art performances, festivals, competitions, bazaars, blood donation drives and commemorations of party anniversaries, all with no more than 100 attendees and by following health protocols. Specifically, for general meetings, they must be held outdoors and commence from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the latest.

Of the total 309 regencies and cities holding elections, including 39 regencies and cities in nine provinces where voters will elect governors, 45 are in red zones at high risk of COVID-19 infection, according to government data on Sept. 10. Among them are Medan, North Sumatra, where President Joko Jokowi Widodos son-in-law Bobby Nasution is running for mayor.

Meanwhile, three KPU commissioners have contracted COVID-19, and the KPU discovered earlier that 46 prospective candidates across the country had tested positive for the illness.

Furthermore, a total of 243 prospective candidates were found to have violated health protocols earlier this month.

The election watchdog the Association for Elections and Democracy (Perludem), which has consistently called for postponement over concerns about public health since March, has urged the government to heed the calls by NU and Muhammadiyah.

The governments insistence on holding elections in December despite opposition from the vast majority of the public will only result in people becoming politically apathetic. It will discourage people from voting," Perludem executive director Titi Anggraini said.

Tito said the government was now considering issuing either a regulation in lieu of law (Perppu) specifically regulating sanctions against those who violate health protocols during regional elections or an all-inclusive Perppu covering everyday public compliance with health protocols.

But Titi said: The blueprint of regional elections was based on the situation before the pandemic, therefore, any adjustment to sanctions for health-protocol violations will not deter cavalier behavior.

The only adjustment we need is for the government, the House and the KPU to postpone the elections until the pandemic shows signs of abating, or at least until mid-2021, she said.

She suggested the government issue a Perppu to push back the elections.
A Montgomery County judge has sentenced a man to 50 years in prison for shaking a 3-month-old baby to the point that the child had no pulse and stopped breathing.

On July 22, Codey Paul Barnes, 24, of Spring, pleaded guilty to injury to a child, a first-degree felony, in the 9th District Court. Presiding Judge Phil Grant on Friday handed out the sentence following the presentation of case evidence, according to the Montgomery County District Attorneys Office.

On June 3, 2019, Barnes dialed 911 to report the baby boy had choked on formula. The infant had no pulse and was not breathing when first responders arrived. They performed CPR and were able to get a pulse back after rendering aid. The boy was taken to Memorial Hermann The Woodlands and then taken via Life Flight to Childrens Memorial Hermann Hospital, according to the DAs office.

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While hospitalized, it was found the baby had brain bleeds and retinal hemorrhages showing he was shaken. Montgomery County Sheriffs detectives found evidence pointing to Barnes as the perpetrator. Barnes eventually confessed to shaking the baby, according to the DAs office.

Though the baby survived, he will require medical care and follow-ups for the foreseeable future to address developmental delays caused by the abuse, read a statement from the DAs office.

As of Monday evening, information available on the case did not make it clear what relationship Barnes had to the infant.

Assistant District Attorney Brittany Hansford prosecuted the case.

I am very thankful for the first responders and medical team that saved this childs life and the Montgomery County Sheriffs Office for a thorough investigation, Hansford said in a statement. The 50-year sentence in this case is the justice that this child deserves.

MORE FROM JOSE R. GONZALEZ: Montgomery County traffic stop leads to $800K heroin seizure

District Attorney Brett Ligon added to Hansfords sentiments.

I am proud of the lifesaving work of first responders with the Montgomery County Hospital District and the Montgomery County Sheriffs Office and the professional investigation that followed, Ligon said in a statement. The Montgomery County District Attorneys Office will continue fighting to keep children in our community safe and will aggressively prosecute those who seek to harm them.

jose.gonzalez@chron.com

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Chinese President Xi Jinping told the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday that Beijing has no intention to fight either a Cold War or a hot one with any country, as tensions grow between China and the United States.

We will continue to narrow differences and resolve disputes with others through dialogue and negotiation. We will not seek to develop only ourselves or engage in zero sum game, Xi said in a pre-recorded video statement to the annual gathering of world leaders, conducted virtually this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Long-simmering tensions between the United States and China hit boiling point over the pandemic, spotlighting Beijings bid for greater multilateral influence in a challenge to Washingtons traditional leadership.

The coronavirus emerged in China late last year and Washington accuses Beijing of a lack of transparency that it says worsened the outbreak. China denies the U.S. assertions.

In what appeared to be a rebuke to U.S. President Donald Trump, though both leaders speeches were pre-recorded, Xi called for a global response to the virus and giving the World Health Organization a leading role.

Trump has announced plans for the United States to leave the Geneva-based WHO, accusing the agency of being a puppet of China, a claim the WHO denied.

Facing the virus, we should enhance solidarity and get through this together. We should follow the guidance of science, give full play to the leading role of the World Health Organization, Xi said. Any attempt of politicizing the issue or stigmatization must be rejected.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the 193-member General Assembly earlier on Tuesday that everything must be done to avoid a new Cold War, warning that we are moving in a very dangerous direction.

Our world cannot afford a future where the two largest economies split the globe in a great fracture, he said. A technological and economic divide risks inevitably turning into a geo-strategic and military divide. We must avoid this at all costs.
BENGALURU: Indian shares fell on Tuesday following concerns that rising coronavirus cases could stall an economic recovery, while fears of fresh lockdowns in some European countries threatened to further hit global supply chains and weighed on domestic sentiment.

The broader NSE Nifty 50 index fell 0.70% to 11,175.95 and the S&P BSE Sensex was down 0.8% to 37,746 by 0504 GMT. Both the indexes fell more than 2% on Monday.

In India, total coronavirus cases touched 5.6 million as of Tuesday. European countries mulled tightening restrictions to curb a sharp resurgence in cases, while the COVID-19 death toll in the U.S. approached 200,000.

Markets think that some sectors which picked on opening up of the economy such as commodities, auto and real estate will feel the heat again with rising cases and lockdown restrictions coming back in certain countries," said Saurabh Jain, assistant vice president at SMC Global Securities Ltd.

Among the top losing sectors, the Nifty metals index slid 1.2%, Nifty realty fell 3.0% and Nifty public sector was down 2.0%.

Shares of Adani Groups listed companies fell after a report on alleged suspicious financial transactions from Seychelles.

Indias federal police said on Monday they had registered a case against dairy company Kwality Ltd and its directors for allegedly cheating a consortium of banks of around 14 billion rupees ($190 million).

Meanwhile, Asian shares dropped on Tuesday due to concerns about new pandemic lockdowns in Europe and possible delays in fresh U.S. stimulus.

There is no follow-up buying at the dips. Lot of companies want to raise money and liquidity is getting dried up," AK Prabhakar, head of research at IDBI Capital said.

Shares of steel equipment maker GMM Pfaudler fell 10% after the company said on Monday that its promoters planned to sell about 17.6% stake.

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
President Donald Trump finally responded to the U.S. hitting the grim milestone of 200,000 COVID-19 deaths calling it 'a shame' after ignoring the question when a reporter first asked him about it.

Trump, leaving the White House Tuesday for a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania rally, was asked by a female reporter why he hadn't commented on the 200,000-plus death count.

The president leaned in to listen, with Marine One's engine humming in the background, and once the reporter asked her question louder he moved on. 'Go ahead, uhhh, anybody else?' the president said.

Then another reporter asked him the same thing. 'I think it's a shame,' Trump then responded.

'If we didn't do it properly and didn't do it right, you'd have two and a half million deaths.'

The president was using an estimate of how many would die from the coronavirus had no precautions - such as mask-wearing, closures and social distancing - been. taken.

He then continued to blast China for releasing the virus.

'They should never let this spread all over the world and its a terrible thing,' Trump said, pointing reporters to taped remarks he made before the United Nations General Assembly earlier Tuesday.

Trump's rival, Democrat Joe Biden, made repeated references to the nation crossing the 200,000 throughout the day.

President Donald Trump seemed to ignore a question about 200,000 American coronavirus deaths, but after a second reporter asked, he called it 'a shame,' suggested the death toll could have been worse and blamed China

'200,000 Americans have died from this virus. Its a staggering number thats hard to wrap your head around,' wrote former Vice President Joe Biden on Twitter as the nation crossed the threshold

Biden tweeted out a large image of the number 200,000 with white on black, writing: 'It didnt have to be this bad.'

The image contained the number of dead listed state-by-state.

In another missive, Biden wrote: '200,000 Americans have died from this virus. Its a staggering number thats hard to wrap your head around. But behind every COVID-19 death is a family and community that will never again be the same. Theres a devastating human toll to this pandemic  and we cant forget that.'

His comments came as media organizations around the country began marking the milestone.

At the White House, press secretary Kayleigh McEnany blasted reporters who asked about Trump's comments at a rally Monday night that 'It affects virtually nobody,' adding: 'Its an amazing thing.

'It affects elderly people. Elderly people with heart problems and other problems. If they have other problems, thats what it really affects. Thats it,' Trump said, noting the disease primarily hits the elderly and those with preexisting conditions  a huge number of Americans.

Former Vice President Joe Biden tweeted about the 200,000 milestone Tuesday

'Today is dark, but we will overcome this,' Biden wrote

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany reread some of Trump's comments and said they was 'factually true' and pointed to several states with zero pediatric deaths

'You know, in some states, thousands of people, nobody young [dies of the disease]. Below the age of 18, like, nobody. They have a strong immune system, who knows?' he continued. 'You look - take your hat off to the young, because they have a hell of an immune system. But it affects virtually nobody. Its an amazing thing.'

Then Trump added a political rejoinder: 'By the way, open your schools, everybody. Open your schools,' he said.

Pressed on the comments, McEnany said: 'The president is telling people the truth.'

She accused CNN's Jim Acosta of taking the comments 'out of context'  although he noted that he had referenced that Trump was talking about young people when he made the comment.

'The president is telling people the truth,' she said. She told Acosta: ' You're right that he was referring to young people. You are taking it out of context.' He countered that children can still get sick form the disease and spread it in the community.

McEnany reread some of Trump's comments and said they were 'factually true' and pointed to several states with zero pediatric deaths.

'COVID has a .01 per cent mortality for people under the age of 18. So it is not a disease that affects young people in the same way as older people, which is the exact point the president was making last night,' she said.

Speaking to the 200,000 death toll, she pointed to an early model that showed 'the prospect of 2 million people potentially perishing.'

'The fact that we have come nowhere near that number is a testament to this president taking immediate action,' she said.

'We grieve when even one life is lost,' she said.

More than 200,000 Americans have now died from COVID-19 - a bleak milestone reached on Tuesday that comes even as the national death rate continues to decline.

The number of Americans dying from coronavirus per day, based on a weekly average, is now at just over 760.

It is down from the peak 2,000 deaths being reported per day back in April.

While deaths continue to decline across the country, fatalities related to COVID-19 are a lagging indicator and can potentially rise several weeks after new cases.

The national infection rate started increasing just over a week ago, which is a rise health experts have attributed to some schools reopening and parties over the Labor Day holiday.

The average number of COVID-19 cases being reported per day is now at just under 40,000 with total infection in the US topping 6.8 million.

The number of Americans dying from coronavirus per day, based on a weekly average, is now at just over 760. It is down from the peak 2,000 deaths being reported per day back in April

Before this uptick, cases, on average, had been trending downwards nationally since July when about 70,000 infections were being reported daily.

California, Texas and Florida - the three most populous US states - have recorded the most coronavirus infections and have long surpassed the state of New York, which was the epicenter of the outbreak earlier this year.

The southern states of Texas and Florida contributed the most deaths in the US in the past two weeks and were closely followed by California.

Deaths in those three states are currently declining.

The states that saw the largest increases in deaths in the last week were Arkansas, Kansas and Virginia.

The University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation is predicting that deaths will rise to more 378,000 by the end of the year.

The model forecasts that more than 114,000 lives could be saved if the majority of Americans wear masks but epidemiologists have already warned that mask-wearing is already declining across the country.

The national infection rate started increasing just over a week ago. The average number of COVID-19 cases being reported per day is now at just under 40,000 with total infection in the US topping 6.8 million

The death rate projected by the IHME model, which has been cited by the White House Coronavirus Task Force, would more than triple the current daily death rate to to 3,000 per day in December.

During the early months of the pandemic, 200,000 deaths was regarded by many as the maximum number of lives likely to be lost in the United States to the virus.

'The idea of 200,000 deaths is really very sobering, in some respects stunning,' Dr Anthony Fauci, the government's top infectious-disease expert, told CNN.

President Donald Trump on Monday said he had done a phenomenal job on the pandemic.

'It affects virtually nobody. It's an amazing thing,' Trump told supporters at a Swanton, Ohio, campaign rally Monday night.

'It affects... elderly people with heart problems and other problems - if they have other problems that's what it really affects, that's it.'

Trump has admitted to playing down the danger of the coronavirus early on because he did not want to 'create a panic.'

The states that saw the largest increases in deaths in the last week were Arkansas, Kansas and Virginia
A New Mexico man gets a call from federal child welfare officials. His teenage brother has arrived alone at the border after traveling 2,000 miles to escape a violent uncle in Guatemala. The officials ask him to take custody of the boy. He hesitates; he is himself undocumented. The officials say not to worry. He agrees and gives the officials his information. Seven months later, ICE agents arrest him at his house and start deportation proceedings.

A family in suburban Maryland gets a knock at their door. A child opens it. ICE agents enter and take away a man as his children watch. In the decades that he lived in this country as an unauthorized immigrant, the man never had a run-in with law enforcement. No, the agents explain as they walk him to their car: They found him because of the information he gave the Maryland DMV when he got a drivers license.

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For the past decade, ICE often found its targets in the interior of the U.S. by analyzing booking fingerprints from state and local jails. But the New Mexico and Maryland stories demonstrate a new trend: Increasingly, ICE is tapping much deeper wells of data to identify people for deportation. Thats possible in large part due to Palantir Technologies, a Silicon Valley start-up poised to go public Sept. 29 in the biggest tech stock listing since Uber. Palantirs case management software, data analysis and visualization software, and mobile app are the final layer of ICEs vast surveillance and data sharing network.

I have worked in technology policy for more than a decade. In most meetings, I am the only Latino in the room. Im almost always the only Latinx immigrant. Much of my work focuses on how surveillance affects immigrants and people of color. Yet, even for me, it is hard to see the technology behind ICEs brutality. Palantirs public offering forces us to reckon with that infrastructure. As authorities separated thousands of children from their parents, used reunification interviews to track down and deport childrens relatives, and warehoused immigrants in fetid facilities where six children died in less than a year, they also consolidated a powerful and dangerous domestic surveillance dragnet.

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For a long time, mass deportations were a small-data affair, driven by tips, one-off investigations, or animus-driven hunches. But beginning under George W. Bush, and expanding under Barack Obama, ICE leadership started to reap the benefits of Big Data. The centerpiece of that shift was the Secure Communities program, which gathered the fingerprints of arrestees at local and state jails across the nation and compared them with immigration records. That program quickly became a major driver for interior deportations. But ICE wanted more data. The agency had long tapped into driver address records through law enforcement networks. Eyeing the breadth of DMV databases, agents began to ask state officials to run face recognition searches on driver photos against the photos of undocumented people. In Utah, for example, ICE officers requested hundreds of face searches starting in late 2015. Many immigrants avoid contact with any government agency, even the DMV, but they cant go without heat, electricity, or water; ICE aimed to find them, too. So, that same year, ICE paid for access to a private database that includes the addresses of customers from 80 national and regional electric, cable, gas, and telephone companies.

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Amid this bonanza, at least, the Obama administration still acknowledged red lines. Some data were too invasive, some uses too immoral. Under Donald Trump, these limits fell away.

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In 2017, breaking with prior practice, ICE started to use data from interviews with scared, detained kids and their relatives to find and arrest more than 500 sponsors who stepped forward to take in the children. At the same time, ICE announced a plan for a social media monitoring program that would use artificial intelligence to automatically flag 10,000 people per month for deportation investigations. (It was scuttled only when computer scientists helpfully indicated that the proposed system was impossible.) The next year, ICE secured access to 5 billion license plate scans from public parking lots and roadways, a hoard that tracks the drives of 60 percent of Americansan initiative blocked by Department of Homeland Security leadership four years earlier. In August, the agency cut a deal with Clearview AI, whose technology identifies people by comparing their faces not to millions of driver photos, but to 3 billion images from social media and other sites. This is a new era of immigrant surveillance: ICE has transformed from an agency that tracks some people sometimes to an agency that can track anyone at any time.

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This is where Palantirs work for ICE comes into focus. A panoply of companies collect the data.

Palantir connects the dots. The firm helps agents access different databases, build profiles from disparate sources, from commercial data brokers to drivers license records, and see how targets interrelate to each other. The companys software appears to be part of the agencys largest and most aggressive enforcement actions.

Indeed, the plan for the 2017 operation that first targeted the sponsors of unaccompanied immigrant kids, obtained by the immigrant rights group Mijente, reveals a complex web of interlocking agencies, including Health and Human Services, Customs and Border Protection, and two branches of ICE. To track the moving pieces, the paper repeatedly tells officials to enter data into ICM, ICEs custom-built Investigative Case Management software. Who wrote that code? Palantir.

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In its recent 310-page securities filing, Palantir makes no express mention of ICE, immigrants, deportations, or the controversy that its work for ICE has generated. Instead, in his letter to investors, CEO Alex Karp repeatedly touts Palantirs commitment to the military and the intelligence community: Our software is used to target terrorists and to keep soldiers safe, he writes. When criticized, Karp has described Palantirs work for ICE as limited, a de minimis part of our workstrange things for American contractor to say about its second-largest U.S. government client.

There is another way to read Palantirs silence: Its leadership has decided that the cost of its work for ICE is de minimis, that in the eyes of its clients and the investing public it simply does not matter. As a Latino and an immigrant, I worry that on this point they will be right.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
Robert Goforth in police custody ((Laurel County Corrections Centre))

A Republican state representative in Kentucky has been indicted by a grand jury on strangulation and assault charges, in relation to an incident that allegedly occurred in April.

Robert Goforth, who serves in the Kentucky House of Representatives, was indicted on Friday of one count of strangulation and count of assault in the fourth degree, according to the Corbin Times-Tribune.

Mr Goforth was also originally charged with third-degree terroristic threatening in April, but he avoided incitement on that count on Friday.

The 44-year-old was taken into custody on 21 April, after he allegedly strangled a woman with an ethernet cable, and threatened to hog tie her, according to The Hill.

The anonymous woman went to a 911 dispatch centre in London, Kentucky at around 3.10am on that day, and told the police that she needed to speak to a deputy about an alleged domestic assault that had just occurred with three small children still in the home, according to a police report.

The children were found safe by law enforcement when they searched the home, and the report alleged that the fight was about the woman unlocking her mobile phone.

She told the authorities that she managed to escape the home by promising to unlock the phone for the state representative.

Mr Goforth was arrested later that day and was held for more than seven hours before he was released on a $25,000 (19,576) bond.

The state representative was arraigned on 1 June, where he pleaded not guilty to all charges, before the case went to a grand jury last week.

Following the 44-year-olds arrest in April, Kentucky House speaker David Osborne said he would not comment on Mr Goforth or his position in the Kentucky House of Representatives.

However, the Republican added: While we reserve comment on this specific situation, the House Majority Caucus unequivocally denounces any form of domestic violence and has zero tolerance for it or its perpetrators.

A society that values human life must also condemn domestic abuse.

Story continues

After Mr Goforth was indicted on Friday, a spokeswoman for the state Democratic Party called for him to resign, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader.

State Representative Goforth should have resigned back in April and his party should have taken action against him when he refused to do so, the spokesperson said.

They added: This is not the first time a victim of Mr Goforths violent assaults has come forward. Republican leadership has ignored this for far too long, it is time for them to take action. Goforth needs to go.

The previous assault the spokesperson referred to in the statement, was an accusation of sexual assault against a woman from more than 10 years ago, which was brought to light when the 44-year-old ran for Kentucky governor in 2019.

His accuser called for him to drop out of the race, and wrote: You are the prime example of a man who believes he is entitled.

You are not entitled; not to the bodies of women who refuse you, not to the governorship.

Mr Goforth denied those allegations in January 2019.

Read more

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Kentucky election: Democrats flip state Senate seat held by Republicans for 25 years
Omans ministry of health has laid the foundation stone for the construction of the 700-bed hospital in Salalah, Dhofar province, for a total investment valued at $334 million.

The health facility to be named after the country leader Sultan Qaboos will be built over 94,400 sqm, the main building consists of a ground floor and six floors, Trade Arabia reports.

It will also include specialty wings for both men and women besides 25 labour rooms, two operation theatres and an integrated accident and emergency unit.

The project will also feature a pharmacy, medical laboratories, a daycare unit, a room for minor operations, physiotherapy and chemotherapy units, an administration, services building, medical warehouses, auxiliary electric generators, and potable desalination devices.
If that were to happen, the Dems could apply some unwritten rules of their own, such as that its OK to expand the number of seats on the Supreme Court to compensate for seats that were unjustly denied or to better reflect the will of the majority of Americans, and that since Washington, D.C., is more populous than Wyoming, it too should be a state.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 18:42:08|Editor: huaxia

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Two Fijian girls sing a Chinese song to people in the China Cultural Center in Fiji in downtown Suva, capital of Fiji, Sept. 22, 2020. The China Cultural Center in Fiji celebrated on Tuesday this year's Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival with a group of Fijians who enjoyed delicious Chinese food, including mooncakes, and the beautiful photo exhibition. (Xinhua/Zhang Yongxing)

SUVA, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- The China Cultural Center in Fiji celebrated on Tuesday this year's Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival with a group of Fijians who enjoyed delicious Chinese food, including mooncakes, and the beautiful photo exhibition about Chinese minorities.

The celebration took place in the China Cultural Center in Fiji which is located in downtown Suva, capital of Fiji. The Fijians included journalists from local newspaper the Fiji Sun, teachers, students and their parents from the Yat Sen Secondary School as well as the staff from the Fiji Post.

After visiting the photo exhibition, library and media room, the Fijians attended a Chinese cooking class which shows them how to cook the crab with garlic, chilly and green onion. This dish has a profound meaning as for Chinese, crabs symbolize harmony.

Besides having a good taste of the crab dish and some other traditional Chinese food, the Fijians also enjoyed a beautiful Chinese song related to the Mid-Autumn Festival. Everybody was surprised that the song was sung by two local Fijian girls, one from the Yat Sen Secondary School and anther from the University of the South Pacific (USP). Both of them are very fond of Chinese culture.

Anusha Chauhan, one of the girls, is a 14-year-old student from the Yat Sen Secondary School. She told Xinhua that "I feel very honored to participate in this event and it is the very big thing for me to sing in another language and I am very happy."

The Fijians voiced their satisfaction with the Chinese cultural experience, saying that the Chinese food, along with the beautiful photos, is amazing and more importantly, they have had chance to celebrate the traditional Chinese Moon Festival with their Chinese counterparts.

Sun Jie, director of the China Cultural Center in Fiji, told Xinhua that the Mid-Autumn Festival is a good occasion for family reunion. Chinese and Fijians are good friends.

"As the Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching, our center especially organized this event of tasting Chinese dish with the aim of sharing the joy of celebrating our festival with our friendly local Fijians." Enditem
The growth marks the national carrier's good recovery as the country has been able to contain COVID-19. It is attributable to the airlines optimisation of its domestic flight network and fleet, the reopening and increase of frequency on several routes, promotional programmes, customer services, and disease prevention and control efforts.

The national flag carrier is currently operating more than 40 domestic routes with close to 200 flights a day. Following positive developments in the fight against the pandemic, it has added more flights to routes between Hanoi and seven localities  Vinh, Quy Nhon, Da Nang, Tuy Hoa, Nha Trang, Da Lat, and Pleiku, and between HCM City and Da Nang.

It resumed six domestic routes in early September, including Hanoi - Chu Lai, Hanoi - Tuy Hoa, Vinh - Buon Ma Thuot, and Hai Phong - Dien Bien. It also worked with Pacific Airlines to introduce joint products offering passengers new and convenient options.

The carrier is working to resume international flights in line with Government directions and approvals from foreign authorities. Resumptions have already been seen on its route between Vietnam and Japan, with the Republic of Korea, China, Taiwan (China), Laos and Cambodia to follow shortly.

Given current growth levels coupled with the resumption of international flights, its total passenger throughput this year is forecast to soon reach or even surpass the figure recorded last year.
Young parents found dead at their home in Ohio in a suspected murder-suicide were sending adoring messages to each-other just weeks before the fatal shooting.

Zachary Starr, 29, and wife Mikki, 27, who had two children, were found dead at their family home in the town of Lima on September 16.

Police say they were called by relatives who noticed 'alarming' posts on Zachary's social media, and believe he shot Mikki before turning the weapon on himself.

But publicly-available posts on the couple's Facebook accounts paint a very different picture - as the pair showered each other with compliments and loving messages as recently as seven weeks before being found dead.

Zachary and Mikki Starr, 29 and 27 (pictured with their two children), were found shot dead at their home in Lima, Ohio, last week in what police believe was a murder suicide

Just weeks prior to the shooting, the couple were posting adoring messages to each-other online, including these comments underneath Mikki's profile picture

Zachary told his wife that he was 'grateful for our little tribe' just three months before police suspect he shot both of them dead

One such exchange was visible underneath Mikki's profile picture, which she changed on July 26 to show a picture of the two arm-in-arm in front of a lake.

'Damn, you are so beautiful baby!!!!' Zach wrote alongside a flurry of love-heart emojis, beating Mikki's best friend to get the first comment.

'I love you so much!' she replied, before he responded: 'I love you so much babe!'

The couple also 'liked' each-other's responses with a love heart.

A month before those posts, on June 21, Zach had uploaded an image to his page of Mikki and their son playing on swings in a yard while he stood nearby.

Mikki responded by posting 'I love you' along with love-hearts, to which he responded: 'I love you beautiful and Im so grateful for our little tribe!!!!'

Again, the couple had 'liked' each-other's posts with additional hearts.

Police are still investigating the deaths, and have yet given a motive for the shooting, or disclosed contents of the 'alarming' social media posts.

However, detectives have said that a preliminary investigation has concluded the deaths were the result of murder-suicide.

Detective Sergeant Jason Garlock, who is leading the investigation, said: 'We had information from family members that there were some social media messages that gave us the indication that's what we're probably looking at right now.'

A year ago, Zachary had updated his Facebook page with a post gushing about his 'beautiful wife', before the couple exchanged loving messages in the comments section

Further social media posts revealed that Mikki went to high school in the small town of Elida, six miles outside of Lima, and had then attended Rhodes State College, on the other side of town.

She graduated from there in 2019 and went to work as an endoscopy technician at Mercy Health-St. Rita's Medical Center, also in Lima.

Zachary's Facebook page claims the two met in 2012, when they would have been aged 21 and 19, and married on June 24, 2017.

They have a son - Ryker, aged seven - and a daughter - Ryah, aged just 18 months.

The couple were also expecting a second son, Greyson, though suffered a stillbirth in July 2016.

Tributes have been paid to Mikki on the Facebook page of her cousin - Tracey Anne Davis.

Ms Davis wrote 'This is heartbreaking I cannot believe this.

'My heart is breaking. This is my cousin Mikki Starr and I am asking for everyone to keep my family in your prayers TIA my poor auntie.'

Police officers outside the couple's home on West Ford Avenue, Lima, after the shooting

Officers were called to the home (pictured) by family members who noticed 'alarming' posts on Zachary's social media pages

Jessica Lynn Davis added 'So sorry my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this difficult time.

While Jennifer Neal said 'Such a tragedy. Praying for you and your family.'

Mikki's death is the seventh homicide from a shooting or a stabbing investigated this year in Lima.

There was ten murders in the city in the whole of last year, which was a ten year high.

Both bodies were sent to the Lucas County Coroner's Office for autopsies.

Mikki's funeral is on Wednesday from 1pm at Chiles-Laman Funeral & Cremation Services, Shawnee Chapel. The burial will follow at Pike Run Cemetery.
Nineteen apartments for people over the age of 55 are to be built in Derry's city centre.

The apartments will be built over businesses currently occupying numbers 50 to 54 Waterloo Street at the lower end of the street.

The complex, which will be built by Clanmill Housing Association, will be made up of 14 one-bedroom apartments and five two-bedroom apartments.

Planning permission for the apartments was granted in April 2017.

However, local Sinn Fein councillor Patricia Logue said the construction had been held up because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

She said the new housing units in Waterloo Street will be for the over-55s.

It's good news that plans to build nineteen new social homes at lower Waterloo Street are to proceed," she said.

The new build will comprise of 14x 2 person/1-bedroom apartments, and 5x 3 person/2-bedroom apartments. All apartments will be for the active over-55 age group.

Increasingly we all are looking at ways of breathing new life into parts of our towns and city centres and provide much needed accommodation.

It is hoped that the new homes will be ready for tenants by the Spring of 2022."
Let me explain why you might be hearing more about conspiracy theories at the moment.

People gather at an anti-lockdown protest in Sydney's Hyde Park organised on Facebook by various conspiracy groups. Credit:Brook Mitchell

According to Jan-Willem van Prooijen at the University of Amsterdam, conspiracy theories (CTs) proliferate whenever there's a crisis, particularly one that causes rapid societal change and in turn creates fear, uncertainty and feelings of helplessness. The longer the situation continues and the higher the anxiety, the more attractive such theories become  particularly, according to Richard Moulding and colleagues at Deakin University, to those who feel isolated and powerless.

Aleksandra Cichocka at the University of Kent defines CTs as "secret plots by powerful and malevolent groups", and offers three reasons for their appeal. First, in the absence of clarity elsewhere, they offer an explanation for what's going on. Secondly, they confer a sense of control over what's happening. Third, that sense of control bolsters self-esteem.

According to Cichocka, individuals who have a desire to be considered special  even unique  are more likely to adopt CTs, particularly if they also suffer low self-esteem. Dr van Prooijen suggests those who feel like outsiders are more likely to endorse them.
Mayor Joe Hogsett is calling for public participation in the review process of the Citizens Police Complaint Office (CPCO), which investigates allegations of improper conduct and violations by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.

Public participation is a crucial part of our efforts to improve transparency and accountability for our citys public safety apparatus, Hogsett said in a statement. Although these efforts are not new, this years civil rights protests have underscored their importance. I encourage everyone who cares about community-informed policing to complete this survey.

The survey, which will be available online through Oct. 4, asks questions about existing awareness of the complaint process, the framework of the police oversight model, department transparency, and community engagement. The city has partnered with several community groups to share out the survey link, and the survey is available in six languages, including English, Spanish, French and Burmese.

When the survey is completed, it will be used to help shape potential changes within the CPCO.

This opportunity is a concrete way to shape responsible public safety in our community, said Deputy Mayor of Neighborhood Engagement Dr. David Hampton. Going to indy.gov/oversight will take only a few minutes of your time, but it has the potential to make a lasting difference for neighbors throughout Indianapolis.

This survey process is different from the Public Safety Survey conducted earlier this year, which was a component of the citys partnership with the New York University Law Center to re-envision public safety.

To learn more and take the survey, visit indy.gov/oversight.

News In Brief
Migrants: 61 apprehended in various ops, North Macedonia Five alleged traffickers arrested

(ANSAmed) - BELGRADE, SEPTEMBER 22 - Police in North Macedonia has intercepted over the past few hours 61 irregular migrants, arresting five suspected human traffickers, all Macedonian citizens, according to local media reports.



Thirty refugees from Afghanistan, Syria and Somalia were discovered on a truck that was stopped by police near Veles, in the country's center. An additional 28 migrants, mainly Afghans and Pakistanis, were stopped during operations carried out in private homes in the north, close to the border with Serbia.



Three refugees were apprehended aboard a car at the Serbian border. (ANSAmed).




This year  the festivals sixth  70% of its 12,000 attendees will be attending for the first time, which Dive In highlights as a shift in attitudes about the importance of D&I. Ninety-seven per cent (97%) of survey respondents agreed that D&I plays a vital role in building resilience to help businesses overcome challenges, and 97% also agreed that the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted an even greater need for businesses to focus on building inclusive workplaces.

Respondents were also asked to identify the areas the insurance industry most needs to focus on as a result of new ways of working. Mental health ranked as the number-one concern (44%), followed by gender equality (43%), flexible working patterns (41%), and culture and ethnicity (34%).

However, the survey found regional differences in priorities. Attendees in Latin America  where many countries are hosting a Dive In event for the first time this year  said that gender equality should be the industrys top D&I concern, while both the UK and the Americas named culture and ethnicity as the top concern amid the ongoing Black Lives Matter movement.

The research is clear, said Jason Groves, global director of media relations for Marsh and chair of the Dive In Committee. D&I is not just good for business, its essential. Now more than ever, D&I has to be integral to an organizations business strategy.

Our ambition with Dive In has always been to reach outside the echo chamber and speak to those who may not be as familiar with the value of D&I, said Day Bishop, director of insurance consulting and technology at Willis Towers Watson. Thanks to a new virtual format and the tireless work of over 500 volunteers from across the world, the festival is now far more accessible to those who havent been able to attend in the past  either due to geography, time, or cautiousness over the value of D&I. the staggering numbers of participants who have never attended before show we have overcome this barrier, while also demonstrating a desire across the market to learn more and make a positive change.
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

Why would a 28-year-old Arizona man traveling behind his parents on Interstate 40 on their way to a funeral Sept. 12 open fire on a New Mexico State Police officer after she pulled him over for a minor traffic offense?

And why did the man, who had no warrants for his arrest or contraband in his truck, flee the scene after the shooting, only to pull over a second time and grab an AK-47 rifle from behind the seat as the injured officer caught up with him in traffic?

Unanswered questions resonated throughout a detention hearing in U.S. Magistrate Court in Albuquerque on Monday that concluded with an order that Robert Benjamin Nelson be held in federal custody pending trial on charges of attempted murder of a federal officer.

U.S. Magistrate Judge John Robbenhaar agreed with prosecutors that the motive was a mystery.

Hes an individual with no criminal history traveling with his parents who is pulled over by State Police  and (when the officer approaches his truck) unloads three rounds at the officers head, the judge said.   It doesnt make any sense. The nature of the crime is as serious an offense as one might imagine.

The charges are in federal court because the officer, who served in the U.S. Army before joining the State Police, was assigned to a Homeland Security drug interdiction task force at the time she stopped Nelson.

The officer suffered bullet wounds to both hands. She also had damage to the retina of one eye, which was 90% covered with small glass fragments, from being shot through the passenger window of Nelsons truck, according to court testimony Monday from Special Agent Bryan Acee, coordinator of the FBIs violent crimes task force.

The State Police officer has been identified in state court records as Sharron Duran.

Just before the shooting, Nelson was driving behind his parents on their way to Wichita, Kansas, for a funeral, according to his attorney, Devin Fooks. He lives with them in Scottsdale, Arizona, Fooks told the judge.

That morning, Duran was on patrol in the median of Interstate 40 when she noticed Nelson traveling too close behind an RV being pulled by his parents truck. She checked Nelsons trucks registration in Arizona and saw that it didnt have an expiration date, agent Acee testified Monday.

Once stopped, Duran left her drug interdiction dog in her State Police vehicle as she walked up to the passenger side of Nelsons vehicle. Acee testified that the officer, who is less than half Nelsons size, posed no threat, didnt have her hand on the weapon and was about to tap on the passengers-side window when she saw Nelson point a handgun at her head and fire. He fired three shots and fled.

The officer fell back, hit a bush and returned fire as the truck peeled away. She was able to get to her State Police vehicle, call for backup and chase Nelsons truck east on the interstate near the Bernalillo County line.

At some point, Nelson telephoned his parents, who saw him get pulled over and took the next off-ramp, where they waited, according to an FBI search warrant affidavit filed last week.

Shortly thereafter, they observed the police vehicle drive by with its emergency lights flashing, the affidavit said. Nelsons mother later told investigators at the scene that her son had told her over the phone that he was in trouble and the police had shot at him, the affidavit said.

The mother, who wasnt identified, said she didnt understand what her son was saying so she handed the phone to her husband. He told Nelson to pull over, the FBI affidavit said.

About five miles into the chase, the injured, bloodied officer caught up to Nelsons truck, which was in the slow lane behind a tractor-trailer, Acee testified Monday.

Thats when the officer saw Nelson reach behind the front seat and retrieve a rifle, which he propped up on the seat. Nelson turned on his trucks hazard lights and pulled over to the shoulder.

She then relied on her experience as a military combat veteran, Acee testified. Thats when she thought she was too close to the defendants truck, having seen the rifle. So she made a U-turn down the median and got back onto the freeway farther behind Nelson to try to ensure a safe distance between them.

Two Laguna Pueblo police officers hearing her radio call for backup were headed in the opposite direction on the interstate but responded to the scene where Duran had stopped about 75 yards behind Nelsons GMC Sierra with her patrol rifle trained on the truck. Nelson surrendered with his hands up.

During the hearing, broadcast on Zoom, Nelsons attorney, Fooks, noted his clients lack of criminal history and asked that he be held at a halfway house in Albuquerque pending trial.

But Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Mysliwiec told the judge, Unless and until we know why the defendant acted the way he did and being that so much is unknown, we have no way of determining if he is a danger. We have a relatively mysterious origin of the use of deadly force against a law enforcement officer. Im sure his parents have been doing their best, but they are not able to mitigate the risk.

An FBI search warrant affidavit filed last week by agent Acee sought permission to check two cellphones found in Nelsons truck.

Investigators hoped the devices would contain evidence of Nelsons communications with his parents as well as information that may help agents establish a motive for the otherwise senseless shooting. 

To date theres been no obvious motive, the affidavit said. He is not a fugitive from justice. There are no known state or federal warrants for his arrest. (The State Police officer) was not harming him in any way and there was no illegal contraband in his truck. As such, it stands to reason that his motives are philosophical.

The affidavit noted that though it wasnt clear whether Nelson subscribed to such beliefs, there currently exists an unfortunate and expanding anti-law enforcement sentiment among some individuals in our country.

Such anti-law enforcement sentiments may be evidenced on the devices, as anti-law enforcement protests, video blog posts or other commentary, the affidavit said.
Ukraine's Deputy Foreign Minister Yevhen Yenin held a meeting with Australias Ambassador to Ukraine Melissa ORourke on the occasion of the completion of her diplomatic mission in Kyiv.

This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

Yenin thanked the Australian diplomat for her significant personal contribution to the strengthening of Ukrainian-Australian relations and the development of bilateral cooperation in various areas, in particular for supporting Ukraine's initiatives within international organizations, including the UN.

In her turn, the ambassador thanked the leadership of Ukraine for the created opportunities and provided assistance to make her work in Ukraine and the operation of the Embassy of Australia in Ukraine successful.

During the meeting, the parties noted the need to further strengthen the political and diplomatic dialogue between the two countries. The interlocutors discussed joint steps within the framework of the Joint Investigation Group (JIT) to investigate the downing of MH17, as well as the further development of trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian cooperation between Ukraine and Australia.

Melissa ORourke welcomed the inclusion of the Asian vector in the priorities of Ukraines foreign policy.

At the end of the meeting, Yenin thanked the ambassador for her significant contribution to the comprehensive development of cooperation between Ukraine and Australia and wished success in her future assignments.

ish
Mumbai, Sep 22 : Actress Shweta Basu Prasad did her make-up for the film, Comedy Couple, and says the process is like painting.

"I do my make up always, since last some years now. I do my own make up, because I understand what my character requires and also I enjoy my own make up. It's like painting," said Shweta.

"I learnt from nobody, (I am) self taught," she added.

Shweta along with actor Saqib Saleem resumed shooting for the film in Delhi and Gurgaon, amid safety measures.

Directed by Nachiket Samant, the film is a com-rom based in Gurgaon and is set against the backdrop of the burgeoning stand-up comedy scene in the city. Based on a story by Bikas Mishra, the film has screenplay by Raghav Kakkar and Kashyap Kapoor.

It will drop on Zee5 soon.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
If there is a behavior which the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has exhibited since he was declared the winner of the election conducted in the state few days ago, specifically on September 19, 2020, it is unarguably the one he exhibited after being presented the certificate of return by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) today, September 22, 2020.

The governor who spoke at a press briefing after being presented the certificate of return extended a hand of fellowship to the All Progressive Congress (APC) and the former chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Aliu Oshiomhole. He said; on a special note, I want to use this occasion to call on the former chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Aliu Oshiomhole, that, the fight is over. He beckoned on the former governor of the state to come and join in building the house, where he was part of laying the foundation. According to him; We have no malice. The only thing we disagree on is on the approach in moving Edo forward. The Edo governor also called on his strongest opponent in the election, Pastor Ize-Iyamu of the APC, saying; we are one family in the pursuit to provide services and public vote for our citizens. I want to put it on record that the election of September 19, 2020 has been adjudged as one of the best conducted election in terms of it being free and fair. Our citizens have decided that for now, they trust us more with the affair of leadership. It does not mean that they did not have a role to play. It does not mean that they are not part of a family.

So I am using this opportunity to extend a hand of fellowship to my brother, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and his other colleagues in the APC to join us and work with us so that we can move Edo State forward.

At the moment, there is no denying the fact that the political mood in Edo State, particularly in Benin City might be said to be one of cautious optimism. At the end of the governors speech, it appears that the final obstacles to enduring peace in the State were being cleared away to engender a government that will see all Edolites as participants or players. Such a government, such utopian government, if realizable, will no doubt usher the State to a more stable pedestal on which its economic and social problems would be collectively tackled.

Regrettably, it is a paradox that political supporters are not in any way exhibiting the same spirit of forgiveness and political sportsmanship which our leaders are known for. Upon seeing the title of this piece while working on it in the office, a colleague jokingly said, Dont be surprised that Obaseki, Oshiomhhole and Ize-Iyamu might have been interacting on phone. Ruminating over the forgoing joke, my colleague may not be far from the truth. The foregoing cannot be farfetched as political followers are increasingly finding it difficult to internalize politicians favorite saying that in politics, there are no permanent friends and no permanent enemies.

There is equally a saying that If you cannot be a politician, marry one. Though they may break their promises, they still find it easy to forgive one another.

With the governors speech is unarguably inherent with the hopes to shape the landscape of politics in the state, and psychology of politicians and supporters in the State, but not everyone would welcome the promising change as some of them are no doubt intransigent as evident in the provocative rate at which Obasekis supporters are taunting and shaming Ize-Iyamus supporters, particularly since he won the election on Saturday.

In fact, Social media platforms, particularly the Facebook, are ingrained in the daily lives of most political supporters, and their comments and posts, both before and after the just concluded election in the State tend to scuttle the peace which all right thinking Edolites expect to prevail in Obasekis second tenure. In as much as social media platforms provide much of the infrastructure of democratic debate expected in the State, it is reprehensible to see its merit been abused, worse still by supporters of a candidate that won an election.

To my view, such supporters need to be called to order. Its difficult to sit back while some jerk attacks anyone online even when it is clear that the object of abuse is not the candidate that lost in the election. The worst is that one may not even know some of those social media commentators. Though such people may be soulless, they have a purpose: to provoke their target to anger. Upon success, they share their targets comments with their friends, gloating over their success at provoking a supporter of the candidate that lost in an election.

Without any iota of exaggeration, it is unfortunate that most people are oblivious of the fact that political parties are essential institutions of democracy, and that competing in elections parties offer citizens a choice in governance, and while in opposition they can hold governments accountable. Against the foregoing backdrop, when citizens join political parties, volunteer their time, donate money and vote for their leaders, they are exercising their basic democratic rights. Participation of citizens in political parties offers unique benefits, including opportunities to influence policy choices, choose and engage political leaders, and run for office. It is not compulsory everyone belongs to the same party and support the same candidate. The foregoing view is unarguably the reason why the option of 14 candidates and parties were offered to Edolites by INEC at the election.

Without any iota of exaggeration, what Edo needs most urgently at the moment is to engender enduring peace in the State through what in this context can be called "the politics of forgiveness." But you may ask: What does this phrase mean? How are politics and forgiveness related? And why is forgiveness so crucial?

Forgiveness is founded on love, and it is the most powerful weapon that anyone can possess. Mahatma Gandhi once affirmed, The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.

Mark Twain described not only the power of forgiveness but also its beauty when he wrote, Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it.

The story is told of a Sandinista minister of government in Nicaragua who, when visiting the prisons that housed those who had killed thousands of people, noticed a former guard who had tortured him.

When the man realized that the minister had recognized him, he asked, "What are you going to do to me? What is your revenge?" The minister replied, "I forgive you that is my revenge." He too realized the power of forgiveness. That is how he took his revenge.

Bishop Desmond Tutu relates that Nelson Mandela before he was arrested in 1962 was a relatively young but very angry man. He had founded the ANC's military wing. But when he was released in 1990, he surprised everyone because he was no longer talking about revenge but about reconciliation and forgiveness.

For Mandela there was no further need for revenge. As C.S. Lewis explains, To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.

Acts of forgiveness can and do occur in political contexts. Many questions relating to forgiveness are inevitably, although not exclusively, political: Who has the power to forgive? Who must ask for forgiveness? And who determines what is forgivable?

Forgiving is difficult, yet when people are forgiven, that is immensely liberating, not only for the one who is forgiven but also for the one who forgives. Lewis Smedes notes acutely, "To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you."

Forgiveness is not just a personal or individual act that is limited to the private sphere. Increasingly today there is the realization that forgiveness is also necessary in the public sphere, thus also in the political realm.

Reiteratively put, the discourse about the politics of forgiveness is what all Edolites need to engage in instead of being obsessed with the election that has being concluded. To my view, forgiveness is crucial if the State is to make a progressive transition to the next political dispensation. Edo should be seen as the bigger picture instead of being embittered over what each and every one of us did to one another.

In this context, it expedient we ruminate over Mandela's willingness to forgive, and which helped to avert a bloodbath as that country made the transition from the apartheid regime to black rule. Analyzed from the foregoing perspective, it expedient to applaud Obasekis speech, and in this context urge all Edolties to emulate him.
The plenary session of Parliament passed, on Tuesday, the budget revision for 2020 with the Social Democratic Party's (PSD) amendment regarding the increase in the pension point by 40%.

There were 242 votes in favor, 147 against and 11 abstentions.The parliamentarians decided, at the proposal of PSD, to repeal the article according to which the pension point was increased by 14%, thus keeping in force the law of the public pension system which provides for a 40% increase.Another passed PSD amendment refers to the increase by 1 billion lei of the amounts distributed to the administrative territorial units, and for the municipalities of county residence an additional 500 million lei is allocated, which will be distributed equally, regardless of the political affiliation of the local administration.Also, at the proposal of PSD, it was decided to supplement by 5.635 million lei the budget of the Chamber of Deputies, for the purchase of equipment necessary for parliamentary offices in the territory, at the change of the legislature, and to supplement by 67 million lei the budget of the Ministry of Agriculture for financing the national anti-hail and precipitation increase program.At the same time, it was approved to increase as of this year the basic salaries for teaching staff, as provided by law, supplementing the budget of the Ministry of Economy by 400 million lei, for the Start-Up Nation program, and the budget of the State Secretariat for Cults by 20 million lei for the continuation of the works on the Nation Salvation Cathedral.The parliamentarians gave up, at the proposal of Hungarian Democratic Party (UDMR), the provision introduced in the report of the specialized committees, according to which "the ceiling on public debt, according to the EU methodology, for the end of 2020, is 40% of GDP".The Liberals have announced that they will challenge the draft law passed by Parliament with the Constitutional Court.
WASHINGTON  After receiving a positive coronavirus diagnosis Sunday, U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes, D-5, said she is feeling extremely winded, with a scratchy throat, cough and labored breathing on Monday.

In the space of 48 hours, I went from just being uncomfortable with what I thought were seasonal allergies to being clearly winded and spiking a fever and taking Tylenol, she said. Its scary.

Hayes said she will now advocate for regular coronavirus testing for members on Capitol Hill, after she contracted the virus at the close of a busy week of voting in the House chamber. A staffer member with whom Hayes had contact tested positive on Saturday, prompting Hayes to get tested on Sunday and receive her positive result.

I just think its irresponsible for us not to get regularly tested or have our temperatures taken, she said. Theyre cleaning the floor between votes, but we did everything  we wore masks, we socially distanced, we didnt let visitors in the office. I did almost no public events or press conferences.

She said she had no idea if she could have caught the virus from another House member or could have transmitted it to them, but she wore a mask and practiced social distancing.

We tried to go through every scenario, she said. I did talk to the House physician and they tried to figure out through contact tracing. With so many members, I cant imagine how...

Hayes is quarantining for 14 days, but will continue to work remotely, participating in votes by proxy, attending hearings virtually and organizing the introduction of two of her bills, as her health permits, she said. Over the weekend, she and her staffers struggled to obtain testing, both in Connecticut and the Washington, D.C. area, she said.

The testing is very limited on the weekend, she said, describing how it took multiple visits and long waits in lines at testing sites. Three of my staffers had to pay out of pocket $75 because the sites that they found that had openings were not the free sites and they didnt take their insurance.

Hayes spoke with Gov. Ned Lamont and Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and relayed their experiences, she said. She asked Lamont to improve advertising of the United Way 211 website that lists every test location in Connecticut and add additional information to the site so individuals will know if testing is free or what health insurances are accepted, she said.

The governor affirmed his commitment to make sure Connecticut residents have the best information available when it comes to testing availability and testing access. Connecticut remains one of the best tested states in the country, said Max Reiss, spokesman for the governor. Connecticuts robust testing infrastructure and access across almost 180 sites are among many reasons why Connecticuts COVID-19 response is among the best in the country.

Hayes is drafting an email to House leaders, like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., Monday, asking for testing of members regularly, she said.

Weve had this conversation several times over the last few months and there was a concern that we didnt want, while communities were struggling to get testing, people felt uneasy about members of the House getting access to testing. But my response is everybody should be tested, she said. We are congregating in these settings with people from all over the country.

As of mid-day Monday, only one staff member from Hayess Connecticut and D.C. offices had tested positive for the virus, but several were still awaiting test results. Hayes is also waiting for a test result for her son Myles.

Her husband, Milford Hayes, a Waterbury police detective, tested negative for the virus on Sunday. He contracted coronavirus in April but was asymptomatic. Hayes also quarantined for 14 days at that time.

She said the experience has made her reflect on how federal coronavirus legislation provides for families like hers that have members who get the virus at different times and need care.

emilie.munson@hearstdc.com; Twitter: @emiliemunson
As the unruly behaviour of the Rajya Sabha lawmakers over two contentious farm bills snowballed into a major tussle between the Centre and Opposition, Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh accepted that he had climbed on the table of the House on Sunday and even broke the mic. But Singh explained that it was to safeguard democracy".

Yes, I accept that I had climbed on the table. Yes, I accept that I broke the mike. However, whatever I did was to safeguard democracy. First, let the government apologise, bring the Bill back to the House and ensure there is division of votes. The government has committed a sin and strangulated democracy," he told News18.

Opposition members, objecting to the manner in which the two farm bills were being passed, had on Sunday stormed the well of the House and when their demand for voting wasnt met, they tore papers, climbed on tables, shouted slogans, and allegedly threw the rule book at Harivansh, who was presiding at that time.

CNN-News18s Rupashree Nanda spoke to Sanjay Singh on the issue of farm bills, protest by Opposition and their future course of action. Here are edited excerpts from the interview:

When Venkaiah Naidu spoke today, he said that none of the MPs had expressed any regret. Would you agree that perhaps the manner of your protest was wrong?

See, MPs are not mentally deprived neither are they mad. They are responsible members of the country s Parliament. MPs were waiting that the government will do justice, and run the House according to the Law and Constitution. See, how all the rules were flouted. MPs were asking for voting on this bill, but government was not willing, the Chair was not willing. The government should be ashamed, apologise to crores of farmers that they did not put the bill to vote and passed it despite being in minority. BJP strangulated democracy and passed this bill. It is the government that should be ashamed, should have regret. They should cover their faces in black.

Yes, I accept that I had climbed on the table. Yes, I accept that I broke the mike. However, whatever I did was to safeguard democracy, they are the ones who were murdering democracy. They passed an anti-farmers bill, a black bill forcibly. Along with Trichi Siva, many MPs were demanding for division of votes from their chairs, and this is the law and tradition, even if one person asks, voting has to happen. However, BJP did not have the numbers. This bill would not have passed. What else could we have done?

What you are saying is your point of view. But the government also has its own point of view. Venkaiah Naidu has also cited rules and has said that division of votes can still happen?

Let the government get the bills back into the House get the division of votes done. We are ready for that. Everything will be clear then. AIADMK, BJD wanted the bills to be refered to select comm. TRS was with us.

Congress (40), TMC (13), BJD (9), AIADMK (9), SP (8), TRS (7), RJD (5), NCP (4), BSP (4), AAP (3), SAD (3), Shiv Sena (3), CPI-M (5), CPI-1, DMK (7), IUML (1), PDP (2), JMM-1, Kerala Cong-1, MDMK-1, JDS-1, LJD-1 and TDP-1 were all opposed to the Bills during the debate.

You protested inside the House as well as outside. What did your protest achieve? The bills were passed anyway.

If the government strangulates democracy and becomes shameless, has no regard for Constitution, Law and Rules cheat farmers, what can one do? Whatever maximum we could have done, we did., we protested. We can look at the farmers in the eye and say that we fought as much as could. We will not be ashamed. We do not go to Parliament to show our faces. We go to raise voice of the kisan, youth, aam aadmi. And in front us this black bill was passed in an undemocratic fashion, even though the Government did not have the numbers and was in minority.

Would you consider apologising?

First let the government apologise, bring the bill back to the House, ensure there is division of votes, government has committed a sin, strangulated democracy. Are you saying that someone will strangulate you and you will not even whimper?

How will you carry this struggle forward? So many opposition parties came together on this. How will take this forward so that your objections are addressed?

Our party is already agitating in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. Yesterday, our karyakartas were beaten up mercilessly. We will take the fight to the streets. You cannot play such tricks on the farmers. This is the same government  now they are announcing that they will give MSP?

Modiji had promised in 2014 that 50% over cost price will be given to farmers. Wonder, why the media does not remember that? And then, the same government went back on it in the Supreme Court. In six years, has any media put this question to the government.

So you do not have confidence in the promises of the government?

Why should even you have confidence in the government? On GST, they said one nation, ome tax, today they are not giving the states share, instead of the promised two crore jobs, created an army of 12 crore unemployed was created. Demonetisation was supposed to change the fate of the country, neither black money or terrorism ended. So, what has been the result of their big promises? And I am asking, in this entire farm law , why was MSP not mentioned.
Victoria will move away from its beleaguered contact-tracing model and establish three of its five suburban hubs by early next week, as Melbourne prepares to take the next step in the road map out of lockdown.

The Andrews government had come under fire for the performance of its public health units, whose shortcomings have been blamed by federal Health Minister Greg Hunt for the intensity of the state's crippling COVID-19 second wave.

Premier Daniel Andrews announced on Tuesday three suburban contact tracing hubs will be rolled out by early next week. Credit:Jason South

Business groups, the federal government and leading epidemiologists had urged the Premier to emulate New South Wales' "gold standard" contact-tracing model, arguing improvements to the system would better suppress the spread of coronavirus and reduce the risk of a third wave.

Three of the five suburban contact-tracing hubs will be opened in Melbourne's south-east, west and north-east by early next week, and the Premier is expected to announce the other two locations at a later date.
As Hurricane Teddy barrels northwest through the Atlantic Ocean on Tuesday, the storms impact will be felt across Eastern Massachusetts, where coastline communities are expected to be battered by flooding, large breaking waves and strong winds.

As of 5 a.m., Teddy was journeying toward the northwest at roughly 28 miles per hour with sustained winds of near 100 mph. The center of the Category 2 hurricane is located about 435 miles south of Halifax, Nova Scotia in Canada.

Teddy will pass well east of the Massachusetts coastline Tuesday as it heads into the Canadian Maritimes on Wednesday. Still, its effects will be felt along the coastline.

The main impact of the distant hurricane on the commonwealth will be dangerously high seas. Large breaking waves spanning 8 to 24 feet in height are a possibility off the coasts of Essex, Plymouth, Barnstable and Dukes counties as well as on Nantucket, forecasters warned.

A high surf advisory was issued for those areas and for Bristol County. Officials urged people who need to travel to allot extra time to do so, as some roads may be closed. They also told residents to not drive around barricades or through water of unknown depths.

Inexperienced swimmers should remain out of the water due to dangerous surf conditions, the National Weather Service also warned.

While heavy rainfall is not expected from the hurricane, Teddy will bring a period of strong winds across the southeast coast of New England.

Wind gusts of 25 to 30 miles per hour will be seen across the interior of Massachusetts, while gusts of 30 to 40 mph are forecast along the coast. Gusts should reach 35 mph in Boston and Worcester and 30 mph in Springfield, the National Weather Service said.

The heaviest winds will hit the Cape and Islands, though, where gusts as strong as 45 to 55 miles per hour are expected, according to forecasters.

A high wind warning issued for Nantucket and coastal Plymouth County will last from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Tuesday. Both areas may see damaging winds that knock down trees and power lines, causing scattered power outages, the National Weather Service said.

A wind advisory was issued for other coastal communities on mainland Massachusetts. The strongest of the winds will strike this afternoon near Hyannis and Chatham on the Cape, forecasters noted.

For all of the state, a Red Flag warning was issued, meaning that critical fire weather conditions are possible due to the dry weather and gusty winds.

Any fires that start may spread rapidly and become difficult to extinguish, the National Weather Service said.

Forecasters also warned of widespread coastal flooding and beach erosion across Eastern Massachusetts that is expected in the afternoon and early evening. North-facing portions of the Cape and Nantucket are at particular risk.

The strong winds and very high seas of 15 to 25 feet from the hurricane should result in a storm surge of 1.5 to 2.5 feet later Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service.

Large storm swells generated by Teddy are also being felt on the Bahamas, Bermuda, the Lesser and Greater Antilles, other areas along the east coast of the United States and parts of Canada.

The swells are likely going to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions, forecasters noted.

The storm will turn toward the northeast by early Wednesday, moving over eastern Nova Scotia and Newfoundland later. Teddy is expected to be downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone as it sweeps over Atlantic Canada, the National Weather Service added.

[This Week's Forecast] The ocean will be especially dangerous today with very rough seas and strong winds. Rain, however, is not in the forecast through at least the end of the week. #MAwx #CTwx #RIwx pic.twitter.com/DBNsqYGH26  NWS Boston (@NWSBoston) September 22, 2020

[6 am Update] Here is your latest forecast on the strong winds and rough seas expected today. The main impact from Hurricane Teddy will be dangerously high seas of 15-25 Ft & north wind gusts of 40-50 knots over our eastern MA coastal waters. https://t.co/aqcnsXbggc  pic.twitter.com/pjVWu6QPDh  NWS Boston (@NWSBoston) September 22, 2020

Related Content: Hurricane Teddy to bring large breaking waves, heavy winds and risk of flooding to Massachusetts
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 22

Trend:

Thirteen Kazakh citizens and 33 Azerbaijani citizens with a residence permit in Kazakhstan, who remained in Azerbaijan due to the closure of borders in connection with the coronavirus, were sent from Azerbaijan to Kazakhstan, Trend reports citing the Baku International Sea Trade Port CJSC (Port of Baku) on Sept. 22.

The passengers were sent on the "Mercury-1" ferry ship ("Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company" CJSC) from the Baku port.

Kazakhstan has approved a new procedure for crossing the state border during the period of restrictions within the quarantine regime since May 13. Under the procedure, the Kazakh port of Kuryk resumed the process of receiving citizens of Kazakhstan and other countries entitled to enter the country.

Some 253 citizens of Kazakhstan and 192 citizens of other countries were sent from the Baku port over the past five months.
Iran exports 5.84Mt of cement in five months

22 September 2020

Iran has exported more than 5.84Mt of cement worth US$127.99m during the first five months of the current Iranian calendar year (20 March-21 August 2020), according to data from the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA). Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan were the top importers of cement from Iran during the period.

As recently announced, the production of major construction industry materials is more than double the country's demand.

"In this area [the construction industry], not only we do not have any worries about the supply of raw materials; but in important items of this industry such as steel, cement and ceramic tiles, our production is almost double the countrys needs," said Jafar Sarqeini, acting minister of industry, mining, and trade.

Published under
NEW DELHI : The Delhi High Court on Tuesday dismissed an appeal filed by Hindustan Construction Co. Limited (HCC) against a single-judge bench order, seeking an injunction restraining National Hydro-Electric Power Corporation Limited from invoking or encashing any or all of its bank guarantees cumulatively worth 214.36 crore.

In other words, encashment of the unconditional BGs will not result in irretrievable injury to the appellant/HCC requiring this Court to take a view different from the very well considered view taken by the learned Single Judge. The appeal is dismissed as being devoid of merit," the judgment reads.

NHPC being a Public Sector Undertaking involved in the setting up of and execution of hydro-electric power projects in India, invited bids in 2006 from pre-qualified bidders for turnkey execution of the 330 MW hydro-electric power plant on the Kishanganga River in Bandipora, Jammu and Kashmir.

Bid accepted, contract signed

The bid by HCC was accepted on 22nd January, 2009 and a contract was signed between the parties on 9 March, 2009 for the execution of the Kishanganga Project.

The scope of the work was defined along with other civil work. The work was to be completed by January, 2016. As part of its contractual obligations the appellant/HCC was required to furnish Performance Bank Guarantees, which it furnished.

The timeline for execution of the project was till 2016, however, when HCC failed to adhere to the same, NHPC invoked the bank guarantees in June 2020. The construction giant then claimed NHPC had committed fraud against it and approached the high court.

Senior Advocate Dayan Krishnan appearing for HCC keenly urged that the challenged judgement wrongly rejected the principle of proportionality and even if fraud was not disclosed in the making of the BGs, the conduct of the respondent/HCC disclosed fraudulent intent.

He added that the case of the HCC was covered under the two exceptions recognized by the courts and that the cumulative impact of all circumstances put together, was to shock the conscience of the court and thus, special equities existed in favour of the appellant.

Senior Advocate Maninder Acharya contended, on the other hand, that the Single Judge had rightly concluded that neither was there fraud, which in any case had to be of an egregious kind, nor were there any special equities made out in favour of the appellant/HCC.

It was pointed out that the communication between the parties and as reproduced in extenso in the challenged judgement, showed that the work had not been completed by the HCC.

... The contract is not a concluded one. Neither has it been terminated. The liabilities are not crystallized. There were also several payments that had been made by the respondent/NHPC on behalf of the appellant/HCC. As pointed out by the learned Senior Counsel for the respondent/NHPC, though it had extended the DLP, the stand of the appellant/HCC in its communications has been that it had no finances to proceed to complete the pending work and the respondent/NHPC should pitch in with the money," the judgment said.

It is, thus, clear that the respondent/NHPC may have to get the work completed from some other agency at the risk and cost of the appellant/HCC which justified the respondent/NHPC encashing the existing BGs.Suffice for our purposes that all the facts highlighted by the learned Senior Counsel for the appellant/HCC do not disclose special equities in favour of the appellant/HCC," it added.

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US Congress this week waded into Britain's 200-year-old dispute spat with Greece over the Elgin Marbles

It prompted derision in some quarters as the US has a dubious track record on cultural artefacts and looting

From the invasion of Iraq in 2003 to the Metropolitan Museum of New York's inventory, controversies abound

And in the years that the Earl of Elgin's marbles were taken, America was destroying the culture of its natives

US Congressmen this week waded into the controversy over the British Museum's ownership of the Elgin Marbles, urging Boris Johnson to hand them back to Greece by 2021.

'The Marbles have been the source of controversy among western allies for many decades. Greece has long wanted these Parthenon Marbles back,' the 18 US lawmakers said in their letter to the Prime Minister.

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The emphatic statement prompted derision from Blake Herzinger, an Indo-Pacific security analyst who has worked for the US Navy.

'For a country that only just returned some bells stolen in connection with an extraordinarily brutal occupation, we have strong opinions on the Elgin Marbles, apparently.' Herzinger tweeted, a reference to the Balangiga Bells seized from the Philippines in 1901.

America's own track record on antiquities is not exemplary, from the invasion of Iraq to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, plenty of comparisons can be made to Britain's acquisition of the Parthenon sculptures.

Indeed, at the beginning of the 19th century when Thomas Bruce, the 7th Earl of Elgin's Greek sculptures were arriving in London, American forces were massacring the indigenous population of their newly liberated country and destroying their culture.

Iraq's priceless antiquities plundered during the Iraq War

In April 2003, staff at the National Museum of Iraq evacuated the building ahead of the advance on Baghdad by US forces.

In the space of 36 hours, 15,000 cultural artefacts were ransacked, many of them priceless antiquities from Mesopotamia and Sumeria.

Much of the theft was perpetrated by locals but US Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had to repatriate more than 1,200 items from 2008 to 2015.

A US tank takes up position in the Iraqi museum in Baghdad, April 16, 2003. When asked about the looting at the time, Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said that 'stuff happens.'

'It is worth noting that there were no follow-up congressional hearings or independent investigations to pinpoint the parties responsible for the negligence connected to the museum debacle.' Archaeology Magazine reported in 2013.

Iraqi Col. Ali Sabah, commander of the Basra Emergency Battalion, displays ancient artefacts Iraqi Security Forces discovered Dec. 16, 2008, during two raids in northern Basra

Furthermore, as was reported by the Chicago Tribune in 2015, 'American military members, contractors, and others caught with culturally significant artifacts they brought home from the war there largely aren't prosecuted.'

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It is not clear how many US soldiers returned home with looted goods, but the National Museum has had 8,000 items returned since the invasion, while another 7,000 remain unaccounted for.

Whether or not the US Army actively participated in the looting or not, it is incumbent on the invading force to protect such cultural artefacts as part of the Geneva Convention.

As many as 300 locals marauded through the museum taking artefacts at will before officials were able to take back control.

When asked about the looting at the time, Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said that 'stuff happens.'

Rumsfeld expressed sympathy for the looted antiquities but he denied that the war plan for Iraq had not adequately prepared for such a threat.

Some of the items would later be discovered in the hands of ISIS militants crushed by the US army in Syria.

Gold and lapis bowl from Ur, Iraq Museum IM8272. Current statue is unknown. Oriental Institute Lost Treasures from Iraq database

Duck-shaped weight from Ur, and formerly exhibited at the National Museum of Iraq. Current status unknown

Click here to resize this module

The Metropolitan Museum of Art's controversial antiquities

A vase from the Karun Treasure, a collection of 363 Lydian objects which were handed back to Turkey by the Met in 1993

In recent decades New York's famous Metropolitan Museum of Art (the Met) has come under pressure over various items, some of them Greek items leading to comparisons to the infamous Elgin Marbles of the British Museum.

The most notorious example of all is the Euphronios Krater, a Greek terra cotta wine bowl dating from 515BC and the only complete example surviving by the renowned sculptor Euphronios.

The Met acquired the bowl in 1972 but handed it back to Italian authorities in 2008 after it was proven that the piece was stolen by Giacomo Medici, a prolific antiquities smuggler who was convicted in 2004.

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Forensic archaeologist Christos Tsirogiannis claimed in 2017 that he had made the Met aware of another wine krater in its collection which had also come from Medici.

Speaking to National Geographic, Tsirogiannis said of museums such as the Met, 'They hang on to illicit objects as long as they can, until someone finds out  It's all about money, fame, and ownership.'

The Met told the magazine at the time: 'The Museum has been in touch with the Italian Ministry of Culture regarding the Terracotta Bell Krater.'

The Karun Treasure, a collection of 363 Lydian objects dating from the 7th century BC, was also handed back to Turkey by the Met.

The Karun Treasure was the subject of a legal battle between the Turkish government and the Met between 1987 and 1993.

The Met settled out of court and eventually returned the antiquities, admitting that 'some museum staff during the 1960s were likely aware, even as they acquired these objects, that their provenance was controversial.'

A piece from the Morgentina treasure set which were returned to the Italian authorities by the Met in 2010

A piece from the Morgentina treasure set which were returned to the Italian authorities by the Met in 2010

A piece from the Morgentina treasure set which were returned to the Italian authorities by the Met in 2010

A piece from the Morgentina treasure set which were returned to the Italian authorities by the Met in 2010

The Morgantina treasures are a set of 16 pieces of Greek silverware with gold details dating from the third century BC, which the Met also recently returned to their homeland.

They include two large bowls, a cup with two handles, plates and several drinking cups which would have been used in lavish feasts by the aristocracy.

They were illegally excavated from Sicily in the late 1970s and bought by the Met in 1980 and 1981.

After years of sustained pressure by Italian authorities, the Met finally agreed to hand them back to the Italians in a deal which also included the Euphronios Krater.

America's overseas territories  no taxation without representation?

Most of the former European colonial superpowers - including America's old British overlords - were forced to relinquish their overseas territories after the Second World War.

But the United States curiously managed to hang onto islands in the Pacific and the Caribbean  even governing over the people and taxing them without providing democratic representation.

These include the inhabitants of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Marian Islands and American Somoa.

The residents of these enclaves - except from American Somoans  are granted US citizenship but barred from voting in presidential elections, have no Senate representation and can only elect non-voting members of the House of Representatives.

The American Somoans live in a similar political limbo land but without the benefit of automatically earning US citizenship at birth.

The inhabitants of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Marian Islands and American Somoa have a peculiar democratic status

David Vine, an associate professor of anthropology at American University, wrote in the Washington Post that the concerns of the residents of the colonies was trumped by America's military strategy.

'The desires and power of the United States military have overwhelmed the desires and rights of colonized peoples.' Vine wrote in 2017.

Guam was ceded by Spain to the US in 1898 following Washington's victory in the Spanish-American War.

The Americans quickly set about turning the island into a naval base and it is still an important strategic asset today.

Indeed, one of the great benefits to the Americans of these overseas territories is that most States on the US mainland have their own laws about the numbers of military personnel they will accept in their borders.

By contrast, the same restrictions do not apply to the remote islands.

As Maj. Gen. Dennis Larsen told a journalist in 2004: 'Guam is a U.S. territory. We can do what we want here, and make huge investments without fear of being thrown out.'

The massacre of Indians and desecration of their ancestral homelands

Although it is fair to say that a large number of the native population were slaughtered by European settlers, following American Independence in 1776, the US government authorised a systematic removal of the Indian population which has been compared to genocide.

By the end of the Indian Wars in the late 19th century less than 238,000 native Americans remained, compared with an estimated 5 to 15 million which lived on the continent prior to the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492.

Following the War of Independence and the War of 1812, the racial antipathy towards the natives had been exacerbated by their allegiance with the British.

In 1830, the Indian Removal Act was signed by President Andrew Jackson which permitted the removal of southern tribes from their homelands to reservations west of the Mississippi.

December 1890: Bodies of Sioux Indians being unceremoniously piled into a mass grave hacked into the frozen Dakota soil after the massacre at Wounded Knee

The policy was aggressively enforced to make way for white farmers and settlers. Any who refused to leave their ancestral homes were dealt with violently.

The ensuing march of the tribes West became known as the Trail of Tears as thousands moved on by Jackson's armies died on the way.

As white expansion continued, the lands designated for the Indians were gradually stripped away.

The most tragic and infamous example in the litany of atrocities visited on the native population, came at Wounded Knee in 1890.

The Ghost Dance spiritual movement arose during the 1880s, a religion which spread among dozens of tribes in 16 states.

It taught that the Indians had been defeated and confined to reservations as a punishment by the gods and demanded that its followers reject the white man's culture.

On December 29, 1890, US cavalry troops arrived at Wounded Knee to disarm the Lakota people, followers of the Ghost Dance movement.

A memorial for the site of the Wounded Knee massacre

A deaf tribesman called Black Coyote is said to have been reluctant to give up his rifle, saying it had cost him a lot of money.

At the time one of the elder's was performing the Ghost Dance, when the rifle went off and the US Army swiftly set about firing indiscriminately at the populace.

More than 250 men, women and children were killed in the carnage.

The Lakota warriors tried to fight back but many had already given up their rifles.

Following the massacre, President Benjamin Harrison awarded around 20 soldiers the Medal of Honor.

The Balangiga Bells seized by American troops as trophies in a brutal operation during the PhilippineAmerican War in 1901

In 1901, American forces took three bells from the Catholic church of Balangiga on the eastern island of Samar as war booty in what historians said was a particularly brutal military operation in the new US colony.

In 2018, the US agreed to return the bells to the Philippines, following a demand by strongman President Rodrigo Duterte.

In a State of the Nation address in 2017, Duterte said: 'Give us back those Balangiga bells. They are not yours. They are ours. They belong to the Philippines. They are part of our national heritage.'

The Philippines, a Spanish colony for centuries, was ceded to the United States in 1898 at the end of the Spanish-American War.

Two of the bells were installed at a memorial in the state of Wyoming

The country gained independence from the US in 1946.

The brutal Samar campaign was launched about a month after Filipino rebels killed 34 US troops in Balangiga on September 28, 1901.

Seven other American soldiers perished during the escape from Balangiga, and US reinforcements razed the town the day after, it added.

Then-Philippine president Fidel Ramos first sought but failed to recover the bells during a 1998 Washington trip.

Two of the bells were installed at a memorial in the state of Wyoming, while the third was with US forces in South Korea.

The issue had sparked an emotional response from some of the descendants of American soldiers who served in the Philippines campaign and some US lawmakers opposed handing them back.

Looting by Union Army 'Bummers' during the Civil War

Some of the most wanton looting in US history occurred during the Civil War, when the Union army took advantage of its dominance over the Confederates in the latter stages of the brutal conflict.

Bummers was a term given to the marauding hordes of Maj. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman's Union army during its March to the Sea, a campaign waged through Georgia from November to December, 1864; and his conquests north through South Carolina and North Carolina in the American Civil War.

His forces followed a 'scorched earth' policy and this was characterised by poor discipline which allowed for bands of his men  some senior officers  to visit upon the population vicious foraging of food and looting.

North Carolina resident and Civil War diarist Jane Evans Elliot wrote of how her family's farm near Fayetteville was ransacked in March 1865.

Shermans bummers 'foraging' on a Georgia plantation from this 19th century illustration

'They pillaged and plundered the whole day and quartered upon that night and staid until 5 o'clock Monday evening. Some part of the time there were at least three different parties. The house was rifled from garret to cellar. Took all our blankets and all [my husband's] clothes, all our silver and knives and forks, all our luxuries, leaving nothing but a little meat and corn.'

Sherman himself admitted after the war that 'many acts of pillage, robbery, and violence were committed.'

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However, some historians argue that the plundering ensured that the South would not have the resources to sustain its war effort. The war ended in April, 1865.
Drug firm on Tuesday said it has launched generic Divalproex Sodium extended-release tablets used for treatment of various conditions, including manic episodes associated with bipolar disorder, in the American market.

The company has launched Divalproex Sodium extended-release (ER) tablets USP, in the strengths of 250 mg and 500 mg, having received an approval earlier from the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA), said in a statement.

The product will be manufactured at the company's Nagpur facility, it added.

The company's tablet is generic version of AbbVie Inc's Depakote extended-release tablets in the same strengths, said.

According to IQVIA MAT July 2020 data, Divalproex Sodium extended-release tablets USP had annual sales of approximately USD 130 million (about Rs 950 crore) in the US, it added.

The tablets are indicated for acute treatment of manic or mixed episodes associated with bipolar disorder, with or without psychotic features, and for prophylaxis of migraine headaches, the statement said.

The product is also indicated for monotherapy and adjunctive therapy of complex partial seizures and simple and complex absence seizures, adjunctive therapy in patients with multiple seizure types that include absence seizures, it added.

Shares of Lupin Ltd on Tuesday closed 0.07 per cent lower at Rs1,040per scrip on the BSE.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Vatican and China are preparing to renew a historic deal on the appointment of bishops that has slightly thawed icy relations - but has angered the US.

After years of snail-pace negotiations, the Vatican sealed a historical 'provisional' agreement with Beijing in September 2018, allowing both the Chinese authorities and the Holy See to have a say in appointing Catholic bishops.

The agreement, which is still in 'experimental' mode, is set to be renewed as Pope Francis has given the go-ahead for another two years, AFP news agency reported on Tuesday.

The Vatican and China are preparing to renew a historic deal on the appointment of bishops that has slightly thawed icy relations - but has angered the US

The agreement, which is still in 'experimental' mode, is set to be renewed as Pope Francis has given the go-ahead for another two years. Pope Francis delivers his blessing as he recites the Angelus noon prayer from the window of his studio overlooking St.Peter's Square on Sunday

It came after the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo went on the offensive last week in an article in US religious magazine First Things, slamming the 'horrific' persecution of believers of all faiths in China.

He wrote that many countries had expressed 'revulsion' at 'accelerating violations of human rights'.

'The Vatican endangers its moral authority, should it renew the deal', he added on Twitter.

China's roughly 12 million Catholics have for decades been split between a government-run association, whose clergy are chosen by the atheist Communist Party, and an unofficial underground church loyal to the Vatican.

The latter recognises the pope's authority and is often persecuted for it.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo went on the offensive last week in an article in US religious magazine First Things, slamming the 'horrific' persecution of believers of all faiths in China

After years of snail-pace negotiations, the Vatican sealed a historical 'provisional' agreement with Beijing in September 2018, allowing both the Chinese authorities and the Holy See to have a say in appointing Catholic bishops. This file photo shows a believer praying outside St. Joseph's Church, a government-sanctioned Catholic church, in Beijing on October 1, 2018

Pope Francis has been working hard to repair ties with the Communist country, but his overtures run contrary to US President Donald Trump's efforts to push a religious freedom theme against China in his campaign for a second term.

After years of snail-pace negotiations, the Vatican sealed a historical 'provisional' agreement with Beijing on 22 September 2018, the exact content of which has never been published.

The key novelty however was that both Beijing and the Vatican now have a say in appointing Catholic bishops.

Francis immediately recognised eight Chinese bishops that had been appointed by Beijing without his approval.

Since then, two new bishops have been appointed in China, with the nod of the head of the world's 1.3 billion Catholics.

And in a historic step earlier this year, Chinese and Vatican foreign affairs ministers met publicly at an international event for the first time in seven decades.

China's roughly 12 million Catholics have for decades been split between a government-run association, whose clergy are chosen by the atheist Communist Party, and an unofficial underground church loyal to the Vatican. The latter recognises the pope's authority

Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun (centre) officiates during a mass commemorating the 30th anniversary of the 1989 Beijing Tiananmen Massacre in Hong Kong, China, on May 31, 2019

Pope Francis has just given the go-ahead for the renewal of the agreement, which is still in 'experimental' mode, for another two years, a source close to the dossier told AFP.

The extension is expected to be signed next month.

Thorny issues, such as Chinese Catholic priests suddenly disappearing from their parishes for weeks 'at the invitation' of the authorities, are in the meantime being raised with Beijing by Vatican diplomats, the source said.

One of the Catholic Church's leading experts on Chinese affairs, Father Bernardo Cervellera, told religious news site Cruxnow.com earlier this month that the deal may have drawn much fanfare but had so far borne 'very little fruit'.

And he voiced his hope that the Vatican, in renewing the agreement, would be tougher on China.

Diplomatic relations between Beijing and the Holy See broke down in 1951, two years after the communists came to power.

Efforts to rekindle them are hampered by the Vatican's decision to maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan. The island, with a population of 23 million, is considered by Beijing to be a breakaway Chinese province awaiting reunification.

The Vatican is Taiwan's only diplomatic tie in Europe and Cervellera said he feared China will demand it break it off.

A spokesman for China's foreign ministry said Thursday that the interim deal with the Vatican has been 'implemented successfully', saying there had been an increase in 'mutual trust and consensus'.

Pope Francis's right-hand man, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, said mid-September that the Catholic Church's 'current interest with China is to normalise the life of the church as much as possible'.

He admitted the results so far 'have not been particularly striking'.
New Orleans might announce the easing of some coronavirus restrictions late next week, assuming infection cases haven't surged since students began returning to in-person classes, a spokesperson for Mayor LaToya Cantrell said Tuesday.

The possible loosening follows a timeline to which the Cantrell administration has been hewing since public schools officials announced they would be bringing students back to campus in phases. The timeline called for waiting until health officials were sure that having kids in class was not creating a worrying increase in new COVID-19 cases.

+6 Louisiana coronavirus: 730 more cases, 11 more deaths reported; see the latest numbers here The Louisiana Department of Health reported 730 more coronavirus cases and 11 more deaths in its daily noon update Tuesday.

"We wanted to get two weeks of data after students were back resuming in-person learning. The clock on that started last week," Cantrell spokesperson Beau Tidwell told reporters. "The hope is that by the end of next week we will be able to speak with you about what the next iteration looks like, potentially with some easing of the guidelines."

It's not yet clear what restrictions could be eased or what the new regulations could look like.

As has been the case for most of the pandemic, New Orleans has the most stringent coronavirus restrictions in Louisiana. The Cantrell administration hung back to gauge the effect of its school reopening plan when Gov. John Bel Edwards moved the rest of the state into Phase 3 earlier this month. Parishes that have moved into Phase 3 are permitting businesses to admit more customers, and those that have coronavirus rates as low as New Orleans have been allowed to reopen bars.

Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up

Currently, bars are closed in New Orleans, restaurants are banned from providing go-cups and there are tighter rules in place on the size of gatherings than were in place in the rest of the state during Phase 2.

Perhaps because of its stricter regulations, New Orleans has also maintained a lower number of new cases and a percentage of tests that result in new cases than almost any parish.

New Orleans has reported an average of fewer than 50 cases per day  a threshold that city officials have used as a warning indicator  since Sept. 7, after a brief surge in cases attributed to Tulane University students returning to campus. The city's positivity rate of 1.1% over the past week is lower than all but one rural parish and significantly below the 5% benchmark set by the administration.

But officials are still eyeing the effects of the school reopening on those metrics, Tidwell said.

Students from prekindergarten through fourth grade began moving back into the classrooms in the middle of last week as part of the public schools' phased reopening plan. The actual start date for in-person learning was delayed by several days when it appeared that Hurricane Sally would be headed for the area.

Experts say it can take up to two weeks or longer for new infections to show up in public reports.
NEW YORK, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --

- The Folding carton market for the Healthcare market is expected to register a CAGR of 5.72% during this forecast period. Moreover, this Healthcare segment is defined by regulatory requirements for quality, flexibility in the packaging of various drug products, and client requirements aligned to these products. However, the major vendors in this market also provide customized folded carton packaging solutions for its customers.







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- In April 2020, Keystone Folding Box Company expanded its manufacturing capabilities with the introduction of a new die cutting and gluing equipment into its production facility. The infrastructure investment increases the company's production capacity of vial and syringe packaging by 25% and accommodates shorter lead-times.

- The demand for folding carton has been on the rise due to increased competition in the pharma industry. The folding carton also provides additional area for regulatory information, which is limited in small vials and bottles.

- Tamper evidence and protection from children are the latest introductions to pharmaceutical packaging. These properties are mostly achieved through a combination of material technology (strength properties) and design, which is further driving the demand for folding carton in child-proof medicine packaging.

- The labeling segment of the folding carton market may account for a significant share over the forecast period. Easy to customize, cost-effective, and sustainable are the major features that may drive the demand for folding carton packaging and labeling.

- The label segment is also encouraging the trend of customized and innovative packaging, which is further expanding the scope of the market studied. The RFID (radio-frequency identification) smart labeling technology is widely beingused to prevent the counterfeiting of products, especially in the pharmaceutical market.

- However, the rapidly changing price of raw material can negatively impact the net demand of this product. Most of the raw materials of these products are derived from crude oil, which is primarily utilized during any manufacturing process. Furthermore, the price is also affected by the types of pulps used, due to the yields and price of the raw materials of pulp.



Key Market Trends

Growing Emphasis of Monitoring and Assisting Patient Medication



- Inadequate medication adherence is a widespread problem that contributes to increasing chronic disease complications and healthcare expenditures. Packaging interventions using pillboxes and blister packs have been widely recommended to address the medication adherence issue, further driving the market.

- Pillboxes, reusable multi-compartment containers with designated spaces for medications to be consumed at a particular time, are another common packaging type. Unlike blister packs, pillboxes do not require professional action, as they can be filled by patients, informal caregivers, or healthcare providers. Multiple healthcare providers recommend both blister packs and pillboxes with folding cartons as secondary packaging with medicine information for aging adults with multiple chronic diseases.

- Several market players are introducing smart packaging solutions that implement folding cartons as secondary packaging to intelligent blister packs for different medicines, with the surging adoption rates.

- For instance, Westrock Company offers Electronic Dosepak (EDP) that records the date and time each dose of medication is taken and transfers the data to its medAmigo software platform for immediate analysis. The EDP is a digitally enabled version of the Dosepak adherence packaging, with customizable medication package with medication information on the outer folding carton and pills delivered inside a calendared blister.

- Furthermore, the August Faller Group designed a prototype for medication packaging that captures the level of an opaque bottle of liquid medicine at the push of a button and delivers it to the patient via an integrated display. It is operated via a small e-paper display on the folding carton packaging and uses electronic controls (buttons).



Asia Pacific is the Fastest Growing Region for this Market



- Asia-Pacific is one of the fastest-growing regions. It has the highest share in the market, owing to the presence of densely populated countries, such as India and China, as well as the increasing prevalence of the pharmaceutical and healthcare market in these countries.

- The healthcare and pharmaceutical sector in China is one of the world's largest markets, primarily driven by its aging population. China had a population of 249 million, aged 60 years or above, by the end of 2018, making up 17.9% of the national population. The number is expected to reach 487 million in 2050, which means one in every three Chinese would be a senior citizen.

- Moreover, India has a far superior advantage over many nations for the basic manufacturing of medical drugs and products, due to resources, such as high level of workforce, knowledgeable workforce, and WHO-GMP approved production principles.According to the India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), the total export value of the pharmaceutical industry in 2019 was USD 19.1 billion.

- The vendors in the region are significantly investing in their capacity and production units to meet the growing demand from the pharmaceutical market. For instance, in September 2019, Parksons Packaging commissioned the country's first HP Indigo 30000 digital press for mono cartons at its Daman plant. The HP Indigo 3000 is a one-of-a-kind, field-proven, digital folding carton press that helps the company address the demand from the healthcare sector.



Competitive Landscape

The Folded Carton for the Healthcare market is highly competitive. Hence the market concentration for this market is low. The major vendors in this market are investing a vast amount of money in their production capacity to meet the demand of their customers. Some of the major players for this market are DS Smith, Edelmann Group, CCL Industries?, Multi Packaging Solutions (WestRock)? , etc.



- April 2020 - DS Smith PLC opened a new manufacturing plant in Lebanon. The plant is dedicated to producing corrugated packaging boxes. The 550,000 sq. ft facility can produce 30,000 boxes/hour and 2 billion sq. ft of recyclable packaging a year. This expansion increases the company's manufacturing capabilities

- May 2020 - Stora Enso OYJ signed a joint development agreement with Cordenka, to develop precursors for bio-based carbon fiber. The co-development is driven by the need for high performance carbon fiber in transportation, construction and power generation in food and heath care market



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MEDIA COURTHOUSE  A former counselor at the Glen Mills Schools was given two years of probation Friday after pleading to charges that he assaulted a 17-year-old student in 2018.

Christopher Medina, 33, of Kennett Square, entered open guilty pleas before Common Pleas Court Judge Margaret Amoroso to charges of simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and endangering the welfare of children, all misdemeanors.

Another counselor, Patrick Jameson Raquet of West Chester, had also been charged in the fall of 2018 with assaulting the victim, but twice had charges against him dismissed at the Magisterial District Court level.

Deputy District Attorney Douglas Rhodes noted the charges carried standard sentences ranging from restorative sanctions to nine months in prison and requested a standard range of incarceration based on Medinas trusted position as a person of authority at the school.

It is quite clear that what happened here is a breach of that trust and a breach of the duty that Mr. Medina had as an employee of the Glen Mills School, said Rhodes. Its quite possible that at times, that might be a difficult job, but it is a job that Mr. Medina signed up for and he is trained to handle those kids with that purpose in mind  of reforming and restoring.

Amoroso said she had reviewed a letter from the victims mother and video of the assault, in which Medina hits the student in the back of the head three times before pulling him out of a chair and body-slamming him to the ground. Rhodes noted there was a massive size difference between Medina, at approximately 345 pounds, and the student, who likely weighed no more than 180.

Rhodes added that this was not a one-punch assault that might happen between two adults in a bar, but a three-minute incident of subduing the minor victim, who claims to have sustained soft tissue damage and mental trauma.

The Glen Mills School had been the oldest reform school in the country and served students who had been adjudicated by the courts nationwide, but was shut down by the state following a blistering investigative piece in the Philadelphia Inquirer detailing decades of abuse.

The counselors arrests heralded that report, as well as the subsequent state actions to remove children from the premises and revoke all of the schools 14 licenses. The 193-year-old institution has also since seen the departure of former director Randy Ireson along with nearly all staff and it is currently the subject of numerous lawsuits, including one from the victim in this case.

Glen Mills is now under the leadership of Acting Executive Director Chris Spriggs and board President Carolyn Seagraves, who say they are focused on retooling every aspect of the program to bring the school back online with a different atmosphere and culture.

The safety and security of the youth we serve is the highest priority of the Glen Mills Schools, said Spriggs in a statement Monday. We are gratified that Mr. Medina has pleaded guilty and that he has accepted responsibility for any harm caused this young man. Mr. Medinas actions were contrary to the training provided to him by Glen Mills. Glen Mills continues to cooperate with all state and local authorities in an effort to provide the highest level of accountability and transparency.

Defense attorney Daniel Armstrong presented testimony from Medinas pregnant girlfriend and her mother, both of whom said he was a good man. The girlfriend, Samantha Horne, said she had never seen Medina respond to any situation with anger and had no violent tendencies. He has been very supportive of the impending birth of their daughter, she said, and has no concerns about him being around their child or his 6-year-old daughter from a prior marriage.

Were building a rally nice life together and I truly do believe that he is a really good person, said Horne.

Armstrong added that his client had a clean record before and after the arrest, is cooperating with various ongoing investigations at the school and has shown remorse for the incident.

What this case represents in the overall character of Mr. Medina is basically a three-minute slice in a 31-year-old life at the time of the incident, said Armstrong. He did breach a duty that was owed to (the victim) in that school, but he breached that duty for a total of three minutes.

Armstrong said his client has already suffered greatly for depositing the student on a carpeted floor, including the loss of his job and his inability moving forward to work in any capacity dealing with minors.

Medina also apologized to the family Friday, though he forgot the students name until prompted by Armstrong. He said that he was hoping for better things in his life and currently works at a wine store, though Horne was helping him to be a better man and was the best thing to happen to him.

Judge Amoroso said she could see that Medina was embarrassed and remorseful, though she found the video of the body-slam disturbing. She agreed that Medina needed to have reacted better in the situation and that he required some form of punishment, but not incarceration.

Amoroso also noted that the charges will keep Medina from working with children again, but will not impact his ability to have custody or supervision of his own daughters.

The events that occurred at the Glen Mills Schools shocked our community, said county District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer in a release. The school failed in its most basic duty  to protect the children in its care. While todays sentencing cannot undo the trauma experienced by the victim, the defendants guilty plea is a significant accomplishment in that the defendant has acknowledged responsibility for the harm that he caused. It also ensures that the defendant will not work with children in the future. This conviction should serve as a warning to anyone who is entrusted with the care of our children that such conduct will not be tolerated.
More than four months after arriving, the last remaining Rosslyn resident has left hospital.

On Tuesday, a St. Josephs Healthcare Hamilton spokesperson confirmed the departure of the last of more than 60 residents who were relocated to hospital from the Rosslyn Retirement Residence in May.

The patient left yesterday, said Maria Hayes, a St. Joes spokesperson, in an email.

Hayes said she couldnt provide more details due to privacy.

All other Rosslyn residents left hospital or, sadly, passed away in hospital before the end of July.

The news closes just one chapter in the Rosslyn Retirement Residences tragic, ever-unfolding saga.

Back in mid-May, all eyes in Hamilton were on the King Street East retirement home as an emergency evacuation unfolded; nearly all 66 residents tested positive for COVID along with 22 staff. Late in the evening on that Friday, May 15 and into the wee hours on Saturday morning, dozens of sick residents were transferred by ambulance to Hamilton Health Sciences and St. Josephs Healthcare Hamilton. Many would reside in hospital for weeks, some for months.

Sixteen residents died.

The home eventually lost its licence. The regulatory body overseeing retirement homes said its concerns about the Rosslyn ranged from the presence of mouse droppings and bedbugs, allegations managers locked up personal protective equipment and claims the home administrator was verbally abusive to staff. The regulator, in a report, said it questions the homes ability to safeguard the health, safety and welfare of its residents. The Rosslyn is appealing the decision to strip its licence.

Amid the chaos, Rosslyn residents remained in limbo.

When it became clear residents were unlikely to return to the Rosslyn, family members sought out alternate care homes for their loved ones. Some residents would never be allowed to return to a retirement home.

When they leave St. Joes, some of them will require a higher level of care than a retirement home, and we are helping them to find that care, said Hayes, speaking at the end of May.

In the weeks that followed the evacuation, many residents filtered out of hospital, but others remained in hospital, still sick.

Brian Melnikes mother, Joan Wallace, 87, was the last resident to die. Melnike was able to visit her in hospital the day before her death on June 23. He held her hand and told her he loved her.
SAN LUIS, Ariz.  It's nearly 4 a.m. in this border town, where a group of day laborers waits under the fluorescent lights of a Chase bank parking lot to board several white school buses.

Leslie Aguilar, 15, looks on as Jimena, 17, her sister, boards one of the buses heading to a farm several miles away. This is the first time the sisters aren't traveling together, and Leslie is concerned.

"I don't know where she is going," she says. "I don't know who the people are, where they're taking her and all that.

"I don't like to go like this, because we usually go together."

The Aguilar sisters have been in the parking lot since 10 the night before, going from bus to bus looking for field work, which proves challenging this September morning.

Migrant and seasonal day laborers gather outside a Chase parking lot to wait for buses that will take them to work on agricultural fields several miles away. (Christine Romo / NBC News)

Arizona is between crop seasons, creating a scramble among day laborers for fieldwork. Grown men and experienced workers were picked first that day.

Leslie and Jimena's story is part of an NBC News and Noticias Telemundo series. Click here to read the Telemundo story in Spanish.

"They know that we come day to day to come look for a job," she says. "And they don't accept us. They wish they can, but they can't, because they have rules they have to follow. Because some, they just need boys."

For the past year, the Aguilar sisters have worked in fields harvesting produce  eight hours a day, five days a week. They are among an estimated 400,000 to 500,000 child laborers who harvest the country's produce, according to the nonprofit Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs. U.S. Labor Department regulations allow for children, some younger than 12, to work in agriculture. Many of them are on their own in the U.S.  available statistics suggest that most don't live with their parents.

The result, experts say, has been a generation of children whose lives revolve around the fields  and who struggle to get educations. The Aguilar sisters work 40 hours a week, but they're also high school students, squeezing their homework into late-night study sessions and grabbing naps when they can. On many nights they go without sleep at all.

Story continues

Jimena and Leslie Aguilar, 15, make their way across the Arizona/Mexico border to visit their parents in San Luis Rio Colorado in Sonora, Mexico. (Christine Romo / NBC News)

On a mid-September morning, Jimena Aguilar, 17, weeds a field to prepare for incoming crops on an Arizona farm. (Christine Romo / NBC News)

Migrant and seasonal child laborers run the risk of being overlooked by the education system, several educators said. However, people at the state and federal levels are also working to break the cycle.

The U.S. Education Department's Office of Migrant Education has several programs to help migratory child workers and children of migrant workers attend and finish grade school, high school and college. The Migrant Education Program provides education assistance for migrant children ages 3 through 21, and the College Assistance Migrant Program provides financial assistance for undergraduates. They were founded to help child laborers like the Aguilars overcome any barriers standing in the way of their educations.

"Imagine moving from one state to another not knowing a soul, not knowing where to go to find resources for your child," said Laura Alvarez, director of the Migrant Education Program for Arizona. "That's where we come in. It's an unsettling thought to think what would happen if our program was not in place."

In Arizona, where agriculture is a $23 billion industry, an estimated 10,000 students are eligible for the Migrant Education Program, according to Education Department data. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, Alvarez's team of educators would travel the fields to interview agricultural workers and identify children who could benefit from the resources provided by the program, even providing hearing aids and glasses when needed  any "tools to help them be successful in school," Alvarez said.

Telemundo's Nicole Suarez speaks with a melon field foreman on a farm along the Arizona/California border. (Christine Romo / NBC News)

IMAGE: Crane Great Beginnings Preschool (Christine Romo / NBC News)

Another challenge brought on by Covid-19 has been ensuring that migrant children have access to computers and Wi-Fi, as some Arizona schools have decided to start off the school year online.

"It is definitely a concern that for migratory children and our students in those communities, that access to internet is a challenge," said Kathy Hoffman, Arizona's superintendent of public instruction. "Sometimes it's not so much an issue of access to the laptop, but then when the laptop is brought into the home, then there's likely no internet connection. So you can't use it as much for that learning experience."

At places like PPEP TEC High Schools, a set of charter schools focused on catering to vulnerable populations like homeless and migrant children, computers and personal hot spots have been distributed to households in need of connectivity. In rare circumstances, PPEP TEC has also allowed for students like the Aguilar sisters to study around a busy growing season, sending them paper packets of homework in lieu of daily instruction.

The girls say that juggling work and school can be hard but that they continue to put a priority on their educations so that they can become "a big person in life." For Jimena, that means becoming a surgeon and for Leslie a pediatrician. Both are U.S. citizens, born in the U.S.

JB Rutagarama / NBC News

The sisters' current schedule requires them to attend school only on Fridays, but even then, free time is almost nonexistent.

When work is stable, the girls wait in parking lots at 4:30 a.m. to travel to worksites an hour and a half away. The girls pick weeds from melon patches for eight hours and then reboard the buses. They nap or do homework on the ride home. At 4 p.m., finally home from work, they climb into their beds and try to get some sleep.

But by 10 p.m. they're up again, this time to finish their assigned homework. They study through the night until 3 a.m., when it's time to head back to the parking lot once again.

"It's kind of hard, but at the same time, it's good, because that way we're in school," Jimena said. "And then we're in work, and we don't miss a day at work."

As the eldest of five children, Jimena has more responsibility than most, serving as her siblings' caretaker. The sisters also financially support their parents, who they say were deported to Mexico almost two years ago and recently lost their jobs because of Covid-19.

IMAGE: Day laborers school bus (Christine Romo / NBC News)

Field workers prepare the fields for growing melons. (Christine Romo / NBC News)

Jimena and Leslie each earn $500 a week. They live with family friends; pay rent, food and utilities every month for themselves and their younger siblings; and then send money to Mexico. They acknowledge that this level of responsibility may be forcing them to grow up too fast.

"'You guys, every time, always have to think about first what's in the house, then worry about what you need,'" Jimena recalls her parents telling them.

The Aguilar sisters' experiences resemble those of many other young adults who work in American fields and help support parents and other family members south of the border.

Leaning up against a white truck, Erick Delamantes, now a student at Arizona Western College, looks out across a field much like the ones where he used to toil as a high school student. He recalls the long days, which were especially long when he was trying to spend time with his family and keep his job. His family was still in Mexico, but work and school were in Arizona.

"I was alone over here in the U.S.," he said. "And so I used to wake up at 2 a.m. and [get in line for two hours] just to enter the U.S. to work over here [during] the weekends. And it was very, very cold, because, like, you work over here during winter break or winter season."

But with the help of the College Assistance Migrant Program, Delamantes no longer works in the fields and is contemplating a career in education.

IMAGE: Erick Delamantes (Christine Romo / NBC News)

His classmate Luis Vargas, another recipient under the program, also started working the fields as a child and continues to work in agriculture to make sure his parents are taken care of.

"It's a lot of responsibility, because they can't come inside the United States," he said. "They have a Mexican salary, and I have to work here to earn some money and give them to sustain my other brothers and the house, basically."

Data on the number of youth farm workers living without their parents is scarce, said Kendra Moesle of the Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs and Children in the Fields Campaign. However, data from the Labor Department's National Agricultural Workers Survey has found that from 2004 to 2009, just 10 percent of the youth farm workers who were interviewed lived with their parents.

The Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs' estimates of number of children working in agriculture don't include children whose parents own the farm, a situation that Moesle said differs from that of today's young migrant and seasonal workers.

"There are very few of the farmworkers that you might picture from the Dust Bowl era of the poor white families," said Moesle, who grew up on a family farm. "There's some African American, some Caribbean, but they almost all have some kind of foreign tie. If they're not born abroad, then their parents were, is almost always the pattern."

IMAGE: Jimena Aguilar (Christine Romo / NBC News)

While having parents across the border can serve as an incentive to work hard in school and in the fields, the Aguilar sisters say being apart from their parents also takes an emotional toll.

"I miss that we're always together, and we always wake up in the morning together, and we always receive a hug," Jimena says.

But there is some relief on Sundays when the girls cross the border to San Luis Rio Colorado in Sonora, Mexico, to see their mom and dad. Yuma County, where the girls live, is within 25 miles of two border crossings, making the trip to Mexico easier.

The day NBC News met up with the sisters, Jimena and Leslie made their way across the border carrying only the essentials: water, wallet and, of course, homework.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 04:26:58|Editor: huaxia

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People wearing face masks shop at an old bazaar in Tonekabon, northern Iran, on Sept. 22, 2020. Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education on Tuesday reported 3,712 new COVID-19 cases confirmed in the past 24 hours, the highest overnight registration in the country since the beginning of the pandemic. (Photo by Ahmad Halabisaz/Xinhua)

TEHRAN, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education on Tuesday reported 3,712 new COVID-19 cases confirmed in the past 24 hours, the highest overnight registration in the country since the beginning of the pandemic.

Sima Sadat Lari, spokeswoman for the Ministry, said at her daily briefing that 1,817 people needed to be hospitalized in the past 24 hours.

So far, she added, 429,193 infections have been confirmed in Iran, and 3,922 patients are currently being treated in intensive care units.

In the past 24 hours, 178 deaths were recorded in the country, taking the death toll over the novel coronavirus to 24,656 so far.

As of Tuesday, 363,737 COVID-19 patients have recovered and been dispatched from hospitals, according to Sadat Lari's data.

The risk of infection is deemed to be high in 24 out of 31 Iranian provinces, while five others are on alert situation.

Iran announced its first cases of COVID-19 on Feb. 19.

Iran and China have offered mutual help in combating the COVID-19 pandemic.

In mid-February, at the early stage of the coronavirus outbreak in China, Iran lit up the Tehran Azadi (Liberty) Tower to show its solidarity with China, and donated 3 million masks to China.

In return, China has delivered several shipments of medical supplies to Iran. On Feb. 29, a five-member Chinese medical team visited Iran for a month-long mission to help Iran fight the pandemic. Enditem
ANN ARBOR, MI The Ann Arbor City Council can discuss with the University of Michigan the possibility of using university housing to meet an increased need for safe, emergency housing in the event of a possible resurgence of COVID-19 in the community, according to a resolution passed Monday night.

The resolution passed, 10-1 at the Sept. 21 Ann Arbor City Council meeting, with Council Member Julie Grand the only vote against it.

The resolution, sponsored by Council Member Elizabeth Nelson, states if there is a resurgence of COVID-19 similar to the beginning of the pandemic this spring, past strategies for providing additional group emergency shelter are not preferred. The city anticipates an increased need for safe, emergency shelter for individuals in the upcoming winter season, the resolution states.

Ann Arbor City Administrator Tom Crawford has been directed to try to schedule a meeting between City Council and the UM Board of Regents before Nov. 1 to discuss temporary emergency shelter needs, the resolution states.

Crawford is also directed to coordinate a meeting between representatives from UM, the Washtenaw County Health Department, the Washtenaw County Office of Community and Economic Development and other local entities that would provide services for and coordinate the use of UM housing for emergency shelter this winter.

Nelsons original resolution stated there is a high likelihood that thousands of UM students could be evacuated from campus in the future due to an outbreak of COVID-19.

If we have an outbreak this fall or winter season, I would like to be ready to discuss a whole lot more than encampments and hotels, Nelson said at Mondays meeting. Thousands of units of housing sat empty at UM this past spring and summer. The wastefulness of that should not be repeated.

Council Member Jeff Hayner also supported the resolution, adding that the conversations could hopefully prompt conversations with other institutions, such as Eastern Michigan University.

Theres nothing sadder than unused housing in the time of need, so the potential that we could start this conversation with the university on top of continuing to be prepared and pursue our needs in other housing venues or areas, I think its perfectly appropriate that we do it and I encourage my colleagues to support this, Hayner said.

Potential emergency shelter on University of Michigan campus to be discussed by City Council

Council discussed the resolution for about an hour, including a change that would move the date of a meeting with the regents to Feb. 1.

A motion to push the meeting date back, made by Council Member Ali Ramlawi, gained support from Grand, who said there will be a lot of changes on council due to the November election, and meeting with the regents one week before then might not be the best course of action. This motion failed.

Ramlawi supported the final resolution, but Grand was still opposed it. She said earlier in the meeting she appreciates initiating the conversation, but it doesnt acknowledge the work housing commission staff and the county have been doing with the university.

UM students will be in housing until Thanksgiving, and while that could change, UM has been deliberate in keeping housing densities low to try to limit the spread of COVID-19, Grand said.

If there is housing that becomes available, I share the same sentiments as my colleagues have expressed about seeing empty dorms and wishing we could be using those for other purposes, to house those who need housing in our community, but I think the approach misses the mark, Grand said.

City Council has been concerned about students returning to campus and gathering in large groups, leading it to enact an emergency ordinance to make clear the citys rules and expectations regarding face masks and restrictions on social gatherings amid the pandemic.

Citing concerns about UM student gatherings, Ann Arbor enacts emergency ordinance

According to UMs COVID-19 dashboard, 82 students have tested positive for COVID-19, and the university has administered 5,859 tests. Testing has increased each week, with more than 3,600 being conducted between Sept. 13-20.

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Two Marines at Camp Pendleton have been arrested on federal drug charges in connection with the overdose death of a fellow Marine. (Lenny Ignelzi / Associated Press)

Two U.S. Marines at Camp Pendleton were arrested Tuesday by federal agents after being indicted in a drug-dealing conspiracy that included the sale of oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl that led to the fatal overdose of another Marine.

Lance Cpls. Anthony Ruben Whisenant, 20, and Ryan Douglas White, 22, are among five defendants expected to make their initial appearances Tuesday afternoon in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles.

Whisenant is accused of distributing narcotics to fellow Marines, including one who overdosed, and White is charged with being an accessory after the fact. Prosecutors said White tried to hinder the apprehension of Whisenant and accused drug supplier Jordan Nicholas McCormick.

The 14-count indictment alleges that McCormick, 26, of Palmdale, led a conspiracy to distribute LSD, ecstasy, cocaine and oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl. Also named are Jessica Sarah Perez, 23, of Pacoima, and Gustavo Jaciel Solis, 24, of Sylmar.

Prosecutors say Perez distributed narcotics from McCormick  including fentanyl and cocaine  to civilian customers, while Solis distributed drugs to both civilians and military personnel.

According to the indictment, Solis sold 10 oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl to an active-duty Marine on May 22. A day later, the Marine died of a drug overdose, according to court documents.

Solis and Perez were previously indicted on fentanyl and cocaine distribution charges, and Solis was indicted on firearms-related charges. They have pleaded not guilty to those charges, and their trial date is Oct. 27. Solis is in federal custody, and Perez is free on $25,000 bond.

On Tuesday, a superseding indictment added McCormick, Whisenant and White as defendants, in addition to adding charges to the original indictment. McCormick also is in federal custody.

According to the indictment, the drug conspiracy began in November 2019 and involved multiple sales of fentanyl-laced oxycodone to an undercover buyer, often for amounts exceeding $1,000 per buy.

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The arrests are part of a multi-agency investigation with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the FBI, the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Ventura County Sheriffs Office.

In addition to the conspiracy charge, McCormick, Solis, Whisenant and Perez face substantive charges of distribution of narcotics, including fentanyl. McCormick and Solis also are charged with possessing firearms in furtherance of drug crimes.

Whisenant and Perez face a statutory maximum of 20 years in federal prison if convicted, while McCormick and Solis face a mandatory minimum of 10 years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment. White, if convicted, faces a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
The Emirati capital Abu Dhabi has removed the requirement for license for alcohol buyers and set minimum age at 21. A circular from Abu Dhabis Department of Culture and Tourism made public on September 15, said residents and tourists will be permitted to buy and possess alcohol from licensed retail shops and are allowed to drink within tourism and hotel establishments, clubs and independent outlets.

Prior to the new regulations, buyers required a license to purchase, transport or consume alcohol at home. The regulations also require that buyers be 21 years old and add that purchase should be for personal consumption only and not for resale to others or storage.

The publication of the new rules occurred the same day as the UAE signed officially normalization ties with Israel. US President Donald Trump who brokered the deal last month hosted at the White House the official signing ceremony.

Since the agreement was inked, several UAE companies signed cooperation agreements with their Israeli counterparts. It is expected that both countries tourists travel across borders.
Italy's left defeats far-right bid to take stronghold Tuscany Salvini's standing in opinion polls has fallen

The far-right conceded defeat Monday after a fierce battle in Italy's regional elections for the left-wing bastion of Tuscany, providing a major boost for the fragile national government.

"It's an extraordinary victory," the region's centre-left candidate Eugenio Giani said, as far-right chief Matteo Salvini admitted "we knew it would be an extremely difficult fight".

Experts had warned that a flurry of far-right victories in the elections in seven regions could further fracture the brittle national governing coalition of the centre-left Democratic Party (PD) and its ruling partner, the anti-establishment Five Star Movement (M5S).

The highest-profile battle was for Tuscany, ruled by the left for 50 years.

The left also quashed a bid by the coalition of Salvini's League, Giorgia Meloni's anti-immigration, anti-LGBT Brothers of Italy and Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right Forza Italia to snatch Puglia.

"What could have been elections that hammered the coalition government, that caused it to break apart, have transformed into elections that will allow it to survive and stay the course," the Corriere della Sera's editor in chief Luciano Fontana said.

- 'Stopped in his tracks' -

The two-day vote went ahead despite a threatened resurgence of the coronavirus in Italy, which is now registering more than 1,500 new cases daily.

Ballots were cast nationwide for a referendum on cutting parliament numbers, which passed easily.

But all eyes were on elections held at the same time in Campania, Liguria, Marche, Puglia, Tuscany, Valle d'Aosta and Veneto.

The PD only narrowly frustrated a League bid in January to take Emilia Romagna, one of its biggest strongholds.

A win in Tuscany would have bolstered the right's claim that the uneasy coalition -- not elected, but installed after the previous government collapsed -- was politically weak, and Italy's president should bring forward the 2023 national election.

Story continues

It would have lifted Salvini to stardom and silenced his rivals for the far-right crown.

His popularity soared when he served as interior minister and deputy prime minister in the last coalition government, pursuing hardline policies that were hostile to immigrants.

But with the collapse of that administration last year and the coronavirus crisis this year his profile -- and his standing in the opinion polls -- has fallen. And Monday's results looked unlikely to lift it again.

"Salvini has been stopped in his tracks. The Tuscans did not fall for his propaganda," Simona Bonafe, the PD's party leader in Tuscany where turnout was 62 percent, was quoted as saying by Florence-based newspaper La Nazione.

The left also easily held Campania in the south.

The right triumphed instead in its strongholds of Veneto and Liguria, as well as taking Marche.

- Government 'will survive' -

Giani's far-right rival in Tuscany, Susanna Ceccardi, was until recently known only to the inhabitants of Casina, a porticoed town near Pisa, which was the first to turn to the League when she was elected mayor four years ago.

Since then, Renaissance art cities from Pisa to Siena in Tuscany have flipped to the right.

But the region has no glaring problems to drive a protest vote -- the health system has performed well during the Covid-19 pandemic, immigrants are well integrated, and the quality of life is high, political journalist Raffaele Palumbo told AFP.

Roberto Bianchi, contemporary history professor at Florence University, said the right has long tried to woo Tuscany -- to little effect.

"In 2000, a frustrated Berlusconi even launched a campaign to 'de-Tuscanise Tuscany'. It was a disaster," he said.

ide/jj/mbx
They hold the titles of two of Hollywood's most favorite stars.

And Reese Witherspoon sent fans into a frenzy after sharing a fresh-faced throwback from 1996 with Paul Rudd to Instagram on Tuesday.

The 44-year-old actress appeared to barely age a day  much like her counterpart  to which fans could barely believe their eyes.

Babies! Reese Witherspoon sent fans into a frenzy after sharing a fresh-faced throwback from 1996 with Paul Rudd to Instagram on Tuesday

'Wait a second... did Paul Rudd and I take the 'Selfie' in 1996,' she asked her 24million followers.

With a swipe of cherry red lipstick and shimmering blue shadow, 20-year-old Reese smiled at the camera.

Paul, who would have been around 27-years-old in the photo, flashed a toothy smile next to the up-and-coming star.

Poking fun at the selfie founder title, Reese did not mention that Paris Hilton has long claimed she invented the selfie in 2006.

Obvious answer! Popular blogger Sarah Landry of @TheBirdsPapaya wrote: 'This is confirmation that Paul Rudd indeed has a time machine'

Kids! Paul and Reese first worked together in 1998 on the romantic comedy Overnight Delivery

Instagram user Jordanjoi wrote: 'Paull Rudd seriously doesn't age! How does he look the same as he did in 1996??'

Popular blogger Sarah Landry of @TheBirdsPapaya wrote: 'This is confirmation that Paul Rudd indeed has a time machine.'

Lena Waithe noted that Reese was 'always ahead of your time' while Selma Blair joked: 'I'm in love with this relic fit for the smithsonian.'

Paul and Reese first worked together in 1998 on the romantic comedy Overnight Delivery.

They joined forces once again in 2010 to star in How Do You Know, which also featured Owen Wilson and Jack Nicholson.
Press Release

22 September 2020

With estimates that border closures are costing Queensland $17 million* a day, Accor Pacific, Australia's largest hotel group, is calling for urgent action to save the ailing state.



Simon McGrath, Chief Operating Officer for Accor Pacific, said: "The current border restrictions mean that Queensland will miss out on the summer dollar, a crucial period for local businesses, the economy and jobs.



Now is when people are booking visits for the next 3 to 6 months and if they don't have certainty that Queensland will be open, then Queensland will miss the surge in travel and fall behind other states.

Advertisements

Queensland could go from leadership to last in the race for tourism.

Many Australians love to visit Queensland and tourism annually contributes $25 billion to the Queensland economy and employs 217,000 Queenslanders (directly or indirectly).

If Queensland misses this crucial booking window and job keeper falls away, then some hotels will close for the first six months of 2021.

This will significantly impair the state's ability to bounce back; certainty is required now."

According to Austrade, Queensland has around 30,000 hotel rooms and apartments across the state. Accor predicts that over 70% could sit unoccupied through the coming months if the border uncertainty continues, which could lead to business closures for the first six months of 2021. This is not just bad news for the hotel business, but has a knock-on effect for local business owners too.

Simon McGrath continued, "The livelihoods of small business owners, from cafe owners, to restaurants to taxi drivers are at stake.

We are urging the State Government to use common sense, provide clarity and safely open up borders, which will set Queensland up for a stronger 2021 and save jobs. We all want to see local businesses thriving and workers return to work.

A hard border reopening date will give the rest of Australia the certainty they need to make plans for the future, and people need to be assured that when borders do eventually open, they will stay open.

As soon as we are certain of a border reopen date, Queensland should prepare for a big summer boom."

*SOURCES: Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland and the Queensland Government
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 04:15:47|Editor: huaxia

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ADEN, Yemen, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- Shelling launched by the Houthi rebels killed a Yemeni woman and injured 11 others in the country's southwestern province of Taiz on Monday, a government official told Xinhua.

"A number of shells fired by the Houthis landed on residential neighborhoods in the eastern part of Taiz province, leaving a woman killed and 11 others injured," the local government source said on condition of anonymity.

He confirmed that around four children were among the 11 injured.

Residential houses were partially affected by the randomly fired artillery shells in Taiz, according to the Yemeni official.

The Yemeni government forces, backed by the Saudi-led coalition, have been locked in clashes with the Iran-allied Houthi rebels in the north, east and west of Taiz since April 2015.

Yemen has been mired into a civil war since late 2014, when Houthis overran much of the country and seized all northern provinces, including the capital Sanaa. Enditem
In this week's TravelSkills on SFGATE newsletter...

A deal for duos: Southwest is pulling out one of its biggest marketing guns to help convince customers to fly this fall and winter. Will you bite? Normally, Southwest Airlines coveted Companion Pass is a long-term goal for Rapid Rewards participants, but a new very-short-term promotion lets members earn a limited-duration Companion Pass by booking just one flight. You dont have a lot of time to think about it, though. Read: Southwest hopes to gin up winter travel with valuable promo

In route news, San Francisco International gets quieter; Southwest extends its open middle seat policy through Thanksgiving; Americans website adds a trip planning feature that details COVID-related restrictions on U.S. travelers to countries worldwide; New York now allows California residents to visit without subjecting them to a mandatory 14-day quarantine; Hawaii now expects to lift its mandatory quarantine rule in mid-October; new domestic routes are coming to Los Angeles International and Palm Springs; international carriers including United, Philippines, EVA and KLM trim winter schedules at SFO; Air France-KLM lounge reopens at SFO; and American Express will start reopening Centurion airport lounges next month. Read: Routes: Silence at SFO + Southwest middle seats, AA, New York, Hawaii, airport lounges, more

To fly today, airlines require all passengers (except kids under 2) to wear face coverings. This requirement is being enforced: Major airlines have reportedly banned more than 700 fliers for non-compliance. Issues of personal freedom aside, are the airlines being overly cautious, or is that mask policy important in protecting the traveling public? Since COVID-19 is spread by tiny, invisible respiratory particles in aerosolized form  i.e., they can linger in the air  an aircraft cabin without any protections would normally be an ideal place for the virus to find new human hosts since passengers are seated very close to each other for extended periods. Read: Face masks on flights 'critically important' to prevent COVID-19 spread, Harvard study finds

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced last week that six states  California, Hawaii, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada and Ohio  have been removed from the state's COVID-19 travel advisory list. That means residents of California landing at airports in New York (as well as New Jersey and Connecticut) are no longer required to self-quarantine for 14 days after arriving in the area. Read: Californians are welcome in New York again

In a hopeful move (that we've heard three times before) Hawaii Gov. David Ige said last week that starting Oct. 15, travelers arriving from out of state may bypass a 14-day quarantine requirement if they test negative for COVID-19. Travelers will have to take the test within 72 hours of arrival in the islands. Ige said initially CVS and Kaiser Permanente will conduct the tests as part of an agreement with the state, with more testing partners to be announced in the coming weeks. While airlines will help inform travelers of the testing requirement, the state will not provide testing at its airports, and the governor provided few details on exactly how tests will be administered and how it will verify the validity of the tests. Read: Hawaii to lift COVID-19 quarantine for visitors starting October 15

A large number of U.S. hotels temporarily closed their doors as bookings dried up last spring due to the coronavirus pandemic. And as fall approaches, it looks like a significant number of them might not be able to reopen as expected, even if business picks up to healthy levels again. Although big banks and other lenders often allowed some flexibility for strapped hotels to make their mortgage payments during the pandemic, their patience is running low and foreclosure is looming for some major urban properties. Read: Hotels facing a painful wave of permanent closures

American Airlines announced it will open its much-anticipated new Admiral's Club in the Harvey Milk Terminal 1 at San Francisco International Airport on October 6. SFO opened the first phase of the $2.4 billion Harvey Milk terminal in July 2019 with flights from only Southwest and JetBlue. American moved in after the terminal's second phase opened in May, delayed three months due to COVID-19. However, when American moved into its gates at the new terminal, it used the nearby 11,634-sq.-ft. Admirals Club space as a "passenger service center" --not as a lounge. We also got some bad news about Alaska Airline's new lounge at SFO originally scheduled to open next month Read: SFO gets a brand new American Admirals Club

Tell your friends about TravelSkills on SFGATE and have them sign up for our FREE weekly email alerts or forward this email to them!

Neither a pandemic nor wildfires can keep Americans from traveling. With options for air travel limited, road trips are all the rage, especially to remote places where it's easy to remain in fresh air in the great outdoors. This includes national parks, many of which are hosting large numbers of domestic travelers this summer and fall. A visit to a national park is always memorable, but it can also be memorably expensive. Thankfully, there are ways to save if you plan ahead. Read: Fall deals driving more travelers to National Parks

If international air travel is ever going to open up again in the age of coronavirus, its becoming apparent that some kind of fast and efficient COVID-19 testing program will be required at airports. With the U.S. governments decision to stop its current ineffective policy of checking international arrivals next week, it looks like the private sector might have to take up that task  and thats starting to happen, too. Read: Rapid COVID-19 testing at airports essential for air travel rebound

Chris McGinnis is SFGATE's senior travel correspondent. Email: chris@travelskills.com. Get up-to-the-minute travel news via Chris's social feeds: Twitter: @cjmcginnis | Facebook: @TravelSkills
Staff will no longer be told to go back to their workplace to save the economy, in another government U-turn as coronavirus infections surge again.

Last month, workers were urged to stop working from home if they could  even amid suggestions they could be at risk of being sacked if they refused.

But Michael Gove said there would now be shift of emphasis, also revealing the target for 80 per cent of civil servants to be in the office had been ditched.

If it is possible for people to work from home, then we would encourage them to do so, the cabinet office minister said.

Mr Gove said ministers now believed they needed to balance the need for schools to remain open with curtailing other activity to try to reduce the virus.

That was why if we can limit or appropriately restrain social contact, that is what we're trying to do, he told Sky News.

On BBC Breakfast, Mr Gove was accused of a complete about turn, but replied: No, it is a response to the spread of the virus. A stitch in time saves nine.

He also confirmed that planned trials to allow the phased return of limited crowds to sporting events from next month had been scrapped.

Only three weeks ago, Boris Johnson was preparing to launch a major drive to persuade more staff to return to their workplaces, to save struggling retailers in town and city centres.

Coronavirus: Empty streets across the world Show all 29 1 /29 Coronavirus: Empty streets across the world Coronavirus: Empty streets across the world Saudi Arabia An eerie emptiness enveloped the sacred Kaaba in Mecca's Grand Mosque, Islam's holiest site, where attendance at Friday prayers was hit by measures to protect against coronavirus AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Empty streets across the world China An empty street in Wuhan. Hubei will relax travel restrictions to allow healthy people to move within the hard-hit province AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Empty streets across the world Thailand The Legend Siam theme park, usually attracts up to 20,000, mainly Chinese customers, a day in the high season, is temporarily closed due to the lack of visitors during the coronavirus outbreak AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Empty streets across the world Italy An empty Piazza Duomo in Milan Getty Coronavirus: Empty streets across the world US Aerial photo shows the Covid-19 isolation and monitoring site, where the first patient Joey Camp is being isolated at Hard Labor Creek State Park, about 50 miles east of Atlanta Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP Coronavirus: Empty streets across the world Spain Aerial view taken of the Ipurua stadium in Eibar while the Spanish league football match SD Eibar against Real Sociedad is played behind closed doors in light of the coronavirus outbreak AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Empty streets across the world Albania An aerial view of empty Tirana's outer ring. Albania has stepped up measures to contain the spread of Covid-19 caused by the novel coronavirus and banned circulation of all cars (except ambulances and supplies) for 3 days and urged people to stay home as the number of infected people increased to 33 AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Empty streets across the world Iraq An empty cafe during a curfew imposed by Iraqi Kurdish authorities, following the outbreak of coronavirus, near the castle in the old city of Erbil Reuters Coronavirus: Empty streets across the world South Korea An aerial view shows hygiene officials riding a vehicle disinfecting public buses at a depot in Gwangju EPA Coronavirus: Empty streets across the world Belgium A woman runs though the nearly empty historic center of Antwerp AP Coronavirus: Empty streets across the world China Jingyue bridge, spanning the Yangtze river, leading to Hubei province AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Empty streets across the world Vietnam Formula One Vietnam Grand Prix race track in Hanoi AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Empty streets across the world Spain Restaurant terraces remain closed at the usually overcrowded Plaza Mayor in central Madrid AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Empty streets across the world Thailand Tourist buses parked on a lot near Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Empty streets across the world Poland An aerial view of Jagiellonian University's new campus during the 2 weeks closure of universities, schools, museums and other public facilities in Krakow Getty Coronavirus: Empty streets across the world Italy A canal and the roads next to it are seen completely empty in Venice Getty Coronavirus: Empty streets across the world Greece An aerial view taken with a drone showing the yard of an empty school at Nafplio, Peloponnese EPA Coronavirus: Empty streets across the world Saudi Arabia An aerial view shows an empty white-tiled area surrounding the Kaaba in Mecca's Grand Mosque AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Empty streets across the world Italy Rome's office district EUR, at what would have otherwise been rush hour, virtually empty after a government decree has limited circulation AP Coronavirus: Empty streets across the world Italy Galleria Vittorio Emanuele in Milan Getty Coronavirus: Empty streets across the world Thailand Legend Siam theme park in Pattaya AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Empty streets across the world Belgium Empty shelves in a supermarket in Brussels AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Empty streets across the world Iran A satellite view shows Tehran airport Maxar Technologies via Reuters Coronavirus: Empty streets across the world Italy The deserted Via Manzoni street in Milan Reuters Coronavirus: Empty streets across the world Saudi Arabia AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Empty streets across the world Italy An empty street and canal in Venice Reuters Coronavirus: Empty streets across the world Thailand An aerial photo shows unused tourist buses parked on a lot near Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Empty streets across the world China An almost empty street in Wuhan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Empty streets across the world Poland A view of the deserted Krakowskie Przedmiescie and tahe Old Town Square in Warsaw EPA

The campaign  which was never really launched  came amid pressure from Tory MPs who were warning of devastating consequences for businesses in urban areas.

Employers were being asked to reassure their workers that it was safe to return, by highlighting measures taken to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

But, underlining the rethink, Mr Gove added: One of the things that we recognise is that, in the circumstances, if we can help people to work from home we will.

He said he could not predict with absolute certainty whether the new restrictions being announced today would be lifted in time for Christmas.

The new shutdown will begin, in England, with pubs, bars and restaurants ordered to close by 10pm from Thursday and required to offer table service only.

Police will be able to issue 1,000 fines and make arrests to enforce two-metre social distancing, as Covid-19 cases double each week across the UK.

The prime minister will announce further measures in a lunchtime statement to the Commons, expected to include a tightening of the rule of 6 limit on socialising.

The UK's Covid-19 alert level was raised to four on Monday, meaning the virus is "high or rising exponentially"  and making a crackdown inevitable.

However, Conservative MPs are demanding proper scrutiny by MPs, instead of measures being fasttracked by ministers under emergency legislation passed in March.
Quantum Genomics to receive up to $19 million in upfront and milestone payments plus double-digit royalties on sales

OEP to receive an exclusive license to develop and commercialize firibastat for the treatment of difficult to treat/resistant hypertension in South-East Asia, Australia and New Zealand

Quantum Genomics (Euronext Growth - FR0011648971 - ALQGC), a biopharmaceutical company specializing in developing a new drug class that directly targets the brain to treat difficult to treat/resistant hypertension today announced it has entered into an exclusive licensing and collaboration agreement with Orient EuroPharma (OEP) to develop and commercialize firibastat in South East Asia, Australia and New-Zealand. After its first partnership in Latin America, this new agreement is the first step of Quantum Genomics' partnering strategy in Asia.

Under the terms of the agreement, OEP will receive exclusive commercialization rights to firibastat for the treatment of difficult to treat/resistant hypertension in Taiwan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Myanmar, Cambodia, Australia and New-Zealand. Additionally, OEP will fund part of the Phase III study in difficult to treat/resistant hypertension in Taiwan as part of the overall pivotal Phase III trial led by Quantum Genomics.

Quantum Genomics will receive upfront and milestone payments amounting up to $19 million, plus double-digit royalties on sales.

The population suffering from difficult to treat and resistant hypertension in the above territories is estimated to be 10 million.

"OEP is the ideal partner for us with its experienced commercialization team, including dedicated sales forces, marketers, and existing successful partnerships with well-known companies in Asia, Europe and America. OEP has launched and marketed multiple cardiovascular drugs, and their proven track record and experience will be invaluable for the success of firibastat. This partnership highlights OEP's long-term confidence in firibastat and we look forward to working with them," mentioned

Jean-Philippe Milon, CEO of Quantum Genomics.

Calvin Tsai, CEO of Orient EuroPharma, said: "OEP is always committed to improving human health, constantly seeking and launching innovative products to meet patients' need. The Phase IIb results of firibastat in arterial hypertension are promising. Firibastat's profile on difficult-to-treat and treatment-resistant hypertension fits well into our current cardiovascular product portfolio and Asian expansion strategy. We are excited to have the opportunity to bring this potentially transformative drug to Taiwan, South-East Asia, Australia and New Zealand. We are looking forward to a successful cooperation with Quantum Genomics."

About Orient EuroPharma

Founded in 1982, Orient EuroPharma (OEP) became officially listed in the Taiwan Exchange in 2003. In the beginning, the Company was a prescription drug distributor, but has now become a full-scale, multinational pharmaceutical company. The core competencies of the Company not only include pharmaceutical innovation, R&D, manufacturing, sales and clinical trials, but has significantly increased the Company's operational efficiency through vertical integration to provide customers with more complete services. In 2019, the Company exceeded 1,000 employees worldwide, of which about 40% are overseas personnel, and the combined turnover exceeded NT$6 billion.

About Quantum Genomics

Quantum Genomics is a biopharmaceutical company specializing in the development of a new class of cardiovascular medications based on brain aminopeptidase A inhibition (BAPAI). Quantum Genomics is the only company in the world exploring this innovative approach that directly targets the brain. The company relies on 20 years of academic research from the Paris-Descartes University and the laboratory directed by Dr. Catherine Llorens-Cortes at the College de France (French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM)/ the Scientific Centre for National Research (CNRS)). The goal of Quantum Genomics is to develop innovative treatments for complicated, or even resistant, cases of hypertension (around 30% of patients have poor control of their condition or receive ineffective treatment) and for heart failure (one in two patients diagnosed with severe heart failure dies within five years).

Based in Paris and New York, Quantum Genomics is listed on the Euronext Growth exchange in Paris (FR0011648971- ALQGC) and trades on the OTCQX Best Market in the United States (symbol: QNNTF).

For more information, please visit www.quantum-genomics.com, or follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn

Contacts

Quantum Genomics Jean-Philippe Milon

CEO

jean-philippe.milon@quantum-genomics.com Benoit Gueugnon

CFO

benoit.gueugnon@quantum-genomics.com

So Bang (Europe) Nathalie Boumendil

Financial Communications

+33 (0)6 85 82 41 95 | nathalie@so-bang.fr Samuel Beaupain

Media Relations and Scientific Communications

+33 (0)6 88 48 48 02 | samuel@so-bang.fr

LifeSci (USA) Dan Ferry

Financial Communications

+1 (617) 535-7746 | Daniel@lifesciadvisors.com Mike Tattory

Media Relations and Scientific Communications

+1 (609) 802-6265 | mtattory@lifescipublicrelations.com

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Uttar Pradesh's will be developed as the biggest hub in north India, Chief Minister on Monday said.

Stating that the state has secured the second position in the country in 'Ease of Doing Business' , he said it has been an outcome of the sustained efforts of the state government during the last three years.

He said the state has strived to develop infrastructure in terms of power, road, communication, transport, beside strong law and order to achieve the dream of one trillion economy status in India while contributing to the country's 5 trillion economy target set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

According to a statement issued here, Adityanath while presiding over a meeting of high level Empowered Committee of 'Invest UP', said will be developed as the biggest hub in north India.

He said out of the memorandums of understanding (MoUs) worth Rs 4.28 lakh crore,signed during the UP Investors Summit 2018, the MoUs worth Rs 2 lakh crore have already come on ground.

In addition to this, the UP government has received over 50 investment proposals worth over Rs 7,000 crore from the investors of about 10 countries, including Japan, the US, the UK, Canada, Germany and South Korea who want to shift their units from there to

He said Nivesh Mitra portal, which provides 146 services, has been quite successful with a track record of 98 per cent redressal of the problems of the investors and entrepreneurs.

The chief minister said that UP has a ready land bank of 20,000 acre on which industries can be set up. He said the government is coming out with a comprehensive land policy, besides formulating new Pharma Policy and Data Policy.

"Defence and aerospace, warehousing, data centres, electrical vehicles and pharma sector are some of the emerging investment centres in the state. The government's ambitious project of Defence Corridor has promised an investment of Rs 50,000 crore in the next two years and offers a good investment opportunity," he said, adding that the revised MSME policy and start up policy has already given impetus to the growth potential of the state.

He said the traditional areas like electronics, IT, food processing, dairy, textiles, tourism and films are still the fancied investment destination while solar power, bio-fuel and civil aviation are joining these as potential investment hubs.

The chief minister pointed out that UP, which contributes 8 per cent of the country's Gross Domestic Product, with a population of 24 crore is a big market in itself.

Talking about infrastructure development, he said the state is going to have a huge network of expressways, which will criss-cross the entire country.

A 340-km-long Purvanchal Expressway from Lucknow to Ghazipur, 290-kms long Bundelkhand Expressway linking Chitrakoot to Lucknow-Agra Expressway, 90-km Gorakhpur link Expressway and 170-km Prayagraj link Expressway will be there in the state soon, the chief minister said.

"Not only this, the state government has also decided to construct a 600-km-long Ganga Expressway from Prayagraj to Capital Region through Hardoi, Shahjahanpur, Kannauj and Meerut. This is going to be the longest Expressway of the country," he added.

As another landmark in the infrastructure, the proposed Jewar international airport in will be the biggest in north India.

Besides, the Kushinagar airport is also coming up which will cater to eastern a great deal, Adityanath said.

Besides ministers and senior officers, the representatives of the industry who took part in the meeting included Sangita Reddy, President, FICCI, Nikhil Sawhney, Chairman, CII, Northern Region,D K Agarwal, President, PHDCCI, Pankaj Kumar, President, IIA, Sharad Kumar Sarraf, Trade Promotion Council of India, Shri Mohit Singh, Chairman, Trade Promotion Council of India and Baldev Bhai Prajapati, President, Laghu Udyog Bharti.

(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 wayfinding mural at a HDB block in Kebun Baru, to help persons with dementia navigate their surroundings. (PHOTO: Alzheimer's Disease Association)

SINGAPORE  The Alzheimers Disease Association (ADA) is partnering with the Peoples Association Kebun Baru grassroots organisations to build a dementia-friendly community through a series of project collaborations.

One of such collaborations is with the Kebun Baru Community Club to pilot dementia-inclusive design efforts, with retro items painted around the blocks as means of wayfinding for Kebun Baru residents with dementia, ADA said in a media release on Monday (21 September).

Henry Kwek, Member of Parliament for Kebun Baru, said that such dementia design initiatives enable those with dementia to navigate their surroundings better, encouraging them to leave their homes and continue thriving in their neighbourhoods.

By considering a person with dementias holistic experience, a consistently more mobility-friendly and dementia-friendly community that instils confidence and motivation in persons with dementia to navigate the neighbourhood independently, can be built, he said during a Kebun Baru CC event to commemorate World Alzheimers Day on Monday.

Dementia design in built environment

During the initial stages of the project, ADA had worked with students from the Chua Thian Poh Community Leadership Centre in National University of Singapore on a study to identify interventions that can help create an inclusive dementia-friendly community in Kebun Baru.

The constituency has a high population of seniors  two in five of its residents are above age 60.

From the students findings and recommendations, several dementia-inclusive initiatives were implemented, such as organising dementia awareness talks, improving wayfinding, and enabling the community through informal activities.

The Kebun Baru initiatives are in line with a global report launched by the Alzheimers Disease International to commemorate World Alzheimers Day. The global body for dementia said that dementia design in built environment is 30 years behind that of the physical disabilities movement.

Story continues

We would like to encourage more ageing-in-place, which refers to seniors and people with dementia continuing to live and thrive in their own familiar areas and estates, as opposed to being uprooted and shifted to a nursing home or welfare home, said ADA chief executive officer Jason Foo.

The increased focus to improve dementia design in the built environment will be crucial in helping us achieve this.

Lego mural at Kebun Baru CC

On Monday, Kwek helped complete a 2.6-metre-by-1.6-metre mural made of Lego bricks at Kebun Baru CC to commemorate World Alzheimers Day. The mural depicts seniors enjoying life with the support of the community, and will be displayed at the community club for a year.

Kebun Baru MP Henry Kwek (left) helping to complete a Lego mural to commemorate World Alzheimer's Day on 21 September 2020. (PHOTO: Alzheimer's Disease Association)

It is presented by palm oil conglomerate Musim Mas Holdings, who has expressed interest in sponsoring the dementia-inclusive projects in Kebun Baru.

The pieces were put together remotely by the stakeholders of the dementia community  including persons living with dementia, families, caregivers, Kebun Baru grassroots volunteers and residents, corporate partners and ADA staff. They were then collected, sanitised and assembled at Kebun Baru CC.

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Dogs at Sembawang temple not chained up, free to roam at night, says management
Take the Asian automakers for example, which are featuring some of the most confident designs on the market  Kia's K5 has just launched with daring stunts , and now the 2021 Nissan Maxima is not letting the guard down either as it celebrates its 40th anniversary on the American market.New for the upcoming model year that goes on sale later this fall (with pricing and specifications to be announced closer to the dealership arrival date) are not just the customary enhancements, but also a limited production package for the new Maxima 40th Anniversary Edition.It takes off starting from the flagship Maxima Platinum trim and adds a host of tailored elements. These include a new two-tone Ruby Slate Gray Pearl body paint mixed with a glossy black roof, unique 19-inch gloss black alloys, black exterior flourishes to contrast the cockpits daring red semi-aniline leather seats, as well as 40th Anniversary exterior and interior markings, among others.The 2021 Nissan Maxima, the Japanese automakers longest-running nameplate on the U.S. market, will arrive on showroom lots with 40th Anniversary Edition, SV, SR, and Platinum trim levels, but there will be just one choice for the powertrain. That would be the companys combination of the powerful 3.5-liter V6 with 300 hp and the well-known Xtronic transmission.Nissans eight-generation flag carrier joins a very young range of sedan models, with those looking for something else below the Maxima having a wide choosing range with the recently updated Altima, Sentra and Versa cars.
Union minister for food processing industries Harsimrat Kaur Badal has resigned in protest against the farm bills cleared by Parliament. However, her party, Shiromani Akali Dal, will remain in the National Democratic Alliance. I dont have any doubt about her intentions, but such a move should have been made with a sincere mind and a clear sense of duty. But what she did is political positioning, exactly what the Shiv Sena and the Telugu Desam Party did earlier. While their top leaders criticized the Delhi Durbar, ministers from these parties continued to enjoy their cabinet portfolios. TDPs Union ministers quit just a year before the Andhra Pradesh assembly polls. The voter rejected this sacrifice, and the TDP lost the election . In contrast, the Shiv Sena ministers remained in the cabinet till the end. They contested the assembly election with the BJP, but as soon as they got an opportunity, they overturned the whole equation.

If the Akali Dal is serious about the protest, it must stop keeping fingers in both pies. In power-hungry politics, few reject their privileges for the people at the bottom. Here, I would like to remember Ram Manohar Lohia respectfully. In 1954, the Praja Socialist Party formed a government in Travancore (now in Kerala), which was witnessing an agitation for a separate state for Tamil-speaking areas. On 11 August 1954, police opened fire on protesters, killing 15 including students and farmers. Lohia, who was general secretary of PSP then in Naini jail, telegrammed chief minister Pattom Thanu Pillai to resign. Pillai did not. The party split and the government collapsed in a few months.

Across centuries of misfortune for farmers, their leaders rarely addressed their concerns wholeheartedly. Despite being called an agrarian country, independent India still has only one model of successthe Green Revolution. There has been a lot of talk about a second Green Revolution, but in the absence of determination, there has been little progress.

I belong to Doab (land between two rivers) of Ganga-Yamuna, where many families have been devastated, with the most tragic example in the last few months. When millions returned to their villages following the lockdown, the land of their forefathers failed to give them shelter. They lost their jobs in cities and agriculture was not able to sustain them.

Let us come to the current controversy. The Centre has passed two agricultural reform bills. Under the Agricultural Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, farmers will be able to sell their produce anywhere in the country. On the Farmers Agreement Bill on Price, Assurance and Agricultural Services (Empowerment and Protection), the government claims that the income of farmers will increase, middlemen will be out and supply chains will be established. Earlier, the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill had been passed, which provides that grains, pulses, edible oils, potatoes and onions will not remain essential commodities. They can be stored. The government believes that this will attract foreign investment in agriculture.

Critics say farmers will not get minimum support prices (MSP) with the abolition of the mandi structure, allowing private companies to exploit farmers, who will end up as labourers in their own farms. They fear traders will hoard and there will be volatility in food prices, ending food security and increasing black-marketing. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has responded strongly that the MSP system and government procurement will continue, saying those who have done nothing for decades are misleading the farmers. Some state governments under his leadership have also done a great job in getting the farmers a fair price for their produce. The Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh distributed 21,889 crore to farmers in the last two years.

Farmers have experienced a lot of dissatisfaction and insecurity for decades, and now they are easily agitated. This insecurity can be easily understood. About 86% of farmers have less than two hectares of land, and can barely feed their families. According to the National Crime Records Bureau, 42,480 farmers and daily labourers committed suicide last year. However, the Union agriculture minister said in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday that state-wise figures of farmers suicides have not been available since 2016.

Meanwhile, villagers in Punjab, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are agitating. Farmers have already protested in large numbers in Maharashtra. One thing is sure that the measures taken so far for the farmers are not proving to be enough. Governments at the Centre and in the states will have to focus on this immediately. We should not forget that the country is going through an unprecedented crisis. Tensions along the China border, the deadly sting of coronavirus and the woeful economic situation in the country have raised many apprehensions. At such critical times, such unrest within the country can prove fatal.

Shashi Shekhar is editor-in-chief, Hindustan. His Twitter handle is @shekarkahin

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President Klaus Iohannis said on Tuesday that sustainable economic growth and "environmentally friendly and safe technology" are needed for sustainable economic growth.

"For sustainable economic growth, we need environmentally friendly and safe technology. We need responsible decisions and actions, both from the authorities and from the business milieu. And we need innovation," Iohannis said after a visit to Continental Automotive Timisoara.The head of state awarded the Continental Company the Order "Industrial and Commercial Merit" in the rank of Officer on the anniversary of its 20 years of presence in Romania."20 years ago, you started working in Romania, in this city that is the kilometer zero of our democracy and freedom. Timisoara is, without any doubt, a symbol of our democratic change, but also of development. Now, you are one of the biggest exporters of the Romanian economy. You have over 20,000 employees in our country, a third of whom are engineers and IT specialists in research and development centers. You are a constant partner in vocational education for the younger generations. For the outstanding performance of the company and the results obtained, I decided to decorate today, in Timisoara, the company Continental Automotive Romania," said President Iohannis.He congratulated the company's management for the way it understood to offer, over time, development and investment opportunities, both locally and for the economy.President Iohannis indicated that the talks with Continental representatives focused on investments, future plans, contribution to the economic development of the area, the economic impact of the pandemic and the involvement of the business environment in managing local effects.President Iohannis welcomed initiatives to support the health sector.According to the head of state, the automotive industry is one of the main vectors of competitiveness of the economy. He stressed that the partnership with the IT industry and research and development activities will turn this sector into a "spearhead for the industry of the future".He said that in the context of managing the health crisis and its effects on the economy, he was directly involved, together with the Government, in identifying the best ways to respond to these challenges.He also pointed out that the challenges of the future, including the involvement of traditional university centers in supporting smart industry, the digital agenda and the environment, should be a constant concern for all.
- Vice President Leni Robredo answered back to the latest criticism of President Rodrigo Duterte about COVID-19

- She said that it is not enough to just wait for the COVID-19 vaccine right now

- The Vice President also mentioned that spraying pesticide will not help in addressing the pandemic

- Robredo identified the problems that the country has been facing and they need to work on together

PAY ATTENTION: Click "See First" under the "Following" tab to see KAMI news on your News Feed

Vice President responded to the criticisms of President Rodrigo Duterte when he delivered his online address on Monday.

KAMI learned that the Vice President couldnt help but give her takeaways from the speech of President Duterte.

Photo from Getty Images

Source: Getty Images

In a Facebook post, VP Robredo explained that it is not enough to just wait for the vaccine against COVID-19.

Hindi yata sapat na basta may ospital, kama at punerarya, ang kailangan nalang gawin ay maghintay ng vaccine, she wrote.

The Vice President also enumerated the challenges that the country has been facing for them to work together in addressing it.

She mentioned about suppressing the COVID-19 pandemic; overcoming poverty, hunger, unemployment, and distress restructuring public and private finances; and rebuilding the economy.

Robredo also mentioned that the COVID-19 pandemic cannot be solved by spraying pesticides over Manila.

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Vice President Leni Robredo is the second woman to ever assume her post. She is the widow of former Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo.

Earlier, President Duterte slammed the dilawan and VP Robredo following her COVID-19 remarks. The President also joked about spraying pesticides all over the Philippines to get rid of the coronavirus.

The President previously signed a new proclamation that aims to extend the state of calamity status in the Philippines for another year. It will be until September 2021.

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Palo Alto Colleges core values stem from the belief that education is central to the continued growth of our community, and supporting our students with learning opportunities is imperative to lifelong success.

Over the past few years, one of our key community-building events has been our annual TEDxPaloAltoCollege, a carefully curated event that brings people together to consider new ideas.

Independently organized and licensed through TED, a nonprofit organization known for sharing ideas worth spreading, TEDx events around the world are local, self-organized events that bring people together.

Although Palo Alto College is not hosting any in-person events this fall, we knew how important it would be to present our annual TEDx event  albeit virtually. Thus, on Saturday, Sept. 26, the third annual TEDxPaloAltoCollege will be livestreamed for free on Facebook and YouTube from 2-4 p.m. Viewers will be able to engage with event speakers and fellow community members through the online discussion portal.

This years event will feature short, powerful talks and performances around the theme, Hope Rising. San Antonio native Andrea Vocab Sanderson  the first African American poet laureate of San Antonio  will present the Power of your Voice, and entrepreneur Christina Jovanna Olivarez will give a talk about Reimagining Social Media in a time when virtual environments are dominating the way in which many of us interact with one another.

These are just some of the inspiring activists, business leaders, artists and athletes contributing to this years event. To make the most of your at-home viewing experience, Watch Party Kits are on sale now.

To learn more about the event or to RSVP and secure your Watch Party Kit, visit tedxpaloaltocollege.org.

In a year that has brought many unexpected challenges, its truly a great time to be a part of Palo Alto College. Through the dedication of the faculty and staff, we want to ensure that everyone in our community has opportunities to enrich their lives with experiences that ultimately shape their overall outlook on the world.

By bringing new ideas to the table, we hope that all of our TEDxPaloAltoCollege participants leave the event inspired and with a sense of hope and purpose for a brighter tomorrow.

Robert Garza, Ph.D., is president of Palo Alto College, part of the Alamo Colleges District.
"Over the last 10 years, I have had the honor to work with a team of outstanding executives and employees to make Independence and its subsidiaries into the national health care leader it is today. It has been an incredible privilege to serve our millions of members, our customers, and the community," said Hilferty. "From the day I took the job, the Board has worked with me on succession planning and talent development for the organization. The personal timing is right for me and my family. Importantly, I know the company is well positioned to succeed now and into the future under Greg's tremendous leadership."

"Dan has been a transformational leader, and Independence Health Group has never been stronger," said Charles Pizzi, chairman of the Independence Health Group Board of Directors. "Since Dan became CEO, the company has increased in health care revenue under management1 to $27 billion and nearly tripled in size, with operations across 27 states and the District of Columbia, serving 8 million members nationwide."

Since 2010, Independence's revenue growth has exceeded the industry average among national health care insurers. Today, the family of companies has more than 11,500 employees across the country.

Hilferty served as President and CEO of Independence for 10 years, following one year as President of Independence's Health Markets. He led Independence Health Group's Medicaid managed care subsidiary, AmeriHealth Caritas, for 13 years prior. Hilferty has held leadership positions within the organization for almost a quarter of a century.

Key achievements during his tenure include:

Establishing the path for AmeriHealth Caritas to become a national leader in Medicaid managed care by expanding coverage to markets outside Pennsylvania , creating a pharmacy benefit management company, incorporating a behavioral health company and structuring a deal with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan to partner in fueling the company's national growth.

, creating a pharmacy benefit management company, incorporating a behavioral health company and structuring a deal with Blue Cross Blue Shield of to partner in fueling the company's national growth. Leading up to the rollout of the Affordable Care Act, Independence and its subsidiaries played a critical role in establishing and stabilizing the new insurance marketplace in the Philadelphia region and New Jersey and has been a leading advocate for improved access to care.

region and and has been a leading advocate for improved access to care. Accelerating the regional movement to value-based care models to drive improved outcomes, access and cost, Independence established its Facilitated Health Networks and launched Tandigm Health in 2015.

In 2018, he led the initiative to partner with Comcast in a joint venture to create Quil Health  a consumer-focused healthcare platform that provides actionable and personalized health itineraries for patients and caregivers during their care journey.

Establishing the Independence Blue Cross Foundation to create sustainable solutions to improve the health and well-being of the Greater Philadelphia region.

region. Launching the Independence Center for Innovation to foster creative solutions for the company's internal and regional innovation efforts.

Hilferty retires as a recognized leader on the national stage. From 2015-2017, he was elected by his peers to serve as chairman of the board of directors for the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, a national federation of 36 companies providing healthcare coverage for 107 million Americans nationwide. He is among a select group of nonpartisan health care leaders called upon by government leaders for advice on health care reform and is a sought-after speaker on leadership and transforming health care.

A native of the Philadelphia area, Hilferty has been a driving force behind countless civic initiatives that showcased the region, including high-profile events such as the 2015 Papal Visit and the 2016 Democratic National Convention. He is currently serving as chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia through October 2020. In 2017, Hilferty received the prestigious William Penn Award, which is the highest honor bestowed upon a businessperson in the Greater Philadelphia business community for their contributions to the region.

As executive vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer for Independence, Deavens directs all financial functions for the company and its subsidiaries while playing a key role in strategy for the organization. Deavens led the company's recent purchase of its corporate headquarters building at 1901 Market Street and directed the design/build of the Independence Center for Innovation. He serves as a member of the board for Independence subsidiaries AmeriHealth Caritas and Tandigm Health. Deavens worked with colleagues to support regional health systems as part of the company's response to Covid-19.

"Greg is an exceptional leader. He has the business acumen, energy, and vision needed to take the company forward," said Hilferty. "He is well respected throughout the company, business leadership circles, the health insurance industry, and the Philadelphia community, Greg is the right person to lead the company into the future."

Board chair Pizzi said, "Greg has a comprehensive knowledge of the industry and the organization from a strategic, operational and financial perspective, and has the trust and confidence of the Board."

"I am extremely fortunate to have worked closely with a world-class leader like Dan over the past several years. I am grateful for the confidence that Dan and the Board have expressed in me to lead this great company," Deavens said. "I look forward to working with the tremendous Independence team, continuing our legacy of enabling access to affordable quality healthcare, driving innovation and promoting diversity and inclusion. At the same time, we will redouble our efforts to serve members and eradicate racial inequities that exist in the delivery of healthcare and other aspects of our society."

Prior to joining Independence, Deavens was with Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) from 2006 to 2016, where he served as the company's senior vice president and corporate controller. His earlier experience includes leadership roles with New York Life, CIGNA, and GE Capital.

Deavens was named chairman of the board of directors for Hartford Healthcare in July 2020. He also serves on the boards of the Executive Leadership Council and the African American Museum in Philadelphia. He is a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He is a graduate of the School of Business & Industry at Florida A&M University.

About Independence Health Group

Independence Health Group, together with its subsidiaries, serves 8 million people nationwide. In addition to a growing consumer business, Independence serves employer groups ranging from small businesses to national corporations. Headquartered in Philadelphia, Independence Health Group is a diversified company offering a wide range of services including commercial, Medicare and Medicaid medical coverage, and third-party benefits administration. Independence Health Group and Independence Blue Cross are independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

1 Health care revenue under management includes GAAP revenue plus claims paid for self-funded customers.

SOURCE Independence Blue Cross

Related Links

www.ibx.com


Mulan grew up in a martial arts family, has a dream to become a female warrior in the Kingdom. By forced to join the army in her fathers stead, she find a way to express herself. However, during a mission that she supposed to assassinate the Crown prince of a hostile kingdom, she never know that this decision changed her life entirely. They fell in love. From then on, she has a new goal, not to fight for her personal achievement but to bring the peace for the people of both countries. In the end she triumphed over the true villian and also understand the true meaning of being a warrior.

The film is directed by Xi Chen and produced by Gold Valley Films, a Chinese animation production house (which also has a creative center in L.A.). Although its release shortly after Disneys Mulan cant have been planned  Disneys film was rescheduled multiple times in the pandemic  the promotional campaign for Kung Fu Mulan is implicitly playing up the contrast between the two. The tagline on its poster (see below) reads Real China. Real Mulan.

When Disneys first version of Mulan, the 1998 animated musical, came out in China, it fared poorly. This wasnt entirely its fault: shortly before, Disney had offended Chinese authorities with its live-action feature Kundun, and Mulan was only allowed a limited release in the country as a result. Since then, the House of Mouse has aggressively courted China, most conspicuously with the Shanghai Disney Resort, which opened in 2016.

This years Mulan remake was supposed to reaffirm the companys commitment to the Chinese market. Director Niki Caro and her producers made a bid for authenticity, casting Chinese stars, working closely with Chinese advisors, and shooting parts of the film in China (a decision that later backfired). As Walt Disney Studios co-chairman Alan Horn told The Hollywood Reporter, If Mulan doesnt work in China, we have a problem.

Well, Disney has a problem: the film has grossed just $36.3 million in China since its debut on September 11, trailing below predictions. The disappointing result may be due partly to pandemic jitters, as well as a domestic media blackout imposed on the film amid overseas controversy about its ties to the Xinjiang region (where the government allegedly imprisons Muslims). That aside, many viewers have expressed unease with the Hollywood take on a familiar legend, with some even accusing the film of cultural appropriation.

Disneys Mulan was released in the U.S. on Disney+. A U.S. release of Kung Fu Mulan has yet to be announced.
AGAR is leveraging their expertise creating and producing live events for brands in a platform that brings experiences directly to consumers. "What we've always done, and continue to do, is create human connections," said AGAR founder Josh Heuser. "We designed EXPO not as a pandemic pivot, but as a long-term solution for adding value to the home experience." Heuser said EXPO was borne out of the insight that there was no single place to order everything needed to create experiences. "Customers would have to order from different providers like Amazon, restaurants, floristsand design their own concept. We do it all for them and deliver everything together."

AGAR is looking to learn what people want, as they grow the EXPO model and scale regionally and ultimately nationally. Currently, consumers can choose:

Camp Legendary , a family-friendly, camp-at-home experience complete with a S'mores bar

, a family-friendly, camp-at-home experience complete with a S'mores bar Wicket Good Weekend , a backyard brunch with a croquet twist

, a backyard brunch with a croquet twist Home Field Advantage, a big-screen backyard tailgate for up to 10

a big-screen backyard tailgate for up to 10 SOON! Table for Two, a cook-your-own dinner experience with online chef tutorial, recipe ingredients and flowers

"We're adding new EXPOs based on customer demand," said AGAR Director of Operations Kerry Francis. "An over-the-top game show experience is next up. With cooler weather, people are looking to host experiences at home, and we have some exciting plans brewing." Added AGAR Operations Manager Noah Beiting, "AGAR brings the creative firepower, now we're looking to partner with restaurants, retailersany business that wants to become part of a larger experience on-demand." Those interested in collaborating on EXPO should contact Beiting at [email protected].

The pilot offers next-day delivery on orders placed before 12 p.m. within Greater Cincinnati. Complete EXPO contents, pricing and online purchase platform is available at www.expotoyou.com.

About AGAR

AGAR is an experiential marketing firm that has created shared human experiences for Fortune 100 clients and communities across the country since 2009.

Media Contacts:

Kerry Francis

269- 214-1857

[email protected]

SOURCE The AGAR

Related Links

theagar.com


Kelsey Martinovich was mistakenly announced as the winner of Australia's Next Top Model by host Sarah Murdoch in 2010.

And a decade on, the real winner Amanda Ware has reflected on the epic live TV gaffe with podcast, Back From Reality.

The model, 28, revealed that on stage she could hear producers screaming into Sarah's ear piece that she got the announcement wrong.

'I still cringe to this day': Australia's Next Top Model's Amanda Ware has reflected on the moment host Sarah Murdoch announced the WRONG winner on the show

'She (Sarah) goes sheet white... I was scared she was going to keel over, and I could hear them saying the winner is Amanda.

'And so Kelsey's obviously started making her speech, the fireworks have gone off. Honestly, I still cringe today. Even you saying it - my heart drops,' she told host Gabrielle Scawthorn.

Amanda continued: 'I don't think we realised that we couldn't film it again, I don't know about Kelsey or Sarah. I just know it's the most shocking moment.

'10 years on... I can't even watch it': The model, 28, said, 'I don't think we realised that we couldn't film it again, I don't know about Kelsey or Sarah. I just know it's the most shocking moment'

'Even today, I think it's still on Germany's top ten worst moments of TV ever,' she laughed.

Elsewhere, the Brisbane-born beauty said: 'It's still cringeworthy, even now, 10 years on... I can't even watch it... it's so embarrassing.

She added that the moment wasn't embarrassing for herself or Kelsey, saying: 'We didn't stuff up, there's nothing to say we did anything wrong, which is why I'm still sane today.

'It wasn't our stuff up': She added that the moment wasn't embarrassing for herself or Kelsey, saying: 'There's nothing to say we did anything wrong, which is why I'm still sane today'

'But I guess that's what you can take away from it, it wasn't our stuff up,' she concluded.

Amanda also revealed that the iconic ANTM gaffe has still stuck with her a decade on, and says it didn't have a 'detrimental impact' on her career.

'[In] modelling you can kind of fall between the cracks quite easily, and as they kept saying on the show "be a blank canvas", "you can be anything" - but it kind of means boring.

'It helped me stand out from the crowd': Amanda concluded, '[In] modelling you can kind of fall between the cracks quite easily, and as they kept saying on the show "be a blank canvas", "you can be anything" - but it kind of means boring'

'I know that sounds a bit w***y, but moving on in my career that's what I kinda felt helped me stand out from the crowd was the show,' she said.

Since winning the show in 2010, Amanda has continued her successful modelling career, posing for the likes of Herve Leger, Monique Lhuillier and Kenzo.

In October 2019, she married British director Jack Lawrence in a lavish ceremony in Hawaii.
Ill confess: There was a time when I would have considered the question facing Republicans a no-brainer. Of course they should seize this opportunity to replace the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg with a conservative. Moving the courts  especially the Supreme Court  rightward has been a conservative lodestar for generations. It remains one of the last tenets of pre-Trump conservatism that still largely unites the right.

In fairness, the conservatives who take these matters seriously would say the issue isnt so much moving the courts rightward as it is restoring the courts to their proper role. They  we  believe the primary reason these fights have become so ugly is that the judiciary has taken upon itself legislative functions it does not have. (This is why even pro-choice conservatives, and even pro-choice liberals like Ginsburg, believe Roe v. Wade was deeply flawed.) When Supreme Court justices do the job of politicians, it shouldnt be a surprise that confirmation battles resemble political campaigns.

One of the benefits of this high-stakes moment is that many conservatives have shelved the old arguments about Senate precedents and hypocrisy and stated the matter clearly.

In reality, there are only two rules, both set forth in the Constitution, writes National Reviews Andrew McCarthy. A president, for as long as he or she is president, has the power to nominate a person to fill a Supreme Court seat; and that nominee can fill the seat only with the advice and consent of the Senate. Thats it. Everything else is posturing. Everything else is politics.

As is often the case, McCarthy is right.

But this argument is also why Im going wobbly. One of the reasons we are where we are is that then-Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid took this position when he invoked the nuclear option in 2013  i.e., lifted the filibuster for appellate judges. Mitch McConnell, the minority leader at the time, warned that doing so would invite a response in kind. In 2017, now-Majority Leader McConnell was true to his word. He lifted the filibuster on Supreme Court nominees.

In other words, what happens when both parties embrace the doctrine of do whatever you can get away with?

Even before Justice Ginsburgs demise, Democratic support was building not just for packing the Supreme Court by increasing the number of justices (which Ginsburg opposed), but also for Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rican statehood and the abolition of the legislative filibuster. Now, Democrats are all but vowing to go through with expanding the court in response to a rushed replacement for Ginsburg.

What will be the GOPs argument against such schemes?

What some now dismiss as politics and posturing are actually important considerations that honor the conservative distinction between can and should and fall under such antiquated notions as statesmanship, prudence, legitimacy, consistency and precedent. These concepts put maintaining the long-term health of our institutions above the demands of the moment.

Take Sen. Lindsey Graham, who promised in 2016 that if an opening were to come in the last year of President Trumps term, a nominee would not be considered until after the election. By going back on that promise in such spectacular fashion, Graham isnt merely debasing himself, hes also teaching people that nothing politicians say matters.

Moreover, merely on the level of realpolitik, abandoning all considerations other than what you can get away with amounts to preemptive disarmament for the wars to come. The pernicious logic of apocalyptic politics works on the assumption that the long term doesnt matter. But the long term always becomes now eventually.

This is why the Senate could have used more posturing and politics, not less. Republicans have the ability to fill Ginsburgs seat before the election or immediately after in a lame-duck session. Thats a huge bargaining chip, and given that the GOPs Senate majority is so slim, its a chip that could have been traded by even a handful of Republican senators.

A few Republicans could have agreed to postpone the process until after the election in exchange for a few Democrats agreeing never to vote for a court-packing scheme, giving voters some buy-in for whatever happens next. If no Democrats agreed, then their issue is really with the system, and Republicans would have been free to vote for Trumps pick, even in a lame-duck session. Im using the past tense, because on Tuesday morning, McConnell collected enough GOP votes to proceed with a fast-tracked process that will surely invite tit-for-tat reprisals down the road.

I had high hopes such a deal could work. I was naive. After all, such a bargain required politicians to trust other politicians to keep their word and stand up to the bases of their own parties for the long-term good of the country. I should have realized everyone is too out of practice with that sort of thing.

Jonah Goldberg is editor-in-chief of The Dispatch and the host of The Remnant podcast. His Twitter handle is @JonahDispatch.
Mumbai: A special court here on Tuesday extended till October 6 the judicial custody of actress Rhea Chakraborty, who was arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) probing the drug angle in connection with actor Sushant Singh Rajputs death case. Chakraborty was produced before special judge G B Gurao who extended herjudicial custody, said special public prosecutor Atul Sarpande.

Other accused arrested in the case will be produced in court on Wednesday, he said. The special court on September 11 rejected bail pleas of Chakraborty, her brother Showik, and others in the case, noting that there was no reasonable ground" at present for not connecting the accused with the crime.

Rajput was found hanging in his residence in suburban Bandra on June 14. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is separately probing a case against Chakraborty and others for allegedly abetting the 34-year-old actors suicide.
DAKAR (Reuters) - Nearly 100 Senegalese soldiers tested positive this week for the coronavirus after returning home from a deployment in neighbouring Gambia, a military source said on Friday.

The source said testing continued of the contingent of 600 soldiers, who are part of a force deployed in 2017 to enforce President Adama Barrow's election victory over then-President Yahya Jammeh.

The source did not say how the soldiers may have been infected.

Senegal has recorded 14,193 cases of COVID-19, including 293 deaths. Gambia, which is mostly surrounded by Senegal, has confirmed 3,293 cases and 99 deaths.

(Reporting by Diadie Ba; Writing by Aaron Ross; editing by Philippa Fletcher)
New Delhi:

IT service giant Wipro on Wednesday signed an agreement to acquire InfoSERVER SA, an IT service provider focussed on the Brazilian market for USD 8.7 million.

InfoSERVER, which counts some of the largest Brazilian banks as its clients, will help Wipro in expanding its presence in the country's highly traditional and competitive banking, financial services and insurance market besides adding invaluable domain and process knowledge on the sector, it said in a statement here.

"The LATAM market and Brazil in particular is a strategic growth and investment region for Wipro. This acquisition will provide Wipro with scale and key client relationships, especially in the banking, financial services and insurance domains, which are the largest and fastest growing sectors in the region," Ankur Prakash, Vice President and Head of New Growth and Emerging Markets, Wipro said.

This acquisition closely aligns with Wipro's vision to localise, expand its presence and become a significant partner of choice in the Latin American market and an end-to-end IT services provider that brings global expertise while operating as a local company.

Wipro has a significant presence in Latin America with offices across five countries in the region. The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions and approvals by regulatory bodies in Brazil.
A surfer and photographer from Hawaii, Doug Falter, lost his surfboard in the year 2018 and has now found it after more than 2 years later, 5,200 miles away in the Philippines. He lost his board after 7 good rides that session. Falter had hoped that either a local fisherman might find the board or his board would land up in Kauai which is a spot for all the lost boards. However, he was shocked to find out that the new owner of the board had bought it from a local fisherman to learn how to surf, 5,200 miles away in the Philippines.

The lost surfboard

He found about his board when an internet user, @lylecarlsonsurfboards, posted about a man finding his board. He then contacted lyle to get further information about it. Falter narrated the story in his Facebook caption as he wrote, As bummed as I was when I lost it, now I am happy to know my board fell into the hands of someone wanting to learn the sport. I couldnt imagine a better ending to this story than to see the sport of surfing begin in a place where nobody surfs. If it werent for travel restrictions I would have raised money to bring boards for learning and surf supplies and be on a plane to go and visit Giovanne. I could teach him how to surf and hopefully a few of his 144 students. The new owner of the board, Giovanne, is in charge of a school on the islands where Falters board was found.

Read: Shark Kills Surfer On Australia's Gold Coast Tourist Strip

On hearing Falter's story netizens were left stunned. They took over the comment section to express themselves. One Facebook user wrote, 'When the natural goodness of people is met by nature'. Another user expressed skepticism as he wrote, 'It's a different board dude. Look at the distances from tip to emblems, bottom and top. Sorry'.

Read: Australian Surfer Saves Companion By Punching Juvenile Shark In Head To Avert Attack

In a separate incident, a handbag was handed over to police after more than 16 years it was reported stolen from a vehicle. The incident took place in Moree in the northern part of New South Wales. According to reports, the handbag was found at the back of the Assef's car park by some building workers in the area. On August 5, the handbag was handed to Moree police. It was after linking up the identifying features, police came to the conclusion that it is the same handbag which was reported to be missing on July 5,2004. Reports suggest that back then the handbag was stolen from the back of the owner's car. The car was parked near the Heber and Auburn Street intersection. However, a few days later, few things from the bag were found near the Moree Railway Station.

Read: Shark Spotted Swimming In Dangerously Close Proximity To Surfers, Video Chills Internet

Also Read;Australia: Stolen Handbag Found After 16 Years By Cops In New South Wales

(Image Credits: Facebook/DougFalterPhotography)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept.22

By Leman Zeynalova  Trend:

Azerbaijans contribution to Europes energy supply is only set to grow as the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline starts up in the coming months, principal analyst at Wood Mackenzie Robert Morris told Trend.

The pipeline will unlock the final stage of the Southern Gas Corridor to Europe  a huge commercial and engineering achievement, he said.

For a country of its size, Azerbaijan is a significant energy producer, increasingly in gas, said Morris, adding that next year Wood Mackenzie expects Azerbaijan to produce around as much gas as Spain typically consumes.

When coming to the Contract of the Century, which marked its 25th anniversary on September 20, the analyst said it was the landmark agreement that set Azerbaijan on the path to being a major energy exporter, and strategic supplier for the European market.

Francis Perrin, Senior Fellow at the Policy Center for the New South (PCNS, Rabat) and at the French Institute for International and Strategic Affairs (IRIS, Paris), told Trend that it was a huge achievement for Azerbaijan, SOCAR and their foreign partners.

On 20 September 1994 Azerbaijan and a consortium of 11 international oil companies called AIOC and operated by BP signed a key production-sharing agreement which was called the ''Contract of the Century''. It covered the development and exploitation of the ACG megastructure (Azeri, Chirag and the deep-water portion of Gunashli). Oil production began in November 1997 with the Chirag field. It was a huge achievement for Azerbaijan, SOCAR and their foreign partners. Thanks to the ACG contract signed 26 years ago and the construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline (BTC), Azerbaijan has supplied huge volumes of oil to the world markets.

Another key stage in the development of the country's hydrocarbon potential was the Shah Deniz gas project followed by Shaz Deniz 2. Shah Deniz 2 was described by BP as one of the biggest gas developments in the world. It increased Azerbaijan's gas production and in conjunction with the Southern Gas Corridor (SGC) allowed the country to supply gas to Turkey (from 2018 onwards) and very soon gas will reach Europe. The SGC includes the South Caucasus Pipeline (Azerbaijan and Georgia), TANAP in Turkey and TAP beyond Turkey. At the end of August 2020 TAP was completed at almost 98 percent. It will allow Europe to import gas from the Caspian Sea region for the first time and to diversify its gas supplies.

Another key stage was the signing of an amended contract covering ACG in September 2017. It was called the ''Contract of the New Century'' by BP's Chief Executive (at the time Bob Dudley). The association between SOCAR and international oil companies was extended until 2049. The companies concerned were BP, Chevron, Inpex, Statoil, ExxonMobil, Turkish Petroleum, Itochu and ONGC Videsh. SOCAR's share was increased to 25 percent. Between 2017 and 2049 about $40 billion could be invested in ACG.

ACG, BTC, Shah Deniz, Shah Deniz 2 and the SGC: several huge oil and gas exploitation and transport projects which constitute very important achievements for Azerbaijan, for the international oil companies involved in these projects, for Europe and for world oil and gas markets, Perrin said.

Cyril Widdershoven, a Middle East geopolitical specialist and energy analyst, a partner at Dutch risk consultancy VEROCY and Global Head Strategy Risk at Berry Commodities told Trend that the role of Azerbaijani gas for Europe is clear, as it not only supports the still fledgling diversification efforts of the EU to counter its gas dependency on Russia.

Any additional import volumes coming from a non-Russian sources is of interest. At the same time, the EU-Azerbaijani relationship is of the utmost importance to Brussels and several European players. At the same time, Azerbaijani gas is playing a center piece role in Turkish domestic energy supplies and its targeted energy hub policies, he said.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn
Home Search ICH Assange's Removal From Embassy Was Coordinated on 'Direct Orders From the US President', Court Told By Mohamed Elmaazi September 21, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - Journalist Cassandra Fairbanks has informed the court in Julian Assange's extradition hearing that Arthur Schwartz, who is known as Donald Trump Jr's "fixer", had advance warning of the US indictment against the WikiLeaks publisher. Julian Assange's removal from the Ecuadorian Embassy was done so "on direct orders from the [US] president", according to information provided to American journalist Cassandra Fairbanks. Ms Fairbanks' explosive testimony would appear to support to position that Mr Assange's prosecution has a political dimension and reflected a shift in the government's attitude with a change in administration from that of former president Barack Obama. According to Ms Fairbanks' witness statement, which was read into the court by the defence in Mr Assange's extradition hearing on 21 September 2020, she was contacted by Arthur Schwartz, "a wealthy GOP donor who does communications for [former Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell] and works as an informal adviser to Donald Trump Jr". During this phone call, which Ms Fairbanks recorded, Mr Schwartz was panicking because he believed a Tweet that she published revealed "classified information". Ms Fairbanks attempted to calm down Mr Schwartz saying that she didn't publish classified information and that she merely shared a link to a report from ABC news which described the role that Mr Grenell played in coordinating Mr Assange's release. Mr Schwartz was not put at ease by Ms Fairbanks' assurances and asked her to delete the Tweet. "I don't want to go to prison" Mr Schwartz told Ms Fairbanks, adding that people are aware of the fact that the two have been communicating with each other and have been seen with each other. Mr Grenell was acting "on the orders from the president" Mr Schwartz can be heard saying during the recorded conversation. "So, you're going to punish me because he took orders from the president?" he asked Ms Fairbanks who responded that she wasn't punishing him she was merely retweeting a report by ABC. Mr Schwartz begged Ms Fairbanks to delete the Tweet which she ultimately agreed to do. Ms Fairbanks is a contributor to the Pro-Trump Gateway Pundit news outlet and she notes that she herself "endorsed [Mr Trump's] presidency over a number of years". Her witness statement says that she "believed Schwartzs statement [that Mr Grenell coordinated Mr Assange's removal from the embassy] to be correct because his close personal ties to both President Trump and Grenell are well-known". The statement also says that her interactions with Mr Schwartz, on the subject of Mr Assange and WikiLeaks, first began after she dropped a link to an interview with Mr Assange's mother, Christine Assange, into "a direct message group [in October 2018] containing multiple people who either worked for President Trump or were close to him in other ways  along with several other reporters and political commentators". Among those in the group were then US Ambassador to Germany Mr Grenell as well as Mr Schwartz. After she put the link to the interview into the group chat, Ms Fairbanks' statement says that she received a phone call from Mr Schwartz who was "very angry": "[Mr Schwartz] repeatedly insisted that I stop advocating for WikiLeaks and Assange, telling me that 'a pardon isn't going to f**king happen.' He knew very specific details about a future prosecution against Assange that were later made public and that only those very close to the situation then would have been aware of. He told me that it would be the 'Manning' case that he would be charged with and that it would not involve the Vault 7 publication or anything to do with the DNC. He also told me that they would be going after Chelsea Manning. I also recollect being told, I believe, that it would not be before Christmas. Both of these predictions came true just months later." "Kidnapping a political refugee" from the Ecuadorian Embassy would be "an act of war", Ms Fairbanks said to Mr Schwartz, to which he apparently responded "not if they let us". It was this phone call which ultimately prompted Ms Fairbanks to record the subsequent conversations that she had with Mr Schwartz. "I began recording all conversations with Mr Schwartz because of the threatening tone of the October 2018 call and the amount of details he had provided about Mr Assanges impending arrest", Ms Fairbanks told Sputnik. "I could never have anticipated that he would admit President Trump personally ordered the arrest", she added. "I didnt know at the time, until the ABC article, that Grenell was the one who made the deal", Ms Fairbanks explained. The journalist also says that she has faced reprisals after reporting on these conversations. Mr Grenell and Mr Schwartz went so far as calling Ms Fairbanks' employer and pushing for her to be sacked, though these attempts have thus far been unsuccessful. Joel Smith, acting for the prosecution, told the court that the truth of what Ms Fairbanks says was told to her "is not within her direct knowledge". He added that "So far as the remainder of the evidence is concerned it is not challenged and not accepted" and that it will be up to the judge to decide how much weight should be attached to her statement. Ed Fitzgerald QC, who read the statement into court, told the judge that Ms Fairbanks' statement is a good indication of the intention of the US government at the highest level. Mr Fitzgerald added that in due course he would invite the court to find that the statement helps to establish a "preconcerted plan at the top level" of the Trump administration to take Mr Assange out of the embassy "to extradite him and prosecute him" and to compel Ms Chelsea Manning to give evidence against him. Mohamed Elmaazi obtained his LLB from SOAS and Masters in International and Comparative law from the American University in Cairo. He worked in human rights law for a number of years before shifting to journalism. Before joining Sputnik he published with numerous media outlets including The Real News Network, Open Democracy, The Grayzone Project and The Canary. - " Source " - Post your comment below See also What Ive told you wont be reported on the BBC -Craig Murray on Assange extradition Mainstream US reporters silent about being spied on by apparent CIA contractor that targeted Assange The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House. Search Information Clearing House === The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House. Click Here To Support Information Clearing House Your support has kept ICH free on the Web since 2002. Click for Spanish , German , Dutch , Danish , French , translation- Note- Translation may take a moment to load.
(Global Times) It was reported Sunday, Beijing time, that US President Donald Trump approved a deal in principle between TikTok's parent company ByteDance, and Oracle and Walmart. The main content of the deal was later disclosed. From the information provided by the US, the deal was unfair. It caters to the unreasonable demands of Washington. It's hard for us to believe that Beijing will approve such an agreement.





Although people can have various interpretations, some articles in the agreement show what the problems are.

For instance, American citizens will take up four of the five board seats for TikTok Global and only one can be Chinese. The board of TikTok Global would include a national security director, who will have to be approved by the US.

Oracle will have the authority to check the source code of TikTok USA and updates. As the TikTok and Douyin should have the same source code, this means the US can get to know the operations of Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok

TikTok Global will control the business of TikTok around the world except China. It will block IP from the Chinese mainland to access it. This means the Americans can take control of the global business of TikTok and reject Chinese to access it.

It is clear that these articles extensively show Washington's bullying style and hooligan logic. They hurt China's national security, interests and dignity. ByteDance is an ordinary company in China. The US suppresses it with all its national strength and forces it to sign a deal under coercion. China, also a major country, will not yield to US intimidation and will not accept an unequal treaty that targets Chinese companies.

When Trump said he had approved the new TikTok deal, he noted the new company would have "nothing to do" with China and would be fully controlled by the US. On Monday, he said Oracle and Walmart would have total control of the service; otherwise, "we're not going to approve the deal."

It seems this is not his campaign language, but the Trump administration's real attitude toward restructuring TikTok. Washington is way too confident and has underestimated China's determination to defend its basic rights and dignity.

The US is a big market. If the reorganization of TikTok under US manipulation becomes a model, it means once any successful Chinese company expands its business to the US and becomes competitive, it will be targeted by the US and turned into a US-controlled company via trickery and coercion, which eventually serves only US interests.

If China surrenders, which country in the world can resist? The US encirclement of TikTok and the global huntdown of Huawei are stifling the hopes of high-tech companies around the world for having world-class technologies and independent development. Once Washington succeeds, the US will enjoy global technological hegemony forever.

China will not accept this kind of bullying arrangement of the US. The US is taking discriminatory action to squeeze TikTok. In an era when countries have concerns about network data security, US internet giants set up branches around the world. But does any one of them hand over its control to companies of the host country? Which company's board members must be approved by the government of the host country?

Washington's huntdown on TikTok is creating problems for US internet companies worldwide. With cyber security increasingly becoming a common issue, there must be countries that will imitate the US to take action against American companies. The precedent set by the US will eventually hurt its own companies.

Issues concerning global internet data security should be addressed in a fair, reasonable and effective manner. China has put forward an eight-point proposal for this. The US seeks its own interests in a hegemonic way, and attempts to maintain its technological hegemony under the guise of cyber security. This cannot be accepted by international society, including China. It's hoped the US returns to globalization from "America First," and retake the universal commercial values that will not only benefit itself but also others.
US President Donald Trump blasted China on September 22 for "unleashing" the plague of the "China virus" onto the world, demanding that the United Nations must hold Beijing accountable for failing to contain the coronavirus that has killed nearly one million people across the world, including 200,000 Americans.

"75 years after the end of World War II and the founding of the United Nations, we are once again engaged in a great global struggle. We have waged a fierce battle against the invisible enemy  the China virus  which has claimed countless lives in 188 countries", Trump said in a video statement to the 75th session of the UN General Assembly.

Trump demanded that China, where the coronavirus emerged, be held accountable for failure to control the virus and for allowing it to spread across the world. "As we pursue this bright future, we must hold accountable the nation which unleashed this plague onto the world: China, he said."

Doubling down on Beijing, Trump said that China condemned his travel ban on their country, even as they cancelled domestic flights and locked citizens in their homes. "In the earliest days of the virus, China locked down travel domestically while allowing flights to leave China and infect the world, Trump said.

The COVID-19 pandemic has so far infected over 30 million people and more than 958,000 people have died. The US, with 6.7 million infections, crossed the grim milestone of 200,000 deaths. "The Chinese government, and the World Health Organization  which is virtually controlled by China  falsely declared that there was no evidence of human-to-human transmission, Trump said."

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine  one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show

"Later, they falsely said people without symptoms would not spread the disease. The United Nations must hold China accountable for their actions", he said.

Trump also slammed China for dumping millions and millions of tonnes of plastic and trash into the oceans every year, overfishing other countries' waters, destroying vast swaths of coral reef, and emitting more toxic mercury into the atmosphere than any country anywhere in the world.

"China's carbon emissions are nearly twice what the US has, and it's rising fast, he said, adding that he withdrew from the one-sided Paris Climate Accord and last year America reduced its carbon emissions by more than any country in the agreement." Those who attack America's exceptional environmental record while ignoring China's rampant pollution are not interested in the environment, he said.

He said the US launched the most aggressive mobilisation, since the Second World War, rapidly producing a record supply of ventilators, creating a surplus that allowed the country to share them with friends and partners all around the globe. The US pioneered life saving treatments, reducing its fatality rate 85 percent since April. Further, thanks to US efforts, three vaccines are in the final stage of clinical trials, he said.

"We are mass producing them in advance so they can be delivered immediately upon arrival, he said. Trump said that America will distribute a vaccine, defeat the virus, and end the pandemic.

Relations between the US and China have plummeted during Trump's time in office, with a trade war, tit-for-tat expulsions of diplomats, and angry denunciations coming from both Washington and Beijing. Trump has repeatedly blamed China for the coronavirus pandemic which originated in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in December last year and accused Beijing of suppressing the details of the contagion.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, who addressed the world body soon after, rejected attempts to politicise and stigmatize the pandemic. He said "COVID-19 reminds us that we are living in an interconnected global village with a common stake.

No country can gain from others' difficulties or maintain stability by taking advantage of others' troubles, Xi said. Giving the final address of his Presidency's first term to the UN before America heads into the November election, Trump said that if the United Nations is to be an effective organisation, it must focus on the real problems of the world.

He listed terrorism, the oppression of women, forced labour, drug trafficking, human and sex trafficking, religious persecution, and the ethnic cleansing of religious minorities as the real problems facing the world today. Trump said that American prosperity is the bedrock of freedom and security all over the world.

He touted his administration's economic and foreign policy achievements in his address. He said in three short years of his presidency, "we built the greatest economy in history  and we are quickly doing it again. Trump said that under his administration, America stood up to decades of China's trade abuses.

He said America withdrew from the terrible" Iran nuclear deal and imposed crippling sanctions on the world's leading state sponsor of terror." He also hailed his administration for achieving two peace deals in the Middle East  after decades of no progress. "These groundbreaking peace deals are the dawn of the new Middle East."

Trump said he intends to "deliver more peace agreements shortly, and he has never been more optimistic for the future of the region. There is no blood in the sand. Those days are hopefully over. With the United States also working to end the war in Afghanistan, Trump said America is fulfilling our destiny as peacemaker. But it is peace through strength. We are stronger now than ever before.
NEW YORK, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Medical Animation Market Research Report by Type (2D Animation, 3D Animation, 4D Animation, and Flash Animation), by Therapeutic Area (Cardiology, Dental, Oncology, and Plastic Surgery), by Application , by End-user - Global Forecast to 2025 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19





Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05973362/?utm_source=PRN





The Global Medical Animation Market is expected to grow from USD 251.56 Million in 2019 to USD 792.67 Million by the end of 2025 at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 21.08%.



Market Segmentation & Coverage:

This research report categorizes the Medical Animation to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets:



Based on Type , the Medical Animation Market studied across 2D Animation, 3D Animation, 4D Animation, and Flash Animation.



Based on Therapeutic Area, the Medical Animation Market studied across Cardiology, Dental, Oncology, and Plastic Surgery.



Based on Application , the Medical Animation Market studied across Cellular & Molecular Studies, Drug MoA, Patient Education, and Surgical Training & Planning.



Based on End-user, the Medical Animation Market studied across Academic institute, Hospitals, Life sciences, and Medical device manufactures.



Based on Geography, the Medical Animation Market studied across Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The Americas region surveyed across Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and United States. The Asia-Pacific region surveyed across Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, South Korea, and Thailand. The Europe, Middle East & Africa region surveyed across France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom.



Company Usability Profiles:

The report deeply explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Medical Animation Market including Animated Biomedical Productions, AXS Studio, Inc., Blausen Medical Communications, Inc., Elara Systems, Inc., Ghost Productions, Inc, Hybrid Medical Animation, Inc., INFUSE MEDIA GROUP, LLC, INVIVO Communications, Inc. by Spongelab, Medmovie, Inc., Nucleus Medical Media, Inc., Polygon Animation Ltd., Radius Digital Science, Random42 Scientific Communication, Scientific Animations, Inc., Trinity Animation Inc., Trinsic Medical Animation, LLC, Understand.com, LLC, Viscira LLC by Sudler & Hennessey Group, Visible Body, and XVIVO Scientific Animation.



FPNV Positioning Matrix:

The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Medical Animation Market on the basis of Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape.



Competitive Strategic Window:

The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies. The Competitive Strategic Window helps the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. During a forecast period, it defines the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth.



Cumulative Impact of COVID-19:

COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, so for and, the long-term effects projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. Our ongoing research amplifies our research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlaying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report is delivering insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecast, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market.



The report provides insights on the following pointers:

1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on the market offered by the key players

2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyzes the markets

3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments

4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players

5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and new product developments



The report answers questions such as:

1. What is the market size and forecast of the Global Medical Animation Market?

2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Medical Animation Market during the forecast period?

3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Medical Animation Market?

4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Medical Animation Market?

5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Medical Animation Market?

6. What are the modes and strategic moves considered suitable for entering the Global Medical Animation Market?



Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05973362/?utm_source=PRN



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Based on the Aventador but more powerful than the V12 supercar, only 40 units of the Centenario were produced from 2016 to 2017, half of them roadsters like the blue example that Doug DeMuro has driven only recently. First of all, this unit is priced at just under $3 million even though its not a new car.730 miles can be seen on the digital instrument cluster at the 13:45 mark of the video review. Indeed, this Centenario is a garage queen thats been ordered by the original owner just to be sold for a profit. As a brief refresher, the coupe retailed at $1.9 million while the open-top model kicked off at $2.4 million.Doug immediately highlights that flexing is in this cars character, starting with the location of the badge that signifies the rarity of the Centenario Roadster. To the point, its mounted behind the quarter window of the driver. But as a whole, the interior is too close to the Aventador to be considered truly special.Doug thinks the exterior is a crazy design through and through, and a simple glance at the ginormous aerodynamic diffuser confirms his statement. The side intakes behind the doors are oversized too, and for extra visual drama, Lamborghini has beautified those intakes with five bits of carbon fiber per side.A Southern California-focused car because theres no roof panel to speak of, the Centenario Roadster also happens to feature the bull logo on both front fenders. Ferrari much? Clearly not a coincidence, but it sure looks cool.As far as the sense of occasion is concerned, Doug sums up sitting in this car as a whole new level from the already mad Aventador. The Doug Score, meanwhile, lists acceleration and handling with 10 and 9 points, respectively.But overall, the Centenario Roadster scores 70 points or 1 less than the Huracan. Why is that, you may be wondering? As you would expect from a look-at-me special edition, Doug has penalized the comfort and practicality.
EAST HAVEN  A member of the Momauguin Elementary School community has tested positive for COVID-19, Superintendent of Schools Erica Forti told parents and other school community members in an email Tuesday.

School will be in session Wednesday at Momauguin, Forti said in a separate email to the New Haven Register.

Neither email specified whether the person who tested positive was a teacher, student or staff member.

But Michael Pascucilla, director of the East Shore District Health Department, said it was a student.

We just found out about it, ourselves. This all went down in just the last few hours, Pascucilla said. We believe we have a good handle on it and were doing contact tracing ... and there will be some people in quarantine. My staff is working on it along with (Fortis) staff.

This doesnt warrant closing a school and it seems to be isolated, Pascucilla said. Right now, it seems to be under control ... Right now, its only isolated to one individual, he said.

The district was notified today that a member of the Momauguin School community tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, Forti wrote to the Register. The individual was last in school on (Thursday Sept. 17). Upon notification, administration immediately began to work with East Shore (District) Health Department to advise the individual to remain home in self-isolation for 10 days and provided additional instructions for the individual to follow prior to returning to school.

Family members have also been instructed to self-quarantine and get tested, Forti wrote to members of the school community.

The district performed contact tracing and is notifying anyone that was in close contact with this individual with instructions for quarantining, she wrote to the Register. Classrooms and common areas are being sanitized and disinfected according to CDC guidelines. 

Momauguin School will be in session Wednesday September 23, 2020, as East Shore Health indicates the above scenario does not warrant a full school closure, Forti wrote. The health and safety of all students and staff is our highest priority. We will continue to be diligent in our efforts in maintaining a safe environment for everyone, she said.

Anyone who is considered a close contact with this person will be notified by the school or local health officials and provided with instructions on the appropriate steps to take, Forti told members of the Momauguin School community.

The COVID-19 symptoms families should watch for include fever (100.4 Fahrenheit or higher,) chills or shaking chills, uncontrolled new cough (not due to other known cause, such as chronic cough,) difficulty breathing or shortness of breath and new loss of taste or smell, Forti wrote.

Staff and students exhibiting any of the above symptoms, or feeling ill, should remain home and call their medical provider to report their symptoms and ask about testing prior to seeking in-person care at a clinic, physicians office, or hospital, she said.

mark.zaretsky@hearstmediact.com
Ahead of the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) elections, workers of the Republican Party of India (RPI) have put up posters of party president Ramdas Athawale with Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut in the Kala Ghoda area of Vadodara.

The 33-year-old actor has been at the centre of a controversy over her remarks on Mumbai and its police.

Our party chief supported Kangana when she was in Mumbai, Rajesh Goyal, the district party chief told ANI.

Goyal further said that such posters would be put up all over the State to show that the party supports Ranaut.

We are ready for the upcoming Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) elections," added Goyal.

Athawale came out in support of the actor when she visited Mumbai after having a spat with Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut over her comment likening Mumbai to Pakistan occupied Kashmir. He had assured her that she need not be afraid while in the city.

Athawale alleged that the Shiv Sena-controlled BMCs demolition drive at her bungalow in suburban Bandra carried out a sentiment of revenge and added the Maharashtra government, too, had a role in it.

I spoke to her for an hour. I told her she need not be afraid in Mumbai. Mumbai is of the Shiv Sena, RPI-A, BJP, Congress, NCP and people of all religion, caste and speaking all languages. Mumbai is the financial capital of the country. I told her our party (RPI-A) will be with her, Athawale said after meeting the actress.

Earlier in September, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) demolished what it termed as illegal alterations at the Queen actor's bungalow at Pali Hill in suburban Bandra.

After she moved the Bombay High Court on the same day, a bench led byJustice SJ Kathawalla stayed the demolition.
SHANGHAI, Sept. 21, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Westwin, a tech-driven cross-border marketing company, unveils its "2020 China Cross-border Consumer Report". The report portrays seven distinct cross-border consumer groups across four major categories, including e-commerce, travel, education, and real estate.

The results are distilled from a sea of information gathered from 300 surveys with consumers in Chinese cities ranging from first to fourth tier, and in-depth interviews with 21 consumers from varied segments.

A glimpse of cross-border consumption

The market scale of cross-border e-commerce in China has grown steadily from 2018 to 2020. In 2019, the market was valued at 415.5 billion yuan ($60.5 billion). Sales in Q1 2020 declined due to the pandemic; however, they remained stronger than 2018 Q1. The report also indicates that the epidemic boosts online shopping revenues.



The report found that the effect on skincare and makeup products has become polarized, since staying at home & wearing masks means no need for lipstick. Yet, wearing masks for too long can cause acne or oily skin.

In 2019 the number of outbound travelers amounted to 155 million while travelers from tier 3 & 4 cities continue to grow 160% yearly. In 2020, cross-border tourism was hit hard due to COVID-19; however, the intention to travel remains strong, 45% are willing to travel abroad when COVID-19 is over.

China Cross-border consumer insights

Among consumers interviewed, 20.7% made cross-border purchases more than 20 times in the past year, while 15% spent over 20,000 yuan ($2,914) in 2019.

Cross-border e-commerce consumers prefer their online shopping platforms to offer a wide range of categories, with Tmall International, JD Worldwide and Amazon being the top three options. Cosmetics, electronic goods, as well as apparel and handbags, represent the three most popular categories.

To get cross-border products information and connect, 55.3% of consumers say they use WeChat the most, followed by Douyin (49.7%), the Chinese version of Tiktok, and Sina Weibo (39.3%).

Typical cross-border consumers profiles

"Small town moms" refer to young ladies living in 3rd and 4th tier cities. Usually, their parents purchase houses & cars; even if their salary is not high, disposable income is considerable. They love to post every large purchase on WeChat moments to promote a luxury lifestyle. These young ladies also tend to follow trends and appreciate the opinion of friends and influencers.

"Big City Single Ladies" live in tier 1&2 cities. They typically have a promising career, are financially independent and well educated. They believe that clothing choices reflect attitudes, therefore refuse to wear the same outfit as someone else. They significantly prefer overseas niche brands.

"Millionaires" are polarized, some of them enjoy their lives; others have no life, but anxiety. This group rarely do cross-border purchasing themselves, but heavily rely on their wives. They have a low shopping desire but are keen to invest in overseas real estate to hedge risks.

"Millionaires' Wives" are ladies from high-income families. Most of them are well-educated and have studied overseas. They mentioned they do not care about their child's academic achievements but are eager to send them to overseas summer camps, sport camps and international academic competitions, which add to foreign colleges applications.

Cross-border Consumption Trends & Outlook

The report offers insights and tips based on consumer behavior and the world shaped by the pandemic. It shows that 3rd and 4th -tier cities, as well as rural areas in China, present significant potential for cross-border consumption.

Accounting for 71.4% of the country's population, consumers from these markets represent 60% of new buyers on the major e-commerce platforms during the Double 11 shopping spree in 2019.

These consumers are also more price sensitive. Companies can offer more discounts and promotional events online working with e-commerce platforms and video-sharing platforms to attract this segment of consumers.

The pandemic-induced live streaming boom is also relevant to the business world. Brick-and-mortar stores can create a tour or other shopping experiences through live streaming. Show business can appeal to home-struck consumers with online concerts, theatre shows and even museum tours.

According to the report, niche segments defined by hobbies and personal tastes are playing an even more vital role in shaping consumer behavior. Companies should customize their online offerings to appeal to a group of spenders with varied preference and habits.

About Westwin

Westwin, formerly known as Microsoft Online (MSN China), is a leading technology-driven digital marketing company that focuses on cross-border business. It provides branding strategies and digital marketing solutions to help customers achieve success in China and around the world. Westwin is a certified marketing & advertising partner of Baidu, Tencent WeChat, Sina Weibo, and many other major digital platforms in China. With years of experience in cross-border business and partnership growth, Westwin is equipped with the knowledge and expertise to take businesses to the next level in overseas markets.

To download the full version report, please visit Westwin Official Website

https://adstochina.westwin.com/cross-border-consumption-report.shtml

SOURCE Westwin

Related Links

www.westwin.com


New Delhi, Sep 22 : High Courts across the nation are currently witnessing a substantial increase in abortion cases, revealed a legal report on Tuesday.

In 'Assessing the Judiciary's Role in Access to Safe Abortion- II' report by Pratigya campaign, cases seeking permission of termination of pregnancy from the High Courts in India from May 2019 to August were analysed.

There were total 243 cases filed across 14 high courts and one appeal before the Supreme Court. In 84 per cent of the cases, permissions were given to terminate the pregnancy.

About 74 per cent of the total cases were filed post the 20-week gestation period, 23 per cent of the total cases were filed within the 20-week gestation period and should not have gone to the courts at all.

Out of 74 per cent cases (filed after 20 weeks cut off) 29 per cent cases were related to rape or sexual abuse, 42 per cent related to foetal anomalies; and out of 23 per cent cases (filed even before 20 weeks) 18 per cent cases were related to sexual abuse or rape and 6 per cent of foetal anomaly.

Commenting on the legal aspect in India and the study findings, Anubha Rastogi, Pratigya Campaign Advisory Group Member and author of the report said, "The increasing number of cases only indicate to the fact that access to safe and legal abortion services in this country still leaves a lot to be desired." Anubha added, "It is imperative that any change in law takes note of these increasing trends and moves towards a rights based, inclusive and accessible legislation on abortion. Any new law or amendment cannot be based on third party authorisation like the medical boards and has to be respectful of a decision that involves the registered service provider and the pregnant person." Speaking at the launch of the report, V.S. Chandrashekar, Campaign Advisory Group member, Pratigya Campaign said, "The fact that even women and girls with gestation below 20 weeks have had to go to courts is distressing. The MTP Act allows termination of a pregnancy upto 20 weeks. A large number of the below 20 weeks cases are of survivors of sexual abuse and this only increases their trauma." During the lockdown, access to abortion became even more difficult although there was some respite once the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare declared access to abortion as an essential service. During the lockdown 112 cases were heard at various high courts; and 62 were from Bombay High Court.

The report emphasises on how crucial it is for the law to adapt in accordance to the changing times. The MTP Amendment Bill 2020, is awaiting a nod from the Rajya Sabha and a few changes have been recommended by civil society organisations, which if accepted would make the Act progressive and rights based.

It is imperative that access to abortion becomes a legal right for women at least in the first trimester. It is also necessary that the opinion of the doctor, that the pregnant person is consulting, should be considered as primary and the only one required.

The setting up of medical boards which has been done by the Courts while dealing with cases of this nature has only created further obstacles for pregnant persons in accessing safe and legal abortion.

"Even if the MTP Amendment Bill 2020 is passed in the current form, the number of cases approaching the courts is not likely to reduce. Therefore, to avoid this, the proposed amendment to aincrease the gestation limit from 20-24 weeks' should be extend to all pregnant persons who need to terminate a pregnancy, instead of being restricted to only to certain categories of women as defined in the MTP Rules. Similarly, the ano upper gestational limit proposed for fetal anomalies' should be extended to survivors of sexual abuse or rape.A Forcing a person to carry a pregnancy out of rape to term is a violation of her right to life and dignity," Chandrashekar added.

Adding to this, Rastogi said, "Currently abortion is a conditional right and is available only based on the opinion of the doctor. Sixty-six countries around the world including Canada, Nepal, Netherlands, Sweden, South Africa and Vietnam allow abortion at will of the pregnant person for up to 12 or more weeks of gestation." She said that first trimester abortions should be allowed as per request or decision of the pregnant person and it should become a legal right.

"I would also like to add that medical boards should not be constituted and the decision to terminate a pregnancy should be solely between a pregnant person and the provider. The number of specialist doctors to constitute such boards is limited in many districts and smaller towns. Constituting Medical boards at all levels would be an operational nightmare. Medical boards will further add to delays and complicate access to abortion, apart from putting unnecessary burden on an already weak health system".
Sir Keir Starmer urged voters who had deserted Labour to take a fresh look during an audience-free speech in Doncaster which replaced what would have been his keynote party conference address.

He was introduced by Jewish former Labour MP Ruth Smeeth who lost her seat at the last election.

Here is his address in full:

Thank you Ruth for that incredibly powerful introduction and for paying me the huge honour of introducing me today. I know how hard the last few years have been for you. You exemplify the values I want the Labour Party to stand for. Thank you for everything you've done - and will continue to do - for this party.

I'm delighted that we're here in Doncaster. My wife's mum was born and grew up here - just next to the racecourse. We're regulars here. Visiting family friends but also to go to the Leger. Though of course sadly not this year.

I'm also told that this is the first Labour Leaders' Speech in Yorkshire since Harold Wilson in 1967. The circumstances were a bit different then.

For one thing, Wilson was able to update conference about Labour's achievements after three years in government. So I look forward to coming back one day in the same circumstances that brought Wilson here.

I want to say a heartfelt thanks to the Labour Party staff and volunteers who have moved a virtual heaven and earth this week. To all the speakers, the panellists and the thousands of members who've taken part.

I also want to say thank you to the Labour Party members, supporters and affiliates for putting your faith in me to be your new leader.

When you grow up in a small town in Surrey, you rarely thank your parents for naming you 'Keir'. And when, as a teenager, I became the fourth member of the East Surrey Young Socialists, it didn't seem likely that one day I would stand before you as the second Keir to be Labour leader. But I am, and it's the honour of my lifetime to lead this great movement.

These are extraordinary circumstances.

The warnings yesterday from the Government's advisors were stark. They can't be ignored.

Labour will act in the national interest. We will be a constructive opposition. We will support whatever reasonable steps are necessary to save lives and protect our NHS.

But I also want to say this: There should be nothing inevitable about a second lockdown.

It would be a sign of Government failure, not an act of God. It would take an immense toll on people's physical and mental health and on the economy. We need a national effort to prevent a national lockdown.

But instead of getting a grip, the Government has lost control. Our testing system collapsed just when we needed it most.

The British people want the Government to succeed in fighting this virus. We all need the Government to succeed.

This is the time for leadership.

Today I want to set out how my leadership of this party and, in time I hope, my leadership of this country, will be defined by the values I've held dear all my life.

By the instincts and beliefs that inspired me to become a lawyer fighting for justice, to become the Director of Public Prosecutions and into Labour politics.

The thread that runs through my life and the belief that will inspire my leadership of this Party is the desire to change lives for the better. The desire to make a difference to my country.

This is a country that has given me so much.

I am thankful to the National Health Service that cared for my mum for much of her life. For the chance to be the first in my family to go to university. To go on, to practice the law and to have the privilege of leading the Crown Prosecution Service.

And to be able to give my parents what they said was one of the proudest moments of their lives: to be there, with me, at Buckingham Palace as I was awarded a knighthood for services to criminal justice.

Family values mean the world to me. I was lucky enough to grow up in a loving family and I have the great joy now of a family of my own.

The mission of the Labour party I lead is to extend that same opportunity to everyone.

And my vision for Britain is simple: I want this to be the best country to grow up in and the best country to grow old in.

A country in which we put family first. A country that embodies the values I hold dear. Decency, fairness, opportunity, compassion and security. Security for our nation, our families and for all of our communities.

Sadly, we don't have a government that has such high standards.

I'm hugely ambitious for this country. I think Britain has so much yet to achieve. And it angers me that this government is holding us back.

I've tried to be constructive. I appreciate that these are unprecedented times and that governing is difficult. I've tried to be fair, to give the government the benefit of the doubt.

But now, with one of the highest death rates in the world, and on the threshold of one of the deepest recessions anywhere, I'm afraid there is no doubt.

This government's incompetence is holding Britain back. They couldn't get kids back into school in June. They couldn't work out a fair system to get exams marked. They couldn't get protective equipment to care workers and they wasted millions of your money in the process.

Their failure to protect care homes is a national scandal. They still can't organise a testing regime that's even serviceable, let alone world-beating.

The reason this incompetence angers me is that I think of the sacrifices people have made.

I think of the dedication of all those who have worked so hard to keep us safe. The families that had to stay apart. The grandparents unable to hold grandchildren for the first time. Partners denied the chance to be present at scans and births.

And in the most tragic circumstances people robbed of the opportunity to say goodbye to those taken before their time.

Covid has made us appreciate what we value: that family really does come first. Always.

And that the greatest contribution we can make is to care for one another. To be good neighbours. Good citizens. To protect those in need and build strong communities.

So, to all the care workers, the van drivers, the cleaners, the shop workers and the life-savers in the NHS, I just want to say: thank you.

You changed lives for the better. You made a difference.

And it makes me angry that, just when the country needs leadership, we get serial incompetence. Six months in, a Cabinet chosen on loyalty alone shows no sign of having learnt any lessons from the crisis.

Here are two things I've learnt.

First, if you neglect your public services, you won't be ready when a crisis hits. Nobody blames the government for the existence of the virus.

But the under-funding of the NHS, the abandonment of social care and the lack of investment in prevention, that's all on their watch. That's all down to them.

And it always ends this way with Tory governments:

Public services are neglected, cut-back, and left to decline. For a party called the Conservative Party, they don't seem to conserve very much.

The second thing I've learnt is that a crisis reveals character like nothing else.

And I think we've learnt a lot about this Prime Minister. Tory backbenchers know it. His Cabinet knows it. We all know it.

He's just not serious. He's just not up to the job.

Whenever he encounters a problem, Johnson responds either by wishing it away or by lashing out.

He kept wishing away the problems with testing, pretending they didn't exist. He wished away the problems with the Irish border. Then, when he finally realised what he'd signed up to, he lashed out and decided to break international law.

We're all doing our bit to combat the virus by obeying the rule of six. Meanwhile the government won't even obey the rule of law.

And this is the big difference between the Prime Minister and me: While Boris Johnson was writing flippant columns about bendy bananas, I was defending victims and prosecuting terrorists.

While he was being sacked by a newspaper for making up quotes, I was fighting for justice and the rule of law.

The grown-up way to deal with Brexit is to negotiate properly and get a deal.

And on Brexit, let me be absolutely clear. The debate between Leave and Remain is over.

We're not going to be a party that keeps banging on about Europe. The Prime Minister has repeatedly promised that he will get a deal.

So go on and get one.

British business needs a deal. Working people need a deal. Our country needs a deal.

And if the Prime Minister fails to get one, he will be failing Britain. If that happens, he'll have nobody to blame but himself. And he will have to own that failure. It will be on him.

We want to get this deal done, and like everybody else, we're growing tired of the Prime Minister's bluster.

The arrogance of this Government makes me so angry. A government Minister telling parents to 'stop carping' when they can't get a test for their sick child angers us all.

But as well as anger, I feel frustration. Frustration that every Labour Party spokesperson is a shadow.

Shadow education. Shadow health. Shadow chancellor. Shadow foreign.

Until we come out of the shadows, this party can't change anything.

The promise that brought us all into politics - to change the country for the better - is pointless if all we can do is object to endless Tory governments.

So let's be blunt. Let's be brutally honest with ourselves.

When you lose an election in a democracy, you deserve to.

You don't look at the electorate and ask them: 'what were you thinking?' You look at yourself and ask: 'what were we doing?'

The Labour Party has lost four general elections in a row. We've granted the Tories a decade of power.

The Tories have had as many election winners in five years as we've had in 75.

It's a betrayal of what we believe in to let this go on. It's time to get serious about winning.

That means we have to change, and that's what we're doing.

This is a party under new leadership.

As I promised on my first day as leader we will root out the anti-Semitism that has infected our party. We're making progress - and we will root it out, once and for all.

We're becoming a competent, credible Opposition.

But that's not enough. I didn't come into politics to be in opposition, and neither did you. I came into politics to change lives.

But you don't get the permission to act unless the public trusts you. And we still have a lot to do.

I don't underestimate the work that will be needed. But I can make this promise:

Never again will Labour go into an election not being trusted on national security, with your job, with your community and with your money.

That's what being under new leadership means.

And the best incentive for being deadly serious about victory is to remember why we want to win.

I don't want to win power just to be Prime Minister. I want to win because of the country I love and because of the values I hold dear.

When you win, you come out of the shadows. You change lives. You make a difference to your country.

To do that, we must once again be the party of the whole United Kingdom. The party of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

We must make the case much more persuasively that we achieve more together than we do alone.

To stop the nationalists ripping our country apart by design and to stop the Tories dismantling it by neglect.

I'm not the sort of leader who wants to turn the clock back. Times change - and so do political priorities.

But let's remind ourselves of what this party can achieve at its best.

This is the party that created the National Health Service and founded Nato.

This is the party of the Equal Pay Act and this is the party of the Open University.

This is the party of the National Minimum Wage and this is party of the Good Friday Agreement.

These achievements show that we inherit a task and a purpose.

All three of the post-war Labour winners - Attlee, Wilson and Blair - saw it as their task to modernise Britain.

In 1945, Attlee had to build a society fit to reward the sacrifices of the war.

In 1964, Wilson had to make the 'white heat of technology' work for working people.

In 1997, Blair wanted to extend the new era of opportunity to everyone.

In the 75 years since the historic victory of 1945 there have only been three Labour winners. I want to be the fourth.

And when you look back to 1945, 1964 and 1997 you learn an important lesson. The lesson is don't look back, look to the future.

We need to be thinking about the questions of 2024 and the 2030s, not the questions of the past.

If anything, Covid has quickened the pace.

The challenges we now face mean that even the questions of 2019 already seem like ancient history.

What we say at the next general election isn't written yet. But it will be rooted in Labour values.

It won't sound like anything you've heard before. It will sound like the future arriving.

The trust of the British people will only be won by a party: that can provide security and opportunity at work, that ends the structural flaws in our economy that mean that working people have barely had a pay rise in a decade, that fixes the housing crisis so that young people finally have the prospect of owning their own home, that understands the need for an economy that's healing the climate crisis, not contributing to it, that guarantees the security and integrity of this nation, that gives our young people the start in life they deserve, that gives our older people the dignity that they've earned and that cherishes our diversity and takes pride in a society where everyone belongs.

We know that Covid affects our black, Asian and minority ethnic communities disproportionately. But the Government still hasn't done anything about it.

That's why I've asked Doreen Lawrence to lead an inquiry. I worked with Doreen to prosecute her son's killers.

Racial inequality is one of the causes that brought me into politics. And the eradication of structural racism will be a defining cause for the next Labour government.

Covid-19 thrives on inequalities: structural inequalities that we must defeat.

I think you can measure a country by how good it is to grow up in. And it's a test of our compassion, how good it is to grow old in.

The young and the old have been badly let down by this government. Our children and young people have been an afterthought.

And the gap between the best and worst-off families threatens to get even wider.

This inequality scars life chances: and I fear it will leave a lasting legacy for a generation of children.

The government promised catch-up support, but it's failed to materialise. And now the failure to get tests for children and teachers who need them means kids are missing out this term as well.

Opportunity for the young should go way beyond party politics. It has to be a national mission to end the deep injustice that a child's future is determined by their postcode, not by their potential.

What we need is a national strategy with clear targets to close the education gap at every stage in a child's development

A strategy enforced through an independent body, such as the Children's Commissioner, and embedded in everything that we do.

If the Prime Minister won't act, we'll set up our own taskforce and get on with it. Because if levelling up is to mean anything, it must mean closing the education gap and making sure no child is held back.

But, above all else, we need a government that cares enough to act.

Coronavirus has also revealed the perilous state of social care in this country.

Families have come under great stress caring for their loved ones. It's hard enough to see your family in pain without financial ruin too.

If we didn't realise it already we've learnt that care workers do some of the most vital work in society. Yet they're under-paid, under-recognised, and under-appreciated.

Our care workers are heroes. But the social care system in Britain is a disgrace to a rich nation.

The Tories have had a decade to sort it out, but they've done nothing. David Cameron promised he would fix it. Theresa May promised she would fix it. A year ago Boris Johnson promised he would fix it.

Let's hold them to that promise.

This is a matter of basic fairness and human compassion. The Government needs to act and to act now.

It must ensure that the mistakes made in the first spike cannot happen again this winter. And it must bring forward comprehensive social care reforms that guarantee all care workers at least the real living wage.

After a decade of drift, this Government must finally fix our social care system. So that it treats those who have given so much with the respect, love and dignity that they deserve.

I can see in my mind's eye the country I want us to be. Properly funded universal public services. World-class education which unleashes everyone's potential.

A huge investment in skills and a plan, working hand-in-hand with businesses and trade unions, to create high quality jobs.

An economy that doesn't force people to move hundreds of miles just to find a decent job. One that truly works for all regions and nations of this United Kingdom. With opportunity and security in every part of the country and at every stage of our lives.

A country committed to a greener, cleaner and fairer society. Where every policy is judged not just by how much it costs today but also by what it does for the planet tomorrow.

A country which would be an active force for good in the world, once again admired and respected. Leading the world - and leading by example - in tackling the climate emergency.

It would be a country which is the best place to grow up in and the best place to grow old in.

I can see it. I can describe it. But it's all just a dream unless we win back the trust of the people. And we've got a long road ahead of us.

We're not going to win back those we've lost with a single speech or a clever policy offer. Trust takes time.

It starts with being a credible Opposition. With taking the job seriously. That's what we will do.

So to those people in Doncaster and Deeside, in Glasgow and Grimsby, in Stoke and in Stevenage, to those who have turned away from Labour, I say this: we hear you.

Never again will Labour take you or the things you care about for granted. And I ask you: Take another look at Labour.

We're under new leadership.

We love this country as you do. This is the country I grew up in and this is the country I will grow old in. And I want it to be the country I know it can be.

That, in the end, is why I do this. To change lives for the better. To make a difference to my country.

I know the good a Labour government can do. And I'm already looking forward to it.

Thank you.
Federal Judge: Wisconsin Absentee Ballots That Arrive Up to 6 Days Late Can Count

A federal judge on Monday extended the deadline for mail-in ballots in the upcoming election, the third such statewide ruling in five days.

District Judge William Conley sided with the Democratic National Committee, which wanted the court to block several deadlines including the requirement that polling places receive absentee ballots by 8 p.m. on election day to be counted, as they seek to make mail-in voting easier amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Conley enjoined state election officials from enforcing the deadline for the receipt of such ballots under state law, and extended the deadline until Nov. 9 provided that the ballots are mailed and postmarked on or before Nov. 3 or election day.

The judge put the ruling on hold for seven days to give the other side a chance to seek an emergency appeal. Wisconsin Republican Party Chairman Andrew Hitt said they were reviewing the order and working with others to determine next steps.

While more than 1 million absentee ballots have been requested to date, the Wisconsin Elections Commission anticipates that as many as 2 million will eventually be cast. That would be three times more than any other previous election, which threatens to overwhelm election officials, Conley said. The U.S. Postal Service will also undoubtedly be overwhelmed again with ballots in November, as they were in April, Conley wrote.

Theres little doubt that tens of thousands of voters risk not being able to vote without expanding the deadlines, Conley said.

While the Legislature would opt to disregard the voting rights of these so-called procrastinators, Wisconsins election system sets them up for failure in light of the near certain impacts of this ongoing pandemic, he wrote.

Jonathan Manes, an attorney with the MacArthur Justice Center that represented the plaintiffs along with Protect Democracy, welcomed the ruling.

Every voter should be able to vote easily, safely, and accessibly, no matter where they live or who they are. Todays decision brings us closer to that goal, he said.

Conley, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, also agreed with Democrats to lift the Oct. 14 deadline for by-mail and electronic voter registration. The judge has extended it until Oct. 21. Conley further ruled that poll workers can work in any county, not just in the one where they live. Clerks have reported a shortage of poll workers due to the pandemic, and loosening the residency rules could make it easier to fill slots.

A similar battle played out in Wisconsin earlier this year, going all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Justices overturned a lower court order in April that had extended the absentee ballot deadline for primaries.

Wisconsin is a crucial swing state that Trump took by just 0.77 percent in 2016 over Hillary Clinton.

Deadlines in two other swing states were also extended this week.

A federal judge in Michigan on Friday said that mailed ballots that arrive up to two weeks after the election can count.

The decision was for the avoidance of doubt, Michigan Court of Claims Judge Cynthia Stephens wrote in her 21-page ruling.

And the Pennsylvania Democratic Party ruled last week that mail-in ballots received by Nov. 6 would count.

Justice Max Baer, writing for the majority, said the pandemic and the unprecedented number of mail-in ballots meant near-certain delays, meaning that a longer timeline was necessary.

Trump won Pennsylvania by a margin of 0.72 percent and Michigan by 0.23 percent.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Syracuse, N.Y.  About 80 Syracuse University students quarantined in their dormitory since Sunday were allowed to leave their rooms and resume normal activities tonight after they all tested negative for coronavirus.

The students who live on the eighth floor of Day Hall were ordered to get tested Sunday and quarantine in their rooms after three students on their floor tested positive for the virus. SU had been delivering meals to their rooms.

Students who live on other floors of Day Hall did not have to quarantine, but were told to get tested. About 540 students live in the dorm on Mount Olympus Drive.

We appreciate the urgent way you responded to our call to action, SU said in an email sent tonight to students. Each of you quickly returned to your rooms, underwent testing and complied with and followed the direction of our public health experts. Its yet another reminder that our students want to be here and will take the necessary steps to make that goal achievable.

SU asked the students to continue wearing masks, practice social distancing and exercise good health practices.

SU identified the three positive cases through its ongoing saliva pool testing and monitoring of Day Halls wastewater. The three positive cases were confirmed by diagnostic tests done Sunday. Those three students have been moved out of Day Hall into isolation housing.

The three positive cases in Day Hall are among six new positive student cases SU reported today on its Covid-19 dashboard.

James T. Mulder covers health and higher education. Have a news tip? Contact him at (315) 470-2245 or jmulder@syracuse.com
The Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice has stated that the government only intends to utilise 1.9 per cent of the Atewa Forest Range and not the entire range.



It said the actual mining area would cover 14.05 kilometre square and therefore, prospecting bauxite in the area would not be hazardous to the forest and any specie that lives within it.



The Attorney-General was responding to a group of environmentalists, climate change activists, individuals, civil society and non-governmental organisations who sued the government few months ago, over the decision to allow the Chinese to prospect bauxite in the forest.



In the writ filed by their counsel, Martin L. Kpebu of Global Trotters Legal, the plaintiffs stated that the government had already signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Peoples Republic of China to develop a bauxite industry in Ghana with the Atewa Range Forest as one of the sources of bauxite.



They said the government, acting through the Ghana Integrated Aluminum Development Cooperation (GIADEC), entered the forest in May 2019, to explore for bauxite by drilling deep holes causing damage to the forest which protects the watershed for three major rivers and several streams, serving water to more than five million Ghanaians.



However, the Attorney-General in its defence signed by Dorothy Afriyie-Ansah, a Chief State Attorney, denied all the allegations in the plaintiffs statement of claim.



The plaintiffs had alleged that they initiated the present action after several unsuccessful attempts to engage the government on why it should not touch the forest, as it was classified as Globally Significant Biodiversity Area (GSBA) and a protected forest.



It is their case that Ghana does not need to exploit the Atewa Range Forest bauxite reserves because there are far richer bauxite reserves, according to information available to government, which government has made publicly available.



The plaintiffs contend that strip mining, the only way to mine Ghanas bauxite could result in loss of forest cover, loss of biodiversity, loss of access to clean water, build-up of green house gases, loss of climate amelioration services, loss of emission reduction services, loss of medicinal/economic valuable plants and change in tourism potential of the area.



The plaintiffs said the government is undertaking mining activities in the forest without mineral right, and urged the court to compel the government to restore or pay the cost of damages that had been caused as a result of recognisance, prospecting and clearing of roads in the Forest.



But the Attorney-General stated that the plaintiffs are merely crying wolf, as many countries, such as Brazil and Australia had successfully conducted mining activities in the forest reserves, like the Amazon Rain Forest and Jarrah Forest under well supervised sustainable mining practices.



The defendant said that the government in ensuring the protection of the environment and species had set up a standing committee which comprises various mining and environmental regulatory agencies and commissions to ensure optimum adherence to responsible and sustainable mining practices to protect the water bodies and species within the mining area.



Among the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs were a declaration that mining of bauxite in the Atewa Range Forest violates the right to life and dignity as enshrined under articles 13 and 15 of the 1992 Constitution.



They further want the court to declare that the defendant breached plaintiffs right to life and dignity by exploring and driving deep holes into the ground at 53 different points in the Atewa Range Forest which activities started in May 2019.



A declaration that the defendant breached the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703) by exploring and creating deep holes in the Forest.



The plaintiffs want the court to compel the government and its agents to declare Atewa Range Forest as a protected zone and take the necessary steps to protect the forest, in accordance with its constitutional obligations as contained under article 36(9) of the 1992 Constitution.



An order to restrain the government, its assigns and agents, servants, workmen, allotees and guarantees whatsoever and howsoever described from undertaking mining and its related activities in the Atewa Range Forest.



They urged the court to award damages for breach of articles 13 and 15 of the 1992 Constitution and cost including plaintiffs solicitors fees against the government.

Source: The Ghanaian Times









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Pearl Academy, Indias leading creative education institute, today announced collaborating with the Royal College of Art (RCA), U.K, to exclusively offer one of the worlds first Designing Services and Products with Artificial Intelligence courses to students in India.

This nine-week online/offline hybrid programme, developed and taught by the RCA faculties with delivery support from Pearl Academy, gives its students a strategic and applied understanding of the design principles supporting human-to-human-to-AI interactions, to develop AI ecosystems supported by products and services. The programme blends theoretical and practical units that teach how to deploy AI for fostering personal creativity and pursuing career ambitions and also for developing a responsible, inclusive, accessible, and sustainable strategy to innovation through design. The students will benefit and develop skills by experimenting with AI creatively to support the development of an individual project or to collaborate in an industry-sponsored project.

The Designing Services and Products with Artificial Intelligence programme will be offered to the third-year undergraduate students of Pearl Academy and will consist of online and face-to-face units along with interactive seminars/workshops. The students will receive a certificate from the RCA upon completion of the programme.

Commenting on this unique opportunity, Nandita Abraham, president, Pearl Academy, said, Designers are thinkers and doers. They channelize an organizations creativity by collaborating in multidisciplinary teams, involving stakeholders, researching, brainstorming, prototyping, and testing. They apply interdisciplinary knowledge from the social sciences, business, marketing, IT, and engineering fields. This program from the Royal College of Art will enable our students to use AI as a game-changer in their designs and open up vast career avenues for them.

Dr Laura Ferrarello, MRes Acting Head of Programme and MRes Design Pathway Leader at the Royal College of Art, said, We are delighted to collaborate with Pearl Academy to offer this programme to the students in India. With a global society looking for new strategic solutions to tackle and address complex issues, such as pandemics and climate change, this course brings Pearl Academy students in the RCAs knowledge and experience in design strategies and AI technologies to nurture their ambition and motivation, to transform and shape society through their creative talent.

About Pearl Academy

Pearl Academy is Indias leading creative education institution, as per industry surveys by ASSOCHAM, India Today- MDRA, Outlook-Drshti & ICARE, The Week- Hansa, Business of Fashion and The Economic Times. The institute offers 40+ under-graduate, post-graduate and professional development programs in design, fashion, business and media through its campuses in Delhi-South, Delhi-West, Jaipur, Mumbai and Bangalore. For 28 years, Pearl Academy has been a catalyst for success for its students through its unique Total Learning System andconstructive tie-ups with industry bodies and international universities that arestrongly reflected in its placement record of over 99 % year-on-year. For more information, please visit: www.pearlacademy.com

About the Royal College of Art

The Royal College of Art started life in 1837 as the Government School of Design. Granted a Royal Charter and university status in 1967, RCA remains the worlds most influential postgraduate institutions of art and design, and has been ranked No.1 in the world for art and design for six consecutive years (2015-2020 QS World University Subject Rankings).

RCA graduates continue to influence the culture surrounding all of us. At the forefront of contemporary art and design today are, to name but a few, graduates such as designer Thomas Heatherwick, architect David Adjaye, fashion designer Christopher Bailey, photographer Tom Hunter, product designer Sam Buxton, inventor and industrial designer Sir James Dyson and film director Ridley Scott.

www.rca.ac.uk
CANAAN, N.Y., Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Berkshire Farm Center & Services for Youth, Inc. ("Berkshire") provides notice of an incident that may affect the security of some information relating to certain individuals affiliated with Berkshire.

What Happened? On July 16, 2020, Berkshire's third-party vendor, Blackbaud, informed us that, in May 2020, Blackbaud suffered a ransomware attack which resulted in potential unauthorized access to certain information maintained by Blackbaud. Upon learning of this event, Berkshire immediately commenced an investigation to determine what, if any, Berkshire data was impacted. Please know that we take this incident and the security of our information seriously, and we are diligently working to determine the full nature and scope of this incident.

What Information Was Involved? Berkshire has no evidence of actual or attempted misuse of any personal information. The information potentially subject to unauthorized access included names, addresses, Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, financial account information, medical information, and treatment information.

What Berkshire is Doing. Berkshire has worked diligently to gather further information from Blackbaud to understand the incident. We are reviewing our existing policies and procedures regarding our third-party vendors, and are working with Blackbaud to evaluate additional measures and safeguards to protect against this type of incident in the future. As an added precaution, Berkshire is offering impacted individuals with access to credit monitoring through TransUnion at no cost to those individuals. We are also notifying the Department of Health and Human Services and other regulators of this incident as required.

What You Can Do. We encourage you to review the information provided below regarding ways you can help protect your personal information should you deem it necessary to do so. Berkshire also encourages you to review your financial and account statements and explanation of benefits forms and report all suspicious activity to the institution that issued the record immediately.

For More Information. Berkshire has established a dedicated assistance line for individuals seeking information regarding this incident. Individuals may call 1-800-939-4170, Monday through Friday, 9am to 9pm Eastern Time for additional information. Additional information can also be found on Berkshire's website, www.berkshirefarm.org. Potentially affected individuals may also consider the information and resources outlined below.

Berkshire encourages potentially impacted individuals to remain vigilant against incidents of identity theft and fraud and to review account statements, credit reports, and explanation of benefits forms for suspicious activity. Under U.S. law, individuals with credit reports are entitled to one free credit report annually from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus. To order your free credit report, visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call, toll-free, 1-877-322-8228. Individuals may also contact the three major credit bureaus directly to request a free copy of their credit report. The credit reporting agencies may be contacted as follows:

Experian PO Box 9554 Allen, TX 75013 1-888-397-3742 www.experian.com TransUnion P.O. Box 2000 Chester, PA 19016 1-888-909-8872 www.transunion.com Equifax PO Box 105788 Atlanta, GA 30348-5788 1-800-685-1111 www.equifax.com

You can further educate yourself regarding identity theft, fraud alerts, security freezes, and the steps you can take to protect yourself, by contacting the consumer reporting agencies, the Federal Trade Commission, or your state Attorney General.

The Federal Trade Commission also encourages those who discover that their information has been misused to file a complaint with them. The Federal Trade Commission can be reached at: 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580; www.identitytheft.gov; 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338); and TTY: 1-866-653-4261. Instances of known or suspected identity theft should be reported to law enforcement, your Attorney General, and the FTC. You can also further educate yourself about placing a fraud alert or security freeze on your credit file by contacting the FTC or your state's Attorney General.

For New York residents, the Attorney General may be contacted at: Office of the Attorney General, The Capitol, Albany, NY 12224-0341; 1-800-771-7755; https://ag.ny.gov/.

SOURCE Berkshire Farm Center & Services for Youth, Inc.
A confrontation in a Fremont neighborhood early Sunday morning left four men with life-threatening stab wounds, police said.

At around 1:10 a.m., Fremont police officers responded to a stabbing report on the 40000 block of Stockton Way. Upon arrival, police said, they found four injured men suffering from lacerations and provided trauma care.

Detectives on the scene reported the stabbings were likely a result of an ongoing dispute. The conflict took place between individuals at the address and another group that arrived in a car, police said. An argument led to both sides arming themselves with weapons, and men from both groups were among the wounded, authorities said.

The victims were transported to nearby hospitals and were expected to survive.

Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact Detective Matt Floresca at 510-790-6900 or mfloresca@fremont.gov.

Shwanika Narayan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: shwanika.narayan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @shwanika Instagram: @shwanika
Some international relations experts and a former diplomat have cautioned ECOWAS leaders to hasten tactfully in pressing for a quick return to civilian rule in Mali.

They have also proposed the provision of a safe passage for the junta to assure them of security and protection before handing over to a civilian administration.



The Dean of Academic Affairs at the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (GAFCSC), Dr Vladimir Antwi-Danso; a fellow of the Institute of Democratic Governance (IDEG), Dr Kwesi Jonah, a former diplomat, Dr Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe, and a politician and tax law expert, Mr Chris Ackummey, are unanimous in their opinion that a diplomatic road map that addresses the specific needs of the Malian people is the way out for the landlocked country.



They sounded the caution in separate interviews after a meeting between ECOWAS leaders and Mali's military junta in Accra on September 15, 2020 had failed to agree on the transfer of power to civilian rule, raising concerns about the political standoff in Mali and regional security.



The regional bloc wanted the military leaders to immediately hand over power to a civilian government.



ECOWAS had imposed economic sanctions on Mali after the coup and demanded that the junta hand over power to a civilian administration.



There are fears that the coup can undermine the fight in Mali and the Sahel Region against Islamic militants with links to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.



Indemnity clause



Dr Jonah proposed indemnity for members of the junta to guarantee them protection.



The reason members of the junta are reluctant to hand over power to a civilian administration is the fear of what will happen to them once they hand over. So for lasting peace in Mali, any road map to a civilian administration should have indemnity clauses that will assure the military forces of safety and protection, he said.



Dr Antwi-Danso, however, cautioned the ECOWAS negotiators not to stampede the process but to allow Mali to transition to a democracy.



He said protocols that denounced the military for overthrowing a civilian regime should stay, but must assist Mali to chart a road map based on national consensus.



We need to help a transition to that normalcy, but not to stampede the junta to hand over quickly  the junta is now to make a charter and make an 18-month transition  we need to help bring about a kind of understanding between the opposition and the junta, he said.



Persuasive approach



The former Ambassador to Serbia, Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe, rather wanted a more persuasive approach to deal with the crisis.



ECOWAS leaders should try and talk the soldiers out of this situation by going about it diplomatically. This is because a large number of the population is behind the military junta, and so ECOWAS leaders should be tactful about the situation, he said.



Mr Ackummey, for his part, preferred the full application of the tenets of the rule of law in order to bring sanity to Mali.



To bring lasting and durable peace to Mali, stakeholders in that country must do the right thing by upholding the principles of the rule of law and good governance. There is no policy that can stop the military from intervening in any country until there is the full application of the rule of law, he said.



ECOWAS leaders said they would be willing to allow a transitional government to stand for 18 months, longer than the original one year it had asked for.



Sanctions



They also said they would fully accompany Mali towards the restoration of constitutional order and lift sanctions once it had a President and a Prime Minister in place for the transitional period.



Mali has struggled to regain stability since 2012 when ethnic Tuareg rebels and loosely aligned armed groups seized the northern two-thirds of the country, compelling the former colonial power France to intervene to temporarily beat them back.



As the government and international actors have sought to restore peace in the north, violence has steadily increased in the country's central region, where the state is largely absent, and spilled into neighbouring countries.



Those attacks grew five-fold between 2016 and 2020, with 4,000 people killed in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, up from about 770 in 2016, according to the UN.



Hundreds of thousands of people have been forced to flee from their homes, and thousands of schools have closed.









Source: Graphiconline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 16:50:44|Editor: huaxia

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NANNING, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Police in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region have cracked a case involving the transporting of endangered wildlife products, netting three suspects.

The seized items, worth more than 1 million yuan (about 147,400 U.S. dollars), included over 14.5 kg of pangolin scales, 171 ivory products and 19 suspected tiger teeth.

On Aug. 10, police at the Xiashi border checkpoint in the border city of Chongzuo found a suspicious vehicle on a highway, from which they seized a batch of endangered wildlife products and apprehended one suspect, Chongzuo police said Tuesday.

Police then apprehended two more suspects following further investigation into the case. Enditem
A gushing biography of the Duchess of Sussex is inaccurate and anodyne, her lawyer said yesterday.

In court papers, Jenny Afia said the authors of Finding Freedom had relied on creative licence to produce their best-selling account of Meghan and Harrys lives.

Miss Afia is representing the 39-year-old duchess in her privacy battle against the Mail on Sunday. Meghan is suing the newspaper for publishing extracts of a letter she sent her estranged father Thomas Markle.

The newspaper argues the letter as well as photographs and other personal information feature in the biography  showing the duchess had permitted details of her life to be shared.

In court papers, Jenny Afia said the authors of Finding Freedom had relied on creative licence to produce their best-selling account of Meghan and Harrys lives

But Miss Afia branded many of the books intimate anecdotes as either extremely anodyne and/or I understand are the product of creative licence and/or are inaccurate.

As an example she said the book detailed the duchesss hygiene and bathroom routines on a holiday in Botswana.

Finding Freedom says the pair stayed at the Meno A Kwena safari camp on the edge of Makgadikgadi Pans national park.

But Miss Afia said Meghan has never visited nor been on safari to the Makgadikgadi Pans and the couple have never been together to Meno A Kwena  only the Duke of Sussex has.

An account of their first date included what they drank  a beer for him, Martini for her  what they talked about and whether or not they kissed along with the content of their follow-up text messages. Miss Afia insisted the books account was incorrect.

She provided a long list of other alleged inaccuracies as part of a witness statement for the High Court case. The authors, Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand, claim to have spoken to 100 sources close to the couple and to the couple themselves.

Lawyers for the Mail on Sunday told the court Meghan does not object to details... being publicly disclosed, provided that such disclosure is couched in terms that are favourable and flattering.

They told the court on Monday there were details in the book that could only have come from Harry and Meghan themselves. In response, Miss Afias witness statement set out examples of mistakes in the book which she said showed there was no collusion between the royals and the authors.

She said many supposed insights had been simply copied from public sources such as newspapers, social media and TV.

Quotes about the couples first date  such as Harry thinking: I am really going to have to up my game here  were taken from their engagement interview on BBC1 in November 2017.

Big seller: Finding Freedom

A passage about Harrys feelings after the birth of his son Archie appears to be the product of creative licence, said Miss Afia.

The book says the duke texted his father with details of the birth, but the lawyer said: I understand that it is widely known that the Prince of Wales does not have a mobile phone.

She also rubbishes a description of Meghan calling a friend on FaceTime from the bath and talking about sending a final message to her father. Miss Afia said this was incorrect because it was not the last time Meghan had messaged Thomas Markle.

An account of Harry, 36, meeting his prospective mother-in-law Doria Ragland in Los Angeles  at which they enjoyed the most delicious sashimi  was again based on the authors creative licence, according to Miss Afia.

She added: I understand that in fact the Duke of Sussex did not meet Meghans mother for the first time in Los Angeles. Indeed, the first time he and the duchess were ever in Los Angeles together was in 2020 when they relocated with their son.

Meghan has denied collaborating with Mr Scobie and Miss Durand, who say they did not interview the couple directly.
Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF)

Job Description

Title: Director of Operations

Location: Kinshasa, DRC

Reports To: Country Director

Direct Reports: Finance Manager, Procurement Manager, HR Manager, ICT

Manager, Grants Officer, Office Manager

Closing Date: September 30, 2020

Classification: Full-time

*Locals preferred, but open to International Assignees with French proficiency

"Sometimes in life there is that moment when it's possible to make a change for the better. This is one of those moments." -Elizabeth Glaser.

The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation is a global leader in the fight against pediatric HIV and AIDS, working in 16 countries and at over 5,000 sites around the world to prevent the transmission of HIV to children, and to help those already infected. Today, because of the highly successful work of the Foundation and its partners, pediatric AIDS has been virtually eliminated in the United States. With a growing global staff of over 3,100 - nine of 10 who work in the field - the Foundations global mission is to implement prevention, care, and treatment; further advance innovative research; and to execute strategic and targeted global advocacy activities to bring dramatic change to the lives of millions of women, children, and families worldwide.

Job Summary

The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation is seeking a Director of Operations to support the attainment of the Foundation's overall goals by providing operational and administrative support to the DRC EGPAF program. Reporting to the Country Director, this position oversees the operations department, which is comprised of finance, contracts and grants, IT, human resources, finance and accounting, and administration functions. The position requires strong French and English writing and speaking skills.

Job Responsibilities

Maintain up to date knowledge of and ensure compliance with the Foundation and donor specific policies, rules and regulations

Help establish and build collaborative working relationships with various stakeholders e.g. in-country operations team, the HQ office, other EGPAF country offices and in-country partners related departments

Oversee the budget development process ensuring effective and efficient allocation of program resources

Coordinate the preparation of financial and administrative reports, analyze and interpret financial data, and participate in strategic planning efforts

Participate in the country office senior management/leadership team meetings

With the senior management, implement and manage a team building program for country staff, including formal training, personal and profession peer support, mentoring and professional development.

Coordinate grantee proposal review process and ensure compliance with solicitations and donor regulations.

Coordinate pre-award evaluations and assessments of potential grantees as needed.

Analyze, verify and review grantees proposal budgets to ensure donor compliance and reasonableness.

Coordinate grantee risk assessment and implement appropriate systems and agreements to minimize risk.

Ensure timely and appropriate close-out of sub-grants and coordination of close out activities.

Manage and provide oversight on all country office new business proposals, contracts and grants.

Protects the interests of the Foundation by ensuring full compliance with statutory requirements in all applicable areas, including health and safety laws, labor and immigration laws, tax laws and other country and local laws and regulations.

Ensures appropriate registration and certification of the Foundation as required under the NGO act / company act and all other applicable statutory bodies e.g. social security

Monitors all new and pending laws, regulations, codes of practice and court rulings that could have an impact on the Foundations operations, advises SMT accordingly, and proactively implements any necessary changes.

Directs the preparation and submission of legal / statutory / taxation returns and other information required in compliance with legal requirements, including requirements under local tax laws.

Serves as the primary contact with the Foundations legal advisors (attorney, labor lawyer, tax advisor etc.), and ensures the Foundation has ready access to, and established partnerships with, competent legal counsel always.

Proactively notifies the SMT and relevant DC office department of legal risks or challenges such as lawsuits, engages legal advice where necessary, and works collaboratively to resolve such issues in the best interests of the Foundation. Where legal responsibilities are delegated to other staff, closely manages delegated tasks and ensures these are clearly defined and included in work-plans and job descriptions

Required Qualifications

A Masters degree in business Management, Operations or any other relevant field is highly desired.

Eight years experience in Finance or Accounting with a minimum of 3 years experience in a similar position.

Demonstrated financial management experience including preparing, managing and monitoring budgets, banking contracts and negotiations.

Demonstrated ability to exercise financial and administrative oversight of subgrant programs.

Proven leadership capabilities and solid experience managing, mentoring and developing staff.

Experience in developing and managing the implementation of procurement and logistics policies and procedures.

Excellent knowledge of donor regulations including CDC/PEPFAR USAID, Global Fund and other major international donors.

Professional qualification in Finance or Accounting e.g. CPA, or ACCA is an added advantage

Proficiency in Microsoft Office products

Working knowledge of project management principles and tools will be an added advantage

Working knowledge of both French and English is essential for this position

Understanding of and experience in HIV/AIDS management is an added advantage

Good understanding of and experience in the international development sector.

Solid grant management and budget oversight skills and experience.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with Ministry of Health and other stakeholders.

Ability to perform and prioritize multiple tasks.

Competencies

The Foundation expects all employees to possess the fundamental competencies of interpersonal skills, communication, accountability, continual learning, and driving results. The ideal candidate will be either proficient or advanced in the following set of competencies, specific to this positions level of Director:

Collaboration  Develops networks and builds alliances; collaborates across boundaries to build strategic relationships and achieve common goals.

Creativity/Innovation  Develops new insights into situations; questions conventional approaches; encourages new ideas and innovations; designs and implements new or cutting edge programs/processes.

Influencing/Negotation  Persuades others; builds consensus through give and take; gains cooperation from others to obtain information and accomplish goals.

How to apply

Interested candidates are strongly encouraged to apply trough the Foundation website and/or by clicking to the link below no later than September 30, 2020. Please click on the link below in order to be redirected to the EGPAF career website.

https://cho.tbe.taleo.net/cho01/ats/careers/v2/viewRequisition?org=PEDAIDS&cws=41&rid=2160

The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF) provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, EGPAF complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the Foundation has facilities
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Linkedin Moch. Fiqih Prawira Adjie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, September 22, 2020 17:14 486 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c4672f25 1 City prison,prison-break,prison-escape,prison-officers,convicts,drug-convict,Tangerang,penitentiary,escape,fugitive,Chinese,Chinese-citizens Free

Cai Changpan, a 53-year-old drug convict on death row who recently escaped from the Tangerang penitentiary in Banten, West Java, dug the tunnel that he used to escape the facility over the course of six months using stolen construction tools, the Jakarta Police said on Tuesday

There is an indication from [Cais] cellmate's initial statement that [Cai] had been [digging the tunnel] for about five to six months using several tools that we have confiscated, Jakarta Police spokesperson Yusri Yunus told reporters Tuesday.

According to the statement, the escapee allegedly took the tools for the construction of a prison kitchen and used them to dig the tunnel inside his cell.

Tangerang Police chief Sugeng Hariyanto previously said that the cellmate had refused Cais invitation to escape the prison with him.

Yusri said that the police had formed a team with the prison authorities to further investigate the case for the possible involvement of other parties.

The Law and Human Rights Ministrys corrections directorate-general spokesperson, Rika Aprianti, said separately that the ministry would work together with the police to recapture the escaped prisoner.

She added that the corrections directorate general, along with the ministrys inspectorate general and regional office in Banten, would question the penitentiarys officers.

Tangerang Penitentiary warden Jumadi previously said that Cai, a Chinese national who also goes by the name of Cai Ji Fan, escaped the penitentiary on Monday at around 2:30 a.m. through a 30-meter long tunnel that he had dug and which was connected to a sewer outside the prison walls.

The convict was found guilty of drug trafficking and sentenced to death in 2017. He had been transferred to the penitentiary from the Pemuda Prison in Tangerang.
An unidentified Dallas teacher is facing backlash after giving students a two-part assignment that many people deemed racially insensitive.

Seniors, and their parents, at W.T. White High School in Dallas complained about an English assignment asking students to potentially defend suspected Kenosha, Wisconsin, shooter Kyle Rittenhouse. The assignment placed the alleged murderer on a list of "modern heroes," according to CNN's Harmeet Kaur.

Kaur reported that the first part of the assignment asked students to write a half-page biography for six people, including 17-year-old Rittenhouse and George Floyd, who had deep ties to Houston's Third Ward and died in Minneapolis police custody in May. It also listed Mahatma Gandhi and Malcolm X, whose names were misspelled.

SCHOOL NEWS: Texas teacher reinstated after BLM, LGBTQ virtual posters controversy

"It was just like, 'Oh my gosh, the spelling,' 'Oh my gosh, there are no women on here,' and then very ardently the fact that a white supremacist murderer's name is on a list with important historical figures," Kristian Hernandez, the sister of one of the students, told CNN affiliate KTVT.

The second part of the assignment required students to write a one-page essay on which of the six people they believed "best demonstrated the concept of a hero."

If you haven't been keeping up with the news, Rittenhouse is accused of killing two people and wounding a third at a demonstration over the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man. He's currently facing homicide and attempted homicide charges.

Social media users also criticized the assignment, saying the teacher should be fired.

"Dallas ISD has a teacher they need to fire IMMEDIATELY. There was an assignment that cited Kenosha murderer Kyle Rittenhouse as an example of a "modern hero." Seriously, WTF, @DallasISDMedia? #TexasProblems," said Twitter user @JTS65.

Twitter user @momobrewer said, in part, "Why does the community pay for that racist employee? Pray for the children of color."

The Dallas Independent School District apologized for the unapproved assignment and said in a statement that students were not required to complete it, Kaur reported for CNN.

"Racial equity is a top priority in Dallas ISD, and we remain committed to providing a robust teaching environment where all students can learn," the statement read. "It is important that we continue to be culturally sensitive to our diverse populations and provide a space of respect and value."
When President Cyril Ramaphosa announced last week that South Africa would move to lockdown level 1, he urged the public to download the COVID-19 Alert SA app.

This application is designed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus by notifying you if you have come into contact with somebody that has tested positive for COVID-19.

It is available to download for free from the Google Play and Apple App Store, and it is zero-rated by the mobile networks.

Ramaphosa also told South Africans during his address that the application is completely anonymous and does not track your personal data or location.

This is because the app uses Bluetooth, and not location tracking, to exchange encrypted codes with other app users that determines whether they were in contact with each other.

The exchange of codes happens when their smartphones are within two metres of each other for more than 15 minutes, and these codes are stored for two weeks.

When an app user tests positive for COVID-19, they can report this information on the app anonymously.

Their device then uploads all of the random codes that it has on record for the past two weeks to the exposure notification server, which notifies other uses accordingly.

Unfounded security concerns

Following Ramaphosas recommendation that South Africans install the app, false messages began to circulate that the app would invade citizens privacy and was being used to spy on them.

A number of false messages state that the app can be used to track their location and identify users in real-time.

While security experts have already refuted these alarmist narratives, there is a simple and effective way to determine the intrusiveness of a mobile application on your privacy  the apps permission list.

This was shown by Orange Cyberdefense South Africa manager Dominic White, who pointed out on Twitter that the permissions of the app disprove the misinformation spreading about the security of the application.

Applications downloaded from the Google Play and Apple App Store cannot access any of your personal data, location information, or other hardware features without asking permission from the operating system first.

By inspecting these permissions, it is clear that even if the COVID-19 Alert SA application was programmed to monitor user location or access personal data, it would be unable to do so as it does not have the required permissions.

In contrast, a number of social media apps require virtually unrestricted permissions to function correctly, making them far more likely to track your location and personal data.

We compared the permissions required by the COVID-19 Alert SA app with those required by one of the social platforms where the misinformation about the application spread most virulently  Facebook.

All permission data was sourced from the Google Play Store at the time of writing.

COVID-19 Alert SA Permissions

Below are the full permissions for the Android version of the COVID-19 Alert SA app, as detailed on the Play Store:

View network connections

Pair with Bluetooth devices

Full network access

Run at startup

Prevent device from sleeping

Each of these permissions is understandably required within the scope of the applications operations.

For example, network access would be needed to send or receive encrypted codes while running at startup and preventing the device from sleeping allows the app to continue monitoring your proximity to other people without your intervention.

Pairing with Bluetooth devices is obviously necessary, as this is the method by which the app can anonymously and privately trade tokens with others you come into contact with.

Note that no personal or location information is exposed. Neither does the application have any access to your microphone, file system, or any other sensitive interface.

Facebook Permissions

It is immediately apparent, when comparing the permissions above with those of an app like Facebook, that there is far more cause for privacy concerns with the latter software.

Everything from your camera and microphone to your file system and the names of the other apps you are running in the background is exposed to Facebook.

While the company may state it uses these permissions only when necessary, it has historically been the case that major platforms like Facebook have been inadvertently or purposefully abusing this level of access into their users.

Below is the full list of permissions required by Facebooks Android app, which shows clearly that it should be far more worrying to download than the COVID-19 Alert SA app:

Device and app history

Retrieve running apps

Calendar

Add or modify calendar events and send email to guests without owners knowledge

Read calendar events plus confidential information

Location

Precise location (GPS and network-based)

Approximate location (network-based)

Microphone

Record audio

Phone

Read phone status and identity

Directly call phone numbers

Identity

Find accounts on the device

Add or remove accounts

Read your own contact card

Storage

Read the contents of your USB storage

Modify or delete the contents of your USB storage

Wi-Fi connection information

View Wi-Fi connections

Photos/Media/Files

Read the contents of your USB storage

Modify or delete the contents of your USB storage

Camera

Take pictures and videos

Device ID and call information

Read phone status and identity

Contacts

Find accounts on the device

Modify your contacts

Read your contacts

Other

Download files without notification

Receive data from Internet

Read TV channel/program information

Write TV channel/program information

Send sticky broadcast

Connect and disconnect from Wi-Fi

Change your audio settings

Modify system settings

Read sync settings

Install shortcuts

Read battery statistics

Run at startup

Prevent device from sleeping

View network connections

Pair with Bluetooth devices

Toggle sync on and off

Full network access

Control vibration

Read Google service configuration

Change network connectivity

Access Bluetooth settings

Control Near Field Communication

Create accounts and set passwords

Draw over other apps

Facebook vs COVID-19 Alert SA Permissions
President Trump used a virtual address to the UN General Assembly on Tuesday to defend his response to the coronavirus and call on other countries to hold accountable the nation which unleashed this plague onto the world: China.

Setting the scene: Trump ticked through four years of major decisions and accomplishments in what could be his last address to the UN. But first, he launched into a fierce attack on China as Beijings representative looked on in the assembly hall.

Breaking it down: There were two main themes to Trumps speech.

On his watch, America and its military have become more powerful than ever  but he is using that strength to promote peace. China is taking advantage of other countries and bodies like the World Health Organization  and has been getting away with it.

Excerpts:

"We are once again engaged in a great global struggle. We have waged a fierce battle against the invisible enemy, the China virus.

Citing a pending troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, the recent White House gathering between Serbia and Kosovo, and the newly sealed Israel recognition deals, Trump declared: "America is fulfilling our destiny as peacemaker."

Trump said the U.S. was developing weapons no previous administration had even considered, and said America had "the most powerful military anywhere in the world, and its not even close.

Trump's bottom line: I am putting America first just as you should be putting your countries first. Thats ok, thats what you should be doing.

Between the lines: Many leaders who will be speaking this week have been frustrated by Trump's unwillingness to join a global initiative on vaccine distribution, his announced withdrawal from the World Health Organization, and his unilateral attempt to reimpose sanctions on Iran even after leaving the 2015 nuclear deal.

The direction of travel for the UN over the next few years will be decided, in large part, by the outcome of the U.S. presidential election.

The latest: Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke shortly after Trump. He referred to the virus as a shared global struggle, and said, "any attempt of politicizing the issue, or stigmatization, should be rejected."

In a clear reference to the U.S. he said, "Major countries should act like major countries. They should provide more global public goods, take up their due responsibilities and live up to peoples expectations.

Worth noting: Trump used less than half of his allotted time slot, and his seven-minute speech was far shorter than those of other major world leaders.

Go deeper: What to watch this week at UNGA.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi returned from abroad early Tuesday, sources said.

Gandhi, 73, had gone to the United States for her routine medical check up on September 12, two days ahead of the Monsoon session of Parliament.

Rahul Gandhi had accompanied her during the visit.

Sources had said her medical check-up was overdue and was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gandhi had cleared the Congress' organisational restructuring before leaving for the US.
A medical appointment days before a young mother's body was discovered will be the focus of a special court hearing next month in the case against accused murderer Ricardo Barbaro.

Mr Barbaro is charged with murdering his girlfriend, Ellie Price, some time between April 29 and May 4, when the 26-year-old's body was discovered in her South Melbourne townhouse.

Ellie Price Credit:

On April 28, a doctor met with a patient at a Sydenham medical centre, and it is that appointment that will be the subject for questions when the doctor is called to give evidence at a compulsory examination hearing in Melbourne Magistrates Court.

Prosecutor Jonathon McCarthy told the court on Tuesday the doctor was sought for questioning about his observations during the appointment, and about medical records that were seized by police. It is not known who the doctor saw on April 28.
Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) speaks to reporters at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Sept. 21, 2020. (Stefani Reynolds/Getty Images)

Romney Supports Senate Vote on Trump Supreme Court Nominee

Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) on Tuesday said he supports the Senate holding a vote before the election on President Donald Trumps pick to replace Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Ginsburg died at age 87 on Friday.

The Constitution gives the President the power to nominate and the Senate the authority to provide advice and consent on Supreme Court nominees, Romney said in a statement.

I intend to follow the Constitution and precedent in considering the Presidents nominee. If the nominee reaches the Senate floor, I intend to vote based upon their qualifications.

The historical precedent of election-year nominations shows the Senate generally doesnt confirm an opposing partys nominee but does confirm a nominee from a president of its own party, Romney added.

Romney, the only Republican to vote against Trump during the impeachment saga, was considered a potential swing vote that some believed would join Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) in opposing a move to fill the Supreme Court vacancy before the Nov. 3 election.

But other possible swing votes, including Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), on Sunday or Monday announced their backing of the move, leaving Republicans with enough votes and Romneys position as potentially irrelevant.

Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate and Vice President Mike Pence can break ties.

People gather in front of the Supreme Court following the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, in Washington on Sept. 18, 2020. (Al Drago/Reuters)

No Democrats have signaled their intention to back Trumps nominee.

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) was the only Democrat to vote for Brett Kavanaugh, Trumps 2018 nominee to the Supreme Court.

Manchin said Monday he opposed the Senate voting on Ginsburgs replacement before the election.

Democrats want the body to hold off until after the election.

Republicans argue theres plenty of time and voters decided to keep the Senate in their hands in the 2018 midterms when they gained two seats.

That edge is proving crucial so far, as the opposition by Collins and Murkowski could have doomed Trumps nominee.

Trump plans on announcing a female candidate to replace Ginsburg on Saturday.

Leading contenders include Amy Barrett Coney and Barbara Lagoa, two federal judges.

West Virginias other Senator, Republican Shelley Moore Capito, said Tuesday that Trump and the Senate should act to fill the vacancy.

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg gestures while speaking during the inaugural Herma Hill Kay Memorial Lecture at the University of California at Berkeley, in Berkeley, Calif., on Oct. 21, 2019. (Jeff Chiu/AP Photo)

The Constitution authorizes the president to name a nominee, and it gives the Senate the power to approve or disapprove of that nomination, she said. West Virginians and the American people expect us to exercise that responsibility.

Romney had issued a statement about Ginsburgs passing over the weekend with no mention of his position on Trumps nominee.

But Liz Johnson, a Romney spokeswoman, forcefully rejected a tweet from a former lawmaker that claimed he spoke to a source who said Romney committed to not confirming a nominee until after inauguration day.

This is grossly false, she said on Twitter.

Unless your name is Mitt Romney or youre his spokesperson, you do not speak for Mitt Romney, she added.

The senator in the statement praised Ginsburg, saying she served our nation with a deep reverence for the law and our Constitution.

Her fight for womens equality inspired all women to pursue their dreams without limits, and her grit, character and sharp wit made her an iconic and inspirational jurist beloved by people young and old, he added.

The beautiful friendship she shared with the late Justice [Antonin] Scalia serves as a reminder to all Americans to treat each other with kindness and respect, despite our differences. Justice Ginsburgs record of distinguished service leaves an indelible mark on our country that will endure for generations to come. She and her husband Martin shared a full life together, and Ann and I pray tonight that her family finds comfort during this time.
Gianluca Iori, BEATS (the beamline for tomography at SESAME) beamline scientist in charge of coordinating the construction of the new tomography beamline at the SESAME synchrotron in Jordan, is at the ESRF for a 3-week training.

BEATS is a European project, funded under the EUs Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme and coordinated by the ESRF. The BEATS project was launched in January 2019 and spans a four-year period which will see the design, construction, assembly and commissioning of a tomography beamline at the SESAME synchrotron in Jordan. A consortium of nine partner institutes, provide a large pool of expertise and experience to benefit SESAME across the seven activity work packages of BEATS.

During Gianlucas training, he will meet scientists, engineers and staff at the ESRF to gain insight into the complexities and technicalities of building a beamline, benefitting from the ESRFs experience and exchanging work cultures, techniques and expertise.

For Harald Reichert, ESRF Director of Research and member of the BEATS steering committee, "It's a pleasure for the ESRF to welcome BEATS beamline scientist, Gianluca Iori, for this 3-week training programme at the ESRF. The ESRF is proud to play a role in coordinating the BEATS project and I can only stress how important it is for us, as a larger facility with almost 30 years' experience in synchrotron research, to help smaller facilities come into operation. As well as building scientific and cultural bridges between diverse societies, this project will benefit the scientific communities in the Middle East by providing them with the first tomography beamline in the region."

Gianluca Iori is an Italian scientist with a background in both mechanical engineering and as a user of synchrotron radiation for research. One of his first roles as BEATS beamline scientist was to contribute to the writing of the Technical Design Report, which was submitted to the European Commission on 31st August 2020. He will also coordinate the construction of the beamline, as well as proposing and coordinating an in-house scientific programme in close collaboration with the BEATS partners and the SESAME Scientific Director.

Visit the BEATS website.

Texte by Kirstin Colvin
Global innovators, entrepreneurs invited to submit sustainable solutions for repurposing poultry waste in support of net carbon-negative footprint

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Tanmiah Food Company (TFC) seeks innovative solutions to address the challenges posed by the excess amounts of poultry manure generated by their farms.

With the launch of the Omnipreneurship Awards: Sustainability Branch Grand Challenge, TFC, along with service providers NineSigma, aim to seek solutions to various hurdles that group companies are facing within their industries.

The challenge is open to the general public. After submissions are received and assessed, 5 organizations will be shortlisted to receive a USD$20,000 prize before proceeding to the final round. The winner will proceed to receive a USD$1 million award for their solution. TFC are looking for solutions that create new processes for converting and using the growing amounts of chicken manure towards value-added products for TFC's core business.

Historically, intensive poultry production has adversely affected the environment. The storage and disposal of raw poultry manure has become an issue because of the associated air, water and soil pollution: landfilling the poultry litter leads to greenhouse gas emissions; poultry manure decomposes into ammonia which has adverse effects on the health of birds and farm workers; poor manure-management leads to pollution of soil and water with pathogens and heavy metals, etc.. Given the sector's rapid growth rate, measures to reduce these emissions are needed. Existing technologies remain harmful to the environment, contributing to water and air pollution, and a deep carbon footprint. TFC's goal is to transform this harmful production process into a carbon-negative value chain, which positively contributes to the environment.

As TFC's CEO, Zulfiqar Hamadani has highlighted "Tanmiah aims to become the leading sustainable poultry company in the region, as a net carbon-negative poultry producer and to serve as an exemplary circular business model in the region."

The Omnipreneurship Awards Program is the actualization of parent company, Al-Dabbagh Group's (ADG), governing corporate culture, that operates with a commitment to being a positive global corporate citizen. Previously, ADG has championed other awards programs: the Stars Impact Awards, recognizing impactful global NGOs and providing them with funding for their work; and the Philanthropreneurship Award, given to an individual or organization that blends business and philanthropy to solve key global challenges.

Click here for more information and to submit entries, which are due by 11:59 pm CET, December 15th 2020. Finalists will be announced in January 2021, and the winner of the challenge in June 2021.

Background Information:

Omnipreneurship Awards: https://www.omnipreneurshipawards.com/

TFC Website: www.tanmiah.com

Video - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1276963/Omnipreneurship_Awards_2020.mp4

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1276959/OA_2020.jpg
By Eric M. Johnson, Allison Lampert and Tracy Rucinski SEATTLE/MONTREAL/CHICAGO (Reuters) - The U.S. aviation regulator should require new cockpit procedures for Boeing Co's 737 MAX to help pilots disable an erroneous stall alert that could be a serious distraction during mid-flight emergencies, the world's largest pilot union said on Monday

By Eric M. Johnson, Allison Lampert and Tracy Rucinski

SEATTLE/MONTREAL/CHICAGO (Reuters) - The U.S. aviation regulator should require new cockpit procedures for Boeing Co's 737 MAX to help pilots disable an erroneous stall alert that could be a serious distraction during mid-flight emergencies, the world's largest pilot union said on Monday.

The proposal about an erroneous "stick shaker" alert is among recommendations the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) submitted during a 45-day public comment period for proposed 737 MAX design and operating changes laid out last month by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Monday was the deadline for comments.

The 737 MAX changes could pave the way for the FAA to lift a ban on the jet, potentially before year-end. The 737 MAX was grounded worldwide 18 months ago after crashes killed 346 people in Ethiopia and Indonesia.

In both crashes, pilots grappled with Boeing's flawed MCAS flight control system, which repeatedly forced down the jet's nose, and multiple audio and visual warnings that included the rapid and noisy rattling of their control column known as "stick shaker" and excess speed.

The proposals, which include recommendations for pilots during emergency situations, came during a U.S.-led gathering of regulators in the UK for a training review of the MAX.

While the FAA is in charge of certifying the MAX, other regulators like Transport Canada and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) could add different training requirements as part of their validation of the aircraft.

ALPA proposed steps that would allow flight crews to identify and pull a circuit breaker to stop the stick shaker after they confirm an alert is erroneous, echoing an earlier recommendation by Transport Canada.

Among other comments, the National Transportation Safety Board has called the FAA's proposed changes "positive progress," while crash victims' families have said Boeing's changes to MCAS do not address the jet's underlying aerodynamic problem.

Meanwhile, Boeing whistleblower Curtis Ewbank has urged additional protections, while the British Airlines Pilots Association has called for Boeing to add a third "angle of attack" sensor to the jet.

(Reporting by Allison Lampert in Montreal and Tracy Rucinski in Chicago; Writing by Eric M. Johnson; Editing by David Gregorio and Tom Brown)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Cian English (19) originally from, Bullock Park, Carlow Town, but who was living in the eastern Brisbane suburb of Hawthorne, suffered traumatic injuries when he fell from a fourth floor balcony at the View Pacific resort in Surfers Paradise at around 3.15am Saturday, May 23rd during a robbery.

The teenager was living with his parents Siobhan and Vinny and older brother Dylan. The family left Ireland 15 years ago, first to the Caribbean where Cians father worked for Digicel and then settled in Brisbane in 2011.

The teenager fell to his death when he was being robbed at knife point following an apartment party where it is alleged three men, already charged with his murder, were high on prescription drugs. He attempted to escape but tragically fell from the fourth floor balcony.

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The three accused Jason Ryan Knowles (22), Hayden Paul Kratzmann (20), and Lachlan Paul Soper-Lagas (18), along with two girls under the age of 18 will re-appear before Southport Magistrates Court on October 27th when a trial date will be set, according to a police spokesperson.

All five are charged with murder, stealing, robbery, torture and deprivation of liberty.

The teenagers ashes were laid to rest, in St Marys cemetery, Leighlinbridge, Co Carlow, in June
What is Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2020: What it means for banks and customers?

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

New Delhi, Sep 22: Rajya Sabha on Tuesday passed Banking Regulation Amendment Bill, 2020 to bring the cooperative banks under the supervision of the Reserve Bank of India.

In the wake of deteriorating condition of cooperative banks in the country, the central government amended the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.

The Bill amends the Banking Regulation Act, 1949. The Act regulates the functioning of banks and provides details on various aspects such as licensing, management, and operations of banks.

The Bill replaces the Banking Regulation (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020 promulgated on June 26, 2020.

Exclusions: The Act does not apply to certain co-operative societies such as primary agricultural credit societies and co-operative land mortgage banks. The Bill amends this to state that the Act will not apply to: (i) primary agricultural credit societies and (ii) co-operative societies whose principal business is long term financing for agricultural development. Further, these societies must not use the words 'bank', 'banker' or 'banking' in their name or in connection with their business, or act as an entity that clears cheques.

Power to make a scheme for reconstruction or amalgamation without imposing moratorium: Under the Act, RBI may, after placing a bank under moratorium, prepare a scheme for reconstruction or amalgamation of the bank to secure its proper management, or in the interest of depositors, general public or the banking system. Banks placed under moratorium do not face any legal action for up to six months. Further, banks cannot make any payment or discharge any liabilities during the moratorium.

The Bill allows RBI to initiate a scheme for reconstruction or amalgamation without imposing a moratorium. If a moratorium is imposed, in addition to the existing restrictions, the Bill adds that banks cannot grant any loans or make investments in any credit instruments during the moratorium.

Issuance of shares and securities by co-operative banks: The Bill provides that a co-operative bank may issue equity, preference, or special shares on face value or at a premium to its members or to any other person residing within its area of operation. Further, it may issue unsecured debentures or bonds or similar securities with maturity of ten or more years to such persons. Such issuance will be subject to the prior approval of the RBI, and any other conditions as may be specified by RBI.

The Bill states that no person will be entitled to demand payment towards surrender of shares issued to him by a co-operative bank. Further, a co-operative bank cannot withdraw or reduce its share capital, except as specified by the RBI.

Qualifications for management: The Bill applies certain provisions of the Act to co-operative banks in relation its management. Under the Bill, co-operative banks cannot employ as Chairman, someone who is insolvent or has been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude, among other restrictions. RBI may remove the Chairman if he is not fit and proper and appoint a suitable person if the bank does not do so.

Further, the Board of Directors must have at least 51% of members with special knowledge or experience in areas such as accountancy, banking, economics or law. RBI may direct a bank to reconstitute its Board if it does not conform to the requirements. If the bank does not comply, RBI may remove individual directors and appoint suitable persons.

Power to exempt cooperative banks: The Bill states that RBI may exempt a cooperative bank or a class of cooperative banks from certain provisions of the Act through notification. These provisions relate to restrictions of certain types of employment, qualifications of the Board of Directors and, appointment of a chairman. The time period and conditions for the exemption will be specified by RBI.

Supersession of Board of Directors: The Act states that RBI may supersede the Board of Directors of a multi-state co-operative bank for up to five years under certain conditions. These conditions include cases where it is in the public interest for RBI to supersede the Board, and to protect depositors. The Bill adds that in case of a co-operative bank registered with the Registrar of Co-operative Societies of a state, RBI may supersede the Board of Directors after consultation with the concerned state government, seeking their comments within such period as specified by it.

Certain provisions omitted: The Bill omits certain provisions from the Act. One of them relates to a restriction on a co-operative bank from making loans or advances on the security of its own shares. Further, it prohibits the grant of unsecured loans or advances to its directors, and to private companies where the bank's directors or chairman is an interested party. The Act also specifies conditions when unsecured loans or advances may be granted and specifies the manner in which the loans may be reported to RBI. The Bill omits this provision from the Act.
The Italian people have overwhelmingly voted to slash the size of the country's parliament by more than a third as a cost cutting measure.

The number of MPs in the Lower House will be cut from 630 to 400 and senators from 315 to 200 after almost 63 per cent voted in favour of the reduction.

The 'Yes' vote was supported by the Government Coalition which includes the Democratic Party and the Five-Star Movement.

It confirmed a constitutional amendment that had already been pushed through Parliament.

The reduction will be implemented before the 2023 election.

The Italian people have overwhelmingly voted to slash the size of the country's parliament by more than a third as a cost cutting measure (polling station in Salerno, Italy, pictured)

Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio, a senior Five Star figure, described the result as 'historic'.

He added: 'The one achieved today is a historic result. Let's go back to having a normal Parliament, with 345 seats and fewer privileges.

'It is politics that gives citizens a signal.'

The referendum, which was held alongside several key regional elections, was pushed by the Five Star Movement who argued that the move would reduce costs.

Last October, it said streamlining parliament would save the country 1billion (918million) over 10 years.

But critics have argued that the move will in fact deliver minimal cost-saving benefits.

Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio (pictured), a senior Five Star figure, described the result as 'historic'

They also warned that cutting the chambers' size could end up hindering democratic representation and weaken parliamentary authority.

'The savings brought by these reforms will be negligible', Cecilia Sottilotta, assistant professor of International Relations at Rome's American University, told Euronews.

'If these savings, in the larger picture, are irrelevant but go to have an impact on political representation in the country then that's a problem', she said.

The referendum comes as Italy continues to fight the coronavirus pandemic after recording 1,350 new infections and 17 COVID-19 deaths on Monday.
As deaths from coronavirus reach one million people worldwide, a group of Irish aid charities has come together to respond to the crisis in poorer countries around the globe. The coronavirus pandemic has been the single biggest global health crisis in our lifetime.

It has forced us to re-evaluate every aspect of our lives - how we interact as a community, how we shop, socialise, travel and work. It has taken us into uncharted waters and required us to rethink how we do business in the future.

Ireland's overseas development charities are no exception. Coronavirus has challenged all of us who work in the area, making it harder to fundraise at home and reach the most vulnerable abroad.

Globally, the pandemic continues apace. As we hit the grim milestone this week of one million coronavirus deaths, we are seeing the spread of the virus accelerate across the world.

Extraordinary times have called for an exceptional response, which is why we have come together to collaborate in our response to this crisis.

Today, we launch the Irish Emergency Alliance, a consortium of Irish NGOs who have agreed to join forces to respond to coronavirus, and to the unique threat that it poses to the most vulnerable communities in some of the poorest countries across the globe.

Rather than responding individually to the enormous challenges that this virus will wreak on the most defenceless, we have united in an effort to provide the best aid response that we can to communities who now find themselves in the cross-hairs of coronavirus.

The Irish Emergency Alliance has launched its very first joint appeal to respond to the threat posed by the pandemic in seven key countries: Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lebanon and South Sudan as well as the Rohingya refugee camps of Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh.

What these countries have in common is that as well as widespread poverty they also have to cope with the impact of war or displacement. In total, these locations are home to 17 million people who have had to flee their homes because of conflict.

Within these countries the support this campaign receives from the Irish public will be targeted at the most in need - those struggling to feed their families as well as the most vulnerable to the virus.

The member organisations - ActionAid, Christian Aid, Plan International, Self Help Africa, Tearfund and World Vision - are collaborating, not competing, and by combining resources believe that they can achieve more with the funds that the Irish public give to their appeal.

Coronavirus has exposed how the poorest countries are least able to cope with this pandemic. A scarcity of nurses, doctors and hospitals, of ventilators and ICUs, means that the virus would be a death sentence for many.

These too are countries where many people live in cramped conditions, often without running water, relying on shared toilets and cooking facilities. In such circumstances it is extremely challenging to do the basics to prevent the spread of coronavirus, whether it's washing your hands regularly or maintaining social distancing.

Case numbers in Africa are accelerating towards 1.5 million people, and we know that this could be just the tip of the iceberg because of low testing rates.

In Lebanon, we have witnessed a four-fold increase in just over a month, since the devastating explosion which killed 200 and injured more than 6,500 people in Beirut in early August.

The poor countries of the world that the Irish Emergency Alliance members have targeted are also being hit harder by the economic fall-out from coronavirus, as people don't have the government safety nets and furlough schemes that we have had to tide us over.

For many, a loss of income means big increases in the numbers that are struggling to even feed their families. According to the World Bank, up to 100 million more people could fall into extreme poverty by the end of this year.

Our alliance knows what needs to be done to protect the most vulnerable from the effects of this awful pandemic.

Together we have a lot of experience working in the most troubled regions, including in response to the West Africa Ebola outbreak in 2014, and the outbreak of Sars in Asia a decade earlier.

The same responses and interventions that are proving to be most effective at containing coronavirus here at home - masks, soap and water, and clear information on social distancing to prevent the spread of the virus - will provide the basis for much of the Alliance's life-saving response. It is clear there is some distance to go before we can successfully purge our planet of this pandemic. However, the current rapid rates of contagion across the developing world must be arrested in the months ahead.

The support of the Irish people is needed more than ever if we are to prevent the potential for a massive loss of life.

You can lend your backing to the Irish Emergency Alliance's coronavirus appeal at www.irishemergencyalliance.org or make a donation by calling 1800 939 979, or by texting 4 to Irish Emergency Alliance at 50300.

Helen Keogh is the chairperson of the newly formed Irish Emergency Alliance
When Angela Rayner stood in for the self-isolating Keir Starmer at prime ministers questions last week, her staff were braced for a backlash that never happened. In her five years as one of Jeremy Corbyns most visible shadow ministers, and in her more recent six months as the Labour Partys deputy leader, whenever Rayner has appeared on television, it has been met with a depressingly inevitable reaction on social media.

The Vicky Pollard stuff is how one member of her team jovially describes it, though it is not a jovial matter. It is foul and abusive, and not worth repeating in detail, other than to say that it is hardly shocking that there should be a large corner of the internet that seems unable to cope with the idea that a working-class woman who left school at 16 with no qualifications while pregnant might be doing rather more with her life than they are.

But it is surprising that, on Wednesday lunchtime, they were conspicuously quiet. Rayner, by common consent, gave an outstanding performance. Silencing Boris Johnson on these occasions has, in the past few months, come to look rather easy. Silencing the worst of social media is a challenge of a different order of magnitude.
People are seen walking across Millennium Bridge in London in this file photo. (Luke Tanis/Unsplash.com)

Beijings Influence in Britain Among the Worst, Author Says

For decades, the Chinese regime has sought to shape Britains opinion of China, but theres a political, public awakening happening, says author Clive Hamilton

Before the upheaval caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) had created extensive influence networks in the United States, Canada, and Europe.

But the most heavily infiltrated were Britain and Germany, says Australian scholar Clive Hamilton, co-author of Hidden Hand: Exposing How the Chinese Communist Party Is Reshaping the World.

The Chinese Communist Party has a vast network of influence agencies and personnel who have for at least a couple of decades been systematically attempting to insinuate themselves into institutions and political processes in Western countries, including Britain, Hamilton, a professor of public ethics at Charles Sturt University in Canberra, told The Epoch Times.

Theyve done so using really quite sophisticated and subtle influence techniques. And they have been really very successful.

Hidden Hand, co-written with Mareike Ohlberg, a senior fellow in the Asia Program of the German Marshall Fund, a U.S. policy think tank, lays out the CCPs wide-ranging influence operations in Western democracies.

But why does the CCP go to all the trouble?

The enormous amount of money and resources invested by the CCP in its foreign influence campaigns are essential to Xi Jinpings broader campaign to make China the dominant power, Hamilton said.

The campaign to become the dominant power in the world is not principally through the traditional means of building up military forces  but instead, to carry out political warfare, which is what influence and interference work is all about, along with information warfare, cyber warfare, and one or two other elements of it, he explained.

Britain and Germany were considered the most severely affected because of their role in the world and because of the naivety of the top elites in those countries in politics, business, academia, culture, and media, he said.

Hamilton says theres been a significant turnaround in Britain in the last few months, but warned that it is far too early to start celebrating.

The Huawei 5G U-turn

The UK government announced in July a ban on the purchasing of new Huawei 5G equipment beginning Dec. 31, and the removal of all Huawei equipment by the end of 2027. That reversed the decision made in January that allowed the Chinese telecom giants involvement in up to 35 percent of the non-sensitive parts of the 5G network.

Hearing the initial decision to allow Huawei in the UK network, Hamilton said that he and his colleagues were really dismayed and despondent that the UK had essentially decided to go against the evidence that had led Australia to exclude Huawei from its 5G network more than two years ago.

Britains intelligence services were naive, Hamilton said, adding that they were wise to Russian tactics, but I dont think they understood what the CCP was, how they operate, how they influence things, and what a threat they pose.

The conclusion that yes, Huawei might be a bit of a problem, but we are confident that if we put in place some monitoring and checking mechanisms, then basically  everything will be alright was absurd, Hamilton said.

The logo of Chinese company Huawei is seen on the screen of a Huawei mobile phone in London on July 14, 2020. (Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP via Getty Images)

The turnaround a few months later likely wasnt due to a change in evidence, but a shift in the political environment, Hamilton says.

I think that the influence of the intelligence advice  was outweighed by the optics, given what had happened in Wuhan and Beijing as a result of the COVID [pandemic], and particularly what had happened in Hong Kong, not to mention Xinjiang, he said.

To bring into Britains essential communications network this company with close links to the Peoples Liberation Army  just made it look very, very dangerous, and contrary to Britains interest.

A revolt from Conservative backbenchers added pressure to reverse the Huawei decision.

Theres been an awakening within the British Parliament. People realize that [China] is a major focus of concern. And theyre starting to do something about it, Hamilton said.

Hidden Hand: Exposing How the Chinese Communist Party is Reshaping the World, co-authored by Clive Hamilton and Mareike Ohlberg, exposes the massive and sophisticated influence operation of the Chinese regime in the West.

The 48 Group Club

Discussed in the book is the 48 Group Club, a low-profile (until recently) networking organization that grew out of a mission to establish closer trade relations between Britain and China in the early 1950s. It was the work of three secret members of the Communist Party of Great Britain: founder Jack Perry, Roland Berger, and Bernard Buckman, the authors write.

Stephen Perry, Jack Perrys son, is the clubs current chairman.

The clubs name stemmed from a trade mission to China by 48 British businessmen in 1954, during a U.S. trade embargo against China for its involvement in the Korean War.

It was against this background that the club quickly developed an unrivaled level of trust and intimacy with the top leadership of the CCP, and has built itself into the most powerful instrument of Beijings influence and intelligence gathering in the United Kingdom, Hamilton and Ohlberg explain in their book.

The club has become over the decades, a very, very influential pro-Beijing networking organization with links into the very highest levels of Britains elites, Hamilton said.

Among the members mentioned in the book are prominent politicians, such as former Prime Minister Tony Blair, former Deputy Prime Ministers Michael Heseltine and John Prescott, former Foreign Minister Jack Straw, and former European trade commissioner Peter Mandelson.

Masters of colleges at Oxford and Cambridge, executives of major cultural institutions and business, a retired general, five former British ambassadors to Beijing, and people closely linked to the Bank of England, Goldman Sachs, and JPMorgan are also on the list.

According to the authors, Stephen Perry had an audience with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in October 2018, access that British diplomats dont have, signaling the clubs importance to the CCP leadership.

Through various events, sometimes in collaboration with the Chinese Embassy, the club has played a major role in shaping British opinion about the Chinese regime, the authors wrote.

Since the book was published, Hamilton said they had received a threat of legal action from the 48 Group Club.

But we have demonstrated, I think, in a very detailed response that, in fact, they have a great deal to hide. And, in fact, if they were to pursue legal action against us, a great deal more would emerge into the public domain, he said.

Another threat came from a person discussed in the book.

That person also has operated on behalf of Beijing at very high levels in Britains elites, Hamilton said. We have, as a result of that threat, compiled an exceptionally detailed dossier on that persons extraordinary links into the Communist Party network and specifically to the United Front Work Department.

We havent defamed anyone, he says.

What weve done is provide to the British public a detailed account of some of the Chinese Communist Partys influence operations in that country.

The 48 Group Club has issued two statements since the book was published. In both statements, the club stressed that they hadnt initiated legal proceedings against the authors as reported by some media, and stated that the group has no formal relationship with any organization inside or outside of China.

The 48 Group Club didnt immediately respond to a request by The Epoch Times for comment.

Why Have British Elites Been Duped?

Many senior people, whom you would expect to be more savvy, have fallen for the grooming techniques of the CCPa phenomenon Hamilton thinks has as much to do with psychology as it does with politics.

There are quite a number of people who work, in effect, in the interests of Beijing because they are what Vladimir Lenin called useful idiots, the people who are just drawn in without understanding what theyre doing and what kind of regime they are defending in practice, Hamilton said.

There are other people, particularly in the business community, who are drawn in by greed and are willing to be tools to promote Chinese interests in Britain because its profitable for them, or they anticipate profits. That goes, for instance, for many people in the City of London.

Then, there are people with more sinister aims who are consciously doing what theyre doing because they support the Chinese Communist Party.

Whataboutism

While its natural for countries to try to affect each other, the CCPs influence is different.

It certainly corrupts, through its coercion and covert nature, the activities of or the operation of the democratic process and the exercise of civil rights, Hamilton said.

What the CCP does, and is a very deliberate strategy carefully worked out and widely practiced, is to use the institutions of democracythe free press, free association, elections and so onin order to undermine the democratic process to increase the power of a foreign nation over the sovereign decision-making of other countries.

One of the things the authors warn about in the book is a common strategy used to dismiss the influence of the CCP and to paint it as benign or at least no worse than anyone else.

Its a tactic we called whataboutism, Hamilton said, explaining that people, especially those like himself who are on the left of the political spectrum, will often bring up the perceived evils of the United States. But the two countries cant be compared, Hamilton said.

Even under Donald Trump  institutions of democracy continue to operate.  There is still free press. Theres still a robust civil society. Political prisoners are not thrown in jail. The courts remain largely independent. There are electionsTrump might lose. And none of these apply in China. And we are free to criticize the United States as much as we like.

Turning Tide of Opinion

Although the authors remarked in their book that the situation in Britain has passed the point of no-return, Hamilton is hopeful that the UK will follow Australias path.

Australia has undergone a real kind of awakening to [CCP influence] in a way that I hope Britain will over the next couple of years, he said.

Following Beijings imposition of a new security law on Hong Kong, a poll commissioned for the China Research Group revealed that British voters favor a tougher stance on the Chinese regime and would support targeted sanctions as a response.

In the end, its just a matter of decency, Hamilton said.

When you see the brutality of Beijing and its proxies in Hong Kong; when you see the brutality of Beijings surveillance and oppressive system in Xinjiang where at least a million people are incarcerated and undergoing a kind of cultural brainwashing to get rid of their Uyghur and Muslim identity, you know, its natural for any decent person to feel revulsion and not want a regime capable of doing that exercising any kind of influence in their own country.

Jane Werrell of NTD, an affiliate of The Epoch Times, contributed to this report
Gettyimagesbank



The remote Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan, known for embracing a gross national happiness index and outlawing television before 1999, has now made the unusual decision to reverse a ban on the sale of tobacco, blaming the COVID-19 pandemic.



The decision comes even though smoking is considered a sin in the mostly Buddhist country, where a tobacco control law was first passed in 1729 and the plant is believed to have grown from the blood of a female demon.



The country of about 750,000 banned the sale, manufacture and distribution of tobacco in 2010 but allowed smokers to import controlled amounts of tobacco products after paying hefty duties and taxes  sparking a thriving black market for cigarettes smuggled over the border from India.



When Bhutan closed its frontier with India earlier this year because of the coronavirus pandemic  India has more than 3 million confirmed cases, while Bhutan has fewer than 200  under-the-counter tobacco prices soared fourfold as the traffickers found it harder to get into the country.



Some continued to sneak in however, and on Aug. 12 a Bhutanese worker handling goods coming in from India tested positive for coronavirus in the border town of Phuentsholing.



This prompted a rethink by the government of Prime Minister Lotay Tshering, a qualified doctor who still practices at weekends.



His administration lifted the decade-old ban to temper demand for the smuggled cigarettes and, in theory, lessen the risk of cross-border contagion.



Tshering insists the reversal is temporary.



The decision allows smokers to buy tobacco products from state-owned duty-free outlets, and adds them to the list of essential products available in the country's pandemic lockdown.



The government further argued that keeping it from those who are addicted and stuck inside might lead to tensions in the home.



"This is the wrong time to rehabilitate a person or to change their habits," Tshering told a local newspaper.



At one duty-free shop in the capital Thimphu, branch manager Dechen Dema said she gets about 1,000 calls a day and works from 8:00 am until midnight catering to orders.



"We get so many desperate calls, we don't even get proper time to eat," Dema said.



Long-term smoker Regyal Chophel, 35, who works for the state media, was relieved to get his fix.



"Old habits die hard and I was getting quite desperate. I am thankful for the government to have come up with this arrangement," he said. (AFP)


By Laman Ismayilova

New feature film "Chill" will be screened at international film festivals. The film shootings were carried out in winter in Guba region.

The short feature film was directed by Amil Amal (Mamibayli) by the order of the Azerbaijan Ministry of Culture, Trend Life reported.

"The film tells about the drama of a soldier who lost his leg after being blown up by a mine. The author of the idea and script was the poet Agshin Evren, whose father is a disabled Karabakh war veteran. My father is also a veteran of the Karabakh war," said the film`s director.

Honored artists Bahruz Vagifoglu and Ilgar Jahangir starred in the film. The main feature of the film is that the actors play their roles without any words.

The scriptwriters include Amil Amal, Aishad Safaraliyev, cameraman - Ali Sultanov, artistic director and general producer - Honored Art worker Jamil Guliyev, producer - Honored Art worker Mushfig Khatamov.

The Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict started with Armenia's open territorial claims to Azerbaijan`s historical lands and ethnic provocations in 1988.

More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and around one million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities initiated by Armenia.

Since 1994, hostilities between the two countries have persisted despite the temporary cease-fire agreement. Usually, Armenian forces violate the ceasefire regime on the line of contact. But recently Armenia has increased military aggression on the border.

--

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
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Airbus has revealed a fleet of zero emissions planes which are primarily powered by hydrogen fuel and are carbon neutral.

Airbus claims the three hydrogen-hybrid concepts will be the world's first zero-emission commercial aircraft.

The planes are called the turbofan, turboprop and the blended-wing body and are earmarked to enter service by 2035, Airbus says.

The turbofan (top), turboprop (bottom), and blended-wing-body (right) configurations are all powered by hydrogen fuel

The hydrogen-fuelled aircraft could enter service by 2035. Pictured, a concept image of the bizarre looking blended-wing body

Airbus unveiled the three designs of the eco-friendly aircraft, the turbofan, turboprop and the blended-wing body. the turboprop is designed for short haul flights whereas the other two are larger and can carry 200 passengers more than 2,000 miles

The so-called ZEROe designs represent three different approaches to how technology and aerodynamics could lead to low-carbon commercial flights.

Airbus chief executive Guillaume Faury said: 'This is a historic moment for the commercial aviation sector as a whole and we intend to play a leading role in the most important transition this industry has ever seen.

'The concepts we unveil today offer the world a glimpse of our ambition to drive a bold vision for the future of zero-emission flight.

'I strongly believe that the use of hydrogen  both in synthetic fuels and as a primary power source for commercial aircraft  has the potential to significantly reduce aviation's climate impact.'

The turbofan design most closely resembles the current image of a regular plane, with an engine sitting on each wing and a standard fuselage.

It will have a capacity of 200 passengers and, according to Airbus, be able to travel 2,300 miles without the need for refuelling.

Although this will not allow for flights across the Atlantic, it does cover other transcontinental routes.

The turboprop however, is designed for short-haul trips and runs on propellers.

While is has a similar, if smaller, body size, it closely resembles a traditional craft.

However, the propeller-driven machine will have half the capacity of its bigger brother, the turbofan., with room for little over 100 people and a max journey of around 1,150 miles.

The most distinctive and radical concept is named the 'blended-wing body' plane, which has the wings merging with the main body of the aircraft in a V-shape.

This has similar statistics to the turbofan but its bizarre shape opens up a host of possibilities with the wide fuselage, which Airbus could make use for extra cabin space, or room for more hydrogen fuel.

It closely resembles a similar design made by aviation rival KLM, whose Flying V design has started scale tests.

The Dutch machine is named after Gibson's famous electric guitar and will carry up to 314 passengers, including some housed within its wings. It uses regular fuel derived from petroleum, but its design will make it 20 per cent more efficient.

The most distinctive design is named the 'blended-wing body' plane (pictured), which has the wings merging with the main body of the aircraft

All three planes would be powered by modified gas-turbine engines that burn liquid hydrogen as fuel. Airbussays 'These concepts each represent a different approach to achieving zero-emission flight'

Airbus says that in order to transition to carbon neutral flight, airports will require significant hydrogen transport and refuelling infrastructure to meet the needs of day-to-day operations

All three Airbus planes however would be powered by modified gas-turbine engines that burn liquid hydrogen as fuel, and through hydrogen fuel cells to create electrical power.

This would create a 'highly efficient hybrid-electric propulsion system', according to Airbus.

Major investment in refuelling infrastructure at airports would be required for commercial hydrogen-powered planes to be viable.

Mr Faury said: 'These concepts will help us explore and mature the design and layout of the world's first climate-neutral, zero-emission commercial aircraft, which we aim to put into service by 2035.

'The transition to hydrogen, as the primary power source for these concept planes, will require decisive action from the entire aviation ecosystem.

'Together with the support from government and industrial partners we can rise up to this challenge to scale up renewable energy and hydrogen for the sustainable future of the aviation industry.'

EasyJet and Airbus launched a joint research project last year to consider hybrid and electric aircraft as a way of reducing the environmental impact of aviation.

The airline's chief executive Johan Lundgren said: 'EasyJet remains absolutely committed to more sustainable flying and we know that technology is where the answer lies for the industry.

'We are committed to collaborating on the development of these new technologies  as demonstrated by our partnership with Airbus  with the aim of being an early adopter when they come to market.

'It is testament to the innovation and drive of this industry that, despite the pandemic and the immense impact it has had on the industry, technological breakthroughs continue to come.

'One thing is for certain: confidence in the power of disruptive technologies such as electric and hydrogen to reinvent aviation is gaining momentum.'

Airbus claimed its turbofan design (pictured) could carry up to 200 passengers more than 2,000 miles

Airbus claimed its turbofan design could carry up to 100 passengers more than 1,000 miles
OPINION: Dr. Shamard Charles argues that voting is literally a matter of public health and safety for the Black community.

When I heard the slogan Vote or Die, popularized in 2004 by Sean Diddy Combs, I could hardly keep a straight face. Now, amid COVID-19s ongoing impact on Black communities and growing social unrest sparked by the death of George Floyd, the slogan is prophetic.

I am a Black public health doctor. COVID-19 hit white communities hard, but it has a vice grip on Black communities evoking memories of an aphorism said by my grandmother and countless other Black Americans: When White America catches a cold, Black America gets pneumonia.

Read More: Foot Locker stores will turn into voter registration sites

A study led by Yale researchers found that Black Americans are 3.5 times more likely to die from the coronavirus versus their white counterparts. This is not surprising given that Black people are more likely to have preexisting conditions  such as asthma, high blood pressure and diabetes  as a result of underemployment, substandard housing, inferior healthcare, and lack of access to healthy foods. The virus has unmasked inequities that have existed for hundreds of years for the world to see and offered the nation a glimpse into the lopsided destruction inflicted by disease on the Black community.

As the dust settles and we begin to unpack the events that have led to this transformative period in our history, one thing is clear: this administration does not care about Black lives.

Fayetteville State University students get off a Black Votes Matter bus at Smith Recreation Center on March 3, 2020 in Fayetteville, North Carolina. (Photo by Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images)

The disproportionate impact of the virus on Black communities is not the only traumatic event that needs addressing. A pattern of extrajudicial killings of Black people has incited protests of racially biased police violence across the country, while counter-protests in support of police crop up in their wake, creating a more deeply entrenched political divide. The seemingly never-ending dark cloud of police misconduct, coupled with COVID-19, has created an untenable situation for many Black Americans. Cries of arrest the cops that murdered Breonna Taylor have fallen on deaf ears and the image of police officers shooting Jacob Blake seven times in the back while his children watched are ingrained in our minds. In the wake of these events, the Black Lives Matter movement has highlighted that moral victories and symbolic gestures no longer cut it.

Story continues

Black Americans and their allies must carry the momentum of the Black Lives Matter movement to the polls and vote, in mass, like our lives depend on it, because they do.

Racism and ceased procreation stemming from Black premature deaths represent two of our nations greatest public health crises in America. A recent University of Michigan study found that premature deaths at the hands of law enforcement made police violence one of the leading causes of death for young Black men. Another study found that higher rates of mass incarceration and stricter sentencing laws resulted in a two-year decrease in life expectancy for Blacks over whites. Lack of investment in Black communities and the racist policies that support it  see: redlining, restrictive zoning, and gerrymandering  have created conditions that leave Black people with little margin for error when it comes to their mental and physical health. Voting in the 2020 election can change that.

The COVID-19 pandemic has reminded us that the time to end the disproportionate and unjust impact of disease on people of color is long overdue. Heightened public health approaches are needed to bring attention to a racial group that routinely dies five to six decades prior to our life expectancy from causes that are completely preventable. Undoing this legacy of disproportionate harm requires various transformative actions, beginning with electing decision-makers who are committed to creating more equitable communities. Black mistrust in government is not unfounded, but continued civic engagement is vital to supporting healthcare workers, health disparity researchers, and the public health community in our quest to mitigate the impact of disease on vulnerable populations.

Guest stand in front of a vote sign as mourners visit the body of Rep. John Lewis at the Alabama State Capitol on July 26, 2020 in Montgomery, Alabama. (Photo by Lynsey Weatherspoon/Getty Images)

If the Black vote is the swing vote, as it often seems to be, than it is prudent for voters on the fence to rethink their positions on voting, as their choice may be the difference between vitally important policy changesuch as the reinstatement of the pandemic response team in the National Security Councilpolice reform, increases in public education funding, or the creation of affordable housing programs that focus on fair-market Black home ownership.

If we dont vote people into office who advocate for initiatives that support our daily livelihood, we cant expect our tax dollars to be spent in our best interests. We need to create the conditions for good health for all residents by seeking changes in the various policies  criminal justice, law enforcement, housing, and transportation to name a few  that are determined by elected officials. We must not simply give our vote away  we must leverage it, put our demands in writing, and hold elected officials accountable if they fail to deliver on their promises.

America is well aware that the Black vote can be transformational and effective at the local, state, and national level  this is why the political incumbents of Bible Belt states like North Carolina and Georgia have gone to great lengths to actively suppress it. When looking into low Black voter turnout we must take into account the ways that Blacks are systematically denied the ability to vote. Voter suppression keeps the status quo in place. In 2016, President Trump boasted that the African-American community was great to us. If they had any doubt, they didnt vote and that was almost as good. In an election that was largely decided by fewer than 80,000 votes across three states, this was a stark reminder that every vote matters, but it also furthered a narrative that is, at best, incomplete.

Black Lives Matter Co-Founder Alicia Garza speaks during the Womens March Power to the Polls voter registration tour launch on January 21, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

The Black community does not deserve the unwarranted criticisms of low voter turnout. In a good year, only 60 percent of all voting-eligible American citizens cast ballots, so it is unfair to hold a group that has been marginalized and disenfranchised to a higher standard. Still, for the first time in many of our adult lives, our voices will be heard at the polls thanks to heightened awareness and active anti-voter suppression campaigns funded by some of the nations most prominent figures, like LeBron James and Stacey Abrams. If the barriers to vote are in fact mitigated but Black voter turnout remains low, it will provide credence to the mischaracterization of Black votership.

Voting is not the only outlet for political change, but it is one of the main ways to make our voice heard on issues that affect the Black community. Voting is more than a right or a way to pay homage to our forefathers who fought so hard for us to have it; voting in large numbers is a way to control the narrative and cement the legacy of the Black Lives Matter movement. A non-vote inadvertently supports policies contrary to our ideals and wellbeing.

Read More: Georgias Fulton County works to avoid another vote debacle after primary snafu

Cultural anthropologist Margaret Mead famously said: Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, its the only thing that ever has.

While the COVID-19 pandemic and police misconduct present an existential crisis for each of us, it is also an opportunity to learn anew, and marks, for many of us  maybe for the first time  that our destinies are inextricably intertwined. America has seen the way it treats Black people and now it cannot unsee it. Civil rights and racial equality are going to be really important issues again for this election. Yes, we must learn from past mistakes and make our voices heard at the polls on November 3rd, but more importantly, we must vote together or risk dying apart.

Dr. Shamard Charles is an assistant professor of public health and health promotion at St. Francis College and sits on the anti-bias review board of Dot Dash/VeryWell Health. He is also host of the health podcast, Heart Over Hype. He received his medical degree from the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and his Masters of Public Health from Harvards T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Previously, he spent three years as senior health journalist for NBC News and served as a Global Press Fellow for the United Nations Foundation. You can follow him on Instagram @askdrcharles or Twitter @DrCharles_NBC.

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The post Your vote can save Black lives: The importance of making your voice heard appeared first on TheGrio.
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NY Elizabeth board has made unanimous decision to expand its Modern art auction. Renewed Modern Artist Jonathan McAfee painting collection will be auctioned October 4th 2020. NY Elizabeth shares history of its early client Mahmud Khayami and how the auction house has evolved from an art gallery in Mayfair to one of the leading online luxury auction house.

Renown for his prowess as an entrepreneur, industrialist, and financier, Mahmoud Khayami also gained stature internationally as a philanthropist with a penchant for collecting exquisite Persian art across a storied life.

Born in Masshad, Iran from meager beginnings, Mahmoud Khayami - along with his brother Ahmad - founded the largest industrial complex in the country. Through their Iran National Company, the brothers produced the popular Peykan cars with the Hillman-Hunter company of England. After moving from Iran and resettling in London, Khayami successfully managed the distribution of Mercedes-Benz cars in both the United States and Britain, continuing his philanthropic activities under The Mahmoud Khayami Foundation.

There is no doubt about how Khayamis involvement in the automotive industry changed the sector internationally, with the icon also launching the Bank of Iranian Industries, and the Kourosh Department Stores, the first chain of retail stores within the country. Through his philanthropic efforts with The Khayami Foundation, Khayami was invested as a Knight of the Pontifical Order of Pope Saint Sylvester by Pope John Paul II in 2004, invested as a Knight Commander of the Royal Order of Francis I by Prince Carlo, decorated by the late King Hussein of Jordan, and appointed as an honorary OBE in 2011 for services to education by Queen Elizabeth II.

Collecting a History

Through the Khayami Collection, Mahmouds passion for Persian art permeates as it encompasses the cultural heritage across many forms from ceramics and jewelry, to rich ornaments and paintings. Persian art is noted for its cultural and regional interconnectivity and is heralded as one of the most influential periods throughout the history of art. The Khayami Collection began its art procurement through purchases with NY Elizabeth and cultivated impressive acquisitions that eventually were sold to the Doha Museum. Through their collaboration, Khayamis collection of Persian art stands as a testament to aesthetic appreciation and knowledge of the era.

The Cultivation of Fine Art

Connecting clients to exquisite pieces is a mission that CEO Nouriel Gino Yazdinian has navigated for decades at NY Elizabeth, his family recognized internationally in the art gallery world since 1956. The company has maintained an elite status within the industry, and Yazdinian has utilized his previous career paths as a tech executive and pioneer in social networking to take the business to the next level. As a lover of fine art and luxury goods, Gino has grown NY Elizabeth towards the micromanagement of luxury goods, fine antiquities, and the sale of original artwork. With a focus primarily on art from the 16th - 19th centuries, luxury vehicles and watches, contemporary modern art, and high-end fashion, NY Elizabeth acts at the behest of their clients to procure goods according to their wishes. Now recognized as a leading authority for a luxury online art auction, the gallery has arranged private deals for some of the worlds most respected classic painters, including Picasso, Monet, and Renoir.

A Bold Direction in the Art World

Mahmoud Khayami is one example of the prominent art collectors that are an integral component of NY Elizabeths family client list, and the passion for collecting items from the luxury goods market ensures that all quality expectations are met and exceeded. Alongside his business partner Nicholas Lauter, Gino Yazdinian has revolutionized the online auction blueprint by revamping the business towards expansion that has expanded into the digital realm of the Xennial and Millennial generations. These monumental moves speak to younger generations that are interested in collecting art and maintains NY Elizabeths place at the forefront of the industry.

Mahmoud Khayamis commitment to art collection combined with NY Elizabeths family expertise in acquisitions proved to be a productive pairing, something the art gallery manages with many of its clients interested in private sales of luxury items. Boasting a clientele list that covers over 15 countries, and more than 8,000 bidders, in 2019, the auction house surpassed 230 auction sales. NY Elizabeth is a vocal member of the art community and is recognized as a powerhouse in the online luxury art auction world. Clients that value exclusive modern art, diligent service, and years of expertise turn to NY Elizabeth because they have confidence in the company to procure the luxury goods they desire.

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Bengaluru, Sep 22 : Close on the heels of the Karnataka government appointing an administrator in the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the joint select committee of the Karnataka legislature has recommended increasing the number of wards from 198 at present to 250.

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike Bill was tabled in the Assembly by the government in the previous session in March, but due to objections raised not only from the Opposition parties, but also from the ruling BJP, it was decided to form a joint panel to study it in detail.

The state government had constituted a 21-member committee, comprising both MLAs and MLCs, headed by BJP MLA S. Raghu, which tabled its special report in the Assembly on Tuesday.

The report strongly recommended amending Section 7(1)(a) of the Karnataka Municipal Corporations Act, 1976 as it states that currently the corporation shall consist of such number of elected councillors not being less than 30 and not more than 200 as the government may, by notification, determine.

The committee has recommended a suitable amendment to change the maximum limit from 200 to 250.

Even though the committee suggested that as the term of the elected members of BBMP has ended and elections should be held, but at the same time the committee also seeks extra time to examine various aspects mentioned in the BBMP Bill.

But considering the current circumstances, increased population in Bengaluru city and the geographical spread, the committee has recommended to the government to amend the act.

The term of the joint panel that is examining the BBMP Bill has been recently extended till November to submit its final report.

The panel also proposed that the city should be divided into 15 zones with each having a committee chaired by a zonal commissioner.

The term of the BBMP corporators ended on September 10 and elections are yet to be notified.

The state government has appointed senior IAS officer Gaurav Gupta as administrator until the new council for the civic body is elected.
Even if the referendum were a success, skeptics say, it would be unlikely to lead to prosecutions of any of the five ex-leaders, let alone prison terms. In some cases, the allegations are too old or have produced no serious evidence; in others, they were more a matter of unpopular policies or cronyism than lawbreaking.
While COVID-19 has disrupted India's unorganised weavers and artisans in the textile industry, the Union Ministry of Textiles has launched a slew of incentives to resurrect the ailing sector.

Setting up of government sponsored e-market place (GeM) to enable artisans and weavers to sell their products directly to various government departments and organisations, engaging 23 e-commerce entities for online marketing of handloom products and encouraging state governments to increasingly use handloom products are some of the key measures. Further, setting up Design Resource Centres in Weavers Service Centres (WSCs) and financial assistance for raw materials, purchase of looms and accessories, design innovation, product diversification, infrastructure development, skill upgradation, lighting units, marketing of handloom products and loan at concessional rates are some of the other projects being implemented, Smriti Zubin Irani, Union Minister of Textiles, informed Rajya Sabha, today.

As policy initiatives, the government has set up a National Technical Textiles Mission with total outlay of Rs 1,480 crore and abolished the anti-dumping duty on Purified Terephthalic Acid (PTA), a critical input for man-made textile fibre and yarns, besides various schemes being implemented in the past few years, she said.

The government has conducted a study, 'Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on Indian silk industry' to ascertain the crisis, as the industry is faced with various problems of production, cocoon and raw silk prices, transportation problem, non-availability of skilled workers, sale of raw silk and silk products, working capital and cash flow, reduced export and import orders, besides restrictions.

After interacting with the industry, the government is finalising a list of potential export products against which exports of textile and apparel can be enhanced.

In order to make the textile sector competitive by rebating all taxes/levies in international market, the government has decided to continue the RoSCTL (Rebate of State and Central Taxes and Levies) scheme until such time the RoSCTL scheme is merged with Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) scheme. For this purpose, the Government has approved adhoc allocation of funds of Rs 7,398 crore for FY 2020-21 for issuance of duty credit scrips under RoSCTL scheme, she said.

The government is also implementing the venture capital fund for power loom and Allied Products and Services (TEX-Fund), for providing equity investment to micro and small enterprises in the powerloom sector to boost innovation in the industry by creation of brands and generation of intellectual property and enable development of the powerloom sector and allied activities. The fund has a minimum corpus of Rs 35 crore with the government's contribution of Rs 24.50 crore and the Small Industries Development Bank of India has a minimum contribution of Rs 10.50 crore. The SIDBI Venture Capital Limited (SVCL) is the Investment Manager of the TEX-Fund, said the Minister.

Also Read: PM Modi's foreign trips in 2015 cost Rs 517.82 crore, informs MEA

Also Read: Parliament passes amendment to Essential Commodities Bill, removes cereals, pulses and oilseeds from list

Also Read: HDFC Bank customer? Check out eligibility, documents, fees to restructure loan
NEW DELHI : Heres a list of top ten stocks that may be in news on Tuesday:

State Bank of India: The country's largest lender has raised 7,000 crore by issuing Basel III compliant bonds. "The Committee of Directors for Capital Raising at its meeting of held today on September 21, 2020 accorded its approval to allot 70,000 Basel III compliant non-convertible, taxable, redeemable...debt instruments in the nature of debentures aggregating to 7,000 crore, to bond subscribers," SBI said in a regulatory filing. The allotment of bonds to the subscribers took place on the same date i.e. September 21, 2020, it added.

Indian Oil Corp: Country's largest oil marketing company Indian Oil Corporation will invest 17,825 crore to implement Petrochemical and Lube Integration at its Gujarat Refinery. "The integration of Polypropylene and Lube Oil Base Stock (LOBS) units will enhance the petrochemical and specialty products integration index of Gujarat Refinery," said Shrikant M Vaidya, Chairman, IOCL at the company's 61st annual general meeting.

GMM Pfaudler: Promoter group of the company that includes Pfaulder Inc., Millars Machinery Company Private Limited and Urmi Patel, have proposed to sell 40.93 lakh equity shares representing approximately 28.00% of the total paid up equity share capital via offer for sale (OFS). Base offer is for 25.7 lakh shares (17.59%), with an oversubscription option of 15.22 lakh shares (10.41%). The floor price for the OFS has been fixed at 3,500 per share.

HDFC Bank: The lender said it is aware of a complaint filed against the bank and its three employees in the United States recently, but denies the allegations and intends to defend itself vigorously". HDFC Bank expects its response to the lawsuit to be due in early 2021, it said in a regulatory filing.

NBFCs: Fitch Ratings on Monday took rating action on the long-term issuer default ratings of four non-bank financial companies. Shriram Transport Finance Companys rating has been affirmed at 'BB' and Rating Watch Negative (RWN) has been removed. IIFL Finance Limited 'B ' rating has been maintained on RWN. Manappuram Finance rating has been affirmed at 'BB-' and RWN has been removed. Muthoot Finance's rating has also been affirmed at 'BB' but RWN has been removed. The agency has kept stable outlooks on Manappuram and Muthoot.

Mahindra & Mahindra: US-based automobile distributor HAAH Automotive Holdings has reached out to Indias Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd (M&M) with an offer to invest $258 million in the latters Korean subsidiary SsangYong Motor Company, according to a report by the news agency Korean Investors. The report said that Indian automobile manufacturer, which owns 75% stake in SsangYong Motor, is considering the proposal submitted by HAAH last week.

HSIL: The company has approved the proposal for buyback of fully paid up equity shares of face value of 2 each at a maximum buyback price of 105 per equity share for an aggregate amount of 70 crore. The maximum buyback offer size represents 7.19% of the aggregate of the total paid up equity share capital.

JSPL: The company clarified on media reports regarding certain transactions undertaken between 2014 and 2016 saying that all transactions entered into by the company were part of routine business activities and all the transactions had proper underlying assets. All such transactions are done strictly within the required legal framework and as per the law of the land, it added.

Reliance Capital: Lenders to Reliance Capital Ltd (RCL) have appointed SBI Caps and JM Financial to sell the assets of the company after the Anil Ambani-owned firm defaulted on its debt repayment to debenture holders and other creditors, Business Standard reported.

Agriculture companies: Amid protests over farm bills, the Cabinet Committee of Economic Affairs (CCEA) on Monday approved hiking Minimum Support Price (MSP) for rabi crops.

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A frantic dad fought back tears in a desperate TV interview as the search for his missing autistic son continues into the night on Melbourne's outskirts.

William Wall, 14, was last seen heading out for his daily jog along the Yarra Ranges' Warburton Trail at around 6.45am on Tuesday, promising his family he would be back in 15 minutes.

But he never returned to his home in Launching Place and was still missing on Tuesday evening.

William's distraught father Shane issued an emotional plea as police and State Emergency Service volunteers spent the day scouring bushland and difficult terrain from the air and on the ground.

The desperate search to find William Wall (pictured) continues after he didn't return home

'I just want him home, as simple as that,' he told Nine News as he fought back tears.

'Just get home. That's all I want and be well.'

His family told police it's 'very unusual' for William not to return home.

As the search continues into the night, police hold growing concerns for William's welfare as he may become disorientated and agitated without food.

An emotional Shane Wall (pictured) fought back tears as he pleaded for his son to come home

Mr Wall spent the whole day searching for his son and remains hopeful William will be found safe and sound.

'At the moment, everyone's hoping that he's going to be okay,' he said.

'If he's held up somewhere, just stay bloody warm. I just want him to reach out to someone if he sees someone. He doesn't have his phone on him.'

Crews will continue the widespread search well into the night, with temperatures forecast to plummet to 4C.

Police were flooded offers from locals to join the search but had to reject them.

'In line with coronavirus restrictions, at this stage we do not require any assistance from the public,' a post on the Eyewatch - Yarra Ranges Police Facebook page states.

'We want to say a big thank you however, for the all the offers we have received.'

While William is autistic, he can communicate verbally.

The widespread search for autistic teen William Wall continued into the night on Tuesday

He's described as 177cm tall, being of slim build, having mousy brown hair and a lazy right eye.

He was last seen wearing a dark hoodie, dark-coloured track pants, black running shoes and had a hydration pack across his chest.

Police have received reports of a possible sighting near Warburton earlier in the day.

'We have had a possible sighting from a credible witness we believe in the Warburton area so that's given us quite a good place to start,' Acting Sergeant Jordan Kavanagh told reporters earlier in the afternoon.

'He's believed to have been sighted on a trail above Warburton, the [O'Shannassy] Aqueduct Trail, that's the last sighting we have ... The witness described an upset male matching the description.'

The teenager went out for his daily morning jog along the Warburton Trail (pictured) around 6.45am Tuesday morning but hasn't been seen since

Anyone who has seen William or can provide information on his whereabouts is urged to call triple-zero.

William's disappearance comes three months after non-verbal autistic teen William Callaghan became separated from his family during a walk at Mount Disappointment, 60km north of Melbourne,.

The teen spent two nights alone before being miraculously found safe and well.
MISSING: Haidee Waters

A desperate search is underway for a 14-year-old girl who vanished more than 24 hours ago.

Fears are growing for Haidee Waters, who was last seen in Montrose, east of Melbourne, at 10pm on Monday.

She is 165cm tall, has long straight brown hair and is slim. She has braces and was wearing a grey and red hoodie and white trainers on Monday night.

She is known to visit Chirnside Park, Lilydale and Mooroolbark.

Anyone with information should call Mooroolbark Police Station on 03 9725 9999.
Muzaffarnagar:

An illegal arms-manufacturing unit was today busted by police which also seized 70 pistols from its premises in Muzaffarnagar, the second such case within three days in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh.

Acting on a tip-off, police raided a house where arms were being manufactured at Puralsi village under the jurisdiction of Budhana police station, circle officer Mohanlal said.

Police seized 20 pistols and 50 others in manufacturing process. The machine used to make guns was also seized.

Four accused, however, managed to escape. A case was registered against four persons including Dilshad and Nisar who are absconding.

It was revealed that the unit was supplying arms to be used during the upcoming assembly elections, police said.

On Saturday, an illegal arms-manufacturing unit was unearthed and 17 pistols were seized from the house here. The illegal gun factory was functioning from Shahpur town, police said. Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh will be held from February 11 to March 8 in 7 phases.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a special gesture received Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the airport in New Delhi.

UAE Crown Prince will be the chief guest at this year's Republic Day parade. Al Nahyan, also the Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE armed forces, arrived on Tuesday on a three-day visit to India.

Apart from bilateral talks between the two leaders, a Strategic Cooperation Agreement along with more than a dozen pacts is on the cards.

Modi and Nahyan will hold the one-on-one meeting at the Prime Minister's official residence on Wednesday before proceeding to Hyderabad House for delegation-level talks.

ALSO READ | Special gesture: UAE Crown Prince received by PM Modi at airport, to be chief guest at Republic Day parade

India is also hoping to sign an MoU between their investment fund and our National Infrastructure Investment Fund (NIIF) which will put in place a framework as to how the fund will be administered and which all sectors it can be invested in, according to reports.

Abu Dhabi Crown Prince is also expected to meet President Pranab Mukherjee and Vice- President Hamid Ansari.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
A video camera shows Helen, a baby Javan rhino, in the Ujung Kulon National Park in Indonesia's Banten province (Photo: Antara)



The rhino calvesa female named Helen and male called Lutherwere seen with their mothers in footage taken from nearly 100 camera traps installed in Ujung Kulon national park between March and August, authorities said in a recent statement.



After years of population decline, the arrival of the new calves brings the total number of the rare mammals to 74.



These births bring a big hope for the continuation of the life of the critically endangered special Javan rhino, said Wiratno, a senior official at the Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry.



On the westernmost tip of Java in Banten province, Ujung Kulon is the last remaining wild habitat for Javan rhinos. The sanctuary comprises some 5,100 hectares of lush rainforest and freshwater streams.



The Indonesian government has been surveying other areas across Java and Sumatra islands to relocate the rhinos from the danger of Mount Krakatau, an active volcano not far from the national park.



The mammals once numbered in the thousands across Southeast Asia, but have been hard hit by rampant poaching and human encroachment on their habitats./.
Maria Delivoria-Papadopoulos, 90, of Lansdowne, an internationally known scientist in the field of neonatal medicine who helped save thousands of infants through her groundbreaking research, died Friday, Sept. 11, of endometrial cancer at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

During a 50-year career, Dr. Delivoria-Papadopoulos was a professor of pediatrics, physiology, and obstetrics/gynecology at Drexel University College of Medicine, and director of neonatal intensive care at St. Christophers Hospital for Children. Both are in Philadelphia.

She was regarded as the mother of neonatology and a legend in the field," Greeces Neonatal Society said in an online tribute.

She remains alive in the hearts and memories of the hundreds of doctors she trained and inspired to have a love for sick children, of the hundreds of Greek doctors she opened the way for, and of the thousands of Greek patients who found treatment at specialized centers with her help, the society said on Sept. 14.

Born in Athens, she was the daughter of Constantine and Kalliopi Delivoria. She earned a medical degree from Athens University.

She came to the United States in 1957 to pursue postdoctoral study in physiology at the University of Pennsylvania. She joined the faculty and created the neonatal unit at Penn, which she ran before leaving as professor emeritus in 2000.

She was on the Drexel faculty from 2000 to 2006, when she was given the Ralph Brenner Endowed Chair in Pediatrics at St. Christophers Hospital.

She was honored globally for her achievements and continued research in neonatal medicine throughout her life. Her most important contribution was taking the iron lung used to treat polio victims in the 1950s and adapting it to support the breathing of premature babies. Another was the use of magnetic resonance imaging to assess the infants' brains.

She was the first doctor to place an infant on a respirator to help with respiratory distress syndrome, her family said in a statement. She was also the first woman and doctor to demonstrate the effective use of mechanical ventilation to treat lung disease in premature infants, the family said.

Her nearly 60-year medical career was dedicated to at-risk newborns, and she touched the lives of countless children, St. Christophers Hospital said in an online post last weekend.

One infant on whose condition she consulted in 1963 was Patrick Bouvier Kennedy, the son of President John F. Kennedy and first lady Jacqueline Kennedy.

Dr. Delivoria-Papadopoulos was called when the baby developed breathing problems. She didnt treat the child, though, because she was working at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. It was considered unseemly for a Canadian physician to treat the child of a U.S president.

The child was treated by a Boston specialist who placed him in a hyperbaric chamber filled with 100% oxygen, similar to the ones used by divers. Despite frantic efforts by doctors, the child lived for only 39 hours, dying at 4:04 a.m. Aug. 9.

Because of her expertise, she served as an adviser to the National Institutes of Health. She was the author of 400 scientific publications.

Dr. Delivoria-Papadopoulos had an extensive network of scientific proteges as well as thousands of surviving patients, including many for whom she was the only hope. They kept in touch with her always, said her son James C. Patterson.

Despite her elevated status in medicine, she lived simply.

Her life would have been viewed as a blue-collar sort of status, said Joseph McGowan, a family friend for 40 years. She spent a month in Greece every summer, providing free medical care to Greek children. She worked from a tent and gave each child a toy so they wouldnt fear doctors.

After her mother died in 1985, Dr. Delivoria-Papadopoulos wore black, sometimes punctuated with a signature white blouse, for the rest of her life.

Her husband, Christos Papadopoulos, died in 2002. Besides her son James, she is survived by another son, Constantine C. Patterson, and a grandson.

Services were private. Memorial donations may be made to any veterans organization.
Written by ACM





*Strasbourg/Angelo Marcopolo/- "It's Right that Europe canNot have Double Standards on Turkey and Belarus", Replied to "Eurofora" Greek Minister for European affairs Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, who currently Chairs the CoE, on a Question concerning what happened Today at EU Council's Foreign Affairs meeting, where the necessary Unanimity Lacked in order to Impose more Sanctions to Minsk, as long as there was "No Decision" Yet, "for the Time being", in view of, at least, Parallel Sanctions also to the Notoriously Worse case of Ankara, (Both from Human Rights and GeoPolitical points of view), as EU's High Representative for External Action, Josep Borrell, revealed at a Press Conference this Afternoon, adding that he Found all that "Regrettable", But expected that "it might be Settled" by EU Heads of State/Government at the forthcoming Exceptional EU Summit of September 24-25, due to Focus mainly on Turkey, (See: ..., etc).

+ Moreover, Varvitsiotis considers "very Logic", his Cypriot counterpart, Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides' reported Statement that, Already, Back at the traditional "Gymnich" EU Meeting for Diplomacy, Earlier in Berlin, there was a Clear Collective Understanding, and even a "Political Agreement" for "Parallel" Sanctions vis a vis Turkey and Belarus.

- This "was Supported", Today in Brussels, "among others, also by Cyprus, Greece, Slovakia, France, Ireland, Denmark, and Malta", etc, as different well informed Diplomatic Sources told "Eurofora". In Consequence, even if Earlier, "all EU Countries, including Cyprus, "had Agreed on the Principle of Sanctions on Belarus" a priori, Finaly, Cyprus was reportedly obliged to "Observe that, Since the Berlin's Political Agreement could Not be Applied (in that Context of Foreign Affairs' Ministers Today), then, the Issue of Sanctions on Belarus should also be Referred to the (forthcoming) EU Summit too" (As also for Turkey" : Comp. Supra).

- Christodoulides stressed that Particularly since Turkey has just taken even a New Decision to Violate EU Member Cyprus' EEZ (there where the Most Energy Resources in Europe have been Recently Proven to exist) by Issuing a NAFTEX on 15/9 about Sending "Yavyz" Drilling Ship for illegal Search, usualy Escorted by Turkish WarShips, until 12/10/2020, as EU Parliament's Recent Resolution clearly "Condemned", with the Only Vote which was quasi-Unanimously adopted, by All its Political Groups, (See : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/euparliamentonturkishbullyingeuropeanenergy.html), concerning EU's Most Promissing Natural Energy Resources' Hotspot, (and Also Borrell Acknowledged that this New Fact raises a Problem).



=> - In Fact, "this is Not just a Greco-Turkish Issue, But a European Issue, for Europe's own (Political) Architecture and (Energy + Defense) Security. Those who haven't understood that, canNot Understand Nothing !", clearly Concluded Today Varvitsiotis, (who had Earlier been Elected, at CoE's Assembly, as vice-President of its Biggest Political Group, that of ChristianDemocrats/EPP, See: ..., etc), Speaking to "Eurofora".

---------------------------

Turkey has Notoriously Chassed Away, by Threats from its WarShips, an Italian "ENI"'s Drilling Ship, Peacefully operating at Cyprus' Southern Coast Territorial Waters and EEZ, Delimitated by Treaties with Neighbouring Egypt, Israel, etc, in Agreement with the legitimate Nicosia's Government, (as a Video, Audio traces, and Satellite Data Revealed during a Previous EU Summit), even if Ankara did Not Dare do the Same vis a vis USA's and/or France's Drilling Ships... Moreover, it has Repeatedly Bullied, with WarShips and Military Airplanes, Both EU Member Countries Cyprus and Greece, at the Eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean Sea, Either Escorting illegal Turkish "Drilling" Ships at Non-Delimitated Areas, (an act equivalent to a Violation of International Law, according to UNO's Treaty on the Law of the Sea), Or by Issuing "NAFTEX" for Turkish Military Exercises inside EU Members Cyprus or Greece's EEZ. In Addition, Ankara's Government has, Too Often, issued Grossly Provocative Statements, several times with Insults and Brutal Rhetorics, against EU Members Greece and/or Cyprus, and Even Open War Threats.

The Natural Gas Energy Resources Discovered in EU Member Cyprus, as well as in Adjacent Sea Areas of Neighbouring Egypt and Israel, at the South-Eastern Mediterranean, during Recent Years, seem Equivalent, in Geological and Volume terms, to the Huge Oil/Gas Findings at the Gulf of Mexico, which reportedly represent More than +50% of Total USA Needs, allowing Washington DC to Become, from Importing in the Past, Nowadays an Exporting Partner. While EU's older Northern Sea Deposits notoriously Periclitated, EU Members Cyprus and Greece Multiplied Friendly Agreements with Key Neighbouring Countries as Israel, Egypt, etc., Both on the Delimitation of their respective EEZ, and on various Plans to Transport Energy towards Europe Directly, i.e. withOut being Obliged to Pass through anOther Foreign Country, (be it by High-Tech Ships for NLG, by Transforming Gas to Electricity transmitted via UnderSea Cables, and/or by the EU-sponsored UnderSea Pipeline "East-Med", etc).

At a Recent "MED-7" Summit of Heads of State/Government from 7 Southern, Mediterranean EU Member States, Hosted, this Year, by French President Emmanuel Macron at the Corsica Island, was Adopted a "Joint Declaration", Denouncing Turkey's Wrongdoings (in line with Several EU Summits in Brussels, which have Already Brandissed "Sanctions", Earlier), and Calling for the EU to Face Ankara with "All Means that EU disposes", unless it Accepts a Sincere, Bonna Fides "Dialogue", on Solving its Issues with Greece and/or Cyprus by Political Negotiations, according to International Law, or, Otherwise, by Submitting the Issue to the International Court at Hague, (See: ..., etc). A somewhat Similar Position was, Later-on, Adopted also by the EU Parliament, in a Resolution voted in Brussels Last Week.

But, Turkish Government Top Officials Initialy Reacted, inter alia, by Threatening Greece to "be Eaten like Meat" if it doesn't "Shut up" (sic !), Warning French President Macron "Not to Mess up with Turkey", and Slandering France to the point to Even risk to approach African ISIS' Deadly Terrorists' Propaganda at Mali, etc., while, Later-on, After a Too Brief "Pause" for so-called Exploratory Talks with Greece, Ankara Suddenly re-Started, again, to Insult President Macron as "InCompetent", (sic !), and Even Issued 2 More "NAFTEX" for areas in EU Member Cyprus' EEZ, including for more illegal "Drillings" by Turkish Ships under escort of WarShips, etc.

These Last Turkish Aggressive Moves were also Criticized by Borrell, at his Press Conference, Today, (Comp. Supra).



Meanwhile, at Belarus, Many Demonstrators were reportedly Detained, (sometimes, However, ...Less than in Berlin or Paris, recently. See: ..., etc), But Most of them Freed, shortly afterwards, (a lot even Only a Few Hours later). While, in Turkey, Many and various alleged Dissidents have been Killed, or Arrested and Kept to Jail for Too Long Periods of Time, (to the point that, f.ex., a Woman Lawyer has Recently Died After 28 Days of desperate Hunger Strike in a Turkish Prison, provoking EU/CoE Criticism), otherwise ill-Treated in Inhuman/Degrading ways, and/or Massively Fired from their Jobs, (including Judges, Universitarians, etc), if not Forced to Numerous cases of Exile Abroad, several among them having asked -and obtained- Political Asylum in Europe.

In Addition, Belarus has Never Invaded and Occupied any Other Country, while, on the Contrary, Turkey still Keeps its Invasion/Occupation Army at the Northern Territories of EU Member Cyprus, and has Recently Invaded and Occupied 2 Times various Syrian Territories with Bloody Wars, Invaded and Killed People at 2 Different areas in Irak, Threatened EU Member Greece with War, etc.

Moreover, Turkey, at least as things stand, canNot Transport Energy into the EU, in Any Rapid, Cheap, and Secure way, withOut its usual Blackmails, while, on the Contrary, it's enough to Simply press a button, in order to Immediately have Fast, Safe and Abundant Gas transfered from Russia to Germany, at EU's Industrial Core, thanks to a Pipeline "Europa", Already installed there in the Past, whenever the Political Situation becomes better.

Last, but not least, Belarus' Officials have Never as Grossly Insulted in Public European Countries, and/or democraticaly elected European Leaders, as Turkey has Notoriously done, Recently, several Times, (Comp., f.ex., inter alia, also Supra).



As for Irregular Migrants calling themselves "Refugees" Massively, it's Wrong to believe the Turkish Propaganda that they might have "Helped" Millions, allegedly Paying for them ...Billions $, as Ankara Officials, and some Naive or Hypocritical individuals often routinely Claim. In Fact, Turkey Imported, towards irregularly Tresspassing Massively into Europe, Too Many among its notorious Islamic Pakistano-Afghan Pals, from the Other Side of Deep Asia, (already, More than 60% such irregular residents at EU Member Greece's Lesbos Island are, reportedly, among this kind of Pakistano-Afghan origine, while such Pakis are also often Competing with Turkish Smugglers, the Most Numerous), and, More Grave, Turkey has largely PROVOKED itself a Mass Refugee Movement from Syria, by notoriously Helping Armed Gangs of Deadly Islamist Terrorists (including even ISIS, etc) to Penetrate and/or have wide Logistical Support there (by irregular Transactions, Money, "Jihadist" Extremists, Arms, etc), Even was found to Provide them with Deadly "Rockets" (sic !), Before Invading (always side by side, Together with various Armed Islamist Gangs, even Murdering helpless Women, Usurpating People's Family Homes, etc), at 2 different Times the Northern Territories of Syria, in Addition to Backing Idlib Region inside Syria, a Notorious over-Concentration of Various Armed Extremist Islamist Gangs, where Even ISIS' long-time Leader El Bagdadi was Hidding, while the ISIS' New Leader, (known as "Mawla the Destroyer", according to USA and Chinese Medias), is himself "Turkmen" from Nearby Mosul, of the kind that Ankara supported with Rockets (Comp. Supra)... In Addition, Turkey has, Already, largely PROFITED from such provoked Mass "Refugee" Displacements, at least 3 Times : First by heavily Exploiting most of those Impoverished and Defenseless People, (Initially All Closed in overloaded "Camps" surrounded by Barbed Wire and tighty Controled by the Turkish Army, so that some even Died there or became Sick by an awful Heat in makeshift Tents, while Others were often Violently Oppressed when they Revolted), Submited at various Humiliating and Badly Paid, dirty "Jobs", to the Profit of Shameless Turkish Exploiters, (as, f.ex., attest the Revelations to UK Medias by the Father of Tragic Refugee Child "Kurdi", who was Killed on 2015, together with his Mother and Sister, when a Turkish Smuggler, suddenly Opened a Hole in a Plastic Boat tresspassing Asylum Seekers in Greece, and Abandoned them at the Middle of the Sea, Running to Leave with a Rapid Motor-Boat, as they used to Often do). Second, by notoriously Blackmailing the EU, in order to Pay Turkey 3 Billions  Each Year, in full Grants, after Ankara notoriously threw, Suddenly, into Europe more than 1,5 Million of Irregular Migrants who Massively called themselves "Asylum Seekers", on 2015/2016+, (including Even ISIS Deadly Terrorists Cowardly Targetting innocent Civilian People, as some of those who Killed Hundreds in Paris' "Bataklan" Massacre, or Raped and sometimes Murdered Young Girls in Germany, as at Nearby Freiburg, or Raped Even Children Aged 10 among European Refugees from Serbia, f.ex. in Wien, and/or, reportedly, inside Refugee facilities in Greek Islands or Berlin, etc) : Something that Turkey, attempted even to Repeat Nowadays, on 2019, inter alia by Inciting Many Thousands of such Irregular Migrants Massively calling themselves "Asylum Seekers" to Tresspass EU's External Borders in Greece, along Evros River, But mostly Failed, this time, when the New Greek Government, Together with the EU, Defended Europe. Third, Turkey Obviously, also, Seeks to grossly Exploit even Ideologically and Politically such Miserous Masses of Desperate People, for the Fate of whom, on the Contrary, Ankara should be Ashamed, in reality, (at least for All the above-mentioned Facts).

On the Contrary, inter alia, Minsk's Government not only Never did against the EU Anything Similar, But it Even has, Recently, Accepted, Well Treated and Helped Many Thousands of Poor Jewish People, from Various Other Countries, who had Entered Belarus seeking to Reach an Ukranian City considered Historicaly "Holly" by them, before being Blocked near the Border by a Refusal of Kiev's Authorities to let them Enter that Country. Something for which the Israeli Government Officialy Thanked Belarus, while also reportedly Paying for those fragile People's Return soon back to their Countries of origin.

=> So that Tiny Cyprus might, Hopefully, Become, perhaps, the "David" who ...Wakes Up a good "Goliath" from a Provoked Dangerous Lethargy, if such Facts Help soon to Raise Europe's Vital Consiousness.



(../..)

("DraftNews")
The group published a report in 2018 into the social media platform's performance in dealing with the issue - and says just one of the 10 recommendations have been implemented.

The study says while the website has published how it deals with misinformation, it doesn't outline how it tackles abuse towards women.

Colm O'Gorman from Amnesty International Ireland outlines why women may be targeted:

"Misogyny and violence against women is a prevalent issue across society and across the world, so it's unsurprising that women on that basis would be targeted in this way online.

"In particular, we see women who speak out, activists and politicians who speak out and challenge violence and discrimination against women online are subject to very very high levels of abuse."
Karnataka: Three boats meet with accidents - 19 fishermen rescued

September 22,2020 | Source: Daiji World

Due to strong wind and heavy rain, three boats, two near Malpe and one at Karwar, met with accidents. A total of 19 fishermen from these boats were rescued. A trawler belonging to Rama Kunder that had been anchored at Malpe port was washed away after its rope snapped because of the force of water. The boat had five fishermen. Because of a technical problem, the boat engine could not be started. The boat floated towards St Mary's Island where it dashed against the rock. Water started to gush into the boat. The locals then rushed in other boats and rescued all the five fishermen. The boat which was completely damaged after hitting the rocks, drowned.



Another boat owned by Leelavathi Salian that had left Malpe port on September 19 was returning to its base on Sunday when its steering broke near St Mary's Island. It had six fishermen, who were rescued by the local fishermen. The boat could not be brought to the shore because of the huge waves and was abandoned. A deep-sea fishing boat from Malpe sank near Karwar port. All the eight fishermen inside the boat were rescued by people in another boat.
A view of the Milky Way arching over Joshua trees and rocks at a park campground popular among stargazers in Joshua Tree National Park. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

State officials took the unusual step Tuesday of granting temporary endangered species status to the western Joshua tree, but will allow 15 solar energy firms to raze Joshua trees that stand in the way of their shovel-ready projects.

The California Fish and Game Commissions action reflects a difficult reality: Climate change represents a clear threat to both public health in California and to the long-term sustainability of the western Joshua tree.

The protection came with the panels 4-0 decision to consider a petition filed by environmentalists seeking endangered species status for the sensitive desert species. Supporters claim that Yucca brevifolia faces the threat of extinction due to climate change, wildfires and habitat destruction from urban sprawl.

As a candidate for listing, a species is typically afforded the same protections as a state endangered or threatened species pending a final decision.

Opponents of the petition filed by the Center for Biological Diversity warned that listing Joshua trees could possibly derail or delay solar energy projects designed to help meet Californias climate change goals by shifting the states electricity system entirely off fossil fuels by 2045.

On Tuesday, Brendan Cummings, conservation director for the center, told the commissioners he could grudgingly live with the results of their decision to devise an emergency rule granting exemptions to the solar energy firms.

Given the climate threat to Joshua trees, Cummings said, a rapid transition to 100% energy generation is an essential part of any conservation strategy for the species. But that cannot mean they are given carte blanche to site their projects irrespective of impacts on protected species.

"Avoidance would be a better policy, he added. If you have to mow down hundreds, perhaps thousands, of climate-threatened trees, and disturb carbon-sequestering soils, to build you climate-friendly project  thats a pretty good indication youve put it in the wrong place.

Story continues

Shannon Eddy of the Large-scale Solar Assn. would not go that far.

Regulating by emergency rule should not become the norm, he said. The projects in question are urgently needed.

As part of an effort to allow the projects to move forward and stay on track with contracted construction schedules in 2021 and 2022, the commissioners established a Western Joshua Tree Mitigation Fund to receive fees to be used to offset the impacts of the 15 solar projects in San Bernardino and Kern counties.

The fee for each project was set at about $10,000 per acre to be mitigated. The money will be used to buy and permanently preserve western Joshua tree habitat.

The petition argues that California will see more frequent and intense droughts and floods as a result of a warming climate, as well as increasing extreme heat days, increased wildfire intensity, worsening air quality and higher electricity demand as a result of these same issues. These effects will combine with other factors to reduce the survivability of Joshua trees, they say.

The low productive rate of the western Joshua tree may not allow it to expand into any new available habitat. This circumstance, state wildlife authorities said, combined with the potential decline of the moths the spindly trees rely on for natural pollination, casts doubt on their future survival.

A final decision by the commission is expected next year. If the trees are formally listed, the law requires state wildlife managers to devise a recovery plan, which could limit development on private property in communities across thousands of acres of southeastern California's sunniest real estate.

About 40% of the western Joshua trees range is on private land where a state endangered species law would apply, according to the petition, and includes the cities of Palmdale, Lancaster, Hesperia, Victorville and Yucca Valley.

Supporters of the petition include Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and environmental organizations led by Sierra Club California, the Hispanic Access Foundation, Vet Voice Foundation National Parks Conservation Assn. and Native American Land Conservancy.

Opponents included the San Bernardino County town of Yucca Valley, whose town council denounced the petition as unnecessary because the trees are already protected under city and county ordinances and within the nearby 800,000-acre Joshua Tree National Park.

The commission said it has engaged in collaborative discussions with San Bernardino County about the possibility of granting conditional removal permits for specific routine, small-scale local government-authorized projects.

It was not the first time that wildlife authorities have agreed to exemptions for the renewable energy industry. In a 2013 decision condemned by environmentalists, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said operators of Terra-Gen Powers wind farm in the Tehachapi Mountains would not be prosecuted if their turbines accidentally killed any federally endangered California condors during the expected 30-year life span of the project.

The western Joshua tree has a boomerang-shaped range stretching from Joshua Tree National Park westward along the northern flanks of the San Bernardino and San Gabriel Mountains, northward along the southern Sierra Nevada range and eastward to the edges of Death Valley National Park and into Nevada.





This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
President Donald Trump speaks to members of the press prior to his departure from the White House in Washington on Sept. 19, 2020. (Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images)

Manhattan DA Suggests in New Filing Trump Could Face Criminal Tax Probe

The Manhattan district attorney has suggested that President Donald Trump and his businesses could be investigated for criminal tax fraud, according to a new court filing on Monday.

The filing is the latest argument made by New York County District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. in his fight to enforce a subpoena to gain access to eight years of Trumps tax returns and financial documents as part of a criminal grand jury probe.

Vances legal team had previously suggested to the court that the prosecutors subpoena is part of an investigation into possibly extensive and protracted criminal conduct at the Trump Organization, which could include bank and insurance fraud, but Mondays filing is the first time the district attorney had suggested that his probe may include potential tax crimes.

The Manhattan DA argued that the numerous media reports detail allegations about financial misconduct by Trump and his businesses and that these reports are more than enough to uphold the subpoena.

They said that if misstatements about business properties were communicated from the Trump organization to its business partners, insurers, potential lenders, or tax authorities, then those misstatements could possibly establish a violation of state laws such as a scheme to defraud, falsification of business records, insurance fraud, and criminal tax fraud, according to the filing.

Even if the grand jury were testing the truth of public allegations alone, such reports, taken together, fully justify the scope of the grand jury subpoena at issue in this case, Vances team argued.

Prior to the recent court filings, it was widely believed that Vance was investigating hush money paid to two women during the 2016 presidential campaign: adult film performer Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal. But the filings by Vances team suggest that the scope of the Manhattan DAs probe might be broader than what was previously known.

The president has been fighting Vances subpoena since 2019. The case went to the Supreme Court after lower courts denied Trumps request for relief from the subpoena.

The Supreme Court ruled that Trump was not absolutely immune from state criminal processes but also opened the door for him to challenge Vances subpoena on other grounds.

Trumps legal team filed a second challenge against the subpoena in late July, arguing that the subpoena was overbroad and issued in bad faith.

After a district court rejected Trumps claims earlier this month, the parties agreed to temporarily delay the enforcement of the subpoena. The 2nd Circuit Court also agreed to temporarily hold the district courts ruling earlier this month. The court also set a Sept. 25 hearing to allow the parties to argue whether Trumps claim that the grand jury subpoena is overbroad and issued in bad faith is plausible.

The district court judge had ruled that Trumps newest challenge was a roundabout way for the president to invoke immunity from judicial processes.
From October, Earth will have another, much smaller, moon. (VW PICS/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

A new mini-moon might be about to join Earths orbit briefly, before being hurled back into space.

Minimoons' are only a few feet across, and each tends to do a stint of around a few months in orbit  before resuming their previous lives as asteroids.

But this particular mini-moon may be a little different  as experts have suggested its not a moon at all, but man-made space junk.

Specifically, it may be a discarded part of a rocket launched in 1966, experts have suggested.

The tiny object, known as 2020 SO, was spotted by the Pan-STARRS1 at the Haleakala Observatory on 17 September, ScienceAlert reports.

Watch: A bunch of astronauts fall on the moon in best blooper reel ever

Read more: What are fast radio bursts, and why do they look like aliens?

It will be captured by Earth this October, and will pass close by Earth in December and February, Sky reports.

It will continue to orbit our planet until May next year.

Alice Gorman, of Flinders University in Australia, says that several measurements about 2020 SO suggest its not an asteroid, in an interview with Science Alert.

A scale model of a Centaur rocket, used in the 1966 launch. (Getty)

Gorman said: "The velocity seems to be a big one. What I'm seeing is that it's just moving too slowly, which reflects its initial velocity. That's essentially a big giveaway."

These signs suggest that the object may be space junk, he added.

Astronomer Paul Chodas has suggested that the object is a Surveyor 2 Centaur rocket body, launched on 20 September 1966.

Read more: Astronomers find closest black hole to Earth

Chodas suggests that the low Earth encounter velocity is too low even for material ejected from the moon, so it's unlikely to be a natural body.

Spectroscopy may be able to show if the object has been painted, the experts believe.

Watch: SpaceX launch captured by passenger on board plane

"It would be interesting to do some reflectance spectroscopy, which would show how rough the surfaces are, how much it's been pitted and decayed from being bombarded by dust and micro meteorites, said Gorman.

"It's human material that's been out in a different part of space. So, it would be interesting to compare that to the results you get from stuff in low Earth orbit, which is much, much denser in material."
SAO PAULO, Sept 21 (Reuters) - Brazil's second-largest private-sector lender Banco Bradesco SA is considering a spinoff and listing of its broker unit Agora, Goldman Sachs' analysts said in a note to clients.

"Bradesco's plan is to raise capital with the intention to support Agora's investments in human resources, marketing, horizontal M&A, and corporate governance in order to prepare for an eventual IPO," the analysts wrote, adding the plans were unveiled by the bank's investor relations executives in a video conference.

Leandro Miranda, Bradesco's investor relations officer, said an IPO will occur within 4-5 years, while the spinoff would happen by year-end.

Agora has 500,000 clients and 65 billion reais ($12.05 billion) under management, but is expected to reach 200 billion reais as Bradesco plans to bring some of its private banking, asset management and custody deposits.

Currently, Brazil's only listed broker is XP Inc, which has a market capitalization of nearly $24 billion on Nasdaq, with 436 billion reais in assets under custody.

($1 = 5.3964 reais) (Reporting by Carolina Mandl; Editing by Bernadette Baum)
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EXTON, Pa., Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Ricoh USA Inc. today unveiled an array of new production print professional services that empower printers to deliver more for their customers, optimize workflows and overall operations, and move their businesses forward. These new services, including Hybrid Mail, Campaign as a Service, Staff Augmentation, Security Conformance, enable printers to adapt to changing needs that have become top of mind resulting from remote working, more on-demand customer requirements and more. These services, which leverage Ricoh's unique expertise and broad-view industry insights, are brand-agnostic, meaning users can achieve these benefits no matter which combination of equipment is in their shop.

"So much in the world is changing right now, and printers are eager to focus on moving forward," said Heather Poulin, Vice President, Marketing, Production Print, Ricoh USA, Inc. "To help them chart that course, we have developed new professional services that help them address business impacts, expand their service offerings to their customers, and have peace-of-mind that they have an ally who is there to support them We are excited to share our expertise in new and different ways, with the hope of helping to move the industry forward as a whole."

Ricoh's newest professional services include:

Hybrid Mail empowers users to submit jobs from anywhere via web portal, and then they are printed, inserted and mailed in a remote print room based on pre-established workflows. Streamlining the production of ad hoc print and mail, allows one-off prints to be produced quickly, easily and reliably, even while working remotely. Handling of ad hoc jobs has been traditionally unstructured and manual, creating opportunities for inefficiency and error. The typically manual processes associated with mailing outbound communications to individual recipients are even more difficult, time consuming and vulnerable to issues when performed remotely.

Campaign as a Service helps turn organizations' campaign concepts into reality, with support throughout the planning, creation, testing and deliverable stages. The way communicators engage with audiences is changing, and many businesses are looking for guidance on the new best practices that are emerging. Ricoh's Professional Services team works closely, collaboratively and communicatively with customers to keep them in the loop every step of the way as their campaign evolves from concept to execution. Campaign packages can include omnichannel components such as print, SMS messages, emails and personal URLs or landing pages, as well as optional surveys to gauge results and glean actionable feedback.

The Staff Augmentation offering brings access to Ricoh expertise to the next level. With Staff Augmentation, customers can leverage a Ricoh Solution Engineer as their operator. Whether an operator is on vacation, a business is still searching for the right new hire, or a busy season is just around the corner, Ricoh can help. Ricoh's deeply knowledgeable Solutions Engineers fit in seamlessly to customers' teams thanks to their deep and broad understanding of the technologies and processes at play. Beyond helping out with day-to-day tasks, the on-site Solution Engineer can provide fresh insights and strategies that help optimize workflows and address remote work needs, or even train staff in new skills. This flexible service can help fill a variety of needs, with the minimum engagement duration starting at just 5 days.

Ricoh's Security Conformance service features experts who can help assess vulnerabilities, establish security objectives, and propose and help implement appropriate countermeasures. In the new world of work, information is often moving across more disparate networks than ever before. These new ways of working  or acceleration of existing trends in working  introduce new security considerations. In many production print environments, information security needs are especially high, with large amounts of often sensitive information being managed.

For details on Ricoh's production print portfolio, visit https://www.ricoh-usa.com/en/products/commercial-industrial-printing and join the conversation on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter using #LookAtRicoh.

| About Ricoh |

Ricoh is empowering digital workplaces using innovative technologies and services enabling individuals to work smarter. For more than 80 years, Ricoh has been driving innovation and is a leading provider of document management solutions, IT services, communications services, commercial and industrial printing, digital cameras, and industrial systems.

Headquartered in Tokyo, Ricoh Group operates in approximately 200 countries and regions. In the financial year ended March 2020, Ricoh Group had worldwide sales of 2,008 billion yen (approx. 18.5 billion USD).

For further information, please visit www.ricoh.com

 2020 Ricoh USA, Inc. All rights reserved. All referenced product names are the trademarks of their respective companies.

SOURCE Ricoh USA, Inc.

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Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham declared that Donald Trump 'has the votes' to confirm his Supreme Court nominee after two key Republican swing voters voiced their support for the president's plan to fill Ruth Bader Ginsburg's seat before the election.

The South Carolina senator hit out at Democrats trying to delay the confirmation process in an interview with Fox News on Monday night.

'It's pretty obvious that if [Democrats] want an outcome, they'll just destroy anybody's life to keep the seats open,' Graham told host Sean Hannity.

'They said they tried to destroy Brett Kavanaugh so they could fill the seat - they were dumb enough to say that. I've seen this movie before. It's not going to work, it didn't work with Kavanaugh.

'We've got the votes to confirm Justice Ginsburg's replacement before the election. We're going to move forward in the committee, we're going to report the nomination out of the committee to the floor of the United States Senate so we can vote before the election. Now, that's the constitutional process.'

Graham's confident statements came after Iowa Sen Chuck Grassley, the former Judiciary Committee chair, and Colorado Sen Cory Gardner confirmed that they will back a hearing for Trump's nominee.

Meanwhile, the president appears to be narrowing down his list of potential picks as insiders say Amy Coney Barrett is a strong frontrunner, followed by Barbara Lagoa in a 'distant second'.

South Carolina Sen Lindsey Graham expressed confidence in Trump's chances of rushing through a Supreme Court pick in an interview with Fox News on Monday

Graham's confident statements came after Iowa Sen Chuck Grassley (left) and Colorado Sen Cory Gardner (right) confirmed that they will back a hearing for Trump's nominee

President Donald Trump (pictured on Monday in Ohio) has said he is 'strongly considering' four or five women to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the Supreme Court

Judge Amy Coney Barrett (left) has reportedly emerged as Trump's top choice to replace Ginsburg, sources say - and Barbara Lagoa (right) is a 'distant second'

It had been speculated that Grassley could try to block the nomination process because he'd previously opposed filling Supreme Court vacancies during an election year.

Gardner's stance was also in question because he faces a tough re-election race in his home state, and some thought he could side with Democrats to boost his standing among moderate voters.

The news of both senators preparing to back Trump came as a blow to the Democrats fighting to block Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's plans to rush the court appointment.

The nomination will come just six weeks before the election and has sparked fierce debate, with many Democrats - as well as some Republicans - insisting the seat must not be filled until after the election.

The crux of the debate centers around the move made by Republicans back in 2016 - and led by McConnell and Grassley - to block then-President Barack Obama from appointing a new justice to the court nine months before the election.

Their argument at the time was that the position should not be filled until a new president was elected by the American people - a standard set by the Republicans that the Democrats now argue the party must continue to honor.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is leading the charge to allow Trump to nominate a new justice ahead of the election

Four Republican senators need to join the Democrats to stop a Supreme Court nomination going forward.

Two GOP senators - Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins - have already dissented on the Supreme Court vote, vowing to derail Trump's nomination plans until after the November 3 election.

Murkowski became the second Republican senator Sunday to say the chamber should not take up the president's nominee before the American people vote for their next president, hours after Trump threw shade at her publicly and after her colleague and frequent collaborator Collins made her own opposition to a quick vote known.

'For weeks, I have stated that I would not support taking up a potential Supreme Court vacancy this close to the election,' the Alaska senator said.

'Sadly, what was then a hypothetical is now our reality, but my position has not changed,' she continued.

'I did not support taking up a nomination eight months before the 2016 election to fill the vacancy created by the passing of Justice Scalia.

'We are now even closer to the 2020 election  less than two months out  and I believe the same standard must apply.'

Murkowski in her statement was referencing the nomination of Judge Merrick Garland, which never got a hearing despite Obama nominating Garland just nine months before the 2016 election.

Two GOP senators - Lisa Murkowski (left) and Susan Collins (right) - have already dissented, vowing to derail Trump's nomination plans until after the November 3 election

Iowa Sen Grassley fell in line with McConnell on Monday, saying: 'Once the hearings are underway, it's my responsibility to evaluate the nominee on the merits, just as I always have.

'The Constitution gives the Senate that authority, and the American people's voices in the most recent election couldn't be clearer,' Grassley added.

Grassley was chairman of the Judiciary Committee when Republicans blocked Obama's pick in 2016, when he joined McConnell in arguing that it was best to let voters decide who should fill the Supreme Court seat.

The senator maintained that stance as recently as this summer, telling reporters that he would still hold that position if he were chairman now.

Gardner followed suit soon after, saying: 'When a President exercises constitutional authority to nominate a judge for the Supreme Court vacancy, the Senate must decide how to best fulfill its constitutional duty of advice and consent.

'I have and will continue to support judicial nominees who will protect our Constitution, not legislate from the bench, and uphold the law. Should a qualified nominee who meets this criteria be put forward, I will vote to confirm.'

Republican Senator Lamar Alexander of Tennessee (pictured) threw his support behind McConnell in a statement on Sunday, saying 'no one should be surprised' by a new appointment in an election year and that voters 'expect it'

Republican Senator Lamar Alexander of Tennessee also threw his support behind McConnell in a statement on Sunday, saying 'no one should be surprised' by a new appointment in an election year and that voters 'expect it'.

Alexander had been eyed as a swing vote due to his history of bipartisanship, having worked closely with Democrat Senate Minority Leader Schumer in the past on making it easier for the Senate to confirm presidential nominees.

With Alexander, Grassley and Gardner eliminated from the list of possible dissenters, the focus has shifted to Republican Sen Mitt Romney, who votes with conservatives but also voted for an impeachment article against Trump and has called him out occasionally in public.

Sen Graham's position on the Supreme Court vacancy has come under scrutiny after a 2016 video went viral over the weekend in which he emphatically declared that a Supreme Court seat should not be filled during an election year.

'I want you to use my words against me. If there's a Republican president in 2016 and a vacancy occurs in the last year of the first term, you can say Lindsey Graham said let's let the next president, whoever it might be, make that nomination,' the senator said four years ago when arguing against Obama's nomination of Merrick Garland.

However, Graham has said his stance changed after the heated confirmation process for Trump's last nominee, Kavanaugh.

Protesters gathered outside Graham's home in Washington, DC, on Monday morning to pressure him into backing down.

'We can't sleep so neither should Lindsey,' on banner, held by multiple protesters, read.

'We are wide awake,' another sign said.

Another group mobbed McConnell's Louisville home on Saturday and demanded that he stop the vote from taking place.

Protesters gathered outside of Graham's home in Washington, DC, on Monday (pictured) after the senator said he would support Trump's pick for the open Supreme Court seat

Demonstrators also mobbed McConnell's Louisville home on Saturday (pictured)

Unfazed by the intense pressure to delay the nomination process, Trump has said he is 'strongly considering' five candidates to replace Ginsburg, with Barret emerging as a favorite.

Trump met with Barrett, a judge on the Seventh Circuit and mother of seven who adopted two children from Haiti, at the White House on Monday.

Bloomberg reported that the president is 'leaning toward' Barrett for the nomination but is also planning to meet with another contender, Lagoa, sometime this week.

Sources told the outlet that Lagoa, a judge on the US Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit and former justice on the Florida Supreme Court, is the only other person being seriously considered for the job, but she is a 'distant second' to Barrett.

Trump said Monday that he will wait to announce his nomination until Friday or Saturday  after funeral services for Ginsburg have concluded.

'I think it'll be on Friday or Saturday,' Trump said of the impending announcement for his third Supreme Court nomination. 'And we want to pay respect. We, it looks like, it looks like we will have probably services on Thursday or Friday, as I understand it.'

'I think in all due respect we should wait until the services are over for Justice Ginsburg,' he told the Fox & Friends panel during a Monday morning call-in interview. 'And so we're looking probably at Friday or maybe Saturday.'

Trump told Fox & Friends Monday morning he will reveal his pick to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Friday or Saturday, claiming he wanted to 'respect' her by waiting until after her funeral services to make the announcement

Trump said he is 'seriously considering' five or four different people for the job, as a person familiar with the process said the White House narrowed it down to four women  Amy Coney Barrett, Barbara Lagoa, Kate Todd and Allison Jones Rushing

Speaking to reporters before leaving the White House on Monday, Trump urged the Senate to vote on the nomination before the election, claiming there is 'plenty of time' to get someone through the process before Election Day on November 3.

'I'd much rather have a vote before the election because there's a lot of work to be done,' the president asserted. 'We have plenty of time to do it. I mean there's really a lot of time. So let's say I make the announcement on Saturday, there's a great deal of time before the election. That'll be up to Mitch in the Senate. I think it sends a good signal. And it's solidarity I'm just doing my constitutional obligation.'

WHO'S WHO ON TRUMP'S SUPREME COURT SHORTLIST REPUBLICAN SENATORS Ted Cruz, Texas. 49 Josh Hawley, Missouri. 40 Tom Cotton, Arkansas. 43 JUDGES Bridget Bade, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. 54 Stuart Kyle Duncan, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. 48 James Ho, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, 47 Gregory Katsas, U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. 56 Barbara Lagoa, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. 52 Carlos Muniz, Supreme Court of Florida. 51 Martha Pacold, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. 41 Peter Phipps, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. 47 Sarah Pitlyk, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. 43 Allison Jones Rushing, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. 38 Lawrence VanDyke, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. 47 CURRENT AND FORMER REPUBLICAN OFFICIALS Daniel Cameron, Kentucky Attorney General. 34 Paul Clement, partner with Kirkland & Ellis, former solicitor general. 54 Steven Engel, assistant attorney general for the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel. 46 Noel Francisco, former U.S. solicitor general. 51 Christopher Landau, U.S. ambassador to Mexico. 56 Kate Todd, deputy White House counsel. 45 Advertisement

At the same time signaling 'respect' for the late justice, the president also brought into question her 'dying wish' that she not be replaced by a Trump nominee.

He cast doubt on Ginsburg's dying wish to have the next president replace her on the Supreme Court, alleging it was actually written by a Democrat.

Trump said it was actually Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi or House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff who were behind the justice's last request.

There is not proof that this allegation has any validity and Trump did not offer any explanation.

'I don't know that she said that, or was that written out by Adam Schiff, Schumer and Pelosi,' Trump said during his Fox & Friends interview.

'I would be more inclined to the second, it sounds so beautiful. But that sounds like a Schumer deal or maybe a Pelosi or shifty Schiff. So that that came out of the wind. Let's see. I mean, maybe she did and maybe she didn't,' he added.

Ginsburg's granddaughter Clara Spera said that in her dying days, the liberal justice dictated a dying wish to her.

'My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed,' she said.

Trump told reporters before boarding Marine One from the South Lawn Monday: 'It just sounds to me that it would be someone else. I don't believe  it could be, it could be and it might not be too.

'It was just too convenient,' he added.

Trump also lashed out at House Speaker Pelosi on Monday - calling her 'crazy' after she refused to rule out impeaching him in a gambit that could be used to stall a Supreme Court confirmation process.

Trump blasted the idea  which has some political risks and practical flaws  as he defended his infamous July 25, 2019 call with the president of Ukraine that was the subject of the Democratic impeachment effort as 'perfect.'

'@SenateGOP Crazy Nancy Pelosi wants to Impeach me if I fulfill my Constitutional Obligation to put forth a Nominee for the vacated seat on the United States Supreme Court. This would be a FIRST, even crazier than being Impeached for making a PERFECT phone call to Ukrainian Pres,' Trump tweeted Monday morning.

The attack came hours after Pelosi refused on Sunday to rule out impeachment as one of the 'options' Democrats could avail themselves of in an effort to try to stall a vote on the judicial vacancy.

'We have our options. We have arrows in our quiver that I'm not about to discuss right now but the fact is we have a big challenge in our country,' she told ABC's 'This Week ' when asked about the prospect.

'This president has threatened to not even accept the results of the election,' Pelosi continued. 'Our main goal would be to protect the integrity of the election as we protect the people from the coronavirus.'

Trump also attacked House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Monday as 'crazy' after she refused to rule out impeaching him in a gambit that could be used to stall a Supreme Court confirmation process

'We have our options. We have arrows in our quiver that I'm not about to discuss right now but the fact is we have a big challenge in our country,' said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who was asked if she might use impeachment as a tactic to slow a Supreme Court nomination

Ginsburg, who was lovingly referred to as RBG, died at the age of 87 late last week due to complications from her ongoing battle with pancreatic cancer.

She will be honored in a viewing outside the Supreme Court building later this week, according to pandemic-era guidelines.

The late Justice will lie in state this week as her casket will be on public view Wednesday and Thursday at the Supreme Court Building and Friday in National Statuary Hall in the US Capitol. Private ceremonies will also be held at both locations.

Pelosi announced Monday that the formal ceremony at the Capitol on Friday morning is invitation-only due to the COVID pandemic.

It's unclear if Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden will pay their respects and, if so, when.

Ginsburg will be buried next week at Arlington National Cemetery in a private service, the court said in a statement. Her husband, Martin Ginsburg, was buried at Arlington in 2010.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who was lovingly referred to as RBG, died last week at the age of 87 due to complications from an ongoing battle with pancreatic cancer. She will be honored in an outdoor viewing near the Supreme Court building later this week

The president also claimed to the Fox News morning show panel that he has narrowed his list of potential nominees to five different people.

'I'm looking at five, probably four, but I'm looking at five very seriously,' Trump said.

'I'm going to make a decision on either Friday or Saturday. I will announce it either Friday or Saturday, and then the work begins,' he continued. 'Hopefully, it won't be too much work, because these are very qualified people. No matter how you would look at it, these are the finest people in the nation. Young people. Pretty young for the most part.'

The president has signaled an impending announcement following the death of Ginsburg last week, claiming it's his 'obligation' to nominate a new justice 'without delay.'

With Ginsburg's passing, only two of the remaining eight justices are women, prompting Trump to promise over the weekend he will nominate a female.

What is court packing? Court packing is the move to appoint extra justices to the Supreme Court. It is a move several Democrats have proposed if the party takes control of the Senate in order to increase the presence of liberal justices on the bench. Franklin D. Roosevelt made attempts to pack the court back in 1937 when the Republican president wanted to pass his New Deal laws and needed more conservative justices in the court to vote in favor of them. Roosevelt's attempts failed and he was criticized by both Democrats and Republicans for the move. However Democrats argue court packing will be necessary to rebalance the court if President Trump does not wait until after the presidential inauguration to appoint Justice Ginsburg's replacement. The issue in contention is that Republicans barred President Obama from appointing a justice in the election year in 2016. Many Democrats say this meant the seat - finally filled by a Trump nominee after he entered the White house - was 'stolen' by Republicans and that if Republicans now do the very same thing they banned Democrats from doing in 2016 by rushing through an appointment, Democrats will then be within their rights to rebalance the court. Advertisement

There are four women who have made the shortlist, a source with knowledge of the process said, according to Politico  Barrett, Lagoa, Kate Todd and Allison Jones Rushing.

Barrett is 48, Lagoa is 52, Rushing is 38 and Todd is 45. If any of these women are nominated and confirmed, they would be the youngest currently seated on the current Supreme Court.

'These are the smartest people, the smartest young people, you like to go young, because they're there for a long time,' Trump told Fox & Friends.

He added that his nominee would 'abide by the Constitution,' be a 'good person' and have 'very, very high moral values.'

Trump said Saturday that his nomination for the open Supreme Court seat 'will be a very talented, very brilliant woman.'

'I like women more than I like men,' he continued during a campaign rally in North Carolina over the weekend.

Lest there be any questions about the political implications, Trump is expected to make his choice in a matter of days. Those close to the president are encouraging him to announce his pick before the first presidential debate against Democratic challenger Joe Biden on September 29.

Biden said the winner of the November election should choose the next justice. Biden's team is skeptical that the Supreme Court clash will fundamentally change the contours of a race Trump was trailing so close to Election Day. Indeed, five states are already voting.

In fact, Democrats say it could motivate voters to fight harder against Trump and Republicans as the Senate breaks the norms with an unprecedented confirmation at a time when Americans are deciding crucial elections.

'Everything Americans value is at stake,' Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer told fellow Democratic senators on a conference call Saturday, according to a person who was not authorized to publicly discuss the private call and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Biden is not planning to release a full list of potential court nominees, according to a top aide, because it would further politicize the process. The aide was not authorized to publicly discuss private deliberations and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Biden's team suggests that the court fight will heighten the focus on issues that were already at stake in the election: health care, environmental protections, gender equity and abortion.

Who is Amy Coney Barrett? On Saturday afternoon, Trump named Amy Coney Barrett, 48, of the Chicago-based 7th Circuit and Barbara Lagoa, 52, of the Atlanta-based 11th Circuit as possible nominees. Emerging as the favorite is Barrett, 48, a mother of seven children, including two adopted from Haiti and one with special needs. Her involvement in a cult-like Catholic group where members are assigned a 'handmaiden' has caused concern in Barret's nomination to other courts and is set to come under fierce review again if she is Trump's pick. The group was the one which helped inspire 'The Handmaids Tale', book's author Margaret Atwood has said. Barrett emerges now as a front runner after she was already shortlisted for the nomination in 2018 which eventually went to Brett Kavanaugh. Trump called the federal appellate court judge 'very highly respected' when questioned about her Saturday. Born in New Orleans in 1972, she was the first and only woman to occupy an Indiana seat on the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Married to Jesse M. Barrett, a partner at SouthBank Legal in South Bend and former Assistant United States Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana, the couple have five biological and two adopted children. Their youngest biological child has Down Syndrome. Friends say she is a devoted mother - and say with just an hour to go until she was voted into the 7th District Court of Appeals by the U.S. Senate in 2017, Barrett was outside trick-or-treating with her kids. Barrett's strong Christian ideology makes her a favorite of the right but her involvement in a religious group sometimes branded as a 'cult' is set to be harshly criticized. In 2017, her affiliation to the small, tightly knit Christian group called People of Praise caused concern while she was a nominee for a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. The New York Times reported that the practices of the group would surprise even other Catholics with members of the group swearing a lifelong oath of loyalty, called a covenant, to one another. They are also assigned and held accountable to a personal adviser, known until recently as a 'head' for men and a 'handmaid' for women and believe in prophecy, speaking in tongues and divine healings. Members are also encouraged to confess personal sins, financial information and other sensitive disclosures to these advisors. Advisors are allowed to report these admissions to group leadership if necessary, according to an account of one former member. The organization itself says that the term 'handmaid' was a reference to Jesus's mother Mary's description of herself as a 'handmaid of the Lord.' They said they recently stopped using the term due to cultural shifts and now use the name 'women leaders.' The group deems that husbands are the heads of their wives and should take authority over the family while 'the heads and handmaids give direction on important decisions, including whom to date or marry, where to live, whether to take a job or buy a home, and how to raise children,' the Times reported. Unmarried members are placed living with married couples members often look to buy or rent homes near other members. Founded in 1971, People of Praise was part of the era's 'great emergence of lay ministries and lay movements in the Catholic Church,' founder Bishop Peter Smith told the Catholic News Agency. Beginning with just 29 members, it now has an estimated 2,000. According to CNA, some former members of the People of Praise allege that leaders exerted undue influence over family decision-making, or pressured the children of members to commit to the group. At least 10 members of Barrett's family, not including their children, also belong to the group. Barrett's father, Mike Coney, serves on the People of Praise's powerful 11-member board of governors, described as the group's 'highest authority.' Her mother Linda served as a handmaiden. The group's ultra-conservative religious tenets helped spur author Margaret Atwood to publish The Handmaid's Tale, a story about a religious takeover of the U.S. government, according to a 1986 interview with the writer. The book has since been made into a hit TV series. According to legal experts, loyalty oaths such at the one Barrett would have taken to People of Praise could raise legitimate questions about a judicial nominee's independence and impartiality. 'These groups can become so absorbing that it's difficult for a person to retain individual judgment,' said Sarah Barringer Gordon, a professor of constitutional law and history at the University of Pennsylvania. 'I don't think it's discriminatory or hostile to religion to want to learn more' about her relationship with the group. 'We don't try to control people,' said Craig S. Lent. 'And there's never any guarantee that the leader is always right. You have to discern and act in the Lord. 'If and when members hold political offices, or judicial offices, or administrative offices, we would certainly not tell them how to discharge their responsibilities.' During her professional career, Barrett spent two decades as a law professor at the University of Notre Dame, from which she holds her bachelor's and law degrees. She was named 'Distinguished Professor of the Year' three separate years, a title decided by students. A former clerk for late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, she was nominated by Trump to serve on the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in 2017 and confirmed in a 55-43 vote by the Senate later that year. At the time, three Democratic senators supported her nomination: Joe Donnelly (Ind.), who subsequently lost his 2018 reelection bid, Tim Kaine (Va.) and Joe Manchin (W.Va.), according to the Hill. She was backed by every GOP senator at the time, but she did not disclose her relationship with People of Praise which led to later criticism of her appointment. Barret is well-regarded by the religious right because of this devout faith. Yet these beliefs are certain to cause problems with her conformation and stand in opposition to the beliefs of Ginsburg, who she would be replacing. Axios reported in 2019 that Trump told aides he was 'saving' Barrett to replace Ginsburg. Her deep Catholic faith was cited by Democrats as a large disadvantage during her 2017 confirmation hearing for a seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit. 'If you're asking whether I take my faith seriously and I'm a faithful Catholic, I am,' Barrett responded during that hearing, 'although I would stress that my personal church affiliation or my religious belief would not bear in the discharge of my duties as a judge.' Republicans now believe that she performed well in her defense during this hearing, leaving her potentially capable of doing the same if facing the Senate Judiciary Committee. She is a former member of the Notre Dame's 'Faculty for Life' and in 2015 signed a letter to the Catholic Church affirming the 'teachings of the Church as truth.' Among those teachings were the 'value of human life from conception to natural death' and marriage-family values 'founded on the indissoluble commitment of a man and a woman'. She has previously written that Supreme Court precedents are not sacrosanct. Liberals have taken these comments as a threat to the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion nationwide. Barrett wrote that she agrees 'with those who say that a justice's duty is to the Constitution and that it is thus more legitimate for her to enforce her best understanding of the Constitution rather than a precedent she thinks clearly in conflict with it'. Among the other statements that have cause concern for liberal are her declaration that ObamaCare's birth control mandate is 'grave violation of religious freedom.' LGBTQ organizations also voiced their concern about her when she was first named on the shortlist. She has also sided with Trump on immigration. In a case from June 2020, IndyStar reports that she was the sole voice on a three-judge panel that supported allowing federal enforcement of Trump's public charge immigration law in Illinois, The law would have prevented immigrants from getting legal residency in the United States if they rely on public benefits like food stamps or housing vouchers. Advertisement

Who is Barbara Lagoa? Barbara Lagoa , 52, was named by Trump as one of his potential nominees to the Supreme Court. A Cuban American who parents fled to the U.S., Lagoa was born in Miami in 1967. She grew up in the largely Cuban American city of Hialeah. According to the Tampa Bay Times, her parents fled Cuba over five decades ago when Fidel Castro's Communist dictatorship took over. During the 2019 news conference in Miami announcing her appointment to the Supreme Court, she told the crowd that her father had to give up his 'dream of becoming a lawyer' because of Castro. If nominated to the nation's high court by Trump and confirmed by the Senate, the mother of three daughters would be the second Latino justice to ever serve. She served on the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for less than a year after being appointed by Trump and confirmed by the Senate on an 80-15 vote Prior to that she also spent less than a year in her previous position as the first Latina and Cuban American to serve on the Florida Supreme Court. Lagoa is considered a protege of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a close Trump ally. Her position in crucial swing state Florida could help Trump politically. Last week, she voted in the majority in a ruling that barred hundreds of thousands of Florida felons who have served their time from voting unless they pay fees and fines owed to the state. This decision could have a major impact on the presidential race as Florida is often won by a candidate by only razor-thin margins. 'Florida's felon re-enfranchisement scheme is constitutional,' Lagoa wrote in a 20-page concurrence, according to USA Today. 'It falls to the citizens of the state of Florida and their elected state legislators, not to federal judges, to make any additional changes to it.' In 2000 Lagoa was one of a dozen mostly pro bono lawyers who represented the Miami family of Elian Gonzalez, a Cuban citizen who became embroiled in a heated international custody and immigration controversy. In 2016 while in the Florida Third District Court of Appeal, she wrote an opinion reversing the conviction of Adonis Losada, a former Univision comic actor sentenced to 153 years in prison for collecting child porn. She ruled that a Miami-Dade judge erred in not allowing Losada to defend himself at trial. That same month she became unpopular with free press advocates when she was one of three judges who allowed a Miami judge to close a courtroom to the public for a key hearing in a high-profile murder case. They ruled that publicity surrounding the machete murder of a student in Homestead might unfairly sway jurors at a future trial. Lagoa is a graduate of Florida International University and Columbia University Law. She is is a member of the conservative Federalist Society, which stresses that judges should 'say what the law is, not what it should be.' She is married to lawyer Paul C. Huck Jr., and her father-in-law is United States District Judge Paul Huck. Advertisement

WHO IS ALLISON JONES RUSHING? At 38-years-old, Judge Allison Jones Rushing is the youngest woman Trump is considering to become a Supreme Court Justice. The only other potential nominee younger than Rushing is Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, who is 34. But President Donald Trump vowed to nominate a woman to fill Ruth Bader Ginsburg's seat, meaning Rushing is effectively the youngest potential nominee. Trump told Fox & Friends he want to nominate someone young 'because they're there for a long time.' Rushing in from North Carolina and graduated magna cum laude Duke University School if Law in 2007, where she served as executive editor of the Duke Law Journal. She formerly worked at Williams and Connolly and now serves as judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth District. She clerked from 2007-2008 for then-Judge Neil Gorsuch, who went on to become a Supreme Court Justice by Trump's nomination. And also clerked for Justice Clarence Thomas during the 20102011 term. In March 2019, Rushing was confirmed as a federal judge after being nominated by Trump. During the confirmation proceedings, Rushing was asked about her ties to Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF)  which is a conservative Christian group she interned for in 2005 while in law school. ADF has received harsh criticism for opposing LGBT rights and had been labeled a 'hate group' by some. But Rushing said 'Hate is wrong, and it should have no place in our society. In my experience with ADF, I have not witnessed anyone expressing or advocating hate.' Advertisement
North Korea is the blackest of black boxes, meaning we have very little verifiable information about what is happening inside the country. Recent questions about leadership dynamics are a case in point. Kim Jong-un's mysterious absences from public view and the apparent elevation of his younger sister Kim Yo-jong led to wild speculation about Jong-un's health and Yo-jong's decision-making power. In the end, we just do not know.

However, there is a consensus in Washington's policy community about one item -- that North Korea is entering one of the most challenging periods in the brother and sister's rule due to a concatenation of three events -- flooding, sanctions, and the COVID-19 pandemic. This triple whammy is bound to have an impact on the regime as we approach the U.S. election in November.

Fitch Solutions predicts an 8.5 percent contraction in the North Korean economy this year, which would be the worst performance since the famine of the mid-1990s. Kim Jong-un in August admitted the dire situation of the country by announcing plans for a Workers' Party congress in January to chart a new course. The North's state-run Korean Central News Agency also reported that the party's Central Committee admitted that people's quality of life is not improving.

Even casual observers of North Korea would understand the reasons for the sudden candor. The country suffered through some of its worst flooding as a result of eight typhoons this year. Floods in August for example caused all three of the major rivers -- Taedong, Chongchon and Ryesong -- to overflow, causing substantial damage to people's homes and farms. Kim Jong-un visited some of the worst-hit areas in Hamgyong Province, and announced the emergency release of grain, which defector Thae Yong-ho told me has not happened since the days of Kim Jong-il.

The flooding has impacted the food situation and presages a bad harvest. According to NGO reports, 43 percent of the terraced land in the country has been obliterated and fertilizer has been washed away by the floods. North Hamgyong Province and South Hamgyong Province -- the rice and corn baskets of the country -- have seen between 30 to 50 percent of their fields decimated. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that 60 percent of the population will suffer acute food insecurity this winter.

The regime still does not admit that the global pandemic has entered the country except for one case tied to a returning defector. There is little reason to think that this is true. As hermetically sealed as the country aspires to be, the origins of the virus in China created a unique transmission vector.

Reports say that Kaesong city has been shut down because of coronavirus concerns. Even flood relief being sent to the Hamgyong provinces has been impacted as authorities worry about the movement of troops and aid workers around the country and virus transmission.

As U.S. Forces Korea commander Gen. Robert Abrams noted on the Center for Strategic and International Studies' YouTube show Capital Cable last week, the concerns about COVID-19 have had a multiplier effect on the sanctions regime. The leakiest part of the UN sanctions regime has always been China because of Beijing's propensity to backstop its communist brother and prevent its complete isolation. However, the virus has prompted the North Koreans to seal their border with China, which has had a dire impact on bilateral trade. Commerce across the border has declined by as much as 70 percent on-year according to some experts.

How will this triple whammy impact North Korea and the U.S. elections? We should begin by acknowledging that Pyongyang has traditionally had overblown expectations of how its behavior can influence U.S. elections. It is not a major barometer that affects how Americans vote. But this year is arguably different, largely because President Donald Trump invested so much personal capital into his diplomacy with Kim Jong-un. Therefore a North Korean provocations like a ballistic missile launch in the next two months would be terribly embarrassing for Trump and signal a massive failure of his policies.

CSIS Data suggest that North Korea has traditionally ramped up provocations in U.S. election years. Whether it is congressional elections or presidential elections, there is a pattern of increased activity that has continued into the Kim Jong-un years. The one exception was 2018, after Kim and Trumps Singapore summit, when there was a lull in provocations despite U.S. midterm elections. That exception only proves the rule.

This means that all other things held equal, we should expect more provocative behavior by the North in the run-up to and after the U.S. presidential election. These provocations would naturally shape the outcome of any U.S. policy review on North Korea taken by the second Trump or new Joe Biden presidency. Such provocations would also indicate that the flooding, sanctions, and pandemic are not severe enough to affect the regime's regular patterns of behavior.

If the U.S. elections pass without North Korean belligerence, however, this might suggest that it is no longer business as usual, and that the internal problems of the regime are serious enough to impact its overall behavior. This would mean that a U.S. policy review on North Korea, for the first time in a long time, could be carried out without the result being determined in advance.

In the past, North Korean post-election provocations, like a ballistic missile launch only a few weeks after Barack Obama's election, tended to force a new U.S. administration's hand into a one-dimensional containment-and-isolation policy. Perhaps this is the one silver lining of the triple whammy, even amid the hardships North Koreans suffer.
United States Attorney J. Douglas Overbey of the Eastern District of Tennessee announced Tuesday that $406,092 was awarded in Department of Justice grants for the Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance grant (JAG) program.



The JAG program is the leading source of federal justice funding to state and local jurisdictions. The JAG Program provides states, and local governments with critical funding necessary to support a range of program areas including law enforcement, prosecution, indigent

defense, courts, crime prevention and education, corrections and community corrections.



FY20 Edward Byrne Memorial Assistance Grant (JAG) Program:

 Blount County - $23,615

 City of Chattanooga - $127,295

 City of Cleveland - $35,670

 City of Johnson City - $15,895

 City of Kingsport - $22,847

 City of Knoxville (to share with Knox County) - $138,069

 Hamblen County - $12,999

 Sullivan County - $18,751

 Washington County - $10,951



These grants will help address crime at various levels, and provide resources to protect

and serve the citizens of East Tennessee more effectively. State and local law enforcement

agencies can leverage these funds to purchase much needed equipment and hire more personnel,

ultimately helping departments prepare for and respond to the communitys needs, said U.S.

Attorney Overbey.



The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program allows states and

units of local government, including tribes, to support a broad range of activities to prevent and

control crime based on their own state and local needs and conditions. Grant funds can be used

for state and local initiatives, technical assistance, training, personnel, equipment, supplies,

contractual support, and information systems for criminal justice, including for anyone or more

of the following program areas: 1) law enforcement programs; 2) prosecution and court; 3) prevention and education programs; 4) corrections and community corrections programs; 5) drug treatment and enforcement programs; 6) planning, evaluation, and technology improvement programs; 7) crime victim and witness programs (other than compensation) and 8) mental health programs and related law enforcement and corrections programs.

This JAG award will be used to support criminal justice initiatives that fall under one or

more of the allowable program areas above. Funded programs or initiatives may include multijurisdictional drug and gang task forces, crime prevention and domestic violence programs,

courts, corrections, treatment, justice information sharing initiatives, or other programs aimed at

reducing crime and/or enhancing public/officer safety.
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Vietnams Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has given the permission for the reopening of commercial flights to Thailand with safety measures in place and detailed schedules to be decided by two deputy prime ministers.

The safety measures PM Phuc mentioned include efficient processing of passengers at airports to reduce the risk of transmission due to overcrowding, quarantine plans, and carrying out quick tests at quarantine venues.

Phuc also required that each flight have a specific disease prevention plan.

Detailed flight schedules must be reported to Deputy PMs Pham Binh Minh and Vu Duc Dam for decision making.

PM Phucs permission for the resumption of commercial flights to Thailand comes a week after the government allowed the reopening of air services to mainland China, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan from September 15 and to Laos and Cambodia on Tuesday, September 22.

The PM also ordered the transport ministry to consider increasing the frequency of flights to bring in foreign experts and investors as well as Vietnamese nationals from abroad.

The only foreign passengers allowed now are experts, investors, business managers, skilled workers and their families, international students, and family members of Vietnamese citizens.

They are required to present certificates showing they tested negative for COVID-19 within three days before their flights.

Vietnam began barring entry to foreign nationals on March 22 and suspended international commercial flights from March 25 in a bid to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Since then, charter flights to the country have only been arranged to bring in experts, skilled workers, and diplomats, and to repatriate Vietnamese citizens stranded in other nations and territories due to the pandemic.

Vietnams COVID-19 tally stood at 1,068, with 947 having recovered and 35 virus-related deaths as of Tuesday morning.

The country has gone nearly three weeks without documenting any locally-transmitted cases.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
The casket of fallen Big Bear Interagency Hotshot Charles Morton leaves the San Bernardino County Coroner's Division main in San Bernardino to be taken to a mortuary in Orange County. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

A fallen firefighter who died battling the El Dorado fire was taken to an Orange County mortuary Tuesday morning, flanked by an honor guard from the U.S. Forest Service, as well as vehicles from the California Highway Patrol and other law enforcement and fire agencies.

The honorary procession  followed overhead by a small aerial fleet of news and first-responder helicopters  transported the body of Charles Morton, 39, from the main San Bernardino County coroners office to Ferrara Colonial Mortuary in Orange.

The procession began around 10:30 a.m. and traveled down the 215 Freeway, Highway 91, Imperial Highway and Santiago Canyon Road  eventually pulling up to the mortuary, at 351 N. Hewes St., shortly after 11 a.m.

Personnel from various fire agencies stationed themselves at several points along the route, standing near or atop their trucks to salute the passing procession.

As the motorcade arrived at the mortuary, it passed beneath a large American flag suspended between two ladder trucks. The last leg of the journey was flanked by dozens of uniformed personnel who had come to pay their respects.

Charles Morton, a Big Bear Interagency Hotshot Squad boss, who died while engaged in fire suppression operations on the El Dorado fire late Thursday. (U.S. Forest Service)

Morton served for 14 years with the U.S. Forest Service, beginning with the Truckee Interagency Hotshots in the Tahoe National Forest, then the Mill Creek Interagency Hotshots and the Big Bear Interagency Hotshots in the San Bernardino National Forest.

He died Thursday while fighting the El Dorado fire, which has burned more than 22,500 acres in and around the San Bernardino National Forest near Yucaipa.

Morton is survived by his wife, daughter, parents and two brothers.

In a statement shared by the Forest Service on Monday, Morton's family said, "Hes loved and will be missed. May he rest easy in heaven with his baby boy.

Firefighters from different agencies are getting ready at San Bernardino County coroners office for a procession to honor firefighter killed in El Dorado fire. https://t.co/o1pRPVdsV9 @latimesphotos @BLMFire @forestservice @Angeles_NF @ClevelandNF pic.twitter.com/CeYufySEuU  Irfan Khan  (@latfoto) September 22, 2020

Residents in the San Bernardino Mountains area also lined Highway 38 in respect Friday as the fallen firefighter's body was removed from the fire zone in a procession of police and fire vehicles.

Story continues

Charlie was a well-respected leader who was always there for his squad and his crew at the toughest times, Vicki Christiansen, U.S. Forest Service chief, said in a statement. Our hearts go out to Charlies loved ones, co-workers, friends and the Big Bear Hotshots. We will keep them in our thoughts and prayers.

Morton died 12 days after the El Dorado fire was sparked by a pyrotechnic device that was part of a gender-reveal party at El Dorado Ranch Park in Yucaipa. The region was in the midst of a record-breaking heat wave, and flames chewed through the sunbaked grass that covered the hills of the park and quickly spread into the mountainous forest.

The fire was 60% contained as of Tuesday morning.

Forest Service officials previously said Morton died while engaged in fire suppression operations, though the precise cause and circumstances have yet to be officially released.

He was the 26th person whose death was linked to a California wildfire since August and the third person involved in battling the blazes to die in that span.

On Aug. 19, a firefighting helicopter on a water-dropping mission crashed in Fresno County, killing the pilot, Michael John Fournier, 52, of Rancho Cucamonga.

Firefighter Diane Jones, 63, was fatally injured Aug. 31 while battling the Tatham fire in Tehama County, which was part of the sprawling August Complex fire north of the Bay Area. That fire is now considered the largest in Californias recorded history in terms of acreage burned.

Jones was repositioning an engine in the Mendocino National Forest when it backed over an embankment and into fire, officials said. She was a volunteer firefighter in Cresson, Texas, and had traveled to California with a private company to fight fires with her son, officials said.

California has seen an unprecedented fire season, with more than 7,900 wildfires burning over 3.6 million acres in the state this year, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

The fires have destroyed more than 6,400 structures since mid-August, when a siege of dry lightning strikes sparked hundreds of blazes, some of which quickly spread through dry vegetation withered by a record-setting heat wave.

Experts say that climate change has played a role in the extreme conditions.
YEREVAN.  Armenias second President Robert Kocharyan on Tuesday met with his supporters at the yard of the Yerevan court, before the resumption of the criminal case against him and several other former senior officials

Supporters greeted him with applause and chanting, "Kocharyan, hero!"

"I have come to thank you for your active support; it gives [me] both strength and endurance. But I must also say that this senseless trial will last quite a long time. I have said that Tuesday is deleted from my calendar because it is a meaningless day, and I do not want it to be the same in your calendar, too. I ask you not to stand in the Sun, just go home. This meaningless trial has entered a routine; it will last a long time. Please do not delete your Tuesday from your calendar, deal with more important affairs," Kocharyan said, and, thanking his supporters, entered the court.
Courtesy of Jaime Garcia

Water overflowing from Keegans Bayou is swallowing cars near Highway 59 and West Bellfort in southwest Houston, according to a video shared with the Houston Chronicle.

The video, shared late Monday by Jaime Garcia, shows an SUV near the bayou almost entirely underwater. The water also crept near the top of a nearby pickup truck.
A tree that made contact with a power line apparently started a wildfire that burned dozens of homes in eastern Washington, according to a utility company.

The fire burned the vast majority of homes in Malden and Pine City, including over 100 homes in Malden alone. A burned tree found by Spokesman-Review staff apparently was the fires starting point during a Sept. 7 windstorm, Avista Utilities spokeswoman Casey Fielder said.

However, the utility has not found evidence that any deficiencies in its equipment, maintenance or vegetation management caused recent fires, the Spokane-based company said in a statement.

Some utilities have attempted to reduce wildfire risk by shutting off power at times. Such decisions can be controversial because many rely on electricity for crucial needs such as medical equipment.

An Avista wildfire resiliency plan finalized this year doesnt include planned outages, Fielder said.

About 200 residents of Malden fled as winds up to 50 mph drove flames toward the town.

Ive lived here all my life, and Ive never seen anything like it, said Steve Van Dyke, 66, who lost his childhood home and several outbuildings. It was unstoppable.

Van Dyke, a longtime firefighter, said he helped battle the fire.

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

Topics Wildfire Washington
For Republicans, anything that shifts attention away from President Trumps handling of the coronavirus pandemic is a good thing, given the low marks voters have given his response. An open Supreme Court seat is even better because it reminds Republican voters, including those who may not like Mr. Trumps chaotic style, of one of the reasons they support the president  he has delivered on their decades-long project to remake the federal judiciary. (At his rally this weekend, supporters debuted a new chant: Fill that seat!)

But this issue is hardly a slam dunk for the G.OP. First, theres that tiny, little problem of Republican senators statements from when they refused to confirm Judge Merrick B. Garland, President Barack Obamas last Supreme Court pick, because it was an election year.

Statements like this one, by Senator Lindsey Graham, who is running for re-election this year.

I want you to use my words against me. If theres a Republican president in 2016 and a vacancy occurs in the last year of the first term, you can say Lindsey Graham said lets let the next president, whoever it might be, make that nomination.

Generally speaking, voters dont like hypocrites. Now that Mr. Graham is pushing to confirm a nominee before the election, Democrats are already taking him up on his request, protesting outside his home and promoting video of his 2016 statement.

Democrats have their own base wound up about the court, too. Traditionally, Supreme Court vacancies have energized Republican voters more, particularly social conservatives. There have been some indications that the balance could be shifting in the Trump era. Democrats shattered donation records in the hours after Justice Ginsburgs death. Their strategists argue that voters want a return to normal procedure after the norm-busting years of the Trump administration and will punish Republicans for breaking their 2016 standard.

This vacancy, in particular, plays to one of the Democrats strongest voting blocks: female voters, many of whom who saw Justice Ginsburg as an icon, snatching up jewelry shaped like her famous collar and even getting tattoos of her face.

Thats a big part of why Mr. Trump is proceeding fairly carefully, waiting until the end of this week to announce his pick and promising to choose a woman. The president and his aides know they must walk a delicate line between mobilizing their base of evangelical and Catholic voters with red meat about ending abortion and protecting religious freedom, and alienating more moderate suburban women who are already defecting to Joe Biden.
Facebook said Tuesday it took down the first-ever coordinated inauthentic campaign engaged in U.S. politics that originated from China.

Why it matters: China is upping its online disinformation game beyond its own borders. The effort was part of a larger campaign that targeted Southeast Asia.

In recent months, China has abandoned its typical disinformation tactics focused on national propaganda and adopted a more Russian-like approach  using fake news to manipulate adversaries and boast its reputation abroad.

While there's no proof the Chinese campaign was state-sponsored, it falls in line with broader tactics now being leveraged by the Communist Party.

Details: Facebook said Tuesday on a call with reporters that it removed two separate networks for violating its policies against coordinated inauthentic behavior: One from China and the other from the Philippines.

The Chinese campaign was primarily aimed at Southeast Asia, with a small number of posts that targeted the U.S.

The activity originated in the Fujian province of China and focused on the Philippines and the U.S. The campaign used VPNs in an attempt to mask its identity.

Facebook's Head of Cybersecurity Policy Nathaniel Gleicher said the company found no evidence that the campaign, at this point, is linked to the government.

Facebook said the U.S. part of the campaign "gained almost no following," but posted content for and against Pete Buttigieg, President Trump and Joe Biden.

The rest of the campaign focused on Southeast Asia and discussed global news and current events in Filipino and Chinese dialects.

Facebook removed 155 accounts, 11 pages, 9 groups and 6 Instagram accounts for violating its foreign or government interference policy and engaging in coordinated inauthentic behavior on behalf of a foreign entity.

The company said around $60 was uncovered in spending for Facebook ads in Chinese yuan.

The Filipino campaign, Facebook says, has been linked to the nation's government, but focused on domestic Filipino audiences.

Facebook said it removed 57 Facebook accounts, 31 Pages and 20 Instagram accounts linked to this operation. The company added that around $1,100 was uncovered in spending for ads on Facebook paid for in Philippine peso.

The big picture: This isn't the first time Facebook has uncovered a Chinese-based influence operation. The company said it removed a coordinated inauthentic behavior campaign originating from China in August 2019. That campaign, however, was focused on Hong Kong, and there was no evidence that it targeted America politics whatsoever.

Go deeper: China adopts Russia's disinformation playbook
The technology world is littered with blunders which cost companies billions of dollars and saw them fall out of favour with investors.

In 1999, for example, Excite had the option to buy Google for $750,000 with the agreement that Excite would replace its search technology with that of Google.

Excite CEO George Bell rejected the deal, which was a costly mistake. Google is now one of the biggest companies in the world with a market cap of around $1 trillion.

Another famous blunder is Kodaks decision to shelve its digital camera plans in the late seventies in favour of film, which was its main revenue stream at the time.

Even when the world started to move towards digital photography, Kodak continued to focus on traditional film cameras.

This was a strategic blunder, as Kodak could not catch up with more established digital camera manufacturers when the world changed. It filed for bankruptcy protection in 2012.

In South Africa, there are also a few examples of big business mistake, like Telkoms decision to sell its 50% shareholding in Vodacom.

This article will focus on one of the biggest business blunders  Blue Label Telecoms decision to sell WBS and buy Cell C.

Blue Label Telecoms selling WBS

Blue Label Telecoms was a big shareholder in Wireless Business Solutions (WBS), the parent company to iBurst and Broadlink.

iBurst was well known for providing wireless broadband access, while Broadlink focussed on corporate connectivity solutions.

WBSs biggest asset was spectrum, which included 2 x 12MHz in the 1,800MHz band and 1 x 15MHz in the 2,600MHz band.

This spectrum was used to provide wireless broadband access to iBurst subscribers and for a WiMax deployment in partnership with Vodacom.

While Broadlink was profitable, iBurst struggled and the WiMax deal with Vodacom did not take off as expected. In short, WBS did not make money.

WBS shareholders grew tired of funding the company and Blue Label had its eye on a much bigger prize  Cell C.

Blue Label and other WBS shareholders subsequently decided to sell the company to Multisource in 2015.

Shortly after selling WBS, Blue Label announced its plan to buy a 35% stake in Cell C for R4 billion.

The deal evolved over the next two years, and Blue Label ultimately bought a 45% stake in Cell C for R5.5 billion in August 2017.

This was a disastrous decision. Cell Cs mountain of debt and large losses dragged Blue Label down and investors lost trust in the company.

Not even Blue Labels decision to write down Cell Cs value to zero helped to revive trust in the company.

Since hitting a high of over R21.00 per share in October 2016, the share price plummeted to its current level of around R3.50 per share.

This means Blue Label Telecoms market cap shrunk from R19.3 billion in October 2016 to its current R3.25 billion.

The company, therefore, lost most of its value since investing in Cell C, which co-CEO Brett Levy admitted was a very bad move for the group.

The graph below shows the Blue Label Telecoms share price over the last 5 years.

Rain is born

While Blue Label was trying to turn the struggling Cell C around, WBS started to make waves in the mobile market.

At the helm of WBSs strategy were its two major shareholders and former bankers, Paul Harris and Michael Jordaan.

Instead of trying to raise money and build their own LTE network  which WBS unsuccessfully tried in the past  they partnered with Vodacom.

Harris and Jordaan saw the value of WBSs spectrum in an environment of rapid mobile data growth and a government which has been dragging its feet on licensing additional spectrum.

After the failed attempt to acquire Neotel, which would have given it more spectrum, Vodacom had to make another plan.

WBS had an asset which Vodacom desperately needed  spectrum  which made it possible for Harris and Jordaan to negotiate a killer deal.

In return for giving Vodacom access to its network, WBS basically got a brand-new LTE network for free.

Officially, WBS was leasing aspects of Vodacoms sites and facilities while Vodacom was paying to roam on WBSs new network.

In reality, Vodacom was funding the new LTE network which could be rolled out at breakneck speed as it was done using its own infrastructure.

In 2017, WBS was rebranded as Rain and armed with a new LTE network, and the company launched its first fixed-LTE retail offering shortly afterwards.

A year later, Rain launched mobile data packages, competing directly against established mobile operators.

Rain also rolled out a 5G network and launched its first commercial 5G products in Gauteng in September 2019.

Harris and Jordaans WBS bet paid off handsomely. African Rainbow Capital (ARC) currently values Rain at R15.03 billion  nearly five-times Blue Labels market cap.

The Blue Label blunder

With Rains valuation dwarfing the market cap of Blue Label, it raises the question of why Blue Label missed the opportunity to do exactly what Harris and Jordaan did.

MyBroadband spoke to industry players about Blue Labels decision to sell WBS and buy Cell C, and they said there were a few reasons for this mistake.

Blue Label always wanted to own a big-brand mobile operator because of pride and to protect its existing revenue streams.

The WBS shareholders did not realise the true value of the spectrum the company owns.

There was no appetite from WBS shareholders to further fund the company and the roll-out of a new LTE network.

What is surprising is that the idea to partner with Vodacom was nothing new for WBS or Blue Label.

In 2008, WBS partnered with Vodacom to deploy a commercial WiMax network using WBSs spectrum.

WBS, therefore, had the blueprint for the deal which Harris and Jordaan made with Vodacom for a new LTE network.

The decision to not pursue this avenue and buy Cell C instead is still haunting Blue Label and has turned out to be one of the biggest business blunders in South Africas telecoms space.

Now read: Impressive Rain numbers released
Vast Resources plc / Ticker: VAST / Index: AIM / Sector: Mining

22 September 2020

Vast Resources plc

(Vast or the Company)

Zimbabwe Operations Update

Vast Resources plc, the AIM-listed mining company, is pleased to update the market on its operations in Zimbabwe.

The Company is proud to announce that Mark Mabhudhu, Executive Director of the Companys Diamond Division, has received an offer to join the Government owned Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company ZCDC as Chief Executive Officer starting immediately. Following a period of consultation with both the Company and the relevant Government of Zimbabwe Officials, a process that included a full disclosure as part of averting any possible conflict of interest, Mark Mabhudhu has accepted this role. As a result he will leave his current role with the Company.

The Company can confirm that its highly skilled geological and technical team remain employed by the Company and that it has identified a high level COO to manage the project who shall be engaged upon confirmation of the signing of the Joint Venture.

Mark Mabhudhus primary role will be to focus on the diamond sectors contribution towards the Zimbabwean Governments 2023 $12bn mining vision which is also driven by the attendant implementation of Joint Ventures between the ZCDC and investors in the diamond sector.

The Company can also confirm that this personnel change in Zimbabwe will not pose any impediment to the finalisation of the anticipated Joint Venture Agreement between the Companys Subsidiary in respect of the Chiadzwa Community Diamond Concession.

Further details regarding the finalisation of the Chiadzwa Community Diamond Project will be communicated to the market as and when they occur.

Andrew Prelea, Chief Executive Officer of Vast Resources PLC Commented:

Whilst we are of course sad to see Mark (Mabhudhu) leave Vast Resources PLC, we are extremely excited that we will be able to continue to work with him in his new role within the diamond mining sector in Zimbabwe. We are confident that with Mark in his new role, the diamond mining sector in Zimbabwe will be set for a new high.

On behalf of the Board and Mangement Team, I would like to thank Mark for all of his efforts and wish him all the best for the future and stress that he will always have an open door to return to the Company when he finalises his mandate at the ZCDC.

**ENDS**

For further information, visit www.vastplc.com or please contact:

Vast Resources plc

Andrew Prelea (Chief Executive Officer)

Andrew Hall



www.vastplc.com

+44 (0) 20 7846 0974 Beaumont Cornish - Financial & Nominated Adviser

Roland Cornish

James Biddle



www.beaumontcornish.com

+44 (0) 020 7628 3396 SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP  Joint Broker

Richard Morrison

Caroline Rowe



www.spangel.co.uk

+44 (0) 20 3470 0470



Axis Capital Markets Limited  Joint Broker

Richard Hutchison



www.axcap247.com

+44 (0) 20 3206 0320 St Brides Partners Limted

Susie Geliher

Charlotte Page



www.stbridespartners.co.uk

+44 (0) 20 7236 1177

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).

ABOUT VAST RESOURCES PLC

Vast Resources plc, is a United Kingdom AIM listed mining company with mines and projects in Romania and Zimbabwe.

In Romania, the Company is focused on the rapid advancement of high quality projects by recommencing production at previously producing mines.

The Companys Romanian portfolio includes an 80% interest in the Baita Plai Polymetallic Mine. Baita Plai is located in the Apuseni Mountains, Transylvania, an area which hosts Romanias largest polymetallic mines. Work is now currently underway towards first concentrate production as well as efforts in place to establish a maiden Resource under the JORC code.

The Company also owns the Manaila Polymetallic Mine in Romania, which was commissioned in 2015, currently on care and maintenance. The Company has been granted the Manaila Carlibaba Extended Exploitation License that will allow the Company to re-examine the exploitation of the mineral resources within the larger Manaila Carlibaba license area.

In Zimbabwe, the Company is focused on the commencement of the joint venture mining agreement on the Chiadzwa Community Concession Block of the Chiadzwa Diamond Fields in Zimbabwe.
Semi-automatic phone triage underestimated urgency in 27% of patients with serious heart conditions, say researchers

A semi-automatic phone triage system designed to help people with chest discomfort during the out of hours period is unsafe and unreliable, according to research published in the journal Open Heart.

The severity of more than a quarter (27%) of patients with a serious heart condition was underestimated by the phone system and input from nurses was needed to ensure patients were better assessed, researchers from the Netherlands found.

Adequate triage followed by early diagnosis is crucial for patients with acute chest discomfort who might have an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) such as a heart attack or other life-threatening events such as pulmonary embolism (a blood clot in the lung).

Telephone triage of such patients is sometimes provided by primary care out-of-hours services or emergency medical services but it can be challenging because, based on symptoms only, it is difficult to differentiate acute coronary syndrome and other life threatening events from other causes of chest pain.

Most Western countries use a semi-automatic computer triage system to support telephone decision making in which triage nurses complete a standard list of questions ranked by importance that pops up after they choose the patient's main complaint in the computer system, and the computer automatically generates a recommended level of urgency.

Since 2011, most out-of-hours primary care in the Netherlands and half of the emergency medical services use the Netherlands Triage System (NTS) which aims to guarantee efficient and safe care.

The NTS appears to be safe with a very low rate of serious adverse events but the accuracy of semi-automatic assisted telephone triage with the Netherlands system in out-of-hours primary care has never been validated against clinical outcomes.

Therefore, a team of researchers from the Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care in Utrecht, set out to assess the accuracy of telephone triage for patients with chest discomfort who called the service.

Both the accuracy of the NTS tool and the "final" urgency, including overruling by the triage nurses, were evaluated.

They carried out a cross-sectional study of telephone conversations with 2,023 patients with acute chest discomfort (pain, pressure, tightness or discomfort) who called out-of-hours services for primary care between 2014 and 2016.

Eventual diagnoses were gathered from the patients' medical records in general practice, including hospital specialists' discharge letters.

Analysis of the results showed that of the 2,023 patients who called, 227 (11.2%) had acute coronary syndrome (men 14.9%, women 8.2%) and 58 (2.9%) had another life-threatening event (men 3.6%, women 2.3%).

The researchers found that the safety and efficiency of the NTS decision support tool was poor for telephone triage in patients with acute chest discomfort.

The tool underestimated the level of urgency in 27% of patients with acute coronary syndrome and other life-threatening events.

In 13.2% of the calls, the triage nurse overruled the NTS urgency, mostly by upscaling (11%).

When the tool was overruled by nurses, this improved safety but there were still 14% of people with these serious cardiac situations who were allocated too low a level of urgency while efficiency remained poor.

The researchers acknowledged that a low urgency allocation did not necessarily mean the acute coronary syndrome was being missed, but there was an undesirable risk to patient safety with the hazard of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias and sudden death due to severe pumping failure of the heart in those having a heart attack.

They concluded: "Primary care semi-automatic assisted telephone triage of patients with chest discomfort is not safe or efficient.

"The 'human factor' is conducive to safety in the current telephone triage process. Nonetheless, potential room for improvement should be studied, both of the decision support tool itself by developing better diagnostic prediction rules as well as by improving its use by triage nurses and management. 'Blind trust' in decision support systems should be replaced by critical use of it."

###

Peer reviewed? Yes

Evidence type: Observational, data analysis

Subjects: People
Intolerances to chemicals, foods and drugs impact 8%-33% of individuals, studies suggest, yet few people are screened for it at their doctors' offices.

To address this and increase awareness of chemical intolerance, researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio) developed and validated a three-question, yes-or-no survey that primary care providers, allergists, dermatologists and other specialists can incorporate into patient visits. The survey, called the Brief Environmental Exposure and Sensitivity Inventory, or BREESI, can also be used by researchers and patient groups, and for epidemiological studies in exposed populations.

Sept. 16 in the journal PLOS ONE, the researchers reported that the BREESI accurately predicts scores on a comprehensive 50-question survey called the Quick Environmental Exposure and Sensitivity Inventory (QEESI). The QEESI, which the UT Health San Antonio group introduced online in 2014, is available at no charge to patients and clinicians. Researchers worldwide are using it, making it the new standard for measuring chemical intolerance.

People who become ill from exposures to chemicals, such as bleach, disinfectants, pesticides, mold, combustion products or volatile organic compounds (VOCs), have higher scores on the QEESI. But the QEESI is a little long for rapid screening." Claudia S. Miller, MD, MS, professor emeritus in the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine at UT Health San Antonio

Carlos Jaen, MD, PhD, professor and chairman of the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the university, suggested that the team develop and test a brief screening questionnaire.

Predictive value

The BREESI focuses on three different exposure categories: chemical inhalants, drugs/medications and foods/food additives. The research team enrolled 293 volunteers from a university-based primary care clinic and online to complete the BREESI and QEESI.

"The BREESI showed high sensitivity and specificity," according to the authors.

Of respondents who said "yes" to all three BREESI questions, 90% had scores "very suggestive" of chemical intolerance.

Of those who said "no" to all three BREESI questions, 95% had scores "not suggestive" of chemical intolerance.

Ray Palmer, PhD, professor of family and community medicine at UT Health San Antonio, said the team is currently validating the BREESI in larger, population-based studies in the U.S. and internationally.

"Only a minute or two is required to administer the BREESI, making routine evaluation of chemical intolerance feasible for medical and surgical workups, epidemiological investigations, and before-and-after studies of environmental exposure events such as the Gulf War burn pits or 9/11," Dr. Miller said.

California wildfires

Currently, Dr. Miller is concerned that misuse of disinfectants to combat COVID-19 may be endangering susceptible individuals. Combustion products from the California wildfires are another concern. Outgassing of volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) from new construction, remodeling and "sick" buildings frequently triggers chemically intolerant individuals' symptoms.

"Quick screening questionnaires are used routinely in clinics today, e.g., for quality of life or substance abuse, or reactions to antibiotics or latex, and we believe chemical intolerance also needs to be assessed routinely, given its high prevalence," Dr. Palmer said.

Pregnancy and chemicals

It is especially important for expectant mothers to know whether they are chemically intolerant, so that they can work with their physicians and families to eliminate exposures that may affect them and their babies, Dr. Palmer said.

"We encourage physicians to use the BREESI to identify chemically intolerant mothers whose children may be at increased risk for ADHD and autism," Dr. Palmer said. ADHD is short for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

The Marilyn Brachman Hoffman Foundation, for which Dr. Miller is environmental medicine consultant, funded the research. "Our goal is to improve everyone's understanding of chemical intolerance through research, education, and outreach," Dr. Miller said. "Educating health care workers is a top priority. We have now given them a useful tool."

Both the BREESI and the QEESI are available online at no charge. Researchers should contact the TILT Research Program for permission to use these surveys in their studies. TILT is short for Toxicant-Induced Loss of Tolerance.
A dozen New Jersey businesses have been fined by state authorities after being caught engaging in a variety of unscrupulous tactics during the coronavirus pandemic, including price gouging during the early days of the health emergency,

Six illegally raised the prices of essential items after Gov. Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency on March 9, two were cited for making false claims in the sale of COVID-19 antibody tests while another four were assessed $500 in civil penalties for their alleged failure to post selling prices for merchandise such as bottled water, toilet paper and sanitizers.

The state Attorney Generals office announced the penalties Monday with the largest fine  $12,500  being assessed by the state Division of Consumer Affairs to Performance Supply LLC, a Manalapan company run by a used car dealer now facing federal charges. The company claimed it was an authorized dealer of 3M face masks and on March 30 offered to sell 7 million of the coverings to the New York City Office of Citywide Procurement for $6.05 to $6.35 each, about 400% to 500% above 3Ms list prices of $1.02 to $1.31.

The companys owner, Ronald Romano, has been charged with wire fraud and has been sued by 3M. When reached by phone, Romano said, I dont know what youre talking about, and hung up. Romano did not immediately return a follow-up call.

Romanos company should not be confused with the similarly named Performance Screen Supply, also in Manalapan, which was not cited Monday but whose owner has reportedly received death threats over the mistake.

The other businesses handed civil penalties for illegally hiking the cost of items such as bottled water, rice, face masks and disinfectant spray are:

Bravo Supermarket, 1567 East State St., Trenton ($5,750)

Food Fair La Gran Marqueta, 946-956 Market St., Paterson, ($5,250)

Siya Cash and Carry LLC, 175 Tonnelle Ave., Jersey City, ($1,750)

Super Fresh Pine Tree Supermarket, 19 Belleville Ave., Bloomfield, ($1,250)

Compare Foods Super Market, 847 Roebling Ave., Trenton, ($1,250)

Prices are not allowed to be raised by more than 10% above what was charged before the state of emergency if the seller didnt incur additional costs.

Four other retailers received $500 penalties for not properly posting the prices of products such as bottled water, toilet paper and sanitizers:

Exxon Gas, 2000 Route 66 East, Neptune

News Plus, 138 Baldwin Road, Parsippany

Shell, 456 Albin Ct., Ridgewood

Delta Food Mart, 801 West Elizabeth Ave., Linden

In addition, Hudson Drug of Cresskill was assessed $3,000 in civil penalties for incorrectly saying COVID-19 antibody tests it sold were suitable for at-home use.

We didnt know these tests werent allowed to be used at home, President Shreyas Shah told NJ Advance Media. Its upsetting that we had to find out the hard way, but he said they had no intention of misleading customers.

Meanwhile, Retro Fitness of Rockaway was hit with a $2,000 fine for making unsubstantiated claims about antibody testing for club members via a health and wellness center affiliated with the club, officials said.

The Division of Consumer Affairs has sent 1,884 cease and desist letters to retailers suspected of price gouging and other unconscionable business practices during the coronavirus pandemic. Its also issued 110 subpoenas seeking more information about alleged violations of the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act.

Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Blake Nelson can be reached at bnelson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @BCunninghamN.
Russian and Chinese armed forces have started joint military exercises in southern Russia alongside troops from Armenia, Belarus, Iran, Myanmar and Pakistan. Neighbouring Ukraine is flexing its military muscle as well  together with the US.

The Caucasus 2020 drills deploy wheeled vehicles and light weaponry to be flown to out by China's latest transport aircraft.

In a massive display with hundreds of tanks, armoured personnel carriers, fighter jets and a flotilla of warships, the exercises will continue until 26 September and focus on defensive tactics, encirclement and battlefield control and command, according to a statement by the Russian Defence Ministry.

Some 80,000 troops are expected to be involved in the manoeuvres. But Moscow says that the number of frontline soldiers does not exceed 13,000, so it is not obliged to invite observers from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) as stipulated by the 2011 cornerstone Vienna Document that defined the scope of military exercises on European soil.

The action takes place in Russia's Southern Military District and in the Black- and Caspian seas, where warships of Iran's navy will take part.

Some 1,000 troops from China, Armenia, Belarus, Myanmar and Pakistan are taking part in the exercises as well.

The exercises have special meaning for China-Russia ties at this important moment when the whole world is fighting the pandemic, according to Russia's Defence Ministry.

Since establishing a comprehensive strategic partnership" two decades ago, China and Russia have cooperated increasingly closely on military matters and diplomacy, largely to counter US influence. Their armies regularly hold joint exercises and they support each other at the United Nations over issues including Syria and North Korea.

Slavic Brotherhood

These exercises coincide with the Slavic Brotherhood drills, a series of operations initiated in 2015, hosted alternately by Russia, Belarus and Serbia. This year they take place at the Brest training grounds near the border of Russia.

But this time, Serbia, a candidate for membership of the EU, didn't want to get caught in the crossfire. According to the Russian Tass News Agency, Serbian Defence Minister Aleksandar Vulin announced that the European Union demanded that Belgrade cancel the upcoming drills in Belarus, and the Serbian government decided to freeze all military drills with other countries for six months.

According to Balkan Insight, a website run by the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (Birn), Serbia's Vulin added that In the next period, (Serbia) will not participate in any exercises or military activities with Nato, the CSTO, Russia, the United States, China, the European Union, or the East or the West.

US is training too

Coinciding with the Russian sabre rattling are the Rapid Trident 20 exercises with some 4,000 troops, led by US Europe-based troops. According to the Army Times, the US Army's most popular news site, the war with Russia spurred the Ukrainian government to seek closer defence cooperation with the US and Nato militariesin order to facilitate the Ukrainian Ground Forces' transition from Soviet-style tactics and doctrine to Nato-aligned methods of fighting.

The exercises are part of yearly routines, but seem to have intensified in scope with growing tension between the US and Russia.

According to a recent report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Instutute (Sipri), Russian military expenditure increased by 30 percent in real terms between 2010 and 2019 and by 175 percent between 2000 and 2019 when it exceeded $65 billion.

Relatively modest

Compared to other global powers, Russia's military expenditure is still relatively modest. In 2019, the US spent over 11 times more than Russia on arms, and China four times as much. But compared to the largest military spenders in Western Europe  France, Germany and the UK, Russia spent about 30 percent more.

Meanwhile, there is no more international agreement on military expansion. The 1992 Conventional Armed Forces Treaty, signed just after the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Soviet Union, signed by 22 countries, including Russia and the US, limited the number of conventional troops on European soil.

It limited combined troops of European countries to 2.6 million, US troops (at various bases in Italy and Germany) to 250,000; Turkey (a Nato-member) was allowed 530,000 troops. The total number of Russian troops was limited to 1.4 million. A follow-up treaty that better reflected post-cold war realities was never ratified.

In 2015, Russia unilaterally withdrew from the treaty, angry with Nato's enlargements and US plans to put a missile defence system in Poland, but also after Moscow's annexation of Crimea, in the Ukraine, and increasing hostilities between Ukrainian troops and Russia-based rebels in the east of that country.
Mum:

An RTI query has revealed that the design of new banknotes of Rs 500 and Rs 2000 denominations was approved at the May 19, 2016 meeting of the Central Board of RBI. In his application, city-based activist Jeetendra Ghadge had sought the exact date of the approval of the design of new bills.

"The new design of the bank notes was approved by the Central Board of Reserve Bank of India in its meeting held on May 19, 2016," the Central Public Information Officer of RBI stated in the response. As per the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, general superintendence and direction of the Bank's affairs are taken care of by the central board of directors, a body headed by the governor of the RBI.

Raghuram Rajan was governor of the apex bank during September 2013-September 2016. RBI cited section 8(1)(a) of RTI Act to refuse information to Ghadge who had sought to know exact date of the first meeting held at the apex bank with the agenda to print new currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 2000 denominations, and the exact date for the order allowing their printing.

Ghadge said on Tuesday that the RBI and its Governor need to come clean on the entire processes of demonetisation "so that responsibility could be fixed and the common people's trust is maintained."

Demonetisation of old Rs 500 and Rs 1000 bills was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 8 in 2016. RBI Governor Urjit Patel had recently appeared before the Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC), and the Standing Committee on Finance headed by former union minister and senior Congress leader Veerappa Moily, to clarify on demonetisation.

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Jerry McBride/MBR

WASHINGTON - Oil and gas companies drilling on public lands would be required to do a better job cleaning up under legislation introduced Tuesday by U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo.

Under the bill, bonding requirements for drilling would increase and the federal government would create a multi-billion program cleaning up so-called orphaned well sites.
Thousands of people marched through central Bogota, and other cities in Colombia, on September 21, in protest against police violence and the government following the police-involved death of a man on September 9.

This footage, shared by RNC Radio journalist Daniel Arias, shows a damaged bank and police in riot gear firing projectiles toward protesters in Bogotas Plaza de Bolivar.

Local reports said an estimated 5,600 people took part in 142 demonstrations around the country, with 11 rallies and three marches taking place in the capital.

The demonstrations came 10 months to the day after mass protests and a nationwide strike in the country. Credit: Daniel Arias/RCN Radio via Storyful
SPRINGFIELD  Nine residents were displaced by a fire that damaged at least two units in an apartment complex Monday.

The fire at 52 Edmund Wynn Circle was reported at about 5:30 p.m. Firefighters were able to extinguish it quickly and there were no injuries, Fire Capt. Drew Piemonte said.

The blaze is believed to have started in the kitchen. The cause is being investigated by the departments Arson And Bomb Squad, he said.

The American Red Cross of Western Massachusetts is assisting the residents who were displaced, Piemonte said.

Related content:
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 22, ARMENPRESS. President of Estonia Kersti Kaljulaid sent a congratulatory letter to Armenias President Armen Sarkissian on the occasion of the Independence Day, the Armenian Presidents Office told Armenpress.

As we all are facing challenges caused by the novel coronavirus pandemic, I want to address my words of support to the people of Armenia. This shows to what extent we depend on one another and proves that solutions are possible only through close cooperation.

I hope our countries will continue the joint work to expand the cooperation in the fields of mutual interest both at the bilateral format and in the international organizations such as the United Nations.

I also hope that when the pandemic becomes controllable, I will have a chance to welcome you in Estonia, reads the Estonian Presidents congratulatory letter.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
Rachel Delgado grew up hearing her mother tell stories about working as a sewing machine operator at the Basila Frocks building on the West Side in the 1950s.

Juanita Delgado talked about the camaraderie among the employees. They made all sorts of clothes, including childrens garments, and she would buy the imperfect pieces.

My sister and I always had cute dresses for the holidays, said Rachel Delgado, a member of the Westside Preservation Alliance. We were very stylish as children.

The job also helped her parents afford to build their own house in the area, she added.

The building at the corner of Martin and Zarzamora streets is an important part of the West Sides rich history.

It helped make San Antonio a hub for garment manufacturing decades ago and housed a bevvy of businesses, including restaurants, a nightclub, a shoe store and a Chinese grocery.

On ExpressNews.com: Paula Allen: Demand was high for Basila's moderate frocks

The building has sat vacant for years. But it may be coming back to life.

The Westside Development Corp.  a nonprofit funded by the city, financial institutions, private organizations and donors  is seeking a partner to redevelop it.

In a packet for developers, the organization said it wants the dilapidated structure to become a vibrant and empowering center of community life that can directly serve our small business and entrepreneur community.

Uses could include a combination of office or co-working space, retail, an entrepreneur center, and areas for events and community meetings. Those ideas are not meant to be prescriptive of the final project but represent the ethos and intended community impact.

A previous attempt to rehabilitate the 20,000-square-foot building came to a halt after the developer died.

The WDC bought the structure in 2018 in partnership with Dan Markson, a senior vice president of development at NRP Group. Markson was interested in redeveloping the building as a private investor  it wasnt an NRP project, said WDC President and CEO Ramiro Gonzales.

On ExpressNews.com: Ayala: Development is a two-edged sword on San Antonios historic West Side

Plans called for a variety of businesses. The project was modeled on the nearby Warehouse 5.

The goal of building is to have it be a mixed-use building with all kinds of small businesses, Markson told the San Antonio Current in 2018. Some retail, some wholesale, some manufacturing, and to restore the building to its original grandeur.

Vacant buildings bring crime, fire, danger and cost the city more in services than to assist in getting them back online, he said. This building, instead of being the rotten core of a piece of fruit, should be a little star that is shedding light all over the neighborhood rather than something that is a problem.

But Markson died in May 2019, shortly before construction was set to begin.

The WDC put out a request for interest this summer, asking developers to submit information about their projects and ideas for the site by mid-September. It received about five responses. The next step is interviewing the firms.

Depending on the results, the WDC may issue a request for proposals and ask qualified developers to participate, or conclude that one firm is the best fit and move forward with discussions.

SA Inc.: Get the best of business news sent directly to your inbox

Most of the predevelopment work is already done.

The organization also touted financial incentives in the packet. An application for state historic tax credits is pending approval and the city approved a forgivable loan of roughly $200,000, Gonzales said. A developer also could apply for fee waivers.

The property also sits within a designated opportunity zone, a program established by President Donald Trumps 2017 tax overhaul meant to spark economic growth in underserved communities.

Investors can get tax breaks on capital gains if they put that money in long-term investments in the areas. The program has been criticized for benefiting affluent investors more than the residents who live around their projects.

Critics have also questioned whether the tax breaks will accelerate gentrification and subsidize projects that would have happened anyway.

One option thats off the table for Basila Frocks: razing the building. A developer wanted to demolish the property for construction of a Dollar General store in 2016, but preservationists resisted.

West Side residents and activists say they want to see the building become a community hub again. A grocery store with healthy food, or affordable space for small businesses and social organizations are appealing.

I would hope (WDC) would come up with a plan to keep the rent reasonably low, Delgado said. That would be ideal, because it would bring new businesses into a neighborhood that needs more business and give the vendor a better chance to survive with setting up a new business.

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio buyers face tight supply of homes

Concerns about displacement are mounting.

Graciela Sanchez of the Esperanza Peace & Justice Center and Teri Castillo of the Historic Westside Residents Association stress the need for affordable housing in the area.

Its important to select a developer with a history of community engagement and certainly a developer whos going to honor the historic architecture, said Castillo, who is also a historian of urban policy.

Along with respondents experience and qualifications, WDC officials will be looking at their connection to the West Side and how they interact with the community, Gonzales said.

Gonzales, who lives just north of Monte Vista, was named president and CEO of the organization in September after serving in the role on an interim basis since February. He previously worked for the city for 15 years and is managing partner of Urban Lazarus Partners, a real estate investment group.

The question we have to ask is  how do we make sure the investment and development that come benefit the existing residents and businesses of the West Side? How do we make sure this is done in the right way? Gonzales said.

The Basila Frocks Co. was founded by a Syrian couple, Nicholas and Marie Basila, who immigrated to the U.S. from Canada in the early 1900s. They started by making womens kimonos and negligees with a handful of machines and later added cotton dresses.

The company is believed to be the first maker of ready-to-wear dresses in San Antonio and possibly Texas. It moved into the Zarzamora structure in 1929 and was among more than 30 garment manufacturing plants in the area at the time.

The Basilas declared bankruptcy in 1936 but eventually repurchased the factory and made buckles, bows and other items through the mid-1950s. The building has been home to many other manufacturers and commercial tenants over the years.

madison.iszler@express-news.net
A California city has reached a $4 million settlement with the family of a Black man who was fatally shot last year as he was having a mental health breakdown.

Officials from the city, Walnut Creek, confirmed this week that they had agreed to settle with the family of Miles Hall, 23, who was killed in June 2019 after police officers responded to multiple calls of a disturbance in his neighborhood.

The events of that day were tragic and difficult for all involved  the Hall family, the Walnut Creek community and the police officers called to the scene, the city, which is about 25 miles east of San Francisco, said in a statement. While the city recognizes the continuing loss for the Hall family, it is the citys sincere hope that settlement of this civil lawsuit will provide a step towards healing.

John Burris, a lawyer in Oakland who represents the family, said Mr. Halls parents and relatives called the police that June afternoon for help with a young man struggling with mental illness. Mr. Halls family has said that he had a schizoaffective disorder.
Guillaume Faury, chief executive officer of commercial aircraft at Airbus SE. Photo: Christophe Morin/Bloomberg

The boss of European planemaker Airbus (AIR.PA) told French radio station RTL that it cannot guarantee that it will not resort to compulsory redundancies as it needs to shed 15,000 jobs across the world.

The crisis is existential. Our life as a business is potentially at risk if we dont take the right measures. We are taking them, Faury said to RTL.

The situation is so serious, and we are faced with so much uncertainty, that I think no one can guarantee there wont be compulsory redundancies if were to adapt to the situation, especially if it evolves further.

On the other hand, what I say clearly is that we have a lot of work to do, we will do everything we can to avoid arriving at that point. There are lots of measures we can take between voluntary redundancies and compulsory redundancies.

In June this year, Airbus announced that it would cut 15,000 jobs within a year as the COVID-19 pandemic brought air travel to a standstill.

READ MORE: TUI aims to reduce costs permanently by 30%

At the time, Francoise Vallin of the CFE-CGC union said it's going to be a mighty battle to save jobs.

Airbus revealed that it was likely to cut 5,000 posts in France, 5,100 in Germany, 900 in Spain, 1,700 in the UK, and 1,300 elsewhere by mid-2021, for a core total of 14,000.

The broader tally includes another 900 job cuts planned before the crisis at its Premium AEROTEC unit in Germany.

At the end of June, Faury said that he expects production at the European aircraft manufacturer to be down by 40% this year and next year. In April, Faury told employees in a memo seen by media outlets including Reuters and Bloomberg that the company is bleeding cash and needs to rapidly cut costs in order to survive the impact from the coronavirus pandemic.
The descriptions that Chinas state media rolled out ahead of leader Xi Jinpings speech Tuesday at the annual gathering of world leaders at the United Nations were hardly unexpected.

The Xinhua news agency lauded him as as a champion of the U.N. ethos, and commentaries laid out his expectations and plans as he prepared for virtual meetings with his colleagues at the U.N. General Assembly.

All of the propaganda was peppered with assertions of Chinas long history as a paragon of world cooperation, and of Xi as a leading voice of reason on the international stage.

But scattered clues suggest some unease as China looks to manage its staggering  and staggeringly complex  military, economic and political rise while confronting the aggressive containment strategies of the worlds current superpower, the United States, and its friends and allies.

Xi Jinping has his work cut out for him at the General Assembly, said Mike Mazza, a China analyst at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington. He pointed to tensions with Europe over trade and investment, climate and human rights, in addition to the Trump administrations more consistently confrontational approach to China.

Xi has failed to leverage ill feelings between many European leaders and U.S. President Donald Trump, while a potential detente with Japan has stalled. Relations with Australia have nosedived over allegations of spying and political manipulation and calls for an investigation into the Chinese origins of the coronavirus outbreak, Mazza said.

Despite distancing itself from Washington in favor of Beijing in recent years, the Philippines recently backed away from a threat to cancel a key military pact with the United States, another setback to Beijings push to dominate the region.

These troubles are, by and large, problems of its own making, Mazza said of China.

As aggressive as Beijing can seem to its neighbors when using its fast-expanding military and powerful economy to carve out what it sees as its natural sphere of influence in Asia, this is a fragile moment in what's often seen as China's inevitable rise as a superpower.

Beijing has faced criticism over the continuing fallout from the coronavirus pandemic, which originated in China late last year. Some say Beijing initially attempted to cover up the outbreak before seeking to take advantage of its response for public relations ends.

There's outrage over China's severe restriction of civil rights in Hong Kong following its imposition on the semi-autonomous city of a sweeping national security law, and over widespread accusations of mass detentions and cultural genocide against Muslims in the Xinjiang region. And there's wariness also over China's rising pressure and military threats against Taiwan, the self-governing island democracy that Beijing claims as its own territory.

Meanwhile, Chinas moves to claim nearly the entire South China Sea have led to friction with the United States and with Beijings neighbors to the south, while a decades-long border dispute with India erupted this year into deadly brawling between the rivals' troops and the firing of shots for the first time in decades.

All this has undercut arguments that favor engagement with China as a trade war between Beijing, the worlds second-biggest economy, and Washington, the biggest, continues to simmer.

Xi will find a very mixed international environment when he addresses the UNGA. Most of the democracies which had previously been very supportive of Chinas modernization and development are getting uncomfortable with how Xi is steering the rise of China," said Steve Tsang, director of the China Institute at Londons School of Oriental and African Studies.

Xi, in prepared remarks released before a meeting to commemorate the 75th U.N. anniversary, took veiled but unmistakable aim at Washington.

No country has the right to dominate global affairs, control the destiny of others, or keep advantages in development all to itself, Xi said. Even less should one be allowed to do whatever it likes and be the hegemon, bully or boss of the world. Unilateralism is a dead end."

This could just as easily be describing Chinas Asian neighbors' feelings at what many see as Beijing's aggressive foreign policy.

Beijing is incapable of acknowledging that its own actions may have been at the root of various problems so, to the extent problems are acknowledged, the source will always be someone else," said Ralph Cossa, president emeritus of the Pacific Forum think tank in Hawaii.

The United States and China are now locked on a collision course that could potentially result in dangerous military conflict, said Brookings Institution China analyst Cheng Li. An immediate goal of Xis will be to showcase how China has stepped up to the plate to call for multilateralism and address global concerns  from economic reopening and pandemic relief to climate change and international peace-keeping  while the United States has increasingly left a gaping void in global leadership.

While many in the world have mixed feelings about China's rise, others will see it as a model of COVID-19 recovery and assistance  in glaring contrast to the United States, said Brantley Womack of the University of Virginias Miller Center.

Xi will also likely be appreciated at the U.N. by countries looking for investment and debt relief under Chinas massive Belt and Road infrastructure initiative and by states such as Russia.

Just as the global financial crisis in 2008 set the stage for Chinas entrance as a global economic power, the COVID crisis provides a new spotlight for China as a global political power, Womack said. In both cases, Chinas presence is acknowledged but not necessarily welcome, and Chinas diplomatic challenge is to put its best face forward.

___

Foster Klug, AP's news director for the Koreas, Japan, Australia and the South Pacific, has covered Asia at the annual UNGA meetings since 2005. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/apklug
WASHINGTON: U.S. President Donald Trump will meet on Wednesday with state attorneys general about removing a liability shield protecting social media companies while the Justice Department holds a call with state officials to discuss the investigation into Alphabets Google .

The separate meetings highlight the efforts by the Trump administration to move against an industry that he has accused of stifling conservative voices.

In the White House meeting, Trump will meet with state attorneys general from Texas, Arizona, Utah, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, South Carolina and Missouri - like Trump, all Republicans, according to a person briefed on the matter.

Justice Department officials have invited staff for the dozens of state attorneys general involved in a Google antitrust investigation to a call in the afternoon, according to two sources knowledgeable about the call.

Officials from both Democratic and Republican states are expected to participate, the two sources said.

While the Justice Department has not said what the agenda of the meeting will be, the expectation is that officials could preview the complaint that is expected to be filed against Google as soon as next week, one of the sources said.

Online censorship goes far beyond the issue of free speech, its also one of protecting consumers and ensuring they are informed of their rights and resources to fight back under the law," White House spokesman Judd Deere said on Monday.

State attorneys general are on the front lines of this issue and President Trump wants to hear their perspectives."

In May, Trump signed an executive order that seeks new regulatory oversight of tech firms content moderation decisions and backed legislation to scrap or weaken the relevant provision in the 1996 Communications Decency Act, Section 230.

Trump directed the Commerce Department to file a petition asking the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) to limit protections under Section 230 after Twitter Inc warned readers in May to fact-check his posts about unsubstantiated claims of fraud in mail-in voting.

A group representing major internet companies including Facebook Inc , Amazon.com Inc and Google urged the FCC to reject the petition, saying it was misguided, lacks grounding in law, and poses serious public policy concerns."

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai opened the petition to a 45-day public comment.

Earlier this month, the Republican state attorneys general of Texas, Louisiana, Indiana and Missouri backed Trumps push, arguing social media platforms cannot be truly free unless the participants understand the rules of the forum, and competition is able to provide alternatives when speech restrictions go too far.

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
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

In 2019, research revealed that achieving remission of type 2 diabetes by intensive weight loss can restore the insulin-producing capacity of the pancreas to levels similar to those in people who have never been diagnosed with the condition. Now, new research being presented at the Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD), held online this year, demonstrates for the first time that reversing type 2 diabetes can also restore the pancreas to a normal size and shape.

"Our previous research demonstrated the return to long term normal glucose control, but some experts continue to claim that this is merely 'well controlled diabetes' despite our demonstration of a return to normal insulin production by the pancreas. However, our new findings of major change in the size and shape of the pancreas are convincing evidence of return to the normal state", says Professor Roy Taylor from Newcastle University, UK, who led the research.

He goes on to explain, "Large amounts of insulin cause tissues to grow, or at least maintain their size. Normally, inside the pancreas the amounts of insulin present after a meal are very high. But in type 2 diabetes this does not happen. This new study suggests that achieving remission of type 2 diabetes restores this healthy, direct effect of insulin on the pancreas."

Affecting 1 in 11 of the world's adult population (415 million people), and on the rise, type 2 diabetes is caused by too much glucose (a type of sugar) in the blood due to the pancreas not producing enough insulin (a hormone which breaks down glucose into energy in the cells) together with insulin resistance.

Previous imaging studies have shown reduced size and abnormal shape of the pancreas in people with type 2 diabetes. But whether these abnormalities resulted from, rather than led to, the disease state was unknown until now.

In the study, 64 participants from the landmark Diabetes Remission Clinical Trial (DiRECT) and 64 age-, sex-, and weight- matched controls without type 2 diabetes were measured over 2 years for pancreas volume and fat levels, and irregularity of pancreas borders using a special MRI scan. Beta cell functionkey to the body's ability to make and release insulinwas also recorded. Responders (people in remission) were classified as achieving a glycated haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level of less than 6.5% and fasting blood glucose of less than 7.0 mmol/l, off all medications.

At the start of the study, average pancreas volume was 20% smaller (64 cm3 vs 80 cm3), and pancreas borders more irregular, in people with diabetes compared with controls without diabetes.

After 5 months of weight loss, pancreas volume was unchanged irrespective of remission (63 cm3 to 64 cm3 for responders and 59 cm3 to 60 cm3 in non-responders). However, after 2 years, the pancreas had grown on average by around one fifth in size (from 63 cm3 to 76 cm3) in responders compared with around a twelfth (from 59 cm3 to 64 cm3) in those who did not.

In addition, responders lost a significant amount of fat from their pancreas (1.6%) compared with non-responders (around 0.5%) over the study period, and achieved normal pancreas borders.

Similarly, only responders showed early and sustained improvement in beta-cell function. After 5 months of weight loss, the amount of insulin being made by responders increased and was maintained at 2 years, but there was no change in non-responders.

"Our findings provide proof of the link between the main tissue of the pancreas which makes digestive juices and the much smaller tissue which makes insulin, and open up possibilities of being able to predict future onset of type 2 diabetes by scanning the pancreas", says Professor Taylor.

"All our research has been focused on type 2 diabetes which has developed within the last 6 years. Although some people with much longer duration diabetes can achieve remission, it is clear that the insulin producing cells become less and less able to recover as time passes. We need to understand exactly why this is and find ways to restore function in long duration type 2 diabetes."

He concludes, "Type 2 diabetes is a simple disease occurring when an individual has more fat inside their body than they can cope with. The solution to the huge and growing problem of type 2 diabetes in the population lies in the hands of politicians. Legislation on supply of high calorie foods is essential to change our environment."

Despite these important findings, the study has some limitations including that follow up was only for 2 years, and the observations were not pre-planned but made in retrospect.

Dr. Elizabeth Robertson, Director of Research at Diabetes UK, who funded the study, said: "Our landmark DiRECT trial has revolutionised thinking about type 2 diabeteswe no longer consider it to be a life-long condition for everyone, and know that remission is possible for some people. And we're continuing to learn more about remission of type 2 diabetes every day. These new findings help to build a clearer picture of the biology behind remission, and how the health of the pancreas can be restored by weight loss.

"However, we still have questions to answer, such as why remission isn't possible for everyone. As NHS England begins its trial of a DiRECT-inspired weight management remission programme, it is key that we continue to explore these questions to make remission a possibility for as many people as possible."

Explore further Overspill of fat shown to cause Type 2 diabetes

More information: Remission of type 2 diabetes for two years is associated with full recovery of beta-cell functional mass in the Diabetes Remission Clinical Trial (DiRECT). Presented at: American Diabetes Association 79th Scientific Sessions; June 7-11, 2019; San Francisco. Published in Diabetes Care pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32060017/ Journal information: Diabetes Care Remission of type 2 diabetes for two years is associated with full recovery of beta-cell functional mass in the Diabetes Remission Clinical Trial (DiRECT). Presented at: American Diabetes Association 79th Scientific Sessions; June 7-11, 2019; San Francisco. Published in
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Hails Last Recruitment Exercise as Equitable

The Federal Character Commission (FCC) has applauded the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for ensuring a high level of gender balance in management positions in the Corporation.

The Executive Chairman of the Commission, Dr. Muheeba Farida Dankaka, gave the commendation in Abuja during a courtesy visit by the management of NNPC led by the Group managing Director, Mallam Mele Kyari.

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A press release by the Corporations spokesman, Dr. Kennie Obateru, stated that the FCC boss also congratulated NNPC on the recent flag-off of the Ajaokuta-KanoKaduna (AKK) gas pipeline project.

Dr. Dankaka, who informed that her Commissions mandate extends to equitable distribution of social and infrastructural amenities, said the AKK project was one that could boost the nations economy and wellbeing of Nigerians.

The FCC boss also disclosed that the recent recruitment by NNPC was transparent and ensured equal opportunity for all Nigerians, adding that the Corporation fully complied with FCC guidelines in the exercise.

In his remarks, the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Mallam Mele Kyari, stated that the national oil company, as a responsible corporate entity, has always provided a level playing field for all thereby granting equal employment opportunity to Nigerians from all classes and backgrounds.

On the issues around inclusion and physically challenged, as a matter of fact, today in our employment we have people in wheel chairs, the blind and other physically challenged. We are one of the institutions of government with the highest number of women in management, the GMD stated.

Kyari said that contrary to false claims in some quarters, each geopolitical zone of the country is represented at the top management of NNPC, stressing that there is fair play in the Corporations appointments.

He said NNPC would continue to work towards achieving the governments 35% affirmative action of women in public service.

He said NNPC would continue to comply with the rules and regulations of the Commission on recruitment.
Bullhouse Brewery is now opening its new brewery on the Boucher Road, but also wants to open a new craft beer spot on the Newtownards Road in the east of the city. Stock photo

A booming Belfast beer maker is expanding across the city with plans for a new brewery and bar.

Bullhouse Brewery is now opening its new brewery on the Boucher Road, but also wants to open a new craft beer spot on the Newtownards Road in the east of the city.

Willy Mayne said the new brewery will allow him to triple production with up to 250,000 pints of beer a year at his new south Belfast site. He also wants to launch a taproom at the brewery and, pending a licence, a craft beer bar on the Newtownards Road - boasting 12 taps.

The brewery - which is currently based in Newtownards - is also launching a new "reward-based" crowdfunding initiative.

He said: "The decision was sped up when we ordered another four brewing tanks from China which will allow us to treble our annual capacity (to a max of 1,500 hectolitres or about 265,000 pints).

"We're going to receive a fully automated canning line in the next few weeks from Estonia."

It is also now pushing on with plans to turn a former menswear store on the Newtownards Road into its new brewhouse, close to CS Lewis Square.

"We hit numerous brick walls... but a multitude of factors meant we made a business decision to move production to a dedicated production facility," he said.

"We had secured change of use to operate the brewery from that unit, and we really wanted to be involved in the great work Eastside Partnership are doing in the area.

"If we are successful, we will open a craft beer bar with 12 or more draught lines serving a wide range of local beer, as well as natural wine and some local spirits. The plan will be to be involved in the local community as much as possible."
"200,000, an American failure."

Nineteen years after the September 11 attacks, Time magazine is once again using black as its cover.

Written across the cover themed An American Failure, are the number of daily deaths from COVID-19 in the U.S. over the course of 193 days from the first death of the country on Feb. 29 to Sept. 8. Currently, the number has reached 200,000.

Eight months have passed since the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the U.S. on Jan. 20. During this period, the number of infected persons increased from 1 to more than 6.8 million, with the death toll crossing the threshold from 100,000 now to 200,000.

The U.S. media attributes this to the "failure of a nation:" a failure of political leadership at all levels, and a distrust of scientists, the media, and most experts in general, along with deeply ingrained cultural attitudes regarding individuality and the values placed on life.

For more than eight months, these judgments have been confirmed.

At the beginning of the outbreak, American politicians proclaimed that "this is no different from the flu," and there was a lack of testing and tracking of close contacts and an encouragement for states to reopen as soon as possible; scientists voices were suppressed.

Some lawmakers and corporate executives acted swiftly -- but instead of preventing impending disaster, they profited from it.

Bob Woodward, a prominent American investigative journalist, reveals in a new book, Rage, that while Donald Trump downplayed the dangers of the coronavirus last winter, he knew full well how dangerous, fast-spreading and deadly the illness actually could be. The book clarifies just how much Trump knew about the disease long before the first recorded U.S. death.

The chaos caused by a lack of leadership has thrown America's epidemic prevention into disarray. George Packer, a staff writer for the Atlantic, wrote: Every morning in the endless month of March, Americans woke up to find themselves citizens of a failed state. With no national plan -- no coherent instructions at all -- families, schools, and offices were left to decide on their own whether to shut down and take shelter. When test kits, masks, gowns, and ventilators were found to be in desperately short supply, governors pleaded for them from the White House, which stalled, then called on private enterprise, which couldnt deliver. States and cities were forced into bidding wars that left them prey to price gouging and corporate profiteering. Civilians took out their sewing machines to try to keep ill-equipped hospital workers healthy and their patients alive. The United Nations sent humanitarian aid to the worlds richest power -- a beggar nation in utter chaos.

History will record the absurdity of reality, but the absurdity of reality continues. More recently, U.S. President Donald Trump has referred to "herd immunity" once again; the U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo is caught in the middle of a new Cold War of his own making.

According to an Associated Press poll released Sept.20, the approval rating for the U.S. government's response to the outbreak was 39 percent. Over the past eight months, the White House has not changed its approach to the epidemic: being inactive at home and active abroad; what has changed is the ever-growing death toll.

But they are not merely numbers. They are lives lost. They were older people without protection, children whose lives had not yet begun, young people with ambitions for the future... More often, they are African-Americans and other ethnic minorities who hoped to embrace the American Dream.

When lives are gone, where do dreams lie?

Human life is the most precious. The right to life and the right to health are the first human rights. Will the loss of 200,000 lives serve as a wake-up call to those in power who have a "disregard for life?
A family trying to enjoy a spring camping barbecue on an idyllic Australian island got more than they bargained for when quickly surrounded by dozens of giant robber crabs.

The ferocious looking crustaceans, also known as coconut crabs, measure up to a metre in length and have a strong sense of smell.

As the unwitting family enjoyed an al fresco barbecue while camping on isolated Christmas Island, off Western Australia's far north-west, the crabs swarmed around them looking for food.

The crabs are harmless despite their scary looks, although (as their name suggests) they are regularly known to steal items from campsites.

Photographs of the barbecue show more than 20 of the coconut crabs eagerly awaiting a chance to snack on some leftovers

Winter McKendrick, the daughter of one of the other families on the trip, looked unfazed as the enormous crabs surrounded her as she ate her dinner in a fold-up chair

A group camping trip dinner became a terrifying ordeal of trying to keep away from 52 robber crabs

A series of amazing photos of the barbecue show more than 52 of the clawsome creatures eagerly awaiting a chance to snack on some leftovers.

Winter McKendrick, the daughter of one of the other families on the trip, looked unfazed as the enormous crabs surrounded her as she ate her dinner on her fold-up camping chair.

One brave crab was pictured scaling the side of the table to get better access to the family's meal.

Amy Luetich and her family have lived on Christmas Island for a few years and were camping with some other families in Grants Well, which is in the jungle part of the island.

'We have camped in that area a few times and we have never seen so many robber grabs,' Mrs Luetich told Daily Mail Australia.

She said when they arrived there were 20 under a tree, which had started to seed.

'But as soon as we started cooking, they swarmed around us. My son counted 52 of them,' the deputy principal said.

One brave crab was seen scaling the side of the table to get better access to the delicious meal on display

One of the crabs was found to have climbed on top of the barbecue the group were using

'His job was to pick them up and move them away from where we were eating. He was loving it.

She said because they had lived on Christmas Island for a while they were used to seeing the robber crabs.

'Then they started to climb up to the table, and another climbed onto the barbecue,' Mrs Luetich said.

'We kept our tents away from where we had eaten, but one of the families said the whole night they could feel one tapping on the outside of their tent.'

Robber crabs earned their name for their habit of taking foreign objects from camp sites

Jacob Tiernan-Luetich's job was to keep the giant crabs away from everyone while they ate

WHAT ARE ROBBER CRABS Robber crabs are the largest land crustacean in the world and many call Christmas Island home. They can weigh up to four kilograms and measure a metre wide. Some can live up to 50 years of age. The robber crabs are good eating considered a delicacy with aphrodisiac qualities across the Pacific, but they are a protected species in Australia and can't be eaten. Robber crabs forage floor for things such as seeds and fruits. Larger robber crabs have been known to eat smaller ones. Coconut crabs are exceptional climbers and move fast when it comes to food. It's name comes from its tendency to take foreign objects and run off with them. Robber crabs are closely related to hermit crabs and use seashells or coconuts for protection until they develop a hard abdomen. Drivers on Christmas Island are asked to 'slow down and drive around' the animals as if their hit by a car they could be killed. Source: Parks Australia Advertisement

The images were shared to a Christmas Island tourism Facebook page.

'Robber crabs behaving badly! A couple of local Christmas Island families had a few extra mouths to feed at their BBQ over the weekend,' the caption read.

'Coconut crabs have an incredible sense of smell and for slow moving creatures they sure move quickly when there's food around.'

Followers of the page were quick to comment on the post, with many recounting their own experiences.

'Lost a sneaker to these buggers one night. Couldn't find a one-legged robber crab,' one person joked.

Another said: 'They are like puppies. We hung out on Dolly Beach feeding them coconuts. So cute!'

Others weren't so thrilled with the possibility of being in the family's shoes.

'This makes me feel uncomfortable,' one person said.

Christmas Island has the largest population of robber crabs in the world.

The robber crabs are good to eat, tasting like a cross between a mud crab and a lobster. But while they are considered a delicacy with aphrodisiac qualities across the Pacific, they are a protected species in Australia and can't be eaten.

Visitors are warned that while the crustaceans are docile, they can move quickly when they sense food.

Tourists are told to hang their food in a tree and keep an eye on it at all times - particularly on Dolly Beach.

Drivers in the area are also asked to drive slowly so as not to run over the crabs.

Australians who live in WA are able to visit Christmas Island despite travel bans across the country.

Tourists are warned that robber crabs are 'protected and respected' on the island.

Robber crabs aren't the only species of crustacean that call Christmas Island home - there are an estimated 25 million red crabs

Robber crabs are the largest land crustacean in the world and many call Christmas Island home

Christmas Island had its ownership transferred from Singapore to Australia in October 1958

Christmas Island had its ownership transferred from Singapore to Australia in October 1958.

The island has been used as an off-shore detention centre since 2016, and was closed for a brief period.

The Sri Lankan Biloela family are housed in the facility,

However, Christmas Island is also known for its stunning wildlife.

The island is home to 25 million red crabs, which stay on land until they move to the ocean to breed and then the infants return to land.

Whale sharks are also a feature of the island during this time of year.
At least seven Opposition parties boycotted proceedings in both Houses, Rajya Sabha deputy chairman Harivansh and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar said they would go on a fast, and the government hurriedly pushed through key bills on an action-packed Tuesday  with the possibility of the monsoon session being cut short and ending on Wednesday.

The eight members of Parliament (MPs) suspended for the commotion during the controversial passage of farm reform bills in the Rajya Sabha, spent Monday night protesting outside Parliament, rebuffed a conciliatory gesture by Harivansh (who went to meet them with tea in the morning), but ended their vigil after Opposition parties decided to boycott the Lok Sabha for the remainder of the session.

The Rajya Sabha, where the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) does not have a majority, passed at least seven bills in just three-and-a-half hours in the absence of Opposition voices, making Tuesdays session one of the most productive in its history.

The Lok Sabha, where the NDA has a clear majority, took up three important labour reform bills, and cleared them, with the Congress and some other opposition parties boycotting the days proceedings to protest the happenings in the Upper House.

The Lok Sabha will meet around 6pm on Wednesday and is likely to cut short the session, people familiar with the matter said on condition of anonymity. The Rajya Sabhas business advisory committee met without the Oppositions participation on Tuesday evening. The Upper House, which will convene at 9am, is set to adjourn sine die after taking up remaining bills on Wednesday, the people added.

The monsoon session of Parliament, which began on September 14, was supposed to end on October 1. HT reported on Sunday that the session may end as early as on September 23 after many parties agreed to cut it short amid a rising number of Covid-19 cases linked to the Parliament House complex; 32 Parliamentarians, including two ministers, and more than 100 officials have tested positive for Covid-19 in a testing drive in Parliament ever since the session began.

The Congress, Nationalist Congress Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Trinamool Congress, CPI (M), Aam Aadmi Party, Telangana Rashtra Samithi, and Samajwadi Party all boycotted the session citing the suspension of the MPs, and the way the farm bills were pushed through, without a division or voting.

The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) too walked out of the two Houses with its members saying they were not part of the Opposition but have done so on their own, alleging that the government was only trying to bluff the farmers.

We will not end our boycott till the government brings another bill making it illegal for private players to buy food grains from farmers below the MSP, all state agencies comply by the MSP and the procurement price is fixed as per the Swaminathan panels recommendations, Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad told reporters outside the Parliament building.

He also said the revocation of suspension of the Opposition members was not a demand but a request.

Azad said the House should run in coordination between the government and the Opposition. But there should not be coordination between chair and government, he said, referring to Rajya Sabha deputy chairperson Harivansh pushing through the two contentious farm bills on Sunday while allegedly ignoring Opposition voices.

President Ram Nath Kovind should not give assent to the bills as proper procedure was not followed in their passage in the Rajya Sabha, he added.

In its reply, the government said it was not keeping the suspended MPs away from the House but they should express regret over their behaviour.

Let them apologise, we will consider withdrawing the suspension, Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters.

On Monday, Trinamool Congress floor leader Derek OBrien and his colleague Dola Sen; Aam Aadmi Partys Sanjay Singh; Congresss Rajeev Satav, Syed Nasir Hussain and Ripun Borah; and KK Ragesh and Elamaram Kareem of the CPI(M) were suspended for seven days each for disorderly conduct.

Vice-president and Rajya Sabha chairman M Venkaiah Naidu on Monday rejected a notice for a no-confidence motion against Harivansh as it was not in proper format and did not give a 14-day notice period.

Among the seven bills passed by the Upper House were The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020, The Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2020 and The Taxation and Other Laws (Relaxation and Amendment of Certain Provisions) Bill, 2020.

The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, approved by the Lower House on September 15, seeks to remove cereals, pulses, oilseeds, edible oils, onion and potatoes from the list of essential commodities, replacing an ordinance promulgated in June. It is the third bill in the governments farm liberalisation plan.

The Lok Sabha, too, witnessed uproarious scenes with the Opposition demanding that the government should roll back the farms bills and withdraw the suspension of the eight Rajya Sabha members.

Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha are like twin brothers...if one is in pain, the other has to be concerned. Our issue is related to the farm bills; we want them be taken back, Adhir Ranjan Choudhary, the Congresss leader of the House, said.

Parliamentary affairs minister Pralhad Joshi said it is unfortunate that the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha were discussed in the Lok Sabha. Whatever happens in one House, it has never been discussed in another House. It is unfortunate that this thing is being discussed now.

Harivansh, meanwhile, wrote a letter  addressed to the President and Vice-President  invoking his humble origins in Bihar and went on a day-long fast on Tuesday to protest humiliating conduct towards him by some MPs.

In the name of democracy, members of the House indulged in violent behaviour. There was an effort to intimidate the person in the chair. All norms of the Upper House were disregarded. The rule book was torn and thrown over me..., he wrote.

Congress member Satav, one of those suspended members, said: We are equally pained and hurt over the way the deputy chairman conducted the proceedings in the House on Sunday. Seeking a division or amendments are our Parliamentary rights that were denied to us by him...

NCP chief Pawar, too, said he was observing a day-long fast to protest the suspension of the eight members of the Upper House.

Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, Pawar, a Rajya Sabha member, also bemoaned the conduct of Harivansh and the governments decision of bulldozing the Opposition in the House.
COLONIE, N.Y.  Colonie police say a DNA swab has helped solve a June burglary of a jewelry shop in Colonie.

Back on June 9, Colonie police received a call about a broken window at the Top Custom Jewelers at 143 Troy-Schenectady Road. Responding officers discovered that the business had been burglarized and several display cases were also broken and jewelry was stolen. The burglar left behind a plastic bag, flashlight, hammer, and cloth mask.

The owner reported that assorted jewelry valued at $19,453 was stolen.

Police processed the evidence and submitted DNA swabs to the New York State Police Lab. The lab was able to make a DNA match to Keven T. Stebbins, 31, of Green Island, who was already incarcerated for an unrelated crime. Stebbins was arrested on Sept. 16 when he was brought to Colonie police from the Albany County Correctional Facility.

Stebbins was charged with felony third-degree burglary, felony third-degree grand larceny, and felony third-degree criminal mischief.

Stebbins was arraigned on Sept. 16 in Colonie Justice Court and his case was waived to County Court for further action with no bail set. Stebbins was returned to Albany County Correctional Facility for his unrelated pending charges.
Reporter

Mary Schenk is a reporter covering police, courts and breaking news at The News-Gazette. Her email is mschenk@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@schenk).
Foreign Affairs minister Simon Coveney has said the EU-UK Brexit negotiations have been challenging in recent weeks and that the EU has his full support.

Mr Coveney made the comments ahead of meeting with chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier in Brussels on Tuesday.

The remark comes amid recent controversy over the UK Governments bid to use domestic legislation to override elements of the Brexit divorce deal, in particular the Northern Ireland protocol on post-Brexit trading arrangements.

Ahead of the meeting, Mr Coveney said: We will discuss the current state of play on Brexit and hear Michel Barniers assessment of where we currently stand on the most important issues.

The last few weeks have been challenging  Michel and his team have our full confidence and support as we find a way forward.

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Under the protocol, Northern Ireland will remain in the EU single market for goods and administer the EUs customs code at its ports.

The UK Internal Market Bill seeks to override elements of the protocols operation, including around the application of EU state aid rules in Northern Ireland and on the requirement for exit summary declarations for goods moving from the region to Great Britain.

The laws, if enacted, are designed for use if a wider trade deal with the EU and UK does not materialise.

Mr Coveney and European Affairs minister Thomas Byrne are due to exchange views with their counterparts on the current EU-UK negotiations at a meeting of ministers for European affairs.

Mr Byrne said he was looking forward to engaging with his EU colleagues in the General Affairs Council (GAC).

During my time in Brussels, I will also take the opportunity to meet individually with a number of my EU ministerial colleagues, he said.

We will discuss the many important issues on the GAC agenda, including Brexit, the next EU budget and the rule of law in our union.
Telecom operators, including Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea, have to pay 10 per cent of the adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues demanded by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) by March 31, 2021, as directed by the Supreme Court, Parliament was informed on Tuesday.

Minister of State for Communications Sanjay Dhotre, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, said the Supreme Court in its judgement on September 1, 2020 has determined the dues owed by the telecom companies and the methodology of payment.

The apex court had asked telcos to make 10 per cent of the upfront payment of their dues by March 31, 2021 to the DoT, while the remaining to be paid over 10 year period starting April 1, 2021.

However there is some ambiguity over the court order as telcos maintain that they have already paid more than the 10 per cent of their AGR dues, while the DoT opined that the operators will have to pay 10 per cent of the total dues by March 31, 2021, irrespective of what they have already paid. The ambiguity over this has befuddled the industry calculation with many of the telcos reaching out to their legal counsels to make sense of the Supreme Court's order in this regard.

As per government calculations, total AGR liability of Bharti Airtel is Rs 43,980 crore, Vodafone Idea (VIL) Rs 58,254 crore, Tata group Rs 16,798 crore, BSNL Rs 5,835.85 crore and MTNL Rs 4,352.09 crore.

Operational telecom operators are expected to pay Rs 12,921 crore by March 31, of which close to 80 per cent has to be paid by Vodafone Idea and Bharti Airtel. According to a DoT official, Vodafone Idea will have to pay around Rs 5,825 crore and Bharti Airtel Rs 4,398 crore, respectively.

As of now, Bharti Airtel has paid the government Rs 18,004 crore, VIL Rs 7,854 crore, Tatas Rs 4,197 crore and Reliance Jio has cleared its entire dues with payment of Rs 194.79 crore.

Anil Ambani-owned Reliance Communications owes Rs 25,194.58 crore, Aircel Rs 12,389 crore and Videocon Telecommunications Rs 1,376 crore but these companies are under liquidation process. Companies like Loop Telecom, Etisalat DBand S Tel, which jointly owe the government Rs 604 crore, have shut down their India operations.

With PTI inputs

Also Read: AGR dues: Telcos need to pay 10% of total liability by 31 March 2021, clarifies DoT
A white Ohio police chief, Doug Swartz, is encouraging Black Lives Matter protests in his town

A white police chief in Ohio welcomes Black Lives Matter protests in the predominantly white town of Canal Fulton, because the Black community needs us.

Read More: Michelle Obamas brother speaks on terrifying experience being stopped by police

Doug Swartz, Canal Fultons police chief for the past eight years, also authors a monthly column that tackles various issues, CNN reports. He has used the month of September to center the Black Lives Matter movement that was rejuvenated following the death of George Floyd in May.

People march in the street during a demonstration on June 25, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

The Canton Repository recently picked up on Swartzs commentary about why Black Lives Matter needed to resonate in his small town. The police chief wrote that he was often asked why Fulton had to reckon with race as there have been no protests in the area thus far.

Swartz said the answer lay with the U.S. Constitution as declared on July 4, 1776. He invoked how the Black community was still not free of racism despite the ideals outlined in the document and continues to face significant obstacles such as housing and education discrimination.

How do you know about it, if you dont know about it, he said. If there are struggles that are going on in predominately Black neighborhoods, we dont know about it, our kids go to schools that are predominately white. And were a byproduct of that history with the things that are wrong in todays society. Thats why we have to listen to people and hear from them to see how we can make things better.

A mural painted by artist Kenny Altidor depicting George Floyd is unveiled on a sidewall of CTown Supermarket on July 13, 2020 in Brooklyn, New York. Floyd was killed by a white police officer in Minneapolis and his death has sparked a national reckoning about race and policing in the United States. (Photo by Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)

Swartz made it clear that he does not support riots, vandalism, or calls to defund the police. He said those actions were causing hate, and wants to follow the model of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to work together as one community. He encourages protests and voting for legislation that would improve African Americans lives.

Story continues

Read More: Louisville police officers under investigation in Breonna Taylor shooting death

It begins by active listening and the understanding of our long-term goals, even well past our own lives, as well as historys misdeeds, he wrote. Recognizing the rights of everyone including the right to peacefully protest, wherever and whenever, is a key element of fostering change for any good cause.

Have you subscribed to theGrios podcast Dear Culture? Download our newest episodes now!

The post White Ohio police chief explains BLM support: We have to listen to people appeared first on TheGrio.


By Robert Skidelsky





LONDON  Whenever the great and the good unite in approval or condemnation of something, my impulse is to break ranks. So, I find it hard to join the chorus of moral indignation at the U.K. government's recent decision to "break international law" by amending its Withdrawal Agreement (WA) with the European Union.



The "breach" of the WA is a calculated bluff based on the government's belief that it can honor the result of the 2016 Brexit referendum only by deploying considerable chicanery. The main problem is reconciling the WA with the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, which brought peace to Northern Ireland and committed the U.K. government to maintaining an open border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.



Prime Minister Boris Johnson negotiated and signed the WA, and must have been aware of the implicit risk of Northern Ireland remaining subject to EU customs regulations and most single-market rules. But in his determination to "get Brexit done," Johnson ignored this little local difficulty, rushed the agreement through Parliament, and won the December 2019 general election. He now must backtrack furiously to preserve the U.K.'s economic and political unity, all the while blaming the EU for having to do so.



The fact that Johnson may have been the prime author of this legal mess does not alter the fact that the U.K. government pledged to honor the popular mandate to leave the EU, and had to find a political mechanism to make this happen. The Internal Market Bill now before parliament is both that mechanism and Johnson's latest gambit to complete Brexit.



The bill gives the government the power, with Parliament's consent, to change or ignore elements of the WA's Northern Ireland Protocol, which ministers fear might result in "new trade barriers [...] between Great Britain and Northern Ireland."



The government has admitted that the bill breaches international law, but claims that its provisions to disallow elements of the protocol should "not be regarded as unlawful." This is moot, and may still be tested in the courts. But it is the breaking of "international law" that has chiefly aroused the critics' moral indignation.



In an op-ed in The Times, former U.K. attorney general Geoffrey Cox argued that it was "axiomatic" that the government must keep its word to other countries (my italics), "even if the consequences are unpalatable." Failure to do so, Cox wrote, would diminish the U.K.'s "faith, honor, and credit." Signing the WA with the EU obliged the government to accept "all the ordinary and foreseeable consequences of [its] implementation."



But it is not "axiomatic" that a government must keep its word to other nation-states, even when this is codified in treaties. Doing so is desirable, but states frequently do not, for some obvious reasons.



First, no one can accurately foresee the full consequences of their actions. The erection of customs barriers in the Irish Sea is not an "inescapable implication" of signing the WA, as Cox now claims it is, because the agreement presupposed further negotiations on this point.



Second, Cox's pronouncement implies that a government's word to other governments is worth more than its word to its own people. But former Prime Minister David Cameron's government, as well as the leaders of the main opposition parties, promised to respect the result of the Brexit referendum.



Third, Cox and others have argued that rather than breaking international law, the government should trigger the WA's dispute-resolution mechanism to challenge the agreement's disagreeable consequences as and when they occur. But having to suffer damage before doing anything about it is an odd doctrine.



Finally, Cox seems to treat international law as being on a par with domestic law, when in fact it is inherently less binding. This is because international law is less legitimate; there is no world government entitled to issue and enforce legislation.



International law is mainly a set of international treaty "obligations" between sovereign states. Breaking one is certainly a grave matter: it rightly carries a penalty in the form of lost reputation, and the United Kingdom may now end up with a less favorable trade agreement with the EU. Whether the U.K. should have risked its reputation in this particular case is not the issue. Now that it has, the case must be argued on the grounds of political necessity, not on the principle of legal obligation.



Governments and policymakers often violate or evade international law via both planned and improvised escape routes. This is because treaty instruments are necessarily static, whereas conditions change. It usually makes more sense to allow exceptional derogations than unravel a web of treaties.



For example, many governments have explicitly or implicitly repudiated national debts, the best-known example being the Bolsheviks' repudiation in 1918 of Czarist Russia's debts, owed mainly to French bondholders. More often, debtors "compound" with their creditors to render their debt wholly or partially fictitious (as Germany did with its reparation obligations in the 1920s).



Similarly, the European Central Bank is forbidden by Article 123 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union to purchase its member governments' debt instruments. But former ECB President Mario Draghi found a way around this to start quantitative easing in 2015.



I am much more sympathetic to the argument that Johnson signed the WA in bad faith, knowing that he would most likely try to override the Northern Ireland Protocol. What critics don't seem to understand is that extricating the U.K. from the EU was always going to require a lot of legal skulduggery.



The legal mess was a consequence of the politics of withdrawal, and specifically the tension between Brexit and the Good Friday Agreement's requirement of an open border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland (an EU member state). Prime Minister Theresa May tripped over this rock, while Johnson's government shoved the problem into the post-Brexit transition period that ends on December 31, 2020.



With the deadline for concluding a U.K.-EU trade deal drawing closer, Johnson hopes that the Internal Market Bill will put pressure on the EU to devise a formula that ensures a customs-free border in the Irish Sea. It is a negotiating ploy, pure and simple.



Whether it is a good negotiating tactic is arguable. But critics must make their case in the context of the negotiating process as a whole, and without resorting to legal fetishism. That is why lawyers should never run a country.



In his closing statement at the Bretton Woods conference in 1944, John Maynard Keynes described the ideal lawyer: "I want him to tell me how to do what I think sensible, and, above all, to devise means by which it will be lawful for me to go on being sensible in unforeseen conditions some years hence." We will soon know whether Johnson's bluff meets this sensible standard.





Robert Skidelsky, a member of the British House of Lords, is professor emeritus of political economy at Warwick University. This article was distributed by Project Syndicate (www.project-syndicate.org).


KYIV, Ukraine - Authorities in Belarus, thats seen six weeks of protests against the countrys authoritarian president after a disputed election, have opened more than 250 criminal cases that target political opponents, activists and protesters, a Belarusian human rights group said Tuesday.

Dozens of people, according to the Viasna group, have been subject to criminal investigation since the start of the campaigning for the election more than four months ago. Many face charges such as fomenting mass riots or participating in them and resisting law enforcement officers, The group declared 68 people to be political prisoners.

The scale and the scope of repression in Belarus forces human rights advocates to ask for help from international organizations, within the framework of which Minsk has undertaken obligations that are grossly violated, Viasna head Ales Bialiatski said.

Belarus has been engulfed in daily protests since Aug. 9, when President Alexander Lukashenko won his sixth term in office in an election opposition supporters and many European governments believe was rigged. The largest rallies in Minsk attracted crowds of up to 200,000.

Lukashenko has run the ex-Soviet nation of 9.5 million with an iron fist since assuming office in 1994, repressing opposition and independent media. Ahead of the presidential election, two of his opponents were jailed on criminal charges. Two more, including Sviatliana Tsikhanouskaya, a 37-year-old English teacher who ran against Lukashenko in the Aug. 9 vote, left the country fearing for their safety.

Lukashenko has bristled at suggestions of dialogue with the opposition. During the first three days of the protests, demonstrators faced a brutal crackdown, with police using truncheons and rubber bullets to disperse crowds. Several protesters died.

Amid international outrage, Belarusian authorities switched to prosecuting top activists and mass detentions, avoiding large-scale violence. Many members of the Coordination Council that was formed by the opposition to push for a transition of power have been arrested or forced to leave the country.

On Monday, a court rejected an appeal against the arrest of prominent council member Maria Kolesnikova. She is being held pending trial on charges of undermining the state, which carry a potential sentence of five years in prison.

Nearly 900 people were detained during protests on Saturday and Sunday, according to the Viasna group. In the city of Soligorsk on Monday, police detained 20 more who gathered in front of the giant Belaruskali potash factory to support a striking miner, local media reported. The strike organizer at Belaruskali, Anatoly Bokun, was sentenced to 25 days of administrative arrest on Tuesday.

As the crackdown continued, the European Union pondered sanctions against the Belarusian leadership. EU foreign ministers failed to agree Monday on imposing sanctions on officials suspected of rigging the Aug. 9 election. However, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said there was clear will to adopt those sanctions.

In a statement Tuesday, Borrell said he was prepared to go to Minsk if this could contribute to progress, adding that until now, Lukashenko has refused to engage with the European Union at any level.

Belarusians courageously demand democratic change. The EU must stand by them, Borrell said.

In the statement, he outlined four lines of action the EU agreed to pursue, which include sanctions against some 40 people and entities, facilitating a national dialogue, and financial support of the Belarusian people  53 million euros the European Commission is mobilizing to cover legal assistance, medical support and other emergency assistance to those most in need, as well as support for civil society and independent media.

The time has come for the EU to call things by their name: Mr Lukashenko has lost all legitimacy, Borrell said.



Daria Litvinova in Moscow contributed to this report.

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The Ministry of Information, Ghana Health Service (GHS), and partners have organised a capacity building workshop to sensitise the Central Regional House of Chiefs on COVID-19 and its associated stigma, safety protocols, and Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).



The workshop was held to encourage the Chiefs to ensure that their subjects adhered to the COVID-19 safety protocols, a statement from the Ghana Health Service, copied to the Ghana News Agency said.



Obrempong Nyankul Krampah XI, the Paramount Chief of Gomoa Ajumako Traditional Area and the President of Central Regional House of Chiefs, the statement said, commended President Nana Akufo-Addo for his proactive steps taken to contain the virus in Ghana.



He advised chiefs and queen mothers to lead community-level education on COVID-19 to enable their community members to adhere to the protocols.



To sustain the decreasing number of active cases, he reiterated that, adherence to the protocols remained vital.



The training which was led by Dr Da costa Aboagye, the Leader of National Risk Communication and Social Mobilization Committee for Ghana's COVID-19 Response Team, also encouraged participants to end stigma against persons infected with COVID-19.



He said health conditions like hypertension, stroke, diabetes, and cancers had been identified among the top four causes of mortality, especially among the aged in Ghana. The Ministry of Health and GHS, he said, would initiate a wellness programme as one of the key methods to detect NCDs early to institutionalise their prevention is better than cure approach to support curative health services.



This means to support the existing NHIS primary health care delivery in the country, the government will focus on health promotion and prevention from 2021, he added.



Dr Aboagye also the Director of Health Promotion, GHS, said: The current COVID-19 pandemic has provoked social stigma and discriminatory behaviours against infected persons and their families and leading to people hiding their illnesses and not seeking health care early.



Majority of the COVID-19 deaths recorded in this country came from co-morbidities, such as hypertension, stroke, and diabetes. There is, therefore, a need to step up education on these non-communicable diseases, he added.



He urged chiefs and opinion leaders to lead fighting stigma and assist individuals who had been abandoned after contracting the virus.



He admonished the media to help educate and encourage citizens to adopt healthy behaviours such as regular exercising, eating local foods as well as fruits and vegetables, having enough rest, and avoiding stress.



He also asked the public to continue adhering to the safety protocols by washing hands thoroughly with soap under running water, wearing face masks, observing social distancing protocol, and showing love to one another to defeat the virus.



Mr Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, the Minister of Information, acknowledged the role of traditional authorities in the national development agenda, particularly their support in the enforcement of the restrictions that were imposed during the lockdown period.



We recognised for instance that the imposition of the restriction on mass gatherings such as funerals and festivals were largely successful because of the understanding and active support of our Chiefs and Queens.

Source: GNA









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New Delhi, Sep 22 : India and China agreed to implement the consensus reached by theirs leaders over the border issue during the 14-hour-long diplomatic-military talks in Moldo to resolve border disputes, the Indian Army stated on Tuesday.

Both the countries will further carry out talks to resolve the border dispute.

On September 21, the Indian and Chinese Senior Commanders held the 6th round of the Military Commander-Level Meeting.

"The two sides had candid and in-depth exchanges of views on stabilising the situation along the LAC in the India-China border areas," the Indian Army said in a statement.

"They agreed to earnestly implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, strengthen communication on the ground, avoid misunderstandings and misjudgements, stop sending more troops to the frontline, refrain from unilaterally changing the situation on the ground, and avoid taking any actions that may complicate the situation." The two sides also agreed to hold the seventh round of talks for the military commander-Level Meeting as soon as possible, take practical measures to properly solve problems on the ground, and jointly safeguard peace and tranquility in the border area.

This time both countries' delegation had respective foreign ministry representative as the talks started at 9 a.m. and ended at 11 p.m.

It was for the first time that the Indian delegation had two Lieutenant Generals, two Major Generals and a Joint Secretary from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

Headed by Lt Gen Harinder Singh, Commander of the Leh based 14 Corps, the Indian delegation had Lt Gen PGK Menon from the Army headquarter in Delhi.

Menon will eventually take over as Commander of the Leh based 14 Corps in November.

Joint Secretary in the East Asia division of the MEA Navin Srivastava was there to ensure that deliberation with China takes place on an agreed five-point roadmap, including quick disengagement of troops, between both the countries.

The countries reached a five-point roadmap during the talks between External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Russia's Moscow on September 10.

The delegation had also Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) Inspector General Deepam Seth and four brigadiers. This was the sixth round of Corps Commander level discussion.

In August, during the fifth round of Corps Commander level discussion, both the countries representatives deliberated upon the prevailing situation in Pangong Lake, the biggest flashpoint in the standoff.

It was 14 Corps Lt Gen Harinder Singh and South Xinjiang Military District chief Major General Liu Lin who have been meeting to de-escalate the tension at the Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh.

The first meeting took place on June 6.

Thereafter though a barbaric attack at patrolling point 14 in Galwan Valley on June 15 was carried out by Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) in which 20 Indian soldiers and an unknown number of Chinese soldiers were killed.

These were the first casualties faced by Indian Army in a clash with the PLA since 1975 when an Indian patrol was ambushed by Chinese troops in Arunachal Pradesh.

In the North bank of Pangong Tso, the troops are in an eyeball to eyeball situation between Finger 3 and Finger 4 where warning shots have been fired in the air by both the countries' armies.

In the South bank of the lake, the troops are a few metres away at Spanggur Gap, Mukhpari, and Rezang La.

China first made provocative military moves. Thereafter India too deployed mirror troops at these locations.

At these two places, both the countries' troops have fired warning shots to intimidate one another.

PLA troops made movements to occupy the area between Finger 3 and 4 earlier this month which led to firing of around 200 shots in the air. Thereafter, both the troops are a few hundred meters away.

The mountain spurs jutting into the lake are referred to as 'Fingers' in military parlance.

The north bank of the lake is divided into 8 fingers that are contested by both sides. India claims the Line of Actual Control at Finger 8 and had been holding on to area till Finger 4 but in a clear alteration of status quo the Chinese have been camping at Finger 4 and have set up fortifications between Finger 5 and 8.
The Vatican has used its strongest language yet in opposition to euthanasia, calling it an 'act of homicide' that can never be justified or tolerated and 'intrinsically evil'.

As more countries consider legalising euthanasia or assisted suicide, a document released today said legislators and politicians who support such laws are 'accomplices'.

The Vatican told priests they should provide spiritual accompaniment to those who have expressed a desire to end their lives through assisted suicide or euthanasia.

But the document said priests could not be present at the time of euthanasia as 'that could be interpreted as approval of this action'.

The 20-page document, titled The Good Samaritan, was written by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Vatican's doctrinal office.

The Vatican has used its strongest language yet in opposition to euthanasia, calling it an 'act of homicide' that can never be justified or tolerated. Pictured: Pope Francis delivers his blessing as he recites the Angelus noon prayer from the window of his studio overlooking St Peter's Square, at the Vatican, on Sunday

It included past statements by the Roman Catholic Church on end of life issues but used tougher language.

The document reads: 'Euthanasia, therefore, is an intrinsically evil act, in every situation or circumstance.

'Euthanasia is an act of homicide that no end can justify and that does not tolerate any form of complicity or active or passive collaboration.'

The document takes into account medical advances, the advent of 'do not resuscitate' orders and legal approval for assisted suicide, as well as new Vatican perspectives on palliative care, including for children.

One section singled out lawmakers, saying that if they approve laws on euthanasia and assisted suicide they become 'accomplices of a grave sin that others will execute'.

Pope Francis (pictured on Sunday) has previously asked doctors to 'reject the temptation' to facilitate euthanasia and assisted suicide

Euthanasia involves a physician taking an active role in ending a patient's life whereas in assisted suicide, the doctor provides a lethal substance for the patient to self-administer.

Both are legal to various degrees in around 10 countries, including The Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg, and nine US states, as well as Washington DC.

In February, Portuguese legislators approved bills that would decriminalise euthanasia and assisted suicide. They have not yet become law.

Spain, another traditional Catholic country, is considering legalising euthanasia while New Zealand is due to hold a referendum on both in October.

Leading figures in the Catholic Church have consistently spoken out against assisted suicide, which is viewed as a violation of divine law.

While still Cardinal, Pope Benedict wrote in 2004: 'There may be a legitimate diversity of opinion even among Catholics about waging war and applying the death penalty, but not however with regard to abortion and euthanasia.'

Meanwhile Pope Francis, who succeeded Pope Benedict in 2013, has previously asked doctors to 'reject the temptation' to facilitate euthanasia and assisted suicide.

He has described euthanasia and abortion as evidence of today's 'throwaway culture', in which the sick, elderly and disabled are considered unworthy of life.

The document called legitimatising euthanasia or assisted suicide 'a sign of the degradation of legal systems'.

In a section addressed to Catholic health workers, the document said their cooperation 'must be excluded' because 'we must obey God rather than men.'

The 20-page document, titled The Good Samaritan, was written by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Vatican's doctrinal office. Pictured: Rome's skyline is seen from the St. Damaso balcony at the Vatican on Wednesday, September 16

Governments 'must acknowledge the right to conscientious objection' by health care workers, it said.

The Vatican backed the use of hospice centres and palliative care, including deep sedation to reduce pain.

But it said such medication must never be used with the intent of hastening death.

And it called for the expansion of 'prenatal hospice centres' to provide medical, psychological and spiritual care to parents and children suffering pre-natal pathologies that are 'inconsistent with life'.

Rather than resorting to abortion, the Vatican said, providing this assistance 'helps the parents to handle their grief and to regard this experience not just as a loss, but as a moment in the journey of love which they have travelled together with their child'.
KAMPALA  For about 20 years (1986-2005) Ugandas political classes opposed to NRM and President Yoweri Musevenis hold onto power yearned, petitioned court and had running battles to ensure that Uganda moved from the monolithic one party Movement system to a multiparty dispensation.

With the 2021 General Election around the corner, the news is dominated by infighting in many political parties. There have been splits and new formations.

There are crossings too, from one party to another with accusations and counter accusations of people being moles and Trojan horses. Some groupings have been swallowed while others have died quietly

The continued appointment of elites into powerful positions has continued to render opposition political parties toothless and less effective. This happens as many and more brilliant leaders in opposition political parties are appointed to occupy positions in Government in Ministerial departments or into National institutions.

With a total number of about 170 RDCs and and their Deputy RDCS, 31 Cabinet ministers and 49 Ministers of State in the Cabinet of Uganda and 141 presidential advisors continues to weaken the opposition political parties. The appointment of people like Betty Kamya, Betty Amongi and other as ministers has means that some political parties like UPC, UFA can longer thrive.

It has been a trend that every individual who stands out and speaks against the government is offered a position in government examples being Betty Kamya the former President of Uganda Federal Alliance, Beatrice Anywar also known as Mama Mabira, Betty Amongi the wife to UPC president Jimmy Akena, former FDC diehard Paul Kahigi and many others.

In addition the appointment people like Tanga Odoi a former leader of the academic staff association and also known for leading demonstrations against poor pay and poor administration affects the work of opposition political parties because such people have been absorbed into the system.

Many people are always comfortable in such positions rather than joining the opposition to fight for power .

Patronage has not only stopped in state institutions but also in cultural instutitions such as kingdoms and chiefdoms. The NRM has continued to use antics such as buying of cars, provision of security to these cultural institutions.

Religious institutions such as churches and mosques have not been spared, the president has offered cars to every Diocese in the Anglican church and catholic churches. Born Again church pastors believe that dinning with the president on the same table with the president offers them security means that they cannot defect to the opposition. Such religious leaders cannot turn join the opposition because literally the opposition cannot offer anything material minus empty promises.

Businessmen and women have been adopted like orphans in the names of protecting their businesses in the country. This explains the reason why most businessmen shun the opposition political parties in favour of the ruling NRM because it has something to offer in terms of tax exemptions and market for their good and services.

It has become worse when it comes to the youth, student leaders at University are aklways bought and offered financial support to finance their campaigns in order to stop them from joining the oposition political parties.

Such antics by the ruling party NRM and the ever increasing weakens of the Opposition whose groupings known as parties has no firm foundation in ideology, values and principles, points to a bleak future for multiparty politics.

The writer, Brighten Abaho is a Lawyer and Advocacy and Communications personnel at Youth Line Forum

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YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 21, ARMENPRESS. Health workers fighting the COVID-19 pandemic were honored with the special prize of the Hero of Our Time Award ceremony on the occasion of Independence Day.

Medics from all 20 medical centers involved were awarded.

The award was presented by Petros Petrosyan, a man who survived COVID-19.

St. Gregory the Illuminator hospitals COVID-19 clinic director Sargis Ghazaryan accepted the prize on behalf of the health workers, and thanked for appreciating their work.

The Hero of Our Time Award is homage to the citizen of Armenia, honoring their selfless and diligent activities and achievements in different areas.

This year, organizers added two new awards for health workers fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and for the troops for their heroic actions in defending the country during the Azerbaijani attacks on Armenia in July 2020.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
Former Debenhams staff have been holding sit-ins at the companys stores across the country since April in a dispute with the firm over redundancy terms.

One of the workers said they are "incensed" at the dispatching of packers to stores. "KPMG are attempting to grab stock from a number of shops. They haven't listened to workers and made a proposal for a few crumbs.

"Valuable stock in 11 shops is being protected by workers until a fair settlement is given."

The Irish arm of Debenhams, which operated 11 stores, was placed into liquidation in April.

The staff claim the package offered to them when the company was liquidated in the spring was unfair.

They are set to receive statutory redundancy payouts of two weeks of salary per year of service. The workers are demanding four weeks pay per service year.

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They are also calling on the Government to waive monies owed to it through the liquidation process so they can be used to boost the redundancy packages.

A potential deal between KPMG, Debenhams liquidator and trade union Mandate was rejected by workers who continue to demonstrate saying the deal failed to deliver four weeks pay per service year.

Vita Cortex support

Last week Debenhams staff on the Cork picket received support from former Vita Cortex workers, who staged a successful 161-day sit-in in 2011 at their factory in Ballyphehane in the city in a bid to secure a proper redundancy package.

Cal O'Leary, a former Vita Cortex worker, said that he was heartbroken to see history repeating itself with the Debenhams workers now 166 days in to their protest.

"We were lucky in that we had visitors coming in and out bringing us food. These women are standing out in the rain.

"I was with Vita Cortex for 44 years and I know the staff here are also employed a long time. I never expected this to happen again. It is a disgrace. Some legislation has to be put in to protect workers.

"These people worked 20 and 30 years for the shop and surely be to God something should have been put aside for them.

"I hope this never happens to anyone again. We were promised legislation and never got it. I hope they make a difference this time."

Cork Debenhams shop steward Valerie Conlon said they will find the energy to continue until a resolution is found.

"Everyone is a team here. All we are getting is empty promises from the Government. There is money in Debenhams. They have 95 million in the bank. Plus they are selling off their Danish company which is worth 200 million.

"Whatever about anything else the Government has to change the legislation now for the employees going forward."

Meanwhile, Cork Sinn Fein TD Thomas Gould has called on the Government to listen to the requests of Debenhams workers.

These workers are brave and they are determined. They are now involved in the longest running industrial action this state has ever seen and it is time for the government to intervene, put an end to this and give the Debenhams workers what they are entitled to, he said.
A Quebec woman arrested trying to enter the United States at the Peace Bridge is being charged with sending letters containing ricin  described as a "special gift"  to the White House and law enforcement in Texas, according to documents filed in federal court.

Pascale Cecile Veronique Ferrier, 53, who is being charged with making threats against President Trump, appeared in federal court in Buffalo this afternoon.

The letter sent to the White House included a message that a "special gift" was included, according to an affidavit filed by an FBI agent.

"This gift is in the letter," the writer explained. "If it doesn't work, I'll find a better recipe for another poison, or I might use my gun when I'll be able to come."

The investigation of six letters in Texas by the FBI led to "individuals with Canadian connections recently arrested and incarcerated" in the San Antonio area. It also led to Ferrier, who had been arrested in Mission, Texas, in March 2019 for weapons possession, according to court documents.

The FBI matched fingerprints on four of the letters to Ferrier's fingerprints, which were in its database.
3 1 of 3 File photo Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Hearst Connecticut Media file photo Show More Show Less 3 of 3





HARTFORD  The Connecticut Office of the Arts recently awarded 169 grants totaling $840,000 to organizations throughout the state via.

The Supporting Arts Grant Program provides unrestricted funding to help support Connecticuts arts organizations and municipal arts departments as they pursue their mission, according to a press release.
Lucknow, Sep 22 : In a significant development, the Samajwadi Party (SP) has announced that it will not contest the Bihar Assembly elections but will instead support the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).

The SP made the announcement through its official Twitter handle on Monday.

The party said, "In the forthcoming Bihar Assembly elections, Samajwadi Party will not enter into any alliance in Bihar and will support RJD's candidates." SP MLC Udaiveer Singh said, "Yes, the party has decided this and made an announcement." A senior party functionary, meanwhile, said there are two primary reasons behind not contesting the Bihar polls -- one is that the party does not want to weaken like-minded parties and secondly, the SP does not have a strong base in Bihar and thus does not want to waste its energy and resources.

"We will support RJD will all our might and ensure defeat of the BJP coalition," the functionary added.

In 2015, the SP had pulled out of a grand alliance of RJD, JDU, and Congress after it was offered only five seats. It then entered into an alliance with NCP but both the parties could not win any seats.

Earlier, SP's performance in 2010 Bihar polls, too, was dismal. It had contested 146 seats out of the total of 243 but could not win even a single seat.
The European Commission has unveiled new guidelines enabling state aid to prevent polluting industries from moving to non-EU countries where the climate standards are lower.

The new guidelines were adopted on Monday after the European Commission put forward a plan to further cut emissions by at least 55 per cent by 2030, reports Xinhua news agency.

The adoption was in line with the European Green Deal, which was presented by the Commission in December 2019 as a roadmap for making the EU's economy sustainable and achieving climate neutrality by 2050.

The EU's revised Emission Trading System (ETS) State aid Guidelines, which will enter into force on January 1, 2021, will replace the previous guidelines adopted in 2012.

European Commission Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager said the new guidelines enable member states to support those sectors that, because of indirect emission costs, are most at risk of carbon leakage.

The new guidelines are aiming at reducing carbon leakage, which happens when companies move their operations to countries outside the EU, which have less ambitious climate policies.

This leads to less economic activity in the EU and no reduction in greenhouse gas emissions globally, according to the Commission.

Under the new guidelines, the aid will be targeted at sectors at risk of carbon leakage due to high indirect emission costs and their strong exposure to trade.

Based on an objective methodology, 10 sectors and 20 sub-sectors are eligible for the aid.

The compensation will cover 75 per cent of costs, rather the previous 85 per cent and will not cover non-efficient technologies, to maintain the companies' incentives for energy efficiency.

--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.)
DUBAI: Iran`s president told the UN General Assembly on Tuesday that the United States could impose "neither negotiations nor war" on the Islamic Republic amid heightened tension between the longtime foes over Tehran`s 2015 nuclear deal with major powers.

"Iran is not a bargaining chip in US elections and domestic policy ... Any US administration after the upcoming (US) elections will have no choice but to surrender to the resilience of the Iranian nation," Hassan Rouhani told the annual UN gathering in a video message.

The US-Iranian confrontation has intensified since 2018 when President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from Irans nuclear deal with world powers and unilaterally reimposed sanctions that have hobbled the Islamic Republics economy. Trump wants a broader agreement with Tehran`s clerical rulers that would further restrict Irans nuclear programme, halt its ballistic missile development work and end its support for proxy forces around the Middle East.

Iran has refused to hold talks with the United States unless Washington lifts sanctions on Tehran and returns to the original agreement. In retaliation for US pressure, Tehran has scaled back compliance with nuclear capacity limits set by the deal. In his UN address earlier on Tuesday, Trump said: "We withdrew from the terrible Iran nuclear deal and imposed crippling sanctions on the worlds leading state sponsor of terror". Iran denies supporting terrorism.

The Trump administration on Monday slapped new sanctions on Iran to support the US assertion that all United Nations sanctions against Tehran that were lifted under the 2015 agreement are now reinstated. That move was rejected by key European allies as well as US adversaries such as Russia and China who are all parties to the nuclear accord.

"This is a victory not just for Iran, but for the global community - during the transitional international order in the post-Western world - that an aspirant to hegemony is humiliated in such self-created isolation," Rouhani said, referring to the Trump administration. In his address to the General Assembly, French President Emmanuel Macron said the Trump`s administration`s "maximum pressure" campaign against Iran had so far failed. Macron dismissed US efforts to restore UN sanctions against Tehran as Washington had already left the nuclear deal.
New Delhi, Sep 22 : The Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed three crucial labour law bills with voice vote in the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government's labour reform initiatives.

The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020; the Industrial Relations Code, 2020; and the Code on Social Security, 2020 were passed when the Opposition was not present in the House as part of its protest against the government's two farm Bills passed on Sunday amid widespread protest in various state by farmers.

The Opposition parties had boycotted the House before the Bill was moved in the House for its passage.

Minister of State with independent charge in the Ministry of Labour and Employment Santosh Kumar Gangwar had introduced these Bills on September 19 with substantive changes after withdrawing the three codes tabled in the Parliament in 2019.

In his concluding remark following debate on these code Bills, Gangwar said various changes have been done in the labour court as well as in the preamble, and that 174 out of 233 or 74 per cent of the recommendations of the standing committee on labour across three codes have been included.

The codes will give powers to state governments on rules related to hiring, retrenchment and fixing work hours in their factories and establishments while restricting powers of the workers to form unions. Besides, it will ensure the government extends social security to all, including the unorganised and gig workers in a phased manner.

The union labour ministry has consolidated and amalgamated 29 labour laws into four codes to significantly improve the ease of compliance and hiring and firing of workers while keeping the labour welfare under consideration. The government had earlier notified the Code on Wages which provides for national level floor wage for all workers.

The Code, is however, yet to be implemented.The code on occupational safety, health and working conditions (OSH&WC Code) and the industrial relations code will give autonomy to states to amend labour laws to suit their industrial needs and attract investments through labour reforms without seeking the Centre's permission.
CLEVELAND, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Attorney Peter H. Weinberger of Spangenberg Shibley & Liber LLP has been recognized by Best Lawyers 2021. He has been given the title Lawyer of the Year for Personal Injury Litigation  Plaintiffs representation in the geographical region of Cleveland, Ohio. Attorney Weinberger has been recognized by Best Lawyers since 2007.

In addition to his current Lawyer of the Year selection, Attorney Weinberger has earned multiple Best Lawyers awards in the past. He has been recognized as the Lawyer of the Year 2017 for Medical Malpractice Law  Plaintiffs in Cleveland, Lawyer of the Year 2013 for Personal Injury Litigation  Plaintiffs in Cleveland, and Lawyer of the Year 2012 for Medical Malpractice Law  Plaintiffs in Cleveland.

Best Lawyers is a professional organization with a reputation for using a "purely peer review" process to find and recognize outstanding attorneys across the United States. A simple deconstruction of the process includes nominations, peer review from current Best Lawyers members, analysis of those reviews by a trusted, unbiased third-party, eligibility checks with local bar associations, and the announcement of those included in the final selection.

To be a Lawyer of the Year, an attorney needs to go above and beyond the already steep expectations of Best Lawyers. Only one attorney per practice area per region can be named the Lawyer of the Year, so this title is extremely difficult to obtain. Yet Attorney Weinberger has earned it four times so far in his career.

Additional information about Attorney Peter H. Weinberger, who serves Of Counsel to Spangenberg Shibley & Liber LLP can be found by visiting https://www.bestlawyers.com/lawyers/peter-h-weinberger/70512 or https://www.spanglaw.com/our-attorneys/peter-h-weinberger-esq-/. Inquiring parties are encouraged to visit https://www.spanglaw.com/ if interested in the legal services of the law firm as a whole.

SOURCE Spangenberg Shibley & Liber LLP

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YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 22, ARMENPRESS. Troops of an Armenian Armed Forces unit participated on September 19 at the opening ceremony of the Caucasus 2020 strategic command-staff military exercises at the Russian Kapustin Yar training range.

The flags of the participating countries were ceremonially raised at the inauguration.

The drills involve counterterrorism and joint operation scenarios.

Caucasus 2020 involves around 80,000 troops, 250 tanks, 450 infantry vehicles, 200 artillery and rocket systems and other equipment.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
Binh Thuan Province has had no fishing vessels operating in waters outside Vietnam for a year thanks to the deployment of a monitoring system.

During a typical shift, Ho Van Kim and Tran Binh Trong take turns keeping a close eye on fishing vessels operating in waters off the south central province, preventing them from venturing beyond national boundaries.

Kim and Trong belong to a team of seven charged with monitoring fishing boats around the clock from a center managed by the province's Fisheries Department.

Ho Van Kim warns a fishing vessel about to trespass in waters outside Vietnam on September 11, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Viet Quoc.

Every once in a while, Kim clicks the red dots on a screen, which represent boats moving too near the border area.

Clicking the dots reveals registration numbers and owner information. In case a vessel fares too close to Vietnam's boundary in the East Sea, known internationally as South China Sea, Kim would use a long-range communication system or satellite phone to call it back.

"They have yet to violate the fishing rule but we need to warn them first, preventing any possible intrusion occuring."

Since it was launched over a year ago, the Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) of Binh Thuan has detected 12 boats crossing the border.

In case the team fails to reach violating ships, it would attempt to contact their owners, who normally stay ashore and employ their own channels of communication.

Records of ships crossing the border are all kept as evidence, and in case those ships insist on violating the rules, their owners could face a fine of up to VND400 million ($17,100), Trong said.

Huynh Quang Huy, head of Binh Thuan Fisheries Department, said since April last year, the province has requested fishing vessels of more than 15 m in length to be equipped with a Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) tracking device.

To date, 90 percent, or 1,700 vessels in the province have been connected to the system, with the remainder stuck on shore due to commercial losses suffered by their owners.

A monitoring device is attached to a fishing boat in Binh Thuan Province, September 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Duc Huynh.

Ship owners had bought the equipment, priced between VND15-18 million ($645-775) and attached it to their vessels themselves prior to informing authorities. The gear was then linked to the monitoring center. Via the connection, the ship's entire journey could be monitored 24/7.

These efforts are aimed at eliminating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, allowing Vietnam to shake off the European Commission (EC) yellow card.

The EC applied a yellow card warning on seafood from Vietnam in October 2017 after a number of Vietnamese fishing vessels were caught trespassing in neighboring waters. The commission subsequently informed member countries about Vietnams failure to meet requirements on preventing IUU fishing.

Vietnams fisheries exports have since been subject to intense scrutiny, with all seafood containers inspected in a process that could take three to four weeks and cost 500 euros ($633) per container. A rejected container can cost an exporter nearly $12,000, and the risk of rejection is high.

The EC had initially stated it would remove the yellow card in June 2018, and later said it would consider doing so in January this year, though nothing has happened to date.

In the past, fishing vessels from Binh Thuan routinely trespassed into waters belonging to Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand, leading to several arrests and confiscations.

According to official data, eight vessels carrying a total 84 crew members were caught breaking the rules in 2017. In 2018, nine ships and 63 fishermen were detected while last year the figure stood at six ships with a combined crew of 40.

Yet thanks to the VMS, for over a year now, no fishing vessels from Binh Thuan have violated the law.

"But this is just the initial result and the risk of violating foreign territorial waters is still there, so we have to continue strengthening the center and improve its operation," Huy said.

A fishing boat off the coast of Binh Thuan Province, September 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Duc Huynh.

Even with a long 3,260 km (2,025 miles) coastline, Vietnam has been running out of near-shore seafood sources and is considering fishing bans in certain places at certain times. Authorities had said a fishing ban was needed to cope with a decline in fisheries caused by over exploitation.

The ban is yet to come into force, and some fishermen who have sailed to other countries have said apart from the decline in resources, they also face threats from Chinese trawlers illegally anchored in Vietnams waters. Worse still, some Chinese vessels would chase Vietnamese boats away, cutting off an important seafood supply.

So far, all 28 coastal cities and provinces in Vietnam have launched the VMS. Each locality has had 60-67 percent of their ships equipped with the system.

Without this system, authorities of the fisheries industry could not locate the position of fishing vessels in the sea.
Rome: Italians have voted to cut the number of elected politicians by more than a third in a move expected to save the country tens of millions of euros.

Politicians in Italy have long had a reputation for enjoying lavish perks and high salaries and the idea of cutting the number of members in both houses of Parliament has been mooted for years.

A woman casts her ballot at a polling station in Rome on Monday. Credit:AP

Voters were asked to decide on the measure in a referendum which was proposed by the 5-Star Movement, which is in coalition with the centre-Left Democratic Party (PD).

Preliminary results showed that 68 per cent of those who went to the polls voted for the cut in numbers from 945 to 600. The number of MPs will be reduced from 630 to 400, while senate seats will be slashed from 315 to 200.
LAS VEGAS, NV / ACCESSWIRE / September 22, 2020 / Talisman Casualty Insurance Company, a protected cell captive insurance firm based in Las Vegas, Nevada, wants to emphasize their surety program that is based on the captive insurance model to ensure reliability, creativity, and flexibility. With this particular program, they are offering various kinds of surety bonds. The surety bond is issued for the purpose of protecting a particular party against losses if the principal is unable to comply with an obligation towards the first party, such as finishing a construction project or paying what is owed to suppliers and subcontractors. The first party is often the homeowner or property owner who, in the absence of a surety bond, will be obliged to pay the subcontractors and suppliers, as well as bear the losses from an unfinished construction project.

Talisman Casualty Insurance Company has based its surety program on the protected cell captive insurance model in order to take advantage of a number of benefits that this particular insurance model can offer. First of all, less principals would be required to participate in the coverage capacity of this particular model. This results in a more personalized relationship, and the bonds are flexible enough to comply with the current needs of the contemporary business environment, particularly their changing business risks.

A company representative for Talisman Casualty Insurance explains, "Access to surety credit can seem like an unstable marketplace where availability and willingness to bond contracts is unpredictable. Managing risk in business is much more challenging if bonded contracts are a key to stay competitive."

Thus, using the protected cell captive insurance model for their surety program ensures its reliability. Meanwhile, Talisman Casualty offers different types of surety bonds. The first one is the payment and performance bond, which is the bond that is requested by homeowners and other property owners from their construction contractors. This particular surety bond serves as a protection for the owner if the contractor fails to complete the project satisfactorily.

Another type of surety bond offered by Talisman Casualty is the court and legal bonds. These are for different types of court actions such as release of lien, adverse cost judgment, bail, and more.

Still another type of surety bond from Talisman Casualty is the compliance and licensing bond. This is required from those who need to obtain permits or maintain their professional license. There are a number of statutory requirements for compliance and licensing bonds.

The company also offers a Talisman Casualty lawsuits avoidance strategy, which makes use of claims technology. This will significantly increase the efficiency of the claims process because of that the process is streamlined within the cell, offering participants a high level of quality service. Those who participate in the cell captive are the owners, as well as the close relationship between the claims professionals and the insured participant. This results in a faster response and the resolution of the claims, thus preventing a lawsuit.

It should be noted that licensing is vital when it comes to a captive insurance provider and that Talisman Casualty is one of the recommended options by clients. Owners will need to select the best for their particular situation and what would make them feel in control of everything, which is the key advantage of going to a licensed provider.

Talisman Casualty has a good reputation when it comes to captive insurance policies because of its trustworthy team who have a broad experience that has allowed them to have seen everything, which are popular for setting the gold standard. Thus, going to Talisman Casualty ensures a client access to a team who is well-experienced and fully understands what is needed by the client.

Talisman Casualty connects with insureds, spending enough time with them to fully comprehend their business, and when they want to handle more risk and when they want to be more conservative.

People who are interested in learning more about the Talisman Casualty licensing may want to visit their website, or contact them through the telephone or via email.

For more information about Talisman Casualty Insurance Company, contact the company here:



Talisman Casualty Insurance Company

800-318-5317

info@talismancasualty.com

Talisman Casualty Insurance Company

7881 W. Charleston Blvd, Suite 210 Las Vegas, NV 89117

SOURCE: Talisman Casualty Insurance Company

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/607276/Talisman-Casualty-Insurance-Company-Emphasizes-Surety-Program
Bella Hadid was in the mood for some fresh air as she rode a scooter home from dinner with friends on Monday.

The 23-year-old model spent the night out in Manhattan with friends and took in dinner with them at the upscale eatery The Ainsworth.

Though she's best known for her stunning haute couture looks, she toned her ensemble down with some comfortable and casual clothes.

On the move: Bella Hadid, 23, was spotted out in New York City on Monday night as she left dinner with friends, before taking a scooter back to her apartment

Bella dressed in layers on the chilly night with a long white dress shirt that she left untucked, which had sleeves long enough to swallow up her hands.

She seemed to be getting into the Halloween spirit earlier by wearing an orange sweater over top of it featuring a green-outlined face.

She completed the top half of her ensemble with a tan gingham blazer.

Change of pace: Though she's best known for her stunning haute couture looks, she toned her ensemble down with some comfortable and casual clothes

Baggy style: Bella dressed in layers on the chilly night with a long white dress shirt that she left untucked, which had sleeves long enough to swallow up her hands

Seasonally appropriate: She seemed to be getting into the Halloween spirit earlier by wearing an orange sweater over top of it featuring a green-outlined face

Suited up: She completed the top half of her ensemble with a tan gingham blazer

Low key: Bella made her ensemble even more casual with a baggy set of dark jeans featuring a small rip on one of the legs

Bella made her ensemble even more casual with a baggy set of dark jeans featuring a small rip on one of the legs.

She added a white and tan pair of Nike sneakers to match her white shirt, and she accessorized with a croissant-shaped brown Louis Vuitton handbag cradled under her arm.

The sister of Gigi Hadid left her brunette locks in a messy bun tied with red ribbon, and she had separate strands in front to frame her impeccably made-up face.

She proved herself health-conscious by wearing a beige cloth mask on her face to guard against the novel coronavirus.

Extra flair: She added a white and tan pair of Nike sneakers to match her white shirt, and she accessorized with a croissant-shaped brown Louis Vuitton handbag cradled under her arm

Messy: The sister of Gigi Hadid left her brunette locks in a messy bun tied with red ribbon, and she had separate strands in front to frame her impeccably made-up face

Safety first: She proved herself health-conscious by wearing a beige cloth mask on her face to guard against the novel coronavirus

After dining at The Ainsworth, which has multiple locations in New York and New Jersey, Bella and a group of friends marched through the streets.

One friend rocked a black leather jacket and a baby blue striped shirt while she and Bella held hands and wrapped their arms around each other one their way from the restaurant.

Another of Bella's gal pals looked stylish in a green satin blazer that she wore with a black and white striped tie, black pin stripe slacks and matching green heels.

Filling up: Bella and her friends dined at the swanky bar and restaurant The Ainsworth, which has multiple locations throughout New York and New Jersey

Heading home: Afterward, she and a group of friends marched through the streets

Chic: One friend rocked a black leather jacket and a baby blue striped shirt

Pals: She and Bella held hands and wrapped their arms around each other one their way from the restaurant

Rather than walking the whole way home or taking the train or a cab, Bella and one of her friends splurged on a Revel scooter, a rentable electric scooter.

The company has mopeds strewn throughout New York City, Miami, Austin, San Francisco, Oakland and Washington, D.C.

Customers can reserve a nearby scooter through an app, then pay $1 to unlock and 35 cents for each minute they're riding.

Service was temporarily suspended in New York City over the summer after two people were killed in scooter crashes.

Driving home: Rather than walking the whole way home or taking the train or a cab, Bella and one of her friends splurged on a Revel scooter, a rentable electric scooter

New tech: The company has mopeds strewn throughout New York City, Miami, Austin, San Francisco, Oakland and Washington, D.C.

Seeing green: Another of Bella's gal pals looked stylish in a green satin blazer that she wore with a black and white striped tie, black pin stripe slacks and matching green heels

Bella left the driving to her friend, but she was prepared with a black helmet, while her pal wore a blue graphic design.

The two seemed to be in a great mood, and Bella jokingly lifted her legs up while her friend stuck her tongue out playfully while they were stopped at an intersection.

The catwalk star struck a more somber tone on Sunday as she joined many of her fellow Americans in remember the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Bella shared a stylish black and white photo of the legal icon, who died Friday at age 87 of complications from pancreatic cancer.

'... rest in power to the most high RGB,' she wrote, before urging her fans to sign a petition urging that her Supreme Court seat not be filled before inauguration day.

'If this was her last wish , I only hope we can fulfill it for her,' she continued, before reposting the words of former President Barack Obama.

Rental: Customers can reserve a nearby scooter through an app, then pay $1 to unlock and 35 cents for each minute they're riding

Risky: Service was temporarily suspended in New York City over the summer after two people were killed in scooter crashes

Safety conscious: Bella left the driving to her friend, but she was prepared with a black helmet, while her pal wore a blue graphic design

On her own: Missing from her nighttime outing was Bella's older sister Gigi Hadid, who's expecting her first child with her boyfriend Zayn Malik

Missing from her nighttime outing was Bella's older sister Gigi Hadid, who's expecting her first child with her boyfriend Zayn Malik.

The couple didn't announce a due date, but some fans have speculated that she has already given birth, especially after her father Mohammad Hadid shared a message for his 'little grandchild' on social media last week.

But her mother Yolanda Hadid appeared to shoot down the rumors on Friday when she posted a sweet black and white photo of her resting her head on Gigi's pregnant tummy.

'Waiting patiently for her angel to be born......' she captioned it.

New baby? The couple didn't announce a due date, but some fans have speculated that she has already given birth, especially after her father Mohammad Hadid shared a message for his 'little grandchild' on social media last week

Not quite: But her mother Yolanda Hadid appeared to shoot down the rumors on Friday when she posted a sweet black and white photo of her resting her head on Gigi's pregnant tummy

Having a blast: The two seemed to be in a great mood, and Bella jokingly lifted her legs up while her friend stuck her tongue out playfully while they were stopped at an intersection

Having a laugh: Last week, Bella shared her own photo withh Gigi from back in June with the joking caption, 'buns in the oven except mine is from my burger and Gigi's is from @zayn'

Last week, Bella shared her own photo of herself and Gigi from back in June with the joking caption, 'buns in the oven except mine is from my burger and Gigi's is from @zayn.'

Both sisters have now returned to their apartments in New York City, but they spent much of the pandemic quarantine with their mother on her rural Pennsylvania farm.

Last week, Bella posted some throwback photo from her summer in the country including some stunning snaps of her getting close to her mother's gorgeous horses.
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Victorians could be arrested and detained by public servants, union officials or anyone else the government authorises under an extraordinary new law that Premier Daniel Andrews wants to pass.

The new law would allow the government to let protective services officers and WorkSafe inspectors enforce public health directions such as Melbourne's 9pm curfew and strict gathering limits.

The unprecedented plan would also allow officials to arrest people they suspect may spread coronavirus even if they have done nothing wrong.

Victorians could be arrested and detained by public servants, union officials or anyone else the government authorises under an extraordinary new law that Daniel Andrews wants to pass. Pictured: Police at a protest in Melbourne on Sunday

The bill would allow the government to let protective services officers and WorkSafe inspectors enforce public health directions such as Melbourne's 9pm curfew and gathering limits. Pictured: Anti-lockdown protesters in Melbourne on Suday

The unprecedented plan, which is being debated in the Victorian parliament, would also allow officials to arrest people they suspect may spread coronavirus even if they have done nothing wrong. Pictured: Police at a protest in Melbourne on Sunday

What would the new law do? Allow any person the government considered appropriate to be authorised to exercise emergency powers including make arrests. There would be no requirement for them to be police officers, or even public servants. Allow an authorised officer to detain any person they believe is likely to fail to comply with an emergency direction and is a close contact or a Covid-19 patient not given clearance from self-isolation. The suspect can be detained for so long as the authorised officer reasonably believes the person in detention is likely to fail to comply with an emergency direction. Read the bill here Advertisement

Those who could be arrested include positive patients or close contacts who officials suspect may refuse to self-isolate, such as protesters or people with mental health difficulties.

An esteemed group of 14 retired judges and barristers on Tuesday wrote a letter slamming the plan as 'unprecedented, excessive and open to abuse' and begged the Victorian parliament to vote it down.

Critics say Mr Andrews wants to create his own version of the Stasi, the East German secret police force which spied on citizens through a network of informants and arrested more than 250,000 people between 1950 and 1990.

The measures are outlined in the COVID-19 Omnibus (Emergency Measures) and Other Acts Amendment Bill 2020, which has passed the lower house and will be debated in the upper house.

Liberty Victoria president Julian Burnside has raised concerns that government workers authorised to make arrests may not be able to accurately determine whether someone poses a risk of spreading Covid-19.

'The bill introduces a preventative detention regime which appears to have little protections or oversight, and provides far too much discretion to people who may lack the necessary expertise to determine risk, including police officers,' he said.

Victoria's state of emergency and disaster powers, extended until October 11, give police the power to detain someone 'for the period reasonably necessary to eliminate or reduce a serious risk to public health'.

Police officers can also search people's homes without a warrant and restrict movement between locations such as between regional Victoria and Melbourne.

In their letter the group of retired judges and prominent QCs said they were 'deeply concerned' about how the bill would expand the power of the state.

They said the bill would allow anyone to be authorised to exercise emergency powers.

'There would be no requirement that persons authorised be police officers, or even public servants,' the letter read.

Allowing citizens to make arrests 'on the basis of a belief that the detained person is unlikely to comply with emergency directions' is 'unprecedented, excessive and open to abuse,' the lawyers said.

Gideon Rozner, Director of Policy at free market think tank the Institute of Public Affairs told Daily Mail Australia the legislation was 'extremely dangerous' and would create the 'Daniel Andrews Stasi'.

'It will allow Dan Andrews to effectively appoint anyone he wants as an authorised officer, with extraordinarily broad discretion to enforce Victoria's emergency powers,' he said.

'Union leaders could be appointed to unleash retribution on small business owners who speak out against lockdowns.

'Labor Party officials could be appointed to intimidate political opponents. 'I Stand With Dan' types could be appointed to spy on their friends and neighbours.

'Not since East Germany have we seen such a monstrous web of government surveillance. The Victorian Parliament must vote down this bill and say no to the Dan Andrews Stasi.'

Mr Andrews said he did not agree the proposed legislation was excessive or open to abuse.

A group of 14 retired judges and barristers have written a letter slamming the plan as 'unprecedented, excessive and open to abuse' and begged the Victorian parliament to vote it down. Pictured: Protesters in Melbourne on Sunday

Victoria's state of emergency and disaster powers already give police the power to detain someone 'for the period reasonably necessary to eliminate or reduce a serious risk to public health'. Pictured: Police at a protest in Melbourne on Sunday

Critics say Mr Andrews wants to create his own version of the Stasi, the secret police force tasked with stopping East Germans from jumping the Berlin Wall (pictured) and escaping communism

'In terms of recruitment, process, oversight - all that can be managed,' Mr Andrews said on Tuesday in response to the lawyers' letter.

'In terms of the first point, though, the notion it is unprecedented, yes, it is. Because we're in a one-in-100-year event. This is not in any way business as usual.'

Mr Andrews justified the new law by saying it would help keep case numbers low, even though no other state in Australia has required such a drastic measure.

'We jealously guard the low (case) numbers that we are in the process of delivering, then you need to have a bigger enforcement team,' he said.

'They will play many different roles, but I think we have struck the right balance there.'

Victoria's Attorney-General Jill Hennessy said the laws would 'allow us to continue responding to the challenges the pandemic presents, so we can keep protecting Victorians and delivering the services they rely on.'

The labor government has a majority in the lower house but needs the support of the cross bench to get the bill through the upper house.

'Excessive and open to abuse': The lawyers' letter in full 'We are deeply concerned by the passage of the COVID-19 Omnibus (Emergency Measures) and Other Acts Amendment Bill 2020 (Bill) through the Legislative Assembly. Emergency powers already allow authorised officers under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 (Vic) to detain people and to restrict movement. The Bill would expand the emergency powers to allow an authorised officer to detain:  any person that the authorised officer reasonably believes is likely to fail to comply with an emergency direction and is a close contact of a person diagnosed with COVID-19 (or a person diagnosed with COVID-19) not given clearance from self-isolation;  for so long as the authorised officer reasonably believes the person in detention is likely to fail to comply with an emergency direction. The Bill would also allow any person the Secretary considered appropriate to be authorised to exercise emergency powers. There would be no requirement that persons authorised be police officers, or even public servants. Authorising citizens to detain their fellow citizens on the basis of a belief that the detained person is unlikely to comply with emergency directions by the 'authorised' citizens is unprecedented, excessive and open to abuse. We call on the Legislative Council to amend the Bill, or to vote against it. MICHAEL MCHUGH AC QC PETER HEEREY AM QC NEIL YOUNG QC JAMES PETERS AM QC PETER COLLINSON QC MARYANNE LOUGHNAN QC MARY ANNE HARTLEY QC PHILIP CRUTCHFIELD QC GEORGINA SCHOFF QC PHILIP SOLOMON QC DAVID BATT QC STUART WOOD AM QC FELICITY GERRY QC MICHAEL BORSKY QC The letter was first published in The Australian Advertisement

On Tuesday Victoria reported three coronavirus deaths, while new cases jumped on Tuesday to 28.

The latest fatalities take the state toll to 766 and the national figure to 854. The news cases are a significant spike on Monday's 11, the lowest Victorian figure since June 16.

But the crucial 14-day rolling average of new cases for Melbourne continues to fall to 32.8, while it is holding at 1.6 for regional areas.

Cases with an unknown source from September 6-19 are 45 for Melbourne and none for regional Victoria.

There was some good news for Premier Daniel Andrews on Tuesday, with a Newspoll showing a majority of Victorian voters back his handling of the state's second wave.

Mr Andrews (pictured) justified the new law by saying it would help keep case numbers low, even though no other state in Australia has required such a drastic measure

 "This COVID-19 omnibus legislation is the most dramatic violation of human rights in Australian history" - IPA Executive Director John Roskam on #theboltreport #covidvic #springst pic.twitter.com/tq43GzcRTJ  Institute of Public Affairs (@TheIPA) September 22, 2020

Some 62 per cent said they were satisfied with his performance even though the virus escaped from hotel quarantine in late May and caused a deadly second wave.

The Newspoll also found that 61 per cent of Victorians thought the state's lockdown restrictions were 'about right'.

A quarter of people said they were too strict and 10 per cent said they were too lenient.

Asked how Mr Andrews was handling his job, 62 per cent of voters were satisfied and 35 per cent were dissatisfied for a net satisfaction score of 27 per cent.

The September net score was up from 20 per cent in July when the state's second wave of infections began to emerge. In April, it was 58 per cent.

Mr Andrews has been under constant criticism since he plunged Victoria back into lockdown on 8 July. The state's second wave has caused more than 700 deaths, mostly in aged care homes.

It began when hotel security guards and staff failed to adhere to social distancing requirements, caught the virus and spread it around Melbourne.
My opponent comes nowhere near me in terms of my record. I built schools, I built hospitals, I repaired the roads. We expanded Tema ports. We built terminal three and the University of Ghana Medical Hospital, says former President John Mahama.



The flagbearer of the NDC who was speaking on Woezor TV indicated that Ghanaians are disappointed in the ruling administration who are fond of raising expectations but delivering little



"They were talking about leadership and not being populist and managing expectations of people and I think that is one of the problems Akufo-Addo faces, he raises expectations so high but very low on delivery...When we talk about credibility who is more credible when it comes to delivery on social infrastructure? Everyone knows who is credible" he intimated.



He (Akufo-Addo) should show me one secondary school he has built or one hospital he has built in four years. It is easy to say that we have better credibility when it comes to infrastructure with our opponent, he added

Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The global edible oil and fats market size is expected to reach USD 162.51 billion by 2025, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Rising popularity of edible oil as a key nutritional constituent on account of its various benefits including improvement in immune system and prevention from cardiovascular disorders is projected to drive the demand.

Rising concerns over glutamic disorders in developed countries including U.S. and Germany is expected to promote the scope of oilseed-based product forms as vegan alternatives for animal fats. Furthermore, changing lifestyle coupled with buyer preference for nutrition enriched food products among middle-class income groups from developing economies such as China, India, and Thailand is projected to increase the usage of edible oils over the next eight years.

Offline channels are projected to lead, accounting for more than 50% of total market share in terms of revenue. Increased concentration of supermarkets in emerging economies such as China, India, Mexico, Brazil, and South Africa is projected to provide the consumers a wide range of options when it comes to edible oils and edible fats.

Access Research Report of Edible Oil & Fats Market @ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/edible-oil-fats-market

Further key findings from the report suggest:

Oil product segment generated revenue exceeding USD 60 billion in 2018. Rising importance of calorie-free products including olive and sunflower as healthier alternatives as compared to animal-based fats is projected to remain a favorable factor over the forecast period

Coconut segment is expected to witness a CAGR of 7.4% from 2018 to 2025. The product is expected to gain importance on account of being effective source of amino acids, vitamins, and minerals

Asia Pacific led with more than 30% of global market share in terms of revenue in 2018. The high concentration middle-income age groups in key markets including China, India, Bangladesh, and Thailand is expected to assist the region maintain the dominance in near future

The edible oil and fats market is highly competitive in nature. Key players include Aceities Borges Pont S.A.; ACH Food Companies, Inc.; ADM; Avena Nordic Grain Oy; and Cargill Inc.

Strategic partnerships with the distributors located in emerging economies with significant buyer base is expected to remain a critical success factor for the key market participants in the forthcoming years.

Grand View Research has segmented the global edible oil and fats market on the basis of product, distribution channel, and region:

Edible Oil & Fats Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2015 - 2025)

Edible Oil

Edible Fats

Edible Oil & Fats Distribution Channel Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2015 - 2025)

Offline

Online

Edible Oil & Fats Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2015 - 2025)

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Central & South America

Middle East & Africa

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.
EndemolShine Australia Co-CEOs, Mark and Carl Fennessy, will step down from their roles leading one of Australias biggest production companies, following a recent global merger with Banijay.

Peter Newman, currently Chief Content Officer, becomes Chief Executive Officer.

EndemolShine Australia produces some of the nations biggest hits including MasterChef Australia, Married at First Sight, Lego Masters, Gogglebox, Old Peoples Home for 4 Year Olds, Big Brother, amongst others.

The Fennessy brothers were founding CEOs of Shine Australia in 2009, stepping down after a takeover by Endemol, before swiftly resuming leadership of the new company.

Peter Newman joined Shine in 2012 as Creative Director, before taking up the CCO post in 2018.

He was previously Head of Production and Development at SBS and Head of Production and Development at WTFN. Across his career to date, he has developed, commissioned and produced a host of award-winning programmes, including Go Back to Where You Came From, MasterChef Australia, Australian Ninja Warrior, Australian Survivor, and Gogglebox.

Marco Bassetti Chief Executive Officer, Banijay said: The Fennessy brothers have long-served as commendable businessmen at the forefront of the countrys creative industry and we wish them all the best with where their artistic journey takes them next. We now welcome Peter who is a commercially sound producer and entrepreneur and has all the attributes we look for in our leaders. Having been close to the business creative core and key in driving the success of the labels most recent hits, he is an incredible asset to Banijay as we continue to evolve our creative vision and set our strategy in Australia.

Peter Newman said: Its been amazing to work with Mark and Carl over the last eight years and its an honour to take up the reins of this impressive newly-combined company. EndemolShine Australia has always been about supporting and empowering the great people behind the world-class production of our shows. Im incredibly proud of our workplace culture, our focus on creative excellence and will ensure we continue to do what we do best; working with our broadcast partners to deliver their audiences outstanding content. Banijay generates some of the worlds best TV formats and I cant wait to bring them to life here in Australia.

Mark and Carl Fennessy comment: Ten years ago we commenced a journey with Elisabeth Murdoch to Inspire, Create and Shine. The period since has been like one long day filled with rewarding experiences and great success but the time has come for the next adventure. Were grateful to the broadcasters for their support and we salute our incredible team of talented executives with whom weve had the privilege to lead. We look forward to a much-needed break and extend our best wishes to Banijay.

Updated:

Screen Producers Australia CEO Matthew Deaner said, In their decade at the helm, Mark and Carl have shaped the cultural narrative of our nation, overseeing the development and production of an array of acclaimed dramas and unscripted formats which Australian audiences tune into every night.

From Masterchef Australia (Network 10), to Old Peoples Home for 4 Year Olds (ABC), Big Brother Australia (Seven Network), Lambs of God (Foxtel) and LEGO Masters Australia (Nine Network), the output of their vision and leadership stretches across all of our free-to-air networks and pay TV channels.

Since establishing Shine Australia in January 2010, Mark and Carl have steered the business through a period of immense change and their productions continue to generate significant revenue for our industry and sustain thousands of jobs over a number of years.

Mark and Carl are true industry visionaries and it has been a pleasure celebrating their successes on the local and global stage and at our SPA Awards. We wish them well as they take a well deserved break and look forward to working with newly appointed CEO Peter Newman and the entire team at Endemol Shine Australia as the business enters a new frontier as part of the Banijay Group.
[This article was originally published in 2017]

It was the summer of hell, and I needed some relief.

To take a break from the swamp that New York City becomes in the summer, I took a weeklong trip to the sunny paradise of London for a well-deserved vacation.

OK, fine. London may not be that sunny, but it is a transportation paradise. When comparing it with New York, anyway, London seems like a city that cares about its public transportation. Its trains run often, its buses have a priority network, and there's even a congestion charge for private cars driving in the city center that feeds money back into the transportation projects.

Things are not so great in New York right now. The state and city are in an interminable battle to escape blame for the crumbling infrastructure that millions of New Yorkers rely on every day. But some fixes being suggested now, like congestion charging, have already been at work in London for years.

 Police had to stop this 'fully-fledged' rave on a Tube train

I decided my vacation would be a good opportunity to see how London's public transportation system works. Not once did I get stuck in a tunnel or even have to wait longer than four minutes for a train  and with countdown clocks at nearly every station, I always knew when the next train was coming. I also never had to detour because of track work, which is done overnight in London.

I think it's best summarized in the status update heard over the PA system every so often in the Underground: "There is good service on all London Underground lines." You definitely don't hear that every day in New York.

While New York often uses the age of its system as an excuse, I saw how London overcame its ancient architecture  some of which dates back to the mid-19th century  to build a modern transportation system. Honestly, it felt strange to be in a city where the denizens didn't constantly gripe about how long it took to get wherever they were.

Here's a sample journey I made, which I think highlights what makes London so much easier to get around.

After making a few quick east-west trips on the Underground, I decided to put it to the test by going some distance. I was going to visit a friend in a northern part of London. This was a bit of a trip  about 5 miles through the city center, or a 40-minute drive, according to Google Maps.

(Business Insider/Dennis Green (Business Insider/Dennis Green)

To get to Stoke Newington from Waterloo via transit, I could have taken a bus. As nice as the buses are in London, that didn't seem appealing. Another option was to take the Underground as well as the Overground. It said it would take me 40 minutes  not bad!

The Overground operates a lot like a normal subway, with some elements of a commuter rail. The trains are wider but shorter, and they travel mostly above ground on the outskirts of the city. I was worried about how easy it would be to catch one, but I took my chances.

(Business Insider/Dennis Green (Business Insider/Dennis Green)

Nearly every journey on London transportation starts with an Oyster card. I started mine at Waterloo station with the plan to take the Jubilee line eastbound. In London, you pay a fare that fluctuates according to the zones you travel through. I went on two separate systems, from Zone 1 to Zone 2, which cost less than 3 (about $3.90).

(Business Insider/Dennis Green (Business Insider/Dennis Green)

A 5 deposit gets you an Oyster card to use for as long as you need  it never expires. You can also turn it in and receive a refund for the 5 you paid, plus any remaining balance on it.

Each station has this yellow pad that you touch the card to open the gates. There's no swiping whatsoever.

(Business Insider/Dennis Green (Business Insider/Dennis Green)

Londoners with a special contactless credit card, which uses the same tech and is common in the UK, can also just touch their credit or debit cards to the turnstile to pay the same fare as an Oyster card.

The turnstile then reads out how much cash you have left on your Oyster card. Getting through the turnstile is quick as a flash, and while there were times the card didn't register on the first touch, another quick one did the trick.

(Business Insider/Dennis Green (Business Insider/Dennis Green)

Down I go. The Jubilee line is relatively new compared with the rest of the Underground. It looks a little more metallic than the historic stations on other Tube lines.

(Business Insider/Dennis Green (Business Insider/Dennis Green)

A train left just as I got to the platform. Rats. But not to worry, as there's one two minutes away. Not bad for 1:20 p.m. on a Tuesday.

(Business Insider/Dennis Green (Business Insider/Dennis Green)

Another unique feature on the Jubilee line: platform screen doors. They line up exactly where the doors of the train are and open simultaneously.

(Business Insider/Dennis Green (Business Insider/Dennis Green)

This has numerous benefits, but chief among them is safety. Dozens of people die in train-related accidents every year, but these doors could prevent people from falling or being pushed onto the tracks.

Inside, the cars feel a little cramped because of the sloping ceilings. Though this car didn't look brand new, it still had automated announcements that even told you which side of the train the doors would open at each stop.

(Business Insider/Dennis Green (Business Insider/Dennis Green)

Another cool thing about the Underground: All the seats are cloth-covered, and they're much more comfortable than a plastic bench. There are also cloth-covered rails to lean against, which is a smart idea.

One note: Larger subway cars are in service on other lines that are not limited by the tiny ancient tunnels.

A few minutes later, I arrived at Canada Water.

(Business Insider/Dennis Green (Business Insider/Dennis Green)

Now to transfer to the Overground. I followed the signs for the northbound train.

(Business Insider/Dennis Green (Business Insider/Dennis Green)

Turns out all I had to do was walk up a single flight of stairs, and I was at the correct platform. Even though the Overground is technically a different system, it still uses the same Oyster card, and I didn't have to tap in or out. Neat.

(Business Insider/Dennis Green (Business Insider/Dennis Green)

Three minutes until the train I needed would arrive  not bad at all.

(Business Insider/Dennis Green (Business Insider/Dennis Green)

Here it comes. The Overground's trains aren't like subway trains.

(Business Insider/Dennis Green (Business Insider/Dennis Green)

One notable feature: They're articulated, meaning you can walk from one end to the other with no barrier at all.

(Business Insider/Dennis Green (Business Insider/Dennis Green)

Other than that, they're pretty standard, relatively large rapid-transit cars.

(Business Insider/Dennis Green (Business Insider/Dennis Green)

There were outlets, but I wouldn't try them if I were you.

(Business Insider/Dennis Green (Business Insider/Dennis Green)

I watched scenic Shoreditch whiz by the window.

(Business Insider/Dennis Green (Business Insider/Dennis Green)

When the train stopped at the station, the doors didn't open. After a moment of confusion, I realized the doors don't open automatically  you have to press this glowing "open door" button. A quick press, and I arrived.

(Business Insider/Dennis Green (Business Insider/Dennis Green)

Canonbury, safe and sound.

(Business Insider/Dennis Green (Business Insider/Dennis Green)

Tap your Oyster card again to leave the station, and it'll register how much you paid. It took roughly 40 minutes to get to my destination, and with not a single bump along the way. New York can't do that.

(Business Insider/Dennis Green (Business Insider/Dennis Green)

Read more:

 Why Spain has become a target for terrorists

 The 100 best books to read in your lifetime, according to Amazon

 27 movies you need to see this Autumn

Read the original article on Business Insider UK.  2016. Follow Business Insider UK on Twitter.
A first-term federal Nationals MP, her husband and a not-for-profit organisation she set up have been awarded a total of $875,000 in damages over a series of defamatory social media posts that a judge has condemned as vile and delusional.

Dr Anne Webster, a Mildura-based social worker who won the Victorian seat of Mallee for the Nationals in last year's federal election, is the founder of not-for-profit Zoe Support Australia, which provides assistance to vulnerable pregnant women and new mothers in Mildura and surrounding districts.

Federal Nationals MP Anne Webster. Credit:Wimmer Mail Times

Her GP husband, Dr Philip Webster, is chair of the organisation.

The Websters and Zoe Support launched Federal Court defamation proceedings in May against prolific social media user Karen Brewer, an Australian woman the court heard may now reside in New Zealand.
Britain's biggest holiday company has called for a regional risk assessment policy from the government rather than the current blanket travel policy that sees most foreign countries classified as unacceptably high risk.

Tui made the demand in a trading update covering its pan-European operations.

The firm said it began 2020 with the best booking month in the companys history. But the coronavirus crisis wiped out its operations for three months from mid-March.

Between the restart of operations in mid-June and the end of August 2020, the company took 1.4 million people on holiday  filling five out of six seats on its planes on average.

But over the same spell in 2019, Tui provided holidays for around eight times as many people.

Recommended Tui to refund all holidaymakers by end of September amid watchdog investigation

Over the summer its operations have been hit by continuous changes in travel advice by various governments across our markets.

Holidays from the UK have been disrupted by the spread of 14 days quarantine for travellers returning to the UK, starting in late July for Spain and continuing with Malta, Croatia, Portugal and seven Greek islands.

Tui says: If testing were to be made more available on arrival in destination and on departure then this would also help to avoid compulsory quarantine and movement restrictions.

The firm said it expects late bookings to be the name until customers are able to plan with more certainty.

The firm has cut its reduced summer 2020 offering still further by one-sixth, from 30 per cent to 25 per cent, and switched to alternative low-risk destinations, enabling many customers to continue their holidays as planned.

With infection rates and government restrictions rising, the already reduced winter programme has been cut by a quarter. Tui will now offer 60 per cent of its original programme, down from 80 per cent.

It has restarted cruising on very limited itineraries, primarily in the Baltic, with a mandatory negative PCR test result a prerequisite for travel.

Next summers overall schedule is expected to be 20 per cent lower, but Tui said average selling prices for summer 2021 are 10 per cent higher.

It intends to cut its "annual overhead cost base by 30 per cent, meaning up to 8,000 job cuts across Europe.

The chief executive of Tui Group, Friedrich Joussen, concluded: Leisure holidays remain important to customers and have been one of the most missed activities during the pandemic.

We are strategically well placed to benefit as leisure travel volume recovers over the coming seasons.

Tui will emerge a stronger, leaner, more digitalised business and is well positioned to benefit from the expected recovery.
Srinagar: The security forces on Tuesday morning gunned down an unidentified terrorist in an encounter in the Budgam district on Jammu and Kashmir.

The encounter, which is still underway, took place in the Chrar-i-Sharief area of Budgam.

The identity of the slain terrorist is being ascertained by the security forces.

Live TV

A search and cordon operation is also underway to flush out more terrorists hiding in the area.

More details are awaited.
New Jerseys Democratic leaders have reached an agreement to raise the millionaires tax after years of fierce battles over the tax increase.

It is among about $1 billion in tax increases Gov. Phil Murphy proposed in his budget for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1. Others would hike taxes on corporate profits and qualified business income, gun sales, boat sales and cigarettes.
Everything is on the table to stop President Trump from creating a hard-right majority on the Supreme Court, Nan Aron, president of one of Washingtons leading progressive advocacy groups on justice issues, told Yahoo News on Monday. This might include expanding the number of justices on the court should Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburgs seat be filled before the election or in a lame duck session should Joe Biden win.

At this point, if they ram through another justice on the Supreme Court, theyre essentially saying, Look, these are politicians in judicial robes, were going to see the court as a political institution, Aron, president and founder of the Alliance for Justice, told the Yahoo News Skullduggery podcast. Six justices will represent just a small segment of the American population. I do think in that instance it's important to reassert balance on the Supreme Court.

Aron is helping to spearhead the lefts effort to block Republicans from filling Ginsburgs seat. She said Republicans appear to have the votes they need and that expanding the courts size may be the only way to ensure the Supreme Court more accurately represents the country.

It will be absolutely necessary to ensure everyday people get a fair shake at the Supreme Court, Aron said, referring to expansion. Republicans see the courts as pathways to power. Democrats see the courts as pathways to justice.

Meanwhile, Edward Whelan, a conservative lobbyist and court observer, told Skullduggery that he believes Trump and Senate Republicans should push through a Supreme Court replacement for Ginsburg even if the president loses the election and the Republicans lose their Senate majority.

The president ... is president until the new president is sworn in; the Senate is the Senate until the new Senate is sworn in so, yes, they should exercise their responsibilities, Whelan said when asked if it is appropriate for Republicans to push a replacement justice through even if they were to be rejected in November by voters.

Story continues

Whelan, president of the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, said Republicans should have enough time to vet and vote on a replacement before the Nov. 3 presidential election, making the prospect of a so-called lame duck Senate installing the next Supreme Court justice unlikely. He said it is more probable that Trump will select someone who the Senate has very recently appointed to an appellate court judgeship, which will make the vetting process relatively fast-moving.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

Unlike say back when I handled Ruth Bader Ginsburgs nomination to the Supreme Court in 1993 and we had 13 years of a judicial record to wade through and we managed to do that very quickly, here there is going to be a very small additional record to go through and I think the Senate ought to be able to be both swift and thorough, Whelan said.

Whelan defended the Republicans right to push the Supreme Court pick through despite their 2016 refusal to consider Obama nominee Merrick Garland for the court on the grounds that it was an election year. At the time Sen. Lindsey Graham, now the head of the Senate Judiciary Committee, pledged that Democrats could use my words against me. If theres a Republican president in 2016 and a vacancy occurs in the last year of the first term you can say, Lindsey Graham said, Lets let the next president whoever it might be make that nomination.

Whelan said he cant imagine why Graham made such a pledge, calling it an ill-advised statement in the first place.

Its good that Senator Graham is seeing straight on the matter now, Whelan added.

Sen. Mitch McConnell and other top Republicans have defended their plans to move forward with replacing Ginsburg quickly, saying that they have a mandate to do so since they control the Senate and the White House. If it proves impossible to get a nominee confirmed before the election  a scenario many observers see as likely  that could push the process into the lame duck session, when the Republicans may no longer have that mandate if they lose the race for the White House and control of the Senate, as many polls now indicate is possible.

Aron said she has never seen progressives more galvanized over judgeships and she predicted that a Republican push to get a far-right nominee confirmed right before the election will translate into wins [for Democrats] in the election. Still, Aron wasnt overly confident that the Republicans can be stopped from moving ahead to replace Ginsburg.

They can do whatever they want, Aron said. Weve seen before that theyre willing to break traditions and dismantle customs.

Aron said that unlike former President Obama, who she said exercised great discretion when picking judges, Trump has shown a tendency to appoint judges who are on the extreme far right of the political spectrum.

The two top contenders viewed as in the running for Ginsburgs seat are Amy Coney Barrett and Barbara Lagoa. Aron said both have shown a strong conservative bent and she expects each would vote to overturn the landmark abortion decision Roe v. Wade.

Whelan dismissed Arons suggestion of an expanded court to achieve more balance, saying it would destroy the court in the name of saving it.

Republicans will add two more, Whelan said. Soon well have a 67-member court and it will not be regarded as a court at all. Those who purport to care about the court as an institution, I find it very strange that theyre proposing this sort of court packing.

Download or subscribe on iTunes: Skullduggery from Yahoo News

_____

Read more from Yahoo News:
Bengaluru, Sep 22 : In a strong bid to scotch rumours about the possible change of guard in Karnataka, the state BJP spokesperson Captain Ganesh Karnik termed the news stories frequently talking about replacing Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa as concocted and baseless.

According to a statement issued by him, Karnik said that the BJP strongly refutes these stories. "Such stories are not only baseless but also far from truth and misleading," he said.

Time and again, the BJP had been contesting these reports, stating that they were baseless. Even almost a month ago, none other than the BJP state president, Nalinkumar Katil himself had given multiple interviews to several media houses in Karnataka stating that Yediyurappa can not be replaced anytime soon.

Thereafter, several leaders like Revenue Minister R. Ashoka, and even those whom local media houses had termed as a possible replacement such Deputy Chief Minister Lakshman Savadi, Industries Minister Jagadish Shettar, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi and several others too have vouched that Yediyurappa won't be replaced at this juncture.

There have been strong speculations about possible change in leadership in the future, considering Yediyurappa's age.

The speculation had gained momentum during the 77-year-old leader's recent visit to New Delhi, during which he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several Union Ministers and BJP national president J. P. Nadda.

There were reports that Yediyurappa might be replaced after the Bihar assembly polls or after him presenting the budget in March 2021.

They suggested that looking at BJP's policy towards seniors crossing 75 years of age, the party was considering honourable exit to the Lingayat strongman by giving him a gubernatorial position and a key post for his younger son B. Y. Vijayendra, who is now the state BJP vice president.

Even those who are spreading canards about Yediyurappa, are well aware of the fact that none till date has reached a stage where someone can even think of possible replacement for him.

"The brand Yediyurappa is so big that none can fill his shoes. But age is also catching up with him but he is not slowing down. Possibly after Janata Dal (S) patriarch, H. D. Deve Gowda is the only leader, who still has the same enthusiasm to fight electoral battles. Even at this age, he can tirelessly campaign for days, which nobody can even reach to that level. Therefore, he is still best bet for us in the state," a BJP senior functionary pointed out.
Fleet: Ryanair has many aircraft at its southern bases. Photo: Niall Carson/PA Wire

Ryanair has warned its pilots and aircrew in an internal memo that any failure by the Government to adopt the EU's 'traffic light system' from October for air travel during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic would result in its Cork and Shannon bases closing for the winter season.

Ryanair stressed to aircrew that it had not made a final decision about the two regional Irish bases.

However, it warned that unless the Government adopted the EU's 'traffic light system' from October, the closure of the bases was expected.

"If there is no change, we regrettably expect the base closures at Cork and Shannon to proceed - but a final decision has not yet been made," it warned.

Such such a base closure would not affect existing route operations. It would, however, significantly hit spin-off spending at both Cork and Shannon, with aircraft and air crew being based elsewhere throughout the winter.

Tourism and business leaders in Cork, Limerick and Clare expressed alarm at the potential loss of the two regional bases.

Aer Lingus has already warned that, without a recovery in the aviation sector, it may also have to examine the future of its own regional operations.

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Chambers of Commerce in both Cork and Limerick warned the loss of such regional aviation hubs would be unthinkable.

Ryanair slated the Government strategy for managing the aviation sector.

"This disjointed and mismanaged approach is putting the jobs of our pilots and crew at Cork and Shannon at risk."

The Government updated its Green List system for promoting safe air travel - but postponed a decision on fully adopting the EU's 'traffic light' plan until October 13.

Brussels has desperately tried to ensure a single aviation policy applies across all member states.

This involves a so-called 'traffic light' system, advising passengers where there are very low rates of Covid-19, medium rates where caution should be exercised and where exceptionally high rates have been confirmed and travel may not be advisable.

Ryanair and other carriers warned the industry desperately needs a unified, agreed EU strategy to help the battered air travel sector recover.

Instead, individual EU countries have been adopting their own policies with widely varying criteria - some insisting on pre-travel Covid-19 tests while others require self-isolation periods. Some countries have applied more favourable travel policies for their near neighbours.

The result has been the worst peacetime crisis in the history of the aviation sector.

Dublin, Cork and Shannon have witnessed a 95pc collapse in passenger numbers since March.

Some aviation officials warned the industry may not recover to last year's level of operations until 2024.

Ireland West-Knock Airport said its operations were effectively back to 2001 levels, while Cork Airport has seen its route schedule slashed by more than half.

Dublin Airport has been one of the hardest hit in the world by the pandemic, with traffic down at one point by 97.2pc.

Airports Council International said Dublin - traditionally one of Europe's busiest airports - welcomed fewer passengers in June than either Adana or Tenerife.
Sonora, CA  Five new confirmed cases of COVID-19 are in Tuolumne Countys Monday report. Three were identified on Saturday, two on Sunday and none were added on Monday, September 21. Four of the new cases are in isolation and one has recovered. There are no hospitalized cases at this time.

Planning is underway to move the no-cost state testing site from its current location at the Calaveras County fairgrounds to a site in Tuolumne County. More details will be released once plans are finalized, the City of Sonora reported on plans to host the site as detailed here.

The total number of cases in the county are 226 made up of 212 residents and 14 Sierra Conservation Center inmates. A total of 11,217 tests have been done. One additional previously isolated case has recovered for a total of 199 listed as recovered. There have been four deaths related to COVID-19 in the county. The county remains in Tier 3/Orange Moderate Risk category of the states 4 Tier color-coded system for reopening businesses as detailed here.

Health officials also announce free flu shots will be available at the Health Department on Tuesdays from 8:30-11:30 a.m. beginning September 22nd for those aged two years and older. Face coverings are required and all visitors will be screened for symptoms of COVID-19. Please call 209-533-7401 with any questions.

County

Active Date New Today Hospital/

ICU Alpine 0 9/15 0 0 Amador 9 9/21 2 0 Calaveras 17 9/18 7 0 Mariposa 0 9/21 0 0 Madera 529 9/21 10 11 Merced 462 9/21 70 59 Mono 3 9/21 0 0 San Joaquin 770 9/21 48 58/24 Stanislaus 431 9/20 30 92/33 Tuolumne 9 9/21 5 0 Totals (Cumulative) COVID-19 Cases County

Recovered (increase) Total Positives Deaths Alpine 2 (+0) 2 0 Amador 226(+0) 251 15 Calaveras 280(+1) 311 14 Mariposa 73 (+2) 75 2 Madera 3,800(+62) 4,391 62 Merced 8,221(+153) 8,820 137 Mono 160(+0) 165 2 San Joaquin 18,656(+121) 19,841 415 Stanislaus 15,553 (+66) 16,319 335 Tuolumne 199(+2) 226 4

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 offers to test 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 and essential workers are encouraged to get tested every two weeks.

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.

Thank you for your support and efforts to protect the safety and health of our community
People in England who refuse an order to self-isolate could face fines of up to 10,000, the government has said.

Fines will initially start at 1,000 rising to 10,000 for repeat offenders and for "the most egregious breaches" including those who stop others from self-isolating, like an employer who asks a staff member to come into work in violation of an order.

The penalties are in line with those for people who fail to quarantine for 14 days after returning to the UK from a country not on the list of low-risk nations.

The new regulations will come into force in England on 28 September, although ministers are discussing with the devolved administrations for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland about extending them UK-wide.

The heavy penalty is the latest in a series of financial punishments introduced by authorities aimed at deterring would-be rule-flouters amid a recent sharp upsurge in coronavirus infections.

What other acts can you be fined for?

The Rule of Six

From Monday September 14, new laws came into force banning groups of six or more in England, whether gathering inside or outside.

Find yourself in a group of more than a half-dozen without a work or education exemption, and you could be on the wrong end of a penalty which doubles on each repeat offence up to a maximum number, which depends on the country you are in.

Similar rules apply in Scotland and Wales with differences on household configurations and under-12s not counting toward the total.

In Scotland, the limit is also six outdoors, but gatherings outdoors of up to 30 people are still all right in Wales and Northern Ireland.

In Northern Ireland, the rule of six currently applies only in Ballymena, Co Antrim, and the Belfast city council area.

Face coverings on public transport and in shops

Fines for not wearing face coverings where it is mandated such as public transport, shops and supermarkets were also announced by the Home Office in August, with the bare-faced liable to be fined.

Scotland already had rules on face masks in shops introduced in July, Northern Ireland in August, and they were made mandatory in Wales in September.

Facilitating large gatherings

Last month, it was announced organisers of large gatherings of more than 30 people - like unlicensed music events and raves - can be subject to fines of up to 10,000 in England and Wales.

There is no similar provision in Scotland or Northern Ireland yet.

What are the differences in fines across each UK country?

According to the Metropolitan Police, those aged 18 and over in England can be fined 100 for the first offence - lowered to 50 if paid within 14 days - doubling on each repeat offence up to a maximum of 3,200.

In Scotland, people aged 16 and over can be fined 60 for the first breach - lowered to 30 if paid within 28 days - doubling for each further offence up to a maximum of 960.

In Wales, those aged 18 and over can be fined 60 for the first offence - lowered to 30 if paid within 14 days - doubling for each repeat offence up to a 960 maximum, and it is the same in Northern Ireland.

PA
HAMILTON, Bermuda, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Borr Drilling Limited ("Borr" or the "Company") (NYSE: BORR) (OSE: BDRILL) is contemplating offering USD 40-50 million in new depository receipts (the "Offer Shares"), representing the beneficial interests in the same number of the Company's underlying common shares, each with a par value of USD 0.05, and each at a subscription price of USD 0.70 (the "Subscription Price") (the "Equity Offering").

Certain investors have pre-committed to subscribe for Offer Shares in the Equity Offering in the amount of approximately USD 30 million, of which individual members of the Company's Board of Directors (the "Board") and the Company's executive management have pre-committed for a total of USD 3 million.

The net proceeds from the Equity Offering will be used to strengthen the Company's working capital and for general corporate purposes. The Company may also use part of the proceeds to repurchase bonds under the Company's USD 350 million convertible bond loan on term acceptable to the Board.

The application period opens today, on 22 September 2020, at 22:00 CET/4:00pm EST and ends at 08:00 CET/2.00am EST on 25 September 2020. The Company may, in its own discretion, extend or shorten the application period at any time and for any reason.

Completion of the Equity Offering is subject to (i) the Board resolving to consummate the Equity Offering and allocate the Offer Shares; (ii) publication of a prospectus approved by the Financial Supervisory Authority of Norway, relating to the listing of the Offer Shares and certain of the offer shares in the May private placement (hereinafter the "Listing Prospectus"); (iii) with respect to Tranche 2, the approval by the SGM of the increase of the Company's authorized share capital; and (iv) the Offer Shares, including the underlying new common shares, having been fully paid and legally issued. Each applicant acknowledges that the Equity Offering may be cancelled if the conditions are not fulfilled. Tranche 1 may, in the Company's discretion, be completed without Tranche 2.

Settlement of Tranche 1 of the Equity Offering is expected on or about 29 September 2020. Settlement of Tranche 2 of the Equity Offering is expected on or about 13 October 2020.

The Offer Shares, representing the beneficial interests in the same number of common shares in the Company, will only be listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange upon issuance. No Offer Shares will be offered or sold to the public in the United States or in transactions on the NYSE.

Subject to completion of the Equity Offering, Board approval, and the prevailing market price of the Company's depository receipts, the Company intends to carry out a subsequent offering of new depository receipts in the Company (the "Subsequent Offering"). The Subsequent Offering will, on the basis of an offering- and listing prospectus (the "Offering Prospectus") to be approved by the Norwegian Financial Supervisory Authority, and subject to shareholder approval at the SGM, be directed towards holders of OSE depository receipts who: (i) hold OSE depository receipts as per the end of trading on 22 September 2020, as registered in VPS as of 24 September 2020, (ii) are not allocated Offer Shares in the Equity Offering, and (iii) are not resident in a jurisdiction where such offering would be unlawful or, for jurisdictions other than Norway, would require any prospectus, filing, registration or similar action (the "Eligible Shareholders"). The Eligible Shareholders will be granted non-transferable subscription rights. The subscription period in the Subsequent Offering is expected to commence following publication of the Offering Prospectus, estimated in end October 2020. The subscription price in the Subsequent Offering will correspond with the Subscription Price in the Private Placement. Investors allocated Offer Shares in the Equity Offering will not be given the right to participate in a Subsequent Offering.

The securities offered in the Equity Offering and any Subsequent Offering have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933 and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements.

Forward looking statements

This press release includes forward looking statements, which do not reflect historical facts and may be identified by words such as "may", "expect", "may", "will" and similar expressions and include statements relating to the contemplated Equity Offering including the conditions to the offering, pre-commitments to subscribe for Offer Shares and the intended use of the net proceeds of the Equity Offering and the Subsequent Offering. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors could cause actual events to differ materially from the expectations expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements included herein, including risks related to the Company's ability to complete the contemplated Equity Offering on contemplated terms or at all including whether the conditions to the offering will be satisfied and the use of the proceeds and other factors described in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors could cause actual events to differ materially from the expectations expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements included herein. These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this release. We do not undertake to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/borr-drilling-limited/r/borr-drilling-limited---contemplated-equity-offering-of-usd-40-50-million,c3201042

SOURCE Borr Drilling Limited
Hong Kong has no legal basis to demand that any particular rights be extended to 12 Hong Kong people detained in China as they tried to flee by boat and they will have to face the law there, the citys chief executive said on Tuesday.

The 12 were arrested on Aug. 23 for illegal entry into mainland Chinese waters after setting off from Hong Kong in a boat bound for self-ruled Taiwan following a crackdown on pro-democracy activists in the former British colony.

Their failed bid to flee to Taiwan has highlighted the fears that many people feel in semi-autonomous Hong Kong about what they see as Chinas determination to end any push for greater democracy in the financial hub.

Chinese police have said the 12 were suspected of illegal border crossing. Chinas foreign ministry has called them separatists.

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam was asked at her weekly news conference if she could ensure that the 12 would be afforded human rights safeguards such as presumption of innocence, fair trial and legal representation.

We do not have the legal basis to do the things that you want us to do, she said.

Mainland authorities have said the legitimate rights of the 12 were being protected according to the law.

Chinas legal system is controlled by and loyal to the ruling Communist Party, meaning courts do not usually challenge party or government accusations.

Lam said the 12 would have to face the law in mainland China before they could return to Hong Kong to face justice for any crimes committed at home.

All 12 were suspected of crimes in Hong Kong related to anti-government protests that erupted last year. Ten had been charged, released on bail and not allowed to leave the city.

They are being detained in the neighbouring city of Shenzhen.

Their fate is being closely watched in Hong Kong amid apprehension about Beijings greater control over the city especially since it imposed a national security law in June.

Beijing and Hong Kong government say the law is aimed at tackling subversion, separatism, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces.

Critics say it undermines the special status the city was guaranteed when Britain handed it over to China under one country, two systems formula in 1997.

Supporters of the law say it will bring stability and safeguard prosperity after a year of unrest.

(Writing by Marius Zaharia; Editing by Robert Birsel)
Mumbai: The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), probing the alleged Bollywood-drug nexus, might summon actress Deepika Padukone if needed, an official said on Tuesday. NCB sources said some WhatsApp conversations purportedly discussing drugs are on the radar of the agency.

Some of these chats were purportedly between Padukones manager Karishma Prakash and one D, they said. The official said the NCB might also summon actors Rakul Preet Singh and Sara Ali Khan, and designer Simone Khambatta this week.

The federal anti-drugs agency has already summoned Karishma Prakash and KWAN talent management agencys CEO Dhurv Chitgopekar in connection with its probe. Both of them will be questioned by the NCB this afternoon, he said.

The NCB will first question Karishma Prakash and might summon actor Deepika Padukone if needed, the official said. During the NCBs investigation into the drugs angle in actor Sushant Singh Rajputs death case, a wider drugs nexus in Bollywood surfaced.

Rajputs talent manager Jaya Saha was questioned by the NCB on Monday. The NCB has so far arrested more than 12 people, including Rajputs girlfriend and actress Rhea Chakraborty and her brother Showik Chakraborty, in connection with the probe into the drugs angle in the case of the actors death.

Rajput (34) was found hanging at his home in Bandra area here on June 14.
An unidentified militant was killed on Tuesday in an overnight encounter with security forces in Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said.

The encounter began on Monday evening in the Nawad area of Charar-e-Sharief in central Kashmir's Budgam after the security forces launched a cordon and search operation there following information about the presence of militants, a police official said.

He said the security forces maintained a tight cordon of the area throughout the night and the gunfight resumed this morning.

In the exchange of fire, a militant was killed, the official said.

He said the identity and group affiliation of the slain militant were being ascertained.

The operation is going on, the official added.

On Monday, when the cordon was being established, a CRPF trooper was injured in firing.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 04:46:43|Editor: huaxia

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ROME, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on Tuesday said that he did not "feel the need for a cabinet reshuffle" in the wake of the local election results.

"I am happy with the cabinet team and with all the ministers," he said.

Conte congratulated the winners of the regional elections held Sunday and Monday in seven out of Italy's 20 regions, and said everyone must pull together for the good of the country.

"Italy must move with full steam ahead," Conte told reporters. "The direction is clear: we must work together to improve our country."

Conte went on to say that "the government is facing a historic challenge," in reference to a 750-billion-euro (878-billion-U.S. dollar) recovery package which the European Council approved in July. A significant portion of the fund will go to Italy.

"The government has an incredible opportunity, which no other government has ever had before, which is to spend the conspicuous European resources," Conte said.

He also said the government has been working with the Tunisian government towards "a much more effective and efficient plan for repatriations."

"Given our great relations of friendship and cooperation (with Tunisia), we have reinforced the repatriation plan," Conte told reporters.

Many migrant vessels leaving from Tunisia have landed on Italy's southern shores in recent months.

He also said "female empowerment will be at the center of the next Group of 20 (G20) summit, which Italy will be organizing next year and while I will have the honor of presiding."

The regional elections were held along with a referendum on parliament reform. A resounding majority of Italians have voted in favor of cutting the number of members of parliament from 945 to 600.

The elections were originally to be held in the spring but had to be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which as of Tuesday has infected over 300,000 people in Italy since its outbreak in late February in the country.

Currently, Italy and other countries across the globe -- including China, Russia, Britain, and the U.S. -- are racing to find a coronavirus vaccine. Enditem
Former regional Transport Minister freed from house arrest in abuse of office case

 RIA Novosti, Vladimir Fedorenko

18:01 22/09/2020

MOSCOW, September 22 (RAPSI)  A court in Russias Nizhny Novgorod on Tuesday released ex-regional Minister of Transport and Autoroads Vadim Vlasov charged with abuse of office from house arrest, RAPSI was told in the regional press service of courts of general jurisdiction.

According to the statement, reasons for his house arrest had been initially imposed outlived their usefulness. The former official was released in the courtroom.

Details of a case against him were not disclosed.

Vlasov acted as the Nizhny Novgorod Regions Trasnport Minister from late 2017 to August 2019.




1-year-old Davell Gardner Junior's shooting death devasted our city and now his father is breaking his silence with a message he wants you to hear. #WeRemember @NYPDnews pic.twitter.com/AA6TKFWlFH  Chief Jeffrey Maddrey (@NYPDCommAffairs) September 21, 2020

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The NYPD on Monday launched its first installment of a week-long effort aimed at remembering those lost to recent violence in New York City.

The first video testimony was delivered by DaVell Gardner, whose 1-year-old son was tragically killed in Brooklyn after being shot in the stomach this summer.

I was just living a nightmare and I couldnt wake up, I just felt lost, I was in a dark place, an emotional Gardner said in the video. I lost my first-born ... my baby boy."

This has to stop, he said. It has to.

The department will release a testimonial each day this week leading to a Friday ceremony organized by NYPD Chief of Community Affairs Jeffrey Maddrey that will gather survivors and honor the memories of those lost.

Together with all of our citys communities, we are working hard every day to put all of our combined energy into stopping crime, protecting lives and promoting healing, said Maddrey, who attended the Stapleton Stop the Violence town hall held in August. This week, as people across the country pause to reflect on the toll that gun violence has wrought, we reinforce our commitment to the values we share with all we serve: Safety, fairness, opportunity, compassion and strength.

Gun violence this year has significantly increased compared to 2019. NYPD data show a 93.1% increase of shootings citywide and a 102.7% increase in shooting victims through Sept. 13 compared to the same period last year.

Staten Island has seen similar levels of increase.

Each person impacted by murder carries a powerful message: We can never stop fighting the scourge of illegal guns, shootings and crime in our streets, said Police Commissioner Dermot Shea. The NYPD is here every day with all of our communities, standing together for a safe and just society.
I am confident in each one of you, because as soldiers the Republic of Chinas air force, how can we let others throw their weight around in our own airspace? she said on Tuesday, using Taiwans formal name.
[September 22, 2020] inwi money Launches International Money Transfer Capability in Partnership With WorldRemit and MFS Africa inwi money, a subsidiary of inwi and leading telecom player in mobile money services, has expanded its offering with the launch of an international money transfer service for its "inwi money" customers. "The launch of this new service is a concrete result of our efforts to diversify the available payment methods in Morocco, to widen financial inclusion to encompass a greater number of Moroccans and to reduce dependency on cash transactions. inwi customers can now receive money from their loved ones abroad quickly and securely", explains Nicolas Levi, CEO of inwi money. How does it work? Once the money transfer is authorised by the sender via the WorldRemit platform, the recipient is notified by SMS, and the transferred amount is directly credited to their inwi money account. This new service is the result of a strategic partnership between inwi money and WorldRemit, a leading provider of online money transfer services, as well as MFS Africa, a leading Pan-African fintech which operates one of the biggest e-payment platforms in Africa. Awa Gueye, Head of Francophone West & Central Africa & Morocco at WorldRemit, said "Our partnership with inwi Money and MFS Africa sparks a great opportunity to widen the reach of our services, contributing to furthering financial inclusion in the North of the African continent. Offering a new way of receiving money into inwi's wallet, WorldRemit provides an affordable, secure and fast money transfer service. Through this partnership we are able to facilitate access to remittances for Moroccans both at home and in the diaspora, from any one of WorldRemit's 50+ countries across the globe". Dare Okoudjou, CEO of MFS Africa adds, "Through our partnership with inwi money, MFS Africa extends its network to Morocco. Morocco is a key fintech hub in Africa, thanks to its geographical position, economic and cultural influence, and active contribution to the continent's growth. For many years it has welcomed foreign students and workers from across Africa, for whom money transfer is an essential everyday need. The partnership that we are launching with inwi money today will make this community's lives easier, as well as for millions of Moroccans who wish to reeive transfers from family and friends abroad. Today marks an important step in our mission to break down barriers to digital payments. With this new service, inwi money is expanding its range of value-added services, to great success. A few months after launching, inwi money already has nearly 500,000 customers across Morocco. Sending money to Morocco can now be done quickly and securely to your inwi money wallet, 24/7 via the WorldRemit app or online at www.worldremit.com. Ends --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About inwi money "Inwi money" is the mobile payment solution of the global digital operator inwi. The mission of inwi money is to play a significant role in financial inclusion in Morocco, by driving transactions through a range of wide-reaching digital payments services. inwi money has a wide range of high added value services and already has more than 500,000 customers. For more information: www.inwimoney.ma About WorldRemit WorldRemit is a leading global payments company. We disrupted an industry previously dominated by offline legacy players by taking international money transfers online - making them safer, faster and lower-cost. We currently send from 50 to 150 countries, operate in 6,500 money transfer corridors worldwide and employ over 1,100 people globally. On the sending side WorldRemit is 100% digital (cashless), increasing convenience and enhancing security. For those receiving money, the company offers a wide range of options including bank deposit, cash collection, mobile airtime top-up and mobile money. Backed by Accel, TCV and Leapfrog - WorldRemit's headquarters are in London, United Kingdom with regional offices in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, South Africa, Somaliland, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Belgium. For more information, visit www.worldremit.com About MFS Africa MFS Africa is a leading Pan-African fintech company, operating the largest digital payments hub on the continent. Connected to over 180 million mobile wallets in Sub-Saharan Africa, MFS Africa offers its partners unparalleled reach for scale across the continent. We allow merchants, banks, mobile operators and money transfer companies to leverage the ubiquity of mobile wallets as a safe, convenient, and cost-effective transaction channel. MFS Africa works in close partnership with players across the ecosystem to bring simple and secure mobile financial services to un- and under-banked customers. For millions of customers in Africa and beyond, we make borders matter less. For more information: www.mfsafrica.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200921005718/en/

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On the coast of Tasmania, Australia, there were at least 270 whales stranded; 90 of those animals already died while the rescuers said they fear that more whales are on the verge of death.

Pilot whales can weigh up to three tons and grow for about seven meters long.

Massive whale beaching

According to BBC, The animals were found on the west coast of the island on Monday. Marine biologists are rushing to save the pilot whales, but it would take them several days to rescue all of them.

According to Tasmanian Maritime Conservation Program rescuers, the whales were separated into three groups when they were discovered.

Whale beachings are common occurrences in Australia, a large number of animals similar to the recent incident has not been seen since 2009. Rescuers and scientists said that that the reason for why the whales were drawn closer to the shore remains unknown.

A wildlife biologist, Dr. Kris Carlyon, told reporters that most of the animals were relatively difficult to reach; a full assessment has yet to be achieved on Tuesday.

The attempts to start rescuing the whales began on Tuesday. Some pilot whales were simply too big that the rescuers did not have a suitable location for them. Dr. Carlyon stated they would rescue the animals with the best chance of survival first.

The report noted that witnesses discovered about 200 of the pilot whales washed up on the sandbar. About 30 more sea creatures were found about 100 meters away from the majority of the group. And another 30 were separated and trapped along the Ocean beach.

Also Read: How is Compensation Calculated For Personal Injury Cases?

Scientists said that whales usually travel in large groups called pods as they migrate across the coast of Australia and New Zealand. Researchers noted that the creatures have one leader, and their strong bonds could be the reason for the whole group's beaching.

In 2018, more than 200 pilot whales died in New Zealand over the course of an entire week because of the same incident that happened on Monday at Tasmania's coast.

Similar sightings

In the shores of Northern Europe, a rare sighting of 29 beaked whales was discovered in August. Two weeks before the strandings of the animals, two north bottlenose whales were also found trapped in the North Sea, as reported by The Guardian.

Scientists have several theories as to why these strandings are happening. One of these reasons is storms. In the reports, bad weather may have caused a part in the events.

The whales that were stranded are deep-diving mammals that only feed at the deep parts of the ocean, and the storm can cause the whales to enter the shallow parts of the water because their navigational senses could be disrupted.

However, several scientific studies indicate it could be the usage of military sonar and seismic surveys that may be the culprit for the devastating incident.

Sonar technology may have scared the animals causing them to rush into the surface quickly. It may also have caused decompression sickness among the sea creatures because of the sudden rise from the water's depths.

Related Article: Man from North Carolina Charged with 332 Counts of Sex Crimes Against a Single Child Victim

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Myanmar residents defy a government-imposed stay-at-home order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, in Yangon region's Pabedan township, Sept. 21, 2020.

Authorities in the Yangon region, Myanmars main population and commercial center, imposed expanded stay-at-home orders Monday to combat a spike of coronavirus cases in the nation of 54 million.

As of Monday, Myanmar registered 6,151 confirmed COVID-19 cases with 610 new cases from the previous day, 98 total deaths, and 1,445 recoveries, according to the Ministry of Health and Sports.

About 60 percent of the total confirmed cases are in Yangon region, home to 7.4 million people and the countrys capital until 2005, where the tightened stay-at-home orders took effect on Monday in all townships except remote Kokokyun, a small group of islands in the northeastern Bay of Bengal.

The government earlier imposed partial lockdowns in most areas of Yangon region when the number of cases began to surge after mid-August.

Workers at private companies and organizations in Yangon have been instructed to work from home, while garment factories have been ordered closed for two weeks starting Thursday.

Businesses that perform essential work, such as gas stations, medical producers and distributors, drinking water providers, factories that produce daily essentials, and banks, are allowed to operate as usual.

But the tougher restrictions pose an obstacle for ordinary people, especially day laborers like taxi trishaw drivers.

Zaw Oo, an elderly taxi driver, is one of the many residents of the commercial hub who must go out for work to make a living despite the stay-at-home order because he needs an income.

These days, we cannot even borrow money, so I am not violating the order, he said. If the authorities interrogate me, I will give them an explanation.

Zaw Oo said he used to drive a rented taxi from dawn to dusk, but now, he barely makes enough to cover his living expenses.

So, I try to make whatever I can on top of the money I have to pay to the owner of the taxi, he said.

Hmone Gyi, a trishaw driver in San Chaung, said people like him do not have any choice but to defy the stay-at-home order.

Who would give us money if I didnt work, because this is the only livelihood Ive ever had? he asked. Nobody would support us. We are on our own to try to make enough for two meals a day.

An indifferent attitude



Many markets remained open in the commercial hub, with vendors selling their goods as usual to shoppers wearing protective face masks, themselves indifferent to the stay-at-home order.

Though the government said that those who violated the order would face consequences, commuters and vehicles were out and about on Monday on the streets of Pabedan township in the center of downtown Yangon.

Meanwhile, the government is preparing hospitals and quarantine centers to accommodate new patients as the rate of confirmed respiratory infections keeps climbing.

On Monday afternoon, State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi briefed the public via video about the latest COVID-19 developments, saying that health care workers, volunteers, and medical supplies were being mobilized.

The government has spent more than 1 trillion kyats (U.S. $747.5 million) transferred from a contingency budget for disaster relief to fight the spread of the highly contagious virus, she said.

In Yangon region, where the number of infected patients is the highest and there is a dearth of hospital beds, the government is transforming gymnasiums, schools, and stadiums into quarantine units.

Reported by Thant Zin Oo for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Ye Kaung Myint Maung. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 22)  With his term as House Speaker edging closer under an agreement brokered by the President, Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Jay Velasco spoke up on Tuesday to explain his silence amid issues hounding the leadership change.

Velasco said he remained silent out of respect for incumbent Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, whose term as Speaker is set to expire in October.

My silence does not mean I am disinterested nor I have turned my back on the covenant, he said.

His statement came after presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said President Rodrigo Duterte would not interfere if House members decide not to honor last years deal for the Speakers seat.

READ: 'Wala akong magagawa:' Duterte won't interfere if Velasco loses chance to be House Speaker

Under the agreement arranged by Duterte himself, Velasco is scheduled to succeed Cayetano for the remainder of the 18th Congress.

However, allies of Cayetano have accused Velasco of staging a coup attempt so he can take over as Speaker while the House is discussing the proposed 2021 national budget. Capiz Rep. Fredenil Castro also alleged Velasco broke the term-sharing agreement by offering committee chairmanships to lawmakers.

WATCH: Cayetano allies: Not the right time for House leadership change

In his statement, Velasco did not address the said allegations. He only said he worked quietly, away from publicity to help accomplish the legislative agenda of the Duterte administration.

When both parties finally honor the agreement, I will show my colleagues the kind of leadership I espouse. Thereafter, at the end of my term, my peers can then be the judge of my loyal service to God, to the President, and ultimately, to the Filipino people, he said.

CNN Philippines Correspondent Xianne Arcangel contributed to this report.
The discussion, heated at times, about the proposed PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) status for Irish beef is fundamental to the future viability of suckler farming in Ireland.

Firstly, what we are talking about is having a premium brand for Irish beef that is endorsed by the EU, similar to the Kerrygold brand for Irish dairy products.

Im passionate about this issue because it is likely to be the last opportunity we have to establish a distinctive brand for what we all accept is a unique product in global terms: grass-fed, extensively reared Irish suckler beef.

Not only do we have a unique food product but we also have a unique story to go with it on how these animals are handled and reared on small family farms across our country.

And while Bord Bia successfully uses this story to open up beef markets for Irish processors, they have failed to specifically sell this product, or to secure an enhanced return for suckler farmers.

In fact this failure was admitted by former Minister Michael Creed last year when he told me that the concept of suckler beef does not have a high degree of resonance among consumers.

So why do supermarkets put the photos of farmers on beef products?

There is a clear agenda here by the industry not to specifically promote this unique product, and its the very same agenda at play with the PGI debate. They do not want to separate out suckler beef because how will they sell other Irish-sourced beef which is produced in a similar manner to beef imports from other countries?

Is it not better to depress the price of suckler beef so that we have a market for all our beef, regardless of source, some of which is not even reared here in Ireland?

I vehemently disagree with this approach and that is why I told the Minister for Agriculture in the Dail last week that if his Department and Bord Bia continue with their present proposal for PGI status, it will be the final nail in the coffin of the Irish suckler industry.

Producing a premium product costs more and takes more time to produce. The plain fact is that if this is not recognised in the financial return to the farmer, then it cannot survive.

Our environmentalists will say that taking longer to produced a kilo of beef is bad for our environment, but surely if farmers have to rear fewer cattle to get the same income, this reduces overall climate emissions?

Unless suckler beef is separated from all other beef, it cannot be properly marketed and promoted, and it will be impossible to get a financial bonus for farmers.

PGI status allows for this premium product to be singled out and sold as the unique product it is, and this undermines the current route to market which is processor-controlled and Government-promoted through Bord Bia.

If we dont act we will be just rearing the offspring of the dairy herd or we will have fields of ragwort  and the only place we will see traditional, coloured cattle is on pet farms.

Denis Naughten is an Independent TD for Roscommon-Galway.
The senators are usually looking to learn about how the nominee thinks and what makes the justice-to-be tick, while the nominee is trying to learn the concerns that the senators may have. This is one area where the Republicans could save time: Fewer visits, whether because of the election-season rush or because of the coronavirus pandemic, could speed up the process.

The murder board

There is often political jostling over how the confirmation hearing is conducted.

Democrats and Republicans will haggle over issues, such as when it will occur, how many rounds of questioning there will be, how long the rounds will last and how many outside witnesses will be allowed to appear.

The party that runs the Senate usually tries to minimize the length of the hearings when it also controls the presidency, and the incentive to do so will only be stronger in this cycle. And since Republicans have a majority on the Judiciary Committee, they can effectively write their own rules.

The nominee will probably undergo mock questioning from advisers in what is politely known as a murder board. The practice sessions are similar to what presidential candidates go through before squaring off with their opponents in televised debates. Advisers will try to anticipate the questions that senators will ask.

The goal is to make sure the nominee is prepared to answer any question that a hostile senator might throw at her.

Public hearings

Joseph R. Biden Jr., the Democratic nominee for president, once called the hearings a Kabuki dance.
Where do our microbiomes come from? As babies, we get a big dose of microbes from our parents, and over time we pick up microbes from our environment. While our microbiomes are unique, they are most similar to those of the people living with us. Thats because were constantly sharing germs  and although this might sound gross, its just part of being a person.
Qualcomm introduced the Snapdragon 750G  a global 5G chipset with AI-powered noise suppression and support for 120fps gaming. This is a 5G-enabled successor to the S730G and a faster alternative to the S690 chip (while still keeping the budget below S765 levels).

The 750G is equipped X52 modem also used in the S765 chips. Compared to the X51 found inside the S690, it adds mmWave 5G and can hit peak download speeds of 3.7 Gbps (up from 2.5 Gbps). Sub-6 is also available, Qualcomm says that this is a truly global 5G chipset with multi-SIM support.

The AI hardware can deliver up to 4.0 TOPS, 20% more than the S730G. This is used for the Qualcomm Aqstic Echo Cancellation and Noise Suppression (ECNS) technology  even with a single mic, it can remove sounds like a baby crying or a dog barking, it will even mute sirens and jackhammers.

Snapdragon 690 Snapdragon 730G Snapdragon 750G Snapdragon 765G Process 8 nm 8 nm 8 nm 7 nm CPU octa-core Kryo 560 @ 2.0 GHz octa-core Kryo 470 @ 2.2 GHz octa-core Kryo 570 @ 2.2 GHz octa-core Kryo 475 @ 2.4 GHz GPU Adreno 619L Adreno 618 Adreno 619 Adreno 620 RAM 2x 16-bit LPDDR4x, up to 8 GB 1866 MHz 2x 16-bit LPDDR4x, up to 8 GB 1866 MHz 2x 16-bit LPDDR4x, up to 12 GB 2133 MHz 2x 16-bit LPDDR4x, up to 12 GB 2133 MHz Display 1080p+ @ 120 Hz 1440p+ @ 60 Hz 1080p+ @ 120 Hz 1440p+ @ 60 Hz Modem X51, sub-6 only, up to 2.5 Gbps downlink (1.2 Gbps on 4G) X15, 4G only, up to 800 Mbps downlink X52, mmWave and sub-6, up to 3.7 Gbps downlink X52, mmWave and sub-6, up to 3.7 Gbps downlink (1.2 Gbps on 4G) Wi-Fi/Bluetooth FastConnect 6200, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1 FastConnect 6200, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1 FastConnect 6200, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0 FastConnect 6200, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0 Charging QuickCharge 4+ QuickCharge 4+ QuickCharge 4+ QuickCharge 4+

This is a key feature for 2020 when many are doing conference calls from home where they cant always have quiet in the room. The audio processing system can also boost whisper-level input to comfortably audible levels. The AI engine also accelerates Snapchat filters thanks to bespoke optimizations.

For general performance, the Snapdragon 750G has an octa-core Kryo 570 processor clocked at 2.2 GHz that delivers 20% more performance than the S730G processor. The camera hardware can record 4K HDR10 video (with HLG) and 4K HDR with bokeh effect.

The Adreno 619 GPU is 10% faster than the S730G GPU and supports 120 Hz displays (up to 1080p+ resolution). Game Color Plus and Adreno HDR Fast Blend are on board for efficient rendering of HDR10 graphics.

The first 750G-powered smartphones will be available before the end of the year and Xiaomi says it will be first to market. The new chip is pin-compatible with the Snapdragon 690, so it is an easy upgrade for manufacturers. Deutsche Telekom and Verizon (which is the only mmWave carrier in the US) have also expressed excitement for the upcoming chipset.
Salman Khans legal team has denied reports of him having a stake in KWAN talent management agency. Currently, the celebrity management agency is under the radar of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), after some of its employees allegedly had drugs-related conversations with their clients.

Anand Desai of DSK Legal, on behalf of Salman, issued a statement saying, Certain sections of the media are falsely reporting that our client Mr. Salman Khan, a leading Indian actor, has a majority stake in the talent management agency KWAN Talent Management Agency Private Limited. It is clarified that Mr. Salman Khan has no stake, directly or indirectly, in Kwan or any of its group entities. It is requested that media refrain from publishing false reports about our client.

On Tuesday afternoon, KWAN CEO Dhruv Chitgopekar reached the Bombay Port Trust guest house for questioning by the NCB. KWAN employee and Sushant Singh Rajputs talent manager Jaya Saha was also interrogated. NCBs deputy director KPS Malhotra told Hindustan Times that Deepika Padukones manager, Karishma Prakash, who is also an employee of KWAN, will be summoned later this week.

Also read | Dia Mirza denies ever procuring, consuming drugs, to take legal action: Such frivolous reporting has a direct impact on my reputation

Bollywoods alleged drug links have come under the scanner during an investigation into Sushant Singh Rajputs death. His girlfriend, Rhea Chakraborty, was arrested on September 8 for procuring drugs and is currently lodged at Byculla jail. She was remanded to 14-day judicial custody, but on Tuesday, a special court extended her judicial custody till October 6.

NCBs deputy director KPS Malhotra told Hindustan Times that Rhea named Sara Ali Khan and Rakul Preet Singh in her statement before she was arrested. The two will be summoned by the agency under Section 67 of the The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. However, there is no clarity about the context in which their names were taken.

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Actress Renuka Shahane has expressed displeasure at Kangana Ranauts soft porn actor jibe at Urmila Matondkar. Shahane said that many people think that saying vile things is their freedom of expression.

Talking to Hindustan Times, the actress said, It crosses the line of decency, there are some people who do it all the time, and there are others who believe that should not be done. Its your choice, how you want to lead your lifesome people think crossing the line of decency and saying the most vile things is their freedom of expression. What do you do about it?"

Dear @KanganaTeam Mumbai is the city where your dream of becoming a Bollywood star has been fulfilled, one would expect you to have some respect for this wonderful city. Its appalling how you compared Mumbai with POK!       https://t.co/FXjkGxqfBK Renuka Shahane (@renukash) September 3, 2020

She also said that Kangana comparing Mumbai with Pakistan Occupied Kashmir was not justified. She said that the attention has been diverted from the investigation into the death of Sushant Singh Rajput. The case was left behind long ago, when Kangana Ranaut was talking about Mumbai Police incompetence, targeting Maharashtra government for that, and calling Mumbai PoK, she said.

She condemned Kangana comparing the demolition of her Bandra house to feeling raped. She also added that Kangana saying that she felt how Kashmiri Pandits would have felt was another shocking thing.

The actress said that all of this is a distraction from the Sushant Singh Rajput death case. She added that the first deflection happened when nepotism was said to be the reason behind Sushants death. It is not a soap opera, for Gods sake, we have lost a wonderful boy, Shahane said.

She further criticised the Manikarnika actress for her tweet to Jaya Bachchan, who had given a speech at the parliament against the vilification of Bollywood. She concluded saying that she does not expect sensitivity from Kangana.
Office workers feel more productive and in a better mood after being in the great outdoors, according to new research.

Productivity improved by 45 per cent from being outside for just 29 minutes - and 63 per cent feel better 'in themselves' after spending time in fresh air, according to the 2,000 office staff surveyed.

And 57 per cent of a further 1,000 line managers thought their staff were more productive as a consequence of working from home.

As a result, half have already implemented flexible working and are encouraging staff to spend more time outdoors when they can, with a further 28 per cent planning to do so in the future.

Psychologist Honey Langcaster-James was tasked by tech manufacturer Lenovo to create a formula proposing the 'Recommended Daily Nature Allowance' (RDNA).

She says there are wellbeing benefits from spending just 20 active minutes, 40 mindful minutes or 60 working minutes in a nature-rich environment per day.

Ms Langcaster-James explained: Increased flexibility at work means that people can adjust better to increasing demands and find a balance.

Spending some time outside in a green space is good for mind, body and soul.

"Just 20 minutes of active time outside can generally improve our health and wellbeing.

"That can lead to improved concentration as well as help you generate ideas and be more productive - so its a no-brainer to try to find ways to get your RDNA in.

Its not always easy, particularly in the colder months, and many people need to leave home to find some green space, but there are ways you can organise your daily life so that you can increase your exposure to nature.

Even if its just a case of mixing up your office environment with working outside for a period of time each day while the weather is good.

New appreciation for outdoor space has led to a notable improvement in mental health too - with 63 per cent office workers having felt a general improvement in their mood after spending time outdoors.

And four in 10 believe they are more productive if they squeeze a run or workout in before their days work begins according to the research by Lenovo via OnePoll.

More than three fifths (62 per cent) take to the outdoors simply to clear their head, while another four in 10 use the opportunity to try and burn off some calories.

Other reasons for trying to increase their time spent outside include having a change of scenery and stretching their legs.

Before the pandemic sent millions of office workers to spare bedrooms across the country, the average time spent outdoors daily was 61 minutes.

This has now risen to just over 75 minutes a day as workers try to separate their home and working lives.

As a result, from now on, over half (56 per cent) of those normally stuck inside an office will consider it very important to spend time outside during the working day.

With many accustomed to working away from the office, 84 per cent of office workers said more flexibility in general in their working life will make them happier and more motivated when offices fully re-open.

Three in 10 are hoping to go down to working four days a week to redress their work/life balance, while 64 per cent expect to be able to work from home more often.

And bosses agree, with 61 per cent understanding the importance of keeping their team happy  estimating their staff have increased productivity by a third since working flexibly.

A spokesman at Lenovo UK said: Working practices have completely changed in recent months, as has the relationship with being outdoors for many.

Spending increased amounts of time outdoors and in different working environments with the support of employers, can only be a good thing.

SWNS
Russian President Vladimir Putin used a video speech to the United Nations to call for lifting 'illegitimate' sanctions as a way to boost the world economy  as a top-secret CIA assessment tags Putin and his aides of leading a campaign to run down Democrat Joe Biden.

Putin's speech came on a day when President Donald Trump, also speaking remotely, attacked China for saddling with the world with the 'plague' he called the 'China virus' in his own pre-taped video comments.

Putin argued Tuesday that ending 'illegitimate sanctions' against countries like his could boost the coronavirus-hit global economy and create jobs, using his annual speech at the U.N. General Assembly to stress the need for multilateral cooperation against the pandemic.

He spoke as the world body grapples with how to improve the economy amid an ongoing virus threat that has thrown millions on unemployment.

In this image made from UNTV video, Russian President Vladimir Putin called for ending 'illegitimate sanctions' and said it would help the world economy

The August 31 CIA assessment, reported by the Washington Post, mentions the actions by Ukrainian lawmaker Andriy Derkach, who has assisted Donald Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani in his investigation of the Bidens in Ukraine.

'We assess that President Vladimir Putin and the senior most Russian officials are aware of and probably directing Russia's influence operations aimed at denigrating the former U.S. Vice President, supporting the U.S. president and fueling public discord ahead of the U.S. election in November,' the assessment begins, sources told the paper.

In a somewhat muted speech for the often tough-talking Russian leader, Putin told the U.N.s 75th anniversary gathering that countries need to work together better to fight the virus and other global problems.

'Freeing world trade from barriers, bans, restrictions and illegitimate sanctions would be a great help in revitalizing global growth and reducing unemployment,' he said.

Putin has been pushing for years to end U.S. and European Union sanctions imposed on Moscow after it annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, was accused of interfering in the 2016 U.S. elections, and other actions. Moscow views the Crimea annexation as legitimate, and denies meddling in the vote that gave Donald Trump the U.S. presidency.

U.S. intelligence has assessed the Russia is seeking to denigrate Democratic former vice president Joe Biden

In this image made from UNTV video, U.S. President Donald Trump speaks in a pre-recorded message which was played during the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020, at the United Nations headquarters in New York

Putin warned other countries against unspecified 'interference' in domestic affairs, and said 'cybersecurity also deserves most serious deliberation within the U.N.' - without mentioning the Russian trolls and hackers accused of manipulating U.S. public opinion in 2016.

Putins speech came amid tensions between Russia and the West over Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, who is being treated in Berlin for what German authorities said was a nerve agent poisoning, and as the EU ponders imposing sanctions over Belarus disputed presidential election and crackdowns on protesters.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel called Navalnys poisoning an attempted murder that was intended to silence Putins most prominent political foe. Merkels office indicated she may be willing to rethink the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project, which would bring Russian gas to Germany under the Baltic Sea.

EU foreign ministers failed to agree Monday on imposing sanctions on Belarusian officials suspected of rigging the Aug. 9 election that kept authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko in power. A security crackdown on anti-government protests followed the vote. However, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said there was 'clear will to adopt those sanctions.'

Russia also has drawn international criticism for speedily approving a COVID-19 vaccine, and some Western experts said it cut corners during testing. Putin has touted the vaccine on national television and said that one of his adult daughters had already been inoculated - and on Tuesday, he offered to provide the vaccine free to all U.N. staff.

However, both Russian and Western experts insist that further studies are needed to determine the vaccine's effectiveness and safety.

The August 31 CIA assessment, reported by the Washington Post , mentions the actions by Ukrainian lawmaker Andriy Derkach, who has assisted Donald Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani in his investigation of the Bidens in Ukraine

Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said some countries 'are seeking to impose concepts and standards like the `rules-based world order while trying to meddle in the domestic affairs of other states, using unilateral sanctions in violation of the U.N. Security Council prerogatives, and exhibiting intolerance and hatred.'

Putin called for unity and urged countries to reaffirm their commitment to the U.N. charter and international law, lamenting a 'deficit of humanity and kindness' between countries amid the pandemic.

He repeatedly stressed the Soviet Union's role in helping vanquish the Nazis in World War II - the conflict that gave birth to the United Nations. Despite calls for deep reform of the U.N., Putin said the Security Council's five permanent members should keep their veto power, and said their leaders agreed to an in-person meeting once the pandemic allows.

'In an interconnected, interdependent world, in the whirlpool of international events, it is necessary to act together and rely on the principles of international law enshrined in the U.N. charter,' he said.

Trump tore into China in a virtual speech at the UN, blaming the political rival for infecting the world with the coronavirus.

'We must hold accountable the nation which unleashed this plague unto the world,' Trump said  in a speech delivered by video from the White House, at UN General Assembly meeting that for the first time featured traditional leader speeches delivered remotely.

Trump complained that China 'condemned my travel ban on their country' even as it 'locked citizens in their home' to combat the virus, which scientists discovered in Wuhan in late 2019, in remarks the president said Monday had been prerecorded at the White House.

He also attacked the UN's World Health Organization, which he called 'virtually controlled by China,' and used the phrase 'China virus,' a slur he has been criticized for using in his speeches.

'Seventy-five years after the end of World War II and the founding of the United Nations, we are once again engaged in a great global struggle. We have waged a fierce battle against the invisible enemy  the China Virus  which has claimed countless lives in 188 countries,' Trump said.

Trump then used the UN platform  which he previously used to unload on North Korea's Kim Jong-Un before the two men held summit meetings  to attack China's environmental record.

'The United Nations must hold China accountable for their actions,' Trump said.

Then, the president broadened his attack to slams on China's environmental record.

He said it ' dumps millions and tons of plastic and trash into the oceans,' over-fishes in 'other countries' waters,' and 'destroys vast swaths of coral reef.'
In his address to the UN General Assembly, Irans President Hassan Rouhani said his country cannot be used as a bargaining chip as President Donald Trump seeks reelection this November.

"We are not a bargaining chip in US elections and domestic policy, Rouhani told the virtual gathering of world leaders. Any US administration after the upcoming elections will have no choice but to surrender to the resilience of the Iranian nation.

US Ambassador to the UN Kelly Craft described Rouhanis speech as a tour de force of dishonesty.

He spoke of blatant and gross violations of the UN Charter, but apparently with no sense of irony. Iran is the worlds leading sponsor of terrorism & fuels conflict across the Middle East, Craft tweeted Tuesday.

Tensions between the United States and Iran have soared under Trump who, in May 2018, pulled out of the landmark nuclear agreement struck between Iran and major world powers. Since the US withdrawal, Iran has enriched uranium at levels beyond whats permitted under the nuclear accord.

Joe Biden wants to see the deal, made in the era of Barack Obama, survive and has said his administration would rejoin the agreement as a starting point for follow-on negotiations if Iran returns to full compliance with the deal.

But on Monday, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif ruled out renegotiating the terms should Biden win the presidency.

The United States did try its best to get a good deal. And the previous administration, where candidate Biden was the vice president, believed it was a good deal. Now, we're not going to negotiate a deal, Zarif told the Council on Foreign Relations in a virtual interview.

"It's immaterial for us who sits in the White House. For us, what is important is how they behave," he added.

Nearly every member of the UN Security Council has dismissed the administrations effort to unilaterally reinstate sanctions lifted under the Iran deal. On Sunday, France, Germany and the United Kingdom issued a joint statement saying the administrations "purported notification" of reimposed sanctions "would be incapable of legal effect."

On Monday, the United States imposed a raft of new sanctions targeting Irans Defense Ministry, Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro, and more than two dozen other Iranian individuals and entities.
In a joint statement, Dashnaktsutyun, Tsarukians Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) and Vanetsians Hayrenik (Fatherland) party accused the government of having failed everywhere and endangering the countrys development prospects. They cited the need for the formation of a new kind of national government.

The statement did not clarify whether they will demand the immediate resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and his government.

BHK spokeswoman Iveta Tonoyan said the three parties will soon shed more light on the purpose of their first rally that will be held in Yerevans Liberty Square. For the moment we are noting the fact that there is a great deal of public discontent [with the government] and that these three political forces are providing an opportunity to make that voice heard, she said.

Vanetsian has repeatedly called for regime change in recent months. Tsarukian, whose party has the second largest group in Armenias parliament, likewise demanded Pashinians resignation in June. He accused the government of mishandling the coronavirus crisis and its socioeconomic consequences.

The three parties agreed to work together in challenging the government shortly after Tsarukian was stripped of his parliamentary immunity from prosecution and charged with buying votes later in June. The tycoon rejects the accusations as politically motivated.

Representatives of Pashinians My Step bloc seemed undaunted by what could be the biggest opposition rally in Armenia since the 2018 Velvet Revolution that brought Pashinian to power. One of them, Ruben Rubinian, insisted that most Armenians continue to trust the ruling political team that won over 70 percent of the vote in parliamentary elections held less than two years ago.

I believe that these three political forces will never manage to mobilize serious [popular] support, Rubinian told reporters. They can look for reasons for that in their past, present and elsewhere.

The BHK, Dashnaktsutyun and Hayrenik will not be joined by Bright Armenia (LHK), the second opposition party represented in the National Assembly. LHK leader Edmon Marukian made clear that his party has no intention to campaign for snap general elections. He said it hopes to topple the current government as a result of regular polls due in 2023.

In order for there to be pre-term parliamentary elections, 200,000 to 300,000 people have to take to the streets and occupy this [parliament] building, said Marukian. There is no other way of dissolving this parliament.

Tsarukians BHK and Marukians LHK won 8.3 percent and 6.4 percent of the vote respectively in the last elections held in December 2018. Dashnaktsutyun got only 3.9 percent, failing to win any parliament seats.

Dashnaktsutyun and the BHK had for years been represented in Armenias former government toppled during the 2018 uprising. They joined Pashinians first cabinet formed in May 2018 but were ousted from it five months later when Pashinian accused them of secretly collaborating with the former ruling Republican Party.

As for Hayrenik, Vanetsian set up the party early this year several months after falling out with the prime minister and resigning as National Security Service director. Vanetsian told his loyalists last week that Hayrenik will be playing a key role in very serious political developments which he said will unfold in Armenia very soon.
Leadership of the Greater Accra Chapter of the NPP Loyal Ladies with Alpha Patriots , yesterday organized a health walk from Ayi Mensah to Peduase.



This was in a bid to encourage members to keep fit, and stay healthy in preparations towards entering the active campaign season for the December polls.



The health walk dubbed Walk4More, indicated the need for the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo NPP led government to be given another four year mandate to do more towards the nations development, and also encouraging the culture of exercising and living a healthy life amongst members, as recommended in the Covid-19 preventive protocols.



The team was supported by some of their patrons namely; Mr. Kwame Prempeh, Deputy Chief Executive of the Public Procurement Authority, CEO of the Accra Digital Centre, Mr. Kofi Nkansah, Deputy CEO, and Board Chairman of NPP Loyal Ladies, Mr. Sam Dentu, astute businessman Mr. Eric Kofi Owusu, Deputy National Youth Organizer and former President of the NPP Loyal Ladies, Ms. Pepertual Lomokie Akwada, as well as members of other volunteer groups.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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"Weve been extremely fortunate in securing strong support from our investors who clearly understand the economic pain points in the current system and share our goal of connecting the dots more efficiently to enhance health equity, access and adherence, with the patient as the central focus."

As an increasing number of insured Americans suffer from unaffordably high out-of-pocket healthcare costs, and several more face the near-term prospect of losing health insurance coverage as a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic and the ongoing seismic shifts in employment patterns, DiRx seeks to offer these underinsured and uninsured patients one of the lowest priced options to access high quality FDA-approved prescription generic medications for cash payments without requiring any insurance, deductibles, or co-pays. When the company launches its service, currently anticipated in Spring 2021, consumers across all the 50 states will be able to order their prescription generic medication using the DiRx App and/or website safely from their home, connect with a pharmacist as needed, and get in-home delivery and refills without needing to worry about navigating complex insurance coverage.

Satish Srinivasan, Founder and CEO of DiRx, said,

Encouraged by the strong momentum in digital health investments overall, and the success achieved by early entrants in the digital pharmacy space in enhancing customer convenience, we felt now is the right time to also address the affordability factor for many underinsured and uninsured Americans in addition to the convenience factor. Given the fact that generics constitute almost 90% of the prescribed units of medications in the country, this offered a great opportunity for our team of experts from the generics, technology and healthcare industries to come together and build an affordable, transparent and direct-to-consumer service platform. Weve also been extremely fortunate in securing strong support from our investors who clearly understand the economic pain points in the current system and share our goal of connecting the dots more efficiently to enhance health equity, access and adherence, with the patient as the central focus."

About the Company

Headquartered in Monroe, New Jersey, DiRx is a new type of digital pharmacy that is designed to deliver significant savings to consumers on most commonly prescribed, FDA-approved, generic medications - delivered to their doorstep. Envisioned by a team of experienced health care leaders whose goal is to put consumers first and enhance affordability, DiRxs service will be available on a cash-only subscription basis, without insurance. Learn more at http://www.dirxhealth.com or follow DiRx on LinkedIn.
My family began to farm four or five sika deer when I was a teenager. We are now raising 40 deer and sell deer products through online and offline channels. We plan to raise more than 100 deer, said Wang Qiang, a farmer in Changchun, northeast Chinas Jilin province.

Wang, from Liujia village, is one of the deer breeders in Luxiang township, Shuangyang district. Ninety percent of over 50,000 residents in the township branded as the hometown of Chinese sika deer rely on this industry.

So far, there are 140,000 deer in our township, accounting for one-sixth of the total number of deer farmed in China. We also have 8,500 deer breeders and 1,400 small and medium-sized deer farms, said Li Bing, Party chief of the township.

According to Li, the township is home to over 40 companies in terms of production, research and development of sika deer, including 13 leading enterprises at or above the municipal level, as well as more than 200 farmer cooperatives and family farms.

The official added that the per capita net income for rural residents in the township hit 25,850 yuan (over $3,800) last year, compared with over 10,000 yuan for rural residents in the district.

Established in 2006, Bowen, a representative of local companies, has four deer farms and a stock of 3,000 sika deer, with an annual output of more than three tons of pilose antlers and 300 tons of liquor.

By the end of last year, the company had seen a sales revenue of 50 million yuan, realized a total profit and tax of 6.6 million yuan, and driven more than 500 local and surrounding farmers to develop the sika deer industry.

In recent years, Shuangyang has further tapped into its advantages in the sika deer industry to develop the primary, secondary, and tertiary industries in rural areas. This year, a sika deer museum in the district opened to the public to push integrated development in rural areas.

Photo shows a sika deer museum in Shuangyang district, Changchun in northeast Chinas Jilin province. (Photo/Wang Haiyue)
Victoria Selby-Readman had told her father she was working on a horror story script.

When her father entered her apartment looking for the 28-year-old after she failed to reply to his texts and calls for days he first thought the stiff, discoloured figure wrapped in blankets and leaning against the wall was a mannequin or grotesque prop for her tale.

There was this horrible looking head. It frightened me. I didnt know what it was, Gary Readman testified. He tried to pull the mask off and unzip what he then thought was a costume bodysuit before he realized it was a human body.

It was only when he saw his daughters shoes nearby and held one against her foot that he grasped whose it was.

I called 911. At this point Im aware that its my daughter so I hugged her and held her, he said, wiping away tears as he testified by video link.

Richard Isaac, 43, has pleaded not guilty to the second-degree murder of Selby-Readman. The Crown alleges that Isaac was Selby-Readmans roommate, who had moved into her downtown Toronto apartment just weeks before he killed her on June 8, 2018.

Readman discovered his daughters body four days later.

Readman testified he never met Isaac, but Selby-Readman had said shed gotten a roommate in mid-May 2018, and that shed felt sorry for him because of issues hed said he had his with an ex-girlfriend.

The jury has heard that, according to an agreed statement of facts, Isaac was wanted by Durham Regional Police at the time for criminally harassing and threatening his former domestic partner. He has since pleaded guilty to criminal harassment, mischief under $5,000 and failing to comply with a probation order.

On Tuesday, the jury was shown text messages between Readman and his daughter  though Readman does not believe all the text messages were sent by her.

At 5:06 p.m. on Friday, June 8, 2018, Selby-Readman texted her father: My room mate is drunk again. Can you come over. I need support.

Readman texted her back while on his way to work a night shift, using the nickname bb to mean best buddies: Working now bb just go out and leave him.

She replied: Ya.

That is the best thing to do. Drunks are hard to deal with, he told her.

She responded: Hes so stupid, I want him gone today.

Wait till tomorrow, Readman said. Go out and work.

Selby-Readman was working as a food courier for Uber Eats and Foodora at the time. Security footage on the building last shows her leaving the elevator onto the fifth floor of her apartment building where her apartment was. It was 5:55 p.m. on June 8, 2018.

These are the last texts Readman believes his daughter sent him though he got replies to his follow-up texts the next day.

How are you today? he asked at 4 p.m. on Saturday.

Good actually, came the response. Hes taking me out to supper. I asked him not to drink any more and he agreed with me.

Good. Sometimes best to be patient, Readman texted back.

Hes a nice guy. I just hate seeing him drink over his ex, the reply text said.

Yes agreed, Readman said.

Shes not worth it and hes only hurting himself, came the response. When hes sober hes so kind and thoughtful. This week he brought me home flowers. He said that he saw them and thought of me and that the place needed some brightening up. Okay gonna get ready to go out supper.

Have fun at dinner, Readman said.

Readman testified that he found the texts a little odd at the time. The language used was unusual for his daughter. She didnt use the word supper and the bit about the flowers seemed strange. But he was mostly relieved that the issue with her roommate appeared resolved.

He texted her again on Sunday morning to check in and let her know hed be off work on Monday through Wednesday. Love you buddy, the text said.

There was no reply, nor was there a reply to another text on Sunday evening or Monday morning. In an opening overview of the anticipated evidence, Crown prosecutor Tania Monteiro said security footage shows Isaac coming and going from the building that weekend, leaving for the final time on Monday morning.

Readman said he thought there might have been an issue with his daughters phone which would explain why she wasnt responding or picking up his calls. On Tuesday he got security to let him into the building  his name was still on the rental lease for the small apartment in 798 Richmond St. W., though hed moved out at the end of January. Selby-Readman had moved in with him in December 2017 and then, after Readman moved out, her then-boyfriend moved in until they broke up at the end of April.

Readman knocked on the apartment door and heard no response other than Selby-Readmans cat Bunny meowing loudly, he testified. Readman went home to look for his key, but couldnt find it. He went back and security let him into the apartment where he discovered his daughters body.

When the police came, they initially wanted him to leave but he refused.

I said, Im not leaving until my daughter is, he testified.

The trial continues on Wednesday.
The statement comes following the minister's talks with EU's top diplomat.

Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba says Ukraine's position on the Belarus developments generally coincides with that of the European Union.

The statement came during his joint press conference with Vice-President of the European Commission, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell in Kyiv on Tuesday, September 22, according to an UNIAN correspondent.

"The situation in Belarus was discussed, and I'm glad that our positions on this very sensitive issue generally coincide," Kuleba said.

Read also Kuleba warns Russia against steps undermining Belarus sovereignty, destabilizing region Belarus developments: background
On September 17, 2020, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York entered final consent judgments against two individuals charged for their roles in a $10 million boiler room scheme.

The SEC's complaint, filed on July 12, 2017, alleged Emin Cohen, Dennis Verderosa, and others, engaged in a fraudulent scheme using threatening and deceitful sales tactics to pressure retail investors to purchase penny stocks. The defendants used information they learned about the victims' purchase orders to facilitate the placement of opposing sell orders to dump shares owned by participants in the fraudulent scheme.

In a parallel criminal action, Cohen and Verderosa pleaded guilty. Cohen and Verderosa were sentenced to 24 and 72 months in prison, respectively, followed by three years' supervised release.

The final consent judgments enjoin Cohen and Verderosa from violating the antifraud provisions of 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, and the broker-dealer registration provision of Section 15(a) of the Exchange Act. The final judgments order Cohen and Verderosa to disgorge $136,373 and $383,344 respectively, plus prejudgment interest, all of which is deemed satisfied by the forfeiture and restitution ordered in the parallel criminal action. The judgments also impose penny stock bars. These judgments follow the June 11, 2020 announcement of final judgments obtained by consent against three other defendants in the case. In a separate settled administrative proceeding, Cohen was barred from the securities industry.

The SEC's continuing investigation is being conducted by Cecilia B. Connor and Andrew Elliott and supervised by Carolyn M. Welshhans and Amy L. Friedman, with assistance from Leigh Barrett. The SEC's litigation is being handled by James Smith and Matthew Scarlato and supervised by Jan Folena. The SEC appreciates the assistance of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.
The chief of the Environmental Protection Agency has threatened to relocate the bureau's Manhattan office, claiming federal workers are not safe in the city following a summer of violent protests.

In a scathing letter to Governor Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio on Tuesday, administrator Andrew Wheeler accused the pair of failing to protect its employees after rioters targeted the EPA headquarters during a demonstration in July.

Wheeler, who was first appointed as deputy by President Trump in 2018, also said staff at the 290 Broadway office were forced to work from home last week amid fears for their safety when anti-ICE protests broke out in Lower Manhattan.

EPA chief Andrew Wheeler threatened to relocate the agency's New York City office if the city's leadership is 'incapable of doing its job' to protect employees

Wheeler blasted Governor Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio's response to the violent protests that rocked the city earlier this summer, which saw demonstrators damage the EPA headquarters in lower Manhattan

Wheeler claimed he feared for his employees' safety after their office was targeted by violent protesters during the Occupy City Hall demonstrations in July (pictured)

'If you cannot demonstrate that EPA employees will be safe accessing our City offices, then I will begin the process of looking for a new location for our headquarters outside of the City that can maintain order,' Wheeler said in his letter obtained by the New York Post.

'I have an obligation to our employees and if the City is unwilling or incapable of doing its job, I will do mine and move them to a location that can competently fulfill the basic mission of a local government,' he added.

Wheeler accused protesters last week of causing damage to the nearby Jacob K. Javits Federal Building, home to the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI, after they allegedly smashed the doors and windows of the facility.

It comes after the EPA's headquarters was targeted during the Occupy City Hall demonstrations in July, when angry protesters took over the area as they demanded officials defund the NYPD.

The staged protests resulted in days of unrest and clashes between protesters and police officers before the area was finally cleared out in late July.

He accused anti-ICE protesters last week of causing damage to the nearby Jacob K. Javits Federal Building (pictured) home to the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI

Wheeler said the Federal Protective Services at the time had notified the agency of an incident involving a firearm that had blasted a bullet through the window of the EPA's office, according to the Post.

'Throughout these incidents, FPS has engaged EPA and other tenants to keep us informed of potential threats,' he said.

'However, maintaining law and order in New York City is not their responsibility; it is yours.'

In response, Governor Cuomo's office called Wheeler's threats another 'transparent political game from this federal government.'

Cuomo and de Blasio were accused of failing to take action against violent protesters who reportedly damaged the EPA's headquarters on Broadway (pictured) earlier this summer

'The fact is the EPA has abandoned every state since 2017 and they should quit playing political flunky and actually do their job,' a spokesperson said.

Mayor de Blasio also shrugged off Wheeler's criticisms, while also questioning the timing of his letter.

'We know Administrator Wheeler doesn't understand climate or the environment, just look at his record at the EPA so far, but we did think he could tell time,' city spokersperson Julia Arredondo said.

'Why he is writing us a letter about events from two months ago defies comprehension, but then again, so does most of the Trump administration's actions,' she added.
On Monday morning the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention swiftly edited its web page describing how the novel coronavirus spreads, removing recently added language saying it was "possible" that the virus spread via airborne transmission. This was the third major revision to CDC information or guidelines published since May.

The agency had posted information Friday stating the virus can transmit over a distance beyond six feet, suggesting that indoor ventilation is key to protecting against a virus that has now killed nearly 200,000 Americans.

The CDC shifted its guidelines on Friday, but the change was not widely noticed until a CNN report on Sunday. Where the agency previously warned that the virus mostly spreads through large drops encountered at close range, on Friday it had said "small particles, such as those in aerosols" were a common vector.

But Jay Butler, the CDC's deputy director for infectious disease, said the Friday update was posted in error. "Unfortunately an early draft of a revision went up without any technical review," he said.

The edited web page has removed all references to airborne spread, except for a disclaimer that recommendations based on this mode of transmission are under review. "We are returning to the earlier version and revisiting that process," Butler said. "It was a failure of process at CDC."

For months, scientists and public health experts have warned of mounting evidence that the novel coronavirus is airborne, transmitted through tiny droplets called aerosols that linger in the air much longer than the larger globs that come from coughing or sneezing.

Experts who reviewed CDC's Friday post had said the language change had the power to shift policy and public behavior. Some suggested it should drive a major rethink of public policy - particularly at a time when students in many areas are returning to indoor classrooms.

It was a "major change," Jose-Luis Jimenez, a chemistry professor at the University of Colorado at Boulder who studies how aerosols spread the virus, told The Washington Post before the CDC reversed itself. "This is a good thing, if we can reduce transmission because more people understand how it is spreading and know what to do to stop it."

Since the pandemic began, experts have debated the ways the virus travels - and the methods to best halt it. At first, widespread fear of contaminated surfaces led some to bleach their groceries and mail. But the CDC soon concluded that person-to-person transmission was a much more pressing threat. Instead, the agency focused its guidance on avoiding the larger droplets hacked up by sneezes and coughs, which are thought to be mostly limited to a six-foot radius.

"We have been saying 'wear a mask' and '6 feet apart' for months," tweeted Abraar Karan, a physician at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston and Harvard Medical School. Karan said six feet of separation may be insufficient particularly in poorly ventilated indoor areas.

Some researchers suspected that the virus could travel much farther, especially indoors and in places where people talk loudly or sing. Infamously, one infected person in March unknowingly passed the coronavirus to 52 others at a choir practice in Washington state. Similar indoor "superspreader" events added weight to the idea of an airborne threat.

The World Health Organization recognized the threat of aerosols in July, after hundreds of scientists urged the international body to address airborne spread. It's not clear why the CDC finally followed; Jimenez said high-ranking CDC officials were still arguing publicly against airborne transmission as a major vector as recently as late August.

"Evidence has been accumulating for some time. Those of us who have been studying this were frustrated that the change was slow, but it finally came," Jimenez said.

When asked who wrote the draft that was posted in error, Butler said "I don't have all of that information. Obviously I'm asking some of the same questions."

The CDC is "very intensively" discussing guardrails in the publication process to prevent a repeat error. "This cannot happen again," Butler said. In May, the CDC updated an information page that suggested the coronavirus did not spread easily from contaminated surfaces. It also edited that revision after the update received widespread media attention to clarify that tweak was "not a result of any new science."

And last week, the CDC reversed testing guidelines to once again recommend that anyone, regardless of symptoms, who has been in close contact with an infected person be tested. The White House coronavirus task force had directed the agency to change those guidelines in August, allowing that asymptomatic people did not need to be tested.

.
Syracuse, N.Y.  A national campus free speech group is asking Syracuse University to reinstate a professor who was put on leave last month for referring to the coronavirus as the Wuhan flu or Chinese Communist Party Virus.

The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, or FIRE, called on SU to drop its investigation of chemistry professor Jon Zubieta. The group said the language on the syllabus was intended as a joke about political correctness.

My intention was to mock the euphemistic conventions of PC culture rather than the Chinese people or their great heritage and traditions, Zubieta said in a statement released by the foundation. The actions of the university in placing me under suspension and in practice seemingly supporting the accusations of racism and Sinophobia are deeply disturbing.

Zubieta did not immediately return a telephone call today from The Post-Standard/Syracuse.com.

FIRE, based in Philadelphia, has often named SU one of the worst U.S. colleges for free speech in its annual rankings.

In a letter sent today to SU Chancellor Kent Syverud, FIRE said although private schools like SU are not bound by the First Amendment, SUs own policies promise faculty members broad academic freedom and free speech rights.

FIRE cited a section in SUs faculty manual which states:

All members of the University community have a right to use the academic forum provided by the University to discuss controversial subjects and to express ideas with which some or most of the members of the community strongly disagree.

After putting Zubieta on leave in August, SU said in a statement:

The derogatory language used by a professor on his course syllabus is damaging to the learning environment for our students and offensive to Chinese, international and Asian-Americans everywhere who have experienced hate speech, rhetoric and actions since the pandemic began  Syracuse University is committed to being an anti-racist community and will take swift action to confront bias and hate.

SU filed a complaint against the professor with the Office of Equal Opportunity, Inclusion and Resolution Services.

When contacted today for a response to FIREs letter, SU spokeswoman Sarah Scalese referred back to that statement.

FIRE noted in its letter that SU refused to punish communications professor Dana Cloud in 2017 over her tweet encouraging people in Syracuse to finish off fascists. Cloud sent the tweet during a counter-protest in support of Muslims outside the federal building in downtown Syracuse. The tweet prompted some to call for her resignation or firing. FIRE said the tweet encouraged violence against fascists.

At that time Syverud said in a prepared statement:

I cant imagine academic freedom or the genuine search for truth thriving here without free speech. Our faculty must be able to say and write things -- including things that provoke some or make others uncomfortable -- up to the very limits of the law.

The University of Cincinnati recently put an instructor on leave after he referred to coronavirus as the Chinese virus in an email to a student.

In a tweet last week, University President Neville Pinto said, There is no place for bigotry in our community or any other. We are better than this.

James T. Mulder covers health and higher education. Have a news tip? Contact him at (315) 470-2245 or jmulder@syracuse.com
Jeroen Distinguished - BHPian

Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Delhi Posts: 6,467 Thanked: 29,984 Times

View My Garage





re: Your experience of missing trains / flights? Consider the amount of air travel I (used to) do, it might come as a surprise I rarely miss a flight. In fact up to the moment we moved to India, I had never ever missed a flight in my life, except once.



We were travelling from Amsterdam to Kansas City, where we used to live, via Chicago. Chicago is best known for its monumental delays, especially in autumn and winter. Sure enough our flight left on time from Amsterdam, to be put in a hold for 90 minutes at Chicago. As we had to go through immigration in Chicago, which at the time was one of the worst, we had missed our connection to Kansas City. Airline put us up in a hotel for the night. Not a big thing, just an inconvenience.



However, I have missed several planes whilst we were living in Delhi. Always at Mumbai. I used to fly out to Mumbai almost every week and usually stayed 1 or 2 nights. A lot of my business took place at the Jio and Reliance campus. Driving from their campus back to the airport was a bit of a lottery ticket experience I found. It was just incredibly difficult to predict how long it would take. It has taken me anywhere between 90 minutes up to 7 hours.



So yes, I missed several flights going back to Delhi. Sometimes sitting in a cab with the airport only a few km away. Again, mostly an inconvenience. I usually travelled on the latest flight out, so that meant staying another nights and the early morning flight most of the times.



My most memorable one is slightly different and I still made the flight. But it was a bit of an ordeal. In particular for my poor wife and three kids.



This is quite some years ago. My wife grew up in Barbados, West Indies. And we used to go for a 3-4 weeks holiday every year. At the time we were living in the Netherlands. Travelling with three kids with so much luggage is a bit of a chore.



In those days we used to drive up to the airport. I would drop my wife, kids and luggage off. My wife had my passport and would get us checked in (in those days they would check you in, even if you were not present)



I would drive the car to my mums place. It was very near to the airport. Long term parking was hugely expensive. I could park for free at my mums. Take a taxi back to the airport and join my wife and kids.



So when I arrive at my mum, she ran out and told me to hurry back. Which was a bit odd. Usually I had a quick coffee and a little chat with her waiting for the taxi.



So I told her, dont worry, Im fine, plenty of time. What she did not tell me, my wife had called and the departure time had moved forward. That would have gotten my attention.



So we have a nice cup of coffee, the taxi arrives and we head back to the airport. When I get to the departure hall I could not see my flight on the board!?



So I go the KLM desk, of course a big cue. But I heard the ladies talking about the family with the missing husband! So I told them that could be me! They explained they managed to rush my wife and kids through, but the plane was about to depart. But they would try to their best. So I got an individual escort on one of these little electrical carts and we barrelled right pass immigration (just waved us through) and came to a screeching halt at the gate. They had closed the gate and were just about to roll back the jetty. Luckily the captain was told of me and he had them open the doors and I managed to get in. Much to the relief of my wife and kids, my daughter Ellen who was 3 at the time was crying!



That was the closest call I ever had!



The reason why it all went wrong I found out whilst on the flight; We were flying MartinAir. And they do mostly charter flights. And we were the only ones on that flight that had not booked a package holiday through a travel agents. We were the only ones that had booked directly with MartinAir. Everybody else was informed, by their respective travel agency, about a week before hand on the earlier departure time.



When we were back home I wrote to Martin Schroder, the then CEO of MartinAir. i got a very nice letter back within a few days. He offered his apologies and an upgrade for the whole Dorrestein Family to business class next time to Barbados. Let me tell you, next year, my kids loved that business class upgrade!



Jeroen
Campaign curbs should apply to all, PM Modi must lead by example: Sena's Raut

Shiv Sena attacks Kangana Ranaut, BJP amid farmers' protest over farm bills

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

Mumbai, Sep 22: With hundreds of farmers in Punjab, Haryana and other parts of the country taking to streets in protest against the farm bills passed by the government, Shiv Sena has hit at actress Kangana Ranaut for her "terrorist" remark and the BJP for "not saying a word".

After the farm bills were passed in the Rajya Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a series of tweets, reassured the farmers that the MSP and the government procurement of farmers' produce will continue.

Harivansh meets Opposition MPs who staged overnight sit-in protest at Parliament

However, Kangana Ranaut picked up one of PM Modi's tweets, described the protesters as "the same terrorists who indulged in bloodshed even though no countryman lost citizenship due to CAA".

Reacting to this, Shiv Sena, in its mouthpiece 'Saamana', attacked the BJP and said, "Farmers fighting for their rights are 'terrorists', if anyone is saying this then it is dishonesty. But the political parties that glide like a snake when an actress speaks are now silent on the insult of the farmers."

Humble mind, big heart says PM Modi after Harivansh serves tea to protesting MPs

But, it can be seen that Shiv Sena did not name Kangana Ranaut in the Saamana piece.

Kangana Vs BMC: Kangana Ranaut issues notice to BMC, seeks Rs.2 Cr in damages | Oneindia News

The Rajya Sabha passed the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020, through voice vote amid the din caused by opposition protests.

Speaking of the farm bills, that triggered protests across the country, Shiv Sena said, "The Modi government brought bills in Parliament for the benefit of farmers. This bill will not only be revolutionary and historical, but will also provide second freedom for the farmers, according to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It will also be fine. The overwhelming majority and coercion got the bill approved."

"But in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, farmers have come out on the streets to protest against the farm bills. They have blocked roads at many places. When all this was going on in moderation and peace, what symptoms would it be to term them terrorists?" Shiv Sena said.

Attacking the BJP, Shiv Sena said, "Farmers have been lathicharge and have cases registered against them. This is extreme. Even the Babur Army did not do this much oppression. But the people who have made this country 'Sujalaam, Suflaam', have been termed terrorists by a pro-BJP actress. If the protesting farmers are terrorists, then the government approved a new agricultural bill for all the terrorists, what should be considered?"

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Story first published: Tuesday, September 22, 2020, 10:03 [IST]
All pubs and restaurants in England to have 10pm closing times

Pubs, bars and restaurants in England will be ordered to close by 10pm each night from Thursday under tough restrictions set to be announced by Boris Johnson.

The Prime Minister will use an address to the nation on Tuesday evening to outline new measures to stop the spread of Covid-19, which will also restrict the hospitality sector to table service only.

Mr Johnson will emphasise the need for people to follow social-distancing guidance, wear face coverings and wash their hands regularly.

He will also urge people to work from home where it does not hurt businesses, according to reports.

People infected with both flu and Covid-19 have 'increased risk of death'

Those infected with both flu and Covid-19 have a serious increased risk of death, new research has found.

Public Health England (PHE) warned that both illnesses could be circulating at the same time as they urged people who are eligible to get vaccinated.

The flu vaccination programme has been expanded this year so more people than ever will be eligible for a vaccine - up to 30 million people in England.

It is hoped that a new campaign will encourage those who are eligible to accept their invitation when it is sent out.

National Trust lists nearly 100 properties it says have links to slavery and colonialism

The homes of Winston Churchill and Rudyard Kipling are among nearly 100 National Trust properties the charity claims have links to slavery and colonialism .

The connections are highlighted in a report commissioned by the heritage and conservation charity last September, as part of efforts to tell the history of colonialism and slavery at its historic places.

London to see 26C highs before temperatures plummet and Autumn showers arrive

After days of basking in warm weather Brits should brace for Autumn's arrival as temperatures are set to drop by 10C across large parts of the UK.

Sun lovers have been making the most of the balmy weather  which saw temperatures hit 25.4C in Yeovilton, Somerset, on Monday.

However, for most of the country those highs will not last past Tuesday or Wednesday with temperatures eventually dropping to 16C by the end of the week.

Even London and the south east, which started out with warm, dry and sunny weather this week, will be cooler by the weekend.

William says fatherhood has helped spur him to protect natural world

The Duke of Cambridge says that fatherhood has increased his desire to protect nature for future generations.

Prince William said he has "always loved nature", but fatherhood has given him "a new sense of purpose.

He was joined by a film crew two years ago who recorded his search for ways to protect the natural world for the ITV documentary Prince William: A Planet For Us All - to be aired next month.

William meets people in the UK and abroad who are playing their part in protecting and restoring the environment during the programme, according to Kensington Palace.

On this day...

1735: Sir Robert Walpole became the first prime minister to move into 10 Downing Street.

1780: Capt William Lynch's name was immortalised when he issued a proclamation in Virginia, saying that if citizens believed the official course of justice was not strong enough, they should take the law into their own hands. While horse-whipping was the general punishment, hanging did take place - hence the word "lynching".

1827: Joseph Smith, son of an impoverished New England farmer, announced he had received golden plates from an angel. From this he translated the Book of Mormon which led to the founding of the Mormons.

1880: Dame Christabel Pankhurst, suffragette daughter of Emmeline, was born in Manchester.

1955: With the start of commercial television in Britain, the first advert transmitted was for Gibbs SR toothpaste.

1972: Idi Amin gave Uganda's 8,000 Asians 48 hours to leave the country.

1980: Workers in Poland formed a new independent labour union, Solidarity.

1989: An IRA bomb attack killed 10 and injured more than 30 at the Royal Marines School of Music in Deal, Kent.

1990: The Natural History Museum solved the Piltdown Man hoax. The mastermind behind it was anthropologist Sir Arthur Keith.

1991: Bryan Adams made pop history when his record Everything I Do, I Do It For You, stayed at number one for a 12th week.
The leasehold of a major development land parcel known as the Light Horse business hub in Sydney's west has been put to the market for tender by the NSW government.

Goodman, Stockland, Mirvac, Dexus and Charter Hall are among the listed entities that have shown interest in the leasehold of the 30-hectare site being developed in conjunction with the NSW government's Western Sydney Parklands Trust.

Qube's Moorebank freight hub in south-west Sydney. Credit:

Private group LOGOS Property, said to be the front-runner to start due diligence on buying the $2 billion Qube Moorebank logistics park, is also expected to be interested in the Light Horse site.

Once completed, the end value of the Light Horse business hub will be about $400 million, and under the deal, the WSPT will tender for development of the ground lease and/or a development management agreement for the whole or part of the site.
FRANKFORT  The search for 12-year-old boy swept off the Frankfort pier has been suspended until weather conditions improve, according to the Benzie County Sheriff's Office.

Benzie County Sheriff Ted Schendel said the search should resume on Sept. 23 when weather conditions are expected to improve. He said the search will include the dive team for the Grand Traverse County Sheriff's Office and Michigan State Police.

However, the Benzie County Citizens Emergency Response Team continued to monitor the beach and make visitors aware of the situation.

According to a press release from the Benzie County Sheriff's Office, central dispatch received a call about the boy being swept off the pier at around 1 p.m. on Sept. 21.

The 12-year-old boy was walking the pier with his aunt and 11 year-old family member, all from Tennessee. A large wave swept all three into the water of the inner pier. The aunt was able to help the 11-year-old and herself out of the water, but the boy was swept farther out, and was last seen disappearing under the water.

The City of Frankfort Police Department and Fire Department, Benzie County Sheriff's Office, Department of Natural Resources and United States Coast Guard searched for the boy Monday, but did not find him.

Schendel said the weather conditions were terrible, but the search continued until dark. The sheriff also said he believes boy has been wedged under rocks along the pier, or swept out past the piers and farther into Lake Michigan.

The boy was vacationing in the area with around 13 family members.

On the day of the incident, a serf zone forecast issued by the National Weather Service for the area warned of moderate to hazardous conditions for rip currents.

"In Frankfort, they had a south-southwest wind, and that does open up the piers there and other spots on the beach to wave action," said Jeff Zoltowski, a forecaster with the National Weather Service. "The southwest winds were 10-15 mph, gusting to 20. You can expect that to produce two to four foot waves along the city coast line."

There was less of a wind factor on Sept. 22, which had winds at 5 to 10 mph and waves of one to two feet, he said. Conditions were reportedly better as far as wave action, but visibility was in question as sediment had been kicked up from the bottom, which could obscure divers' vision.

No other information is available at this time. All questions regarding this case should be directed to the Benzie County Sheriffs Office at (231) 882-4484.
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It is a good thing to be proud of ones state, and I am. Anambra is perhaps one of the few states in Nigeria that have chalked up some good mention. Her respect comes not from her size, but her worth. She has limited land space  the next smallest state after Lagos and currently battles soil erosion in over a thousand sites that further shrinks her size. The worth of Anambra in the words of the British philosopher, John Stuart Mill, is the worth of the individuals composing it. Anambra stakes good claim to producing people of high intellect, uncommon industry and brilliant accomplishments.

She may not always get her acts right and can trip up on issues that require little understanding to resolve. The failed abduction of her governor sometimes in 2003 was one such issue that required less of the approach she employed in dealing with the problem. However, with sufficient dose of the Anambra spirit she easily springs back from every crisis to stay the pace.

Anambra is blessed with quality human capital and a succession of good leaders. What she loses, running intense and money-guzzling political campaigns, she duly compensates with her capacity to keep aglow the light that illuminates the path that other states follow.

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In the last couple of years, the state has made some giant leap in governance that puts her ahead of others better positioned to lead the charge. She has been mentioned as one of the few states in Nigeria that live above the margins of poverty. The National Bureau of Statistics in its 2019 official report named Anambra, Lagos, Delta, Ogun, and a few other states as having the least percentage of poverty head count in Nigeria (Guardian newspaper 04/05/2020).

This viability status of the state was long acknowledged by many Nigerians who are worried at the bad turn of events in country. Marveling at the speed with which Anambra bridged the gap in her educational development to set the pace for states, most of which are oil-producing, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce said in his Common Sense series: Twenty years ago Anambra and other Southeast states lagged in education and had poor boy child school enrolment, but today Anambra leads the nation in WASSCE results. For the past three years Anambra has had over 60% pass rates in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination.

On the heels of this were no less commendations from other Nigerians who were impressed with development trajectory in the state. At the height of the Covid-19 pandemic and its attendant lock-down, the Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS) which has been brought to a fairly even level with the best anywhere in Nigeria, led the way in online teaching in the country. The initiative was copiously endorsed by the Minister of State for Education, Mr. Emeka Nwajiuba. Femi Fani-Kayode, former Aviation Minister, was no less impressed when on a stopover visit in the state he joined Governor Willie Obiano on inspection of the ongoing construction at the Anambra International Cargo, Airport. He was direct in commending the effort of the government in constructing one of best airports in Nigeria, on completion. He simply called it mind-blowing. Airline owner and CEO of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, would seem to be more effusive when, after a visit of the construction site, he quipped while interviewed that he felt proud to be called an Anambra son.

If there were endorsements on the airport project and other infrastructural development effort of the Obiano administration, more should come when a critical appraisal is done on the overall progress of the state and if the achievements of the administration are measured less in brick and mortar. What the administration has achieved in intangible development will compel both the Governors ardent supporter and his rabid critic to unite in commendation, especially for wresting the state from the vice grip of kidnappers and armed robbers. Though there may be occasional disturbances in notorious flashpoints in the state, but they do not detract from the fact that Anambra rides today on the crest of a wave of peace. She is seen as one of the safest states in Nigeria on account of the administrations effort. What it has achieved outside the traditional role of fixing roads and bridges is better experienced in the conviviality, evident in the return of social and business activities in the state. It is not just about an upsurge in the population of people resident in the state, but businesses, land, service delivery have all gained greater value. A visit to social events in the state or a walk to sporting arena like Ekwueme square in Awka would convince a doubting Thomas that a progressive society is emerging at the double.

It took the achievement on security to unlock the potentials hitherto latent in the state. Every sector of the state economy has leapt to sudden height to the extent that Anambra can now boast of a product brand or two  like the Anambra rice. People, particularly investors, who until now, had scoffed at the idea of bringing their investments home either out of fear of abductors, armed robbers or other wastes of space, have in one burst of energy changed the investment profile of the state. Some of these industries like Coscharis Farm, Awka Millennium City, JOSAN Rice mill, Lynden Integrated Farms, Ekcel Farm, Stine Rice, Chelsea Farm etc though in existence, were unproductive for the reasons above. There is also appreciable rise in micro, small and medium businesses in the state with the establishment of the Anambra State Small Business Agency (ASBA) in 2014 by the Obiano administration to facilitate access to resources required by investors in that cadre of enterprise to achieve sustainable development in Anambra state.

The effort of the administration in strengthening some institutions of government like the tax system and health insurance scheme has led to some changes that are impacting positively on the state. From netting N8billion in tax returns in 2013, the state has notched up to N26 billion in 2019. The Anambra State Internal Revenue Service, using improved data collection has been able to nip off leakages and established, through collaboration with National Bureau of Statics, that about 1.2 million people are doing business in the state. It is not any different in what the state does with her introduction of the Anambra State Health Insurance Agency (ASHIA). Well over 90,000 persons are on the scheme, twice the number of enrollees on a standard health insurance scheme. It is well to remember that certain ailments not easily on health insurance scheme like tuberculosis is on ASHIA scheme. With a monthly fee of N1, 000 and N12, 000 per year a resident becomes an enrollee on the scheme. No doubt, Anambras development curve is on the rise and does not betray any sign of downward slant. It is expected to be furthered in the months ahead.

Ejike Anyaduba

Abatete
One of the more extraordinary revelations thrown up by the HSBC scandal is that a rich man who counts as non-domiciled under our tax system, and is therefore exempt from paying tax on money earned outside the UK, can hand this status down to his British-born children.

Thus Mark Lewisohn, a senior banker at UBS, who was born in London, educated at Cambridge, lives in Holland Park, and holds a British passport, is legally entitled to be a non-dom because his father, Oscar, a former non-executive director of HSBC Swiss branch, is Danish.

The Conservative MP Zac Goldsmith could have been another beneficiary of this most generous rule, had he not chosen a political career. MPs are not allowed to be non-doms.

The number of non-doms almost doubled during the 10 years that Tony Blair was prime minister, but now Lord Myners, who was a treasury minister under Gordon Brown, has been asking questions.

How many British citizens, born, raised and living in the UK, are claiming non-dom tax status because of a parent or grandparent who came from abroad, and how much tax is being lost to the treasury by this route? he asked. Answer: the Treasury has absolutely no idea.

Would the Treasury consider allowing people to inherit non-dom status from their mothers, instead of their fathers? he also asked. Answer: certainly. If your father was not married to your mother, and your mother is non-dom, you can be non-dom too. But if they were married, you must look to your dad. It all makes perfect sense, doesnt it?

Lib Dems and drugs

I am not sure that this tweet, from Greg Hands, the Tory deputy chief whip, is in the best possible taste  LibDem drug legalisation policy is explained by the LibDems being on 5 per cent and UK users of illegal drugs being on 8 per cent  but it is quite funny.

Woolfe spooks Farage

Only hours after Nigel Farage announced that it was Ukip policy not to allow people with life-threatening illnesses to immigrate into the UK, the partys immigration spokesman, Steven Woolfe, said that, on the contrary, the party would not turn away the fatally ill. Woolfes career as a leading figure in Ukip got off to an unusual start in 2010. He was not a member of Ukip, though he had spoken at a Ukip conference. He was at home, watching Spooks on television, when the phone rang. It was Nigel Farage inviting him to be Ukips spokesman on financial affairs. If they continue contradicting each other publicly, Farage may soon wish that he watched Spooks too instead of making that call.

Watford, the promised land

According to a job advertisement from Watford borough council, as Communications and Engagement Section Head, you will be responsible for leading a talented team to the promised land. Having been brought up in Hertfordshire, I wouldnt demand the promised land: just getting out of Watford would do for me.

Browne finds the exit

An odd incident in the life of the high-flying Foreign Office minister Jeremy Browne was when he was caught on Google street map on Praed Street, in London, with his ministerial red box and then disappearing, as if he had gone into the Paddington Hotel. The images were posted on the Guido Fawkes website, which wondered why he appeared to be popping into a hotel in the middle of the day. Browne said he wasnt, and anyway it wouldnt matter if he was. The map has recently been updated, so it is all in the past. Sadly, so is his brilliant political career. He is leaving the Commons in May.
As the Narcotics Drugs Bureau (NCB) continues its massive crackdown on the drug nexus in Bollywood, Republic Media Network sources have informed that 6 top male Bollywood actors have called their lawyers, fearful of action being taken against them as well. During the NCB's investigation into the drugs angle in actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death case, a wider drugs nexus in Bollywood surfaced which is now unraveling with alarming evidence coming to the fore. The actors, who are said to be in panic, have sought legal advice in case their names crop up or they face summoning.

The central anti-drug agency has summoned actor Deepika Padukone's manager Karishma Prakash and her employer and talent management agency KWAN's CEO Dhruv Chitgopekar in connection with its probe into the alleged Bollywood-drug nexus. Both of them will be questioned by the NCB later in the day. Further, sources have said that Deepika Padukone will also be summoned as more evidence has come up against her.

Meanwhile, the NCB is interrogating talent manager Jaya Saha, who has emerged as a 'kingpin', sources confirmed to Republic, after sensational revelations have come to light regarding her activities and high-profile WhatsApp groups she operated that involved copious conversations about drugs. She may be arrested by the NCB.

2017 drug chat accessed: 'D', 'K' & Jaya Saha involved

Republic Media Network had earlier accessed the WhatsApp chats of an actor 'D' (who was later confirmed as being Deepika Padukone) and 'K' who were both part of the WhatsApp group with Jaya Saha and would apparently use it to coordinate drugs.

The chats accessed are from October 2017 and show 'D' asking for "maal" from 'K' who replies that she has it, but at home. Further 'K' said that she can ask 'Amit' if she wants it, as "he is carrying". 'D' also then clarifies that she needs "Hash" and not "weed" as the two discuss logistics. Following that, another set of conversations came to the fore where Jaya Saha is discussing providing drugs to another pair of actors, 'S' and 'N'.

READ | Jaya Saha's chats with actress 'D', 'K' talking about 'hash' accessed

NCB's probe into Bollywood and Drugs

There are at least two angles running in tandem in terms of the NCB's investigation into the link between Bollywood and drugs - regarding the Sushant Singh Rajput-Rhea Chakraborty and associated angle and regarding Manjinder Singh Sirsa's complaint about a 2019 Bollywood party video that had emerged earlier in which a lot of Bollywood stars were present.

READ | Disha case: 'CCTV footage wiped, diary tampered, security replaced,' says guard's brother

The NCB has so far arrested more than 12 people, including Rajput's girlfriend and actress Rhea Chakraborty and her brother Showik Chakraborty, in connection with the probe into the drugs angle in the case of the actor's death. Sources have also confirmed to Republic that actors Shraddha Kapoor and Sara Ali Khan are likely to be summoned by the agency at some point this week. Sara Ali Khan's name had come up in the questioning of Rhea Chakraborty, NCB had confirmed, whereas Shraddha Kapoor's prospective summoning is a new development.

READ | Sirsa claims victory as Deepika Padukone's name emerges; wants 'Udta Punjab' plot exposed

READ | Deepika Padukone set to be summoned by NCB; Jaya Saha spills beans on Bollywood drug link
SYDNEY (Reuters) - The Australian operation of Chinese telecommunications equipment maker Huawei Technologies Co Ltd [HWT.UL] said it would continue to cut staff numbers and investment in the country amid strained relations between Beijing and Canberra.

In 2018, Australia banned Huawei from supplying equipment for a 5G mobile network citing national security risks, a move the company criticised as being politically motivated.

"In simple terms the 5G ban on Huawei has cost us 1,000 high-tech and high-wage jobs from the economy," Jeremy Mitchell, Huawei's chief corporate affairs officer for Australia, said in an emailed statement.

"We have gone from 1,200 staff to fewer than 200 and by next year it will be lower still."

The Australian Financial Review first reported the comments.

Huawei had terminated A$100 million ($72.3 million) of research and development investments in Australia since the 5G ban, Mitchell said.

Huawei last month said it would end its sponsorship of an Australian rugby league club a year earlier than expected due to a downturn in its business.

Diplomatic relations between Australia and China have soured this year after Australia called for an independent international investigation into the source of the coronavirus pandemic.

Beijing was angered by the move and has since blocked Australian beef imports, placed dumping tariffs on Australian barley, and launched an anti-dumping investigation into Australian wine.

(Reporting by Renju Jose; Editing by Stephen Coates)
The makers of Khaali Peeli have dropped the first trailer for the film online. The movie stars Ananya Panday as a young woman on the run who ends up in Ishaan Khatters taxi, striking a cool new partnership. Khaali Peeli is a story about two childhood sweethearts, Pooja and Blackie, who get separated during their young age but are brought back together by a crazy situation.

The trailer begins with Ananya in bandit mode as she takes over Ishaans taxi with a gun. She throws out a passenger as a petrified Ishaan follows all her instruction. A Mexican stand-off later, they reach an understanding and decide to divvy up the bag full of gold jewellery.

But on their tail is the villain, played by Jaydeep Ahlawat. He is a man of his word and believes that ones word is more precious than ones life. He is a trigger happy goon who wont stop at anything to get what he wants. A chase ensues between the protagonists, the police and the goons as what sounds like a desi version of Doctor Whos theme plays in the background. Ishaan lands some flying kicks, dodges a few bullets and pulls off some slick moves. Even Ananya shows off some slingshot skills.

Also read | Payal Ghosh slams those doubting her claims against Anurag Kashyap: People blame women for everything

The film is directed by debutant director Maqbool Khan and backed by filmmaker Ali Abbas Zafar, Himanshu Mehra, and Zee Studio. It went on the floors in September last year and was scheduled for a June 12 release but was delayed due to the shuttering of film theatres. The movie will start streaming on OTT platform Zeeplex from October 2

A song from the film, Beyonce Sharma Jayegi, was recently edited after social media users criticised the original lyrics as racist for glorifying fair skin and making an inappropriate reference to Black American pop star Beyonce.The offending lyrics translated as After looking at you fair woman, Beyonce would feel shy.

Follow @htshowbiz for more

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The three former US government officials shared these insights on the latest episode of Podbridge , a new podcast series presented by the UAE Embassy and hosted by UAE Ambassador to the US Yousef Al Otaiba .

A "fundamental psychological threshold was crossed with this agreement," said Dennis Ross, Counselor and William Davidson Distinguished Fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy who served as a Middle East advisor for four US presidents. "The Accord creates a real possibility for American diplomacy to broker peace among the Arabs, Israelis and Palestinians, and build a bridge to a very different kind of future."

Martin Indyk, Distinguished Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and former United States Ambassador to Israel, noted that the UAE-Israel accord will have significant strategic implications for the Middle East.

"The fact that the two most capable states in the region, the UAE and Israel, are now openly able to work together will provide a much firmer pillar of stability that, with US support, can do much to stabilize the Middle East," said Indyk, who served as the US special envoy for the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations from 2013-2014. "It will enhance the capabilities of those states in the region who share the same vision of a more peaceful, prosperous and stable environment."

"There was great excitement about the deal" in Israel, added Daniel Shapiro, a Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies at Tel Aviv University who served as the United States Ambassador to Israel from 2011-2017. The UAE-Israel Accord "opens possibilities for people-to-people relations, cultural exchange, trade, tourism, technological partnerships and investment, through which Israelis and Emiratis will be able to advance their interests and make a broader contribution to the region and the world."

First announced last month by the leaders of the US, Israel, and the UAE, the Peace Accord is the first diplomatic agreement between Israel and an Arab state in over twenty-five years. As a result of the Accord, Israel and the UAE will open their economies to one another, allowing goods, services, and investment to flow freely between the two countries.

Greater trade and investment, along with the exchange of scientists, business leaders, students, academic experts, religious leaders, and tourists, creates immediate and meaningful security, economic, and social benefits for the UAE, Israel, and the wider region.

"The UAE after September 15 is going to be very different," predicted Ambassador Al Otaiba. "It's not taboo anymore for young people in our part of the world to look at working, investing, trading and studying with Israelis. Breaking that ideological barrier is probably the most significant aspect of what we just did."

"I'm very confident that this is going to be a mutually-beneficial relationship for a very, very long time," Ambassador Al Otaiba concluded.

Podbridge is available on all major podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and other podcast services. For more information about Podbridge, visit www.podbridge.com and receive updates on Twitter @UAEUSAUnited and on Facebook.

Contact:

Lamiyae Jbari

[email protected]

202 243 2464

SOURCE Embassy of the United Arab Emirates

Related Links

http://www.uae-embassy.org


The feud between next-door neighbors in Northern Virginia began over issues as common as cul-de-sacs in the suburbs - unscooped dog poop, loud music and messy garbage cans.

But over years the ordinary neighborhood dispute spiraled out of control, building to the moment this spring when Javon Prather rang Michael Hetle's doorbell.

Hetle, a 52-year-old NASA executive, answered with a gun.

Without a word, Hetle fired three shots at the 24-year-old Giant worker, a prosecutor later said in court, describing a scene captured by Hetle's Ring camera. The wounded man tried to run, but three more blasts followed him down Hetle's front stairs. Prather collapsed, before Hetle fired a seventh and final shot into his fallen body.

Hetle swiveled, the prosecutor said, pointing the gun at Prather's wife, Janelle, who was just feet away next door. Hetle, according to the prosecutor, had a question for her: Did she want some too?

Prather died and Hetle was charged with murder, but views over which man was the instigator in that final confrontation have divided the neighbors just as starkly as the feud that preceded it. The argument touches on race, class and the perennial tensions over neighbors who share a common wall in a townhouse community.

"This was an execution," a Fairfax prosecutor said in court as he argued Hetle should remain jailed pending trial in the March 4 slaying.

Hetle's attorney volleyed back it was something else entirely - self-defense. Meghan Matulka told a judge the security footage didn't show threats Javon Prather made before making his way to Hetle's front door and made a motion that led her client to believe he had a weapon. Prosecutors said Prather was not armed.

Matulka said Hetle was a beleaguered homeowner, who had dealt with threats and provocations from the couple next door for too long. During one hearing she pointed to the courtroom gallery, where she said three neighbors sat who now felt less safe that Hetle was in jail.

"Mr. Prather and his wife Janelle Prather as well as the many occupants and transients that have come and gone from their home have tormented and terrorized the residents of their community since they moved in," Matulka told a judge.

To the Prathers, the dispute seemed to be about more than just neighborhood nuisances. The couple, who are both mixed race, believed Hetle was trying to run them out of the Springfield community in part because of their identity.

That sense was bolstered by something they would only learn after the tragedy. Hetle, who is White, is also a former police officer who killed two people in the line of duty and was once disciplined after allegations of bias in a traffic stop. Hetle and his wife declined an interview, but Matulka denied any racial animus.

"He wanted to do anything he could to get us out of the neighborhood," Janelle Prather said of Hetle.

- - -

Things started very differently on Bedstraw Court, a stubby block of about 10 red brick, colonial townhouses several miles from the Springfield Metro. The Daventry neighborhood has grassy common areas, shady paths and a community pool, the type of place residents invariably describe with a single word: quiet.

Janelle Prather bought her home with gray siding and a cranberry door in 2013. Hetle's wife, a Fairfax County schools administrator, popped over that first year with Christmas cookies, Janelle said. Hetle and his wife would walk their dog and chat with neighbors.

Little seemed amiss at first.

A drizzle of complaints began in 2015.

Neighbors noticed people coming and going from Janelle's home "both day and night" and the smell of marijuana wafting from the property, according to a lawsuit later filed against Janelle Prather by the homeowner's association which claimed she was violating neighborhood rules.

The issues grew in the following years with neighbors complaining about drunken parties, loud music, loose dogs, unscooped poop and domestic disputes at Janelle's home, the filing claims. There were complaints that visitors threw bottles and condoms in other people's yards and asked neighbors to use their cellphones and bathrooms, according to the lawsuit.

"We knew that house as the problem house," Mario Arandia, a neighbor, said of the Prathers' home.

Janelle acknowledged some of the issues in an interview, but said others were misrepresented. She said Hetle trained a surveillance camera on her house and frequently made complaints to the HOA and police. The Daventry Community Association declined to comment, referring The Post to its legal filings. The suit was dropped after Javon Prather's death when both sides reached an agreement to resolve the issues.

"He really made it miserable," Janelle said of Hetle.

Amid the issues, Janelle married Javon in 2017. Family described him as funny, someone who couldn't get through a conversation without cracking a joke. Javon was a specialist in the Maryland National Guard, something Janelle said he loved. He was planning to reenlist.

Janelle's sister said he had a military demeanor.

"I would say, 'Stop calling me, ma'am," Dalice Sanders said. "He would say, 'OK, ma'am.' "

Janelle traces the turning point between the Prathers and Hetle to a single day in February 2019.

She said she returned home from a funeral to find Javon stewing. "Hetle came up to me and said, 'Do the neighborhood and the HOA a favor and move out,' " Janelle said Javon told her.

Drained from the funeral, Janelle said she marched over to Hetle's home and cursed him out. She said she told him if he wanted them out so badly he should buy her home.

The next month Janelle was charged with destruction of property, after hurling candlesticks and bottles at Hetle's car during another argument, according to court records. She eventually pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor and a judge required her to pay $1,800 in restitution.

Hetle got a restraining order.

"Suspect has . . . been contacted by police for her continued threats against me, including 'I will kick your fat a--,' [and] 'I will get you,' " Hetle wrote in his petition for the restraining order. Janelle said she never intended any violence.

The homeowner's association sued Janelle in April 2019 over ongoing issues at her home.

In September, Hetle called the police about Javon during a heated argument. Javon was arrested for being drunk in public. He "was spewing threats," according to Hetle's application for a restraining order against Javon Prather that was denied.

In 2019, Fairfax County police responded to the Prathers' home 49 times, police records show. Janelle had spent thousands on an attorney to defend herself against the homeowner's association lawsuit.

She feared she might lose her home.

- - -

For all the bad blood, Janelle said she and Javon knew little about the man who lived next door in the home with mustard trim. She said she sometimes did a Google search on Hetle to try to find out more. The one thing that she said might have made a difference didn't show up in her search results: Hetle had been a police officer with a controversial tenure.

Before working his way up the ranks at NASA, Hetle held a job across the country with the Bellevue Police Department in Washington state. In the span of a year, Hetle was involved in two fatal shootings and a traffic stop for which he was disciplined after allegations of anti-immigrant bias.

Hetle and another officer shot and killed a bank robbery suspect in 2000, after the man charged toward one of them holding a gun, Bellevue police said. The shooting was ruled justified.

A month later, Hetle pulled over an Ethiopian immigrant, according to a disciplinary letter from the Bellevue department obtained by the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Hetle made comments about the woman's ethnicity and ability to speak English, sent a request to the state to make her retake her driver's test and told her he was going to get her deported, the newspaper reported the letter said. Hetle displayed "animus" toward the woman as an immigrant, the newspaper quoted the letter as saying.

Matulka said she didn't have details about the incident, but said her client denies any bias.

In 2001, Hetle shot and killed a Guatemalan immigrant while responding to a domestic violence call, Bellevue police said. Hetle ordered the man out of his car and fired on him after he reached for his waistband, according to the Seattle Times. Matulka said a weapon was found inside the man's car, but nothing was on his person.

Hetle was cleared of any wrongdoing but the shooting sparked protests by members of Bellevue's Latino community and allegations of racial bias. Matulka said Hetle shot the man because he "feared for his life."

Hetle left the department in 2003 and moved to the D.C. area. NASA declined to comment on what the agency knew of his history, before he was hired in 2010.

Janelle said she was sick when she learned of Hetle's past.

"If Javon and I had known that, we would definitely have not bickered with him," she said.

Matulka said she believed Javon Prather was aware Hetle was a former police officer. Either way, the feud carried on toward its ugly end.

Roughly two weeks before the shooting, Janelle said she was playing hip-hop in her car in front of her house. Hetle opened one of his windows and she said he screamed, "Turn the music down, you're ghetto!"

Two days before the shooting, Janelle and Javon put their house on the market, in part because they were fed up with the dispute with Hetle and the issues with the homeowner's association.

Hetle's attorney outlined his version of the shooting in a bond motion filed in June. The day of the shooting Javon Prather was taunting Hetle and blasting music from his car, according to the account. In response, Hetle called the police non-emergency number several times that afternoon.

Just before the shooting, Prather grew aggressive, according to the account. Prather pounded on the common wall between their homes and then headed to Hetle's home, running up the steps to his front door, Matulka wrote.

Prather pounded on Hetle's door so loudly the house shook, according to the account. Hetle opened his door and shouted, "Get back!" Prather's hand was in his pocket, according to the bond motion. When Prather removed it, Hetle thought he had a weapon and opened fire.

Hetle has not yet entered a plea. Matulka said in statement that prosecutors have yet to respond to a June request for any exculpatory evidence and that "fair play demands that the defense be provided any evidence that supports the innocence of Mr. Hetle and we are confident that the Commonwealth is currently in possession of such evidence."

Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney Steve Descano said his office is respectful of a "fair and honest" process and would share the discovery in a timely fashion, but the case is not scheduled for a preliminary hearing until November.

Janelle said the trauma has made her memories fuzzy, but she does not believe the shooting was provoked. She said she remembers things clearly from the moment Hetle's front door opened. She said Hetle was wearing wraparound sunglasses and had a gun pointed at her husband.

After the shooting and Hetle's threat against her, she said, she ran to where Javon had collapsed face first, rolled him over and tried to drag him toward their home. Blood ran from his mouth. Janelle said she slapped his face, telling him again and again: "Wake up!"

She said Hetle had a simple rejoinder: "Javon's not going to wake up." He turned and walked back inside his home and shut the door "as if nothing happened," she said. Blood covered Janelle's hands and shoes, as she shouted for someone to call 911.

It was too late.

Hetle remains jailed as he awaits trial. His family sold their Bedstraw Court home after the shooting and moved out. Janelle still owns her home, but said she would not return.
French President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday that Europe would not compromise with the United States over Washington's move to reactivate sanctions on Iran, warning the so-called snapback could undermine the UN Security Council and increase Middle East tensions.

"We will not compromise on the activation of a mechanism that the United States is not in a position to activate on its own after leaving the agreement," Macron told the UN General Assembly's 75th session by video from Paris.

"This would undermine the unity of the Security Council and the integrity of its decisions, and it would run the risk of further aggravating tensions in the region,"
A Western Australian nurse who tested positive to COVID-19 while volunteering in Victoria has returned home with her six colleagues after making a full recovery.

Renee Freeman contracted the virus earlier this month after working in an aged care home in Melbourne as part of a team of WA volunteers.

She has since recovered and is clear of the virus after completing 14 days quarantine in the 'Hotel for Heroes' emergency accommodation.

Renee Freeman contracted the virus earlier this month after working in an aged care home in Melbourne as part of a team of WA volunteers

Her colleagues tested negative and also isolated in a separate Melbourne hotel.

WA's Department of Health on Tuesday confirmed the group had returned home safely on a charter flight which returned directly to Perth.

'These nurses, who all did a phenomenal job assisting the Victorian community, are now at home with their families,' the department said in a statement.

All seven nurses are now considered to have completed their necessary isolation periods.

Health Minister Roger Cook had initially refused to rule out the prospect of the group spending a further two weeks in quarantine upon returning home.

The response angered the nurses' union, which claimed the nurses were promised they would be airlifted home if one of them fell sick.

Ms Freeman was sent gifts while she was in hotel quarantine following her diagnosis

Deputy chief health officer Robyn Lawrence said the prospect of the nurses being airlifted home was discussed at their orientation but they were told it would come down to individual circumstances.

Ms Freeman will have further tests in WA before she is cleared to return to work.

Mr Cook said WA had sent a total of 19 nurses and three support staff to work across three Melbourne aged care homes.

The other two teams are nearing the end of their stints and further volunteers aren't expected to be needed given the improved situation in Victoria.
Hewlett Packard Enterprise announced it has completed the acquisition of Silver Peak, an SD-WAN (Software-Defined Wide Area Network) leader, in a transaction valued at $925 million. Silver Peak will become a part of Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company. The acquisition will strengthen Aruba ESP (Edge Services Platform), helping to advance enterprise cloud transformation with a comprehensive edge-to-cloud networking solution covering all aspects of wired, wireless local area networking (LAN) and wide area networking (WAN).

Antonio Neri, president and CEO of HPE, said, WAN transformation is a key component of HPEs Intelligent Edge and edge-to-cloud vision and growth strategy. Armed with a comprehensive SD-WAN portfolio with the addition of Silver Peak, we will accelerate the delivery of a true distributed cloud model and cloud experience for all apps and data wherever they live.

Keerti Melkote, president of Intelligent Edge for Hewlett Packard Enterprise and founder of Aruba Networks, said, I am very excited to welcome the Silver Peak team to the Aruba family. With the evolving nature of the hybrid workplace, enterprises are looking to extend connectivity to branch locations and enable secure work-from-home experiences. By combining Silver Peaks advanced SD-WAN technology with Arubas SD-Branch and remote worker solutions, customers can simplify branch office and WAN deployments to empower remote workforces, enable cloud-connected distributed enterprises, and transform business operations without compromise.

As part of the acquisition, Silver Peak founder and CEO David Hughes, will join HPE as the senior vice president of the WAN business within Aruba.

Comprehensive WAN Portfolio to Meet Customer Needs

Enterprises are increasingly investing in SD-WAN technologies as legacy WAN architectures incur relatively high costs and are cumbersome to operate. Aruba and Silver Peak share a common vision and goal to provide simplicity, scalability, and application-awareness at the edge. Arubas all-in-one SD-Branch portfolio and remote worker solutions, combined with Silver Peaks self-driving SD-WAN and WAN optimization solutions, allow Aruba to better address a wide set of customer requirements in order to capitalize on a promising market opportunity.

David Hughes, founder of Silver Peak and senior vice president of the WAN business at Aruba, said, I look forward to leading the new WAN business unit within Aruba and accelerating our customers edge-to-cloud transformation initiatives. Digital transformation, cloud-first IT architectures, and the need to support a mobile work-from-anywhere workforce are driving enterprises to rethink the network edge. The combination of Silver Peak and Aruba will uniquely enable customers to realize the full transformational promise of these IT megatrends.

Transaction Details

Silver Peak is another example of HPE successfully accelerating its strategy and enhancing its competitive position through acquisitions. Bringing together Aruba and Silver Peak will strengthen HPEs Intelligent Edge business and drive significant revenue opportunities which will be accretive to the Intelligent Edge segment revenue growth and gross margin. We expect the transaction to be neutral to non-GAAP EPS in FY22.

HPE will discuss how the integration of Silver Peak will create value and enhance growth and profitability at its Securities Analyst Meeting on October 15, 2020.
Google owns the worlds leading search engine, it operates the largest video-hosting service in YouTube, and its popular web browser, email, map and meeting software is used by billions of people. But its financial heft  the source of nearly all its enormous profits  is advertising. And perhaps no day was more pivotal in transforming Google into a powerhouse across the entire digital advertising industry than April 13, 2007, when the company clinched a deal to buy DoubleClick for $3.1 billion. The deal turned out to be a total game changer, a crucial ...
'It might get worse. We don't really know what is it that is resulting in the high value of R now.'

IMAGE: People queue to enter a metro station in New Delhi, September 14, 2020. Photograph: Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters

You may not be able to treat epidemics with mathematics.

But you can certainly fight epidemics with math.

COVID-19 too.

Ever since the epidemic began, in a science lab in Chennai, Professor Sitabhra Sinha has donned a white coat to combat COVID-19 by manipulating numbers and statistics to second-guess the course the devious virus will take in India and its speed.

A professor of Computational Biology and Theoretical Physics at the Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Chennai, Professor Sinha, who has a special interest in applications of statistical physics to the analysis of socio-economic phenomena, earned his doctorate from the Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata.

He has worked at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore and the Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York.

As a member of the Indian Scientists Response to COVID-19 team, Professor Sinha has been observing the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic ever since it touched our shores early this year.

Being scientists and mathematicians, for Professor Sinha and his colleagues estimations of the growth/shrinking rates of the epidemic across India comes from studying the disease's crucial R value, that all-informative, all-important effective reproduction number that is a method of determining COVID-19's capacity to spread (external link), judging by how many people, on an average, a single infected person can transmit the virus to.

By looking at the incidence data for India as a whole, the states and for the major cities, they then try to quantify the rate at which the active number of cases is evolving by examining the reproduction number and discover how the number of active cases is going to grow or shrink, through short-term forecasts or nowcasting.

At the same time this statistical analysis, which is based on assumptions, gives an indication of how the pandemic is evolving across the country in what Professor Sinha terms as a "heterogenous fashion."

IMAGE: A health worker distributes tea to COVID patients at the CWG covid care centre in New Delhi, September 20, 2020. Photograph: Supreet Sapkal/ANI Photo

Till August India was doing good

"Until about August, there was a steady decline in R, possibly because of the strict implementation of the social distancing measures and other measures, which had been put in place."

Around mid-August Professor Sinha says R measured to be around 1.05, on an average across India, much lower than the 1.83 it began at in March.

When R becomes 1 it essentially indicates plateauing because it means the number of new cases that are arising is exactly balanced by the number of recoveries - one for one.

And if R falls below one, that's even better news.

It shows that people are recovering at a rate faster than new infections are occurring.

"If you can maintain R less than one for a sustained period of time, effectively you can contain the epidemic," Professor Sinha tells Vaihayasi Pande Daniel/Rediff.com.

But the reverse would be disastrous and R shoots up to a value much greater than one.

The epidemic will keep growing and mushrooming, if even more people are getting infected per day than are recovering.

Using similar calculations, if no measures are taken to contain the epidemic, the fraction of the total population that will be affected, works out close to 60 per cent of India's population, he says.

"It's only when the total number of infected people comes to do some kind of a significant fraction of that, that we could see the natural tapering off of the epidemic."

Looking at the present case statistics it is evident that the epidemic has so far just "barely scratched the surface" given that approximately only 0.33 per cent Indians have been infected till date (a percentage of total cases of 4.6 million against our 1.3 billion population).

You can contrast that with World No 1 America where 2 per cent Americans are already infected.

"Given that we are nowhere close to that (60 per cent) and R went down from 1.83 to 1.05, around mid-August, it means that all the containment measures which were put in place were responsible for this decline."

Although at the moment he says R is around 1.09.

GRAPH: Short-term projection of active cases for India based on the current rate of growth.

If R remains unchanged we would most probably see India breach a million active cases by the middle of this month - just after Sept 15 or so. Kind courtesy Professor Sitabhra Sinha

Patterns across India

Professor Sinha says that the report card for different parts of India is constantly changing.

Delhi is a case in point. Till end it had managed to keep its R less than one.

"It looked for a while that by mid-September or so, they would have their active case count in the hundreds."

But the landscape quickly changed when by August 2, Delhi's R went above one and ever since then they have not been able to take it back down.

"At present it's actually quite high. I believe it's about 1.2 or thereabouts." While India is at the moment about 1.09."

Some states, who were in the top dozen, are still doing better.

Tamil Nadu and West Bengal have succeeded in getting their R value below one.

But they need to take heed of what happened in Delhi and it is critical that they sustain it.

Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh have shown a marginal increase in their R values recently.

Maharashtra has unfortunately been consistently in the top two states in the state ranking of active cases.

"Whenever we saw the India R value tipping (lower), you could see that it was primarily contributed by any drop in the figure for Maharashtra."

That said Maharashtra has worked hard to lower its R value some.

So, while there is definite progress, its figures are not ideal.

The red herrings have been Chhattisgarh and Odisha, which out of nowhere joined the top dozen states club.

Chhattisgarh is ninth in the list of states with the highest active case count.

Professor Sinha says Chhattisgarh went completely below the radar.

"They started with a very small active case count. Sometime around early July, the effective reproduction numbers suddenly spiked to something like 1.36 or thereabout -- very high compared to the India-wide average."

"The number of active cases was actually, magnitude-wise, very low -- we weren't paying too much attention to it. But they had a very high value of R which was maintained for a fairly long time. Essentially, it maintained at 1.35 or thereabouts through the whole of August, which is the reason why they have a large number of cases at the moment there."

Assam also had a sudden spurt in between.

But it has "kind of steadied itself but has a pretty high active case count because of this sudden spurt in R."

IMAGE: A healthcare worker takes a swab for a rapid antigen test at a brick kiln in Rajoda village in Gujarat, September 18, 2020. Photograph: Amit Dave/Reuters

Cities vs rural areas

Until about August it was primarily the cities which were driving the large active case counts, says Professor Sinha.

If you looked at it, state-wise, it was districts with large cities that were driving up a state's count.

In Tamil Nadu it was mostly Chennai and its neighboring districts, Kanchipuram and Madurai, which were contributing to the state's high R value.

In Maharashtra it was Mumbai, Pune and surrounding districts of Mumbai.

In West Bengal it was Kolkata and nearby North 24 Parganas and in Telangana it was largely because of Hyderabad.

"When states like for example, Chhattisgarh and Odisha start coming up in a big way on the list of states, it means that the pandemic focus has kind of shifted from the big metros to maybe middle-tier towns and possibly rural areas."

He wouldn't go so far as to say that the rural areas were/are at any point driving the pandemic, he says.

"We always see, for example, in states like Bihar, Jharkhand, whenever they come up, it's for very short periods of time. They have extremely high values of R, but then within a few days that kind of dies out.

Bihar and Jharkhand fall in a different basket of states because "the typical trend in these kinds of states, without major metropolitan cities, is the rises come in brief bursts. They have one week of extremely high R value. Following that R will quickly fall and the active case count will actually reflect this. The large value fall means that the active case count will shoot up for a while, but then when R falls back, it will again start slowing. You see this series of growth spurts and collapses."

In rural areas, or states with less dense urban population, when case numbers falls after a spike, "not having actual information about the kind of containment measures (put in place), it's very hard to say whether it's because of containment effects taken by the district administration or there's a natural kind of fizzling out."

Natural fizzling out, Professor Sinha says is possible because in order for the disease to flourish, it needs to find susceptible individuals ie warm bodies.

"That's actually one of the reasons why COVID-19 grows much faster in urban areas where there's a high density of population than in rural areas where the local population density is much lower."

"If you have a scenario where the disease is propagating in a relatively sparse population, where transportation is not readily available, so that people, who are already infected, cannot travel across large distances and inadvertently infect people in other areas, you would naturally have some increases, where the disease is going to quickly spread among the local population. But because it can't travel beyond the capabilities of the transportation system at that point, it will essentially exhaust itself and then just die out."

IMAGE: A crowded street in Delhi, September 13, 2020. Photograph: Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters

How sudden spurts can happen

Areas, cities or states are often successful in getting their R below one.

But another cluster of the disease is all you need to have and R will go up again.

Professor Sinha cites the example of the Coimbatore cluster in Tamil Nadu, which caused a huge spurt sometime in May or June.

"All that happened was essentially, in this wholesale market, a group of people were infected by the disease. They had come from different parts of the state and when they went back, they essentially helped spread the disease to quite a large number of districts.

"Some kind of event like that, and it's very hard to control it, if you allow people to move relatively freely. The moment such events happen, you would have fresh epicenters of the epidemic arising in different parts. You'd have to go all out to contain each of these.

The appearance of cluster is, he says "quite inevitable" if the authorities start relaxing their stricter checks on movement of people.

It is also a question of luck too. "All you need is something like the Coimbatore cluster emerging to kind of wipe out the gains of several weeks of containment."

Accuracy of data

IMAGE: Professor Sitabhra Sinha IMAGE: Professor Sitabhra Sinha

Since, while making assessments of the spread of COVID-19, there's a real possibility that they are not getting the all the cases, Professor Sinha says, "That's why we estimate not the total case count, but rather the growth rate. Because the growth rate is essentially a proportion, right. It's basically asking -- given that you have this many known cases -- how many other people are going to get infected.

He adds, "Presumably your testing rate would not change overnight so that you would also have a very similar proportion of undetected cases at a future point of time. Assuming that you have drastically changed your testing criteria within a short period of time, the growth rate is going to be unaffected, because essentially the proportion of people you're missing would be consistent at different time points. So that's why we use this much more robust measure."

IMAGE: A health worker checks a COVID patient at the CWG covid care centre in New Delhi, September 20, 2020. Photograph: Supreet Sapkal/ANI Photo

End of the pandemic: When 60 per cent of India gets the disease or the vaccine - whichever comes first?

When and if an effective vaccine, comes out it will halt the march of the pandemic.

How many people need to be vaccinated for that to happen?

"Once the vaccine is given to enough number of people -- which also one can estimate from the R value ie what proportion of population do you need to give the vaccine to -- of course, you are you will be preventing a recurrence of the epidemic."

But in the absence of a vaccine, he says the only way to ensure that the epidemic is going away is just to "let it play out."

That philosophy did not work in Sweden where they thought they would allow the epidemic to "run its natural course".

But the furor caused by an extremely high death rate among the elderly forced that country's authorities to quickly change their policies.

In absence of the vaccine, Professor Sinha says, "The continuing measures while they have not killed the epidemic, have managed to keep the epidemic burden to manageable levels, where at least it's not causing our health infrastructure to collapse. We've certainly have not seen, the kind of chaos that we saw in Italy and Spain in March and April. Yes and New York, exactly."

This in effect has prevented drastic "upswing of the epidemic" and bought India a few benefits.

"But I think everybody agrees that the kind of containment measures that succeeded in getting R down to 1.05 are simply not sustainable. If you want people to go back to life as it was it's simply not possible to keep doing this indefinitely."

Professor Sinha says India has to make a call on "whether we should keep waiting for the vaccine and in the meantime, at least, allow certain containment measures to be still kept in place. Or do we just let people go back to their ways and allow the epidemic take its natural course?"

IMAGE: Women at an open-air gym in a municipal park in Kolkata, September 21, 2020. Photograph: Rupak De Chowdhuri/Reuters

Why the situation is not that bad

When active case counts were not growing that high because the R value was close to 1.05, COVID-19 didn't look like what it was predicted to be in spite of the "alarming projections of how many deaths we will see."

That, Professor Sinha says could have cause people to become complacent and feel that the disease assessments were all "hyped up" and lose their guard quickly.

But it didn't.

"We also have to take into account the fact that, to some extent, we didn't see those extremely high number of deaths because of the fact that people took precautions and there were containment methods which were put in place.

He explains further: "Let me also put it this way: After the announcement of the Unlock Phase 1 and Phase 2, I was expecting to see R climb to a very large value from what it was at that time. It was that time around 1.15 or thereabouts. I was expecting that within two weeks of phase two, it will go back to 1.4 or 1.5 or thereabouts. When it didn't -- in fact, it decreased after that -- I was actually very surprised this happened."

There was only one possibility why this happened, he reasoned: "People were -- even though they were not forced to do it -- adapting good practices like wearing face masks, maintaining some degree of physical distance with each other."

The increase in R has come quite some time later. "For me, the big surprise was why we didn't show a much higher value of R even earlier. If we hadn't taken those measures, definitely the number of deaths would have been much higher."

A higher R value has come now, after a delay and that is part of the cycle of the disease given there has been a loosening of containment measure.

Is it probably going to get worse? "It might get worse. We don't really know what is it that is resulting in the high value of R now."

The Chart

The actual effective reproduction numbers obtained with data upto September 7 for India, as well as for the top dozen or so states in terms of current active cases. Kind courtesy Professor Sitabhra Sinha.

India Estimated over Aug 24-Sept 7 R: 1.09 +/- 0.005 (r>0.998,p=0)

1 Maharashtra Estimated over Aug 25-Sept 1 R: 1.12 +/- 0.01 (r=0.998,p=0) Estimated over Sept 2-7 R: 1.18 +/- 0.03 (r>0.99,p=0.0001) 2 Andhra Pradesh Estimated over Aug 22-Sept 2 R: 1.07 +/- 0.01 (r<-0.99,p=0) Estimated over Sept 3-7 R: 0.94 +/- 0.01 (r=-0.995,p=0.0004) 3 Karnataka Estimated over Aug 30-Sept 5 R: 1.13 +/- 0.02 (r>0.99,p=0) 4 Uttar Pradesh Estimated over Aug 26-31 R: 1.08 +/- 0.01 (r=0.998,p=0) Estimated over Sept 1-7 R: 1.10 +/- 0.01 (r=0.998,p=0) 5 Tamil Nadu Estimated over Aug 30-Sept 7 R: 0.98 +/- 0.01 (r<-0.99,p=0) 6 Telangana Estimated over Aug 23-29 R: 1.27 +/- 0.04 (r>0.99,p=0) Estimated over Aug 30-Sept 4 R: 1.06 +/- 0.02 (r>0.99,p=0.0001) 7 Assam Estimated over Aug 27-Sept 5 R: 1.24 +/- 0.03 (r>0.99,p=0) At present decreased to less than 1.1 but no robust estimate 8 Odisha Estimated over Aug 25-29 R: 1.13 +/- 0.03 (r>0.99,p=0.0005) Estimated over Sept 4-7 R: 1.13 +/- 0.03 (r>0.998,p=0.0014) 9 Chhattisgarh Estimated over Aug 4-Sept 7 R: 1.35 +/- 0.01 (r>0.998,p=0) 10 West Bengal Estimated over Aug 22-Sept 7 R: 0.93 +/- 0.01 (r<-0.995,p=0) 11 Kerala Estimated over Aug 30-Sept 3 R: 0.88 +/- 0.03 (r<-0.99,p=0.001) At present marginally above 1 but no robust estimate 12 Delhi Estimated over Aug 23-Sept 7 R: 1.22 +/- 0.02 (r>0.99,p=0) *For a few states these estimates are over multiple periods to show that in some cases R is increasing, while in others it is decreasing.

For example, Delhi and UP got marginally worse in early September, while Andhra Pradesh and Telangan have improved with R falling.

Most worrying is the rapid increase in active cases in Chhattisgarh,currently ranked 9th which has an extremely high R consistently for more than a month now.

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com
PM Narendra Modi

Since 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has visited 58 countries at a total expenditure of Rs 517 crore, the government said on September 22.

The details were provided by the Ministry of External Affairs in the Rajya Sabha, in response to an unstarred question.

Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan, in a written reply, gave details including the outcome of the said visits.

"The total expenditure on these visits was Rs 517.82 crore," he said.

PM Modi has made five trips each to the US, Russia, and China, in addition to the multiple visits to some other countries like Singapore, Germany, France, Sri Lanka, and the United Arab Emirates.

His last trip was a visit to Brazil on November 13-14 in 2019, where he attended a BRICS (Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa) summit.

Muraleedharan said Modi's visits to the countries have enhanced their understanding of India's perspectives on bilateral, regional and global issues.

He added that the visits helped in strengthening India's relations with the countries in a wide range of sectors including trade and investment, technology, defence collaboration and people-to-people contact.

"These, in turn, have contributed to India's national development agenda to promote economic growth and well being of our people," the minister said."India is now increasingly contributing to shaping the global agenda at the multilateral level including on climate change, trans-national crime and terrorism, cyber security and nuclear non-proliferation, and offering to the world its own unique initiatives for global issues like the International Solar Alliance," he added.
Has anyone asked Hemasiri Fernando why he thought that he was the most suitable person for the post of Secretary to the Ministry of Defense? Why he doesn't feel that it is an essential to explain his inability to tender the resignation when, as he accused, then the President was sidelining and intimidating him?

Editorial

The previous government was confused. Once a government with confusion comes to power, many are waiting to take advantage of it like what has happened during the last government. Those on duty with excellence were subjected to false accusations and those who abused their positions without doing anything were crowned. As the result, like many other institutes, the security forces and the police department further deteriorated. The consequences of that deterioration were dire.

Mr Hemasiri Fernando shortly after the terror attacks on Easter in 2019 is talking to media





The terrorist attacks on Easter in 2019 symbolized this very collapse of the institutional structure. Many alleged, however, that the attacks could have been prevented. Once something happens, it is very easy to give different interpretations to it. As an old saying goes, the answer is philosophical as long as the question is not theirs. The same can be said of the statements made by many about the Easter bombing in 2019 by killing nearly 300 unarmed innocents. The attacks, we believe, was a collective failure of the state machinery and political leaderships.

The former Secretary to the Ministry of Defense Mr Hemasiri Fernando was also one of the officials who gave evidence before the investigative commission initiated by the current government to probe the terror attacks. No one seems to have asked him the question of why he thought he was the most suitable person for the post when he became Secretary of Defense. Isnt it important for him to explain his inability to tender the resignation when, as he accused, then the President was sidelining and intimidating him?

Mr Basnayake was appointed as the first Secretary to the Ministry of Defense during the previous government which was administered under the slogan of good governance. He was given that position because he was the most senior person after counting his tenure in the administrative service. Mr Hettiarachchi, who was a friend of Mr Sirisena and had no knowledge of security but administration, was appointed as the successor of Mr Basnayake. Thereafter Mr Kapila Vaidyaratne was appointed to the post. He sought to understand all the scope of national security based on his legal knowledge alone. All three were failed as secretaries. Then, Hemasiri Fernando, who once served in the Navy, was appointed to the post. He made a great effort to get that position. He was not forcibly appointed to the post by the President. As reports indicated at the time, Mr Hemasiri worked hard to get the post.

However, Mr Hemasiri Fernando was the last choice of former President Maithripala Sirisena because the other secretaries appointed to the Ministry of Defense were utter failures. Hemasiri Fernando was the fourth secretary to be appointed by former President Maithripala Sirisena to the post of Chief Administrative Officer (secretary) of the Ministry of Defense in about five years. This shows the extent to which Mr Sirisena, one of the most senior politicians in the country, had an understanding of the subject of national security. It is also a matter of inquiry as to whether those who have been appointed to office have done what the State and its leadership have expected of them while maintaining the dignity of that position.

Some say that Hemasiri's history is full of political manoeuvres and appointments. Also, many refer to him as an unscrupulous thief. Whether these allegations are true or not remain to be seen what he did after taking over as Secretary of the Ministry of Defense and what the consequences were. As the harvest of having four secretaries in five years, the ships without guns and ships with toilet-sized operating compartments have been handed over to the Sri Lanka Navy at exorbitant prices. The list goes on and on.

How did people like Hemasiri become so important in the country? Were most of these people elected at the behest of President Sirisena? Were they asked if they had an understanding of the duties they were required to perform in assigning positions in most sensitive areas of the country? Only those who have been appointed and the person who has been appointed know the truth. Constructive answers to those questions are essential. Only then can we find out how the background to the Easter attacks was set.

However, according to Mr Hemasiri, the former head of the state intelligence service should take responsibility for the attacks. He has said that not only he but also the suspended IGP Pujith Jayasundara had performed his duties correctly. He says the state intelligence service did not provide him with a written statement confirming the attack. Many of the witnesses also said that the state intelligence service had failed to identify Zaharan Hashim, a key figure in the attack, as a terrorist. Therefore they took this issue lightly. All these stories are just attempts by individuals to cover up their failures. It is noteworthy to mention here that the LTTE was first proscribed as a terrorist organization in Sri Lanka from 1998 to 2002. The LTTE was again proscribed as a terrorist organization in 2009, but Pirabaharan killed the first unarmed man in 1975. Sri Lankan government did not proscribe the LTTE as a terrorist organization for many years for various political reasons. Did the then secretaries of the Ministry of defence or any other competent authority advise the army and other security apparatus not to fight against them because they were not designated as terrorists?

Mr Hemasiri told the national and international media shortly after the Easter attacks that he knew the attack was taking place but did not think it was such a serious attack. Is that not enough to prove his folly and ignorance? But he now says he has fulfilled his responsibilities. He seeks to place full responsibility for the attack on the head of the former state intelligence director. This is ugly and nonsense.

According to Mr Hemasiri and his colleagues, it is not enough for an intelligence service to verify intelligence and provide analysed information in whatever means of communications but like the legislation, the intelligence should give him in writing in decorated files. Only then will he act on that information. In which country on earth is engaging in intelligence in such a manner? Isnt it fair to say that the President Sirisena should apologize for appointing such megalomaniac person to important positions in the country that led to the carnage?

One thing is clear from the whole incident. That is, Mr Hemasiri and his team have no basic knowledge of national security and its scope. Also, they did not have the calibre to take responsibility for acting on the intelligence provided. They only knew how to get a position by licking someones feet. The country and the innocent always have to pay the price. This is the true nature of ugly and cruel self-deception. Shouldn't these swindlers be held accountable if justice is to be done to the victims of the Easter terror attacks and to protect the officials who have done their duty properly?

Mr Hemasiri, take a deep breath and go to your library, if you have one, turn the pages of a wonderful account on mankind, The Brothers Karamazov, written by Fyodor Dostoevsky, where the author helped common man to educate that, above all, don't lie to yourself. The man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to a point that he cannot distinguish the truth within him, or around him, and so loses all respect for himself and for others. And having no respect he ceases to love.




For the second consecutive year, CNH Industrial has been ranked amongst the ten most innovative companies in Brazil. The award, which recognizes the Company's contribution to innovation, is conferred by the Valor Economico newspaper in partnership with consultancy firm Strategy&.

London, September 22, 2020

Innovation is at the core of CNH Industrial N.V. (NYSE: CNHI / MI: CNHI), and is key for all 12 of its brands. The Company's continued investment in research and development, coupled with the nurturing of a culture of collaborative innovation has resulted in significant benefits for its customers. Research carried out by the Brazilian national financial newspaper, Valor Economico, in partnership with Strategy&, a PwC strategic consultancy, has ranked CNH Industrial amongst the most innovative companies in Brazil for the third consecutive year, and for the second year in a row as one of country's top ten most innovative. The results were announced at a virtual awards ceremony held on September 17.

In 2019, CNH Industrial invested a total of $1 billion US dollars in research and development, 10% of which was invested in South American projects. CNH Industrial has seven R&D Centers in South America employing some 600 people: Betim, Contagem, Curitiba, Sete Lagoas, Sorocaba and Piracicaba, in Brazil and Cordoba, Argentina. This forms part of a global network of 56 R&D Centers with some 6,000 employees worldwide.

"CNH Industrial believes that everyone can innovate, anytime and everywhere. It's something that involves all our teams," said Vilmar Fistarol, General Manager South America, CNH Industrial. "Innovation is generated by the diversity of our teams, and by our multicultural DNA. It is a driving force to generate valuable insights for the creation of new solutions, to constantly improve our customers' experience with our products, day-to-day services and relationships, as well as improving society's development indicators through a direct focus on sustainability."

In 2019, in Brazil alone, CNH Industrial deposited 72 industrial design patents, a 118% increase over 2018, making it the private Brazilian company with the most domestically developed patents. In total, CNH Industrial holds some 11,000 patents worldwide, with more than 1,300 active in Brazil.

The 'Valor Inovacao Brasil' Award aims to evaluate consistently and systematically the innovation practices of companies operating in Brazil across a range of sectors. The ranking is based on four pillars of the innovation chain: intention to innovate, commitment to carry out the innovation, results obtained and the market evaluation. In addition to the overall top ten ranking, the leaders in each of the 21 sectors analyzed are also ranked.

CNH IndustrialN.V.

Sign up for corporate news alerts from the CNH Industrial Newsroom:

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Media contact:

Laura Overall

Corporate Communications Manager

CNH Industrial

Tel. +44 (0)2077 660 338

Email: mediarelations@cnhind.com

www.cnhindustrial.com

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You may already be aware that diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs either when the body does not produce enough insulin (known as type 1 diabetes) or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces (known as type 2 diabetes). Both of these conditions lead to hyperglycemia or an increased concentration of glucose in the blood.

Why diabetes prevention and treatment matters

According to a study, published in the journal Diabetes Care in 2003, type 2 diabetes, in particular, is reaching epidemic proportions in urban India, owing predominantly to the rise in one of the biggest risk factors for the disease  obesity. The study states that theres an increase in adolescent obesity across urban India, which is leading to diabetes onset at a very young age among Indians. This is especially concerning because an increase in diabetes prevalence is likely to also lead to an increase in all the other diseases diabetes is associated with, including cardiovascular disease, nerve damage, kidney damage, eye damage, skin conditions and even Alzheimers disease.

The effects of diabetes can be even more far-reaching, according to new research presented at the annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD). The modelling study, soon to be published in Cardiovascular Endocrinology & Metabolism, suggests that the life expectancy of a person with type 1 diabetes is eight years less and that a person with type 2 diabetes is two years less than the average person without diabetes. This UK-based study also suggests that, compared to men, the average lost life years for women was much higher than in men with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

Though population and epidemiological studies need to be conducted in more countries, including India, to find out if the average lost life years remains the same, the fact that diabetes does lead to debilitated life quality and lower life expectancy is undeniable.

Hot baths for type 2 diabetes prevention?

Another research presented at the virtual annual meeting of the EASD suggests that taking regular hot baths may improve glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels, thereby reducing a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes. Glycated hemoglobin is a measure of blood sugar control that refers to the blood molecules to which glucose or sugar has stuck to. Higher glycated hemoglobin levels indicate high blood sugar, which is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes.

Many studies have suggested that various forms of heat therapy, like hot baths and saunas, can help reduce body fat levels and improve glycated hemoglobin levels. However, the previous studies lacked precise data to indicate that hot water baths can be used as a reliable form of therapy for patients with type 2 diabetes. For this study, the researchers followed the bathing habits of 1,297 patients with type 2 diabetes at the Kohnodai Hospital, Japan, between 2018 and 2019, and studied the association between the frequency of bathing and metabolic parameters of the patients.

Its necessary to be mentioned here that hot water baths are ritually and traditionally part of the Japanese lifestyle and a majority of the population engages in it. It was, therefore, easier to measure the benefits of hot water baths in such a population. After adjusting for age, sex, BMI and insulin use, the study found that a mean frequency of hot water bathing 4.2 times a week for a mean duration of 16 minutes was associated with a decrease in body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, diastolic blood pressure and glycated hemoglobin levels.

An increased frequency of bathing was thus associated with decreasing levels of glycated hemoglobin. Whats more, hot water bathing more often was also associated with better blood pressure control and weight management. The researchers therefore concluded that daily exposure to heat via a hot water bath can improve the conditions of type 2 diabetes patients and may reduce the risk factors associated with it too. Whether hot water baths can be recommended to Indian diabetes patients or those at risk of diabetes, especially given the higher temperatures in the subcontinent, remains to be seen.

For more information, read our article on Diabetes.

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.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) arrives at a news conference in Washington on June 16. (Associated Press)

To the editor: The death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsbug is a reminder that, in recent years, it's been Democrats yearning for the good old days. ("Republicans eager to fill Supreme Court seat as Romney falls in line," Sept. 22)

On the environment, they just want to keep the climate normal; it's Republicans who are OK with global warming and more catastrophes. On gun control, the Democrats just want mass shootings to be rare, like before; it's Republicans who accept them as normal.

On abortion, the Democrats just want to keep it as a constitutionally protected freedom, as it has been for 47 years; it's Republicans who want to allow states to criminalize it. On economics, they just want a solid middle class, as in the past; it's Republicans who are fine with the growing wealth gap.

Republicans constantly accuse the other side of wanting to change America beyond recognition, but theyre the ones sitting back and watching it go to hell. After all, for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), this is easier than passing smart legislation.

And don't get me started on "conservative" Donald Trump. He's the most radical president ever, and the worst.

Ryan Stevens, Los Angeles

..

To the editor: It is deeply upsetting to see the contrast, displayed by some in Congress, between the effort to alleviate the suffering resulting from the spread of the coronavirus, and what they are doing to fill the Supreme Court seat vacated by Ginsburg as quickly as possible.

It speaks volumes that there are politicians who, at this time, are focusing their energies on the process of appointing a new Supreme Court justice without delay rather than applying that same level of effort and determination on helping those of us who have lost our livelihoods or have become sick.

What does it say about us, as a people, that we elect men and women who prioritize filling a seat on the Supreme Court over supporting us throughout a pandemic?

Story continues

Jamie Andres-Larsen, Santa Cruz

..

To the editor: I find it hard to believe that in this day and age, I read that a senator, Republican Josh Hawley of Missouri, would vote only for a Supreme Court nominee who promises to overturn Roe vs. Wade.

This man should have no right to tell any woman how her body should be treated. For that matter, no woman should have the right to tell another woman how her body should be treated.

Where is the justice? Where is the equality? Now that our beloved RBG is no longer fighting for our rights, we need to yell and scream to be heard.

As United States citizens, we demand that you keep your hands off us.

Judith Braun, Woodland Hills

..

To the editor: The loving op-ed article by Miriam Seifter and Robert Yablon left me welling with tears, but of joy rather than sadness.

Their epitaph of admiration, respect, gratitude and, in the end, love for Ruth Bader Ginsburg while both clerking for her in 2008-09, described the human beneath the lace-necked black robe.

They allowed a glimpse into the inner sanctum of a Supreme Court Judge who used her extraordinary humanity and intelligence in equal measure. Her excitement that these two had began "dating" and eventually officiating at their wedding is just one more description of a life well-lived.

She left with so much more undone  surely unwillingly  but she did accomplish, she did with the dignity that was Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Thea Bernstein, Studio City
An Australian state leader on Tuesday described an Israeli court decision to extradite a former teacher wanted in Australia on charges of molesting children as a victory for abuse victims.

Daniel Andrews is premier of Victoria state where Malka Leifer is accused of molesting three sisters  Dassi Erlich, Nicole Meyer and Elly Sapper  while they were students at a Melbourne ultra-Orthodox school.

Andrews welcomed a Jerusalem District Court ruling on Monday that Leifer could be extradited to Australia to stand trial for 74 charges of child sex abuse, potentially paving the way for the Israeli citizen to stand trial in Victoria after a six-year legal battle.

This is a very, a very significant day for victims of child sexual abuse across our entire state, and to come, as it does, so close to Jewish New Year, can I say Shanah Tovah to Dassi Erlich and her sisters, Andrews said, using a Hebrew New Year greeting.

Theyre heroes. The courage, the grace, and the dignity of those Victorians is quite amazing. Quite amazing, Andrews said.

This is a really, really good outcome for victims of child sexual abuse. And to Dassi and her family, to her sisters and extended family, they have our praise. We admire them, their strength is an inspiration, he added.

Andrews could not say if a trial would be expedited if Leifer returned to Melbourne, where the court system has been disrupted by a pandemic lockdown.

Erlick described the Israeli court decision as a huge, huge moment.

Nine years (have passed) since we gave our police statement, Erlick told Australian Broadcasting Corp. We never imagined at the time how long it would take and how big this moment would be, but we are finally here, she added.

Leifer, a former educator, has been fighting extradition from Israel since 2014. Leifer maintains her innocence and the battle surrounding her extradition has strained relations between Israel and Australia.

Earlier this month, Israels Supreme Court rejected an appeal by Leifers attorney over a Jerusalem courts ruling that she was mentally fit to stand trial, saying it was putting an end to the saga that has been drawn out for many years.

On Monday, the Jerusalem District Court ruled that Leifer could be extradited. The formal extradition now requires an order by Israels justice minister.

Leifers attorneys said they would appeal an extradition order to Israels Supreme Court, saying it would be a political decision.

Critics, including Leifers alleged victims, have accused Israeli authorities of dragging out the case for far too long.

There are said to be victims other than the three sisters.

The Associated Press does not usually identify alleged victims of sexual abuse, but the sisters have spoken publicly about their allegations against Leifer.

As accusations surfaced in 2008, Israeli-born Leifer left the school and returned to Israel, where she has lived since.
A mother-to-be who lost her baby in a 'practical joke gone wrong' has bravely vowed: 'I won't let this defeat me.'

Aspiring business owner Megan Meredith, 22, got out of her car to put rubbish in the bin when friend Keeley Harrison jumped behind the wheel.

Harrison, 20, locked the doors of the Ford KA and tried to drive away for the prank while she was egged on by friends in the back seat.

But Megan was left hanging on to the windscreen wipers as she tried to stop the car escaping.

Megan, who aims to set up her own beauty business, says she knows 'how dangerous cars are' and would never use them as a 'joke.'

Megan (pictured) found out she was pregnant when she was taken to hospital - but lost the baby after five-hour surgery for her injures

She said: 'I as an individual know how dangerous cars are, and that they are not to be messed around with.

'My whole family has experienced the tragedy of a serious car accident.'

She added: 'They cause devastation and leave families empty.'

Megan was flung from the bonnet and onto the road when her car was travelling up to 19mph in Bargoed, South Wales, in March last year.

Prosecutor Nigel Fryer said she found out she was pregnant when she was taken to hospital - but lost the baby after five-hour surgery for her injures.

Megan suffered a broken right ankle and broken right tibia which required lengthy surgery - and was later told her leg may never recover

Megan has now told how it has 'always been my dream' to have children and has bought her first home with fiance Rhys Weaver.

She said: 'Me and Rhys are planning for our future.'

Megan suffered a broken right ankle and broken right tibia which required lengthy surgery - and was later told her leg may never recover.

Recovery: Megan is still having on-going treatment for her leg and still awaiting operations which are delayed due to Covid-19

She spent two weeks at the Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil and had to take six months off work.

She added: 'I am still having on-going treatment for my leg and still awaiting operations which are delayed due to Covid.

'My physical well being is far from normal or how I used to be. I still have a lot to achieve and accomplish and I still have goals I want to hit, but I am far from those.

'But I am getting there. I won't let this defeat me. Not one bit.'

Keeley Harrison (pictured outside Cardiff Crown Court), 20, jumped into Megan's parked Ford Ka and started to drive as her friend clung to the bonnet

Cardiff Crown Court heard Harrison claimed her intention was to play a 'practical joke' on Megan - by driving around the coroner to make her think they were leaving.

Mr Fryer said: 'The car started to roll backwards and Ms Meredith lent on the bonnet, shouting at her not to drive the car, and there was laughing and joking in the vehicle. She also believed they were filming her on a phone.

'She felt the car move forward and was gripping onto the car to try and stop herself from falling. The defendant pulled out of the parking space while she was still on the bonnet and she accelerated up Upper High Street with Ms Meredith's legs dangling down.

In happier times: Megan (pictured in the centre) says she is no longer the person she was before and doesn't think she ever will be

'She felt the car was being driven fast and she tried to grab hold of the windscreen wipers but she fell off the front of the car onto her right-hand side.

'She felt confused initially and didn't know if she had passed out but when she tried to get up she described feeling horrific pain in her right leg.'

Megan said her friends did not believe she had broken her ankle and told her to get up.

In a victim personal statement, she said: 'This incident has ruined my life and I am worried about the future, my leg function, and employment.

'I'm not the person I was before and I don't think I'll ever be the same person again. I now have to live with these injuries for the rest of my life.'

In a victim personal statement Megan (pictured) said the incident has ruined her life and she's worried about the future, leg function, and employment

Support worker Harrison, of Brithdir, Caerphilly, told police she was driving the vehicle but claimed both parties were responsible.

She pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

Defence barrister Jenny Yeo said the pair were no longer friends.

She added: 'This is a tragic case for all concerned. It was a prank between two friends that went horribly wrong and my client takes full responsibility for her stupidity and her actions.'

The defendant Keeley Harrison (pictured) pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving and was banned from driving for two years and ordered to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work. Harrison and Megan are no longer friends

Sentencing, Judge Jeremy Jenkins handed Harrison an 18-month suspended sentence.

He said: 'Causing injury to your friend was the last thing on your mind, I have no doubt, but you have acknowledged how dangerous and foolish your actions were.'

Harrison was also banned from driving for two years and ordered to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work.
Fourteen of the largest Indian technology companies in the US had an aggregate of 6,663 approved for initial employment in 2019-20, the Parliament was informed on Tuesday.

"...the 14 largest Indian technology companies in the US had aggregate 6,663 approved for initial employment in the financial year 2019-20," Minister of State for Electronics and IT Sanjay Dhotre said, citing data from industry body Nasscom.

These form 7.9 per cent of the total 85,000 approved for cap and cap-exempt initial employment, he said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

"These 14 companies form 85-90 per cent of the H-1B visas issued to all Indian technology companies," Dhotre said.

The actual impact on Indian IT companies due to restrictions imposed by the US on H-1B visas can only be gauged in course of time, the minister added.

In response to a separate query, Dhotre said 190 companies have been allocated a total of 51,297 BPO/ITES seats to set up 276 BPO/ITES units across the country under the India BPO Promotion Scheme (IBPS).

"Out of these, 249 units have started operations providing direct employment to over 36,000 people," he added.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A man was shot and killed Monday night at a southwest Houston convenience store, police said.

One man shot another man around 8:10 p.m. in the parking lot of a convenience store on the 6500 block of Willowbend Boulevard, said Commander Ban Tien of the Houston Police Department. Officers found the victim dead inside the store with at least one gunshot wound.

Surveillance video showed the suspect fleeing on foot east on Willowbrook armed with a pistol, Tien said. The suspect was described as beimg approximately 17 to 22 years old and roughly 5'7" to 5'9" with slim build. He was wearing dark clothing.

Due to the weather, detectives arrived at the scene in a high water rescue vehicle, Tien said.
On May 22, Whisenant ordered 10 oxycodone pills containing fentanyl from Solis on behalf of the Marine, who died the next day from an overdose, according to the indictment. Whisenant and White met Solis with the Marine to complete the drug deal, according to court records.
Literacy specialists want the NSW Department of Education to explain why it kept funding and training teachers in a controversial reading program despite evidence it was poorly designed and based on outdated methods.

The Language, Learning and Literacy, or L3, program was last year used in three-in-five public schools, but the department will phase it out after an internal review found it ignored key research on the best way to teach children to read.

Reading specialists want to know why the NSW Department of Education kept funding a controversial reading program Credit:Michele Mossop

A similar program, Reading Recovery, was dumped in early 2018, while a 2017 study by the departments own evidence arm, the Centre for Education Statistics and Evaluation (CESE), stressed the importance of reading strategies that were ignored by L3.

The first significant review of the program, released by CESE this month, found the department also had little oversight of how well L3 was implemented in schools.
According to a video released on the Official Twitter account of the Ministry of Defense of Saudi Arabia on September 20, 2020, the Navy has taken delivery of the second and third batches of French HS132 fast interceptor boats during a ceremony that was held in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. The delivery comes as part of an agreement with the French CMN shipyard for the construction of 39 boats.

According to a video released on the Official Twitter account of the Ministry of Defense of Saudi Arabia on September 20, 2020, the Navy has taken delivery of the second and third batches of French HS132 fast interceptor boats during a ceremony that was held in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. The delivery comes as part of an agreement with the French CMN shipyard for the construction of 39 boats.

Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link

Saudi Navy has taken delivery of the second and third batches of French HS132 fast interceptor boats during a ceremony that was held in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. (Picture source Saudi Navy)

The delivery is part of a joint cooperation initiative in military manufacturing between Saudi Arabia and France. Adm. Fahad Al-Ghufaili, commander of the Royal Saudi Navy, received the HS132 vessels in the Kingdoms Eastern Province.



In April 2018, Navy Recognition has announced that Saudi company Zamil Offshore Services concluded an agreement worth 480 million dollars with the French shipbuilding company CMN for the construction of 39 HSI32 interceptors for a Saudi state agency, likely the Coast Guards. According to the agreement, 19 vessels are set to be built by CMN in Cherbourg, France, and the remaining 20 will be assembled at the facilities of Zamil Offshore Services in Saudi Arabia.



The HS132 is a fast interceptor vessel designed and built by French shipyard CMN, a part of Privinvest Shipbuilding Group, She is designed to conduct sea strike operations, search and rescue (SAR), maritime security, sea safety, convoy protection, sea policing, anti-piracy, protection of vulnerable vessels and offshore installations, and control of illegal immigration.



The HS132 has an overall length of 32.2 m, an overall beam of 7 m, and a maximum draught of 1.4 m. It can accommodate a crew of 12, while up to 64 personnel can be carried for search and rescue operations. A 4.8m-long outboard rigid-hulled inflatable boat (RHIB) can be deployed through a launch-and-recovery ramp at the stern of the ship.



The HS132 is armed with one 20 mm remote-controlled gun turret as well as two 12.7mm machine gun mounted on each side of the vessel. She is motorized with three diesel engines, two main generators, and three waterjets. She can sail at a maximum top speed of 43 kts with a maximum range of about 800 nm. at a speed of 12 kts or 580 nm. at 33 kts.
Patricia Heaton slams critics of Trumps SCOTUS list: They wouldnt recognize God if He bit them on the bum

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Outspoken pro-life actress Patricia Heaton slammed critics of President Donald Trumps yet-to-be-announced Supreme Court nominee, describing them as people who wouldnt recognize God if He bit them on the bum.

Heaton, who starred in the sitcoms Everybody Loves Raymond and The Middle, took to Twitter on Sunday where she predicted that social media would be filled with an onslaught of arrogant pronouncements based on breathtaking ignorance of religion in general, Christianity specifically and Catholicism in particularly by people who wouldnt recognize God if He bit them on the bum.

Friends, be prepared for social media to be filled with an onslaught of arrogant pronouncements based on breathtaking ignorance of religion in general, Christianity specifically and Catholicism in particularly by people who wouldnt recognize God if He bit them on the bum.  Patricia Heaton (@PatriciaHeaton) September 21, 2020

While Heaton did not mention the Supreme Court vacancy in her tweet, her social media post came less than 48 hours after the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Many on the left did not react well to the news, with Reza Aslan, who used to have a show CNN where he once ate human brains, threatened to burn the entire f***ing thing down if Trump and the Republicans tried to replace Ginsburg before the 2020 election. Similarly, politics writer Laura Bassett, whose work has been published by The Washington Post and Rolling Stone, threatened: "there will be riots. *more bigger riots."

Heaton also retweeted a Twitter post by Meghan McCain commenting about the threats to violence that have materialized after Ginsburgs death. No matter your politics on either side, no matter the issue, threatening violence and civil war makes you a deeply unserious, immature and reckless person, McCain said. Why would I listen to your political argument if this is what youre resorting to?

Heatons tweet predicting an onslaught of arrogant pronouncements displaying a breathtaking ignorance of Christianity and Catholicism likely reflects the fact that one of the frontrunners to replace Ginsburg, Amy Coney Barrett, has come under attack for her Catholic faith.

During her confirmation hearing to serve on the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., expressed concern that Barretts Catholic faith would hamper her ability to do her job as a judge impartially, telling her that the dogma lives loudly within you.

When Trump considered Barrett for the seat that became vacant following the retirement of longtime Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy in 2018, the criticism of Barretts Catholic faith resurfaced on social media.

Richard Painter, a law professor at the University of Minnesota, accused Barrett of belonging to a cult because of her membership in a religious group called People of Praise, where members had previously referred to their leaders as handmaidens.

In a later tweet, Painter expressed dismay that 'The 700 Club' and other fringe groups had supported Barrett, warning that a senate vote for her IS a vote to overturn Roe v. Wade. Barrett is not the only judge who has had her faith questioned by liberal politicians and others.

In 2018, Trump nominated Brian Buescher, a member of the Knights of Columbus, to serve as a federal judge in Nebraska. His membership in the Catholic organization caught the ire of Democratic Senators, including Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., the 2020 Democratic vice-presidential nominee.

Harris, along with Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, questioned Buescher about the extreme positions taken by the Knights of Columbus regarding marriage equality and a womans right to choose.

Hirono asked if Buescher was willing to end his membership with the organization to avoid any appearance of bias and worried that he would not be able to deal with reproductive rights and abortion issues fairly and impartially because of his membership in this organization.

The concerns about the religious beliefs of Trumps Supreme Court candidates have carried over into 2020. Even before Ginsburgs death on Friday, leftist groups had issued dire warnings about the additions to Trumps list of Supreme Court candidates, which he updated earlier this month. The atheist group Freedom From Religion Foundation described the presidents shortlist of jurists as a nightmare of Christian nationalism.

The president met with Barrett on Monday. She is one of several female contenders whose name has been raised as a possible replacement for Ginsburg. Trump is expected to announce his pick on Saturday.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 23:15:06|Editor: huaxia

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Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, inspects the recovering situation of the market from the COVID-19 disruption and purchases goods in Nanjing Road, east China's Shanghai, Sept. 21, 2020. Li made an inspection tour in Shanghai from Monday to Tuesday. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)

SHANGHAI, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has stressed efforts to advance reform and opening-up, promote innovation-driven development, and stabilize employment to consolidate the basis for China's restorative growth.

Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during his inspection tour in Shanghai from Monday to Tuesday.

Li visited the Shanghai pilot free trade zone (FTZ), Shanghai Jiaotong University, several companies, and the shopping street of Nanjing Road.

At the company of Ximalaya, which operates a popular audio sharing platform, the premier encouraged its content creators to come up with diverse audio products by using modern technology, so as to expand the market and enlarge employment.

During his trip to the Shanghai FTZ, Li said Shanghai should continue to act as a forerunner in reform and opening-up and set an even higher benchmark. While talking with Chinese and foreign engineers of SAP Labs China, a foreign-owned enterprise operating in the Shanghai FTZ, he stressed efforts to develop services for manufacturing by leveraging the industrial internet, deepen opening-up and cooperation, promote the upgrading of "Made in China," strengthen the industrial and supply chains, and foster new growth drivers.

At 51job.com, the country's leading human resource service provider, Li enquired about the current situation of the job market, salary levels, and the employment of college graduates. He urged its employees to further improve their services, as employment has a vital bearing on people's livelihoods and should be prioritized in China's efforts to stabilize the overall economy.

Li chaired a symposium at the Bank of Communications on financial support for the real economy. Proper strength of policies regarding financial support for the real economy should be maintained, and innovation in services should be enhanced while inclusive finance should be expanded, he said.

After listening to business owners in Nanjing Road who said the market has been recovering from the COVID-19 disruption, the premier said it would take time to see normal growth in consumption again, and called for continued efforts in balancing regular epidemic control with consumption recovery.

At Shanghai Jiaotong University, Li conducted in-depth exchanges with professors and scientists. He underscored the importance of stimulating the creativity of scientific research personnel, accelerating the industrialization and commercialization of scientific research findings, and turning them into real productivity.

The premier fully affirmed the achievements made by Shanghai in the prevention and control of the COVID-19 epidemic as well as its economic and social development.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 01:51:22|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- In his address to the unprecedented 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday appealed for international solidarity to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic, reiterated his call for a global ceasefire and warned against a new Cold War.

Addressing the largely empty General Assembly Hall in New York, the UN chief termed the pandemic from the podium as "not only a wake-up call" but "a dress rehearsal" for challenges to come.

"In an interconnected world, it is high time to recognize a simple truth: solidarity is self-interest. If we fail to grasp that fact, everyone loses," he said.

The secretary-general underscored the need for solidarity at this moment, particularly as countries least capable to address COVID-19 have received far too little assistance. He urged the UN's 193 member states to move forward in humility and unity in the face of the disease.

"And we must be guided by science and tethered to reality," he added. "Populism and nationalism have failed. Those approaches to contain the virus have often made things manifestly worse."

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, world leaders will not attend the annual gathering at UN headquarters, known as the General Debate. Instead, they have pre-recorded their speeches on video, although they have the right to deliver them in person - from their seats in the hall, not from the podium.

Talking about the on-going UNGA session, the UN chief said that "in a world turned upside down, this General Assembly Hall is among the strangest sights of all. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed our annual meeting beyond recognition. But it has made it more important than ever."

Guterres said the pandemic has exposed fragilities and inequalities across the globe. It has generated "an epochal health crisis," the biggest economic and job losses since the Great Depression, and dangerous new threats to human rights, among other challenges.

Turning to the call for a global ceasefire that he made in March, urging warring parties to "end the sickness of war and fight the disease that is ravaging our world," the secretary-general said that some 180 member states have endorsed the appeal, as have religious leaders, regional partners and civil society networks. Several armed movements also responded, some of whom announced ceasefires, though they were not sustained.

Guterres said he saw several reasons to be hopeful now, with the peace agreement in Sudan, and peace talks in Afghanistan, as just two examples. However, he feared terrorist and violent extremist groups will exploit the pandemic.

"Now is the time for a collective new push for peace and reconciliation," he said. "I appeal for a stepped-up international effort - led by the Security Council - to achieve a global ceasefire by the end of this year. We have 100 days. The clock is ticking."

The UN chief underscored that efforts must be made to "avert a new Cold War," noting that "we are moving in a very dangerous direction. Our world cannot afford a future where the two largest economies split the globe in a Great Fracture - each with its own trade and financial rules and internet and artificial intelligence capacities."

"A technological and economic divide risks inevitably turning into a geo-strategic and military divide. We must avoid this at all costs," he said.

Referring to gender equality, the UN chief said that the COVID-19 pandemic could also see progress on gender equality pushed back by decades, as women and girls are overwhelmingly affected by the social and economic fallout, including in areas such as employment and education.

"We must also stamp out the horrifying increase in violence against women and girls during the pandemic, from domestic violence to sexual abuse, online harassment and femicide," he said.

"This is a hidden war on women. Preventing and ending it requires the same commitment and resources that we devote to other forms of warfare."

In addition to his vison that recovering from COVID-19 must lead to a better future for all, the UN chief underscored the need for what he called a New Social Contract, at the national level, and a New Global Deal, applicable internationally.

Guterres explained that the New Social Contract has several components, such as ending exclusion, discrimination and racism, and establishing Universal Health Coverage and even a possible Universal Basic Income.

It also entails having fairer tax systems, providing education for all, harnessing digital technology, and ensuring human rights as well as opportunities for women and girls.

Turning to climate action, the UN chief encouraged countries to consider six climate-positive actions, ranging from green jobs and ending fossil fuel subsidies, to aligning any industry bailouts with international goals to limit global warming.

The New Global Deal seeks to make sure power, wealth and opportunities are fairly shared. He said it must be rooted in fair globalization, while sustainable development principles should be integrated into all decision-making.

The pact also must address historical injustices in global power structures.

Talking about multilateralism, Guterres once again noted that the 21st century multilateralism must be "networked" and "inclusive."

On UN's comprehensive response throughout the pandemic, the UN chief said that the UN system, led by the World Health Organization, has assisted governments, particularly in the developing world, including through providing personal protective equipment and other medical supplies to more than 130 countries.

The UN also launched the "verified" campaign to fight the "toxic virus" of misinformation surrounding COVID-19. It is also supporting efforts to develop a fair and equitable vaccine against the actual coronavirus, as well as treatments and therapies.

Speaking about the much expected COVID-19 vaccines, Guterres warned against what he called "vaccinationalism," as countries are reportedly making "side deals" for their own populations.

The secretary-general said that the UN has also pushed for a "massive" rescue package, equivalent to roughly 10 percent of global economic output, to get economies back up and running, he said.

"We need to ensure that the developing world does not fall into financial ruin, escalating poverty and debt crises," he said. "We need a collective commitment to avoid a downward spiral." Enditem
Professors Luke O'Neill and Matt Cooper will share a windfall of up to 26m following the sale of the healthcare business they co-founded just four years ago.

Inflazome develops drugs that block harmful inflammation, with potential use in the treatment of illnesses including Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and motor neurone disease.

Now the Dublin-based biotech firm Inflazome has been bought by Swiss healthcare giant Roche for 380m.

Inflazome previously hit the headlines when the firm got a $1m (885,000) grant from the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research last year.

Read More

The grant was to support the development of a brain- imaging probe for diagnosing patients, as well as the development of drugs to treat neurodegenerative diseases, including the two most common, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

Prof O'Neill was a media regular even before the pandemic, but has shot to even greater prominence during the Covid-19 emergency.

He had founded Inflazome in 2016 alongside Prof Cooper of University of Queensland, Australia, and they have since secured 55m of investment from backers including Novartis Venture Fund, Fountain Healthcare Partners, Forbion and Longitude Capital.

Those outside backers are understood to be the biggest shareholders in Inflazome ahead of its sale to global drug giant Roche, meaning they'll scoop the bulk of the windfall.

However, filings with the Companies Offices suggest Prof O'Neill and Prof Cooper still have a combined 6pc-7pc of shares between them.

That combined percentage is worth between 22.8m and 26.6m based on the 380m Roche said it's paying for the company. It is understood Prof Cooper has a slightly larger share of the two. The chief executive of Inflazome was yesterday tight-lipped on the ownership structure.

"I am not going to disclose any financials, it's not about me, it's about the patients," he told the Irish Independent.

With the deal taking place amid travel restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Prof Cooper, who is currently based in the UK, said it was a shame the team couldn't get together "and have a glass of bubbly".

Under the terms of the deal, shareholders are eligible to receive additional payments based on the achievement of certain milestones.

"We are delighted to close this deal with Roche, an outstanding pharmaceutical company with a broad commitment to multiple indications," Prof Cooper said.

"With Inflazome now part of the Roche organisation, Inflazome's pioneering molecules are well positioned to be developed quickly and effectively so they can help patients suffering from debilitating diseases."

In Ireland, around 55,000 people suffer from dementia, the most widespread form being Alzheimer's.

There are approximately 12,000 people living with Parkinson's here.

The acquisition is the latest in a string of deals in the medical sector this year in Ireland.

In June, Cork-based PrecisionBiotics, a probiotics company, was bought by Danish firm Novozymes for 80m. Shareholders included University College Cork and Enterprise Ireland.

In February, Clanwilliam Group took over software provider KM Medical Software, also based in Cork. The terms of the deal were undisclosed.
VANDALIA, Ohio -- Supporters of President Donald Trump expressed their displeasure with statewide mask mandates on Monday by loudly booing Lt. Gov. Jon Husted while he served as a warm-up speaker.

Standing on stage at the Dayton International Airport, Husted attempted to model a Trump 2020 face mask while telling a joke. He struggled to arrive at the punch line, as he was repeatedly interrupted by boos. One audience member yelled for Husted, a former Republican Ohio House speaker who represented the Dayton area in the state legislature during the 2000s, to get off the stage.

Hang on, I get it, Husted said. You dont like it. But when you go in a grocery store where you have to wear one... Just listen up!"

All right, I get it. But if somebody tells you to take it off, you can at least say youre trying to save the country by wearing one of President Donald Trumps masks, he eventually said.

Lt. Governor Jon Husted (R-OH) tries to promote pro-Trump masks at today's rally ... and is met with a huge chorus of boos. pic.twitter.com/1rR1bAwF89  The Recount (@therecount) September 21, 2020

Husted told the crowd he and Gov. Mike DeWine are co-chairs of the Trump campaign in Ohio, drawing more boos.

We are working to make sure hes victorious on Nov. 3, he said.

When he spoke later, Trump gave shout-outs to DeWine, whom he called a real good friend, and Husted.

Hes opening up. Hes opening up. Wheres Mike? Hes a good man," Trump said.

Monday wasnt the first time a member of the DeWine administration got booed at a Trump campaign event. During Vice President Mike Pences trip to Zanesville last Wednesday, Pence drew a few boos from the crowd when Pence mentioned the governors name. At another campaign event in suburban Columbus, an audience member called DeWine spineless," drawing cheers, according to the Columbus Dispatch.

But the reaction the crowd gave Husted Monday was much louder and sustained. At one point, a brief Open Up chant broke out, apparently referring to the DeWine administrations coronavirus-related business restrictions.

Im for it, Husted quipped.

DeWine was asked about the chilly reception hes received at Trump events during a news conference last Thursday.

Look, were making tough decisions. We have some people who are unemployed," DeWine said. We have people who dont want to wear a mask. And a lot of different things. Im going to keep focusing on what I need to do. I think thats my job. I think thats what people elected me to do, and Im going to keep doing that.

Husted spoke for 10 more minutes, encouraging voters to vote for the rest of the Republican ticket, including Ohio Supreme Court Justices Judy French and Sharon Kennedy, who are standing for re-election against Democratic opponents.

The crowd quieted down when Husted got off the topic of face masks, but booed again when Husted mentioned absentee voting. The hundreds in attendance indicated they planned to vote in person on Election Day, Nov. 3.

DeWine was slated to meet President Donald Trump at the airport runway, scheduled to happen shortly before 5 p.m. DeWine passed a coronavirus test, taking a PCR test, the type of test considered to be more accurate than the one that elicited a false positive for DeWine when the governor attempted to greet Trump at Clevelands Burke Lakefront Airport last month.

Husted tweeted about his speech shortly after he finished.

Glad to be in Dayton to welcome @POTUS @realDonaldTrump and support his policies that are pro-American business & pro American worker! #4MoreYears pic.twitter.com/YKuZrhq4IH  Jon Husted (@JonHusted) September 21, 2020

An earlier version of this story misstated at which Cleveland airport DeWine was to have met Trump. It has been corrected.
There's nothing quite like seeing a racing livery on a race-prepped machine. Whether it's the iconic blue and red theme of Martini Racing, the signature green and red tones of Castrol Racing, or even the yellow and blue motif of Japan's Spoon Sports, these liveries have become synonymous with racing.

Now, Honda is looking to make the Civic Type R have a world-famous racing livery as well. Honda will be joining the SRO Touring Car Americas event at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. Set to compete at the upcoming events are two units of the Civic Type R that will be fielded by L.A. Honda World Racing, a factory-authorized Honda dealership that competes in racing competitions in the U.S.

Designed, built, and sold by Honda Performance Development (HPD), these unique Civic Type R TCRs have a unique racing livery that is simple, yet eye-catching. Both cars feature a huge Honda logo painted in red in the middle of the roof. Meanwhile, the body gets a plethora of graphics that are finished in red and blue. But perhaps serving as the centerpiece of this livery is the huge L.A. Honda World graphic placed prominently on the center of the doors.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- https://cpsc.gov/Newsroom/News-Releases/2020/Kids-Dont-Have-Gills-and-Fins-like-Fish-They-Need-You-to-Keep-Them-Safer-In-and-Around-Water

Drowning remains the number one cause of unintentional death among children ages 1-4, and deaths are still rising among children ages 1-15. With more families staying at home to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19, there is an increased risk of child drownings, even as Americans head into the cooler weather months.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) national public education campaign to reduce childhood drownings, Pool Safely, new PSA, "What if Kids Had Gills and Fins?" aims to remind parents that kids can't swim like fish, and provides clear tips for how to keep them safer in and around water.

In addition to the safety messaging shared in the new PSA, the Pool Safely campaign urges families to follow these safety tips to help protect children while in and around the water:

Never leave a child unattended in or near water, and always designate an adult Water Watcher. This person should not be reading, texting, using a smartphone or be otherwise distracted. In addition to pools and spas, this warning includes bathtubs, buckets, decorative ponds, and fountains.

If you own a pool or spa, install layers of protection, including a four-sided fence with a self-closing, self-latching gate.

Learn how to perform CPR on children and adults. Many communities offer online CPR training.

Learn how to swim and teach your child how to swim.

Keep children away from pool drains, pipes and other openings to avoid entrapments.

Ensure any pool and spa you use has drain covers that comply with federal safety standards and if you do not know, ask your pool service provider about safer drain covers.

Visit the Pool Safely Kids' Corner to keep children entertained and educated with virtual water safety games and activities.

to keep children entertained and educated with virtual water safety games and activities. Take the Pool Safely Pledge as a family, and find customized water safety resources using the Pool Safely Safer Water Information Match (S.W.I.M.) tool.

According to CPSC's latest data , there were, on average, 379 reported pool-or-spa-related fatal drownings per year for 2015 through 2017, involving children younger than 15 years old. Annual fatal drowning rates increased gradually between 2015 and 2017, with a spike of 395 reported fatalities involving children younger than 15 years old in 2017. Residential locations, such as a child's home, a family or friend's house or a neighbor's residence, made up 71 percent of the reported fatal drowning incidents.

Media can download the new PSAavailable in English and Spanish here.

Pool Safely , a national public education campaign supporting the requirements of Section 1407 of the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act , works with collaborators around the country to reduce child drownings, nonfatal drownings and entrapment incidents in swimming pools and spas. Parents, caregivers and the media are encouraged to visit: PoolSafely.gov or to follow Pool Safely on Twitter , Facebook and Instagram for vital safety information regarding the prevention of child drownings in and around pools and spas.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products has contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 40 years.

Federal law bars any person from selling products subject to a publicly announced voluntary recall by a manufacturer or a mandatory recall ordered by the Commission.

For lifesaving information:

Visit CPSC.gov.

Sign up to receive our e-mail alerts.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram @USCPSC and Twitter @USCPSC.

Report a dangerous product or a product-related injury on www.SaferProducts.gov.

Call CPSC's Hotline at 800-638-2772 (TTY 301-595-7054).

Contact a media specialist.

Release Number: 20-187

SOURCE U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Related Links

http://www.cpsc.gov


In this image made from UNTV, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks during the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020, at U.N. headquarters in New York. The U.N.s first virtual meeting of world leaders started Tuesday with pre-recorded speeches from some of the planets biggest powers, kept at home by the coronavirus pandemic that will likely be a dominant theme at their video gathering this year. (UNTV Via AP )

Secretary-general Antonio Guterres has warned the UNs first virtual meeting of global leaders that the world is facing an epochal health crisis, the biggest economic calamity since the Great Depression, threats to human rights and worries of a new Cold War between the US and China.

In a grim state of the world speech to the UN General Assemblys annual high-level meeting, the UN chief said the coronavirus that had brought the world to its knees was just a dress rehearsal for the world of challenges to come.

He called for global unity, first and foremost to fight the pandemic, and sharply criticised populism and nationalism for failing to contain the virus and for often making things worse.

Today, I appeal for a new push by the international community to make a global ceasefire a reality by the end of this year.



We have 100 days. The clock is ticking.#UNGA https://t.co/LMUAzkgBRc pic.twitter.com/4O6RqJHSxb  Antonio Guterres (@antonioguterres) September 22, 2020

Days after the pandemic shut down large parts of the world in March, Mr Guterres called for a global ceasefire to tackle it. On Tuesday, he appealed for a 100-day push by the international community, led by the Security Council, to make this a reality by the end of the year.

There is only one winner of conflict during a pandemic: the virus itself, he said.

Reiterating a warning he made to world leaders a year ago about increasing US-China rivalry, he said: We are moving in a very dangerous direction.

Our world cannot afford a future where the two largest economies split the globe in a Great Fracture  each with its own trade and financial rules and internet and artificial intelligence capacities.

A technological and economic divide risks inevitably turning into a geo-strategic and military divide. We must avoid this at all costs.

In a world turned upside down, this General Assembly Hall is among the strangest sights of all Antonio Guterres

Mr Guterres said armed movements from Cameroon to Colombia, the Philippines and beyond responded to his original appeal even if several ceasefires were not sustained.

But there are reasons to be hopeful, he said, pointing to a new peace agreement in Sudan, the launch of Afghan peace negotiations, and ceasefires largely holding in Syrias Idlib province, Ukraine and elsewhere.

The world needs a global ceasefire to stop all hot conflicts, he said. At the same time, we must do everything to avoid a new Cold War.

The UN chief delivered his speech in the vast General Assembly Hall, where only one mask-wearing diplomat from each of the UNs 193 member nations was allowed, spread out in the chamber.

In a world turned upside down, this General Assembly Hall is among the strangest sights of all, Mr Guterres said.

The Covid-19 pandemic has changed our annual meeting beyond recognition. But it has made it more important than ever.

Among those speaking later are US President Donald Trump and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, whose countries have reported the highest and second-highest coronavirus death tolls respectively.

Also on deck are President Xi Jinping of China, where the virus originated, and President Vladimir Putin of Russia, which has raised international eyebrows with its rapid vaccine development.
German sailors from the SMS Jaguar visit the palace circa 1907. / Robert Neff Collection



By Robert Neff



Just before 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 1914, the ground began to shake in Jemulpo (modern Incheon). At first it began as a low rumble but "became more violent [and then] gradually became feeble and died after one hour and thirty-three minutes." The earthquake was not the most shocking news that morning.



Europeans, in the Far East, awoke to discover their countries were at war. Embassies and consulates immediately began organizing reservists. Germans throughout Japan gathered at Shimonoseki and boarded a steamer for Tsingtao (modern Qingdao, China) via Busan, Korea. From the same port, British volunteers sailed for Hong Kong aboard another ship. Sometimes the opposing forces were on the same ship  as was the case with the Japanese steamship Omi-Maru. It was bound for Shanghai (with a contingent of Austrian and German volunteers) and Hong Kong (with seven British reservists).



In Korea, 21 French residents answered the call for mobilization. Among them were J. Boher (proprietor of Sontag's Hotel in Seoul) and Emile Martel, a businessman associated with the French mining concession in northern Korea. Martel's wife was the daughter of German composer Franz Eckert and provides an example of how not only the community but families as well were torn apart by the war in Europe.



Eckert came to Korea in the early 1900s to organize the palace's orchestra and was very successful  especially for his role in the creation of the Patriotic Hymn of the Great Korean Empire." He was extremely popular in the Korean community as were his daughters  one married Emile Martel and another married Adhemar Decoigne, a Belgian working as an adviser to the Korean government. When war was announced, Martel answered the call and left his wife and their five children and returned to France. Decoigne also returned to Europe and joined the Belgian forces. They may have faced two of their brothers-in-law (Eckert's two youngest sons) who were serving in the German army. They all survived the war except Franz who, upset with the family discord and already in poor health, died on Aug. 6, 1916 and is buried at the foreigners' cemetery in Yanghwajin, western Seoul.



The German residents of Korea were also summoned to duty. Three members of Carl Wolter & Co., in Jemulpo reported to the German consulate in Seoul where they met briefly with Dr. Friedrich Krueger (consul-general) before departing for Tsingtao. Korea remained a neutral zone until Aug. 23 when Japan declared war on Germany and Krueger and his staff "left Seoul with every courtesy from the Japanese [and even] given an escort of soldiers as far as Shimonoseki" where they later departed for the United States and Europe.





A street in Seoul circa 1910 / Robert Neff Collection
Sgt Jonathan Mattingly (pictured) who was wounded during the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor in March told more than 1,000 officers that he's proof that city officials don no't care about them

An officer who was shot by Breonna Taylor's boyfriend when he entered her apartment in March, told his more than 1,000 colleagues in an email on Tuesday that 'the good guys are demonized, and the criminals are canonized' as Louisville braces for the attorney general's decision on whether to charge him and two other officers in connection to her death.

Sgt Jonathan Mattingly, who was one of three cops involved in the shooting, voiced his support for the officers and defended his actions the night Taylor, a 26-year-old EMT, was killed.

Kentucky Attorney General, Daniel Cameron, said he will soon decide whether the charges will be brought against Mattingly and two other officers involved in the shooting.

In the email, obtained by the Courier-Journal, Mattingly said that Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer and top police officials had 'failed all of us in epic proportions'.

'Regardless of the outcome today or Wednesday, I know we did the legal, moral and ethical thing that night. Its sad how the good guys are demonized, and the criminals are canonized.

'I wish I were there with you leading the charge. Ill be praying for your safety. Remember you are just a pawn in the Mayors political game. Im proof they do not care about you or your family, and you are replaceable.'

Referring to protesters, Mattingly, who was shot in the leg by Taylor's boyfriend the night police entered her apartment, explained to the officers that they 'DO NOT DESERVE to be in this position'.

'The position that allows thugs to get in your face and yell, curse and degrade you. Throw bricks bottles and urine on you and expect you to do nothing,' he added.

Scroll down for video

Mattingly, who was one of three officers involved in the shooting, sent the email to the officers on Tuesday voicing his support for them and defending his actions the night Taylor (pictured), a 26-year-old EMT, was killed

Referring to protesters, Mattingly, who was shot in the leg by Taylor's boyfriend (pictured with Taylor) the night police entered her apartment, explained to the officers that they 'DO NOT DESERVE to be in this position'

'The position that allows thugs to get in your face and yell, curse and degrade you. Throw bricks bottles and urine on you and expect you to do nothing,' Mattingly said about protesters (pictured Monday night) who have taken to the streets to demand justice for Taylor

Mattingly claimed that the officers' 'civil rights mean nothing' to city officials, but 'the criminal has total autonomy'.

Taylor's boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, told police he fired one round after Taylor's door was broken down and Mattingly entered. Walker said he did not know police were at the door.

Mattingly's attorney, Kent Wicker, said that Mattingly's email was 'expressing his support for (fellow officers) and their work during these difficult times'.

The email came the same day that Louisville officials prepared for more protests and possible unrest ahead of the attorney general's announcement.

With timing of the announcement still uncertain, Fischer declared a state of emergency due to the potential for civil unrest, hours after police said they would restrict access in the city's downtown area.

The mayor and police said they were trying to plan ahead of time to protect both demonstrators and the people who live and work there.

But some involved in protests seeking justice for Taylor questioned why the police were going to such 'overkill' lengths when the city has been the site of peaceful protests for months.

'This is certainly an over-response to the local protests that have been happening in our community,' said Sadiqa Reynolds, who heads the nonprofit Louisville Urban League and lives downtown. Protesters have been demonstrating in and around the city for nearly 120 days, she said.

The email came the same day that Louisville officials prepared for more protests and possible unrest ahead of the attorney general's announcement. Many of the streets in downtown Louisville are blocked off (above)

Police officers control access to downtown Louisville, Kentucky on Tuesday in anticipation of the results of a grand jury inquiry into Taylor's death

When Reynolds and hundreds of others staged a peaceful protest on Kentucky Derby day, police blocked off streets surrounding Churchill Downs and stationed dozens of officers at the track, which was without fans inside.

'This city keeps meeting the desire for justice with this preparation for war,' she said.

In a news release Tuesday, the Louisville Metro Police Department said it was placing barricades around Jefferson Square Park, where protests over Taylor's death have been held, and the perimeter of the downtown area; allowing only pedestrians in the blocks immediately surrounding the park; restricting vehicle traffic in other areas of downtown and limiting access to parking garages.

The department apologized in a statement Tuesday for the inconveniences to workers and downtown residents during the preparations.

'However, public safety is our number one priority, and it would be irresponsible if we did not take preemptive action to preserve it,' the statement said.

'Our goal is ensuring space and opportunity for potential protesters to gather and express their First Amendment rights after the announcement,' Fischer said.

'At the same time, we are preparing for any eventuality to keep everyone safe.'

Attorney General Daniel Cameron (pictured) has declined to set a deadline for his decision. Earlier this month, he remarked that 'an investigation, if done properly, cannot follow a certain timeline'

The other officers who could face charges are Brett Hankison (left) and Myles Cosgrove (right). Hankison was fired while Mattingly and Cosgrove remain on the force on administrative assignment

Attorney General Cameron has declined to set a deadline for his decision. Earlier this month, he remarked that 'an investigation, if done properly, cannot follow a certain timeline'.

Interim Police Chief Robert Schroeder said officials from Cameron's office have promised to try to give authorities a heads-up.

Taylor, a Black emergency medical worker, was shot multiple times on March 13 by officers who entered her home using a no-knock warrant during a narcotics investigation.

The warrant used was connected to a suspect who did not live there, and no drugs were found inside. The use of no-knock warrants has since been banned by Louisville's Metro Council.

Large protests over Taylor's death that at times became violent erupted in late May in the city but most demonstrations since then have been peaceful.

Celebrities, athletes, activists and Taylor's family have for months pushed Cameron to criminally charge the officers involved in the raid.

Last week, the city of Louisville settled a lawsuit from Taylor's family for $12million and pledged several police reforms as part of the agreement.
Le Grand Courtage and Tres Chic Rose "With Tawnya Falkners brand vision for the next chapter, Le Grand Courtage wines are well-positioned for further growth." Mark Giordano, President Pacific Highway Wines

Pacific Highway Wines today announces a partnership with successful French brand, Le Grand Courtage. Effective October 1, 2020, Pacific Highway Wines will become the exclusive import, sales and marketing agent for Le Grand Courtage sparkling wines and Tres Chic Rose wine in the U.S.

Three wines will be added to the Pacific Highway portfolio: Le Grand Courtage Blanc de Blancs Brut and Le Grand Courtage Brut Rose, both available in 750ml (SRP $19.99) and mini 187ml (SRP $7.99), and Tres Chic Rose, a still rose available in 750ml (SRP $16.99).

Le Grand Courtage is an independent female owned and managed, fast-growing French wine brand launched by American entrepreneur Tawnya Falkner and is now the top selling French sparkling wine brand in the $15 - $19.99 (Premium) category according to Nielsen. Sourcing from across multiple French wine regions, and blending unique varietals, the wines are crafted in Nuits-Saint-Georges, Burgundy. Le Grand Courtage Blanc de Blancs Brut is a blend of Chardonnay, Colombard, Ugni Blanc and Chenin Blanc from Burgundy, Loire Valley and Languedoc, and Le Grand Courtage Brut Rose is a blend of Chardonnay, Ugni Blanc and Gamay from Burgundy, Languedoc and Beaujolais. Le Grand Courtage recently launched a second brand and single sku, Tres Chic Rose. From Pays dOc, this wine is a blend of 70% Grenache and 30% Cinsault.

Tawnya Falkner, Proprietor and CEO of Le Grand Courtage, explained the new partnership, We look forward to working closely with the team at Pacific Highway Wines to take our brands to the next level with furthered national expansion opportunities. Food and wine are the great common denominator of people, and for me creating and growing Le Grand Courtage to our current volumes has been hugely rewarding, but as we transition to our next chapter, we need an expanded sales force and to be a part of a more powerful portfolio of brands. A strategic partnership with Pacific Highway Wines puts us in a great position to amplify and uplevel the brands in the marketplace.

Pacific Highway Wines continues to go from strength to strength and remains dedicated to showcasing independent brands with unique and appealing offerings. The company is in a dynamic state of growth, with an expanding import and domestic portfolio along with new sales and marketing roles. Pivoting quickly during the first half of 2020 allowed the company to finish its fiscal year up 20%.

We are honored to have the opportunity to represent, and to grow Le Grand Courtage in the U.S., remarks Mark Giordano, President Pacific Highway Wines. With a truly impressive track record of year on year growth with 50,000 cases in depletions in 2019 we are excited to add our first sparkling brand. It should be noted that the brand is the top selling Premium French Brand in the US by volume and growing 37% (Nielsen 52 wks 8.8.20). With Tawnya Falkners brand vision for the next chapter, Le Grand Courtage wines are well-positioned for further growth.

# # Ends # #

About Pacific Highway Wines - Pacific Highway Wines & Spirits is a fast-growing, specialized import, sales, and marketing agency headquartered in Greensboro, NC. Owned jointly by Australias Oatley family and New Zealands Giesen family, the Pacific Highway portfolio is based on family-owned brands from coveted wine regions across the globe, with offerings from Argentina, Australia, California, Chile, France, Italy, New Zealand, Oregon, Spain, South Africa, and Uruguay. http://www.pacific-hwy.com

About Le Grand Courtage - Award-winning French sparkling winery Le Grand Courtage, which also produces Tres Chic Rose, is owned and operated entirely by women. Sold nationally, Le Grand Courtage symbolizes the Great Courtship and signifies the courtship between French and American wine culture, grapes from different regions and the old and new world styles. Founder Tawnya Falkners vision was to create an affordable luxury which personifies the French spirit of joie de vivre and both elevates and celebrates the every day. http://www.legrandcourtage.com
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Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Gaborone, Botswana  Tue, September 22, 2020 14:15 487 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c4666f8b 2 World Botswana,elephant,death,wildlife Free

Hundreds of elephants that died mysteriously in Botswana's famed Okavango Delta succumbed to cyanobacteria poisoning, the wildlife department revealed on Monday.

The landlocked southern African country boasts the world's largest elephant population, estimated at around 130,000.

More than 300 of the pachyderms have mysteriously died since March, with their intact tusks ruling out the hypothesis that they were killed by poachers.

"The deaths were caused by poisoning due to cyanobacteria which was growing in pans" or watering holes, the principal veterinary officer of the Department of Wildlife and National Parks, Mmadi Reuben, told reporters.

Reuben said the deaths had "stopped towards the end of June 2020, coinciding with the drying of pans."

A first report of unusual elephant deaths on April 25 identified cases near Seronga village, and numbers began escalating the following month.

According to the wildlife authorities around 330 animals have died and blood tests were consistent with the finding that a species of cyanobacteria that produces neurotoxins was the cause.

Tests were conducted at specialist laboratories in South Africa, Canada, Zimbabwe and the United States.

Officials have ruled out anthrax or human involvement such as poaching, according to Cyril Taolo, deputy director of Department of Wildlife and National Parks.

The government said it was continuing studies into the occurrence of the bacteria.

In the winter, elephants hydrate themselves mainly by eating roots and bark, especially of the baobab tree.

Topics : Botswana elephant death wildlife
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 22

By Klavdiya Romakayeva - Trend:

The French Development Agency will allocate 55.8 million of borrowed funds for the development of hydropower in Uzbekistan, Trend reports with reference to the Ministry of Energy.

The implementation of joint projects was discussed at meeting between Uzbekgidroenergo JSC and the head of the French Development Agency (AFD) in Uzbekistan.

The agency will allocate 55.8 million of borrowed funds on the basis of a loan agreement signed for 20 years for the development of hydropower in Uzbekistan.

Of this amount, 46.5 million are intended to finance the construction of the Paitugskaya small hydropower plant in the Andijan region, as well as small hydropower plants 1A and 2A of the South Fergana canal. The total cost of these projects is estimated at 52.5 million.

It is planned to commission these new hydropower plants in 2023. With the implementation of these projects, it will be possible to generate 51.2 million kWh of electricity.

In addition, 9.3 million of the total loan amount will be used to finance the project to ensure the safety of the Charvak HPP. The total cost of the project is estimated at 33.95 million.

Deputy Chairman of the Board of JSC Uzbekhydroenergo Fozil Makhmudov also informed Vincent Kopan about the reforms being implemented in the system of the Ministry of Energy in general and in hydropower in particular. It was noted that over the past three years more than 30 investment projects have been worked out in this direction.

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The United Nations faces a "crisis of confidence" without comprehensive reforms, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said, asserting that the world needs a reformed multilateralism that reflects today's realities, gives voice to all stakeholders, addresses contemporary challenges and focuses on human welfare.

Prime Minister Modi's call for reformed multilateralism assumes special significance as it comes on the eve of India taking a seat at the powerful UN Security Council as an elected non-permanent member for a two year term beginning January 1, 2021.

"We cannot fight today's challenges with outdated structures. Without comprehensive reforms, the UN faces a crisis of confidence," Modi said on Monday in his video address to the high-level meeting of the General Assembly to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the United Nations.

As the UN marks 75 years of its existence, the 193-member UN General Assembly adopted a forward-looking political declaration that gave a clarion call for strengthening mechanism to combat terrorism, reformed multilateralism, inclusive development and better preparedness to deal with challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Noting that the declaration also acknowledges the need for reform of the United Nations itself, Modi said, "For today's interconnected world, we need a reformed multilateralism that reflects today's realities, gives voice to all stakeholders, addresses contemporary challenges and focuses on human welfare."

He said India looks forward to working with all other nations towards this end.

India has been spearheading decades-long efforts to reform the Security Council, saying a structure set up in 1945 does not reflect contemporary realities of the 21st century and is ill-equipped to handle current challenges.

There is widespread support, including by four of the five permanent members of the Security Council -- United States, United Kingdom, France and Russia -- for a permanent seat for India at the Council.

India's priorities for its tenure on the Security Council find 'resonance' in the Declaration that echoes New Delhi's call for strong mandate against terrorism, reformed multilateralism and inclusive development. India's overall objective during its tenure in the UN Security Council will be the achievement of N.O.R.M.S -- a New Orientation for a Reformed Multilateral System.

In the declaration, the heads of state and government categorically noted that the world of today is very different from what it was when the United Nations was created 75 years ago.

"Our working methods need to keep pace and adapt. We support the ongoing reforms by the Secretary-General. We reiterate our call for reforms of three of the principal organs of the United Nations. We commit to instill new life in the discussions on the reform of the Security Council and continue the work to revitalise the General Assembly and strengthen the Economic and Social Council."

Addressing the special commemorative event on the UN's 75th anniversary, Modi said, "75 years ago, a new hope arose from the horrors of war. For the first time in human history, an institution was created for the entire world."

He said as a founding signatory of the UN Charter, India was part of that noble vision, which reflected India's own philosophy of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam', which sees all creation as a family.

"Our world today is a better place because of the United Nations," the prime minister said.

He paid tribute to all those who have advanced the cause of peace and development under the UN flag, including in UN peacekeeping missions, where India had been a leading contributor.

India is among the largest troop contributors to UN Peacekeeping Missions, having provided over 200,000 troops in nearly 50 of the 71 peacekeeping missions mandated over the past six decades.

India has lost more peacekeepers in the line of duty than any other UN member state and 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.

Modi stressed that while much has been achieved, the original mission remains incomplete. "The far-reaching declaration that we are adopting today acknowledges that work still needs to be done in preventing conflict, in ensuring development, in addressing climate change, in reducing inequality and in leveraging digital technologies," he said.

In the Declaration, the Heads of State and Government vow to leave no one behind, protect the planet, promote peace and prevent conflicts, abide by international law and ensure justice, place women and girls at the center, build trust, improve digital cooperation, upgrade the United Nations, ensure sustainable financing, boost partnerships, listen to and work with youth and be prepared.

This year's high-level UN General Assembly is being held in a largely virtual format as world leaders did not travel to New York for the annual gathering due to the coronavirus pandemic. Heads of state and government and ministers sent in pre-recorded video statements for the high-level week, including the special commemoration of the UN's 75 years and the General Debate.



India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador T S Tirumurti introduced Prime Minister Modi's pre-recorded statement from the UN General Assembly Hall.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 02:36:15|Editor: huaxia

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Guests cut the ribbon during the launching ceremony of the "Chinese Friendly Airport" project at Istanbul Airport in Turkey, on Sept. 22, 2020. Turkey's Istanbul Airport launched a "Chinese Friendly Airport" project on Tuesday. At the launching ceremony, Kadri Samsunlu, CEO of the airport, said the project was designed to provide unique experience for the Chinese travelers and make them feel "at home." (Photo by Osman Orsal/Xinhua)

ISTANBUL, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Turkey's Istanbul Airport launched a "Chinese Friendly Airport" project on Tuesday.

At the launching ceremony, Kadri Samsunlu, CEO of the airport, said the project was designed to provide unique experience for the Chinese travelers and make them feel "at home."

He said "passenger-friendly" applications dedicated to the Chinese tourists were adopted.

In line with the project, exclusive check-in areas are reserved for passengers arriving from China, while flight information and ticket processing screens are also available in Chinese.

Chinese speaking staff with unique uniforms would also be at the service of Chinese travelers, and Chinese signs were placed in almost every spot of the airport.

"China is an important country for us. We have deep-rooted historical, cultural, and economic relations," Samsunlu said.

Cui Wei, the Chinese consul general in Istanbul, said he hopes that these measures will further promote friendly exchanges between the two peoples.
The Dounan Flower Market, located in southwest Chinas Yunnan province, usually ushers in its peak of business at around 4 p.m., when trucks fully loaded with fresh flowers converge on the market. Citizens flock to the market to buy flowers, tourists are attracted by its reputation, and florists are always seen doing livestreaming shows to promote sales.

Nearly 70 percent of Chinas fresh cut flowers are traded at the Dounan Flower Market, Chenggong district, Kunming, capital of Yunnan province. With more than 110 major categories and over 1,600 varieties of flowers, the market has ranked first in China in terms of volume of business, cash flow, and the number of traders for many years in a row.

While it is now regarded as the wind vane and barometer of Chinas flower market, the Dounan Flower Market was only a street market where flowers were sold retail in the 1990s.

Over 20 years ago, flower growers would cut flowers, tie them into bundles, put them into wicker baskets and then carry them with shoulder poles to the street flower market for sale, recalled Hua Mingsheng, a shop owner in the Kunming Dounan Flower Market, adding that flower retailers would walk their bikes around the market and make a purchase.

Hua still remembers that the old market, located at a street corner of Dounan village, Chenggong district, was packed with flower growers and retailers, and stacks and bundles of flowers occupied both sides of the road.

Hua runs a potted plant shop in the Dounan Flower Market. He often explains the planting methods of different plants to clients patiently.

In the late 1980s, Hua planted the first pot of carnations in Yunnan. In 2002, the Kunming International Flora Auction Trading Center was officially established in Dounan village. The first product auctioned at the center, fresh cut roses, was also planted by Hua.

From an ordinary farmer to a senior plant technician, Hua has witnessed the journey of local flower growers in more than 30 years.

In 1987, Hua, who was 24 years old, spent almost all the savings of his family on gladiolus seed balls and started to grow gladiolus on about 66.67 square meters of contracted land, becoming one of the first batch of flower growers in Dounan village.

Three months later, the first batch of gladioli flowers were cut and sold for more than 160 yuan ($23.68). The profit is several times higher than that generated by growing vegetables, Hua thought. Hua and other young people in the village discovered the business opportunity in growing flowers.

Flowers planted by Hua were very popular back then and some of them, such as carnation and babysbreath, were brand new varieties to local people.

They were always sold quickly in the market and some flower retailers even waited by the fields to buy the flowers, Hua said.

Hua described the flower growing forerunners in Dounan village as ambitious, daring, and hardworking.

Later, 95 percent of the peasant households in Dounan village started to grow flowers, instead of vegetables. They gradually introduced farming facilities into flower planting and stepped toward large-scale planting with more flower subdivisions.

The local government also rolled out policies to encourage local flower growers to rent land from other areas of the city so as to expand their planting areas. Hua and his friends pooled their capital and rented a total of about 20 hectares of land to grow cymbidium in Jinning district and Shilin Yi autonomous county of Kunming.

In 2012, Huas son returned to his hometown after finishing his study in Tailand, and took over the flower planting business of his father. Since he can speak good Thai, the young man started to explore the Thai market for export and import of tropical plants. Just recently, he successfully exported 5,000 pots of small potted plants to Thailand.

A number of young people like Huas son, who have been familiar with flowers since they were little, know about the market and skills, and boast vision, have infused more vitality to the flower industry in Dounan village.

Dounan village is no longer simply a base for growing flowers, but a synthesis of new forms of businesses covering auction, logistics, research and development, and agricultural resources. The village has shifted its focus from production into market-oriented services.

Last year, the annual sales volume of fresh cut flowers in the Dounan Flower Market reached nearly 7.44 billion yuan, and 9.2 billion stems of fresh flowers were sold to different parts of the country and exported to more than 50 countries and regions around the world.

The small village standing near the bank of Dianchi Lake has now become a heavyweight among fresh cut flower trading markets in Asia, and helped create jobs for more than one million people.
Twelve Hong Kong citizens aged 16 to 33 are being held on suspicion of "illegal immigration" at the Yantian Detention Center in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, which borders Hong Kong. They were intercepted by the China Coast Guard after they tried to escape by speedboat to the democratic island of Taiwan last month. All 12 are suspected of committing crimes in Hong Kong, according to the city's security bureau, with 10 of them wanted for manufacturing or possessing explosives, arson, rioting, assaulting police officers, or possession of offensive weapons. As of Sept. 21, none of the attorneys retained by their families was able to meet with their clients. Some lawyers are concerned that, as in China for sensitive cases, the 12 Hong Kong citizens will be represented by government-appointed defenders, and their cases will never be tried publicly.

Hong Kong Security Bureau chief John Lee Ka-chiu told Hong Kong media Sept. 19 that all 12 Hong Kong detainees have chosen lawyers from a list of attorneys provided by authorities to represent them. The Security Bureau has followed up with mainland China to request for contact information of the chosen lawyers so that families of the detainees can contact them  but the families have expressed objection to the appointed lawyers. Sichuan human rights lawyer Lu Siwei, who was hired by one of the Hong Kong detainees family, told RFA that none of the lawyers retained by the families have been able to meet with their clients as of Sept. 21. I will make a request with the police bureau and the Procuratorate for their explanations. This is the only thing we can do now. Nothing else. I am sure there is pressure from above, Lu said.

RFA spoke to Beijing-based rights activist Hu Jia, a veteran of the 1989 Tiananmen democracy protests, about the plight of the Hong Kong 12. Following are his remarks, edited for clarity:

The current situation is that the Hong Kongers wanted to escape from a prison, because as dissidents, they are being persecuted by a dictator. Under such circumstances, I think it is only right for anyone, any political force to lend a helping hand. In the (1989) Yellow Bird Operation, there was local Hong Kong support (to receive democracy activists escaping China), whereas in this current case, the twelve Hong Kong citizens acted on their own, and there was no logistical support from the expected destination. Therefore, it is not quite the same as the Yellow Bird Operation.

The arrested Hong Kong citizens are truly enjoying citizen treatment in the Mainland China. There is no justice nor fairness. We the dissidents of mainland China have been there and done that. We all know too well about what effects those treatments can have on peoples mental and physical wellbeing. Their arrests serve as warnings to the tens of thousands of young people in Hong Kong to further crush their spirits. It creates an atmosphere of terror that makes you feel insecure and in danger, and it makes you fall apart on your own.

The families of the twelve detainees should continue to communicate with the lawyers, media, and even human rights organizations and keep the cases open and transparent to gain international support.

The Chinese Communist Party police will tell you, Do not make a scene. Nothing good will come out of being noisy. Do not make the case well known. But let me tell you, if you do not make the case well known, it is more likely that your loved one will be punished and pay a greater price for their actions. From the aspect of diplomatic maneuvering, there is also hope. All countries should get involved. Whats happening in Hong Kong exemplifies the erosion of human rights and rule of law."

Reported by RFA's Cantonese Service. Translated by Min Eu.
Top scientists today cast doubt over Boris Johnson's 10pm curfew on pubs, bars and restaurants to control coronavirus, warning the drastic move is unlikely to curb the spread of the disease.

One epidemiologist argued coronavirus 'doesn't understand the clock', questioning why ministers have ordered all hospitality businesses to shut at that time.

And other infectious disease experts fear the curfew will be ineffective because it runs the risk of 'compressing activity'. People would all leave at the same time and visits may end up being concentrated into a shorter period, making places busier, instead of being staggered over hours.

Professor Linda Bauld, a public health expert at the University of Edinburgh, warned a lack of 'carrots' in the policy risks 'rising levels of non-compliance' from venues and 'further declines in public support for the UK government'.

But some academics praised Number 10 for imposing the curfew, saying it is needed to avoid 'greater spread of the virus' and to simultaneously protect businesses and the economy.

They argued shutting bars simply keeps people less drunk, meaning they are sober enough to remember to put on a face covering on the way or home or stick to other social distancing measures.

The Prime Minister's curfew  announced in the Commons today  sparked an immediate industry backlash. The UK Hospitality group said it was 'another crushing blow' as many businesses were just treading water following the shutdown in March, while the Campaign for Pubs called for financial support for the sector.

Greg Mulholland, the group's campaign director, said: 'As it is, most pubs were only getting back on their feet and many were not yet trading profitably and this latest news will make it impossible for some publicans to carry on.'

Some scientists argue the 10pm curfew does not go far enough, while others congratulated the Government for their 'clear' messaging. Pictured is an evening out in Soho

Public Health England data reveals that of the 729 outbreaks in the week to September 13, only five per cent occurred in food outlets such as restaurants and pubs

DO CURFEWS WORK AT SLOWING THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS? From Thursday evening, bars, pubs and restaurants across England will be required to close from 10pm every night. The move is an 'intermediate' step in the fight against the virus, and follows in the steps of Thailand. When Thailand imposed a 10pm to 4am curfew on April 3 it was counting just over 100 cases of coronavirus a day. By the time the curfew was removed on June 15 this number had dropped into the low tens. Although the country's success has been attributed to the curfew, some scientists dispute this, saying that the lockdown and other social measures in force at the time had a greater impact. The UK is hoping that its curfew may help it mirror the success of the South-east Asian nation. Linda Bauld, professor of public health at Edinburgh University, told HuffPost curfews are used because 'we know that night time economy generally is risky'. 'There have been outbreaks linked to nightclubs and to bars and restaurants,' she said. 'We've known this for months.' 'The longer people are in these venues, the more they probably let their guard down and the mix of social distancing and alcohol is not a good one despite the best efforts of publicans and venue owners.' Behavioural expert Professor Susan Michie, a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE), said she thought the 10pm time had been chosen to balance the needs of the night-time economy with the need to control the virus. Advertisement

Questioning the Government's decision to impose a 10pm curfew, Dr Michael Head, a global health expert at the University of Southampton, said he expects it to have 'little or no impact' on the spread of coronavirus.

'A far better approach would be to shut all pubs and restaurants, and properly compensate businesses and employees for the loss of income,' he said.

'This would ensure that public health is prioritised, and business and staff are in a stronger economic position when they are allowed to resume.'

Professor Paul Hunter, infectious disease expert at the University of East Anglia, said it is 'doubtful' the 10pm curfew and other measures - including table-only service and working from home - will be sufficient to prevent a second wave.

'It is doubtful that measures currently being enacted will be sufficient to reduce the R value to below one much before this side of Christmas,' he said.

'Given that it is now almost certain we will see big increases in the epidemic over the next two to three months we really need to be focusing on how better to identify, protect and support our more vulnerable citizens.

'This has been a big omission in the public debate over recent weeks and it is disappointing that such an important issue was not discussed in the PM's speech.'

Dr Stephen Griffin, associate professor in the school of medicine at the University of Leeds, said he was 'less convinced' the curfew would be effective as it 'runs the risk of compressing activity and having people leave at a single time in large numbers'.

'The concern is that an unfavourable public response to such measures will erode compliance on the fundamental issues of maintaining space and ventilation, wearing face coverings indoors and in crowded areas, and maintaining good hand hygiene,' he said.

Voicing her opposition, Professor Bauld, said the Government's new restrictions are 'not as stringent as might have been expected'.

'Fines will rise for individuals and businesses that don't comply,' she said. 'The police will be tasked with enforcement and it was mentioned that the military could be called on if needed.

'But financial support for those required to self-isolate will be limited and there are still no signs that furlough will be extended, despite the inevitable economic consequences of ongoing restrictions.

'Urgent attention is needed regarding support packages if these new measures are to succeed.'

The measures have been brought in because alcohol makes people less risk-averse, one scientist said. Pictured are a group of young men in Sheffield on Sunday night

RESTRICTION WILL LEAD TO BOOM IN HOUSE PARTIES, INDUSTRY WARNS Hospitality bosses warned that a 10pm curfew introduced today for pubs would exacerbate lockdown 'bad behaviour' with no track and trace at house parties. The curfew, which will begin on Friday in Scotland and from Thursday in England, was introduced in a bid to stop coronavirus from spreading. But hospitality bosses north of the border warned it would be a death knell for many businesses - and would just exacerbate house parties with no regulation. Stephen Montgomery, spokesman for the Scottish Hospitality Group (SHG), said: 'We are now staring into an abyss. 'There is a real concern that the hospitality industry is being singled out for restrictions with very little evidence to support a link to coronavirus transmission. 'We are already seeing an explosion of house parties and closing bars and restaurants at 10pm will only increase this.' Advertisement

But other scientists lined up to congratulate the Prime Minister on his 'very clearly' messaging that, they argued, will help stop the disease in its tracks.

Backing the measures Dr Jennifer Cole, biological anthropologist at Royal Holloway University, said that one of the biggest influences over people observing social distancing, and hence controlling the spread of the virus, was alcohol.

'The more drunk you are, the less inhibited and less risk-averse you are,' she said.

'Closing the bars and restaurants at 10pm simply keeps people more sober. It gives them plenty of time for a meal, or a quick drink with friends after work, but means they are likely to be sober enough to remember to put on a face-covering on the train or bus home, and to be careful around elderly relatives when they get home.

'It gives restaurant and bar staff time to give the venue a thorough clean when the last customers have left, without having to work unreasonably late. This means that a lot of the risk is reduced.'

Dr Rachel McCloy, associate professor in applied behavioural science at the University of Reading, added that the Government appears to be taking a more 'calculated and careful' approach with its restrictions.

'What we learnt from how people responded to the last lockdown appears to have been heeded,' she said.

'Last time, the panic buying and over-reaction by some people frightened by the situation was matched by apathy and distrust by others. The complexity of the range of rules that followed as lockdown was relaxed gave the impression that the Government didn't really know what was going on or how best to respond.

'(But) now, some of this messaging has been simplified and illogical loopholes have been closed - for example, shoppers having to wear masks when they were not compulsory for retail staff.

'The "Rule of Six" is also a simplification, although it has suffered in its application to some situations.'

Public Health England data reveals that of the 729 outbreaks in the week to September 13, only five per cent occurred in food outlets such as restaurants and pubs - 45 per cent were in care homes, 21 per cent in schools and 18 per cent in places of work.

The Prime Minister this afternoon announced a tightening of restrictions for pubs and restaurants which will last six months

Exasperated hospitality sector bosses are crying out for clarity over whether the 10pm curfew is the point they must clear the premises (Pictured: Soho in London last night)

Hospitality bosses have accused ministers of unfairly singling them out for restrictions, and warned a curfew will lead to a boom in illegal house parties where the virus is more likely to spread.

Wetherspoons founder Tim Martin said: 'The curfew doesn't even stand up to five minutes consideration by an intelligent person because if you look at the stats... there are relatively few transfers of infections in pubs.'

Kate Nicholls, chief executive of trade body UK Hospitality, urged the Government to heed its own statistics because the curfew could take a sledgehammer to the industry which is already 'on its knees'.

She said this morning: 'People will think it's not that significant, but it really will have a big economic impact on jobs, not just on pubs, but also for cafes and restaurants.'

Stephen Montgomery, spokesman for the Scottish Hospitality Group (SHG), said: 'We are now staring into an abyss.

'There is a real concern that the hospitality industry is being singled out for restrictions with very little evidence to support a link to coronavirus transmission.

'We are already seeing an explosion of house parties and closing bars and restaurants at 10pm will only increase this.'

The rule change will apply on Thursday in England and on Friday in Scotland, almost two weeks after the 'Rule of Six' came in to force.
PICKERING, ON / ACCESSWIRE / September 22, 2020 / Renforth Resources Inc. (CSE:RFR)(OTC US:RFHRF)(WKN:A2H9TN) ("Renforth" or the "Company") is pleased to inform shareholders that the 1000m drilled mark has been crossed for the Fall 2020 drill program at Parbec, expected to consist of ~7200m, with the three drill holes completed to date as follows;

PAR-20-100 (proposed DDH #8) - this hole was drilled due north, through the Cadillac Break, for 405m, encountering the expected Parbec lithologies, including the "magnetic diorite", associated with the presence of gold. Samples have been selected, split, and have been delivered for assay, required to determine if gold is present.

PAR-20-101 (proposed DDH #9) - this hole was drilled due north, through the Cadillac Break, for 291m, again intersecting the expected lithologies associated with gold at Parbec, including felsites, diorite, sheared diorites and "tuff" zones. Samples have been selected, split and will shortly be delivered for assay required to determine if gold is present.

PAR-20-102 (proposed DDH #10) - this hole was drilled perpendicular to the Break, as is typical at Parbec, and drilled for 505m before terminating in the volcanics on the north side of the Cadillac Break earlier today. This hole also intersected the targeted lithologies, including the "magnetic diorite". This hole is being logged and samples selected and split to be sent for assay.

The next hole in the program, DDH #13, was commenced during the night and is drilling due north.

Each of the drill holes in this program have been planned to, if successful, add ounces to the Parbec Open Pit Constrained Resource Estimate (May 2020) which demonstrates an Indicated 104,500 ounces of gold at a grade of 1.78 g/t and an Inferred 177,300 ounces of gold at a grade of 1.77 g/t Au, as presented below.

This program is fully funded, with cash and securities in Renforth's accounts currently in excess of CAD $4,800,000, with an additional CAD $3,240,000 in proceeds from a fully subscribed issuance of 24 million shares of Renforth at a price of $0.135 cents per share (there are no warrants associated with this placement), to be received upon closing on or about the end of this month. The current program is expected to cost approximately 1.25 million, leaving Renforth well funded into the New Year. Renforth does not anticipate any further private placement financing in the foreseeable future, the funds on hand will be used to advance Parbec through a resource expansion phase, to be continued with additional drilling in the New Year followed by a resource re-calculation, and some prudent expenditure at Surimeau and Malartic West. Results for both Surimeau and Malartic West have now been received from the lab and will be press released upon the completion of interpretation, anticipated in the next two weeks.

In the ongoing program Renforth has commenced drilling due north with several drill holes, these are unlike all the previous drilling which was perpendicular to the Cadillac Break (generally drilled to the NE or the SW), whereas the current holes, as can be seen on the map, cross the Break at an angle. The reason for this is that Renforth's geological team believes there are likely cross-cutting structures (across the Break), which would have been missed in previous drill programs targeting mineralization running "with" the Cadillac Break, in a NW/SE direction, across the property. Structures cross-cutting the Break would be running in a NE or SW direction, beside (and parallel to) the prior drilling, and therefore potentially not intersected by that drilling. With Renforth as well funded as it now is there is budget room available to drill holes due north and test this hypothesis within the ongoing robust drill program.

PARBEC MAY 2020 OPEN PIT CONSTRAINED RESOURCE ESTIMATE

Brian H. Newton P.Geo, a "qualified person" under NI 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical disclosure in this press release.

For further information please contact:

Renforth Resources Inc.

Nicole Brewster

President and Chief Executive Officer

T:416-818-1393

E: nicole@renforthresources.com

#269 - 1099 Kingston Road, Pickering ON L1V 1B5

ABOUT RENFORTH

Renforth Resources Inc. is a Toronto-based gold exploration company with six wholly owned surface gold bearing properties located in the Provinces of Quebec and Ontario, Canada.

In Quebec Renforth holds the Parbec Property in the Malartic gold camp, with gold present at surface and to some depth, located on the Cadillac Break, contiguous to the East Amphi portion of the Canadian Malartic Mine property. Parbec carries an open-pit constrained 43-101 resource with additional gold bearing structures, outside of the Cadillac Break on the property, outside of the current resource. Renforth also holds Malartic West, contiguous to the western boundary of the Canadian Malartic Mine Property, located in the Pontiac Sediments, this property is gold bearing and was the recent site of a copper discovery. Renforth has acquired the Surimeau property, also contiguous to Canadian Malartic and the southern border of the Malartic West property. Surimeau hosts polymetallic mineralization and represents the consolidation of four historic properties into one property for the first time. In addition to this Renforth has optioned the wholly owned Denain-Pershing gold bearing property, located near Louvicourt, Quebec, to O3 Mining Inc.

In Ontario, Renforth holds the Nixon-Bartleman surface gold occurrence west of Timmins, Ontario, drilled, channeled and sampled over 500m - this historic property also requires additional exploration to define the extent of the mineralization.

No securities regulatory authority has approved or disapproved of the contents of this news release.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements and information under applicable securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward looking. Forward-looking statements are frequently identified by such words as 'may', 'will', 'plan', 'expect', 'believe', 'anticipate', 'estimate', 'intend' and similar words referring to future events and results. Such statements and information are based on the current opinions and expectations of management. All forward-looking information is inherently uncertain and subject to a variety of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, including the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, fluctuating commodity prices, the risks of obtaining necessary approvals, licenses and permits and the availability of financing, as described in more detail in the Company's securities filings available at www.sedar.com. Actual events or results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements and the reader is cautioned against placing undue reliance thereon. Forward-looking information speaks only as of the date on which it is provided and the Company assumes no obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements except as required by applicable law.

SOURCE: Renforth Resources Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/607243/Renforth-Completes-First-1000m-Drilling-at-Parbec
It appears that a second season of Old Peoples Home for 4 Year Olds is in the pipeline.

A casting notice has appeared for the hit ABC show, produced by Endemol Shine Australia.

Do you know someone aged over 70 living in Sydneys eastern suburbs & surrounding areas? it asks.

Someone who would like to continue living at home for as long as possible who could benefit from a little motivation to help them get moving and connected with their community?

The show was a big success for ABC last year.

Earlier this year Executive Producer Debbie Cuell told the Australian International Documentary Conference to watch this space on more.

We wouldnt do it exactly the same if there was a second series. But certainly that area hasnt been explored enough yet. So theres certainly potential there, she said.

ABCs 2021 slate is yet to be revealed.

To apply contact [email protected]
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Linkedin (Reuters)  Tue, September 22, 2020 18:09 486 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46749e2 2 News cruise-ship,Royal-Caribbean,Norwegian-Cruise Free

A panel set up by Royal Caribbean Group and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd said on Monday it had submitted a report to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) detailing health and safety protocols, hoping to set sail again after a long halt due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The cruise operators detailed 74 steps, including enhanced sanitation practices, controlling shore excursions and better protection for crew members, to protect guests should they begin sailing again.

Recommendations also include rigorous screening and testing before boarding, plans to address positive infection on board, rapid evacuation and reducing transmission, the companies said.

Read also: Tourists kicked off Mediterranean cruise for violating virus rules

In July, the two companies announced a joint task force to help develop safety standards for restarting their businesses during the coronavirus pandemic.

"We studied the industry's experiences combating the pandemic  and we then incorporated the many lessons learned and advances made by medicine and science over the past six months," the task force's co-chair and Utah Governor Mike Leavitt said.

The cruise industry has taken a major hit from the pandemic, with some of the earliest large clusters of COVID-19 occurring aboard cruise ships.

The CDC first issued a no-sail order on March 14 for all cruise ships and has been extending it since.
The L.A. Police Commission will review LAPD use of facial recognition software after The Times reported that LAPD officers had used the technology nearly 30,000 times since 2009. (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)

The Los Angeles Police Commission on Tuesday said it would review the city Police Department's use of facial recognition software and how it compared with programs in other major cities.

The commission did so after citing reporting by The Times this week that publicly revealed the scope of the LAPD's use of facial recognition for the first time  including that hundreds of LAPD officers have used it nearly 30,000 times since 2009. Critics say police denials of its use are part of a long pattern of deception and that transparency is essential, given potential privacy and civil rights infringements.

Commission President Eileen Decker said a subcommittee of the commission would "do a deeper dive" into the technology's use and "work with the department in terms of analyzing the oversight mechanisms" for the system.

"It's a good time to take a global look at this issue," Decker said.

Decker and Commissioner Dale Bonner sit on the commission's data subcommittee, which will take up the task.

Decker also asked LAPD Chief Michel Moore to work with city attorneys to conduct a review of past responses to requests for public records related to facial recognition, "just to be assured that the department addressed each of those requests appropriately."

In addition to reporting the scope of LAPD's use of facial recognition, The Times' article noted that the widespread use stood in contrast to repeated denials by the LAPD that it used facial recognition technology or had records pertaining to it, including in response to public records requests.

Decker's comments followed a briefing by Moore, who cited The Times' article and said he wanted to provide the commissioners with information about the program.

The LAPD does not have its own facial recognition platform, but more than 300 LAPD officers have access to the Los Angeles County Regional Identification System  which allows officers from across the region to input images from surveillance cameras and other sources for comparison against a database of nearly 9 million mug shots.

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"This is a database that allows us to take that image and get clues or tips as to persons that may be a match," Moore said.

Moore said the system had helped produce leads in homicide, sexual assault and robbery investigations.

He said "the algorithm that does this is not based on race or sex, it's based on the contours of a person's face," and that the leads the system produces are just one piece of information that investigators use to more deeply investigate crimes.

"This is a process that I have faith and confidence in," Moore said. "It's also one that has controls and limitations."

Moore said the LAPD's use of the system was "not done in secret."

Such technology has drawn criticism from civil liberties advocates and others, including due to findings that it can produce more false results for people of color. Some critics also object to the use of mug-shot databases as the source of comparison photographs, and say the lack of government transparency around the use of facial recognition is increasingly problematic as the technology becomes more powerful.

The city of San Francisco last year banned the use of facial recognition, including by its police, citing civil liberties concerns.

Additional criticism has been directed at the LAPD for consistently claiming it does not have any records related to the technology. The county system the LAPD has access to is maintained by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, and civil liberties advocates say the LAPD has hidden behind that fact to act as if it has no paper trail of records related to its own use of the system.

The Times found multiple examples of the LAPD denying having records on facial recognition, including policies around its use, as well as records in which LAPD officials have issued directives and policy positions on the use of facial recognition within the department.

In the summer of 2019, a Times reporter asked the LAPD about its use of facial recognition directly.

"Ive found some material on LAPDs pilot facial recognition programs from 2004/5, but wanted to get in touch to see if the department has an official statement and stance on the technology today. It would be great to know if its being used by the department, and the thinking behind the departments approach," a Times reporter wrote.

Josh Rubenstein, an LAPD spokesman, responded by writing, "We actually do not use facial recognition in the Department."

The only thing he added was that the department's partner agencies had used it in "a few limited instances" during joint investigations.

On Tuesday, Commissioner Steve Soboroff asked Moore about the exchange.

"Was there a misstatement, or was there a misinterpretation or a miscommunication?" Soboroff asked.

"There was a misunderstanding," Moore said, adding that LAPD officials believed the Times reporter was asking about a pending bill in Sacramento that would limit the use of facial recognition with police body cameras, which Moore said the LAPD did not do. Rubenstein had previously provided the same explanation.

"It was not meant to hide or shield or obscure our involvement," Moore said.

Bonner, part of the subcommittee that will now look into the software and its use in the department, asked which LAPD commanders had oversight of the system's use, and said the commission would no doubt have more questions moving forward.

He also said, "Sometimes if you don't ask the right question, you don't get the right answer"  seeming to suggest the LAPD's erroneous denials had to do with the framing of the requests for information.

In addition to the LAPD's denial of facial recognition use to The Times, the LAPD denied a November public records request seeking "records and materials related to the solicitation, acquisition, and use of face recognition technology and related software and services" by saying, "The LAPD does not utilize facial recognition technology and related software services."

After The Times questioned the accuracy of that response, the department sent a correction  calling its previous statement "inaccurate."

Several callers who spoke during a public comment portion of the Police Commission meeting rejected the notion that the LAPD had simply misunderstood past requests for information, saying the requests  including from The Times and the activist organization Stop LAPD Spying Coalition  have been explicit.

"Chief Moore tries to say they didn't understand the question. They lied," said Paula Minor, a local Black Lives Matter activist.

Other callers said they supported the LAPD and its use of facial recognition, citing rising violent-crime levels. Although violent crime overall is down compared with this time last year, shootings and homicides have increased.

Decker did not provide a timeline for when the subcommittee's review of facial recognition use by the LAPD would be completed.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department has declined to answer questions about broader use of its facial recognition platform by dozens of other police agencies in the county.
Mumbai: 1 dead, 5 injured after part of building collapses in Bandra's Chawl area

Mumbai: 11 dead after residential building collapses on another

Delhi: Four-storey building collapses in Sabzi Mandi area, several feared buried under rubble

Death toll rises to 20 in Bhiwandi building collapse

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Mumbai, Sep 22: Twenty persons, including seven children, died and 20 others, including a four-year-old boy, were rescued after a three-storeyed building collapsed in Maharashtra's Bhiwandi town on Monday, police said.

Maharashtra disaster: Many killed in Bhiwandi building collapse | Oneindia News

The 43-year-old Jhilani building caved in at 3.40 am, police said, adding a two-year-old boy is among the dead.

Two civic officials have been suspended in connection with the collapse and an offence has been registered against the building owner, an official said.

Saddened says PM Modi on loss of lives in Bhiwandi building collapse

Personnel of the Thane Disaster Response Force (TDRF) pulled out the four-year-old boy, Ubed Quraishi, from the debris and fed him water.

The building at Bhiwandi, a powerloom town around 10 km from Thane, had 40 flats and around 150 persons lived there, an official said.

A civic official told PTI that the building, located at Narpoli's Patel Compound near Dhamankar Naka, collapsed while the residents were asleep.

Teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are at the spot. NDRF DG S N Pradhan said they used a canine squad to search persons trapped in the debris.

A portion of the building collapsed and many occupants were trapped in the debris, a Thane Municipal Corporation official said.

The building was not in the list of dilapidated structures of the Bhiwandi-Nizampur Municipal Corporation (BNMC), he said.

An eyewitness said local residents rushed to the spot immediately after the collapse and helped pull out some persons from the debris.

The power supply to the locality was snapped as a precautionary measure, the official said, adding the injured have been admitted to local hospitals.

Bhiwandi DCP Rajkumar Shinde said offences under sections 337,338,304 (2)of the IPC were registered against the owner of building Sayyed Ahmed Jilani following a complaint by the civic officials after the collapse.

The police officer ruled out any possibility of finding more people/bodies in the debris.

Thane guardian minister Eknath Shinde said the collapse would be probed. He visited the site and announced a compensation of Rs five lakh to the kin of each victim.

He said 102 "dangerous buildings" in the powerloom town have already been evacuated.

The BNMC has suspended two senior officials in connection withthe building collapse.

An official release said the then Assistant Municipal Commissioner Sudam Jadhav and an engineer and Verification Officer Dudhnath Yadav have been suspended.

An inquiry committee has also been set up and will include the assistant town planner, the release said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed anguish at the loss of lives in the building collapse.

They will know the state is collapsing: Kangana Ranaut to Maha govt on building collapse

"Saddened by the building collapse in Bhiwandi, Maharashtra. Condolences to the bereaved families. Praying for a quick recovery of those injured. Rescue operations are underway and all possible assistance is being provided to the affected," Modi tweeted.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray expressed pain over the collapse and instructed the administration to ensure proper rescue operation and treatment to the injured, his office said.
Aerial view of the Centre of Excellence for Testing & Research of Autonomous Vehicles (Cetran) in Singapore. Courtesy of Nanyang Technological University

SINGAPORE  The buggy takes off on the track, moving very slowly. No one is controlling it, but the wheel spins and the vehicle negotiates a left turn. As if led by a first-time driver, the driverless buggy jerks back and forth before halting abruptly when a pedestrian on the sidewalk gets closer to the road. This is where autonomous vehicles in Singapore are being tested  at the Centre of Excellence for Testing and Research of Autonomous Vehicles (Cetran). The buggy trial covered only a small distance of the 1.3-km track, where vehicles navigate street signs, traffic lights, climb a small hill and are tested in simulated rain and flooding conditions. Singapore is seeking to become a "smart nation" by using digital technology to boost the economy and improve government services. One such project is the development of autonomous vehicles, or AVs for short. It aims to get autonomous buses onto public roads in three districts around the island by the early 2020s. The coronavirus pandemic is unlikely to disrupt these plans, according to Satya Ramamurthy, head of infrastructure, government and health care at KPMG in Singapore. "We don't see Covid-19 making the push towards (AVs) any less important," he said, adding that self-driving vehicles provide "meaningful solutions" to labor challenges in the Asian financial hub. Additionally, Ramamurthy said there's been a shift in preferences from mass public transport to private options in light of the coronavirus health crisis. Autonomous vehicles remain "very relevant" in reducing transmission risks, he added. The country appears to be making progress toward its driverless ambitions. In a KPMG survey in 2020 on how ready countries are for autonomous vehicles, Singapore came in first  up from second place in 2019.

Risk scenarios

But experts say there are still some lessons to learn as Singapore continues to develop autonomous vehicles. They include how to deal with torrential rain, how to recognize when waiting passengers signal for buses to stop, and how buses can brake while ensuring passenger safety. There are also plans to test autonomous vehicles at night and on motorways. "How you evaluate every possible risk scenario is really the challenge from the testing perspective," said professor Subodh Mhaisalkar, executive director of the Energy Research Institute at Nanyang Technological University. Scientists from the university operate Cetran alongside the Land Transport Authority (LTA), a Singapore government agency.

An autonomous buggy at the test center Cetran (Centre of Excellence for Testing & Research of Autonomous Vehicles) in Singapore. Ana Nicolaci da Costa for CNBC

One of the country's goals is to ease the pressure of a growing and aging population on roads by using autonomous vehicles to boost public transport. "We are a small country and land is always a constraint," said Lam Wee Shann, chief innovation and transport technology officer at the LTA. "Meeting (the) diverse needs of our commuters is one of the challenges we face in transportation." The idea is to have on-demand autonomous vehicles in the "first and last mile" of a commute, like the stretch between the train station to home, or from the train station to work, said NTU's Mhaisalkar. That would help minimize the "pain points" of the commuter, such as uncertain and long waiting times for connections. In future, autonomous vehicles such as road-sweepers and vehicles carrying freight, could also work after-hours and at night, as the city seeks to ease road congestion, LTA said.

Pilot deployment

As Singapore prepares for autonomous buses to make their debut on public roads in the next few years, the government will be expanding the area where autonomous vehicles can be tested  from some individual sites currently, to all of western Singapore. This was in response to "industry feedback that a more varied testing environment will help accelerate technology development," the LTA said last year. Self-driving vehicles must still be tested at Cetran before being authorized for trials on public roads.

The scale of the pilot deployment, whether full scale or part of it, depends on the state of technology readiness, as well as whether the public accepts it as a mode of transport. Lam Wee Shann Land Transport Authority

Technology and public acceptance will also be factors determining whether Singapore is ready to launch its autonomous bus pilot program in the early 2020s, said LTA's Lam. "The scale of the pilot deployment, whether full scale or part of it, depends on the state of technology readiness, as well as whether the public accepts it as a mode of transport," said Lam. "The pilot deployment is going to be the first time we actually run AV buses as a public transport service to our people; we are not going to rush." In the KPMG survey, Singapore led in categories on policy and legislation, as well as consumer acceptance, but came in 11th for technology and innovation.

Attracting business?

Singapore could attract business by bringing AV companies into the city-state, as well as create more high-skilled jobs in the transport sector, said KPMG's Ramamurthy. For example, instead of a bus driver, the autonomous vehicles could have bus operators who provide customer service and who have the skills to take control of the vehicle if required. He added that the "upskilling" of drivers  or teaching workers new skills  should minimize any job cuts among locals.

Driverless road sweepers at the test center in Singapore, known as the Centre of Excellence for Testing & Research of Autonomous Vehicles (Cetran). Ana Nicolaci da Costa for CNBC
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 17:48:07|Editor: huaxia

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SINGAPORE, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong called for joint efforts in updating and reforming multilateral institutions, including the United Nations (UN), when he delivered a video message at the high-level meeting to commemorate the UN's 75th anniversary on Tuesday morning.

Lee said all sides must work together to do the updating and reforming, so as to keep the institutions open, inclusive, and fit for purpose, to reflect current economic and political realities, and to respond effectively to shared challenges, including pandemics, climate change, extremist-terrorism, sustainable development, and cybersecurity.

He said a rules-based multilateral system, with the UN at its core, is the best hope of all sides to build a stable international environment. For all its limitations, it has helped to level the playing field for all countries.

"It has given small states like Singapore a voice, and a stake in the global commons," Lee said. "Major powers also benefit from a more peaceful and stable global environment, and when they take joint initiatives through multilateral institutions, it enhances their political legitimacy and moral authority."

However, the prime minister said recent trends have exposed shortcomings of multilateral institutions, which include the inability to achieve consensus on major issues, the conflicts that continue to ravage societies, and the millions who still lack access to food, healthcare and education.

He said the world was changing even before COVID-19. Geopolitical tensions were growing; globalization was showing fissures; isolationism, protectionism and unilateralism were pushing back against multilateral institutions and international cooperation.

"The COVID-19 crisis has sharpened these trends, but it has also reminded us how interconnected and interdependent countries are, and why we all need to work together to defeat the gravest challenge of our time," Lee added. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 17:49:29|Editor: huaxia

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KUNMING, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Law-enforcement authorities from China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand joined forces on Tuesday for the start of the 97th Mekong River joint patrol.

Three Chinese vessels departed from Jingha Port, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, in southwest China's Yunnan Province, while a Laotian vessel departed from the Ban Mom Port in Laos, with the patrol due to last several days.

Before the patrol, law-enforcement authorities of the four countries held a video conference to discuss the security situation of the river and reached an agreement on jointly cracking down on illegal activities and fighting against COVID-19.

The Mekong River, known as the Lancang River in China, is a vital waterway for cross-border shipping.

China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand have been carrying out joint patrols on the Mekong River for eight years. Enditem
A town is in mourning after the body of a black man was found burning in a ditch in rural Iowa.

Police found the body of 44-year-old Michael Williams, of Grinnell, Iowa, when they arrived at the scene to deal with an active fire that had been reported just off a road near Kellogg, Iowa.

According to CNN, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation is treating the death as a homicide.

Janalee Boldt, Mr Williams' ex-wife and the mother of his children, told local broadcaster KCCI that her ex-husband was "a family person" and that "his kids were always important".

Ms Boldt and Mr Williams had five children together. She said she was trying to stay strong for her children.

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"My daughter will not let me outside in the dark by myself because she's afraid of losing another parent," Ms Boldt said.

The family decided to make purple shirts  purple was Mr Williams' favorite colour  with the phrase "Justice For Michael" on them to commemorate their father.

On Monday, Grinnell College cancelled its classes in response to the death of one of its neighbors.

The college said its staff and students were given the day off to "recommit ourselves to equity and inclusion and to recognise the violent loss of one of our community".

The college tied the incident into the broader societal reckoning regarding violence toward black people in the wake of George Floyd's death, and claimed that "national context has become local experience."

"This stark and brutal murder in the national context of racial injustice has struck intense fear for safety of our Black Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) colleagues, friends and families," Grinnell College President Anne Harris wrote in a statement.

"We live in a predominantly white community and work in a predominantly white college. The murder of Mr. Williams is an incident that is rare in the experience of most Iowans. But for many people of color, this incident is the most recent in an accumulated history of prejudice, mistreatment, and murder," the statement said.

Friends of Mr Williams' family began a GoFundMe campaign to help pay for any expenses the family will incur during the investigation. The fundraiser's initial goal of $10,000 was met in less than a day, and has since been increased to $35,000.
Students frustrated with remote learning are unhappy about paying full fees while battling with expanding online tutorials as Sydney's universities work towards bringing more classes back to campus.

Universities are offering some face-to-face learning including tutorials and laboratories on campus, but many classes including those normally delivered in large lecture halls are delivered online to meet COVID-19 safety restrictions.

Cooper Forsyth, 20, a second-year University of Sydney arts student, said all his classes were online, but he would prefer to attend in person.

Cooper Forsyth, left, and Swapnik Sanagavarapu at the University of Sydney, are both still doing online learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Credit:Janie Barrett

"I am definitely getting sick of it, it's harder to do it online," he said. "But the other side of it is there are students who live quite far away ... who are getting more of an opportunity."
Sweden's strategy emphasising personal responsibility rather than major lockdowns to slow the virus drew fierce criticism as deaths shot up during the spring, but has also been lauded by World Health Organisation officials as a sustainable model.

Infections dropped significantly in the summer and so far Sweden had been spared the type of sharp increases in new cases seen in Spain, France and Britain in the past month.

However, around 1,200 new cases and five deaths have been reported since Friday compared to around 200 cases per day in the last weeks. The increase in new cases cannot solely be explained by increased testing, the Public Health Agency said on Tuesday.

"The rolling average has increased somewhat," Anders Tegnell, Sweden's chief epidemiologist who devised its pandemic strategy, told a news conference.

"It hasn't affected the healthcare  yet. The number of new cases at ICU is very low and the number of deaths are very low," he said.

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Tegnell said that new measures for the capital could not be ruled out. "We have a discussion with Stockholm about whether we need to introduce measures to reduce the spread of infection. Exactly what that will be, we will come back to in the next few days," he said.

Earlier on Tuesday Stockholm's top health official warned that the region saw an increase in cases.

"The downwards trend is broken," Stockholm Director of Health and Medical Services Bjorn Eriksson told a news conference. "We can only hope that this is a blip, that the spread start decreasing again. That depends on how well we follow the guidelines," he said.

Sweden has reported 5,870 deaths since the start of the pandemic, many more per capita than its Nordic neighbours but also lower than countries like Spain and Italy that opted for hard lockdowns.  Reuters
Mike Tully, CopperPoint Board of Directors

CopperPoint Insurance Companies, a western-based super regional commercial insurance company, today announced Mike Tully has been re-elected to the Board of Directors for CopperPoint Mutual Insurance Holding Company.

CopperPoint Insurance Companies, a western-based super regional commercial insurance company, today announced Mike Tully has been re-elected to the Board of Directors for CopperPoint Mutual Insurance Holding Company.

Judith Patrick, CopperPoint Board of Directors

CopperPoint Insurance Companies, a western-based super regional commercial insurance company, today announced Judith Patrick has been re-elected to the Board of Directors for CopperPoint Mutual Insurance Holding Company.

CopperPoint Insurance Companies, a western-based super regional commercial insurance company, today announced Judith Patrick has been re-elected to the Board of Directors for CopperPoint Mutual Insurance Holding Company.

PHOENIX, Sept. 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CopperPoint Insurance Companies, a western-based super regional commercial insurance company, today announced Judith Patrick and Mike Tully have been re-elected to the Board of Directors for CopperPoint Mutual Insurance Holding Company.



Our Board of Directors contribute significantly to the companys achievements and strategic plans, said Marc Schmittlein, President and Chief Executive Officer, CopperPoint Insurance Companies. We thank Judith and Mike, along with each of our board members, for their leadership and contributions to the companys progress and success especially during these unique and challenging times.

The results of the election were announced at the annual members meeting on September 15, 2020. Patrick and Tully will serve terms of three years each. Survey & Ballot Systems, an independent election administrator, conducted the voting process.

Judith Patrick was appointed to the CopperPoint Board of Directors in 1992 and served as Chair from 2009 to 2014. She currently serves on the Audit and Compliance Committee and the People and Performance Committee. She is an active member of the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) and the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC).

Mike Tully joined the CopperPoint Board of Directors in 2019. He currently serves as Chair of the Boards Audit and Compliance Committee and is a member of the People and Performance Committee. The National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) recently recognized Tully as NACD Directorship CertifiedTM, demonstrating his commitment to continuing director education and the highest standards of boardroom excellence.

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To learn more about CopperPoints Board of Directors, visit our website.

About CopperPoint Insurance Companies

Founded in 1925, CopperPoint Insurance Companies, www.copperpoint.com, is a western-based super regional commercial insurance company and a leading provider of workers compensation and commercial insurance solutions. With an expanded line of insurance products and a growing 10 state footprint in the western United States, CopperPoint is in a strong position to meet the evolving needs of our brokers, agents and customers. It has $4.8 billion in total assets and an enterprise surplus of over $1.4 billion.

CopperPoint Mutual Insurance Holding Company is the corporate parent of CopperPoint Insurance Companies, Pacific Compensation Insurance Company and Alaska National Insurance Company. All companies are rated A (Excellent) by AM Best.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ef56dbf5-7337-4ec6-8504-0bd877963bcc

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/65dca7d7-a924-4f34-9224-dc7c78d82dab

CONTACT: Contact: Thomas Pytel, Jr. tpytel@copperpoint.com 602.622.3998




The opposition on Tuesday boycotted the Lok Sabha session over Centres refusal to accept its demand for withdrawal of farm bills passed by Parliament. The lawmakers also protested in solidarity with the eight Rajya Sabha members who were suspended for misbehaving with the Rajya Sabha deputy chairman during farm bills debate on Sunday.

Opposition parties, including Congress, TMC, TRC and BSP, walked out of the Lok Sabha, according to a PTI report.

You have compelled us to do so, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said in Lok Sabha as opposition boycotted the house.

Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla is holding a meeting in the Parliament premises with leaders of opposition, including Congress Adhir Ranjan Choudhary and NCPs Supriya Sule after the parties boycotted Tuesdays session.

Members of opposition parties at the meeting called by Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla (Photo: ANI)

The Upper House of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) on Sunday passed the two key farm bills - Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020, amid protests and ruckus in the house.

These bills have already been passed by the Lok Sabha and are awaiting Presidents nod.

The government says that these bills will help boost the farming sector through private investments.

The opposition had demonstrated its disapproval in the Upper House of Parliament against the suspension of MPs and passage of these bills, with TMC MP Derek OBrien indicting to the media that the opposition parties were likely to boycott the Lok Sabha session as well.
Imperial Valley News Center

Blue Bell Creameries Ordered To Pay $17.25 Million In Criminal Penalties In Connection With 2015 Listeria Contamination

Austin, Texas - A federal court in Texas sentenced ice cream manufacturer Blue Bell Creameries L.P. to pay $17.25 million in criminal penalties for shipments of contaminated products linked to a 2015 listeriosis outbreak, the Justice Department announced Thursday.

Blue Bell pleaded guilty in May 2020 to two misdemeanor counts of distributing adulterated ice cream products. The sentence, imposed by U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman in Austin, Texas, was consistent with the terms of a plea agreement previously filed in the case. The $17.25 million fine and forfeiture amount is the largest-ever criminal penalty following a conviction in a food safety case.

American consumers must be able to trust that the foods they purchase are safe to eat, said Acting Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Bossert Clark of the Justice Departments Civil Division. The sentence imposed today sends a clear message to food manufacturers that the Department of Justice will take appropriate actions when contaminated food products endanger consumers.

The health of American consumers and the safety of our food are too important to be thwarted by the criminal acts of any individual or company, said Judy McMeekin, Pharm.D., Associate Commissioner for Regulatory Affairs, U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Americans expect and deserve the highest standards of food safety and integrity. We will continue to pursue and bring to justice those who put the public health at risk by distributing contaminated foods in the U.S. marketplace.

The results of this investigation reflect the determination of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service to hold companies that sell food products to the military accountable and ensure they comply with food safety laws, said Michael Mentavlos, Special Agent-in-Charge of the DCIS Southwest Field Office. The health and safety of our service members and their dependents is of paramount importance.

The plea agreement and criminal information filed against Blue Bell allege that the company distributed ice cream products that were manufactured under insanitary conditions and contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, in violation of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. According to the plea agreement, Texas state officials notified Blue Bell in February 2015 that samples of two ice cream products from the companys Brenham, Texas factory tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes, a dangerous pathogen that can lead to serious illness or death in vulnerable populations such as pregnant women, newborns, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems. Blue Bell directed its delivery route drivers to remove remaining stock of the two products from store shelves, but the company did not recall the products or issue any formal communication to inform customers about the potential Listeria contamination. Two weeks after receiving notification of the first positive Listeria tests, Texas state officials informed Blue Bell that additional state-led testing confirmed Listeria in a third product. Blue Bell again chose not to issue any formal notification to customers regarding the positive tests. Blue Bells customers included military installations.

In March 2015, tests conducted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) linked the strain of Listeria in one of the Blue Bell ice cream products to a strain that sickened five patients at a Kansas hospital with listeriosis, the severe illness caused by ingestion of Listeria-contaminated food. The FDA, CDC, and Blue Bell all issued public recall notifications on March 13, 2015. Subsequent tests confirmed Listeria contamination in a product made at another Blue Bell facility in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, which led to a second recall announcement on March 23, 2015.

According to the plea agreement with the company, FDA inspections in March and April 2015 revealed sanitation issues at the Brenham and Broken Arrow facilities, including problems with the hot water supply needed to properly clean equipment and deteriorating factory conditions that could lead to insanitary water dripping into product mix during the manufacturing process. Blue Bell temporarily closed all of its plants in late April 2015 to clean and update the facilities. Since re-opening its facilities in late 2015, Blue Bell has taken significant steps to enhance sanitation processes and enact a program to test products for Listeria prior to shipment.

Trial Attorneys Patrick Hearn and Matt Lash of the Civil Divisions Consumer Protection Branch prosecuted the case with assistance from Shannon Singleton and Michael Varrone of the FDAs Office of Chief Counsel. The criminal investigation was conducted by the FDAs Office of Criminal Investigations and the Department of Defense Criminal Investigative Service.
Chennai: Kerala has managed to bag one of the four medical device parks proposed to be set up by the government. The other three have reportedly gone to Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, leaving Karnataka as the only southern state not to have been favoured.

As part of the atma nirbharta policy of the Union government, these parks will provide a full range of services to the medical devices industry, including R&D support, testing and evaluation.

The Kerala facility is named MedSpark, and it will be located within the Life Science Park in Thiruvananthapuram. It is a joint initiative of Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences & Technology (SCTIMST), an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), and the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation Ltd (KSIDC).

MedSpark will produce medical implants and extracorporeal devices. It will create an enabling support system for R&D, testing and evaluation of medical devices, manufacturing support, technology innovation, and knowledge dissemination.

These facilities located within MedSpark will be accessible to institutions from other parts of the country as well. It will benefit small and medium-sized medical devices industries, which dominate the medical devices sector.

The aspect that will distinguish this medical device park from the other similar projects proposed is that it will focus on high-risk medical devices, a domain in which SCTIMST has considerable expertise and experience, according to DST secretary Ashutosh Sharma.

Kerala has a number of medical device companies with an annual turnover in excess of Rs 750 crore. Most of them operate with technologies transferred from SCTIMST.

MedSpark is billed to create direct employment for 1200 people in addition to enabling 4000-5000 jobs in supporting industries like OEM suppliers, service providers, and marketing/post marketing support activities.
Clinton reportedly ate with close friends, including Epstein's alleged madam

Maxwell, who attended Chelsea Clinton's wedding in 2010, was linked to Epstein's crimes in 2011 by Virginia Roberts, one of Epsteins prime accusers

Democrat donor Steve Bing, who killed himself in June, was also at the meal

Maxwell's attendance is said to have been hotly contested by Clinton's team

The former president is said to have been 'relieved' the press did not find out

Bill Clinton is said to have enjoyed a secret dinner with Ghislaine Maxwell in 2014 - years after she was first linked to Jeffrey Epstein's sex crimes.

The former US president, 74, ate with close friends, including Epstein's alleged madam and former girlfriend Maxwell, at vegan restaurant Crossroads Kitchen in Los Angeles in February of that year, The Daily Beast reports.

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Maxwell, 58, who attended Chelsea Clinton's wedding in 2010, had been linked to Epstein's crimes in 2011 by Virginia Roberts, one of Epsteins prime accusers.

Her attendance at the 2014 meal is said to have been hotly contested by Clinton's team. The former president is said to have been 'relieved' the press did not find out about the dinner. DailyMail.com has contacted Clinton's team for comment.

Democrat donor Steve Bing, who killed himself earlier this year, is also thought to have dined with Clinton that night. Maxwell's rumored husband and tech CEO Scott Borgerson was also said to be on the guestlist.

TMZ reported at the time that producer Jerry Bruckheimer and actors Bruce Willis and Sean Penn were also at that the restaurant, although are not thought to have been part of Clinton's entourage. Video shows Clinton arriving via a back door.

Maxwell remains behind bars as she awaits trial on charges she recruited girls for disgraced financier Epstein to sexually abuse more than two decades ago. He killed himself in prison in August last year, several weeks after being charged with sex trafficking.

Clinton traveled numerous times on the dead pedophiles private Jet. In May he was forced to deny claims he had an affair with Maxwell in new book A Convenient Death: The Mysterious Demise of Jeffrey Epstein.

Bill Clinton, pictured, is said to have enjoyed a secret dinner with Ghislaine Maxwell,in 2014 - years after she was first linked to Jeffrey Epstein's sex crimes

Ghislaine Maxwell pictured in 2010

The former US president, 74, ate with close friends, including Epstein's alleged madam, at vegan restaurant Crossroads Kitchen in Los Angeles, The Daily Beast reports

Epstein was first sentenced to 18 months in prison and registered as a sex offender in 2008.

Doug Band, who left his role with Clinton in 2012, is said to have banned Maxwell from the presidents network in 2011 but Clintons deputy chief of staff Jon Davidson, who helped organize the dinner, is reported to have known she would be there.

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Clinton and Maxwell were once pictured together on the billionaire pedophile's plane back in the early 2000s.

A source told The Daily Beast: 'This is an intimate dinner with Clinton in LA. Think of all the people he knows in L.A., and Ghislaine gets to attend.'

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Clinton and Maxwell are pictured aboard Jeffrey Epstein's private jet 2002. The pair are seen at a small airport in Portugal during a fuel stop for the plane bound to Africa from New York

Maxwell, who attended Chelsea Clinton's wedding in 2010, was linked to Epstein's crimes in 2011 by Virginia Roberts, one of Epsteins prime accusers; her attendance at the 2014 meal is said to have been contested by Clinton's team

Democrat donor Steve Bing, who killed himself in June, was also at the meal. Clinton and Bing are pictured in 2009

Clinton had been in LA for the Unite4:Humanity gala, where he was the keynote speaker; Maxwell stayed in the city and was pictured three days later with Elon Musk at the Vanity Fair Oscar's party.

Clinton's spokesman, Angel Urena, did not comment but referred to this 2019 statement: 'President Clinton knows nothing about the terrible crimes Jeffrey Epstein pleaded guilty to in Florida some years ago, or those with which he has been recently charged in New York.

'In 2002 and 2003, President Clinton took a total of four trips on Jeffrey Epsteins airplane: one to Europe, one to Asia, and two to Africa, which included stops in connection with the work of the Clinton Foundation. Staff, supporters of the Foundation, and his Secret Service detail traveled on every leg of every trip.

'He had one meeting with Epstein in his Harlem office in 2002, and around the same time made one brief visit to Epsteins New York apartment with a staff member and his security detail. Hes not spoken to Epstein in well over a decade, and has never been to Little St. James Island, Epsteins ranch in New Mexico, or his residence in Florida.'

Ghislaine Maxwell appears via video link during her arraignment hearing where she was denied bail for her role aiding Jeffrey Epstein to recruit and eventually abuse of minor girls, in Manhattan Federal Court in July

In photos obtained by the DailyMail.com earlier this year Clinton grinned with pleasure as he enjoyed an intimate neck massage with Epstein victim Chauntae Davies, then 22.

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Clinton, then 56, had complained of having a stiff neck after falling asleep on Epstein's infamous private jet, nicknamed The Lolita Express, while on a humanitarian trip with the pedophile to Africa in September of 2002.

Maxwell is said to have repeatedly encouraged Davies to give Clinton a massage while the group was refueling at a small airport in Portugal after flying in from New York.

Epstein was first sentenced to 18 months in prison and registered as a sex offender in 2008. He was arrested again in July last year before being found dead in his prison cell a month later

After Maxwell's insistence, Clinton asked the twenty-something: 'Would you mind giving it a crack?'

Davies, who has claimed she was raped by Epstein several times after being recruited by Maxwell, said Clinton was a 'complete gentleman' on the trip.

In papers released by a judge Virginia Roberts, one of Epsteins prime accusers, also says Clinton strolled into the darkness with two girls while staying on Epsteins private Caribbean island. Clinton denies ever being there and has also always maintained he knew nothing of Epstein's abuse of young girls.

In an excerpt of A Convenient Death: The Mysterious Demise of Jeffrey Epstein, obtained by the New York Post, sources said Clinton would have sex with Maxwell during overseas trips on Epstein's Lolita Express plane and he would visit her at her Manhattan townhouse.

The former president has denied having the affair with Maxwell. Clinton's spokesman said: 'It's a total lie today, it's a total lie tomorrow, and it'll be a total lie years from now.'

Sources quoted in the book claim that Clinton was tied to Epstein only because of his alleged affair with Maxwell.

The book claims Clinton visited Maxwell at her Upper East Side townhouse on multiple occasions.

Maxwell, 58, remains behind bars as she awaits trial on charges she recruited girls for disgraced financier Epstein to sexually abuse more than two decades ago

They were also side-by-side at various events in New York City together, including ones held by his own Clinton Foundation.

Maxwell has pleaded not guilty to charges that she procured the girls, including one as young as 14, for Epstein to abuse in London and the United States in the 1990s. If convicted, she could face up to 35 years in prison.

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Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to state charges in Florida of procuring a person under 18 for prostitution and felony solicitation of prostitution. He served 13 months, most of it on work release program at a county jail.
One big talking point that Republicans are hammering against Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden is that he is a socialist. Vice President Mike Pence has warned that Biden would set America "on a path of socialism and decline." Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who had already decided to make this election a "referendum on socialism" last year before Democrats had even picked their nominee, recently accused Biden of harboring a socialist agenda. And, of course, President Trump has called Biden a "Trojan horse for socialism."

Is he? In one sense, yes. But in that same sense, Trump is too.

Full-blown socialism of course means abolishing private property and putting industry under direct government control. The manufacturing and distribution of goods is nationalized. Government bureaucrats establish production quotas, set prices, and determine consumption, usually via rationing. This is what Vladimir Lenin did to the Soviet economy after the 1918 Bolshevik revolution and the Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez did to vast sections of his country almost a century later.

Neither Biden nor Trump are socialists in this robust sense. However, in common parlance, socialism has come to mean an expansive economic role for the government via federal spending on the one hand, and industry mandates and regulations on the other. By this definition, Cato Institute's Scott Lincicome tells me, both candidates are socialists, just different versions.

Neither has any compunctions about using massive deficit-spending to boost economic growth. Neither is averse to picking economic winners and losers by helping industries they favor and crippling those they don't via regulations and mandates. Trump, Lincicome notes, has been quite adept at using Uncle Sam to slam industries that hurt his America First agenda  and boost those that help it. Biden, meanwhile, is a typical Democrat who wants to use Big Government to tax rich companies and individuals and pursue a redistributive liberal agenda.

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Trump points to his tax cuts and deregulation to make the case that he's an anti-socialist who has shrunk the size of government. The trouble is that his tax cuts have been accompanied by massive increases in government spending, ballooning deficits and debt and setting the stage for tax hikes on future generations (or bankruptcy, which he has openly said he's fine courting). So Trump's anti-socialism consists of expanding government spending now and kicking the payment for it down the road.

Universite du Quebec's Pierre Lemieux notes that in 2019, the U.S. deficit touched $984 billion. That's almost double the $585 billion deficit that Trump inherited from his predecessor. Correspondingly, the federal debt in 2019 was 14 percent greater than in 2016 adding up to a whopping $22.7 trillion  a trillion dollars more than the total U.S. economy. Democrats of course never say "no" to government spending. But for the first two years of the Trump presidency, Trump's own party controlled the House and the Senate. So if Trump had the inclination, he could have reined in spending, or at least flat-lined it. But that would have required tackling popular old-age entitlement programs such as Medicare and Social Security, which constitute almost half of the federal budget.

Trump, however, made a deal with Democrats, handing them more entitlement spending in exchange for more defense spending. The upshot, as my Reason colleague Matt Welch has noted, is that under Trump, the annual price tag of government went up by $937 billion in less than four years in contrast to the $870 billion price hike during Obama's eight years. But Obama's hike included the tab for government spending on the financial meltdown. Trump's $2.35 trillion in direct coronavirus-related government spending, by contrast, is extra. And he's not done yet. He is now urging GOP lawmakers to give up whatever nostalgia they have for the halcyon days when fiscal responsibility was their mantra and "go for the much higher [spending] numbers" to boost the economy and show those "heartless" Democrats.

To be sure, Biden is no slouch when it comes to doling out government largesse. And his Build Back Better plan to rejuvenate America visualizes spending $5.35 trillion over 10 years just on education, infrastructure and health care (any emergency would be extra). If Biden gets his way, that would boost the debt to 24 percent of the GDP. That's three percentage points more than right now  and equal to the chunk of the economy Uncle Sam was consuming during World War II. Biden plans to pay for all this by repealing Trump's tax cuts for corporations and high earners. The right calls this socialism, but it is far from clear why taxing and spending in real time qualifies as socialism and spending now and taxing later doesn't.

But what about Trump's rollback of the regulatory state? Doesn't that count? It would have if Trump had built on his record in the first half of his term when he was cutting two existing federal regulations for every new one. This resulted in some genuine rollbacks. But according to the free-market Competitive Enterprise Institute, two of whose staffers actually served on Trump's transition team, Trump has since reversed course. Its 2020 annual compendium of regulations, Ten Thousand Commandments, lamented: "Trump cuts, but Trump also adds."

The report based its conclusion on "Trump's proclivity to trade restrictions" and his "ad hoc zeal" for antitrust action against Big Tech. On the trade front, "the tariff man," as Trump proudly refers to himself, has demanded that America's trading partners pledge reciprocity in purchasing American goods as part of any trade agreement. That severely crimps the scope of these deals. Worse, in his MAGA (Make America Great Again) zeal, he issued twin executive orders last year mandating the use of American products in federal contracting and infrastructure  apparently unperturbed that the resulting cost hikes in government projects are essentially a tax on Americans.

Meanwhile, using antitrust laws to challenge the alleged monopoly power of giant corporations was the province of Democrats. But thanks to Trump's personal animus toward Big Tech, CEI notes, he has "casually invoked antitrust action" against tech and telecom companies such as Amazon (whose founder publishes The Washington Post), Google, Time Warner, Facebook, and others. He created a technology task force last year with the express purpose of policing Big Tech. Even though few of its investigations have yielded fruit, the barely-veiled politicization of executive agencies has set a terrible precedent.

And then there's the president's record on immigration. Trump has used the regulatory state for aggressive labor market interventionism to advance his MAGA agenda. He has not spared the hitherto sacrosanct H-1B visa program for foreign professionals that even restrictionist conservative pundits believe is good for America. Even before COVID-19 hit, he had wrapped this visa in so much red tape as to make it virtually unusable. Now, he has just shut down the program along with virtually all immigration until the end of the year. Moreover, he has done so not to protect Americans from the pandemic, but from foreign competition. But there is no need for such affirmative action for natives, because immigrants often occupy sectors where Americans are either unwilling or unavailable to do the jobs.

By contrast, unlike Trump, Biden's rhetoric depicts immigrants not as an economic liability but as an asset. He has pledged to revoke Trump's H-1B visa ban and eliminate national quotas that force nationals from India and China to wait decades to get their green cards. So on immigration, Biden is likely to be a clear win for the cause of deregulation.

On trade, the picture is more mixed given that instead if distancing himself from Trump's MAGA rhetoric, Biden, who, after all, leads the party of labor unions, is touting his own version of economic nationalism. China bashing was a Democratic sport before Trump ran with it. Biden, therefore, is unlikely to fully retreat on that front, although he is unlikely to pursue the crusade to eliminate the trade deficit with the Middle Kingdom with as much quixotic zeal. He'll also almost certainly rebuild America's relations with global trade institutions. "Biden will be less openly hostile to foreign trade as President Trump, but shouldn't be expected to usher in a new era of pro-trade policies," Lincicome points out.

Where Biden will be clearly worse than Trump is on carbon trade policy. In the name of fighting climate change, he might very well try to impose pollution tariffs on high greenhouse-gas-emitting countries, triggering a global trade war not unlike the one Trump ushered. Indeed, even though Biden is making an effort to distance himself from the Green New Dealers in his party right now (he has resolutely resisted their calls to ban fracking), he has declared that he wants 100 percent clean energy by 2035 and will likely push aggressive clean energy mandates and subsidies to achieve that objective.

But, then, Trump has maintained a web of ethanol tariffs on foreign producers and ethanol mandates on domestic oil refiners to help red agricultural states like Iowa  even though such interventionism results in a net redistribution of wealth from consumers to producers via higher energy costs without producing notable environmental benefits. And it isn't just a perverse ethanol regime that Trump has maintained to help ag states. He has also doled out nearly $20 billion in bailout money to them to offset the cost of China's retaliatory tariffs.

Socialism historically has been considered the province of the left given its crusade for economic equality. But socialism understood as aggressive economic interventionism is as much part and parcel of a right-wing agenda of national greatness. After all, the modern welfare state emerged in 19th-century Germany under the conservative rule of Bismarck.

Trump will pursue socialism to advance a full-throated economic nationalist agenda, Biden some mix of economic equality and environmental protection. They are both equally susceptible to the lure of the strong arm of the state to accomplish their disparate ends.

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Working from home (WFH) is here to stay, and could reduce demand for office space by 10-20% in a post-Covid-19 world, said Barclays, a British multinational investment bank and financial services company.



There is risk in either direction, but we see compelling evidence that the pandemic has revealed a better way of working for a large number of employees and companies, Barclays said in its series on the Future of Real Estate, focused on office, lodging, and healthcare property.



We expect partial WFH will become the norm for office workers and will be for an average of two to three days a week, with full-time WFH an exception. This will reduce office footprints and drive layout changes (more meeting rooms, break-out space, etc.) in favour of space designated for collaboration and social interaction, it added.



Urban offices are likely to outperform suburban offices after Covid. As companies reduce space, we expect they will consolidate into fewer, high-quality, centralized locations that will provide premium fit-for-purpose gathering places. In the long run, this would support central urban offices despite their steeper drop-off in traffic during the pandemic.



Lodging has been hurt by travel restrictions and the loss of business travellers, but should recover over time, as it has after prior recessions and downturns. While videoconferencing may displace some business trips, others may be created (offsites and training) and hotels could try to replace business demand with additional leisure.



The 80% recovery of foot traffic to Las Vegas demonstrates the speed we could see in a broader leisure-travel recovery. That recovery has happened even as flight traffic to the city remains well below pre-Covid levels, suggesting more upside once people start flying again. Conference businesses outside Las Vegas will likely take longer to recover, matching the multi-year recovery cycle in lodging.



Senior housing demand will recover in the medium term. Within healthcare real estate, life science and medical offices clearly outperformed senior housing during 2Q 20. Barclays said demographic changes will reinvigorate senior housing longer term.  TradeArabia News Service
Last week, the White House made the decision to ban Chinese-owned apps Tik Tok and WeChat from U.S. app stores. As of yesterday, the apps are no longer available for download.

APPS WE'VE LOST: TikTok is leaving app stores on Sunday. Remember Flappy Bird?

The apps were being removed due to security concerns related to user data and propaganda. According to Zak Doffman at Forbes, in recent weeks reports have emerged suggesting that TikTok is Chinese spyware, alleging that the app steals data from users devices and sends it to China.

While those claims haven't been proven to be true, TikTok does occasionally release software with security vulnerabilities that need to be fixed.

President Trump told reporters Saturday said a new deal currently being brokered would result in a new company called TikTok Global that will likely be based in Texas.

The proposed deal is between U.S.-based tech company Oracle and Walmart for the U.S. operations of TikTok.

"If they get it done, that's great," Trump told reporters. "If they don't, that's OK, too."

We are pleased that the proposal by TikTok, Oracle, and Walmart will resolve the security concerns of the U.S. Administration and settle questions around TikToks future in the U.S., TikTok said in a statement.

The news of the new Tik Tok headquarters moving down south comes after Governor Greg Abbott tweeted Saturday that he pitched Trump on moving the TikTok headquarters to the Lone Star state.

In the tweet he says, "Today I talked to @realDonaldTrump about the @tiktok_us deal, Abbott tweeted. I let him know that if he approves the deal Texas would be the perfect place for the HQ. Well see."

According to Trump, the Texas location would potentially hire 25,000 employees.

Where in Texas the headquarters would be located is yet to be announced, but it would be pretty cool to see a Tik Tok building here in Houston. Where should it go? Now that's the question.
London, Sep 22 : A Punjab-born Sikh taxi driver has said that four white men assaulted him in Berkshire, England, and asked if he was a member of the Taliban militant group.

Vaneet Singh (41), from Tilehurst suburb of Reading town, believes the four accused could have been Scottish or Irish.

Singh, who has been left bruised and battered after the incident, told police that the men also stuck drugs up his nose, vandalised his taxi and tried to pull his turban off.

One of them had asked to be dropped in nearby Bramley after all four were picked up from a casino in Berkshire.

"After he got out, he came up to my window holding a black box of substance which I think was cannabis. He asked me to try it and I said it was against my religion and then he lifted up my face mask and forced it up to my nose. It left me feeling intoxicated," Singh claimed.

Another man asked Singh to stop to urinate.

"He got out and asked to drive the car and I refused. Then he started trying to pull my taxi plate off. I tried to call the police but the network was very poor. Back in the car, they slid their fingers inside my turban and tried to pull it off.

"They also kicked and punched me in the back through the seat and kept tightening my safety belt. They said, 'Are you Taliban?' I said, 'No, I'm a Sikh', and told them its a religious symbol and asked them not to touch my turban," he added.

All the three men got out at a red traffic in Basingstoke, kicked the back of his car, leaving a dent and left.

Besides driving a cab, Singh also teaches tabla in Berkshire.

"I have neck pain and chest pain now and my body keeps vibrating. This was 100 per cent a racist attack. I am usually a friendly guy, always laughing, and this has made me scared," he added.

Thames Valley Police said they were investigating the case but arrests had been made so far.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
A Poll, a Senior General and the Demise of His Promise of a New Democratic Era in Myanmar
Two people were arrested at an Ohio airport with shovels, a gun and 200 rounds of ammunition before Donald Trumps rally in the city.

The FBI and Secret Service are now reportedly helping with the investigation into John Davison and Vicki Davison.

John Davison, 38, and Vicki Davison, 33, both of Virginia Beach, Virginia, face a string of charges including making terrorist threats, carrying a concealed weapon, inducing panic and criminal trespass.

They were both arrested behind Toledo Executive Airport in Lake Township, Ohio, which is a reliever airport for the citys main Toledo Express Airport 22 miles away across the city.

That airport in Swanton, Ohio, was where the president was holding his latest rally.

Police were called when a witness reported seeing two people get out of a car and walking on railroad tracks.

When they were arrested police found two shovels, a Glock pistol with an extended magazine, 200 rounds of ammunition and four tourniquets.

Lake Township Police Chief told the Sentinel-Tribune newspaper that officer ha searched the pairs rental car and found several items that were suspicious in nature but described those as odd items, but nothing illegal.

Chief Hummer told the paper that John Davison had been cited by police in Walbridge, Ohio, on Sunday night for criminal trespass.
Thousands of protesters have marched in Bangkok to give police a letter of demands that openly challenges the monarchy and calls for reforms to curb the powers of the Thai king, Maha Vajiralongkorn.

Protest leaders declared the handing over of the demands a victory.

Our greatest victory in the two days is showing that ordinary people like us can send a letter to royals, Parit Penguin Chiwarak, told the crowd on Sunday.

Earlier in the day, protesters cemented a plaque near the Grand Palace, in the area known as Sanam Luang, or Royal Field.

It reads: At this place the people have expressed their will: that this country belongs to the people and is not the property of the monarch as they have deceived us.

The citys deputy police chief, Piya Tawichai, said that Bangkok authorities would need to determine whether the plaque is illegal and if it is, it will be removed.

The mass student-led rally, the biggest demonstration in Thailand in years, began on Saturday with calls for democratic reform and the removal of Prayuth Chan-ocha  the prime minister and a former junta leader  followed by a new constitution and elections.

Protest leaders also called for a general strike on 14 October to show support for change.

Thousands camped overnight at Sanam Luang.

The marchers were blocked by hundreds of unarmed police manning crowd control barriers and government spokesperson Anucha Burapachaisri said authorities would not use violence.

He added that it was for police to determine and prosecute any illegal speech.

Protesters have grown bolder during two months of demonstrations against Thailands palace and military-dominated establishment, breaking a longstanding taboo on criticising the monarchy  an activity that is illegal under lese majeste laws.

The next protest is scheduled for Thursday.

Additional reporting by agencies
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has started the process to validate data to enable it to revise upwards its growth forecast for Ghana.



This is after it has satisfied itself that the economy will grow stronger than initially projected, based on recent developments and provisional data.



The fund has started consultations with some relevant state institutions to obtain and validate data to feed into its revision of the countrys economic outlook, especially the growth position.



The Ghana Resident Representative of the IMF, Dr Albert Touna Mama, told the Daily Graphics specialised programme on banking and finance, Banking & More, last Thursday that the fund was optimistic that the economy would grow around two per cent  above the IMF's earlier forecast of 0.9 per cent and the government's target of 1.5 per cent.



The fund had earlier cut its growth forecast for Ghana from 6.1 per cent at the beginning of the year to 1.5 per cent in April, before dropping it further to 0.9 per cent around June.





Areas covered



Dr Touna Mama was responding to a range of questions on Ghanas economy, including the impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic on growth and debt, the utilisation of the IMFs $1 billion loan to the country and its take on the state of the economy before and after the December general election.



In the interview, which is scheduled to be broadcast at 9. a.m. today and Thursday, the resident representative also expressed a view on whether or not the IMF expected Ghana to return to the Bretton Woods institution next year for technical and financial support in managing the economy.



GSS data



Commenting on the impact of the COVID-19 on growth, Dr Touna Mama said from the onset, the IMF was convinced that economic growth in Ghana would remain in the positive territory for 2020, although the fluid and uncertain nature of the situation made it difficult to be exact on projections.



Giving the bases for the fund's brighter prospects for the economy lately, he said data from the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) showed that the COVID-19 shock on the economy was lower than initially feared.



He said while the 3.2 per cent contraction in growth for the second quarter did not come as a surprise, the rate of negative growth was lower than previously anticipated.



Our current forecast is that the collapse of economic activities in the second quarter will be larger than what we are seeing. So, in that context, we are currently thinking about revising upwards our growth projections that currently stand at 0.9 per cent for 2020.



There is a chance that we may revise that below two per cent, but we need to see the data, he said, noting that the upward revision in growth would be a direct implication of the release of the data by the GSS.



Dr Touna Mama added that the fund expected growth in the third quarter to be better than that of the second quarter.



Key drivers



Beyond the GSS data, he said, the fund had noticed significant increases in economic activities and a pick-up of business recovery recently.



He said Google mobility data had indicated increased activities in urban areas throughout the country, signifying an appreciable return to normalcy.



On the areas that could drive the expected strong growth, Dr Touna Mama mentioned information and communications technology (ICT) and digital services, pharmaceutical and health services, agriculture and manufacturing as some of the key areas that the fund expected to drive growth.



Expenditures



Touching on public spending, the resident representative said it was commendable that the government found a fine balance between spending to contain the virus and its impact on lives and spending on previously budgeted items.



He said the several rigidities in the budget meant that the government had less space to navigate around as far as public spending was concerned.



He, however, said Ghana should start finding creative ways of sharing the financial burden of the pandemic with the current generation, instead of putting it on future generations through loans.



In the medium term, there will definitely be merit in having more burden sharing, reviewing perhaps the social contract to ensure that the burden is not just on future generations, because that is what debt is doing.



Perhaps there is room to bring the burden on to this current generation, Dr Touna Mama said.

Source: graphiconline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The ruling party in West Bengal, Trinamool Congress, will hit the streets to protest the passage of contentious farm bills starting from Tuesday in Kolkata. Parallel protests are going on outside the Parliament.

Two of the partys senior Rajya Sabha members  Derek OBrien and Dola Sen  were suspended for a week on Monday for unruly behaviour that took place as the upper house of the Parliament passed two controversial bills relating to the agriculture sector on Sunday.

Condemning the two bills, chief minister and party supremo Mamata Banerjee said that the TMC will launch a series of protests against the bills every day starting from Tuesday.

The party will stage continuous protests starting from Tuesday. On September 22, the partys women wing will hold a dharna near Gandhi statue in Kolkata. The youth wing will stage a protest on Wednesday followed by farmers and labourers, Banerjee said.

Also read: Despite BJDs opposition to twin farm bills, Odisha farmer leaders arent impressed

Tuesdays protests in central Kolkata would be led by Chandrima Bhattacharya, the minister of state for health in West Bengal. The TMC chief also called on all parties to unitedly oppose the farm bills and assured her partys support.

Meanwhile, the Congress and the Left Front have also decided to hit the streets on September 25 to protest the Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020.

Among the eight suspended MPs, while two were from the TMC, three were from the Congress party and two were CPI(M) lawmakers. One was from the Aam Aadmi Party.

In the Unlock 4 guidelines, the Union home ministry had earlier said that political functions could be held with a ceiling of 100 people from September 21.

Because of the pandemic, there is a restriction on the number of people that can gather. Hence, we will stage the protest following protocols and not bring in a large number of people, Banerjee said.
"People living with HIV shoulder an enormous burden of cancer," said Joseph Sparano, M.D. , associate chair for clinical research in the department of oncology at Montefiore, associate director for clinical research at the NCI-designated Albert Einstein Cancer Center , and principal investigator (PI) on the grant. "AMC is the only organization worldwide solely dedicated to the study, treatment, and prevention of cancer in this group of people. Montefiore and Einstein are perfectly positioned to lead this organization and steer research advances."

Engaging the Community at Risk

Approximately 38 million people are infected with HIV, including 1.2 million in the U.S. People living with HIV have an increased risk of developing cancer compared with the general population and are more likely to die of cancer, interrupting otherwise healthy lives. This is due to a variety of causes, including long-term inflammation and an overtaxed immune system. In addition, HIV infections are concentrated in marginalized communities in the U.S., primarily among people of color, who make up approximately 70% of new infections.

To address this need, Montefiore developed an HIV Oncology Service, directed by Luca Paoluzzi, M.D., a medical oncologist at Montefiore, assistant professor of medicine at Einstein, and the AMC PI at Montefiore and Einstein. The newly established service brings together Montefiore and Einstein's experience in patient care and research.

Partnership with NIH AIDS Research Center

Collaborating with Harris Goldstein, M.D., associate dean for scientific resources, director of the NIH-funded Einstein-Rockefeller-CUNY Center for AIDS Research (CFAR), and professor of pediatrics and of microbiology & immunology at Einstein, Dr. Sparano has established a scientific working group focused on cancer and HIV that will guide the direction of future collaborative research at the CFAR and AMC. The group will be co-chaired by Dr. Sparano and Howard Strickler, M.D., professor and chief of epidemiology in the department of epidemiology & population health at Einstein and Montefiore. It will identify areas of need, evaluate emerging research, and design new clinical trials that will be rolled out at dozens of locations at Montefiore and around the world.

AMC's International Network

The AMC oversees a network of 42 clinical trial sites in the United States, Africa, and Latin America, as well as translational scientists who support its clinical trials. It also runs a career enhancement program to ensure that the next generation of leaders receive resources and support. In addition, the AMC actively engages with people living with HIV and cancer throughout the world so the consortium can identify and address the needs of this community with their input.

Established in 1995, the AMC has initiated more than 100 clinical trials, surveys, and laboratory studies involving approximately 8,700 individuals. Results from these investigations have strengthened international practice guidelines, including treatment for Kaposi sarcoma and lymphoma; advanced prevention and management of human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated cancers; and furthered the use of precision therapeutics and immunotherapy for people living with HIV who receive antiretroviral therapy.

"During this next phase, we will build on these successes, developing and leading additional clinical trials designed to address the most critical needs of people with HIV and cancer, precancerous disease, and individuals at high risk for cancermost importantly, completing the ANCHOR trial," said Dr. Sparano.

The ANCHOR Study

The ANCHOR Study, which stands for Anal Cancer HSIL Outcomes Research, focuses on the prevention and treatment of anal cancer, which is caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV). The virus causes changes in the skin near the anus, called "high grade squamous intraepithelial lesions," or HSIL. Most HSIL go away on their own, but some become cancer and spread to other parts of the body.

"Regular screening for anal cancer can catch the disease when it is highly treatable, much like the use of pap smears to identify abnormal tissue before it develops into cervical cancer, which is also caused by HPV," said Rebecca Levine, M.D., assistant professor of surgery at Einstein, a surgical oncologist at Montefiore, and the ANCHOR principal investigator at Einstein and Montefiore. "The aim of the study is to establish best practices for the prevention and treatment of anal cancer. We expect the results of this study will have an enormous impact on clinical care," added Dr. Levine.

Einstein-Montefiore HIV/AIDS Research and Care

Since HIV emerged in the 1980s, Einstein and Montefiore have been leaders in HIV/AIDS research and clinical care. Its researchers were the first to identify pediatric AIDS as a different disease from adult AIDS and to find effective treatments. Montefiore and Einstein also established one of the first five NIH-supported AIDS Treatment and Evaluation Units and led early studies of HIV among people with substance use disorders. Faculty members are principal investigators on significant NIH-funded initiatives, including the Women's Interagency HIV Study/Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study and the Central Africa International Epidemiologic Databases to Evaluate AIDS study.

Montefiore's clinical care programs include the adult AIDS Center, one of the largest HIV treatment programs in the U.S. The AIDS Center's outpatient Center for Positive Living/Infectious Diseases Clinic offers state-of-the-art care for adults living with HIV/AIDS. Its Oval Center offers sexual health services, testing, care, and counseling along with PrEP and PEP to reduce the risk of HIV infection, and HIV care to LGBTQ+ individuals aged 16 and up. Montefiore's Adolescent AIDS Program serves 13- to 24-year-olds with comprehensive offerings including mental healthcare and support services, and primary care for LGBTQ+ youth

The grant, titled "AIDS Malignancy Consortium" was funded by the National Cancer Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health (2UM1CA121947).

About Montefiore Health System

Montefiore Health System is one of New York's premier academic health systems and is a recognized leader in providing exceptional quality and personalized, accountable care to approximately three million people in communities across the Bronx, Westchester and the Hudson Valley. It is comprised of 11 hospitals, including the Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Burke Rehabilitation Hospital and more than 200 outpatient ambulatory care sites. The advanced clinical and translational research at its medical school, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, directly informs patient care and improves outcomes. From the Montefiore-Einstein Centers of Excellence in cancer, cardiology and vascular care, pediatrics, and transplantation, to its preeminent school-based health program, Montefiore is a fully integrated healthcare delivery system providing coordinated, comprehensive care to patients and their families. For more information please visit www.montefiore.org. Follow us on Twitter and view us on Facebook and YouTube.

About Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Albert Einstein College of Medicine is one of the nation's premier centers for research, medical education and clinical investigation. During the 2019-20 academic year, Einstein is home to 724 M.D. students, 158 Ph.D. students, 106 students in the combined M.D./Ph.D. program, and 265 postdoctoral research fellows. The College of Medicine has more than 1,800 full-time faculty members located on the main campus and at its clinical affiliates. In 2019, Einstein received more than $178 million in awards from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This includes the funding of major research centers at Einstein in aging, intellectual development disorders, diabetes, cancer, clinical and translational research, liver disease, and AIDS. Other areas where the College of Medicine is concentrating its efforts include developmental brain research, neuroscience, cardiac disease, and initiatives to reduce and eliminate ethnic and racial health disparities. Its partnership with Montefiore, the University Hospital and academic medical center for Einstein, advances clinical and translational research to accelerate the pace at which new discoveries become the treatments and therapies that benefit patients. Einstein runs one of the largest residency and fellowship training programs in the medical and dental professions in the United States through Montefiore and an affiliation network involving hospitals and medical centers in the Bronx, Brooklyn and on Long Island. For more information, please visit www.einstein.yu.edu, read our blog, follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook , and view us on YouTube.

SOURCE Montefiore Health System; Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Related Links

http://www.montefiore.org


President Rouhanis administration hints at new possibility of sabotage at Irans key nuclear facilities.

Tehran, Iran  The Iranian government said on Tuesday there are strong suspicions that internal agents played a role in a massive explosion that occurred at a key nuclear facility earlier this year.

On July 2, a fire ripped through a building at Natanz, a major uranium enrichment site. Satellite images showed it caused the roof to collapse and parts of the building were blackened by the blaze.

One of the strong theories is based on internal agents being involved in the incident, government spokesman Ali Rabiei told reporters at a news conference, according to the Iranian Labour News Agency (ILNA).





The issue is being seriously reviewed by the countrys security organisations and we will announce the results after things are clear.

It is the first time an Iranian official specifically pointed to the possibility of an inside job for the blast.

In late August, Irans Atomic Energy Organization confirmed the damage to the facility was the result of sabotage.

But how this explosion took place and with what materials  will be announced by security officials in due course, spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi said at the time, citing security reasons for not disclosing further information.

Sabotage is certain

In early September, Kamalvandi announced Natanz saboteurs have been identified but refrained from discussing further details, including whether internal agents were complicit.

On Tuesday, Rabiei also reiterated that sabotage is certain but the incident still needs to be investigated due to its complexities.

The desert Natanz site, much of which is underground, is one of several Iranian facilities regularly monitored by inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN nuclear watchdog.

Following the explosion, international media reports indicated Israel may have been behind the attack. Israel has been deliberately vague, neither confirming nor denying involvement while stressing the danger of a nuclear-armed Iran.

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Everyone can suspect us in everything and all the time, but I dont think thats correct, Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz said days after the attack.

Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi also said Iran cannot be allowed to have nuclear capabilities, adding to that end, We take actions that are better left unsaid.

IAEA-Iran relations

Septembers announcement that Iran knows the saboteurs behind the Natanz explosion came one week after IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi visited the country.

The trip was successful, leading to Iran granting access to two suspected former nuclear sites that the UN watchdog wished to inspect.

In this present context, based on analysis of available information to the IAEA, the IAEA does not have further questions to Iran and further requests for access to locations other than those declared by Iran, the IAEA and Iranian officials said in a joint statement following the visit.

In a speech during the 64th session of the General Conference of the IAEA on Monday, the president of Irans Atomic Energy Organization Ali Akbar Salehi referred to the Natanz incident.





These malicious acts need to be condemned by the agency and member states, he said via video conference, adding Iran reserves its rights to protect its facilities and take necessary actions against any threat as appropriate.

Salehi also urged the UN watchdog not to compromise its impartiality, independence and professionalism.

Iran, UN and the United States are locked in a major disagreement centred around the landmark 2015 nuclear deal signed between Iran and world powers, which US President Donald Trump unilaterally abandoned in May 2018.

The US on Sunday declared it reinstated all UN sanctions on Iran, an announcement that was roundly rejected by the United Nations Security Council as lacking legal basis.

The US is trying to indefinitely extend an arms embargo on Iran that is set to expire in October as part of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the formal name of the nuclear deal.

Iran, which has always maintained it never pursued nuclear weapons, accepted the nuclear deal that removed all UN sanctions in exchange for curbs on its nuclear programme.

The US reneged on the deal, unilaterally imposing a harsh campaign of sanctions that have hit almost all the productive sectors of the Iranian economy. US sanctions have also targeted Iranian officials and organisations.

In response, starting exactly one year after US sanctions were imposed and other parties failed to guarantee economic benefits promised Iran under the deal, Iran started gradually scaling back its nuclear commitments.
International students will still want to study in Western Australia with or without the COVID pandemic looming over the sector but the border 'needed to open', according to a Perth university leader.

Edith Cowan University vice chancellor Professor Steve Chapman said despite the states borders being closed for months, the attraction for international students to come to Perth had not waned.

Edith Cowan University vice chancellor Professor Steve Chapman. Credit:Lauren Pilat

Speaking at the Committee for Economic Development Australia panel in Perth last week, ahead of the major city deal announcement on Sunday that will see ECU Mount Lawley relocate to Perth by 2025, Professor Chapman said applications had never been higher.

He said before the borders were closed, ECU had its best semester ever for international students and expected other WA unis to have experienced the same seeing as the sector was working together to attract pupils from overseas.
Things were finally looking up for Ohio resident Caroline earlier this year. After being forced to leave her home for a time because of domestic violence, she was in her own rental, raising her young children, with a job.

But after the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March, she lost her job.

Not long after, a violent incident with her abuser again sent her world spiraling out of control. Caroline was unable to talk about the incident in detail, but said it left her scarred, emotionally and physically.

As the main financial provider, being laid off because of COVID, that was a hardship, and then add in the fact of the stress of being home more, and then the incident happened on top of all that, Caroline explained of the difficulties she faced at the time.

Editors note: Caroline asked us to not use her real name in this story to protect her identity.

The pandemic presents new challenges for domestic violence survivors like Caroline, and for the service providers who serve them. Theres early evidence indicating that the pandemics various financial and social stressors, coupled with the fact that people are being asked to shelter at home with abusive partners, are leading to an increase in the number of these cases. For example, research published in August by the National Commission on Criminal Justice found that during the first three months of the pandemic, 14 large U.S. cities saw a 7.5 percent increase in calls for service to police for domestic violence incidents.

This increase is happening while shelters across the country, for domestic violence victims and homeless people alike, are faced with a need to reduce their numbers or even close (a practice known as de-congregating) in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Carolines abuser was removed from her home after the most recent incident, so she didnt need to go to a shelter, although she remains unemployed while raising her young children.

Some of the stability Caroline has been able to build back into her life after a tumultuous last few years was thanks to aid from a housing program started last year with the Battered Womens Shelter of Summit and Medina Counties, called the REACH Rapid Rehousing program. The program provides immediate aid for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault who are forced to leave their homes because of abuse, including financial aid to cover necessities such as rent, security deposits, and utilities. In some cases, that aid can be provided for up to nine months.

Caroline currently receives rental assistance provided by the program, which has been a welcome lifeline after losing her job. She said its been difficult to find a decent-paying job, especially one where shes not risking exposure to COVID-19 for her or her children when she comes home from work.

Then theres the fear of, Okay, if I do get a job, what am I going to do with my children? she said. the cost of daycare is just insane.

James Hicks, assistant director for rapid rehousing services with the Summit and Medina County shelter, said the program is one solution to a common problem domestic violence shelters are facing during the pandemic: the need to lessen the number of people to prevent the spread of the virus.

Our primary goal is to reduce the numbers in the emergency domestic violence shelters by helping them obtain their own permanent housing, Hicks explained. That takes on a different meaning in this epidemic when were trying to maintain social distancing.

Hicks said the goal is to get survivors and their families into new housing as quickly as possible, within at least 21 days, although that sometimes happens as quickly as three days. The process starts as soon as a survivor is referred to one of the programs five housing advocates, who work to meet with them wherever they can do so safely, whether thats online, at a restaurant, or at a relatives home (with appropriate social distancing), Hicks said.

The advocates work with survivors on finding housing that fits their needs, while working to come up with short- and long-term goals and connecting them with other resources so that they stay put.

As of early September, 106 families across the state had been helped through the REACH program, a number which has increased dramatically during the pandemic, Hicks said.

Compounded problems during the pandemic

Elsewhere in Ohio and across the country, homeless shelters and domestic violence shelters have tried to place clients in hotels to create less crowding in their shelters during the pandemic, but that can be expensive to keep up.

The Ohio Domestic Violence Network, for example, has housed 126 families in hotels across the state, for up to 14 days each. Cassie Baker, communications coordinator for ODVN, said the hotel program has seen a lot of success.

We definitely have had some cases that turned out well where we were able to get survivors and their families into permanent housing, Baker said. I will tell you that I think this program really highlights the real need for housing options in Ohio and the inadequate amount of affordable housing we have here.

Melissa Graves, CEO of the Domestic Violence and Child Advocacy Center in Cleveland, said her center similarly is using alternative housing options to move survivors out of the centers shelter, including a rapid rehousing program similar to the one found at the Summit and Medina County shelter. The need to reduce the number of people in shelter is only one part of the problem, however.

When Ohios stay-at-home order was still in effect, Graves said the center saw a decrease in calls for help; many of the calls that were coming in were made in the middle of the night, often when their abusers might be sleeping. That changed as Ohios economy opened up.

Through that stay-at-home order we did see people feeling that they were stuck; they were just trying to do what they needed to do to survive, then as things started to open up we really did see people start to call in greater numbers, Graves said.

Jill Smialek, director of the Witness Victim Service Center with Cuyahoga County, said her office saw a similar pattern with cases of intimate-partner domestic violence referred to it by the Cleveland Police Department since last March. Smialek said thats a concerning pattern. Still, she said victims who do come forward and make a police report should remember her office connects victims of those crimes with advocates who can help them navigate the process. Plus, the CPD can make a detective available to go to court for these victims in order to get a protection order against their abuser, without forcing the victim to risk their safety by going to the courthouse.

This graph was compiled using data from Cuyahoga Countys Witness Victim Services Center, of all intimate partner-based domestic violence reports filed with almost all of the Cleveland Police Departments precincts since March 2020. The data is NOT inclusive of all domestic violence reports during this time, however; just the intimate partner-based domestic violence reports.

Other service providers, however, like Lauras Home Womens Crisis Center, a shelter for women and children escaping homelessness or domestic violence, have seen a decreased number of calls for help, a decrease that has remained consistent since the pandemic began. Michael Hahn, shelter manager, said hes not exactly sure why, but said its very worrisome. He said he thinks some are opting to stay with their abusers.

Out of fear of the virus, people arent seeking shelter and dont want to be in a communal type of facility, Hahn theorized.

Melanie Rawlins, family advocacy clinician at the Center for Family Safety and Healing at Nationwide Childrens Hospital in Columbus, said pandemic-related unemployment and other financial stressors have meant many survivors cant afford to leave their abusers.

If the children or they themselves have any high-risk conditions, a shelter simply isnt an option, being around that many people is such a huge risk, Rawlins said. Theyre stuck between a rock and a hard place at that point.

To that end, her center has been offering direct financial assistance to the survivors of domestic violence and child abuse that it serves, in tandem with offering hotel stays through the Ohio Domestic Violence Network. Clevelands DVCAC also got a $200,000 grant from Cuyahoga County to fund online and mobile advocacy resources and emergency housing measures, Graves said.

Caroline, the survivor mentioned earlier, said she believes there are plenty of other survivors out there who are either too scared or are otherwise unable to reach domestic agencies for help during the pandemic.

Im sure that the numbers are higher than what anybody is saying, she said.

Rapid rehousing as a model

The concept of rapid rehousing isnt new. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development began piloting a grant program to fund getting homeless people into permanent housing in 2008. Domestic violence programs in the state of Washington started using similar practices not long after.

But the application of these programs takes on new life during the pandemic, providing people an avenue to get away from their abusers that doesnt include the risk of staying at a shelter. For the REACH program, assistant director Hicks said most participants normally receive rental assistance for their first three months in the program. That aid has been extended beyond the three months for quite a few people because of pandemic-related job losses, he said.

Even then, there are limitations. For starters, to be eligible for the REACH  which is funded by HUD  survivors need to be homeless, have a household income of 50 percent at the area median income or less, and must be seeking permanent housing. Further, only survivors in Ohios 80 counties that are considered rural are immediately eligible; that excludes Ohios Big 8, including Cuyahoga County.

The Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, for instance, has supported flexible, rapid rehousing-focused strategies for the last 10 years, helping hundreds of survivors find new homes. Linda Olsen, housing director with the coalition, said the philosophy around this approach, called Housing First, is to provide aid specifically tailored to each person. That could mean accommodating a survivor with disabilities; driving them to look for new houses if they dont have a car; or providing an interpreter if they dont speak English.

The main goal is consistent, though: Ultimately, people need to be in a place of their own with an income mechanism to support them staying there, Olsen said.

And it seems to be working. Data collected by the Washington State coalition from the first five years of its Housing First pilot project found that of the several hundred survivors helped, the vast majority (around 96 percent) were able to keep and stay in their housing 18 months after first receiving assistance from that project.

Michael Hahn, program manager of Lauras Home Crisis Center for Women, stands in front of Lauras Home outside Cleveland. Hahn says his shelter is still open and serving women and their children during the pandemic, but calls to the shelter for assistance have decreased since the same time last year, worrying Hahn. Photo by Conor Morris.

There are challenges, though. Housing needs to be affordable enough for a survivor to be able to pay rent regularly once the assistance ends, Olsen said. During the pandemic, some agencies have struggled to keep enough staff in the office, she said. Plus, some advocates might only be able to provide remote services due to concerns about their own health.

Another problem: Historically, theres never been enough funding in the U.S. to support the need for emergency shelter for people fleeing abuse. A 2014 study from the Family Violence Prevention and Services Program found that of the shelters receiving grants from that program (which is one of the major providers of funding for such shelters), there were about 196,467 unmet requests for shelter alone in one year, due to shelters being at capacity. In Cleveland, Hahn with Lauras Home said his shelter is constantly full, even before the pandemic.

Still, Olsen said she was hopeful that other states will try to move more funding into a housing first approach for domestic violence survivors. In Ohio, the Ohio Domestic Violence Network recently received about $2 million in federal CARES Act money to create a team of housing advocates to work with domestic violence shelters to get their clients into alternative housing, said Mary ODoherty, executive director of ODVN. That program is still in the process of being set up.

For Caroline, the survivor mentioned earlier, the REACH program has helped her find a new path forward, despite the darkness of the pandemic. And she has a new hope.

Once my lease is up here, I hope to be able to buy a home next year so that I can invest in myself and my family, she said.

If you or somebody you know might be experiencing domestic violence or abuse, help is available. Call 911 if you need immediate help. Otherwise, if youre in Cleveland, you can call the Domestic Violence and Child Advocacy Centers 24/7 helpline at (216) 391 4357. The National Domestic Hotline can also be reached at 1-800-799-7233.

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Conor Morris is a corps member with Report for America. You can email him at cmorris@advance-ohio.com, or find him on Twitter. This story is sponsored by the Northeast Ohio Solutions Journalism Collaborative, which is composed of 20-plus Northeast Ohio news outlets including Cleveland.com.
The National Investigating Agency has now been cleared by the Central Government to investigate drug related cases, and senior officers in the government confirmed that this may be a precursor to the agency, originally created to deal with terror-related crimes, being asked to look at the case surrounding the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, which has since snowballed into a major probe into drug use in the film industry.

If that happens, NIA will become the fourth federal agency to get involved in the case, after the Central Bureau of Investigation, the Enforcement Directorate and the Narcotics Control Bureau.

Sushant Singh Rajput case: NCB summons producer Madhu Mantena to join drug-related probe with Jaya Saha, Shruti Modi

The Ministry of Finances Revenue Department on Tuesday, issued a notification that said that the Centre after consulting with states ``invests the officers of and above the rank of inspectors in the NIA to exercise the powers and perform duties  according to section 53 of the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.

This section allows the government to give any officer ``the powers of a police station for the investigation of the offences under this Act. NIA was established a year after the 2008 Mumbai serial blasts to specifically focus on terror related activities across the country. In an amendment to the NIA act last year, the agency was also given the jurisdiction to probe cases related to human trafficking, counterfeit notes and cyber terrorism but narcotics cases were still not in its purview -- till Tuesdays order thats been signed by under secretary Biswajit Sarkar.

Sushant Singh Rajput death: NCB summons Bollywood talent agency KWANs CEO

A government official familiar with the development said on condition of anonymity that the order could expand the ambit of the ongoing probes in the SSR case, where drugs, money laundering and national security issues have emerged.

A second government official who asked not to be named said that the importance of the notification was that even cases which were previously only the domain of the NCB could now be handled by the NIA.

While Tuesdays notification said that states had been consulted, a minister in the Maharashtra government said that he wasnt aware of any communication to the effect.

Sushant Singh Rajput case: Actor Rhea Chakrabortys judicial custody extended till October 6 by special NDPS court

The death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput on June 14 has become a political issue with the Bihar Government playing a significant role in the transfer of the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation, one that the Maharashtra government criticised. While the circumstances surrounding the death are being investigated by CBI, the role of drugs in the case is being handled by the Narcotics Control Bureau . Actress and Rajputs girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty is in custody for her role in an alleged drug syndicate and for allegedly procuring drugs for the actor. ED is looking into money laundering aspects of the probe.

The second officer added that the need to issue this notification was because of a possible ``national interest lead that the NIA needed to probe.

Its a good step especially in light of growing linkages between terror modules and drug dealers. NIA officers can effectively investigate narco-terrorism crimes. It would not have any impact on the powers of State Police since the powers of State Police Officers to investigate the NDPS Crimes hasnt been diluted, said former NIA and presently ADG (law and order) Assam, GP Singh.

Maharashtra chief secretary Sanjay Kumar said he is not aware about the Centre consulting the state government on this. Even during my tenure as the additional chief secretary of the home department, I do not remember any such proposal, he said.
Bamboo Airways will resume the Hanoi - Taipei (China) route from September 29

Specifically, the carrier will re-operate international flights to Tokyo (Japan), Seoul (the Republic of Korea) and Taipei (China) from September 29, 2020, with the following specific frequencies: 1 flight every Tuesday on Ho Chi Minh City - Tokyo (Narita, Japan) route, 1 flight every Wednesday on Ho Chi Minh City - Seoul (Incheon, the Republic of Korea) route and 1 flight every Thursday on Hanoi - Taipei (China) route.

Passengers departing from Vietnam must have a medical certificate with a negative COVID-19 test result, taken at most 3 days before departure time, as well as comply with mandatory medical quarantine requirements of the host countries.

From September 18, Vietnam Airlines officially resumed regular international flights, as the COVID-19 pandemic is well controlled in the country and the domestic aviation market is recovering.

It operates a one-way flight route from Vietnam to Japan. Flights from Hanoi to Narita (Tokyo) depart at 23h45 on September 18, 25 and 30, while flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Narita take off at 0h00 on September 30, using Boeing 787 wide-body aircraft.

For the return, the carrier has not been permitted to sell tickets to customers from Japan to Vietnam because it has to wait for specific regulations from the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam. Currently, Vietnam Airlines is working with the authority to propose a specific plan.

For flights to the Republic of Korea, Vietnam Airlines is flying 1 flight every week to carry passengers to Seoul and the return just carries cargo, not passengers. For routes to Taiwan (China) and Guangzhou (China), the carrier is waiting for specific regulations from the aviation authorities to make specific flight plans.

Bamboo Airways said that the Hanoi - Taipei (China) route is expected to be resumed from September 29 with 1 flight every week, while the Hanoi  Seoul (the Republic of Korea) is expected to be re-operated from October 7, also with 1 flight every week.

For new routes to Japan, Bamboo Airways plans to put into operation the Ho Chi Minh City - Tokyo (Narita Airport) route from November 1 and the Hanoi - Tokyo route from December 2020./.
India reported 75,083 fresh cases of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), the lowest since late August, and 1,053 deaths in the last 24 hours, according to the Union home ministry on Tuesday.

The new Covid-19 cases and fatalities have taken Indias tally to 5,562,663 and the death toll to 88,935. The last time India reported less than 75,000 Covid-19 cases was on August 26. There were 67,151 infections that day, according to official data.

There are 975,861 active cases of the coronavirus disease and 4,497,867 patients have recovered so far, according to the health ministrys dashboard at 8am. With a record 101,468 people cured of the viral disease between Monday and Tuesday morning, the recovery rate is now 80.85%

India, which is the second worst-hit country in the world after the United States, is now first among the nations that have registered the highest number of recoveries from the coronavirus disease, the health ministry said on Tuesday.

India has recorded very high single day recoveries successively during the last 3 days. More than 90,000 #COVID19 patients have been cured and discharged from home/facility isolation and hospitals every single day, the ministry tweeted. Kudos to Indias frontline health workers! The country achieves record high of 1,01,468 #COVID19 RECOVERIES in the last 24 hours, it added.

The health ministry also said that the country saw the highest amount of recoveries in the past three days.

The health ministry had said on Monday that 76% of the new confirmed cases were concentrated in 10 states and Union territories. Maharashtra has alone contributed more than 20,000 and Andhra Pradesh over 8,000, the ministry had said.

Its data also showed that 10 states and Union territories accounted for 86% of the deaths due to Covid-19 between Sunday and Monday morning. Maharashtra reported 455 deaths followed by Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh with 101 and 94 deaths, respectively, it said.
Highlights Include:

The Company has retained Blue Coast Research Ltd. from Parksville, British Columbia to provide metallurgical test work and consultation services for the Dixie Project.





from to provide metallurgical test work and consultation services for the Dixie Project. Metallurgical testing will provide the Company with estimates of likely gold recoveries, fineness, and recommendations on metallurgical flow sheet development and design for the various gold zones at the Dixie project, which are required for maiden resource publication.





for the various gold zones at the Dixie project, which are required for maiden resource publication. 7,465 occurrences of visible gold have been recorded in drill core to date by Great Bear. Over 80% of the Company's drill holes into the LP Fault, Dixie Limb and Hinge zones have been noted to contain visible gold mineralization occurring as free gold and not bound to or within sulphide minerals. Examples are shown in Figure 1 .





have been recorded in drill core to date by Great Bear. Over 80% of the Company's drill holes into the LP Fault, Dixie Limb and Hinge zones have been noted to contain visible gold mineralization occurring as free gold and not bound to or within sulphide minerals. Examples are shown in . In the Red Lake district, gold deposits that are similarly dominated by free gold typically yield very high gold recoveries . The primary example of this occurs at the Red Lake Gold Mine operated by Evolution Mining Ltd., where recoveries of 94  97% are typically reported (NI 43-101 Technical Report, Goldcorp, 2015).





district, . The primary example of this occurs at the Red Lake Gold Mine operated by Evolution Mining Ltd., where recoveries of 94  97% are typically reported (NI 43-101 Technical Report, Goldcorp, 2015). Samples from quartz veins, silica-sulphide replacement zones and disseminations within sedimentary and felsic host rocks from the LP Fault, Dixie Limb and Hinge zones have been, and continue to be, collected and submitted on an ongoing basis. Results will be released in batches as they are received.





have been, and continue to be, collected and submitted on an ongoing basis. Results will be released in batches as they are received. Early stage petrographic work completed by Great Bear and past operators provides key evidence of how gold occurs in the rocks, and is being used to guide metallurgical testing. This work has identified free gold mineralization at both the Dixie Limb and LP Fault Zones. Petrographic work on Hinge zone samples is underway and is expected to yield similar results.





completed by Great Bear and past operators provides key evidence of how gold occurs in the rocks, and is being used to guide metallurgical testing. Great Bear has analyzed approximately 136,000 geochemical samples to date. Results suggest the gold mineralized system at Dixie generally has lower concentrations of trace elements such as arsenic, zinc and lead than are commonly observed within gold deposits across the Red Lake district, due to a lower content of accessory sulphide minerals. Other elements such as antimony and tellurium are also generally absent in the mineralized zones at Dixie.

Chris Taylor, President and CEO of Great Bear said, "We have catalogued over seven thousand occurrences of free visible gold in our drill core to date. In more than 99% of observed instances, gold occurs freely or on the edges of sulphide grains, suggesting potential for very high metallurgical recoveries, as has been observed at other free gold hosting deposits in the Red Lake district. This is reinforced by petrographic studies which show the same unencapsulated gold at microscope scale. We are therefore very optimistic about the high recovery potential for gold from all of our mineralized zones, and will provide results from metallurgical testing on an ongoing basis as these become available."

Preliminary Metallurgical Analysis: Petrography

Metallurgical petrography involves the examination of thin sections of gold-hosting rock under a microscope to determine whether the gold occurs freely within silicate minerals (such as within quartz veins), where it is likely to require simpler processes to extract, or alternatively is bound within sulphide minerals, where more complicated extraction processes may be required.

Petrographic work by Great Bear and past operators confirms that gold at the Dixie project occurs freely in association with silicate minerals and is not encapsulated by sulphide mineral species, even when sulphide accessory minerals are present.

LP Fault Zone

2019 research conducted by Panterra Geoservices Inc. ("Panterra") on behalf of Great Bear described gold bearing samples from the LP Fault zone as follows:

"Several flakes of gold are present and all appear to lie within the same dismembered folia of interlocking quartzThe largest flake is around 0.2 mm and the flakes are visible with a hand lens. Some of the flakes are touching biotite or calcite. They are not associated with the cubic pyrite."

A photomicrograph image of this gold mineralization is provided in Figure 2 .

Dixie Limb Zone

A similar historical report completed in 2004 by Panterra on behalf of a past operator included optical petrography and scanning electron microscope (SEM) examination of gold mineralization from the Dixie Limb zone, where sulphide minerals dominated by pyrrhotite frequently accompany gold mineralization. The report concluded:

"Several crystals [of gold] were attached to the edge of larger pyrrhotite crystals, but none was encapsulated."

A photomicrograph image of this gold mineralization is provided in Figure 3 .

Petrographic and metallurgical sampling and analysis are also underway at the Hinge zone. Based on more than one thousand in-core visible gold observations made to date, the Company expects similar results to those which have been reported from the LP Fault and Dixie Limb.

Figure 1: Examples of free gold in drill core from the Dixie Limb, Hinge and LP Fault zones. This is the dominant format of gold mineralization within these gold zones. Images are of selected core intervals and do not represent all of the gold mineralization at Dixie.

Figure 2: Free gold (yellow) within a sample from the LP Fault which assayed 130.97 g/t gold (Ross, 2019).

Figure 3: Petrographic report completed in 2004 by Fronteer Gold Corp. showing free gold (yellow) from the Dixie Limb zone (Ross, 2004).

About the Dixie Project

The Dixie Project is 100% owned, comprised of 9,140 hectares of contiguous claims that extend over 22 kilometres, and is located approximately 25 kilometres southeast of the town of Red Lake, Ontario. The project is accessible year-round via a 15 minute drive on a paved highway which runs the length of the northern claim boundary and a network of well-maintained logging roads.

The Dixie Project hosts two principle styles of gold mineralization:

High-grade gold in quartz veins and silica-sulphide replacement zones (Dixie Limb, Hinge and Arrow zones) . Hosted by mafic volcanic rocks and localized near regional-scale D2 fold axes. These mineralization styles are also typical of the significant mined deposits of the Red Lake district.





. Hosted by mafic volcanic rocks and localized near regional-scale D2 fold axes. These mineralization styles are also typical of the significant mined deposits of the district. High-grade disseminated gold with broad moderate to lower grade envelopes (LP Fault). The LP Fault is a significant gold-hosting structure which has been seismically imaged to extend to 14 kilometres depth (Zeng and Calvert , 2006), and has been interpreted by Great Bear to have up to 18 kilometres of strike length on the Dixie property. High-grade gold mineralization is controlled by structural and geological contacts, and moderate to lower-grade disseminated gold surrounds and flanks the high-grade intervals. The dominant gold-hosting stratigraphy consists of felsic sediments and volcanic units.

About Great Bear

Great Bear Resources Ltd. is a well-financed gold exploration company managed by a team with a track record of success in mineral exploration. Great Bear is focused in the prolific Red Lake gold district in northwest Ontario, where the company controls over 300 km2 of highly prospective tenure across 4 projects: the flagship Dixie Project (100% owned), the Pakwash Property (earning a 100% interest), the Dedee Property (earning a 100% interest), and the Sobel Property (earning a 100% interest), all of which are accessible year-round through existing roads.

Qualified Person and NI 43-101 Disclosure

Mr. R. Bob Singh, P.Geo, Director and VP Exploration, and Ms. Andrea Diakow P.Geo, Exploration Manager for Great Bear are the Qualified Persons as defined by National Instrument 43-101 responsible for the accuracy of technical information contained in this news release.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Chris Taylor"

Chris Taylor, President and CEO

Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements

This release contains certain "forward looking statements" and certain "forward-looking information" as defined under applicable Canadian and U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements and information can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may", "will", "should", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe", "continue", "plans" or similar terminology. The forward-looking information contained herein is provided for the purpose of assisting readers in understanding management's current expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purposes.

Forward-looking information are based on management of the parties' reasonable assumptions, estimates, expectations, analyses and opinions, which are based on such management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, and other factors that management believes are relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, but which may prove to be incorrect.

Great Bear undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information except as required by applicable law. Such forward-looking information represents management's best judgment based on information currently available. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual future results may vary materially. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.

SOURCE Great Bear Resources Ltd.
SOLANO COUNTY, CA  The state has downgraded Solano County into the second tier of the state's four-tiered, color-coded COVID-19 risk system.

Previously, Solano County was in tier one, or the purple tier, indicating widespread risk. Tier two, or the red tier, represents substantial risk.

Solano County was one of several in California that progressed to the red tier, the state health department's website indicated Tuesday morning. This means that the state will allow more Solano County businesses to reopen, should the county health department approve.





Counties that remain in the red tier for two weeks may consider reopening schools for in-person instruction.

Though Solano County may choose to be more restrictive, the state permits counties in the red tier to reopen the following businesses and services indoors, with modifications:

shopping centers (50 percent capacity; closed common areas and reduced-capacity food courts)

restaurants (25 percent capacity)

fitness centers (10 percent capacity)

places of worship (25 percent capacity or 100 people  whichever is fewer)

nail salons

massage facilities

museums (25 percent capacity)

zoos (25 percent capacity)

movie theaters (25 percent capacity or 100 people  whichever is fewer)

As of noon Tuesday, there have been 6,175 cases of the coronavirus in Solano County since the outbreak began, statistics show. There have been 55 COVID-19-related deaths.

Solano Schools Watching Countys Tier Status

The Solano County Office of Education issued the following statement Tuesday:

"Today, the states COVID-19 website shows COVID-19 data for Solano County has qualified the county to move to Tier 2 (Substantial- red) status. The tiered system is part of Californias blueprint for reducing COVID-19, featuring newly revised criteria for loosening and tightening restrictions on activities based on metrics from the last three weeks.

"Should Solano County remain in Tier 2 (Substantial- red) for 14 consecutive days, Solano schools would have the option to return to in-person instruction. Currently, Solano County schools must provide general education through virtual distance learning. K-6 schools within the county may apply for an elementary waiver to return to in-person instruction prior to the County maintaining Tier 2 status for 14 consecutive days.

Story continues

"While schools within the county would be permitted to return to in-person instruction following 14 consecutive days in Tier 2 status, districts may choose to remain in a distance learning model. The final decision to return to school campuses will be made by each district, working closely with Solano Public Health, school boards, and community stakeholders, including families, staff, and labor partners. Districts will continue to communicate directly with parents and guardians regarding future plans and instructional options available.

"'Administrators across the county recognize that there is no universal approach for returning to in-person instruction. Instructional plans may vary from district to district based upon the needs of each community, noted Solano County Superintendent of Schools Lisette Estrella-Henderson. Schools have worked hard on progressing to a point that enables them to consider reopening campuses for students, and they will continue to keep putting student and staff safety first.'

"When school campuses do reopen, it is important that administrators continue to work closely with local health officials to monitor current disease levels and the capacities of the local health providers and health care systems. Per California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and California Department of Education (CDE) recommendations, all staff and students should wear cloth face coverings or face shields while at school or on a bus and maintain six feet of physical distance during school activities. School leaders will need robust plans to: address positive COVID-19 cases or community surges, ensure adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) for students and staff, maintain physical and social distancing, provide routine cleaning and disinfecting, address employee issues, and effectively communicate updates and prevention strategies with students, parents, and staff.

"Solano County Office of Education (SCOE) serves as a liaison and support for local schools during the COVID-19 pandemic. SCOE facilitates weekly meetings between local school district/charter administrators and Solano County health officials to provide updates about local health conditions, and discuss plans and strategies to mitigate risks to students and staff when campuses reopen. These weekly briefings will continue for several months. SCOE also provides updates and web resources regarding the latest guidance and health orders, communication and representation with state and local agencies, and support documents for local schools like the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Regarding Reopening Schools During COVID-19, a collaboration between Solano Public Health and SCOE. For those districts that opt to return to in-person instruction, SCOE will likely provide contact tracing support as well."



Patch staffer Courtney Teague contributed to this report.



This article originally appeared on the Benicia Patch
Other factions have been invited to put their signatures to the motion.

Lawmakers from the Holos (Voice) parliamentary faction have initiated the withdrawal of envoy to the Minsk talks on Donbas Vitold Fokin from the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG).

MP Roman Lozynskyi and his faction colleagues are preparing a corresponding request to the president.

"Together with MPs from Holos, we are initiating Fokin's withdrawal from TCG! Vitold Fokin has long been not afraid to call members of the so-called 'DPR/LPR' ['Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics'] 'rebels,' [he] advocates a general amnesty, a special status not only for ORDLO [certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions]  but for entire Donbas [including Ukrainian-controlled parts], as well as for the creation of an 'international interim government' on the sovereign territory of Ukraine. Such statements are unacceptable and harmful. Fokin's statements demonstrate his complete lack of understanding of the cause-and-effect relationships of the beginning of the Russian-Ukrainian war and an outright drift toward Russia, just like being under the full influence of Moscow propaganda," Lozynskyi wrote on Facebook on September 22.

The MP said Fokin claimed in 2017 that "Russia must be understood  it has a fleet there [in Crimea]," since it "would have lost Crimea forever," because "the Americans would have come there."

"We are preparing a motion for [consideration by] the president of Ukraine, where we demand the dismissal of Vitold Fokin from the post of first deputy head of the Ukrainian delegation to the Trilateral Contact Group. I am convinced Ukraine does not need another lobbyist for the interests of the Russian Federation at the Minsk talks. And the parliament should respond to the statements by representatives of the Ukrainian delegation to the TCG that undermine the integrity of the Ukrainian position in the negotiations and cast doubt on the fundamental aspects for Ukraine," he added.

Read alsoUN provisional gov't could be formed in Donbas, Ukraine delegate to TCG opinesLozynskyi urged from all parliamentary factions to sign the motion and give "a principled assessment of Mr. Fokin's statements as deputy head of the delegation."

Another row over Fokin's statement

Speaking in an interview to Ukrainian Radio, Fokin called Russia's forces in the occupied areas of Donbas "rebels," which caused another row in society. "It is necessary either to deploy the same contingent [the UN peacekeepers] on the border with Russia to stop helping the rebels from there, or throughout the entire territory," Fokin said.

In that very interview, Fokin also hinted he considers the language issue to be the cause of the war in Donbas. "How did the conflict in Donbas begin? The former government promised people that the use of the state language would be liberalized. That they would be allowed to hold business meetings, keep records, etc. in Russian. I do not see anything wrong with that," he said.

Earlier controversial statements: Background
Top U.S. economic policymakers opened the door on Tuesday to further aid for small businesses hit by the coronavirus-triggered recession, but differed over how broad it might extend and the manner in which it should be delivered.

In testimony before the House of Representatives Financial Services Committee, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell were pressed by lawmakers concerned the multi-trillion-dollar effort to battle the economic fallout from the pandemic had left a broad swathe of businesses vulnerable, from the smallest corner restaurants to commercial office properties and hotels.

Mnuchin and Powell said they were looking for ways to extend more help, but also that they were hitting legal and practical limits that might require action by Congress to avoid.

Fed loans backed by commercial buildings as collateral, for example, were often prohibited by existing lending agreements that forbid the owners from further borrowing, Powell said. And proposals that the U.S. central bank loosen requirements for its Main Street Lending Program to make it more accessible to smaller firms, he said, overlooked the fact that larger businesses have been the ones interested in central bank credit.

There is very little demand below a million dollars," Powell said in response to Mnuchins suggestion that the minimum loan size under the facility could be lowered from $250,000 to $100,000.

Help for small businesses, Powell said, would better come through another grant-type program like the Paycheck Protection Program because trying to underwrite the credit of hundreds of thousands of small businesses would be very difficult," for the Fed.

Tuesdays hearing, which came six months into the pandemic and six weeks before the Nov. 3 presidential election, highlighted the crossroads the economy seems to be facing.

After a historic crash during March and April, when many stores were shut down, the rebound has been surprisingly strong. About half of the 22 million jobs lost in March and April have been recovered, and Powell said there had been marked improvement" in many other economic measures.

But the coronavirus is still rampant, and there is a broad sense among economists, including at the Fed, that the recovery will lapse if further government support is not provided, in particular to families and small businesses.

STIMULUS-DRIVEN REBOUND

Powell on Tuesday noted that much of the recent healthy economic data resulted from spending under the $2.3 trillion CARES Act. Approved in March as the foundation of the governments economic response to the pandemic, it authorized the Treasury to fund an array of Fed lending and credit programs, including the Main Street facility, as well as make direct payments to individuals, provide enhanced unemployment benefits, and give small business PPP loans that are intended to be forgiven.

The result was not only a jobs rebound, but a steadying of personal incomes and jump in personal savings accounts that Powell said had made the economy resilient" to the run of loan defaults, evictions and other problems feared when the recession hit.

Since many of those programs have lapsed, the risk is that (people) go through those savings, and they havent been able to find employment  Their spending will decline, their ability to stay in their homes will decline. The economy will begin to feel those negative effects," Powell said.

The fate of small businesses, the main driver of U.S. employment but also one that is vulnerable to cash flow disruptions and short of credit, is key to shaping how fast and broad the recovery will be.

Powell, Mnuchin and lawmakers agreed further help for the sector is needed.

Yet there was no quick path offered.

The Fed has been stung by criticism its much-vaunted Main Street" program has done little actual lending. Of $600 billion in potential loans, about $2 billion has been processed since the program opened in June.

But Powell said the solution was not to lower the minimum loan size or open the program to a class of borrower the Fed would find it difficult to judge creditworthy.

Rather he said something like the PPP, a program that in effect acts as a taxpayer-funded small business grant, is a better way to approach that space."

Mnuchin said the Trump administration agrees and would be open to repurpose some funds already allocated by Congress.

But Mnuchin added he also felt follow-up programs should be targeted more narrowly to rebuild jobs or focus on businesses, including restaurants, that have been damaged more deeply by the pandemic.

Congress, for its part, is at a stalemate over providing further coronavirus-related aid, with dwindling expectations for action on any bill before the November election.

IMPROVEMENT AMID RISKS

The improvement Powell noted in the economy comes with important footnotes. Despite the rebound in employment, the economy remains around 11 million jobs below where it was in February.

Full recovery, Powell said, will also hinge on whether the virus is controlled and is likely to come only when people are confident it is safe to reengage in a broad range of activities."

Until then, he repeated, further fiscal help will likely be needed to avoid the worst.

Tuesdays hearing was the first of three featuring Powell this week. On Wednesday, he is due to appear before the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis. On Thursday, Powell and Mnuchin will testify before the Senate Banking Committee.

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
Rajya Sabha on Tuesday cleared the Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2020 after it received Lok Sabha's nod on Saturday. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said at the Upper House today that the amendments are divided in two compartments and focus on decriminalisation and enhance ease of living.

"The Companies Act was passed in 2013, and since then it has undergone so many amendments because the stakeholders kept giving inputs on its various aspects... It essentially consists of two different compartments, the first one consists of 48 amendments all of which aim at decriminalisation and related matters," Sitharaman said.

The minister said that compliance-related issues have been made simpler. In the second compartment, 13 amendments have been made including the addition of a chapter and insertion of three new sections.

The Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2020 removes penalty, imprisonment for nine offences that pertain to orders of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT). It also reduces the amount of fine payable in certain cases.

Speaking on the bill, Nirmala Sitharaman had said at the Lower House that the decriminalisation of various provisions under the companies law will help small companies by reducing litigation burden on them. Stressing that there will be no relaxation for serious offences, including fraud and those that cause "injury to public interest or deceit", the minister said the number of "non-compoundable" offences under the Act remains same at 35. Compoundable offences are ones that can be settled by paying a certain amount of money.

Separately, the parliament also passed the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Second Amendment) Bill, 2020. This bill will ensure that no fresh insolvency proceedings would be initiated against companies for defaults arising during six months from March 25. Rajya Sabha had passed the bill on September 19. Additionally, the Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2020 was also passed in the parliament. This bill brings co-operative banks under the regulatory framework of Reserve Bank of India.

Also read: Parliament passes Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code Amendment Bill

Also read: Lok Sabha passes FCRA amendments to make Aadhaar mandatory for foreign funds to NGOs
Opposition parties on Tuesday boycotted the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting of the House. The BAC, a panel led by Rajya Sabha chairman Venkaiah Naidu, discusses the weekly agenda of the House and was scheduled at 6 pm on Tuesday.

At least four Opposition leaders-- Ram Gopal Yadav of Samajwadi Party, Anand Sharma and Jairam Ramesh of Congress, Manoj Jha of RJD and Derek OBrien of TMC didnt attend.

BAC in this regime has become bulldozing approval committee, quipped Jairam, when asked why the Opposition didnt attend. The Opposition parties also alleged that they were informed just an hour ago.

Rajya Sabha officials, however, rejected the allegation.
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Linkedin Dzulfiqar Fathur Rahman (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, September 22, 2020 09:19 487 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c4651072 1 Business startup,teten-masduki,Cooperative-SME-ministry,bootcamp,Shopee,Grab,digitalization Free

The government will hold a three-week bootcamp for 30 selected startups that can provide services like supply chain and finance management for small and medium enterprises (SME) as it aims to increase digitalization among the small businesses.

The course, called Pahlawan Digital (Digital Heroes), will begin on Wednesday. The Cooperatives and SME Ministry also partners with influencer-cum-businesswoman Putri Tanjung, e-commerce company Shopee Indonesia and ride-hailing firm Grab Indonesia to select the 10 best startups out of the 30 participants as strategic partners for the ministry.

They [the startups] will provide not only market access [for SMEs] but also support efficient business processes and supply chains, access to financing and entrepreneurship development, Cooperatives and SME Minister Teten Masduki said in a virtual press conference on Monday.

Six startups, including promotional small businesses database Klik Direktori, smart chat assistant provider Chatbiz.id and digital debt manager CrediBook, were selected for the supply chain management services category, as they could provide such services to around 72,000 small businesses across the country, according to the ministry.

Teten said the program would help the government meet its target of having 10 million small businesses adopt digital technology this year, in part to adapt to mobility restrictions necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Indonesias economy relies heavily on small businesses, which account for more than 60 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) and employ a majority of the labor force. Small businesses have been hit hard by the COVID-19 outbreak, as the economy shrank by 5.32 percent year-on-year (yoy) in the second quarter of this year.

A Mandiri Institute study shows that digitalized micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) can help Indonesia significantly reduce the GDP impact of the pandemic.

The study found that MSMEs that have an online presence are more resilient, as they are more likely to continue producing and selling goods and to have a longer runway to survive the health crisis.

So far, the number of small businesses on digital platforms has reached around 9 million, or 14 percent of all small businesses, according to the minister, quoting data from the Communications and Information Ministry.

That figure includes 1 million new enterprises to go digital during the pandemic.

Some digital platforms [companies] told me they had never seen such a rapid growth in only a few months. This is because the situation forces people to sell online, said Teten.

Putri Tanjung, who initiated the program, said the participating startups had brought about solutions to the issues faced by local small businesses in their respective regions.

According to the ministry, 23 startups participating in the program are from outside Jakarta.

Neneng Goenadi, the managing director of Grab Indonesia, said a survey by her company found that 76 percent of SME respondents still needed more support to increase their online visibility, and around half of them needed technology to develop their businesses.

Both Grab Indonesia and Shopee Indonesia will provide guides on a wide range of topics, including technology, marketing strategy and product design, to the participating startups.

We at Shopee, which has been dealing with SMEs for years, hope we can share [our experience], so that those startups can avoid the pitfalls we faced, said Handhika Jahja, the director of Shopee Indonesia.

The government has allocated Rp 123.46 trillion (US$8.36 billion) for small businesses as part of its COVID-19 relief package. As of Sept. 17, the government had spent 41.34 percent of that allocation, according to Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto.
There have been rumours flying around the internet for years over a potential Spice Girls reunion.

The girls did a string of hugely successful concerts in the UK last year and were in the midst of planning a world tour in 2021... But due to Covid-19 the plans have been put on ice.

But in true Spice Girls fashion, the team are keen to find another way to mark their 25th anniversary with their fans... Mel C, Emma Bunton, Geri Horner, and Mel B are all reportedly planning on recreating their iconic 'Wannabe' music video to celebrate!

A source close to the group said "Mel C suggested doing something around Wannabe  including the idea of possibly re-working the video for social media."

It is understood that Victoria will still not be taking part in any plans.

It might not be a concert, but it might be as good as we're going to get next year!

Relive the original music video for Wannabe below...
In exclusive interviews with CT Insider, the two lead investigators in the Jennifer Dulos case say they believe Fotis Dulos may have altered his appearance to frame one of his employees and they are hopeful new evidence may finally lead them to the 50-year-old mother's remains.

Here are a few other things we learned talking to the investigators  John Kimball, a detective with the state police Western District Major Crime Squad, and New Canaan Police Officer Thomas Patten.

READ MORE: Investigators: Dulos may have shaved head to frame colleague, new evidence could lead to Jennifers remains

READ MORE: Jennifer Dulos case: There are people out there that have information

Did Fotis try to frame his employee?

In the days before the disappearance, Fotis Dulos shaved his head, possibly in an attempt to look more like his employee, Pawel Gumienny, who had closely cropped hair, Kimball said

The new look surprised Gumienny, who told investigators he even made a comment about it to Fotis Dulos when he first saw him with the shaved head, Kimball said.

According to his arrest warrant, Fotis Dulos used Gumiennys red Toyota Tacoma to drive to New Canaan the morning of the disappearance.

Eureka moments?

The investigators offered details about finding certain pieces of key evidence in the case.

Like when a public call from police for doorbell camera footage led to the discovery of surveillance images of a man who looked like Fotis Dulos riding what appeared to be a vintage French bicycle he owned in the direction of Jennifers house the morning of her disappearance, Kimball said.

Kimball recalled another state police detective discovering the footage while looking through evidence at the Troop G barracks in Bridgeport.

He literally jumped up and said, John, come here, I want to show you something, Kimball said.

And when a New Canaan police officer examining footage from school bus security videos spotted Gumiennys pickup truck parked the morning of the disappearance near where Jennifer Dulos abandoned Chevy Suburban was found that night, The hair on the back of my neck just went up, Kimball said. Finding a piece of information like that is highly significant.

More searches coming?

Without being too specific, the investigators said theyre optimistic about some recent tips theyve received.

Recently, we've had some leads come in that were promising and were in the process of vetting those out, Kimball said Monday.

He said the recent tips havent led to police obtaining any search warrants as of yet.

Jennifer probably wont be found by accident

Last weekend, when police discovered a womans remains in Watertown, Patten and Kimball immediately became interested. But it wasnt Jennifer Dulos  a familiar letdown that occurs every time a body is found.

Its been a whirlwind, Patten said. Our goal from the outset has been to find Jennifer. Any news that comes forward is always viewed hopefully. But there has been many ups and downs.

Kimball believes the amount of plotting that occurred leading up to the crime has affected their ability to find Jennifer Dulos.

There has been several indications in this investigation that there was a lot of pre-planning. . .I think its more likely that Jennifer is going to be located as a result of overt investigative efforts, Kimball said.

No new suspects

Patten and Kimball said that while theyre not aware of any other suspects besides those already charged, they believe there are people who know more about what happened to Jennifer Dulos.

I have high confidence that there are people out there that have information that could lead us to the whereabouts of Jennifer, Kimball said.

The 16-month investigation has generated more than 1,500 leads and tips that continue to come in each day via a website set up by cops: findjenniferdulos.com.
A veteran MBTA employee was struck by a vehicle while reporting to his bus for a shift around 6 a.m. Monday and died from his injuries after being transported to a local hospital.

MBTA officials identified the employee killed in the accident at the Charlestown Bus Yard as Bernadin Etienne, an 18-year veteran of the transit agency.

Steve Poftak, general manager of the MBTA, did not speak in detail about how Etienne was struck, saying that MBTA Transit Police and Boston police are investigating the circumstances of the accident as well as what, if any, mitigations can be put in place to address potential safety concerns.

Today, we just take a moment to remember Bernadin, an 18-year employee of the MBTA and someone who was well-liked by his colleagues and performed admirably at his duties, Poftak said at an afternoon board meeting.

In a joint letter to staff, Poftak and Boston Carmens Union President Jim Evers said that safety is a top priority at the MBTA and reiterated that a thorough investigation was underway.

Poftak and Evers told the agencys staff that grief counseling is available to anyone who needs it through the Ts Employee Assistance Program.

It is hard when we lose one of our own, they wrote.

The general manager also said during Mondays Fiscal and Management Control Board meeting that he had spoken to several members of Etiennes family and conveyed our deep regret at his tragic passing.

There is nothing I can say at this moment that would be adequate, but I just want family, coworkers and friends to know that our thoughts are with them, said FMCB Vice Chair Monica Tibbits-Nutt.
The uproar in Parliament over the controversial passage of farm bills resonated in poll-bound Bihar with senior leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alleging that the Oppositions protests against Rajya Sabha deputy chairman Harivansh hurt Bihari pride.

Harivansh, a member of the Janata Dal (United) who was a journalist and writer, hails from Bihar and the government has sought to corner the Opposition for the heckling, abuse and disrespect shown to the senior Bihar politician.

The controversy began on Sunday when the government rushed through two contentious farm bills amid fierce protests from the Opposition. Senior Opposition leaders charged towards Harivansh, jumped onto tables; and alleged that their demand for a division of votes was denied. The next day, eight Opposition members were suspended, triggering even more unrest and protests by the Opposition.

Hours later, Union law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad who represents the Patna Sahib Constituency in the Lok Sabha, linked the issue to Bihari pride.

An eminent Indian who hails from Bihar was humiliated; the people of Bihar will give a response. Harivansh ji remained dignified We will not make it a political issue but people are hurt, the minister said.

He also trained his guns at the Opposition and said, The way Congress and RJD [Rashtriya Janata Dal] were silent and even encouraged the protesting MPs in the Rajya Sabha, this will be told to the people of the state. Both Congress and RJD will have to answer.

The Congress and the RJD are part of the Opposition alliance in the Bihar assembly elections, scheduled for later this year.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi put out two tweets to appreciate the deputy chairpersons gesture of serving tea to the suspended MPs who spent the night in protest inside the Parliament complex.

To personally serve tea to those who attacked and insulted him a few days ago as well as those sitting on Dharna shows that Shri Harivansh Ji has been blessed with a humble mind and a big heart. It shows his greatness. I join the people of India in congratulating Harivansh Ji, the PM said.

In a second tweet, he referred to Harivanshs Bihari roots. For centuries, the great land of Bihar has been teaching us the values of democracy. In line with that wonderful ethos, MP from Bihar and Rajya Sabha deputy chairperson Shri Harivansh Jis inspiring and statesman like conduct this morning will make every democracy lover proud, the PM said.

This is the second time in this session that the PM has invoked the deputy chairpersons connection with Bihar. On September 14, when Harivansh was re-elected as deputy Rajya Sabha chair for the second term, the PM mentioned how he belonged to the land of democracy.

When anyone who is a seeker of democracy, from the land of democracy, Bihar, from JPs (Jayprakash Narayan) and Karpuri Thakurs land, from Bapus (Mahatma Gandhi) Champaran, steps forward to take responsibility, this is what happenswhat Harivansh has accomplished, the PM said while complimenting his conduct of the House.

Harivansh wrote a letter to President Ram Nath Kovind and vice-president Venkaiah Naidu, invoking his humble origins in Bihar.

Harivansh noted that he was born in the same village at Saran in Bihar as anti-Emergency icon Jayaprakash Narayan and spoke about the influence of Mahatma Gandhi, Ram Manohar Lohia, Karpoori Thakur and Chandra Shekhar on him. I am a man of village and built by literature, sensibilities and values, he said.

In Bihar, where the BJP is part of the ruling alliance with the JD(U), deputy chief minister Sushil Modi said the incident hurt the pride of Bihar.

Congresss Rajya Sabha MP, Jairam Ramesh, alleged that the BJP was politicising the issue. He tweeted, The shadow of the forthcoming Bihar elections has fallen over Parliament now. It is all very well for Constitutional authorities to demand respect. They must, in fact, command respect by their non-partisan actions.

RJDs Tejashwi Yadav agreed with him. They (BJP) will keep talking of Bihar now, and the moment elections end they will forget Bihar. The PM still has not sent a central team to assess the flood situation here. As far as farm Bills are concerned, well hold a protest against it, he said.

Shankar Dutt, a professor at Patna University, said the assembly polls is likely to be dominated by issues of health care, employment and education, and not the Rajya Sabha ruckus.

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A university lecturer has become the first person in Vietnam to receive an Early Career Award from the International Brain Research Organization.

Dr. Ha Thi Thanh Huong, 31, a lecturer at the School of Biomedical Engineering of the International University under the Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City, is among the 15 researchers in the world to be honored with this years Early Career Award.

In 2018, having obtained a PhD in neuroscience at Stanford University in the United States, Huong returned to Vietnam to seek solutions to human brain problems, contributing to the improvement of Vietnamese peoples intellectual and mental health.

The award, valued at EUR5,000 (US$5,870), is to support researchers in the early stages by providing additional funding for their research.

The Early Career Award is decided based on the quality of candidates' published articles, as well as the importance and persuasiveness of their topic.

Applicants are required to submit a scientific resume and an online application describing their ongoing research project while clarifying how they will use the funding and the importance of the project.

Alzheimer's is one of the most fatal diseases in the elderly, Huong told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper, adding that research on it is becoming increasingly urgent given an aging population in Vietnam.

I applied for this years award to look for financial support for a project on Alzheimer's disease diagnosis. My team and I are developing a tool that can be more accurate, reduce invasiveness, and lower the cost for diagnosing the disease, Huong elaborated.

We will apply artificial intelligence to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) analysis, and use breakthrough molecular biology tools such as RNA sequencing in blood samples."

The group has submitted four reports at an international conference on biomedical engineering and received funding from the Vietnam Alzheimer's Network, a program sponsored by the U.S. National Institute of Health.

The teams diagnostic model using artificial intelligence also entered the top 20 at a contest for innovation and artificial intelligence application organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Science and Technology earlier this month.

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An alleged trip for sex with a teen girl took the suspect from the Philly area to Nanticoke  only to find a cop waiting to arrest him, instead.

It happened in Luzerne County, where police say Charles Isiah-Cordell Solomon, 22, of Upper Darby, Delaware County, used a social networking website to contact the girl, who was in fact an undercover special agent for the Pennsylvania Attorney Generals Office, as the Citizens Voice reports.

Details from the newspaper report:

The agent was working undercover online Friday evening when Solomon sent him a private message on the website Meetme.com.

The agent told Solomon that he was a 13-year-old girl, and Solomon requested pictures of the purported child, according to the complaint.

After receiving the pictures, Solomon asked if the girl was a virgin and proceeded to set up a meeting to have sex when she said she was, police allege.

During the sexually explicit conversation, Solomon asked if he could record the sexual encounter and asked the girl to bring a spare pair of underwear so that he could keep the ones she was wearing, according to the complaint.

Police arrested Solomon after he arrived at the meeting location at the West Side Park in Nanticoke around 1:30 a.m. Saturday.

During questioning, Solomon allegedly told police he knew it was illegal but that he still planned to do it because the purported girl was a blonde virgin, according to the complaint.

Solomon faces felony counts of unlawful contact with a minor, contacting a minor for sexual abuse, statutory sexual assault and criminal use of a communication facility.

At last report, he was being held at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility with a preliminary hearing set for Sept. 30.

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A surrogate for a couple living in China has been taking care of the baby for nearly a half a year because COVID-19 travel restrictions have prevented the parents from coming to the U.S. to take custody of their child.

Emily Chrislip, 25, from Nampa, Idaho, gave birth to the couple's daughter at a Boise hospital on May 18, right in the middle of the pandemic. She and husband Brandon, who have a son of their own, agreed to care for the child for four weeks, but it's now been over four months.

'At first, we thought it would be a max four weeks, and then it kept getting longer and longer,' she told People. 'At this point, we've just accepted that we don't know... but we wouldn't have it any other way. She is so loved and right now, we are the constant in her life.'

Role: Emily Chrislip, 25, from Nampa, Idaho, gave birth on May 18 after agreeing to be a surrogate for a couple in China. She is pictured with her husband Brandon and son Camden

Struggle: Emily and Brandon have been taking care of the baby girl because the COVID-19 travel restrictions that were put in place have prevented the parents from coming to the U.S.

Emily decided to become a surrogate in 2018 after the birth of her now two-year-old son Camden. She had watched family members and friends struggle with infertility, and she wanted to help someone else become a mother.

'I could not imagine not being able to have my own biological child, and my pregnancy and delivery were very easy and uncomplicated, so we decided to start looking into it,' she explained.

Emily started the process in February 2019, and by September of that year, she was chosen to be a surrogate for a couple in China, according to ABC affiliate KIVI-TV.

'The initial plan was for her parents to be here for the birth,' she told People. 'We were going to let them be in the delivery room to see her be born and then they would have had their own room at the hospital with her and my husband and I would have had our own room. At the time of birth, my job was supposed to be completed.'

Thoughtful: Emily decided to become a surrogate in 2018 after the birth of her now two-year-old son Camden because she wanted to help someone else become a mom

However, two months before she gave birth, the travel restrictions that were put in place at the height of the coronavirus pandemic prevented the baby's biological parents from traveling to the U.S.

Emily and Brandon could have left the baby with a nanny agency after she gave birth, but the baby's parents asked the couple to personally care for their daughter.

It was a difficult decision, and while her husband was hesitant at first, they ultimately agreed it was the right thing to do.

What was thought to be just four weeks of childcare has turned into nearly five months with no end in sight.

Emily said raising a child that they will one day have to give away is bittersweet. She explained that she tries to put some of her 'barriers up,' but her husband is a 'big softy.'

Decision: Emily and her husband Brandon could have left the baby with a nanny agency, but the baby's parents asked the couple to personally care for their daughter

No end in sight: Emily and Brandon, pictured with their son, agreed to care for the couple's child for four weeks, but it has now been more than four months

'We definitely love her and will always care for her, but we understand she is not ours,' she told People. 'We just treat her as our own because at this stage in life it is so important to have the proper attention and love.'

They plan on continuing to take care of her until her parents can get to the U.S., however long that may take. Flights from China have been severely limited, making it nearly impossible for the baby's biological parents to get on one.

Emily received between $35,000 and $40,000 in compensation for being a surrogate, according to USA Today. She and Brandon used the money to pay off student loans and buy a bigger house.

The mother of one noted that if it wasn't for the pandemic, she would probably consider serving as a surrogate again, but now she is not so sure.

'I don't know if I could go through something like this again,' she told People. 'I would consider it for the same parents, though, if they ever wanted to have more children.'
Rebecca Judd was shocked to discover this week that Americans don't use kettles.

The wife of AFL legend Chris Judd admitted she found it 'weird' that they instead microwave their water.

'Having a kettle is like a way of life,' she said on KIIS FM's 3pm Pick-Up on Tuesday. 'You use it for so much more than having a tea.'

'I'm shook... it's a way of life': Rebecca Judd was shocked to discover this week that Americans don't use a very common kitchen item that's a staple in Aussie households

She added: 'I'm shook!'

Rebecca said she first learned that Americans don't use kettles on Instagram, as she follows an Australian author who has a big following in the U.S.

'Something slid into her DMs from one of her American followers and it's the fact that Americans don't have kettles. This is weird,' she explained.

'It's more than just the tea - having a kettle is like a way of life. You use it for so much more than having a tea.'

What?! Rebecca said she couldn't believe it when she learned that Americans don't use kettles

The mother of four said she uses her kettle to make instant noodles, dissolve chicken stock, and even water her indoor plants.

She then shared an audio clip of Kim Kardashian explaining how she has two kettles in her home - but she incorrectly described them as 'pots'.

'Kim, it's a kettle!' Rebecca said with a laugh.

The TV and radio host lives in a $7.3million mansion in Brighton, Melbourne, with her husband, Chris Judd, and their four children: son Oscar, eight, daughter Billie, six, and twins Tom and Darcy, three.

Family: Rebecca lives in a $7.3million mansion in Brighton, Melbourne, with her husband, Chris Judd, and their four children: son Oscar, daughter Billie, and twins Tom and Darcy (all pictured)

In recent weeks, they've been stuck indoors due to Melbourne's stage-four lockdown.

Last month, Rebecca admitted on her KIIS FM radio show that she was 'done' with the restrictions and was desperate for an interstate holiday.

Melbourne has been under the strict lockdown since August 2, following a spike in coronavirus cases in the state of Victoria.

Residents can only leave their homes for food and essential items, daily exercise, care for others, and work if they cannot work from home.
The West African influence continues with rice, which Ganaway insisted the Gullah Geechee always, always, always eat with okra soup. Its important to note that the enslaved people from West Africa were specifically brought to the Lowcountry because of their knowledge of how to grow rice. The rice grains themselves traveled the Middle Passage along with the kidnapped West Africans. Called nkru-ma in Ghanaian Twi, the soups eponymous okra, too, came from Africa on those ships.

The key to okra soup is its consistency  it shouldnt be too thin  and purists discourage the use of added starch to thicken the soup. As Ganaway advised, The okra will naturally thicken the broth, and the fresher it is, the better itll do the job. And while neither Ganaway nor I have an aversion to okras mucilaginous quality (in fact, we both love it), it doesnt come much into play in this soup, because the vegetable is cooked for only about 10 minutes, leaving it tender but not slimy, while the pods caviar-like seeds add both protein and a textural pop with every bite.

For okra soup, the main thing is you have okra and tomatoes  otherwise do what you want, Ganaway told me. But unlike many recipes, this one uses the entire tomato. As a cook, Ive always been flummoxed to see people discarding tomato seeds and their surrounding jelly and call it fine cooking when anyone who has taken the time to carefully taste the fruit knows that theyre actually the most flavorful parts  up to six times as rich in the compounds that contribute to umami as other parts of the fruit. Throwing the flavor away for some arbitrary aesthetic reason strikes me as absurd, and in this soup the tomatos seeds are essential.

The tomato arrived in the American South by way of Mexico  it was native to Peru  where it was domesticated sometime in the 17th century, and it became fundamental to Lowcountry cooking. And the butter beans and corn that Ganaway stirs into the soup right at the end are also not native to the region; they came from Peru and Mexico and traveled north, where Native Americans introduced the ingredients to Gullah Geechee cooks. Ive spent my cooking career obsessed with sourcing ingredients, but Ganaway inspired me to look much further back, to not stop at the farm or the market but to trace the actual origin of each ingredient. At least four continents, five spiritual traditions and three races were represented in this dish.
Republicans aim to fill the Supreme Court vacancy left by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death before the end of President Donald Trump's first term.

But most voters in six 2020 swing states want the winner of November's presidential election to name the next member of the top U.S. court, according to a CNBC/Change Research poll released Tuesday.

In the pivotal states of Arizona, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, 43% of likely voters said Trump should be able to fill the court seat even if he loses this year, the survey found. A 52% majority responded that the incumbent should not get to nominate a justice if he falls short against Democrat Joe Biden.

Only 37% of voters nationally think Trump should be able to nominate a justice if he loses, while 57% believe he should not.

The swing-state poll surveyed 3,018 likely voters from Friday to Sunday and has a margin of error of plus or minus 1.8 percentage points. The national poll surveyed 1,430 likely voters from Friday to Sunday and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.6 percentage points.

Trump announced Tuesday he will announce the nomination on Saturday.

Ginsburg, a liberal stalwart and the second woman to serve on the Supreme Court, died Friday at age 87. In an already fraught election year, the chance to fill a lifetime appointment on the top U.S. court has injected more venom into the process.
Chief Minister



will be on a two-day visit to New Delhi starting September 22, to urge the central government to release 'sufficient' funds to manage the COVID-19 situation in the union territory.

Addressing a virtual press conference on Tuesday, Health Minister Malladi Krishna Rao, who will be accompanying the CM during the visit, said, "we will urge the Home and Health Ministries to ensure that is sanctioned sufficient funds to tackle the current COVID-19 situation in the Union Territory."



Rao said, "although the Chief Minister had been persuading the Prime Minister since last five months to come to the rescue of the territorial government with sufficient grant of funds to deal with the current pandemic situation, the Centre had earmarked only Rs 4 crores."He further said the CM had also written to the Prime Minister for more funds, but nothing cut any ice.

Claiming that the government was in a fiscally critical condition, he said, "We will persuade, during our two day visit to Delhi, the Union Health and Home Ministers to respond to our plea for sufficient funds."



posted 493 fresh cases of and six related fatalities on Tuesday, taking the overall tally of infections to 23,684.

Rao also said he would visit Karaikal later in the day today to inspect the government hospital there.

"Karaikal has been witnessing rise in number of COVID-19 positive cases. As many as 145 positive cases were reported.

We will rectify all the shortcomings including the requirement of equipment in the Government GH in Karaikal," 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.)
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Two women have been arrested for running an alleged racket of selling fake vehicle insurance policies to residents of Delhi-national capital region (NCR), the Delhi Police said.

The crime was unearthed last week when a truck owner, Avdhesh Yadav, complained to the Delhi Polices cyber branch of the north-west district after he was issued two fake vehicle insurance policies.

Yadav told us that he knows a man named Mukeem, who installs global positioning system (GPS)-enabled devices in vehicles near Jahangirpuri. Yadav had told Mukeem that he needed to renew his trucks insurance policy following which the latter asked him to transfer Rs 34,000 to a bank account, said Vijayanta Arya, deputy commissioner of police (DCP), (north-west), Delhi Police.

Soon, Yadav received a copy of the insurance policy, which in face value appeared to be issued by a prominent insurance firm.

Yadav figured out that the policy details were fake after he checked on the firms website. Mukeem shared some phone numbers and asked Yadav to sort out the issue about the forged document, the DCP said.

Yadav was issued another insurance policy, which was in the name of a separate prominent company. But that document also proved to be counterfeit.

Police started their probe by checking the details of the bank account in which the money was deposited. It belonged to a woman called Paramjeet Kaur (36). Kaur revealed that she was running this racket with her accomplice, Ritu (44). Both Kaur and Ritu have been arrested, the DCP added.

The official said that the two women used to work for an insurance firm in Moti Nagar.

One of their associates used to routinely share a list of people, whose vehicle insurance policies were up for renewal. The duo would call these people offering to renew their insurance policies. At times, their contacts would bring them prospective clients, the official added.

The two arrested accused would design fake insurance policies and issue them to their unsuspecting clients, he added.

Police have also arrested Deepak Bansal (22), an undergraduate student of commerce, on charges of letting the arrested accused use his account of an e-commerce payment system for the alleged crime.
The mother of one Mechers students reported that her daughter was having an inappropriate sexting relationship with Mecher, who was the girls former seventh grade teacher, according to the news release. The mother told detectives she first learned of the relationship Sept. 6, when her daughter disclosed that Mecher had an inappropriate relationship with her in his classroom.
From economy to psychology, from environment to diplomacy, what happens in the U.S. election will have a profound impact on Canada. Northern Exposure is a series of stories looking at whats at stake for us as America decides its future.

WASHINGTONLate last week, as Canadian and American authorities were confirming the inevitable continuation of the border shutdown between the two countries that has been in place since March, U.S. President Donald Trump offered a prediction. Were going to be opening the borders pretty soon, he said, explaining, Canada would like it opened.

Which would be news to Canadians. Seldom in our history has an issue galvanized public opinion like the resolve to keep the border closed to pandemic-stricken Americans. Earlier this month, 90 per cent of Canadians in a Research Co. poll said they want to keep the strict border restrictions in place.

As pollster Frank Graves of EKOS Research, told me, When I ask, When do you think we should think about opening the border? they go, Well, maybe never. 

Listen to Ed Keenan discuss the border from Canadian perspective

That kind of reaction has certainly cast doubt on Trumps forecast. I do not think that border is opening anytime soon, I can tell you that, said Kathryn Friedman, an expert on North American relations at the University at Buffalo.

Its not that it doesnt hurt  it does. The travel and tourism industry in Canada has been devastated. In border communities like Niagara Falls and Sarnia, a drop in car traffic across the border of almost 95 per cent has a severe impact on entire civic economies. Airlines and hotels are struggling to stay afloat. Some sectors have been pummelled and their very existence is at stake, Goldy Hyder, president and CEO of the Business Council of Canada, told CNN earlier this month.

Besides which, many Canadians own property in the U.S., have family and friends there, and enjoy visiting regularly.

None of that is seen as important next to the threat of COVID-19 that Canadians see coming from Americans.

Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati told Politico this month he didnt expect any change before the election. Early November, theres going to be a U.S. federal election. Were trying to stay out of the politics of the United States, he said. Were thinking at this point, just leave the borders, dont touch anything, lets get through this election. And then? It depends, I guess, on who wins ...

The experts I spoke to agreed the election could have a significant impact for two reasons. One is the difference in how Trumps policies and those of his opponent, Democratic nominee Joe Biden, would impact the spread of the pandemic. Trump has largely declared victory over the coronavirus, even though it continues to infect and kill many more Americans per capita than it does Canadians. Biden has proposed aggressively changing course on the national response to COVID-19, and even considered imposing a mask mandate.

Those approaches may be expected to lead to different public health outcomes. Its a hard problem regardless, said Jeffrey Shaman, a Columbia University epidemiologist who has been a harsh critic of Trumps response. He said what hes heard from Biden leads him to expect a more proactive and muscular response that actually would address some things if the Democrat were to become president.

But those I spoke to thought something else about the election result was equally important: Canadians perceptions of the approaches of the potential presidents.

Gravess research at EKOS suggests 72 per cent of Canadians believe the United States would stand a better chance of recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic if the election results in a change of government.

If a Biden administration is elected, I do think that the entire tenor of the relationship will change, Friedman said. She believes that in a Biden administration, Canada would be elevated back to its traditional role as a close ally with the U.S., leading to conversations that will begin on how to lift the restrictions in a sensible manner.

Chris Sands, who heads the Canada Institute at the Wilson Center in Washington, D.C., says conversations about how to open the border likely need to happen sooner or later anyway for economic reasons  and they may need the type of opening that a warming of relations under a new administration might provide. Theres a limited amount of ammunition of fiscal stimulus that you can do now, Sands said. Whoever is in government in Canada is going to be sitting there saying, Well, we need to get the growth back ... Were going to have to deal with the border. And all of that becomes more difficult if youve got somebody sowing divisions and making it hard to build a national consensus around action.

Trump can say Canada wants the border to reopen all he wants. Although it would be better for many of them if it were to reopen safely, Canadians wholeheartedly disagree. Going into the election, Trump himself seems to be the biggest obstacle to changing that.

Read more about:
"I am really impacted, myself and my family, regarding maintaining our quality of life as well as our privacy," said Tanya Staples, who lives on William Price Parkway, behind the proposed project at the corner of Manhattan and Hill. "This is a residential community. These are homeowners. And we are looking at bringing in apartments and apartment complexes that are low-income. I need to understand about my property values and whether or not my property values are going to decline as a result."

Some also say the location is completely inappropriate because it would be sandwiched between two schools  Lewis J. Bennett High School Of Innovative Technology and Buffalo United Charter School  and a public park. That could expose children to the drug problems of those living in the facility, and potentially even put their safety at risk if it draws criminals, said one area resident, Sarah Guitart, who has lived on East Depew Avenue for over 35 years.

"Its just right in the middle of all those areas where there are so many children all the time," Guitart said. "I know the children are walking home down the street. Its just not appropriate."
Western Wildfires (Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

The Bobcat Fire in California is now recorded as one of the largest wildfires in the history of Los Angeles County,

As of Sunday, the blaze has consumed more than 103,135 acres of land since its initial breakout over Labour Day weekend.

The Los Angeles Times originally reported on the fire's growth, comparing it to the 1970 Clampitt fire in San Fernando Valley - which burnt 150,000 acres and killed four people - and the more recent Station Fire.

The Station Fire, which happened in 2009, is the largest fire ever recorded in Los Angeles County, and destroyed 160,000 acres, killed two firefighters, and razed more than 200 structures.

The Bobcat Fire is still raging, with only 15 per cent considered contained. Fire officials said the blaze grew more than 35 per cent between Saturday and Sunday.

"We're still in the thick of a good firefight," Andrew Mitchell, a spokesman for the US Forest Service, said.

In addition to its size, the Bobcat Fire also spun off a "Firenado," which was captured on video.

The Bobcat Fire is one of several fires keeping firefighters busy across the West Coast. Smoke from the fires have spread across the US, and the fires have displaced thousands of people.

Wildfires have killed at least 34 people this year and creates huge zones where the air is practically toxic due to the smoke and ash.

As of Sunday, the Creek Fire in California was at 27 per cent containment. Over the weekend, 250 US Marines arrived in the state to help tackle the blaze. They will spend several days training with the US Forest Service before joining the firefighters trying to control the inferno.

In Oregon, six men were arrested for setting fires that contributed to the wildfires throughout the state.

While conspiracy theories on right-wing social media posts claimed that "Antifa" or other left-wing sympathisers were the culprits of the fires, the men who were arrested appear to have no political motivation for setting the fires.

Story continues

Four of the arrested men - who have criminal records that suggest they have struggled with addiction, homelessness and mental illness - allegedly set small fires that were quickly doused.

The other two men began more serious fires, with one man burning down hundreds of acres of forest, while another is accused of causing damage to more than a dozen homes with his blaze.

Read more

Desert homes threatened by enormous California wildfire

Firefighter dies battling wildfire sparked by gender reveal
I think Chief Justice Roberts is very sensitive to perceptions of the legitimacy of the court, Nathaniel Persily, a Stanford University law professor and an expert on constitutional and election law, said of John G. Roberts Jr. Whether its deciding to take a case, or how they end up deciding it, he knows that if its seen as breaking along partisan lines or taking advantage of the death of Justice Ginsburg, that is a real threat to the Supreme Courts public standing.

President Trump appears to be betting that the court will make rulings  or uphold ones by lower courts  that would enhance his prospects for victory in November. Were going to have a victory on Nov. 3 the likes of which youve never seen, he said last weekend at a campaign rally in Fayetteville, N.C. Now were counting on the federal court system to make it so that we can actually have an evening where we know who wins, not where the votes are going to be counted a week later or two weeks later.

The court seemed to edge in that direction in April, when it voted along ideological lines to scrap a move by the Democratic governor of Wisconsin to extend the period for voting by mail because of the pandemic.

But the outcomes have been mixed in the few election cases the court has taken up since the Wisconsin decision. In July, the court ruled, again pitting conservatives against liberals, that three Alabama counties were not required to follow a court order relaxing vote-by-mail rules because of the pandemic. But the next month, the justices refused to block a similar loosening of the rules in Rhode Island, saying the state had acted within its discretion.

The Rhode Island case was of the sort that the court is most likely to see before Election Day  a ruling based not on a full-blown hearing, but on a written application for an emergency stay of a lower-court decision. A single justice can act on those requests, but legal questions of any substance are hashed out by the full court before a decision is issued.
Often there are right calls from around the globe to both Ghana and Nigeria to strengthen their relations in the spirit of brotherliness because we are neighbours. I fined that call rather hypocritical if Togo, Burkina Faso, Cote D'Ivoire and Benin are left out in such demands.

In fact, before this calls, many Ghanaians were collaborating with our Nigerian counterparts in the areas of music, poetry, trade, research papers, banking with filmmakers kriss -crossing both countries for business and knowledge sharing.

I am told that in economics, Nigerias population plays to the advantage of Ghana when it comes to export. Similarly, the relative peace and the undeniable hospitality of Ghanaians have seen growing numbers of Nigerians fraternizing with the indigenous people of Ghana without any difficulty.

probably The reason for Ghana and Nigeria to see each others as sisters, brothers or in-laws dates back to time immemorial as a result of the English language bequeathed to us by our colonial masters else I dont see why Burkina Faso who shares borders with us in Upper East and West are hardly referred to as friends.

For instance, Togo sharing same markets with Ghana at Ashigeme and Cinkasse in Volta, North East and Upper East Regions do not have the same attention for greater collaboration even in terms of trade.

Though Cote d Ivor a stone throw to Bono Ahafo Region in Ghana shares common names of people and places just like in Upper East and Volta regions, scarcely do we hear of efforts at strengthening their co-existence.

I am therefore disappointed in the action of most Nigerians in Ghana with their complete disregard to our national laws but quick to refer to international laws to tell us how legally they are to ply their trades in Ghana without any restrictions.

These same people have played the ostrich by pretending to have forgotten their deliberate closure of borders with Benin which affected most Ghanaian entrepreneurs especially pharmaceuticals beverages and other foodstuffs.

I remember very well that no amount of negotiation initiated by Ghana changed the minds of authorities in Nigeria to rescind decision resulting in goods on transit destroyed. Not even the same Ghanaian delegations like what they dispatched to Ghana recently to intercede on behalf of their citizens could get them to allow at least goods that were already at the border enter their country resonated to them.

In view of the above, I think I have a reason to state categorically that Ghana is not a neighbour to Nigeria at least as far as geography is concerned.

Actually what has made me gone mad on this issue of Ghana-Nigeria relations is a release from Nigeria to warn Ghana to be careful on how we treat their people and their subsequent call on presidents of Ghana at Jubilee house on the same matter.

In fact, their delegations to Jubilee House should have been told in plain words that activities of their citizens here is uncalled for.

Again their earlier call for our media not to attribute the name of their country to its nationals who involve in crimes here was a misplaced one.

Both countries needed opportunity to work as partners in terms of foreign policy and to avoid charting paths that would make this two African giants enemies hence my honest condemnation of their constant call for possible retaliation on Ghanaians though they have not broken any laws of their country. .

I insist that between Nigeria and Ghana there is Benin and Togo so it cannot be correct that Ghana is a neighbour to Nigeria as people want us to believe. Its only our mutual respect that can change the narrative but if the other party is not ready for win-win approach lets consolidate learning of English and French to foster relationship with our real neighbours Burkina, Togo and Cote dIvoire.

In fact, my silence in anticipation to hear from geographers telling both sides that they are not neighbours is not yielding any result as clearly Nigeria is taken advantage of this saying to bully Ghana which I think must seize now.

That notwithstanding the recent debate on how we can prevent coronavirus through partnership to me was another hypocritical move if we could do that without recourse to Togo, Cote D Ivor, Burkina Faso and Benin.

This is because I have a strong belief that no amount of meeting between Ghana and Nigerian can help deal with the disease or any border issue through partnership if those middle countries are left out.

David Fianko-Okyere

Upper East Region

Bolgatanga
Las Cruces Sun-News Staff

LAS CRUCES  If your kids are trying to sell you their latest invention at the dinner table, let them try to sell it to a larger audience by participating in Arrowhead Center at New Mexico State Universitys new and free-to-enter K-12 Business Pitch competition.

We are looking for real ideas, like a unique angle on a slime business, new ideas about sneaker re-selling, or a desire to make beautiful necklaces, said Lydia Hammond, deputy director of Arrowhead Centers K-12 program, Innoventure. It can be a new idea or a business idea that they are already working on.

The new competition is for elementary, middle and high school students in the Las Cruces area who have a business idea and want to get a chance to pitch it to win prizes, and maybe local support by getting their product, name or website out to the community. The competition is supported by Arrowhead Center along with community co-sponsors Dona Ana Community College, the Las Cruces Green Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce, City of Las Cruces Economic Development Office, Kids Can of Community Action Agency and The Bridge of Southern New Mexico.

There are no themes or specific design structure for the business, Hammond said. The pitch itself will be done via video and the student, or business team, must complete a simple business plan, with the complexity of the plan varying by age.

There will be two Zoom classes for participants to help student with their submissions. They will be held at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 30 and Oct. 14. More information can be found at http://arrowheadcenter.nmsu.edu/innoventure/pitch.

You may not know all there is to know about business planning, pitching an idea or videography and thats OK, said April Christensen, founder of the Kids Can youth entrepreneur program. We are here to guide you through the process with our two-part workshop.

Winners will receive tech prizes such as laptops and tablets. At the high school level, the first-place idea will also win a yearlong mentorship with industry experts.

The competition will be held in October. Registration will open Oct. 1 and students must submit their pitch video and simple business plan by Oct. 30.
One person was killed while seven others have been arrested when they attacked Fulani herdsmen at Tingakrom, in the Bono East Region, on the Kintampo-Bole Bamboi road, last Friday.



The robbery gang, including a taxi driver, allegedly robbed Fulani herdsmen of their cattle.



The suspects are Malik Idrissu, 25, Abdullai Gamba, 41, Nurudeen Alhassan, 30, Salifu Yakubu,21, Kwabena Gyan, 30, Seidu Umar, 35, and Hamidu Haruna, 30.



The Kintampo Divisional Police Commander Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Francis Annor, who confirmed the story to Ghanaians Times, said the arrest was made by combine effort of the police and members of the community, Tingakrom.



He said Kwabena Gyan, identified as the owner of the taxi cab with registration number BA 3509-13, which was being used for the robbery, was killed by irate youths of the Tingakrom community.



ACP Annor stressed that the robbers attacked and attempted to rob herdsmen at Tingakrom, but the town folk engaged them, leading to the death of one of them through gunshots.



When the police got wind of it, the people managed to arrest seven of them, including the taxi driver. The suspects stole the cattle and were escaping when the people assisted the police to arrest them, ACP Annor said.



He said the suspects were currently in custody at Kintampo Divisional Police Command assisting in investigations.

Source: The Ghanaian Times









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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One time, I saw a post on Telegram saying we need people to help clean the streets after a protest, and I had nothing to do and have a car, so why not? she said. I think people know that anything we do wrong can be used against us. If we started leaving litter, [the government] would say, Look at them, theyre not going to do anything good for this country because theyre not even cleaning up after themselves. 
Republicans show concern over child sexual molestation making the film political leverage in the battle to re-elect Republican President Donald Trump

A group of international film makers on Tuesday defended the director of "Cuties" against attacks by Republicans who have pulled the French film into the US election fray.

Statements by Republican lawmakers and an online campaign have tapped into concern over child sexual molestation, making the film political leverage in the battle to re-elect Republican President Donald Trump.

Film maker Maimouna Doucoure was the subject of "unfounded, caricatural and despicable attacks" in the US where "Cuties" is available on Netflix, the film directors said in a statement received by AFP.

"This incredibly violent campaign, which has led to death threats against the director, is being carried out by some Republican senators and ultra-conservative networks who use and manipulate this film for political purposes and as part of the US presidential campaign," the film makers said.

Signatories include "Gremlins" maker Joe Dante, "Tin Drum" director Volker Schloendorff, Cristian Mungiu, who won the Cannes festival's top prize with "4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days", as well as Frenchman Bertrand Tavernier and Belgians Lucas Belvaux and Luc Dardenne.

"The controversy thus organised against this film has a name, which unfortunately punctuates the history of cinema: censorship!" they said.

The film, called "Mignonnes" in French, portrays a young, rebellious French Senegalese girl who joins a pre-teen hip-hop dance group that is pushed into performing suggestive dances.

The film earned director Doucoure an award at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival.

In Washington Post op-ed, Doucoure said her film was about the objectification of women and children, and the pressure pre-teen girls feel to be pretty and sexy.

She had hoped "to start a debate about the sexualization of children in society today", she said.

For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture

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AAIS (the American Association of Insurance Services) has received approval from six state insurance departments for its health-emergency policy endorsement, clarifying coverage and cancellation provisions in the wake of COVID-19. To date, the endorsement has been approved in Arkansas, Arizona, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas, as AAIS said it continues to respond to regulator concerns across the country.

AAIS has developed several sample policyholder notices and a model suspension of cancellation endorsement. The endorsement provides a temporary suspension for a specific timeframe during which a policy would not be cancelled due solely to the policyholders nonpayment of premium. The sample notices also address suspension of cancellation due to nonpayment of premium, the anticipated submission of pandemic-related claims, and good faith extensions of claim communication requirements and conditions.

According to AAIS General Counsel Robin Westcott, the endorsements and policyholder notices were developed in collaboration with state regulators to respond to customer needs, to help underwriters better anticipate exposures in their policies, and bring stability to the insurance market.

AAIS formed a COVID-19 Task Force to monitor regulatory developments related to the unprecedented coronavirus pandemic, and to provide advisory services designed to help address issues. In April, AAIS launched its COVID-19 Pandemic Resource Center to provide updates to insurance professionals and regulatory leaders, along with a library of sample forms, policyholder notices, and other materials.

The COVID-19 resources are available for general use by all insurance carriers, provided credit is attributed to AAIS as part of any proprietary adaptations. Carriers are advised to review sample materials and applicable regulatory positions carefully. Revisions, additions, and filing action may be necessary before use.

The AAIS Pandemic Resource Center includes department of insurance communications and dashboards, as well as regulatory and legislative updates pertaining to COVID-19s impact on the insurance industry.

AAIS serves the property/casualty insurance industry with advisory services, including forms, rating information and data management.

Source: AAIS

Topics COVID-19 Legislation Market
Throughout this time, as a result of enemy provocation, Ukraine lost a soldier, but on other days there were practically no combat casualties, the president said.

President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine says the latest ceasefire agreement for Donbas has been effective for almost two months already.

The comment came during a telephone conversation with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on September 22, the President's Office reports.

Zelensky spoke about the security situation in Donbas.

The Ukrainian leader recalled that during the meeting of the advisors to the Normandy Four (Ukraine, Germany, France, and Russia) leaders, the need was confirmed for the warring parties to observe sustainable ceasefire, which had been in effect for almost two months.

"Throughout this time, as a result of provocation, Ukraine lost a soldier, but on other days there were practically no combat casualties," the President's Office noted.

In turn, Aliyev declared Azerbaijan's support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, and stressed that Azerbaijan treats Ukraine as a close strategic partner.

Read alsoDonbas war update: Ukraine reports three ceasefire violations on Sept 21Disruption of Donbas truce

On July 22, the participants in the Trilateral Contact Group (Ukraine, Russia, and OSCE) for Donbas settlement agreed on a full and comprehensive ceasefire along the contact line from July 27.

On September 5, the leader of Russia's "DPR" proxy forces Denis Pushilin ordered to open fire on Ukrainian positions outside the village of Shumy on September 7 over what he claimed was the violation by Ukrainian troops of restrictions on engineering works.

On September 6, the enemy violated the Donbas ceasefire by shelling Ukrainian positions. A Ukrainian soldier was killed and another was wounded in the attacks.
One of Americas oldest companies and a San Francisco original, Levi Strauss & Co. was founded in 1853 by a German Jewish Immigrant who traveled from Bavaria to California to expand his brothers New York clothing business, eventually opening up their first shop on 62 Sacramento Street.

That doesnt have anything to do with this warehouse sale, its just neat. Levis jeans, shirts, and various other items are up to 75% off until Sept. 27, with some highlights picked out below. Pay special attention to items like the Cubano Shirt labeled Sustainability, since theyre part of Levis company-wide effort to use less water and, of course, sustainable materials.
The Trump administration is asking the Supreme Court to take fast action in ruling on the constitutionality of President Trumps order prohibiting illegal immigrants from being counted in the U.S. census.

President Trump signed the order earlier this year, but was promptly met with a legal challenge by various immigrant rights groups. The U.S. District Court in the Southern District of New York ruled in early September that the order was illegal and likely unconstitutional.

The Trump administration has challenged the ruling and, in legal documents filed Tuesday, asked the Supreme Court to hand down its own ruling on the matter in December. That would allow the court to rule before the January 10, 2021 deadline to submit census data.

The 2020 census will determine the apportionment of House seats accorded to each state for the next ten years. Illegal immigrants cannot vote but would increase the population of particular districts, potentially expanding the number of House seats received by various states.

Opponents of Trumps order have argued, however, that illegal immigrants use many of the same infrastructure services as American citizens, thus they should be included in the census to give an accurate picture of an areas population.

The coronavirus pandemic has already complicated efforts to complete the 2020 census, leaving census workers unable to go door to door and complete forms in person.

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Russian special forces today staged a special operation to detain a former traffic cop who leads a sect in Siberia claiming he is Jesus Christ.

Sergei Torop, known as Vissarion, and his closest aide Vadim Redkin, a former rock musician, were reportedly detained and flown away under armed guard.

The 59-year-old is a former Red Army conscript who claimed he was reborn in 1990 as the literal reincarnation of the son of God.

Russian agents carried out a large military-style operation with four helicopters and dozens of heavily armed troops storming the remote compound called Sun City.

The operation appeared to involve the Russian National Guard, a force under the command of Vladimir Putin, but also involved the FSB security service.

Torop (pictured today), 59, is a former Red Army conscript and traffic policeman who claimed he was reborn in 1990 as the literal reincarnation of the son of God

'Jesus of Siberia' is pictured on August 28, 2009, talking to children and adults in Siberia

Russian agents carried out a large military-style operation with four helicopters and dozens of heavily armed troops

Vadim Redkin (left) and Torop (right) are pictured being led away from Sun City by officers

The Russian Investigative Committee said the sect was being probed for using 'psychological violence' causing some followers 'serious harm to their health'.

Torop and two other sect leaders Vadim Redkin and Vladimir Vedernikov were detained in the raid, a statement said.

They are also being investigated on suspicion of 'causing grievous bodily harm to two or more persons.'

Footage showed masked special forces with combat machine guns at the group's territory in the remote Kuraginsky district of Krasnoyarsk region in Siberia.

Other officers appeared to be in plain clothes.

Local resident Alexander Staroverov said: 'There are 50 avtozaks (cells on wheels), 50 buses, an ambulance, and medical workers.'

Torop and Redkin 'were put into helicopters and taken away in an unknown direction', he added.

The operation appeared to involve the Russian National Guard, a force under the command of Vladimir Putin, but also involved the FSB security service

Armed troops are pictured during the raid in Siberia on Tuesday, with dog handlers also present

Torop and his closest aide Vadim Redkin, a former rock musician, were reportedly detained and flown away under armed guard

Vladimir Vedernikov (pictured today) was also arrested and escorted out by officers during the raid

The group, who are banned from smoking and alcohol, has been in Siberia for years and it is unclear why the Russian authorities acted now in an early morning raid.

He claims to have 5,000 followers of whom several hundred live in wooden huts in the remote 'Sun City' camp at Petropavlovka, some 2,600 miles east of Moscow.

One estimate said there were 90 families at the site raided today by the authorities. Other followers of the 'messiah' live in villages nearby.

He heads what is known as the Church of the Last Testament, and he has written a ten volume 'sequel to the Bible'.

Three years ago the cult leader told the BBC: 'We have a school of noble maidens here.

'We're preparing girls to become future wives, future brides for worthy men.

'She has to understand not to rise above the man, not to be proud of her independence but to be shy, inconspicuous and weak.'

Pictured are guns (left) and cartridges (right) found during the early morning raid on Tuesday

Torop claims to have 5,000 followers of whom several hundred live in wooden huts in the remote 'Sun City' camp at Petropavlovka, some 2,600 miles east of Moscow

An aerial photograph shows 'Sun City' from above, with the camp lying 2,600 miles east of the Russian capital

Vissarion is reported to have two wives with six children, having at one stage married a 19 year old who had lived with him since the age of seven.

He lives in a comfortable chalet while his followers reside in wooden huts in one of Russia's coldest regions with temperatures sinking to minus 50C in winter.

Torop had an awakening after he was fired as a night shift traffic cop in the Siberian town of Minusinsk, he has claimed.

God had sent him to Earth to teach mankind about the evils of war and the havoc we were wreaking on the environment, he claimed.

The cult leader abolished Christmas, replacing it with the anniversary of the date of his own first sermon, August 18.

He claims that Mary, mother of Jesus, is his own mother. Official records show his biological mother was called Nadyezhda.

He has followers in Germany and several other European countries.

The Russian Investigative Committee said the sect was being probed for using 'psychological violence' causing some followers 'serious harm to their health'.

They are also being investigated on suspicion of 'causing grievous bodily harm to two or more persons.'

No further details were given. The three could face up to 12 years in jail if convicted.
After eight years of fighting wildfires, Solize Ortiz has learned to work with the challenges and dangers of her profession.

The Oregon firefighter has been in smoke so thick its nearly impossible to breathe, and at times shes unable to make out the faces of others.

Sometimes you can only see silhouettes, Ortiz said. You start to recognize how people walk and their mannerisms. Thats usually the best way to identify people on your crew.

Shes learned to gauge danger -- like when a flaming tree is about to crash to the ground, and in which direction.

A tree makes a lot of noise when its about to fall, Ortiz said. You have to be aware of those sounds.

Ortizs colleague Fernando Hernandez knows what its like to be covered in dirt and soot for days on end with no shower in sight. The longest hes had to go without is 15 days.

Its a badge of honor, unfortunately, sometimes, said Hernandez, whos been battling season blazes for 20 years.

Ortiz and Hernandez are among more than 7,500 firefighters called on to battle Oregon wildfires in a season like theyve never seen before.

Fueled by a fierce and widespread windstorm that started on Labor Day, the fires have spread to scorch close to 1 million acres so far this year -- about double the average annual number for each of the past 10 years.

Nine people have died. Five are missing. More than 2,200 homes and 1,500 businesses, barns or other structures have been destroyed, but many thousands more have been saved thanks to the efforts of firefighters.

Those summoned to put out the blazes include year-round professionals who work for local fire departments or fire districts; federal agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management or Bureau of Indian Affairs; the Oregon National Guard, which was summoned this year at a moments notice; and even a few inmate crews.

But most are wildland firefighters who work for private companies that contract with state and federal government agencies -- with some traveling from states as far off as Arkansas and North Dakota to help.

The Oregonian/OregonLive spoke to the owner of one of those companies, Salem-based Grizzly Firefighters, and two of the companys firefighters, Ortiz and Hernandez, during short breaks they received from their assignments last week.

Owner Teresa Ortiz, who is the mother of firefighter Solize Ortiz, said shes never seen a fire season like this in the 18 years since she founded her company. Some of her firefighters have had to evacuate their own homes  or have their families do so while theyre fighting blazes on the front lines.

Theres always a mental part of the job when youre trying to save peoples homes, Ortiz said. But this year is different knowing their own homes are at risk. Theyre worried about their families. Its like Ive never seen it before.

Despite all that, the firefighters out on the field are still laser-focused on the task at hand, Ortiz said.

***

Among all public servants, firefighters perhaps more than any other are lauded as heroes -- garnering enormous and heartfelt praise for saving homes, businesses, human lives, pets and even wildlife.

Wildland firefighting, in particular, is considered a high-risk job  with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reporting 400 total on-duty deaths in the profession in the past 20 years. Against conventional wisdom, the leading causes of death are cardiac arrest, vehicle accidents and aircraft crashes  with entrapment in fast-growing wildfires listed as the fourth most prevalent cause of fatalities.

Experts say the dangers have increased in recent decades as wildfires have grown in size, intensity and frequency due to climate change, forest management policies that have left the backcountry overloaded with fuels, and homes and businesses that have been built into the fire-prone wilderness.

Capt. Sam McCullough gave a big surprise to his 9-yr-old son last night (Sept. 13) after being away for a week fighting the #ClackamasWildfires. Back for one night & today (Sept. 14) he's in the field. @ClackCoSheriff @clackamascounty pic.twitter.com/dJQT9Nsr6z  Clackamas Fire (@clackamasfire) September 14, 2020

Can we give our firefighters a round of applause? #OregonFires2020 pic.twitter.com/8zXAIEh2IA  OregonOEM (@OregonOEM) September 14, 2020

Add onto that the COVID-19 pandemic this year, and firefighters' risks of leaving home to do their jobs have only grown.

Teresa Ortiz said the industry has faced personnel shortages because of the threat of COVID-19.

"I have had people whove said, My family wont let me go, period, " Teresa Ortiz said. The concern, she said, is real given the tendency in past years for other viruses to spread through crews that work in such close proximity to each other for days on end.

Its called camp crud and it spreads like wildfire, no pun intended, Ortiz said. The fear is Covid-19 is going to spread like wildfire.

Ortiz has enacted a list of precautions, including the use of hand sanitizer and temperature screenings, and shes stuck by her longstanding rule of only one firefighter per tent. She said none of the 120 firefighters she manages have tested positive. But even with strict measures out in the field, she said, the virus can spread and she knows of firefighters from other Oregon companies whove fallen ill.

The Oregon Health Authority doesnt make public the number of firefighters whove contracted Covid-19, and representatives from the Oregon Department of Forestry and the U.S. Forest Service didnt respond to requests for this information.

But according to an NBC News report, eight members of a Bureau of Land Management crew based in Oregon tested positive for the virus days after arriving on duty in June. The report also found more than 220 federal firefighters across the country had contracted the virus as of late August.

Due to the shortage of firefighters, Teresa Ortiz said she and other wildland firefighting companies banded together last week to send a new class of recruits through a 40-hour training class. They could be working the front lines starting this week.

All recruits must be at least 18 years old and physically fit. One test requires prospective firefighters to walk three miles in fewer than 45 minutes while wearing a 45-pound vest.

Ortiz said this weeks 60-person class quickly filled to capacity, and Ortiz thinks that might be because recruits have seen the raging fires in the news and experienced the hazardous levels of smoke that had blanketed the state recently for days.

They just look out their windows and see the smoke, Ortiz said. People just want to help. Its an extremely rewarding business.

Grizzly Firefighters pays new firefighters $16.54 an hour. Meaning after 90- to 100-hour weeks and with overtime pay, a two-week paycheck can top $3,500 before taxes for newcomers.

***

Fernando Hernandez, wearing a gray helmet, is seen here with his crew at a recent assignment in California. Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, they were fighting the Lionshead fire in Oregon. (Courtesy of Fernando Hernandez)

Hernandez and Solize Ortiz are both crew bosses, meaning they each lead a team of 20 firefighters who spend a large portion of their shifts dousing flames with water or clearing brush and trees away so the debris wont further fuel the fire.

The first time I did it, I didnt like it at all, Hernandez said of his initial three-day assignment 20 years ago. It was smoky and hard to breathe. Its hard work.

Others convinced him to give it another try and he grew to love it. He learned how fires behave and how to develop a good path of egress in case he needs to pull out at a moments notice. He also learned what gear to take to be comfortable -- and how to efficiently pack everything he needed, including his tent and sleeping bag, in the one duffel bag each crew member is allowed.

I like the adrenaline, said Hernandez, 53. I like it, too, because you can do good things. You can save forests. You can help people.

Firefighters on his crew this year are typically working 14 days straight, but their assignments can sometimes stretch to 21 days before they net a minimum two-day break. A work day can easily stretch 14 hours long.

Fernando Hernandez and his crew are fighting the Lionshead fire near Warm Springs, as seen in this photo dated Sat. Sept. 19, 2020. (Submitted photo)

Hernandezs family back in Salem -- his wife and four children ages 10 and under -- have gotten used to his long absences. But the job allows him to earn a lot of pay in a relatively short time because hes packing in the hours.

I think its hard for them, Hernandez said. When I have a good signal I call them every day.

When hes out in the backcountry, however, cell phone reception is non-existent and his wife knows not to depend on a call.

There are few creature comforts. Hernandez knows the monotony of downing so-called meals ready to eat, or MREs, sometimes for days on end before catered food arrives.

Breakfast MREs, lunch MREs, dinner MREs, Hernandez said. At least you have some food in your system.

In their quest for a freshly cooked hot meal, some firefighters have resorted to placing aluminum-wrapped food on hot engines or their trucks, or using their shovels as frying pans while holding them over smoldering tree trunks.

Hernandez is currently fighting the Lionshead fire near the Warm Springs reservation.

Solize Ortiz has just started a new 14-day assignment fighting the Riverside fire near Estacada.

I went out on my first fire when I was 18 years old. It was probably the scariest experience Ive ever had, said Ortiz, 26. But it was totally fulfilling.

Solize Ortiz, wearing a white helmet, is seen here with her crew on assignment. She said the enjoyment she gets from working with her crew is one of the reasons she continues to fight fires.

Like Hernandez, she has learned how fire behaves and has become more confident about managing its dangers. She is accustomed to seeing flames shooting 20 feet high in the air and the heat baking her face and entire body.

Up close, the smoke is far worse than the haze that has smothered much of the state for the past week.

A couple of days into a fire we have that gnarly smokers cough, Solize Ortiz said. Its like coughing up lungs.

Shes seen it all go up in flames -- trees, brush, structures, garbage and cars.

Tires stink, Ortiz said.

But Ortiz said the overall mission is worth putting up with the downsides of the job.

Theres nothing more rewarding than to walk off a fire line, and to see signs in a town that say, Thank you, firefighters! or to have a local come up to you and shake your hand or give you a hug in tears.
Dubai: An Indian expat nurse has died of COVID-19 in Oman, making it the first death among health workers in the country's Ministry of Health, according to media reports.

Blessy Thomas, 37, was admitted at the intensive care unit of the Royal Hospital after she contracted COVID-19 and she passed away on Tuesday, the Gulf News reported.

Oman's Ministry of Health issued a condolence note on Tuesday for the first coronavirus-related death among its health workers in Oman.

With great sadness and sorrow, the Ministry of Health of the Sultanate of Oman mourns the passing away of nurse Blessy Thomas at the Royal Hospital ICU due to COVID-19. This is the first death among health workers in MoH," the ministry said.

It said that Thomas was a true hero and a role model of hard and sincere work.

"The Minister of Health, as well as the MoH personnel and all health workers in Oman express their heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased, the note read.

Thomas, who was from Adoor in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala, is survived by her husband and two children.

There was a previous case of a death of a health worker due to COVID-19 who worked for a private clinic, the report said.

Her husband Sam George said she was passionate about caring for the ailing, those who suffer from pain and had a special affection for children.

She knew she was going to attend to the Coronavirus patients but was not hesitant to discharge her duties as a nurse, the Oman Observer quoted George as saying.
The U.S. death toll from the coronavirus topped 200,000 Tuesday, by far the highest in the world, hitting the once-unimaginable threshold six weeks before an election that is certain to be a referendum in part on President Donald Trump's handling of the crisis.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 22/9/2020 (486 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

FILE - In this April 29, 2020, file photo, workers move bodies to a refrigerated truck from the Andrew T. Cleckley Funeral Home in the Brooklyn borough of New York. During the deadliest days of the coronavirus outbreak in New York City, the bodies piled up at the funeral home Ai and the stench that came with it Ai at an alarming rate. Cleckley says what happened next made him the scapegoat for an unforeseen crisis Ai hundreds of COVID-19 deaths a day in New York that overwhelmed funeral homes across the city. Authorities swept in and suspended his license in an episode that made headlines in a city already reeling from other horrors of the pandemic. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)

The U.S. death toll from the coronavirus topped 200,000 Tuesday, by far the highest in the world, hitting the once-unimaginable threshold six weeks before an election that is certain to be a referendum in part on President Donald Trump's handling of the crisis.

"It is completely unfathomable that weve reached this point," said Jennifer Nuzzo, a Johns Hopkins University public health researcher, eight months after the scourge first reached the worlds richest nation, with its state-of-the-art laboratories, top-flight scientists and stockpiles of medical supplies.

The number of dead is equivalent to a 9-11 attack every day for 67 days. It is roughly equal to the population of Salt Lake City or Huntsville, Alabama.

And it is still climbing. Deaths are running at close to 770 a day on average, and a widely cited model from the University of Washington predicts the U.S. toll will double to 400,000 by the end of the year as schools and colleges reopen and cold weather sets in. A vaccine is unlikely to become widely available until 2021.

"The idea of 200,000 deaths is really very sobering, in some respects stunning," Dr. Anthony Fauci, the governments top infectious-disease expert, said on CNN.

The bleak milestone was reported by Johns Hopkins, based on figures supplied by state health authorities. But the real toll is thought to be much higher, in part because many COVID-19 deaths were probably ascribed to other causes, especially early on, before widespread testing.

The number of dead in the U.S. is equivalent to a 911 attack every day for 67 days. It is roughly equal to the population of Salt Lake City or Huntsville, Alabama.

Trump said it was "a shame" the U.S. reached that number but argued the toll could have been much worse.

"I think if we didnt do it properly and do it right, youd have 2.5 million deaths," Trump told reporters at the White House before leaving for a campaign rally in Pittsburgh. He added that the United States is now "doing well" and "the stock market is up."

FILE - In this May 28, 2020, file photo, a woman passes a fence outside Brooklyn's Green-Wood Cemetery adorned with tributes to victims of COVID-19 in New York. The U.S. death toll from the coronavirus topped 200,000 Tuesday, Sept. 22, a figure unimaginable eight months ago when the scourge first reached the worlds richest nation with its sparkling laboratories, top-flight scientists and towering stockpiles of medicines and emergency supplies. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)

He also gave his often-repeated broadside that China was at fault for the pandemic. In a prerecorded speech to the U.N. General Assembly, he demanded that Beijing be held accountable for having "unleashed this plague onto the world." Chinas ambassador rejected the accusations as baseless.

On Twitter, Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden said, "It didnt have to be this bad."

"It's a staggering number thats hard to wrap your head around," he said. "Theres a devastating human toll to this pandemic  and we cant forget that."

For five months, America has led the world by far in sheer numbers of confirmed infections  nearly 6.9 million as of Tuesday  and deaths. The U.S. has less than 5% of the globes population but more than 20% of the reported deaths.

Brazil is No. 2 with about 137,000 deaths, followed by India with approximately 89,000 and Mexico with around 74,000. Only 10 countries rank higher in COVID-19 deaths per capita.

All the worlds leaders took the same test, and some have succeeded and some have failed. In the case of our country, we failed miserably. Dr. Cedric Dark

"All the worlds leaders took the same test, and some have succeeded and some have failed," said Dr. Cedric Dark, an emergency physician at Baylor College of Medicine in hard-hit Houston. "In the case of our country, we failed miserably."

Black and Hispanic people and American Indians have accounted for a disproportionate share of the deaths, underscoring the economic and health care disparities in the U.S.

Worldwide, the virus has infected more than 31 million people and is closing in fast on 1 million deaths, by Johns Hopkins' count, though the real numbers are believed to be higher because of gaps in testing and reporting.

For the U.S., it wasnt supposed to go this way.

Healthcare workers line up for free personal protective equipment in front of a mural by artist Romero Britto at Jackson Memorial Hospital, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020, in Miami. Hundreds of workers lined up for the PPE given out by the New York nonprofit Cut Red Tape 4 Heroes. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

When the year began, the U.S. had recently garnered recognition for its readiness for a pandemic. Health officials seemed confident as they converged on Seattle in January to deal with the country's first known case of the coronavirus, in a 35-year-old Washington state resident who had returned from visiting his family in Wuhan, China.

On Feb. 26, Trump held up pages from the Global Health Security Index, a measure of readiness for health crises, and declared, "The United States is rated No. 1 most prepared."

It was true. The U.S. outranked the 194 other countries in the index. Besides its labs, experts and strategic stockpiles, the U.S. could boast of its disease trackers and plans for rapidly communicating lifesaving information during a crisis. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was respected around the world for sending help to fight infectious diseases.

But monitoring at airports was loose. Travel bans came too late. Only later did health officials realize the virus could spread before symptoms show up, rendering screening imperfect. The virus also swept into nursing homes and exploited poor infection controls, claiming more than 78,000 lives.

At the same time, gaps in leadership led to shortages of testing supplies. Internal warnings to ramp up production of masks were ignored, leaving states to compete for protective gear.

Trump downplayed the threat early on, advanced unfounded notions about the behaviour of the virus, promoted unproven or dangerous treatments, complained that too much testing was making the U.S. look bad, and disdained masks, turning face coverings into a political issue.

On April 10, the president predicted the U.S. wouldn't see 100,000 deaths. That milestone was reached May 27.

Nowhere was the lack of leadership seen as more crucial than in testing, a key to breaking the chain of contagion.

"We have from the very beginning lacked a national testing strategy," Nuzzo said. "For reasons I can't truly fathom, weve refused to develop one."

Sandy Brown of Grand Blanc, Michigan, called the death toll "gut-wrenching." Her husband of 35 years and their 20-year-old son  Freddie Lee Brown Jr. and Freddie Lee Brown III  died of COVID-19 just days apart in March, when there were fewer than 4,000 recorded deaths in the U.S.

"The thing that really gets to me is ... if things had been done properly, we could have put a lid on this," said Brown, who has no other children. "Now it's just unbelievable. It's devastating."

The real number of dead from the crisis could be significantly higher: As many as 215,000 more people than usual died in the U.S. from all causes during the first seven months of 2020, according to CDC figures. The death toll from COVID-19 during the same period was put at about 150,000 by Johns Hopkins.

Researchers suspect some coronavirus deaths were overlooked, while other deaths may have been caused indirectly by the crisis, by creating such turmoil that people with chronic conditions such as diabetes or heart disease were unable or unwilling to get treatment.

Dark, the emergency physician at Baylor, said that before the crisis, "people used to look to the United States with a degree of reverence. For democracy. For our moral leadership in the world. Supporting science and using technology to travel to the moon."

"Instead," he said, "whats really been exposed is how anti-science weve become."

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.

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Associated Press writers Kelli Kennedy in Miami and Tammy Webber in Fenton, Michigan, contributed to this story.

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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

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This story was first published Sept. 22, 2020. It was updated on Sept. 23, 2020, to correct that the number countries that have experienced more deaths per capita than the U.S. is 10, not five.
FORMER Midlands provincial minister Jason Machaya was this Tuesday sentenced to four years in prison by a Gweru magistrate after being convicted for criminal abuse of office.

Machaya and co-accused Chaisanyerwa Chibururu will however, serve an effective 2 and half years in jail each after 18 months were conditionally suspended. The charges related to the unlawful allocation of residential stands in Gokwe.

During trial, court heard that Machaya intentionally allocated 17 799 housing stands from State land to land developers who in turn gave him 1,791, stands.

Prosecutor Garudzo Ziyaduma also told court that Machaya allocated 192 commonage stands to the Apostolic Christian Church of Zimbabwe (ACCZ) when he did not have the lawful right to do so.

The duo had denied the charges when their trial started last year but the State proved beyond reasonable doubt that they committed the offences.
The Texas Historical Commission on Tuesday denied San Antonios request to relocate the Alamo Cenotaph, a key element in an ambitious makeover of the fabled battle site.

At the end of a nearly 10-hour virtual meeting Tuesday, the commission voted 12-2 against the citys request for a permit to repair and move the monument.

The 56-foot-high Cenotaph, created by sculptor Pompeo Coppini, features carved statues of Alamo defenders and symbolic imagery in a work titled The Spirit of Sacrifice.

It now stands near the north end of Alamo Plaza. The plan for the Alamo makeover calls for moving the monument a few hundred feet south to a site near the Menger Hotel.

Alamo Master Plan Management Committee /

The public-private project, overseen by the city, the Texas General Land Office and the nonprofit Alamo Trust, also envisions closing the plaza to traffic, expanding pedestrian space and turning part of the plaza into an outdoor interpretive space to complement a new Alamo museum.

The projects leaders had said relocation of the Cenotaph was critical to the larger overhaul. Lori Houston, assistant city manager, called the commissions vote disappointing and said it meant the Alamo Master Plan remains a plan without a project.

Illustration courtesy of Reed Hilderbrand

But commission members said they believed the 1930s monument was historic in its own right and deserving of protection. Several commissioners also said there wasnt evidence that the interior of the structure was so deteriorated that it needed to be fully disassembled, relocated and rebuilt in a new location, as the projects leaders have proposed.

More for you 5 things to know about the Alamo Cenotaph

Commission Chairman John Nau, who voted against relocation, said the Cenotaph needs to be where those men fought and died.

He rejected assertions by project leaders that the commission vote effectively kills plans for the makeover and development of a museum.

Now, the Alamo plan is far too important to this commission, to our state and the city of San Antonio to suggest that the entire project depends on granting a single permit request, said Nau, a Houston businessman.

The commission staff had given the panel three options: grant a relocation permit, deny a permit or allow the Cenotaph to be repaired in place. The city requested that the commission withdraw that third option.

Nau said the memorial honoring Texian and Tejano Alamo defenders who died in the 1836 battle will need to be restored.

It clearly needs to be fixed, repaired. I dont think theres any question about that, he said.

This commission should remain committed and enthusiastic about working alongside the Alamo Trust to create a visitor experience worthy of our states most symbolic and indeed revered landmark. There is no question that the end result is worth this pain. The end result should be the Cenotaph located where the blood flowed, Nau said.

In presentations to the commission, City Councilman Roberto Trevino, Assistant City Manager Houston and U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, a member of the Alamo Trust Board, said the best solution was a full reconstruction of the monument.

Engineers have said the Cenotaph is at risk of cracking and breaking apart because rainwater has corroded the aluminum anchor rods and possibly the steel reinforcement in its concrete frame. They have said it may need to be fully reassembled.

But repairing it in place would be problematic, Trevino, Houston and Hurd said. The Cenotaph has a 20-foot-deep, below-ground foundation that would have to be jack-hammered and replaced; the resulting vibrations could harm the mission-era west wall of the Long Barrack, the Alamos oldest structure, dating to the 1720s.

Commissioner Wallace Jefferson, who is from San Antonio and was the first African American justice and chief justice on the Texas Supreme Court, said he was persuaded that relocation was in the best interest of the state.

The evidence that Ive seen shows me that the Cenotaph needs to be repaired and restored. And Im convinced by the data that cannot be done properly at its current location, Jefferson said.

But Commissioner Lilia Marisa Garcia said that despite her support for making the mission-battlefield site the biggest and the best, she is a firm believer that history doesnt happen in a vacuum.

And I am very concerned about the precedent that we are setting because something doesnt fit into the plan. And thats where I have very big issues with this, said Garcia, a history professor at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Well, that statue in itself, that Cenotaph, also has history.

Commissioner Laurie Limbacher, an Austin architect, said she was very troubled by the idea of relocating it to sort of reinvent the history associated with the placement of the Cenotaph as part of the 1936 Texas centennial.

Consistent with expressions in that time period, we have these big, heroic, romantic structures that were placed all across the state of Texas, Limbacher said. Though the placement might not be what experts would recommend today, it is entirely consistent with the way things were done in the 1930s.

In its online page for people to register to speak, the commission allowed another option: to simply indicate whether they supported relocation. Some 1,624 people indicated they supported the idea, and 29,003 opposed it.

The Alamo Trust said it was disappointed with the commissions decision but would remain dedicated to preserving the story of the Alamo defenders.

We will work with our partners at the Texas General Land Office and the city of San Antonio to evaluate our options as we move forward, the trust said.

Earlier Tuesday, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick made a dramatic and forceful case for leaving the Cenotaph in place. Patrick challenged assertions that the planned Alamo Plaza makeover was doomed if the Cenotaph stayed put.

He also criticized the project, saying it seeks to erase history and would make Alamo Plaza resemble New Yorks Central Park.

We need to stop and pause, members. This is the Alamo that were talking about, Patrick said, telling the commission it faced the most important vote that you ever cast.

He said the Alamo plan is moving forward but still is unfocused. Patrick said that although the site should reflect the Alamos 1700s mission-era origins, the primary narrative must be the siege and battle of 1836  the most important 13 days in the history of Texas and Western civilization.

On ExpressNews.com: Some call Cenotaph relocation crucial to Alamo project

Patrick also took aim at Trevino, who leads the projects management committee.

Trevino, who has challenged some elements of the traditional Alamo narrative as folklore and even bunk, recently supported the removal of a statue of Christopher Columbus from a downtown park. Patrick said Trevino was likely to treat the Cenotaph the same way.

He wants to change history. He wants to erase history, Patrick said.

The city, the Land Office and the Alamo Endowment have legal agreements to renovate the plaza, raise funds and construct an Alamo museum.

But Patrick offered to lead an effort in next years legislative session to guide the project forward, remove amusement attractions on the plazas west side, and reconstruct and replicate features of the 1836 fort.

But he said the Cenotaph must not be moved to enemy territory  outside the area once enclosed by the walls of the fort.

Its not the end of the project. It doesnt have to be the end of the project, Patrick said. Lets think big. Lets make San Antonio big. Lets do this right.

On ExpressNews.com: As Cenotaph ages, its location in Alamo Plaza is subject of debate

In a meeting plagued with technical difficulties, more than 120 people addressed the commission. Many said they favored the Alamo plan and relocation of the Cenotaph. They included leaders of San Antonio business groups and tourism officials who touted the project as a boon to the states economic recovery from the pandemic.

Opponents said the sanctity of the Alamo should not be compromised for economic reasons.

Carolyn Raney, president general of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, said the group has not had a chance to fully discuss the Alamo plan or take a formal position on the relocation. But speaking for herself, she said she supports both.

She alluded to the Daughters role as the Alamos custodians from 1905 to 2011, when the group led efforts to convert it from crumbling ruins into a historic site that draws about 1.6 million visitors annually.

You may take the Daughters out of the Alamo, but you will never take the Alamo out of the Daughters, Raney told commissioners.

Rep. Kyle Biedermann, R-Fredericksburg, was one of five state legislators who spoke against the citys application to move the Cenotaph. Biedermann said officials overseeing the project need to get the politics out of it and listen to the people of Texas.

On ExpressNews.com: A timeline of the Alamo Plaza renovation project

Because of politics, we have not been able to be heard as we should, Biedermann said.

Scott Huddleston covers Bexar County government and the Alamo for the San Antonio Express-News. To read more from Scott, become a subscriber. shuddleston@express-news.net | Twitter: @shuddlestonSA
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the United Nations faces a crisis of confidence as it commemorated its 75th anniversary, and reiterated Indias long-standing call for reform at the world body to reflect todays realities and give voice to all stakeholders.

In a declaration adopted at the end of the day-long commemorative meeting, the General Assembly committed itself to instil new life in the discussions on the reform of the UN Security Council (UNSC), one the principal organs of the world body. India is seeking a permanent seat on the reformed and expanded UNSC.

The Prime Minister was participating in a virtual high-level meeting of the UN General Assembly to commemorate the historic session. He is scheduled to deliver his speech at the high-level General Debate of the assembly on Saturday, as the first speaker for the day.

We cannot fight todays challenges with outdated structures, Modi said in a short address.

He added: Without comprehensive reforms, the UN faces a crisis of confidence. For todays interconnected world, we need a reformed multilateralism that reflects todays realities, gives voice to all stake holders, addresses contemporary challenges and focuses on human welfare.

The Prime Minister recalled for listeners that India was a founding signatory of the United Nations that was born out of the horrors of World War II, and shared Indias own philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the whole world is one family).

Our world today is a better place because of the United Nations, Modi said. We pay tribute to all those who have advanced the cause of peace and development under the UN flag, including in UN peacekeeping missions, where India had been a leading contributor.

But, he added, while much has been achieved, the original mission remains incomplete  something acknowledged by the declaration the General Assembly adopted at the end of the one-day meeting to commemorate the anniversary. The declaration said more needs to be done towards preventing conflict, ensuring development, addressing climate change, reducing inequality and leveraging digital technologies.

There is a need for reform of the United Nations itself, Modi added.

The declaration did make a forceful case for it. We commit to instil new life in the discussions on the reform of the Security Council and continue the work to revitalize the General Assembly and strengthen the Economic and Social Council, it said.

India and many countries have called for reforming the UN arguing that it must reflect the changing world order and accommodate the aspirations of emerging powers. India itself has sought a permanent seat in an expanded Security Council.

The US, the UK, France and Russia  four of the five permanent members  have endorsed the countrys demand, but there has been no real progress in the process, called the Inter-Governmental Negotiations (IGN), which has been under way for a long time.

India has accorded the highest priority to permanent membership, the ministry of external affairs said on Monday in a parliamentary reply.

It has pursed this on both bilateral and multilateral platforms, especially in concert with countries that are also seeking a permanent membership of the council such as G-4 partners Japan, Germany and Brazil and with IBSAs other two members Brazil and South Africa.

IBSA foreign ministers met last week virtually for their annual meeting around the UN General Assembly sessions, and expressed frustration with the slow pace of progress on Security Council reforms in the IGN process which, they complained, lacked transparency in its working methods.

Expressed our collective frustration with the slow progress of reforms in the Inter-Governmental Negotiations, external affairs minister S Jaishankar said on Twitter after the meeting. Time has come for substantive negotiations in a formal setting on a single comprehensive text.

Serving and former diplomats and experts are clear-eyed, however, about the challenges in the way. UNSC reforms will not be easy, and will require India to be persistent. Global action to meet global challenges of today demands that the UN reforms to strengthen multilateralism in keeping with contemporary realities, said Manjeev Puri, a former top Indian diplomat to the UN.

Demanders for change, including India, need to be resolute and determined as reform is unlikely either easily or quickly but is a must for themselves and the world, he added.

Michael Kugelman, a South Asia expert at Wilson Center, said that as long as China was standing in the way, it will be difficult for India. Indias hopes of a permanent UNSC seat have long been dashed by the veto power of China. And given the trajectory of India-China relations, which are free-falling and are likely to remain in crisis for an extended period of time, its highly unlikely that Beijing will change its position anytime soon.

He added: Indias best hope is that UN rules eventually change so that a majority of votes, as opposed to unanimity, are required to have a new permanent member.

India will begin a two-year term on the Security Council coming January as a non-permanent member, for the eighth time. It hopes to use the opportunity to further burnish its credentials for a seat as a permanent member. Its previous non-permanent terms were 1950-1951, 1967-1968, 1972-1973, 1977-1978, 1984-1985 and 1991-1992.
UBCF particpiates in the CFC, #77934 When asked what a donor's gift means to her, Kim shared, Survival. Without the love of the United Breast Cancer Foundation I honestly believe I wouldnt be in the place where I am today.

UBCF is pleased to announce their 8th consecutive year participating in the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC). This fall, the CFC campaign period will run from September 21, 2020, through January 15, 2021 . Established in 1961 under direction of President John F. Kennedy, the CFC is the worlds largest and most successful annual workplace charitable giving campaign. The CFC invites federal, military and postal employees to donate to their choice of charitable organizations. United Breast Cancer Foundations CFC number is 77934.

UBCF, a Guidestar 2020 Platinum Seal of Transparency rated nonprofit, is proud to be a CFC approved charity. CFC approved charities are 501(c)(3) organizations and are determined to be eligible through a rigorous application process. Today most charities that participate in the campaign do so as members of National Federations. These Federations, such as Creating Healthier Communities (CHC), have their own standards which their members must meet, resulting in a group of charities donors can support with confidence. UBCF is a proud member of CHC.

CFC donors can directly help further UBCFs mission, to make a positive difference in the lives of those affected by breast cancer. UBCF serves women, men and families nationwide through seven programs as well as our COVID-19 Emergency Assistance Program. Giving $50 per bi-weekly pay period can help a patient struggling to pay her mortgage and afford her treatments. Just $25 per pay period can pay for holistic treatments. A one-time gift of $150 will cover a breast screening for a woman or man in need. Gifts of any size will make a big difference in the lives of those fighting breast cancer.

Kim, a UBCF client diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016, has received several grants and donated products from UBCF. Kims son Mark was also awarded a UBCF college scholarship. When asked what a donor's gift means to her, Kim shared, Survival. Without the love of the United Breast Cancer Foundation I honestly believe I wouldnt be in the place where I am today. She further explained, The more money that donors donate, the more women facing a breast cancer diagnosis will be able to breath through their treatments.

Please consider supporting UBCF through the CFC - choose #77934. UBCF is grateful to their donors, without the generous support of CFC contributions, UBCF wouldnt be able to help so many deserving people, like Kim and Mark. Thank you for your service and your support!

About UBCF

UBCF is committed to offering breast health and wellness services focused on cancer prevention, screening, treatment and overall wellness. UBCFs mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of those affected by breast cancer and offers seven life-supporting patient and family programs available to women, men and families nation-wide. UBCF never denies services to anyone regardless of age, race, gender, ethnicity, income or medical insurance coverage. Tax-deductible contributions may be made towards UBCFs programs. UBCF accepts vehicle and property donations as well. Combined Federal Campaign #77934. https://www.ubcf.org
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 22

By Nargiz Sadikhova  Trend:

Tolerant attitude towards different countries and different ethnic groups is highly appreciated in Azerbaijan, Vice-Mayor of Israeli Migdal haEmek city Sergey Oklander told Trend on Sept. 22.

Oklander said that thanks to his work with repatriates, he is well acquainted with immigrants from Azerbaijan, whose big community has always shared their warm memories about close, well-developed interethnic and interreligious relations.

Azerbaijan is an example of tolerance, vice-mayor added.

The fact that people who have grown up in the new generation have been fluent in Russian over the past 30 years testifies that a tolerant attitude towards different countries and different ethnic groups is highly appreciated in Azerbaijan," Oklander said.

He stressed that the atmosphere created in Azerbaijan in terms of tolerance, where no one is interested in the ethnic origin of others, is evident.

While commenting on the escalation of military tension in the region, the vice-mayor called the situation incomprehensible.

"This is out of the question in the modern world, Oklander said. We, like no one else, feel, know, support, understand the situation. I am sure that politicians and the military will be strong and understand that two peoples must live peacefully, treat each other with respect and this will advance their interests in all spheres in the future.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @nargiz_sadikh
Burned by a bad breakup in 2018, clinical social worker Diane Sylvia turned to one of the patients at her Linwood, N.J., practice  a onetime gangster  hoping he would help her exact her revenge on her ex-boyfriend.

He needs his pretty little face bashed in, Sylvia said. A broken arm would help, too.

She would only find out months later that her patient had ratted her out: The hit man he enlisted for her was working undercover for the FBI, and their brainstorming sessions on the attack plot were being recorded.

On Tuesday, Sylvia, 60, of Somers Point, N.J., pleaded guilty to solicitation to commit a violent crime  punishable by up to five years in prison. During a hearing before U.S. District Judge Joseph H. Rodriguez in Camden, she admitted taking out a home-equity loan to pay the purported assassins $4,000 fee.

At their first meeting in October 2018, Sylvia explained to the undercover agent that her ex, who lived in Massachusetts, had conned her out of money for years, according to court filings in her case. She also made vague allusions to "some stuff her boyfriend knew about her that could get her in trouble with the state licensing board.

How is [attacking him] gonna help you with him going after your licenses and stuff? the undercover agent asked. Sylvia responded: Its just gonna make me feel better.  Its the only way I can get him back.

Sylvia kept in touch with the agent over the next several days, at times wavering on whether she wanted her ex killed or simply maimed, and whether she wanted to go through with the attack at all. But when they met in person at her office two weeks later, Sylvia was back on board.

How 'bout we break one arm, and just mess up his face? she suggested, making slashing motions on her cheek, according to the criminal complaint. Something that makes him not so cute. Something so he cant do push-ups, so he cant work out.

She drew the line, however, when the would-be hit man suggested throwing battery acid in the mans face.

Sylvia and the agent met again the next week to finalize plans, and she handed over the cash. The attack, they agreed, would take place at a Rhode Island casino frequented by her ex. As he left, the agent suggested she get rid of the cellphone she used to communicate with him.

Can I go to the Ocean City bridge and throw it off? she asked. Is that good enough?

The FBI showed up to arrest her five days later.

But, speaking after Tuesdays hearing, Sylvias lawyer, Thomas Calcagni, said that that account only told part of his clients story. He called Sylvia the true victim in the case and said she had suffered years of threats and blackmail from her ex-boyfriend, whom he did not identify. Calcagni also accused the man of stealing nearly $400,000 from her.

The FBI  the same agency that ignored Ms. Sylvias outreach about the abuse she was suffering  should feel a real sense of pride for its four-week sting operation against an emotionally battered woman desperate to find anyone to protect her [from] her abuser, he said. What a terrific victory for the Department of Justice.

Federal authorities did not name either her former boyfriend or the reputed gangster who first alerted the FBI about her request.

Sylvias license as a social worker was suspended as a result of her arrest, according to state records. She is scheduled to be sentenced in January.
Trascript of the Video Message by Angel Gurria

OECD Secretary-General

18 September 2020 - Seoul, Korea

(As prepared for delivery)

Dear Friends,



It is my pleasure to address the 21st World Knowledge Forum on the theme of COVID-19 and the New Economic Normal.



The world is in the grip of the worst health, social and economic crisis of our lifetime. The 6% contraction in global GDP that we project for 2020 in our most recent Economic Outlook is the largest in the 60 years of the OECDs existence. And in the case of a second wave of infections, global GDP could decline by more than 7.5%. In just a few months, the pandemic has wiped out the progress in labour markets made over the past decade to recover from the Global Financial Crisis.



Let me congratulate Korea for its swift and efficient reaction to contain the spread of COVID-19, using digital tools such as location and symptom tracking. Korea kept the virus at bay without a total lockdown, thereby limiting the economic damage. Still, we expect nearly all OECD countries to experience sharply negative growth this year, followed by a gradual recovery in 2021. And while the global economy walks on a tightrope, this crisis is disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable in our societies.



As shown in our latest Employment Outlook, self-employed, temporary and part-time workers  for example  account for up to 40% of employment in the most affected sectors. The young are once again at risk of becoming the biggest casualties of the crisis: youth unemployment in the OECD jumped from 11.3% in February, to 16.7% in June.



This is despite the extraordinary and swift measures taken by most governments to respond to the pandemic. Trillions of dollars have already been directed towards supporting individuals, households and companies across the OECD through income support and expanded paid sick leave. Moreover, about 60 million workers across the OECD have been included in the initial requests for support by companies through job retention schemes. Although there is a high burden on public debt, we should be careful not to withdraw emergency measures too quickly.



As we address these challenges, we need to start thinking and planning what will be the new economic normal. We cannot aspire to go back to what we had before the crisis. This time we need to build back better.



Looking ahead, countries must adapt existing measures to encourage a robust, inclusive and sustainable recovery.



Job retention schemes need to be targeted at jobs that are viable in the longer term, while public and private employment services must be scaled up to assist jobseekers in finding new work. Moreover, as highlighted in our recent policy brief on Youth and COVID-19: Response, Recovery and Resilience , we must act swiftly to help young people maintain links with the labour market. In this respect, early outreach is vital to maintain contact with young people who have lost their jobs or left school without finding employment, and to ensure no jobless young person goes without support.



There is also an urgent need to ensure that financial markets are well-functioning and resilient in order to support a strong economic recovery. This means ensuring that capital is efficiently allocated to the most productive firms and uses in the economy.



In addition, corporate defaults can be expected to rise above levels experienced in the Global Financial Crisis. It is therefore imperative that governments put risk capital to use for businesses in need of temporary support to contribute to employment and the wider economic recovery. For example, with appropriate programme design, equity investments could reduce the probability of default without undue burden on governments. They can also foster investments that generate long-term value, such as in R&D and intangible assets.



The COVID-19 crisis has also amplified calls for resilience and preparedness to deal with future shocks. It remains paramount to address our systemic vulnerabilities, strengthen our agility, and improve our anticipation.



Consider our interconnected infrastructure systems for instance. Water, energy, transport, telecommunications, when those services are disrupted by a flood, a cyber-attack, or an accident, cascading failures can lead to large knock-on impacts. The OECD, through its Policy Toolkit on Governance for Critical Infrastructure Resilience, is supporting countries better understand complex interdependencies and vulnerabilities across infrastructure systems to prioritise resilience efforts.



And above all, we need the strength that comes from multilateralism. Stronger international co-operation will help us end the COVID-19 crisis, speed up the recovery, and prevent future crises from taking hold. This is precisely where concerted action comes in, such as, the sharing of knowledge and of medical and financial resources; and the reduction of harmful bans to trade, especially in healthcare products.



Last but not least, in the midst of the current crisis, the world has not escaped from worsening climate change and severe biodiversity losses. Without significant changes to our economic systems, the social and economic impacts of these crises will be long-lasting and will unquestionably eclipse those of COVID-19. We must therefore absolutely ensure that the recovery goes hand-in-hand with our green efforts.

Ladies and Gentlemen,



We need a new normal, we need systems that are more resilient to future shocks, we need more inclusive and sustainable economic systems. For that, we need to change our theories, our policies, our frameworks and standards.



We urgently need to change course, and we can only do it if we act together. Because each country has a hand on the steering wheel. This is why multilateral co-operation is the only way out and the only way forward.



Together we learn, together we can, together we will! Count on the OECD! Thank you.

See also:

OECD work with Korea
Mumbai:

American plane maker Boeing Corporation launched the Boeing India Engineering & Technology Center in Bengaluru on Tuesday. The centre will employ hundreds of locals who will work to support Boeing, including its information technology & data analytics, engineering, research and technology, and tests, the company said in a statement.

The company did not specify how many people the centre will hire or the investment gone into the facility. "The centre will leverage a talented pool of employees to increase productivity and long-term competitiveness to support Boeing's engineering growth in strong global markets like India," Boeing India president Pratyush Kumar said.

In India we see a true path towards a mutual partnership for success, and the launch of this centre is a major step in that direction, he added. "Our IT has been working here with tier-1 suppliers for many years," Ted Colbert, Boeing chief information officer and a senior vice-president said, adding the new centre is instrumental in promoting our digital transformation by utilising India's talent seamlessly with our global teams.

The centre will undertake high-quality technology-driven work to support areas as diverse as the development of advanced environment-friendly coatings, data analytics for next generation airplane health management tools, software tools for airlines and airports to reduce their costs, and automation for more efficient next-gen manufacturing and analytics.

Boeing has been active in the country for the past 75 years primarily with commercial plane. More recently, its military aircraft and services business are playing an important role in the defence forces.

For all the Latest Business News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
A private Legal Practitioner and a Muslim Cleric, Hon. Baba Jamal, has pointed out by the tenets of the religion, Muslims do not allow their dead to be kept even for a day before burial.



According to him, Prophet Mohammed in his teachings declared that Sallah, marriage, and burial rites should be performed immediately without delay.



Prophet Mohammed said that there are three things that must be addressed immediately when they happened. The first thing which must not be delayed is the time for Sallah, marriage rites, and the third one is when someone dies the person must be buried immediately because he is not part of the living and that is why Muslims dont keep the dead in morgues, but due to law and technology, it has become necessary that we will keep dead bodies at the morgue for doctors to conduct postmortems, he narrated.



He was reacting to the controversy generated as a result of misleading online reports over the weekend that sought to create the impression former president John Dramani Mahama has "promised to construct more mortuaries for the Zongo communities.



The Campaign Team described the claims as "mischievous, deliberately distorted and misleading".



Speaking on Okay FMs Ade Akye Abia Morning Show, Baba Jamal, who is a former Member of Parliament for Akwatia constituency, stresed that because death is an unavoidable consequence of life, Muslims believe it is important to know where their dead relatives are buried.



Defending the NDC manifesto on the need to establish mortuaries for some Zongo Communities, Hon. Baba Jamal said that former President Mahama's decision to comply with the desire of Muslim leaders for morgues in Zongos, eventhough it is contrary to their own religious beliefs, is due to technology and law which requires postmortem of dead bodies.



Due to technology, it has become relevant that if someone dies, postmortem must be carried out and this may be contrary to the religion of the Muslims but it is a matter of law that if someone dies, there must be examined to find the cause of death as it is done.



One thing which is clear is that our manifesto is based on the interaction with people in our society and so when we went to the Zongos, we had a discussion with the elders of the Zongo Communities and Imams and the citizens of Zongo and they said one of the most important thing they need is to have mortuaries in some areas like Nima and Ashaiman Communities, he defended.



That is what we asked the elders of the Muslim communities and they said that what will bring an end to this issue is that if we are to construct morgues, we should make same available in major Zongo communities like Nima, Ashaiman, and Koforidua Zongos. This is because, whether we like it or not muslims in the Zongo communities will die, he added.



To Baba Jamal, there is nothing wrong if the next John Mahama administration grants Muslims their wish so long as it is in tandem with the laws of the country by establishing in every major Zongo Community a mortuary for a befitting preservation of their dead.



There is freedom of worship in this country and everybody is free to pursue their religious beliefs and so if it is true that adherents of the Muslim faith are forbidden to keep their dead in morgues, then it is the responsibility of government to provide the environment for such category of people to abide by their religious tenets without any kind of state impediments, he stated.





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Source: Daniel Adu Darko/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected]









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RTHK: China calls US behaviour in pandemic irresponsible"

China on Tuesday accused Donald Trump of spreading a "political virus" at the United Nations after the US leader delivered a harsh attack on Beijing over the Covid-19 pandemic.

"When the international community is really fighting hard against the Covid-19, the United States is spreading a political virus here in the General Assembly," China's ambassador to the United Nations, Zhang Jun, told reporters.

"If we do have to hold anyone accountable, it should be the United States held accountable for losing so many lives with their irresponsible behaviour," he said.

President Xi Jinping, in a speech delivered before a painting of the Great Wall, warned the world not to "politicize" the fight against coronavirus.

Xi said China would contribute another US$15 million to a UN fund on coronavirus.

"China has no intention of entering a Cold War," he said, urging the world to avoid "falling into the trap of a clash of civilizations."

Earlier, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, opening the General Assembly, also warned that "we must do everything to avoid a new Cold War."

"We are moving in a very dangerous direction. Our world cannot afford a future where the two largest economies split the globe in a Great Fracture -- each with its own trade and financial rules and internet and artificial intelligence capacities," Guterres said, without naming either China or the United States.

Trump, in his speech to the General Assembly beforehand, lashed out at Beijing over what he called the "China virus."

In remarks reminiscent of a campaign rally, Trump asked the world to take action over China's spreading of the "plague."

Trump has repeatedly sought to blame China over the pandemic that has claimed 200,000 lives in the United States, more than in any other country.

The Trump administration has launched a broader global campaign against the China's influence, pushing back on its claims in the South China Sea and warning nations of the risks of accepting its lavish infrastructure spending. (AFP)

This story has been published on: 2020-09-22. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 19:00:17|Editor: huaxia

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ULAN BATOR, Sept.22 (Xinhua) -- A total of 2,288 Mongolian nationals have returned to their homeland on nine chartered flights since the beginning of September, Mongolia's State Emergency Commission (SEC) said Tuesday.

Most recently, a chartered flight from Seoul to Ulan Bator arrived here on Monday evening, with 256 passengers onboard, the SEC said in a statement.

Mongolia planned to send a total of 14 special flights this month to COVID-19-hit countries to repatriate more nationals.

Following its suspension of international commercial flights during the COVID-19 pandemic, Mongolia has repatriated more than 22,000 nationals on chartered flights, trains and buses from different parts of the world, according to the commission.

As of Tuesday, Mongolia has reported a total of 313 COVID-19 cases, all of which were imported.

No local transmissions or deaths have been reported in the country so far. Enditem
Up to one million schoolchildren are reportedly skipping class as the nation is gripped by the fear of a second coronavirus spike.

Official attendance records have shown that of the 8.82 million schoolchildren in the UK, around one in eight pupils have not returned to school, despite 96 per cent of schools fully reopening since the pandemic.

The figures from the Department for Education (DfE) also show many state schools have had to close their doors in the past few weeks.

According to their research, the number of schools not fully open due to suspected or confirmed Covid-19 cases rose to 4% last week, up from 1% the week before.

The sobering statistics come amid a tightening of coronavirus restrictions, with a raft of new restrictions imposed on the nation from tomorrow.

Schools are considered not fully open if they are unable to provide face-to-face teaching for all pupils on roll for the whole school day (pictured: pupils from Year 11 at Hazelwood Integrated College in Belfast are pictured during a lesson)

Public Health England data reveals that of the 729 outbreaks in the week to September 13, only 21 per cent occurred in schools and college

In a speech in the House of Commons, Boris Johnson laid out new curbs to restrict the spread of the virus.

These included encouraging all those who can to work from home, unless they work in industries such as construction and retail.

Requirement to wear face coverings will be extended to include retail workers and customers in indoor hospitality settings, and pubs, restaurants and bars will be required to adhere to a strict 10pm curfew.

Pupils are still expected to attend school, however education leaders have warned that children's education has been disrupted as teachers and pupils have struggled to access tests to rule out Covid-19 since schools reopened this month.

Schools are considered to be not fully open if they are unable to provide face-to-face teaching for all pupils for the whole school day and have asked a group of students to self-isolate.

Approximately 87% of students were in school on September 17, which is down from 88% on September 10, according to the Government figures.

Anne Longfield, the Children's Commissioner for England, called on the Government to improve its testing regime to avoid 'throwing away' the progress made by reopening schools

One in eight state school students did not go back when classrooms reopened after this month the coronavirus lockdown, according to official figures (pictured: pupils on the first day back to school at Charles Dickens Primary School in Borough, South London)

Approximately 88 per cent of state school pupils were back in class last Thursday, meaning that 12 per cent of children were marked absence (pictured: pupils from Year 11 at Hazelwood Integrated College are pictured during their first day back to the school in Belfast)

Anne Longfield, the Children's Commissioner for England, has called on the Government to improve its testing regime in order to avoid 'throwing away' the progress made by reopening schools.

For thousands of students their return to school at the start of September was curtailed because of coronavirus outbreaks in the classroom amid a fiasco over testing.

Headteachers warned that schools would'grind to a halt' if teachers and pupils can't get tested quickly to avoid whole-school closure.

Government guidance states that school attendance is mandatory from the beginning of the autumn term, while pupils or members of their households with coronavirus symptoms should not attend school.

If someone who has attended school is tested positive for Covid-19, pupils they have been in close contact with will be asked to self-isolate.

The DfE statistics suggest 99.9% of state schools were open - either fully or partially - on September 17, but the small proportion that were shut (0.1%) were due to Covid-19 related reasons.

Pupil attendance was higher - around 88% - in fully open state schools on Thursday, but it was still down from 90% on September 10.

On average, around 95% of pupils attended state schools in England in the 2018-19 academic year.

Schools in England have been hit with Covid-19 cases since it became compulsory for pupils to return to class this month.

Some have closed their doors days after reopening, while others have told year groups to self-isolate for two weeks following confirmed cases.

On Tuesday, Bath and North East Somerset Council announced that East Harptree Church of England Primary School will close for 14 days following two confirmed cases of Covid-19 at the school.

The response rate to the weekly survey of schools on pupil attendance was 76% - but the DfE adjusted the data to account for those that did not respond.
Opinion Article

22 September 2020

In the age of COVID, numerous operating costs have decreased, as hoteliers have done all they can to reduce expenses to help offset the extreme reduction in revenue.

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Still, there's never zero cost. Even a closed hotel has expenses. So, too, do hotels operating at reduced capacity.

One of the areas that hoteliers should always be mindful of is utilities, which in the 11th edition of the Uniform System of Accounts for the Lodging Industry (USALI) are recorded in the Property & Maintenance schedule. Utilities include electricity, gas, propane, oil and water/sewer.

Utilities can have a massive impact on a hotel's profit. And even before the global pandemic tore through the hotel industry, those sneaky costs were growing rapidly. According to Energy Star, energy is the lodging industry's single fastest-growing operating cost. This means that many hoteliers are unwittingly flushing a growing amount of cash down the drain.

Simply put, hoteliers can't save what they aren't measuring. And so the right benchmarking strategy can flip the switch on utility costs.

U.S. Total Utility Expenses

Photo: HotStats Limited

The data on utilities is striking: On per-available-room basis, utility costs are down on a year-over-year basis for July, but substantially up on a per-occupied basis, illustrating how a dearth of rooms sold is impacting an otherwise fixed cost.

In this blog, we'll discuss how to set up a benchmarking 101 strategy for utilities in the hotel industry and drive more profit during uncertain financial times.

Why Hoteliers Need a Benchmarking 101 Strategy for Utilities

It's all too easy to let utility costs fade into the background. Most hoteliers are busy trying to reduce the economic damage of COVID-19. Plus, with so much emphasis on RevPAR, room occupancy and how much money is coming in, too many hoteliers let utility costs slip through the cracks.

Unfortunately, what many hoteliers don't realize is that it doesn't matter how much money rolls in if that cash is being siphoned off on the way to the bottom line.

That's why benchmarking utilities fits perfectly into a broader hotel performance strategy  one that focuses on operational efficiency and higher profit. By identifying those utility costs that are burning cash, hoteliers can increase operational efficiency. And that's the blueprint for a solid, leak-free pipeline from top-line revenue to bottom-line profit.

With this broader strategy in mind, here's how to set up and use a benchmarking 101 strategy for utilities:

Utility Metrics Every Hotelier Should Measure

Utilities affect every inch of a hotel or resort's operation. That means it's best to take a holistic approach to measuring utilities. It may be tempting to scan total utility costs and shoot for a lower number, but this approach won't necessarily tell the complete utility cost story. Here are some deeper metrics to include:

Utilities Expenses % Total Rev  This is how much money is spent on utility expenses in relation to total revenue. It gives hoteliers a taste of how much utilities are eating into revenue numbers. Property and Management (P&M) Expenses % Total Rev  This compares property and management expenses to total revenue. It can be a good metric for measuring costs, but it can also play an added role in measuring ROI for utility investments. For instance, if a hotelier wants to track the cost of installing motion-detecting lights or smart heating systems and compare them with overall utility costs, this can be a handy metric. P&M Labor Costs % Total Rev  This is a hotel's property and management labor costs as a percentage of total revenue. Utility costs don't stop at daily usage. If an air-conditioning system frequently breaks down or electrical fixes are a constant, this should show up in property and management labor costs. Rooms Expenses % Rooms Rev  Again, this gives hoteliers a more complete picture of costs. The goal here is to drop overall expenses in comparison to revenue. If utility numbers are moving in the right direction, they should shine through this metric.

These metrics should be any hotel professional's guiding lights. As managers work to shrink utility costs, they can come back to these numbers to measure the full impact of moves.

A Deeper Dive into Utility Benchmarking

With a firm grasp on overall utility costs, hoteliers can build out a plan to lower utility costs and increase profit. Remember, every cent of extra profit growth a hotelier carves out will help them claw back from crisis.

Not sure where to start?

Here are a few characteristics to focus on when setting up a full utility benchmarking strategy:

Building Features

Start by examining where energy could be better used on the property. Are physical sections of the hotel naturally protected from heat or the cold? How is sunlight affecting temperature? Subtle adjustments like adding shades or more insulation can have a big impact on daily utility costs.

Operational Information

When looking for places to save, dive into how spaces are being used. Are there areas that need 24-hour light or heat? Where can energy be limited? Remember, every small saving opportunity has the potential to add up quickly  especially in areas that operate 24/7.

Energy Consumption

Dive into utility bills, fuel logs and energy sources. Are there opportunities for alternative energy sources or smart lighting and HVAC systems? Again, because so many spaces remain lit up in the industry for long periods of time, this is an area where savings can pile up.

Photo: HotStats Limited

Water Consumption

It's easy to leave a faucet running longer than needed or to waste water through ineffective design. In fact, Urban Land points out one case wherein faucet aerators cut a hotel company's water consumption by 91,000 gallons in a single year. Everything from replacing showerheads to leaving a simple reminder for guests or employees to monitor water usage can reduce water waste.

Furthermore, cleaning protocols brought upon by the pandemic have actually led water consumption to rise, in areas like laundry, resulting in water bills that are as much as 30% higher than they were pre-pandemic. Understanding these costs is the first step toward containing them.

Photo: HotStats Limited

Turning on Better Benchmarking

The bottom line when it comes to utility benchmarking is this: It's easy to waste what you don't notice. Every time a light is left on or an empty room is left cooling down, that's money lost. In the current climate, hoteliers simply can't afford to overlook these cash sinkholes.

The right utility benchmarking strategy will shine a light on these less obvious costs, and illuminate a path towards profit long after COVID-19 is gone. And when paired with broader hotel benchmarking data, hotel pros can turn off high costs and flip the on switch for higher profits.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 17:01:50|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of millions of Chinese farmers celebrated the third harvest festival on Tuesday, as the country expects a bumper harvest despite the impacts of COVID-19 and severe floods.

The Chinese leadership has described the anticipated autumn harvest as "hard-won" after the country saw severe floods in the Yangtze River, disruptions by the epidemic, droughts in the north as well as typhoons.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has said this year's autumn grain production is generally guaranteed, citing better-than-expected pest control and quick recovery from the summer floods.

It estimated the area of autumn grain, which accounts for the bulk of the yearly grain production, to reach 85.6 million hectares this year, an increase of more than 333,333 hectares.

The optimism is palpable in China's major breadbasket regions, where farmers marked the festival with songs and dances, product exhibitions, carnivals and ceremonies to award "best-performing farmers."

In Yuncheng City of north China's Shanxi Province, the main venue of this year's harvest festival celebration, farmers and business people from nine provincial-level regions of the Yellow River basin attended farming-themed activities and promote their products at exhibitions.

Shi Yaowu, president of Shanxi Qinzhouhuang Millet Group, said local millet farmers were expecting "probably the best harvest in a decade," as the province was exempted from major natural disasters this year.

Gai Yongfeng, a farmer in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, won the title of "King of Soybeans in Heilongjiang," in a ceremony in Fujin City.

The COVID-19 outbreak earlier this year had threatened to disrupt Gai's plan to sell soybeans and corn, the money from which Gai relied on to buy seeds and fertilizer for a new round of farming.

"Fortunately, the government opened a 'green channel' for us to sell grain and an online platform to order agricultural materials, so our crop cultivation went on smoothly," Gai said.

Known as China's "grain barn," the province of Heilongjiang boasts the country's largest plantations of rice, corn and beans. Local officials said the harvest was almost certain despite three typhoons in recent months.

Gai said more advanced agricultural techniques and better-quality seeds helped local farms withstand natural disasters.

The provincial government said nearly 5 million pieces of agricultural machinery were employed this spring, together with the implementation of stricter farm management and higher standards.

Starting in 2018, the Chinese farmers' harvest festival coincides with the autumnal equinox each year, which is one of the 24 solar terms of the Chinese lunar calendar and usually falls between Sept. 22 and 24 during the country's agricultural harvest season.

China's total grain output consists of three parts -- early rice, summer grain and autumn production. Autumn grain crops, which include corn and middle- and late-season rice, account for the bulk of the grain production. Enditem
The nationwide strike action declared by the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) and its allied Associations in public health facilities has intensified at the Upper East Regional Hospital in Bolgatanga.



The usually busy Out-Patient Department (OPD) of the Regional hospital was very quiet when the Ghana News Agency (GNA) visited the facility to ascertain the impact of the strike action.



All nurses and midwives stations in the hospital were empty without any nurse or midwife on duty, while relatives of discharged patients crowded at room three where details of patients are entered before they are discharged.



The OPD and main emergency wards, were without nurses to attend to patients, however, Doctors were at critical units such as the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, the maternity and childrens wards busily attending to patients.



The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) was locked without any patients in the two-bed capacity unit.



Dr Gillian Bogee, the Head of the NICU in an interview with the GNA disclosed that there were 13 babies with three new admissions and one preterm baby.



Two are just coming in with bad conditions that we cant turn them back. Currently, I am the only one working now in the unit, the nurses are on strike and it is very difficult.



She explained that with the paperless system practiced in the hospital, Once I see the babies, the nurses administer the drugs, and do the vital signs and all that.



She said three of the babies were critically ill and were on oxygen and as the only Doctor, I dont think this can continue.



A patients relative at the OPD of the hospital, Madam Janet Adongo, told the GNA that her brother was admitted yesterday, and said apart from the care the brother received yesterday, he had not been attended to, since morning.



The patients are gradually dying. The suffering of patients I have seen so far is disheartening. We are appealing to the government to have mercy on the patients in this hospital and resolve its issues with the nurses before things get out of hand, she said.



At the War Memorial hospital in the Kassena-Nankana Municipality, Dr Eric Wedam, the Acting Medical Superintendent, said they were not admitting patients except the very critical emergency cases.



He said with such cases, we will stabilise and refer to any of the private facilities either in Bolgatanga, Sumbrungu or Paga. For those in the wards, we have been able to reduce their numbers to only three.



He said all the patients at the various wards, especially the children, male and female wards were managed in the emergency ward, except pregnant women who were still at the maternity ward.



Currently we have only four pregnant women we are trying to monitor to see if they can have a successful vaginal delivery, but if it turns out that they may need an operation, we will refer them to private facilities either at Paga or Bolgatanga.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Argentine Wine Brand Algodon Fine Wines Continues Rollout of Its Award-Winning Varietals and Blends

NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / September 22, 2020 / Gaucho Group Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB:VINO), a company with a growing collection of experiential luxury assets including the premium wines of Algodon Fine Wines, a high-end leather accessories and fashion label Gaucho - Buenos Aires, as well as real estate holdings, today announces the addition of Vivino to the wine retailer network of Algodon Fine Wines. This debut is part of Algodon's expanded effort to rollout its premium Malbec-based wines, as well as the rest of the Algodon portfolio of award-winning varietals and blends, and is part of Gaucho Group Holdings, Inc.'s ongoing initiatives to expand its global reach for its wine brand and other subsidiaries via e-commerce.

Vivino (www.vivino.com) is the world's largest online wine marketplace and most downloaded wine app, with offices spanning 3 continents. Powered by a community of over 45 million users, Vivino's unique shopping experience uses user data to curate a selection of wine based on its users' preferences, leading the customer through a fun, interactive, and individualized purchasing process.

"Vivino is an exciting opportunity for Algodon Fine Wines to gain exposure and scalability in the world marketplace," said Scott Mathis, CEO and Chairman. "The website and app provide users with a distinctive shopping experience that we think pairs perfectly with our growing portfolio of wines. We believe the COVID-19 pandemic has greatly accelerated the e-commerce marketplace, and with this initiative our holding company Gaucho Group Holdings, Inc, continues to broaden its global reach and take advantage of the worldwide growth of the digital marketplace. Our team is looking forward to supporting all of our e-commerce channels throughout the U.S. to share our unique and growing portfolio of wines with the world."

Vivino is the latest addition to the distinct network of Algodon Fine Wines including in-store and online retailers such as Sherry-Lehmann, Spec's, Le Boutellier, The Noble Grape, and VinPorter.

Algodon Fine Wines, founded in 2007 and with vineyards dating back to 1946, is one of the most exciting and dynamic wine brands emerging from Argentina. Located in San Rafael, Mendoza, Algodon produces a full range of premium wines from land holdings that include noted parcels of pre-phylloxera vineyards dating back to the 1940s. Algodon's premium wines have received top awards and ratings from the world's foremost tasting competitions including Gold Medals from the prestigious Global Masters Wine Competition, comprised of master sommeliers. Algodon's Black Label Reserves represent the best selection from Algodon with 100% microvinified blends whose low yield produces full concentration of fruit and flavor. Algodon's complete portfolio of fine wines is currently available in distinguished wine bars, wine shops, restaurants, hotels, and e-commerce in Argentina, Germany, Switzerland, Guernsey, U.K., the Netherlands, and the United States.

About Algodon Fine Wines

Algodon Wine Estates is a boutique Mendoza winery located in the beautiful foothills of the Sierra Pintadas, in the southernmost region of Argentina's wine capital. Fed by the purest meltwater from the glacial Andes, our 325 acres of vines go back as far as 1946 and produce exceptional fruit on sandy and clay loam. Algodon Fine Wines are handcrafted by the brilliant winemaker Mauro Nosenzo, with input from Master of Wine, Anthony Foster. Our goal is to produce premium wines utilizing ecofriendly, organic inspired approaches, combined with the best modern winemaking technology. Brought together by Scott Mathis and his partners, Algodon Wine Estates' renowned winemakers bring decades of experience, as well as craftsmanship and tradition that have been passed down for generations. Visit AlgodonFineWines.com. Algodon Fine Wines is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gaucho Group Holdings, Inc. (www.gauchoholdings.com), which also owns and operates a growing collection of luxury assets including Gaucho - Buenos Aires (www.gauchobuenosaires.com), an e-commerce leather accessories and fashion brand that offers buyers around the world some of Argentina's best fashion and apparel items, including what the county is already well-known for: quality leather goods and accessories. Gaucho Group Holdings, Inc. is headquartered in New York City.

Media Relations:

Gaucho Group Holdings, Inc.

Rick Stear

Director of Marketing

212.739.7669

rstear@gauchoholdings.com

SOURCE: Gaucho Group Holdings, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/607133/Algodon-Fine-Wines-Added-to-Worlds-Largest-Online-Wine-Marketplace-Vivino
At UN, Trump Says World Leaders Must Hold China Accountable for Causing Pandemic

President Donald Trump told the United Nations General Assembly that the world must hold China accountable for their actions that led to the global COVID-19 pandemic.

We are once again engaged in a global struggle. We have waged a fierce battle against an invisible enemy, the China virus, which has claimed countless lives in 188 nations, he said on Sept. 22 in a pre-recorded speech, as the conference convened virtually due to social distancing.

The United States, the president said, is now pioneering COVID-19 vaccines that have entered the final stage of clinical trials.

Trump characterized the Chinese regime as the nation which unleashed this plague onto the world, noting that in the early stages, when the virus first emerged in Chinas central city of Wuhan, Beijing chose to lock down cities while allowing flights to leave China, and infect the world.

China condemned my travel ban on their country, even as they canceled domestic flights and locked citizens in their homes, he said.

The United States first upgraded its China travel warning on Jan. 21 after the first virus patient with a travel history to Wuhan was confirmed. It then closed off its borders to travelers from China on Jan. 30, the same day the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a global health emergency.

Trump also criticized the U.N. agency for complicity in the coverup.

The Chinese government and the World Health Organization, which is virtually controlled by China, falsely declared that there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission. Later, they falsely said that people without symptoms would not spread the disease.

On Jan. 14, the WHO, citing Chinese authorities, said there was no clear evidence of human-to-human transmission, but that limited human-to-human transmission was possible, potentially among families.

The United Nations must hold China accountable for their actions, Trump said.

President Donald Trump speaks in a pre-recorded message which was played during the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly, at the United Nations headquarters in New York City, on Sept. 22, 2020. (UNTV via AP)

The Chinese regime didnt publicly warn about the risk of transmission until Jan. 20.

In a video speech broadcast later during the assembly, Chinese leader Xi Jinping repeatedly highlighted the need for multilateral cooperation, in an apparent response to Trumps criticism. Countries must adhere to the guidance of science and fully exercise the World Health Organizations leading role, and reject attempts at politicization and stigmatization, Xi said.

The U.S. administration has criticized the Chinese regime for its lack of transparency during the pandemic and its human rights abuses, such as in the regions of Xinjiang and Hong Kong, as well as the persecution of the spiritual group Falun Gong.

President Donald Trump speaks in a pre-recorded message that was played during the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly, at the United Nations headquarters in New York City, on Sept. 22, 2020. (United Nations/Handout via Reuters)

On Sept. 21, House Republicans released an audit stating that the Chinese Communist Party and the WHO are culpable for the spread of the pandemic. Had they acted sooner, according to the report by Republicans on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, a global outbreak would likely have been prevented.

It is crystal clear that had the CCP been transparent, and had the head of the WHO cared more about global health than appeasing the CCP, lives could have been spared and widespread economic devastation could have been mitigated, Michael McCaul (R-Texas), the ranking Republican on the committee, said in a statement.

Several lawmakers have proposed bills targeting Beijings role in the pandemic. In July, six Republican senators jointly introduced a bill allowing affected Americans to file lawsuits against the Chinese government in U.S. courts.

Americans who have been victimized by the lies and deceit of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)  deserve the opportunity to hold China accountable and to demand just compensation, Sen. Martha McSally (R-Ariz.) said in a July 20 statement about the legislation.

In July, the United States, which has been the top government donor to the Geneva-based WHO, announced that it would withdraw from the agency, citing the WHOs failed pandemic response. The withdrawal officially takes effect next year.
(Natural News) Without a doubt 2020 has been one of the oddest, and most loathed, years in the history of our country. But nothing has been as strange as the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Republican governors who once claimed to cherish freedom, liberty and personal responsibility, embraced lockdowns of their economies. But the behavior by Democrats has been especially educational.

As for coronavirus-related lockdowns, Democrats unleashed their inner authoritarian selves and not only imposed them, but prolonged them month after month, where even today restrictions remain in effect, despite what the lockdowns have done to local and state economies.

Democrats especially have long pushed to have kids in school as much as possible  expanding attendance to begin at pre-K and have students actually in school buildings from dawn to dusk so that government educators replace parents as providers, educators and caretakers. But now, the left-wing teachers unions and liberal parents are decrying (and fighting) decisions by school boards and administrators to reopen, even though the science has long shown that children and healthy teens are not at any risk of getting a harmful case of COVID-19.

Also, Democrats long embraced mandatory vaccination programs and schemes, claiming that the public good demands such mass poisoning of the population. But now that President Trump has announced a vaccine is close for the novel coronavirus, because the left is stricken with Trump Derangement Syndrome (for which there does not appear to be a cure, much less a treatment), suddenly vaccine em all Democrats have turned into anti-vaxxers. (Related: Extensive history of pharmaceutical scandals deterring Chinese people from getting flu shots.)

NewsBusters noted:

The media is so desperate to get President Trump out of office they are actually willing to scare vulnerable Americans into not taking a vaccine that could save their lives. Earlier this month, the big three networks touted Kamala Harris warning Americans not to trust Trump with a vaccine. Yesterday, Biden came out with his own dangerous message telling Americans to not take any vaccine that comes out while Trumps in office.

On ABCs Good Morning America [last week], White House correspondent Cecilia Vega and anchor George Stephanopoulos spent a good deal of time deflecting blame from the Democrat ticket sowing fear about a COVID vaccine to project it was actually being politicized by President Trump.

How do you politicize a vaccine? Once again, we need only to turn to the lunatic left, which has completely taken over the Democratic Party.

During an appearance earlier this month on ABCs Good Morning America, Harris went unchallenged when she actually told Americans not to trust any vaccine that came out of the Trump administration.

It would have to be a credible source of information that talks about the efficacy and the reliability of whatever hes talking about. I will not take his word for it, she said.

Wow. And this after her party badgered the Trump administration all summer long about waiting to reopen the country and revitalize our battered economy until a vaccine was developed.

Obviously, they didnt take the president at his word when he said earlier this year as the outbreak in the U.S. deepened that his administration would develop a vaccine in record time.

Speaking of politicizing a vaccine, the same garbage media that let Harris get away with frightening people away from a potentially effective treatment, thus, in effect, killing them, then suggested to the CEO of Pfizer, which is leading the development of a vaccine, that Trump was politicizing a vaccine because he was touting it ahead of the election.

The President said  We are going to have a vaccine very soon, maybe even before a very special day, which was an illusion apparently to election day. How concerned are you about a comment like that? Today show co-host Savannah Guthrie asked Albert Bourla, president of Pfizer.

Look, that may be true  there may be some political advantage for the president if he can get an effective treatment to the people before the elections. But that also assumes that Trump wants to harm Americans, which is patently absurd.

Also, accusing Trump of vaccine politics while letting Harris off the hook for playing vaccine politics is as hypocritical as it can get. But it proves again that Trump Derangement Syndrome can make Democrats twist themselves into knots to justify opposing him no matter what.

Sources include:

NewsBusters.org

NaturalNews.com
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 will help establish India as a global education destination in coming years.

The PM said this while delivering the 22nd convocation address of the Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati (IIT-G) though virtual mode because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Follow IIT Guwahati 22nd Convocation live updates

We all know that there is no boundary for knowledge. NEP will open up Indias education sector so that foreign universities set up campuses and allow our students to get global exposure. Likewise Indian and global institutions will have research collaboration and student exchange programmes, Modi said.

NEP will establish India as a global education destination. Our high performing institutes will be encouraged to set up campuses in foreign countries. IIT-G has to play a key role in this beyond boundaries expansion, he added.

The PM said that to strengthen research within the country, NEP has included setting up of a National Research Foundation (NRF), which will coordinate with funding agencies to provide funds for research in all disciplines.

NEP is meant for Indian youths of the 21st century who will lead the world and make India a global leader in science and technology. This policy will connect education to technology and make it an integral part of students thinking, Modi said.

The PM advised students of IIT-G to study about the northeast regions problems and possibilities and help address them through their research. He also suggested setting up of Centre for Indian Knowledge Systems and a Centre for Disaster Management and Risk Reduction.

I firmly believe that the future of a nation depends on what its youths think today. Your dreams are going to shape the reality of India. Therefore, this is the time to be future-ready and future-fit, Modi said earlier.

The PM thanked teachers and students of IIT-G for developing several kits and equipment for Covid-19 tests despite the difficult circumstances because of the ongoing pandemic.

The convocation was addressed by union education minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank and Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.

A total of 1803 students including 285 who got PhD were awarded degrees at the convocation.

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WASHINGTON  Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is trying to drum up support at the United Nations for a new vision of human rights that prioritizes religious liberty and property rights, but European allies are concerned and showing little support for his doctrine, U.N. diplomats and human rights experts familiar with the matter said.

In the run-up to the 75th United Nations General Assembly, an annual gathering of member states now underway, State Department representatives reached out to the European Union and other allies like Britain to rally support for Mr. Pompeos Commission on Unalienable Rights, officials familiar with the matter said. The commission has come under scrutiny in recent months over fears that it could erode protections for women and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

The response among European nations has been very skeptical, according to U.N. diplomats who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal matters. They noted that Mr. Pompeos human rights commission had drawn concern among European countries for its heavy emphasis on religion and for advancing a concept that there could be too many human rights.

In response, diplomats said State Department representatives had rebranded their outreach efforts and would instead ask U.N. members on Wednesday to affirm their commitment to a human rights document passed by the body in 1948  a core tenet of Mr. Pompeos commission.
The pandemic has made something as simple as browsing for a book difficult. In Washington, libraries are required to quarantine returned books for four days before they can check them back in, so looking at and touching books while browsing is not possible. In St. Louis and Washington, librarians have been putting together book bundles based on genre  such as mystery or science fiction  that are available for pickup.
The Swedru Teachers Co-operative Credit Union (STCCU) has made a cash donation of GH1,000 to the 57-year-old woman who took part in the just ended Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).



Madam Elizabeth Yamoah, a mother of four children, was among the final year students of the Agona Odoben Presbyterian Basic School A who wrote the final exam at the Agona Odoben Senior High School (ODOSCO).



Madam Yamoah, a member of the STCCU, has also been appointed Ambassador for the unions Youth Savings Account to embark upon on sensitisation to inculcate the habit of saving among students from the primary to the senior high school level.



Rationale



At a short presentation after the exams last Friday, the acting Manager at the Breman Asikuma branch of the STCCU, Mr Shad Nii Kotey Djanie, said the gesture was to motivate Madam Yamoah who, despite her age defied all odds to complete junior high school (JHS).



According to him, although she was vilified by some members of her immediate society for opting to go back to school instead of being at home to take care of her children and grandchildren, hence the unions decision to support her for achieving such a feet.



He noted that the objective behind the assistance was to enable her to engage in a profitable venture to improve her living standard while awaiting the release of her results and Senior High School placement.



This is a start-up capital to enable you to engage in petty trading while at home which would go a long way to better your life before going back to school to acquire SHS education he indicated.



He noted that the union would officially unveil her as the ambassador for the Youth Savings Account next month during the celebration of the unions golden jubilee anniversary in Agona Swedru.



Take education seriously



Mr Djanie admonished the youth to take their education seriously and remain focused so as to achieve their individual aspirations to contribute to the growth of their families and the nation as well.



I wish to urge the youth to take great inspiration from Madam Yamoah and realise that with great determination and perseverance, one would always be able to achieve his or long cherished dreams he pointed out.



He advised the youth to avoid acts that had the tendency to truncate their academic pursuit in order to become useful in the society, stressing I wish to admonish the youth to overcome all distractions in order to achieve their aspirations in life.



Recipient



For her part, a highly elated Madam Yamoah, expressed gratitude to the STCCU for the kind gesture as well as her ambassadorial role and pledged to discharge the role to achieve the intended objective.



She said but for the untimely death of her father, which compelled her drop-out of school in class four, she would have aggressively pursued her childhood ambition of becoming a professional nurse.



He added that even if she is unable to acquire tertiary education, she would be able to speak fluent English after completing SHS which would enable her to contest in the district level election to become assembly member for her electoral area in the Asikuma Odoben Brakwa District.





Source: graphiconline.com









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Eastman donates laptops to PHCC

Eastman Chemical has donated 33 laptops to Patrick Henry Community College to help students in need. These laptops are a reuse of equipment the company had phased out and replaced with newer models.

These are challenging times for students at all levels of education. Having the right technology is critical to navigating the virtual learning of today and developing the skills to succeed in any field in the future, Steve DuVal, site manager for Eastmans Henry County manufacturing operations, said in a release announcing the donations.

PHCC has been loaning laptops to students for many years, but the need this year was unparalleled because so many classes are online or at last partly online. Many students do not own computers, and many publicly accessible computers may not be available now. PHCC loaned out 27 laptops on the first day of the fall 2020 semester, the release said, and by the end of the second week, that number had more than doubled. The school had only five laptops remaining to loan.

Electric scholarships open

Electric cooperatives in Virginia, Maryland and Delaware are preparing to accept applications for their scholarship from high school seniors who intend to pursue higher education. Since 2001 890 scholarships worth more than $740,000 have been awarded, the foundation said in a release.

Any high school or home-schooled senior graduating in spring 2021 and whose primary residence is served by a VMD member cooperative is eligible to apply for a $1,000 scholarship to be applied to a 2- or 4-year college or trade school. An applicant must be entering his or her first semester at that school.

The criteria are weighted: financial need at 40%, academic achievement at 40% and personal statement at 20%.

Applications open on Nov. 1 and must be completed by Feb. 19.

Recipients will be notified no later than June 1. The application and additional information is posted at www.vmdaec.com/scholarship.

Scholarship deadline

The J.T.-Minnie Maude Charitable Trust reminds nontraditional who reside in Martinsville and Henry County that the deadline for applying for one of its annual scholarships is Oct. 1.

Visit www.jtmm.org for scholarship guidelines, instructions and how to apply.
Itza Bonilla Hernandez 20 and her resume.

Earlier in the summer, Bonilla Hernandez also received an Employment Accelerator Award from CXD to work as a social media marketing assistant to Kyle Hegarty 99, who had just published a new book.

The accelerator awards were mini grants that CXD quickly pulled together last spring to offer to graduating seniors once it became apparent the pandemic would depress the job market. Almost one hundred seniors received an award, funding short-term internships or independent projects.

Many alumni reached out after hearing about the award program, offering different types of short-term opportunities to seniors. Some of these temporary positions have now turned into full-time jobs.

After Dominique Johnson 11 received an email from Bowdoin about the COVID-19 impacts on graduating students, she connected with the CXD, offering to create internships for students under her new role as senior director of community engagement at the Center for Policing Equity. Following the murder of George Floyd, Johnson "scaled the team in line with the rapid ascension of CPE to meet the needs of communities ready to combat race and policing in America through harm reduction and reimagination of public safety and systems," according to the organization.

Johnson provided paid summer internships for nine students: Abigail Gurgiolo 20, Beatrice Cabrera 20, Brandon Schuster 23, Cameron Withers 21, Jason Park 21, Jiadi Chang 20, and Yaseen Ahmed 23. Two of her interns have transitioned into full-time jobs, Price Nyland 20 and Ural Mishra 20, while others maintain paid hourly assistant positions. (And Cabrera has just received a full-time job offer with the Department of Justice, Johnson reported.)

Other success stories include Reyna Parker 20, who received an Employment Accelerator Award to work as an EMT this summer. Staying in the medical field, she then landed a job as a medical assistant at Pacific Skin Dermatology in San Francisco and is currently applying to physician assistant graduate programs.

Also, photography by Darius Riley 19, who is interning at Duncan Channon, a San Francisco-based advertising agency, was recently featured on the front page of Adweek. He took the photos for one of the company's campaigns, Vote From Home 2020, that is encouraging voters in swing states to request absentee ballots.

Harrison Dunne-Polite 19 from Fidelity contacted CXD in the spring to let career advisors know his company was taking advantage of a pandemic-induced slowdown in hiring to scoop up talent. Four Bowdoin students were offered jobsUriel Lopez-Serrano 20, Erin Harris 20, Mamadou Diaw 20, and Seamus Keenan 20many of them for the company's Emerging Leaders Program or as customer relationship advocates.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  The Cleveland suburb of Bedford will pay $350,000 and repeal a so-called nuisance ordinance that a federal lawsuit said was discriminatory against renters who are women, minorities and people with disabilities.

The ordinance allowed officials to designate somebody a nuisance after someone was accused of breaking the law more than twice on a property or in the city within a year. The law applied even if the tenant was not the person at fault. The city informed the property owner  not the tenant  of the designation through a warning letter, which said subsequent violations could result in criminal penalties against the owner.

The problem was that the ordinance did not differentiate between an offender and complainant, meaning that a tenant could suffer penalties for calling the police even if an incident was not the tenants fault, according to a lawsuit filed in federal court last year by the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio, the Fair Housing Center for Rights & Research and the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland.

The suit said the ordinance violated the Fair Housing Act and was discriminatory. Following more than a year of litigation, the parties reached the settlement last week following negotiations done with a mediator.

The city said it would repeal the ordinance 30 days after the settlement is final. It agreed last year not to enforce the law while the lawsuit was pending.

The east-side suburb agreed to pay $60,000 to Beverley Somai, a Bedford resident who challenged the ordinance. The rest of the settlement will split among the Fair Housing Center, the ACLU and the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland. The city will also work with the Fair Housing Center and other agencies on training.

Somai, an immigrant from Guyana, faced eviction from her apartment because she called police several times on her downstairs neighbor who was frequently noisy and intimidated her and her family, according to the lawsuit.

The woman receives federal assistance for the housing she lives in with an adult son with disabilities. The city sent her landlord a letter on Dec. 19, and Somais landlord gave her an eviction notice nine days later with the police letter attached, the lawsuit said.

The landlord later dismissed the eviction case.

A call for help should never result in eviction. Now that this law is repealed, my client and others like her can feel safer in their homes, ACLU of Ohio staff attorney Elizabeth Bonham said in a news release announcing the settlement.

Bedford city lawmakers passed the ordinance in 2005 and tweaked it in subsequent years, with the most recent changes being in 2017. The lawsuit said city officials passed the ordinance while the suburbs demographics were shifting and more Black people moved in. Bedford is not the only city in Cuyahoga County with such an ordinance on the books, according to a 2017 report put out by the ACLU and Cleveland State University.

Eric Smearman, an attorney for Bedford, said in the news release that the citys focus "will always be the safety of its citizens, and we worked cooperatively throughout this case to preserve that.

Bedford looks forward to collaborating in order to formulate a process to address repeated criminal misconduct using restorative justice in order to cooperatively eliminate the harm created by crime and maintain the quality of life for all residents," Smearman said. The city has been and continues to remain committed to be an inclusive and welcoming community.
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We are Christian women, mothers of college students and college-bound children, who have serious concerns about how the gender fluidity movement has taken root at public schools and universities.

The idea that gender is fluid and self-determined, as opposed to biologically determined, has been germinating for decades. But today it has grown into a multi-million dollar political cause that threatens the privacy, safety, and religious freedom of all students, and especially women.

One of us, Penny Nance, President and CEO of Concerned Women for America (CWA), in a recent op-ed, gave a first hand account of how students, beginning at orientation, are being indoctrinated into this anti-Christian ideology at Virginia Tech (VT), the hard science school of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

The response was overwhelming. CWA received emails from many VT students, parents, employees, professors, alumni, and state elected officials upset about the indoctrination. Many complained of coercive diversity training and policies. Some students reported fear of reprisal, and some school employees fear job loss. Many feel bullied into silence and believe their First Amendment rights are being infringed. The school is opening itself up to a variety of lawsuits.

VTs response has been to post their mantra regarding civility, saying students were not forced to share their pronouns. But coercion comes in many forms, and the pressure is palpable. It is sad to say, but if you express traditional Christian beliefs at VT, you will be left outside of the community. Of course, VT is far from alone in this new woke trajectory.

Recently, the Christian student organization Young Life was denied recognition at Duke University because of their adherence to Biblical principles on LGBTQ issues. This is the culture being promoted at VT and other Virginia schools right now. It would surprise no one to see them follow the same anti-Christian discriminatory policy in the not-too-distant future.

Here is the key. President Timothy Sands was elected in 2014 after Gov. Terry McAuliffe stacked the VT Board of Visitors with liberals. He is a San Francisco, California native and a graduate of the University of California, Berkley. His administration has ushered in diversity training that forces students and employees to submit to indoctrinating videos on woke orthodoxy, including micro-aggressions and gender fluidity. The training includes a quiz that forces people to choose the politically correct answer in order to move on to the next session. This environment separates students into perpetually offended identity groups instead of fostering school unity.

This is the issue Timothy Sands and others do not understand: To ask Christians to affirm this notion of gender fluidity is in direct contradiction of our Biblical beliefs in an everlasting, unchanging God who created humans male and female with intrinsic value and in His own image (Gen. 1:27).

Forcing all kids (and adults) to announce their pronouns, and to use false pronouns for others, is forcing them to declare a creed they do not affirm. In fact, this belief is not completely new. It is rooted in Gnosticism and sexual nihilism.

Forcing Christians to abide by this new version of the old heresy is not only asking them to deny Gods purposeful creation but to deny God Himself. It is every bit a sacrilege as being forced to bend the knee to a foreign god. We cannot do it (we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up, Daniel 3:18b). When government officials compel religious people to deny their God, it is tantamount to forced conversion, compelled by the government.

In West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette (1943), the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the right of students to refuse to salute the American flag. Justice Robert H. Jackson wrote: If there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation, it is that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, religion or other matters of opinion or force citizens to confess by word or act their faith therein.

Yet this is what public schools and state universities are doing when they force students (explicitly or implicitly) to refer to another person as they, ze, xe, or whatever. This is government officials coercing people to say (and believe) words (or creeds) against their will and using our tax dollars to do it.

As former Justice Anthony Kennedy (the infamous moderate voice on the Court) wrote last year in his concurring opinion in NIFLA v. Becerra, [I]t is not forward thinking to force individuals to be an instrument for fostering public adherence to an ideological point of view [they] find unacceptable.

Labeling people bigots for not assenting to an anti-Christian view of the human person is not only offensive to religious freedom and free speech; its devastating for women.

In fact, the real-world result of removing all distinction between men and women is so pernicious that an unlikely alliance has developed between radical feminists at Womens Liberation Front (WoLF) and conservatives. Women of all political persuasions are joined by the idea that women are unique and should be celebratedthat womens safety, privacy, and opportunities are at risk by these wrongheaded, unscientific policies.

The denial of womens safe spaces are already happening on other campuses, as this sign sent to us by a parent from another schools orientation event illustrates:

Should we expect this at the next VT student orientation? Students of faith, and especially female students, need strong advocates who will bravely help them fight this battle. Parents need to speak up! It is too much to ask students to stand up to the monumental pressure todays universities are putting on them. We must stand with them and fight for justice.

The examplescontinue to pileon. Are women supposed to ignorethis state-sponsored assault on womanhood?

Public universities should be a place for all members of the public. Not just those willing to affirm an anti-Christian, anti-woman creed.

Government must not be allowed to force persons to express a message contrary to their deepest convictions, said Justice Kennedy last year. Freedom of speech secures freedom of thought and belief.

Indeed. The cost of attending an American public university must never be your conscience, your safety, or your soul.

Penny Nance is CEO and President of Concerned Women for America. Cathy Ruse, JD is Senior Legal Fellow for the Family Research Council
[September 22, 2020] CEO & CMO Summit Vietnam 2020 - Architect the Future of Marketing HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam, Sept. 21, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- CEO & CMO Summit Vietnam is making a third comeback in Vietnam this year, it is a day where industry thought leaders unite and architecting the future of marketing in a connected world and drawing a roadmap. This is also its first offline event of Vietnam Mobile Marketing Association (MMA Vietnam) occurring in 2020 with the participation of nearly 30 partners and sponsors. After such a difficult time with COVID epidemic, there is this once-in-an-era transformation in the relationship between brands, marketers and their customers. With all C-level delegates from many parts of the ecosystem, MMA CEO & CMO Summit program will highlight how brands have pivoted and adapted in these extraordinary times. Audiences will also hear from C-level executives who will discuss what consumer trends will endure and give us glimpse of what the new normal could look like at least in the near future. With the guide and sharing from some of the biggest names in the industry, namely speakers from Facebook, Google, Abbott, and many more industry leaders, audiences can learn how Consumer behaviour has changed in pandemic time, how everything shifts to omni-channel and E-commerce, as well as how to structure a business with the framework for future disruption prevention. Join the 3rd MMA CEO & CMO Summit Vietnam to have an unique opportunity where exclusive leaders in the industry unite and help businesses leap forward in the industry as we ARCHITECT the future of marketing together. With all of the hottest topics and welcoming 300 VIP C-levels delegates at the offline event and will be livestreamed on 2 biggest marketing communities in Vietnam beside MMA channel, the event promises to leave audiences feeling inspired and imbued with new and creative ideas. Find more information and register at: bit.ly/CEOCMO20 PR Newswire is the official news distribution partner of MMA. About Vietnam Mobile Marketing Association (MMA Vietnam) The MMA's mission is to enable marketers to drive innovation and enduring business value in an increasingly dynamic and mobile connected world. Comprised of over 800-member companies globally and 14 regional offices, the MMA is the only marketing trade association that brings together the full ecosystem of marketers, tech providers and sellers working collaboratively to architect the future of marketing, while relentlessly delivering growth today. Anchoring the MMA's mission are four core pillars; to cultivate inspiration by driving innovation for the Chief Marketing Officer; to build the mobile marketing capabilities for marketing organizations through fostering know-how and confidence; to champion the effectiveness and impact of mobile through research providing tangible ROI; and to advocate for mobile marketers. Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20200921/2923002-1 SOURCE Vietnam Mobile Marketing Association

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TROY  His jurisdiction. His discretion. His call.

That was the alleged mindset of former Rensselaer County District Attorney Joel Abelove when it came to presenting fatal police shootings to grand juries  including the central dilemma of whether to grant immunity to the officers who fired the shots, according to testimony and evidence presented Tuesday at Abeloves perjury and official misconduct trial.

Im the district attorney  I tell the people whether its justified or not, Abelove allegedly told then-Assistant District Attorney Shane Hug in stating his reasoning for why he believed he did not need to put the Aug. 22, 2015, police shooting of Thaddeus Faison before a grand jury. Theyre just going to have to take my word for it.

Hug, an attorney since 2009, recalled the exchange in his testimony as the final witness against Abelove, 51, who served as district attorney between 2014 and 2018. Abelove is on trial in Rensselaer County Court, two floors below his former office, charged with one count of first-degree perjury, a felony, and two counts of official misconduct, a misdemeanor. A conviction on the felony would bring automatic disbarment and potential incarceration.



At the heart of the case is Abeloves decision to allow Troy police Sgt. Randall French to testify with immunity before a grand jury just five days after French fatally shot Edson Thevenin on April 17, 2016, on the Collar City Bridge. The panel cleared French, though their actions were likely moot: French could not have been charged because of the immunity.



Prosecutors for state Attorney General Letitia James read aloud Abeloves 2017 testimony before another grand jury, this one hearing evidence about his handling of the Thevenin case. In that testimony, Abelove strongly defended his decision-making and his broad discretion as district attorney  even as he acknowledged that by granting French immunity, the sergeant could never have been indicted.



Having conferred immunity on Sgt. French as a practical matter ... if the grand jury had voted to indict, it would have had no legal effect, correct? Nick Viorst, acting chief of the attorney generals special investigations and prosecution unit, asked Abelove in the 2017 proceeding. Viorst is part of a unit that investigates police killings of unarmed civilians under the provisions of a 2015 executive order signed by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo.



I would not have been able to prosecute Sgt. French, thats absolutely correct, Abelove responded.



If youre asking the grand jury to vote and youve already conferred immunity but youve already decided the question ... how is that whole proceeding not just a big, fat charade? Viorst asked Abelove.



Abelove said the grand jury could still have voted to indict French  it would just would mean that he could not have prosecuted the case. Abelove said if the grand jury had voted to indict, he would have told the judge he could not proceed with the prosecution because ethically, he did not believe he could prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.



Abelove testified he was supremely confident that, knowing the case as well as he did, the grand jury would reach the same conclusion he had reached about French's conduct.



Hug testified that several months before Thevenin's death, Abelove had told him that the shooting of Thaddeus Faison in Lansingburgh did not need to go before a grand jury. Abelove also told Hug that the officer who fired the shots in that case, Joshua Comitale, should receive immunity while testifying before a grand jury.



Hug said he was taken aback when Abelove told him he should offer Comitale immunity, as it meant the officer could never be charged.



Abeloves perjury charge stems from the allegation that he told the 2017 grand jury that he believed Comitale had been granted immunity. But Hug testified Tuesday that he was in the grand jury room in 2015 when Comitale testified without immunity.



Hug said he and Abelove both believed the actions of Comitale were justified in Faison's killing. But Hug said he still believed the case needed to go before a grand jury. Abelove, Hug testified, did not want any information shared with former Albany County District Attorney Paul Clyne, who then and now works in the attorney generals office in the unit tasked with investigating police killings of unarmed civilians.



Abelove fired Hug in 2015 in relation to allegations he played a role in the leak of a 911 call that roiled that year's mayoral race. Hug was eventually charged in the matter, though the charges were dismissed in 2017.



Prosecutors allege that Abelove rushed the Thevenin case before the grand jury in a whitewash predetermined to clear French. The sergeant, who died earlier this year of COVID-19, told investigators he stopped Thevenin, 37, of Watervliet, on suspicion of drunken driving about 3:25 a.m.. He said Thevenin fled and crashed his car into a concrete barricade, and that he fired his gun while pinned by Thevenins vehicle.



Five days later, when the grand jury got the case, Troy police had not yet completed their investigation. Prosecutors said grand jurors received a distorted view of the case because they never saw photographs of bullet holes in Thevenins windshield and other critical information.



Prosecutors rested their case Tuesday. Abelove is expected to testify Wednesday, along with former Troy Police Chief John Tedesco.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Testifying for the defense Tuesday, Assistant Police Chief George VanBramer said that when he ordered officers at the scene of Thevenin's shooting to give an investigator for the attorney general's office "nothing," he was merely conveying Tedesco's command that no one without jurisdiction in the case should be present.
Ten years on, Bill Lockyer continues to be recognized for his contribution to the preservation of local scenic landscapes in the naming of a key Bay Trail bridge crossing.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / September 22, 2020 / Thirty-five years ago, and then a state senator from San Leandro, California, former elected official and attorney Bill Lockyer envisioned a continuous cycle trail circling the San Francisco Bay Area. Two years later, in 1987, and much to his delight, the plan was approved. Fast-forward a further 20 years, and the popular trail had grown to cover some 300 miles. What's more, prominent local figure Lockyer was to be honored in the naming of a key bridge crossing, subsequently christened the Bill Lockyer Bay Trail Bridge.

Known as the San Francisco Bay Trail-a still-to-be-completed 500-mile loop around the famous Californian bay-the initiative was first envisioned by Bill Lockyer in the mid-1980s. As the scheme neared the 300-mile mark back in 2010, Lockyer's name was put forward as a suggestion to lend itself to a key bridge crossing on the route. It was then that, the same year, the Bill Lockyer Bay Trail Bridge came to exist.

Bill Lockyer's name was suggested as a way to honor the former elected official for his years of tireless contribution toward the preservation of the region's scenic landscapes. As the man who also first conceived the Bay Trail idea itself more than 20 years prior, Lockyer would finally see himself immortalized in the naming of the bridge crossing between San Leandro and Oakland International Airport. "The crossing was officially named in a dedication ceremony just before midday on May 7, 2010," recalls Bill Lockyer, looking back.

San Leandro is a large suburban town in Alameda County, located on the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay. The town is sandwiched between Oakland to the northwest and Hayward to the southeast. Nearby Oakland International Airport, meanwhile, approximately 10 miles south of the Californian city's downtown district, is a major regional transport hub. Passenger flights from Oakland International depart to cities across the United States, Mexico, and the Azores, while cargo shipments routinely head out to destinations in both China and Japan.

Bill Lockyer was officially proposed as the namesake of the San Leandro to Oakland International Airport Bay Trail bridge crossing back in 2009 by the then-San Leandro mayor. "Bill Lockyer, in the opinion of everyone, including myself, is responsible for the Bay Trail," said San Leandro mayor at the time, the late Tony Santos. "He's worked on the idea for over 20 years," he went on, "and should be recognized for his work."

Former San Leandro politician and attorneyBill Lockyer attended the University of California, Berkeley, graduating with a bachelor's degree in political science in 1965. Receiving a teaching credential the following year from California State University, East Bay, Lockyer later went on to serve in the local legislature for the next two decades or more. In 1994, he was chosen by his peers to become the California State Senate's president pro tempore - the most powerful position of the upper legislative house.

Further to his early studies, later on in life,Bill Lockyer also graduated from the University of the Pacific with a degree in law. Now retired, lifelong bibliophile Lockyer maintains an extensive library of books at his home and has a particular passion for history, mysteries, and crime novels.

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World leaders must not let themselves be dominated by a geopolitical power struggle between the US and China, French President Emmanuel Macron told the UN on Tuesday, calling for a "modern new consensus" on tackling global challenges.

"The world today cannot be reduced to the rivalry between China and the United States, irrespective of the global weight of these great powers," Macron told the UN General Assembly by video.

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Pandey's request seeking voluntary retirement was approved by Governor Phagu Chauhan

Patna: Bihar Director General of Police (DGP) Gupteshwar Pandey on Tuesday took voluntary retirement from service, triggering speculations that the outspoken officer would contest the coming state Assembly polls.

Pandey's request seeking voluntary retirement was approved by Governor Phagu Chauhan, a notification issued by the state home department said.

Director General (Homeguards) SK Singhal has been given additional charge of DGP, ADG (Headquarters) Jitendra Kumar told PTI.

Pandey, a 1987 batch IPS officer, was involved in the investigation of actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death by suicide in Mumbai.

He had recently been in the headlines for his stout defence of the Nitish Kumar administration when it was under attack from the Shiv Sena-led government in Maharashtra over Bihar Police's probe into the death of Rajput.

Bihar Assembly election is likely to be held in October-November.

Pandey had taken premature retirement to contest the Lok Sabha elections in 2009, but later the state government did not accept his VRS application and reinstated him in the service.
Firefighters are still battling a fire at an auto wrecker facility in Whitchurch-Stouffville more than nine hours after emergency services were called.

Emergency services were called just after 11 p.m. Sept. 21 to an auto recycling yard north of the intersection of McCowan and Stouffville Roads.

A large number of vehicles have caught fire somehow, said York Regional Police Duty Insp. Andrew Bell.

About 50 firefighters from Stouffville, Markham and Richmond Hill fire services are on scene.

Fire services are running into difficulty extinguishing the blaze because theres no immediate access to water so theyre shuttling water in. Police are assisting in moving water tankers to the scene, Bell said.

Theres no indication of suspicious circumstances, Bell said.

Theres been no reported injuries at this time, he added.

The cause of the fire and the value of damage is unknown at this time.
Elisabeth Caren Kristoffer Polaha

Kristoffer Polaha, who will appear alongside Gal Gadot in Wonder Woman 1984 and has been cast in the upcoming Jurassic World: Dominion, is taking his storytelling talents to a new platform: romance novels.

On Monday, the actor shared with PEOPLE that he and co-author Anna Gomez will write five books for their From Kona With Love series. The first novel in the Hawaii-based series, Moments Like This, will be released on Feb. 2, 2021, by Rosewind Books. The second book will be published in late 2021.

"This project is special to me because it provides me with another way to convey heartfelt stories to my incredible and loyal audience," the 43-year old actor, who is also a Hallmark Channel favorite, told PEOPLE in a statement. "These stories dig deeper and will leave the reader feeling good and inspired. I have never had more fun collaborating on a project than I have with Anna. It has been an amazing process and I cant wait to share these stories with you."

Moments Like This follows Andrea "Andie" Matthews, who chooses her career over love, only to lose a long-awaited promotion. She seeks refuge on the island of Oahu, where she works at her friend's coffee shop. Andie then connects with a mysterious man, Warren Yates, who she's just started to fall for when she realizes he's deceived her.

"It is truly a rare thing, finding someone whose ideas, words and passion for storytelling mirrors your own," Anna Gomez said in a statement. "Working with Kris has been such an extraordinary experience. Through this partnership, we have created unforgettable characters that will live in our readers hearts for a long, long time."

Credit: Meka Hemmons Anna Gomez

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Gal Gadot said she felt inspired by a man in Italy playing the trumpet for others from his balcony

Polaha, who also runs Podunk Productions, plans on adapting the books to film, according to Variety.

"In the constantly shifting Hollywood landscape, we are endeavoring to enlarge our creative footprint by creating content for the publishing world first," Polaha told the publication, "and then adapting the stories that people love straight to film while keeping the creative team behind the stories in control from page to screen."
A soldier in Northeast Nigeria committed suicide, on Thursday, after he was publicly punished by his superior for alleged phone theft, his colleagues told PREMIUM TIMES.

The soldier, identified as Lance Corporal Victor Ojeamiran, was attached to the Nigerian Army 27 Task Force Brigade in Buni Gari, Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State.

The 27 Task Force is one of those fighting the Boko Haram extremists in Northeast Nigeria.

Mr Ojeamiran shot himself after he personally submitted a note to his platoon sergeant for delivery to his superior officer in the Task Force, our sources said, asking not to named for fear of victimisation by the army.

The note was a protest note where the soldier tried to defend himself and prove his innocence, PREMIUM TIMES learnt.

Buni Gari is said to be about 7 km from the headquarters of the 27 Task Force Brigade in Buni Yadi, the town that also accommodates the Nigerian Army Special Forces School in Gujba local government.

What really happened

The deceased went to Damaturu, the Yobe State capital and bought a used phone, our sources said. Unknown to him, the phone was a stolen phone and belonged to a senior army officer in Damaturu.

The officer tracked the phone and found it with the soldier while he was about to return to his formation in Buni Gari, after he bought the phone.

The officer allegedly punished the soldier in public, while residents of the area shot videos of the punishment and later posted it on some social media platforms.

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Mr Ojeamiran could not bear the disgrace of the video of him being publicly punished for a false accusation and he did not have a chance to defend himself before the punishment, our sources said.

He told his colleagues, including one of our sources, that he does not know what to tell his wife and children about the video, and how he was disgraced in the eyes of the world for a crime he did not commit.

Hence, he decided to take his life after he returned to base by shooting himself on the head.

When contacted, the army spokesperson, Sagir Musa, said he is yet to be briefed on the development and he is not in Yobe at present.

When PREMIUM TIMES, on Saturday, contacted the spokesperson of the 27 Task Force, Chinonso Oteh, a lieutenant, he promised to get back to this reporter with an official position. He has ignored subsequent calls and messages to his phone since then.

However, PREMIUM TIMES has seen an internal memo by the army confirming the suicide but claiming it occurred on Sunday, September 20. In the memo, the army said an investigation has commenced on the circumstances that led to the incident.
New Hampshires Concord High School was hit with a quadruple whammy on the second day of online-only school: Racial slurs were posted on the chat in one virtual classroom. Two others were exposed to pornographic images. And another group of students saw a picture of a fake gun appear during a videoconferencing lesson.

In all four cases, teachers quickly kicked the intruders out of the Zoom conferencing platform. But the incidents were a big headache for teachers, administrators, and perhaps especially, kids.

Many of the students were like, We dont want to have this getting ruined, said Kaileen Chilauskas, the schools assistant principal, who spoke to the impacted classes a few days after the intrusions. Zoom is the only way they can interact with their teachers and continue learning, kids noted.

But such interruptions, known as Zoombombings or Zoom raids even though they can happen on any video conferencing platform, are becoming an all-too common occurrence, according to dozens of published reports.

For instance, in Hindsdale, Ill., an 8th grader mooned two high school classrooms and yelled out a racial insult. A high school geometry class in San Antonio was interrupted by someone using the name of a student in the class, and an image of two Ku Klux Klansmen. And in Schuylkill County, Pa., someone interrupted kindergarten orientation, yelled racial slurs, cursed, and threatened children.

Media coverage probably isnt capturing the full scope of the problem, said Doug Levin, the founder and president of the K-12 Cybersecurity Resource Center. He expects that the interruptions are happening in the majority of school districts.

10 Tips for Curbing Zoombombing Classrooms around the country have been interrupted by so-called Zoombombers or Zoomraiders, who shout obscenities, share sexual images, or racist content in the middle of an online lesson. Despite the name, the incidents can take place on any video conferencing platform, not just Zoom. Here are 10 steps educators and experts say school districts and teachers can take to curb this problem:

1.) Offer teachers professional development on how to block would-be Zoombombers. One district created two, 40-minute videos, each exploring a different online conference platform.

2.) Make sure students are required to have a password to get into virtual classrooms.

3.) Continually change the online credentials for virtual classrooms, and dont post them to external websites.

4.) Have a waiting room for each videoconferencing lesson. Teachers should only let in students who are on their roster.

5.) Dont admit a student to a virtual classroom if someone under their name is already in class. That person could be an impostor.

6.) Teachers should show up to the online classroom first. That way, students are not there unsupervised.

7.) Ensure that only the teacher can share the screen, unless theres a reason for students to share their screens.

8.) Disable students ability to transfer files back-and-forth in class.

9.) Disable chat unless you are using it for a clear reason.

10.) Make sure students understand the rules of a virtual classroom, just like they would in a brick-and-mortar one.

Students will be in an online class, all working together. Then, suddenly, someone starts streaming porn, or all of this racially charged stuff, Levin said. Its like a stranger walked off the street and started stripping and yelling at the kids. Thats essentially whats happening online.

Its often unclear if kids in the school are behind these incidents or whether it is someone from the outside, who may have gotten passcodes from students, off of a school website, or just guesswork, educators said.

Complicating matters: Some people, presumably students, are inviting Zoombombers in posts on social media platforms, including Twitter and TikTok, using hashtags like #zoomraid.

Raid this math class, one tweet read, giving a class time, meeting credentials, and encouraging would-be disrupters to use a realistic name. Another urged, Raid my civics class be racist. One user openly wondered if teachers would be able to tell who gave away class credentials.

What Can Educators Do?

So what can teachers and districts leaders do about these interruptions?

Professional development is key. North Carolinas Winston-Salem/Forsyth created two, 40-minute long instructional videos for staff, one for Microsoft Teams and another for Zoom.

The videos show teachers click-by-click the best way to set up their environment, said Kevin Sherrill, the districts assistant superintendent for technology. Were encouraging teachers to educate themselves. We have 500 teachers, and we cant be with them every minute, so they just have to learn. Its not an easy task.

The videos embrace best practices, including ensuring the online conference room is set up so participants need a password to get in, and that theres a waiting room.

Teachers should be careful in figuring out who can come in from that waiting room, making sure the same kid isnt trying to enter the class twice. One of the entrants might not be the real student.

I think when they are impersonating the name of an actual student that makes it much tougher for teachers, said Pam McLeod, director of tech and information security officer for the Concord school district. Some folks were using a name of someone who might already be in class.

She also suggested that teachers continually change the credentials of their online conference, to make it harder for students to share them with would-be bombers.

Another tip: Dont post links to Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or other conferencing platforms to external websites, Sherrill said. That appeared to lead to interruptions in his district.

Whats more, teacherswho are typically the host of the conferenceshould be able to show up to class first and let students through the virtual door. That way, kids cant do disruptive things in the room while they are unsupervised, waiting for class to start, suggested Amy McLaughlin, the director of the cybersecurity project at the Consortium for School Networking.

Take It Really Slow

Educators might also want to hold off before trying to use many of the features of conferencing platforms to limit opportunities for the system to be compromised.

Teachers should consider not trying to do everything that your platform offers you in the first day of class, Chilauskas said. Teachers get enthusiastic about every platform thats out there. Youve got to take it really slow before you give them these options, the chat function, polls that you can have the kids take, kids ability to mute and unmute themselves.

Whats more, teachers aides can help monitor the technical aspects of videoconferencing. Its hard to oversee 30 spaces in a Zoom call, Chilauskas said. Even just having that extra adult support is really helpful. She also encourages students to keep their cameras on so that the teacher can see that it is really them, and not a possible impostor.

McLaughlin noted that conferencing platforms can also control screen sharing so that only the host (teacher) can share. That makes it tougher for hackers, or students, to flood the screen with inappropriate images or video. The set-up can be changed if a teacher needs students to be able to share their screens for educational purposes, such as a presentation.

And she recommends disabling students ability to transfer files back-and-forth in the classroom, which she likened to passing notes in class.

In the same vein, teachers should have clear expectations around the chat function in their mobile conferencing platforms and may want to disable it at times. Teachers should not allow students to have a back-channel chat conversation because thats like whispering in class, McLaughlin said.

That Teachable Moment

It is very important for students to understand the rules of a virtual classroom, just like they would a brick-and-mortar one, McLaughlin said.

Some suggestions: Require students to have their name on display, so the teacher knows who they are. Make it clear that they are not allowed to invite outside members to class. And let students know that if they behave badly, they can be asked to leave the conference room, just like they would a regular classroom. Some school districts have taken formal disciplinaryor even legalaction against students who have disrupted class.

You cant just assume that students are all of a sudden going to understand those things intuitively, McLaughlin said. Theyve gone from in-person to online [instruction] and dont know what the rules are.

But despite educators best efforts, Zoombombers can still sometimes get into classes. So what should educators do if that happens?

Let parents know right away, said Bernard Watson, the director of media relations for the 177,000-student Gwinnett School District outside Atlanta. The district also does not treat all incidents equally. Some are referred for disciplinary actionfor instance, if a student is yelling or cursing at the teacher. But othersincluding those involving behavior such as displays of nuditymight be referred to local law enforcement. So far, Gwinnett has had seven such instances since the start of the school year, Watson said.

Talk to students about the incident, Chilauskas suggested. After Concords four Zoombombing incidents in a single day, she sent an email to parents and then followed up with the classes later in the week. The students were understandably upset, Chilauskas said. One girl worried someone could enter a class under her name and disrupt it. I did assure her that people are not as anonymous as they think, Chilauskas said.

Giving students a chance to discuss what happened is the right call, McLaughlin said. She suggested teachers tell students, Lets talk about why this was inappropriate. Lets talk about why this was harmful. she said. To my mind, this really presents that teachable moment.
MANZINI  Finally, things are starting to fall into place in TUCOSWA.

This is after failing to hold a general council (GC) meeting twice.

The Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA) finally held one on Saturday and it was successful as it decided dates for their elective congress, which seemed to be in limbo.

According to the workers federation Deputy Secretary General, Muzi Mhlanga, he said the GC resolved that the elective congress should be held from December 18 to 20, 2020.

Affiliates

He said the GC meeting was held at Caritas, but it was attended by affiliates which are in good standing with the federation in terms of subscriptions. The federation tried twice to hold a GC meeting, but failed as they did not form a quorum. The main reason was that most affiliates were not in good standing in terms of subscriptions. In fact, the affiliates owe the federation a sum of about E1.9 million.

Again, Mhlanga said the five unions considered to be in good standing in the aborted meeting on September 5, 2020, resolved that the Swaziland Hotel and Catering Allied Workers Union (SHCAWU), Swaziland Commercial Workers Union (SCAWU) and Swaziland Health Institution and Allied Workers Union (SHIAWU) should be part of the meeting as observers.

He said this was because the above mentioned trade unions had applied to be exempted from paying subscriptions due to the fact that employers in its sectors had closed, amid the outbreak of COVID-19, which means that it was also not getting members subscriptions.

On the same note, he said the Amalgamated Trade Union of Swaziland (ATUSWA), had been exempted, but it had since filed an application to renew the exemption.

On another note, the deputy secretary general said the federations national office bearers (NOBS) had been tasked to look for new offices to rent. Currently, the federations offices are housed at Plot 290 opposite Lulama Clinic in Manzini.

Subscriptions

Once more, he said the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) and Swaziland Trade Union (SATU) complained that the organisation wrongly calculated their standing in terms of subscriptions. He said the trade unions said it appeared that they owed subscriptions yet they believe they were in good standing.

On that regard, he said the GC internal auditors had been asked to bring a report with a recommendation about the matter. He added that the next GC meeting would be held on October 10, 2020.
Cal Fire released a preliminary damage assessment map showing homes that were damaged or destroyed in the North Complex, a group of fires burning east of Chico.

The map displays home addresses and uses a scale to show the degree of damage, from affected (1-9%) to destroyed (more than 50%).

Cal Fire will continue to add to the map as more homes impacted by the conflagration are identified.

"Field damage inspection is still ongoing and subject to change," Cal Fire said. "The points shown in this map are being updated regularly. Data is subject to change as information is gathered and verified."

A total of 1,887 structures have been destroyed in the blaze, according to Cal Fire officials.

The North Complex ignited in mid-August when a rash of thunder and lightning storms moved over Northern California, sparking hundreds of wildfires that have now burned nearly 3 million acres in California combined. The North Complex was 294,301 acres acres with 64% containment as of Wednesday morning.

The North Complex Fire in Northern California surprised fire officials by how quickly it spread after smoldering for weeks in a mostly unpopulated region.

Aided by strong winds, steep terrain and miles of dried out foliage, the fire quickly roared into Butte County on Sept. 8., extending toward Lake Oroville and the former burn site of the 2018 Camp Fire

This time, Paradise was spared. Smaller mountain communities such as Berry Creek and Feather Falls were quickly overwhelmed. Firefighters scrambled to rescue more than 100 people.

Amy Graff is the News Editor for SFGATE. Email her: agraff@sfgate.com.
NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller says he is 'sympathetic to police who turn up to deal with drunken idiots every night' after officers were slammed for tasering an NRL player who was sleeping off a boozy night out under a tree.

Canberra Raiders centre Curtis Scott, 22, was found asleep in Sydney's Moore Park following Australia Day celebrations on January 27.

Police body cam footage shows Scott crying out in agony after being pepper sprayed and tasered by police who tried to move him.

One officer then tells Scott that being pepper sprayed is 'not that bad' and laughs.

Mr Fuller said on Tuesday that Scott was 'trespassing' and police were left in 'a very difficult situation' with two options - for the player to comply or 'to use force'.

Canberra Raiders centre Curtis Scott (pictured), 22, was tasered and pepper sprayed by police who found him asleep under a tree in Sydney's Moore Park following Australia Day celebrations on January 27

'There were minutes and minutes where they were attempting to move him peacefully,' Mr Fuller said on 2GB's Ben Fordham Live.

'Whether or not they used their powers lawfully, I can't comment on that because it's still subject to court proceedings and oversight.

'But I am sympathetic to police who turn up to deal with drunken idiots every night.'

Host Ben Fordham asked: 'He was asleep, he was drunk so it was hard for him to comply. So, are you saying it's right for him to be tasered?'

'What I'm saying is, I'm sympathetic to police who had to do something with him,' Mr Fuller replied.

'The other option is this  you put a baton under each of his arms, you squeeze it down and you put him in the back of the truck, now that is no less painful than being sprayed.'

NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller (pictured centre) has defended cops who tasered Scott, saying he is 'sympathetic to police who turn up to deal with drunken idiots every night'

Mr Fuller said police 'had to go hands on' to get Scott out of the public space.

'We couldn't leave him there, because if we did and he went on and committed more crimes or he injured himself, the police are liable. He had to come with us,' he said.

Scott pleaded guilty to two counts of behaving in an offensive manner in a public place earlier this month.

But prosecutors withdrew the two counts of assaulting a police officer, one of resisting an officer in execution of duty, one of behaving in an offensive manner and one of remaining on Trust lands after being requested to leave.

'I'd never assault a police officer and that was probably the hardest thing, sitting on that for nine months - knowing you haven't done what they've said - and you've got the whole world coming down on your shoulders,' Scott previously told Seven News.

'Everybody on your back, making out that you're some monster, a cop basher. In the back of my mind, I knew if one of these charges stuck I'd be digging holes for the rest of my life.'

Scott (pictured) pleaded guilty to two counts of behaving in an offensive manner in a public place but the prosecution withdrew a total of five counts against him, including two counts of assaulting a police officer and one of resisting an officer in execution of duty

Scott's lawyer Sam Macedone said the NRL player had feared he may have jeopardised his future in the league following the arrest and also lost a Nike sponsorship deal.

Mr Macedone said he and Scott would consider taking legal action against police after their case fell apart.

The 22-year-old's legal team have also called for police to cover more than $100,000 in legal fees - with Magistrate Giles due to return a decision on the matter on September 25.

Mr Fuller said NSW Police would comply with any directives if the officers' actions were found to be unlawful.

'What transpired is tested on two things. One is, were the actions of police lawful? And secondly, do they withstand public scrutiny?' he said.

'If what they did was lawful or wasn't lawful will be looked at by (police) oversight that have taken that matter and obviously, I'll respect whatever advice and guidance they give after their investigation.'
NEW HAVEN  Police have increased patrols in the citys Westville neighborhood following back-to-back car theft and shooting incidents there over the weekend.

Police were first called to a home on Birch Drive between Ray Road and Hemlock Road at 3:12 a.m. Saturday for a burglary alarm.

The homeowners there said while they were sleeping, one or more burglars, entered the home and stole several items, Capt. Anthony Duff said.

The homeowners woke up and saw two men in the middle of stealing the residents 2018 Volvo S90 sedan, Duff said.

In making their getaway, the thief operating the car rammed the vehicle in front of him, struck the house behind him and hit a utility pole as the two men fled out the driveway, he said.

Additional police units were called to the scene and collected evidence, Duff said.

Two hours later, police were called to West Rock Avenue between Whalley and Yale avenues, just blocks away for reports of gunfire around 5:11 a.m.

There police found a 19-year-old man with a gunshot wound to the shoulder.

Police said the man was hit after he exited the rear of his house to check on his car alarm.

Detectives believe the victim interrupted two men breaking into his vehicle. The two men fled prior to the arrival of officers, Duff said.

The unidentified shooting victim was taken to the hospital and has since been released.

Just before 11 a.m. later that morning, police recovered the white Volvo stolen from Birch Drive on Second Street between Howard Avenue and Greenwich Avenue in the Hill neighborhood.

The car was found in the road, and police were told two men were seen running from the stolen car.

More police were called to that scene who spoke with witnesses, canvassed the area and reviewed security camera footage.

Surveillance footage shows the car being driven from Howard Avenue to Second Street, striking a parked car and the curb.

Police have impounded the Volvo as part of their investigation.

These incidents are not typical occurrences in Westville, District Manager Lt. Elliot Rosa of the New Haven Police Department said Monday.

Most of our crimes are those of opportunity. Residents and visitors are asked to please be aware their surroundings and try not to confront criminal suspects one-on-one. Phone 9-1-1 for emergency police assistance, he said.

Anyone with information about the recent incidents is asked to contact the New Haven Police Department at 203-946-6304. Callers may remain anonymous.
Outlawing the sale of fireworks could be proposed by Sinn Fein in the North.

Dublin Mid-West TD Mark Ward made the suggestion as he highlighted his party's Dail motion aimed at tackling the misuse of fireworks in the South.

Mr Ward said he wants "joined up thinking" between the Gardai and the PSNI to halt the spread of fireworks over the border.

But asked how this would work given that they can be legally sold in the North he replied: "I don't know".

He added: "Thats up to the guards to have that conversation, to communicate with each other and to come up with some tactic that will stop the fireworks from coming down to the 26 counties."

He was asked if Sinn Fein would use it's role in the Northern Ireland Executive to outlaw the sale of fireworks in the North.

Mr Ward said: "Its something we could bring to the Executive and Im sure theyll discuss that if that needs to be."

Asked if it was likely to happen he said: "Thatd be legislation that needs to change so Im sure its something that could be brought forward and could be discussed and a decision could be made at the Executive on that."

The Dail will debate Sinn Fein's motion on community safety and the misuse fireworks later this evening.

Mr Ward said the issue is "causing fear in communities" and fireworks are only a symptom of the "bigger problem" of anti-social behaviour which he said is increasing.

He argued that one reason for this is a reduction in the number of community Gardai and restrictions on them working after 7pm.

Sinn Fein's motion calls for a return to numbers of community Gardai last seen in 2010 and changes to the Garda roster .

Mr Ward said it is also "calling for some joined up thinking between the PSNI and An Garda Siochana in relation to tackling this issue [fireworks] at source."

He also says there needs to be a community awareness campaign that targets online media used by young people.

Mr Ward called on the Government parties to support Sinn Fein's motion.

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Justice Minister Helen McEntee has admitted she does not know why there has been an increase in the misuse of illegal fireworks this year.

The minister said a huge amount of work is underway by gardai to identify why there has been a surge in fireworks in the lead up to Halloween.

Unfortunately, this year we have seen an increase in the use of fireworks, the misuse of fireworks I should say, and this is something that the gardai are investigating, the minister said.

We don't know why there is that increase. We know it's not just in Ireland, it's across the globe and other countries as well but the Gardai will continue to do their job in trying to prevent people from selling them, using them and hopefully preventing any incidents from happening, she added.

Mr McEntee said there have 52 seizures of fireworks already this year which is a higher number when compared to this point in previous years.

She said there are no plans to legalise and regulate fireworks in Ireland.
After the coronavirus pandemic led to the shutdown of schools earlier this year, one resident in the Solana Ridge subdivision went above and beyond in delivering meals  and hope  to the doorsteps of hundreds of schoolchildren stuck at home.

Margie Gomez logged many miles delivering meals provided by the Southwest Independent School District to the homes of 262 children in Solana Ridge through the Summer Food Service Program, a federally funded program administered by the Texas Department of Agriculture.

She began picking up and delivering school meals to the children, ranging in ages 1-18, on March 17  after school campuses closed because of COVID-19  until the end of the school year on June 4.

Gomez made her food deliveries in a minivan painted and decorated to resemble Scooby-Doos Mystery Machine from the iconic childrens cartoon, packing it with several ice chests of food packages she delivered throughout the neighborhood.

I didnt mind doing this at all because I knew I was helping the kids and helping the parents, Gomez said. At the time we couldnt find juice, milk or bread or anything. There was a shortage at the time of food. I knew the kids that I was feeding here had their food. They didnt have to worry about it.

Gomez, a mother of eight, said she was compelled to help deliver school meals when she went to pick up meals for three of her own kids at Sun Valley Elementary School on March 16. As she was waiting in line, Gomez noticed only one vehicle was ahead of her picking up food.

After getting back from the school, Gomez came upon several of her neighbors. She asked them if they were going to go pick up food for their children. For those parents who said they were unable to do so, Gomez offered to pick up the meals if she got permission from Southwest ISD to do so.

The next day, Gomez went back to Sun Valley and talked to Principal Veronica Cuenca-Wilson about picking up and delivering meals to other kids. Once the school district received the childrens names, Gomez got the go-ahead to start delivering to them.

Cuenca-Wilson said she and teachers at Sun Valley Elementary appreciated what Gomez did to make sure the schoolchildren wouldnt go hungry.

We worry about our kids when theyre not with us and so we worried whether our kids were getting the food that they needed, Cuenca-Wilson said. So, to have her do this for us and put herself out there to make sure that our kids got fed, I think it gave a lot of our teachers peace of mind.

Starting out with 58 students, Gomez would pick up school meals twice a day (at breakfast and lunch) for the children. As the names of the children grew to 262, she was delivering food to 90 homes in Solana Ridge.

As the meal delivery numbers increased, Gomez had to drive her husbands pickup truck to make room for the ice chests  even putting them in the front seat. Then on April 1, Southwest ISD established a satellite kitchen to prepare meals at Southwest High School, a 7-mile drive from Solana Ridge and extending Gomezs trips to pick up the meals.

Winston Gatlin, Southwest ISDs director of child nutrition, said Gomez delivered more than 19,000 meals to the 262 children in Solana Ridge she served from March to June.

Gatlin said there is one word to describe what Gomez did for the children and their families.

The word would be amazing, Gatlin said. She never missed a day. She was very dependable, always there on time. Simply, she provided a service of being able to feed kids that might not have gotten a meal, wouldnt have had the opportunity to get a meal. She did it to help the kids. She just did it out of the goodness of her heart.

Parents and schoolchildren in Solana Ridge also appreciated what Gomez did. Schoolchildren left thank-you notes and pictures they drew near their doorsteps for Gomez when she dropped off the meals.

Even though Gomez didnt ask for anything in return, several parents gave her money to cover gas expenses for picking up, transporting and delivering the meals.

Margie is a kind of person that goes that extra mile to help anyone out, said Yvette Hoeft, a next-door neighbor of Gomez and parent of an elementary school student to whom Gomez delivered meals. Shes a kind person, always thinking of others.

Ashley Viera, a stay-at-home mother of two students at Sun Valley Elementary, said having Gomez deliver the meals allowed her to stay with her children without having to interrupt their remote learning to go pick up meals.

Shes a very giving, kind person, Viera said. Shell always try to do for others that maybe theyre unable to do for themselves. Shes always trying to help in any way she can.

Gomez thanked Southwest ISD for giving her the opportunity to bring food to the children in Solana Ridge during their time of need.

I am grateful for my school district and I would tell (Gatlin) thank you for allowing me to do this to help feed the kids in my neighborhood, she said.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 19:23:14|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Poverty alleviation through consumption has been a key driving force for industrial development in China's impoverished areas, catching the wave of flourishing e-commerce in recent years to lift those reeling under the clutches of poverty.

Last January, when farmers in Ningling County, central China's Henan Province, frowned over their unsalable pear syrup produced in a poverty relief workshop, China E-commerce Poverty Alleviation Alliance extended a helping hand.

Zhejiang Gejia Network Technology, a member of the alliance, made the pear products available on its e-commerce platform and received more than 6,000 orders in the first 48 hours, thereby solving the urgent needs of fruit growers in the county once marred by poverty.

"We conducted field research and upgraded the workshop," said Huang Jinqiu, a company official. "Last September, we started selling Ningling's fresh pears online, with monthly sales volume exceeding 100,000 kg."

From February to March, when the COVID-19 epidemic was at its worst in the country, Ningling's poverty alleviation workshop however witnessed a counter-trend growth with more than 50,000 orders of 125,000 kg of pears, according to Huang.

Li Xiaolin, chairman of the China E-commerce Poverty Alleviation Alliance, said that in the first half of this year, despite the adverse impact of COVID-19, the alliance had helped sell more than 2 billion yuan (about 295 million U.S. dollars) worth of agricultural products from underprivileged areas.

The alliance, consisting of 29 member enterprises such as e-commerce giant Alibaba Group, has helped with sales of more than 5 billion yuan worth of agricultural and specialty products from the country's poverty-stricken areas as of September, Li said.

"E-commerce has played an important role in China's fight against poverty and the epidemic," said Ma Xinming, director of the Office of Beijing Municipal Leading Group for Poverty Reduction Cooperation and Assistance.

E-commerce giant JD.com facilitated the work resumption of the suppliers of poverty relief goods in Hubei Province, once hit hard by COVID-19. Kuaishou, a leading short-video platform, launched a live streaming show in June to help with the sales of products in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Enterprises, including Baidu, Sina and Tencent, established an alliance for online sales of products from poverty-stricken areas.

"As a new driving force for economic growth in China's poor areas, e-commerce has helped increase the income of poor people and promoted the supply-side structural reform in agriculture," Ma said. Enditem
President Trump is said to be zeroing in on Amy Coney Barrett as a nominee to fill Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburgs seat on the Supreme Court, though the president has said he is considering five candidates, according to reports.

Barrett, a Midwestern Catholic and favorite of pro-life advocates, had separate meetings with Trump and White House counsel Pat Cipollone on Monday, sources told Bloomberg. Many inside the White House, as well as Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell, would support the nomination of Barrett, a judge on the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals based in Chicago, the report said.

Trump has vowed to name a woman as nominee and told reporters earlier that he was looking at five women but had one or two of them in mind as finalists. He confirmed Barrett is one of the women under consideration.

Barrett was one of Trumps finalists in 2018 when he instead nominated Brett Kavanaugh and she has gained the presidents support as a smart, hard-nosed, conservative jurist who would come across well during televised confirmation hearings, Bloomberg reported.

The president believes Barrett will be strong on conservative issues including abortion, gun rights and health care when they come before the Court.

A distant second choice is Appeals Court Judge Barbara Lagoa, a Cuban-American from Florida who could help the president gain support in the battleground state. Though the president is less confident in Lagoas conservative credentials as she received 27 Democratic votes when she was confirmed to her position in the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals.

Trump said he may meet with Lagoa later this week when he is in Florida.

Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Joan Larsen, Fourth Circuit Judge Allison Jones Rushing and deputy White House counsel Kate Todd make up the rest of Trumps list, though they have not received serious consideration.

Well make a decision  probably Saturday, but Friday or Saturday, Trump told reporters.

More from National Review
Romania supports an allocation of at least 15% of the national ceiling for coupled support and the introduction of pork and poultry on the list of products eligible for coupled support payment, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Adrian Oros, said in Brussels.

He attended the AgriFish Council of Ministers meeting on Monday. The main topics on the Council's agenda were the post-2020 CAP reform package and the Regulation on the CAP Strategic Plans. There was also information and exchanges of views on agricultural trade, as well as discussions on nutrition labeling in the main visual field of food packaging.

"As regards redistributive payment, our country considers that greater flexibility should be granted to Member States, taking into account the specifics of each region/category of farmers, as well as the agricultural development national policy. In this regard, support was voiced for the repeal of the restrictive provision for redistributive payment or its modification, so that each Member State has the flexibility to set the level of the amount planned for one year of application without the constraint to fit within the average payment per hectare for direct payment. With regard to coupled support for income, Romania supports an allocation of at least 15% of the national ceiling for coupled support and for the inclusion of poultry and pork on the list of products eligible for coupled support payment," reads a press release of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MADR) sent to AGERPRES on Tuesday.

On the subject of labeling, the Agriculture minister stated that Romania supports the application of a harmonized model at the level of the European Union through which to provide the nutritional information of the food product in a simple, visible way, easily understood by the consumer. Romania aims to make a substantial contribution to establishing a harmonized scheme at EU level and, in general, to achieving the objectives of the Farm to fork strategy, which will allow consumers to have access to healthy, safe and nutritious food.

The Romanian official pointed out that Romania cannot support the introduction of a minimum percentage for eco-schemes in the proposed form, but in the spirit of compromise, it can accept a minimum ceiling of 5% introduced gradually.

During his speech, the Romanian Minister of Agriculture supported the need to discuss and clarify the issues regarding the environmental ambition of the CAP, so that an agreement on the CAP package is obtained.
A British man and an Australian colleague working for a bomb disposal NGO have been killed in an explosion on the Solomon Islands.

Briton Stephen Atkinson, known as Luke, and Trent Lee, from Australia, were involved in diffusing live munitions left over from the Second World War.

Both were employees of non-governmental organisation Norwegian Peoples Aid (NPA), whose secretary general, Killi Westhrin, said that it was devastated by what has happened.

The blast took place in a residential part of the capital city, Honiara, late on Sunday, though the exact circumstances of the accident remain unclear.

Police said the site had to be declared safe before investigators could determine the details. However, Inspector Clifford Tunuki, the officer in charge of bomb disposal, indicated that there were several unexploded remnants in the area and that the men may have been conducting some UXO [bomb disposal] work.

Mr Lees Facebook page describes him as a chemical weapons adviser, adding that his role was to to survey and locate the items, then hand information over [to] the police.

NPAs deputy secretary general, Per Nergaard, called the explosion a tragic incident. In a statement on its website, he said: So far, we know that there has been an explosion with fatal consequences. Our main priority now is to offer assistance to relatives and colleagues, and to clarify what has happened.

Mr Nergaard added that the organisation had suspended its activities on the Solomon Islands.

The agency had been assisting local authorities with developing a database of bombs dropped during the Second World War, where the Pacific nation was the scene of fierce land and aerial battles between US and Japanese forces.
With the Senate and the National Assembly (lower house) resuming sittings, DRCs National Episcopal Conference of Congo (CENCO) General Secretary, Fr. Donatien Nshole, has urged parliamentarians to re-dedicate themselves as servants of the Congolese people.

Vatican New English Africa Service  Vatican City

Following the resumption of Parliament recently, the General Secretariat of CENCO invited the countrys legislators to address themselves to electoral law reforms and enact laws that meet the aspirations of the Congolese people.

Electoral law reform should enhance democracy

Enact fair laws that promote credible elections and ensure transparent oversight of the execution of elections, said Fr. Nshole. He added, Put yourselves always at the service of the people who have opted for change; usefully manage your time to pass laws that promote democracy rather than partisan interests. In this perspective, electoral law reform with the view to depoliticising CENI (the Independent National Electoral Commission) is more than needed, Fr. Nshole emphasised.

Majority loses legitimacy if disconnected from the people

Fr. Nshole who extensively quoted from previous Pastoral Letters of the DRC Bishops, was keen to emphasise that the party with the majority in parliament should not abuse its numerical superiority to pass laws that are not favourable for the progress of democracy in the country.

He further reminded legislators that being in the majority is not necessarily synonymous with truth or reason. The majority does not always guarantee social cohesion, Fr. Nshole said. A parliamentary majority, however legal it may be, loses its legitimacy when it is disconnected from the interests and well-being of the people, he emphasised.

Felix Tshisekedi was sworn-in as President on 24 January 2019

General elections, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, were held on 30 December 2018. Political parties supporting former President Joseph Kabila won most of the seats in the National Assembly. They forged a coalition with Felix Tshisekedis and his supporters to form government. Tshisekedi was sworn in as the fifth President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo on 24 January 2019.

Legislators must be sensitive to the aspirations of the people.

Be sensitive to the sorrows, sufferings and desires of the population ... respect the regulatory provisions allowing the opposition to organise, and listen to the power of the people in order for you to initiate consensual reforms necessary for the consolidation of democracy, said Fr. Nshole.

Citizens must remain vigilant to protect democracy

Addressing himself to the Congolese people, the General Secretary of CENCO appealed to his compatriots to remain united and vigilant to block the path of any majority or minority political party who might want to take our country and our future hostage by political deception.
Of all the missed opportunities in mid-pandemic, none seems more inexcusable than failing to alert Canadians to the COVID Alert app.

We are engulfed in fear of the unknown, yet this simple app knows the enemy. We are awash in worry about an unseen virus, yet this app sees around corners.

Still, it has stalled  stymied by Canadians who would sooner point fingers than tap their touch screens to download it. Until this simple yet powerful app goes viral and achieves scale, it will fail  and the virus will surely prevail.

While we fret about losing ground to the dreaded second wave, we are stuck on second  having refused, at the first opportunity, to download the damned app. To date, barely 2 million Canadians have installed it, far below any expectations and explanations for a country of 38 million people.

COVID Alert is no panacea. But it is a powerful preventative weapon that people are foolishly and recklessly ignoring  out of personal ignorance and political indifference.

Given half a chance, the app could help track infected (especially asymptomatic) carriers at warp speed, before they unknowingly spread those infections  and long before any contact-tracing officials from public health units tell them to get tested and self-isolate.

This electronic alert should be as ubiquitous as masks, which are now mandatory (indoors) in major municipalities. But the app remains strictly voluntary  like a vaccine  thus giving COVID-19 that much more manoeuvring room to insinuate itself into a population that declines to defend itself to the fullest.

Gradually, belatedly, Canadians embraced face masks after politicians and public health experts exhorted them to cover up. Yet downloads of the app have languished because governments have orphaned COVID Alert.

Opting out of the app is the electronic equivalent of skipping a flu vaccine that both shields you from the effects of a virus while reducing the risk of community transmission. Once society achieves a herd effect, where a significant majority are vaccinated, there is safety in numbers.

The analogy applies to the app as it does to masks: As more of us are masked, and vaccinated, and armed with the app, the greater the benefit  collectively and individually.

Yet COVID Alert remains in a quintessentially Canadian limbo  mired by interprovincial rivalry, political inertia, media indifference and the publics paranoia about privacy. What we have here is a failure to communicate, because politicians and public-health leaders are failing to spread the word while the virus spreads with success.

Months after its soft launch this summer, the Canadian-designed app is still only available in a handful of provinces, as recalcitrant premiers make excuses. To his credit, Premier Doug Ford gave it a boost at the outset, publicly urging Quebecs Francois Legault to overcome resistance in his province, but it has fallen by the wayside.

Mired in parochialism, hit by the worst outbreak in Canada, Quebec continues to shun the app  supposedly over privacy concerns. But if the app were truly intrusive, it would not have received the blessings of privacy commissioners in both Ontario and Ottawa, and endorsements from technology experts everywhere.

In fact, it retains no identifying personal data, relying solely on anonymous pinging of nearby cellphones (anyone within two metres over a period of 15 minutes of proximity). Anyone who contracts COVID-19 inputs an anonymous code, triggering alerts to all those who came in contact with that person in recent days (the app relies on a phones low-energy Bluetooth function, consuming negligible battery power).

Canadians reflexively offer up their personal data to Google, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Amazon without a second thought. Yet their first instinct is to fret over misplaced privacy concerns that deter them from downloading this time-saving and life-saving app in the middle of a medical emergency.

Research by epidemiologists at Oxford University suggests digital contact tracing can play a vital role in controlling the pandemic. Modelling of similar technology in Washington state showed potential for reducing infections, hospitalizations, deaths and the number of people in quarantine.

COVID Alert cries out for a massive publicity push by all governments so that a majority of Canadians are armed with the app, in much the same way as they are masked. Our premier admonishes recalcitrant Ontarians daily to respect physical distancing  using colourful language  but he should be devoting at least as much time to explaining the vital role of the app in backstopping contact tracing.

Heres an easy way for Ford to make a splash: Suspend the province-wide ban on cellphones in classrooms announced by his governing Tories last year with great fanfare  but only if students can show they have the app downloaded (and encourage them to shame their parents into installing it).

Why havent Ottawa and the provinces launched major ad campaigns pointing people to free downloads with a click (Google Play or Apple Store)?

While it cannot confer immunity, it can offer connectivity and anonymity. To make COVID-19 go down, download COVID Alert  so that the app goes viral, not the virus.
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The Babylon Bee headline is satirical, but, based on the logic of Netflix, it might as well be true: New Netflix Movie Actually Murders Puppies To Teach That Murdering Puppies Is Bad. Or, to move from satire to reality and create our own headline, New Netflix Movie Actually Exploits Young Girls Sexually To Teach That Sexually Exploiting Young Girls Is Wrong.

Yes, in order to defend the indefensible, Netlix has argued that, Cuties is a social commentary against the sexualization of young children. Its an award-winning film and a powerful story about the pressure young girls face on social media and from society more generally growing up  and wed encourage anyone who cares about these important issues to watch the movie.

And what will viewers discover when they watch the movie? They will see with their own eyes the sexual exploitation of little girls.

You can read for yourself just how vulgar, explicit, and degrading some of the scenes are (see here and here and here for vivid examples  if you can stomach them). I find it too distasteful even to print the detailed descriptions here, let alone imagine casting little girls to film these scenes  scenes which will be watched by millions of people. How can this be justified? And can you imagine your own daughters or granddaughters cast in these roles?

We understand that the movie ultimately speaks against the sexual exploitation of children. But, to repeat, you do not exploit those very children to make your point.

In the Babylon Bee satirical story (which has gone viral, for good reason), Netflix is embroiled in controversy yet again with its new documentary Puppy Murder, a show where the director kills puppies to teach you that murdering puppies is bad.

The movie is just two hours of puppies being brutally murdered onscreen, sending a powerful message to the viewer about just how bad puppy murder is. From getting shot and stabbed to being run over with a steamroller and the inspiring climactic scene where a puppy is dropped into a volcano, the movie unequivocally and powerfully shows the brutal reality of puppy murder.

As for those who have a problem with Puppy Murder, they are described as triggered conservatives and scandal-mongers since they obviously just didn't get the message of the film, which very clearly teaches that puppy murder is bad.

But once again, the Babylon Bees biting satire is too true to be funny, as evidenced by an editorial by Sam Thielman on NBC News. In it, he claims that, Criticism of Netflix's 'Cuties' isn't about the movie. It's a cynical ploy in the culture war. (To repeat: This was printed on NBC News rather than on a satirical site. The same holds true for the quotes that follow. I am not taking them out of context or twisting them at all. This is from NBC News.)

Thielman describes Cuties as a sweet-spirited French coming-of-age drama while characterizing controversy over the movie as what may be the single dumbest battle of the culture wars. (He also tells us the film is very funny and very witty.)

As for those who openly oppose Cuties, Thielman calls them the pedophile-obsessed American right, driven by QAnon.

Did you get that, offended moms and dads? Did you get that, morally grieved Americans? You are simply the pedophile-obsessed American right, driven by QAnon.

Yes, you are the ones with the problem.

Not the directors and producers and screenwriters. Not the dance instructors and costume designers. Not the parents of the little girls who allegedly brought their children by the hundreds to audition.

No, it is you are obsessed and perverted. (All of this reminds me of Isaiah 5:20: Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!)

And so, in condescending terms, Thielman must lecture us ignorant, pathetic moral conservatives: It is, annoyingly, important to state plainly that Cuties does not portray child abuse, it does not glorify or countenance pedophilia in any way, and it does not sexualize its characters  which is, to put it plainly, a favorite description of people so disturbed by their own reaction to a piece of art that they have to quickly plant the blame for that reaction on the artist before anyone notices. Doucoures movie is about platonic relationships between women and girls; there is no sexuality to be had anywhere in this movie, which makes the outrage over it seem all the more extraterrestrial.

Go back and read the descriptions of some of the movies most graphic scenes, linked above, or watch some of the clips that have been released online, and then read Thielmans paragraph once more. There is no sexualizing of these little girls? Really?

Im quite aware of the Q Anon conspiracy theories (a colleague of mine is about to release the first definitive expose of QAnon). And I know that sometimes, our moral indignation can be shallow or even hypocritical.

But theres a reason that Rep. Ken Buck, R-Colo., sent a letter to the Department of Justice on Monday raising concerns about Netflix's new film Cuties.

Just like you dont murder puppies on screen to illustrate how evil puppy murder is, you dont exploit young girls on screen to illustrate how evil their exploitation is.

How can anyone with a working moral compass question this? Or perhaps I just answered my question: all too many do not have a working moral compass. God help us.
National Puppy Mill Awareness Day, Governor Newsom Signs Legislation Protecting Animal Welfare

Sacramento, California - National Puppy Mill Awareness Day tomorrow, Governor Gavin Newsom last Saturday announced that he has signed two bills to protect animal welfare in California. AB 2152 by Assemblymember Todd Gloria (D-San Diego) officially ends the retail sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in California by closing a loophole in current law, while still allowing pet stores to partner with shelters and rescue organizations to showcase animals for adoption.

The legislation builds on Californias landmark law enacted in 2017 banning the sale of dogs, cats and rabbits in pet stores, unless supplied by shelters or rescue organizations.

The Governor also signed SB 573 by Senator Ling Ling Chang (R-Diamond Bar) requiring shelters and animal control agencies to microchip all dogs and cats with current information before releasing them to adoptive owners or an owner seeking to reclaim them.

In California, we are putting an end to the cruel puppy mill industry for good, said Governor Newsom. I am proud to sign this legislation to advance Californias nation-leading animal welfare protections and help more pets join loving families.

The 2020-21 State Budget allocates up to $5 million one-time General Fund for a University of California, Davis grant program to give the states animal shelters the training and resources they need to work toward the states no-kill goal.

The Governor also announced today that he has signed the following bills:

 AB 992 by Assemblymember Kevin Mullin (D-South San Francisco)  Open meetings: local agencies: social media.

 AB 1276 by Assemblymember Rob Bonta (D-Alameda)  Local redistricting.

 AB 1286 by Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance)  Shared mobility devices: agreements.

 AB 1869 by the Committee on Budget  Criminal fees.

 AB 1872 by the Committee on Budget  Cannabis.

 AB 1885 by the Committee on Budget  Debtor exemptions: homestead exemption.

 AB 2037 by Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland)  Health facilities: notices.

 AB 2193 by the Committee on Veterans Affairs  Military: State Guard.

 AB 2213 by Assemblymember Monique Limn (D-Santa Barbara)  Office of Emergency Services: planning guidance: telecommunications.

 AB 2247 by Assemblymember Autumn Burke (D-Inglewood)  Personal income taxes: dependent exemption credit: identifying information.

 AB 2285 by the Committee on Transportation  Transportation.

 AB 2520 by Assemblymember David Chiu (D-San Francisco)  Access to medical records.

 AB 2660 by Assemblymember Autumn Burke (D-Inglewood)  Income taxes: administration: nonresident aliens: identifying numbers: group filing.

 AB 2821 by Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian (D-North Hollywood)  Richard Paul Hemann Parkinsons Disease Program.

 AB 2944 by Assemblymember Mark Stone (D-Scotts Valley)  Foster care.

 AB 3336 by Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo (D-Los Angeles)  Third-party food delivery platforms: food safety.

 AB 3370 by the Committee on Elections and Redistricting  Elections omnibus bill.

 SB 158 by Senator Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica)  County of Los Angeles Citizens Redistricting Commission: membership.

 SB 739 by Senator Henry Stern (D-Calabasas)  Elections: vote by mail ballots and false or misleading information.

 SB 820 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review  Education finance.

 SB 970 by Senator Thomas Umberg (D-Santa Ana)  Primary election date.

 SB 1146 by Senator Thomas Umberg (D-Santa Ana)  Civil procedure: electronic filing, trial delays, and remote depositions.

 SB 1237 by Senator Bill Dodd (D-Napa)  Nurse-midwives: scope of practice.

 SB 1291 by the Committee on Transportation  Federal Statewide Transportation Improvement Program: submissions.

` SB 1409 by Senator Anna Caballero (D-Salinas)  Franchise Tax Board: California earned income tax credit: report.
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- BNY Mellon Wealth Management has appointed Heidi Simpson-Sandoval as Institutional Senior Client Strategist, based in Los Angeles. She reports directly to Los Angeles Regional President, Steve Kutz.

In this role, Heidi will serve West Coast institutional investors  such as endowments, foundations, non-profit institutions, retirement plans, private wealth, and family offices  seeking Outsourced Chief Investment Officer (OCIO) and investment advisory services. Leveraging the BNY Mellon Investor Solutions capability, Heidi will deliver comprehensive financial solutions, including investment management and consulting, asset allocation, manager research and selection, custody, and customized reporting and analytics expertise, to support clients' investment management objectives and financial goals.

With over 25 years of experience in the financial services industry, Heidi returns to BNY Mellon after spending four years at Northern Trust as Senior Vice President, Regional Director. There, she was responsible for OCIO sales to non-profit organizations and pension plans in the West Region. Prior to joining Northern Trust, Heidi held the roles of Managing Director, Enterprise Retirement Strategy and Managing Director, Insurance/Investment/Nonprofit and Healthcare with BNY Mellon. She previously worked with Mellon Financial Corporation and Dreyfus Corporation.

"Heidi is a respected senior leader and a trusted financial services professional," said Kutz. "Her experience in supporting the complex needs of institutional investors is a direct complement to BNY Mellon Investor Solutions capabilities."

Heidi earned a Bachelor's degree in Business Management/Finance from Brigham Young University. She is a FINRA Series 7 and 63 license holder. In her community, she is a member of the sponsorship and operations committees for the Pasadena Literary Alliance and is a professional member of Los Altos Auxiliary. Heidi previously served on the board of directors for the Los Angeles Master Chorale; was a member of Townhall Los Angeles, La Canada Junior Women's Group, Catholic School Charities; and held various advisory and chair positions with the National Charity League.

ABOUT BNY MELLON WEALTH MANAGEMENT

For more than two centuries, BNY Mellon Wealth Management has provided services to financially successful individuals and families, their family offices and business enterprises, planned giving programs, and endowments and foundations. It has $254 billion in total client assets, as of June 30, 2020, and an extensive network of offices in the U.S. and internationally. BNY Mellon Wealth Management, which delivers leading wealth advice across investments, banking, custody, and wealth and estate planning, conducts business through various operating subsidiaries of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation. For more information, visit www.bnymellonwealth.com or follow us on Twitter @BNYMellonWealth.

ABOUT BNY MELLON

BNY Mellon is a global investments company dedicated to helping its clients manage and service their financial assets throughout the investment lifecycle. Whether providing financial services for institutions, corporations or individual investors, BNY Mellon delivers informed investment and wealth management and investment services in 35 countries. As of June 30, 2020, BNY Mellon had $37.3 trillion in assets under custody and/or administration, and $2.0 trillion in assets under management. BNY Mellon can act as a single point of contact for clients looking to create, trade, hold, manage, service, distribute or restructure investments. BNY Mellon is the corporate brand of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (NYSE: BK). Additional information is available on www.bnymellon.com. Follow us on Twitter @BNYMellon or visit our newsroom at www.bnymellon.com/newsroom for the latest company news.

Media Contact:

Rich Stanton

212-922-7205

[email protected]

SOURCE BNY Mellon Wealth Management

Related Links

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A woman watched in disgust as security escorted a mentally ill man from a hospital ward and left him on the side of the road just a day after he was admitted with hypothermia.

The man was still wearing his hospital gown when he was left out the front of Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital on Sunday.

He had been found a day earlier naked and in a swampy creek, suffering from hypothermia, the Courier-Mail reported.

A woman was 'disgusted' when she watched security escort a mentally ill man from a hospital ward and leave him on the side of the road a day after he was admitted with hypothermia

Mother-of-three Hayley Birtles-Eades told the publication she was 'horrified' when she watched the man as he was 'frogmarched' out of the hospital.

'Protective services marched a mentally unwell and clearly unstable man out of the hospital... What the actual f**k is going on with the world?' she posted on Facebook after the incident.

'This man is clearly unable to take care of himself, hes a danger to himself and to the public, tossing him out on to a main road is NOT duty of care.'

Ms Birtles-Eades went on to say that the man should have been sedated and put in a psychiatric ward if that was what he needed, but that 'tossing him outside wearing only a hospital gown and a nappy' wasn't the answer.

'I am shocked and horrified with what I just witnessed.'

Ms Birtles-Eades recorded part of the ordeal.

The man was still wearing his hospital gown when he was left out the front of Royal Brisbane and Women's hospital on Sunday

Ms Birtles-Eades called an ambulance when she noticed the man had been left outside the hospital

In the footage, the man can be heard moaning and whining as he is forcibly dragged from the premises.

'You've been discharged  let's go, come on you're going... off,' one guard says.

The mother-of-three was in the emergency room waiting for her husband to receive treatment for a suspected stroke.

She was asked to stop filming the incident and was told it was 'illegal', but Ms Birtles-Eades said that was the least of her concerns.

'The hospital can fix broken bones, but if you've got a broken brain, you're stuffed,' she said.

'How many times does a person have to ask for help before they get it? How bad do you have to be  dead?'

Ms Birtles-Eades called an ambulance when she noticed the man had been left outside the hospital.

The Queensland Ambulance Service transported him right back to the same hospital emergency room.

A Queensland Health spokesman told the Courier-Mail that staff gave the man a gown as he arrived naked and said that the man's GP was contacted before he was discharged.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Queensland Health for comment.
Bala Chauhan By

Express News Service

BENGALURU: The Central Crime Branch (CCB) has issued a lookout notice for Aditya Alva in the narcotic drugs case to prevent him from leaving the country. Confirming the news, city Police Commissioner Kamal Pant told TNIE that the CCB has indeed issued such a notice. Alva is accused number six in the FIR, which was registered by the CCB at the Cottonpet police station on September 4 against 12 accused, including Sandalwood actor Ragini Dwivedi and others under the Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances Act and the Indian Penal Code.

More than 10 accused including Sandalwood actors  Ragini and Sanjjanaa Galrani  have been arrested so far. Alva, government employee Shivaprakash Chappi and alleged prime accused  Sheikh Faazil  are absconding. Faazil is an alleged close associate of an MLA and runs a casino in Sri Lanka.

The CCB had raided Alvas sprawling family property  House of Life  in Hebbal last week and had allegedly seized some incriminating material from there. The son of former JDS minister late Jeevaraj Alva and brother-in-law of Bollywood actor Vivek Oberoi, Alva is known to organise high-end parties.
Ukraine continues negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on financing, in particular, on September 21, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal held a telephone conversation with the leadership of the IMF European Department, Deputy Head of the President's Office of Ukraine Yulia Kovaliv said.

"We are working together with the IMF so that the IMF mission comes to an online mission, which will be new in our relationship with the Fund in the autumn," she said at a press conference at Interfax-Ukraine in Kyiv on Tuesday.

The IMF on June 9, 2020 approved a new 18-month stand-by program for Ukraine for SDR 3.6 billion (about $5 billion) with an immediate allocation of $2.1 billion of the first tranche.

After the allocation of the first tranche, four revisions of the program were planned: following the results of June, September and December 2020, as well as June 2021 with the completion of these revisions, respectively, on September 1 and December 1, 2020 and on May 15 and October 15, 2021. The amount of the second and third tranches will be $700 million, the third one will be $560 million and the final fourth will be $980 million. It was expected that the virtual mission for the first revision of the program would work on July 13-23, but this plan was violated.

Other international financing of Ukraine is also tied to the IMF program. In particular, the successful first revision of the stand-by program will allow receiving already approved $350 million from the World Bank and EUR600 million from the EU.

The IMF representative on September 10 found it difficult to name the possible date of the mission for the first revision of the stand-by program and the allocation of its second tranche. Refusing to directly comment on the decision of the Constitutional Court, which called into question a number of aspects of the work of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), the IMF representative said that maintaining the independence and integrity of NABU, SAPO and HACC is a precondition for this IMF support program. According to him, discussions about the current stand-by program continue.

Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko said that among the issues that are of interest to the IMF, the most priority one is "the situation around PrivatBank and the Surkis brothers" [a dispute for $350 million regarding bail-in during the nationalization of PrivatBank]. According to the head of the Finance Ministry, the following is the situation with the limitation of salaries for members of supervisory boards and the board; bills registered in the Verkhovna Rada that discredit the corporate governance system; SAPO and NABU.

According to informed sources of Interfax-Ukraine, currently the stand-by program is actually put on pause, and the appearance of the draft national budget for 2021 with a deficit of 6% of GDP and bills in the parliament with tax exemptions only adds questions.
Never say never.

The New York Post reports the agreement delivering the New York Mets to Steve Cohen is no sure thing.

Introducing Yankees Insider: Get exclusive news, behind-the-scenes observations and the ability to text message directly with beat writers

Cohen, a billionaire hedge fund manager, closed the deal last week to purchase the Mets in a transaction which put the value of the franchise at more than $2.4 billion. All thats needed now is approval from 23 of MLBs 29 owners, who could vote in late October or early November on the sale.

Cohen is not a slam dunk. He is not expected to be unanimously approved. The question is whether there are two to four dissenters or whether that total could grow to eight, which would mean a rejection. To that end, one person close to Cohen said he will do all he could to present himself as benignly and positively as possible to the voters.

Buy Jacob deGrom Mets gear: Fanatics, MLBShop.com, Lids

The problem? Cohens shady financial history, according to the Post.

Cohens previous company, S.A.C. Capital Advisors, pleaded guilty to insider trading in 2013 and paid $1.8 billion in penalties. His current company, Point72 Asset Management, recently reached an agreement with a female employee who had sued, claiming unfair pay practices based on gender and that Point72 had a sexist work environment.

Cohen entered into exclusive negotiations last month to buy the Mets, beating a bid from the power couple of former New York Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez and fiancee Jennifer Lopez, as well as an offer from New Jersey Devils and Philadelphia 76ers owners Josh Harris and David Blitzer.

Earlier this month, Forbes released its updated list of the 400 wealthiest people in the U.S. Cohen is No. 36 with $14.5 billion.

Get Yankees text messages: Cut through the clutter of social media and text during games with beat writers and columnists. Plus, exclusive news and analysis every day. Sign up now.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.

Mike Rosenstein may be reached at mrosenstein@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here.
Though some U.S. politicians are trying everything to contain the countrys development and hinder the exchanges between China and the U.S., China still chooses to stand on the right side of history, responding with calmness, composure and confidence.

China, facing the world and future, is determined to walk along the road of peaceful development and will resolutely safeguard world peace and promote common development ,just like Chinese President Xi Jinping said in his New Year speech this year that Human history, like a river, runs forever, witnessing both peaceful moments and great disturbances. We are not afraid of storms and dangers and barriers.

The powerful strength gathered by China when the country is sailing in rains and storms demonstrates the country's resolution and determination to safeguard its national sovereignty, security, and development interests, with its core national interests as the inviolable bottom line, as well as to protect international justice and equity.

The current difficulties in China-U.S. relations are completely created by the U.S. side. The latter aims to contain Chinas development, and is even doing everything possible to achieve its goal. For some time, some American politicians have been continuously fabricating stories to slander China and tried to escalate their provocation against China, from smearing the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Chinas political system to suppressing Chinese enterprises in the name of the so-called national security, and from arbitrarily imposing restrictions on Chinese news organizations and personnel conducting regular news reporting in the U.S and expelling Chinese journalists, to interrogating, harassing, and even detaining Chinese students in the U.S. What they did to undermine China-U.S. relations goes against history.

Charles W. Freeman, former U.S. senior diplomat and former U.S. President Richard Nixons translator, remarked that the U.S. seems determined to retain its supremacy  not by correcting its own deficiencies  but by tripping up and immobilizing China. By maintaining hegemony with hegemonic acts, the U.S. is the largest destroyer of todays international order. It is standing on the opposite side of history and the international society.

Its an international consensus that in the era of globalization, countries shall seek win-win results with strategic mutual trust, rather than containing each other with strategic threats. Mutual respect and trust help countries create common opportunities and development, while bullying and hegemony only leads to isolation. Its ridiculous that some U.S. politicians are ceaselessly putting on awkward shows on the wrong side of history, imagining to change China with lies and intimidation. However, they dont know that their practices are not able at all to achieve their goals.

Its not the first day for the U.S. to deal with China, so it knows that the latter has never compromised to external pressure. Seventy years ago, when the U.S. moved its military to the bank of the Yalu River, China made a historic decision to safeguard its homeland and protect justice despite it was still a backward and poor country then. Thirty some years ago, the U.S. initiated a large-scale sanction on China and the U.S. Congress adopted over 20 bills that interfered in Chinas domestic affairs. However, China made no compromise on matters of principle, proving that China is magnanimous and is not upset by trifles like that.

China has reiterated its stance publicly on U.S. hegemonic acts and made necessary countermeasures. The country has no intention to challenge, replace or confront with the U.S., but it will not hurt its own core interests, either.

Chinas policy stance on developing China-U.S. relations has been consistent and maintains a high degree of stability and continuity. China is always ready to work with the U.S. in the spirit of non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation, and will always exercise maximum restraint and never make troubles.

Both history and reality proves that as long as China follows the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics and takes control of the future of the country and nation, it will never be overwhelmed by any external force. China is not afraid of extreme pressure, willing to negotiate, and dares to respond to wars. The world has witnessed the solidarity and indestructible power generated by the 1.4 billion Chinese people in the COVID-19 epidemic, which fully proves that China fears no obstacle and will always grow in tribulations.

The U.S. politicians that run counter to history and wish to maintain monopolar hegemony will never gain support from the public. The international rule of law, justice, fairness, equality and mutual trust would all be trampled on if they are not stopped. Facing such arbitrary practices, China has made its firm and rational response - to safeguard multilateralism, international justice, and the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries.

The future of China-U.S. relations comes from todays choice and the lessons learned from history. To better steer the direction for the two countries relations, the fundamental interests of the people from the two countries and the rest of the world must be taken into consideration. The U.S. shall understand China from an objective and rational manner, make reasonable and practical policies for China, and take actions that help the bilateral relationship return to the right track.

(Zhong Sheng is a pen name often used by People's Daily to express its views on foreign policy.)
BEDFORD, Mass., Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Waltzing Matilda Aviation LLC (WMA) announced today that it has been granted TSA approval to operate its on-demand jet charter services into Washington DC's Ronald Reagan Airport. The move means significant improvement to convenience for WMA's clients to the DC area, with the ability for future clients to avoid having to arrive at Dulles Airport. Given this select accessibility, WMA believes it will see a further uptick in its business to the DC area, a major destination for Boston-based business travelers.

Continuing its stronger rebound from COVID-19, WMA additionally announced it saw a record level of flight activity in July 2020. WMA CEO John Thomas said: "Our July charter revenues were over three times the level of July 2019, which has further cemented our position as the largest light to mid-sized aircraft jet charter operator based at Bedford. This increase has been partially fueled by a strong resurgence in business-related travel."

WMA is also seeing greater use of its new online booking portal at its website www.wmaviation.org

Contact: John Thomas, CEO

(617) 763 3434

[email protected]

About WMA

WMA is a Boston based FAA Part 135 jet charter operator (Certificate number 6WZA614N). WMA began private (Part 91) operations in June 2008 and has operated thousands of hours of safe and reliable flying with a focus on delivering superior customer service. WMA owns and operates both its own aircraft as well as managed aircraft. WMA brings together a group of aviation professionals, many of whom have been involved in jet charter operations in the Boston area for over 20 years. WMA is passionate about flying and dedicated to providing a high quality of service.

WMA was co-founded by John Thomas. John has been actively involved in the aviation industry for the past 35 years, both as a senior operating executive as Group Executive at Virgin Australia Airlines and as a strategic advisor to the global aviation industry. He advised major airlines around the world as well as OEMs, Business & General Aviation, FBOs, airports, and ANSPs. In addition to actively managing WMA, John sits on the Board of Skyservice, the largest Corporate aviation service provider in Canada, as well as the Board of Icelandair, and continues to provide advisory services to the broader aviation industry.

SOURCE Waltzing Matilda Aviation LLC

Related Links

www.waltzingmatildaaviation.org


Crash experts have questioned how the South Dakota Attorney General could have mistaken hitting a man for a deer during a fatal collision.

Jason Ravnsborg told officers that he thought he had hit a large animal while driving home on September 12 to Pierre from a Republican fundraiser some 110 miles away in Redfield. He said he only realized he killed a man, later identified as 55-year-old Joseph Boever, after returning to the site the next morning.

Now mechanical engineer Kurt Weiss has told News Watch that had Ravnsborg been driving without distraction: 'It would be easy to tell the difference; even at 100 mph, you would be able to tell the difference between an erect human versus a deer, no question, and that would be part of the interrogation of Mr. Ravnsborg.'

The experienced traffic-accident reconstruction expert added: 'If he [Ravnsborg] is looking forward and had the headlights on, it would be easy to discern if its someones jeans and a flannel shirt versus a beige-colored deer.

'But if hes looking down or to the left and he blasts something, you might not know what you hit. But how could he not; look at the hole in the windshield.'

Ravnsborg (left) hit and killed 55-year-old Joe Boever (right) with his car near Highmore on Saturday night and called 911 to report that he'd hit a deer

A second expert, John Desch, said if Boever was wearing dark clothing and walking in the traffic lane then it is possible Ravnsborg could have hit him without knowing.

But he added: 'If a pedestrian is walking on the shoulder, there is some kind of reliance on their part that theyre in a safer area. That would be clear negligence on the part of the driver.

'They better not just try to cover this thing up or make it a half-assed job. That would not serve anybody.'

The Ford Taurus that Ravnsborg was driving the night he killed Boever had a huge hole in the windshield of the passenger's side (pictured)

Tire tracks are visible on the side of the highway on Monday, September 14, where Boever's truck sat Saturday night when he was killed while walking back to the vehicle

Ravnsborg, 44, told the Hyde County Sheriffs Office that because it was dark, around 10.30pm, he couldn't see very well and thought he had hit a deer

Questions had already been asked around how the AG could have mistaken a deer for a person, particularly given the prevalence of animal collisions in the area and Ravnsborg's tendency to make frequent, long trips along the state's highways for small political events.

Michael Card, a political science professor at the University of South Dakota said it was that familiarity with the experience of colliding with a deer that has left many asking how the attorney general could hit a person and not realize it.

Details had also been slow to emerge about what happened on the Saturday night.

Ravnsborg finally released a statement on September 14, giving his account of what happened along a stretch of U.S. Highway 14 with no lighting.

The 44-year-old told the Hyde County Sheriff's Office that because it was dark, around 10.30pm, he couldn't see very well and thought he had hit a deer.

South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg

Ravnsborg told authorities he hit 'something I believed to be a large animal (likely a deer)' soon after he passed Boever's hometown of Highmore.

'I didn't see what I hit and stopped my vehicle immediately to investigate,' he wrote, adding that he pulled out the flashlight on his cell phone and all he could see were pieces of his car strewn across the roadway.

The DPS said the crash occurred at 10:30 p.m. on U.S. Highway 14, one mile west of Highmore and along a stretch of road lit up with street lamps.

It takes one hour and seven minutes to drive from the restaurant to the crash site, reported Rapid City Journal.

After Ravnsborg called 911, Sheriff Volek arrived at the scene to assess the damage to his car and search for what he had hit.

He said they searched the area around the vehicle with flashlights but neither of them spotted Boever lying in a ditch.

'At no time did either of us suspect that I had been involved in an accident with a person,' Ravnsborg wrote.

Because Ravnsborg's car was too damaged to drive and a tow truck would take over an hour to arrive, Volek offered to let the attorney general take his personal car back to Pierre.

The following morning Ravnsborg and his chief of staff made the trip back to Highmore to return Volek's vehicle.

The pair stopped at the crash site on their way and discovered a man's body in the grass near the roadway.

'My chief of staff and I checked and it was apparent that Mr Boever was deceased,' Ravnsborg wrote.

'I immediately drove to Sheriff Volek's home to report the discovery and he accompanied me back to the scene.

'Once there, the sheriff instructed me that he would handle the investigation, and asked me to return to Pierre.'

The GOP dinner at a bar that South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg (circled) attended before he killed Boever

Boever's family have expressed suspicion that authorities could be working to cover up details of the incident to protect Ravnsborg. Boever is pictured second from right with relatives

Ravnsborg, who was alone in his 2011 Ford Taurus, insisted that he had not been drinking before he got behind the wheel and said he is 'cooperating fully with the investigation' by the South Dakota Highway Patrol and the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

He had attended a GOP dinner at a bar before the crash.

Photos posted on the Spink County Republicans' Facebook page show Ravnsborg sitting near the stage at the small Republican fundraiser at Rooster's Bar and Grill in Redfield Saturday night, hours before he hit 55-year-old Boever with his vehicle.

Witnesses at the fundraiser have vouched for the Attorney General, saying they didn't see him drinking alcohol and that he did not seem 'impaired in any way shape or form'.

Last week it was revealed Ravnsborg has previously shared photos from behind the wheel.

'As many of you know I spend many hours behind the wheel traveling our great state, so I thought I would show you some of my great views and take more pictures of South Dakota as I travel,' he wrote.

In another photo or dash cam still from May 2018, Ravnsborg is seen driving along a highway through rural South Dakota

Ravnsborg has also posted multiple pictures or grabs from dash cam video on Facebook of roads where it is clear he is behind the wheel including this photo from October 2019

New documents reveal Ravnsborg had received eight speeding tickets, six between 2014 and 2018 in South Dakota, and two in Iowa

Republican Gov. Kristi Noem promised a transparent investigation, saying she was bringing in outside investigators.

A crash reconstruction expert from Wyoming and the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation are helping the state Highway Patrol with the investigation. Noem gave no timeline on when details would be released.

For the family of Boever, it has already been too long.

They have called the fatal crash 'fishy' and expressed concern that authorities could bungle the investigation to protect Ravnsborg - the top law enforcement official in the state.

Boever's cousin Nick Nemec said relatives believe Boever was walking on the highway shoulder, toward his truck that had crashed earlier that same night.

'Cousin was just a quiet, meek, mild guy who minded his own business,' Nemec said. 'He grew jade plants and would give jade plants for gifts.'

'It just seems fishy,' Nick told South Dakota News Watch. 'It just seems like they're looking for an excuse to make it less than it was.'

Boever had struggled with a bipolar disorder and worked irregularly as a nurse's assistant, said Victor Nemec, another cousin. Though in recent days, when the two cousins worked together on Victor Nemec's farm, Boever had been doing well.

Nemec believed Boever had never met or interacted with the attorney general.

Read Jason Ravnsborg's full statement below:
New York: US President Donald Trump used the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday to attack China's handling of the coronavirus pandemic, saying the world body "must hold China accountable" for its actions.

By contrast, Chinese President Xi Jinping struck a conciliatory tone in his pre-recorded virtual address to the General Assembly, calling for enhanced co-operation over the pandemic and stressing that China had no intention of fighting "either a Cold War or a hot one" with any other country.

The leaders of the world's two largest economies laid out their competing visions as relations have plunged to their worst level in decades against the backdrop of the pandemic, with coronavirus tensions aggravating trade and technology disputes.

Trump, facing a November re-election battle while the US deals with the world's highest official number of deaths and infections from the coronavirus, focused his speech on attacking China.
"We are excited to return to the neighborhood where both Mark and I attended college and for the opportunity to serve this welcoming East Bay community," said Co-Founder Andrew Kim. "We look forward to extending our passion for healthy pet lifestyles and sharing The Healthy Spot Difference with our new neighbors."

To introduce themselves to the community, Healthy Spot will be hosting Grand Opening Weekend Celebrations throughout the month of October, beginning October 10th. Event attendees will enjoy safe and socially distant experiences each weekend, in addition to special offers and different giveaways. Space is limited at each event and RSVP is required at hsrockridge.eventbrite.com. Customers can also learn more about Healthy Spot events, promotions and health tips by signing up for its email newsletter at healthyspot.com, becoming a fan on Facebook, or by following @healthyspot on Instagram.

The store is located at 3206 College Avenue, Berkeley and will be open 7 days a week from 9am to 7pm. To learn more about Healthy Spot, visit healthyspot.com/aboutus.

About Healthy Spot

Healthy Spot is a pet retail destination founded by Andrew Kim and Mark Boonnark in 2008 following the 2007 pet food recall. Healthy Spot ensures every stocked product meets stringent pre-selection criteria for premium quality of ingredients, procurement, and manufacturing. All products are organic, natural, and/or eco-friendly. In addition to pet supplies, Healthy Spot offers full-service dog grooming and small dog daycare in select locations. Healthy Spot is committed to inspiring healthy pet lifestyles by creating authentic experiences and fostering community, one pet at a time.

Media Contact: Reva Choi, Director of Brand Marketing, [email protected] (424) 227-8686

SOURCE Healthy Spot

Related Links

http://www.healthyspot.com


The construction industry in India is the second largest employer after agriculture and has an industry size of Rs 10.5 trillion. According to the Confederation of Real Estate Developers Association of India, prior to the lockdown, there were 20,000 ongoing construction projects in the country and work was being undertaken in as many as 18,000 sites.

The latest quarterly Gross Domestic Product data released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation presents a gloomy picture. The Indian economy has contracted by a staggering 23.9 percent in the first quarter of the current financial year  with the labour-intensive construction sector reporting a massive slump of 50.3 percent. For a sector that was already under stress before the pandemic due to the poor financial health of many companies and dwindling output, this news has come as a shocker.

But more significantly, the data provide a frightening picture of the impact the pandemic has had on the construction workers- a glimpse of which was also visible from the mass exodus of migrant workers to their villages during the lockdown.

A rapid assessment survey conducted by Habitat for Humanitys Terwilliger Center for Innovation in Shelter interviewed 974 respondents to better understand the impact of the COVID-19 on migrant workers in Maharashtras Pune and Ulhasnagar. The report reveals that nearly half the respondents belonged to the construction industry (47 percent), followed by bag manufacturing (23 percent), garment industry (13 percent) and the remaining 17 percent to other sectors. At least, 71 percent of all respondents received no wages after the lockdown and over 63 percent claimed to have no source of livelihood at their places of origin.

The survey presents a distressing picture of the plight of migrant workers in the construction sector and other industries - and what the 50 percent fall in construction output means for the many who depend on it.

Impact on the construction industry and its workforce



The construction industry in India is the second largest employer after agriculture and has an industry size of Rs 10.5 trillion. According to the Confederation of Real Estate Developers Association of India, prior to the lockdown, there were 20,000 ongoing construction projects in the country and work was being undertaken in as many as 18,000 sites.

Together, these projects involved a workforce of over 8.5 million. Moreover, demand from affordable housing segment is expected to decline significantly due to constrained spending capacity of the target group. With more than 6.1 lakh affordable houses under construction buoyed by policy fillip such as Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and the resultant growth in recent years  muted demand, reduced cash flows, labour shortage and cost escalations could severely hamper revival of the sector. When output from the sector is lost, the jobs and the incomes generated from those jobs are also lost. The loss in incomes was observed even in the Terwilliger Center survey, with only 16 percent of all workers interviewed receiving the same wages as before lockdown, and the remaining 84 percent receiving much less or no income. Further, even from the workers who received the wages, only around 10 percent found it sufficient enough to help them through the lockdown.

With no money in hand and no alternative livelihood in the destination states, migrant workers were forced to rely on welfare measures from the government. Data from the Terwilliger Center survey shows that about 28 percent of them received no form of help or support from the government  putting their very lives at risk. It is no surprisem therefore, that almost 26 percent of the workers suffered hunger during the lockdown, with little or no access to food. In fact, for 40 percent workers, access to food and ration was one of their biggest concerns.

In such a situation, the existence of active social protection for workers becomes imperative. The construction sector has two laws to provide protection and dignity to its workforce. The first, the Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and conditions of service) Act 1996 regulates the employment and conditions of service of building and other construction workers, and provides for their safety, health, and welfare. The second, the BOCW Cess Act, provides for the levy and collection of cess on the cost of construction incurred by employers, with a view to augment the resources of the BOCW Welfare Boards, used to provide for these workers.

The rapid assessment survey highlights the glaring inadequacy of the workers registration system under the Act: 96 percent of the workers in the construction sector were not registered under the BOCW Act and thus could not avail its relief package. The survey further reveals that among the 455 respondents employed in the construction sector, 62 percent were not even aware of BOCW, while 20 percent were aware of BOCW, but could not register themselves.

To put this in perspective, in June 2020, Ministry of Labour and Employment stated that 20 million workers registered under BOCW were provided cash assistance during the lockdown. As per Indias Periodic Labour Force Survey of employment and unemployment, there were nearly 55 million construction workers in 201718. This demonstrates that only about 36 percent of the construction workers received the cash entitlements they deserved, making the situation precarious for the large majority of the workers, and often leaving them to fend for themselves.

In reality, a large number of workers in the construction industry have been living in precarious conditions even before the pandemic. This is due to the rampant informality present in the construction sector, primarily due to its reliance on migrant labour recruited through a series of sub-contracting processes. About 87.4 percent of workers in the construction sector have been categorised as casual labour, according to the PLFS 2017-18, highlighting the level of informality that prevails in the industry.

Informality is also evident through subcontracting  a process deeply embedded within the building construction work. A typical example of a sub-contracting hierarchy involves a realty and infrastructure company handing over specialised tasks to specific subcontracting companies, which in turn delegate hiring responsibilities to petty contractors, who may or may not have an appropriate license. These petty contractors, also known as labour sub-contractors, are responsible for recruiting and onboarding workers. Thus, the structure of recruitment is complex, multi-layered and hierarchical, especially in large construction firms.

Petty contractors in such contracting value chain play a crucial role in mobilising large number of labourers needed by the construction industry. The heavy reliance on these contractors was evident from the survey as well; majority of the construction workers (58 percent) surveyed relied on contractors to find jobs, while 26 percent found employment on their own and 13 percent through referrals from friends or relatives.

Labour economist Ravi Srivastava talks about how this dependence on contractors is more common among short term migrants, in this 2020 paper. "Short term migrants are much more likely to enter the migrant labour market through contractors from whom they have taken an advance payment and are more likely to be involved in a debt-interlocked migration cycle," he writes.

In addition, these short-term migrant workers are largely characterised by an absence of civic identity and citizenship at destination, poorer access to entitlements, labour market discrimination and working and living in substandard conditions. Though significant progress has been made in providing housing for economically weaker sections through the PMAY scheme, short-term migrants, who are multilocal in nature, are left out and often end up living in inadequate shelter in cities as they could neither afford nor access decent housing.

They face double marginalisation in the destination states, owing to their identity as outsiders and also due to the informal nature of their occupation. They resort to living in labour colonies and rented accommodation in informal settlements, with no access to basic services. Further, the living conditions of such migrants are congested in nature and conducive for the rapid spread of viruses and diseases. The survey corroborated this - out of all migrant workers surveyed, only 15 percent had access to all necessary conditions required for prevention of COVID-19, such as access to serviceable toilets, clean drinking water, water for washing hands, and enough space to practice physical distancing.

All this is emblematic of a larger malaise prevailing in the system- marked by an absence of social protection to the workforce that runs the economy. Seen from this perspective, the 50 percent fall in GVA of the construction sector could exacerbate hunger, loss of livelihood, and lead to distress migration and lack of dignity for workers. Findings from the Terwilliger Center study and several other field assessments since March 2020 indicate the prevalence of all these aspects in the lives of migrant workers.

Beyond the official data

There is a high likelihood that the decline of over 50 percent in the activity of the construction sector has been under-reported. This is because a countrys GDP, as economist Vivek Kaul writes, is based on formal-sector indicators; and the real state of the huge informal sector can be captured only over a period of time, as more and more data come in, not immediately. In India, given that data-collection was affected drastically during the lockdown and that the construction industry is subject to rampant informality and substantial sub-contracting, the impact on the sector, both in terms of loss of output and employment is likely to be worse.

For instance, KPMGs report on the impact of COVID-19 in the construction sector predicted a fall in the Gross Value Added of the construction sector to be 34 percent, (in the worst case scenario of the lockdown extending to 30 June) and the consequent fall in employment to be 25 percent (corresponding to the 34 percent fall in GVA). However, the latest fall in the construction sector GVA of 50.3 percent, based on partial data collection, belies all such expectations. More so, given the nature of construction industry, a fall in output would have a multiplier effect through backward linkages, causing further reduction of the economic activity and job losses. However, all is not lost yet.

The rural economy and the role of housing

With a protracted economic recovery looming large, especially in industries such as construction that are dependent on migrant labour, there is an urgent need to revive the rural economy. Transitional remedial measures such as PM Garib Kalyan Yojana and enhanced budget allocation and expansion of works as well as workdays under MGNREGA can help in the short term revival but may not be sufficient given the magnitude of crisis and jobs to be created.

Extending the PMAY Gramin programs tenure and upskilling returnee construction labour on rural masonry skills can create more sustainable jobs besides productively utilizing their skills acquired in cities. This can also lead to improved quality of housing construction under PMAY Gramin.

According to a recent GIZ report Improving Housing for Urban Poor - Learnings from BLC Implementation in Odisha, it can be seen that 76 percent of PMAY beneficiaries are labourers and 56 percent infact are construction labourers. It is well known that remittances from migrant labour working in cities partly goes towards housing improvements in their hometowns. The current situation presents an opportunity to address the housing gaps among migrant households and enlist those who were left out; and also resolve the issue of incomplete houses caused by migration of beneficiaries to other places for work. Housing has also become the frontline defense against the coronavirus and in this context it is imperative that every migrant worker has access to adequate housing, in both origin and destination states.

Willingness to migrate again

One of the important findings of the survey is that, despite the hardships endured in the place of work and in subsequently travelling back to their villages, 59 percent of surveyed migrants expressed willingness to return to their destination state. This willingness was higher among construction workers, where 68 percent expressed willingness to return to the destination state once the government allowed interstate travel. For many of these construction workers (76 percent), the lack of livelihood options in the origin state was a key driver influencing their decision. Not surprisingly, the survey reveals that the migrant workers' willingness to return to their place of work was contingent upon the employer providing them with travel arrangements, food and a safe, clean and hygienic workplace and proper accommodation- all basic necessities.

Further, because of the nature of the construction sector, petty contractors are the key linchpins in recruiting workers and offering informal intermediation services to employers in mobilising labour. The survey suggests that builders and construction firms should step up in formally recognising their role and paying for their services, while keeping the relationship between the worker and employer linear. Employers can also explore partnerships with civil society organizations to sensitise, train and expand the services of petty contractors as facilitators of entitlements to migrant workers in the destination states.

As a significant number of migrant workers are employed in the construction sector, implementation issues in the Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Act must be addressed immediately. The welfare boards in destination states need to be inclusive and ease the registration process for migrant workers. One way to do that is by engaging with petty contractors to scale up migrant worker registrations. At the same time, builders and construction firms who contribute cess to the state governments must hold the state BOCW welfare boards accountable and ensure delivery of entitlements for registered workers.

Doing away with domicile restrictions to access the Public Distribution System would ensure food security of migrants in the destination states as they return. As regards housing, India does not have a legal framework for the right to housing, which makes it difficult for migrants to acquire shelter and they end up relying on intermediaries or petty contractors for accommodation. Finding sustainable ways to develop and operate the affordable rental housing complexes for migrant workers through market-based models and utilising the Construction Workers Welfare Board funds for housing of migrant construction workers as recommended by the Working Group on Migration in 2017, could go a long way in improving the quality of lives of workers as well as help revive the GDP by rekindling demand.

To access the full report, click here

Priyansha is with India Migration Now, a South East Migration Foundation Venture based in Mumbai, India. Follow their work at @nowmigration

Prasanna is a Specialist in Market Systems and leads the Construction Labour vertical at the Terwilliger Centre for Innovation in Shelter, Habitat for Humanity
(Natural News) Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats released a stopgap government funding bill on Monday, Sept. 21. Unfortunately, both the White House and the Senate Republicans will have to reject this proposed bill because it does not include several provisions to extend aid for farmers and for child nutrition programs.

The stopgap funding bill the Democrats proposed, known as a continuing resolution, would extend the governments current level of spending past the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30 to Dec. 11. Both the White House and Senate Republicans object to it because it does not include $30 billion in farm aid. The bill also does not include any money for a child nutrition program, which runs out of funding at the end of the month.

Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin initially had an informal agreement to pass a bill that would leave out a lot of contentious items on the bill, such as the finer points of pandemic relief. However, the speaker of the house called the secretary on Friday to cancel the trade. Pelosi effectively ruined the hard work of bipartisan and bicameral appropriators, who were negotiating for weeks to get the two parties to come to a compromise over several sticking points on the bill.

A Democratic aide familiar with the situation said that the House is expected to vote on the measure on Tuesday. After it passes the House, it will be sent to the Senate, where the aid believes the bill may get stuck because the Republicans who control the upper house cannot come to an agreement with the Democrats.

Both the Republicans and the Democrats have publicly stated that they would like to avoid a government shutdown just weeks before the election. Pelosi stated that nobody, not even her opponents across the aisle, are interested in shutting down the government.

We do prefer additional farm aid in the [continuing resolution], said Larry Kudlow, chief economic adviser to President Donald Trump. Most of all we want a clean [continuing resolution] to keep the government open.

There is only a little over a month left before the presidential election. People need to get ready for the post-election chaos that radical left-wing domestic terrorist organizations like Antifa and the Black Lives Matter movement are heavily preparing for. Listen to this episode of the Health Ranger Report, a podcast by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, as he talks about how people can be better prepared for the upcoming collapse.

Risk of government shutdown increasing thanks to Pelosi and House Democrats

Senate Republicans from farm states are demanding that House Democrats include a provision in the funding bill to provide $30 billion to replenish the funds of the U.S. Department of Agricultures Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), a government-owned company whose main goal is to stabilize, support and protect farm income and prices.

The other crucial point of contention in the bill is the $2 billion that would have gone to replenish the Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer, a food benefit program that would have given meals to children who would have received either subsidized or free food if their schools were open.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell strongly criticized Democrats in a tweet for putting the incomes of American farmers at risk.

House Democrats rough draft of a government funding bill shamefully leaves out key relief and support that American farmers need. This is no time to add insult to injury and defund help for farmers and rural America.  Leader McConnell (@senatemajldr) September 21, 2020

Republican Senator Joni Ernst from Iowa is angry at the political games her colleagues are playing.

Im calling on all of my farm state colleagues in the House and the Senate  Republicans and Democrats  to stand with farmers and demand this support be included in the upcoming government funding bill, she said in a statement.

Other elected officials from Iowa, such as Republicans Sen. Chuck Grassley and Rep. Steve King and Democrats Reps. Dave Loebsack, Abby Finkenauer and Cindy Axne, joined Ernst in calling for bipartisanship and the inclusion of the $30 billion for farmers.

Even Trump has weighed in on the bickering in the legislature. He tweeted that he wont let Pelosi take the $30 billion away from our great farmers.

Insiders in the Democratic Party are alleging that the CCC fund does not actually aid farmers, but is instead a bottomless, unaccountable slush fund. This baseless accusation, they argue, is part of the reason why Pelosi does not want to fund it, and instead wants to railroad the Democrats version of the funding bill through the House.

Now, Senate Republicans are expected to block and amend the stopgap bill, which will lead to a confrontation that can increase the risk of a shutdown occurring.

Learn more about the partisan politicking elected Democrats are pushing both in the House of Representatives and the Senate by reading the articles at VoteDemocrat.news.

Sources include:

Bloomberg.com

ABCNews.go.com

ZeroHedge.com

FederalRegister.gov

Twitter.com 1

Twitter.com 2
A 29-year-old former West Haven man who prosecutors said posed as a minor on a messaging app to solicit child pornography from underage girls pleaded guilty to a child pornography charge Monday.

Dylan Koerner, of New Britain, pleaded guilty to a single charge of distribution of child pornography, the U.S. Attorneys office for the district of Connecticut said.
Thirty-one US states plus DC were experiencing a second wave of COVID-19 cases while 13 others were still in the first wave at the end of July

WASHINGTON, September 22, 2020 -- As the COVID-19 pandemic spreads around the world, some locations have experienced decreasing numbers of cases followed by an increase. This has ignited a public debate: Can we call this a second wave?

In the journal Chaos, by AIP Publishing, mathematicians report a method to analyze COVID-19 case numbers for evidence of a first or second wave. The authors studied data from all 50 U.S. states plus the District of Columbia for the seven-month period from Jan. 21 to July 31, 2020. They found 31 states and D.C. were experiencing a second wave as of the end of July.

Their method smooths raw daily case count data to eliminate artificially low counts over weekends and even some negative numbers that occur when localities correct errors. After smoothing the data, a numerical technique is used to find peaks, P, and troughs, T. From this, turning points can be identified.

A turning point occurs when a falling curve surges upward or a rising curve turns downward. Only those sequences where the peak and trough amplitudes differ by a certain minimum amount are counted. A second wave that's less than one-fifth the size of the first doesn't qualify as a "second wave" -- it's just too small. Fluctuations can occur when a curve flattens for a while but continues to increase without going through a true downturn, so the method eliminates these false counts.

Thirteen states, including Georgia, California, and Texas, had increasing case numbers throughout the entire seven-month period. These states are considered to be still in their first wave. Thirty-one other states, including Florida and Ohio, exhibit sequences of the form TPTP -- zero cases to a first peak, then another trough and peak. This is the signature of a second wave.

New York and New Jersey completely flattened their curves by the end of July. The analysis confirms these two states experienced just one wave.

The investigators also carried out a month-by-month deeper investigation and grouped the states into clusters according to how their case numbers changed over time. The states in a cluster have similar dynamic profiles, but the cluster membership varies as the epidemic spreads.

"Similarities within clusters can help identify common characteristics of the states that have most and least successfully managed COVID-19," said author Nick James. "After an early first surge, Florida reduced restrictions and has since experienced a long and steep second surge," he said. This contrasts with New York and New Jersey, who kept restrictions in place and have, so far, avoided a second wave.

"The real moral of this paper is that COVID-19 is highly infectious and very difficult to control," said author Max Menzies.

Menzies said their analysis shows governments should never allow new cases to increase, nor reduce restrictions when case numbers have merely flattened.

"A true turning point, where new cases are legitimately in downturn and not just exhibiting stable fluctuations, should be observed before relaxing any restrictions."

The authors have also applied their method to Brazil, which has a statelike structure, and found similar results.

###

The article, "COVID-19 in the United States: Trajectories and second surge behavior," is authored by Nick James and Max Menzies. The article will appear in Chaos on Sept. 22, 2020 (DOI: 10.1063/5.0024204). After that date, it can be accessed at https://aip.scitation.org/doi/10.1063/5.0024204.

ABOUT THE JOURNAL

Chaos is devoted to increasing the understanding of nonlinear phenomena in all areas of science and engineering and describing their manifestations in a manner comprehensible to researchers from a broad spectrum of disciplines. See https://aip.scitation.org/journal/cha.
Sydney, Sept. 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Just released, this edition of Paul Budde Communications focus report on Hong Kong outlines the major developments and key aspects in the telecoms markets.

Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Hong-Kong-Data-Center-Market-Investment-Analysis-and-Growth-Opportunities-2020-2025

Continuous interest shown by hyperscale cloud and internet service providers will increase the demand for wholesale colocation in the data center market in Hong Kong. A stable economy and high capacity fiber connectivity to rest of the world, and the increasing local demand for digitalization of business and consumer environment is driving growth in the Hong Kong data center market. Hong Kong currently hosts around 60 data center facilities. Tseung Kwan O Industrial estate is the major location for colocation data center development, with Sunevision involved in development on two data center facilities, with first phase expected to operational by 2020.

Hong Kong is majorly likely to witness an increase in data center investments. The region is also witnessing the deployment of 5G technology, which is likely to increase the count of connected devices in the country. Hybrid cloud services are gaining traction as enterprises use private and public cloud services to improve information sharing and increase data management efficiency.

What is the Impact of the Current COVID-19 Pandemic in the Hong Kong Market?

COVID-19 had a moderate impact on the Hong Kong data center market growth. In terms of infrastructure, the market is likely to witness supply chain issues, as many vendors are dependent on mainland China. The projects that were scheduled to open 2020, might get affected to a considerable extent.

Furthermore, the pandemic is likely to slow down in the delivery of construction projects. The spread of the virus will have higher impact on upcoming projects scheduled to be opened in Q3 2020 and Q4 2020.

What are Key Factors Attracting Investments in Hong Kong?

Equinix, Global Switch, CITIC Telecom International Holdings, AirTrunk Operating, and China Unicom are some of the prominent investors in the market. Over 75% of business enterprises in Hong Kong are adopting cloud services. Private cloud companies & services are expected to witness growth of over 20% during the forecast period.

In 2019, 24% of large businesses in the country have implemented big data technology. Financial service providers are using big data and AI technology to predict risks in investment, manage portfolios, and detect fraud. Amazon Web Services is expected to colocate the space in the region, similar to other providers operating in the region. The region will witness increase in wholesale colocation by cloud service providers that are offering services in Hong Kong and China. These providers are also the major contributors to the revenue.

What Business Intelligence does this Report Provide?

The report provides Hong Kong data center investments in terms of area (square feet) and power capacity (MW) in major cities in the country. An in-depth analysis of the impact of the COVID-19 on the Hong Kong data center market is included in the report.

Furthermore, the report also includes a detailed analysis of the colocation industry in Hong Kong, and retail & wholesale colocation pricing in Hong Kong.

A detailed study of the existing market landscape, an in-depth industry analysis, and insightful predictions about the Hong Kong data center market size during 2020-2025, is included in this exclusive report.

The report further categorizes the Hong Kong data center market into multiple segments and sub-segments with sizing and forecast. The report also profiles prominent investors, construction contractors, and infrastructure vendors in the Hong Kong data center market.

Key Developments

Blade type servers are the most popular in the data center market in Hong Kong.

The usage of lithium-ion batteries is expected to significantly increase during the forecast period as their price will continue to decline during the forecast period.

The adoption of DRUPS systems is low than stand-alone diesel generators in the Hong Kong region.

The adoption of 42U, 45U, 47U, and 48U rack units will increase among data center investors in the country.

The data center market in Hong Kong is likely to have more brownfield deployments due to space shortage in the country.

Infrastructure level monitoring is likely to increase compared to end-to-end facility management.

Key Companies Mentioned in this Report Include

IT Infrastructure Providers  Inspur, NEC Corporation, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Cisco, NetApp, Huawei, Fujitsu, Hitachi, IBM, Lenovo

Construction Service Providers - Obayashi Corporation, Kajima Corporation, Marcai Design, Shinryo, Keihanshin Building, Hibiya Engineering, Meiho Facility Works, NTT Facilities, Fuji Furukawa Engineering & Construction, ISG

Support Infrastructure Providers  ABB, Caterpillar, Cummins, Eaton, Legrand, Schneider Electric, Vertiv, Hitec-Power Protection, Rittal, MTU Onsite Energy, Mitsubishi Electric, Kohler, Fuji Electric

Data Center Investors - Equinix, MC Digital Realty, Equinix, GIC, NTT Communications, Colt DCS, AT TOKYO Corporation, Internet Initiative Hong Kong, NEC Corporation

Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Hong-Kong-Data-Center-Market-Investment-Analysis-and-Growth-Opportunities-2020-2025
As of Friday, about 90 percent of students at primary schools, middle schools and universities across China -- 242 million students -- are back on campus, marking the general restoration of on-campus teaching in China, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Education announced on Tuesday.

Many freshmen are still waiting to go to college, as school openings are being staggered to reduce COVID-19 control pressure, Xu Mei said at a press conference.

School teaching has returned to normal in a safe and comprehensive manner, Xu said, adding that this shows the country's education system has withstood a major test.
We've just had the closest look yet at the global battle against money laundering, and it's deeply troubling: Banks and their regulators are nowhere near restraining the flow of trillions of dollars of illicit funds.

Both the finance industry and the authorities are to blame. Without an urgent, concerted political effort, criminals - from drug dealers and terrorists to human traffickers - will keep the upper hand.

The investigation revealed that reports flagged up to $US2 trillion of fund flows, $US1.3 trillion from Deutsche Bank, that may have stemmed from criminal activity. Credit:AP

In a year-long investigation by BuzzFeed and the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, reporters pored over about 2100 suspicious activity reports, or SARs, which lenders file to the US Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) when they spot potential money laundering and other bad behaviour.

While the number of SARs reviewed by the journalists dwarfs any previous access to these confidential documents, they're still just a tiny fraction - 0.02 per cent - of the 12 million or so SARs that were probably filed during the period in question, mostly 2011 through 2017. Also, the sample isn't representative of overall banking activity. Some records stem from the US congressional investigation into interference with the 2016 presidential election. Almost half of the SARs came from Deutsche Bank.
As presidential candidates make their appeals to Michigan voters, President Donald Trump is touting his record on protecting the Great Lakes. But environmental groups say his history is one of deregulation and cutbacks.

As part of the weekly series MichMash, public radio station, WDETs Jake Neher and MLives Cheyna Roth take a look at Trumps record on the Great Lakes.

You can listen to the entire MichMash episode on the player above.

Environmentalists are concerned that a lot of rollbacks in recent years by the Trump administration are going to have a lasting, harmful impact on the Great Lakes.

This past year was the first year that Trump agreed in his budget proposal to fully fund the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI). Thats a program that puts hundreds of millions of dollars toward Great Lakes restoration, cleanup, and protection. But it took years for the president to stop fighting pretty much all lawmakers, who consistently put the funding into the final budget, on this issue.

But while the president is starting to put more money toward the great lakes  including repairing the Soo Locks  its the regulatory rollbacks that have environmentalists really concerned.

Read More: Trump casts self as Great Lakes champion, but his policies may do lasting damage

An analysis by the New York Times found that as of July 2020, the president is in the process of, or has completed, rolling back 100 environmental rules. And some of them directly impact the Great Lakes.

For example theres the weakening of regulations of power plants. Those plants, particularly coal plants, emit toxins like mercury and lead into their waste water which get into the air and nearby lakes. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has also scaled back pollution protections for certain tributaries and wetlands that were regulated under the Clean Water Act by the Obama administration.

Theres also a concern with polluters. In March, the Trump administration announced that it would stop the enforcement of some environmental rules, including compliance with routine monitoring and reporting of pollution. The EPA also announced that it wouldnt seek penalties against organizations that fall out of compliance as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

When asked by MLive, the EPA said it did not curtail their enforcement during the pandemic, but a March 26 EPA memorandum specifically states: The EPA does not expect to seek penalties for violations of routine compliance monitoring, integrity testing, sampling, laboratory analysis, training, and reporting or certification obligations in situations where the EPA agrees that COVID-19 was the cause of the noncompliance

Thats not the only concern environmentalists have when it comes to regulating pollution. They say stopping for the pandemic is just another example.

A report by the Environmental Law and Policy Center, using EPA data, found that the average number of regulatory cases being initiated and concluded by the EPAs Region 5, which covers Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Minnesota and Wisconsin, against polluters has dropped more than 28% since Trump took office. And compliance with environmental regulations in the Great Lakes is also declining.

While the impact of these rollbacks might not be obvious now, environmentalists say the effects will be felt for years to come,

More From MichMash:

MichMash: Michigans cities are worried about under count as census deadline looms

MichMash: How to make sure your vote is counted during a pandemic

MichMash: Why the beach might look different this Labor Day weekend
Former Deputy Prime Minister of Nepal, Kamal Thapa, reiterated his demand for the government to abdicate the secular tag and restore the countrys Hindu identity on the Himalayan countrys Constitution Day on the 19th of September, reports Hindi Daily Jagran.

The long-pending demand for the restoration of Nepals earlier status as a Hindu state, which the Rastriya Prajatantra Party, led by Kamal Thapa has been putting forward in front of Nepals Communist Party-led government time and again, gained momentum amidst the escalated tensions between India and Nepal over the border issue.

Kamal Thapa tweeted that Nepal should be declared a Hindu republic in view of the larger interests of the nation. His party workers are also raising this demand by running a signature campaign. Jitendra Kumar, secretary of the World Hindu Council of Nepal, opined that about 82 per cent of Nepals population is Hindu. The original nature of Nepal has been tampered with by snatching the status of Hindu nation. Hence he said that it is the collective demand of the people of the country that the status of Hindu nation is restored.

Former Deputy PM of Nepal hoped to get support from PM Narendra Modi and Yogi Adityanath

Kamal Thapa said that people of Nepal are hopeful that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Hindutvavadi CM of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath would cooperate and help them to attain complete religious freedom by revoking the provision of secularism and reinstating Nepals Hindu identity.

Last year too, the Rastriya Prajatantra Party, which has been in continuous pursual, in a memorandum handed to Prime Minister K P Oli demanded that Nepal should be declared a Hindu state. Nepal was declared a secular state in 2008 after the success of the communist movement of 2006 that saw the abolition of the monarchy.

Abolition of the monarchy led to an increase in conversion cases in the Himalayan country

Hinduism is the largest religion in Nepal. Abolition of the monarchy in the erstwhile Himalayan kingdom had led to evangelical Christian missionaries flooding the country and converting poor and vulnerable Hindus to Christianity. This alarming shift in the countrys demographic profile had triggered calls for jettisoning secularism that has facilitated and encouraged rampant proselytism by Christian missionaries and restoration of the countrys Hindu identity.

Christian evangelicals have targeted the Dalits and marginalised communities like the Tharus in Nepal. They have lured them into Christianity by not only offering free education in missionary institutions,but also money and other material benefits. Another preferred method of conversions is through miracles and faith-healing which many people unwittingly fall prey to.

Source : OpIndia
Today we will run through one way of estimating the intrinsic value of Travis Perkins plc (LON:TPK) by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to today's value. Our analysis will employ the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Don't get put off by the jargon, the math behind it is actually quite straightforward.

Remember though, that there are many ways to estimate a company's value, and a DCF is just one method. 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 Travis Perkins

Step by step through the calculation

We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. 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 need to discount the sum of these future cash flows to arrive at a present value estimate:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast

2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 Levered FCF (, Millions) UK252.4m UK224.2m UK215.2m UK210.3m UK207.7m UK206.7m UK206.8m UK207.6m UK208.9m UK210.6m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x8 Analyst x8 Analyst x1 Est @ -2.27% Est @ -1.22% Est @ -0.49% Est @ 0.02% Est @ 0.38% Est @ 0.63% Est @ 0.81% Present Value (, Millions) Discounted @ 11% UK228 UK183 UK158 UK140 UK125 UK112 UK101 UK91.6 UK83.3 UK75.8

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = UK1.3b

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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 (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 11%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2030  (1 + g)  (r  g) = UK211m (1 + 1.2%)  (11% 1.2%) = UK2.2b

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= UK2.2b ( 1 + 11%)10= UK804m

The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is UK2.1b. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of UK10.5, the company appears slightly overvalued at the time of writing. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind.

dcf

The assumptions

We would point out that the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate and of course the actual cash flows. You don't have to agree with these inputs, I recommend redoing the calculations yourself and playing with them. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Travis Perkins 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 1.379. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business.

Looking Ahead:

Although the valuation of a company is important, it is only one of many factors that you need to assess for a company. It's not possible to obtain a foolproof valuation with a DCF model. Instead the best use for a DCF model is to test certain assumptions and theories to see if they would lead to the company being undervalued or overvalued. If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. What is the reason for the share price exceeding the intrinsic value? For Travis Perkins, we've compiled three fundamental aspects you should consider:

Financial Health: Does TPK have a healthy balance sheet? Take a look at our free balance sheet analysis with six simple checks on key factors like leverage and risk. Management:Have insiders been ramping up their shares to take advantage of the market's sentiment for TPK's future outlook? Check out our management and board analysis with insights on CEO compensation and governance factors. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered!

PS. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the LSE every day. If you want to find the calculation for other stocks just search here.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.



Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg to Be the First Woman and First Jewish Person to Lie in State at Capitol Building

Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Supreme Court Justice and Liberal Icon, Dies at 87

Ruth Bader Ginsburg died "surrounded by her family at her home," the Supreme Court said in a statement

Ruth Bader Ginsburg will lie in repose for three days of public viewings around Washington, D.C., this week, making her the first woman and the first Jewish person to lie in state at the Capitol building.

The late, liberal icon and revered Supreme Court Justice died last Friday from complications of metastatic cancer at the age of 87.

She was surrounded by family when she passed away at her Washington home, according to a Supreme Court statement announcing her death.

The Supreme Court said Monday that Ginsburg will lie in repose on the top steps of the U.S. Supreme Court building on Wednesday and Thursday, following a private ceremony attended by family, close friends and other members of the Supreme Court in the building's Great Hall.

"The public is invited to pay respects in front of the Building from approximately 11 a.m. until 10 p.m. on Wednesday, September 23, and from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. on Thursday, September 24," the Court said.

RELATED: Mourners Pay Their Respects to Ruth Bader Ginsburg at Supreme Court Vigil: 'She Was Holding on for Us'

Ginsburg's former law clerks will serve as the honorary pallbearers, according to the Supreme Court's announcement. They will line the front steps of the building, as her casket arrives.

The justice will be laid on the Lincoln Catafalque  which was once used for President Abraham Lincoln's coffin  while a 2016 portrait of Ginsburg by Constance P. Beaty will be displayed inside the Great Hall.

Collection of the Supreme Court of the United States Ruth Bader Ginsburg

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also announced that Ginsburg would lie in repose inside the National Statuary Hall at the U.S. Capitol building on Friday.

Justice Ginsburg embodied justice, brilliance and goodness, and her passing is an incalculable loss for our democracy and for all who sacrifice and strive to build a better future for our children," Pelosi, 80, said. "Her opinions have unequivocally cemented the precedent that all men and women are created equal.

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The Court says Ginsburg will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery the following week.

RELATED: Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Supreme Court Justice and Liberal Icon, Dies at 87

Nikki Kahn/The Washington Post/Getty Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Evelyn Hockstein/For The Washington Post via Getty Images; Collection of the Supreme Court of the United States/Tribune News Service via Getty Images Mourners at the Supreme Court honoring Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Saturday

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic threw some hiccups into the plans to honor the late Justice.

Ginsburg would've lied in repose inside the Supreme Court's Great Hall, but social distancing restrictions have closed off the inside of the building to the public.

Friday's viewing at the U.S. Capitol will also only be available to invited guests because of the pandemic restrictions, Pelosi announced Monday.

RELATED: SNL's Kate McKinnon Calls Ruth Bader Ginsburg a 'Robed Crusader' in Tribute: 'A Real-Life Superhero'

Sonal Dutt A young child paying their respects to Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Hundreds already gathered on the steps of the Supreme Court this weekend, after news broke of Ginsburg's death Friday night.

Mourners filled the Supreme Court's front steps with bouquets and handwritten signs, thanking Ginsburg for taking care of our daughters and proclaiming that not all heroes wear capes.

She was holding on for us, she never could rest, Dean Howarth, a 55-year-old teacher from Arlington, Virginia, told PEOPLE, before bursting into tears at the memorial.

It felt like I had to be here, to mourn and celebrate her with people who loved and admired her too," Laila Chen, a 35-year-old doctor from Manhattan, told PEOPLE. Chen brought along her young daughter Lucy to the site to pay their respects to the late justice "at the place where she did so much good and changed the world for women and people of color and gay and lesbian citizens."

I needed to stand in front of this building and say thank you," Chen said.
Palestine gave up its chairmanship of the Arab League on Tuesday in protest of the United Arab Emirates' and Bahrains normalization agreements with Israel.

The Palestinian Authority (PA) was due to head the Arab League into 2021. However, PA Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki said on Tuesday that they have now stopped their chairmanship. There is no honor in seeing Arabs rush toward normalization, he said, according to Reuters.

Palestinians are angry over the UAE and Bahrain signing agreements to establish full diplomatic and economic relations with Israel in Washington last week. Before the two recognized Israel, only Jordan and Egypt had full relations with Israel in the Arab world. Israel agreed to halt its planned annexation of parts of the West Bank, which Palestinians envision as part of a future state, in exchange for the UAE agreeing to normalize ties. Palestinian territories the West Bank and Gaza are both considered by most of the international community as occupied by Israel.

The Arab League is a regional organization comprised of countries with an Arabic-speaking majority. Though not an independent country, Palestine is recognized by countries in the region and maintains membership in the League. The PA, which controls the West Bank, conducts Palestines duties in the Arab League. Leadership of the league rotates between member nations.

Earlier this month, the Arab League declined to adopt a resolution from Palestine to condemn the Gulf states actions. Syria, which may have been more supportive of the Palestinian position, is suspended from the Arab League over its role in the Syrian civil war.

Some groups in Gaza fired rockets into Israel this week in response to the normalization. Hamas, the rival of the PA that controls the enclave, is also opposed to the UAE and Bahrain on the issue.

The UAE and Israel are continuing to further their ties in spite of Palestinian opposition. Last week, Israel's and the Emirates diamond exchanges signed an agreement and pledged to open offices in each others countries.
Chromium steel - similar to what we know today as tool steel - was first made in Persia, nearly a millennium earlier than experts previously thought, according to a new study led by UCL researchers.

The discovery, published in the Journal of Archaeological Science, was made with the aid of a number of medieval Persian manuscripts, which led the researchers to an archaeological site in Chahak, southern Iran.

The findings are significant given that material scientists, historians and archaeologists have long considered that chromium steel was a 20th century innovation.

Dr Rahil Alipour (UCL Archaeology), lead author on the study, said: "Our research provides the first evidence of the deliberate addition of a chromium mineral within steel production. We believe this was a Persian phenomenon.

"This research not only delivers the earliest known evidence for the production of chromium steel dating back as early as the 11th century CE, but also provides a chemical tracer that could aid the identification of crucible steel artefacts in museums or archaeological collections back to their origin in Chahak, or the Chahak tradition."

Chahak is described in a number of historical manuscripts dating from the 12th to 19th century as a once famous steel production centre, and is the only known archaeological site within Iran's borders with evidence of crucible steel making.

While Chahak is registered as a site of archaeological importance, the exact location of crucible steel production in Iran remained a mystery and difficult to locate today, given numerous villages in Iran are named Chahak.

The manuscript 'al-Jamahir fi Marifah al-Jawahir' ('A Compendium to Know the Gems', 10th-11th c. CE) written by the Persian polymath Abu-Rayhan Biruni, was of particular importance to the researchers given it provided the only known crucible steel making recipe.

This recipe recorded a mysterious ingredient that they identified as chromite mineral for the production of chromium crucible steel.

The team used radiocarbon dating of a number of charcoal pieces retrieved from within a crucible slag and a smithing slag (by-products left over after the metal has been separated) to date the industry to the 11th to 12th century CE.

Crucially, analyses using Scanning Electron Microscopy enabled them to identify remains of the ore mineral chromite, which was described in Biruni's manuscript as an essential additive to the process.

They also detected 1-2 weight percent of chromium in steel particles preserved in the crucible slags, demonstrating that the chromite ore did form chromium steel alloy - a process that we do not see used again until the late 19th and early 20th century.

Professor Thilo Rehren (UCL Archaeology and The Cyprus Institute), co-author on the study, said: "In a 13th century Persian manuscript translated by Dr Alipour, Chahak steel was noted for its fine and exquisite patterns, but its swords were also brittle, hence they lost their market value. Today the site is a small modest village, which prior to being identified as a site of archaeological interest, was only known for its agriculture."

The researchers believe it marks a distinct Persian crucible steel-making tradition - separate from the more widely known Central Asian methods in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan - for the production of low-chromium steel (produced at around 1 (one) weight percent of chromium).

Professor Marcos Martinon-Torres (University of Cambridge), last author on the study, said: "The process of identification can be quite long and complicated and this is for several reasons. Firstly, the language and the terms used to record technological processes or materials may not be used anymore, or their meaning and attribution may be different from those used in the modern science.

"Additionally, writing was restricted to social elites, rather than the individual that actually carried out the craft, which may have led to errors or omissions in the text."

Commenting on their next steps, Dr Alipour said: "We are hoping to work with museum experts to share our findings, supporting efforts to date and provenance more early crucible steel objects with the unique chromium steel signature."

###

The study was conducted by the lead author as part of her PhD research at UCL, with supervision by the other authors who now work at The Cyprus Institute in Nicosia, and the University of Cambridge respectively. It was funded by UCL Qatar with additional support from the Institute for Archaeo-Metallurgical Studies. Notes to Editors

For more information or to speak to the researchers involved, please contact Natasha Downes, UCL Media Relations. T: +44 (0) 20 3108 3844 / +44 (0) 7990 675 947, E: n.downes@ucl.ac.uk Rahil Alipour, Thilo Rehren, Marcos Martinon-Torres, 'Chromium Crucible Steel was First Made in Persia' will be published in Journal of Archaeological Science on Wednesday 23 September 2020, 0.01 UK time and is under a strict embargo until this time.

The DOI for this paper will be 10.1016/j.jas.2020.105224

Images are available for download (please credit Rahil Alipour): https://we.tl/t-jUJrppib6x

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T he US and Canada could be in line for an explosion in the population of destructive "super-pigs", an expert has claimed.

Jack Mayer, a scientist who has been researching wild pigs for four decades, said that numbers could keep growing rapidly unless there was a major outbreak of swine flu.

There are already thought to be around six million wild pigs in the US. Two million are in Texas while California, Florida and Georgia also have large populations.

Numbers are lower in Canada, where the problem is more recent, but some experts have suggested that pigs could soon outnumber humans in the sparsely-populated province of Saskatchewan.

Wild boar in Corsica in France / Getty Images

Mr Mayer told the Daily Beast: "It's a crazy situation with everything that's happened in what I call the Pig Bomb, which has exploded in North America.

"There's not another animal that can put little feet on the ground quicker than a wild pig."

"I've heard it referred to as a feral swine bomb," Dale Nolte, manager of the National Feral Swine Damage Management Program at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, told The Atlantic.

"They multiply so rapidly. To go from a thousand to two thousand, it's not a big deal. But if you've got a million, it doesn't take long to get to four million, then eight million."

The rapid rise in population is thought to have been driven by climate change, which led to higher rates of piglets surviving and more plants growing for pigs to eat.

Wild pigs in Hong Kong (AFP via Getty Images) / AFP via Getty Images

These "super-pigs" are often wild boar that have bred with other kinds of pig. They are responsible for around $2.5 billion in property damage each year through destroying crops and injuring livestock.

Ryan Brook, a biologist at the University of Saskatchewan, said: "Pig populations are completely out of control.

"The efforts to deal with them are about one per cent of what's currently needed."

Some states like Texas have encouraged people to hunt the pigs, but this is not thought to be a reliable way of controlling the population.

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The Canadian province of Ontario and the US state of Montana are both attempting to track the population through collecting data on their movements, with help from the public.
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Associated Press

Republican Sen. Mitt Romney said on Tuesday he will support President Donald Trump's pick to fill Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's seat on the Supreme Court.

He echoed other top Republicans, including senators Chuck Grassley and Cory Gardner, who have reversed course and indicated that they will consider a nominee during an election year.

Trump plans to announce his nominee on Saturday. With Romney's support, he is now all but guaranteed to have enough votes to confirm a new justice to the court.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Republican Sen. Mitt Romney announced on Tuesday that he intends to consider and vote on President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee to fill Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's seat  all but ensuring that the GOP has enough support to proceed with the confirmation process.

"The Constitution gives the president the power to nominate and the Senate the authority to provide advice and consent on Supreme Court nominees," Romney, of Utah, said in a statement. "Accordingly, I intend to follow the Constitution and precedent in considering the president's nominee. If the nominee reaches the Senate floor, I intend to vote based upon their qualifications."

Ginsburg's death on Friday at the age of 87 sparked a political firestorm over the vacancy on the nation's highest court. Senate Republicans have been scrambling to secure a floor vote in an election year, while Congressional Democrats and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden denounced the idea, arguing that the seat should remain empty until a new president is elected.

However, with Romney  a vocal critic of the president and the only Republican senator who voted to impeach Trump  backing the GOP, the Democrats have almost no chance of stopping a confirmation vote from going forward.

Senators Chuck Grassley and Cory Gardner also threw their support behind Trump this week, marking an about-face for both Republicans.

Story continues

Grassley's support is a reversal of what he said as recently as July: "If I were chairman of the committee and this vacancy occurred, I would not have a hearing on it because that's what I promised the people in 2016."

And Gardner, in 2016, said it would not be right for then-President Barack Obama fill a Supreme Court vacancy, eight months before the election. Obama nominated Merrick Garland on March 16, 2016  or 237 days before the election  after Justice Antonin Scalia died.

"Our next election is too soon and the stakes are too high," Gardner said at the time. "[T]he American people deserve a role in this process as the next Supreme Court nominee will influence the direction of this country for years to come."

But Gardner backpedaled on Monday, saying, "I have and will continue to support judicial nominees who will protect our Constitution, not legislate from the bench, and uphold the law. Should a qualified nominee who meets this criteria be put forward, I will vote to confirm."

On Fox News on Monday, Sen. Lindsey Graham, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said his committee had the votes to move forward  even before Trump announced his nominee.

"We've got the votes to confirm Justice Ginsburg's replacement before the election, we're going to move forward in the committee, we're going to report the nomination out of the committee to the floor of the United States Senate so we can vote before the election," Graham said in a Fox News interview.

Yet even with this support, there are only 42 days before the November election  and even fewer days when the Senate is in session.

Still, the upper chamber is working quickly to fill the seat alongside Trump, who confirmed on Tuesday that he will announce his nominee pick on Saturday.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said within hours of Ginsburg's death that a nominee "will receive a vote on the floor of the Senate," despite him setting the precedent for opposing the nomination of a new justice during an election year by blocking Obama's in 2016.

"The American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court Justice. Therefore, this vacancy should not be filled until we have a new President," McConnell said following Scalia's death.

Republican senators Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins, both of whom are facing tough reelection fights, have signaled that they think Ginsburg's seat should not be filled until after the election.

The election is in 42 days, but The New York Times reported that no Supreme Court Justice has taken less than 62 days to move through the confirmation process since 1975.

This article has been updated.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The playoff-bound Yankees are feeling great about their October chances despite being blown out two games in a row. Before this mini-slump, the Yanks' first losses after 10 wins, theyd been piling up runs and getting tremendous pitching consistently, especially from their rotation.

They also have Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Gio Urshela and everyone else back in their lineup after dealing with a bunch of injuries for the second year in a row.
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Kentucky residents hoping to get into downtown Louisville may find it extremely difficult as the city goes into lockdown, awaiting the state's Attorney General's decision on whether the charges will be brought against the cop who fatally gunned down Breonna Taylor.

On Tuesday, LMPD interim Chief Robert Schroeder apologized to the community for the road closures of several streets but added that the move was necessary as the city awaits the decision from AG Daniel Cameron.

Schroeder added that it was currently unknown when the attorney general would make his announcement but said that he hopes that the decision to block the streets will just be an 'overreaction,' the Courier Journal reports.

'We just ask that people bear with us as we go through these unprecedented time,' Schroeder said. ' We felt these steps were necessary to help protect the public.'

Many of the streets in downtown Louisville are blocked like this one at 7th and Broadway on Tuesday

A worker boards the windows of a restaurant as the community awaits the findings of the grand jury in the case of Breonna Taylor

Police officers control access to downtown Louisville, Kentucky. Most north-south streets in the perimeter are closed off to the public

Most streets in the east-west direction are open but streets in the north-south direction, including Liberty Street and Jefferson Street, are closed.

In an early Tuesday release, a department spokesman said that in order to keep downtown safe for 'those coming downtown to express their First Amendment Rights, as well as those who live and work in the area,' police were setting up vehicle barricades around Jefferson Square Park and across the downtown perimeter.

Vehicle access is restricted from Market Street to Broadway and from Second Street to Roy Wilkins Avenue. Only vehicles belonging to those who work or live in the area will be allowed.

Parking will also be limited in the perimeter, according to the police department. Cars already in the area were asked to move.

Workers board up businesses in downtown Louisville. Only those living and working in the area will be allowed in

Police officers operate a check point and control vehicle access to downtown

A woman walks on streets that have been blocked and closed to vehicle traffic

Workers board the windows of a restaurant as the community awaits the findings of the grand jury in the case of Breonna Taylor, a Black woman who was shot dead in her apartment by police, in Louisville, Kentucky

'We do not know when the @kyoag will make an announcement, or what it will be,' Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said in a Tuesday morning tweet. 'Our goal with these steps is ensuring space and opportunity for potential protesters to gather and express their First Amendment rights, & to prepare for any eventuality to keep everyone safe.'

People with 'legitimate business' downtown can notify officers and enter intersections at: Second and Jefferson streets, Ninth and Chestnut streets, Eighth and Market streets and Seventh Street and Broadway.

To leave downtown, drivers can exit at Ninth and Jefferson streets, Second and Chestnut streets, Third and Marker streets and Fourth Street and Broadway.

Many of the streets in downtown Louisville, KY, are blocked like this one at Eighth and Broadway

In an early Tuesday release, a department spokesman said that in order to keep downtown safe for 'those coming downtown to express their First Amendment Rights, as well as those who live and work in the area,' police were setting up vehicle barricades around Jefferson Square Park and across the downtown perimeter

Concrete barriers and a public works truck block closed streets as the community awaits the findings of the grand jury in the case of Breonna Taylor

Trucks arrive with supplies for workers to board up the businesses in downtown Louisville

A state of emergency was issued on Monday and will be in effect 'until further notice'

Protesters march on a street on September 21 after the state of emergency was declared in the city

Protestors took to the street as workers rushed to board up businesses in anticipation for the news

People embrace each other during a speech at Jefferson Square park on September 21

On Monday, Schroeder declared a state of emergency and said it will remain in effect 'until further notice' in a memo to the entire Louisville Metro Police Department.

City staff set to work putting up barricades in downtown Louisville and boarding up police buildings and courthouses in anticipation for protests that may erupt in the wake of Cameron's decision.

In a statement released publicly after Schroeder's internal memo, Sgt Lamont Washington said officers' off-day and vacation requests have been cancelled.

Washington noted that Cameron has said there is no timetable for his announcement, but the extensive police department preparations suggest that it is coming soon.

Louisville police have declared a state of emergency ahead of Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron's announcement about whether he will charge officers involved in the shooting death of Breonna Taylor (pictured)

Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron (pictured) has said he will announce his decision about whether to charge the officers who shot dead Breonna Taylor 'soon'

The officers that could face charges are Brett Hankison (left), Myles Cosgrove (center) and John Mattingly (right). Hankison was fired from the LMPD while the other two officers remain on the force on administrative assignment

City staff set to work putting up barricades in downtown Louisville and boarding up police buildings and courthouses on Monday in anticipation for protests that may erupt in the wake of Cameron's decision

Protesters and police argue over the placement of fencing near Jefferson Square Park - the epicenter for Louisville protest action following Taylor's killing

It's been over six months since 26-year-old Taylor was shot and killed on March 13 by officers who stormed into her home with a no-knock narcotics warrant.

The EMT's death set off weeks of protests, policy changes and a call for the three Louisville Metro Police Department officers who performed the raid to be criminally charged.

One of the officers, Brett Hankison, was fired for 'blindly' firing 10 shots into Taylor's apartment from outside.

The other two, John Mattingly and Myles Cosgrove, remain on the force on administrative assignment.

On Monday the Louisville Courier-Journal reported that an internal LMPD probe is looking into whether six officers involved in Taylor's death violated department policies.

The investigation led by the department's Professional Standards Unit is separate from the probe by its Public Integrity Unit. The findings of the PIU probe were already forwarded to Cameron's office.

The targets of the PSU investigation include Cosgrove and Mattingly, as well as three detectives who were present on the night Taylor was killed - Tony James, Michael Campbell and Michael Nobles.

The sixth target is detective Joshua Jaynes, who was not present on that night but swore out an affidavit to get the warrant used in the deadly raid.

Interim Chief of Police Robert Schroeder said the emergency declaration will remain in effect 'until further notice' in a memo to the entire Louisville Metro Police Department on Monday

The windows of the Romano L Mazzoli Federal Building are seen covered with plywood after it was identified as a 'high risk' target for protests

City workers erect a fence outside Jefferson Square Park on Monday

Last week officials announced that four federal buildings identified by the Department of Homeland Security as 'high risk' targets would be closed from September 21 to 25 in anticipation of protests following Cameron's announcement.

Those buildings include Louisville's federal Gene Snyder US Courthouse & Customhouse, the Romano L Mazzoli Federal Building, the US Attorney's Office building and the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement building.

The General Services Administration has already begun taking proactive steps to protect the buildings, general facilities manager Tom Moore said.

Also last week, the city of Louisville agreed to pay Taylor's family a record-breaking $12million in a wrongful death lawsuit that her mother Tamika Palmer filed against the city and its police department back in April.

At a September 15 press conference announcing the settlement, Palmer repeated her plea for charges to be brought against the officers involved in her daughter's death.

'As significant as today is, it is only the beginning,' Palmer said. 'We must not lose focus on what the real job is, and with that being said, it's time to move forward with the criminal charges, because she deserves that and much more.'

In addition to the $12million, the settlement will also include a series of police reforms for Louisville.

Among the reforms is a requirement that police commanders must approve all search warrants before they are sent to a judge.

Last week, the city of Louisville agreed to pay Taylor's family a record-breaking $12million in a wrongful death lawsuit that her mother Tamika Palmer (pictured) filed against the city and its police department back in April

At a September 15 press conference announcing the settlement, Palmer repeated her plea for charges to be brought against the officers involved in her daughter's death

Mayor Greg Fischer stated that the settlement had nothing to do with Cameron's criminal investigation and said the city would be enacting reforms regardless of the outcome.

'I'm deeply, deeply sorry for Breonna's death,' Fischer said. 'My administration is not waiting to move ahead with needed reforms to prevent a tragedy like this from ever happening again.'

As part of the settlement, the mayor said Louisville police officers will be offered housing credits to move to some of the poorest parts of the city in the hopes of improving community ties.

They will also be encouraged to regularly volunteer for community organizations and will face increased random testing for drug use.

Ben Crump, an attorney for Taylor's family, noted that the settlement was not only the largest ever paid by the city of Louisville, but also the largest ever for a black woman killed by police.

'We won't let Breonna Taylor's life be swept under the rug,' Crump said.

The attorney also called for charges against the officers and urged people to 'say her name' - a phrase that has become a refrain for those outraged by the shooting but dejected by the lack of attention Black women have been getting.

At least 10 bullets went into Taylor's apartment through a sliding glass door located in the living room and also through a bedroom window

Bullet holes and blood smeared on the walls could be seen in one evidence photo taken inside the apartment in the hours after Taylor was gunned down

The lawsuit filed by Taylor's mother alleged that police used flawed information when they obtained the no-knock warrant to enter her apartment.

Police descended on her apartment after securing a court-approved warrant as part of a drug investigation involving her ex-boyfriend that allowed officers to enter her home without any warning.

Taylor and her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, had been sleeping in bed when the officers served the warrant at around 1am.

Walker fired his gun when officers stormed into the apartment and has since said he thought he was defending against a home invasion.

At the time, Walker told police that he could hear knocking on the night of the shooting but did not hear police announce themselves.

Walker said he was 'scared to death' so he grabbed his gun and when the door was knocked down, he fired a shot that ended up striking an officer in the leg.

Investigators said police were returning fire when they shot Taylor eight times.

No drugs were found at her home.

The city has already taken some reform measures, including passing a law named for Taylor that bans the use of the no-knock warrants. Police typically use them in drug cases over concern that evidence could be destroyed if they announce their arrival.

Fischer fired former police chief Steve Conrad in June and last week named Yvette Gentry, a former deputy chief, as the new interim police chief. Gentry would be the first Black woman to lead the force of about 1,200 sworn officers.

The department has also fired Officer Hankison, who is appealing the dismissal.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-21 23:47:38|Editor: huaxia

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United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres addresses a high-level meeting to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the UN at the UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 21, 2020. Guterres on Monday urged the international community to work together to improve global governance and noted a worldwide need for the organization. (Manuel Elias/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)

UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged on Monday the international community to work together to improve world governance.

"National sovereignty -- a pillar of the United Nations -- goes hand-in-hand with enhanced international cooperation based on common values and shared responsibilities in pursuit of progress for all," the UN chief said at the UN General Assembly ceremony marking the 75th anniversary of the United Nations.

"No one wants a world government -- but we must work together to improve world governance," the secretary-general said.

Noting that "today we have a surplus of multilateral challenges and a deficit of multilateral solutions," the secretary-general said that "in an interconnected world, we need a networked multilateralism, in which the United Nations family, international financial institutions, regional organizations, trading blocs and others work together more closely and effectively. We also need as the (General Assembly) President said, an inclusive multilateralism, drawing on civil society, cities, businesses, local authorities and more and more on young people."

On the founding of the United Nations, Guterres said that "the ideals of the United Nations -- peace, justice, equality and dignity -- are beacons to a better world."

"The organization we celebrate today emerged only after immense suffering," he said. "It took two world wars, millions of deaths and the horrors of the Holocaust for world leaders to commit to international cooperation and the rule of law."

Speaking of the achievements of the United Nations, the UN chief said that commitment "produced results."

"A Third World War -- which so many had feared -- has been avoided. Never in modern history have we gone so many years without a military confrontation between the major powers," he said. "This is a major achievement of which member states can be proud -- and which we must all strive to preserve."

"Down the decades, there have been other historic accomplishments, including peace treaties and peacekeeping, decolonization, human rights standards -- and mechanisms to uphold them, the triumph over apartheid, life-saving humanitarian aid for millions of victims of conflict and disaster, the eradication of diseases, the steady reduction of hunger, the progressive development of international law, and landmark agreements to protect the environment and our planet," the UN chief elaborated.

"Most recently, unanimous agreement on the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change provide an inspiring vision for the 21st century," he noted.

However, Guterres underscored that "there is still so much to be done."

"Of the 850 delegates to the San Francisco Conference, just eight were women. Twenty-five years since the Beijing Platform for Action, gender inequality remains the greatest single challenge to human rights around the world," he said.

As for the challenges ahead, the secretary-general said "we can only address them together." Enditem
Insight-HXMT discovers QPO generated in the closest jet to the black hole. Credit: IHEP

Insight-HXMT, China's first space X-ray astronomical satellite, has discovered a low-frequency quasi-periodic oscillation (QPO) above 200 kiloelectron volts (keV) in a black hole binary, making it the highest energy low-frequency QPO ever found. The scientists also found that the QPO originated from the precession of a relativistic jet (high-speed outward-moving plasma stream) near the event horizon of the black hole. These discoveries have important implications for resolving the long-running debate about the physical origin of low-frequency QPOs.

This work, published online in Nature Astronomy on Sept. 21, was primarily conducted by scientists from the Institute of High Energy Physics (IHEP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), the University of Southampton (United Kingdom), Eberhard Karls University of Tubingen (Germany), and the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory of CAS.

Low-frequency QPOs, discovered in the 1980s, are a common observational timing feature in transient black hole binaries. They are quasi-periodic, but not precisely periodic, modulations in light curves. For more than 30 years, the origin of low-frequency QPOs was not understood. The two most popular models explaining their origin are: 1) the oscillations are caused by the instability of the accretion disk when matter rotates around and finally falls into the black hole; and 2) the quasi-periodic X-ray modulations are produced by the oscillation or precession of the coronal X-ray emitting region close to the black hole.

Before the era of Insight-HXMT, X-ray satellites could only detect and study low-frequency QPOs below 30 keV; thus, it was difficult to test these models. Insight-HXMT, in contrast, has a wide effective energy range of 1-250 keV and has the largest effective area above 30 keV. Therefore, after Insight-HXMT was launched, scientists expected it would detect rich low-frequency QPOs above 30 keV, and thus be able to fully test previous models.

The new black hole X-ray binary MAXI J1820+070, consisting of a black hole of several solar masses and a companion star, started to undergo an outburst on March 11, 2018. It has been one of the brightest X-ray sources in the sky for a long time. Insight-HXMT quickly responded and performed high-cadence pointing observations on this source for several months, accumulating a huge amount of observational data.

Based on these data, the scientists found that the low-frequency QPO of MAXI J1820+070 appeared in a wide energy range and its maximum detection energy exceeded 200 keV, which is almost an order of magnitude higher than previous QPOs observed by other telescopes, indicating that the QPO could not come from the thermal radiation region of the accretion disk. Further studies revealed that the frequency and variability amplitude of the QPO are energy independent and the high-energy QPO precedes the low-energy one.

These results unambiguously conflicted with most currently existing models. Therefore, the scientists proposed that the low-frequency QPO was produced by the precession of a jet near the black hole's event horizon; the precession was probably caused by the frame-dragging effect of general relativity, generated by the rotation of the black hole.

Jets are high-speed matter streams moving at close to the speed of light. Plenty of jets have been observed in black hole binaries and distant quasars hosting supermassive black holes (i.e., those of millions to tens of billions of solar masses) in the radio, optical and X-ray bands. Jets are an important observational characteristic of black hole systems, and are the main means by which black holes influence the surrounding environment via feedback when swallowing nearby matter.

However, these jets are far from black holes. They are usually located at a distance of more than a million times the black hole's event horizon. At such a long distance, the black hole's gravitational force actually has no effect. Therefore, it is unclear where these jets are generated, how far they are from the black holes, how they can escape from the strong gravitational field of the black holes and how they are accelerated to a speed close to the speed of light.

Insight-HXMT's discovery is particularly important because it's the first time a jet has been found only hundreds of kilometers away from a black hole (i.e., several times the black hole's event horizon). As the closest relativistic jet observed in a black hole so far, the finding is of great significance for studying the relativistic effects, dynamical processes and radiation mechanisms.

More information: Xiang Ma et al. Discovery of oscillations above 200 keV in a black hole X-ray binary with Insight-HXMT, Nature Astronomy (2020). Journal information: Nature Astronomy Xiang Ma et al. Discovery of oscillations above 200 keV in a black hole X-ray binary with Insight-HXMT,(2020). DOI: 10.1038/s41550-020-1192-2
President Donald Trump has said he would nominate a woman to replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died Friday at the age of 87 and was a champion of gender equality. A look at the top contenders:

Amy Coney Barrett, United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit judge, speaks during the University of Notre Dame's Law School commencement ceremony at the university, in South Bend, Ind. in 2018. (Robert Franklin/South Bend Tribune via AP)AP

AMY CONEY BARRETT

Barrett, 48, is widely considered to be the front-runner. She was previously considered as a finalist for Trumps second nomination to the high court, which eventually went to Justice Brett Kavanaugh. A devout Catholic mother of seven, she is a favorite of religious conservatives and considered a strong opponent of abortion.

Barrett was nominated by Trump to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit and confirmed by the Senate in October 2017 by a 55-43 vote. The 7th Circuit, based in Chicago, covers the states of Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin.

In her nearly three years on the bench, Barretts judicial record includes the authorship of around 100 opinions and several telling dissents in which Barrett displayed her clear and consistent conservative bent.

Barrett served as a law clerk to Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. She worked briefly as a lawyer in private practice in Washington, D.C., before returning to the University of Notre Dame Law School, her alma mater, to become a professor in 2002.

During her Senate confirmation hearing for the appeals court in 2017, Democrats pressed Barrett on whether her strong religious views would impact her potential rulings on abortion and other hot-button social issues.

Barrett responded that she takes he Catholic faith seriously, but said that I would stress that my personal church affiliation or my religious belief would not bear in the discharge of my duties as a judge.

She is married to Jesse Barrett, a former federal prosecutor who is a partner at a law firm in South Bend, Indiana. The couple have seven children, included two adopted from Haiti and one child with special needs.

U.S. Circuit Judge Barbara Lagoa, of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, is shown in this official undated photo released by the Florida Supreme Court. (AP Photo/Florida Supreme Court)AP

BARBARA LAGOA

Lagoa, 52, is a Cuban American judge from Florida who was nominated by Trump to serve on the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in 2019. Her name was on the White Houses list of potential high court contenders released earlier this month.

Raised in the heavily Latino Miami suburb of Hialeah, Lagoa is the daughter of Cuban exiles who fled the communist regime of Fidel Castro. She speaks fluent Spanish and has a solidly conservative judicial record. Lagoas potential nomination is being touted as a way for Trump to shore up flagging support in a crucial battleground state where recent polls have shown Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden with a narrow lead.

Lagoa also has the potential benefit of having been previously vetted by the Senate just 10 months ago, sailing to confirmation by a wide margin of 80-15 in a relatively rare bipartisan vote in November. The 11th Circuit covers Georgia, Florida and Alabama.

On Saturday, Trump said he had not yet met Lagoa but that shes Hispanic and highly respected.

Lagoa is a graduate of Florida International University and went on the earn her law degree from Columbia University in New York in 1992. She then worked in private practice in Miami for about a decade.

In 2000, Lagoa gained notoriety as part of the legal team that represented relatives of Elian Gonzalez, the young boy caught in a high-profile custody dispute between his father in Cuba and family members in Miami.

Lagoa is married to Paul Huck Jr., a Miami attorney. The couple have three children.

JOAN LARSEN

Larsen, 51, was a little-known University of Michigan legal scholar until 2015, when then- Gov. Rick Snyder, a Republican, tapped her to fill a vacant seat on the Michigan Supreme Court.

The following year, Justice Joan campaigned to fill the remaining term of her predecessor on the court by appealing to conservative voters, promoting an originalist interpretation of legal texts and pledging not to legislate from the bench. As a presidential candidate Trump included Larsens name on his first list of potential nominees to the nations highest court.

Trump carried Michigan that November and after becoming president quickly sought to elevate Larsen to the federal bench, tapping her in May 2017 to fill a vacant seat on the Cincinnati-based 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. Michigans two Democratic U.S. senators initially held up her appointment since the White House hadnt consulted them on the nomination, as is customary. But after meeting with the senators, Larsen was confirmed by the Senate by a 60-38 vote the following November.

Larsen grew up in Waterloo, Iowa, and graduated from the University of Northern Iowa before going to Northwestern University School of Law in Chicago. After graduating in 1993, Larsen landed a coveted clerkship with Justice Antonin Scalia.

Following the election for President George W. Bush, she joined the Office of Legal Counsel in the U.S. Department of Justice, where she authored a still-secret 2002 memo that addressed detainees' rights to challenge their detention.

Returning to teach law at Michigan, Larsen championed an expansive view of the powers of the presidency. She wrote a 2006 article defending Bushs use of signing statements to interpret laws passed by Congress. At her 2017 confirmation hearing for the federal bench, however, Larsen assured senators she would have no problem ruling against Trump if the law demanded it.

Larsen is married to Michigan law professor Adam Pritchard, an expert on corporate and securities law. They live in Scio Township near Ann Arbor and have two children.

ALLISON JONES RUSHING

Rushing, 38, was confirmed just 18 months ago to the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond. If elevated to the Supreme Court, she would be the youngest justice confirmed since the early 1800s.

She is a native of Hendersonville, North Carolina. Her potential selection is being championed within the White House by chief of staff Mark Meadows, who also hails from the mountains of the Tarheel State.

Rushing graduated from Wake Forest University before attending Duke University, where she earned her law degree in 2007. She then clerked for future Justice Neil Gorsuch, who was then an appeals court judge, as well as at the Supreme Court for Justice Clarence Thomas.

As an appellate specialist while in private practice at the Williams & Connolly law firm in Washington, Rushing filed scores of briefs with the Supreme Court. But her comparatively short legal career included prior work with a conservative Christian legal group that is sure to stoke Democrats and their allies to fight her nomination.

While in law school in 2005, Rushing interned at Alliance Defending Freedom, a group known for its opposition to same-sex marriage and expanded rights for transgender people. That has led Democrats to cast Rushing as an a young, ideological extremist.

Rushing is married to Blake Rushing. The couple have a young son.

KATE COMERFORD TODD

Todd, 45, is the only lawyer on Trumps potential shortlist for the Supreme Court who has never served as a judge.

A deputy White House counsel, her close connection to the Trump administration could give an opening to Democrats to attack her independence and relative lack of experience. However, her lack of a judicial record also leaves little paper trail for opponents to sort through for material to attack.

Todd graduated from Cornell University before attending Harvard Law School. She then clerked for Thomas at the Supreme Court. She worked in private practice before serving as the senior vice president and chief counsel for the U.S. Chamber Litigation Center, which is the legal arm of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Todd is married to Gordon Dwyer Todd, a partner at Sidley law firm in Washington specializing in white-collar defense and government litigation. The couple live in Northern Virginia with their four children.
WASHINGTON  As President Donald Trump prepares to swiftly name a Supreme Court nominee in hopes of having Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburgs replacement approved by the election, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn and other Republicans are saying theres no need to rush.

But Cornyn was clear: The Senate should move to fill the high court vacancy before the end of the year, whether or not Trump and the GOP Senate majority  including Cornyn himself  will be returning to Washington in 2021.

Just as the Senate has always done, we will thoroughly review the qualifications. We should not rush that process. It should be conducted carefully and consistently with how the Senate has previously handled Supreme Court nominations, Cornyn, who serves on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said during a speech on the Senate floor on Monday. The Senate will vote on that nominee sometime this year.

Cornyns comments came as Trump said that he will name Ginsburgs replacement Friday or Saturday  before Ginsburg, who died Friday after serving 27 years on the high court, is buried.

The presidents push, with the support of the Republican-led Senate, has launched a monumental confirmation fight ahead of the November election, one that is not likely to be resolved by Election Day, Nov. 3.

The issue is reshaping the presidential race, which to this point has been largely a referendum on how Trump managed the COVID-19 pandemic.

It seems certain to electrify both sides: Democrats were breaking fundraising records while a packed Trump crowd in North Carolina Saturday loudly chanted Fill that seat. But it remains unclear if the high bench vacancy  which could impact everything from abortion rights to legal challenges of the 2020 election  would persuade disenchanted Republicans to return to Trump or fire up women or suburban voters to break for Biden.

Democrats, led by presidential nominee Joe Biden, are protesting, saying voters should speak first and the winner of the White House should fill the vacancy. Theyre also calling GOP lawmakers hypocrites for being on the other side of the same issue when they blocked then-President Obamas appointment of Merrick Garland to the high court in early 2016.

NOMINATION IS WHY DONALD TRUMP WAS ELECTED: Cruz urges swift action to fill Supreme Court vacancy

On the other hand, some Republicans including Texas U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, have agreed with Trump on the need to move quickly, precisely because of the rapidly approaching election.

We cannot have Election Day come and go with a four-four court, Cruz said in an interview with Fox News Sean Hannity on Friday. A four-four court that is equally divided cannot decide anything. And I think we risk a constitutional crisis if we do not have a nine-justice Supreme Court, particularly when there is such a risk of a contested election.

Announcing a nominee on Friday or Saturday would leave less than 40 days for the Senate to hold a confirmation vote before the election. No nominee has won confirmation that quickly since Sandra Day OConnor became the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court in 1981.

The contours of the confirmation debate were already taking shape on Monday.

All eyes on Romney, Grassley

So far two Republicans, Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, have said they will not support a replacement before the election, as did the one Democrat who voted for Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, Trumps last high court nominee. Two more Republican defections could halt the confirmation  attention has focused on Sens. Mitt Romney of Utah and Chuck Grassley of Iowa, who are seen as two possibilities.

CRUZ WAS ON TRUMPS LIST: The Texas senator explains why he doesnt want to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court

Democrats, meanwhile, are blasting the Republicans for denying even a hearing for Garland, whom Obama nominated to fill a vacancy left by Antonin Scalia after he died on a ranch in West Texas in February 2016. Obama nominated Garland in March, months before the 2016 election.

Early voting already has begun in several states in this years election and begins in Texas on Oct. 13.

By flagrantly violating precedent they themselves championed when it served their agenda, Senator Cornyn, Ted Cruz and Mitch McConnell are showing the American people once again that they lack the integrity to act in the best interests of our country, said former Air Force pilot MJ Hegar, the Democrat running against Cornyn.

The American voters know the Supreme Court is on the ballot, Hegar said. We will determine who we are as a country on November 3rd, and it should be the President and Senate we elect who select a qualified individual to serve a lifetime appointment.

Republicans say 2016 was different. Obama was barred from running again as he finished his second term, and the Senate was controlled by a different party than the White House. It has been more than a century since the Senate confirmed an election-year nominee by a president from a different party.

Do you think wed be hearing the same arguments from our friends across the aisle if Hillary Clinton were president? Cornyn said. If the American people had elected a Democratic president and a Democratic majority, I have no doubt that [Senate Minority Leader Chuck] Schumer would act on that nomination, as well.

TEXAS TAKE: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox

Trump confirmed Monday that among the top contenders are Indianas Amy Coney Barrett and Floridas Barbara Lagoa, both appellate court judges he appointed.

Barrett has long been a favorite among conservatives while Lagoa has been pushed by some aides who tout her political advantages of being Hispanic and hailing from the key battleground state of Florida.

Trump also indicated that Allison Jones Rushing, a 38-year-old appellate judge from North Carolina, is on his short list. He has promised to nominate a woman for the high court, adding that his preference is for someone younger who could hold her seat for decades.

The president, meanwhile, went so far as to disparage reports that Ginsburg had told her granddaughter it was her wish that a replacement justice not be confirmed until the inauguration of a new president. Providing no evidence, Trump suggested that Democratic political foes were behind the report, including Rep. Adam Schiff, the House Intelligence Committee chairman who led the chambers impeachment probe.

Schiff said Trump sank to a new low with that comment. He denied any involvement in Ginsburgs dying wish but said he would fight like hell to make it come true.

Ginsbergs casket is to be on view mid-week on the iconic steps outside the court and later at the Capitol. She is to be buried next week in a private service at Arlington National Cemetery.

This article contains material from the Associated Press.

ben.wermund@chron.com
OnePlus Nord users are reporting that their phones going into factory reset mode and causing them to lose all personal data stored on the phone

OnePlus Nord users are reporting of their phones going into factory reset mode causing them to lose all personal data stored on the phone. Enraged OnePlus Nord owners have taken to the OnePlus Community forums and are describing their ordeal in detail.

Some users have posted on the OnePlus forums (1,2,3) giving details of their Nord going into the factory reset mode automatically. Several accounts indicate that the users were not using the phone and it was kept in their pockets when the owners felt the phone getting warm. Taking it out, the phone had gone into the factory reset mode, deleting all the user data stored on the phone. Several users have also stated that this isnt a one-time occurrence as their OnePlus Nord went into factory reset mode multiple times.

The developers at OnePlus are aware of the situation and are working on resolving this issue. So affected users could soon get a software patch on their OnePlus Nord that will fix this issue of random factory resetting.

OnePlus has confirmed to launch the OnePlus 8T 5G, the next smartphone from the companys stable on October 14 in India. The phone has been detailed in multiple leaks revealing its specifications, design and even the expected price.

OnePlus Nord specifications

OnePlus Nord features a 6.44-inch Full HD+ (2400 x 1080 pixels) resolution display that uses an AMOLED panel with a dual punch-hole cutout that gives it a 20:9 aspect ratio. The screen has a 90Hz high refresh rate and is topped with a layer of Gorilla Glass 5 for added protection.

The Nord is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G chipset with an octa-core CPU and Adreno 620 GPU. This is paired with upto 12GB RAM and upto 256GB storage option to choose from. It runs on Android 10 based OxygenOS 10.0.

It comes with a quad-camera setup on the back that consists of a primary 48MP camera, an 8MP ultra-wide-angle camera with 119-degree field-of-view, a 5MP depth sensor and a 2MP macro camera. On the front, theres a 32MP primary selfie camera accompanied by an 8MP ultra-wide-angle camera with 105-degree field-of-view.

The OnePlus Nord has an in-display fingerprint sensor and is equipped with a 4,115mAh battery with support for 30W fast charging out-of-the-box. OnePlus claims that the Warp Charge 30T adapter takes around 30 minutes to charge the phone from 0-70%.
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - Soraya Santiago, the first person from Puerto Rico to undergo gender reassignment surgery and a longtime icon for the U.S. territorys LGBTQ community, has died. She was 73.

Santiago died of cancer early Tuesday at her home in the north coastal city of Carolina, activist Pedro Julio Serrano told The Associated Press.

Many mourned the news, including the mayor of Puerto Ricos capital and activists on the U.S. mainland.

Soraya was a pioneer, our teacher, our beacon of light, trans activist Ivana Fred said in a statement. She opened the door for all us trans people and left us a legacy of unwavering spirit that is unmatched.

Santiago had often hung out at New Yorks Stonewall Inn and was in the city  though not the bar  when police raided it in 1969, unleashing a rebellion that led to the LGBTQ rights movement. She credited that with helping turn her into an activist.

She travelled again to New York in the 1970s for gender reassignment surgery and upon returning to Puerto Rico, became the islands first trans person to successfully change their name and sex on their birth certificate.

Santiago, a hair stylist who owned a beauty shop, was the first openly trans person to run for office in Puerto Rico, according to the Center for Puerto Rican Studies at Hunter College in New York, trying unsuccessfully for a city council seat in 2008. She was also the first LGBTQ candidate to do so as a member of the pro-statehood New Progressive Party, the centre said.

Santiago said in a 2019 interview with the online collaborative publishing platform United Explanations that much work remains to be done.

Those were doors I opened, and I hope to keep opening more doors so that the community can keep establishing itself where it should be and not where people want it to be, she was quoted as saying.

Santiago studied political science at Puerto Ricos largest public university and was featured in several documentaries, including the 2014 Puerto Rican film Mala, Mala, which follows nine transgender people. Santiago also published a book, Made by Hand: Gender Dysmorphia.
The race to appeal to President Donald Trump's conservative base took an unexpected turn back 1,500 years as appointed Georgia Senator Kelly Loeffler cut a campaign ad that calls her more conservative than Attila the Hun.

The ad features a pair of Georgia voters discussing Loeffler including a ranking that calls her the 'most conservative senator in America.'

'Yep - she's more conservative than Attila the hun,' the man in what looks like a husband and wife pair responds.

A new ad by Sen. Kelly Loeffler calls her more conservative than Attila the Hun

The ad then cuts to a grunting Attila the hun seeking to bark orders at his scribe - with obvious comparisons to Trump's stances.

"Fight China -- got it," says the scribe. "Attack big government -- yeah."

"Eliminate the liberal scribes ... uh oh," he says, looking nervous at an attack with rings of Trump's slams on the 'fake news' media.

"More conservative than Attila the Hun,' says a narrator, as an image flashes of Loeffler seated with Trump aboard Air Force One. 'Kelly Loeffler: 100% Trump voting record,' it says.

'It's true,' Loeffler wrote as she tweeted out the light-hearted video.

The ad touts a '100 per cent Trump voting record' for Loeffler in the Senate

Loeffler was appointed to fill the seat of Sen. Johnny Isaakson, but must face the voters in her state's 'jungle primary' in November

The ad shows a couple discussing Loeffler's conservative record

Attila (406-453) burning townships during Invasion of Italy. (Attila on horseback, holding flame and sword.) Woodcut, undated.

The ad may have confused Attila, known by the Romans as the 'Scourge of God,' with Genghis Khan, whose Mongol warriors invaded China

Rival GOP Rep. Doug Collins noted that there were some blemishes on Attila the Hun's record

The ad drew notice across political Washington Monday, then drew a brutal counter-attack from Collins, whose campaign didn't have to dig deep for the opposition research file on Attila the Hun, whose rule in the 400s terrorized the Romans and other ancient peoples across Europe and Asia.

'Fact Sheet: Attila the Hun,' Collins campaign wrote. 'Favored Post Natal Abortion. Killed Thousands of Christians. Pagan Religion. Polygamist.'

There was even more dirt in the Attila the Hun file. 'Nicknamed Scourge of the Gods by Romans for his Attrocities. Killed His Own Brother.'

The counter-stroke featured Loeffler's face plastered on a presumed painting of Attila.

Adding to the oddity of the ad, there are indications Loeffler's camp may have confused the historical figure with Genghis Khan, whose Mongol warriors lay waste to parts of China and other areas.

Georgia has a 'jungle primary' for the seat, pitting Loeffler against Collins, a conservative House Republican, as well as Democrats. If no candidate gets a majority, the race heads to a runoff.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro called Monday for the world to fight against hegemony and imperialist ideas during the UN General Assemblys virtual summit.

In a pre-recorded speech, Maduro, accused by UN investigators of crimes against humanity, denounced the world of hegemony, the world of imperialism and insisted on the need to be united in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.

Venezuela supports a multipolar world, a renewed UN system, a system that knows how to enforce international law and protect the people of the world, he said, condemning US attacks on the World Health Organization, without explicitly naming the country.

This is not the time to insult, to threaten the WHO, it is now the time to unite in its favor, he said.

The world defeated fascism 75 years ago. The world will also win against those who seek hegemony, against imperialist ideas, and it will be able to defeat neo-fascism, said the socialist leader, whose legitimacy in office is no longer recognized by more than 50 countries.

Maduro is due Wednesday to deliver another virtual speech before the UN during the annual General Assembly, which he has not physically participated in since 2018.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla also criticized the US. On this 75th anniversary of the UN, multilateralism and international law are threatened by the largest global power.

The irresponsible behavior of the United States is the greatest danger to international peace and security, he said.

It seems that (the US) is at war with the planet and its inhabitants, Rodriguez Parrilla said, condemning the economic, commercial and financial blockade Washington imposed on Cuba.
India and China on Tuesday issued a joint statement on the recent talks between the military commanders of the two countries on the border standoff.

Both the countries resolved to stop sending more troops to frontline, and refrain from unilaterally changing situation on the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

The two sides had candid and in-depth exchanges of views on stabilizing the situation along the LAC in the India - China border areas. They agreed to earnestly implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, strengthen communication on the ground, avoid misunderstandings and misjudgments, the statement further said.

It also said that the two sides agreed to hold the next round of military commander-level meeting as soon as possible and jointly safeguard peace and tranquility in the border area.

Also read: Crying PLA troops on way to India border causes China-Taiwan media war

The talks on September 21 were the sixth round of discussions between India and China (since June 6) to resolve the standoff which has been going on since May.

Two Indian lieutenant generals were among the officers who took part in the talks - Harinder Singh, who heads the Leh-based 14 Corps and his soon-to-be successor PGK Menon, officials said.

A joint secretary from the Indian external affairs ministry taking part in the military dialogue for the first time, officials familiar with the developments said.

Authoritative sources described the nature of talks as complex with each side holding its ground but agreeing that India and PLA needed to completely disengage to ensure peace in border areas.

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U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday he has narrowed his list of possible Supreme Court nominees down to five people and expects to announce his choice to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg by Friday or Saturday.

Trump has said he will name a woman and identified three of his choices as Amy Coney Barrett, Barbara Lagoa and Allison Jones Rushing, three conservatives he appointed to federal appellate court judgeships in recent years. He declined to name the other two possible choices in a wide-ranging interview on the court vacancy and other issues on the Fox & Friends show.

The bottom line is we won the election, we have an obligation to do whats right and act as quickly as possible, Trump said, dismissing the contention by his Democratic challenger in the November 3 election, former Vice President Joe Biden, that the winner ought to make the court selection after being inaugurated for a new White House term in January.

Trump said the Senate should vote to confirm his nominee before the election, now six weeks away. The U.S. leader said there was zero chance that Democrats wouldnt try to fill a Supreme Court vacancy if they controlled both the presidency and the Senate as Republicans do currently.

Trump said he would make the announcement after services later this week for Ginsburg, the 87-year-old liberal icon who died last Friday after a lengthy battle with cancer.

I think it will be on Friday or Saturday and we want to pay respect, it looks like we will have services on Thursday or Friday, as I understand it, and I think we should, with all due respect for Justice Ginsburg, wait for services to be over," the president said.

Trumps Supreme Court pick of another conservative, his third after already winning Senate confirmation of Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, would tip the current 5-4 conservative edge on the countrys top court to 6-3.

The new choice, which conservative political figures are applauding with anticipation and liberals fearing, could affect decisions on legalized abortion in the U.S., immigration, health care, voting rights, gun ownership restrictions, religious liberty and an array of other issues for more than a generation.

Trump cited the relative youth of his three identified choices -- Barrett is 48 and Lagoa is 52 -- and said any of them could serve on the court for decades.

Youd like to go young because theyll be there a long time, he said.

Referring to Rushing, Trump sarcastically said, One of the people were talking about is 38 and could be there 50 years. The Democrats would be thrilled about that.

They are all very smart, he said of his possible choices. They are all very qualified. It could be any one of them. He said their appellate rulings abide by the Constitution and that they personally adhere to very high moral values.

Trumps anticipated court selection has already touched off a rancorous political debate in Washington over whether the nomination should be considered before the election rather than effectively let the American electorate have a say by deciding the presidential election and then leaving the winner, either Biden or Trump, to make the choice at the start of a new four-year term.

In 2016, Republicans refused to allow consideration of former President Barack Obamas final Supreme Court nominee, Merrick Garland, following the death of Justice Antonin Scalia in February of that year. They argued that high court vacancies should be left unfilled during an election year so the American people can weigh in on the choice.

Then-candidate Donald Trump also said the nomination should wait until a new president was sworn in.

I think the next president should make the pick, and I think they shouldnt go forward, and I believe Im pretty much in line with what the Republicans are saying," he told CNN in March of 2016.

Trump said Monday that the difference from then is that Obama, a Democrat, did not have a Democratic-controlled Senate to consider his choice of Garland.

If you have the Senate, you can do what you want, Trump said.

Republicans have a 53-47 majority in the Senate, but two Republicans, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, said over the weekend they would oppose voting on Trumps eventual nominee before the election.

Trump criticized both lawmakers, claiming they were very badly hurt politically by their statements.

If two more Republicans say no to a pre-election vote, consideration of the nominee would be scuttled until at least the post-election lame duck session of Congress. If one more Republican objects, Vice President Mike Pence would break the 50-50 deadlock in the Senate in favor of considering Trumps nominee.

If there is a post-election debate on Trumps court selection, it could come at a time when Biden is president-elect and with Democrats poised to take control of the chamber in early January. Or Trump could have won re-election and Republicans retained control of the Senate. Or, in still another scenario, one party could have won the White House and the other taken control of the Senate.
A 60-year old man committed acts of lasciviousness on a 11-year old girl that were hallmarks of sexual predators. On several occasions, he raped the child. He was charged for his crimes that society deems pervert and abnormal.

The defendant and accused sexual predator, Dennis Early Skiby, 60-years old is charged with multiple felony in Heber, Utah. They are raping an 11-year old, with molestation and sending private messages through the Chinese Snapchat app that were explicitly adult in nature, reported Meaww.

The accused predator was arraigned at the Fourth District Court, specific charges are two instances of child rape, one felony in the first degree, sodomy on a child, and also first-degree sodomy.

On the 2nd of September, the parents of the violated girl found the messages sent via Snapchat that was meant for their daughter. Court documents cite the messages that were inappropriate and obscene directed at the child. Due to the explicitness, the texts are so suggestive that it is disturbing for normal minded individuals to stomach. At one point, he asked the girl to delete his obscene messages but she did not.

The messages were kept in the child's phone and allowed the felony to be discovered. Police got more comprising pictures, showing the girl and the older man's bed. Her mother was shocked beyond words at the revelations of the police. Most of the evidence was dated in early 2020.

One outlet KUTV said both mother and daughter talked to the police about the accused offensive actions at the Wasatch County Children Justice Center. The victim mentioned that Skiby was a great guy, but she did not like him.

Also read: Son Killed and Dismembered His Parents, Boiled His Mom's Severed Head in Water Pot

Detailing the illicit connection that predator fostered through deception is kept private. More information from the court revealed that he had her in for sleepovers at his home. Many details were deemed as damaging to the child whose personal details were withheld.

On one occasion, a group of children was at the home of the accused. They watched a horror movie at his place, and she went to sleep in his bed after the movie. She would sleepover at the accused home several times, and he would engage in socially unacceptable conduct for an older man towards a child.

At one point, the child told the authorities that she was told to remove her pants, and she'll touch his private parts inappropriately. It would then evolve to sexual assault several times.

The case of Skiby is not isolated as sexual predators use social media and anonymity to contact young children. Most of the time perverts will be able to skirt even the most vigilant parents. Internet predators have become prevalent online as their choice to contact their victims.

An incident in Pennsylvania in September chronicled a woman dance teacher who had sexual contact with her 15-year old student. She allegedly raped him on 50 occasions, plus kept in contact through constant messaging from 10-years old. She is even sending pictures of her naked body to the minor. In 2019, they got back together and resumed an unacceptable relationship. They exchanged pictures via social media, cited The Sun.

Skiby who molested and assaulted the young girl has no court date set yet. The official arrest warrant for the sexual predator got issued on September 17.

Related article: Pedophile Kills Divorcee Mother's Two Young Girls by Shredding Them Cruelly With a Knife

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Boy answering a Spelling question in Bamboo English Bamboo English is a fantastic program for my daughter, to help her stay at grade level in Spelling, Grammar, Vocabulary, and more. She enjoys playing the word games so much, she doesnt even realize how much she is learning.

Bamboo Learning, the leading provider of voice-based learning solutions, today announced Bamboo English, an innovative voice application for children in grades K5 featuring over 140 English Language Arts (ELA) units and more than 60,000 exercises to use at home. The Bamboo English voice-based curriculum includes learning modules on Phonics, Spelling, Grammar, Vocabulary, and Listening/Reading. The scope and sequence of Bamboo English are designed to support children in grades K5 in establishing the foundation for a lifetime of improved reading and writing skills.

Bamboo English is a fantastic program for my daughter, to help her stay at grade level in Spelling, Grammar, Vocabulary, and more, said Michelle K., mother of two, based in Torrington, CT. She enjoys playing the word games so much, she doesnt even realize how much she is learning, but I can see her progress in each area every week using the Bamboo Grove parent dashboard.

When schools closed in the Spring, we heard from many parents that Bamboo Learning products were helping their children practice math and reading comprehension. The children could work independently, without requiring parents to sit next to their children during learning sessions, said Irina Fine, Bamboo Learnings Co-Founder and Head of Content. Weve taken the best of our award-winning products, and added over 140 ELA grade-leveled units with over 60,000 unique exercises to offer a comprehensive, easy-to-use curriculum for children learning from home again this Fall.

Children are able to use Bamboo English without any installation or configuration. Bamboo English automatically adjusts the level of difficulty to ensure children can learn at their own pace. Additionally, parents have the option to review their childrens progress using the Bamboo Grove web-based parent dashboard.

To get started, parents or children can simply say Alexa, open Bamboo English or learn more at the Bamboo Learning web site at http://www.bamboolearning.com.

HOW BAMBOO ENGLISH WORKS

Families can get started by simply saying Alexa, open Bamboo English to their Alexa device. Bamboo English asks how many people in the family (up to 6) would like to use Bamboo English, and sets up an animal avatar, complete with animal sounds, for each user. Children or parents set an initial grade level for each child as a starting point. Children then move through units of word games, following the ELA scope and sequence used by tens of thousands of K5 schools throughout the U.S.

Example questions include:



Phonics  I held a lot of sand in my hand. Which words rhyme? (Kindergarten question)

Spelling  In the word WOULD, take out W and put in C. What word do you get? (1st Grade question)

Grammar  This rock is heavy. Which word is an adjective? (2nd Grade question)

Vocabulary  Is the correct definition of the word CONVEY  (A) to communicate an idea, or (B) to argue? (3rd Grade question)

If a child answers correctly, they receive praise. If a child answers incorrectly, Bamboo English encourages them to try again. If the child answers incorrectly a second time, Bamboo English can offer a quick lesson explaining the exercise. Additionally, a child may ask for a hint at any time.

Each grade level has its own tree-theme  for example, Kindergarten has a Banana Tree classroom theme, 1st Grade has a Coconut Tree classroom theme, etc. As children progress through the word games, Bamboo English explains that they are climbing Ladders (Units) to get to the top of different Trees (Grade Levels). There are six Units (or Ladders) per Module (Phonics, Spelling, Grammar, Vocabulary) in each Grade (Tree), with each unit representing approximately 2 to 4 weeks of content. For example, a child working on the 1st Unit of Vocabulary in Kindergarten is climbing the 1st Vocabulary Ladder on the Banana Tree. Similarly, a child working on the 3rd Unit of Spelling in 1st Grade is climbing the 3rd Spelling Ladder on the Coconut Tree.

Bamboo English provides free access to the first unit of each module (Phonics, Spelling, Grammar, and Vocabulary) for each K5 grade, representing approximately 15% of the content. Access to the full Bamboo English K5 ELA program, including over 140 units across Grades K5, costs $5.99/month per family, for up to six users per family. The Bamboo English K5 ELA program can be purchased within Bamboo English by using the simple voice command, Subscribe.

In addition to word games, Bamboo English includes dozens of books leveled for each grade. Children can listen to stories, and practice listening and reading comprehension. Examples include:



Classic Fairy Tales such as: The Elves and the Shoemaker, The Hare and the Tortoise, The Emperor's New Clothes

Well-known Short Stories such as: Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, and The Elephants Child

Selections from longer works such as: Aladdin, Peter Pan, and Wonderful Wizard of Oz

Highlights for Children Readers such as: The Lucky Penny, The Skeleton Crew, and Balto The Sled Dog

The new Bamboo English voice application, like our earlier award-winning products, requires no set-up, no passwords, and no keyboards, said Ian Freed, Co-Founder and CEO of Bamboo Learning. We have also added important multiuser support to Bamboo English, so each child can start at a different grade level, and move individually at their own pace throughout the school year. As always, parents can track their childrens progress using the optional Bamboo Grove.

HOW BAMBOO GROVE WORKS

Bamboo Grove is an optional parent dashboard for reviewing childrens progress in Bamboo English, and is available on the web at http://www.bamboolearning.com/grove. Parents can view their childrens current and historical progress, including their Grade Level and Unit for each module (Phonics, Spelling, Grammar, Vocabulary). In the future, Bamboo Grove for Bamboo English will also include details about each question answered.

EVERYONE LEARNS PROGRAM FOR FAMILIES IN NEED

To help address the multitude of challenges families are facing as a result of the pandemic, Bamboo Learning has set up the Everyone Learns program, to offer full subscription access to Bamboo English free of charge to families in need. Bamboo Learning is working with Oakland-based Philanthropic Ventures Foundation (PVF) for Everyone Learns. PVF has selected the Everyone Learns program to be a part of their Voice-Based Education Initiative (VBEI) solution along with contributions from philanthropy, in-kind contributions from industry, and identification of partner organizations and families in need. To launch the Everyone Learns program, Bamboo Learning is donating 100 Amazon Echo Dots to PVFs Voice-Based Education Initiative for distribution to eligible families.

Additionally, the Seattle-based Technology Access Foundation (TAF) has already been selected to pilot Bamboo English through the Everyone Learns program. TAFs mission is to build collaborative relationships with public education, to create access to transformative systems of learning for students and teachers of color, and to eliminate race-based disparities in an increasingly diverse society. TAF partners with several K5 public schools serving diverse student populations in Washington state.

We are very excited to work with Philanthropic Ventures Foundation and to pilot Bamboo Learnings Everyone Learns program that offers families in need a great way to help children develop essential skills while having fun, said Trish Dziko, Co-Founder and Executive Director of TAF. With the pandemic requiring families across the country to provide schooling at home, this program allows children to benefit from Bamboo Learnings fun, voice-based learning tools, and offers parents a much-needed break to focus on other tasks while their children are learning.

To learn more about Philanthropic Ventures Foundations Voice-Based Education Initiative, including how to make philanthropic contributions, please visit https://www.venturesfoundation.org/programs/community-initiatives/voice-based-learning/

About Bamboo Learning

Based in Seattle, Bamboo Learning is the award-winning leader in voice-powered education with a mission to bring engaging, high-quality learning experiences to customers around the world. Bamboo Learning develops applications for Alexa and Google Assistant that enable families, teens, and adults to have fun learning and practicing different academic and afterschool subjects while listening, viewing images, and using their voice. Bamboo Learning applications, including Bamboo English, Bamboo Math, Bamboo Books, Highlights Storybooks from Bamboo, Bamboo Luminaries, and Bamboo Music, offer a range of challenging and engaging exercises to help customers master different levels of subjects. Customers can sign up for a Bamboo Grove account to follow their progress in Bamboo Learning voice applications.

Bamboo Learnings co-founders are Ian Freed, CEO, and Irina Fine, COO and Head of Content. Ian Freed is a thirty-year veteran of the technology industry, including twelve years at Amazon, having served as vice president of Amazon devices, where he led both the Amazon Echo & Alexa and the Amazon Kindle businesses, and served as technical advisor to Amazon founder and CEO, Jeff Bezos. Irina Fine is a thirty-year veteran of curriculum development and teaching, having worked in public and private sectors of education in New York, Washington DC, London, and Moscow, after receiving her M.Ed. in Curriculum Development and an undergraduate degree in Piano Performance and Music Education.

Connect with Bamboo Learning, and learn more at: http://www.bamboolearning.com, Instagram: @learnwithbamboo, Twitter: @learnwithbamboo, Facebook: BambooLearning, YouTube: bamboolearning.com/youtube

Press Inquiries:

Ian Freed for Bamboo Learning

info@bamboolearning.com

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Ella Eyre has spoken candidly about sex and relationships on the new series of Badoo's dating content series The Truth Flirts which launches next week.

The songstress, 26, spoke on episode one of the show about breaking down the taboos about women, sexual pleasure and misrepresentations in porn.

She said: 'It's so important that we break down the taboo that surrounds female pleasure. Women enjoy sex and have the right to do so. From misrepresentations in porn, to education, girls are growing up not understanding their sexual worth'.

Open and honest: Ella Eyre has spoken candidly about sex and relationships on the new series of Badoo's dating podcast The Truth Flirts

Speaking about faking orgasms, Ella said: 'I feel like there's a fear around being honest about it, because, as I grew up, if you fancied a boy, but you weren't quite sure if that was good, or you didn't really know, you didn't want to talk about it...

'[That's] out of fear they wouldn't fancy you anymore and wouldn't want to do it anymore. I think as I've got older, actually the more I've spoken about it, the more receptive guys have been, because they want to know, they want to learn...

'Not all of them (and they should), but most of them really want to make sure that you're having a good time, and I think that's a really sexy quality in a man when they show interest in your enjoyment too'.

On sexual pleasure in women, she went on: 'It's so important that we break down the taboo that surrounds female pleasure  women don't often talk about it publicly but it's important to educate, discuss and share our experiences...

Open and honest: The songstress, 26, spoke on episode one of the show about breaking down the taboos about women, sexual pleasure and misrepresentations in porn

Open and honest: She said: 'It's so important that we break down the taboo that surrounds female pleasure. Women enjoy sex and have the right to do so. From misrepresentations in porn, to education, girls are growing up not understanding their sexual worth'

'Once you start to talk, you realise how much you have in common and it really helps remove any shame or embarrassment.'

Speaking about The Truth Flirts, which is released next Monday, she said: 'I'm about to launch Season 2 of dating app Badoo's brutally honest content series, The Truth Flirts. It's been so much fun to get involved this year, and I learnt so much from every guest we had on...

'What I love about Badoo is that it's the place to date honestly and be totally unfiltered. In the series, I wanted to tackle head on some of the issues young people face when dating...

Here come the girls: She was chatting to Megan Barton Hanson

'There are certain subjects we tend to only talk about with our friends behind closed doors, but I believe everyone can benefit from hearing what our guests had to say on each topic...

'On The Truth Flirts, I'm joined by loads of well-known faces. We've got Derry Girls' Saoirse-Monica Jackson, television personality Lateysha Grace, comedian Chunkz, reality stars Vas J Morgan and Megan Barton-Hanson and Rudimental's Amir Amor to name a few!

'We get into everything from gender labels and the orgasm gap, to Mercury retrograde and of course, how Coronavirus has impacted our dating lives.

Here she is: 'Once you start to talk, you realise how much you have in common and it really helps remove any shame or embarrassment'

Natasha Briefel, UK Brand Marketing Director at Badoo added: 'Badoo is all about dating honestly, and after the success of last year's debut season of The Truth Flirts, with host Mel B, we wanted to continue breaking down taboos when it comes to dating and relationships by speaking openly about the highs and lows of modern dating in way that's real and relatable.

'With Ella Eyre as the new host and having truly knowledgeable guests alongside her, we want to show there is no reason to hide away from the things that make you who you are...

'The Truth Flirts aims to be a platform for brutally honest conversations to encourage others to do the same in their dating lives, which is exactly what Badoo is all about!'
Air Quality Alerts Reissued For The Sierra Foothills, Central Valley And More

Smoke Over Don Pedro View Photo

The Mariposa County and Tuolumne County Air Pollution Control Districts have issued new Air Quality Alerts for both Mariposa and Tuolumne Counties, due to smoke impacts from surrounding wildfires.

Additionally, The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District also issued an Air Quality Alert for San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced, Madera, Fresno,

Kings, Tulare, and the Central Valley portion of Kern County, due to smoke impacts from the Creek Fire, SQF Complex and other wildfires throughout California.

The Eastern Kern Air Pollution Control District also issued an Air Quality Alert for eastern Kern County, due to smoke impacts from surrounding wildfires. This covers Lake Isabella south to Tehachapi and points east to Rosamond, Boron and Ridgecrest.

All of the Air Quality Alerts are in effect until the fires are extinguished.

Exposure to particle pollution can cause serious health problems, aggravate lung disease, cause asthma attacks and acute bronchitis and increase the risk of respiratory infections.

Residents are advised to use caution as conditions warrant. People with heart or lung diseases should follow their doctor`s advice for dealing with episodes of unhealthy air quality. Additionally, older adults and children should avoid prolonged exposure, strenuous activities or heavy exertion as conditions dictate.

For additional information, call your local Air District office:

Tuolumne County 209-533-5691

Mariposa County 888-777-0377

Modesto 209-557-6400

Fresno 559-230-6000

Bakersfield 661-392-5500.
I am writing because I am a citizen who's passionate about the fact that, the black star can shine even in the midst the darkness thrown at it. I think that nation-building is a passion borne out of love, and it is not for people whose main goal is material acquisition. One does not need to be a politician before making a difference in the country. In one's own capacity, a difference can be made wherever you are, irrespective of your status, qualification, position and prestige.

It's 21st September and I cannot continue this piece without giving acknowledgement to Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. Today forms another milestone of his; though it's in his absence but there is no denying the fact that it's one worthy of remembrance. For as Ghana goes, so does much of Africa. Kwame Nkrumah led Ghana to independence in 1957 - the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to achieve this feat.

Hes still remembered for his unrepentant anti-colonial stance and strident Pan-Africanism. Above all, he is regarded as one of Africas ablest statesmen of the 20th century. The weight of Nkrumahs leadership in Ghana was a combination of compromise and cultural sacrifice in order to achieve Ghanaian independence and African political clout in global politics.

Having said that, I would like to put on records that democratic governance in Africa had had many setbacks and economic success stories had been very few on the continent. To understand why, this is so, we need to ask questions. To be able to help solve Africa's numerous problems we must deeply and expansively think new thoughts, and to be able to think new thoughts we must ask questions.

Are we lifting the torch of Ghana aloft the highest so as to make Black Star shine even brighter?

As far as I'm concerned, the malaise that afflicts and hampers our growth and prosperity as a nation is bad and corrupt leadership. Bad leadership is the cause of our woes. Politicians embrace bad practices in leadership because they know that they can get away with it; they do it. They can get away with robbing the country blind, because they consider themselves as above the law(s). They are able to conspire and connive among themselves to do whatever they want, because in their leadership position(s), they're the LAW. In other words, they are the prosecutor, the judge, and the executioner. And nobody can touch them.

If this not true, then let's forget about electing leaders. But then, is leadership created in a vacuum? It is the people who create leaders whose personality invariably is reflective of the character of the people. In this case, what we Ghanaians lack is ethical character and this has led to everyone; being it a Politician, Custom Officer, Policeman, Tax Officer, Clerk, Bank Official, etc. being corrupt and no institution works effectively in the country. We need to change our character ethically first.

Again, what we Ghanaians lack is discipline. Indiscipline is deep-rooted in every nook and cranny of the society. For a nation to progress in all fronts, discipline, dedication, devotion and unity are indispensable keys to unlock our doors of development. Ghana's problem has been indiscipline since we are not ready to obey the laws of the land. Our time to everything is bad. The politician is afraid to make laws or does not obey the laws itself. Our attitude to work calls for questioning, our pride lies only in being a Ghanaian.

We have no respect for the law. We pay our way of any given situation. The actual people to enforce the laws are themselves breaking them. So how do you expect the average man to enforce it. We do not sacrifice, whatever happens, must happen. We want everything done automatically without suffering. We prefer to idle, rather than work hard. But we are ready to clean the White man's toilet for a few dollars. So scared to tell the truth, for the truth is millions of miles away from us and when you live your life in lies, then, there's a big problem.

Some of us want to be masters overnight. Buy and sell has become our profession. We sit on bunches of riches, and what we do is to allow others to suck us free. We put the white coloured person above ourselves, hence some of us will say "Me Broni", implying my white person. It is like without the white man, we are nothing. We hate ourselves and dislike others. There's always the 'BLAME GAME'; if not the Ashanti or Fanti, it is the Eves. If not the NDC, it is the NPP. We have no plans for tomorrow, just today.

Is it like we are doomed? No, for we are not ready to change and no one will accept the fact that we are a nation full of sickness. Indiscipline is our sickness. There's always something to justify our attitude. Without DISCIPLINE, DEDICATION, DEVOTION and UNITY, we're going nowhere. We must stop the blame game played since independence.

I leave some questions to all who read this. Can't we join the likes of America, Europe, Asia who are moving forward? Is the African man undeserving of such monumental progress? Where will Ghana be in the next 40 years?

On such a memorable day, I believe we need to draw strength from our past adversities, seize the initiative and push forward. The 21st century is going to be our time. We are going to realise our unlimited possibilities and establish, conclusively, our greatness. That is my deep-seated and unalterable belief. May God bless us all and may God bless our homeland Ghana, and make her great and strong. May the aura of the 21st be with us.

The author, Bright Philip Donkor is the CSA'20 Online Journalist of the Year; a Young Activist, Political & Social Commentator, Columnist and a Prolific Feature Writer.
The torrent of writings excoriating Trump is unlike that which has accompanied any other sitting US president, but this wave of exposes has not shaken Trumps electoral base

I hope Im not exaggerating when I say that Donald Trump is the most written about first term US president. Generally, you have to wait until after a president has left office for the flood of books to come out, chronicling and analysing the events of his era. Sometimes, the former president, members of his administration or, perhaps, the former first lady get the ball rolling with their memoirs of their times in office.

Trump is different.

Readers were already thirsting for books about him after his first months in office and the journalist Michael Wolff satisfied that market in January 2018 with Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House. Before the year was up, the famous investigative journalist Bob Woodward came out with Fear: Trump in the White House and the former FBI director James Comey (2013-2017) produced A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies and Leadership.

As it turned out, Comey set the precedent for the tell-alls by former members of the Trump administration or his close associates. Comeys book was quickly followed by Unhinged: An Insiders Account of the Trump White House by Omarosa Manigault Newman, who served as director of communications for the Trump administrations Public Liaison Office from 2017 through 2018. More and more books appeared as the presidential election campaigns moved into their final stretch.

This September, two books appeared one right after the other: Disloyal: A Memoir: The True Story of the Former Personal Attorney to President Donald J Trump by Michael Cohen and another expose by Bob Woodward called Rage which, like his other works, was based in innumerable interviews with White House staff, including the president who gave the veteran journalist nine hours of his precious time (over different periods of time, of course) even though he knew in advance that the book would not paint him in a favourable light.

In fact, none of the books that were written about this president by individuals who were famous in their own right were at all kind about him, which begs the question as to why Americans, an educated, technologically and economically advanced people with liberal democratic traditions and revered institutions of government, elected Trump in the first place, choosing him over Hillary Clinton, former secretary of state, senator and first lady.

In the abovementioned books, we read descriptions ranging from unhinged, a Russian mole, to a cheat, a liar and fraud, a sexist and dissolute womaniser to a person who has no moral compass or genuine feelings for others, who is connected with the big crime families and who is manipulative and abusive towards all who work with him. All these traits and others are bundled up in that package that is leading the US as well as the rest of the world one way or another.

Shortly before Rage and Disloyal appeared, The Atlantic, citing first-hand sources, reported that Trump called soldiers who lost their lives fighting for their country losers and suckers. As other examples of the presidents disdain for the military, the article discussed his contempt for Senator John McCain, a decorated war hero who suffered more than five years as a prisoner of the North Vietnamese, and Trumps attack against the Gold Star parents of Humayun Khan who was killed in Iraq in 2004.

Bob Woodwards last book cites damning quotes from his interviewees, including Trump, himself, who told the reporter that he knew the coronavirus was deadly but he wanted to play it down, so he did not take measures to prevent its spread. On another occasion, Trump boasted to Woodward that the US had developed a new nuclear weapons system superior to anything ever made before. The implication in both cases is that the president was remiss in the performance of his constitutional duties. He failed to safeguard the lives of American citizens and he blurted out a national security secret.

There is something off kilter in this relationship between authors, the president and readers who will draw certain deductions about politics and society in the US. Perhaps more surprising, the revelations by Jeffrey Goldberg, the author of The Atlantic article, by Woodward and by all the other authors who preceded them is that none of this appears have made a big dent in Trumps popularity or, more precisely, the electoral base he had in 2016 and, accordingly, his prospects of winning the November elections.

Moreover, he is closing the gap between him and Joe Biden even as his campaign tactics continue to rely on packed rallies and indoor conventions in defiance of Covid-19 and social distancing and face mask precautions. He even defended himself, saying, they wanted me to come out and scream, people are dying, were dying. But, he said, he refused to spread panic.

In brief, regardless of the many details in the various books about Trump, they reflect an American narrative that differs from that more familiar to us. It has its roots in Americas Eastern seaboard establishment which no longer is confined to just the Atlantic seaboard but has long since spread to the Western seaboard, namely to California, Oregon and Washington state, homes to the USs high-tech aerospace, communications and information technology industries and to high concentrations of the intellectuals of globalisation.

These people have a global narrative that is shared in Europe and in what we call the West, in general. It focuses on liberalism, globalisation and the certainty of progress under stable and democratic institutions, free and periodic elections and, of course, an open market.

The Trump narrative, on the other hand, suddenly showed its face to the world in 2016. Like other major narratives that have emerged recently, this one is ultranationalist and unabashedly White, and it echoes the isolationist calls of opponents to US involvement overseas, from the two world wars and the Korean and Vietnamese wars to the wars in the Gulf, Iraq and Afghanistan.

This new wave of narrative inherently conflicts with the other humanitarian narrative. Instead of the human family, the individual person or human being takes the fore and his passions, egotistic drives and chauvinisms not only take priority but define divides in behavioural mores and political slogans.

The fact that the tell-alls about Trump, the articles in the press about his attitude towards soldiers and other revelations do not seem to have an impact on Trumps electoral prospects, should not lead us to believe that he already has a second term in the bag. The night is still young, as they say, so well have to wait until 3 November to find out whether Trump or Biden is the winner, and/or whether the US will explode between two narratives that have failed to find common ground.

*The writer is chairman of the board, CEO and director of the Regional Centre for Strategic Studies

*A version of this article appears in print in the 24 September, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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Biden laid out a broad and largely supported case that Trump has underplayed the severity of the pandemic. But the devil was in the details: No, Trump did not call the coronavirus a hoax.

Krisher reported from Detroit. Associated Press writers Nicholas Riccardi in Denver, and Kevin Freking, Lauran Neergaard, Eric Tucker and Douglass K. Daniel in Washington contributed to this report.

The Associated Press has been fact-checking politicians since 1996, when Bill Clinton was president. These are not opinion pieces but instead are straight-news items that adhere to AP's Statement of News Values. The AP encourages readers to reach out with comments, fact-checking suggestions and corrections at FactCheck@ap.org. Learn more about the team and how this content is produced at apnews.com.
Customs officials carried out "illegal" checks to prevent Luxembourg residents from travelling to Germany during the weeks where the borders were closed, said lawyer Marc Kohnen.

Kohnen gave his legal view on the matter at Monday's general assembly of customs unions.

PDF Avis Juridique

President Lynn Luciani supported Kohnen's statement and confirmed the checks had taken place on the Luxembourg side of the border. However, customs officials had no legal basis to stop residents from travelling to Germany.

It is not yet clear how customs officials were instructed during the border closures - however, the union is keen to remedy this, said Luciani.

The Customs Union underlined that under no circumstances will any more illegal orders be tolerated. This discussion was one of the items on the agenda of the General Assembly, but there were still other issues - for instance regarding working hours.

The customs union agreed on Monday evening to file a dispute concerning illegal working hours. Luciani said the union had made its demands clear over the last few years regarding time management, but working hours continued to violate national and European directives.

Officials are made to work within the framework of a mobile timetable, which is regulated, but anything that falls outside of the timetable is not regulated.

Luciani cited examples of agreements reached in the police force and the army regarding scheduling under European directives, and said the union would continue to push for similar agreements.
A few minutes a day writing about what you're grateful for can make you less of a jerk

Researchers suggest employees should take a cue from Jimmy Fallon's Thank You Notes segment on The Tonight Show to improve workplace behavior. A recent University of Central Florida study suggests employees who keep a gratitude journal exhibit less rude behavior and mistreatment of others in the workplace.

"Gratitude interventions are exercises designed to increase your focus on the positive things in your life. One intervention involves writing down a list of things you are thankful for each day," says management Professor Shannon Taylor, who teamed up with fellow management Professor Maureen Ambrose and doctoral student Lauren Locklear for the study. "That simple action can change your outlook, your approach to work, and the way your co-workers see you."

Workplace mistreatment is widespread and can cost organizations millions of dollars each year. Bullying, gossip, and exclusion or ostracism have been shown to negatively impact physical health, job performance and job satisfaction. Mistreatment also hurts the bottom line, as it creates costs from productivity loss, employee turnover, and litigation.

"While organizations spend quite a bit of time and money to improve employee behavior, there are not a lot of known tools available to actually make the needed changes," Locklear said. "We found the gratitude journal is a simple, inexpensive intervention that can have a significant impact on changing employee behavior for the better."

For two weeks, study participants spent a few minutes a day jotting down the things, people and events they were grateful for -- and as a result, their coworkers reported that they engaged in fewer rude, gossiping, and ostracizing behaviors.

"Gratitude exercises are becoming increasingly popular products to improve employee attitudes and well-being, and our study shows managers can also use them to foster more respectful behavior in their teams," Taylor says.

The study was recently published in the Journal of Applied Psychology. Taylor, who joined UCF in 2012, has a doctorate in organizational behavior from Louisiana State University and a bachelor's degree in finance from Bradley University. His areas of research include leadership and workplace mistreatment. Ambrose is the Gordon J. Barnett Professor of Business Ethics at UCF College of Business. Her research interests include organizational fairness, ethics and workplace deviance. Locklear studies workplace deviance and mistreatment, as well as interventions in gratitude and mindfulness, and expects to graduate in the spring.

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About the UCF College of Business: Established in 1968, the UCF College of Business offers degrees at the bachelor's, master's, doctoral, and executive levels. All programs, as well as the Kenneth G. Dixon School of Accounting are accredited by AACSB International - the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. The college provides high-quality academic programs designed to give students a competitive advantage in the world of business now and in the future. Learn more at business.ucf.edu.
Brushing aside feckless pleas from Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and congressional Democrats, President Donald Trump announced on Monday his intentions to nominate a new ultra-right member of the Supreme Court this week to fill the vacancy created by the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg no later than Saturday.

Trump pushed back the nomination a day or two to accommodate the official mourning ceremonies, including Ginsburg lying in state Wednesday and Thursday, followed by a ceremony Friday morning at the US Capitol. He said that his options had been narrowed down to five different women, demonstrating that lip service to diversity, like lying about coronavirus and supporting American imperialism, is a bipartisan affair.

The top two judges under discussion, according to press reports, are both judges on the US Circuit Court of Appeals, the second highest level of the federal courts. Trump appointed Amy Coney Barrett to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in 2017 and Barbara Lagoa to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in 2019. Trump mentioned the two in his initial phone call to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell a few hours after Ginsburgs death.

Both of the named judges under consideration are devout Catholics and have made their anti-abortion views well known. Barrett and her family are part of the People of Praise, a secretive, ultra-conservative Catholic society that upholds male authority in the family and assigns senior members of the group to advisory roles, called head for men and handmaid (sic) for women. Members of the groups swear a lifelong oath of loyalty, called a covenant, to one another, according to a 2017 article in the New York Times.

Lagoa was born in Miami, the daughter of Cuban immigrants, and is married to the Miami leader of the Federalist Society, the well-funded lobbying group that promotes ultra-reactionary nominees to the bench. She was part of the legal team that sought to prevent Elian Gonzalez, a young Cuban boy taken by his mother to Florida, from being returned to his father in Cuba after her death. The 1999 case was a political sensation in right-wing anti-Castro circles. Lagoas most recent action on the 11th Circuit was to side with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and the Republican Party in their efforts to bar released felons from recovering their voting rights until they have paid all fees and court costs, despite a constitutional amendment approved by Florida voters in 2018 to put an end to the states shameful lifetime ban on voting by former prisoners.

The Democratic Party has confined its opposition to this further shift to the right on the highest US court to futile pleas for a handful of Republican senators to block consideration of the nomination until after the election. In a speech Sunday at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, former Vice President Biden pleaded with his old Senate colleagues not to take a step that would so flagrantly violate previous political norms, under which a vacancy arising so close to a presidential election would not be filled until after the votingwhich in 2020 has already begun in many states.

Please follow your conscience, Biden begged, addressing himself to long-serving representatives of big business who, like himself, have voted to defund social programs, wage unending war abroad and unconstitutionally spy on the entire planet. He urged the senators not to confirm anyone nominated under the circumstances President Trump and Senator McConnell have created.

It was notable that Biden did not argue against the ultra-right politics and anti-democratic views of those Trump was likely to nominate. He did not speak in defense of workers, African Americans, women, gays or others likely to be targeted by the constitutional counter-revolution advocated by groups like the Federalist Society.

Instead, he warned the ruling class that pushing through such a nominee in so flagrantly anti-democratic a fashion could provoke a political eruption that the Democratic Party would not be able to control. He urged senators to cool the flames that have been engulfing our country, before warning that to jam this nomination through could lead to a constitutional crisis that plunges us deeper in the abyssdeeper into the darkness.

Biden and the Democrats are worried that the installation of a 63 ultra-right majority on the high court, without any effective resistance by the Democratic Party, on the eve of an election in which Trump is trailing in the polls, will cause irreversible damage to the credibility of the Democrats as an opposition party.

They also fear the blatantly hypocritical and undemocratic actions of Trump and the Senate Republicans will erode what little trust remains among the people in institutions like Congress, the Supreme Court, and the bourgeois state as a whole, and that when the social crisis in America produces a full-scale rebellion from below, the federal government will have lost all authority.

There is little indication that the efforts by Biden and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer to find a few additional votes among Republican senators have borne fruit. Only two Republicans, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine, have called for delaying the nomination until after the election.

Mitt Romney of Utah, the Republican presidential candidate in 2012, has declined to comment publicly until after todays meeting of the Senate Republican caucus. Even if he opposes Trump, as he did in the impeachment trial, the result would be a 5050 vote and Vice President Mike Pence would break the tie.

Republican Lindsey Graham, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has sent a letter to committee Democrats in which he promised to proceed expeditiously to process any nomination made by President Trump to fill this vacancy.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Tuesday said despite exploring various options for the resolution of Punjab and Maharashtra Co-operative (PMC) Bank, it is yet to come up with a plan for its revival.

It has also appointed AK Das, ex-general manager at Union Bank of India, as the new administrator of the bank, with effect from September 23. The present administrator, JB Bhoria, stepped down from his role as the administrator of the bank due to health reasons. While the administrator of PMC bank and the RBI have been exploring various options for resolution of the bank, ...
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 22

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New ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands arrived in Azerbaijan, the Embassy of the Netherlands in Azerbaijan said, Trend reports on Sept. 22.

We are happy to welcome our new Ambassador, Pauline Eizema, the embassy said. She is looking forward to contributing to the good relations between our two countries for the next four years. Ms. Eizema will start working officially after presenting her credentials to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.
- Speaker Justine Muturi said dissolving parliament will call for fresh parliamentary elections within 60 days in all constituencies

- According to Muturi, by-elections will be very expensive for the country during this time when the country is fighting COVID-19

- Muturi argued dissolution of parliament does not guarantee that the next house will reflect the two-thirds gender rule since parliament does not elect itself

- The Speaker suggested that the gender debate be subjected to a referendum through the BBI for citizens to decided its fate

- Parliament was supposed to pass the two-thirds gender rule in five years after the promulgation of the new constitution in 2010 but that has not happened 10 years later

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National Assembly Speaker Justine Muturi has criticised Chief Justice David Maraga's advice to President Uhuru Kenyatta to dissolve parliament over its failure to pass the two-thirds gender rule.

Muturi said even if Uhuru conceded to the advice and dismissed the August House, there was no guarantee that the next legislative House that will be constituted will reflect the gender law.

READ ALSO: COVID-19: Kenya records 98 new infections, 62 recoveries and 2 death

Speaker Justin Muturi. Photo: National Assembly.

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: Chris Kirubi shows off his massive house, lake and expensive car collection

The Speaker also faulted Maraga's advisory, which will call for by-elections within 60 days if implemented, as an expensive route to take, suggesting that it will be best handled through a referendum.

"If the president dissolves parliament...within 60 days, there must be another parliament in place and this means by-elections need to be held in all constituencies even amid the COVID-19 pandemic and incompletely composed IEBC. The task will cause a lot of pain which he (Maraga) must also be ready to persevere. Even if you dissolve parliament today, how are you going to ensure the two thirds gender rule is observed? Parliament does not elect itself.

Given the current efforts and initiatives to amend the constitution that are currently underway such as the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI), the issue on two-thirds gender rule can be subjected to a referendum in the event the same happens. Owing to the cost implications of implementing the two-thirds gender rule through other mechanisms such as nomination and topping up, it is prudent if the matter were to be subjected to the people once more for a reevaluation or to propose ways of achieving two-thirds gender rule," said Muturi.

READ ALSO: We want William Ruto's wheelbarrows, you can keep your money, Nyanza youth tell Raila Odinga

Chief Justice David Maraga. Photo: The Judiciary.

Source: Facebook

In his address to the president, the Chief Justice said he was alive to the fact the dissolution of parliament would cause a lot of pain and inconvenience.

READ ALSO: Seneta Orengo ampongeza Jaji Maraga kwa kumshauri Uhuru kuvunja bunge

However, Maraga was quick to state it was a price worth paying since it will fully operationalise the transformational agenda of the constitution.

"Let us endure the pain if only to remind the electorate to hold their parliamentary representatives accountable. There is no doubt the dissolution of parliament will cause inconvenience and even economic hardship. The fact that Kenya is in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic only exacerbates the potential impact of the decision.

Yet that is the clear result Kenyans desired for parliament's failure to enact legislation they deemed necessary. We must never forget that more often than not, there is no gain without pain," the CJ said.

READ ALSO: Woman perplexed after waking up to find her gate has been stolen

When the new constitution 2010 was promulgated, parliament was expected to enact legislation within five years to entrench the two-thirds gender rule but the same has not happened 10 years later.

The CJ cited parliament's failure to pass the legislation even after an additional one year was given for the rule to be passed, four court orders given and several petitions before him protesting against the legislative House, as among reasons he advised the president to send MPs home.

Among petitioners who protested against parliament's failure to enact the legislation was the Nelson Havi led Law Society of Kenya.

READ ALSO: Wolves vs Man City: De Bruyne on target as City cruise to opening day victory

According to the LSK president, Uhuru has no option but to dissolve parliament within 21 days stating that after the advisory, all business conducted in both houses will be null and void.

"Those claiming that the president may as well dissolve parliament in June 2022 before the General Election, should know that such orders must always be complied with not later than 21 days.

Any business that that parliament conducts from now will be considered as unlawful," said Havi.

The 12th parliament has a total of 76 female lawmakers. The number is 41 less from 117 required to reflect the two thirds gender rule in the house that has 349 MPs.

Do you have a groundbreaking story you would like us to publish? Please reach us throunews@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690. Contact Tuko.co.ke instantly.

Keep abusing me, you will get tired eventually - Kenya's youngest Reverend Victor Githu | Tuko TV.

Source: TUKO.co.ke
There have been several ricin mail cases in the past decade, including one in 2013 in which a man in Mississippi sent a letter with ricin to President Barack Obama as part of a strange plot to frame an Elvis impersonator with whom he was feuding. That same year, a Texas actress who tried to blame her husband sent ricin-laced letters to officials including Obama and then-New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg.
ZAMBOANGA CITY  Eight villages in the southern Philippine province of Sulu are now free from the influence of the pro-ISIS group Abu Sayyaf...
Taj Bibi, who is 33 years old, is still grappling with the loss of her three husbands who were killed while fighting militants.

Now, her fourth husband is off to battle the Taliban as an Afghan soldier, and she's hoping his fate wont be the same as that of his three brothers who were also her first three husbands.

Reuters

According to Reuters, Taj Bibi, who is also pregnant with her sixth child, hopes the men in power dont make her a widow for a fourth time.

Also Read: Taliban Terrorist Ehsanullah Ehsan Behind Attack On Malala Yousafzai Escapes From Pakistan Jail

"I cant afford to see my five children being orphaned again," said Bibi who lives in the Sadeqabad area of mountainous Kunar province in eastern Afghanistan.

Image For Representationm/Reuters

Bibi was 18 when she got married for the first time to Aminullahs oldest brother, who was a soldier. Life was good, Bibi says, until her husband was killed in a battle with the Taliban. Within months, she married her his younger brother, also a soldier.

It is common in ethnic Pashtun society for widows to marry their brothers-in-law because of a belief that a widow should not marry outside the family.

But even before she came to terms with her new life, a pregnant Bibi had to identify the bloody body of her second husband, who was killed defending a check-point from a Taliban attack.

After 90 days of mourning, she agreed to her father-in-laws request that she marry his third son, a police officer. He was killed in a clash with the Taliban in 2017.

That same year, Bibi married Aminullah, the fourth brother, who accepted his three-time widowed sister-in-law as his wife along with her children.

Also Read : Terror Amid Coronavirus - At Least 7 Killed In Taliban Attack In Northern Afghanistan



"Sometimes I blame the Taliban, sometimes I blame the Afghan government, sometimes I blame the foreign forces but mostly I blame myself for all this pain," Bibi told Reuters over the telephone.

Reuters

Bibi is a devout Muslim and prays five times a day. "Islam teaches us not to kill anyone, but here in our land we just kill anyone and everyone," she said.

Also Read: Afghan Girl Who Shot Taliban Men With Gun Says She Is 'Ready To Fight Them Again'



"I dont know if Allah understands my pain and loss."

She said people die once but after losing three husbands, she felt like shed already died three times. "Maybe Im just unlucky."

Clashes between Afghan government forces and Taliban insurgents have not died down, despite peace talks in Qatar that have raised hopes for an end to Afghanistans seemingly endless cycle of war.

At least 60 members of the Afghan security forces were killed across the country, last week.
An arrest warrant has been issued for a 28-year-old woman charged with bestiality.

The woman, who is accused of committing a sex act involving a dog, was due to appear in Mackay Magistrates Court in Queensland on Tuesday but did not show up, the Daily Mercury reported.

The woman faces one charge of bestiality between August 2018 and July 2019 in Mackay.

She could be jailed for up to seven years if found guilty.
Clumsy Gerald the giraffe first found his footing and gained the confidence to joyfully cut a rug at the Jungle Dance in 1999s Giraffes Cant Dance by Giles Andreae, illustrated by Guy Parker-Rees (Orchard). Geralds story clearly still has legs, having sold more than 3.6 million copies combined across hardcover, board book, and padded board book editions, and logging 245 weeks on the PW bestseller list (where it currently sits at #6), as well as being translated into 31 languages. Now the British creative duo of Andreae and Parker-Rees returns to Africa as the setting for a new tale, this time featuring Num Num, a young elephant trying to discover his own special talent. Free to Be Elephant Me is scheduled for release on July 1, 2021. We asked Andreae and Parker-Rees about the forthcoming book, the cover of which were revealing here.

I wanted to write something with a similar tone to Giraffes Cant Dance but with a different, or at least complementary, message, Andreae said of how he came to the idea. While Giraffes focuses on finding your own way of doing thingsyour own unique talentand going for it, he noted, not all of us have a particular talent that we can really shine at. Some people, most people, in fact, dont have anything at all that makes them exceptional. The people who I admire most are often the people who are just, well... nice, he said. Its not always easy and it often takes strength to be kind, steady, quiet, compassionate, understanding. People can only really display these qualities if they have the courage to be vulnerable, to be truly and authentically themselves. This is, paradoxically, perhaps one of the greatest talents of all. Now that is something worth writing about, and worth celebrating, I thought to myself!

In terms of inventing a protagonist, Andreae said, An elephant just felt right for this. The combination of their strength and their perceived wisdom seemed appropriate, along with the fact that they look so wonderful.

Parker-Rees wholeheartedly agrees. I particularly love elephants, he said. Ive always been obsessed with them. I even wanted to be one when I was younger, but when I was told that might be difficult, I started making books about them instead, he added. Ive still got the first I made [see illustration]. So, imagine how excited I was to be sent Giless wonderful, moving story about elephants to illustrate, more than 50 years later! The storys backdrop is also a favorite of Parker-Reess. Its a world I love to paint, he said. Theres nowhere on Earth with such a rich diversity of large animals as the African savannah.

Though hes introducing brand new characters, Andreae said he was happy about imaginatively traveling back to a landscape and atmosphere that Guy and I have visited before. I adore the colors that Guy uses for the African skythe dawns and the sunsets, he said. The terrain is so varied and beautiful too. Africa has a wonderful and intense grandeur to it, which Guy captures beautifully.

Addressing his approach to the books cover, Parker-Rees said, What I want to capture in my illustrations more than anything else is exuberance: a celebration of the pure joy of being alive. Thats what I was aiming for with this cover. I hope Num-Num looks exuberantI think he does.

Ken Geist, v-p and publisher-at-large for Scholastic Trade Publishing, who edited both books, was very pleased to have the Giraffes team reunited for a new project. I had been waiting for quite a while for the next Giles/Guy collaboration and when I read it, I jumped for joy, he said. He believes the first book has staying power because it brilliantly inspires children of all ages to try things in their own way. The lyrical rhymes and lively illustrations remind readers that new experiences can be fun.

Andreae reflected on the long life of Giraffes, saying, It makes me feel very proud and humbled that so many people of all generations feel such a connection to it. It was our first book together and actually it grew pretty slowly at first. Now after marking a 20-year milestone, The interesting thing is how much momentum it has gained within the last 10 years or so, the last five, even, Andreae said. I just think were very lucky that people found inspiration in the message and Guy has an extraordinary knack of combining humor and emotion in his illustrations. Thats very hard to pull off.

For his role in the success of Giraffes, Parker-Rees credits Andreae with creating a beautiful story for him to illustrate. When a story is really good, the images just appear as I read it, he explained. All I have to do is get them onto paper. I knew Giraffes Cant Dance was special when I was painting it, in particular the cover, but I never imagined it would resonate with quite so many people around the world, he said. As an artist, I couldnt wish for anything more.
Seven of the nine Bay Area counties have achieved red status in the states color-coded blueprint for reopening after Alameda, San Mateo and Solano counties improved from the highest-risk purple category Tuesday morning.

Those three counties may now join much of the region in loosening coronavirus-related restrictions on businesses, though Alameda County officials said there would be no changes for at least two weeks.

The progress in keeping the coronavirus pandemic in check that prompted the change in the regions status could bring some revival in economic activity, particularly in the hard-hit restaurant and personal service sectors. While employment has improved in the Bay Area recently, new jobless claims remain high in California, accounting for an outsize share of national claims for unemployment benefits. Many businesses are struggling under strict shelter-in-place rules, even with accommodations made for outdoor operations.

Moving into the red tier allows the return of indoor dining, which has been absent for most of the last six months throughout the Bay Area, at 25% capacity. Gyms can open indoors at 10% capacity, movie theaters can open at 25% capacity, and malls and indoor retail can increase their caps on customers to 50% from 25%. Personal care businesses such as nail salons, barbershops and waxing services can open indoors with modifications.

That leaves just Contra Costa and Sonoma counties on the most restrictive purple tier, each with more than seven new cases daily for every 100,000 residents and positive test rates hovering around 5%.

San Francisco remained on red status, a decision county health officials opposed in a formal request to the state Public Health Department. Officials requested that the state re-evaluate the citys coronavirus data, which had appeared consistently low enough to merit a move to the orange tier.

San Mateo County and Solano counties immediately moved to adopt less restrictive guidelines for certain businesses allowed in the red category. Officials in Alameda County took a more cautious approach, halting changes for the next two weeks as they monitor cases.

Under the streamlined tier system, each county is given a color representing its coronavirus risk level: Purple stands for widespread risk, red for substantial risk, orange for moderate and yellow for minimal. Each progressive level comes with fewer restrictions on businesses. Counties can be stricter than their state tier, but not more permissive.

To progress to the next less-restrictive level, a countys numbers must remain stable for a minimum of three weeks and meet the next tiers more stringent requirements for two consecutive weeks.

That two-week window is necessary to chart the virus trend within a given county and to give contact tracing time to work, state Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said at a news conference Tuesday.

With just 2.4% of tests coming back positive, San Franciscos case numbers had appeared to meet the states criteria for the less-restrictive orange status, but the city will remain on red for now. Ghaly did not detail his agencys decision-making process except to say that conversations about the citys coronavirus metrics are ongoing.

Moving to the orange reopening tier would have paved the way for indoor dining in San Francisco, a requirement set by local officials that is stricter than state rules. Mayor London Breed said last week she anticipated reaching orange status by the end of the month.

The city will move ahead with its planned loosening of restrictions on religious gatherings, however, with the goal of reaching 25% operating capacity at places of worship by Oct. 1, officials said. That matches what the state allows for the red tier.

Each countys ranking in the color-coded system is governed by two critical factors: coronavirus case rates and positive test rates. The case rate calculations are adjusted to reflect testing volume, meaning areas with high testing, such as San Francisco, receive a modest boost.

The color-coded system was intended to streamline the reopening process when it was rolled out late last month. By focusing on just two metrics  case rates and the rate of positive tests  the tiered rankings replaced a convoluted 58-factor checklist.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

Alameda County, like San Francisco, is exercising its prerogative to maintain stricter rules. It said Tuesday that it would not make any changes in response to its new red status, effectively pressing the pause button on reopening efforts.

We are using the next two weeks to ensure our metrics remain stable, the county said, adding that it will release a phased plan to roll out newly permitted activities.

Kim Hastings, 46, runs her waxing business at Phoenix Rising Salon, a hair salon in Montclair Village in Oakland. Shes been closed since mid-March and is anxiously waiting to open her waxing services. Three weeks ago, Alameda County allowed hair salons to begin indoor operations, but personal care services such as waxing remain prohibited.

Ive worked so hard to build my business, and Ill be losing my clients to other Bay Area counties that are allowing this, said Hastings. I hope Alameda gives us the go-ahead.

Alameda, the second-most populous Bay Area county, is the worst-hit in the region with 20,641 reported coronavirus cases as of Tuesday. Its reopening rules have been among the strictest.

Hastings revenue plummeted during the business closures. Shes been on unemployment benefits since July, often receiving financial help from friends and family. She wants to go back to work, especially since her colleagues who work with hair are allowed to do so.

My workspace is white-glove ready. I have all the social distancing and safety protocols set up and I only work on one client at a time. Im ready, she said.

Nora Mishanec, Shwanika Narayan and Roland Li are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: nora.mishanec@sfchronicle.com, shwanika.narayan@sfchronicle.com, roland.li@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @NMishanec, @Shwanika, @rolandlisf
Photo Illustration by Elizabeth Brockway/The Daily Beast/Getty

Facing what they acknowledge to be a nearly impossible task of blocking President Donald Trump from filling a Supreme Court vacancy, Senate Democrats are divided over what precise tactics they should deploy in the days and weeks ahead.

On a caucus call Saturday, members laid out two types of approaches that they thought would best suit the party in its efforts to stop the president from filling the seat of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died on Friday from complications of pancreatic cancer. One faction felt that a dramatic show of resistance with overt political threats would provide the pressure needed to at least slow down the march of Senate Republicans towards confirming Trumps inevitable nominee.

Another faction, composed mainly of moderates, felt that members should stay squarely focused on the implications that the confirmation would have on health carearguing that the public, especially in key swing states, would be moved by fears that a new court (and even the current eight-member one) could allow for the full destruction of the Affordable Care Act.

Those kinds of conversations are going on as we speak, said one senior Democrat privy to the conversations. Some want to keep the focus on the impact the court will have on health care, others want one or more message-type events to try and clarify what exactly is at stake.

The divide was confirmed by two other sources, one of whom downplayed the disagreement as part of standard strategy sessions. A separate source, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe the contents of the call, said that an additional fear was expressed by some members over the party openly contemplating adding court seats as retribution for Republicans filling Ginsburgs post.

There was a discussion of, OK, if we talk through this and lay out the things we are willing to do, what happens if we lose? the source, a Senate Democratic aide, said. Thats an obvious concern because weve just given [Senate Majority Leader Mitch] McConnell the basis and moral authority to go do it himself. Suddenly, its an eight-three court.

Story continues

Seth Meyers: Why Its Pointless to Call Out GOPs Supreme Court Hypocrisy

Caught in the middle of the schism is Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. The New York Democrat has implored members to push back vociferously against McConnells plan to hold a vote for a nominee this calendar year. But his team also recognizes the acute pressure coming from the left to pursue political and constitutional retribution if a confirmation does take place and Democrats subsequently take back the presidency and control of the Senate.

Schumer, in his statements, has said that every option is currently on the table, which aides have explained is a deliberate signal that he is not ruling out such agenda items as adding more seats to the Supreme Court, expanding statehood to Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C., and a rule change to end the legislative filibuster. But privately, few if any on Capitol Hill see those outcomes as viable, at least until after the election results come in and the confirmation fight commences. It was noted by more than one source that only one senatorMassachusetts Democrat Ed Markeyhas, since Ginsburgs death, explicitly endorsed the idea of adding Supreme Court seats.

In an interview with The Daily Beast on Monday, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) who is a member of the Judiciary Committee through which any confirmation fight will go, said that talks of adding Senate or court seats have taken place. But he also said it was premature to hone in on any remedial option.

I would say that if they go ahead as they have threatened, they should expect to forfeit any standing to complain in the Democratic-controlled Senate, he said of Republicans. You cant have a situation in which rules, traditions and precedents dont matter when Republicans are in charge but they get to blow the whistle if we violate those things when we are in charge.

There are lots of options here, Whitehouse added, and I don't want to lock in on one.

GOP Laughs at Dems Scorched Earth Threats as Supreme Court Battle Begins

Whatever hashing-out of strategy that Democrats did on their Saturday call, they returned to Capitol Hill on Monday relentlessly on message. Lawmakers batted away questions about what might be on the table next year should the GOP get their judge by saying they wouldnt address hypotheticals. Of the six Democrats approached by The Daily Beast, none were eager to discuss much of anything beyond the implications of the court vacancy for health care and other key issuesand the lingering hope of getting enough Republicans on board to block Trumps pick.

We have to learn how to take one battle at a time, Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) told The Daily Beast. We have to try to win this one, if we can, and I'm not giving up on this. And then failing that, we have to win the Senate and the presidency. And then we'll evaluate our options.

Theres also a notion among Democrats that an aggressive campaign of resistance to Trumps pick that underscores the big-picture stakes of the court fight is not mutually exclusive to a focus on bread-and-butter issues like health care.

This is fairly apocalyptic when it comes to regular people's lives, so that's how we've got to approach this, said Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) of the high court vacancy. We're gonna have to run a grassroots campaign to stop this nomination from happening, and then make sure that anybody that supports ramming through a judge in the middle of an election pays a price for it at the polls Your public advocacy campaign on the nominee is going to have to be dovetailed with your electoral strategy.

But theres a sense in many corners of the Democratic caucus that spending time talking up a hypothetical response of additional court seats or D.C. statehood is a political loser, and backs Democrats into the fight that Republicans want to havenot the fight that will actually help the party pick up the seats they would need to end the filibuster or expand the court in the first place.

This is not a political battle. It's not an ideological battle necessarily between Mitch McConnell and our Congress and the President and his folks, said Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE), who said that the stakes of the fight come down to issues like health care and labor rights. I think our responsibility is to make sure those consequences are understood.

Asked if the Democratic caucus is on the same page as the battle lines of the confirmation fight begin to take shape, Schatz gave a definitive yes.

I think we know we have the high ground and we're not going to cede it. And we're not going to be baited into hypotheticals about next spring, he said. That's what they want us to talk abouthypotheticals next spring. There's a live crime being committed, and they want to talk about what we will do in six months and make a bunch of accusations so that it seems like both sides are performing the procedural violence.

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According to researchers, the world's richest 1% causes twice the amount of carbon dioxide emissions (CO2) than the world's poorest 50 percent.

Surprising New Research

New research examined the carbon emissions proportions between the rich and the poor from 1990 up to 2015 and saw that the emissions by the wealthiest 1% increased three times compared to the increase of the poorest 50 percent. The emission of carbon dioxide has increased by 60 percent in the duration of those 25 years.

The Stockholm Environment Institute and Oxfam published the research. It warned of the burgeoning over-consumption by the world's wealthy, with their addiction to transportation with high carbon emissions that is depleting the carbon budget of the world.

READ: New Satellite Can Monitor Emissions of Greenhouse Gas Methane Which Causes Climate Change

Carbon Budget Squandered

According to Oxfam International policy, advocacy & research head Tim Gore, this high carbon emission concentration among the world's wealthy tells us that fossil fuel burning is done by humanity. While taking a toll on the planet's health and bringing about a worldwide climate crisis, it also did not improve the lives of the billions who are poor.

Gore says the carbon budget of the world is being squandered to expand the rich's already humongous consumption, instead of improving humanity. He says that we need to ensure the proper use of carbon.

Consumption of the Rich

The top 10 percent richest people in the world comprise roughly 630 million people. This group is responsible for approximately 52 percent worldwide emissions in the 25 years encompassing the study period.

The 10% richest are classified as people with incomes surpassing $35,000 per year, while the 1% richest earn over $100,000.

Emissions of carbon dioxide stay and grow larger, disrupting ecosystems and natural planetary processes. If it is not curbed and the carbon emissions of the rich continue, temperature levels may increase by 1.5 C even if the rest of the world's population immediately cuts their emissions down to zero.

According to Oxfam, allowing the world's rich to continue their obscene levels of emissions is unfair to the world's poor. As the world slowly shifts into using renewables and gradually eliminates fossil fuels, the remaining emissions necessary in the transition period should be channeled into improving the basic amenities of the poor. However, Gore says that the world's carbon budget is already nearly used up by the rich, and continues to use it to get even richer.

READ NEXT: Coffee, Cake, and Free Bus Tickets: Finnish Town Rewards Residents If They Reduce Their Carbon Emissions

Specifically, Gore identifies the rich's use of transportation as among the most critical factors that drive emission growth. The rich are increasingly driving SUVs and other cars that have very high emissions. They also fly more.

Oxfam is recommending taxes on these high-emitting luxuries, including taxes on frequent flyers. Then, the income from this must be utilized in initiating low-emitting alternatives and improve the conditions of the poor. Gore said the tax on flying applies only to just a small number of rich.

According to Green party MP Caroline Lucas, it is a stark example of injustice, in that the more vulnerable and exposed sectors are those who contribute the least to carbon emissions. It is the UK's moral responsibility to correct this due to its disproportionately high carbon emissions in the past, and because it is next year's host for the climate summit of the UN. This disproportionate carbon dioxide emissions by the richest 1% must be balanced and be made equitable.

READ: How Hang Drying Clothes Can Help Save the Planet from Climate Change

Check out more news and information on Carbon emissions on Nature World News.
While some people who contract SARS-CoV-2 infections never experience any symptoms, there remains disagreement about what proportion of total infections these cases represent. A new study published in the open-access journal PLOS Medicine by Diana Buitrago-Garcia at the University of Bern, Switzerland and colleagues suggests that true asymptomatic cases of SARS-CoV-2 comprise a minority of infections.

The full spectrum and distribution of the severity of COVID-19 symptoms are not well understood. Some infected people may experience severe infections resulting in viral pneumonia, respiratory distress syndrome, and death, while others remain completely asymptomatic or develop mild, nonspecific symptoms. To better understand the proportion of people who become infected with SARS-CoV-2 and never develop any symptoms, as well as the proportion of people who are asymptomatic at the time of diagnosis but develop symptoms later, researchers systematically reviewed literature using a database of SARS-CoV-2 evidence between March and June, 2020. The authors then analysed 79 studies reporting empirical data on 6,616 people, 1,287 of whom were defined as asymptomatic, in order to determine the proportion of infected people who never developed symptoms. While the study was limited by its inability to ascertain the impact of false negatives, the researchers were able to estimate that 20% (95% CI 17-25) of COVID-19 infections remained asymptomatic during follow-up.

Accurate estimations of true asymptomatic and presymptomatic infections are critical to understanding SARS-CoV-2 transmission at the population level and for populations to adopt appropriately tailored public health strategies. Future research should include prospective longitudinal studies that document symptom status. Improved accuracy of serological tests is also needed to reduce the number of false negatives. Since each person infected with SARS-CoV-2 is initially asymptomatic, the proportion that will go on to develop symptoms is estimated to be around 80%, suggesting that presymptomatic transmission may significantly contribute to overall SARS CoV-2 epidemics.

According to the authors, "The findings of this systematic review of publications early in the pandemic suggests that most SARS-CoV-2 infections are not asymptomatic throughout the course of infection. The contribution of presymptomatic and asymptomatic infections to overall SARS-CoV-2 transmission means that combination prevention measures, with enhanced hand and respiratory hygiene, testing and tracing, and isolation strategies and social distancing, will continue to be needed.

###

Research Article

Peer reviewed; Systematic review; People

In your coverage please use this URL to provide access to the freely available paper: http://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1003346

Funding: Funding was received from the Swiss National Science Foundation (320030_176233, to NL), http://www.snf.ch/en/Pages/default.aspx; European Union Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (101003688, to NL), https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/horizon2020/en; Swiss government excellence scholarship (2019.0774, to DB-G), https://www.sbfi.admin.ch/sbfi/en/home/education/scholarships-and-grants/swiss-government-excellence-scholarships.html; and the Swiss School of Public Health Global P3HS stipend (to DB-G), https://ssphplus.ch/en/globalp3hs/. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

Competing Interests: I have read the journal's policy and the authors of this manuscript have the following competing interests: GS has participated in two scientific meetings for Merck and Biogen. NL is a member of the PLOS Medicine editorial board.

Citation: Buitrago-Garcia D, Egli-Gany D, Counotte MJ, Hossmann S, Imeri H, Ipekci AM, et al. (2020) Occurrence and transmission potential of asymptomatic and presymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections: A living systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS Med 17(9): e1003346. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1003346
The UN General Assembly is currently in session and US President Donald Trump and Chinas President Xi Jinping are scheduled to address the assembly on the morning of September 22. Russian President Vladimir Putin will also address the member states. The United Nations recently celebrated 75 years of the organization's inception and for the first time, the UNGA will be meeting virtually.

Virtual UN General Assembly

As per an Axios report, the US President has promised to put forward a strong message tackling China. On the other hand, Xi Jinping is expected to advocate for further global cooperation and also to claim that it can be an effective world leader. 173-world leaders, the most in UN history, will be attending the Assembly virtually.

Read: United Nations Recognises COVID-19 As One Of The Greatest Challenges In Its History

Read: United Nations Urges US To Ban Surveillance Equipment Exports To Saudi Arabia

The US has recently started the procedure for snapback mechanism at the UN Security Council in an effort to reimpose sanctions on Iran. The US also unilaterally decided to reimpose UN sanctions on the country which would prevent others from selling conventional arms to Iran after the expiry of a UN embargo next month. But many world leaders including Germany, France and the United Kingdom have refused to follow the sanctions leaving the US alone in its demands.

Tensions between the US and Iran have been high ever since the US under President Donald Trump pulled out of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and started trying to reimpose sanctions on Iran. The other signatories of the deal have been desperately trying to peep the nuclear deal alive.

China, meanwhile, is at its weakest global standing of the modern era, being finally called out from far and wide for a long list of transgressions, ranging from expansionism, military aggression, spreading Covid worldwide, dumping of low quality products, rampant IP violations, theft, espionage, and much more.

Read: United Nations, Huthi Rebels At Impasse Over Stranded Oil Tanker Off Yemen Coast

Read: US Envoy To United Nations Meets With Taiwan Official In NY
WASHINGTON  The Republican-led Senate may be ready to approve President Donald Trumps yet-to-be-named nominee to fill the Supreme Court vacancy left by the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, but the deeply divided chamber was unable to pass a ceremonial resolution honoring Ginsburg on Tuesday.

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz blocked the resolution after Democrats tried to add language noting Ginsburgs dying wish  as related to the media by her daughter  was for the winner of the Nov. 3 presidential election to pick her successor. Cruz said the Democratic amendment to the resolution went too far by adding language purportedly based on a comment Justice Ginsburg made to family members shortly before she passed.

SHATTERING RECORDS: Texas now has 16.6 million voters on the rolls

This endeavor started with a resolution that the majority put forward that was intended to be a bipartisan resolution commemorating the life and service of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Cruz said as he objected to an attempt by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to pass the resolution. Unfortunately the Democratic leader has put forth an amendment to turn that bipartisan resolution into a partisan resolution.

Cruz, who noted that he argued cases before Ginsburg nine times as solicitor general for Texas, in turn tried to add language quoting Ginsburgs opposition to the idea of adding justices to the high court, something some Democrats have floated as a goal if Republicans approve Trumps nominee.

Schumer got the last word: I believe Justice Ginsburg would easily see through the legal sophistry of the argument of the junior senator from Texas, Schumer said. To turn Justice Ginsburgs dying words against her is so, so beneath the dignity of this body.

Ginsburgs death has sparked a mammoth battle in the Senate as the GOP rushes to fill the seat ahead of an already bitter election when both the presidency and control of the chamber are on the line. Trump has said hell name a successor by the end of the week.

Democrats are protesting, saying Republicans are hypocrites after denying even a hearing for Merrick Garland, whom Obama nominated to fill a Supreme Court vacancy left by Antonin Scalia after he died on a ranch in West Texas in February 2016. Obama nominated Garland in March, months before the 2016 election.

But theres likely little the Democrats will be able to do to stop the appointment, as Republicans appear to have the votes to approve the nominee, even as two GOP senators have said theyll vote against it.

Editor's note: this story has been updated to correct an error in Sen. Chuck Schumer's title.

ben.wermund@chron.com
India insisted on 'complete disengagement' in all its talks with China on eastern Ladakh row: Govt

You first: India tells China to disengage from friction points at military commander level talks

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Sep 22: India has once again reiterated to China and said that it expects complete disengagement from the friction points.

During the military commander level talks held on Monday, India told China to disengage from Pangong Tso, Chushul and Gogra Hot Springs. Further India also sought for the finalisation of a roadmap for Des-escalation along the entire frontier in Eastern Ladakh.

India said that it would reciprocate the action, once China makes the first move. India wants China to make the first move as the latter created the face-off. Further the Indian side made it clear that if China does not make any move, then our troops are prepared for a long haul.

China distracted the world from Ladakh by opening up three fronts in South China Sea

The talks were held in Moldo on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control. The commanders sat across the table after a gap of one and half months to discuss the situation at the border. The talks were held to explore ways to defuse tensions in eastern Ladakh.

The main focus of the meeting was on the implementation of a five-point agreement reached between the two countries.

Both sides reached the agreement to resolve the border row at a meeting between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on the sidelines of a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation(SCO) meet in Moscow on September 10.

The agreement included measures like quick disengagement of troops, avoiding action that could escalate tensions, adherence to all agreements and protocols on border management and steps to restore peace along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

The sources said the Indian Army also strengthened its dominance in over 20 strategic mountain heights around the northern and southern banks of Pangong lake as well as in the extended general area of Chushul in the last few days even as freezing conditions are gripping the area, the sources said.

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Officials familiar with the development tell OneIndia that the Chinese side is not yet ready to disengage. The process may take longer and China will have to agree to major concessions, the official also said.

The meeting between delegations headed by 14 Corps Commander, Lt. General Harinder Singh and South Xinjiang Military District Chief, Major General Liu Lin began at 9.30 am and went on late into the night on Monday. There is however no official word on the final outcome of the talks.

For the first time, the Indian delegation comprised an official of the Ministry of External Affairs. Those part of the delegation also included Naveen Srivastava, MEA, Joint Secretary (East Asia) and Lt. General P K Menon, who will replace Lt General Singh as the 14 Corps Commander next month.
The rural economy may be in a far deeper crisis than what the Q1 of FY21 data indicates. Though the agriculture sector is the only one showing positive growth of 3.4% growth in GVA (all others being negative), there are other indicators which show a massive impact of the lockdown.

The central bank RBI's September 2020 bulletin (released on September 11) warns of a big risk to the microfinance sector, which majorly supports income generation and livelihood in rural areas.

High risks to small businesses in rural India

As for the risk to the microfinance sector, the RBI bulletin says: "COVID-19 event is perhaps the biggest tail risk event in a long time. Owing to the disruptions in supply chain and business operations, the likelihood of loss of livelihoods and consequent drop in household incomes is high."

Small traders, hawkers and daily wage labourers, who constitute a large chunk of microfinance borrowers (primarily self-help groups, a significant number of which are run by women), "were the worst hit by the lockdown in April 2020". This category of employment accounts for 32% of the total employment but "suffered 75 per cent of the hit in April 2020".

Also Read: Economy XXIX: Exposing farmers to unregulated market is more likely to harm them

The collection efficiency (loan recovery) of microfinance institutions (MFIs) fell sharply to 3% in April 2020, recovered to 21% in May and 58% in June but remains far lower than 83% recorded in March 2020 (lockdown started on March 25). A "significant proportion" of such borrowers have availed moratoriums on loan repayments.

The outstanding MFI loans stood at Rs 2.32 lakh crore on March 31, 2020 - up from Rs 1.79 lakh crore on March 31, 2019.

The graph below shows how microfinance collections have been impacted.

The RBI report further says the NBFC-MFIs "are particularly exposed to credit risks". These NBFC-MFIs specialise in providing collateral-free loans to low-income groups and are concentrated in rural areas (75% of loan portfolio) with a majority of loans to agriculture and allied activities (55.8%).

The RBI considered two stress scenarios for NBFC-MFIs - 40% and 80% drop in recovery - and found that the gap between inflows and outflows (outflows assumed constant in both scenarios) narrowed down in the first scenario (40% drop) but still remained positive across time periods (spanning 1 month to 1 year). But in the second scenario (80% drop), the cumulative gap up to 6 months and up to 1 year "turned negative", indicating "need for additional funding".

Growing NPAs in MUDRA loans

In the meanwhile, MUDRA loans are also in trouble.

These are (loans up to a maximum of Rs 10 lakh) also collateral-free and given to non-corporate small businesses, mainly MSMEs.

A news report quoting finance ministry data says that loans from PSBs alone have gone up from Rs 2.12 lakh crore in FY18 to Rs 3.05 lakh crore in FY19 and Rs 3.82 lakh crore in FY20).

At the same time, their non-performing assets (NPAs) have progressively risen - up from Rs 7,277 crore (3.42%) in FY18 to Rs 11,483 crore (3.75%) in FY19 and Rs 18,835.77 crore (4.92%) in FY20.

Although the rural component of these loans is not known, 51% of MSME units are located in rural areas. As a relief measure, on June 24, 2020, the Centre announced an interest subvention of 2% only to Shishu loans (up to Rs 50,000) for a year.

Also Read: Rebooting Economy XXVIII: Is India poised for agriculture-led economic turnaround?

Growing NPAs in MUDRA loans would lead to more risk-averse behaviour from the lending institutions, thereby creating liquidity crunch.

Any trouble with MUDRA and other microfinance (MFIs) loans would seriously impact the rural economy, both farm and non-farm activities.

The NABARD's Rural Financial Inclusion Survey of 2016-17, released in August 2018, showed that even in agriculture households (constituting 47.5% of 211.6 million rural households), only 35% of the average monthly income (of Rs 8,931) came from cultivation and the rest from other activities. Among non-agricultural households, 54% of the average monthly income (Rs 7,269) came from wages, 32% from salaries and 12% from non-farm sector activities.

These income calculations excluded income from transfers and remittances.

Remittances from urban areas disrupted

Remittances from migrant workers boost the income of rural households, which dried up as millions lost their jobs overnight. The government's reply to the Lok Sabha revealed that 10.4 million migrants went home, mostly to rural areas.

Migrants send home Rs 2 lakh crore a year, a national daily quoting financial service companies reported. It further said that immediately after the lockdown, these companies recorded 80% drop in remittances in April 2020.

In September 2020, a joint study by the London School of Economics and Political Science, "City of dreams no more: The impact of Covid-19 on urban workers in India" found that (i) 52% of urban workers went without work or pay and received no financial assistance and (ii) on average, earnings fell by 48% in April and May, compared to pre-pandemic months of January and February with financial assistance available to less than 25% of the workforce.

The study does not talk of migrant workers or remittances but the likelihood of these urban workers remitting money to rural India can't be ruled out entirely.

Also Read: Rebooting Economy XXVII: Fiscal mismanagement threatens India's economic recovery

How many migrant workers lost their jobs or died while walking home during the lockdown is not known. The government told Lok Sabha on September 14 that it did not track either.

A private initiative by citizens recorded 906 non-virus deaths during the lockdown (from exhaustion of walking home hundreds of miles, starvation, accidents etc.)

The net result of non-tracking of job loss and death by official agencies makes it difficult to know the true extent of rural distress.

Excess rain and spread of COVID-19 to rural areas

Two disturbing news have come in the meanwhile.

One, reports from states producing significant Kharif crops like Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Telangana, say that excess rain in August-end caused extensive damage. Sowing of Kharif may have gone up by 8.5% in area but excess rain can ruin the gains.

Two, the COVID-19 cases are rapidly growing in rural areas. From 24% in April, rural districts contributed 51% in July and 55% in August to new virus cases, says an SBI research paper, "Three Months After Unlock", released on September 3, 2020. (For more read " Rebooting Economy XXVIII: Is India poised for agriculture-led economic turnaround? ")

Given that rural healthcare facilities are worse than urban ones, the spread of the virus would take a heavier toll on livelihood activities and income in rural India than in urban India.

This SBI research also showed how Q1 of FY21 saw high rural loss, even though the overall agriculture GVA recorded a positive 3.4% growth. At least 12 states showed the rural share in GSDP loss between 69% and 100% - as reproduced below.

These states are major producers of rice, wheat, sugarcane, potato, chickpea, groundnut, maize, soya bean, coarse cereals and pulses, the report pointed out.

Rural economy contributes significantly to national output and employment

The threats to credit and liquidity crunch and those from excess rain and virus cases would seriously impact national output and employment.

In 2011-12, the last year for which rural-urban contributions to output and employment are available, shows the rural economy's contribution to Net Domestic Product (NDP) was 46.9% and to employment 70.9%.

Also Read: Rebooting Economy XXVI: Derailment of economy is not 'Act of God', it is 'Art of Misdirection'

Such rural-urban estimates are made only at the time of calculating GDP base-year. Rural area's shares in all six base-year estimates are mapped below to show how significant its role is.

In 2011-12, rural area's share to NDP and employment in different economic activities are also mapped below to provide a more granular picture. Non-agri activities shown in the graph include manufacturing, construction and services that follow.

What the above two graphs indicate is that any setback to the rural economy will cause a proportionate setback to national output and total employment, which would be quite substantial, and hence, India needs to pay more attention and estimate the true extent of rural distress due to the virus and economic disruptions.
HOUSTON, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Q2 Technologies, the leading expert in H2S and mercaptan removal solutions, announced today the launch of its new corporate brand identity, redesigned logo, and website. Q2 Technologies reflects these changes as the company continues to provide economically transformative chemical solutions to its clients.

New Corporate Identity for Q2 Technologies.

"We have taken considerable strides in advancing our presence across all industries we serve from Crude Oil and Liquids, Natural Gas, Environmental, and Pulp & Paper and to reflect the impact we seek to deliver to our clients, we felt it necessary to represent that with our updated vision," said Hugo Lozano, Partner and General Manager at Q2 Technologies. "Our new website and brand identity are important gateways for our clients to interact with us."

Creating a new brand identity started with a new logo.

Challenge

To create a logo and visual identity that honors the previous two decades of a strong business legacy with a brighter, cleaner, and bolder vison of where Q2 Technologies is headed.

Strategy

To retain specific visual elements such as the letter Q and our all-important swirl. The imagery of the new logo needed to be easily identifiable and is used as a guiding visual reference on our strategic direction.

The letter Q calls attention to the initial formation of the company that was a blending of a Joint Venture between Quaker Houghton and Quima International. The kerning of the letter Q and the number two into a single image has a duplicative in meaning. The resulting swirl in our brand colors melds that important JV, anchoring the past, but is also representative of the positive reactions and responsibilities we have as a chemical company for our clients. We take great pride in developing and translating different chemicals to market applications that when implemented for the client have a net positive effect for their business, safety, and environment.

Result

The Q2 image leans forward into opportunities, providing clients with sound solutions to bring their projects to the next level. Further, the updated fresh typeset offers an approachable and modern look that is representative of the advances we will continue to make in the chemical space.

Specifically designed to work across both digital and physical media, the new brand is a tangible example of the advancements the company has made in its nearly 20 years of business.

The newly redesigned website features easy-to-navigate pages with updated, simplified messaging. Our new visual imagery, based on guiding style of the logo, embodies a bright, clean, and fresh look which is implemented throughout the site. The industries we serve, major products we offer, informative case studies, and news sections all have been given proper attention.

"While we've kept our name and tag line, Q2 Technologies: A Chemical Company, the logo and website have been given a fresh look which better represents who we are and how we want to partner with leading companies," said Philip Weigand, VP Business Development at Q2 Technologies. "Our new logo visually does what we strive to do every day: lean forward in providing chemical solutions that are a net positive for our clients."

About Q2 Technologies, LLC:

Q2 Technologies specializes in increasing the value of crude oil barrels by offering several solutions: Pro3 line of non-triazine H2S scavengers and ProM line of non-triazine mercaptan scavengers for crude oil applications. The Pro3 / ProM technologies currently treat over 8 million barrels of crude oil and condensate each month at major pipelines and terminals in the US. Q2 Technologies also provides H2S inhibition and odor control for environmental applications.

Q2 Technologies has been in business for over 19 years. Q2 Technologies, a former JV with Quaker Houghton strategically developed the MEA-Triazine scavengers used world-wide today in the late 1980's. Q2 Technologies is an expert in H2S and mercaptan removal solutions. Q2 Technologies has H2S and mercaptan removal experience in the oil & gas, pulp & paper, wastewater, biogas, and landfill gas industries. By combining its experience and research and development within these industries, Q2 Technologies offers superior engineering, application, and chemical solutions.

Visit www.Q2Technologies.com to learn more or follow us on LinkedIn @Q2 Technologies, LLC

https://www.linkedin.com/company/q2-technologies-llc .

For more information, contact Philip Weigand at [email protected] or +1 (832) 328-2200.

SOURCE Q2 Technologies, LLC

Related Links

http://www.Q2Technologies.com


Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

New research presented at this year's Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD), held online this year, suggests regular heat exposure through a hot bath is associated with a beneficial effect on risk factors for type 2 diabetes, including glycated haemoglobin |(HbA1c), a measure of blood sugar control. The study is by Dr. Hisayuki Katsuyama, Kohnodai Hospital, Ichikawa, Chiba, Japan, and colleagues.

Previous studies have suggested that heat therapy, such as use of saunas and hot-tub bathing, improved blood sugar control and body fat percentage, and thus could be a therapeutic tool in the daily life for patients type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, there have been no studies to date using a large number of patients that have examined effects of hot-tub bathing on metabolic parameters in patients with T2D in a real-world setting.

In Japan, most residences are fitted with a bath/hot-tub and bathing is a traditional and common life habit. Thus, the authors studied the effect of bathing in Japanese patients with T2D.

They obtained the information on the habits of bathing by using a questionnaire from 1,297 patients with type 2 diabetes, who regularly visited the outpatient unit of Kohnodai Hospital between October 2018 and March 2019, and studied the association of frequency of bathing with anthropometric measurements and blood test results. The patients were divided into three groups according to the frequency of bathing as follows; group 1: 4 or more baths per week; group 2: between 1 and 4 baths per week; group 3: less than 1 bath per week.

After various statistical analyses, the data showed the mean frequency of bathing was 4.2 times a week and the mean duration of bathing was 16 minutes. Decreased body weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, diastolic blood pressure and glycated haemoglobin were associated with increased bathing frequency (see table in abstract).

Further statistical analysis identified the frequency of bathing as a significant determinant of glycated haemoglobin after adjusting by age, sex, BMI, insulin use and the number of oral diabetes drugs, with significant differences between the groups. Group 1 (with the highest bathing) had a mean HbA1c of 7.10%, group 2 7.20% and group 3 7.36%.

The frequency of hot-tub bathing was also an independent determinant of BMI after adjusting sex and age, with group 1 having the lowest mean BMI (25.5kg/m2) followed by group 2 (26.0) and group 3 (26.7). Reductions in diastolic blood pressure were also associated with increased bathing frequency after adjusting for age, sex and the number of blood pressure drugs.

The authors conclude: "Our results indicate that daily heat exposure through hot-tub bathing has beneficial influences on cardiovascular risk factors in patients with type 2 diabetes."

Explore further Frequent sauna bathing keeps blood pressure in check
(CNN)  When it comes to dinosaurs, many of us think of towering skeletons dominating the atriums of the world's great natural history museums.

But it's the tiniest fossils that have transformed paleontology over the past five years.

Some of the field's most extraordinary discoveries have come from amber: A dinosaur tail, parts of primitive birds, insects, lizards and flowers have all been found entombed in globs of 100 million-year-old tree resin.

They offer a tantalizing, three-dimensional look at dinosaur times. The vivid creatures and plants look like they just died yesterday with soft tissue in place and details like skin, coloring, feathers, teeth, leaves and petals exquisitely preserved -- details that are often lost in the crush of fossils formed in rock.

But this treasure comes with baggage.

Richest deposits are in a country marred by civil war

Amber is found in several places around the world, but amber deposits dating from the time before dinosaurs went extinct are rare. Some of the richest deposits have been found in Myanmar's Kachin State, in the northern part of the country, near the border of China. Government forces and ethnic minorities have fought in this region for years.

In 2017, Myanmar's military, which stand accused of genocide against the Rohingya ethnic group in the west of the country, began seizing control of the amber mines from the indigenous Kachins, adding to the strife.

"There is evidence of human rights abuses that are directly linked to the mining of amber, and I would say as paleontologists, but also as people, we have to think of the ethical implications of what we do," said Emily Rayfield, a paleobiology professor at the University of Bristol's School of Earth Sciences in the United Kingdom and president of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology (SVP), an organization dedicated to the study of vertebrate fossils.

The society is calling on colleagues to refrain from working on amber sourced from Myanmar since June 2017, when the military took over the mines. It has also asked more than 300 scientific journals to stop publishing research based on amber fossils found since that date.

"We do not condone promoting our scientific endeavor at the expense of people facing humanitarian crisis," said Rayfield and other society leadership, in a strongly worded letter to journal publishers in April.

The society's members expressed concern that many prized Burmese amber specimens end up in private hands through commercial trading, rather than public institutions, making it difficult for scientists around the world to study them.

But while many people in the field agree with the aims of this stance, others say the move is premature, will do little to improve the situation in Myanmar and may mean that many significant finds could be lost to science.

The ethical issues surrounding the study of amber fossils are complicated by other factors. Since many amber specimens end up in private hands, it's difficult for paleontologists to verify what colleagues have discovered from a fossil. What's more, scientists haven't studied the soil in areas in Myanmar where the amber is being dug up  making it harder to accurately date the amber.

'Blood amber'

Burmese Amber has been mined in Kachin State for hundreds of years. But, according to researchers, trade in the material really took off 10 years ago thanks to demand for the semiprecious gem from China.

The discovery of a dinosaur tail entombed in amber found by Chinese paleontologist Lida Xing at a market in Myanmar near the Chinese border grabbed headlines in 2016, and this, along with other finds, has been a further driver, Rayfield said. (Still, finding vertebrates like dinosaurs or lizards is extremely rare.)

In Chinese, the gem is known as "blood amber" for its deep red color, the phrase is apt for its parallels with blood diamonds -- gems used to fund conflict in Africa.

Like jade and rubies, amber is a resource that may have played a role in conflict between the Kachin Independence Army, one of a number of rebel armies in Myanmar that has controlled and administered a large swath of territory for years, and Tatmadaw, the Myanmar military's official name.

A 2018 document from a United Nations Human Rights Committee fact-finding mission detailed torture, abductions, rape and sexual violence by the Tatmadaw in the amber mining region between November 2017 and April 2018. Victims and witnesses of hostilities said the aim was to appropriate amber and mining resources under the KIA's control, according to the UN report.

A spokesman for the Myanmar government did not respond to CNN requests for comment. In 2019, Myanmar rejected a draft resolution on its domestic human rights situation at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, which, according to the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar, the country said was based "on the one-sided narratives, highly politicized and seriously flawed reports of the FFM (fact-finding mission)."

'Premature'

Paleobiologist George Poinar, professor emeritus at Oregon State University College of Science's department of integrative biology, believes Burmese amber should continue to be studied because it provides a unique portal into life that existed in dinosaur times.

"Otherwise, scientifically valuable fossils will end up in carvings and jewelry and be lost for future generations," Poinar wrote in a paper he co-authored.

Poinar has worked on amber fossils for decades, first discovering that amber could preserve intracellular structures in an organism trapped inside in a 1982 study. His work inspired the fictional science in the "Jurassic Park" movie franchise, where DNA is extracted from dinosaur blood inside a mosquito trapped in amber.

While he doesn't dispute that atrocities have been committed against ethnic minorities in areas where amber mining takes place, Poinar said there's no evidence that "money from the sale of Burmese amber fossils is was being used in acts of aggression against minority groups within the country. "

Instead, based on interviews with miners and traders, he said the great majority of Burmese amber containing fossils was and still is smuggled into China where it's sold legally in markets, especially in the city of Tengchong, near the border with Myanmar.

"I think the action of the SVP was premature," he told CNN via email. He hopes that journal editors will reconsider the "clause in the SVP paper forbidding papers on Burmese amber fossils from being considered for publication."

He's not the only voice against the move. A letter signed by more than 50 scientists published in August said that a boycott will be disruptive, especially to those early in their career, and will do little to remedy the situation in Myanmar or improve the ethics of paleontological research.

"Science serves to extend the knowledge of humankind. With Burmese amber as one of the most important windows into the Cretaceous Period currently available, not examining, evaluating and publishing it would mean withholding knowledge about history of life on Earth," said the letter.

While amber containing dinosaurs and other vertebrate fossils is rare and does command high prices, amber containing smaller specimens like plants and insects are often sold for less than $100, according to the authors. Moreover, the situation on the ground in Myanmar in complicated, and there are mining regions not under the control of the military, the letter added.

Particularly up in arms are paleoentomologists who study prehistoric insects. The International Palaeoentomological Society issued a statement in June that said the measures proposed by the SVP could be counterproductive.

"A boycott on commercial trading, museum acquisitions and scientific publications will not help the people of Myanmar to overcome their current difficult circumstances," the statement said.

"Instead, it will result in an increase of illegal trade, loss of scientific material/information and accumulation of fossils in private collections with a huge drawback for science in Myanmar and the rest of the world."

It added that editors of scientific journals must not take on the role of censors.

Situation now

Papers based on what scientists call inclusions in amber are still being published but given the pace of scientific research and the peer review process, most of them are based on amber specimens found before 2017  before the proposed moratorium.

The journal Acta Paleontologica Polonica (APP) will not consider any papers on Burmese amber collected from 2017 onward, while the Journal of Systematic Palaeontology has gone a step further, saying it will no longer publish any research based on Burmese amber fossils.

Nature, which publishes some of the field's most prestigious peer-reviewed research, has declined to issue a blanket ban.

Nature stands "firmly against persecution and oppression around the world, and we are committed to enabling our authors to publish rigorous, reproducible research that is conducted to a high ethical standard," the publisher said in a statement to CNN.

"When assessing manuscripts describing fossil specimens, editors of the Nature journals carefully consider each situation on a case-by-case basis, taking into account guidelines, regulations, standards and laws within the field and region.

"We can and do reject papers if they do not meet any of our editorial policy requirements  including in cases where our editors and expert reviewers consider that the authors have not provided sufficient evidence that fossil collection was done in a responsible manner and in accordance with relevant permits and local laws."

Phil Barden, an assistant professor at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, published a paper last month based on a piece of amber from Myanmar that contained an unusual prehistoric ant. It was sourced from Myanmar before 2017, and he said that his lab will only work on fossils that are from before the proposed boycott time frame.

"I think the SVP letter was well-intentioned and agree that we need standards in place to prevent scientific research from supporting or indirectly condoning unethical behavior at any scale," he said. "I believe we need more information and consultation with the people of Myanmar to develop an effective mechanism."

"While some species may not be recovered by the scientific community and, thus, may find their final resting place in a necklace or ring (which I've seen numerous times), my suspicion is that some people will continue to work on these fossils, regardless of a proposed boycott," he said via email.

Other paleontologists are glad the SVP has taken a strong stance on the issue.

"There is absolutely no reason why a fossil, no matter how important, must be valued more than human life," said Alessandro Chiarenza, a paleontologist and research associate at University College London , via email.

Rayfield, the SVP president, said her members want to encourage people to think about where the amber they work on comes from and to investigate supply chains and the provenance of the material.

Right now, it's up to each museum or each individual scientist to decide which specimens to purchase, and doing due diligence work in somewhere like Myanmar is far from easy.

"This is a moving situation. Things may change in the future. We're not placing any blame on any individual," Rayfield said. "Now, with the information to hand, to think about ethical implications of what you're doing and whether it's worth it right now to science."

This story was first published on CNN.com 'Blood amber' may be a portal into dinosaur times, but the fossils are an ethical minefield for palaeontologists
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 22:35:26|Editor: huaxia

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KAMPALA, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Ugandan prison service on Tuesday offered cash rewards for information leading to the recovery of firearms and recapture of over 200 inmates who escaped in a massive jailbreak in the northeastern district of Moroto last week.

Commissioner General of Prisons, Johnson Byabashaija announced a financial bounty of 1.5 million Ugandan shillings, about 416 U.S. dollars to any individual with information for the recovery of every gun and five hundred thousand shillings, about 138 dollars for the recapture of any inmate escapee.

"I want to inform escapees that it's a matter of time. We are going to get them. They made a mistake. In Uganda you can't get lost. Even if you go to the neighboring country, by our collaboration we shall bring you back here," said Byabashaija while visiting Singila prisons in Moroto town.

"Every day we are picking one, two or three. I have put a bounty of 1.5 million Uganda shillings per gun recovered and 0.5 million shillings per inmate recaptured," said Byabashaija.

A total of 219 out 620 inmates last week broke into a prison armory, taking a total of 15 guns and several rounds of ammunition before overpowering a prison warden on duty.

The security forces continue with the pursuit and manhunt of the escapees, mainly traditional Karimojong warriors and cattle rustlers serving jail sentences of illegal possession of firearms.

At least 14 inmates who reportedly stripped half-naked to avoid being identified as prisoners have so far been recaptured in the ongoing operations, according to security agencies.

In March, at least three prisoners were killed and six others injured when the inmates attempted to escape in the northwestern district of Arua. Enditem
Is this a virus more dangerous than Covid-19, asks Ajit Balakrishnan.

How often have I seen a situation, for example, that of having to choose a professor for a higher educational institution, or a senior manager for a business organisation, when people around me urgently advise to pick the candidate who has a foreign degree or foreign work experience.

When I ask them, why, they look back at me with a puzzled look, as if I have raised a question about something that is so self-evident.

When the decision in question is about choosing 'just another' professor or manager, it could be rationally justified as an attempt to provide a cultural mix that can only be for the good.

But when it is for the head of an Indian Institute of Management or the head of a policy-making national institution, I again raise the question, why, and again, I get greeted with that puzzled look.

It's not that persons so enamoured with a foreign degree or foreign work experience are a run-of-the-mill folk: I have seen current or former secretaries to government or managing directors of successful businesses show those inclinations for things that are foreign.

Some professional disciplines, such as economics, appear to be more prone to it than others.

Roles like governors of the Reserve Bank of India or economic advisors to state or central governments must brandish a foreign degree/work experience (the current RBI governor is an unusual exception to this hallowed rule).

It's almost as if, after so many years of independence and investment in higher education, we just cannot seem to believe that our universities can produce an economic thinker good enough.

I have seen this personally, most acutely in the choice of directors of the IIMs. Even if there are excellent and proven India-based internal candidates, the push from other Board members is to find a person who is currently a professor in a foreign (often an American) university.

And this push is irresistibly strong when the chairman of the IIM which is looking for a director has had no education at an IIM or Indian Institute of Technology, but is otherwise a successful business executive.

I can, by now, predict what happens when such a non-resident Indian candidate is chosen: He or she is by then in the final stages of his or her career, often with a mere six years to go for retirement in, for example, an American university and does not want, under any circumstances, to jeopardise retirement benefits from there.

Secondly, the families are firmly settled in America, and cannot relocate to India.

All this results in the chosen director performing as a guest artist -- visiting their Indian campus occasionally.

Again, it is not this guest artiste role that causes the damage. Such visiting NRI directors don't have the time to make the five- or ten-year emotional commitment to create any truly innovative research centre or a revolutionary curriculum change.

I have seen otherwise great IIMs flounder for a decade after such an NRI guest artist director's choice.

And at the policy-making level, such policy-making guest artistes, during their tenure in India, propagate the Western fashion of the day, be it the ideology of Socialism-public-sector-primacy in the 1950-1970 period or the low-interest- rates-shareholder-value-maximisation in the current era.

At a more macro level, I have found something disturbing about Indians, who pine to go to college abroad.

Some of this passion for going abroad is part of being just practical: Because entry into the top Indian post-grad institutions like the IIMs or the IITs or medical colleges (to name a few institution types) is extremely competitive.

So, if your parents are well-to-do, all you need to get into a Harvard or Harvard-like prestigious educational institution is to ask your dad to write a fat cheque for your admission.

The Pulitzer Prize-winning book in 2005, The Price of Admission: How America's Ruling Class Buys Its Way into Elite Colleges -- and Who Gets Left Outside the Gates by Daniel Golden, spells out how this is done extensively.

The fervent desire to go abroad after an IIM or IIT degree is driven partly by a deeply-held belief in some Indian families and communities that life abroad will be both fairer and materially more rewarding for them.

And considering that practically all large Indian businesses are run by families, it has become practically an iron-clad rule that they will be educated abroad, and come back to run their family businesses.

And since this foreign-education stint is most often in the arts and commerce field, they return back to India with the entrenched belief that all technology-based innovation in business is best left to the West. Their role is to manage business through contacts and relationships.

All this has created a nationwide culture that any kind of India-based innovation and thinking is not something that Indians can do. All intellectual creations are best left to the West. This complete distrust in any India-based innovation is rampant, even among the current senior civil servants.

Is all this because of the several hundred years of British colonialisation?

Has that put a virus inside us, Indians, that leads to a distrust of things Indian, particularly in matters of science and technology?

This is clearly a virus more dangerous and more long-lasting than Covid-19, so, should we launch an equally vigorous struggle to eliminate this virus?

Ajit Balakrishnan (ajitb@rediffmail.com), founder and CEO, Rediff.com, is an Internet entrepreneur and chaired a committee set up by the ministry of human resource development on education and entrepreneurship last year to provide inputs for the National Education Policy.
The HPSOS Class 10 practical exams are set to be held between 24-25 September while the HPSOS Class 12 practical exams will be conducted from 28 September to 3 October

The Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education (HPBOSE) has released the date sheet of HP State Open School (HPSOS) class 10 and 12 practical exams. Candidates who are geared up to appear for the Class 10 and Class 12 practical examinations will be able to download the date sheet online from the official website hpbose.org.

According to a report on DNA, Board President Dr Suresh Kumar Soni said that the date sheet of the practical examination and the necessary guidelines have been uploaded on the board website hpbose.org and the users of the study centers under the State Open School.

The HPSOS Class 10 practical exams are set to be held between 24-25 September while the HPSOS Class 12 practical exams will be conducted from 28 September to 3 October. The exams will be conducted in two shifts, forenoon session which will last from 9 am to 12 noon, and the afternoon session from 2 pm to 5 pm.

The practical examination of SOS candidates will only be conducted for those candidates who have been declared fail or remained absent in the previous practical examination of the subjects.

Candidates can check to complete the date sheet by clicking here directly.

According to a report in Times Now, all examinations will have to be conducted while maintaining safety precautions. The Board has issued several guidelines to conduct the practical exams, Schools will have to maintain social distancing norms. Candidates, invigilators, and school staff have to make use of face masks and sanitisers as well.
YEREVAN.  Hovhannes Khudoyan, a lawyer for second president of Armenia Robert Kocharyan, has motioned to declare the evidence obtained by investigator Hrachya Musheghyan as inadmissible.

According to him, Musheghyan has committed many gross and obvious violations during the collection of materials for the criminal case involving Kocharyan. The lawyer also stated the reasons why this or that evidence may be declared inadmissible. "We record that investigator Musheghyan is subject to recusal. The number of mistakes is also a basis for removing him from the investigation, Khudoyan said, adding that Musheghyan's partiality also attested to this. As an example, the lawyer stated that the attachment on all of Robert Kocharyan's property could not be considered legal.

As a result, the court partially lifted the attachment, which also speaks of the illegality of the investigator's actions, Khudoyan said.

The same investigator had set attachment on the property of the ex-President's family members, including the bank accounts and real estate of his two sons. The decision was appealed and partially annulled.

In addition to his passport, the confiscation of IDs at the time of Robert Kocharyans arrest was also a violation, Hovhannes Khudoyan said. Some of the confiscated property is still at the Special Investigation Service.
The statement is a document required of most candidates who run for office, some government employees and those appointed to boards and commissions. On it they are asked about sources of outside income, business relationships with lobbyists and gifts received from outside groups, among other questions. But the questions are vague by design. Many lawmakers breeze past them without answering completely, and there is little in the way of policing or monitoring their answers.
Palaeontologists have discovered a new species of dinosaur estimated to be up to 125 million years old.

The fossils were found perfectly preserved in the Lujiatun Beds, in north-eastern China, after being buried by a Pompeii-like volcanic eruption.

Scientists believe the eruption would have trapped the creatures at the bottom of their burrows.

"These animals were quickly covered by fine sediment while they were still alive or just after their death," Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences palaeontologist Pascal Godefroit said.

The scientist said there were no traces of feathers on the bones but they were incredibly well-preserved having not been moved for 125 million years.

The new species was named Changmiania liaoningensis, with Changmiania meaning eternal sleep in Chinese.

Researchers believe the animal belonged to the Ornithopod family of herbivores and would have lived during the Cretaceous period.

About 1.2 metres long, it is understood the dinosaurs powerful hind legs and stiff tail would have made it a fast runner.

Scientists believe the dinosaur was killed in a Pompeii-like eruption. (Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences )

"However, certain characteristics of the skeleton suggest that Changmiania could dig burrows, much like rabbits do today," Dr Godefroit said.

"Its neck and forearms are very short but robust, its shoulder blades are characteristic of burrowing vertebrates and the top of its snout is shaped like a shovel.

So we believe that both Changmiania specimens were trapped by the volcanic eruption when they were resting at the bottom of their burrows 125 million years ago.
SYDNEY, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Australia's virus hotspot of Victoria on Tuesday reported a more than doubling in new COVID-19 infections likely as a result of increased testing, while states elsewhere in the country said border restrictions would be relaxed as case numbers dwindled.

Officials said the northeastern state of Queensland would open its borders to parts of neighboring New South Wales, the country's most populous state, amid growing confidence that Australia's second wave of infections has been contained.

NSW has maintained new daily infections in the single-digits since Sept. 11, reporting only two cases in the past 24 hours, both of which were overseas travelers already in quarantine.

Queensland had no new cases, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said. She said residents from some neighboring areas, including the NSW tourist spot of Byron, would be allowed to travel to Queensland in coming days.

"These areas have a lot in common with Queensland. They usually do a lot of their business in Queensland. So, we believe that this is the right measure to take," she told reporters.

South Australian Premier Steven Marshall also said the state planned to allow NSW residents to cross the border without self-isolating for 14 days from Thursday.

South Australia has not reported a new case in close to two weeks.

Meanwhile in Victoria, the state at the centre of the country's second wave of coronavirus infections, officials reported 28 new cases, up from 11 on Monday.

Premier Daniel Andrews said the rise in new cases was likely a result of increased tests done over the weekend.

"It's very challenging, but this does take some time, because the nature of this virus is there is that latency, there is that lag," he told reporters.

Victoria has contributed about 75% of Australia's tally of nearly 27,000 infections and roughly 90% of its 851 deaths.

(Reporting by Paulina Duran in Sydney; Editing by Stephen Coates)
BEIJING, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday made a statement at the general debate of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly via video.

Chinese President Xi Jinping addresses the general debate of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly via video on Sept. 22, 2020. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

The full text of the statement is as below.

Mr. President,

Colleagues,

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War and the founding of the United Nations (UN). Yesterday, the high-level meeting to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the UN was held. The meeting was a significant one, as it reaffirmed our abiding commitment to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter on the basis of reviewing the historical experience and lessons of the World Anti-Fascist War.

Mr. President,

We humans are battling COVID-19, a virus that has ravaged the world and has kept resurging. In this fight, we have witnessed the efforts of governments, dedication of medical workers, exploration of scientists, and perseverance of the public. People of different countries have come together. With courage, resolve and compassion which lit the dark hour, we have confronted the disaster head on. The virus will be defeated. Humanity will win this battle!

- Facing the virus, we should put people and life first. We should mobilize all resources to make a science-based and targeted response. No case should be missed and no patient should be left untreated. The spread of the virus must be contained.

- Facing the virus, we should enhance solidarity and get this through together. We should follow the guidance of science, give full play to the leading role of the World Health Organization, and launch a joint international response to beat this pandemic. Any attempt of politicizing the issue or stigmatization must be rejected.

- Facing the virus, we should adopt comprehensive and long-term control measures. We should reopen businesses and schools in an orderly way, so as to create jobs, boost the economy, and restore economic and social order and vitality. The major economies need to step up macro policy coordination. We should not only restart our own economies, but also contribute to global recovery.

- Facing the virus, we should show concern for and accommodate the need of developing countries, especially African countries. The international community needs to take timely and robust measures in such fields as debt relief and international assistance, ensure the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and help these countries overcome their difficulties.

Seventy-five years ago, China made historic contributions to winning the World Anti-Fascist War and supported the founding of the United Nations. Today, with the same sense of responsibility, China is actively involved in the international fight against COVID-19, contributing its share to upholding global public health security. Going forward, we will continue to share our epidemic control practices as well as diagnostics and therapeutics with other countries, provide support and assistance to countries in need, ensure stable global anti-epidemic supply chains, and actively participate in the global research on tracing the source and transmission routes of the virus. At the moment, several COVID-19 vaccines developed by China are in Phase III clinical trials. When their development is completed and they are available for use, these vaccines will be made a global public good, and they will be provided to other developing countries on a priority basis. China will honor its commitment of providing US$2 billion of international assistance over two years, further international cooperation in such fields as agriculture, poverty reduction, education, women and children, and climate change, and support other countries in restoring economic and social development.

Mr. President,

The history of development of human society is a history of our struggles against all challenges and difficulties and our victories over them. At present, the world is battling the COVID-19 pandemic as it goes through profound changes never seen in a century. Yet, peace and development remain the underlying trend of the times, and people everywhere crave even more strongly for peace, development and win-win cooperation. COVID-19 will not be the last crisis to confront humanity, so we must join hands and be prepared to meet even more global challenges.

First, COVID-19 reminds us that we are living in an interconnected global village with a common stake. All countries are closely connected and we share a common future. No country can gain from others' difficulties or maintain stability by taking advantage of others' troubles. To pursue a beggar-thy-neighbor policy or just watch from a safe distance when others are in danger will eventually land one in the same trouble faced by others. This is why we should embrace the vision of a community with a shared future in which everyone is bound together. We should reject attempts to build blocs to keep others out and oppose a zero-sum approach. We should see each other as members of the same big family, pursue win-win cooperation, and rise above ideological disputes and do not fall into the trap of "clash of civilizations". More importantly, we should respect a country's independent choice of development path and model. The world is diverse in nature, and we should turn this diversity into a constant source of inspiration driving human advancement. This will ensure that human civilizations remain colorful and diversified.

Second, COVID-19 reminds us that economic globalization is an indisputable reality and a historical trend. Burying one's head in the sand like an ostrich in the face of economic globalization or trying to fight it with Don Quixote's lance goes against the trend of history. Let this be clear: The world will never return to isolation, and no one can sever the ties between countries. We should not dodge the challenges of economic globalization. Instead, we must face up to major issues such as the wealth gap and the development divide. We should strike a proper balance between the government and the market, fairness and efficiency, growth and income distribution, and technology and employment so as to ensure full and balanced development that delivers benefit to people from all countries, sectors and backgrounds in an equitable way. We should pursue open and inclusive development, remain committed to building an open world economy, and uphold the multilateral trading regime with the World Trade Organization as the cornerstone. We should say no to unilateralism and protectionism, and work to ensure the stable and smooth functioning of global industrial and supply chains.

Third, COVID-19 reminds us that humankind should launch a green revolution and move faster to create a green way of development and life, preserve the environment and make Mother Earth a better place for all. Humankind can no longer afford to ignore the repeated warnings of Nature and go down the beaten path of extracting resources without investing in conservation, pursuing development at the expense of protection, and exploiting resources without restoration. The Paris Agreement on climate change charts the course for the world to transition to green and low-carbon development. It outlines the minimum steps to be taken to protect the Earth, our shared homeland, and all countries must take decisive steps to honor this Agreement. China will scale up its Intended Nationally Determined Contributions by adopting more vigorous policies and measures. We aim to have CO2 emissions peak before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. We call on all countries to pursue innovative, coordinated, green and open development for all, seize the historic opportunities presented by the new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, achieve a green recovery of the world economy in the post-COVID era and thus create a powerful force driving sustainable development.

Fourth, COVID-19 reminds us that the global governance system calls for reform and improvement. COVID-19 is a major test of the governance capacity of countries; it is also a test of the global governance system. We should stay true to multilateralism and safeguard the international system with the UN at its core. Global governance should be based on the principle of extensive consultation, joint cooperation and shared benefits so as to ensure that all countries enjoy equal rights and opportunities and follow the same rules. The global governance system should adapt itself to evolving global political and economic dynamics, meet global challenges and embrace the underlying trend of peace, development and win-win cooperation. It is natural for countries to have differences. What's important is to address them through dialogue and consultation. Countries may engage in competition, but such competition should be positive and healthy in nature. When in competition, countries should not breach the moral standard and should comply with international norms. In particular, major countries should act like major countries. They should provide more global public goods, take up their due responsibilities and live up to people's expectations.

Mr. President,

Since the start of this year, we, the 1.4 billion Chinese, undaunted by the strike of COVID-19, and with the government and the people united as one, have made all-out efforts to control the virus and speedily restore life and economy to normalcy. We have every confidence to achieve our goals within the set time frame, that is, to finish the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects, lift out of poverty all rural residents living below the current poverty line, and meet ten years ahead of schedule the poverty eradication target set out in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

China is the largest developing country in the world, a country that is committed to peaceful, open, cooperative and common development. We will never seek hegemony, expansion, or sphere of influence. We have no intention to fight either a Cold War or a hot war with any country. We will continue to narrow differences and resolve disputes with others through dialogue and negotiation. We do not seek to develop only ourselves or engage in a zero-sum game. We will not pursue development behind closed doors. Rather, we aim to foster, over time, a new development paradigm with domestic circulation as the mainstay and domestic and international circulations reinforcing each other. This will create more space for China's economic development and add impetus to global economic recovery and growth.

China will continue to work as a builder of global peace, a contributor to global development and a defender of international order. To support the UN in playing its central role in international affairs, I hereby announce the following steps to be taken by China:

- China will provide another US$50 million to the UN COVID-19 Global Humanitarian Response Plan.

- China will provide US$50 million to the China-FAO South-South Cooperation Trust Fund (Phase III).

- China will extend the Peace and Development Trust Fund between the UN and China by five years after it expires in 2025.

- China will set up a UN Global Geospatial Knowledge and Innovation Center and an International Research Center of Big Data for Sustainable Development Goals to facilitate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Mr. President,

Colleagues,

The baton of history has been passed to our generation, and we must make the right choice, a choice worthy of the people's trust and of our times. Let us join hands to uphold the values of peace, development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom shared by all of us and build a new type of international relations and a community with a shared future for mankind. Together, we can make the world a better place for everyone.
(Natural News) The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is more than just a complacent, docile presence, magically contained within Chinas borders. The CCP represents a ruthless ideology of oppression that seeks to influence and manipulate governments and institutions around the world.

Americas original values  her idea of rugged individualism, economic opportunity and personal liberty are a THREAT to the communist regime that controls, dictates and oppresses people. This is why the CCP is so adamant and strategic about financially and ideologically manipulating U.S. leaders, academia, science and media outlets.

The destabilization of America is achieved first through manipulation of the media outlets. It is this manipulation that has enabled months of insurrection within U.S. cities, as criminal Black Lives Matter gang activity is praised as a peaceful social justice movement. The manipulation is so severe, a major American political party (Democrats) has abandoned the rule of law in many U.S. cities, allowing the criminal activity to continue with calls to remove the law enforcement! Its no coincidence that a pro-communist China group are partnering up with the founders of the BLM.

Moreover, corporate media outlets continue to parrot CCP propaganda for controlling a virus  a virus that was altered and made more infectious in a lab in China in the first place. It was Chinas cover-up of this bio-weapon that worsened respiratory infection outbreaks around the world, yet the corporate media continues to cover-up Chinas nefarious involvement in fatalities, and their abusive controls that have harmed even more lives.

The CCP has financial ties and significant influence over the corporate media in the U.S.

You often see representatives from American companies with financial ties to China naturally become defenders of the CCPs policies and spreading the CCPs propaganda, said Helen Raleigh, a Chinese immigrant who is a senior contributor at The Federalist. The financial tie means these Americans will be much less likely to challenge Chinas human rights record or unacceptable demands such as technology transfer.

At the New York Times, Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim owns 17.4 percent of the media conglomerate by owning a third of their class A shares, allowing him to dictate one third of the companys board. Slim regularly does business with Chinese companies and brazenly circumvented President Trumps America First trade policies. He did this by joining his company, Giant Motors, with Chinas JAC Motors to slyly make cars in Mexico and sell them in the Latin American Market. China manipulates the NYT through Slim, who also teamed up with the CCP and Huawei Technologies using his company, America Movil. By teaming up with Huawei, Slim is trying to undermine American security interests by circumventing U.S. legislation that protects Americans from Huaweis invasive 5G network. The New York Times has become predominantly controlled by the CCP through Slim. Even though he doesnt directly govern editorial meetings, he is the one funding the salaries. The operations and editorial agenda of the NYT is at the mercy of Slims lucrative business deals that he regularly makes with the Chinese government.

The Washington Post is quickly becoming a CCP propaganda rag, too. When Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos purchased the WaPo for $250 million in 2013, the paper quickly got a new business plan that puts the business interests of China at the forefront. Bezos is controlled by the CCP because most of his business dealings with the Chinese business market are regulated by the CCP. In order to manufacture his products in China on the cheap using slave labor, Bezos has to promote Chinese propaganda in the Washington Post advertisements. The China Watch section in the WaPo is a direct feed of China Daily, a CCP-controlled state media organization. The Washington Post has sold out to the CCP, accepting their money so the CCP can distribute their propaganda through the U.S. news.

As Bezos expands Amazon in China, he can only make money in China if he delivers CCP propaganda through the news. He even backed a treaty allowing Big Tech to increase their business with China. This allows U.S. tech companies to invest more heavily in the Chinese economy, as social media outlets learn the way of the CCP, which entails controlling and censoring content in order to promote official narratives that serve special interests and expand government control.

Sources include:

TheFederalist.com

NaturalNews.com

Heritage.org

NaturalNews.com

Brighteon.com
There was some milestone watching going on Monday evening at Grand River Raceway as driver Colin Kelly entered the card sitting with 999 victories under his belt.

It didnt take the young reinsman long to celebrate the memorable win as he found his way to victory lane in the opener with the Rick Zeron-trained All The Trimmins.

Kelly got away fourth with the favourite before asking him to go first over on the way to the half. Kelly and his charge showed a short lead while racing parked past the three-quarter pole, and they wound up digging in late to post the win by a half-length margin over Mr Wheeler in 2:02.2.

Kelly enjoyed a career year for wins (276) and earnings ($1,812,667) in 2019, and 2020 marks the fourth straight season of securing more than 100 wins. Hes managed to haul in more than $1 million in purse earnings in each of the last three campaigns. To date, hes racked up more than $5.5 million in earnings.

Outlawgrabbingears was a front-stepping winner in the $12,500 Preferred 2 for horse and gelding pacers for trainer/driver Paul Davies, who co-owns the gelding with Nicole Davies and Deborah Pinel.

Davies left hard from the rail and proceeded to chop out panels of :28.2, :57.4 and 1:26.1 with the pacer who then used a :27.4 closing quarter to win by 2-3/4 lengths over American Wiggle in 1:54. Highland Tartan was third.

Sent off as the 6-5 favourite, the four-year-old son of Smart Shark-Grand Slam Woman won for the fifth time this season from 12 assignments. The 21-time winner has banked more than $270,000 to date.

Carsons Shadow pulled himself out of a recent slump with a 1:54.2 triumph in the $10,000 Preferred 3 for horse and gelding pacers.

Sent out by trainer Vicki Gregg, the gelding got away in mid-pack before following cover on the way to the half. He was still tracking cover on the outside until the late stages of the mile. He kicked home in :28.4 for driver Jason Ryan en route to posting the win by 1-1/2 lengths over Paparazzi Hanover. Mercenary, who was involved in producing fractions of :27.4, :57.2 and 1:25.1, was third.

Sent off as the 1-2 favourite, the homebred son of Shadow Play-Carsons Ladyluck won for the second time this season and for the ninth time in his career. The four-year-old has banked close to $110,000 for owner/breeder David Carson of Listowel, Ont.

Easton Beach went down the road in his $10,000 Preferred 3 assignment for horse and gelding pacers.

Sent off at odds of 13-1 for trainer/driver George Ketros, Easton Beach shot to the top from Post 1 and successfully led the field through fractions of :28.1, :58.1 and 1:27.2 before using a :28.1 final frame to win by three-quarters of a length over heavily favoured Rootin Tootin in 1:55.3. Premier Joy A was third.

Mary Ketros of Arthur, Ont. owns the four-year-old son of Somebeachsomewhere-Easton Alliance N who won for the fifth time this season from 13 assignments. The nine-time winner is just shy of $60,000 in lifetime earnings.

To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results  Grand River Raceway.
Back in March, during those first terrifying weeks of the coronavirus lockdown, I started writing a series of articles as a way to help cooks figure out how to use the mountain of beans and pasta many of us had manically laid in, in case we couldnt, or didnt feel comfortable, leaving the house.

Called From the Pantry, it was intended to provide recipes that were versatile enough to cut down on anxiety-ridden trips to the supermarket, while still being satisfying to eat and calming to cook. The recipes, written narratively, were a real-time kitchen diary, based on what I had in my own pantry, and created with an eye toward giving readers wiggle room to use what was in theirs.

But the series served another function as well. During a time of thrumming uncertainty and sadness, these dishes were a sure thing, a reminder that, even if nothing else felt the way the way it should, you could still make yourself something good to eat with ingredients you might have had on hand. And for my family, that meant a staggering number of cakes. Our confinement didnt have to limit us, at least where dessert was concerned.

Six months later, a lot has changed. Shopping has become less fraught. The once-empty shelves are now refilled. (Even toilet paper and yeast are back in supply.) As restaurants reopen and takeout options expand, cooking three meals every day isnt as daunting as it once was.
No-one is above the law. Well, apart from some elements of the British upper class. A group of around 130 members of the Devon and Somerset Staghounds were spotted out mingling on a stag hunt, with almost no masks worn, in scenes described as a mockery of the sacrifices the rest of the nation is making. Matt Hancock is up on his high horse at the moment, warning that everyone we must obey social distancing regulations or risk more sacrifices. As the government prepares to announce new national restrictions this week, Boris Johnson is still deciding how harsh the rules should be.

Inside the bubble

Our Whitehall editor Kate Devlin on what to look out for today:
When mask-wearing South Koreans turned out to vote amid strict precautions for parliamentary election in April, it was the first and the most-keenly watched electoral exercise since Covid-19 disrupted political calendars around the world. Some 14,000 disinfected polling stations were set up across the country, where people voted after having their hands sanitised and temperatures checked at a safe distance from each other.

By April, South Korea had begun to successfully deal with the pandemic without major disruptions through an extensive testing and contact tracing campaign. This was reflected in the voter turnout, which at 66.2% was the highest since 1992. Even around 2,800 Covid-19 patients were allowed to vote by mail or at special booths as 30 million people overall cast their ballots.

Also Read: Seoul schools resume in-person classes as South Korea coronavirus cases dip

South Koreas National Election Commission (NEC) officials shared the success story at a webinar that the Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB) held on Monday. The Election Commission of India (ECI) presided over the event.

The South Korean officials explained how they implemented a three-phase voting protocol for Covid-19 patients under quarantine and ensured home voting for those, who had tested positive for the disease in the run-up to the polls.

The webinar was held ahead of the elections to the 243-member Bihar assembly due in November when around 70 million voters are expected to vote. The Bihar polls will be the first major election since the pandemic hit India. There have been polls to Rajya Sabha and legislative council seats, but they involved a limited number of voters. The ECI is planning to allow physical rallies, but with a limited public presence. Online filing of nomination forms is also expected along with limited door-to-door campaigning and a reduced number of people at polling booths and counting halls.

Also Read: Taiwan president says has no plans to talk to Japans new PM

Chief election commissioner Sunil Arora, election commissioners Sushil Chandra and Rajiv Kumar, and ECI secretary-general Umesh Sinha spoke at the webinar, where a presentation was also made about the preparedness for the Bihar polls. The measures taken to ensure the safety of the voters during the Rajya Sabha elections were also highlighted. There is a global consensus that the safety of the voter has to be ensured. Voters should feel safe while voting. This is the basic tenet of democracy, said a person who attended the webinar.

Officials emphasised the importance of communication as the participants from 45 countries and several international election bodies shared relevant learning outcomes and likely solutions for electoral processes amid the pandemic.

According to the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, at least 69 countries and territories across the globe have postponed national and sub-national elections due to the pandemic until August 11. At least 53 countries and territories have decided to hold national or sub-national elections as originally planned despite concerns related to Covid-19.

Officials from Taiwans Central Election Commission, which has held polls as scheduled, said they formulated the preventive measures during by-elections in February.

Taiwanese authorities released videos to create awareness about the virus, its prevention and also set up a webpage to ensure transparency about the polling process.

Bangladeshi officials, who have conducted three parliamentary by-elections with a 65% voter turnout, shared alternative mechanisms of campaigning. Bangladesh Election Commission encouraged candidates to use social media, television, radio, newspapers, banners for canvassing instead of physical campaigning.

Indonesia, which is likely to hold local body elections on December 9 with an electorate of 270 million, has made additional budgetary allocations for them.
A Newbridge resident is donating a copy of his book on world photography to every school in Ireland for each donation given to the Simon Community charity.

The book, Sixty Photographs for Simon, consists of 60 images from 25 different countries that Vincent Butler has taken on his work-related world travels on-board an expedition cruise ship, the National Geographic Explorer, where he worked as a lecturer in archaeology.



Vincent has set up an online fundraising appeal Helping Our Homeless  A Gift for Schools.

He said: I hope that people will consider contributing to this fund to help Dublin Simon in their sterling work providing vital services for our homeless in Dublin, Kildare, Meath, Wicklow and also support Dundalk Simon who cover Cavan, Louth and Monaghan.

For every 20 raised through donations to this fund, I will gift a copy of my book Sixty Photographs for Simon on behalf of the Simon Community to a school.

Information rich, the book is a valuable teaching resource, brim-full of material for projects and classwork.

A wide spectrum of subjects are showcased, including geology, archaeology, climate change, fossils, glaciation, geography, history, conservation, wildlife, indigenous cultures, geomorphology, tourism, exploration and art.

There are 4,016 schools countrywide and working closely with the Simon Community, Vincent is aiming to gift a copy to every single one of them.

Vincent said that donations will not only support the Simon Community in their work with our homeless but also help young students who have recently experienced much uncertainty and disruption due to the Covid-19 crisis.

It is hoped that the book will also help foster awareness among school students about homelessness and inculcate young students with a sense of social responsibility. 



To donate, click here.
NEW DELHI: "FROM THE day that the results of the 2019 Parliamentary elections were declared, the tone and tenor of the public utterances of the key conspirators of the present case has shown a clear streak of affinity towards violence which had started playing out in their minds."

The Special Cell of Delhi Police mentioned it in its final report in the 2695-page chargesheet it filed against 15 people in connection with the northeast Delhi riots. The report concludes that the 'end objective of all the conspirators had conspired was to uproot a lawfully elected government by sheer use of engineered, vicious and visceral communal violence.'

It mentioned that transactions of over Rs 1 crore received by accused persons Tahir Hussain, Ishrat Jahan, Khalid Saifi, Shafa-ur-Rahman and Meeran Haider through a bank account or cash from December 2019 to February 2020. The chargesheet, filed under the charges of stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, said that during the investigation, it was disclosed that during the period December 1, 2019 to February 26, 2020, a total Rs 1, 61, 33, 703 was received by these accused persons, either in cash or through bank account.

Out of the total Rs 1.61 crore, Rs 1,48,01,186 was withdrawn as cash and spent in managing the protest sites as well as executing the conspiracy of riots in the national capital.

Live TV

The chargesheet mentioned how the accused persons had executed fraudulent transactions. The police said that Imran, brother-in-law of Ishrat Jahan, disclosed that he took Rs 4 lakh from her for his business.

The chargesheet stated that he did not mention in his I-T return about the Rs 4 lakh loan he took from Jahan. He also failed to give a satisfactory answer regarding use of that money, police said.

The chargesheet stated that on scrutiny of bank accounts of Jahan, it was found that on January 10, 2020, there was a cash deposit of Rs 1,41,000 in her account by herself but she could explain the source of this amount during her custodial interrogation.

The Delhi Police, in the chargesheet, said that whatever followed, the violence in northeast Delhi in February this year, was a result of this criminal conspiracy to commit violence which is nothing else but an unlawful act.

The chargesheet mentioned that the violence took place during the period when US President Donald Trump was visiting India. The Delhi Police also explained the meaning of the meeting of minds in its chargesheet saying that the violence case has seen wide-ranging discussions on what this 'meeting of minds' was for.

The violence, which took place in the northeast area of the national capital between groups supporting and opposing the Citizenship Amendment Act in February this year, led to the deaths of at least 53 people and hundreds of others were injured.
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ATLANTA, Sept. 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The WITH/agency, an independent, advertising and creative agency, announced today the arrival of a new Executive Creative Director to guide the award-winning agencys creative team.



Bowen Mendelson comes to WITH after a recent stint as the Director of Creative for Orangetheory Fitness, where he supervised the Companys creative department in producing a robust array of member-facing marketing communications and programs. He also co-created Orangetheorys very first digital workout series Orangetheory at Home.

I am thrilled to see Bowen step into this role and lead our creative team, says Blair Brady, CEO and Co-founder, the WITH/agency. Given the significance of our growing roster of clients, we felt the time was right to bring on someone of his caliber and double down on our investment in the agency and in creative talent for Atlanta. He has embraced the vision for the agency and his incredible experience and knowledge will make it come to life in our work.

Prior to working at Orangetheory Fitness, Mendelsons career has included an impressive list of roles -- both in-house and at agencies -- including stints at FitzCo, Ogilvy, Deutsch LA, Uber, and McCann NY, working with brands like Coca-Cola, Navy Federal Credit Union and Kimberly-Clark.

The WITH/agency role allows me to return to my agency roots with a company Ive come to respect and admire. WITH has a great roster of clients, and I cant wait to help shape its business for years to come, said Mendelson. Plus, Ive always felt that Atlanta was my permanent home, so this opportunity is everything I hoped for.

Mendelson will begin work immediately with WITH/agency clients like Kaiser Permanent, PG&E, EarthLink, The Fox Theatre, Georgia Power, The Piedmont Bank, and Pretoria Fields, among many others.

About WITH/Agency

WITH/agency is an award-winning independent agency specializing in brand strategy, marketing and advertising serving corporate clients on a regional and national level. The Atlanta based agency is a certified WBE and was founded in 2012 by agency veterans Blair Brady and Jamie Sims. WITH proudly serves as an agency partner for many of Atlantas iconic brands such as: Kaiser Permanente, The Fox Theatre, EarthLink, Georgia Power, AT&T and The Piedmont Bank.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/675edadf-68ac-4fd7-9254-d5306a5e6d47
One result of the COVID-19 pandemic could be a growing racial homeownership gap according to a new report.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to be worse for Black communities and a new report details how the impact on health and employment could make it difficult for many families to purchase new homes, or remain living in their current residence.

Read More: Chris Rock says Dems worsened COVID-19 by focusing on Trump: You let the pandemic come in

The Wall Street Journal reports a combination of tighter lending standards for Black borrowers, plus the impact coronavirus has had on Black Americans health and employment could potentially grow the racial homeownership gap. This contributes to the overall racial wealth gap between Black and White Americans as the WSJ notes homeownership is a key source for wealth.

Happy family with two children having fun at new home. Young multiethnic parents with two sons in their new house with cardboard boxes. Smiling little boys sitting on floor with mother and dad. (Credit: Adobe stock)

The opportunity for people to use this as a time to transition into buying is probably going to be less for Blacks. How great that difference is, its too early to say, said Chris Herbert, managing director at the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies.

Although mortgage rates are dropping, the credit requirements for approval are not. According to the outlet, the economic crisis threatened by the outbreak of COVID-19 lead to standards already stacked against Black people raised. Tomeka Givens, a Realtor with Guerilla Realty LLC Baltimore area, told the WSJ many lenders raised the minimum requirements for credit scores to 700 from the 620-to-680 range when the pandemic hit.

The vast majority of my clients of color were in that 620-to-680 range, so it knocked a lot of people out of the running for mortgages, she said to the outlet.

According to the WSJ in 2018, the median FICO credit score for Black borrowers was 691, compared with 748 for their white counterparts. The newly tightened requirements are only one aspect of the economic downfall impacting Black people harsher than other populations.

Read More: Ocasio-Cortez introduces amendment to block Trumps racist housing rule

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Excited little funny african girl running exploring big modern house moving in, happy black parents and kid daughter coming into new home, cute mixed race child having fun in hallway, family mortgage (Credit: Adobe stock)

The news platform reports, at the end of 2019, as Black unemployment fell to historic lows, the Black homeownership rate began to rise, hitting 47% in the second quarter of 2020, the highest since 2008. The gap between Black and white families narrowed to 29 percentage points. Experts believe the rate will grow not only due to pandemic related unemployment preventing Black buyers from purchasing new homes, but also maintaining the expenses of homes already owned.

The pandemic and the ensuing economic crisis now threaten to reverse that progress, said Michael Fratantoni, chief economist at the Mortgage Bankers Association, to WSJ explaining how Black people saw more pandemic-related job losses and eventually a greater loss of income.

Fratantoni notes, mortgages supported by the Federal Housing Administration are also in danger. Since FHA loans typically have a lower down payment and credit requirements and are considered to be high-risk people seeking these loans may no longer being able to afford the higher fees associated charged by the federally controlled loans. According to WSJ, Black borrowers accounted for 41% and Latino borrowers 39% of FHA loan originations in 2019.

Way too many people of color lost their homes during the last crisis, said Alanna McCargo, vice president at the Housing Finance Policy Center at the Urban Institute, to the WSJ. If you continue to lose people, were going to continue to see the disparities.

McCargo cites a study that shows that during the pandemic, more Black and Latino Americans deferred or didnt make their mortgage payments. These populations were also less confident about making future mortgage payments the WSJ reports.

Have you subscribed to theGrios podcast Dear Culture? Download our newest episodes now!

The post COVID-19 could impact racial homeownership gap: report appeared first on TheGrio.
In yet another milestone for India, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Tuesday conducted the successful flight test of ABHYAS--High-speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT). The flight test was done from the Interim Test Range, Balasore in Odisha.

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh lauded the successful flight test of ABHYAS. Taking to micro-blogging site Twitter, Singh said that this can be used as a target for evaluation of various Missile systems.

Live TV

He tweeted, "The DRDO achieved a milestone today with the successful flight test of ABHYAS - High-Speed Expandable Aerial Target from ITR Balasore. This can be used as a target for evaluation of various Missile systems. Congratulations to DRDO & other stakeholders for this achievement."

The DRDO achieved a milestone today with the successful flight test of ABHYAS - High Speed Expandable Aerial Target from ITR Balasore. This can be used as a target for evaluation of various Missile systems. Congratulations to @DRDO_India & other stakeholders for this achievement.  Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) September 22, 2020

During the trials, two demonstrator vehicles were successfully test flown. The vehicle can be used as a target for evaluation of various missile systems. During the test campaign, the user requirement of 5 km flying altitude, vehicle speed of 0.5 mach, endurance of 30 minutes and 2g turn capability of the test vehicle were successfully achieved.

Abhyas is designed and developed by Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), DRDO. The air vehicle is launched using twin underslung booster. It is powered by a small gas turbine engine and has MEMS based Inertial Navigation System (INS) for navigation along with the Flight Control Computer (FCC) for guidance and control. The vehicle is programmed for fully autonomous flight. The check out of air vehicle is done using laptop based Ground Control Station (GCS).
J.K. Rowling's fifth Cormoran Strike thriller, under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith, is "Troubled Blood." (Lefteris Pitarakis / Associated Press)

Spoiler warning: The following review discloses important twists in "Troubled Blood."

People have been concerned about novelist and Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowlings feelings about transgender rights for some time; her reputation as a TERF (trans-exclusionary radical feminist) stems from a number of tweets, including a thread warning of the dangers of erasing the concept of sex" and an essay on her website asking Scotland not to "throw open the doors" of women's rooms to "any man who believes or feels he's a woman."

It wasnt, however, until the release of her latest detective novel, her fifth written under the pseudonym of Robert Galbraith, that readers began to examine whether those feelings might seep into her work. Troubled Blood confirms they do, in the person of a male serial killer known to have worn a dress. But even more dismaying is that the cross-dressing psychopath is among the least egregious stereotypes in this deeply troubled new entry in the Cormoran Strike series.

Dennis Creed, the villain in question, doesnt speak until late in the story. We learn about him from case notes and a couple of badly written books on the murders. Deemed the Essex Butcher because of the young women he abducted, tortured and killed in 1970s London, Creed comes to the attention of our detectives, Strike and his partner Robin Ellacott, when they are hired to find out what happened to Dr. Margot Bamborough, who disappeared one evening in 1972.

Never you mind the shaky wisdom of taking on such an ice-cold case. Private investigators have to live too and even occasionally remember to buy birthday gifts for their office staff. Galbraith/Rowling spends far too much time on the inner workings of office birthday gifts and the inner workings of almost everything else, from the types of biscuits served in witnesses homes to Ellacotts feelings about her brothers friends; these are not details that move the plot along. That might be why what could have been a suspenseful mystery congeals into a 900-odd page slog.

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Its the characterizations, however, that sink the story and for the opposite reason: They lack the texture of reality. Creed is a stereotype, an abused and neglected boy whose habit of watching girls undressing through windows soon progressed to stealing womens underwear. . . These he enjoying [sic] wearing in secret, and masturbating in . . . Creed used his drugged landlady Violet, a fifty-year-old ex-theater dresser who, like his grandmother, was an incipient alcoholic, as an alibi. Is that enough to say the author is transphobic? Perhaps. Seemingly bolstering the case is another clue, a retired police detectives notebook, in which collages of zodiac and other symbols culminate in a lewd drawing of a fanged creature with breasts captioned, AN ABOMINATION.

(Mulholland Books)

If you only skim the book  as you might do if you were merely looking to crack the case of the TERF novelist  that drawing might seem to refer to Creed. Ill go ahead and spoil it for you: It doesnt. The real abomination is a nurse who kills her patients.

And the real abomination in Rowlings writing is not her treatment of a trans character, at least not in this book. Its her treatment of most any character Strike and Ellacott meet as they seek the truth about Dr. Bamboroughs fate. At least six of these witnesses are simple types  broadly drawn, speaking in dialect and about as accurately portrayed as Benny Hill characters. Theres the overweight and cuddly female Anglican priest (an Irish mouthful of deys and dose), the louche and dimwitted former party girl in her 70s, the gimlet-eyed and filthy-mouthed East End prostitute, and a mother and son who both have fragile X syndrome and live in a kind of genteel squalor enforced by the sons threats of violence.

Rowling knows a thing or two about people like these who fly under the radar. I am one of the few readers who believed, after the disaster of her 2012 novel The Casual Vacancy, that she was on her way toward writing tough truths about social injustice. That book was clouded by bitterness, but at the end its source was evident, and real: two children dead, forgotten by an entire community. In Troubled Blood, the endless pages are clouded instead by ambivalence.

Does Rowling want to write an interconnected series along the lines of Elizabeth Georges Inspector Lynley books? If so, she could dispense with the caricatured witnesses and focus on Strike and Ellacotts relationship, which is truly knotty, especially given that each has PTSD from different kinds of violence.

Or does she want to open up modern England and its diverse population to readers? That will be harder, at least with the tools at hand  the amateurish portraits in Troubled Blood. And whatever the intent, why complicate a book already rich in relationships with silly subplots about the zodiac? More interesting is Rowlings writing about womens issues, from Ellacotts history of sexual assault to Dr. Bamboroughs early career as a Playboy bunny and Strikes sister Lucys struggles to care for her relatives.

Perhaps Rowling should divorce herself from Robert Galbraith, divorce her writing from murder mysteries, and dig deep instead into the things that really matter to her: women (or at least cisgender women) and children. She neednt, for a second, try to write about things she doesnt understand and doesnt care about  unless, of course, she wants to become an artist focused on humanity as a whole, including the people shes prone to misrepresent.
The New Mexico Economic Development Department is offering grants of up to $100,000 to help innovative companies commercialize their technologies.

EDD announced Friday that it is accepting applications for Small Business Innovation Research grants until Oct. 19. The New Mexico SBIR Grant provides recipients with additional resources to commercialize technology developed with federal SBIR funding, according to a news release from EDD.

Phase I grants provide $25,000 to the companies that receive them, while Phase II grants provide $100,000. Award funds must be used for business development and must not duplicate items or activities funded by the federal SBIR award, according to the release.

To be eligible, companies must be headquartered in New Mexico and have an active Phase I or Phase II SBIR/STTR grant at the time of application, according to the state agency. A full list of criteria, and a link to apply, are available on EDDs website.
VANCOUVEROn a day when British Columbia announced another 366 cases of COVID-19 over the weekend, Premier John Horgan announced a provincial election for Oct. 24.

Though the ruling New Democrats enjoy broad support in the province, one observer said the decision to call an election during a pandemic itself may become a major ballot question.

Monday morning, Horgan insisted the province cant deal with the uncertainty of his minority government as the pandemic drags on into next year, arguing an election would bring stability.

We can either delay that decision and create uncertainty and instability over the next 12 months, he said, or we can do what I believe is always the right thing and ask British Columbians what they think.

But what British Columbians think about Horgan calling the election at a time when a contagious and potentially deadly virus is circulating may not be good for the NDP, says Simon Fraser University political scientist Stewart Prest.

Calling the election when people may believe it isnt safe to do so in a bid to gain a majority government could anger some voters, Prest said. Whether it will upset them enough to change their vote might become the defining question of the election.

Voters are not really focusing on elections; they were sort of counting on having a government to focus on the crisis at hand, he said. That could turn into grumbling where people accept this is just an inevitable part of democracy, or it could metastasize into some kind of voter rage.

The BC NDP hold power through a confidence and supply agreement brokered with the Green Party, and with the support of independent MLA and former Green leader Andrew Weaver. In 2017, when Weaver was leader, the two parties joined forces to topple the long-running BC Liberal government.

Horgans NDP has been topping recent polls, with one by Angus Reid on Sept. 4 putting them at 48 per cent support with the second-place BC Liberals at 29 per cent in a survey of 655 people with a margin of error of plus or minus four percentage points.

While in office, the party has focused on issues long seen as ignored by the previous Liberal government, such as money laundering, and introduced a subsidized child-care program among other initiatives. The government has had good reviews for its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

But Horgans political rivals have already started slamming the election call.

Shortly after Horgan insisted a trip to the polls is needed to bring stability the newly minted leader of the provincial Green Party, Sonia Furstenau, called him out for the decision.

Furstenau said she told Horgan last week his government was in no danger of being toppled by her party.

I met with him on Friday and made it clear that we were willing to continue to work together in the best interest of British Columbians, reads a statement from Furstenau. This election call is blatantly about the NDP seeing an opportunity  even in the midst of a pandemic  to put their own self-interest ahead of yours.

The confidence and supply agreement signed in 2017 specified it was to be in effect for four years or the next fixed election date. The next fixed date is Oct. 21, 2021.

Horgan stressed on Monday that he believes it is safe for British Columbians to vote despite the pandemic. He also accused the Green Party of preventing legislation on energy policy and mental health from being passed last summer, arguing it demonstrates a need for the election.

I believe if we have partisan wrangling and we have politics for the next 12 months (MLAs) wont be putting all of our energy leaning into the challenges that British Columbians are facing, he said. I guess I want to get the election behind us, not for myself, but for the people of B.C.

Public anger about the election might not be the only issue with which the NDP has to wrestle. Seven cabinet ministers have announced they arent seeking re-election, many of those within the last few weeks.

It may be possible that one or two of the ministers not running for re-election dont totally agree with the direction of the party, Prest said.

Attracting new talent has been easy for the party, he said, showing confidence in the NDP is strong.

But the search to replace those MLAs in time for the election has drawn controversy itself. Long-time federal NDP MP Nathan Cullen announced he would seek the nomination in the Stikine riding after Forests Minister Doug Donaldson said he will not run for re-election.

Annita McPhee, a former candidate for the federal NDP nomination and three-time president of the Tahltan Central Government, is also seeking the nomination and wants Cullen to be ineligible under the partys equity mandate.

I was shocked when I heard that there was an extensive search done, according to the NDP, for the equity policy, McPhee told the Star.

The mandate says new candidates should be women or from a group seeking equity. Cullen is neither of those.

She said the provincial riding has the highest number of Indigenous voters in the province and an Indigenous representative in the legislature would be good for the region.

The NDP did not respond to the Star by deadline, but party president Craig Keating told CBC News Sunday the policy is not set in stone.

In certain instances, despite extensive candidate searches, our regulations permit allowances for other candidates to be considered for nomination, Keating told the CBC in a statement.

Meanwhile, Prest said, the difficulties of campaigning during a pandemic will be faced by all parties.

Traditional approaches like door knocking, large rallies and leaders standing in front of crowds for announcements wont be possible with COVID-19, so the parties will have to get creative to get their message out, he said.

Its going to be interesting to see which parties are able to make use of the resources and the paths to communicate with voters that are available.

Texting, phone banks, social media or going heavy on traditional advertising like radio are some of the avenues parties are likely to take, he said.

With files from The Canadian Press

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By PTI

LONDON: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday laid out a new set of coronavirus restrictions, including tougher curfews and curbs on gatherings and a message for people to work from home, as the UK heads towards a second lockdown which could last six months.

Addressing the House of Commons, Johnson said the UK had reached a "perilous point" as the rate of infections is rising at an accelerating pace across the country.

He, however, stressed that the latest set of measures, which widen the legal requirements for face coverings and set out earlier closing times for pubs, bars and restaurants, will help avoid a full national lockdown.

"We're acting on the principle that a stitch in time saves nine. I want to stress this is by no means a return to the full lockdown of March," he told MPs.

"We will ensure that schools, colleges and universities stay open because nothing is more important than the health and wellbeing of our young people. However, we must take action to suppress the disease," he said.

The latest set of measures call on all office workers to work from home, where they can do so.

From Thursday, all pubs, bars and restaurants must operate at table service only, except for takeaways, and together with all hospitality venues they must close from 10 pm.

"That means alas closing and not just calling for last orders, because simplicity is paramount. I'm sorry this will affect many businesses just getting back on their feet but we must act," said Johnson.

The requirement to wear face coverings, already a requirement in many enclosed public areas and on public transport, will be extended to include staff in retail, customers in taxis, and customers in indoor hospitality settings, except when seated at tables.

"In the retail, leisure and tourism and other sectors our COVID-secure guidelines will become legal obligations," Johnson said.

Gathering rules for weddings will be cut from 30 to 15 and the 'rule of six', imposing a strict number on groups, is also to be extended to all adult team sports.

This means a planned reopening of sporting events, conferences and exhibitions next month will be delayed.

Warning that "greater firepower, with significantly greater restrictions" might be deployed unless the latest set of restrictions are followed stringently, Johnson noted: "We will spare no effort in developing vaccines, treatments, new forms of mass testings.

But unless we palpably make progress, we should assume that the restrictions I have announced will stay in place for six months.

"This virus is a fact of our lives and I must tell this House and the country that our fight against it will continue," he added.

His speech came a day after the UK raised its COVID alert level from three to four, only one short of the highest level of five, meaning that transmission of the deadly virus is high or rising exponentially.

As of Monday, a further 4,368 daily cases and 11 deaths were reported in the UK, where the recorded coronavirus death toll stands at over 41,700.
Bhubaneswar:

At least 40 tourists from West Bengal were injured, six of them critically, when the bus in which they were travelling overturned in Dhauli hills area on Tuesday morning.

The mishap took place when the vehicle carrying around 65 tourists from Midnapore area of West Bengal lost balance and turned turtle, said Khurda District Collector Niranjan Sahu who visited the Capital Hospital where the injured were admitted.

As many as 36 injured persons, including four children and around 15 women, were taken to the Capital Hospital after the accident.

Six of them with critical injuries were shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital at Cuttack, doctors at the hospital said.

A special team of eight doctors was formed to ensure proper treatment of the injured tourists, while over 40 nurses were also engaged, they said.

On getting information, police and fire brigade personnel reached the site to undertake rescue and relief operations, Deputy Fire Officer, R C Majhi said.

Around 25 personnel from the striking force of the fire services and other staff were sent to the spot for the operation, he said, adding, that the injured were rescued and sent to the hospital.

Collector Sahu said necessary arrangements have also been made to transport the other tourists in the bus.

Those wanting to stay back to look after the injured are being provided necessary facilities like accommodation and food, he said.

State Tourism and Culture Minister Ashok Panda, who visited the Capital Hospital to see the injured tourists, said all steps have been taken to provide them proper treatment.

The exact reason for the accident is yet to be ascertained, police said.

Hospital authorities have set up a helpline No. 0674-2391983.

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YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 22, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures Suren Papikyan had a meeting with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Deputy General Director Dazhu Yang in Vienna within the framework of the agencys 64th General Conference.

Papikyan and Yang discussed the Armenian NPPs operational extension program and raising the safety level, as well as a wide range of issues relating to the development of nuclear energy in Armenia.

The sides were pleased to note the process of the programs currently under implementation as part of IAEAs technical support to Armenia.

Issues related to training of personnel, development of professional potential in nuclear energy sector through joint programs were discussed.

Earlier on September 21, Papikyan held a meeting with IAEA General Director Rafael Grossi.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
We are on the cusp of big, bold, brave action to address housing and homelessness in Toronto.

A one-billion-dollar plan calls for 3,000 new permanent, affordable homes, and funding to assist 2,000 of these residents with the supports required to maintain stable housing. Its a plan that would mean a path out of homelessness for those who have had to rely on the shelter system as long-term housing.

Developed by Toronto Mayor John Tory and Deputy Mayor Ana Bailao together with the community sector, the COVID-19 Housing and Homelessness Recovery Response Plan calls on the provincial and federal governments to partner with the city to accelerate efforts across all governments to create new affordable housing for everyone.

All orders of government have taken great steps to extend support to those who are most in need during this pandemic. The initial emergency measures have shown how quickly, and effectively, they can work together. And just this week, the federal government announced additional funding to create new affordable housing and support across Canada through its Rapid Housing Initiative, which will go a long way in answering Torontos call.

Torontos recovery plan wont come cheap, and acknowledges the substantial financial pressures that all governments now face and the supports already provided. But it is an important long-term investment in a long-term solution. Moving 3,000 people out of shelters and into permanent housing with support could mean a cost savings of up to $180 million per year. And this doesnt include the savings in reduced costs to the healthcare, long-term care, and justice systems when people find permanent housing.

Together with organizations and individuals working with housing and homelessness, and with those directly affected by this pandemic, Maytree and United Way Greater Toronto collaborated with the City of Toronto to identify what needs to be done. Our two policy papers, Housing & People Action Plan and COVID-19 Interim Shelter Recovery Strategy, outlined a focused set of actions and policy options for governments to consider in their response to the pandemic for a sustainable recovery.

What both papers highlight  and what weve heard from community organizations and individuals directly affected by the pandemic  is the need to invest in housing and supports to decrease the volume and duration of need for emergency shelters.

Organizations that provide a range of emergency, shelter and housing supports  like The 519, Dixon Hall, YWCA, COSTI, and Na-me-res  have described how COVID-19 has compounded the many challenges people experiencing homelessness already faced prior to the pandemic, creating new risks and vulnerabilities. This is especially true for women in abusive situations, and transgender, Black and Indigenous individuals.

The pandemic has made the issue of homelessness unignorable. Without access to safe, secure, and affordable housing, we will continue to leave a large number of Torontos residents vulnerable to the impacts of COVID-19.

By acting now and by moving quickly, the federal and provincial governments can become important partners in closing the existing gaps and realizing the right to housing for everyone.
After years of falling gun violence and despite pandemic shelter-in-place orders, shootings appear to be on the rise in some San Francisco neighborhoods in 2020, a trend that became more stark as the weather began to warm.

ShotSpotter, a gunfire-detection system the city uses to pinpoint shootings in areas including the Bayview, Mission, South of Market and Visitacion Valley, recorded 744 incidents of shots fired in the first seven months of the year, a 32% jump from the 564 logged during the same period last year.

John Blanchard / The Chronicle

May, June and July saw a 43% increase, from 251 gunfire incidents during those months in 2019 to 360 in 2020.

The bullets  at least those that could be located  penetrated homes and pierced street signs and cars. Others struck gang rivals or innocent bystanders, such as 22-year-old public transit advocate Courtney Brousseau and Jace Young, a 6-year-old boy who was fatally shot while watching Fourth of July fireworks.

Overall, violent crime decreased in San Francisco while the city sheltered in place due to the coronavirus.

But the uptick in shooting incidents has corresponded with a rise in homicides. The city to date has tallied 35 homicides, a 30% rise from the 27 recorded by this time last year. Firearms were used in 22 of this years killings. There were 41 killings in all of 2019  a 56-year low for the city.

Its happening all the time, said Rudy Corpuz Jr., the founder and executive director of United Playaz, a San Francisco violence prevention organization, in a Friday interview. Corpuz, who tracks reports of local crime on a neighborhood watch app, said hes noticed a spike in the number of shots fired. Just as were speaking, I got another notification.

Criminologists caution against putting too much weight on short-term crime trends and assigning them to a single cause, and peaks and valleys are normal to see year-over-year. However, police officials and others said a rise in gang-related violence, as well as national events like the coronavirus pandemic and civil unrest, could be contributing to the uptick.

Yalonda M. James / The Chronicle

San Francisco Supervisor Catherine Stefani said the trend is alarming to residents and gun safety groups. She recalled a conversation she had with a woman who recounted having to duck for cover, while six months pregnant, under a car during a shooting in Glen Park.

People are feeling very unsafe in San Francisco, said Stefani, a gun control advocate and vice chair of the Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee. Ive been hearing from people who are afraid to take their kids to the park  shootings are taking place in places where people are just walking to work.

Stefani plans to call for a hearing on the recent increase in gunfire.

National data show that the city isnt alone. ShotSpotter, a for-profit company that tracks gunfire with acoustic sensors in San Francisco and more than 100 other cities, found that every week in 2020 to date saw more gunfire than its counterpart in 2019.

Stanford Criminal Justice Center Director Robert Weisberg noted that crime rates in San Francisco and other cities have been historically low in recent years, so percentages can be skewed by the small number of incidents.

However, he said, the jump in San Franciscos shootings isnt trivial.

Killings arise from interpersonal stress or conflict, and for all we know, COVID has increased those stressors, Weisberg said, noting that more research is needed. Since many people shoot without aiming to kill, the stress explanation would work even better for shootings than for killings.

I think a lot of people are desperate, Corpuz said. Theres no jobs, less opportunities  people are just getting out there and robbing, taking what they can, because theyre in desperate situations.

ShotSpotter sensors record all gunfire in their tracking areas, and seek to filter out similar noises like fireworks and car backfires. San Francisco, like many cities that use the technology, chose coverage areas that receive the most reports of violence

Raw data reviewed by The Chronicle show that gunfire incidents were clustered in Bayview-Hunters Point over the past year. San Francisco police Deputy Chief David Lazar said many of this years shootings were attributed to escalating gang wars.

Such was the case on Aug. 17, he said, when a rolling gunbattle that began between two gang members in the Sunnydale neighborhood spilled into the Excelsior district. A bystander who was sitting at a bus stop downrange of the shooting was struck in the face.

Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle

Were noticing that so many innocent people are being affected by these shootouts that are taking place, whether its people or property, Lazar said.

Another alarming trend is the types of weapons being used, Lazar said. In 2019, police recorded three incidents involving rounds from high-powered guns, such as AR-15s. There have been at least 20 such shootings so far in 2020, Lazar said.

He said the department is deploying a range of strategies, understanding that it cant arrest its way out of the problem. Officials have begun working with the California Partnerships for Safe Communities, a data-driven coalition of organizations that target people at the highest risk of violence.

San Francisco police are also leaning on their own relationship-building units like the gang task force, which Lazar credits for helping to drive the citys violent crimes to historically low levels.

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.

It might seem adversarial between the police and the gangs, but in many cases the investigators have a good rapport with those that are engaged in this activity.

Jason Young, the father of Jace Young, said theres been little headway on his sons case since the July 4 shooting in the Bayview, despite police officials recent announcement of a $100,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.

For all intents and purposes, it was a gang shooting, he said.

Jace Young, 6, was at a July party at a friends house when he was struck and killed. The tragedy sparked an outpouring of support from city officials including Mayor London Breed and Supervisor Shamann Walton, but police have not announced any arrests.

Young said hes trying to move his family out of the Bayview. He has at least 10 other family members who have been victims of gun violence, many of whom live in the neighborhood, and three shooting attempts on his own life in the last few years.

Its too easy to obtain a firearm, he said. You use one, you get rid of it, there aint no rules, no morals.

Yalonda M. James / The Chronicle

San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin said that while the city has seen an increase in shootings this year, other gun-related crimes that dont involve bullets being fired have fallen. Assaults with guns that dont involve a shooting are down 58%, and there have been no rapes involving a firearm reported. Last year, there were seven such incidents.

Shootings, gun violence, is tragically a part of the urban landscape in every American city, Boudin said.

He said most of the illegal weapons fired in San Francisco come from other states like Arizona and Nevada, and called for more robust gun-control laws to curb the trafficking.

Stefani has requested a report from the Budget & Legislative Analysts Office to dive into the causes of the trend.

What Im hearing anecdotally is we have an increase in gang gun violence and we need to find out exactly whether or not thats true, she said. Is it an increase, is it the type of weapons being used, is it random? These are important questions that I think we need to get to the bottom of.

Megan Cassidy is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: megan.cassidy@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @meganrcassidy
Former Rajasthan deputy chief minister on Monday said the centre has passed "anti-farmer" bills in the by suppressing the voice of the opposition but the Congress is standing with farmers and will continue their fight.

Condemning the suspension of eight MPs, the Congress leader said it was symbolic of dictatorship.

"After passing the bills in the in an undemocratic manner, the decision to suspend 8 Rajya Sabha MPs today is a symbol of utter dictatorship," Pilot tweeted in Hindi.

Our parliamentary traditions were not like this. Rather they have been respectful of deliberation, consent and disagreement, he said.

Pilot said the "anti-farmer" bills were passed by suppressing the opposition's voice which was condemnable.

Why does the BJP not care for farmers? The Congress party stands with the farmers of the country and we will continue their fight, 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.)
People wearing masks to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) wait to vote in the primary election in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, June 2, 2020.

The top elections official in Philadelphia is warning that a little-noticed aspect of a recent ruling by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court could cause over 100,000 votes statewide to be voided, creating the conditions for a post-election legal battle "the likes of which we have not seen since Florida in 2000."

Lisa Deeley, the Democratic chairwoman of the city commissioners office, which oversees elections, cited the Thursday decision from the court that invalidated so-called "naked ballots," or those that are submitted without secrecy envelopes that mask the identity of the voter, in a letter dated Monday and addressed to state lawmakers.

The ruling came as part of a broad opinion in a case between Democrats and Republicans in the state that for the most part was chalked up as a win for those on the left. The court sided with Democrats in extending the state's absentee ballot deadline and approving the use of mail-in ballot drop boxes.

Democrats are fighting in courts around the country to ease voting rules amid the Covid-19 pandemic, given the perceived advantage for nominee Joe Biden in a high turnout race, particularly among those who vote by mail. Pennsylvania is a significant prize as an electoral battleground that President Donald Trump won by a historically slim margin of about 44,000 votes in 2016.

Read more: Ginsburg vacancy could tilt Supreme Court to Trump in potential Bush v. Gore repeat

Deeley wrote that while "everyone is talking about the significance of extending the mail ballot deadline, it is the naked ballot ruling that is going to cause chaos."

The ruling interpreted a law that specifies that those voting by mail must place their ballots inside envelopes that shield their name. Those envelopes are then placed in a second envelope which has the address of the voter's election board.

The state Democratic Party had argued that while the election code directed voters to use the secrecy envelope, it did not authorize officials to discard their ballots if they did not do so. The state Republican Party, on the other hand, argued that counting naked ballots would compromise the integrity of the secret ballot.

The state's GOP Senate caucus added that such a move would be likely to lead to voter fraud, a contention rejected by the state's Democratic secretary of state, Kathy Bookvar.

Justice Max Baer wrote that based on the text of the law it was clear that the state legislature intended that "it should not be readily apparent who the elector is, with what party he or she affiliates, or for whom the elector has voted."

"The secrecy envelope properly unmarked and sealed ensures that result, unless it is marked with identifying information, in which case that goal is compromised," he wrote. "Whatever the wisdom of the requirement, the command that the mail-in elector utilize the secrecy envelope and leave it unblemished by identifying information is neither ambiguous nor unreasonable."

The number of ballots that may be discarded as a result of the ruling is unclear. In her letter, Deeley wrote that 6.4% of absentee ballots in the state's 2019 general election were naked. She estimated that based on those figures, it was possible that up to 40,000 ballots could be thrown out in Philadelphia, and over 100,000 across the state.

Given the Covid-19 pandemic, Deeley said that it was quite possible that the percentage of ballots submitted without secrecy envelopes could rise, as more voters who are unfamiliar with voting by mail do so for the first time.

Deeley urged Rep. Bryan Cutler, the leader of the state's House of Representatives, and Senate president pro tempore Joe Scarnati, both Republicans, to eliminate the secrecy envelope altogether. Doing so would allow officials to scan 32,000 ballots an hour, she wrote, so fast that "there is no opportunity to stop, or even slow down, and identify how an individual voted."

"Anyone who advocates doing nothing to address this situation, in hopes that more Democratic ballots are thrown out than Republican ballots, is not being an effective policy maker and is not doing their job to make sure that this election goes off well," she wrote.

Deeley's plea, however, does not seem likely to convince the Republican-led state legislature.

In an email, a spokesperson for Cutler rejected the notion that a controversy over naked ballots could lead to chaos.

Michael Straub, his communications director, said the supreme court was "very clear in its ruling last week that the law requiring a proper secrecy envelope is clear and fair."

"Previously, the department of state provided guidance telling counties to count 'naked ballots,' however that guidance was rescinded after the court's ruling," Straub said. "We believe this issue is settled for this election."

Kate Eckhart Flessner, the communications director for Scarnati, said in a statement that the senator "continues to work with his Legislative colleagues to ensure the voting process in Pennsylvania complies with the law, and is fair, transparent and timely."

"The letter will be reviewed, however it was only recently received," she said.
Inc. is celebrating Small Business Week 2020 with a look at local merchants beloved by customers whose devotion goes beyond loyalty and well into passion.

Debbie Luttrell remembers the "defining moment." It was a late afternoon in 1996, and she was cashing out the day's receipts--a whopping $35--from the register in Stitchin' Heaven, her startup quilt supply store in Quitman, Texas. Outside the window, her parking lot stood empty. "I thought, 'What in the world have I done to make everyone so angry at me?'" Luttrell recalls.

Luttrell had angered no one. But in a town of 1,895 residents far from major cities, she was selling primo fabric at $7.99-a-yard. For good-enough versions, Walmart charged just $4.99. At Stitchin' Heaven's grand opening months earlier, "Everyone in town came out and welcomed us," says Luttrell. "I know now that people left my store saying, 'That lady is not going to make it.'"

Twenty-four years later, Stitchin' Heaven is a 60-employee company, with $5 million in annual sales and fans who travel thousands of miles to take classes and commune with fellow "piecing" enthusiasts. Recognizing a rare small-town economic engine, Quitman's development office gave Luttrell 12 acres, free of charge, on which she recently built 17,500-square-feet of retail, e-commerce, and office space. A retreat center with 10 guest cottages for visiting quilters is rising near a pond she installed across the parking lot.

At a time when many brick-and-mortar stores are on the ropes, Luttrell--a late-blooming but steely and endlessly creative entrepreneur--is demonstrating just how vibrant retail can still be. For Main Street merchants, the Stitchin' Heaven story is a master class in the wooing, winning, and retention of customers.

If you build it, they won't come.

When Luttrell was 13, her mother taught her how to sew as a leg up in homemaking class. Through high school, the Texas native made most of her own clothes, until she realized it cost less to buy them. "Also, the stuff I made didn't always fit exactly right," she says.

Luttrell went straight from high school into a corporate job at Southwestern Bell. Ten years later, she moved to the yellow pages publisher GTE Directories, where she helped lead the company's successful application for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. That experience instilled in her a lifelong obsession with systems and customer focus.

But it was stressful work requiring lots of travel. Inspired by an aunt who started quilting at age 65, Luttrell, then 40, took up the craft. "I would work on my blocks on the plane," says Luttrell.

In 1993, Luttrell asked her employers for the summer off to spend more time with her son, then in fifth grade. When they said no, she quit. She and her husband, a property-tax consultant, packed up their lives in a suburb of Dallas and relocated to a 200-acre ranch outside of rural Quitman. They planned to raise emus there. But that once hot industry was cooling. "The emus did not happen," says Luttrell.

Bored, Luttrell used a $70,000 bank loan to open Stitchin' Heaven in 1,000 square feet with 600 bolts of fabric. Few customers materialized. With her money running out, Luttrell decided to reinvent her sleepy small business as a destination. "This was not some build-it-and-they-will-come stuff," she says. "I had to stand out. I had to make people come to Quitman to see me."

Becoming a destination.

Luttrell began traveling around Texas to quilt shows, where serious stitchers display their work and compete for prizes. She would rent a booth and sell supplies. Her objective: to collect postal addresses from potential customers. To them she mailed newsletters announcing classes at Stitchin' Heaven taught by quilting celebrities--chiefly book authors and pattern designers.

But Luttrell could only fit eight or 10 people at a time in her store's tiny classroom. And she needed the instructors to teach classes over several days to justify the few hundred dollars it cost to hire them. So she arranged to rent out a nearby campground when it wasn't in use and started hosting retreats. Avid quilters came to stay in cabins with family or friends, combining social stitching sessions with in-store education. Luttrell dubbed the program Camp Quilt S'more.

"We had mothers and daughters, and good friends who would quilt together during the year but wanted a different venue," says Luttrell. The cost was low: just $100 per person for three days. But the retreats and classes were never meant to make money. "I wanted them to come into the store and buy," says Luttrell. To ensure customers experienced the best possible service, she hired only full-time staff--a rarity in retail--and created procedure manuals for each position.

Luttrell's strategy worked with Ana Earl, who started visiting the store in the late 1990s during family fishing vacations to nearby Lake Fork. Since retiring there, she has taken almost every course available. She bought a sewing machine from Luttrell after being intimidated by her classmates' "fancy-dancy" ones. "I love that they are so positive there," says Earl. "They believe if you walk through those doors, you can make something. They will take you by the hand and show you."

The lure of smart promotions.

In 2000, Stitchin' Heaven was named one of the top 10 quilt shops in America by Quilt Sampler magazine. Quilters from around the country signed up for the newsletter, which now went by email. They joined the retreats and traveled to Quitman for an annual outdoor quilt show that Luttrell had launched in a local park. "It gave people an outlet to show the work they'd done and attracted them to the store," she says. "They became repeat customers."

As the internet boomed, Luttrell looked for opportunities to expand her reach beyond Quitman. She came up with Block of the Month, an early version of a subscription service that is still one of the company's most popular offerings. Each month, customers receive in the mail the pattern and pre-cut fabric for one block of a quilt. "At the end of 12 months, you have all the blocks and you are able to put them together," says Luttrell. At $29.99 per month, the program is significantly more costly than simply buying all the fabrics and patterns at once. But customers find the "bite-sized approach less overwhelming," says Luttrell. Today Stitchin' Heaven sends out roughly 8,000 block kits each month.

Meanwhile, a popular variation called the $5 Quilt Program lured people to the physical store. Stitchin' Heaven customers who turn up on the first Saturday of every month receive the fabric and instructions for the first block in a featured quilt for $5. If they return on that day a month later with the block finished, they get the next block for free, until the quilt is complete. Of course Luttrell leverages those crowds to trot out all the store's new products. "You see all the new notions and fabrics and patterns and magazines," says Earl, who before Covid-19 had never missed a first Saturday. "Everything they demoed I had to have."

At sea and on the road.

From the Baldrige experience, Luttrell learned to always listen to customers. And it was a customer who, in 2010, suggested she offer quilting cruises. Stitchin' Heaven Travel--an LLC run by Luttrell's son, Clay--partners with Royal Caribbean Group to offer 15 cruises a year to places like Mexico, Hawaii, and Alaska. The ships turn over their conference rooms to the quilters for classes led by high-profile instructors while at sea. They work with materials sold by Stitchin' Heaven which, for an extra charge, will pre-cut the fabric. Luttrell ships sewing machines from port to port.

Kathleen Bell has been on eight cruises since 2017. "It would be 10, but the damn virus canceled two," she says. Bell calls the cruises "over-the-top wonderful," with "outstanding instructors" and "stunning" projects. "You can tell Debby's cruises aren't about making money," she says. "They are about quilters and quilting."

Temporarily exiled from oceangoing by Covid-19, Luttrell recently launched Land Ahoy Quilting Cruises. Starting in February, quilters will gather at luxury hotels in cities like Orlando, Nashville, and Las Vegas for socially distanced activities similar to those on shipboard.

Despite the success of the cruises and programs like Block of the Month, Luttrell remains intent on getting people to Quitman and into her store. Toward that end, a few years back she started running bus trips from cities within a three-hour drive. Ten times a year, 56 quilters assemble at designated parking lots in places like Shreveport and Houston. For a nominal fee, they are transported to Stitchin' Heaven, where "we feed them lunch, give them wine, let them shop, have a show for them, give them wine, let them shop, play games, give them wine, and let them shop," says Luttrell.

Quilting through quarantine.

Of course the bus trips, like the sea cruises, are on hold during the pandemic. But in other ways, Covid-19 has been kind to Stitchin' Heaven, whose sales this year--many through its web site--are up more than 60 percent. "People are sewing again," says Luttrell. "They have dusted off their old sewing machines or are buying new ones. They are buying fabric."

And the company has received national recognition--including a spotlight on The Kelly Clarkson Show--for spearheading a facemask drive among its community of quilters. The company's customers and social networks sewed more than 50,000, which Luttrell distributed to clinics, doctors' offices, and other businesses in her corner of East Texas. Although Stitchin' Heaven could have produced the masks itself, "We knew our customers would want to be the ones to make them," says Luttrell. "They are giving people."

Meanwhile, Luttrell is revving up for 2021. Starting in May, a new and improved version of Camp Quilt S'more will emerge as a year-round offering on Stitchin' Heaven's 12-acre property. Luttrell anticipates the 9,000-square-foot retreat center she is building will be ready by March, as will 10 cottages that each sleeps two to four quilters. Until things are completely back to normal, the new retreat center will host smaller groups, with social distancing enforced.

Joy Mardon expects to be among the retreat center's first guests. A customer since 2009, when she traveled to Quitman from her home in Calgary, Alberta, Canada just to take a class. Mardon loves Block of the Month, the cruises, and the "incredible customer service." From a distance of 3,000 miles, she has kept up with news about Stitchin' Heaven's new store. "I can't wait to see it," says Mardon. "As soon as they open the borders, we are there."
A serial fraudster and convicted stalker who pretended to be an airline pilot to obtain a bank loan for more than 40,000 was jailed yesterday for 18 months.

David Nevin (46), who had been living in a high-end apartment in the Malahide area of the capital but is originally from Terryglass, Nenagh, Co Tipperary, was handed the jail sentence by Judge Elma Sheahan at Dublin Circuit Court.

Judge Sheahan noted the offences showed a significant degree of planning and premeditation.

She said they were indicative of an "aspirational lifestyle" and had not been committed out of "dire necessity" but were an attempt to "enjoy the high life".

Payslips

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard Nevin, who has 20 previous convictions, used fake bank statements and payslips to obtain the loan and a car in his attempts to live it up.

Detective Garda Mark O' Riordan outlined the facts of the case at a previous court hearing.

These included an incident in July 2017 when Nevin secured a loan from Bank Of Ireland by providing a false AIB statement that claimed he was being paid more than 8,000 a month as a pilot for Etihad.

Nevin also pleaded guilty to inducing the handover of a car at Leaseplan, Turnpike, Road, Ballymount, on June 14, 2018.

He further admitted using a fake AIB personal bank account statement at Leaseplan Fleet Management Services on May 28, 2018, with the intention of inducing another to accept it.

Nevin also pleaded guilty to attempted deceptions at KBC, Sandwith Street, Dublin, in relation to the use of a false payslip in the course of a credit card application, and at Audi Athlone, Co Westmeath, on June 7, 2018 in relation to the sale of an Audi A5 car.

The court heard Nevin has so far repaid 5,500 and had brought 1,000 to court yesterday.

Judge Sheahan noted Nevin had cooperated with the garda investigation.

She took into account difficulties in his background outlined in a psychiatric report and that he wished to rehabilitate and work in the future.

The judge noted that his guilty plea was of value to the court "in these unusual times".

She added, however, that there was a clear pattern of offending, and he had reached a point where a custodial sentence was inevitable.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 20:22:47|Editor: huaxia

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CAIRO, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Egypt registered late on Monday 126 new COVID-19 cases, raising the country's total infections to 102,141, said the Health Ministry on Tuesday.

The ministry's spokesman Khaled Megahed said in a statement that 17 more patients died from the novel coronavirus, taking the death toll to 5,787.

Meanwhile, 800 others were cured and discharged from hospitals, increasing the total recoveries to 90,332.

The recovery rate from the coronavirus in the most populous Arab country has reached 87.7 percent.

Egypt announced its first confirmed COVID-19 case on Feb. 14 and the first death from the viral disease on March 8.

In mid-June, Egypt saw a peak of COVID-19 daily infections and deaths, with a record 97 fatalities on June 15 and 1,774 new cases on June 19, before they started to decline in the first week of July.

Egypt and China have been cooperating closely in fighting the pandemic through exchanging medical aid and expertise.

In early February, Egypt sent a batch of medical supplies to China to help with its fight against COVID-19 and China later sent three batches of medical aid to the North African country. Enditem
WASHINGTON  As President Donald Trump's fundraising has started to lag, Eric Trump lead an event to raise cash for his father's re-election at Mid-Hudson Sporting Clays in New Paltz on Sunday.

About 300 people, including a few GOP congressional candidates, participated in the fundraiser which featured morning and afternoon skeet shooting and a lunch, a source at the event said. Attendees included Republicans Kyle Van De Water, running for New York's 19th House seat, Chele Farley, candidate for the 18th House seat, George Santos, candidate for the 3rd House District, former Republican Party Chairman Ed Cox, who's joined the Trump campaign as a fundraiser, and Dutchess County Sheriff Butch Anderson, an honorary state chair for Trump's re-election campaign.
When researchers in China were analyzing hospital data of patients with Covid-19, they noticed an odd trend: Very few of the sick patients regularly wore glasses.

In one hospital in Suizhou, China, 276 patients were admitted over a 47-day period, but only 16 patients  less than 6 per cent  had myopia or nearsightedness that required them to wear glasses for more than eight hours a day. By comparison, more than 30 per cent of similarly aged people in the region needed glasses for nearsightedness, earlier research had shown.

Given that the rate of nearsightedness appeared to be so much higher in the general population than in the Covid-19 ward, the scientists wondered: Could wearing glasses protect a person from becoming infected with coronavirus?

Wearing of eyeglasses is common among Chinese individuals of all ages, the study authors wrote. However, since the outbreak of Covid-19 in Wuhan in December 2019, we observed that few patients with eyeglasses were admitted in the hospital ward.

The observation could be preliminary evidence that daily wearers of eyeglasses are less susceptible to Covid-19, the authors speculated.

For live updates on the coronavirus outbreak, click here

Experts say its too soon to draw conclusions from the research  or recommend that people start wearing eye protection in addition to masks in hopes of lowering their risk for infection.

It may be that eyeglasses act as a partial barrier, protecting eyes from the splatter of a cough or sneeze. Another explanation for the finding could be that people who wear glasses are less likely to rub their eyes with contaminated hands. A 2015 report on face touching found that over the course of an hour, students watching a lecture touched their eyes, nose or mouth, on average, about 10 times, though the researchers did not look into whether wearing glasses made a difference.

The current study, published in JAMA Ophthalmology, was accompanied by a commentary from Dr Lisa Maragakis, an infectious disease specialist and associate professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, who urged caution in interpreting the results.

The study was small, involving fewer than 300 cases of Covid-19, a tiny fraction of the nearly 30 million reported cases of coronavirus infection around the world. Another concern is that the data on nearsightedness in the comparison group were gleaned from a study that took place decades earlier.

And Maragakis noted that any number of factors could confound the data, and it may be that wearing glasses is simply associated with another variable that affects risk for Covid-19. For example, it could be that people who wear glasses tend to be older, and more careful and more likely to stay home during a viral outbreak, than those who do not wear glasses. Or perhaps people who can afford glasses are less likely to contract the virus for other reasons, like having the means to live in less crowded spaces.

Its one study, Maragakis said. It does have some biological plausibility, given that in health care facilities, we use eye protection, such as face shields or goggles. But what remains to be investigated is whether eye protection in a public setting would add any protection over and above masks and physical distancing. I think its still unclear.

Read: Indian coronavirus vaccine likely to be ready by early 2021, says scientist

Health care workers wear protective equipment over their eyes to protect them from droplets that can fly from coughs and sneezes, as well as aerosolized particles that form when patients undergo medical procedures, such as intubation. But for a vast majority of people, that extra level of protection probably isnt needed if a person is wearing a mask and keeping physical distance in public spaces. Theres also the possibility of introducing risk by wearing glasses  some people might touch their faces more when they put on glasses, rather than less, Maragakis noted.

That said, more study is needed to see if the trend holds up in other study populations, said Dr Thomas Steinemann, a spokesman for the American Academy of Ophthalmology and professor of ophthalmology at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland.

I think its provocative, and its extremely interesting, Steinemann said.

But Steinemann noted that the study shouldnt cause worry among people who dont wear glasses. It probably cant hurt to wear glasses, but does everybody need to do that? Probably not, he said. I think you have to consider the practicality of wearing eye protection or a face shield. People in certain occupations, first responders, caregivers for someone who is ill, those are people who should maybe take special notice.

The findings also raise interesting questions about how often the eyes might be the entry portal for the virus. Its long been established that viruses and other germs can enter the body through facial mucous membranes in the eyes, nose and mouth. But the nose seems to be a main entry point for coronavirus, because it has a high number of receptors that create a friendly environment in which the virus can replicate and move down the respiratory tract.

But doctors are seeing a small percentage of patients with eye symptoms, including conjunctivitis or pink eye, which suggests the virus may also be entering the body through the eyes. Although eye symptoms are less common than other symptoms like cough or fever, various studies have reported that eye complaints can be a sign of Covid-19 infection.

Last month, researchers reported a study of 216 children hospitalized with Covid-19 in Wuhan. Among those patients, 49 children, or nearly 23 per cent of the cases, had eye symptoms, including conjunctival discharge, eye rubbing and conjunctival congestion. In addition to pink eye, itchy eyes, excessive tearing, blurred vision and feeling like something is in the eye have all been described by patients with Covid-19.
LAUSANNE, Switzerland, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Debiopharm, (www.debiopharm.com), a Swiss-based biopharmaceutical company today announced being one of the recipients of the 2020 Swiss Biotech Success Story Award for exceptional achievements in the biotech industry. Every year, the Swiss Biotech Association awards companies or individuals within the biotech sector in Switzerland in recognition of specific success factors. Debiopharm was recognized for the company's key accomplishments over time including the recent FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation for their cancer therapy, xevinapant (phase III Head & Neck cancer), 2 established standard-of-care therapies, oxaliplatin (colorectal cancer) and triptorelin (prostate cancer, central precocious puberty), an expanding pipeline of oncology and bacterial infections therapies and a series of investments in artificial intelligence and digital health start-ups.

Founded over 40 years ago by Rolland-Yves Mauvernay and now headed by his son Thierry Mauvernay, Debiopharm employs over 400 people from over 40 different nationalities in our 2 Swiss locations: Lausanne (VD) and Martigny (VS). Their activities go beyond drug development, spanning from manufacturing of complex molecules & delivery technology to strategically investing in digital health & smart data start-ups that improve patient experience and streamline the clinical research pathway.

Supporting its members in a competitive market, the Swiss Biotech Association works to secure favorable framework conditions and facilitate access to talents, novel technologies, and financial resources. Debiopharm accepts this honor alongside other Swiss Biotech Success Story 2020 awardees including: Actelion, Helsinn, Venture Kick, >>Venture>>, Venturelab, and the noble prize-winner Professor Werner Arber.

"We are proud to be recognized by the Swiss Biotech association for this prestigious award. We know that through scientific research and fruitful collaborations, we can bring innovation to patients that will help them survive and thrive," expressed Bertrand Ducrey, CEO of Debiopharm, "Switzerland has all of the ingredients to form an important biotech hub that creates disruptive technologies for patients around the world."

More About Debiopharm

Debiopharm develops, manufactures, and invests in innovative therapies and technologies that target high unmet medical needs in oncology and bacterial infections. Bridging the gap between disruptive discovery products and real-world patient reach, we identify high-potential compounds for in-licensing, clinically demonstrate their safety and efficacy and then select large pharmaceutical commercialization partners to maximize patient access globally.

For more information, please visit www.debiopharm.com

We are on Twitter. Follow us @DebiopharmNews at http://twitter.com/DebiopharmNews

Debiopharm Contact

Dawn Haughton

Communication Manager

dawn.haughton@debiopharm.com

Tel: +41 (0)21 321 01 11
Major General Sujan Singh Uban, a legendary veteran of the Second World War, was a natural choice to raise, train and command the Special Frontier Force and mould them into a well oiled fighting machine, recalls his son Inspector General Gurdip Singh Uban (retd), who led SFF troops during the Kargil War.

IMAGE: Indian Army soldiers load an Indian Air Force Chinook helicopter in Ladakh, September 15, 2020. Photograph: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters

The mystic, celestial, Snow Lion, Gang: Seng Ge in local lore, derives its name from the Sanskrit Simha.

It is the emblem of Tibet showcasing its eternally snow covered mountains and glaciers, even as it symbolises power, strength, fearlessness and joie de vivre or the joy of living.

It is also the symbol and flag of the intrepid, fearless warriors of the Special Frontier Force, who have figured so prominently in the recent clashes in eastern Ladakh.

The strategic importance of Tibet cannot be over emphasised.

It is the roof of the world, with vast mineral and natural resources.

The mighty rivers that emanate from its expansive glaciers such as the Brahmaputra, Yangtse, Yellow river, Mekong, Salween and the Indus, together with thousands of their tributaries have nurtured civilisations in peripheral countries for centuries.

Kailash Mansarovar with its spiritual overtones tugs at the heart strings of every Indian.

In an act of naked aggression ,China occupied Tibet in 1959.

A buffer was eliminated, and the de facto boundary of China, became contiguous to that of India.

A boundary deliberately left un-demarcated to enable further expansion.

As a first step, therefore there is need to challenge the very legitimacy of China's claim over Tibet.

For centuries Tibet has been an independent nation.

In the 16th century Genghis Khan invaded, captured and ruled China for over a century.

During this period his grandson Kublai Khan signed an independent treaty with Tibet.

The Vth Dalai Lama having been murdered, China began to interfere in the affairs of an independent Tibet.

After the fall of the Quing dynasty in 1913, Tibet expelled all Chinese officials and troops and declared itself independent.

A stamp of approval was accorded by the signing of the Simla Agreement in 1914 between the British and the Tibetan government; also attended by a Chinese representative.

The Communist party of China, which came to power in 1949 began its experimental programmes.

Soon China was staring at a famine caused by the quixotic Great Leap Forward, an economic and social disaster.

It was under these circumstances, that Mao Zedong turned to Tibet, and declared, 'Tibet is the palm that we shall occupy and then go after the five fingers. Mao meant Ladakh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.

Consequently, in 1959, China committed the naked act of aggression of an independent Tibet, to which India acquiesced, till our Hindi Chini Bhai Bhai dream was rudely shaken in 1962.

IMAGE: Snow covered mountains on the outskirts of Lhasa in what China calls the Tibetan Autonomous Region. Photograph: Stringer/Reuters

India is dealing with a bellicose neighbour, with an obsession for assertion of rights over land which their predecessors may have acquired through conquest or guile.

Their own history of submission for over a century to the Mongols, followed by the Japanese, and the colonial powers that ruled over them are glossed over.

China has land borders with 14 neighbours covering an estimated 22,100 kilometres.

As its economic status burgeoned, so did its military muscle.

Based on a medieval mindset of the Middle Kingdom and head of the Confucian family, China embarked on claims based on perceived imbalances of treaties forced on them when the country was weak.

Some of these have since been resolved after bloody clashes such as with Russia in 1969 and Vietnam ten years later, while others have been resolved through a combination of lucrative offers of money, trade and guile.

In most cases, the end result has been such, that victory can be claimed by both sides.

Russia accepted half of China's claim.

Kazakhstan was given lucrative economic deals.

Kyrgyzstan retained 70% of the land, ceding just 30% and so on.

Towards the end of April this year, four motorised and six Mechanised divisions of the People's Liberation Army's Western Theatre Command having completed their exercises on the edge of the Gobi desert, took to the Xinjiang highway, and in a well planned and rehearsed move branched off onto a series of feeder roads on the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh.

Once the PLA troops were in position, they initiated multiple incursions across the LAC into what had been 'No Man's Land' patrolled by both sides.

This included areas in the Depsang plains threatening the forward airstrip of Daulet Beg Oldie as also north and south of the expansive Pangang Tso salt water lake.

The world watched with dismay as soldiers of the two nuclear armed Asian giants engaged each other in a slugfest on the snowy summits of the Himalayas.

In the melee that followed, they went at each other with clubs studded with barbed wire, machetes and rocks, crushing skulls and bones in the most barbaric manner.

Not a shot was fired, but the Indian Army, which was initially surprised, reacted swiftly and with bravery and courage inflicted severe casualties on the Chinese side.

IMAGE: IAF fighters fly around the mountains in Ladakh, September 18, 2020. Photograph: ANI Photo

The inevitable fallout of these actions was by both sides jostling for the heights leading to a stalemate.

Suddenly, on the night of August 29/30 in a surprise move, the Indian Army turned the tables by occupying heights that were not only of great tactical importance north and south of the Pangong Tso lake as also dominating the Spangur Gap, but were now looking into the innards of the Chinese depth localities at Moldo including their armour, guns and reserves.

This amazing feat was accomplished primarily by a ghost army, the Special Frontier Force.

Who are these superhuman troops? and what are their antecedents?

They are the dreaded shadow warriors of the Special Frontier Force.

During the era of the 'Great Game', the British employed natives to patrol their lands, which included the Tibetans.

It was the Mustang base in the northern border range that escorted the 14th Dalai Lama to safety to India during the 1959 rebellion.

As a consequence of the 1962 War, the Nehru government ordered the raising of an elite commando force called the Special Frontier Force comprising amongst others, Tibetans who had sought refuge in India along with the Dalai Lama.

Major General Sujan Singh Uban, a legendary war veteran of the British Army famous for his daring exploits with the Long Range Desert Group in the Middle East, and guerrilla wars in Burma during the Second World War, was a natural choice based on sheer merit.

He was tasked to raise, train and command this nascent force as also mould them into a well oiled fighting machine.

To enhance their inherent fighting capabilities they were given airborne training in addition to expertise in mountain and jungle warfare.

Initially aided and equipped by the United States, they quickly indigenised and were soon on their own feet.

The opportunity to display their mettle as also to repay their host country came during the 1971 War.

As the Indian Army moved in with their major thrust into East Pakistan, the SFF, while supporting the flank of the Indian Army, by a blitzkrieg, cleared the Chittagong Hill Tracts, destroyed the Kaptai dam and encircled and prevented the escape of Pakistan's 97 Brigade and No 2 Commando Battalion, all of whom were taken prisoner.

The SFF was poised for the capture of Chittagong port when a ceasefire was declared; a daring move which paid handsome dividends.

This earned them the title 'Phantoms of Chittagong'.

IMAGE: Security personnel pay their last respects to Special Frontier Force Commando Nyima Tenzin, who lost his life at the Line of Actual Control, at his funeral in Devachan, Leh, September 7, 2020. Photograph: ANI Photo

Having performed exceedingly well in the Indian Army, including out of turn promotions, taught strategy as a Senior Instructor at the Army War College, I had the added advantage of having served for more than 16 years in Kashmir and all along the northern borders for which I was awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal.

Accordingly, I was selected for the Special Frontier Force.

This also enabled me to fulfil a family commitment.

Based on my record of service I was promoted as Inspector General to command the Special Frontier Force and was privileged to command them during the Kargil War in battles fought at heights of 14,000 feet and above in sub zero temperatures; actions which were lauded both in the Ladakh and Kargil sectors.

The security for the Amarnath Yatra was provided by the SFF that year.

It would be fallacious to surmise that there will be any resolution to the ongoing stand-off in Ladakh in the near future.

Let us assume that both countries wish to avoid a full scale war.

The road ahead perforce will have to be evolved and based on a study of the manner in which China negotiated their boundary disputes with 13 of its neighbours and the results achieved.

There can be little doubt that the PLA's actions in Ladakh were pre meditated, planned and executed with precision.

The Chinese were fully aware that they were transgressing into 'No Man's Land'.

With a pre-determined aim in mind they proceeded to secure tactical heights and gained access to areas which would forestall a counter-offensive by the Indian Army.

To expect them to vacate these areas at this juncture would be naive.

The matter can best be settled through negotiations, but from a position of strength.

Having taught strategy at the Army War College, I can state with certainty that the PLA, in its present configuration and posture, has immense weaknesses which they would be aware of, and which should make them uneasy.

It is imperative to form a Group of Experts from amongst retired professionals who have a proven track record from the army, navy, air force. Also, diplomats, intelligence, cyber and cartographic experts who can plan and prepare short, medium and long term goals to be achieved within a suggested time frame.

Most importantly, besides the experience, they have the time.

Their recommendations should be sent to the PMO for approval.

Once approved, they will then be sent to the concerned ministries and Services Headquarters where competent officers are available to implement them.

It can no longer be a part-time issue to be addressed only when a crisis occurs.

The crisis is upon us now.

Let us play down the rhetoric, adopt a pragmatic approach and permit the Aura of the Snow Lion to permeate its shadow on the Roof of the World.

Inspector General Gurdip Singh Uban (retd) commanded special forces and served as a senior instructor at the Army War College.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com


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Mali's military junta leader, Colonel Assimi Goita, on Tuesday demanded an end to potentially crippling economic sanctions imposed after last month's coup in the poor Sahel state.

Addressing reporters during a ceremony marking 60 years of Malian independence, Goita said the recent nomination of a civilian as interim president meant that West African leaders must end their trade embargo.

The 15-nation West Africa bloc ECOWAS shuttered Mali's borders and imposed trade restrictions after Malian military officers ousted president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita on August 18.

Last week, the trade bloc also insisted that it would maintain the measures unless Mali's ruling officers appoint civilian leaders swiftly.

"The international community is watching us... which is why we accepted the ECOWAS principles," Goita said on Tuesday.

"In the coming days ECOWAS must remove these sanctions for the happiness of the Malian people," he added.

The demand comes after a group of officials selected by the junta chose retired colonel Bah Ndaw as interim president on Monday.

Malian Armed Forces soldiers march in a parade at the independence ceremony in Bamako. Goita called on citizens to support the security forces. By MICHELE CATTANI (AFP)

The 70-year-old will lead a transition government for a maximum of 18 months before staging national elections, according to a plan endorsed by the junta.

But it remains unclear how West African leaders will react to Ndaw's nomination.

Hauled back from retirement, the former defence minister spent his career in Mali's military, where he occupied a series of senior positions.

Goita himself will remain as vice president of the transition government.

ECOWAS' mediator in Mali's crisis, former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan, is expected in the capital Bamako on Wednesday.

'Total embargo'

Mali's neighbours are anxious to avoid the fragile nation of some 19 million people slipping into chaos.

Swathes of the vast country already lie outside of government control, due to a lethal jihadist insurgency that first emerged in 2012 and has also inflamed ethnic tensions.

Last week, ECOWAS took a hard line and threatened a "total embargo" on the country should the junta install military leaders of an interim government.

Current restrictions ban commercial trade and financial flows, but not basic necessities, drugs, equipment to fight coronavirus, fuel or electricity.

Former defence minister Bah Ndaw spent his career in Mali's military, where he occupied a series of senior positions. By HABIBOU KOUYATE (AFP/File)

Heavy sanctions could bite in the poor country already facing a severe economic downturn, aggravated by the jihadist insurgency and chronic inter-ethnic violence.

It was frustrations over this intractable conflict -- plus economic concerns and perceived corruption -- which pushed anti-Keita protesters onto the streets this year, provoking tensions which culminated in last month's coup.

Goita on Tuesday urged citizens to form a "sacred union around Mali" and support the security forces.

"Today is an opportunity for me to congratulate and encourage them for all their efforts to bring security and peace to Mali," he said of the troops.

The junta leader also called on Malians to support the "partner forces" of France and the United Nations in the country, which are often a target of popular anger.

The urging came as a protest against foreign troops was expected in Mali's capital Bamako on Tuesday.

France has 5,100 soldiers deployed across the Sahel as part of its anti-jihadist Operation Barkhane. There are also 13,000 members of a UN peacekeeping force in Mali.
A plaque placed by Thai protesters to declare that Thailand belongs to the people and not the king was removed from near the Grand Palace in Bangkok overnight and police said on Monday they may charge those behind the symbolic gesture.

The plaque was cemented in place on Sunday after a rally by tens of thousands of people who cheered calls for reforms to the monarchy of King Maha Vajiralongkorn, the latest challenge since activists broke a longstanding taboo on criticising him.

Police said the plaque had been handed over by officials from the Bangkok city authority and the government's Fine Arts Department. One officer said it was "to keep as evidence to press charges against protesters".

Protesters voiced little surprise that the brass plaque had been removed after less than a day.

Protest leader Parit "Penguin" Chiwarak told reporters an electronic file of the plaque was being shared to enable people to make more of them and place them wherever they want.

"The plaque was already placed in the hearts of people. You may remove it but we will make a new one," he said.

Protesters have grown ever bolder during two months of demonstrations against Thailand's palace and military-dominated establishment.

Criticising the monarchy is illegal under lese majeste laws, but recent arrests of more than a dozen activists - including Mr Chiwarak - were made on other grounds. All have since been released on bail.

Sunday's demonstration was the biggest since the 2014 coup that brought Prayuth Chan-ocha to power. Protesters called for his removal and for a new constitution and elections as well as for the royal reforms.

On Monday, Mr Chan-ocha welcomed the fact the protest was peaceful.

Nation, religion and monarchy are the upmost pillars of the Thai people," he told reporters.

Recommended Thailand quietly drops charges against Red Bull heir in case that stirred anger about impunity for rich

The demonstrators say the constitution gives the king too much power and that it was engineered to allow Mr Chan-ocha to keep power after elections last year. He says that vote was fair.

The symbolism of the plaque is its resemblance to one that had commemorated the end of absolute monarchy in 1932 and which was removed from outside a royal palace in 2017, after King Vajiralongkorn took the throne.

The plaque says: "This country belongs to the people and is not the property of the monarch as they have deceived us."

Craig Kunakorn, a barber who had been at the protests, came to visit the spot where the plaque had been cemented into the ground on Monday.

"Everyone knew it would disappear soon but the success of creating it is something that will continue. It is still an important symbol," he said.

Reuters
A Canadian woman who was arrested on suspicion of mailing the lethal substance ricin to the White House wanted President Trump to drop out of the presidential race and pledged to find other ways to assassinate him if her poisoning plot failed, according to court documents unsealed on Tuesday.

The woman, Pascale Cecile Veronique Ferrier, has been charged by the Justice Department with threatening to kill the president. A federal judge entered a not guilty plea for Ms. Ferrier in a brief appearance on Tuesday at the federal courthouse in Buffalo.

Ms. Ferrier wrote in a threatening and scornful letter sent with the ricin that she believed Mr. Trump was a dictator who was hurting the United States.

I found a new name for you: The Ugly Tyrant Clown I hope you like it, she wrote. You ruin USA and lead them to disaster. I have US cousins, then I dont want the next 4 years with you as president. Give up and remove your application for this election.
"I have recently used the expression 'like a double-edged sword' for an event with two consequences," says the brilliantly-named Lance Newsham of Drummoyne. "This made me wonder if the adjective double-edged is redundant? Aren't all swords double-edged, and a single-edged one just a knife?" Anyone want to have a stab at this one?

More on the other McDonalds (C8) from Jan Kent of Farmborough Heights: "That dance school at Croydon was run by Anne McDonald and when she retired, her daughter, Margaret Markham, took over. My younger sister started ballet there in the late 50s and I was sent there for ballroom dancing classes to help with my deportment. My sister later travelled into the city for tuition with Lorraine Norton and ended up at the Australian Ballet School in the same cohort as Graeme Murphy. Unfortunately, she grew late and was too tall for the Corps De Ballet. Miss Norton took her to London to audition but she was talent scouted by the Bluebells and the rest is history. After doing a south-east Asia tour, she ended up at the Lido in Paris. Then moved to Las Vegas for the opening of the MGM Grand. They still have regular reunions of the casts from those years."

"In support of Rob Cummins (C8), my take on colourful Anglo names is that I grew up in the '50s in Killara," writes Lindy Russell of Turramurra. "We lived on the corner and down the road lived the Greens, Browns, Blacks and Whites but we also had the Greys next door!" During his time at Sperry Corporation in the 1970s, Allan Tooker of Kirribilli worked with "Paul Black, Martin White, Keith Gray, Rod Green, Lyn Brown and Jenny Pink."

Moving on with a rare bit from Keith Parsons of Newcastle: "Why did it take a (presumably) 40-minute lesson to teach boys how to make grilled cheese on toast (C8), Jennifer Carter? Did they make the cheese first?"

"Responding to Peter Spence (C8), shrift is when you confess your sins to a priest and receive absolution. Keep it short because you're about to die and we want to get on with the job of dispatching you!" says David Oakenfull of Asquith. "It is usually quick and unsympathetic," according to George Zivkovic of Northmead. "Or, to put things in a more contemporary context, it's what Gladys Berejiklian gave John Barilaro."
90210 star Jason Priestley has given an update on his former co-star Shannen Doherty's health amid her battle with stage IV breast cancer.

On Tuesday, the 51-year-old told Studio 10's Angela Bishop that he ensured to keep in close contact with the 49-year-old actress and 'last he spoke with her she was in pretty good spirits'.

'Shannen is a real tough girl. Shannen's a fighter, and she's always been a fighter, and I know she'll continue to fight as hard as she can,' he said.

On Tuesday, 90210 star Jason Priestley has given an update on his former co-star Shannen Doherty's health amid her battle with stage IV breast cancer [Pictured on Studio 10]

Shannen, who played Brenda Walsh on Beverly Hills, 90210, revealed she was diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer in February, three years after going into remission.

Speaking with ABC's Good Morning America at the time, she said: 'It's going to come out in a matter of days or a week that I'm stage four, so my cancer came back, and that's why I'm here.

'I don't think I've processed it. It's a bitter pill to swallow in a lot of ways.'

Back in March, the American star slammed those who were not social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic while saying that her underlying health battle was 'hard enough'.

'She's a fighter!' The 51-year-old told Studio 10's Angela Bishop that he ensured to keep in close contact with 49-year-old Shannen [pictured] and 'last he spoke with her she was in pretty good spirits'

Jason said: 'Shannen is a real tough girl. Shannen's a fighter, and she's always been a fighter, and I know she'll continue to fight as hard as she can'

However, Shannen has regularly credited her friends, exercise and healthy eating for pushing her through her debilitating cancer battle.

Meanwhile, Jason, who is currently starring in the comedy-drama Private Eyes, spoke gushingly about his daughter Ava, who recently turned 13.

'Listen Ava's a really good kid. The one thing that has changed with her [since becoming a teenager] is that she's a little bit more distance. She tries to hide in her room and get away from us a bit more.

Health battle: Shannen, who played Brenda Walsh on Beverly Hills, 90210, revealed she was diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer in February, three years after going into remission

'It's heartbreaking. She's my little girl! I'm used to her always wanting to hug me.'

When asked if he thought the mothers of Ava's friends had posters of him growing up, Jason explained it was actually her teachers who used to have a crush on him.

'That part has been sobering, to say the least,' Jason explained.

Jason played the role of teenage heartthrob Brandon Walsh from 1990-2000.
This piece originally ran in 2018 on the occasion of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's 85th birthday. In light of her passing last weekend at the age of 87, we have decided to update and republish the article in recognition of her decades of groundbreaking accomplishments.

If you want tips about staying power, look no further than the life and career of Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

The second female justice to preside over the United States Supreme Court, she was nominated and confirmed for the job in 1993, 204 years into the judicial bodys existence. But long before Ginsburg joined the highest court in the land, she was a determined lawyer, fighting for womens rights.

Read on for five lessons from Justice Ginsburg.

Dont be afraid to get out in front of causes that are meaningful to you

Ginsburg was a dogged advocate for womens rights, especially after the uphill battle she experienced while getting her own education and starting her career. After graduating from the top of her class at Cornell, she was one of nine women in her class at Harvard Law School in 1956. While at Harvard, she simultaneously was raising her 14-month-old daughter while dealing with a sexist dean who actually asked her how she could justify taking a spot from a qualified man?

After she graduated from Columbia  where she had transferred from Harvard  she was rejected from the first 14 law firms she applied to because she was a woman. But she kept going. In 1970, Ginsburg founded Womens Rights Law Reporter, the first law review in the United States dedicated to legal issues around womens rights. Two years later, Ginsburg founded the ACLU Women's Rights Project.

Stretch yourself to achieve your goals

Ginsburg is nothing if not determined. Back in the '60s, she casually learned Swedish in order to co-author Civil Procedure in Sweden. The justices workout routine is famous for its consistency and rigor. Ginsburg hits the gym with her trainer every day and puts herself through the paces, with machine pulldowns, medicine ball push-ups and wall squats. Not even a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer could slow Ginsburg down. Nine years after beating the disease she has no plans to retire any time soon.

Find a partner that supports you, and vice versa

Ginsburg was married to her husband, Martin, for 56 years until his death from cancer in 2010. For many years, after the retirement of Sandra Day OConnor, Marty, as he was called, was often the only man in the group of Supreme Court spouses, but he was famously unfazed by it. Ginsburg called him her best friend, and when asked by Katie Couric why their marriage was so successful, she had this to say: "You can't have it all, all at once. Who  man or woman  has it all, all at once? Over my life span I think I have had it all. But in different periods of time things were rough. And if you have a caring life partner, you help the other person when that person needs it."

Pay it forward

From her position on the bench of the highest court in the land, Ginsburg continues to fight for womens rights  especially in her own workplace. Case in point, Ginsburg had this to say about the demographic breakdown of the court during a 2015 talk at Georgetown: "People ask me sometimes, 'When do you think it will be enough? When will there be enough women on the court?' And my answer is when there are nine."

Leave the world a better place than it was when you found it

When asked by Irin Carmon what Ginsburg would like to be remembered for, her answer was simple. Someone who used whatever talent she had to do her work to the very best of her ability. And to help repair tears in her society, to make things a little better through the use of whatever ability she has. To do something, as my colleague David Souter would say, outside myself. Cause Ive gotten much more satisfaction for the things that Ive done for which I was not paid.

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Debunked: The Myth That 70 Percent of Change Initiatives Fail



Copyright 2020 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
A Chinese man has taken social media by storm for being exceptionally good looking after web users spotted him briefly appearing on a consumer rights TV programme.

Mr Zhang from the city of Ningbo in east China shot to fame after he was filmed by local media complaining about the broken glass door in his bathroom.

But netizens appear to be more stunned by Mr Zhangs handsome face as the footage has racked up over 50 million views on Chinese Twitter-like Weibo within 24 hours.

A Chinese man has taken social media by storm for being exceptionally good looking after web users spotted him briefly appearing on a consumer rights TV programme

Chinese etizens appear to be more stunned by Mr Zhangs handsome face as the footage has racked up over 50 million views on Chinese Twitter-like Weibo within just 24 hours

The 22-year-old was interviewed by Zhejiang Television when he made his cameo appearance on the regional TV station's consumer rights programme.

Mr Zhang claimed that the sliding glass door in his rented furnished flat had suddenly shattered itself when he was taking a shower on September 8.

The broken glass left him injured with severe cuts on both of his hands. The tenant also spent over 9,400 yuan (1,084.87) on his medical bills.

Mr Zhang was hoping to seek compensation from the residential management office with the help of the local press.

Mr Zhang from the city of Ningbo in east China shot to fame after footage filmed by local media of him complaining about the broken glass door in his bathroom became viral

The Chinese man, Mr Zhang, told local media that the sliding glass door in his rented furnished flat had suddenly shattered itself when he was taking a shower on September 8

But social media users appeared to be more interested in the Chinese mans face than his bathroom door.

The video quickly became the most trending topic on Weibo on Tuesday, amassing over 50 million views within just 24 hours.

One commenter wrote: Once I saw Mr Zhangs face, I couldnt care any less about the news story.

Another said: I think its definitely the apartment and the management offices fault, no objection. Mr Zhang is too handsome. I dont think hell lie.

A third user commented: Mr Zhang, do you need a girlfriend?

The video quickly became the most trending topic on Weibo on Tuesday, amassing over 50 million views within just 24 hours. The Chinese man, who works as a live-streamer for an online retail brand, said he was overwhelmed by the national attention the video attracted

The Chinese man, who works as a live-streamer for an online retail brand, said he was overwhelmed by the national attention the video attracted.

He told reporters: I think its too much. I just wanted to protect my rights. I didnt think this would happen.

The residential management office initially denied their responsibility for the broken door as there was no evidence to prove it had shattered itself, said a spokesperson.

They eventually agreed to pay for part of Mr Zhangs medical bills after the video became viral, according to the tenant.
The bandits, wearing balaclavas and gloves, avoided an elaborate security system before entering the Whernside Avenue home of Mr George Herscu and tying up his two sons, Jeffrey, 21, and Robert, 17.

Three bandits last night stole a large quantity of jewelry and silverware from the Toorak mansion of a multi-millionaire racehorse owner after holding his two sons at gunpoint for several hours.

First published in The Age on September 24, 1981

Mr Herscu was attending a reception in South Yarra where Hyperno, the horse of which he is a joint owner, was being named Marlboro Racehorse of the Year.

Hyperno won the Melbourne Cup in 1979.

The bandits escaped in a Cortina sedan owned by one of Mr Herscus children.

During the robbery the bandits phoned Mr Herscu at the reception centre, 9 Darling Street, and ordered him to return home.

It is believed that Mr Herscu phoned police before leaving the reception to return home. Police sealed the area around Whernside Avenue, but the bandits had gone.
Brussels, Sep 22 : The European Commission has unveiled new guidelines enabling state aid to prevent polluting industries from moving to non-EU countries where the climate standards are lower.

The new guidelines were adopted on Monday after the European Commission put forward a plan to further cut emissions by at least 55 per cent by 2030, reports Xinhua news agency.

The adoption was in line with the European Green Deal, which was presented by the Commission in December 2019 as a roadmap for making the EU's economy sustainable and achieving climate neutrality by 2050.

The EU's revised Emission Trading System (ETS) State aid Guidelines, which will enter into force on January 1, 2021, will replace the previous guidelines adopted in 2012.

European Commission Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager said the new guidelines enable member states to support those sectors that, because of indirect emission costs, are most at risk of carbon leakage.

The new guidelines are aiming at reducing carbon leakage, which happens when companies move their operations to countries outside the EU, which have less ambitious climate policies.

This leads to less economic activity in the EU and no reduction in greenhouse gas emissions globally, according to the Commission.

Under the new guidelines, the aid will be targeted at sectors at risk of carbon leakage due to high indirect emission costs and their strong exposure to international trade.

Based on an objective methodology, 10 sectors and 20 sub-sectors are eligible for the aid.

The compensation will cover 75 per cent of costs, rather the previous 85 per cent and will not cover non-efficient technologies, to maintain the companies' incentives for energy efficiency.
"I'm a Kansas native who was raised on a farm and a mom who loves to cook, so I'm passionate about healthier eating, bringing people together around good food, and creating a more sustainable future. That's why I'm excited to team up with Country Crock to share more about The Cover Crops Project," said McBride. "The foods we eat are made from crops that are grown by hard-working farmers who make decisions every day about what to grow, when to plant, and how to protect their farms' soil. More people should know how practices like cover crops help improve the soil underpinning our food supply, which in turn will enable families to enjoy products like Country Crock for generations to come."

Through a recently announced partnership with No-till on the Plains, The Cover Crops Project encourages farmers to integrate cover crops into their farming practices by providing education, technical assistance and funding to defray related costs. The project kicked-off today, September 22, with a goal of enrolling 13,000 acres of cover crops in eastern Kansas and western Missouri on soybean fields that have not been previously planted with a cover crop. The partnership between Country Crock and No-till on the Plains demonstrates the commitment of Country Crock and its parent company, Upfield, to support more sustainable business practices. To learn more about The Cover Crops Project visit www.CountryCrock.com/cover-crops.

"At Country Crock, we aim to bring a little bit of the country into everything that we do," said Marisa Kololyan, Brand Director Country Crock. "We are now extending this beyond the literal country fresh taste of our spreads and the farm-grown ingredients that we use to make them, to new initiatives like The Cover Crops Project to partner with farmers who share our Kansas country roots, and trusted country voices like Martina McBride, who will help us spread our message to consumers everywhere."

To celebrate The Cover Crops Project, Country Crock and Martina McBride will journey back to their roots, honoring their shared love of Country Music with the Red Barn Sessions. In collaboration with iHeartRadio, the Red Barn Sessions will connect with music fans, offering a rare peek behind the curtain at some of the most exciting new country artists and live-streamed acoustic performances. The first session will air September 29th with a never-before-seen conversation between McBride and emerging Country Music sensation Gabby Barrett. The lineup also includes platinum-selling Country artist and songwriter Jimmie Allen and CMT's Cody Alan, among others. All content will be available to stream at www.countrycrock.com/RedBarnSessions

As part of the Red Barn Sessions, Country Crock has teamed up with McBride to offer one lucky fan the opportunity to win a virtual meet and greet, along with a signed Gibson guitar and a $10,000 cash prize. From October 12th until December 28th, fans can visit www.CountryCrock.com to enter the sweepstakes for a chance to win, terms and conditions apply.

ABOUT UPFIELD

At Upfield, our mission is to make people healthier and happier with great tasting, plant-based nutrition products that are better for the planet. Upfield is the leading producer of plant-based spreads in the U.S., with iconic brands such as Country Crock, Country Crock Plant Butter, I Can't Believe It's Not Butter!, Flora, and Imperial; and plant-based margarines and spreads in Canada with brands such as Becel, Becel Plant Based Bricks, and Imperial, and; is now introducing its vegan cheese, Violife following its acquisition of Arivia earlier in 2020. The company is leading in delivering better-for-you products that are great tasting and have superior quality helping it to create a "Better Plant-based Future." For more information, visit www.Upfield.com.

ABOUT MARTINA MCBRIDE

Multiple Grammy nominee Martina McBride has sold over 18 million albums to date, which includes 20 Top 10 singles and six #1 hits. Martina McBride has earned more than 15 major music awards, including four wins for Female Vocalist of the Year from the Country Music Association and won three Academy of Country Music for Top Female Vocalist. Martina has been awarded 14 Gold Records. Nine Platinum honors, three Double Platinum Records, and two Triple Platinum Awards. Martina was awarded the Covenant House Beacon of Hope Award and Music Business Association's prestigious 2015 Harry Chapin Memorial Humanitarian Award for her philanthropic efforts on behalf of domestic violence. Martina has released two books  the first, Around the Table, a full-color illustrated collection of her favorite recipes, hosting tips, practical menu planning advice, and themed decor inspiration. She released her second book, Martina's Kitchen Mix: My Recipe Playlist for Real Life, in October 2018. Most recently, Martina was honored with the Cliffie Stone Icon Award at the ACM Honors event for her impactful contributions to country music. McBride's newest single, "Girls Like Me" was released in May of this year.

ABOUT NO-TILL ON THE PLAINS

No-till on the Plains, Inc. is a 501c3 non-profit educational organization providing information for producers to adopt high-quality systems-based agriculture production using continuous no-till to further develop those systems. No-till on the Plains provided education and networking for producers using production systems that closely model nature. For more information, visit www.notill.org.

ABOUT IHEARTMEDIA

iHeartMedia (NASDAQ: IHRT) is the number one audio company in the United States, reaching nine out of 10 Americans every month  and with its quarter of a billion monthly listeners, has a greater reach than any other media company in the U.S. The company's leadership position in audio extends across multiple platforms, including more than 850 live broadcast stations in over 160 markets nationwide; through its iHeartRadio digital service available across more than 250 platforms and 2,000 devices; through its influencers; social; branded iconic live music events; other digital products and newsletters; and podcasts as the #1 commercial podcast publisher. iHeartMedia also leads the audio industry in analytics, targeting and attribution for its marketing partners with its SmartAudio product, using data from its massive consumer base. Visit iHeartMedia.com for more company information.

SOURCE Country Crock
(We) both believe that having an evaluation of the facts conducted by a consultant who can evaluate those facts in light of standard policing practices and explain where theyre consistent with those practices or where they differ from them will help reach the most just outcome in this case, Kaul said during a press conference Monday in Kenosha.

Graveley said he did not help pick Wray.

I actually asked that I not be a part of the selection process, and I did that because I wanted the maximum confidence for whatever decision results in this case, he said.

DOJ said its Division of Criminal Investigation is in the final stages of its investigation into Blakes shooting but did not provide a specific timeline, nor did it provide an estimate of how long it would take Wray to review the report or when Graveley would make a decision on whether to file charges. DCI does not make charging recommendations in its investigations of officer-involved shootings.

The report will be made public if Graveley decides not to charge Sheskey and there are no other reasons to not release it, according to DOJ.
ROCKY RIVER, Ohio  Five days. Five challenges. Thats the name of a partnership involving the Rocky River Public Library and the Cleveland City Club, as well as other Cuyahoga County libraries.

According to Stacey Hayman, outreach coordinator at the library, together the City Club of Cleveland and the nine public library systems of Cuyahoga County are working to encourage greater civic engagement ahead of the 2020 General Election, she said.

The program is entitled Five Days for Democracy. For those interested they can sign up and receive one email per day from Monday, Sept. 28 through Friday, Oct. 2. The emails, said Hayman, are filled with suggested articles, activities, books and videos, as well as specific actions people can take to create positive change.

Five days, five challenges are what it is about, said Hayman. It is one week to better understand your role in strengthening democracy.

When asked if the effort leans one way or the other politically, Hayman said, Were hoping to get people thinking about how to be more connected to the process and to start conversations; weve kept it political party neutral.

For more information or to sign up for Five Days for Democracy, visit https://www.cityclub.org/about/five-days-for-democracy.

In other library news, the library received two grants. One, for $3,000, was the Library Services and Technology Act CARES Act Mini-Grant. The other was the $25,000 CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund for Public Libraries.

Both grants are funded, Hayman said, through the independent federal agency Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).

The combined funds will cover a number of unexpected COVID-19 related expenses, including the ongoing purchase of personal protective equipment, CDC-approved methods of sanitizing of library spaces and materials, adding more capacity for virtual programming and improving the interior air quality with an enhanced filtration system on existing equipment.

The IMLS Director Crosby Kemper said, As pillars of our communities, libraries and museums bring people together by providing important programs, services, and collections. These institutions are trusted spaces where people can learn, explore and grow. IMLS is proud to support their initiatives through our grants as they educate and enhance their communities.

For more information call 440.895.3750 or email s.hayman@rrpl.org.


Seeing that his newly planted buckwheat began sprouting on once-flooded farmland, Zhou Jihong said he felt relieved.

Zhou, a farmer in the township of Shannan in Anhui province's Feixi county, had his 1,400 mu (93.3 hectares) of rice plants devastated after an unusually heavy rainfall on the night of July 18. "The flood left me nothing but hopelessness and I thought I was going broke," he told China Daily last week. "Fortunately, the government quickly offered me a helping hand after the flood receded." The farmer replanted on the farmland following local officials' advice, and he received 182,000 yuan ($26,772), or 130 yuan for each mu, from the local government as a subsidy to buy seed and plow the land for replanting. Another 140,000 yuan is also in the pipeline for him as subsidy to buy fertilizer after the crop grows bigger. Yao Weidong, deputy head of the township, said that subsidies aim to help the farmers replant and secure the town's grain production. "General Secretary Xi Jinping has paid great attention to the country's food security, and we must overcome the problems caused by the flood and try to stabilize grain production," he said. In August, President Xi Jinping, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, paid a visit to the flood-affected residents in Anhui, where he walked through the fields under the blazing sun and consoled families of those who died fighting floods. Xi encouraged farmers to resume their work as floodwaters receded. "I have always been concerned about people in flood-stricken areas," he said. In July, Xi traveled to corn fields in Jilin province, the country's most crucial commodity grain center, and learned about grain production as well as mechanized and large-scale farming. He issued instructions for effective measures to protect and utilize the high-yielding black soil, which he said is as precious as pandas. "I care very much about grain production and food security," Xi said. Approximately 70.47 million people in 28 provinces have been affected by floods this year, up 17 percent from the average of the past five years, according to the Ministry of Emergency Management. The floods have resulted in total direct economic losses of almost 214.31 billion yuan, 27 percent more than the average of the past five years, according to the ministry. Yao, the township official, said it was not easy to persuade farmers to replant crops after the flood. "Many people worried that more floods would come, and they refused to plant crops because they were afraid of a second round of losses," he said, adding that the problem became more urgent as winter grew nearer. To help the farmers address the problem, the local government invited agricultural experts from local research institutes and universities to offer advice to the farmers. Following the experts' suggestions, the farmers planted buckwheat and soybeans on their land. These crops have a shorter growth periodabout three monthsand can be harvested before winter. To encourage the farmers to plant buckwheat, which always grows in the country's plateau areas and had never been planted in Anhui province before, the township government helped the farmers contact a local food processing company to arrange the sale of their crops, Yao said. These measures were effective in getting farmers to plant again, and the buckwheat plants had already sprouted last week. Securing production Xia Lunping, head of the Hefei Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, said that the city government has allocated 100 million yuan of fiscal funds to subsidize farmers and fishers affected by floods to resume production. "President Xi has stressed the 'people-first' philosophy of governance many times, which is the guideline for our work," he said. Xia said about 36,790 hectares of land in Hefei was replanted after the flood receded, accounting for 99.5 percent of the hard-hit farmlands that were suitable for replanting. The bureau is making great efforts to stabilize grain production, given that the current national food security situation is serious because of the floods as well as the COVID-19 outbreak this year, he said. To respond to COVID-19, the CPC Central Committee adopted timely measures at an early stage. Central authorities convened the national work conference on spring plowing in February, one month earlier than usual, to draw this year's road map for agricultural production. On many occasions, Xi has stressed the importance of food security, reiterating that "the rice bowl of the Chinese people, in any situation, must be firmly held in our own hands". In a discussion with political advisers from different economic sectors during the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference annual session in May, Xi underlined the importance of food security. And last month, he made an instruction to call for the whole of society to resolutely put an end to wasting food and promote thrift. Calling the issue of food waste shocking and distressing, Xi highlighted the need to maintain a sense of urgency regarding food security, especially amid the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, despite the fact that China has scored consecutive bumper harvests. 16th bumper year China produced a record high of 664 million metric tons of grain last year, the 16th consecutive year of bumper crops, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. The country's summer grain production was 142.8 billion kilograms this year, up 0.9 percent year-on-year, which is about half of the growth rate in the same period last year, according to the bureau. Han Changfu, minister of agriculture and rural affairs, said during the National People's Congress session in May that there would be no food crisis in China. "There have been good grain harvests for the last few consecutive years, the stock is abundant and food security is ensured," he told reporters. Xia, the agricultural official, said that the Hefei city government planned to host an event in Changfeng county on Tuesday to mark the Chinese Farmers' Harvest Festival. During the ceremony, the government will help the farmers market their crops online and offline to food companies, Xia said. In 2018, the Chinese government designated Autumnal Equinox, one of the events on the Chinese lunar calendar, as a festival for farmers to celebrate the harvest. It usually falls between Sept 22 and 24.


Maine lobsterman Jason Joyce addresses the virtual Republican National Convention on Aug. 25. (Republican National Committee)

Maine is getting an outsized share of Trump love these days.

The president visited a remote town of 1,500 in June. His son and daughter-in-law, Eric and Lara Trump, have stumped in the state. A lobsterman from tiny Swans Island spoke at the Republican National Convention in August.

And the president is showering federal largesse on the states pandemic- and tariff-battered fisheries.

He is very, very concerned on the plight of our fishermen, former Maine Gov. Paul LePage told a recent rally along Saco Bay with Eric Trump. He is intent on helping.

Trump may care about the fishermen, but he's also mining a nugget of political gold in the country's far northeast corner: one single electoral vote.

Thats also drawn the attention of Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.

Maine's hard-working lobstermen and women are hurting under [Trump's] watch, Biden tweeted. His wife, Jill Biden, will visit the state Friday for a campaign stop.

In a quirk of the presidential selection process, Maine is one of only two states  Nebraska is the other  that awards one of its electoral college votes to the winner of each congressional district, instead of handing them out winner-take-all statewide.

This year, Maine's 2nd Congressional District, the vast rural region north of Augusta, is up for grabs. Trump won it in 2016 by 10 percentage points even as he lost the rest of the state by a wide margin.

Another tiny electoral battleground is in Omaha. Trump won Nebraska by 25 percentage points in 2016 but just barely won in Omaha's congressional district to pick up the one vote at stake there.

The Biden campaign sees that as a strong pickup opportunity. It started advertising in the Omaha market last week. Jill Biden, his wife, and Doug Emhoff, spouse of vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris, are slated to campaign there on Saturday.

Eric Trump, the son of President Trump, speaks at a campaign rally for his father on Sept. 17 in Saco, Maine. (Robert F. Bukaty / Associated Press)

Trump surrogates are also focused on Omaha, including the presidents eldest son, Don Jr., who is scheduled next Monday to make his second appearance this month.

Story continues

The battle for these two off-the-beaten-path districts illustrates how both campaigns are girding for an election outcome so close it could all come down to a single electoral vote in Omaha or rural Maine.

The expectation is that every electoral vote is going to matter, said Ryan Hamilton, spokesman for the Nebraska Republican Party.

These two mini-battlegrounds are emblematic of the two parties broader national challenges: Trump is struggling, even in red states, in urban and suburban regions such as Omaha. Democrats are the underdogs in rural areas across the country.

Here in Maine, which touts itself as Vacationland, the contest has gotten intense and ugly.

The Trump campaign in Maine is arguing that the president has done much to help the state's iconic lobster industry. (Janet Hook / Los Angeles Times)

A boat docked recently on an island near Bar Harbor flew a pennant that read: Trump 2020. F*** your feelings. The fisherman who spoke at the GOP convention said one person threatened to boycott lobster from Swans Island to protest his supporting Trump.

Some lobstermen backing Biden say they don't want to go public because they fear harassment. In Hampden, several Trump supporters complained to local police that someone had defaced their yard signs and left feces in their mailboxes.

The fight for Maines 2nd Congressional District seems personal to Trump. Its rural, predominantly white, blue-collar population, coupled with Mainers reputation for feisty independence, make this prime Trump country.

You treated me very nicely in the last election," he said when he traveled to the central Maine town of Guilford in June. "I needed the one point. Now Id like to win the whole state."

But the state overall leans Democratic. And GOP Sen. Susan Collins is in the toughest reelection fight of her 24-year career.

She's a key figure in the partisan debate over when and how to fill the Supreme Court vacancy following the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Friday.

On Saturday, Collins  who is wooing swing voters she lost after backing Trump's last high court nominee, Brett M. Kavanaugh  rejected the president's call for the Senate to vote on a nominee of his choice.

Instead, Collins said the vacancy should be filled by the winner of the Nov. 3 presidential election.

Polls show Biden leading in Maine by double-digit margins. Even in the more-Republican 2nd District, surveys show a very close race.

Biden generally has been doing better than Hillary Clinton, the Democrats' 2016 nominee, among white and older voters, and Maine is one of the whitest, oldest states in the country.

Trump supporters say the polls understate the president's strength and an enthusiasm gap between his supporters and Biden's.

"There's definitely a silent majority in certain pockets, like in Bangor," said Joshua Hiatt, a high school teacher who volunteered at a GOP campaign office on a crisp, sunny Saturday in Bangor. "But you go out through all of rural Maine and it's Trump, Trump, Trump everywhere."

Before fanning out to canvass  wearing masks and with instructions to maintain social distance after knocking on doors  volunteers got a pep talk from the Republican running for Congress against Democratic Rep. Jared Golden.

Dale Crafts, a Republican House candidate in Maine, speaks to GOP volunteers before they go door knocking in Bangor Saturday morning. (Janet Hook / Los Angeles Times)

"I don't care what anybody says or the polls say," said Dale Crafts, a former Maine state legislator. "We're going to win.... We're going to get the president back. Look at the work he's done here in Maine."

Trump is focusing intently on the states iconic lobster industry, which has struggled during the pandemic.

Demand for the crustacean cratered with the shutdown of tourism in Maine, as well as cruise ship voyages and high-end restaurants across the country. But lobstermen were hurting even before the pandemic because Trumps trade war with China decimated a huge export market.

During his June visit to Maine, Trump promised financial relief for the seafood industry. In August, he reached an agreement with the European Union to lift tariffs on U.S. lobsters. In early September, the administration announced it would providing $530 million to fishermen hurt by foreign tariffs, including an estimated $50 million to Maine.

Those cash payments  of up to $250,000  could cement loyalty among his backers and make it easier for others to swallow their reservations about the president.

I think hes a loudmouth, said Nick Beaudoin, a lobsterman in Saco. But I like what Trump has done for us.

Trump critics say he is trying to claim credit for helping the seafood industry in a crisis that he created when he provoked a trade war with China.

You throw the baby overboard, then youre a hero if you save it, said Sam Rosen, a lobsterman from Vinalhaven, who plans to vote for Biden.

Others felt little gratitude to Trump for the money coming their way.

I dont think it will switch votes, said a fisherman who backs Biden but did not want to be named. Im going to spend my money locally and on Biden.

Jason Joyce, a lobsterman from Swan's Island, Maine, spoke at the Republican National Convention and at a rally with Eric Trump Thursday in Saco. (Janet Hook / Los Angeles Times)

Jason Joyce, the Swans Island lobsterman who spoke at the GOP convention, said he didn't vote for Trump in 2016 because he believed Trump, like Clinton, was making stuff up.

Joyce, a Christian conservative, now backs Trump because he says the president kept his promises to the industry and because he worries that Biden will side with environmentalists on policies that hurt lobstering.

They will have a friend in the White House if Biden wins, Joyce said in an interview. Now we have a friend in the White House.

Other Mainers are not feeling the benefit of Trump's tariff relief policies.

Roque Bluffs blueberry farmer Lisa Hanscom said her 100-year-old blueberry farm has been hurt by tariffs, but that she has been given no financial relief. She was impressed when the Biden campaign reached out and invited blueberry farmers to join a campaign Zoom call.

He hasnt overlooked the blueberry farmer in the state of Maine and just focused on the lobster industry, Hanscom said in an interview.

The Biden campaign has emphasized its Buy America economic message in a state where many industries have been buffeted by foreign competition.

What I like about the vice presidents plan is it is based on experience, said Kathie Leonard, a businesswoman from Auburn, speaking on a Biden campaign Zoom call. Hes been in government for so long.

Democrats Tina Tarr and George Hughes protested the president's handling of the pandemic, standing outside an Eric Trump rally in Saco, Maine. (Janet Hook / Los Angeles Times)

Unlike Trump, Biden has held no live rallies in Maine, because large gatherings pose a risk of spreading COVID-19.

Standing on a Saco beach with signs criticizing Trumps handling of the pandemic, Democrats Tina Tarr and George Hughes protested the Eric Trump rally, which was held outdoors but attended by hundreds of mostly unmasked people.

The couple were glad Biden was not holding rallies, but worry that the partys campaign may now be too low profile.

Liberals are generally less boisterous about their opinions, Hughes said. Republicans are very vocal about supporting their side. I wish Democrats were more.
The bedrock of attracting incoming investment is market stability. However, market stability is also based on informed policy-making, and several recent decisions in the realm of national security policy make us question if the government is indeed getting the kind of inputs it needs: be it national security, cyber security, and in a country struggling with post-COVID-19 recession-economic policy.

All of this starts with a chain of events  the banning of several Chinese apps following the tragic Galwan clashes of June 15. The list of banned apps has now crossed 200 (including cloned versions). This was followed by a news report of Chinese companies (and presumably Chinese intelligence) using open source information scanned form the social media profiles of Indian politicians. In response, India has set up a committee to look into this and report back in 30 days.

While it is natural for any government to weaponise economic tools during an outbreak of hostilities, the weaponisation must be based on rationality, first principles and a sound policy approach. Sadly the messaging has been quite the opposite  one of cluelessness and capriciousness. Why is this?

Take the app ban, for instance, and that of the social media app TikTok. It had access to sensitive personal information, such as bank account details due to the monetisation of its influencers, and as per Chinese law, it was bound to hand over such information to Beijing if requested on national security grounds. Unlike US companies that have routinely denied information to their government and had their right to do so protected by US courts, Chinese companies have no such rights given the farcical nature of the rule of law in China.

Yet this was an app whose popularity was allowed to flourish and penetrate deep into India. This almost gives the impression that the app was banned not on grounds of national security, but rather to get back at Chinaand this, in effect, is normalising a dangerous principle that China could penetrate the private lives of Indians and create backdoors to the banking system as long as they didnt target our men in uniform.

Calling the lack of calibrated action on security threats from Chinese apps prior to June 15 is not a case of criminal negligence  its much worse, a case of complete cluelessness. Look at the government response to allegations of cyber-snooping. The allegations themselves are unremarkable. Apparently a Chinese-owned company was scanning the social media and public profiles of eminent Indians and applying unspecified big-data algorithms. Now any country worth its salt, should be undertaking such activities; this isnt even extraordinary, but basic intelligence.

What is surprising in the governments response is that it not only did not know this was happening, but also that it could not get advice on the implications within 24 hours. Worse, it has to constitute a committee that would take 30 days to report back, on what is at best a rudimentary exercise carried out by an entry level cyber security employee.

None of this should surprise us. After all social media platforms have been blatantly abusing Indias intermediary guidelines with impunity and parliamentary panels set up to investigate have either been ignored or asked such basic questions as to render the whole exercise laughable.

Worse still, who can forget the fact that the Chinese had on two separate occasions compromised computers across Indian embassies globally where the camera and microphone could be remotely turned on. On both occasions it was external companies that detected and informed New Delhi of the breaches. Then there was the infamous WhatsApp snooping, where the perpetrator still unknown.

While several countries have proactively banned Chinese 5G providers, India slogged on giving them pilot projects despite the obvious security risks. Even after Galwan, the ban isnt official, but just an unofficial rumour, with signs that 5G access could be traded in lieu of Chinese good behaviour.

All of this cumulatively adds up to an extremely embarrassing case of abysmal incompetence on cyber security issues, and is far from Indias aspirations of becoming a cyber superpower. However, the effects on sanctions and market regulations by India, including app bans, is chilling to say the least. Foreign software companies are watching with alarm in a global digital market worth $25 trillion.

The app ban was absolutely the right thing to do, but the method, planning, policy and execution were clumsy and only served to signal severe market unpredictability to the outside world. This has to change, but Im not holding my breath.
New Jersey eclipsed the 200,000 coronavirus case mark on Monday, 201 days after state officials announced the first positive test in the state.

As of Monday, the death total was 16,069 on Monday with 14,278 confirmed fatalities and 1,791 death considered probable from COVID-19.

The majority of those infected have either long since recovered or were asymptomatic, though. And four months after hospitals around New Jersey housed more than 8,000 coronavirus patients at the peak of the health crisis in mid-April, now theyre nearly empty.

As of 10 p.m. Monday, there were 349 patients in the states 71 hospitals with the coronavirus or a suspected case, including 87 in intensive care and 32 on ventilators. A day earlier, those figures were 380 patients, 91 in intensive care and 31 on ventilators.

There were 396 additional cases and two more deaths reported Monday. The states rate of transmission is 1.12. Any number above one means the virus is spreading.

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage

Heres a roundup of the latest coronavirus news in New Jersey:

Dr. Fauci to join N.J. Gov. Phil Murphy for Facebook live chat about coronavirus outbreak this week: Murphy will host Dr. Anthony Fauci to talk about New Jerseys response to the coronavirus pandemic during a Facebook live chat on Thursday, the governors office announced Monday.

Fauci, the nations lead infectious diseases expert and the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, is slated to join Murphy for the event at 11:15 a.m., according to the governors office.

Need money for childcare while your kids are remote learning? How to apply for a new $150M N.J. program: New Jersey families looking for help watching their children while they are remote learning can apply for a new state program that will cover all or part of their childcare costs through the end of the year.

The new program, called the New Jersey School-Age Tuition Assistance Program, is open to families with annual gross household incomes of $75,000 or less. The state-provided tuition money can be used to pay for childcare costs for students between ages 5 and 13 attending schools that are remote learning due to the coronavirus pandemic.

A total of $150 million is available and families can start applying today, Gov. Phil Murphy announced Monday at his daily coronavirus press briefing.

Senior hours start at MVC agencies, but are these the appointments they waited for?: Drivers age 65 and up will finally get special hours promised by a new state law starting Tuesday at Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) agencies designated as vehicle centers.

But the long-awaited appointments might be different than what some senior citizens expected.

MVC officials will offer special hours from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays for customers age 65 and over and those who are medically unable to wear a mask. They begin on Tuesday, Sept. 22.

N.J. drag strip cited for COVID-19 violations after cops find at least 1,000 spectators at races, state says: The owner of a drag racing track was cited for violating coronavirus-related regulations after authorities found at least 1,000 people gathered at the Warren County strip, an official said Monday.

Officers were called to the Island Dragway in Independence Township over the weekend, according to State Police Superintendent Colonel Pat Callahan.

U.S. cases: The U.S is closing in on 200,000 deaths, with 199,890 as of 8 a.m. Tuesday, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. There have been been more than 6.8 million infected in the country.

Worldwide cases: Of the 31.3 million-plus to test positive, at least 965,529 have died, the center said. More than 21.5 million have recovered.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

NJ Advance Media staff writers Matt Arco, Larry Higgs, Noah Cohen and Kelly Heyboer contributed to this report.
Recently, a leaked Congressional report claims that China allegedly tried to hide the severity of the coronavirus disease when it was first discovered with the help of the World Health Organization (WHO). Officials said the move allowed the virus to become a deadly pandemic.

The report is set to be released on Monday and details how the COVID-19 pandemic was likely preventable when it first started to spread.

WHO and China

According to Daily Mail, United States President Donald Trump supported the report's contents and criticized Chinese President Xi Jinping for his response to the pandemic. He stated that the Asian leader could have easily prevented the spread of the virus.

U.S. lawmakers accused China of destroying evidence to downplay the threat of the coronavirus. In February, Beijing moved to suppress exports of face masks and personal protective equipment to U.S. companies.

The director-general of the WHO, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has continued to praise China for its response to the coronavirus pandemic and how it openly provides information about the virus. The comments come even though it was discovered that Beijing has purposely withheld positive cases, which was added to its total count in April.

Also Read: Donald Trump's Life in Danger? Woman Responsible For Sending Poisonous Ricin Letter to POTUS Arrested

Auditors of the House Foreign Affairs wrote that the WHO has been coordinating with China in the spread of the propaganda that allows disinformation about the coronavirus pandemic. It also noted that Director-General Tedros is responsible for aiding the Chinese efforts.

On January 3, Beijing warned the WHO of a potentially new and deadly viral disease, which was known as a strain of viral pneumonia that resulted from an unknown cause. The virus was first discovered in the city of Wuhan.

Preventable deaths

The report stated that research revealed up to 95 percent of cases could have been prevented if the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) had been more open about the information it had on the coronavirus pandemic, as reported by the New York Post.

However, the documents said that the move to close and sanitize Wuhan during the initial discovery of the virus destroyed any forensic evidence that could have provided valuable information to the origins of the virus.

On January 2, Wuhan Institute of Virology scientists was able to complete a full genetic sequence of the COVID-19 virus, which they observed to be highly contagious. However, they did not immediately disclose the information to the WHO.

The report accuses the WHO of ignoring several warnings from the Taiwan Centers of Disease Control and the government of Hong Kong of the virus's potential to be transmitted between humans.

The human-to-human transmission was ignored for several weeks because Chinese authorities said they found no evidence to support the claim. The statement comes despite Beijing knowing it was genetically similar to the 2002 SARS strain, which was also able to transfer between human hosts.

According to The New York Times, Trump accused the WHO on Monday of its alarming dependence on China. The U.S. president's letter to Tedros wrote that the agency had continued to make erroneous responses to the pandemic that has been costly to people worldwide.

Related Article: Donald Trump Touts Israel Agreement to Gain Support For Reelection Campaign

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- Andrew Mwengwa was a bright student and would always lead in his class right from Form One to Form Four

- He managed to score an A plain in his KCSE and was admitted at Moi University to pursue a Bachelor of Medicine

- Mwengwa's stay in university did not last as he started consuming alcohol and abusing drugs that saw him suspended from school

- He returned five years later but still could not focus as he continued abusing drugs and taking alcohol and decided to discontinue his studies

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Andrew Mwengwa's story is one of a sad fall from grace to grass but with a beautiful comeback.

Mwengwa worked hard to be nothing but a bright student who always topped in his class from Form One to Form Four at Thika Boys High School in the late 90s.

READ ALSO: 16-year-old invents alerting device to help protect women against kidnappers

Andrew Mwengwa is an alumnus of Thika Boys High School where he scored an A plain in his KCSE.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Fact check: David Maraga's claims that Judiciary has never received 2% of national budget are true

However, a video of him speaking during a function held at the school in 2019 revealed all did not end well after he lost focus and became indisciplined when he completed Form Four.

According to the Thika Boys alumnus, he sat for his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) in 2000 and was position 16 nationwide after scoring an A plain.

Mwengwa who now represents the class of 2000 which is referred to as the Millenium boys, was admitted at the Moi University to pursue a Bachelor of Medicine.

READ ALSO: NMS apologises to public following Pumwani Hospital incident:"We apologise our mothers"

Due to indiscipline, alcoholism and drug abuse, he is yet to complete his medicine course 20 years after he made his community proud by scoring an A plain to pursue it.

"You must actually strive to be disciplined. You must possess self-discipline, general academic discipline, digital discipline and you must also possess mind discipline," he told students during the function.

"Or else even if you perform excellently, even if you maintain position one from Form One to Form Four, without discipline, you will go nowhere in life," he added.

READ ALSO: William Ruto, Uhuru join hands to help family that lost 5 relatives in accident

The bright student joined Mt.Kenya University to continue with his studies in medicine 15 years after he completed his high school.

Source: UGC

It was his addiction to alcohol and drug abuse that saw him suspended from the institution of higher learning for three years as a disciplinary measure.

However, Mwengwa overstayed home for five years since he could not part ways with what had now become his friends in life - alcohol and substance abuse.

He resumed classes in 2010 but continued taking alcohol and abusing drugs which later forced him to disrupt his medical school until 2015 when he made a decision to stop alcohol.

READ ALSO: Tom Mboya: Politicians dislike for father's mistreatment in sisal farm made him fierce trade unionist

Fifteen years after the once bright student had been admitted to Moi University, he went back to school with a sober mind and decided to start life afresh.

"That means for fifteen years, my A plain was being regarded by everybody in the society as the useless and wasted brain," he said.

"From there is when I started life afresh. I realised recovery did not open the gates of heaven fo me to get in but it instead opened the gates of hell for me to get out," he added.

READ ALSO: Cyrus Oguna owes recovery from COVID-19 to God, dedicated prayer warriors

By the time Andrew Mwengwa completes his studies, he will have spent 22 years in university.

Source: UGC

The now determined adult joined Mt Kenya University in 2015 where he is currently pursuing the same courses as a parallel student and is now in his fourth year of study.

" If I follow everything that is required, it means I will spend 22 years in university before becoming a doctor due to my indiscipline," said Mwengwa.

Encouraging the students to stay focused in their studies and maintain high discipline, Mwengwa said he was once "a good example, turned a bad example but now turned a good example again".

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LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / September 22, 2020 / Global build-to-rent and multifamily asset manager Node has entered a 300 million joint venture with Intriva Capital to expand its platform and real estate portfolio across Western Europe.

The initial Intriva equity capital will provide Node with the firepower to increase its Western European portfolio to more than 300 million. Node will target development sites and existing buildings to acquire and reposition in key European gateway cities. Node also seeks to manage and co-invest in projects with third party owners and developers.

Node is pioneering the concept of curated living, a next generation, "build to rent" apartment community that combines traditional multifamily apartments, furnished micro unit studios and two-to-four bedroom co-living apartments into one residential building. Amenities include residents' lounges and co-working spaces to cater for the increasing trend of working from home as well as curated residents' events. Node has a global technology platform and app that helps to foster a better sense of community and drive operational efficiencies on maintenance, access control and payments. Node residents are typically young professionals, entrepreneurs and freelancers who seek community connection and an all-inclusive rent that includes locally inspired interior designed furniture, wi-fi, utilities, a WFH co-working space and even assistance with finding a roommate.

"Raising capital from institutional investors in such an uncertain time is a great testament to the Node team and business model we have created over the past four years. We are excited about our significant expansion plans and creating a new standard for urban apartments in increasingly unaffordable cities," said Anil Khera, Founder & CEO of Node and a former Managing Director at Blackstone, the world's largest real estate asset manager.

"We are excited to assist Node in its next phase of growth in Europe. The team has the right mix of entrepreneurial spirit and institutional expertise to become a leader in the next generation of apartment asset managers," said David White, Partner at Intriva.

Node residences and their curated living lifestyle are already a success with hundreds of units in locations throughout New York, Los Angeles, Seattle, London, Dublin and in Canada.

About Node:

Node is a global asset management company that invests, develops and manages urban rental apartment communities in creative capital cities around the world. Our mission is to create the next generation of global apartment living with affordable, design-led and community focused residences that meet the growing needs of urban renters. Node residences are in cities throughout the North America and Europe with further expansion planned globally.

For more information, please visit: www.node-living.com Instagram: node.living Facebook: @nodelivingglobal LinkedIn: node.

About Intriva Capital:

Intriva invests in special situations across Western Europe which arise from dislocated markets, structural change and unsustainable capital structures. Intriva places great emphasis on downside protection through attractive entry valuations, bespoke deal structuring and careful alignment of interests with key stakeholders. Intriva seeks top-down investment themes in dislocated sectors as well as bottom-up situational opportunities where it identifies the potential to take advantage of idiosyncratic or secular issues to structure a diversified portfolio of investments with an attractive risk-adjusted return profile.

https://www.intriva.com/

Media Contacts:

Node

Nia Thomas

Nia@niapr.com

+44 7723 019 767

SOURCE: node

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/606968/Node-Raises-300-Million-In-European-Joint-Venture-With-Intriva-Capital
A Michigan daredevil has been arrested for driving his Dodge sedan over a rising drawbridge 'Dukes of Hazzard' style, while allegedly being high on 'whippets'.

Miguel Gomez, 26, reportedly carried out the dangerous stunt over the Fort Street bridge in Detroit.

He 'struck and drove through' Fort Street Bridge's security gate at speed and was launched into the air before landing on the other side of the bridge, Wayne County Prosecutor's Office said in a statement.

Miguel Gomez, 26, (pictured above) carried out the dangerous stunt over the Fort Street bridge in Detroit

He 'struck and drove through' Fort Street Bridge's security gate at speed and was launched into the air before landing on the other side of the bridge, Wayne County Prosecutor's Office said in a statement. Fort Street Bridge pictured above

During the stunt he reportedly damaged the security gate as well as his car's tires and windshield.

A police dispatcher compared the incident to a scene from the 'Dukes of Hazzard', a 1970s television show in which a Dodge Charger would often take flying leaps to escape from law enforcement, according to a report in local station WDIV-TV.

Drawbridge operator Andre Locke, who witnessed the incident, was quoted by the news outlet as saying: 'And I looked, I said, 'No he ain't.''

'Over he went, blew out all four of his tires, and then he crashed into the other gate,' Locke said.

He added: 'It was a first for me.'

Gomez faces charges including malicious destruction of property and reckless driving.

Police said the driver is also suspected of being under the influence from using a source of nitrous oxide known as 'whippits.'

A police dispatcher compared the incident to a scene from the 'Dukes of Hazzard', a 1970s television show in which a Dodge Charger would often take flying leaps to escape from law enforcement, pictured above

He was arraigned on Saturday and released on a $3,500 bond.

If convicted, the 26-year-old faces up to five years behind bars.

'These pandemic times have seemingly brought out the worst in many Michigan drivers,' Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said, as quoted by The Detroit News.

'The rules of the road the same and there is no place for drivers who refuse to follow them and instead try alleged stunts like this.'
The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 belongs to the South Korean tech company's premium smartphone offerings. Though Samsung has ventured into other segments like its foray into foldable-phone territory, fans and customers alike still find the Galaxy Note Series popular.

Last year was the first time that Samsung released not just one but two Note series models simultaneously. For this year, while almost everyone was expecting that the company will still stick to its new routine, the tech giant released its new Ultra lineup of phones. This replaced the short-lived Note "Plus" variants. With all the bells and whistles the Ultra has, what place does the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 have?

Read also: iOS 14: New Features Make it the Most Secure Mobile OS Ever

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 specs

The Note 20 has a Gorilla Glass 5 front and a plastic rear. It also has a certification of IP68. At 192 grams, it is a big handheld device. It's not as big as its Ultra counterpart, but its definitely bigger than an iPhone 11 Pro Max.

Being part of the Note Series of phones, it has the usual rectangular shape with its pop-out S Pen stylus. Looking at the front, you can't miss how the glass melds easily into the metal frame, which houses the hardware buttons. However, once you turn the phone around, that's when you get to question some things.

As mentioned earlier, instead of being "encased" in glass, the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 has a plastic rear casing that the company calls "glasstic". Despite the rear having a brushed-like feel and glass appearance, no matter how you look at it, it's hard to justify a $1,000 phone having plastic for almost half of its outside appearance.

Still, it doesn't stop there. Like its predecessor, the Galaxy Note 10, the Galaxy Note 20 doesn't come with expandable storage. In this day and age of large files, having the ability to locally save your files to a memory card would've been really handy.

Read also: Nvidia RTX 3080: A Comprehensive Review of Awesome 4K Gaming at $699

The Samsung Galaxy Note 20's screen is undoubtedly large. The phone has a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED Infinity-O display. It's has a Full HD+ resolution that also supports HDR 10+ and has a 20:9 aspect ratio. The display is fairly bright and accurate, but given the price range, we expected more. The maximum resolution only tops out at 1080p. We're not demanding any 4K 144Hz screens here, but given the hefty price tag, a Quad HD display would've justified the pricing. With just a 60Hz panel, the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 feels sluggish when compared to other phones that have higher refresh rates.

The vanilla Note 20 has a Samsung Exynos 990 SoC, a Mali-G77 MP11 GPU, 8GB of RAM, and either a 128GB or 256GB non-expandable storage. Benchmark tests show that the phone is underpowered but not really to a point that it showed any lag. It has a respectable performance but not really one that can be world-record breaking.

However, the phone gets hot really fast, especially when playing games. This might be one reason why the company opted for a plastic rear instead of a full glass body. Still, it's not really the main concern here. Samsung needs to improve how it cools its devices.

Read also: Xiaomi's Rumored 108MP Camera Phone Might Surprisingly be the Company's Cheapest Smartphone
As TAMIU celebrates its 50th anniversary, Laredo Morning Times took a detailed look back at the history of the university. This is Part 1 of 12.

A band of professors and education advocates from all over came to Laredo in the late 60s to push for higher education, not just for the Gateway City but for the entire South Texas region.

Higher institutions such as Texas A&M and the flagship University of Texas at Austin educated mainly the white middle and upper classes in Central and North Texas. Yet in South Texas, and especially along the border, Hispanic lower class families yearned for better education.

Nearly 20% of the states Hispanic population was in the south, which was home to the states poorest cities such as Brownsville, Laredo and Hebbronville. Workers in these areas took up namely agricultural, construction and other blue collar work.

In Laredo, about 17% of the population obtained a bachelors degree or higher, and so TAMIUs pioneers wanted to bring even the poorest out of poverty through higher education.

On Aug. 28, 1970, Texas A&I at Laredo opened its doors to students searching for more paths in life. After enduring name changes, historic events and political strife, the center educated more than a thousand students by 1980 and opened itself to new ways to expand and become the renowned university it is today.

Humble beginnings

Laredos current State Sen. Judith Zaffirini, an influential Democrat, was a part-time media aide for the newly-elected senator and rancher Wayne Connally in 1967. At the time, Zaffirini pursued her undergraduate degree at the University of Texas at Austin.

Her husband, Carlos Zaffirini Sr., was her boyfriend back then and worked for Connally as well as his chief of staff. Zaffirini said it was her mission to bring a higher education institution to Laredo, and so she and Carlos helped spread the word in the State Legislature for Connally.

We were in Austin and had lots of friends in the Legislature, Zaffirini said. We made many friends in the Legislature, so I lobbied for a university.

Then in the summer of 1968, brothers Joaquin and Leonides Cigarroa, both prominent physicians in Laredo, urged the Texas Coordinating Board for Higher Education to add upper-level classes to Laredo Junior College.

Joaquin was the first Hispanic on the Texas Coordinating Board for Higher Education, and Leonides sat on the Laredo Independent School District and Laredo Junior College joint board.

The coordinating board denied their request and said Laredo could not enroll enough students. Determined to better their community, the Cigarroa brothers returned to Austin and asked for an upper-level institution on their own.

Joaquin had a lot of influence and people listened to him, said historian and TAMIU History Regents Professor Jerry Thompson. So they got these really massive petitions of hundreds of people wanting this upper-level school in Laredo.

Along with influential Laredo Mayor Pepe Martin, the Cigarroa brothers, Connally and Sen. Honore Ligarde urged the Texas Legislature to allow some sort of upper-level institution. The Legislature, under Gov. John Connally  the brother of Wayne  decided to help. Wayne Connally and Ligarde passed the bill, signed on John Connallys desk, establishing a center that was a branch of Texas A&I at Kingsville.

The Coordinating Board made a special arrangement, and they named Laredo a satellite center, Zaffirini said.

Courtesy /TAMIU

Kicking off the first 10 years

After that, the first decade for Texas A&I at Laredo was not an easy one.

The center opened in 1970 and only offered upper-level courses while serving a few hundred students. It also did not have its own campus since it used Laredo Junior Colleges Fort McIntosh campus  a location it would share until the 90s.

Thompson was recruited in 1969 right before the center opened, and he still remembers the campuss creaky, wooden buildings that were cramped and featured large annoying fans.

We had classes in those old barracks buildings, Thompson said. There was no air conditioning, and the classes would start in the summer at six in the morning. There were these giant fans that made all this noise and caused you to feel like you were being blasted into the atmosphere.

In the very beginning, recruitment of students and faculty was spurred by the immense help of Billy Cowart, the centers first president.

Dr. Billy Cowart was hired, and we only had a desk at the library at Laredo Junior College, Zaffirini said.

Cowart arrived in Laredo amid the August heat of 1969. A graduate of several Texas colleges, such as UT Austin and Texas A&I, he was thoroughly committed to education.

At heart, he was just an old cowboy who would invite you to his house on Saturday, and people would sit around drinking beer and he would play the guitar, Thompson said.

Cowart and work-study student Mary Vela then took on the huge task of recruiting students and staff.

One recruited professor was history expert Stanley C. Green, who received his Ph.D. from Texas Christian University. He taught history at Appalachian State University and would be TAMIUs second history professor. Green retired in 2013 and said he remembers how quaint the center was.

It was pretty small, a kind of a mom-and-pop operation almost, Green said. We would have faculty meetings, and the faculty meetings were in the office (waiting room) of the librarian, so the whole faculty fit. None of us had ever been in that situation, so we were kind of feeling our way through.

Mary Trevino worked for Cowart in 1969 before the center even opened. Now TAMIUs Director of Migrant Programs, she remembers when the baby-faced faculty showed up.

My professors were very inspiring, although at the time they were very young, Trevino said. I remember Dr. Ball coming into the interview, and I was like, Hes going to be our professor?

Although the unique set of faculty was young and sometimes unorthodox, Trevino said they were the brightest and most creative leaders for the new center.

Dr. Cowart had the idea that although we were just a center, we werent going to use that as an excuse, she said. We were going to bring in top-notch faculty. He brought in the very best.

In 1971, enrollment nearly doubled to 459 students. The center graduated its first class in 1972, and by then it had about 637 students.

Instead of students receiving their degrees at Texas A&I Kingsville, they walked the stage at their alma mater in the Maravillo Physical Education Building on the LJC campus.

Degrees were awarded in three areas: elementary education, secondary education and business administration. The university went on to create more degrees that decade as it brought on bilingual education, criminal justice and international trade.

On the cusp of a new decade, the center started during a time of frenzied politics and activism. With the Vietnam War, the civil rights movement and other conflicts, students protested the establishment in various ways.

Green said he remembers when community college students from Laredo Junior College, now called Laredo College, and the center held sit-ins for several issues.

It was a hot, supercharged atmosphere politically, Green said. I remember one time they called a strike and they walked out of the classes and were sitting around smoking and drinking sodas around the campus. Now you just wouldnt have that now. It wasnt allowed then, but they did it.

Specific to Laredo, there was also the Chicano movement which started in the 1960s and sought to empower Mexican Americans. Renowned photographer and civil rights activist Manuel Chaca Ramirez had hung a poster of Argentine Marxist revolutionary Che Guevara in a student center of an LJC building.

Leo Cigarroa came speeding down in his Cadillac, walked into the student center in front of the students, took the poster off the wall, ripped it up into pieces and took it over and threw it down on the vice presidents desk, Thompson said.

During a time of fervor and anti-establishment sentiment, it was fitting to have several bold faculty members take on the center to provide education in South Texas when the state could not.

First bilingual program

The first bilingual education program in the U.S. began in 1963 at Miami-Dade School District in Florida. There were still very few programs after that around the country, and in Texas there were initially no laws mandating bilingual instruction until 1973.

Yet a successful program in Laredo started a few years earlier in 1971 to serve the large population of Spanish-speaking families.

Education professors Julio Madrigal and Ramon Alaniz saw how desperately Laredo needed to teach students English. With lots of grant writing and discussions, Alaniz and Madrigal helped secure funding for a program to travel the region to teach teachers bilingual education through the centers masters program.

Alaniz and a few faculty taught courses in Crystal City, a hotbed of political action where frustrated high school students spurred the Latino civil rights movement. In 1969, they walked out protesting racist school policies against Hispanics.

Crystal City at the time was going through a commotion, so we worked with them very closely, Alaniz said.

In 1973, Texas passed the Bilingual Education and Training Act, mandating that all elementary schools provide bilingual instruction if they have 20 or more children of limited English ability in a grade level. With this, Alaniz and Madrigal tweaked the masters degree to create a bachelors degree in bilingual education.

With lots of grant writing and discussions, the center secured funding to travel around the region starting in 1974 for this new certificate.

We went about halfway in Crystal City, and we moved to Zapata and offered the same services, Alaniz said. People needed coursework, and it was quite a distance and people couldnt travel, so Dr. Cowart allowed us to go there and teach courses on site.

Alaniz said several professors taught LISD, UISD and Zapata County teachers, as well as those in rural cities such as Cotulla and Crystal City.

We developed the attitude of serving people wherever its needed, Alaniz said. We certified hundreds of teachers, and thousands, probably, over the years.

Budget cuts

During its development, the center faced harsh budget cuts and political strife with the Texas Legislature. The center was successful during these years, but funding did not match its growth and increasing needs as more students enrolled.

In 1975, the Texas Legislature threatened to cut the centers budget as a drop in oil revenues affected universities and colleges statewide. By then, Texas A&I at Laredo had about 852 students enrolled.

During the 64th state legislative session, the Legislative Budget Board proposed slashing Texas A&I at Laredos budget from $1,008,859 to $828,624.

The Legislature at the time was juggling two major bills: school finance and utility regulations. The school finance bill would have included property tax reform, according to a Texas Monthly article published June 30, 1975.

Yet the school finance bill did not pass, and Texas A&I System shelled out its own budget to save the school.

A pivotal political force in Laredo was the Independent Club, or Old Party (Partido Viejo). It consisted of elected officials, school board members and various other political bigwigs in the community.

We had the good fortune - or ill fortune, depending on how you see it - of a really strong political organization here, Green said. Probably as a result of the Independent Club, it was probably instrumental in getting us in the first place and a factor of keeping it open.

There was also chatter from the State Legislature of new Higher Education Commissioner Kenneth Ashworth wanting to revoke the centers degree-granting privileges and turn them back over to Texas A&I in Kingsville. Yet activists and faculty went to Austin in protest, and the proposal died.

Courtesy /TAMIU

Masters in international trade

The center created its Institute for International Trade in 1974, an interdisciplinary hub which facilitated various conferences on business. The institute was later incorporated into the A.R. Sanchez, Jr. School of Business.

Donald Barreson served as Academic Dean of the American Graduate School of International Management in Arizona but came to Laredo to lead the institute.

These conferences covered topics such as plant operations and labor, foreign trade zones, importation and processing. Oilman and philanthropist Radcliffe Killam donated in lieu of the State Legislature, which vetoed appropriating $200,000 for 1976-77.

Texas A&I at Laredo also earned accreditation to award a Master of Business Administration degree in international trade. Manuel Pacheco, who became the schools president after Cowart in 1984, said the masters program benefited the area and all those interested in foreign trade.

It was a small but extremely important beginning for something that didnt exist since Laredo was one of the largest inland ports, Pacheco said. It made sense to have an opportunity to analyze what the port meant to Laredo and the United States.

The new masters degree attracted students worldwide, including from Canada, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iran, Malaysia, Mexico, Sierra Leone, Southeast Asia and Venezuela, and it helped build up the centers diversity to where it is today.

Pacheco said he traveled all over, visiting places such as China, Hong Kong and Taipei to recruit students. These countries governments often created scholarships and programs so students could come to the center and study business.

The original thought was that it was going to be a way to educate Americans and Mexicans to focus on trade between primarily Mexico and the U.S., Pacheco said. Then the principles involved in border trade were transferable to other forms of trade, so we decided that we would start recruiting from not only Mexico and the U.S. but any part of the world.

In 1979, new Gov. Bill Clements slashed millions from the states budget, posing another threat to funding. Yet the institute received $799,170 for 1980-81.

Courtesy /TAMIU

First building

The centers enrollment grew to more than 800 students in 1976. This prompted University System of South Texas Board at Kingsville to appropriate $2,000 for a building site feasibility study.

Cowart said it needed 18,000 square feet to function, and so Laredo Junior College decided to help out. The two schools then negotiated, and on April 14, 1976, the junior college approved giving several acres of land if Cowart could secure $2 million to make it happen.

Cowart and other employees frequented the Commissioner of Higher Education to ask for funds. After several rejections, they finally secured funding for their first building, University Hall.

On May 20, 1976, Ricardo Gutierrez, chairman of the University System of South Texas building committee, was joined by Sen. John Traeger, Rep. Bill Hall and Cowart as they broke ground.

University Hall was ready by the fall of 1979 and cost about $1,398,357. Although on LJCs land, it marked the schools first physical building.

After the first building from LJC, the university functioned but needed even more space. There were also discussions it would merge with Laredo Junior College, but that plan fell through.

In 1977, the 65th Legislature approved changing the centers name to Laredo State University and establishing the University System of South Texas under Gov. Dolph Briscoe.

By 1980, LSU graduated 1,897 graduates and offered bachelors degrees in criminal justice, elementary and secondary education, and bilingual education. There were also masters degrees in general business, international trade and other education fields.

Zaffirini would go on to become state senator and lead the charge in defending LSU from budget cuts and closure by the Texas Legislature. She would eventually write and pass a bill establishing itself as a four-year university with its own campus. She said that in hindsight, working for Connally back in 1967 and many others over the following decades helped pave the way toward creating Texas A&M International University.

Little did I know that as I worked as a part-time staff member, I would have that bill 26 years later, Zaffirini said.
(Photo : Unsplash) (Photo : Unsplash)

The International Consortium of Investigative Journalism (ICIJ), along with 108 news and media partners, recently unearthed a massive controversy among five banks that allowed as much as $2 trillion to enter and leave its systems. However, new findings even put HSBC deeper down the rabbit hole with its direct involvement by allowing these criminal activities to use its systems.

The ICIJ recently tied five banks to the case and controversy unearthed by the famous FinCEN files, a massive compilation of documents sent to the US government from 2000-2017 that alerted different illegal activities in the system.

As global investigators research and study on the issue, they have found more than the $2 trillion scandals that tied together these world-famous banks: HSBC, Barclays, JP Morgan and Chase, Co., Standard Chartered, and Bank of New York Mellon.

HSBC ties to Criminal Transactions: Illegal Money, Embezzlement, and Drug Kingpins

ICIJ's new report suggests a breakthrough in the case, focusing more on Europe's largest bank, HSBC. The latest news indicates that HSBC is more profound than what is initially discovered by the government and investigators' organization.

As it turns out, HSBC allowed massive criminal transactions among its systems despite the issues and controversies that the banking company faces. The 16-month investigation of ICIJ and the media led to the discovery of HSBC's services to continue despite the notorious identity and doubtful sums of money.

HSBC is well aware of the Ponzi or Pyramid schemes, alleged criminals, shell companies that embezzled money from the government, and drug kingpins' money that flows through its systems. Banking transactions and systems were made available to these people despite the illegal nature of their actions.

In 2012, HSBC was prosecuted and even admitted to allowing several notorious drug cartels and gangs to use its systems and serve it just like any other customer. The Sinaloa cartel and other Mexican drug gangs were tied with HSBC that resulted in around $881 million in dealings.

ALSO READ: World's Big Bank Scandal with HSBC and Barclays Allowing $2 Trillion-worth of Illegal Money In Their Systems-Investigators Discover!

HSBC's Probation and Cherkasky's Scrutiny

Ever since its court appearance and admittance of allowing criminal activities flow, HSBC is on probation for its actions in five years. The UK-based bank did not receive an indictment from the US courts; however, HSBC was asked to settle a $1.92 billion fine, along with probation.

The court-appointed a guard to watch over HSBC's transactions and activities among its five-year probation. A former New York state financial crimes prosecutors that were said to be at the top during his reign, Michael Cherkasky was appointed as the watchdog.

HSBC's Involvement in the 'Ponzi' Scheme and Criminal Activities

HSBC is known to have ties to the infamous 'Ponzi' scheme, which is the world's biggest pyramiding scheme that involved big-time investors. The account was handled by HSBC and continued to let the money flow in and out of its systems.

The Ponzi Scheme had its dollar account based on Hong Kong and controlled by the world's biggest scammers. HSBC was late to raise the warning regarding the ample cash flow in the HK account, and after four days, a man named Reynaldo Pacheco was killed.

HSBC's involvement in criminal activities, especially the Ponzi scheme and its ties to drug kingpins, is now relentlessly used against the company. Investigators are closing in on the massive scams that involved the world's biggest banks with HSBC at the top of their lists.

ALSO READ: Cummins Diesel Truck Runs 2900 HP During Dyno Test Event, Ends Up in Massive ball of Fire









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Written by Isaiah Alonzo

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The Haldimand Police Services Board has some questions for Ontario Solicitor General Sylvia Jones and Commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police Thomas Carrique.

In a media release issued Sept. 21, the board said it would be making a public announcement as to (its) concern into the ability of the Ontario Provincial Police to provide adequate and effective policing as it relates to the arbitrary taking of land by a group of Aboriginals.

On July 19, a group of self-described land defenders  people from Six Nations, as well as other supporters  moved onto a construction site on McKenzie Road in Caledonia. The group is protesting a housing development there, saying the land is unceded Haudenosaunee territory.

The police services board said: The taking of land was not sanctioned or approved by an order of any legal process within the Canadian court system.

A Superior Court injunction has been issued, banning anyone but authorized users connected to the developers of the planned 218-unit subdivision from the site.

On Aug. 5, OPP removed people from the site, but they returned later that day and have been there since.

To date, the OPP has subsequently made over 20 arrests, charging people who have been to the site, contrary to the court injunction.

The Haldimand Police Services Board said the OPP is relying on a policy document titled A Framework for Police Preparedness for Indigenous Critical Incidents as an operational plan on how to deal with this illegal theft of land. It is the boards position that this OPP policy  has not worked in the community of Caledonia.

Thats why the board has requested Jones and Carrique attend its upcoming meeting Sept. 23; the board members, on behalf of the citizens of Caledonia, are seeking clarification  as to how (Jones and Carrique) believe their plan is working or effective in removing the illegal occupiers as required in law by the court order.

This isnt the first time this year the Haldimand Police Services Board has wanted to speak with OPP brass; in January, the board decided to seek a meeting with the OPPs Chief Supt. John Cain to discuss policing in the county.

On Sept. 21, Const. Rod LeClair with the Haldimand detachment of the OPP said that Cain would be attending the meeting on behalf of Carrique.

At the council meeting the evening of Sept. 21, Coun. Bernie Corbett, chair of the Haldimand Police Services Board, said that hed received word the solicitor general would not be attending.

Thats extremely disappointing, he said.

Coun. Dan Lawrence, who also sits on the board, called having both the solicitor general and commissioner decline to attend personally and send a proxy in their place, a total snub to this county, and also to the provincial taxpayer as well  not just the Haldimand taxpayer.
Over the past two weeks, COVID-19 infections have surged across Canada. The dramatic rise in cases, which in some provinces are now more than three times higher than in August, is the direct product of the ruling elites criminal back-to-work and back-to-school policies, which are aimed at guaranteeing corporate profits regardless of the cost in human lives.

Ontario, Canadas most populous province, recorded 425 cases on Monday, its highest daily tally in three-and-a-half months. This followed over 400 cases being registered on both Friday and Saturday. Reflecting the fact that the virus is now spreading out of control, authorities in Ontario have conceded repeatedly for several weeks that they are unable to determine the origin of around 50 percent of the new infections.

Around two thirds of current infections are among those under the age of 40, confirming that the governments reopening of the economy is chiefly to blame. Over 400 people under the age of 20 are currently infected, many of whom are no doubt school children. Two Ontario schools have already been forced to shut down in-person classes, less than two weeks after they reopened for the first time in six months.

The virus is also reaching into the political establishment, with both Conservative leader Erin OToole and Bloc Quebecois leader Yves-Francois Blanchet testing positive in recent days.

Responding to the rapidly deteriorating situation, Ontarios right-wing premier, Doug Ford, held a press conference Saturday, where he sought to blame the population at large for the looming disaster. He complained about wild parties and lax adherence to social distancing regulations, as he announced that private gatherings will henceforth be limited to 10 people indoors and 25 people outside. However, the government remains adamant that it will not limit school class-sizes or the number of workers in factories and other congested workplaces.

Neighbouring Quebec, which was the epicentre of the pandemic last spring with over 5,500 of Canadas 9,200 deaths, is also experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases, with 587 new infections announced Monday. More than 400 infections were recorded on both Saturday and Sunday, forcing the provinces right-wing Coalition Avenir Quebec government to announce new restrictions on gatherings in Montreal and Quebec City.

Quebecs director of public health, Horacio Arruda, who played a leading role in enforcing the reopening of schools in late August, said Monday, We are in the second wave. The situation is serious. The virus is everywhere in Quebec.

But like the Ontario Conservative government, Quebec Premier Francois Legault and his CAQ government are determined to press forward with their reckless drive to reopen the economy, and especially the schools, so that parents can be forced to return to the job and resume producing profits for big business.

The politicians claim that the resurgence of cases is the result of irresponsible behaviour on the part of the population is a slanderous lie. While a small minority of people disregard social distancing and other public health measures, they are akin to petty thieves when compared to the real criminals in the political establishment, who early on declared their support for a premature reopening of the economy and a policy of effectively letting the virus run rampant.

In late April, for example, Legault asserted that herd immunity, i.e. allowing the virus to infect 70 percent or more of the population, is the best way out of the current pandemic. Federal Health Minister Patty Hajdu had earlier told Canadian Press that pursuing a policy of herd immunity is not necessarily a bad thing (see: Canadas Health Minister promotes herd immunity, after admitting governments coronavirus failure).

Canadas chronically under-resourced public health system, which has been ravaged by decades of savage austerity, is proving totally inadequate to cope with the rise in cases. Test centres across the country, but especially in Ontario, have been overwhelmed, with wait times routinely extending to six and even eight hours.

Back in July, the federal government set a target of 200,000 tests per day. Two months later, the provinces have failed to get even a third of the way there, with only between 60,000 and 65,000 tests currently being administered daily.

The threat of a dramatic rise in deaths is made all the more likely by the fact that nothing has been done by the political establishment to prepare Canadas dilapidated hospitals and provide overstretched health care workers with the additional resources that they need to successfully combat the pandemic. Yesterday, for example, the Globe and Mail reported the Ontario government has failed to act on the recommendations that infectious-disease specialist made in a June report to build infection prevention and control measures inside the provinces long-term care facilities.

Medical professionals have borne the brunt of this callous and calamitous handling of the pandemic. The Canadian Institute for Health Information revealed in a report released earlier this month that as of late July, almost 20 percent of coronavirus infections in Canada were among health care workers, well above the international average.

The crisis in health care is also creating serious problems in the treatment of other health issues. On Saturday, the pediatric section of the Ontario Medical Association launched a petition protesting the lack of any preparation to ensure the distribution of flu vaccines to children ahead of the onset of the flu season. We  would like to express our urgent concerns regarding an imminent crisis in influenza vaccination, states the petition. Right now, Public Health seems to expect the status quo from years past, when individual doctors offices and scattered flu clinics gave flu vaccines.

While health and critical social services have been forced to get by on shoe-string budgets, Canadas wealthy and super-rich have never had it so good. According to a recent study by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, Canadas wealthiest 20 billionaires have seen their combined wealth rise by a staggering $37 billion in the six months since the beginning of the pandemic. On the other hand, the latest labour force statistics showed that 1.1 million fewer Canadians were employed than prior to the pandemic, and a further 713,000 were still employed but have lost more than half of their income.

Galen Weston, who owns Canadas largest grocery store chain, Loblaws, has seen his familys wealth increase by $1.6 billion to $10.8 billion during the pandemic. This was no doubt helped by Westons decision in June to rob the mostly low-paid and part-time grocery store clerks of the $2 per hour pandemic bonus instituted in late March.

Fourteen hundred workers at Dominion Foods, a subsidiary of Loblaws in Newfoundland, are about to enter their fifth week of strike action in pursuit of higher wage increases and job security. In a tentative contract, endorsed by Unifor, but decisively rejected by rank-and-file Dominion workers, Loblaws offered them a meager $1 per hour wage increase stretched over three years.

The ever-deepening social chasm between the capitalist elite and the vast majority of the population is the outcome of the policies pursued by the entire political establishment. During March and April, the principal concern of the federal Liberal government and the entire opposition, from the Conservatives to the New Democrats, was to ensure an unprecedented bailout of the big banks and financial oligarchy. Under Trudeaus supervision, over $650 billion was funneled by the government, the Bank of Canada, and various Crown agencies into the financial markets, the banks, and big business to prop up the fortunes of the rich and super-rich.

As soon as the bailout was complete, a reckless campaign spearheaded by the Trudeau government and endorsed by the trade union bureaucracy and corporate-controlled media was unleashed to force working people back to unsafe working conditions. The social crisis created by the governments miserly $2,000-a-month Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) payments was exploited to this end, with many workers left with no choice but to risk infecting themselves and their family members if they wished to avoid financial ruin.

A key plank of the back-to-work drive is the reopening of schools, which has already proven to be an accelerant in the pandemics resurgence. The goal of Trudeaus Liberals, the right-wing provincial governments, and of the trade unions, which have refused to organize any opposition among teachers to the reopenings, is to ensure that children can return to the classroom so that their parents are free to be ruthlessly exploited to boost corporate profits.

The next stage in the reopening of the economy will begin with the Trudeau governments Throne Speech tomorrow, which will outline a series of pro-corporate measures designed to boost the competitiveness of Canadian capitalism. Newly installed Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, fresh from slashing financial aid to laid-off workers last month by 20 percent, has spent recent weeks consulting with Canadas six large banks and trade unions to craft the ruling elites class war agenda (see: Trade unions confer with big business Liberals on how to revive Canadian capitalism).

While Trudeau initially made public declarations about his government taking an entirely different direction to promote social equality and fight climate change, this inevitably proved to be hollow progressive spin. Faced with a sustained campaign by the banks, big business, and corporate media demanding his government rein in social spending and ensure any economic stimulus measures focus on boosting growth and competitiveness, Trudeau and Freeland have bent over backwards to demonstrate they have gotten the message. Freeland has boasted of her consultations with former Liberal Finance Minister and Prime Minister Paul Martin, who presided over the largest social spending cuts in Canadian history during the 1990s. Asked at a press conference last week what her approach would be on spending, Freeland declared, We understand the value of wise and prudent fiscal management. Canada has benefited from that approach in the past.
The effects of climate change since 2000 will slow US economic growth slightly over the next 30 years, adding another drag on an economy that will struggle to rebound from the coronavirus pandemic, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) said on Monday.

In a new research paper, the nonpartisan budget referee agency studied both positive and negative contributions to gross domestic product, from longer growing seasons in colder climates to drought to damage to factories from more intense storms.

It projected that on net, climate change will reduce real US GDP by an average of 0.03% annually from 2020 to 2050, compared to what US growth would have been if global climate conditions remained the same as they were in 2000.

That reduction in the growth rate, accumulated over 30 years, lowers the CBOs projected level of real GDP output in 2050 by 1%, the paper showed.

The findings were incorporated into the CBOs long-term budget outlook released on Monday, which projected that US federal government debt now is expected to reach nearly double the countrys GDP output in 2050 as interest costs from increased borrowing run annual budget deficits higher.

CBO researchers said that some aspects of climate change are incorporated quickly and directly, while others are more indirect and could take longer to manifest themselves. For example, extreme heat that lowers a farmers crop yield would immediately reduce that farmers contribution to GDP. A farmer in a cold-weather location might experience a longer growing season, increasing contributions to GDP.

A hurricane that destroys $50 million worth of factory equipment would affect GDP in several ways, including reduced production immediately, and money spent to replace the equipment. But the overall capital stock would be smaller in the future, as a result of foregone investments to pay for the replacement costs, leading to less GDP output in the future, the CBO said.

The CBO said the research comes with a high degree of uncertainty and the projections represent the middle of a range of outcomes.

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When Hollywood actors open their mouths, we're used to hearing overwrought, vapid attacks on conservatives and, especially, against Donald Trump. Whether it's Rob Reiner, Cher, Barbra Streisand, or all those actors who make public service videos in which they look earnest and promise to do or believe whatever the latest leftist orthodoxy demands, Hollywood types almost invariably debase public discourse. There are exceptions, such as James Woods and Patricia Heaton. And this week, Jim Caviezel is the Hollywood actor who showed philosophical depth about the war of values being waged in America.

Caviezel, an open Christian who starred in The Passion of the Christ, is making the press rounds because his newest movie, Infidel, is finally getting its theatrical opening. Caviezel plays an American man whom the Iranians kidnap from Cairo, and then try on fake spying charges. His wife, a State Department official, cannot get the U.S. government to help recover him, so she travels to the Middle East to look for him. The film's focus is on a Christian underground inside Iran.

On Sunday, Caviezel appeared on Fox and Friends to discuss the movie. Caviezel is a serious person, so he discussed the movie as a testament to his faith, one in which he tried to reflect Paul's letter to the Romans when Paul said he would soon die. Caviezel explained that part of being a Christian is a willingness to accept that it may be painful to be true to one's faith.

Pete Hegseth then asked Caviezel about his fascination with Ronald Reagan's famous (and still remarkably relevant) speech from October 27, 1964, now known as the "A Time for Choosing" speech. I highly recommend it if you're not already familiar with it. It also helps to watch it because Caviezel frequently quotes from it as he reminds Christians that they have a battle they must wage today.

The moment Hegseth voiced his question about Reagan's speech, Caviezel instantly launched into an impassioned two-minute-long statement about the fact that Reagan was right: the enemy is not war versus peace. It is, instead, fight versus surrender. Too many Christians are unwilling to step up and defend their values. We do not have to worry about war if our first instinct is pre-emptive surrender. Although Caviezel is speaking to Christians, he could equally well be speaking to conservatives.

I'm a very cowardly person, but I have to say that I felt all fired up after listening to Caviezel talk about standing up for one's principles, rather than constantly hoping appeasement will work. Caviezel's statement, which seamlessly interweaves Reagan's words with Caviezel's own, begins at 53:39 in the video:

He said, now, let's set the record straight. There's no argument over the choice between peace and war. But there's only one guaranteed way you can have peace, and you can have it in the next second: Surrender. Admittedly there's a risk in any course we follow other than this, but every lesson in history tells us that the greater risk lies in appeasement. And this is a specter our well-meaning Christian liberal friends, our priests, bishops, and pastors refuse to face, that their policy of accommodation is appeasement. And it gives us no choice between peace and war, only between fight and surrender. If we continue to accommodate, continue to back and retreat, eventually, we will have to face the final demand, the final ultimatum -- and what then? When Satan has told the people of this world, he knows what our answer is going to be. He has told them that we're retreating under the pressure of his Cold War. And someday, when the time is right to deliver his final ultimatum, our surrender will be voluntary. Because, you see, by then we will have been so weakened from within  spiritually, morally, economically -- he believes us because, from our side, he's heard voices pleading for peace at any price, or "better red than dead," or, as one commentator put it, "he'd rather live on his knees than die in his feet." And therein lies the road to war because those voices don't speak for the rest of us. You and I know it, and do not believe that life is so dear and peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery. If nothing in life is worth dying for, when did this begin? Just in the face of this enemy, or should Moses have told the children of Israel to live in slavery under the pharaohs? Should Christ have refused the cross? Should the patriots at Concord Bridge refuse to fire the shot heard around the world? The martyrs of history were not fools, and our beloved dead who gave their lives to stop the advance of the Nazis did not die in vain. Where, then, lies the road to peace? Well, it's a simple answer, after all, that you and I have the courage to tell our enemies. There is a price we will not pay. There is a point beyond which evil must not advance. In the words of Reagan, evil is powerless if the good are unafraid.

Image: Jim Caviezel retells Reagan's "A Time for Choosing." Rumble screen grab.
Mubadala Investment Company (Mubadala), an Abu Dhabi-based sovereign investor, said it has signed a strategic agreement with Sberbank, Russias largest bank and a leading global financial institution in Eastern and Central Europe, in bid to explore opportunities of mutual benefits.

The agreement covers cooperation in multiple areas, including co-investments, debt and equity financing, long-term financing of Mubadala projects in Russia and other territories, advisory services, hedging FX and credit risks, among others.

Furthermore, the agreement paves the way for potential cooperation and investments in areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, life sciences, venture capital, Islamic finance, telemedicine and education, said the statement from Mubadala.

Sberbank and Mubadala are jointly developing a more detailed roadmap outlining engagement and cooperation plans across these verticals.

The Sberbank-Mubadala strategic partnership will unlock potential co-investment initiatives in both Russia and the Middle East, which are also expected to enhance bilateral trade between businesses in both regions.

Commenting on the partnership, Group CEO Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak and Managing Director said: "We're pleased to formalise our relationship with Sberbank and establish a new and exciting platform to unlock investment and financing opportunities in Russia and the UAE."

We've successfully invested in Russia over the last decade, and with the establishment of Mubadala's Moscow office last year coupled with today's new partnership with Sberbank, we are in a position to further broaden our presence in Russia, he stated.

Sberbank CEO Herman Gref said the signing of an agreement with a reputable international investment company such as Mubadala reflects a deeper interest from Gulf countries in opportunities within Russia and vice versa.

"Today, Russian businesses are showing considerable development potential. We are becoming pioneers in financial collaboration between Russia and the UAE and are confident that the horizons of this partnership will continue to expand," he noted.

"This strategic agreement exhibits a mutual understanding regarding the main areas of cooperation, including joint investments, support for innovative projects, and development of digital technology; as well as our readiness to apply our expertise in these areas to the fullest extent," said Gref.

In line with its commitment, Sberbank will establish a presence in Abu Dhabi by the end of 2020 and aims to promote investment activity by implementing projects of the banks clients in both conventional and Islamic finance through cooperation with funds, financial institution and other entities in the Middle East, he added.-TradeArabia News Service
For more than six years since the beginning of the conflict in the east of Ukraine, Mrs Tetiana Barantsova together with her team of Luhansk non-governmental organization AMI-Skhid has been helping the IDPs with disabilities to find shelter, food, financial and psychological support. The round-the-clock hotline they ran for persons affected by the conflict in Donbas has provided counselling to some 5000 people desperately looking for hand of help in times of heavy shelling or psychological crisis caused by the armed conflict. Along with assistance to the adults, Tetiana and her team organized online schooling for children with disabilities, helping to adjust the school programme to their specific needs.

As of August 2020, the Ukrainian government has registered more than 1.45 million people as affected by the conflict. Of these, more than 50 thousand people live with disabilities.

I am extremely happy that the efforts of the human rights activist from Ukraine were recognized by the Nansen Refugee Award committee, said Noel Calhoun, UNHCR Deputy Representative in Ukraine. It is hard for all people to flee their homes and restart their lives. Persons with disabilities face even greater challenges: How do people flee a war zone in a wheelchair? How do they find new homes and jobs and schools? Such relocation was especially hard for people with disabilities due to their conditions. Tetiana has shown us how to make it possible. She is one of the heroes, whose energy, has demonstrated exemplary dedication and compassion have made it possible for thousands of persons with disabilities to find safety and rebuild their lives.

Tetiana Barantsova is a well-known activist in Ukraine and a member of the National Assembly of Persons with Disabilities of Ukraine. In April 2020, Tetiana was appointed a governments commissioner for the rights of people with disabilities.

I am very happy that Tatianas efforts have been highly praised by the UN Refugee Agency because she really puts a lot of effort into helping people. Today, there are about 51.5 thousand people with disabilities who are critically in need of support, much more than the rest of the migrants, because they are people in wheelchairs who have cerebral palsy and other critical health problems. Unfortunately, funding for state support is still insufficient, and this situation is exacerbated by the fact that the war diverts a significant share of GDP from support for social programs. Together with Tetiana, we work to solve these difficult issues, commented Valeriy Sushkevych, Presidential Commissioner for the Rights of Persons With Disabilities.

Tatiana Barantsova also informed about the deterioration of the situation of many IDPs living with disabilities due to the coronavirus pandemic.

I am very touched and grateful for this award, and I believe that it not only recognizes my work, but also the courage of the people who face all the difficulties of conflict and displacement every day, and now the coronavirus. This is especially difficult for people with disabilities. We have found such methods of work that allow us to continue to communicate in digital format, to help them, to monitor their situation. For example, we look together at how online education can create difficulties for children with disabilities and how it can be improved. Unfortunately, there are children who live in very poor areas along the contact line, and many of them do not have a computer with a decent Internet for online learning. Sometimes there is only one cell phone in the family that cant even upload videos or photos. Moreover, it is very difficult for such children to work in groups, they almost always need an individual approach. We held online meetings and invited doctors, teachers, and social workers to explain specific problems. We often worked around the clock. I think that my current work with the government and this award is a logical continuation of all the work we have done over the years, said Tetiana Barantsova.

I congratulate Tetiana Barantsova as a particularly worthy Regional Winner for Europe of the 2020 Nansen Refugee Award. I also thank the UNHCR for keeping the spotlight, through this award, on the continued armed conflict and human suffering in Eastern Ukraine, said Erik Svedahl, Ambassador of Norway to Ukraine.

Speaking of individuals that make a difference at the local level, today we honor a highly dedicated Ukrainian woman, a civil society representative, who despite all challenges, proactively stands up for the rights of the most vulnerable. Mrs. Barantsova, you deserve our deepest admiration and respect for what you and your NGO is doing, said Claude Wild, Ambassador of the Swiss Confederation to Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova.

END

Video from the Award ceremony is available here [ENG]

Video about Tetiana Barantsova please watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGuW8_O5ePk

Photogallery:

About UNHCRs Nansen Refugee Award:

UNHCRs Nansen Refugee Award honours extraordinary service to the forcibly displaced and stateless persons.

The Nansen Refugee Award program is funded in partnership with the Swiss Government, The Norwegian Government, the State Council of the Republic and Canton of Geneva, the Administrative Council of the City of Geneva and the IKEA Foundation.

About UNHCR

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, leads international action to protect people forced to flee their homes because of conflict and persecution. We deliver life-saving assistance such as shelter, food and water, help safeguard fundamental human rights, and develop solutions that ensure people have a safe place to call home where they can build a better future. We also work to ensure that stateless people are granted a nationality.

For more information about UNHCR, visit https://www.unhcr.org/ua

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 22

By Elchin Mehdiyev  Trend:

The parliamentary delegation headed by Chairperson of the Azerbaijani parliament Sahiba Gafarova is on an official visit to Russia, the Azerbaijani parliament told Trend on Sept. 22.

During the visit, Gafarova met with Chairperson of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Valentina Matviyenko.

Welcoming Gafarova and the Azerbaijani delegation, Matviyenko said that she was glad to see the Azerbaijani parliamentarians in Russia.

Matviyenko noted that she appreciates that Gafarova made one of the first official visits as chairperson of the Azerbaijani parliament to Russia.

"This is a sign of respect and very good intentions in terms of maintaining the existing close relations between the parliaments of Russia and Azerbaijan, Matviyenko added. Azerbaijan has been and remains a strategic partner for us. Of course, inter-parliamentary cooperation plays an important role in building the interstate relations. We have been looking forward to your visit and we attach great importance to it.

This is a good opportunity within the parliamentary dialogue to coordinate the positions on the bilateral agenda, discuss the issues of concern on international problems, exchange the views, plans, prospects, for the further development of our inter-parliamentary cooperation," Matviyenko said.

During the meeting, Matviyenko highly appreciated the steps of Azerbaijan in the fight against COVID-19, which has become a disaster for humanity in the 21st century, and expressed gratitude for the support for Russia by Azerbaijan in this sphere.

While talking about Gafarovas planned speech in the Federal Council of the Federal Assembly, scheduled for Sept. 23, Matviyenko noted that "it is possible to say that you will open the first meeting of tomorrow's session".

Expressing gratitude for the warm welcome, Gafarova thanked Matviyenko for inviting the Azerbaijani delegation to Russia.

Gafarova expressed confidence that this visit and the upcoming meetings will give a new impetus to the successfully developing inter-parliamentary relations between the two countries.

The political dialogue and numerous mutual visits of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Russian President Vladimir Putin play an important role in bringing the comprehensive relations between the two countries to the level of strategic partnership.

Touching upon the relations between the two countries in the humanitarian and cultural spheres, Gafarova stressed that these relations play as important role as economic and political ones.

Gafarova reminded that Azerbaijani First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva made a great contribution to the development of cooperation between the two countries in the humanitarian and cultural spheres.

President Putin awarded Mehriban Aliyeva with the Order of Friendship for her services in the development of humanitarian and cultural ties between the two countries in November 2019 and during the ceremony, the president said that Mehriban Aliyeva is a true friend of Russia.

Gafarova stressed that of course, the parliaments of both countries play an important role in the development of bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Russia.

Friendship groups operate both in the Azerbaijani parliament and in the Federal Assembly, Gafarova added.

The speaker of the Azerbaijani parliament expressed confidence that Russia and Azerbaijan will continue cooperation in various parliamentary organizations after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gafarova emphasized the effectiveness of mutual exchange of experience between observation missions during the elections in Azerbaijan and Russia both in a bilateral format and between observation missions of international organizations, in particular within the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly.

The speaker of the Azerbaijani parliament expressed confidence that the permanent bilateral inter-parliamentary commission between the Azerbaijani parliament and the Federal Assembly will make an invaluable contribution to the development of relations between the two countries.

Gafarova noted that Azerbaijan attaches great importance to relations with the entities of the Russian Federation.

Speaking during the meeting about the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Gafarova noted that this is a painful conflict not only for Azerbaijan, but for the entire region, and it has been going on for over 30 years.

"The occupation of 20 percent of Azerbaijani lands and one million refugees is a big problem, Gafarova added. Four resolutions of the UN Security Council on the settlement of the conflict, documents adopted by NATO, PACE and OSCE, remain unimplemented today. Armenia ignores these international organizations and, unfortunately, the international community does not react adequately to Armenia. Despite the signing of a ceasefire agreement in Bishkek in 1994, the fire did not stop. As a result, civilians, old people and children are killed.

The recent dangerous provocation was carried out by Armenia on July 12, 2020, Gafarova said. It was also dangerous because these events occurred on the section of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border in the direction of Azerbaijans Tovuz district, rather than in the Nagorno-Karabakh region. As a result, servicemen and civilians were killed.

These provocations continue today, Gafarova added. According to the Ministry of Defense, one Azerbaijani serviceman was killed yesterday. We hope that Russia, as the co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, which is engaged in the settlement of the conflict, will intensify its efforts to resolve this issue as soon as possible."

"I am sure that today's meeting, in general, our visits will contribute to friendly relations between Azerbaijan and Russia," Gafarova said while inviting her colleague to pay an official visit to Azerbaijan at the convenient time.

Then the views on other issues of mutual interest were exchanged.
Learning NDT helps people from all walks of life transition to fulfilling careers. For two years of school and a ton of growth potential [in NDT], there are no limits and you see the returns quickly, he says. Past News Releases RSS Buehler Brings Companies Quality...

Berg Engineering Releases NewSonic...

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Berg Engineering & Sales Company, Inc. provides equipment and services for industrial testing. As US infrastructure deteriorates and investments in new projects lag, NDT will be critical for cost-effective maintenance of existing bridges, buildings, and structures. The aerospace, manufacturing, and energy industries are equally in need of NDT expertise. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the NDT field will grow by 6-7% in the next few years. To meet this growing demand colleges and companies in the industry must cultivate the next generation of leaders.

Berg Engineering is committed to doing our part to reach out to new entrants in the field and ensure they find a path suited to their skills and interests. The first step towards this goal is awareness. In order to gain deeper insight into the NDT career trajectory, we interviewed five NDT professionals. Their backgrounds are as diverse as the NDT field itself. The starting point of their journeys range from engineering to academia to medical school, as well as those who pursued the field straight out of high school. They reveal what led them to choose the NDT career, the challenges they faced, and the rewards and satisfaction they have gained thus far in their careers.

The NDT field offers young professionals an array of specialties to pursue, including Ultrasonic Testing (UT), Electromagnetic Testing (ET)/Eddy Current Testing (EC), Radiographic Testing (RT)/X-Ray Fluorescence, Magnetic Particle Testing (MT), Liquid Penetrant Testing (PT), and Visual Testing (VT) among other NDT methods. There is room for all types of professionals, from the technically minded to the hands on. We hope this interview series will bring to the light the diversity of the field, and use the voices of real NDT professionals to connect with young students and give them a reason to consider an NDT career.

To read the article, click here!

About Berg Engineering

Berg Engineering & Sales Company, Inc., a privately-held company based in Rolling Meadows, IL, provides sales and service to the nondestructive testing, material testing and electrical testing equipment industries. Berg Engineerings products facilitate inspections to improve cost, productivity and the quality of their customers' products. The company is an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited (by ANAB) calibration laboratory. Brands distributed and serviced by Berg Engineering include Bruker, Baker Hughes and Waygate Technologies (formerly GE Inspection Technologies), Magnaflux, Buehler  Wilson, NewSonic, Synergys, CorDEX, Zetec and many more. The company has been in business for over 50 years.

Twitter - @BergEngineering

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Donald Trump made incorrect and outlandish claims about Covid-19 at an Ohio rally on Monday night.

The president told the tightly-packed crowd at Toledo airport to take their hats off to the immune system of young people.

He added: Now we know it affects elderly people. Elderly people with heart problems and other problems. If they have other problems, thats what it really affects. Thats it. In some states nobody young. They have a strong immune system - who knows. Take your hat off to the young because they have a hell of an immune system. It affects virtually no one. Open your schools.

That claim that has been thoroughly debunked but still hundreds of supporters tightly packed in to hear the presidents speech whistled and cheered.

At an earlier event, Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted was loudly booed when he tried to encourage mask-wearing as an act of patriotism.

Speaking to hundreds of attendees in Dayton, Ohio, shortly before Trump took the stage, Husted was attempting to show off various face masks with "MAGA" and "Trump 2020" emblazoned on them.

"Hang on, I get it, you don't like it," Husted said as the crowd began voicing their disapproval. "But if you go into a grocery store where you gotta wear one... Just listen up!

"All right, I get it. But if somebody tells you to take it off, you can at least say that you're trying to save the country by wearing one of President Donald Trump's masks, right?", he eventually said, though the crowd didn't seem enthused by his message. The boos continued while one attendee could be heard in a video shouting, "Not gonna work!"

Husted, a former Republican Ohio House speaker, drew more boos when he mentioned that he and Gov. Mike DeWine are co-chairs of the Trump reelection campaign in Ohio. DeWine's administration has imposed statewide mask mandates  one of several Covid-19 precautions that don't sit well with many Trump supporters.

After DeWine's name similarly elicited boos at Vice President Mike Pence's visit to Ohio last week, the Republican governor acknowledged that some of his recent decisions have been criticized by conservative voters.

"Look, we're making tough decisions," DeWine said at a news conference. "We understand that this is a tough time. We have some people who are unemployed. We have people who don't want to wear a mask. And a lot of different things. I'm going to keep focusing on what I need to do. I think that's my job. I think that's what people elected me to do, and I'm going to keep doing that."

At one point during Monday's rally, the crowd reportedly broke into a chant of "Open up," apparently referring to DeWine's business restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic. Husted said to the crowd, "I'm for it."

Trump, meanwhile, complimented DeWine when he took the stage after Husted.

"We're joined today by a real good friend of mine, somebody that's been with me from the beginning and I've been with him from the beginning: Ohio governor Mike DeWine," he said. After he was subsequently met by a mix of cheers and boos, Trump replied, "He's opening up."

Husted later tweeted about the rally, ignoring the crowd's negative reception and instead vowing to support Trump's so-called "pro-American business" policies.
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) says it is working on ways to monitor the quality of service of power supplied to customers.

The NERCs Commissioner, Finance and Management Services, Nathan Shatti, stated this at the commissions Virtual Town Hall Meeting on Monday night.

The meeting was held with representatives of Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOs), Meter Asset Providers and other stakeholders in the power sector.

Mr Shatti said the commission was also working on ways to check the number of interruptions on power supply and much more, adding that this might take a while but it would be done.

The commissioner reiterated that a customer must be metered within 10 days of payment for a meter.

According to him, failure of the DISCOs to meter a customer after 10 days of payment negates regulation.

However, customers must ask the DISCOs for availability of meters before making payment, he said.

Mr Shatti said that NERC was working seriously to ensure that the issue of estimated billing was over.

Hence the commission is working hard to ensure all customers are metered.

We want to get out of estimated billing that is why we are talking so much about meters.

We are working with other stakeholders to ensure mass metering as this is very important to everyone, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that customers commended NERC for the meeting as they said it was an opportunity to express themselves and called for the continuity of such fora.

Kassim Olatoyinbo from Lagos State said he was impressed about the meeting, adding that his impression about NERC had changed.

I recommend that this online meeting is sustained, he said.

Mr Kassim said that he paid for a meter since April and nothing had been done about it, adding that DISCOS were not interested in metering as they preferred estimated billing.

Another customer, Oluwaseun Adeyanju from Ikorudu, Lagos State, thanked NERC for the meeting and asked it to do more in regulating the DISCOs.

(NAN)
Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe is restricting his movements after he learned one of his Eurogroup colleagues tested positive for Covid-19.

French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire tested positive for the virus last Friday - seven days after he attended a Eurogroup meeting in Berlin with Mr Donohoe.

The meeting on September 11 was Mr Donohoes first as president of the Eurogroup.

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Mr Donohoe had been restricting his movements since returning from Germany as the country was not Irelands Green List at the time of his visit.

However, since learning of Mr Le Maires positive test, he has been asked to continue restricting his movements until this Friday.

Mr Donohoe was tested for Covid-19 before he travelled to Berlin and again on his return.

He was also tested last Saturday following news of his French counterparts positive test. All tests have come back negative.

He has attended all meetings for the last two weeks, including todays Cabinet, through video conferencing calls.

In a statement Mr Le Maire said he had tested positive for coronavirus despite displaying no symptoms. He said he will remain in isolation and continue his work for seven days.

Last week, there were concerns Health Minister Stephen Donnelly had been infected by the coronavirus after he became unwell.

As a precaution, the Dail was temporarily closed and all Cabinet ministers were asked to restrict their movements.

Mr Donnelly subsequently tested negative for the virus and ministers were permitted to resume their work.
First Secretary Vidisha Maitra alluded to Imran Khan calling former Osama bin Laden a 'martyr' on the floor of the Pakistani Parliament

In a scathing attack on Pakistan, India has said that if there is an unfinished agenda at the UN, it is that of tackling the scourge of terrorism and the country, a globally-recognised epicentre of the menace, which harbours and trains terrorists and hails them as martyrs.

Exercising Indias right to reply on Monday, First Secretary in the countrys Permanent Mission to the UN Vidisha Maitra said: Pakistan is a country which is globally recognised as the epicenter of terrorism, which by its own admission harbours and trains terrorists, and hails them as martyrs and consistently persecutes its ethnic and religious minorities.

She was referring to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khans remarks in the countrys Parliament where he had termed former al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden as a martyr.

We reject the malicious reference made to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, which is an integral part of India. If there is an item that is unfinished on the agenda of the UN, it is that of tackling the scourge of terrorism, Maitra said.

As the UN member states marked 75 years of the United Nations in the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic, Pakistans Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Monday raked up the issue of Jammu and Kashmir during his address to the high-level meeting on the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the world organisation.

Qureshi said Jammu and Kashmir and Palestine were the UNs most glaring and long-standing disputes and the people of Jammu and Kashmir still await the fulfillment of the commitment made to them by the UN to grant them their right to self-determination.

With Pakistan yet again raising the Kashmir issue at a UN platform, Maitra said India had hoped that during this solemn commemoration of a shared global milestone, the General Assembly would be spared another repetition of the baseless falsehoods that have now become a trademark of Pakistans interventions on such platforms.

However, for a nation that is bereft of milestones, one can only expect a stonewalled and stymied approach to reason, diplomacy, and dialogue.

What we heard today is the never-ending fabricated narrative presented by the Pakistani representative about the internal affairs of India, she said.

Strongly rejecting the malicious reference made to Jammu and Kashmir, Maitra said Pakistan will do well to turn its attention inwards to immediately addressing these pressing concerns instead of diverting attention from them by misusing the UN platforms.
India and China began the sixth round of talks at the level of senior military commanders on Monday. The talks are seen as crucial in testing whether a five-point agreement, arrived at jointly between the foreign ministers of India and China earlier this month that set the stage for a seeming truce, can be carried forward.

The Indian delegation to the talks included Naveen Srivastava, joint secretary in the Indian foreign ministry who heads the China desk. The previous rounds of talks at the level of corps commanders did not see the inclusion of a diplomat.

The Indian delegation, led by Lt General Harinder Singh of the Indian Army, also has Lt General P.G.K. Menon who is expected to take over from Singh next month as the head of the Leh-based 14 Corps. The delegation included Major General Abhijeet Bapat, Major General Param Shekhawat and the head of the paramilitary Indo Tibetan Border Police Deepam Seth.

The Chinese delegation was expected to be headed by Major General Liu Lin of South Xinjiang Military region as on previous occasions.

The talks are taking place at Moldo on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh.

It is a crisis situation that we have at the border, one of armed stalemate" for four months, said Srikanth Kondapalli, a professor of Chinese Studies at the New Delhi-based Jawaharlal Nehru University. The options before India and China who have mobilized tens of thousands of troops is either to have a full fledged war," a localized war", or peace, he said. Armies are charged with the protection of territorial integrity, but it is the business of foreign ministries to find a compromise", Kondapalli said.

This is unique situation. Whatever conclusions India and China arrive at, they will do so in a cautious manner," he said.

The last round of military talks took place on 2 August and ended in a deadlock with the Chinese side reluctant to pull back from Finger 4 at Pangong Lake and Patrolling Point 17A. In late August, the Indian Army took commanding positions atop strategic mountains, reversing some of its initial disadvantages vis a vis the Chinese in Ladakh.

At the talks that began on Monday, India is expected to insist that China withdraw from all friction points with a timeline on de-induction of mechanized and motorized division", said a person familiar with the matter. India will also seek the withdrawal of Chinese forces from Depsang plains in the west to PangongTso in the east besides the free and unhindered access to Indian forces to all patrol points", the person said.

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The federal government has yet to recoup over $50 million in unpaid royalty payments and other past due charges from bankrupt coal firm Blackjewel, according to a recent court order. The royalty delinquencies have stalled the transfer of federal mine leases to the new owner of two Wyoming coal sites and left the fate of the bankruptcy case unclear.

When Blackjewel filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in July 2019 and abruptly closed down some of the largest mines in the world, it owed the U.S. Department of Interior over $50.1 million in royalty payments and additional fees for extracting coal at the Belle Ayr and Eagle Butte mines.

Though a new company called Eagle Specialty Materials has since taken over all operations at the two mines, the federal government  and consequently American taxpayers  has yet to be paid what its due.

According to a court order filed Thursday, Eagle Specialty Materials will be liable for all royalty payments associated with the two coal mines for the period after Oct. 18, the date the company began operating the mines. But it remains unclear who will be responsible for the over $50 million in delinquent royalty payments racked up by Blackjewel before and shortly after the bankruptcy began.

In addition to the millions of dollars owed by Blackjewel, the Interior Department is also owed nearly $886,000 in royalty payments and fees for coal produced between the time Blackjewel petitioned for bankruptcy on July 1, 2019, and the sale of the mines to Eagle Specialty Materials on Oct. 17, 2019.

It remains unclear if a company will step up to settle all these liabilities, or if the federal coal leases will ultimately be relinquished.

In October 2019, Eagle Specialty Materials purchased the two mines from Blackjewel and restarted production soon after the sale was finalized. But even after nearly a year leading operations at the two mines, the new company has yet to secure the federal leases from the previous owner.

According to the Mineral Leasing Act, all outstanding liabilities must be settled before a lease transfer can take place. Outstanding violations need to be resolved too, among several other requirements. The new company only obtained a license to mine as a contract operator in Wyoming but still does not have the required federal leases.

Mark Squillace, a professor of natural resources law at the University of Colorado Law School, found the courts order on the federal leases troubling.

Its at least possible that both Blackjewel and Eagle Specialty Materials are going to try to get out and not pay the $50 million, Squillace said. And to my mind, this (lease transfer) should not be allowed to go forward without some assurance that the government is going to get royalty payments, as required by law.

In the meantime, Fridays court order also clarifies that Blackjewel will not take responsibility for any liabilities, claims and obligations arising out of or related to ESMs operation of the Belle Ayr and Eagle Butte mines, despite still holding the federal leases.

Eagle Specialty Materials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

But as of May 31, the U.S. Office of Natural Resources Revenue said Eagle Specialty Materials had remitted its monthly payments to the federal government since assuming ownership of the mines in October.

Deadline extended

To work out these remaining details on the lease transfers, the Interior Department agreed to extend the deadline within which the Debtors may assume the (leases) until Dec. 31, court documents filed Thursday stated.

Meanwhile, the public remains in the dark over the specifics of the agreement struck between the Interior Department and the coal companies. The agency declined to provide additional details.

The Departments claim in unpaid royalties remains pending in Blackjewels bankruptcy case, a spokesman for the U.S. Office of Natural Resources Revenue said in a statement. The Department, through the representation by the Department of Justice, is continuing to pursue that claim.

If Eagle Specialty Materials fails to pay off Blackjewels existing debts, or refuses to take on the eight federal leases tied to the Eagle Butte and Belle Ayr mines, the leases could be relinquished, according to Shannon Anderson, a staff attorney with the landowner group, Powder River Basin Resource Council.

When energy companies obtain federal leases and extract minerals from public land in Wyoming, they must pay royalties to the government. But its not only the federal government that benefits from timely payments of royalties from mineral extraction. About 48% of federal of royalties from coal travel back to Wyoming. At a time when the state faces a daunting $1.7 billion revenue shortfall, collecting royalty payments proves all the more important.

The Interior Department is essentially a fiduciary for us, as American taxpayers, Anderson said. ... The coal is really not owned by them, its owned by you and me.

When exactly a responsible party will cough up over $50 million to settle Blackjewels lingering debts remains unknown too. Coal markets have crashed into tough times this year, with production at the Belle Ayr mine declining 40% and Eagle Butte 25% during this years second quarter.

Follow the latest on Wyomings energy industry at @camillereports

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Growing up in Southern California in the 1960s, I was constantly aware of the environment, and of how human actions can impact it. In fact, it was the unrelenting smog in Los Angeles that convinced my mother to allow my father to pack up the family in a wood-paneled station wagon to move across the country to North Carolina. The move meant my father had to use his retirement money to establish his surveying and engineering business, but the payoff was a cleaner, healthier environment for his family.

A lot has changed in the last half-century, but frustratingly, we face many of the same environmental issues. Our nation has had a dismal response to the growing climate crisis, largely guided by protecting the fossil fuel industry at all costs. Unfortunately, these policies have brought us to the place we are now  a full-blown climate emergency.

Why do I say we are in an emergency? As a tech entrepreneur and engineer, I believe that science should govern our assessments of a situation. So lets examine some facts:

2019 was the second-warmest year on record, and the preceding decade was the warmest decade on record, according to NASA data.

According to the Union of Concerned Scientists report Confronting Climate Change in New Mexico, we are getting more fires, more drought, and seeing a drastic increase in the number of natural disasters in the last few decades. These changes could even threaten the existence of our signature green chile crops.

Even the scientists in the Fourth National Climate Assessment in 2018, released under the Trump administration, concluded there is a climate crisis in the U.S., with fossil fuel emissions being the main culprit, calling climate change an existential threat to humanity.

The facts are clear: We are past the denial stage and must move to action. And the good news is that recent actions in our state show change is possible. The 2019 Energy Transition Act charted a new course for New Mexico, requiring the state generate 100% of its electricity from carbon-free sources by 2045. And this summer, the Public Regulation Commission issued its decision to go with all-renewable energy for the coal-fired San Juan Generating Station near Farmington. No new gas or old coal for New Mexico.

As we all cope with the new reality brought on by COVID-19, I have chosen to see this experience as a wake-up call. We have all been forced to live life differently, demonstrating our capacity to make immediate and dramatic collective action for the benefit of humanity. And this rethinking of our actions has improved our carbon footprint. According to a report published by Nature, daily CO2 emissions decreased by 17% by early April 2020 compared with the mean 2019 levels.

This proves that if we act decisively and quickly, we can have a real impact on our future. How can we act? Personally, I made a pledge in 2017 to be fossil fuel-free by 2023, and thanks to an all-electric car and nearly all-solar home creating beneficial electrification  using electricity to power something otherwise powered by fossil fuels  I am well on my way to that goal. I ask you, what individual actions are you willing to take to save our planet?

I am excited about the possibilities when our state can transition to new growth industries, such as renewable energy, film production, technology transfer and tourism, creating a new economy for New Mexico.

Athena Christodoulou, an Albuquerque resident, is past president of The New Mexico Solar Energy Association.
$4 Million Settlement Announced in Fatal Police Shooting of California Man

A California city agreed to a $4 million settlement in the 2019 police shooting of a man whose mother had called officers and urged them to apprehend him.

The city of Walnut Creek announced in a recent statement that the settlement was agreed to by all parties and did not constitute an admission of liability or fault.

We recognize that protracted litigation is not in the best interest of anyone involved, said Noah Blechman, the citys litigation counsel.

The parents of Miles Hall sued the city last year, alleging his death was preventable.

Hall was shot dead by police officers in June 2019 after he sprinted toward them while wielding a pole and ignored commands to stop, body camera footage showed.

Halls parents said they hope the settlement will help prevent future police shootings.

Its important for us to help us so we can help save somebody else from this happening again, Taun Hall, the mother of Hall, told reporters at a press conference on Monday. Because Miles should never have died.

All we care about from the day Miles diedand until we dieis having a better system in place, added Scott Hall, the mans father.

Video contains graphic and disturbing images.

John Burris, who was representing the family, claimed the shooting was an unnecessary use of force and said Hall wasnt targeting officers, but trying to run past them to get back home.

Officers had been called to the family home by Taun Hall, who said her son needs to be apprehended because he cannot be in our house.

Neighbors also called the police, saying Hall was threatening to hurt people.

Halls parents plan to use the money to create a foundation that would work to enact changes to how law enforcement respond to people with mental health issues.

Walnut Creek is about 25 miles northeast of San Francisco.

The $4 million settlement follows a $12 million settlement reached by Louisville officials and the family of Breonna Taylor, who died from gunshot wounds suffered during a police raid of her home last year.

The Walnut Creek Police Department said last week that it was dedicating $100,000 to expanding its crisis intervention team, with the goal of having at least one person available at all hours of the day to respond to mental health calls, KGO-TV reported.

These people would have above and beyond additional training to better equip them to handle the sort of crises that were faced with, Captain Jay Hill told the City Council at a meeting.
Emirates, the flag carrier of the UAE, is the brand with the most loyal customers in the UAE, as measured by reconsideration scores amongst customers of the brand, with a Loyalty score of 88.6, according to YouGov Customer Loyalty Rankings 2020.



After Emirates, Etihad also feature in the top 10 at fifth spot with no change in ranking from the previous year. Despite the extended period of not being able to fly with these brands, loyalty towards the brand has remained strong for both carriers.



Within the top 10, the biggest movers were Lurpak, a new entry at tenth up from fifteenth last year, and Dettol, up to sixth this year from tenth last year. With the Global pandemic hitting, we have also seen staple products like Almarai and McVities consolidate their positions in the loyalty rankings.



Popular handset brands, iPhone and Samsung Galaxy, remain high in terms of loyalty with customers not showing change in reconsideration rates despite their status as luxury items in the midst of a tough economic climate. This will be reassuring as both handset brands flagship products have announced/released their latest iterations relatively recently.



YouGov BrandIndex has also released the ten most improved brands of the past year- brands that have registered the largest improvement to their loyalty score in the past year. Majid Al Futtaim is the most improved brand of the past year, with a rise of +9.6 points to its Loyalty score. Al Futtaim Group is the second best improved, with a change in score of 8.6 points.



Leisure destinations such as Saadiyat Island and Yas Island Abu Dhabi have also seen a notable uplift in their loyalty score, more notably around the time when Yas Island was announced as the host destination of UFC as Fight Island.



Consumer brands like Mirinda, Fanta and Cheetos also make an appearance in the list of improvers highlighting the role of familiar FMCG power brands in maintaining comfort through periods of prolonged lockdown and social distancing.



flyDubai and Acer are other brands that complete the list of the most improved brands of 2020 in terms of loyalty as measured by Reconsideration rates.  TradeArabia News Service


'Allodoxaphobia': Tharoor drops 'word of the day' to take dig at BJP

Kerala Cong chief warns Shashi Tharoor: Fall in line or will be removed from party

NDA is No Data Available alliance: Tharoors dig at Centre's replies in Parliament

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Sep 22: Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has launched an all-out attack at the Centre over the lack of data on migrant workers, farmer suicides, Covid-19, and on the economy.

Taking to Twitter, Tharoor called the ruling National Democratic Alliance as the "No Data Available" alliance, stating that the BJP-led government has given a new meaning to the "NDA".

"No data on migrant workers, no data on farmer suicides, wrong data on fiscal stimulus, dubious data on Covid deaths, cloudy data on GDP growth - this Government gives a whole new meaning to the term NDA!" he tweeted accompanied by a cartoon.

Parliament passes FCRA Bill that makes Aadhaar mandatory to register NGOs

Tharoor's dig at Modi government comes a day after the government said the national data on the causes of suicide in the farming sector is "untenable" and cannot be published.

Pakistan flies drones across LoC at night to drop AK-47s for terrorists | Oneindia News

The government informed the Parliament that no composite data had been collated on farmer suicides as several states do not submit figures to the National Crime Record Bureau.

The Centre also informed that there is no data available on the number of migrant workers who have lost their lives during the nationwide lockdown, which was announced on March 25 to curb the spread of COVID-19 outbreak in the country.

To a question, whether thousands of migrant labourers have died during coronavirus lockdown, the government responded saying, "No such data is available."
 Flash

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will chair an emergency COBRA meeting on Tuesday to tackle the rising coronavirus cases, Downing Street said Monday.

Johnson will also discuss the coronavirus response with the first ministers of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland later on Monday, according to the prime minister's spokesman.

"One thing he will do is (to) reiterate his commitment to working together with the devolved administrations as one United Kingdom in response to the rising infection rates that we're seeing across the UK," the spokesman said.

"We do face significant challenges as we enter the winter months," the spokesman added.

COBRA, named after Britain's Cabinet Office Briefing Room A on Whitehall, gathers ministers, civil servants, the police, intelligence officers and others appropriate to whatever they are looking into in an emergency response.

"Tomorrow morning is an opportunity for COBRA to discuss what next steps may be required in the coronavirus response," the spokesman said.

Earlier Monday, the British government's Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance warned that Britain could see 50,000 new cases of coronavirus per day by mid-October unless intervention is taken to slow the current infection rate.

The number of new COVID-19 cases was doubling roughly every seven days and Britain could see 200 deaths a day by mid-November, Vallance told a press briefing at 10 Downing Street.

"The challenge therefore is to make sure the doubling time does not stay at seven days," Vallance said.

"That requires speed, it requires action and it requires...enough in order to be able to bring that down," he added.

Britain recorded another 4,368 infections overnight on Monday, bringing total number of coronavirus cases to 398,625. The coronavirus-related death toll rose by 11 to 41,788, according to official figures released Monday.

Senior government officials have signalled that a social lockdown, with curbs on meeting people from other households and closures or shorter hours for pubs and restaurants.

Meanwhile, countries such as Britain, China, Russia and the United States are racing against time to develop coronavirus vaccines.

Vallance said it is possible that some vaccine could be available in small amounts later this year, but it is more likely that a vaccine will be available early next year, although that is not guaranteed.

England's Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty, who joined Vallance for the televised briefing, said the British government has to take decisions that will have to balance the impact on the economy with the danger of the virus.

"If we do too little, this virus will go out of control...But if we go too far the other way we can cause damage to the economy which can feed through to unemployment and poverty which have long term health effects," he said.

Coronavirus cases are spiking sharply in London, as in much of the rest of Britain.

At the same time, a spokesperson for the London mayor, Sadiq Khan, said, "The situation is clearly worsening. Sadiq will meet council leaders and any London-specific measures will be recommended to ministers following that."

"The mayor wants fast action as we cannot risk a delay, as happened in March," the spokesman said. "It is better for both health and business to move too early than too late."

The British government has recently introduced "the rule of six", limiting the number of people who can gather indoors or outdoors to six. More stringent restrictions, which include a ban on the mix of different households, have been put in place in parts of Britain to tackle rising infection rates.
Last year, I wrote about three core considerations that I believe to be essential for good tech sector regulation. In the first place, I pointed out that regulators should identify the real regulatory objectives behind the laws they are rolling out. I then argued that in the context of technology, it is often far more effective to establish regulatory principles rather than trying to write rules that often only apply to a limited implementation of that technology. Finally, I suggested that the government should not be shy to ask for help at the first instance, calling on expertstechnologists, economists, policy analysts and other specialiststo assist in the formulation of policies required to govern the sector.

For years, Ive watched the country pass laws unsuited for the technologies they are supposed to govern. Given the rate at which technology evolves, in most instances, by the time the law comes into force, the technology has moved on, bringing a whole host of new issues that the already-outdated law is incapable of addressing. Since our lawmakers dont fully seem to understand the technologies they are looking to regulate, their regulations are often designed to obfuscate rather than clarify, with the statutes filled with broad definitions that are intended to apply not just to activities within the immediate contemplation of the regulator but any others that might be applicable in the future. This is why our tech sector is hamstrung by restrictive laws and why tech companies function at the mercy of whatever interpretation regulators chooses to apply on a given day.

Early last week, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) issued recommendations on the regulation of cloud services in India. It suggested adopting light-touch regulation for cloud service providers and called for the creation of an industry body that would work in close conjunction with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and TRAI to come up with an appropriate balance between regulation and the commercial freedom to operate.

Recommendations such as these, which encourage the establishment of self-regulatory organizations (SROs) and give them a meaningful role in the development of regulations for the sector, are welcome. In many ways, this approach checks the boxes on all three points that I argued were essential to the effective regulation of the tech sector. Since the SRO will have an opportunity to work in conjunction with the sector regulator, it will be able to feed into the regulatory process commercial inputs that will help develop better rounded regulatory objectives, appropriately taking into account societal and commercial imperatives.

By requiring light-touch regulation, the SRO will be forced to first evolve principles that can then be translated into use-specific regulations. Finally, the suggestion that an industry body composed of organizations operating in the sector should be involved in the formulation of regulations is indicative of the governments desire to lean on the expertise that resides within industry to formulate regulations required to govern the space.

I am heartened to see signs of this approach manifest themselves in different parts of the tech sector. Before the TRAI went down this path, the Personal Data Protection Bill had called for SROs to develop Codes of Practice that would translate the privacy principles into sector-appropriate regulations. If more regulators take this co-regulatory approach to the tech sector, I believe that our laws will be able to address the rapidly evolving demands of modern technology in a far more agile and responsive manner.

We shouldnt stop there, however.

Many of our recent achievements in the digital space owe their success to the proliferation of digital public infrastructurefrom Indias payments infrastructure that includes the universal payment interface (UPI) and the account aggregator framework, to the National Digital Health Mission that, once implemented, will bring on-demand data portability to the healthcare sector. It is critically important, in my view, to make sure that this powerful infrastructure is kept current and up-to-date. This calls for actively evolving technical standards for this infrastructure that can account for the pace of technology evolution as well as respond to market demand for new and more innovative digital products.

Our regulators appear singularly ill-equipped to do this. They have neither the technical expertise to develop new versions of existing frameworks, nor the organizational muscle to keep the current frameworks in good shape. Instead, what they need to do is designate appropriate technical standards organisations (TSOs) as being responsible for devising and continuously evolving standards for our public digital infrastructure. These TSOs will need to be appropriately staffed with persons of suitable technical qualification, drawn as required from our many institutions of higher learning. The standards they recommend should be submitted to the regulator for its consideration, and once approved, these could be made applicable to the relevant sector as a whole.

This will ensure that, in much the same way that SROs develop regulatory frameworks specific to a sector, our regulators get the assistance they need in formulating the technical standards that are critically important to the long-term success of the sector in question.

Rahul Matthan is a partner at Trilegal and also has a podcast by the name Ex Machina. His Twitter handle is @matthan

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As reported in The Irish Times, according to a leaked document seen by the paper, the Russian network has processed hundreds of millions of US dollars.

In a report filed by the Standard Chartered Bank of New York to the Financial Crime Enforcement Network (FinCEN), the network is said to have been used by "wealthy oligarchs, businessmen and criminals alike".

The address in Belfast was identified as one of 16 "potential core companies" involved in 368 transactions found as a result of an investigation by the Standard Chartered bank.

The report, dated April 20th, 2017 states that over $160.4 million (136.7 million) passed through the 16 companies between June 2008 and May 2014.

Drayscott Overseas LLP of 21 Botanic Avenue, Belfast was registered in 2013 before being dissolved two years later without ever submitting accounts to the UK's Companies House.

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It had two registered members, both companies registered in the Marshall Islands, but the identities of the owners are not known.

The address in Belfast belongs to Mail Boxes Etc, who offer mailbox services and the use of their building as the registered address of companies for 385 (418) a year.
LONDON - Mobile apps tracing new COVID-19 cases were touted as a key part of Europes plan to beat the coronavirus outbreak. Seven months into the pandemic, virus cases are surging again and the apps have not been widely adopted due to privacy concerns, technical problems and lack of interest from the public.

Britain, Portugal, and Finland this month became the latest to unveil smartphone apps that alert people if theyve been near someone who turned out to be infected so they can seek treatment or isolate - a key step in breaking the chain of contagion.

But a few countries have scrapped their tracing apps and others that have rolled them out have found so few users that the technology is not very effective. The adoption rate goes from about a third of the population in Finland and Ireland, to 22% in Germany and a meagre 4% in France.

Health officials initially targeted a 60% adoption rate, an optimistic goal based on an Oxford University study from April although researchers noted a lower uptake still helps if other measures, such as social distancing, are enforced.

Kevin Kelly, an accountant in Limerick, Ireland, says his countrys app is easy to use and helps gauge local infection trends by showing how many cases each county has. He mainly uses the check-in feature to report his symptoms daily, but worries that only a fraction of the other 1.3 million users do, too.

Everyone downloaded it but Im not sure who is regularly using it, said Kelly, 43.

The exposure alert function has so far been less useful: he hasnt received any. Unless theres a huge surge, which I suppose it may happen, thats when well see how effective it is.

Places that have had the most success in getting people to voluntarily use virus-tracing apps tend to be smaller countries in Northern Europe where trust in the government tends to be higher and where people are comfortable with new technologies.

Finlands app quickly became one of Europes most popular when it launched at the start of September, racking up about 1 million downloads in the first 24 hours. Downloads have kept rising roughly a third of the countrys 5.5 million people now have it.

Ive gotten several calls from people in their eighties calling to know how the application works, said Aleksei Yrttiaho, a spokesman for the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare.

Public trust in the government helps allay concerns about privacy and government surveillance first raised when some countries launched tracing apps months earlier.

Finnish users said they felt it was a civic responsibility to install it.

Its our duty to take of care of the health of our fellow citizens and those close to us, said William Oesch, 44, a photographer in Helsinki.

Ella Ahmas, a 23-year-old business student at Aalto University, said she was surprised the government had been able to persuade so many people to download it, when Finns have been less willing to use simpler methods like wearing masks on public transport.

Its not really a huge effort to download the app, which works on its own, she said.

Ahmas and Oesch shrugged off privacy issues, and noted their personal data was already held by the likes of Google and Facebook.

Most European tracing apps are built on a Google-Apple smartphone interface that uses Bluetooth technology to anonymously log the proximity of any other smartphones with the app installed. It does not track the phones whereabouts. Users who test positive for COVID-19 upload anonymous codes to alert others whove been in close contact. The design is aimed at preserving user privacy, and that might be one factor helping adoption, though it also hinders efforts to track their use and effectiveness.

They dont yet work across the European Unions many borders, but six countries have started testing a virtual gateway that enables this.

More intrusive approaches have been less successful.

Frances app, which uses a centralized data storage system criticized by privacy activists, has an adoption rate of just 4% months after its launch. Norwegian officials were forced to halt their app because of privacy concerns over its use of phone location data. Israels app uses both Bluetooth and phone location data and says that uptake has not been as strong as hoped.

China, COVID-19s original epicenter, doesnt have a tracing app but instead one that shows a colored code indicating health status, adding to the countrys electronic monitoring.

The privacy issue is a political choice, said Sean LEstrange, a social scientist at University College Dublin who has studied testing and tracing. To the extent you can maximize privacy, you increase the credibility of the app because it wont arouse suspicion.

The U.K. government switched to Google-Apple technology for its new virus app for England and Wales after scrapping a centralized version because of technical issues.

The apps arent costly. Startup NearForm built Irelands for 850,000 euros ($1 million) while Finlands came in under budget at 900,000 euros.

The U.S. doesnt have a national tracing app but some states have launched their own. Pennsylvania and Delaware decided to use NearForms technology.

Even if it picks up only a few extra cases, the Irish app is worth the money given how little it cost, said LEstrange.

But is it possible to determine whether these apps have had any effect on controlling the pandemic?

We might never know for sure, said Stephen Farrell, a computer scientist at Trinity College Dublin who has studied tracing apps. Thats because most apps dont require contact information from users, without which health authorities cant follow up. That means its hard to assess how many contacts are being picked up only through apps, how their positive test rates compare with the average, and how many people who are being identified anyway are getting tested sooner and how quickly.

Im not aware of any health authority measuring and publishing information about those things, and indeed they are likely hard to measure, Farrell said.

At most, apps can provide an overall number of alerts sent. In Ireland, more than 300 people who have tested positive have uploaded their codes, resulting in 900 close contact alerts, out of over 33,000 confirmed cases overall.

___

Jari Tanner in Helsinki and Josef Federman in Jerusalem in Israel contributed to this report.

___

Follow APs pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak
HONG KONG, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In a recent survey conducted by the School of Graduate Studies of Lingnan University (LU) in Hong Kong on international/non-local higher education students' physical and psychological wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly 90 per cent of respondents said the outbreak had caused "moderate to extreme" disruption to learning activities. Over 70 per cent expressed concern about the outbreak, while 45 per cent said they were feeling lonely. The research team advises higher education institutions to find creative and effective ways of supporting international students during this challenging time.

Between 12 April and 1 May 2020, the research team received valid responses from 583 international/non-local higher education students from 26 countries/regions in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America. About half of the respondents (46%) were research postgraduate students. At the time of the survey, most of them (61%) were still in their country/region of study.

Results show that over 70 per cent of international/ non-local higher education students said they got COVID-19 information from social media and new media. However, 14 per cent of respondents did not know how to seek help in their study countries/regions if they were to develop COVID-19 symptoms.

In addition, nearly half the respondents (47.5%) felt at risk from COVID-19, and approximately 71.7 per cent expressed worry. One major source of concern was for the safety of their families as after lockdown measures in many places most of them were still abroad and far away from home. These anxieties as well as the implementation of preventive measures such as social distancing, meant that approximately 45.2 per cent of students felt lonely.

On the academic front, the majority of students felt that the COVID-19 pandemic had caused a major disruption to their education with as many as 89.6 per cent describing the effects as from moderate to extremely strong. The research team also invited respondents to evaluate their satisfaction with learning experiences during the pandemic, 49.6 per cent expressed slight to great satisfaction with current teaching and supervision arrangements. Moreover, respondents were very positive about their future. Despite their worries about the pandemic and the loneliness it was causing, the majority of the students (83.8%) were keen to return to their current institutions to continue their studies.

Prof Joshua Mok Ka-ho, Vice-President of Lingnan University and leader of this research project, stated that the pandemic has inevitably made some impacts on the physical and psychological wellbeing of international/non-local higher education students, and that universities should do more to help international students to obtain proper health information and learn about local social and healthcare support systems, as well as improving psychological support for students dealing with this pandemic and future health-related problems. Another source of anxiety is that most students rely on social media for COVID-19 information, since there is every likelihood of "infodemic" - inaccurate and sometimes, exaggerated health information - from such sources.

He added that, as international students may not be familiar with the medical service in the countries/regions they are studying in, universities should automatically provide systematic guidelines and information on COVID-19 outbreaks.

Prof Mok suggested that higher education institutions should be prepared to find creative and effective ways of supporting students during this challenging period, not only by email, but with also mobile instant messaging platforms, or by developing tailor-made mobile apps to maintain contact with students and provide healthcare information.

For further information, contact:

Ms Blue Wong

Senior Communications and Public Affairs Officer

Office of Communications and Public Affairs

Lingnan University (LU), Hong Kong

Tel: +852 2616 8964

Fax: +852 2838 1601

Email: bluewong@LN.edu.hk

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1279238/Lingnan_Covid19.jpg
Congress and opposition parties on Tuesday boycotted the proceedings of Lok Sabha, hours after they boycotted the proceedings in the Rajya Sabha. Eight opposition MPs were suspended by the Rajya Sabha Chairman on Monday over the ruckus created in the Upper House.

Congress and some other opposition parties on Tuesday boycotted the proceedings of Lok Sabha, hours after they boycotted the proceedings in the Rajya Sabha, over the government not agreeing to opposition suggestions on the agriculture bills. Soon after the House met after an adjournment, Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury raised the issue and said the government should take back the agriculture bills which have been passed by the two Houses. He said the bills have not been signed by the President and the government can take them back.

Chowdhury said Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are twin brothers and referred to the proceedings in the upper House but Speaker Om Birla said that these will not go on record. Our issue is related to the farm bills, we want it to be taken back. At least MSP should have been included (in the bills). Punjab is burning, Chowdhury said. He said former union minister Sharad Pawar was also observing fast.

Chowdhury said if Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar agrees to take the bills back, we have no problem with continuing. He said they were with opposition parties boycott and were boycotting the proceedings of Lok Sabha. Members of Congress, DMK, Trinamool Congress and National Conference were among those who walked out of the House. Union Parliament Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said that it is unfortunate that the proceedings of the upper House were sought to be discussed in the House.

Also Read: Parliament monsoon session: After RS ruckus, Dy Chairman Harivansh writes to Prez Kovind; on one day fast

Also Read: Farm bills row: Opposition stages walkout, threaten to boycott session

Whatever happens in other House, it has never been discussed in another House. It is unfortunate that this thing is being discussed now, he said. Tomar said that Congress was indulging in double-speak. Congress ke daant khane ke aur hain, dikhane ke aur. They say one thing in the House and another outside. Those protesting arent farmers, they are related to Congress, nation knows it. The reforms will help farmers and boost their income. Congress is peddling lies. We said that MSP will continue. Congress behaviour in Rajya Sabha is condemnable, he said.

The Rajya Sabha had witnessed unruly scenes on Sunday as Opposition members stormed the well of the House and came near the podium, where Deputy Chairman was seated, to protest against the Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020.

Eight opposition MPs were suspended by the Rajya Sabha Chairman on Monday over the ruckus created in the Upper House. Congress and some other opposition parties on Tuesday boycotted the proceedings of Rajya Sabha after remarks of Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad. (ANI)

Also Read: India, China have agreed to continue talks on border situation: Beijing
Meeting Shanghai in cartoons at Kyoto manga fair

2020-09-22 09:22

A Chinese cartoonist has showcased a miniature city of Shanghai in Kyoto, Japan.

The cartoonist, Lin Dihuan, is famous for his series of works Xiaolin Comic in China. Themed Shanghai, Lets Meet, his works being shown at the Kyoto International Manga Anime Fair 2020 tell stories about the city and its people using Chinese ink and wash painting styles.

The Kyoto International Manga Anime Fair is the largest anime and manga fair in West Japan. This year, it has given a 36-square-meter area for Lin Dihuans artworks, which are on display in the forms of both printed cartoons and lovely videos.

Featuring innocent kids, hardworking young commuters and romantic couples, the videos show Shanghais landscape and humane spirit.

According to the curator of the exhibition, fresh changes take place every day in the metropolis of Shanghai, where there are many common peoples stories, which have contributed to the uniqueness of Shanghai. That is why the theme of the exhibition is about Shanghai.

At the exhibition area, there is also a video inviting people to come to Shanghai for the third CIIE (the China International Import Expo, which is to open on November 5 this year).

Imbued with the humor and wisdom of daily life, Lins artworks show the relationship between people and city, with a particular emphasis on ordinary people.

Lins exhibition in the Kyoto International Manga Anime Fair venue will run through September 20. For those who cannot make it to Kyoto, some of the works will be exhibited online.

(Story/Cao Jun)

(Translation/Wu Qiong)
That said, the idea is not to poach new patrons from other municipalities, though anyone within the SWAN system remains welcome. Cottrill said the only instance of apprehension she had was that the move might be seen that way, but she thinks as more libraries start adopting similar policies it wont matter for long.
The global stock market is stuck in a vicious circle of trading triggered by the tech rout, lofty valuation, lack of further monetary stimulus, the upcoming U.S. election, new restrictions spurred by rising coronavirus cases and concerns over global growth (read: 4 Sector ETFs to Benefit From 3-Year Lower Rates).



The COVID-19 infections have been growing globally with new lockdown measures in Spain and other European countries, including Denmark, Greece and Spain. There have been talks of lockdown in London as well. Additionally, the latest report showing money-laundering allegations over HSBC Holdings, led to a bloodbath in the market. HSBC slumped to 25-year low. A report from China's state-run Global Times suggested that HSBC could be a possible candidate for inclusion in the country's unreliable entity list that targets foreign firms, which violate Chinese laws or commit illegal acts.



The U.S. political battle between Republicans and Democrats over who will be the next Supreme Court justice is also weighing on sentiments.



The combination of developments has resulted in higher demand for safe haven avenues or lower-risk securities. Below we have highlighted five such zones and their popular ETFs wherein investors could stash their money amid the market turmoil.



Gold - SPDR Gold Trust ETF GLD



Gold is often viewed as a store of value and hedge against market turmoil. The product tracking this bullion like GLD could be an interesting pick in the current market turbulence. The fund tracks the price of gold bullion measured in U.S. dollars, and is kept in London under the custody of HSBC Bank USA. It is the ultra-popular gold ETF with AUM of $79 billion and heavy volume of nearly 15 million shares a day. It charges 40 bps in fees per year from investors. The product has a Zacks ETF Rank #3 (Hold) with a Medium risk outlook (read: Gold ETFs to Get Back Their Glitter As Volatility Flares Up?).



Long-Dated Treasury - iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF TLT



The products tracking the long end of the yield curve often provide a safe haven. TLT provides exposure to long-term Treasury bonds by tracking the ICE U.S. Treasury 20+ Year Bond Index. It is one of the most popular and liquid ETFs in the bond space with AUM of $17.2 billion and average daily volume of 9.2 million shares. Expense ratio comes in at 0.15%. The fund has a Zacks ETF Rank #3 with a High risk outlook.



Low Volatility - iShares MSCI Global Min Vol Factor ETF ACWV



These products have the potential to outpace the broader market, providing significant protection to the portfolio. These funds include more stable stocks that have experienced the least price movement in their portfolio. Further, these allocate more to defensive sectors that usually have a higher distribution yield than the broader markets. While there are several options, ACWV, with AUM of $5.9 billion and average daily volume of 318,000 shares, offers exposure to global stocks with potentially less risk. The fund charges 20 bps in annual fees (read: Here's Why it Makes Sense to Invest in Low-Volatility ETFs Now).



Dividend - Global X SuperDividend ETF SDIV



The dividend-paying securities are the major sources of consistent income for investors when returns from the equity market are at risk. This is especially true as these stocks offer the best of both these worlds  safety in the form of payouts and stability in the form of mature companies that are less volatile to large swings in stock prices. The companies that offer dividends generally act as a hedge against economic uncertainty and provide downside protection by offering outsized payouts or sizable yields on a regular basis. While the dividend space has been crowded, high-yield dividend ETFs like SDIV seem good picks amid the backdrop of a low-rate environment and market volatility. The ETF has AUM of $646.9 million and trades in volume of 379,000 shares a day on average. It charges 59 bps in annual fees and has a Zacks ETF Rank #3 with a Low risk outlook (read: 5 High-Yield Dividend ETFs & Stocks to Buy Now).

Story continues

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The University of Ottawa's Faculty of Social Sciences is joining forces with Taiwan's National Dong Hwa University College of Indigenous Studies (NDHU-CIS) to promote Indigenous Studies after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on academic and research cooperation.

The aim is to promote broad, cross-disciplinary and inter-university cooperation between uOttawa FSS and the NDHU-CIS by intensifying exchanges in research and graduate training, by encouraging scholars to cooperate in research projects and to exchange research results. The MOU aims contributes to the broader social goals of decolonization, indigenization, and transitional justice.

uOttawa FSS Dean Victoria Barham signed the MOU after Professor Scott Simon - of the Faculty's School of Sociological and Anthropological Studies - returned to Ottawa from Taiwan with the documents. The MOU was initially signed by NDHU-CIS Dean Pasuya'e Poicon? on May 19 but, due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, it was impossible to organize the travel to hold a signing ceremony with both sides present.

The NDHU-CIS is an internationally recognized centre of research and teaching excellence on Indigenous Studies in Taiwan, which is home to over 560,000 Indigenous people affiliated with 16 officially recognized Indigenous nations.

Simon, who is a co-chair in Taiwan Studies in the Faculty of Social Sciences, has been taking groups of uOttawa students to NDHU-CIS for a field research course on Indigenous Studies and Anthropology since 2015. NDHU has recognized Simon, who has conducted research on Taiwan Indigenous peoples' rights and political status since 2004, as its first honorary alumni.

###
Rick Jacobs, center, shown in 2016, was named in a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by a Los Angeles police officer against the city of L.A. (Tasia Wells / Getty Images)

Los Angeles city attorneys took aim Monday at allegations by a former bodyguard for Mayor Eric Garcetti who claimed in a lawsuit that he had been sexually harassed by a longtime advisor to the mayor.

In a nine-page court filing, city attorneys said LAPD Officer Matthew Garza's complaint failed to "state facts" sufficient to bring the lawsuit, which alleged that the city subjected him to a hostile work environment in violation of the California Fair Employment and Housing Act.

Garza, who worked on the mayors security detail, sued the city in July, alleging that Garcetti consultant Rick Jacobs made crude sexual comments and touched him inappropriately over several years.

City attorneys also argued that Garza waited too long to sue under the statute of limitations. Garza also never reported the alleged harassment, city attorneys wrote.

Plaintiff alleges that these incidents occurred since 2014 yet plaintiff never reported such alleged conduct to the city," the filing states. "To the extent that such events even occurred (which defendant denies), plaintiff should have taken advantage of the procedures that defendant has in place to address sexual harassment in the workplace.

A longtime player in California politics, Jacobs serves on the board of directors of the Mayor's Fund for Los Angeles, a nonprofit that raises money for Garcetti-backed causes. He also runs a separate Garcetti-supported nonprofit focused on economic development.

Garza's lawsuit against the city alleges Jacobs harassed him beginning around 2014 and continued until October 2019.

Jacobs massaged Garzas shoulders, hugged him and repeatedly made inappropriate comments, including talking about sex, according to the suit. The harassment took place on trips Garcetti took to Arizona, New Hampshire and elsewhere, the suit alleges. The mayor witnessed some of the inappropriate behavior but did not stop it, according to Garzas lawsuit.

Story continues

The lawsuit also alleges that Garcetti was present on approximately half of the occasions when Jacobs behaved in this way, and witnessed Jacobs conduct, but he took no action to correct Jacobs obviously harassing behavior.

Garza's attorney, Greg Smith, told The Times on Monday that there are "dozens of witnesses" to Jacobs' alleged behavior. "It's pretty incredible the city is taking the position this didn't happen," Smith said.

Jacobs, along with the mayors wife, Amy Wakeland, are widely seen as Garcetti's closest advisors.

Garcetti has denied witnessing the alleged harassing behavior. Jacobs has also denied Garzas allegations and told The Times Monday that the lawsuit is "pure fiction."

Garcetti has publicly stood by Jacobs since the lawsuit was filed. The mayor said last month that Jacobs should be able to continue to work for the Mayor's Fund and the other nonprofit while the case is being litigated.

"This is something that should take a process forward, but shouldn't keep somebody who has been a committed public servant from being able to continue to serve our community and our world," Garcetti said.

Times staff writer Richard Winton contributed to this report.
Russian President argued on Tuesday that ending illegitimate sanctions against countries like his could boost the coronavirus-hit global and create jobs, using his annual speech at the UN General Assembly to stress the need for multilateral cooperation against the pandemic.

In a somewhat muted speech for the often tough-talking Russian leader, Putin told the UN's 75th anniversary gathering that countries need to work together better to fight the virus and other global problems.

Freeing world trade from barriers, bans, restrictions and illegitimate sanctions would be a great help in revitalizing global growth and reducing unemployment," he said.

Putin has been pushing for years to end US and European Union sanctions imposed on Moscow after it annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, was accused of interfering in the 2016 US elections, and other actions. Moscow views the Crimea annexation as legitimate, and denies meddling in the vote that gave Donald Trump the US presidency.

Putin warned other countries against unspecified interference in domestic affairs, and said cybersecurity also deserves most serious deliberation within the UN without mentioning the Russian trolls and hackers accused of manipulating US public opinion in 2016.

Putin's speech came amid tensions between Russia and the West over Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, who is being treated in Berlin for what German authorities said was a nerve agent poisoning, and as the EU ponders imposing sanctions over Belarus' disputed presidential election and crackdowns on protesters.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel called Navalny's poisoning an attempted murder that was intended to silence Putin's most prominent political foe. Merkel's office indicated she may be willing to rethink the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project, which would bring Russian gas to Germany under the Baltic Sea.

EU foreign ministers failed to agree Monday on imposing sanctions on Belarusian officials suspected of rigging the August 9 election that kept authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko in power.

A security crackdown on anti-government protests followed the vote. However, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said there was clear will to adopt those sanctions. Russia also has drawn criticism for speedily approving a COVID-19 vaccine, and some Western experts said it cut corners during testing.

Putin has touted the vaccine on national television and said that one of his adult daughters had already been inoculated - and on Tuesday, he offered to provide the vaccine free to all UN staff.

However, both Russian and Western experts insist that further studies are needed to determine the vaccine's effectiveness and safety.

Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said some countries are seeking to impose concepts and standards like the 'rules-based world order' while trying to meddle in the domestic affairs of other states, using unilateral sanctions in violation of the UN Security Council prerogatives, and exhibiting intolerance and hatred."



Putin called for unity and urged countries to reaffirm their commitment to the UN charter and law, lamenting a deficit of humanity and kindness between countries amid the pandemic.

He repeatedly stressed the Soviet Union's role in helping vanquish the Nazis in World War II the conflict that gave birth to the United Nations. Despite calls for deep reform of the UN, Putin said the Security Council's five permanent members should keep their veto power, and said their leaders agreed to an in-person meeting once the pandemic allows.

In an interconnected, interdependent world, in the whirlpool of events, it is necessary to act together and rely on the principles of international law enshrined in the UN charter, 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.)
FRANKFORT, MI  The search for a 12-year-old boy who was swept off a pier into Lake Michigan is no longer an active rescue, but a recovery mission.

Benzie County Sheriff Ted Shendel told 9&10 News that crews are searching in the water around the Frankfort North Pier and the U.S. Coast Guard is circling from above with a helicopter to try and locate the child.

Were going to do everything that we can to recover him, thats the least we can do for the family. But the conditions are just are not favorable for that right now, Shendel told the TV station.

A family from Tennessee was walking on the pier on Monday when three kids were swept off the pier. A family member was able to rescue two of the children, but a 12-year-old boy is still missing.

The pier is located in Lake Michigan off of Frankfort Public Beach, a popular place for residents and visitors located near the downtown.

Benzie County, where Frankfort is located, is one of several Northern Michigan counties under a hazardous weather warning for beach conditions, according to the National Weather Service.
Arctic sea ice has melted to the second lowest level on record after a crazy year of heat waves and forest fires in the region, scientists said.

The extent of the sea ice in the Arctic at what is thought to be the end of the annual summer melt was 1.44 million square miles (3.74 million square kilometres), the National Snow and Ice Data Centre (NSIDC) in the US said.

It is the second lowest minimum extent of sea ice cover at the end of the summer in a nearly 42-year satellite record, with only 2012 seeing ice cover falling to a lower minimum before ice refreezes in the autumn.

This year is only the second time that the minimum summer sea ice extent has fallen below four million square kilometres since satellite monitoring began in 1979, the scientists said.

Mark Serreze, director of NSIDC, said: Its been a crazy year up north, with sea ice at a near-record low, 100-degree (Fahrenheit) heat waves in Siberia, and massive forest fires.

The year 2020 will stand as an exclamation point on the downward trend in Arctic sea ice extent.

We are headed towards a seasonally ice-free Arctic Ocean, and this year is another nail in the coffin.

Ed Blockley, Met Office scientific manager for polar climate, said: September 2020 is now the second time in the modern record that the extent of Arctic sea ice has dropped below four million square kilometres.

This threshold has been crossed because this summer has seen several periods of very rapid sea ice loss linked, in part, to the record-breaking heatwave in Siberia.

The Arctic is one of the most vulnerable regions on Earth to climate change and warming here will have consequences both for the region and the planet as a whole.

The news prompted calls from environmental campaigners for rapid action to curb climate greenhouse gas emissions and protect the oceans.

Rod Downie, chief polar adviser at WWF, said the Arctic was in meltdown.

The loss of sea ice alongside raging forest fires in Siberia and the melting of the Greenland ice sheet are amongst the most visible and dramatic signs of the climate crisis we face.

That has profound implications for the iconic species of the ice, from walrus to polar bears, and for the people who call the Arctic home. 

And he warned that what happens in the Arctic doesnt stay in the Arctic.

Speaking from the edge of the sea ice, on board the Greenpeace Ship Arctic Sunrise, Greenpeace campaigner Laura Meller said: The rapid disappearance of sea ice is a sobering indicator of how closely our planet is circling the drain.

As the Arctic melts, the ocean will absorb more heat, and all of us will be more exposed to the devastating effects of climate breakdown.

She said the Arctic ice cap is a frozen ocean in urgent need of protection.

We need to hit the reset button right now on how we look after each other and our planet by protecting at least 30% of our oceans by 2030 to help our planet cope with the climate breakdown.
Russia's Gazprom asks for extra capacities for gas transit via Ukraine in Oct  Naftogaz

15:40, 22.09.20 2926

Gazprom will pay for the capacities in full.
Imperial Valley News Center

State-Sponsored Iranian Hackers Indicted for Computer Intrusions at U.S. Satellite Companies

Washington, DC - An indictment was unsealed Thursday charging three computer hackers, all of whom were residents and nationals of the Islamic Republic of Iran (Iran), with engaging in a coordinated campaign of identity theft and hacking on behalf of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a designated foreign terrorist organization, in order to steal critical information related to U.S. aerospace and satellite technology and resources.

For the third time in three days, the Department has charged Iranian hackers, said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers. This case highlights the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps efforts to infiltrate the networks of American companies in search of valuable commercial information and intellectual property. It is yet another effort by a rogue foreign nation to steal the fruits of this countrys hard work and expertise.

We will relentlessly pursue and expose those who seek to harm American companies and individuals wherever they reside in the world, said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. The use of malware, the theft of commercial data and intellectual property, and the use of social engineering to steal the identities of U.S. citizens to accomplish unlawful acts will not be tolerated. Along with our incredible and steadfast law enforcement partners, the Eastern District of Virginia continues to lead efforts to combat serious cybercrime globally and the charges outlined in the indictment exposing IRGC linked hacking operations in the United States are just another example of the fruits of our seamless teamwork.

Todays charges are yet another example of the FBIs dedication to investigating those who target and attempt to steal data and proprietary information from the U.S., said James A. Dawson, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBIs Washington Field Office. Todays charges allege that these individuals conspired in a coordinated campaign with known IRGC members and acted at their direction. The defendants targeted thousands of individuals in an attempt to steal critical information related to U.S. aerospace and satellite technology. The FBI remains dedicated to protecting the U.S., and we continue to impose risk and consequences on cyber adversaries through our unique authorities, world-class capabilities, and enduring partnerships.

As alleged in the indictment, the defendants hacking campaign, which targeted numerous companies and organizations in the United States and abroad, began in approximately July 2015 and continued until at least February 2019. According to the indictment, the defendants at one time possessed a target list of over 1,800 online accounts, including accounts belonging to organizations and companies involved in aerospace or satellite technology and international government organizations in Australia, Israel, Singapore, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

To facilitate their victimization of these targets, the defendants engaged in a coordinated campaign of social engineering to identify real U.S. citizens working in the satellite and aerospace fields whose identities the defendants could assume online. The defendants then impersonated those individuals and used their stolen identities to register email addresses and fraudulently purchase domains and hacking tools for use in the scheme. The defendants then created customized spear phishing emails that purported to be from the individuals whose identities the defendants had stolen, in an attempt to entice the recipients to click on malicious links embedded in the emails. Once a recipient clicked on a malicious link, malware would be downloaded to the individuals computer, giving the defendants unauthorized access to the recipients computer and network. The defendants then used additional hacking tools to maintain unauthorized access, escalate their privileges, and steal data sought by the IRGC. Using these methods, the defendants successfully compromised multiple victim networks, resulting in the theft of sensitive commercial information, intellectual property, and personal data from victim companies, including a satellite-tracking company and a satellite voice and data communication company.

Charged in the indictment are defendants Said Pourkarim Arabi, 34, Mohammad Reza Espargham, age unknown, and Mohammad Bayati, 34. The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia has issued warrants for their arrest.

Arabi, who was a member of the IRGC, is charged with conspiracy to commit computer intrusions, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, obtaining information by unauthorized access to protected computers, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, intentional damage to protected computers, which carries a maximum sentence of ten years in prison, aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory sentence of two years in prison, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

Esphargham is charged with conspiracy to commit computer intrusions, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, obtaining information by unauthorized access to protected computers, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, intentional damage to protected computers, which carries a maximum sentence of ten years in prison, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

Bayati is charged with conspiracy to commit computer intrusions, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathaniel Smith III, Jay V. Prabhu, and Danya Atiyeh, and Trial Attorney Evan Turgeon of the National Security Divisions Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting this case.

An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The two rivals will discuss ending the internal division and holding general elections.

Palestinian party Fatah, which dominates the Palestinian Authority (PA) government in the occupied West Bank, will meet a Hamas delegation in the Turkish capital of Ankara on Tuesday as follow-up from a meeting earlier this month of the heads of Palestinian factions.

The two rivals will discuss ending the internal division from when the Hamas movement took control of the Gaza Strip in 2007 after a pre-emptive coup by Fatah.

They will also hold talks on developing a strategy to face the challenges facing Palestinian causes, mainly President Donald Trumps Middle East plan as well as the recent normalisation of relations  by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain  with Israel.

On its official Twitter account, Fatah announced its delegation  which includes the Secretary of the Fatah Central Committee Jibril Rajoub  arrived in Turkey to hold meetings with a delegation from Hamas that includes its leader and his deputy about ending the division and implementing the recommendations of the general-secretaries meeting.

                               .    (@fatehorg) September 21, 2020

A member of the Hamas political bureau, Khalil al-Hayya, said the meeting is an extension of the dialogues between the Palestinian forces, to implement the outcomes of the meeting of the general-secretaries of the factions that took place in Ramallah.

Al-Hayya added Hamas was eager to achieve national unity to lead a comprehensive national strategy in the face of challenges and plans that target the Palestinian cause.

General elections

On September 3, PA President Mahmoud Abbas held a meeting where the heads of Palestinian factions agreed to consolidate a peaceful transfer of power through free and fair elections according to proportional representation.

Earlier, Rajoub had announced the Palestinians were heading in the direction of general elections, adding that their decision is in their hands, far from the influence and care of any regional party.

The Palestinians have not held general elections since 2006, and the internal division began a year later due to the conflict that took place between Fatah and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Since then, all attempts by the two sides to reconcile have failed.
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Linkedin Fadli (The Jakarta Post) Batam  Wed, September 23 2020

Six people  five of whom have been identified as Indonesian nationals  were found dead in Johor, Malaysia, after a boat they used to illegally enter the country was reportedly involved in an accident.

Local authorities discovered the six bodies  four men and two women  at around 5 a.m. on Sunday.

Anang Fauzi Firdaus, consul for information, social and cultural affairs at the Indonesian Consulate General in Johor Bahru, said the office had coordinated with Kota Tinggi Police in Johor to obtain more information on the case.

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KAMPALA  Finance Minister Matia Kasaija on Tuesday morning has on behalf of Government signed Exchange of Notes with the Japanese Ambassador to Uganda, Kazuaki Kameda for providing to Uganda grant funds (USD 3.8 million) approximately Shs14 billion under the Economic and Social Development Program.

The Grant funds to the Ministry of Health will be used to procure Ambulances, Hospital beds and other medical equipment to address the Covid-19 impacts.

Kasaija said this support will relieve the pressure on the already existing infrastructure in the various health facilities and will also complement Governments on-going efforts of addressing and containing the pandemic.

I want to affirm,Your Excellency,that we shall fulfil our obligations under this exchange of Notes, he said.

The Japanese Ambassador said the Covid-19 pandemic is showing no signs of stopping and is now a human security crisis which is threatening the survival, livelihood and diginity of people.

What is important now is that every one of the citizens adheres to the basic preventive measures of washing hands,wearing face masks, social distancing and observing standard operating procedures, said Ambassador Kameda who will soon end his tour of duty in Uganda.

The Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health, Diana Atwine thanked the Japanese Government for the support, pledging accountability and effective use of the resources.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 16:02:15|Editor: huaxia

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NANJING, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Nanjing Customs in east China's Jiangsu Province has cracked a major diamond smuggling case, arresting five suspects in Chinese cities including Nanjing, Suzhou, and Guangzhou, and confiscating 53 diamonds.

According to the police, the suspects who were not authorized importers, selected diamonds from overseas suppliers through mobile phone applications and had them delivered in Hong Kong. They hired passengers and cross-border cargo agents to smuggle them to the mainland.

The seized diamonds are valued at about 50 million yuan (7.35 million U.S. dollars). The case is under further investigation. Enditem
SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Beaumont Accountable Care Organization is again the top-performing ACO in Michigan in terms of savings percentage generated and one of the best in the country, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The ACO generated $27.8 million in gross savings for contract year 2019.



"Strong partnerships between Beaumont Health and physicians has helped us transform health care by improving efficiency, reducing costs and improving care," Beaumont Health ACO Board Chairman Dr. Belal Abdallah said. "We always strive to provide the best care to patients in a cost-effective manner."

The Beaumont ACO is a physician and health system partnership with more than 1,900 physician members. It is built on the guiding principles of trust, transparency and physician leadership. This partnership has allowed physicians and hospitals to share in cost savings resulting from their efforts to improve patient care and outcomes.

Walter Lorang, Beaumont ACO Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer, said, "Our benchmark for success was raised by CMS in 2019 and I am proud the Beaumont ACO continues to exceed the target and create savings in the program. While many ACOs have begun to drop out of the program or struggle to meet the new targets, our performance has elevated. We are always searching for ways to help patients manage their health by strengthening their relationships with physicians. We collaborate with physicians to improve communication and information sharing among primary care physicians, specialists and hospitals."

This is the seventh consecutive year the Beaumont ACO achieved significant cost savings, dating back to its origin as the Oakwood ACO. ACOs must meet financial and quality targets set by Medicare to achieve shared savings.



SOURCE Beaumont Health
In July, laws criminalising bullying were passed in the country for the first time, introducing penalties including jail terms

Egypts prosecutor-general has ordered the detention of five defendants pending investigations into two separate incidents of assault against persons with disabilities.

The prosecution said in a statement that it has seen a video showing three teenagers assaulting a 62-year-old victim with a disability in Upper Egypts Sohag.

Two of the teenagers are seen mocking the man in the video, and another pushes him into a canal as they laugh, the prosecution said. The teens also threw rocks and garbage to stop the man from climbing back to land.

The prosecution charged the three teenagers with endangering the safety and security of a person with a disability, violating the family principles of society and violating the victims privacy.

The statement added that the prosecution has also ordered the detention of two other boys in Qalioubiya for assaulting a person with a disability, videotaping the incident and posting it on social media.

The prosecution charged them with bullying the victim by exploiting his mental state, endangering his safety and life, and violating family principles.

Egypt has recently started to take steps to raise public awareness about the negative impact of bullying.

In July, laws criminalising bullying were passed in the country for the first time, introducing penalties including jail terms.

The new article to the countrys penal code defines bullying as a show of force or control by the offender, or the abuse of a vulnerable victim, or as an offence committed on the basis of gender, race, religion, physical attributes, health or mental status, or social class.

The penalties include a prison term of no less than six months and/or a fine ranging from EGP 10,000 to EGP 100,000.

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A SURGE in feed ingredient costs on world markets over the last month has killed the chances of a drop in ration prices this winter.





Compounders predict that the cost of beef and dairy rations will hold at current levels into the winter, with most quoting a delivered price of 255-275/t for standard beef rations, depending on protein content, ingredients and tonnage.

It had been anticipated that feed ration prices would ease this winter on the back of expected bumper harvest yields in the US, Ukraine and Russia.

However, stronger demand from China and harvest difficulties across Europe and North America has prompted a 10pc jump in the cost of feed ingredients.

Importers report that the cost of soya has increased from 350/t to 380/t, with distillers increasing from 210/t to 230/t. Rape meal prices have jumped 15/t to 245/t, while corn gluten has increased from 195/t to 205/t. Soya hulls are 10/t dearer at 175/t, with beet pulp increasing by a similar margin to 215/t.

Reports that hedge funds and speculators are investing in the markets has driven on commodity prices further, one compounder said.

John Bergin of importers R&H Hall said a number of factors have coalesced to push on raw material costs.

The drought in Britain has knocked 3.5m tonnes off the UK wheat harvest, he explained, while harvest difficulties in the Ukraine resulted in the wheat harvest coming in 7m tonnes under expectations at 32m tonnes.

Meanwhile, end-of-season weather events in the US, and currency related issues in Argentine, along with increased Chinese demand, have all combined to drive on markets over the last three weeks, Mr Bergin said.

Staying with feed prices, ICMSA has urged feed compounders to maximise usage of native grains this year. Were cognisant of the pressures that tillage farmers have been under and we would certainly welcome a more active sourcing of Irish ingredients for inclusion in feed, said Denis Drennan, chairperson of ICMSAs Farm and Rural Affairs Committee.

Feed bills are a very significant cost on farms...but wed still prefer to see more Irish ingredients in our ration, he said.

In related news, early reports from the beans harvest suggest that yields this year are well back. Growers report yields of 1.5-2t/ac, back around 30pc on previous years.
Chron.com is following the latest headlines on the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on the Houston area.

Texas surpassed 700,000 cases last week, and case numbers continued to grow over the weekend, according to a Houston Chronicle analysis.

Cases increased by 5,141 statewide, bringing the total number of people who were infected to 714,591. Deaths increased by 53 to 15,101 total.

In the Houston region, cases increased by 633 to 176,975. The region accounts for nearly a quarter of cases in Texas. In Harris County alone, cases increased by 553 to 123,817.

Deaths in Harris County increased by eight, bringing the total to 3,325 deaths.

Houston ISD released an updated list of schools and facilities which contain presumptively positive cases:

Burnet Elementary School

Hilliard Elementary School

Osborne Elementary School

Patterson Elementary School

Petersen Elementary School

Rucker Elementary School

Stevens Elementary School

Navarro Middle School

Chavez High School

Heights High School

Sterling Aviation Early College High School

Westbury High School

Construction Services Support Facility

NOTE: The numbers included in this report represent a one-day change in data from Saturday, Sept. 19 through Sunday, Sept. 20. It is still unclear how many of the state's new cases can be attributed to jail inmates from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. The Houston Chronicle's analysis of COVID-19 case data now includes probable and pending cases. This change is based on interviews with multiple public health officials and epidemiologists, as well as in line with CDC guidelines on reporting. DSHS is now using death certificate data for its counts of COVID deaths, leading some Texas counties to have dramatically higher counts than others and some counties to have higher numbers than state figures.
An American flag flies at half-staff over the White House in Washington. Read more

WASHINGTON  A Canadian woman accused of mailing a package containing ricin to the White House included a threatening letter in which she told President Donald Trump to give up and remove your application for this election, according to court papers filed Tuesday.

Pascale Ferrier, of Quebec, was arrested Sunday at the U.S.-Canada border and made her first court appearance Tuesday afternoon in federal court in Buffalo, New York. She faces a charge of threatening the president.

 READ MORE: Woman accused of mailing ricin to White House is suspected of sending poison to Texas agencies

The envelope containing the toxic substance and the threatening letter was addressed to the White House but intercepted at a mail sorting facility on Friday. The package, postmarked from Canada, included a letter in which she referred to Trump as The Ugly Tyrant Clown and directed him to give up and remove your application for this election, according to an FBI affidavit filed in the case.

So I made a special gift for you to make a decision. This gift is in this letter, she wrote, according to the affidavit. If it doesnt work, Ill find better recipe for another poison, or I might use my gun when Ill be able to come. Enjoy! FREE REBEL SPIRIT.

Ferrier appeared in court briefly Tuesday and U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder Jr. entered a not-guilty plea on her behalf. Through an interpreter and her attorney, she also asked for an identity hearing  which would compel the government to prove that she is indeed the person for whom the arrest warrant was issued  and a probable cause hearing for the government to prove there is sufficient cause to proceed in the case. The judge ordered Ferrier held without bail. Shes due back in court Monday.

During the investigation, the FBI discovered that six additional similar letters appeared to have been received in Texas in September and also had stamps indicating that theyd been mailed from Canada, according to court papers.

Those letters contained similar language to the letter that was sent to Trump and were sent to people affiliated with facilities where Ferrier had been jailed in 2019.

Investigators also matched Ferriers fingerprints from four of the letters, the complaint said.

In Facebook and Twitter posts in September, Ferrier, 53, also wrote #killTrump and used similar wording as she did in the letter, calling him an Ugly Clown Tyrant, according to the document.

When she was arrested Sunday while trying to enter a border crossing in Buffalo, Ferrier told Customs and Border Patrol agents that she was wanted by the FBI for the ricin letters, the complaint said. Officers found a loaded gun in her waistband and said she was also carrying a knife.

 READ MORE: Woman accused of sending poison-filled letter to White House arrested at New York-Canada border

Ferrier was booked into the Hidalgo County jail in March of 2019 on two charges of unlawfully carrying a weapon and one charge of tampering with government records, according to online jail records. Pascale is listed as living in Quebec, and was released in May of last year. The records state the charges against her were ordered dismissed.

Ferrier immigrated to Canada from France and became a Canadian citizen in 2015, according to her Facebook profile.

Justin Taylor, a cousin in Texas, confirmed she was originally from France. He said she has extended family in Texas and was looking at possibly moving there after driving to Texas in her RV. Her called her arrest very surprising. A very nice lady, very warm and kind, Taylor said.
Patients and donors to at least four different health care providers in Minnesota are being notified that their personal information may have been compromised.

The potential data breach involves hundreds of thousands of patients and donors at Childrens Minnesota, Allina Health, Regions Hospital and Gillette Childrens Specialty Healthcare.

The hack is part of a ransomware attack on a cloud computing company called Blackbaud, which manages databases for a number of nonprofits.

Since learning of this incident, we have been working with Blackbaud to understand the scope of the ransomware attack and the steps it is taking to prevent future data security incidents, a statement from Allina Health said. Our security experts have evaluated Blackbauds security protocols and feel confident it has taken the appropriate action to further protect the information entrusted to it.

More than 200,000 patients and donors from Allina Health hospitals and clinics and more than 160,000 patients and donors at Childrens Minnesota have been notified of the possible data breach.

Childrens Minnesota has told those involved to check their medical bills for signs of fraud.

Allinas breach notice says the information involved, including names, addresses and possibly medical information, does not put individuals at risk for identity or financial theft, the Star Tribune reported.

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

Topics Cyber Minnesota
Several financial technology apps have come under the government's scanner over links with Chinese entities, amid border tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

The apps are on the Centre's radar over data and privacy breaches, and might even be banned, according to a Mint report.

"What has set the alarm bells ringing is the presence of Chinese nationals as directors in several of these lending apps," a source told the Mint.

Moneycontrol could not independently verify the story.

"The potential implications of a data compromise from fintechs such as lending apps are quite grave since it involves sharing sensitive financial data of the user to the lender," another source told Mint

"The kind of data one provides to fintech firms is riskier than what one would share on social media networks. Data on income tax, Aadhaar card and other details are taken by these app-based lenders," the source added.

Since the clash between Indian and Chinese troops at Ladakh's Galwan Valley in June, the Centre has banned 177 Chinese apps over security concerns.

The list of banned apps includes popular short video platform TikTok and the mobile version of gaming app PUBG.
The Covid-19 pandemic prompted a rapid response from medical schemes to find ways to assist their members, while still maintaining compliance with the very tight regulatory framework that governs the funding industry.

Lerato Mosiah, CEO, Health Funders Association

Innovation

From as early as March, members with a confirmed diagnosis of Covid-19 were assured that their tests and treatment for the disease would be funded in full," says Lerato Mosiah, CEO of the Health Funders Association.For medical schemes, this meant allocating unbudgeted funds for extensive testing and treatment, including the often-prolonged funding of high cost, lifesaving treatment in hospital.Assisting members to stay safe and adhere to infection control measures meant the rapid implementation of coverage for additional benefits like virtual consultations with health service providers and funding for extra personal protective equipment (PPE) in hospital as well as isolation facilities.Together with hospital groups, schemes closely monitored the utilisation of high care and ICU hospital beds with a view to redirecting their members to facilities with available space when necessary.South Africas extended lockdown has resulted in severe financial hardship and a complete or partial loss of income for many medical scheme members.Mosiah says that many medical schemes have structured innovative ways, within regulatory parameters and within scheme rules, of accommodating members who are struggling to pay contributions due to an interruption in their earnings.While some schemes have permitted members to utilise their accumulated savings to pay contributions, others have offered payment concessions to SMMEs," she says.She adds that schemes focus on providing a range of plans to meet medical and affordability needs across their membership, and members are always encouraged to consult their financial advisers to find an option best suited to them and to enable them to retain cover.For medical schemes, budgeting for 2021 will be challenging. The uncertainties around the trajectory of the Covid-19 pandemic and the treatment and prevention requirements mean that schemes will need to make provision for managing the disease and any arising clinical complications.Scheme reserves have also been negatively impacted by the struggling economy and difficult investment markets, and schemes must take this uncertainty into account when pricing contributions into the future," says Mosiah.Protecting members, both through providing adequate benefits and through ensuring that contributions remain affordable is going to require that medical schemes navigate carefully through this complex time," she says.
[Follow our live coverage of the 2020 election between President Trump and Joe Biden.]

Joseph R. Biden Jr. directly appealed on Monday to voters who once supported Barack Obama but were drawn to Donald J. Trump in the 2016 election, visiting a foundry in northeast Wisconsin and accusing the president of turning his back on working people.

Mr. Trump was also looking to drum up support in the Midwest, flying to Ohio for rallies in the Dayton and Toledo areas as he tries to keep that state in his column this November.

In his latest trip to a Midwestern battleground, Mr. Biden traveled to Manitowoc, a city along Lake Michigan in a county that Mr. Trump won by 21 percentage points in 2016  a drastic shift from 2008, when Mr. Obama won there by nearly eight points. (Mitt Romney narrowly won it in 2012.)

I know many of you were frustrated, Mr. Biden said at the Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry, offering a message to people who voted for Mr. Trump in 2016. You were angry. You believe we werent seen  you werent being seen, represented or heard. I get it. It has to change, and I promise you this: It will change with me. You will be seen, heard and respected by me.


Advent Energy Limited June 2020 Annual Financial Statements

Perth, Sep 22, 2020 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Advent Energy has conducted a focused seismic campaign around a key drilling prospect in PEP11 at Baleen, in the offshore Sydney Basin. The high resolution 2D seismic survey covering approximately 200-line km was performed to assist in the drilling of the Baleen target approximately 30 km south east of Newcastle, New South Wales. A drilling target on the Baleen prospect at a depth of 2150 metres subsea has been identified in a review of previous seismic data. Intersecting 2D lines suggest an extrapolated 6000 acre (24.3 km2) seismic amplitude anomaly area at that drilling target. The report on this drilling target noted previous 2D seismic data showed that the Permian aged section of the Bowen Basin has producing conventional gas fields at a similar time and depth to PEP11 at the Triassic/Permian age boundary.Advent's prior presentation 'Strategic Summary: Tactics to Success ' confirmed the strategy of "Complete current 2D seismic commitment to deliver shallow hazard survey work _to deliver 'drill ready' gas prospect ....for early drilling ,capturing near-term rig availability off Australia's coast."The high resolution 2D seismic data over the Baleen prospect designed to evaluate (amongst other things) shallow geohazard indications including shallow gas accumulations that can affect future potential drilling operations. It is a drilling prerequisite that a site survey is made prior to drilling at the Baleen location. On 31 December 2018 MEC announced that there were "no 'seismically defined shallow gas hazards "at the proposed well location on the Baleen Prospect.Onshore Bonaparte BasinAdvent Energy Ltd ("Advent"), through wholly owned subsidiary Onshore Energy Pty Ltd, holds 100% of RL 1 in the onshore Bonaparte Basin in northern Australia. The Bonaparte Basin is a highly prospective petroliferous basin, with significant reserves of oil and gas. Most of the basin is located offshore, covering 250,000 square kilometres, compared to just over 20,000 square kilometres onshore.In the Northern Territory, Advent holds Retention Licence RL1 (166 square kilometres in area), which covers the Weaber Gas Field, originally discovered in 1985. Advent has previously advised that the 2C Contingent Resources for the Weaber Gas Field in RL1 are 11.5 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of natural gas following an independent audit by RISC. Significant upside 3C Contingent Resources of 45.8 Bcf have also been assessed by RISC.The current rapid development of the Kununurra region in northern Western Australia, including the Ord River Irrigation Area phase 2, the township of Kununurra, and numerous regional resource projects provides an exceptional opportunity for Advent to potentially develop its nearby gas resources. Market studies have identified a current market demand of up to 30.8 TJ per day of power generation capacity across the Kimberley region that could potentially be supplied by Advent Energy's conventional gas project RL1.Unconventional Resources within RL1The prospectivity of the Bonaparte Basin is evident from the known oil and gas fields in both the offshore and onshore portions of the basin. Advent has identified significant shale areas in RL1.To view the Advent Energy Annual Report, please visit:About BPH Energy Limited

BPH Energy Limited (ASX:BPH) is an Australian Securities Exchange listed company developing biomedical research and technologies within Australian Universities and Hospital Institutes.

The company provides early stage funding, project management and commercialisation strategies for a direct collaboration, a spin out company or to secure a license.

BPH provides funding for commercial strategies for proof of concept, research and product development, whilst the institutional partner provides infrastructure and the core scientific expertise.

BPH currently partners with several academic institutions including The Harry Perkins Institute for Medical Research and Swinburne University of Technology (SUT).
The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts is defending its plan to have Carnival 2022 events on a limited basis.

This as the decision has been met with mixed reviews from stakeholders and members of the public.

In a release yesterday, the ministry said: To reiterate, the ministry has proposed a Taste of Carnival which would include specific types of Carnival activities for vaccinated persons only in safe-zone arrangements deemed to pose the least risk from a public health standpoint in the context of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
Cancer June 22-July 22 Ahhh, that's better! The sun has moved into your sector of home so you Crabs, the homebodies of the zodiac, will be in your element. This is the prime time to get some new cushions, plants, plot a veggie patch or redecorate an outdoor area. Or if you want to takeout next level redecorate, refurbish or renovate. Leo July 23-August 22

If your usual Feline charming has been failing to win over a tough critic you have a month before they are eating out of the palm of your hand! The sun, which is your ruling 'planet' is visiting your sector associated with communication boosting your self-expression and making it easier for you to get your point across. Virgo August 23-September 22 Money matters are on your mind. Usually shrewd Virgos are good at savings but obstacles have restricted your ability to clear debt or save. Now though as the sun shines brightly in your finance sector you'll be able to navigate your way through with a fresh perspective and some great ideas about how to boost your income and lower expenses. Libra

September 23-October 22 Happy birthday, Librans! The sun and Mercury in your sign will boost your energy, confidence and enthusiasm as well as give you some clarity. You'll be more decisive, wilful and more inclined to dig your heels in, which will be a joy to some and a shock to others. The enthusiasm you radiate will be contagious! Scorpio October 23  November 22 Recently, like most people, you're probably over isolation. Today though and the sun moves into your sector of solitude and spirituality you'll enjoy soul searching and moments alone. If you've been meaning to follow through on empty promises to meditate each day, find an online yoga class that suits you and nurture yourself on the inside now's the time.

Sagittarius November 23-December 20 If you've been meaning to spend quality time with one of your closest friends in the flesh or via technology today you'll make it a priority. However, friends who have been taking advantage of you or less than sympathetic are in for a rude shock and a dressing down. Before you do so make sure you have all the facts. Capricorn December 21-January 19

Goats will be in your element over the next month as the sun pays its annual visit to your sector of career, image and status. Dress the part will help you to land the part so sort out your wardrobe even if it's just the top half for homeworkers. Your sweat and toil will be duly noted and rewarded! Aquarius January 20-February 18 We are all craving a holiday but with the sun moving into your sector of travel you in particular will be going a bit stir crazy. If you can, organise a weekend rural get away with a few of your closest friends and revel in nature. If it's an impossible task escape with your mind through books and films. Pisces
PALM SPRINGS, Calif.  The battle to save Mount Wilson Observatory from the raging Bobcat Fire continued Monday evening, firefighting officials said at a virtual public meeting. More than two weeks since it began, the growing blaze had consumed more than 106,000 acres.

Containment was at 17% and rising as of Monday evening, according to Incident Commander Jerry McGowan. Thats good news," he said. "However, there were 219 miles of (fire) line we had to go around.

Vince Pena from the Los Angeles County Fire Department said the Bobcat Fire destroyed 18 buildings and damaged 11, and as many as 85 were potentially affected. A count is likely to be completed by midweek. He said the fire was projected to be contained around Oct. 30, labeling that an "objective, middle-of-the-road date."

The fire forced the evacuation of about 1,100 households and 4,000 people, a number that was growing as of Monday.

A firefighting force of 1,467 personnel, 227 engines, 18 bulldozers, six helicopters and an assortment of other equipment was dispatched to the blaze, building 71 miles of dozer lines and 15 miles of hand lines, McGowan said.

El Dorado Fire: A firefighter died battling the gender-reveal-ignited blaze.

Snow Fire: Containment grows on the fire near Palm Springs.

Asked if that was enough, McGowan didn't hesitate. The answers no," he said, "but keep in mind the Bobcat Fires not the only fire in the state of California or the western United States.

As of Monday, more than 19,000 firefighters faced 27 major blazes around the state, according to Cal Fire data.

"Since the beginning of the year, there have been well over 7,900 wildfires that have burned over 3.6 million acres in California. Since August 15, when Californias fire activity elevated, there have been 26 fatalities and over 6,400 structures destroyed," according to a news release from the state agency.

Firefighters construct a line to battle the Bobcat Fire.

Researchers and other experts blame the record-shattering fire season on a mix of factors ranging from a century of over-zealous fire suppression to climate change drying out vegetation and raising temperatures.

Story continues

"The scary thing about all this is we havent even begun our Santa Ana wind periods in Southern California," said Daryl Osby, fire chief of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

The strong Santa Ana winds bring hot, dry weather to Southern California in the fall, creating intense fire conditions.

"Were in extreme conditions right now," Patrick Doyle, a fire behavior analyst with the California incident management team, said Monday. He said grass was so dry it was "like gasoline."

McGowan said the battle against the blaze was challenging as it occurred in steep terrain around the Angeles National Forest.Air support was temporarily grounded Monday after an unidentified flying object entered the fire's air space. He said that if private citizens pilot drones in the area, "that hampers us greatly, so I would appreciate it if people did not do that.

A tanker drops frame retardant near the Bobcat Fire.

Officials said the fire line seemed to hold along the southern end of the fire, but concern remained around the northwest and northeast portions. San Bernardino County sheriff's deputies were dispatched to Wrightwood to assist in case of an evacuation. The fire line was 5 to 10 miles west of San Bernardino County as of Monday.

The American Red Cross set up a temporary evacuation point at Palmdale High School, and a spokesperson said it has assisted more than 170 people.

Mark Olalde covers the environment for The Desert Sun. Get in touch at molalde@gannett.com, and follow him on Twitter at @MarkOlalde.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Bobcat Fire in LA threatens Mount Wilson, 18 buildings destroyed
Russia has not yet made an official request to restore water supplies to Crimea.

To raise the issue of having water supplies to Crimea resumed, Russia must appeal to the Ukrainian authorities as an occupying power, in accordance with humanitarian law.

That's according to Ukraine's Permanent Representative to the UN, Serhiy Kyslytsya, who spoke with Crimea.Realities.

Read alsoZelensky's envoy explains why Russia mustering troops in CrimeaHe also noted that the Russian Federation has not yet taken such a step, but it has always resorted to hysteria.

"They should turn to Ukraine with an official request, not threats or tantrums, you know. And then we will look into this, then the relevant ministries and departments will look at what our reaction should be. As far as I know, today the occupying power has never asked Ukraine to start a dialogue on the issue. Instead, we see a lot of fuss and hysterics behind the scenes of this problem," said Kyslytsya.

Water supplies to Crimea: background
NORTH ELBA  A black lawn sign with white lettering reads: Boy. Playground. Toy Gun. Squad Car Zoomed Up. No Questions. Shot Point Blank. Tamir Rice 2002-2014.

A young Black man, a dancer with the Elisa Monte Dance company of Harlem, encountered that sign on a recent visit to the John Brown Farm, a state historic site where the 19th-century abolitionist is buried.

I watched this young man collapse to the ground, sobbing as he read the memorial markers, recalled Martha Swan, executive director of John Brown Lives!, an education and human rights project based at the farm. She walked over and gently touched his hand in a comforting gesture.

The young man buried his head in Swans shoulder and wept.

Unarmed Teenager. Confronted by Police. Flees. Pursued. 12 Shots. 6 Hits. Michael Brown Jr. 1994-2014.

Plainclothed Police. Wrong Address. No Knock Warrant. Sleeping EMT. Shot Dead. Breonna Taylor 1996-2020.

There are 50 of these markers, resembling tombstones, arrayed in the grass around a bronze statue of John Brown. They stop you in your tracks.

I visited the John Brown Farm last month with my wife, Mary, during a weekend stay in nearby Saranac Lake. We were moved to tears by the silent force of the Memorial Field for Black Lives.

The experience appears to be even more intense for people of color.

When you read those names one after another, it is an incredibly powerful and painful experience, particularly for Black people, said Tiffany Rea-Fisher, artistic director of the Elisa Monte Dance company, in residence this summer at the Lake Placid Center for the Arts. The memorial field is an intense reminder that everyday events can turn into a body count if you are Black.

Rea-Fisher and 11 dancers filmed a dance piece at the John Brown Farm last month for a film that connects the abolitionist with todays Black Lives Matter movement across the centuries of an ongoing struggle for racial equality.

It was Rea-Fishers first visit to the farm after coming to Lake Placid for a summer dance residency for the past 16 years.

I was floored that I never knew about the John Brown Farm since its so close to Lake Placid, she said. George Floyds death made people more empowered to do something and to realize its not just a Black issue. Racism is an issue that must be faced by all Americans.

John Brown was a radical white abolitionist who led a predawn raid of 21 fighters on Oct. 17, 1859, on Harpers Ferry, Va., that included capturing prominent citizens and seizing a federal armory and arsenal. His plan was to arm like-minded freedom fighters and slaves who would create a mass uprising. The plan failed and a federal force under the command of Col. Robert E. Lee stormed the fighters, killing many and capturing the leader.

Brown was hanged for treason, murder and slave insurrection on Dec. 2, 1859. He was buried on his family farm in North Elba on the outskirts of Lake Placid.

Brown was drawn to the Adirondacks by abolitionist and philanthropist Gerrit Smith, who gave away 120,000 acres in 40-acre parcels beginning in 1846 to 3,000 poor and landless free Black men willing to farm in the flinty soil of the North Country. The property giveaway was meant to help Black men meet the state's requirement of property ownership for voting rights. Some referred to this Black settlement as Timbuctoo, the spelling of which is a variant on Timbuktu, the city in Mali that for centuries has been a center of trade and scholarship.

Archaeologists continue to search for remnants of settlers cabins in the Adirondacks. A lack of physical objects and racist attitudes conspired to cause that chapter in Adirondack history to be largely forgotten.

The display was installed at a fraught time for race relations in the Adirondacks. Police are investigating racist graffiti spray painted on a bridge in Saranac Lake that is along the exercise route of Nicole Hylton-Patterson, a Black woman who is the inaugural director of the Adirondack Diversity Initiative. Earlier this month, State Police confirmed the troopers reopened an investigation into an off-duty Cohoes police officer's claim he was shot at by a Black man.

A heightened awareness of Black history in this time of reckoning is helping to revive interest in John Brown and Timbuctoo.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

I heard one visitor who said John Brown was the original Black Lives Matter activist, said Brendan Mills, interpretive program assistant at the state historic site. We try to educate people and set the record straight about John Brown because there is so much disinformation about him."

"Visitors ask me all the time if John Brown was crazy," Mill said. "I say he was a sane man dealing with the insane system of slavery.

There has been an increase in visitors to the John Brown Farm this summer, some drawn to the Memorial Field for Black Lives. The installation opened on June 19, known as Juneteenth or Emancipation Day, an annual commemoration of emancipation celebrated in the Black community since June 19, 1865. It creates a continuum from Browns and Smiths 19th-century efforts to abolish slavery and the work of todays activists to overcome systemic racism in the 21st century.

The memorial field will be on display through Nov. 1, when the farms buildings close for the winter, although the grounds are open year-round.

I started with one sign for Breonna Taylor and one for George Floyd and I became galvanized to research the incontrovertible truths of these wrongful deaths, said Karen Davidson Seward, a Lake Placid artist and book designer who created the memorial field. I could not think of a better place for the exhibit than the John Brown Farm. Its sobering to see how polarized we remain today about racial justice.

Last week, Seward visited the farm with Amy Godine, a writer and Adirondack historian who collaborated with Seward on Dreaming of Timbuctoo, a permanent exhibit at the farm that details Smiths effort to create a colony of Black farmers in Essex and Franklin counties. They met a young woman who lives locally, the daughter of a Black father and white mother. 

She explained some harsh realities about white supremacy in the North Country today, Seward said.

It still exists.

As part of the memorial field project, Swan held readings of a speech delivered by Frederick Douglass on July 5, 1852 in Rochester titled What to the Slave is the Fourth of July? She also organized an Aug. 29 performance at the memorial field by jazz violinist Charlie Burnham, The Violin Vigil for Black Lives, dedicated to 23-year-old Elijah McClain, who played the violin to stray cats to soothe them. McClain died in August 2019 after police in Aurora, Colo, restrained him with a chokehold as he was walking home from a convenience store and someone called 911 because he looked suspicious. McClains death inspired spontaneous violin vigils around the country.

Filmmaker Paul Miller, of Bethlehem, who is completing a documentary about Timbuctoo, finds a strong linkage between the Black settlers of the 1850s Adirondacks and todays Black Lives Matter activists. But as a person of color, it is dispiriting to see that were still fighting the same battle more than 170 years later, he said

Miller plans to include footage of Black Lives Matter demonstrations and the memorial fields signs like this one: Handcuffed Man. Face Down on Ground. Police Knee Pinned Neck. I Cant Breathe. George Floyd 1974-2020.

Paul Grondahl is director of the New York State Writers Institute at the University at Albany and a former Times Union reporter. He can be reached at grondahlpaul@gmail.com
By Aparajita Ghosh, TwoCircles.net

Mumbai: Family of a 26-year-old cab driver Sohail Sheikh in Chembur area of Mumbai, Maharashtra has accused police of causing his death due to excessive beating during police custody.

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Police started thrashing him on his head and arms with a waist belt inside the police station. No questions were asked, Sohails uncle Tayyab Mansoor told TwoCircles.net

On the afternoon of 15 September, Sohail Sheikh and his uncle Tayyab Mansoor Sheikh were at home when police in civvies arrived and searched the house. The police suspected the duo of carrying out illegal work.

According to Tayyab, on finding nothing at home, they asked him and Sohail to accompany them to RCF police station.

After taking the duo to the first floor of the police station, they allegedly started hitting Sohail with a waist belt.

He suffered from hypertension and started sweating profusely after an hour, said Tayyab.

Tayyab says he kept requesting police to provide medication to Sohail and was later allowed to make a call for medicines after two hours.

Police Station me sabko paseena aata hein (Everyone sweats at the police station) the police told them and continued beating the 26-year-old.

Sohail was later given medicines and went to sleep.

Tayyab said the police demanded a whopping amount of Rs 2.5 lakhs in exchange for release.

They brought a sack full of cannabis and threatened us to pay or they will detain us under drug possession charges, said Tayyab.

Tayyab said he agreed to pay Rs 50,000 and they were released right after. They had spent nearly 8 hours in the police station.

Tayyab said Sohails heartbeat went up when they arrived home shortly before midnight. The family rushed him to a hospital in Chembur which denied admission and he was later taken to Sion hospital the next morning on 16 September.

As per Tayyab, due to bursting of nerves in Sohails brain, excessive blood was spilled internally which deteriorated the possibilities of his living.

Sohail was declared dead 16 September evening.

Police took his body to JJ Hospital for post-mortem without informing us, said Tayyab.

The family then arrived at the hospital and asked the police to let them take Sohails body home.

The police refused to hand over the body due to high coronavirus cases in the area. They later agreed to take his body to our house in another area but then they directly took it to the cemetery, said Qurban Sheikh.

There were lots of police officials and they had blocked the road, he added.

Sohail was recently married and is survived by a wife. He lives in Lallubhai Compound in Mankhurd. He had shifted to Tayyab Mansoors place in Mahul Road in Chembur some days ago.

Speaking about the case, Sopan Nighot, Senior Inspector at RCF police Station told TwoCircles.net that the case has been transferred to the Crime Branch on 17 September for further investigation.
India's imports from China declined by 27.63 per cent during April-August this fiscal to $21.58 billion over the same period previous year, Parliament was informed on Monday.

Value of imports from China stood at $4.98 billion in August and $5.58 in July, according to the data provided by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal in his written reply to the Lok Sabha.

"India's imports from China have declined by 27.63 per cent during April-August, 2020-21 over the corresponding period of the previous year," he said. In a separate reply, the minister said there is no proposal under consideration on withdrawal of Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to China.

"No such proposal is under consideration at this time," he said while replying to a question whether the government is planning for the withdrawal of MFN status to China to reduce the export-import business with that country.

Later in a media briefing, the minister informed that the country's export is reviving. During the first half of September, exports have recorded a growth of 10 per cent over the same period last year, he added.

Also read: Only 1% Indians pay income tax, govt tells Lok Sabha

Also read: Parliament session may be cut short as coronavirus cases among MPs rise
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Linkedin Moch. Fiqih Prawira Adjie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, September 22, 2020 13:03 487 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c465e951 1 City flood,flooding,dki-jakarta,heavy-rain,Bogor-city,hujan-deras,banjir,BPBD,BMKG,BPBD-Jakarta Free

Floods have inundated several parts of Jakarta due to heavy rainfall that occurred in the capital and its upstream areas on Monday. The authorities have also alerted residents near the Ciliwung riverbanks to stay cautious.

The Jakarta Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) reported that 49 neighborhood units were still inundated by floodwaters as of Tuesday morning.

The flooding ranged from 10 to 100 centimeters high in 23 areas of East Jakarta and from 10 to 80 cm high in 14 neighborhoods of West Jakarta.

Meanwhile, 10 areas of South Jakarta as well as one area of each North and Central Jakarta were inundated by floodwaters from 20 to 50 cm high.

Jakarta BPBD information and communication center head Raditya Jati said the most flooding had occurred in West Cengkareng subdistrict, Cengkareng, Banten, where the waters reached 10 to 30 cm high.

Kompas.com also reported that, as of Tuesday morning, 32 roads in West Jakarta and North Jakarta were still inundated by floodwaters, including several roads in West Cengkareng, where the flooding was around 10 to 30 cm high.

The regional disaster agency noted that 15 people had been forced out of their homes as a result of the floods.

Read also: Rainy season to start at end of October: BMKG

Disaster mitigation officers have prepared four evacuation points, namely Riyadhul Saadah Mosque in Kembangan Utara, West Jakarta, as well as PT Delta Laras Wisatas office building, official residences and the Rawajati community health center in Rawajati, South Jakarta.

The daily weather forecast from the BMKG [Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency] has estimated that there will still be light rain in Jakarta today, Raditya said in a statement on Tuesday.

In Mondays press conference, Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan said the capitals upstream regions had also experienced heavy rain, causing the Katulampa sluice gate in Bogor, West Java to reach its highest warning level with the water level exceeding 200 cm for around 20 to 30 minutes.

Following the warning level, Anies said he ordered authorities to alert residents around the banks of the Ciliwung River, which flows through Jakarta and West Java.

We are [...] preparing shelters in case they get hit by a flood. And this time it's a bit different because the shelters have to comply with COVID-19 health protocols, Anies said, adding that water gates in the capital were supervised to ensure waters from the upstream region could run smoothly.

Bogor Mayor Bima Arya also warned his residents near the Ciliwung River to be on alert, with the city having 13 subdistricts situated on the riverbanks.
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A recap of the key dates in Mali, which on Tuesday celebrates 60 years since independence.

Independence

On September 22, 1960, Mali becomes independent. Under president Modibo Keita, it declares itself a socialist state.

'President for life'

On November 19, 1968, Keita is overthrown in a military coup led by Moussa Traore, who becomes "president for life" and rules the country for 22 years.

In 1990, several organisations are created advocating multiparty politics. Successive protests and strikes take place for five months.

Traore is ousted on March 26, 1991 by a military rebellion which involves heavy street fighting in the capital Bamako and leaves over 100 people dead. Amadou Toumani Toure is installed as president.

Establishing democracy

In 1992 the regime holds elections under a new constitution and Alpha Oumar Konare becomes the country's first democratically elected president.

He wins a second five-year term in 1997.

In the 2002 election, Toure returns as president.

Tuareg rebellion, jihadists

In 2006 -- following previous rebellions in the 1960s and 1990-1994 -- there is a fresh outbreak of fighting between government forces and the Tuareg ethnic group in the north.

There are several attacks and hostage-takings up to 2009, interspersed by peace deals.

In 2012 Tuareg rebels and other groups launch an offensive to seize towns in the north.

Soldiers overthrow Toure saying his regime failed to give the armed forces the means to defeat the rebellion.

Tuaregs and rebels allied to Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) move on to capture the capitals of the three northern regions, but the Tuaregs are soon ousted by the Islamists.

Foreign interventions

In January 2013 former colonial power France launches a military operation to drive back the Islamists.

The jihadists flee the northern cities days later; French-led troops recapture Gao and Timbuktu, and then retake Kidal airport.

In February the European Union sends 600 soldiers to train the Mali army. In July a 15,000-strong UN peacekeeping force, MINUSMA, is deployed.

Keita in power

On August 11, 2013, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita is elected president.

The government, armed groups and international mediators sign a peace accord in May 2015, with the Tuareg rebels signing in June.

But the country remains in the grip of violence, fighting jihadists as well as intercommunal clashes.

Coup

On August 18, 2020, Keita is toppled in a military coup, following several months of crisis.

Regional bloc ECOWAS condemns the coup and pledges a range of retaliatory actions, including financial sanctions.

On September 21 Mali's military junta announces former defence minister Bah Ndaw will be the new transition government's president and junta leader Colonel Assimi Goita will be vice president.
Bengaluru, Sep 22 : Taking strong exception to Opposition charges, Karnataka Medical Education Minister Dr K Sudhakar on Tuesday asserted that the state would pay the medical bills of Covid-19 patients referred to private hospitals after their registration at government ones.

Responding to the opposition members' accusations during the ongoing Monsoon Session of the Assembly about misappropriation of Covid-19 relief funds, the Minister claimed that the state will bear the full treatment expenses of patients admitted to government or private hospitals once they were registered and referred through the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).

In the same breath he, however, clarified that if a patient is directly admitted to a private hospital without registration through the BBMP post the corona tests, the patients or their kin will have to bear the cost of their treatment.

Sudhakar asserted that the state had capped Covid-19 treatment costs after it was found that certain private hospitals were overcharging the patients.

Disagreeing with former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah that the state's BJP government was giving wrong data on the Covid-19 situation in Karnataka, the Minister maintained that proper data was furnished ever since the pandemic outbreak in the state.

"Before accusing the state government, remember that you also ran a government in Karnataka. The Covid death rate in the state is 1.56%, which is less than the national average," Sudhakar remarked.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 09:24:15|Editor: huaxia

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MEXICO CITY, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- Mexican police seized 627 kg of cocaine and arrested the driver of the truck transporting it in the southern Chiapas state, near the border with Guatemala, the Prosecutor General's Office said on Monday.

According to the office, federal police seized the drugs at a checkpoint in the city of Huixtla, about 80 km from the Chiapas-Guatemala border.

Officers found 627 one-kg packages of cocaine when inspecting the truck, which was purportedly carrying recycled plastics, the office said in a statement.

Mexican authorities have seized more than 20 tons of cocaine from January to mid-September, compared with 13.7 tons seized a year ago, the Mexican government said on Friday. Enditem
A couple of weeks ago, when The New York Times asked people what changes they sought in a post-pandemic theater, the pithiest answer came from the playwright Raquel Almazan. I hope I never have to see a couch onstage again, she wrote.

I get her point. The couch she meant is not just something to sit on; it symbolizes the kind of play that turns its back, often literally, on the world beyond the suburban picture window. Usually conventional in form and domestic in content, such plays have traditionally represented the problems of white people in a white bubble, as if Pottery Barn had become a genre.

The Humans, by Stephen Karam, might at first glance seem to belong to that genre. It does concern a white family  the Blakes  in a domestic setting as they celebrate Thanksgiving. The parents, Erik and Deirdre, have come to New York City from Scranton, Pa., to visit their daughter, Brigid, a would-be composer who is just moving into a basement apartment with her boyfriend, Richard, a graduate student. (They have a couch, but its decrepit.) Also sharing the holiday meal are Brigids sister, Aimee, a lawyer; and Momo, Eriks mother, lost in a fog of dementia.

Produced in New York by the Roundabout Theater Company in 2015, The Humans was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, and the Broadway transfer in 2016 won the Tony Award for best play. I saw it several times back then, each time finding it more gripping and terrifying. Scraping the skin off an apparently upbeat family, it revealed the many struggles, economic and otherwise, that were turning the inner lives of the Blakes into nightmares.
Cropped hand wearing a nitrile glove holding a Covid-19 vaccine vial and a syringe

Though the World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned against vaccine nationalism, a study released by Oxfam says that a group of wealthy nations that represent only 13 per cent of the global population, has already bought over 51 per cent of the vaccine stocks. The report adds that the remaining 2.757 billion doses have been bought by countries such as China, Brazil, India, Indonesia and Bangladesh.

The Oxfam report also warns that in the unlikely event that all five vaccines for which supply deals have been made public, succeed, nearly two-thirds of the worlds population will not get access to a vaccine till 2022. The chances of some of these trials failing are also higher, thus leaving more people without access to any vaccine.

Globally around 150 companies are in the race for developing a vaccine, with nine currently in phase III of testing. Out of these nine, supply deals have been made public for five vaccine candidates, being developed by AstraZeneca, Gamaleya/Sputnik, Moderna, Pfizer and Sinovac.

Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan has revealed that India is hopeful of getting a vaccine for COVID-19 ready by the beginning of next year. Three vaccines candidates are in different phases currently. While Zydus Cadilla and Bharat Biotechs indigenous vaccines have completed phase I, Serum Institute has received the go-ahead from Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) to resume clinical trials of COVID-19 vaccine in the country.

Further, the Russian sovereign wealth fund Russian Direct Investment Fund has reportedly partnered with Hyderabad based Dr Reddys to conduct clinical trials of its vaccine Sputnik V in India. Dr Reddys will also take up distribution of around 100 million doses of the vaccine in India, with the deliveries for the public use slated to start by end of this year.

India has the second-highest number of COVID-19 cases in the world, with a total of 5.02 million, second only to the United States. The country also has the highest number of recovered cases in the world, with 3,780,107 patients recovered so far.

Story continues

These figures only emphasise the eagerness with which the world is waiting for a vaccine to come in that could immunise us against the virus.

A Herculean task

Ensuring that each and every one of the 7.8 billion human beings on Earth is vaccinated, will be a mammoth task. Adar Poonawala, chief executive of Serum Institute of India, had recently said that the COVID-19 vaccine will not be available to everyone soon, but that people would need to wait till the end of 2024 for a competent vaccine to reach every person worldwide. The world would also need more than 15 billion doses of the COVID-19 vaccines if they need to be delivered in two doses.

The safety and efficacy of vaccines is of significant concern. One in seven volunteers of the Sputnik V vaccine has reported side effects, such as muscle pain for 24 hours, occasional increase in body temperature and complaints of weakness. Earlier, a group of 15 scientists had sent a formal letter to Lancet voicing their concern over the accuracy of early data on the Sputnik V vaccine,

Apart from developing a safe and effective vaccine, there are numerous other challenges that need to be considered  transportation of the vaccines, especially in the case of hard-to-reach places where there are many natural barriers to cross and little infrastructure.

Supply chain needs to be bolstered up as well. As per a report by the Chief Commercial Officer, DHL on the World Economic Forums (WEF) COVID Action Platform, 15,000 flights and 15 million cooling boxes could be required to transport billions of doses of COVID-19 vaccine around the world. Vaccines may also need to be kept at temperatures as low as -80 degrees Celsius. The conventional supply chains distribute vaccines at +2-8 degrees celsius, currently.

Further, as per experts, there arent enough glass vials to house the vaccines. Vaccines cannot be stored in just any glass vials, medical vials are made using borosilicate glass, which is resistant to temperature changes and is more chemically durable. Further, parts such as ampoules and syringes would also be needed in huge quantities to ensure that the vaccines reach the global billions.

Big packaging giants have been gearing up to meet these demands.

Who will get the vaccine first

One of the biggest questions that vaccine manufacturers, healthcare experts and Governments face is who will get vaccinated first, in the event that a vaccine does successfully complete all trials.

In terms of which country gets access to the vaccines first, it would probably be the one which has got a breakthrough in developing a safe and effective vaccine, in the first place. This would also depend on the particular firms agreement with the country it is located in, and other countries it has made deals with.

Vaccination distribution strategies within countries are, however, likely to vary from country to country. In India, for instance, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan had said that healthcare workers, senior citizens and persons with co-morbidities would have priority for the vaccine once it arrives, irrespective of their paying capacity.

In the United States, health care expert panels are deciding on who would get next priority for the vaccine, after healthcare workers who directly interact with coronavirus patients.

Some countries such as Russia are looking to inoculate front line workers, army personnel, teachers and healthcare workers, first.

However, an international group of ethicists have criticised a WHO goal of distributing vaccines proportional to a countrys population and of prioritising healthcare workers, and adults who are above 65 years of age or have underlying conditions.

The group, which includes American oncologist and bioethicist Ezekiel Emanuel and experts from Canada, Australia, Norway and Britain, have stated in an article in the journal Science, that a more equitable option would be to focus on giving priority to countries where the outbreak is more severe.

Dubbed the Fair Priority Model, the system has three phases  the first aimed at reducing premature deaths. The experts propose the use of a health metric called standard expected years of life lost (SEYLL), which calculates the years of life lost because of the pandemic in each country.

It also aims to stem serious economic and social harms of the virus and its long term repercussions for education and economies. The third phase looks at prioritising countries with higher virus transmission rates and ensuring that ultimately all countries receive enough doses to hold community transmission.

In order to stop vaccine nationalism, global collaboration is needed. The WHO-backed COVAX is a global initiative which is aimed at working with vaccine manufacturers to provide equitable worldwide access to affordable, safe and effective vaccines, once they are approved. Around 172 economies are engaged in discussions and have shown interest in participating in COVAX.

Meanwhile, experts are hoping that countries achieve herd immunity  a stage where the majority of the people, at least 50%, of the population has achieved immunity to the virus. However, this would mean that at least half the population should be either vaccinated or already infected in order for herd immunity to work.
On Monday morning, in response to questions from The New York Times about the design awards, an official at the foundation said in an email that the honorees would be announced later in the day.

Some nominees and winners have had a hard time keeping up with these switchbacks and swerves.

To say its been a bumpy ride hardly sums it up, said Joe Sundberg, an owner of Rupee Bar, in Seattle, which won the award for Outstanding Design for restaurants with 75 seats or fewer.

For one of Mr. Sundbergs partners, Rachel Johnson, knowing that other restaurants will never find out if they won a Beard this year makes it a little hard to process Rupee Bars good fortune.

I dont understand why they had the design and media awards and not the others, Ms. Johnson said. I feel like they shouldnt have done any of them. Its just so confusing for everybody.

Confusion may be the one outcome of the 2020 James Beard Awards that everybody can agree on. The foundation announced the results of its Book, Broadcast Media and Journalism Awards in May, when it still seemed possible that the remaining awards could be handed out in a gala ceremony in September. (This reporter has received six of them. He also served on the committee that oversees the restaurant awards in 2005 and 2006.)

Over the summer, though, people involved in the restaurant awards say that urgent meetings were taking place behind the scenes. Some nominees had asked to be taken out of consideration. Others had fallen under suspicion of behavior that might reflect poorly on the awards. And, according to several people close to the awards, at least one foundation employee had raised a concern that no Black people had won any of the restaurant awards.

Before a decision on how to proceed could be reached, the foundation announced that no further awards would be given out this year.
90 Day Fiance's Larissa Dos Santos Lima's arrest by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Saturday was not a publicity stunt and may result in her deportation.

The 33-year-old reality star has been 'placed in removal proceedings' in accordance with the Immigration and Nationality Act according to documents obtained by TMZ on Tuesday morning.

She is also set for a hearing to determine whether or not she will have to surrender for removal from the US according to the site.

Ouch: 90 Day Fiance's Larissa Dos Santos Lima's arrest by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Saturday was not a publicity stunt and may result in her deportation according to documents obtained by TMZ on Tuesday

The arrest reportedly occurred as the 33-year-old reality star and her boyfriend, Eric Nichols were leaving their Las Vegas home, which they recently sold.

The couple were reportedly to embark on their 'new beginning' in Colorado Springs, before 'ICE agents showed up to their doorstep,' according to TMZ.

Several fans of the show believed it all could have been a publicity stunt but the recent reports have seemingly proved otherwise.

Troubled: The 33-year-old reality star has been 'placed in removal proceedings' in accordance with the Immigration and Nationality Act according to documents obtained by TMZ on Tuesday morning

On Saturday, her best friend, Carmen Nys, revealed that Lima and Nichols were 'about to leave their house and move to Colorado' ahead of the arrest.

'We have no clue why. I want to let her family, fans and friends know that we are going there right now and as soon, as I have more info I will keep you guys posted. Send prayers,' Nys wrote on her Instagram Story.

After her release, Lima updated her 589,000 followers that she was 'out' and the officers were 'very nice' and she was 'good to go.'

Unexpected: The arrest reportedly occurred as the 33-year-old reality star was leaving her Las Vegas home with beau, Eric Nichols, which they recently sold and had packed up

'Thank you everyone for all the prayers,' she captioned her recording, which showed her with a surgical mask under her chin and looking in high spirits.

As she filmed, her boyfriend professed his love for her and looked relieved to be reunited.

'I love you too,' she responded, as he filmed them in a U-Haul trip en route to Colorado.

Making moves: Dos Santos Lima's arrest came a day after Nichols posted that they had 'just closed' and finalized the sale of his Las Vegas property

Nichols captioned his Instagram post, 'NOT EVEN ICE can tame my girl.'

Dos Santos Lima's arrest came a day after Nichols posted that they had 'just closed' and finalized the sale of their Las Vegas property.

Just hours before her arrest, the star shared that she would be creating a YouTube video, which would answer questions about her 'children in Brazil' and other arrests.

Opening up: Just hours before her arrest, the star shared that she would be creating YouTube video, which will tackle talking about her 'children in Brazil' and arrests; seen in August 2019

Lima, whose disastrous seven-month marriage to Colt Johnson was documented on the hit TLC reality show, was arrested twice in 2018 for domestic battery.

Ultimately, the charges were dismissed after her first arrest and she was never charged for the second.

On the same day her ex-husband filed for divorce from her in January 2019, she was arrested and charged with first-degree domestic battery during an alleged altercation with him.

Lima, whose disastrous seven-month marriage to Colt Johnson was documented on the hit TLC reality show, was previously arrested twice in 2018 for domestic battery; seen in October

In May 2019, her lawyer revealed to Us Weekly her charges 'were set to be reduced down to disorderly conduct upon successful completion of her requirements.'

Earlier this week, Lima unveiled her new body after undergoing a dramatic plastic surgery makeover.

In an effort to look like Kylie Jenner, she underwent $72,000 worth cosmetic surgeries earlier this year, including breast implants, fat transfer to her butt, liposuction for her waist, hips and abs area, a nose job, fillers, Botox and laser facials.

Under the knife: In addition to the body enhancements, Larissa has also had laser facials, fillers and botox done at the Center For Aesthetic Medicine

Larissa is currently living with boyfriend Eric Nichols; they reconciled after briefly splitting up in September 2019 after eight months of dating.

She has two children from previous relationships, a son named Arry with ex boyfriend Marcos Hack; their son lives with his sister - Arry's aunt, whom also adopted him.

She has a daughter from another relationship, who is also lives in her native country of Brazil.
President Donald Trump jokes with Sen. Cory Gardner, R-Colo., at a campaign rally Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020, in Colorado Springs, Colo. AP Photo/David Zalubowski

US Senator Cory Gardner, a Colorado Republican up for reelection this November, announced Monday that he will vote to confirm a qualified Supreme Court nominee from President Donald Trump.

"Should a qualified nominee... be put forward, I will vote to confirm," Gardner said in a statement.

That's a dramatic reversal from Gardner's 2016 stance on filling Supreme Court vacancies in an election year.

"Our next election is too soon and the stakes are too high," Gardner said eight months before the 2016 election. "[T]he American people deserve a role in this process as the next Supreme Court nominee will influence the direction of this country for years to come."

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

US Senator Cory Gardner, a Colorado Republican on track to be voted out this November, said Monday that he is willing to support President Donald Trump's next nominee for the Supreme Court.

"I have and will continue to support judicial nominees who will protect our Constitution, not legislate from the bench, and uphold the law," Gardner said in a statement. "Should a qualified nominee who meets this criteria be put forward, I will vote to confirm."

As with other Republican senators, the statement is a remarkable departure from Gardner's stance on election-year nominees as enunciated in 2016, when he and his colleagues flatly rejected the notion of filling a Supreme Court vacancy during a presidential campaign.

"Our next election is too soon and the stakes are too high," Gardner said eight months before the 2016 election. "[T]he American people deserve a role in this process as the next Supreme Court nominee will influence the direction of this country for years to come."

Gardner's latest position on Supreme Court vacancies comes 43 days before the 2020 election, with early voting already underway.

Story continues

A recent survey of 800 likely voters found Gardner losing his bid for reelection by double digits.

Nearly two-thirds of Americans also believe the Supreme Court vacancy should be filled by the winner of the Nov. 3 election, according to a new poll by Reuters/Ipsos.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The Australian operation of Chinese telecommunications equipment maker Huawei Technologies Co Ltd [HWT.UL] said it would continue to cut staff numbers and investment in the country amid strained relations between Beijing and Canberra.

In 2018, Australia banned Huawei from supplying equipment for a 5G mobile network citing national security risks, a move the company criticised as being politically motivated.

"In simple terms the 5G ban on Huawei has cost us 1,000 high-tech and high-wage jobs from the economy," Jeremy Mitchell, Huawei's chief corporate affairs officer for Australia, said in an emailed statement.

"We have gone from 1,200 staff to fewer than 200 and by next year it will be lower still."

The Australian Financial Review first reported the comments.

Huawei had terminated A$100 million ($72.3 million) of research and development investments in Australia since the 5G ban, Mitchell said.

Huawei last month said it would end its sponsorship of an Australian rugby league club a year earlier than expected due to a downturn in its business.

Diplomatic relations between Australia and China have soured this year after Australia called for an independent international investigation into the source of the coronavirus pandemic.

Beijing was angered by the move and has since blocked Australian beef imports, placed dumping tariffs on Australian barley, and launched an anti-dumping investigation into Australian wine.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.

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NEW LONDON, Connecticut - A 19-year-old Wilbraham man who is attending Connecticut College was arrested on campus and charged with voyeurism in connection with a reported incident at a restroom in a campus dormitory, police said.

Nicholas Spellman was charged with voyeurism and disorderly conduct on Saturday night. He was released on bail and is due to appear in court on Nov. 20.

Police reported confiscated multiple electronic devices as part of the investigation.

The New London police issued a request for anyone with information, or who may have been victimized to contact the department.

Spellman is a 2019 graduate of Wilbraham-Monson Academy.
Job Title: Security Officer

Organisation: Mott

MacDonald

Duty Station:

Kampala, Uganda

About US:

Mott MacDonald

is a leading, employee-owned global management, engineering and development

consultancy with 1 billion revenue and more than 14,000 staff working in 140

countries for both the public and private sectors. Our International

Development Services Unit, IDS, operates portfolios within the international

development sectors of Environment, Climate, Water, Roads, Rural & Urban

Development, Education, Health, Social and Economic Development in over 40

countries. Together we implement and manage projects in developing countries

and emerging economies around the world, supporting national governments and

municipalities in policy, planning, project design and delivery. We are

committed to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and to

provide our expertise to improve the lives of people in need.

Job Summary: The Security Officer is providing support to

the project in the areas of security, logistics and operations.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Security logistics

and support



security related information for existing and potential threats that might

arise. Assist the DPM/PM to gather, analyse and disseminate relevantsecurity related information for existing and potential threats that mightarise.



establishment of an effective physical and procedural security measures. Conduct ongoing assessments and support to the Project and theestablishment of an effective physical and procedural security measures.



date. Keep SESIL Health, Safety and Security Risk Assessment (HSSRA) up todate.

Focal point for check-in during field missions.



agreed actions points. Convene and lead Crisis Management Team (CMT) meetings and follow-upagreed actions points.

Prepare in-country travel procedures, including Journey Management.



organizations and private security officers in close consultation with the

DPM/PM. Build and strengthen networks with local authorities. Liaise with local law enforcement, diplomatic/internationalorganizations and private security officers in close consultation with theDPM/PM. Build and strengthen networks with local authorities.



suspicious activity, and special coverage) to the local authorities and

Mott MacDonalds Security and Risk Management points. Assist Staff and Visitors in reporting (criminal incidents,suspicious activity, and special coverage) to the local authorities andMott MacDonalds Security and Risk Management points.



petty crime. Assist in investigation of security cases, traffic incidents andpetty crime.



adequate measures are implemented Liaise with the contracted Guard Management Services to ensureadequate measures are implemented



planning in the event of any health or security emergency. Assist in developing and implementing contingency and evacuationplanning in the event of any health or security emergency.



protocols are adhered to. periodically visit Project offices to ensure safety and securityprotocols are adhered to.



procedures. ensure staffs compliance with security protocol, logistics andprocedures.



and visitors. Maintain compliance with the Standard Operating Procedures for staffand visitors.

Work with the Country Office Manager



upon return and visit oversight of National Office/Regional offices

Security matters. Brief employees prior to their deployment to the field and debriefupon return and visit oversight of National Office/Regional officesSecurity matters.

Maintain information and databases of security related issues.



issuance to project staff on the general security situation, specific

incidents and during periods of heightened threat. Draft security advisories with advice on risk mitigation forissuance to project staff on the general security situation, specificincidents and during periods of heightened threat.



the Staff Telephone Tree System. Develop, design and assist in maintaining and periodically testingthe Staff Telephone Tree System.

Help to maintain the Mission Management System



Safety requirements and undergoes Emergency Safety Drills. Ensuring that all project offices meet the expected Health andSafety requirements and undergoes Emergency Safety Drills.

Maintain fire extinguishers to ensure serviceability.

Serve as an alternate Designated Safeguarding Officer

Assist with maintaining Incident Tracker.

Assist with the tracking of staff mission movements



matters. Prepare reports of situation summary of the country, and securitymatters.

Check and update First Aid kits (compound, offices and vehicles)

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:



management, security risk management, or risk management or relevant

security operational experience The applicant must hold a recognized qualification in securitymanagement, security risk management, or risk management or relevantsecurity operational experience



application of security principles at project locations. Experience in conducting security reviews applying practicalapplication of security principles at project locations.

Relevant work experience

Experience in risk management



police or relevant experience in international development context. Experience in managing a security function, preferably in military,police or relevant experience in international development context.

Good written and verbal communication skills



(creating documents, formatting, manipulating data, creating graphs, etc.) Proficient in using MS packages, particularly Word, Excel and PowerPoint(creating documents, formatting, manipulating data, creating graphs, etc.)

Able to establish good working relationships with colleagues

Ability to priorities and work under pressure.

Ability to work in a collaborative team setting.



developing countries. Understanding of and sensitivity to cultural differences indeveloping countries.

How to Apply:

All candidates

should apply online at the link below.

Click

Here

Deadline: 28th September 2020

For more of the

latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com or

find us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline






The Oyo State Government, on Tuesday, re-awarded the 9.7km Saki township road, which was awarded four years ago by a former governor of the state, the late Abiola Ajimobi.

Governor Seyi Makinde had on September 9, announced the revocation of the project from the contractor with a promise that the contract would be re-awarded to a more competent contractor within four weeks.

The re-award of the project was made public at the end of the weekly State Executive Council meeting held on Tuesday in Ibadan.

Briefing reporters after the executive council meeting were the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Wasiu Olatubosun; Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Oyelowo Oyewo; Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Olasunkanmi Olaleye; and Commissioner for Energy, Seun Ashamu.

According to Mr Olaleye, the contract had been re-awarded to Messrs Peculiar Ltd for N4,796,000,000 and was expected to be completed within 12 months.

He said that the Ajimobi administration had previously awarded the contract for over N8 billion and paid the contractor N3 billion.

According to him, at the point of revocation of the contract on September 9, the contractor had only executed work to the value of about N1 billion.

Also, Mr Oyewo said the executive council also approved N84 million for the purchase of a fire truck as part of the efforts to upgrade the airport at Alakia in Ibadan.

Mr Oyewo said the approval was granted to ensure that the airport under the management of Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) was safe for air travellers using the facility

According to him, the purchase of the new fire truck will enhance efforts of the airport management to attend to all fire emergencies in the airport.

ALSO READ: Another Makinde supporter joins APC

He said that the fire truck at the airport had become old and cannot meet up with the vision of the Oyo State government to have the Ibadan airport upgraded.

The Council also approved a bill for the upgrade of the Ministry of Energy to Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources.

The new ministry will have seven departments, which are Grid Extension and Urban Electrification, Embedded Power, Solid Minerals, Oil and Gas Services, Administration and Supply, Finance and Accounting, as well as Planning, Research and Strategy.

The bill will be forwarded to the House of Assembly for passage into law, Mr Oyewo stated

Mr Ashamu also announced that the executive council had resolved to award the Gedu-Ashipa road in Oyo town, for N2.9 billion, under the Alternative Project Funding Approach.

Mr Ashamu explained that the contractor would execute the project with his money and the government would pay back the money to the contractor before the end of the current administration. (NAN)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 10:30:54|Editor: huaxia

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KUALA LUMPUR, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has called for the world to ensure that once a COVID-19 vaccine is available, it should be available to all nations.

"We must ensure that once a vaccine is found, it must be accessible to all nations and peoples. There should not be any discrimination whatsoever. We must remember that since COVID-19 does not discriminate, our response should not too," Muhyiddin said Monday in his video speech to the United Nations (UN) high-level meeting that commemorates the organization's 75th anniversary.

The Malaysian PM also said the UN should be better equipped to combat the challenges faced by the world.

"The United Nations is needed now more than ever. However, the organization needs to be better equipped - not just with political latitude, but with the continued support of its Member States to respond to some of the most glaring problems the world is facing," he said. Enditem
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Sen. Rob Portman on Tuesday defended his reversal on whether the U.S. Senate should vote on a Supreme Court nominee in an election year, arguing that the situation has changed since 2016 because the presidency and U.S. Senate are now controlled by the same political party.

In a press call with reporters, Portman also predicted the U.S. Senate will swiftly confirm whoever President Donald Trump nominates to succeed Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the U.S. Supreme Court, assuming its a good nominee and assuming its someone who can be broadly supported.

Portman has been criticized for changing his stance since Saturday, when he announced his support for a prompt vote on Trumps selection to fill the vacancy left by Ginsburgs death.

After U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia died in 2016, during the final months of Democrat Barack Obamas presidential term, Portman published a Cincinnati Enquirer opinion piece titled Why Supreme Court choice should wait. It cited a comment that Vice President Joe Biden issued years before, when he chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee. that urged putting off action on a Supreme Court nominee until after an upcoming election.

The president has every right to nominate a Supreme Court justice, and Im certainly willing to meet with his nominee, Portman wrote. But the founders also gave the Senate the exclusive right to decide whether to move forward on that nominee. For the reasons Biden described above, it has been common practice for the Senate to stop acting on lifetime appointments during the last year of a presidential term, and it has been 80 years since any president was permitted to fill a Supreme Court vacancy that arose in a presidential election year.

This year, Portman staked out a different position.

In Tuesdays call, Portman said his 2016 commentary was made in the context of divided government. He said the American people spoke after Trumps election by re-electing a Republican majority in the Senate instead of Democrats who would act as a check on him.

Our job is to do our job," Portman said.

The day after Ginsburg died, Portman released a statement that said the sitting president made a nomination every time there has been a U.S. Supreme Court vacancy in an election year in U.S. history, and that Portman plans to fulfill my role as a. U.S. Senator and judge that nominee based on his or her merits." His statement also noted that since the 1880s, no Senate has confirmed an opposing-party presidents Supreme Court nominee in a presidential election year.

In contrast, when the presidency and the Senate are controlled by the same party, the precedent is for the presidents nominees to get confirmed, Portman continued. In the 19 occasions that a vacancy has occurred when the President and the Senate are of the same party, the Senate has confirmed the nominee and filled the seat in every instance but one. I look forward to seeing who President Trump plans to nominate and thoroughly assessing his or her qualifications for this important role.

Biden, who is currently the Democratic partys presidential nominee against Trump, issued a statement after Ginsburg died that said whoever is elected in November should select her successor.

This was the position that the Republican Senate took in 2016, when there were nearly nine months before the election, Bidens statement said. That is the position the United States Senate must take now, when the election is less than two months away. We are talking about the Constitution and the Supreme Court. That institution should not be subject to politics.

Ohios other U.S. Senator, Democrat Sherrod Brown, also released a statement that urged waiting until January to confirm a new Justice.

The American people deserve a voice in the momentous decision we now face and it was her dying wish, according to her family, that we wait for their choice to lead us to take office in January to confirm a new justice, Browns statement said. We honor Justice Ginsburg best by fighting as hard as we can to preserve her legacy and ensure that women are in all places where decisions are being made.

Two Republican U.S. Senators - Maines Susan Collins and Alaskas Lisa Murkowski - have said they oppose holding a vote to replace Ginsburg beofre the election, but most of Republicans in the Senate say they plan to move forward with a vote.

On Tuesday, Portman reiterated the sentiments he expressed on Saturday.

The precedent couldnt be clearer, he said. When you have the President and the Senate of the same party, the person gets confirmed.

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NYON, Switzerland, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Just 10 years are left to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals  and as one of the few sectors with links to all 17, the mining industry has a significant role to play in contributing to their achievement. But as the new report "Mining and the SDGs  a 2020 status update" reveals, the sector as a whole is falling short.

While most of the world's largest mining companies now mention the SDGs in their sustainability reporting, and while a few frontrunners have integrated the SDGs into their business strategies, most SDG-related reporting by mining companies is, the report finds, purely cosmetic  and there is little public reporting of firms' negative impacts on progress towards meeting the goals. There is a real risk of companies being accused of "SDG-washing" while reporting remains unbalanced.

And when looking for evidence that companies are taking practical actions to help deliver the goals, the results are very mixed.

Published by the Responsible Mining Foundation (RMF) and the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment, the study bases its findings on the Responsible Mining Foundation's RMI Report 2020, which assesses the policies and practices of 38 large-scale mining companies around the world. It found that there are some examples of good practice within the sector, with relatively widespread action on SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). However, the report also found that no one company is taking strong action to address all 17 goals, and the sector's action on four goals in particular  SDG 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 14 (Life Below Water)  is especially weak.

There are multiple and striking mismatches between companies' rhetoric and action. The report found, for example, that SDG 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing) and SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) are two of the goals that many firms claim to be prioritising, yet they also account for some of the weakest levels of action. In a recent research article RMF highlighted the striking contrast between companies' materiality analyses and their actions on these SDGs.

Working towards the SDGs is about more than doing the right thing: there is a strong and well-established business case for companies to integrate the goals into their business strategies. As the report states, mining companies that embed the SDGs into their core operations will strengthen their ability to meet future challenges  and will build trust among all stakeholders, including an investment community increasingly concerned about sustainability matters. To that end, the report details nine practical steps companies can take to demonstrate their commitment to meeting the SDGs, and to responsible mining in general.

Resources:

Download the Report in English here

(Also available in Chinese, French, Indonesian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish on www.responsibleminingfoundation.org)

Issued by:

Responsible Mining Foundation

Nyon, Switzerland

www.responsibleminingfoundation.org

About the Responsible Mining Foundation

The Responsible Mining Foundation (RMF) is an independent research organisation that encourages continuous improvement in responsible extractives across the value chain by developing tools and frameworks, sharing public-interest data and enabling informed and constructive engagement between extractive companies and other stakeholders. The Foundation does not accept funding or other contributions from the extractive industry.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1093679/Responsible_Mining_Foundation_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Responsible Mining Foundation

Related Links

https://www.responsibleminingfoundation.org


New York: Social media giant Twitter said it would investigate its image-cropping function that users complained favoured white faces over black.

The image preview function of Twitter's mobile app automatically crops pictures that are too big to fit on the screen and selects which parts of the image to display and cut off.

Former US president Barack Obama's face was consistently cropped out by an AI-driven auto-cropping tool launched by Twitter. Credit:AP

Prompted by a graduate student who found an image he was posting cropped out the face of a black colleague, a San Francisco-based programmer found Twitter's system would crop out images of President Barack Obama when posted alongside Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell.

"Twitter is just one example of racism manifesting in machine learning algorithms," the programmer, Tony Arcieri, wrote on Twitter.
WASHINGTON - When President Donald Trump sat down in the Oval Office with author Bob Woodward for the first of 18 eventual interviews, the president brought up judicial appointments four times and had a list of judicial appointment orders displayed, prop-like, on the Resolute Desk - "kind of like he was cherishing it," Woodward recounted.

Now, as Trump prepares to announce a nominee to replace Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died Friday night at age 87, those interviews reveal a president animated about remaking the courts and working with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., to appoint conservative judges. Some of the conversations were chronicled in Woodward's new book, "Rage," while audio recordings of others were obtained by The Washington Post.

In a mid-December interview with Woodward, Trump boasted that he and McConnell "have broken every record" on judges, saying the issue is the majority leader's top priority.

"You know what Mitch's biggest thing is in the whole world? His judges," Trump enthuses, explaining that faced with a choice between pushing 10 ambassadors or a single judge through the Senate, "he will absolutely ask me, 'Please, let's get the judge approved instead of 10 ambassadors.' "

In January, the president bragged that he had installed 187 judges to the federal bench - making 1 in 4 circuit court judges a Trump appointee - and two to the Supreme Court.

"The only one that has a better percentage is George Washington, because he appointed 100%," Trump told Woodward, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and Washington Post associate editor. "But my percentage is, you know, like, ridiculous."

During a May interview, Trump also crowed about how President Barack Obama had left him more than 100 court vacancies to fill when he took office, referring to them as "golden nuggets."

The numerous judicial slots Trump was able to fill upon entering the White House were a result of McConnell's deliberate effort to block and delay Obama's nominees - reducing the confirmation of judges to the slowest rate in more than 60 years.

After Justice Antonin Scalia died in early 2016, McConnell blocked federal appeals court Judge Merrick Garland - Obama's nominee to replace Scalia - from ever getting a vote. Trump ultimately filled the slot with Neil Gorsuch.

Woodward's book overall paints a damning portrait of Trump's first term, depicting a president who knew the risks of the novel coronavirus as early as January but continued to deliberately mislead the American public. The nation is approaching 200,000 dead from the virus, with millions more sickened or unemployed and struggling.

Woodward ends with a grim assessment: "When his performance as president is taken in its entirety, I can only reach one conclusion: Trump is the wrong man for the job."

Trump, for his part, has raged against Woodward and the book, trashing them both in campaign rallies and tweets. "Bob Woodward's badly written book is very boring & totally 'obsolete,' " Trump wrote in one tweet, dismissing the author as "just another tired, washed up Trump Hater."

On judges, Trump - who has made more than 20,000 false or misleading statements during his presidency - has frequently overstated the number of judges he has named to the bench. In a March interview with Woodward, he claimed that he had just signed his 220th judge and expected to be at "260, 270, maybe even 280, maybe even 300" by the end of his first term. As of this week, the Senate has confirmed 216 of Trump's judges.

Still, remaking the bench with conservatives is one of Trump's key accomplishments, so much so that Woodward responded with a joke: "Maybe they'll put a statue of you outside the Supreme Court."

The president took to the suggestion instantly. "Oh, what a good idea," Trump said. "I think I'll have it erected tomorrow. What a great idea. I'll think I'll use it."

But, Trump added, "I won't say it came from me."

Judicial appointments have engaged Trump more than many other policymaking topics, in part because he appears to understand the political ramifications for himself. In 2016, Trump released a list from which he would choose the men and women to fill any Supreme Court vacancies - a move that proved crucial in reassuring Republicans and evangelicals that they could trust him to govern as a conservative. This month, he reprised that playbook, releasing another list of 20 names.

In 2013, Democrats - who then controlled the Senate - invoked the so-called "nuclear option" for judicial nominees, changing the rules so federal judicial nominees only required confirmation by a simple majority of senators, instead of the previous 60-vote supermajority that created incentive for bipartisanship but also, under McConnell, allowed Republicans to block or slow-walk most of Obama's nominees.

At the time, a number of senators - including Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. - expressed concern, worrying that the rule change would encourage parties to appeal to their most hard-line factions and create an increasingly partisan Supreme Court.

When asked whether Trump shared Graham's worry, the president acknowledged the fear, before dismissing it as reality.

"It's very partisan right now, basically," Trump said. "It's always a party vote. I mean, look, the whole country right now is a partisan vote."

When Woodward noted that Jimmy Carter, a Democrat, never had a Supreme Court opening during his presidency, Trump said, "He deserved none."

Woodward also asked Trump about Gorsuch leading the court in a landmark decision in June, when it ruled against the administration in offering sweeping protections for LGBTQ people against workplace discrimination.

When Woodward noted that Gorsuch voted "against your administration's position," the president seemed to accept the decision, saying, "Yeah, but this is the way he felt. And, you know, I want people to go the way they feel."

Still, Trump lamented that the ruling "opens the spigots for a lot of litigation."

When Woodward said he believed that Trump might have joined the majority decision if he were on the court in favor of "more freedom," the president considered the idea, before saying, "Well, I'll never get that vote."

"Well, maybe you can appoint yourself," Woodward joked.

"I am what's good for the people," Trump responded. "All people. So, you know, that's where I am."
Reports on social media had portrayed the incident as something approaching a melee, which wasnt the case, Mitchell said. A call for an ambulance in neighboring Orland Hills at about the same time as the Sky Zone incident fueled, in part, rumors of a larger fracas, and there was no use of force by police in controlling the crowd, he said.
China and India have agreed to stop sending troops to their border and to avoid any actions that might complicate the situation there, the Chinese defence ministry said on Tuesday.

Military officials from the both countries met on Monday and exchanged ideas on their contested Himalayan border, defence ministry spokesman Wu Qian said. Neither side should take any unilateral action in the region, it was also agreed.

In June, tensions erupted into a frontier clash in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed and China suffered an unspecified number of casualties.

China and India said on Sept. 11 that they had agreed to de-escalate the situation and restore "peace and tranquillity" following a high-level diplomatic meeting in Moscow.

Both sides agreed at the time that troops from both sides should quickly disengage and ease tensions.

Indian and China have fought three wars against each other, in 1962, 1967 and 1987.

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Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden on Monday refused to say whether he would reject Democrats calls to add more members to the Supreme Court if Republicans move forward with filling the vacancy left by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg ahead of the November election.

Biden, who has vocally opposed the idea of court-packing for years, told a local Wisconsin TV station that hed prefer to keep the focus on President Donald Trump than to discuss the issue of court packing.

Its a legitimate question. But let me tell you why Im not going to answer that question: because it will shift all the focus. Thats what he wants, Biden said. He never wants to talk about the issue at hand. He always tries to change the subject.

While some Democrats, including Bidens running mate Senator Kamala Harris (D., Calif.) had expressed a consideration for packing the Supreme Court before Ginsburgs death, the growing political rift over the nomination has only increased calls from Democrats to expand the court.

The Biden campaign wouldnt say whether his avoidance of the topic was reflective of a changing belief or of his longtime tactic of trying to avoid controversial positions, Politico reported.

For his part, Biden has said he would not name whom he would like to nominate to the vacancy.

Democrats have accused Senate Republicans of going back on the standard they set in 2016 following the death of Justice Antonin Scalia when Senate Republicans refused to vote on President Obamas nominee Merrick Garland.

The American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court justice, McConnell had said then. Therefore, this vacancy should not be filled until we have a new president.

However, McConnell said his current stance is not comparable to his position from 2016 as the Senate was held by Republicans while the president was a Democrat.

Biden on Monday said a confirmation hearing held when as many as 40 percent of voters could have cast ballots would be totally inconsistent with what the founders wanted because the U.S. Constitution says voters get to pick the president who gets to make the pick and the Senate gets to decide. Were in the middle of an election right now  people are voting right now.

Story continues

The U.S. Constitution does not make mention of the timing of confirmation votes and offers no guidance on whether a confirmation hearing should be held ahead of a presidential election.

Biden himself, as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee in June 1992 said President George H.W. Bush should not try to fill a Supreme Court vacancy while running for reelection.

In June of 1992, while chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Biden said President George H. W. Bush should not try to fill a high court vacancy when he was running for reelection. Republicans cited this Biden rule in 2016 when they refused to vote on Garlands confirmation.

When asked in January 2017 if Democrats should follow in Republicans steps and refuse to go along with a Republican nominee, Biden said no, though he was not specifically asked about filling a vacancy so close to an election.

The Constitution says the president shall nominate  not maybe he could, maybe he cant  he shall nominate. Implicit in the Constitution is that the Senate will act on its constitutional responsibility and give its advice and consent, Biden said.

No one is required to vote for the nominee. But they, in my view, are required to give the nominee a hearing and a vote, Biden said. I think the Democrats should not take up what I think is a fundamentally unconstitutional notion that the Republicans initiated 10 months ago. I think they should see who they nominate and vote on them.

More from National Review
Coronavirus infections could reach 50,000 a day within weeks, with 200 deaths a day by November, Chris Whitty, Englands chief medical officer, and Sir Patrick Vallance, chief scientific adviser to the Johnson government, warned yesterday.

Whitty and Vallance gave a televised address, following discussions with Cabinet ministers over the weekend. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is to chair a meeting of the governments Cobra emergency committee today followed by a cabinet meeting. He is then expected to make a televised policy speech on the COVID-19 crisis.

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson, centre, Chief Medical Officer for England Chris Whitty, left, and Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance speak at a press conference at Downing Street on March 3, 2020. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, Pool)

Following the statements of Whitty and Vallance, the UKs chief medical officers of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland moved the COVID-19 alert level from Level 3 to Level 4, stating After a period of lower COVID cases and deaths, the number of cases are now rising rapidly and probably exponentially in significant parts of all four nations. Level 4 means the virus is in general circulation; transmission is high or rising exponentially. The only level above this, Level 5 poses the "material risk of health care services being overwhelmed." Another 4,368 new infections and 11 deaths were recorded, with the number of cases requiring hospital ventilation in England doubling in eight days to 154.

Johnson has spent months lying that the pandemic was under control and on a downward slope to justify a disastrous reopening of the economy and schools. Whitty and Vallance have now admitted this has resulted in an exponential spread of the virus.

Citing the Office for National Statistics, Vallance said, its now estimated that roughly 70,000 people in the UK have COVID infection and that about 6,000 people per day are getting the infection. He added, At the moment we think that the epidemic is doubling roughly every seven days. If that continues unabated, and this continues doubling every seven days, then what you see ... is that by mid-October you would end up with 49,000 new cases per day.

This level of infection would be expected to lead to about 200-plus deaths per day a month after that, Vallance warned. This level of death was first seen on March 26, as the pandemic took hold with deaths soon rising to more than 1,000 a day soon after.

Slide used by Vallance and Whitty showing the Covid-19 infections in the UK rising to nearly 50,000 based on the current trajectory (source gov.uk)

Vallance showed a slide pointing to the enormous growth in infections in Spain and France. He stated that increase in case numbers has translated into an increase in hospitalisations. As the hospitalisations have increased  you will see that  not unexpectedly, deaths are also increasing. So there is a simple message from this slide: Which is as the disease spreads, as it spreads across age groups, we expect to see increase in hospitalisations and unfortunately those increases in hospitalisations will lead to increase in deaths.

Addressing claims that the virus has mutated and is no longer as deadly as it once was, Vallance stated, The virus has genetically moved a bit but it has not changed in terms of its propensity and its ability to cause disease and to cause death.

Vallance, an early advocate of a herd immunity strategy, conceded that only an estimated 8 percent of the population had been infected and that antibodies for those who develop them can fade over timewith reports of people being re-infected. Therefore, the majority of the population remain susceptible.

A further graph showed infections as they affected age groups. Vallance said, The lowest increase has been in children and in the population aged 70 to 79 but in every age group weve seen an increase. Vallance asked rhetorically, Could that increase be due to increased testing? The answer is no  The proportion of people testing positive has increased even if testing stays flat.

Slide used by Vallance and Whitty showing the surge in Covid-19 cases among age groups since the economy was reopened in July (source gov.uk)

In March, the Johnson government was the first to state openly that herd immunity was its policy, with Vallance declaring that the infection of tens of millions was desirable. What has driven government policy from the outset was not the health of the population, but how to restore the profits of the corporations.

After Vallance had laid out the perilous situation, Whitty said, Ministers making decisions  have to walk this very difficult balance. If we do too little this virus will go out of control and we get significant numbers of increased and indirect deaths but if we go too far the other way, then we can do damage to the economy

Neither Vallance nor Whitty made any attempt to explain why there was a resurgence of the coronavirus across Europe and in the UK. But the slides they referred to all showed the resurgence started from July, as the Johnson government and its counterparts reopened the economy. As Vallance said when introducing the rise in infections among all age groups, what we see from July as we look at increases in cases per 100,000 of population, is an increase which has occurred over August and has increased into September.

Vallance, Whitty, Johnson, et al know full well that it was the government ending of the lockdown and social distancing that has led to the explosion of coronavirus. Infections are taking place in the thousands at workplaces, on the public transport network, in schools, and will soon sweep through universities. By Monday evening, the number of schools recording infections had reached 1,439, with a poll revealing that 82 percent of school across England (around 20,000) have sent pupils home to self-isolate because they cannot get a coronavirus test.

The governments propaganda is now centred on blaming the population, particularly the younger generation, for the spread of COVID. Last week it introduced, along with draconian fines, a rule of sixunder which groups of six or more people are not allowed to gather. This will do nothing of substance to curtail the spread of COVID-19. It is as much of a fraud as the local lockdowns introduced in many parts of the country that are all porous and have done nothing to stop the spread of the disease. Yesterday, four more areas of Wales were put under lockdown, meaning around 13.5 million people in the UK live under local restrictions.

The failure of such partial measures is designed to encourage the sentiment that nothing could be done to halt the spread of coronavirus and that we must all learn to live with it.

The rampant spread of the disease was the inevitable product of the rush to open the economy in July and August, with the government doing nothing to develop a systematic, mass track and trace system over the last nine months. All its efforts were instead aimed at ensuring the handover of hundreds of billions to the corporations in bailout funds while granting them access to free money by ramping up the printing of money via quantitative easing.

The government faces no opposition to its the murderous herd immunity policy within the political establishment and a compliant media. As COVID-19 cases surge, the BBC has come forward as the unvarnished mouthpiece for the Johnson government. On Monday BBC News published an article, COVID: Is it time we learnt to live with the virus? by health correspondent Nick Triggle. The message was clear. Its time to get used to the idea of people dying from the disease.

Triggle proceeds to cite only scientists opposed to lockdown:

Prof. Carl Heneghan, the head of the Centre for Evidence Based Medicine at Oxford University, [who] says the current situation is utter chaos with a constant stream of new restrictions and schools sending whole year groups home when just one person tests positive. Triggle writes falsely, All this at a time when the level of infection is still very low, adding, This, Prof. Heneghan says, is the consequence of trying to suppress the virus. Instead, he argues we should accept it is here to stay and try to minimise the risks, while balancing that against the consequences of the actions we take.

Triggle then quotes Prof. Robert Dingwall, a sociologist and an adviser to the government, who believes the public may well be now at the stage where it is comfortable with the idea that thousands will die from COVID just as they are that they die of flu.

The article concludes under a subhead: What about herd immunity? with Triggle citing Oxford University scientist Sunetra Guptas support for a herd immunity strategy. This is how we have always managed viruses, Gupta says.

Disparaging the clear majority of scientists and health professionals critical of the government, Triggle writes that Dingwall believes it is only a particular element of the public health and scientific leadership who worry about driving down the infection level 
It is a [rabbinic ] teaching that says that those who are the most righteous and especially the most needed in their days are those that pass right before Rosh Hashanah because, though their fate was decided that they would pass in this year, they were given the maximum amount of time to continue to do the good that they could, said Rabbi Ari Margolis of Congregation Or Shalom of Vernon Hills.
Schools must stay open to protect children's mental health and avoid the 'immense' economic and social consequences of another closure, scientists have warned.

Speaking at a meeting of the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee via Zoom today, professors said Britain's children and young people had missed out on crucial social interactions due to lockdown, at the expense of their mental health and education.

They said this group was paying the 'greatest price' for lockdown measures, despite being least at risk from the disease.

Professor Tamsin Ford, a child and adolescent psychiatry expert at the University of Cambridge, warned of a spike in mental health problems in young people during lockdown.

'If we can keep the schools open, we really need to do so because children are least at risk from the virus,' she said. 'The health, economic and social consequences of shutting schools are immense, so they are bearing the cost for us.'

Boris Johnson said in the Commons today that he would 'do everything in my power' to keep schools, colleges and universities open, as he unveiled a wave of measures designed to stop the spread of the disease. But he warned that nothing was off the table, if the rate of spread was not reduced.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock also said yesterday the Government has no plans to close schools again.

Peers also heard how up to 60 per cent of NHS staff showed clinically significant symptoms during the pandemic, which included signs of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Dr Tamsin Ford, from Oxford University, told the Committee today that there had been a spike in mental health problems among children during lockdown

Professor Matthew Hotopf, from King's College London, said young people were shouldering the 'greatest burden' despite being least at risk from the virus

PTSD risk for Covid-19 frontline staff at par with terrorist attack survivors The risk of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among frontline health and social care workers dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic is at par with terrorist attack survivors and soldiers returning from war, MPs have heard. Dr Michael Bloomfield told the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee that this form of psychological trauma is also being seen among patients who have recovered after being severely ill with Covid-19. PTSD is an anxiety disorder caused by very stressful, frightening or distressing events. Those with the condition often relive traumatic events, such as actual or threatened loss of life or serious injury, through nightmares and flashbacks. Dr Bloomfield, who is head of the translational psychiatry research group at the University College London, said that current survey data suggests PTSD rates among health and social care workers and survivors of severe Covid-19 is over 20%, and for anxiety disorders and depression, it is over 30%. He added that while these figures may be over-estimated, 'they are still significantly over the expected rates of these disorders'. Dr Bloomfield said: 'The available data indicates that the risk of PTSD amongst health and social care workers and patients who survived severe Covid is of a similar magnitude as those surviving other mass casualty events such as terrorist attacks, or as is seen in military personnel whove returned from war.' He added: 'Theres therefore an imminent need to both detect and treat the survivors of psychological trauma.' Dr Bloomfield, who is also a co-founder of UCLs Covid Traumatic Stress Clinic, said researchers have identified five groups at high risk of PTSD and other mental health adverse outcomes from Covid-19. These include patients with severe disease, health and social care workers witnessing high numbers of patient deaths, those who have lost their loved ones as a result of Covid-19, children and vulnerable people who are victims of abuse and domestic violence, and patients with existing severe mental illness. Dr Bloomfield said that without targeted screening programmes, detecting PTSD can be challenging because avoidance is a core symptom of the condition. Advertisement

Professor Tamsin told the Committee that children have been 'notably absent' from policy considerations made by the Government.

'The pandemic hit at a background where there was consistent evidence coming out of surveys demonstrating that young people's health was deteriorating,' she said.

'There have been papers on mental health in response to Covid but few studies have been included as sufficiently rigorous. Those in students suggest an increase in depression and anxiety, for most it was depression.'

She pointed to a study published in the Lancet in July that found reports of mental health problems for those aged 16 to 34 had risen twice as fast by the end of April, compared to those aged 55 and over.

Professor Matthew Hotopf, professor of General Hospital Psychiatry at King's College London, warned the Committee: 'The group which is at least risk of mortality are actually paying the greatest price in terms of social, economic and educational impacts. That is being seen in the mental health consequences.'

He added: 'The buffering effect of being able to socialise is very important. In times of stress that's what we do - we're social animals - and although you go so far with platforms like (Zoom), you can only go so far.

'If you reduce people's capacity to socialise both with the reduction of daylight hours and less access to outdoor space, this will have an impact in terms of population mental health.'

Professor Nichola Rooney, a professor in consultant clinical psychology at Queen's University Belfast, said: 'If we think about what's important to adolescents and young people it is peer interaction and that's really important for their mental health.

'So, I suppose, we can't have a one size fits all approach and we have to think of ways of managing the virus in different populations.'

Their words come as the Government launched sweeping restrictions on the way people socialise in England in an attempt to curb the spread of the virus.

The Prime Minister announced pubs, bars and restaurants are to have a 10pm curfew from Thursday this week, and move to table service only.

This is on top of the Rule of Six, which has significantly curtailed the size of groups that can socialise together. Children under 14 have not been included in the restriction in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Mr Johnson has also told workers to start working from home again tomorrow, despite a long campaign encouraging people to return to the office to 'save the economy'.

Plans for a partial return of fans to stadiums from October 1 have been put on hold, amid rising infections in the UK.

But there are no immediate plans to shutter the education system again.

'It is vital for children and young people to be in school,' said Mr Johnson. 'And we will do everything in our power to ensure that remains the case'.

Caroline Abrahams, charity director of Age UK, told the Committee how older people's mental health has also suffered during the pandemic.

She said their surveys had revealed one in three felt more anxious than they did in March, and more than a third were feeling less motivated to seize the day.

'The general sense we have is that this is an incredibly challenging time,' she said.

'And our worrying thoughts are how things are going to be over the next few weeks, and through the winter. Particularly the anxiety of knowing there's a virus out there and if you catch it that might well be the end of it.

'Isolation, loneliness: It's a horrible cocktail of issues for older people, and we are very seriously concerned.'

Figures reveal that children and young people are at far lower risk of dying from the virus than those aged over 75.

Office for National Statistics data shows only four Covid-19 deaths were recorded in children aged one to 14-years-old in England and Wales, or less than 0.01 per cent of the total. And 574 have been recorded in those aged 15 to 44, or 0.96 per cent of the total.

In comparison, 39,058 people aged 75 and over have died from the virus, or 65 per cent of the total.

A study published in Nature in July found patients aged 80 and over were 20 times more likely to die from Covid-19 than patients in their 50s, and more than a hundred times more likely to die than those younger than 40.

The research also revealed that men were about 59 per cent more likely to die from coronavirus than women, and patients from BAME backgrounds had a higher risk of dying than those from white backgrounds.

Speaking about contact between families yesterday Mr Hancock said that grandparents will be given the green light to look after their grandchildren, even in areas where a lockdown is in force.

The Health Secretary said he had 'heard the concerns' about the impact on parents who are reliant on childcare to do their jobs.

Boris Johnson has announced sweeping curbs on people's lives as the Government attepts to get the virus under control

Speaking in the Commons yesterday he said: 'We know from experience that local action can work when local communities come together to follow the rules, tackle the virus and keep themselves safe.

'I know how hard this is. We are constantly looking for how we can ensure measures bear down on the virus as much as possible while protecting both lives and livelihoods.

'I have heard the concerns about the impact of local action on childcare arrangements.

'For many, informal childcare arrangements are a lifeline without which they couldn't do their jobs.

'So today I am able to announce a new exemption for looking after children under the age of 14 or vulnerable adults where that is necessary for caring purposes.

'This covers both formal and informal arrangements. It does not allow for play dates or parties but it does mean that a consistent childcare relationship that is vital for somebody to get to work is allowed.'
Melissa Etheridge wants to help other families struggling with opioid addiction. The singer opened up to Tamron Hall about the loss of her son, Beckett, who died from an overdose in May after a four-year battle with opioids. He was only 21. Etheridge told Hall while theres no right time to talk about the tragedy, theres no wrong time either.

This sort of loss is not something Im going to get over ever, probably, Etheridge said on Fridays the Tamron Hall Show. You build your life, you have your family and children maybe, you have the people around you and loss is part of it. Ive lived enough life to know that losses are part of what this is is. Beckett would want me to stop. You know, he wouldn't want me to shut down or stop being open about my life and living it in the way that I do.

Etheridge hopes Becketts story will help other people who have a loved one under this pharmaceutical spell.

Read more: David Crosby says he wasnt just a donor to Melissa Etheridges late son

Melissa Etheridge opened up about whether she thinks genetics played a role in son Beckett's battle with opioids. (Photo: Getty Images)

I wanted to share it, but I knew that this was his life. And I didn't want to draw any attention to him. But when he passed away, it became something  I knew once I announced it, it would be in the world, Etheridge continued. And I have always walked my path openly. I make mistakes, I'm up and down. I do the best I can. And maybe showing the mothers and fathers and sisters and brothers how to  not understand, but how to walk and not live with shame and guilt and the stigma that opioid addiction can bring in to a family. If we can put it out in front and say, Wow, this is a big problem and there aren't any easy answers, lets all come together and maybe shed some light on this.

Becketts addiction struggles began after he was injured in a snowboarding accident at 17 and prescribed an opioid pain killer. Etheridge told Hall while she was concerned, he wasnt living with her at the time.

He was in a program and I didn't actually know that they prescribed him [pills], the singer-songwriter shared. I look back and its part of the Should have. I should have known I wasnt there in person. Thats part of the What if, what if. But he was also prone to be more addictive  he had more of an addictive personality.

Story continues

David Crosby is the biological father of Beckett, whom Etheridge shared with former partner, Julie Cypher. Crosby has been open about past substance abuse issues and Etheridge acknowledged Beckett had predispositions.

Beckett Cypher was born to Melissa Etheridge and filmmaker Julie Cypher in November 1998. The couple had another child, a daughter, Bailey Jean, 23, who was born in February 1997. (Kevan Brooks/AdMedia /MediaPunch /IPX)

You know, I didn't want to blame genetics, she told Hall. I know we have predispositions. My oldest daughter [Bailey] whos about two years older than Beckett, is extremely successful, graduated from Columbia University, has an incredible job, getting her masters [degree] at the London School of Economics. So the genes are there, but the choices then are the individuals to make and Beckett just kind of made the choices that made it harder and harder for him.

After Becketts snowboarding accident, Etheridge noticed behavioural changes. However, she attributed the change to the fact her son could no longer try and become a professional snowboarder.

I put a lot of it on the depression... because he broke his ankle and all he was working towards as a snowboarder went away. He became more irritable, she explained, noting, From that point on, it became more and more of a struggle.

Etheridge enrolled Beckett into a program, but after he turned 18 it was his decision whether or not to stay. Beckett chose to try and deal with things on his own. Etheridge added that there were a lot of ups and downs from ages 18 to 21. She also said the pandemic really just turned the volume up on his issues.

Read more: Melissa Etheridge says Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston will always be friends

The things that he used to  he would go to parks, he was really outdoorsy. In the last few weeks, he was saying This is really hard, Etheridge recalled. He didn't like to be isolated or alone. The isolation of this year, of COVID, it makes it tough.

The singer has started The Etheridge Foundation to support healthy new research into the causes and effects of opioid addiction.
NEW HAVEN  Its 7,000 and counting.

Thats how many city 7,000 residents have had library late fees removed since a new no late-fee policy was instituted July 1, according to Shana N. Schneider, president of the New Haven Free Public Library board of directors.

The city quietly ended the practice of charging fees for overdue library books earlier this summer, with officials celebrating the move Tuesday as a way to incentivize residents to go get a book, movie, or take advantage of other services.

City spokesman Gage Frank said in an email that materials from the New Haven Free Public Library will no longer accrue daily overdue fines, although library card holders will remain responsible for the replacement charges for lost and damaged items and library card replacement fees.

City Librarian John Jessen and Schneider described the change as in keeping with the library systems goals.

It is the mission of the library to provide equal access to information, services, and opportunities that empower, enrich, and enhance the quality of life for all. Fines are a barrier to that access and eliminating that barrier opens doors to all in our community to utilize the resources the Library offers, Jessen said in a release. We want to make sure that everyone feels that the library is their community center for lifelong learning.

This is a trend across the country that we absolutely want to be part of and see it as integral to the larger effort to promote economic inclusion for all of New Haven's communities, Schneider noted.

Books and other library materials that are more than two weeks overdue will be considered lost, according to the release. If they are returned, any associated fees will be canceled.

If they are not returned, library card holders will be billed the cost of replacing them, with more than $20 in outstanding charges leading to a suspension of borrowing privileges.

Mayor Justin Elicker described the policy change as amazing in the release Tuesday and thanked library officials for moving forward with it.

It is important that we continue to implement policies like these to encourage residents to utilize our libraries for the many services they provide, said Elicker.

Books and other library materials that are more than two weeks overdue will be considered lost, according to the release. If they are returned, any associated fees will be canceled.

If they are not returned, library card holders will be billed the cost of replacing them, with more than $20 in outstanding charges leading to a suspension of borrowing privileges.

Frank noted that materials obtained from another library through the interlibrary loan system will still be subject to fines and fees assessed by their home libraries, according to the release.

william.lambert@hearstmediact.com
She was the breakout star from an MTV reality show focused on what happens after high school for a group of kids growing up in Southern California.

And Lauren Conrad admitted that she had to 'emotionally recover' from 'toxic elements' after she quit filming The Hills in 2009.

The 34-year-old fashion designer caught up with former co-star Whitney Port on the With Whit podcast where she detailed how important it was to get her life back once she stepped away from the cameras.

In the past: Lauren Conrad admitted that she had to 'emotionally recover' from 'toxic elements' after she quit filming The Hills in 2009 (seen in 2015)

Whitney reminded her audience that it had been 15 years since the girls began filming their hit show.

She began her podcast noting that Lauren seemingly cut-off most of her friendship when she left Los Angeles nearly a decade ago.

'I just kinda needed a clean break for a minute to kind of emotionally recover and took some time off, and then obviously moved out of LA,' Conrad said.

Whitney mentioned that while she harbored no ill-will, she thought Conrad might have dropped her as a friend due to the abrupt departure.

Looking back: Whitney reminded her audience that it had been 15 years since the girls began filming their hit show; seen in 2008

Just the two of us: Whitney mentioned that while she harbored no ill-will, she thought Conrad might have dropped her as a friend due to the abrupt departure; seen in 2011

'And I apologize for that or making you feel that way, because obviously it had nothing to do with you personally,' Conrad said. 'I lived a certain way for so long and like as much as I am appreciative and I love you.

'I love so many people we worked with like, You know, there is certain like toxic elements there and it's really hard. And I was like, okay, I got to just like step away from this world and like kind of heal in a way and like who I want to be.

'Because again, like we started so young and I was like, it's such a time where you're figuring out who you are. And I was like, I did it in such a weird way.'

Lauren shares two sons, Liam, three, and Charlie, 11 months, with husband William Tell and Whitney has one three-year-old son, Sonny, with husband Tim Rosenman.

Conrad's last appearance on The Hills was at Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag's wedding where she made amends with the couple after Spencer apologized for spreading rumors.

Family first: Lauren shares two sons, Liam, three, and Charlie, 11 months, with husband William Tell; seen on Instagram

Smile! Whitney has one three-year-old son, Sonny, with husband Tim Rosenman; seen on Instagram

The show went on for another season with Kristen Cavallari at the helm and ended in July 2010.

Port received her own spin-off, The City, which showcased her new life working for Diane von Furstenberg in New York.

Just last year, most of The Hills cast returned to television screens with The Hills: New Beginnings.

Brody Jenner and his then wife Kaitlynn Carter starred on the show alongside Jason Wahler, Frankie Delgado, and new castmembers Mischa Barton and Pamela Anderson's son Brandon Thomas Lee.

The show was initially developed as a spin-off to Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County, and followed Lauren Conrad as she battled professional and personal relationships in Los Angeles post college.
Sub Lt Riti Singh and Sub Lt. Kumudini Tyagi, the first women airborne tacticians who will operate from deck of warships, posed for pictures as they passed out of Indian Navy's observer Course, at Southern Naval Command, Kochi in Kerala.  PTI photo

Indian women on Monday made major strides in military aviation in Navy and Air Force.

Soon, a woman fighter pilot will be flying Indian Air Force's advance fighter aircraft Rafale, said sources. She will be joining Squadron No. 17 or Golden Arrows at Ambala Air Force Station. The fighter pilot, who is reported to be already flying one of Air Force jets, is going through training for Rafale aircraft. India had earlier this month inducted 5 Rafale jets into Indian Air Force. Some more Rafale jets are expected to come next month from France.

In 2016, India had signed a Rs 59,000 crore deal for 36 Rafales.

Indian Navy said on Monday that two women officers have been selected to join as Observers (Airborne Tacticians) in the helicopter stream. This will make them first women airborne combatants to operate from warships.

Earlier, entry of women was restricted to the fixed wing aircraft that took off and landed ashore.

Previously some women medical officers have served for short period on warships.

These officers, Sub Lieutenant (SLt) Kumudini Tyagi and SLt Riti Singh, are a part of a group of 17 officers of the Indian Navy who were awarded Wings on graduating as Observers at a ceremony held on Monday at INS Garuda, Kochi.

Both of them now will undergo "specialist training" for the particular helicopter on which they will be deployed.

Speaking on the occasion, Rear Admiral Antony George while complementing the graduating officers highlighted the fact that it is a landmark occasion wherein for the first-time women are going to be trained in helicopter operations which would ultimately pave way for the deployment of women in frontline warships of Indian Navy

The officers of the 91st Regular course and 22nd SSC Observer course were trained in air navigation, flying procedures, tactics employed in air warfare, anti-submarine warfare and exploitation of airborne avionic systems. These officers would serve on-board Maritime Reconnaissance and Anti-Submarine Warfare aircraft of the Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard.
BASE RESOURCES LIMITED - Change of Interest of Director

AIM and Media Release

22 September 2020

BASE RESOURCES LIMITED

Change of Interest of Director

African mineral sands producer, Base Resources Limited (ASX & AIM: BSE) (Base Resources) advises that Executive Director - Operations & Development, Mr Colin Bwye, sold 600,000 Base Resources ordinary shares at a weighted average price of A$0.2974 per share on 17 September 2020.

The proceeds of the sale will principally be used to fund Mr Bwye's Australian income tax liability arising from the exercise of his 2016 cycle vested performance rights issued under the Base Resources Long Term Incentive Plan (LTIP), as previously announced on 27 August 2020.

Following the sale of these shares, Mr Bwye holds 7,199,238 fully paid ordinary shares (directly and indirectly) and 7,832,535 unvested performance rights issued pursuant to the LTIP, which remain subject to vesting conditions.

ENDS.

For further information contact:

James Fuller, Manager Communications and Investor Relations UK Media Relations Base Resources Tavistock Communications Tel: +61 (8) 9413 7426 Jos Simson and Barnaby Hayward Mobile: +61 (0) 488 093 763 Tel: +44 (0) 207 920 3150 Email: jfuller@baseresources.com.au

About Base Resources

Base Resources is an Australian based, African focused, mineral sands producer and developer with a track record of project delivery and operational performance. The company operates the established Kwale Operations in Kenya and is developing the Toliara Project in Madagascar. Base Resources is an ASX and AIM listed company. Further details about Base Resources are available at www.baseresources.com.au

PRINCIPAL & REGISTERED OFFICE

Level 1, 50 Kings Park Road

West Perth, Western Australia, 6005

Email: info@baseresources.com.au

Phone: +61 (0)8 9413 7400

Fax: +61 (0)8 9322 8912

NOMINATED ADVISOR

RFC Ambrian Limited

Stephen Allen

Phone: +61 (0)8 9480 2500

BROKER

Berenberg

Matthew Armitt / Detlir Elezi

Phone: +44 20 3207 7800


NEW YORK, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Remedy Health Media (Remedy), a leading digital health platform and portfolio company of Topspin Consumer Partners, today announced the acquisition of OBR (Oncology Business Review), an oncology-focused digital media company that provides news and information resources to oncologists and oncology healthcare professionals (HCPs). OBR is a leading resource for the entire oncology team, reaching an audience of more than 25,000 members daily. Combining OBR's leadership position in the oncology space with Remedy's broader reach and resources creates an opportunity to grow both audience and impact across the oncology landscape. OBR extends the company's existing network of trusted digital health brands for consumers and healthcare professionals.

As the oncology landscape continues to evolve with significant advancements in treatment and patient care rooted in research, the acquisition of OBR provides Remedy a powerful platform to educate, raise awareness of research advancements, and play an important role in the dialogue between patients and professionals.

"The addition of OBR allows Remedy to serve the oncology community in powerful ways by providing instant access to leading opinions and the most current medical information for oncology professionals," said Remedy CEO, Mike Cunnion. "Aligning ourselves with innovative partners like OBR, which has been serving the oncology community for more than a decade, helps us amplify our mission and motivate communities of patients and professionals towards optimal patient care." Cunnion added, "We are excited to welcome the terrific OBR team to Remedy."

"OBR has been serving the oncology community for more than 13 years, and our brand and presence amongst oncology providers and professionals is strong," said Founder and President of OBR, Don Sharpe. "We were well poised for a partner that would help us become even stronger in the creation and delivery of actionable oncology information. In Remedy, we have found a partner with a track record of success in creating and publishing important healthcare information, a robust digital presence, and the resources to help us maximize our potential."

As an innovative healthcare media company, OBR will help strengthen Remedy's overall HCP capabilities through its vast network of relevant key opinion leaders, market access training platform, and a wide range of digital media resources delivering current and relevant oncology information.

"As a leading authority in oncology news for healthcare professionals with unparalleled relationships across oncology stakeholders, the acquisition of OBR provides both a distinctive and fundamental platform to help Remedy grow and further serve its audience and partners," said Leigh Randall, Managing Partner at Topspin Consumer Partners.

About Remedy Health Media

Remedy Health Media (Remedy) is a leading digital platform that serves communities of patients, care partners and healthcare professionals through a family of trusted health brands that exist to remove barriers to better health. Remedy Health Media owns and operates HealthCentral, TheBody, TheBodyPro, PsyCom, Berkeley Wellness, EndocrineWeb, Practical Pain Management, and Spine Universe. To learn more visit RemedyHealthMedia.com.

About Topspin Consumer Partners

Topspin Consumer Partners is a Mamaroneck, NY-based private equity firm that makes investments in established, profitable and fast-growing middle-market consumer businesses. The firm invests across a number of sub-verticals within consumer, including health and wellness, personal care and beauty, household goods, digital media, pet, juvenile products, and food and beverage. The Topspin team has considerable operational expertise and collaborates with founder-owners and management teams to build businesses of varying stages and sizes. Further information on Topspin can be found at www.topspincp.com.

Media Contact:

Carrie Kreiswirth

[email protected]

646-326-9691

SOURCE Remedy Health Media

Related Links

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French President Emmanuel Macron urged the world nations to work together against Covid-19 and not be dominated by a China-US rivalry in his address to the annual United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday.

In a pre-recorded video address to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, Macron said the coronavirus pandemic underscored the need for nations to work together in new ways.

The world must not be dominated by the rivalry between China and the United States, no matter how much weight these two great powers have, the French president said, calling on the international community to build new alliances.

Macron made the remarks after emphasising the long-term changes in international order that would follow from the Covid-19 pandemic.

This crisis, more than any other, demands cooperation, Macron said. We have to learn to live with the virus. The world has to learn to live with this new reality.

Macron warned the pandemic had set back many of the issues at the heart of the UN since its foundation 75 years ago, including in the domains of poverty, education and women's rights.

Trump attacks China

Hours earlier, United States President Donald Trump used his declaration to blame China for the coronavirus pandemic and defending his own handling of the crisis.

We have waged a fierce battle against the invisible enemy, the China virus, which has claimed countless lives in 188 countries, Trump said in a prerecorded address.

With the death toll of Covid-19 in the US reaching 200,000 on Tuesday, Trump is facing criticism for his handling of the epidemic, including from Democratic election opponent Joe Biden claiming the president was responsible for the US having more deaths than any other nation.

But Trump has frequently sought to blame Beijing for the pandemic, citing the viruss origins in China and claiming the Chinese government acted irresponsibly in allowing it to spread.

The United Nations must hold China accountable for their actions, Trump said.

Story continues

Political virus

After the address, China accused Trump of spreading a political virus at the assembly.

When the international community is really fighting hard against Covid-19, the United States is spreading a political virus here in the General Assembly, Chinas ambassador to the UN, Zhang Jun, told reporters.

I have to emphasize that the US noise is incompatible with the general atmosphere of the General Assembly.

Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a mild-mannered speech pledging contributions to a UN fund on the pandemic and warnig the world not to politicise the fight against the virus.

China has no intention of entering a Cold War, Xi said.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres also warned we must do everything to avoid a new Cold War in his opening address.

Macron emphasises global security

Like other leaders unable to attend due to Covid restrictions at the UNGA, Macron sent a prerecorded declaration streamed to a near-empty room in New York and streamed online.

In a nearly hour-long address touching upon a wide range of topics in international security, Macron said France was working towards a new meeting to resolve the crisis in Libya and called on Russia to account for the poisoning of Kremlin critic Alexey Navalny.

He warned Turkey to respect European sovereignty and international law in the Eastern Mediterranean and said that US pressure was not deterring Iran from seeking to develop capacity for nuclear weapons.

Macron also urged an international mission under UN auspices to investigate the situation for Uighur Muslims in China's Xinjiang region.

(with newswires)
Posted on September 21, 2020

We are collaborating with FactCheck.org, a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania, in an effort to identify misinformation and to ensure news consumers get the facts. This story first appeared on FactCheck.org.

In remarks following the death of Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden made several false and exaggerated claims while arguing that the Senate should wait until after the Nov. 3 election to let the next president choose her Supreme Court replacement.

Biden falsely claimed that theres no court session between now and the end of this election. The next Supreme Court session begins Oct. 5, nearly a full month before Election Day.

Biden said, I think the fastest justice ever confirmed was 47 days. Thats false; since 1975, the shortest time from formal nomination to confirmation was 19 days.

Biden exaggerated when he said that 30% to 40% of Americans will have voted by Oct. 1. His campaign later told us he meant by Nov. 1  two days before Election Day.

He also wrongly claimed the Trump campaign asked him to release a list of potential Supreme Court picks only after Ginsburgs passing. President Donald Trump and his campaign had called on Biden to produce such a list prior to her death.

Biden made those claims on Sept. 18, shortly after the public learned of Ginsburgs passing, and on Sept. 20, during a speech at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.

Next Supreme Court Term

In arguing that voters should be given a chance to have their voice heard in who serves on the court, Biden suggested in his Sept. 20 remarks that naming someone to replace Ginsburg could wait until after the election because theres no court session between now and the end of this election.

Thats wrong; the next Supreme Court session begins Oct. 5, nearly one month before Election Day on Nov. 3. The justices are already scheduled to hear oral arguments in several cases between those two dates.

Fastest Supreme Court Confirmations

In remarks two days earlier, Biden similarly argued the Senate should hold off on confirming a new justice until after voters choose the next president.

Biden, Sept: 18: Let me be clear that the voters should pick the president, and the president should pick the justice for the Senate to consider. This was the position the Republican Senate took in 2016 when there were almost 10 months to go before the election. Thats the position the United States Senate must take today. And the election is only 46 days off. I think the fastest justice ever confirmed was 47 days, and the average is closer to 70 days.

But Bidens claim about the fastest confirmation was also wrong.

According to a September 2018 Congressional Research Service report, since 1975, three Supreme Court nominees were confirmed in fewer than 47 days from the time their names were formally sent to the Senate for consideration.

The late Associate Justice John Paul Stevens was confirmed in 19 days in 1975; former Associate Justice Sandra Day OConnor was confirmed in 33 days in 1981, and Ginsburg was confirmed in 42 days in 1993.

At the time of its report, the CRS did note that of the 15 Supreme Court nominees since 1975 who had received a final floor vote, the average number of days from nomination to final Senate vote is 69.6 days (or approximately 2.3 months), while the median is 69.0 days.

The CRS list did not include Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who was confirmed in October 2018. Kavanaughs confirmation vote came 88 days after he was formally nominated by Trump on July 10.

Trump has said he plans to announce a nominee to replace Ginsburg on Sept. 25 or Sept. 26.

Biden Misspeaks on Early Voters

Biden exaggerated in his Sept. 20 remarks when he argued the Senate should wait because 30% to 40% of Americans will have voted by Oct. 1.

Biden, Sept. 20: Now, having lost Justice Ginsburg less than seven weeks before the election this year, after Americans have already begun to cast their vote. Its estimated that up to 40% of Americans will have voted by Oct. 1, but at least 30%. Tens of millions.

The Biden campaign said the former vice president was referring to the estimated percentage of Americans who vote early  admitting that Biden misspoke when he said Oct. 1. He meant Nov. 1.

That is a more plausible date. In 2016, more than 41% of all ballots were cast before Election Day, according to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission.

Michael McDonald, a University of Florida professor who tracks early voting statistics, said its unlikely that 30% to 40% of Americans would have voted by Oct. 1. As of Sept. 21, at least 165,000 voters have cast their ballots, according to McDonald, although he notes that the data are incomplete because some states do not publicly report early voting statistics. By Oct. 2, 2016, at least 74,836 had voted early.

I would be surprised if we have 30-40% of all votes cast by October 1, McDonald told us in an email. We do seem to be running ahead of past elections, but in past elections, early voting peaks as we approach Election Day. Furthermore, some states will not have started sending mail ballots to voters by October 1.

Oct. 1 is 33 days from the Nov. 3 election. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, some states begin early voting as early as 45 days out, but the average starting time is 22 days. Some of the biggest states  such as California, New York, Texas, Ohio and Massachusetts  dont start voting early until after Oct. 1, according to the NCSL.

Even if Biden meant Nov. 1, thats just two days before the Nov. 3 election.

List of Potential Nominees

Also in his Sept. 20 speech, Biden falsely claimed the Trump campaign began requesting that Biden release a list of people he might nominate to the Supreme Court after Ginsburg died.

We cant keep rewriting history, scrambling norms, ignoring our cherished system of checks and balances, Biden said. That includes this whole business of releasing a list of potential nominees that I would put forward. Theyre now saying, after Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed away, they said, Biden should release his list. Its no wonder the Trump campaign asked that I release the list only after she passed away. Its a game for them. Its a play to up emotions and anger.

Trump and his campaign had asked Biden to release a list before Sept. 18.

On Sept. 9, the Trump campaign released a list of 20 more people Trump said he would consider nominating to the court if any vacancies occurred in the coming months or in a second term. Trump released a similar list of 21 names during the 2016 presidential campaign.

In a press release announcing Trumps latest list, his 2020 campaign manager, Bill Stepien, said: Voters deserve transparency and a clear view of what direction candidates for president would take our federal courts. We now forcefully demand that Joe Biden do the same.

Trump himself had called on Biden to release his list even earlier. In an Aug. 24 speech at the Republican National Convention, Trump said: And remember this, Im saying that  Im demanding actually, a list. Let Biden put up a list of the judges hes going to appoint.

And when Trumps new list was released earlier this month, he again called on Biden to do the same.

Should there be another vacancy on the Supreme Court during my presidency, my nominee will come from the names I have shared with the American public, including the original list and these 20 additions, Trump said in Sept. 9 remarks from the White House. Joe Biden has refused to release his list, perhaps because he knows the names are so extremely far left that they could never withstand public scrutiny or receive acceptance. He must release a list of justices for people to properly make a decision as to how they will vote. It is very important that he do so."




A crane truck carrying construction materials was found flipped over at the end of a rail bridge under construction over the Mekong River in Luang Prabang province, Laos, Sept. 15, 2020.

A freak accident on an unfinished rail bridge over the Mekong River in Laos has killed a 43-year-old crane truck driver, whose body was discovered nearly 50 miles downstream from where his vehicle was found hanging perilously upside down over raging waters, RFA has learned.

The accident occurred on Sept. 15 when the vehicle fell through a guard rail on the bridge in northern Laos Luang Prabang province.

Authorities and the construction company were looking for the driver shortly after the accident, a source living near the construction site told RFAs Lao Service last week.

At the time of the accident, the vehicle had been installing streetlight posts on the bridge. The weight of the posts caused the crane to skid into a fenced guard rail, damaging it slightly.

The source said the driver may have become unconscious and fallen into the river below and drowned.

A member of a rescue team in Luang Prabang told RFA that a dead body, believed to be the drivers, was recovered from the Mekong on the evening of Sept. 18 about 75 kilometers (47 miles) away from the construction site.

RFA contacted a family member of the driver, who asked not to be identified. She said the driver was employed by a Chinese company that had been subcontracted to work on the bridge project.

Upon investigation it was determined that the driver was at fault in the accident, but the family was able to completely settle with the company for an undisclosed amount and funeral costs.

This file photo from 2019 shows the same bridge, a key landmark on the 257 mile (414 kilometer) Lao-China Railway that will run from the Chinese border to near the capital Vientiane at the border with Thailand when complete in 2021. RFA

The Lao-China railway projectnow 83 percent completewill be part of the part of the 257 mile (414 kilometer) Lao-China railway that will run from the Chinese border to near the capital Vientiane at the border with Thailand.

The railway is being touted as a boon for the impoverished nation of nearly 7 million people because it is expected to lower the cost of exports and consumer goods while boosting socioeconomic development.

The $6 billion project is due for completion in December 2021 and is part of Chinese President Xi Jinpings massive Belt and Road Initiative of infrastructure to support trade with China.

Reported and translated by RFAs Lao Service. Written in English by Eugene Whong.
VICE-PRESIDENT Constantino Chiwenga has said Government is committed to improving conditions of service for its workers.

VP Chiwenga, who is also Health and Child Care Minister, on Saturday toured a Covid-19 isolation centre at Zimbabwe Aids Project (ZAP) Clinic in Victoria Falls where he commended health staff for the good work they have been doing since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Health workers had declared incapacitation on June 18 as they downed tools but reversed their decision early this month after engagement with the VP.

They returned to work following a decision by their representative body  the Zimbabwe Nurses Association (Zina) to give dialogue a chance.

Speaking to health staff at ZAP Clinic and Hwange District Medical Officer Dr Fungai Musinami-Mvura soon after the tour of the facility, VP Chiwenga said negotiations between Government and workers representatives are underway as he reiterated Governments commitment to improving conditions of service for its workers.

He commended the work of health workers.

Keep up the good spirit and thats what we want. But as regards your conditions of service something is happening. I will not tell you the percentage we have given you but you will see once negotiations are over. But we expect you to work the same way you have been working, said VP Chiwenga in a brief chat with staffers at the facility.

During the tour he said he was impressed by the facility, which is one of the two isolation centres in Victoria Falls, the other one being Mkhosana Clinic.

ZAP isolation centre has eight rooms and a capacity of 16 patients. The facility was furnished by the Victoria Falls business community with the help of Oak Foundation in United Kingdom, working with Victoria Falls based Jafuta Foundation.

It has a portable X-ray machine, a portable ventilator, blood gas analyser, a GeneXpert machine, water iodiser and a hood among other equipment sourced for fighting Covid-19.

The equipment will also be handy post Covid-19 as it will be used to provide the much-needed service in Hwange district especially for tuberculosis and HIV and Aids patients as well as attending to fractures.

Earlier in the day, VP Chiwenga had toured Victoria Falls International Airport where he was also impressed by its readiness to receive tourists after all Covid-19 health protocols have been put in place.

The VP said Government wants all frontline workers at ports of entry to have personal protective equipment. Chronicle
Vote-by-mail ballots are shown in U.S. Postal Service sorting trays at the King County Elections headquarters in Renton, Wash., on Aug. 5, 2020. (Ted S. Warren/AP Photo)

Judge Dismisses Trump Campaigns Lawsuit Over Nevada Mail-In Ballot Law

A federal judge in Las Vegas on Sept. 18 rejected a lawsuit filed by President Donald Trumps reelection campaign against the State of Nevada over a law that expands mail-in voting, saying the campaign failed to show how it could be harmed by the law.

Judge James Mahan dismissed the lawsuit that was filed against Republican Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske by the Trump campaign, the Republican National Committee (RNC), and the Nevada Republican Party last month. RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said at the time that the suit sought to stop implementation of Democrats radical election abuses in the state.

McDaniel said the law, known as A.B.4, will destroy the confidence every voter deserves to have in our elections!

The legislation, signed into law by Nevadas Democratic Gov. Steve Sisolak last month, lets election officials send all active registered voters a mail-in ballot for the Nov. 3 election and extends the possibility of vote-by-mail to future elections that may be impacted by things like natural disasters. The law also will ease some restrictions for who is permitted to handle and submit ballots, which Republicans contend can facilitate voter fraud.

The suit claims the law violates the Constitution by effectively extending the deadline for Election Day by way of provisions that let ballots be accepted up to three days after Nov. 3.

The lawsuit followed calls by Trump for Republicans to take legal action before Nevadas Democratic-controlled legislature rushed through sweeping changes that allow universal vote-by-mail in the November general election.

Judge Mahan said Friday that the Trump campaign and Republicans failed to show any constitutional harms in their allegations, dismissing the case on a legal procedural ground.

In his ruling, he referred to the underlying arguments several times as too speculative and generalized.

The Epoch Times has reached out to Cegavskes office for comment.

I said from the beginning that President Trump and the Republican Party didnt have a leg to stand on, and Im pleased that the court agrees. Their allegations of fraud are speculative at best, Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford said in response to Fridays ruling.

Keith Schipper, a spokesman for Trumps campaign in Nevada, said they are disappointed by Mahans ruling upholding the states legislature and its reckless overhaul of its electoral system. He said the campaign is assessing its options.

The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, has long raised the alarm about the dangers of mail-in ballot fraud.

Absentee ballots are the tools of choice of election fraudsters because they are voted outside the supervision of election officials, making it easier to steal, forge, or alter them, as well as to intimidate voters, wrote Heritage Foundation Senior Legal Fellow Hans A. von Spakovsky, in an op-ed.

The Heritage Foundations own database of all reported instances of election fraud, dating back to 1979, lists only 1,277 proven instances of voter fraud, though the organizations Communications Manager told The Epoch Times in an emailed statement that the database is only intended to represent a small sampling of the types of voter fraud that can occurit is by no means a comprehensive report of all the voter fraud that happens around the country.

According to a recent report (pdf) from conservative nonprofit Public Interest Legal Foundation, Nevadas Clark County mailed out 1.3 million ballots for Junes primary, but 223,000 were never delivered due to address issues.

Tom Ozimek and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Actress Ali Wentworth said she and her husband, Good Morning America anchor George Stephanopoulos, both ended up crying in the family car for 45 minutes after he told her that Ruth Bader Ginsburg had died.

The 55-year-old appeared on Live with Kelly and Ryan on Monday where she revealed the deeply personal moment on air.

Wentworth explained how the family were out to dinner on Friday night when they heard the 87-year-old Supreme Court Justice had died.

Actress Ali Wentworth described how she was told of the news of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's passing from her news anchor husband George Stephanopolus

Wentworth told how she had been given an RBG emotional support doll to cope with the loss

The news broke on Friday night when he GMA anchor husband George Stephanopoulos, 59, was immediately summoned to report on air using his cellphone while out dining with family

Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States Ruth Bader Ginsburg is pictured in January 2018. She died last Friday at the age of 87

Her husband, Stephanopoulos, 59, was immediately summoned to report on air via his cellphone.

'George runs out, by the way, with the wallet. And me and our two [teenage] girls, Elliott and Harper, we are just sitting at this restaurant for 45 minutes, enraged that he's just left us. So then I go outside, I see George pacing on the street. I come back in. We keep going 'Daddy, Daddy.' bugging him. He's live on ABC, talking about Ruth Bader Ginsburg,' Wentworth began admitting she didn't know at the time whom he was speaking with.

'I'm going 'Hope she's worth it, whatever woman he's seeing,' We finally get in the car. Me and the girls get into the car. We are waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting. He finally comes in. He bursts into tears. Ruth Bader Ginsburg has died. My two daughters. We sat there in the parking lot, crying for 45 minutes.'

After sharing the emotional comment, peppered with Wentworth's humor she joked: 'Anyway, I thought George was crying about the brisket, but it really was about Ruth Bader Ginsburg. So that was my Friday night.'

Wentworth described how she was told of the news during Monday's edition of Live With Kelly and Ryan

Ripa was visibly upset at the passing of Ginsburg and Wentworth offered her doll for comfort

AliWentworth is pictured with her husband George Stephanopoulos and daughters Elliott, left, and Harper. The family were out for dinner when news of RBG's passing broke

She then handed Kelly Ripa an RBG emotional support doll as a joke, but which Ripa, who was almost in tears, took willingly.

Wentworth had previously posted a tribute on her Instagram page using one of Ginsburg's own quotes.

''Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.' - RBG. Rest in Power to a true warrior. Eternally grateful for all that you have done. Vote in her honor on November 3rd,' she wrote.

Wentworth had previously posted a tribute on her Instagram page using a Ginsburg quotes

Ginsburg was the second woman to be nominated to the highest court in America.

As an advocate, litigator, professor and judge, she spent much of her career calling for gender equality.

She died of metastatic pancreatic cancer, the Supreme Court announced on Friday.

A household name in the US, she was an unlikely cult figure among many young people, earning the nickname The Notorious RBG, inspired by the rapper Notorious BIG.
22.09.2020 LISTEN

Eugene Boaks petitioned the Chief Justice on behalf of the four other respondents facing coye Antwi, Member of Parliament for Subin constituency in the Ashanti region hantempt charges before a Kumasi High Court.

The Subin lawmaker who also doubles as the Deputy Minister for Works and Housing wants the CJ to call for the case docket and assign a another judge either in Kumasi or Accra to handle the case because the trial judge, His Lordship Justice Amedaher Senyo who is sitting as a vacation judge, is bias from the way he is handling the case. His comments and conduct in this case are very bias, the petitioner stressed and challenged the judge to recuse himself.

The petitioner also explained his action in his conviction that the judge and counsel for the applicants are well known NDC sympathisers.

The MP further said he had been informed that the leadership of the NDC while in Kumasi On September 15, 2020 secretly met with Justice Senyo and promised him fat money to convict the him (Eugene Boakye Antwi) and the NPP Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako alias Chairman Wontumi.

In the six-paragraph petition, the MP appearing before the court as the third respondent also did not understand why the case should come before His Lordship Justice Amedaher Senyo because to him it should have been handled by His Lordship Justice Charles Wilson, who is on legal vacation.

He also accused the Registrar of the High Court of unilaterally changing the judge handling the case.

The petition was copied to His Lordship Justice Amedaher Senyo, the Judicial Secretary, the Supervising High court judge, counsel for applicants and respondents and Justice Charles Wilson.

The CJ who swiftly reacted to the MPs petition last Thursday directed the Deputy Judicial Secretary to write to the vacation judge to respond to the allegations of Bias leveled against him.

The Member of Parliament for Subin, Eugene Boakye Antwi and the Ashanti Regional chairman of the NPP, Bernard Antwi Boasiako alias Chairman Wontumi together with Patrick Acheampong, Ashanti Regional Director of Research and Election, the Subin constituency chairman Michael Adusei Bonsu and his Secretary Akuamoah Boateng, are facing contempt of the honourable court brought against them by 51 disgruntled delegates of the Subin constituency led by Isaac Nimako, as first applicant.

The 51 applicants are seeking a declaration that the June 20 NPP polls by which the sitting MP claims to have been re-elected by 485 votes, is illegal, unlawful and wrongful and should be declared null and void.

At the sitting on Wednesday September 16, 2020, Lawyer Annis Moghtar Mohayideen, counsel for applicants prayed the court to sanction respondents for deliberately disregarding the authority and dignity of the court and thus bringing it to public ridicule with the full knowledge of the courts restraining orders.

He argued that a case of prima facie had been established against the respondents who had faked and feigned ignorance of the court order on the basis that they were not served.

Counsel said all respondents save the EC had absolute knowledge of the injunction order and therefore the excuse was not an acceptable defence.

Lawyer Kwame Adom Appiah, counsel for the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth respondents, denied all material allegations against the respondents.

According to him nothing is on record to show that the respondents were served with the court order and failed to comply and that the conjecture was a way of seeking to punish them contrary to what applicants were required to do.

Counsel therefore claimed the application for contempt was out of malice because the allegations were unfounded.

Having heard the submissions of the two sides the court adjourned to September 18, 2020 to enable the respondents view a video recording said to have been part of the evidence by the applicants before it (court) gave its ruling at a later date.

But the hearing could not take place as the judge had to decline handling the case for obvious reasons. The case is now on hold awaiting further directions by the Chief Justice.
Press release



Strengthened governance:

Proposal to appoint two new board directors, including one independent director



London, 22 September 2020 - The Board of Directors of Invibes Advertising has decided to strengthen its governance by proposing the appointment of Mascha Driessen, as independent director, and Philippe Houdouin, as director. The draft resolution will be added to the agenda of the next General Meeting of shareholders scheduled for 6 October 2020.

Mascha Driessen has more than 25 years' experience in the advertising and marketing fields, from which she has acquired solid expertise in change and innovation management, notably when it comes to sectors and business models combining technology and marketing. She is currently the VP Continental Europe of Microsoft Advertising. Mascha started her career in television advertising, working for RTL and, subsequently, Endemol, before joining Google, where she launched the monetization of YouTube in the Benelux region and received the Google Global OC Award. She holds degrees in communication science and advertising from the Universities of Amsterdam and Rotterdam.

Philippe Houdouin holds an engineering degree from French naval academy Ecole Navale and a Master's degree from HEC business school. He has managed IP telephony company Keyyo, which is listed on Euronext Growth Paris, for over 10 years. Prior to joining Keyyo, Philippe was CEO of Phone Systems, an innovative IP telephony services provider listed on Euronext Paris. Philippe previously held various management roles at French group Vivendi and notably contributed to the group's international expansion in the telecommunications sector. He also founded investment firm Magelio Capital.

In the event the General Meeting approves these appointments, Invibes Advertising's Board of Directors would consist of seven members, two of which independent directors:

Mascha Driessen , independent director;

, independent director; Philippe Houdouin , director;

, director; Marc Vanlerberghe , director;

, director; Filip Cailliau , independent director, represented by eFCee BV;

, independent director, represented by eFCee BV; Frank Elewaut , director, represented by Elewaut & Co BV;

, director, represented by Elewaut & Co BV; Nicolas Pollet , co-founder, Chairman of the Board of Directors, represented by NP Finance;

, co-founder, Chairman of the Board of Directors, represented by NP Finance; Kris Vlaemynck, co-founder, Managing Director, represented by Nemo Services BV.

About Invibes Advertising

Invibes Advertising is an advanced technology company that specializes in digital advertising. Its innovative solutions are supported by an in-feed format that's integrated into media content.

Invibes is inspired by social network advertising and develops its own technology to help brands better communicate with consumers. Its technology is optimized for distributing in a closed network of media sites, including: Bertelsmann, Hearst, Unify, Groupe Marie Claire, Axel Springer, and many others. Clients include major brands such as Mercedes, Samsung, Levis, and IBM.

Founded in 2011, Invibes Advertising is a listed company on the Euronext Paris stock exchange (Ticker: ALINV - ISIN: BE0974299316). Visit www.invibes.com for more information.

For our latest press releases, go to:

https://www.invibes.com/uk/uk/investors.html

Keep up with all the latest new on INVIBES ADVERTISING:

LinkedIn @Invibes Advertising Twitter@Invibes_adv Facebook@Invibes Advertising

Financial & Corporate Contacts:

Invibes Advertising

Kris Vlaemynck, CFO

kris.vlaemynck@invibes.com

Listing Sponsor

Atout Capital

Rodolphe Ossola

rodolphe.ossola@atoutcapital.com

+33 (0)1 56 69 61 80

Group Investor Relations

Actifin

Alexandre Commerot

acommerot@actifin.fr

+33 (0)1 56 88 11 11

Media Relations

Fair Communications

Victoria Fairclough

victoria.fairclough@faircommunications.co.uk

+44 79 1991 3348

Attachment
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham is using the Salvation Government to go after activists who are critical of their work, threatening them with legal charges reports Al-Modon.

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham has become increasingly dependent on the Salvation Government, its administrative wing, to pursue media activists in Idleb Governorate, instead of resorting to the arbitrary arrests that militants affiliated with it usually carry out.

The opposition Shaam News Network wrote, in an exclusive report, that several media activists received summons from the Ministry of Justice of the Salvation Government in Idleb, on charges of defamation and slander, in what appears to be the latest charges that have been devised for activists who monitor violations by the al-Qaeda-linked Tahrir al-Sham against civilians in its areas of control.

Word on the street has it that a number of official summons issued by the Ministry of Justice in the Salvation Government reached a number of media activists, asking them to report to the general prosecutors office regarding a lawsuit filed against them by an unnamed entity, for defamation and slander.

A local activist, who requested to remain anonymous for security concerns, said, The policy of judicial summons has recently reached a good number of media activists in Idleb, asking them to pay a visit to the general prosecutors office. Some activists shared the news with the public, while others feared legal prosecution and resorted to secrecy.

An activist explained that Muhammad Nazzal is the one leading the campaign against activists in the Idleb countryside. Nazzal was previously known as Abu Ahmad Khattab and Khattab al-Urduni. He is a Jordanian jihadist of Palestinian origin who joined the al-Nusra Front (now Tahrir al-Sham) in Syria in 2012. He became close to Tahrir al-Sham leader, Abu Mohammad al-Jolani.

He moved from working in the administrative field within Tahrir al-Sham to working in the media field. He headed Tahrir al-Shams media relations office, managing the accounts of Imad al-Din Mujahid and Taqi al-Din Omar and giving statements to media agencies as Tahrir al-Shams spokesperson. Nazzal has close ties to Tahrir al-Shams security apparatus and, alongside a large team, monitors the accounts of activists through social media and news outlets. He records every publication or conversation against Tahrir al-Sham, in order to later file lawsuits against the activists, with the help of Salvation Government institutions, which are affiliated with Tahrir al-Sham. He also stalks media activists and sends them direct or implicit threats, sometimes even instructing security personnel to arrest them.

As of late, Tahrir al-Shams media relations offices and the Salvation Government have been working to track the work of activists, even through their official pages. Many activists received a lot of warnings through both private and official phone numbers, about a post on Facebook or a tweet that criticizes Tahrir al-Shams work or anyone affiliated with it.

Nazzal and his staff rely on intimidation methods and threaten activists, specifically those working with media institutions that contradict Tahrir al-Shams agenda and may oppose it and criticize it practices, under the pretext of being keen on decent media work and serving the Syrian revolution as a cause. Many activists have been informed about the need to leave the institutions they work for, and were pressured through either promises or threats to quit their jobs.

Among the recent decisions issued by the Media Relations Office of the Salvation Government last month is putting restrictions on the work of Agence France Presse correspondents, in addition to preventing the media from working with Al-Aan TV and STEP News Agency, both against the Syrian regime.

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.
Donald Trump has once again rallied voters on a message of fear and foreboding about the hellscape that the US would become if his Democratic opponent, Joe Biden, wins the presidential election in November.

You know, I hate to say it, I'm the only thing standing between you and chaos, the president told hundreds of tightly packed supporters  many of whom were not wearing masks  at an airport in Swanton, Ohio, the last in a series of campaign stops in the state on Monday.

Your children will be robbed of their future. The damage will endure for generations to come. We have to win. This is the most important election in the history of our country, Mr Trump said.

The roughly hour-long speech featured the standard fare of pot shots against Mr Biden that those following the race closely will recognise from previous campaign events.

Let's face it. Joe Biden is incompetent. He always was, even in primetime. He was incompetent in primetime. And now he's really incompetent, the president said, referring to his unsubstantiated theory that Mr Biden is senile and mentally incapable of commanding the presidency.

Mr Biden has denied  and, at times, laughed off  the notion that he is senile.

As Mr Trump prepares to announce his nomination this upcoming weekend to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court left by the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died last week after a protracted battle with pancreatic cancer, he warned his supporters that Mr Biden would pack the court to dilute what is expected to be a conservative majority.

Throughout the Democratic primary campaign, Mr Biden expressed his opposition to court-packing.

We add three justices  next time around we lose control, they add three justices, he said at a debate last year.

That did not stop Mr Trump, reading from his teleprompter, from falsely stating the opposite.

If Joe Biden and the Democrats take power, they will pack the Supreme Court with far left radicals who will unilaterally transform American society far beyond recognition. They will mutilate the law, disfigure the Constitution and impose a socialist vision from the bench that could never pass at the ballot box, he said.

Mr Trump reaffirmed his commitment to nominate a woman to the high court, joking to his audience, however, that he doesn't want to make the men mad by doing so.

Meanwhile, in a Fox News interview just an hour later, his close ally Lindsey Graham said Senate Republicans would confirm that pick before the 2020 election.

The leading candidates are reportedly federal Appeals Court Judges Amy Coney Barrett of the Seventh Circuit and Barbara Lagoa of the 11th Circuit.

The president met with Ms Barrett at the White House on Monday before heading to boarding Air Force One for Ohio.

She's one of the people that's very respected, but they're all respected, Mr Trump said, when asked whether Ms Barrett was on his short list. She is certainly one of the candidates, yes.

Mr Trump also doubled down on his concept for a patriotic education commission for American schools to teach children to love America, a plan that has been likened to the Hitler Youth programme from Nazi Germany.

I announced last week that we're launching a pro-American lesson plan for students. [The] 1776 [Commission], Mr Trump said to a roar of applause from his supporters at an airplane hangar rally near Dayton, Ohio, on Monday.

We will teach our children the truth about America  that we are the most exceptional nation on the face of the earth, and we are getting better and better all the time.  No party can lead America that will not teach our children to love America, the president said.

Among Mr Trumps other false statements about Mr Biden on Monday were accusations that he is a proponent of communism and that he would abolish the Second Amendment that enshrines the right for every American adult to bear arms.

Mr Biden is not associated with the Democratic Socialists of America, which counts New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez among its ranks, and has disavowed the need for socialism in the US.

We need  not just in my country, but in other countries  a more progressive tax code. Not confiscatory policy, not socialism  a tax code, he said in 2016 at a speech before the World Economic Forum in Switzerland.

And on guns, the Biden campaign has proposed a comprehensive plan to curtail assault weapons and mandate universal background checks for all firearm sales, among other regulations. But he has never said he would abolish the Second Amendment or forcibly take away Americans guns.
PENSACOLA, Fla.  Hurricane Sally gouged three breaches into the eastern tip of Perdido Key, separating the isolated stretch of the barrier island into three small islands.

The affected area is undeveloped, sandy shoreline east of Johnson Beach and just south of Robertson Island. Even before the hurricane, the region was inaccessible by road and was primarily used by hikers and boaters as a recreation spot for camping, kayaking and swimming.

The three new channels created by Sally may make the farthest corner of the island even more remote.

The affected area is part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore, and Park Superintendent Dan Brown said it was not the first time this has happened.

Drone footage: Hurricane Sally's devastation in Pensacola

"Perdido Key has been breached in the past in about the same areas," Brown said. "That section of the island is extremely low lying and very narrow. That's why it was so readily breached. Fortunately, Fort Pickens was not breached this time. Hurricane Ivan breached Fort Pickens, a section about a quarter-mile wide, but it was able to heal itself."

Brown said he had doubts a similar natural recovery will occur in Perdido Key.

"The (beaches) are so close to Pensacola Pass, and the longshore currents trend from the east to the west, so any sand that would be naturally transported would be between Pensacola Pass and those breaches," Brown said. "That's a very short stretch of the island, so there's probably not sufficient sand available for natural processes to heal those breaches."

A composite of aerial photographs from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration taken in the days after Hurricane Sally shows three cuts to the eastern edge of Perdido Key near Fort McRee in the Gulf Islands National Seashore.

'What do we do?': These Florida residents have runaway barges in their yards after Hurricane Sally

How the government is responding

While the National Park Services does sometimes conduct dredging projects for the purposes of beach renourishment, Brown said their approach is typically to let nature take its course.

"When we stand and look out at the Grand Canyon, we don't see it as an erosion problem," Brown said. "It's just natural processes, and barrier islands both accrete sand  sometimes areas get built up and new land is created by the movement of sand  and sometimes areas get eroded. All of that change in the natural shoreline is something that is ongoing and constant, and typically when something occurs naturally through natural processes, we don't intervene."

Story continues

Wade Jeffrey, director of Reubin O'D. Askew Institute of Multidisciplinary Studies at the University of West Florida, said barrier islands are dynamic, and that they grow and change over time almost like living organisms.

"Sand builds up in places and erodes in other places, and you get thin spots and heavy spots," Jeffery said. "Then, when you get storm activity, you get wash out through the low spots, and once the water starts moving through it, it just keeps moving sand more and more and it's eventually going to lead to the blowouts like you see in the pictures from Perdido."

Brown said the National Park Services hadn't had the opportunity to review the breaches from the ground. Currently, the service is still focused on assessing the impacts to its facilities and along roads like Highway 399 and Fort Pickens Road. He said after some of those assessments are complete, the Park Service would have further discussion on what, if any, action to take on the breaches.

Follow reporter Kevin Robinson on Twitter: @KevRobinsonPNJ

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Hurricane Sally forms three 'breaches' in Florida's east Perdido Key
COLUMBUS, Ohio - The disruptive inventions that make people go "Wow!" tend to come from research in the heart of cities and not in the suburbs, a new study suggests.

Researchers found that, within metro areas, the majority of patents come from innovations created in suburbs - often in the office parks of big tech companies like Microsoft and IBM.

But the unconventional, disruptive innovations - the ones that combine research from different technological fields - are more likely to be produced in cities, said Enrico Berkes, co-author of the study and postdoctoral researcher in economics at The Ohio State University.

These unconventional patents are ones that, for example, may blend research on acoustics with research on information storage - the basis for digital music players like the iPod. Or patents that cite previous work on "vacuum cleaning" and "computing" to produce the Roomba.

"Densely populated cities do not generate more patents than the suburbs, but they tend to generate more unconventional patents," said Berkes, who did the work as a doctoral student at Northwestern University.

"Our findings suggest that cities provide more opportunities for creative people in different fields to interact informally and exchange ideas, which can lead to more disruptive innovation."

Berkes conducted the study with Ruben Gaetani, assistant professor of strategic management at the University of Toronto. Their research was published online recently in The Economic Journal.

Previous research had shown that large metropolitan areas are where patenting activity tends to concentrate, Berkes said, suggesting that population density is an important factor for innovation.

But once Berkes and Gaetani started looking more closely at metro areas, they found that a sizable share of these patents was developed in the suburbs - the least densely populated part. Nearly three-quarters of patents came from places that had density below 3,650 people per square mile in 2000, about the density of Palo Alto, California.

"If new technology is spurred by population density, we wanted to know why so much is happening in the least dense parts of the metro areas," Berkes said.

So Berkes and Gaetani analyzed more than 1 million U.S. patents granted between January 2002 and August 2014. They used finely geolocated data from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office that allowed them to see exactly where in metro areas - including city centers and specific suburbs - that patented discoveries were made.

But they were also interested in determining the type of innovations produced - whether they would be considered conventional or unconventional. They did this by analyzing the previous work on which each patent was based.

The researchers tagged new patents as unconventional if the inventors cited previous work in widely different areas.

For example, a patent from 2000 developed in Pittsburgh is one of the first recorded inventions in wearable technologies and one of the precursors to products such as Fitbit. It was recognized as unconventional because it cites previous patents in both apparel and electrical equipment - two very distant fields.

After analyzing the data, the researchers found that both urban and suburban areas played a prominent role in the innovation process, but in different ways, Berkes said.

Large innovative companies, such as IBM or Microsoft, tend to perform their research in large office parks located outside the main city centers.

"These companies are very successful in taking advantage of formal channels of knowledge diffusion, such as meetings or conferences, where they can capitalize on the expertise of their scientists and have them work together on specialized projects for the company," Berkes said.

"But it is more difficult for them to tap ideas from other scientific fields because this demands interactions with inventors they're not communicating with every day or running into in the cafeteria or in the hallway."

That's where the urban cores excelled. In cities like San Francisco and Boston, researchers may meet people in entirely different fields at bars, restaurants, museums and cultural events. Any chance encounter could lead to productive partnerships, he said.

"If you want to create something truly new and disruptive, it helps if you have opportunities to casually bump into people from other scientific fields and exchange ideas and experiences and knowledge. That's what happens in cities," he said.

"Density plays an important role in the type, rather than the amount, of innovation."

These findings show the potential value of tech parks that gather technology startup companies in a variety of fields in one place, Berkes said. But they have to be set up properly.

"Our research suggests that informal interactions are important. Tech parks should be structured in a way that people from different startups can easily interact with each other on a regular basis and share ideas," he said.

###

Contact: Enrico Berkes, Berkes.8@osu.edu

Written by Jeff Grabmeier, 614-292-8457; Grabmeier.1@osu.edu
The Nelson Chamisa-led MDC Alliances Bulawayo provincial executive has resolved to field all the eight councillors who were recently recalled by the MDC-T led by Thokozani Khupe in the upcoming by-elections.

Khupes MDC-T had by last week recalled 84 councillors throughout the country, paralysing most local authorities dominated by the MDC Alliance.

The most affected were Harare, Bulawayo, Marondera, Gwanda, Beitbridge and Victoria Falls. The recalls effectively crippled Chamisas party which controlled the majority of the countrys 32 urban councils.

Yesterday, MDC Alliance Bulawayo provincial executive committee resolved to field all the eight recalled councillors and to hold primary elections in ward eight which fell vacant following the death of councillor Ronia Mudara in July this year.

Party provincial spokesperson Swithern Chirowodza confirmed the developments, adding that they were confident of reclaiming the seats despite the unfavourable political environment.

The Bulawayo provincial executive met on Sunday and unanimously agreed that all the recalled councillors, save for those under disciplinary hearings, should contest in the impending by elections. We are saying these councillors did not do anything wrong and were simply recalled for supporting our president (Chamisa). They were voted for by the people and we are confident that the people will vote for them again, Chirowodza said.

He, however, expressed concern over the confusion likely to arise after Khupe indicated that she was now MDC Alliance leader and her candidates would contest the forthcoming by-elections on an MDC Alliance ticket.

This boils down to the impartiality of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) if they will allow a party to use its competitors name during elections. But the truth is that Zec has rules which clearly state that no competitor must use or impede another by using its name as this constitutes obstruction of the other.

If they are going to be allowed to use the symbols and names used by others this creates a lot of confusion, he said.

Meanwhile, MDC Alliance vice-president Tendai Biti and his old party Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have approached Parliament seeking to stop the planned recall of the recently elected Harare mayor Jacob Mafume by Khupes party.

Parliament has already made a decision that the MDC Alliance is a coalition and has allowed the MDC-T to recall Members of Parliament, while we disagree with that position, we have a responsibility to protect the PDP which is now part of the party called the MDC Alliance, he said.

Mafumes position hangs in balance after Lucia Matibengas PDP faction last week wrote to Local Government minister July Moyo recalling him from council. Newsday.
Oakland County business owner Scott Zack of Michigan showcases the Center for Entrepreneurship based at his local university's campus in nearby Ann Arbor.

DETROIT, MI / ACCESSWIRE / September 22, 2020 / From Advanced Entrepreneurship Practicum to Digital Product Design, there's much on offer for aspiring business owners at the University of Michigan's Center for Entrepreneurship. A successful local businessman, Scott Zack Michigan takes a closer look at what's available at the state's oldest university for those wishing to follow in his illustrious footsteps.

"The University of Michigan is home to the Center for Entrepreneurship which, since it was established in 2008, has developed a diverse set of offerings that cater to the needs of its students and faculty," explains Scott Zack Michigan, speaking from his office in Oakland County, around 30 miles north of the university's base in Ann Arbor.

"No matter what an individual's passions, interests, or previous entrepreneurial experiences or ambitions are, the Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Michigan boasts a wealth of specialized opportunities," adds the local business owner.

These, Scott Zack Michigan says, are designed to expose aspiring entrepreneurs to a plethora of new ways of thinking. "If you're an aspiring entrepreneur, the University of Michigan's Center for Entrepreneurship is there to support your unique goals," points out Zack.

For students, the initiative provides educational instruction taught by practicing entrepreneurs, according to Scott Zack Michigan, giving them the skill set required to be successful. "For faculty and researchers, meanwhile," he goes on, "opportunities and funding are offered, to allow them to take their work beyond academia and into the real world."

Partners of the University of Michigan's Center for Entrepreneurship are also catered to, where connections are made between individuals and companies seeking talented students and others for their own programs, Scott Zack Michigan reports.

Current Center for Entrepreneurship courses includes Entrepreneurship Marketing, Digital Product Design, Entrepreneurial E-Commerce, Advanced Entrepreneurship Practicum, and Compensation, Funding, and Ownership, among many others, according to the University of Michigan website.

The University of Michigan is a public research institution founded in 1817. "Originally located in Detroit, it's the state's oldest university, founded, in fact, some two decades before the territory here actually became a state," reveals Scott Zack Michigan.

Before it was known as the University of Michigan, it was, Scott Zack Michigan says, known as the Catholepistemiad, or the University of Michigania. "The university moved from Detroit to Ann Arbor in 1837," he adds, "onto land offered up by the city, and on which the institution could expand as necessary."

In addition to the sprawling University of Michigan, Ann Arbor is also home to the University of Michigan Museum of Art and science-focused attractions including the Museum of Natural History and the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum.

Scott Zack Michigan resides in the nearby Detroit metropolitan area township of West Bloomfield. Outside of his work, Zack's interests and hobbies include entrepreneurship, sports, yoga, and spending time outdoors with his friends and family.

CONTACT:

Caroline Hunter

Web Presence, LLC

+1 7865519491

SOURCE: Scott Zack

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/607333/Scott-Zack-Michigan-Presents-States-Oldest-Universitys-Center-for-Entrepreneurship
Since the victory in the last elections, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as well as his party, both are continuously coming up with a series of moves to establish a totalitarian regime in Turkey. In the latest move, the Erdogan government has launched a crackdown on the members of an opponent organisation led by dissident and religious leader Fethullah Gulen. To establish its authoritarian control and weed out adversaries, Erdogan has begun cleansing Turkey out of supporters of the Gulen movement.

The Turkish government has begun to detain the supporters of Fethullah Gulen and the movement led by him from all the government institutions. According to Turkish media reports, Erdogan had directed law enforcement agencies to launch an all out raid on pro-Gulenist government officials on 15th September. A total of 66 Turkish soldiers were arrested at once on charges of reflecting pro-Gulenist sentiments. Of the total, 18 are former soldiers who were suspended for supporting the ideas of Fethullah Gulen and participating in the July 2016 coup attempt.

Separately, police have arrested 79 people for alleged links to Fethullah Terrorist Organisation (FETO)  an outfit believing in Fethullah Gulens ideas. Turkish agencies are also on a lookout for other members of FETO as well. Besides, a dozen teachers have been arrested in capital Ankara for their alleged association with FETO and using a mobile app ByLock for encrypted messaging.

In a nationwide drive to prosecute dissidents, Turkish agencies are searching for another 47 dissidents across 19 provinces of Turkey and a number of them have been detained for their alleged connections with FETO. Besides, Turkish agencies have also arrested around 132 soldiers, active as well as retired, in Istanbul over similar charges.

Erdogans party has been arguing that the Gulen movement, during its alliance with Erdogans party, efficiently penetrated into government institutions and occupied prominent positions. However, Erdogan began to eliminate Gulenists after lawyers associated with the Gulen movement tried to prosecute Erdogan on corruption charges in 2013 and tried to prosecute a couple of his associates. Religious leader Fethullah Gulen the supremo of Gulen Islamist movement is currently staying in the US.

A week earlier, Turkish agencies also arrested sixty individuals including 48 lawyers for allegedly supporting Fethullah Gulen. Consequently, more than twenty civil liberties organisations and bar associations have issued an open letter addressed to Erdogan, condemning the arrests and demanding immediate release of lawyers. The list of organizations included Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe, German Bar Association, and Law Society of England and Wales, besides others.

In another move to consolidate his authoritarian control over Turkey, Erdogan plans to establish a Presidential Directorate for Integrated Surveillance  an agency which would maintain a data bank and sensitive data of every citizen and monitor them, turning Turkey into a surveillance state. On 16 September, Interior Minister of Turkey Suleyman Soylu stated that the government would establish the new Directorate that will maintain a database of all the drivers license and digital IDs of every individual.He also conveyed Turkey's ambitious plans of launching the new digital ID, containing RFID chips. Turkey further plans to integrate other IDs with the database maintained by the Directorate as well, including healthcare cards, bank IDs and other cards related to public schemes.

At a time wherein digital IDs are facing a global setback and such projects are being pulled back by governments across the world, Turkey has sinister plans to store the hyper sensitive data of its citizens including the biometrics. Going on lines of China and North Korea, Turkey would probably become the third nation to maintain a master database including hyper sensitive data of its individuals and constantly surveil them,breaching their privacy.

In a similar move to turn Turkey into a Police State and purge his opponents, Erdogan ordered to establish a new police unit Istanbul  a city that is being ruled by Erdogans opponent. A direct presidential order issued on 20 August provided for setting up of Ready Reinforcement Force Directorate  a police unit that would directly report to the President. A similar unit has also been established in Ankara  another city where Erdogan faced defeat and is being ruled by his opponent.

The idea of Erdogan is to gain sweeping powers in administering cities that are being ruled by opposition parties and to create barriers in governance by his opponents. However, the decision of establishing the New police unit has led to intense pushback from the opposition parties. Former Prime Minister and leader of the Future Party Ahmet Davutoglu took on Erdogan and criticised his move of directly controlling law and order in Istanbul. Similarly, Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Sezgin Tanrikulu moved a motion in the Turkish parliament questioning the move.

Why is there a need to establish a unit in the General Directorate of Security, apart from the supervision of the governorship, within the body of the General Directorate of Security and directly in contact with the President. Who will supervise a power that is not under the control of the governors, and who will respond to the wrong practices of that power. Ahmet Davutoglu statement published on en24news

The civil society and academicians have also begun to raise their voice opposing the dictatorial move of Erdogan, undermining the Turkish democracy. Prominent academician Mehmet Koksal argued that the new police unit shall be problematic as it would be directly controlled by the President and compared the new unit with Schutzstaffel force created by Hitler in Nazi Germany. Further, Turkish Bar Association Vice President Huseyin Ozbek argued that such a force under direct control of one person shall further lead to unlawful actions.

This is a very dangerous development. This is how the SS (Schutzstaffel) police force was formed during the era of Hitler in Germany, Koksal said.

Erdogan is on a hurried campaign of consolidating institutional powers across Turkey and has been ruling the nation through unlawful Presidential orders and decrees. In a number of cases, he has also created super or shadow institutions to challenge the ones that are out of his control. Another objective behind creating such institutions is to establish them as alternatives to those under oppositions hold. He has also made mass appointments across Turkish institutions and filled them with people pledging allegiance to Erdogan. Besides the vulnerabilities of becoming a totalitarian regime, such steps have led to misgovernance, clash of powers, and confusions in administration.

Such moves of eliminating dents and turning Turkey into a surveillance state is being opposed by the Turkish political institutions and the civil society. A number of organisations from the Western world have started to join voices against Erdogans dictatorial moves. However, nations across the world also need to stand up against Erdogans oppressive moves in order to ensure human rights for Turkish citizens and to provide space to dissidents.

Also, it is no surprise that Pakistanis and Kashmiri separatists working in Turkish media, instead of criticizing blatant human rights violations by Erdogan, have become his fanboys and fangirls - exposing their double standards.
Illustrative image (Photo: Internet)



Philippine Agriculture Secretary William Dar has instructed agricultural attaches in China, the Republic of Korea, and Thailand to monitor the global situation as other banana-producing countries continue to take other markets from the Philippines.



The countrys banana exports went down by 11 percent to 1.03 billion USD from January to July due to Panama disease or fusarium wilt, affecting banana farms and plantations in Mindanao.



Last July, the Philipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association Inc. (PBGEA) projected that the industry is looking at a big drop of as much as 20 percent in volume to 162.2 million boxes from last years 195.5 million boxes. This is more or less equivalent to 1.65 billion USD export sales, down 15 percent from last years 1.95 billion USD.



Bananas comprised 30 percent of the total value of agriculture exports of 6.39 billion USD in 2019. The Philippines remains the worlds second largest banana producer, following Ecuador./.
Scientists say more research needs to be done to determine the all-round effect that Covid-19 has on the brain (Getty)

A doctor who contracted Covid-19 treating stricken patients at a Texas hospital has died after a two-month battle with the virus.

Dr Adeline Fagan became infected as she did a coronavirus rotation in the ER and died over the weekend after suffering a massive brain bleed.

Dr Fagan, 28, fell ill in early July and quarantined at home for a week after testing positive for Covid-19.

But her family say that her condition worsened and she began to fall over and her lips turned blue, a sign of lack of oxygen, according to Syracuse.com

Dr Fagan, who worked in obstetrics and gynaecology in Houston, was admitted as a patient as her condition deteriorated.

Doctors tried to give her an experimental drug and placed her onto life-support with an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation machine.

Before we could see if this new drug was effective, her lungs could no longer support her, her family wrote on her GoFundeMe page.

Dr Fagan spent several weeks in intensive care on a ventilator before suffering a massive brain bleed and doctors said she would need emergency surgery.

The doctor said they have seen this type of event in COVID patients that spend time on ECMO, they added.

Her family say she was only given a 1 in a million chance of surviving the procedure, but Dr Fagan died before it could be performed.

We spent the remaining minutes hugging, comforting, and talking to Adeline. And then the world stopped, they wrote on Facebook.

Dr Fagan was originally from Syracuse, New York, and was in the second year of her residency.

We want to sincerely thank all who supported Adeline and us through this difficult time, her father Brant Fagan wrote in a CaringBridge post.

You were all there cheering and praying and crying. The numbers of well wishes and caring people humbles us.

Even in this darkest of times, there are good people willing to share a piece of themselves for the sake of another.

If you can do one thing, be an Adeline in the world.

Story continues

Be passionate about helping others less fortunate, have a smile on your face, a laugh in your heart, and a Disney tune on your lips.

Read more

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NAUGATUCK  The towns police chief has ordered an internal investigation into a traffic stop from Monday after video of the incident was shared on social media.

The Naugatuck Police Department was made aware of a video circulating on social media depicting an incident that occurred earlier today on a traffic stop, police said in a statement Monday night.

The video, shared scores of times on social media Monday, appears to show a man pull into a parking lot and an officer approach the car.

The footage, which appears to be filmed off security footage playing on a computer screen, was shared by a Facebook user who claims to be the man in the video.

In his post, the man alleged that the officer was blocking the beginning of Rubber Avenue and there was no incoming traffic so he safely pass(ed) the cop car and go into the plaza 10 feet away.

The Facebook user, who said he was not arrested, did not immediately respond to request for comment Tuesday.

The man claimed the officer walked up to him in the parking lot and was shouting at him. He alleged that the officer slammed him against his car when he tried to hand him his wallet.

A time stamp on the video, which briefly flashes into frame nearly 30 seconds into the video indicates the incident happened around 9:20 a.m. Monday.

After about a minute, the video appears to show the officer grab the mans hand, turn him around and push him against the car. The footage does not have sound.

The video then appears to show a second officer come up and help hold the man against the car before they eventually let the man go.

After he was made aware of the incident, Chief Steven Hunt ordered an internal investigation, police said.
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Tuesday stated that till August 31, more than 11 lakh Indians (excluding land border crossings) have returned to India under the Vande Bharat Mission. Citing the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Singh made the announcement in Lok Sabha.

Vande Bharat Mission consists of special repatriation flights operated by Indian carriers and chartered flights operated by both Indian and foreign carriers.

Lifeline UDAN

Launched on March 26 by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, 'Lifeline UDAN' was an initiative to ensure a steady supply of essentials as well as medical supplies, PPEs (Personal Protective Equipment), test kits etc. to all parts of the country. For this purpose, the Ministry facilitated establishing Lifeline UDAN mechanism to match the requirements/consignments of States /UTs/MoHFW (HLL & ICMR)/other Ministries with special flight plans.

Initially, the consignor State Govts./UTs/agencies were to incur the transportation cost for Lifeline UDAN flights. However, a contingency expenditure plan for excess expenditure up to a total amount of Rs.30 crore was approved for payments of Lifeline UDAN operations to be made by MoCA. As of 18.09.2020, a number of Rs 18.95 crore has been reimbursed by MoCA to airlines/ground handling agencies for Lifeline UDAN flights.

Remotely Piloted Aircraft System

The Ministry of Civil Aviation, up to August 31, has granted a conditional exemption to the following state government agencies for Remotely Piloted Aircraft System:

i. Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Co. Ltd.

ii. Commissionerate of Agriculture, Government of Rajasthan

iii. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Education and Research, Government of Uttar Pradesh

iv. Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department, Government of Haryana

v. Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage (DPPQS), Faridabad

vi. Government Aviation Training Institute, Bhubaneswar

vii. Telangana State Aviation Academy, Hyderabad
A person holds a transgender pride flag in a file photograph, in New York on June 28, 2019. (Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty Images)

Christian Allegedly Sacked for Opposing Modern Sex Education Sues Former School Employer

A British Christian school administrator, sacked last year after she expressed concerns on social media about gender and relationship education in primary schools, is suing her former employer for alleged discrimination and harassment on the grounds of her religious beliefs.

In a statement submitted to a Bristol employment tribunal on Monday, Kristie Higgs, a 44-year-old mother who is being supported by the Christian Legal Centre, reportedly said she does not believe in the modern ideas of gender fluidity and transgenderism, and believes same-sex marriage is contrary to Gods law.

Higgs was allegedly sacked for gross misconduct after seven years at Farmors School in Gloucestershire, South West England, because she shared two Facebook posts in 2018 with friends and family after becoming concerned about sex and gender education in her sons Church Of England primary school.

The Facebook posts were anonymously shown to the school, following which Higgs was called to a disciplinary hearing and then sacked for gross misconduct.

I have been punished for sharing concerns about Relationships and Sex Education, Higgs said in a statement via Christian organization Christian Concern, of which the Christian Legal Centre is a part.

Number One Concern

Higgs said her number one concern was about the effect of sex and gender education in schools on young children.

I have not discriminated against anyone, she said.

Higgs holds her views due to her Christian beliefs, she said, which are shared by hundreds of thousands of parents across the UK.

We should have the right to share our concerns so that people can be aware and judge for themselves, she added.

Screenshot of Facebook post by Kristie Higgs on Oct. 27, 2018 sharing an article by Christian writer and commentator JudyBeth Wagoner on childrens books that discuss transgender issues. (Courtesy Christian Concern)

In one of the two Facebook posts shared in her maiden name, Higgs asked friends and family to sign an online petition against making relationships and sex education (RSE) compulsory in schools. It has since become mandatory in England.

In the other post, she shared a 2017 article by JudyBeth Wagoner, a pro-life Christian writer and political commentator, on the increase of transgender ideas in American schoolbooks.

The petition Higgs promoted in her 2018 Facebook post was titled Uphold the right of parents to have children educated in line with their religious beliefs.

Screenshot of Facebook post by Kristie Higgs on Oct. 24, 2018 discussing a petition against mandatory relationships and sex education in primary schools. (Courtesy Christian Concern)

It said the move to make sex education compulsory was repressive and anti-Christian.

The attempted push by LGBT [lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender] activists to make teaching about alternative lifestyles and sexualities compulsory for all children from the age of 4 is a declaration of war against Christianity, the petition stated.

It suppresses freedom of belief as enshrined in the Bible and denies the right to free speech.

It further added that the push for compulsory sex education was against parents rights under the European Convention of Human Rights, which requires the state to respect the right of parents to have their children educated in conformity with their own religious and philosophical convictions.

Greater Awareness

Higgs said that parents were becoming more aware of what was being taught in schools and called for them to support her stance.

Parents are waking up now and finding out the truth about whats really being taught in these schools, she said.

I need other parents and people to stand with me.

Higgs is reportedly seeking 56,000 pounds ($71,200) in damages from Farmors School. Her case will be heard in court this week.

This case is about the freedom to hold Christian views about what it means to be human, Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, said in a statement.

What Kristie shared on Facebook simply reflects the genuine and justified concerns of a parent about the sexual ideology currently being imposed on her own children and thousands of children across the UK.

Neither Farmors School nor the chair of its board of governors had responded to a request for comment by the time of this report.
Liberal Attacks on Amy Barrett's Christian Faith Resurface as Trump Interviews Her for SCOTUS

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The speculation about who President Trump will pick for the Supreme Court seat vacated by Anthony Kennedy is heating up, as Democrats signal their particular distaste for Amy Coney Barrett, who is among the finalists.

Barrett, a federal appeals court judge on the seventh circuit who faced a contentious Senate confirmation hearing last year, is already drawing criticism amid the revelation that she is among four nominees on the president's shortlist whom he has personally interviewed for the job. Barrett is also a graduate of and was a professor at Notre Dame Law School prior to being tapped for the federal appellate court judgeship.

During her Senate hearing last fall, Senator Diane Feinstein of California was criticized for what many considered bigotry for telling Barrett that the "dogma lives loudly" within her, when speaking of her faith. Other Democratic senators also made comments and raised questions about her faith many saw as inappropriate. Then, as now, some say the overt disdain toward her is in part because she is a devout Catholic.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer expressed this week several reasons why he considers Barrett unacceptable on the high court, as have left-wing and abortion rights activist groups, with much of his criticism focused on abortion rights.

Some of the concern brewing on the left is because many think Barrett, a Catholic mother of 7, will provide the fifth vote to dismantle Roe v. Wade, the 1973 landmark decision that legalized abortion nationwide, though some think such a conclusion is premature. Last September, prior to her confirmation to the federal appellate court bench, The New York Times published an article outlining "worry" among some about Barrett's ties to People of Praise, an ecumenical charismatic parachurch group mostly comprised of Catholics that was founded in 1971. In years past female leaders in the group were referred to as "handmaidens," a term chosen in 1971 but is no longer used due to negative connotations associated with the word. Today, female leaders in People of Praise are called "woman leaders."

Richard Painter, a law professor at the University of Minnesota, was unnerved, commenting on Twitter Saturday: "A religious group in which members take an oath of loyalty to each other and are supervised by a male 'head' or female 'handmaiden.' That looks like a cult. Now she wants a seat on SCOTUS for the sole purpose of overturning Roe v. Wade. The answer is NO."

Likewise, Norm Eisen, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, referred to People of Praise as a "secretive religious cult," approvingly retweeting Painter's concerns.

Abortion rights group NARAL tweeted Monday, alarmed: "Amy Coney Barrett has been perfectly clear  she wants to overturn #RoevWade. She also belongs to a group that both refers to women as 'handmaids' (no, we're not joking) & believes that husbands are in charge of their wives. She's on Trump's #SCOTUS shortlist. #WhatsAtStake."

The term "handmaid" conjures up images for many of the women of Gilead who were used as breeders in Margaret Atwood's famous dystopian novel, The Handmaid's Tale.

Painter reiterated his comments Sunday.

"Handmaid's Tale, Episode Two," he said, linking to an article from the Christian Broadcasting Network about why evangelicals want Trump to pick Barrett.

"Preview. The fix is in. The 700 Club and other fringe groups join the campaign. If she is nominated, a senate vote for her IS a vote to overturn Roe v. Wade."

Yet Michael Wear, an evangelical author and former Obama White House staffer, criticized both remarks, warning that such Democratic messaging stands to backfire badly.

"If Barrett is the nominee, and Democrats take an approach like the below," he said of Painter's June 30 comments, "there will be serious political ramifications and they will not be good for Democrats."

"Totally fair to critique Barrett on legal cases and issues, but this is the liberal version of saying Obama went to a madrassa and hoping no one knows what it actually means, and is terrified because of it," he noted Tuesday, commenting on NARAL's post.

Writing in National Review Monday, David French opined that the leftist scorn is centered on her faith, and is evidence of a widening "God gap" in American politics.

"The alarm isn't about her credentials. She's checked every box of excellence  law review, appellate-court clerkship, Supreme Court clerkship (with Justice Scalia), elite law-firm experience, law professor at an elite law school, and now experience as a federal judge on the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. She's a young, brilliant woman at the apex of her profession."

He added: "It turns out that she's a faithful Christian who lives a Christian life very similar to the lives of millions upon millions of her fellow American believers."

The efforts to portray the Seventh circuit judge as a woman with cult-like religious associations have earned her support from across the Atlantic.

"Amy Coney Barrett is a woman any normal human being would dive into a spray of bullets to save. She is noble, smart, and loving. Awesome scholar, devoted mother. The effort to paint her faith as outre is bizarre," said William R. Dailey, director of the Newman Center for Faith and Reason at the University of Notre Dame in Dublin, Ireland on Monday.
Park Inn by Radisson, the upper midscale hotel brand, has opened its first hotel in Jeddah, bringing the groups portfolio to over 45 hotels, resorts and serviced apartments in operation and under development in Saudi Arabia.



A gateway to the holy city of Makkah, Jeddah attracts travellers from across the globe as a centre for international business and a canvas for public art. Located within close proximity of King Abdulaziz International Airport, the Park Inn by Radisson Jeddah Madinah Road is about 25km from the heart of the city, making it an ideal location for both business and leisure travellers.



Radisson Hotel Group is also marking another milestone in the Groups commitment to balanced leadership. Maram Kokandi, General Manager of the Park Inn by Radisson Jeddah Madinah Road made history, with her appointment as the worlds first female Saudi General Manager in the global hospitality industry.



Tim Cordon, Area Senior Vice President, Middle East & Africa, Radisson Hotel Group, said: We are delighted to open our first Park Inn by Radisson in the city of Jeddah. Radisson Hotel Group aims to continue expanding its position in the Saudi market with modernized and exceptional hotel experiences across leisure, dining, fitness, wellness and sustainability. Our aim is to become the go-to hotelier for local guests and business travellers whilst empowering the Saudi working population simultaneously.



As a pioneer and strong advocate of balanced leadership, we were the first hotel group to appointa Saudi female GM in the Kingdom and it has been an honour to support Maram in her momentous progression.



Park Inn by Radisson Jeddah Madinah Road consists of 84 contemporary rooms and suites where guests can revive and rejuvenate in a relaxing environment.



Guests can fuel their culinary cravings at one of the hotels casual dining spaces. Those seeking to relax and recharge can enjoy the spa and fitness centre, with separate areas for men and women, or head up to the runway lounge for a dip in the pool while overlooking the airport runway. Business guests have access to three modern and spacious meeting rooms which offers free high-speed Wi-Fi and audiovisual equipment. Park Inn by Radissons Smart Meetings and Events has been developed with the guest in mind, offering a fresh and attentive service from start to finish, for all meeting and event types.



Maram Kokandi said: We look forward to welcoming local and international travellers visiting Jeddah and greeting them with our Arabian hospitality. I cant begin to describe how much being the first female Saudi GM means to me, both personally and professionally. Its my aim to make a difference by empowering the younger generation and supporting them with their dreams. Introducing a new brand to the Jeddah market, allows us to showcase the brands unique affordability, convenience and difference.  TradeArabia News Service






In 2017, an infamous hacking group called 'The Dark Overload' leaked episodes of Netflix TV series Orange Is the New Black. Aside from that, the group was also popular for its computer fraud of other well-known U.S. companies. One of its members faces charges of up to five years in prison due to these acts.

'The Dark Overload' faces charges

Engadget reported one of the members of the infamous hacking group 'The Dark Overload' has recently been sentenced for five years in prison.

A United States district judge made the plea, charging British national Nathan Wyatt as a hacking group member. Last year, he was extradited from the United Kingdom to the country for targeting several U.S. companies.

"The Dark Overlord has victimized innumerable employers in the United States, many of them repeatedly. I am grateful to the victims who came forward despite ransom threats and to the prosecutors and agents who were the first to catch and punish a member of The Dark Overlord in the United States," concluded by U.S. Attorney Jeff Jensen of the Eastern District of Missouri.

Wyatt pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft and computer fraud. Their victims usually include healthcare and accounting companies in Missouri.

The group reportedly gains access to the company's database and steal sensitive data, such as patient medical records and personal identifying information.

Once they got this information, the group contacts their victim companies and let them pay for ransom if they want the info to be not leaked online.

The Dark Overload group uses bitcoin ransom to get money worth $75,000 to $350,000.

Remember the Orange Is the New Black hacking group?

If the name sounds familiar, well, because it was also the infamous hacker of the popular Netflix TV series Orange Is the New Black.

In 2017, Variety reported that the same hacking group stole the never-before-seen episodes from the show's fifth season. It was a remarkable event since the women's prison-based TV series was so popular at the time.

To get the stolen episodes, the post-production company of the Netflix show Larson Studios paid 50 bitcoins or worth $50,000.

However, since the studio company reported the crime to the FBI, The Dark Overload group decided to get the ransom money and still leaked the episodes at the same time.

The group said that they honor the agreement with their victims, and one violation of that is when they call authorities.

"We found Larson Studios was in great delinquency of the agreement after sources confirmed law enforcement cooperation," the group said at the time. "Our agreement provides us the right to execute harmful action against any client who defrauds our agreement."

ALSO READ: WordPress World-Wide Hacking Spree Begins With The Plugin Bug that Uploads Malicious Files

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Jamie Pancho

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Theresa May has vowed to rebel over the Brexit bill that ministers admitted will break international law, warning it puts the future of the United Kingdom at risk.

In a fiery Commons speech, the former prime minister said Boris Johnsons partial concession  a parliamentary lock on using the legislations powers  would still leave the UK flouting the rule of law.

Ms May accused her successor of failing to understand the implications of the Northern Ireland protocol he had signed last year  something No 10 has denied.

And she told MPs: The government is acting recklessly and irresponsibly with no thought for the long-term impact on the standing of the United Kingdom in the world.

This will lead to untold damage to the United Kingdoms reputation, it puts the future of the United Kingdom at risk and, as a result, with regret, I have to tell the minister I cannot support this bill.

Ms May pleaded with the government to recognise that the UK is a country that upholds the rule of law  it is one of the things that makes us great.

Yet we are being asked to tear up that principle and throw away that value, she warned, in debate on the Internal Market Bill.

And why? I can only say, on the face of it, its because the government didnt really understand what it was signing up to when it signed the withdrawal agreement.

The government was acting recklessly and irresponsibly, putting the status of Northern Ireland as part of the UK in jeopardy.

Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Show all 37 1 /37 Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Pro-Brexit supporters celebrating in Parliament Square, after the UK left the European Union on 31 January. Ending 47 years of membership PA Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Big Ben, shows the hands at eleven o'clock at night AFP via Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Pro Brexit supporters attend the Brexit Day Celebration Party hosted by Leave Means Leave Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage smiles on stage AFP/Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square People celebrate in Parliament Square Reuters Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square A Brexit supporter celebrates during a rally in Parliament square AP Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Police form a line at Parliament Square to prevent a small group of anti-Brexit protestors from going through to the main Brexit rally PA Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Nigel Farage speaks to pro-Brexit supporters PA Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square PA Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square JD Wetherspoon Chairman Tim Martin speaks as people wave flags Reuters Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Brexit supporters wave Union flags as they watch the big screen AFP via Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Brexit Party leader, Nigel Farage arrives Reuters Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Brexit supporters gather AP Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Ann Widdecombe speaks to pro-Brexit supporters PA Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Brexit supporters wave Union flags as they watch the big screen AFP via Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square AFP via Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square People wave British Union Jack flags as they celebrate Reuters Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Pro-Brexit demonstrators celebrate on Parliament Square on Brexit day Reuters Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square A pro-Brexit supporter jumps on an EU flag PA Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square AFP via Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square PA Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square AP Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square A man waves Union flags from a small car as he drives past Brexit supporters gathering AFP via Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square A pro-Brexit supporter pours beer onto an EU flag PA Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square An EU flag lies trampled in the mud Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square PA Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square PA Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square PA Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square AFP via Getty

The legislation has provoked uproar in the EU and the USA, by paving the way to override legal agreements with Brussels on using state aid and requiring customs checks on goods crossing the Irish Sea.

The prime minister was accused of bringing a no-deal Brexit significantly closer and of undermining both the still-fragile peace in Northern Ireland and the UKs worldwide reputation.

Downing Street has argued the measures are a fallback option, should the trade talks fail, and insisted it remains committed to the withdrawal deal, an international treaty.

Mr Johnson is also confident he has seen off a major Conservative revolt after agreeing that MPs must give approval before the powers in the bill can be enacted.

However, it is near-certain to be amended in the House of Lords, creating a race against time for it to be in place before the post-Brexit transition period ends on 31 December.

Robin Walker, a Brexit minister, hit back at the former prime minister, saying: As [Mrs May] knows well, the withdrawal agreement was negotiated by the UK and the EU, and agreed with a view that certain elements would be resolved by the joint committee.

I think there was a reasonable expectation on both sides that the joint committee would have made more progress on those issues and we have heard unfortunately some harmful interpretations suggested over the last few months.

The point of these government clauses is to ensure that we can rule those out and put in place the appropriate legal default.
The logo of Pegatron, which assembles electronics from Apple Incs iPhones, is seen during an annual general meeting in Taipei

HANOI (Reuters) - Taiwan's Pegatron <4938.TW> is seeking to invest $1 billion in three phases in production facilities in areas such as computing, communication and consumer electronics in Vietnam, state-media reported on Tuesday.

Pegatron, which is a manufacturing partner of Apple <AAPL.O>, Microsoft <MSFT.O> and Sony <6758.T>, had received licenses to initially invest $19 million in the city of Haiphong, the Hanoitimes and Tuoi Tre newspapers reported, citing a report by the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

Pegatron was also seeking licences for a $481-million second phase and $500 million in 2026-2027, the papers said, adding these were expected to create 22,500 jobs and contribute around 100 billion dong ($4.31 million) to the state budget per year.

Reuters was unable to obtain a copy of the report and calls to the ministry were not answered.

Pegatron did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Under the plans, Pegatron would join Apple's two other iPhone assemblers, Wistron Corp <3231.TW> and Foxconn <2317.TW>, in developing more capacity in Vietnam.

Apple has been producing its wireless earbuds AirPods Pro in Vietnam since May.

Su Chih-Yen, acting director of the Investment Commission of Taiwan's Economics Ministry, told Reuters it had not yet approved such an investment, but declined to comment on whether they had received an application.

In a bid to skirt U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods, Taiwanese companies have been particularly active in either moving production back home or elsewhere in Asia.

Another Taiwanese company, Universal Global Technology, which produces smartphone and earbuds parts for Lenovo <0992.HK> and Sony, was also looking to set up a plant in Vietnam, Hanoitimes cited the report as saying.

ASE Technology Holding, parent company of Universal Global Technology, did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.

(Reporting by Phuong Nguyen; Additional reporting by Khanh Vu and Jeanny Kao in Taipei; Editing by Ed Davies)
Ghana would have benefited a little more from its first President Dr Kwame Nkrumah if he had given the new country a lot more attention.

This is the view of Dr. Lloyd Amoah, Director of the University of Ghanas Center for Asian Studies.

Speaking on The Point of View with Bernard Avle, Dr. Amoah said he thinks Kwame Nkrumah was seduced by the idea of African unity hence his failure to fully utilize his talents to make Ghana a far better country that he was able to make it.

He said, Kwame Nkrumah would have been widely hailed as Lee Kwan Yew in Malaysia if he had prioritized the country over the push for African unity.

I think he was seduced by African unity and did not concentrate on Ghana with all these talents. If he had focused on Ghana, he would have been a kind of Lee Kuan Yew. That is what Lee Kuan Yew did. I think he learnt from Nkrumahs mistakes, he said.

He was doing two difficult things at the same thing, Dr. Lloyd Amoah added.

Meanwhile, Eric Atta-Sono, author of Nkrumah; Africas man of the millennium also speaking on the show noted that Nkrumahs undoing was his underestimation of internal and external forces that were against him.

He said despite Nkrumahs strong ideological beliefs and convictions that drove him to do the many things that he did, he did not seem to have successfully acquired military and economic power to stand up against the forces against him.

He cited the disagreements on the price for cocoa sale as an example.

Reflecting on Nkrumah, one key thing our leaders ought to look at is that they should not be blinded by the forces around them. Nkrumah underrated the forces around him, internally and externally. He appeared to be in a certain direction and noting could stop him. He underestimated the forces around him because he was riding on the African personality thing. His ideologies were solid but the other truth was that he didnt have the might to stand on his ownBy 1963 and 64 our economy had started going down because of those powers, he added.

Dr. Atta-Sono further said although he thinks Nkrumah committed himself to build Ghana, he still over-concentrated on the African unity agenda, blinding him from some local challenges.

From 1957 to 1960, he was concentrated more on Ghana then from around 62, he started pushing the Africa unity agenda and in 1963 the Organization of Africa Union (OAU). I think there was a little over-concentrated on that one, and he was a bit blinded by the issues around him.

---citinewsroom
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 09:22:23|Editor: huaxia

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TRIPOLI, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Charge d'Affaires of the Philippines to Libya Elmer G. Cato on Monday expressed his country's desire to draw on Libya's experience in the fight against Islamic State (IS) terrorists.

Cato made the remarks during a meeting with the UN-backed Libyan government's Defense Minister Salah Addin Al-Namroush, according to a statement issued by the defense ministry.

"The Charge d'Affaires stressed his country's desire to start cooperation between Libya and the Philippines in the field of joint maritime exercises, information exchange, and cyber defense," the statement said.

"The Charge d'Affaires also stressed his country's desire to benefit from the experience of the Libyan side in its war against IS in Sirte, in order to benefit from this distinguished experience in a way that enables the armed forces in the Philippines to build its capabilities in fighting terrorism," it said.

The Libyan defense minister also stressed the ministry's intention for cooperation with the Philippines in all areas of mutual interests, the statement said.

Sirte, 450 km east of the capital Tripoli, was once dominated by IS militants before forces allied with the UN-backed government took over the city and expelled the terrorists in December 2016. Enditem
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has visited 58 countries since 2015 and a total expenditure of Rs 517 crore was incurred on them, the government said on Tuesday.

Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan provided details of the prime minister''s visits abroad since 2015, including their outcome, in a written reply in Rajya Sabha. "The total expenditure on these visits was Rs 517.82 crore," he said.

According to the details provided by Muraleedharan, the prime minister made five visits each to the US, Russia and China, and multiple trips to some other countries like Singapore, Germany, France, Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates.

Some of the visits the prime minister undertook were multi-nation trips while some were standalone bilateral visits.

Modi's last trip was to Brazil on November 13-14 in 2019 where he attended a summit of influential grouping BRICS (Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa).

Muraleedharan said Modi's visits to the countries have enhanced their understanding of India's perspectives on bilateral, regional and global issues. He said the visits helped in strengthening India''s relations with the countries in a wide range of sectors including trade and investment, technology, defence collaboration and people-to-people contact.

"These, in turn, have contributed to Indias national development agenda to promote economic growth and well being of our people," the minister said. "India is now increasingly contributing to shaping the global agenda at the multilateral level including on climate change, trans-national crime and terrorism, cyber security and nuclear non-proliferation, and offering to the world its own unique initiatives for global issues like the International Solar Alliance," he added.
HM the King lauded the precautionary and preventive measures reinforced in the kingdom to mitigate the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), praising the extraordinary cooperation of the Bahraini people with the public institutions that have harnessed all their potentials to combat the pandemic.

HM King Hamad valued highly and praised the ongoing tireless, dedicated and committed patriotic efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic under the leadership of HRH the Crown Prince, and with the participation of all the members of Team Bahrain, including the citizens and residents.

HM the King called on everyone to keep exerting their efforts with the same determination and commitment to achieve the aspired for results, a post-session statement by the Cabinet Secretary-General, Dr. Yasser bin Isa Al-Nasser, said.
The sustainability of Irish agriculture is a topic farmers will be hearing a lot more about in the months and years ahead.

With the recent publication of the EU Green Deal Policy document it is clear that a lot more emphasis will be placed on sustainable food production.

Within this document is the EU Farm to Fork strategy which outlines how to make food systems more sustainable, and the EU Biodiversity strategy which talks about establishing protected areas, restoring degraded ecosystems, and providing financial aid to improve biodiversity.

What is Sustainability?

When we talk about sustainability in food production it can be broken down into three areas. Firstly, economic sustainability which looks to see if all people involved in the supply chain are viable.

Secondly, social sustainability looks to see, are we producing food in a manner society deem acceptable and lastly, environmental sustainability looks at the effect food production has on water quality, climate change and biodiversity. For the purposes of this article we will look at how farming has affected biodiversity and ways farmers might improve it.

Biodiversity

One might ask, why is it important to protect biodiversity? We need to protect it because biodiversity is essential to life. Nature provides us with food, health, medicines, materials, recreation and wellbeing. Healthy ecosystems filter our air and water, keep our climate in balance, convert waste back into resources, pollinate and fertilises crops.

Currently there is a biodiversity crisis. The global population of wild species has fallen by 60% over the past 40 years and one million species are at risk of extinction. In Ireland roughly one in every five species that has been assessed is threatened with extinction.

One in every third species of bee is threatened with extinction and we have 37 species of birds including curlew, hen harrier, twite and yellow hammer on the verge of extinction. The once widespread corncrake is just hanging on in remote areas of Donegal and Mayo.

Nationally we have many very extensive farming systems and recent surveys tend to show that within these farms we find high nature value farmland which is excellent for biodiversity. Farmers here should aim to retain and maintain these habitats.

What can farmers do?

At the other end of the scale we find very intensive farming systems and these typically are not as biodiverse as the extensive farms. These farmers should firstly look at their existing habitats and aim to retain and maintain these, and then look at creating new habitats.

Examples here would be to look at all their linear habitats like hedgerows, watercourses, field margins and stone walls.

Hedgerows should be fit for birds and bees, so aim for a hedge at least 1.5m high and containing flowering trees and shrubs for bees.

Field margins should be at least 1.5m wide, uncultivated, not sprayed and allowed to grow out. Watercourses should be fenced off from livestock and this margin allowed to grow out also. Cattle should not have access to drinking points along the watercourse.

Other existing habitats such as woodland, bog, ponds etc. should be managed such that they are protected and improved if possible. Once all existing habitats have been retained and maintained, then farmers can look at creating new habitats. Examples here might include planting a grove of native trees, planting new hedgerows, planting a crop for overwintering birds or create a new pond.

Lastly all farmers have areas they mow or trim regularly. Over manicured areas are bad for wildlife so why not try to leave part of this area un-mown and allow plants to grow, flower and set seed. This would be excellent for bees and biodiversity in general.

Farmers have nothing to fear in any of these practices and making small changes will allow nature and farming to thrive together.

Teagasc provides a Local Advisory and Education service to farmers.

They have offices based in Longford town (Tel: 043 3341021), Roscommon Town (Tel: 090 6626166) and Castlerea (Tel: 094 9620160). You can find us on Facebook @ Teagasc roscommonlongford and twitter @teagascRNLD
A Moroccan journalist and human rights activist held by authorities for weeks on charges of undermining state security, receiving foreign funding and rape, appeared before an investigating judge in Casablanca on Tuesday.

Omar Radi's hearing focused on the charges of indecent assault with violence and rape based on a complaint filed by a woman, according to his lawyer, Miloud Kandil.

Radi has denied the allegation of rape and maintained his innocence throughout the hearing, Kandil told The Associated Press.

Radi, who was arrested in late July and jailed in Casablanca, has become something of a cause celebre for journalists in Morocco. The 34-year-old gained prominence last year after his arrest for a tweet that criticized a judge for upholding heavy prison sentences against anti-government protestors.

He was tried in March, given a four-month suspended sentence and fined 500 Moroccan Dirhams ($52).

Human rights organizations staged a protest Tuesday at the Casablanca courthouse along with Radi's parents. Bearing banners and placards, they asked authorities to drop all charges and allow him to work again. Journalism is not a crime, read one sign.

Omars father, Driss Radi said that he does not understand why his son is detained.

"All the charges against my son are fabricated and no one believes them, he said.

In June, Amnesty International claimed the Moroccan government had unlawfully spied on Radi through his phone using sophisticated surveillance software. The government dismissed the claims as baseless.
Davina C. 18, best describes her town as "friendly but limited because there aren't many jobs available other than harvest work." It's not surprising since California is the largest producer of fruits, vegetables and nuts, contributing to more than $50 billion in revenue to the state. It takes millions of people to work the 25.3 million acres of farms and ranches  including rural teen students who struggle to attend high school.

"I was attending a traditional high school outside of Mendota. I couldn't always get to school, and my teachers didn't try to engage or encourage me. I thought that if the adults in my life didn't care, then why should I? I rarely went to class and ended up dropping out with 15 credits and a 0.2 GPA at the end of my freshman year." noted Davina C., Learn4Life student. "Fortunately, my mom and cousins convinced me to try Learn4Life in Mendota. The people welcomed and encouraged me. I was able to make my own schedule and keep working to help my family with expenses. After my first semester, I got a 3.48 GPA!"

Learn4Life, a network of nonprofit charter high schools that focuses on at-risk students and former dropouts, started serving students in Mendota to help reduce the high dropout rate. Many families depend on their older children to either babysit while the parents are harvesting or work the fields alongside them and contribute to the family income. Flexibility, therefore, is a key component to learning in rural communities like Mendota.

"Ten years ago, we began at the Westside Youth Center but moved to the Mendota Library two years later. We have to travel with our material, set up and break down at the end of each day, but it's worth it when we see the number of students succeeding. In the last four years we had almost 80 graduates, just from this small classroom," said Gary Simmons, Learn4Life teacher in Mendota. "Many need one-on-one support due to seasonal harvesting constraints, English learning challenges and limited wrap-around services. We essentially provide 'school on wheels' to Mendota students and it's working. When schools went to remote learning, we handed out laptops and hotspots so our students could continue their education," Simmons added.

"It shows how important it is to have someone care about you and encourage you," Davina said. "Next month, I will be graduating and I'm proud that I have a job and a car at age 17. Until I found Learn4Life, no one challenged me to do this. I thank the support of my teacher, my mom and sister. I want to be a nurse, so I'm applying to colleges in California and Arizona."

Another piece of good news, this Central California town will soon have a permanent classroom for its rural students, thanks to the new AMOR Wellness Center. It is a novel concept that brings a host of community wraparound services under one roof. The new 20,000-sq.-ft. center opens next month and will house much needed community benefit organizations, agencies and nonprofits  including Learn4Life  that will provide essential services including medical, dental, mental, social, family and youth services.

There are 36 out of 58 rural California counties, and approximately 6.2 million or 4.5% students attend rural schools throughout the state. Research indicates that rural students between 12 and 17 have the highest level of drug use in this age group and suffer from poverty and mental health  all which contribute to high dropout rates.

"Just as the pandemic is shining a light on educational challenges in urban communities, we need to take a deeper look at how we're serving our rural communities that struggle with a one-size-fits-all delivery of education  like Mendota," stated Michelle Harvey, who is helping Learn4Life expand its schools throughout the state to serve the most vulnerable students. "We have schools in 10 rural communities in California to address a huge need  pandemic or not  and our delivery model of education is a proven model that can help change it."

About Learn4Life

Learn4Life is a network of nonprofit public schools that provides students personalized learning, career training and life skills. Each school is locally controlled, tuition free and gives students the flexibility and one-on-one attention they need to succeed. Serving more than 49,000 students  including full-time and intersession students  we help them prepare for a future beyond high school. For more information, please visit www.learn4life.org.

MEDIA CONTACT

Ann Abajian, Learn4Life

(844) 515-8186

[email protected]

SOURCE Learn4Life
The mayor's office in Krasnik said councillors had voted 11 to nine to keep the symbolic anti-LGBT+ motion that was passed in May 2019 (stock photo)

Councillors in eastern Poland voted narrowly on Tuesday to keep a motion declaring their town "free from LGBT ideology", as international pressure grows on dozens of Polish municipalities that have made similar declarations.

The mayor's office in Krasnik said councillors had voted 11 to nine to keep the symbolic anti-LGBT+ motion that was passed in May 2019, which declared that the town would defend itself from "radicals striving for a cultural revolution".

Tuesday's vote on whether to repeal the motion followed an announcement by Norway last week that it would not grant funding to any of the nearly 100 Polish municipalities that have issued LGBT-free resolutions.

Bartosz Staszewski, a campaigner against the so-called LGBT-free zones, said the decision was against the best interests of Krasnik's roughly 35,000 residents.

"I just hope that this is the most expensive... act in Krasnik's history," he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation by phone. "The citizens of these cities are losing because of the path (politicians) choose."

Norway's foreign minister said on September 14 that Krasnik and other districts with similar LGBT-free statements would not be getting grants from a 100-million-euro programme for small and medium-sized Polish cities funded by Norway, Iceland and Lichtenstein.

The city, which would have been eligible to apply for up to 10 million euros, has received about 7 million euros from the European Union in the last two years, a spokesman for Krasnik Mayor Wojciech Wilk said by email.

He distanced the town's executive from the vote, saying the resolution was purely symbolic and that there were no specific regulations negatively affecting LGBT+ people.

The Polish embassy in the United States said on Tuesday there were no LGBT-free zones in Poland, responding to a tweet by Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, who said they had "no place in the European Union or anywhere in the world".

"The Polish Government is committed to the rule of law, equal rights and social inclusion. There is no place for discrimination in our societies," the embassy said in the tweet.

Last week, the European Parliament passed a resolution calling on the EU to take action against Poland for rolling back LGBT+ rights and compromising judicial independence, including potentially denying it funding from the bloc.

Earlier that week, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned "LGBT-free zones", calling them "humanity-free zones".
Noida: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Aditya will meet some top names in the Bollywood industry today (September 22) to discuss plans on the upcoming film city in the state. The meeting will be held in CM's residence.

Several actor, directors and producers will reach CM Yogi's residence today to take part in the meeting. This will be the first such meeting held after Yogi Adityanath's announcement of the making India's "biggest and most beautiful" Film City in Gautam Buddh Nagar.

It is believed that the Uttar Pradesh cabinet will give approval to the construction of film city after the high-level meeting.

Earlier on Monday, CM Yogi Adityanath during a meeting to reviewed development projects of the Meerut Division had instructed officials to search for suitable land in or around Noida, Greater Noida or Yamuna Expressway and prepared an action plan. The UP government has sought land proposal for film city from three different authorities.

Live TV

The Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) has sent the proposal of the establishment of the film city to the state government on Sunday (September 20, 2020).

On the other hand, the Noida Authority also sent proposal for 500 acres of land to the government for Film City construction. This land belongs to Sector 162,164,165,166. The 200 acres is still occupied by the authority, the rest is also in the acquisition area.

As per reports, there is a plan to establish the film city in Sector-21 of Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development's area, for which, around 1000 acre land has been made available and 780 acres of Industrial area has been proposed.

The location has been chosen as it's situated along the Yamuna expressway and is around 6 km from to be constructed Noida International Airport in Jewar and is well connected with the rail. It is also close to the Eastern Peripheral Expressway and is nearby India's only Formula One track, the Gautam Buddha International Circuit.
A Belfast man who was diagnosed with cancer after collapsing while attending a Covid-19 test has told of his shock.

Paul Dornan described how his life has been turned upside down by the news.

The 31-year-old said that in March, life had been going so well. He had recently married his wife Katie and secured a new home for his family.

But it all changed in a heartbeat. After a few weeks of feeling unwell he went for a Covid-19 test and that same evening, after collapsing in the test centre on the Andersonstown Road, was told he had leukaemia.

Six months later he has barely had time to be with his new bride and new step daughter Mia (11). Instead it has been a roller coaster of emotions.

But three childhood mates have now stepped in to help.

Friends with Paul since childhood, Kieran McCormick, Conor Donnelly and Patrick Blake are now doing all they can by raising funds for Paul and his family.

Paul, currently undergoing treatment in hospital, went 13 weeks without visitors due to the Covid lockdown, so had to deal with the enormity of what he was facing on his own.

"It was a big, big shock," Paul said. "It has felt a bit like a prison sentence. I want to be with Katie, getting ready for the new baby, but I'm trying to stay positive. I have to.

"I hadn't been feeling well and my GP told me to go for a Covid test. I wasn't expecting cancer.

"And then Katie told me the news she was expecting a baby. I can't thank my friends enough for what they're doing."

Paul is hoping to be well enough soon to travel to Dublin for a bone marrow transplant, but before that he could well be a dad with Katie expecting the baby in December.

"It's been a crazy time," he said. "But Katie has been my rock. She's a superstar. She's always been there for me through this."

Mr McCormick is driving the fundraising campaign.

"It's what mates do," he said. "We just want to give the future every chance.

"The three of us decided we had to do something. Paul's had a tough time, but has so much to look forward to in life."

Kieran, a registered nurse, said he had told his friend to get checked after he had complained about feeling unwell.

"Being in the medical profession, all your mates ask you stuff like that," he said. "Covid-19 was just starting but when his GP told him to get a test we weren't expecting to be here six months later looking at this situation.

"He collapsed through the doors of the test centre that day and was immediately blue lighted to the Royal Hospital in Belfast and a few hours later, while all on his own, was told the awful news that he had leukaemia.

"Paul and Katie were only married in October last year. They should be enjoying life as a newly married couple.

"But Paul's diagnosis completely isolated him from his family and friends.

"We know he has a rough road ahead, long periods of time away from his loved ones, financial pressures and the possibility of being in hospital during the birth of his baby girl.

"We just want to raise the money he needs to get access to any other treatments that may help him, support the birth of his child and to ease the burden of financial pressures. He has been made redundant and Katie is carrying all those burdens alone.

"He's strong-willed, courageous and determined to fight this cancer and to see his little daughter come into the world. We want to be there with him in whatever way we can.

"Despite his illness his biggest worry is being able to provide for his new family."

Almost 5,000 has been raised at 'Pauly D's Big Fight' GoFundMe page.
Eddie McGuire has certainly been making the most of his time on the Gold Coast since completing his mandatory two-week quarantine.

The Millionaire Hot Seat host and Collingwood president, 55, was spotted merrily chatting to partygoers as he picked up some alcohol on Friday night, while his AFL team and their families remained under strict quarantine.

Clutching a carton of guava-flavoured Vodka Cruisers and a plastic bag of limes, Eddie was seen laughing and joking with fans, including a festively-dressed blonde woman.

Fancy a Cruiser? Eddie McGuire, 55, merrily chatted to Gold Coast partygoers while on a booze run on Friday night - one day before he was spotted at a nightclub with his teenage son

Eddie, who completed his isolation at the Gold Coast AFL hub on September 15, seemed thrilled to be able to mingle with the general public once again.

Swapping his Hot Seat suit for a more casual ensemble, Eddie wore a white button-up shirt, black polar fleece and blue pants.

He completed his low-key look with a pair of blue loafers.

Fancy seeing you here! Eddie was seen laughing and joking with fans, including a festively-dressed blonde woman

Big night? Eddie clutched a carton of guava-flavoured Vodka Cruisers and a bag of limes

Freedom at last! Eddie, who completed his isolation at the Gold Coast AFL hub on September 15, seemed thrilled to be able to mingle with the general public once again

Eddie's outing came a day before he was pictured partying at Gold Coast nightclub Pink Flamingo with his 19-year-old son, Joe.

The Magpies president has been a harsh critic of the 'idiot' players who recently breached the code's strict quarantine protocols, and called for anyone who broke the rules to be slapped with $100,000 fines.

Eddie explained that after finishing his mandatory two weeks of quarantine, he decided to take his son and the crew from Millionaire Hot Seat out for dinner.

Casual look: Swapping his Millionaire Hot Seat suit for a more casual ensemble, Eddie wore a white button-up shirt, black polar fleece and blue pants

On the town: Eddie's outing came a day before he was pictured partying at Gold Coast nightclub Pink Flamingo with his 19-year-old son, Joe

Critic: The Collingwood president has been a harsh critic of the 'idiot' players who recently breached the code's strict quarantine protocols

'The people over at the restaurant said, "Come over and have a drink"': Eddie decided to take his son and the crew from Millionaire Hot Seat out for dinner on Saturday, after he'd completed his mandatory two-week quarantine

'The people over at the restaurant said, "Come over and have a drink,"' Eddie said.

'My boy is 19, he hasn't been out for the best part of six months so I took him across and bought him a beer.'

Meanwhile, AFL players, including those from Eddie's team, and their families were holed up at the league's hotel hub under increasingly strict conditions.

Several AFL players have been sent home from Queensland for breaching COVID-19 rules, with McGuire earlier this year calling for anyone who broke the rules to be hit with a $100,000 fine.

Doting father: 'My boy is 19, he hasn't been out for the best part of six months so I took him across and bought him a beer,' Eddie said
Toto Wolff should step down as Mercedes' team boss.

That is the view of Eddie Jordan, a well-known face in the paddock since his time as a team owner and now as a broadcaster.

He often makes waves for his audacious predictions - and his latest is that the works Mercedes team is set to be sold for $900 million to Ineos.

"That is the only thing I am absolutely sure of," Jordan told Ziggo Sport.

But he says the next logical move would be for Wolff to step down.

"He's been sensational, but now it's time to stop," said Jordan.

"He has already won everything and also created a myth around Lewis Hamilton and the whole team. There are good and bad moments to leave, and a very good moment for Toto is now.

"If I was his advisor, I'd say 'Please leave, Toto. Take the money. You won't get any better than this'."

As for what Wolff would do next, Jordan wondered: "Aston Martin? Could be. But all I am really sure of is that Ineos will buy the Mercedes team."

(GMM)
A chocolatier has released a nostalgic new range inspired by iconic Australian party treats.

Melbourne-headquartered Koko Black has reimagined some of the nation's best-loved sweets in its 'Australian Classics Collection', which includes bite-sized versions of chocolate crackles, Honey Joys and everyone's favourite: lamington slices.

Bars of Koko Vovos, a reinvention of the raspberry and coconut Iced VoVo biscuit, Jam Wagons and Gaytime Goldies  a chocolate twist on the popular toffee and vanilla flavoured ice cream  also feature.

The collection is already available on the brand's website and will launch in Koko Black stores in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Perth and Canberra on September 24 for a limited time only.

Scroll down for video

Koko Black's new collection inspired by iconic Australian childhood treats like Golden Gaytimes (bottom right) and Honey Joys (bottom left)

The Melbourne-headquartered chocolatier's latest range features bite-sized bars of Iced VoVos (left) and slabs of lamington (right), the nation's favourite cake

It's designed as a reminder of 'good times past, as well as good times ahead' during a year marred by lockdowns and social distancing restrictions in which few memories have been made.

Prices range from $6 per single bar to $24.90 for a 220gram slab of lamingtons.

And if you can't decide on a favourite, a gift hamper featuring every flavour is also available for $169.

Photos of the collection drew delighted responses after they were shared on Instagram, with comments including 'yes please', 'these look amazing' and 'awesome memories'.

'I haven't had a chocolate crackle in over 30 years, I hang my head in shame. Life is too short,' one woman said.

'This definitely takes me back to my childhood,' said a second.

Prices range from $6 per single bar to $24.90 for a 220gram slab of lamingtons

And that's exactly what Koko Black's head chocolatier and product innovation manager Remco Brigou intended.

'Every single person has memories they can look back to as the 'good old days'  where milk bars were on every corner and where summers were filled with memories of birthday parties, fetes and trips to the tuckshop,' he said.

Mr Brigou believes the collection will bring Australians back to their youth as they revel in the nostalgia of old-fashioned flavours.

'We want our Australian Classics Collection to reinvent these moments in a contemporary way, making people feel those fond memories are here  that the golden days are now, and that you're never too old to feel young again.'

Koko Black's head chocolatier Remco Brigou believes the collection (pictured) will bring Australians back to their youth as they revel in the nostalgia of old-fashioned flavours

The Australian Classics Collection Gaytime Goldies ($17.90 per packet) Vanilla and melted caramel ganache, dipped in dark chocolate and sprinkled with hazelnuts. Koko Vovo ($17.90 per packet) Milk chocolate coated biscuit topped with strawberry rosewater marshmallow, raspberry jelly and coconut. Jam Wagons ($17.90 per packet) Crumbly biscuit batons topped with marshmallows and raspberry jam coated in milk chocolate. Honey Joys ($15.90 per packet) Crunchy cornflakes and sticky honey, mixed in creamy milk chocolate or dark chocolate. Koko Crackles ($15.90 per packet) Crispy rice bubbles with caramelised coconut and white chocolate, dipped in dark chocolate. Lamington Slices ($15.90 per packet or $24.90 per 220g slab) Chocolate marshmallow and raspberry jelly, dipped in dark chocolate and dusted with coconut. Honey Joys (left) and Gaytime Goldies (right), two of the nostalgic flavours from the Australian Classics Collection Advertisement

Koko Black has been creating artisan chocolates for Australian families since 2003.

After two years of research into the art of chocolate making in Germany and Belgium, the first store opened its doors in Melbourne's Royal Arcade in December that year.

Seventeen years later, the brand has 15 outlets across Sydney, Adelaide, Perth and Canberra along with a website where customers can order from the comfort of their own home.
"Dr. Delaney's accomplishments and leadership experience will further advance our mission and expand our capabilities throughout Florida," says Cleveland Clinic CEO and President Tom Mihaljevic, M.D. "He brings a remarkable dedication and commitment to providing the highest level of quality and safe care for our patients."

The region has been recognized for providing quality care. Cleveland Clinic Weston Hospital was named the No. 1 hospital in the Miami-Dade metropolitan area for the third year in a row, according to the 2020-2021 annual ranking of Best Hospitals by U.S. News and World Report. Weston Hospital also tied for the No.5 best hospital in Florida, while Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital tied for No. 19, and Cleveland Clinic Martin Health tied for No. 28.

In July, the Cleveland Clinic Florida Research and Innovation Center opened in Port St. Lucie. Established in November 2019, the new center will advance innovative translational research, focused on immuno-oncology and infectious diseases, including COVID-19.

"I am incredibly excited to join the Cleveland Clinic Florida team and contribute to our mission of providing patients access to Cleveland Clinic care, while helping grow research and education throughout the region," said Delaney.

In Delaney's current role as chairman of Cleveland Clinic's Digestive Disease and Surgery Institute (DDSI), he is responsible for the departments of Colorectal Surgery, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Nutrition and General Surgery throughout Cleveland Clinic. The institute includes more than 240 staff physicians, more than 80 advanced practice providers, and 140 residents and fellows. The team does 48,000 surgical cases and 90,000 endoscopic procedures per year.

DDSI is recognized for patient care and academic leadership, and many of the academic staff, departments and sections are national and international leaders in their fields. Ranked in the top four in Gastroenterology and GI Surgery by U.S. News & World Report since 2003, the institute is a globally recognized leader in surgical and digestive disease diagnosis, treatments and innovations.

A colorectal surgeon and professor of surgery with more than 30 years of experience in health care, Delaney first joined Cleveland Clinic in 1999 as a fellow. He began his career at Cleveland Clinic in 2000 on the clinical associate staff.

Delaney has received a number of prizes, scholarships and awards over the course of his career in training, education and research. He is a member of and serves on administrative committees of many national and international professional societies, serves on the editorial board of eight national and international journals, is the past president of the International Society for Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery, and the Midwest Surgical Association, and is the vice president of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons.

Delaney has given over 450 lectures nationally and internationally and has published 15 books and 400 original manuscripts, reviews and chapters relating to surgical education, colorectal cancer surgery, laparoscopic colorectal surgery and peri-operative care. His clinical interests include laparoscopic colorectal surgery, carcinoma of the colon, rectum and anus, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, sphincter-saving surgery, re-operative abdominal surgery and colonoscopy. His research interests include various aspects of colorectal surgery, cost-efficiency in surgery and surgical education.

Delaney earned his medical degree from University College Dublin Medical School. In 1992, he became a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and earned his master's degree in surgery in 1994. His doctorate degree is from the University of Pittsburgh. He holds the Victor W. Fazio, M.D., Endowed Chair in Colorectal Surgery.

Joseph Iannotti, M.D., Ph.D., who served as interim CEO and President for the Florida region since June of this year, will continue in his roles as Chief of Staff, and Chief Academic and Innovation Officer for the Cleveland Clinic Florida region.

About Cleveland Clinic

Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit multispecialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, it was founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation. Cleveland Clinic has pioneered many medical breakthroughs , including coronary artery bypass surgery and the first face transplant in the United States. U.S. News & World Report consistently names Cleveland Clinic as one of the nation's best hospitals in its annual "America's Best Hospitals" survey. Among Cleveland Clinic's 67,554 employees worldwide are more than 4,520 salaried physicians and researchers, and 17,000 registered nurses and advanced practice providers, representing 140 medical specialties and subspecialties. Cleveland Clinic is a 6,026-bed health system that includes a 165-acre main campus near downtown Cleveland, 18 hospitals, more than 220 outpatient facilities, and locations in southeast Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; Toronto, Canada; Abu Dhabi, UAE; and London, England. In 2019, there were 9.8 million total outpatient visits, 309,000 hospital admissions and observations, and 255,000 surgical cases throughout Cleveland Clinic's health system. Patients came for treatment from every state and 185 countries. Visit us at clevelandclinic.org . Follow us at twitter.com/CCforMedia and twitter.com/ClevelandClinic . News and resources available at newsroom.clevelandclinic.org.

Contact:

Arlene Allen-Mitchell, 954.270.9666, [email protected]

Caroline Auger, 216.296.6012, [email protected]

SOURCE Cleveland Clinic Florida

Related Links

http://clevelandclinic.org


New Delhi: The mysterious death case of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput has taken a new turn after the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) investigation in the drugs angle found some high-profile celebs connected with it. After Sara Ali Khan and Shraddha Kapoor's name, actress Deepika Padukone happens to be next on NCB radar.

Explosive WhatsApp chats dating October 2017 between Deepika Padukone and her manager Karishma reveal the drug exchange running smoothly in Bollywood and how! This particular chat which has been accessed now is related to October 28, 2017, when there was a Halloween party at posh Mumbai club called Koko.

In the chats, Deepika is seen asking for 'Maal' and referring to Hash and weed from Karishma Prakash of Kwan Talent Management Company. Incidentally, on the same day while chatting Karishma asked the actress when will she reach Koko, to which Deepika replied by saying around 11.30-12.

Koko is a hot-spot of parties in Mumbai and several A-listers visit the place to hang out together. The chats are dated October 28, 2017, and the on the same night there was a party at Koko which was attended by Deepika, Sidharth Malhotra, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditya Roy Kapur and others.

In fact, Koko club had posted the pictures of the party after two days on their Facebook handle. The big question which arises here is that did Deepika ask for drugs from Karishma for this party? What actually happened at the Halloween theme party held at Koko on that night?

Zee News tried to contact Sonakshi Sinha, Sidharth Malhotra and Aditya Roy Kapur over this but none has replied to the message so far.

The NCB is expected to summon Deepika soon. The actress is currently in Goa shooting for a project.
ATLANTA, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Genuine Parts Company (NYSE: GPC) plans to release Third Quarter Earnings on October 22, 2020. Management will also conduct a conference call on this date at 11:00 a.m. Eastern time. The public may access the call and supplemental earnings deck on the Company's website at http://genuineparts.investorroom.com. The call is also available by dialing 877-407-0789. The conference ID is 13710500. If you are unable to participate during the call, a replay of the call will be available on the Company's website or toll-free at 844-512-2921, ID 13710500, two hours after the completion of the conference call until 12:00 a.m. Eastern time on November 5, 2020.

About Genuine Parts Company

Founded in 1928, Genuine Parts Company is a global service organization engaged in the distribution of automotive replacement parts and industrial parts. The Company's Automotive Parts Group distributes automotive replacement parts in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Australasia, France, the U.K., Germany, Poland, the Netherlands and Belgium. The Company's Industrial Parts Group distributes industrial replacement parts in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Australasia. Genuine Parts Company had 2019 revenues of $19.4 billion. Further information is available at www.genpt.com.

SOURCE Genuine Parts Company

Related Links

http://www.genpt.com


Vaccine makers will be indemnified in Europe if their COVID-19 shots cause unexpected side-effects, an industry official said on Tuesday, as nearly 40 firms pursue talks on possible authorisation for shots in development.

The European Commission has confidential liability clauses in contracts signed with AstraZeneca and Sanofi and is negotiating similar conditions with other firms for the advance purchase of their potential vaccines.

Sue Middleton, President of the Executive Board of Vaccines Europe which represents top vaccine makers, told a European Parliament hearing that in case of unexpected adverse events, which could include unpredicted side-effects, she understood that there was indemnification.

The Commission or the member states would essentially indemnify the companies against the cost of legal action that followed those claims, she said, adding that these events were rare and that she had not seen all contracts signed so far.

A spokesman for the European Commission said advance purchase deals provide for Member States to indemnify the manufacturer for certain liabilities incurred under specific and strict conditions, but liability still remains with the companies.

Officials have said partial legal protection offered by the EU hampered advance purchase deals in past months and prompted vaccine makers to ask for more.

Middleton called for no-fault compensation in all 27 EU states for COVID-19 vaccines which would speed up resolution of legal disputes. Such a system is in place in 11 countries, but its application to COVID-19 vaccine cases is not always clear, she said.

Consumer organizations and lawmakers insist that companies should be liable for all potential side-effects.

ROLLING REVIEW

No COVID-19 vaccine has yet been authorized in Europe, with clinical trials underway. But contacts between vaccine makers and regulators are ongoing to speed up possible authorisations.

The World Health Organisation lists 38 candidate vaccines in late-stage trials, including from China and Russia. Another 149 are in pre-clinical evaluation.

As of early September the EMA has been in contact with developers of 38 potential COVID-19 vaccines, Fergus Sweeney, head of clinical studies and manufacturing task force at the European Medicines Agency, told EU lawmakers.

Under a faster rolling review, vaccine makers can share data with EMA on their trials as they happen, so that shots could be authorized more quickly when all data is available.

No rolling review has yet began on vaccines, Sweeney said, adding the agency was expecting that to begin in the coming weeks. EMA must authorize vaccines before they can be used in the EU.

(Reporting by Francesco Guarascio; Editing by Gareth Jones, Jason Neely and Alexander Smith)

Topics COVID-19 Europe
Chinese President Xi Jinping took a veiled swipe at the U.S. in a strongly worded speech, saying no country should be allowed to do whatever it likes and be the hegemon, bully or boss of the world.

Pushing for developing countries to have a greater role in world affairs, Xi said the United Nations could be more balanced and called for the international order underpinned by international law, the official Xinhua News Agency reported, citing remarks made at a meeting commemorating the world bodys 75th anniversary. He said countries must not be lorded over by those who wave a strong fist at others.
On Sept. 10, China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) held a ceremony for the release of its Sri Lanka sustainability report "Witness Happiness" via virtual conference between Beijing and Colombo. This was the third country report published overseas by CSCEC, and its first sustainable development report for Sri Lanka.

The report consists of four parts: common prosperity, safety and environmental protection, happiness and growth, and harmonious and win-win cooperation. The report provides details on CSCEC's valuable experience in undertaking social responsibilities in Sri Lanka, improving people's lives, promoting local economic and social development, and strengthening China-Sri Lanka friendship and people-to-people bonds.

CSCEC's work in Sri Lanka can be traced back to the construction of the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH), which was completed in 1973. CSCEC had projects in various fields, including highways, water conservancy, tunnels, apartments, hotels, and shopping malls. Through them, the company established great cooperative relationships with local enterprises to jointly promote the development of construction, building materials, transportation, and other related sectors in Sri Lanka.

Common prosperity

In the Extension of Southern Expressway Project in Sri Lanka, CSCEC introduced modern expressway construction concepts such as energy saving, emission reduction, and intelligent transportation into the construction process, and completed the project with high quality by employing fine materials, advanced machinery, and strong management.

After the road rehabilitation project in the northern provinces of Sri Lanka is completed by CSCEC, the local road facilities will be greatly enhanced, which will facilitate the commute of people in the surrounding areas and stimulate the development of regional tourism. Connected with the transportation artery of northern and southern Sri Lanka, the project will further promote economic development in the northern provinces.

Harmonious and win-win cooperation

In May 2017, Sri Lanka was hit by heavy rainfalls. CSCEC immediately set up a flood fighting team and organized its employees to help villagers near its projects with flood fighting, self-rescue, and safe evacuation, as well as repairing the main roads blocked by mudslides to minimize the impact of the rainstorm on villagers.

CSCEC developed a series of China-Sri Lanka sustainable welfare programs, such as constructing nursing homes together with the local government, donating to schools and hospitals, and organizing charity and free clinic activities. After COVID-19 outbreak, CSCEC joined hands with the local people to overcome difficulties and fight against the pandemic, donating infrared thermometers, disposable face masks, and other medical supplies.

In 2017, CSCEC set up the Volunteers Service Team of "Ceylon Dream Makers" in Sri Lanka. The volunteer team has organized more than 30 public welfare activities, raising over 1 million rupees for local residents and donating 2 million rupees worth of materials. It has benefited more than 5,000 people in the areas of CSCEC projects including the elderly, teachers and students, employees in economically difficult situations, people affected by disasters, and disabled people.

Happiness and growth

CSCEC actively recruits employees from Sri Lanka and attaches great importance to staff training and management. Through improving their professional skills and carrying out communication activities, CSCEC tries to promote self-improvement and common growth of its workforce.

CSCEC formulated a targeted staff training system and curriculum, and jointly complied the trilingual "Engineering Terminology Handbook" in Chinese, Sinhala, and English in collaboration with the China-Sri Lanka Vocational Training Center, in order to improve professional skills among local employees. Thanks to various training programs, an increasing number of local staff have improved their skills, gained management experience, and grown into high-quality talents for the construction of their hometowns and the development of their country.

Safety and environmental protection

In the Extension of Southern Expressway Project in Sri Lanka, CSCEC built a safety and vocational skills training demonstration base, and regularly assigned engineers to solve problems during construction for local workers. Bilingual training materials in English and Sinhala were developed to improve the safety awareness and operational skills of employees. The Sri Lanka Southern Expressway Extension Project and the AVIC Mixed Development Project (Astoria) won the International Safety Awards 2019 from the British Safety Council.

CSCEC pays close attention to environmental protection in the process of construction and does its best to minimize the ecological impact of construction on the surrounding areas. The Extension of Southern Expressway Project hired environmental protection experts who had developed and implemented solutions to environmental problems. CSCEC also hired professional organizations to collect the statistical information and keep records of the biological populations around the project. During the design and construction process, CSCEC employed energy-saving lighting, solar power, and other green construction technologies. It promoted the use of the green and low carbon highway construction technologies to avoid adverse influence on the environment and enhance the green and low carbon travel experience of highway users. Since the construction process would easily generate noise and dust pollution, the ODEL Mall & Department Store Project in Colombo checked the noise level regularly and adopted the wall-mounted spraying system and the mist cannon dust suppression system for dust control, protecting the clean water and clear sky in Sri Lanka.

Looking back, CSCEC has continued the friendship between China and Sri Lanka, undertook its corporate social responsibilities, and promoted the development of a win-win relationship between the two countries. Looking forward, CSCEC will continue to contribute to Sri Lanka's development and China-Sri Lanka friendship, and build a good image of Chinese enterprises overseas.
WASHINGTON  A $1 billion fund Congress gave the Pentagon in March to build up the countrys supplies of medical equipment has instead been mostly funneled to defense contractors and used for making things such as jet engine parts, body armor and dress uniforms.

The change illustrates how one taxpayer-backed effort to battle the novel coronavirus, which has killed roughly 200,000 Americans, was instead diverted toward patching up long-standing perceived gaps in military supplies.

The Cares Act, which Congress passed earlier this year, gave the Pentagon money to "prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus." But a few weeks later, the Defense Department began reshaping how it would award the money in a way that represented a major departure from Congress's original intent.

The payments were made even though U.S. health officials believe there are still major funding gaps in responding to the pandemic. Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said in Senate testimony last week that states desperately need $6 billion to distribute vaccines to Americans early next year. There remains a severe shortage of N95 masks at numerous U.S. hospitals. These are the types of problems that the money was originally intended to address.

"This is part and parcel of whether we have budget priorities that actually serve our public safety or whether we have a government that is captured by special interests," said Mandy Smithberger, a defense analyst at the Project on Government Oversight, a watchdog group.

The $1 billion fund is just a fraction of the $3 trillion in emergency spending that Congress approved earlier this year to deal with the pandemic. But it shows how the blizzard of bailout cash was  in some cases  redirected to firms that weren't originally targeted for assistance. It also shows how difficult it has been for officials to track how money is spent and  in the case of Congress  intervene when changes are made. The Trump administration has done little to limit the defense firms from accessing multiple bailout funds at once and is not requiring the companies to refrain from layoffs as a condition of receiving the awards.

Some defense contractors were given the Pentagon money even though they had already dipped into another pot of bailout funds, the Paycheck Protection Program.

 READ MORE: What to expect over the next six months of pandemic life, according to Philly experts

Congress, at President Donald Trump's urging, is now debating whether to pass another massive stimulus package, and the Pentagon and defense contractors have called for another $11 billion to be directed toward their programs.

A tremendous hammer

The $1 billion fund was allocated under the Defense Production Act, which allows Trump to compel U.S. companies to manufacture products in the nation's interest.

Trump has described the law as a "tremendous hammer" and boasted in August that he has "used the DPA more comprehensively than any president in history." His administration was under intense pressure this spring to use the law to address dire shortages in medical-grade masks and other supplies.

But in the months after the stimulus package was passed, the Pentagon changed how the money would be used. It decided to give defense contractors hundreds of millions of dollars from the fund, mostly for projects that have little to do with the coronavirus response. Defense Department lawyers quickly determined that the funds could be used for defense production, a conclusion that Congress later disputed.

Among the awards: $183 million to firms including Rolls-Royce and ArcelorMittal to maintain the shipbuilding industry; tens of millions of dollars for satellite, drone and space surveillance technology; $80 million to a Kansas aircraft parts business suffering from the Boeing 737 Max grounding and the global slowdown in air travel; and $2 million for a domestic manufacturer of Army dress uniform fabric.

DOD officials contend that they have sought to strike a balance between boosting American medical production and supporting the defense industry, whose health they view as critical to national security. The Pentagon, which as of 2016 employed more than 156,000 people working in acquisitions alone, has also lent its expertise to the Department of Health and Human Services as it seeks to purchase billions of dollars in needed medical equipment.

Ellen Lord, undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, said her office has worked closely with Congress and federal agencies to meet the needs of both the medical and defense industries.

"We are thankful the Congress provided authorities and resources that enabled the [executive branch] to invest in domestic production of critical medical resources and protect key defense capabilities from the consequences of COVID," Lord said in a statement. "We need to always remember that economic security and national security are very tightly interrelated and our industrial base is really the nexus of the two."

The Democratic-controlled House Committee on Appropriations has made clear that the Defense Departments decision to funnel the DPA funding to defense contractors went against its intent in that section of the Cares Act, which was to spur the manufacturing of personal protective equipment.

"The Committee's expectation was that the Department would address the need for PPE industrial capacity rather than execute the funding for the DIB (defense industrial base)," the committee wrote in its report on the 2021 defense bill.

Pentagon officials counter that they have been fully transparent with both Democrats and Republicans in Congress on their plans for the funds.

Defense officials say the Pentagon's funding priorities were influenced heavily by an industry study drawn up in 2018. The study, prompted by an early executive order from Trump and by economic adviser Peter Navarro and carried out in close consultation with defense industry associations, pointed to several hundred supply chain shortfalls that could hamper the U.S. military's ability to compete with China.

The Pentagon receives funding under the Defense Production Act each year to shore up companies it deems critical, but in much smaller amounts  the 2020 allocation was about $64 million. The money is disbursed by the Pentagon's industrial policy office under the law's Title III, which gives the president broad authority to mobilize domestic industry.

Funding came at a good time

The pandemic funding "became an opportunity for the Department to take what is almost a windfall and use it to try and fill what are some very critical industrial base needs . . . but that are only tangentially related to COVID," said Bill Greenwalt, a visiting fellow with the conservative American Enterprise Institute who oversaw defense acquisitions in the George W. Bush administration.

The virus-related funding came at a time when U.S. military spending was already near all-time highs. The $686 billion defense budget for fiscal year 2019 is comparable to a typical year during the Cold War or the period shortly after 9/11, although it has declined somewhat as a percentage of the economy. Major defense contractors such as Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics and Northrop Grumman have remained financially healthy despite some pandemic-related disruption, and have continued paying stock dividends to investors.

Defense industry groups argue that the DOD awards are crucial to ensuring that important niche manufacturers don't wither away during the economic shock caused by the pandemic. Companies that sell aircraft parts for both military and commercial jets, for example, have been financially wrecked by a global slowdown in air travel.

"As you lose some of these capabilities, some of them are gone forever, and it comes at a very high price to reconstitute them," said Wes Hallman, vice president for policy at the National Defense Industrial Association, a trade group.

Over a third of the awards were for less than $5 million and went to smaller firms such as the American Woolen Company in Connecticut, which received $2 million to help make Army dress uniforms. Executives at the company did not return voice mails and emails. A batch of small awards went to companies working on drone technology.

"At the root of this was an enormous unprecedented crisis we were facing, and the need for government to move quickly, which it did," said Eric Fanning, a former Army secretary who is president of the Aerospace Industry Association.

 READ MORE: The CDC reverses itself and says the guidelines it posted on coronavirus airborne transmission were wrong

But hundreds of millions of dollars also flowed to several large, established companies, such as GE Aviation, a subsidiary of General Electric, which received two awards worth $75 million in June. A subsidiary of Rolls-Royce  a company best known for its luxury cars but that also has a lucrative line of business as a military supplier  received $22 million to upgrade a Mississippi plant.

Rolls-Royce did not respond to specific questions about the award.

"This funding pulled planned work on existing signed contracts between GE Aviation and the U.S. Government forward and is an important way to help ensure our engineering activities and supply chain, which includes many small and medium-sized companies, can continue to deliver for the Armed Forces, sustain jobs and support the economy," said Perry Bradley, a GE Aviation spokesman.

Why boost the defense industry?

Critics say it's unclear why the defense industry should have gotten what amounts to a dedicated bailout fund when few other sectors of the economy got the same treatment.

And government data shows that at least 10 of the approximately 30 companies known to have received the Defense Department DPA funds also got loans through the Paycheck Protection Program, another relief package created by the Cares Act. That program, overseen by the Small Business Administration, offered millions of firms forgivable loans if they used the lion's share on payroll.

For instance, Weber Metals, a California-based subsidiary of German firm Otto Fuchs, received between $5 million and $10 million through PPP in April to support 412 jobs, and then got an extra boost through a $25 million DOD relief award in June. Weber officials did not respond to requests for comment.

Defense Department spokeswoman Jessica Maxwell said the two bailout programs are not "in conflict or duplicative," because a PPP loan does not make any directive with respect to supporting national defense.

ModalAI, a small California company that builds drone flight controllers and computing platforms, received $3 million through the Pentagon program for an 18-month effort to develop a new flight controller. In April, it received a PPP loan of between $150,000 and $350,000.

Chad Sweet, chief executive and cofounder of ModalAI, said the company's proposal was long-planned  it started applying for the Pentagon funds last summer, several months before the pandemic hit. The process gained steam in March and April.

The Defense Department asked ModalAI for documentation on how its business was affected by the pandemic, as well as information on other relief funding it has received. The Pentagon then made the decision unilaterally that ModalAI's award would come out of the Cares Act funding.

"I don't know how they made that decision," Sweet said. He said his firm has been able to hire about five to seven employees as a result of the DOD award.

The Pentagon did initially plan to spend the bulk of the $1 billion fund on medical supplies. In April, Lord told reporters that three-quarters would go toward medical resources, and the rest to defense contractors.

But in June, she told lawmakers during a congressional hearing that the department soon realized that defense contractors had "critical needs as well."

So DOD lawyers approved an arrangement whereby some $17 billion in HHS funds would be used for the medical industry instead, freeing up more money for defense contractors.

"So it expands the pool, and allows us to use even more money while taking the balance of the $1 billion that came through for DPA Title III, and use a portion of that for the defense industrial base," Lord said at the hearing. Ultimately, in the spending plan that the Pentagon presented to Congress in June, it set aside $688 million for the defense industry.

 READ MORE: 200,000 people in the U.S. have died of COVID-19

Thomas Spoehr, director of the Heritage Foundation's Center for National Defense, said Pentagon officials contend they have thrown all the money they can at the effort to produce the medical supplies needed to combat the pandemic.

Their belief is that any investment that could be made to increase the production of COVID-19 items has been made, he said.

One midsized company that benefited from the DOD awards was SolAero Technologies, an Albuquerque firm that makes satellite solar power systems and employs about 320 people.

When the pandemic hit, the firm was squeezed between the huge companies it supplies, which slowed down production, and the smaller, often cash-based businesses that make up its own suppliers, which it was trying to support, said chief executive Brad Clevenger.

Around March, the company heard from Lord's office, which was reaching out to defense contractors to understand how the pandemic was affecting them. SolAero worked with the Pentagon to check if the company was eligible for other relief programs, which it was not, Clevenger said.

In late May, the Pentagon announced a $6 million award to SolAero to expand production. Clevenger praised the process, which he said involved multiple layers of review but still delivered needed help in a span of two months.

In its news release announcing the deal, the Defense Department said the funds would "enable SolAero to retain critical workforce capabilities throughout the disruption caused by COVID-19 and to restore some jobs lost because of the pandemic." Clevenger estimated that the award saved the jobs of 25 SolAero employees.

But the Pentagon did not impose any requirement that SolAero refrain from layoffs as a condition of receiving the funds, only that it deliver on the agreed project, Clevenger said.

How we do that, with what workforce, is up to us, he said.
In less than one month, the United States has brokered two historic peace agreements in the Middle East, the most recent one between Israel and Bahrain. The first was between Israel and United Arab Emirates.

In the spirit of peace and cooperation, Bahrain has agreed to normalize its diplomatic relations with Israel. They will exchange embassies and ambassadors, begin direct flights between their countries, and launch cooperation initiatives across a broad range of sectors, including health, business, technology, education, security, and agriculture.

There have been only two other peace agreements with Israel in the last 72 years, said President Trump, and I am very hopeful that there will be more to follow. Indeed, the agreements with Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates also help to advance prospects for finding a fair and lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

After decades of instability and crisis, conditions in the Middle East have improved significantly over the last three years, said President Trump:

Ive restored trust with our regional partners, and together weve eliminated the ISIS caliphate 100 percent; isolated the radicals who pervert Islam and sow instability. Today, nations across the region and throughout the world are joining together, united in their determination to build a better future, free from the evils which perpetuate terror.

President Trump thanked the leaders of Israel and Bahrain for their courage to forge this historic agreement:

Their leadership is proving that the future can be filled with hope and does not need to be predetermined by conflicts of the past. . . .As more countries normalize relations with Israel  which will happen quite quickly, we believe  the region will become more and more stable, secure, and prosperous.

The United States will continue to stand with the people of the Middle East as they work to build a brighter, more hopeful future.
There was no requirement for mandatory COVID-19 testing when US President Donald Trump visited India from February 24 to 25, the government said on Tuesday. Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan, in a written reply to a query in Rajya Sabha, said the mandatory screening for COVID-19 of all international passengers arriving in India was implemented from March 4.

The minister was asked whether the US President's staff and delegation were tested for the COVID-19 during the visit. "At the time of President Trump's visit, that is February 24-25, there was no requirement of mandatory COVID-19 test for travellers coming from foreign countries," Muraleedharan said.

He mentioned that the World Health Organisation declared novel coronavirus a pandemic on March 11. "The requirement of mandatory universal screening of all international passengers arriving in 21 airports in India for COVID-19 was implemented by the government of India with effect from March 4," Muraleedharan said.

"Therefore, during President Trump's visit to India, established norms and protocols for handling such high-level visits were followed," he said. During his India visit, Trump was accompanied by First Lady Melania, daughter Ivanka, son-in-law Jared Kushner and the top brass of his administration.

Asked as to when did the government first receive information from the US about the planned visit of the US President, Muraleedharan said dates for the State visit were decided in mutual consultation by the two sides. Replying to a separate question, Muraleedharan said India provided assistance in the form of medicines and medical equipment to over 150 countries to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

The assistance included grants-in-aid valued at around Rs 80 crore to 82 countries.
22.09.2020 LISTEN

The Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA) is demanding the removal of the Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu from office over incompetence.

A report from ASEPA and copied to the Office of the President, explained that the failure of the Special Prosecutor to complete a single case over the past thirty months justifies its request.

In an interview with Citi News, the Executive Director of ASEPA, Mensah Thompson recommended the invocation of processes under Article 146 to impeach Mr. Amidu from office.

He added that the ineffectiveness of the office is not due to a lack of funds from the government per its investigations.

Our call is on the basis of his incompetence. We believe that there have been a number of issues emanating from the office of the Special Prosecutor raises questions of the competence of Mr. Martin Amid. The Special Prosecutor Office returned unused budgetary funds or unused allocations back to government coffers. It means that the government has given the office of the Special Prosecutor much money which he could even use, and they returned [it] back to the government and so the office is getting the necessary resources and support from the government but unfortunately, the output has been very minimal.

Mr. Mensah Thompson thus urged the presidency to independently assess Mr. Amidu and take a decision in the interest of Ghanaians.

In fact since 2017, we havent seen a single prosecution done by the office. So why do we still keep Martin Amidu in place so we have sent a copy of our report to the president and we expect the presidency to act on the proper assessment of the office? The presidency should use its own discretion to decide if they want to keep him in office or not. Per the law, as it stands, you cannot change him and appoint a new person but because his stature is like a High Court judge, the processes of article 146 can be invoked.

---citinewsroom
New Delhi, Sep 22 : Opposition members, including from the DMK, Congress, NCP and TMC, on Tuesday boycotted proceedings and walked out of the Lok Sabha over the contentious farm Bills seeking their "withdrawal".

Congress Leader of the House Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury requested the government through the chair to withdraw the two farm Bills which were passed by the Rajya Sabha on Sunday despite objection raised by the opposition. Chowdhury's request came after the House reassembled at 4.14 p.m. following a one-hour adjournment over the same issue earlier raised by the opposition.

The MP from Baharampur in West Bengal said that the opposition has no problem in participating in House proceedings if the government is ready to withdraw the two farm Bills. "Since 2014, you (Modi government) are in the power. India's farmers, labour and unemployed people have been passing through worse phase...You passed the Bills here and snatched our right in other House. Nothing can happen without the order of the government. We are standing in the support of our members in other House. We all opposition members boycott the House proceedings. You compel us to boycott the House," Chowdhury said.

Later almost whole opposition walked out of the House sloganeering "Aawaz Do Hum Ek Hai", "Tanasahi Nahi Chalegi", "Modi government hai hai". The opposition staged walk out after Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar accused the Congress of spreading rumours against the government and urged the nation not to fall in the trap of the party.

The minister said that Minimum Support Price (MSP) will continue and the whole country knows how the government in 2018 increased the MSP at 1.5 times the production cost, which is the chief determinant of MSP after the recommendation of the National Commission of Farmers 2006. The minister later accused the Congress of not making the reforms due to pressure of brokers even as the party's manifesto mentions the issue.

Tomar said when the Congress failed to implement the reforms for the welfare of the farmers while the Modi government has managed to do it, they are now scared of losing farmers' support and are spreading such rumours. Similar issue created pandemonium in the Lok Sabha when it assembled at 3 p.m. leading to a one-hour adjournment as Congress raised the issue criticising the government's step that led to thousands of farmers hitting the streets in protest.

Cutting across party lines, the Trinamool Congress and the Bahujan Samaj Party also supported the Congress with leaders Kalyan Banerjee and Ritesh Pandey echoing on the subject. Banerjee said "we are with Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury over the issue." The two controversial Bills --- the Farmer's Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 -- passed by both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, will now go to the President for his assent before they are notified as laws.

The third farm Bill - the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020 is yet to be taken up in Rajya Sabha.

Thousands of farmers in Punjab, Haryana and several other states have been staging protests since the government introduced these Bills in the Lok Sabha on the opening day of the Monsoon Session on September 14 to replace the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance, 2020, and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Ordinance, 2020 promulgated on June 5.

Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal of the Akali Dal resigned from the Modi government, hours ahead of the voting in the Lower House on the two Bills on September 17. However, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla continued the proceedings and took up three labour code Bills moved by the government for passage in the House.
In less than two months, Americans will choose a president for the next four years. If your vote is based on which candidate can rebuild our economy, the choice is clear: Donald J. Trump.

In fact, our economy is roaring back from the depths of the pandemic, because the presidents pro-growth economic agenda over the last four years laid the groundwork.

On Sept. 4, the Department of Labor announced that 1.4 million jobs were created since April. The national unemployment rate fell to 8.4 percent, a 6.3 percent improvement during that period. These results exceeded the expectations of economists and even the most bullish Wall Street analysts. Reflecting confidence in the economys recovery, the stock markets have traded at record highs since the nationwide economic closures that began in March.

Under Trump, the Republican Senate and then-Republican-controlled House passed the most comprehensive tax cuts and tax reform legislation in a generation. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 reduced taxes for businesses from 35 percent to 21 percent. It also provided valuable incentives for manufacturers and small businesses  including restaurants  to hire more employees and allowed business owners to write off any investment in new equipment and tools for their businesses.

One of the presidents earliest directives was to mandate that for every one new regulation, two old regulations must be eliminated. In Trumpian style, the presidents team actually exceeded his own initial directive and eliminated 22 regulations for every new regulation issued. According to the Council of Economic Advisers, Trump deregulation has reduced regulatory burden on our economy by nearly $50 billion and helped American families save at least $3,100 each year.

Since the pandemic struck, the presidents economic leadership has also been bold and decisive. For example, in May, the president signed an executive order on Regulatory Relief to Support Economic Recovery that directed Cabinet and agency heads to use, to the fullest extent possible, any emergency authorities available to support the economic response to the virus. In August, the Environmental Protection Agency exercised such emergency authority to allow airlines to use an innovative and proven product to clean commercial airliners between flights, giving added confidence for the American people to safely travel.

Another Trump post-pandemic economic effort is The Pledge to Americas Workers and the White House Initiative on Industries of the Future. Both are spearheaded by Ivanka Trump and centered on jumpstarting high-tech job training and bolstering American dominance in transformational industries such as 5G wireless broadband, quantum computing and artificial intelligence. These are the sectors that will determine long-term American leadership of the global economy.

But as our nation continues the transition from pandemic to sustained economic recovery, the contrast between Trumps optimistic and pro-worker jobs agenda and former vice president Joe Bidens embrace of indefinite quarantine and economic closure is clear. During the Democratic presidential primary, Biden, who was trailing in enthusiasm among Democratic activists, raced to embrace the Green New Deal championed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York.

Included in the Green New Deal is a fracking ban that would eliminate hundreds of thousands of energy, manufacturing and construction jobs in Pennsylvania, Ohio and other states. Biden wont even renounce the Green New Deals mandate to eliminate U.S. commercial airlines within a decade. This would further devastate already suffering high-skilled union jobs in the aviation, aerospace manufacturing and hospitality sectors in states such as Florida and Nevada. According to recent studies, the demise of American aviation alone would cost us 1.6 million jobs and a 1 percent decline in our gross domestic product.

At the end of the day, actions speak louder than words. Progressives and media naysayers scoffed at the Trump administrations vision for economic growth during the darkest days of the pandemic. Despite the doomsday projections of sustained economic depression, Trumps economic platform of tax cuts, deregulation and limited government have been rocket fuel for Americas coronavirus recovery.

On the flip side, a vote for the former vice president would undermine our economy and put American workers back on the ropes. Therefore, I urge my fellow Americans to give Trump four more years to continue his leadership and sustain our economic recovery.

Joseph Lai served as White House special assistant for legislative affairs from 2017 to 2019. He wrote this for InsideSources.com.

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In a week, some of the most awarded individuals in the brand communication industry join the Loeries to begin judging thousands of entries submitted for 2020 in the hope of scooping Africa and the Middle East's highest creative accolade - a Loerie.

Film  Swati Bhattacharya, one of only eight women who form part of the 100 most award-winning chief creative officers in the world. She was awarded the Creative Professional of the Year by ET Now Stars of the Industry Awards. She was the Jury chair at Clio 2017 and Athena Awards. Under her leadership, FCB Ulka won 50 awards including four Cannes Lions, Clio Gold, D&AD Yellow Pencil and a Spikes Grand Prix for #NoConditionsApply - Sindoor Khela.



Live, PR and OOH and Integrated - Dennis Lueck, is the most awarded creative in Switzerland and the current Swiss Advertiser of the Year, and chief creative officer and co-owner of Jung von Matt/Limmat, which has now topped Switzerlands creative rankings table for three years in a row.



Radio - Nicholas Hulley, the executive creative director of AMV BBDO is responsible for genre-bending, culture-shaping work along with his creative partner. His work has won multiple Cannes Grand Prixs and Titaniums as well as a D&AD Black Pencil. His joint-work is displayed in the permanent collections of the British Museum and the Design Museum.



Design - Katherina Tudball, creative director, Superunion London. Tudballs passionate advocacy for diversity in creativity has been recognised by D&AD's members, who elected her to the Board of Trustees in 2016. Tudball has been awarded two silver Cannes Lions for her work on Shakespeares Globe as well as a D&AD yellow pencil and a silver Cannes Lion for rebranding BBC2.



Digital  Alan Kelly, CCO of Rothco, where he has served in various roles over the past 10 years. Kelly has won Cannes Lions (including a prestigious Grand Prix), D&AD and One Show pencils and Grand Clios. He has also judged at Cannes Lions, D&AD, Dubai Lynx, LIAs, One Show and Clios.

Preetesh Sewraj, Loeries CEO

More than 175 regional and international judges will be judging more than double the submissions received when compared to the previous year. This further adds to the usual excitement felt during this annual highlight on the creative calendar.The team of esteemed international jury presidents  who will be the Jury overall and provide insights during the Creative Week are:Award-winning creative leaders from across the region, who form part of the Loeries 2020 panels include Lanre Adisa, CEO and chief creative officer of Noahs Ark (Nigeria); Fran Luckin, chief creative officer of Grey Africa (South Africa); and Kalpesh Patankar, chief creative officer of VML Y&R (MENA).The judging panels represent a strong group of diverse individuals who have served the brand communication industry through a mix of innovation and challenging the boundaries of the industry. Their work has moved not just brand communication but society forward. Now they will be working to uncover the work that will serve as inspiration for further industry and societal innovation, says the CEO of the Loeries, Preetesh Sewraj.Judging takes place from September to November with the results announced daily during Loeries Creative Week from 16 to 20 November.Tickets sales open Monday, 21 September 2020. Book and pay for your early bird ticket from www.loeries.com to get the benefit of these and many more fine speakers.
A billionaire family's windfall gain from the sale of land next to Western Sydney Airport has been described as the "tip of the iceberg" for the surrounding area, sparking calls for changes to ensure a far greater slice of the market uplift is returned to taxpayers.

The federal government forked out almost $30 million for land owned by Tony and Ron Perich's Leppington Pastoral Company in 2018, only for the Commonwealth to value the 12 hectares at just $3 million less than a year later.

Tony Perich, right, and his son Mark Perich at their dairy farm at Bringelly next to the site of the new airport. Credit:James Brickwood

The government's overpayment has also led to warnings it risks forcing up the cost for taxpayers of future land acquisitions for road and rail projects in and around the new airport at Badgerys Creek.

Liberal MP John Alexander said the sale to the Perichs was the "tip of the iceberg" in terms of land holders making windfall gains from selling property around the airport at Badgerys Creek.
By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 09/21/2020



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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

star Ashley Martson has announced she and husband Jay Smith have ended their relationship once and for all, but this time, there was no major drama that led to their split.Ashley took to Instagram on Saturday to announce she and Jay, who married in 2018, have officially parted ways "for good."Ashley posted an image that read, "Sometimes things just don't work out, and it's not anyone's fault. It's just the way things are."Ashley then wrote to her followers in the since-deleted post, "Before the stories get all misconstrued, I will just address it myself. Jay and I have made the decision to separate for good."I thought I was stronger and more forgiving but I'm not. Sometimes when trust is broken, it just cannot be repaired."The 34-year-old mom confirmed Jay, a 22-year-old who originally moved from Jamaica to the United States to be with her, did not betray her again after she had accused him of cheating and lying multiple times in the past."I wish Jay the best and we are both on the same page with this. No one cheated . No one did anything. I simply couldn't get over the past," Ashley wrote."I gave my all to this marriage and, as I type this, I'm heartbroken, this isn't how I envisioned my future."Ashley went on to thank her fans and "everyone who has supported us and were rooting for us.""Have a good weekend everyone," Ashley added. "To my close friends and family, I'm sorry you're finding out this way but I just don't have the strength to talk about it. Please forgive me. #90dayfiance."Not only did Ashley delete the post on Instagram, but she also erased all photos except those promoting her new lipgloss line.E! News reported in March that Ashley and Jay had reconciled and were trying to put the pieces of their relationship back together after a tumultuous romance and multiple threats on Ashley's part to file for divorce."They are back together and they are trying to make it work out," an insider said at the time."[Ashley] wasn't happy without [Jay]. She is trying to make it work, and he is manning up about his behavior more... They are planning on staying together through the [coronavirus] quarantine."When one follower reportedly asked Jay on Instagram at the time if he and Ashley were fighting for their marriage, Jay replied, "We been fighting from day uno."Jay additionally confirmed his married status earlier this year, and Ashley -- who began posting photos with Jay on her Instagram account once they reconciled -- changed her Instagram name back to Ashley Smith.In June 2020, Ashley and Jay told In Touch Weekly they had plans to renew their wedding vows."Our marriage didn't start off well and left us with a lot of bad memories," Ashley had told the magazine, suggesting she and Jay wanted a clean slate and fresh start to their marriage.Ashley and Jay, who starred on Season 6 of TLC's as well as : Happily Ever After?, have broken up and gotten back together since their wedding day probably more times than fans can even keep track of.Ashley first filed for divorce in January 2019 because she had caught Jay flirting with other women on a dating app, however, she withdrew the paperwork less than two weeks later and decided to take him back.Ashley's second divorce filing in April 2019 was a result of actually catching Jay allegedly cheating on her with multiple women. Rumors also swirled at the time Jay had gotten a girl pregnant Although Ashley had set the divorce papers in motion on April 23, 2019 after 11 months of marriage, Jay apparently refused to sign the papers and so their divorce was never finalized.The couple got back together briefly in July 2019, which was the same month : Happily Ever After?'s fourth-season Tell All special aired on TLC and featured Jay admitting he had cheated on Ashley with two women.However, rumors circulated for months prior to Jay's confession about his alleged numerous affairs and flings.Ashley then announced in November 2019 she was absolutely divorcing Jay after he finally agreed to sign the divorce papers.But one month later, Ashley cried on Instagram about how she was still in love with Jay , which led fans to believe there may be hope for the couple after all.Ironically, in January 2020, Ashley revealed on Instagram she and Jay were still not technically divorced due to an alleged paperwork error that kept their marriage intact.Want more spoilers or couples updates? Click here to visit our homepage!
For the next three months, people using public transport services in Poznan, Poland, will have the opportunity to test new Papercast electronic paper in use at bus stops. The trial will assess the passenger reaction and compare functionality with regular LED Displays, and if successful it is expected that e-paper will be rolled-out across the citys transit network.

The 13.3-in Papercast e-paper display features four function buttons, allowing users to toggle through detailed and clearly presented travel information. This includes real-time arrival predictions (using the GTFS protocol), timetables and route maps, as well as text-to-speech audio announcements.

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As a Papercast partner, Trapeze Poland supplied the e-paper display to Wielkopolskie Centrum Wspierania Inwestycji (WCWI), a local government unit responsible for finding innovative smart city solutions that contribute to the development of Poznan.



Technologies supporting public transport are developing extremely fast, says Mikoaj Kwiatkowski of Trapeze Poland. It important that we keep up with innovative solutions that meet the publics expectation for well-presented, live travel information. E-paper displays provide an extremely user and environmentally friendly way of meeting demand and getting this information to passengers.

Not only do these e-paper displays save on energy costs, but also removes the significant expense of changing paper timetables, says Rafa Ratajczak, smart city manager at WCWI. When there is a timetable change, we can easily update remotely. If there is a delay or disruption, we can notify passengers instantly. Not only does this lead to cost savings, but it is much better for the people using the services.

While the use of e-paper in bus stop displays is still considered new, Papercast was officially launched to the market in 2017 following extensive field trials. It has since experienced rapid adoption worldwide, including the UK, Germany, USA, Abu Dhabi and Singapore. Papercast is the most advanced technology of its kind, with the largest number of displays in operation globally.

The main advantage of e-paper is that it is sunlight readable with incredibly low power consumption, which means it can be solar powered. Connected wirelessly to the content management system, the Papercast displays can be viewed and updated remotely. E-paper is being used to replace paper timetables and to keep passengers informed with accurate arrival predictions at the bus stop. The standalone nature of Papercast displays means they can be fully operational within a few hours, compared to LED displays which require a power source.
Davies Acquires TriPlus

Davies, an International professional services and technology business based in London, as acquired Boston-based TriPlus Service Inc.

TriPlus provides its long term care carrier clients with claims and policy administration management solutions as well as actuarial and claims consulting.

TriPlus will join Davies established Claims Solutions business in the United States, widening its claims and administration offering to include long-term care. Peter Lucas, chief of executive officer of TriPlus will continue to lead the business and report to US Claims Solutions CEO,Matt Button. All of TriPlus approximately 200 employees will continue in their roles as Davies employees, the company said.

TriPlus is Davies fifth acquisition in 2020. The company began an expansion into North America that began with the purchase of Frontier Adjusters, Inc, a multi-line independent claims adjuster, in September 2019. In October 2019, Davies purchased Alternative Service Concepts LLC, a workers compensation and property and casualty third party administrator that serves the United States and Canada.

Davies this year acquired Keoghs, an insurance-focused law firm; Codebase8 an automation and insurance software provider; Citadel & Cedar Consulting, a captive management and consulting businesses, and ContactPartners, which provides customer contact technologies.

Davies employs more than 4,000 people in operating centers in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Bermuda, the United States and Canada.

Verisk Acquires Franco Signor

Verisk has acquired Franco Signor, a Medicare Secondary Payer Act compliance consultant based in Bradenton, Florida, for $160 million.

Verisk, an international data analytics provider to the insurance industry based in Jersey City, N.J., said Franco Signor will become part of its Claims Partners business.

While Claims Partners and Franco Signor have both delivered valued Medicare compliance services for decades, their approaches are very complementary Verisk said in a press release.

The complexities of Medicare compliance obligations are extremely challenging, stated Richard Della Rocca, president of claims at Verisk. With the addition of Franco Signor to the Claims Partners team, we can offer the insight and experience of the countrys top MSP experts under one roof for the benefit of the entire industry and look forward to providing the very best experience and service for our customers.

Verisk said its Medicare compliance suite includes Section 111 reporting, automated conditional payment processing, and professional administration of Medicare set-asides.

Insurity Teams With ODG

Insurity has formed a partnership with Official Disability Guidelines by MCG, a provider of evidence-based treatment guidelines for several state workers compensation systems.

Insurity, based in Hartford, Conn., said ODGs treatment and return-to-work guidelines enhance the accuracy of the its machine-learning predictive models when forecasting claim severity. ODG data will be used in concert with the Valen Data Consortium, a collection of proprietary transactional and behavioral data specifically designed for analytics.

The consortium contains over $100 billion in premium, including $60 billion in workers compensation premium, with data such as risk profile, attributes, policy, submission, and claims history, plus data from over 20 third-party sources, Insurity said.

This partnership represents the powerful combination of ODGs industry-leading guidelines and our industry-leading data consortium for workers compensation, enabling Insurity to deliver the most robust predictive modeling solutions for insurers, stated Lance Stewart, head of strategic partnerships at Insurity.

MCG, based in Austin, Texas, is part of the Hearst Health network. The company purchased ODG from the Work Loss Data Institute in 2017.

CIRMA Launches Claim Management Platform

The Connecticut Interlocal Risk Management Agency, an insurance risk pool created by the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities, has launched a new claims platform that uses software provided by Guidewire.

The new platform, CIRMA ClaimCentral, will significantly enhance the way CIRMA engages with its members, the organization said in a press release. CIRMA ClaimCentral offers integrated workflows and embedded analytics that allow ClRMA claims adjusters to make claim decisions in real time, the organization said.

CIRMA operates two risk pools, the Workers Compensation, and Liability-Auto-Property pools. It also provides heart and hypertension claims services and risk management services to self-insured municipalities.
Europe Place is the embodiment of Komarnos pro-European attitude.

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This is an article from our archive of travel guides, Spectacular Slovakia. We decided to publish this gem for our readers, as it is great example of how the face of Slovakia is changing. The countrys pro-european orientation is now clear. The last decade in Slovakia was represented by solid economical growth and Slovak-Hungarian tensions are no longer a point of dicusision for top politicians. For up-to-date information and feature stories, take a look at the latest edition of our Slovak Travel Guide.

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While Slovakia as a country may seem uncertain about its future orientation - west to the European Union or a return eastwards? - Komarno knows exactly what it wants. And contrary to what nationalist politicians believe, it does not want a Greater Hungary.

Komarno simply wants to be a part of Europe.

The citys Euro-attitude is embodied by its newest attraction: Europe Place. The recently constructed square in the city centre consists of buildings designed in architectural styles distinct to different European countries and beyond. The Hungarian building is found next to the Slovak, the French next to the Russian, the Austrian next to the Spanish. Everyone is included here, from Greenland to Turkey, the Vatican to Transylvania.

The square was opened in December 2000 and covers 6,500 square metres of land. There is an underground car park, and Euro Alley, a shopping complex below the square. The centrepiece is the Millennium Fountain. On the whole, the square is dazzling, a dizzying swirl of colour and fine detail.

Related article

Related article Slovakia travel guide: A helping hand in the heart of Europe. Read more

Ironically, this project of unity is found in an area that has long been divisive for Slovaks. Populists love to paint the predominantly ethnic-Hungarian residents as anti-Slovak, saying that they have the interests of Hungary dearer to their hearts than those of Slovakia. Who can ever forget an allegedly drunk Jan Slota, the former head of the Slovak National Party, making his impassioned call in 1998 for Slovaks to man their tanks and storm Budapest?

Tension

Controversy also arose in 2001 when the ethnic-Hungarian party, SMK, demanded the formation of a Komarno County during public administration reform. The districts voters would have been predominantly Hungarian. Party leaders said it would allow locals a louder voice in regional governments; nearly every other Slovak politician was opposed, saying the creation of such a county would be tantamount to dividing the country along racial lines.

The most recent row originated in Budapest. In summer 2001, Hungarian legislators passed a Status Law that would give ethnic Hungarians living in neighbouring countries special privileges, including subsidies for education at Hungarian schools in Slovakia. Bratislava charged the Hungarians with imposing a foreign law on a sovereign state, a law that would no less discriminate against ethnic Slovaks. Budapest responded by hinting that they would block Slovakias Nato entry.

Considering all the above, one almost expects to find a city on the edge, where ethnic Slovaks and Hungarians are constantly at each others throats (the racial division is approximately 65% Hungarian, 35% Slovak). This of course is not the case. Komarno is peaceful and friendly - and surprisingly indifferent to disparaging comments made up north about southern Slovakia.

Local economy

People like Slota have blinders on, said Cszaba (pronounced Cha-ba), an ethnic-Hungarian I met at Europe Place. When they say the things they say, what can we do but shrug our shoulders? We just ignore it down here. Every country has its nationalists. Slovakia is no different.

What they dont seem to realise is that it is all about money. If the Slovak economy were better, Hungarians in Slovakia would not be a problem. But nobody has money. Unemployment is everywhere. So they pick on us. They say were trying to undermine the state, that were not loyal, that we want to be a part of a Greater Hungary. If we all had some more money, though, this would not be an issue.

(Source: Jan Svrcek)

Unemployment has been particularly devastating in Komarno. Because it sits at the confluence of the Danube and the Vah, Slovakias longest river, the economy has been based around shipbuilder Slovenske Lodenice Komarno (Slovak Shipyards Komarno). But mismanagement in the late 1990s forced the firm to cut its workforce, from 5,500 before the revolution to about 800 today. The effects are felt all around town: Unemployment is at about 25%, and in the Euro Alley shopping complex only a quarter of the retail space has been opened as traders wonder who they would sell to.

The problems here are no different from in the rest of the country, says Cszaba, who is tired of speaking about these issues. How many times do we have to say we dont want to go back to Hungary? These nationalists up north are pointing their fingers at Hungarians and thumping their chests for Slovaks, but what we should all be doing is working together for the EU. I prefer politicians like [Foreign Minister] Eduard Kukan. He looks around and says, Okay, how can we all - Hungarian, Slovak, whoever - work together to improve our lives and our country. I like Kukan. But I dont like politicians with tunnel-vision.

Unexpected

Komarno may surprise first-time visitors. It is not anti-Slovak, the people are not pining for a Hungarian reunion. And contrary to popular ethnic-Slovak belief, everyone here speaks Slovak. The language of choice may be Hungarian, but people addressed in Slovak switch over with neither hesitation nor irritation. In public places, visitors are greeted with the bilingual Jo napot. Dobry den. The Irish Pub on Europe Place even has a waiter who throws in a Good day. (He speaks German, too.)

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Everyone has to learn the national language, an elderly man told me in Slovak. Sure, we mainly speak Hungarian here, but if I go 100 kilometres north, nobody does. I hate that term Na Slovensku, po slovensky (In Slovakia, speak Slovak). But - without the silly nationalist rhetoric behind it - it is true... to a certain extent.

Euro Place. Multilingual and open-minded people. A firm western orientation. Could it be that Komarno - so often the target of national ire - is more prepared for the European Union than is the rest of Slovakia?

Komarno history Komarno is one of the oldest towns in Slovakia. It has been settled continuously since the early Bronze Age. The Romans built a military camp here in the 2nd century, but were pushed out by nomadic Avar tribes in the 4th century. Hungarian tribes took over in the 10th century and built the towns first castle. King Belo IV gave Komarno municipal rights in 1265.The castle became the focus of the Hungarian Kingdoms anti-Turk defence system. Constructed between 1546 and 1557, the remains of the Komarno defence system are today the largest bastion fortification in central Europe. It defended the city well: the Turks never conquered the city, although they did manage to burn it to the ground in 1529 and 1594. The fortification system can today be traced on foot in little over an hour. The sixth bastion, north-east of the train station, has a museum, night club and restaurant. It was reconstructed in 1991. Komarno was granted the status of a free royal borough by Empress Maria Theresa in 1745. At the time, Komarno was the fifth largest city in the Hungarian Kingdom with 10,000 inhabitants. The economy was based on trade and crafts, ship-building, and a haulage system whereby boats were pulled upstream by teams of horses on the river bank. Komarno supplied the Royal Court with fish from the 16th century. Natural disasters were frequent: an earthquake damaged the largest structures in 1763; a large chunk of the town and 19 boats were destroyed in a furious storm on September 17, 1848; major floods wreaked havoc in 1800, 1876 and 1880; and plague outbreaks were also common.Komarno became part of Czechoslovakia in 1920 when the Treaty of Trianon divided the city in half at the Danube. On the Hungarian side of the river is the town Komarom (population 19,600).Some 40,000 people live in Komarno today. The main sites - besides Euro Place and the fortification system - are the baroque Serbian Orthodox Church on Palatinova ulica, and the Gyorgy Klapka square, named after the general who led the 1848 anti-Habsburg revolt. His statue at the centre of the square is decorated with flowers every March 15 by locals and by visitors from Hungary. *Source: The Slovak-Austrian-Hungarian Danubeland, 1st edition.

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Finding Manny Is a Must-See Holocaust Documentary

Update: Since the time of writing, Finding Manny has screened at eight film festivals, winning awards at three, including a Platinum Remi Award at the Houston International Film Festival (Worldfest).

Commentary

When I was in high school, among the most popular academic aphorisms, particularly in history class, was philosopher George Santayanas Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.

But that was in the early Paleolithic Age. Nowadays, in the era of critical theory, theres said to be no factual past, no real past, to repeat. Everything is narrative, except their narrative, of course, like the 1619 Project, which is suddenly the truth.

How convenient.

Our educational system has been mired in this ideological trap of no information or disinformation with depressing, even mortifying, results.

A salient example is a recent survey of millennials and Gen Z that revealed their knowledge of the Holocaust is spectacularly low:

Thirty-six percent thought that two million or fewer Jews [not six million plus] were killed during the Holocaust, and 48 percent could not name a single camp or ghetto established during World War II, despite the fact that there were more than 40,000 of them.

In perhaps one of the most disturbing revelations of this survey, 11 percent of U.S. Millennial and Gen Z respondents believe Jews caused the Holocaust, Claims Conference writes.

How do you counteract this woeful ignorance of what is numerically by far the most horrifying example of genocide in human historyand one that occurred relatively recently at thatso it will not, in Santayanas words, be repeated?

One way is by making films such as Finding Manny.

Poster for Finding Manny. (courtesy Finding Manny)

This well-wrought, compelling, and heartfelt documentary is the true story of Manny Drukier, father and father-in-law of Epoch Times/NTD stalwarts Cindy Drukier and Jan Jekielek, who produced with the director, Kacey Oliver Cox, and Joe Wang. Stephen Baldwin narrated.

Cindy and Jan also appear in the film, as does Manny, of course, who was but 11 when WWII broke out. The young boy then went into hiding, was captured by the Nazis and shuttled between several concentration camps in three countries, including the infamous Buchenwald, watched countless people diesome via extermination, some via starvationdid time in a forced labor camp from which few made it out alive, barely escaped, and finally jumped from a train near the end of the war to avoid certain death himself.

The documentary of this life story is a family affair as multiple generations convince the now nearly nonagenarian Manny to return to the scenes of his very frightening youth.

Like many Holocaust survivors, Manny had been reluctant to discuss what happened to him with his children when they were growing upthe atrocities were too great to confront. But due to an invitation from a German institution that took care of orphaned boys like him immediately after the war, he finally agreed to take a trip to that past.

So the film is a family reunion of sorts as the generations journey ensemble to Poland, Austria, and Germany, visiting basement hiding places and concentration camps and the now-modern orphanage where Manny reconciles with contemporary Germans.

Everyone learns and profits from the experience. But is this all worth seeing again, Arbeit Macht Frei and all that? Didnt Spielberg cover the neighborhood?

Because I am the screenwriter of two fictional Holocaust films, one of which was a multiple Oscar nominee, I too often think I have had enough. I gave at the office, as it were.

That, however, is a lie to the self, a big one. We have never had enough when it comes to being reminded of evil as titanic as the Holocaust. Forgetting is too easy, as the poll cited above tells us all too clearly.

A frame from Finding Manny (Courtesy Finding Manny)

The word genocide is bandied about also too easily these days, even when a few people get into a fistfight in Portland, Oregon. They need to see what real genocide was.

Moreover, we have reached a point when there are few actual survivors, few Manny Drukiers, left to tell the first-hand story of what happened. We should be grateful when they do. They are precious.

Finding Manny is a highly worthy and important contribution to the Holocaust film canon and I advise everyoneno matter how much they think they know about the subjectto devote only 57 minutes of their time and see it.

The film has been selected for several film festivals, including first the Albuquerque Film + Music Experience on Sept. 24 (then available online until Oct. 1). And on Sept. 26 as it debuts the Moving Parts Film Festival, followed by a Q&A session; streaming is also available afterward. Both festivals are accessible internationally.

Roger L. Simon is an award-winning novelist, Oscar-nominated screenwriter, co-founder of PJ Media, and now a columnist for The Epoch Times.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
By Polina Devitt and Tatiana Voronova

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian bank TCS Group Holding <TCSq.L> <TCSGDR.MM> is in talks to sell its online bank Tinkoff to Russian internet group Yandex <YNDX.O> for $5.48 billion (4.30 billion), the two companies said on Tuesday.

The idea was first publicly floated last year when Oleg Tinkov, founder of Russia's TCS group, suggested https://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKL8N23E2JS to Yandex's chief executive that they combine his bank with Yandex, known as Russia's answer to Google.

"The parties have come to an agreement in principle on a transaction that would consist of cash and share consideration worth approximately $5.48 billion or $27.64 per Tinkoff share," Yandex said.

The price represents an 8% premium to Tinkoff's GDR price as of Sept. 21. One half of the deal is expected to be paid in cash and another half with Yandex shares, a banking source and a source familiar with the matter, told Reuters.

Tinkoff is the world's largest bank that is fully online, with more than 10 million customers across Russia.

Its founder, Tinkov has been battling acute leukaemia and had a bone marrow transplant in July. He stepped down as board chairman of the bank to focus on his health and transferred his TCS shares to a Tinkov family trust in the spring.

Tinkov, who is in London to see his doctor, told Reuters by phone that he would stay with the company after its merger with Yandex.

However, he also said he had already achieved all he wanted on the financial market and it was time to do something else, such as create a charity foundation to combat leukaemia.

The possible deal was announced a few months after Yandex said it was terminating its partnership with Sberbank <SBER.MM>, which opened the door for Yandex to compete with the country's largest bank.

The deal will give Yandex potential synergies in data and products, but also exposes it to banking risks, which means it is crucial to retain the TCS management team, Maria Sukhanova, an analyst at BCS brokerage, said.

Sukhanova said Yandex would have to take on more debt or issue new shares to pay for the deal.

(Reporting by Tatiana Voronova, Alexander Marrow and Nadezhda Tsydenova; Writing by Andrey Ostroukh and Polina Devitt; Editing by David Goodman/David Evans/Tom Brown/Jane Merriman)
New Delhi, Sep 22 : The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said that the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine in India is likely to remain between 50 to 100 per cent, however, they are trying for 100 per cent efficiency.

"We are aiming for 100 per cent efficacy but may land between 50 to 100 per cent. However, it still would be an effective vaccine against the virus," ICMR Director General Dr Balram Bhargava said while speaking to media during a press briefing of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Tuesday.

Bhargava added that as per the World Health Organisation (WHO), a vaccine having above 50 per cent efficacy is acceptable for administration. "100 per cent efficacy is not achieved in vaccines for respiratory viruses," he said.

The Drugs Controller General of India released draft guidelines for Covid-19 vaccine on Monday. The 39-page document lists several safety protocols that companies have to follow, including developing adaptive trial designs.

As per the guidelines, the vaccine that will go for approval must elicit superior immune responses compared to no vaccination against Covid-19. An individual who gets the vaccine should be protected from re-infection for at least a year.

Besides, the regulatory approval for the vaccines will come through only if companies demonstrate 50 per cent efficacy in the primary endpoint or more than 30 per cent efficacy in the secondary endpoints. This means a vaccine has to either prevent or decrease the severity of the disease in at least 50 per cent of people vaccinated.

"To ensure that a widely deployed Covid-19 vaccine is effective, the primary efficacy endpoint point estimate for a placebo-controlled efficacy trial should be at least 50 per cent, and the statistical success criterion should be that the lower bound of the appropriately alpha-adjusted confidence interval around the primary efficacy endpoint point estimate is (greater than) 30 per cent," the guidelines stated.

Meanwhile, the regulatory body also clarified in the guidelines that persons who have been infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the past should be included in vaccine testing, as long as they do not have acute Covid-19 or other acute infectious illnesses.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Breonna Taylor during a graduation ceremony in Louisville Kentucky - AFP

A state of emergency has been declared in Louisville, Kentucky in anticipation of protests as the city awaits an imminent grand jury decision on the police killing of Breonna Taylor.

Taylor, a 26-year-old black emergency medical worker, was shot dead by police serving a no-knock warrant as part of an investigation into an ex-boyfriend.

Her death has become a touchstone for protests against police brutality and racial inequality in the US, with stars including Beyonce writing to officials saying the officers involved should face criminal charges.

An investigation into the shooting is now drawing to a close, with the state attorney general, Daniel Cameron, expected to shortly announce whether he will charge the officers.

In anticipation of that announcement, police in Louisville have restricted access to the city centre and placed barricades around Jefferson Square Park, the site of several protests.

Protests in Louisville following deaths of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd in Louisville, Kentucky - Reuters

"While we do not know when the Attorney General will make his announcement, LMPD is taking the following actions now to ensure the area is as safe as possible for those coming downtown to express their First Amendment Rights, as well as those who live and work in the area," the Louisville Metro Police Department said on Tuesday.

"We recognise that this is an inconvenience, and will cause difficulty for those that live, work and have business downtown, and we apologise for this inconvenience. However, public safety is our number one priority, and it would be irresponsible if we did not take preemptive action to preserve it," police said.

The department has cancelled holiday time for all its officers in preparation for the grand jury decision and any ensuing protest.

Federal officials have closed the federal courthouse and other federal buildings for the week.

Meanwhile one of the former officers involved in Taylor's shooting has defended himself, telling his fellow policemen "the good guys are demonised" in an mass email to the city's police department, seen by CNN.

Story continues

In the email, Sergeant Jonathan Mattingly told officers that if they "make a mistake during the most stressful times in your career, the department and FBI ... go after you for civil rights violations."

Ahead of the Kentucky attorney general's announcement, Mr Mattingly said: "Regardless of the outcome today or Wednesday, I know we did the legal, moral and ethical thing that night. It's sad how the good guys are demonised, and criminals are canonised".

The former officer also criticised city officials and police leaders, branding them "pencil pushers". "I'm proof they do not care about you or your family, and you are replaceable," he said.

Taylor, a Black emergency medical worker, was shot eight times on March 13 by officers who entered her home using a no-knock warrant during a narcotics investigation.

The warrant used was connected to a suspect who did not live there, and no drugs were found inside the home. The use of no-knock warrants has since been banned by Louisville's Metro Council.

Taylor's death set off a wave of protests in the city, with the demonstrations intensified by the high-profile killings of other unarmed African Americans by police, such as George Floyd in Minneapolis and Daniel Prude in Rochester, New York.

The large protests have at times become violent since they first erupted in late May, but most demonstrations since then have been peaceful, including a massive march outside the Kentucky Derby earlier this month.

Last week, the city of Louisville settled a lawsuit from Taylor's family for $12 million (9.4 million) and pledged several police reforms as part of the agreement.
US President Donald Trump, who defied the UN and unilaterally reimposed sanctions on Iran, has boycotted the world body's 75th anniversary commemoration.

Trump was listed as the first national leader to speak at the General Assembly session honouring the 75th anniversary on Monday.

The President was to have sent in a pre-recorded speech like all world leaders, although he also had the option of coming in person.

Instead the session heard from the US Acting Deputy Permanent Representative Cherith Norman Chalet.

While the anniversary meeting was taking place in New York, the Trump administration announced a series of steps to back up the sanctions it reimposed on on September 19.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told reporters in Washington that Trump's order to reimpose the sanctions gave a "new and powerful tool to enforce the UN arms embargo and hold those who seek to evade UN sanctions accountable".

But UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that there was "uncertainty" over the legality of the US action and the world body would not act on it till the Security Council clarifies the situation.

Western allies of the US on the Security Council, along with the others, have opposed the action.

Trump had pulled out of the agreement made in 2015 between and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany to lift sanctions imposed by the council in return for Tehran stopping its nuclear weapons programme.

But he withdrew from the deal in 2018.

The Trump administration said that it was reimposing claiming that Teheran violated its terms.

In his UN address, Chalet took a conciliatory approach mostly praising the UN's successes in which he said Washington "has played a central role".

"For the Trump administration, this anniversary is an important moment to mark the many successes of the UN, but to do so with clear eyes and a renewed determination to see this important body serve its intended purpose."

He said that the US has been the UN's "largest and most reliable funder for all of its 75 years".

"That commitment ensures that UN organisations are able to reach millions in need, to coordinate global humanitarian action, and convene on issues requiring urgent action.

"The UN has for too long been resistant to meaningful reform, too often lacking in transparency, and too vulnerable to the agenda of autocratic regimes and dictatorships," Chalet said.

He added that the UN needs "new agility" to face "threats that include theft of intellectual property and efforts to undermine internet freedom".

(Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed on Twitter at @arulouis)

--IANS

al/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.)
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I was a slave to opioids that ruined my entire life. It started when I was 30 and my doctor prescribed me hydrocodone, a generic compound opioid of Vicodin and Tylenol, after a car accident revealed during an X-ray that I had a congenital defect in my lower back called spina bifida occulta. The crash aggravated that disc, causing debilitating pain.

Initially, I took just one tablet at night before bed. My prescription said that I could take up to two tablets a day as needed. Within three months, I was consuming two hydrocodone tablets, three times a day. When the opioids coursed through my veins, I felt invincible. They not only made my double shifts bearable as a geriatric charge nurse  responsible for 30 patients and nurses aides  but they helped me cope with my jobs stress between 6:00 am and 10:00 pm.

My raging opioid addiction led to criminal behavior

Within a year and a half, Im ashamed to admit, I was ingesting six hydrocodone tablets, four times a day! I became increasingly erratic, rude, and short-tempered as I experienced manic mood swings.

But it got worse. I began stealing!

When my doctors monthly prescription ran out in four days, I resorted to breaking the Seventh Commandment. I stole opioids from the nursing home where I was employed, claiming that I had given the patients their drugs when in fact I had pocketed them. Plus, I also stole hydrocodone tablets which were on the verge of expiration. When the pharmacy, came to retrieve them to safely destroy them, I lied, claiming I didnt know where they had disappeared to. All told, I had stolen 500 hydrocodone tablets.

It didnt end there.

I was so enslaved to my opioid addiction that I even stole $800 from my beloved father by cashing checks and buying the pills on the street for $5 a pill. My life became a vicious cycle of stealing, using, and acting erratically. The payoff was no longer there. I was pathetic. In fact, I became so disgusted with myself that I contemplated suicide several times.

15 months in prison didnt reform me

To her credit, my sister, a fellow nurse at the same facility, turned me in. I was arrested in February 2009. Ultimately, I surrendered my nurses license, pled guilty to a felony of fraudulent possession, got 10 years of probation, and was locked up for 15 months. But, ironically enough, when I got out from behind bars and entered a sober living facility, my sinful flesh ached for that hydrocodone high again. Not only did I fall under the spell of opioids again, but I had the audacity to write $1,700 of hot checks from the halfway home to pay for my addiction.

Theres one Bible verse that explains my frame of mind to a t at the time. Proverbs 26:11 says, As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly. That was me. Foolish. Without excuse. Out of control.

Once I got out of the sober living facility, I binged on cocaine for a couple of months. I still hadnt learned my lesson. On April 24, 2013, I was lying in a dark apartment with blood running out of my nose. As the sun was coming up, I cried out, Satan or God, whoever is more powerful. I just wish you would kill me right now. On my drive to a friends house, I planned to take my life by overdosing on a bottle of Ambien. I couldnt take it anymore!

But God would spare my life once again.

He sent a policeman to save me from myself. As I saw his flashing red and blue lights in my rear-view mirror, I pulled two oxycodone out of my bra, swallowed them down, and lit a cigarette. After pulling me over for expired tags and registration and failure to identify, I sat in the back of the cop car, tears streaming down my cheeks on my way to prison. I vented. I'm tired of being a junkie. I've lost everything. My good paying job as a charge nurse. Relationships with those whom I love the most. I just took a couple of oxycodone that I really don't even want. And I'm hungry. The cop listened compassionately while watching me in the rearview mirror.

After bonding out, I foolishly got drunk on May 7, 2013, the day before a 30-day rehab stay at Oakhaven in Marshall, Texas. But thank God, since May 8th Ive been totally clean.

You know what made the difference?

Two things. First, I had come to the end of myself. I was sick and tired of being sick and tired. Second, after the Sober House had filed felony charges on me for writing $1,700 of hot checks, my father agreed to cover the stolen money if I promised to (a) pay him back every penny and (b) enter a 6-month Christian rehab program at Morgans Mercy Mansion in Winnsboro, Texas. That was a deal I couldnt resist. By the way, it was no mansion in the physical sense, but an old, run-down 1955 former nursing home which believers had redeemed and named to remind its residents of their future mansions in Heaven. It was just the Godsend I needed.

Christians loved me despite being unlovable

Ill never forget what Sherrie Hansen, the director, told me. She said, Deanna, Ill believe in Jesus for you until you can believe in Jesus for yourself. She was genuine, loving the worlds unlovable.



Frankly, I was suspicious that anyone cared. I thought to myself, Either these people are crazy or they might be for real. And, if they are for real, I might get out of this place sober and stay sober.

During my stay there, we attended a womens retreat in October 2013 at Brookhill Ranch in Hot Springs, Arkansas, organized by 83-year-old Hettie Lou Brook. Between the lake and the lush forest, I soaked up the beauty of Gods creation and the Biblical truth that my sin had separated me from a holy God.

Jesus took away my opioid sin and shame

I picture my heart has many doors in it. No matter how horrible or shameful, I decided to open every door to Jesus. I wanted Him to see my sin in all of its ugliness. And I needed Him to take it away, along with my crippling guilt and shame. It had become an unbearable burden, like the sin-burden was for the character, Christian, in John Bunyans book Pilgrims Progress. Whats amazing is that He already knew what was behind every door and was ready to forgive me for all of it. I told Him, I surrender. Im tired of running. I recognize my sin and I own it. I can't carry it no more. I gotta let You help me.

Psalm 34:18 says that "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Thats what Ive experienced. I was brokenhearted, crushed in spirit, and He gave me fresh hope, a new life.

Every morning at Morgans Mercy Mansion, we recited several I am Scripture-based affirmations which cemented our new identity in Christ.

I am the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21 says, God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.)

I am more than a conqueror. (Romans 8:37 says, In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.)

I am the head, not the tail. (Deuteronomy 28:13 says, The Lord will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the Lord your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom.)

Im a transformed woman, from the inside out

Today, I take better care of myself. I deal with stress by turning in prayer to Jesus, my best friend. I minimize my back pain by wearing good shoes and, when necessary, I take 2 Advils at night.

In Gods providence, for the past four years, Ive worked as a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor for the Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice in the Substance Abuse Felony Punishment Facility located in Winnsboro, Texas. Thats right. He gave me a job in the very place where I once served prison time myself.

As I strive to be transparent about my previous addiction to opioids, my theft to pay for it, and a God who loves the unlovable, He uses my testimony to draw jaded prisoners to Himself. They are initially as dumbfounded as I once was that anyone cares. In fact, one prisoner recently wrote me a note which said, You were like someone who came into a dark house and started to turn on lights.

I daresay that those words of encouragement fill me with greater genuine euphoria than my chemical opioids ever delivered!

My story of addiction is all too common.

Americas churches need to help the 2 million opioid addicts

In fact, according to the Addiction Center:

2 million Americans have an opioid addiction.

Between 1999 and 2017, more than 700,000 Americans died from overdosing on a drug. 400,000 of them, more than half, died from opioid overdoses. There, but for the grace of God, go I.

LifeWay Research asked 1,000 Protestant pastors about their personal connections to the opioid epidemic.

Half of pastors  52%  say someone in their church is dealing with an opioid addiction.

But 60% of pastors say they do not offer a 12-step program or other support groups for substance abuse.

How Recovery Sunday on September 27th can be a lifeline

That's why I am thrilled that three years ago, pastors and addiction recovery professionals teamed up through Mission Recovery, led by Pastor Ron Smedley, to start www.RecoverySunday.com the fourth Sunday of every September. Its coming up this Sunday, September 27th.

The goal is 2-fold.

1. Pastors can dedicate their entire church service to Christ-centered recovery from addiction featuring recovery-themed worship music, a testimony like mine, and a recovery-themed sermon with illustrations and relevant Scriptures.

2. Churches can launch a free, Christ-centered recovery program for their members. When they register, theyll get access to a 52-week plug-n-play curriculum, Recovery Strategies 4 Life, featuring 30-minute videos and access to the pdf of workbooks. Typically, 10% of the congregation will attend.

Addiction is no respecter of persons. No matter ones race, ones gender, or ones economic status, Satan prowls like a roaring lion, seeking someone, anyone, to devour.

Take it from a woman who lost a good paying job as a charge nurse, who sold my household of new furniture for $400, and who damaged my closest relationships. There are people sitting in your pew in your church each week who are battling demons you cannot begin to imagine in your worst nightmare.

Throw them the lifeline of Christ-centered recovery. Email your pastor my story and urge him to host www.RecoverySunday.comthis Sunday, September 27th.

God wants to help them like He helped me. If you speak up today, perhaps the life verse of the addicts in your church will become John 8:36. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
DARWIN, Australia  They may have taken a wrong turn, chased their prey into shallow waters, or blindly followed a dying matriarch who intended to beach herself. But the pilot whales, more than 450 of them, somehow ended up stranded on a remote beach in Tasmania.

More than half of them are likely to have already died. Now, scientists are racing to save the others.

It is quite confronting, Kris Carlyon, a marine biologist with the Tasmanian government, said at a news conference on Tuesday. This is such a tricky event, a complex event, that any whale we save we consider a real win, he added. Were focusing on having as many survivors as we can.

Already by Tuesday evening, a day after some of the whales were first seen, the team of scientists, government workers and police officers had saved at least 25 whales by dragging them off sandbars and away from the shore, guiding them back out to sea.
Playco, a new mobile gaming startup, raised $100 million in a funding round and became unicorn. Its valuation now is estimated at $1 billion. One of Playco's investors is the Cascade Investment Fund, owned by Vitaly Khomutynnik.

On his LinkedIn page, he wrote that our other portfolio company has become a unicorn.

Playco is a startup focused on creating games that can be played without downloading them, and launched from a link and on any platform. Today, the company's founders are targeting platforms such as Google Play Instant, iOS App Clips, Facebook Instant Games, and Snapchat Minis.



The main investors of Playco are American venture capital fund Sequoia Capital, as well as other foreign funds, including Sozo Ventures, Raymond Tonsings Caffeinated Capital, Keisuke Hondas KSK Angel Fund, Taizo Sons Mistletoe Singapore, Digital Garage, Will Smiths Dreamers, Makers Fund.

Earlier, another portfolio company of Khomutynnik investment fund has already become unicorn. Last year, Berlin-based insurtech startup Wefox Group raised $110 million in another round of funding, and its valuation increased to $1.65 billion.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 22, ARMENPRESS. The ministry of emergency situations informs that the roads across Armenia are passable.

The ministry told Armenpress that the Stepantsminda-Lars highway is open only for trucks as the ban on entry of foreigners to Georgia is still in force.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
Musophobes, avert your eyes.

Stomach-turning footage has emerged from Manhattan's Lower East Side this week, showing a massive rat gathering in a vacant lot.

The video, shared by eyewitness Christina Martinelli to the detriment of anyone suffering from a fear of mice and rats, was recorded at around 4pm on Sunday on Hester Street.

Video taken on Sunday afternoon on Hester Street in Manhattan shows dozens of rats feasting on bird seed and trash in a vacant lot

Eyewitness Christina Martinelli, who took the revolting video, described the scene as the most rats she has ever seen in her life

The brief-yet-impactful recording, first reported on by Gothamist, captures a teeming, chittering cluster of dozens of rodents feasting on bird seeds and stray bits of trash littering the ground behind a chain-link fence.

On the periphery of the rat swarm, several pigeons and small birds are seen snacking on seeds.

In an email to Gothamist, Martinelli described the scene as 'the most rats Ive ever seen in my life.'

Since the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak, New York City's rat population has grown increasingly desperate and aggressive towards other animals, as well as humans.

There is a lack of available food sources for the rodent population as many restaurants remain closed and the city is emptied out, leaving less trash behind for rats to devour.

Hunger has been driving rats to take greater risks. Footage filmed in July shows rodents scurrying around diners enjoying an outdoor meal at a New York City restaurant.

One patron even claimed to be attacked by the animal, with the hungry critter nibbling on their shoe.

The critters swarmed together in the vacant lot, surrounded by a few pigeons and small birds

The stomach-turning scene played out in this location near Sara D Roosevelt Park on the Lower East Side - an area that's no stranger to rats

Rodentologist Dr Bobby Corrigan noted that there are typically more rats out and about this time of the year because that is when young rats born in the spring leave the nest and strike out on their own to look for food before the lean winter months.

'Their lives have been upended, so they're out during the day, foraging around in a daze,' he told Gothamist of the rodents' woes caused by the pandemic. 'They're stressed from not having their normal feeding. They're disoriented and whacked out.'

He also said that the area around Sara d D Roosevelt Park, where the footage was taken on Sunday, has long been known for its high concentration of rodents.

Rat sightings across Big Apple have reportedly increased 60 per cent since city officials slashed the Department of Sanitation's budget by more than $100million three months ago.

Less than 1,000 rat sightings were reported in the city in April, but after the collection change was implemented that number ballooned to 1,650 in June.

Rat sightings across Big Apple have reportedly increased 60 per cent since city officials slashed the Department of Sanitation's budget

Last month, New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer complained that the current policy has created a welcome mat for the rats of our city.'

'These rats have the run of New York City, Stringer continued about the infestation. These rats are walking around waiting for a table at outdoor seating.

He continued jokingly: Ive seen them walking upright. They come up to me and say, "Good morning Mr. Comptroller." They have become part of the fabric of this city because city government has failed to get trash and sanitation under control.

Last week, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that he would restore some garbage-collection services by reallocating funds to the city's Department of Sanitation in response to growing complaints from politicians, business leaders and everyday New Yorkers fed up with the city's deteriorating conditions.
Next month, President Donald Trumps national security adviser is expected to make a highly unusual visit to Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Maine to lay out the commander in chiefs vision for a bigger Navy.

National security advisers normally provide big-picture policy recommendations to the president and dont weigh in on wonky budgetary matters like long-term purchases of cruisers, destroyers and submarines. But over the past few months, current and former officials say Robert OBrien has waged a public and private crusade to get the Pentagon  long resistant to quickly spending more money on the presidents campaign pledge of expanding the Navy as a means to counter China  on board.

That campaign, these people say, began with a quick meeting between OBrien and the Navys top civilian at the Army-Navy game last December and hit a major high point last week, when Defense Secretary Mark Esper announced the Pentagon was ready to commit more funds toward new ships. The exact amount isnt known, but its expected to be in the billions.

The next step comes when OBrien visits Portsmouth, a shipyard that employs thousands in a swing state weeks before the presidential election, to show progress toward fulfilling Trumps promise.

POLITICO spoke to a dozen current and former administration officials, some of whom asked for anonymity to divulge details of personal discussions or because theyre not authorized to discuss the issue. Some note the shipbuilding debate is one of the many examples of the deep divide that has developed between the Trump White House and leaders at the Defense Department, as a rotating cast of Pentagon officials has sought to quash or slow-roll the presidents directives before being shown the door.

Top Pentagon leaders, they say, were initially leery of delivering on Trumps promise to build up the Navy as quickly as he demanded, mostly because they wanted to spend money on rebuilding maintenance capacity and developing new weapons to counter Russia and China. The newest moves set the U.S. on a path toward a naval buildup in a possible Trump second term.

Story continues

Until Robert arrived, there really wasnt a senior person at the White House who understood the goal and was advocating for it publicly, Thomas Modly, former acting Navy secretary, told POLITICO in his first interview since resigning from the post in April.

When Modly arrived at the Pentagon as the Navys No. 2 in December 2017, he was surprised to find that then-Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, a retired Marine general who was focused on rebuilding the military, and other senior leaders had no concrete plan to reach Trumps specific pledge of a 355-ship Navy in short order. The current fleet has 296 ships.

FILE - In this Dec. 3, 2019, file photo, acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly testifies during a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee about about ongoing reports of substandard housing conditions in Washington, on Capitol Hill. Modly says the captain of the COVID-stricken aircraft carrier who was fired last week had betrayed his service and may have been too naive or too stupid to be commanding officer of the ship. Officials are confirming that Modly made the comments Sunday, April 5, 2020, to the ship's crew in Guam. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

For the first three years of the administration, the Navy and DoD did very little to advance that goal beyond 300 ships, other than broad statements of support for the 355 number, said Modly, who stepped down amid an outcry over his handling of the coronavirus outbreak on the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt.

It was a goal written into law and it had the presidents endorsement during the campaign, but there was neither tangible funding, nor a real plan to get there in a reasonable timeframe, he said. Trump made the pledge repeatedly while running for president, and signed the requirement into law with the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act.

The lack of progress wasnt only the Pentagons fault. Efforts were slowed by pushback from lawmakers, who were initially skeptical of building additional unmanned ships, and from the president himself, who reversed a Navy proposal to free up billions of dollars by retiring an aircraft carrier early.

The consensus at the Pentagon was that reaching the presidents goal in the near future would require billions in extra funding. But the more urgent priority for Mattis and other senior leaders was restocking a military that had suffered from budget cuts and wars in the Middle East.

You can go back to Mattis' first statement of priority from January 2017, and growing the military was behind current readiness and weapons stocks, said Bryan McGrath, a retired naval officer and now managing director of The FerryBridge Group. Among Navy leadership, there was some caution that without plus-ups across the board in Navy accounts, a hollow force would result.

When Esper, a former Army officer, took charge of the Pentagon in July 2019, he initially expressed concern about the cost to dramatically grow the Navys fleet without an increase in the Pentagons topline, which would require shifting funds from the other services.

I had this conversation with Secretary Esper several times, and his response was, well Tom, where am I going to get the money? Who am I going to take it from?' Modly said.

The Navys top admirals were also hesitant. As recently as January, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday said he would rather improve the readiness of the existing fleet than build new ships quickly.

The situation had begun to change a month earlier, when Modly and OBrien met for the first time at the Army-Navy game.

It wasnt a long meeting, but the two quickly agreed that the existing shipbuilding plan wasnt matching the presidents vision and it was time to put the foot on the gas, Modly said.

OBrien, a former Army Reserve officer, had carved out a side career as an unabashed booster of seapower. OBrien wrote a book in 2016, "While America Slept: Restoring American Leadership to a World in Crisis," which made the case for strengthening Americas defenses by growing the Navy, and also wrote and co-authored several essays on the topic.

One of Trumps top policy priorities is countering China, and both Modly and OBrien knew one way to get there was to build more ships. OBrien invited Modly to the White House to talk more, even suggesting the Navy pull its old frigates out of retirement to bulk up the fleet.

I know that [OBrien] has felt that there has not been an intense enough sense of urgency at the Pentagon given the seriousness of in particular the Chinese buildup, said a senior administration official. He has felt that he needs to get personally engaged to move this along.

Over the next few months, OBriens and Modlys top staffers communicated frequently on the topic of 355 ships. In early January, OBrien sent several NSC representatives to a Navy offsite meeting on the 355-ship plan, conducted at the U.S. Naval Institute headquarters in Annapolis. The gathering included senior Navy and Marine Corps uniformed and civilian leadership, as well as a few well-known naval experts.

It was made perfectly clear that POTUS and OBrien were serious about establishing a plan to 355 in a strategically significant timeframe, said a former senior defense official.

After Esper learned of Modlys conversation with OBrien, he invited the national security adviser to the Pentagon. During the February meeting, OBrien pressed for progress on the ship plan, and all agreed that more ships were needed to counter China.

Shortly afterward, Esper rejected the Navys most recent longterm shipbuilding proposal because officials believed it lacked a credible pathway to 355 ships. He tapped his deputy, David Norquist, to launch a study that would provide the basis for a new blueprint, which was presented to Esper last week and has not been released.

Pentagon spokesperson Jonathan Hoffman denied Esper was skeptical of the 355-ship Navy and said the Defense secretary has worked together regularly with OBrien on the goal since the national security adviser assumed the role a year ago.

Secretary Esper has publicly supported a future force Navy of more than 355 ships aligned with the [National Defense Strategy] since shortly after becoming Secretary of Defense in July of 2019, Hoffman said.

Modly spoke with OBrien in person once more about the 355-ship goal. In March, the two men visited Dover Air Force Base, Del., to pay their respects at the dignified transfer of three Marines killed in action. They spent several hours together during the event and spoke at length about making the plan happen.

In a statement to POLITICO, OBrien called out previous Pentagon leaders for their reluctance to make the presidents 355-ship fleet a reality.

Current leadership  Esper and Navy Secretary Kenneth Braithwaite  by contrast have both made clear to the Navy that 355 ships is not a slogan, OBrien said. The presidents commitment is the official policy of his administration.

As the president now faces a heated reelection fight, OBriens pressure campaign on the Pentagon appears to have paid off. Last week, Esper announced progress toward developing a new ship plan and calling for increased funding to get there.

We will build this fleet in such a way that balances tomorrows challenges with todays readiness and does not create a hollow Navy, said Esper, who stopped short of specific numbers. Finding the money within the Navy budget and elsewhere to make it real is something both the Navy leadership and I are committed to doing.

Norquists study is nearing its conclusion, and the results will inform the Navys final 30-year shipbuilding proposal, which will be submitted to Congress, the Pentagon has said.

Modly predicts that the ultimate conclusion of the new Navy study will be similar to the one his team settled on in January: A 355-plus-ship Navy will be smaller and more distributed, and will use a mix of manned and unmanned hulls. It will be expensive, but it is still needed in order to counter China and Russia.

Congress can authorize whatever they want, but without the appropriations that follow we will continue to have rhetoric about a bigger fleet without the reality of one, Modly said. In the meantime, the Chinese and Russian navies continue to build bigger fleets and aggressively challenge our own without pause."

Though Modly has long since departed the Pentagon, OBrien shows no sign of letting up the pressure on its leaders to reach the presidents goal.

When he heads to Portsmouth next month, he is expected to meet with Navy officials and give remarks codifying the future plan, according to an administration official.

Its taken some time to get Pentagon leaders on board, but expanding the fleet is the only way to meet global demands, said Jerry Hendrix, vice president of the Telemus Group, who co-wrote a 2017 POLITICO essay with OBrien on how to build the 355-ship Navy.

This is something that the president appears to have understood instinctively, that Ambassador O'Brien consistently focused on in his writings and speeches, he said, and now Secretary of Defense Esper has come to understand through his consideration of various fleet plans.

Daniel Lippman contributed to this report
(Natural News) Large global banks such as JPMorgan Chase, HSBC and others have, according to secret U.S. government documents, defied money laundering crackdowns by continuing to move staggering sums of cash for criminal networks and shadowy characters that have undermined democracy and spread chaos around the globe.

According to the documents from the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), five global banks  JPMorgan, HSBC, Standard Chartered Bank, Deutsche Bank and Bank of New York Mellon  have continued to profit from powerful and dangerous players even after being fined by American authorities for earlier failures to stem the flow of dirty money.

As revealed in a report by the nonprofit International Consortium for Investigative Journalism (ICIJ), the U.S. agencies responsible for enforcing money-laundering laws rarely prosecute the giant banks that break the law. In addition, banks continued to move illicit funds even after U.S. officials warned that theyd face criminal prosecutions if they didnt stop doing business with fraudsters, mobsters or corrupt regimes.

Tainted transactions continue at JPMorgan

According to the leaked documents, known as the FinCEN Files, JPMorgan  the largest U.S.-based banks  moved money for people and companies tied to the massive looting of public funds in Malaysia, Ukraine and Venezuela.

For the fugitive financier behind Malaysias 1MDB scandal, the records show that the banks moved more than $1 billion. In addition, it also moved more than $1 million for the company of a young energy mogul that had been accused of cheating Venezuelas government and helping cause electrical blackouts that crippled large parts of the country.

These and other tainted transactions have continued to surge through JPMorgans accounts despite the bank promising to improve its money laundering controls as part of settlements it reached with U.S. authorities in 2011, 2013 and 2014.

When questioned by the ICIJ about the leaked documents, however, JPMorgan representatives said that the banks were legally prohibited from discussing client transactions. Instead, the banks said that it has taken a leadership role in pursuing proactive intelligence-led investigations and developing innovative techniques to help combat money laundering and other financial crimes.

In addition to JPMorgan, HSBC, Standard Chartered Bank, Deutsche Bank and Bank of New York Mellon have also continued to wave through suspect payments despite making similar promises to government authorities.

Banks continue to launder money despite government efforts

All in all, the FinCEN files represent worth more than $2 million in suspicious transactions. This already large amount, however, represents just a drop in a far larger flood of dirty money gushing through banks around the world. Between 2011 and 2017, over 12 million suspicious activity reports were filed by financial institutions with FinCEN.

The files  along with hundreds of spreadsheets filled with names, dates and figures, flag bank clients in more than 170 countries who were identified as being involved in potentially illicit transactions.

More importantly, they show how the efforts of U.S. authorities, who play a leading role in the global fight against money laundering, have not worked. American authorities have fined offending banks hundreds of millions and even billions of dollars threatened them with criminal charges as part of so-called deferred prosecution agreements.

Big banks continue to play a large role in moving money tied to fraud, corruption, organized crime and terrorism. (Related: China now dominating global drug trafficking with money laundering and chemical production.)

By utterly failing to prevent large-scale corrupt transactions, financial institutions have abandoned their roles as front-line defenses against money laundering, said Paul Pelletier, a former senior U.S. Justice Department official and financial crimes prosecutor, to the ICIJ.

They operate in a system that is largely toothless, he said.

In response to the leaked files, the Justice Department has declined to answer any specific questions from the ICIJ. Instead, it has released a statement saying that it stands by its work.

The Department of Justice stands by its work, and remains committed to aggressively investigating and prosecuting financial crime  including money laundering  wherever we find it, a Justice Department spokesperson said.

Follow Corruption.news for more on how banks are continuing to get away with financial crimes.

Sources include:

BlacklistedNews.com

ICIJ.org

BBC.com
By Lambert Strether of Corrente.

Patient readers, Im a little pressed temporally, and so this post may be a little less coherent than usual. Let me jump in

As readers know, I stan for aerosol transmission as the primary tranmission mechanism for SARS-COV-2; that is, singing, shouting, talking, even breathing, all of which give rise to small virus-bearing particles that float indefinite distances ( aerosols ), as opposed to coughing or sneezing, which give rise to larger particles that fall, pulled down by gravity ( droplets ), after travelling one or two meters (and also accumulate on surfaces, which are then to be wiped). As I wrote back in May:

From the beginning of the #COVID19 pandemic, weve been washing our hands, masking up, cleaning surfaces, and social distancing. These measures have worked (especially masking), but now we know more. Theres mounting evidence that airborne transmission indoors is a key  perhaps the main  pathway to SARS-COV-2 transmission. In this post I want to look at why thats so, give examples, and suggest a simple heuristic to stay safe. Material like this might also be used to inform public policy (here; here) by reducing superspreader events in enclosed spaces like churches (airborne transmission via singing), restaurants (loud talking, especially if room is noisy), bars (ditto), nursing homes (shouting[1]), gyms (grunting), meat-packing plants (shouting), call centers (talking), offices generally (air conditioning), and other hot spots, but working that policy out is not the object of this post (see here for engineering controls for airborne transmission, and here for covid-proofing public spaces).

I took this view because of case studies, given in the post, for which aerosol transmission could give an account, and droplet tranmission could not. (Subsequently, actual transmission of viable viral material through the air was demonstrated in two hospital studies, posted in Links.)

So it was with great interest that I received the following mail from alert reader Chi Gal in Carolina, saying that the CDC had finally updated its guidance to support aerosol transmission. (I quote Chi Gal to give her a hat tip for taking point on this topic in comments). Chi Gal wrote:

Subject: Finally, the CDC updated its guidance! (link from ChiGal). On September 18, just 7 months in. Maybe now we have a shot at getting this thing under control. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/how-covid-spreads.html

First, I checked the Twitter, and found this headline from the Los Angeles Times: CDC says coronavirus spreads mainly in the air, through respiratory aerosols and droplets. OMG! Happily and excitedly, I went to the CDC website, where this notice appeared:

I took a screenshot and sent it to Chi Gal:

Did the version you saw have this at the top: Nopeomg

And that, dear readers, is all that anybody knows (at least out here in the Great Unwashed). Here is the CDC guidance that appeared and disappeared. From the Hill, the CDC guidance that appeared and disappeared:

There is growing evidence that droplets and airborne particles can remain suspended in the air and be breathed in by others, and travel distances beyond 6 feet (for example, during choir practice, in restaurants, or in fitness classes), the agency had written. In general, indoor environments without good ventilation increase this risk. These particles can be inhaled into the nose, mouth, airways, and lungs and cause infection, the deleted guidance said. This is thought to be the main way the virus spreads.

OMG, indeed.

* * *

So what happened? I can come up with two possible accounts: The institutional and the political. (Of course, the institutional is the political, as Carol Hanisch did not say, but let us keep the two separate, if only as objects of study).

Institutionally, the conflict between proponents of droplet transmission, and the proponents of aerosol transmission, is part of the process known in the history of science as a paradigm shift, as discussed here in Dont Trust the Science, Trust Science While You Hone Your Critical Thinking Skills. (Here is an example at NC of a paradigm shift in river restoration). This excellent thread from aerosol scientist Jose-Luis Jimenez shows such a shift in action. Its worth reading in full, but Ill pull out the key tweets. Jimenez begins by critiquing the now-vanished CDC guidance:

1/ Understanding CDCs updated guidance that aerosols are the main mode of SARS-CoV-2 transmission CDC recently updated its guidance. It is worded in a confusing way & this makes it a little self-contradictory. This is causing some confusion, so Ill try to explain it here  Jose-Luis Jimenez (@jljcolorado) September 21, 2020

(His basic point, explained over several tweets, is that CDC cannot, at the same time, claim that Covid spreads by inhalation of droplets, because droplets are too big. (I mean, if I hack up a loogie, youre not inhaling it, right? And so on down to the smallest possible size of droplet.) But here is the key point:

11/ But why does social distance work? Unfortunately, he incorrectly attributed this observation to sprayborne transmission, due to Flugges droplets. And the said that airbone transmission was nearly impossible. A fateful error. Chapin's book: https://t.co/tNzjZBtskr  Jose-Luis Jimenez (@jljcolorado) September 21, 2020

And why does Chapin rule out airborne infection?

15/ Why does he discard airborne infection? Because he new that social distance + hygiene worked and: It is impossible, as I know from experience, to teach people to avoid contact infection while they are firmly convinced that the air is the chief vehicle of infection. pic.twitter.com/PrWUPPf4Bx  Jose-Luis Jimenez (@jljcolorado) September 21, 2020

A great relief to most persons to be freed from the specter of infected air means people might panic (!). And here we are:

15/ Why does he discard airborne infection? Because he new that social distance + hygiene worked and: It is impossible, as I know from experience, to teach people to avoid contact infection while they are firmly convinced that the air is the chief vehicle of infection. pic.twitter.com/PrWUPPf4Bx  Jose-Luis Jimenez (@jljcolorado) September 21, 2020

You can read the rest of the thread for todays institutional players: Basically, WHO and the CDC people have been droplet proponents for a long time, and, since science proceeds by conflict  which is why Trust the science! doesnt work when applied uncritically  they need to be persuaded, or, if worst comes to worst, defenestrated in the usual way: One funeral at a time, as Max Planck said. To be fair to the medical profession, they have proceeded with far greater dispatch than physicists!

So, one explanation for the new CDC guidance being pulled is that, institutionally, the old guard won.

Politically, you know the already congealing narrative. Here is the classiest, least hysterical example of it.

On CDC airborne guidance, @ZekeEmanuel: "The fact that the advice went up does suggest that people within the CDC still believe in facts, still believe that they should put out detailed, factual information, but they're being squelched by political considerations" #AMRstaff  Andrea Mitchell (@mitchellreports) September 22, 2020

But there are a few problems with Mitchells Tweet.

First, Democrat operative and medical ethicist[1] slash private equity/venture capitalist partner Zeke Emanuel is eminently quotable but foolish: As we have explained at length, the science is not always a matter of facts but of the paradigms we use to give an account of facts. WHO, for example, does not regard aerosols as the primary transmission path for Covid as a fact at all. Zekes embarrassing Neera on this, and he should do better.

Second, I have checked CBS, The Hill, NPR, Politico, WaPo, a second article in WaPo, and the Wall Street Journal. None of them suggest the guidance was squelched for political considerations. The New York Times says explicitly that it wasnt:

Experts with knowledge of the incident said on Monday that the latest reversal appeared to be a genuine mistake in the agencys scientific review process, rather than the result of political meddling. Officials said the agency would soon publish revised guidance.

Of course, one never knows when the blow may fall; anonymous sources could contradict the Times tomorrow. Nevertheless, Occams Razor would suggest than when we have an institutional account, we dont need to invent a political one.

Third, and ironically, if there was, anybody doing the squelching  in todays impoverished analytical environment  would be able to say I did trust the science! I checked with WHO!!

So that is the state of play on the CDCs aerosol guidance as of today. Lets see what they come up with!

NOTES

[1] It would be unfair to call Emanuel a homicidal maniac based on a single article entitled Why I hope to die at 75, even if from todays Water Cooler we note that Japanese master painter and woodblock printer Hokusai understood the structure of animals, birds, insects and fishes, and the life of grasses and plants only at age 73, dying 16 years later at the age of 89.
I read letters from otherwise decent, well-meaning people who blame the left-wing media for inflaming anti-Trump rhetoric, but I have to wonder what planet theyre living on.

Did the media invent the statements made by Trump-appointed advisers and diplomats whove witnessed the incompetence from the inside, including Generals Mattis, Kelly and McMaster, National Security Advisor Bolton, or from dozens of others in the NSA, FBI, CIA, and the Pentagon? How about Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who referred to Trump as a moron?

Did the media make up the nearly 1,000-page, bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee report about the Trump campaigns participation with Russians during the 2016 election?

Did the media invent Trumps repeated assertions that the COVID-19 virus is a hoax? Or his bizarre suggestion that ingesting disinfectants might kill the virus? Or telling us that the virus thats killed upwards of 200,000 Americans would disappear by April, or that less testing would result in fewer cases? No, it was Trump who uttered those amazingly ignorant words.

Wasnt it Trump who claimed climate change is a hoax, contrary to 99.9 percent of the worlds scientists, while he systematically took down Americas environmental laws? Was it the media or Trump who trashed the Paris Climate Accords that every country in the world has signed on to? Wasnt it Trump who openly supported Americas dying coal industry while the giants in Europe have committed massively to renewables? Wheres the leadership in all that?

Did the media made up his statements about Mexican rapists and killers, or the disgracefully inhumane way his administration separated children from their families and put them in cages?

What about the big, beautiful wall he said Mexico was going to pay for? Or his promise to replace the Affordable Care Act with something beautiful on Day 1 of his presidency. Its been four years. Wheres the plan?

Does the media agree with Trump that hes a genius, a man who thinks Finland is part of Russia, or his absurd comments that WWII was responsible for ending the pandemic of 1918? Why is it this genius has trouble pronouncing so many words in his native language?

Is the media inspired by a man who bragged he could shoot someone on 5th Avenue and get away with it? Are Americans truly inspired by a man whos on record at having grabbed women by the crotch and gotten away with it, or secretly paid hush money to a porno star, or killed stories of his tawdry affairs and gotten away with it? Are we inspired by a man who allegedly paid someone else to take his SATs, or dodged the draft because of a phony bone spur, and then went on to call military heroes losers? Those lovely words and deeds are Trumps. The entire world has heard them.

And its not the media thats got it all wrong about the violence in the streets these days. Far too many of us fail to understand were still fighting the Civil War in this country and that in four years Trump hasnt uttered one single word anywhere to anyone comparable to those of Lincoln to bind up our nations wounds, though he likes to compare himself to the man. Has he ever walked a mile in a black mans shoes; has he ever made a serious effort to understand the roots of hatred and violence against them by hooded vigilantes with their ropes and guns, and some misguided police? Can he possibly understand the reasons for the anger? Maybe no one was home the day he attempted to soothe the nations wounds, but his incendiary language has driven the wedges between us deeper and deeper. How about the incessant name calling thats so childish and sickening?

The left-media isnt responsible for the mess were in. Its our fault  we elected a con man, a disgraceful human being who brought with him a track record of lies, scams, cheats and failed business ventures. My sincerest wish for our country is to see it return the kind of leadership that is respectful of all of us, white, black, brown, red and yellow. I long for a return to decency, civility and the moral standing that had once made us exceptional in the eyes of the world.

Donald Leonard is a resident of Newtown.
America's elected representatives have failed America.

Why it matters: The bipartisan inability to deliver economic stimulus could impede economic growth for months to come. It will create widespread damage across America  from small businesses to large industries to schools and day cares  and leave many Americans without jobs or homes.

State of play: The initial economic stimulus, called the CARES Act, was only designed to last through the summer. Since then, congressional leaders have become too entrenched in their partisan positions to reach a deal on anything else.

The House passed a large package in May that went nowhere. Senate Republicans tried, but failed, to pass a skinnier bill earlier this month. A bipartisan effort by the Problem Solver Caucus seems unlikely to reach the floor.

Before Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death Friday, most lawmakers and Hill staff believed there was little chance of passing a new stimulus package before the election. Now, they privately admit theres virtually no shot.

We turned to Axios' subject matter experts to examine the damage created by Washington's inaction.

The unemployed

Under the CARES Act, unemployed Americans received an extra $600 per week in enhanced benefits. But those benefits expired at the end of July.

Democrats assert the extra money is necessary to keep working Americans afloat, while Republicans largely think it's a disincentive to work.

Last month, President Trump signed an executive order supplementing unemployment benefits at $400 per week. But it stated that the federal government would only pay $300, while cash-strapped states must pitch in the rest. Last week, Florida announced it was dropping the program due to the cost.

Why it matters: 30 million Americans are still receiving unemployment benefits.

Small businesses

Both Democrats and Republicans agree there's urgent need for a second round of stimulus loans for small businesses, which employ nearly half of all Americans. Yet there's been no movement to reauthorize the Paycheck Protection Program as a standalone, nor to pass a separate proposal aimed at restaurants and bars.

The National Federation of Independent Businesses reports that its "uncertainty index" in August hit its second-highest reading since 2017.

The original PPP lent over $500 billion to nearly 4.9 million small businesses, including independent contractors.

At this point, however, almost all of those PPP loans have been exhausted, even though many businesses remain closed.

What to watch: A renewed PPP, were it to happen, likely would be more targeted at even smaller businesses than was the initial effort.

The overall restaurant industry is on track to lose $240 billion in sales this year, with nearly one in six having already closed permanently or long-term, per the National Restaurant Association.

Nearly 3 million restaurant workers remain out of work, long after expanded unemployment benefits expired.

A group representing America's 500,000 independent restaurants estimates that more than 80% of them could go out of business without some sort of direct aid from Congress.

Elections

State election officials of both parties from across the country have begged Congress for stimulus funds to help ensure the November elections run efficiently and fairly, Stef Kight reports.

Some states have extra costs related to the pandemic, and many will need to manage unprecedented numbers of mail-in votes.

In the face of Congress' failure, charities have stepped in to donate hundreds of millions of dollars to state and local election officials, according to the AP.

Airlines

The clock is ticking for tens of thousands of anxious airline employees, who face mass reductions when the government's current payroll support program expires on Sept. 30, Joann Mueller reports.

Airline CEOs met last Thursday with White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, who said President Trump would support $25 billion in new stimulus.

There isn't large congressional appetite for a standalone airline bailout. The last standalone stimulus bill, $25 billion for the U.S. Postal Service, passed the House but wasn't even brought up for a vote in the Senate.

Schools

Schools and day cares are bleeding out without much-needed federal dollars. A generation of kids could get left behind, particularly those in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods, and many parents will struggle to work.

Between hiring more staff to allow for socially distant classes, getting PPE for teachers, and adding tech tools for remote learning, schools face around $100 billion in additional costs this year, the American Federation of Teachers estimates. Thats close to $2,000 per public school students, Erica Pandey writes.

Economists say the child care industry needs around $10 billion a month to survive. Without the aid, some 50% of centers could shutter.

Health care

The hospital industry is pushing Congress for more relief, even though some health systems are reporting huge profits, Caitlin Owens reports.
Sharjah, Sep 23 : Sanju Samson's blistering 32-ball 74 at No.3, fast bowler Jofra Archer's fireworks with the bat -- he carted four consecutive sixes in the last over -- and leggie Rahul Tewatia's three-wicket burst propelled Rajasthan Royals (RR) to a comfortable 16-run win over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in an IPL match here on Tuesday.

RR, champions in the first IPL edition in 2008, posted a gigantic 216 for seven wickets in 20 overs after being asked to bat by CSK captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni who won the toss. Chasing, three-time champions CSK finished with 200 for six wickets in 20 overs, despite a late surge from Faf du Plessis, who hammered a 37-ball 72 at the Sharjah International Stadium.

After some blistering batting display by Samson and captain Steve Smith took their side to a big total, the Rajasthan Royals bowlers also stepped up and comfortably defended the target as their side started their campaign with a win.

Chasing the massive 217-run target, CSK were off to a flying start, with openers Shane Watson and Murli Vijay taking their team past the 50-run mark in 5.5 overs.

Rahul Tewatia drew the first blood for RR as he packed back Watson (33) in the seventh over with CSK's scorecard reading 56/1. Just before CSK could add couple of runs to their total, Shreyas Gopal sent back Vijay (21).

CSK then lost Sam Curran (17), Ruturaj Gaikwad, who departed without scoring, and Kedar Jadhav (22) at regular intervals. However, it was du Plessis who kept CSK's hopes alive.

With the required run-rate continuously mounting up, du Plessis showed his prowess after clobbering the Royals bowlers all round the park.

The South African, however, failed to convert it into a win as he was dismissed by Archer in the 19th over. du Plessis 37-ball 72 knock contained a boundary and seven sixes. After the South African's departure, the 'Yellow Brigade' needed 38 off the final over, Dhoni showed glimpses of his vintage batting as he smashed Tom Curran for three back to back sixes.

However, Dhoni's pyrotechnics weren't enough to help his team across the line, falling short by 16 runs in the end. Dhoni's unbeaten 29 runs came off 17 deliveries.

Tewatia was the wrecker-in-chief for RR with figures of 3/37 while Tom Curran, Gopal and Archer bagged a wicket each.

Earlier, half-centuries from Sanju Samson (74) and Steve Smith (69) along with Jofra Archer's (27 not out) late fireworks propelled Rajasthan Royals to a huge 216/7 in 20 overs.

Asked to bat, RR lost their opener Yashasvi Jaiswal (6), who fell to Deepak Chahar in the third over with just 11 runs on board.

However, Samson, who then joined his skipper Smith, looked in no mood to spare any CSK bowler. There was no looking back for the pair as they kept the scorers busy denying their opponents making any further inroads. The duo steered their side to 40/1 in the first five overs before they swiftly accelerated the run rate to help RR reach 119/1 in 10 overs.

The Smith-Samson pair was involved in a crucial 121-run partnership for the second wicket. CSK pacer Lungi Ngidi finally came with a breakthrough as he cut short Samson's stay in the middle in the 12th over with RR's scorecard reading 132/2. Samson's master class was laced with a boundary and nine sixes.

RR then lost David Miller, who failed to open his account, Robin Uthappa (5) and Rahul Tewatia (10) in quick succession as RR were reduced to 167/5 in 16.2 overs.

Next batsman Riyan Parag (6) also failed to make an impact after being dismissed in the same over by Sam Curran. Despite these hiccups, Smith continued to keep the scorers busy.

While trying to switch gears, Smith lost his wicket in the 19th over before Archer began the carnage. The RR skipper's knock, which came off 47 balls, was decorated with four boundaries and as many hits over the rope.

Ngidi had a forgettable day as he became the main victim of Archer, who carted four consecutive maximums in the final over. Archer's eight ball 27 was enough to take RR to a massive total.

During Tom Curran's brief innings there was drama as umpire Chettithody Shamshuddin declared him out off pacer Deepak Chahar after Dhoni 'wrongly' claimed a catch in the 18 over of the innings. Replay, however, showed that the ball had bounced before Dhoni took the catch, and Curran, who had walked some distance, returned to resume his innings. He scored an unbeaten 10 off nine balls.

Tom's brother Sam Curran was the pick of CSK bowlers with figures of 3/33 while Chahar, Ngidi and Piyush Chawla settled with a wicket each.

Brief scores: RR 216/7 in 20 overs (Samson 74, Smith 69; S Curran 3/33) beat CSK 200/6 in 20 overs (Faf du Plessis 72, Shane Watson 33; Rahul Tewatia 3/37) by 16 runs

Latest updates on IPL 2020

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Ally Law, a global legal network with nearly 3,000 lawyers worldwide, is pleased to announce three new members: Arteaga, Gorziglia, Cuberos Cortes Gutierrez, and Santivanez Abogados.

Said Bjorn Welinder, president of Ally Law and a partner in Lindmark Welinder (Sweden), "We are delighted to welcome our new South American members. These firms uphold the highest standards in excellence and notably bolster our presence in this jurisdiction, allowing us to better serve our clients."

Founded in 2007, the 19-lawyer Chilean firm Arteaga Gorziglia provides their clients with legal services in the areas of corporate M&A, tax, energy, natural resources, environmental law and dispute resolution.

Founder Ignacio Arteaga says, "We are very happy to be part of such a prestigious worldwide network as Ally Law, and we look forward to broadening the working opportunities to all members of the alliance." Co-founder Arnaldo Gorziglia further commented, "Being a member of Ally Law strengthens our mission of providing top quality legal advice to foreign companies doing business in Chile."

Chambers & Partners ranks Arteaga Gorziglia in the areas of corporate M&A, energy & natural resources and projects. Latin Lawyer reports, "This law firm attracts consistent praise from market peers and is already making waves in the Chilean market for its role in large M&A transactions."

Founded in 1986, the 34-lawyer Colombian firm, Cuberos Cortes Gutierrez, has a broad transactional practice focusing on corporate M&A, labor and immigration, tax customs and foreign exchange, zoning and real estate, infrastructure and public procurement, insolvency, and arbitration and litigation. They work with domestic and foreign entities, providing highly personalized legal services at all levels.

Founder Edwin Cortes comments, "Colombia is a key jurisdiction in the South American market, and we are proud that our firm will fill this role within Ally Law." Co-founder Jose Gutierrez further comments, "We share in the group's collective goal of providing responsive, high quality legal advice throughout the world."

Cubertos Cortes Guitierrez is ranked in Chambers & Partners in Corporate/M&A, and Latin Lawyer reports,"This multidisciplinary firm has a well-respected and diverse transactional offering for Colombian and international clients." Additionaly our Partners Julia Velazquez is ranked in the latest edition of Chambers as Up and Coming in the Corporate M&A practice and Camilo Cuervo in the Labor and Employment practice.

Founded in 2005, the 27-lawyer Peruvian law firm Santivanez Abogados focuses on energy, infrastructure and natural resources, as well as corporate, labor, tax, real estate and litigation experience. The firm's highly specialized work in modern regulated industries and sectors, combined with their involvement and immersion in clients' businesses, positions them as a strategic partner providing exceptional value.

Founder Roberto Santivanez states, "Our firm mirrors Ally Law's values and exceptional client service standards. We are pleased to become part of a group that strengthens our platform to serve national and international clients at the highest levels."

Santivanez Abogados is ranked by Chambers & Partners in the areas of energy & natural resources, power and projects, and Latin Lawyer has this to say about the firm: "Santivanez Abogados is a point of reference for energy law. Since 2010, the firm has been steadily bolstering its energy, environment, mining and labour teams."

About Ally Law

Ally Law, a Chambers and Partners Band 1 global law firm network, provides sophisticated legal services to major corporations, with a sharp focus on value. Our 71 firms include nearly 3,000 lawyers in 100 business centers worldwide. For more information, visit www.ally-law.com.

Press contact:

Wendy Horn, Ally Law

+1 612 770 6046, [email protected]

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PHILIPSBURG:--- The mother of 13year old Helen Cartagena Valencia filed a missings person report, today Monday, September 21st after the teen girl had not returned home since Saturday the 19th.



According to the reports filed with the Youth and Morals Department, the teenager left her house in Simpson on Saturday afternoon at approximately 2:00 pm and has not been seen since then.

She was last seen wearing a maroon-colored t-shirt and black short pants.



The Police Department is seeking the assistance of the community to help locate Helen Cartagena Valencia.

If you know/ think you may know the whereabouts of the missing teen please do not hesitate to contact the Sint Maarten Police Force at 54-22222 ext 203- 204-205, by calling the 911 emergency number or by sending the police Facebook page a private message.

Persons can also contact the mother of the missing teen, Angela Valencia, at 526-3226. Helen if you are reading this, please contact the police or your mother and let her know that you are safe.

KPSM Press Release.

The teenager that was reported missing by her mother turned out to be a wayward13-year old who is in the habit of leaving her mother's house. Shortly after the publication of the missing person report the teenager wrote a comment on the Police Facebook page saying that she is not missing using an obscene language while indicating that her mother loves drama.

Police have since informed the media that the teenager returned to her mothers' house where police juevnile officers are busy speaking with her. It should also be noted that this is not the first time the teen ran away. The last time police reported her missing was in February 2020.

https://www.smn-news.com/st-maarten-st-martin-news/33812-missing-teens-from-pelican-area-contact-police-if-seen.html

Below is the comment she posted on the police facebook page.

UPDATE: Missing teen returns home.

The Sint Maarten Police Force would officially like to inform everyone that Helen Valencia has returned home safely.

The Youth and Morals department has spoken to the minor and as well as her parents regarding the consequences of leaving home without proper communication.

We would like to especially thank the community for the quick sharing of the post. Together we can always make a difference.
Russia attaches great importance to friendly, allied relations with Armenia, Putin said in congratulatory messages sent to President Armen Sarkissian and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian.

I am confident that the constructive dialogue between our countries, bilateral cooperation in various directions as well as interaction within the framework of integration processes in the Eurasian space will continue to develop actively, he wrote. This is undoubtedly in the interests of the Russian and Armenian peoples and in conformity with ensuring regional security and stability.

Just like its predecessors, the current Armenian government has kept Armenia anchored to Russia politically and military while seeking closer partnership with the West. Nevertheless, its relations with Moscow have been clouded by economic disputes as well as coup charges brought against some former Armenian officials, notably ex-President Robert Kocharian, shortly after the 2018 Velvet Revolution.

Putin has repeatedly made a point of praising Kocharian and congratulating him on his birthday anniversaries since he was first arrested in July 2018. Putin called his former Armenian counterpart a remarkable statesman as recently as on August 31.

Margarita Simonyan, one of the most influential figures in Russias Kremlin-controlled media, also cited the criminal case against Kocharian when she attacked Pashinian on social media in July. Simonyan accused the prime minister of undermining Russian-Armenian relations and supporting Western-funded groups hostile to Moscow.

Pashinian rejected the accusations in an interview with a Russian TV station aired later in July. He said Russia and Armenia have long maintained close political, economic and military ties because of their common strategic interests, rather than certain individuals. He also argued that that contrary to some gloomy Russian forecasts, he has not changed Armenias geopolitical orientation since coming to power in the 2018 revolution.




Haiti - News : Zapping...





Port-de-Paix : Arrest of 3 bandits

On September 18, during an operation carried out jointly by agents of the Brigade for the Fight Against Drug Trafficking (BLTS) and the Departmental Unit for the Maintenance of Order (UDMO), the National Police proceeded to the arrest of three individuals, including a woman. Accused of illegal possession of firearms and criminal conspiracy, these 3 individuals are in custody at the Port-de-Paix police station.



Death of the Vice-Dean of the FDSE

Me Charles Dumond Point-du-Jour (72 years old) Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Law and Economics (FDSE) died Sunday, September 20 of a Cerebral Vascular Accident (Stroke) following a malaise during the funeral of Me Monferrier Dorval.



The USA awaits a decree and an electoral calendar

"The United States takes note of the announcement of the formation of the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) as an important step towards legislative elections. We await the publication of an electoral decree and the electoral calendar for the re-establishment of the Haitian Parliament as soon as technically possible," wrote the US Embassy in Haiti on its Twitter account.



Constituent Assembly ?

Mackenson Cange of the National Palace communications office said on a radio station of the capital that a Constituent Assembly was drafting the new Constitution specifying that the population would then be consulted. However, he avoided answering a question concerning the names of the members of this Assembly, recalling that the population had already been consulted in traditional media and on social networks on the need for a new Constitution. He criticized some sectors for wanting to boycott the work of the Executive while many sectors support a new constitution.



The CEP order would be illegal

Former Minister of Justice Bernard Gousse believes that the decree appointing the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) and its mandate is "illegal" and "unconstitutional" affirming "It deserves to be fought both politically and intellectually, but also from a legal standpoint."



Academic evaluation, an important decision of the UEH

In a resolution dated September 21, 2020, the Executive Council of the UEH decided not to endorse any form of academic evaluation, in particular session exams scheduled from September 28, 2020, thesis defenses and entrance examinations until the installation of the restructuring commission.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Speaking at the event, Deputy PM Dam appreciated the achievements made by the VCA in general and those who are working in the cinematic sector in general.

He noted that over the nearly 70 years of formation and development, Vietnamese cinema has made significant contributions to the cause of national construction and defence as well as the development of the countrys socio-culture.

The many generations of artists have made great efforts to overcome all difficulties and devote themselves to the development of the countrys cinema, added the Deputy PM.

He also asked the VCA to overcome limitations and shortcomings to create high-quality works for the cinematic sector.

At the congress, the VCAs Executive Committee was elected with 15 members. Peoples Artist Dang Xuan Hai, President of the VCA for the eighth tenure, continues to assume the role of its President until the new Executive Committee elects a successor.
The special court on 11 September rejected bail pleas of Chakraborty noting that there was no 'reasonable ground' at present for not connecting the accused with the crime

A special court on Tuesday extended till 6 October the judicial custody of actress Rhea Chakraborty, who was arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) probing the drug angle in connection with actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death case.

Chakraborty was produced before special judge GB Gurao who extended her judicial custody, said special public prosecutor Atul Sarpande.

Other accused arrested in the case will be produced in court on Wednesday, he said.

The special court on 11 September rejected bail pleas of Chakraborty, her brother Showik, and others in the case, noting that there was no "reasonable ground" at present for not connecting the accused with the crime.

Rajput was found hanging in his residence in suburban Bandra on June 14.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is separately probing a case against Chakraborty and others for allegedly abetting the 34-year-old actors suicide.
WHITEHALL  The August storms that submerged the village in 4 to 5 feet of flood waters and knocked out power to a 1,000 also devastated the schools.

Whitehall Central School District's high school floors and walls were covered an inch of backed up water and sewage, and the elementary school gymnasium and kitchen were soaked with 6 inches of rain after wind knocked out the schools sky lights.

With fall reopening looming, the district scrambled, spending $600,000 to make repairs and dry out the floors. While the elementary school has opened to students, the high school remains uninhabitable  shuttered to all but a handful of administrators clustered in one wing. And Superintendent Patrick Dee said he still has no idea if the districts insurance carrier, New York School Insurance Reciprocal (NYSIR), will cover the cost of repairing the multimillion dollar damage.

Im beyond frustrated, Dee said. Im absolutely appalled that an insurance company that is supposed to be working with and for schools and their students has not made the right choice. We have $32 million in coverage for water and sewer back-up. And they have not shared if they will cover our claims. We are stuck in a holding pattern. We cant go forward with repairs.

Dee said he immediately reached out to NYSIR after seeing the Aug. 24 damage to both buildings. On Aug. 25, NYSIR's subcontracted adjusters came. But only after much pestering, Dee said, did NYSIR officials visit the district Sept. 8. At that time, they promised to call him in 48 hours with coverage. But Dee has heard nothing.

Its been four weeks, Dee said on Tuesday.

He also wrote a letter to the community, hoping to enlist them to lobby NYSIR too, telling recipients we have been struggling daily to get a response on coverage.

NYSIR has a stated mission to provide a comprehensive and cost-effective property and casualty insurance program for New York State public schools. On Tuesday, Executive Director Robert W. Lulley, Jr. said in a statement that he was saddened by Whitehall's situation.

"We have been working directly with the district steadily, and were on-site assessing the damage the morning after the storm hit, and several times since then," Lulley's statement read. "NYSIR has already provided the district with half a million dollars to begin remediation on damages covered by the policy. We will continue to work closely with the district to bring this to an appropriate conclusion."

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Dee said $250,000 came from the builder's risk policy and another $250,000 from the district's property policy.



"Sadly, this does not even begin to scratch the surface to initiate the significant repairs necessary," Dee said.

Dee said the response delay is costing both the district and its 700 students. High schoolers, who were expected to return via a hybrid model, can only attend classes remotely. Mold is now growing within the walls of the high school. And those administrators bundled into one area of the high school have no heat to work by because both boilers, newly installed at a cost of $1.2 million, were breached by the water and sewage.

The high school facility is just terrible, Dee said. In the elementary school, the gym floor needs to be replaced, all the carpets need to be replaced, but we do have it open and available to students.

Its literally disgusting that a company can do this," Dee said.
Bollywood actor Rhea Chakraborty and her brother Showik, who have been arrested in connection with the drug link in Sushant Singh Rajputs death, on Tuesday moved a bail plea in the Bombay High Court.

Their lawyer Satish Maneshinde said the plea will come up for hearing on Wednesday before a bench headed by Justice Sarang Kotwal.

The siblings filed the petition on a day when a special Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, court extended Chakrabortys judicial custody till October 6.

She was arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on September 8 for her alleged involvement in a drugs case linked to Rajputs death on June 14. She was then sent to judicial custody for 14 days. The NDPS court had on September 11 rejected bail pleas of Chakraborty, her brother Showik, and others in the case, noting that there was no reasonable ground at present for not connecting the accused with the crime.

The actor, however, maintains that she is innocent and has been falsely implicated. She also claimed that during her custody, she was coerced into making incriminatory confessions and that the statement was retracted on September 8 itself.

Before the 28-year-old actors arrest, the NCB confronted her with Showik, Rajputs house manager Samuel Miranda and his house staff Dipesh Sawant to ascertain their roles in an alleged drug racket.

Also read: NCB to summon Sara Ali Khan, Rakul Preet Singh, Simone Khambatta

Chakraborty has been charged under Section 8(c) (produce, manufacture, possess, sell, purchase, transport, warehouse, use, consume, import); 20(b)(ii) (punishment for contravention in relation to the cannabis plant and cannabis where such contravention relates to small quantity, involves quantity lesser than commercial quantity but greater than small quantity, involves commercial quantity); 22 (punishment for contravention in relation to psychotropic substances); 27A (punishment for financing illicit traffic and harbouring offenders); 28 (punishment for attempts to commit offences); and 29 (punishment for abetment and criminal conspiracy) of the NDPS act.

(With agency inputs)
This article is part of the series: The Two Singapores: Migrant Labor Precarity in Covid-19

The Two Singapores is an ongoing interview miniseries run by Somatosphere to interrogate Singapores COVID-19 response, in particular in its handling of the explosion of cases among migrant workers living in cramped dormitories. The series aims to shed a light on Singapores reliance on cheap migrant labor in maintaining its image as a glitzy, cosmopolitan city-state, and aims to offer an insight into a more harmonious and equitable post-pandemic future where migrant workers are accorded better protections and access to healthcare systems in Singapore. You can read our past interviews with public health research assistant Amanda Low, labor migration academic Megha Amrith, and volunteer case worker Ivan Ng on our website.

In our final article, we interview Zakir Hossain Khokhon, a project coordinator (QA/QC) in the construction sector in Singapore on a work permit. Before coming to Singapore to work, he had been a freelance journalist in Bangladesh. In 2017, Zakir had also started One Bag, One Book, a book sharing initiative that aimed to have a book in every workers bag and to spread a healthy reading culture among migrant workers living in Singapore. He is also actively involved in Migrant Writers of Singapore, a platform dedicated to bringing together a community of migrant workers through a shared interest in creative writing and literature.

Zakir has already spoken elsewhere about his own experiences with COVID-19  one of his roommates in his dormitory had contracted the virus in early April, before he himself began reporting symptoms a couple of days later. In his interview with Mothership, Zakir speaks about an environment of fear and anxiety among his roommates the moment the first few cases started spiking, and also talks briefly about his experiences circling between the dormitory, the hospital, and the Community Isolation Facilities set all around the island for patients who have fully recovered from the disease.

This interview has been slightly edited for clarity.

Wahid Al Mamun (WAM): What do you think are the biggest problems facing the dormitories at the moment?

Zakir Hossain Khokhon (ZHK): There is a lot of stress and unhealthy and unacceptable living conditions in the dormitories. There is a lot of job insecurity, also  loans [to pay] agent fee, no earning or less earnings from our work than before, and so on.

WAM: How have you kept yourself occupied with One Bag, One Book during the lockdown, even as you were recovering from the disease?

ZHK: While I was in the hospital, in Expo, and in Tanjong Gul camp, I tried to work on the Migrant Writers of Singapore and One Bag One Book. This gave me a lot of energy.

Some friends called me, and they said their food was awful. They cannot even go out of the dorm. We supplied food twice daily to the migrant workers in different dormitories once in the morning and once in the evening. Every day we could provide food to almost 2,000 people twice. Luckily donors trusted me.

They also received fruits, coffee, Milo, milk, biscuits, noodles, and many dry foods. For Eid, we distributed 6,000 lunches with the special sweet dish we call semai in Bengali. Semai has a very close relation to the celebration of Eid, and no Eid is fulfilled without that. We also distributed biryani and some other soft drinks. Moreover, we also managed to supply prayer rug and prayer cap for Muslim friends so that they could mark the occassion.

Facebook post (dated 1 September 2020) by One Bag, One Book, detailing a recent distribution of mattresses, pillows, and other items.

We gave mattresses, masks, sanitizers, liquid shop, room cleaning items, mop, bucket, Vitamin C tablets, and even Dettol soap to workers who needed them. From the One Bag, One Book initiative, we are still distributing books to the migrant workers  books in Tamil, Bengali, English, Bahasa Indonesia, and Tagalog. We already have 457 volunteers in different dormitories. The pandemic has made me realize how strong our volunteer team is, and how secure communication is among us.

I am very thankful to all the donors who have contributed money and extended their emotions, love, and respect from the core of their hearts to help the migrant community. They have come to a lot closer to us.

WAM: Do you think more attention needs to be given to the mental health of migrant workers, even after the pandemic is over?

ZHK: Yes, please!

WAM: And finally, how do you think Singaporeans should talk about migrant worker issues in the future?

ZHK: Yes because for a healthy Singapore, they have to think of migrant worker issues long after the coronavirus. Migrant workers and domestic helpers dont just come here to earn money, take care your child, take care of your city, and go back after a few years. They are also part of Singapore society, but the design of our society is that migrants are not visible to the rest of society. We need to make a new design of society where we have to interact with each other and treat each other as human beings.

Footnotes

[1] The Singapore Expo is a convention center that has been converted into a Community Isolation Facility, earmarked for patients recovering from COVID-19 who no longer require acute hospitalization. Tanjong Gul camp is a Community Recovery Facility run by the Singapore Armed Forces, earmarked for patients who have remained well for 14 days and are clinically stable.

[2] Milo is a popular malt energy drink which is readily available in Singapore.

Wahid Al Mamun is an undergraduate studying Anthropology at the University of Chicago. He is a summer intern at Somatosphere.

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ANKARA, Turkey: Turkish authorities are investigating the death of an American author and journalist who died while traveling overnight from the Turkish Black Sea coastal city of Samsun to Istanbul, Turkeys state-run news agency reported Tuesday.

Andre Vltchek, 57, and his wife were traveling inside a rented and chauffeured car and arrived in front of their Istanbul hotel at around 5:30 a.m. on Tuesday. His wife tried to wake him up to tell him they had arrived but could not do so, the Anadolu Agency reported.

Medical teams called to the scene declared him to be dead, the agency said.

The Istanbul chief prosecutors office immediately launched an investigation into the death, while his body was taken to a forensic medicine institution to be examined, Anadolu reported.

The private DHA news agency said police recorded his case as a suspicious death.

On his website, Vltchek described himself as a novelist, philosopher, filmmaker and investigative journalist as well as a revolutionary, internationalist and globetrotter who fights against Western Imperialism and the Western regime imposed on the world.

He covered dozens of war zones and conflicts, including in Iraq, Sri Lanka, Bosnia, Rwanda and Syria, according to his website.

Vltchek authored numerous books, including On Western Terrorism: From Hiroshima to Drone Warfare with linguist and scholar Noam Chomsky.

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 United States slapped new sanctions on Iran's defense ministry and others involved in its nuclear and weapons program to support the U.S. assertion that all U.N. sanctions against Tehran are now restored, which key European allies as well as Russia and China reject.

Iran said the new U.S. sanctions, which targeted 27 Iranian entities and people in the nuclear, missile and conventional arms sectors, would have no effect and accused the United States of seeking publicity.

The latest sanctions on the oil-exporting nation include a new executive order signed by President Donald Trump targeting those who buy or sell Iran conventional arms that was previously reported by Reuters.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told reporters Washington had put new sanctions on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro under the order, accusing Iran and Venezuela of having worked "to flout the U.N. arms embargo" for nearly two years.

Under the same order, the United States also imposed penalties on Iran's Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics, as well as its Defense Industries Organization and its director, Mehrdad Akhlaghi-Ketabchi.

Others targeted under different programs include senior Atomic Energy Organization of Iran officials as well as people associated with its liquid propellant ballistic missile organization, Shahid Hemmat Industrial Group.

The impetus for the U.S. action is the impending expiry of a U.N. arms embargo on Iran and an effort to warn foreign actors that they will face U.S. sanctions if they buy or sell arms to Iran. U.S. entities are already barred from such trade.

Under the 2015 nuclear deal that Iran struck with six major powers - Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States - the U.N. conventional arms embargo is to set to expire on Oct. 18, shortly before the Nov. 3 U.S. election.

"No matter who you are, if you violate the U.N. arms embargo on Iran, you risk sanctions," Pompeo told a news conference with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Robert O'Brien, the national security adviser.

The United States, which abandoned the Iran nuclear deal in May 2018 and subsequently restored its own bilateral sanctions, says it triggered a "snap back," or resumption, of virtually all U.N. sanctions on Iran, including the arms embargo, on Saturday.

The other parties to the nuclear deal and most U.N. Security Council members have said the U.S. move has no legal effect.

"NOTHING NEW"

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif brushed aside the announcement as "nothing new."

"The United States has exerted all the pressure it could on Iran. It had hoped that these sanctions will bring our people into their knee. It did not," Zarif, speaking from Tehran, told a virtual meeting of the U.S. Council on Foreign Relations.

Zarif also struck a conciliatory note by repeating that Tehran is ready to exchange prisoners with Washington.

Elizabeth Rosenberg, a sanctions expert at the Center for a New American Security, said that Monday's action did not significantly move the needle, either in raising pressure on Iran or in punishing those who deal with it.

"The United States has already significantly targeted Iran, and this new action doesn't ... cause much more significant pain," she said.

A senior U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, on Sunday told Reuters Iran may have enough fissile material for a nuclear weapon by the end of the year and that Tehran has resumed long-range missile cooperation with nuclear-armed North Korea. He did not provide evidence for either assertion.

It was not clear whether the official meant Iran may have sufficient low-enriched uranium (LEU) for a bomb if it were further purified.

Tehran has gradually breached its central limits in the two years since Trump abandoned the nuclear deal, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) says, including on its LEU stockpile and the level of purity to which it was allowed to enrich uranium.

Asked about the U.S. official's comment, Zarif called his reasoning flawed and denied Iran has any intention of building a bomb because atomic weapons would not make Iran more secure.

"Now we have about 3,000 kg which based on these analysis is enough for three bombs already. So we do not need to wait until the end of the year," he said. "But we do not need to build a bomb."

The IAEA has said Iran is still enriching uranium only up to 4.5%, beyond the 3.67% purity limit set by the nuclear deal but well below the 20% it achieved before the 2015 agreement, let alone the roughly 90% purity that is considered weapons-grade.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a high-level virtual meeting on Wednesday to review the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) situation in the country.

Chief ministers and health ministers of the seven states, which have a high viral case load, will attend the virtual meeting.

The PM will chair a high-level virtual meeting with the CMs and health ministers of seven Covid-19 high-burden states and union territories (UTs) on Wednesday to review the status and preparedness of the response and management of the viral outbreak, according to a government statement.

Also Watch | Covid update: India overtakes USA; Air India ban; UK tipping point

Also read: Telangana logs 2,166 new Covid-19 cases, recovery rate climbs to 82.43%

Seven states -- Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh (AP), Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh (UP), Tamil Nadu (TN), Delhi and Punjab -- have reported a high viral case load. They account for 63% of the total Covid-19 cases in the country.

According to the central database, these states also account for 65.5% of the total Covid-19 cases in the country and 77% of the total deaths due to the viral infection.

Punjab and Delhi along with the five other states have recently reported a daily uptick in the number of Covid-19 cases. Maharashtra, Punjab and Delhi are reporting a case fatality rate (CFR) of at least 2%.

Besides Punjab and UP, the other five states positivity rate is above the national average of 8.52%, according to the data shared by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoH&FW).

The Centre has been leading the fight against Covid-19 in the country in effective collaboration and close coordination with the state/UT governments. The Union Government is supporting them to ramp up the healthcare and medical infrastructure. The clinical management capacities of the doctors manning the intensive care units (ICUs) have been substantially upgraded through the e-ICU tele-consultation exercise undertaken by MoH&FW in collaboration with the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, according to a statement issued by the ministry on Tuesday.

The Centre has been holding periodic review meetings with states and even rushing teams of experts to the viral outbreak-hit states.

High-level review with the states has ensured adequate availability of oxygen in hospitals and dedicated Covid-19 healthcare facilities. The Centre is also regularly deputing multi-disciplinary teams to states and UTs to support and handhold them in matters of containment, surveillance, testing and efficient clinical management of Covid-19 cases. The Central teams also guide the local authorities in effectively managing the challenges related to timely diagnosis, the statement added.
President Donald Trump boards Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, Sept. 21 as he departs Washington for campaign travel to Ohio. Tom Brenner | Reuters

The future of Social Security could be a big issue in the next presidential term, no matter which party wins the Oval Office in November. The program's funds, which already face depletion in the future, may run out sooner due to the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Once that date is reached, benefit checks will be reduced. Some have taken President Donald Trump's temporary payroll tax deferral as a signal for a broader strategy he could implement if he is re-elected. More from Personal Finance:

What a Biden win may mean for your Social Security benefits

Trump's payroll tax holiday may be a lose-lose for workers and firms

Medicare coverage could expand under a Biden presidency Trump set the payroll tax holiday with an executive order he signed in August. From Sept. 1 through Dec. 31, workers who make less than $4,000 bi-weekly can take a break from paying the Social Security portion of their payroll taxes if their employers agree. Currently, that amounts to 6.2% of paychecks on wages up to $137,700. Workers will have to repay those levies starting in January. Trump has suggested he would push to have those taxes forgiven in his second presidential term. Social Security advocates worry that he wants to cut those payroll taxes permanently. "If I'm victorious on Nov. 3, I plan to forgive these taxes and make permanent cuts to the payroll tax," Trump has said.

The temporary payroll tax deferral has "proven to be an ineffective policy at best," said Shai Akabas, director of economic policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center, a Washington, D.C., think tank. Many employers, with the exception of the federal government, have hesitated to adopt it, he said. It's not the first time a payroll tax break has been used. President Barack Obama also implemented payroll tax reductions to help workers as the economy was recovering from the Great Recession. Back then, the move had more bipartisan support, Akabas said. So far, Trump's efforts have not proven to be very popular with the American public. A poll conducted by Data for Progress, a progressive think tank, and Social Security Works, an advocacy organization, found that a majority of voters  71%  said they would prefer the government neither defer nor eliminate the payroll tax that supports Social Security.

It's a possibility that both parties realize that this is coming and this is as good a time to resolve it as any in the next administration. Shai Akabas director of economic policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center

A minority, 17% of respondents, said the payroll tax should be deferred and then eliminated, while 12% said they don't know what they prefer. The threat of a permanent payroll tax cut under Trump was the "straw that broke the camel's back" for the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, according to president and CEO Max Richtman. The group, which advocates for the preservation of both Social Security and Medicare, recently endorsed Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden. It is the first time the group has backed a presidential candidate since it was founded in the early 1980s. "What he is proposing would cause serious, serious damage," Richtman said. "I call it an existential threat to the Social Security program unlike anything we've seen before." The group also cites reductions to Social Security Trump has included in his budgets in the past several years as reason for their concern. Altogether, those proposals would amount to $1 trillion in cuts to Social Security's related disability program, Medicare and Medicaid, among others, Richtman said.

Al Drago | Reuters

Trump's campaign, meanwhile, says the president has a stronger record on the program than Biden. "President Trump is taking action to boost the economy and help workers because Biden's allies in Congress are doing nothing," Tim Murtaugh, director of communications for Trump's re-election campaign, said in a statement. "The President has clearly stated repeatedly that he will always protect Social Security and Medicare, including from Democrats pushing plans to give benefits to illegal aliens," Murtaugh said. Akabas at the Bipartisan Policy Center said Trump's stance on the program based on his first term is vague. "For most of his tenure, he's stuck to the protect Social Security rhetoric without much detail behind that," Akabas said. Eliminating the payroll tax, versus just a temporary break, would be a much different policy, he said.
Russia has secured a deal to supply 120 crore doses of its coronavirus vaccine in more than 10 countries including India. According to the Wall Street Journal report, Russia has signed a preliminary agreement with countries like India, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, and Mexico to deliver the Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine, which could give Russia "a valuable economic and political leverage" internationally. Russian officials said that they are in various stages of talks with other countries as well.

Sputnik V will be manufactured overseas and circulated globally by November-end. However, the shot would require local regulatory approval before distribution. On 11 August, the Russian government officially registered the world's first coronavirus vaccine, dubbed Sputnik V.

Meanwhile, Russian companies are planning to reach the maximum capacity of COVID-19 vaccine production by February 2021. Russian Minister of Industry and Trade said, " We expect that in October there will be 5 lakh vaccine doses and by the end of the year-2 to 3 million doses. We plan to reach maximum capacity by February of next year".

However, several experts have raised concerns over the rush to use the vaccine. According to the US daily, the Russian researchers completed only small-scale tests on 76 volunteers before securing approval. The data from early trials had shown that the shot was "safe to use" and generated an immune response but experts say that large scale testing is necessary to determine the effectiveness of the vaccine.

Officials in the US have also indicated that they are unlikely to use Russia's vaccine in wake of doubt over the testing procedures. However, the Indian government is in consultations with the Russian government for exploring the possibility of getting the Russian vaccine Sputnik V.

Last week, Minister of state for health Ashwini Choubey informed the Lok Sabha that the department of biotechnology was in talks with the Russian government for the coronavirus vaccine. As per the preliminary agreement, India would receive 10 crore doses and Brazil would receive 5 crore doses from Russia.

Russian officials said there is a strong demand for the Sputnik V vaccine from the developing countries. At present, Russia is conducting a clinical trial of the vaccine in Brazil, UAE, Belarus, and Egypt.

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte said he will give priority to Russian and Chinese vaccines because western countries, "are all about profit".

Also read: Pfizer could secure first approval for COVID-19 vaccine, says Trump

Also read: Logistics startups hopeful of festive season; see COVID-19 vaccine delivery as opportunity
By Express News Service

BELAGAVI: Enraged over the death of a young COVID patient at BIMS, Belagavi, a mob allegedly attacked doctors and some other staff at the hospital around midnight on Monday.

A group of people, mostly relatives of the dead barged into the hospital soon after the patient died and ransacked the hospital premises before allegedly assaulting four medical staff including two doctors.

Before the situation turned out of hand, the police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.

Some weeks ago, an angry mob had set an ambulance on fire and also attacked the same hospital when a Covid patient had died.

Due to the recurring attacks, the doctors at BIMS, reportedly upset tore open their PPE kits protesting against the fresh round of assault on them.

Blaming the security staff and the police for the continued attacks at BIMS, they warned that until they got proper security they would not serve there.
A Bedfordshire town has been hit by two earthquakes in one day.

A 3.0 magnitude quake hit just north of Leighton Buzzard shortly after 8.30am on Tuesday, the British Geological Survey said.

Later, the BGS said it received reports from members of the public saying they felt another tremor shortly after 12.30pm.

The second earthquake on Tuesday measured 2.1 on the Richter scale, the BGS said.

"This is in addition to the events on the 8 & 13 Sept, with magnitudes 3.5 & 2.1 respectively," it wrote on Twitter.

"One of the latest reports is noted as saying 'apparently we had another earthquake today in Leighton Buzzard at about 13.40. I didnt feel it downstairs, but my husband did in the loft.'"

On September 13, a 2.1 magnitude earthquake hit the area, and was thought to have been an aftershock from the magnitude 3.3 quake that was felt on September 8.

During the September 8 quake, residents described strong shaking and rattling walls, though police said no injuries were reported.

Glenn Ford, a seismologist at BGS, said the tremors on Tuesday would be classed as an aftershock from the earthquake two weeks ago.

"They are not happening more frequently in the area - they are happening all the time in the UK," he told the Standard.

"What's unusual about them is we only feel about only 10 per cent feel them. We don't really perceive the UK as a country associated with earthquakes, so when they occur, it can be quite disturbing.

"But it's very typical behaviour seen in the UK and we have had historic activity in that area.

"Most of them are so small, people don't notice them."
All-male black college Morehouse to accept transgender men; slammed for 'masculinist gender norms'

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Morehouse College, Americas only all-male historically black college, will begin accepting women who identify as men, a move that upsets some in the LGBT community because it enforces "masculinist gender norms."

Students born male but who now identify as female will not be admitted to the 152-year-old institution.

The Morehouse College Board of Trustees has approved a Gender Identity Policy that will allow individuals who self-identify as men, regardless of the sex assigned to them at birth, to be considered for admission in the nations only historically black school for men, the Atlanta college, which also describes itself as Americas largest liberal arts institution for men, said Saturday in a release.

The announcement explained that the decision was made to implement the new policy, which will begin for the Fall of 2020 class, after 15 months of community engagement with faculty, staff, students, and alumni through a task force created by the president of Morehouse College, Dr. David A. Thomas.

We found that when our admission representatives were going out, oftentimes people would ask them, Does Morehouse admit transgender people? David A. Thomas, the president of the college told The New York Times on Sunday.

Terrance Dixon, vice president for enrollment management at Morehouse, further explained the thinking behind the decision.

In a rapidly changing world that includes a better understanding of gender identity, were proud to expand our admissions policy to consider trans men who want to be part of an institution that has produced some of the greatest leaders in social justice, politics, business, and the arts for more than 150 years, Dixon said in the statement released by the school. The ratification of this policy affirms the Colleges commitment to develop men with disciplined minds who will lead lives of leadership and service.

Morehouse officials further noted that to continue at the school every student must self-identify as a man.

If a student transitions from a man to a woman, that student will no longer be eligible to matriculate at Morehouse. Exemptions from this rule may be granted by a three-person committee appointed by the President after a written appeal is submitted by the student. In the event that the impacted student disagrees with the decision of the committee, the student may make a final appeal to the President of Morehouse, the college said.

Morehouse student Marquintas Oldham, 21, who identifies as queer, non-binary and who prefers to use the pronouns they and their, told the New York Times that the schools new policy is erasing their existence.

Who I am on this campus, they are trying to kind of like remove me from self-identifying myself, Oldham, who identified as male when he first started at the school, said. They said in their policy that they are going to still use male-gendered language and that affects me. Sometimes I do dress as a feminine, non-binary person, so when I dress the way I want to dress and its a problem, that affects me.

Oldham, who is set to graduate in 2021, transitioned while he was enrolled. I knew I was part of the queer community, I knew I was gay, but I got here to Morehouse and this was different for me. I decided to just live.

On Sunday, an association of LGBT Morehouse alumni called the new policy, anti trans.

This is an anti-trans policy to enforce conformity to masculinist gender norms under the guise of trans acceptance. Anyone who goes to Morehouse will risk being de- enrolled if they eventually identify as a trans woman / femme or bend gender anywhere on the femme spectrum, the group said on Twitter.

Rashad Raymond Moore, 29, who graduated from Morehouse in 2012, told The New York Times that keeping the college all male was a big part of the schools history. Making the decision to include transgender men, said Moore, will change the schools moral fiber.

It is the only black institution in the United States that is dedicated to the intellectual and moral formation of black men and to allow trans women to enroll or matriculate or graduate from Morehouse would change the moral fiber of the institution completely, he said.
Halsey recently celebrated a milestone, with the fifth anniversary of the release of her debut studio album.

And the two-time Grammy nominee has come quite a long way since dropping Badlands back in 2015.

She celebrated 3billion Spotify streams Monday, as she shared a video of herself enjoying a feast of champions out of her award plaques, while calling out Drake.

Check mate: Halsey celebrated 3billion Spotify streams Monday, as she shared a video of herself enjoying a feast of champions out of her award plaques, while calling out Drake

The 25-year-old revealed a black plaque for 1billion streams of the 2016 Chainsmokers song Closer, on which she's featured, and another for her 2018 single Without Me.

Her awards each featured a round silver dish with the Spotify logo, which she filled with Takis and some M&M's.

Halsey had the camera pan up from the table, as she enjoyed a glass of rose and a Taki, as she said: 'And they owe me one more too.'

She appeared to refer to the 2018 track Eastside, on which she collaborated with Khalid and Benny Blanco, also surpassing a billion streams.

Winner winner: The 25-year-old revealed a black plaque for 1billion streams of the 2016 Chainsmokers song Closer, on which she's featured, and another for her 2018 single Without Me

Feast of champions: Her awards each featured a round silver dish with the Spotify logo, which she filled with Takis and some M&M's

Keep it coming: Halsey had the camera pan up from the table, as she enjoyed a glass of rose and a Taki, as she said: 'And they owe me one more too'

Another billion: She appeared to refer to the 2018 track Eastside, on which she collaborated with Khalid and Benny Blanco, also surpassing a billion streams

Two out of three: The Manic artist captioned the video: '2 outta 3 of my billion plaques received. Check mate @champagnepapi thank you @spotify'

The Manic artist captioned the video: '2 outta 3 of my billion plaques received. Check mate @champagnepapi thank you @spotify'

She called out Drake in the caption, referencing a video he posted earlier this month of himself eating pasta out of his Spotify award for a billion streams on his 2018 single In My Feelings.

He captioned the video: 'We drank out of Grammys now you need a BILL to eat off the plate @spotify'

The Hotline Bling artist became the most-streamed artist of the decade on Spotify last December, with more than 28billion streams, having released nearly 200 songs on Spotify since 2010.

Finest china: She called out Drake in the caption, referencing a video he posted earlier this month of himself eating pasta out of his Spotify award for a billion streams on his 2018 single In My Feelings

Food porn: He captioned the video: 'We drank out of Grammys now you need a BILL to eat off the plate @spotify'

Five years later: Halsey's clap back comes after she celebrated five years since her debut album Badlands last month, dropping a live album, which was recorded last year at New York City's famed Webster Hall

Halsey's clap back comes after she celebrated five years since her debut album Badlands last month, dropping a live album, which was recorded last year at New York City's famed Webster Hall.

She's also preparing to make a transition to acting with Euphoria star Sydney Sweeney (who appeared in her Graveyard video) in the upcoming series The Player's Table, based on Jessica Goodman's recent novel They Wish They Were Us.

They play two young woman from a secret society at an elite Long Island prep school, where one of their friends was mysteriously killed three years ago.

The Bad at Love artist has previously made cameos as herself in Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper's A Star Is Born and the short-lived Cameron Crowe series Roadies.
Muzaffarnagar:

Samajwadi Partys Shamli district president Kiranpal Kashyap has resigned from the post after he was denied the ticket by the party to contest in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls next month.

Kashyap said he resigned from the post on Tuesday in protest against the decision of not giving him the ticket from Thana Bhawan Assembly constituency.

Notably, the SP leader was given the ticket earlier but later the party high command fielded another candidate instead of him.

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Things werent looking good for the Thai church at the start of 2020. The southeast Asian nation was the first outside China to report a coronavirus case, and analysts feared a long, overwhelming outbreak.

Instead, Thailand is now being praised as one of the only places that was able to effectively contain the pandemic. After a countrywide lockdown in the spring and continued precautions, it celebrated 100 days without a case COVID-19 at the start of September.

Later that week, an evangelical church-planting movement in central Thailand celebrated a milestone of its ownone that wouldnt be possible without the word of mouth conversations, house gatherings, and in-person testimonies it relies on to spread the gospel.

The Free in Jesus Christ Church Association (FJCCA) held the largest baptism in its history and, it says, the history of the church in Thailand. FJCCA, a Thai-led movement that focuses on village-level evangelism, baptized 1,435 people in a single day on September 6.

Twenty ministers lined up across the same waist-deep reservoir waters that some of them were baptized in, waiting for new believers to come one-by-one from the shore to proclaim their faith and be submerged for the sacrament. The event took two hours.

Image: Reach a Village

Image: Reach a Village

CT covered FJCCAs historic growth in a 2019 cover story. That year, the association held a baptism of 520 people that national church leaders said was the largest theyd ever seen in their majority-Buddhist country. This months baptism was nearly triple its size.

It is truly a mystery to the world as to why Thailand has been spared during the COVID pandemic, said Bob Craft, whose Reach a Village ministry supports FJCCA. We believe it is the merciful hand of God to allow the gospel to spread at this crucial time.

Participants came from 200 villages in five Thai provinces to Chon Daen, the hub of FJCCA activity and home to founder Somsak Rinnasak. Some wore masks, and lines of new believers were congratulated with a traditional wai greetinga no-touch gesture (praying hands and bow) that has been part of Thai culture long before the coronavirus made physical contact a means of transmission.

After FJCCA shared the news of this months mass baptism, threads of supporters added refrains of amen and thank you Jesus in Thai on the churchs Facebook page. According to FJCCA leaders, many of those who were baptized had not heard about Jesus until this year. More than 75,000 villages in the country have no Christian presence.

Though Thailand has reduced the spread of COVID-19 almost entirely to those quarantining with people returning from overseas, the country still suffered financially due to coronavirus shutdowns, particularly halt in tourism. This economic downturn is one factor spurring current protests challenging the monarchy and calling for government reform.

Image: Reach a Village

Despite the stressors of the pandemic, Rinnasak and FJCCA leaders say they have continued to see their Thai neighborsfewer than 1 percent of whom are Christiantake interest in their stories of salvation and transformation in Christ. The movement, which took off in 2016, now has 700 house churches.

While grieving the toll of the pandemic and continue to work and pray against further spread, pastors in other countries have similarly shared how this season offered up unique opportunities for ministry and evangelism.

Greg Laurie in California considered it a spiritual awakening as more viewers watch services and revivals by livestream. Isaac Shaw in New Delhi observed how Indian churches grow more united across denominations and more outward-focused once COVID-19 forced them to pause Sunday services.

[ This article is also available in espanol and Indonesian. ]
Three men have been arrested in connection with the murder of an 18-year-old woman who was burnt alive following a dispute between two families in Uttar Pradeshs Sultanpur district late on Monday, police said on Tuesday.

Following a dispute with the family members of the deceased, identified as Shraddha, the three accused allegedly set her ablaze after pouring kerosene over her.

She was rushed to a hospital in Lucknow and died during treatment, said deputy superintendent of police Vijay Mall Yadav.

According to Yadav, before succumbing to her injuries, the woman named the three alleged assailants.

Police said the families of the deceased and accused had an ongoing dispute which started in June, following which a complaint was lodged by each side and two FIRs were registered.

The deceaseds father, Pradeep Singh, was also arrested in connection with the matter then.

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In East New York, Brooklyn, Balayet Hossains day began with disappointment after he brought his two daughters to school, only to find that the children, a kindergartner and first grader, could not return to their classrooms until next week.

And in Corona, a Queens neighborhood that was hit particularly hard by the coronavirus in the spring, Baryalay Khan said dropping off his daughter, Fathma, at pre-K made him feel that the city was finally recovering.

Schools are reopening, he said. Its a good sign.

The mix of joy, confusion and hope was felt throughout New York City on Monday, on a first day of school unlike any other for the nations largest school district.

[Read more about the return to classrooms for some of the citys students.]

The vast majority of the citys 1.1 million students started the school year on Monday online and will have the option of returning to classrooms over the next few weeks.
Dubai: Iran is ready for a full prisoner exchange with the United States, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said in a virtual address to the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, amid heightened tension between the longtime foes.

Washington has long demanded that Iran release US citizens including Iranian-American father and son Baquer and Siamak Namazi, who it says are political prisoners.

Tehran denies it holds people for political reasons and has accused many of the foreigners in its jails of espionage. It says Iranians detained in the US, mostly for breaking sanctions, are being unjustly held.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. Credit:AP

"There are Iranians in US prisons who are there only because they refuse to betray their country [Iran]. We are prepared to exchange all of them and all those who have been kept in jail," Zarif said.
HBO Max will premiere A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote on October 15. The production reunites the original cast and creative team of The West Wing for a special theatrical stage presentation of the third-season episode "Hartsfield's Landing."

This staged reading is currently being filmed at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles, following strict Covid safety protocols. Rob Lowe, Dule Hill, Allison Janney, Janel Moloney, Richard Schiff, Bradley Whitford, and Martin Sheen reprise their roles, with further casting to be announced. It will feature new material penned by West Wing creator Aaron Sorkin and will be staged by the show's longtime producer and director, Thomas Schlamme.

Additionally, A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote will include act breaks with guest appearances from When We All Vote co-chair Michelle Obama, President Bill Clinton, and Lin-Manuel Miranda. Composer W.G. Snuffy Walden will play his iconic West Wing theme on guitar, with the Avett Brothers closing out the show with a performance.

In the 2002 episode "Hartsfield's Landing," President Bartlett (Sheen) plays a game of chess with Sam (Lowe) and Toby (Schiff) while dealing with a foreign policy showdown with China. At the same time, Josh (Whitford) waits to find out the results in a small New Hampshire town's presidential primary, which is known for accurately predicting the state's winner.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 23:49:23|Editor: huaxia

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GABORONE, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Botswana's Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) has collaborated with Stanbic Bank Botswana to assist Botswana's citizen entrepreneurs in accessing accredited trade agencies in China.

This emerged Tuesday when the two organizations officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Francistown, Botswana's second largest city.

The partnership is of paramount importance towards the growth of entrepreneurship in Botswana because it will make it easy for local entrepreneurs to access quality material and resources from China, Thabo Thamane, the CEDA chief executive officer, said during the signing ceremony.

Stanbic Bank, a subsidiary of the Standard Bank Group whose single largest shareholder is the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, has an all-encompassing solution for Africa-China cross border trade that enables the matching buyers from Africa with suppliers or manufactures in China, he said.

"This solution is facilitated through the Africa China Agent Proposition (ACAP), which provides buyers from Africa with exclusive access to accredited trade agents in China," said Thamane.

Thamane said projects funded by CEDA will be able to connect with reputable suppliers to ensure seamless trade.

Samuel Minter, Stanbic Bank Botswana chief executive officer, said liking local entrepreneurs with reputable trade agents in China will definitely make life easier when it comes to local empowerment. Enditem
Researchers from Florida Atlantic University's College of Engineering and Computer Science have received a four-year, $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation for a project to make the master's degree in artificial intelligence (AI) accessible to high-achieving, low-income students. The accelerated five-year bachelor's degree in science and master's degree in AI program is designed to adapt curricular and co-curricular support to enable students to complete their degrees in AI, autonomous systems or machine learning, which are critically important areas needed to advance America's global competitiveness and national security.

"Artificial intelligence is transforming every walk of life from business to healthcare and enabling us to rethink how we analyze data, integrate massive amounts of information and make informed decisions that impact society, the economy and governance," said Stella Batalama, Ph.D., dean of FAU's College of Engineering and Computer Science and a co-principal investigator of the grant. "This important grant from the National Science Foundation will allow us to recruit and train talented and diverse students who are economically disadvantaged and provide them with a unique opportunity to pursue graduate education in an exciting and burgeoning field."

By preparing increased numbers of high-achieving, low-income students to become engineers in these fields, this project addresses the need for growing a more diverse STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) research population. The model also provides a framework for enhancing post-secondary infrastructure in terms of how to coordinate support services for a great impact on diverse students. Once completed, materials developed from the project are expected to have a broad impact on how universities educate low-income students in both curricular and, equally important, co-curricular activities.

The project team is spearheaded by Dimitris A. Pados, Ph.D., principal investigator, a professor in the Department of Computer and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, a fellow of FAU's Institute for Sensing and Embedded Network Systems (I-SENSE), the Charles E. Schmidt Eminent Scholar in Engineering and director of the Center for Connected Autonomy and Artificial Intelligence, who is nationally renowned in the areas of autonomous systems, machine learning and AI applications to communication networks.

"Students in our new program will be organized in cohorts to promote a goal-oriented and supportive environment that results in persistence to complete a bachelor's degree in science and pursue a graduate degree in artificial intelligence," said Pados. "This multi-year experience will broaden their awareness of the many avenues available for support and provide a rich opportunity to work with and learn from a number of mentors comprised of graduate students and faculty throughout our college with expertise in various fields."

The project plan involves five major components: student identification and recruitment; curricular support; co-curricular support; graduate school or career readiness, and research and evaluation. The project team together with FAU's Office of Student Financial Aid and FAU's Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Analysis will identify college juniors with strong academic records (GPA of 3.4 or higher) in all engineering fields. Scholarships will be awarded to students following a sliding scale, with juniors receiving $4,000 for the academic year, seniors receiving $6,000 for the academic year, and master's students receiving $10,000 for the academic year.

"Research has shown that despite high academic success in the first two years of college, many high-achieving, low-income students drop out altogether or opt for a reduced course load and enter the workforce for various reasons," said Javad Hashemi, Ph.D., co-principal investigator, associate dean for research in FAU's College of Engineering and Computer Science, and a professor in the Department of Ocean and Mechanical Engineering. "Our inspiration to apply for this grant was spurred by the Kelly Strul Emerging Scholars Program created by FAU President John Kelly, first lady Carolyn Kelly and philanthropists Aubrey and Sally Strul, which provides scholarships for students who are the first-generation in their families to attend college. Our new, innovative program will offer an alternative pathway that is accessible to exceptional students and provides them with the ability to earn a master's degree in a high-impact, highly-desirable and high-paying field."

As part of the program, students will interact with the college's industrial board an as entree into potential internships and/or full-time positions upon graduation and will participate in a special seminar series that will host industry speakers to enhance students' awareness of career possibilities. Interactions with graduate students through research projects also will enhance their awareness and understanding of graduate education and support them to become self-sufficient members of the engineering community.

###

The project team includes Nancy R. Romance, Ph.D., co-principal investigator, a professor of science education and director of FAU's STEM Collaborative, who has an extensive record of externally-funded research grants in STEM disciplines across both public schools and postsecondary institutions; and Xingquan (Hill) Zhu, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Computer and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, director of the college's Bidtellect Laboratory, and an expert on deep learning and big data analytics. Zhu recently established the first NSF-funded Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Artificial Intelligence and Deep Learning (AIDL) Training and Research Laboratory in Florida at FAU.

Last year, FAU's College of Engineering and Computer Science launched the state's first Master of Science with Major in AI (MSAI), administered by the Department of Computer and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. This degree is preparing students for careers in various education, government and industry positions that require AI skills.

About FAU's College of Engineering and Computer Science:

The FAU College of Engineering and Computer Science is internationally recognized for cutting edge research and education in the areas of computer science and artificial intelligence (AI), computer engineering, electrical engineering, bioengineering, civil, environmental and geomatics engineering, mechanical engineering, and ocean engineering. Research conducted by the faculty and their teams expose students to technology innovations that push the current state-of-the art of the disciplines. The College research efforts are supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Department of Defense (DOD), the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Department of Education (DOEd), the State of Florida, and industry. The FAU College of Engineering and Computer Science offers degrees with a modern twist that bear specializations in areas of national priority such as AI, cybersecurity, internet-of-things, transportation and supply chain management, and data science. New degree programs include Masters of Science in AI (first in Florida), Masters of Science in Data Science and Analytics, and the new Professional Masters of Science degree in computer science for working professionals. For more information about the College, please visit eng.fau.edu.

About Florida Atlantic University:

Florida Atlantic University, established in 1961, officially opened its doors in 1964 as the fifth public university in Florida. Today, the University, with an annual economic impact of $6.3 billion, serves more than 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students at sites throughout its six-county service region in southeast Florida. FAU's world-class teaching and research faculty serves students through 10 colleges: the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, the College of Business, the College for Design and Social Inquiry, the College of Education, the College of Engineering and Computer Science, the Graduate College, the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing and the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. FAU is ranked as a High Research Activity institution by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The University is placing special focus on the rapid development of critical areas that form the basis of its strategic plan: Healthy aging, biotech, coastal and marine issues, neuroscience, regenerative medicine, informatics, lifespan and the environment. These areas provide opportunities for faculty and students to build upon FAU's existing strengths in research and scholarship. For more information, visit fau.edu.
Seattle, Sep 22 : Microsoft on Tuesday teamed up with Elon Musk-cofounded OpenAI to exclusively license their groundbreaking GPT-3 model, an auto-regressive language model that outputs remarkably human-like text.

GPT-3 is the largest and most advanced language model in the world, clocking in at 175 billion parameters, and is trained on Azure's AI supercomputer.

"GPT-3 will allow us to leverage its technical innovations to develop and deliver advanced AI solutions for our customers as well as create new solutions that harness the amazing power of advanced natural language generation," said Kevin Scott, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, Microsoft.

Musk helped found the artificial intelligence research lab OpenAI in 2015 with the goal of developing artificial general intelligence (AGI) that can learn and master several disciplines.

In May, Microsoft expanded its partnership with OpenAI to announce one of the world's most powerful supercomputers - a custom-designed, Azure-hosted home for training OpenAI's equally massive AI models.

"We see this as an incredible opportunity to expand our Azure-powered AI platform in a way that democratizes AI technology, enables new products, services and experiences, and increases the positive impact of AI at Scale," Scott said.

OpenAI will continue to offer GPT-3 and other powerful models via its own Azure-hosted API, launched in June.
Announcing a day's token fast in support of the suspended Opposition MPs, Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar on Tuesday asked why the government was in such a hurry to pass the Farm Bills.

"I have decided to abstain from food and fast today in solidarity with the protesting MPs agitation," said Pawar, a Member of the Rajya Sabha, which witnessed a massive ruckus in the past two days followed by a boycott by the Opposition parties. Pawar addressed mediapersons in Mumbai.

Though well-intentioned, Pawar said he had never seen Bills being passed in such a manner and questioned the haste, especially when the MPs had questions on the Farm Bills.

"Members wanted to ask more questions on the Bills. But, it appears they (the government) did not want any discussion. When the MPs did not get the response, they came to the well of the House," Pawar pointed out.

He said the Deputy Chairman of the Upper House had not adhered to the rules and "the Rajya Sabha Members were expelled for expressing their opinion," said the NCP chief.

The Opposition has alleged that the Deputy Chairman Harivansh -- who was in the chair on Sunday -- helped the government rush the Bills through the Upper House despite lacking the numbers and rejecting the Opposition parties' demands for detailed discussions on the Farm Bills.
Evers announced Tuesday the new mask mandate  along with his third public health emergency  in an effort to control the spread of COVID-19. Positive cases had begun to drop after Evers first mask mandate took effect in July but have been rising, primarily among 18- to 24-year-olds, since students returned to college campuses.

We continue to learn more about this virus, but what we do know is that we are facing a new and dangerous phase of the COVID-19 pandemic here in Wisconsin, Evers said in a statement. We are seeing an alarming increase in cases across our state, especially on campus. We need folks to start taking this seriously, and young people especially  please stay home as much as you are able, skip heading to the bars, and wear a mask whenever you go out.
Australian researchers and their colleagues from Russia and China have shown that it is possible to study the magnetic properties of ultrathin materials directly, via a new microscopy technique that opens the door to the discovery of more two-dimensional (2D) magnetic materials, with all sorts of potential applications.

Published in the journal Advanced Materials, the findings are significant because current techniques used to characterise normal (three-dimensional) magnets don't work on 2D materials such as graphene due to their extremely small size - a few atom thick.

"So far there has been no way to tell exactly how strongly magnetic a 2D material was," said Dr Jean-Philippe Tetienne from the University of Melbourne School of Physics and Centre for Quantum Computation and Communication Technology.

"That is, if you were to place the 2D material on your fridge's door like a regular fridge magnet, how strongly it gets stuck onto it. This is the most important property of a magnet."

To address the problem, the team, led by Professor Lloyd Hollenberg, employed a widefield nitrogen-vacancy microscope, a tool they recently developed that has the necessary sensitivity and spatial resolution to measure the strength of 2D material.

"In essence, the technique works by bringing tiny magnetic sensors (so-called nitrogen-vacancy centres, which are atomic defects in a piece of diamond) extremely close to the 2D material in order to sense its magnetic field," Professor Hollenberg explained.

To test the technique, the scientists chose to study vanadium triiodide (VI3) as large 3D chunks of VI3 were already known to be strongly magnetic.

Using their special microscope, they have now shown that 2D sheets of VI3 are also magnetic but about twice as weak as in the 3D form. In other words, it would be twice as easy to get them off the fridge's door.

"This was a bit of a surprise, and we are currently trying to understand why the magnetisation is weaker in 2D, which will be important for applications," Dr Tetienne said.

Professor Artem Oganov of Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech) in Moscow said the findings have the potential to trigger new technology.

"Just a few years ago, scientists doubted that two-dimensional-magnets are possible at all. With the discovery of two-dimensional ferromagnetic VI3, a new exciting class of materials emerged. New classes of material always mean that new technologies will appear, both for studying such materials and harnessing their properties."

The international team now plan to use their microscope to study other 2D magnetic materials as well as more complex structures, including those that are expected to play a key role in future energy-efficient electronics.
P olice are said to have been inundated with calls from members of the public reporting their neighbours for "rule of six" breaches.

Any social gathering of more than six people in England is against the law , with people facing fines of up to 3,200 if they do not abide by the new measure, which applies to both indoor and outdoor settings.

Extra officers are having to man the 101 reporting line due to the high volume of call, The Times reports.

The number of fines handed out for breaches of the regulations is also understood to be increasing. The organisers of illegal raves have even been given the maximum fine of 10,000 already.

A senior officer told the Times that there are police are worried that coronavirus calls are blocking the public from reporting more serious crimes.

Extra officers are having to man phone lines / PA

There are discussions about how the 101 system can cope, and whether increased resources need to be looked at across the board", they said.

"We dont want a situation where people calling about Covid-19 breaches are blocking others from getting through about other serious crimes.

While the police have expressed concerns about the system, senior government figures have encouraged the public to tell on their neighbours.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Home Secretary Priti Patel have both publicly stated that they would report rule-breakers to the authorities.

The PM siad he has never been in favour of 'sneak culture' / AFP via Getty Images

However, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he favours people raising the issue with their friends and neighbours first, adding:I have never much been in favour of sneak culture, myself.

As well as fines for breaching the rule of six, anyone in England who refuses an order to self-isolate could face a fine of up to 1,000, increasing up to 10,000 for repeat offenders.

It comes as pubs, bars and restaurants in England will be ordered to close by 10pm each night from Thursday under tough restrictions set to be announced by Mr Johnson in a bid to curb the rapid rise in coronavirus cases. The hospitality sector will also be restricted to table service only.

On Tuesday morning, Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove said there was going to be a shift in emphasis on the Governments advice about working from home , telling Sky News: If it is possible for people to work from home then we would encourage them to do so.
A murderer and once broke out of prison has been busted throwing his own faeces at two jail guards.

Jason John Nixon, 50, was handed an indefinite prison sentence in 2004 after killing two fellow inmates at the Brisbane Correctional Centre in the city's southwest.

He also gained infamy for breaking out of the maximum security unit and attempting to murder one of the detectives who recaptured him, The Courier Mail reported.

Convicted murderer Jason John Nixon (pictured), 50, faced Brisbane Magistrate's Court on Monday after throwing his own faeces at two prison guards last October

Nixon, who earned his nickname 'Waxy' because of his love of surfing, beat fellow inmate Bart Vosmaer to death with gym weights as part of a group murder in 1993.

He broke out of the prison alongside 'Postcard Bandit' Brenden Abbott in 1997 and fired at shotgun at the detective who recaptured him at a luxury Sunshine Coast resort.

Nixon was hit with his indefinite jail term after brutally killing double murderer Mark Day in the prison exercise yard in 2003.

Nixon has since faced court over a number of assaults on prison guards and appeared in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday.

He appeared via video link from jail and pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawfully assaulting prison guards last October.

Police prosecutor Lauren Collins said Nixon had moved to the back of his cell before throwing faeces at the two correctional officers who delivered his lunch.

'At approximately 12.05pm on October 29, 2019 the victims were delivering lunches to the prisoners within the correctional centre,' Sergeant Collins said.

Nixon infamously murdered two fellow inmates and has also escaped from the Brisbane Correctional Centre (pictured)

'The defendant has taken his food box and then rushed back towards the open hatch and has thrown faeces at the victims hitting them on the chest and face area.'

Sergeant Collins also said Nixon had six pages of 'detestable criminal history' and similar offences.

The incidents included Nixon throwing urine at a jail nurse and leaving a 20cm gouge in a guard's arm after attacking him with a razor blade.

Magistrate Penelope Hay said Nixon's offending was serious and urged him to consider his eligibility for parole in 2034.

Nixon told Magistrate Hay he had 'nothing to say about it'.

'It's all over. Thanks for being optimistic though, Judge,' he said.

The 50-year-old was sentenced to two years imprisonment on top of his indefinite sentence.
- Benteter Makaa said she was five months pregnant when doctors decided to terminate her pregnancy through a C-section

- It was then that the medics forgot the placenta inside the uterus and stitched up the wound

- Two months later, the wound was still bleeding and Makaa was admitted at a different health facility where doctors discovered the rotting placenta

- She had to undergo another C-section to remove it but the rotting had affected her uterus to

- Doctors had to remove the uterus leaving her barren

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A 34-year-old woman from Mwingi, Kitui county is seeking justice after an alleged C-section procedure at Mumbuni Maternity and Nursing Home left her barren

Benteter Makaa was five months pregnant when she went to the health facility and the doctor decided to remove her pre-term baby.

READ ALSO: Mt Kenya University student narrates how he wasted 15 years in alcohol after scoring A plain

Benteter Makaa was left barren when doctors operated on her to remove her baby but left the placenta in the uterus. Photo: NTV.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Funny photo of dogs at a birthday party organised for one of them goes viral

A report by NTV, on Monday, September 21, showed the medics at the hospital left the placenta inside her womb before stitching up the wound.

Medical reports further showed the placenta started rotting while in Makaa's uterus, leading to another operation at Embu General Hospital where it was removed.

The doctors at Embu General Hospital were also forced to evacuate the uterus which had been irredeemably affected. The 34-year-old is now unable to conceive another baby.

READ ALSO: Woman kneels to accept boyfriend's marriage proposal, explains why

The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board (KMPDB) chairman Daniel Yumbya wrote to the hospital on Monday, September 7, seeking a response to the complaint lodged by Makaa.

The hospital was asked to respond within four days. This was after an initial letter to the health facility on February 27, 2020, was not responded to.

"The council is in receipt of a complaint from Bentetar Makaa Mbwau against your institution dated February 18, 2020," read the letter.

READ ALSO: Kiambu Family looking for daughter who went missing 24 years ago while collecting harambee money

Benteter Makaa was five months pregnant when doctors decided to terminate her pregnancy. Photo: NTV.

Source: UGC

The health facility was required to provide details of the medical team that attended to Makaa by close of business on September 11.

The KMPDB accused the facility of negligence during the operation and failure to remove the placenta from the uterus among other complaints.

The hospital has been asked to provide details of the medical team that attended to Makaa.

READ ALSO: Suba community comes out clear, say they are not Luos but Bantus from Buganda kingdom

They were also asked to provide certified copies of the entire patients file IP NO: 2992, as well as any other relevant documents and information.

When contacted by TUKO.co.ke, for a reply the hospital stated the case was already with the board.

"If there is anything the case is with the board," Jane Munyua said huriedly before hanging up the phone.

Help us change more lives, join TUKO.co.kes Patreon programme

Source: TUKO.co.ke
The popular 90 Day Fiance spinoff is back with Chantel Everett and Pedro Jimeno. Of course, The Family Chantel wouldnt be the same without Chantel and Pedros memorable families. Season 2 will feature some new faces, and fans will be introduced to Chantels older brother, Royal, and the woman he married, Angenette. And of course, theres going to be drama.

Chantels brother, Royal, returns to Atlanta, and he doesnt come alone

Angenette on The Family Chantel | TLC/YouTube

Royal returns home to Atlanta with a woman named, Angenette. Shes from the Philippines, and they met online. Hes been away in Texas for school, but hes back home now in Atlanta. The relationship between them blossomed when Royal noticed he had a friend request from Angenette on Facebook. They talked for a year, and then Royal flew to the Philippines to meet her in person. He proposed on that very same trip, and they plan to get married for the second time in the Philippines after getting married at the courthouse.

In the trailer of the upcoming season, Royal comes home with Angenette. He explains that they met online. Anyone that has a problem with it can mind their own business, Royal tells the family.

Angenette says shes not hiding anything from Chantels family

RELATED: The Family Chantel: How Things Get Out of Hand When Chantel and Pedro Meet up With His Sister and Her Friend

In a separate sneak peek of the upcoming season, Chantel and her mother, Karen, discuss Royals new wife. Hes very protective of Angenette, Karen tells her daughter.

I dont think shes as innocent as she is trying to portray herself, Chantel replies to her mother.

Next, we see Angenette trying on wedding dresses in a bridal shop, and Chantel asks her a personal question. Have you talked to any other American guys? she asks.

No, Angenette says. I never talked to other men.

Chantel doesnt seem to be buying what Angenette is saying to her. The fact that shes lying to me about it, makes me question everything that shes ever said to me, Chantel tells producers.

Angenette insists that she isnt hiding anything. Chantels been asking a lot of questions, Angenette says. Im not hiding anything from them.

The drama continues in the Philippines

Everyone will be traveling to Manila in the Philippines for Royal and Angenettes second wedding, and it sounds like its going to be an eventful trip.

Chantel and her mother talk about plans in the trailer. We will be going to Asia real soon, Karen tells Chantel. Im looking forward to meeting Angenettes parents. Hopefully, theyre not pathetic users.

When they get to the Philippines, theres a scene of Chantel and her mother talking to someone alongside Angenette. We believe that she was fishing for an American guy, Chantel says in the new trailer for the series.

It looks like the drama is going to be epic this season. The second season of The Family Chantel will return to TLC on Monday, October 12, at 9 p.m. E.S.T.
While the original plan would have seen all 17 junior ministers with their own advisors, the Government reduced this number.

Senior Ministers have now approved the finances for 10 of their junior counterparts to have advisors. It comes as in the last Dail, the payscale for those advising Ministers of State started at around 67,000 a year.

As they cut the Pandemic Unemployment Payment https://t.co/NqTYRTs4Zl  Mary Lou McDonald (@MaryLouMcDonald) September 22, 2020

Taoiseach Micheal Martin has rejected criticism from Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald about the number of advisors hired by his Government.

Theres special advisors that you employ, that you employ in the North and in your Executive, he said.

Theyre earning much more than that as well... youve been one of the original enthusiasts for special advisors, always have been and youve been a long-term advocate for special advisors in politics, and youve never shown any disdain for that to date and your party hasnt either, stop the hypocrisy.

Advertisement Fact check:There are 14 advisors for the entire government in the North. https://t.co/3XWIe5AuqR  Mary Lou McDonald (@MaryLouMcDonald) September 22, 2020

Following the exchange, Ms McDonald tweeted that there are 14 advisors for the entire government in the North in response to Mr Martins comments.

Government decision

According to The Irish Times, a number of Ministers of State "made the case" for the appointments, which have been defended by Minister for Justice Helen McEntee.

There are ministers that are making decisions that impact on thousands if not hundreds of thousands of peoples lives. It was decided that these appointments will be made a number of weeks ago, she said.

In August, it was confirmed that the existing system of pooled advisers opted by previous Government's would be maintained, despite claims by some junior minister that they had been promised their own.

The salary range for special advisers to senior and 'super-junior' Ministers who attend Cabinet is between 87,325 and 101,114, while it is between 67,659 and 78,816 for those advising Minister of State.
Ajit Mohan, the India head of social media giant Facebook, has moved the Supreme Court against a notice sent to him by the Delhi Assembly.

The petition will be heard by a three-judge bench headed by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul.

The Delhi Assemblys peace and harmony committee has sent a fresh notice asking Mohan, Facebook India vice president and managing director, to present himself for a deposition before the panel on September 23.

The committee, which is headed by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) spokesperson and legislator Raghav Chadha, had on Tuesday issued a warning to Facebook India after Mohan failed to appear before the panel for its third hearing, despite having been summoned.

The committee had earlier said Facebook was in contempt of the Delhi assembly, and gave the social media company a final warning to heed the summons and appear before it, dismissing a letter sent by executives of the firm, declining to present themselves before the panel.

In a letter, Facebooks director (trust and safety) Vikram Langer told the peace and harmony committee of the Delhi assembly on Tuesday that the companys India head, Ajit Mohan, could not appear before the panel because it was already deposing before a parliamentary standing committee, and contended that the firms content regulation was outside the jurisdiction of the state assembly.

The assemblys first notice was issued to Mohan after the committees second hearing on September 12, in connection with complaints about the social media companys alleged deliberate and intentional inaction to contain hateful content in the country.

The notice was issued after the committee, in its second hearing on August 31, said prima facie it had found that Facebook India was allegedly complicit in aggravating the communal violence in north-east Delhi in February that left at least 53 people dead and over 400 injured.
Rajesh Asnani By

Express News Service

JAIPUR: The Rajasthan High Court on Tuesday stayed the order of the special CBI court last week which had found a huge disinvestment scam in the sale of the government-run Laxmi Vilas Palace Hotel in Udaipur in 2002.

The court stayed the arrest warrants against the former disinvestment secretary Pradip Baijal and two others accused of causing a Rs 244 crore loss to the government through the sale of the hotel to Bharat Hotels Limited during the Atal Bihari Vajpeyi-led NDA government.

The petition by former Union disinvestment minister Arun Shourie in the same case has been listed for hearing on Wednesday.



The stay order came after the court heard criminal revision petitions moved by three of the accused in the case -- former disinvestment secretary Pradip Baijal, Lazard India Ltd Managing Director Ashish Guha, and Bharat Hotels director Jyotsana Suri.

The court also directed the special CBI court, which is hearing the case, to summon the accused through bailable warrants, a counsel for the accused said. To the petition by Jyotsana Suri, the court stayed the handing over of the property to the Udaipur district administration. It also prohibited any sale or leasing away of the hotel to any other group or any party until this case is finally settled.

Anirudh Singh, a lawyer petitioner Ashish Guha said, The Honble High Court has converted the arrest warrant into a bailable warrant. Former Union disinvestment minister Arun Shourie has also moved the High Court for a stay on the arrest warrant but his petition is yet to be listed for hearing. Shourie, was the minister for disinvestment during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA government when the Udaipur property, owned by the public sector India Tourism Development Corporation, was sold to Bharat Hotels Ltd, a private group.

On behalf of Bharat Hotels Limited its director Jyotsana Suri, well-known Supreme Court advocate Harish Salve argued from London. Senior advocate Mukul Rohtagi represented the former disinvestment secretary Pradip Baijal. Both argued that the CBI court order was grossly unfair as it had no legal basis to reject the closure report which the CBI had twice filed on the sale of the Laxmi Vilas Palace hotel.

Last week, the CBI court had rejected the closure report submitted in the case by the investigative agency in August 2019 and directed the CBI to reinvestigate the case. In his order, the Special CBI judge PK Sharma had even remarked that Prima facie, it appears that the then minister Arun Shourie and then secretary Pradeep Baijal misused their offices and caused a loss of Rs 244 crore to the central government in the deal.



The CBI Court had also ordered the registration of an FIR against former Disinvestment minister Arun Shourie, the former disinvestment secretary Pradip Baijal, Lazard India Ltd managing director Ashish Guha, valuer Kantilal Karamsey, and Bharat Hotels director Jyotsana Suri for the sale of the hotel nearly two decades back. The next hearing on this case will be on October 15.
Former White House intern Monica Lewinsky has said the Trump administration scares her more than the government led by former president Bill Clinton.

In a message posted to Twitter on Monday afternoon, Ms Lewinsky wrote: "Just realized I am more scared of our government now than I was in 1998."

She added: "And thats saying a lot. A. LOT."

It was not immediately clear what Ms Lewinsky, 47, was specifically referring to in her comments, but recently she has been vocal in criticising president Trump's decision to replace the late Supreme Court Justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died on Friday.

Ms Lewinsky, now a fashion designer and anti-bullying campaigner, found herself at the centre of a political storm in 1998, after allegations emerged that she had an affair with then 49-year-old President Clinton, who later admitted it.

Following investigations, the House of Representatives voted to impeach Mr Clinton on grounds of perjury and obstruction of justice. He was later aquitted.

Throughout the scandal, Ms Lewinsky, then aged 22, faced repeated attacks from all sides, saying she was "publicly outed and ostracised".

Ms Lewinsky later revealed that she was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress following the ordeal, which dominated headlines around the world.

Trump's announcement over the weekend that he would replace Ginsburg with a conservative justice before November's election has enraged Democrats, and threatens to reshape the highest court in the land for a generation.

Democrats' say the next president should select Ginsburg's replacment; but Trump, backed by a host of Senate Republicans, is determined to fill the vacancy before the election.

Ginsburgs death means there are five supreme justices aligned with the Republican party, versus three for the Democrats.

If Mr Trump selects a conservative justice, then the Supreme Court would have a decisive conservative majority.

The US Supreme Court is the highest court in the land and its rulings are crucial for some of the most important and fiercely contested issues in US law, such as reproductive rights, voting rights, protections from discrimination, the power of the presidency, the rights of immigrants, tax rules and laws, and healthcare for millions of the most at-risk Americans.
Candace Seabolt is a perfect example of how the University of North Georgia's (UNG) Blue Ridge Campus has changed the lives of students in Fannin County and the surrounding area.

As the first UNG student from Blue Ridge to be a finalist in the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, she is scheduled to teach English to children in Taiwan starting in January 2021. UNG paid tribute to Seabolt on Sept. 16 with a surprise graduation celebration as part of the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new stand-alone Blue Ridge Campus. UNG President Bonita C. Jacobs and Dr. Chaudron Gille, provost and senior vice president of Academic Affairs, dressed in academic regalia to mark the memorable moment for Seabolt, who also was handed a cap and gown to wear for the occasion.

Seabolt, who is among the first students from the Blue Ridge Campus to graduate from UNG, completed her degree in kinesiology with teacher certification on UNG's Dahlonega Campus in May. She marveled at the beauty of the new building that opened its doors to students in late August. The stand-alone campus also embodied the growth from two classrooms and 18 students when the campus opened at its original building to the 234 students it has today.

"It's great to see the progression of it," Seabolt said. "It's really awesome, and I think it's going to keep growing."

UNG President Bonita Jacobs, left, and Georgia House of Representatives Speaker David Ralston, right, applaud UNG graduate Candace Seabolt, center, who was honored at the Sept. 16 ribbon-cutting for the stand-alone Blue Ridge Campus.

Georgia House of Representatives Speaker David Ralston, a UNG alumnus and Fannin County resident who helped secure the funds from the General Assembly, said the campus will allow students "to compete in the global marketplace by giving them an educational experience that is second to none."

"Great things will happen daily in this building," Ralston said. "Young minds will be challenged. Students can dream bigger dreams, and unbelievable opportunities will be opened up."

Jacobs noted how UNG in 2013 began studying ways to increase access to higher education in the northeast Georgia region, which led to the formation of the Blue Ridge Campus.

"We knew it was essential," Jacobs said. "And we knew it would be a game-changer in this region."

Dr. Steve Wrigley, chancellor of the University System of Georgia, said UNG's Blue Ridge Campus is crucial for training workers of the future.

"It's a learning beachhead in Blue Ridge, and I really want this community to think about it that way," Wrigley said. "High school students can take dual enrollment here. New college students can take courses to help them earn degrees that are desired by industry."

The new building has some 3,500 square feet of classroom space. Classrooms include a computer lab and a full biology lab with the option of additional lab courses in the future as the campus grows. The expanded space means UNG can offer more courses, which will allow students to spend more semesters in Blue Ridge.

State Sen. Steve Gooch, a UNG alumnus who also supported the project in the legislature, said students in the area have a great higher education option nearby.

"They can get just as good of a degree and a college experience right here at home as they can anywhere in the world," Gooch said. "I know the future is bright."

Sandy Ott, director of UNG's Blue Ridge Campus, is eager to see the impact of the Blue Ridge Campus.

"This campus will make a difference in the lives of students, their families, this community and this region for generations to come," Ott said.
First Minister Arlene Foster has denied claims her party is sending out mixed messages over Covid-19 restrictions.

She instead blamed the media, saying she could not be responsible for how statements were portrayed.

The DUP leader was speaking after party stalwart and MP Sammy Wilson claimed she had blocked Health Minister Robin Swann during an Executive meeting when he wanted to bring in tighter restrictions.

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The remarks sparked a backlash among Executive ministers. Robin Swann rejected the claims as "ill-informed and bogus".

"Our public health messaging is too important to play games with," he said.

When questioned why she would argue against tighter restrictions being brought in last week, only to agree to such restrictions yesterday, Mrs Foster said it was down to the most recent Covid data. Over the weekend over 400 cases were reported.

"The actions that have been taken ... those restrictions which will come into force at 6pm, are based on the data that was presented to us yesterday," she said.

"The decisions we took last week were based on the evidence that was presented last week. This is a movable feast as we all know. I think people should be reassured we act on the evidence presented to us and that's how we move forward."

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The DUP leader said the idea of her party sending out mixed messages was a "clear nonsense", and Sammy Wilson does not "speak from the sidelines" on any issue when asked about his comments on Brexit which contradicted her own.

Mr Wilson came out to say the DUP would continue to fight against the withdrawal deal just two days after Arlene Foster told Sky News she would have to "reluctantly" accept it. It led to embarrassment for the party leader as the government then announced its intention to breach the withdrawal agreement.

"The messaging is not different," Ms Foster added saying she had the full support of her party.

"I think people look for differences in intonation and tone between different members of the DUP and that's just the way the media view the DUP. They shouldn't view it in that way, of course, but there is nothing I can do in relation to that.

"We are in a democratic party and I welcome that. It is important we hear voices from right across the party and it would be very wrong if people were not able to give their views and I take that on board."

Read More

Meanwhile Mrs Foster and deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill have raised the prospect of Northern Ireland having to re-enter a period of full coronavirus lockdown.

First Minister Arlene Foster said a two-week period of lockdown to try to halt the spread of the virus - a so-called circuit breaker - could not be ruled out.

Mrs Foster urged the public to work together so such a move could be avoided.

Ms O'Neill added: "I think the notion of a potential circuit breaker has to be something that we absolutely have in the mix," she said.

"We have always said we will step forward and step back according to the virus spread, so initiatives such as that is certainly something that we would have to consider."

Ms O'Neill said ministers would also be considering whether to introduce early closing time for pubs.
New Delhi, Sep 22 : The coronavirus pandemic has endangered our basic human rights and liberties and taught us that it is time to change our values, priorities and perspective if humanity is to survive, says Ramin Jahanbegloo, a prominent political philosopher of Iranian origin, in his new book, "The Courage to Exist - A Philosophy of Life and Death in the Age of Coronavirus" (Orient BlackSwan).

Indeed, the present is what the ancient Greeks regarded as "kairos", the opportune moment to respond to the constraints of the "zeitgeist" (the spirit of the times), Jahanbegloo, currently the Executive Director of the Mahatma Gandhi Centre for Nonviolence and Peace Studies and the Vice-Dean of the School of Law at Jindal Global University in Sonepat, writes.

"In the Middle Ages, people considered the Black Death as a punishment from God. But in a post-theological world like ours, even those who believe in the story of the Apocalypse wear masks and go to the hospital to be tested for corona.

Therefore, to believe or not to believe in the final judgement does not change the fact that this virus has endangered our basic rights and civil liberties and emptied the houses of God," Jahanbegloo writes in this slim 96-page book that will definitely make you sit up and think.

"The threat of the coronavirus should make us conscious of the existence of bigger threats that endanger human lives (like climate change). It is time for humanity to understand that the consequences of its actions will be disastrous and catastrophic. What the coronavirus pandemic teaches us is that if humanity is to survive, this is the time for it to change its values, its priorities, and its perspectives," Jahanbegloo asserts.

As members of the human race, for each of us today, "life and death are critical points when we must respond to the zeitgeist. The coronavirus pandemic is certainly one of those historical moments when our past, present and future seem to be colliding in the same zeitgeist. The time and space of the coronavirus is certainly an instant of 'proclamation' but also one of 'decision'".

"The non-human world of the coronavirus has proclaimed its supremacy over the human world and taken control of human destiny. But the human world has not yet pronounced its last word. Humanity is living its kairos, its propitious moment and its opportunity to take a decision...But more importantly, the kairic moment of human destiny is to invite humanity to introspect and to make a fundamental change in its approach to living and dying," the author maintains.

Stressing on the need to re-evaluate some of the basic values on which the socio-economic and political contracts of our world stand, Jahanbegloo says this can only happen by "redefining the art of living together as an act of global exchange".

"The art of living together cannot be measured in terms of self-interests and personal ambitions (as it is in the corporate world), but in terms of virtue and excellence applied to a global citizenship.

"Democracy is based, both in theory and practice on the idea of civic virtue and on the simple truth that citizens are capable to governing themselves. Civic virtue is the central matrix for self-reflectiveness and self-government. It is crucial to understand that the coronavirus pandemic has been accompanied by the decline of civic values and the lack of citizen virtue in different segments of global society," the author laments but is nonetheless optimistic of the future.

"This is where civic education as a democracy-building tool must play an important role and is a vital requirement for establishing a common humanity and solidarity. In post-coronavirus societies, where human plurality and civil liberties are threatened, civic education or paideia is the only door open to an art of living together," Jahanbegloo maintains.

"This is our only kairos, our unique window of opportunity to save humanity from itself...we all know that we are living through the death of a culture which offered us the path to power, prosperity and abundance. Because our choice is no longer between good and evil, but between the art of living and a life of meaninglessness and fear. Never before has humankind had so many reasons not to live a life of mindless, ignominious suffering and mediocrity.

"The courage to live the art of living is our passport to the future," Jahanbegloo concludes.

If only someone would explain this to Donald Trump! (Vishnu Makhijani can be reached at vishnu.makhijani@ians.in)
Nayanthara and Vignesh Shivan's recent picture has taken the internet by storm. The duo who was on a trip to Kerala and Goa are finally back home, and a few pictures of them landing in Chennai has now gone viral on social media.

In the pictures, the south diva can be seen wearing a white t-shirt and black pleated skirt along with black shades while Vignesh donned a white t-shirt with a black jacket and grey denim. The duo looked stunning together as they were all smiles and walked their way holding hands.

Earlier, the duo's vacay pictures from Goa and Kerala went viral as Vignesh shared them on his social media handles. Nayanthara and Vignesh apparently kicked off their trip from Kerala, where they celebrated Onam with family in August. The Naanum Rowdy Thaan director had shared pictures of them wearing traditional Kerala attires, and captioned the picture from Kochi as "Onam wishes to all the Lovely people around :) Let's find reasons to be happy and enhance them with hope :) amidst this pandemic that's the only way to invite a smile on everyone's faces :)."

Later, the couple was seen enjoying a vacation in Goa as they celebrated Nayanthara's mother Omana Kurian and Vignesh Shivan's birthday. Among all the pictures taken from Candolim Beach (as suggested in Vignesh Shivan's Instagram location), the one that garnered a huge response is Nayanthara's adorable picture in a white dress. Vignesh had clicked a few candid shots of the actress with greenery all around, and she indeed looked beautiful in her no-makeup look. He captioned the picture as "White is always wonderful". Well, fans can't keep calm as they yearn for more pictures of the adorable couple.

Meanwhile, on the work front, the actress was last seen in Rajinikanth's 2020 film Darbar directed by AR Murugadoss. Vignesh and Nayanthara will join hands in reel life as well, as they will be working together in Kaathuvaakula Rendu Kaadhal. Touted to be a rom-com, the film will also feature Vijay Sethupathi and Samantha Akkineni in lead roles.

When Nayanthara Opened Up About Her 'Secret Wedding'!

Vignesh Shivan On Wedding Plans With Nayanthara: When We Get Bored With Dating, Will Get Married
Covid-19 carriers with no symptoms are just as likely to transmit the coronavirus as those who feel ill, according to scientists.

Two studies published today have given further clues about the role played by 'silent' spreaders  who make up around one in five of the infected.

One study of South Korean Covid-19 cases revealed asymptomatic patients had the same viral load as those with signs of the disease, such a fever, a new and persistent cough or a new loss or change of taste or smell.

Viral load is a measure of how many viral particles someone has circulating in their body and how likely they are to transmit the virus to others by coughing or talking, for example.

It has previously been speculated that those who do not have tell-tale symptoms are infected with a smaller amount of the virus and, therefore, are less likely to spread it.

But some studies say asymptomatic spread accounts for the majority of transmission of the disease, given that people do not self-isolate if they are unaware they have the virus.

The truth is still yet to be uncovered, however another study today suggested the majority of people do show symptoms of the disease.

Swiss researchers analysed 79 studies and estimated that only one in five Covid-19 carriers show no signs of illness at all  far fewer than previously predicted.

But in contrast to the South Korean study, it found asymptomatic people were less likely to pass the virus onto friends and family.

Covid-19 carriers with no symptoms - making up around 20 per cent of those with the infection - are just as likely to transmit the coronavirus, studies show. Researchers said it reinforced the importance of measures like face mask wearing. Pictured: London commuters, June 15, wearing masks

The task of uncovering how many people with Covid-19 have no symptoms is difficult because it relies on screening people at random, which is time-consuming and expensive.

There remains disagreement about what proportion of total infections these cases represent.

However, their existence is feared to threaten the ability to keep on top of the coronavirus because silent carriers carry on their daily business, spreading the virus further without knowing.

The South Korean study claimed people who are infected but have no symptoms may have 'comparable potential'  an equal risk  for spreading the virus as those who do have symptoms.

It is at odds with previous theories that have suggested less severe disease means the patient is less infectious.

A team of researchers examined people who were at a community facility designated for the isolation of patients with mild Covid-19 in South Korea.

They evaluated patients' symptoms as well as the amount of virus they were carrying  their viral load  in their noses and throats.

There were 213 patients without severe symptoms. Of these, 19 per cent were completely asymptomatic - the same estimate given in the Swiss study.

HOW DANGEROUS ARE 'SILENT CARRIERS'? Since the Covid-19 outbreak began, concern about asymptomatic spread has been rife. Those who do not show symptoms would not come forward to get tested, unless for some reason they are screened. Therefore they carry on their lives unaware they have the coronavirus, spreading it to others. The task of uncovering how many people Covid-19 cases are asymptomatic is almost impossible because it relies on screening of populations on a mass scale. But some studies give clues. The most alarming was that from Professor Alvin Ing and colleagues from Macquarie University in Sydney, published in the BMJ Journal Thorax on May 28. The researchers analysed tests from all 217 passengers and crew on board a ship that departed from Argentina for a 21-day cruise of the Antarctic Peninsula in mid-March. A total of 128 tested positive. The majority - 81 per cent - were asymptomatic. The second question is how much do 'silent carriers' contribute to the spread of the disease. Two conflicting studies were published on September 22. One study of South Korean Covid-19 cases, published in the journal Thorax, revealed those without symptoms had the same viral load as those with signs of the disease. Viral load gives an indication of the ability to transmit the virus to others by shedding the virus when coughing or talking, for example. Having a high viral load  the number of particles of the virus someone is infected with  may make people more contagious, evidence suggests. It can also give the bug a 'jump start'. But the researchers were not able to prove this made asymptomatic people as infectious as symptomatic people, however. The other study, a review of literature by researchers at University of Bern, Switzerland, said people who did not have symptoms were less likely to pass the coronavirus on to friends a family - a contradiction of the South Korean study, using different study methods. The team looked at the secondary attack rate - the proportion of close contacts who catch Covid-19 from an 'index case'. It was presymptomatic spread that appeared to be the most problematic - that is, people transmitting the virus to others before their symptoms appear. 'The analysis of secondary attack rates provides some evidence of lower infectiousness of people with asymptomatic than symptomatic infection,' the study authors wrote. Academics in Ireland reviewed 17 global studies to estimate how much transmission occurs in the 'presymptomatic' period, publishing their findings on the website MedRxiv. They found between 33 and 80 per cent of cases caught the virus from people who would have had no idea they were even infected before later showing symptoms. It takes an average of six days before a person develops the tell-tale signs of Covid-19, which includes a fever and persistent cough. But in those days prior to symptoms, patients are infectious and can pass the deadly virus onto others. Transmission is most likely one day before symptoms start, lead author Miriam Casey and team concluded, but can happen as early as three days before. Controlling presymptomatic spread is crucial for keeping on top of the disease when lockdowns are eased, experts said. It hinges on the success of contact tracing, which involves identifying all individuals who have been in close contact with a confirmed case. Looking at all the evidence, Ms Casey and colleagues estimated 56.1 per cent of transmission was from people before they showed symptoms. Overall, a substantial amount of presymptomatic spread is contributing to the crisis, the authors warned. Advertisement

Researchers found, however, that people without symptoms had similar viral loads to symptomatic patients. They were not able to prove this made them as infectious, however.

Having a high viral load  the number of particles of the virus someone is infected with  may make people more contagious, evidence suggests, because it can also give the bug a 'jump start'.

If someone is infected with a larger first dose of viruses it might mean their immune system gets overwhelmed and takes longer to fight back against the infection.

The South Korean study, published in the journal Thorax, said: 'Asymptomatic individuals... harboured a comparable viral load compared with that of symptomatic patients and may thus act as a meaningful driving force for the community spread of Covid-19.'

In a linked podcast, lead author Professor Sung-Han Kim said the findings 'support the possibility asymptomatic individuals are contributing to the ongoing community spread of Covid-19'.

He said: 'The viral load was similar between asymptomatic individuals and symptomatic patients. This suggests that asymptomatic with a Sars-CoV-2 infection have a comparable potential for spreading the virus as symptomatic patients.

'Our data add further support to the general public use of face masks, regardless of the presence of symptoms, and suggest that the scope of SARS-CoV-2 testing should be expanded to include asymptomatic individuals in high-risk settings, such as nursing homes or healthcare facilities.'

But Dr Jeff Barrett, a senior scientific consultant at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, said: 'The samples taken for this analysis are an average of 13 days after initial diagnosis. We now understand that the total viral load drops off over this time period.

'The results therefore don't support the statement that "they may have a key role in driving the spread of Covid-19". To make such a claim would require testing individuals at the peak of their infectiousness, not two weeks later.'

Dr Julian Tang, an honorary associate professor of respiratory sciences at the University of Leicester, pointed out another finding of the study - that 'viral load does not necessarily impact on clinical severity'.

Essentially even if a person has a high viral load, it doesn't necessarily mean they will become unwell with the disease.

'Covid-19 is mostly a host-immune mediated disease,' he said. 'The viral load does not really impact on this in most cases. Not all ICU cases have high viral loads - in some, the virus has already cleared before they are even admitted to ICU.'

Some people may experience severe infections resulting in viral pneumonia or respiratory distress syndrome, while others remain completely asymptomatic or develop mild, non-specific symptoms.

The full spectrum and distribution of the severity of symptoms are still not well understood.

'Asymptomatic cases can spread virus aerosols simply by breathing and talking, which may be the most common way we transmit this pathogen - even with just a typical viral load.

'We breathe and talk a lot more than we cough, so if everyone wears masks in indoor areas in the presence of other people it will also contain the virus quite effectively in those who don't even know they are infected, and reduce transmission.'

The review of literature by researchers led by PhD epidemiology student Diana Buitrago-Garcia, at University of Bern, Switzerland, covered 6,600 people.

The participants, in 79 studies, had been screened for the coronavirus because they were a close contact of a Covid-19 case, for example.

One study included was based on the swabs of all 634 passengers from the Diamond Princess cruise ship, which suffered an outbreak of Covid-19 in February.

A total of 1,287 were defined as asymptomatic throughout the course of their disease. The researchers estimated that 20 per cent of infections were asymptomatic.

The rest had developed symptoms at some point while testing positive.

Dr Simon Clarke, associate professor of cellular microbiology at the University of Reading who was not involved with the research, said although 80 per cent had symptoms at some point, they are still likely to be pre-symptomatic.

He said: 'It remains the case that on any given day, the majority of people with the virus will not be displaying any symptoms and these findings should not in any way detract from current infection control advice.'

That study, published in PLOS Medicine, found people who did not have symptoms were less likely to pass the coronavirus on to friends a family - a contradiction of the South Korean study, using different study methods.

Ms Buitrago-Garcia and colleagues looked at the secondary attack rate - the proportion of close contacts who catch Covid-19 from an 'index case'.

It was pre-symptomatic spread that appeared to be the most problematic - that is, people transmitting the virus to others before their symptoms appear.

'The analysis of secondary attack rates provides some evidence of lower infectiousness of people with asymptomatic than symptomatic infection,' the study authors wrote.

They said accurate estimates of true asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic infections are critical to understanding transmission of the coronavirus during the pandemic.
Jaipur: Former Minister of Rajasthan and three times MLA from Tonk constituency, Zakia Inam died on Monday(September 21) night due to coronavirus infection. Zakia was unwell from the last few days and she was undergoing treatment in RUHS hospital in Jaipur.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot expressed grief on her demise and said, ''My heartfelt condolences at the passing away of Congress leader and former minister Zakiya Inam ji. May the Almighty give strength to her family members to bear this loss. May her soul rest in peace.''

My heartfelt condolences at the passing away of Congress leader and former minister Zakiya Inam ji. May the Almighty give strength to her family members to bear this loss. May her soul rest in peace.. #Rajasthan  Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) September 22, 2020

Congress leader Zakiya Inam had handled portfolios like health, women and child welfare in Rajasthan government.

In the year 1985, Zakiya contested for the first time as a Congress candidate. However, she was not given ticket in the year 1993. She contested election as a Congress candidate in the year 1985, 1990, 1998, 2003, 2008 and 2013. Zakia became MLA in 1998, 2008.

Notably, Zakia was the only woman candidate who became three-time MLA in Rajasthan.
RAHWAY, N.J., Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- RSI Bank is proud to have successfully processed and submitted 100% of the qualified Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications that were received from local businesses and small business customers. As a community bank, RSI Bank works primarily with small businesses with operations in New Jersey.

Many banks reported processing slowdowns in early April related to the E-Tran system and RSI Bank was no exception. The Bank's commercial lending staff jumped into action. The team put in long days to assist borrowers during the two funding rounds, including many new small business customers. The staff provided personalized attention through the submission and funding processes, ensuring businesses received everything needed for success with their PPP loan application.

Victor Zeiser of Squeek Lights LLC in Middlesex, NJ, sums up his experience:

"The level of service I receive from RSI is better than I ever previously received from a bank. While it is normally nice to have easy to reach bankers who not only know my name but my dog's as well, the difference really showed during the COVID-19 crisis. While national banks were leaving small businesses out in the rain, prioritizing getting PPP loans for their larger corporate customers, the team at RSI made sure I was taken care of when I needed it most."

RSI Bank calculates over 2,300 local jobs were funded through applications underwritten by the Bank. The average loan funded was approximately $80,000. The largest loan financed was under $1,400,000 and smallest was under $1,000. Most loans were made to businesses operating in Union County and Middlesex County, New Jersey.

Visit RSI.bank/business-home to read statements from satisfied customers and to learn about RSI Bank's business banking services.

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Federal officials have granted final approvals for a Houston-to-Dallas high-speed rail line, clearing the way for construction in a move almost certain to spark political and legal challenges.

The train wont stop in San Antonio.

Rail planners and lawmakers generally agree that completing a Houston-Dallas route first makes more economic sense because construction will cost less  rural rights of way in East Texas are less expensive than here  and because the line will connect the states two largest markets.

Noriko Hayashi /Bloomberg

The most logical passenger train corridor for San Antonio  to Austin along Interstate 35  has been studied since at least 1989 and is unlikely to be revived soon. But if the Houston-Dallas line enjoys success, some officials think South Texans would ask why that success couldnt be replicated on the San Antonio-Austin corridor.

Texas Central Railroad, the company overseeing the Houston-to-Dallas project, said the trip between the two cities will take 90 minutes, with trains traveling at speeds of more than 200 mph along a sealed corridor through rural Texas. The train will stop near College Station.

The company said Monday that the Federal Railroad Administration has approved two key technical documents: a record of decision concluding an environmental analysis of the project and a rule of particular applicability setting safety standards for the Japanese-developed train.

Michael Ciaglo /Houston Chronicle

This is the moment we have been working towards, said Carlos Aguilar, CEO of Texas Central Railroad.

Company officials initially expected construction to cost $10 billion. They now say it will cost about $20 billion and could begin in the first half of 2021.

With the two approvals in hand, Texas Central can complete designs for the project and prepare for construction. To start building, the company needs a green light from the U.S. Surface Transportation Board, but that is all but assured now that the Federal Railroad Administration has given its OK.

A consortium of companies will build and operate the system. They include Italian construction giant Webuild (formerly Salini Impregilo); Central Japan Railway, builder of the Shinkansen bullet trains that are the model for the Texas trains; and Spanish rail operator Renfe.

Michael Ciaglo /Houston Chronicle

Texas Central and its supporters, including elected officials in Houston and Dallas, note that the company is based in Texas. They say the consortium will hire thousands of locals to build and operate the system.

The construction of high-speed rail will have a generational impact, creating thousands of jobs right here in Houston and injecting billions of dollars into our local businesses, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said.

News of Texas Centrals regulatory accomplishment caused some of San Antonios biggest rail aficionados to sigh heavily and recall the failed studies and investor groups that tried to bring high-speed rail here.

It would take Gods intervention for us to have high-speed rail, Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff said.

Wolff and his son, County Commissioner Kevin Wolff, have been involved in almost every serious discussion of speedy passenger rail in these parts, from a 1989 plan hatched by former Texas Lt. Gov. Ben Barnes  called the Texas T.G.V., borrowing the abbreviation of Frances high-speed line  to recent talk in Congress about a high-speed line from San Antonio to Laredo and on to Monterrey, Mexico.

They spent $40 million on that T.G.V. thing, Nelson Wolff said, but it didnt work. Too complicated. This new idea may work because it will connect the two largest markets in the state, Houston and Dallas, but I wont ever live to see it. Wolff turns 80 next month.

Kevin Wolff said Texas Centrals decision to connect Houston and Dallas first makes obvious economic sense.

Outside of the two major cities, he said, that route is almost entirely rural, and the purchase of rights of way will be exponentially cheaper than they would have been from, say, Austin to San Antonio, or Dallas to Austin.

Former Mayor Henry Cisneros said that although nothing is on the drawing board to bring high-speed rail to San Antonio or Austin, the Houston-Dallas line could move it a step closer. Texas Centrals planned stop near College Station could sprout an offshoot connecting the home of Texas A&M University to Austin, Cisneros said.

Once its in Dallas and Houston, then I think its up to us to make the Texas Triangle a viable rationale for extending that rail in the future, Cisneros said.

The Texas Triangle refers to the area encompassing the states four main urban centers: Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio and Austin, which are connected by Interstates 45, 10 and 35 and have a combined population of nearly 18 million.

Peter LeCody, president of the lobbying group Texas Rail Advocates, offered a blunt assessment of why San Antonio wasnt part of Texas first high-speed rail venture.

San Antonio just never seemed to have its arms opened wide for high-speed rail like North Texas and the Houston area, LeCody said. In San Antonio, the picture looked pretty bleak, so they were crossed off the list pretty quick by investors.

Yet LeCody said 20 state legislators from Austin to San Antonio have supported reviving plans for rail service between the two cities. LeCody thinks that when Texas Central finally breaks ground in East Texas, it will spur demand for something similar along I-35.

Even with its new federal approvals, the Houston-Dallas line faces intense opposition. Opponents contend the project will cost much more than projected and will ruin the character of many rural communities. The Federal Railroad Administration analysis estimates the line will displace 235 homes and 42 businesses and will permanently affect more than 3,500 acres of farmland.

This project has been flawed from the beginning, and the FRA has ignored calls from concerned property owners, safety professionals and even other rail companies, said Taylor Ward, spokesperson for ReRoute the Route, a group established to oppose the project.

He added: We are hopeful Texas lawmakers  state and federal  will urge President Trump that not a single federal taxpayer dollar is spent on this insolvent and fatally flawed project.

Another leading opponent, U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady, R-The Woodlands, has warned that if the rail line loses money, taxpayers will be asked to bail it out.

Texas Central and its adversaries long have sparred over the accuracy of claims for and against the project, including estimates that the line would carry 6 million passengers a year in 2029 and 10 million by 2050.

Texas Central has said it is privately funded  mainly by the Japan Bank of International Cooperation, which seeks to export Japanese technology. But company officials also have said they may look to federal loan programs to finance some of the project.

Staff writer Joshua Fechter contributed to this report.

dug.begley@chron.com
Plus, Bill's Message of the Day, an honest look at President Biden's press conference.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
NEW YORK - Two dealers of ancient art were indicted Tuesday for allegedly creating fake ownership histories for the antiquities they sold through auction houses in New York.

Erdal Dere and Faisal Khan used the identities of deceased collectors to create the fake histories for antiquities they sold through Deres New York company, Fortuna Fine Arts Ltd, according to the indictment unsealed Tuesday.

The ownership history of a piece of ancient art, known as its provenance, is important in documenting its value and whether or not it was looted or otherwise obtained illegally. Buying, selling, possessing or transporting stolen or looted property is illegal.

The U.S. attorneys office for New Yorks Southern District alleged that beginning in 2015, Dere drafted fake documents to show ownership history for items his company possessed and for new items Khan bought, primarily in Asia. Khan, Deres associate in the business, located buyers for the items in the U.S. and overseas.

Dere was arrested in New York on Tuesday. Khan was arrested at his home in Flanders, New Jersey. Both were scheduled to make an initial court appearance Tuesday afternoon.

The 50-year-old Dere is charged with conspiracy, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Khan, 47, is charged with wire fraud and conspiracy. The wire fraud and conspiracy charges are punishable by maximum prison terms of 20 years.

A message was left with an attorney representing Dere. The name of an attorney representing Khan wasnt immediately available.

The FBIs art crime team and the New York City police departments major theft task force collaborated on the investigation, along with authorities in Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, Spain, and France.
Pakistan has established smuggling networks over the last years into India and especially within the Kashmir Valley, so as to ensure a steady supply of narcotics and weapons. According the report Pakistans bigger plans of narco-terrorismprepared by South Asia Democratic Forum (SADF), says that an increasing number of exposed consignments on the IndiaPakistan border containing narcotics as well as arms and ammunition were seized by the Border Security Force(BSF), particularly in Punjab, indicates expanding activities by terrorists and drug traders, in both quantitative and qualitative terms. Moreover, it points to Pakistans larger plans to carry out disruptive activities in India.

A remarkable example lies in an instance which occurred on June 29, 2019, when customs officials in Amritsar (near the Attari border) ceased a heroin cargo worth INR 2,700 crores intended to be smuggled into Kashmir. Furthermore, it is reported that the smugglers, in numerous cases, confessed that they were allowed to traffic narcotics across the border on the specific condition that they would take a consignment of weapons and ammunition to be delivered to terrorists in IndiaSADF report.

As per the report, there are clear indications that Pakistani-based narco-terrorist networks have stepped up their activities on the Indo-Pakistan international border and are making incessant attempts to push intruders, arms, ammunition, and narcotics into India. International observers have started to describe Pakistan as a Narcostate based on the state-sponsorship of illicit activities conducted by the ISI and the military. The combined activities of drug traffickers, terrorist organizations, and Pakistani state agencies constitute an escalating danger to Indias state and society. As such, Islamabads narco-terrorism against New Delhi undermines the quality of democracy, the respect for human rights, the rule of law, and social-economic development not only in its immediate neighbourhood but also in the whole of South Asia

Narco-terrorism is here understood as an integral component of Pakistans state-sponsorship of cross-border terrorism used so as to fund and conduct asymmetric warfare against its neighbours -foremost India- and achieve certain foreign policy goals.

The United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) is paying increasing attention to the fact that terrorist organisations use narcotics trafficking for the purpose of gaining revenue and fund their activities. It is argued here that, although state-sponsorship of terrorism is already deeply entrenched within Islamabads policies towards New Delhi, the Narco-type not only constitutes one of its most brutal forms (due to its far reaching and long-lasting consequences) but is also rapidly intensifying.

Pakistans primacy in the international narcotics trade and the funding of terrorist activities has been time and again confirmed by several investigation agencies worldwide, as well as by Pakistani sources. After the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan in 1996, the ISI shifted the focus of financing terrorism towards Indian-administered Jammu & Kashmir .

The involvement by the ISI and other Pakistani security sector agents in the trafficking of illicit narcotics so as to fund anti-Indian activities was disclosed to the Washington Post by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in an interview published in September 1994. Sharif stated that the then Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Aslam Beg and the then Director General (DG) of ISI General Asad Durrani proposed a detailed blue print for selling heroin to pay for the countrys covert military operations. Report states.

It was expected that profits would be used to maintain, even increase, terrorist activities, help winning over the local population as sympathisers for and supporters of the Pakistani cause and raise crime levels in India.

Subsequently, despite the fact that state sponsorship of terrorism has come under increased scrutiny and greater international condemnation, it de facto became a rising threat to the Indian subcontinent and beyond. Here, the overarching aim by Pakistans leadership is obviously to create disorder and undermine New Delhis efforts in establishing good governance and the consolidation of democratic procedures in its frontier regions and major urban areas. As such, cross-border terrorism is sponsored by Pakistan so as to weaken India from within  economically, militarily, politically, and socially . In order to achieve this, Pakistan is targeting the Indian population, not only through indiscriminate killings but also via the use of drugs to destabilize local communities, foment social divisions, neutralize law enforcement agents, subvert governmental effectiveness, accentuate class differences, and exploit the weak (especially the youth, to be recruited into terrorist cells or become addicted to narcotics  or both).

Due to major terrorist attacks, like Uri and Pulwama, and the subsequently increased security measures by the Indian armed forces led to the suspension of traditional smuggling routes in the area and forced the Pakistani to use other land-based trafficking options through Punjab and Gujarat. Also the sea-based smuggling gained significance for Islamabads crime-terror nexus.

One of the latest incidents happened on last September 12, when the BSFs 124 Battalion in the Abohar sector recovered a substantial cache of arms and ammunition. The weaponry consignment was found inside the Indian territory at Dona Mattar village in Ferozpur district and could have been dropped by Pakistani smugglers to be retrieved by their Indian collaborators.

Earlier on August 22, the BSF shot dead five heavily armed Pakistani infiltrators along the international border near Tarn Taran in Punjab. This was the highest number of intruders killed in a single incident along the frontier with Pakistan in more than a decade. Another infiltration attempt was foiled by the BSF, which gunned down two Pakistani-based smugglers in the night from 8 to 9 September 2020. The Indian border force was able to seize further arms and ammunition, drugs, and Pakistani currency. On August 28, during a anti tunnelling drive, a Pakistani-made tunnel was detected by the BSF. In the past, such channels were used to skirt border fortifications by infiltrators and conduct terrorist attacks on Indian soil.
She recently returned from a sun-soaked holiday in Croatia with her boyfriend Kris Boyson.

And Bianca Gascoigne showcased her bronzed tan as she stepped out with her younger brother Regan, 24, in London on Thursday.

The glamour model, 33, put on a busty display in a plunging white corset blazer as she headed to a restaurant named Ours with her sibling.

All eyes on her: Bianca Gascoigne turned heads as she stepped out with her younger brother Regan, 24, in London on Thursday

Bianca's jaw-dropping cleavage and tiny waist were highlighted in the blazer which came complete with sheer piping detail.

The former Celebrity Big Brother star showed off her golden tan as she strutted to the restaurant in matching white shorts and red stilettos.

She wore her blonde locks in soft waves and amped up the glamour with a rouge lip.

Sizzling display: The glamour model, 33, put on a busty display in a plunging white corset blazer as she headed to the restaurant named Ours with her sibling

Regan, meanwhile, looked dapper in a crushed velvet jacket and a crisp white shirt.

Bianca recently revealed she moved in with her personal trainer boyfriend Kris, 29, who is Katie Price's ex, after their first date in a interview.

The couple took their relationship to the next level as they spent the UK's nationwide lockdown together just weeks after embarking on a romance.

Despite dating for only five months, the reality stars admitted they'd definitely want to get married and start a family in the future as they 'completely trust' each other.

Whirlwind romance: Bianca recently revealed she moved in with her personal trainer boyfriend Kris Boyson, 29, who is Katie Price's ex, after their first date in a interview

Katie Price's ex told new! magazine: 'We've spent every single day together practically since we met. You wouldn't lock down with someone for 100 days if it was a showmance.'

Bianca and Kris were introduced to each other three years ago when he provided her with healthy meals in preparation of a charity fight, which got cancelled when her opponent, his ex Katie Price, pulled out.

They lost contact for a while, before fitness enthusiast Kris slid into her Instagram DMs earlier this year.

The couple currently reside in Kent and are renovating their pad with a cinema room and a new bar.
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Linkedin Dzulfiqar Fathur Rahman (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, September 22, 2020 16:43 487 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46706d5 1 Business Gayo-coffee,Trade-Ministry,export,marketing Free

The Trade Ministry launched Indonesia Coffee Week on Monday to promote the nations beans and boost exports, especially to the European Union (EU), as trade lags during the pandemic.

The event aims to market coffee varieties with a Geographical Indication (GI), a designation for products that have a specific region of origin and possess qualities or a reputation related to that region.

Gayo coffee, which is grown in Central Aceh, was the first Indonesian GI coffee variety to be recognized by the European Union and was registered in 2017. The event, which is being held between Sept. 17 and 25, is set to coincide with the Gayo arabica coffee harvest in late September.

I sincerely hope that our trade representatives in Europe will give serious attention to Indonesian GI products, including Gayo arabica coffee, so that these and other products can penetrate the global market, said Trade Minister Agus Suparmanto during a press briefing on Monday, adding that GI was an important means of increasing exports through branding and marketing.

Indonesia and the EU already have an agreement to promote Gayo coffee through the ASEAN Regional Integration Support by the EU (ARISE) Plus program. The program has some 15 million euros (US$17.5 million) in funding and will last until 2023.

Indonesia, the worlds fourth-largest coffee producer, exported $883.1 million worth of coffee last year, a 7.9 percent increase from 2018, according to the United Nations International Trade Statistics Database (UN Comtrade).

This year, the pandemic has battered the global demand, leading Indonesian exports to fall 8.34 percent annually in August and nosedive by 4.62 percent from July, according to Statistics Indonesia (BPS) data.

At the same time, shipments of agricultural products rose 1.04 percent year-on-year to $340 million.

Agus said he hoped the finalization of the Indonesia-EU Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IEU-CEPA), Indonesias largest bilateral trade negotiation to date, would boost Indonesian coffee exports to the bloc.

Read also: Indonesia seeks to conclude trade negotiation with EU next year to bolster recovery

We are hopeful that the finalization of the I-EU CEPA will now enable this variety of our coffee and other GI products to be recognized and protected by the EU market, he said.



Indonesian officials have said they hope to secure the trade deal with the bloc next year.

The EU was Indonesias fourth-largest trading partner in 2019, with trade worth US$26.9 billion.



Kasan Muhri, the ministrys director general of national export development, said the upcoming Gayo coffee harvest was expected to produce about 52,000 tons of coffee.



We will also facilitate virtual business matching between exporters and producers of Gayo coffee and buyers from Europe, said Kasan.



Kasan added that the ministry would promote other Indonesian GI coffee, such as the Java Preanger variety.



Vincent Piket, the EU ambassador to Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam, said the bloc supported the protection of GI products like Gayo coffee because it promoted economic development, domestic innovation and foreign investment.



I wish to support the development of GIs by the government of Indonesia, said Piket. Geographic indications matter economically, they matter culturally, and they help create value for local communities through products that are deeply rooted in tradition, culture and geography.
Pashinian cited government data which shows the sectors combined turnover increasing by 24 percent year on year, to $176 million, in the first half of this year.

He said the number of officially registered tech workers rose to 16,442 from 14,533 in the year-earlier period.

Many of them work for local subsidiaries of U.S. tech giants like Synopsys, National Instruments, Mentor Graphics and VMware. A growing number of other information technology (IT) engineers are employed by Armenian startups and other homegrown firms.

The number of companies active in the sector rose by 11 percent, from 1,007 to 1,118, Pashinian added in a Facebook post.

The official figures contrast sharply with Armenias overall macroeconomic performance in 2020. Its economy contracted by about 14 percent in the second quarter of the year after growing by almost 4 percent in the first quarter.

The decline followed a nationwide lockdown imposed by the Armenian government in March. Citing the continuing coronavirus crisis, the countrys Central Bank forecast last week a full-year GDP fall of 6.2 percent.

The Armenian tech industry dominated by software firms has been growing at double-digit annual rates for more than a decade, making it the fastest-growing sector of the national economy. It expanded by about 30 percent in 2019.

Industry executives say a shortage of skilled personnel is what prevents its even faster growth. They have long complained about the inadequate quality of education at information departments of Armenian universities. Many of their students require additional training after graduation.
Queensland could reopen its border to all of NSW on October 6 if health authorities can trace how every new COVID-19 case is acquired from now until then.

Queensland Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said there had been no new COVID-19 cases north of Sydney "for quite a while", and NSW had not had any new community transmission cases since September 8.

She said NSW would have to record 28 days straight without a coronavirus case where the source of infection was a mystery, and that trigger was unlikely to change at the September border review.

Tuesday marked 14 days since the last case of untraceable SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, was detected in NSW.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 19:55:15|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping reaffirmed China's commitments to multilateralism at a high-level meeting on Monday to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the United Nations (UN), pledging to promote a community with a shared future for mankind.

Since Xi proposed "building a community with a shared future for mankind" almost seven years ago, he has been reiterating this flagship vision as China's solution to collectively address global challenges.

This vision embodies the ideas of building an open, inclusive, clean, and beautiful world that enjoys lasting peace, universal security, and common prosperity. It answers the major question of how the international community should face a period of turbulence and change that is characterized by increased fragmentation in response to salient risks and challenges.

Xi's notion, as stressed on various occasions, including at the UN General Assembly, the national congress of the Communist Party of China, and meetings with foreign leaders, has gained widespread international recognition. Now the concept bears greater significance and relevance at the UN's high-level meeting, as leaders of countries, large and small, rich and poor, are expected to jointly forge solutions on issues including global public health, full equality and climate action, among others.

The world is witnessing the rise of protectionism, unilateralism and bullying practices, with the COVID-19 pandemic compounding the challenges. Certain countries and political forces keep playing the blame game, clamoring for "decoupling," and pulling out of international organizations and agreements. What they are doing is sabotaging international cooperation, stoking confrontation between ideologies and social systems, and putting the world in serious jeopardy.

Yet, peace and development are still the prevailing trend of the day. Through cooperation and mutual benefit, countries are increasingly becoming a community with shared interests, shared responsibilities and a shared future.

The COVID-19 pandemic, the largest global public health challenge in the history of the UN, has reminded us in the most powerful way that we are closely interconnected. Sharing fears and hopes for the future, the humanity must show solidarity to build a global community of health for all, as Xi has proposed, to overcome the pandemic and make the world prosper again.

Win-win cooperation is the only choice for the world if it wishes to advance. As Xi said in his address to the UN meeting on Monday, no country has the right to dominate global affairs, control the destiny of others, or keep advantages in development all to itself. Even less should one be allowed to do whatever it likes and be the hegemon, bully or boss of the world.

Incorporating Chinese wisdom, the concept of "building a community with a shared future for mankind" serves as a global public good in response to a global deficit of governance, trust, peace and development.

It emphasizes respecting each other, discussing issues as equals, resolutely rejecting the Cold War mentality and power politics, and taking a new approach to developing state-to-state relations with communication, not confrontation, and with partnership, not alliance.

It advocates settling disputes through dialogue and resolving differences through discussion, coordinating responses to traditional and non-traditional threats, and opposing terrorism in all its forms.

It calls for sticking together through thick and thin, promoting trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, and making economic globalization more open, inclusive, and balanced so that its benefits are shared by all.

It stresses respecting the diversity of civilizations and replacing estrangement with exchange, clashes with mutual learning, and superiority with coexistence in handling relations among civilizations.

It highlights the importance of being friendly to the environment, cooperating to tackle climate change, and protecting the planet for the sake of human survival.

In line with such notions, China has not only talked the talk, but also walked the walk to put them into practice.

As a founding member of the UN and the first country to sign on the UN Charter, China actively looks for peaceful settlement of major regional disputes, such as the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, the Iranian nuclear issue, and conflicts in Afghanistan, Myanmar, the Middle East, and Syria, and has dispatched more than 40,000 peacekeepers to over 30 missions, contributing more peacekeepers than any other permanent member of the UN Security Council.

As a member to nearly all universal inter-governmental organizations and a signatory to over 500 international conventions, China has faithfully honored its commitments. In the face of COVID-19, China has actively responded to the UN-initiated Global Humanitarian Response Plan: a cash donation of 50 million U.S. dollars to the World Health Organization, assistance in kind to over 150 countries and international organizations, and medical exports to more than 200 countries and regions.

China has made an important contribution to the conclusion of the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement and its implementation guidelines. The country's climate target for 2020 has been met ahead of schedule, representing a significant contribution to the global response to climate change.

The notion behind these actions is key to understanding China's major-country diplomacy and grasping the opportunities of China's development in the future.

China takes pride and has full confidence in its own development path, but also respects the development paths of other countries and has no interest in ideological confrontation or exporting its social system to others. It has no ambition to seek hegemony. China wants to rewrite, if anything, the obsolete model of a country seeking hegemony as it grows stronger, and is firmly committed to finding a new path of peaceful development and win-win cooperation with other countries.

The dream of the Chinese people is closely connected with the dreams of the peoples of other countries. China's development cannot be separated from that of the world, and it will promote world peace and safeguard a stable international order through its own development.

The Chinese government has ensured that the basic needs of its 1.4 billion people are met, and all of its rural residents living below the current poverty line will be lifted out of poverty this year, a great contribution to world human-rights protection. It also seeks greater synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative, a solution to enhance connectivity, and the UN's 2030 Agenda for sustainable development.

China is fostering a new development pattern known as "dual circulation," which takes the domestic market as the mainstay while allowing domestic and foreign markets to boost each other. The stability of the world's largest market also brings certainty and development opportunities to other markets which are in dire need to offset the headwinds of global economic recession.

Seventy-five years ago, world leaders took visionary steps to establish the UN, the most representative and authoritative international organization, to recover from a calamitous global war. The UN's 75th anniversary comes as a reminder that a community with a shared future lies in the collective hands of humanity and challenges can only be addressed through reinvigorated multilateralism.

China will firmly defend the central role of the UN in international affairs, work with countries around the world to uphold multilateralism, and join the UN on a new journey with renewed commitments to peace, development and justice to shape a better future shared by all. Enditem
DETROIT, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- A novel publication in the Nature journal Neuropsychopharmacology asserts that the stress of racism produces an increased risk for mental health disorders like anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder in the Black community, especially in the current climate brought on by COVID-19 and the Black Lives Matter movement, leading to a critical need to utilize science to understand racism's true biological impact.

Wayne State University School of Medicine Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences and the David and Patricia Barron Endowed Chair in PTSD and Trauma Neurobiology Tanja Jovanovic, Ph.D., wrote "The critical importance in identifying the biological mechanisms underlying the effects of racism on mental health" with Tracy Bale, Ph.D., a professor of Pharmacology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore.

Jovanovic has studied the impact of trauma on the brain and behavior in primarily African American urban communities for more than 15 years. The focus of her work has been in exposure to neighborhood and domestic violence, and post-traumatic stress disorder. She is now investigating the impact of racial discrimination "above and beyond that of other types of trauma."

"It is clear that the impact of racism is chronic, pervasive, and for many, unavoidable. Moreover it leaves the brain and body vulnerable to many disorders, including PTSD and many physical diseases," she said.

Her collaborator is a leading expert in understanding the impact of chronic stress on a molecular level. The duo decided to work together to examine the impact of the chronic stress of racism on biology. For a year, they studied biomarkers of stress that are also linked to immune system function.

"We've known for a long time that experiences of racial discrimination have a deep and long-term effect on psychology and mental health, and that there are substantial health disparities in that African American men and women are more likely to suffer from many medical illnesses compared to white individuals," Jovanovic said. "A large part of this is due to systemic racism in health care, however, we believe racism also leaves an imprint on the body, which has not been well understood."

Bale works primarily with animal models of chronic stress and focuses on epigenetic and proteomic signatures of stress. Jovanovic focuses on African American women and children with urban trauma exposure who have experienced significant racism.

"In writing this article, I contributed the information from individuals in Detroit reporting experiences of racism, especially in the current context of the Black Lives Matter movement, while Bale reported on the state-of-the art molecular methods that show the greatest promise as biomarkers of chronic stress and immune function," Jovanovic said.

She wants the field of stress and trauma research to focus on the impact of racism on the brain and the body. The duo are working on a series of grants and publications that describe these biological mechanisms in African American men and women in Detroit.

"Black communities have been disproportionally affected by COVID-19; the pandemic has uncovered both systemic disparities and health-related vulnerability. It is truly of critical importance that we understand and mitigate the root causes of these vulnerabilities," she said.

SOURCE Wayne State University

Related Links

http://www.wayne.edu


A demonstrator holds a sign with the image of Breonna Taylor in Denver, Colo., on June 3, 2020. (Jason Connolly/AFP via Getty Images)

Louisville Police Declare State of Emergency Ahead of Breonna Taylor Decision

Louisville police declared a state of emergency ahead of an announcement from Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron regarding an investigation into Breonna Taylors death.

To ensure we have the appropriate level of staffing to provide for public safety services and our policing functions, effective immediately the LMPD will operate under the emergency staffing and reporting guidelines as outlined in the Standard Operating Procedures, Emergency Response Plan and collective bargaining agreements until further notice, Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) Interim Chief Rob Schroeder said in a statement.

He also declared a state of emergency for the Louisville Metro Police Department.

Taylor was shot and killed by Louisville narcotics officers while serving a warrant in her apartment in March of this year. Protesters have been gathering in the city for several months following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

Effective immediately, all off-days are hereby cancelled and vacation requests that have not already been submitted and approved are cancelled until further notice, the statement read.

Reports said that the federal courthouse and adjacent offices in Louisville were boarded up on Sunday ahead of the decision.

Grandmaster Jay, left, leader of NFAC, leads a march in Louisville, Ky., on July 25, 2020. (Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)

Police in riot gear stand in formation during protests in Louisville, Ky., on May 29, 2020. (Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)

Due to increased attention and activity in anticipation of an announcement from Attorney General Daniel Cameron regarding the Breonna Taylor case, a decision was made to accelerate plans to physically restrict access to the downtown area, the LMPD also said in a statement on Twitter early Tuesday. While we do not know when the Attorney General will make his announcement, LMPD is taking the following actions now to ensure the area is as safe as possible for those coming downtown to express their First Amendment Rights, as well as those who live and work in the area.

The department added that it will put in vehicle barricades around the perimeter of downtown and in Jefferson Square Park, which has become a meeting spot for demonstrators.

This is by no means intended to be a lockdown of the downtown area, Schroeder told a news conference on Tuesday. Officers will not check the IDs of people exiting downtown, and he added that he doesnt have information on Camerons time-table for the announcement.

Mayor Greg Fischer, a Democrat, wrote on Tuesday that hes not sure when the attorney general will make the announcement or what it will encompass.

Our goal with these steps is ensuring space and opportunity for potential protesters to gather and express their First Amendment rights, & to prepare for any eventuality to keep everyone safe, Fischer said on Twitter.

The LMPD has not responded to a request for comment.
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Researchers from the NHS Foundation Trust, University of Cambridge and Cambridge Clinical Laboratories have warned that until a vaccine for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) becomes available, antigen and antibody testing should be carried out among oncology nurses as part of routine patient care.

The teams study of 434 patient-facing oncology staff who worked during the peak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVD-19) pandemic in the UK, found that the highest seroprevalence rate for SARS-CoV-2 was among nurses.

David Favara and colleagues say that current UK guidelines recommend that all patients receiving systemic anticancer therapy should be tested for SARS-CoV-2 by PCR (polymerase chain reaction) before starting treatment, with further testing considered at intervals during treatment.

The guidance regarding healthcare workers, on the other hand, only recommends testing in the broadest sense, says the team.

We propose that there should be a focus on routinely testing oncology nursing staff for both SARS-CoV-2 antigen and antibodies until an effective vaccine comes available, write the researchers.

A pre-print version of the paper is available on the server medRxiv*, while the article undergoes peer review.

Summary of relationship between role, previous symptoms and antibody results (June 2020 sample collection). All participants were nasopharyngeal swab SARSCOV-2 PCR negative at time of SARS-COV-2 antibody testing.

Cancer patients may be at greater risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2

Since the first cases of SARS-CoV-2 were first identified in Wuhan, China, late last year, the virus has now infected more than 31 million people globally and caused more than 961,000 deaths. Despite researchers intense efforts to develop therapies, no effective antiviral treatments or vaccines have yet been developed.

Cancer patients may be at a greater risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2 owing to the multiple hospital visits they need to attend for diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up.

Recent studies have suggested that while anticancer therapy does not increase the mortality risk among cancer patients infected with SARS-CoV-2, it may increase the risk of severe complications following infection.

Guidance is therefore needed to safeguard both patients and oncology staff, say Favara and colleagues.

However, data regarding oncology-specific SARS-CoV-2 infection and immunity rates in the UK are lacking, and the risk of transmission among staff who care for cancer patients is not known.

To date, no large study has specifically reported and tracked patient-facing oncology staff SARS-CoV-2 exposure, say Favara and team.

What did the current study involve?

Favara and colleagues recruited 434 patient-facing oncology staff who worked during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic at three secondary care NHS Foundation Trust hospitals in the UK, namely the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Peterborough City Hospital, and Cambridge University Hospitals.

Summary of Relationship between day 1 and day 28 positive antibody results (by SARS-CoV-2 antigen target).

Staff members had nasopharyngeal swabs tested for SARS-CoV-2 by PCR in June 2020 (day 1 samples) and again in July (day 28 samples). They also had their blood tested for SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies (at the same points) using a laboratory Luminex-based assay and a rapid point-of-care (POC) assay.

Of the 434 participants involved in the study, 58.3% were nurses, 21.2% were doctors, 10.4% were radiographers, and 10.1% were administrators. The overall median age of the study population was 40 years and 82% were female.

Prior to June, 26.3% of participants reported having symptoms indicating potential SARS-CoV-2 infection, and 1.4% had tested positive for infection by PCR.

What did the study find?

On day 1 and day 28 of testing, all participants tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 by PCR.

The Luminex-based assay identified 18.4% of participants as SARS-CoV-2 seropositive on day 1, 42.5% of whom also tested seropositive by PCO.

Luminex-based seropositivity rates were higher among nurses (21.3%) and doctors (17.4%), compared with among administration staff (13.6%) and radiographers (8.9%).

Of 400 participants who also underwent testing on day 28 in July, 13.3% tested seropositive by Luminex, 925% of whom had previously tested positive, and 75% of whom were newly positive.

Of all the staff groups tested, the seroprevalence rate was highest among nurses, at 16.5%.

The daily interactions of nurses with multiple patients at close quarters will undoubtedly contribute to these stark statistics, say Favara and colleagues.

Of the participants who tested seropositive on day 1, 32.5% became seronegative by day 28, suggesting that SARS-CoV-2 antibody seropositivity declines over time.

Nurses should be tested regularly as part of routine patient care

The researchers say that until a vaccine becomes available, the high prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity in oncology nurses, along with the high rate of decline in seropositivity over 4 weeks supports regular antigen and antibody testing in this staff group as part of routine patient care.

This study sets the first seropositivity baseline for UK oncology staff and provides new information to consider incorporating into international guidance on safeguarding patients, say Favara and team. We propose that there should be a focus on routinely testing oncology nursing staff for both SARS-CoV-2 antigen and antibodies until an effective vaccine comes available.

The researchers suggest that since seropositivity can fluctuate within 4 weeks, testing should be carried out at least once a month. Ideally, weekly PCR-testing with fortnightly serology would be performed.

Increasing availability of lower-cost, high sensitivity, and specificity SARS-CoV-2 testing methods should make this targeted approach viable, would help protect patients and staff and enable containment and tracking of new, asymptomatic infections, they conclude.

*Important Notice

medRxiv 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.
Around 200 students at a primary school in Somerset have been told to self-isolate after four members of staff tested positive for Covid-19.

Head teacher Marie Berry asked students 'in a number of classes' to remain at home from today after meeting with Public Health England to discuss the confirmed cases.

Bournville Primary School in Weston-super-Mare sent a text to parents of children in the affected year groups last night, asking those in years 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 to self-isolate.

Alongside the 200 students being asked to remain home, around 30 employees at the school have also been asked to stay away from work.

The school will remain open for the further 300 pupils who are enrolled, and deep cleaning has been undertaken to ensure there is no risk of surface transmission.

Bournville Primary School in Weston-super-Mare (pictured) sent a text to parents of children in the affected year groups last night, asking those in years 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 to self-isolate

In a statement, Ms Berry said: 'We are working alongside Public Health England and North Somerset Council to ensure the continued safety and wellbeing of our pupils and staff.

'In line with government guideline we have taken all the necessary precautions to prevent the spread of the virus.

Pictured: Head teacher at Bournville Primary School Marie Berry

'We are confident that we have tracked all those who have been in contact with the positive cases and have followed all recommendations from Public Health England.

'We thank the whole community of Bournville for their ongoing support doing this difficult time.'

She added in a notice on the school's website that parents would receive a 'detailed letter' today explaining when the isolation period should stop.

There are currently 1,076 confirmed cases of coronavirus in North Somerset, where a further seven infections were reported yesterday.

Matt Lenny, director of public health at North Somerset Council said: 'The school has acted promptly and efficiently in order to ensure that the onward spread of infection is controlled.

'We have been working closely to ensure that effective infection control measures are in place.

Ms Berry said in a notice on the school's website that parents would receive a 'detailed letter' today explaining when the isolation period should stop

'The school are doing all they can to keep parents and pupils updated at this difficult time.

'As the number of cases across the country is rising we all need to play our part to halt the spread of the virus.

'Everyone, regardless of their age or state of health, must continue to practise good hand hygiene, wear a face mask when needed, maintain social distancing of two metres wherever possible and self-isolate and book a test if they experience any of the symptoms of the virus.

'Anyone who has symptoms but is struggling to access a test should self isolate at home until they are able to do so.'
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 22

By Jeila Aliyeva - Trend:

Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan put forward proposals for expanding cooperation in the number of areas, Trend reports with reference to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan.

The proposals were put forward during a videoconference between Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan Abdulaziz Kamilov.

The parties discussed issues of expanding bilateral economic partnerships in the gas, electric power, transport and communication industries, trade, agriculture, and other areas.

The trade turnover between the countries is increasing. So, in order to further deepen trade and economic ties and resolve a number of issues, the parties agreed to hold a regular meeting of the joint intergovernmental commission on trade, economic, scientific, technical, and cultural cooperation in the fall of this year.

The parties expressed confidence in expanding cooperation within the UN.

The ministers also considered cooperation in the framework of assistance to Afghanistan. It was noted that both countries are participating in international efforts to establish peace and civil harmony in Afghanistan and are implementing a number of major energy and infrastructure projects with the participation of the Afghan side.

As earlier the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan told Trend, several events and projects are planned for the next few years in the field of rail and road cargo transportation between Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

The new projects will serve to further enhance bilateral cooperation, added earlier the Uzbek MFA.

"It is planned to expand cooperation by using the ports of the Turkmen coast of the Caspian Sea to access European and Middle Eastern markets, the Black and Mediterranean Seas, including within the framework of the promising Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan-the Caspian Sea-the South Caucasus transport corridor," added the MFA.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @JeilaAliyeva
The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) has urged the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) to return to the negotiation table in relation to their conditions of service.



The FWSC in a statement issued on Sunday, September 20, said it was surprised at the GRNMAs decision to embark on an industrial strike effective Monday, September 21, especially when negotiation was ongoing.



The GRNMA last Thursday announced its decision to withdraw services to press home the demand for improved conditions of service.



In a statement, the association alleged that the governments stance during negotiations fell foul of Act 651 of the Labour Law, which deals with issues of good faith and which the association appears to also have an issue with.



However, the National Labour Commission (NLC) last Friday obtained an interlocutory injunction against the GRNMA, restraining it from embarking on the proposed strike and directed the GRNMA to appear before it on Wednesday, September 23, 2020.



Government surprised



Giving a chronology of events in relation to the negotiations, the FWSC said per the rules of engagement signed and dated July 29, 2019 at the inception of the negotiation process, parties agree that they would refrain from going to the press while negotiations were ongoing.



While the parties in the course of the negotiations have not declared a deadlock, members of the GRNMA surprisingly resorted to the media declaring their intention to go on strike beginning 21st September, the statement said.



It added that the GRNMA officially submitted their proposals to FWSC on January 20, 2020 and upon receipt of the proposals, the FWSC set February 18, 2020 to commence negotiations.



However, on 17th February, 2020, just a day before the negotiation was to commence, the GRNMA, citing errors in the earlier proposal, per letter-number GRNMA/S/20- 02/17/01 re-submitted their Conditions of Service proposals. Subsequent negotiation was however disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, it added.



It said on June 4 and 5, 2020, the government team led by the FWSC engaged in meetings with



GRNMA to officially kick-start negotiations and at the meeting, the GRNMA submitted nine new proposals for consideration.



It said on September 3, 2020, both parties met to finalize negotiations at which government presented counter proposals in respect of the nine new proposals.



It added further that at a meeting held at the Ministry of Health on September 15, 2020, both parties reached an agreement on the Non-Basic Salary Allowance, which was part of the nine (9) new proposals.



In order to ensure speedy conclusion of negotiations, another meeting was held on Wednesday, 16th September, 2020 to try to reach an agreement on the eight other proposals. It must be noted that the Government Team, in principle, agreed to six out of the eight outstanding proposals submitted by GRNMA. Both parties therefore quickly agreed to a four week time frame where concrete decisions would be taken on the outstanding proposals and also agreed to keep these outof the media for the duration of negotiations, the statement said.



The government team is therefore, at a loss as to why the GRNMA decided to declare an industrial action effective 21st September, 2020, contrary to our underlying agreement reached on 16th September, 2020, it said.



The FWSC therefore, urged the GRNMA to reconsider its decision to embark on the strike and return to the negotiation table.



In the spirit of the goodwill shown by Government towards health workers and in particular nurses and midwives since 2017 in the areas of recruitment and restoration of Nursing Trainee Allowance among others, we would by this press release urge the leadership of the GRNMA to return to the negotiating table in order to reach an amicable agreement, the statement said.









Source: Graphiconline.com









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Vu Anh Tuan, C.P. Vietnam deputy general director receiving the award

On September 20, the Gold Brand of Vietnam's Agriculture awards were presented at a gala event featuring the attendance of Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien. On behalf of C.P. Vietnam, Vu Anh Tuan, deputy general director received the award.

The programme has been organised annually by the General Council of Agriculture and Rural Development Vietnam since 2015 to recognise the contributions of businesses to agricultural development and new rural building. Throughout these five years of accompanying farmers and businesses, Gold Brand of Vietnam's Agriculture has grown into a reputed and coveted accolade in the sector.

C.P. Vietnam was honoured with the award in 2016, 2017, and 2018 for its products leaving its factories in Hai Duong, Binh Duong, and Hanoi.

This year, among 1,450 agricultural products from all regions across the country, the general council has elected 80 brands (and products) that are of famously high quality to receive the Gold Brand of Vietnam's Agriculture 2020 award.

80 brands received medals and certificates

"2019 and 2020 are too special years for agriculture and the economy due to the damaging impacts of the African swine fever for pigs and the COVID-19 pandemic for the people. C.P. Vietnam and other agricultural companies are doing their utmost to accomplish their roles and task, contributing to socioeconomic development even in the hardest tiems," said Tuan.

"The products of C.P. Vietnam are highly appreciated in the market. The animal feed products of C.P. Group maintain their first ranking over the world while pork and sausage are increasingly liked for their good taste, cleanliness, and nutritive values," he added. "C.P. Vietnam is targeting to become 'The kitchen of the world'."
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - Libyan coast guards on Tuesday rescued 89 illegal migrants from the Mediterranean Sea as they tried to reach Europe, the Libyan Body for Combating Illegal Immigration announced
Ministerial summit Turkey-Iran-Qatar in Istanbul While Usa is attempting to reintroduce sanctions against Tehran

(ANSAmed) - ISTANBUL, SEPTEMBER 22 - The foreign ministers of Turkey, Iran and Qatar will meet Tuesday in Istanbul for a summit on regional cooperation, the Anadolu news agency reports.



The summit is scheduled one week after the agreement of normalization signed at the White House between Israel and the Emirates and Bahrain and while Washington is attempting to reintroduce UN sanctions against Tehran, so far rejected by European partners.



Iranian diplomacy chief Mohammad Javad Zarif will also attend the inauguration of a new department of the consulate of the Islamic Republic in Istanbul. (ANSA).




Seeing wildlife while exploring historic sites along Georgias coast is easier and more engaging thanks to a new website and app features announced Tuesday by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.The launch of georgiabirdingtrails.com and the addition of a trail function to the Go Outdoors Georgia app are part of DNR Wildlife Resources Division efforts to expand its Georgia Birding and Wildlife Trails program. The upgrades offer improved accessibility to wildlife viewing resources and support Georgias strong interest in birding and other wildlife watching, activities that pack a $2 billion annual economic impact statewide.The Colonial Coast Birding Trail, developed in 1999 and Georgias premier state wildlife trail, is the first trail updated under the new Birding and Wildlife Trails program.The Colonial Coast Trail includes 17 sites stretching from Fort Pulaski National Monument and the beaches of Tybee Island south to Cumberland Island National Seashore and the swamps of the Okefenokee.Shorelines, salt marshes, old rice fields, woodlands, tidal rivers and freshwater wetlands offer an array of habitats that showcase unique communities of birds and other wildlife. The trail includes federal, state and local sites that provide the opportunity to encounter wildlife, connect with nature and visit historic places.Promoting outdoor recreation and wildlife conservation is part of our mission at the Wildlife Resources Division, said Rusty Garrison, division director. Were excited to introduce a more accessible platform for Georgia Birding and Wildlife Trails and encourage more people to discover the fascinating natural and cultural resources that Georgia has to offer.This program is made possible through partnerships. Colonial Coast Trail partners include the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites, Jekyll Island Authority, the Savannah-Ogeechee Canal Society, local governments and area tourism organizations.The Colonial Coast Trails wild blend of nature and history is especially evident at the Savannah-Ogeechee Canal Museum and Nature Center. Built between 1826 and 1830, the canal was used to transport crops and goods from inland plantations to the shipping port of Savannah. Connie Shreve, also known as Connie the Canoe Lady, is the master naturalist at the center.The native and non-native birds that visit the Savannah-Ogeechee Canal daily and seasonally are phenomenal, Ms. Shreve said. It's amazing seeing how many varieties of birds frequent the canal on their migration journeys."The Georgia Birding and Wildlife Trails website introduces each trail site with access tips, a map, a list of amenities, wildlife highlights and a link to eBird hotspots. Wildlife viewing resources include a printable species checklist with seasonality data, as well as information on birding basics, Georgia Audubon chapters, citizen science projects, bird curricula and conservation organizations. A new program logo showcases the great blue heron, a familiar species found throughout the state.Funding for some outreach items at trail sites and visitor centers was provided through a federal Recreational Trails Program grant.The Colonial Coast Birding Trail has also been added to the free Go Outdoors GA app developed by Brandt Information Services. The mobile platform provides an on-the-go resource for trail users to learn about trail sites, get directions, keep a species checklist and browse recent eBird sightings. And even more upgrades are coming soon.The app can be downloaded on mobile devices through the Apple or Google Play store.The program improvements provide the foundation for updating DNRs Southern Rivers Birding Trail, developed in 2003, and for adding new trails to encourage wildlife viewing in Georgia.While travel can be a challenge during the pandemic, getting outside is a great way to recreate responsibly and enjoy nature. Follow social distancing guidelines and check with individual trail sites before planning a trip to determine the latest visitation policies. Additional tips are available at responsible-recreation.org.Visit georgiabirdingtrails.com to learn more about Colonial Coast Birding Trail sites, brush up on birding basics, download the mobile app and print a species checklist to carry with you. Hit the trail and discover why so many people are Wild about Georgia.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 03:52:26|Editor: huaxia

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AMMAN, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- King Abdullah II of Jordan said Tuesday that countries can only overcome global challenges, including the COVID-19, through re-globalization which makes the wellbeing of all peoples the ultimate goal.

The Jordanian king made the remarks in an address at the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly held virtually for the first time, in which he emphasized that there will be several global challenges ahead, including food security.

"Jordan is preparing to deal with this and is ready to assist its region and friends by channeling its capabilities to operate as a regional hub for food security," King Abdullah was quoted as saying in a statement issued by the Royal Hashemite Court.

The king said that as long as injustice and lack of peace persist, anywhere in the world, the UN must not rest and the entire world must not rest.

He also said that the only solution to end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict must be based on the two-state solution.

"The only way towards just and lasting peace must lead to an independent, sovereign, and viable Palestinian state, on the June 4th, 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital, living side-by-side with Israel, in mutual peace and security," the Jordanian leader said.

On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the UN, "we remain deeply committed to its promise in building a more prosperous, inclusive and peaceful world, and we see in these extraordinary times an opportunity to help fulfill that promise," the king said.

He stressed that the COVID-19 crisis has brought a mirror to the world, and shown everyone the cracks in the global system.

The pandemic "has offered us what could be a historic moment to rethink the role of the United Nations and other multilateral organizations, to become more impactful in dealing with" challenges, including pandemics and raging conflicts, he added. Enditem
Jim Caviezel on Passion of the Christ sequel: 'Its going to be the biggest film in world history'

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The Passion of the Christ star Jim Caviezel recently shared new details about the highly anticipated sequel of the blockbuster hit.

On Thursday, Caviezel told Breitbart News that he received a new draft of the next installment of The Passion of the Christ."

Mel Gibson just sent me the third picture, the third draft. Its coming, he said on the latest edition of SiriusXMs Breitbart News Daily with host Alex Marlow.

Caviezel, who portrayed Jesus in 2004 for the film, went on to share the sequel's film title.

Its called The Passion of the Christ: Resurrection. Its going to be the biggest film in world history, he declared.

Listen to Caviezel share his Christian faith, his views on abortion and more on "Edifi With Billy Hallowell," the best Christian podcast for faith news

Despite its lack of industry support, the first film earned a staggering $612 million worldwide with a production budget of just $30 million.

Marlow asked the Washington native if he encountered politically-driven blacklisting following his portrayal in The Passion of the Christ.

I had no choice. I had to defend it. I had to fight to survive. The film exploded. It was off the charts, Caviezel responded. Youd think, Oh, youre going to work a lot. No, I didnt. I was no longer on the studio list. That was gone.  Because of what I do as an actor  thats my skill  it was given to me from God. I didnt give it to myself, but its something in which I have a great range.

Caviezel went on to say that he held to his convictions because he believed his faith was much bigger than the industry and Hollywood, and bigger than the Republican or Democratic Party or any of that.

The actor was on the radio program to discuss his new film, Infidel, another faith-filled film about an American Christian who's kidnapped in Cairo, Egypt, and imprisoned in Iran under false spying charges.

Caviezel and Gibson haven't revealed any other details about the sequel, but in the past the Persons of Interest actor revealed minor details about the project following one of his conversations with Gibson.

"I won't tell you how he's going to go about it," Caviezel told USA Today in 2018. ... "But I'll tell you this much, the film he's going to do is going to be the biggest film in history. It's that good," the 51-year-old devoted Catholic echoed.

Gibson revealed the subject of the sequel in 2016, telling Stephen Colbert of "The Late Show" that the film might feature characters visiting other realms.

"It's not just some chronological telling of just that event. That could be boring, and you think, 'Oh, we read that,'" Gibson told Colbert of the sequel. "But what are the other things around it that happened?"

Gibson, teamed up with screenwriter Randall Wallace to work on "Resurrection," and said the film will take years to make because "it's a big subject."

Different from "Passion," which focused on the graphic crucifixion of Jesus Christ, "Resurrection" is expected to explore the three days between His death and resurrection.

"It's more than a single event, it's an amazing event," the director added. "And to underpin that with the things around it is really the story, to enlighten what that means."

The Passion of the Christ was the first R-rated film ever in North America to gross so much. Although it received three Oscar nominations at the 77th Academy Awards, it didn't win any awards.
WASHINGTON - A Canadian woman accused of mailing a package containing ricin to the White House included a threatening letter in which she told President Donald Trump to give up and remove your application for this election, according to court papers filed Tuesday.

Pascale Ferrier, of Quebec, was arrested Sunday at the U.S.-Canada border and made her first court appearance Tuesday afternoon in federal court in Buffalo, New York. She faces a charge of threatening the president.

The envelope containing the toxic substance and the threatening letter was addressed to the White House but intercepted at a mail sorting facility on Friday. The package, postmarked from Canada, included a letter in which she referred to Trump as The Ugly Tyrant Clown and directed him to give up and remove your application for this election, according to an FBI affidavit filed in the case.

So I made a special gift for you to make a decision. This gift is in this letter, she wrote, according to the affidavit. If it doesnt work, Ill find better recipe for another poison, or I might use my gun when Ill be able to come. Enjoy! FREE REBEL SPIRIT.

Ferrier appeared in court briefly Tuesday and U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder Jr. entered a not-guilty plea on her behalf. Ferrier, who wore a tan jail jumpsuit, had her hands in cuffs and a chain around her waist. A blue mask covered much of her face as she spoke only briefly to answer the judges questions.

Through an interpreter and her attorney, she also asked for an identity hearing  which would compel the government to prove that she is indeed the person for whom the arrest warrant was issued  and a probable cause hearing for the government to prove there is sufficient cause to proceed in the case. The judge ordered her held without bail.

Her attorney, Fonda Kubiak, said Ferrier was exercising her rights to those hearings, which were scheduled for Monday.

She has a presumption of innocence and thatll be pursued further after today, Kubiak said outside the courthouse.

During the investigation, the FBI discovered that six additional similar letters appeared to have been received in Texas in September and also had stamps indicating that theyd been mailed from Canada, according to court papers.

Those letters contained similar language to the letter that was sent to Trump and were sent to people affiliated with facilities where Ferrier had been jailed in 2019.

Investigators also matched Ferriers fingerprints from four of the letters, the complaint said.

In Facebook and Twitter posts in September, Ferrier, 53, also wrote #killTrump and used similar wording as she did in the letter, calling him an Ugly Clown Tyrant, according to the document.

When she was arrested Sunday while trying to enter a border crossing in Buffalo, Ferrier told Customs and Border Patrol agents that she was wanted by the FBI for the ricin letters, the complaint said. Officers found a loaded gun in her waistband and said she was also carrying a knife.

Ferrier was booked into the Hidalgo County jail in March of 2019 on two charges of unlawfully carrying a weapon and one charge of tampering with government records, according to online jail records. Pascale is listed as living in Quebec, and was released in May of last year. The records state the charges against her were ordered dismissed.

Ferrier immigrated to Canada from France and became a Canadian citizen in 2015, according to her Facebook profile.

Justin Taylor, a cousin in Texas, confirmed she was originally from France. He said she has extended family in Texas and was looking at possibly moving there after driving to Texas in her RV. Her called her arrest very surprising. A very nice lady, very warm and kind, Taylor said.

____

Associated Press writers John Wawrow in Buffalo, Jake Bleiberg in Dallas and Rob Gillies in Toronto contributed to this report.
US President Donald Trump used the UN General Assembly (UNGA) on Tuesday to attack Chinas handling of the coronavirus pandemic, saying it must be held accountable for having unleashed this plague onto the world.

China, meanwhile, accused Trump of spreading a political virus at the United Nations with President Xi Jinping calling for enhanced cooperation over COVID-19 and stressing China had no intention of fighting either a cold war or a hot war with any country.

The leaders of the worlds two largest economies laid out their competing visions as relations have plunged to their worst level in decades against the backdrop of the pandemic, with coronavirus tensions aggravating trade and technology disputes.

Trump  facing a November re-election battle with the United States dealing with the worlds highest number of coronavirus deaths at more than 200,000 and infections at 6.8 million  focused his speech on attacking China.

Trump routinely describes COVID-19 as the China virus  a term many consider to be racist  and he did so again on Tuesday. He accused Beijing of allowing people to leave China in the early stages of the outbreak to infect the world while shutting down domestic travel.

The Chinese government and the World Health Organization [WHO], which is virtually controlled by China, falsely declared that there was no evidence of human-to-human transmission, Trump said in remarks delivered remotely to the UNGA.

Later they falsely said people without symptoms would not spread the disease  The United Nations must hold China accountable for their actions.

US President Donald Trump and Chinas President Xi Jinping make joint statements at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing in China in 2017 [Jonathan Ernst/Reuters]

Get through this together

In introducing Xis remarks, Chinas UN Ambassador Zhang Jun said China resolutely rejects the baseless accusations against China.

When the international community is really fighting hard against the COVID-19, the United States is spreading a political virus here in the General Assembly, said Zhang.

The world is at a crossroads. At this moment the world needs more solidarity and cooperation, but not confrontation.

In what appeared to be an implicit rebuke to Trump, Xi called for a global response to the coronavirus while giving a leading role to the WHO, which Trump has announced he plans to leave.

Facing the virus, we should enhance solidarity and get through this together, he said. We should follow the guidance of science, give full play to the leading role of the World Health Organization, and launch a joint international response to beat this pandemic. Any attempt of politicising the issue, or stigmatisation, must be rejected.

No one government controls us, its communications director, Gabby Stern, said in a tweet. On January 14 our #COVID19 technical lead told media of the potential for human-to-human transmission. Since February, our experts have publicly discussed transmission by people without symptoms or prior to symptoms.





Boss of the world

China has portrayed itself as the chief cheerleader for multilateralism as Trumps disregard for international cooperation has led to Washington quitting global deals on climate and Iran and leaving the UN Human Rights Council as well as the WHO.

Xi took an apparent swipe at Trumps America First policy in a statement to a meeting celebrating the 75th anniversary of the UN on Monday.

No country has the right to dominate global affairs, control the destiny of others, or keep advantages in development all to itself. Even less should one be allowed to do whatever it likes and be the hegemon, bully or boss of the world. Unilateralism is a dead end, he said.

The American president, a frequent critic of the UN, said if the organisation is to be effective it must focus on the real problems of the world such as terrorism, the oppression of women, forced labour, drug trafficking, human and sex trafficking, religious persecution, and the ethnic cleansing of religious minorities.

Xi also announced plans to boost his countrys Paris climate accord target on Tuesday and called for a green revolution, just minutes after Trump blasted China for rampant pollution.

Chinas president said it would achieve a peak in carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and carbon neutrality before 2060  the first time the worlds biggest emitter of CO2 has pledged to end its net contribution to climate change.

China will scale up its intended [targets] by adopting more vigorous policies and measures, Xi said, urging all countries to pursue a green recovery of the world economy in the post-COVID era.

A view shows cardboard cutouts with images of politicians in Moscow

A view shows cardboard cutouts, displaying images of U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, with protective masks widely used as a preventive measure against coronavirus disease (COVID-19), near a gift shop in Moscow, Russia March 23, 2020. [REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina]

Chinas rampant pollution

Trump has referred to climate change as a hoax and in 2017 pulled the US out of the Paris accords laying out an international approach to global warming.

Trump, who has rolled back or pared down hundreds of environmental regulations, said the US had reduced its carbon emissions by more than any country in the agreement.

Those who attack Americas exceptional environmental record while ignoring Chinas rampant pollution are not interested in the environment. They only want to punish America. And I will not stand for it, he said.

Li Shuo, a veteran climate diplomacy expert at Greenpeace, said Xis climate pledge, minutes after Trumps speech, was clearly a bold and well calculated move.

It demonstrates Xis consistent interest in leveraging the climate agenda for geopolitical purposes, he said.

Earlier, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned the world was moving in a very dangerous direction with US-China tensions.

We must do everything to avoid a new Cold War, he told the assembly. Our world cannot afford a future where the two largest economies split the globe in a great fracture  each with its own trade and financial rules and internet and artificial intelligence capacities.

A technological and economic divide risks inevitably turning into a geo-strategic and military divide. We must avoid this at all costs.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 18:53:47|Editor: huaxia

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NANJING, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- An international team of researchers reported that a flower could be a condensed shoot, shedding light on the research of floral evolution.

Due to the lack of fossil evidence, especially well-preserved flowers, the question of how flowers have evolved has baffled botanists. In 2005, the question was among the 125 top scientific questions listed by the journal Science.

Researchers from Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, University of Vigo in Spain and Fushun Amber Institute analyzed a flower called Dinganthus pentamera embedded in a 15- to 20- million-year-old amber.

Dinganthus is named after Ding Shisun, a Chinese mathematician and former president of Peking University. The flower has a dimension of only 3 to 4 millimeters. The preservation enables researchers to use Micro-CT to study its key features.

The analysis showed that the flower has bracts, tepals, stamens (male part of a flower) and gynoecium (female part of a flower). It belongs to the largest group in angiosperms, the eudicots.

According to the researchers, typical eudicot flowers usually have their plant organs crowded onto the same point of the flower axis, but Dinganthus have the organs spatially distanced along the flower axis.

The findings have been published in the journal Palaeoentomology.

The researchers said that Dinganthus provides evidence for a long-held idea that a flower could be a condensed shoot, and it will help people to understand the essence of flowers and some bizarre-looking plant fossils. Enditem
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday will tell people to work from home where possible and will impose new curbs on bars and restaurants to tackle a swiftly accelerating second coronavirus wave.

According to his office and ministers, with millions across the UK already under some form of COVID-19 restriction, Mr Johnson will tighten measures in England while stopping short of another full lockdown like he imposed in March.

Mr Johnson would hold emergency meetings with ministers, address parliament at 1130 GMT and then speak to the nation at 1900 GMT after government scientists warned that the death rate would soar without urgent action.

According to his office and ministers, just weeks after urging people to start returning to workplaces, Mr Johnson will now advise them to stay at home if they can.

He would also order all pubs, bars, restaurants and other hospitality sites across England to start closing at 10 p.m. from Thursday.

There is going to be a shift in emphasis. If it is possible for people to work from home, we are going to encourage them to do so, Michael Gove, the minister for the cabinet office, told Sky News.

The new curbs will restrict the hospitality sector to table service only, though Mr Gove said he wanted those who could not work from home, for example in manufacturing, construction and retail, to continue to work from COVID-secure workplaces.

Schools will also stay open, he said.

It was unclear if the measures would be enough to tackle Britains second wave, which government scientists warn could reach 50,000 new cases per day by mid-October.

The UK already has the biggest official COVID-19 death toll in Europe and the fifth-largest in the world, while it is borrowing record amounts to pump emergency money through the damaged economy.

READ ALSO:

Shares in Britains listed pubs and restaurant groups fell sharply on Monday in anticipation of the move.

The move will advance closing times by at least an hour for most areas.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said he had agreed with local council leaders and public health experts on new restrictions to be put to central government to curb the outbreak in the capital.

Northern Ireland said it would extend existing restrictions in some localities on households mixing indoors across the whole of the province from Tuesday, while Wales slapped curbs on four more areas.

Scotland said additional restrictions were almost certain to be imposed.

(Reuters/NAN)
To make an official meeting open to the public, minutes of the meeting need to be taken, a notice must be made to the public in advance of the meeting, the public needs to have access to attend the meeting and the public needs to have access to its minutes.

Council member Troy Selberg stated that he was also concerned about whether the task force was subject to the Open Meetings Law. In an interview with the Independent Tribune, he said his concerns stemmed from the number of council members attending the meetings.

He said that at one meeting, four members were present, which would have the majority of the town council members present, making the task force meeting subject to Open Meetings Law. He said he wanted clarity if the task force was subject to the law so that the task force could continue its work without issue.

With COVID-19, meetings are held virtually, and it is easy for council members to log onto a meeting and potentially not realize three members are already present. He said that, as council members, they need to make sure they follow state law.

My concern is just making sure that as a government body, we are following the statutes of the state of North Carolina, he said to the Independent Tribune.
Two parents as well as their high school-aged child have been charged with providing alcohol to minors and violating social host laws in Massachusetts after hosting a party with up to 60 other teenagers.

Police were called to the party in Sudbury, which is about 22 miles outside of Boston, on Friday, September 11. They reported that between 50 and 60 high schoolers were were there and they were not observing social distancing, and masks were not being worn.

Dozens of teenagers fled into nearby woods, and several others gave false names, making it difficult for Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School officials to identify who to isolate and forcing the school to shelve in-person learning.

The parents involved have not been named, but they are facing charges for violating the state's social host law in Framingham District Court. Their child was charged in Framingham Juvenile Court.

Around 60 students from Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High attended a house party just outside of Boston

The school at which the teens attended, Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High, has now shifted to remote learning instead of adopting a hybrid model as a result of the mass gathering

The party appears to go directly against measures put in place by the school district that saw remote learning introduced from the very start of the school year.

Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School had originally intended to operate a hybrid model with some students attending for some of the time before rotating with other groups.

However, last week it shelved such plans and decided to go fully towards remote learning when police revealed they had been called to break up the party.

Police have had trouble tracking down all those who attended the party after dozens ran off into nearby woods and several others gave false names

Officials are having some difficulty identifying exactly who went to the the party after Superintendent and Principal Bella Wong said around 15 students ran into the woods.

A further 13 students deliberately gave the police false names.

'After the intensity of hard work and planning that has been done to be able to start school with students in-person, we are profoundly disappointed at this sudden change of plans,' Principal Wong wrote in a letter to parents.

The Sudbury Board of Health is now requesting anyone who went the party to be tested for COVID-19 and to notify both the Health Department and the school district if students suddenly start to show symptoms of coronavirus.
By PTI

UNITED NATIONS: In a scathing attack on Pakistan, India has said that if there is an "unfinished agenda" at the UN, it is that of tackling the scourge of terrorism and the country, a globally-recognised epicentre of the menace, which harbours and trains terrorists and hails them as martyrs.

Exercising India's right to reply on Monday, First Secretary in the country's Permanent Mission to the UN Vidisha Maitra said: "Pakistan is a country which is globally recognised as the epicentre of terrorism, which by its own admission harbours and trains terrorists, and hails them as martyrs and consistently persecutes its ethnic and religious minorities".

She was referring to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's remarks in the country's Parliament where he had termed former al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden as a "martyr".

ALSO READ | Pakistan denies visa to Indian diplomat Jayant Khobragade

"We reject the malicious reference made to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, which is an integral part of India. If there is an item that is unfinished on the agenda of the UN, it is that of tackling the scourge of terrorism," Maitra said.

As the UN member states marked 75 years of the United Nations in the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Monday raked up the issue of Jammu and Kashmir during his address to the high-level meeting on the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the world organisation.

READ | Sikh organisations protest kidnapping of girl in Pakistan

Qureshi said Jammu and Kashmir and Palestine were the UN's "most glaring and long-standing disputes" and the people of Jammu and Kashmir still await the fulfillment of the commitment made to them by the UN to grant them their "right to self-determination."

With Pakistan yet again raising the Kashmir issue at a UN platform, Maitra said India had hoped that during this solemn commemoration of a shared global milestone, the General Assembly would be "spared another repetition of the baseless falsehoods that have now become a trademark of Pakistan's interventions on such platforms".

"However, for a nation that is bereft of milestones, one can only expect a stonewalled and stymied approach to reason, diplomacy and dialogue.

"What we heard today is the never-ending fabricated narrative presented by the Pakistani representative about the internal affairs of India," she said.

Strongly rejecting the malicious reference made to Jammu and Kashmir, Maitra said Pakistan "will do well to turn its attention inwards to immediately addressing these pressing concerns instead of diverting attention from them by misusing the UN platforms."
A disgraced company chartered accountant who gambled and lost almost 600,000 of his employers money to fund his share trading addiction has been jailed for three-and-a-half years.

Gareth Booth was sentenced at Londonderry Crown Court on Tuesday.

The 39-year-old, from Annaghmore Mews in Castledawson, who had no previous criminal convictions, pleaded guilty to fraud by abusing his position as group operations director to transfer 586,694 from Northern Ireland businessman Neil McKibben between January 2017 and December 2018.

He also pleaded guilty to transferring 180,000 of Mr McKibbens money into an account he had with Plus 500, an online international trading company, between August and November 2018.

Booth, who at times gambled double or quits to chase his losses, was described by his defence barrister John McCrudden QC as the apple of his mothers eye and as someone who had the world at his feet.

The shamed accountant, who was in charge of a 2.5m renovation project at the time of the offending, has repaid back just over 21,000 to his former employer.

Mr McKibben, who was in court for the sentencing of his former accountant, is the owner of McKibben Holdings Limited and has several business interests including Business Investments Limited and Mercedes-Benz Truck And Van Limited at Mallusk.

Booth was responsible for running the Inspired Business Investments Limited and was given sole authorisation to withdraw from the account in September 2018. Three months later Booth told his employer that he had lost all of the money by trading in high risk Brent Oil Contract For Differences on his online account.

Mr McKibben reported the matter to police and investigators discovered the total amount of the fraud to have been almost 600,000.

They also discovered that Booth had been a prolific online trader with Plus 500 for four years. When he was interviewed by the police in January 2019 Booth refused to answer any questions but when interviewed again in March 2019 he gave a full account of his offending.

Booth, who was on a salary of 53,000 plus benefits, told the police he began using his employers money when he had lost 20,000 of his own money through his share trading addiction.

In his victim impact report, Mr McKibben said that Booths actions led to significant consequences for him and for his business interests. He had to quickly rearrange his financial situation and the growth prospects of his business were adversely affected, though none of his 300 employees lost their job.

Booth, whom the court was told thought could beat the odds by making shrewd investments, was told by Judge Philip Babington that by refusing to answer questions put to him by police officers at his first interview, he had made the officers carry out a great deal more investigative work.

This is a very serious case in which you completely betrayed the trust that Mr McKibben had put in you, Judge Babington told Booth.

You quite deliberately took money that did not belong to you and embarked on a reckless spree of investing in a way that equates with gambling. You were quite convinced that you would be able to get Mr McKibbens money back and it was only when a company loan had to be repaid you realised that this would not be possible and you had no alternative but to tell Mr McKibben the unpalatable truth.

You have repaid in or about 20,000. You say you will repay the rest but you have no employment and unfortunately this is extremely unlikely, Judge Babington said.

Booth will serve half of the sentence in jail and half on licence.
Islamabad, Sep 22 : Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has alerted the Organization of Islamic Coordination (OIC) on situation in Kashmir, saying that "India has intensified its belligerent rhetoric against Pakistan, including threats of military aggression".

Qureshi made the remarks on Monday while speaking to the contact group of the OIC during a meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York to discuss what he called "worsening human rights situation in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir".

As per details shared by the Pakistan Foreign Office about the OIC meeting, members of the contact group reviewed the recent developments in Jammu and Kashmir, including the human rights and humanitarian situation and the tensions along the Line of Control (LoC).

"The RSS-BJP regime in India was implementing the so-called final solution in the occupied lands," said Pakistan's Ambassador Munir Akram as he read out the Foreign Minister's message in the meeting.

"India was engaged in systematically engineering a demographic change through its new domicile rules.

"The issuance of 1.6 million domicile certificates since March is meant to change the demography of IOJK from a Muslim majority into a Hindu majority territory," he added.

Qureshi also highlighted that India was also "changing the official status of the Urdu language through a new legislation".

The Minister rejected India's claim of normalcy in Kashmir, he said "a joint communication by 18 special mandate holders of the Human Rights Council issued last month, noted that the human rights situation there was in a free fall and hundreds of young Kashmiris were killed extra-judicially in fake encounters and cordon and search operations".

Qureshi also raised serious concern over what he called "complete impunity of Indian security forces under black laws like Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and the Public Safety Act (PSA)".

"There is a tangible threat of further escalation as India might conduct another false flag operation to justify renewed aggression against Pakistan, posing a serious threat to regional peace and security," he said.

Qureshi said that India should immediately lift its military siege and rescind all illegal actions taken since August 5 2019, removing restrictions on communications, movement and peaceful assembly, along with release of political leaders and free arbitrarily detained Kashmiris.

"Allow unhindered access to fact finding missions and the international media to investigate human rights violations in the occupied lands," he added.
20 years since Parliament: Pak has done little or nothing to bring Azhar to justice

Parliament passes bill providing relief to taxpayers on compliance front amid COVID

India

pti-Madhuri Adnal

New Delhi, Sep 22: Parliament on Tuesday gave its approval to a taxation bill that seeks to provide various reliefs in terms of compliance requirements for taxpayers amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The Taxation and Other Laws (Relaxation and Amendment of Certain Provisions) Bill, 2020, which seeks to replace an ordinance and make few other changes in direct and indirect tax laws, was returned by a voice vote in Rajya Sabha.

The bill was returned amid several opposition parties boycotted the House proceedings protesting suspension of eight members.

The Lok Sabha had cleared the bill on September 19. The reliefs in the bill include extending deadlines for filing returns and for linking PAN and Aadhaar. It also provides tax benefits on donation made to the Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM CARES FUND) set up in March in the wake of the pandemic.

What is Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2020: What it means for banks and customers?

The Bill amends the provisions of the Income Tax Act to provide the same tax treatment to PM-CARES Fund as available to the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund. The Taxation and other Laws (Relaxation of Certain Provisions) Ordinance, 2020, was promulgated in March.

Replying to a short debate on the bill, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the ordinance was necessary to defer various compliance deadlines under GST and Income Tax (I-T) Act during the COVID-19 times. She said as a bill was being brought to replace the ordinance, the government incorporated other matters like facilitating investment in IFSC Gift City.

#Tesla 'secretly planning' R&D Centre in #Bengaluru? | Oneindia News

The bill seeks to make faceless assessment applicable to at least eight processes under the I-T Act, including for collection and recovery of tax and gathering of information. Also, the bill amends the Finance Act, 2020 to clarify with regard to capping of surcharge at 15 per cent on dividend income of the Foreign Portfolio Investor.


Salman Khan's Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai was all set to release this Eid, but the pandemic played spoilsport. The movie couldn't even be completed because of the lockdown. Now that the unlockdown has started, the actor will resume shooting for the film soon. And we hear the actor is leaving no stone unturned for this one.

According to reports in a leading daily, Salman Khan made several important decisions while casting for the film, to make sure that Radhe has a pan-India appeal. He's hired several actors from the South film industry to play pivotal roles in the film, so that Radhe's reach is great down South too. The report suggests that Tamil actor Bharath Srinivasan, who was seen in hit films like Kaadhal (2004) and Kanden Kadhalai (2009), will play the role of an undercover cop in the film. Megha Akash, who was recently seen in Rajinikanth's Petta (2019), has also been roped in for Radhe. She plays Khan's colleague

and has also shot for an action sequence.

Prabhudheva and Salman Khan have also signed in Narra Srinu, one of the most famous comedian of the South industry to up the comedy quotient in the film. And it's not just the actors, the makers have even roped in some South Indian technicians. KGF fame action directors Anbu-Arivu have composed the action sequences for this one. And South choreographer Jani Master has been pencilled in for the dance sequence. Looks like Salman Khan is going all out for this one.

Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai also stars Disha Patani, Randeep Hooda and Jackie Shroff. The film has some 10 days of shoot pending. Looks like Salman will start shooting in the first week of October.
WATERLOO, Ont. - BlackBerry Ltd. and Telus Corp. say Edmonton's police service has signed on to become a customer for a secure emergency preparedness system that's used by the U.S. government.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 22/9/2020 (486 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Telus CEO Darren Entwistle announces $16-billion in investments during a press conference in Edmonton on September, 24, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Amber Bracken

WATERLOO, Ont. - BlackBerry Ltd. and Telus Corp. say Edmonton's police service has signed on to become a customer for a secure emergency preparedness system that's used by the U.S. government.

They didn't disclose financial details of their deal with Edmonton Police Service.

BlackBerry acquired AtHoc four years ago as it was strategically shifting emphasis from smartphones towards secure communications for organizations.

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.

It says AtHoc is used by organizations around the world, including coverage for U.S. federal departments and agencies.

Among other things, AtHoc is able to send out mass notifications in emergencies and help first responders to collaborate across organizations.

BlackBerry says Telus will sell AtHoc to government entities in cities across British Columbia and becomes a national AtHoc reseller under their agreement.

Telus president and CEO Darren Entwistle says in a statement that enhanced communications can contribute to a faster, more effective crisis response that helps to keep Canadians safe and connected.

.

Companies in this story: (TSX:T, TSX:BB)
Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili.

Leading lingerie company relies on Centric Software to drive supply chain diversification

CAMPBELL, Calif., September 22, 2020  Wolf Lingerie, the corsetry specialist based in Alsace, France, has added Centric Softwares Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) Final Inspection module to further enrich their PLM solution capabilities. Centric Software provides the most innovative enterprise solutions to fashion, retail, footwear, outdoor, luxury, consumer goods and home decor companies to achieve strategic and operational digital transformation goals.

Founded in Strasbourg in 1947, the Wolf Lingerie group develops and distributes a portfolio of complementary lingerie brands with strong and assertive identities: Sans Complexe, Girls in Paris, Billet Doux and Jardin Secret. Originally focused solely on corsetry and private label production, the Group now also offers its own brands and is diversifying its offering. Notably, Sans Complexe, the groups flagship brand, has been expanded to include swimwear, cotton underwear, shapewear, sports, maternity and more. To manufacture these new styles, Wolf Lingerie has opted for a focused strategy working with expert partners in different fields.

In 2016 Wolf Lingerie successfully deployed Centric PLMTM, Centrics innovative PLM solution, to consolidate all technical data into a common repository and facilitate collaboration between teams in France and Asia.

The adoption of Centric PLM was a huge step forward for our group, says Jean-Francois Mialon, CEO of Wolf Lingerie. Today all of our brands use Centric PLM. We have seen an improvement in our processes and in communication between the development teams in France and those responsible for production in Asia, a sharp reduction in lead times and errors and, above all, increased reliability and better control of information relating to products and suppliers.

Building on this success, the Wolf Lingerie group turned to Centric Software for a solution to improve product quality in an increasingly competitive global market. For the past year and a half, Wolf Lingerie has committed to diversifying its supplier sourcing.

Dozens of materials and component suppliers and nearly 25 partner factories in Southeast Asia and Europe participate in the manufacturing of our products, explains Jean-Francois Mialon. To maintain our reputation for quality with our customers and consumers, we must carry out more checks and redouble our vigilance regarding the origin and quality of materials, adherence to manufacturing standards, and legal and regulatory compliance at production sites. This challenge is all the more ambitious since the lingerie sector is subject to a high level of complexity: on average, a bra is made up of 25 different pieces and calls for sophisticated nomenclature.

Today, our quality control process is based on paper documents and Excel or Word files, which are potentially prone to errors and longer lead times as data is communicated with delays. It is difficult and costly to anticipate and correct problems prior to production under these conditions.

With the Centric PLM Final Inspection module, our goal is to be able to access all inspection data digitally in real time, saving time and money, he continues. We can thus define evaluation criteria and acceptable quality levels for each product, check the compliance of criteria such as size, material, quality and finish in real time, access all the data and update it continually. Sending the consolidated feedback to product and production teams will strengthen our approach to continuous improvement of our products, ultimately benefiting the groups competitiveness.

Wolf Lingerie has also just completed the rollout of Centric Softwares Quality Management PLM module, which tracks all stages of material testing and accessory compliance control. This module was essential for the group as part of its CSR approach and for monitoring the OEKO-TEX specifications which were chosen as the quality standard for the Sans Complexe brand, says Mialon.

We are delighted that Wolf Lingerie continues to partner with Centric, says Chris Groves, President and CEO of Centric Software. This lingerie brand has fully diversified its supply model and needed a tool capable of managing quality control with extreme precision, in real time. With the Centric PLM Final Inspection module, Wolf Lingerie ensures control of product quality throughout its entire supply, design and manufacturing chain.

Learn more about Centric PLM

Request a Demo

Wolf Lingerie (www.toptex.fr)

Founded in 1947 in Strasbourg, the Wolf Lingerie group designs, manufactures and distributes lingerie, mainly under its own brands Sans Complexe, Billet Doux and Girls in Paris. The group is rolling out its leading Complexless brand, dedicated to larger bust sizes, internationally. All activities are managed from France, where all products are designed. The group controls all of the key processes, from creation to distribution, including production and logistics. Wolf Lingerie manufactures its products through a network of suppliers located in China.

Centric Software (www.centricsoftware.com)

From its headquarters in Silicon Valley, Centric Software provides a Digital Transformation Platform for the most prestigious names in fashion, retail, footwear, luxury, outdoor, consumer goods and home decor. Centrics flagship Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) platform, Centric 8, delivers enterprise-class merchandise planning, product development, sourcing, quality and collection management functionality tailored for fast-moving consumer industries. Centric SMB provides innovative PLM technology and key industry learnings for emerging brands. Centric Visual Innovation Platform (VIP) offers a new fully visual and digital experience for collaboration and decision-making and includes the Centric Buying Board to transform internal buying sessions and maximize retail value and the Centric Concept Board for driving creativity and evolving product concepts. All Centric innovations shorten time to market, boost product innovation and reduce costs.

Centric Software is majority-owned by Dassault Systemes (Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA), the world leader in 3D design software, 3D Digital Mock Up and PLM solutions.

Centric Software has received multiple industry awards and recognition, including being named by Red Herring to its Top 100 Global list in 2013, 2015 and 2016. Centric also received various excellence awards from Frost & Sullivan in 2012, 2016 and 2018.

Centric Software is a registered trademark of Centric Software Inc. All other brands and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Media Contacts:

Centric Software



Americas: Jennifer Forsythe, jforsythe@centricsoftware.com

EMEA: Kristen Salaun-Batby, ksalaun-batby@centricsoftware.com

APAC: Lily Dong, lily.dong@centricsoftware.com
The one where Gabrielle Union is hosting a table-read of the hit 90s sitcom "Friends."

This coronavirus pandemic, celebrity script readings have become the fad. It's because these actors can't create new content. After all, they can't share the same space.

What people like to watch these days are all-star casts reading a movie script or a TV episode live on Zoom, whether for charity or for fun. Though it still wouldn't be the same as a typical sitcom or movie, it's still something.

Gabrielle Union's plan will be the next level in terms of table-read. They call it "The One With the Diverse Cast."

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Dwayne Wade's missus is organizing an all-black cast to read one of "Friends" most iconic episodes, "The One Where No One's Ready" from the third season.

The six lead characters will be read by Sterling K. Brown, Uzo Aduba, Ryan Bathe, Aisha Hinds, Kendrick Sampson, and Jeremy Pope.

Brown will play Ross, Aduba as Phoebe, Sampson as Joey, Bathe as Rachel, Pop as Chandler, and Hinds as Monica.

Deadline said that the hourlong "Zoom Where it Happens" event will start at 6 pm ET on Tuesday, September 22, 2020, and Salli Richardson-Whitfield is set to direct.

Like many virtual table-reads in the past month since the coronavirus pandemic, this "Friends" reading will raise awareness for charity.

According to reports, Gabrielle Union chose "When We All Vote," a non-partisan voter registration organization co-chaired by the former First Lady, Michelle Obama.

Its mission is to change the culture around voting by bringing together brands, organizations, institutions, and citizens to increase participation in every election.

But this wasn't the first time there has been a reimagined all-Black "Friends" cast.

In 2017, Jay-Z cast Jerrod Carmichael, Issa Rae, Tiffany Haddish, Tessa Thompson, LaKeith Stanfield, and Lil Rel Howery.

The 7-minute video of "Moonlight" is available to stream on Tidal and YouTube.

But according to critics, Jay-Z didn't remake "Friends" just for laughs. The choice seemed to be deliberate and poignant, considering that at that time, the stars who were part of the all-black sitcom "Living Single" have complained that their show didn't get the promotional support that the all-white "Friends" did.

The original friends, which aired from 1994-2004, starred Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc, and Matthew Perry.

The Long-Awaited "Friends" Reunion

Last year, it was announced that there would be an unscripted "Friends" reunion special for HBO Max.

It was initially slated to film in mid-March, but then the coronavirus outbreak happened. It was then pushed to May. But with the entire world in the grips of the pandemic, the production was once again postponed. HBO Max still doesn't know when it will debut.

In April, the original stars of "Friends" even auctioned six tickets to the taping, with the funds earned will go to COVID relief.

The "Friends" special is said to have been designed to join all 236 episodes of the award-winning NBC series.

All six characters are slated to return to the comedy's original soundstage, Stage 24, on the Warner Bros. Studio in Burbank.

READ MORE: Emmys 2020 Misfortune: Giuliana Rancic, Vivica Fox Tested Positive for COVID-19
RIMOUSKI, Quebec, Sept. 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Puma Exploration Inc., PUMA-TSXV, (the Company or Puma) is pleased to provide additional results, following those reported on September 01, 2020 on the ONeil Showing, from its initial reconnaissance exploration program conducted on the Williams Brook Property, in Northern New Brunswick, an Atlantic Province of Canada.



HIGHLIGHTS:

Three (3) new gold-bearing boulders fields discovered over 2. 0 km along the ONeil Gold Zone providing excellent location for new potential discoveries.

along the ONeil Gold Zone providing excellent location for new potential discoveries. High grade gold samples, grading 12 . 9 g/t Au , 2.7 g/t Au, 2.5 g/t Au and 1.6 g/t Au from selected float samples* collected at the ONeil Gold Zone.

from selected float samples* collected at the ONeil Gold Zone. Additional selected grab samples collected at the ONeil Showing with up-to 43.9 g/t Au in the main vein and 16.9 g/t Au and 2.2 g/t Au in quartz stockworks and veinlets within the surrounding rhyolite.

in the main vein and and in quartz stockworks and veinlets within the surrounding rhyolite. Initial selected grab samples grading 0.86 g/t Au , 0.46 g/t Au and 0.34 g/t Au collected at the new Twin Vein Showing located 100 meters south of the ONeil Showing.

collected at the new Twin Vein Showing located 100 meters south of the ONeil Showing. Current extensive trenching program ongoing to verify the extensions of the ONeil Showing and to locate the source of the gold-bearing boulders fields.



*Rock grab and float samples are selective by nature and may not represent the true grade or style of mineralization across the property.

Marcel Robillard, Puma's President & CEO stated, "We are very excited to have discovered gold-bearing boulders fields for more than 2.0 km along the interpreted ONeil Gold Zone. Each of these areas have the potential to host significant gold mineralization similar to the ONeil Showing where the main vein contains up-to 109 g/t Au. Short-term current follow-up work mainly include trenching operations to verify the extentions of the ONeil Showing and to find the source of those gold-bearing boulders fields where usually the overburden is less than 2 meters thick."



ONEIL GOLD ZONE (OGZ)

The ONeil Gold Zone has now been followed over 2.0 km in length and includes, from south to north; the Twin Vein Showing, the ONeil Showing, and the continuous gold-bearing boulders. The first phase of the 2020 summer exploration program lead to the discovery of a high grade gold ONeil Showing. The highest gold sample, grading 109.5 g/t Au, is part of a quartz vein (ranging from 30-50cm) followed and sampled, so far, over 10 meters in length. The average gold grade samples of the vein of 27.4 g/t Au over 10 meters (109.5 g/t Au, 38.8 g/t Au, 21.0 g/t Au 7.38 g/t Au 6.63 g/t Au, 5.55 g/t Au and 2.94 g/t Au)*, was estimated from chip and grab samples collected continuously every 1.5 meters on the main vein.

The ONeil Showing consists of an altered and brecciated rhyolite injected with quartz veins and quartz stockworks. The main vein is rusty and contains disseminated sulphides. Following the hand and shovel cleaning of the main vein, surrounding quartz stockworks and veinlets within the rhyolite were found, sampled and reported respectively high grade gold of 16.90 g/t Au, 8.24 g/t Au, 6.14 g/t Au, 3.57 g/t Au, 2.2g/t Au and 1.14 g/t Au.

The altered and brecciated rhyolite is open in all directions and now exposed for 10 meters by 10 meters. More work is currently in progress at the ONeil Showing to better define and understand the gold system including trenching operations. Refer to press release of September 1, 2020.

2020 SUMMER EXPLORATION PROGRAM

Concurrently with the initial work done on the ONeil Showing, the early phase of the summer exploration program incorporated large detailed prospecting and mapping mainly focused on the southern part on the Williams Brook property which included the main gold bearing zones (GZ) interpreted and known below (see news 09/01/2020) :

 ONeil Gold Zone (OGZ): Current work includes trenching and stripping operation

 Williams 1 Gold Zone (W1GZ): Initial reconnaissance and mapping in progress

 Williams 2 Gold Zone (W2GZ): Initial reconnaissance and mapping in progress

 Ramsay Gold Zone (RGZ): Initial reconnaissance and prospection in progress

Currently 199 rock samples, consisting of a mix of outcrops and boulders were collected on the property during this early reconnaissance stage of exploration. Most of them are quartz and rhyolite samples collected from the current trenching program. Results are pending and will be released once they become available.

TRIPLE FAULT GOLD PROJECT

The Triple Fault Gold Project includes three (3) properties named Williams Brook Gold, Jonpol Gold, and Portage Lake properties covering more than 30,000 hectares of favorable gold exploration land package. The project is located about 60km west of Bathurst with the paved road cross-cutting the property.

Puma is currently focusing its field work on its first priority, the Williams Brook property. The Williams Brook Gold property includes selected drill results of 11.2 g/t over 2.8m, 2.1 g/t Au over 9.0m and 1.0 g/t over 23m, gold occurrences grading up to 109.0 g/t Au, 50.8 g/t Au, 38,9 g/t Au in bedrock, numerous gold soil anomalies and extremely anomalous till samples with up to 508 gold grains that occur over an area approximately 12 by 3 kilometres.

There has been very limited drilling and exploration in the area mapped to be part of The Dunnage Zone hosting major gold deposits and gold occurrences in siluro-devonian rocks and considered as an emerging gold exploration and development district.

QUALIFIED PERSONS

Dominique Gagne, PGeo, independent qualified person as defined by Canadian National Instrument 43-101 standards, has reviewed and approved the geological information reported in this news release. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Mr. Gagne is independent of the Company.

QUALITY ASSURANCE/QUALITY CONTROL (QA/QC)

Rock samples were bagged, sealed and sent to the facility of ALS CHEMEX in Moncton, New Brunswick where each sample is dried, crushed, and pulped. The samples were crushed to 70% less than 2mm, riffle split off 1kg, pulverise split to better than 85% passing 75 microns (Prep-31B). A 30-gram subsplit from the resulting pulp was then subjected to a fire assay (Au-ICP21). Rock sample ICP results with gold >1g/t were subjected to a metallic screening (Au-SCR24) 1kg pulp screened to 100 microns. Other screen sizes available. Duplicate 50g assay on screen undersize. Assay of entire oversize fraction.

ABOUT PUMA EXPLORATION

Puma Exploration is a Canadian-based mineral exploration company with precious and base metals projects in early to advanced stages located in the Famous Bathurst Mining Camp (BMC) in New Brunswick, Canada. Great efforts will be made by the Company in the coming years to deploy its DEAR strategy (Development, Exploration, Acquisition and Royalties) in order to generate maximum value for shareholders with low shares dilution.

You can visit us on Facebook / Twitter / LinkedIn

Learn more by consulting www.pumaexploration.com for further information on Puma.

Marcel Robillard, President, (418) 724-0901; president@explorationpuma.com

Christian Tweedy, Communications, (604) 619-5810; ctweedy@explorationpuma.com

Forward-Looking Statements: This press release may contain forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Puma to be materially different from actual future results and achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements which speak only as of the date the statements were made, except as required by law. Puma undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties are described in the quarterly and annual reports and in the documents submitted to the securities administration.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/46371c3b-c6db-4944-982d-7efb94ef9a1f
New South Wales has recorded just two more cases of coronavirus with both in hotel quarantine.

The new infections on Tuesday have brought the state's total number to 4,017.

Despite there being no new locally acquired cases, health authorities are urging residents to get tested for the mildest of symptoms.

The drop in infections comes after it was announced Queensland would open its border bubble to include five shires in NSW.

Both of the COVID-19 cases recorded in NSW on Tuesday are in returned travellers in hotel quarantine (pictured workers wear face mask at Opera Bar in Sydney)

NSW Health said testing numbers had declined in recent weeks to more than 7,000 each day.

'NSW Health is appealing to the community to come forward for testing right away if you have a runny nose or scratchy throat, cough, fever or other symptoms that could be COVID-19,' health authorities said.

'If people dont come forward and get tested, we cant keep the pandemic at bay.

'We would like to see testing levels above 20,000 as achieved last week, particularly in South Western Sydney, and ahead of school holidays. For the sake of your friends and family, get a test.'

There are 77 patients being treated for COVID-19 with three in intensive care and one on ventilation.

On Tuesday Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced that as of next weekend the state would be open to more NSW residents.

Residents in 41 postcodes including Byron Shire, Ballina, Lismore, the Richmond Valley including Casino and Evans Head, and Glen Innes will be added to the Queensland-NSW border bubble from 1am on October 1.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk (pictured) announced on Tuesday as of next weekend the state would be open to more NSW residents after recording zero new cases

Ms Palaszczuk said those 152,000 NSW residents will be able to travel freely in Queensland and residents of her state will also be able to travel in far northern NSW.

'These areas have a lot in common with Queensland,' she said on Tuesday morning.

'They usually do a lot of their business in Queensland so we believe that this is the right measure to take and we have also been in contact with the NSW authorities to advise them of this today as well.'

The announcement of border changes come as Queensland prepares to welcome ACT travellers back up north on Friday.

The border will open only to Canberrans who arrive by plane and anyone coming from NSW via the ACT will have to wait 14 days before being allowed to fly.

Residents of Byron Shire, Ballina, Lismore, the Richmond Valley including Casino and Evans Head, and Glen Innes will be added to the Queensland-NSW border bubble from 1am on October 1 (pictured border checkpoint in Coolangatta near NSW-QLD border)

It was also announced on Tuesday that South Australia would open its borders to residents in NSW from midnight on Wednesday as long there are no new coronavirus cases with community transmission.

SA Premier Steven Marshall made the announcement following the state's Transition Committee meeting on Tuesday - despite concerns an infectious taxi driver may have spread coronavirus across Sydney.

'This will be massive relief for people dislocated from family, friends and business opportunities. We know this has been a massive burden on the business community, families and individuals but we did this to keep people safe,' he said.

NSW Health is urgently contacting anyone who took trips with a Silver Service taxi driver who tested positive on Saturday and worked in Sydney's west and southwest.

Anyone who rode in his taxi between September 8 and 18 should monitor for symptoms, isolate for 14 days and get tested for coronavirus.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin looks on before testifying before a hearing of the House subcommittee investigating the federal response to the coronavirus crisis on Capitol Hill in Washington, on Sept. 1, 2020. (Graeme Jennings-Pool/Getty Images)

Mnuchin and Powell Credit Stimulus With Boosted Recovery, Seek More Aid

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Tuesday said that while the U.S. economy is rebounding during the CCP virus-induced downturn, more government aid is likely needed.

Mnuchin said he was ready to resume negotiations with top Democrats after talks stalled on a stimulus package last month. With the Senate gearing up for a battle over President Donald Trumps Supreme Court nominee before the election, there has been less incentive to pass a pandemic relief deal.

We are in a very different situation than we were the last time when Congress passed the $2.2 trillion CARES Act in March to offset losses incurred by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, Mnuchin told the House Financial Services Committee on Tuesday. At that time, the entire economy was shut down.

Mnuchin said the next focus should be on supporting jobs and industries, providing funding to reopen schools, providing funding to the hard-hit travel and restaurant industries, and he wants to use some funds for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).

A full recovery is likely to come only when people are confident that it is safe to reengage in a broad range of activities, Powell also wrote in prepared testimony, according to the Washington Post. The path forward will depend on keeping the virus under control, and on policy actions taken at all levels of government.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), speaks to reporters at the Capitol in Washington on Aug. 1, 2020. (Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP Photo)

After Senate Democrats blocked the latest Republican proposal this month, Mnuchin said there is still a chance a pandemic relief deal could be made.

The president and I want to have more support to help those American businesses impacted by this, he said in a Tuesday interview. I think theres many areas of this where there is an agreement between Democrats and Republicans. There are some areas where we have differences on the amounts. But I will continue to work on this. I told (House Speaker Nancy Pelosi) Im available anytime to negotiate.

Democrats and the White House were at odds over a number of provisions including whether to provide funding to states and cities. In the House Democrat-passed HEROES Act, about $1 trillion was proposed for local jurisdictions.

President Donald Trump on Tuesday again asserted that Democrats are only interested in BAILING OUT states that are run by Democrats, and they are not interested in our workers or small businesses.

On Sept. 18, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) again said that her caucus wont accept a measure worth less than $2.2 trillion.

It came after Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said in a joint statement that they welcome calls from President Trump and the White House to pass a higher-dollar bill. White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said Trump wants a bill greater than $500 billion.

We are encouraged that after months of the Senate Republicans insisting on shortchanging the massive needs of the American people, President Trump is now calling on Republicans to go for the much higher numbers in the next coronavirus relief package, the two top Democrats said in their statement. We look forward to hearing from the Presidents negotiators that they will finally meet us halfway with a bill that is equal to the massive health and economic crises gripping our nation.
At one of his super-spreader rallies on Monday night, the village idiot who somehow stumbled into a job as President of the United States, said the COVID-19 virus affects virtually nobody. That is an exact quote, not fake news, not a Democratic party hoax, not words taken out of context, and not the famous Trump sarcasm. Its what he said and what he meant. Tell it to the families of the 200,000 who have died. Tell it to the more than six million who have contracted the disease and still dont really know what its long-term effects will be. But most of all, tell it to the millions of voters who say that no matter what he says, no matter what he does, they will still vote for Donald J. Trump.
While health officials worry about a potential "twindemic" of COVID-19 and the flu this winter, a new study finds that hospital patients who were infected with both viruses were more than twice as likely to die as those infected only with the new coronavirus.

British government scientists conducted the research during the early months of the pandemic, and the results were troubling: 43% of patients who were hospitalized with both infections died, compared with 26.9% of people who were hospitalized for coronavirus infection alone, the Washington Post reported.

While the study only followed 58 people between the months of January and April, the findings line up with similar research that is underway, the Post reported.

"If you get both, you are in some serious trouble, and the people who are most likely to get both of these infections may be the very people who can least afford to in terms of their own immune system, or their risk for serious outcomes," Yvonne Doyle, Public Health England's medical director, said in an agency news release. She urged people considered high-risk to go for a flu shot if they were eligible.

"The flu vaccine is more important than ever, to help reduce transmission of flu and protect the nation from the double threat of flu and COVID-19," Doyle said.

As for a COVID-19 vaccine, some U.S. pediatricians are warning that a coronavirus vaccine for children might not arrive before the fall of 2021. While scientists are racing to develop a vaccine for adults, no one has started the process for children, The New York Times reported.

"Right now, I'm pretty worried that we won't have a vaccine available for kids by the start of next school year," Dr. Evan Anderson, a pediatrician at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, told the Times.

Anderson and his colleagues recently published a commentary in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases in which they called for vaccine makers to address the issue.

Many vaccines, including ones for measles, polio and tetanus, were developed to be given to children. In such cases, vaccine makers typically start with trials in adults to check for any safety issues, and then move on to testing in children, the Times reported.

Anderson said that vaccine makers could have started running trials for children over the summer, as soon as they had good results in adults. But that has not happened, and when these trials do start it could take a year or more to ready a coronavirus vaccine for children, Anderson said.

Coronavirus distribution plan unveiled

Meanwhile, the details of a plan to rapidly deliver a future coronavirus vaccine to Americans has been unveiled by federal.

Two of the key parts of the plan are to begin distributing a vaccine with 24 hours of any approval or emergency authorization and offering the vaccine for free, the Times reported.

Officials from Operation Warp Speedthe multiagency effort created to quickly vaccinate Americans against coronavirusalso said the timing of a vaccine was still unclear, the Times reported. That is despite repeated statements from President Donald Trump that a shot could be ready before the election on Nov. 3.

"We're dealing in a world of great uncertainty. We don't know the timing of when we'll have a vaccine, we don't know the quantities, we don't know the efficacy of those vaccines," Paul Mango, the deputy chief of staff for policy at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, told the Times. "This is a really quite extraordinary, logistically complex undertaking, and a lot of uncertainties right now."

Who will get the vaccine first? Initial distribution of a vaccine, possibly on an emergency basis, would to a limited group of high-priority people, such as health care workers, in the final three months of this year and into next year, the Times reported. The Department of Defense is providing logistical support for shipping and storing the vaccine, and for keeping track of who has gotten a vaccine and whether they got the full two doses, the newspaper said.

To achieve this, existing databases would be linked up so that, for example, a patient who received a vaccine at a public health center in January could go to a CVS pharmacy 28 days later in another state and be assured of getting the second dose of the right vaccine, the Times reported.

Right now, three drug makers are testing vaccine candidates in late-stage trials in the United States. One of those companies, Pfizer, has said that it could apply for emergency authorization as early as October, while the other two, Moderna and AstraZeneca, have said they hope to have something before the end of the year.

In a sign that the Pfizer vaccine trials are moving along smoothly, German pharmaceutical company BioNTech, which is developing a coronavirus vaccine with Pfizer, announced recently it was buying a new production plant so it can ramp up production of a COVID-19 vaccine when needed, CNN reported.

New Drug May Help Prevent Severe COVID

A single infusion of an experimental drug dramatically lowers levels of coronavirus in the bodies of newly infected patients and cuts their chances of hospitalization, the drug's maker has reported.

Eli Lilly's announcement did not include detailed data and hasn't been peer-reviewed or published yet, the Times reported.

The news comes from interim results of a trial sponsored by Eli Lilly and the U.S. National Institutes of Health. NIH officials would not comment on the announcement until they have seen more detailed data from the trial, the Times reported.

How does the drug work its magic? It is a monoclonal antibody, a manmade copy of an antibody produced by a patient who recovered from COVID-19, the Times reported. Scientists around the world have high hopes that that monoclonal antibodies will prove to be powerful coronavirus treatments, but they come with a caveat: They are difficult to manufacture, and would take time to produce, the Times reported.

In the trial, 452 newly diagnosed COVID patients received the monoclonal antibody or a placebo infusion. Some 1.7 percent of those who got the drug were hospitalized, compared with 6 percent of those who received a placebo a 72 percent reduction in risk, Eli Lilly said.

At the same time, blood levels of the coronavirus plummeted among those who received the drug, and their symptoms were fewer and milder, the Times reported.

This is the first treatment aimed at patients who are not already seriously ill and hospitalized, the newspaper added.

Dr. Myron Cohen, director of the Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, told the Times he was impressed by the findings.

"It's exciting," said Cohen, who was not involved in the study. The trial appears to be rigorous, and the results are "really compelling," he added. Other monoclonal antibody drugs to combat the coronavirus are in development, he noted.

Cases keep mounting

By Tuesday, the U.S. coronavirus case count passed 6.8 million as the death toll passed 199,700, according to a Times tally.

According to the same tally, the top five states in coronavirus cases as of Tuesday were: California with over 792,000; Texas with more than 744,700; Florida with over 685,000; New York with more than 455,000; and Georgia with nearly 290,000.

Curbing the spread of the coronavirus in the rest of the world remains challenging.

By Tuesday, India's coronavirus case count had passed 5.5 million, just over one month after hitting the 3 million mark, the Times reported.

Nearly 89,000 coronavirus patients have died in India, but when measured as a proportion of the population, the country has had far fewer deaths than many others. Doctors say this reflects India's younger and leaner population.

Still, the country's public health system is severely strained, and some sick patients cannot find hospital beds, the newspaper said. Only the United States has more coronavirus cases.

Meanwhile, Brazil posted over 4.5 million cases and more than 137,000 deaths as of Tuesday, the Times tally showed.

Cases are also spiking in Russia: The country's coronavirus case count has passed 1.1 million, the Times reported. As of Tuesday, the death toll in Russia was over 19,500.

Worldwide, the number of reported infections passed 31.3 million on Tuesday, with over 965,000 deaths, according to the Hopkins tally.

Explore further Coronavirus vaccine plan for Americans announced

More information: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on the Journal information: Clinical Infectious Diseases The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on the new coronavirus

Copyright  2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
In this screenshot from the DNCC's livestream of the 2020 Democratic National Convention, former first lady and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton addresses the virtual convention. (DNCC via Getty Images)

Former presidential nominee Hillary Clinton is giving listeners a sample of what to expect from her new podcast debuting next week.

Tuesday's official podcast trailer for "You and Me Both With Hillary Clinton" features the former secretary of State promising in-depth conversations "with people I just love talking to."

"We're living through pretty intense times," Clinton says. "A pandemic. An economic freefall. A long-overdue reckoning with racism and lots of uncertainty about the future of our democracy. I don't know about you, but I'm feeling like we need some community, some humanity, even some authenticity."

First announced in February, Clinton's iHeartMedia podcast is a 24-part series that premieres Sept. 29  the same day as the first presidential debate between her former rival, President Trump, and Democratic nominee Joe Biden.

The program's debut comes on the heels of Michelle Obamas Spotify podcast, launched in July, which featured former President Obama as her first guest. (No word yet if former President Clinton will appear on his wife's program.)

The two-time presidential candidate was also the subject of Hulu's February docuseries "Hillary," which offers a behind-the-scenes look at her failed 2016 campaign.

Clinton's podcast will feature the Democrat, who won the popular vote in the 2016 presidential election, in candid, topical conversations with women's rights advocate Gloria Steinem, former Rep. Stacey Abrams (D-Ga.), "Call Your Girlfriend" podcast hosts Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman and psychologist Angela Duckworth, according to a statement from iHeartMedia.

Other celebrity guests include viral Trump impersonator Sarah Cooper, cookbook author Samin Nosrat, "Queer Eye" star Tan France and comedian Patton Oswalt.

"I'm excited to bring these eye-opening, powerful, sometimes hilarious conversations to the forefront and open up new avenues of discussion with some of the people I find most fascinating," Clinton said in a statement accompanying the trailer. "This podcast is a chance to talk about subjects that are too often overlooked and share the inspiration and education Ive gotten from my guests."

Clinton will touch on everything from the pressing political issues to the challenges of cooking in quarantine, along with such topics as leadership, food, faith, resilience and grief, according to the statement.







"Hillary, being the first woman on the ballot in a general election for president, is one of the great political leaders of our time, and we are delighted to partner with her on this project," said Conal Byrne, iHeartPodcast Network president. "'You and Me Both' will provide listeners with an astute, nuanced look at whats happening in the world right now  and Hillary is the perfect moderator for those discussions."

The iHeartPodcast Network has been expanding its roster of programming with titles such as Stuff You Should Know, Next Question With Katie Couric, The Ron Burgundy Podcast and Atlanta Monster." The radio giant has also partnered with television producer Shonda Rhimes Shondaland Audio, comedian Will Ferrell, "The Breakfast Club" host Charlamagne Tha God and horror giant Blumhouse Productions.
There is not much room to retreat from rising sea levels on Tarawa atoll, capital of the vast archipelago nation of Kiribati. (Torsten Blackwood/AFP/Getty Images)

Australia at Risk of Losing Ground to China in Pacific: Expert

One of Australias highest foreign policy priorities, the Pacific Step-up, is at risk of losing ground to China if the federal government ignores the regions needs, a strategic expert has claimed.

Beijing is moving to control vital trans-Pacific sea lines of communication under the guise of helping low-lying Pacific island nations with economic development and adapting to rising sea levels.

Steve Raaymaker, principle at EcoStrategic Consultants, contended in an article published by the ASPI Strategist that Pacific nations and territories are becoming increasingly vulnerable to Chinas cash-based diplomacy because more traditional allies, like Australia, are ignoring their development needs.

The island of Tuvanipupu in Honiara, Guadalcanal Island, Solomon Islands. (Chris Jackson-Pool/Getty Images)

Raaymaker argued that as a result the strategically vital nations are being co-opted by China with promises of significant financial and development aid as they face rising sea levels.

This is creating a situation where although Australia has invested $1.9 billion into development assistance programs, it still needs to do more.

Australias Pacific Step-up needs a lot more up in its step if such developments are to be effectively countered, Raaymaker wrote.

The Pacific Step-up policy was designed to respond to the Pacifics challenges around climate and disaster resilience, sustainable economic growth, health, and education.

Raaymaker believes Australia has not recognised or addressed the Pacifics broader development concerns, like rising sea levels, and therefore, Australia cannot tailor its development assistance to address these issues concretely.

Marise Payne, Australias Foreign Minister, previously conceded this point.

In 2019, Payne said: Our conversations in the Pacific over the past several years have made it clear that we can and should all do more together to rise to the challenge and opportunities of our new Blue Pacific Continent.

But this acknowledgment has done little to assuage Pacific island nations from Chinas sway.

Rising Sea Levels Drives Move Towards Beijing

In 2019, both the strategically important Kiribati Islands and the Solomon Islands re-established diplomatic ties with China after previously being allied to Taiwan.

Both countries have also signed on to Beijings notorious Belt and Road Initiative which Australia considers a vehicle for Chinas global military ambitions.

At the time, Kiribati President Taneti Maamau said he was pleased to be engaging with China as it was helping small and medium-sized developing countries such as Kiribati to speed up development and address challenges such as climate change.

Kiribati is recognised internationally as one of the worlds most vulnerable countries to the rising sea levels. According to DFAT, nearly all of its 33 islands are less than 2 meters above sea level, its land atolls are often less than 500 meters wide, and its communities are often dislodged by storms and high tides.

As a result of this, Kiribati wants to reclaim land from the sea which, according to the countrys 20-year development plan (pdf), will be around 767 acres by 2036.

Beijing is eager to help with the expensive task.

Already lined up to construct two major transshipment hubs in Kiribati which will require large scale land reclamation, China is said to be preparing its fleet of dredgers that were used to build the artificial islands in the South China Sea.

Lagoons can be seen from a plane as it flies above Kiritimati Island, part of the Pacific Island nation of Kiribati, April 5, 2016. (Reuters/Lincoln Feast)

The government of the Solomon Islands echoed the sentiments of Kiribati.

In an interview with NPR in 2019, Robson Tana Djokovic, chief of staff to the Solomon Islands prime minister; and Samson Viulu, a senior economic official, said: the Solomon Islands felt they werent an important part of the global community because they dont have big economies and so are not treated as important when it comes to rising sea levels.

According to those officials, the Solomon Islands government turned to China in the hope it would help them create economic development and mitigate the effects of rising sea levels on their countries.

But Raaymaker argues this aid is simply a fallacy perpetrated by the Chinese regime.

China panders directly to such concerns and bills itself as a global leader on climate change, despite now being the worlds largest emitter of greenhouse gases, said Raaymaker.

Raaymaker also told The Epoch Times that small nations like Kiribati are incredibly vulnerable to being taken advantage of by the Chinese regimes Belt and Road Initiative with outcomes like what happened to Papua New Guinea (PNG) all too probable.

PNG has recently found itself with growing debt owed to China and an increasingly difficult fiscal position which is compounded by the failure of many of the joint China-PNG projects.

According to Jeff Wall, an ASPI strategist, the PNG government owes China nearly $5 billion for a range of Huawei-led communications projects and infratstructure projects like the Shenzhen Energy Group/Sinohydro hydropower station.

However many of the projects have been stalled or poorly built to allow China access to the Pacific nation.
Mr. Ivor Kobina Greenstreet, Flag bearer of Convention Peoples Party (CPP), has said the party was ready and well equipped to rescue the country from the diabolic grasp of the two major parties.



He said both the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) governed the country since 1992 with nothing to show in terms of alleviating the plight of the ordinary citizen.



Speaking at a symposium organised by the Party to commemorate Dr. Kwame Nkrumahs birthday on theme Kwame Nkrumah Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow in Kpando, Mr. Greenstreet said both parties had failed to utilise the available vast natural resources the country was blessed with to benefit Ghanaians.



We are not supposed to be poor, our people are not supposed to be poor, he lamented. Mr Greenstreet added that Dr. Nkrumah believed in the Ghanaian dream that created a just society, where everyone had fair and equal opportunities to succeed in their various chosen endeavours and that was what the CPP stood for.



We must create a just society, where everyone has a fair and equal chance of success and make the sky the limit for those, who want to change their destiny.



He said Nkrumah had always stood heads above all those, who were in the movement for independence and his Party, the CPP was perhaps the most successful party in this country that it was necessary to ban it and to clip the wings of the Big Red Cockerel.



As we mark his birthday, let me remind you that we the CPP are ready to take over the mantle of government so remember that a vote for CPP is a vote for yourself, Mr. Greenstreet told the gathering.



He said it was ''only the CPP that could relaunch the country into the fourth industrial age and coupled with the precipice of technology that would continue to transform the way we live, work and interact.''



Madam Nana Yaa Jantuah, General Secretary of CPP said it was mischievous that one would try to distort history by insisting that Dr. Kwame Nkrumah was not the founder of Ghana.



We all know that Nkrumah founded Ghana on 6th March, 1957 she added.



Madam Jantuah said the fortunes of the country could be turned around for the better, if the CPP was voted into power come December 7 and it would require hardwork and determination from party members.



She called on all party members to evangelise for the party by adopting the door-to-door campaign approaches.



She said the CPP had no division and that the party was stronger and together now than ever, adding that all members were solidly behind the flagbearer.



Mr. Blaise Edem Ametepey, CPP Parliamentary Candidate, Keta Constituency said the NDC and NPP had ruled the country for 28 years and together had failed Ghanaians.



He said ''all party members and faithful should make sacrifices as freedom doesnt come easily.''



A vote for the CPP is a vote for yourself, but any other vote is a wasted vote. Let us be wise,'' Mr. Ametepey said.



Let us get out there and give hope to our families and friends. This is solidarity. This is a clear matter of solidarity. Yes we can win if we do our homework smartly and wisely, he added.



Party Executives from Ho Central, Hohoe, Kpando, North Dayi, South Dayi, Adaklu, Akatsi South, North Tongu, Keta, Anlo, Ketu South and Agotime Ziope attended the symposium.







Source: GNA









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YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 21, ARMENPRESS. As part of the Independence Day celebrations, the Hero of Our Time Awarding ceremony has kicked off at the Zvartnots Cathedral.

President Armen Sarkissian, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, President of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan, Catholicos Karekin II and other officials are in attendance.

The Hero of Our Time Award is homage to the citizen of Armenia, honoring their selfless and diligent activities and achievements in different areas.

The grand prix will be presented by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

This year, organizers added two new awards for health workers fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and for the troops for their heroic actions in defending the country during the Azerbaijani attacks on Armenia in July 2020.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
OCEAN SPRINGS, Mississippi -- Joe Cacibauda, who created a permanent legacy in Ocean Springs through his 31-years as the high schools band director, died Monday at his home in Ocean Springs after a five-year battle with cancer. He was 70.

Mr. Joe," as he was known to most, arrived in Ocean Springs in 1984 to take over the band program after working at Bay High, St. Martin High and Michele Junior High in Biloxi. When he took over the OSHS band program, there were 38 students in the high school band and just 85 in band in grades 6-12. The high school band had no name.

I always tell people Ocean Springs was ripe for the picking when I arrived, Cacibauda said in 2015. "They were ready for someone to come in and put together a consistent program. I think people realized I was there for the kids and the community, not the other way around.

You have to sell the program, he continued. When I got here, there wasnt much interaction between the community and the school band program. We had to change that.

Change it, indeed. Three decades later, when Cacibauda retired in 2015, there were 274 students in the high school band and 700 in grades 6-12. The Blue-Grey Pride -- the name Cacibauda coined -- had become one of the top high school programs in the state and southeast, consistently earning top honors and asked to perform in major parades and other events.

In addition, every student who came through Cacibaudas band program had the opportunity for a college band scholarship, if they chose to pursue it.

When Cacibauda conducted his last concert at OSHS in May 2015, it was announced the schools band hall would be renamed in his honor.

Sadly, it was later that same year Cacibauda was first diagnosed with lung cancer. Initially, he responded well to treatment and appeared to be headed to recovery. But earlier this year, his family announced that he had re-entered treatment and, this past Saturday, it was announced he had entered hospice care.

Ocean Springs school superintendent Bonita Coleman was among the many mourning Cacibaudas passing.

He was the first teacher I met when I moved to OSSD and, by far, the most impactful, Coleman said. Its hard to even conjure up words to accurately describe Joes love for music, children and humanity. That laugh, that voice, that heart -- he is unforgettable.

Cacibaudas successor at OSHS, Dr. Mohamed Schuman, said Tuesday was a somber one at the school and particularly in the band hall.

Were all saddened here today, obviously, Schuman said. "The building bears the name of a great man who did tremendous things for the program here and for countless lives of students. You cant begin to count the lives of people he touched or the impact he had.

His kids love him. Hes so well respected -- not just for the music or the quality of the program he built, but for the relationships he had with his students, and they with him. It was so evident how much they loved Mr. Joe. It was very special. The kids adored him and theyll remember him the rest of their lives because of the impact he had on them.

Cacibauda his survived by his wife of 34 years, Rose, and their three children: son J.T. Cacibauda and his wife, Karley, and daughters Alexa and Zoe Cacibauda.

Due to COVID-19 concerns, the family is holding a private service, but plans for a public memorial will be announced at a later date. In addition, in lieu of flowers, a band scholarship fund in Joe Cacibaudas honor will be created and donation to that fund can be made in his honor.
If you are a Bihari, then you come with built-in patience and acceptance, reveals Asmita Bihari.

IMAGE: The Khagaul flyover in Patna. Photograph: PTI Photo

In the last few years, well inside Nitish Kumar's current reign, I have travelled by road the entire length and breadth of Bihar.

Driving on my own, from Raxaul in the north to Gaya in the south and from Gopalganj in the west to Kishanganj in the east.

There are only eight of Bihar's 38 districts that I have not visited.

By and large, the road trips have been a pleasure. I would even stick my neck out and declare that the roads are smooth and worth travelling at 50 to 80 km an hour in most districts.

Well, if you stay on the main highways at least.

The worst district in terms of roads in my experience is most definitely Saran.

The state highway is forever clogged by trucks, the new bridge across the Ganga at Doriganj has been rendered useless as there is a 24/7 jam of trucks.

This even now, when the two lanes of the Gandhi setu has been re-opened for vehicular traffic.

The road journeys have been on National Highways, State Highways, detours through villages and fields, on under construction roads and even on the sandy banks of the Ganga.

The adventurous expedition to cross the river through this new route was also necessitated due to the massive jams on the less than adequate bridges across it.

The escapade entailed crossing the Ganga on a rickety pontoon bridge not erected by the government, but by the local villagers.

Of course the valiant attempt was during the winter when the mighty river is at its tamest self.

Which brings us to the falling bridges of Bihar.

The unfathomable phenomenon of bridges collapsing or being washed away even before they are inaugurated.

It happened to the bridge at Sattarghat over the Gandak in Gopalganj and now again at Kishanganj over the river Kankai.

The engineering of modern construction crumbles when compared to the numerous bridges built almost a hundred years ago that are still being used and have withstood the test of time and the elements.

Like the Koilwar bridge built in 1862 over the river Sone, which is also a Rail cum Road bridge.

IMAGE: Sher Shah Suri's mausoleum in Bihar's Sasaram district. Photograph: Asmita Bihari

The prime minister, as part of the daily quota of gifts for poll bound Bihar, inaugurated the railway bridge over the Kosi which will connect all of north Bihar to the north east.

There are many more planned and under construction bridges, mostly over the Ganga.

If the recent spate of construction failures are anything to go by, the government should plan a few more, in the event of more such unfortunate mishaps.

IMAGE: A view of the roads in Bihar. Photograph: Asmita Bihari

Travelling through Bihar by road is safe and smooth if you do not have to cross a major river.

The bridges over the Gandak at Reva Ghat and Dumaria Ghat are in poor condition and need desperate repair.

The narrow J P Setu (the Digha-Sonepur bridge is grossly insufficient for the daily commuters coming into Patna from the North.

The Veer Kunwar Singh Setu (Arrah-Chhapra Bridge) has become an exclusive bridge for trucks with a constant gridlock and wait times of over 24 hours.

Hence, if you do have to cross a bridge, then factor in traffic jams and extended travel times.

If you are a Bihari, then, of course, you come with built-in patience and acceptance.

Life went on for us when there was no electricity, when there was the dread of the darkness under the shadow of rampant crime, when there were no roads and there were no public transport and definitely no bridges.

When not so long ago, the Ganga was crossed by boat.

Come what may, we will reach our destination, bridge or no bridge.

We get to the destination even if the bridge is too far... or perhaps washed away.

Asmita Bihari is a non resident Bihari.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
The Minnesota authorities drone on as though nothing has changed. I have posted the audio of yesterdays Department of Health press briefing below.

Case numbers are up, but deaths and hospitalizations are down  way down. In the data reported yesterday, for example, the authorities attributed four new deaths to COVID-19, two of which occurred among residents of long-term care facilities. LTC deaths now account for 72.3 percent of all deaths attributed to the epidemic in Minnesota.

At about 37:00 one of the reporters asks a question about declining deaths and hospitalizations. According to Commissioner Jan Malcolm, the state must remain under monarchical rule in order to protect residents of long-term care facilities from employees who spread the disease. Malcolm alleges that they have seen an uptick in cases among long-term care residents (againit appears quite strongly) caused by health care workers unknowingly bringing the disease into the facilities.

The authorities repeatedly told us over the summer that these numbers would increase after a lag of a few weeks. They will never admit they erred. On the contrary, they will reiterate the importance of persisting in their train of thought, as Infectious Disease Division Director Kris Ehresmann did in response to the question yesterday. Really.

Kevin Roche considers the quandaries in the states treatment of case data here. Jeremy Olson summarizes the briefing in the context of the current data here. On the failure of fatalities to track cases, Jeremy reserves judgment: The key question is whether continued high numbers of new infections with the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 will lead to a surge in hospitalizations and deaths in Minnesota.

The big news out of yesterdays briefing is enough to make me spit. The state is in the process of opening ten semi-permanent centers for saliva testing. Jeremy unfortunately omitted this news from his account. MDH issued a press release announcing developments in saliva testing. It faithfully reflects the tone of the briefings:

Our battle against COVID-19 is far from over, said Minnesota Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm. The high number of new cases weve seen in recent days shows the outbreak could quickly spread out of control, so its important to stay a step or two ahead. Innovative partnerships are one of the ways we do that. This next milestone allows us to expand and diversify our testing options available to Minnesotans. Increased access to testing and identifying positive cases as early as possible is a critical way to keep schools and the economy as open as possible. While testing alone will not suppress the virus, higher testing volumes are a central part of our strategy to manage the virus.

There is more at the link if you want it. We appear to be in the process of building out a semi-permanent infrastructure for one-man rule.
US President Donald Trump cast blame on China over the coronavirus pandemic in an address on Tuesday before the United Nations, whose chief warned against a new "Cold War" between the two powers.

At a General Assembly held almost entirely virtually due to Covid-19, Trump delivered a speech in election campaign mode, while Chinese President Xi Jinping instead unveiled ambitious new targets to fight climate change.

As the US death toll from Covid-19 reached the grim milestone of 200,000, the highest in the world, Trump attacked Beijing and the United Nations for not stopping the disease and even used the loaded term "China virus."

"We must hold accountable the nation which unleashed this plague onto the world -- China," Trump said in a recorded address to the General Assembly, where each nation was represented by a single, masked delegate.

"The Chinese government and the World Health Organization  which is virtually controlled by China  falsely declared that there was no evidence of human-to-human transmission," Trump said, referring to initial statements by the UN health body after Beijing covered up early cases of the respiratory disease.

Trump has given notice that the United States is pulling out of the World Health Organization, to which it has been the largest contributor.

Critics say Trump is trying to shift blame for his handling of Covid-19. His rival for the November 3 elections, Democrat Joe Biden, has vowed to keep the US in the WHO, which also fights against malaria, polio and other public health scourges.

Speaking before Xi's announcement of China's new climate pledge, Trump -- who has pulled the United States out of the Paris accord on climate change -- said that his critics ignored "China's rampant pollution."

"They only want to punish America. And I will not stand for it," he said.

- 'Political virus' -

Leaders were asked to send videos of their speeches days in advance in a -- partly successful -- bid to avoid technical glitches, meaning Xi could not respond to Trump's remarks.

Story continues

But China's ambassador to the United Nations, Zhang Jun, told reporters that Trump's tone was "incompatible with the general atmosphere" of the world body.

"When the international community is really fighting hard against the Covid-19, the United States is spreading a political virus here in the General Assembly," he said.

"If we do have to hold anyone accountable, it should be the United States held accountable for losing so many lives with their irresponsible behavior."

Xi, in a mild-mannered speech delivered before a painting of the Great Wall, warned the world not to "politicize" the fight against coronavirus.

In a step hailed by environmentalists, Xi announced that China -- the world's largest polluter of greenhouse gases -- would peak its emissions in 2030 and go carbon neutral by 2060.

China has been rapidly curbing dirty coal and shifting to renewable energy, but under the Paris accord had said only that it would cap emissions "around" 2030.

"We call on all countries to pursue innovative, coordinated, green and open development for all," Xi said.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres voiced alarm over the US-China rift, warning that "we must do everything to avoid a new Cold War."

"We are moving in a very dangerous direction. Our world cannot afford a future where the two largest economies split the globe in a Great Fracture -- each with its own trade and financial rules and internet and artificial intelligence capacities," Guterres said in a rare in-person address.

French President Emmanuel Macron similarly said that the rest of the world should not be reduced to "rueful spectators."

"The world today cannot be reduced to the rivalry between China and the United States, irrespective of the global weight of these great powers," he said.

- Covid 'populism' -

The UN General Assembly in normal years draws about 10,000 people from around the world, a prospect that is unthinkable at a time when nations have imposed strict entrance requirements to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Russian President Vladimir Putin in his speech hailed the safety of a Covid vaccine unveiled by Moscow -- which has drawn wide skepticism among Western scientists.

Putin called for universal access to the vaccine and offered to give it for free to UN staff.

"I repeat again that we are absolutely open and disposed for partnership," Putin said.

Guterres in his address criticized nationalist approaches to the coronavirus, without naming Trump or other world leaders.

"Populism and nationalism have failed. Those approaches to contain the virus have often made things manifestly worse."

burs-sct/caw/
on Tuesday said it



has signed a power purchase agreement with Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals, Kolkata to commission a solar carport in the city.

This will be the biggest solar carport project in the country's health sector, spreading over 40,000 sq feet, officials said.

With 335Kwp capacity, the project is expected to generate approximately 4.26 lakh units annually for the hospital, which is equivalent to about 4-5 per cent of the health facility's power consumption, they said.

"The carport project is with our motto of doing our bit for the environment by reducing our carbon footprint estimated at 80,000 grams per annum," Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals Group CEO (eastern region) Rana Dasgupta said.

The solar carport will have a capacity of keeping 125 -150 vehicles, he said.

The capital expenditure for the project will be borne by and the electricity will be sold to the hospital at an agreed price, officials said.

The hospital will buy entire power generated from the carport at Rs 6.5 per unit, which will be about 20-25 per cent lower than the grid electricity price, they said.

The project will also help get green building certification for Apollo, they said.

officials said the project requires a complex level of EPC (engineering, procurement construction) expertise and customised plan layout for which the company has created a team to efficiently assemble the structure.

Additionally, the technologies and ingenious planning by power producer will help smooth project execution expected to begin early October.

(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.)
Carlos is a proven relationship-builder and deal-closer with our law firm clients, over a few short years he has cultivated the majority of his relationships with top-level firm management, said Kirsten Vasquez, Partner and Vice President, Law Firm Recruiting & Interim Legal Solutions.

Major, Lindsey & Africa (MLA), the worlds leading legal search firm, today announced that Carlos Pauling has been named Executive Director within the Partner Practice Group. Carlos will oversee the performance of partner recruiters in the firms East Coast offices, including New York, Boston and Washington, D.C. In addition, he will be responsible for developing a strategy to grow lateral recruiting at a time when law firms are looking to their strategic partners to recruit the best legal talent.

Carlos joined MLAs Law Firm Management group in 2017 and was promoted to managing director in 2019. In that role, he led executive-level searches in marketing, business development, finance, human resources, and diversity and inclusion for AmLaw 200 firms across the country. Because of his robust and unique experience throughout the legal profession, Carlos understands the particular challenges law firms face in todays lateral marketplace.

Carlos is a proven relationship-builder and deal-closer with our law firm clients, over a few short years he has cultivated the majority of his relationships with top-level firm management, said Kirsten Vasquez, Partner and Vice President, Law Firm Recruiting & Interim Legal Solutions. He has the ability to meet people and organizations where they are in order to move them forward, and his personalized and situational approach to leadership will serve MLA and our industry-leading Partner recruiting experts well.

I am extremely excited and profoundly humbled to be assuming this important leadership role at a time when the legal community, like other industries, is at a unique inflection point coming out of this global pandemic, said Carlos. I look forward to working with our amazing team of partner recruiters to continue to deliver our law firm clients the very best advice and service in the industry.

Prior to joining Major, Lindsey & Africa, Carlos had two decades of legal, banking, business and financial services experience representing some of the largest corporations and financial institutions in the world both as associate general counsel for Wachovia Bank (now Wells Fargo) and as an associate attorney at Moore & Van Allen, PLLC. Carlos also served in numerous executive roles for private equity firms and their portfolio companies.

About Major, Lindsey & Africa

Major, Lindsey & Africa is the worlds leading legal search firm. The firm, founded in 1982, offers a range of specialized legal recruiting and advisory services to meet the ever-changing needs of law firms and legal departments and to support the career aspirations of talented lawyers and legal and compliance professionals. With more than 27 offices and 200-plus search consultants around the world, Major, Lindsey & Africa uses its market knowledge and experience to partner with organizations to fulfill their legal talent needs and provide solutions to increase team efficiency and effectiveness. Major, Lindsey & Africa is an Allegis Group company, the global leader in talent solutions.

To learn more about Major, Lindsey & Africa, visit http://www.mlaglobal.com.
DETROIT - Wendy Caldwell-Liddell is tired of waiting for change in Detroit.

The nations largest Black-majority city has been devastated by the coronavirus pandemic and its ensuing economic fallout. More than 14,200 COVID-19 cases and 1,500 deaths have been confirmed in the city.

So when the 29-year-old Black mother of two thinks about whats at stake in the November presidential election, her answer is simple: Everything. Shes determined to help defeat President Donald Trump.

Trump won Michigan by less than 11,000 votes, noted Caldwell-Liddell, the co-founder of Mobilize Detroit, a newly formed grassroots organization. And so, our thought process is, if we can just get an additional 15,000 or 20,000 to show up, that could change Michigans trajectory for the presidential election.

Black voters across Michigan will be pivotal in deciding who will win the battleground state in November. But engaging them at a time of immense uncertainty across the nation because of the pandemic and unrest over the effects of systemic racism has been especially challenging.

A lot of Black folks are having that experience of getting punched in the gut several times in 2020, said Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, the first African American in that post. But I also know that Black folks, Black women in particular, are going to take care of business  Donald Trump is such an existential threat to Black life and Black futures and I think were going to show up and make sure that hes no longer president.

Both Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden are battling for support among Black voters across the state. Biden visited Detroit earlier this month, and his running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris, was spending time in Flint and Detroit on Tuesday.

Trumps campaign has opened an office on Detroits west side in the heart of a neighbourhood where local residents say theyve never seen a Republican presence before. Trump campaign officials said volunteers have been knocking on doors and doing other field activities across the state.

Throughout this campaign, Joe Biden has attempted to paint President Trump as someone hes not in a veiled attempt to hide his own abysmal racist record on Black America, Trump deputy national press secretary Ken Farnaso said in a statement. With President Trump in the Oval Office, Black Americans can rest assure that they have a true fighter and advocate working on their behalf.

But in a city that has always been a Democratic stronghold, Trumps presence is troubling to local officials who say they want to see Bidens campaign have a stronger visibility.

We dont have any type of engagement in Detroit, and its just mind-boggling, said Nicole Small, a Detroit Charter Commission member. And now you have, especially young Black voters and people living in poverty, saying, well, what difference is it going to make if we vote for Biden or if we vote for Trump? Theyre being dismissed and overlooked by the Democratic Party.

Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib said shes getting volunteers and staffers ready to knock on doors in the 13th Congressional District, which is largely African American.

I tell them this is not just about names on the ballot, Tlaib said. This is about the issues that matter to us. Its about getting closer to ending the broken systems that have been so oppressive and painful for so many of our communities of colour.

Bidens campaign and state Democratic Party officials have said theyre reaching voters through virtual events and making millions of calls and texts to voters across Michigan. Theyve also invested heavily in television, radio and digital ads across the state and are fulfilling orders for several thousands of campaign signs.

The campaign said it has a field team with a strong African American outreach program and a voter protection team focused on engaging communities of colour.

In an interview this month with longtime Detroit radio host Mildred Gaddis, Biden noted that Michigan, and its Black voters in Detroit, are critically important.

When I was the vice-president, I was the guy put in charge of reviving Detroit, remember? Biden said.  Im going to be coming back, God willing, in order to be able to make the case why what the president has done to the African American community has been devastating, and what Ive done my whole career has been uplifting.

In Wayne County, which is 39% Black and includes Detroit, Hillary Clinton won 66% of the vote in 2016, a noticeable drop from the 80% President Barack Obama won in 2012. About 37,000 fewer people turned out to vote in 2016 than in 2012.

Democratic state leaders said they learned hard lessons and that the party has worked to connect with Black voters.

The excitement is there if you look at the number of folks who participate in our virtual events, the number of folks who want to participate in the in-person events that Dr. Jill Biden and Joe Biden himself did here in Michigan, said Michigan Democratic Party chair Lavora Barnes. People are very enthusiastic about voting for Biden and Harris and turning this president out in November.

But deep within Detroit neighbourhoods, grassroots activist Ramone Jackson said people are struggling and disengaged from the political process.

We are in a dire situation as a Black community so weve got to understand our power, said Jackson, who has spent months teaching people about the power of voting with a sharp focus on local elections. That power, its our Congress members, not the president. Weve got to hold them accountable.

But challenges remain in connecting with apathetic voters and with younger Black voters who might have more progressive leanings  key demographics that Branden Snyder, the executive director of Detroit Action, said his organization is trying to reach.

Weve got about 48,000 new young people whove been registered since March that were trying to mobilize, said Snyder, the previous deputy organizing director in charge of Youth Voting for the Hillary For Michigan 2016 presidential campaign. Were building an army of people that we can engage not just this year in the presidency, but also for 2021 with local elections.

But Black voters who live in suburban counties, like Oakland County resident Lucell Trammer, a 40-year-old father of two, say its important for the party to connect with them, too.

We are in every single demographic, were in every single voting bloc, were in every single county, Trammer said, noting that Black voters are not a monolith and represent a swath of classes and backgrounds. We tend to be the bellwether, especially African American women. I tell people all the time: If you dont listen to any other voting bloc, listen to African American women.

___

Kat Stafford is a member of the APs Race and Ethnicity team. Follow Stafford on Twitter at http://twitter.com/kat__stafford or email her at kstafford@ap.org.
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Home prices were up 4.3% in the past year with more gains predicted to come over the next 12 months

Overall equity for homeowners with mortgages rose 6.6% over the past year providing additional insulation against pandemic impacts

The number of mortgaged properties with negative equity decreased by 15% in the second quarter of 2020 to 1.7 million or 3.2%

Quarterly change: From the first quarter of 2020 to the second quarter of 2020, the total number of mortgaged homes in negative equity decreased by 5.4% to 1.7 million homes or 3.2% of all mortgaged properties.

Annual change: In the second quarter of 2019, 2.1 million homes, or 3.8% of all mortgaged properties, were in negative equity. This number decreased by 15% in the second quarter of 2020 to 1.7 million mortgaged properties in negative equity.

National aggregate value: The national aggregate value of negative equity was approximately $284 billion at the end of the second quarter of 2020. This is down quarter over quarter by approximately $0.7 billion, or 0.2%, from $285 billion in the first quarter of 2020, and down year over year by approximately $20 billion, or 6.6%, from $304 billion in the second quarter of 2019.



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CoreLogic's latest Home Equity Report for the second quarter of 2020 shows U.S. homeowners with mortgages (which account for roughly 63% of all properties) have seen their equity increase by 6.6% year over year. This represents a collective equity gain of $620 billion, and an average gain of $9,800 per homeowner, since the second quarter of 2019.Despite a cool off in April, home-purchase activity remained strong in the second quarter of 2020 as prospective buyers took advantage of record-low mortgage rates. This, coupled with constricted for-sale inventory, helped drive home prices up and add to borrower equity through June. However, with unemployment expected to remain elevated throughout the remainder of the year, CoreLogic predicts home price growth will slow over the next 12 months and mortgage delinquencies will continue to rise. These factors combined could lead to an increase of distressed-sale inventory, which could put downward pressure on home prices and negatively impact home equity."The CoreLogic Home Price Index registered a 4.3% annual rise in prices through June, which supported an increase in home equity," said Dr. Frank Nothaft, chief economist for CoreLogic. "In our latest forecast, national home price growth will slow to 0.6% in July 2021 with prices declining in 11 states. Thus, home equity gains will be negligible next year, with equity loss expected in several markets.""Homeowners' balance sheets continue to be bolstered by home price appreciation, which in turn mitigated foreclosure pressures," said Frank Martell, president and CEO of CoreLogic. "Although the exact contours of the economic recovery remain uncertain, we expect current equity gains, fueled by strong demand for available homes, will continue to support homeowners in the near term."Negative equity, also referred to as underwater or upside down, applies to borrowers who owe more on their mortgages than their homes are worth. As of the second quarter of 2020, negative equity share, and the quarter-over-quarter and year-over-year changes, were as follows:Because home equity is affected by home price changes, borrowers with equity positions near (+/-5%) the negative equity cutoff are most likely to move out of or into negative equity as prices change. Looking at the second quarter of 2020 book of mortgages, if home prices increase by 5%, 270,000 homes would regain equity; if home prices decline by 5%, 380,000 would fall underwater.While national figures reflect a resilient housing market thus far into the recession, equity gains varied broadly on the local level. States with strong home price growth have continued to experience the largest gains in equity. This includes Montana, where homeowners gained an average of $28,900; Idaho, where homeowners gained an average of $21,200 and Washington, where homeowners gained an average of $20,400. Meanwhile, New York, which was hit hard by the pandemic, experienced some of the lowest equity gains (averaging just $4,400) and highest negative equity shares in the second quarter of 2020.
Andrew Parker, Founder and CEO, Papa

Papa, a Miami, FL-based healthcare provider focused on older adults, just raised $18m in Series B funding. In conjunction with the announcement, Andrew Parker, Founder and CEO, answered our questions about the company, their solutions, the round of funding and future plans.

FinSMEs: Hi Andrew, can you tell us a bit more about you. Whats your background?



Parker: I have spent my career focusing on healthcare technology and service. In late 2017, I founded Papa to support my own grandfather, whom I call Papa. I have a passion for healthcare, technology, and people. This combination drove me to build Papa, an ongoing endeavor to support older adults and families. Prior to Papa, I ran Health System Sales and Strategy for MDLIVE, a large telehealth provider. I was one of the first 15 employees of MDLIVE which has grown to over 300 employees and 30M members. At MDLIVE I held several roles across sales and product leadership. I received my Bachelors in Finance from Florida State University and Im an alumni of the prestigious incubator  YCombinator. I live in Florida where I was raised.



FinSMEs: Lets speak about Papa. Which is the market problem do you want to solve? Which is the real opportunity?



Parker: We created Papa with the singular goal of supporting older adults and their families throughout the aging journey. Loneliness and social isolation have negative impacts on peoples lives. We pair older adults and families with Papa Pals to solve this problem and other issues associated with SDOH (Social Determinants of Health)



FinSMEs: How does it work? Which are the main features?



Parker: Papa Pals (vetted companions) provide companionship to older adults and can help with an array of everyday tasks including transportation, light household chores, navigating health benefits, doctors appointments, prescription refill and pick up, grocery delivery, and more. Papa is offered virtually and in person to support members needs.



FinSMEs: What are the features differentiating the product from competitors?



Parker: Papa develops a custom program for health plans and employers as a benefit. Papa is accessible through a variety of modalities. Papa is focused on companionship and not traditional homecare which allows us to support members with a variety of needs while reducing the negative affects of loneliness and isolation.



FinSMEs: You just raised a new huge funding round. Please, tell us something more about it



Parker: We will use the funding to continue to grow the company, including expanding the Papa team, launching services in new states across the country, expanding its platform, and growing our dedicated efforts to combat loneliness and social isolation in older adults and families.



FinSMEs: Can you share some numbers and achievements of your business?



Parker: Since launching in Miami, FL in 2018, Papa has expanded to serve families in 17 states, with plans to be in all 50 states by January 2021. Papa has grown 20 percent month over month since inception and expects to increase 5x year over year in membership growth; which has accelerated due to COVID. Papa has grown to 85 employees and over 5,000 students on the platform working with 20+ health plans as a benefit to older adults and families.



FinSMEs: whats your medium-term plans?



Parker: Support members across the country, expand partnerships with health plans and expand into new channels.

FinSMEs

22/09/2020
As sheriff in Falls County, Texas, Ricky Scaman cast himself as a tough, cowboy-hat-wearing lawman willing to sacrifice his body to personally catch bad guys. After he broke his arm while chasing down a fugitive last year, he told the Waco Tribune, "I couldn't wait for backup."

But two co-workers in Scaman's office - including his former assistant chief deputy - recently painted another picture of the elected Republican. In separate federal lawsuits, the women alleged that he's a serial sexual harasser, who used his power to attack them.

On Monday, the Texas Rangers arrested Scaman, 48, on sexual assault and other charges after two other government employees said he groped them and verbally harassed them while "acting under color of his office as a public servant, namely Falls County sheriff," the Tribune reported.

An attorney who has represented Scaman in the past didn't immediately respond to a message early Tuesday about the charges. The Falls County Sheriff's Office also didn't immediately respond.

Scaman was elected sheriff in 2016 in Falls County, a rural, farming area of around17,000 people bisected by the Brazos River about 30 miles south of Waco. He spent nearly three decades in law enforcement, the Tribune reported, and as sheriff, boasted of hunting down drug dealers while inviting TV reporters to tag along.

Behind the scenes, though, two women in his office claimed the sheriff preyed on them. In 2018, Nanci Anderson, his formerassistant chief deputy, filed a federal lawsuit that compared Scaman to disgraced movie producer Harvey Weinstein, noting that "even a modicum of power in the wrong hands can wreak havoc."

Anderson said Scaman barraged her with sexual texts, demanded that she send him nude photos and repeatedly tried to pressure her to have sex in his hotel room while they were on a work trip.

The next year, Shirley Lynn Boger, a dispatcher and jailer, filed another federal suit against Scaman. She claimed the sheriff invited her into his office, and then grabbed her, licked her face, stuck his hands in her pants and sexually assaulted her under her clothes.

"She could barely breath or move. When Scaman was done using [her] body for his personal sexual gratification, he told her to straighten up her uniform and leave his office," her federal complaint said, adding that she "tried to gather her composure and return to her duties on the jail floor."

Last year, Scaman's attorney denied both women's allegations to the Tribune, calling them "completely fabricated." Both lawsuits were dismissed in 2019; the Tribune reported that they were settled.

On Monday, a five-count indictment against Scaman from a grand jury was unsealed, according to the Tribune, alleging that the sheriff sexually abused a female city employee in Marlin, Tex., thecounty seat, in August. The woman said Scaman grabbed her breasts or genitals, sexually harassed her and made unwelcome advances.

A second woman, an employee at the Falls County Jail, also told investigators that the sheriff had sexually harassed her and made unwelcome advances in April.

He's now charged with two counts of assault on a public servant, one count of sexual assault and two misdemeanor counts of official oppression, according to records reviewed by KWTX.

Scaman is being held in nearby Bell County with a $195,000 bond, the Tribune reported.
22 September 2020, Limassol, Cyprus

SeaBird Exploration has received a letter of award for an OBN source contract in the Gulf of Mexico. The contract will start in Q4 2020 with an expected duration of about three months.

SeaBird is a global provider of high quality marine seismic operations within the source vessel and 2D market, as well as in the shallow water 3D market The Company has a strong focus on Quality, Health, Safety and Environment, combined with cost efficient services to its customers.

All statements in this press release other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict, and are based upon assumptions as to future events that may not prove accurate. These factors include SeaBird`s reliance on a cyclical industry and the utilization of the company's vessels. Actual results may differ substantially from those expected or projected in the forward-looking statements.

This information is subject of the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.

For further queries contact:

Gunnar Jansen

CEO (acting)

Mob: +47 941 19 191

or

Erik von Krogh

CFO

Mob: +47 930 38 075
When businesses shuttered across the country back in March, it wasnt clear when employees would be headed back into the office, if ever. While the dust is still far from settled, many companies are starting to prepare for eventual re-openings of the in-person offices  if they havent done so already.

Just because workers are back to their desks doesnt mean that you have to leave behind everything your business learned while it was remote. Most companies invested some serious time and energy into developing a strong remote work culture among their teams. Why give it up?

Culture may be easier to maintain in a physical workplace, but there are still a few aspects of remote-work culture you wont want to leave behind, such as....

1. Seamless Digital Communication

If theres one thing that remote work teaches businesses, its the failure of emails. Theyre stuffy, impersonal and can lead to big drops in productivity as well. Email may be the norm for interbusiness communication, but theres no need to make it your primary method for talking with your team.

If they hadnt already, plenty of businesses used the shift to remote work as an opportunity to switch over to Slack or other instant-messaging services as their primary means of communicating. Even if your company does move back into the office, theres no guarantee that you wont be forced to move out again. If that happens, the last thing you want is to have to fall back on email.

Related: 5 Ways to Build Team Culture in a Remote World

2. A Focus on Employee Care

As workers first headed home, many business leaders were rightly concerned about the wellbeing of their employees, asking questions like: Do they have what they need to succeed? How are they coping with the stress? Is there anything I can do? This attitude has been long overdue in many corners of the business world.

Six Feet Apart, an organization devoted to helping people navigate a post-pandemic world, calls this phenomenon employee care, and its benefits are obvious: the happier your employees are, the more willing they are to give to and participate in your business. The focus on employee care may have just begun for some businesses, but it deserves to stick around for much longer.

3. Clarity Over Everything

If you encounter a confusing figure or a muddled piece of content on the job, all you need to do is pop over a few desks and have everything cleared up for you; for remote teams, the process isnt so simple. Giving instructions and then being forced to clarify them over and over is particularly inefficient over the web, making clarity a priority for teams not in the office.

While you were remote, you probably found yourself taking pains to explain things in full from the get-go in order to avoid any snags later on, so why change now? Continuing to focus on clarity can help boost efficiency for your business in both the short and long terms, making communication and culture that much easier to promote down the line.

4. Flexible Work Policies

The whole 9-5 routine might have worked well enough before the pandemic, but its become increasingly difficult to justify since. Everyone is productive at different times and has different responsibilities that may not sync perfectly with a traditional work schedule.

Its no surprise that 90 percent of employees consider flexible work policies to be their single biggest motivating factor towards productivity, but surprisingly few employers seem to take this into account. If you were lenient with start and finish hours while remote, you should be equally generous once the office opens back up, too  the effect on morale will be noticeable.

5. Casual Messaging Channels

Theres no easy way to replicate water cooler conversations while remote, but that didnt stop most businesses from trying. Slack channels and email chains dedicated to casual, friendly discourse have almost become the norm across business, and they should stick around even after the water cooler is in use again.

A casual messaging channel isnt just good for culture; it can be equally useful for onboarding. Getting into office chatter can be difficult as a new employee, but having a text conversation to look through and learn from can help bridge that gap significantly.

6. Regular Team-Building Exercises

For a lot of companies, remote work culture meant putting in extra effort to keep people connected. One of the most popular ways of doing this is through virtual team building activities, a great way to force positive, friendly interaction in an otherwise professional space.

Just because your team has moved back into the office doesnt mean that these activities are no longer useful  in fact, theyre more important than ever. Going from in-person to remote work and back has been a whiplash for many employees; these team-building exercises can help them acclimate to whatever environment they currently find themselves in and make the best of it.

Related: Clarity on Your Goals Is Key to Growing a Business That Attracts High-End Clients

7. Privileging Face-to-Face Meetings

Endless Zoom calls may have been a drag, but they were necessary all the same. Ninety-three percent of all communication is nonverbal, making face-to-face contact an indispensable aspect of any business.

When youre working in an office, it can be easy to take the value of face-to-face meetings for granted, but doing so is a big mistake. People pay more attention to personal meetings, and the human element of it all can make soft the impact of bad news and make good news that much better.

Keeping around some of the successful elements of your remote work culture can make in-office life easier while also giving you the flexibility to move out again, need be. As always, putting the needs and wants of your employees above all else is the first step. Everything else will come naturally.

Related:

The Top 5 Leadership Soft Skills You Need to Empower Your Team

7 Aspects of Remote Work Entrepreneurs Should Keep When Returning to the Office

Debunked: The Myth That 70 Percent of Change Initiatives Fail



Copyright 2020 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
New Delhi: After many Bollywood A-listers such as Deepika Padukone, Sara Ali Khan and Shraddha Kapoor's names have popped up in the drugs case, many more celebs are on Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) radar.

Amidst all of this drug conspiracy, KWAN Talent Management Agency's name has been floating around, more so after certain chats between talent managers and celebs revealed a drug connection. KWAN manages the work of top Bollywood actors such as Deepika, Shraddha, Tiger Shroff, Jacqueline Fernandes amongst various others.

Now, superstar Salman Khan's lawyer has issued a statement clarifying that his client is not related to the agency in any which way. Slamming the reports of Salman Khan owning the agency, the statement reads:

Certain sections of the media are falsely reporting that our client Mr Salman Khan, a leading Indian actor, has a majority stake in the talent management agency KWAN Talent Management Agency Private Limited. It is clarified that Mr Salman Khan has no stake, directly or indirectly, in Kwan or any of its group entities. It is requested that media refrains from publishing false reports about our client. Anand Desai, DSK Legal

The mysterious death case of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput has taken a new turn after the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) investigation in the drugs angle found some high-profile celebs connected with it.

The actor was found dead at his Bandra residence on June 14, 2020. Rhea Chakraborty and her brother Showik were arrested by the NCB and former will stay in custody till October 6, 2020.
CANBERRA, Australia - An Australian state leader on Tuesday described an Israeli court decision to extradite a former teacher wanted in Australia on charges of molesting children as a victory for abuse victims.

Daniel Andrews is premier of Victoria state where Malka Leifer is accused of molesting three sisters  Dassi Erlich, Nicole Meyer and Elly Sapper  while they were students at a Melbourne ultra-Orthodox school.

Andrews welcomed a Jerusalem District Court ruling on Monday that Leifer could be extradited to Australia to stand trial for 74 charges of child sex abuse, potentially paving the way for the Israeli citizen to stand trial in Victoria after a six-year legal battle.

This is a very, a very significant day for victims of child sexual abuse across our entire state, and to come, as it does, so close to Jewish New Year, can I say Shanah Tovah to Dassi Erlich and her sisters, Andrews said, using a Hebrew New Year greeting.

Theyre heroes. The courage, the grace, and the dignity of those Victorians is quite amazing. Quite amazing, Andrews said.

This is a really, really good outcome for victims of child sexual abuse. And to Dassi and her family, to her sisters and extended family, they have our praise. We admire them, their strength is an inspiration, he added.

Andrews could not say if a trial would be expedited if Leifer returned to Melbourne, where the court system has been disrupted by a pandemic lockdown.

Erlick described the Israeli court decision as a huge, huge moment.

Nine years (have passed) since we gave our police statement, Erlick told Australian Broadcasting Corp. We never imagined at the time how long it would take and how big this moment would be, but we are finally here, she added.

Leifer, a former educator, has been fighting extradition from Israel since 2014. Leifer maintains her innocence and the battle surrounding her extradition has strained relations between Israel and Australia.

Earlier this month, Israels Supreme Court rejected an appeal by Leifers attorney over a Jerusalem courts ruling that she was mentally fit to stand trial, saying it was putting an end to the saga that has been drawn out for many years.

On Monday, the Jerusalem District Court ruled that Leifer could be extradited. The formal extradition now requires an order by Israels justice minister.

Leifers attorneys said they would appeal an extradition order to Israels Supreme Court, saying it would be a political decision.

Critics, including Leifers alleged victims, have accused Israeli authorities of dragging out the case for far too long.

There are said to be victims other than the three sisters.

The Associated Press does not usually identify alleged victims of sexual abuse, but the sisters have spoken publicly about their allegations against Leifer.

As accusations surfaced in 2008, Israeli-born Leifer left the school and returned to Israel, where she has lived since.
Zamire stands in the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana, Calif., to graduate from the Young Adult Court program, on Sept. 18, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Orange County Youth Court Program Graduates Former Felons

SANTA ANA, Calif.Two young men appeared in court at the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana on Sept. 18. Both had been convicted of felonies, one with a possible sentence of up to six years, and the other, nine years.

But neither ended up behind bars. Instead, they completed a pilot program in the Orange County Superior Court. They were in court to graduate from that program, called Young Adult Court (YAC).

The two-year program offers support to offenders aged 18 to 23 convicted of a felony for the first time.

It aims to reduce recidivism and promote positive life goals. Under YAC, felony charges may be reduced to misdemeanors or dismissed altogether. And successful completion of YAC clears the offenders record to remove barriers to employment in the future.

Zamire is one of the two young men who graduated the program on Sept. 18. His felony charges were for theft.

The program means a lot to me, Zamire said. It helped me get through a really rough patch in my life. Im glad that its finally over. And Im glad I can start the next chapter of my life.

Zamire opens a gift given to him for his graduation from the Young Adult Court program, at the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana, Calif., on Sept. 18, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Elizabeth Cauffman, a professor of psychological science at the University of CaliforniaIrvine, helped pioneer YAC. She said this age group makes up the majority of the people who are going to be in the justice system.

Thats who we should focus our time on, she told The Epoch Times. So take an 18-, 19-, 20-year-old: If you give them a felony, that guys 40 [and] he still has a felony. We have basically just hamstrung our young men, and particularly our young men of color.

I study adolescent brain development. We know the brain is continuing to develop [at that age], so we still have this opportunity. Its a window of opportunity, so lets open it and take advantage. Thats what were doing.

Professor Elizabeth Cauffman speaks at the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana, Calif., on Sept. 18, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Four Stages

YAC started in 2018, and it consists of four stages. The first stage is engagement, Cauffman said. Show up, talk to your counselors, get engaged. Follow through with small tasks. Part of it is just learning life skills.

During the second phase, the student establishes goals, such as getting a job or going back to school. The student works toward those goals in the third stage and achieves them. Then the final stage is about maintaining those achievements.

When Zamire was six months into the program, he received a job offer. But when the company found out he had a felony on his record, it rescinded the offer.

We worked with him and said, You will achieve that job or any other job when you have this felony off your record, said Judge Maria Hernandez, who worked with Cauffman to start YAC. Zamire, I hope you go right back to them and say, I am felony free.

Cauffman said: We sort of pull back the scaffolding. Each step, were less and less involved. By stage four, we kind of just watch to make sure you can do it. And if you hold it up, you move to graduation.

Public Safety

Deputy District Attorney Jess Rodriguez attended the graduation. Our number one priority is always going to be public safety, he said. And in the old days, the old way of thinking, public safety meant you put people in jail. Thats how you kept people safe. Thats changed.

Now, people are looking at all sorts of different ways to keep the public safe, and also help people who get charged with crimes so that it can be kind of a win-win.

Orange County Supervisor Donald Wagner bumps elbows with a woman who attended the graduation ceremony for the Young Adult Court program at the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana, Calif., on Sept. 18, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Hernandez said its important to evaluate outcomes of the program by asking, Could we do things better? Does the data support what were doing?

YAC participants have intense supervision through probation, according to the programs official description. If participants act out, Cauffman said, consequences can include GPS monitoring or spending a weekend in jail.

She announced that, on Sept. 17, YAC secured a $1.5 million grant from the National Justice Institute to take the program to youth in the Orange County jail. Were basically taking this Young Adult Court model, but were bringing it into the jail, Cauffman said.

Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes was also at the graduation.

Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes attends the graduation ceremony for the Young Adult Court program at the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana, Calif., on Sept. 18, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Life is a series of choices and choices got them here, he said. But the good choices they made helped them improve their opportunities for the future, and we couldnt be prouder of both of them.

Zamire and the other young man, who preferred not to be named, are the second and third students to complete YAC. The first participant graduated from YAC on June 26.
Patna, Sep 22 : The BJP's Bihar unit has constituted a team led by former Additional Solicitor General SD Sanjay to provide legal aid and counselling to sitting party MLAs and prospective nominees regarding dos and don'ts to prevent disqualification in the Assembly elections.

"The team will provide all legal help to prospective candidates on how to prevent criminal cases in the run-up to the polls and not to hide information on criminal cases from the Election Commission of India while filing election affidavits. Over the years, maximum disqualification of lawmakers has been due to hiding of criminal cases and lack of awareness of pertinent laws," Sanjay told IANS.

A report by an election watchdog said that 136 MLAs in Bihar allegedly face criminal charges, including those of Rashtriya Janata Dal, the Congress, Janata Dal-United, and the Bharatiya Janata Party.

The report based on the affidavits submitted ahead of the 2015 Assembly elections said that 11 MLAs were facing charges of murder, 30 of attempt to murder, five of cruelty against women, and one of rape.

"In the run-up to the elections, especially during a pandemic, candidates could end up making mistakes or violating law wittingly or unwittingly, leading to registration of criminal cases. Since rallies or marches during campaigning are common and the ECI guidelines would need to be adhered to amid the pandemic, our team will make sitting MLAs and other candidates aware so that they are not disqualified from filing nomination papers," the BJP leader said.

"The 12-member team stationed in state capital Patna will coordinate with candidates at the district and constituency levels. All of them will be coordinate their work through a WhatsApp group. Answers to their queries and fresh guidelines of the ECI will be updated within the group," Sanjay said.
By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Two key Republican senators on Monday introduced legislation that would authorize $28.8 billion in payroll assistance to avoid thousands of airline industry layoffs set to begin on Oct. 1.

Senators Roger Wicker, who chairs the Commerce Committee, and Susan Collins, who chairs the appropriations subcommittee overseeing airline issues, introduced the measure that would grant airlines a new bailout days before existing payroll support runs out.

Airlines are making a last-ditch effort to win funding, but face an uphill battle with Congress shifting its attention to the pending Supreme Court vacancy, congressional aides say.

The chief executives of some major U.S. airlines are expected to be on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, urging lawmakers to act, and to make TV appearances on Wednesday, two people briefed on the matter said.

The bill would tap $11.2 billion in new funds and $17.4 billion in funding repurposed from other unspent funds from prior coronavirus relief measures.

Congress in March approved $25 billion in payroll assistance but required airlines not to cut jobs or flights through Sept. 30.

The White House said last week it is also open to a stand-alone measure to aid airlines, though congressional aides say that is unlikely to win passage given aid requests from so many other struggling industries

The Wicker-Collins bill would dedicate $25.5 billion for new passenger airlines and allow smaller airlines to qualify for 15% additional funds versus the initial round.

It would set aside $300 million for cargo carriers and $3 billion for airport contractors.

Airlines for America, a trade group representing American Airlines <AAL.O>, Delta Air Lines <DAL.N>, United Airlines <UAL.O>, Southwest Airlines <LUV.N> and others praised the bill.

"These are dire times for the U.S. airline industry. COVID-19 continues to spread and wreak havoc on the U.S. economy, lasting far longer than anyone envisioned," the group said. "We are running out of time to protect the jobs and livelihoods of these men and women."

Story continues

Major airlines that have shed thousands of employees through voluntary exit programs would be entitled to receive the same payroll support they did in the first round. In April, major airlines qualified for about 75% of payroll costs.

Large airlines were required to repay 30% of grants.

American Airlines said without new aid it plans to end service to 15 small communities and furlough about 19,000 workers.

Air travel has plummeted over the last six months as the coronavirus pandemic has claimed nearly 200,000 American lives and prompted many to avoid airports and planes, seriously depressing airline revenues.

Congress also set aside another $25 billion in government loans for airlines, but many have opted not to tap them.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Chris Reese and Jonathan Oatis)
DUBAI, U.A.E, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Future Market Insights (FMI) projects the global fluoropolymers in healthcare market to surge at a steady CAGR above 4.7% throughout 2020-2030. The growing interest in fluoropolymers (FP) among healthcare professionals and patients in the recent few decades due to its favorable attributes such as durability, thermal stability, and chemical inertness (to acids, solvents, and oils) is creating fertile breeding ground fluoropolymers manufacturers.

While the sector has been shaken owing to pandemic-induced restrictions, the expansion will resume with steady ease of restrictions. Additionally, the COVID-19 outbreak is boosting sales of medical equipment and hospital disposables since epidemiological numbers continue to rise. These trends would work in favor of the market.

"The COVID-19 outbreak has substantially altered the way businesses and consumers perceive packaging safety and health, with the battle against single-use plastic put on hold to satiate these fluctuating expectations. In spite of being familiarized with the negative effects of plastic on surroundings, customers are concerned about infection risk related to reusable packaging. These uncertainties concerning the infection spread have put sustainability to back seat", says the FMI analyst.

For more insights into the Market, Request a Sample of this Report@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-12433

Fluoropolymers in Healthcare Market - Key Takeaways

In terms of product, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) will augur well for the market due to their resistance against corrosion and several chemical agents.

Based on application, hospital disposable are gaining traction due to the growing prevalence of HAIs and particularly amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fluoropolymers in Healthcare Market - Key Trends

Pharma packaging and hospital disposables are conventional applications for fluoropolymer producers that will contribute to bode well with market growth.

Implementation in medical devices such as introducers and catheters are likely to grow swiftly in approaching years.

The pandemic has given rise to several HAI's across geographies, subsequently boosting the market growth.

Fluoropolymers in Healthcare Market - Regional Analysis

East Asia fluoropolymers in the healthcare market will continue to engage stakeholders wherein South Korea and China jointly gain around 90% of the total regional market share.

fluoropolymers in the healthcare market will continue to engage stakeholders wherein and jointly gain around 90% of the total regional market share. Europe will be the second biggest market as the pharmaceutical sector is amid key-performing high-tech sectors. Germany towers over other regions in the European market.

will be the second biggest market as the pharmaceutical sector is amid key-performing high-tech sectors. towers over other regions in the European market. The US will provide a major impetus to the North America market, making it predominant over other regions due to steady increment in medical surgeries and HAI's( hospital-acquired infections)

Fluoropolymers in Healthcare Market - Competitive Landscape

Fluoropolymer producers are focusing on producing multipurpose products for example compounded or customized in addition to standard products.

Additionally, they are seeking to equip their contributions with innovative technologies to satiate to high-end applications. Another major focus area for global market players will be mergers & acquisitions (M&A). For instance,

Daikin Industries Ltd. took over Heroflon, whose product assembly comprises fluoropolymer and micro-powders compounds inferred from PTFE.

Some of the prominent manufacturers identified in the global market are DIC Corporation, 3M Company, AGC Inc., Solvay S.A., Dongyue Group Ltd., Daikin Industries Ltd., PolyOne Corporation, Lonza, Kaneka Corp., Saint Gobain S.A., Arkema Group, and The Chemours Company.

For any Queries Linked with the Report, Ask an Analyst@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ask-question/rep-gb-12433

Fluoropolymers in Healthcare - Taxonomy

Product Type

PTFE

PVDF

PVF

FEP

PCTFE

PFA

Others

Application

Medical Devices

Hospital Disposable

Pharma Packaging

Region

? North America

? Latin America

? Europe

? South Asia

? East Asia

? Middle East & Africa

& ? Oceania

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Valuable Insights into the Fluoropolymers in Healthcare Market

Future Market Insights, in its new offering, provides an unbiased analysis of the global fluoropolymers in healthcare market, presenting historical demand data and forecast statistics for the period from 2020-2030. The study divulges compelling insights on the fluoropolymers in healthcare market, allowing readers to glean qualitative and quantitative information which will enable them to make informed market decisions in the upcoming forecast period.

Explore Extensive Coverage on FMI's Chemical & Materials Landscape

Contact Tracing Application Market: The contact tracing application market is anticipated to surpass an impressive revenue threshold by the end of the forecast period ranging from 2020 to 2030, concludes FMI's recently published research report on the market.

Magnesium Sulphate Market: FMI's compelling study on the magnesium sulphate market sheds light on the prominent dynamics influencing the growth trajectory for the upcoming forecast period 2020-2030 through detailed segmental and regional analyses.

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About Future Market Insights (FMI)

Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in Dubai, and has delivery centers in the UK, U.S. and India. FMI's latest market research reports and industry analysis help businesses navigate challenges and make critical decisions with confidence and clarity amidst breakneck competition. Our customized and syndicated market research reports deliver actionable insights that drive sustainable growth. A team of expert-led analysts at FMI continuously tracks emerging trends and events in a broad range of industries to ensure that our clients prepare for the evolving needs of their consumers.

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British Columbia's provincial health officer says most COVID-19 exposure events at schools have been low risk and there has not been any transmission within schools so far.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 21/9/2020 (487 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry answers questions during a press conference to update on the province's fall pandemic preparedness plan from the press theatre at Legislature in Victoria, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

British Columbia's provincial health officer says most COVID-19 exposure events at schools have been low risk and there has not been any transmission within schools so far.

Dr. Bonnie Henry says a low-risk exposure could mean an infected person was at a school for a short period of time while wearing a mask or they didn't have symptoms or close contact with others.

"Even if you are in a classroom with somebody who has COVID, if you're sitting at a desk and you're not close to them, you've not had close contact with them," Henry said at a news conference on Monday.

Most of the school exposure events to date are related to cases in adults, she added, and mechanisms are in place to investigate and manage each individual case and exposure.

"Any time a child or a teacher or a staff person or a bus driver tests positive ... those people who have contact where transmission could possibly have occurred are identified by public health. Most people are not in that situation," she said.

Henry said it's "probable" that B.C. will at some point see an outbreak at a school, which would be declared if transmission occurred between people in different classrooms or groups.

The province also decided to remove certain symptoms from the daily health checklist for schools and parents earlier this month, which Henry said public health officials recommended given the low probability that they would be a sign of a COVID-19 infection on their own.

"If you have a slight runny nose by itself then, that in and of itself is not a reason for a child, and we're talking about children here, to necessarily stay home from school," she said.

"It's a balancing act to make sure that children are able to attend school as much as possible and minimizing the risk that they pose."

In an email, the Ministry of Health said if someone has any of those symptoms in combination with symptoms that remain on the checklist, they should be tested for the illness. Some of the removed symptoms are common in children, so there were concerns that kids could be unnecessarily excluded from school, the email said.

The symptoms removed from school-related health checks are sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, headache, fatigue, loss of appetite, muscle aches, conjunctivitis, dizziness or confusion, abdominal pain and skin rashes or discolouration of fingers or toes.

Symptoms that remain on the checklist are fever, chills, cough or a worsening chronic cough, shortness of breath, loss of the sense of smell or taste, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.

The narrower list is reflected in the province's guidelines for kindergarten to Grade 12 schools updated on Sept. 11, which direct parents to assess their kids for certain symptoms every day before sending them to school.

The Fraser Health Authority's website lists at least 25 exposures involving more than 10 schools in Surrey as of Sunday. There has also been one reported exposure at Delta Secondary School.

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Fraser Health defines an exposure as "a single person with lab-confirmed COVID-19 infection who attended school during their infectious period."

The Interior Health website lists a student case at an elementary school in Invermere and also at a high school in Castlegar, while Northern Health has reported two exposure events at Quesnel Junior Secondary School and Ecole Frank Ross Elementary.

The Vancouver Coastal Health and Island Health websites do not show any reported exposures.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 21, 2020.



This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Facebook and Canadian Press News Fellowship.
A curious thing is happening in America, and you'd have to work pretty hard to ignore it. Trump-supporters are emerging from the shadows in large numbers, even in places you might not expect.

One might not be incredibly surprised to hear about masses of Trump-supporters rallying and taking part in patriotic parades in red states like Texas and even swing states like Florida, but eyebrows tend to rise when they begin happening in the capital city of the most important political stronghold of the Democratic Party.

Back in May, I and my family attended the Liberty Fest rally held in Sacramento. Not being a person who's attended many such rallies, it struck me as an awesome spectacle. The Sacramento Bee reported that a "massive throng gathered along 10th Street, facing the west steps of the Capitol, with hundreds arriving hours before the official noon start." We were among them, and upon arrival, I captured a short video of the waiting crowd as "America the Beautiful," performed by Ray Charles, played over the loudspeaker.

That event wasn't really about Trump; it was about opposition to the California COVID lockdown. But as you can see in the video, President Trump was prominently presented by many who were there as the yin to Gavin Newsom's dictatorial yang.

Shortly after that event, cities erupted across America in orgies of violence, thievery, arson, and mayhem to protest racial injustice, even though the circumstances of George Floyd's arrest and death, the event that ostensibly launched the riots, provide no convincing link whatsoever to racism in policing. Most of this energy was spearheaded by Black Lives Matter, an admittedly Marxist organization with openly violent adherents, and was nurtured with winks and approving nods by Democratic politicians.

After all of this had occurred throughout the summer, it was less of a surprise to see a massive pro-Trump rally and boat parade in Sacramento on Labor Day. Trump was no longer just the opposite of Newsom when it came to COVID lockdowns; it had become clear that he is the only opposing force against much broader attacks on American liberty. The Democratic Party, Hollywood, professional sports, and corporate leviathans had all hitched their wagons to Black Lives Matter's star, where "fiery but mostly peaceful" protesting is the manifestation of an orchestrated effort to undermine and destroy the traditional institutions and values of America, such as freedom of speech, property rights, and the rule of law.

These principles are the foundation of a civilized society, and without them, most Americans know, anarchy and tyranny commence.

Knowing what's at stake, Trump-supporters across the country seem to have finally had enough of being shamed into the shadows. Even in my little Northern California community (which largely comprises Bay Area expats), I can say I saw very little open support for Trump in 2016, and much more for Hillary Clinton. This year, we are seeing very little signage for Joe Biden and countless signs supporting Trump. Last week, I visited my local grocery store, and I even saw that some community members had a table outside selling Trump flags and shirts, engaging with passersby about why Trump is the obvious choice in November. I honestly never thought I would see that.

Certainly, not everyone is happy about the trend. One neighbor in our community proudly posted his Trump sign to the fence on his property, only to have it defaced with BLM propaganda. In a particularly clever response, he chose to use that act of vandalism to accentuate his reason for supporting President Trump for re-election, and to appropriately frame the nature of America's choice in November:

This is perhaps the starkest visual contrast of the choices available to Americans in November that I've yet seen. President Trump is proudly standing on the ramparts to defend free speech, private property rights, and the rule of law, all of which are prerequisites for a civilized society, as his sign suggests. Joe Biden, on the other hand, offers tacit support for the revolutionaries who aim to abolish those principles, here represented by the BLM vandals (undoubtedly Biden-supporters) who violated the law in order to suppress our neighbor's free expression by defacing his property.

Ironically, this act of vandalism, meant to deter voters from supporting Donald Trump, allowed this homeowner turn an ordinary campaign sign into a powerful visual argument as to why Trump must be re-elected in November. Only the most rabid of left-wing zealots could drive by this display without clearly recognizing that.
In the spring of 2003, as Ontario was deep into waging a battle against SARS, the ministry of health issued a bulletin, announcing it would open billing codes to allow physicians to receive fee-for-service payments for telephone services. Doctors were eligible to bill against these K codes if they were treating a patient who was under quarantine or in isolation or if a physical visit between the doctor and patient wasnt possible due to the state of emergency.

Eventually, as we know, SARS faded. And with it went the telemedicine billing codes.

We all went back to our old ways, spending hours sitting in a doctors waiting room, despite the advancements being made, right here in Ontario, to offer remote medical care with audio, video, and text messaging functions. Our brightest minds developed a way to safely and securely offer doctors appointments on any device, at any time.

The technology leaped forward, but without a framework to support it, adoption of virtual care in Ontario by physicians and patients remained sluggish and available, almost exclusively, to those who could afford to pay for it out of pocket. That is, until now.

Here we are, facing the COVID-19 pandemic with an arsenal of made-in-Canada telehealth solutions at our fingertips. Made-in-Ontario remote care solutions from health technology companies like Maple, Think Research, Tia Health and Novari are designed to work seamlessly in our provinces health system.

The province has responded quickly by opening a series of billing codes to allow physicians this option, which has helped us keep up a high quality of patient care, while helping to reduce the risk of spreading the virus. And despite some early speed bumps that delayed some doctors pay, overall it has been a resounding success for patients.

In June, a survey conducted for the Canadian Medical Association found that 47 per cent of Canadians have used virtual care during the pandemic, whether that was through phone calls, email, texts or video. Of those, 91 per cent said they were very satisfied with the experience.

Canada Health Infoway, a not-for-profit organization funded by the federal government, reported that 98 per cent of patients who participated in a remote care pilot project felt e-visits were the same as or better than an in-person visit and 99 per cent said theyd do a virtual visit again.

It makes sense. At one of our clinics, in Parkdale, we see first-hand the sacrifice and struggle it can be for patients with mobility issues to arrange doctor appointments to line up with WheelTrans availability. We see seniors who rely on a loved one to take a day off work so they can get a prescription renewed.

Especially in a province like ours, virtual care offers so much. Its the potential to offer better, more convenient care to those who live in remote parts of Ontario. Its the potential to save precious time for patients and physicians who simply dont need to conduct every visit in-person.

Telehealth will never replace the need for in-person doctor visits  but there is no question they must remain as part of the future of family medicine. So its troubling, seven months into the pandemic and facing rising case numbers and a second wave that could lead to renewed shutdowns, that the future of virtual care in Ontario remains unclear.

The current landscape is a patchwork of billing codes that offer different rates based on the complexity of the encounter and by medical specialty. All of them have a potential expiry date. We can do better. In June, the province of Alberta chose to make its virtual billing codes permanent. Ontario must do the same.

COVID-19 has changed our world and we have an opportunity to do now what we failed to do in the wake of SARS. Our government can choose to move forward and make virtual care a fixture in our post-pandemic future by making fair telemedicine billing codes available to all Ontario physicians, permanently.

We abandoned the promise of virtual health care in Ontario once before. We cant afford to let that happen again.
A magisterial inquiry was ordered on Monday into an incident in which parts of a dead body of a person who died of Covid-19 were allegedly nibbled away by rats at a private hospital in Indore on Sunday night, as per the district administration.

The inquiry was ordered after the family of the deceased Covid-19 patient complained to the administration about the incident which, it alleged, took place due to negligence of the hospital, as per the administration.

A district administration communique said, Collector of Indore Manish Singh has ordered an inquiry into the incident related to a dead body in a hospital in Indore. The collector has deputed additional district magistrate Ajay Dev Verma to conduct the inquiry.

Grandson of the deceased Covid-19 patient said, My 87-year-old grandfather was admitted to the hospital on September 17 due to a respiratory problem. He tested positive for Covid-19 later and died on Sunday night during treatment. When we talked to him on Sunday afternoon he was fine. When we made another call to the hospital at night the hospital management didnt give satisfactory reply about his condition. We got information at about 3.30 am on phone about his passing away.

Also read: Covid-19 - Diabetes, hypertension common comorbidities in patients, says Health ministry

When we reached the hospital at about 7 am, we got the dead body one hour late. We were shocked to see that one of his eyes and some other parts of the body were nibbled away by rats. We got another shock when hospital staff gave a bill of more than Rs 4 lakh for the treatment in four days. The body was handed over to us only when we deposited remaining amount of more than one lakh, alleged the grandson.

However, the hospital management said the hospital had already informed the family about the serious condition of the patient. The patient suffered from comorbidity too besides Covid-19. The patient died at 11.30 pm and the family was immediately informed about the death. Since there is no mortuary at the hospital the body was packed as per Covid-19 protocol and kept in the corridor outside the intensive care unit. It was wrong to say that parts of the body were nibbled away by rats.

Notably, this happened to be the third incident of disrespect to dead bodies in Indore in a short span of time.

Earlier, four ward boys of Maharaja Yeshwantrao (MY) hospital in Indore were placed under suspension while action was recommended against at least two police personnel based on an inquiry committee report on Friday night relating to the recovery of two skeletons from the hospital morgue in a span of three days. The first incident was reported on Tuesday and the second on Thursday, as per commissioner (revenue), Indore division.

A show-cause notice was issued to the hospital superintendent and another doctor concerning the incident, according to commissioner Pawan Sharma.
WASHINGTON: TWEET: The H word hypocrisy is suddenly in vogue at the Capitol as lawmakers debate how quickly to fill a vacancy on the Supreme Court. Their past statements are coming under close scrutiny.

The H word hypocrisy is suddenly in vogue at the Capitol as lawmakers debate how quickly to fill a vacancy on the Supreme Court following the death of liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has vowed that President Donald Trumps as-yet unnamed nominee will receive a vote on the Senate floor this year," but has been careful not to say exactly when that will happen.

Democrats accuse the Kentucky Republican of blatant hypocrisy after McConnell refused to consider President Barack Obamas Supreme Court nominee, Judge Merrick Garland, eight months before the 2016 election.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer took to the Senate floor Monday to remind McConnell of his own words hours after the February 2016 death of conservative Justice Antonin Scalia. The American people," McConnell said then, should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court justice." The vacancy created by Scalias death should not be filled until the election of a new president, he added.

No amount of sophistry can change what McConnell said then, and it applies even more so now so much closer we are to an election," Schumer said Monday.

But McConnell said it is Democrats who are being hypocritical. What Republicans did in 2016 blocking a nominee of the opposing party was precisely what Democrats had indicated they would do themselves" when they were in the majority, McConnell said in his own floor speech Monday. He and other Republicans cited a 1992 speech by then-Sen. Joe Biden now the Democratic nominee for president indicating that a vacancy occurring in an election year should not be filled.

Biden, Schumer and other Democrats flip-flopped in 2016, in McConnells telling, because they urged the Senate to act on Obamas nominee.

McCONNELL IN 2016

McConnell stunned the political world in 2016 with his declaration that the Senate would not consider a replacement for Scalia until after the presidential election nearly nine months away. While daring, McConnell said his action was justified by history.

Remember that the Senate has not filled a vacancy arising in an election year when there was divided government since 1888, almost 130 years ago," he declared again and again that year, frequently citing what Republicans called the Biden Rule. That rule" never adopted in any formal sense by the Senate urged the Senate to delay action on a Supreme Court vacancy until after the presidential election.

President Obama was asking Senate Republicans for an unusual favor that had last been granted nearly 130 years prior. But voters had explicitly elected our majority to check and balance the end of his presidency. So we stuck with the historical norm," McConnell said Monday as he recounted past fights over the Supreme Court.

2019 McCONNELL STATEMENT

By 2019, with Trump in office and a continued GOP Senate majority, McConnell said Senate action on a court opening close to the election would not be an issue. Yes, we would certainly confirm a new justice if we had that opportunity," he told talk show host Hugh Hewitt in December. And were going to continue, obviously, to fill the circuit and district court vacancies as they occur right up until the end of next year.

The main difference? Unlike 2016, when the White House and Senate were controlled by different parties, both are now under Republican control, McConnell said.

Id also remind everybody what I just told you, which is the Senate is of the same party as the president of the United States," McConnell told Fox News in February of this year. And in that situation we would confirm a new justice.

Schumer wasnt buying it. He cited a 2016 op-ed co-written by McConnell imploring that the American people be given the opportunity to weigh in on whom they trust to nominate the next person for a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court."

Now these words dont apply? Schumer asked. It doesnt pass the smell test in any way. No wonder Leader McConnell was so defensive in his comments."

Schumer and other Democrats urged McConnell to abide by his own standard. Whats fair is fair. A senators word must count for something," Schumer said.

But McConnell, in his speech, said that at a time when the American people have elected a Senate majority to work closely with the sitting president, the historical record is even more overwhelming in favor of confirmation."

Eight times in the nations history vacancies have arisen during an election year when the White House and Senate were controlled by the same party. Seven of those times the justice was confirmed. The sole exception was in 1968, when President Lyndon Johnson tried to elevate Justice Abe Fortas to become chief justice. The nomination faced a filibuster due in part to ethics problems that later led Fortas to resign from the court.

Apart from that one strange exception, no Senate has failed to confirm a nominee in the circumstances that face us now," McConnell said.

The American people reelected our majority in 2016 and strengthened it further in 2018 because we pledged to work with President Trump on the most critical issues facing our country. The federal judiciary was right at the top of that list," he said.

On that final point the importance of the judiciary Schumer agreed.

Thats what this (fight) is all about," he said. All the rights enshrined in our Constitution that are supposed to be protected by the Supreme Court of the United States are at stake.

The right to join a union, marry who you love, freely exercise your right to vote  (and) proper health care. If you care about these things and the kind of country we live in, this election and this vacancy mean everything," Schumer said.

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 22) Dito Telecommunity on Tuesday urged the public to view its controversial deal with the military with optimism, saying the project will prove to be a bright spot for the countrys economy especially amid the health crisis.

In an interview with CNN Philippines, Ditos chief administrative officer Atty. Adel Tamano called on critics to see the positives instead of casting doubts on the project, noting how it would provide great investment as well as more jobs for Filipinos.

I think its a great thing that we are investing 257 billion into the country. We are hiring 45 people every month, especially in this COVID situation. I think this is a bright spot in our economy, and instead of kind of telling us that oh, youre going to be spying on us, maybe see the positives, Tamano told The Source.

Security and espionage fears have hounded the Defense Departments recently-signed agreement with Dito, one which allows the China-backed firm to build cell sites inside military camps.

Retired Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio even dubbed the development as a dumb move, saying China has the capability to install spy software and applications through the towers. Dito is 40 percent owned by Beijing-run China Telecom.

But Dito again allayed these concerns, stressing that the Filipino-run company would never give away classified information and would always serve the countrys interests.

Dito is run by Filipinos. I am the chief administrative officer, Mr. Dennis Uy is our CEO and Filipino as well We are Filipinos and we would never allow spying to be done, Tamano said.

Tamano also reiterated that there are stringent security protections incorporated in its deal with the Armed Forces of the Philippines. These include cybersecurity audits and the barring of foreign nationals inside military camps, among others.

Camp Aguinaldo eyed?

Tamano, meanwhile, has yet to give an exact figure for the number of cell sites the company intends to build inside the camps. He said authorities are still in the process of assessing the data.

The Dito official, however, said the firm is eyeing major camps as possible areas for construction, including Camp Aguinaldo, the AFP headquarters in Quezon City.

In my discussions with our chief technology officer, he does mention the major camps such as Camp Aguinaldo. These are areas where we would want to build or co-locate, Tamano said.

Last year, the AFP also allowed the country's third telco player to set up communications equipment in its camps, but the project was halted amid security concerns raised by some lawmakers.
Parliament is set to be adjourned sine die on September 23, much earlier than its scheduled 18-day Monsoon Session, sources said on Tuesday.

The decision comes amid opposition parties boycotting both the Houses over farm Bills and many parliamentarians testing positive for COVID-19.

The Lok Sabha business advisory committee had last week arrived at a consensus on curtailing the Monsoon Session. As many as 30 members of both the Houses, including ministers Nitin Gadkari and Prahlad Patel had tested positive for COVID-19.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the session for a few minutes on the first day, while Home Minister Amit Shah, who tested positive for the virus before the session, did not attend any session, so far.

Congress MPs Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, both travelling abroad, could not attend any session, too while many opposition MPs, including former prime minister Manmohan Singh and former finance minister P Chidambaram, sought leave from the Rajya Sabha proceedings on health grounds.

The Lok Sabha, which will meet at 3 pm on September 23 , is likely to be adjourned sine die around 5 pm after taking up two-hour long Zero Hour, sources told news agency PTI.

Likewise, the Rajya Sabha is likely to adjourn sine die after taking up Bills, including the Bilateral Netting of Qualified Financial Contracts Bill, 2020, on September 23.

Wednesday will be the tenth day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament that began on September 14, under the shadow of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and was supposed to run till October 1.

The session is being held amid many firsts, including sitting of the two Houses in shifts without any off day, entry only to those having a negative COVID-19 report and compulsory wearing of masks during the session.

Several key Bills, including those replacing controversial agriculture ordinances, were passed in the session. The decision to curtail the session has been conveyed to floor leaders of parties, sources said.

The Upper House witnessed unruly scenes on September 20 after the Opposition alleged that the due process of allowing a detailed discussion on the farm Bills was not followed in the House.

A ruckus ensued after the deputy chairman put the Bills to vote amid demands of detailed discussion from the opposition members who also wanted the Bills to be scrutinised by a select committee of Parliament.

Next day, eight opposition MPs were suspended for a week. The suspension followed adjournment of the Rajya Sabha and an overnight protest by the MPs.

On September 22, the Opposition decided to boycott the remaining session of the Upper House pending three demands, including revoking the suspension of the MPs. In absence of the opposition parties, the Rajya Sabha passed seven key Bills in a span of three-and-a-half hours.

Later in the day, the Opposition boycotted Lok Sabha proceedings after its demand for withdrawal of farm Bills was rejected.
BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - French stocks gave up early gains to turn flat on Tuesday as virus concerns lingered and investors awaited a slew of Fed speeches for clues on further stimulus measures to revive the coronavirus-battered economy. Fed Chair Jerome Powell and U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin will speak later in the day at a Congressional panel. The benchmark CAC 40 war marginally lower at 4,791 in choppy trade after plummeting 3.7 percent in the previous session. LVMH shares edged down slightly as U.S. jewelry brand Tiffany & Co won approval by the Delaware Chancery Court to have its lawsuit against the French conglomerate fast-tracked. However, the court has not agreed to Tiffany's request for trial before November 24. Plane maker Airbus SE tumbled 3.5 percent. CEO Guillaume Faury told French radio station RTL that the situation is so serious and no one can guarantee there won't be compulsory redundancies, if the situation evolves further. 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.
 Flash

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that he is considering five women for the Supreme Court seat vacated by the death of liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Speaking to reporters at the White House before leaving for state of Ohio to campaign, Trump said they are being "vetted very carefully" and that he has spoken to some of the candidates and will also have some in-person meetings.

The president said the announcement of his pick will be on "probably Saturday, but Friday or Saturday."

He added that he would rather see a full Senate vote on his nominee before Election Day, which falls on Nov. 3 this year, a move intended to cement a 6-3 conservative majority on the court.

Judges Amy Coney Barrett, Barbara Lagoa, and Allison Jones Rushing are said to be on Trump's shortlist.

Barrett and Lagoa, both confirmed in bipartisan votes by the Senate, are reportedly top contenders.

Ginsburg died last week due to complications of metastatic pancreas cancer at age 87.

A renowned champion of women's rights and liberal icon, Ginsburg was appointed to the U.S. high court by then-President Bill Clinton in 1993. She was the second woman appointed to the bench and served more than 27 years.

As the country continues to be saddened by her death, a partisan debate is raging over whether and how swiftly the Senate, which is responsible for confirming or rejecting nominations by the president, should move to fill the empty seat.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican and Trump ally, told committee Democrats in a letter on Monday that he intends to "proceed expeditiously to process any nomination made by President Trump to fill this vacancy."

Democrats are accusing Republicans of hypocrisy because they argued in 2016 that voters should weigh in before then-President Barack Obama tried to fill a Supreme Court vacancy in that election year.

Republicans hold a 53-47 advantage in the Senate, but two of them have said they believe the chamber should not move forward with a Trump nominee, whose confirmation requires a simple majority.

Ginsburg will lie in state at the U.S. Capitol on Friday, becoming the first woman in history so honored.

A separate ceremony will be held Wednesday morning at the Supreme Court for Ginsburg's family, close friends and members of the court. The public then will have the chance to pay their respects under the portico at the top of the courthouse steps.

Ginsburg will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery, which is across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., according to the Supreme Court.
TOKYO (dpa-AFX) - Elon Musk, chief executive of electric car maker Tesla, said its own battery cells, which are under development now, will not reach high-volume production until 2022. This delay can affect the Cybertruck, Semi, and Roadster programs. He also said the company intends to increase battery cell purchases from partners Panasonic, LG & CATL, and possibly other partners. Despite the maximum offer from its cell suppliers, Tesla said it still expects significant shortages in 2022 and beyond unless certain actions are taken by the company itself. In a tweet ahead of its 'Battery Day', Musk said, 'Important note about Tesla Battery Day unveil tomorrow. This affects long-term production, especially Semi, Cybertruck & Roadster, but what we announce will not reach serious high-volume production until 2022.' Tesla's 'Battery Day' event is scheduled to start at 4:30PM ET today, which was rescheduled from April due to the coronavirus pandemic. It is widely expected that the company would announce its plan to build its own battery cell on a large scale. Electrek had reported last week that Tesla is building a pilot production line for its new battery cell in Fremont, and that its automation group Tesla Grohmann is building the machines for higher-volume production as per the results from the pilot line. The automaker has patented a new battery cell with a tabless electrode, to which Musk described that the technology is 'way more important than it sounds.' Panasonic Corp. in May had said that it was seeing strong demand for battery cells from U.S. partner Tesla. 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.
Joe Biden and Donald Trump will discuss the future of the US Supreme Court, the Covid-19 pandemic, the state of the US economy and race and violence in our cities in their first appearance on the debate stage as the presidential election is underway.

Candidates will also debate their respective records and integrity of elections, the Commission on Presidential Debates has announced.

The debate between the Republican incumbent and his Democratic opponent will consist of 15-minute segments on each topic over 90 minutes without commercial interruption.

Fox News correspondent and debate moderator Chris Wallace selected the debate topics

Wallace will pose a question, and each candidate will have two minutes to respond, then time to respond to each others remarks. The balance of the time will be used for a deeper discussion on the topic, the commission has announced.

The debate is scheduled to begin at 9pm EST on 29 September.

It will air on major news networks and stream online on other platforms, including YouTube.

Case University in Cleveland, Ohio will host the debate, though its unclear whether an audience will be in attendance, as restrictions in place from the coronavirus pandemic will shape the format and presentation of the debates scheduled through the next several weeks.

Vice president Mike Pence and vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris will debate on 7 October at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. USA Todays Washington bureau chief Susan Page will moderate.

A second presidential debate is scheduled for 15 October at the Adrienne Arsht Centre for the Performing Arts in Miami. C-SPANs senior producer and political editor Steve Scully will moderate.

That debate will take the format of a town hall with questions posed by uncommitted voters in Florida.

A third and final debate is set for 22 October at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. NBC correspondent and TODAY co-anchor Kristen Welker will moderate.
Theres something refreshing about an author who harbors no illusions about his own book  especially when that book is about the current occupant of the White House, whose chaotic energy has spawned a booming industry of insider accounts and cris de coeur.

Andrew Weissmann, who served as one of Robert Muellers top lawyers in the special counsels investigation into the 2016 election, knows that his new memoir, Where Law Ends, wont destroy the machinery of information that separates fact from fiction, but he wants to enter his experience into the historical record. If the special counsels office did not write our own story, it would be written for us by outsiders who did not know what had occurred, Weissmann explains in his introduction.

What follows, though, doesnt exactly burnish the legacy of the special counsels office, and I have to imagine that this book will probably strike the famously tight-lipped Mueller as an act of betrayal. Weissmanns portrait of his boss is admiring, affectionate and utterly devastating. Mueller enters the narrative like the ideal boss: no-nonsense, unfailingly honest and also prone to quirks like a penchant for hazelnut decaf sweetened with a glug of Baileys-flavored nonalcoholic creamer. By the end of the book, Mueller seems trapped by his old-fashioned establishmentarian instincts, so worried about overstepping his role that he erred on the side of understepping it, Weissmann writes, issuing a mealy-mouthed report that showed the president had obstructed justice while refusing to say as much.

Muellers fundamental flaw, Weissmann says, was a persistent faith in a Justice Department headed by his old friend William Barr. The Mueller team had meticulously laid out their findings in their 448-page, antiseptically worded report, only to be blindsided by Barrs four-page self-styled summary, which Weissmann depicts as a nakedly cynical distortion of the truth: We had just been played by the attorney general.
The image of Rolls-Royce cruising the chanceries of the world looking for new cornerstone investors is not one of which Britain can be proud.

Rolls-Royce is Britain's premier engineering business, with a reputation for excellence, a world leader in engines for wide-bodied jets as well as a critical defence contractor.

It is a victim of Covid-19 and the failure of Boris Johnson's government to keep the skies open in the pandemic.

In need of support: Rolls-Royce is a victim of Covid-19 and the failure of Boris Johnson's government to keep the skies open in the pandemic

Chief executive Warren East has cleaned up the balance sheet, made painful job cuts in the company's Derby heartland, lined up credit facilities and now needs to secure equity funding.

The pressure on the shares is becoming immense  down a further 10.8 per cent in latest trading  making Rolls worth just 3bn. That is a little more than half the value of The Hut which sells protein and beauty supplements online and has weak governance.

If investment banks, which rushed to take part in The Hut float, were working effectively, they would be stretching their sinews to make sure Rolls gets the 2.5billion minimum it wants.

There are a variety of things that the Government could do to support Rolls-Royce. It could become a cornerstone investor through a rights issue, ensuring its success. That might help preclude overseas wealth funds, such as Singapore, from becoming dominant influences on the share register with potential serious industrial consequences.

It could also take policy steps. It should be working like mad to open up an air corridor to New York, also critical for BA, Virgin Atlantic and the City. It needs to put more cash behind the Tempest fighter project. And it should step up support for small, modular nuclear reactors now that Hitachi has withdrawn from the fray.

Jobs, engineering skills, R&D and Britain's future as an aerospace champion are at stake.

Double Dutch

Plans by Unilever's chief executive Alan Jope to unify the Anglo-Dutch company's headquarters and domicile in Britain have taken a big step forward, with a 99.3pc vote in favour by Dutch investors.

So far this is proving a smoother process than in 2018 when his predecessor Paul Polman tried to shift the axis of the Ben & Jerry's-to-Dove soap group to Rotterdam. On that occasion, a spirited revolt among UK long shareholders, concerned they would have to sell the stock that would have been excluded from the FTSE 100 premium index, led to the proposal being withdrawn.

The approval of UK investors, who are to vote on October 2, must be a given after the resistance to Rotterdam.

But this does not mean the re-organisation is all over bar the shouting. The more serious obstacle has been posed by the Netherlands' leftist green party which, taking a leaf out of the Brussels playbook, is demanding Unilever pay an exit tax of 10billion. As a small minority party, it obviously could not force through such a measure.

But in a post-Covid world, where governments are scouting around for new sources of income to bring budgets under control, other politicians might see the merit of some kind of levy. Unilever initially took the threat lightly and, having taken legal advice, believes it would violate international law. Not that this any longer seems to matter to Boris Johnson's government in London in the wake of his Brexit bill escapade.

Unilever is clear that 10billion is not a price worth paying. After all, it amounts to one-third of Britain's total Brexit invoice of 32billion after nearly five decades of membership. Such an outcome, which thwarted Unilever's plans, would be unlikely to encourage Jope and colleagues to prioritise the Netherlands for future investment.

Rocky road

Sony underlined the value of music catalogues in 2016 when it bought Lennon & McCartney's songbook from the Michael Jackson estate.

Here in Britain, stock market newcomer Hipgnosis is trying to recapture the country's lost place in the global music business by splashing out on songbooks.

So far, the biggest names are eluding its grasp and the prices paid look top-heavy. But in the search for content, founder Merck Mercuriadis is on a streak, raising a further 250m, with his eyes on catalogues worth up to 1billion. He is putting together an increasingly credible team, including exiles from EMI and Virgin Music.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Hospitalized patients with COVID-19 may face an increased risk for kidney injury, a dreaded complication for those suffering from infection with the novel 2019 coronavirus, an observational study led by University of Michigan researchers has found.

According to Jochen Reiser, MD, Ph.D., the Ralph C Brown MD professor and chairperson of Rush's Department of Internal Medicine, patients with COVID-19 experience elevated levels of soluble urokinase receptor (suPAR), an immune-derived pathogenic protein that is strongly predictive of kidney injury.

"SuPAR is a circulating factor we've seen contribute to kidney injury in thousands of patients," Reiser said. "RNA viruses such as HIV and SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) elicit a suPAR response of the innate immune system, leading to a rise in blood suPAR levels. If there is a hyperinflammatory suPAR response, kidney cells may be damaged."

Reiser is an author of the multicenter study led by Salim Hayek MD, an assistant professor of cardiology at University of Michigan, "Soluble Urokinase Receptor in COVID-19 related Acute Kidney Injury." Published online in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology on Sept. 22, the study results show that more than a third patients with COVID-19 end up in need of dialysis and are also at much higher risk of death.

The research team tested suPAR levels of 352 study participants when they were admitted to the hospital for COVID-19 infection. A quarter of the participants developed acute kidney injury while hospitalized, and their median suPAR levels were more than 60% higher than those of the rest of the participants.

The risk of needing dialysis was increased 20-fold in patients with the highest suPAR levels. Overall, median suPAR levels for these study participants hospitalized with severe COVID-19 were almost three times higher than levels of healthy people.

"Certainly, a suPAR level at time of hospitalization of COVID-19 patients will provide an important risk stratification tool with respect to patient outcomes such as intubation or kidney failure," Hayek said. "This will help hospitals by providing proper surveillance of patients at higher risk of a severe COVID-19 course.

"Now that we know the epidemiological link of suPAR to COVID-19-associated acute kidney injury (AKI), we must study if suPAR is a cause of COVID-19 associated AKI," Reiser said. "In other words, can AKI in COVID-19 infected patients be prevented by keeping plasma suPAR levels low? This hypothesis is supported by the findings of the paper showing that COVID-19 infected study patients with a suPAR level below 4.6 ng/ml never needed dialysis. A newly developed and specific suPAR apheresis device is about to enter a clinical pilot trial where this scenario is tested."

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
Fujifilm Holdings Corp said Monday it has completed delayed clinical tests of Avigan, a potential treatment for COVID-19, paving the way for the application of sales and production of the antivirus drug.

Fujifilm Toyama Chemical Co, a subsidiary of Fujifilm Holdings, is conducting analysis of data from the tests to confirm the safety and efficacy of Avigan, which could be the third drug for the treatment of novel coronavirus patients if approved by the government.

In Japan, the antiviral drug remdesivir developed by U.S. firm Gilead Sciences Inc was given the green light in May, followed by the steroid drug dexamethasone.

Fujifilm Toyama began clinical tests in March to see if Avigan was effective in treating patients with the respiratory disease caused by the virus and they were initially expected to end by June. But it was delayed as a downtrend in the number of new infection cases in the country made it difficult to gather enough patient data, targeted at 96.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Hispanic small business owners have been especially impacted by COVID-19 due to lack of childcare, remote work and direct relationships with those diagnosed with the virus, according to new survey data published by SCORE, the nation's largest network of volunteer, expert business mentors. This data report and accompanying infographic are released in honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15  Oct. 15) and National Small Business Week (Sept. 21-25).

SCORE Data Report Highlights Impact of COVID-19 on Hispanic-Owned Small Businesses

Experience the interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8778351-score-hispanic-businesses-covid-19-impact/

Hispanic entrepreneurs are the fastest-growing segment of business owners in the U.S. While the number of Hispanic-owned small businesses has been increasing since 2013, data shows that minority-owned small businesses, specifically, Hispanic- and Black-owned small businesses, have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"In this fifth edition of The Megaphone of Main Street data report, we explored how the pandemic has impacted small businesses, with a specific focus on Black and Hispanic-owned businesses," said SCORE CEO Bridget Weston. "We also recently launched the Hispanic Small Business Hub to better support our nation's 4.6 million Hispanic-owned small businesses. SCORE understands that a thriving, healthy eco-system for minority-owned businesses is crucial for broader economic growth and opportunity."

Key findings of COVID-19's impact on Hispanic-owned small businesses include:

Hispanic-owned businesses were more likely to seek  but less likely to receive  outside funding from non-governmental sources, including expanded lines of credit and new loans, compared to White-owned businesses.

For example, while 28.4% of Hispanic business owners sought new investors, no survey respondents reported success.

Hispanic-owned businesses were also more likely to seek  but less likely to receive  government funding, including PPP, EIDL and SBA loans.

Click here to access full Megaphone of Main Street data report: The Impact of COVID-19.

About SCORE

Since 1964, SCORE has helped 11 million entrepreneurs to start or grow a business. SCORE's 10,000 volunteers provide free mentoring, workshops and educational services to 1,500+ communities nationwide, creating 29,681 new businesses and 67,706 non-owner jobs in 2019 alone. Visit SCORE at www.score.org . Follow @SCOREMentors on Facebook , Instagram and Twitter .

Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All opinions, conclusions, and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA.

Contact

Betsy Dougert

SCORE

800-634-0245

[email protected]

SOURCE SCORE
Former President John Mahama has said the Electoral Commissions ongoing voter roll exhibition has been fraught with so much disorder, anarchy and chaos, adding that the election management body has exhibited legendary incompetence with the entire electoral process ahead of the 7 December 2020.

The flagbearer of the biggest opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), told party supporters in the Bono Region on Tuesday, 22 September 2020 that since the EC started the voter register exhibition, many have gone to check and in many places, there are anomalies, several anomalies that our party has detected.

In any exhibition of a register, therell be a few anomalies that are normally easy to correct but we also know that anytime weve done a registration of voters, we have done it in good time so that if there are anomalies, we can correct them, he said.

When this government and the Electoral Commission decided that they were going to do a new register, we warned them that the time left was so short that if you compiled a register and there were fatal flaws in the register, you will not have enough time to do the correction before the election, the former President observed.

And let me say a voter register is the most important document in any election. If the voter register is not credible or is full of errors, it makes it difficult to have a free, fair and transparent election, Mr Mahama noted.

According to him, as it is, recently, we saw a video of voter registration cards being issued and the video went viral. It turned out that these were EC officers issuing voter cards. Today, the EC issued a statement and admitted that, yes, these cards were being issued at the ECs offices because of some duplications they had found out. The political parties are the main stakeholders in any election. And, so, while the exhibition of the register is going on, we have our agents at all the polling stations supervising the registration.

Now, if there was an issue in compiling the register, where the codes of the codes of the various equipment were found to be duplicates, and it was necessary to issue voter cards, why were the political parties not informed.

And the point even is, if you issue these new voter cards at your district office, how will the people whose cards are affected, know so that they can come and give back the old cards and give out the new cards? he wondered.

In Mr Mahamas opinion, there is so much wrong going on.

The incompetence of this Electoral Commission is legendary. We have held elections in this country, we have held voter registrations in this country, but we have never seen a situation where there is so much chaos and disorder in an electoral process.

He warned: It has the potential to create crises in our country and that is why at a point, when I spoke, I said that the Electoral Commission should be prepared to take the blame if this country descends into chaos and they dismissed me.

Today, we dont know if we are going to have a credible register because we are not confident in the process that is going on. There is too much anarchy and disorder. We are not sure that we can have a credible register with which to have a free, fair and transparent election.

And, therefore, because of the seriousness of the reports Im receiving from my elections directorate, Ive decided to curtail my campaign in the Bono Region and go back to Accra to ascertain and verify the reports and to make the views of our party known to Ghana and the rest of the world, he announced.

Mr Mahama said it was important for the international community to keep its eyes on Ghanas electoral process so as to ensure the process is clean.

As things are going, we are not comfortable with the process going to the election and we call on the international community to take an interest in what is happening in Ghana.

We want electoral observers to come lone in advance; international election observers must be deployed long in advance to supervise the electoral process going into the election. We will make a major statement on this matter in due course, very soon, he said, adding: But in the meantime, Ill suspend the campaign in the Bono Region, there are several constituencies that were expecting us today and tomorrow and the day after. I wish to apologise to them. As soon as this matter is addressed in Accra, Ill quickly come back and finish the tour of the Bono Region.

---Classfm
Minister for Justice and Equality, Helen McEntee TD, has today asked anyone tempted to use fireworks this Halloween to remember workers at the frontline of dealing with Covid-19 as well as vulnerable members of the community.

Ms McEntee was launching the Department of Justices annual fireworks awareness campaign, which seeks to highlight the potential injuries and damage they can cause.

The Minister also noted the severe sentences people can face if convicted of illegally buying, selling or using fireworks. Ms McEntee said:

The penalties go right up to fines of 10,000 and 5 years in prison. These penalties are high because the dangers are so serious.

The Department of Justice will in the coming weeks roll out targeted social media adverts aimed at younger people who may be thinking of using fireworks.

But the Minister, who noted the clear increase in fireworks incidents over the past number of weeks, said it is especially important that emergency services are not put under further pressure this year.

This year, more than ever before, we need to remember our frontline workers who have gone above and beyond the call of duty since the start of the pandemic. We asked them to put their lives on the line in the battle against Covid-19.

We owe it to them this Halloween to ensure that emergency rooms are not filled with preventable but serious injuries, caused by the use of illegal fireworks. This would add unnecessary pressure.

Equally, An Garda Siochana, our fire services and our ambulance services are helping our communities tackle the pandemic and should be allowed focus on that vital task.

Lets not add to the problems they already face.

The Minister asked people to again remember others in their community this Halloween.

We know that the illegal use of fireworks can be distressing for many people. We are asking people to stop and think of the impact fireworks can have on those living in their neighbourhoods, especially the fear they cause for older residents or vulnerable people, not to forget the distressing impact they have on pets.

We have already asked so much of our older citizens throughout this pandemic. They have cocooned and restricted their movements  and they do not need the extra worry of fireworks going off near their homes.

The Minister confirmed her Department would continue to support the work of An Garda Siochana in this area.

Fireworks are not only dangerous in untrained and unlicensed hands - they are illegal. Fireworks are explosives, explosives which can maim and even kill.

I have spoken with the Garda Commissioner and we will continue to do everything possible to prevent the illegal sale and use of fireworks. The Commissioner has assured me that measures are already being implemented by An Garda Siochana to deal with the issues arising from the use of illegal fireworks and associated public disorder and anti-social behaviour.

Every year Operation Tombola is undertaken by An Garda Siochana to address all aspects associated with the policing of the Halloween period. The 2020 operation began over two weeks ago in the Dublin Metropolitan Region in response to an increase in unlicensed fireworks use.

We all have a part to play in keeping our communities safe this Halloween. Dont buy or set off illegal fireworks. Dont put our frontline services under pressure. Dont cause undue concern to elderly neighbours.

If we work together and avoid creating extra problems we can all enjoy Halloween.
Laois has held steady on the number of new Covid-19 cases according to latest figures from the Department of Health.

However the national number of new cases has hit 334 this Tuesday evening, September 22.

Laois remains at 433 cases, with no increase between Saturday and Sunday night, in the latest county breakdown given.

However the county may have risen in numbers since, as 11 unnamed counties have 23 new cases, among today's figures issued by NPHET.

There have been no new deaths reported to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre today.

There has now been a total of 1,792 COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland.

As of midnight Monday, 21 September, the HPSC has been notified of 334 confirmed cases of COVID-19. There is now a total of 33,444* confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland.

Of the cases notified today;

 158 are men / 175 are women

 72% are under 45 years of age

 53% are confirmed to be associated with outbreaks or are close contacts of a confirmed case

 55 cases have been identified as community transmission

 174 cases are in Dublin, 34 in Cork, 30 in Kildare, 18 in Donegal, 10 in Galway, 10 in Louth, 6 in Clare, 6 in Mayo, 6 in Meath, 6 in Roscommon, 6 in Waterford, 5 in Limerick, with the remaining 23 spread across 11 counties.

The HSE is working to identify any contacts the patients may have had to provide them with information and advice to prevent further spread.

The COVID-19 Dashboard provides up-to-date information on the key indicators of COVID-19 in the community.

Dr. Ronan Glynn is Acting Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health said the disease is spreading more amongst young people who are out and about.

Despite accounting for just a quarter of the population, people aged 15  34 years of age account for 40% of COVID-19 cases in the past two months. This is not surprising as they are more likely to be moving about in the community, going to school, higher education or work, and keeping our economy and key services going.

For teenagers and people in their 20s and 30s in particular, I know that what has been, and is being asked of you again is extraordinary. This pandemic has impacted on your education, your employment, your relationships and your social lives. The vast majority have done the right thing  have heeded public health advice and kept themselves and their families safe.

But the disease is continuing to spread disproportionately among younger people at present. And so, I am asking you to stick with this and continue to follow the public health advice.

Be a role model for others. Limit the number of people you meet, maintain 2m physical distance, wear a face covering, wash your hands well and often. Together, every safe behaviour counts.

The HSE is working to identify any contacts the patients may have had to provide them with information and advice to prevent further spread.

The county by county breakdown published on Sunday is two days behind the figures released today.

It shows the following for Laois and neighbouring counties for Sunday, September 20:

Laois 433 - no change.

Offaly 695 - up 1.

Kildare 2,468 - up 16

Carlow 276 - up 1

Kilkenny 442 - up 4

Tipperary 759 - no change

Dublin 15,717 - up 71

The COVID-19 Dashboard provides up-to-date information on the key indicators of COVID-19 in the community.
NBC News-GABORONE  The deaths of hundreds of elephants in Botswana this year which had baffled and alarmed conservationists were caused by toxins from algae, officials said on Monday.

Cyril Taolo, deputy director of the Department of Wildlife and National Parks, told a news conference that the number of dead elephants had risen to 330, from 281 last reported in July. Laboratory test results suggest toxins produced by cyanobacteria  also called blue-green algae  in water are to blame, officials announced.

The elephant carcasses that first detected in May were found in the Okavango Delta, a wetland near the Namibian border.

The departments principal veterinary officer Mmadi Reuben told the same conference that there were, however, still many unanswered questions.

Our latest tests have detected cyanobacterial neurotoxins to be the cause of deaths. These are bacteria found in water, Reuben said.

However we have many questions still to be answered such as why the elephants only (died) and why that area only. We have a number of hypotheses we are investigating. In neighboring Zimbabwe, more than 20 elephant carcasses were discovered near the countrys biggest game park and authorities suspect they succumbed to a bacterial infection.

Africas overall elephant population is declining due to poaching but Botswana, home to almost a third of the continents elephants, has seen numbers grow to around 130,000.
Bruce Rice spends every night at CC Slaughters, the gay bar and nightclub he has owned for 17 years. Before March, he was accustomed to patrons packing the Old Town club to hear nightly live DJ sets.

But coronavirus restrictions forced the Portland establishment to shut down for three months and reopen with greatly reduced capacity. Six months into the pandemic, business remains down 80%.

Rice has kept the bar afloat thanks to the federal Paycheck Protection Program, which provided hundreds of billions of dollars in potentially forgivable loans to businesses across the country to help them retain employees and pay other expenses amid the pandemic.

But the money CC Slaughters secured through the program will be gone in just over a month. If Congress doesnt approve a new round of relief funding by then, Rice said the nightclub might close for good.

I really dont know what the future is going to hold for us, Rice said. I see businesses all around me closing right now. If the government doesnt come up with something else, then I really think a lot more are going to close. I might be one of those.

The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) was a key piece of the coronavirus relief legislation Congress approved in March. Despite early struggles, the program paid out $659 billion and increased the survivability of businesses by 14 to 30 percentage points, according to a working paper published by the National Bureau of Economic Research.

But the program lapsed in August and many businesses are now running out of the money they secured through the program, while others have already used it up. A separate federal relief program that paid unemployed Americans an extra $600 per week has lapsed as well. And now a successor $300 weekly benefits program has, too.

Talks in Congress to replace or extend those programs have stalled, leaving struggling businesses with little cushion as they head into what could be a difficult fall and putting employees who could face layoffs in a precarious situation.

While relief funding is drying up, the pandemic continues to severely impact businesses, said John Tapogna, president of consulting firm ECONorthwest. While consumer spending rebounded substantially in April and May after plummeting early in the pandemic, it rose by just 2% in July, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Tapogna said businesses that have used up their PPP loans and are still struggling to come close to their pre-pandemic earnings, especially those in the leisure and hospitality industry, could face tough choices as they try to chart a path forward.

Until we get a vaccine and this is fully eradicated and we can go back to our normal consumer behavior, I think were going to continue to see businesses struggle, Tapogna said. I dont see that full recovery mode beginning any time sooner than the third quarter of next year.

Craig Sweitzer, owner of commercial property brokerage Urban Works Real Estate, said he is already hearing from businesses planning not to renew or looking to break their leases. Thats especially true in downtown Portland, where protests and the vacant offices heap new challenges on top of the pandemic.

Sweitzer said there could be a sharp increase in business closures and vacancies without additional relief measures.

The next several months could be particularly difficult for Portland restaurants and bars, many of which managed to regain some business this summer by taking over sidewalks and expanding outdoor seating areas.

Matt Kaye, co-owner of Kayos Ramen Bar in North Portland, said the restaurant was able to keep most of its employees on staff and pivot to a delivery and takeout model after securing a PPP loan.

Still, the business was bleeding money until the summer, when it was able to start utilizing its patio and expand sidewalk seating to draw in customers who didnt feel comfortable dining inside. While Kaye believes that the restaurant will survive the pandemic, he expects business may plummet again next month as the weather worsens and the restaurant goes back to relying on takeout and delivery.

The winter is looking a little bit dicey for most restaurants, Kaye said.

Dan Hart, the owner of four Portland bars, including Prost!, a German beer bar in North Portland, laid off staff early in the pandemic but was able to bring employees back with funding from PPP loans.

Hart said small businesses would benefit from another round of loans or some other targeted relief that would enable investments to weather the pandemic, such as building tented seating areas for the winter.

But if no additional relief comes, Hart said his bars may need to cut costs as they focus on survival this winter. That could mean another round of layoffs, although Hart is acutely aware that if he has to lay off employees again, they will not have access to the enhanced unemployment benefits they received earlier in the pandemic.

Were trying to maximize what we can do this summer and then minimize what were doing in the winter and just be as efficient as possible, Hart said. Unfortunately, that might touch staffing, but were hoping to do whatever we can to not have layoffs. We want to keep everybody on board.

Joellen Piluso, the owner of the Horse Brass Pub in Southeast Portland, said she has been following talks in Congress closely, waiting to learn whether there could be another round of relief for small businesses.

The PPP loan that Horse Brass secured early in the pandemic was a lifeline for the bar. It enabled Piluso to reopen and bring back staff after a three-month closure and put the bar in a stable enough position to navigate a three-day shutdown when wildfire smoke poured into Portland earlier this month.

But moving forward, Piluso said there is still a lot of uncertainty for Horse Brass, which has been a Southeast Portland staple since 1976. Business remains down substantially, and it is unclear what the fall will hold. If there is a surge in coronavirus cases that forces the bar to shut down again, that could be disastrous.

Im still optimistic, Piluso said. I believe in the resilience of people and our community and I know we have the ability to make it through this. We just need patience and persistence, and a little help from those higher up in government.

-- Jamie Goldberg | jgoldberg@oregonian.com | @jamiebgoldberg
The China Cultural Center in Malta is offering new opportunities for locals to study the Chinese language and experience traditional culture.

People at different levels of Chinese language proficiency could take lessons at the centre and participate in a variety of cultural and creative activities.

"Once locals have succeeded in speaking or reading a few sentences in Chinese, they will be encouraged to continue their journey towards fluency," Yang Xiaolong, director of the Centre, told Xinhua.

He added that studying Chinese will also lead them to discover the beauty and warmth of Chinese culture.

Language courses for students of differing levels will begin in October.

The Centre started to offer language courses as early as 2004. In recent years, it has been collaborating with the Confucius Institute of the University of Malta in teaching local learners Chinese.

According to Yang, the Centre will also offer classes on calligraphy, the Erhu, otherwise known as the Chinese violin, Chinese painting, square dancing, the Chinese strategy board game Go, Chinese handicrafts, Tai Chi, martial arts and Chinese cooking.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic temporarily limiting events such as exhibitions and shows, the centre continues to flourish and has focused on expanding and improving online services and activities for local people, including language teaching, skills training and martial arts, Yang said.

Meanwhile, the centre has also gradually recovered certain offline cultural activities under the requirements set by the Maltese government.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The 'key conspirators' in the February riots chose north east Delhi with its unique economic, social and demographic matrix as it was the ideal ground for 'mass scale mobilisation and violence', the police has alleged in its charge sheet filed before a Delhi court.

It said the location was found to be much more 'vulnerable' and 'dispensable' as compared to south east Delhi and while the leaders remained safely glued to their TVs in their upscale locations, the brunt was borne by "the toiler and the bread winner".

The charge sheet, filed on September 16, stated that protest sites were established despite resistance from local people, which was supported by statements of witnesses in the case.

"The choice of sit-in protest sites in pockets dominated by the Muslim domination, their proximity to arterial roads which opened up to the location of mixed populations and the careful distribution of supervisory domains from amongst the core members leaves no doubt that the intent was to create maximum communal strife, damage and destruction, once the initial sparks were fed to the media frenzy created by a select group of digital media houses," the charge sheet alleged.

It said the alleged criminal conspiracy was continuing and though it has suffered setbacks with the exposure and the arrest of the accused persons, it was neither aborted nor abandoned.

ALSO READ | Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam used social media for indoctrination of youths: Delhi Police on riots

"With the leaders choosing to either remain safely glued to their televisions in the comfort of their homes in upscale locations of Delhi NCR using their communication devices as the weapon of the enlightened or leaving Delhi for outside destinations to create the most acceptable alibi, the brunt of the conspiracy was suffered by those who reside in most densely populated district of India where day-to-day survival requires blood and sweat of the toiler and the bread winner," the charge sheet alleged.

It said that certain inferences have been established regarding the FIRs registered between December 13, 2019 and December 20, 2019 against the incidents reported February, 2020.

"That all the hotspots of December 219 were repeated with varying intensities in February 2020. The modus operandi of the culprits in both the periods under reference is a text book copy of each other that is mobilisation fuelled by incendiary speeches followed by 'Chakka Jaam' and violence. Almost every character who gained notoriety in February 2020 had been noticed as being present in the incidents of December 2019," it said.

It further stated that the primary targets of both the periods were the same, that is, police personnel followed by non-Muslim population.

The police however found there were two noticeable differences in the period of the incidents pertaining to December 2019 and February 2020, it said.

"While Jamia and Shaheen Bagh reported the most severe riots in December 2019, this locality was spared deliberately and avoided by the rioters in February 2020.

And women at the forefront (both local and transplanted) were the universal underlying theme of the protest in February 2020 as against the incidents of December 2019," the charge sheet claimed.

It said the "key conspirators" had learnt their lessons drawn from December 2019.

"The whole of the analytics corroborates and reinforces the investigative findings that in spite of best efforts being put in by the key conspirators, the incidents of December 2019 remained a beta version of the carnage of February 2020.

"The key conspirators had learnt their lessons drawn from December 2019 and while executing the continuing conspiracy in February 2020 chose north east Delhi with its unique economic, social and demographic matrix as being the ideal ground for mass scale mobilisation and violence as it was found to be much more vulnerable and dispensable as compared to south east Delhi," it claimed.

ALSO READ | Buses, manpower were arranged to execute Delhi riots: Police chargesheet names 15 'conspirators'

Police have chargesheeted 15 persons for allegedly being part of a "premeditated conspiracy" in the north east Delhi riots in February.

"The crime committed by the key conspirators is not just legally but morally reprehensible," the charge sheet claimed.

On December 15 last year, protesters torched four public buses and two police vehicles as they clashed with police in New Friends' Colony near Jamia Millia Islamia during a demonstration against the amended Citizenship Act, leaving at least 40 people including students, policemen and fire fighters injured.

Communal clashes had broken out in north east 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.
The Washington Post is providing this news free to all readers as a public service.

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YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 22, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Minister of Healthcare Arsen Torosyan held a phone conversation with Russias Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Welfare Director Anna Popova to discuss the COVID-19 situation and the partnership between Armenia and Russia in responding to the pandemic.

Torosyan thanked the Russian side for the significant material-technical and professional assistance in the COVID-19 response, as well as for support in resolving the problems in the passenger transportation between the two countries.

The sides expressed readiness to constantly discuss cooperation and mutual-aid issues both bilaterally, and as part of the EEU and CIS cooperation, the ministry said in a readout.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
Investigators believe Christian Brueckner, 43, (pictured) may have attacked Hazel Behan in her Algarve apartment in 2004

The prime suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann is now facing another investigation over the alleged rape of an Irish holiday rep in Portugal 16 years ago.

Investigators believe Christian Brueckner, 43, who is already in prison in Germany on a rape charge, may have attacked Hazel Behan in her Algarve apartment in 2004, when she was aged 20.

Three months ago, Mrs Behan demanded police reopen her case after discovering it had striking similarities with the rape of an American woman for which Brueckner was convicted last year.

German authorities have now agreed to open an investigation, prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters confirmed on Tuesday.

Ms Behan, who waived her right to anonymity last month, was working as a holiday rep in Praia da Rocha on the Algarve coast in April 2004.

She recently revealed details of the attack which saw a masked man climb over the balcony to her apartment in the early hours of the morning.

He is said to have held a knife to her throat, tied and gagged her before raping her repeatedly.

The assailant then threatened to kill her before fleeing over the balcony and leaving her bleeding.

Irish woman Hazel Behan, 37, (pictured), waived her right to anonymity last month to share details of the attack which saw a masked man climb over the balcony to her apartment in the early hours of the morning

In June, Brueckner was identified the German man as a suspect in the case of Madeleine McCann (pictured), who disappeared from an apartment in 2007 while her family was on holiday in the resort of Praia da Luz, Portugal

Ms Behan contacted Scotland Yard after Brueckner was named as the main suspect in the Madeleine case with details emerging about his conviction for raping an American woman in similar circumstances.

In June, Brueckner was identified the German man as a suspect in the case of Madeleine, who disappeared from an apartment in 2007 while her family was on holiday in the resort of Praia da Luz, Portugal.

He has two previous convictions for 'sexual contact with girls', authorities say, but they do not have enough evidence to hold him in prison on the strength of the McCann case alone.

Mr Wolters said there is 'no new situation' regarding the evidence on the McCann case and would not give further details or elaborate on the nature of the evidence.
Bengaluru: Tech intensity, the combination of technology adoption and capability built on trust, will determine whether organizations will be able to navigate through the covid-19 crisis, Satya Nadella, chief executive officer, Microsoft Corp. said on Tuesday.

As the world came to a near standstill earlier this year, information technology (IT) professionals helped people and organizations to adapt to the new circumstances, Nadella said. Digital technology today is more important than ever."

In June, Microsoft had said it would launch a global skills initiative aimed to bring more digital skills to 25 million people worldwide by the year-end.

India-born Nadella spoke at Ignite, the US-based firms annual flagship event for developers and IT professionals, held virtually for the first time due to the pandemic. The first conference, then known as TechEd, took place in Orlando, US in 1993.

As the pandemic has transformed the culture of work, Microsoft has taken this opportunity to build the future of productivity keeping collaboration, learning, and well-being in mind, Nadella said. As part of this, Microsoft will be integrating a learning app and user well-being features to its collaboration tool Teams.

Nadella also made some key announcements for the IT and developer community. As adoption of hybrid cloud is accelerating in the enterprise, Microsoft shared updates to its Azure hybrid-enabled cloud servers, services and devices, including Azure Arc-enabled servers, Azure Arc-enabled data services and Azure Stack Edge.

The company also announced a new voice channel for Dynamics 365 customer service, built on Azure Communication Services. By integrating voice into the existing omni-channel capabilities, Microsoft aims to provide an end-to-end customer service experience within a single solution built on the Microsoft cloud.

Nadella said Microsoft is also investing in fundamental research in artificial intelligence (AI) for making it easier for AI to be built seamlessly into any applications.

For the developer community, Microsoft announced low code updates to its Power Platform and Azure for professional developers to quickly create custom apps, bots and workflows with Azure and GitHub integration. It also announced the Power Automate Desktop, which provides a desktop automation option for citizen developers and business users.

To help exploration and use of space data, Microsoft has announced Azure Orbital, enabling customers to quickly analyze data captured from space through physical satellite capabilities. With access to low-latency global fibre networks and the scale of Microsoft's cloud services, Microsoft aims to help customers innovate quickly with large satellite datasets.

In order to help the healthcare sector amid the crisis, Microsoft announced the availability of its first industry-specific cloud for the healthcare sector by the end of October. Microsoft has seen a 500% increase in its cloud analytics service Azure Synapse since the pandemic began in March. India fashion e-tailer Myntra has leveraged Azure Synapse to achieve real-time analytics.

Microsoft has been stepping up investments in India of late. In June this year, Microsofts venture fund M12, established its local presence in India with the opening of an office in Bengaluru. The funds India arm has been pursuing investment opportunities across the region in B2B software startups in the sectors of applied AI, business applications, infrastructure, security, and other emerging technologies.

M12 focuses on investing in disruptive enterprise software startups in the Series A through C funding stages, targeting both local and cross-border solutions. M12, which has already been remotely investing in India since 2019, includes Innovaccer and FarEye in its portfolio.

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By PTI

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu's economy will rebound to the pre-COVID-19 period in two months, former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor C Rangarajan said on Monday.

There is likely to be a contraction due to the pandemic, Rangarajan, heading a high-level committee to advise the State government on the medium-term response and measures to be taken to boost the economy post the lockdown period, said.

The committee was tasked by the Tamil Nadu government to assess the impact of coronavirus crisis on the State's fiscal situation and the way forward to improve the position, including increasing the tax-GDP ratio, diversifying revenue sources and re-prioritising expenditure.

The panel, which submitted a 250-page report to Chief Minister K Palaniswami on Monday, is optimistic the economy will revive in about two months' time.

The committee, which made several recommendations, suggested to the state government to launch an urban employment guarantee scheme on the lines of the rural one to address job loss and increase the employment opportunities in cities.

It also favoured the immediate utilisation of Rs 3,200 crore available with the construction workers welfare fund to generate employment opportunities.

"It is difficult to predict exactly, but indicators like GST collections, petrol and power usage indicate a return to growth," Rangarajan said while ruling out any suggestion for increasing the taxes this year.

"There is no scope for it. Everyone is demanding reduction in taxes," the former RBI Governor told reporters after presenting the report to the chief minister at the Secretariat here.

"While one estimate says that in 2020-21, Tamil Nadu's growth rate will be 1.71 per cent, another predicts there could be a contraction due to the pandemic. At this juncture it is difficult to predict the exact growth rate," he said when asked on how the growth rate will be.

However, GST collections and petrol and electricity usage indicate the state is heading to the pre-COVID-19 period in the next two months, Rangarajan said.

The committee has also recommended that the free distribution of rice to ration cardholders should be extended beyond November, an additional Rs 5,000 crore should be allocated to the Revenue department, and increase capital expenditure by Rs 10,000 crore.

Stating that the lockdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus had affected the economic growth, Rangarajan said other measures should be taken to stop the virus spread. "The earlier we come out of the lockdown, the better it will be for Tamil Nadu's economy," he said.

Chief minister Palaniswami had on May 9 constituted a high-level committee under the chairmanship of Rangarajan, currently Chairman of the Madras School of Economics.

State Finance Secretary S Krishnan was the coordinator of the 24-member committee, which interacted and sought views from industry bodies, trade associations, stakeholders, economic and other experts in India and overseas.

The panel's members include N Narayanan, former Chief Secretary and industry titans like A Vellayan, N Srinivasan, Venu Srinivasan, bankers such as Padmaja Chunduru, MD, Indian Bank, M Suresh Babu of IIT Madras, Pinaki Chakraborty, Co- ordinator, UNICEF, Chennai, and senior officials from various state government departments, including finance.

Palaniswami thanked the committee for promptly responding to the government's request and coming out with a comprehensive report on the economic revival. "The government will examine all the recommendations and take appropriate steps," the chief minister said.
An armed group of black men who began patrolling Minneapolis during the unrest in the wake of George Floyd's death have been praised by city officials.

The Minnesota Freedom Fighters was formed in late May after the NAACP chapter in the city's north, predominantly black, neighborhood put out a call for residents to help protect small businesses from violence, fires and looting.

A group of about two dozen men gathered and have patrolled the streets since, carrying AR-15s and Glocks and wearing tactical vests and bandannas.

They have been welcomed by the city, who called their actions 'commendable'.

The Minnesota Freedom Fighters was formed in late May to patrol and protect businesses from violence, fire and looting in the wake of George Floyd's death on May 25

About two dozen black men answered the call for help in protecting the businesses. They patrol carrying AR-15s and Glocks and wearing tactical vests and bandannas

'It's important to have men from the community step up for the community,' Sasha Cotton, director of the city's Office of Violence Prevention, told the Los Angeles Times.

'It's their right to be out on the streets and it's commendable. There are black residents who in the early days of the unrest felt vulnerable ... and still do.'

The men, who include a retired firefighter, a healthcare worker and a veteran, have been in regular communication with the city and after unrest died down, continued to patrol streets and act as security for protesters.

According to the Times, they are in touch with precinct commanders and have met with Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo, who is also black.

Its members have said they are not fearful of being attacked by police as they are viewed as an extra layer of security for the community.

'Our objective is not to be the police, but the bridge to link the police and the community together,' their mission statement reads.

The original call out from the NAACP added that they were tasked with protecting black heritage.

The group formed to protect black businesses from the unrest following George Floyd's death, pictured

'We are creating a network of people who will disseminate information through relational organizing (an information tree), support on the ground protestors through giving rides from the protests, giving first-aid help, and protect black heritage sites from destruction,' it read.

Rev. Tim Christopher, whose church is in north Minneapolis, has said he felt relieved to see the group at work in the streets.

'It's been a breath of fresh air,' he said. 'Seeing an armed black man  knowing he is here to take care of the community, nurture the community  is a blessing.'

Christopher also has a conceal carry permit and tells the Times he packs during church service on Sundays.

He said that he believes carrying a gun as a black man carries risks especially if pulled over my police.

'At that point, my hands are on the steering wheel and I say, "Yes, officer, I have a firearm and it's legal",' he said. 'They always back up and place a hand on their gun. There is a stigma, and they're scared of Black men with guns.'

The group have also been welcomed by the Minneapolis NAACP, who have said they wish for the group of men to grow as community leaders.

'These brothers were there in the beginning, when threats were being made by white supremacists,' said the chapter's president Leslie Redmond. 'There is no doubt they stepped up for the community.'

Members include Robert Sayers, a fire inspector for the city of Minneapolis, who said he became involved in the group after witnessing properties being burned in the area near where George Floyd was killed.

The group has said it is prepared to protect its community if needed

The Freedom Fighters are working with the Minneapolis precinct commanders, they say

'We could not and still cannot allow destruction in the city,' the 52-year-old said.

'This is about filling the gap we see between police and community... It's really about harm reduction.'

'You just never know when something is going to happen. As a black man, I have the same rights as others to also carry a firearm and I do it, ' said another member Randy Chrisman.

He says that he has had a handgun permit for more than a decade and typically carries his gun with him when he goes out.

Chrisman explained that during the early days of the protests, he would leave his job in a restaurant and immediately drive toward the city to protect other businesses.

'You have to be prepared to take action if needed,' Chrisman said. 'It's something I'm ready to do. I don't want to, of course, but I'm ready if needed.'

Romeal Taylor, 28, joined the group after seeing people who weren't from the neighborhood destroying buildings and says he has carried a firearm with him anytime he goes out in public for the past six years.

As well as patrolling, the group now holds community events in Minneapolis

The Freedom Fighters say they are working with cops as another line of protection

'These weren't black folks,' he said. 'These were outsiders truly intent on destroying this city.

'We are like any other American... We have the right to bear arms,' added Taylor, who works as an overnight security guard.

According to Pew Research Center, 36 percent of white people nationwide own a gun, compared with 24 percent of black people.

'There is a lot going on out here in the world. I would rather have a gun and not need it than need it and not have it,' said Taylor.

'We want to show all the good we can do for and in the community.'

As well as continuing to patrol in the north Minneapolis, the Freedom Fighters have also traveled to other protests where violence has erupted.

They said that they hope to deescalate situations and to work with authorities while making clear they are prepared to defend their communities.

Some members traveled to Louisville, Kentucky, where unrest has continued following the March death of 26-year-old black woman Breonna Taylor by police in a no-knock warrant.

They are among several armed black groups have sprung up across the nation as protests gripped the country.

Members claim they become involved after seeing destruction to their community

The Freedom Fighters have also traveled to protests in Kentucky and Georgia

Some members say they always carry when they go out in public

Others include the 'Not F****g Around Coalition' who descended on Brunswick Georgia in their hundreds following the killing of Ahmaud Arbery, a black man who was shot to death after being confronted by white men while out for a jog.

Some 1,500 members also gathered at Stone Mountain to call for the removal of Confederate monuments.

Elsewhere, groups have patrolled in Kenosha after the shooting of Jacob Blake, who was struck multiple times in the back during arrest in August.

As partisan politics became more heavily involved in the protests, there have been fatalities involving some of the self-styled civilian security operations.

Near Portland, Michael Reinoehl, 48, was killed by federal agents in August as they sought to arrest him for the suspected murder of a far-right activist.

Reinoehl has said he had acted to protect a companion when the man he shot attacked them.

In Kenosha, 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse is accused of killing two white men protesting. He was not arrested at the scene but later apprehended on homicide charges. His lawyer claims he acted in self-defense.

Members of the Freedom Fighters have said they are unsure what role they will play in the community in Minneapolis in the future but that they are certain there is a need for them to continue.

'The misconception is that we're scary black men with with big guns. We're not,' Jamil Jackson, the group's commander, told MPR News.

'We're all professional men in our day jobs. We're fathers and husbands, we're uncles, we're mentors. But at night and during times of need, we're out doing what we need to do for our community.

'It's not about putting a gun in anyone's face. It's providing a layer of protection that our presence brings.

'This isn't about black men with guns versus white men with guns. This is about us taking a stance to patrol and protect our community. This is something that was asked of us during a time of unrest, and we saw that there was a need,' Jackson added.

'That sparked some purpose in some of these men's lives to understand that their value was not just in protecting buildings that don't belong to us, but also in protecting the people that actually live in the community.'

The Minnesota Police Department and Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis were contacted for comment but had not yet responded.
At the top of President Donald Trump's list to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the Supreme Court is U.S. Circuit Court Judge Amy Coney Barrett, a jurist in the mold of the late Antonin Scalia who fulfills nearly all criteria on conservatives' wish list.

At 48 years old, Barrett could hold the lifetime seat for several decades. Trump's first two nominees to the nation's highest court, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, are in their 50s. Trump's justices will potentially represent one-third of the Supreme Court for generations.

Why is she at the top of Trump's list?

A devout Catholic who is fervently antiabortion, Barrett appeals to Trump's conservative base. But Republicans also hope that for moderates like Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, her gender makes her a more palatable replacement for Ginsburg, a feminist icon who spent her life fighting for gender equality.

Trump considered Barrett in 2018 to replace retired justice Anthony Kennedy, but reportedly said he was saving her for Ginsburg's slot.

What is her judicial background?

Trump first nominated Barrett to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in 2017. Previously, she'd taught law at the University of Notre Dame for 15 years, and so had no previous judicial record to scrutinize. Democrats balked at her nomination, questioning whether the academic could be an impartial arbiter due to her deep religious convictions. Republicans accused Democrats of applying a religious test in their questioning.

However, Barrett wasn't a total novice to the judicial system. Out of law school, she clerked for Scalia, who she considers a mentor and with whom she shares a belief in originalism, which is the idea that judges should attempt to interpret the words of the Constitution as the authors intended when they were written.

What would be the impact of Barrett's religion on her rulings on issues such as Roe v. Wade?

During her confirmation hearing to the appeals court, Barrett said in that role she would "follow all Supreme Court precedent without fail" and would regard decisions such as Roe v. Wade as binding precedent.

"I would never impose my own personal convictions upon the law," she added.

But Democrats pointed to comments she'd made at Notre Dame years before about being a "different kind of lawyer." She said that we should always remember that a "legal career is but a means to an end . . . and that end is building the Kingdom of God."

She has previously written that judges shouldn't be held to upholding Supreme Court precedents, like Roe v. Wade. In a 2018 Washington Post article that examined how Barrett's beliefs would affect her decision-making, experts who had studied her writings concluded that she would join other conservatives on the court in supporting overturning Roe v. Wade.

WASHINGTON POST
Programme Finance Associate, Borno state, Nigeria

Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme

Country: Nigeria

City: Abuja, Nigeria

Office: UNDP Abuja

Closing date: Friday, 25 September 2020

Programme Finance Associate

Advertised on behalf of : Location : Borno state, Nigeria

Application Deadline : 25-Sep-20 (Midnight New York, USA)

Type of Contract : Service Contract

Post Level : SB-3

Languages Required : English

Duration of Initial Contract : 1 Year with possibility of Extension

Background

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security. UN Women places womens rights at the centre of all its interventions and leads and coordinates United Nations System efforts to ensure that commitments on gender equality and gender mainstreaming translate into action. It provides strong and coherent leadership in support of Government efforts on the empowerment of women and gender equality building an effective partnership with civil society and other relevant actors.

UN Women in Nigeria is working with the Government, other UN agencies, international non-governmental organizations, local actors to promote gender equality and empower conflict-affected women and girls and improve their access to opportunities, rights and services including justice and livelihoods in Northeast Nigeria. North-East Nigeria has experienced heightened crisis since 2009 due to the insurgency by the Non-State Armed Groups and counter-insurgency operations by the Government of Nigeria generating a grave humanitarian challenge in Nigeria. The crisis has caused displacement, disruption of livelihoods, food insecurity, increasing rates of severe acute malnutrition, and weakened basic social services and protection mechanisms severely impacting women, men, girls and boys in deferent ways.

In the context of the strong ongoing partnership between the UN and the Government of Nigeria in providing life-saving and recovery assistance to the conflict-affected population in the Northeast, UN Women Nigeria in 2018 established an operational field office in Maiduguri, Borno State-the epicentre of the Boko Haram insurgency- to oversee programme implementation across the three most affected states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe. In addition to this targeted programming, the field office is engaged in coordination and technical support across the sectoral responses; capacity building for humanitarian workers; and undertaking various assessments and related initiatives to allow for evidence-based, gender-responsive interventions to address the evolving crisis in the North East.

Under the overall guidance of the Operations Manager and the daily supervision of the Programme Coordinator Gender and Humanitarian and Sub-office Office in Charge, the Programme Finance Associate is responsible for the execution of a wide range of financial services and administrative processes in the Sub-office, and will work in close collaboration with the Operations and Programme teams in Country Office, Abuja to ensure timeliness, efficiency and transparent use of financial resources and delivery of services as per organizational financial rules, regulations, policies, procedures and approved allocations. The Programme Finance Associate promotes a client-oriented approach consistent with UN Women rules and regulations, standard practices and guidelines.

Duties and Responsibilities

Provide financial support to the management of the Programme in full compliance of UN Women rules, regulations, policies, and recording and reporting systems

Review and verify financial transactions, activities, and documentation; taking corrective actions as needed and reporting any unusual activities;

Monitor financial exceptions reports for unusual activities or transaction, investigate anomalies and report to the supervisor conclusions and/or present recommendations for actions/decisions;

Create projects in Atlas, prepare budget revisions, revise project awards and status; and determine unutilized funds and the operational and financial close of a project;

Provide administrative support in monitoring budget preparation and the finances of programmes/projects; including the finalization of FACE forms;

Review partners financial reports and supporting documents;

Assistant for Project audit and support implementation of audit recommendations;

Prepare , monitor and track Programme budgets in full compliance of UN Women rules, regulations, policies, and recording and reporting systems

Draft project budget in consultation with Project Manager, control allotments, monitor expenditures, and draft revisions according to the needs of the programme;

Track the expenditures regularly

Assist in Annual Work Plan entry in Results Management System (RMS) and activities mapping in ATLAS as & when required

Undertake corrective actions on project un-posted vouchers, including vouchers with budget check errors, match exceptions and unapproved vouchers. Respond to CO, RO /HQ requests to resolve financial data issues;

Provide administrative support to the formulation and management of the programme

Provide administrative support in the preparation of programme work plans, budgets, and proposals on programme implementation arrangements;

Undertake all logistical, administrative and financial arrangements for the organization for meetings, workshops, events, and missions;

Identify sources and gather and compile data and information for the preparation of documents, guidelines, speeches and position papers.

Provide administrative support in the preparation of programme work plans, budgets, and proposals on programme implementation arrangements;

Provide technical guidance to the partners on routine delivery and reporting of programme supported activities and finances;

Prepare information for the audit of projects and support implementation of audit recommendations;

Identify sources and gather and compile data and information for the preparation of documents, guidelines, speeches and position papers;

Tracking and reporting on mobilized resources;

Prepare inputs to report, prepare public information materials and briefing packets, assemble briefing materials and prepare power-point and other presentations;

Undertake all logistical, administrative and financial arrangements for the organization for meetings, workshops, events, and missions;

Make travel arrangements for the Team, including travel requisitions and claims

Facilitate knowledge building and knowledge sharing

Provide administrative support synthesis of lessons learnt and best practices related to programme management and finance;

Collect and compile lessons learned and best practices in financial management and services.

Conduct training and/or helping organize training events and activities; as well as participate in training;

Tags displacement empowerment of women ethics financial management financial resources financial services food insecurity gender mainstreaming human rights knowledge sharing peace and security programme implementation programme management project manager public administration public information social services women and girls

Contribute to financial business operational practices and management innovations.

Disseminate to clients and stakeholders as appropriate to build capacity and knowledge;

Key Performance Indicators

Timely, complete and accurate financial transactions/activities/documentations

Timely and accurate support to events, workshops, and missions.

Timely and regular monitoring of financial resources management system and timely expenditure of financial resources

Timely accurate support to budget formulation and controlling allotments

Full compliance of administrative activities in line with UN Women rules, regulations, policies and procedures.

Timely and accurate verification of financial documents;

Timely recording of overall Sub-office projects finances;

Timely and accurate tracking of data for CO management and donor purposes;

Quality maintenance of internal systems.

Competencies

CORE VALUES AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES:

Integrity:

Demonstrate consistency in upholding and promoting the values of UN Women in actions and decisions, in line with the UN Code of Conduct.

Professionalism:

Demonstrate professional competence and expert knowledge of the pertinent substantive areas of work.

Respect to Diversity:

Demonstrate an appreciation of the multicultural nature of the organization and the diversity of its staff. Demonstrate an international outlook, appreciating difference in values and learning from cultural diversity.

CORE COMPETENCIES:

Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues

Accountability

Creative Problem Solving

Working in Teams

Self-Management and Emotional intelligence

Ethics and values

Required Skills and Experience

Education and certification:

Completion of secondary education required.

Bachelors degree in Accounting, Finance, Business or Public Administration is an asset.

Experience:

At least 3 to 4 years of progressively responsible experience in administration or programme management/support.

Experience in working in a computer environment using multiple office software packages

Language Requirements:

Excellent oral and written English language skills

Knowledge of Hausa is an advantage

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
Earlier this year, National Institute for Early Education Research ranked Alabamas First Class Pre-K program as the top state-funded prekindergarten program in the United States for the 14th year in a row - and its no accident. The state has targeted some of the poorest counties in the state - especially those in the Black Belt. And according to the latest in a series of issue briefs on the region from the University of Alabamas Education Policy Center, these strategies have worked.

Alabamas First-Class Pre-K program is a shining success," said Stephen Katsinas, director of the Education Policy Center and one of the briefs authors. "[There have been] good policies by our legislative leadership and Governor Ivey to provide the stable, sustained funding so strong programs can make a difference. Stable, sustainable funding is critical to closing achievement gaps.

The latest entry to Black Belt 2020, a partnership between the Education Policy Center and AL.com, examines pre-K across Alabama and specifically in the 24 counties that make up the Black Belt, as defined by the center.

First Class Pre-K is Alabamas public, voluntary pre-kindergarten program for four-year-olds. Its expanded rapidly in the last few years, from around 5,000 students in 2013 to more than 21,000 last year, according to the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education. The program has also more than tripled its number of certified classrooms, while still seeing results.

The outcomes for children who receive First Class Pre-K services are numerous, Pamela Truelove-Walker, assistant director of Alabamas Office of School Readiness, said in a media availability on the issue Monday. [They] have increased school readiness skills. Thats seen across reading scores, math scores, social-emotional development."

The Education Policy Centers latest brief, authored by Katsinas, Hunter Whann, Noel Keeney, and Emily Jacobs, shows testing scores across a number of key areas, from language and literacy to mathematics, increased from an average of 45 percent in students entering the program, to around 90 percent upon leaving.

But these students tend to enjoy benefits outside of testing, too. According to the brief, First Class students have lower absentee rates, need less special education and are held back a grade less often than students who didnt attend First Class Pre-K.

Pre-K Access in the Black Belt

The success of the program has led to an increase in funding, with Gov. Iveys office announcing its largest ever single-year funding increase, which expanded pre-K access to more than 38 percent of four year olds in the state. And in many areas - including many Black Belt counties, that number is even higher.

[Cant see the map? Click here.]

A lot of Black Belt counties actually have very high access, said Whann, one of the authors of the brief. Just four of the 24 Black Belt counties studied by the Education Policy Center had less access than the state average.

When this program was started, and particularly when Gov. Ivey came in, a big part of the emphasis was specifically to start with the Black Belt, Katsinas said. I would suggest these data show that that has been a successful approach.

Barbara Cooper, secretary of the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education, also said the focus on the Black Belt was intentional.

Weve been able to really see these types of gains in the Black Belt communities because the Department has been so purposeful about making sure were serving our most vulnerable populations, she said. When the program was started, from its very inception, we knew that there were some counties, and some students that we needed to really focus our resources around. So we did target the Black Belt counties."

And thats important for a region thats struggling with school enrollment, unemployment, labor force participation and population loss, all big, interconnected issues that will need long-term, strategic planning to overcome - like the state has done with pre-K.

[Pre-K] is a bright spot for the state, Whann said. A lot of progress has been made, but as always, theres more progress to be made.

Black Belt 2020 is an ongoing series by AL.com and the Education Policy Center at the University of Alabama examining demographic, economic, and education issues, challenges, concerns, and options facing the Black Belt in Alabama.
Hundreds of millions of Chinese farmers celebrated the third harvest festival on Tuesday, as the country expects a bumper harvest despite the impacts of COVID-19 and severe floods.

The Chinese leadership has described the anticipated autumn harvest as "hard-won" after the country saw severe floods in the Yangtze River, disruptions by the epidemic, droughts in the north, as well as typhoons.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has said this year's autumn grain production is generally guaranteed, citing better-than-expected pest control and quick recovery from the summer floods.

It said the area of autumn grain, which accounts for the bulk of the yearly grain production, is estimated to reach 85.6 million hectares this year, an increase of more than 333,333 hectares.

The optimism is palpable in China's major breadbasket regions, where farmers marked the festival with songs and dances, product exhibitions, carnivals, and ceremonies to award "best-performing farmers."

In Yuncheng City of north China's Shanxi Province, the main venue of this year's harvest festival celebration, farmers and business people from nine provincial-level regions of the Yellow River basin attended farming-themed activities and promoted their products at exhibitions.

Shi Yaowu, president of a Shanxi-based millet processing company, said local millet farmers were expecting "probably the best harvest in a decade," as the province was exempted from major natural disasters this year.

Gai Yongfeng, a farmer in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, won the title of "King of Soybeans in Heilongjiang," in a ceremony in Fujin City.

The COVID-19 outbreak earlier this year had threatened to disrupt Gai's plan to sell soybeans and corn, the money from which Gai relied on to buy seeds and fertilizer for a new round of farming.

"Fortunately, the government opened a 'green channel' for us to sell grain and an online platform to order agricultural materials, so our crop cultivation went on smoothly," Gai said.

Heightened support, better infrastructure

Known as China's "grain barn," Heilongjiang boasts the country's largest plantations of rice, corn, and beans. Local officials said the autumn harvest was almost certain despite three typhoons in recent months.

Apart from government aids, Gai said more advanced agricultural techniques and better-quality seeds helped local farms withstand natural disasters.

The provincial government said nearly 5 million pieces of agricultural machinery were employed this spring, together with the implementation of stricter farm management and higher standards.

Liu Chun, the president of a local agricultural machinery cooperative in Fujin, was leading farmers to drain water from rice paddies after heavy rain unleashed by Typhoon Haishen in early September.

"Our crops used to be soaked in water after heavy rain for a long time. But we can drain water quickly this time thanks to the upgraded drainage ditches, so a good autumn harvest is guaranteed," said Liu.

Strong government assistance, construction of farming infrastructure, and promotion of farming technologies are also credited for the relatively fast recovery in many flood-devastated regions.

Anhui Province, located in the Yangtze and Huaihe river basins, is one of the worst-hit areas by floods. As floodwater receded, Wang Qiquan, a farmer in Funan County, was preparing his croplands for cabbage seedlings.

Living in Kanghu, a village along the Huaihe River, Wang relied on his 1-hectare farmland to lift his family out of poverty in 2016. This year, the field of rice and watermelons were all inundated by floodwater, casting a shadow on his livelihood.

To help farmers recoup some losses, the local government purchased the cabbage seedlings from east China's Shandong Province and distributed them to farmers for free.

"The vegetables will be harvested in two months. That won't affect the wheat planting in October," said Zhang Tao, a township agricultural official who was helping Wang replant.

'Special significance'

Starting in 2018, the Chinese farmers' harvest festival coincides with the autumnal equinox each year, which is one of the 24 solar terms of the Chinese lunar calendar and usually falls between Sept. 22 and 24 during the country's agricultural harvest season.

China's total grain output consists of three parts -- early rice, summer grain, and autumn production. Autumn grain crops, which include corn and middle- and late-season rice, account for the bulk of the grain production.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, China had bumper harvests of both summer grain and early rice in 2020, marking year-on-year increases of 1.21 million tonnes and 1.03 million tonnes, respectively.

The summer grain output, in particular, reached a historic high of 142.81 million tonnes this year in the 17th consecutive year of a bumper harvest.

China's autumn harvest this year is of special significance as COVID-19 continues to rage globally, prompting some countries to partially ban grain exports, a development that heightened food security concerns, said Li Guoxiang with the Rural Development Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

Almost 690 million people worldwide went hungry in 2019, and the COVID-19 pandemic is estimated to tip over 130 million more people into chronic hunger by the end of 2020, according to a UN report.

"China is making great contributions to, and boosting the confidence of, global food security, by ensuring food supplies to its own 1.4 billion population," said the researcher.
The finance ministry expects an IMF mission to visit Ukraine by the end of the year.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal on Monday, September 21, held an online meeting with Director of the International Monetary Fund's European Department Alfred Kammer to discuss cooperation with the Fund, Ukraine's key lender.

Read alsoFinance minister elaborates on IMF's position on 2021 budget draftUkrainian Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko and Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) Kyrylo Shevchenko were also present during the meeting, the ministry's press service said in a statement on September 21.

"The head of government announced that a letter had been sent to Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund Kristalina Georgieva, offering the start of the mission's work in online mode in Ukraine," the report said.

In addition, Shmyhal personally congratulated Alfred Kammer on his recent appointment and assured that further cooperation with the IMF is among the crucial priorities for both the Ukrainian president and the government.

"Ukraine highly appreciates the comprehensive support of the IMF being provided in times of trials for the entire world," the press service said.

The prime minister also invited Kammer to visit Ukraine, following the removal of restrictive measures introduced over the COVID-19 spread.

Ukraine-IMF cooperation
LEADING EXPERTS DEVISE APPROACH FOR RADICAL NEW MANUFACTURING ENTERPRISEAPPROACH WOULD DRAMATICALLY REDUCE COST AND PRODUCTION TIMECOUNTERS GAINS BY CHINA, RUSSIA IN DEVELOPING WORLDS FASTEST MISSILES

A new radical design for Hypersonic production by ASTRO America enabling the use of advanced manufacturing technologies in a secure production environment

A new radical design for Hypersonic production by ASTRO America enabling the use of advanced manufacturing technologies in a secure production environment

Bethesda, MD, Sept. 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Applied Science & Technology Research Organization, or ASTRO America, has announced the completion of a study commissioned by the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to accelerate key manufacturing capabilities for hypersonic weapons systems. Citing decades of research and billions of dollars spent by the U.S. Department of Defense without fielding a single hypersonic weapon system, ASTRO America has detailed radical new manufacturing solutions to overcome disaggregated supply chains and delays in vehicle testing.

The plan explains exactly how to co-locate under one roof, a hypersonics government customer and best of the best technology developers at every manufacturing tier materials suppliers, factory equipment providers, propulsion developers, and lead system integrators. Instead of using a supply chain disaggregated across the U.S., a Hypersonic Production Accelerator Facility or HPAF ensures an entire contractor/subcontractor team is in synch to tailor-make a fabrication process for these key weapon systems.

Development of hypersonic weapon systems has been very cyclical in driving up costs and development times, said ASTRO America Chief Technology Officer, Michael Mick Maher. Adopting this innovative approach would result in cost savings of 45 percent and 73 percent reduction in delivery times compared to previous prototype fabrication efforts while maintaining industrial competition in order to provide the right solutions. This impacts the entire development cycle, allowing for greater innovation and more robust solutions moving into production for the acquisition programs.

Story continues

Within the HPAF, production partners will work with only the most up-to-date manufacturing technology and processes within a closed-loop environment. The latest state-of-the-art technology will be leased and either refreshed or renewed every three years. The HPAF will have basic infrastructure for competing industrial teams to conduct classified production in their own compartmentalized secure facilities. This method would inherently safeguard national security and protect intellectual property while eradicating supply chain delays caused by disaggregated supply chains.

The problem with hypersonic vehicle programs to-date has been delays at every step of a design-build- test-cycle, said former DARPA program manager Mark Gustafson. In contrast, the HPAF will serve as a venue for speeding up supply chain coordination and both accelerating and increasing the number of manufacturing iterations, so engineers can make continuous adjustments to designs on the fly.

The HPAF plan leveraged the expertise of renowned manufacturing and hypersonic experts from around the country, including former government officials, leading university experts, and input from over 100 aerospace professionals who participated in an intensive workshop last Fall. ASTRO not only worked with leaders in hypersonic and manufacturing but also engaged a number of regional stakeholders across the United States to discern capacity and interest in supporting the HPAF.

America always led the way in developing and utilizing new technology in aerospace manufacturing, said Maher. But today we are struggling to bring new technology into a production environment. The HPAF will address this problem three-fold: Applying the most state-of-the-art manufacturing tech to industry; Exponentially reducing the length of design-build-test cycles; And employing novel designs enabled by these rapid cycles.

This construct is designed to help the U.S. regain competitiveness in a critical technology where peer nation-states appear to be gaining ground. Recent press accounts indicate that other countries are expanding infrastructure for building missiles capable of flying at speeds faster than MACH 5 (3,800 miles per hour). For example, China has reportedly built 2-3 times the number of factories than the United States dedicated to such manufacturing and Russian forces are accelerating their own deployment as well. Their governments aim is developing nuclear and tactical capabilities to overwhelm U.S. defenses.

Read more and download the Distribution A report

Press Contact:

rachael@astroa.org  (720) 317-9690

About ASTRO America

ASTRO America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that advances Defense R&D to transition meaningful manufacturing technology into production.

ASTRO America convenes key segments of the Defense industrial base to advance qualification of key manufacturing technologies. Our stakeholders are members at every tier of the supply chain, accelerating adoption of cutting-edge production tools, efficiently and repeatably.

We support U.S. Government agencies, driving transition of applied research to matured defense-related production. We are doing this through federally sponsored contracting, cooperative research, and other transactions.

Find out more: https://www.astroa.org/

ASTRO Americas Board of Directors includes

Neal Orringer, a former Director of Manufacturing at the U.S. Department of Defense, Senior Advisor to two U.S. Secretaries of Commerce, and professional staff member in the U.S. Senate.

Michael Maher, a former program manager at the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA); Army Research Laboratory Branch Chief; and DuPont material scientist,

Brett Lambert, former U.S. Dep. Asst Secretary of Defense, Manufacturing & Industrial Base Policy,

Steven McKnight, former division director for Civil, Mechanical, and Manufacturing Innovation, National Science Foundation; current Vice President, Virginia Tech University (northern Virginia),

Jim Williams, former President and CEO of defense contract manufacturer Paramount Industries; Vice President at 3D Systems; and current President of All Points Additive.

Attachment

CONTACT: Rachael Dalton-Taggart ASTRO America 7203179690 rachael@astroa.org




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This is not to say that Scalia did not write pitiless opinions, at times so searing they could grill their own steak. But Ginsburg chose to not take them personally, and sometimes viewed them appreciatively, of all things. In the 1996 case, U.S. v. Virginia, which finally allowed women to attend Virginia Military Institute, Scalia made a point of sending Ginsburg his dissent as quickly as possible, so that she might better reckon with it in her majority opinion. He absolutely ruined my weekend, Ginsburg told Irin Carmon, co-author of Notorious RBG, but my opinion is ever so much better because of his stinging dissent.

It is not a surprise that before the political got viciously personal, our democratic institutions functioned better. As recently as a decade ago, the Senate was confirming Supreme Court nominees with some measure of bipartisan good will. The vote for Elena Kagan in 2010 was 63-37 (Lindsey Graham and four other Republicans, including Susan Collins, voted yea). The vote for Sonia Sotomayor the year before was 68-31 (including nine Republicans that time).

Of course, its important not to idealize the recent past either. One year after Scalia was confirmed, the Senate got embroiled in an operatic feud over the nomination of Robert Bork to the Supreme Court, where the nominee ultimately lost in a vote of 58 to 42. The Republicans claimed, with not a little justification, that this was the first time a jurist was rejected for his views, rather than a lack of qualifications; the Democrats claimed, with not a little justification, that it was precisely those inflammatory views that attracted Ronald Reagan to him in the first place  that Borks nomination itself was a provocation.

In 2000, Scalia violated his own beliefs about the sanctity of states rights in Bush v. Gore, helping to end the Florida recount. (To anyone who challenged his decision, hed simply say, Get over it.) In 2013, I interviewed Scalia for New York magazine, and I remember being stunned to discover that even a Supreme Court justice had been swallowed up by the populist tide: He told me point blank that he got most of his news from talk radio.

Two years later, in his dissenting opinion on Obergefell v. Hodges, the landmark decision that deemed same-sex marriage a constitutional right, Scalia railed against the disproportionate representation of coastal elites on the bench, pointedly adding it contained not a single evangelical Christian or Protestant. (He then tossed in a disparaging line about hippies for good measure.) It is quite easy to imagine President Trump saying the same thing at one of his rallies.

Yet still, the friendship between Ginsburg and Scalia persisted. Just as powerful as their shared love of opera and jurisprudence may have been their upbringing in the outer boroughs of New York. Scalia was a conservative from a liberal metropolis; Ginsburg was a liberal who worked, increasingly, in a conservative court. Its a good reminder that heterodox environments are essential to keeping our common humanity top of mind. The Supreme Court is a family of nine whether it wants to be or not; it has no choice if it wants to function. The place may be the ultimate purple state.

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.
By Laman Ismayilova

Azerbaijan State Musical Theater has opened its 111th season. The theater started its new season with Uzeyir Hajibeyli's "Husband and Wife" musical comedy.

The comedy brought together People's Artists Ilham Namig Kamal, Afag Bashirgizi, Fatma Mahmudova, Honored Artist Nakhida Orudzheva, actors Moile Mirzaliyev, Guljahan Salamova, Agakhan Sharifov, Elkhan Ismayilov, Alimammad Novruzov, Ruslan Mursalov, others. The play was presented virtually amid quarantine rules.

Before the opening of the new theatrical season, the theater director, Honored Art worker Aligismet Lalayev congratulated the viewers with National Music Day. He stressed that the theater is planning to presented other works of prominent composer such as "If Not That One, Then This One", "The Cloth Peddler", etc.

It should be noted that it has become a good tradition for the theater to open each new season with the musical comedy "Husband and Wife". This production is one of the most successful and beloved by all theater lovers. The musical comedy was successfully presented abroad.

The musical comedy was staged by Yusif Alakbarov, Honored Art Worker Nazim Hajialibayov, conductor - Honored Art Worker Fakhraddin Atayev, production designer - Honored Artist Eldar Gurbanov, choreographers, Honored Artists Zakir Aghayev and Elena Aghayeva, choirmaster - Honored Artist, accompanist - Fidan Babayeva.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
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According to Stratistics MRC, the Global RFID Tags market accounted for $4.91 billion in 2017 and is expected to reach $18.2 billion by 2026 growing at a CAGR of 15.7% during the forecast period. Some of the key factors such as rising demand for RFID tags in the aerospace industry, and the increasing number of these tag applications within retail stores are driving the market growth. However, lack of a battery power as compared to others act as the restraining factor for the market growth.

Radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology has completely across several sectors owing to the fact that they prevent theft of certain materials, track shipments in real time, and implement advanced technology at low cost. It is a type of wireless communication technology that uses radio waves to track and identify objects, with reduced costs, increased asset traceability and visibility, and improved reliability.

Request For Report sample @ https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/sample/12141

By Type, Passive Tags segment is likely to grow during the forecast period as they do not have an internal power source and rely on the power induced by the reader. Because of the lack of a battery, these tags are cost-effective, durable, and smaller and so are used to perform many activities such as access control, inventory management, supply chain management, and tool tracking due to which these tags are increasing among end-users.

By geography, Asia Pacific is estimated to have a lucrative growth mainly due to the rising demand for these tags in this region. They are installed by the organizations as a piece of their security so as to prevent the risk of danger and loss. Organizations are continuously adopting automated product identification systems for their supply chain management system in order to improve the efficiency of their inventory allocation.

Some of the key players in this market include Honeywell International, NXP Semiconductors, Alien Technology, AMS AG, Atmel Corp, Confidex Ltd, GAO RFID Inc., HID Global Corporation, Impinj, inc., Invengo Information Technology Co. Ltd., Omni-Id, Inc., RF Code, SMARTRAC N.V. and Zebra Technologies Corp.

Product Types Covered:

 Tags

 Software

 Reader

 Other Product Types

Types Covered:

 Semi-Passive

 Passive

 Active

Frequency Bands Covered:

 Active Ultra-High

 High

 Low

 Microwave

 Ultra High

Form Factors Covered:

 Paper Tickets

 Label

 Key Fob

 Implants

 Card

 Button

 Wristband

 Other Form Factors

Wafer Sizes Covered:

 300mm

 200mm

 450mm

 Other Wafer Sizes

Materials Covered:

 Glass

 Metal

 Paper

 Plastic

 Other Materials

End Users Covered:

 Telemetry

 Surveillance and Security

 Transportation

 Consumer Goods

 House ware

 Medical

 Beauty

 Government

 Banking, Financial services, and Insurance (BFSI)

 Footwear

 Security & Access Control

 Retail

 Defense

 Aerospace

 Logistic & Supply Chain

 Healthcare

 Transportation

 Commercial

 Agriculture

 Other End Users





Regions Covered:

 North America

o US

o Canada

o Mexico

 Europe

o Germany

o UK

o Italy

o France

o Spain

o Rest of Europe

 Asia Pacific

o Japan

o China

o India

o Australia

o New Zealand

o South Korea

o Rest of Asia Pacific

 South America

o Argentina

o Brazil

o Chile

o Rest of South America

 Middle East & Africa

o Saudi Arabia

o UAE

o Qatar

o South Africa

o Rest of Middle East & Africa





What our report offers:

- Market share assessments for the regional and country level segments

- Strategic recommendations for the new entrants

- Market forecasts for a minimum of 9 years of all the mentioned segments, sub segments and the regional markets

- Market Trends (Drivers, Constraints, Opportunities, Threats, Challenges, Investment Opportunities, and recommendations)

- Strategic analysis: Drivers and Constraints, Product/Technology Analysis, Porters five forces analysis, SWOT analysis etc.

- Strategic recommendations in key business segments based on the market estimations

- Competitive landscaping mapping the key common trends

- Company profiling with detailed strategies, financials, and recent developments

- Supply chain trends mapping the latest technological advancements

Free Customization Offerings:

All the customers of this report will be entitled to receive one of the following free customization options:

 Company Profiling

o Comprehensive profiling of additional market players (up to 3)

o SWOT Analysis of key players (up to 3)

 Regional Segmentation

o Market estimations, Forecasts and CAGR of any prominent country as per the clients interest (Note: Depends of feasibility check)

 Competitive Benchmarking

Benchmarking of key players based on product portfolio, geographical presence, and strategic alliances

More Info of Impact Covid19 @ https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/covid-19-analysis/12141
The Emmys 2020 awards show is like no other. As the COVID-19 compelled people to stay home and stop physical interactions with others, the awards show made sure it would not be forced to cancel the awarding -- thereby pushing it to go virtual.

It is therefore not surprising that some massive shakeups occurred. Beyond who took home awards and titles and those who did not, the Emmys 2020 also has othrr winning moments.

Below are three of the winning moments of the Emmys 2020 Awards night:

PopTV's Schitt's Creek Got Its Recognition, Finally

"Schitt's Creek" did not just win. Instead, it became the first comedy series ever to sweep seven categories presented.

Before their awards haul, there's a sense that it is an underrated show that is only getting attention from a niche audience. With this massive recognition, its image stands to change.

This is also the show that is frequently recommended for anyone who wants comfort during the COVID-19 pandemic. The fact that it is recognized now means it is doing its job well.

Chadwick Boseman's Recognition and Tribute

Chadwick Boseman passed way suddenly after a four-year fight against cancer.

Sure enough, fans were left reeling after the devastating news.

The actor did not share his cancer diagnosis. Instead, he chose to work harder, entering the MCU franchise as Black Panther.

Although Boseman has nothing to do with television appearances, which is what the Emmys 2020 is all about, the fact that he is honored here meant he truly touched many people. That's still a win for his fans.

Friends Fans -- Legit Winners!

Friends fans got an eyeful when the three well-loved cast -- Lisa Kudrow, Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox -- made a surprise appearance at Emmys 2020.

Aniston was a best actress nominee, so it was not surprising for her to be there.

But the ever-generous actress certainly made sure viewers would have some fun with this virtual awards show by inviting her "Friends" friends over.

As Aniston chatted with Kimmel during one segment in the middle of the show, a familiar figure suddenly popped out.

"Oh! Courtney's there?" asked Kimmel after spotting Cox.

"Of course I'm here, we live together!" replied Cox.

"Yeah, we've been roommates since 1994 Jimmy, hello?" added Aniston.

Even if those lines were rehearsed or kind of dopey, a true "Friends" fan would not mind. And to make things so much more fun, Phoebe also wandered into the video, promptly making the Internet world a bit crazy.

"Lisa Kudrow, you live there too?!" asked Kimmel in a state of disbelief. "Uhh... yeah? Where else would I live?" the star replied.

BONU: Biggest Losers -- Those Who Suffered Awkward Losses

Nominees who did not win in the normal Emmys events probably felt a tinge of sadness. This year, they have to feel a sense of awkwardness, too.

Apparently, to orchestrate this year's virtual Emmys better, producers were dispatched to the houses of all the major nominees wearing some crazy protective gear to avoid the deadly virus. Winners would receive knock at their door when their names are announced so that they can get their Emmys live. But for those who lose, they just have to awkwrdly wave goodbye to the producer in their house -- acting as if they were not hurt. Awkward

Remy Youssef captured it all.

For what it's worth, those who did not win expressed their wholehearted acceptance of their losses. Christina Applegate, for one, laughed off her Emmys 2020 loss with a funny "loser" photo on her social media.

For us, that's a big win. In the middle of a pandemic, we appreciate artists who can keep the mood light even if they have suffered a big defeat.

READ MORE: Regina King Is the Queen! 'Watchmen' Star Makes History in Emmys 2020
COLUMBUS, Ohio  A bill to make the current cocktails-to-go order permanent in Ohio is heading to the Senate for a vote.

Tuesday, HB 669 passed the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. Primary sponsors are Republican representatives D.J. Swearingen and Jeff LaRe.

In April, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine enacted the measure to allow bars and restaurants to

sell cocktails to go with prescribed limits. The temporary allowance was intended for bars and restaurants to deal with coronavirus restrictions hampering their business.

Restaurants and bars have been devastated by COVID-19, and cocktails to-go have been an important lifeline, said David Wojnar, vice president of State Government Relations for the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States. While out-door dining and other relief measures have been helpful in combating the negative impacts, uncertainty continues to burden businesses especially as we enter into the colder months. By making cocktails to-go permanent, Ohios restaurants and bars can plan for the future and better position themselves for recovery.

The council  the industrys lobbying arm - says more than 30 states are allowing restaurants and bars to sell cocktails to-go, bottled spirits to-go, or both. Iowa is the only state to make its measure permanent.

Related coverage

Martini to go? Governors booze order loosens restrictions for restaurants

I am on cleveland.coms life and culture team and cover food, beer, wine and sports-related topics. If you want to see my stories, heres a directory on cleveland.com.

Masks for eating and drinking on sale: Going out to a bar or restaurant but want to stay protected from coronavirus? Check out these masks that allow you to eat and drink without taking them off.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 00:52:30|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Volkan Bozkir, president of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Tuesday called on world leaders to recommit to and strengthen multilateralism.

"As we commemorate the UN's 75th anniversary, we must recommit to and strengthen multilateralism and acknowledge its achievements," Bozkir said in his opening remarks at the general debate of the 75th session of the UNGA.

In his remarks, Bozkir extended his sympathy to those who have been impacted by COVID-19. "Rarely has the whole of humanity faced, such an imminent and common threat."

"To recover from the pandemic, we can plan, innovate and build back better, for a sustainable, inclusive, and just recovery," he noted, while adding "doing this alone, will cost more lives and more resources."

Bozkir also emphasized that UN members should continue to strengthen the efforts of UN agencies, including the World Health Organization, to combat the pandemic.

"Today, we must leave our differences and disagreements aside ... we must renew our collective commitment to multilateralism ... we must combine our efforts to address this global problem, and we must make sure that no one is left behind," he said.

The General Debate of the 75th session of the UNGA opened on Tuesday with the theme of "The future we want, the United Nations we need: reaffirming our collective commitment to multilateralism -- confronting COVID-19 through effective multilateral action."

This year, world leaders are unable to travel to New York for the high-level week due to COVID-19. Instead, their pre-recorded statements were played in the General Assembly Hall, which can hold some 2,500 people. Yet only about 200 delegates are allowed to be physically present. Enditem
Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a giant.

Though she stood roughly 5 feet tall and weighed but a hundred pounds, she was, and will remain, a towering figure whose lifelong work to see that women were treated as equals to men, in all arenas, changed our nation.

When she was born, as Joan Ruth Bader, on March 15, 1933, in Brooklyn, New York, American women were second-class citizens. When she died, on Friday, at her home in Washington, D.C., the nation she left behind had been fundamentally transformed -- due in no small part to her tireless efforts.

Ginsburg, who was only the second woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, did not have an easy path there. Though after law school, at Harvard and Columbia, she was recommended for a clerkship with Supreme Court Justice Felix Frankfurter in 1960, she was rejected because of her sex. So she instead clerked for a district court judge, worked as a professor at Rutgers and Columbia, founded the womens rights project at the American Civil Liberties Union, argued six cases before the Supreme Court -- winning five), and was then appointed, in 1980, by President Jimmy Carter, to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. In 1993, she rose to her post on the highest court in the land, tapped by President Bill Clinton.

All of this for a woman who was born just 13 years after the adoption of the 19th Amendment to our Constitution, which gave women in our nation the right to vote.

Throughout her career, both before and during her time on the high court, Ginsburg was an indefatigable advocate for womens equality, becoming, in the final phase of her life, a feminist icon who was celebrated in music and film, in a comic opera, in a childrens book, and across popular culture. After a law student, Shana Knizhnik, dubbed Ginsburg the Notorious R.B.G., derived from the name of famed rapper the Notorious B.I.G., also a Brooklyn native, the new moniker took on something of a life of its own, with fans sporting T-shirts and even getting Notorious R.B.G. tattoos.

One thing that was particularly notable in the aftermath of Ginsburgs passing was how many praiseful statements came from those who were so far removed ideologically from the liberal icon.

One that stood out in particular:

Theodore Olson, the Republican lawyer who argued for the GOP in Bush v. Gore, the 2000 Supreme Court case that handed that years contested presidential election to George W. Bush, said:

"She was a warrior; she changed this country. And she did it, mostly, all by herself.

We were very close, personally and professionally, Olson, who served as Bushs solicitor general, added. We have lost an irreplaceable voice and a person of indescribable vision and strength.

Christopher Scalia, son of the late Justice Antonin Scalia, also weighed in with a couple of touching anecdotes about his fathers deep and abiding friendship with Ginsburg. Scalia, a conservative firebrand, and Ginsburg, as far distant politically as one can get, were fast friends from their time on the D.C. appeals court together.

In our hyper partisan era, with vitriol and snark having so often replaced dialogue and discourse, such seems remarkable. Sadly.

For Ginsburg, though, disagreeing didnt entail being disrespectful.

As Ginsburg became, with the passage of time, the senior member of the liberal wing of the high court, she often found herself on the losing side of the increasingly conservative court. But only if one takes a short-term view.

Because todays clear and well-reasoned dissent, Ginsburg firmly believed, can become tomorrows law.

Thats exactly what happened when she penned the dissent in a pay-discrimination case in 2007. The case was over a suit that had been filed by Lilly Ledbetter, who had worked as a supervisor at a Goodyear facility in Alabama for 19 years, over time receiving significantly lower pay than her male counterparts. But the Supremes ruled, 5-4, that the law in question, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, did not allow her suit because she hadnt filed it in time.

Ginsburg read her impassioned dissent from the bench, spelling out where, and how, the majority had gone astray. Two years later, Congress passed, and President Barack Obama signed into law, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which fixed the problems that had been detailed by Ginsburg.

When Ginsburg was born, there were two sets of rules -- one for men, another for women. There was mens work, and there was womens work. This she saw as patently unfair and made changing it her own lifes work.

Change didnt come quickly, and it didnt come easily, but the America girls are born into today is an incomparably better nation.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg, by any reasonable measure, changed the course of our nation. If the arc of history bends toward justice, thats only because of the work and devotion of those such as Ginsburg. In life, she was a giant; in death, the shadow cast by her legacy will be long and lasting.

Related:
DESPITE low ridership on City of Winnipeg buses, the Winnipeg Police Service spent nearly four times as many hours stationed on public transit this quarter compared to last.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 22/9/2020 (486 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

DESPITE low ridership on City of Winnipeg buses, the Winnipeg Police Service spent nearly four times as many hours stationed on public transit this quarter compared to last.

The WPS quarterly business plan report, released ahead of Thursdays Winnipeg Police Board meeting, indicated officers have spent 781 hours on Transit or in transit corridors between April and June  up nearly 400 per cent from 183 hours in the first three months of the year.

While Transit patrol hours have crept upward since 2017, no quarter had previously logged more than 200 hours on city buses.

Coun. Markus Chambers (St. Norbert-Seine River), chairman of the police board, said the increase in patrol time was a result of public safety concerns.

"Transit is something that we want to promote and have good ridership, so where we can make people feel safe by use of public transit, thats something that we want to dedicate our efforts towards," he said in an interview Monday.

The WPS increase has been focused around the downtown core, Chambers said, but officers will also ride from the suburbs as a visible reminder to riders.

Chambers said its unclear whether the increased presence has resulted in increased enforcement or lower crime rates on public transit. Though crime rates on Transit are down, Chambers acknowledged it could be the result of lower ridership amid the novel coronavirus pandemic  still only 50 per cent of normal ridership volumes  and increased physical distancing on buses.

The presence of police on public transit will be under ongoing review to ensure it meets the communitys needs.

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"(Frequency will be) based on what the communitys saying and how we can best respond to that, recognizing that there would be other priorities that the service would have to respond to that may require resources to be directed elsewhere," he said.

Chambers said he is aware the increased presence on public transit could draw concerns around over-policing, and noted he would like to see police defer some Transit patrol efforts to community safety partners such as Bear Clan Patrol and the Downtown Safety Partnership.

"Hopefully, this is an opportunity now to reallocate those resources to other areas, recognizing that it is about community partnerships and community stakeholders," he said. "Its not just the police response all the time."

The WPS did not respond to requests for comment by publication time.

julia-simone.rutgers@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @jsrutgers
A two-year-old boy is fighting for his life after being attacked by home dogs while parents were celebrating his birthday.

Little Yegor was found lying unconscious in a pool of blood outside his house after being mutilated by two German Shepherd guard dogs.

The horrific incident occurred in the small town of Selydove, eastern Ukraine, on Friday  as the family were celebrating the boy's second birthday.

Reports say the tot walked outside unnoticed while his parents were sitting at a festive table with their guests.

It is understood that Yegor was wandering around the courtyard when the dogs broke out of their enclosure and attacked him.

Noticing the child's absence, the parents went to search for him.

Yegor, two, is fighting for his life after being attacked by home dogs while parents were celebrating his birthday

Charity volunteer Aleksandra Timoshchenkova, who helped the family to collect money for Yegor's treatment said: 'The boy was found lying unconscious in a pool of blood.

'The dogs were still tearing him apart.'

According to reports, the dogs managed to break out of their enclosure because Yegor's father had failed to close its door properly.

During the attack, they ripped off the boy's genitals, anus and tore the femoral artery on his left leg, say local media.

Considering the severity of his injuries, Yegor was transported by a military helicopter to the city of Dnipro to receive the medical care he needed.

The boy was admitted to Dnipro Regional Children's Hospital where four crews of surgeons started battling for his life.

Considering the severity of his injuries, Yegor was transported by a military helicopter to the city of Dnipro to receive the medical care he needed

It took medics five hours to restore his damaged blood vessels, bladder and intestines. They also removed tissues 'that had been chewed by the dogs'

It took medics five hours to restore his damaged blood vessels, bladder and intestines. They also removed tissues 'that had been chewed by the dogs'.

Now doctors are trying to save the boy's left leg from amputation, reports said.

Natalia Dementyeva, the head of the hospital commented: 'The boy suffered extremely severe injuries known as dirty wounds.

'He is receiving powerful antibacterial therapy but we are expecting the development of inflammatory processes that are usual complications in such cases.'

Police have launched a criminal case for failure to fulfil parental duties resulted in severe consequences against Yegor's mother and father.

Police spokeswoman Aleksandra Gavrilko told: 'The boy's parents are being interrogated. Forensic examinations are underway.'

The parents face up to three years in prison if found guilty.

The investigation continues.

Yegor remains in intensive care. His condition is critical and doctors have not speculated on his chances for survival.
Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson Harivansh Singh on Tuesday morning arrived at the Parliament with tea for protesting MPs. The MPs were earlier suspended by Rajya Sabha chairman M Venkaiah Naidu for their "unruly behaviour".

The eight MPs suspended for continuing with their protests against farm bills inside the Upper House who had spent the night on the lawns of Parliament in protest had a visitor in Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh who arrived with morning tea for them.

Harivansh met the suspended Rajya Sabha MPs who had spent the night on the lawns near the Gandhi statue in the Parliament premises. He was seen sitting on the ground and having tea with the MPs. The MPS were earlier suspended by Rajya Sabha chairman M Venkaiah Naidu for unruly behaviour with deputy chairman Harivansh Singh.

On Monday, Venkaiah Naidu announced the one-week suspension of Trinamool Congress (TMC) Derek OBrien and Dola Sen, Aam Aadmi Partys (AAP) Sanjay Singh, Congress Rajeev Satav, Ripun Bora and Syed Nasir Hussain, CPI (M)s KK Ragesh and Elamaram Karim for unruly behaviour with the Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman on Sunday during the passage of the farm bills.

#WATCH: Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh brings tea for the Rajya Sabha MPs who are protesting at Parliament premises against their suspension from the House. #Delhi pic.twitter.com/eF1I5pVbsw  ANI (@ANI) September 22, 2020

To personally serve tea to those who attacked and insulted him a few days ago as well as those sitting on Dharna shows that Shri Harivansh Ji has been blessed with a humble mind and a big heart. It shows his greatness. I join the people of India in congratulating Harivansh Ji.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 22, 2020

Also Read: Maha govt files plea in SC over its Maratha reservation stay order

Also Read: Senior journalists appeal CJI SA Bobde to lift Andhra HCs gag order

On Sunday Rajya Sabha witnessed unruly scenes as Opposition members stormed the well and reached the deputy chairmans seat to protest against the Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 and passed by the Upper House through voice vote.

Both the Bills were earlier passed by Lok Sabha through voice votes.

Also Read: Bihar election decision in a day or two: CEC Sunil Arora
Medical cannabis dried flower, oils, vaporization products and softgel capsules now available to all registered patients under one simplified online sales system

WeedMD and Starseed Medicinal launch combined medical marketplace and expand product offerings

The Company's patients now have access to all WeedMD-produced cannabis products including vapes, available under one unified Starseed Medicinal online marketplace.

The Company's patients now have access to all WeedMD-produced cannabis products including vapes, available under one unified Starseed Medicinal online marketplace.

TORONTO, Sept. 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WeedMD Inc. (TSX-V:WMD) (OTCQX:WDDMF) (FSE:4WE) (WeedMD or the Company), a federally-licensed producer and distributor of adult-use and medical cannabis, is pleased to announce it has merged its online medical product marketplaces under one platform and expanded its product offerings. The simplified Starseed Medicinal Inc. sales platform provides the Companys patients with full access to WeedMD-produced dried flower, oil concentrates, softgel capsules and Aurum vaporization (vape) products and services such as same-day delivery.



WeedMD, as the cultivator and producer will complete its full patient migration to its wholly-owned streamlined Starseed Medicinal online marketplace by early October, 2020. Once merged, all patients will have access to the Companys product offerings including access to Marys Medicinals topicals gels and creams slated to roll out later this year.

Providing our patients with equal access to our products under one marketplace is an important part of integration that demonstrates our commitment to our medical roots whilst bringing cost advantages that will be re-directed to product innovation and patient services, said Angelo Tsebelis, CEO, WeedMD. Starseeds online medical marketplace, which is widely recognized for its revolutionary portfolio and sales distribution channels, aims to consistently deliver WeedMD quality-cultivated products to all our valued patients.

Uniting our medical channel under one marketplace provides our patients with a promise of unparalleled access to more strains, a diverse selection of product formats including vapes and soon, Marys topical gels and creams, said Moe Jiwan, Chief Customer Officer, WeedMD. It also includes ease of access to our patient services with same-day shipping and delivery, access to a robust network of healthcare professionals, a client care team available seven days a week and direct billing to insurance providers. Moving forward, we will continue to open product channels to our medical patients first as we introduce strain-specific formats derived from some of our most popular genetics at an optimum price point.

Story continues

Unique Pharmacy Model

WeedMDs unique Starseed-medical marketplace is a revolutionary Canadian system built around a virtual pharmacy-model. Its one-of-kind proprietary technology takes online orders and intuitively completes direct billing adjudication and processing where applicable. Additionally, the products on its Starseed marketplace carry Product Identification Numbers (PINs) allowing health-care practitioners, pharmacists, patients and insurers a greater understanding of how medical cannabis can be utilized.

The Companys NorthStar Wellness clinic will be assisting with the complementary patient migration. Find more information about patient registration and sign up details here.

Information about upcoming corporate events including conference access and replays, where applicable, can be found here. Access WeedMDs latest Investor Presentation here and Corporate Update Video here.

About WeedMD Inc.

WeedMD Inc. is the publicly-traded parent company of WeedMD RX Inc. and Starseed Medicinal Inc., federally-licensed producers of cannabis products for both the medical and adult-use markets. The Company owns and operates a 158-acre state-of-the-art greenhouse, outdoor and processing facility located in Strathroy, Ontario as well as a fully-licensed 26,000 sq. ft. Aylmer, Ontario processing facility, specializing in cannabis extraction. With the addition of Starseed, a medical-centric operator based in Bowmanville, Ontario, WeedMD has expanded its multi-channeled distribution strategy. Starseeds industry-first, exclusive partnership with LiUNA, the largest construction union in Canada, along with other employers and union groups complements WeedMDs direct sales to medical patients. The Company maintains strategic relationships in the seniors market and supply agreements with Shoppers Drug Mart as well as six provincial distribution agencies where adult-use brands Color Cannabis and Saturday are sold.

Follow WeedMD, Color Cannabis & Starseed:

LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/weedmd

Twitter: https://twitter.com/WeedMD

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weedmd/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/callitcolor/

&

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/starseedca/

For further information, please contact:

For Investor Enquiries:

Valter Pinto

Managing Director

KCSA Strategic Communications

1-212-896-1254

weedmd@kcsa.com

For Media Enquiries:

Marianella delaBarrera

VP, Communications & Corporate Affairs

416-897-6644

marianella@weedmd.com

To learn more, visit us at www.weedmd.com

Forward Looking Information This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation which are based upon WeedMD's current internal expectations, estimates, projections, assumptions and beliefs and views of future events. Forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "expect", "likely", "may", "will", "should", "intend", "anticipate", "potential", "proposed", "estimate" and other similar words, including negative and grammatical variations thereof, or statements that certain events or conditions "may", "would" or "will" happen, or by discussions of strategy.

The forward-looking information in this news release is based upon the expectations, estimates, projections, assumptions and views of future events which management believes to be reasonable in the circumstances. Forward-looking information includes estimates, plans, expectations, opinions, forecasts, projections, targets, guidance or other statements that are not statements of fact. Forward-looking information in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to internal expectations, expectations with respect to actual production volumes, expectations for future growing capacity and the completion of any capital project or expansions. Forward-looking information necessarily involve known and unknown risks, including, without limitation, risks associated with general economic conditions; adverse industry events; loss of markets; future legislative and regulatory developments; inability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources, and/or inability to access sufficient capital on favourable terms; the cannabis industry in Canada generally; the ability of WeedMD to implement its business strategies; the COVID-19 pandemic; competition; crop failure; and other risks.

Any forward-looking information speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and, except as required by law, WeedMD does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for WeedMD to predict all such factors. When considering this forward-looking information, readers should keep in mind the risk factors and other cautionary statements in WeedMD's disclosure documents filed with the applicable Canadian securities regulatory authorities on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The risk factors and other factors noted in the disclosure documents could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those described in any forward-looking information.

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

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b96f00fb-02da-455b-8807-fe0b63f13676




Trump is accusing China of not sharing timely information with the world on the new disease in a taped address to the virtually gathered United Nations General Assembly

President Donald Trump says the United Nations must hold China ``accountable'' for failing to contain the coronavirus, which has killed about 200,000 Americans and nearly 1 million around the world.

Trump is accusing China of not sharing timely information with the world on the new disease in a taped address to the virtually gathered United Nations General Assembly.

Trump says: ``The United Nations must hold China accountable for their actions.''

Trump is also using his address to tout a pair of recent international accords he helped to broker_ one between Kosovo and Serbia and the other between the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Israel _ as the United States ``fulfilling our destiny as peacemaker.''

Trump has repeatedly used his appearances at the international gathering to oppose ``globalization'' and promote his ``America First'' foreign policy. His 2020 address is not different, as he admonished other nations that ``only when you take care of your own citizens, will you find a true basis for cooperation.``

___

9 a.m.

UNITED NATIONS _ The U.N.'s first virtual meeting of world leaders started Tuesday with pre-recorded speeches from some of the planet's biggest powers.

They've been kept at home by the coronavirus pandemic that will likely be a dominant theme at their video gathering this year. The pandemic has killed over 960,000 people worldwide.

In the opening speech, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that the world is facing an ``epochal'' health crisis. He also noted the biggest economic calamity and job losses since the Great Depression, dangerous threats to human rights -- and the threat of a new Cold War between the U.S. and China.

Those who spoke Tuesday included U.S. President Donald Trump and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, whose countries have reported the highest and second-highest coronavirus death tolls, respectively. China, where the virus was first reported, also was set to speak.

Also on deck are China, where the virus originated, and Russia, which has raised international eyebrows with its rapid vaccine development.

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South Australia Premier Steven Marshall is confident the state's planned border reopening with NSW will go head after no new cases of community transmission.

SA plans to lift its COVID-19 border restrictions with NSW from midnight on Wednesday, dropping the two-week quarantine requirement, so long as the state reports no cases of community transmission in the past 24 hours.

'I got an update towards the middle of last night and there hadn't been anything reported so we're pretty confident it is going to happen,' he told Nine Network on Wednesday.

'We still want to check out any new infections in NSW through to midnight last night,' Mr Marshall said.

'But NSW has been doing extraordinarily well. We can't wait to welcome people from NSW with open arms.'

South Australia Premier Steven Marshall is confident the state's planned border reopening with NSW will go head after no new cases of community transmission

SA plans to lift its COVID-19 border restrictions with NSW from midnight on Wednesday, dropping the two-week quarantine requirement, so long as the state reports no cases of community transmission in the past 24 hours

The prospect of the border relaxations has already boosted the domestic aviation industry with more flights to resume in coming weeks.

Last week SA lifted the quarantine requirements for people coming from the ACT and now looks likely to do the same for travellers from NSW on Thursday.

Virgin Australia plans to resume daily flights between Sydney and Adelaide - from three a week now - from October 2, and will offer three flights a week between Canberra and Adelaide from October 12.

The airline has flagged adding even more flights from November.

Qantas and its budget airline Jetstar are also expected to add flights between Sydney and Adelaide this week.

The long-awaited decision on SA's border with NSW was made at Tuesday's meeting of the state's transition committee and came after initial plans to lift the isolation measures were stalled for weeks because of a cluster of coronavirus cases in Sydney.

'This is going to be a relief that will be felt across our state, from an economic perspective and from a family perspective,' Mr Marshall said on Tuesday.

'We know that this has been a massive burden on the business community and also on families and individuals.'

SA health officials had examined the case of an infected Sydney taxi driver but were satisfied it was a risk that NSW could be manage.

Qantas is also expected to add flights from Sydney to Adelaide this week along with budget airline Jetstar

Virgin Australia plans to resume daily flights between Sydney and Adelaide - from three a week now - from October 2, and will offer three flights a week between Canberra and Adelaide from October 12

Chief Public Health Officer Nicola Spurrier said the decision to ease the border measures came after 14 days of no community transmission in NSW involving cases with an unknown origin.

'I know people will be concerned about the taxi driver. But I'm very confident that person is not representative of community transmission,' she said.

Professor Spurrier has urged anyone travelling between SA and NSW to keep a close eye on the latest information in relation to coronavirus cases in Sydney and called for all travellers on planes to wear masks.

SA reported no new cases on Tuesday and has no active infections.
QINGDAO, China, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- SOS Limited (the "Company") (NYSE: SOS) is issuing this press release to clarify its press release dated May 6, 2020.

As announced in the Company's press release dated May 6, 2020 (the "Press Release"), the Company entered into a set of agreements on May 5, 2020 with Yong Bao Two Ltd. ("YBT"), the shareholders of YBT (the "YBT Shareholders"), eight investors introduced by YBT (the "Purchasers," collectively with the YBT Shareholders, the "Investors") and True North Financial, LLC ("True North," collectively, the "Parties"). The set of Agreements included the Tripartite Agreement (the "Tripartite Agreement"), the Assumption Agreement (the "Assumption Agreement") and the Share Purchase Agreement (the "Share Purchase Agreement," collectively, the "Agreements"). The per share purchase price for the transaction contemplated by the Agreements was $1.36 per ADS, or $0.136 per ordinary share of the Company.

On May 31, 2020, the Company entered into an amendment (the "Amendment") to the Share Purchase Agreement with YBT and the Investors to amend the definition of the true-up shares to mean 7,566,421 Class A ordinary shares and 13,806,331 Class B ordinary shares within the Share Purchase Agreement and the Tripartite Agreement, representing an increase of 4,000,000 Class B ordinary shares that were issued to the Purchasers. Except the terms referenced above, the remaining provisions of the Agreements were not affected or impaired in any manner.

The Company would like to clarify that as a result of the Amendment, the per share purchase price for the transaction contemplated by the Agreements as disclosed in the Press Release was reduced from $1.36 per ADS, or $0.136 per ordinary share of the Company, to $1.27, or $0.127 per ordinary share of the Company.

About SOS Limited

SOS Limited, through its operating subsidiary, SOS Information Technology Co., Ltd. ("SOS") is a high-technology company providing a wide range of services to its corporate and individual members, including marketing data, technology and solutions for emergency rescue services. SOS is focused on the research and development of big data, cloud computing, Internet of Things, blockchain and artificial intelligence. We have created a SOS cloud emergency rescue service software as a service (SaaS) platform with three major product categories, including basic cloud (medical rescue card, car rescue card, financial rescue card, mutual assistance rescue card), cooperative cloud (information rescue center, intelligent big data, intelligent software and hardware), and information cloud (News Today, E-Commerce Today). This system provide marketing-related data, technology solutions, and technology-driven big data to clients such as insurance companies, financial institutions, medical institutions, healthcare providers, auto manufacturers, security providers, senior living assistance providers and other service providers in the emergency rescue services industry. SOS has obtained a national high-tech enterprise certification, the title of "big data star enterprise" awarded by Gui'an New District Government, and has registered 11 software copyrights and 2 patents. For more information, please visit: http://www.sosyun.com/

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements made herein are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as "anticipate," "believe," "expect," "estimate," "plan," "outlook," and "project" and other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. Such forward-looking statements include timing of the proposed transaction; the business plans, objectives, expectations and intentions of the parties once the transaction is complete, and SOS's estimated and future results of operations, business strategies, competitive position, industry environment and potential growth opportunities. These forward-looking statements reflect the current analysis of existing information and are subject to various risks and uncertainties. As a result, caution must be exercised in relying on forward-looking statements. Due to known and unknown risks, our actual results may differ materially from our expectations or projections. All forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these factors. Other than as required under the securities laws, the Company does not assume a duty to update these forward-looking statements.

Additional information concerning these and other factors that may impact our expectations and projections can be found in our periodic filings with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019. SOS's SEC filings are available publicly on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. SOS disclaims any obligation to update the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE SOS Limited
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 22, ARMENPRESS. If the authorities in Baku are really interested in achieving lasting peace in the region, they must abandon the policy of military blackmail and threats, recognize the fact that the people of Artsakh have realized their right to self-determination, and sit down at the negotiating table in order to find solutions to eliminate the consequences of the armed conflict unleashed by Azerbaijan itself, the Artsakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on September 22.

On 21 September, the President of Azerbaijan, speaking in video format at the 75th session of the UN General Assembly, once again reproduced the repeatedly refuted speculations of the Azerbaijani side regarding the Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict. It is noteworthy that this speech at the UN General Assembly was preceded by a similar emotional interview of the Azerbaijani President on 19 September during an event at the Absheron gas field.

The statements made by the Azerbaijani President during the interview with regard to the Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict settlement process, demonstrate the degree of confusion of the Azerbaijani authorities in conditions when the long-standing strategy of Baku, based on blackmail and threats, proved to be ineffective and completely exhausted.

The long-term practice of the Azerbaijani authorities in distorting the essence of the Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict, hindering the restoration of full-format negotiations, biased interpretation of international law aimed at justifying territorial claims both against the Republic of Artsakh and the Republic of Armenia and ascribing to themselves an alleged right to unleash a new aggression has led the conflict settlement process into the situation where it is now, without bringing any additional political dividends to official Baku. The policy of isolating Armenia and Artsakh and hindering the economic growth of the two Armenian states declared by the President of Azerbaijan, as well as attempts to exploit the religious factor in the context of the Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict turned out to be equally ineffective.

It is obvious that, having lost its main instrument, which was limited to striving to achieve unilateral concessions through threats and coercion, official Baku found itself outside its comfort zone and is trying to return to its usual environment, increasing the intensity of bellicose rhetoric directed not only against the Armenian parties, but also the settlement process as a whole.

If the authorities in Baku are really interested in achieving lasting peace in the region, they must abandon the policy of military blackmail and threats, recognize the fact that the people of Artsakh have realized their right to self-determination, and sit down at the negotiating table in order to find solutions to eliminate the consequences of the armed conflict unleashed by Azerbaijan itself.
PASADENA, Calif., Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Western Asset Mortgage Capital Corporation (the "Company") (NYSE: WMC) announced today that its Board of Directors has declared a cash dividend of $0.05 per share for the third quarter of 2020. Today's dividend is payable on October 26, 2020 to common shareholders of record as of October 2, 2020, with an ex-dividend date of October 1, 2020.

"Resuming our quarterly dividend is an important step for our shareholders and the Company," said Jennifer Murphy, Chief Executive Officer of the Company. "We have made considerable progress strengthening our balance sheet and improving the liquidity and earnings power of the portfolio. This gives us confidence to resume paying a dividend, and we remain committed to our overall objective of providing shareholders with an attractive dividend that is supported by sustainable core earnings."

In addition, the Company estimates that its GAAP book value per share, as of August 31, 2020, was approximately $3.31. The August 31, 2020 estimated GAAP book value is unaudited, has not been verified or reviewed by any third party and is subject to normal quarterly reconciliation and other procedures. Further, the estimated book value is as of August 31, 2020 and does not include the dividend announced today. GAAP book value will fluctuate with market conditions, the results of the Company's operations and other factors. The Company's current GAAP book value may be materially different from the August 31, 2020 estimated GAAP book value.

ABOUT WESTERN ASSET MORTGAGE CAPITAL CORPORATION

Western Asset Mortgage Capital Corporation is a real estate investment trust that invests in, acquires and manages a diverse portfolio of assets consisting of Residential Whole Loans, Commercial Loans, Non-Agency CMBS, Non-Agency RMBS, GSE Risk Transfer Securities and to a lesser extent Agency RMBS, Agency CMBS and ABS. The Company's investment strategy may change, subject to the Company's stated investment guidelines, and is based on its manager Western Asset Management Company, LLC's perspective of which mix of portfolio assets it believes provide the Company with the best risk-reward opportunities at any given time. The Company is externally managed and advised by Western Asset Management Company, LLC, an investment advisor registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Franklin Resources, Inc. Please visit the Company's website at www.westernassetmcc.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains statements that may constitute "forward-looking statements" For these statements, the Company claims the protections of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in such sections. Forward-looking statements are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond the Company's control. In particular, it is difficult to fully assess the impact of COVID-19 at this time due to, among other factors, uncertainty regarding the severity and duration of the outbreak domestically and internationally and the effectiveness of federal, state and local governments' efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 and respond to its direct and indirect impact on the U.S. economy and economic activity. Other factors are described in Risk Factors section of the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2019 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law.

SOURCE Western Asset Mortgage Capital Corporation

Related Links

http://www.westernassetmcc.com


STOCKHOLM, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --

EQT Real Estate and Sigma Capital launch joint venture to create a GBP 1 billion investment portfolio of 3,000 high-quality "build-to-rent" ("BTR") residential homes at market rental rates in more affordable areas of Greater London

investment portfolio of 3,000 high-quality "build-to-rent" ("BTR") residential homes at market rental rates in more affordable areas of The joint venture constitutes EQT Real Estate's first UK investment and combines its thematic focus on "beds and sheds" in European gateway cities with a social impact strategy underpinned by EQT's industry-leading sustainability credentials

The joint venture launches having secured five sites from one of the UK's premier homebuilders, Countryside Properties, and has agreed to purchase two additional BTR sites from Sigma Capital upon their completion

Initial financing provided by Homes England, the housing agency of the UK Government

EQT Real Estate today announced the launch of a joint venture (the "JV") with Sigma Capital Group plc ("Sigma Capital" or "Sigma"), a London-listed residential development and urban regeneration specialist. The JV will focus on the creation of new-build, high-quality well-located BTR residential apartment blocks and houses in more affordable parts of Greater London and its commuter towns. The homes will be predominantly located in transport Zones 3-6 and in close proximity to transport links, including train access to central London.

Completed homes will be let at market-rate rents under Sigma's `Simple Life London' brand, which aims to bring a higher standard of customer care and convenience to the private rental market. Sigma has pioneered BTR in the UK and to date has successfully delivered and manages in excess of 4,200 rental homes across the UK.

EQT Real Estate and Sigma have initially committed equity of GBP 300 million and GBP 16 million, respectively, to the JV. Including gearing, it is intended that the JV will have an initial capacity to establish an investment portfolio of approximately 3,000 homes with a total value in excess of GBP 1 billion. The JV has secured five projects with an aggregate of 361 homes from Countryside Properties plc ("Countryside Properties") located in the London boroughs of Ealing, Enfield and Havering. In addition, two further sites currently under development by Sigma in the boroughs of Barking and Dagenham and Havering will be acquired by the JV on completion. These two sites together will comprise an additional 157 homes and are expected to be completed during H1 2021. The JV's assets are expected to be delivered over a period of at least five years in order to create a stabilized portfolio of diversified rental income.

The initial acquisitions will be financed with a GBP 50 million loan facility from Homes England, the UK Government's housing body that is responsible for increasing the number of new homes that are built in England and sponsored by the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government. EQT Real Estate, Sigma and Homes England share the same vision of delivering thousands of new rental homes in London where there is a critical undersupply of affordable, high-quality rental properties.

Consistent with other EQT Real Estate transactions, the JV will invest in buildings with strong sustainability credentials. Where possible, buildings will tap into local community heating networks and will utilize photovoltaic panels. The JV will also promote sustainable living practices within the apartments themselves, while the schemes will include ample cycle storage and will typically be located near green outdoor areas, an important wellness factor.

Peter Shacalis, Director at EQT Partners and Head of UK, EQT Real Estate, said: "EQT Real Estate is thrilled to be entering the London residential market, one with a severe supply shortage of professionally managed, high-quality, good value homes to rent, with Sigma Capital. In addition to the initial seven schemes, we are currently evaluating a growing pipeline of projects in Greater London to build a large scale, resilient and downside-protected institutional BTR portfolio with robust and diversified rental income. EQT Real Estate looks forward to partnering with the Sigma team to realise our shared vision over the coming years."

Rob Rackind, Partner at EQT Partners and Head of EQT Real Estate, said: "This joint venture with Sigma Capital marks an exciting entrance into the UK for EQT Real Estate as it represents the first transaction in this market since the business line was established in 2015. I cannot think of a more compelling investment opportunity at the moment than to deploy capital into this high conviction strategy, and one that should deliver significant social impact, by providing market-rate housing to renters in affordable locations within Greater London and its commuter towns with strong transport links."

Graham Barnet, CEO of Sigma Capital, said: "We are delighted to be expanding our delivery of new rental homes in the UK with the launch of our London-focused joint venture with EQT Real Estate, a strong and visionary partner. Homes England, which has supported Sigma with every major initiative to deliver the new housing that is much needed across the country, is also providing invaluable backing to the joint venture. Once again, Homes England is leading the market in its support for organizations looking to deliver homes at scale in the UK. We are also pleased to be working with Countryside Properties in Greater London to replicate the success of our partnership in the regions. We look forward to delivering thousands of high-quality new rental homes across the Capital with our partners at EQT Real Estate and providing London renters with a higher standard of customer care."

Iain McPherson, Group Chief Executive, Countryside Properties, said: "We are delighted to have expanded our strategic relationship with Sigma and its new partner, EQT Real Estate, to deliver much-needed PRS homes within London. Our Partnerships business has a proven track record, and, together with our clear strategy for growth, we look forward to continuing to work with our partners as we focus on the delivery of high quality and sustainable mixed-tenure communities."

UK Housing Minister Rt Hon Christopher Pincher MP said: "This Government is committed to delivering 300,000 new homes a year in England by the mid-2020s, ensuring everyone has the opportunity for a decent and secure place to call home.

"These 3,000 new homes, backed by 50 million from our housing accelerator Homes England, will help us deliver for families across Greater London."

Simon Dudley, Interim Chair at Homes England, said: "We are excited to be strengthening our work with Sigma Capital. By supporting their joint venture with EQT Real Estate we are using our resources to accelerate the delivery of much needed high-quality rental accommodation and unlock substantial private sector investment in the housing sector."

Taylor Wessing acted as legal advisor for EQT Real Estate.

Contacts

EQT

Peter Shacalis

Director at EQT Partners and Investment Advisor to EQT Real Estate,

+44 786 027 1392

Rob Rackind

Partner at EQT Partners and Investment Advisor to EQT Real Estate,

+44 786 027 1392

UK media enquiries:

Greenbrook

[email protected]

+44 20 7952 2000

EQT Press Office

[email protected]

+46 8 506 55 334

Sigma Capital Group

Graham Barnet

Chief Executive

+44 20 3178 6378

Mike McGill

Finance Director

+44 0333 999 9926

KTZ Communications

Katie Tzouliadis

+44 20 3178 6378

About EQT

EUR 62 billion

EUR 40 billion

Europe

Asia-Pacific

North America

EUR 27 billion

About EQT Real Estate

EQT Real Estate, part of EQT Partners and Investment Advisor to EQT managed real estate funds, seeks direct and indirect controlling interests in value-add real estate assets, portfolios, operating companies and platforms across gateway cities in the UK and Europe that offer significant potential for value creation through repositioning, redevelopment, refurbishment and active asset management. The EQT Real Estate Advisory Team comprises 26 experienced Investment Advisory Professionals working out of EQT's offices in London, Madrid, Milan, Paris and Stockholm. The Investment Advisory Team, which has access to the full EQT network including 11 European offices and more than 500 EQT Advisors, has experience analyzing and investing across the pan-European real estate market and has, collectively, advised on over 130 real estate projects in multiple asset classes across Europe.

More info: www.eqtgroup.com

Follow EQT on LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram

Sigma has created an unrivalled property platform, which sources sites and brings together construction resource to develop them, enabling Sigma to deliver an integrated solution to partners. As well as sourcing sites and managing all stages of the planning and development process, Sigma also manages the rental of completed homes through its award-winning rental brand `Simple Life'. The Company's subsidiary, Sigma PRS Management Limited, is Investment Adviser to The PRS REIT plc, the real estate investment trust that is investing 0.9bn in a portfolio of high-quality new rental homes for private rental across the regions.

More info: www.sigmacapital.co.uk

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/eqt/r/eqt-real-estate-and-sigma-capital-launch-gbp-1-bn-residential-joint-venture--set-to-bring-3-000-new-,c3200342

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/87/3200342/1309140.pdf Pictures of assets

SOURCE EQT
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky insists on the importance of keeping the focus of the UN and the European Union on the issue of de-occupation of Crimea.

Zelensky made a corresponding statement during a meeting with High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, Ukrinform reports with reference to the Presidents press service.

As noted, the President of Ukraine underscored that "it is crucial to keep the focus of the UN and the EU on the de-occupation of Crimea."

Creation of a negotiating platform on the de-occupation of the Crimean peninsula was also discussed at the meeting.

"For us, the key issue is to have a permanent platform which primarily raises humanitarian and human rights issues, the issues of Ukrainians in the temporarily occupied Crimea, the return of our occupied territories in general," Zelensky said.

In turn, the High Representative of the EU assured that the European Union would never recognize the occupation of Crimea.

On September 22, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy - Vice President of the European Commission Josep Borrell makes the first official visit to Ukraine since assuming his position.

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PORTLAND, Maine - Ranked choice voting will be used for the first time in a presidential race in the U.S. under a ruling Tuesday by the Maine Supreme Court, which concluded a GOP-led petition drive intended to prevent its use came up short.

The Supreme Judicial Court concluded the Maine Republican Party failed to reach the threshold of signatures needed for a Peoples Veto referendum aimed at rejecting a state law that expands ranked choice voting to the presidential election.

This is a powerful moment for ranked choice voting supporters: Voters will, for the first time, use ranked choice voting to elect the highest office in the country, said Rob Richie, president and CEO of FairVote, which advocates for the voting reform.

The courts decision, just six weeks before the election, was issued after the state already began printing ballots using a grid-style for ranked elections.

As we have already printed the ballots, due to the federal deadlines we must meet to provide ballots for overseas and military voters, this decision comes as a great relief and avoids the complications, confusion and expense that would have arisen from reprinting and reissuing ballots, said Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap.

Under the voting system, voters are allowed to rank all candidates on the ballot. If no one wins a majority of first-place votes, then there are additional tabulations, aided by computers, in which last-place finishers are eliminated and votes reallocated based on those supporters second-place choices. Transporting the ballots to Augusta for additional tabulations delays results for about a week.

In Maine, the presidential ballot will feature five names, including Republican President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden. Ranked voting will also be used in U.S. House races and the closely watched U.S. Senate race between Republican incumbent Susan Collins and Democrat Sara Gideon, the Maine House speaker.

The voting system adds another wrinkle to the presidential contest in Maine, which  as one of two states that divide electoral votes  already does things differently.

In the last presidential election, Democrat Hillary Clinton won three electoral votes while Trump won one electoral vote in the 2nd Congressional District, underscoring political divisions between the states liberal, urban south and conservative north.

The ranked choice voting system, approved by Maine voters in 2016, has become a partisan issue in the state, where Republican U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin was ousted in 2018 despite collecting the most first-place votes.

Supporters say the ranked choice voting system eliminates the impact of so-called spoiler candidates and produces a majority winner. Critics say its unnecessarily complicated and disenfranchises voters who dont understand it.

The constitutionality of the voting system has been twice upheld by a federal judge in Maine. However, ranked voting is not used in the governors race or legislative contests because it runs afoul of the Maine Constitution.

The fast-paced, 11th-hour legal machinations resolved Tuesday followed the secretary of states rejection of the referendum, ruling the GOP fell short of the needed level of 67,067 signatures of registered voters to force a referendum. The Maine GOP had appealed that decision and a state judge reinstated enough signatures to surpass the minimum by 22 signatures.

The issue before the state Supreme Court focused on a narrow question of whether signature gatherers must be registered to vote in the town where they are circulating petitions at the time they started.

The Supreme Judicial Court ruled unanimously Tuesday that the requirements dont violate First Amendment rights of signature gatherers. That conclusion invalidated 988 signatures, delivering a defeat to the GOP.

But the Maine GOP wasnt yet conceding on Tuesday. The party is exploring further options for review by the federal courts to protect Maine voters rights to be heard, its chair, Demi Kouzounas, said.

Anna Kellar, executive director for The League of Women Voters, which supports the voting reform, said the courts decision is a victory for every Mainer who sat around kitchen tables and in basements years ago, wondering how we could ensure more votes would be heard in our elections.

___

APs Advance Voting guide brings you the facts about voting early, by mail or absentee from each state: https://interactives.ap.org/advance-voting-2020/
This puts us in the big time, said Sean Compton, executive vice president of WGN America. This proves to the world that were legit, when the White House is willing to take our call and put us front and center, right after such an important event.
Bail was granted depending on where the defendant will live.

A man is to stand trial accused of sexually abusing four members of his family over a 12-year period, a judge has ordered.

The 51-year-old defendant appeared at Belfast Magistrates' Court to face a total of 10 charges.

He cannot be named to protect the identities of the alleged victims - all of whom are female.

The man is charged with three counts of rape, six indecent assaults and a further indecent exposure.

The alleged offences were committed on dates between September 1996 and December 2008.

During a preliminary enquiry hearing the defendant confirmed that he understood the claims against him.

He declined to give evidence or call any witnesses at this stage.

Prosecution submissions that the accused has a case to answer were not disputed.

On that basis District Judge Amanda Henderson granted an application to have him returned for trial at Belfast Crown Court on a date to be fixed.

Mrs Henderson confirmed he can be released on bail once an address approved by police is obtained.
The first amateur baker has been eliminated from The Great British Bake Off in an episode featuring dropped cakes and tears.

Loriea, 27, a diagnostic radiographer from Durham, was axed at the end of the first episode of the new series after failing to impress judges Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood.

Peter, 20, an accounting and finance student from Edinburgh, was named star baker after crafting three successful bakes.

Were so sad to see you go, Loriea. Its never easy being the first to depart, but you can hold your head up very high. Its been wonderful having you in the tent! #GBBO pic.twitter.com/4rxNNSTx5r  British Bake Off (@BritishBakeOff) September 22, 2020

Matt Lucas debuted as the new co-host alongside Noel Fielding  replacing Sandi Toksvig  in a skit mimicking Prime Minister Boris Johnsons coronavirus briefings.

The Little Britain star, 46, appeared ahead of the shows return to Channel 4 wearing a blonde wig and standing at a lectern featuring the slogan: Stay Alert, Bake Cake, Save Loaves.

Welcome to a new series of The Great British Bake Off - and a big hello to our new presenter Matt Lucas! #GBBO pic.twitter.com/0sa8NxTJtE  British Bake Off (@BritishBakeOff) September 22, 2020

Production of the 11th series was initially delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic, but filming finished near the end of August.

The 12 new amateur bakers, presenters and others working on the programme formed a bubble in Down Hall Hotel near Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire, throughout the duration of filming, after being tested for the virus and self-isolating.

Expand Close Noel Fielding and Matt Lucas (C4/Love Productions/Mark Bourdillon/PA) / Facebook

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Hollywood reassured viewers the show would look the same as always, saying: Once we all walk back into the tent it will get back to something very familiar.

But Leith admitted: I am quite anxious being locked up for weeks on end with you three guys. Theres not a grown-up among you

The signature challenge saw the bakers asked to create Battenberg cake, covered in marzipan and, when cut in cross section, displaying a distinctive pattern.

Lucas bungled his first introduction, shouting Bake! at the wrong time.

Expand Close Judges Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood (C4/Love Productions/Mark Bourdillon/PA) / Facebook

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Sura, 31, a pharmacy dispenser from London, admitted she was already tired of eating cake.

I am so over cake. I have been tasting it and trying it out. I dont want to eat cake ever again, she told Lucas.

He replied: You might be on the wrong show.

Despite this, her oranges and lemons Battenberg impressed the judges, with Hollywood describing it as very neat and praising the texture.

Their first technical challenge was to craft six miniature upside-down pineapple cakes, with Hollywood describing the bake as a classic.

He added: We are testing you on your timings and your consistency so read your recipes carefully.

Accidents happen - poor Dave and poor Sura. And spare a thought for the tent carpet too! #GBBO pic.twitter.com/S4s4oqCyMt  British Bake Off (@BritishBakeOff) September 22, 2020

As the bakers delivered their creations to the judges, Sura swung her arm to hit a fly and knocked Dave, 30, causing four of his six cakes to fly across the room.

It happens, accidents happen, Dave, a security guard from Hampshire, told a tearful Sura.

The judges gave him ninth place, while Sura took first.

Crying, she said: Its bittersweet because I feel so sad for Dave. I wish it didnt happen to be honest.

We need the Bake Off Fly in custardy right away! #GBBO pic.twitter.com/2SWlP56Q4j  British Bake Off (@BritishBakeOff) September 22, 2020

For the showstopper, contestants were challenged to create a cake bust depicting their personal celebrity hero, with choices including David Bowie as Ziggy Stardust and Louis Theroux.

Suras portrayal of Sir David Attenborough toppled at the last moment but she righted him before damage was done.

The new series began at 8.15pm, 15 minutes later than scheduled, to make space for a television coronavirus address from Mr Johnson, Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford and Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, following the announcement of new restrictions.

During the address, a message on screen said: Bake Off starts immediately after this programme at 8.15.
22.09.2020 LISTEN

ACCEPT UEW HONORARY DOCTORATE IT IS CREDIBLE DEVOID OF ANY "TAINTED BLOOD"

I have read with dismay certain "power play" articles making headlines on Ghana web about the fast-growing university UEW from Prof Aveah Nsoh on September 19th 2020 "Don't accept UEW Doctorate, it's tainted with innocent blood" and PK Sarpong not forgetting the counter-reactions from the son of the upright peasant farmer Salifu Bawah and other comments in the media concerning the Doctorate honorary award to be conferred on the Rt Hon Speaker of Parliament Prof Mike Oquaye and Matthew Opoku Prempeh minister of education. As a right-thinking member of the university, I won't hesitate to add my voice.

First and foremost, I am saddened by the way and manner my school is always in the media for "bad headlines" due to certain political expediencies. However, I'm very disappointed in the argument made by a whole Prof Aveah Nsoh citing the death of Mr Kuturglo, Henry Kpodo, Samuel Okai and others attributing it to the actions of the UEW vice-chancellor.

Little did I expect this lame argument from a former minister and a former principal of a college. Death is inevitable and as to how one will leave this earth is not written on the forehead. So in what capacity is Prof Aveah Nsoh blaming the death of the aforementioned names on Prof Afful Broni? Is it because they were transferred and they drove to the place? Well, wouldn't they have driven from their initial place of work to their respective homes if they weren't transferred? When the time is up for any of us to meet his maker, it matters not where you drive to.

As to the unsubstantiated comments like the Vice-chancellor being unclean because of certain illegalities Prof Aveah Nsoh could not state in his article, I wish to state categorically that assuming without admitting they are true, the honorary doctorate award to the said characters are not to be awarded in the capacity of Prof Afful Broni in person but by UEW as an institution. In fact, the Vice-chancellor in no capacity can give such award without the consent of the institution as a whole. So the personal credibility of the VC in person has nothing to do with certificates or awards issued by the school. For Aveah Nsoh to have said the award is "tainted with innocent blood" suggest all certificates awarded by the institution under the current VC's watch is also tainted including the just-ended congregation. Which in actual fact isn't justifiable.

Such comments I believe shouldn't come from a renowned person of Mr Aveah Nsoh's calibre when he has indeed benefitted from the very University he seeks to taint.

I am only sharing my concern as a student because of the bad name this "power play" is visiting on us. When two elephants fight is the ground that suffers. You have had your certificates of which you making daily bread. Let we the upcoming ones who are toiling to pay fees in this very institution have our credible and respected certificates as well to make a living.

Mr Speaker, since Prof Aveah Nsoh, in any case, couldn't state any wrongdoing of the institution as a whole, did not intellectually

question the locus or capacity with which the university is giving the honorary doctorate award, but decided to emotionally go personal, I am by this calling on the Speaker of Parliament Prof Mike Oquaye and Hon Matthew Opoku Prempeh to gladly accept the honorary doctorate award in good faith because it is overly credible.

Thank you

Shadrach Appiah

(Student of UEW)
Unilever's Dutch shareholders back British move (photo: unilever.com.vn)

The proposal, approved by 99.42 percent in an extraordinary online meeting according to a Unilever statement, is the first step towards ending the company's 90-year-old double-headed structure.

British shareholders in the maker of Ben and Jerry's ice cream and Marmite must now back the plan at a meeting on October 12 for it to go ahead.

The High Court in London must also formally approve the move, the statement said.

Unilever announced the idea to become a single British-based entity called Unilever PLC in June, saying it would make it more responsive to challenges including the coronavirus pandemic.

The firm behind household brands including Dove Soap and Magnum ice cream said however that its presence in both countries would be "unchanged", and it would keep its listings on both the London and Amsterdam stock exchanges.

Unilever tried to move the firm's corporate base from London to the Dutch port of Rotterdam in 2018 but had to back down after a revolt by shareholders in Britain.

Unilever was founded in 1930 after the Dutch margarine producer Margarien Unie merged with British soapmaker Lever Brothers, but has kept its dual-headed structure since then.
Risk is low no matter the timing of birth, but new insights could improve understanding of ASD

A study of more than 3.5 million Nordic children suggests that the risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may increase slightly for each week a child is born before or after 40 weeks of gestation. Martina Persson of the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden and colleagues present these findings in the open-access journal PLOS Medicine.

The causes of ASD are complex and remain unresolved, but they likely involve both genetic and environmental factors. Some previous research suggests that children born before or after their due dates (40 weeks of gestation) may have an elevated risk of ASD. However, most of those studies have been limited in scope and have not accounted for sex and birth weight.

To better understand potential links between gestational age and risk of ASD, Persson and colleagues analyzed medical registry data on more than 3.5 million children born in Sweden, Finland, or Norway between 1995 to 2015. Within that cohort, 1.44 percent of the children were diagnosed with ASD, and 4.7 percent were born pre-term--before 37 weeks of gestation.

The analysis, which covered gestational ages at birth ranging from 22 to 44 weeks, showed that overall risk of ASD was low for every age, especially for girls born post-term (after 42 weeks of gestation). However, the relative risk of ASD increased for each week of gestational age below or above 40 weeks.

Of the children born at term--in weeks 37 to 42--0.83 percent were diagnosed with ASD. The percentage was 1.67 for those born in weeks 22 to 31, 1.08 percent for weeks 32 to 36, and 1.74 for weeks 43 to 44. These differences in risk were independent of sex and birth weight for gestational age.

These findings provide new insights into the potential links between risk of ASD and gestational age at birth--which is potentially modifiable. More research will be needed to clarify these links and investigate whether they could lead to strategies to lower risk by addressing pre-term birth.

###

Research Article

Citation: Persson M, Opdahl S, Risnes K, Gross R, Kajantie E, Reichenberg A, et al. (2020) Gestational age and the risk of autism spectrum disorder in Sweden, Finland, and Norway: A cohort study. PLoS Med 17(9): e1003207. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1003207

Funding: The study was supported by grants from the European Union (H2020-SC1: PM04-2016), the Seaver Foundation (senior research fellowship for MP), The Swedish Society of Medicine (grant for MP), RECAP Academy of Finland (grant no 315690, for EK), Foundation for Pediatric Research, Novo Nordisk Foundation (EK), Signe and Ane Gyllenberg Foundation (EK), and the Sigrid Juselius Foundation (EK). The sponsors were not involved in study design, conduct, reporting, or dissemination of our research. Patients or the public were not involved in the design, conduct, or reporting, or dissemination of our research. The funders had no role in study design, data collection or analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

Competing Interests: The authors MP, SO, KR, RG, AR, MG, and SS have declared no competing interests. I have read the journal's policy and the author EK of this manuscript has the following competing interests: "Grants from the European Commission (733280 RECAP), Academy of Finland, Signe and Ane Gyllenberg Foundation, Foundation of Pediatric Research, Novo Nordisk Foundation, Sigrid Juselius Foundation, Foundation for Cardiovascular Research, Diabetes Research Foundation.

In your coverage please use this URL to provide access to the freely available paper: http://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1003207
New York, Seattle and Portland officials vow to fight the move and accuse the Trump administration of playing politics.

The United States Department of Justice has threatened to revoke federal funding for New York City, Seattle and Portland, Oregon, saying the three liberal cities were allowing anarchy and violence on their streets.

We cannot allow federal tax dollars to be wasted when the safety of the citizenry hangs in the balance, US Attorney General William Barr said in a statement on Monday.

In a joint statement, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, and Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan accused the administration of US President Donald Trump of playing politics and said that withholding federal funds would be illegal.

This is thoroughly political and unconstitutional. The president is playing cheap political games with congressionally directed funds. Our cities are bringing communities together; our cities are pushing forward after fighting back a pandemic and facing the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, all despite recklessness and partisanship from the White House, they said.

Many cities across the US have experienced unrest since the May 25 death of George Floyd in police custody. In some cases, the protests have escalated into violence and looting.

Police use chemical irritants and crowd control munitions to disperse protesters during a demonstration in Portland, Oregon amid nightly protests against racial injustice [File: Noah Berger/AP Photo]

The federal government has mounted a campaign to disperse the violence, including by sending federal agents into Portland and Seattle and encouraging federal prosecutors to bring charges.

Last week, the Justice Department urged federal prosecutors to consider sedition charges against protesters who have burned buildings and engaged in other violent activity.

Mondays threat to revoke federal funds was the governments latest escalation in its quest to curb the protests.

It comes after Trump earlier this month issued a memo laying out criteria to consider when reviewing funding for states and cities that are permitting anarchy, violence, and destruction in American cities.

The criteria include things such as whether a city forbids the police from intervening or whether it defunds its police force.

In all three cities, the Justice Department said, the leadership has rejected efforts to allow federal law enforcement officials to intervene and restore order, among other things.





In a press briefing earlier on Monday, New York City Corporation Counsel Jim Johnson promised a court battle if the Trump administration proceeds to cut off the funds.

The president does not have the authority to change the will of Congress, he said.

The designation of anarchy doesnt even pass the common sense test. If need be we can send, in addition to our legal filings, a dictionary. Because what we have in New York is not anarchy.
LAS VEGAS, NV / ACCESSWIRE / September 22, 2020 / Las Vegas, Nevada based Talisman Casualty Insurance Company is reaching out to the community to share information on how they can help entrepreneurs all across the country protect their businesses.

"When it comes to our mission, we follow the simple premise of helping our clients protect themselves and avoid lawsuit claims," states a representative of Talisman Casualty Insurance Company. They add, "We adapt our services according to our client's needs, the niche of their business, and their long-term goals by offering reassurance and the knowledge that we have their backs. As a direct result, they tend to find that they can rely on us in every situation." Learn more here: Talisman Insurance Lawsuits.

Talisman Casualty Insurance Company states that their cell captive insurance business model allows their clients to benefit from efficient processing thanks to the clever use of their cutting-edge claims technology for captive cells. By allowing the process to be streamlined within the cell, the efficiency with the claim is processed and boosted. Additionally, all participants within a given cell captive are owners, and the close relationship between the insured participant and the claims professionals allows for a quicker response and resolution to claims which could lead to litigation.

All of these efforts allow Talisman Casualty Insurance Company to offer a service that is unrivalled by other providers within the industry. They are well known for providing innovative solutions, including global reinsurance access; nevertheless diving into new emerging markets to offer business owners protection, professional attention, and distinguished guidance.

Talisman Casualty Insurance Company is one of the few insurance providers offering coverage for the increasing number of pet care professionals. Their personalized coverage helps pet-related business owners of this industry who are struggling to find a service tailored to their needs. Through these services, Talisman Casualty Claims allows pet care professionals to grow and take a more daring approach towards their business that will increase their success.

The insurance company also offers a marine program. This cell captive insurance is designed specifically for marine contractors, fishing operations, tug and barge companies, and other business owners who own assets that are on the water. This marine program is specifically designed for the small-to-medium sized marine accounts and provides Marine Employers Liability, Hull, Protection & Indemnity, and Comprehensive General Liability. This sector of the marine market is often referred to as brown water.

The company says, "Much like with all of our other services, the goal in our marine program is to establish long term relationships with maritime clients to fully understand their business, their risk management methods, and the business forecast so that the insurance coverage provided can be tailored to fluctuating exposures. This gives our clients the flexibility that their businesses need to adapt to the volatility of the market, and adjust their insurance program to meet the challenges of changing cash flow and exposure."

Among their services, Talisman Casualty Claims also offers a surety bond program. They handle most types of surety bonds as well as Compliance and Licensing bonds, the latter of which are often used to maintain a professional license or to secure permits. The company states that they can help their clients handle the usual statutory requirements for such bonds.

Talisman Casualty is also equipped to handle Court and Legal bonds. These bonds cover a wide range of court actions, including bail, the release of lien, adverse cost judgment and more.

Talisman Casualty was founded by a group of professionals with extensive expertise in the world of insurance. The firm was born out of an undying demand for captive insurance policies, and is backed by a seasoned group that did not lose the boldness and flexibility that business owners need to protect their company. This approach is what led Talisman Casualty Insurance Company to become one of the top-insurance providers in Las Vegas.

The company's website offers more details on Talisman Casualty Insurance Company and their services. Interested parties may reach out to the company to follow up on any inquiries. Further information on who owns Talisman Casualty is also available here.

For more information about Talisman Casualty Insurance Company, contact the company here:



Talisman Casualty Insurance Company

800-318-5317

info@talismancasualty.com

Talisman Casualty Insurance Company

7881 W. Charleston Blvd, Suite 210 Las Vegas, NV 89117

SOURCE: Talisman Casualty Insurance Company

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/607271/Talisman-Casualty-Insurance-Company-Claims-Shares-Insight-On-Their-Mission-And-Services
The Rosedale Inn in Bakersfield was chosen  and then rejected  to house the homeless. (Erika D. Smith / Los Angeles Times)

There is no shortage of excuses in California about why we continue to let tens of thousands of people live  and often die  in filthy encampments on street corners, in alleys and under freeways year after year.

Anna Laven expected to hear them when she agreed to become the first executive director of the Bakersfield-Kern Regional Homeless Collaborative.

What she didn't expect was to hear them from a doctor in charge of a hospital. Much less during a pandemic and a wildfire season so destructive that it has raised serious concerns about homeless people spending too much time outside breathing in smoke.

"I'm not gonna lie," Laven told me, her voice growing incredulous. "That threw us for a loop."

Bakersfield police officers who are part of a care team that offers water and information to homeless people. (Alex Horvath / The Californian)

Indeed, what has gone down in Kern County this year, culminating in a particularly dispiriting Bakersfield City Council meeting this month, is so ridiculous on its face that it's almost laughable. But it's serious business that, to a lesser degree, has been replicated all over the state.

Some cities and counties have failed to get quite as many homeless people into hotels and motels as they had promised when the panic over COVID-19 was new. And questions remain about solving the larger homelessness crisis, even as the state has started awarding hundreds of millions of dollars to purchase and convert hotels, motels and empty apartment buildings into permanent homeless housing.

In Los Angeles, for example, the goal was to get 15,000 people off the streets, but so far, the number is closer to 4,000.

In San Francisco, homeless people and their tents continue to dot the streets, only now they are sleeping amid diners sitting at tables plopped on sidewalks and in the streets. In Sacramento, people sleep in parked cars even in middle-class neighborhoods, and encampments now choke overpasses where there were once only a few tents.

What happened in Bakersfield sets the bar even lower than that  which is saying something, because the bar there was already pretty low.

Story continues

A year ago, the going solution for getting people off the streets was to lock more of them up for trespassing and misdemeanor drug charges. Unsurprisingly for the conservative Central Valley, Sheriff Donny Youngblood and Dist. Atty. Cynthia Zimmer were the architects of this cockamamie and legally dubious plan.

"The transient population, its just so sad and its so pitiful, and you sound like youre so mean," Zimmer told my colleague Julia Wick, presumably with a straight face. To be safe, weve got to put some of these people in jail.

Yeah, no.

Fast-forward a few weeks. Still reeling from the spike in homelessness and anticipating yet another one in 2020, officials with Kern County and Bakersfield, where the vast majority of the county's nearly 1,600 homeless people live, agreed to turn the Homeless Collaborative into an official nonprofit in charge of developing an actual strategy.

Laven started as executive director in early February, shortly before the economy shut down because of COVID-19.

Within weeks, Gov. Gavin Newsom was pushing Project Roomkey, the government-funded initiative that counties have used to get the most medically vulnerable homeless people into hotel or motel rooms so they won't contract the novel coronavirus, get sick and overwhelm hospitals.

Kern County, in many ways, was starting from scratch, unlike L.A. County, for example, with its robust homeless-industrial complex of service providers and shelters.

Rather than looking for rooms to rent right away, Laven's team started with 15 state-owned RVs to use for homeless people who had tested positive or were waiting on test results. Then the focus shifted toward prevention and finding hotels for 226 people who were 65 or older and who had chronic health conditions, such as diabetes  the criteria for Project Roomkey.

The first few attempts to rent hotels and motels never got off the ground, largely because neighbors complained before anyone was even placed.

Then the nonprofit found the Rosedale Inn. Just off Highway 99, the aging, two-story motel is across from an IHOP, a gas station, a couple of fast-food joints and the Kern River. There are no houses or apartment complexes nearby. In other words, it was perfect  or so Laven thought.

Bakersfield's Board of Zoning Adjustment approved the Homeless Collaborative's request to rent 20 rooms with a unanimous vote, leaving only approval from the full City Council as the next step. But then came the appeal from Bakersfield Heart Hospital, which has an employee parking lot just up the road from the Rosedale Inn.

In a letter to council members, Sparks Law Firm, hired by the hospital, insisted that renting rooms to homeless people would increase vandalism and theft in the area, and could lead to patients and employees being exposed to COVID-19.

At a council meeting, Dr. Brijesh Bhambi, who is the chairman of the hospitals board, explained that he had no problem with Project Roomkey, in general, but he just didn't want it operating at the Rosedale Inn. "Vandalism will worsen and patient care will suffer," he said, adding, "It's a simple matter of workplace safety."

Jerry Sparks, a managing partner at Sparks Law Firm, reiterated that the problem is the Rosedale Inn is "inappropriate."

"It's not going to help, it's going to hurt," he said. "It is even more dangerous to the participants of this program to be placed in an environment where there are drug users. One can go out there and you can see them. I've seen them myself. There are parolees and criminals who are dropped off at that location. It is not an appropriate environment."

For sure, the Rosedale Inn is definitely a motel of last resort.

Over the weekend, I went to check it out. Some guests had hung wet laundry over the turquoise railings to dry in the Central Valley heat. A kid was swinging from a swing made out of a blanket and rope tied around the branch of a tree. The street is lined with trash and battered cars, many with shattered windows and some with people sleeping inside.

The parking lots of the surrounding businesses weren't much better. No one was interested in talking.

Laven and her Homeless Collaborative offered to clean up the Rosedale Inn and provide overnight security in addition to attendants during the day. Still no luck. The Bakersfield City Council rejected the project.

It's unclear what will come next. Perhaps sending the most vulnerable homeless people back to state-owned RVs, which is a challenge for those with physical disabilities. Some on the council suggested moving them to a still under construction homeless navigation center. Laven has all but given up on finding a motel to rent. A few have already died of COVID-19 while waiting for rooms, and another wave of illness and death could arrive by fall.

If you can't put the most vulnerable homeless people in a motel alongside a freeway in a not-so-great neighborhood, where can you put them? Probably, not in a fancy hotel in a wealthy neighborhood either.

All I know is, the answer can't keep being nowhere.
By PTI

SRINAGAR: The NIA on Tuesday carried out searches at nearly a dozen places in Baramulla and Srinagar districts of Jammu and Kashmir in connection with two separate cases related to arrested Deputy Superintendent of J-K Police Devender Singh and misuse of cross-LoC trade, officials said.

The agency swooped on different locations and seized several incriminating documents and digital devices during the searches, a spokesperson of the National Investigating Agency (NIA) said.

He said multiple locations were searched in Baramulla and one location in Srinagar in connection with Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Naveed Babu who was arrested along with Singh and two other associates early this year.

The NIA had filed a chargesheet against Singh and others in July for alleged terror activities in the country.

In the Hizbul Mujahideen case, the spokesperson said the houses of five close associates of accused Tariq Mir were searched.

Mir is a resident of Maldera village of Shopian who was arrested by the NIA on April 29 for his role in smuggling and supply of weapons to the terrorists of the outfit.

The house of Mir's wife Shareen Bibi at Chinad village of Baramulla, Azad Ahmad Pir's house at Dardkote (Uri), Haleema Begum's house at Boniyar (Uri), Shaheen Lone's house at Kanspora Baramulla and his father-in-law's house at Waza Mohalla Palhallan in Baramulla district and Tafazul Parimoo at Rehmatabad-Hyderpora in Srinagar district were searched, the spokesperson said.

He said the instant case was registered on January 11 when Babu and Rafi Ahmad Rather were apprehended along with Singh and Irfan Shafi Mir alias 'Advocate' near Qazigund on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway.

"The investigation had revealed a deep-rooted conspiracy hatched by Pakistan-based Hizbul Mujahideen leadership and Pak ISI and an OGW network that facilitates the supply of funds and arms and ammunition to the HM terrorists in J&K," the spokesperson said.

He said the searches were also carried out at the premises of four traders in connection with illegalities in cross-LoC trade which remained suspended last year for allegedly funnelling illegal weapons, narcotics and fake currency into India.

The house of Peer Arshid Iqbal alias 'Ashu' and Tariq Ahmad Sheikh, both of whom are in jail in connection with separate narcotics cases, were searched at Khwaja Bagh and Tawheed Gunj in Baramulla respectively, the spokesperson said.

While Iqbal is lodged in Kathua jail, Sheikh is undergoing detention in Baramulla jail.

The others whose houses were searched include district level Hurriyat leader Bashir Ahmad Sofi at Khwajabagh and Abdul Hamid Lone of Gundpura village of Sopore.

"Searches have yielded several incriminating documents and digital devices. Further investigation in the case is continued" the spokesperson said.
Mr Kwesi Jonah, a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG) has waded into the debate over the GHc100, 000 filing fees being charged by the Electoral Commission (EC) from Presidential aspirants wishing to contest this year's elections.



He alluded that the EC pegged the filing fees at GH100,000 in order to get rid of "none serious and frivolous presidential aspirants" from overloading the December 7 ballot paper.



Mr Jonah told the media when analysing the rationale behind the EC's decision to Peg the filing fees at GH100,000 for Presidential aspirants.



The IDEG Research Fellow discounted claims by some Ghanaians and civil society organisations (CSOs) that, the exorbitant fees charged by the EC was intended to raise funds to run its activities.



"I don't think the EC wanted to raise money to run its operations because the amount is a mere deposit and when the political parties secure 25 per cent of the valid votes cast, they would get back their monies.



It must be noted the EC's activities are funded by the taxpayers, he added.

However, Mr Jonah was of the view that the EC should have tabled its intention to increase the filing Fees by 100 per cent at the Inter-party Advisory Committee (IPAC) for discussions and buy-in.



He advised the EC to pay attention to regulating political party activities, rather than only concerning itself with organising elections and demarcating electoral boundaries.



Meanwhile, Dr Alidu Seidu, a Senior Lecturer at the Political Science Department, University of Ghana, cautioned that using money to control political parties' participation in an election could set a bad precedent for the nation's democracy.



He, however, admitted that elections and money were interlinked and should be treated with caution.



He also blamed some politicians for creating bad perception about politics because of their expansive lifestyle.



"Nowadays, the grassroot supporters of all political parties want to take their pound of flesh at the primaries because they see politics as a lucrative business because of the lifestyles of some politicians," Dr Alidu pointed out.

Source: GNA









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Series A led by new investors Panakes Partners, INKEF Capital and SHS Gesellschaft fur Beteiligungsmanagement

EINDHOVEN, Netherlands, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Salvia BioElectronics B.V., a neurostimulation platform company targeting chronic migraine, today announced it has raised EUR 26M in new financing from new and existing investors. The Series A investment round was led by Panakes Partners, INKEF Capital and SHS Gesellschaft fur Beteiligungsmanagement with participation from BOM Brabant Ventures, Thuja Capital and Dolby Family Ventures. The total raised includes a EUR 5M deferred risk-bearing Innovation Credit from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO, part of the Dutch ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy). Salvia BioElectronics will use the funds to develop a unique neuromodulation technology capable of addressing known neural targets in chronic migraine and provide its therapy to those suffering from debilitating headaches.

Migraine is the first cause of disability in under 50s, affecting one out of seven people, predominantly women. People with migraine experience episodes of throbbing, pulsating pain, sometimes accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light, that can last anywhere from a few hours to a few days. More than five percent of patients suffer from chronic migraine, where they experience migraines for an average of 22 days per month.

Neurostimulation has been proven as an effective treatment in chronic migraine, but there are no approved implantable devices available today. While traditional neurostimulation systems are not designed to be compatible with the anatomy of the head, Salvia BioElectronics develops highly conforming bioelectronic foils that can be inserted below the skin in a minimally invasive procedure.

Commenting on the news, Hubert Martens, CEO of Salvia BioElectronics said: "We are building a team of highly talented people that are passionate to develop a therapy that can change the lives of people suffering from chronic migraine. We are delighted to welcome our new investors, and I would like to thank our existing investors for their continued support. This strong syndicate of highly renowned medical technology investors validates our approach and the funding enables us to complete our therapy development towards market entry."

In conjunction with the financing, Diana Saraceni, Founder and Managing Partner at Panakes Partners, Roel Bulthuis, Managing Partner at INKEF Capital and Sascha Alilovic, Managing Partner of SHS Gesellschaft fur Beteiligungsmanagement will join the Board of Directors.

Diana Saraceni, Founder and Managing Partner at Panakes Partners, added: "Panakes is excited to be part of the Salvia BioElectronics journey which combines a seasoned team and a unique and promising proposition in the neuromodulation space. It is a great opportunity for Panakes to work with the team and build towards its continued success."

Roel Bulthuis, Managing Partner at INKEF Capital, added: "Salvia BioElectronics represents a very compelling and differentiated approach within the neurostimulation field. Based on its novel technology, Salvia BioElectronics is uniquely positioned to translate a proven therapy to marketable products for migraine sufferers. We are very pleased to be working with this talented team to help transform their ideas into a successful international business."

Sascha Alilovic, Managing Partner of SHS Gesellschaft fur Beteiligungsmanagement, continued: "Having looked at a number of promising companies in the BeNeLux region, we are proud to add Salvia BioElectronics to our portfolio of innovative healthcare companies. Utilizing Salvia BioElectronics' neuromodulatory device we hope to improve the situation of patients suffering from chronic migraine and at the same time have a positive impact on health economics."

About Salvia BioElectronics B.V. (Salvia BioElectronics)

Salvia BioElectronics is an innovative Dutch startup active in the emerging field of bioelectronics. Salvia BioElectronics was founded in 2017 by neuromodulation industry veterans with the ambition to develop a bioelectronics therapy for people suffering from chronic migraine that is as easy as taking medication yet side-effect free. Building on research around known neural targets in migraine, the startup is working to develop the right form factor for stimulation that is effective, safe, and affordable.

Migraine is the first cause of disability in under 50s, affecting one out of seven people, predominantly women. People with migraine experience episodes of throbbing, pulsating pain, sometimes accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light, that can last anywhere from a few hours to a few days. More than five percent of patients experience migraines for 15+ days per month - with an average of 22 days - a condition described as chronic migraine. www.salvianeuro.com

About Panakes Partners (Panakes)

Panakes Partners is a venture capital investor that finances medical companies, early-stage startups and SMEs, with extremely promising products and great ambition, in Europe and Israel, improving both patient outcomes and healthcare economics. Investments focus on the medical device, diagnostics and healthcare IT fields. Panakes Partners is headquartered in Milan, Italy. www.panakes.it

About INKEF Capital (INKEF)

INKEF Capital is a venture capital firm based in Amsterdam, backing promising early stage companies in Europe. INKEF takes pride in being a patient, long-term investor with the ability to support companies through several rounds of funding. From the early stages of being a technology or life science venture, INKEF Capital supports entrepreneurs building their ideas into successful international businesses. www.inkefcapital.com

About SHS Gesellschaft fur Beteiligungsmanagement (SHS)

SHS Gesellschaft fur Beteiligungsmanagement is based in Tuebingen, Germany, and invests in medical technology and life science companies with a focus on expansion financing, changes in shareholder structures and successor situations. SHS holds minority as well as majority interests. The company was founded in 1993 and has since gained extensive experience as an industry investor which supports the growth of its portfolio companies through a network of partnerships regarding the introduction of new products, regulatory issues or entering new markets. The SHS fund's European based investors include pension funds, strategic investors, funds of funds, family offices, entrepreneurs and the SHS management team. The AIFM-registered company invests up to 30 million in equity capital and volumes exceeding this amount are implemented with a network of co-investors. SHS is currently investing from its fifth fund which received capital commitments of more than 130 million. Further information: https://www.shs-capital.eu/en/

About Brabant Development Agency (BOM)

BOM (the Brabant Development Agency) works together with entrepreneurs to create a strong, sustainable, and future-proof Brabant economy. BOM uses the Brabant Ventures label to focus, using knowledge and capital, on the accelerated and future-proof growth of ambitious Brabant startups and scale-ups in the life sciences & health, high-tech systems and software, agri-food, maintenance, supply chain, and bio-based economy top industries. www.bom.nl/english

About Thuja Capital Management (Thuja)

Thuja manages several venture capital funds aimed at building and scaling companies in the fields of (bio)pharmaceuticals, MedTech, and digital health. In addition to generating a financial return for its investors, Thuja's investments positively impact the health and well-being of patients. Thuja serves physicians and patients worldwide by providing capital to daring entrepreneurs with ground-breaking product concepts locally. www.thujacapital.com

About Dolby Family Ventures

Dolby Family Ventures is an early stage venture firm focused on building great technology and life sciences companies. We partner with best-in-class innovators and strong investment syndicate partners. The fund honors the legacy of Ray Dolby and his commitment to entrepreneurs and their vision to solve the world's toughest problems. Our life science investments focus on novel disease modifying therapeutics for Alzheimer's disease, clinical depression, and neuromodulation therapies. www.dolbyventures.com

About Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO)

The Dutch government encourages ambitious entrepreneurs with access to capital, knowledge, and business partners. The implementation of the financing instruments aiming at innovation and growth forms an important part of the activities of RVO.nl. Innovation Credit is one of these financing instruments. Netherlands Enterprise Agency is part of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy. www.rvo.nl

Steiner, T.J., Stovner, L.J., Vos, T. et al. Migraine is first cause of disability in under 50s: will health politicians now take notice?. J Headache Pain 19, 17 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1186/s10194-018-0846-2

Richard B Lipton, Merle L Diamond, Stewart J Tepper, Expert Perspectives-Migraine Prevention for Highly Impacted Patients
SEATTLE, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The nonprofit Alaska Airlines Foundation has awarded $430,000 in LIFT grants to 41 nonprofits in Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington. With this latest round of grants, the Foundation has donated $750,000 this year to organizations in communities served by Alaska Airlines. Called by the heightened level of need during COVID-19, this is the largest cash distribution since the inception of the Foundation.

As an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Alaska Airlines Foundation has supported nonprofits and communities for more than 20 years.

"Our first round of grants focused on immediate needs in communities as the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded, such as food security and safe shelter. But the impacts of the pandemic are widespread, and our core mission  supporting those working to address racial and educational equity by equipping, empowering, and inspiring young people  has never been more relevant," said Diana Birkett Rakow, Foundation chair and vice president of external relations at Alaska Airlines.

The Alaska Airlines Foundation is focused on programs and initiatives that connect young people to career opportunities and bring an equity lens, to focus and learn from communities.

"We're proud to support these nonprofits with LIFT grants, grateful to continue learning from their critical work and fortunate to have been able to increase the Foundation's giving during a time of challenge and crisis at multiple levels across our communities," said Birkett Rakow.

Cash grants were made to the following 41 organizations:

Washington:

AtWork

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound

CHOICES Education Group

College Possible

Communities in Schools of Washington State

Juma Ventures

Rainier Scholars

Somali Community Services of Seattle

Southwest Youth & Family Services

Techbridge Girls

Technology Access Foundation

Treehouse

Northwest African American Museum

Northwest Education Access

United Way of King County

Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle

Washington Alliance for Better Schools

Washington FIRST Robotics

The Washington STEM Center

Year Up, Inc.

Young Men's Christian Association

Alaska:

Alaska Development Corporation - FIRST

Covenant House Alaska

EXCEL Alaska, Inc.

Junior Achievement of Alaska, Inc.

Volunteers of America of Alaska

California:

African American Community Services Agency

Dev/Mission

Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley

Junior Achievement of San Diego County

Mission Bit

NatureBridge

Spanish Speaking Unity Council of Alameda County

Hawaii:

Adult Friends of Youth

ClimbHI

Girl Scouts of Hawaii

Nalukai Foundation, Inc.

Oregon:

College Possible New Avenues for Youth

Junior Achievement of Oregon & SW Washington

New Avenues for Youth

Portland Workforce Alliance

The Alaska Airlines Foundation is a private, independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Anchorage, Alaska. The Foundation's core mission is to enable opportunity for young people through LIFT grants in the communities where we fly. Learn more about the Alaska Airlines Foundation.

SOURCE Alaska Airlines

Related Links

http://www.alaskaair.com


The man, whose name has not been released, was not the target in the shooting about 10:30 a.m. in the 100 block of North Western Avenue, police said. He was hit once in the chest and taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
By PTI

PANAJI: Actor Poonam Pandey's husband Sam Bombay was arrested on Tuesday in Goa after she filed a complaint claiming he had molested, threatened and assaulted her, police said.

The incident happened in Canacona village in south Goa where Pandey is currently shooting for a film, said an official.

"Pandey filed a complaint late Monday night claiming her husband Sam Bombay had molested her, and threatened her with dire consequences after assaulting her. He was arrested," Inspector Tukaram Chavan of Canacona police station said.

The victim was subjected to mandatory medical tests, he added.
Warm weather saw visitors flock to Blackpool over the weekend despite authorities warning against having a last blast in the resort town ahead of the introduction of tighter coronavirus restrictions in Lancashire.

Footage showed crowds of people on the promenade on Saturday and people reported queues for attractions, gridlocked traffic, little social distancing and few people wearing masks indoors.

Police had said they were preparing for large crowds over the weekend.

One visitor, Gem Concannon, 36, from Northwich, Cheshire, said she had never seen it as busy as it was on Saturday.

It was heaving, hardly anyone was wearing masks or social distancing. It was shocking, she said.

Terry Woods, Lancashire Constabularys deputy chief constable, told potential visitors on Friday to resist the urge to go to Blackpool.

What we need to do is focus on protecting yourself and your family, he said.

Make sensible decisions to protect yourselves, going to Blackpool in mass numbers is quite the opposite of protecting yourselves.

Dr Arif Rajpura, Blackpools director of public health, also issued a warning on Friday about the dangers of gathering in the area over the weekend and urged people to adhere to the rule-of-six restrictions, practise social distancing and wear masks.

He said: The special measures that have been announced by the government across large swathes of the north of England over the past 48 hours illustrate that nowhere is immune to this sort of intervention.

Extra measures, ordering pubs and restaurants to shut by 10pm and preventing households from mixing in homes, will come into force to tackle rising coronavirus rates in Lancashire on Tuesday.

Blackpool, however, is run by a separate unitary authority and will not be subject to the restrictions.

People walk along the beach front at Boscombe Beach in Dorset (PA)

Infection rates in the seaside town are lower than in some parts of the county, but the area has seen an increase in positive cases.

Elsewhere, crowds were seen gathering in Dorset to catch the last of the summer sun as temperatures peaked at 25C in the UK.

Police in Dorset had urged residents to play their part to prevent the spread of coronavirus and warned that anyone flouting the rule-of-six measures over the weekend may be subject to fines.

Martyn Underhill, Dorset police and crime commissioner, said: I can appreciate that many people feel weary about what feels like yet another set of regulations coming into force, but sadly Covid-19 is still with us and we all have a duty to stop its spread.

Additional reporting by Press Association
A Czech parliamentarian has written that the US is engaging in theft in Syria and that their presence is not legal writes SANA.

Member of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic Zdenek Ondracek affirmed that the presence of the US on Syrian territories is illegitimate, since it hasnt obtained any authorization from the Security Council or received any invitation from the legitimate Syrian government.

Ondracek, in a comment published on Monday, clarified that through its illegitimate presence on the Syrian territories, Washington pillages and smuggles Syrian oil, describing the claims that it promotes as ridiculous.

Czech news website, Narodni Noviny, for its part, asserted that the US military presence in Syria is illegitimate and the US occupation forces are stealing and smuggling Syrian oil.

This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine does not currently see a threat of the European Unions revision of the visa-free regime with Ukraine.

"Currently, Ukraine has a clear understanding and homework on the great European integration track. This is a package of reforms that we are working on every day, including the fight against corruption and the activities of independent anti-corruption bodies. Almost all government agencies are involved in this track," First Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Emine Dzheppar said in an interview with the Voice of America.

According to the deputy minister, currently there are no grounds for a possible revision of visa-free travel to the EU for Ukrainian citizens.

"There is a clear understanding of how to move and what is important and what needs to be done. And all these actions are coordinated at the highest level," Dzheppar assured.

According to her, the EU has invested much in both the economy and the rule of law system in Ukraine over the past six years, and Kyiv, in turn, always "listens to the opinion of international partners."

At the same time, the official noted that Ukraine had not received any official information from the European Union about a possible revision of the visa-free policy.

"Certain statements that may be made are still statements by political figures," Dzheppar added.

As reported, some MEPs highlighted possible risks that may arise due to the situation around the appointment of a new head of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutors Office.

On September 17, the Verkhovna Rada approved representatives to the competition commission for the election of a head of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutors Office.

The EU Delegation to Ukraine and the US Embassy in Ukraine stated that they had taken note of the Ukrainian Parliaments decision on the competition commission and stated that further support would depend on its work.

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He announced he is expecting his first child with fiancee London Goheen earlier this month.

And on Tuesday, Reece Hawkins cuddled up to the pregnant brunette beauty, 22, for a sweet selfie.

The Instagram Influencer, 25, who also shares two children with ex fiancee Tammy Hembrow, looked every inch the doting partner as he hugged his lady love.

Loved-up! Reece Hawkins cuddled up with his pregnant model fiancee London Goheen for a sweet selfie on Tuesday. He looked every inch the doting partner as the American stunner looked blissfully in love cosied up to Reece's heavily tattooed chest

London looked blissfully in love as she cosied up to Reece's heavily tattooed chest.

The couple's sweet selfie comes after the mother-to-be showed off a glimpse of her baby bump.

On Tuesday, she shared a photo of herself in a vintage Pink Floyd shirt that was tied up under her midriff and exposed her belly.

Bumping along nicely! On Tuesday, she shared a photo of herself in a vintage Pink Floyd shirt that was tied up under her midriff that exposed her belly

Last week, the American stunner shared a similar photo of herself showing off a glimpse of her bump posing for a mirror selfie in a singlet and a tiny pair of booty shorts.

'Night night y'all,' London captioned the image.

In the image, which was taken in her bathroom, London wears a blue singlet and shorts from Fashion Nova.

Mummy-to-be! Last week, London flashed a hint of her baby bump in a singlet and booty shorts as she posed for a mirror selfie

In the image, she stuns with her long dark hair out and over her shoulders, while showing off a deep golden tan.

It comes after she was slammed for charging her followers to see photos of her baby bump on OnlyFans.

London copped backlash on social media after revealing she was going to be charging people $14.99 per month on the subscription service.

Baby joy: London is expecting her first child with her, fiance Reece Hawkins (pictured)

OnlyFans is a subscription-based adult website where content can range from something as innocent as a suggestive selfie, all the way to hardcore pornography.

'She's literally charging people for her OnlyFans to view pics of her bump? What the f**k,' one follower commented on London's pregnancy announcement on Instagram.

Another wrote: 'Wow sis is really charging $9.99 per month to see her pregnancy photos lol.'

'What the f**k': It comes after she was slammed for charging her followers to see photos of her baby bump on OnlyFans

One fan said that while she's happy for influencer Reece, 25, and London, they just can't comprehend coughing up the cash for the images.

'Congratulations. I would love to keep track of everything for your pregnancy. Just like with your relationship to watch you guys grow together... But I don't want to pay for an OnlyFans...'

However, another follower said that posting to OnlyFans is a good idea, saying it's 'so much safer and more secure!!'

Pricey! London, who boasts 524,000 Instagram followers, copped backlash after revealing she was going to be charging fans $14.99 per month on the subscription service

'I have 100 per cent control on my profile': In a statement to Daily Mail Australia earlier this month, London defended her decision to show off her baby bump on OnlyFans

In a statement to Daily Mail Australia earlier this month, London defended her decision to show off her baby bump on OnlyFans.

'I have chosen to show detailed parts of my pregnancy on that platform because I've had to experience harassment and bullying for the last two years over my relationship with Reece,' she explained.

'I have 100 per cent control of my profile and what people have access to and comment on.

'I never said it was compulsory. People can choose if they wish to subscribe or not. If people don't like the idea of it or disagree with my decision then they don't have to be involved...

'We're just doing this to ensure a HAPPY POSITIVE FRUITFUL PREGNANCY.'

Earlier this month, Reece and London announced they were expecting their first child together, just weeks after getting engaged.

Reece shares two children with his ex-partner Tammy Hembrow: son Wolf, five, and daughter Saskia, four.
Armenias State Revenue Committee (SRC) moved to arrest Minasian in late April one month after charging him with illegal enrichment, false asset disclosure and money laundering. A Yerevan court of first instance allowed the arrest in early May. The decision was overturned by the Court of Appeals a month later, however.

The SRC responded by broadening the criminal charges leveled against Minasian. It said that he had also failed to declare his de facto ownership from 2012-2018 of a 49 percent stake in Armenias largest food-exporting company. Nevertheless, investigators were rebuffed by a lower court in early July.

The SRC is understood to have further expanded the case against Minasian before making yet another attempt to secure permission to arrest him. A court judge agreed to the demand this time around.

A spokesman for the Office of the Prosecutor-General, Gor Abrahamian, welcomed the ruling. He said it allows Armenian law-enforcement authorities to seek Minasians extradition.

Minasians lawyers did not immediately react to the ruling. They said earlier that their client is a victim of political persecution overseen by the Armenian government.

Minasian enjoyed considerable political and economic influence in Armenia when it was ruled by Sarkisian from 2008-2018. He is also thought to have developed extensive business interests in various sectors of the Armenian economy.

A vocal critic of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian, Minasian left Armenia shortly after he was dismissed as ambassador to the Vatican in late 2018. He has so far declined to reveal his place of residence. According to some media reports, the 42-year-old currently lives in Russia.

Earlier this year, Minasian posted on Facebook a series of lengthy video addresses to Armenians accusing Pashinian of corruption and misrule. For his part, Pashinian has repeatedly accused the ex-presidents son-in-law of illegally making a huge fortune during Sarkisians rule.

Another law-enforcement body, the Special Investigative Service (SIS), is conducting a separate corruption inquiry relating to Minasian. The probe stems from the 2010 privatization of a hydroelectric plant in northern Armenia.

The DzoraHEK plant was sold to a company reportedly controlled by Minasian for 3.6 billion drams ($7.5 million). Prosecutors say that the 26-megawatt facility was in fact worth 8 billion drams ($16.8 million).
Seattle, Sep 22 : Microsoft on Tuesday announced several new capabilities to help people stay connected, collaborate and build solutions in its video meet app Teams.

While there isn't a limit on the number of people in a Teams tenant, team membership is currently limited to 5,000 members. Later this year, it will be increased to support up to 25,000 members per individual team, the company said.

Coming in October, breakout rooms will allow meeting organisers to split up participants into smaller groups to facilitate brainstorming sessions or workgroup discussions.

Presenters can choose to hop between breakout rooms, make announcements to all breakout rooms, and/or close the breakout rooms that then bring everybody back into the main meeting.

"With the new Together mode scenes coming this year, you can transport your team to a variety of settings that can help set the tone and create the experience for your meeting, whether it be an auditorium, a conference room, or a coffee shop," the company said during the 'Microsoft Ignite 2020' virtual conference.

Coming later this year, custom layouts will allow for a more dynamic content viewing experience and enable presenters to customise how content shows up for participants during a meeting.

For example, when a presenter is showing a PowerPoint slide, participants will be able to see the presenter's video feed transposed onto the foreground of the slide they're showing.

Microsoft said that later this year, Teams will have the option for a recap with the meeting recording, transcript, chat, shared files and more that can be automatically shared in the meeting Chat tab and viewable in the Details tab for each meeting.

The recap will also be available in the meeting event in the Outlook calendar.

"For more structured meetings such as customer webinars, organisers can use event registration with automated emails to make it easier to manage attendance. After the meeting, a detailed reporting dashboard will help understand attendee engagement," Microsoft announced.

Microsoft Teams will have a streamlined view that shows contacts, voicemail and calling history at once, making it easier to initiate or return a call with a single click.

A new search experience in Teams, powered by Microsoft Search and available late this year, will make finding messages, people, answers, and files faster and more intuitive.

"This redesigned search results page provides better context and faster results, with AI-powered relevance based on the people and content you engage with most in Teams and other Microsoft 365 services," the tech giant announced.

Also, new personal well-being features like a virtual commute, integration with apps like Headspace, and an emotional check-in experience will be available in the first half of 2021.

In an effort to strengthen security, Mcrosoft will enable customers to add a layer of encryption using their own keys for Teams, similar to Exchange Online, SharePoint Online and OneDrive.

"Customer Key for Teams is targeting public preview before the end of this calendar year".

Developers will soon be able to integrate their apps into Teams meetings and create scenarios that have deep awareness of the meeting context - including roster, roles, and permissions, Microsoft said.
Donald Trump and his rival for the White House, Joe Biden, were campaigning on Monday in two US battleground states that could decide the November election as they sparred over the presidents plan to fill a vacant Supreme Court seat.

A Republican seeking re-election on Nov. 3, Trump will hold campaign events in Ohio, a state some Democrats once saw as a lock for Trump, while Biden, the Democratic former vice president, makes his second trip of the month to Wisconsin.

Each is reckoning with a presidential contest that was upended by Fridays death of the liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Trumps intention to appoint a replacement before the election, which would cement a 6-3 conservative majority, has angered Democrats and shifted the campaigns focus away from the coronavirus pandemic that has killed nearly 200,000 Americans and thrown millions out of work.

Biden on Sunday said the winner of the election should pick the person who fills Ginsburgs seat. He called Trumps planned appointment an exercise of raw political power after Republican senators refused to consider Democratic President Barack Obamas nominee in 2016, citing that years presidential election.

In a Fox News interview on Monday, Trump said he will name his choice to replace Ginsburg by Friday or Saturday, after mourners pay their respects.

Ginsburgs body will lay in repose at the court on Wednesday and Thursday before she lies in state at the US Capitol on Friday.

Ohio and Wisconsin are hotly contested because their population can swing either to Republicans or Democrats and play a decisive role in presidential elections.

In his last visit to Wisconsin, Biden went to Kenosha and spoke with Jacob Blake, the Black man whose shooting by police prompted widespread unrest.

This time, Biden will visit largely white Manitowoc County, which supported the former vice president and President Barack Obama when they ran on the Democratic ticket in 2008. The county backed Trump in 2016, helping deliver the state to a Republican presidential candidate for the first time since 1984.

Trumps campaign has also prioritized the state after winning it in 2016 by less than 1% of the vote. Trump visited Wisconsin last week, announcing a new round of coronavirus pandemic assistance to farmers of about $13 billion.

Opinion polls show Biden leading by several points in Wisconsin, mirroring his overall lead nationwide.

Biden has built a formidable financial advantage for the campaigns final stretch after a massive fundraising haul in August. The campaign and its party allies will report having $466 million in cash at the end of August, while Trumps war chest stood at $325 million, according to officials from both sides.

Early voting, both in-person and by mail, has already begun in a handful of states.

The use of absentee ballots is expected to skyrocket this fall amid the pandemic. Trump has repeatedly asserted without evidence that voting by mail is subject to fraud, while Democrats raised alarm when Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, a Trump ally, implemented cost-cutting measures amid delivery delays. DeJoy has since said he will pause some of the changes.

A federal judge in New York on Monday ordered the US Postal Service to expedite all mail ballots and ensure that postal workers are able to work overtime to ensure votes are processed. Last week, another judge issued an injunction freezing operational changes DeJoy had made.

In Ohio, Trump is expected to speak about fighting for the American worker, with a focus on the economic themes that dominated his re-election pitch prior to Ginsburgs death, before attending a rally.

Earlier in the race, many Democrats had privately written Ohio off, seeing it as firmly in Trumps grasp. But polls show a tight contest, and Bidens campaign is now pursuing wins in an expanded set of states.

On Monday, Bidens campaign said it would add Georgia and Iowa to a list of 10 other states where it is running paid advertisements. Meanwhile, campaign finance filings on Sunday showed the national Republican Party transferred $1.3 million in August to the coffers of the state party in Texas, a longtime Republican stronghold that Democrats also hope to make competitive.
Press Release

September 22, 2020 Imee: SUCs are for Filipinos, not foreigners Senator Imee Marcos has sought to end the commercialization of state colleges and universities (SUCs) that has allowed foreign students to enjoy the same benefits reserved for Filipino state scholars. Marcos said enrollment quotas for foreign students were preventing more Filipinos from availing of government-funded college education, particularly in expensive medical courses. "Let's take care of Filipinos first. Our taxes must support our future Filipino doctors, especially amid this enduring pandemic," Marcos said. "Our effort to ratchet up our supply of doctors may be lost entirely and merely expended on foreigners," Marcos added, citing that the Senate was on the verge of enacting legislation on expanding medical scholarship, known as the 'Doktor Para Sa Bayan' bill. Marcos called on the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) to submit a list of foreign students in SUCs in the past five years, during a Senate finance committee hearing Monday on the government agency's budget for 2021. The CHEd is asking for an additional Php4.6 billion to expand the government's capacity to sponsor Filipino medical students to 5,368 each year. CHEd chief Prospero De Vera said that the government agency's hands were tied in limiting the number of foreign students in SUCs because the decision to accept them rested on the Board of Regents of each college or university. The Bureau of Immigration has recorded some 26,000 foreign students in the country but did not determine how many were studying medicine in eight SUCs including Mariano Marcos State University, University of Northern Philippines, Cagayan State University, Bicol University, West Visayas State University, University of the Philippines - School of Health Sciences, University of the Philippines - Manila, at Mindanao State University - Marawi. Three more SUCs have an ongoing application to offer medical courses - Cebu Normal University, Western Mindanao State Univerity in Zamboanga City, and the University of Southeastern Philippines in Davao City. Marcos called on the CHEd, SUCs, and the Bureau of Immigration to conduct an immediate review of policies regarding foreign students to ensure that Filipino students are given priority. Marcos also sought the cooperation of medical student organizations to stay alert and report to the government on how SUCs might be favoring foreign students.
Chronicle photographer Yalonda M. James photo of Angela Davis at this years Juneteenth protest in Oakland reminded me of Davis long history of political activism in the Bay Area  and front-page coverage in The Chronicle. A visit to the archives turned up photos from her early days in the Bay Area, including several photo negatives not published before.

Davis made the front page 51 years ago when the University of California Board of Regents voted to fire her from her professorship at UCLA for belonging to the Communist Party.

The dismissal automatically involves the University in the most explosive academic freedom case to arise since the loyalty oath fight during the McCarthy era. Chronicle education reporter Ron Moskowitz wrote.

While I think this membership requires no justification here, I want you to know that as a black woman, I feel an urgent need to find radical solutions to the problems of racial and national minorities in white capitalist United States, Davies she wrote to UCLA when asked about her membership in the party.

The UC regents spent three hours in a closed-door session before firing her. Gov. Ronald Reagan had even gotten involved, calling a meeting with the press to advocate Davis firing.

The governor was asked how he could support the dismissal considering he had voted to not institute a political test on university hiring and promotions. The Communist Party is considered not to be a political party per se, Reagan said, but a subversive organization since its members have a prior allegiance to another country.

Davis appealed, calling the regents accomplices in an effort to root out individuals who are critical of the very fabric of American society.

It is very important to win this case in court for if we lose and the policy continues, it means they can also pass a resolution against hiring members of the SDS (Students for a Democratic Society), the Black Panthers, even the CDC (California Democratic Council), Davis said in an interview with Blake Green a week later. I dont see this as an attack on me as individual, but on the university, the black community and women in general.

During the appeal, UCLA ruled that Davis would be allowed to lecture, but the students would receive no grades. Her first lecture  originally enrolled as a class of about 160  was attended by 2,000 people.

Ultimately the California Superior Court ruled that the regents could not constitutionally fire Davis for being a Communist. She finished the school year, but in June 1970, the regents voted to not to rehire her. She announced she would take legal action.

Over the summer, though, Davis would again hit the front pages for a very different reason.

In August 1970, an armed attempt to free prisoners in a courtroom at the Marin County Civic Center ended in a shootout, killing four people, including Judge Harold J. Haley.

Weapons used in the escape attempt had been purchased by Davis, and police alleged she was involved in the plot, charging her with kidnapping, murder and conspiracy. She fled. While a fugitive, Davis ended up the FBIs Ten Most Wanted list, only the third woman to appear on the list by that time. She was captured in New York and extradited to California in December.

Davis spent more a year in jail until bail was finally allowed. Davis addressed the media soon after she was released. Power to the people, Davis said, reading from a prepared statement, adding her release meant political prisoners can no longer be held indefinitely in jail ... to break their will to fight.

On Feb. 28, 1972, after 16 months of pretrial wrangling that included a change of venue from Marin to Santa Clara County and disqualification of several judges, the trial got under way. By June, it was all over. The jury deliberated only 13 hours before finding Angela Davis innocent of all three charges. She embraced the jury one by one and declared her acquittal a peoples victory.

ANGELA IS ACQUITTED read the headline on the June 5, 1972, Chronicle front page. Several stories covered the emotional reaction to the acquittal from Davis family members and supporters gathered inside the courtroom and outside the courthouse in San Jose. Upon leaving the trial, Davis told a press conference she had no intention of halting her efforts to bring about revolutionary change in this country, wrote reporter Carolyn Anspacher.

Davis stayed active in politics and returned to teaching in the area at San Francisco State University and later at UC Santa Cruz. She ran for vice president as the Communist Party candidate in 1980 and 1984, but left the party in 1991.

More from the Archive The Vault Home of the San Francisco Chronicle's archive and more than 150 years of journalism covering the Bay Area and beyond.

More recently she spoke at a rally during a labor shutdown at the Port of Oakland to protest police violence and racism. Later, in August, she participated in an online event to raise money for a progressive state organization. Davis, no stranger to civil rights movements, said protests in 2020 have been dramatic but only part of activists work.

Im 76 years old and Ive participated in movements during so many different eras, but I have never experienced anything like this, Davis said at the online event. But we all have to do the work that will translate these dreams, these ideas into reality.

Yalonda M. James / The Chronicle

More from Chronicle Vault

 Peoples Park Bloody Thursday: More than 50 years later, unearthing never-before-seen photos.

 Dawn of Bay Area protest movement: 1960 photos show SF riot over communist-hunting committee.

 Bay Area teach-in: How The Chronicle covered the first Earth Day, 50 years ago.

 Animal diplomacy: When S.F.s mayor was a guest of the Soviet Union and seals followed him home.

From the Archive is a weekly column by Bill Van Niekerken, the library director of The Chronicle, exploring the depths of the newspapers archive. Its part of Chronicle Vault, a twice-weekly newsletter highlighting more than 150 years of San Francisco stories. It is edited by Taylor Kate Brown, The Chronicles newsletter editor. Sign up for the newsletter here, and follow Chronicle Vault on Instagram. Contact Bill at bvanniekerken@sfchronicle.com and Taylor at taylor.brown@sfchronicle.com.
Bah, COVID.

The Toronto Christmas Market in the Distillery Historic District is cancelled this year.

The outdoor cobblestone market attracted roughly 700,000 visitors last year, which is too much of a good thing for COVID-19.

As we continue to work together through these challenging and unprecedented times, the health and well-being of our patrons is of upmost importance, said Elena Price, general manager of the Distillery Historic District, in a news release.

Given the pandemic and the number of patrons who attend this event, we regret to advise that, for the first time in 11 years, the Toronto Christmas Market will be cancelled, as the crowds are just too large for safe physical distancing, Price said.

The not-for-profit Toronto Christmas Market, which donated to groups like the Daily Bread Food Bank and the Toronto Star Santa Claus Fund, has fallen victim to the pandemic, but the 15-metre Christmas tree will be back, festooned with 40,000 lights.

Price said the Distillery District stores, art galleries, restaurants and cafes will remain open as part of a Winter Village event, from early November until the end of March.
In the Tata-Mistry tussle, the Supreme Court on Tuesday restricted further fund raising by from pledging or transferring shares owned by them till October 28.

A bench headed by Chief Justice S.A. Bobde said the group should not take any further action on the shares, they have already pledged for raising funds.

Senior advocate C.A. Sundaram, representing Shapoorji Pallonji group, argued before the bench also comprising Justices A.S. Bopanna and V. Ramasubramanian that the other party is creating havoc on its fundraising plans, and the situation is coming to a stage, where my client is being blocked in every possible way.

Pallonji Group has 18.4 per cent shareholding of Tata Sons, and Tata Trusts owns 66 per cent stake in

Counsel for contended before the bench that banks were refusing to give credit in the backdrop of pendency of this plea, and cited that his client's company has nearly 60,000 employees.

The Pallonji group argued that there is a clear difference between pledging and transferring of shares, and is advertising the pendency of this plea and it having an impact on the company's effort to restructure loans with banks.

Senior advocate Harish Salve, representing Tata Sons, submitted before the bench that they are looking at creating mischief. Salve argued that if Pallonji group defaults, then banks could sell the pledged shares.

Salve urged the top court to stop the sale of shares and emphasized that in four weeks, the situation will be beyond repair, if Mistry is not stopped.

"If they want to sell, we are willing to buy. Pallonji group must be restricted from raising further funds by pledging shares," submitted Salve. The bench noted that it seems, Mistry is not ready to maintain the status quo.

After a hearing on the matter, the bench directed status quo should be maintained with respect to pledging, transferring, and further action on pledged shares. The bench has scheduled the next hearing on the matter on October 28.

--IANS

ss/in

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Attorney General (AG) is praying an Accra High Court to dismiss the case of seven Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and four persons who sued government over alleged mining of bauxite in the Atewa Forest Range.



According to the AG, the seven CSOs and four private citizens were "mere crying wolf."



In a statement of defence filed by Mrs Dorothy Afriyie Ansah, Chief State Attorney on behalf of the AG, over 20 points raised by the plaintiffs have been denied by state.



The AG in response to the case of the CSOs and four private citizens, denied that government had started searching or prospecting for minerals on or over land within the Atewa Forest Range without a mineral right and in flagrant abuse of the Mineral and Mining Act.



The state further denied that government refused to engage communities and environmentalists who maintained that strip mining was not sustainable.



The AG explained that government would utilize a portion of the Atewa Forest and therefore licensed an area constituting 1.95 per cent of the Atewa Forest to be mined.



"In deed, the actual mining in such a minute fraction of the area will not be hazardous to the forest and any species that live within."



According to the AG "not the entire Atewa Forest is Globally Significant Biodiversity Area (GSBA)."



The AG said with the adoption of responsible and environmentally friendly techniques, no environmental havoc would be caused to the Atewa Forest.



"In deed, various institutions including; the Environmental Protection Agency and GIADEC would ensure the protection of the environment through sustainable mining practices", the AG added.



According to the defendant (AG) government in ensuring the protection of the environment and spices, had set up a Standing Committee, which comprised various mining and environmental regulatory agencies and commissions to ensure optimum adherence to responsible and sustainable practices, to protect water bodies and spices within the mining area.



The AG argued that many countries such as Brazil and Australia, had successfully conducted mining activities in Forest reserves such as Amazon Rain Forest and Jarah Forest under well supervised sustainable mining practices.



According to the AG, mining activities was successfully conducted in some forest reserves in Ghana and Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) had been conducted to ensure proper reclamation and afforestation projects in mining areas.



The AG noted that bauxite mining was only done on surface of about "4m to 15m".



The AG also denied that Ghana is a signatory to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD).

In further answer, the defendant states that Ghana has not ratified the said conventions under Article 75(2) of the 1992 Constitution.



In further response, Defendant states that per Article 73 of the 1992 Constitution, the Government of Ghana shall conduct international affairs in accordance with accepted principles of public and international law and diplomacy in a manner consistent with national interest of Ghana.



In July this year, CSOs and four private citizens, jointly sued the Government over the exploration and drilling of deep wells in the Atewa Forest Reserve.



Mr Martin Kpebu, the counsel for the plaintiffs filed the writ against the Attorney General at the General Jurisdiction Court (High Court) Division.



The CSOs are: A Rocha Ghana, Flower Ghana, Concern Citizens of Atewa Landscape, Ghana Youth Environmental Movement, Ecocare Ghana, Kasa Initiative Ghana and Save the Frogs Ghana.



The private citizens are: Awula Serwah, Oteng Adjei, Boakye Twumasi- Ankrah and Nana Asante.



The plaintiffs, in their writ, are seeking an order compelling the Government and its agents to declare the Atewa Range Forest (ARF) as a Protected Zone and take steps to protect the forest in accordance with its constitutional obligation, as contained under Article 36 (9) of the 1992 Constitution.



They are seeking an order directed at the government to restore and pay cost for the restoration of damages that had been caused to the ARF.



The plaintiffs are also seeking a declaration that the mining of bauxite in the ARF violates the right to life and dignity, as enshrined in the Constitution.



According to them, the right to life and dignity, as enshrined in the Articles 13 and 15 of the Constitution, included; the right to have the environment protected for the benefit of the present and future generations.



The plaintiff further consider the critical importance of Atewa Range Forest to the water supply system and biodiversity among others, and will not be best to exploit the Atewa Range Forest.



They were therefore, praying the Court to restrain government, its agents, workmen, Allotees and guarantees from undertaking mining and its related activities in the forest.



Government has a greater responsibility to protect and safeguard the environment and address Climate Change, and secure biodiversity as obligated under two international conventions that it is a signatory to.



The plaintiffs said, government, however, in 2017 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Republic of China, with the ARF as one of the sources of bauxite.



Based on the MoU, government commenced with the prospecting of minerals and in flagrant disregard of Section 9 of the Minerals Act 2006 (Act 703) as amended, the plaintiffs said.



They said government, through the Integrated Aluminum Development Corporation (GAIDEC) entered the forest in May 2019 and as at the time of filing the writ, 53 deep wells had been drilled.



They were not against governments quest to mobilise revenue by exploiting Ghanas natural resources for national development, they pointed out.



However, Ghana did not need to exploit the Atewa Forest Bauxite reserve because there were other bauxite reserves, they said.



The plaintiffs averred that GIADEC estimated that there were 900-million tonnes of bauxite minerals across Ghana, with Nyinahin alone, holding 700-million tons (77.98 per cent) while Awaso and Kyebi had 60-million (6.68 per cent) and 160-million (17.8 per cent) respectively.



They hold that only 17.8 percent of Ghanas bauxite could be found in Kyebi, the area within which ARF could be found.



Hence more than 82 percent of Ghanas bauxite could be mined without compromising the existence of the ARF.

Source: GNA









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New Delhi, Sep 22 : In a massive crackdown against the underworld, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday attached properties worth Rs 200 crore in Dubai belonging to Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar's late close aide Iqbal Mirchi in connection with a money laundering probe, officials said.

"We have attached about 15 properties of Mirchi and his family members, including in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Dubai, to the tune of Rs 200 crore under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act," a senior ED official related to the probe told IANS.

The case pertains to Mirchi's Mumbai properties, which have been called "proceeds of crime". According to the officials, the financial probe agency had already identified Mirchi's 30 properties in London, Dubai and Mumbai worth Rs 1,000 crore.

A criminal case was filed against Mirchi, his family members and others for alleged illegal dealings in purchase and sale of Ceejay House, Sahil Bungalow, Rabia Mansion, Marium Lodge and Sea View at prime Worli locations in Mumbai.

In December last year, the ED attached properties worth Rs 600 crore.

The attached properties included commercial buildings -- Ceejay House located at Worli and Arun Chambers in Tardeo area of Mumbai, worth Rs 76 crore.

It also attached properties worth Rs 500 crore, including Sahil Bungalow, Rabia Mansion, Marium Lodge and Sea View at prime Worli locations and three commercial shops in Crawford market and five acre land in Lonawala.

The ED has already questioned former Union Minister and NCP leader Praful Patel, Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty's husband Raj Kundra, and several others in the case.
After 28 years working his way through the ranks at Six Nations Police, including leading criminal investigations into some of the communitys most serious cases, Darren Montour is the new chief of the First Nations police service.

He takes over the top job at a time when the community is dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing drug crisis, as well as continued tension between those who support the elected council and police, and those who only recognize the traditional hereditary chiefs.

Montour says there is fine line for him, respecting his community culture and history, while still upholding the law. The way he sees it, his police work is about protecting victims of crime, because the victims are also from Six Nations, he says.

Like most of the 36 uniformed officers that make up Six Nations Police, Montour is from the community.

He was raised in an ironworker family. His grandfather, dad, uncles, cousins and brothers all followed that path, and at first Montour did as well. But as a young man with little work available, he noticed an advertisement for the police service. With the support of family he applied and was hired.

It was the best decision he ever made.

Montour officially took over Aug. 17 from longtime chief Glenn Lickers.

Theyre some big shoes to fill, Montour said of his predecessor.

Lickers mentored him along the way, as Montour found out how busy the chiefs job can be. During the transition time there were major incidents in the community, including a fire at Six Nations elected Chief Mark Hills house  the Aug. 18 fire is being investigated as an arson.

Coming from a criminal investigation background it was a change for him to have to stay back and give direction to his officers, without actively investigating.

Montour was the inspector of the criminal investigations unit for nine years and before that he worked in criminal intelligence. He was involved in undercover operations, weapons investigations and helped run Project Shutdown  a multi-agency initiative that targeted vehicle thieves in the region.

He led Six Nations Police in one of the communitys most devastating crimes  the murders of Melissa Miller, 37, Alan Porter, 33, and Michael Jamieson, 32, found dead in a field near Oneida Nation of the Thames in November 2018.

During a news conference where the heartbroken families pleaded for anyone with information to come forward, Montour spoke about how the triple murder impacted everyone on Six Nations. Three people would eventually be charged with second-degree murder in the case. Like many other crimes in the community police say it was fuelled by drugs.

There are challenging aspects of policing in the community where you live: victims may be your cousin or neighbour; the accused might be someone you grew up with. But Montour says thats also the strength of First Nations policing.

I see First Nations policing as the model for community policing, he said.

At a time when there are some calling to defund the police and there is a reckoning around systemic racism, Montour said outside police services can learn from communities like Six Nations.

That 99 per cent of their officers are from or have family ties to Six Nations means the people represent and reflect the diversity of the community they are policing, he said.

The police have to represent the community theyre part of, he said.

He is in favour of body-worn cameras, but says, like almost everything in policing it comes down to funding.

Six Nations Police are funded 52 per cent by the federal government and 48 per cent by the province. And the budget is always tight  Montour said he watched a recent announcement by Ontario to fund 200 new OPP officers in response to a report on mental health, meanwhile Six Nations Police doesnt even have mobile workstations in their cruisers.

The police service has been working to secure funding, and applies for grants including around human trafficking. Targeting drug traffickers remains the major focus for Six Nations Police.

Montour said police are only part of the solution, there also has to be support and social services for community members struggling with addiction. Drugs, especially fentanyl, are destroying our youth, he said.

Thats why Six Nations Police are part of an ongoing community drug strategy that is taking a holistic approach to the problem. There is even talk of banishing members caught selling drugs.

Coinciding with increased drugs, are increased calls related to mental health in the community. Six Nations Police is in the preliminary stages of establishing a mobile crisis response unit  similar to the model in Hamilton that pairs police with mental-health workers. Montour said theyre working with Six Nations Health Services.

The new police chief has other goals for the service, everything from starting a traffic unit to getting funding for a marine unit to watch the Grand River in the territory.

Montour said his decision nearly three decades ago to become a police officer opened my eyes to what is really going on in his community. Thats why hes so focused on helping victims.
What the court will take up: The case going before the Supreme Court in November looks at the questions of whether the requirement that everyone buy insurance or pay a penalty is now unconstitutional, and, if it is unconstitutional, whether the rest of the law is invalid. In 2017, Congress erased that penalty, and a group of states and two individuals argue the entire law is invalid without it.
A 24-year-old man charged with murder in connection to the death of Hamilton man Sao Young is denying the charge.

The accused appeared in Hamilton District Court on Monday.

Through his counsel Charles Bean, he pleaded not guilty to the single charge of murder, Stuff reports.

Judge Gerard Winter granted the accused man, who also lives in Hamilton, interim name suppression until his next appearance, which will be in the High Court in Hamilton on October 6.

The man was arrested on Saturday evening following an investigation into the death of Sao Young.

Mr Youngs body was discovered on a rural property in Gordonton on Monday, April 13, a month after he was last seen in the Insoll Avenue area of Hamilton.

Detective Inspector Graham Pitkethley says the homicide investigation is ongoing with a focus on identifying and seeking out all those present at the time of Mr Youngs death.

Id like to thank those who have contacted the team to date and encourage others to come forward to explain their involvement.

Our investigation team is committed to establishing the facts, providing closure for Mr Youngs family, and holding those responsible to account.

Information can be provided to Police by calling 105 and quoting file number 200413/6113.

Crimestoppers can also be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.
BURLINGTON, Mass., Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- CIMCON , the leading global provider of smart city technologies , today announced that it has been recognized in Inc. magazine's "2020 Inc. 5000" edition. CIMCON has achieved the recognition as a reflection of its significant revenue growth between 2016 and 2019.

Inc. magazine's "Inc. 5000" is the most prestigious ranking of the nation's fastest-growing private companies. The list recognizes the most successful companies within the American economy's most dynamic segmentits independent small businesses. In the past, companies such as Intuit, Zappos, Under Armour, Microsoft, Oracle, Hubspot and Patagonia have gained their first national exposure as honorees on the Inc. 5000. The aggregate revenue for the 5,000 companies listed in this edition of the award was $209 billion for 2019, and accounted for over 1 million jobs over the past three years.

"It is an honor to be selected for this recognition," said Anil Agrawal, CIMCON CEO. "We would like to thank our growing list of city and utility customers spread across 24 countries for putting their trust in us resulting in significant growth that earned us the honor of making it to this year's Inc. 5000 list."

About CIMCON Lighting, Inc.

With a heritage of over 25 years of innovation and experience in industrial automation and outdoor wireless applications, CIMCON provides the most proven and most complete smart city solutions to global cities and utilities. The company is the world's leading provider of scalable, intelligent wireless outdoor lighting management solutions for traditional, LED and solar-based street lights, and the company's smart city platform provides an easy way to deploy, manage and maintain smart city devices and applications. Focused on offering solutions that provide the lowest "Lifecycle Cost of Ownership," CIMCON provides hardware and software technologies that allow cities and utilities to monitor, maintain and in many cases, monetize their assets and other devices on or near the light pole. CIMCON's "Just in Time Lighting," reduces energy, maintenance and repair costs while improving the quality of lighting services and enabling the path to a smart city. For more information, please visit www.cimconlighting.com.

Follow CIMCON on LinkedIn , Twitter , Facebook , and YouTube .

Media Contact:

Heidi Sporel

Director, Marketing

CIMCON

[email protected]

Tel: 781-565-8259

Cell: 978-846-2659

SOURCE CIMCON Lighting, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.cimconlighting.com


Women shouldnt fear using a popular trail in Welland, but some do after an early morning attack last Thursday.

A woman in her 40s was jogging on the Steve Bauer Trail along Prince Charles Drive when she was sexually assaulted around 7 a.m. by a man who remains wanted by police.

On Saturday, Stephanie Turton and six others rallied together to raise awareness on the trail  and decided to put together an even bigger event Monday.

In the late afternoon, close to 100 people gathered at the corner of Prince Charles Drive and Thorold Road to walk the trail in solidarity with the victim  holding a demonstration along the way to raise awareness about gender-based violence, she said.

I was compelled into action to show support for the victim, and put a message to the predator that this type of behaviour will not be tolerated, said Turton before the event.

On Saturday, Turton met a woman running on the trail who appeared to be carrying a can of mace with her.

Women shouldnt be afraid to go for a walk, jog, or run, said Turton.

The sad reality is that most of us are fearful, and these types of incidents are why, she added.

The demonstration has been given the title Take Back the Trail, and is meant to show support for the Welland woman who was recently attacked, but also for two others who were victimized in St. Catharines earlier this year on local trails.

Turton said its frustrating and sickening that these acts have occurred.

The victim contacted Turton recently and offered an anonymous statement about Mondays gathering.

Im thankful for the outpouring of support Ive received on social media. As women, we need to feel empowered to take action against gender-based violence in order to show solidarity and affect some type of behavioural change, she wrote in a statement included in a news release about Monday.

I fought off my attacker and I will continue to fight until violence against women is stopped. Together, as women, we are a force to be reckoned with and we are taking back our power, she added.

Welland resident Frances DeLuca has two daughters and two granddaughters, a reason she got involved Monday, she said.

She frequently uses the trail, but always with a friend, as well as at Merritt Island.

Shed be afraid to do it alone, she said.

DeLuca hasnt used the Steve Bauer Trail since last weeks attack, but said Monday afternoon that the large demonstration hopefully has an impact.

One way to stop it is to come out to this and show support, she said.

Meredith, a woman who was on Mondays walk but didnt want to provide her last name, said education in regard to violence against women needs to be a priority.

Its important for everyone to come together, show solidarity, she said about the event.

The suspect described as a white male, five-foot-seven to five-foot-eight in height, with broad shoulders and a muscular build.

Police say a black hoodie he was wearing is made from a thin material, similar to a T-Shirt.

The suspect was wearing dark shoes and pants, police said last week.

As a result of the investigation, police were able to obtain video footage of the suspect running, shortly after the incident occurred.
| By Charles Schelle

The University System of Maryland (USM) Board of Regents last week formally recognized three University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) employees for receiving the highest systemwide staff honor.

Clockwise from top left: Mary Beth Gallico, Mishawn Smith, and Judith Edelman.

The board convened Thursday, Sept. 18, to honor the nine recipients of the 2020 USM Regents Staff Awards.

The UMB recipients are:

Judith Edelman , MA , administrator, Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM)

, , administrator, Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) Mary Beth Gallico , CRA , administrator, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, UMSOM

, , administrator, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, UMSOM Mishawn Smith, MBA, executive administrative assistant, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON)

Our staff members along with our outstanding faculty and campus leadership are at the heart of USM's status as a nationally recognized system of academic excellence, dynamic research, meaningful impact and community service, board chair Linda R. Gooden, MBA, said.

Institutional staff nominating committees make recommendations to the institutional presidents, who review nominations and supporting material and forward recommendations to USM Chancellor Jay A. Perman, MD. The Regents Staff Review Committee makes the final recommendations.

I also commend the winners of the Regents Staff Awards, Perman said. These men and women represent the excellence, professionalism, and commitment found throughout the University System.

Edelman was recognized in the Effectiveness and Efficiency category for exempt staff. Her efforts included saving the Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology more than $1.5 million during her 26-year career. One of her many feats to achieve that figure included moving the noncapital asset inventory to an electronic model saving at least $225,000 annually. Edelman also implemented an electronic grant management program to reduce personnel costs and increase efficiency of grant submissions and developed an electronic resource management tool to show financial commitment across the department.

The Inclusion, Multiculturalism, and Social Justice category was swept by two UMB employees: Gallico (exempt staff) and Smith (nonexempt staff).

Gallicos work as a member of the Staff Senate led to a Climate and Engagement Gallop Survey to the campus community that shined a light on barriers to inclusion for women, members of the LGBTQ community, employees dealing with parenting/family crises, and individuals from racial and ethnic minority groups. She now serves as an Engagement Champion to work with managers to help them engage, develop, and retain staff while increasing connectedness and job satisfaction across campus.

Smiths volunteerism earned her praise as being an integral part of UMSONs impact in the community. Smith volunteers in her community two to three days each week as a member of the Baltimore City Office of the Mayor LGBTQ Commission; is a member of the executive board of GLSEN Maryland, which advocates for LGBTQ students; and volunteers with P-TECH Maryland, a program that provides students with pathways to higher education and careers by partnering with colleges and local businesses.

Some of Smiths off-campus service includes helping children of ex-offenders with holiday and back-to-school assistance, assisting individuals overcoming substance abuse, and dedicating the proceeds of her small business to programming that provides re-entry assistance to ex-offenders.

Smith also is the chair of Stonewall Pride, a UMB affinity group under the Diversity Advisory Council that strives to ensure that LGBTQ+ faculty, staff, students, and visitors feel welcome and have equality, inclusion, and respect.

Each award includes a $2,000 prize provided by USM institutions and the University System of Maryland Foundation. Winners were initially announced in the summer in anticipation of an in-person gathering at a later date. However, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the board to forgo the staff breakfast in favor of Zoom.

This change in format is not a reflection in how proud we are of our esteemed colleagues, Gooden said.
The family of murdered local man Seamus Ludlow have announced that a former Metropolitan Police Chief Constable is to investigate the killing that happened over 40 year ago.

Mr Ludlows family have long maintained he was shot dead by members of the British Army and Loyalist paramilitaries, who mistook him for a senior member of the IRA, near his home outside Dundalk in 1976.

No-one has ever been charged in connection with the murder of the 47-year-old forestry worker.

Mr Ludlows family, who have fought for decades for answers and to get justice, announced on Tuesday that there will be an investigation in the Republic and Northern Ireland, led by former Bedfordshire Chief Constable Jon Boutcher, into the murder.

It has also emerged that a witness has come forward with new information about the murder in the last two weeks.

Mr Ludlows relatives gathered in the Lisdoo Arms on Tuesday to announce that there will be a full independent cross-border investigation as it was the last place Mr Ludlow was seen alive.

The familys solicitor Gavin Booth said: We can report the good news that there will now be a joint investigation, both north and south, into the murder of Seamus Ludlow.

This investigation will be headed by Jon Boutcher and he will look at the actions of all those who played a part and a role in the murder of Seamus Ludlow, this includes the gardai, the British Army, the SAS , the RUC and any unknown others, including those suspects that were let go.

The family are delighted with todays outcome.

This is the first time, through their dogged tenacity, have been given this investigation.

The family have never stopped campaigning  45 years campaigning for justice for Seamus Ludlow  and they werent going away.

The nephew of Mr Ludlow Michael Donegan said it is a very happy day for his family.

We have been waiting for nearly 45 years to find a policeman somewhere who wants to investigate the murder of Seamus Ludlow.

In the past policemen had to be ordered to investigate it and they didnt do their job; they turned their back on Seamus and his family.

We are very happy today because this development has happened.
How chemists are building molecular assembly lines

Part of the challenge is programming the actions of molecular machines and reducing the waste from chemical triggers that get them to work.
A group representing more than 1,400 Ontario pediatricians is warning of an imminent crisis in rolling out the flu shot this season.

An online petition by members of the Ontario Medical Association says theres already unprecedented strong interest amongst parents for the influenza vaccine.

At the same time, they say it will be impossible for clinics to meet demand while adhering to pandemic precautions, including the need to sanitize between appointments and ensure social distancing.

They suggest several measures, including that the province set up vaccination centres where public health nurses, community pediatricians and volunteer doctors can inoculate large numbers of people.

Dr. Dan Flanders, one of the physician members of the working group behind the petition, suggests this effort be incorporated into the provinces COVID-19 testing centres, where a separate area could be dedicated to the flu shot.

Flanders says the flu shot is especially crucial for children aged zero to two years old, who are considered a higher-risk group, and children younger than four who cannot get the shot from the pharmacy.

Toddlers and young school-aged kids, theyre the best spreaders of flu of them all. Theyre the superspreaders, says Flanders, owner and executive director of Kindercare Pediatrics in Toronto.

The fact that theres limited options for the parents of zero to four-year-olds is problematic.

The president of the Ontario Medical Association says the broader organization is also pressing for a detailed flu season plan, anticipating challenges for patients and doctors attempting to identify illnesses with symptoms very similar to COVID-19.

Previously, a clinic or a pediatrician or a family doctor could vaccinate hundreds of patients in one day. And its going to be very hard to replicate that indoors, taking all the precautions we need to take for COVID as we move forward, says Dr. Samantha Hill.

Hill says shes aware the province is developing a flu-shot plan and that details are expected soon. Beyond that, she said were all waiting with baited breath.

Theres a lot of different ways that can play out  weve heard references to mobile clinics, weve heard references to pharmacies, weve heard references to using (private) labs like LifeLabs and Dynacare, and those kinds of things, she says, acknowledging a very tight timeline.

The pediatric group says 30 to 35 per cent of the population typically get the flu shot each year, but is urging Canadians to get vaccinated so those numbers increase to much higher levels this year.

But they say that can only be done through large-scale, community-based province-wide flu vaccination clinics.

This is an emergent public health crisis looming before us, states the Change.org petition, which emerged Saturday seeking 500 supporters and signed by Pediatrics Section, OMA.

Government and public health need to step up and help co-ordinate this effort.

Flanders says other measures could include provincial funds to help supply and staff primary care clinics to deliver the shot, or that the province increase how much doctors are paid per shot.

Its much, much more expensive for us to run our flu clinics because its a fee-for-service model. If were only able to give half of the number of shots per clinic then it becomes far more cost-ineffective, says Flanders, estimating the payment per shot is $9 or $10.

Im going to be losing money every flu clinic I run. Am I OK with it? No, but Im still going to do it.

Canadas chief public health officer said Friday that more than usual amounts of flu vaccine have been ordered in anticipation of increased demand.

But Dr. Theresa Tam also admitted the public health system is quite tapped out in terms of response to COVID.

Its actually a really good rehearsal for actually putting out the mass immunization programs we may need to do for the COVID-19 vaccine, said Tam.

Everyone is looking at this as a good approach so that we can iron out anything else that we need to do from an implementation perspective.

Flanders notes that very little influenza circulated in the southern hemisphere during its flu season, possibly because of measures to control COVID-19.

He says its possible that means Canada will see a milder flu season, too, but that we should plan for a bad flu season, as well as the likelihood that the flu, COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses will circulate at the same time.

The biggest challenge is that theres a lot of unknowns, including the viruss behaviour.

Hill points to rising COVID-19 case counts that are also increasing strain on health-care services, much of which have been put on hold with serious consequences for many patients.

We have people  mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, kids  who are waiting for procedures that havent been done that need to be done. Theyre not elective, theyre just nonemergent. We have people who are at risk because of various lung diseases, we have people who need regular health care and its all been cut off so that we can deal with this, she says.

We cant stop now. We have to keep taking care of each other, because whats the saying? Winter is coming.
OUR BODIES, THEIR BATTLEFIELDS

War Through the Lives of Women

By Christina Lamb

In one of the more haunting stories in Christina Lambs urgent book, a 7-month-old baby is raped. A mother returns from working in the fields in eastern Congo to find her house ransacked by a militia group and her daughter wailing from pain. The mother notices a red gash on the babys bottom and takes her to a nearby medical center. From there, the pair is sent to the town of Bukavu, 160 miles away, to a hospital that has treated 55,000 victims of sexual assault since 1999. Even to the doctor, who has treated many such cases, the assault is shocking: The infants anus has ruptured from the force. I hope whoever did this will go to jail for years, the distraught mother tells Lamb. Most likely, he wont.

The atrocities in Our Bodies, Their Battlefields horrify, as they should. Lamb, a veteran foreign correspondent for The Sunday Times of London, does society a service by forcing us to look. Rape, she writes, is the most neglected war crime of the 1949 Geneva Convention. Its rarely prosecuted. Its rarely written about. Here, she provides one of the first exhaustive examinations of sexual violence as a deliberate weapon, used to inflict terror and humiliation. Her book is painful to read but should be required for everyone interested in military and global affairs.

In the canon of literature about conflict, rape barely figures. Most such books deal with military strategy, male heroism and suffering. Men soldier, bond, die or return home. But what about the women? Oh, right, theyre spoils: Men are cannon fodder, women are man fodder. Yet rape in war wields as much destruction as guns do. It can destroy families and leave survivors permanently scarred.

Combatants get away with sexual pillage, Lamb argues, because men in power havent stopped them: War rape was met with tacit acceptance and committed with impunity, military and political leaders shrugging it off as a sideshow. Or it was denied to have ever happened.
Bigg Boss Telugu 4's third week began with the exit of Karate Kalyani and the subsequent nomination process. In the process, each contestant was required to nominate two inmates by burning their pictures over a flame by stating the reason for the same. It is to be noted that Devi Nagavalli was already nominated by Karate Kalyani last weekend, as the latter was given the power to choose any one contestant to nominate for the week, by the host Nagarjuna.

The new captain of the house Noel Sean was also given immunity power to nominate one of the contestants for the week's elimination, wherein he chose Lasya Manjunath.

In this week's nominations, Ariyana Glory and Kumar Sai Pampana received the highest votes (7 each). Interestingly, Gangavva and Syed Soel were not nominated by anyone.

Nominations For The Third Week

Devi Nagavalli (Direct Nomination)

Lasya Manjunath (Nominated By The Captain)

Ariyana Glory- 7 votes

Kumar Sai Pampana - 7 votes

Mehboob Dilse- 4 votes

Monal Gajjar- 3 votes

Harika- 3 votes

How To Vote!

 The users have to install the Hotstar App on their mobile phones (Available in Android and iOS)

 Create an account using email id, phone number or social media account

 Click 'Bigg Boss Telugu 4' in the search bar

 Click on the Vote icon and cast your vote to save your favourite contestant

 Users have 10 votes each day, which they can either use for a single contestant or can split among the other contestants on the list

 It is to be noted that the vote bank closes on Saturday at midnight

Bigg Boss Telugu 4 Week 2: Kalyani Gets Evicted; Nagarjuna Warns With Fake Double Elimination

Bigg Boss Telugu 4: Did Avinash Pay Rs 10 Lakh To Jabardasth Makers To Enter Nagarjuna's Show?
Learning Spaces

U Kentucky Expands Classroom Tech for Multi-Modal Teaching and Learning

The University of Kentucky has upgraded the technology in many of its classrooms, including the one hosting this education course. University of Kentucky/Pete Comparoni

The University of Kentucky has expanded the use of technology in classrooms to accommodate whatever format is appropriate for the course content and faculty and student preference. As the home page for the institution stated, "Work Anywhere. Learn Anywhere. Teach Anywhere."

According to the university, currently, about two in five classes (42 percent) are totally online; a third (37 percent) are held in the traditional face-to-face format; one in five (19 percent) are hybrid with a blend of in-person and online instruction or alternating attendance; slightly more than 1 percent are off-campus in-person; and the remaining 1 percent are streamed live using compressed video.

To support these myriad instructional formats, the Classroom, AV Support and Student Technology Services team in the university's Information Technology Services (ITS) unit spent its summer installing new technology.

Of the 350-plus classrooms on campus, 90 percent received upgrades. The work included installation of two different types of cameras: panoramic cameras, for Zoom and Microsoft Teams classes, and Echo360 capture devices. Both types of cameras enable live-streaming and recording of class sessions. Whereas in April 2020, there were 164 Echo360 rooms and three Zoom rooms on campus, now there are 210 Echo360 rooms and 139 panoramic cameras for enhanced online learning.

"Due to the university's public health needs, having remote learning technology is very important because it prevents the need for the students to attend class every day," said ITS' Rex Stidham, in an article about the implementation. "It gives more flexibility and provides normalcy to students by giving students the option to have the same class schedule. If students didn't feel comfortable, we wanted to make sure they had the options to have the most successful semester."

To boost its technology help presence, ITS has also added a chat function to various university websites, provides in-person help by reservation and offers online consultations and media support via Zoom.

The school has also developed two playbooks, one for employees and another for supervisors, to help them do remote work.
Health care, hospitals, Medicare Part B.

Education grants, school lunch programs and new schools.

Transportation, roads and highways.

Economic planning and development.

Disaster recovery initiatives.

Community services and programs.

Many of North Carolinas undercounted populations live in rural areas, towns where military families reside, eastern counties affected by storms, and communities with limited access to health care where older adults rely on services and where many minority populations call home. These uncounted residents and communities are often the most in need and could benefit from census funding, especially to help mitigate the economic effects of COVID-19.

North Carolina also stands to gain a 14th seat in Congress. Undercounting the states residents puts both community funding and congressional representation in jeopardy.

North Carolina is the ninth largest state in the nation and the fourth fastest growing state in the U.S. Having accurate census data is an essential piece to help continue building North Carolinas future.
MADRID, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Heart Institute (InCor) from the Clinical Hospitals, University of Sao Paulo Medical School has joined forces with everis Brazil, NTT Disruption, and Xilinx, Inc. to test NTT Disruption's Virtual Patient Observation (VPO), a new technological solution for Intensive Care Units.

VPO utilizes video and ML to detect and predict a patient's predefined behaviors, with alerts in real-time, providing a tool for practitioners to make safer patient care. It can be personalized based on the needs of each healthcare institution, differentiating between a patient sitting up, leaving the bed, or waving a hand.

In addition, VPO can be easily scaled to enable nurses to provide real-time responses regardless of the number of events or increase in monitored beds. Patient privacy is protected given the systems' ability to utilize real-time processing and ML to learn, identify and predict behaviors, over video recording.

"Through this initiative, we are combining the technical capabilities and vision of NTT Disruption and Xilinx along with InCor's strong performance in innovation through InovaInCor," assured Prof. Dr. Jose C. Nicolau, Director of the Intensive Coronary Care Unit from InCor. "The development of this technology will provide more safety and well-being for the patient and will reduce stress for the team. VPO can also signal potential signs and problems so the medical staff can assist the patient before the issue becomes critical or the patients hurt themselves. This is a fantastic technology, especially in high complexity ICUs such as InCor," Prof. Nicolau continued.

"Xilinx is pleased to be part of delivering personalized patient care and healthcare efficiencies through the use of Alveo-powered VPO systems," said Freddy Engineer, General Manager, Global Datacenter BU, at Xilinx. "As healthcare institutions continue to embrace more smart hospital technologies, we look forward to improved patient outcomes and lower healthcare costs."

"The healthcare industry has been incorporating new smart technologies for hospitals, like VPO, to improve patient safety, operational efficiency and reduce burnout syndrome," said Fernando Apezteguia, Head of Health at NTT Disruption. "COVID-19 has accelerated the need to innovate within the industry to provide healthcare practitioners with tools for better care," he continued.

The results of this solution's effectiveness will be analyzed through this project, which will enable high impact on patient care, safety, and efficiency, while diminishing practitioner burnout.
Entering the third quarter of the year, US-China tensions have become increasingly fierce, in all aspects from trade and human rights to the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, issues related to the East Sea, and closure of technology firms.

The US stance on the East Sea conflict (internationally known as the South China Sea), announced by Secretary of State M. Pompeo on July 13 on the occasion of the 4th anniversary of the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in the dispute between the Philippines and China, rejected China's claim to historic rights in the East Sea.

Washington accused Beijing of using bullying measures to infringe on the sovereignty of Southeast Asian states in the East Sea, replacing international law with 'truth belongs to the strong' thinking and called for the establishment of a coalition protecting international law.

A Chinese warship maneuvers in the East Sea. Photo: Chinamil

China's Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng said that the United States was sparking ideological confrontation and reviving the Cold War in the 21st century, reviving the specter of McCarthism. He argued that China has no room to back down on issues related to "core interests and national dignity".

China has increased the number of exercises. For the first time in history, the country conducted four drills in both the East and East China Seas in August. In the waters of Hoang Sa (Paracel) Islands alone, it has organized two major drills since July. On August 18, China, for the first time, deployed H-6J bombers to Phu Lam (Woody) Island, part of Vietnams Hoang Sa Archipelago.

On August 26, the South China Morning Post wrote that the Chinese army launched two ballistic missiles called "Carrier Assassins" to the East Sea to deter the US when the country sent two aircraft carriers and dozens of warships for a freedom of navigation operation (FONOP) campaign in the East Sea.

Earlier, the Chinese military also beamed dangerous military-grade lasers on US Navy aircraft that were flying freely over waters beyond countries' territorial waters.

These drills and missile launches are believed to be the Chinese military's declaration of readiness to respond simultaneously on all fronts of Taiwan, East Sea, and East China Sea and win challenges.

The exercises and the use of coast guard vessels to harass oil and gas exploration areas on the continental shelf of Malaysia, Vietnam and Brunei are also aimed at deterring countries in the region from supporting the US. According to the East Sea Chronicle Initiative, every three days, a Chinese vessel approached Vietnams block 06.1 once with the closest distance to the Lan Tay oil rig of 2-5 nautical miles.

The US strives to restore its position

A helicopter takes off from an American carrier in the Philippine waters. Photo: Reuters

The US side argued that China's actions were contrary to its commitment to not militarize the East Sea and the US vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific. The tit-for-tat actions of the US and China have aroused concerns about a new Cold War and even a hot conflict in the near future, especially before the US presidential election in November.

The strategy of "constructive engagement" with the illusion of China "peacefully rising" as a model of "democratization", which has been implemented since President Nixon's time, has been shown as obsolete. China has followed its own path, which the US did not expect, to take advantage of the golden period of 50 years to be on a par with the US.

China's foreign policy has become more and more aggressive, making the US and the world distrust a peaceful developed China. The US-China competition will become increasingly fierce as the US seeks to restore its unique position that is challenged by China. China does not want to lose face in its backyard.

Analysts predict three scenarios for US-China relations: 1- China collapses; 2- the US gives in and accepts the Chinese sphere of influence; 3- the US accepts to coexist and compete with China for a long time on military, economic, political, and global fronts. Scenario three will be the most feasible.

Which side will win?

US warship. Photo: US Navy

No country has a decisive victory in trade competition. China has a lower per capita income than the US, and the development of science and technology in many fields is not equal to that of the US, but its economy has better endurance than the US economy. China has a huge domestic market with nearly 1.4 billion people, four times more than the US population. The US and Chinese economies are more closely interdependent than expected.

The measures taken by the Trump administration against China also have a certain impact on the US economy as both stock markets are red. The US cannot prevent China from expanding relations with other countries and its integration into the global economy. However, the Chinese economy is still affected by US sanctions as its growth rate has slowed down and it may fall into recession, and face internal instability. And the dream of China would be far away.

Militarily, China has surpassed the US in the number of aircraft and warships. According to National Interest, within the next five years, the number of destroyers of the Chinese navy is likely to double, reaching 40. Currently, the Chinese navy has 360 warships of all kinds, compared with 297 ships of the US navy.

It is forecasted that by 2025, the Chinese navy will have a total of about 400 surface warships of all kinds and three to four aircraft carriers. But the quality of Chinese weapons remains in question. The launch of ballistic missiles into the Hoang Sa waters to deter the US Navy on August 26 did not seem to achieve the desired results when two missiles did not reach the sea and two others did not hit the fixed targets.

Meanwhile, if the US wants to win in a war with China, it must rely on the air force, but it lacks air bases and runways in the region.

Nguyen Hong Thao

To be continued

US condemns Chinas firing of missiles in East Sea The US Department of Defence has voiced concern about Chinas recent decision to conduct military exercises, including the firing of ballistic missiles around Vietnams Hoang Sa Archipelago in the East Sea.
First-half performance impacted by the Covid-19 crisis but gradual recovery across all activities

Available cash and cash equivalents strong at 80.2 million at 30 June 2020

Completion of the refocusing within the Protection of High-Risk Installations Division and strengthening of business lines with a high technology content Launch of StedY in the engineering and technology consulting service Contemplated merger between Groupe Gorge and its subsidiary ECA, preceded by a proposed simplified public tender offer on ECA shares under its share buyback programme



Groupe Gorge (Euronext Paris: GOE) publishes its 2020 half-year results today.

(in  millions) H1 2020 H1 2019 Change Backlog at end of period 617.3 641.2 -3.7% Revenue 108.0 135.4 -20.2% EBITDA[1] 7.1 14.3 -50.4% EBITDA margin (%) 6.6% 10.5% -399 bp Income from ordinary activities[2] (4.3) 3.2 -7.4 M Operating income (14.3) (0.0) -14.2 M Financial result (0.4) (0.2) -0.2 M Tax 1.0 (2.2) +3.3 M Net result - Group share (10.0) (2.1) -8.0 M

The consolidated financial statements for the first half of 2020 were approved by the Board of Directors at its meeting on 22 September 2020. The financial statements have been subject to a limited review by the Statutory Auditors and their reports are in the process of being issued.

Groupe Gorge's revenue for the first half of 2020 was severely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and the impact of the lockdown on operations despite business continuity plans. It stood at 108 million, a decrease of 20.2% on a reported and comparable basis, including a decrease of 35.2% during the second quarter of 2020.

At 30 June 2020, the backlog was 2.6% higher than at 31 March 2020. It stood at 617 million, equivalent to over two years' revenue for the Group, which has maintained strong business momentum across all its divisions throughout the period.

Since the outbreak of the crisis, Groupe Gorge has implemented cost savings and industrial facility streamlining initiatives. These actions have enabled to mitigate the downturn to some extent, while continuing to invest in technologies to support future growth. EBITDA was affected by the decline in activity caused by the Covid-19 crisis, partially offset by measures taken to reduce costs and the implementation of government measures (furlough) within all divisions. It stood at 7.1 million, while the EBITDA margin for the first half of 2020 was 6.6%.

During the first half of 2020, EBIT was -4.3 million, representing a decline of 7.4 million.

Due to the unusual context of the health crisis, the Group performed in-depth reviews of the value of all its assets this summer. Impairment losses totalling 8.5 million were recorded with respect to inventory, R&D projects and intangible assets recognised at fair value at the time of acquisition. These impairment losses had no cash effect during the period. They comprise the majority of other operating income which stood at -10.0 million for the first half of 2020, compared to -3.2 million for the first half of 2019.

Operating income therefore totalled -14.3 million for the first half of 2020.

Financial income was -0,4 million, compared with -0,2 million in first-half 2019.

After net income from discontinued activities of -1.0 million, net income (Group share) stood at -10.0 million, compared with -2.1 million for the first half of 2019 and +20.9 million for full-year 2019. Provisions without cash effect had a major impact on the results for the period.

Performance by division

(in  millions) H1 2020 H1 2019 Change Smart Safety Systems Revenue 43.1 57.1 -24.5% EBITDA 5.3 9.9 -46.8% EBITDA margin (%) 12.2% 17.3% -512 bp Protection of High-Risk Installations[3] Revenue 38.5 43.5 -11.5% EBITDA 0.9 2.0 -56.2% EBITDA margin (%) 2.2% 4.5% -229 bp 3D Printing Revenue 26.8 35.3 -23.9% EBITDA 1.4 2.6 -44.5% EBITDA margin (%) 5.3% 7.3% -197 bp

Smart Safety Systems

This division's revenue for first-half 2020 was down 24.5% to 43.1 million, including a drop of 42.8% during the second quarter. This decline is due to the sharp contraction in the aeronautics market affecting the Aerospace business (-36.1%), the impact of lockdown on operations, despite business continuity plans, and an adverse base effect, due to high revenue for the first half of 2019.

At 30 June 2020, the division's backlog stood at a high level of 531 million, up 3.1% compared to 31 March 2020.

The division maintained a double-digit EBITDA margin, at 12.2% of revenue. EBITDA was affected by the decline in activity caused by the Covid-19 crisis, that partially offset measures taken to reduce costs and the implementation of government aid schemes (furlough), particularly within the Aerospace business.

Protection of High-Risk Installations

In the Protection of High-Risk Installations Division, revenue showed some resistance, totalling 38.5 million, down 11.5% on a reported basis and down 9.8% on a comparable basis[4]. This evolution reflects the resilience of the Fire Protection activities in France and the stability of the Nuclear business, whereas the Oil & Gas business, deconsolidated at the start of July by the merger with its competitor InterDam, had a negative impact on performance over the half-year. Restated for this activity, revenue for the first half-year fell only 5.6%.

At 30 June 2020, the division's backlog stood at 81 million, stable compared to 31 March 2020.

The division's EBITDA totalled 0.9 million, a fall of 1.1 million compared with the first half of 2019. Over half of this decline relates to the Van Dam subsidiary which will be deconsolidated during the second half of 2020. The implementation of government initiatives has only partially offset the impact of the lockdown measures on business. The EBITDA margin was 2.2%, compared with 4.5% in the first half of 2019.

3D Printing

During the first half of 2020, the 3D Printing Division's revenue fell 23.9% to 26.8 million. The division, and the Products business in particular (-30.4% in H1 2020), was adversely affected by the Covid-19 health crisis in the second quarter of 2020. The situation then improved month-by-month across all businesses.

The division's EBITDA remained positive at 1.4 million for the first half of 2020, despite being impacted by the decline in activity caused by Covid-19. The profitability of the Systems business showed strong resilience, with EBITDA up 5.6% during the first half of 2020. The Group's ongoing restructuring and cost-savings initiatives, combined with the government aid schemes, contributed to this performance. Furthermore, investments in products and technologies dedicated to production applications on an industrial scale continued to stimulate future growth. The division's EBITDA margin fell slightly to 5.3% during the first half of 2020, against 7.3% for the first half of 2019.

Financial position

Cash flows generated by the activity stood at 8.3 million for the first half of 2020, a slight decline of 1.3 million compared with the first half of 2019. The working capital requirement improved by 5.2 million, benefiting from the decline in activity and the deferral of social security contributions during the second half.

Investments reached a high level of 13.3 million during the first half of 2020, versus 11.2 million during the first half of 2019. The Group maintained a sustained level of R&D investment, notably as part of the Smart Safety Systems Division's Belgian-Dutch project.

Cash and cash equivalents were strengthened by State Guaranteed Loans in the amount of 22.6 million. At 30 June 2020, available cash and cash equivalents amounted to 80.2 million. Only 21.5 million of the 55 million in confirmed credit lines had been drawn. Net financial debt[5] totalled 20.1 million at 30 June 2020, compared with 8.2 million at 31 December 2019.

Outlook

The Group is confident in its outlook and anticipates recovery in terms of revenue during the second half of 2020, while remaining prudent in light of the uncertainties associated with the current health and macroeconomic climate. Groupe Gorge's end markets are diverse and are not expected to be those hardest hit by the current crisis, with the exception of Aerospace (around 10% of Group revenue), which has seen the most severe impacts in the Smart Safety Systems Division.

The Group completed the refocusing of its Protection of High-Risk Installations Division, with the merger between Van Dam and its competitor InterDam early July. The conclusion of this operation will generate capital gains of around 3 million during the second half of the year, in addition to a capital gain of nearly 4 million associated with the sale of a property asset for 6.9 million at the end of July.

The completion of this refocusing, which began 18 months ago, reflects the Group's ambition to focus on industrial activities with a high technological content. The Group's growth will follow three complementary axes:

Firstly, organic growth generated by a promising commercial outlook for the second half of the year across all activities and notably illustrated by the recent contract for over 6 million in the Nuclear business. Other significant orders are expected in the Fire Protection and Smart Safety Systems Divisions with, as announced in July 2020, a contract to provide mine warfare robotic systems worth over 20 million to an export client expected in the third quarter of 2020.

Secondly, acquisitions. With nearly 80 million in available cash and cash equivalents, the Group has never been in a better position to seize acquisition opportunities that may arise in the current context.

Lastly, strengthening existing business lines. As announced, the Group's refocusing on businesses with high technological content will also translate into a strengthening of the Group's most promising activities. This strategy involves, firstly, the launch of StedY, a digital service offering that redefines engineering and technology consulting services and enhances the Group's positioning in this area, in which it has been present since 2012. (press release of 17 September 2020). In parallel, Groupe Gorge announced today a contemplated merger-absorption of ECA by Groupe Gorge. Through this contemplated merger-absorption, Groupe Gorge has confirmed its intention to support the long-term development of ECA. The merger would help to unify and simplify the structure of Groupe Gorge by eliminating the dual listing of Groupe Gorge and ECA. It would provide access to greater liquidity for shareholders in the two companies, particularly the shareholders of ECA, by way of an increase in the size of Groupe Gorge's free-float; this in turn would boost the potential interest of French and international investors in the Group. It would also lead to cost savings.

The principle of this transaction was approved on 21 September 2020 by the Board of Directors of ECA and on 22 September 2020 by the Board of Directors of Groupe Gorge, on the basis of an indicative parity of 9 Groupe Gorge shares per 5 ECA shares, based on a multi-criteria approach.

The press release about the transaction is available on the Groupe Gorge website, under "Press releases".

***

Conference call on Wednesday 23 September 2020 at 10:00 am CET

Presentation available prior to the conference on the Groupe Gorge website: www.groupe-gorge.com, under "Financial press releases".

On Wednesday 23 September 2020 at 10:00 am, Raphael Gorge, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and Loic Le Berre, Chief Financial Officer, will comment to the financial community on the half-year results of Groupe Gorge and the contemplated merger between Groupe Gorge and ECA, and will answer questions from analysts, at a conference call in French.

To participate in the conference call, you may call any of the following telephone numbers approximately 5 - 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time:

France: +33 (0) 1 70 71 01 59

United Kingdom: +44 (0) 2 07 19 43 759

Germany: +49 (0) 6 92 22 22 54 29

United States: +1 64 67 22 49 16

Access code: 80305337#

A replay will be available as soon as possible on the Groupe Gorge investor site, under "Financial press releases".

Financial calendar:

Q3 2020 revenue: 28 October 2020 after stock market closing

About Groupe Gorge

Founded in 1990, Groupe Gorge is an independent group that specialises in high-tech industries. The Group is currently active in the fields of security and protection in extreme environments as well as in the 3D Printing sector. In its more than 25-year history, Groupe Gorge has always developed and driven the latest technological and industrial innovations.





Smart Safety Systems

Developing complete, innovative technological solutions for complex missions in hostile and confined environments.



Protection of High-Risk Installations

Protecting people and ensuring the active and passive protection of installations for energy markets and industrial and tertiary sectors in France. Ensuring the maintenance of these protection systems.



3D Printing

Enabling major industry players to find new routes to successful innovation and production processes by providing systems, 3D printers and new premium material.



In 2019, the Group reported revenue of 274,6 million. It is backed by 1,800 employees and operates in seven countries.





More information is available at

www.groupe-gorge.com / Follow

@GroupeGorge on Twitter



Groupe Gorge is listed on the Euronext Paris stock exchange (Compartment B)

ISIN code: FR0000062671

Ticker code: GOE



Investor contacts:

Elodie Robbe-Mouillot

Investor/analyst relations

Tel: +33 1 44 77 94 77

E-mail: investors@groupe-gorge.com



Anne-Pauline Petureaux

Shareholder relations

Tel: +33 1 53 67 36 72

E-mail: apetureaux@actus.fr







Press contact:

Manon Clairet

Financial Press Relations

Tel.: +33 1 53 67 36 73

Email: mclairet@actus.fr



Forward Looking Statement

This press release was written for informational purposes only. This does not constitute a public offering. It is not intended for distribution in countries other than France. The distribution of this press release, of the Offer, of any document relating to the Offer and the participation in the Offer may be subject to specific regulations or restrictions in certain countries. The Offer is not intended for persons subject to such restrictions, directly or indirectly, and is not likely to be accepted in a country where the Offer would be subject to such restrictions. Accordingly, persons in possession of this press release are required to inform themselves of and comply with any local restrictions which may apply.

This press release could contain statements on past events and forward-looking statements including statements regarding future goals or targets. Forward-looking statements reflect current expectations for results and future events.

Groupe Gorge press releases may contain forward-looking statements regarding Groupe Gorge's targets. These forward-looking statements reflect Groupe Gorge's current expectations. Such forward-looking statements and targets depend on known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those anticipated herein. The risks and uncertainties that could affect the Group's future ability to achieve its targets include, in addition to those indicated in the press release: the strength of competition; the development of markets in which the Group operates and notably the 3D printing division; currency fluctuations; obtaining the export authorizations that may be required for certain activities; control of costs and expenses; changes in tax legislation, laws, regulations or their enforcement; our ability to successfully keep pace with technological advances; our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel and key staff; the evolution, interpretation and uniform application and enforcement of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), according to which we prepare our financial statements; manufacturing and supply chain bottlenecks; the performance of our business partners (subcontractors, agents, suppliers, etc.). Some of these risk factors are set forth and detailed in our Universal registration document (including the annual financial report filed with the French Autorite des Marches Financiers), available on our website www.groupe-gorge.com. This list of risks, uncertainties and other factors is not limitative. Other unanticipated, unknown or unforeseeable factors, such as changes in the economic situation or financial markets, could also have a material adverse effect on our targets.

This press release and the information it contains do not constitute an offer to sell or to subscribe, or a solicitation to purchase or subscribe shares or securities in Groupe Gorge or in its listed subsidiaries in any country whatsoever.

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@GroupeGorge

[1] Operating income before "depreciation, amortisation and provisions", "other items of operating income" and "Group share of the earnings of affiliated companies".

[2] Operating income before "other items of operating income" and "Group share of the earnings of affiliated companies".

[3] 2019 data of the Protection of High-risk Installation division are excluding the contribution of group Cimlec, disposed of in 2019.

[4] Excluding Hoekstra-Suwald Techniek BV, which was sold in April 2019, and the goodwill of The Wind Factory, sold in early 2020.

[5] Net debt excluding lease liabilities resulting from the application of IFRS 16 and including the value of treasury stock.

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Full and original release in PDF format:https://www.actusnews.com/documents_communiques/ACTUS-0-65165-groupe-gorge-_half-year-2020-results_def.pdf
The 10-person limit on gatherings in homes and outdoor areas in Brisbane and Ipswich is on track to be lifted at the weekend, according to the state's chief health officer, Dr Jeannette Young.

The restrictions will be eased as long as Queensland records no locally acquired COVID-19 cases on Wednesday and Thursday, thereby reaching the required 14 days with no community transmission.

More NSW residents will be allowed to visit Queensland without a border exemption, and the number of people allowed to congregate in homes and public outdoor areas is also set to increase. Credit:Shutterstock

There were zero new coronavirus cases in the state overnight and only 16 active patients remain.

Queensland's border bubble will be extended further south next month, letting 152,000 more people from NSW into the state without having to quarantine or apply for an exemption.
With the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, appointed to the court by Bill Clinton in 1993, Donald Trump seems to be intent on cramming through one last conservative justice with the help of a ruthless Senate leader, Mitch McConnell.

But surely any builder of such a universe would baulk at proposing the outlandish events of 2020. Case in point: the death of a famously liberal Supreme Court justice on the eve of a presidential campaign already boiling over.

There is a school of digital theorising that reckons we might be characters in some elaborate video game constructed by some far-more-advanced society. Elon Musk a few years back said the likelihood of it was overwhelming.

This has prompted much howling about the so-called McConnell rule. Youll remember that, four years ago, Barack Obama was given, after the death of Antonin Scalia in February 2016, the opportunity to appoint a liberal replacement for the benchs conservative heart. The Senate, Republican-controlled then as now, Mitch McConnell at the helm, refused to even consider the prospect. A president didnt get to make a Supreme Court nomination with an election at hand and the Senate in the hands of the opposing party, McConnell sniffed.

Since both the Senate and the presidency are held by Republicans right now, McConnell can claim that circumstances are different, but the hypocrisy is plain.

Unfortunately, hypocrisy isnt mentioned in the US Constitution. The moral of this story is a different one: elections have consequences. Leaving aside the Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, Hillary Clinton lost it to Donald Trump. He is the president and seems to have the political support  Republican control of the Senate  that seems likely to allow him this final appointment.

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What the framers of the Constitution expected was that laws would be enacted under its guidance, and the public would judge their representatives by their actions. This is the crux of the issue for the Republicans. If they do push through a replacement for Ginsburg in the six weeks before the election, will they get away with it  i.e., not pay too high of a political price?
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) President and CEO, Sister Donna Markham, OP, PhD, announced the three awardees of the CCUSA Social Innovation Challenge during a virtual event with staff from across the Catholic Charities ministry. The awardees receive a combined $1 million to invest in their respective innovative program.

"These awards are a testament to our strong commitment to exploring inventive ways to meet the increasing needs of our brothers and sisters who depend on Catholic Charities agencies for help and hope," said Sister Donna. "We are excited to see how these programs progress and look forward to assessing their impact on promoting paths out of poverty and suffering."

CCUSA's Innovation Challenge awardees and their respective innovative programs are:

Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Omaha , Inc. (Small Agency category): "Catholic Charities of Omaha Microbusiness Program: Erasing Poverty through Entrepreneurship in Catholic Charities Communities Across America" - A three-year project that delivers an online microbusiness model to budding entrepreneurs at six Catholic Charities agencies across the U.S. Provides low- to moderate-income adults with business knowledge, resources and capital to become small business owners.

Catholic Charities West Virginia, Inc. (Medium Agency category): "Hospital Transition Program" - Together with Wheeling Hospital, Catholic Charities West Virginia identifies and supports high-risk patients after hospital discharge by connecting them with resources including transportation to appointments, home-delivered meals, and housekeeping services.

Catholic Charities Diocese of Cleveland (Large Agency category): "MAXThe Max Kolbe Program"  Through specialized "peer" support training and certification of Catholic Charities staff, this program is aimed at those recovering from substance abuse disorder and those currently experiencing a substance abuse disorder crisis. MAX provides immediate pairing with a trained "peer" to a client in a crisis moment (ER, prison, court) and as a continuous advocate.

The CCUSA Innovation Challenge was created to inspire member agencies (and their community partners) within the Catholic Charities network to propose fresh solutions toward alleviating, reducing or eliminating poverty. The proposals addressed a specific area of poverty and had to be achievable, measurable, replicable, sustainable and scalable. Submissions were grouped into three categories small, medium or largebased on the number of full-time employees.

For more information about the CCUSA Innovation Challenge visit: www.ccusainnovates.org

ABOUT CATHOLIC CHARITIES

Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA), a member of Caritas Internationalis, is the national office for the Catholic Charities ministry nationwide. CCUSA's members provide help and create hope for more than 12 million people a year regardless of religious, social, or economic backgrounds. To learn more, visit www.CatholicCharitiesUSA.org.

SOURCE Catholic Charities USA
All bets are currently off with Tom Hardy tipped to be the next James Bond when Daniel Craig finally hands over the keys to the Aston Martin.

But the man in question was light years away from the clean shaven secret agent as he stepped out in London on Tuesday.

The British actor, 43, revealed the makings of a greying beard while picking up some snacks from a local garage.

Here he is: James Bond candidate Tom Hardy revealed the makings of a greying beard while picking up some snacks from a local garage in London on Tuesday

Wearing a relaxed T-shirt from military charity We Defy Foundation, Tom also exposed a near-full sleeve tattoo that would even prompt Bond to raise a quizzical eyebrow.

The actor added to his casual look with a pair of cropped black jogging bottoms, while running shoes rounded things off.

Tom has been one of the bookies favourites to become the next 007 in recent years, and rumours have been circulating he will step into Craig's shoes after his fifth and final film, No Time To Die.

Make way: The British actor was seen picking up some snacks from a local garage after being tipped to replace Daniel Craig as the iconic secret agent

Well inked: Wearing a relaxed T-shirt from military charity We Defy Foundation, Tom also exposed a near-full sleeve tattoo that would even prompt Bond to raise a quizzical eyebrow

Low key look: The actor added to his casual look with a pair of cropped black jogging bottoms

The Vulcan Reporter claims that Hardy had been offered the iconic part after a successful audition, while bookies odds on the star have now been slashed in half.

The publication reports producers had planned to unveil Tom as James Bond in November- the same month No Time To Die was due to be released.

However, due to the coronavirus pandemic the Vulcan Reporter state the announcement will now be made later this year or early 2021.

Meanwhile, the bookies have slashed odds on The Peaky Blinders star from 8/1 to just 4/5 in the past 24 hours after a flurry of bets.

Front runner: All bets are currently off with Tom Hardy tipped to be the next James Bond when Daniel Craig finally hands over the keys to the Aston Martin

Alex Apati of Ladbrokes said: 'A flurry of bets over the past 24 hours suggests the cat is out the bag and it's Tom Hardy that'll soon be replacing Daniel Craig as 007.'

MailOnline has contacted Tom's representatives and EON Productions for comment.

The Taboo star has made no secret about wanting to be the next 007 - but has previously refused to talk about the part in fear it will get him blacklisted.

Main man: Daniel Craig plays Bond for the fifth and final time in No Time To Die

Speaking to the Daily Beast, the heart-throb admitted: 'If I mention it, it's gone.

'You know, there's a saying amongst us in the fraternity of acting, and in the fellowship of my peer group, that if you talk about it you're automatically out of the race.

'So I can't possibly comment on that one!'
WASHINGTON  In a stark reversal of the position he took in 2016, Sen. Pat Toomey (R., Pa.) said Tuesday that he will support filling a vacant seat on the U.S. Supreme Court this year, despite a presidential election being only weeks away.

Toomey, who in 2016 argued that the Senate should wait months for the results of that years presidential election because the ideological balance of the court was at stake, said the Senate should do the opposite this year because the White House and Senate are controlled by the same party.

The important difference between now and 2016 is the difference in the political configuration. Thats whats different, Toomey said in a telephone interview after announcing his position. When one party has the White House and the Senate, theres no division, the American people have put that party in charge, and when a vacancy occurs, precedent and the arguments from both Democrats and Republicans has been consistent with going ahead and confirming [a justice]."

Toomeys announcement on the highly emotional and consequential debate came after Senate Republicans appeared to have already solidified the votes they need to move ahead in replacing the liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg with a conservative nominated by President Donald Trump. If they succeed in filling the seat held by Ginsburg, a progressive icon who died Friday, Republicans will likely shift the balance of the court rightward for years to come.

The outcome could have tremendous ramifications on a wide range of American life. The court is already slated to take up key cases dealing with abortion laws and the Affordable Care Act in the coming weeks. Other major rulings in the last decade have shaped laws on health care, same-sex marriage, voting laws, and the flow of money into politics.

 READ MORE: The next Supreme Court Justice must protect the Affordable Care Act | Opinion

Toomey issued his statement Tuesday hours after Sen. Mitt Romney (R., Utah) said he would also support moving forward with a confirmation vote this year, effectively ending any questions about whether the GOP would have the support needed to do so.

It would take four Senate Republican defections to stop Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell from pushing through a Supreme Court confirmation this year, and only two GOP senators have said they would oppose the move.

Pat Toomey is the spineless lapdog of Donald Trump and all of his big money friends, Brendan Welch, a spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, said in a statement. The people of Pennsylvania deserve a Senator who will fight for them and tell them the truth. Pat Toomey is clearly not that guy.

In 2016, Toomey took a sharply different stand when the political roles were reversed. At the time, he opposed a Senate confirmation vote on Judge Merrick Garland, who was nominated to the high court by President Barack Obama, eight months before that years election.

 READ MORE: Pennsylvania braces for a presidential election reshaped by a Supreme Court fight

Garland would have replaced a towering judicial conservative, the late Justice Antonin Scalia, but Toomey argued that before changing the political balance of the court, voters should have a say by choosing the president who would fill the seat.

With the U.S. Supreme Courts balance at stake, and with a presidential election fewer than eight months away, it is wise to give the American people a more direct voice in the selection and confirmation of the next justice, Toomey said in a March 2016 statement.

That same month, he wrote to a constituent expanding on his thoughts.

The vacancy created by Justice Scalias passing is especially sensitive because it will fundamentally affect the balance of the Supreme Court for a generation or more, Toomey wrote to Nancy McKittrick, of Montgomery County, who shared the letter with The Inquirer this week. Given that we are already well into the presidential election process and that the Supreme Court appointment is for a lifetime, it makes sense to give the American people a more direct say in this critical decision.

The letter also noted that the power to fill Supreme Court seats is shared between the president and Senate.

 READ MORE: Ruth Bader Ginsburg lauded in Philly as a legal and feminist icon whose voice soared above the rest

Toomey joined fellow Republicans in a blockade that prevented Garland from receiving so much as a Senate hearing. Trump won the election and eventually named Scalias replacement, Neil Gorsuch, maintaining a 5-4 conservative majority on the court, and leaving another lasting mark in the countrys bitter fight over the judiciary.

Now, Trump is poised to replace Ginsburg and give the court a 6-3 conservative lean  a more lopsided advantage than liberals would have enjoyed had Garland been confirmed.

Toomey, in the interview, argued that the courts balance isnt changing because it is, and would remain, conservative.

Toomey joined fellow Republicans in arguing that this year is different because both the White House and Senate are now controlled by the same party and that Democrats would do the same thing if they had the chance.

 READ MORE: How naked ballots in Pennsylvania could cost Joe Biden the election

He and other Republicans accused Democrats of their own hypocrisy, noting that Democrats in 2016 urged the Senate to fill the vacant court seat, even in an election year.

Are we now supposed to operate by two different sets of rules that systematically advantage the Democrats? he asked in a statement earlier Tuesday.

Those Democratic calls, however, came months, not weeks, before an election, and before Republicans set a new modern precedent of blocking a nomination because of a looming election.

Toomeys statement also pointed out that in 2016, he told the Associated Press he would handle each election-year vacancy as it arose.

 READ MORE: Trumps autocrat buddies would applaud his plan for replacing RBG | Trudy Rubin

His stance is sure to draw scorn from Pennsylvania liberals who have turned him into a top political target ever since the 2016 election, accusing him of hewing too closely to Trump after promising to be an independent voice during his reelection campaign that year.

But there was also political risk for Toomey in bucking the president, who has a fervent political base that relishes his successes. Toomey will likely have to face Republican primary voters in 2022, whether he seeks reelection or runs for governor, a move he is widely seen as considering. Trump has made his record of installing conservative judges one of his signature appeals to Republicans, and defying the president on a charged Supreme Court nomination could be damaging in a GOP primary.

Already heated court battles have taken on new levels of intensity and acrimony after the Garland blockade and the contentious confirmation of Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who faced unproven accusations of sexual assault, a confrontation that left both parties infuriated.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister Govind M Karjol on Tuesday said he has tested positive for coronavirus. "The COVID-19 test has confirmed me to be positive and I have been hospitalised on the advice of a doctor even though I had no symptoms," Karjol, who holds the portfolio of public works department and social welfare, tweeted, soon after attending the assembly proceedings.

He appealed to those who had come in contact with him to exercise caution, undergo tests and get themselves quarantined. He also exuded confidence that he would soon recover from COVID-19.

Prior to him, BS Yediyurappa and a host of ministers, including another Deputy Chief Minister Dr C N Ashwath Narayan, Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai, Forest Minister Anand Singh, Tourism Minister C T Ravi and Agriculture Minister B C Patil, had tested positive for coronavirus and recovered.
Elizabeth Preston

Since the Covid-19 pandemic struck, headlines have been full of fluids. There are droplets sprayed when we talk or cough, nasal secretions swabbed for testing, and blood checked for antibodies. But some scientists have focused on a different bodily product: breast milk.

Unlike the others, milk is a fluid made for sharing. That has raised urgent questions about its safety during the crisis, for mothers feeding babies as well as for milk banks handling donations. When an advisory panel for Australian Red Cross Lifeblood, which manages milk banking as well as blood donation, met in March, there was a lot that was still unknown about Covid-19, Laura Klein, a research fellow with the organization, wrote via email. We didnt know then if the virus could be transmitted through breast milk, as some other viruses, including HIV and cytomegalovirus, can.

If the virus lurked in breast milk, should infected mothers give their babies formula instead? There were more unknowns. Did milk banks need to take extra precautions with donations? Did breast milk from previously infected women carry antibodies, and could those antibodies protect babies  or maybe other people?

With more than 250 papers on Covid-19 and infant feeding published since February, researchers are beginning to answer these questions, while at the same time contributing to the poorly understood field of breast milk science more generally. Theyre discovering that in the time of Covid-19, breast milk is not a fluid to fear.

In the early stages of the pandemic, though, governments were highly cautious when it came to breast milk. In China, where the new coronavirus first emerged, a group of physicians and researchers developed an expert consensus on how to handle infected mothers. Published in February, the document said that infected mothers, and even those with suspected infections, should not breastfeed their babies.

As the virus spread globally, other countries were similarly cautious. In as-yet unpublished research, a team of researchers including experts from Alive & Thrive, a global organization dedicated to maternal and child nutrition, reviewed guidelines on Covid-19 and newborn care from 33 countries. They found that 49 percent either advised against breastfeeding, or created hurdles such as counseling families on the risks of breastfeeding or requiring a negative swab test first, wrote nutritionist Jennifer Cashin, one of the study authors, by email.

Another hurdle to breastfeeding arose in the United States, where the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention initially suggested separating infected mothers from their newborns. If mothers wanted to, they could pump milk for someone else to feed their babies. Although the CDC no longer recommends separation, Cashin said the original stance influenced other countries guidelines.

The authors of some of the scientific papers published this spring have also asserted that women with Covid-19 shouldnt necessarily breastfeed. This caution came despite little evidence of danger, wrote University of North Carolina assistant professor and medical anthropologist Aunchalee Palmquist and coauthors in a commentary for the American Journal of Human Biology.

Scientists are making recommendations without strong evidence, and many are starting with a problematic assumption, Palmquist wrote in an email  namely, that any chance of virus in milk means women should stop breastfeeding. The reality is that its just not that simple.

She and others compare the current pandemic to the outbreak of HIV in the 1980s. At the beginning of that pandemic, researchers found the virus in breast milk, and soon infected mothers worldwide were advised not to breastfeed. But breastfeeding is especially critical for infants health in the developing world, where many babies die of diarrhea from unclean water, making formula a risky choice. Because HIV passes to babies through milk only infrequently, avoiding breastfeeding did more harm than good in developing countries, researchers say.

Today, the World Health Organization advises that even when mothers have Covid-19, the benefits of breastfeeding substantially outweigh the potential risks for transmission.

This recent caution over breast milk stems from the fact that theres still so much about it that we dont know. At the University of California, San Diego, researchers are collecting breast milk at a biorepository for scientific research. Their ongoing work is trying to address a huge range of unanswered questions, said Christina Chambers, a perinatal epidemiologist and professor of pediatrics at the university. For example, how does the nutrient content of breast milk vary? What medications can pass into milk, and which ones are safe for breastfeeding mothers to take? What about cannabis? How do the immune components of a mothers milk change when her baby is sick?

With their existing networks, the scientists were well positioned to start answering the question of whether SARS-CoV-2 can spread through the breastmilk of infected women. Earlier case studies had found snippets of the new coronavirus genetic material in breast milk. But by the late spring, no studies had proven that milk held live virus, capable of making a baby sick.

Chambers and her coauthors collected milk from 18 women who had tested positive for Covid-19. The volunteers provided breast milk from around the time theyd first tested positive, and many gave repeat samples afterward, amounting to 64 total samples.

When the researchers tested the milk for the coronavirus, they found its genetic material in just one of the 64 samples. A donor had collected that milk on the day her symptoms started. But the sample didnt contain any live virus that could have infected someone. The results were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Jim Thornton, an obstetrician and professor at the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom who in June coauthored a review of the evidence on mothers transmitting SARS-CoV-2 to newborns, said the lab findings fit with whats happening in the real world. Were certainly seeing very, very few babies who are infected, Thornton said. Its almost certainly safe to breastfeed.

The result is reassuring. Still, its not the definitive answer, Chambers said. When it comes to Covid-19, as data evolves, there are surprises everywhere. These 18 women had safe breast milk, but that doesnt prove that the virus can never be present. The researchers plan to repeat their investigation with a larger number of samples, as well as look for antibodies in the milk.

Nonprofit milk banks, which provide breast milk to hospitalized premature babies, were initially unsure of what precautions they needed to take. In general, after collecting milk from donors, banks heat the milk to 144.5 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes to kill microbes  a process known as Holder pasteurization.

It was assumed this process would kill SARS-CoV-2, although some microbes can survive heating. Researchers in Australia set out to answer the question definitively. Klein said that for the study they used frozen donated milk they couldnt give to babies, such as milk from donors who were taking certain medications. They also reached out to some existing donors and asked for a little freshly pumped breast milk.

Scientists then spiked the milk samples with live SARS-CoV-2 virus. Some of the infected milk was refrigerated or frozen, to replicate how mothers would store it at home. Other milk underwent Holder pasteurization. Cold storage didnt eliminate the virus, the scientists found  but pasteurization wiped it out. The teams findings have been published in the Journal of Pediatrics and Child Health.

The results were very much what we expected to see, Klein says. Milk banks around the world use Holder pasteurization because it kills many kinds of viruses, she said, including the coronaviruses that cause SARS and MERS. Based on the new results, We can be confident that pasteurization would kill any amount of virus that might be in donated breast milk in the real world.

Before infants start developing their own immune response to viruses and other threats, they receive a sampling of their mothers antibodies to tide them over. These antibodies come first through a mothers placenta, and then in her milk, if she breastfeeds. Most antibodies in milk are a type called secretory IgA. They give babies whats called passive immunity: temporary disease resistance thats replenished with every meal.

When the coronavirus pandemic began, doctors and scientists wondered whether mothers whod been infected would pass antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 through their milk that might protect their babies. We needed to know, said Rebecca Powell, a human milk immunologist and assistant professor at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City.

The research question was a natural pivot from her recent work studying the immune response in breast milk to seasonal flu. And since her city was the diseases epicenter at the time, potential research participants were all around. Powell began using Facebook to recruit breastfeeding moms who had been infected with Covid-19. So far shes enrolled about 800 donors, and shes following about 600 more volunteers who are at high risk of infection.

In a paper thats currently under peer review, Powell and her coauthors tested milk from 15 of those donors for antibodies to SARS-CoV-2. They found antibodies in every one of the samples, Powell says.

Powell says its too soon to know how much protection, if any, these antibodies give to breastfeeding infants. But Powell is also interested in the idea of taking these antibodies out of the milk and using them as a treatment for Covid-19. Researchers are already doing something similar involving recovered patients, transferring their antibody-rich blood plasma to those who are sick.

She imagines using the antibodies in a respiratory therapy that patients could inhale  similar to an asthma treatment, for example  sending antibodies right to the site of infection. Secretory IgA antibodies, such as those in milk, are packaged by the body to be extra durable, Powell says. This lets them survive in environments such as the respiratory or digestive tract. In blood, the most common antibodies are a less durable type called IgG. This might make breast milk antibodies a more useful potential therapy than convalescent plasma, Powell speculated.

Genevieve Fouda, a pediatric immunologist and associate professor at Duke University in North Carolina, wrote in an email that using breast milk antibodies as a therapy is an interesting, if untested, idea. But it would first be important to fully characterize the function of these antibodies, she said. Can they neutralize the virus?

Powell is now looking to answer more questions: What percentage of infected women have antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in their milk afterward? How long after infection do the antibodies last? What if the mother got sick, and recovered, long before having a baby?

The research may reveal whether breast milk is not only safe, but useful in this pandemic. Powell will need a lot of people and their milk to gather enough data. But its doable, she said, because of the huge number of volunteers who have come forward to help with her project. The response was overwhelming, she said. I mean, viral, really.

This article was originally published on Undark. Read the original article.
New Delhi: Indicating that the Opposition pressure on the government over the farm bills was far from over, TMC MP Derek O'Brien on Tuesday said his party along with other regional parties will spread the message of how these bills "cheat" farmers, across the country. Briefing reporters hours after an overnight protest by eight suspended MPs came to an end, O'Brien said what happened in Rajya Sabha on Sunday was "undemocratic" and "against the idea of India".

"Our basic rights as MPs were taken away. That was the last straw. What they did was a straight fascist methodology to demolish Indian democracy. They are trying to rewrite the idea of democracy. The bills were not scrutinised, they are anti-people and anti-farmer," alleged O'Brien, who was among the eight MPs to be suspended. While the eight MPs held a sit-in protest in Parliament premises, the Opposition parties boycotted both the Houses over the issue. "I've been in politics now with the AITC for about 17 years. I have never seen the very back of Indian democracy being broken like this. Now, let me come to the core issue. This is not about some puppet, Deputy Chairman sitting there or somebody sitting there. It's a straight fascist, farmer bill's politics. We have never, ever seen Parliament in this situation.

"We will not sit down and allow the country, its people and the farmers be cheated. Over the next two days, all regional political parties, I use the word regional loosely to mean parties with considerable presence in a region, will reach out to every town, every village to spread this message," he said. Speaking on the gesture of the Deputy Chairman Harivansh Singh carrying morning tea for the protesting MPs on Tuesday, the TMC leader indicated that it was just optics.

"The farmers want justice not tea. Is this child's play? First you murder democracy and then you offer tea? If it was a personal visit, then why did he have two cameras with him?" asked O'Brien. He also said that the Opposition parties are set to meet on Wednesday at 11 am to strategise their next course of action in Parliament.

Replying to a question on the numbers that the government had in Rajya Sabha to pass the bills, O'Brien questioned the BJP why it needed to field five union ministers to defend what happened in Parliament on Sunday. "Five union ministers used the government machinery to defend the murder of democracy," he said.

The TMC MP also pointed out that while half a dozen bills were passed in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, four of the eight MPs had resolutions on motions against them. "You can suspend us. You cannot silence us," he asserted.
WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump has said he would nominate a woman to replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died Friday at the age of 87 and was a champion of gender equality. A look at the top contenders:

___

Amy Coney Barrett

Barrett, 48, is widely considered to be the front-runner. She was previously considered as a finalist for Trumps second nomination to the high court, which eventually went to Justice Brett Kavanaugh. A devout Catholic mother of seven, she is a favorite of religious conservatives and considered a strong opponent of abortion.

Barrett was nominated by Trump to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit and confirmed by the Senate in October 2017 by a 55-43 vote. The 7th Circuit, based in Chicago, covers the states of Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin.

In her nearly three years on the bench, Barretts judicial record includes the authorship of around 100 opinions and several telling dissents in which Barrett displayed her clear and consistent conservative bent.

Barrett served as a law clerk to Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. She worked briefly as a lawyer in private practice in Washington, D.C., before returning to the University of Notre Dame Law School, her alma mater, to become a professor in 2002.

During her Senate confirmation hearing for the appeals court in 2017, Democrats pressed Barrett on whether her strong religious views would impact her potential rulings on abortion and other hot-button social issues.

Barrett responded that she takes he Catholic faith seriously, but said that I would stress that my personal church affiliation or my religious belief would not bear in the discharge of my duties as a judge.

She is married to Jesse Barrett, a former federal prosecutor who is a partner at a law firm in South Bend, Indiana. The couple have seven children, included two adopted from Haiti and one child with special needs.

___

Barbara Lagoa

Lagoa, 52, is a Cuban American judge from Florida who was nominated by Trump to serve on the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in 2019. Her name was first added to the White Houses list of potential high court contenders last month.

Raised in the heavily Latino Miami suburb of Hialeah, Lagoa is the daughter of Cuban exiles who fled the communist regime of Fidel Castro. She speaks fluent Spanish and has a solidly conservative judicial record. Lagoas potential nomination is being touted as a way for Trump to shore up flagging support in a crucial battleground state where recent polls have shown Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden with a narrow lead.

Lagoa also has the potential benefit of having been previously vetted by the Senate just 10 months ago, sailing to confirmation by a wide margin of 80-15 in a relatively rare bipartisan vote in November. The 11th Circuit covers Georgia, Florida and Alabama.

U.S. Circuit Judge Barbara Lagoa, of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, is shown in this official undated photo released by the Florida Supreme Court. (AP Photo/Florida Supreme Court)AP

On Saturday, Trump said he had not yet met Lagoa but that shes Hispanic and highly respected.

Lagoa is a graduate of Florida International University and went on the earn her law degree from Columbia University in New York in 1992. She then worked in private practice in Miami for about a decade.

In 2000, Lagoa gained notoriety as part of the legal team that represented relatives of Elian Gonzalez, the young boy caught in a high-profile custody dispute between his father in Cuba and family members in Miami.

Lagoa is married to Paul Huck Jr., a Miami attorney. The couple have three children.

___

Joan Larsen

Larsen, 51, was a little-known University of Michigan legal scholar until 2015, when then- Gov. Rick Snyder, a Republican, tapped her to fill a vacant seat on the Michigan Supreme Court.

The following year, Justice Joan campaigned to fill the remaining term of her predecessor on the court by appealing to conservative voters, promoting an originalist interpretation of legal texts and pledging not to legislate from the bench. As a presidential candidate Trump included Larsens name on his first list of potential nominees to the nations highest court.

Trump carried Michigan that November and after becoming president quickly sought to elevate Larsen to the federal bench, tapping her in May 2017 to fill a vacant seat on the Cincinnati-based 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. Michigans two Democratic U.S. senators initially held up her appointment since the White House hadnt consulted them on the nomination, as is customary. But after meeting with the senators, Larsen was confirmed by the Senate by a 60-38 vote the following November.

Larsen grew up in Waterloo, Iowa, and graduated from the University of Northern Iowa before going to Northwestern University School of Law in Chicago. After graduating in 1993, Larsen landed a coveted clerkship with Justice Antonin Scalia.

Following the election for President George W. Bush, she joined the Office of Legal Counsel in the U.S. Department of Justice, where she authored a still-secret 2002 memo that addressed detainees' rights to challenge their detention.

Returning to teach law at Michigan, Larsen championed an expansive view of the powers of the presidency. She wrote a 2006 article defending Bushs use of signing statements to interpret laws passed by Congress. At her 2017 confirmation hearing for the federal bench, however, Larsen assured senators she would have no problem ruling against Trump if the law demanded it.

Larsen is married to Michigan law professor Adam Pritchard, an expert on corporate and securities law. They live in Scio Township near Ann Arbor and have two children.

___

Allison Jones Rushing

Rushing, 38, was confirmed just 18 months ago to the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond. If elevated to the Supreme Court, she would be the youngest justice confirmed since the early 1800s.

She is a native of Hendersonville, North Carolina. Her potential selection is being championed within the White House by chief of staff Mark Meadows, who also hails from the mountains of the Tarheel State.

Larsen graduated from Wake Forest University before attending Duke University, where she earned her law degree in 2007. She then clerked for future Justice Neil Gorsuch, who was then an appeals court judge, as well as at the Supreme Court for Justice Clarence Thomas.

As an appellate specialist while in private practice at the Williams & Connolly law firm in Washington, Rushing filed scores of briefs with the Supreme Court. But her comparatively short legal career included prior work with a conservative Christian legal group that is sure to stoke Democrats and their allies to fight her nomination.

While in law school in 2005, Rushing interned at Alliance Defending Freedom, a group known for its opposition to same-sex marriage and expanded rights for transgender people. That has led Democrats to cast Rushing as an a young, ideological extremist.

Rushing is married to Blake Rushing. The couple have a young son.

___

Kate Comerford Todd

Todd, 45, is the only lawyer on Trumps potential shortlist for the Supreme Court who has never served as a judge.

A deputy White House counsel, her close connection to the Trump administration could give an opening to Democrats to attack her independence and relative lack of experience. However, her lack of a judicial record also leaves little paper trail for opponents to sort through for material to attack.

Todd graduated from Cornell University before attending Harvard Law School. She then clerked for Thomas at the Supreme Court. She worked in private practice before serving as the senior vice president and chief counsel for the U.S. Chamber Litigation Center, which is the legal arm of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Todd is married to Gordon Dwyer Todd, a partner at Sidley law firm in Washington specializing in white-collar defense and government litigation. The couple live in Northern Virginia with their four children.

--

Michael Biesecker of The Associated Press wrote this story.
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Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 23:10:06|Editor: huaxia

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BANGKOK, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's Parliament on Tuesday imposed maximum security at its premises ahead of a student protest scheduled for Thursday.

A joint sitting of the House of Representatives and Senate is due to debate constitutional amendments starting on Thursday.

Secretary-general of the House of Representatives Sorasak Pienvej said they had set aside an open space for students to stage their protests.

He also allayed fears that a protest may spark into an uncontrollable situation, saying that should the Parliament encounter a crisis, helicopters will be employed to evacuate parliamentarians and officials.

The joint sitting of the House and Senate will debate six motions for constitutional amendments, submitted by the coalition parties and the opposition.

The protestors who called themselves "Free People movement," have been protesting since July, defying the State of Emergency which is currently in effect.

The Emergency Decree had been imposed to prevent mass gathering in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Enditem
T wo prisoners wore fake suicide belts and shouted Allahu Akbar as they tried to kill a prison officer during a terrorist attack at a maximum security jail, a court has heard.

Convicted terrorist Brusthom Ziamani, 25, and radicalised inmate Baz Hockton, 26, set upon Neil Trundle with makeshift weapons at HMP Whitemoor in Cambridgeshire on January 9, the Old Bailey was told.

Opening their trial, prosecutor Annabel Darlow QC said the pair attacked kind and helpful Mr Trundle for terrorist purposes.

She said the defendants planned to lure a target to a store cupboard on the pretext of asking a prison officer to fetch a spoon.

Ms Darlow told jurors: The attack on Prison Officer Trundle was carefully planned and executed using a number of makeshift weapons constructed from the limited materials available to two men being held in prison, including a homemade shank, lumps of twisted metal which had been covered in fabric to form grips, and two makeshift metal stabbing implements.

HMP Whitemoore / Google Maps

Mr Trundle was targeted in his head, upper chest and neck areas which were most vulnerable to attack as he held his arms up and shouted for help, Ms Darlow said.

When they carried out the attack they shouted Allahu Akbar  Allah is most great, she told the court.

During the attack on Mr Trundle, a nurse and another prison officer attempted to intervene and and were attacked and injured by Ziamani, it was alleged.

Ziamani then immediately returned to the assault on Mr Trundle while Hockton chased and violently confronted another prison officer, the court heard.

When another officer approached, Ziamani opened up his jacket to expose the fake suicide belt, and said: Ive got a bomb, jurors were told.

Ms Darlow said: Both men strenuously and forcefully resisted all efforts to restrain them and after the attack Mr Ziamani attempted to barricade himself into his cell.

It is the prosecution case that the defendants were motivated to commit the attack by extremist Islamic ideology. It was a terrorist attack.

The prosecutor said Hockton had registered his Islamic faith at HMP Whitemoor but that had been corrupted into extremism and he had been radicalised.

Extremist writings were recovered from both men, including a four-page hand-written letter carried by Ziamani spelling out his expectation of immediate martyrdom and strong belief in violent jihad, jurors heard.

Material was also recovered from Hocktons cell setting out his desire to become a martyr, the court was told.

The court heard Mr Trundle suffered cuts to his scalp, arm and shoulder and was left covered in blood with blood on the walls around him.

The trial is taking place at the Old Bailey / PA

It took five or six officers to restrain Ziamani, who was laughing and muttering Allahu Akbar before the belt with wires coming out of it was cut off him, the court heard.

Asked about the belt, Ziamani allegedly told an officer: I just wish it was real. Its a suicide belt.

The defendants were transferred to different prisons and their cells searched.

There were pieces of wire and plastic like those used to make the hoax suicide belt in Ziamanis cell, jurors heard.

A note on a scrap of brown envelope about someone in uniform and sticking a spike in his head like a unicorn was allegedly found in Hocktons cell.

The jury was told that Ziamani had previously been convicted of engaging in conduct in preparing for terrorist acts in relation to a plan to attack a member of the British military.

On August 19 2014, he was arrested in possession of a hammer and a knife, having told his ex-girlfriend that he was planning a terrorist attack and would kill soldiers, jurors heard.

Ms Darlow said Ziamani had told a security officer after his arrest that he planned to behead a soldier.

She told jurors: The prosecution say that the evidence of the previous conviction shows he has a history of committing offences in which he looked to kill an officer of the British state for terrorist purposes.

The prosecution say this is exactly what happened in the case, albeit transplanted from the outside world where Mr Ziamani has greater access to weapons and targets to the more limited confines of the prison environment.

The prosecution contents that the ultimate intention of these defendants was to murder a prison officer.

This is demonstrated by their painstaking and determined construction over what must have been a significant period of time of at least five metal weapons, the ferocity if the attack on Prison Officer Trundle and the deliberate concentration of the attack on his head, neck and upper torso and the immediate resumption of the attack on Prison Officer Trundle by Ziamani even whilst other officers were attempting to intervene.

The defendants deny attempted murder and the trial continues.

Additional reporting by PA Media
Auckland will move to alert level 2 from Thursday (September 24), Ardern said at a news conference on Monday (September 21), which will limit gatherings to 100 people.

The rest of the country will move to level 1 from midnight on Monday, she said.

New Zealand, a nation of five million, appeared to have halted community transmission of COVID-19 earlier this year, but a fresh outbreak in Auckland in August prompted the government to place the city back in lockdown.

The country recorded no new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, keeping its total number of confirmed cases at 1,464, with 25 deaths, far below many other countries.
The Lok Sabha has passed the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment (FCRA) Bill 2020 regarding non-governmental organisations (NGOs) without debate, which is unfortunate. NGOs are not without their problems, but the estimated three million such bodies that exist in India are a vital and important element of civil society. Many of them implement and monitor the governments welfare policies, operating at the grassroots level where the official apparatus is often non-existent. They also provide a voice for marginal groups and social movements, offering a safety valve that prevents the countrys millions of local mutinies from becoming uprisings.

NGOs functioned for decades with thin or non-existent regulations. Self-proclaimed societies were not required to register, and trusts and religious foundations functioned without transparency and financial auditing. The introduction of the Section 25 non-profit company, aligning NGO finances and management with those of a normal firm, was a crucial reform. The new legislation should have moved further on this path. Instead, the new FCRA amendments obsess about the flow of foreign fund to such bodies. No one can question the need for NGOs to be transparent about their sources of funding, whether foreign or domestic. But there is a thin line between enforcing transparency and using rules to allow official interference and harassment in the sector. Much of the present bill crosses that line and moves toward a licence-raj on NGOs.

NGOs are a heterogeneous category. Regulations regarding NGOs, therefore, should be about basic principles and requirements. The bill introduces a questionable degree of micro-management. An NGO should be required to state how much it spends on administration, but the level of spending should not be a government concern. Restricting inter-NGO money transfers ignores that many NGOs are funding bodies or sub-contract their operations to other NGOs. And that funding should be routed through a specified bank branch has little logic. The Right-wing has, wrongly, constructed foreign-funded NGOs as a threat. While some excesses have been rightly curbed, if this is marked by political vendetta, it will open the doors for all forms of harassment, of all kinds of organisations, under different regimes. The government should send the bill to a select committee of the Rajya Sabha. NGOs are a necessary component of civil society and this bill needs greater public debate and scrutiny.
By PTI

NEW YORK: A 33-year-old New York police officer has been charged with acting as an illegal agent of China, with authorities here accusing the Tibetan-origin man of spying on the supporters of the Tibetan independence movement in the US for the Chinese government.

Baimadajie Angwang, 33, a New York City Police Department officer and United States Army reservist was arrested on Monday and charged in the Eastern District of New York with acting as an illegal agent of China as well as committing wire fraud, making false statements and obstructing an official proceeding.

If convicted, Angwang faces a maximum sentence of 55 years' imprisonment.

Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Demers said according to the allegations, the Chinese government recruited and directed Angwang, a US citizen and member of America's largest law enforcement department, to further its intelligence gathering and repression of Chinese abroad.

Acting United States Attorney Seth DuCharme said Angwang violated his sworn oath as a New York City police officer to protect and serve the citizens of New York and instead reported to Chinese government officials about the activities of Chinese citizens in the New York area and developed intelligence sources within the Tibetan community in the United States.

Prosecutors allege that since 2018, Angwang has maintained a relationship with at least two Chinese officials stationed at the consulate in New York.

He allegedly received tasks from and reported back to them, even referring to one of the officials repeatedly as "Boss."

A naturalised US citizen, Angwang came to the United States from China on a cultural exchange visa, overstayed his second visa and eventually applied for asylum in the United States, claiming he was "arrested and tortured" in China due in part to his Tibetan ethnicity, according to the complaint.

"Let them know you have recruited one in the police department," Angwang allegedly told a Chinese consulate official in a November 2018 call, according to the complaint.

Assistant Director of the FBI's Counterintelligence Division Alan Kohler said the case serves as yet another reminder that "China represents the biggest counterintelligence threat to the United States."

According to the publicly filed complaint and detention memorandum, Angwang, an ethnic Tibetan native of China and naturalised US citizen was assigned to NYPD's community affairs unit where, among other things, he serves as a liaison to the community.

Since at least 2014, Angwang acted at the direction and control of officials at the Chinese Consulate here.

Specifically, he reported on the activities of Chinese citizens in the New York area, spotted and assessed potential intelligence sources within the Tibetan community in New York and elsewhere, and provided Chinese officials with access to senior NYPD officials through invitations to official events.

Prosecutors said one of the Chinese Consular officials at whose direction Angwang acted worked for the "China Association for Preservation and Development of Tibetan Culture," a division of China's United Front Work Department, which is responsible for neutralising potential opponents of China and co-opting ethnic Chinese individuals living outside the country.

According to court documents, Angwang was explicit about his motivations, telling his official handler that he wanted to get promoted within the NYPD so that he could bring "glory to China."

In addition, Angwang told his handler that the handler's superiors in Beijing "should be happy ...because you have stretched your reach into the police."

In addition to acting as an illegal Chinese agent, Angwang is also charged with committing wire fraud, making material false statements and obstructing an official proceeding.

Angwang is also charged with wire fraud.

The criminal complaint alleges he received nearly USD 120,000 by wire transfer from China since 2016.

As part of his employment with the US Army Reserve, Angwang maintained a SECRET-level security clearance.

Angwang lied by denying that he had contacts with a foreign government or its consulate and by denying that he had close and continuing contacts with foreign nationals, including his family members who live in China, some of whom were affiliated with the People's Liberation Army.

The International Campaign for Tibet, said in a statement that the arrest shows that the "Chinese Communist Party is engaged in malign operations to suppress dissent, not only in Tibet, but any place in the world where Tibetans are free to express themselves."

Beijing views the Dalai Lama as a separatist and accuses the supporters of the 85-year-old Tibetan spiritual leader of working to split Tibet from China.
A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) committee is delaying a vote on who should get the coronavirus vaccine first in a nationwide rollout.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which develops guidelines for vaccine administration as well as schedules, was expected to vote virtually on Tuesday.

A plan would be drafted on which groups would be allocated the initial doses of the initial shot - or shots - that are proven safe and effective.

However, members say they want to wait and learn more about which inoculations have the best chance of being approved, as was first reported by The Wall Street Journal.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices was expected to vote on who gets initial coronavirus vaccine doses on Tuesday. Pictured: Volunteers are given the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine in Detroit, Michigan, October 5

'The vote has clearly been delayed because they're getting more information today on specific vaccinations and looking for more information from the phase III trials, which might influence the prioritization process,' Dr William Schaffner, a professor of preventive medicine and infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, told DailyMail.com.

There are more than 170 coronavirus vaccine candidates in various stages of development around the globe, according to the World Health Organization.

At least nine are currently in large-scale trials in humans to prove the jabs are both safe and effective.

Two-US based companies, Moderna Inc and Pfizer Inc, are in late-stage trials and say they expect to know if their vaccines work by October or November.

UK-based AstraZeneca, partnered with the University of Oxford, has resumed its trials in Britain but not in the US after two volunteers developed rare complications.

However, it is possible the ACIP may not draft recommendations until the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorizes a specific vaccine

The CDC websites states that the committee's next meeting is scheduled to take place from October 28 to October 29.

The ACIP's proposed groups for early vaccination include healthcare personnel, essential workers, those with high risk medical conditions and adults aged 65 and older, according to a presentation from a meeting last month.

While most experts agree frontline healthcare workers should get initial doses, it's unclear which group should be next.

Additionally, committee members are waiting to see if emerging data from clinical trials reveal how effective the vaccine is in the elderly population.

'Trials might determine some vaccines work better in certain populations than others,' Schaffner said.

'For example, if the first vaccine is shown not to work in older people, then they'll have to redirect the prioritization.'

Older adults are among the groups at highest-risk of developing severe cases of COVID-19, which could result in hospitalization and death.

Because the immune system weakens with age, it is often hard for vaccines to induce a sufficient immune response, which has made some experts worry that any experimental vaccine for the coronavirus might not be as effective in the elderly.

Additionally, experts say storage can vary from one jab to another and may affect how easily they can be distributed in long-term care facilities.

Schaffner said individual states are looking to the ACIP to develop a prioritization plan to come up with their own guidelines, and a delay only makes this process more complicated.

'States would like to see the prioritization plan but the aspects of the plan have to be more concrete, he said.

'If your planning is more concrete, the easier it is for you to adopt the plan to the local circumstance.'

Schaffner said the public needs to know that, even after a coronavirus vaccine is approve, masks and social distancing will still have to continue.

'People think once there's a vaccine, masks go in the garbage and that's clearly not going to be the case for many reasons,' he said.

'The deployment of vaccines may take many months, they may not be completely effective. Too much emphasis has been placed on a vaccine being a salvation

'There's a real misconception about that out there and many of us want the public to understand that these other interventions will have to continue indefinitely.'
The UK now has access to six different Covid-19 vaccine candidates in development, across four different types, representing more than 340 million doses.

Priority groups such as frontline health workers, those with serious diseases, the elderly and ethnic minorities are first in line to receive a jab, should a vaccine be approved.

Across the world there are more than 240 vaccine candidates, with more than 40 in clinical trials.

Nine of these are in phase three, or phase 2/3 trials.

 What types of vaccine have been invested in?

The UK deals cover four different classes: adenoviral vaccines, mRNA vaccines, inactivated whole virus vaccines and protein adjuvant vaccines.

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 But what is the difference?

 Adenoviral vaccines: These are based on weakened versions of adenoviruses, which are a group of viruses that typically infect membranes of the eyes, respiratory tract, urinary tract, intestines and nervous system, and include the common cold.

 mRNA vaccines: Traditional vaccines are made up of small or inactivated doses of the whole disease-causing organism, or the proteins that it produces, which are introduced into the body to provoke the immune system into mounting a response. But mRNA vaccines trick the body into producing some of the viral proteins itself.

 Inactivated whole virus vaccines: Inactivated vaccines contain whole bacteria or viruses which have been killed, or small parts of bacteria or viruses, such as proteins or sugars, which cannot cause disease.

 Protein adjuvant vaccines: An adjuvant is added to some vaccines to enhance the immune response, and has been shown to create a stronger and longer lasting immunity against infections than the vaccine alone.

The use of an adjuvant may reduce the amount of vaccine protein required per dose, which allows more vaccine doses to be produced.

Expand Close A potential Covid-19 vaccine developed by researchers from Imperial College London (Imperial College London/PA) PA / Facebook

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 Which vaccines has the UK secured?

 Novavax vaccine (NVXCoV2373)

Type: Protein adjuvant. The US biotechs vaccine comprises a recombinant nanoparticle technology containing an engineered Covid-19 spike protein and the saponin-based adjuvant Matrix-M designed to enhance the immune response and stimulate high levels of neutralising antibodies.

Doses: Under the in-principle agreement, the UK has secured 60 million doses of the Novavax vaccine.

Progress: The UK is to support and provide infrastructure to Novavax in running a phase three clinical trial in the UK, and plans to manufacture its vaccine in the UK with Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies.

Recent clinical data shows the vaccine triggers an immune response greater than that in patients who have recovered from the disease.

 Janssen vaccine (Ad26.COV2.S)

Type: Adenovirus

Doses: Some 30 million doses have been secured from Janssen, which is owned by Johnson and Johnson, and ministers have agreed in principle to co-fund a global clinical study of its vaccine.

Progress: The next phase of clinical trials is expected to begin later this year to look at whether providing two doses of the vaccine candidate to participants provides long-term protection against coronavirus.

 BioNtech and Pfizer vaccine (BNT162b1)

Type: mRNA

Doses: 30 million

Progress: Early phases of clinical trials suggest the vaccine induces a robust immune response in healthy adults. The phase 2/3 study will enrol up to 30,000 participants aged between 18 and 85.

 Valneva (VLA2001)

Type: Inactivated whole virus

Doses: There is an in-principle agreement for 60 million doses. If the vaccine is proven to be safe, effective and suitable, the UK has secured an option to acquire a further 40 million doses.

Progress: Valnevas site in Livingston, West Lothian, will manufacture the vaccine. Clinical trials are expected to start before the end of the year.

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 GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Sanofi Pasteur

Type: Protein adjuvant

Doses: 60 million

Progress: Human clinical studies of the vaccine will begin in September followed by a phase three study in December.

 Oxford and AstraZeneca (ChAdOx1 nCoV-19/AZD1222)

Type: Adenovirus

Doses: Up to 100 million

Progress: Preliminary results of phase 1/2 clinical trials suggest the vaccine is safe and induces an immune reaction.

Phase 2, in the UK only, and phase 3 trials to confirm whether it effectively protects against the virus are taking place in the UK, Brazil and South Africa.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 02:26:43|Editor: huaxia

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BEIRUT, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon's total number of COVID-19 cases crossed the 30,000 mark on Tuesday amid a rapid resurgence of the pandemic.

The tally of coronavirus infections in Lebanon surged to 30,838 after 851 new cases were recorded, while the death toll went up by eight to 315, the Lebanese Health Ministry said.

The number of cases increased remarkably in Lebanon over the past days, prompting Caretaker Health Minister Hamad Hassan to suggest shutting down the whole country for two weeks to curb the pandemic's spread.

But the suggestion raised criticism among businesses owners who have suffered great losses since the outbreak of the virus in February.

Restaurants, shops and malls in Lebanon remained open in hope to be able to compensate for their losses before the end of the summer season.

Lebanon has been fighting the COVID-19 pandemic since Feb. 21.

The country has received several donations from different countries for the fight against COVID-19 including China which offered on Sept. 9 around 10,000 N95 masks, 100,000 medical masks, 100,000 gloves and 6,000 PCR rapid tests. Enditem
New Delhi, Sep 22 : In yet another significant crackdown on the underworld, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday attached properties valued over Rs 200 crore in the UAE belonging to fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar's late close aide Iqbal Memon alias Iqbal Mirchi in a money laundering case, officials said.

"We have attached around 15 properties of Mirchi and his family members, including in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, valued over Rs 200 crore, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act," a senior ED official connected to the probe told IANS.

The official said that the attached properties in Dubai include Midwest Hotel Apartment and 14 other commercial and residential properties with a total value of Rs 203.27 crore.

The case pertains to Mirchi's Mumbai properties, which have been marked as "proceeds of crime".

According to officials, the ED had already identified Mirchi's 30 properties in London, Dubai, and Mumbai valued to the tune of Rs 1,000 crore.

A criminal case was filed against Mirchi, his family members and others for alleged illegal dealings in the purchase and sale of Ceejay House, Sahil Bungalow, Rabia Mansion, Marium Lodge, and Sea View properties in prime locations in Mumbai.

Ceejay House is located at Worli and Arun Chambers in Tardeo area of Mumbai, worth Rs 76 crore. Other properties are worth Rs 500 crore, including Sahil Bungalow, Rabia Mansion, Marium Lodge, and Sea View in Worli, three commercial shops in Crawford Market, and five acres of land in Lonawala.

In December last year, the ED attached properties to the tune of Rs 573 crore in the case, with the figure now climbing up to over Rs 776 crore.

The ED has already questioned former Union Minister and Nationalist Congress Party leader Praful Patel, Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty's husband Raj Kundra, and several others in the case.

The ED registered money laundering case against Memon and others in September last year.

The ED has so far arrested five accused, including Kapil Wadhawan, Dheeraj Wadhawan and Humayun Merchant. The agency filed a charge sheet in December last year in a Special PMLA court.

Open-ended Non-Bailable Warrants were issued by the court against Mirchi's sons Asif and Junaid Memon and wife Hajra Memon. Mirchi fled to London in the mid-1980s and passed away in 2013.
THE son of celebrity TV chef Rachel Allen has been arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated after crashing a brand new Range Rover.

Joshua Allen (20), who was previously jailed for drug dealing offences, was arrested in Cork in the early hours of yesterday morning.

Gardai received reports of a single vehicle collision in Shangarry South, Ballycotton, at approximately 3.25am.

The crash happened near the Ballymaloe Cookery School were he was previously caught with 22,000 worth of cannabis.

Local officers arrived and following roadside tests Joshua Allen was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated.

He was taken to Midleton Garda Station and has since been released without charge.

A further sample from a drug test was also taken from the 20-year-old which will be sent off for analysis and examined before a file will be submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Joshua Allen was not injured in the early morning crash but damage was caused to the 202-registered Range Rover Evoque, valued at around 60,000.

A Garda spokesman said: Gardai attended following reports of a single vehicle collision at Shangarry South, Ballycotton at approximately 3.25am on September 21, 2020.

There was no reports of any injuries. Arising from the incident a man (20s) was arrested for driving while intoxicated, he was taken to Midleton Garda Station and later released without charge. Investigations are ongoing, the spokesman added.

Last February Joshua Allen was jailed for 15 months after being caught with 22,000 worth of cannabis for sale or supply at the world-renowned Ballymaloe Cookery School in August 2018.

The court heard how the then-teenager had travelled to London with 2,000 to meet a contact and then arranged for the cannabis to be posted to him from the United States.

Det Sgt Michael OHalloran told Cork Circuit Criminal Court it was the third or fourth such delivery that Joshua Allen had organised.

He was let out on temporary release in June after agreeing to abide by certain conditions.

Last month he was arrested in relation to a separate incident on suspicion of driving while intoxicated after being stopped at a checkpoint near Midleton.
New Delhi, Sep 22 : The corporatisation of the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) will put the ailing institution on par with other defence public sector undertakings managed by its own board of directors with broad guidelines from the government, top source in the Ministry of Defence said on Tuesday.

The government has envisioned growth of OFB post corporatisation expecting it to raise its turnover to Rs 30,000 crore by 2024-25 annually against existing Rs 12,000 crore, and has set up a high-level panel to work out a roadmap to achieve the same.

The government said that post corporatisation, OFB will be allowed to forge partnerships with the private sector as per the Defence Ministry's approved policy and will continue to receive orders from the country's security forces.

It will also be granted a special preference of 15 per cent above lowest price for 'Make' and 'Buy and Make' category products.

The Centre will support OFB in case of losses, by way of loan for 30 per cent of the total shortfall and by way of equity investment for balance 70 per cent of the amount.

"The working capital for the next five years will be provided by the Department of Defence Production (DDP) as a one-time corpus fund. Capital investment for ongoing and sanctioned projects will also be provided," the ministry said.

The government constituted an Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) on September 11 to oversee the corporatisation of the OFB. Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had said that the process of corporatisation of the OFB will be completed in one year.

The corporatisation of OFB will result in better management of its functioning with greater autonomy in functioning and dynamic decision making, also resulting in timely delivery and better quality supplied by factories.

After corporatisation, there would be competitive pricing. At present, a cost plus mechanism is followed by OFB to fix the prices. "In this system the price is fixed by taking maximum estimated cost plus 20 per cent to cater for contingencies which are further raised by another 8 to 15 per cent next year," said a senior government officer adding that this led to overpricing with Comptroller and Auditor General even pointing out that in some cases OFB is charging even more than the import value of the equipment.

It is envisaged that corporatisation will lead to reduced and competitive pricing, since OFB will be competing with private players in defence industry, albeit with some advantages.

There would be flexibility in technology acquisition. OFB will be free to form strategic alliances with Indian and overseas companies to boost innovation and develop new products. The factories, if modernised and managed properly will be able to unlock its true potential and be the main key in 'Make in India' project.

Further, there would be financial independence. OFB may no longer be dependent on government for funding as it will be able to generate funds through other means like being listed on stock exchange similar to other DPSUs.

This will enable it to achieve financial independence and the money can be efficiently used for modernisation, Research and Development and boost innovation.

There would be optimum use of idle capacities and increased defence export. "The idle or underutilised capacities of the factories will be better utilised post corporatisation," said the officer adding that corporatised ordnance factory can use the idle capacities to generate surplus production over and above the requirement of armed forces, which can be exported to generate better revenues.

Further, Indian armed forces being the biggest customer of ordnance factories are likely to benefit immensely from corporatisation with better pricing and improved products leading to an improved equipment state and better customer satisfaction.

Matters of Concern There are some concerns about corporatisation of OFB and the ministry is looking into it.

The officer said that the argument given by OFB employees is that corporatisation of OFB will not be commercially viable since there is no fixed demand by the armed forces, coupled with issues of long gaps between orders, uneconomical order quantity, and lifecycle support required for 30-40 years after the introduction of equipment.

However, OFB can take a leaf out of the functioning of the DPSUs, which seem to be managing these issues without any problem.

OFBs have some idle capacity as a war reserve, to cater for surge in demand during war, as was demonstrated during the Kargil conflict.

"The government will need to look into this aspect while formulating laws for corporatisation to not compromise with the logistic support to the forces during war," said the officer adding that OFB will need to work at its maximum capacity and look for exports of its surplus capacities during peace time, which will necessitate it to become more efficient and produce world class quality to survive in this competitive world.

Corporatisation of OFB is likely to rouse it from its slumber and transform ordnance factories into modernised, state-of-the-art facilities with flexible and better decision-making in functioning. This move is likely to make it more competitive and self-reliant in production of arms and ammunition and convert it to a profit earning organisation within the next few years.

Current capacity India inherited all 18 ordnance factories established by the British, while Pakistan did not have any ordnance factory at the time of independence.

Currently, the OFB with its 41 factories, 13 development centres and 9 institutes of learning is expected to be a national strategic asset with the potential of not only meeting national military hardware requirements and also contribute to overall comprehensive national power.

"The suboptimal efficiency of this potential strategic asset is one of the major contributing factors to the hollowness threatening the ammunition and armament holdings of the Indian Army," the officer said.

It is also a matter of concern that certain countries have refused to accept OFB-manufactured ammunition and equipment offered against defence lines of credit due to concerns regarding quality of output, procedures in the factories and inefficient post-sale service.

"Similar issues plague some of our DPSUs too which are involved in manufacture of military hardware," the officer said.

Currently, the OFB budgetary allocations under capital and revenue heads are made from the defence budget. These allocations amounting to approximately 1 per cent of the total defence budget cater for shortfall in requirement of the OFB after accounting for income through sales.

"OFB is unable to run the factories from its own profits. OFB officers look at the Army as their captive customer irrespective of shortfalls in quality, delayed supplies, costly products and indifference to complaints," said the officer.

Further, factories operate on 'No Profit No Loss' basis. The products are supplied at a price that includes actual cost of production.

Actual cost of production is very high because all non-production expenditure is added to the pricing making the products extremely expensive. Captive consumers have no choice due to government policies. The cost of production includes cost of material, cost of direct labour and overhead costs. The high pricing of OFB items is mainly attributed to the high percentage of overhead costs.

During the past two decades, several high-level committees like TKA Nair Committee, Vijay Kelkar Committee and Raman Puri Committee have inter-alia recommended that ordnance factories should be converted from a government department into a corporate entity.

Trade Unions' Resistance The central government floated a proposal for corporatisation in July 2019 but the trade unions called for an indefinite strike against the decision on August 20, 2019. However, the strike was called off from August 26 2019 after assurances by the Secretary of Defence Production that the government has not taken any decision yet towards corporatisation of OFB.

The government thereafter set up a committee to address the concerns of the employees in September 2019 and subsequently in November 2019 notified the "proposal to convert Ordnance Factories under the OFB into a 100 per cent government-owned public sector unit." Now the biggest concerns of OFB employees is that 'corporatisation' is the first step towards 'privatisation' and is likely to result in layoffs and job cuts.

"However, as of now the Centre has made it very clear that it is not thinking of privatisation in the near future and OFB will function akin to the various PSUs in the country post corporatisation," the top source said.

(Sumit Kumar Singh can be reached at sumit.k@ians.in)
Deputy Director General of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism Ha Van Sieu speaks at the event (Photo: VNA)

New Delhi - A webinar on the prospects for Vietnam-India tourism cooperation in the post-pandemic era was held on September 17, bringing together representatives from some 200 travel companies, hotels, and media agencies in the two countries.

Aiming to identify measures to recover and foster the two countries tourism sectors in the new normal following the pandemic, the was co-held by the Embassy of Vietnam in India, the Policy Times newspaper, and the Millennial India International Chamber of Commerce - Industry and Agriculture (MIICCIA).

It was the second programme in the 2020 Vietnam-India Business Forum, which is hoped to connect enterprises in various fields from the two countries.

Vietnam-India tourism cooperation has thrived in recent years, especially since the launch of direct air routes. Like so many things, though, it has been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Delegates at the webinar affirmed that Vietnam and India hold huge potential in tourism cooperation.

Though now is still not a suitable time to resume tourism cooperation fully, the webinar offered the chance for the two sides to discuss the obstacles and challenges facing the tourism sectors and prepare stimulus programmes once the pandemic is brought under control.

It also helped travel companies and hotels introduce products and bolster their cooperation, thereby enhancing relations between the two countries in general.

Addressing the webinar, Deputy Director General of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism Ha Van Sieu called on authorities, organisations, and businesses in both countries to bolster their engagement to overcome the challenges presented by the pandemic.

In addition to support from the Governments, he proposed introducing flexible booking policies for tourists and urged airlines, travel companies, and service providers to join hands and share information to overcome this time of hardship, as well as devise plans on setting up travel corridors to promote safe travel after COVID-19.

He added that in the post-pandemic era, tourism management agencies, tourism associations, and tourism businesses in Vietnam and India need to foster cooperation to address the consequences of restrictions imposed to curb the spread of COVID-19 and to explore opportunities to re-open, attract investment, and arrange exchanges and air links.

Thanks to tourism promotions, the number of Indian holidaymakers coming to Vietnam increased 25 percent each year from 2016 to 2019, while Vietnamese visitors to India rose 17 percent.

In 2019 alone, close to 30,000 Vietnamese travelled to India, while about 170,000 Indians visited Vietnam.
It was not possible to reach Ren on Tuesday to confirm that the essay was his, although scholars said the lack of a denial from him all these months suggested that it was real. The court said in its statement that Ren would not appeal the decision.
(ANSAmed) - NAPLES, SEPTEMBER 22 - The Ithra Museum in Dhahran, in Saudi Arabia, will host a major exhibit of ancient Egyptian artifacts from November this year until November 2022, Gulf News reports. The paper explained that the exhibit, which was approved by the Egyptian government, will display over 84 objects of ancient Egypt.

The announcement came at the end of a meeting between Egyptian Tourism Minister Khaled Al Anani and his Saudi counterpart Ahmed Al Khatib during the executive council of the World Tourism Organization held in Georgia. The decision was made after the transfer of artifacts to Saudi Arabia was approved. The transfer will take place according to health and safety standards.

The Egyptian minister stressed the importance of close relations between the Saudi kingdom and his country, also recalling the peculiarity of the Saudi market for Egyptian tourism.

The museum of Ithra has four main galleries, respectively dedicated to contemporary art of the Middle East, Saudi culture, Islamic art, and natural history of the Arabic peninsula, succeeding in mixing ancient and contemporary art. (ANSAmed).


Politburo Member and Permanent Member of the Party Central Committee's Secretariat Tran Quoc Vuong (R) hosts RoK Ambassador to Vietnam Park Noh-wan (Source: VNA)

Hanoi  Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK) should continue supporting each other and sharing experience in COVID-19 prevention and control and treatment to boost bilateral relations in a new situation.

The statement was made by Politburo Member and Permanent Member of the Party Central Committee's Secretariat Tran Quoc Vuong during his reception for RoK Ambassador to Vietnam Park Noh-wan in Hanoi on September 21, given the disease has yet to be put under control in the world.



He suggested both sides to seek more effective measures to deepen cooperation in politics and people-to-people exchange to create a firm political foundation for the bilateral relationship.



He asked the RoK to intensify collaboration and coordinate closely with Vietnam at regional and international multi-lateral forums to maintain peace, stability, cooperation, security, and respect for law in international relations.



Ambassador Park affirmed that in his position he will try his best to promote the ties between the two countries and between his countrys political parties and the Communist Party of Vietnam.
A new engine, powered by compressed air, aimed at both increasing fuel economy and decreasing emissions to ZERO, including air pollution and greenhouse (GHG) emissions for future cars and trucks in the U.S. Windstar Motors, Inc. will provide the clear strategy, which will allow a plan for future generations to build state-of-the-art ZERO Emission Vehicles (ZEV) within this 21st century.

Our mission is to deliver ZERO Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) technology that significantly reduces the need for fossil fuels with a conscientious commitment to responsibly assist the world with cleaning up our planet and restoring its fragile environment.

This product will be manufactured exclusively in the U.S. We are estimating creating 10,000 jobs. We want America to take the lead in assisting us to launching this compressed air engine vehicle technology. Although this technology has been around for years; we understand the great challenges that lie ahead of our country. The solutions to these clean energy and pollution mitigation challenges are not confined to the U.S. but are initiated, solved, and brought to fruition by entrepreneurs around the world.

Please take a look at the our master proposal development plan that will cover extensively our Target Market Prototype at No Cost to Government Agencies; Benefits to the Delivery Fleet U.S. and 3D Printing Automotive.

Windstar Motors, Inc. is new to all other world auto manufacturers and leaders in the environmental community. We will provide an incredible step forward for our country and a formidable way for Americans to clearly declare fossil fuel independence with ZERO emissions. This will be an incredible step forward, a formidable way for Americans to clearly declare fossil fuel independence with ZERO emissions.

Website: www.windstarmotors.com

This press release was issued through 24-7PressRelease.com. For further information, visit http://www.24-7pressrelease.com.

SOURCE Windstar Motors, Inc.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 23:25:49|Editor: huaxia

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FREETOWN, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Sierra Leonean Vice President Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh Tuesday praised three Chinese medical teams dispatched by the Chinese government for their efforts in helping the country fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The vice president made the comments while he was meeting with the three Chinese medical teams, who just completed their mission in the country.

He said local people will always remember the touching stories of the three teams working with the Sierra Leonean side, adding that the three teams traveled a long distance to provide precious medical services to the Sierra Leonean people, which is a vivid manifestation of the genuine and cordial friendship between the two countries.

He added that Sierra Leone will continue to work with China to deepen practical cooperation in various fields and promote mutual relations to a new high.

Chinese ambassador to Sierra Leone Hu Zhangliang said that the two countries have always been sincere friends, noting that China will work with Sierra Leone to further strengthen the bilateral relationship. Enditem
New Oil and Gas Resource Centre to Provide Proven Digital Solutions

LONDON, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Axora, the global innovation platform and marketplace for leading digital solutions for industrial companies, has launched an online Oil and Gas Resource Centre to help companies in the industry rebound from and thrive in the face of the global Coronavirus pandemic. The centre provides the latest industry insights and access to digital solutions and technologies which oil and gas companies can adopt to accelerate their business growth, reduce wasted investment, and avoid duplication.

"Fifteen percent of global energy greenhouse gas emissions come from the process of getting oil and gas out of the ground," said Stuart Gregg, Industry innovation Director for Oil and Gas, Axora. "This and other urgent challenges such as price volatility amid the Covid-19 pandemic are encouraging leading industrials to look to technology to change the way oil and gas is discovered, drilled and produced."

Axora's Oil and Gas Resource Centre offers smart technologies that fast-track safer, more efficient, and more sustainable production. These include IoT, smart devices and smart connected devices. The creation of Axora's Oil and Gas Resource Centre follows the successful launch of its Smart Mining Resource Centre in May this year.

"From robotic drills to renewable energy grids, drone exploration to data collection and analytics, today's flourishing tech ecosystem is driving a cleaner, safer and more sustainable operating model for upstream energy," added Dr. Nick Mayhew, Chief Commercial Officer, Axora. "Companies which act now to improve their technology solutions and accelerate their digital transformation roadmaps are the ones which will recover quickest from Covid-19 and thrive in the future."

Together with its expert industry insights, Axora hosts more than 100 innovative solutions from sector leaders to start-ups, universities, and consultancies. The company was developed by a team of industry experts, engineers and entrepreneurs including the Boston Consulting Group. Axora is currently focusing on the Oil and Gas and Mining and Metals sectors and will expand into other sectors as the business grows.

About Axora
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 05:52:14|Editor: huaxia

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--Countries should put people and life first and enhance solidarity.

--Xi called for full and balanced development that delivers benefit to people from all countries, sectors and backgrounds in an equitable way.

--We should stay true to multilateralism and safeguard the international system with the UN at its core.

Chinese President Xi Jinping addresses the general debate of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly via video on Sept. 22, 2020. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

BEIJING, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday charted a course for the world to confront the COVID-19 crisis and meet more challenges in the future while addressing the general debate of the 75th session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly.

The general debate was held virtually for the first time in the world body's 75-year-long history due to the coronavirus pandemic.

ENHANCE SOLIDARITY

Noting that COVID-19 has ravaged the world and kept resurging, Xi said countries should put people and life first and enhance solidarity.

"COVID-19 reminds us that we are living in an interconnected global village with a common stake," he said.

"This is why we should embrace the vision of a community with a shared future in which everyone is bound together," Xi said, calling on countries to see each other as members of the same big family, pursue win-win cooperation, rise above ideological disputes and not to fall into the trap of "clash of civilizations."

Chinese President Xi Jinping addresses the general debate of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly via video on Sept. 22, 2020. (Eskinder Debebe/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)

"We should respect a country's independent choice of development path and model," he said.

No country can gain from others' difficulties or maintain stability by taking advantages of others' troubles, Xi said.

He added that any attempt of politicizing the pandemic or stigmatization must be rejected, saying countries should show concern for and accommodate the need of developing countries, especially African countries.

Xi's remarks once again show that solidarity and cooperation is the most powerful weapon in the face of COVID-19, said Ruan Zongze, executive vice president of the China Institute of International Studies.

PURSUE BALANCED DEVELOPMENT

In his statement, Xi said the economic globalization is an indisputable reality and a historical trend.

"The world will never return to isolation, and no one can sever the ties between countries," he said.

Xi called for full and balanced development that delivers benefit to people from all countries, sectors and backgrounds in an equitable way.

He also called on countries to pursue open and inclusive development, remain committed to building an open world economy, and uphold the multilateral trading regime with the World Trade Organization as the cornerstone.

United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres addresses the General Debate of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York on Sept. 22, 2020. (Rick Bajornas/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)

"We should say no to unilateralism and protectionism, and work to ensure the stable and smooth functioning of global industrial and supply chains," said the president.

The pandemic reminds the world the humankind should launch a green revolution and move faster to create a green way of development and life, Xi said.

He called on countries to pursue innovative, coordinated, green and open development for all, seize the historic opportunities presented by the new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, and achieve a green recovery of the world economy in the post-COVID era.

China will scale up its Intended Nationally Determined Contributions by adopting more vigorous policies and measures, said Xi, adding that China aims to have CO2 emissions peak before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060.

"China's commitment to promoting an open world economy represents the historical trend of globalization and the general direction of world development, which speaks volumes about China's sense of responsibility as a major country," said Gao Fei, a professor at China Foreign Affairs University.

STAY TRUE TO MULTILATERALISM

COVID-19 is not only a major test of the governance capacity of countries but also a test of the global governance system.

"We should stay true to multilateralism and safeguard the international system with the UN at its core," said Xi.

He said global governance should be based on the principle of extensive consultation, joint cooperation and shared benefits so as to ensure that all countries enjoy equal rights and opportunities and follow the same rules.

Volkan Bozkir, president of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly(UNGA), opens the General Debate of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York on Sept. 22, 2020. (Rick Bajornas/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)

The global governance system should adapt itself to evolving global political and economic dynamics, meet global challenges and embrace the underlying trend of peace, development and win-win cooperation, said Xi.

Competition between countries should be positive and healthy in nature, and should not breach the moral standard, Xi said. He called on major countries to provide more global public goods, take up their due responsibilities and live up to people's expectations.

"We have no intention to fight either a Cold War or a hot war with any country," said Xi, adding that China will continue to narrow differences and resolve disputes with others through dialogue and negotiation.

In contrast, the act of certain countries seeking to provoke conflicts goes against the trend of history, Ruan said.

Instead of shying away from problems facing humanity, China is actively promoting a new type of better and balanced globalization, and contributing a "China plan" to achieving sustainable development for all UN member states, he said. 
COMMENT | Sabah voters face a stark choice

COMMENT | Just a few more laps and Sabah will go to the polls to elect a new state government. Who will the people vote for on Sept 26?

Having heard numerous speeches, attended many ceramah, and seen how politicians work themselves up to a frenzy, the electorate would have a fairly good idea of the overall picture.

The situation may look complicated given that there are so many contestants in the arena. But the choice for the people of Sabah is clear-cut: either you vote for Warisan Plus or Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS).

By now, the people can judge for themselves the respective positions of Warisan and GRS. Warisan is all about building a nation that "touches the hearts of all Malaysians", regardless of race and religion.

GRS, realising how tough the going is, has resorted to playing up the politics of development to entice the people with things material. In short, it is all about money, money, money.

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who is heading the GRS charge, can only offer goodies with a hollow promise that life in Sabah could be better under GRS rule.

To spice up his coalition, he has dangled a carrot by including the Malaysia Agreement 63 (MA63) in the GRS manifesto. He has even formed, on the spur of the moment, a special council to discuss MA63.

To the people of Sabah and Sarawak, implementing MA63 is an all-important objective because it means that the two states would be regarded as associate members, or equal partners, ever since they joined the peninsula to form Malaysia in 1963.

But, for more than 50 years, the matter had been swept under the carpet, leaving Sabah and Sarawak as merely two poor states in Malaysia.

Not even Dr Mahathir Mohamad had done anything concrete about it during his 20-odd year premiership although he now supports giving the two states equal status in the heat of a state election.

Now, Muhyiddin has resurrected the MA63 ghost not because he sincerely wants to amend the Federal Constitution to restore the status of the two states but because it is all a bait, or political gimmick, to capture the hearts and minds of the Sabah voters.

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The voters have been urged to cast their ballots wisely - popular advice which carries a thinly-veiled threat that if you side with Warisan, your future is doomed.

But the election is a golden opportunity for the people to take charge of their own destiny and send a loud message to Putrajaya: work with Sabah for a better Malaysia.

Caretaker Chief Minister Shafie Apdal is certainly up against a seemingly formidable alliance. He is facing the full might of the federal government, which can afford to dispense largesse liberally.

To the people of Sabah, the choice is stark: either vote for Sabah's brand of peaceful coexistence or follow the toxic and rancid peninsular politics of race, religion, and hate.

PHLIP RODRIGUES is a retired journalist.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.
BRISTOL, England, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Graphcore is pleased to announce the launch of its Elite Partner Program, a global network of channel partners helping to fulfil customer demand for the company's acclaimed AI compute platform, the IPU-M2000 and IPU-POD for scale-out and supercomputing scale.

At launch, the Graphcore Elite Partner Program includes many of the world's best-known channel partners, technology distributors, and resellers, with additional partners being added over time.

The full list of launch partners is: 2CRSi, Atos, Boston Limited, BSI, Dell Technologies, Digital China, Inspur, Lambda, Macnica/Cytech, Meadowgate Technologies, Megazone, OCF, Penguin Computing, Tech Data Europe, Tech Data US, and Wildflower International.

The scale and international reach of Graphcore's go-to-market partner program reflects the momentum that has already built around the company's Intelligence Processing Unit (IPU), as well as the high demand for its recently announced second-generation IPU systems.

"The Graphcore Elite Partner Program allows us to serve commercial, academic and governmental customers around the world, through some of the most trusted names in the information technology supply chain," said Graphcore CEO Nigel Toon.

"Our new IPU-M2000 system offers unparalleled compute performance, with a cost of ownership that is far more attractive than the legacy technologies that have dominated machine intelligence until now. That's creating a wave of excitement and commercial opportunities that span the globe."

The Graphcore Elite Partner Program allows founding members to offer their customers the leading next-generation AI computing platform, at a time when artificial intelligence is permeating every industry, from finance and healthcare to automotive and consumer internet.

In addition to the growing need for AI compute within the private sector, demand is growing rapidly in the public sector and from research institutions. Artificial Intelligence is also, increasingly, assuming many of workloads previously undertaken by high performance computing (HPC).

"Graphcore is clearly lining up the right partners to make the MK2 and IPU Machine broadly available," said Karl Freund, Sr Analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy.

"I expect the company to expand this list further as customers gain experience with the highly flexible IPU Machine and the Poplar software development stack."

Graphcore Elite Partner Program Member Quotes:

2CRSi

"2CRSi is always eager to integrate new innovative technology and provide state of the art solutions. We are excited to combine 2CRSi hardware expertise and Graphcore's cutting edge technology to propose best-in class products for AI computing. We are therefore thrilled to join Graphcore's Elite Partner Program and to be able to deliver Graphcore's IPU-M2000 product to customers across Europe and the Middle East."

Alain Wilmouth, Founder and CEO, 2CRSi

Atos

"Graphcore technology is a promising technology proven across many of the sectors that Atos serves, from medical research to financial services, academia to automotive.

"With demand for AI compute growing, we are delighted to be making Graphcore systems available throughout our ecosystem."

Agnes Boudot, Senior Vice President, Head of HPC & Quantum at Atos

Boston Limited

"Boston have been at the forefront in the transition to AI compute solutions and are very well placed to recognise that corporations, research institutions and public bodies are looking to harness this new way of processing their data. The reduction in time, cost and green credentials afforded by using Graphcore's systems have created incredible excitement with both commercial and technical specialists. We are delighted to be making the IPU-M2000 available to our customers."

Dev Tyagi, CSMO, Boston Limited

BSI

"BSI's clients are leaders in their industries, continually seeking a competitive advantage that will benefit themselves and their customers. Graphcore's built-for-AI compute solution offers precisely that, and has already proven its worth in financial services, computer vision, natural language and numerous other applications. We expect Graphcore technology to become a must-have tool for anyone seeking to get the most out of their AI investment."

Daniel Goodman, Managing Director, Business Systems International Ltd., (BSI)

Dell Technologies

"The transformational impact of AI and machine learning spans applications in our daily lives to the ability to effect human progress. As Machine Learning models increasingly become more sophisticated, new processing technologies are needed to meet the resource demands required to drive business outcomes. Seeing this opportunity, Dell Technologies Capital was an early investor in Graphcore. Working with Dell Technologies OEM Solutions, Graphcore now can offer a turnkey system, engineered with Dell EMC PowerEdge R6525 servers, designed to accelerate machine intelligence, helping customers reduce their time to value in training AI models and achieving business insights."

Ron Pugh, vice president and general manager, Dell Technologies OEM Solutions

Lambda

"Lambda provides AI compute infrastructure to the world's leading machine learning research teams. We're looking forward to a successful partnership with Graphcore to provide their IPU to our customers. The advances in AI we've seen over the past decade have been primarily driven by advances in computation. Researchers have been eager to try out Graphcore's new IPU-M2000 and we're excited to give them a glimpse of the future."

Stephen Balaban, Co-founder & CEO, Lambda

Meadowgate Technologies

"Meadowgate is the technological enabler for our US Federal Customers that demand the best performing, most reliable and trustworthy systems. As our customers navigate the vast opportunity that artificial intelligence offers, we are delighted to be working with Graphcore - a company that has already built a reputation for relentless innovation and a deep commitment to its users' needs."

Hunter Lochte, VP Operations, Meadowgate Technologies

Megazone

"Megazone joins the Graphcore Elite Partner Program, having already worked extensively with Graphcore to deliver powerful AI solutions to our customers. Having seen, first-hand, the performance advantage that can be gained using IPU technology, we are delighted to formally become a Graphcore Elite Partner, and extent that same competitive advantage to many more customers across Korea."

Eric Han, Managing Director / Hybrid Cloud & AI Platform Service, Megazone

OCF

"OCF is delivering solutions and services across the most consequential technologies of our time  HPC, Cloud, Storage and Artificial Intelligence. We are delighted to be adding Graphcore's IPU-M2000 system to our customer offering. Graphcore has already distinguished itself as building standout technology that raises the performance bar on today's AI applications, as well as enabling the next generation of models and techniques."

Russell Slack, Managing Director, OCF Limited

Tech Data USA

"Many businesses around the world are familiar with Graphcore and understand the capabilities of its IPU technology. As an Elite Partner, serving more than 100 countries, Tech Data will bring this technology to market to our customers around the world, satisfying the global demand from innovators in private industry to public institutions."

Maghen Hannigan, Director, Converged and Integrated Solutions, Tech Data USA

Wildflower International

"Wildflower International supports mission-critical applications across the public and Federal Government sectors. Our customers understand the need for systems and technologies that offer leading-edge capabilities, a robust and trustworthy support system, and compelling economics. Graphcore meets all of those criteria and, moreover, we expect the IPU-M2000 to become an essential tool for our clients as they build their AI capabilities."

Andrew Balzarini, Director, Marketing & Alliances, Wildflower International

For more information on the program contact: [email protected] or visit graphcore.ai/partners.

About the Graphcore IPU-M2000

The IPU-Machine M2000 is a plug-and-play Machine Intelligence compute blade that has been designed for easy deployment and supports systems that can grow to massive scale. The slim 1U blade delivers one PetaFlop of Machine Intelligence compute and includes integrated networking technology, optimized for AI scale-out, inside the box.

Each IPU-Machine M2000 is powered by four of Graphcore's new 7nm Colossus Mk2 GC200 IPU processors, and is fully supported by our Poplar software stack.

IPU M-2000 product will be available in the channel in Q4.

About Graphcore

Graphcore's Intelligence Processing Unit (IPU) hardware and Poplar software helps innovators create next generation machine intelligence solutions. The IPU is the first processor to be designed specifically for Machine Intelligence and offers significant performance advantages compared to other computing hardware, typically used in artificial intelligence. In addition to outperforming other technologies at today's most common workloads, the Graphcore IPU has been architected to excel at next-generation Ai applications  including highly sparse models.

Graphcore has raised more than $450m in in funding from leading financial and strategic investors and is headquartered in Bristol UK, with offices in London UK, Oslo Norway, Palo Alto USA and Beijing China.

More information can be found at https://www.graphcore.ai.

Media contact:

Iain Mackenzie

Head of Communications

[email protected]

SOURCE Graphcore

Related Links

https://www.graphcore.ai


- President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo visited the Pantang COVID-19 treatment centre

- President Akufo-Addo said the structure was initially intended to be a learning centre for the Ghana Health Service but was transformed into a treatment centre for COVID-19

- During his visit, Akufo-Addo also presented 10,000 hospital beds

Our manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Tuesday, September 22, 2020, paid a working visit to the Pantang COVID-19 treatment centre.

During his working visit to the facility, Akufo-Addo presented 10,000 hospital beds under the governments Infrastructure for Poverty Eradication Programme (IPEP), to hospitals across the country.

President Akufo-Addo said the structure was initially intended to be a learning centre for the Ghana Health Service.

According to him, the project was started under the government of President J.A. Kufuor, but was abandoned soon after the NPP government left office in 2008.

In a Facebook post sighted by YEN.com.gh, the president revealed that upon his assumption to office, it was adopted by the Electricity Company of Ghana, and has been transformed into a treatment centre for COVID-19.

He added that the facility is scheduled to be completed in three months time.

READ ALSO: The best place to nurture his talent is with Kantanka - Kwadwo Safo to JHS 'inventor'

President Akufo-Addo's working visit to the Pantang COVID-19 treatment Centre has attracted some reactions from Ghanaians.

Osei Eben-algore described the president as a workaholic.

Workaholic President. Yesterday in Abuja, today in Ghana at Pantang.

Hajj Ahmed Tijani Sakande was excited about the excellent service of the president.

Thank you Nana-Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo For Your Excellent Service For Mother Ghana.

Kwa-sam K. Samuel believes the president has no single project to his credit.

So it's not complete yet and still, you want us to believe you have worked on. ECG worked on it and not Nana Addo. You have no a single project in your credit.

Kwamifoli Evans raised quite a valid point.

Those who'll be working there are on strike, you haven't even address them.

Uxio Anold Huntington believes the no bed syndrome will end.

Excellent work. I think from now, the 'no bed syndrome' will end. Workaholic leadership.

Obayaa Adubaa assured the president of four more years.

You have our 4years wati NANA you are not going anywhere anytime soon you are the best Nana Agyakwa.

READ ALSO: Election 2020: Out of 55 seats lost in 2016 NDC has already won 47  Haruna Iddrisu

In other news, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo who is also the leader and flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has predicted that the NPP will win with a first-round victory in the upcoming December elections.

He said the NPP is targeting a first-round victory because he is confident Ghanaians will vote for him given his performance so far since he became president.

Akufo-Addo reported made this declaration during a working tour to the Bono Region, where he addressed people of Berekum East and Berekum West, appealing for votes.

READ ALSO: Ghanaians blast Electoral Commission; say short code to verify voters ID is not working

Vox Pop: Mahama or Akufo-Addo? Who deserves to win Election 2020? | #Yencomgh

Got a story you think we should know about? Get interactive via our Facebook page!

Source: YEN.com.gh
BRENTWOOD, NY A new Recovery Center for Women will be hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony next week. The Outreach center will host the event on Tuesday, September 29 at 11 a.m. on Crooked Hill Road in Brentwood.

Arlene Gonzalez-Sanchez, MS, LMSW, Commissioner of the NYS Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse (OASAS); New York State Senator Monica R. Martinez; New York State Assemblymember Phil Ramos, and Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone will all be attending the event.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, attendance is limited, but the event will be available for viewing live on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/OutreachNY.



The center, which opened officially earlier this year, is a 25-bed community residence for women which also offers a variety of services for women affected by addiction.



"With the impact of COVID-19 and our economy in recession, the need for supportive care for individuals with addiction issues on Long Island has never been greater," Debra Pantin, president and CEO of Outreach said.



The facility is designed as a safe space that aligns with the emotional, social, physical and spiritual needs of women who have completed inpatient treatment for alcoholism and substance use disorders, as they transition back to independent living.

Outreach has more than 40 years of experience treating substance abuse in teens, adults and women with children. The agency was selected by OASAS to construct the Recovery Residence for Women, which is certified and funded by New York State.

"This facility will allow women to stay out of shelters or homes that undermine their ability to recover," Pantin said. "In order for them to receive the help they truly need, it is often necessary for them to live in a safe, nurturing environment with the resources required to help them make positive changes in their lives."

The community residence will allow Outreach to serve an additional 50 to 75 women per year. In addition to bedrooms accommodating 25, the brand new facility has 24-hour staffing, common living and recreational space, and transportation available to and from Outreach's enhanced outpatient program for women, also in Brentwood.

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At the outpatient program, clients will receive case management services, individual and group counseling, training in life skills and parenting, and vocational counseling, as necessary.

Also at the site of the new residence on Crooked Hill Road in Brentwood are Outreach House II, a 45-bed residence for adolescent treatment services, the Long Island campus of Outreach Training Institute, and the Outreach's Family Center, which provides outpatient and aftercare services.

For more information, visit opiny.org.

This article originally appeared on the Brentwood-Central Islip Patch
The coalition of agitating farmer groups All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC) has denounced the minimum support price (MSP) declared by the Central government as a diversionary tactic.

"The declaration is a raise of only 2.6 per cent and is too meagre to meet the needs of rising livelihood costs. Coming in the wake of bulldozing two anti-peasant pro-corporate, pro-MNC legislations through the Rajya Sabha, the MSP announcement is yet another diversionary tactic to camouflage the real anti Indian farmer intent of the Bills," the committee said.

According to AIKSCC, wheat which has an MSP Rs 1,925 per quintal is selling today at Rs 1,400 per quintal causing massive losses to farmers. "If the government is sincere to the farmers, it should come forward and offer to purchase wheat at its declared rate of Rs 1,925," they say.

In a statement, AIKSCC said that on two accounts, namely the diesel and petrol costs and electricity charges, the government has drastically increased the cost of living. "Taxes on fuel have been raised by more than Rs 11 per litre during COVID period and the new Power Bill, 2020 intends to withdraw all subsidies and charge all common consumers at Rs 10.20 per unit. Fertiliser subsidies have been withdrawn leading to rise in its cost and black marketing has increased. Other than that, costs of living, transport, education, health, etc have been rising with the government regularly invoking privatization. The peasant has to draw all expenditures from the earnings from his land. The 2.6 per cent increase is a cruel joke on the farmers," they allege.

The protestors, who have called for a national level lockdown on September 25, said that even the MSP announcement was done due to the pressure from the farmers. However, their long-standing demand to incorporate legal provisions to ensure compliance of procurement by the government at its declared MSP has been ignored.

"The MNCs will now purchase crops, bind farmers under contracts and force them to sell cheap. There is no legislation to protect the price of the crop or its sale at that protected price," AIKSCC leaders say.

The group reiterated its demand for immediate withdrawal of all anti-farmer legislations and a legal binding on the government to purchase crops at a declared MSP as calculated by the Swaminathan Commission (which is higher than the current MSP).

Also Read: PM Modi's foreign trips in 2015 cost Rs 517.82 crore, informs MEA

Also Read: Parliament passes amendment to Essential Commodities Bill, removes cereals, pulses and oilseeds from list

Also Read: HDFC Bank customer? Check out eligibility, documents, fees to restructure loan
Social Democratic Party (PSD) Chairman Marcel Ciolacu said on Tuesday that, through the vote given in Parliament, PSD "did justice" for 5 million pensioners, because pensions must be increased by 40%.

"Today, we have done justice to 5 million pensioners. Pensions must be increased by 40%. There is money. The Government had moved the money of pensioners, children and teachers to the Reserve Fund and in the General Actions chapter of the Ministry of Finance, where it could be used as Orban and Citu wanted. The country's money had become the PNL [National Liberal Party]'s electoral piggybank. From it they bought mayors, party-changing MPs and votes. PSD did what is right. We moved the money back to the people. The budget deficit does not increase by a single leu. The only negative impact is for Orban and PNL, who are left without the money to buy their new mandates," Ciolacu wrote on Facebook.The plenary session of Parliament passed on Tuesday the budget revision for 2020 with the PSD amendment regarding the increase by 40% in the pension point. There were 242 votes in favor, 147 against and 11 abstentions.The parliamentarians decided, at the proposal of PSD, to repeal the article according to which the pension point is increased by 14%, thus remaining in force the law of the public pension system which provides for a 40% increase.
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Banco Nacional de Costa Rica (the "Bank"), an autonomous state-owned financial institution organized under the laws of the Republic of Costa Rica, an entity part of the Banco Nacional Financial Conglomerate, announced today the early results of its previously announced cash tender offer (the "Offer") for up to US$150 million in aggregate principal amount of its 6.250% Senior Notes due 2023 (144A CUSIP / ISIN Nos. 059613AB5 / US059613AB51 and Reg S P14623AB1 / USP14623AB16) (the "Notes"). The Offer is being made on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase, dated September 8, 2020 ("Offer to Purchase"). The Offer is scheduled to expire at 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on October 5, 2020, unless extended or earlier terminated as described in the Offer to Purchase (such time and date, as the same may be extended, the "Expiration Time"). The amount of Notes that may be purchased in the Offer is subject to a maximum principal amount of US$150 million (the "Maximum Tender Amount"). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Offer to Purchase.

As of 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on September 21, 2020, (the "Early Tender Time"), according to D.F. King & Co., Inc., the tender agent and information agent (the "Tender Agent and Information Agent") for the Offer, tenders were received (and not validly withdrawn) from holders of Notes representing US$154,245,000 in aggregate principal amount of Notes.

Because purchasing all the Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn prior to or at the Early Tender Time would cause the Maximum Tender Amount to be exceeded, the Bank will not accept all the Notes tendered prior to or at the Early Tender Time. Rather, as described in the Offer to Purchase, the Bank will accept such Notes for purchase on a prorated basis, using a proration factor of approximately 93.27%. The Bank will accept for purchase the aggregate principal amount of the Notes accepted by a holder multiplied by the proration factor and then rounded down to the nearest US$1,000 increment. The Bank will accept all validly tendered and not validly withdrawn Notes that due to proration would result in less than an aggregate principal amount of US$200,000, the minimum Authorized Denomination, being accepted. As a result of the application of the above, the Bank accepts to purchase US$149,924,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes.

Pursuant to the terms of the Offer to Purchase, although the Offer is scheduled to expire at 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on October 5, 2020, the Bank does not expect to accept for purchase any Notes tendered after the Early Tender Time because the aggregate principal amount of Notes that were validly tendered and not validly withdrawn as of the Early Tender Time exceeded the Maximum Tender Amount.

Subject to the terms and conditions of the Offer, and the application of the proration described above holders who validly tendered their Notes at or prior to the Early Tender Time are eligible to receive US$1,036.25 for each US$1,000 principal amount of Notes accepted for purchase, plus accrued interest.

Payment for Notes validly tendered at or prior to the Early Tender Time and accepted for purchase is expected to be made on September 23, 2020 (the "Initial Settlement Date").

Withdrawal rights with respect to the Offer expired at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on September 21, 2020. Accordingly, Notes tendered (in the past or the future) in the Offer may no longer be withdrawn, except if required by applicable law.

Completion of the Offer is subject to customary conditions. If the Bank proceeds with initial settlement, all conditions to the Offer will be deemed to be satisfied or waived, and the Bank will thereafter accept for purchase and pay for any Notes validly tendered in the Offer at or prior to the Early Tender Time.

The Bank also announced that it is amending the terms of the Offer to correct the aggregate principal amount of the Notes outstanding at the commencement of the Offer from US$500,000,000 to US$470,045,000 in each place where such amount appears in the Offer to Purchase.

The Bank reserves the absolute right to amend or terminate the Offer in its sole discretion, subject to disclosure and other requirements as required by applicable law. In the event of termination of the Offer, Notes tendered and not accepted for purchase pursuant to the Offer will be promptly returned to the tendering holders. The complete terms and conditions of the Offer are described in the Offer to Purchase, dated September 8, 2020, a copy of which may be obtained from D.F. King & Co., Inc., the tender agent and information agent (the "Tender and Information Agent") for the Offer, at www.dfking.com/bncr , [email protected], by telephone at (800) 591-6313 (U.S. toll free) and (212) 269-5550 (collect), in writing at 48 Wall Street, 22nd Floor New York, New York 10005, Attention: Andrew Beck.

The Bank has engaged BofA Securities, Inc. and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC to act as the dealer managers (the "Dealer Managers") in connection with the Offer. Questions regarding the terms of the Offer may be directed to BofA Securities, Inc. by telephone at +1 (888) 292-0070 (U.S. toll free) or +1 (646) 855-8988 (collect) and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC by telephone at +1 (866) 846-2874 (U.S. toll free) or +1 (212) 834-7279 (collect).

Disclaimer

None of the Bank, the Dealer Managers, the Tender and Information Agent or the trustee for the Notes, or any of their respective affiliates, is making any recommendation as to whether holders should or should not tender any Notes in response to the Offer or expressing any opinion as to whether the terms of the Offer are fair to any holder. Holders must make their own decision as to whether to tender any of their Notes and, if so, the principal amount of Notes to tender. Please refer to the Offer to Purchase for a description of the offer terms, conditions, disclaimers and other information applicable to the Offer.

This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to purchase or the solicitation of an offer to sell any securities. The Offer is being made solely by means of the Offer to Purchase. The Offer is not being made to holders of Notes in any jurisdiction in which the making or acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the securities, blue sky or other laws of such jurisdiction. In those jurisdictions where the securities, blue sky or other laws require any tender offer to be made by a licensed broker or dealer, the Offer will be deemed to be made on behalf of the Bank by the Dealer Managers or one or more registered brokers or dealers licensed under the laws of such jurisdiction.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including those related to the Offer. Forward-looking information involves important risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect anticipated results in the future, and, accordingly, such results may differ from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. The Bank is not under any obligation to (and expressly disclaims any such obligation to) update forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Investor Relations

[email protected]

[email protected]

https://www.bncr.fi.cr/SitePages/Inicio.aspx

+(506) 2212-2000

About Banco Nacional de Costa Rica.

Banco Nacional de Costa Rica, an autonomous government-owned institution organized and existing as a state owned commercial bank under the laws of the Republic of Costa Rica, an entity part of the Banco Nacional Financial Conglomerate.

Important Notice

The distribution of materials relating to the Offer and the transactions contemplated by the Offer may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions. The Offer is void in all jurisdictions where it is prohibited. If materials relating to the Offer come into a holder's possession, the holder is required by the Bank to inform itself of and to observe all of these restrictions. The materials relating to Offer, including this communication, do not constitute, and may not be used in connection with, an offer or solicitation in any place where offers or solicitations are not permitted by law. If a jurisdiction requires that the Offer be made by a licensed broker or dealer and a Dealer Manager or any affiliate of a Dealer Manager is a licensed broker or dealer in that jurisdiction, the Offer, as the case may be, shall be deemed to be made by the Dealer Manager or such affiliate on behalf of the Bank in that jurisdiction. Owners who may lawfully participate in the Offer in accordance with the terms thereof are referred to as "holders."

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation would be unlawful.

This press release constitutes a public disclosure of inside information by Banco Nacional de Costa Rica under Regulation (EU) 596/2014 (16 April 2014).

SOURCE Banco Nacional de Costa Rica
English German

G ene expression data m a y explain differences in clinical adverse event profiles of FGFR inhibitor s

A ntitumo r activity of derazantinib in preclinical cancer models with F GFR aberrations support s planned gastric cancer study

Full results from the completed phase 1 study in patients with brain cancer underscores the potential for lisavanbulin to be developed in a targeted patient population using end-binding protein 1 (EB1) as a patient selection criterion





Basel, Switzerland, September 22, 2020

Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. (SIX: BSLN) today reports on several e-posters with new preclinical and clinical data on its fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) inhibitor derazantinib and its tumor checkpoint controller, lisavanbulin, presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Virtual Congress 2020, which took place from 19-21 September, 2020.

A preclinical study showed that treatment-specific gene expression patterns in tumor models may help elucidating the biological processes driving differences in the clinical adverse event profiles of FGFR inhibitors. Moreover, the results from this study may explain low rates of adverse events reported with derazantinib for retinal events, mucositis and nail toxicities.

Results from a series of preclinical efficacy models of breast, colorectal, head & neck, lung, ovarian and gastric cancer with confirmed FGFR1-3 genetic aberrations, showed that FGFR2-fusion-positive gastric cancer models were particularly sensitive to treatment with derazantinib. In addition, gastric and lung cancer models showed the strongest correlation of FGFR1-3 expression versus the anticancer activity of derazantinib. The results support the planned clinical investigation of derazantinib in gastric cancer as its next indication.

Full results from a phase 1 study with once-daily oral lisavanbulin in adult patients with recurrent glioblastoma (GBM), or high-grade glioma, showed an overall clinical benefit rate of 44% at six months at daily doses of 25-30 mg. There was an exceptional long-lasting response in a patient, whose tumor tissue was positive for end-binding protein 1 (EB1), a previously identified response predictive biomarker for lisavanbulin in preclinical studies. A phase 2 expansion study will be initiated shortly, which will use EB1-positivity as a patient selection criterion.1 Lisavanbulin is dosed at the recommended phase 2 dose of 25 mg/day in this phase 2 study in patients with recurrent GBM. The prevalence of EB1-positivity in GBM is estimated at 2-5%.

Dr. Marc Engelhardt, Chief Medical Officer, said: The results presented at ESMO support our differentiation strategy for derazantinib, which is based on its unique kinase inhibition profile and its clinical safety profile. They also provide the preclinical rationale for our decision to initiate a clinical study of derazantinib alone and in combination with other therapies in patients with advanced gastric cancer. The full results from the completed phase 1 study with lisavanbulin underscore its potential to be developed in a targeted patient population. Our initial focus will be on glioblastoma. We may decide to explore other tumor types upon achieving clinical validation of EB1 as a response-predictive biomarker in glioblastoma.

The following e-posters were presented at ESMO Virtual Congress 2020: Presentation # Title 1960P Differential induction of gene expression may explain differences in reported adverse event profiles between the FGFR-inhibitors derazantinib and erdafitinib: an analysis in safety relevant normal tissues from urothelial cancer (UC) patient-derived mouse xenograft (PDX) models. 541P Derazantinib (DZB), an oral Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor inhibitor (FGFRi), shows promising activity in PDX-tumor models with aberrations in FGFR1-3 382P The potential utility of end-binding protein 1 (EB1) as response-predictive biomarker for lisavanbulin: Final results from a phase 1 study of lisavanbulin (BAL101553) in adult patients with recurrent glioblastoma (GBM)

For further information, please visit https://www.esmo.org/meetings/esmo-virtual-congress-2020

About derazantinib

Derazantinib is an investigational orally administered small-molecule FGFR kinase inhibitor with strong activity against FGFR1, 2, and 3.2 FGFR kinases are key drivers of cell proliferation, differentiation and migration. FGFR genetic aberrations, e.g. gene fusions, mutations or amplifications, have been identified as potentially important therapeutic targets for various cancers, including intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA), urothelial, breast, gastric and lung cancers.3 In these cancers, FGFR genetic aberrations are found in a range of 5% to 30%.4

Derazantinib also inhibits the colony-stimulating-factor-1-receptor kinase (CSF1R).2, 5 CSF1R-mediated signaling is important for the maintenance of tumor-promoting macrophages and therefore has been identified as a potential target for anti-cancer drugs.6 Preclinical data has shown that tumor macrophage depletion through CSF1R blockade renders tumors more responsive to T-cell checkpoint immunotherapy, including approaches targeting PD-L1/PD-1.7, 8

Derazantinib has demonstrated antitumor activity and a manageable safety profile in previous clinical studies, including a biomarker-driven phase 1/2 study in iCCA patients,9 and has received U.S. and EU orphan drug designation for iCCA. Basilea is currently conducting two clinical studies with derazantinib. The first study, FIDES-01, is a registrational phase 2 study in patients with inoperable or advanced iCCA. It comprises one cohort of patients with FGFR2 gene fusions and another cohort of patients with mutations or amplifications.10 The second study, FIDES-02, is a phase 1/2 study evaluating derazantinib alone and in combination with Roche's PD-L1-blocking immune-checkpoint inhibitor atezolizumab (Tecentriq)11 in patients with advanced urothelial cancer, including metastatic, or recurrent surgically unresectable disease, expressing FGFR genetic aberrations.12.

Basilea in-licensed derazantinib from ArQule Inc, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., U.S.A.

About lisavanbulin (BAL101553)

Basilea's oncology drug candidate lisavanbulin (BAL101553, the prodrug of BAL27862)13 is being developed as a potential therapy for diverse cancers.1, 14, 15 In preclinical studies, lisavanbulin demonstrated in-vitro and in-vivo activity against diverse treatment-resistant cancer models, including tumors refractory to conventional approved therapeutics and radiotherapy.16, 17, 18 Lisavanbulin efficiently distributes to the brain, with anticancer activity in glioblastoma models.19, 20, 21 In preclinical studies, end-binding protein 1 (EB1) was identified as a potential response-predictive biomarker in glioblastoma models.21 The active moiety BAL27862 binds to the colchicine site of tubulin, with distinct effects on microtubule organization,22 resulting in the activation of the "spindle assembly checkpoint" which promotes tumor cell death.23

About Basilea

Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company, focused on the development of products that address the medical challenges in the therapeutic areas of oncology and infectious diseases. With two commercialized drugs, the company is committed to discovering, developing and commercializing innovative pharmaceutical products to meet the medical needs of patients with serious and life-threatening conditions. Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland and listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (SIX: BSLN). Additional information can be found at Basilea's website www.basilea.com.

Disclaimer

This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements, such as "believe", "assume", "expect", "forecast", "project", "may", "could", "might", "will" or similar expressions concerning Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. and its business, including with respect to the progress, timing and completion of research, development and clinical studies for product candidates. Such statements involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. is providing this communication as of this date and does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Derazantinib and its uses are investigational and have not been approved by a regulatory authority for any use. Efficacy and safety have not been established. The information presented should not be construed as a recommendation for use. The relevance of findings in nonclinical/preclinical studies to humans is currently being evaluated.

For further information, please contact:

Peer Nils Schroder, PhD



Head of Corporate Communications & Investor Relations Phone +41 61 606 1102 E-mail media_relations@basilea.com

investor_relations@basilea.com

This press release can be downloaded from www.basilea.com.

References

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02490800 T. G. Hall, Y. Yu, S. Eathiraj et al. Preclinical activity of ARQ 087, a novel inhibitor targeting FGFR dysregulation. PLoS ONE 2016, 11 (9), e0162594 R. Porta, R. Borea, A. Coelho et al. FGFR a promising druggable target in cancer: Molecular biology and new drugs. Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology 2017 (113), 256-267 T. Helsten, S. Elkin, E. Arthur et al. The FGFR landscape in cancer: Analysis of 4,853 tumors by next-generation sequencing. Clinical Cancer Research 2016 (22), 259-267 P. McSheehy, F. Bachmann, N. Forster-Gross et al. Derazantinib (DZB): A dual FGFR/CSF1R-inhibitor active in PDX-models of urothelial cancer. Molecular Cancer Therapeutics 2019 (18), 12 supplement, pp. LB-C12 M. A. Cannarile, M. Weisser, W. Jacob et al. Colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R) inhibitors in cancer therapy. Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer 2017, 5:53 Y. Zhu, B. L. Knolhoff, M. A. Meyer et al. CSF1/CSF1R Blockade reprograms tumor-infiltrating macrophages and improves response to T cell checkpoint immunotherapy in pancreatic cancer models. Cancer Research 2014 (74), 5057-5069 E. Peranzoni, J. Lemoine, L. Vimeux et al. Macrophages impede CD8 T cells from reaching tumor cells and limit the efficacy of antiPD-1 treatment. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science of the United States of America 2018 (115), E4041-E4050 V. Mazzaferro, B. F. El-Rayes, M. Droz dit Busset et al. Derazantinib (ARQ 087) in advanced or inoperable FGFR2 gene fusion-positive intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. British Journal of Cancer 2019 (120), 165-171. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01752920 FIDES-01: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03230318 Tecentriq ist eine eingetragene Marke von Hoffmann-La Roche AG. FIDES-02: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04045613. J. Pohlmann, F. Bachmann, A. Schmitt-Hoffmann et al. BAL101553: An optimized prodrug of the microtubule destabilizer BAL27862 with superior antitumor activity. American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) annual meeting 2011, abstract 1347; Cancer Research 2011, 71 (8 supplement) ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03250299 ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02895360 A. Sharmq, A. Broggini-Tenzer, V. Vuong et al. The novel microtubule targeting agent BAL101553 in combination with radiotherapy in treatment-refractory tumor models. Radiotherapy Oncology 2017 (124), 433-438 G. E. Duran, H. Lane, F. Bachmann et al. In vitro activity of the novel tubulin active agent BAL27862 in MDR1(+) and MDR1(-) human breast and ovarian cancer variants selected for resistance to taxanes. American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) annual meeting 2010, abstract 4412; Cancer Research 2010, 70 (8 supplement) F. Bachmann, K. Burger, G. E. Duran et al. BAL101553 (prodrug of BAL27862): A unique microtubule destabilizer active against drug refractory breast cancers alone and in combination with trastuzumab. American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) annual meeting 2014, abstract 831; Cancer Research 2014, 74 (19 supplement) A. Schmitt-Hoffmann, D. Klauer, K. Gebhardt et al. BAL27862: a unique microtubule-targeted agent with a potential for the treatment of human brain tumors. AACR-NCI-EORTC conference 2009, abstract C233; Molecular Cancer Therapeutics 2009, 8 (12 supplement) A. C. Mladek, J. L. Pokorny, H. Lane et al. The novel tubulin-binding 'tumor checkpoint controller' BAL101553 has anti-cancer activity alone and in combination treatments across a panel of GBM patient-derived xenografts. American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) annual meeting 2016, abstract 4781; Cancer Research 2016, 76 (14 supplement) R. Berges, A. Tchoghandjian, S. Honore et al. The novel tubulin-binding checkpoint activator BAL101553 inhibits EB1-dependent migration and invasion and promotes differentiation of glioblastoma stem-like cells. Molecular Cancer Therapeutics 2016 (15), 2740-2749 A. E. Prota, F. Danel, F. Bachmann et al. The novel microtubule-destabilizing drug BAL27862 binds to the colchicine site of tubulin with distinct effects on microtubule organization. Journal of Molecular Biology 2014 (426), 1848-1860 F. Bachmann, K. Burger, H. Lane. BAL101553 (prodrug of BAL27862): the spindle assembly checkpoint is required for anticancer activity. American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) annual meeting 2015, abstract 3789; Cancer Research 2015, 75 (15 supplement)

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BATON ROUGE, La. - Louisiana families have one more week to apply for financial benefits from free and reduced-price school meals missed when schools closed in 2019-20 due to the pandemic. Eligible families who did not apply for the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program in May and June can take advantage of the second application window that will remain open until September 29 at 5 p.m. This second application window for 2019-20 benefits opened September 8.

Families of children who normally receive free or reduced-price meals are eligible for the program. This includes all children who attend a Community Eligibility Provision school where all students receive free and reduced-price meals regardless of income. This second application period of the 2019-20 P-EBT is only for families of the estimated 264,111 students who did not apply to receive P-EBT benefits during the initial window in the spring. When the original application window closed June 15, the families of nearly 470,800 eligible children had signed up to receive benefits.

These one-time benefits, which total $285 per child, equate the cost of meals for the 50 days schools were closed in the spring because of the pandemic, from the onset of statewide school facility closures in March through the end of the 2019-20 academic year. Parents who applied for free meals in May, after the P-EBT program was announced, will receive $91.20 per eligible child, which covers the cost of meals for 16 school days in May.

Families must apply if they wish to receive the benefits. The application is available in a P-EBT portal on the Louisiana Department of Education website. The deadline to apply is September 29 at 5 p.m. The online application is simple, requiring only a name, address, date of birth, school district and school. Social security numbers, while helpful, are not required. The information submitted by the family, however, must exactly match the information on file with the school system in order for the application to successfully submit.

Once families complete an application in the portal, the computer system will notify them of their successful submission. Upon verification, the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services will then request a P-EBT debit card for the household to be loaded with a one-time benefit. Applicants can expect their cards within 30 days of their application. Benefits will be available for 365 days.

P-EBT is different from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which is issued on a Louisiana Purchase EBT card to approved low-income households. However, the P-EBT card can be used to purchase the same eligible food for the household as can be purchased with a SNAP card. All SNAP families with qualifying students are also eligible to receive P-EBT benefits if they apply, and P-EBT also is available to non-SNAP families if they meet the P-EBT guidelines.

P-EBT is not related to loss from Hurricane Laura. Eligibility is solely based on student participation in the free or reduced-price meal program.

Louisiana was approved by the federal government to offer the P-EBT program on May 15, and the original online application launched on May 18. At that time, 611,430 children were deemed eligible. After the program began and additional families applied for free and reduced-price meals, the number of eligible children increased to 729,507.

Various factors could have influenced the number of families who were eligible but who did not submit an application. Unlike other states offering the federal program, for example, Louisiana could not automatically provide benefits to eligible families because of the state's restrictive data privacy laws for students, so every eligible family was required to submit an application. In addition, Louisiana has a large number of Community Eligibility Provision schools at which every child, regardless of their family's income, receives free and reduced-price meals at school.

The P-EBT program was authorized by Congress in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020. In obtaining federal approval for P-EBT, Louisiana joined more than 22 other states participating in the program.

For more information, consult a list of Frequently Asked Questions or contact the LAHelpU Customer Service Center at LaHELPU.DCFS@la.gov or 1-888-524-3578. Families can also access a flyer that has been translated into Spanish, Arabic and Vietnamese. Families who need food assistance can also call 211 to inquire about food pantries and other available resources in their communities.

LDOE and DCFS are partnering with numerous non-profit organizations to connect these benefits with eligible families who did not apply for the program during the original application period. Those organizations are Feeding Louisiana, Food Research & Action Center, Louisiana Association of United Ways, Louisiana Budget Project, Louisiana Partnership for Children & Families, Share Our Strength/No Kid Hungry America and Share Our Strength/No Kid Hungry Louisiana.
Dissident Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa has said that he and his supporters will be approaching the Election Commission for registering their outtfit Shiromani Akali Dal (Democrat) as a new political party.

We have decided to register our outfit, the Shiromani Akali Dal (Democrat), as a new political party. In consultations with our colleagues and lawyers, we are now nalising the legal documents and aidavits and will soon move an application with the EC for registration of our party. The SAD (D) will contest the coming SGPC and Punjab assembly elections, Dhindsa was quoted as saying by Economic Times.

The new party, he said, will contest the next elections to the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandahak Committee (SGPC) and Punjab assembly.

In February, the SAD core committee had expelled Rajya Sabha MP Dhindsa and his son Parminder Singh Dhindsa from the party and charged them with anti-party activities by criticising the leadership on party decisions and join hands with rebel Taksali leaders. SAD chief Sukhbir had, in fact, referred to Dhindsa as a traitor".

Days before their expulsion, Dhindsa and his son, who is legislator from Lehra, had resigned from key posts claiming that the party was not being run in a democratic manner.

They had the floated SAD (A) as a platform and have been working along With other factions to strengthen their support base. Our party will provide a platform to all those who have been disillusioned with the degeneration of SAD into a Badal familycontrolled anti-democratic outt. The SAD has lost its base among the people of Punjab and the community due to the autocratic manner in which the leadership, especially Sukhbir Badal, has been functioning, the ET report quoted Dhindsa as saying.
WASHINGTON - Votes in hand, Senate Republicans are charging ahead with plans to confirm President Donald Trumps pick to fill the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburgs Supreme Court seat before the Nov. 3 election, launching a divisive fight over Democratic objections before a nominee is even announced.

Trump said Tuesday he will name his choice Saturday, confident of support. Democrats say its too close to the election, and the winner of the presidency should name the new justice. But under GOP planning, the Senate could vote Oct. 29.

I guess we have all the votes were going to need, Trump told WJBX FOX 2 in Detroit. I think its going to happen.

Republicans believe the court fight will energize voters for Trump, boosting the party and potentially deflating Democrats who cannot stop the lifetime appointment for a conservative justice . The Senate is controlled by Republicans, 53-47, with a simple majority needed for confirmation. The one remaining possible Republican holdout, Mitt Romney of Utah, said Tuesday he supports taking a vote.

Still, with early presidential voting already underway in several states, all sides are girding for a wrenching Senate battle over health care, abortion access and other big cases before the court and sure to further split the torn nation.

It is one of the quickest confirmation efforts in recent times. No court nominee in U.S. history has been considered so close to a presidential election. And it all comes as the nation is marking the grave milestone of 200,000 deaths from the coronavirus pandemic.

During a private lunch meeting Tuesday at Senate GOP campaign headquarters, several Republican senators spoke up in favour of voting before the election. None advocated a delay.

Elsewhere, as tributes poured in for Ginsburg with vigils and flowers at the courts steps, Democrats led by presidential nominee Joe Biden vowed a tough fight. The Senate Democratic leader, Chuck Schumer, said we should honour her dying wish, which was that her seat not be filled until the man who wins the presidential election is installed, in January.

But that seemed no longer an option. So far, two Republicans have said they oppose taking up a nomination at this time, but no others are in sight. Under Senate rules, Vice-President Mike Pence could break a tie vote.

While not all Republican senators have said they will support the eventual pick, few appear willing to stand in the way of a top party priority.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made no scheduling announcements. But hearings could start as soon as Oct. 12 by the Senate Judiciary Committee, with a vote in the full Senate by Oct. 29, according to a GOP aide granted anonymity to discuss deliberations.

After Trump met with conservative Judge Amy Coney Barrett at the White House on Monday he told reporters he would interview other candidates and might meet with Judge Barbara Lagoa when he travels to Florida later this week. Conversations in the White House and McConnells office have been increasingly focused on Barrett and Lagoa, according to a person granted anonymity to discuss the private deliberations.

Barrett, 48, a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit, has long been favoured by conservatives. Those familiar with the process said interest inside the White House seemed to be waning for Lagoa amid concerns she did not have a proven record as a conservative jurist. Lagoa has been pushed by Floridas governor, and aides tout her political advantages of being Hispanic and hailing from the key political battleground state.

Democrats point to hypocrisy in Republicans trying to rush through a pick so close to the election after McConnell led the GOP in refusing to vote on a nominee of President Barack Obama in February 2016, long before that years election.

Romney, the GOPs 2012 presidential nominee, dismissed that argument, saying it was not unfair for Republicans to refuse to consider Obamas choice of Merrick Garland.

The Utah Republican backed up his decision by saying its not written in the stars that the court should have a liberal bent. He said Trumps pick will tip the court to become more conservative, and he said that is appropriate for a nation which is, if you will, centre right, to have a court which reflects a centre right point of view.

At the private lunch, Sen. Mike Braun of Indiana said, senators advocating swift voting warned of too many complications if its delayed until after the election  presumably if Biden wins the White House or Republicans lose the Senate.

Conservative groups pushing for swift approval also argue the election result could be disputed with legal battles dragging on for weeks.

Democrats say voters should speak first, on Election Day. Biden appealed to GOP senators to uphold your constitutional duty, your conscience and wait until the president is chosen.

But few Republicans are willing to cross Trump. The president has criticized Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska for opposing a Senate vote before elections. Trump warned they would be very badly hurt by voters in November.

Collins went further Tuesday saying she would vote against Trumps pick, not because I might not support that nominee under normal circumstances but were simply too close to the election.

The parties braced for the fight ahead.

At an evening rally in Pittsburgh, Trump marveled at how important the Supreme Court is to some voters, and at his own opportunity to pick a third justice. Can you imagine? he asked.

These sorts of fights bring Republicans together, said Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., the partys Senate campaign chairman.

At a memorial on the National Mall marking the 200,000 COVID deaths, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi paid tribute to Ginsburg and warned against Trumps coming court challenge to the Affordable Care Act. Its a time for us to vote health, she said.

The mounting clash over the vacant seat injects new turbulence in the presidential campaign with the nation still reeling from the coronavirus pandemic and shattered economy, with millions unemployed and heightened partisan tensions and anger.

Ginsburg, 87, died Friday of metastatic pancreatic cancer. She will lie in state at the U.S. Capitol this week, the first woman accorded that honour. Her casket will be on view Wednesday and Thursday on the steps of the high court.

No nominee has won confirmation so quickly since Sandra Day OConnor  with no opposition from either party  became the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court in 1981.

___

Associated Press writers Mark Sherman, Andrew Taylor, Matthew Daly, Kevin Freking and Mike Balsamo in Washington, Alex Jaffe in Philadelphia, Bill Barrow in Atlanta and Steve Peoples and Jonathan Lemire in New York contributed to this report.
In a tribute to the late US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the Fearless Girl statue in New York was updated with a lace collar reminiscent of Ginsburgs signature style.

The change was made within 24 hours of Ginsburgs death on Friday due to complications from pancreatic cancer. Considered as the pioneer of womens rights on the Supreme Court bench, her death prompted an outpouring of tributes across the nation. An impromptu memorial of flowers and messages written in chalk on stones could be seen outside the Supreme Court building.

The collar was placed on the statue as part of an advertisement by State Street Global Advisors, the asset management company that first commissioned the Fearless Girl. They released a full-page ad in the times on Sunday to honor Ginsburg. The headline read: Heres to the original".

'Fearless Girl' dons a lace collar in tribute to Ruth Bader Ginsburg https://t.co/ayf36rTiLI pic.twitter.com/DIVE7VJeeR Ad Age (@adage) September 21, 2020

The Fearless Girl statue has been standing in the Financial District on International Womens Day in 2017, facing off Wall Streets iconic charging bull statue. It was eventually moved outside the New York Stock Exchange.

In a 2009, Justice Ginsburg in an interview with the Washington Post, said that the crochet collar was a thoughtful decision to incorporate something typical of a woman to the black robe.

The idea was to claim what was a traditionally male uniform and unapologetically feminize it, she had said.

New Yorkers have loved the gesture, and many have took to social media to express it:

One Twitter user posted, the best idea to honor #RBGLegacy.

Another user wrote, This brought tears to my eyes. Beautiful! THANK YOU!!.

This brought tears to my eyes. Beautiful! THANK YOU!! MaggieFig (@earthangels007) September 21, 2020

I loved this installation a few years ago and am thrilled to see it getting a new addition!, said another user.

I loved this installation a few years ago and am thrilled to see it getting a new addition! https://t.co/FqbM0qQu2r Meredith Cheryba (@officemouse) September 21, 2020

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that the state would erect a statue of Ginsburg in her birthplace of Brooklyn to honour the life and legacy of the judge.
Global innovators and entrepreneurs have been invited to submit sustainable solutions for repurposing poultry waste as part of a sustainability challenge.

Tanmiah Food Company (TFC) is seeking innovative solutions to address the challenges posed by the excess amounts of poultry manure generated by their farms.

With the launch of the Omnipreneurship Awards: Sustainability Branch Grand Challenge, TFC, along with service providers NineSigma, aim to seek solutions to various hurdles that group companies are facing within their industries.

The challenge is open to the general public. After submissions are received and assessed, 5 organisations will be shortlisted to receive a $20,000 prize before proceeding to the final round. The winner will proceed to receive a $1 million award for their solution.

TFC is looking for solutions that create new processes for converting and using the growing amounts of chicken manure towards value-added products for TFC's core business.

Historically, intensive poultry production has adversely affected the environment. The storage and disposal of raw poultry manure has become an issue because of the associated air, water and soil pollution: landfilling the poultry litter leads to greenhouse gas emissions; poultry manure decomposes into ammonia which has adverse effects on the health of birds and farm workers; poor manure-management leads to pollution of soil and water with pathogens and heavy metals, etc.

Given the sector's rapid growth rate, measures to reduce these emissions are needed. Existing technologies remain harmful to the environment, contributing to water and air pollution, and a deep carbon footprint. TFC's goal is to transform this harmful production process into a carbon-negative value chain, which positively contributes to the environment, it said.

TFC's CEO Zulfiqar Hamadani highlighted: "Tanmiah aims to become the leading sustainable poultry company in the region, as a net carbon-negative poultry producer and to serve as an exemplary circular business model in the region."

The Omnipreneurship Awards Program is the actualization of parent company, Al-Dabbagh Group's (ADG), governing corporate culture, that operates with a commitment to being a positive global corporate citizen. Previously, ADG has championed other awards programs: the Stars Impact Awards, recognizing impactful global NGOs and providing them with funding for their work; and the Philanthropreneurship Award, given to an individual or organization that blends business and philanthropy to solve key global challenges.

For more information and to submit entries visit: https://www.omnipreneurshipawards.com/ . Entry submissions are due by 11:59 pm CET, December 15. Finalists will be announced in January 2021, and the winner of the challenge in June 2021. - TradeArabia News Service
EL PASO, Texas, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Mount Franklin Foods, a leading manufacturer of branded, contract and private label confectionery, nuts, snacks, foodservice products and dry blended ingredients, announces the opening of its 220,000 square foot, state-of-the-art candy manufacturing facility in San Jeronimoa port of entry in the Mexican state of Chihuahua, across the U.S. border from Santa Teresa, New Mexico and the company's headquarters in El Paso, Texas. The facility will add 130 million pounds of capacity in soft non-chocolate candy for Mount Franklin and will bring over 300 new jobs to the area. The first line will open October 2020 with the second production line being fully operational by second quarter 2021.

"The additional capacity at this facility allows for continued growth and helps ensure we remain the trusted resource for quality candy and fruit snack products in the retail and co-manufacturing markets," said Enrique Grajeda, President and CEO of Mount Franklin Foods. "Additionally, it will enable us to continue to develop new and exciting items within the soft sugar category."

In addition to the jumbo mogul, the facility will house a packaging line serving a wide variety of bag sizes and final packaging configurations, as well as R&D to support continued innovation.

"We are dedicated to advancing Mount Franklin Foods through continued investments in technology and manufacturing services for the growing confections market," said Eloy S. Vallina L., Chairman of the Board for Mount Franklin Foods. "This major investment underscores our commitment to our core confectionery business and to innovation that will help our customers thrive."

About Mount Franklin Foods

Mount Franklin Foods, LLC is a leading North American manufacturer of high-quality confections, nut products, mints, culinary plant-based proteins, bake mixes, powdered beverages and ingredients headquartered in El Paso, Texas. The company proudly serves major retailers, wholesalers, co-manufacturing customers and foodservice distributors through its Sunrise Confections, Azar Nut, Hospitality Mints and Element Food Solutions divisions. For more information please visit www.MountFranklinfoods.com.

SOURCE Mount Franklin Foods, LLC

Related Links

http://www.MountFranklinfoods.com


Another threat of government shutdown emerges after talks failed to produce a deal on a stopgap funding measure to keep the government open.

There is just nine days remaining until current funding runs out.

The long talks did not result in a bipartisan agreement.

The House Democrats introduced their proposal Monday afternoon, which funds the government until Dec. 11.

This will move "full steam ahead" on a vote on Tuesday, according to a senior Democratic aide.

The House will then send the legislation to the GOP-controlled Senate.

However, both chambers must ultimately pass identical measures. The president must also stop a government shutdown on Oct. 1.

A senior House Democratic aide claimed that the bill "may get stuck at the Senate" after House passage, which would create an impasse leading up to the deadline at the end of the month.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin reached an informal agreement early this month.

The agreement was on a "clean" resolution, which essentially means agreeing to keep a stalemate over another phase of COVID-19 relief out of the negotiations to keep the government open.

Two crucial points of contention stayed, such as farm aid for the Commodity Credit Corporation, which is the Republican's priority, and funding to refill the Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer.

The latter is a temporary food benefit for families with children who would have received free or subsidized meals if schools were open.

Another senior House Democratic aide claimed that the CCC money was not really for farmers but was "a bottomless, unaccountable political slush fund."

"House Democrats already passed more than $30 billion in targeted. And tailored emergency aid to farm country in response to the pandemic as part of the Heroes Act, including language to ensure greater transparency and accountability with the Administration's use of the Commodity Credit Corporation, including decreasing the Secretary's ability to spend billions of taxpayer dollars without telling Congress," the aide was quoted in a report.

Meanwhile, Senate Republicans introduced a bill last week to advance their latest coronavirus stimulus package.

The relief package fell short of the 60 votes as all Democrats and one Republican opposed it.

If passed, the legislation would include reinstating enhanced unemployment insurance, but at $300 per week from the previous $600.

In addition, it would authorize new small business loans.

The Democrats on the Senate floor rejected what could have been another stimulus package for Americans.

Democrats claimed that it was inadequate as it did not include state and local government relief and food assistance, among other measures.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky, brought the Senate floor measures as efforts by the government and Democratic leaders failed to strike a bipartisan relief agreement.

McConnell said he aimed not only to show that they were taking action to fight the pandemic but also put pressure on Democrats ahead of the election period.

"They can tell American families they care more about politics than helping them," McConnell noted on Democratic senators who rejected the bill.

Check these out!

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President Donald Trump tore into China in a virtual speech at the UN, blaming the political rival for infecting the world with the coronavirus.

'We must hold accountable the nation which unleashed this plague unto the world,' Trump said  in a speech delivered by video from the White House, at UN General Assembly meeting that for the first time featured traditional leader speeches delivered remotely.

Trump complained that China 'condemned my travel ban on their country' even as it 'locked citizens in their home' to combat the virus, which scientists discovered in Wuhan in late 2019, in remarks the president said Monday had been prerecorded at the White House.

In this image made from UNTV video, U.S. President Donald Trump speaks in a pre-recorded message which was played during the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020, at the United Nations headquarters in New York

He also attacked the UN's World Health Organization, which he called 'virtually controlled by China,' and used the phrase 'China virus,' a slur he has been criticized for using in his speeches.

'Seventy-five years after the end of World War II and the founding of the United Nations, we are once again engaged in a great global struggle. We have waged a fierce battle against the invisible enemy  the China Virus  which has claimed countless lives in 188 countries,' Trump said.

Trump then used the UN platform  which he previously used to unload on North Korea's Kim Jong-Un before the two men held summit meetings  to attack China's environmental record.

'The United Nations must hold China accountable for their actions,' Trump said.

Then, the president broadened his attack to slams on China's environmental record.

He said it ' dumps millions and tons of plastic and trash into the oceans,' over-fishes in 'other countries' waters,' and 'destroys vast swaths of coral reef.'

Back in 2020, Trump used the UN General Assembly to tell other nations: 'only when you take care of your own citizens, will you find a true basis for cooperation.'

In his own remarks, Brazil's president Jair Bolsonaro railed against a 'disinformation' campaign about environmental destruction.

'We are victims of one of the most brutal disinformation campaigns about the Amazon and the Pantanal wetlands,' Bolsonaro said. 'The Brazilian Amazon is well known to be very rich. That explains why international institutions support such campaigns based on ulterior interests, joined by self-serving and unpatriotic Brazilian associations, with the objective of harming the government and Brazil itself,' he said in video remarks.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned the UN's s first-ever virtual meeting of global leaders Tuesday that the world is facing an 'epochal' health crisis, the biggest economic calamity and job losses since the Great Depression, threats to human rights - and the risk of a new Cold War between the U.S. and China.

In his bleak state of the world speech to the U.N. General Assemblys annual high-level meeting, the U.N. chief said that the coronavirus that 'brought the world to its knees' was but 'a dress rehearsal for the world of challenges to come.'

He called for global unity, first and foremost to fight the pandemic, and sharply criticized populism and nationalism for failing to contain the virus, and for often making things worse.

Days after the pandemic shut down big parts of the world in March, Guterres called for a global cease-fire to tackle it. On Tuesday, he appealed for a 100-day push by the international community, led by the Security Council, 'to make this a reality by the end of the year.'

'At the same time, we must do everything to avoid a new Cold War,' Guterres added.

Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping will all appear by video link at the first ever virtual United Nations General Assembly meeting this week.

In this image made from UNTV video, Kelly Craft, United States ambassador to the United Nations, introduces a pre-recorded speech by U.S. President Donald Trump

Representatives of different countries listen to speakers during the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly

The UN virtual event will feature several world leaders making pre-recorded speech, likely to focus greatly on the world-wide coronavirus pandemic.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's speeches are expected to air Tuesday as the U.S. and Brazil have reported the highest and second-highest number respectively of coronavirus deaths.

The coronavirus has inflicted heavy tolls on both countries, close to 200,000 people in the U.S. and over 136,000 in Brazil, according to statistics collected by Johns Hopkins University.

Also on deck are Xi of China, where the virus originated, and Putin of Russia, which has raised international eyebrows with its rapid vaccine development.

After Monday's introductory session marking the U.N.'s 75th anniversary, the meeting's central event - speeches from each of its 193 member nations - start Tuesday. They traditionally serve as a platform for countries to tout accomplishments, seek support, stoke rivalries and express views on global priorities.

Among other world leaders, Chinese President Xi Jinping (left) and Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) will also deliver pre-recorded addresses, which are all expected to focus on the global coronavirus pandemic

This year, the platform is online, and there is a pressing new priority in the pandemic that has killed over 960,000 people worldwide.

'When we met in New York a year ago, no one could have imagined that 2020 would arrange such a powerful crash test for our world,' Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky remarked in his video speech for Monday's anniversary commemoration.

By custom, Brazil speaks first and the U.S. second as the host country in the annual meeting's 'general debate,' which is generally less a dialogue than a series of declarations.

Both Bolsonaro and Trump have been at odds, at least at times, with governors and health experts over the pandemic and have emphasized the economic consequences of shutdowns.

Both also are contending with plenty of other issues that command world attention, including Bolsonaros plans to develop the Amazon and Trump's 2018 decision to pull the U.S. out of Iran's nuclear deal with world powers. Washington took a further step this weekend with a unilateral, and disputed, declaration that all U.N. penalties eased under the 2015 nuclear deal had been restored, setting up a likely showdown at the assembly - where Iran's speech is also scheduled Tuesday.

So is Turkey's, a day after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the U.N. has 'flunked during the pandemic.'

The President of the International Court of Justice, Judge Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf (on screen), addresses the United Nations General Assembly to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the United Nations as it holds it's first ever virtual session

U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres speaks in the General Assembly in observance of the International Day of Peace, celebrating 75 Years of the United Nations, at UN headquarters

The virus was first detected in Wuhan, China, late last year. After building field hospitals and imposing a draconian 76-day lockdown to battle the virus there, China has said of late that it is seeing relatively few cases, mostly among people arriving from other countries. China, the world's most populous nation, has reported over 4,700 deaths.

Russia, where the death toll is over 19,000, last month became the first country to approve a vaccine for the COVID-19 virus. Russian President Vladimir Putin trumpeted the development, saying one of his adult daughters had already been inoculated. But international health experts have expressed caution about the vaccines effectiveness and safety because of the small study sample and other limitations.

A record number of heads of states and governments are due to speak at the virtual meeting, rather than sending ministers or diplomats. That's a good thing, 'but the idea that prime ministers and presidents are going to be sitting at home with a bucket of popcorn watching each others televised speeches is a bit silly,' said Richard Gowan, who oversees U.N. issues for Crisis Group, a Brussels-based think tank.

Still, German U.N. Ambassador Christoph Heusgen sees the assembly as a chance for a global meeting of minds when it's needed more than ever.

'Even in a digital format, UNGA-75 is an opportunity - especially in the face of international conflicts and dramatic challenges such as climate change or COVID-19,' he said.
The rapper has been serving time since Dec. 2014, after being convicted on charges of conspiracy to murder and reckless endangerment.

Brooklyn rapper Bobby Shmurda (real name Ackquille Pollard) has been denied parole and will remain in jail until the end of 2021.

Shmurda has been serving time since Dec. 2014, after being convicted on charges of conspiracy to murder, weapons possession and reckless endangerment, Billboard reports. In Sept. 2016, he accepted a plea deal and was sentenced to seven years in prison. It was later reduced to five years after he received credit for the two years he was jailed while awaiting trial.

Following his Sept. 15, 2020, interview with the Board of Parole, Ackquille Pollard was denied release and given a hold until the maximum expiration of his sentence on December 11, 2021, a spokesperson from the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision tells Complex.

Read More: Bobby Shmurda spent Christmas in jail as new details in his case emerges

theGRIO previously reported, Shmurda was taken into custody a week before Christmas in 2014, after leaving a recording studio near Radio City Music Hall in midtown Manhattan. His arrest followed a two-year investigation by the NYPD into a series of gang-related shootings and drug trafficking in the city. Pollard along with eleven other people, including his fellow GS9 crew member Chad Marshall, aka Rowdy Rebel, were said to be linked to the crimes.

Getty

Marshall was arrested inside the recording studio where police also recovered handguns, authorities said. According to Complex, the rapper is serving time at the Collins Correctional Facility. His release date is in mid-December.

On August 11, 2020, the Board of Parole granted Chad Marshall an open date of release of December 15, 2020, a DOCCS spokesperson confirmed with the outlet.

Shmurda is best known for the hit single Hot Na and for a music video that popularized the Shmoney dance.

Story continues

His parole hearing was originally set for mid August, but was delayed one month amid the COVID-19 pandemic. No reason has been given as to why parole was denied.

Shmurda is expected to remain in prison until the end of his sentence, which is December 11, 2021.

Have you subscribed to theGrios podcast Dear Culture? Download our newest episodes now!

The post Bobby Shmurda denied parole after nearly 6 years in prison appeared first on TheGrio.
The deaths of hundreds of elephants in Botswana earlier this year may have been the result of the animals drinking water containing poisonous blue-green algae. Algae are simple plants with no leaves or stems that grow in or near water.

About 330 elephants in the northwestern Seronga area died from a neurological condition. The cause appeared to be drinking toxic water, said Cyril Taolo. He is acting director of the Department of Wildlife and National Parks. A toxic flowering of cyanobacterium was found in seasonal water sources in the area.

Botswanas government announced the finding Monday.

The unexplained deaths stopped after the water sources, or pans, dried up, Taolo told reporters in Botswanas capital of Gaborone.

The Seronga area is close to Botswanas famous Okavango Delta.

No other wildlife species were affected by the toxic water. Even animals like hyenas and vultures that were observed feeding on the elephant bodies showed no signs of illness, Taolo said.

Botswana has the worlds largest elephant population. An estimated 130,000 elephants can be found in the country. The animals bring many international tourists to Botswana.

Both male and female elephants of all ages died. The deaths happened mainly near seasonal water pans. The incidents did not spread outside the affected area, Taolo said.

After the mysterious deaths of the elephants, the government carried out extensive tests. The aim was to find out why the animals had died. The test results suggested that the elephants died from cyanobacterium, or blue-green algae, poisoning.

Taolo said neurotoxins from cyanobacteria living in affected water could have affected the brain signals of an animal. This might have caused paralysis and death, mostly related to breathing failure.

However, Taolo could not explain why the toxins did not affect any other animals drinking the affected water. He also said that there was no evidence of human efforts to kill the elephants through poisoning, hunting or other methods.

Talo said the government will immediately put in place a plan to examine seasonal water sources often. It will create methods for measuring and testing for toxins produced by cyanobacteria.

Im Ashley Thompson.

The Associated Press reported this story. Ashley Thompson adapted it for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

neurological adj. related to the nervous system which includes the brain, spinal cord and nerves

toxic adj. containing a poisonous substance

source n. the beginning of a river or stream, a place where water can be found

delta n. a triangular area on a river where it widens and usually flows into the ocean

tourist n. a person who travels for pleasure

paralysis n. the inability to move a limb or body
Patna, Sep 22: Bihar Director General of Police (DGP) Gupteshwar Pandey on Tuesday took voluntary retirement from service, triggering speculations that the outspoken officer would contest the coming state Assembly polls. Pandeys request seeking voluntary retirement was approved by Governor Phagu Chauhan, a notification issued by the state home department said.

Director General (Homeguards) SK Singhal has been given additional charge of DGP, ADG (Headquarters) Jitendra Kumar told PTI. Pandey, a 1987 batch IPS officer, was involved in the investigation of actor Sushant Singh Rajputs death by suicide in Mumbai.

He had recently been in the headlines for his stout defence of the Nitish Kumar administration when it was under attack from the Shiv Sena-led government in Maharashtra over Bihar Polices probe into the death of Rajput. Bihar Assembly election is likely to be held in October-November.

Pandey had taken premature retirement to contest the Lok Sabha elections in 2009, but later the state government did not accept his VRS application and reinstated him in the service.

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
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept.22

By Zeyni Jafarov - Trend:

The Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) held a foreign exchange auction with the participation of the State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ), during which Azerbaijani banks bought $72.9 million, Trend reports on Sept.22 citing CBA.

According to CBA, demand from the banks at the auction was fully provided.

In accordance with SOFAZs data, from January through August 2020, the fund sold the foreign currency in the amount of $5.4 billion at currency auctions, which is increase by 25 percent compared to the same period of last year.

SOFAZ plans to sell foreign currency worth $6.8 billion at currency auctions this year.

The CBA began to hold foreign exchange auctions through unilateral sale of foreign currency in competitive conditions since January 2017.

In March 2020, it was decided to hold extraordinary foreign exchange auctions in connection with the increased demand of the population for foreign currency amid the failed OPEC+ deal, which entailed a sharp decline in oil prices.

(1 USD = 1.7 AZN on Sept.22)

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @jafarov_zeyni
Erlanger Behavioral Hospital on Monday celebrated a one-year partnership with the Hamilton County Sheriffs office, Chattanooga Police Department and Amerimed EMS to provide psychiatric transportation to those in need during a mental health crisis. Hamilton County is only the second county in Tennessee to have this service.

It is the Sheriff's Department that is responsible for responding and getting a patient with a mental health emergency to a medical facility. Before the initiative was established, that meant using handcuffs and putting the person in the back of a squad car.

"Hamilton County is fortunate to have first responders at both the Sheriffs Department and the Chattanooga Police Department who are trained to deescalate a crisis and get that person to the hospital for help," said Eve Nite, from Erlangers Behavioral Health Hospital. With the new program, law enforcement makes a determination if there is a criminal situation or an illness and secures the scene and calls Amerimed to transport the patient in an ambulance.

The ambulance is equipped to treat the entire patient, both mentally and physically. It was said that some altered mental states can be because of heart issues, high blood pressure, diabetes or hypoglycemia and the symptoms appear as aggression. Equipment to treat these issues are available in the ambulance in addition to a person riding in the back who can monitor the patient and hear their story.

Dixon Marlow, president of Amerimed EMS, said that in the first year of this program it has had a positive impact and has touched 4,000 lives. About a dozen of these patients have had a medical issue and this service has allowed them a better outcome.

Crisis Coordinator with the Hamilton County Sheriffs Department Eliott Mahaffey said that providing the compassionate care and response could not be done without all the partners and their expertise. The goal of these Crisis Intervention Teams is first to interact with the person in crisis. The CIT seeks to improve outcomes across the system and makes sure that the patients are treated well and to act as advocates for them. Moving a patient from the back of a squad car into the back of an ambulance prevents them from feeling like they are being treated like a criminal, he said.

Chattanooga Police Chief David Roddy said that the process of refinement is part of the job and this service is a result of figuring out a better way to do it. It is a more compassionate, caring and a safer way to get people to a medical facility for the help that they need, he said.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has urged the leadership of ECOWAS to work to build a united, economically prosperous, politically stable, and secured community that meets the aspirations of the people in the region.



As we round off the implementation of ECOWAS Vision 2020, and finalise the development of Vision 2050, we should to strive to make ECOWAS a community in which our dreams of prosperity, peace, security, integration and development are realised for the well-being of its citizens, he said.



The President made this known yesterday when he paid a working visit to the offices of the ECOWAS Commission in Abuja, capital of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.



Addressing a gathering of Commissioners and staff of the Commission, he explained that the purpose of his visit was to interact with the management and staff of Community Institutions on the collective agenda on integration and development of West Africa.



The challenges in the areas of democracy, health, security, economy, trade and currency, must be addressed in a spirit of genuine cooperation and solidarity, if we are to overcome them, which I am confident we can. I believe that, collectively, we can all make ECOWAS the most viable regional bloc in Africa, and realise the vision of transforming ECOWAS from a body of states to a community of peoples, President Akufo-Addo said.



To this end, the President outlined his 5-point Agenda for the chairmanship of the Community, which, he said, are the fight against terrorism; winning the fight against COVID-19; trading under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA); the issue of a monetary union in ECOWAS; and, lastly, the consolidation of democratic governance in the region.



He also commended the President of the ECOWAS Commission, His Excellency Jean-Claude Kassi Brou, and, indeed, the Commission for the achievements chalked in the areas of infrastructure, agriculture and humanitarian assistance.



In the infrastructure, I am aware that the Commission and its specialised agencies are implementing a number of infrastructure projects in the road, rail, maritime, energy and telecommunications sectors, he said.



President Akufo-Addo continued, I encourage the Commission to accelerate the implementation of infrastructure projects such as the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Highway Development Project, the Praia-Dakar-Abidjan Corridor Development Programme, and the Dakar-Bamako Railway Project. On telecommunications, the issue of high cost of roaming services should be resolved as soon as possible.



Touching on agriculture, the President stated that the issue of food security is vital to the development of the Community, as the twin shocks of terrorism and the COVID-19 pandemic have affected negatively the food security situation in the region.



He was, thus, hopeful that, together the Community can work quickly to guarantee food security within the framework of the ECOWAS Agricultural Policy (ECOWAP).



With respect to humanitarian assistance in the region, persistent terrorist attacks and issues of climate change, particularly in the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin, have caused significant internal displacements of people. The Commission should remain seized on these matters, and continue to provide assistance to refugees and internally displaced persons in the region, he said.



President Akufo-Addo told the Commission that this generation of West Africans, indeed of Africans, is undertaking one of the noblest ventures of human history, engineering the transformation of poor societies into prosperous ones on the basis of democratic values and principles.



European, American and Asian industrialisation took place at times of limited franchises and authoritarian institutions. Ours is being done with full universal adult suffrage, in open societies. This is the magnitude of our challenge, and the nature of our prize. We should all be proud of being frontline actors in this great drama, the President added.

Source: The Ghanaian Times









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, has congratulated Godwin Obaseki on his re-election as the governor of Edo State.

The Benin monarch also commended President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Peace Committee (NPC) chaired by Abdulsalami Abubakar, a former head of state, on the roles they played in ensuring a peaceful election.

He reiterated his position that the traditional institution remains non-partisan but would continue to ensure that the people are allowed to make their choice.

Frank Irabor, secretary of the Benin Traditional Council, in a statement on Tuesday, said the outcome of the election was the wishes of the people.

Following the rising spate of violence during the electioneering, the Oba of Benin had called the candidates of the All Progressives Congress and Peoples Democratic in the just-concluded election, Osagie-Ize-Iyamu, and Mr Obaseki respectively to a peace meeting on September 2, where he admonished them to ensure the peaceful conduct of the exercise.

As a follow up to the peace initiative, the NPC brought Mr Obaseki and Mr Ize-Iyamu to sign a peace accord before the election.

However, in a statement on Tuesday, Mr Irabor said, As His Royal Majesty said on numerous occasions, the Benin throne is non-partisan that on the day of the election, let the people speak because the voice of the people is the voice of God.

The Omo NOba NEdo thanks His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, for ensuring that Edo State election was free, fair and violent free and also thanks to all the candidates of the political parties for adhering to the advice for a violent-free election given them during the peace meeting in the Obas palace on 2nd September 2020 which has been widely acclaimed to have doused the tension that was building up before the election.

The National Peace Committee headed by Abdulasalmi Abubakar is appreciated for the signing of the peace accord among the gubernatorial candidates thereafter. Furthermore, Independent National Commission headed Professor Mahmood Yakubu is also commended for a successful and peaceful election in Edo State.

The Benin monarch did not also fail to thank the security agencies for the role they played in ensuring that the election was violent-free.

Meanwhile, John Odigie-Oyegun, a former national chairman of the APC, has congratulated Mr Obaseki, on his re-election.

Mr Odigie-Oyegun, in a statement issued on Tuesday, said, Please accept my deepest congratulations, Mr Governor on your re-election as Governor of our great Edo State. You and your exemplary Deputy have shown that with good work and principled leadership, the ills of overbearing and egocentric politicking in our nation can be overcome.

Your very significant victory marks a watershed in Edo and indeed Nigerian politics and so places additional responsibilities on your shoulders. I wish you and your Deputy four more years of inspired and productive leadership of our people who have reposed so much confidence in you.
NDA plans a strategy on triple talaq as it planned for election of deputy chairman of RS

'Ashamed that we cannot give our daughters security', says RS Deputy Chairman

Farm bills: Harivansh clarifies on rule-breaking in RS, says order in house must for division

Humble mind, big heart says PM Modi after Harivansh serves tea to protesting MPs

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Sep 22: To personally serve tea to those who attacked him, those sitting on dharna shows Harivansh is blessed with humble mind, big heart, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.

Derek O'Brien smells something fishy in tea offer by Harivansh | Oneindia News

It shows his greatness. I join the people of India in congratulating Harivansh Ji," PM Modi said.

Harivansh the deputy chairperson of the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday morning met protesting MPs from the Opposition parties, who sat in dharna all night on the lawns of Parliament in protest against the farm bills. He offered to the MPs who moved a no-confidence against him a day earlier.

Harivansh meets Opposition MPs who staged overnight sit-in protest at Parliament

To personally serve tea to those who attacked and insulted him a few days ago as well as those sitting on Dharna shows that Shri Harivansh Ji has been blessed with a humble mind and a big heart. It shows his greatness. I join the people of India in congratulating Harivansh Ji, PM Modi said in a tweet.

Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh said that they are protesting to protect the rights of the farmers and against the way the "black laws" were passed in Parliament. This is not. about a personal equation but an issue that concerns farmers, he further added.
(Newser)  The FBI has launched a civil rights investigation after Ronald Greene's family raised doubts about the official account of his death last year. Louisiana authorities had told the family that Greene failed to stop after a traffic violation and died of injuries caused by a crash after a high-speed chase. On Monday, a state trooper who had just learned he was being fired after an internal investigation into Greene's death suffered critical injuries in a highway accident, the AP reports. Chris Hollingsworth had been suspended last month, after photos posted online cast doubt on the official account of Greene's death, per the New York Times. "The brutality used against him, that was not what his family was told," said Lee Merritt, a lawyer for the family. "It appears that Mr. Greene was sat upon by several officers who tased him repeatedly and beat him before he entered cardiac arrest." The photos show Greene's face to be bloody and bruised, and the car appears to have only light damage.

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The lawsuit names Hollingsworth as being involved in the May 10, 2019, encounter, per the News-Star. Louisiana State Police would not say why actions were not being taken against the trooper until now. The official crash report says Greene resisted arrest, struggled with troopers, and died on the way to a hospital. The lawsuit says two troopers held Greene down while using "lethal force" as he implored them to stop. EMTs arrived to find Greene unresponsive with Taser barbs, the suit says. The parish autopsy ruled the death accidental, caused by cardiac arrest. But an independent autopsy ordered by the family found severe injuries to Greene's skull, as well as face wounds, the lawyer said, and an expert found damage to the car "inconsistent with a fatal collision." While he was pinned down, Greene repeatedly told the troopers, "I'm sorry," the suit says. (The Breonna Taylor settlement set a record.)
Joe Biden and Donald Trump Getty Images

SINGAPORE  Markets need to pay attention to the "high risk" of a disputed U.S. presidential election outcome as dynamics shift ahead of the vote, a former White House trade official said on Tuesday. Such an election outcome could happen if a candidate deemed to have lost refuses to concede, or if he questions the legitimacy of the results. U.S. President Donald Trump declined to say whether he would accept the election results, which gave rise to concerns of a messy transition of power if Trump loses. "I think it's a high risk and I do think markets need to pay attention to it. I've detected a real shift in the election dynamics in the last six to eight weeks," Clete Willems, a former deputy director of the National Economic Council, told CNBC's "Squawk Box Asia." "In early August, I think the president ... felt like he was behind, I think right now he feels like he has the wind at his back for a couple of different reasons," he said.

I do think, unfortunately, we may not have an outcome immediately, probably going to be litigation that follows... Clete Willems former deputy director of the National Economic Council

Willems, now a partner at law firm Akin Gump, explained that there's a general perception that the U.S. economy is improving and the president has "done well in some of the law and order issues"  and that likely works in Trump's favor. In addition, Trump is pressing ahead with nominating a new Supreme Court justice to replace the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg ahead of the November election. That would also help the president's chances, said Willems, adding that it's especially so if the nominee is Amy Coney Barrett, who's someone that excites the conservative base. "So, I think this is going to be an incredibly tight race. And I do think, unfortunately, we may not have an outcome immediately, probably going to be litigation that follows and I just hope that we can get this resolved in relative short order so there isn't uncertainty come January," he said. "I really do think that this is something we're going to have to deal with."

Stimulus negotiations neglected
They rose to fame when appearing together on Love Island earlier this year.

And bombshell twins Jess and Eve Gale, 21, commanded attention as they headed for a glamorous night out at Eight Members Club in London on Monday.

The reality stars both put on a typically leggy display as they showed off their curves in skimpy outfits.

Sister: Love Island's Jess Gale (right) put on a leggy display in a white mini dress as she joined her sister Eve (left) for night out on Monday

Jess opted for a figure-hugging white mini dress which she teamed with see-through heels and a Fendi purse.

Eve wore an over-sized white t-shirt, strappy heels and carried a blue Dior handbag over her shoulder.

Both girls wore their blonde locks poker straight and opted for dewy, neutral-toned make-up as they hit the town.

Style: Eve wore an over-sized white t-shirt, strappy heels and carried a blue Dior handbag over her shoulder for the night out

Glamorous: Jess opted for a figure-hugging white mini dress which she teamed with see-through heels and a Fendi purse

Jess has been trying to move on since her split from Love Island beau Ched Uzor, 23, during the pandemic.

It's been reported that lockdown made it impossible for the couple to 'build a relationship' as they were unable to meet up with one another.

In a statement shared with MailOnline, the blonde beauty confirmed the COVID-19 lockdown played a role in the demise of their romance, but insisted they continue to be friends.

Stepping out: Both girls wore their blonde locks poker straight and opted for dewy, neutral-toned make-up as they hit the town

Pretty: Jess looked glamorous in her white dress as she posed up a storm for the cameras

The statement read: 'After a whirlwind romance in the Love Island villa, unfortunately Jessica Gale and Ched Uzor have made the mutual decision to split.

'They have unfortunately felt the effects of lockdown separation but will continue as friends.

'They wish nothing but the best for each other and full success in each others careers.'
President Donald Trump and U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos talked out of both sides of their mouths on school reopening, a new government watchdog report finds.

On the one hand, DeVos stressed that plans on how to reopen school buildings during the COVID-19 pandemic were state and local decisions. On the other hand, Trump and DeVos suggested schools federal funding may be at risk if they dont allow students to return for in-person learning.

In addition, guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about how schools should minimize the spread of the virus has been unclear and, at times, contradictory, concluded the Government Accountability Office, an independent investigative agency that reports to Congress. And when the U.S. Department of Education summarized that guidance on its website, it left out details about wearing masks and social distancing, the report says.

As we reported in June 2020, in the midst of a nationwide emergency, clear and consistent communicationacross all levels of government, with health-care providers, and to the publicis key, says the report, which explores many facets of the federal COVID-19 response. As schools make their plans for the fall and continue to reassess those plans throughout the school year as local health conditions change, cogent, clear, and consistent federal guidance is critical to helping state and local officials make safe, risk-based decisions for their students, teachers, staff, and communities.

The reports findings echo concerns school administrators have voiced for months as they struggle to interpret layers of local, state, and federal directives amid changing information about the virus and how it spreads. Their push for clearer federal instructions started as early as March, when governors around the country ordered mass closures of their buildings to stop the spread of the virus.

And some complained that the Trump administrations push for schools to open in-person added political fuel to an already raging fire.

The GAO report cites comments by DeVos that American investment in education is a promise to students and their families and that schools that dont reopen to fulfill that promise shouldnt get the funds. Instead, DeVos has said, families should to use public funding to cover the costs of private school tuition or alternative educational materials. (The Trump administration does not have the authority to strip schools of existing federal funds, but it has sought to condition additional relief aid on schools reopening decisions.)

Education officials told us these comments were policy or rhetorical statements, the GAO report says. Regardless, such statements do not appear to align with a risk-based decision-making approach, and appear incongruent with the Secretarys own statements that returning to in-person education is a state and local decision.

Updated Federal Guidance to Schools

Most recently, the CDC released a color-coded chart last week detailing the risk of spreading the virus in schools. The chart, which relies on a few key health metrics, does not instruct schools when to close, but it says it can be a tool to help guide decisions about opening, closing, and returning to remote learning.

That chart was apparently released between the time the GAO completed a draft of its report and when a final version was released to the public Tuesday. It sought to answer one of the GAOs key recommendations to the CDC to address the lack of cogent, clear, and consistent federal guidance on the operating status of K-12 schools.

Previously, the CDC released a big batch of school guidance documents July 23, detailing how to reopen, how to screen students, and how to mitigate the risk of virus transmission in classrooms.

However, for weeks afterward, its guidance on screening for children and employees for entering schools was internally inconsistent, and sometimes had been shared by [the U.S. Department of Education] in ways that are incomplete, potentially adding to confusion, the GAO said. We raised these incongruences with the agencies during the course of our work. Education updated its website to better align with CDC guidance. In response to our recommendation that the Director of the CDC ensure that its guidance related to schools operating status is cogent, clear, and internally consistent, CDC said it was in the process of making corrections to eliminate inconsistencies.

Among the concerns about CDC guidance identified by the GAO:



July guidance did not recommend universal symptom screenings for students , but an earlier, contradictory planning tool that recommended daily health checks, like temperature screenings, remained on the website even after the newer directive was posted.

, but an earlier, contradictory planning tool that recommended daily health checks, like temperature screenings, remained on the website even after the newer directive was posted. In a July FAQ for school administrators, the CDC said a single case of COVID-19 would not justify closing an entire school in most cases. But previous guidance, which remained on the website even after the new materials were posted, suggested that schools will likely dismiss students and most staff for 2-5 days if a case was identified.

Relatedly, [the Education Departments] website and technical assistance center contained incomplete summaries of CDCs mitigation strategies, the GAO found. Specifically, neither summary included wearing cloth masks or staying 6 feet apart when possiblestrategies CDC identified as key for slowing the spread of COVID-19. We discussed this with Education, and as of August 7, 2020, the summaries were removed from both websites. The websites still include direct links to CDCs guidance.

Photo: Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, left, speaks at an event called Kids First: Getting Americas Children Safely Back to School in the State Dining room of the White House Aug. 12. From left, DeVos, Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway, Vice President Mike Pence, and President Donald Trump. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Follow us on Twitter @PoliticsK12 . And follow the Politics K-12 reporters @EvieBlad @Daarel and @AndrewUjifusa .
MUMBAI: Bollywood actor Sonu Sood, who is being hailed as the 'messiah' for his philanthropy work, has done it again. This time, he has come forward to help a girl from Bihar's Ara - Divya, who was suffering from tumor in the pancreas.

Divya's sister Neha had tagged the actor on social media and informed him about her illness. She wrote that her sister is in a poor health condition and is in a dire need of surgery. She wrote that due to lockdown, her sister couldn't get operated on the allotted date at Delhi AIIMS. She requested Sood to help them arrange a date for her surgery at AIIMS, saying 'we don't want anything else.'

Replying to Neha's message, Sonu Sood wrote, "Your sister is my sister. Arrangements have been made at a hospital and it is my responsibility to take care of her health."

On the initiative of Sonu Sood, Divya was successfully operated forHypoechoic mass in the pancreas (abdominal pain) at AIIMS, Rishikesh. Her condition is said to be stable following the surgery.

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Sood who is currently helping scores of countrymen coming from the underprivileged section began his journey in philanthropy by arranging safe road travel for migrant travels stuck in various parts of the country to reach their native places.

He later launched a job portal for migrant labourers by collaborating with several employment providers.


If you or someone you care about is among the more than 50 million Americans suffering from pre-existing medical conditions, you should be aware that the stakes in this years election go beyond abstract things like, say, the survival of American democracy. Theyre also personal. If Donald Trump is re-elected, you will lose the protection youve had since the Affordable Care Act went into effect almost seven years ago.

The death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg has made this even more obvious. In fact, its now possible that coverage of pre-existing conditions will be stripped away even if Trump loses to Joe Biden, unless Democrats also take the Senate and are prepared to play serious hardball. But health care was always on the line.

Now, Trump denies this; like almost every other politician in his party, he keeps insisting that he has a plan to protect Americans with pre-existing conditions. But he and they are lying. And no, thats not too strong a term.

On Trump: In early August he promised that he would soon release a great health care plan to replace Obamacare, probably by the end of the month. Weve heard nothing since, which isnt surprising, since he has made and broken similar promises many times.
The parade of motorcycles rumbled down U.S. 72 through Jackson and into Madison County, then onto I-565 and Washington Street in downtown Huntsville.

The two dozen or so motorcycles, part of the Patriot Guard Riders, escorted a first of its kind in Alabama, a monument honoring Gold Star families that will be formally unveiled next month. There are 65 Gold Star monuments nationwide.

On Tuesday, though, the monument arrived at its new home at the Huntsville Madison County Veterans Memorial on Monroe Street, packed on pallets and secured in bubble wrap. The monument itself could not be seen.

Still, a handful of people milled quietly about on a cool, early fall morning. It was a somber occasion as the monument spotlights families who have lost a loved one in the Armed Services.

Related: Alabama to get first Gold Star Families Monument

This is a capstone of the Veterans Memorial park, said Julie Kink, a member of the local Gold Star Families Memorial Monument Committee. Julies brother, David, was a helicopter pilot who died in Vietnam in 1969. This will be the final monument and its very fitting that its a monument for Gold Star families as well as their loved ones.

The escort of the flat-bed trailer hauling the monument began at the Tennessee state line near Bridgeport. The monument was built by Bailey Granite & Monuments in Flatwoods, Kentucky, on the West Virginia line near Huntington.

Alabama's first Gold Star Families Memorial Monument will be installed at the Huntsville-Madison County Veterans Memorial.

Kink said personnel from the company will be on site at the park Wednesday to put the monument together and mount it at its spot near the rear, a process expected to take several hours.

Once erected, park visitors can get a glimpse of the monument ahead of the Oct. 17 unveiling  though one side of the monument will remain concealed until the ceremony, Kink said.

The backside is particular to this community, she said, referring to the part that wont be unveiled until the ceremony. It will have etchings that were chosen specifically by the committee to reflect the local area.

Kink said Gold Star families from Florida, Georgia and elsewhere across the country as well as throughout Alabama are expected to attend the unveiling. The ceremony is open to the public.

Donations can be made to support the Huntsville monument either online at hmcvm.org or hwwmohf.org or by mail. The address for Huntsville-Madison County Veterans Memorial Foundation is PO Box 2911 in Huntsville, 35804.

Mike and Christine Wicks of defense contractor I3 are the project sponsors.

The Hershel Woody Williams Medal of Honor Foundation is assisting local committees across the country in installing Gold Star Families Memorial Monuments nationwide.
Media mogul Barry Diller told CNBC on Tuesday the deal in which Oracle and Walmart would take minority stakes in TikTok "is a crock."

Diller, chairman of Expedia and IAC, made his comments in a "Squawk Box" interview days after President Donald Trump agreed to approve the deal with the Chinese-based owner of the viral video-sharing app.

"It started obviously simply  to say we want to protect the security of Americans from anything that could happen to them by using TikTok," said Diller. "It has now morphed into a ludicrous game-match between tossing ownership here, control there.  Its original aims are out the window. It has just come a whole political mismash."

"The whole thing is a crock," he added.

The terms of a TikTok deal have continuously evolved since Trump issued an executive order in early August that gave TikTok 45 days to sell to a U.S. company or face a ban by Washington. The original demand was a full acquisition of TikTok by a U.S. company. Microsoft, in a joint bid with Walmart, was considered the most likely contender.

But at the last minute, China added restrictions to its technology export list to include algorithms such as TikTok's. TikTok had to pivot to pursuing a deal that would give U.S. companies only a minority stake.

"Once you start tossing this grenade about protectionism and once you start turning these things into political questions, ... it's inevitable that race just keeps going up and up and prevents natural commerce," Diller said on the broader implications of the messy negotiations.

Under the new terms, Microsoft's full acquisition offer was rejected, and Oracle and Walmart partnered to bid for minority stakes. In this version of the deal, which Trump has agreed to approve, Oracle will get 12.5% ownership and provide cloud and security services. Walmart will get 7.5% ownership and a board seat, and it will develop the app's e-commerce capabilities. Parent company ByteDance's investors, which include American, Chinese and international investors, will retain the majority of shares.

The deal still requires the approval of the Chinese government, which must give ByteDance the license to sell TikTok's algorithm and AI technology to American companies.
More Midlanders are returning to work as businesses continue reopening following the COVID-19-related economic shutdown and the regions oil and gas industry is beginning to show signs of life.

According to the Texas Workforce Commission, August unemployment in its Midland metropolitan statistical area  which includes Midland and Martin counties  fell almost 1.5 points to 8.1 percent from 9.5 percent in July. The rate remains well above the 2.3 percent recorded last August. Midland unemployment peaked at 12.4 percent in May as the pandemic-related economic shutdown and low oil prices took their toll on local jobs.

Odessa also saw marked improvement in its unemployment rate, which fell to 11.1 percent from12.7 percent in July. A year ago, Odessas unemployment rate was 2.9 percent. Odessa, however, reported the states highest unemployment for a third consecutive month.

Its amazing what one year can do, said Willie Taylor, chief executive officer of the commissions Workforce Solutions Permian Basin office. Weve gone from the lowest unemployment to some of the highest, really, because of the oil and gas industry.

Taylor said in a phone interview that if Midland and Odessas slide toward the bottom of the list of 26 MSAs makes one point, its diversification. We need to diversify this region. We need to increase manufacturing, for example, or health care.

Even so, the region has managed to hold steady during the downturn in terms of the civilian labor force and, as importantly, wages, Taylor said.

Im not necessarily seeing, or hearing about, wages dropping, and thats good, he said.

The number of Permian Basin residents filing for unemployment insurance is dropping, Taylor said, averaging about 1,100 a month  down from the peak of March, April and May. From October 2019 to August 2020, 40,000 people in this region had filed for unemployment, he said.

At some point, people need to be aware their unemployment benefits will run out, and that is one reason he urges everyone to take advantage of job-training opportunities.

We know some of these jobs are not coming back, some of these companies have closed permanently, Taylor said. Dont wait one or two months until unemployment runs out to take action. Plan your future. Know if you want a career in the medical field, education, trucking, HVAC, welding, machinery. Plan on going to Midland College, Odessa College, Howard College. Workforce training funding is out there; take advantage of that training.

And despite the losses, Taylor said that Midland and Odessas combined labor force of 194,000 puts it in the top 10 MSAs statewide.

Commission figures show the improving labor market is being reflected in the civilian labor force, which jumped by almost 4,000 to 106,263 from 102,740 in July. Still, the labor force is 4,400 below the 110,710 reported last August.

Of those in the labor force, there were about 4,700 more employed in August than in July, with the number of employed rising to 97,703 from 93,023. Even so, the number of employed in the Midland MSA is 10,500 below last years levels. The number of unemployed fell by 1,200 -- to 8,560 from 9,717 in July, but there are 6,000 more unemployed people than at this time last year.

Midland added 1,100 nonfarm jobs from July to August for a total job count of 99,800, up from 98,700 in August but 15,400 below the 115,200 jobs seen a year earlier.

Midlands dominant industry sector, Mining, Logging and Construction  which incorporates oil and gas  continued to shed jobs, dropping 300 from July to August. It is the only industrial sector to lose jobs. The sector has been hard-hit over the last year, losing 11,300 jobs from August 2019 to August 2020, a decline rate of 28 percent.

Job gains were led by the Professional and Business Services sector, which added 500 jobs from July to August, followed by the Government sector with 400 new jobs as schools began to prepare for the fall semester. Leisure and Hospitality and Trade, Transportation and Utilities sectors each added 200 jobs, and the Financial Activities sector added 100 jobs.

The Leisure and Hospitality and the Trade, Transportation and Utilities sectors have seen sharp job declines over the last year, losing 1,100 jobs and 1,600 jobs, respectively.

The only two industrial sectors to add jobs from August 2019 to August 2020 were Professional and Business Services with 300 jobs and the Government sector with 200 new jobs.

Statewide, the unemployment rate dropped to 6.8 percent, the fourth consecutive decline and lowest rate since March.

Amarillo reported the lowest unemployment in August at 4.2 percent, followed by College Station-Bryan at 4.7 percent and Abilene with 4.9 percent.

Midland Unemployment

January 2020 2.4 percent

January 2019 2.3 percent

February 2020 2.3 percent

February 2019 2.2 percent

March 2020 3.4 percent

March 2019 2 percent

April 2020 10.2 percent

April 2019 1.7 percent

May 2020 12.4 percent

May 2019 1.8 percent

June 2020 9.6 percent

June 2019 2.1 percent

July 2020 9.4 percent

July 2019 2.2 percent

August 2020 8.1 percent

August 2019 2.3 percent
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo welcomed the rejection of China's maritime claims in the South China Sea at the United Nations by the United Kingdom, Germany and France.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday welcomed the rejection of Chinas maritime claims in the South China Sea at the United Nations by the United Kingdom, Germany and France.He said that China must abide by all international norms. We welcome the UK, Germany, and Frances rejection of Chinas unlawful maritime claims in the South China Sea at the United Nations. China must abide by international norms. We join our allies in rejecting the idea that might makes right, Pompeo tweeted.



This statement comes after in a joint note was submitted to the United Nations last week by the three European countries, saying that Chinas claims in the South China Sea do not adhere to international law and with provisions under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).China claims most of the sea, often invoking its so-called nine-dash line to justify its alleged historic rights to the key waterway that is also contested by the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Taiwan and Brunei. It rejected a 2016 UN-backed tribunals ruling that its claims were without legal basis.

The South China Sea disputes involve both island and maritime claims among several sovereign states within the region, namely Brunei, the Peoples Republic of China (PRC), the Republic of China (ROC/Taiwan), Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. An estimated US$3.37 trillion worth of global trade passes through the South China Sea annually,which accounts for a third of the global maritime trade.80 percent of Chinas energy imports and 39.5 percent of Chinas total trade passes through the South China Sea.

We welcome the UK, Germany, and France's rejection of China's unlawful maritime claims in the South China Sea at the United Nations. China must abide by international norms. We join our allies in rejecting the idea that "might makes right.  Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) September 21, 2020

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Sydney father John Edwards (pictured) spent 90 minutes improving his shooting accuracy under the supervision of a gun club official less than three months before murdering his children, an inquest has heard

Sydney father John Edwards spent 90 minutes improving his shooting accuracy under the supervision of a gun club official less than three months before murdering his children, an inquest has heard.

The inquest into the deaths of Edwards and the two children he killed in July 2018 was told on Tuesday the retired finance planner had a training session at St Marys Pistol Club on April 23, 2018, where he fired off up to 100 rounds of ammunition.

A former senior official who took Edwards and another student for the 'refresher' course offered advice and provided them with practice drills.

'He wanted to become more accurate and stop spraying,' the former official told the NSW Coroners Court on Tuesday.

'I can remember him telling me that.'

The official, who cannot be named, said Edwards didn't stand out to him or raise safety concerns and that he only remembered the training session as the other student had a similar name to his own.

State Coroner Teresa O'Sullivan is examining the lead-up to Edwards' execution-style murders of his estranged teenagers, Jack and Jennifer Edwards, including the method in which the 67-year-old acquired weapons.

Despite a long history of domestic violence, Edwards was licensed to operate and possess rifles and pistols when he shot his children on July 5, 2018.

The inquest was told on Tuesday the Firearms Registry had required clubs to send a list of references for licence applicants since 2003.

But St Marys Pistol Club, founded in 2000, was not legally required to check the references of people applying for memberships - including those of Edwards when he approached in April 2017.

The inquest on Monday heard officials from a Hornsby-based pistol club rejected Edwards' membership application in March 2017 and informed a rifle club using the same range of the decision.

But this information wasn't passed on to St Marys.

'At the time of joining, we had no idea (Edwards) went to other clubs and was refused,' a second former St Marys official said on Tuesday.

State Coroner Teresa O'Sullivan is examining the lead-up to Edwards' execution-style murders of his estranged teenagers, Jack (left) and Jennifer Edwards (right), including the method in which the 67-year-old acquired weapons

'It would be helpful if all the clubs talked to each other as well ... but there's no portal. We do it off our own bat.'

Edwards, who stored his three rifles and two pistols at St Marys, removed the handguns from his storage locker on July 4, 2018.

His membership had expired four days earlier but Edwards was within a 30-day grace period that allowed him access to the lockers.

'We would not ask anyone where they're going or what their intention is with their firearm,' the former senior official told the inquest.

'No one would ask me about the safe storage at my home.'

Clubs weren't obliged to share concerns with each other, the inquest has heard.

Ku-ring-gai Pistol Club officials told the inquest on Monday they rejected Edwards' membership but didn't believe his 'aggressive' and 'pushy' behaviour met the threshold of posing a threat to 'public safety' that would have forced them to report him to the Firearms Registry.

The inquest is expected to conclude on Thursday.

If you or anyone you know is in need of mental health support, you can call Lifeline 13 11 14, or Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636.
Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, Vice Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) today called for an end to the worrying trend of tribal politics in the country, saying the NDC abhors such practice.

We are one people and Ghana belongs to all of us, she said.

Expressing regret that tribal politics has created division and marginalization in the allocation of development resources, the Running Mate urged all Ghanaians to live co-exist in peace, irrespective of their ethnic background.

Addressing the members of the Ewe community at Duakor-Abakam in Elmina in the Central region, on the first day of her campaign tour of the region, stressed the need Ghanaians to politics and national development devoid of tribal sentiments.

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang, who arrived in Elmina to a tumultuous welcome, urged the Ewe community to be tolerant and avoid provocations and gave the assurance that the NDC government will serve all communities with sustainable projects to enhance the welfare of all Ghanaians.

No group of people will be tagged and marginalized under the next NDC administration led by John Mahama, she said, adding that the partys manifesto has fairly spread development interventions across the country.

Prof Opoku-Agyemang noted that every region and community has been catered in the manifesto, indicating that the next NDC administration would complete all of its abandoned projects and establish more, especially in deprived communities.

He explained plans for the establishment of the various health facilities, education infrastructure, sustainable energy supply in communities in the Central region, as well as business support packages to informal sector operators, such as traders and artisans.

The Running Mate, thanked the community for the support of support, and urged the people to vote massively for the NDC to deliver the country from mismanagement.
Granville Redmond, "Golden Wildflowers," 1920, oil on canvas (Laguna Art Museum)

As an extravagantly talented artist, one whose facility with a brush is obvious from first look, Granville Redmond (1871-1935) is a peculiar case. His vividly colored landscapes and moody twilight and nighttime scenes are often lovely, if old-fashioned for their time. But his extraordinary biography finally commands more attention than his canvases.

Believe it or not, without Redmond, Charlie Chaplin might not be exactly the genius of silent pictures that we know today.

Granville Redmond, "Moonlight, San Mateo Salt Marshes," 1911, oil on canvas (Laguna Art Museum)

The painter had modest roles in eight Chaplin films, starting with A Dogs Life (1918), the first picture the Little Tramp made for First National, his own production company, and concluding with the 1931 classic, City Lights, one of the actors best. (Uncredited, Redmond plays the sculptor in the famous opening scene, where the Tramp is unveiled snoozing in the arms of a monument at its public dedication ceremony.) While the brilliant mime was of course a major star by the time the two met, his long friendship with the artist had a lasting impact on his cinematic achievement.

At the Laguna Art Museum, recently reopened to limited numbers of visitors with appropriate requirements for masking and social distancing in light of the pandemic, a traveling retrospective brings together 74 paintings. Granville Redmond: The Eloquent Palette was organized by the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento. Originally scheduled to close Sept. 20, it has been extended through Nov. 15. (The loan for one painting, Hillside in Spring, was not retained.) This is the artists second survey to be shown at Laguna  the first was in 1989  the seaside colony where Redmond worked at the start of the 20th century.

Granville Redmond is known for his poppy paintings, which weren't his favorite (Christopher Knight / Los Angeles Times)

Mostly Redmond lived and worked in and around Los Angeles, with stints in Northern California. Study in Paris, however, set the path he would follow throughout his career. In 1893, when he was 22, Redmond enrolled at the Academie Julian, a rigorous private art school there popular with international students.

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He stayed in Paris for nearly five years. In the exhibition, the soft, gray and brown twilight views of meadows and California oak trees suggest Redmonds affinity for tonalism, a low-key technique of atmospheric painting that he learned from intimate interaction with French paintings of the Barbizon forest, as well as northeast American landscapes by painters like George Inness.

The style was well-established in France. Redmond loved it, but buyers in California didnt. Too melancholy, perhaps. They preferred color  bright, showy, rolling fields of golden poppies and lupines, the flowers yellow-orange and purplish-blue hues setting off complementary sparks on the optical color wheel.

Often this style is referred to as California Impressionism. The French kind, born in the 1870s and controversial from the get-go, had long been superseded by the time Redmond picked it up almost two generations later, in the 1910s.

In France it was partly an inventive, highly personal reaction to tumultuous urban industrialization. But in California it functioned almost as idyllic promotion of Golden State bliss. Redmonds version is often anchored by an underlying geometry, like a net thrown over undulating hills, slopes layered like identical successive waves rolling into shore.

Its as if nature is being corralled by an unseen structural grid made by art. The technique no doubt derived from the orderly training process at the Academie Julian.

That sort of rigid process is what French Impressionism sought to undermine. The colorful, broken brushwork of a Claude Monet or an Alfred Sisley landscape came from elevating the spontaneity of the rapid oil sketch, which the academy regarded as only the first of many steps in creating a finished painting. By contrast, Redmonds broken brushwork is careful, measured and highly organized  anything but spontaneous and free.

In fact, I think of the American painters flamboyant landscapes as a continuation of tonalism by other means  vivid and highly colored, rather than muted and bronzed. The optical fireworks of the thickly daubed surfaces are held in check by almost mathematically charted compositions. Its as if a smooth, placid, sepia-toned picture were being infused with thick color.

Sometimes Redmond attempted a frank fusion of tonalist atmosphere and deep color. A number of moonlight seascapes are saturated edge to edge in sapphire blue, flecked with almost pure white paint to suggest light reflected on the waters surface. Shown together in one room whose walls are also painted solid sapphire, nighttime on the ocean verges on creepy.

The buying public responded positively to these chromatic spectacles, somewhat to Redmonds dismay. He complained that he could hardly give away the subtler tonalist paintings, which he regarded as his finest work, while the demand for flashy poppy paintings was high.

The Laguna show is pretty evenly divided between the two types. Installed in a loose chronology, they intermix.

The chronology is loose, however, because Redmond often didnt date his pictures. Educated guesswork is involved in organizing the sequence. The excellent, exhaustively detailed catalog by Crocker curator Scott A. Shields makes reasonable efforts to line things up.

Granville Redmond, "California Poppies," no date, oil on canvas (Laguna Art Museum)

Whats remarkable about Redmonds biography is his personal tenacity and fearless creativity in making a full life for himself. Struck with scarlet fever at the age of 2, he had been rendered deaf and mute.

At the California School for the Deaf, then in Berkeley, now in Fremont, he found a supportive staff  including for his budding artistic skills. When he set out to cross both a continent and an ocean for ambitious study in Paris, he went alone. He made his way through art school. When he returned to Los Angeles, he married, had children and became one of the most popular painters in the state.

He also put his highly developed skills in sign language and pantomime to good use in the newly flourishing industry of silent movies. Chaplin was impressed. They became fast friends. The actor bought Redmonds paintings, and he introduced them to other Hollywood heavyweights.

Past literature on Redmond is marked by ill-informed speculation that his deafness enhanced his vision, as if loss of one sense found compensation in another and translated naturally into painterly skill. The Laguna show demonstrates otherwise. Redmond was not a great artist, but he was a very good one. His achievement should be admired for what it is.

Laguna Art Museum, 307 Cliff Dr., Laguna Beach, (949) 494-8971, through Nov. 15. Closed Weds.
A plot may be afoot to damage Nigerias interests by attacking the integrity of certain institutions of government to discredit them for yet unknown reasons.

A recent report by the BBC Africa Eye on the pipeline explosion that occurred in Sabo, a Lagos suburb, on March 15, 2020 appear to fit a pattern of media blackmail of critical government institutions, especially the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC.

The report said the BBC Africa Eye had obtained new evidence which contradicted NNPCs official explanation on the cause of the explosion which claimed 23 lives.

NNPC had claimed at the time that the explosion occurred as a result of a truck that hit gas cylinders around the petroleum pipeline, where people had turned into a residential and commercial area contrary to regulations and in blatant disregard for the pipelines right of way.

But the media house said its evidence  a five-minute video and three sources (said to be experts in petroleum pipeline safety)  showed that there was a leak of vaporized liquid from the point of explosion on the pipeline.

The media house then said the evidence indicated that there was inadequate protection of the pipeline from soil erosion and that the NNPC failed to maintain industry standard.

The BBC Africa Eye, in the tradition of true journalism, sent a questionnaire to the NNPC requesting for the Corporations response to the allegations, including claim that victims of the explosion were not compensated.

But the medium breached all rules of balance and objectivity when it published the report of its investigations without reflecting the position of NNPC to all the allegations raised.

The media house portrayed the report as premeditated when it sent it out to some local media in Nigeria, including this website, with a plea to help republish.

But the NNPC response to the BBC Africa Eye questionnaire, dated August 28, obtained by this website, contained details of its own investigations and conclusions which were ignored.

The Corporation responded to all the five allegations put to it in details, insisting on its initial explanation that the explosion was caused when a truck heavily laden with stones hit gas cylinders around the pipeline..

In a detailed response addressed to Marc Perkins, editor of the BBC Africa Eye, the Corporation insisted that a truck, heavily laden with stones, was in the vicinity of the explosion, which clearly indicated that it was instrumental to the explosion. A close look at the area would show that most of the people carrying out their businesses there were in breach of the Corporations Pipeline Right of Way which is 15 meters on either side of the pipeline.

The NNPC stated further that residents of the area engaged in LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) vending, saw-milling, cement trading, auto repair, cooking, roasting and other activities inimical to a pipeline right of way.

The eye-witness reports we got indicated that the explosion occurred when the above-mentioned truck hit cylinders at the LPG shop, the document stated.

On the claim that there was a leakage on the pipeline which released vaporized liquid that caused the explosion, the Corporation stated that there was no leakage of PMS or any other vaporized liquid from its pipeline at the point of the explosion prior to the incident.

Instead, it said, At about the time of the explosion (0852hrs to 08S7hrs), a pressure drop from 42 to 8 bar was observed during our pumping operations and the pipeline was immediately shutdown. Any leakage prior to the incident would have resulted in a drop in pressure. But that was not the case.

It must also be noted that both Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) are petroleum products that essentially burn the same way. Since there was an LPG vending shop at the location, it is more likely that the incident was caused by LPG explosion. The incident was typical of gas explosion.

But curiously, a report on the explosion circulated in the local media by BBC Africa Eye made little or no reference to the official response of the Corporation, but instead repeated claims made by its sources which were at variance with the official explanations it requested from NNPC.

Its only reference to Nigerias official explanation was to its third and fifth allegations that the pipelines were not well protected and that the Corporation did not pay compensation to victims of the explosion.

But even the NNPCs responses to the allegations were largely ignored, and got only a passing mention.

The Corporation had described claims of inadequate protection of the pipeline against erosion as incorrect, and that the pipeline was not exposed at the vicinity of the explosion, but that the pipeline was excavated to enable repair works after the incidence and the area has since been restored and the pipeline re-commissioned for operations.

According to the document, the Corporation insisted that its pipelines were designed operated and maintained in strict compliance with the safely and regulatory guidelines of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and API/ANSI/ASME standards, maintaining there was no issue of negligence in terms of ensuring the integrity of the pipeline.

In conclusion, the Corporation stressed that despite the fact that the explosion was not caused by any negligence on its part, it still worked closely with the Lagos State Government in providing a N2billion relief fund for the victims, contrary to the allegation made by the media house.
TB2 Aviation Scholarship Recipient

Michael Barragan

Michael Barragan

TB2 Aviation Scholarship Recipient

Michael Barragan

Michael Barragan

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Sept. 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Thunderbird Field II Veterans Memorial, Inc. (TB2") announced it has awarded an Aviation Scholarship to Michael Barragan, a Cochise College (CC) student pursuing an Associate of Professional Pilot Technology degree. TB2 is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to preserving the history of aviation in Scottsdale, Arizona, honoring all military veterans and creating unique educational opportunities for Arizona students studying all aspects of aviation.

Mr. Barragan served in the U. S. Air Force (USAF) after high school and earned the rank of Senior Airman E-4 and Crew Chief for the A-10 Thunderbolt (aka Warthog). His last active duty station assignment was at Davis Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona. Michael has a strong interest to become an A-10 pilot and eventually become a commercial airline pilot. Along with a full class load and carrying an impressive GPA, he also continues to serve the USAF in the Active Reserve.

Steve Ziomek, Chairman and President of TB2, said, Michael is the first Cochise College recipient of the TB2 Aviation Scholarship. Michaels dedication to his studies, aviation and the USAF exemplifies his worthiness of this prestigious honor.

Rudy R. Miller, Chairman of TB2s Advisory Board & Scholarship Committee, stated, It is a privilege to announce, in concert with our President, Board of Directors, and donors/sponsors, that Michael is our sixth Aviation Scholarship recipient in the past 10 months. We anticipate announcing our next scholarship honoree selection within the next 2 months. As a former member of the military, I am extremely proud of the praiseworthy qualities Michael has displayed and his commitment to his country!

CC is pleased that TB2 has joined in supporting its mission of providing accessible educational opportunities that lead to constructive citizenship, meaningful careers and lifelong learning," said Denise Hoyos, Executive Director of College Advancement. "The TB2 Aviation Scholarship will go a long way toward helping a student achieve his or her dreams."

Story continues

Belinda Burnett, Director of Aviation Programs, CC, commented, I have had the pleasure of working with Michael Barragan in his private pilot ground school training and as he works toward completion of his Private Pilot Certification. I have no doubt Mr. Barragan will achieve all of his goals and have a lasting impact on the aviation community.

Michael Barragans TB2s scholarship award was sponsored by Systems Integrated Plus, Inc. (SIP), represented by Gunnar Buzzard, Chief Executive Officer-President and Pat Riordan, Chief Operating Officer-Vice President. SIP has supported charity and community service organizations in the Valley of the Sun for over 20 years. Mr. Buzzard is a former U.S. Navy pilot and USAF pilot, and a member of TB2 Board of Directors.

Systems Integrated Plus, Inc., headquartered in Scottsdale, AZ, designs, builds and deploys computer, electronic and radar systems for the defense, aerospace, heavy industrial and research markets. SIPs engineering and design teams are recognized for their technology innovations and the ability to deliver complex and critical systems to assure mission readiness and project execution. For more information, please visit www.vme.com.

About Thunderbird Field II Veterans Memorial, Inc.

Thunderbird Field II Veterans Memorial, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona. During World War II, an airfield named Thunderbird Field II was built for the sole purpose of training U.S. Army Air Corps pilots in 1942. Thunderbird Field II graduated over 5,500 men and women pilots of who many saw military action in Europe and the Pacific. The field and school were deactivated on October 16, 1944, sold to Arizona State Teachers College (ASU), then to the Arizona Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, and finally to the City of Scottsdale in 1966 and is now known as Scottsdale Airport (KSDL).

The Aviation Scholarship Program provides scholarships to veteran and non-veteran Arizona resident students who meet specific criteria and are attending Arizona State University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Chandler-Gilbert Community College, Cochise College, Pima Community College or Yavapai College. TB2 has a permanent memorial at the entrance of the Scottsdale Airport, honoring the service men and women of the nation's five armed services: Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Air Force, as well as POW-MIAs. For more information, please visit www.tbird2.org.

Contacts: Steve Ziomek Denise Hoyos Chairman & President Executive Director ziomek.steve@gmail.com Cochise College Foundation, Inc. 480.664.6604 hoyosd@cochise.edu 520.417.4148 Rudy R. Miller Chairman, Advisory Board & Scholarship Committee rrmiller@themillergroup.net 602.225.0505

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:



https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c0d968e4-f479-4fdf-a14a-c2133041b6e8

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/bb945ec0-eb1e-4064-992b-f1f9af970942




For a quarter century, the decaying piers at the foot of Bryant Street in San Francisco have been the Bermuda Triangle of waterfront development. Lots of ambitious projects have sailed in only to vanish amid rocky political conditions.

On Tuesday, San Franciscos Port Commission is set to select a builder to redevelop the piers as well as the 2.3-acre surface parking lot across the street. While its still unclear whether the latest proposal will run into the same fate as past efforts to build on Piers 30-32, some residents are already gearing up for another waterfront brawl.

The commission will vote on whether to enter into an exclusive negotiating agreement with Strada Investment Group, which beat out two other developers in responding to the ports request for proposals. And they will likely get an earful from neighbors who think the project is too big, and from at least one developer who was on the losing end of the competition.

Stradas project would include 850 housing units on the land side of the Embarcadero, 25% of them affordable. It would include investing $369 million in waterfront infrastructure, as well as provide approximately $325 million in lease payments over many years. The existing piers would be demolished and replaced by two new finger piers, which together would be 45% smaller, allowing several acres of current fill to revert to open bay water.

Two-story, 40-foot high sheds would sit atop the two new piers. Between them, the developers plan a floating swimming pool and recreation area that would allow people to swim and kayak between and around the piers. The sheds would include 376,000 gross square feet of office space, and about 3 acres of the piers 7.2 acres would be publicly accessible open space.

Previous development proposals on the 13-acre site died amid fierce fights.

The Golden State Warriors plans for a new arena on the piers fell apart because of neighborhood opposition, forcing the team to build a mile south in Mission Bay. Talks with Star Wars director George Lucas to put his cultural museum there went nowhere. In 2000, the port picked a developer to build a cruise ship terminal, hotel and housing on part of the site, but the plans sank because of steep cost increases after years of bureaucratic delays.

The piers have sat vacant since the structures on them were destroyed in a fire in 1984, but the city opened a 200-bed homeless shelter on the surface parking lot last year, which caused a neighborhood uproar and lawsuit.

Supervisor Aaron Peskin, who has fought big waterfront developments for two decades, said he had yet to be briefed by port staff on the latest proposal but that he found several aspects of the Strada scheme compelling. He said he approved of Stradas plan to shrink the size of the piers.

My initial take is the proposal is in the ballpark, but the devil will be in the details, Peskin said.

Bob Ecker / Port of San Francisco

But John Cornwell, president of the Portside condominium building homeowners association just west of the seawall lot, said residents there would oppose the project. He said the plan to far exceed the current height restrictions on the seawall lot  current zoning allows 80 feet and the proposal is for 150  was a nonstarter.

I was surprised that the port would go for a proposal that blows the lid on all the height restrictions on the lot  850 units is insane on that parcel, he said.

He said the neighborhood needs more parks and that Stradas proposed 3 acres of open space is insufficient.

Its an office park with a water feature, he said. The pool thing is cute, but who the hell is going to swim in 55-degree bay water?

But Alice Rogers, president of the neighborhood association representing South Beach, Rincon Hill and Mission Bay, said that the port seemed to listen to the neighbors throughout the process. She said support for housing on the seawall lot is strong.

It has been a very inclusive process, she said. Many in the community are not happy about the current situation  the parking lots and the Navigation Center  and are eager to get development going.

Steelblue for Strada Investment Group

She said that Strada, which was the Warriors development partner on its Chase Arena project, is very good about seeking local input.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

I think they learned quite a bit during the Warriors fight, Rogers said. The pool and water-oriented use is the kind of things we were interested in promoting.

While developers Strada and its partner Trammell Crow beat out two other developers as the ports preferred option, at least one of the losing groups is not going away quietly. Vornado, the New York real estate investment trust, which owns the Bank of America building in San Francisco, said it was shortchanged during the selection process.

San Francisco developer W. George Tischer, who is working with Vornado on the bid, blasted the decision, saying that scoring underestimated his groups financial capacity and experience developing waterfront projects in New York and elsewhere. He said that the port should take a closer look at how the points were awarded and whether the scoring was accurate.

Its critical that the commission understands whats at stake here, Tischer said. I think the superior project got home-towned to the detriment of the city, residents and visitors alike.

The scoring panel awarded 109 points to Strada, 89 to Tishman Speyer and 75 to Vornado.

Vornados project called for far more office space that Stradas  850,000 square feet vs. 376,000 square feet. It also included more open space  12.5 acres, compared to 3 acres. Vornado called for 360 housing units, less than half the number Strada would build.

Carl Shannon, who runs Tishman Speyers San Francisco office, declined to comment.

The Port Commission vote on Tuesday would allow port staff and Strada to start negotiating a development deal, which could take a year or more. Ultimately, the project would need approvals from the State Lands Commission, the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission, as well as the Board of Supervisors.

J.K. Dineen is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jdineen@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @sfjkdineen
Bihar chief minister (CM) Nitish Kumar on Tuesday reaffirmed his resolve to see Bihar soon emerge as a developed state, getting as it was the Centres full support.

Kumar also expressed happiness over the Centre abolishing the Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) across the country. He took a swipe at critics, saying some people were speaking on the issue without having any knowledge about it. The Bihar CM inaugurated a slew of projects, worth over Rs 7,700 crore, of seven departments  road construction, water resources, health, urban development and housing, environment, forest and climate change, cooperatives and tourism  through video conferencing on Tuesday.

Farmers used to face a lot of problems earlier as they were not able to sell their produce elsewhere in the country at a higher price, Kumar said.

ALSO READ | Bihar Assembly Election: Nitish Kumars virtual rally to launch JD(U)s poll campaign

He said the Bihar government had repealed the APMC Act in 2006, and there was no chance of restoring it. He said those engaged with APMCH had already been accommodated in other government work. Kumar, in his first tenure as chief minister had taken the decision to end APMC.

Taking a veiled dig at rivals, Kumar said, Some people are saying anything on the two farm bills without having any knowledge about them.`

The CM was speaking at the launch function of Mukhyamantri Harit Krishi Sanyantra Yojana under which farmers can take farm equipment and machinery on rent from the Primary Agricultural Credit Society (PACS).

Getting into election mode, Kumar cautioned people not to be taken in by the canard being spread by the opposition about the lack of development in the state. He said those who criticise the government must lay bare what they did in power between 1990 and 2005.

ALSO READ | Bihar polls: Nitish, Nadda hold initial talks on seat-sharing, agree on earliest solution

The CM said he was dedicated to the cause of serving humanity and would continue to work for the development of Bihar so that it would soon be counted among the developed states. Kumar accepted that he was receiving full support from the Centre in the development of the state.

Kumar said he was not into parivarvaad. The entire state is my family, quite unlike some who are only into promoting their sons and daughters. Even those within the party have no respect, he said in a veiled attack against the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), which was the leading opposition party in the state.

Ab janta maalik hai (Its the people who will decide now) If they want us, well be back to serve them, he added.

Kumar said this could possibly be his last public function of such a magnitude before the end of his third term, dropping enough hints that notification for assembly elections in Bihar could be announced soon.

He also initiated the commencement of work on the Rs 13,590-crore Metro rail project, which would initially have two routes in Patna. The project is likely to be completed in five years. Work is now being initiated on the Malahi Pakhri to Patliputra bus terminal route.

Kumar also laid the foundation stone of the National Dolphin Research Centre on the Patna university campus. He said the government was working towards cleaning the Ganga that would directly have an impact on the population of dolphins.

Laying the foundation stone of some road projects, the CM said the target now was to be able to reach Patna by road within five hours from any part of Bihar. The target given earlier was of six hours, which he claimed his officials had achieved.

Other prominent schemes for which Kumar laid the foundation stones were three medical colleges  one each at Vaishali, Sitamarhi and Siwan.

The CM also inaugurated the State Cancer Institute at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS), Patna apart from laying stones for 76 other schemes worth Rs 2814.47 crore of the health department.
That same month, a United Nations report said more than 6,000 Pakistani insurgents were hiding in Afghanistan, most belonging to the Pakistani Taliban. Also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, they are a separate insurgent group from the Afghan Taliban, although Pakistans militant groups are often interlinked with those across the border in Afghanistan.
Chinas leader took oblique potshots at the United States and its foreign policies Tuesday, cautioning in a U.N. address that the world must not fall into the trap of a clash of civilizations  remarks played minutes after delegates heard the American president insist that the United Nations hold China accountable for how it handled the emergence of the coronavirus.

Major countries should act like major countries, Xi Jinping said in a speech to the U.N. General Assembly, a speech made remotely and recorded in advance because the pandemic prevented leaders from convening as they have for decades. The virus first emerged in China early this year and has spread around the world, killing nearly 1 million people.

Xi, Chinas president and the leader of its Communist Party, cast the fight against the virus as an important exercise in international co-operation, an opportunity to join hands and be prepared to meet even more global challenges.

COVID-19 reminds us that the economic globalization is an indisputable reality and a historical trend, Xi said. Burying ones head in the sand like an ostrich in the face of economic globalization or trying to fight it with Don Quixotes lance goes against the trend of history. Let this be clear: The world will never return to isolation.

Such remarks, while not naming U.S. President Donald Trump, are highly critical of him and his America First philosophy, which goes against Chinas public stance on how diplomacy should be managed. In reality, China often acts unilaterally in affairs both domestic and international.

Earlier in the day, Trump used his own U.N. speech to roundly condemn Xis government for what the American president frequently calls the China virus, a term he used again Tuesday. He referred to the virus as the invisible enemy. Many consider the very term China virus to be racist.

Though Trump had lavish praise for Xi early in his term, two key issues  a tariff dispute and the emergence of coronavirus  have helped cause his administration to take a more hardline attitude toward the Chinese government.

The United Nations must hold China accountable for their actions, Trump said in his own speech.

China has a longtime practice of reflexively rejecting any criticism of its policies. Tuesday was no exception. While Xi, being prerecorded and not there, could not rebut what Trump said, his U.N. ambassador was on site in the General Assembly chamber and responded directly while introducing the Xi video.

At this moment, the world needs more solidarity and co-operation, and not a confrontation, Zhang Jun said. We need to increase mutual confidence and trust, and not the spreading of political virus. China resolutely rejects the baseless accusation against China.

Xi spoke at a historical moment in which China is working to manage its staggering  and staggeringly complex  military, economic and political rise while confronting the aggressive containment strategies of the worlds current superpower, the United States, and its friends and allies.

Xi Jinping has his work cut out for him at the General Assembly, said Mike Mazza, a China analyst at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington. He pointed to tensions with Europe over trade and investment, climate and human rights, in addition to the Trump administrations more consistently confrontational approach to China.

Xi has failed to leverage ill feelings between many European leaders and Trump, while a potential detente with Japan has stalled. Relations with Australia have nosedived over allegations of spying and political manipulation and calls for an investigation into the Chinese origins of the coronavirus outbreak, Mazza said.

These troubles are, by and large, problems of its own making, Mazza said of China.

As aggressive as Beijing can seem to its neighbours when using its expanding military and powerful economy to carve out what it sees as its natural sphere of influence in Asia, this is a fragile moment in whats often seen as Chinas inevitable rise as a superpower.

Beijing has faced criticism over the continuing fallout from the coronavirus pandemic, which originated in Wuhan province late last year. Some say Beijing initially attempted to cover up the outbreak before seeking to take advantage of its response for public-relations ends.

Theres outrage over Chinas severe restriction of civil rights in Hong Kong following its imposition on the semi-autonomous city of a sweeping national security law, and over widespread accusations of mass detentions and cultural genocide against Muslims in the Xinjiang region. And theres wariness also over Chinas rising pressure and military threats against Taiwan, the self-governing island democracy that Beijing claims as its own territory.

Meanwhile, Chinas moves to claim nearly the entire South China Sea have led to friction with the United States and with Beijings neighbours to the south, while a decades-long border dispute with India erupted this year into deadly brawling between the rivals troops and the firing of shots for the first time in decades.

All this has undercut arguments that favour engagement with China as a trade war between Beijing, the worlds second-biggest economy, and Washington, the biggest, continues to simmer.

Xi will find a very mixed international environment when he addresses the UNGA. Most of the democracies which had previously been very supportive of Chinas modernization and development are getting uncomfortable with how Xi is steering the rise of China, said Steve Tsang, director of the China Institute at Londons School of Oriental and African Studies.

The United States and China are now locked on a collision course that could potentially result in dangerous military conflict, said Brookings Institution China analyst Cheng Li. An immediate goal of Xis will be to showcase how China has stepped up to the plate to call for multilateralism and address global concerns ... while the United States has increasingly left a gaping void in global leadership.

Xi, in doing that with his speech, insisted that China under his rule isnt veering into the imperialism his communist government has long condemned.

We will never seek hegemony, expansion or sphere of influence, he said. We have no intention of fighting either a Cold War or a hot one with any country.

___

Foster Klug, APs news director for the Koreas, Japan, Australia and the South Pacific, has covered Asia at the annual UNGA meetings since 2005. Ted Anthony was AP correspondent and news editor in Beijing from 2001 to 2004 and director of Asia-Pacific News from 2014 to 2018.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 01:04:45|Editor: huaxia

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LUSAKA, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Zambian President Edgar Lungu on Tuesday underscored the importance of Zambians and Malawians working together.

The Zambian leader said after holding bilateral talks with his Malawian counterpart Lazarus Chakwera that the two countries need to work together to solve problems that confront them.

He said in a statement issued after the talks that the two countries share a common boundary, rich culture, language and common heritage which signified the oneness of the two countries.

Meanwhile, his Malawian counterpart said his government was looking forward to working closely with Zambia which he said has come to Malawi's aid in time of disasters.

He noted that the two countries share the same challenges which include electricity deficit and transport challenges.

The Malawian leader was in Zambia for a one-day official visit. Enditem
The U.S. Office of Special Counsel is investigating allegations of illegal employment practices at VA Connecticut Healthcare System connected to the hiring of seven employeessome in top management positionswho are all former co-workers of the systems director.

A separate complaint filed by a whistleblower to the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs alleges gross misconduct in the hiring of staff from the Manchester (New Hampshire) VA Medical Center. It says that all management positions were pre-selected.

VA Connecticut is in turmoil, wrote the whistleblower in an anonymous complaint filed in August and obtained by C-HIT.

The complaints have put a spotlight on the management of Alfred A. Montoya Jr., who has been head of the West Haven VA for almost a year. Montoya was brought in from the Manchester (New Hampshire) VA Medical Center after years of upheaval in the delivery of health care at the West Haven VA, where surgeries were outsourced to Yale New Haven Hospital after deficiencies were found in sterile procedures.

The charges contend that hiring people who worked in Manchester with Montoya denied VA Connecticut staff advancement opportunities.

The Manchester VA is a low-tier outpatient facility with four offsite clinics. VA Connecticut is a top-tier system, rated a 1A facility that operates a hospital in West Haven, an outpatient center in Newington, and six local clinics.

A request to interview Montoya was denied by VA communications staff for the New England region and in Washington, according to Pamela Redmond, VA Connecticut spokesman. She issued a statement without having questions from a C-HIT reporter.

It states that VA Connecticut strives to fill positions with the most qualified candidates while adhering to all federal hiring guidelines.

We recognize and respect our talented pool of employees and offer many paths for advancement, including leadership programs, scholarship opportunities and mentorships, it adds.

Sandra Salmon, president of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 2138, filed the Special Counsel complaint on behalf of the union, alleging Connecticut VA leaders acted illegally by obstructing competition for jobs, giving unauthorized preference or advantage, and encouraging withdrawal from the application process.

It appears that only those level 3 hospital staff was good enough to work here at VA CT, Salmon said. The union local represents more than 820 employees, predominantly nurses, as well as physician assistants, social workers, audiologists, psychologists, and biomedical engineers.

If you love the VA at all, you have to do something, said Salmon, who is representing the union.

Theres a lot of unfairness at every level, she said.

The Special Counsels office responded to Salmon in an August 17 letter that the complaint may be allegations of possible prohibited personnel practice and that a staff member was assigned to the matter.

In April, Montoya hired Bernadette Y. Jao, a doctor of nursing practice, as associate director for nursing and patient care services, the same job she had in Manchester. The senior management position is part of the VA Connecticut five-person leadership team.

A new position of deputy associate director under Jao was created and filled by Susan Trimboli. She is also from the Manchester VA.

Two chief nurses were hired from Manchester: Shauna DAllev, chief nurse for surgery, and Eustacia Chaisson, chief nurse for sterile processing, infection prevention, and non-critical reusable medical equipment.

Andrea Macomber was brought from Manchester to be case management manager in a direct hire, meaning the job wasnt posted. She also worked with Montoya when he was director of the White River Junction VA in Vermont.

Montoya hired his former assistant in Manchester, Corey Beem, to be a health system specialist in his office. He hasnt started yet.

A second traveling veterans coordinator position was added and filled by Edwin Jao, a former Manchester VA employee who is married to the associate director.

Jacqueline Fonseca-Ramos, who worked for U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., filled a new position, congressional aide. The job was never posted.

A chief nurse for mental health, Sylvia Simeone, was hired from the Northport VA in Long Island, where she previously worked with Bernadette Jao, according to Salmon, the union president.

Union Grievance

A union grievance filed by a registered nurse claims that the direct hires of the case management manager and veteran travel coordinator were a violation of prohibited personnel practice and upward mobility. The grievance states that direct hire customarily is used in hard to recruit positions and only after being posted twice.

Positions are not posted, and employees are not given the chance to apply and improve their career prospects for the most lucrative positions, the grievance says.

Meanwhile, the union filed an employment discrimination complaint this month with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on behalf of minority nurses, citing a lack of racial diversity in VA Connecticut management.

VA statistics show 41 percent of employees are people of color and 22 percent are Black people. There are no Black executives, according to the unions employment discrimination complaint. There are more than 3,300 VA Connecticut employees.

Most of the hires from the Manchester facility are white, except for Bernadette and Edwin Jao, who are Filipino, and Montoya, who is Latino.

Salmon said the typical six-figure management salaries are incentives for people to remain in their jobs for many years.

Systemic racism will be entrenched for years to come at VA CT, she said.

Montoya established a diversity council in July to help every employee reach their full potential in an environment free of bias, according to an employee newsletter.

Redmond, the VA spokeswoman, said VA Connecticut continues to work to improve its surgical facilities. She said $17 million has been approved for a sterile processing facility for surgical instruments, which is in the design phase; a new HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) system for the operating room suite and a still-unfunded addition that would include a new surgery department are planned.

This story was reported under a partnership with the Connecticut Health I-Team ( c-hit.org ), a nonprofit news organization dedicated to health reporting.
President Donald Trump said on Monday that he would save a deal to boost American control of Chinese-owned popular social media app TikTok if possible, but would cut it off if not, Trend reports citing Reuters.

Speaking to reporters before departing the White House, Trump said he had given a preliminary ok to a plan for U.S. companies Oracle and Walmart to take stakes in a new U.S. company to run TikTok, which is currently owned by Chinas Bytedance.

But the President also stressed that he could scrap the deal if it didnt satisfy his demands.

If we can save it, well save it, and if we cant well cut it off, he said before traveling to Ohio. We have to have total security. Thats the only thing, very important, We have to have total security, he added.

Trump had previously made clear he wanted a U.S. company to buy TikTok, but questions have swirled about whether Bytedance will retain a majority stake in the new enterprise.

ByteDance said on Monday that it will own 80% of TikTok Global, a newly created U.S. company that will own most of the apps operations worldwide. ByteDance added that TikTok Global will become its subsidiary.

Oracle and Walmart Inc, which have agreed to take stakes in TikTok Global of 12.5% and 7.5% respectively, had said on Saturday that majority ownership of TikTok would be in American hands.
Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley was applauded after giving a speech on the House floor about the realities of living with alopecia, and how the hair loss has impacted her both personally and professionally.

On Tuesday, the representative opened up about her diagnosis with the condition while discussing the importance of congressional support for bills supporting those with alopecia in a video shared by The Hill.

During the speech, which comes amid Alopecia Awareness Month, Pressley said: Some people may say its just hair. But for me and many people living with alopecia, hair is intrinsically linked to our identity and our cultural expression.

The 46-year-old then reflected on learning she had the condition last year, explaining that she vividly remembers the moment she first saw herself completely bald.

I was alone in my DC apartment, separated from my family on the same day that would have been my mothers 72nd birthday and on the eve of an impeachment vote, Pressley recalled. I was standing in the bathroom, staring at my reflection in the mirror and for the first time, I was completely bald.

Recommended Ayanna Pressley reveals bald head as she opens up about struggle with alopecia

According to Pressley, she felt relief, peace and acceptance that night after dreading the moment for months.

Pressley also said she is making progress in coming to terms with her diagnosis, despite being the target of hateful comments, the cruel constant online harassment about my baldness, the intrusive and ignorant questions on the elevators and the unsolicited advice and stares.

No doubt about it, a bald woman entering a room, entering the floor of the House of Representatives, makes people uncomfortable, she said. Visually, it challenges every antiquated, cultural norm about what is professional, what is pretty, what is feminine.

Mr Speaker, I am now bald. But I am in good health and I am in incredible company, Pressley said, adding that she has never lost sight of who she is.

The freshman congresswoman also shared some of the support she has received from other Americans living with alopecia, and how those little acts of kindness and solidarity have defined this experience for her.

During the five-minute speech, Pressley urged support for a bill introduced by congressman Jim McGovern that would allow seniors to purchase medical wigs using Medicaid funds.

I know that our work is far from over and I will continue to fight, she said. I will take my seat at the table. I will take up space and I will create it too. And with this space, we will make change.

Pressleys speech, which was met with applause by lawmakers, comes after she revealed her diagnosis in an interview with The Root in January.

I felt embarrassed, I felt ashamed, I felt betrayed, she said during the interview, adding that she also felt she was participating in a cultural betrayal because of all the little girls who looked up to her because of her hair.

At the time, her admission was met with an outpouring of support from others who live with the condition.

Alopecia is a disease that develops when "the body attacks its own hair follicles," according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Apart from hair loss and nail changes, most people with alopecia are otherwise healthy.
Sotoudeh's plight has been getting much attention in France

France is concerned about the health of jailed Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh, who is in hospital after going on a hunger strike for more than 40 days, Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Tuesday.

The fast is aimed at supporting calls for the release of political prisoners, and help direct attention towards their condition during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the lawyer's husband.

"We are very worried about Nasrin Sotoudeh's health," Le Drian told parliament, adding that she had been sentenced simply "for doing her job as a lawyer".

President Emmanuel Macron has urged Iranian authorities to release her at every opportunity, Le Drian said, adding that he was doing the same.

Sotoudeh has been sentenced to a total of 33 years in prison over a case with seven charges, but she is to serve only the longest sentence of 12 years imposed for "encouraging corruption and debauchery." She has also been convicted of espionage.

Sotoudeh was transferred to a cardiac care unit shortly after being taken to the emergency ward of Tehran's Taleghani hospital last week.

Meanwhile, two French lawmakers met Iran's ambassador to France to lodge their protest, Le Parisien newspaper reported Tuesday.

Sotoudeh won the European Parliament's Sakharov Prize in 2012 for her work on high-profile cases including those of convicts on death row for offences committed as minors.

She spent three years in prison after representing dissidents arrested during mass protests in 2009 against the disputed re-election of the ultra-conservative president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Activists say Iranian authorities have been directly targeting Sotoudeh's family with a string of measures.

dla/jh/js/bp
William Wiley Horton, 98, formerly of Red Bank, Tennessee, died on April 13, 2020, at his home in Apsion, Tennessee.

Mr. Horton was born on Oct. 16, 1921, in Cleveland.

Due to the pandemic, services were postponed. A memorial visitation will be held from 12-2:30 p.m. on Oct. 2, at Lane Funeral Home with a procession to follow to Chattanooga National Cemetery with full military honors at 3 p.m.

Arrangements are by Lane Funeral Home, 601 Ashland Terrace, Chattanooga, Tn. 37415, 423 877-3524, lanefh.com.
Early Tuesday afternoon, two detectives and an evidence technician searched near the corner of Maple and Homan avenues for evidence, looking over the sidewalk, parkway and an area of the street next to the curb.
An automatic transaction moved $17,000 from a trust fund for a murder victims children into the account of an organization that bankrupted due to massive fraud.

No crime was committed, concluded a Hamilton police investigation.

Yet there sure are victims. Mostly Gonca Aydin and her brother, Devrim, who have endured tragedy and heartbreak their entire lives.

But also caring and compassionate members of the public touched by the plight of the siblings when their mother was stabbed to death. The community donated money to that trust fund, believing it would be held for the children until they reached the age of 18.

But by then, the entire fund was long gone.

I feel like Ive been failed again, says Gonca, now 26 and mother to a one-year-old boy. Im very disappointed, honestly. I want the community to know where this money went.

Lets back up to Jan. 28, 2009.

Muruwet Tuncer, who came here from Turkey to have a better life, was alone at an Elkwood Drive house on the west Mountain until her 13-year-old niece came home for lunch.

There was a knock at the door and the niece answered.

It was Cengiz Isiko, father to Devrim and stepfather to Gonca. He forced his way in.

He stabbed Muruwet 17 times. She died on the spot. He stabbed the niece in the chest, abdomen and hand. She escaped, running and falling in the snow to a neighbours porch. Surgery saved her life.

After a manhunt, Isiko was found at the Hamilton Public Library downtown searching for news stories about himself. He was eventually sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of first-degree murder.

Gonca was 14 when her mom was killed. Devrim was four.

Within days, a man who knew Muruwet through his work with new Canadians, stepped in to help. He went to the Scotiabank Centre Mall branch and opened a trust fund for the children.

That man was Morteza Jafarpour, the charismatic CEO of SISO, the Settlement and Integration Services Organization.

That branch was where SISOs accounts were. The trust fund was named The SISO Fund for Gonca and Devrim.

The account number was publicized in The Spectator and donations poured in.

The Spectator has reached out repeatedly to Scotiabank, but spokesperson Daniela Da Silva did not provide a comment.

Just three days after the murder, The Spec reported $5,000 had been deposited.

Jafarpours generosity didnt end there.

He and his family took in the children. He became their legal guardian.

Meanwhile, he was masterminding an elaborate multimillion fraud that would be the end of SISO.

Jafarpour bilked the federal government out of $2.9 million in funding. He went to prison after being convicted of seven counts of uttering forged documents, fraud over $5,000 and conspiracy to commit fraud.

In 2011, SISO went bankrupt.

Jafarpour is out of custody and lives in the Ottawa area. Although Gonca left his household years ago, Devrim, now 16, remains with the Jafarpour family.

Gonca knew nothing of the trust fund until she was in her early 20s. Then she went to Scotiabank and was told they had no record of it. She reached out to former SISO staffers and dug through records.

I worked so hard to just prove there was an account, she says.

Finally, Scotiabank acknowledged there was a trust fund. But it had been closed on April 6, 2010, 14 months after Goncas mother died and three years before Gonca would be legally able to access the money. The fund closed the same month SISO ceased to exist, according to police.

Scotiabank told Gonca it didnt know who closed the fund and no longer had records related to it.

In April 2019, Gonca turned to police for help. The case was taken on by the major fraud unit.

At the time, police publicly berated Scotiabank for its lack of co-operation.

Det. Rob Hardy, who did the investigation, says it took a while to track down people who knew about the fund, since SISO is defunct and so much time had passed.

In the end, he interviewed 14 people  including Jafarpour.

Hardy says his investigation determined Jafarpour did not have access to the trust fund at the time it was closed out.

The detective served a production order on the bank, looking for records of the account.

Hardy concluded the most likely explanation is that when SISOs corporate account was overdrawn, the bank automatically transferred money from the trust fund into that account.

He likens it to an individual being overdrawn on their chequing account and the bank automatically reaching into their savings account to cover the overdraft.

Hardy says he found nothing to suggest a human authorized the transaction.

It was an unfortunate series of events, he says.

Gonca goes further.

I just feel like it was a system failure, the whole thing involves a big lack of common sense.

Scotiabank has not reimbursed Gonca and Devrim for any of the lost funds.

Thats not right on their part, says Gonca. To just say it was an automatic transaction and then move on.

Gonca is correct. Its not right.

Scotiabank owes it to her and Devrim and every member of the public who put their money into that trust account to do better.

Or there is no trust at all.
Vacuum engineering company, Edwards announced the jobs Blanchardstown where they will open a new Service Technology Centre to support the semiconductor industry in Ireland.

According to Edwards, semiconductor manufacturing is essential to supporting developments in the technology, electronics, transport, scientific and healthcare sectors.

The new roles will be in areas such as engineering, technology and support.

Edwards have said the Dublin centre will be used to recycle used products and deliver them back to customers with minimum impact to the environment.

Tanaiste Leo Varadkar has welcomed the announcement saying the skilled workforce in the area makes Blanchardstown a good choice for the company.

Im pleased Edwards have chosen Blanchardstown for their new flagship facility, creating 120 new jobs for the area.

"Blanchardstown has the talent and connectivity to make it an excellent location for any company to invest in and I wish Edwards the very best as they grow their operations here.

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Edwards semiconductor service president, Troy Metcalf said: This is an exciting development for Edwards and for our customers. Our new Dublin site will become a flagship facility in our global network of Service Technology Centres, utilising advanced automation and data analysis to support the safe, productive and environmentally sustainable manufacturing of semiconductors in Ireland and across Europe.

"The increased utilisation of automation and lean manufacturing processes will contribute to improved safety standards, support greater operational excellence, and promote our strategy to attract a more diverse workforce into Edwards and the wider engineering and semiconductor sectors."
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / September 22, 2020 / Thoughtful Brands Inc. (CSE:TBI)(FWB:1WZ1)(OTCQB:PEMTF) (the "Company" or "Thoughtful Brands"), is pleased to announce that it has completed an offering (the "Offering") of 3,000,000 units (each, a "Unit") by way of non-brokered private placement at a price of $0.20 per Unit for gross proceeds of $600,000. Each Unit consists of one common share of the Company, and one common share purchase warrant (each, a "Warrant") exercisable to acquire an additional share at a price of $0.28 for a period of twenty-four months.

The Company anticipates utilizing the proceeds of the Offering to settle outstanding debts, invest in a joint venture in Europe and to compensate certain consultants of the Company. As previously announced on September 8, 2020, $350,000 of the Offering will be invested in a joint venture (the "JV") with Franchise Cannabis Corp. The JV is expected to launch Franchise products in Europe using the Company's advanced eCommerce capabilities.

In connection with completion of the Offering, the Company issued 30,000 common shares to an arms-length party who assisted in facilitating the Offering. All securities issued in connection with the Offering are subject to a four-month-and-one-day statutory hold period in accordance with applicable securities law.

In additional news, the Company has entered into consulting agreements with Market One Media Group Inc. ("Market One") and Nathan Shantz. Market One will provide the Company with various media services and Mr. Shantz will provide the Company with business advice and connections. Compensation for the consulting services of Mr. Shantz includes 200,000 common share purchase warrants at a strike price of $0.28 per share with a two-year term that vest immediately, subject to a four month hold period pursuant to the polices of the Canadian Securities Exchange.

"The closure of the private placement will better enable Thoughtful Brands to properly execute our long-term growth strategy, while our newly forged relationships with Market One and Mr. Shantz will assist the Company in expanding its global footprint and overall presence in the natural health products space," said Thoughtful Brands CEO Ryan Dean Hoggan.

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 operations of the JV in Europe. 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/607324/Thoughtful-Brands-Closes-600000-Private-Placement
Dozens of principals representing some of Victoria's most expensive private schools have written to the Andrews government to plead for the urgent return of international students, warning of cutbacks and closures if the ban on them isn't lifted soon.

In their letter, the principals of 36 schools say the disruption to Victoria's multibillion-dollar international student market this year poses an "immediate existential challenge" that has left many non-government schools without a "vital revenue stream".

Principal Elisabeth Lenders of Kingswood College. Credit:Chris Hopkins

While the federal government controls the nation's borders, the letter calls for the state government to work with the non-government school sector to develop plans for the entry of students no later than the start of the 2021 school year.

Some schools face potential closure and significant job losses, if international student enrolments do not recover, the principals say.
While the British government showed the evidence it had to American officials, it was unable to transfer it because Mr. Elsheikhs mother filed a lawsuit challenging the legality of further cooperation. The primary issue was that the attorney general at the time, Jeff Sessions, opted not to make assurances that the United States would forgo the death penalty  over the objections of four American families whose children were killed by the Islamic State.

Because Britain has abolished the death penalty, such assurances are usually routine when the United States is working with the British criminal justice system. In March, the British Supreme Court preliminarily sided with Mr. Elsheikhs mother and blocked the government from sharing the evidence and providing assistance in the case.

But last month, after a push by the Pentagon to find a disposition option for the detainees, Attorney General William P. Barr reversed Mr. Sessionss stance and provided assurances to Britain that American prosecutors would not seek the death penalty against the two potential defendants after all.

At the same time, however, Mr. Barr imposed a deadline of Oct. 15 for the British government to resolve litigation that has tied up its ability to transfer the evidence. If it failed to do so by then, he threatened, the United States would instead transfer the two men to the custody of the Iraqi government.

The concession, coupled with that threatened deadline, appears to have cleared the logjam in Britain. While Mr. Elsheikhs mother then filed a new case before the High Court saying it would be illegal to transfer the evidence because her son should be tried in Britain, a lower body in the British judicial system quickly disposed of the case in its ruling on Tuesday.

When the British government had previously proposed to share evidence without a death penalty assurance, this was an unusual case, wrote one of the judges, Dame Victoria Sharp. Notwithstanding the barbaric nature of the offenses alleged, now that the death penalty assurance has been given it has become routine and the government can proceed.

Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Democrat of New Hampshire, who has worked closely with the Foley family and the Justice Department on trying to get a civilian trial for the two men, praised the development in a statement as a breakthrough.
At virtual meeting of the 75th UNGA, coronavirus, US elections, multilateralism and regional tensions dominate agenda.

World leaders have addressed an increasingly divided United Nations at its 75th General Assembly.

The annual meeting on Tuesday in New York was moved online this year because of the coronavirus, with the pandemic high on the agenda, among other issues of global concern.

Here is a summary of what the world leaders said:

Donald Trump

In his speech as host nation, US President Donald Trump accused Beijing of spreading what he called the China virus and demanded the UN hold it accountable.

He defended his own handling of COVID-19 in the United States where the death toll has passed 200,000.

We have waged a fierce battle against the invisible enemy which has claimed countless lives in 188 countries, Trump said in a pre-recorded address to the UNGA that lasted less than seven minutes.

As we pursue this bright future, we must hold accountable the nation which unleashed this plague onto the world: China.

We must hold accountable the nation which unleashed this plague onto the world, China." Trump tells #UNGA in a pre-recorded message that it must hold China 'accountable' over COVID-19. pic.twitter.com/y2jG6nGe2l  Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) September 22, 2020

Xi Jinping

By contrast, Chinas President Xi Jinping struck a conciliatory tone, calling for enhanced cooperation over the pandemic and stressing that China had no intention of fighting either a Cold War or a hot one with any other country.

Xi said attempts to politicise the pandemic should be rejected.

China is the largest developing country in the world, a country that is committed to peaceful, open, cooperative and common development, he added.

Jair Bolsonaro

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro defended his administrations record protecting the Amazon rainforest, telling the virtual meeting his country has been wrongly portrayed as an environmental villain.

We are victims of one of the most brutal disinformation campaigns about the Amazon and the Pantanal wetlands, Bolsonaro said.

The Brazilian Amazon is well known to be very rich. That explains why international institutions support such campaigns based on ulterior interests, joined by self-serving and unpatriotic Brazilian associations, with the objective of harming the government and Brazil itself.

Bolsonaros critics were quick to pick apart his claims[ Marcos Correa/Handout /Brazilian Presidency /AFP]

Recep Tayyip Erdogan

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for sincere dialogue to settle the growing dispute with Greece over Ankaras energy search in the eastern Mediterranean, rejecting any harassment by the West over the issue.

Our priority is to settle disputes with sincere dialogue, based on international law and on an equitable basis, Erdogan said. However, I would like to clearly state that we will never tolerate any imposition, harassment, or attack in the opposite direction.

NATO allies Turkey and Greece are embroiled in a maritime gas drilling dispute that has pitted Ankara against other EU member states.

Sheikh Tamim

Qatars Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani reiterated his call for an unconditional dialogue and the lifting of the illegal blockade imposed by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and Egypt.

More than three years have passed since the start of the unjust and illegal blockade on the state of Qatar. Nevertheless we kept to the path towards progress and development in various fields, Sheikh Tamim said.

He also called out the international community for failing to confront Israel for its illegal occupation of the Palestinian land.





Hassan Rouhani

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani promised the next US leader must accept Tehrans demands, ruling out compromise as Trump vies for re-election.

We are not a bargaining chip in US elections and domestic policy, Rouhani said. Any US administration after the upcoming elections will have no choice but to surrender to the resilience of the Iranian nation.

Rouhani said the US can impose neither negotiations, nor war on Tehran [Iranian Presidential Office Handout/EPA-EFE]

Vladimir Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin called for an international treaty to prohibit weapons in space and offered Russias coronavirus vaccine to UN employees for free.

Russia is ready to provide the UN with all the necessary qualified assistance. In particular, we are offering to provide our vaccine, free of charge, for the voluntary vaccination of the staff of the UN and its offices, Putin said.

He also said the global economic downturn caused by the pandemic renews the need for removing trade sanctions.

Putin said the WHO should be strengthened to coordinate the global coronavirus response [Mikhail Klimentyev/Sputnik/Kremlin Pool Photo/AP]

Emmanuel Macron

French President Emmanuel Macron said Europe would not compromise with the US over Washingtons move to reactivate sanctions on Iran, warning the so-called snapback could undermine the UN Security Council (UNSC) and increase Middle East tensions.

We will not compromise on the activation of a mechanism that the United States is not in a position to activate on its own after leaving the agreement, Macron said.

This would undermine the unity of the Security Council and the integrity of its decisions, and it would run the risk of further aggravating tensions in the region.

Moon Jae-in

South Koreas President Moon Jae-in called for a regional infectious disease control and public health initiative involving China, Japan, Mongolia, and North Korea to tackle health crises and lay the foundation for peace with Pyongyang.

In the face of the COVID-19 crisis that poses a greater threat to humanity than a war, we came to be acutely reminded that the safety of neighbouring countries is directly linked to that of our own, Moon said.
Transactions in post offices are estimated to be down by 25pc according to the Irish Postmasters Union (IPU).

When comparing figures from August 2019 with those from last month, they found that post office business had decreased due to Covid.

As a public safety measure, social welfare payments were reduced during lockdown to every two weeks instead of weekly.

While some payments were re-installed to weekly in August, the IPU called today for people to have a choice on how often they collect their payments.

IPU General Secretary Ned OHara said the government needs to respond to the challenges currently being faced by post offices, as well as their local economy.

On weeks where little welfare is paid out, activity in the surrounding businesses can be ghostly, he said.

The IPU added that changes in the social welfare payment times could help smaller businesses and support growth in post offices.

Local businesses need more than ever the stimulus which collection of welfare and local spending provide. And Postmasters need it too, Mr OHara said.

People have been acting responsibly in Post Offices and the IPU would like to thank customers for this.

Public support for post offices is high according to a Red C poll carried out back in February, with 86pc of people saying theyre in favour of the government financially supporting post offices to keep them open.

While support was highest among the elderly and those outside of Dublin, 80pc of young people also stated they wanted government assistance for their post office.

Of the over 1,000 people surveyed, 86pc said they wanted more state services to be carried out in post offices.

Back in August, the IPU originally called for a full return to weekly payments of social welfare, and were supported by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVP).

For those on social welfare payments careful budgeting is essential and the change in payment dates has been extremely disrupting, SVP National President Kieran Stafford said.

Next week, stark findings are to be published in an independent report on the post office network according to the IPU president.
Now, more than ever, the world needs trustworthy reportingbut good journalism isnt free. Please support us by subscribing or contributing today.
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The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has published a detailed plan for its Artemis lunar exploration programme on 22 September. The plan is in line with the space agencys vision of sending the first woman and the next man, on the Moon by 2024.

NASA aspires to study the Moon in great details and explore new areas by sending in astronauts. They aim to create sustainable missions by 2028 and finally take the next giant leap of sending a human to the surface of Mars.

According to the official document open to the general public, the Moon plan is twofold. After its initial human landing by 2024, the work will be simultaneously carried out towards the sustainable lunar exploration in the mid- to late 2020s. NASA mentions that 2024 is not an arbitrary date but the most ambitious goal. The agencys ultimate goal is to send the first manned mission to our neighbouring planet Mars. With more countries and companies [taking] aim at the Moon, America needs the earliest possible landing to maintain and build on that leadership, as well as to prepare for a historic first human mission to Mars, the body said in the plan.

The first step in the plan marks the unmanned mission, called Artemis I, on the Moon in 2021, said NASA in a press release. This will come after a hot fire test is conducted on NASAs new rocket, the Space Launch System (SLS), and the Orion spacecraft. Following a successful hot-fire test, which is to be carried out this fall, the core stage will get integrated with the spacecraft. The American space agency will then launch an SLS and an Orion together on two flight tests around the Moon to check performance, life support, and communication capabilities. The second mission, Artemis II, will fly with the crew in 2023.

In 2024, Artemis III will roll out and will see the first astronauts on the lunar South Pole.
PARIS (Reuters) - France's foreign ministry said on Tuesday it was reviewing a request from Russia's prosecutor general to help in the case relating to the poisoning of Kremlin critic Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny.

"We have received a request from Russia. It is under examination," Foreign ministry spokeswoman Agnes von der Muhll told reporters in a daily briefing.

"The priority remains for Russia to shed light on the circumstances and responsibilities behind the assassination attempt that took place on its territory against a member of the Russian political opposition using a nerve agent."

(Reporting by John Irish; Editing by Sandra Maler)
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Jindal Steel & Power (JSPL) share price was down over 6 percent in the morning session on September 22 following reports that Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (DBTCA) filed Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) on fund transfers by the company for two consecutive years.

The media reports were based on leaked suspicious activity reports (SARs) filed by banks and other financial firms with the US Department of Treasurys Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCen).

The company, however, said all transactions by the company were part of routine business activities and that all had proper underlying assets, according to a Business Standard report.

SARs showed that the Delhi-based steel producer received USD 2.48 million in 2015 and USD 16.8 million in 2016. During the period, the company sent money to firms based in Mauritius, Germany and the UK and received funds from firms in Dubai and Switzerland.

JSPL sent a total of USD 4.85 million in 2015 and a sum of USD 12.83 million in 2016.

The stock was trading at Rs 167.10, down Rs 8.20, or 4.68 percent at 09:38 hours. It has touched an intraday high of Rs 174.20 and an intraday low of Rs 159.70.
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump on Tuesday appeared to have secured the votes needed to confirm his Supreme Court nominee days before he even names the candidate, while Senate Republicans began working on plans to hold a final vote on the pick before the Nov. 3 election.

Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, announced Tuesday that Trump should get to choose a replacement for liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died Friday, regardless of whether he wins in November. With that, Trump appears to have a majority for a vote this year by the GOP-led Senate, unless Republicans defect as the process goes forward.

Trump said he would name his nominee Saturday from among five female judges and lawyers the White House describes as "textualists and originalists." Some Republicans have announced support without knowing the nominee's identity.

"The Constitution gives the President the power to nominate and the Senate the authority to provide advice and consent on Supreme Court nominees," Romney said in a statement. "Accordingly, I intend to follow the Constitution and precedent in considering the President's nominee. If the nominee reaches the Senate floor, I intend to vote based upon their qualifications."

Two of Romney's Republican colleagues - Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska - have said the Senate should wait on the vacancy until after the Nov. 3 presidential election. But Romney's support for moving ahead almost certainly ensures that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., can hold a vote on Trump's choice.

Republicans hold a 53-to-47 majority.

The Supreme Court battle comes as Trump continues to trail Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden in national and state polls, although the margin is narrowing, amid a coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than 200,000 Americans. The president and his campaign are hoping his court pick will energize Republican voters and convince some still in the undecided column to move toward Trump.

Judge Amy Coney Barrett, a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit, has emerged as the favorite for the nomination, but some of the president's allies continue to push for Barbara Lagoa, a federal appeals court judge on the 11th Circuit, whom Trump may meet with this week.

On Monday, Barrett met with Trump, his chief of staff, Mark Meadows, and other aides at the White House, then met alone with the president, according to two White House officials who, like others, spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss aspects of the confidential selection process.

"Very good interview," one person said of Barrett's discussion with Trump.

Two advisers to the president said that Barrett remained the front-runner, and that Trump was telling others on Tuesday that he was likely to pick her.

But the president has not yet met Lagoa, and some of his advisers are cautioning against making a choice until he interviews her. These people, supportive of Lagoa, hope she can charm the president and cause him to reconsider.

Outside the White House, key Senate Republicans continued to lobby the president directly on his Supreme Court pick. Trump has fielded phone calls from GOP senators such as Ben Sasse of Nebraska and Rick Scott of Florida about their respective favored candidates.

Sasse - who has had a rocky relationship with the president - pushed hard for Barrett in a conversation with Trump this week, one of more than a half-dozen discussions he's had lobbying for the 7th Circuit judge. Scott said he spoke with Trump Monday about Lagoa, a favorite in Florida legal circles but a much less known commodity in Washington and among Senate Republicans.

Scott impressed upon Trump that Lagoa would be the first Supreme Court justice from Florida - a must-win state for the president in November - as well as the court's first Cuban American. Picking Lagoa would help Trump politically not just in Florida, but potentially in Arizona and Texas, Scott said.

"But most important, she understands there's three branches of government," Scott said of Lagoa. "The judiciary does not have the right to be activist judges. If you look at her track record in Florida, she was clearly not an activist judge."

Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee, where they hold a two-seat majority over Democrats, huddled privately Tuesday morning to begin sketching out the procedural logistics for considering Trump's eventual nominee.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., the committee chairman, said he will announce how the process will work once Trump makes his pick on Saturday.

"I'm confident we can have a hearing that would allow the nominee to be submitted before Election Day," Graham said. "Following the precedents of the Senate, I think we can do that."

Graham is looking at scheduling a confirmation hearing for the week of Oct. 12 and a committee vote near the end of the following week, with a vote on the floor before Halloween, according to two people familiar the emerging plan. This would be an aggressive time frame.

Democrats are largely powerless to stop the GOP from confirming whomever Trump picks, and some had held out hope that Romney would be persuaded to break ranks.

Romney is the only Republican to vote to convict Trump on one of the impeachment charges in the Senate trial this year, and he has criticized the president on other issues. Trump frequently insults Romney as a poor candidate who should have defeated President Barack Obama in 2012 and dismisses him as a "Republican in name only."

Romney was elected to the Senate in 2018, two years after Republicans blocked consideration of Obama's Supreme Court nominee, Merrick Garland, for eight months. Republicans then insisted that the seat should not be filled until after the presidential election so that voters would have a say in the court's direction. Now, with a Republican in the White House, they insist that the president is duty-bound to fill the vacancy immediately.

"I came down on the side of the Constitution and precedent as I've studied it and made the decision on that basis," Romney told reporters.

While Republicans and Democrats in Washington made maneuvers concerning the eventual Supreme Court nominee, the Trump and Biden campaigns focused Tuesday on Rust Belt states that the president narrowly won four years ago.

Trump headed to Pennsylvania, while Biden dispatched his running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., to Michigan.

Trump, who calls Harris a "loser" for her early exit from the Democratic presidential primary, predicted Tuesday that the coming Supreme Court confirmation process would "show how incompetent she is."

Harris is a member of the Judiciary Committee that will hold the hearings. In past confirmation proceedings and other judiciary hearings, Harris has proved to be an aggressive questioner.

In another tweet Tuesday morning, Trump also confirmed plans to unveil his nominee Saturday at the White House. He had previously said the announcement might be Friday. He has said he is considering only female candidates, preserving the makeup of three women and six men in place before Ginsburg's death.

Trump has made the nomination central to his reelection campaign, a chance to deliver a solid conservative majority on the court that the Republican base, in particular evangelical voters, has coveted for decades. The Supreme Court nomination also gives Trump a welcome counterpoint to the election focus on his handling of the pandemic.

Biden leads Trump by eight percentage points nationally, 51 percent to 43 percent, according to a Washington Post average of polls. Biden's margin is the same in Michigan and smaller in other key states: seven points in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.

A poll released Tuesday shows Trump and Biden in a dead heat in Georgia, a state Trump carried by five percentage points four years ago, as well as a pair of tight U.S. Senate races.

Trump and Biden both draw the support of 47 percent of likely voters, according to the poll, conducted for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution by the University of Georgia's School of Public and International Affairs.

In 2016, Trump carried the state over Democrat Hillary Clinton, 50.4% to 45.4%.

- - -

The Washington Post's John Wagner contributed to this report.
New Delhi, Sep 22 : To dispose of mounting amounts of case properties, the Delhi Police has initiated a special drive from June to September 17 in which it has returned the stolen or robbed properties to their rightful owners.

The decision was taken after it was observed that a number of case properties relating to 'Jama Talashi' (body searches), inquests, Kalandras (undertakings to maintain peace) and under Section 66 of the Delhi Police Act (vehicles, mobile phones, laptops, cash, jewellery and domestic items) are lying in the 'malkhanas' (storerooms) of various police stations in Delhi.

"Delhi Police began a drive to return stolen properties recovered from thieves and robbers connected to a crime to its rightful owner after permission from the court. The list includes Rs 21.43 lakh cash, approx 5 kg gold jewellery and 5,000 vehicles," Police Commissioner S.N. Shrivastava said.

Moreover, five items of diamond jewellery, and 113 items of silver jewellery were also handed over to the owners after identification.

The maximum returns were of two-wheelers where the Delhi Police handed back 3,418 vehicles to their rightful owners.

A total of 432 four-wheelers were also identified and handed over to their rightful owners, as well as 146 TSRs returned to their respective owners after identification.

For quite some time now, the Delhi Police has been organising "Case property disposal Melas" at various places in the city to dispose of the case properties after completing proper formalities.
On Monday, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei praised the eight-year Iran-Iraq war as "one of the most rational events in Iran's history" and described accepting the UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 598, which ended the war, as "the (one of) most rational decisions made."

UNSC Resolution 598 was adopted unanimously on July 20, 1987. It called for an immediate ceasefire between Iran and Iraq. Iraq endorsed it immediately, but it took Iran nearly a year to accept it. The founder of Iran's Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, famously said at the time that accepting the UNSCR 598 was like drinking from a poisoned chalice.

In a video speech commemorating the anniversary of the devastating war with Iraq, Khamenei told a group of the military that the whole eight-year war with Iraq was a "rational phenomenon," that should be kept away from "distortion."

The more we get away from the Iran-Iraq war, Khamenei argued, the closer we should get to it in terms of knowledge because "distortive hands are lying in ambush."

"Some accuse the Sacred Defense's (Iran-Iraq War) people of recklessness," he said. "This is absolutely not the case. Even accepting the resolution in that circumstances that the Imam (Khomeini) interpreted as drinking the cup of poison was wise. If he were not prudent and wise, the Imam would not have done it. We watched closely and saw what was going on. The move was sagacious."

With more than one million casualties and nearly one trillion dollars of damages on Iran's infrastructure, the eight-year war was one of the most devastating of its kind in the twentieth century.

About sixty thousand Iranian soldiers and civilians were also killed or wounded in chemical attacks, which many individuals and families are still suffering from.

During the early years of the war, and following an initial defeat, Iraqi strongman Saddam Hussein withdrew his forces beyond the international borders and offered a ceasefire.

Many Iranian military commanders and dozens of politicians believed that the ceasefire offer should be accepted, and the war ended. At the same time, Iran had the upper hand and was in military superiority.

Nevertheless, Khomeini adamantly insisted on carrying on the war, praising it as a "blessing."

Echoing Khomeini's comment, Khamenei also called the war a "divine gift" with "numerous achievements" for Iran, before accusing the United States of initiating the war.

"The U.S. and other powers started the war to overthrow the Islamic Republic, but they were defeated. Iran's victory in this war is as clear as the existence of the sun," Khamenei claimed without elaboration.

During his speech, Khamenei underlined the need to counter the "distortion movement," which aims to spread misinformation about Iranian principles and sow doubts among the youth, who were born in the last years of the war or after it and thus have no memory of the war.

Earlier, in unprecedented remarks, the Coordinating Deputy of the Islamic Republic's Army (Artesh), Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari, had bitterly expressed his dissatisfaction with the country's state-controlled media for downplaying the regular Army's role.

The Iranian government's official news agency, IRNA, published a short video in May of its interview with Sayyari titled "Untold stories of the Army by General Amir Sayyari," which was removed from IRNA's website shortly after its publishing.

In his interview with IRNA, Sayyari criticized the Army's absence from the state propaganda, including movies, while religious men are falsely presented as "heroes" who were capable of wiping out a division with only one single machine gun. If that was the case, Sayyari quipped, "Why did the war take eight years?"
The UK could face new lockdown measures as experts warn of 50,000 new coronavirus cases a day by mid-October, leading to 200 daily deaths if action is not taken to halt the current rate of infection.

On Thursday the countrys Covid-19 alert level was increased from level 3 to level 4, meaning transmission of the virus is "high or rising exponentially". Health secretary Matt Hancock said this reflected the significant shift in the current threat posed by coronavirus and warned the UK now faces a tipping point in its response".

Sir Patrick Vallance, the governments chief scientific adviser, told a televised Downing Street briefing the epidemic was doubling roughly every seven days and that there was "no doubt" numbers were increasing among all age groups.

Appearing alongside England's chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty, Sir Patrick warned of a very serious threat from Covid-19 over the next six months.

And Prof Whitty said there was a need to "break unnecessary links" between households and to "change course".

The experts were not joined by prime minister Boris Johnson, who is going to address the Commons on Tuesday after spending the weekend with senior ministers and advisers discussing the next steps in tackling the pandemic.

Circuit-breaker lockdown

It is thought the prime minister could be considering a circuit-breaker lockdown which would see shorter periods of tighter rules and restrictions sporadically and nationwide over the next six months to allow breathing space.

It comes as the governments new rule of six, which bans more than six people from gathering indoors or outdoors in England, has had limited impact on rising cases.

Mr Johnson on Friday said he did not want to implement a second national lockdown but that you've got to wonder whether we need to go further than the rule of six.

The prime minister said ministers would be considering intensifying local lockdowns already in place in areas from Greater Manchester to Birmingham, Leicester and the North East, but also looking at other measures as well.

London mayor Sadiq Khan was expected to meet with council leaders on Monday before deciding whether new coronavirus restrictions are needed in the capital, such as curbs on movement and asking people to work from home again.

What restrictions could we see?

Prof Whitty hinted at curbs to social lives being needed, saying there was a need to "break unnecessary links" between households and a need to "change course".

He said there were four things to do  washing hands and using masks, quarantine measures, and investing in vaccines and drugs.

"The third one, and in many ways the most difficult, is that we have to break unnecessary links between households because that is the way in which this virus is transmitted," he said.

"And this means reducing social contacts whether they are at work  and also in social environments.

Matt Hancock also suggested new restrictions would focus on social settings rather than schools or the workplace.

The health secretary was unable to say whether Englands pubs would be allowed to open this weekend, telling ITV his answer was "not a no, and it's not a yes".

He said final decisions were still being made, but added: "I think the main thing in terms of what we learnt is that where people catch the disease tends to be in social settings, people coming around to your house, or you going out and socialising essentially.

"We've seen relatively few cases caught through schools and relatively few through people at work."

Transport secretary Grant Shapps told the BBC the country was at a "tipping point" in the pandemic and further coronavirus measures might be needed.

He denied there had been a row in the cabinet over what restrictions should be imposed and said the government was trying to protect both lives and livelihoods.

What has the opposition said?

Labour has urged the government to avoid imposing a second national lockdown.

Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth blamed the rapid spike in infections on the government's incompetence and failure to put in place an adequate testing system.

He said: Labour's priority is that there must be a national effort to prevent another national lockdown. "The government must do what it takes to prevent another lockdown, which would cause unimaginable damage to our economy and people's wellbeing.

Additional reporting by PA
A Punjab-born Sikh taxi driver has said that four white men assaulted him in Berkshire, England, and asked if he was a member of the Taliban militant group.

Vaneet Singh (41), from Tilehurst suburb of Reading town, believes the four accused could have been Scottish or Irish.

Singh, who has been left bruised and battered after the incident, told police that the men also stuck drugs up his nose, vandalised his taxi and tried to pull his turban off.

One of them had asked to be dropped in nearby Bramley after all four were picked up from a casino in Berkshire.

"After he got out, he came up to my window holding a black box of substance which I think was cannabis. He asked me to try it and I said it was against my religion and then he lifted up my face mask and forced it up to my nose. It left me feeling intoxicated," Singh claimed.

Another man asked Singh to stop to urinate.

"He got out and asked to drive the car and I refused. Then he started trying to pull my taxi plate off. I tried to call the police but the network was very poor. Back in the car, they slid their fingers inside my turban and tried to pull it off.

"They also kicked and punched me in the back through the seat and kept tightening my safety belt. They said, 'Are you Taliban?' I said, 'No, I'm a Sikh', and told them its a religious symbol and asked them not to touch my turban," he added.

All the three men got out at a red traffic in Basingstoke, kicked the back of his car, leaving a dent and left.

Besides driving a cab, Singh also teaches tabla in Berkshire.

"I have neck pain and chest pain now and my body keeps vibrating. This was 100 per cent a racist attack. I am usually a friendly guy, always laughing, and this has made me scared," he added.

Thames Valley Police said they were investigating the case but arrests had been made so far.
An ice addict father who repeatedly raped a five-year-old girl and made a sick collection of photographs of his abuse has been jailed for nine years.

Shenton Lee Flenady, 42, sexually abused the girl - who was not his daughter - for a year and told her not to tell anyone, Brisbane District Court heard.

Police would later find a sick haul of more than 2,000 child exploitation images on four of his online accounts, Quest Newspapers reported.

An ice addict father who repeatedly raped a five-year-old girl and made a sick collection of photographs of his abuse has been jailed for nine years (file picture)

Flenady, who the court heard has 'many children' of his own, pleaded guilty to a raft of child sex offences.

Judge Paul Smith said Flenady's sexual abuse was 'brazen' and that he used 'violence to discipline her, which explains her silence'.

'This was a vulnerable child who had not yet reached her sixth birthday when the offending began,' the judge added.

The child rapist's defence lawyer Colin Reid said his client was addicted to meth at the time of the rapes, was sorry and was studying the Bible in prison.

Flenady was jailed for nine years and will not be eligible until he has served half of his sentence.
A hot potato: News that Microsoft will buy ZeniMax for $7.5 billion, giving the Windows-maker control over massive IPs such as The Elder Scrolls, Doom, and Fallout, rocked the gaming industry. Opinions seem split as to whether this is a good or bad thing, but two people firmly in the former camp are John Carmack and Todd Howard.

By purchasing ZeniMax Media, Microsoft will bring Bethesda Game Studios, id Software, Arkane, Machine Games, Tango Gameworks, and more into its stable.

This could spell bad news for PlayStation owners; Microsoft will honor PS5 timed exclusive games including Deathloop and GhostWire: Tokyo, but Xbox boss Phil Spencer says future console releasesas in those not on Xboxwill be decided on a "case-by-case" basis, so games including Starfield and The Elder Scrolls 6 could be exclusive to the Xbox Series X (and PC).

John Carmack, the co-founder of id Software and the lead programmer of Doom, Quake, Wolfenstein 3D, and more, has welcomed Microsoft's move. He was an employee of Bethesda after ZeniMax acquired id Software in 2009, but the relationship turned ugly after he resigned in 2013 and became CTO at Oculus. ZeniMax alleged that Carmack stole trade secrets and was using them to develop the Rift VR headset. It filed a lawsuit against the company, and Carmack later responded by suing ZeniMax for $22.5 million. The matter was finally settled in 2018, but the bad blood remains.

"I think Microsoft has been a good parent company for gaming IPs, and they don't have a grudge against me, so maybe I will be able to re engage with some of my old titles," tweeted Carmack.

Great! I think Microsoft has been a good parent company for gaming IPs, and they dont have a grudge against me, so maybe I will be able to re engage with some of my old titles. https://t.co/GijQGEL4tZ  John Carmack (@ID_AA_Carmack) September 21, 2020

The idea of Carmack returning to work on some of the franchises he co-created is an exciting one, but it's all just talk right now.

Todd Howard, director and executive producer at Bethesda Games, is equally enthusiastic about the deal. He says that Microsoft would help share the studio's "deep belief in the fundamental power of games," calling the company Bethesda's "longest, and closest partner."

This can now actually become reality pic.twitter.com/azmvB4Wwut  Nibel (@Nibellion) September 21, 2020

"Like our original partnership, this one is about more than one system or one screen. We share a deep belief in the fundamental power of games, in their ability to connect, empower, and bring joy," Howard wrote. "And a belief we should bring that to everyone - regardless of who you are, where you live, or what you play on. Regardless of the screen size, the controller, or your ability to even use one."

all of Bethesdas games coming to game pass is a pretty insane value. no interest in buying an xbox but getting gamepass for pc seems like an easy choice  9 V O L T (@9_volt_) September 21, 2020

Giving Microsoft so much power over the gaming landscape is a concern, but the good news for PC owners who subscribe to Xbox Game Pass for PC is they'll be able to play titles from ZeniMax's subsidiaries on launch day, which is another good reason to sign up. There's also the enticing possibility of Fallout: New Vegas 2.
India hit back at Pakistan for raising the issue of Jammu and Kashmir during the high-level meeting to commemorate 75 years of the United Nations on September 20. Using its Right of Reply, India called out Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi for bringing up the Kashmir issue.



Another repetition of the baseless falsehoods that have become a trademark of Pakistans interventions. A nation bereft of milestones!

Watch Indias Right of Reply pic.twitter.com/9fGPeAoKkp  India at UN, NY (@IndiaUNNewYork) September 22, 2020

First Secretary Vidisha Maitra, speaking at the UN, termed Qureshi's speech as the "never-ending fabricated narrative" about the internal affairs of India. Maitra added that Islamabad is globally recognised as the epicentre of terrorism which hails terrorists as martyrs and consistently persecutes its ethnic and religious minorities.

A virtual edition of a special General Assembly session was held on September 20 to mark 75 years of the global institution.

"I take the floor in the exercise of the right of reply to the statement made by the representative of Pakistan. Our delegation had hoped that during this solemn commemoration of a shared global milestone, the General Assembly would be spared another repetition of the baseless falsehoods that have now become a trademark of Pakistan's interventions on such platforms," said Maitra.

"However, for a nation that is bereft of milestones, one can only expect a stonewalled and stymied approach to reason, diplomacy and dialogue. What we heard today is the never-ending fabricated narrative presented by the Pakistani representative about the internal affairs of India," she added.

Maitra said that India rejected the "malicious reference" made by Qureshi to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, which is an integral part of India.

"If there is an item that is unfinished on the agenda of the UN, it is that of tackling the scourge of terrorism. Pakistan is a country which is globally recognised epicentre of terrorism, which by its own admission harbours and trains terrorists and hails them as martyrs, and consistently persecutes its ethnic and religious minorities," she stated.

"It would do well turn its attention inwards to immediately addressing these pressing concerns, instead of diverting attention from them by misusing UN platforms," Maitra said.
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GOVERNMENT rolled out an ill-conceived indigenisation policy for political expediency during the late former President Robert Mugabes era, Zanu PF acting spokesperson Patrick Chinamasa has said.

Addressing journalists at the party headquarters in Harare yesterday, the former Finance minister said the law had to be revoked under President Emmerson Mnangagwas administration because it was ill-conceived and did not make sense.

He added that the policy was a G40 project meant to empower individuals, instead of benefiting the nation.

I need also to add here, about the 51:49%, we abandoned it precisely for this reason. It was not well thought, to say an investor can bring $100 million and an individual overnight claims a 51% stake of it, Chinamasa said.

Zanu PF said it was working on a new document which would allow 90% of the economy to be in the hands of Zimbabweans and, instead, act on empowering communities as opposed to individuals.

As the document will explain, we are going to be empowering communities, not individuals. We cannot just get an individual who says I am already 51% richer in an investment which has come into a country. If you are paying something, no problem, Chinamasa said.

The indigenisation policy caused a stir in Mugabes government, with Chinamasa and then minister Patrick Zhuwao clashing over implementation of the policy.

It was seen as one of the major reasons why foreign direct investment fled to safer destinations as investors either sold their stock or steered clear of Zimbabwe fearing they would fall foul to the law.

Chinamasa claimed most of those bad laws were being imposed unconstitutionally on government by the G40 faction fronted by then First Lady Grace Mugabe.

Members of Cabinet who were G40 decided to take advantage of the advancement in age of the former President, and were reporting directly to the former First Lady in Mazowe, where decisions of Cabinet would be reversed. Now that is a serious onslaught on a national Constitution, Chinamasa said.

Grace, according to Chinamasa, became a de facto President, pulling all the strings in Mugabes government and reducing Cabinet ministers to mere figureheads.

That you have people outside who are not the President, totally usurping Executive powers to make decisions of an executive nature, then you have a person like (Saviour) Kasukuwere talking about constitutionalism. I think it was in the public glare that Kasukuwere and his friends in Cabinet were hanging on very strongly determinedly to the apron strings of the former First Lady and the skirts. What constitutionalism did he find there on the aprons of Grace Mugabes skirts? he asked rhetorically.

Grace once publicly told party supporters that she used to give orders to Mugabes deputies  Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko.

Chinamasa accused former G40 members of wanting to use South Africas ruling African National Congress party to weave their way back into Zanu PF. Newsday
The Department of Education has called on Princeton to explain how its certifications that it doesnt discriminate on account of race can be reconciled with its presidents admission that damaging racism is embedded at the university. At Hot Air, Allahpundit offers a creative way of trying to thread the needle.

He suggests that it all depends on which of the two meanings of racism one employs. Traditionally, the word means denying someone a particular benefit or opportunity on the basis of race. But as used by Princeton, racism has a different meaning. Its something that occurs due to unexamined assumptions and stereotypes, ignorance or insensitivity, and the systemic legacy of past decisions and policies, in the words of Christopher Eisgruber, the universitys president.

Accordingly, Princeton might argue that by acknowledging that racism persists at the university, Eisgruber did not concede that discrimination  the denial of benefits or opportunities on account of race  occurs.

Actually, racism has many more than two meanings  so many meanings, in fact, that the word has become meaningless. It is used to attack people whose positions on racial issues one disagrees with, to appease aggressive protesters, to excuse failures to meet reasonable standards, and so forth. It is a discussion stopper with as many meanings as there are kinds of discussions people want to stop.

But the plasticity of the word racism does not offer Princeton a valid way out of its current fix. Thats because Eisgrubers admission, if true, establishes discrimination.

Eisgruber said that racism at Princeton is embedded and damaging. This means that it is harming black students. If black students are subjected to harm that white students arent, then they are being discriminated against in the traditional sense of being denied an opportunity on the basis of race  the opportunity to attend college without being damaged on account of their race.

Under well-established law, employers discriminate if black or female employees work in a hostile environment. Having to labor in such an environment is harmful and disadvantageous. By the same reasoning, its harmful and disadvantageous  and therefore discriminatory  for black students to attend a college where the environment is hostile.

If damaging racism is embedded at a college, as Princetons president has admitted, black students are disadvantaged by a racist environment. This means black students are discriminated against, which means Princetons representations that it doesnt discriminate were false.

Princetons black students (or at least some of them) seem to feel they are harmed by the racist environment at the university. Presumably, thats why they have occupied Eisgrubers office and made all sorts of demands.

As part of its investigation, I trust the Department of Education will interview black Princeton students. A proper investigation of discrimination entails talking to those who may have been victimized.
A young criminal involved in the deadly Drogheda feud is one of 32 people who have been arrested for being so-called money mules.

The arrests were part of the fraud squad's Operation Ransom.

Detectives are investigating people who allow their bank accounts to be used by organised crime groups to withdraw and deposit money stolen from other accounts.

In total, 1.5m has been stolen so far, and more arrests are expected.

The Herald can reveal that the 20-year-old became a mule after losing drugs owned by one of the gangs.

He has been convicted of a violent aggravated burglary in which an innocent family were terrorised as he desperately tried to get the money back to the feuding mob.

Senior sources said a massive investigation by the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) has identified 53 people who acted as mules in this case.

Laundered

It is one of five investigations being carried out, with three more being accessed by the bureau.

"In this particular case, another 21 people are yet to be arrested," Detective Superintendent Michael Cryan said.

"The average age of the suspects is 19 and they are based all over Ireland."

Gardai and the banks yesterday warned of an increase in the crime, with the industry estimating that more than 12m has been laundered using money mules so far this year.

Det Supt Cryan, who is leading Operation Ransom, revealed that in one case a man used the account of his 15-year-old brother to launder cash.

"It's an easy crime for gardai to solve," he said, because the mules use their own personal bank accounts.

"There's a perception among young people that it isn't serious, but it's very serious.

"There's a potential conviction for people under the money laundering and terrorism financing legislation and it carries a huge prison sentence."

Money mules can face a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison.
Ecomedes solves this with an aggregated single version of the truth, e-commerce efficiency, and digital collaboration tools that save time and remove the friction for sustainable buildings.

Ecomedes announced today that it raised seed financing from new investor Saint-Gobain NOVA and existing investor PivotNorth. The funding will be used to build SaaS collaboration and optimization tools for modern commercial building product selection.

Ecomedes is a breakthrough vertical SaaS platform saving time and money for manufacturers, designers, builders, and building owners. According to Environment + Energy Leader the green building materials market worldwide is expected to grow by $187 billion from 2020-27, an 8.6 percent CAGR. Ecomedes delivers a cross-company system of record for product certifications, requirements, compliance, lifetime energy simulation, and price-performance analysis. Ecomedes replaces preconceptions about unjustified cost premiums with ML-driven intelligence, fueling a new generation of building products and building professionals.

Ryan Poole, global sustainability leader at DPR Construction, an ecomedes customer, says, Ecomedes has been an excellent tool for our teams, helping increase collaboration and efficiency in locating responsible products with back-up documentation at our fingertips. We now have more efficient analytical capabilities to help guide our clients and design partners towards achieving the projects sustainability goals.

NOVA is the venture arm of Saint-Gobain, one of the worlds largest building materials companies and manufacturer of innovative material solutions. At NOVA, we seek forward-thinking startups whose philosophies align with Saint-Gobains focus on well-being and sustainability said Minas Apelian, Vice President of Internal and External Venturing. Ecomedes has built a sophisticated, flexible platform to usher in a new era of efficient building product management, digitization, and wider use of sustainable building materials. This market needs ecomedes.

Tim Connors, Managing Partner of PivotNorth Capital, is a leading seed investor on the 2020 Midas List. I look for teams with depth of knowledge and grit who can break through industry barriers with significant ROI, while benefiting society, said Tim Connors. The team at ecomedes has extensive understanding of SaaS, the building industry, and the buyer-seller mechanisms that shape commercial building product market behavior.

Tim has been an invaluable member of our team from the beginning and we are stoked to add the Saint-Gobain family. Saint-Gobains brands are the future of building product innovation according to Kathleen Egan, ecomedes CEO and co-founder. Driven by ESG investing and the voice of a new generation, the $1 trillion commercial building product market is changing rapidly. Current processes just cant keep up, much less optimize the choices that will impact profit, planet, and people for decades. Ecomedes solves this with an aggregated single version of the truth, e-commerce efficiency, and digital collaboration tools that save time and remove the friction for sustainable buildings.

About ecomedes

Ecomedes streamlines the processes of collection, maintenance, discovery, comparison, documentation and performance analysis for over 700,000 sustainable building products carrying over 35 different ecolabel certifications across 10,000 manufacturing brands. Building owners, design teams and general contractors like the US General Services Administration, KMD Architects and DPR Construction use ecomedes to save valuable time searching for and documenting product selections while ensuring that sustainability guidelines are met. Building product manufacturers like Armstrong, Certainteed, Humanscale, and Tarkett also save valuable time for their sales and marketing teams by capturing, presenting and updating product certification information in a way that supports their buyers needs. As a result, ecomedes contributes to critical advances in building industry practices that support people and planet as well as profitability. Ecomedes is headquartered in San Francisco. For information visit http://www.ecomedes.com.

ABOUT SAINT-GOBAIN & NOVA by SAINT-GOBAIN

Saint-Gobain, which operates in 70 countries, designs, manufactures and distributes materials and solutions which are key ingredients in the wellbeing of each of us and the future of all. They can be found everywhere in our living places and our daily life: in buildings, transportation, infrastructure and in many industrial applications. They provide comfort, performance and safety while addressing the challenges of sustainable construction, resource efficiency and climate change.

NOVA, the external venturing arm of Saint-Gobain identifies forward-thinking startups around the world whose philosophies align with Saint-Gobains focus on well-being and sustainability.

It helps those startups nurture their ideas and grow their companies to scale through partnerships and investment. With a presence in Asia, Europe, North and South America, NOVA connects the global startup community with the power, resources and experience of Saint-Gobain to address the needs of today and challenges of tomorrow.

To learn more about Saint-Gobain and NOVA by Saint-Gobain go to http://www.saint-gobain.com or http://www.nova-saint-gobain.com and follow us on Twitter @saintgobain or @sgnova

About PivotNorth Capital

PivotNorth Capital works to be the first and most-trusted investor in world-class technologists solving problems of importance to society. The firm's founder, Tim Connors, has had billion dollar exits as an operator and as a VC both via M&A and IPO. Tim is a 2020 Midas List member. PivotNorth is based in Menlo Park, Calif. http://www.pivotnorth.com @PivotNorth @timc